5 Fateful Encounters II

"Excalibur? Hey, why did you draw that thing out!?" Petra was surprised by Arthur's uncharacteristic action. A sword typically reserved for the battlefield suddenly appeared before him.

"I encountered one of the messenger angels," Arthur said, his voice low, bowing his head as his eyes remained fixed on the sword adorned with gold ornaments. The sudden seriousness of the conversation caught Petra off guard, prompting him to look at Arthur in surprise, trying to digest the information he had just heard.

"Messenger angel? What did they tell you?" Petra asked, his tone curious as his eyes observed Arthur's serious expression.

Arthur took a deep breath before continuing. "They said that my destiny has gone awry. I was meant to be cold, unwavering, with righteous thoughts. Those around me shouldn't possess typical personalities, and so forth. At the end of our conversation, they threatened that if fate wasn't immediately rectified, they would seize control of me as Arthur Pendragon, and I would face death at the hands of my own son," he said, his voice burdened by the weight he carried.

Petra remained silent, absorbing every word he had just heard. "That... that's quite heavy," he finally muttered, his expression filled with concern. "What do you plan to do now?" he continued, his gaze serious as he sought a decision from the warrior king.

"There's only one thing to do!" Arthur suddenly exclaimed with an unusually bright smile.

"Huh?" Petra was shocked, his face reflecting confusion.

"You see, nothing in my life has ever gone according to plan. I was born as the illegitimate child of the previous king, then unexpectedly became king when I was merely curious about a sword and pulled it out. And now, if it weren't for meeting you, perhaps I would have become what the angels desired," Arthur explained confidently.

"And this sword is the result of your efforts in persuading the fairies so that the great fairies who govern the spirit world create this sword. A divine construct without any divine intervention, Excalibur: The Promised Sword of Victory. One of the perfect imitation swords of the original I received from God as a gift. "Heh, I merely tricked them by claiming to have altered the appearance of this sword," Arthur chuckled, his eyes still focused on the sword before him.

'That's right, that sword was the result of me teasing the fairies, mocking them because their skills weren't comparable to the God of the Bible, who was such a skilled technician that he could craft a sacred treasure called a Sacred Gear.'

'They were angry and instead crafted this sword with their skills, even stronger than the original.'

"Since they've been closely monitoring me, this sword won't remain in their possession for long," Arthur said as he stood up, turning to face Petra, the sword still in his hand. "So, may I entrust this sword to you?" he asked, offering the sword to Petra.

Petra was shocked, his eyes watching the Excalibur sword in awe. It was difficult to imagine the responsibility he would receive by accepting this legendary sword.

"But, why would you want to give it to me?" he asked, seeking understanding in Arthur's actions.

Arthur smiled gently, his gaze full of confidence as he looked at Petra. "Because I believe that you will take care of it... And if you're unsure, then return it to the fairies," Arthur replied.

Petra watched Arthur with a knowing look. "Arthur, so this is the path you've chosen?" he muttered to himself. He understood that Arthur, as a responsible king, was willing to live out the fate that had been set for him. The destiny that had been written by God's hand, from his birth to the death of the God of Bilbe, had determined Arthur's life path.

In the silence of the night, Petra realized that no matter how hard Arthur tried to stray from his destined path, he would inevitably return to it. And rather than making more sacrifices, Arthur chose to sacrifice himself to protect what he deemed right.

With great respect and courage, Petra accepted the new responsibilities given by Arthur. He felt a heavy burden on his shoulders, but his resolve did not waver. Excalibur, a sword passionate about fighting for truth, was now his responsibility.

"For the sake of Great Britain and to protect Arthur, the king chosen by fate," Petra murmured as he gripped Excalibur tightly. He felt his responsibility as the guardian of this sword was his own destiny.

"Well, after all, I'm the one responsible for the birth of this weapon," added Petra with a smile, facing the daunting challenge with determination.

Arthur chuckled as he said, "Besides, I have another sword that's completely original, so it doesn't matter," with a casual shrug.

Petra nodded, understanding that Arthur possessed the real sword Excalibur, not just an imitation version. Then, he continued seriously, "Alright, now it's my turn to speak... Arthur, I'll be departing come tomorrow morning. I wish to continue my adventure."

Arthur wasn't too surprised. Petra has always been a traveler who never stays still, even though he is a magus whose knowledge of magic rivals that of Morgan and Merlin.

"You're not going to bid farewell to the people in the palace anymore?" Arthur asked, gesturing towards the castle.

Petra chuckled as he shrugged and replied, "If I do that, it'll be difficult for me to leave, especially since the little Succubus, Merlin, will definitely follow me because of the purpose of my trip."

Arthur nodded in understanding, absorbing Petra's explanation. "You always have your own way of living life, Petra," he said with a smile. "But be careful out there. The outside world is full of unpredictable dangers."

Petra smiled at Arthur's warning. "Thank you, Art. I'll be careful," he said sincerely. "And don't worry, I'll always be fine."

The two of them then enjoyed the night sky sparkling with meteor showers, creating beautiful memories that would be etched in their minds forever.