The next day, Mixarnt and Lancelot stood in the royal courtyard, ready to depart for Caspade. The supreme teleportation scrolls were powerful artifacts that allowed for instantaneous travel over vast distances, but they were rare and costly to use. The King and Queen had spared no expense, knowing how important this mission was.
As Lancelot activated the scroll, Mixarnt couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. He had never traveled with a former general before, let alone someone as legendary as Lancelot. The man was Eclipse's grandfather, after all, and his reputation as a warrior was unmatched.
The world around them blurred as the teleportation scroll activated, and in an instant, they found themselves standing in the bustling streets of Caspade. The familiar sights and sounds of the town greeted Mixarnt, and he couldn't help but smile.
"Follow me old man!" Mixarnt and Lancelot entered the bustling adventurer's guild of Caspade, the familiar sights and sounds of the place bringing a sense of nostalgia to Mixarnt. The guild was as lively as ever, with adventurers chatting, sharing stories, and planning their next quests. Mixarnt's energetic demeanor was infectious as he darted ahead, Lancelot following closely behind with the calm and composed grace of a seasoned warrior.
As they approached the reception desk, Mika, the guild's receptionist, looked up from her work. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized Mixarnt. "Welcome—... M-M-Mixarnt!?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in both surprise and frustration. She quickly rounded the desk and ran over to him, pulling him into a tight hug. "How long has it been!? Seven months! You just left and vanished! We thought you were gonna return after a week! But no, you literally disappeared!"
Mixarnt scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "N-no... w-well... you see, I kinda fell into a river and got dragged into this portal... When I swam to the surface, the surroundings were different, and er... upon walking, I started hearing the name Aetherlight. I realized I was thousands of miles away. Since Aetherlight is in the southern region of the continent, and Caspade is located in the central region, it took me a while to figure things out."
Mika crossed her arms, her expression a mix of annoyance and relief. "You're unbelievable, you know that? Do you have any idea how worried everyone was? Especially Elyssia! She's been asking about you nonstop!"
Mixarnt's eyes lit up at the mention of Elyssia. "Speaking of which, is Elyssia around? I wanna see her too!"
Mika sighed, shaking her head. "She's out on a quest right now, but she should be back soon. You'd better stick around this time, or I'll personally drag you back here by your ear."
Mixarnt chuckled nervously. "Got it, got it. I'll stay put, I promise."
Lancelot, who had been standing quietly beside Mixarnt, stepped forward and bowed politely. "Milady, I am Lancelot. I am here looking for an adventurer named Arthur. Is he around?"
Mika turned her attention to Lancelot, her expression softening. "Arthur? Yeah, he's around. He's usually at the tavern around this time of day. You'll probably find him there, nursing a tankard of ale and telling some wild story to anyone who'll listen."
Mixarnt grinned. "Sounds like the Arthur I know. Let's go, old man Lancelot!"
As they turned to leave, Mika called after them. "And Mixarnt! Don't you dare disappear again! If you do, I'll make sure Elyssia freezes you solid when she gets back!"
Mixarnt waved over his shoulder. "Don't worry, Mika! I'll be around!"
The tavern was just as lively as Mixarnt remembered, filled with adventurers laughing, drinking, and sharing tales of their exploits. It didn't take long to spot Arthur sitting at his usual corner table, a tankard of ale in hand and a group of adventurers gathered around him, listening intently to one of his stories.
Mixarnt approached the table with a grin. "Hey, old man! Got some visitor for you!"
Arthur looked up, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Mixarnt. "Mixarnt! It's been a long—" His words faltered as his gaze landed on Lancelot. For a brief moment, recognition flashed in his eyes, but then his expression stiffened. A bead of sweat formed on his brow as he forced a casual tone. "W-who's the fine gentleman with you?" he asked, his voice slightly unsteady. His heart pounded as he wondered—had Lancelot recognized him?
Mixarnt glanced at Lancelot, who was standing beside him with an incredulous and annoyed expression. The former general's sharp eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "This bastard, acting as if he doesn't know me."
As the other adventurers who had gathered near Arthur began to disperse, they took notice of the old man standing beside Mixarnt—his serious expression and intimidating aura were enough to make them uneasy.
Arthur chuckled nervously, his eyes flickering around the room as if searching for an escape. "Ah, well, you know how it is. After a while, faces start to blur together. Can't keep track of everyone I meet, haha..."
Lancelot wasn't buying it. He stepped closer to the table, his presence commanding and his tone firm. "Arthur Pendragon, cut the act. You know exactly who I am. And you know why I'm here."
Arthur sighed, his shoulders slumping as he set down his tankard. The playful glint in his eyes faded, replaced by a weariness that seemed to weigh heavily on him. "Alright. You got me. I was hoping to avoid this conversation, but I guess there's no running from it now."
Mixarnt's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, so you do remember!? All this time, you've been pretending not to know who you are?"
Arthur ran a hand through his unkempt beard, his expression conflicted. "It's... complicated, kid. And I never said I don't know who I was. I just didn't want to drag anyone into my mess. I thought it was better to just... disappear. Live a simple life, you know?"
Lancelot's annoyance softened into concern as he took a seat across from Arthur. "Arthur, you're not just anyone. You're a king. A hero. Your kingdom needs you. Your family needs you. Prince Artemion—your son—needs you."
Arthur's gaze dropped to the table, his voice quiet. "I know. I've thought about it every day. But after everything that happened... after Merlin... I didn't think I deserved to go back. I failed them, Lancelot. I failed everyone."
Mixarnt, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "Old man Arthur, you didn't fail anyone. You fought to protect Aetherlight, and you sacrificed more than anyone could ever ask. The fact that you're still here, still fighting in your own way, proves that you're still the same person who inspired so many people. Didn't you also help save Naeva back then?" He said with an innocent grin.
Arthur looked up, his eyes meeting Mixarnt's. There was a flicker of hope in his gaze, but it was quickly overshadowed by doubt. "You don't understand, kid. The darkness... it's still there. Merlin may have extracted it, but it left a void. I'm not the same person I was back then."
Lancelot leaned forward, his tone firm but compassionate. "Arthur, you're not alone. We're here to help you. You don't have to carry this burden by yourself. Come back to Aetherlight. Let us help you heal."
Arthur was silent for a long moment, his fingers tracing the rim of his tankard. The sounds of the tavern seemed to fade into the background as he weighed Lancelot's words. Finally, he let out a deep sigh and nodded. "Alright. I'll come back. But not I'm not making any promises. I'm not the king I used to be."
Lancelot's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "You don't have to be. Just be Arthur. That's enough."
Yeah, old man! Every old-timer general will be thrilled to see you, hehe!" Mixarnt said excitedly.
"By the way, where's Excalibur?" Lancelot asked with a smile.
Arthur laughed. "I lost it. Or rather, I gave it away to a kid I met during my journey. Hahaha! He even has the same name as me—"
Before he could finish, Lancelot grabbed him by the collar, his expression a mix of shock, disbelief, and sheer frustration.
"Y-Y-YOU GAVE AWAY EXCALIBUR!???" Lancelot nearly shouted.
Arthur averted his gaze, a nervous sweat forming on his brow. "Y-yeah..."
Lancelot stared at Arthur, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "You gave away Excalibur... to a kid... because he had the same name as you?" he repeated slowly, as if trying to process the absurdity of it all.
Arthur chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Well, when you put it that way, it does sound a bit ridiculous. But hey, the kid had potential! And he reminded me of myself when I was younger. Besides, I'm just an adventurer now. What do I need Excalibur for? Chopping firewood?"
Lancelot facepalmed, sighing deeply. "I can't believe you, Arthur. Excalibur isn't just a sword—it's a symbol of the kingdom. It's a part of your legacy."
Arthur waved a hand dismissively, his grin never fading. "Legacy, schmegacy. Aetherlight's doing just fine without me. Arnold's a great king, and Art's grown up knowing him as his father. I'm not about to waltz back in and mess everything up. Besides, I've got a good thing going here in Caspade. I've got friends, a steady supply of ale, and no one's trying to stab me in the back. What more could a guy ask for?"
Mixarnt, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't help but laugh. "You're something else, old man. I can't tell if you're the wisest person I've ever met or the most irresponsible."
Arthur winked at Mixarnt. "Why not both? Gahahahha!"
Lancelot sighed again, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. Despite Arthur's carefree attitude, it was clear that he had thought things through. He wasn't running away from his past—he had simply found a new path, one that allowed him to live on his own terms.
"Alright, Arthur." Lancelot said, his tone softening. "If you're set on staying here, I won't force you to come back permanently. But at least visit Aetherlight. The others deserve to see you. They've missed you, and they've been searching for you for years."
Arthur's grin softened into a more genuine smile. "Yeah, I guess I owe them that much. It'll be good to see everyone again. Just... don't expect me to stick around for long, okay? I've got a life here now."
Lancelot nodded. "Fair enough. But don't think you're off the hook for giving away Excalibur. We're going to have a long talk about that later."
Arthur laughed, raising his tankard in a mock toast. "Looking forward to it, Lance."
Mixarnt, still grinning, clapped Arthur on the back. "Well, this is going to be interesting. I can't wait to see everyone's faces when they realize you're alive."
Arthur's smile turned mischievous. "Oh, I'm sure it'll be a sight to behold. Just make sure you've got a good seat, kid. This is going to be one hell of a reunion."