THE REBORN PLANET - 5
"The wall here has seen better days…" Lancelot said aloud.
"Let's hurry, Lancelot, we want to make a good impression. The king needs this to work." Gawain told him.
They had gone ahead to scout out the area, if there were any corrupters around, they'd have to deal with them immediately before they threatened the king.
Mordred had been with them earlier, but she took off moments later, the reason neither of them knew, they had followed her a ways but lost sight of her right around the eastern wall.
"Hold on….Do you feel that sir Gawain?" Lancelot asked after a sudden pressure filled his gut…
"Hmm… A magical barrier?"
"Just where is it coming from?" Lancelot wondered as he followed the source.
It led them to a wood shack on the edge of the city.
"Don't destroy it, it was made by New Rome" Lancelot said.
"I know, I'm just wondering as to why?" Gawain replied.
Lancelot peered down the ladder way… He didn't see anything unusual, though he supposed they likely wouldn't unless they went down themselves. Not possible so long as the barrier exists…
"Lets continue on, maybe the empress is near" Lancelot said.
"Good idea, I'm sensing another barrier like this one not far from our position too, we should check it out along the way"
Nameless watched from above as the knights of the roundtable searched New Rome top to bottom. He was aware that they were not enemies of theirs, but he watched them cautiously nonetheless.
"My lord, we have visitors, new the round table is here" he told Hakuno telepathically.
If the king was whom he thought it was, then there was nothing to fear. Artoria's excalibur would wipe out all the creatures within the sewers…
But something wasn't right…
Even with her helmet on, Nameless knows for sure that's her, but… She's taller, looks older and is carrying Rhongomyniad. Still, if it was her then they should be safe so long as they don't do anything to harm her or her people….
At least so long as they don't become desperate, depending on the state of their nation… New Rome might not be able to afford to lose this deal…
Nero had taken Hakuno back to the castle right after their conversation. Chances are Nero would return alone for the time being. Conveniently, that's the better outcome, exposing our master to outsiders right off the bat would be a bad move.
He soon then heard someone land hard on the rooftop behind him, someone wearing plated armor at that. He turned around and seen a knight with a large red sword.
"I thought someone was watching us…. So, who are you?" The knight asked.
Nameless let out an annoyed sigh….This is not at all who he'd expected to meet first….Nor was she the one he had any desire to meet either….
"Nameless, is what I'm referred to as… I have no name" He replied.
"Huh? How do you have no name?" The knight asked in an annoyed tone.
"It's a long story, anyway, what is your name? I've told you what I can about me" Nameless asked back.
Even under her helmet, the red knight looked noticeably frustrated….
It took every fiber of his being to not smirk or comment, knowing she could obliterate him in an instant if given a reason.
"I am sir Mordred, a knight of the round table, son of king Arthur" she said proudly.
You mean daughter…. Nameless wanted to say but held back.
"What brings you all here? I understand we were going to discuss a trade route with New Camelot, but in these circumstances that might be difficult" Nameless told her.
Mordred looked like she was thinking briefly, before pointing her sword towards the wood shacks around the city.
"The magic barriers, they're keeping something down in the sewers right? I ran into a couple of them on the way over here"
"You'd be correct, where are you going with this?"
"Why not we head down there and blow whatever beast is lurking down there sky high?" Mordred offered with a big grin.
"Do as you wish, so long as the empress allows it, I will not intervene. Don't say I didn't warn you if you come back out covered in black markings however." Nameless responded.
Mordred turned away, spotting the king not far off.
"I'm not getting caught, they'll be dust before they can land a hit on me!" Mordred told him as she took off.
Nameless was thankful that Artoria seemed to be keeping her on a tight leash. A corrupted Mordred was the last thing they needed to be dealing with right now…
That sword of hers was not one to be trifled with… It was the sword that felled king Arthur in legend after all, and was nearly as powerful.
He spotted Nero in the center of the city, walking alongside Gawain and Lancelot, whom must have ran into her during their investigation. Nameless quickly made his way over and landed right in front of the three.
"Empress, I am relieved that everything is working out, or so it seems" he told Nero.
Both Gawain and Lancelot were caught off guard by his sudden entrance, and left more confused by his appearance, neither had ever seen nor heard of a servant like him, but it was clear he was one.
"Ah! Nameless! Yes indeed! They're here to help or so they say!" She replied.
"Yes, that is our intention, we noticed that you looked to be in trouble… If theres anyway we can aid you please inform us and the king and we will see it done" Gawain told him.
"I see… Have you mentioned anything about the current situation empress?" Nameless asked her.
"Yes, I have, if what you mean is the sewer situation" she replied.
"Large corrupters, that have high regenerative abilities, a very concerning development" Lancelot said.
"The best way to handle it would be a noble phantasm that can hit a large area, like an anti fortress noble phantasm, excalibur galatine could probably do the job" Nameless explained, turning to Gawain.
"Yes, it more than likely would, but, if I may ask. How do you know of my sword? Could it be that we've met?" Gawain asked him curiously.
"No, but you match the description, and I know of the legend well. I ran into Mordred earlier as well, she should be joining us with your king before too much longer…" Nameless replied.
Excalibur galatine…. It would work, absolutely… The only issue is where to use it. They couldn't just unleash it down in the sewers, it'd collapse the entire city…
"Nameless, I must ask, you said excalibur galatine would work right? But how would you have it done? Whats your plan?" Nero asked seriously.
"I don't have one yet, however, if we could lead them into an open area, a field maybe, and find some way to keep them there long enough for galatine to hit them, then that should work.. So long as the gemstones are destroyed." Nameless replied.
"The gemstones…. Oh I see, so they too are being kept alive by an object?" Lancelot said.
"Yes, have you seen similar?" Nero asked him.
"Yes, we have, we caught two of them who carried similar traits. Only they ran on all fours and could climb walls similar so a small lizard" Lancelot explained.
"We lost quite a few men that day, hence why we've been adament in keeping the corrupters numbers down around New Camelot, however, it's been a struggle, part of our current crisis is due part to that" Gawain added.
She remembered Lancelot bringing up the resource crisis during their first meeting. It was the whole reason for wanting to start a trade route with her own kingdom in the first place.
"Is it too dangerous to leave the kingdom walls?" She asked.
"Yes, many of our best hunters went missing, even with Bevedire with them, they couldn't defend themselves" Gawain replied.
Iskandar was under similar circumstances. Even here in New Rome its risky, Nero hadn't sent out any hunting parties since she'd went with them last time and encountered what must have been some kind of floating corrupter…
"That seems to be an issue everywhere as of now… Perhaps we should consider a colition instead of just a trade route." Nero suggested.
"You'd be wise to discuss it with our king, I'm sure he'd agree" Lancelot said back.
"As am I, these corrupters are too big a threat to be ignored, we servants can hardly keep up with them as is, and who's to say they won't become stronger over time? The ones you found in the sewers for example." Gawain explained.
"Yes, good point! I'm calling for a meeting right away, Nameless, I need you to go check the kingdom to the south for me quickly, I'd like to get all of us together" Nero told him.
Nameless turned to her with a slightly concerned expression.
"Does New Camelot know of the kingdom to the south? What if they have bad ties? That would put a strain on both our relations. Nameless said.
"Yes, but if we were going to fight back against these corrupters, we need as many allies as we can get. Don't say anything about who it is yet; just tell them that I'd like to have a meeting if possible." Nero said back seriously.
"Got it, I'll be back shortly" Nameless replied as he quickly left.
Soon after, they heard the sound of hooves clicking against cobblestone, and the king of camelot sat proud upon a pure white horse. Before speaking the king removed the helmet resting upon his… No, her head.
"Empress Nero, that is you, am I correct?" She asked directly.
"Yes, you are, and I assume you're the king of new camelot?" Nero asked back.
The king bowed slightly in response.
"I am honored to be in your audience, and if theres anything you'd ask of us, consider it done so long as it is within our power" she said.
Nero didn't say anything for a moment, surprised by her etiquette. She couldn't help but smile at the king.
"Yes, it is as your knights said… Come then, lets discuss this in further detail in my throne room, theres much I wanted to talk with you about anyway." She told her.
"Yes, let us go then"
Cu Chulainn sat in the hot springs alone. His wounds had healed considerably since his battle with medusa.
"I got lucky, if it wasn't for the king and everyone else showing up when they did it would've been over for me right there." He mumbled to himself.
He glanced over at gae bolg, it was laid against the wall next to the spring he was in. He had no fear of someone taking it, not when he could call it back to him at any time.
He'd overheard Nero talking to a group of people as they passed by the springs. Knights of New Camelot... He knew they were coming, convenient that it just so happened to be at the worst possible time...
"Cu Chulainn… Just what kind of battle left you wounded like that?" A familiar voice asked.
"Li Shuwen? Been awhile… You still owe me that duel" Cu replied.
Li showed himself and walked towards the edge of the spring, just shy of the steaming water.
"You didn't answer me, just what caused that injury? Your not by any means weak." He asked again.
"It's a long story, a lass with blades and a hell of a kick" Cu replied jokingly.
Li Shuwen did not laugh, rather let out a deep breath.
"There's a meeting in the empresses throne room, are you aware of what its about." He asked, changing the subject.
"A meeting? No, I haven't heard anything about it, though I knew she wanted one with New Camelot." Cu replied.
"I was told before that they wanted to start a trade route, but things have changed apparently, a coalition is in talks… It makes things much more interesting…"
"What? You think we're getting ready for something?"
"Perhaps… We'll have to strike back eventually once we locate whereever it is their coming from, and when that happens…."
"A huge battle… Heh! Good thing this wounds healing quickly! Wouldn't wanna get too rusty before the big show!" Cu said aloud.
"My thoughts exactly! It's been some time since I've had a good fight! Perhaps these bigger corrupters will pose a real challenge!" Li Suwen said back eagerly.
Within the throne room, the meeting was already underway, Li Shuwen had just made it inside as things got heated.
"An arrangement like that is dangerous empress. If we go through with it, other nations may see it as a threat, even those we haven't met yet…" Nameless told her.
"Yes, but an alliance of that nature would highly benefit us both; we could send our best resources wherever we needed quickly, and we'd be able to aid each other in war, crises, and any outbreaks that need dealing with." The king of New Camelot explained
"Yes, I agree with all of that, but Nameless does bring up a good point, we only know of one other kingdom, that's the eastern kingdom… What is your relationship with them?" Nero asked.
"Debatable, the best way to answer that question is shaky" Li Shuwen answered as he walked into the throne room.
Lancelot gave him an uncertain gaze, turning to Nero soon after with a puzzled expression.
"What exactly is the meaning of this?" He asked.
"Li Shuwen, I did not expect you to arrive so soon" Nero said.
Li bowed before responding.
"Am I not welcome as of now? I hope I did not interrupt"
"Not at all, actually it may be better this way, come in" Nero told him.
Li Shuwen positioned himself across from the roundtable knights, ensuring he had them all in view. His expression was that of a statue, stiff as stone.
"As I said earlier, our relationship with New Camelot is shakey. We have had issues involving resources and territory, as their south east side comes close to our north east, and multiple of our hunting grounds overlap. There have been multiple skirmishes in the past over that last bit in particular. However, in recent time we've made compromises… That worked until the corrupters began to show." Li Shuwen explained.
"Do the corrupters attack wildlife? I haven't sent a hunting party out since the attack on the eastern wall due to the ongoing issues we discussed before Li joined us" Nero asked.
"They don't attack persay, but if they come into contact with them, they deteriorate quickly. Much faster then us servants or even ordinary people" Gawain responded.
"Its because of this that we've had issues as of late, food is becoming vastly scarce, at least for us as wheat, corn and other crops are hard to grow on our land. The riot Iskandar's clearing up right now is a testament to that." Li Shuwen explained.
They'd mentioned that before in a previous meeting. She had sent some supplies back with them to help, but it's been taking too long. Clearly, Nero had to come up with another idea. She was certain she had something that could help them. This deal the king of New Camelot, Artoria Pendragon, offered, would help in that regard. But they struggled with both food and water themselves. She did not know as to why.
She turned her eyes to Artoria whom in turn gave her, her full attention.
"What is causing your shortage of food and water? Is it the weather? Terrain? I'm not questioning your honesty, but I am curious" Nero asked.
"It is due to the reason given by Lancelot when he first arrived here. The soil is fine and the weather is perfect for growing crops. It's simply that the seeds are not there and there's hardly any plant life other than grass around. The lengths we travel to get water takes my gatherers days to reach and return from, especially considering the amount of people we need to feed. The crops we do have are small and give little amounts of food, beans and the like. Not enough to keep an entire kingdom well fed." Artoria replied.
Well that solves things right there, she would have New Camelot distribute weapons and armor to both New Rome and the kingdom to the east, while the latter provides seeds and crops to New Camelot to jumpstart food production, New Rome can help with food as well and help evenly distribute the results to all three under the supervision of the other parties involved…
It's quite in line with what Artoria was proposing, along with the agreement that if one kingdoms attacked the others would come to their aid. A national defense agreement.
"So, if that's the case, why don't we just send you the seeds and crops you lack and send us back a portion of what you make out of it?" Nero suggested.
She saw Artorias eyes light up for a moment as she glanced at her fellow knights, whom both nodded, and then looked back up at Nero.
"That would help us very much, but you would want a portion of the grown product back at the end of the season, correct?" She asked.
"Of course, along with the armor and weaponry promised both to New Rome and the Eastern kingdom, they'd also help gather seeds to grow in both New Camelot and here" Nero replied.
Nameless didn't say a word. He hadn't expected her to make this offer, though it was entirely in line with what he'd been thinking. He was genuinely impressed.
Li Shuwen appeared indifferent, turning to Nero.
"But what are we to do for the remainder of this season? The riots have already begun and it'll only get worse until more supplies arrive!" He said.
"We'll offer what we can, however, what I believe the empress is trying to do is prevent anymore famish and droughts amongst the kingdoms in this agreement" Nameless explained.
"The best we can do is hold out until the next round of crops grow, water can begin distribution immediately however, as well as the meats we still have that haven't gone foul" Nero added.
"How do you feel, King of New Camelot? Will this work?" Nameless asked.
She looked over at him, and after a brief silence said.
"Yes, I believe this will benefit us all, and hopefully quell the conflict between New Camelot and the kingdom to the east" Artoria said back with a slight smile.
"And… As it would seem, one of our allies is in trouble with these creatures in the sewers, it would seem we have a fair idea as to how we want to handle them, however, if anythings changed or if anyone has any new ideas, we should hear them before with put things in motion" Lancelot said.
"I agree, but I think what we came up with earlier would work. Excalibur galatine would surely destroy these advanced corrupters, and if any gems remain I can shoot them down with ease, that and Artoria has Rhongomyniad, so if all else fails that would most certainly do the trick" Nameless explained.
The knights of the roundtable looked at one another… Then appeared slightly concerned…
"The issue is that, unfortunately, my noble phantasm is still sealed, I cannot use the full power of the lance I hold" Artoria replied.
It was sealed… Oh, Nameless understood, her spiritron levels were too low…
Does that mean….
"Artoria, if you don't mind me asking…"
"I do not, go ahead"
"Do you happen to be serving a master as of now?" Nameless asked directly.
"That is strictly a p-"
"It is fine Gawain, I will answer," Artoria said, silencing him.
"But yes, I am, as are my fellow knights, I assumed you were as well" She told them.
"We are, he is the true king here, not me" Nero said.
"We were only summoned recently, Gawain was the first, hence why excalibur galatine is already available to him, his levels were put mostly into strength and defense, Lancelot and I are nearly at that point ourselves, his levels were put into both strength and agility, while mine are in strength and mana points, of course thanks to my horse I still retain a speed that matches him" Artoria explained.
Nameless considered it unwise to ask where their master was right now. It could easily be taken the wrong way…
"I understand, so we'll have to rely on galatine then" Nameless said.
"I can help lead them to wherever we need, I won't be struck by them, but I may take a few out along the way" Li Shuwen offered.
"I'll take you up on that, the more gone by the time galatine goes off the better, just be sure to clear out before it hits" Nameless told him.
"Got it"
