Camelot's rise in Marvel Chapter 111

Inside, the house was simple but sturdy, clearly built with care and attention to the brutal conditions of the Outback. Thick stone walls kept the heat at bay, and wide windows let the golden light in without allowing it to burn.

The living space was sparsely decorated: a few shelves filled with worn books, a battered sofa that had seen better days, and an open kitchen where Gilgash moved with surprising dostic ease, brewing coffee like it was second nature.

I couldn't help but feel strange about it, I an, his na. Gilgash.

I knew the guy, I had t him more than once, and he was… very different, I was a product of his ti for sure.

I would likely have gotten better long with him as my divine lancer, goddess of Rhongomyniad self, than I ever did as a saber.

After all, he was a king from the realm of gods, and while he didn't pay overly much respect to them, he still treated them a bit better than his toys.

He saw them as more equal to himself.

And compared to this man who shared his na… well, they couldn't be more different. This Gilgash was nice, kind, and overall just a nice guy.

Nothing at all like the Gilgash I knew of.

I sat cross-legged in one of the armchairs, feeling the comfortable hum of Excalibur Morgan finally settle back into slumber within my soul. Across from , Thena reclined on the couch, wrapped in a loose blanket, a cup of sothing hot cradled between her hands.

Sersi and Sprite perched nearby, Sprite swinging her legs idly as she nursed a can of soda she'd pilfered from the fridge.

"So," Gilgash said at last, breaking the silence as he handed a mug. "To what do we owe this... interesting visit?"

His voice held no hostility. Only curiosity — and a grudging respect.

I took a slow sip before answering. The coffee was strong, nearly a weapon in itself.

"We're looking for Phastos," I said simply. "I need his help with tech issue."

Thena's eyes sharpened slightly at that, but she said nothing yet. Gilgash frowned, rubbing his jaw.

"He won't do it, he is against giving humanity aid, not since the last few tis he tried it."

"It isn't beyond humanity, one human has done it, Tony Stark, but should I ask him for my help… my pride won't allow it." I corrected him.

Gilgash grunted, a sound halfway between understanding and skepticism. "Still. If it involves advanced tech... convincing Phastos won't be easy. He buried himself deep for a reason."

Across the room, Thena finally stirred, her voice low but steady. "He won't listen to logic. He's too stubborn for that." She took a sip from her cup, then added, almost as an afterthought, "You'll need sothing special."

"What if I have Sprite and Sersi talking on my behalf?"

Gilgash chuckled, the sound deep and amused. "That might get you in the door," he said. "Might even keep him from slamming it in your face."

"But convincing him?" Thena added, swirling the liquid in her cup absently. "He took the last ti pretty bad, when he helped them make nuclear stuff, and they turned it into a bomb."

I shifted slightly, setting my mug down on the low table. "That is… unfortunate, as I too seek his help in making clean infinite energy… but I still want to try."

Gilgash leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. His expression was thoughtful, but not dismissive.

"I will leave that part of it to Sprite; she is rather spirited when it cos to this." I said with a small smile.

Sprite straightened in her chair, puffing out her chest in a way that might have been more impressive if she hadn't looked twelve. "Damn right I am. If Phastos won't listen to logic, then he'll listen to nagging him until he gives up just to shut up."

Sersi hid a smile behind her cup. "It's not a bad plan," she said lightly. "Phastos always had a soft spot for Sprite. She could get him to do anything if she whined long enough."

"I don't whine," Sprite said, scandalized. "I apply strategic emotional pressure."

Gilgash snorted. "Sure. Strategic."

I leaned back slightly, amused by the exchange. "Good. Because persistence is exactly what we'll need. He won't trust right away — I'm not one of you."

"That's fine," Sersi said, setting her cup down carefully. Her tone was more serious now, steady. "You don't have to be. You have us. And we'll vouch for you."

"And besides," Sprite added, grinning mischievously, "how could he not trust soone who can out-duel Thena without breaking a sweat?"

Thena, still quietly sipping her drink, raised one elegant eyebrow but said nothing. The faintest twitch of her mouth hinted that she wasn't entirely offended.

Gilgash, sensing the shift in the room, pushed off the counter. "If you're really set on it, we can point you in the right way. Phastos won't be easy to find, but... he didn't vanish completely."

Gilgash crossed to a small desk cluttered with old maps and papers, rifling through them before pulling out a slip of paper. He tossed it onto the coffee table with a thump.

"He's sowhere near Detroit. Quiet little neighborhood. Middle of nowhere, really. You wouldn't notice him unless you were looking."

Sersi leaned over the paper, studying the address carefully. "It's a start."

Sprite leaned back with a huff. "Of course he's in suburbia. It's always suburbia."

"Would you rather it be a jungle?" I asked, amused.

"Honestly? Yes. At least jungles are honest about trying to kill you," Sprite grumbled.

-----

We ended up staying the night, mostly because the drive back to civilization would take all night, and while none of us needed sleep, we were also likely to get lost out there.

Everything looked the sa.

So we spent so ti talking, Thena and Gilgash both wanted to know more about . They had seen things on TV, followed along with events.

Yet, clearly they too had been wondering about just what was going on, and if I was the Arthur they once knew, and now that they confird I wasn't, they were curious about what was going on.

I didn't bla them, they have been around for so long, they had seen everything, so this age of entertainnt was likely a good place for so retirent, but even that got stale.

And nothing was more exciting than a mystery, and I was the biggest one.

So we talked, I tried explaining things in simple terms, but they weren't easy to satisfy, though Thena wasn't the worst, she was more interested in my swords and other weapons then the nature of other tilines and all that.

I ended up inviting them over to Calot, and while Thena seed willing, she still turned down due to her condition.

I was almost surprised Sersi and Sprite didn't ask if I could cure her, given all the things I could do. But I didn't bring it up myself.

I did decide to help her, but I figured it would be fine to wait a little. Let it be another card in my hand for getting Phatos to help .

I could see that all four of the Eternals still had much to say to one another, so while it wasn't a tearful goodbye, it still wasn't too far off.

However, we had a mission, and while it wasn't too ti sensitive, it was still better to solve it sooner rather than later.

Which ant yet another long flight back across the vast ocean.

And worse yet, we had to visit the US, a place I really didn't want to go to openly like this.

There was no doubt that the US was the main force behind much of the global discontent with Albion. Their desire for power and control didn't allow them to just sit back while I rose to power.

Sneaking around inside the US was one thing, going through customs was another.

Thankfully, the US was also the beating heart of capitalism, so money could open all doors.

It wasn't quite like bribery, it was a bit more… legal.

You just bought so expensive VIP packages here and there, an expensive million-dollar hotel stay, and they ensured you didn't have any problems.

"Say, Arthuria? Why are we going to New York?" Sprite asked as she strolled through the Airport, passing customs entirely.

"I figured that we might as well pick up Mordred while we are here."

"I still can't believe Mordred is a girl… the one I knew was a right horrible twat." Sprite didn't hold back her opinion.

"And I for one couldn't imagine Mordred as so horrible man of pure evil, Mordred was never evil, an yes, but not evil."

Sersi chuckled softly as we made our way through the terminal, wheeling along a few bags despite none of us actually needing luggage. "In every tiline, it seems, Mordred causes trouble. So things are universal."

I smiled faintly. "My Mordred is a good Knight, loyal, yet… I failed her, which led to the rebellion, though I can't deny she is in a rather prolonged rebellious phase."

"Still hard to believe… but what is she doing here in Arica?" Sprite said as she skipped along.

"She is supposed to help hunt down the Hand, immortal evil ninjas with a taste for cri."

Sprite practically lit up. "Evil ninjas? Why didn't you open with that? That's so much cooler than suburbia and energy tech!"

Sersi gave her a dry look. "Don't get any ideas. Immortal or not, we don't interfere with human affairs, you know the rules."

Sprite pouted, but it didn't last long. "Technically, evil ninjas aren't normal human affairs. They're supernatural cri. That's basically our turf."

"No, they are still human, and even if humanity destroys itself, we shouldn't interfere, and this hardly gets close to that, so no, we don't pick sides in human conflicts, we don't decide who is right and wrong." Sersi corrected gently. "Not even if the answer is obvious."

I didn't envy their position, seeing things take a bad turn, having the ability to help, the heart willing to help, but bound by rules not to.

The Eternals were amazing creations, able to feel like that, they were almost human in many ways.

Yet clearly the Celestial were true gods, they thought as gods did, even I could feel that kind of thinking. That cold, uncaring line of thought, the one that had once led to the Lion King's tower.

They didn't take into account what it ant to feel. Their creations were given a heart, and then told not to follow it.

That was very much the type of thing a god would do.

"We aren't here to help her, just pick her up, she has been here too long now, she needs to get back ho where she belongs before she ends up starting a war with more than criminals."

Sprite made a face. "Co on, you're acting like that's a bad thing."

"It would be if the war ended up involving the U.S. military," I said dryly. "Or worse, their politicians. Mordred has a knack for drawing the wrong kind of attention."

"She'd probably think it was fun," Sprite said, grinning. "Wreck a few tanks, punch a senator…"

Sersi sighed, clearly imagining the exact disaster scenario. "We should really hurry."

I nodded, "We will go see Tony Stark, he should know where she is, and rember, we don't ntion our mission, he is a normal human, let's not break his worldview any more than it has been."

I could only hope that Sprite would listen; it was clear that she desired the old days again, when she had a purpose.

She was bored, so very very bored, and wanted so excitent, even if that was kicking so evil ninja butt.

However, she was also loyal, unwilling to break the rules on her own, though if she could justify it, she wouldn't hesitate to involve herself in sothing fun.

(end of chapter)

So, Sprite… I keep putting so Mordred down over her, and I'm not entirely sure if I should be doing that or not.

But yeah, let's not think about it too deeply, she will change a lot when she grows up anyway.

Next, we will bring back Mordred and finish up the first Eternal mini-arc. Likely a small tiskip to see the effects of that. Then its ti for Fury to have a very busy week, and a very very bad ti.