Chapter III. Caliburn

Arturia walked calmly through the corridors with her sight at no particular point, thinking about what had become her life at the time that had been invoked by Dumbledore. Despite not being a magician, she was now studying at Hogwarts and had to take a place in a life that wasn't her own. She had spent no more than half a day and could already feel the weight of the lie on her shoulders. Although she knew that she was lying for something noble, the lies were also against her chivalry code and, when she broke this, good things didn't always happen to her. She hoped that the famous phrase "the end justifies the means" would be a sufficient excuse for her conscience.

She was so lost in her thoughts that a blow of her shoulder against someone made her react and immediately turn around to see the person she collided with. He was a man who looked older than her, dressed entirely in black, whose hair was black as jet and eyes as dark as night.

"I apologize, professor." She said with her distinctive polite and formal tone.

"Be careful where you walk, Miss Pendragon." Those were the man's only words before going on his way.

Arturia went on her way downplaying the small acciden. Her next class was Potions and in a way she was excited. Of all her magic tutorials with Merlin, her favorite was Potions; It was fun, although it wasn't always right the first time. A smile formed on her pink lips to go to the place where she would receive her class.

"Arturia". Called a nice male voice approaching her, it was Cedric. "Are we going to class together?"

"Of course. Also with your company I would not miss my way to class." She answered in a pleasant way.

They both walked to the dungeons, where the Potions classroom was located. Cedric sat next to the king, whereupon his friends began to annoy him. Arturia wondered why they saw in that way, Cedric wanted to be nice, because there were no other intentions in the young man than to be her friend. Please! He just met her that morning, he wasn't going to like her so soon. He admitted that she was very beautiful, but it was everything.

Then Professor Severus Snape entered the classroom, technically lashing the door to close it, while he watched the sixth-year youth keep silent to pay attention. His dark eyes traveled the class in absolute silence, resting on the new student. There was something quite strange about her that Severus couldn't explain and he couldn't believe that she was familiar of Dumbledore. Anyway, another Gryffindor who could remove points if she made a mistake. As familiar as Dumbledore she was, she was still a student.

The class started and Arturia paid attention to what the professor said, taking notes of data that she considered relevant. Everything seemed to go well for her, until from one moment everything becomes dark.

"Please, take it with care of the handle and little by little take out the sword." Indicated a jovial voice, but that showed wisdom.

Arturia at that moment could see her precious Caliburn imbedded in that stone. It shone as sacred as she remembered it, with the faint rays of sunlight sneaking through the trees, illuminating the golden blade. Arturia took the sword from the handle and slowly pulled it out of the stone, lifting it towards the sky once outside. She had been chosen as king of Britannia and, as a result, a sacred light enveloped her.

"From now on you stop being human, Arturia. You are a king and you have been granted the divine gifts of those who forged the sword and all its power now decides on you. Keep in mind that nothing will be as before, from now on you have divine grace, an important mission and a kingdom, all resting on your shoulders." Merlin's voice was serious and it was a hard enough truth for such a young girl.

She saw herself when she was 17, with Caliburn in her hands and her eyes down, while Merlin rested a hand on her shoulder.

"The golden sword of victory, Caliburn, the one that is capable of becoming holy if its possessor is the perfect king."

Everything turned black, leaving only Arturia in a large empty space, with Caliburn in her hands. Slowly the sword that had crowned her as king was fragmented until it broke, becoming a golden dust that turned away. She had failed her cavalry code, failed as king, and now she was doing the same.

"I do it for the greater good." She said to herself. "If I could amend my past mistakes I would, but I know this is not a mistake. It is not."

The blonde got up from the bed panting, resting her hands on the bed while looking everywhere. She was in the infirmary of the institution, looking at Albus Dumbledore standing at the foot of the bed, next to Professor Snape and Cedric, who looked worried about his new classmate.

"Are you okay, Arturia?" Asked the young chestnut sitting on the bed, next to her.

"What happened?" She asked touching her forehead.

"Suddenly you fainted in Potions class. The professor thought you were asleep, but seeing that you didn't react, he immediately brought you and went to call your godfather". Explained the young Hufflepuff. "I came to take care of you for a moment, but I must return to class." He excused himself.

"I get it. Thank you, Cedric." She smiled and turned to the teacher.  "Thank you, professor."

"If you allow me, I would like to stay alone with my goddaughter" Dumbledore said looking at both men.

They immediately withdrew to continue their work.

"I do not know what happened." The blonde said at once.

"It seems that a stronger magic managed to make you pass out, it seems that this magic source wanted to remind you something." Explained the old man approaching the girl to sit on the bed.

"In my dream I saw Caliburn. Seems like is reproaching me for breaking my cavalry code. I really do not like to lie and that is a big weight on my shoulders."

"You do not have to feel guilty, Arturia. It's me who asks you to do it and you have to comply with the order for the contract we have. But, please, understand that it is necessary and that when the time comes you will return to your identity, for now you are my dear goddaughter. You are fighting for a noble cause, to protect others. You are fulfilling your duty as king."

"I appreciate your words, Albus. I think I feel a little better with that." She smiled.

Dumbledore bowed before her. "I hope you get better. For today you can rest."

"Thank you, godfather."

Dumbledore withdrew and left the girl so that she could recover.