A homunculi's growth spurts were no joke. In a year after my subsequent crowning, I had grown taller and my assets (i.e. boing boing) were more pronounced in comparison to other physical changes. They were a nuisance to get accustomed to and had reached a point where my old knight armor was no longer viable.
The nation of Britain finally found itself in a period of peace. The end goal I envisioned was national stability sustained by a communion to develop a brighter tomorrow, not by greed nor by fear. A place where common folk can safely trundle in a dark alley without the scent of excrement and being shanked for their valuables. Britain was far from that ideal; it probably could never be realized.
Though, what are goals if they can be reached? They are things we strive for, to always do better so that the belief of prosperity will not decay in future generations. The new governing bodies were glued to this mindset, even if I had to force feed it down their throats.
Those who refuse…got their justified ends. But that had ceased with the last hanging being ten months ago.
I stood at the front of my office window, admiring the lively commotions of citizens going about their day. The spring sun was high in the sky, no clouds in sight. Everyone was doing their part in rebooting the economy. Their smiles and light energetic conversations were all I needed to witness to know that my efforts were not in vain. In my opinion, for a knight not even a decade old and without any training, I did a pretty good job in fixing things.
The role of a king was also packaged together with baggage. I hated the constant bland meetings and uptight tea parties. It was better when I was a knight, where everyday was filled with exquisite strolls and brotherhood. As a king, I could not walk on the streets without guards and being swarmed by civilians. That was, if I ever had a chance to enter the towns because of all the paperwork.
The consequences of mass executions were the transfers of land and wealth to new owners, giving me hellish piles of documents that must be reviewed and revised.
My previous arrangements before my rebellion provided some initial experience on deskwork. Those same skills transferred to my new role, yet the load was increased by multiple folds.
*Sigh* I took a sip of my tea. The hot beverage of leaf juice wasn't filling; a mug of ale would be rejuvenating right about now. Alas, my attendants refused to provide me with the drink. They argued alcohol hindered people's mental state…I'd say not having my ale made it worse.
I slumped back into my wooden chair and eyed my piles of papers. Procrastinating my fate only made the looming towers of documents more frightful. My eyes wandered from my desk to my knight armor hanging on the wall; the sword Clarent was placed beside plates of metal. They had been cleaned and the metal gleamed in the sunlight.
When I gained control, my gender and heritage (child of Arthur) was somehow leaked to the public. People took the news in stride and the civilian population transitioned to the new legislation pretty smoothly. Many saw the resemblance when I removed my helmet, revealing my gender and giving away my heritage. Tailored clothing was sewed to suit my new figure and my old armor was hung up as decorations. The glory seeking days were no more and all conflicts would be fought as a last resort by the knights.
Excalibur was also placed inside a glass case on the opposite end of the room. It was sealed behind multiple locks, of which only I held the key. Right beside the glass case was a cabinet of luxurious wines; they were gifts from bars that I frequented when I led my rebellion. I glanced between the wines and my cup of tea.
'A single sip of wine wouldn't hurt.' An appealing thought ran through my mind.
*Cough* A cough stopped my arm from extending further towards the wine. I turned my face to see a young man entering my office. The man, Kenelm, was the post-priest who socked the bishop in my first official gathering as king. Post because I hired him as my personal advisor. It was a job I graciously offered just for the fact that he was a moral and down-to-earth good guy. Besides, the options were either this or possibly stabbed to death in his sleep by overzealous religious nobodies. His assault practically ruined his career as a priest. He did say his intention was to be a person of unbiased justice, a very knightley decree. His white hair and tanned skin was a unique addition to his strange persona. As a great king, I gave him a new venue in exerting justice to the many corrupted authorities in Britain.
No need to thank me.
"My king, I do believe that it's unwise for you to dine on these beverages at this time." He blandly observed. His arms carried more parchment to add to my ever growing pile.
"It's just a small sip." I rested my head on my desk and meekly reasoned.
Kenelm shook his head in disappointment. His thoughts were probably how I was this successful as a ruler even with my many misconducts in royal events and despair towards kingly matters. "Please consider your position and how this may damage your image."
"Nah, I don't give a damn." I responded and grabbed the bottle of wine. I was about to pour my first cup before it was snatched from my grip.
"Everyone else does." Kenelm closed the bottle and placed it back into the cabinet. His eyes continued to give me that disapproving gaze.
"I am the king so I can do the hell I want." I stood up and announced.
He frowned and organized my piles of unfinished papers into neat stacks. "The same king who, and I quote, will listen to criticism to be better." He leaned forward from across the desk. "And I don't see you doing your kingly duties."
My ego deflated and my body crashed back down to my seat. "Fine. I'll do the stupid papers." I angrily mumbled. This strict advisor was ruining my joys in life.
Seeing my pissed mood, Kenelm sighed and rummaged his hair. "On the off chance you finish, I will bring some ale and refreshments to you as a reward."
"It better not be the oily dumps the nobles eat." I snapped back as I moved my quill over some documents.
"I will make-"
*Slam*
"King Mordred!" Lancelot and Gawain thrusted open the door and ran inside my office.
"We have a problem!" Lancelot exclaimed in between large intakes of air.
I raised an eyebrow at his sudden entrance. My train of thought was interrupted by Kenelm tapping my shoulder and speaking with his mouth agape. "There is something in the sky."
"In the sky?" I stood up from my chair and moved to the window.
"Last time I looked outside, it was a beautiful day of spring. It's not like that will change in a few minutes into a catastrophic humanity extinctionnnn~Oh Shit."
Up in the sky was a crack, similar to broken scraps of glass, formed by the piercing of a sickly pillar of purple and red light. The light itself originated from the South of Camelot at the place that held the Battle of Camlann, the final moments of my rebellion and his death.
'This can't be good.' A worrying voice sounded in my head. Indeed, the cracked sky and dark pillar were very ominous. I gritted my teeth in anger as the peace I had achieved was ruined in less than two year.
Taking a deep breath, I organized my thoughts and spewed forth commands. "Lancelot, send out scouts to investigate the anomaly."
I ransacked my desk for some clean parchment and scribbled copies of a quick mandate. I shoved them into Lancelot's arms. "Distribute these to decree an evacuation of the villages in the general direction of the pillar and bring them North of Camelot. I will not have any more innocent blood to be spilled."
Gawain walked forward. "What shall I do?" He calmly asked after Lancelot left the room.
"Prepare Camelot and its surroundings for a siege." I sternly instructed.
The blond knight nodded and placed his own hand on my shoulder.
I returned the gesture. Even now, our relationship was a bit tacky but it was improving. This act of physical contact could feasibly be a sign of bonding.
As Gawain's steps faded, I glanced towards Kenelm. He was already standing with resolve and ready to act. "Gather the court officials for an emergency meeting."
"I will do so immediately." He nodded.
"Oh and give me some refreshment." I quickly added.
Kenelm stopped midway out the door and faced me with a dumbfounded expression at my casual addition. Though he made no comment, Kenelm sighed at my request, acknowledged it, and ran out.
I was alone once more in my office, contemplating the new chaos that was adrift. I did not know what caused this, but I sure as hell didn't want to see it come to fruition. The view outside my window provided a horrible sight; the cracks were enlarged by the minute and the pillar was growing in width.
This would not end well.
The preparations for the royal court took an hour. My presence was the last to enter the throne room, where the majority of all authorities in Camelot were already present. I placed Clarent beside my throne and had left my armor behind. The room was arranged in an orderly manner: the clergy at the right and the aristocrats at the left. The clergy faction was small compared to the other group due to yours truly.
That would later bite me in the ass.
Scouts swiftly returned with their reports, many of which were grim. The anomaly had reanimated the dead and formed an army of moving corpses. Many of the villages, warned of the dangers, had evacuated by themselves. They were guided to either Camelot or further into Northern lands. A few settlements were overtaken by the dead and the residents joined the horde. A vote was passed along onto what should be done about the anomaly that irrupted into reality.
However, the entire clergy refused to side with meaningful actions against the threat. Instead, they wished to allow the undead army to roam wild and into Camelot uncontested.
"This is God's judgment upon these lands. He had seen the foolish acts of man and deemed humanity failures upon the ideal world he has created." The oldest of the clergy cried. "The very source of God's anger is the very heretic that sits upon that throne."
He pointed his finger my way. "She, a worshiper of witchcraft and paganism, has shifted the cosmic spectrum and doomed humanity to damnation. Her followers, the sinners, will burn in the deepest pits of hell, while the treasured messengers of God's will ascend to be his angels."
I was undoubtedly livid...No...I was more than that. I was boiling in wrathful flames of volcanic rage!
Instinctively, I threw Clarent straight towards the center of the clergy group. I could never rid myself of these pests in the past because it would cause huge religious turmoil among the people.
These idiots had opposed my reformations every step of the way for the dumbest reasons. Their arguments would always go like 'I can't eat vegetables because it's not in the diet of God's chosen' or 'we can't possibly allow for religious freedom because this is the one true religion'. They were all filled with absolute bullshit! People will literally worship King Arthur's excrement if they got their hands on it. They quite literally collected the very dirt from his boots to use as medicine. And suddenly when I became king, they decided my ass was witchcraft...They're not wrong, but that's not the point here... I have had enough; they were better off dead than drag the rest of the nation down due to their stupidity.
Clarent was somehow deflected before it could connect to the flesh of those idiots. Gawain stood in front of them. "I will not allow you to harm them. They are only speaking their minds in these stressful times."
"Sp-sp-SPEAKING THEIR MINDS!?" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Have you gone mad?"
"No, it is you who have gone mad with power." He calmingly replied.
I narrowed my eyes. My hatred is already overflowing. This new addition of fury was enough to power the very creation of this universe. "What did you, little boot licking shit stain smelling dog f*cking hybrid of a chicken and a toad onahole yes-man virgin beta boy flying bat shit who banged his imaginary friend, say to me?!"
"Step down from the throne peacefully or force will be used." Gawain continued.
"We HAVE a giant hole in the sky, a nation in danger, and the audacity of you B*TCHES!" My first slammed on the throne's armrest, breaking it and fracturing the metal decorations.
"Such language is unbecoming of you, Mordred." A lone hooded figure walked towards the side of Gawain.
"Who's asking!?" I snapped back. He removed the cloak to reveal the dead womanizer.
I shot forth from my throne in shock. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Merlin gave a sickly chuckle. "My death was...greatly exaggerated. I apologize for my absence and have returned to grant Britain my knowledge. Three command seals do wonders on a man's constitution and psyche. It isn't the best treatment, but viable."
He faced the clergy and took out Excalibur from his cloak. "I have retrieved the sword of miracles from this fiend. There is no need to fear a wolf without its fangs."
How did the white clown steel Excalibur?
I quickly felt my pockets, only feeling air, and realized the key to the locks was missing. I looked towards Gawain and saw it dangling from his waist. He must had snatched it when we met in my office.
"You have officially gone to the very top of my shit list, Gawain!" With all of this screaming, I was about to lose my voice. Gawain just had to be a dense and gullible boot licker at a state of emergency. Merlin's appearance was equally as bull; what the blazing hell were command seals?
'Absolute orders.' Thank you for your detective work me, but it's irrelevant right now.
Merlin turned to face me and raised his staff. "Behold. The witch is frozen in fear by God's majestic blessings."
*POP*
I think my veins are popping and leaking blood because of this shit show. I tried to give them the bird to prove them wrong, but my body didn't move. A handprint on my shoulder gleamed as runes started appearing underneath me. It was the same shoulder Gawain had placed his hand on before he left...He was planning on betraying me this entire time.
"You never did prepare Camelot for the siege, did you?" I asked the traitor. Gawain avoided my eyes by turning his back on me. "You have doomed the very lives you swore to protect. How hard is it to understand that not everything revolves around King Arthur!? You are as bad of a simp as Bedivere."
The aristocrats were abnormally quiet the moment I entered the throne room and through this fiasco. The nobles were still as stone, unmoving and silent. They were never alive.
I questioned Gawain. He gave no reply, yet his satire said it all. He may have not been responsible for their demise, but he had accepted it. Merlin continued his dick stroking preaches to the religious fanatics. The spell had paralyzed my body, and I couldn't resist as soldiers who sided with the clergy took me to the basement cells.
They tied me in chains and threw me onto the dirty stone floors. A click echoed across the halls as they locked my cell door. All the while, Gawain watched with sad and uncertain eyes.
"Is this what you wanted?" I asked him. "Congratulations then. You played yourself."
"It has to be this way." He finally spoke. I spat at his face. The saliva rolled down his cheek and no motion was made to wipe it off. "It is destiny."
*Spit Noise*
I gave him an extra thick one this time at his eye. "I make my own destiny."
"You do not have one, tool of Morgan." Gawain wiped my vengeance from his face and left the basement. His retreat was later followed by the entrance of the old preaching clergyman that gave the entire god speech and his b*tch boy apprentice.
"Look how the mighty have fallen. You who forsaken the words of God will be punished by his very hands." He brazenly declared.
*Spit Noise* The fluids made a direct hole in one in his mouth...Perfect
"You dare sully the apostle of God!" He screamed in anguish and coughed. He reached into my cell and pulled on my hair. "I will have my people rape and torture you. One finger at a time." He spewed forth venom. "The Lord's scripture shall be imprinted on your body as we torch you in holy fire."
"Then I have a confession to make." I said, undisturbed by his words.
"Oh...What will they be, demon spawn?"
"I do believe that there is a god out there dishing out judgment." I glanced at my shoulder to see the lack of glowing markings. "You spoke of your Lord as a malevolent sender of divine retribution."
I grabbed his robes and slammed his head against the bars of my cell. The impact stunned the man enough for me to wrap my chains around his neck.
"But the thing is, you are looking at him." I tightened the chains and whispered into his ear. "Your Lord is fresh out of mercy."
I kept increasing my strength, until his head lumped off his body and rolled towards his apprentice. The very second he began talking, I had always wanted to do this. It was highly addictive.
"Eeek!" The remaining clergyman screamed in fear, while running towards the exit. His journey to freedom was short lived as he was knocked out by a foreign force outside the door. The person in question held a similar face to Arthur.
"Oh...It's you Morgan." I blandly looked her way. "Can't say I'm not surprised to see you here since you sort of neglected me during my entire rebellion and crowning as king. What brings you here now after so long?"
"Merlin asked me to assist you." She walked closer to my cell and looked at my latest victim. "Though it seems you have everything under control."
"So...It wasn't because you cared for me. Should've guessed as such." I cracked my neck and stretched my limbs in annoyance...and to hide my dissatisfaction. It would seem that Merlin still found some loopholes from the influence of the command seals. What an impressive womanizer we got here.
"I am here because I accepted his request. Is that not enough?" She reasoned.
I rolled my eyes; this dysfunctional family was a work of art. It's amazing how I haven't perished sooner in life. Though coming from the Morgan, I guess it's a pretty good show of kindness.
"Yeah yeah. Can you let me out of this place already?"
"Your mannerism has not improved." She shook her head in disapproval and used magecraft to remove my bonds.
"Not my problem." I shot back. "You raised me."
"That is sadly the truth I have to bear." We made eye contact. "And because of this, I turned you into something you wish you were not."
"I don't give a damn about those things." I brushed it off like dust in the wind. "Got anything else I can use."
"Always so eager." She waved her staff and a large marking appeared onto the cell floor. Black armor with red markings appeared from inside it. The design was similar to my old knight armor with the added benefit of being retrofitted for my new physique. Clarent was among the items brought to me, which also included rations and medicine.
I changed into my new armor and readied myself to escape Camelot. Morgan told me of the situation above ground. The knights were having a civil war; Gawain and his clergy friends fighting against Lancelot with my remaining supporters. The rest were neutral and felt uncomfortable to intrude in fear of escalating the conflict. The fight would last a short span of time and my interference would further prolong the bloodshed. As such, with advice from Kenelm, it was planned that I should leave Camelot and gather more soldiers to fight against the horde of death.
Besides the crash course summary, Morgan made no attempt to further communicate her thoughts to me. I decided to change that. With the sack upon my shoulders, I faced my mother one last time.
"Things may not have been smooth between us, but I don't hate you. I just see you as a person who gave birth to me." I clearly stated. "So thanks for that."
"Take care then." Morgan replied.
"I know this is embarrassing, but will a hug be okay?" Her eyes widened by my request.
Never have I ever thought I'd request this either. It's that with all the shits I have been through, some affection was an appreciated inclusion to my life. Hesitating, Morgan spread her arms and I moved in to embrace her. The last time I did this was with Lena all those years ago. To revisit this warmth was nostalgic.
We broke physical contact a minute later. My mood had improved a bit and perhaps hers had too.
"Take care, daughter." She softly spoke. I nodded as the ground underneath me began to glow and I was teleported away. "You take care as well...Mother."
What Morgan and everyone else didn't know was that I never planned to gather more soldiers or wait for reinforcement. I was going to fight the horde and destroy the source alone. I guess this was my way to atone for my failures; my path to a future of my choosing.
"Destiny." The pillar of black light engulfed the sun, pitching the landscape in a purple and red hue.
"What a cruel word." My journey towards the pillar began.
