Arthur

Biodata

Background / History

Arthur's birth father, the previous king, died before Arthur was born. Constantine—whom Arthur described as his uncle—subsequently took the throne and had Arthur call him “Father” to legitimize his rule. Arthur was raised outside the palace, on the outskirts of the royal capital 264 268.

During Arthur's childhood, Constantine allowed him to stay at the palace for two months each year and personally taught him riding and swordsmanship. After Constantine's own sons were born, these invitations stopped. Arthur remained largely out of public view, and many newer palace guards did not recognize him 268.

Arthur initially preferred to wait for Constantine to die naturally rather than challenge him. He acknowledged the king's political and military competence and believed Britain had enjoyed relative peace under his rule. Lin Ze warned that an aging Constantine might eliminate Arthur to secure the succession for his own children 264.

Appearance

• Build: A thin young man with long legs 257 281.
• Hands: Rough palms and thick calluses between the thumb and forefinger, indicating years of sword practice 257.
• Movement: Steady steps, a low center of gravity, and quiet footfalls that lead Lin Ze to suspect specialized training 257.
• Clothing: Initially wears an old smock; later disguises himself in a dingy gray servant's uniform to enter the palace 266 274.

Personality

Arthur is fascinated by magic despite his initial fear of wizards. When Lin Ze first demonstrates Transfiguration, Arthur reaches for his sword; after reassurance, he becomes absorbed in watching the wand and questioning what magic can do. He later handles Lin Ze's yew wand with trembling care 257 258.

His loyalty is especially apparent when he witnesses his childhood friend Kay being whipped. Furious but unable to intervene, Arthur punches a wall hard enough to bloody his hand. Later, he refuses to abandon Lin Ze during Shedding Gods' emergence, insisting that the Sword in the Stone gives him a reason to stay 261 278.

Arthur is initially hesitant about kingship and becomes discouraged when approaching potential supporters proves difficult. His enthusiasm returns when Lin Ze explains that he needs a king's authority to locate someone, giving Arthur a concrete way to repay his help. Once Constantine is dead, Arthur adopts a markedly firmer manner and demands the royal guards' submission 267 278.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Riding

Arthur received personal instruction from Constantine and shows physical signs of sustained martial training 257 268.

• His sword-callused hands and controlled gait distinguish him from an ordinary traveler 257.
• During the palace battle, he exploits an opening created by Sirius to thrust the Sword in the Stone into Constantine's cracked chest 277.

Sword in the Stone

The sword begins as a political prop commissioned and modified by Lin Ze and Sirius, but develops powers beyond Lin Ze's expectations when Arthur takes it 267 277 279.

• Radiant manifestation: The surrounding stone crumbles when Arthur catches the hilt, and the blade releases a silvery-white pillar of light 277.
• Absorption: It absorbs the dark red fluid from Constantine's chest, temporarily turning its sheen dark gold 277.
• Protective halo: Arthur drives it into the floor to create a silvery-white field encompassing himself, Lin Ze, and Sirius during Shedding Gods' attack 279.
• Supernatural cutting power: Arthur severs one of Shedding Gods' leg bones after Sirius destroys a lower vertebra 280.
• Unexplained development: Lin Ze recognizes that the weapon has changed beyond the modifications he and Sirius made 279.

Political Leadership

Arthur's claim combines royal descent, the Sword in the Stone, support from veteran ministers, and the backing of Merlin and the Witch King 265 278.

• Works with Saira to approach former servants of his father and build support in the capital 265 267 273.
• Appeals to Captain Lucas's loyalty to the throne rather than to Constantine personally 278.
• Secures the submission of the royal guards and assembled ministers after Constantine's death 278.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Short sword — Carried at his waist during his journey with Lin Ze and Saira 257.
• Sword in the Stone — His principal weapon and the public symbol of his right to rule. Fine dark red threads appear around its hilt after Constantine's defeat; following Shedding Gods' destruction, a dark red crystal remains set into its blade 277 281.
• Gold crown — Placed on his head by Boqin during his modest coronation outside the temple 281.

Relationships

• Lin Ze / Merlin — Traveling companion and principal supporter of his accession. Arthur promises to use his future royal authority to help Lin Ze find a formidable missing person 257 265 267.
• Sirius / Witch King — A wizard Arthur admires after witnessing his public magic demonstration. Sirius helps devise the Sword in the Stone plan, protects Arthur in the palace, and fights beside him 258 265 276 279.
• Saira / Sela — Traveling companion and political ally. She accompanies Arthur to meet veteran ministers and helps organize support for his claim 257 265 267 273.
• Constantine — Uncle, nominal adoptive father, and predecessor. Once Arthur's riding and swordsmanship teacher, he later sidelines Arthur and reveals that he preserved his life for a royal-blood sacrifice 264 268 276.
• Kay — Childhood friend and former guard of the Witch King. Arthur is enraged by Kay's public whipping after his arrest 261.
• Lifute Boqin — Former royal treasury official and supporter. He warns Arthur about Constantine, helps arrange his palace entry, vouches for his succession, and crowns him 267 273 278 281.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Journey to the Royal Capital

• Arthur joins Lin Ze and Saira on the road after meeting them at a tavern 257.
• His detailed recollection of the Witch King's gem-set wand and appearance allows Lin Ze to identify the imprisoned wizard as Sirius 258.
• After Kay's whipping, Lin Ze openly identifies Arthur as a prince, ending his attempt to conceal his background 261.

Preparing a Claim to the Throne

• Following Sirius's rescue, Lin Ze offers to support Arthur against Constantine 264.
• Sirius proposes recreating the Sword in the Stone legend, while Arthur and Saira seek ministerial backing and favorable public opinion 265.
• Arthur learns from Boqin that Constantine's success may involve a sinister divine patron 267 268.
• He enters the palace disguised as a servant while Lin Ze presents the sword as a treasure whose drawer will rule Britain 273 274 275.

Constantine's Fall and Shedding Gods

• Constantine reveals that Arthur's royal blood was intended as an offering to Shedding Gods. Lin Ze and Sirius protect Arthur from the guards 276.
• Arthur insists on retrieving the Sword in the Stone rather than simply escaping. With his allies' support, he wounds Constantine using the awakened blade 277.
• After securing the guards' allegiance, Arthur stays to confront Shedding Gods. He protects the group with the sword's halo and later cuts through the creature's leg bone 278 279 280.

Coronation

• Following Shedding Gods' defeat, Boqin, Lucas, the guards, and the ministers recognize Arthur as king 281.
• His coronation is deliberately modest: Boqin places the crown on his head before fewer than three hundred guards and onlookers 281.
• Constantine's sons are sent to estates in the south. Lin Ze and Sirius depart, leaving Arthur to maintain his own rule 281.

Notable Quotes

“Then it's settled. Once I take the throne, I'll help you find the person you can't find!” 267

“I hope your loyalty has always been to the throne, not the person sitting on it.” 278

“I'm not leaving.” 278