Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight

"How could a mortal wound possibly kill me, Mordred?"

Alaric pushed Mordred away and said with a smile, "The King's Judgment showed me the end of the world—now that is a sight worth yearning for."

"Listen well, Knights of the Round Table," the Lion King's voice rang out coldly, her gaze sweeping over the assembled knights.

"If anyone can survive my strike, I shall pardon both Sir Gawain and Sir Alaric. Does anyone have objections?"

"Who would question the King's judgment?"

Though his tone was somber, Tristan strummed his bowstring with melancholy, saying, "It's truly saddening, but yes—soon songs of Sir Gawain and Sir Alaric will echo through the taverns."

With a faint, wistful smile, he added, "Though, lately, there's been no addition to the songs about Lancelot and me."

Mordred bared her fangs in a grin, saying, "I said from the start this should be left to Father. How could I have any objections?"

At this, the Lion King finally addressed her.

"Mordred—"

"Father! Look, dawn has already broken!"

Before the Lion King could speak further, Mordred pointed decisively at the rising sunlight dispersing the shadows over Camelot.

"At this time, I can stay in Camelot, can't I?"

Seeing this, the Lion King did not bring up Mordred's lack of right to dwell in Camelot and instead turned back to Alaric.

"Do you have any other matters to report?"

Despite enduring a strike from the Lion King's holy lance, brushing the brink of death, Alaric dragged his battered body into the throne room to face her once more. His expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly, "My King, after accepting your judgment, I will leave the Holy City to pursue the fugitive knight Bedivere and the Chaldean Master."

"The Chaldean Master has finally arrived at this singularity," Agravain said coldly.

"So, it was this interloper who caused Sir Gawain's failure. From now on, consider the Chaldean Master, who openly opposes us, a rebel. Dispatch forces immediately to pursue and eliminate them."

Hearing Alaric's mention of the Chaldean Master, Agravain pieced together the details of the fierce battle at the city gates. He remembered the prophecy of the foreign star—a lone human master traveling through singularities to save humanity.

"And Sir Bedivere, the knight who failed to heed the King's summons…"

Agravain's eyes darkened. He felt little goodwill toward Bedivere, whose loyalty to the King seemed questionable. Furthermore, Bedivere had witnessed the King's final moments—a truth Agravain could not ignore.

Alaric elaborated, "Before my arrival, Sir Gawain briefly fought the Chaldean Master. Just as he was about to prevail, Bedivere intervened and rescued the Chaldeans."

"If not for Sir Bedivere, Sir Gawain would have been victorious," Alaric added.

Tristan, strumming his bowstring again, recited,

"When foreign stars shine, cracks mar the alabaster alliance;

The King's faint light is veiled in shadows; the Oracle Tower crumbles into ruin.

What beautiful verses… If needed, I could accompany you."

"I'm coming, too!"

Mordred grinned, baring her fangs.

"The Chaldean Master, whatever they are, will be no match for me, Father!"

"Sir Alaric will go alone," the Lion King said icily.

"This is your penance, Sir Alaric."

Her piercing gaze seemed to strip away his soul's barriers, exposing hidden truths.

"As for you, Mordred, return to the wilderness and fulfill your duties there. Sir Tristan, eradicate the mountain people."

"Shall we ignore the refugees who escaped from the Holy Selection?" Agravain asked.

"Should we send Mordred to hunt them down as well?"

"No need," the Lion King replied.

"The refugees will perish in the wilderness. And the Sun King will soon grasp our intentions. Prepare yourselves for the final battle."

"When Sir Lancelot completes his task and returns triumphant, that will be the day of reckoning against the Sun King. Do you understand, Sir Agravain?"

"Yet again, you entrust him…"

Agravain murmured, his expression growing colder, though he voiced no discontent.

"Sir Agravain, are you certain we shouldn't pursue the refugees?"

Tristan inquired.

"Of course not. The King's decree is absolute. Refugees are irrelevant. However, the Chaldeans cannot be spared. Since Sir Alaric volunteers to pursue them, we'll ensure that man joins the effort as well."

Aggravain decreed.

"Sir Alaric, as soon as you leave, contact Sir Lancelot and order him to destroy the Chaldeans. He must not return until the task is complete."

"There's no need for Sir Lancelot. I can handle this alone."

Alaric's tone was indifferent.

"But if you insist, feel free to send someone else to relay the command. I won't bother."

Agravain's expression darkened, but the Lion King interrupted before he could speak further.

"So be it. Does anyone object?"

The Lion King's decision sealed the fates of Alaric and the other knights. Even Agravain could not alter it.

"The King's judgment is wise," Tristan declared.

"We, the Round Table, shall comply."

Mordred added cheerfully, "Leave it to me, Father! I'll complete my task perfectly!"

...

Minutes after bidding farewell to the Lion King, Alaric rode his wyvern deep into the wilderness, searching for the scattered Chaldean group. Beneath him, the wyvern—a formidable subspecies he captured months ago—soared over the lifeless terrain, roaring into the skies.

He had no clue where the Chaldeans might have fled, but intelligence from Enforcement knights suggested they had split into two groups. One seemed to be heading for the mountains. The other, allegedly hidden by a merchant, was likely sheltered in Lancelot's territory.

If not aligned with Lancelot, the Chaldeans must have sought refuge among the mountain people.

Alaric tightened his grip on the wyvern's reins. No matter where they fled, their fate was sealed.