Mel's eyes flicked to Excalibur, gleaming with latent power. "I can't defeat him without a weapon," he thought, crouching down and reaching for the legendary sword.
Rue's voice rang out, filled with panic. "Are you insane?! If you try to pick up Excalibur as an unworthy person, you'll die instantly! Just being the son of Merlin makes you unworthy!"
But to everyone's shock, Mel lifted Excalibur with ease, its power surging through him. He smiled, a hint of humor in his voice as he glanced at Rue, "That wasn't so hard," he said with a light chuckle.
The citizens of Atlantis, overwhelmed with fear and desperation, bowed before Mel. "King! Please save us!" they cried out, their voices trembling with hope and pleading.
Mel, Rue, and even Maren were taken aback by the unexpected display of loyalty. "He's not your king!" Maren shouted, his voice laced with frustration and disbelief. "I've tried so hard to kill him, to make him pay for what he did to our king—my father! And this is how you repay me?!"
Consumed by rage, Maren lunged at Mel with all his might. Mel met his attack head-on, swinging Excalibur in a powerful arc. Maren raised his trident to block the blow, but to his horror, Excalibur phased through the trident as if it were air, slashing deep into Maren's chest. A surge of lightning followed the blade, crackling through Maren's body and sending him reeling back with a scream of pure agony.
Maren attempted to heal himself, drawing on the ocean's water to mend the wound, but before he could fully recover, Mel delivered a powerful kick, sending Maren crashing back. Mel wasted no time, dashing at him again, lightning crackling from Excalibur as he struck Maren repeatedly, each blow faster and more forceful than the last.
Desperate, Maren summoned an army of anglers and towering golems to his aid, but Mel was unstoppable. With a single, swift motion, he obliterated the creatures, leaving nothing but shattered remnants in his wake.
Rue hurried to assist Dorian and Elowen, using her cybernetic implants to gently lower herself with her boosters. As she reached them, Dorian inhaled deeply from the oxygen-rich cloud that Mel had created and exhaled slowly. "Something's off. This isn't how Mel usually acts," he muttered, concern etching his face.
Elowen also took in the cloud's air, her eyes wide with astonishment. "I had no idea Excalibur was capable of such power, and I've trained with it my entire life. Yet here's Mel—a kid who didn't even know what a limo was—unleashing its full potential like this. If Draven is the strongest of the seniors, Amara the strongest sophomore, and Laurel the strongest junior, could Mel be the strongest among us three?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Mel continued his relentless assault, each strike of Excalibur crackling with lightning. Maren tried to deflect the blows, but Mel was unyielding, every parry met with another surge of electrifying power that left Maren reeling.
A twisted smile crept across Mel's face as he stabbed Maren relentlessly, each thrust of Excalibur driving deeper into Maren's already battered body. At this moment, fueled by his hatred for Maren, this isn't the Mel everyone knew, this is inmate zero from Caldara Bastille.
Maren slumped against a wall, bloodied and barely able to lift his hand. "Please... stop," he gasped, his voice weak and desperate. "You're killing me."
Mel raised Excalibur high, the blade crackling with lightning, casting an eerie glow over the scene. His eyes burned with fury. "That's the idea," he growled, the words dripping with venom. He was moments away from delivering the final blow when Draven and the other black cards appeared, grabbing Mel's arm and forcing him to drop the sword.
Mel blinked, snapping out of his battle-fueled haze, his mind clearing just enough to realize what he had been about to do. As the adrenaline drained from his body, he noticed the fear etched on everyone's faces. His heart pounded in his chest, the scar from Maren's trident burning as a painful reminder. Slowly, he backed away, clutching his chest, his breath shaky.
He turned to Elowen, Dorian, and Rue, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm glad you're okay," he said, the weight of what had just happened sinking in as he faced his friends, the darkness in his soul now glaringly apparent.
Moments later, Mel sat on his bed, cradling his fox in his arms, trembling as he stroked its soft fur. Dorian, hanging upside down from the ceiling, broke the silence. "You alright?" he asked softly. Mel, still staring blankly at the wall, nodded and turned to face Dorian. "I'm fine, just…confused."
Dorian dropped down and sat beside Mel, draping an arm over his shoulder. "Confused about what? You stopped a dangerous man who was hurting his own people. You did the right thing."
Mel's gaze fell as his fox nuzzled his hand. "He was driven by revenge, and while his methods were wrong, I can't shake the feeling that I went too far. I should be the one hiding, not him. The people of Atlantis are calling me their king now, but I'm not sure I deserve it. I wanted to change from who I was in Caldara, but maybe I'm still the same person I was before."
Mel sighed heavily, leaning forward as his thoughts swirled. "Back in Caldara, violence was the only way to survive. I hurt people to defend myself, but I never wanted to cross that line. When I saw what Maren did to that man, something inside me snapped. All I could think about was making him pay."
He lifted his head to meet Dorian's gaze. "But killing him wouldn't have changed anything. It wouldn't undo the pain he caused. I just kept attacking out of anger, not justice." Clenching his fist, he whispered, "Is this who I'm meant to become?"
Dorian rested a hand on Mel's shoulder. "You stopped before it was too late. That's what matters." He grinned. "Besides, even former inmates have good in them. Look at you - you rescued me from the cliff!"
Mel managed a small smile. Dorian turned serious. "The people see your power, but also your heart. You gave Maren mercy when he deserved none. That's the act of a true king."
A sharp knock on the door interrupted Mel's brooding silence. Elowen entered, her face etched with concern. "The headmaster wants to speak with you," Elowen said gravely.
A few moments later, Dorian and Elowen waited anxiously outside the headmaster's office. Inside, Mel and Draven were facing a stern reprimand. Mel sat upright, his expression resolute, while Draven slouched with his feet propped up on a chair.
"Headmaster, with all due respect, Mel was just defending himself. Why are you so upset?" Draven asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Thaddeus slammed his fist on the desk, the sound echoing in the room. "Because, Draven, now there are newspapers all over claiming that Mel is the new king of Atlantis—at just fifteen years old. Mel, I understand you're new here, but in this institution, we don't throw teachers through windows or seize kingdoms. You're on the path to becoming just like your father with this reckless behavior—" Thaddeus stopped abruptly, catching himself before his words could escalate further.
Draven lowered his feet and sat up straight, his expression hardening as he leaned forward. "What do you know about Mel's father? Merlin raised armies, not anarchy. And Mel stopped an abusive tyrant - he saved lives."
Draven gestured to Mel's scar. "Would you rather he let Maren kill him? Mel led with wisdom and mercy, not force."
Mel spoke up, his tone respectful but unwavering. "Headmaster, Atlantis needs stability. I don't seek to rule, but to help guide their choice until a just leader is found. My actions were to protect, not conquer."
Thaddeus rubbed his temples, contemplating their words. A knock interrupted - the door creaked open as Elowen poked her head in.
"Forgive me, but the Atlanteans have a message for Mel." She stepped aside, revealing the citizens behind her, regally dressed in shimmering corals and gems.
Their representative strode forward, bowing deeply to Mel. "King Melanthius, your courage and mercy give us hope for our future. Rule Atlantis, and lead us to healing."
Mel nodded respectfully to the Atlantean representative. He turned to Thaddeus, his expression serious yet hopeful. "Headmaster, the weight of ruling a kingdom is more than any student should bear alone. With your permission, I humbly request that the children of Atlantis be allowed to join Arcanum's ranks."
Thaddeus pondered this, glancing between Mel and the citizens gathered respectfully at the door. "As white cards?" he inquired.
"Yes," Mel replied. "Here they could learn and flourish without the pressures of status or past misdeeds. A bright future starts with knowledge and understanding between all peoples."
Draven spoke up proudly. "And they'd make great additions to our classes!"
Thaddeus cracked a small smile. "Very well. Atlantis' youth deserve the chance to heal and grow, just as you continue to do so well, Melanthius."
The Atlanteans began to cry tears of joy at this hopeful development. Their spokesman said, "You honor us with your empathy and vision, King Melanthius. Please lead Atlantis during this transition, so that one day she and her children may stand as equals in this world."
It had been a few days since Melanthius was crowned King of Atlantis. In that time, he had worked tirelessly with the Atlantean council to restore stability to the kingdom after Maren's oppressive rule. Reconstruction was in full swing, new policies were being implemented to support the citizens, and envoys were dispatched to forge diplomatic ties.
Despite the progress, the relentless demands were taking their toll on Mel. Balancing royal duties with schoolwork left him drained, and he found himself lagging behind in his classes due to long nights spent handling petitions and debates in the underwater parliament.
One morning, Mel, Dorian, and Elowen were paraded through the halls of the school on the shoulders of Atlantean students. "Make way! King Melanthius of Atlantis is coming through!" a fish boy announced with enthusiasm. He turned to Mel with a wide grin. "I'm Goda. Please remember me, my king!"
Mel nodded, gripping the shoulders of his carrier. "I remember, Goda," he said with a weary smile. "You've reminded me every day for the past month and a half."
Just then, Jake and Sethanarius approached, looking perplexed. "Hey, Melanthius!" Jake called out, waving. The fish boys surrounding Mel quickly raised their spears, causing Jake and Sethanarius to freeze, their hands instinctively going up in surrender. "Step away from the king!"
Mel's eyes widened in alarm. He leaped down swiftly. "At ease! Calm down, everyone!" he commanded, and the guards lowered their spears, resuming their positions. Sethanarius lowered his hands, exhaling in relief. "We heard you defeated the former king and became the new king of Atlantis. Is that true?" he asked, bewildered.
Mel nodded. "Yes, that's correct. I'm the king now, and they follow me everywhere." He sighed, his eyes twitching slightly. "Everywhere. I haven't had a moment's peace, not even in the bathroom…"
Jake stepped forward cautiously. "Congratulations, Mel. But it seems like being king is pretty stressful."
Mel rubbed his tired eyes. "That's an understatement. Between meetings, treaties, and having an entourage everywhere, I barely have time for my schoolwork! But, I'll take them to class and get them out of everybody's hair."
In class, Mel sat with his head down and his fish people were everywhere around the class, making noise and touching stuff. "Melanthius!" Professor Estron called out and Mel jolted awake. "I'm up!" he shouted and Estrong tapped his foot. "I would like it if you could continue to contribute to class, rather than letting your entourage disrupt it." Professor Estron's voice was stern, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he glanced at the fish people who were now poking at the holographic displays and scribbling on the smartboard.
Mel rubbed his eyes, still groggy. "I'm sorry, Professor. I'll get them under control." He stood up and clapped his hands, trying to gather the attention of his fish followers. "Alright, everyone, settle down. We're here to learn, not to play with the equipment."
The fish people paused, looking at Mel with wide, innocent eyes. One of them, a young angler with a glowing lure, sheepishly put down the piece of chalk it was holding and shuffled back to Mel's side.
Professor Estron crossed his arms, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, King Melanthius. Now, if we could return to our discussion on advanced alchemy…"
Mel nodded, giving his followers a reassuring glance before slumping back into his seat. As the lecture resumed, the fish people huddled quietly around him, their earlier mischief replaced by a newfound fascination with the lesson.
Mel dozed off again, only to be startled awake by a light tap on his shoulder. "Goldman, I'm up!" Mel shouted groggily, before realizing it was Jake standing beside him. Jake flinched slightly at the outburst, and Mel quickly sighed in apology. "Sorry about that. I was just... checking on you. But, uh, why did you just call me 'Goldman'?" Jake asked, curious and slightly confused.
Mel rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Goldman was the man who raised me in prison. They called him that because he was always talking about gold. It was his obsession."
Jake nodded, processing the new information as he began typing something on his phone. Mel leaned in, intrigued. "What's that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Jake raised his eyebrows, surprised by the question. "It's a telecommunication device. You use it to communicate with people. Black cards have it integrated into them, while white cards have to buy one separately. And yellow cards... well, they have to make their own." He finished with a sigh as Mel pulled out his black card, examining it with a frown.
"I don't see anything," Mel muttered, tapping the card in confusion.
Jake leaned in, showing him a small, nearly invisible button on the edge of the card. "Here, let me show you." He pressed the button, and a holographic screen sprang to life from the card.
"Wow!" Mel exclaimed, his eyes widening as he scrolled through the screen, fascinated by the wealth of information at his fingertips. He noticed a group chat with Elowen and Dorian and, feeling a surge of excitement, began typing. "Hey guys!" he texted, grinning as he hit send, marveling at the technology he had just discovered.
"Dammit, Mel learned how to text." Elowen and Dorian sighed in unison, even though they were in separate classes.
"Oh, Draven texted me," Mel said while scrolling. He read the text and it said, "Come to the cafeteria." As he read it, Mel tilted his head. "Why does he want me to go to the cafeteria?" He wondered and turned to Professor Estron who was being poked and touched by a few scaly fish people. "Uhh, Mr. Estron, can I be excused?" When he asked this, Estron nodded and rubbed his temples.
"Wait! Take your fish–Dammit!" Estron was about to tell him to bring his fish people but Mel already ran out of the classroom.
As Mel walked through the halls on his way to the dining commons, he kept scrolling through his card, marveling at its functions. "This is amazing," he thought, engrossed in the device. Suddenly, he collided with someone, causing a handful of papers to scatter across the floor.
"Watch where you're going," a voice snapped. Mel looked up and his eyes widened in shock—he had just bumped into Headmaster Thaddeus.
"Apologies, Headmaster Thaddeus!" Mel quickly bowed and knelt to gather the scattered papers. As he picked them up, his gaze fell on a particular document. It featured a card with a clown image and the words "The Fool" emblazoned across it.
A memory flashed in Mel's mind—Professor Estron's voice echoing, "He arrived in a full jester's outfit… The only person who taught him anything was Headmaster Thaddeus. I think the headmaster felt sorry for him."
Mel looked up to find Thaddeus glaring at him, his eyes cold and unyielding. Without a word, Thaddeus snatched the papers from Mel's hand, the force of the motion causing a sharp sting as a papercut formed on Mel's finger. Wincing, Mel looked down at the small cut, while Thaddeus scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Melanthius," Thaddeus began, his tone harsh, "I've been hearing complaints about your fish people causing quite a commotion. You'd better get them under control, or I'll reconsider our arrangement for the Atlantean youth." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Mel standing in the hallway, a mix of unease and confusion swirling in his mind.
As he stared at the retreating figure, one question lingered: "What was that card?"
After a few minutes, Mel finally arrived at the empty cafeteria. His gaze swept over the room, finding the black cards gathered at a table in the center. Elowen and Dorian were seated among a group of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Draven motioned to an empty seat positioned strategically between the two of them. Mel nodded in acknowledgment and made his way over, settling into the chair.
Draven cleared his throat, capturing everyone's attention. "After the events in Atlantis, it's clear that you three have proven yourselves to be exceptional black cards. Far stronger than we were when we were Freshmen." He paused, letting his words sink in.
Laurel, speaking telepathically to the group, added, "Indeed. Your strength and resolve have surpassed even our expectations. The progress you've made is impressive."
Elowen leaned in, whispering, "This year, the Upperclassmen get to choose a Freshman to mentor during third period. It's a way to guide us through the year. I heard they stopped letting us do beach activities because of what happened in Atlantis."
Cassius stepped forward, flanked by Amara and Astroman. "First," he announced, "the sophomore black cards have decided to pick Dorian, the son of Dracula."
Dorian blinked in surprise, taken aback. "You're choosing me? Why?"
The trio exchanged knowing smiles. "With our guidance," Amara explained, "you could become the strongest freshman black card."
Dorian glanced over at Mel, who was casually scrolling through his card. "Stronger than him?" he muttered to himself. After a moment, he looked back at the sophomores and nodded with resolve. "I'll do it!"
"Excellent!" they chimed in unison, and with a gesture, Cassius used Astroman's gravity powers to levitate them out of the castle.
Mel watched them ascend, his gaze lingering as they vanished from sight. "Dorian got chosen by the sophomores," he murmured, noticing that Elowen's seat was now empty. He spotted her walking out with the juniors. She gave him a nod—a silent message that said, "I will become stronger than you."
Mel sighed, slipping his card into his pocket. "They're all ahead of me. I'll never catch up," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Wait… doesn't this mean I'm stuck with—"
"Us!" Draven, Jasper, and Kai grinned down at him.
Soon, Mel found himself hanging upside down in the middle of the kingdom, with heavy items strapped to his legs. "And how exactly is this supposed to make me stronger?" he asked, wobbling under the weight.
The senior black cards chuckled as Jasper balanced a table on Mel's feet. "Trust us, it will. Just stay still," Jasper said, trying to suppress his laughter.
Kai cackled and was about to add a massive boulder when Draven appeared, startling them. "What are you guys doing?" Draven demanded, causing Kai to drop the boulder.
"Come on, bro, we're just messing with the freshman," Kai said, patting Draven on the back. Draven shrugged off the gesture. "Let's go, Mel," Draven said, motioning for him to follow.
Mel stood up, dropping the objects. "Where are we going?" he asked.
"To Eaglewood, a nearby town."
Mel caught up to them, confused. "But why? How is doing handstands and visiting a town supposed to make me stronger?"
The seniors exchanged amused glances. "You want to be stronger? You're the son of Merlin, you took down Maren, the former king of Atlantis," Kai chuckled as they walked past him. "Sorry, King Melanthius, but the idea of you getting stronger… is ridiculous."
They laughed, leaving Mel standing there. He thought for a moment, then smiled with determination. "They're right. I've already accomplished what no other freshman could. Maybe it's time to be a normal student." He followed them with renewed resolve.
Meanwhile, Dorian's training with the sophomores was relentless. He was doing push-ups with a massive tree trunk across his back, and Astroman's gravity powers made the weight unbearable. Amara froze the ground beneath him, turning it into a slick, treacherous surface that made each movement a struggle.
"Dammit, I forgot—sophomores used to be freshmen—they love making us suffer!" Dorian growled, pushing through the pain.
But then, his resolve hardened. He dug his fingers into the ice, shattering it with a vampiric hiss. His push-ups quickened, his nose bleeding under the crushing weight. "I can't let Melanthius keep outshining me. Ever since I cried when we fell off that bridge, I've been haunted by it. Mel saved us from falling into the river, and I did nothing but cry. He defeated Maren while I stood by helplessly. And now, he's the king of Atlantis?!"
Suddenly, Astroman lifted the gravitational pressure, and Dorian staggered to his feet, breathing heavily. The sophomores were preparing for something, their expressions focused.
"Where are we going?" Dorian asked, wiping the blood from his nose.
Cassius shrugged casually. "Eaglewood."
On the other side of the forest, Elowen was deep in her own training. She stood surrounded by Mage's Locust trees, unique to the Auroria Dominion—trees that could regenerate and never aged. With a frustrated shout, she swung Excalibur, slicing through several trees. Each cut crackled with lightning, but it wasn't enough.
"Dammit! How did Melanthius do it?" she muttered angrily, her grip tightening on the sword. "How was he able to wield Excalibur like that? He phased right through Maren's trident and obliterated those sea creatures in an instant. The most I can manage is some lightning. And these girls aren't teaching me anything!"
Her frustration grew, the weight of Melanthius's accomplishments bearing down on her as she struggled to find her own path to strength.
Suddenly, Laurel appeared with Embrys and Kali, all three dressed elegantly in flowing gowns. Kali handed a dress to Elowen. "Put this on. We're heading to Eaglewood."
Elowen took the dress, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why?"
Laurel smiled gently. "The All Souls Festival is today," she explained.