Waiting outside of the museum Eda shock her head, as much as she loved him she wished Arthur could be a bit more punctual, he had asked her to meet him here about half an hour ago, of course she’d expected him to be a bit late but this was pushing it especially as it seemed like it was about to start raining, she gave an exasperated sigh as she heard a commotion coming from just inside the museum, turning to see what was going on she couldn’t stop a smile coming to her face as Arthur exited the building his wireframe glasses at an angle, a large pile of papers gripped to his chest as he looked around before his gaze settled on her, he ran down the steps barely avoiding falling down them before he came to a stop in front of her.

“I...I’m so sorry my dear, but I finally have it.”

Eda had to think for a minute to remember what he was referring to.

“You mean the “’Proof’” you‘ve been after?”

“Exactly, after weeks of badgering that pompous curator he allowed me to examine one of the artifacts I requested.”

“Well that’s wonderful, you can tell me all about it over lunch.”

Grabbing him by the wrist Eda dragged Arthur down the street towards their usual cafe.

Taking a seat she waited for Arthur to put his papers down and settle in to the seat across from her.

“So which one did he let you examine?”

“The sword.”

“And?”

Arthur looked at her slightly confused.

“How does it prove your theory?”

“Ah yes, well...”

He started leafing through the stack of papers. While she waited for him to find what he was after Eda gestured to the woman at the counter who nodded and started preparing their drinks. Arthur placed one of the sheets in front of her, looking over it Eda chuckled.

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“Arthur you know I don’t speak professor, you are going to have to explain it simply for me.”

“My apologies Eda, right how do I explain...”

Arthur started muttering to himself as Eda waited patiently for him to explain or for their drinks to arrive which ever came first, probably the drinks.

As the drinks were placed on the table Arthur took a deep breath.

“So you remember the basics of my theory right?”

He looked at her expectantly, Eda sighed before reciting the theory she’d heard countless times.

“For the figures featured in myths to be so universally recognized there must be some truth to the stories, thus there must be a source for the impossible acts they performed, your hypothesis is that the objects featured in those stories must be that source and that with the right tools it may be possible to reactivate those items.”

Arthur nodded happily.

“Exactly right, the difficult part has always been gain access to these “’Enhanced’” items to test with, but after trying every test that I have conceived on the sword, I can say with certainty that it is one of the “’Enhanced’” items, in fact I am reasonably sure I can name it.”

Eda blinked in surprise, she wasn’t sure what she had been expecting him to say but that was more than she could have imagined.

“I thought the sword was the most unlikely to be one.”

“It was, I only put it on the request since it hadn’t been identified.”

Arthur picked up his cup of tea and started drinking.

“Well?”

With a conspiratorial look on his face he glanced around seemingly checking that no one was listening in on their conversation.

“We’re alone Arthur, just tell me, please.”

Looking at her pouting face Arthur gave a contented sigh and placed the cup down.

“Galatine.”

Eda tried to remember which mythical sword that was.

“that’s Galahads sword right? It made him immortal or something similar.”

“Gawains and it made him invincible in the sun.”

Eda smiled as he launched in to an overly complex explanation of how he’d come to this conclusion happy to just let him talk even if she could only follow a small part of it.

Arthurs explanation came to a sudden stop as a loud pop echoed from outside.

The two of them looked at each other before heading outside, Eda doubling back quickly to leave some money on the table.

Once outside they looked around for the source of the strange noise both of them spotted the man standing in the middle of the road at the same time, wearing a hospital gown and with a manic look on his face he locked eyes with Eda the mania giving way to a look of sorrow, Eda grabbed Arthurs arm and tried to pull him with her as she tried to run away from the man as an uncontrollable fear welled up within her.

“Eda wait I need to grab my notes.”

Ignoring Arthurs complaints she pulled harder dragging him after her, Arthur let out a gasp and despite herself Eda turned to see what had caused it, the man was glowing with a rapidly brightening blue light, before she could even react her vision whited out as another loud pop rang out.

Eda tried to open her eyes only for the intense pain in her head to force them shut again, she attempted to recall what had happened but after that second pop there was nothing but pain, gritting her teeth she opened her eyes again forcing them to stay open despite the pain, the blue sky above her was odd it had been full of heavy clouds before whatever had happened, wincing she turned her head and took in her surroundings, rubble spread out directly around her while in the distance large trees could be seen. Before she could even question where the trees had come from she heard a voice calling out, as she tried to respond she started coughing, each cough causing more pain to stab through her skull, the voice got louder till she could hear rapid footfalls that accompanied it, focusing on the voice she tried once more to reply, only to cause another coughing fit, the voice and the footsteps stopped only for whoever it was to start sprinting to her. She smiled weakly as Arthurs face came into view.

“Eda, Eda!”

Arthur was crying, she tried to comfort him but just coughed again the pain overwhelming her, Eda passed out.