Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the fortress.
⸻ Lancelot had not slept.
⸻ Again.
⸻ Reports covered his desk.
⸻ Again.
⸻ And somehow.
⸻ There were more of them.
⸻ Again.
⸻ He looked at the mountain of paperwork.
⸻ Then at the door.
⸻ Then back at the paperwork.
⸻ He briefly considered jumping out the window.
⸻ A knock interrupted his thoughts.
⸻ “Enter.” ⸻ Captain Gareth stepped inside.
⸻ “You should sleep.” ⸻ “I’ll schedule it.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Gareth stared.
⸻ “…You can’t schedule sleep.” ⸻ Lancelot looked unconvinced.
⸻ Breakfast Several minutes later.
⸻ Arthur and his companions entered.
⸻ Lancelot blinked.
⸻ All of them looked energetic.
⸻ Even the Minotaur.
⸻ How?
⸻ Arthur smiled.
⸻ “Good morning.” ⸻ “…Is it?” ⸻ “Yes.” ⸻ Lancelot looked outside.
⸻ Then at the reports.
⸻ Then at Arthur.
⸻ “…I’m uncertain.” ⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Morgan smiled.
⸻ Even Jakel looked slightly amused.
⸻ For reasons he didn’t understand.
⸻ Arthur’s presence somehow changed the atmosphere of the room.
⸻ It felt… ⸻ Lighter.
⸻ That was dangerous.
⸻ Because it was making Lancelot lower his guard.
⸻ The Problem Lancelot spread several reports across the table.
⸻ “You said you wanted to help.” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “We do.” ⸻ “Then I’ll be direct.” ⸻ His expression became serious.
⸻ “Caer Lerion is struggling.” ⸻ He pointed toward the reports.
⸻ “Villages have disappeared.” ⸻ Another report.
⸻ “Trade routes are becoming dangerous.” ⸻ Another.
⸻ “Monsters are appearing in unusual numbers.” ⸻ Another.
⸻ “We’re running out of soldiers.” ⸻ Another.
⸻ “And people are afraid.” ⸻ Silence settled over the room.
⸻ Arthur studied the reports.
⸻ Then looked up.
⸻ “What do you need?” ⸻ No hesitation.
⸻ No suspicion.
⸻ No concern for rewards.
⸻ Just: What do you need?
⸻ Lancelot blinked.
⸻ For some reason.
⸻ That question felt strange.
⸻ Then he answered.
⸻ “Honestly?” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “I need help.” ⸻ The room became quiet.
⸻ Because the words sounded… ⸻ Heavy.
⸻ As though he had wanted to say them for a very long time.
⸻ The Missing Village Lancelot placed one final report onto the table.
⸻ “A village disappeared three days ago.” ⸻ Arthur frowned.
⸻ “Disappeared?” ⸻ “No survivors.” ⸻ “No bodies.” ⸻ “No signs of battle.” ⸻ Morgan blinked.
⸻ “That’s terrifying.” ⸻ “Yes.” ⸻ Thomas frowned.
⸻ “Monsters don’t usually make villages vanish.” ⸻ “No.” ⸻ “Bandits don’t either.” ⸻ “No.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Even Evangelos looked troubled.
⸻ Finally.
⸻ Arthur spoke.
⸻ “We’ll investigate.” ⸻ Lancelot blinked.
⸻ “You don’t even know what happened.” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “Correct.” ⸻ “It could be dangerous.” ⸻ “Probably.” ⸻ “You could die.” ⸻ “Also possible.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Lancelot stared.
⸻ Then looked toward the others.
⸻ They looked completely unsurprised.
⸻ “Is he always like this?” ⸻ “Yes.” Thomas answered.
⸻ “Unfortunately.” Jakel added.
⸻ Morgan nodded.
⸻ “Constantly.” ⸻ Eidra smiled.
⸻ Evangelos simply closed his book.
⸻ That was apparently answer enough.
⸻ A Strange Question As everyone prepared to leave.
⸻ Lancelot suddenly spoke.
⸻ “Arthur.” ⸻ Arthur turned.
⸻ “Yeah?” ⸻ Lancelot studied him.
⸻ The way he smiled.
⸻ The way he spoke.
⸻ The way he looked at problems.
⸻ Almost eagerly.
⸻ As though helping people was simply natural.
⸻ Then he asked: ⸻ “Why?” ⸻ Arthur blinked.
⸻ “Why what?” ⸻ “Why help?” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ The question seemed genuine.
⸻ Not cynical.
⸻ Not mocking.
⸻ Simply curious.
⸻ Arthur thought about it.
⸻ Then smiled.
⸻ “Because people need help.” ⸻ Lancelot waited.
⸻ Surely there was more.
⸻ There wasn’t.
⸻ “…That’s it?” ⸻ Arthur looked confused.
⸻ “Should there be more?” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Complete silence.
⸻ Lancelot didn’t know how to answer.
⸻ Because… ⸻ No.
⸻ Maybe there shouldn’t be.
⸻ Departure Several minutes later.
⸻ The group stood at the gates.
⸻ Supplies packed.
⸻ Weapons ready.
⸻ Captain Gareth approached.
⸻ “You really accepted?” ⸻ Arthur nodded.
⸻ “Yes.” ⸻ Gareth looked at Lancelot.
⸻ Then at Arthur.
⸻ Then sighed.
⸻ Apparently that was contagious.
⸻ Lancelot looked toward the road.
⸻ Toward the missing village.
⸻ Toward another problem.
⸻ Then unexpectedly.
⸻ He spoke.
⸻ “I’ll come with you.” ⸻ Silence.
⸻ Gareth blinked.
⸻ “You absolutely will not.” ⸻ “I absolutely will.” ⸻ “You’re the duke.” ⸻ “I’m aware.” ⸻ “You haven’t slept.” ⸻ “I’m also aware.” ⸻ “You have paperwork.” ⸻ Lancelot looked pained.
⸻ “…I was trying to forget.” ⸻ Thomas laughed.
⸻ Morgan covered her mouth.
⸻ Even Arthur smiled.
⸻ For some reason.
⸻ Lancelot smiled too.
⸻ A small one.
⸻ The first genuine smile Gareth had seen in weeks.
⸻ The captain stopped arguing.
⸻ Because somehow.
⸻ He already knew.
⸻ The duke had made up his mind.
⸻ And so.
⸻ Arthur.
⸻ Jakel.
⸻ Thomas.
⸻ Morgan.
⸻ Evangelos.
⸻ Eidra.
⸻ And Lancelot Caer Lerion.
⸻ Left the city together.
⸻ Toward a vanished village.
⸻ Toward answers.
⸻ And toward the beginning of a friendship that would one day change history.
End of Chapter 19