The road became busier after the village incident.
Travelers moved in greater numbers.
⸻ Merchants.
⸻ Refugees.
⸻ Soldiers.
⸻ More than before.
⸻ Arthur noticed immediately.
⸻ “Something’s happening.” ⸻ Evangelos looked up from his book.
⸻ “Several things are happening.” ⸻ “Helpful.” ⸻ “You’re welcome.” ⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Morgan was attempting to teach a squirrel how to shake hands.
⸻ The squirrel stole a piece of bread and ran away.
⸻ Morgan looked betrayed.
⸻ Jakel remained focused on the road.
⸻ Eidra quietly watched the passing travelers.
⸻ Leona listened from within Aethelion.
⸻ Unlike Arthur.
⸻ She already knew the direction history was moving.
⸻ And she wasn’t entirely sure she liked it.
⸻ Refugees The first family appeared near midday.
⸻ A cart.
⸻ A tired horse.
⸻ Too many belongings.
⸻ Not enough food.
⸻ Then came another family.
⸻ And another.
⸻ By afternoon.
⸻ The road had become crowded.
⸻ Arthur approached an older woman walking beside an overloaded wagon.
⸻ She looked exhausted.
⸻ The kind of exhausted that sleep couldn’t fix.
⸻ “What happened?” Arthur asked.
⸻ The woman blinked.
⸻ “You haven’t heard?” ⸻ Arthur immediately became suspicious.
⸻ That sentence never led to good news.
⸻ “No.” ⸻ The woman pointed west.
⸻ “Caer Lerion.” ⸻ The name meant little to Arthur.
⸻ The reaction from the others told a different story.
⸻ Evangelos frowned.
⸻ Jakel straightened slightly.
⸻ Even Morgan became serious.
⸻ Which was rare.
⸻ Arthur looked around.
⸻ “…Should I know what that is?” ⸻ Thomas burst out laughing.
⸻ Morgan joined him.
⸻ Arthur looked offended.
⸻ Eidra covered a smile.
⸻ Evangelos sighed.
⸻ “Yes.” ⸻ The Ancient Frontier That evening.
⸻ The group camped beside a riverbank.
⸻ Arthur finally received an explanation.
⸻ Mostly from Evangelos.
⸻ Because everyone else kept interrupting.
⸻ “Caer Lerion is one of the oldest dukedoms in western Britannia.” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “So what’s wrong with it?” ⸻ Evangelos turned a page.
⸻ “Several things.” ⸻ Arthur waited.
⸻ Evangelos waited.
⸻ Eventually Thomas spoke.
⸻ “He’s doing that thing again.” ⸻ “What thing?” ⸻ “The dramatic pause.” ⸻ “I do not do dramatic pauses.” ⸻ “You absolutely do.” ⸻ Morgan nodded.
⸻ “All the time.” ⸻ Evangelos ignored them.
⸻ Then continued.
⸻ “Caer Lerion was founded around ancient ruins.” ⸻ “Very ancient ruins.” ⸻ “Ruins older than most kingdoms.” ⸻ “Ruins older than some written history.” ⸻ Morgan immediately leaned forward.
⸻ Far too interested.
⸻ Dangerously interested.
⸻ Jakel noticed.
⸻ And became appropriately concerned.
⸻ “Those ruins attract people.” ⸻ “Adventurers.” ⸻ “Mercenaries.” ⸻ “Bandits.” ⸻ “Treasure hunters.” ⸻ “Scholars.” ⸻ Morgan proudly pointed at herself.
⸻ Evangelos continued pretending she hadn’t.
⸻ “They also attract monsters.” ⸻ Arthur frowned.
⸻ That sounded significantly less fun.
⸻ “Recently, the situation has worsened.” ⸻ The campfire crackled softly.
⸻ Evangelos closed his book.
⸻ “Entire villages within the dukedom have disappeared.” ⸻ Silence followed.
⸻ Even Thomas stopped joking.
⸻ Arthur stared into the fire.
⸻ “Monsters?” ⸻ “Maybe.” ⸻ “Bandits?” ⸻ “Maybe.” ⸻ “Demons?” ⸻ A pause.
⸻ “Maybe.” ⸻ Arthur didn’t like that answer.
⸻ Not one bit.
⸻ The Legends of the Ruins Morgan raised her hand.
⸻ Nobody knew why.
⸻ They were sitting around a campfire.
⸻ “Question.” ⸻ Evangelos sighed.
⸻ “Yes?” ⸻ “What are the ruins?” ⸻ Evangelos looked thoughtful.
⸻ “No one knows for certain.” ⸻ “But House Caer Lerion has protected them for generations.” ⸻ “Why?” ⸻ “According to old records…” ⸻ He turned another page.
⸻ “They believe the ruins belonged to a forgotten kingdom.” ⸻ Arthur listened.
⸻ “A kingdom whose ruler dreamed of ending conflict and uniting people.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Morgan blinked.
⸻ Thomas blinked.
⸻ Even Jakel looked interested.
⸻ Arthur leaned forward.
⸻ “Really?” ⸻ Evangelos nodded.
⸻ “There are fragments of inscriptions.” ⸻ “What do they say?” ⸻ “Not much.” ⸻ He turned another page.
⸻ “Most are damaged.” ⸻ “Names remain.” ⸻ “Pieces of stories.” ⸻ “Broken ideals.” ⸻ Morgan looked fascinated.
⸻ Arthur looked curious.
⸻ “There is one name that appears repeatedly.” ⸻ “What name?” ⸻ “Pendragon.” ⸻ Inside Aethelion.
⸻ Leona froze.
⸻ Again.
⸻ “And another.” ⸻ “Hana.” ⸻ Leona became very still.
⸻ Arthur blinked.
⸻ “Who’s Hana?” ⸻ Evangelos shook his head.
⸻ “No one knows.” ⸻ “The records never explain.” ⸻ “Only that she was important.” ⸻ Arthur stared into the fire.
⸻ A kingdom.
⸻ A dream.
⸻ A name.
⸻ Pendragon.
⸻ Something about it all felt strangely familiar.
⸻ He couldn’t explain why.
⸻ Inside Aethelion.
⸻ Leona remained silent.
⸻ For reasons she couldn’t quite understand.
⸻ Her chest hurt.
⸻ Just a little.
⸻ The New Duke Eventually the conversation continued.
⸻ Another name surfaced.
⸻ “The current duke.” ⸻ Arthur looked up.
⸻ “What about him?” ⸻ Evangelos shrugged.
⸻ “Nobody knows much.” ⸻ “Only that he became duke several years ago and somehow succeeded where others failed.” ⸻ Thomas raised an eyebrow.
⸻ “That’s impressive.” ⸻ “Very.” ⸻ Arthur leaned forward.
⸻ “What’s his name?” ⸻ The answer came immediately.
⸻ “Lancelot Caer Lerion.” ⸻ “The Duke of Caer Lerion.” ⸻ Inside Aethelion.
⸻ Leona froze.
⸻ Completely.
⸻ Arthur immediately noticed.
⸻ “Leona?” ⸻ No answer.
⸻ “Leona.” ⸻ Still nothing.
⸻ Arthur became concerned.
⸻ That was never a good sign.
⸻ Finally.
⸻ The sword spirit spoke.
⸻ “…Interesting.” ⸻ Arthur frowned.
⸻ “You know him?” ⸻ A very long pause followed.
⸻ “…Maybe.” ⸻ Which meant yes.
⸻ Arthur already knew that.
⸻ The Ruined Frontier The next morning.
⸻ The landscape began changing.
⸻ Slowly at first.
⸻ Then dramatically.
⸻ Forests became thinner.
⸻ Fields became scarcer.
⸻ Old stone roads appeared.
⸻ Broken watchtowers stood upon distant hills.
⸻ Ruins emerged from the wilderness.
⸻ Walls swallowed by vines.
⸻ Collapsed fortresses.
⸻ Ancient roads disappearing beneath earth and grass.
⸻ The farther west they traveled.
⸻ The older everything felt.
⸻ Even the air seemed different.
⸻ Heavier.
⸻ As though history itself lingered there.
⸻ Morgan looked ready to explode from excitement.
⸻ “There are ruins everywhere.” ⸻ “Do not touch anything.” Jakel immediately said.
⸻ “I wasn’t going to.” ⸻ Nobody believed her.
⸻ Not even Eidra.
⸻ The Watchtower Late in the afternoon.
⸻ The group reached an old watchtower overlooking a valley.
⸻ Its upper half had collapsed centuries ago.
⸻ Yet enough remained to provide a clear view.
⸻ Arthur climbed first.
⸻ Naturally.
⸻ Jakel climbed second.
⸻ Naturally.
⸻ The others followed.
⸻ When they reached the top.
⸻ Arthur stopped.
⸻ Speechless.
⸻ The valley below stretched for miles.
⸻ Ancient roads crossed forgotten fields.
⸻ Ruins dotted the landscape.
⸻ Small settlements clung stubbornly to survival.
⸻ And in the far distance— a city.
⸻ Or what remained of one.
⸻ Massive walls.
⸻ Ancient towers.
⸻ A fortress built atop older ruins.
⸻ Weathered by time.
⸻ Scarred by countless battles.
⸻ Yet still standing.
⸻ Arthur couldn’t look away.
⸻ “What is that?” ⸻ Evangelos stepped beside him.
⸻ For once.
⸻ Even he sounded impressed.
⸻ “Caer Lerion.” ⸻ The wind swept across the valley.
⸻ Carrying distant sounds.
⸻ Life.
⸻ Trade.
⸻ Conflict.
⸻ History.
⸻ Arthur stared.
⸻ The world suddenly felt larger than ever.
⸻ And somewhere within that ancient frontier— destiny waited.
⸻ A Distant Throne Far away.
⸻ Within the fortress city of Caer Lerion.
⸻ A young man sat upon an ancient stone throne.
⸻ Golden-blonde hair.
⸻ Clear blue eyes.
⸻ Simple but finely crafted attire beneath a dark cloak.
⸻ Though still young— he carried himself with the composure of someone much older.
⸻ Reports covered the table before him.
⸻ Monster attacks.
⸻ Bandit raids.
⸻ Missing villages.
⸻ The burdens of leadership.
⸻ The young duke sighed.
⸻ Then looked toward the western horizon.
⸻ As though sensing something.
⸻ Or someone.
⸻ A faint smile crossed his face.
⸻ “Lancelot?” a nearby knight asked.
⸻ The young duke stood.
⸻ “Prepare the city.” ⸻ The knight blinked.
⸻ “For what?” ⸻ Lancelot Caer Lerion looked toward the horizon once more.
⸻ The smile remained.
⸻ His gaze drifted toward the ancient ruins visible beyond the city walls.
⸻ Toward the place he had loved since childhood.
⸻ The old kingdom.
⸻ The forgotten legends.
⸻ The stories of impossible dreams.
⸻ For reasons he couldn’t explain— he suddenly remembered them.
⸻ Then he smiled again.
⸻ “I’m not sure.” ⸻ “But something important is coming.” ⸻ Outside the fortress.
⸻ The western wind blew across the ancient ruins.
⸻ And somewhere beyond the horizon— Arthur and his companions continued walking toward Caer Lerion.
⸻ Toward destiny.
⸻ Toward an old friend he had yet to meet.
⸻ And toward the place where the dream called Camelot would one day awaken once again.
End of Chapter 16