14. A New Time Part 1

15th Century, Briton

"The country was going through agitated times

Saxons, pirates, and other invaders were vying for supremacy over Britons

Vortigern himself like the white dragon went onward to overthrow the Red One

Uther himself perished in the battle

Leaving behind a single sword

Internal conflicts between families led some to turn coattail to others

This was the dark times of Briton

Without the hope of salvation

But a light glowed in this abyss

A prophecy, unfulfilled in time...

This is her journey"

....

Artoria decided to live a slow life. After gaining ainz's reassurance that he would aid her in her need. She felt that a huge burden was taken off.

What if she was not strong? Worse comes to worst he would be there to help him.

Eventually, the time came to pick the sword in the stone. A calling for her whether she would pick the sword or not. After all, she suddenly felt indecisive for she was reminded of her failures in the past lives just by remembering the event.

"Is she truly the worthy king of Briton or not?" the question itself nagged her to no end. At one point she even thought on what if she does not pick the sword from the stone but simply discarded the idea when remembering the jousts set by the nobles.

Foreign invasions, Saxons, pirates were all hounding Briton. The nation itself required a central authority at this moment. After all no matter the influence of nobles none can match the authority of a king. For such, she had to wield it no matter what.

In her indecisiveness, she made her way to a secluded part of the forest. It was the night the birds were asleep, the beasts in their slumber for such was a time. Before in the past where there remained no source of light other than candles to show the way and within the darkness of the night, she moved farther and farther from her house.

She, after following the distinct aura of caster made her way near the place. That's where she saw a man sitting near the tranquil lake watching the ebbing of the night slowly flicker away with the fragile touch of the everlasting moonlight.

A plethora of emotion was going around his face contemplation, despair, and even a tint of sorrow but in the end, what it showed for artoria was the regret of not being able to achieve something he desired most. For a moment it felt to artoria that even in the desolate plains deep in the forest that only he and she had existed.

She finally decided to speak,

"I'm glad that you made it on the behest of my request."

Ainz nodding in acknowledgment turned towards her "I was lost in showing the proper way to my master. She sometimes could be a handful "

Caster said in jest. Clearly his mood remained quite morbid during such times but even then he tried to lighten the atmosphere. Artoria decided to humor him,

"haha..."

She then continued, "I wanted to ask if, you had made any preparations or plans of the future as i currently want you to know the time to wield the sword is quite near."

Saber was beating around the bush. Ainz understanding such decided to know what at all was she getting at,

"I wished to know if you would be my first knight or not."

Ainz was surprised. From artoria's past, the first knight belonged to her was Bedivere himself. The importance of such an event was monumental in her history itself. Asking him to be knighted was really something for him. Even then he was not averse to such notion for this may even provide benefits to this future task.

"I would have no problem for being granted the honor of being your first knight, my lady"

In such moments Ainz applauded his role-playing skills and simply kneeled before her

"Will this foul creature of darkness be knighted before you as yours truly, now?"

Ainz was no knight in terms of position but even then the eloquence of such actions was not lost to artoria and the fact that a demi-god like servant similar to ainz was bowing before she gave her some kind of dark pleasure. She blinked for she had not been raised as such kind of knight

Artoria took her blade put the tip on his two sides and asked,

"Will you accept knighthood?"

Ainz simply replied in courtesy maximizing his role-playing skills "I accept on my honor"

The Next Day :

It was time.

She stood before it the pristine sword that had not lost its luster standing forth against the sands of time. The sword of choosing Caliburn lay before her calling her worthiness of being a king.

"He who wields this sword is the rightful king of Briton"

In the past, she saw it as a blessing but now after enduring everything she knew how much of a curse this was. But then she heard a voice,

"It is better to think twice before picking up that sword"

He continued "Not only will you stop being a human you too will remain hated by all kinds of people and perhaps reach a horrendous death"

Artoria paid the speaker no heed and spoke "Merlin, what does it mean to be a king?"

"It depends on where your hopes and aspirations lie. For the good king, Uther gave all of the hope towards the sword of choosing. Surely the sword would not mistake the ideals of a Rightful king"

While thinking she released the sword from the stone and history began once more.

Artoria went to the place where the joust was held, followed behind by ainz in his obsidian armor. The armor itself made ainz look intimidating and with a large stride behind his gait, he followed after her.

People around her started giving their attention to seeing him behind her.

"I am Artoria Pendragon, Child of Uther and the rightful king of Briton"

Like such, she pointed the blade so all could see. But even then none decided to accept her words. For she had no achievements in her belt. Finding no other way she decided to ask ainz for his help.

He made a simple command "[Mass Hold Species]" and to generate a good effect "[Mass Charm Person]" with such there remained none who moved their eyes from her like moths alight a flame.

Like such people moving around all of them froze in their tracks Ainz nodded towards her to continue,

"People, for how long have we suffered from foreign invasions against the Saxons. No more, I say no more shall we endure any more of their oppression. We will fight but for such, I require your aid towards me."

A fire once more lighted behind her. An insignia of dragon looming from Caliburn to show its trust for the ideal king. People all around were speechless. For the event kindled the flicker of trust in people's eyes.

With the power of charisma level B, she persuaded all those around her to her cause to once more pick up arms for the nation.

Ainz from behind her was enthralled. For this was the first time he was watching someone lead others instead of feeling the pressure himself. Ainz then thought if should take notes to improve his kingly etiquette #36 but then decided to not commit on such lest he loses his image.

With such, he began his march with artoria in the front and sir kay and Bedivere joining the king as her knights. They looked dubiously towards him. For his armor implied nothing of his origin or his relation to Arthur. So they asked,

"Arthur, do you know the man in black?"

Ainz chuckled to himself on the odd nickname. Arthur spoke with confidence,

"I know him for he is my first knight."

Surprised Sir kay eyed the mysterious individual probing so see the depths of his character. Ainz knowing such tried to make small talk with the famed knight of Arthur,

"How goes, sir knight. I hear mighty words of your adventures"

Kay in a boastful manner spoke, "Thy seems to know right. It is I sir kay the brave for no warrior is as strong as i. You though seem to have a keen outlook for spotting such information. Are you too a knight of such valor?"

Ainz reverted to his salaryman times. The moment he had talked to his colleagues about his days. He imitated them once more

"Aye. Your bravery knows no bounds. But for me I remain new to these lands just came here with my daughter."

He spoke. Kay regarded him akin to a friend and bellowed in laughter.

Time passed.

Artoria on the beckoning of nobles first made her way towards the River Glein. For this way her path to kill Saxons and show herself as the rightful king of Briton. She remained alluded to the mysterious figure of Ainz. The obsidian armor was unknown to even her for she knew of him as caster, not of a knight in black armor.

She mused on the thoughts on what prowess thus ainz have in terms of wielding a blade. But then they got close towards the battlefield to the point of reaching the fight.

Aldrin Pov:

Hope was lost him. Aldrin himself was a noble around the borders of Briton. He himself like a good individual took care of his people but now he simply finds himself thoroughly cornered. For the lost his castle and most of his people to the accursed invasion.

"Damn Saxons.."

Little by little they got closer to him forcing him to evacuate his castle and his home. He pleaded for help towards his other noble brethren but alas that had not to be. For they were selfish and are still vying for the empty throne. For he felt hatred towards them as the left him to handle the situation by himself while they sat on their comfortable homes.

He spat out the wine that he had drunk from the goblet and later threw it at his frustration. The situation was going nowhere. Saxons were at his door and he has to do something.

"People. The accursed Saxons are not known to take prisoners and it seems escape too is impossible at this point. So those who have children and wives on my behest leave to the capital. For the men, we die to protect until the end."

The atmosphere itself was gloomy but with his words, a little bit of light entered the people's eyes. For the found a new resolve, the resolve to aid others who they considered family to escape.

Duke Aldrin will at least see to that.

He finally stood from his throne and after reequipping, his armor and sword made his way towards the place where the Saxons made their camp with his people in tow in order to make his final stand.

Blades clashed. He let his people fight those who they had a chance of beating. He eyed the one in the middle with the giant body and a large war ax. After the initial clashes, he knew that he remained no match for him but even still,

"ha..ha.."

Panting deeply he tried to get his gait straight even then he made his resolve. To fight to the very end...

He struck but now with no regard for his safety.

"Ahhhh...."

The war ax hit his abdomen getting a shriek out of him but even then he went for a strike.

"For..Briton.."

He fell. The pain remained too much to bear. In the end he could do nothing but wait for his death.

It would be his last time and slowly waited for the strike to cleave him in half.

But...

But.

Suddenly like an arrow something went by and ripped his assailant's body to sheds. A warrior standing tall with two large bastard swords in his hands.

A hero in the battlefield rose once more

To fight in order to prevent a tragedy

History would be rewritten once again

Of the fabled knight of round table Momon, the Darkness.

.....

ps. My skills seem to be evolving every day..