The bells rang all around Markoth when the first snowfall began coming down from the clouds.

It was too early, and the locals were aware of it. They experienced it twice, and both times, the Kingdom fell. Especially when the second long winter had come... It brought the entire eastern region to complete ruin. The fear and panic from those days almost returned in full force, but there was a difference now.

This time, Avalon was present, and they had built a fortress into the Pass. Their defenders were not fleeing. Instead, more and more people arrived just the day after, bringing along the same war machines that first saved them from a demon's attack. This long winter would be different, as proven by the fact that they had already killed a beast right on the first week of snowfall.

Still... the fear was still there, deep in the Markothians' hearts. To expel it, maybe a new generation had to grow up. At the edges of the city, people were preparing for the worst. For now, the children had stopped playing and continued to help the adults ensure that the food they had hoarded throughout the year was stored correctly and rationed in a way that would last them all winter.

Then, the bells rang again.

Those who had lived through the devastation of the two long winters gathered at their windows, afraid of what it meant, while the younger adults pulled on their fur cloaks and turned toward the sky, standing out on the streets. Amongst them, a child tugged at his mother's coat, pointing upward, his eyes gleaming.

"Is that…"

"It is..." She whispered, her eyes filled with tears, but not from fear or sadness, but from the relief she was feeling.

The Markothians all saw it at once and heard the low rumble of the warhorn, prompting the local militia to respond with a loud shout of their own.

The shadow of the coming airship crossed the city, and it belonged to a variant that the Markothians were seeing for the first time: the Eagle's Nest. Her silhouette was long and powerful, just like the others, but it wasn't coming alone this time around. Looking up at the sky, the airship was flanked on both sides by a vanguard of smaller shapes, which were becoming louder and louder as they neared the city, buzzing like nothing they had ever heard before. There were dozens of them, sleek and looking like metal birds flying in disciplined V formations, their engines roaring like thunder.

It was the first time Avalon had fully deployed its air force with its full capabilities, especially since the upgrade following the battle against Ishillia.

Most of them were the newer models, no longer biplanes; their angular noses and propellers featured sleeker designs, and they were now made of metal rather than wood. Then, as if on order, the squadron on the airship's left side turned away, climbing and circling upwards once before coming into a dive. As they did so, the Markothians heard a new sound: a shrill, siren-like wail, ending when the metal birds pulled out of their dive, flying over the city low enough for the people to see their underside, with the markings of Avalon on their wings. Of course, intermixed with the planes, among the third flying group were the still-active biplanes, primarily used for reconnaissance and the training of new pilots.

To Markoth, it was a spectacle never before seen, something that Leon had planned. As usual, if there were people to awe... he wouldn't miss it. For many, it was the first glimpse of an air force, with no understanding of what that meant. But... it showed that Avalon was determined to keep the winter out of their city.

Then, finally, the people noticed the thing dangling at the bottom of the Eagel's Nest. Where it usually held onto its own planes, ready to release them, now they were nowhere to be seen, and instead, a six-legged walker was being carried there.

They were used to seeing the two-legged mechs, both the locals and the new refugees who quickly integrated into the city. Many of them even prayed to them. But this variant? It still awed them, seeing it for the first time. No matter how it looked, it was massive, twice the size of any known mech they'd seen, as it needed six legs, after all. After the ship made a circle around the city, finding a place to stop, it began lowering the machine outside of the city's boundaries.

The mech's arrival triggered an explosion of movement as everyone rushed to see them, heading up to the walls or directly out of the city. Markothian soldiers ran through the city gates to greet the incoming reinforcements and to provide an honoring line into their city. The present Avalonian officers were already issuing orders, as they had been informed of the coming well in advance. At the moment, they were directing the planes as they landed on the flattened, snowy 'runways' just outside the city.

When everything was done and the Eagle's Nest lowered its rampart, Galahad had descended from the airship, stepping into the cold, making him shiver a little. But he wasn't coming alone. A moment later, Princess Fila appeared beside him, wrinkling her nose, looking around with a tinge of apprehension, thinking if it was indeed a good idea to follow Galahad...

"It's okay." Galahad smiled, although he needed a deep breath, as he was unused to being the center of attention and was already feeling that this would be overwhelming.

"It is an honor to welcome you to Markoth!" King Cedric bowed before Galahad, informed of his arrival ahead of everyone else.

"Please... I am here to work with you, not over you!" Galahad said, trying not to blush.

"Don't be afraid of ordering me around, Lord Galahad." Cedric answered with an honest smile, straightening his back, watching the youngest son of the Sovereign, who he also 'worshipped.'

"Where is General Lucca?" Galahad asked, not wanting to dwell on the topic while they began moving towards the city.

"At the Fortress, Sir. He has prepared for your arrival, but he sent word with how things are; he can't be present to welcome you."

"It's okay," Galahad nodded, "I will visit the Pass when I have time, but he is to stay there and guard the fortress. We came to protect the city; he doesn't need to worry about us."

"Is there danger?" Cedric asked, somewhat stiffening.

"Probably." Galahad muttered, not wanting to lie, "From the east, you are defenseless. That is why Avalon is gathering his strength here. We'll move the Excalibur," he pointed towards the new mech, "into place and begin our patrols as soon as possible. If anything comes this way from the East… we'll be ready."

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Avalon be praised." Cedric bowed, placing a hand on his heart, and although the people watching them enter the city didn't know what it was about, Galahad felt a shiver run down his back as every other person, as if on cue, did the same thing, repeating the exact words.

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

The wind screamed surprisingly loudly outside of my office, but inside, all was quiet, allowing me to focus on what was at hand. While my children were all out, helping me to deal with the countless issues that landed in my lap, I was let to do what I was good at. Copying past memories over to this world. Meaning: I was cheating again. Although Sasha didn't see it that way, however, those are just minute details.

Still, this early winter told me that if I wanted to bring relative peace to myself and, consequently, to the world, I would need to launch an assault on the beasts that got through the third Pass. I had to find it and seal it... And for that, I will want to send scouts out while our army marches from our position, exterminating everything we come across.

This meant that I would have to accept the Theocracy's offer and sail all the way around the continent, landing on the eastern shores at the back of that ruined landscape. While we hopefully draw their focus, they can find and locate the source of these bastards. For that... I needed a ship that was better than what this world had. So, I sat at the drafting table, my elbows buried in blueprints I already drafted and then discarded, finally settling on something that was more realistic than going for massive battleships or carriers. I need something more feasible to start with. Something that we can produce relatively quickly.

That's why I decided on a destroyer.

I studied the latest design before me again. Every line of it, from the curve of the bow to the the taper of the stern. This wasn't a galley they were used to, that is for sure. Lean and fast, I can create multiple variants with different engines tailored to my specific needs. I know they would want the details... So maybe I can make one that is steam-powered? And sell them that? Hm. Although I can create a ship... Nobody in Avalon has the experience to sail the seas, so I will need the Theocracy to man them. What a headache! Wait... No. I can enlist the others, too, like the Sar Empire... that would make enough of a balance in power that things don't get out of control... Probably.

"You'll break the tide like glass," I murmured to myself, meaning it in multiple ways as I tapped my finger against my table. "Hm... this doesn't seem right..." I leaned over once again with my pencil.

After a momentary study, I adjusted the keel line. It should be approximately eighty meters long, depending on the manufacturing process. That was the upper limit, anyway, so they can make it shorter if they want. Any longer, and I'd be forcing their shipwrights to reinvent drydocks according to what I learned about the situation down south. Good thing Arthur was there, traveling, and he sent back details and images of how their harbors looked like at the moment.

"Let's see... Displacement... About 1,200 tons... Its beam is 10.5 meters. Hm. Draft... 3.2... Ish. Propulsion... Well, if I will let them command it, I won't give away everything. Soooo... twin triple-expansion steam engines. It should give it its speed target, which would be around... 28 knots. Sounds fine." I frowned, reviewing it again. "Haaahh... That speed should be the minimum, isn't it? Probably twenty-five's the floor. Any slower, and we'll get outpaced by bloody wind and their current boats."

I erased the shaft placement and redrew it, shaving a bit of mass from the boilers. No turbines... not yet, at least. Perhaps on a later model or one specifically designed for us... There were rivers on the other side; maybe they could handle some ships like this? They were wide and hopefully deep enough. Anyway... A set of triple-expansion engines, properly engineered, would bring us close to what we need. A new variant of compact boilers, engine room aft, funnels clustered amidships... Hm, hm. More efficient than a train. Also, maintainable. We have already taught them how to do it; this should not be that different... and then I won't need to spend months reeducating them again.

With that in mind, I rolled out the following sheet, trying to design its armor. Or rather, the lack of it. No point in building a floating bunker, not for now, that is, as this wasn't a battleship. The hull could take splinters, maybe light cannon fire, but that was enough. I don't expect sea monsters to pop up, so the goal wasn't to take hits. It was to deal with them. Fast and hard. Get in, gut the enemy on the shores, and then get out. Or something.

So, I scribbled the armament layout over a top-down sketch. Primary weapons were easy; we'd already have the cannons for it, so it only needed a few modifications. There would be three main ones, similar to what I put on the castle walls when I first developed them. Then, two other variants that would launch actual cannonballs, in case something has magical shielding. And maybe two naval mine dispensers. Making mines shouldn't be hard... and just in case there are sea monsters.

Finishing it, I sat back and stared at it with a smile. The design looked clean, sleek, and more powerful than anything the current southern kingdoms should have. After waiting for my thoughts to settle a little, I picked up a fresh sheet a minute later and began sketching the forward deck. I had to make sure I had enough space for the gun mount, splinter shield, and slight bow flare to cut the waves. The hull had to be lower than anything the Theocracy was used to. No high castles, no ornate prows, just steel, built to slice into the waves. Haaah... With the output we have, including the steel I can import from Ishillia, assembling a prototype shouldn't take that long. I hope.

It was then that my stomach growled, but I ignored it. It was close to finishing; I could eat something nice after I was done here.

"You'll need a name," I said aloud, biting the end of my pencil.

Names mattered, after all.

Pendragon-class? If I'm to keep the tradition of naming things along that line... No. Too arrogant. The world is not ready for it. Not yet! Maybe if I build a battleship or a carrier. Hehehe... Hm. Vanguard-class? Meh... Bland. Gawain-class? Sounds better... it somewhat fits, and hopefully, it will encourage the southern ones to keep in line with its namesake and stay loyal.

Yeah. Gawain sounds fine... it fits.

Deciding on this, I turned the page again, this time moving on to the internal layout. The crew should be... hm... Around seventy. Quarters will be tight but separated from the engine room and its heat. I can run pipes around the ship, though, dispersing the heat so they won't freeze, especially in the winter. Also... Watertight compartments reinforced with iron ribs. Can't forget that.

Fighting with my grumbling stomach again, I ran a hand through my hair and went to the shelf behind me, flipping through my scribbles, looking for inspiration, when a knock came, just loud enough to draw me out of my thoughts.

"Enter," I said, closing the book in my hand, already smelling something nice the moment the door opened.

"I knew it!" Luna pouted, coming in with a big tray being pushed on a little trolley. "It is past lunchtime, and you didn't eat, did you? Hmph. You are worse than Sacchi. Come, I brought hot soup and then smashed potatoes and some spicy lamb chops!"

"You are an angel." I chuckled, along with my stomach rumbling like a hungry beast once again.

"Of course I am!" Luna grinned, wearing her traditional maid outfit, "Everyone is working hard." She added, her voice a speck softer, knowing that she was thinking about Galahad, "So... I do too."

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine." I stepped close, hugging her before sitting down on the couch, allowing her to prepare everything and even to start feeding me.

"Mhm." She nodded, smiling, "I know. Will you go to Khulman, still?"

"No. Not with the winter interrupting us." I shook my head. "Maybe, if things get weird... but for now, I'm staying. After I'm done with the drafts, I'll start moving things over to the Camelot. I will need to be ready and––"

It was then the door to my office opened, and Sasha rushed in, her eyes glowing.

"What happened?" I asked, seeing how Luna had stiffened, thinking of something bad... but Sasha's eyes were way too sparkly for that.

"It's Elena!" She said, gasping for air after running so much, "It's a boy!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.