Arthur stared at the sword.
The sword stared back.
At least… That was what it felt like.
The golden blade remained perfectly still.
Yet the voice was very real.
“…Hello?” Arthur asked cautiously.
Inside his mind, an exhausted sigh echoed.
“Wonderful.” The female voice sounded entirely unimpressed.
“I’ve been trapped for who-knows-how-long.” “And the first person I meet is you.” Arthur frowned.
“What does that mean?” “It means history hates me.” Arthur blinked.
Then looked around the chamber.
“Can anyone else hear her?” Rowan tilted his head.
“Hear who?” “The girl.” “What girl?” Lyra immediately stepped backward.
“Nira.” “Yes?” “I think the sword broke him.” “I was thinking the same thing.” Arthur pointed at them.
“I’m not crazy.” Leona immediately responded.
“Debatable.” Arthur froze.
“Hey.” “Yes?” “That wasn’t very nice.” “Neither is being trapped inside a sword.” Arthur had no response to that.
For several seconds.
Then: “…Fair.” The voice went silent.
As though surprised.
Arthur could almost feel her confusion.
“You’re supposed to argue.” “What?” “Most people argue.” Arthur shrugged.
“You had a point.” Leona remained silent.
Somehow that answer had completely disrupted whatever she expected.
Rowan watched Arthur carefully.
“You really are hearing someone.” “Yes.” Lyra crossed her arms.
“That’s concerning.” “Thank you for your support.” “You’re welcome.” The Forgotten King The chamber continued glowing softly.
The trials had ended.
Yet the dungeon wasn’t finished.
A figure slowly appeared near the pedestal.
Transparent.
Ancient.
A man clad in worn armor.
The spirit of a king.
All four friends immediately became alert.
The king studied them quietly.
Then his gaze settled on Arthur.
And the sword.
A faint smile appeared.
“At last.” His voice carried the weight of centuries.
“I was beginning to think nobody would ever pass.” Arthur scratched the back of his head.
“Sorry?” The spirit laughed.
“Do not apologize.” His eyes softened.
“The sword chose well.” Leona immediately interrupted.
“Questionable.” The spirit ignored her.
Or perhaps couldn’t hear her.
Arthur wasn’t sure.
“The trials were never meant to find the strongest.” The king continued.
“They were meant to find someone willing to carry others.” His gaze shifted toward Rowan.
Lyra.
Nira.
Then back to Arthur.
“A king walks ahead.” “Not because he is greater.” “But because he chooses to bear the burden first.” The chamber grew quiet.
Arthur listened carefully.
Because somehow… The words felt important.
More important than the sword.
More important than the dungeon.
The spirit’s smile widened.
“Treasure fades.” “Power fades.” “Legends fade.” “But the people you protect…” “They are what matter.” Then his form began dissolving.
Like mist in sunlight.
Arthur stepped forward.
“Wait.” The spirit paused.
Arthur hesitated.
Then asked: “What was your name?” For a moment, sadness crossed the king’s face.
Then peace.
“My name no longer matters.” His body continued fading.
“But one day…” A small smile appeared.
“You’ll understand why yours does.” Then he vanished.
The chamber fell silent.
The trials were over.
The Forgotten King’s duty had ended.
The Road Beyond Home The journey back to the surface felt shorter.
Perhaps because none of them were thinking about the climb.
Arthur carried Aethelion across his back.
Leona remained unusually quiet.
Which worried him.
A little.
The forest greeted them as they emerged from the ruins.
Sunlight.
Fresh air.
Home.
Yet somehow everything felt different.
Arthur stood at the edge of the trees.
Looking toward Ashbourne.
The village seemed smaller now.
Not worse.
Not lesser.
Just smaller.
Leona finally spoke.
“You want to leave.” Arthur blinked.
“You can tell?” “You’re not subtle.” “Fair.” A pause.
Then Arthur smiled.
“I do.” The dream beneath the oak tree returned to his mind.
A kingdom.
Peace.
A better future.
Impossible things.
The kind worth chasing.
Leona was silent for a while.
Then: “…You’re serious.” Arthur laughed.
“About which part?” “All of it.” “Of course.” Leona groaned.
A very long groan.
The kind produced by someone witnessing disaster in real time.
Arthur grinned.
“What?” “You are going to be so much trouble.” Arthur’s smile widened.
“I’ve been told that before.” The village waited ahead.
His grandfather.
His friends.
His home.
But beyond the horizon— the world waited too.
And for the first time in his life… Arthur Pendragon was ready to meet it.
End of Chapter 6