Steel and Mana

Chapter 393 – Arthur & Edric

Edric did not sleep much on the first night he had to spend inside the palace. The bed was soft—too soft. It was not something he had believed before, that comfort could feel wrong... but that was the case. The sheets smelled of flowers, maybe lavender and something sweet he couldn't name. Everything about the guest chamber was warm, clean, and whole. It was just... too luxurious. It made him feel that he was taking advantage of something. Of what? He asked himself multiple times, with no answer, yet his mind still nagged him. Trying to distract himself, he began to count, doing everything to fall asleep, but it was of no use. The moment he watched the walls, the floor, or the ceiling, his mind latched onto another thing. There were no cracks in the wood and no smoky stains on the ceiling. There was no cold or smelly draft crawling up from under the floorboards, bringing the smell of dead rotting in the sewers under the city.

All of this... It unnerved him more than he cared to admit.

When the knock came at dawn, he was already dressed, standing at the window, watching the sunrise, lost in thought. His face looked the same as always, even without having slept at all. He was used to it anyway. Turning towards the opening door, he saw someone other than he expected.

It was the son of Sovereign Leon. Well, his oldest son, Crown Prince Arthur, as he recalled. Yesterday, he was introduced to them all, but he mostly exchanged a few words with the kids. Kids? No, they all counted as proper adults. But, as he learned, in this city, they were still counted as children. He envied them a little. In Markoth, if one could work their hands... they would no longer be counted as children. That was a luxury they couldn't afford for a long time.

"Your Majesty," Arthur said with a slight bow, acting in a way that made Edric nervous and embarrassed. "My father asked me to show you around today."

"Please, just... Edric will do, Crown Prince Arthur. I am king only in name." Edric said, trying to avoid any complications.

"Then please, do the same." Arthur smiled sheepishly. "There are no titles today, agreed? Just call me Arthur."

"Agreed." Edric nodded, finding that his smile and whole aura were reassuring. It was... just normal. Friendly. Calming. Like a spell...

...
....
......

After what Arthur called 'grabbing a bite,' they began their walk through the palace first. Sunlight filtering through tall windows turned the inside surprisingly bright and somewhat golden. At least, it gave that impression when Edric kept examining the halls they were passing through. Everything gleamed—not in a gaudy way. That... was something that was present in Markoth once, only to be then looted by those who used the chaos to grab everything that wasn't nailed down and escape to distant lands.

“So… what would you like to see first?” Arthur asked, making Edric pull back from the unpleasant memories and the facts of reality he was thinking of, “We could start with the new gardens we built. Green Houses, we call them, and I think we will let you borrow the idea. It allows us to grow plants, even in winter!" He explained with great enthusiasm, "Or we can head toward the southern part of the city; there are some great shops there that I think you would enjoy. My twin sister swears on the cakes they sell there. Or maybe go board a train? I bet you would like that!”

"Indeed... All of that sounds fun, but..." Edric muttered and was quiet for a beat, then shook his head slowly. “Show me the heart of the city. Where your people live. Work. Breathe. That is what I need to see to know what I can realistically bring back home.”

"I see." Arthur nodded, visibly pleased with his answer. “Good choice.”

There was no hesitation in Edric's steps while walking through the streets, even if the city was unlike anything he had imagined. The wide roads paved in smooth stone, the melting snow running along the gutters, heading into the sewers, all of that stretching between elegant buildings, the types he had never seen... He couldn't help but imagine what his own home would look like one day. Then, there were what Arthur called trams, riding along, sometimes ringing their bells as people hopped on and off of them while traversing the city.

But, there was something more eye-catching to the king. It was the way children ran through small public parks filled with strange trees and sculptures. Vendors on street corners were hawking warm food and pastries he couldn't name, and the smell alone was nearly drawing tears from him once again. The way the people greeted one another casually, their clothes free of patches, their eyes free of fear. He felt his eye sting... There was too much color and life in here, and it was overwhelming.

“Is it strange?” Arthur asked after a while, noticing Edric's state of mind shifting and becoming a bit chaotic. “Seeing this?”

"Yeah..." The king nodded slowly, not trying to hide it. “It’s like waking up in someone else’s dream and questioning your own existence. Or your own worth. I am angry, Arthur. And jealous... Why weren't we this lucky? I..." He stopped, looking ashamed, "Sorry.”

"It is fine. I understand." He nodded, not taking offense at his sudden outburst.

Walking onward, they passed a school where open-air courtyards were filled with laughing students being taught by their teachers as they observed the change spring was bringing. When Edric paused to watch for a moment, he listened, stunned, as the instructor explained to them how the rising temperature causes snow to melt, introducing the children to the three states of water with live examples.

“They still have time for lessons here…” He said with a bit of irony.

"I guess..." Arthur glanced at him. “You didn’t?”

“We did, once,” Edric murmured. “When I was very small. Before the first long winter. After that, most children either worked... or died. I don't think most of our young ones can even read.”

"Huh?" Arthur stopped walking all of a sudden. “Wait, what?”

The weight of Edric's words hit him then. He could feel the way too vivid memories emerging from the king's mind, realizing that he had never known real hunger, never seen a wall torn down by monsters, and never had to choose between burning books for warmth or letting a child freeze to death.

“Your father... kept this place safe,” Edric said after a moment, not accusingly but simply... stating the facts. “But the rest of the world? We paid the price. Maybe because they couldn't break through here... they came through at our end...”

Arthur was quiet for a long time after that, thinking.

They passed through a bustling market where colorful banners flew, and local and foreign merchants traded items, knick-knacks that had only one use: entertainment. Then, as their steps made them wander around the streets, they passed public bathhouses, libraries, and even a theater being prepared for a play. Edric watched with something like mourning in his heart, and his eyes were no longer shocked. Instead, they were filled with longing... For a life he was never allowed to enjoy.

“I never really thought about it from a different perspective,” Arthur finally spoke again. “About the monster tides. About the long winters. I never looked at it as if it were that bad. Dangerous? Yes, but... I didn’t think anyone else suffered like—” He cut himself off, ashamed for some reason.

"You were lucky." Edric smiled faintly. “And you shouldn't look so troubled. This is life; it is unfair, Arthur. I learned that. And... You shouldn’t have to carry the whole world on your shoulders. Nobody should. The monsters are part of nature, and I don't think we can fight them. That is the domain of the Gods.”

"Gods, huh?" Arthur muttered, furrowing his brows. “We will see about that... One day.”

...
....
.....

A few hours later, they paused for lunch in a sunlit terrace cafe that overlooked the main market square. The food was simple but perfectly prepared—slices of smoked meat with roasted vegetables and toasted garlic bread. Edric ate slowly, savoring each bite as he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a full meal that wasn’t salted beyond reason so it could be preserved.

What also surprised him was that people here were used to Arthur's presence. There was no constant bowing or groveling before him, but he noticed a kind of reverence in the people's eyes. It was a mixture, but he liked it.

"It is how we were taught," Arthur answered when he was asked about it. "I went to school with the local children. There was no special treatment. My siblings and my parents can walk the streets just the same; it is how it always was. Father said that the moment we get distracted, if we lose the connection with the people, we start drifting further away, like how a current takes an untethered boat away from the shore. We would be lost just the same... not immediately, but later on, by the time my grandchildren take the throne."

"I never thought about it like that..."

"Me neither," Arthur chuckled. "But that is why we went to school—to start thinking about things like it. Now that you brought it up, I will show you something else after lunch!"

After finishing their meal, Arthur led him to a memorial garden hidden behind a wall of flowering trees. Bronze statues stood in silent repose beneath the branches, holding different tablets in their hands, with names etched onto them.

“The fallen,” Arthur said quietly. “From the time when this land was still just a fortress in the Pass, blocking its entrance. Before Avalon was even built, everyone you see here died, giving their lives for Avalon. Be it when facing monsters or when we fought Ishillia. It's just that we never suffered like you did. Maybe... you’ll build your own someday,” Arthur said, watching him. “A place to remember those who held your kingdom together. The people would feel... at ease, I think.”

“I hope I can,” Edric replied. “But we’re still digging graves. We don't have the luxury for... statues.”

"Don't worry. Soon, you will."

...
....
......

The last spot Arthur took the King of Markoth, was the river his father created. Edric thought this was just a joke at first, but after listening to the explanation and seeing the proof, he was shocked.

"Unbelievable... Creating a river where there was none? Is he a God?"

"Ahahaha, no!" Arthur laughed loudly as they stood at the bank of the now rolling waters, swelled by the melting snow. "But he says that the difference between gods and us is just power. He believes we can achieve that power if we keep improving."

"That is the most heretical speech I have ever heard..." Edric watched the flowing water with a smile. "But since our destruction, I don't think many believe in the Gods anymore. So I hope Sovereign Leon is right... Where’s it headed?" He asked, changing the topic a little.

"South," Arthur said. "It marks the actual borders of the city. It connects us to many other countries, too."

"The Union." Edric nodded, but he knew little about it yet. He just knew that the Sovereign would have him join one of their upcoming meetings, telling them Markoth's fate was the same. "Your people go beyond the mountains?"

"No." Arthur shook his head, looking towards the mountains. "We traveled to the edge of it, though, discovering some things..."

"What things?"

"That there is magic keeping the beasts out."

"Yeah, sure!" Edric snorted, but watching Arthur's serious expression, he fell silent, "And that magic... fails when winter comes?"

"We... don't know." He answered in the end, knowingly lying, unsure how much he should share with them. Especially with what kind of shape they were in.

"Gods... eh?" Edric muttered again, "Bastards..."

...
....
......

The sun began to dip low in the sky when they returned to the palace.

“My father... he believes in building things and lifting people up. But he also said to me once that some things can’t be fixed. Only replaced.” Arthur spoke as they walked through the main gate.

“I know,” Edric said quietly. “Markoth needs both.”

"I guess..." Arthur muttered as he looked over at him. “Do you think your people will be ready? For change? For peace?”

"Peace?" Edric didn’t answer at first, tasting the word and liking how it sounded. “We are tired, Arthur. So tired. But we are still alive. If Avalon helps us, if we can survive… yes. I think we will be ready for any change necessary to keep that peace.”

"I am glad to hear that!" Arthur smiled, sunlight catching in his red hair. “Then we’ll help you rise, promise!”

“Thank you. For showing me your home.”

"Any time," Arthur grinned, slapping his back, “Who knows? It may be your home too, one day, if you want it. We do have some examples for it, ahaha!”

"Maybe," Edric smiled back weakly, "But only if Markoth no longer needs me."