Wrath of Arthur: The Cursed Bloodline

Arthur galloped hard, the wind whipping through his cloak, eyes locked. His Veltron mount charged like an arrow.

Reaching the gates, Arthur jumped off before the horse even stopped completely."Stay here" he shouted to the beast. The Veltron snorted in acknowledgment.

Arthur dashed up the steps of the academy, breath shallow. As he turned a corner toward the enrolment hall—he nearly collided with someone else doing the exact same thing.

"Whoa—sorry!" the boy said, adjusting the worn satchel slipping off his shoulder. He looked about Arthur's age, with sharp brown hair, dust on his boots, and a spark in his tired eyes. "You're here to apply too?"

Arthur serious but sarcastically said. "No, I'm just practicing running."

The boy gave a smile. "Ahh got it. Name's Toren Cale, by the way."

Arthur nodded. "Arthur."

Toren suddenly blinked as he looked over Arthur's shoulder. "Wait… that was your horse out there? That black one?"

Arthur glanced back. "Yeah. Why?"

Toren laughed lightly. "That's a Veltron, right? Man… what are you doing applying last minute?"

Arthur said. "Long story."

They reached the hall just as the main door was closing. An academy clerk—an older man with tight hair and tighter rules—stood at the entrance with a scroll in hand.

"You're too late," he said bluntly. "Time has passed."

Arthur stepped forward. "We've just arrived. We're within minutes of closing. I did my Junior division here."

The man raised a brow but remained still. "So? It doesn't extend to tardiness. Rules are rules. Try again next year."

Toren scoffed beside him. "Come on, seriously? You'd really turn away a man who rode in on a Veltron and a guy who walked for two days straight because he couldn't afford a carriage?"

The man's lip twitched with disdain. "Commoners and excuses—always a pair."

Arthur clenched his fists. But just before he could speak again, a familiar voice called from the corridor.

"Let them in."

It was Instructor Mael Virelion, a tall, broad-shouldered woman with half-gray hair, eyes like steel, and a reputation as one of the most feared instructors in the academy.

She stepped forward, her presence silencing even the clerk.

"I've been watching," she said. "I've seen more dedication in their last ten minutes than half the students show in a week."

The clerk grumbled. "But the paperwork—"

"the sun didn't set yet," Mael said sharply. "Now step aside."

The door opened.

They thanked Mael, as she leaving.

Toren stared, stunned. Arthur gave him a sideways smirk.

"After you," he said.

As they stepped through the tall gates of Valoria Academy, Toren practically spun in place, marvelling at every statue, banner, and building.

"That tower—was that built during the First Era?""Wait, is that the dueling pit? It's huge!"

Arthur walked ahead without slowing. "Yes. No. Maybe. Stop asking."

They reached the registration office where Arthur calmly submitted his application with a nod. Toren, still out of breath from all the excitement, fumbled through his bag but managed to hand over his parchment.

As they stepped out into the cooler night air, Toren caught up beside him. "So now what?"

Arthur. "Initial filtering test starts in two days. We'll return then."

"And until then?"

"Find a place to stay. A room, an inn, camp in the mountains—your call."

Toren paused. "…Can I just join you?"

"No."

Arthur kept walking. Toren, unfazed, followed him anyway—talking the entire way.

"Hey, where'd you train swordsmanship first?""Why's your hair always messy? Is that, like, a style?""Your Veltron—can I name him something cool like Shadowfang?"

Arthur didn't answer a single question.

As they descended toward the outer district, Arthur reached out and gently tapped the neck of his Veltron."Good boy," he murmured, running a palm along its thick mane.

Toren, wide-eyed behind him, whispered in awe."Arthur… in this darkness he's almost invisible. Like a ghost. He's so cool."

They kept walking through narrow paths until they arrived at a modest but elegant residence—Sir Vale's house. It wasn't lavish like a noble estate, but it was wide, calm, with small fish ponds, neatly trimmed gardens, and a quiet horse yard in the side.

Vale stepped out onto the porch as if he'd sensed them.

"You enrolled?" he asked.

Arthur nodded. "Yeah. Barely."

Vale chuckled. "Come inside then. You both can stay here until the tests."

Arthur hesitated. "I appreciate it, sir… but it's late. I don't want to trouble you."

"You wouldn't be."

Toren leaned toward Arthur and whispered, "Dude… he doesn't look like the kind of guy who offers twice. Stop acting noble and take it."

Arthur ignored him. Vale raised a brow but didn't insist.

"Very well then. I'll see you at the test."

Arthur led the Veltron toward the horse yard, throwing down fresh hay and giving his companion a soft pat before turning back. The great beast gave a low, breath calmly and lay down beside the stable wall.

Arthur and Toren left the quiet yard, the stars now scattered across the sky above Valoria's rooftops.

Toren glanced sideways at him as they walked."…You really planning on camping in the hills?"

Arthur, without turning his head, simply said:

"No, I'm going to a motel," 

Toren raised a brow. "Not camping?"

"I need a hot spring bath," Arthur replied. "It's been quiet a journey last month."

Toren walked beside him. "But why didn't you take Sir Vale's offer? I mean, a warm place, free food, no creepy bugs crawling on your face while you sleep…"

Arthur paused, glancing sideways."You talk too much."

Arthur added, voice a bit lower this time, "He's a noble. Lives in a noble community. We're both commoners. Even if he's a good man… society's all about image. People will start whispering if he's seen favouring a student—especially a commoner. And besides… he might be our instructor in the senior division."

Toren nodded slowly, surprisingly silent for a few seconds."…Huh."

Then his eyes widened. "Wait—he's gonna be our instructor?! Damn. He looks scary."

Arthur smirked faintly and started walking ahead again. "He is."

Toren jogged up to catch pace. "Now I really need that hot bath."