The road north eventually led to a city.
Not a large city.
Not an important city.
But large enough that Arthur immediately became distracted.
⸻ “Oh.” ⸻ Thomas looked up.
⸻ “What?” ⸻ Arthur pointed.
⸻ “City.” ⸻ Thomas stared.
⸻ “Astounding.” ⸻ Morgan nodded.
⸻ “Very city-shaped.” ⸻ Arthur ignored them.
⸻ Jakel sighed.
⸻ The group entered through the gates.
⸻ Merchants filled the streets.
Travelers moved between markets.
Children ran through crowded alleys.
⸻ The city felt alive.
⸻ Arthur loved it immediately.
⸻ Which was unfortunate.
⸻ Because it meant he immediately started wandering.
⸻ “Arthur.” Jakel called.
⸻ No answer.
⸻ “Arthur.” ⸻ Still no answer.
⸻ Thomas pointed.
⸻ “He’s gone.” ⸻ Morgan blinked.
⸻ “When?” ⸻ “Approximately six seconds ago.” ⸻ Jakel closed his eyes.
⸻ A headache was forming.
⸻ The Argument Arthur eventually found himself near the city square.
⸻ A crowd had gathered.
⸻ People were shouting.
⸻ Which naturally attracted his attention.
⸻ At the center stood two merchants.
⸻ Both angry.
⸻ Both convinced they were correct.
⸻ Neither willing to listen.
⸻ The argument had apparently been going on for hours.
⸻ Arthur listened.
⸻ Then realized neither side was actually discussing the problem anymore.
⸻ They were simply arguing.
⸻ Before he could intervene— someone else stepped forward.
⸻ A young man carrying a thick book.
⸻ Dark hair.
⸻ Calm eyes.
⸻ Simple traveler’s clothing.
⸻ Nothing about him stood out.
⸻ Except for the fact that everyone became quiet the moment he spoke.
⸻ “You’re both wrong.” ⸻ The square froze.
⸻ The merchants looked offended.
⸻ The young man opened his book.
⸻ Then calmly pointed toward a page.
⸻ “You misunderstood the contract.” ⸻ A pause.
⸻ Another page turned.
⸻ “The shipment date was altered three weeks ago.” ⸻ Another page.
⸻ “The witness signatures confirm it.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ The crowd looked between the merchants.
⸻ Then the book.
⸻ Then the merchants again.
⸻ Slowly.
⸻ The argument died.
⸻ One merchant sighed.
⸻ The other groaned.
⸻ Both looked embarrassed.
⸻ The crowd dispersed.
⸻ Problem solved.
⸻ Arthur stared.
⸻ “That was impressive.” ⸻ The young man looked up.
⸻ Their eyes met.
⸻ For a brief moment.
⸻ Arthur smiled.
⸻ The young man immediately looked suspicious.
⸻ Evangelos Several minutes later.
⸻ Arthur sat across from him at a small tavern.
⸻ Because of course he did.
⸻ Thomas, Morgan, and Jakel eventually found them.
⸻ Mostly because Arthur had somehow made another friend.
⸻ Again.
⸻ “My name is Arthur.” ⸻ “I know.” ⸻ Arthur blinked.
⸻ “You do?” ⸻ “You aren’t difficult to notice.” ⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Morgan nodded.
⸻ “That’s true.” ⸻ Arthur felt betrayed.
⸻ Again.
⸻ The young man closed his book.
⸻ “My name is Evangelos.” ⸻ Arthur smiled.
⸻ “Nice to meet you.” ⸻ Evangelos studied him carefully.
⸻ Not hostile.
⸻ Not friendly.
⸻ Simply observing.
⸻ Like a scholar examining a puzzle.
⸻ Arthur noticed.
⸻ “What?” ⸻ Evangelos considered the question.
⸻ Then answered honestly.
⸻ “You fascinate me.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Thomas nearly choked.
⸻ Morgan looked confused.
⸻ Jakel looked concerned.
⸻ Arthur blinked.
⸻ “…Thank you?” ⸻ “That wasn’t necessarily a compliment.” ⸻ Thomas burst out laughing.
⸻ The Dream Eventually the conversation turned.
⸻ As it always did.
⸻ Toward Arthur’s dream.
⸻ Uniting humanity.
⸻ Ending endless conflict.
⸻ Creating a better future.
⸻ The tavern grew quiet.
⸻ Evangelos listened carefully.
⸻ Not once interrupting.
⸻ Not once mocking him.
⸻ When Arthur finished.
⸻ The young man sat silently.
⸻ Thinking.
⸻ Finally: ⸻ “That will never work.” ⸻ Thomas groaned.
⸻ Morgan winced.
⸻ Arthur simply smiled.
⸻ “I hear that a lot.” ⸻ “I imagine you do.” ⸻ Evangelos folded his hands.
⸻ “The kingdoms benefit from conflict.” ⸻ “Trade benefits from conflict.” ⸻ “Power benefits from conflict.” ⸻ “History benefits from conflict.” ⸻ His gaze remained steady.
⸻ “The world you’re describing has never existed.” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “Probably.” ⸻ Evangelos frowned.
⸻ That wasn’t the response he expected.
⸻ Arthur leaned back.
⸻ “But somebody has to try.” ⸻ The tavern became quiet.
⸻ For the first time.
⸻ Evangelos had no immediate answer.
⸻ Because Arthur wasn’t arguing.
⸻ Wasn’t defending himself.
⸻ Wasn’t trying to prove anything.
⸻ He simply believed it.
⸻ And somehow.
⸻ That was much harder to dismiss.
⸻ A New Companion That evening.
⸻ As the sun disappeared beyond the city walls.
⸻ Evangelos stood beside the road.
⸻ Watching the group prepare to leave.
⸻ Arthur waved.
⸻ “You coming?” ⸻ Evangelos blinked.
⸻ “That wasn’t an invitation.” ⸻ “It is now.” ⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Morgan smiled.
⸻ Jakel sighed.
⸻ The pattern continued.
⸻ Evangelos looked toward Arthur.
⸻ Then toward the road.
⸻ Then toward the future.
⸻ A future he was suddenly curious about.
⸻ “…Very well.” ⸻ Arthur grinned.
⸻ And just like that.
⸻ The group grew again.
⸻ Arthur.
⸻ Jakel.
⸻ Thomas.
⸻ Morgan.
⸻ Evangelos.
⸻ Five travelers.
⸻ Five future founders.
⸻ Walking toward destiny.
⸻ And for the first time.
⸻ Evangelos found himself wondering.
⸻ Not whether Arthur would fail.
⸻ But how far he would get before he did.
⸻ Which, for him, was already a significant change.
End of Chapter 12