Chapter 40 – The Sons of Destiny
Night enveloped the forest in a dark and humid veil. Gosh, carrying Glann on his shoulders, struggled along the muddy path, his heart pounding. Arthur, the blond boy, walked ahead of them, alert to every sound, every shadow.
— "One more wrong step and we'll fall…" murmured Arthur, looking around. "We have to be careful."
— "I… I hope we make it…" replied Gosh, out of breath. "The forest is too big, too dark…"
Suddenly, voices rose behind them.
— "There! Get them!" shouted Rokan, emerging with his armed men.
Gosh felt adrenaline surge. He held Glann close and prepared to flee, but Arthur didn't move. His blue eyes were calm and focused, fixed on the bandits.
— "Step back!" shouted Arthur.
Before the bandits could react, Arthur grabbed a simple stick lying on the ground. He spun it with unexpected strength, and in a single motion, three bandits were thrown back, knocked over by the power of the strike. Gosh blinked, stunned.
Rokan, furious, charged at Arthur with all his strength. But the prince did not flinch. He positioned himself in front of Glann and Gosh, the stick ready to block the attack.
Arthur then raised his voice, firm and determined.
— "Magic of…!"
But someone interrupted him. Time had stopped in the forest; none of the bandits could move except Arthur and the twins. The trees seemed to bow under an invisible magic. A familiar figure appeared behind Arthur: Merlin, the legendary mage, calm and imposing.
— "Arthur… what are you doing here?" asked Merlin.
Arthur, out of breath but fearless, looked at Glann:
— "Merlin… this boy… he is sick… very sick… he could die if we do not act. I… I beg you… can you save him?"
Merlin observed Glann. The red pustules, the shortness of breath, the extreme fragility… He slowly nodded.
— "Very well… but be careful with them," said Merlin.
He placed his hand on Glann. A soft, white light burst forth, enveloping the boy. The pustules vanished, his breathing returned to normal, and his eyes opened, sparkling with vitality.
Gosh, tears in his eyes, murmured:
— "Glann… you… you're healed…"
Glann, still weak but smiling, replied in a trembling voice:
— "Yes… I… I'm fine… thank you…"
Merlin turned to Arthur, his gaze piercing but full of respect:
— "You did well to call me. This boy is now saved. But be careful, little prince. You are not alone, yet this world is cruel."
Arthur nodded, relief and determination mingling in his eyes:
— "Thank you, Merlin… thank you for him."
The bandits, frozen under the magic, were powerless. Merlin lifted his spell, and they realized their inability to fight the mage, fleeing and abandoning any idea of capturing them.
Merlin looked at Arthur, telling him this was the fifth escape attempt this month and that the King was particularly worried. He promised Arthur he wouldn't tell his father he had been here, on the condition that he would stop running away.
Arthur then asked how Merlin had found him. Merlin explained it was thanks to the bracelet he wore and that if Arthur's life were ever in danger, he could locate him. He added that he had been watching over them all this time, and the day of the accident, he had wanted to help but chose not to, wishing to see how the prince would manage. Surprised but powerless, Arthur accepted the deal and decided never to run away again. They began heading back to Britania with Merlin, but Arthur turned his head toward Glann and Gosh and said:
— "Come with me… you are my friends now. We are going to Britania. There, you will be safe."
Gosh, still in tears, held his brother close:
— "I… I can't believe it… he's… he's healed…"
Arthur smiled reassuringly:
— "Yes… now everything will be fine. Together, we'll return to Britania."
And so, the trio, guided by Arthur and protected by Merlin, left the forest behind, leaving the bandits and fear, ready to begin a new life in the capital.
The following day;
The sun rose gently over Britania, its rays illuminating the sparkling towers and massive walls of the capital. The streets, still quiet at this hour, hinted at the city's scale: busy markets, singing fountains, and citizens beginning their daily routines.
Arthur, holding Glann's hand and guiding Gosh, walked confidently despite his young age. The two brothers watched, fascinated and intimidated by the capital's wonders.
— "It's… huge…" murmured Gosh, eyes wide. "All… all of this…"
— "This is Britania… your home now," replied Arthur with a reassuring smile.
Glann, still frail but radiant with health, looked around with a mix of fear and wonder:
— "I… I never could have imagined…"
Arthur stopped in front of the royal palace gates. Merlin accompanied them, walking behind with calm dignity.
— "Here, you will be safe," said Merlin. "You won't have to hide anymore."
Gosh felt his heart tighten. Two years of wandering, fear, and illness seemed to vanish instantly. He looked at Glann, tears in his eyes, then turned to Arthur:
— "Thank you… thank you for saving him… thank you for finding us…"
Arthur placed a hand on Gosh's shoulder, serious yet gentle:
— "You don't have to thank me. You protected your brother all this time… you've been brave. And now, we will all be together."
A royal guard approached, saluting Arthur. He turned to Gosh and Glann:
— "You are my friends. If you wish, you may stay here with me."
Gosh felt his breath catch, unable to contain his emotion.
— "We… we want to…" he said, voice trembling. "We swear loyalty to Arthur… always."
Glann, taking his brother's hand, nodded:
— "Yes… we will follow you… always."
Merlin, watching the scene with a slight smile, placed his hand on their shoulders:
— "Very well. Let this oath be recognized. From this day, you are bound by friendship and loyalty."
Arthur smiled, moved, and the three children raised their hands together, sealing their bond. The morning light shone upon them, symbolizing a new beginning.
— "Good…" said Arthur, eyes shining. "Now, it's time to show you Britania… your new home."
Gosh and Glann exchanged a glance. The fears and suffering of the past years seemed behind them. A new life was beginning, alongside their friend Arthur, with the promise of safety, adventure, and unbreakable bonds.
---
Then he regained his focus!
The wind howled across the devastated city. Gosh was on the ground, his body trembling with fatigue and fear, facing Ezer, the gigantic stone colossus. Each step of the monster shook the ground and raised clouds of dust. Its dark eyes glowed with monstrous hunger.
— "You… you think you can escape, human?" growled Ezer, his voice echoing like clashing stones. "I'm going to… devour you!"
Gosh, helpless, felt the creature's breath on his neck. The colossus leaned toward him, its massive jaw ready to snap shut.
Suddenly, a flash of light shot behind Gosh. The light intensified, radiating across the plain. In a blinding flash, a figure appeared, moving at incredible speed. Arthur's red cape flowed behind him, and his aura radiated pure, almost divine power.
— "Let him go!" shouted Arthur, eyes burning with light. "No one touches my kingdom!"
The stone colossus roared and charged at the King. Arthur raised his hands and focused all his energy into a beam of pure light, a dazzling and powerful blast. The ray struck Ezer squarely, propelling him backward with titanic force, shattering even his defense. The ground cracked under the impact, chunks of stone flying in all directions.
Gosh blinked, dazzled, as the dust settled. Before them, the stone colossus, furious, slowly rose, but a glimmer of recognition crossed his stone eyes as he looked at Arthur.
— "It's the King?…" murmured Ezer in an angry voice, a shiver running through his stone body. "I… it's you… huh???"
Arthur, still radiating light, stepped forward.
— "Yes… it's me. And if you dare raise a hand against my brothers again, I will destroy you."
Gosh looked at Arthur with awe and relief:
— "Arthur… you… you've returned…" he said, tears welling up.
The stone colossus Ezer stepped back a few paces, impressed and intimidated by Arthur's light aura. The king's power was overwhelming, and he realized his desire for destruction was impossible against this divine force.
At that moment, Hit, witnessing the scene, immediately recognized the majesty and authority of the king.
— "I… it's the king?! You've grown so much since last time!" he murmured, with a superior air.
Arthur then raised his hand, concentrating another burst of light around him, illuminating the entire city:
— "Now… everyone will know that no one can challenge me when my friends are in danger!"
The light flooded the city, the stone colossus Ezer was thrown backward, disoriented, and Hit, stunned, understood that the battle was about to intensify.
To be continued…