Scenario:Arthur - I Can't Run Away

I Can't Run Away

A few days after the joint training expedition, Arthur and company stop by the infirmary to visit Mordred. Upon learning he is being called a hero for pulling the sword from the stone, Arthur wishes he could see it again to find out why it chose him. Meanwhile Lamorak, who had been listening in, begins making preparations elsewhere.

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A year has gone by since Arthur passed the exam to became a full-fledged member of the Order of the White Dragons.

One day, he and the new rookie knights visit the mountain of Camlann for a joint training expedition.

But they find themselves in a tight spot when a swarm of monsters attacks, the result of a plot by Rowley, one of the knights-in-training.

Arthur: Ah!

Arthur: There's... a sword. Look.

Tornelio: Is... that...

Suddenly the legendary sword Excalibur appears in their midst, and Arthur succeeds in pulling it from the stone.

Henry: What... just happened? Did the light wipe all the hybrids out?

Tornelio: Arthur?

The sword eliminates the monsters with ease, but Arthur is engulfed by its mighty power and winds up going berserk.

???: Ahhh... Aaahhh!

Vane: Rgh... Whatever it is...

Vane: We won't be able to get near Arthur and Mordred if we don't take care of it!

Fortunately, his rampage is brought to an end thanks to the combined efforts of Vane and (Captain)'s crew.

A few days later, Arthur, Cruz, and Tornelio stop by the infirmary to visit Mordred, who had been wounded during the events.

Arthur: Knock knock, Mordred! We're here to see you! How's your injury looking?

Mordred: The wound's healing up nicely, but it still hurts to move.

Tornelio: Looks like you don't have a fever at least. Thank goodness it didn't get infected.

Mordred: It's all thanks to that first aid of yours. Even the doctor said it was amazingly well done.

Tornelio: R-really? I'm glad my training with the White Dragons came in handy.

Cruz: Attaboy, Tornelio.
And here, Mordred—a little get well present from the three of us.

Mordred: Whoa, that's one big fruit basket. Thanks a bunch, guys. You didn't have to go to all this trouble.

Arthur: No problem! Eat this, and you'll have all the nutrition you need to heal up fast!

Mordred: You sound like the sister back at the orphanage. Don't worry, I'm eating just fine.

Henry: I was wondering why this room was so noisy. Great minds think alike, it seems.

Arthur: Hey, it's Henry!

Mordred: What are you doing here?

Henry: Wow, so much for a warm welcome. You said you were counting on me back on Camlann, remember?

Arthur: Huh? Did he really say that?

Mordred: I meant we needed to work together. I couldn't have handled that situation by myself.

Henry: Heh. Well, it's a leader's duty to take care of his loyal followers!

Henry: That's why I, captain of the Henry Brigade, have taken it upon myself to prepare you a gift. I hope you appreciate it!

Arthur: Thanks!
Wait, is this a fruit basket?

Tornelio: It's almost as big as the one we brought...

Mordred: Seriously?

Henry: Oh? What's wrong? Are you too overwhelmed with gratitude to speak?

Henry: Well, can't say I blame you! I did choose the extra large option, after all! Have you ever known such a generous soul?

Mordred: ...

Arthur: Better work up an appetite, Mordred! If you eat twice as much, I bet you'll heal twice as fast!

Mordred: Pretty sure that's not how it works.
Anyway, thanks for the gift. It looks great.

Henry: On an unrelated note...

Henry marches over to Arthur and pats him heartily on the shoulder.

Henry: Don't think I forgot about your mighty deeds! I saw everything, mister legendary hero who pulled the sword from the stone!

Arthur: Huh? Did you say hero?

Tornelio: Oh, right. You've been with Mordred this whole time, so you wouldn't know.

Tornelio: You pulling Excalibur from the stone is all anyone can talk about. They're calling you the hero from the legends.

Arthur: Me? A... hero?

Henry: I'd expect no less from the first member of the Henry Brigade! In fact, I'm promoting you to vice-captain, effective immediately!

Arthur: Wait, really? Sweet!

Mordred: How long are you gonna keep saying things unironically like that? If the rookies heard you, they'd die laughing.

Henry: Oh, don't give me that. The truth is, you're actually jealous he got the position, aren't you?

Mordred: Yeah, sure, why not. Let's just say I'm jealous and leave it at that.

Arthur: But you know, I'm not sure I deserve to be called a hero.

Arthur: Granted I don't remember much, but it sounds like I gave Vice-Captain Vane and (Captain)'s crew a pretty tough time...

Tornelio: That wasn't your fault. You were dealing with a legendary power, after all.

Henry: The sword didn't even budge when Vice-Captain Vane pulled on it, but you were able to draw it the second you were in danger, right?

Henry: Isn't that, like... fate? You're basically a hero chosen by the sword itself!

Mordred: Fate, huh? Could be.

Mordred: (Rowley mentioned something about qualifications, so maybe there's a reason Arthur was able to draw the sword.)

Mordred: Wait, I just thought of something. What happened to Rowley after everything went down?

Cruz: He's no longer with the White Dragons.

Tornelio: We thought we had him captured, but he disappeared when we were about to escort him down the mountain.

Henry: I had my father use his connections to look into it, and apparently Rowley never went home. Either way, it's pretty obvious he's rotten to the core.

Arthur: Yeah? Man, I had so many questions for him...

Cruz: Questions?

Arthur: Remember what he said when I tried to pull out the sword?

Rowley: Of course it won't come out, Arthur. You don't bear the right to free it!

Arthur: It's been bugging me this whole time. Why was he so sure I couldn't draw the sword?

Arthur: And why was I able to in the end?

Arthur: I'm thinking maybe Rowley knew the conditions for pulling the sword from the stone.

Tornelio: I wouldn't be surprised. He definitely seemed to be an expert on the legend of Excalibur.

Tornelio: He even knew about the sheath, something the rest of us weren't aware of, right?

Henry: Sheath? I've never heard of that.

Arthur: Guess we're not the only ones. Apparently, it's not just a sword that appears in the legend—there's a sheath too.

Henry: Why a sheath? What good would that do you? I'd rather just have the sword!

Arthur: Well, it's important to have some kind of protector. Carrying a sword without one is dangerous.

Mordred: Sword safety's not really the point here. Don't change the subject.

Cruz: ...

Cruz: (A sheath, huh?)

Arthur: Hmm... Excalibur...
Why was I able to pull it out?

Arms crossed, Arthur furrows his brow in thought.

Arthur: I wish I could see it again. Maybe that would help me get closer to the truth.

Cruz: Not sure that'd be possible. Excalibur was recovered by the White Dragons and placed in the royal treasury.

Tornelio: Well, it is a precious sword. I can see why it'd be treated as a national treasure.

Arthur: The treasury, huh... Think I could ask Captain Lancelot to let me see it?

Mordred: No way. You went berserk just from pulling it out of the stone, remember?

Mordred: There's no way he'd let us touch something that dangerous.

Arthur: Yeah, guess not...

Arthur: Hmm... So what should I do?

Scratching his head, Arthur continues muttering to himself.

Mordred: Do you really want to see Excalibur that badly?

Arthur: Well, yeah! I can't help being curious!

Mordred: It's powerful enough to wipe out a horde of monsters though. Doesn't that scare you?

Arthur: Sure it does. But I can't keep running away forever.

During the joint training expedition, Arthur had come close to accidentally injuring Mordred—an extremely harrowing experience.

Arthur ended up asking the crew if they'd ever been afraid of getting stronger, and Lyria tried her best to answer.

Lyria: I wanted to lend whatever strength I could.

Lyria: Having great power is a great responsibility.

Lyria: It's scary, knowing you can hurt others...

Lyria: But there are people that I treasure... Friends I don't want to lose.

Lyria: I don't want to feel regret for the rest of my life because I was powerless to help them.

Arthur: My body's getting stronger so fast my brain can't keep up. Sometimes it honestly scares me...

Arthur: Things could've definitely turned out better with the sword, but the fact is I was able to draw out its power. I can't pretend that didn't happen.

Arthur: I feel like I need to understand myself better so I don't get swept away by my own strength.

Arthur: And why was I able to pull the sword from the stone? I want to know who I am.

Mordred: (Who I am...)

Mordred: Well, I can't say I'm not curious too.

Arthur: Huh? Listen to you being all honest. What's gotten into you?

Mordred: I just meant your line of thought makes sense. After all, I don't know much about my parents either.

Arthur: Huh... Is that really all?

Mordred: Yeah, that's all.

Mordred: The sword's in Feendrache, so I'm sure you'll get to see it eventually, even if it's not right away.

Arthur: Good point.

Bird: ...

Arthur: Oh! Look, a bird!

Arthur notices a small bird perched on the windowsill and rushes over toward it.

Bird: Tweet!

Arthur: Aw, it flew away...

Mordred: What's the big fuss? It's just a bird.

Mordred: Anyway, isn't it almost time for training? You're gonna get an earful if you're late again.

Arthur: Oh yeah! Okay, we'd better take off.

Waving a cheerful goodbye, Arthur heads off toward the training grounds with the others.

Lamorak: Mnh... Man, I'm pooped. I wound up staying linked for longer than I expected.

Elsewhere, a man stretches his arms into the air and lets out a deep sigh.

His name is Lamorak—the second son of the House of Wales, and a sorcerer secretly in league with the mysterious magician known as Merlin.

Lamorak: Hmm, so the sword was sent to the royal treasury.

Lamorak: No doubt it's heavily guarded. Guess I'll just have to make a personal visit.

And with that, Lamorak picks up his trusty staff and sets to work making preparations.