Steel and Mana

The moment the news came that Arthur sensed something, we moved at once. There was no time for second guesses, for debate, and not even Merlin argued. If the twins felt something, we didn't ask questions.

Down on the ground, Kustov’s voice crackled through my receiver as I stepped onto the Camelot’s main ramp, Leyla and Arthur just behind me. Our mechs were surrounding the Camelot, protecting it in its most vulnerable moment, picking up the ground troops.

"The sensors picked up a fluctuation from afar. We can't tell if it is what Prince Arthur has sensed, but–"

"It probably is." I cut in, "We’re pulling back. Now," I ordered the moment my boots hit the interior of the airship. "Get us back into the air the moment everyone is on board. The mechs will follow us on the ground, and we will pick them up after we pass by the Gods' Formation. Until then, they will bring up the rear!"

"Understood, Sovereign," came Kustov’s firm reply.

It didn't take long for everyone to be back on the ship, and the moment the ramp was pulled up and closed, the ship began ascending at a rapid pace.

"I wonder what it is..." Merlin muttered, walking next to me as we headed up to the bridge.

"I can't really tell..." Arthur said in a muffled voice while his eyes moved to one of the viewports we passed by, eyes fixed on the treeline in the distance. All this time, Leyla hovered at his side, lips tight, her own eyes fixed on her brother, worrying. "It doesn't try to contact me again, or I just cut it off in time. But it sensed me."

"Interesting." Merlin hummed, the least worried amongst us all, "I wonder if it shows that some beasts are intelligent or... does this really mean that there are humans living here?"

"I don't know how much of their humanity is retained," I shrugged, remembering the people-like thing we once found mounted on a beast.

"We are making our turn," Kustov reported the moment we entered onto the bridge, looking at the Imaginary's view.

Outside, the vast plains were just as quiet as they had been the entire day before—well... until they weren't. The first clue was the visible swaying of the massive trees. It was subtle and could be mistaken for the work of strong winds if we didn't know that something was coming.

"Focus on the forest's edge!" I ordered as the view zoomed in and sharpened.

"Aye, Sovereign." The officer called out, "Putting it on."

The view shifted a few more times, and the forest came into focus to the best of the ship's abilities. For a moment, nothing... only the shaking of trees and their leaves... And then we saw it. One of the smaller trees near the edge seemed to move—no, it fell. A moment later, another. And then, stepping out from the shade of the more ancient, much more sturdy, and towering trees, came the first of the beasts.

Just as I expected, they were massive.

The body this one had was hunched, covered in thick, bark-like plates that almost resembled crafted, actually made armor... Could it be? I wasn't so sure, as it was also fused with twisted roots and fungus around its limbs. As for magic, even I could tell this one for sure had it in ample reserve, thanks to the glowing veins of blue light pulsing under its hide, visible from even this far away. Its face was not a face—just a jutting mass of fangs beneath a bone mask like a knight's visor. Once again... that didn't look natural... but crafted. That was a knight's helmet; I could swear on it.

"Zoom in," I exclaimed. "On its right shoulder!"

The camera locked in, and we got our first honest look at... the rider. For sure, that person was a human. Or something human-shaped, at least. We were too far away to make out the actual details, but the shape of a human body was way too familiar.

My gut twisted at the thought that there were indeed others living here and beings who could communicate with my kids... I couldn't see red hair, but...

Then came the second.

It was two heads taller than the first, at least eighteen meters in height. It was also leaner than the first; it was like a lizard or a serpent, its limbs elongated with claws that dragged ruts into the grass as it walked. It lacked armor as it only had exposed, weirdly translucent flesh stretched over thrumming muscle and glowing bone. That bastard had even more magic in it than the first; I knew because I caught Merlin grimacing. Then again... it had an owner, too. Its rider was on its back, crouched, hands on the creature's head as if guiding it directly with touch. Maybe even connected to it.

"What do you think?" Yuri asked, her voice echoing on the bridge while our machines were walking backward, their full attention on the distant targets, getting their feed from the Camelot. "Are they counted as their versions of our mechs?"

"We will assume that," I answered, grunting, feeling that she had hit the nail on the head.

As we talked, the third appeared, which was smaller but wider. Ten meters tall at best but bulky, it hunched forward on its knuckles like a gorilla. This one was covered in tumors or maybe hives—like how we could carry airplanes. Its skin, too, pulsated and twitched as if something moved under it. Then again, this, too, had a figure standing on its head.

And then came the last one.

I felt the deck tilt as we ascended, but I didn’t need a better angle. This one looked... somewhat regal. At least, it's more commanding. It was about twenty meters tall, if not taller, with a very much ape-like appearance. The difference was that its upper arms ended in long, blade-like limbs, like a mantis. Its head was antlered, crowned by a lattice of... CC. It was unmistakable. It had them on like a headpiece.

Then, those pieces all lit up in different colors, and a holographic image of a human appeared above the monsters. It was human, and although the colors were washed out, I swear I saw a glint of red in its long hair. It spoke nothing but raised a hand as if inviting us to come with them... But looking at Arthur, I think they were speaking to him instead.

"Son?" I asked, reaching out and touching his shoulder.

"I don't hear them..." He flinched, blinking his eyes before answering, "Our defenses block them out, I think... I don't know."

“That's enough for me. Full ascent,” I said, barely above a whisper. "Take us home, Kustov."

Without saying anything and even Yuri remaining silent, not asking to stay and test the enemy's strength, the Camelot climbed higher, angling southward, back toward the Gods' Formation. I could feel the tension in every crew member on the bridge at that moment.

Still... the monsters didn’t follow us. They stayed there, displaying that image a little longer, watching us go, right until we disappeared from their view.

...

....

.....

"Ouch..." Lancelot groaned as he sat on the edge of his bed while Pion was examining his bruised torso.

"One broken rib," he muttered, his voice as cool as ever, though Lancelot could hear the burning irritation beneath it. None of the others were happy about what had happened... he could see that. "And three more likely cracked. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse... We are lucky. The Kahn could’ve crushed your entire chest if he wanted to."

"He didn’t," Lancelot answered, his voice hoarse but amused as he winced against the touch. "He did punch you guys harder than he punched me... Ough... I still wish I had your armor on, more and more."

While Pion finished his examination, Lancelot held back his groans, looking around their current home. They were in their new quarters, gifted to them by the Kahn himself after the duel had ended. The courtyard was secluded, walled off by curved sandstone walls, separated from outside interactions either intentionally or... Well, most likely, it was intentional. Still, it wasn't a prison but something clearly meant for guests. There was a fountain in the center of the front garden, which was fed by the subterranean canals Lancelot had predicted earlier. The atmosphere here was peaceful, strangely enough. It felt... It felt as if it was far removed from the fire and fury, the usual clamor, where one could actually rest and let down their defenses.

Not that any of the soldiers Lancelot had with him would do so.

After finishing, Pion sat beside him on a low bench, carefully tightening a bandage around Lancelot's ribs with the efficiency of a field medic, something that was drilled into all of Avalon's soldiers. The others, already taken care of themselves, stood nearby, armor off but weapons close, their gazes occasionally flicking toward their young prince. None of them were pleased... it was evident. Not with the Kahn and certainly not with how the duel ended. Lancelot could guess what actually bothered them was how easily the gauntlets had broken one of their finest weapons and top-of-the-line armor sets.

"I should’ve moved sooner," Pion muttered as he sealed the binding with a small snap. "When I saw the gauntlets light up, I should’ve stepped in."

"You would’ve tarnished a warrior's challenge and duel," Lancelot shrugged while he smiled, then winced. "That would have been catastrophic. Hearing so much about the Spear that Mirian has, I had ideas about what an actual God's Artifact can do, but yeah... No wonder nothing can really live up to its durability. Damn! I liked my sword..."

Pion didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at the broken blade’s hilt they recovered, setting it on the low table beside Lancelot.

"I wonder," Lancelot continued, "If Father or Galahad could read anything out of it if they saw it in action."

"We do have it recorded," one of the others said, making Lancelot smile and nod his head.

He watched him for a moment, then looked up at the stars visible through the room's window.

"Well, at least we don't go back empty-handed," he said finally. "Even if I lost."

"You did," Pion confirmed bluntly. "We all did," he added, making Lancelot chuckle despite the pain. He waved off the concerned glance from one of his guards.

"But I learned more in that duel than I have in years of sparring! So, none of you should feel as if we failed or something. This duel wasn’t about winning. Not really... I think he was unsure of what kind of people we were, and this was his confirmation. Even if you interfered in the end, I think he took it as honorable because you jumped in to protect me after I lost. I don't think he will have an issue with that."

"You think that’s all it takes?" Pion asked, grimacing.

"For some men, yes," Lancelot nodded. "I think I also understand him now. He respects strength, and I showed him that I wasn’t afraid to stand and bleed. And my men showed him I am never alone. Grandfather was right; I was indeed the best candidate to send here to make contact with." He sat up straighter then, teeth gritted against the stabbing ache in his ribs. "And now I know what I need to do."

"We’ll need a new sword for you after we get back home."

"Sure," Lancelot smiled, his thoughts swirling with the duel he had against the Kahn, feeling the same rush once again, "Maybe he will gift me with one. Anyway, that doesn't matter. I have a good feeling about tomorrow's meeting, and I think I will be able to make Avalon a new friend instead of an enemy. Even if they don't become allies... at least they won't become our enemies."