Steel and Mana
Chapter 439 – Excalibur

Way after dinner, when most of the palace and the city were already asleep, the sisters’ guest chamber was still up and alert, as the five girls found it surprisingly hard to fall asleep, even after such an eventful day. Their bath was long finished, but it didn't bring them the expected tiredness as each sister had climbed into their bed in the room. In the end, it was Meyli who broke the quiet first, her voice surprisingly bright, and it was now clear it wasn't just because she was reunited with her siblings.

“Big sis, you look… different,” she said, blinking at Rashira, her eyes scrutinizing her shoulders and face. “You are much more... Relaxed.”

"Says you..." Rashira answered, leaning back on her pillows and raising an eyebrow, but she didn’t deny it. “But yeah, maybe.”

“Did something happen?” Meyli asked again, curious. “You weren’t like this... for a long time.”

“I talked with Mikan, the Sovereign's fourth wife,” Rashira answered, folding her arms behind her head. “About a lot of things. I think she gave me a new perspective.”

"Ah!" Meyli gave a small nod, understanding what she meant because she had experienced something similar today, “I was with Morgan, and we played all day. She took me to the garden they keep under a glass roof and showed me how to draw light into shapes... She even said I was good at it. Nobody ever said that back home; at best, they nodded their heads...” She explained, and Rashira could see that her eyes sparkled in a way she had never seen before, "She’s going to teach me more tomorrow!”

“Wait, she already taught you magic? Just like that?! What?!” Jila asked, tossing a pillow into the air and catching it as she rolled on her back like a restless cat. "Are they giving out state secrets that easily? Damn, they are confident!"

"It doesn't feel like something secretive..." Meyli muttered, but was getting a bit unsure. “She said I have a good feel for it... I just never had anyone show me the correct way before...”

“Well, good for you. Learn it all, and then you can become some super badass magic warrior! Also... I bet you all that I had the best day,” Jila interrupted grandly, propping herself up with one elbow and grinning. “We went to a bathhouse... Aaaand... There it was: The biggest pool I’ve ever seen. And Lancelot saved me!”

“Saved you?” Rashira’s eyes narrowed, already thinking of possible assassination attempts from... who knows where. “From what?”

“…Drowning.”

“She can’t swim,” Tarsine whispered to Rashira, noticing that their eldest sister was thinking of the wrong thing.

Speaking, Tarsine looked up from the floor, where a small notebook rested on her knee. It was evident she was right as she watched Rashira's face turn red from pale in embarrassment, returning to her drawings. In her book, there was a half-finished sketch of a dress on the double-sided page, detailed with folded fabric and stylized lines along the hips, with a dozen descriptive scribbles and pointing arrows on the edges.

“Well, I can now swim! Anyway, at first, I thought I could,” Jila said defensively, "Animals can, too, when they are suddenly thrown into the water! Turns out… Me? Err... not really. But he jumped in and pulled me up. Very heroic... Oh! And I kissed him. Of course!”

There was a collective thump as Rashira sat up straighter, and even Seltana raised an eyebrow, finally joining the conversation with her full attention.

“You did what?” Rashira snapped at her, but Jila didn't back down; she simply rolled her eyes at her oldest sister.

“I kissed him. Pretty obvious, no?”

“Where?” Seltana asked, noticing a certain detail missing, one that if it happened on the lips, Jila would have already presented it way differently... and with much more gusto.

"..."

"Jila..." Rashira pushed when she refused to say.

“On the cheek... He was too fast and twisted his head.” Jila admitted with a disappointed shrug, but she very quickly recovered from her suddenly sulky mood. “And it was very cute, thank you. He still blushed! Turns out he is a virgin. Bet you a lot of–”

“Are you out of your mind?!” Rashira nearly shouted, looking scandalized, but then held herself back, thinking of Mikan's words, trying her best to calm down.

“Well, it's not like I kissed him on the crotch or anything!” Jila protested.

"DAMN RIGHT YOU DIDN'T!" Rashira indeed shouted, unable to hold it back this time around.

“And he didn’t mind." Jila added, rubbing the inside of her ear, squinting, "No need to scream... Tsk... He’s got good, nice lips; I will hunt it down anyway... Oh, and he has excellent arms, too. That hug was forceful and wild! Better than when we fought. I will need a wrestling rematch...”

“Jila…” Rashira groaned, holding her head and taking big breaths. “You’re lucky it was just the cheek. If you seal the marriage with a kiss, there is no way I can get you out of it!”

“Out of it?” Jila asked, actually shocked, “Don't you ever dream about it, sis! I am marrying into Avalon. You can all relax; I am going to be Lancy's first wife, the main one, soooo... Good luck sorting out the order between you all!”

"Leave her be, Rashira. I think she is serious this time around and not just toying with you," Seltana cleared her throat, not looking up as she kept writing in her little diary. “And I agree, Jila should marry into Avalon. I may also agree just so I can stay.”

“Seltana?” the girls asked, surprised at her sudden declaration. Looking at her, Jila furrowed her brows, feeling her number one spot was being threatened all of a sudden.

"If there is no other option left," Seltana nodded, not even looking at them. “I’m going to need a job first, though..”

There was an even deeper silence for a heartbeat... forcing Seltana to look up from his notes and gaze at her sisters.

“…what?” Rashira asked when their eyes met.

“I’m going to find work,” Seltana repeated calmly. “Part-time or full-time, whichever I find. I discovered things... that I must buy. And I won't put us in debt, relax. Arthur said Avalon has job postings and learning courses... I want my own income if we stay, anyway. After all... I’m going to buy every model Krel sells.”

“I agree with Seltana in everything,” Tarsine added, glancing at her with an approving nod. "The thing is, I am already doing something that may help us earn money."

“Very good,” Seltana nodded back simply, the two sisters understanding each other perfectly. “It wouldn’t feel right if we smooch off the Sovereign and his family. We can take care of ourselves, and as I see, Avalon allows that.”

“Hmm…” Tarsine hummed quietly, returning to her drawings and adding a swirl of fabric to her design. “When I was introduced to Sir Dorian, he never once showed any sign he was just playing along because Leyla was there. He was genuinely interested and introduced me to tailoring.”

"To what?" Rashira blinked, scrutinizing Tarsine, “Tailoring?”

“I want to redesign our formal wear, for starters,” she answered absentmindedly. "Khulmani noble dresses are heavy and stifling to wear. I want something lighter, freer. Something we could actually move in without being corseted into decorative statues. Did you not see the clothes on sale here? Avalon's styles are elegant without being... overdesigned.” She paused, biting the end of her pencil. "And I want to create my own version.”

This time, the silence was longer, and Rashira was finding it hard to search for her jaw until Meyli giggled in a delighted tone.

“Big sis, are you okay?”

“Heh, she is clearly jealous of my position!” Jila scoffed, looking around her sisters, almost as if she was daring them to try and take her position.

“…Unbelievable,” Rashira muttered, rubbing her temple. “All of you…”

“You should stop worrying about us,” Seltana offered. Although she did not look at Rashira, the other siblings did and gently nodded their heads, reassuringly smiling at their eldest.

“Yes...” Rashira sighed, returning the smile, “I should not... Heh... And it’s only been a day.”

“That’s what freedom does,” Tarsine exclaimed, “I think I get it now.”

Rashira looked at each of them again, watching their faces and eyes. Meyli was glowing, her cheeks flushed with excitement and her hands twitching with usually unseen energy. Jila was lying on her back now, legs up on the wall, humming softly to herself with contentment. Tarsine’s fingers were smudged as she kept drawing... And finally, Seltana had already had a massive book in her hands, something that had "Sovereign's Rule- & Handbook" written on its front...

None of them looked like girls waiting for marriage anymore. They were... their own now.

“…You’re right,” Rashira whispered once again, her voice catching slightly, letting out a mix of hidden resentment, getting rid of it with a deep breath. “You all feel… alive here, huh?”

“You do, too,” Meyli said gently, leaning against her older sister’s side. “I didn’t see you smile like that even once back home... Not since you grew up and Father began bringing suitors over.” Hearing her speak, Rashira hesitated a little but then pulled Meyli in with one arm and held her close.

“I just hope it lasts.”

“It will,” Seltana said from behind the book.

“Yeah,” Jila agreed, stretching her arms over her head. “It will be fiiiiine! Aww... I can't wait for tomorrow!”

...

....

......

After a long night, the sisters were woken by a firm knock at the door of their private chamber at the start of dawn, startling them awake. Rashira was the first to rise, rubbing sleep from her eyes, trying to stay alert, only to be greeted by the deep, echoing voice of one of the black-armored Avalonian guards on the other side of the door.

"Please dress for a trip. You are expected outside in half an hour."

"Expected where?" she demanded, "By whom?"

"You will see."

Despite the lack of detail, none of the sisters resisted, not that they could. Something in the guard's stoic tone made it clear that this was not a casual outing but something serious. Did something happen? That was the question in everyone's eyes, but Rashira had no answer for her sisters. Still, within minutes, they were dressed and outside, only to find a row of skull-faced soldiers waiting for them. Their black armor and the slightly glowing skull-faced helmets were a sight as grim as a horror story, yet they were also awe-inspiring. When they walked out of the city, the sisters were guided wordlessly into half-tracked transports, something that they had never seen before.

"This is a troop carrier..." Seltena muttered as the engine roared to life, making their 'carriage' tremble as they began driving away from the city, "It is one of the figures, I mean, units in Sovereign's Battlefield... Interesting." She added, crossing her arms, her face suddenly relaxing a little.

"What are we doing? Are we being kidnapped?" Jila gulped, but somehow, she was more amused than afraid.

"No, I don't think so..." Tarsine whispered, nodding toward a second convoy of transports behind them. "I saw the Sovereign step aboard with Lady Luna, Yuri, and Mikan coming, too. I also saw a glimpse of Lancelot, too."

"If my hubby is coming, then it's fine!" Jila waved a hand, deflating like a balloon, patting Meyli's trembling hand, "Maybe we are going to see some big secret!"

"Maybe..." Seltana muttered, eyes narrowing.

"You... know something?" Rashira whispered, leaning in, finally shaking off the shock of such a vehicle existing, one that was so loud yet so quick.

"I expect to see some walking, hulking machines." She nodded, "I think we are going to see what Avalon has against the monsters... What its true strength is."

That eased their tension somewhat, though Rashira kept a tight grip on the edge of her seat, still wary of what was happening. The ride was long, the city slowly fading behind them until all that remained was the bumpy, hilly countryside. Just as she was about to ask how far they were going, she saw they drove into a cordoned-off zone marked with metallic pylons glowing with red light atop them. They were certainly somewhere where not everybody could come, as she saw squads of soldiers patrolling its perimeter.

When the transports finally stopped, the guards were not given orders, at least not any they could eavesdrop on. They simply opened the doors and gestured toward a raised observation platform before a strange warehouse, surrounded by possible engineers, soldiers, and a few of the more prominent Avalonian faces, ones that Rashira recalled had to be Ministers... although their introduction was only superfluous at best.

Standing atop the platform was a boy whom she realized, nonetheless, as he was Leon's last son, whom they had not spent time with. Looking at him, the boy was no older than thirteen, looking somewhat timid... Nervous even. Blinking, she noted that at his side stood a young girl of similar age, her long silver hair tied back in a braid, her hands holding a clipboard, tapping at it with a pen. She barely acknowledged the arrival of the guests, and she focused entirely on the... On the...

"By Toobu's wrath... what is... that?!" Rashira asked, inhaling a sharp breath, finally realizing they were being led not to a building... But...

"I knew it." Seltana exhaled, her eyes unblinking. "Their mechs are real!"

"Is that... a machine?" Jila asked, finding her voice, "Woaaaah!"

And what a machine it was.

The sisters had seen many strange things in Avalon since arriving, but none could have prepared them for the towering, multi-legged walker standing in the clearing before them.

"Now I understand why there is big security..." Seltana smiled, taking it all in and examining its structure.

It had six massive legs like a stag-beetle, each one segmented with layered armor around its vulnerable joints. Its body was broad and low, shaped like a carapace, but its front was 'decorated' with a twin-weapon platform and thick plating. On its back, there was a single, long-barreled cannon protruding from its central mount, bigger than any weapon anyone in Khulman had ever even imagined.

"What... is that?" Meyli asked in a trembling voice, clinging to Rashira's arm. "It won't hurt us, yes?"

"That can't be real..." Tarsine breathed, just as shocked.

"Oh, it is..." Seltena muttered. "You need monsters to fight monsters..."

"What does it fight with?" Jila asked, already back to normal, hands on her hips, craning her neck to look up at the beast.

"Magic," a voice answered them, "But it has secondary weapons capable of firing physical objects."

The girls flinched slightly, watching as Galahad stepped forward, scratching his face with a half-smile.

"We call it the Excalibur," he said, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "This is its first live trial, and I thought you should also come and see it. Sorry if it is still early!"

"You built it?" Rashira asked, her voice caught somewhere between skepticism and awe, noticing how everyone was looking at Galahad as the leader here.

"I designed it," he nodded, "But it was built by a team of one hundred engineers, the best of what Avalon can offer. I just made sure they followed the plan, really."

"Too humble," a woman arrived, soon introducing herself as Mia, second-in-command under Galahad. "The pre-checks are all green. We can start whenever, boss!"

"Better not to wait, then!" Galahad nodded in acknowledgment, "Please," he said to the girls, "Let me get you to my siblings, and then you can watch Excalibur's first test run!"

Soon, the sisters were sitting with Arthur, Leyla, Lancelot, and Morgan, watching as Galahad and many of the engineers disappeared straight into the massive, walking metal monster.

"Oh..." Meyli flinched as she felt something, making Morgan reach out, holding her hand, gently squeezing it.

"It was its core coming online," Morgan whispered, "It is what fuels it! Don't worry~!"

Before Seltana could ask her to explain it more, the steel beast stirred before them. Its legs hissed with a weird nose, and then its joints flexed... And with a thunderous thud, it took its first step. The second... third. It began walking and turning. It wasn't fast; it was pretty much slow... but this test was not about speed.

Even then, the sisters recoiled instinctively as the machine moved with a type of grace that they were not used to. The Walker’s legs adjusted with each step, balancing perfectly over even the chosen, uneven terrain, testing its balance and making sure it wouldn't be stuck or flipped on its back. Its footfalls were loud, sending tremors through the girls' chests, making them think that it was an actual monster.

"Galahad installed shock-reduction fields," someone said nearby them, "Otherwise, the force would tear up the ground with each step."

"Good," another voice answered, making Rashira realize it was the Sovereign's. "Was it his idea or Princess Fila's?"

"The latter." The voice chuckled, "The girl is good; you should marry Galahad to her! Or I could take her as a student."

"Merlin," the Sovereign muttered with a sigh, "you should just focus on Elena and your soon-to-be-born child."

Ignoring the discourse, Rashira turned her head back to the mech, which had already turned towards the north, its cannon facing away from them.

"It's coming..." Meyli gulped, suddenly hugging Morgan's arm.

"It will fire, yes, but relax; we are safe!" Leyla chuckled, seeing the two.

"Oh?!" Jila trembled, "I can't wait!"

"Firing in three," Galahad called out, his voice somewhat distorted and echoing through unseen speakers. "Two. One."

There was no big boom, but the flash of a massive formation at the throat of the cannon, the blinding, white light... and then silence. A streak of pure energy, faster than they could see, tore through the air, obliterating the rock formation they had placed as a target more than ten kilometers out. What everyone could only see was the little mushroom cloud that shot skyward in the distance. But then... thirty seconds later, the thunderous echo of the explosion rolled across the fields like an avalanche, deep, stomach-churning.

Of course, Meyli screamed and ducked straight into Morgan's chest. Jila clung to the railing with wild eyes before catching on and making sure she rushed at Lancelot, through Arthur and Leyla, hugging him, pretending to... Cry.

"Holy..." Rashira whispered.

"...shit," Tarsine finished for her, wide-eyed, forgetting to keep up any kind of decorum at all. To hell with that.

After it finished, the Excalibur shifted again, performing a wide turn, then lowered its legs into a rest position. At the same time, the cannon slowly lowered a little, followed by Galahad’s voice crackling from nearby speakers.

"Test complete; we are awaiting diagnostics."

"That... that wasn’t a toy," Seltana finally said, a smile permanently stuck to her face.

"You thought it was?" Rashira asked faintly, eyes still on the machine.

"I mean... it looked like a giant version of the walking toy Krel sells... Although he didn't have a six-legged one. I bet because this one is still a secret." She nodded, looking to her left and seeing Arthur standing nearby, grinning.

"So... Avalon fights wars with those?" Jila asked, in the middle of being pried off Lancelot.

"We do," Arthur answered her question, "We have multiple of them, in fact. This one is something new that my youngest brother has developed... You see, we brought you out here to see its first test, so when the time comes, you can tell your Father that when Avalon says we will cleanse our continent from the monsters... we are not speaking in hyperbole."

"All green." Galhad's voice echoed once again. "The stress test indicates that the main cannon's output doesn't threaten the central systems. Father... I think the Excalibur is ready to lead the troops into the East."