Artoria's soft voice flowed like a gentle breeze, weaving through the walls of Arthur's bedroom.
"Days seem sometimes as if they'll never end~"
Her voice, smooth as silk, carried the lullaby with a soothing gentleness that filled the room with peace.
"Sun digs its heels to taunt you~"
Young Arthur, only around five, lay curled beneath soft, dark green blankets, his wide emerald eyes fixed on his mother as she sang beside him, her hand gently brushing through his crimson hair.
"But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same~"
She gave him a warm smile as her voice began to lower with the final lines.
"Rises the moon~"
As she hummed the last note and let the quiet take over, Arthur softly clapped his little hands.
"Your voice is the best, Mom."
He whispered sleepily.
Artoria chuckled, tucking a strand of his golden-blond hair behind his ear.
"One day, you might sing better than me."
Arthur tilted his head.
"Really? But… I've never even tried."
She smiled.
"You're my son, Arthur. That means you have greatness in you, even if you don't see it yet."
Arthur giggled, burying himself deeper into the blankets.
"Then… can I hear one more song?"
She smirked and placed a finger to his lips.
"Nice try. But it's past your bedtime."
He yawned.
"Okay…"
She leaned in and kissed his forehead.
"Goodnight, my little prince."
"Goodnight, mom..."
...
DxD
...
"MOM!"
Arthur's body jolted with pain.
He gasped awake, eyes wide with confusion.
His body ached from every muscle, and his head throbbed like someone was pounding on it with a hammer.
"Agh… what…"
He looked down.
Bandages wrapped around his chest and arms.
He was no longer in his room as this bed was massive.
The sheets were royal blue and gold-threaded.
The room around him was filled with polished mahogany furniture, oil paintings, and ornate trinkets.
It was like waking up in a palace.
"…Where am I…?"
Before he could move, the ornate door creaked open.
A young girl entered, around his age, dressed in a proper maid outfit, black hair and eyes, carrying a silver tray of food.
She froze when she saw him sitting up.
"Ah… you're awake. Thank goodness."
Arthur blinked.
"Huh…?"
She stepped forward, keeping a careful distance.
"You should eat first, Mr. Guest. You've been unconscious for ten days."
"…Ten days…?"
The moment hit him like a blade through the ribs.
The fire, the Devils, his home, and…
His heart sank.
He clutched his head, his breath short and panicked.
"No… no, no, no, no-!"
"Wait, please calm-!"
Arthur shoved the tray aside, nearly knocking the maid over as he bolted from the bed.
"MOM!"
He sprinted down the hallway, past startled maids and butlers, ignoring the shouts and calls.
"MOM!? MOM, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
He burst through ornate doors and royal blue halls, desperately searching for a way out.
Then, he saw it, an open archway that led to the outside.
He ran for it.
As he burst through the exit, the sunlight hit his face, and he stumbled into what appeared to be a training courtyard.
The clang of wood meeting wood echoed faintly across the air.
There, standing in the center, was a boy around his age, with blond hair, sharp blue eyes, dressed in a white tunic and black pants.
He calmly swung a wooden sword, slicing clean through the neck of a dummy.
The boy turned.
"Oh! So you're finally awake. Greetings, friend."
He said, his voice smooth and composed.
Arthur stumbled, panting.
He scanned the area and saw no sign of his mother.
"Where is she…?"
The boy blinked.
"Well, that's rude. I did just say hello. But fine, I'll try again."
He walked forward and bowed slightly.
"My name is-"
"I don't care! Where the hell is my mother?!"
Arthur barked, his eyes wild.
"If you're not gonna help me, then get out of my way!"
He shoved past.
Or at least tried to.
The boy swiftly raised his wooden blade and blocked his path.
"That's the second time I've tried being civilized."
The boy said, unamused.
"You'll either discipline yourself or I'll discipline you myself."
Arthur grabbed the wooden sword, gripping it tightly.
"Make me, you pompous himbo."
The courtyard fell into silence.
Not even the wind dared to move.
Then…
*THUNK*
One of the headless dummy's wooden parts fell to the ground.
Without another word, both boys charged forward at the same time, their eyes locked and full of fury.
The sharp crack of wood echoed across the courtyard.
The blond boy darted in with blistering speed, his wooden sword whistling through the air in tight, calculated arcs.
His every strike was precise, elegant, a reflection of countless hours of refinement and discipline.
Arthur ducked the first swing, blocked the second with his forearm, and countered with a heavy punch aimed at the boy's ribs.
The blond boy twisted, narrowly evading the blow, and brought his sword down in a diagonal slash.
Arthur stepped back, gritting his teeth, before lunging forward with a brutal kick that forced distance between them.
Without hesitation, Arthur reached down and yanked the broken limb of a training dummy from the ground.
Gripping it like a crude sword, he charged in.
The courtyard lit up with the sound of a clash against blades.
Arthur swung with raw power and instinct, while the blond boy countered with finesse and deliberate timing.
Each clash of their weapons sparked tension, sweat beading on their brows, their feet dancing across the stone ground.
Arthur roared and brought his weapon down hard, but he blocked.
The blond boy twisted his blade and tried to sweep Arthur's legs, but he dodged.
They broke away again, circling.
And then, they lunged.
*Clash!*
Their weapons pressed together, faces just inches apart, eyes locked.
The blond boy panted.
"Your technique's… are impressive."
Arthur smirked, chest rising and falling.
"Yours isn't bad either… for a pretty boy."
They shoved off each other and resumed the assault.
The sounds of wood slamming against wood rang again and again.
Dust kicked up from their footwork, swirling around them as their duel reached its peak.
Then, an opening.
The blond boy spun, aiming a clean strike toward Arthur's neck.
Arthur raised his left arm, took the brunt of the blow with a wince, and flung his wooden weapon straight at the boy's face.
The blond boy ducked just in time, but too late to stop what came next.
Arthur lunged forward, tackled him to the ground, and wrapped his arm around his neck in a tight chokehold.
The blond boy thrashed beneath him, his hand slapping Arthur's shoulder as he choked out.
"That's… cheating…!"
Arthur scoffed, tightening the grip.
"In a real fight, all is fair, even cheap tactics."
The boy's movements slowed, breath growing short, eyes fluttering.
Then, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the courtyard entrance.
"You are not wrong, young man… but I would appreciate it if you released my son. I believe we have something more important to discuss."
Arthur froze.
He looked up, his heart still racing, as his gaze met a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in a royal blue suit with a crimson cloak draped over one shoulder.
His blond hair was slicked back, and a trimmed beard lined his strong jaw.
His blue eyes were calm, but beneath them was a depth of pain and wisdom.
Arthur looked down at the boy beneath him, now coughing and gasping for air, and slowly loosened his grip.
The boy rolled to his side, clutching his throat and wheezing.
Arthur stood up, brushing the dirt from his arms, his eyes narrowing as he faced the older man.
"Who are you?"
The man stepped forward, hands calmly at his sides.
"I am Uther Pendragon, descendant of King Arthur Pendragon and current head of the Pendragon Household."
He then glanced to the boy who was still catching his breath.
"And the boy you just clashed against is my firstborn, Kay Pendragon."
Arthur looked at the younger blond again, finally seeing the resemblance.
The sharp features, the cold precision in his fighting style.
But his thoughts snapped back to what mattered most.
"My mother…"
Arthur stepped forward, his voice cracking.
"Where is she? Is she… is she alright?"
Uther's gaze dimmed, a flicker of grief flashing in his eyes.
"…Follow me."
Arthur's breath caught in his throat.
Without a word, he did as asked.
The halls they walked through were endless, quiet, almost oppressive.
He could feel something tightening in his chest with every turn, every passing moment.
No words were exchanged, but he didn't need them.
He already knew.
Eventually, they stopped at a wide, double door.
Uther placed his hand gently against it and pushed it open.
The room was quiet, dimly lit with white candles.
And in the center… was an open coffin.
Arthur's legs froze.
His breath hitched.
"…No…"
He stumbled forward, each step heavier than the last.
He peered over the edge of the coffin.
There she was.
Artoria lay still, as if in sleep.
Her hands folded neatly over her chest, her expression peaceful, her golden hair carefully brushed.
Arthur fell to his knees.
His throat closed.
He couldn't breathe.
"…Mom…"
The tears came suddenly, violently.
He pressed his forehead to the side of the coffin, sobbing uncontrollably, his entire body trembling.
"…I'm sorry… I couldn't… I couldn't protect you… I'm so sorry..."
Uther knelt beside him, placing a steady hand on his shoulder and pulling him close.
"Let it all out, son. No one will judge you here."
He said softly.
Arthur's cries echoed in the chamber, full of pain and shattered dreams, as Uther silently offered him a shoulder to lean on and a place to grieve.
DxD
After what felt like an eternity, the storm of emotions finally settled into a heavy silence.
Arthur sat at the edge of the large bed, staring blankly at the floor.
The ornate bedroom around him felt more like a stranger's domain than a place of rest. He said nothing.
His fingers trembled slightly as they curled around a golden locket hanging from his neck.
Uther sat beside him, neither too close nor too far, silent and waiting.
Arthur finally spoke, his voice quiet, trembling.
"…Why?"
Uther turned his head, listening as Arthur stared down at the locket, the small image of him and his mother etched inside.
"Why did she have to die?"
Arthur's grip tightened.
"She was the kindest person I've ever known. She helped people. She took care of orphans. She gave away her food, her clothes… she wouldn't even hurt a mosquito."
His knuckles turned white.
His hands trembled.
"She didn't deserve that. None of it."
Then his voice cracked, and he clenched his fists tighter, his body shaking.
"It's not fair! Why did I survive? Why not her?! Why did this have to happen to us?!"
He shouted.
Uther looked at him with tired, aged eyes.
He sighed.
"Because… the world doesn't always go the way we want it to. It's no fairy tale, Arthur. Not like the ones you hear in bedtime stories. There are people out there who want to tear lives apart because of their own pain… who want to control everything with an iron fist… and some who just want to watch it all burn."
Arthur scoffed bitterly.
"Oh, great. That's supposed to make me feel better? Knowing that the fucking world is just screwed?"
He turned his head sharply toward Uther, eyes rimmed red.
Uther raised an eyebrow.
"First of all, it wasn't my intention to make you feel better,. And second, watch your language,young man. My elder sister wouldn't appreciate her son becoming a potty mouth."
Arthur blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.
"…Sister?"
He muttered.
He looked at Uther more closely now.
"Oh, right… you're… my uncle, huh?"
Uther gave a small nod, smiling faintly.
"Nice to meet you, I guess."
Arthur added with a half-hearted shrug.
"Me too. But I wish we'd met under better circumstances."
Uther replied.
Silence settled between them again, heavier than before.
"…How did you find me?"
Arthur asked after a moment.
Uther leaned back slightly, his gaze distant as he recounted.
"Your mother called me the day before your birthday. She mentioned… your dream. She was concerned."
He said.
Arthur nodded slowly.
"Is it because of my Boosted Gear?"
"Presumably, yes."
Uther replied.
"The plan was for both of you to visit the Household afterward so we could verify something. But when we couldn't contact her the morning after your birthday, I sent one of my knights to investigate."
Uther's expression darkened.
"The next thing I know, we found you unconscious… and your mother…"
Arthur's lips pressed together.
He didn't need to hear the rest.
He already knew.
The image was forever burned into his soul.
There was nothing left to say.
A moment passed before Uther turned to him again.
"…What do you plan to do now?"
Arthur didn't respond immediately.
His shoulders slumped.
His head hung low.
"…I don't know."
He whispered.
Uther gave a small smile.
"Well, then."
He said, rising from the bed.
"I believe I still owe you a birthday present."
Arthur's brow furrowed.
"You don't have to-"
But he stopped mid-sentence when he saw Uther open the closet.
And pull out a familiar backpack… and a sword.
Uther turned around, holding the sheathed Excalibur Ruler in one hand.
"Happy belated birthday, Arthur."
Arthur stared at the items as Uther approached and placed them gently in his lap.
"These were the only things we found in your home that survived the fire, especially this bag inside the closet. We gathered all the valuables, photos, documents, spare clothes, her phone and camera, and placed them in your bag."
Arthur slowly unzipped the backpack.
Inside were dozens of little pieces of his old home, photos of him and his mother happily together, the Nokia phone she owned, the Bible that she reads, her camera filled with captured memories of his embarrassment, even the red scarf she always made him wear when it was cold.
Every small fragment that told the story of a life that once was.
And then his hand touched the smooth leather of the sword's sheath.
He pulled it closer.
Excalibur Ruler.
The same blade…
…that pierced his mother's chest.
His breath hitched.
His vision blurred as he held the sword close to him, hugging it tightly to his chest.
No words escaped him this time.
Only silent tears.
Uther didn't speak either.
He simply sat beside him, reached out, and placed a hand gently on Arthur's back.
Offering no words, only his presence and a quiet support that Arthur didn't know he needed.
DxD
Hello readers!
If you could guess the lullaby, then you may or may not get a thumbs up.
Thank you everyone and see you later!