[Location: Camelot – Outer Market, Morning]
The sound of the city was different today.
Quieter.
Like the air itself was listening.
Merchants still called out their prices, and the smell of bread still filled the air — but people moved with a wary rhythm. Conversations were shorter. Laughter died quicker.
Something had changed.
When I reached the apothecary stall, Gaius was already there, gathering herbs. His eyes flicked toward the distant spires of the castle. "You feel it too, don't you?"
I nodded. "The mana field. It's… unstable."
He lowered his voice. "The king has ordered a review of magical activity. Too many unexplained disturbances near the citadel. They think it's sorcery."
I kept my tone neutral. "Isn't it?"
"Not the kind they know," Gaius said quietly.
My pulse ticked faster. If Camelot's knights were tracking mana spikes, then my quantum emissions — even faint ones — might look like an attack.
And I wasn't ready to explain to anyone that I came from another world.
[Location: Castle Halls – Afternoon]
Later that day, Gaius was summoned to the royal chambers. I went with him, as his apprentice.
The hall was a cathedral of polished stone and sunlight. At the far end stood Uther Pendragon — tall, stern, the kind of man who looked carved out of his own laws.
Beside him stood a woman in dark blue — poised, silent.
Morgana.
Her eyes met mine for half a second. Calm. Curious.
And in that instant, I felt it — the faint pulse of mana.
Hidden, but powerful.
"Gaius," Uther said, "we've had reports of strange lights beyond the southern wall. Witnesses speak of blue fire. I will not have sorcery return to this kingdom."
Gaius bowed. "I understand, sire. I will investigate."
Uther's gaze turned to me. "And who is this?"
"An assistant," Gaius replied smoothly. "A scholar from the outer provinces. Gifted with observation, but nothing more."
Uther's eyes narrowed. "See that it remains that way."
When we left the chamber, Morgana lingered behind.
But her voice — soft, controlled — carried through the hall.
"Strange lights… sound rather beautiful, don't they?"
I didn't turn, but something in her tone made my skin crawl — not from fear, but recognition.
[Location: Gaius' Tower – Evening]
Back in the tower, the tension hung thick.
Merlin paced, restless. "He'll outlaw magic again. I can feel it."
Gaius poured himself a cup of tea — the ritual calm before chaos. "Then you must both learn to be invisible."
He looked at me. "Ren, whatever you've been doing — the experiments — you need to stop. For now."
"I can't," I said. "If I don't understand how this mana interacts with my body, I could lose control."
"Then," Gaius said, "you'd better learn to control it without being seen."
His gaze softened. "There are ways — old ways — to cloak your presence. They demand focus. Precision. And patience."
Patience wasn't my strong suit, but the alternative was discovery.
[Location: Castle Balcony – Night]
The moonlight hit Camelot's towers like silver fire.
From the upper balcony, I could see the patrols — torchlight tracing the ramparts, the faint glint of armor.
Somewhere below, Morgana's shadow moved across the courtyard.
Her mana signature flickered again — a mirror to mine.
So I'm not the only anomaly here.
I looked down at my hands — faintly glowing with restrained quantum mana.
The world beneath me was tightening its grip, and I had to learn to vanish before it closed its fist.
[End of Chapter 12]