That evening, the skies of Valoria glowed gold. The small lake behind the
palace mirrored the light, its still surface rippling whenever fish leapt after
drifting insects. The lake was no gift of nature—it was Arthur's creation,
built as a sanctuary where he could set aside his crown and indulge his quiet
passion for fishing.
On a gently rocking wooden boat, Arthur sat with a fishing rod in hand.
Beside him, Marcel—the aging butler who had served faithfully since his
father's reign—busied himself with bait, his wrinkled fingers moving carefully
with practiced steadiness.
"Marcel," Arthur finally broke the silence, his voice softer than the one
his people heard on battlefields, "how old are you now?"
The old butler smiled faintly. "This year I turn fifty-nine, Your Majesty."
Arthur nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the ripples. "Time passes
quickly. I thank you for everything since the day I took the throne from
Mordred. You should start thinking about retirement. Don't worry about your
family—I'll provide for them. You deserve to spend your years with your
grandchildren."
Marcel lowered his head, eyes glistening. "Your Majesty… I will retire only
once you are married."
Arthur laughed heartily, the boat rocking with his mirth. "That will be a
long time yet, Marcel."
"But you are already twenty-one, Your Majesty," Marcel replied with a smile.
"It feels as though it was only yesterday that we celebrated your birthday with
the people, and unveiled the first mana-powered train."
Arthur's lips curved at the memory. Marcel hesitated, then asked, "Are you
not interested in Cici, the maid from Seahaven—the one who delivered the
ancient Valorian katana?"
"Of course I'm interested," Arthur answered quickly, just as his rod pulled
taut. With a swift tug, a silver fish leapt from the water, glittering in the
golden light. "But I won't burden her with the responsibility of becoming a
queen."
Marcel chuckled, the weariness in his face softening. "Even a king needs a
family."
Placing the fish in the basket, Arthur turned to him seriously. "Find your
successor. Train him for a year, and then retire. You've served long enough."
Marcel bowed deeply. "By your command, Your Majesty."
Arthur smiled warmly, a rare look of relief easing his features.
A white dove suddenly alighted on the stern of the boat, its wings still
dusty from flight. Marcel took the small scroll tied to its leg, scanned it
quickly, and his face grew grave.
"Your Majesty… word from our scouts. Eldoria has taken Westgate and
Oakhaven. Their army is now estimated at seventy thousand."
Arthur frowned. "So quickly? They expand as if it were nothing."
Moments later, a second dove arrived. Marcel retrieved the message and read
aloud, "Sea Haven and Northwood have united through the marriage of their
heirs."
Arthur snorted, then gave a short laugh. "So easy to unite a kingdom?
Perhaps I should simply marry every princess in Etheria."
Marcel allowed himself a small smile. "Sometimes marriage is the only way to
bind nations without bloodshed."
Arthur's eyes lingered on his reflection in the lake. "Or perhaps it's
nothing but a mirage."
The next day, the council chamber was heavy with solemn faces. Valorian
banners draped the stone walls, candles flickered in iron sconces, and the long
blackwood table was scattered with scrolls and ink. Arthur sat at its head, his
sharp gaze weighing each of his gathered councilors.
Erel Vadison,
Minister of Finance, rose. "Your Majesty, the one hundred thousand gold coins
from Solaris have entered our treasury. A portion has been allocated to the
reconstruction of Draxenhold and to infrastructure. Trade taxes from Riverbend
are also increasing now that the river routes are secure."
Karrel, Minister of
Infrastructure, followed. "Mana-train stations now operate in every major
Valorian city. The four merchants who dared invest early are now reaping
immense profits."
Arthur gave a thin smile. "Let them. Profit from mana-trains will never
cease. A few years of control is enough to satisfy even the greediest
merchants."
A ripple of chuckles passed through the chamber before the air grew sober
again.
Lionel Drest,
Commander of Defense, stood. "Our standing army now numbers thirty-one
thousand. Of these, around one thousand knights have mastered Sword Aura
through the Heavenly Valior Technique. With a single strike, they can
cut through steel—and even pierce magical barriers."
Arthur nodded firmly. "Good. Valoria will not rely on weapons alone, but on
the strength of its warriors' hands."
Hadrick, head of
Intelligence, spoke next. "Rumors from Solaris suggest they have begun to grasp
the concept of qi. Only the basics, but dangerous nonetheless. We suspect an
infiltrator—someone who once studied under us. If left unchecked, our secrets
will slip away."
Arthur leaned forward, voice sharpened. "Find them. The longer they remain,
the more knowledge is stolen."
Loran, Minister of
Education, raised his hand. "Permission to add, Your Majesty. Could the
infiltrator have come from our schools? In the secondary academies, our
curriculum already introduces the fundamentals of mana and qi. A spy planted
there could easily take what was taught."
Arthur was silent for a moment, then answered, "It's possible. Fortunately,
Solaris has only reached the earliest stage of qi. Even so, that stage alone
can let a soldier kill three great bears without struggle."
His gaze swept between Lionel and Hadrick. "Tighten recruitment. Vet every
background. Expand intelligence if necessary."
Both men bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Karrel stepped
forward once more. "Your Majesty, the Mana Cannon has been completed and is
ready for testing."
Arthur's eyes moved to the blueprints on the table. "How does it differ from
the Mana Crossbow?"
"The crossbow is for city walls. The cannon is for shattering enemy
barriers. Its mana charge is far greater—enough to shake the foundations of
protective magic."
Arthur remained still for a moment. He knew he could not forever rely on
hacking runes, as he had at Draxenhold. The Mana Cannon was the next
step—a weapon born from necessity, the bridge between dream and reality, until
knowledge was sufficient for even greater machines.
At last he rose, voice resonant.
"Begin the trials. And let no spy, Solaris or otherwise, steal even a single
thread of Valoria's secrets."
The days that followed seemed tranquil. Five months had passed since the
peace treaty with Solaris was signed. Trade flourished, cities rebuilt, and the
people looked to the future with hope.
Yet beyond Valoria's borders, the world did not rest. Eldoria had seized both Westgate and Oakhaven, swelling their might.
Meanwhile, Sea Haven
and Northwood bound
themselves together through marriage, forming a new force in the north.
Arthur understood that Etheria's map was shifting, even as his people
enjoyed peace.
He did not grow complacent. Each day he trained—honing sword, qi, and magic.
From relentless practice, a new power emerged: the ability to manipulate
gravity itself, to pin foes to the earth or soar through the air with ease.
That night, after training, Arthur stood on the balcony of his chamber. The
night breeze carried the fragrance of the palace gardens. On his wrist, the Oculus shimmered faintly—a device
only he could see. With a flick of his hand, its crystal light awakened,
bridging him to a world far away.
A ghostly screen hovered above his wrist. Arthur scrolled, seeking the
social pages of his wife back on Earth. A faint smile touched his lips, soft
yet full of longing.
Amid Etheria's fragile peace, his heart remained bound to another
world.