On the day of Julius's funeral, Lancelot read his will to the world. Lancelot would be named king, and he would be married to Laura Verillium, as he thought they were "always a good match". The Zephyr and Pendragon family would be granted access to the full extense of the royal library. The will was short, there were sappy words, things that probably would've made the average person cry. Arthur was standing next to Revan, and he heard her choke out a sob. She looked at him.
"How can you be so serious? Does it not even make you sad, a little bit?"
Arthur remained silent for a moment. But when he attempted to speak, he immediately stopped. A few words from Lancelot cut through the silence.
"Arthur Pendragon, is to be sent to the royal guard, not only to further expand his talents, but I believe he will be a valuable asset."
Although, Laura Vermillion was the youngest to enter the royal guard, it was still a feat. Even though he was 19, which would be considered a full fledged adult on earth for the most part. The people there still saw him as a boy. Revan smiled at him. Before turning away. Lancelot had finished reading. The air after was filled with whispers. There were lots of things in the will Arthur didnt really care about. The only thing he was really listening to was the part about him. Arthur looked at Lancelot, who was sitting down, head in his hands. While Laura was next to him. Patting his back. Arthur heard the sound of crude squeaking against the stone flooring. Looking to his left. He saw a man in a wheelchair. Who looked, extremely old. Hair as grey as it could be. And his body looked quite decrepit.
"So it's you isn't it? Lots of people heard about that fiasco you pulled. Though you must've proven yourself at this point…"
"…and you are?"
"Oh I'm just an old man."
"Just an old man? Just an old man wouldn't be able to even get in here. I thought this area was designated for close friends, family, or people on a list? So surely you must be someone important?"
The old man scratched his long grey beard and sighed.
"Well. I guess I overlooked that little dose of information…I am James Vermillion, first of his name, I was advisor to the king, and his personal guardsman, until my accursed affliction struck. Though I'd rather not blabber off about me."
'Vermillion…so he's that Laura girls father. They're a talented house…'
"Pendragon boy, I'll give you a month to say all your goodbyes and gather your things. I know you haven't been home in quite a while."
"…"
Arthur didn't say a thing. He turned around and walked away. That night he took a carriage home with his brother and father. Mordred seemed happy.
"Congrats on your achievement, little brother. Being apart of the royal guard is something many can only dream of."
"…thank you, brother."
"And becoming a master too, I didn't expect you'd have so much talent! If you started earlier you might've—"
Uther spoke up swiftly, interrupting Mordred.
"Enough, Mordred, I'm sure Arthur has had enough of endless rambling for the day."
Mordred raised an eyebrow and then nodded at his father. Uther Pendragon was an odd person to read, his eyes bore no love for Arthur, nor for Mordred. But Arthur knew that he cared. Just maybe not too much.
Once they arrived at the household. Arthur took a good look at it. It felt like a distant memory at that point. He had completely forgotten about the pendragon residence, though right now the memory seemed to be more prevalent in his mind than ever. His childhood. When his brother played tag in the garden.
'And when mother would read me stories…'
His mother. Someone who seemed to be haunting him. Yet it seemed like he would never know what happened to her. Arthur settled into his bed. It felt unusual, he was used to the rough straw bed, how it dug into his back. How he could barely sleep at night, but he hadn't slept properly in a few days. As he laid on his bed. He looked up at the ceiling, and let himself rest properly. The next few months went by quickly.