In the throne room, Mixarnt stood before the King, Queen, former generals, The Royal Advisers, Eclipse, and Sunshine, being questioned.
"So, you're saying you inherited Merlin's final work?" the king asked.
"Er... yeah, but it's inside my mind. Honestly, I don't really get it myself, something about an 'Ideal Zone' or whatever." Mixarnt sighed, struggling to explain. He could grasp the concept, but putting it into words was difficult, especially with the complex calculations now ingrained in his mind.
"Ideal Zone… Merlin used to speak of that," Lancelot mused. "Back then, it was just a concept, using imagination to create a space… no, more like a Domain where everything is in your favor. If that's the case, then the Aether Maze must have been Merlin's Ideal Zone manifesting in reality."
"Hmmm, that makes sense," Leoric added. "But wasn't Merlin's domain way too massive?"
"We'll never truly understand. She's long dead," Gundrik said with a grin.
Theron scoffed. "A traitor is a traitor. Merlin took Arthur and created the Aether Maze, unleashing thousands of monsters on our lands just to stop us from interfering in her mad experiment. It was one of the kingdom's darkest times, we even lost our king because of him."
"True," Xavier admitted, "but we also forget that Arthur willingly went with Merlin, hoping to rid himself of the darkness consuming him. Unfortunately, the consequences were tragic."
Mixarnt blinked in confusion as they kept mentioning Arthur. 'Was the Arthur they spoke of the same middle-aged man I had met?' He recalled how Arthur acted like a fool when drunk, even dancing like an idiot at the guild.
"Is the Arthur you're talking about skilled in fire magic?" Mixarnt asked curiously.
The former generals all turned to him in stunned silence.
The mention of Arthur's proficiency in fire magic had struck a chord, and the room was filled with a palpable tension.
"Er... Ahem, Is the Arthur you're talking about adept in fire magic?" Mixarnt repeated, his voice steady as he smiled awkwardly wondering why they seem so surprised.
Lancelot was the first to respond, his sharp eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. "Yes, Arthur was a master of fire magic. He wielded it with unparalleled skill, combining it with his swordsmanship to create devastating techniques. Why do you ask?"
Mixarnt scratched the back of his head, his expression thoughtful. "Well, I think I might have met him. Back in Caspade, there was this old guy named Arthur who claimed to be around 40. He was a mage warrior, he's really good with fire magic, and he had this... I don't know, goofy side to him. He'd get drunk and dance like an idiot in the guild. I just thought it was a coincidence because of the name, but now I'm not so sure."
The room erupted into murmurs, the former generals exchanging glances. Theron's eyes widened, and he stepped forward, his voice filled with urgency. "You met Arthur? When? Where exactly?"
"I just told you old man, I met him in Caspade. He is a sapphire rank adventurer, he has some wise words, and even one of the main adventurers who raided Kaelzar. He is a friend of Elyssia the Ice mage and also a princess of Naeva. He is probably still there in Caspade. He also doesn't have a fancy sword named Excalibur, honestly he looks like a beggar because of his beard, he doesn't want to shave by the way." Mixarnt said casually, wondering what's so special with an old drunken man who claims to be in his forties. "To be honest, I doubt it is your Arthur. Although he looks old, you guys are waaaay older. There's no way he is from your batch haha. Anyway, that's all I know." Mixarnt said casually with a laugh.
The throne room fell silent once again as Mixarnt's casual remarks about the Arthur he knew in Caspade sparked a flurry of reactions. The former generals, the King and Queen, and even Eclipse and Sunshine were all processing the information. Mixarnt's description of Arthur as a scruffy, bearded, sapphire-rank adventurer who enjoyed drinking and dancing like an idiot didn't exactly match the image of the noble and heroic King Arthur they remembered. But the details, his mastery of fire magic, his wisdom, and his connections to powerful figures like Elyssia, were too specific to ignore.
Sunshine, ever the voice of reason, bonked Mixarnt on the head after his casual dismissal of the idea but mostly because he talks casually to important figures. "Don't be so quick to judge, idiot. You don't know the full story."
Mixarnt rubbed his head, grumbling. "I'm just saying, the guy I met doesn't seem like the legendary King Arthur you're all talking about. He's just a drunk old man who likes to have fun."
King Arnold, leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "Mixarnt, the Arthur we knew was indeed a man of great wisdom and power, but he was also someone who enjoyed life. He had a playful side, and he wasn't afraid to let loose. The fact that this Arthur you met shares so many similarities with our Arthur is... intriguing."
Xavier nodded in agreement. "It's true. Arthur was never one to flaunt his status or his power. If he were alive and had lost his memories, it's entirely possible he would live as a humble adventurer, just as you described."
Lusaric added, "And let's not forget, Arthur was blessed by the Aether. That blessing would have kept him youthful, unlike the rest of us who have aged over the years. If this Arthur you met claims to be in his forties, it's entirely possible he's telling the truth."
Lancelot, his sharp eyes gleaming with determination, stepped forward. "I will go to Caspade and verify this myself. If this is truly Arthur, we need to bring him home."
King Arnold nodded. "Use the supreme teleportation scrolls. We can't afford to waste any time."
Rosalinda, ever the strategist, raised a hand. "Wouldn't it be better to bring Mixarnt along? He knows this Arthur personally, and his presence might help bridge the gap if Arthur's memories are indeed lost."
The King considered this for a moment before nodding. "You're right. Mixarnt, you will accompany Lancelot to Caspade. Your knowledge of this Arthur could prove invaluable."
Mixarnt blinked, surprised by the sudden turn of events. "Wait, what? Don't I have a say in this? I have to go back to Caspade? But the trials—"
Sunshine cut him off, her golden flame eyes narrowing. "The trials are on a five-day break, remember? This is more important. Besides, you're the one who brought this up. You can't just drop a bombshell like this and walk away."
Eclipse, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke. "Mixarnt, this is bigger than the trials. If this Arthur is truly the lost king, then finding him could change everything for Aetherlight. You've already proven yourself capable. Now it's time to step up."
Mixarnt sighed, realizing there was no way out of this. "Alright, alright. I'll go. But don't blame me if this turns out to be a wild goose chase."