In that era, every man considered it glory to stand by the King's side.And each took pride in being a student of Subutai.
Knights of Britain, having passed Subutai's trials, thereby gained a title and privileges surpassing knights of other lands.They were called the disciples of Su's gate — Su-men disciples.
From that time, the name has been carried forward without interruption.Even in the present age, there are still ancient family lineages who boast of once being Su-men disciples.
The Origin of the European Knightly Class
[After the King's army subdued the northern lands of Britain, they marched home in triumph][Five thousand orthodox knights of Windmill City surrounded their King, and ten thousand footsoldiers stretched wide on the wings of the cavalry. The mighty host extended for dozens of miles — a sight exceedingly rare in the Kingdom of Camelot. Not once in all the life of King Uther had there been a cavalry of this scale, let alone one where every mounted knight was an elite of hundred-battle mastery!][Setting aside all else, the daily consumption of such an army was staggering, and the training alone was beyond the means of an ordinary kingdom. Without Windmill City, Camelot could never have borne the cost of such a host with merely the power of the peninsula.][Without you, Lucan, the Kingdom of Camelot could never have risen to its peak so swiftly.][Though you yourself did not march, every day's consumption of supplies was computed by your hand. With the calculations of a god's mind, you left no room for error.]
[On Merlin's counsel, the King's host did not return directly to Camelot.][Instead, they made a tour across Britain — to awe the lords within and without.][If only, during that tour, Merlin had not stirred up so many scandals...][If only, during that tour, the nobles had not complained to Artoria that he dallied with elder women of their clans... it would have been better.][Indeed, Merlin had long been known for countless amorous rumors.][Yet when you, in the royal court, heard the news, you could not help but be dumbfounded.][This guy... to ignore youth, and only crave the old — even an eighty-year-old crone!? Truly, a pervert!][No wonder, after teaching Artoria so many years, he never earned her respect.]
[A month's progress later][The army entered Camelot, welcomed by the cheers of the citizens. You stood at the gates of the palace, awaiting them. The maiden on horseback dismounted and, before the eyes of all, took your hand and entered the palace with you.][To the people, this could only be read as the King's special favor. For most, Artoria was still perceived as a male king, not a maiden.][Yet you yourself felt a chill.]["Morgan is watching," you whispered the moment you passed the gates, and swiftly withdrew your hand.][Liya smiled but said nothing, only replying: "Elder sister Morgan, is it?"]["I did not think Teacher Su would ever mind such a thing."][By now, it was widely known that Artoria was King Uther's illegitimate child.][Of course you did not truly mind. You have always been greedy — never choosing one, but all. Yet appearances had to be maintained.][You told Liya simply that you and Morgan were already wed.][For before Liya's campaign against Vortigern, you had already proposed to Morgan.][Naturally, Morgan did not refuse.][That night, you both crossed the line, and since then had savored it day by day.][Yet together you decided the wedding would remain hidden, to be announced later.]
[Liya froze on the spot, staring at you with a complex expression. After a pause, she gave you her blessing.]
[Afterwards, in the court, Liya began the rewards for the campaign.][You too beheld the finest among the five thousand knights — those most outstanding.][These would become the King's guard, the knights of Camelot, the Round Table's first members.][Though Liya had yet to take a queen, and no great Round Table yet existed, here was its embryonic form.]
[— "The Silver-Arm Knight" Bedivere, once guided by you, son of Sir Bedbunk, King Uther's first knight. Noble and gentle.][— "The Knight of Tactics" Kay, Liya's foster brother, son of Sir Ector of Ector Village under Windmill City. Sharp-tongued and restless.][— "The Stubborn Knight" Percival, warrior of northern Britain, unyielding by nature, who in your trials showed astonishing grappling skill.][— "The Sorrowful Knight" Tristan, nephew of Cornwall's duke under Uther, able to perceive hearts keenly.][— "The Sun Knight" Gawain, heir of northern Orkney, blessed by the sun, thrice as strong by day. Upright and over-honest.]
[Beyond them was Duke Pellinore, who played a key role in the war, now given a post as royal advisor.][Also, for their potential, two young ones gained Liya's favor — the boy Gareth and the girl Gaheris.]
[Together with you, and Merlin as court's first magus, they became the first circle of knights.][Though, because of your influence, Morgan no longer followed history's path of raising warriors by sorcery to overthrow Artoria, still the resilience of Human Order acted before your eyes. As if fate itself conjured knights like Gawain, Gareth, Gaheris — who, in truth, had once been Morgan's creations. Even so, they too had received your own teachings.]
[Before striking the final blow at the windmill of destiny, you spared nothing in turning history toward your own favor.][The shaping of the Round Table, to you, was advantageous.][It strengthened the cohesion of the knightly precepts.][It drew forth the radiance of the Martial Crown.]
[That year, you were twenty-four, Morgan twenty-six. Hand in hand, you entered marriage.][That year, the seventeen-year-old Artoria remained fixed at her fifteen-year-old form. The fusion of the King's blessing and the Red Dragon's factor made her an eternal statue-like being.]
[From then, the King began her conquests.][And you began your endless toil of governance and supply.][Each night, in dreams, you spoke with Liya — teaching her, giving counsel to the King.]
The great general leaves no trace of merit.The King who rode to battle never lacked the support of Subutai's supplies.He even appeared on the battlefield at times, to bring the King undeniable aid.
Eternal King
[At twenty-five, Artoria waged campaigns everywhere, winning victories, driving out northern Anglo-Saxons, subduing nearby kingdoms, casting down their crowns and reducing them to dukes.][That year, the Knight-Kingdom stood proud in eastern Europa, drawing the eyes of many realms. Artoria, with the bearing of an ideal king, drew countless followers.][That year, countless foreign warriors crossed the seas to pledge service.][Strongest among them was the son of Ban of Gaul — the one you had once defeated — the Knight of the Lake, Lancelot, blessed not by Britain's fae but by the fae of Gaul's lakes.][He inherited his father's skill, and surpassed it.][He bore his father's glory, and exceeded it.][He stood as the pinnacle of the warriors of the age, a being of divine martial realm, an endless Martial Refinement.]
"Lancelot, is it..."
Deep in the Camelot court,Lucan stood by Artoria's throne, eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed upon the tall young man with cropped blue hair.
In that moment of meeting eyes,the youth named Lancelot also revealed a flicker of battle spirit.He had clearly heard the name Subutai Equinus.
[Interesting][You thought to yourself][In that instant, the knightly precepts in your mind shone brilliantly.][They became real yet unseen chains.][Beyond your expectation.][For what you intended only as a means to gather and extract, had taken form more solidly than your Martial Crown.][Arising timely, as if destined.][As if forged specifically to face Lancelot.][As the executioner's tools of the knights' executioner.]
Other than the Grand Duke of the Dragon,he was also the one who stained himself with knightly blood —the executioner of knights.
The Mabinogion: Welsh Tales (Excerpt: Subutai)
[From what you know — in the worldline without you — the Knight of the Lake, Lancelot, indeed committed sins a knight must never commit.]