POV: Sarah
Camelot
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The massive walls of Camelot stood before Sarah and the group of civilians, looming like something out of a dream. The golden runes etched into the structure pulsed faintly, as if breathing in tandem with the world around them.
Sarah had never seen anything like it in her life.
Standing before the open gates of Camelot, she felt her breath hitch in her throat. It was real, not a myth, not a dream, but a city standing before her with walls of pristine white stone, shimmering as if touched by divine light. The sheer scale of it dwarfed anything she had ever imagined, its grandeur surpassing even the most elaborate castles of Britain's history.
She wasn't alone in her astonishment. Around her, the small group of townsfolk from Kenlston whispered in hushed voices, their emotions ranging from awe to skepticism.
"This can't be real," muttered an older man, shaking his head. "It's gotta be some....some kind of government experiment or somethin'."
"You think the government can build an entire city overnight?" Rob, the hardware shop owner, scoffed. "I knew something was different the moment I saw it! But even I wasn't expectin' this…"
Sarah barely heard them. Her gaze was locked on the Enforcement Knights standing guard at the gates. Their silver and white armor gleamed, and their helmets bore intricate crests that made them look like warriors straight out of medieval legend, only impossibly polished, almost futuristic in design. Their very presence exuded discipline and authority, but strangely, not hostility.
One of the knights stepped forward, their voice calm yet commanding. "Welcome to Camelot. By the decree of Her Majesty, Goddess Artoria Pendragon, all who seek sanctuary may enter."
The group exchanged nervous glances. A few people gasped outright at the mention of the name.
"Did they say… Artoria Pendragon?" someone whispered.
"You mean like… King Arthur?" Another added, their voice tinged with disbelief.
Sarah clenched her fists, grounding herself. This was happening. Whether it made sense or not, she had come this far, she wasn't about to turn back now.
The gates, already cracked open, groaned as they swung further apart, revealing the first true glimpse into the city within.
Sarah swallowed. Her feet felt rooted to the ground, as if moving forward would make everything real in a way she wasn't sure she was ready for.
"Bloody hell," Rob, the burly hardware shop owner, muttered beside her. "We're actually goin' in."
"No turning back now," Margaret, the elderly woman who had convinced Sarah to come, said with a knowing smile. "You wanted adventure, dear. Well, here it is."
Sarah let out a shaky breath. This isn't what I expected… but now, looking at the open gates, the radiant city beyond, she wasn't sure she could ever go back to her quiet life.
Stepping through the gates, Sarah felt like she had walked into a storybook. It was almost as if she had stepped into another world.
The streets were paved with smooth, polished stone, lined with buildings that blended the aesthetics of medieval architecture with an almost futuristic elegance. Towers rose high into the sky, their golden spires gleaming against the bright blue. Canals of crystal-clear water wove between the streets, reflecting the sunlight in dazzling patterns.
Yet, what truly struck Sarah was the harmony of it all.
The air itself felt different. It was… cleaner, purer, filled with a kind of serene energy that sent a shiver down Sarah's spine.
"Holy hell…" a young man gasped beside her. "This place looks like it came straight out of a video game."
A woman, likely in her late fifties, clutched her chest. "I feel like I'm in a fairy tale."
Despite the towering grandeur, there was warmth here, beautiful gardens filled with flowering trees, markets with freshly grown produce, and homes that, despite their impossibly advanced design, still held a sense of inviting familiarity.
Some of the civilians peeked into the windows of the buildings they passed, expecting to see stone interiors or medieval furnishing, but what they found was something entirely different.
"What the.....? They have electricity in there!" someone shouted.
Rob peered into one of the buildings, pressing his face against a crystal-clear window. "Is that… a TV?"
Jamie, the younger man who had come with them, squinted inside as well. "And electricity? Bloody hell, this place has got power lines, or something like 'em. This… this isn't some medieval reenactment."
"Look at the roads," someone else muttered. "No cars, no modern vehicles… yet everything is so… clean."
"Those knights…" another whispered. "They're not just wearing armor for show, are they? This is real."
Sarah felt a chill down her spine.
This is magic, she thought, swallowing hard. This is something that shouldn't be real… but it is.
And despite herself, despite every rational part of her that wanted to question it, another part of her...the part that had always craved mystery, adventure......was thrilled.
Sarah peered through one of the grand archways of what looked like an apartment complex and nearly lost her footing. Inside, there was a modern interior, fully furnished with lights, furniture, even what looked like a TV mounted on the wall. It was a seamless blend of futuristic technology and medieval grandeur.
"How the bloody hell does a medieval city have modern appliances?" Rob muttered, his face pale with shock.
One of the knights walking with them, overhearing the conversation, turned their helmeted gaze toward the group. "Camelot is not bound by time," the knight said cryptically. "It exists as it must, as a sanctuary for humanity."
Sarah exhaled sharply, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag. This is insane. This is absolutely insane.
And yet… she didn't want to leave.
For as long as she could remember, she had wanted more. Something beyond the familiar streets of her little town, something impossible, something magical.
And now, here it was. Right before her eyes.
Further ahead, the most breathtaking sight of all loomed, the castle Camelot itself.
It dominated the center of the city, an architectural marvel of white stone and blue banners, its towers stretching towards the heavens. Stained-glass windows depicted scenes of knights and battles, glowing faintly as if lit from within by some ethereal energy.
The group continued moving forward, their steps filled with wonder and uncertainty in equal measure.
At the heart of the city, they arrived at a grand plaza, a vast space of polished white stone and gold-trimmed banners bearing the emblem of a dragon. Water fountains carved from crystal-like material lined the area, shimmering under the afternoon light.
At one end of the plaza, a grand podium stood elevated above the square, a regal structure from which one could address the entire city.
The group fidgeted, whispering amongst themselves. "This must be where the King speaks."
"I don't like this," one man muttered. "What if they tell us we can't leave?"
"Then we run," a woman answered nervously.
Sarah stayed silent, her eyes locked onto the grand castle in the distance. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before....an impossibly grandiose palace, floating islands hovering above its spires, pulsating with ancient magic.
That's where the King lives... she thought.
Sarah felt a strange weight settle in her chest. The knights had spoken of a King, but she and the others had no idea what to expect.
The civilians from her town weren't the only ones here. A growing crowd had gathered in the plaza....people from other villages, towns, maybe even cities beyond. Some murmured in apprehension, others with excitement. Phones were out, cameras recording, this moment was already history.
"I can't believe this," a woman near Sarah whispered. "A city appearing overnight… and now we're going to see the one who built it?"
And then...the sound of boots against stone echoed through the plaza.
The Enforcement Knights standing nearby suddenly stood at attention.
The King was arriving.
Sarah braced herself, expecting to see some grizzled warlord or an imposing, armored figure. Maybe even some ancient sorcerer draped in royal robes.
From the entrance of the castle, a procession of knights emerged, flanking the central figure who walked with undeniable grace and power. The very air seemed to hum with energy as she approached, her long golden hair catching the light, her regal blue and white armor glowing faintly under the sun.
Sarah felt her breath hitch.
It wasn't what she expected.
It wasn't a man at all.
The King...no, the Goddess...wasn't the man of legend they had expected. She was a woman.
A stunningly beautiful, divine woman.
Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as Artoria Pendragon took her place at the podium.
Her golden hair shimmered, cascading like flowing silk behind her. Her light-green eyes carried the weight of ages, yet burned with compassion and strength. She was a figure of pure authority, yet unmistakably graceful.
Artoria Pendragon's very presence was magnetic. She moved with the confidence of a ruler yet carried a warmth in her gaze that felt almost inviting. In one hand, she held a lance unlike anything Sarah had ever seen, a weapon of sheer radiance, its light cascading in soft waves of gold.
She took her place at the podium, overlooking the assembled crowd, and when she spoke, her voice was clear, strong, unwavering.
"People of this land," her voice carried over the plaza, clear and commanding, yet filled with warmth.
"I am Artoria Pendragon. Once, I ruled a kingdom called Camelot, a place of hope, justice, and unity."
Sarah barely breathed.
"Perhaps you have heard the stories, of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Tales of valor, but also of failure. I am no stranger to the mistakes of the past. Yet, it is those very mistakes that guide me now."
Sarah felt her chest tighten as she listened. There was no arrogance in her words, only resolve. Only sincerity
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. Some nodded in understanding, while others exchanged wary glances.
"I did not summon this Camelot to rule over you as a perfect king," she said, her voice gaining warmth.
"I know now that perfection is not the duty of a king. My role is to serve, to guide, and to protect. This city, these walls, they are not meant to divide us. They are meant to shelter all who seek peace."
Sarah barely noticed the way her fingers curled against her chest, the way her breath hitched.
"I will not claim to be perfect. I have made mistakes, as all leaders do. But I have learned from them. And here, in this world that is unfamiliar yet full of potential, I wish to build a Camelot that belongs not to me, but to you, to all of humanity."
Sarah's heart pounded. She's not just ruling....she's offering something more.
A young boy, perhaps no older than ten, whispered loudly to his mother, "Is she a superhero?"
The comment brought a wave of light chuckles from the crowd. Sarah gasped as she watch the goddess smile at the child. She wishes that was her.
"I am no superhero," the King said, addressing the boy directly, her gaze warm.
"I am simply a King who wishes to serve her people. But if you wish for a protector, then yes, I shall be that as well."
Sarah is completely entranced by this woman's words as her gaze swept over the civilians, Sarah noticed the her ryes shimmering faintly as for a moment making the King seem even more beautiful.
Then she raised her spear slightly, its golden brilliance casting a soft glow over the entire plaza. Sarah looked around at the others in the plaza for a moment.
She watched as men, woman, and children alike become mesmerized by the soft glow filling the plaza. Some children reaching out to touch the small golden orbs laughing and playing with them. Sarah returns her gaze back to the King...no Queen.
"Let this Camelot be a sanctuary for all humanity, a place where you can live without fear, where your children can dream without limit. I do not ask for your worship or your blind loyalty. I only ask that you give me a chance to prove my resolve."
A middle-aged man in the crowd stepped forward, his voice shaking but determined.
"And... what happens if we refuse? If we choose to leave?"
Artoria met his gaze without hesitation.
"You are free to go, as you are free to stay. Camelot is not a prison. It is a home for those who seek one."
Sarah felt something stir deep within her.
A home. A place beyond just the mundane world she had known.
She had never wanted to leave her small town before. But now.....how could she ever go back?
I stepped forward my heart pounding in my chest, unknowingly having my hands clasped together trembling lightly.
"You said... you're Artoria Pendragon? King Arthur? But you're...a woman....a goddess?"
Sarah's heart fluttered as she heard this Goddess chuckle softly, her laughter was alluring and soft. almost ethereal. She listens enraptured by the speech.
"A title given, not one I sought. What I am now is less important than what I wish to do."
The crowd murmured again, but this time, the tone was softer, less apprehensive.
"From this day forward, Camelot's gates will remain open to all who wish to join us. Food, shelter, and protection will be offered freely. My Enforcement Knights will ensure your safety. But know this: this city's foundation is built on trust and unity. Let us uphold that together."
Sarah's throat tightened. This wasn't just a speech. This was a promise.
The Queen raised Rhongomyniad slightly, the lance shining like a beacon into the atmosphere.
"This lance, Rhongomyniad, is a symbol of my oath. With it, I forged this city, this Camelot. It stands as a testament to what we can achieve together, a sanctuary for those who seek peace, a stronghold for those who fight for justice, and a home for all who wish to belong."
The crowd erupted in applause around me, a mix of cheers and tears.
"I do not promise perfection, but I do promise this: I will stand by you. I will lead you with honor, and together, we shall build a future where no one is left behind. This is my vow as your King."
The applause grew louder, and even some of the Enforcement Knights, usually stoic, exchanged approving glances. Artoria lowered Rhongomyniad, her gaze sweeping across the crowd once more.
Sarah joined in as she clapped, her heart soaring, her chest tight with emotion.
"This is but the beginning," The Queen continued, her voice rising as she addressed the crowd once more.
"Together, we can build a future worthy of the name Camelot. One where no one stands alone."
As the applause continued, as the Goddess stepped back, the weight of her words starting to settle in.
Sarah, hand clutched to her chest, felt something inside her shift.
"Come," The King said her tone inviting.
"Explore the city, make it your own. Camelot is no longer just a dream, it is our reality."
Artoria finished her speech, her final words carrying a promise of hope and strength.
As Artoria stepped away from the podium, the crowd erupted in applause.
It was deafening.
Sarah had come here uncertain, afraid of risking the comfort of her simple life. But standing here now, listening to her, watching Artoria turn and walk from the podium, she knew...
She didn't want to go back.
Camelot wasn't just a place.
It was a new beginning.
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Heya guys! Sorry this one came out so late. I really wanted this chapter to be perfect so it took me a little longer than usual to make. I hope you guys like it. I'm not sure whether or not I will continue to use her as a character later in the story. So let me know if you guys want me to use her again and maybe give me some ideas on how I could use her character later on. Thanks for Reading!
Question: Whats is your favorite Anime? And please tell me why you think that!