“So you don’t really know us or our group, so this won’t sound as strange to you as may it everyone else, but since when can you talk?” Cal broke the silence that had occurred with the sword’s statement. He didn’t know a ton about Arthurian myth, but what he did know didn’t contain a talking Excalibur anywhere.
“I was imbued with some of my last wielder’s essence at the time of his death. This altered my state in many ways. I am not fully able to explain those ways yet as you are the first person to carry me since then. Thank you, Stanley Marshall, for giving me the opportunity to once again do great deeds in the world.” The sword had a deep voice that resonated with its blade, causing an odd distortion when it spoke. It reminded Cal of the hum of a strong electrical charge.
“You’re welcome. So, how much of current events are you aware of? Can you read my thoughts? Cause I can kind of feel you there.” Stan cocked an eyebrow as he asked the last question.
“I cannot read your thoughts, at least as you mean the question, I believe. I can feel your existence and emotional state somewhat. This is to best facilitate our bond in battle. Other than that, you face a great challenge that requires my assistance. I am ignorant of the current events you face,” Excalibur answered.
“Do you want a recap?” Cal wasn’t planning to give it the whole story; too many embarrassing things he had done, plus way too little time. The sword could learn those moments once it was socializing back in the void house. Assuming it socialized, he wasn’t really sure about that.
“Yes, please.” The sword lightly glowed with the response. Cal decided that meant very interested.
“Okay, so we’re stuck in a time loop that starts over to my childhood when I die. Everyone here except Onelder currently remembers it. I have no idea if this will apply to you or not. You’re a brand new factor here. We have a way to bring a limited number of people into each loop, but that generally requires blood, which I’m guessing you don’t have. But anyway, we are also fighting an alien invasion from another dimension. So far, they’ve won every loop, which is doom for the Earth and the human race. Currently, we are traveling through our solar system grabbing as much pure magic as we can find, which is how we found you on Pluto, which it turns out is apparently the legendary Avalon.” Cal paused to think if there was anything else important he had forgotten, and nothing came to him immediately. “Any questions?”
“Many. Though none of these are likely important enough to answer if my memory resets at the end of every loop. That is something I will have to ponder. What is our current goal?” Its voice had dropped slightly with the last question, taking on a somber quality.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Turns out the Gryalth, those are the aliens have a base here on Pluto. We need to determine what its purpose is, see how hard it would be to shut down in the future and find as many mana pools as we can as we do this. Originally, that was the only goal, but then we got here and found them. Also, Onelder here is going to continue tutoring us in channeling, which, if you know anything, you are welcome to join in at.” Now that he had said it, Cal was felt a little intimidated at the prospect of the Grayth installation somewhere above their heads. He knew they needed to investigate it, but a premature loop end could be a giant issue for Andy’s group and not something they had planned for.
“Ah good. I request to be part of the fighting. I shouldn’t have to do much thinking during that and I need to devote all my faculties, so much as they currently are, to solving my apparent future reversion. Stanley, if could lay me on the ground, I would like to begin that now. Should you have need of me, I believe I will sense it through what our bond has already become. Thank you again.” Cal was sure he was right now. The sword sounded depressed. It hadn’t at all liked the news of potentially reverting back to being inert, waiting for someone to find it. He wished he had some solution, maybe once they met back up with Andrew.
“Sure, buddy, here you go.” Stan laid the sword down near his supplies. “Alright, guys, so about that recon, how do we want to start that?”
“Trying to change the topic from the possibility you are now king of Britain?” Jen snickered.
“Yes. I really don’t want to be a king.” Stan’s statement was met with laughter from most present.
“What’s a Britain?” Onelder was looking on with confusion.
Ignoring Onelder’s question Ethel moved back to the topic of recon. “I’ve been working on that actually. The reason I haven’t been as active in Cal’s tutoring sessions as I could be is because I was making friends.”
“What friends, and where?” Cal asked, confused. There was nowhere here for her to…Oh. The thought cut off as he realized that, yes, actually, there were many things here for her to befriend. Some creatures she was very familiar with, in fact. “Wait, figured it out.”
“Really, it wasn’t some grand mystery Cal. How have you still not learned to think before you speak? Ah, well, perhaps that one will never be teachable. Anyway, yes, I have made several friends.” Ethel put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. The call was answered by at least a hundred squirrels coming from all around them. Some were diving out of trees, some running from various passageways, but each of them stopped as soon as they got near to Ethel.
“Okay, now these could work for spying. I like it, Ethel.” Jen smiled as she spoke.