Winter was closing in on us, and it wouldn't be the first and last time, either. However, it would be a bit different than any other winter before this one. Be it the one that came right after Lancy's wedding, three years ago, or the one after that. As for the former, it was the mildest one ever, with only the Third Pass seeing any intense fighting. But it held... As it should. Then, the second winter... It was a bit more intense, but none of the Passes relented, and we held, even without me personally having to travel to any of them.

It was a great accomplishment, as I could now rest easy knowing that all that I, or in this case, we had built up could function on a large scale. I no longer needed to be personally everywhere and could watch my rule 'automate' itself. There were already second-generation individuals entering onto the big stage and taking up important positions within Avalon and the Union. It was the culmination of everything I had worked for, allowing me to pass down edicts, goals, and plans, and watch the machine I was sitting on execute them. It took a lot off my shoulders, so when the winter that came after Lancelot's wedding ended, and we announced Galahad and Fila's wedding for the spring, I knew what I would do next:

Abdicate the Sovereign's position.

I worked enough... It was time for an early retirement. So, after Mirian and I stood side by side at our children's wedding, I announced at the start of the second winter that I would step down and put Arthur on the throne. Did I shock the people? Oh yeah. They weren't accustomed to it, especially when it came down to the other kings and emperors. Heh... I received about a dozen letters, and then all of them, one by one, came to Avalon, discussing with me the idea of rethinking it, blah, blah, blah. Nope. I had had enough. The system is running without my personal oversight, so now that things have become easier, it was time to let my kid have a go at it, with me playing the role of advisor.

It wasn't even a grand event either. I made sure it wouldn't be looked at as some unique thing... I don't care if my descendants will rule until they die or abdicate like me, but if any of them decide governing the country is not for them, they can leave whenever they want. Granted, there must be someone else who can take on the role. As for what I was doing after leaving? Started a mega project... of course I did.

Avalon's Pride.

Yeah, a bit strong name for it, but it was true, as it was the fortress I was thinking about already all those years ago. It was built right at the other end of the Avalonian Pass, behind the Gods' Formation. It was also one of the fastest constructions we had ever done... And it stretched from mountain wall to mountain wall. It wasn't built to be a home either, but a dam against the beasts. It was a straight, thick wall, the inside of which was filled with cannons and anthill-like corridors connecting them. It had, by the end, more than five hundred cannons installed, going half and half between magic-based and gunpowder-operated. Standing on the top of it, taking in the air, it was hard to believe we were on the Beast Lands... on the monsters' side... heh. As for the first winter to be spent here, I was going to stay right here and witness it for myself. I can afford to be a bit... reckless now.

"Excellent work, General," I leaned one hand on the stone edge, watching the massive rivers in the distance, the flatland before us, and the giant trees on the horizon, "Especially in the previous winter, holding them off while keeping building it," I muttered to myself, smiling.

"Thank you for the high praise, My Sovereign," Lucca answered in his usual, a bit stoic way, saluting, "We didn't have much to do either way, as it seemed that the pull of this Pass is no longer as promising as the other two. Maybe the monsters feel our powers and realize we are too strong for them."

"I wouldn't bank on that," I let out a long breath through my nose, shaking my head, "From the reports you gave me, Merlin and I theorized that the cold and light that the mountains release is a kind of attractive force... It just hadn't enticed the real issues to come and check us out yet."

"I don't want to know what you look at as real issues." He added, letting a small smile appear on his face.

"The Vasas," I grunted, remembering that since the battle with the Guardian, they had been awfully silent... or Arthur wasn't telling me, but... that had a very slim chance of being true. I expected them to come the moment we began building, but... no. Nothing. Maybe because the kids weren't here, and by putting Arthur on the throne, I was going to keep it that way.

"Ah, I see, Sovereign." He stepped up beside me, his eyes following mine over the fortress and towards the treeline. "I don't know what kind of powers they have, but with all that we put into this fortress, we can withstand a good amount of punishment. I think the only weapon that can punch through us with one shot is the Camelot's main gun."

"Let's hope that they haven't got anything similar."

"We can't know that," Lucca's eyes narrowed slightly. "If their powers come from the monsters, maybe they also have a certain limit to what they can do. Many times, we didn't even need to fire a cannon; we just watched as they fought each other. We simply sent out the Punisher and finished off the one that remained standing. And we hadn't seen anything like the Guardian around here..."

"I do hope that those types of bastards are not common."

"From all that I have seen, it doesn't seem to be the case. As for preparations for this winter, we have already allocated the necessary resources. With the Camelot being present, it should be an... uneventful season."

"Don't jinx it!" I chuckled, pushing myself back from the wall, "I haven't looked at the papers. What are the numbers?"

"We will have ten Knights present, six of them newly knighted pilots." He reported walking with me as I was beginning to take a stroll over the three-hundred-meter-long dam. "Besides that, we will have two hundred soldiers present with me, acting as the head mage, while about six hundred staff and crew."

"I do hope you told Jila no." I moaned, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Of course. Little Percival still needs at least ten years before he can come here."

"Just ten?" I shrugged, smiling, shaking my head.

Percival... Although none of my wives got pregnant again, the naming convention continued as Lancelot and Jila's son got his name from the list I had provided to Meyli. To be honest, my grandson was both living up to the moniker and not at all, at the same time. He had the wonder and curiosity in him, but the innocence? That was lost in translation, I think. By the time he was two, he was wreaking havoc in the palace... If something went missing, we would find it in Lancy's room, as the little imp took everything he was fascinated by, without asking questions. The little kleptomaniac! But that was not all... The moment he was born, Arthur and Leyla immediately could feel that the boy was magical. He wasn't as advanced as the two were, but we had to keep an eye on him, waiting for when it would actually manifest; however, there would probably be a few years still to go for that.

Of course, Jila was the proudest of it when she learned about the fact, wanting to make him into a perfect Knight... And even Lancelot and my father were agreeing. Haaah... Oh well, I didn't say no, only when some ridiculous thing came up, like letting the kid visit in the winter to see the monsters. Hell no! Hmph! I can't believe that I had to be the responsible parent this time around... What was the world coming to?!

"But it is a bit strange."

"Hm?" I stopped walking and looked at Lucca, pressing down my thoughts. "What is?"

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"The sudden surge."

"Of...?" I tilted my head, starting to hate the fact that he wasn't getting to the point, and I had to pry it from him with two hands.

"In the same year, as far as the reports hold, Avalon had birthed six more magic-capable children. Lady Mikan, whenever she was blessing the newborns, she could also feel them... That's... unheard of."

"Is it?" I asked, surprised.

"My Sovereign, back in my day, in the Empire, if a magic-capable child were being born, it was... rare. About... one in ten years, and that was a great success."

"..." I see... huh. I never really thought about that.

"There is something else," He looked at me, being serious. "I checked the backgrounds... all of their fathers are soldiers."

"Monster blood?" I asked, watching as he nodded his head.

"I submitted my theory to the Prime Minister. Although we have no concrete proof, he agrees with me. The blood tattoos, proximity to the burning Guardian, or a combination of both, we don't know. But all those who bore a magic-sensitive child, the father was a soldier, and they were in the Third Pass at least once."

"Haaah..." I sighed, looking towards the faraway horizon one more time, "Could be... Interesting... Oh, and speaking of the Guardian, I forgot to tell you! It finally winked out."

"Did it?"

"It is still simmering, and we can't get close to it, but the lightshow has stopped. It may still be burning inside, but it is finally calming down. Probably after the winter, we can eventually do something about it."

"Then we are done with cleaning our world." He stepped up close, following my gaze, "Whatever remains on the dead lands in the east is no longer counted as a threat either."

"Hopefully it stays that way." I nodded, wanting to agree with him. "It is time to let the soldiers finally rest..."

"Well, My Sovereign," He glanced at me, "I don't think that will ever be possible."

... .... ......

At the same time, back in Avalon, a meeting was taking place within the throne room. The minister's table was by now gone, and the increased number of them sat in a semi-circle, that had four rows, slightly elevated like an amphitheater's seats, facing the focal point: the throne.

And of course, this time around, it was Arthur sitting on it. At his side stood Merlin, holding multiple stacks of folders, each stamped and signed as he received them back from Arthur. They were the finalized documents from the current meeting, having been approved by the young Sovereign, and were ready to take effect in the coming weeks, months, or even years. Of course, it was not all, as Merlin was also explaining the latest news to him.

"…and the railway link from Horringar to the Third Pass is now fully operational. With preparations for the upcoming winter, we are operating two trains a day, serving both supply and reinforcement lines. As for the lines going south at our end, through Ishillia," He looked at the finance minister, who stood up, giving his report.

"Commerce numbers have risen eighteen percent if we compare them to the previous year, My Sovereign."

"Mhm," Arthur nodded once. "Good. But what about the southeastern expansion from the Third Pass? To the countries beyond Khulman?"

"That is... Much slower," Merlin admitted, "Not just because of the terrain's poor quality, but simply by the state of those nations. So far, making contact with them was... Well, even Atuvia has issues with trading with them. But we are working on it."

"Maybe I should send Leyla and Morgan down there..." Arthur made a mark with his pen, "Both of them have been gloating about the fact I have no time for anything and that I had become Dad 2.0..."

"We can arrange that." Merlin chuckled, making many of the ministers smile to themselves, before they straightened, as this was still an official meeting.

"We will see," Arthur shrugged, nodding and knowing that there was only one more topic on his plate for the year that he had to contend with.

It was the establishment of a new department under the Ministry of Industry's purview, directed by someone who already counted as a second-generation Avalonian, just like Arthur himself. With his new position, Chief Engineer Karian Calthas, responsible for the production of the First Sovereign's latest machines, stood up straight, noticing Arthur's gaze. He quickly cleared his throat, visibly aware of the significance of the topic, as he began speaking, fighting with his stage fright.

"My Sovereign," he started, "we are ready to present the results of the Motorized Carriage Project, as ordered at the spring meeting."

"Proceed," Arthur nodded, smiling at him, but internally he was screaming at his Dad... He was sure that Leon had dumped this project directly on him to test him... At the same time, Merlin shuffled a little and put an open folder in Arthur's hand, containing Karian's written report that he could look at in the meantime.

"The first prototypes of the carriage... I mean, the car has completed testing within the industrial district and the western military proving grounds."

Arthur kept nodding as he flicked through the several photographs of Leon's designs that were simple, easily buildable, and even a regular Avalonian could maintain them... at least on paper. The only part that required specialized tools and attention was the engine itself, but even that could be tinkered with by anyone if they knew what they were doing.

"What about the engines?" Arthur asked, "Are the projected quotas met or did we fall behind?"

"We are ready to produce a hundred such vehicles a week. More if we need to push it, but per orders, we are taking it slow... But we are ready if the export becomes desirable. According to the initial tests, the base model is capable of reaching eighty kilometers per hour on our roads... If one has the nerve."

"I tried it out, my stomach felt like it was coming up in my throat." A few of the ministers leaned forward, whispering among themselves in a good mood.

"That's good. Atuvia has already sniffed it out and sent a letter to me, asking if they can loan some, as they did with the tractors. We don't want to tell them we can churn them out just yet..." Arthur allowed himself a brief smile before returning to the notes. "I see you are saying it here that the engines are stable?"

"Yes, My Sovereign." Karian answered happily, "It is an ingenious design, really... The ignition system is fully mechanical, with no magic involved, and therefore, maintenance can be learned by any trained civilian. Honestly, understanding it is pretty easy and could be taught in our middle schools. Which leads to the next matter…" He turned another page. "Regulation."

"Yes..." Well, Arthur's muttering was sour because this was the part that Leon left to him to figure out... It was his test. So, he sent down guidelines and ideas, allowing his ministers to discuss them, and now it was time to review the finished project.

"As per your observation, we cannot simply hand these to the public," Karian continued, "Not without structure. The preparatory years before mass adoption are something that we also agree with, My Sovereign. We also propose a three-stage rollout."

"Oh?" Arthur straightened, curious, "I'm listening."

"First, we will have to give the people instructions. We have verified everything, including how much it would stress the budget for the next few years," he said proudly, watching as Arthur flipped the page, watching the numbers. "We must establish driving academies under state supervision or even include them in the regular curriculum. Citizens must earn a license through both theory and practical experience before they can own a carriage. I mean car. Car. Yes."

"I agree," Arthur said after a momentary pause, looking through the ideas that already had some extra notes from Merlin, showing that it was indeed a well-thought-out plan and on par with Arthur's own ideas. "Next?"

"We need a maintenance infrastructure. We should construct a network of servicing stations, as it is inevitable that some people will have issues with it. No matter how well we educate them, accidents are bound to happen. Even horses can get scared and throw off their riders, so... Khm." He muttered, smiling to himself, "As for the third point, that would be legislation. We must introduce traffic laws, registration, and mechanical safety inspections. People need to get accustomed to this new mode of transportation, and even if we allow our citizens to modify their cars, they must not exceed a certain limit. Or make it unsafe for others."

"Naturally," Arthur paused his reading, glancing up from the document, "And I see you went over the taxation, too. Hm... a road levy to fund upkeep... That does sound feasible." Arthur tapped his pen lightly against the armrest of his chair, thinking. "I think Father had made our streets this wide, exactly for these reasons... he had this in mind since the start."

"It is indeed the case," Merlin spoke up this time, smiling, remembering the days they built Avalon.

"Then we proceed." Arthur agreed, stamping it down, "But for now, do it quietly. We don't need grand announcements yet. For now, continue refining the laws, and we will have a second meeting about it in the winter! Until then, select the first thirty who will be eligible to purchase a car... Teach them, and after they are ready, Avalon's citizens will see the first models running around as the big announcement comes next year."

Acknowledging his orders, the ministers nodded, scribbling notes to themselves, knowing that their own orders would be processed through the relevant departments within the hour, once this meeting had ended. Everyone wanted to own one...

"Ensure the factories maintain their schedule," Arthur added, watching them with a lopsided smile, knowing exactly what they were thinking of, "By next winter, I want every officer of the capital trained to operate these vehicles. While in the military, it must be a requirement."

"Yes, Sovereign," Karian bowed, sitting back down, his face flushed from the excitement he was feeling.

Being part of Avalon's future like this was a dream for many people... and after putting in effort, here he was, making such decisions.. It was more than he had ever hoped for.

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