Chapter 108: Gawain’s First Cast (rewrite)

Gawain's First Cast

Lott smiled triumphantly as he shared the details of his recent activities with Morgan. His explanations were thorough, and it was clear that Morgan was beginning to understand his strategic vision.

"Lookie, you're amazing," Morgan said sincerely, clearly impressed by Lott's accomplishments.

"I know I'm great. Haven't you told me that before?" Lott responded with a touch of pride, enjoying the praise.

Morgan was momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood Lott's playful arrogance. "Oh, please," she laughed. "I'm not going to indulge you in this right now. I need to handle some specific tasks. You keep an eye on Gawain."

She handed the baby to Lott and walked away to tackle the government affairs, leaving Lott with little Gawain.

Lott, now with nothing pressing to do, found himself pondering how to activate his favourite pastime: fishing. "Shall I head to the River of Time now?" he mused.

In the garden, little Gawain reached out with her tiny hand to grab Lott's shirt. Despite their occasional carelessness, both Lott and Morgan were deeply loving parents. They were devoted to their child, even if their methods might seem unconventional.

Gawain, though only a month old, exhibited the developmental milestones of a three- or four-month-old. Her grasp was firm as she tugged on Lott's collar, making it clear she was eager for attention.

Seeing her determination, Lott smiled. "What's this? Do you want to go fishing with me?"

Gawain responded with enthusiastic babbling, though she didn't nod. Her tiny hand remained tightly clutching Lott's collar.

"Alright, my little sunshine, I'll take you along," Lott agreed with a resigned smile.

He had previously tested the River of Time's capacity to transport individuals and found it reliable. The time he took a condemned prisoner to the river showed that even such prisoners were unaffected by the river's mystical properties.

Confident that the River of Time would accommodate both him and Gawain, Lott prepared for their trip. He gathered his fishing gear and, with Gawain in his arms, headed out.

Outside the palace, Lott encountered Kay, who was burdened with a stack of documents. The two men exchanged glances, and the air grew tense.

Kay's eyes revealed his frustration. Seeing Lott, the sovereign, leisurely preparing to fish while he faced mounting paperwork, was disheartening. Lott, now more aware of his actions, felt a pang of guilt, reminiscent of his past life experiences as a worker.

"Your Majesty, what are you up to?" Kay asked, unable to hide his exasperation.

Lott, assuming a serious demeanour, replied, "I'm engaged in something very important."

Kay's confusion deepened. "What's that?"

Lott continued with mock gravity, "I'm cultivating the next king of Camelot."

With that, Lott turned and walked away, fishing rod and child in tow. Kay watched, dumbfounded, struggling to comprehend the situation.

How could Lott be focusing on training a child who was only a few months old? The concept seemed absurd given the context.

Once outside the city, with no one in sight, Lott stepped into the River of Time, holding Gawain securely. The river, a silent and flowing expanse, appeared deeper and wider than before, a sign of its continued evolution.

Lott was delighted by this change. [The river getting deeper means my opportunities are growing stronger. Maybe one day, I'll catch something that will completely alter my destiny,] he thought.

This River of Time was Lott's greatest asset, bolstering his strengths and compensating for his limitations. If he could gather enough treasures and harness the river's power, he could become a significant force in this era.

With anticipation, Lott prepared his fishing rod, now further enhanced with runes engraved by Scáthach, making it far sturdier than before.

He turned to Gawain and said, "Alright, little one, watch as I demonstrate my fishing skills."

With practised ease, Lott cast the rod into the river, his movements smooth and confident. "One, two, three, away with you!" he declared with a smile.

Gawain, as if sharing in Lott's enthusiasm, looked at the fishing rod with curiosity. Her tiny face lit up with a joyful smile, mirroring Lott's excitement.

As the fishing rod sank into the river, Lott's heart raced with anticipation. [The angler is never the Air Force!]

He eagerly awaited the results, fully invested in his pastime and the special moment with his daughter.