He didn't do much after that day. His father made sure that no one tried to kill him. He was able to spend his days lying under the sun and enjoy his life. He couldn't remember the last time he was able to relax—to live without worry about someone trying to kill him.
But for the next few weeks, he would spend most of his time next to his mother's grave, telling her about his time as Arthur. He would tell her about the time he met someone who looked like her—and happened to be his mother. All his adventures. The battles he fought and how he came out victorious. He told her about the best and worst parts.
Like always when he talked in front of her grave, a small breeze would move the flowers around him, making it feel like she was listening.
Just like that, weeks passed, and he was only able to tell her a portion of his life.
He sat under the tree next to her.
"I won't be able to visit for a while, Mother."
He paused. "No, no… don't take it the wrong way, Mother," he said, pausing. "It's not that I don't want to see you. It's just… I have an exam tomorrow."
He looked up at the sky, holding back his tears. "Yeah, it was all Elaine. And yes, she's been looking after me—so don't worry."
A soft breeze passed through the branches, and the leaves slowly fell onto the ground.
He smiled.
"You don't need to worry about me anymore."
He got up and let out a small laugh, mixed with sadness and happiness.
"You raised me well."
He walked away, then he turned.
"Watch me rise to the top, where my name will be remembered, respected, and feared through our nation." With a smile, "I will name a nation after you, Mother."
He walked toward Elizabeth, who had been following him nonstop. For some reason, she wouldn't leave his sight.
He approached her.
"Ready?"
She just nodded, then rose to her feet, and they started walking back toward the mansion. Elaine was already waiting by the entrance.
Without any words, but a smile on her face, she handed him an entrance pass.
"So it's time."
"Yes. Make me proud."
"I will try, Sister."
He glanced at Elizabeth. She was still in her maid uniform.
"Go change into something normal."
Their eyes met for a second, but she remained silent. She just turned and walked toward the smaller house on the left.
She paused and stared at him, wondering why he cared about her so much.
"You have really taken liking to Elizabeth?" she asked. Her voice was soft and filled with curiosity.
He didn't say anything. He stood there frozen like Elaine had asked him something he wanted to hide forever.
The words wouldn't come. He tried. He took a deep breath, eyes shut. When he spoke, it was quiet—so quiet only she could hear.
"She reminds me of someone I knew."
He spoke calmly but had a hint of pain behind it, as if thinking about it brought that pain back to the surface. Even thinking about her name hurt.
He didn't say anything else. Just quiet. He opened his eyes to see Elaine. She looked at him like she felt his pain through his words.
The smile she had all this time disappeared, leaving behind an expression of guilt that said she wished she hadn't asked him that question.
He smiled softly.
"Please don't be sad, Sister."
Elaine stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm sorry, Sylas."
"No, no, it was my fault."
He just stood still, closed his eyes, letting her hold him. Letting the weight of everything fall off his shoulders.
He is no longer Arthur. He is Sylas.
And this time… he wouldn't make the same mistake he did as Arthur.
He stepped back away from her slowly, then raised Excalibur.
"Don't worry, Sister," he said quietly. "This time… I'll rebuild this kingdom my way."
He paused. His voice filled with power.
"I will rise once again—
and reclaim what's mine."
She froze in place, but his words carried some weight. The sound around them disappeared. The wind stopped howling.
Her knees almost dropped. Not by fear—but by instinct. Something inside her wanted to kneel. To swear loyalty. To the man standing in front of her.
It was silent until Elizabeth showed up. She wore a tight black top with a light silver breastplate. She wore fitted pants filled with armor plating, except for the joint areas.
He looked at her.
"You look like you are ready for battle."
Her cheeks flushed.
He let out a soft laugh.
"Okay, Sister. We are ready."
Elaine took them out into town on a horse carriage. They all sat there quiet, only the sound of hooves and the carriage rattling on the road. Sylas sat on the opposite side from Elizabeth. Elaine sat next to him.
He couldn't keep his eyes off her. The memories he suppressed all flooded back when Elaine asked him that question. He wondered to himself why she looked so much like her. His eyes met hers once. Twice. Each time, she quickly looked down.
Eventually, they made it to the city. It was filled with vendors and people. In the middle was a set of stairs that led to an underground railway.
To enter, you needed a special permit. Only those who had been accepted… or those holding an exam pass.
Elaine stepped forward and showed her pass. The guard looked at them before stepping aside.
They walked deeper underground.
And there it was—the train. Elaine explained it to him—how this is called a steam engine and only picks up students from their nation to the academy.
Before leaving, Elaine handed them two tickets with seat numbers and told them to wait until the train stopped at the last stop. There, the Vanguard Academy is located.
"You won't come with us?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I can't. Only the examinees."
She hugged him.
"Make me proud."
He smiled widely, and then they entered the train and sat in their seats.
As the doors closed and the engine hissed—
The train stopped three times, stopping at each kingdom to pick up more participants. The ride was long, but comfortable. They were given cushioned chairs that could also be switched into beds. This was a long trip, so sleep was necessary.
He and Elizabeth had the same room. She sat on the opposite side.
He looked at her.
"Get some rest before we get there."
She nodded and removed the armor plates from her clothing.
He noticed something felt off about her lately. She barely spoke, and when she did, her eyes never met his.
She laid down and closed her eyes. Sylas glanced at her one last time before slowly closing his own.
At first, there was nothing. Then he heard a snap, and his surroundings started to change. Before he knew it, he was back in Camelot—and in front of him was Merlin.
He stood there as Sylas, but only as a viewer. He saw himself talking to Merlin. He remembered this vividly.
That was when Merlin warned him not to approach Guinevere. He explained to him how Guinevere would ruin his kingdom. How she would bring chaos.
But he didn't listen.
In the end, Merlin was right.
He was betrayed by the girl he loved, and the man he called friend.
Anger rose in his chest. He wanted revenge.
But he couldn't.
He loved them both—him as his best friend, and her as his lover.
So he let them be. Let them live happily.
While he drowned in sorrow.
He looked at him.
"Why are you showing me this, Merlin?"
His tone was soft and quiet, as if the pain was coming back.
But Merlin didn't say anything. He walked toward him, his expression calm. A small smile formed on his face, like he was glad to see him again.
Sylas wiped his tears and lowered his head, unable to face him.
"You were right. You're always right."
He tried to hold back the tears… but they came anyway. His shoulders trembled.
His nose began to run.
He started to sob.
Tears streamed down his face.
Merlin's voice was soft. He smiled gently. Then, without a word, snapped his fingers.
The environment changed around them.
Now Sylas found himself sitting at the top of his castle, and his kingdom looked normal.
The two sat in silence.
Merlin didn't look at him. His eyes stayed on the kingdom Sylas created.
"Don't let the life you lived as Arthur hold you back from the one you're meant to live as Sylas."
A gust of wind passed through. The kingdom below shimmered, full of life.
Merlin turned. His smile was calm. Quiet.
"Leave that life behind… but take the weight with you."
He paused.
"And be better."
Sylas looked at him and nodded. That's all he could muster.
Merlin turned toward him.
Flick.
A light tap to the forehead.
"Time's up," Merlin grinned.
"Don't ever come back here."
His smile was wide, but his eyes looked tired. Like he knew this was their final goodbye.
Sylas didn't say anything. He just sat there, staring at his kingdom one last time before it falls—because he knows what happens afterward.
Then he smiled.
"Thank you," he said.
The world around them began to break.
He woke to find Elizabeth staring at him, her eyes filled with worry.
"What happened?" Sylas asked her.
She didn't say anything. Just went back to lying down.
He touched his face. That's when he realized he'd been crying in his sleep—and she must have seen it.
"C'mon, I know you're not asleep," he said.
Elizabeth got back up. Her face was red, as if she was embarrassed.
Sylas realized she'd been by his side for so long… yet he barely knew a thing about her. So he asked.
"What rank were you given?"
"C."
Her tone was quiet, barely noticeable.
"Tell me about yourself," Sylas asked.
She crawled up onto her seat. She pulled a pillow close and pressed it against her chest.
"I am the 15th child of the Reed family," she continued. "My mother is the Queen of Elandor."
Sylas stayed and listened.
"My mother made a treaty with your father, that I would be married off to the kingdom of Virelia," she paused. "Because of my rank, none of his sons wanted to marry me. I was disowned by my mother, so she sent me as a maid."
Ranks can't be changed. Whatever you are given, you are stuck with it for life.
They couldn't talk for long. Before they knew it, the train announced,
"Last stop—Vanguard Academy."
The door hissed open.
Everyone slowly got out. They started to follow the other students.
As they climbed up the stairs, a woman with red hair in a robe was pointing people where to go. So they followed.
Until they made it out of the station.
They were in Vanguard City.
In front of them was a massive stairway.
It wasn't any normal staircase.
It looked like it could touch the clouds.
Another instructor told the students to go up there. Someone was waiting for them at the top.
They started climbing upward.
There was no end to it. It kept going up.
It wasn't easy. The higher they went, the harder it got to breathe. The wind was colder.
Sylas was not having an issue, but Elizabeth looked exhausted.
Slowly, people started to give up and turn back.
He didn't know how long it had been, but he had only made it halfway.
Turning around, he looked at Elizabeth. She was falling too far behind.
So he got down. Turned his back.
"Get on."
She froze. Her face filled with confusion.
"What?"
"Just get on."
He just waited.
Finally, she stepped forward. She was hesitant at first. Like always, she knew she couldn't deny his orders.
Her hands touched his shoulders.
"Are you sure?" she whispered.
"Just get on."
His voice firm.
Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck carefully, like she was afraid she might hurt him.
He stood up slowly, steadying her weight.
She wasn't heavy.
The silence returned between them—except every now and then, she would ask if he was okay.
They continued to climb. People around them started to stare. And she felt all their eyes on her, so she buried her face on his back.
After making it three-quarters of the way, Sylas finally felt exhausted. His legs were slowly giving up.
But he could still go on.
There was no one behind him. Most of the people who were in front had already made it up. The others gave up.
But he was taking his time.
From this height, he could see everything. This school was in the middle of nowhere. It was a massive island. He couldn't see anything else—it was too foggy.
He continued to move.
"I can walk," her voice came in a whisper next to his ear.
"You sure?" he asked.
She nodded.
So he put her down. And he felt a little bit better now.
They continued to walk toward the top.
Slowly, they both made it up there, where a professor was waiting for them. Behind her were the other people who had made it—and one of them was Luis.
Luis looked at Sylas in shock. But he was even more shocked to see Elizabeth behind him.
Sylas just smiled.
They all stared at Sylas.
Then the professor announced,
"Good job. You all made it through the first round."
She paused.
"Time for the second test."