Chapter 22: Chapter 21: The Secrets of Pendragon Castle
The cold air of the Forbidden Forest dissipated as Atreus extended his hand, a swirling mass of ice and magic forming beneath them. Before Arthur could react, the ground vanished, and they were suddenly standing in the grand, ancient halls of Pendragon Castle.
Arthur staggered slightly, his mind reeling from the abrupt teleportation. The castle loomed around them, its stone walls illuminated by flickering torchlight. Despite its grandeur, the place felt oddly unfamiliar—Arthur had spent little time here since his youth, and the castle held more secrets than he could count.
Atreus turned to him, his pale eyes gleaming with purpose. "Come with me. There's something you need to see."
Without waiting for a reply, Atreus began walking through the winding corridors, his steps quick and deliberate. Arthur followed, curiosity and unease swirling within him.
"Where are we going?" Arthur asked.
"To Father's study," Atreus replied without turning back.
Arthur frowned. "His study? That room has been sealed for years. No one's been inside since—"
"Since he died," Atreus finished. "I know. But I've been here before. There's something you need to understand about our legacy."
When they reached the large oak doors of the study, Atreus placed his hand on the handle. The door opened with a groan, revealing a room frozen in time. Dust covered the shelves and furniture, but the air was thick with magic, as if their father's presence lingered.
The walls were lined with shelves of ancient tomes, relics, and maps. Atreus moved to one particular shelf, running his fingers along the spines of the books before pulling one out. There was a faint click, and the entire shelf shifted, sliding aside to reveal a hidden doorway.
Arthur blinked in surprise. "I've lived here my whole life and never knew this was here."
Atreus smirked faintly. "There's a lot about our heritage you don't know."
They stepped through the doorway and descended a spiral staircase carved into the stone. The air grew colder with every step, and a faint hum of magic resonated through the walls. When they reached the bottom, Arthur froze.
Before them was a vast underground chamber. The room was circular, with a deep pool of water surrounding a central platform. The water was impossibly dark, like a void that stretched infinitely downward. The platform itself was illuminated by an ethereal light, and at its center stood a sword unlike any Arthur had ever seen.
The sword seemed to radiate power. Its handle was a mesmerizing design of black and white squares, with a round knob and two small wings—one resembling a white bird, the other a black bat. The blade itself was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, transitioning seamlessly between black and white, as if embodying the balance of light and darkness. Intricate patterns of wings adorned the blade, forming the symbol of yin-yang, a representation of unity and harmony.
Arthur took a hesitant step forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "What is that?"
Atreus walked to the edge of the platform, his gaze fixed on the sword. "That," he said, "is Excalibur. The Holy Sword. Father believed it was the key to uniting the Pendragon bloodline's power with the forces of the world. It's said to be the most powerful weapon ever created, capable of feats beyond comprehension."
Arthur felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him. "Why is it here? Why haven't we heard of it before?"
Atreus turned to him, his expression grave. "Because Father hid it, knowing its power could change the balance of the magical world. He didn't trust anyone, not even himself, to wield it recklessly. But now..." He gestured toward the sword. "Now, it's your turn to decide."
Arthur stared at the sword, its aura pulling at something deep within him. "What can it do?"
Atreus smiled faintly, as if remembering something distant. "Its abilities are largely unknown, but some have been recorded in the annals of our lineage. One of its techniques is the Mumyo no Mai—the Dance of Ignorance. It was created by a blind swordsman and can counter any surprise attack, no matter how fast or unexpected."
He pointed to the blade. "Another is Deathpecker. A technique of rapid consecutive lunges, once used by the War King Tartenos to decimate entire armies. These are just fragments of what Excalibur is capable of."
Arthur hesitated. "If it's so powerful, why hasn't anyone claimed it?"
"Because Excalibur chooses its wielder," Atreus said, stepping closer to Arthur. "And it doesn't make that choice lightly. It's bound to the Pendragon bloodline, but not every Pendragon is worthy. That's why Father left it here, untouched."
Arthur's mind swirled with questions, doubts, and a growing sense of responsibility. The sword seemed to hum faintly, as if aware of his presence.
Atreus placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've already begun to unlock the power of our bloodline, Arthur. With this sword, you could become the leader our family—and the magical world—needs. But the choice is yours."
Arthur took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Excalibur. The path before him was uncertain, but one thing was clear: his destiny was far greater than he had ever imagined.
The chamber grew silent as Arthur stepped closer to the platform, the weight of history and expectation pressing down on him. The sword waited, its power pulsing in the air, as if daring him to take the next step.