[Third Person's PoV]
Greed burned heavily in Goburk's eyes, though there was always a faint glimmer of respect—something unusual for creatures like him, especially towards Wizards.
Goburk placed a hand over his mouth to hide the twisted grin that threatened to spread across his face. But to Merlin and Arthur, his excitement was as clear as day.
After a moment, Goburk managed to compose himself and spoke with a more serious tone. "To think a day would come when I would meet one of the esteemed Lords of the Pendragons. It is a great honor."
"Is it?" Arthur asked, suspicious.
Goburk smiled. "Oh, but it is. You see, we of the Goblin race only respect one kind of human—and that respect extends to all of the same bloodline. The originator of your name: King Arthur."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering with reverence. "King Arthur was the only human who treated us Goblins with genuine respect. He acknowledged our customs, followed our laws, and even considered the Goblin King of his time a friend."
A fleeting sneer crossed Goburk's face. "The Wizards of today, however, are far too arrogant and rotten."
Arthur smiled faintly. "Yes, I can see how that might be the case…"
Clearing his throat, Goburk changed the subject. "Anyway, setting that aside—how may I be of assistance?"
"I'd like access to the Pendragon Vault," Arthur said. "I need to retrieve a few items. Funds, mostly."
The smile on Goburk's face slowly faded. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. If you wish to access the vault, you'll need more than just the Vault Key."
"Oh?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "And what else would I need?"
Goburk's grin returned. He opened a drawer, pulled out a weathered piece of parchment, and placed it on the table between them.
"In order to gain access, you must first prove your identity. A blood test is required—to confirm you truly are who you claim to be." He grinned. "Of course, you're free to decline… but that would also mean no access."
"So you're saying you doubt my identity and want proof," Arthur said, crossing one leg over the other.
Goburk, unapologetic, replied, "Yes and no. Yes, I do have my doubts. You may claim to be a Pendragon, and you may even bear their mannerisms. But for all I know, you found the key and are impersonating a noble bloodline to steal what remains of their legacy. The Pendragons have been in decline for a long time—it's a tragedy, really. And now you appear, claiming to be one of them. Can you blame me for being cautious?"
Arthur nodded, unfazed. Goburk's reasoning made sense.
"Thank you," Arthur said sincerely, with a grateful smile.
Goburk blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"Thank you for protecting my family's vault, and for taking proper precautions. It tells me the Pendragon treasures have been in responsible hands all this time. For that, I'm grateful."
Arthur gave him a respectful nod, and for a brief moment, Goburk smiled genuinely—before his sneer returned.
"Don't thank me just yet. This is also about my own safety."
Arthur tilted his head curiously, prompting him to elaborate.
Goburk's expression turned grim. "The Pendragon Vault is heavily enchanted. Only someone with true Pendragon blood can enter. If I take you down there without confirming your identity, we'll all be dead within seconds."
He slid the parchment across the table. "So for everyone's safety—including mine—I highly recommend the blood test. One drop is all it takes. The magic in this parchment will do the rest."
Arthur turned to Merlin, who raised a single brow. She studied the parchment briefly, then nodded. "There's no harmful enchantment. It's safe."
Arthur glanced at his gloved hand, took a breath, and slowly removed it. His rough, calloused fingers extended toward Merlin.
Without a word, she took his hand and gently ran her fingernail across his index finger, drawing a thin red line.
Arthur held his finger above the parchment and squeezed out a single drop of blood.
As it landed, the parchment absorbed it instantly. A ripple of red spread across the page like ink in water. Slowly, words began to appear, written in blood-red script.
Arthur leaned forward, studying the message as it revealed itself.
…
[Name: Artorius 'Arthur' Lionheart Pendragon]
[Date of Birth: January 1st, 1980]
[Gender: Male]
---
[Bloodline Composition:
Pendragon: 100% Purity
LeFay: 100% Purity]
---
[Parental Lineage:
Victor Alexander Lionheart (né Black,né LeFey)
Ivy Aurelia Lionheart (née Peverell, née Pendragon)]
---
[Ancestral Houses:
House of Pendragon:
Originally a powerful magical house, later became House of Peverell to survive magical persecution.
House of LeFay:
Known for its powerful sorcery, the house evolved into House of Black to escape the darker aspects of its past.]
---
[Inheritance Rights:
Heir to the House of Pendragon (through maternal line)
Heir to the House of LeFay (through paternal line)
Heir to the House of Peverell (through maternal line)
Heir to the House of Black (through paternal line)
Inherits rights to all Pendragon, LeFay, Peverell, and Black family artifacts and properties]
…
Arthur stared silently at the paper before him, blinking several times.
"…What exactly am I looking at?" he asked, unsure whether to feel amazed or overwhelmed.
Goburk, intrigued, leaned over to glance at the parchment—then froze. His eyes widened, disbelief painted across his face.
Arthur slowly turned to Merlin, his eyes demanding answers. A silent stare that spoke volumes.
Merlin sighed softly, already anticipating the tidal wave of questions. She reached out telepathically, her thoughts calmly flowing into his.
'What you're looking at is accurate… Before the House of Peverell existed, it was originally the House of Pendragon. To protect themselves during a time of magical persecution, they disappeared from history and reemerged under a new name. There's a long history behind it—far too much to unpack all at once, so we'll take it slow.'
'Now, the part about the House of LeFay... that's not the full story. Yes, it became the House of Black—but not simply to escape their past. One of their members was excommunicated after losing the sacred protection of the Fays. That individual became the founder of the House of Black—a disgraced offshoot of the LeFay line. Again, there's much more to this, but this is all I'll share for now. Just understand that you are directly tied to all four houses.'
Arthur sighed internally. 'How convoluted…' Already, his head ached at the thought of the legacy—and the politics—it would inevitably drag him into.
Meanwhile, Goburk looked as if he might faint. "Unbelievable…" he murmured, half in awe, half in shock. "To think I would ever live to see a descendant of both legendary houses standing before me…"
Arthur glanced back at the parchment, though his eyes lingered only on one thing—the name of his mother.
He closed his eyes for a moment before slipping his glove back on.
"Say, I have a question," he said calmly. "Do I now get unrestricted access to all the vaults?"
Goburk's eyes narrowed in consideration. But he saw no greed or ambition in Arthur's gaze—only curiosity.
"I'm afraid that's not how it works, young Lord," he replied, his tone shifting—now touched with reverence and respect.
"Though you possess the right, you do not yet possess the means. Access to any vault requires not just blood, but either the Vault Key or the Lord's Ring. Unless, of course, you already have those?"
"I do not," Arthur said plainly.
"Then I must apologize. Even as Heir, I cannot grant access to the other vaults. However, you may enter the Vault of the Pendragons, as you do possess that key."
Arthur nodded with a small, satisfied smile. "That's why we're here, after all. Please, lead the way."
Goburk returned the smile, his grin wide and genuine. "It would be my honor."
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