Arthur's Odyssey :Rise of the King

Barelya few hours had passed since the awakening of Arthur's affinity, yet news of the child's Perfect Grade Light affinity had already managed to spread beyond the borders of the northern continent. Uther Pendragon stood at the grand window of his private study, his hands gripping the edge of the marble sill, his piercing blue eyes staring out at the sprawling city of Camelot below.

The cool evening breeze ruffled his platinum blonde hair, but he barely noticed it. His thoughts were consumed by the implications of the news that had reached him so swiftly. News that had been meant to remain within the walls of the Pendragon estate for as long as possible.

"Damn it," Uther muttered under his breath.

The sudden revelation that Arthur was the Scion of Light, had sent shockwaves through the northern sector. But what disturbed Uther the most was how quickly it had spread. Only a select few within the Pendragon family those present at his awakening knew of Arthur's affinity rank, and yet it was already reaching ears beyond the borders of Camelot.

"Impossible..." Uther whispered, his gaze narrowing. The realization hit him like a cold wave, the speed at which the news had spread could only mean one thing: there was a spy within his ranks. Someone who had betrayed the trust of the Pendragon family and allowed this precious information to leak.

He turned sharply, his fingers curling into fists as his mind raced. His son, the one who was meant to be kept hidden from the eyes of the other sectors, was already a target. The rival families, especially those with ambitions to challenge the Pendragon family's dominance, would not take kindly to this. And with Arthur being a Scion of Light—someone who could potentially alter the balance of power, there would be no end to the trouble it would cause.

"Who could it be?" Uther muttered to himself, pacing back and forth across the study.

His sharp mind began to work through the possibilities. The traitor was definitely someone close to him, someone he had trusted for years, but who? . The thought of betrayal within his inner circle filled him with a quiet fury, but his concern for Arthur's safety outweighed his anger.

Suddenly, the door to the study opened, and a figure stepped inside. Uther immediately recognized him, a trusted advisor and one of the few individuals he had immediately ruled out. The man's expression was grim as he approached Uther.

"My King," the advisor said, bowing slightly. "I regret to inform you that we've already received word from outside the northern continent. The rumor is spreading like wildfire. It's only a matter of time before it reaches the ears of those who would seek to exploit it."

Uther didn't reply immediately. He was silent, his thoughts momentarily clouded by the weight of the situation. The advisor hesitated before speaking again, his tone lower now.

"It seems... someone has leaked the information. We've already begun an investigation, but…"

Uther's eyes flashed with anger as his mind zeroed in on the culprit,*it has to be him* thought Uther grimly.

"I know who it isGawain," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll deal with it myself."

Gawain nodded, his face betraying no surprise. "Of course, my King. We're ready to follow your orders."

Uther turned back to the window, staring out over Camelot, his mind simmering with the knowledge that the threat had already been set in motion. The damage had been done, and the leak could not be contained. Someone had betrayed him, and he would make sure they paid the price.

His thoughts hardened like steel, the anger building within him until it was almost a physical weight. "Inform the guards to stand by," Uther murmured, his voice taking on a dangerous calm. "I'll handle this personally."

With that, Gawain exited, leaving Uther alone in the study, his thoughts now razor-sharp. The tension in the air was palpable, thick with impending violence. Blood would be spilled tonight.

The moonlight illuminated the halls of the Pendragon estate as the last rays of daylight faded. Outside, Camelot's streets continued to bustle with activity, unaware of the storm brewing inside the Pendragon manor. But within the throne room, all was still.

Uther had summoned the elders of the family for an immediate meeting. His expression was unreadable as he sat upon his throne, waiting for the inevitable confrontation. One by one, the family's most trusted elders entered, their steps cautious and deliberate, their faces betraying no emotion, at least not until they saw their king.

"You called for us?" one of the elders spoke, his voice steady, though his eyes flickered with uncertainty.

Uther's gaze swept across the room, settling on the elder who had once been like a father to him. His tone, however, was colder than the winter winds. "Why?" Uther asked, his voice carrying the weight of years spent in the shadows of uncertainty. "Why did you do it?"

Sparks of crimson lightning crackled around Uther's body, his anger now visible in the air itself. The gravity in the room seemed to shift, pressing down upon the elders like an invisible weight, as Uther's power flared, crackling through the walls like a storm.

"You've been with us since I was nothing but a boy," Uther continued, his words sharp and full of accusation. "You were the only one, the only none Pendragon, allowed to bear our crest. You've been like a father to me since mine died in battle. Morgana and Arthur look at you as their grandfather." His eyes blazed, and he took a step forward, voice trembling with fury. "So why… WHY, MERLIN?"

With a sudden burst of power, a shockwave exploded out of Uther's body. The force was so immense that every elder in the room, save for one, was thrown violently against the walls. The throne room trembled, and the air itself seemed to crack under the weight of his fury. The floor was shattered where Uther stood, cracks snaking through the marble like an earthquake.

"Explain yourself, Merlin!" Uther shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. The remaining elder, a stoic figure with graying hair, stared at Uther, not with fear, but with the knowing calm of someone who had seen the king at his worst and still stood firm.

Merlin stood alone in the center of the room, unaffected by the blast, his expression unreadable. "I did what I had to, Uther," Merlin replied, his voice low and steady. "I only did what was necessary for the future of the Pendragon family. "

Uther's eyes narrowed dangerously as he took a step closer to Merlin, his power pulsing like the storm in the sky. "Necessary?" he repeated, his voice chilling. "You've put my 4 year old son at risk, MY BOY !!!! . And for what, Merlin? For what?"

Merlin met his gaze evenly, unfazed by Uther's wrath. " I did it for him Uther, the boy will need every challenge he can to grow strong, stronger than even you, from the moment he awakened a perfect grade affinity I knew that you would do your out most to shelter him, to protect the last gift of Igraine.."

Merlin stood his ground, his tone calm yet resolute. "But the world will not be so kind, Uther. It will not hesitate to bare its teeth and strike. Do you think your love alone will be enough to shield Arthur? Or your power, great as it is, enough to hold back the tide of enemies that will come for him?"

Uther's crimson lightning crackled louder, the veins of power coursing across his body betraying the storm of emotions inside him. "You dare justify your betrayal by claiming it's for him? For my son? You've taken away his safety, Merlin, his innocence. He's just a child!"

Merlin's voice sharpened, matching Uther's intensity. "A child, yes! But not an ordinary one. He is the Scion of Light! Do you think the world cares about his age, Uther? To them, Arthur is a beacon of power, a tool to be used, or a threat to be eliminated. Every kingdom, every power-hungry ruler, and every scheming noble will see him as nothing but a means to their end. And you... you would coddle him? Wrap him in silk and hope he becomes strong?"

Uther's fists clenched, his jaw tight. The memories of Igraine, her gentle smile, and the fragile new life she had left behind when she passed all came rushing back. "He and Morgana are all I have left of her, Merlin. I will not let you, or anyone else, turn him into a weapon!"

Merlin's expression softened, though his resolve remained. "And what will you do when you're gone, Uther? You won't live forever, not even as a King stage awakener, a being who can live for thousands of years. Arthur will inherit a world that fears him, that envies him, and you know as well as I do that your enemies will not wait for him to come of age. They will strike when he is vulnerable. My actions may seem cruel, but I do not regret them. He must learn to endure adversity. He must learn what it means to stand on his own."

Uther took another step forward, his voice trembling with fury and pain. "He will grow strong because of us, Merlin. Because of the family that stands by him, that loves him. Not because of fear, betrayal, or enemies at every turn. Your methods are reckless. You've taken a gamble with my son's life, and that is something I cannot forgive."

Merlin sighed, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. "Perhaps one day, when Arthur stands as the strongest in the realm, you will see that this was a necessary step. Perhaps then you will forgive me."

Uther stared at the man he had trusted all his life, the one he had called a mentor, a second father. For a moment, the air between them was heavy with unspoken words. Then, Uther's voice dropped, low and menacing.

"Do not presume that your history with this family will protect you from my judgment, Merlin. You are no longer the man I once trusted, no longer the elder I respected as a father. You have made your choice, and now you will face the consequences."

Merlin inclined his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit, Uther. But know this, when the time comes, and the boy reaches the advanced stage, he will need my help, or have you forgotten that I too possess a perfect grade affijity?"

Uther said nothing. With a final crackle of lightning, the pressure in the room lifted slightly, though his fury still hung in the air. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the throne room, leaving Merlin standing alone amidst the wreckage of his anger.

---

Outside, the night was cold and quiet, the stars obscured by heavy clouds. Uther's steps echoed through the empty halls of the Pendragon estate as he made his way toward the gardens. He needed to see his children, to remind himself why he fought so fiercely to protect them.

As he approached, he could hear the sound of laughter,Arthur's giggles mixing with Morgana's playful teasing. For a moment, the weight on his shoulders eased. He paused in the shadows, watching them play, their innocence untouched by the storm brewing around them.

"I will protect them my love, I swear that on my life," Uther whispered as he looked at the night sky, his voice barely audible above the night wind. "No matter what it takes."