Declaration

"Alisa! Alisa!"

A woman rushed out of the crowd, some guards trying to stop her, but a calm voice resounded in their ears.

"It's alright, let her come."

The woman knelt before Arkhan and pleaded.

"I'm so sorry, I know my daughter did something out of line! I'm willing to accept any punishment, please forgive her!"

"Don't worry, Madam, your daughter is a very responsible child. She is not at fault." Arkhan replied with a smile.

Arkhan handed the little girl back to her mother, who took her daughter with a smile on her face as her daughter was asleep.

He mounted his horse, glanced at the people on either side of the street, and then at the endless crowd ahead. He took a deep breath and with a solemn expression, started to open his mouth.

"People of Camelot, I am Arthur, the Chosen King of Camelot who pulled the sword from the stone."

His voice, fueled by magical energy, resonated far and wide, and the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

"Many of you have never seen me, yet you have gathered here to welcome my arrival. I am deeply moved and grateful for that."

"Camelot is not just a city and a kingdom, but a belief and conviction. It is our shared vision that has brought us together."

"Over a decade ago, the betrayal of the former king's brother dealt Camelot a significant blow to us. We built a defense with the flesh and blood of countless soldiers to keep the invaders out, and to this day, people continue to carry the weight for this country."

"Among them are this girl's fathers, and other children's fathers. They have sacrificed the warmth of home to face the harsh cold... alone. They have fought for fifteen years with their lives for the stability of this nation."

"We were once powerless to change, so we had to accept. But now, everything is different."

Arkhan unsheathed Caliburn from his waist with a loud clang. The golden blade shone brightly in the sunlight.

"In the name of Arthur, I solemnly vow that within three years, I shall command a great army, sweeping across the vast northern territories with unyielding might, to crush the formidable White Dragon Vortigern! His very blood shall be the offering, a tribute to the valiant spirits of our fallen heroes, as their legacy echoes through the ages!"

After Arkhan's words fell, the crowd fell silent for a moment, and then—

""OOOOOOHHHHHHHH—!!!""

They went completely wild!

===

Due to a minor incident along the way, Arkhan and his group arrived at the royal palace much later than planned.

The originally scheduled speech was canceled, and after a brief exchange of greetings, the nobles bid their farewells, boarded their respective carriages prepared by the steward, and headed back to their respective estates.

The events of the day had given these nobles a fresh perspective on the new king. They would need to ponder their future interactions with him.

"Teacher, what you said earlier... is it true?" Artoria couldn't help but ask.

"You mean about launching an attack on the North within three years?" Arkhan responded calmly, looking out of the large windows at the carriages departing in various directions.

Artoria nodded, her face displaying some hesitation.

"I believe that with Camelot's current strength, we might not be ready to launch an attack on the North. Are you being a bit... hasty, Teacher?"

"I wish I didn't have to say this, but time is not on our side..." Arkhan turned around, his face showing a hint of helplessness.

"If we can't defeat Vortigern within three years, we might be the ones to lose in the end."

"Why is that?" Artoria's eyes widened in surprise, and Kay, Bedivere, and the rest nearby also displayed shocked expressions.

"Do you remember what I told you before about the restoration of the Age of Gods?" Arkhan's tone remained even. "Now I'm almost certain that the one pulling the strings behind all of this is Vortigern."

"!!!"

This bombshell of news exploded in everyone's hearts, and their eyes showed intense disbelief.

The mastermind behind the plan to restore the Age of Gods was none other than Vortigern?!

"For the past fifteen years, Vortigern has been hiding in the North, secretly plotting the restoration of the Age of Gods. That's why, even when faced with the opportunity of conquering the South after King Uther's death, he remained indifferent."

Arkhan gazed into the distance, his pitch-black eyes fixed on the entire city.

"Now with the appearance of the phantasmal species from the Age of Gods and the resurrection of Nuada, it's evident Vortigern is not far from success. If we let him continue, Camelot's end is truly near."

"..."

Artoria and the others exchanged bewildered glances, uncertain of what to say.

"I mentioned at Lucanmont that we don't have much time left, so starting from now, we need to be prepared at all times." Arkhan's gaze swept over each of them. "War could break out at any moment when we least expect it."

"As long as Your Majesty gives the order, the knights can be mobilized at any time." Lamorak stated solemnly.

"Your will is my mission!" Bedivere bowed, placing Airgetlam over his chest.

"Teacher, I won't let you down!" Kay affirmed with determination, a hint of noble resolve in his eyes.

"By the name of a knight, I will always stand by your side." Artoria promised earnestly.

Lancelot hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you need it, I'll contribute my strength as well, Arkhan."

"My, my, this is quite the scene. It suddenly feels like I've gone back in time..." Merlin chuckled and muttered from the side, stroking his chin in nostalgia.

Seeing the determination of everyone, Arkhan nodded in satisfaction with a hint of joy in his eyes.

===

After discussions among the ministers, the date for the coronation ceremony was finally set for October 31st.

This day coincided with Samhain, a Celtic tradition symbolizing the end of summer and the onset of harsh winter.

Samhain was the precursor to modern-day Halloween, where it was believed that the spirits of the departed would return to their former homes to seek the living, searching for life to be reborn.

People would extinguish their hearth fires and candles on this day to evade the souls of the deceased. They would also dress up as monsters and ghosts to frighten away these spirits. Once the day passed, a new year would begin.

On this day, the nobles of Camelot received an unexpected invitation with the unmistakable double lion emblem that they all knew so well.

In all of Camelot, only one person had the authority to use this emblem.

So, they shifted their gazes downward and saw an elegant line of handwriting.

Morgan le Fay Pendragon.