Sonic: ATBK

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[ex_predetermined775]

The castle was quiet that day.

After the morning sessions of training, Galahad resumed his usual duties in cleaning up and making sure that the armory was in order for the next day. It could be a job easily given to the servants but they generally didn't know enough about weaponry to do it properly.

Or at least to the liking to their most accomplished Knight, his Father.

He busied himself on putting the shortswords in their proper place on the rack. They needed to be arranged by the type tip on the sword so that training blades with dull edges, swords with hardened edges, and then those that would be used for combat. The ones with combat needed to be sharpened for the next time they were used. Galahad removed one of the swords on the end and sat with a rock in his palm, he scraped the sharpening rock against the bladed edge of the sword.

[knight_of_the_lake]

The door to the armory opened and the greatest Knight himself walked into the room. His eyes turned to look at his son, sitting in the room. He stared for a moment, taking in what he was seeing. The armory was in near perfect condition. Lancelot walked across the room and moves a few of the swords around into the order he prefers and then places a shield up onto the wall in its proper spot.

"How comes that sword, Galahad?" He asks finally, turning to look at this son through his helmet.

[ex_predetermined775]

Upon the voice cutting through the rhythmic scratching of the sharpening stone against steel, Galahad nearly dropped both out of sheer surprise.

"It..." He tried to pawn off the whole ordeal as him repositioning the handle in his palm before looking over his shoulder. "Well. It goes well. I apologize if you needed one sharpened. I was not made aware that you needed one. I can finish it right away."

[knight_of_the_lake]

Lancelot walked over to his son and held out his hand.

"Allow me to see it," The near dropping of the sword didn't escape the young knight's father. He wanted to check the sharpness of the sword. To see the skill of his son when it came to sharpening a sword.

[ex_predetermined775]

With the request came a quicker comply. "Yes. Of course, Father." Galahad held out the sword by the bladed end so that the handle would be held out towards his father. There was a possibility that the sharp blade could cut him if his father took it too quickly, but he trusted him and was eager to please with his sharpening skills.

Not to mention it was the proper way to offer a sword to another.

"I know I still have some that needs done, but I am willing to make any adjustments you suggest." Despite the effort that went into his work, his attitude was anything but overconfident.

[knight_of_the_lake]

Lancelot took the shortsword slowly, careful to not harm Silver. He flicked his thumb over the blade of the sword. He could feel the sharpness of the blade. He moved his finger down along the rest of the blade, checking if the edge was consistent all the way down.

"You are doing well. It is slightly more dull near the hilt but otherwise it is well done." The older knight turned the sword around and offered it to his son.

"Take the sword and let us adjourn to the training field. I wish to test your swordsmanship."

[ex_predetermined775]

As there was little expression in the midst of his examination, Galahad pensively waited and averted his glance to the ground while his Father checked his work. He nodded at the criticism and took the sword back gently.

"You want to train with a sharpened sword?" He stood up, almost as if to protest. "Would ..you not prefer it if I had one of the training sword with a dull edge?" It would be safer for them both. He knew better than anyone how much control it took to wield a sharpened sword during a battle and to not hurt anyone.

But he knew better than to outright say no to the order.

[knight_of_the_lake]

"Do you believe yourself to be unable to spar against me with a sharpened blade?" Lancelot asked in return. It was a test and one he expected Galahad to pass. The young man was his child, after all. He knew the silver hedgehog had talent. He simply needed to find his confidence to grasp it. Perhaps this would assist in that endeavor.

[ex_predetermined775]

"No," Though his response held a tone of uncertainty behind it, a typical response for someone inexperienced with not being aggressive with others in combat. "I worry about injuring you. Your role is much too important to the people here in the city to suffer for a mistake on my behalf."

[precisioninpink]

Amy didn't know what this realm was. Only that she had to be careful. The locals had already taken great offense to her crossbow and destroyed it in an unfortunately close call that had nearly resulted in Amy's hand being cut off entirely. She had since found a cloak and hood and often wore it to hide her outlandish clothing for this place, finding an old fashioned bow and carrying a quiver of arrows over her shoulder to protect herself until she could figure out why she was here.

But right now, she was deep in the forest, practicing her archery. Since nobody was around, she could get away with wearing her jeans and a plain white t-shirt. She pulled her arrows from the target tree she had been using, listening tot he wind rustle through the leaves. How could she get home, if she didn't know why she was here? How could she find out why she was here when the people reacted so strangely to her?

[ex_predetermined775]

Patrol on the outskirts of the Kingdom was typical for anyone sword to protect the city. Be it one of the Guards or Knights, they all had to be equal in terms of responsibility for safety.

Unfortunately, they could be a little short on numbers with all the circumstances surrounding the Kingdom. Galahad set off on his own to patrol in spite of being alone. Perhaps someone could join them him later.

It didn't take long for him to find a potential problem on the outside of the castle walls. Well..not so much a problem, but someone he'd never seen before.

He watched from afar for a few moments, just enough to get the idea of what she was up to, before making himself known.

"Good morning." He offered while approaching from the brush. Perhaps not the best idea to approach a strangely dressed girl who was armed. "Are you out here by yourself?"

[precisioninpink]

Amy immediately notched an arrow, turning to face the stranger. But she didn't raise her bow, pausing. They weren't shouting, so that could only be a good thing, right?

"Good morning." She nodded to them, careful to put her bow and arrow in one hand to show that she meant no harm. Whoever this was, they were dressed like a knight of old! Maybe she had time-traveled? "Yes, I am. I've been lost for a few days - I was practicing in case there were any robbers or dangers in these woods."

[ex_predetermined775]

A light nod. "I understand." The woods could be winding for anyone who was unfamiliar with them. If she was a stranger, the least he could do was offer some hospitality. "Then I'll be first to welcome you to Camelot." He motioned a hand towards the giant wall that dominated the landscape a fair distance away.

"If you'd like a place to stay while you consider where your journey takes you next, I know of many places in the city. Inside the city walls you won't have to worry about any danger."

[precisioninpink]

"Camelot? The Camelot ruled by King Arthur?" She gasped. Time travel it was then. Was this one of his knights? She looked tot he wall. Truthfully, she had been avoiding it after her clothes had recieved a bad reception in the town over.

"I think I'll have to pass. With my current clothes, I think I'm more likely to be chased out of the city."

[ex_predetermined775]

She did look a little strange.. but Galahad looked off, not wanting to shine light on the fact and risk the possibility of being rude. "I think the people may be more open-minded than you realize," He offered instead. "But it is ultimately your decision."

He shifted his weight to the opposite foot uncomfortably. Letting her stay outside by herself didn't feel right. There were great monsters that would occasionally visit outside the city, and it could be extremely dangerous for those who weren't familiar with their land. "Would I have your permission to return and check on your welfare as long as you decide to stay out here?"

[precisioninpink]

Amy hummed, nodding. She should find some more suitable clothing...or at least some that don't make her stick out like a sole thumb. She could visit in her cloak but walking about all th time in it would attract attention too.

"I can visit the city but not stay. Not until I find something different to wear." She picked up the cloak and swung it over her shoulders, leaving the hood down. "You know, you haven't told me your name yet, Sir-?"

[ex_predetermined775]

"..? I-I haven't?" The flawless composure wavered. "I apologize." Of all the things to have forgotten, it was a wonder she hadn't kept herself armed with a stranger who didn't identify themselves. His father would have never made such a mistake. And asking to come back without her having known his name? It was a wonder she hadn't run.

"My name is Galahad." He hadn't quite earned the title of 'Sir' yet, though he hoped one day to do so. He might have had distinguished-looking armor, but that was simply a perk of having a Knight for a father. "I'm one of the guards that our King has assigned to sweep the area in search of monsters or bandits. If you stay in these woods by yourself, then it is my responsibility to ensure your safety."

[caringmaiden]

Of course today of all days had to be that something weird would happen to Maria. And on her sixteenth birthday no less. How lame! Donning an adorable school uniform and matching schoolbag, the girl was running out the door of her home on her way to school in Nautilus until she decided to run by the library to check out a few books for class. One of the books however that drew her in the most was the stories of King Arthur and instead of going right to school with it, she decided to open it to give it a quick read. Unfortunately, it seems poor Maria wouldn't get to school as a bright light came out of the book with her then falling from the sky then grabs the branch of a tree as she falls through a tall tree.

From high up in the tree she began screaming for help while seeing her schoolbag hanging on another limb of said tree. "Oh my gosh! Someone help me please! I'm so scared up here! Anyone?! Please! Help me down from here!" She was even more terrified of the fact she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold onto this tree branch before she hit the ground.

[ex_predetermined775]

Patrol on the outskirts of the Kingdom was typical for anyone sword to protect the city. As one of the city Guard, he had to share in the responsibility of keeping everyone in the city safe from potential danger.

As per usual with their minuscule numbers, Galahad was sent off on his own to patrol the bright clearings to the North of the Kingdom. It was rare that anyone (or anything) would come from the north seeing as it bordered the edge of a sheer dropoff. It seemed as though they were giving him the easy and unimportant task.

Through his walk in the quiet paths through the forested area the silence was broke by a cry for help. Galahad jumped in spite of the sudden noise, moments later just what she was saying became clear.

He calmly--quickly--followed the noise to a particular tree and looked up to the tops of it. A girl? "H-hello?" What to start with first. "Are you hurt?"

[caringmaiden]

Maria turned her eyes down to see someone there. A silver hedgehog? She'd never seen him before in Nautilus... However, her mind immediately went to the thought of him being able to look up her skirt, especially as she was dangling from the tree branch in that type of angle where he would be able to. She shrieked and in a moment of panic went to use one of her hands to cover herself so he couldn't look up her skirt, however now she was sliding more.

"Ah! Oh my gosh, please hurry up and get me down!" She couldn't even bother right now with greeting him. "I'm not hurt so please hurry before I am!"

[ex_predetermined775]

Given her first reaction was to reach to her skirt and try and cover herself, it didn't take long to put the dots together on what she was trying to do. "..." Galahad immediately looked off and held a hand up to his eyes for good measure. He could feel himself turn a slight shade of red.

It would be difficult getting her down if he couldn't look in her direction.

"Yes. Of course." He held a free hand out. The easiest way to go about granting her request was using his abilities to gently get her from the treetop. "Please hold still. I'm going to lower you down to the ground."

[caringmaiden]

"Wh-What do you mean by that? And who are you? Oh never mind that! How are you going to get me down if you can't even look at me?!" She wasn't trying to be rude, but the poor girl was terrified and panicking at this point. She didn't want to die. However, she could feel her hand slipping and finally she loses her grip as she starts falling down with her schoolbag following and screaming about not wanting to die.

[ex_predetermined775]

Galahad's turned as the sound of the snapping branch filled the air. He didn't have any time to consider his next move (or modesty for that matter) before he hurriedly held out both hands towards the girl and used his abilities to slow her descent to the ground. Having the ability to move objects, or people, could come in handy!

An aqua-colored glow surrounded him as well as the girl as he concentrated. Mere seconds later she would come to a light descent to the group as he sat her lightly in the grass. He let both his hands fall and turned away from her so that she could tidy her dress..if she chose to. "Are you all right?"

[caringmaiden]

Maria was in awe at first of Galahad's abilities and when she stood up, she beamed brightly at him after dusting herself off then answered him. "I am! But oh gosh, that was amazing! How did you do that?! I've never seen anyone do that type of bending before!" Wait, this isn't Nautilus. She didn't recognize these woods anywhere in the city and that bright light coming from the book... Was she inside of it now?! Oh no, how would she get back to Nautilus now?! So now she went from being all excited to fretting with some embarrassment. "Oh... Umm... I'm sorry about that, I got a bit excited. Could you please tell me where am I and how do I get back to a city called Nautilus?"

[ex_predetermined775]

The barrage of questions and adoration was.. something to take in and get used to.

But as she composed herself, as did he. Galahad looked at her and gave a light bow of his head. "I'd like to introduce myself first. My name is Galahad. I'm a guard from the nearby city of Camelot." He held out his hand in the direction of the city. As far outside the walls as they were, the Kingdom would be visible but not dominating the landscape. "Could I have your name before I assist you, My Lady?"