Hope and Wish

Thereafter, Arkhan was surrounded by nobles as he made his way to the inner city of Camelot.

As he entered the city, a deafening cheer erupted like a tidal wave.

""Arthur! Arthur!""

The crowd, densely packed on both sides of the street, seemed endless at first glance. Everyone shouted Arthur's name with fervor, and even some of the high nobles were moved by the overwhelming enthusiasm.

However, some individuals had darkened expressions, while others had broader smiles.

"Your Majesty, upon hearing of your arrival, these people have been waiting here. Your reputation has spread throughout Camelot." A noble said with a smile.

"I appreciate the praise, but I have only done what I should." Arkhan replied with a casual smile.

"Your Majesty, humility is a virtue, but excess humility can have the opposite effect." The noble chuckled, then sighed. "We have been suppressed for too long, fifteen years to be exact. Camelot hasn't won such a splendid battle in all that time."

"Yes, Your Majesty, you may not know, but since the news of the War of the Great Plains, envoys from allied kingdoms have flocked to Camelot, including King of Gwent and King of Deheubarth, both of whom have expressed their intent to attend your coronation ceremony." Another noble added.

Gwent and Deheubarth were two powerful kingdoms on par with Camelot. During Camelot's fifteen years of silence, these two countries had rapidly developed and now held significant influence within the alliance.

The presence of these two kings at the new king's coronation ceremony was a clear sign of their respect for him.

"All of this is the result of the valor of our warriors. It is their heroic deeds on the battlefield that have earned Camelot such glory. I have merely made a modest contribution." Arkhan responded nonchalantly.

'You're just humblebragging!'

Many nobles secretly muttered like that to themselves. They hadn't forgotten the news their spies from Lucanmont had brought back, about the 'Light Destruction' still shining outside Lucanmont.

To them, charging with three hundred knights against an army of twenty thousand was an impossible feat, and they suspected the new king's involvement.

However, when they saw the three hundred knights led by Lamorak, they were deeply impressed by the aura of this military formation.

Some older nobles even couldn't help but recall the days when the Roman legions descended like gods.

A ruler of such powerful strength, coupled with such a powerful army, was more than capable of establishing a kingdom in Britain that rivaled Camelot.

Many nobles sighed deeply in their hearts. They had underestimated the new king.

Especially the nobles who had sent assassins to kill the new king now regretted their hasty actions. If they had known about his powerful strength, they would never have taken such a reckless step.

The only relief for them was that these assassins had been secretly raised by them, and no one knew their relationship with them. The new king probably wouldn't discover this.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted nearby as a little girl in a red dress darted out of the crowd and ran straight toward Arkhan.

"Stop her!"

Several faces of the nobles shifted slightly. In this era, no one could guarantee that a seven or eight-year-old girl was as innocent as she appeared.

The guards drew their swords, preparing to intercept the approaching girl, but they froze in place.

"No need to be so tense..." Arkhan said with a calm tone as his fingertips were surrounded by a faint green light. "She's just a little girl."

The girl seemed entirely unaware of what she had just experienced as she ran up to him without hesitation, her large hazel eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Arkhan dismounted his horse and crouched down, meeting the girl's gaze with a gentle smile.

"Are you here for me?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, then said in a soft voice, "Are you King Arthur?"

"Yes, I am Arthur." Arkhan answered with a smile.

"Everyone says you're the king who can bring hope to Camelot. I asked my mom what hope is, and she told me that hope is making people's wishes come true. So, I want King Arthur to help me make my wish come true."

She opened her small palm, revealing three brightly polished copper coins.

"Mom said when you ask for help, you have to give something in return. This is all the money I've saved, and I'll work hard to pay you back if it's not enough."

Arkhan fell silent for a moment, then accepted the three copper coins from the girl and smiled.

"You don't need to do that, because the price for one wish is exactly three copper coins."

"Really?" The girl's eyes lit up.

 "Umu, so tell me your wish." Arkhan nodded with a smile.

The girl hesitated, clutching her clothes shyly, then whispered, "I... I want to see my dad again."

Arkhan's expression twitched slightly.

"Mom said Dad went to the North, to a very faraway place because he's a great hero, he needs to fight bad people and protect us..."

The little girl spoke with her head down.

"But in the past, Dad used to come back every year, but now, it's been so long since he last came back. Every time I ask Mom why Dad hasn't come back yet, Mom cries, and I get scared, so I don't dare to ask anymore."

"But I really miss him... I don't want him to be a hero; I just want him to come back, hug me like he used to, pat my head, and make me the most awful sandwiches... hiks... hiks..."

*Tick...* *Tick...*

Big tears rolled down her cheeks, and the little girl's face was streaked with tears.

"I-I really... hiks... want to see Dad again..." She choked.

Everyone fell silent, their expressions filled with complexity.

Arkhan gently wiped the tears from the little girl's face and smiled.

"I've heard your wish. Now, let me help you make it come true."

He snapped his fingers, and a crimson feather fell from the void, catching the little girl's eye.

A sense of confusion washed over her, and it felt like her consciousness had detached from her body, drifting through the clouds, higher and higher.

"Alisa... Alisa..."

A faint call reached her ears. The little girl—Alisa, suddenly snapped back, finding herself lying in her bed at home, the brilliant sunlight streaming through the window, casting a warm glow.

"It's so late, and you're still not getting up, Alisa. You're such a little lazy pig."

A gentle voice came from the side, and Alisa instinctively turned her head to see a tall man standing by the bed, his eyes filled with a familiar warmth.

"Dad!" Alisa cheered with excitement and threw herself into the man's arms. "You're finally back! Alisa really missed you!"

The man gently ruffled her hair and smiled.

"I missed you too, my lovely daughter."

"Really?" Alisa's big eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

"Of course, I would never lie to you." The man laughed. "Alright, get up quickly, or Mom will get angry and spank your butt. After breakfast, Dad will take you out to play."

"Yay!" Alisa exclaimed and immediately jumped out of bed, running to the living room. "Mom! Mom! Hurry, I want breakfast, and then I'll go out to play with Dad!"

"Wait! Alisa, you haven't put on your shoes yet!"

The man had never lied to Alisa, as after breakfast, he indeed took her out to play.

They went to the market and bought Alisa's favorite snacks.

They visited the church, looking down at the full view of Camelot from the tower.

The man even took her to the countryside, where they encountered flocks of sheep. The girl curiously touched the soft, woolly sheep, which felt extremely comfortable.

They found a village, and the man borrowed a kitchen from one of the villagers, promising to cook a big meal for the girl. However, the bread they baked turned out as black as charcoal, making the girl laugh even more when she saw the embarrassed look on the man's face.

They went into the woods to pick mushrooms, and flew kites on the open field, while the girl's laughter carried far and wide.

Unbeknownst to them, night fell. The man and the little girl lay on the grass, gazing at the starry sky.

"I have to go, Alisa..."

The man suddenly said and a sudden, unexplained fear gripped the little girl.

"Dad... where are you going?"

"I'm going to a very distant place, maybe I will never return..."

The man turned his head, his finger brushing the girl's disheveled hair, his eyes filled with a complex expression.

"No! I won't let you go!"

The little girl clung tightly to the man's arm, as if afraid he would disappear suddenly. The man only smiled gently and stroked the girl's head.

"You need to listen to Mom and be a good girl."

"I don't want to! I don't want to!" The little girl shook her head repeatedly, her tear-filled eyes unable to hold back her sobs.

"Don't cry, Alisa." The man gently wiped away the tears in the corner of the girl's eyes. "Dad will turn into a star and watch over you from above. If you ever miss me, just close your eyes at night, silently count to three in your heart, then open your eyes and look up. That way, you'll see Dad."

"Really?" Alisa's eyes filled with tears.

"Of course. Haven't I always told you the truth?"

The man smiled and held his daughter close, pointing to the countless sparkling stars.

"If you don't believe it, let's try it now. Close your eyes and listen as I count to three, then you can open them."

Alisa tightly closed her eyes, then heard the man's soothing voice.

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three..."