Steel and Mana

Chapter 369 – Unexpected Visitors

Inside my palace, in a private room, I was having a meeting between Merlin, Lucca, Oleg, and my Father. I was explaining to the latter two what Mirian had told me, the vision or dream she had, where our city had fallen prey to the monsters. After finishing, neither of them looked like someone who wouldn't believe it or take it as a bad dream.

"If such thing happens..." Oleg broke the silence first, his voice gruff, letting out a long breath, “If the Pass falls, Avalon falls. That’s probably right. But to really manage to do that, these beasts have to be as organized as a proper army. This would mean we’re not just fighting monsters, but instead, we’re fighting an army. And armies have generals.”

"Who says they can't do that?" Merlin’s fingers tapped on the table. “We did find human-like corpses. We already know there are people on the other side... The monster attacks could be nothing but probings from the other side, constantly keeping track of our progress, seeing how big of a threat we are. I, for one, believe that it is not a coincidence.”

“I agree,” Oleg replied, his hand tightening into a fist before releasing it into an open palm again, “I think we’d be fools not to consider it. From what we assumed, beasts don’t and can't organize themselves. So when that happens, something—or someone—is behind it.”

"Not exactly." My Father leaned forward, his face grim. “I’ve seen the waves coming before Leon was born. Back then, they were small, horse-sized at best. They had smarts, not human-like intelligence, but they had a basic cognitive capability. Adapting to the battlefield and reacting to it. The bigger ones were the only stupid variants... but they began coming only when...”

"When I came into play and started massacring the small ones." I added with a shrug, “Merlin is likely right. I probably started a cascading reaction, making them take notice and constantly raising the bar. If it is true, Mirian's vision could be a result of that. Of the point when the bar had been put up so high, we couldn't jump it. If that is the case, then we prepare for the worst. Merlin, I want you to consult the archives in your mind. See if there’s any record of beasts acting in coordination, anything that previous Ishillian tours to the other side could provide us. Oleg, double the lookouts in the Pass. I want every scout to report directly to you every day. It is summer... but that doesn't mean anything now. And Father—” I paused, thinking a little. “I need you to gather a group. Let's take a look at God's Formation and how it is doing right now.”

"Will do." He nodded, not even asking questions. “We can be on our way by tomorrow.”

"Don't rush it. Also, while on the way and back, survey the Pass. We will start and establish outposts on the mountain walls. I don't know what effect it may have, if any, but we will begin expanding into it and set up defensive platforms inside of it..."

"Manning will be the deadliest job in the army..." Lucca, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"Their duty is above their lives," Oleg answered firmly, knowing that there would be volunteers to man those posts.

“I understand that." Lucca nodded, "But what of the people? If word of this gets out, there’ll be those who realize something is wrong. What if there is panic? We can’t afford chaos in the streets.”

"There won't be panic." I said firmly, “One, my people are not like that. Two, we keep this quiet for now. Only those in this room and Mirian know the full extent of the threat. We won't advertise the end times, but we will prepare for them. That is why this Union is coming together... because if it indeed looks grim, we can call upon an army at a size that I don't think anybody had ever seen on this continent.”

"That... is for sure." Merlin’s lips thinned into a smile while he nodded.

...
....
......

At the same time, outside of Avalon's walls, children’s laughter carried across the lushly green riverbank, a stark contrast to the tension in the meeting chamber within the palace. Leyla and Arthur’s playful rivalry over who can control the flowing river better escalated into a full-blown splash war, with Lancelot caught in the crossfire between the two. Morgan, in the meantime, egging on both parties, was swimming circles around them, being the little agitator, prompting her siblings to use more and more spells, making bigger and bigger waves in the river that he could ride like a proper surfer.

The only one of the siblings who wasn't in the water was Galahad, who was sitting on the bank, trying to stay out of the 'fight' and satisfied with bathing only in sunlight.

“You know,” he said, his voice carrying over the constant splashing and yells of Lancelot, who was using a stick to slice the waves apart, which barely worked... but he tried, nonetheless, “All of our mothers would have a fit if they saw us out here like this.”

"Please!" Leyla snorted, flicking water in his direction all of a sudden. “Mom always having fits about something. If it’s not us, it’s something else, or the Pass, or the weather. She needs to lighten up!”

"I think it is because you two can use magic so easily," Galahad answered, wiping his eyes clear, now thoroughly soaked and shivering a little. "You don't even summon formations or incantations. She just wants you to not use it for wrong things..."

"Yeah, they cheat!" Morgan agreed, flicking her wrist, her lips silently moving, and a magic formation appeared above Galahad, warming and drying his body at once.

"Magic is just a tool!" Lancelot added, standing while heaving, using his siblings' fight as a chance to train, "I can still beat them down in a one-on-one."

"Sure you can," Arthur grunted, rolling his eyes, treading the water nearby, as he shot him a look. “Anyway, they are just under a little bit of pressure, mostly because of the Union thing. They can't just go and relax like we do now.”

“Still...” Leyla pursed her lips, her tone defiant. “That doesn’t mean they get to suck the fun out of everything. We’re not soldiers. Not yet, anyway.”

"I am!" Lancelot said indignantly. “I am already an ensign in the Pass! A year or so, and I can take up proper duty there, especially in the winter. Anyway, Arthur is right; they are trying to protect us, Leyla. Not only from monsters but from our own powers. And I do mean all of us. If trouble happens because of us... or, if the Pass falls—”

“If the Pass falls, we’ll deal with it,” Leyla interrupted, her voice sharp. “But until then, I’m not going to spend my life worrying about things I can’t control. Without having fun, why even bother?”

Arthur exchanged a glance with Lancelot, a silent understanding passing between them, shrugging. They both knew Leyla’s little tantrum was as much a shield as it was a declaration, as she also felt that something was off since this Union thing started. Something was gathering above them, and she hated feeling powerless. Their parents' constant warnings only reminded her of how little control she had over their future...

"Aren't we here to play?" Morgan, sensing the shift in mood, swam closer to Leyla. “Plus... They do trust us to be responsible, or they wouldn't have let us come out alone, no?"

"Yeah..." Leyla’s expression softened, and she reached out to ruffle Morgan’s wet hair. “I know, little sister. But sometimes, I do think they forget that we’re not made of glass. We can handle more than they think. Even at the Summit, we didn't really do anything. I was expecting a bit more...”

"You did what you had to in that situation," Galahad, who had been quietly listening, spoke up again. “From what you told me, I don't think any of the leaders there would have taken lightly for you to start dictating terms.”

"..." Leyla opened her mouth to retort, but Arthur cut her off. “Enough. We’re here to have fun, remember? No more talk of politics, or the Pass, or anything else. Just us, the water, and the sun!”

The others nodded, the tension very quickly evaporating as they returned to their playful antics. From this, even Galahad couldn't escape as he was dragged into the water by a giant hand formed by Leyla's magic, forcing him to join in their bout.

Yet, even amidst that, Arthur couldn't help but think about his sister's words. She was right. They will have to show their parents that they can do a lot, that they can help, especially if people from the other side are looking for them—for him.

What nobody expected was that trouble would come that evening from a place that not one soul in Avalon ever expected to.

...
....
......

"What?" Luna asked, almost dropping everything in her hand. She was standing in my study, here to call me to dinner.

I wasn't alone, though. Sasha, Yuri, and Mikan were all there, looking at each other. They were unsure what to do, so I just repeated it plainly.

"I have been informed that..." I looked at Luna's mismatched eyes. "A group of people, calling themselves your parents and relatives, have arrived in Avalon today."

"No... that's... Not possible." She stuttered a little, almost swaying, prompting Mikan to walk up and hold her stead.

"I can make them go away, permanently." Yuri offered, making Luna look at her, but she was unsure how to answer. "Not like that, of course." She added softly, "Only if you want..."

"Yuri!" Sasha chided him, making her shrug and spreading her arms.

"I think they are lying!" Luna finally spoke up again, her face red from anger, "No way those people would just pop up! Not after this many years!"

"We never really looked into what happened to them." Sasha offered, looking back and forth between me and Yuri.

"No, we didn't," Yuri affirmed, scratching her chin. "I never sent anyone out to gather information; neither of you looked interested in them anyway."

"They simply abandoned me anyway." Luna snorted, her arms crossing before her flat chest, holding onto her arms, her fingers tightening in both frustration and boiling rage. "Even if they survived until now, who cares? I was always groomed to be something of an offering, hmph!"

"Well," I spoke up, walking over and gently hugging her, giving her a kiss to calm her mind down, "We still don't know if they are who they say to be."

"They shouldn't be lying," Mikan added thoughtfully. "If they are, they should know that we would punish them. Harshly. Impersonating family members of the royal bloodline? That wouldn't fly in any country."

"That is... true..." Luna mumbled, biting her lower lips, "But what do they want? After all these years? Nothing good, I assume!"

"Probably not." Yuri agreed, shaking her head, "Should I sniff around a little?"

"No need." I waved a hand at her, "I told Lucca to house them somewhere in the city, keep them there while we 'look into their claims.' So, for now, they aren't cleared to even step into palace grounds."

"Do the kids know?" Luna asked, looking exceptionally worried all of a sudden.

"No." Sasha answered her, "We didn't mention anything to them yet."

"Good..." She muttered, turning back to me. "First, let me talk to them. Of course, you must be there, too!" She pointed at my chest.

"Of course, I will be." I chuckled, giving her another kiss, "I'm your husband, no?"

"Damn right!" She hummed, arms crossed, masking her great nervousness as best as she could. "I want to hear what they want if they are indeed my parents..."

"Will you forgive them?" Yuri asked, curious, making everyone look at her.

"I... don't know..." She mumbled, looking at the ground. "I honestly don't..."