MHA | MEDIEVAL ROYAL KNIGHTS

The journey to the northern mountains of Aethermoor had been anything but pleasant.

It had taken the royal expedition nearly two weeks to reach the edge of the mountain range. What began as a relatively straightforward journey through the kingdom had gradually become a struggle against treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather and increasingly unstable magic.

The first leg had taken them through Aurelia, the capital of Aethermoor. A sprawling city of white-stone towers, enchanted gardens and bustling markets, Aurelia was the seat of the crown and home to the Royal Palace, the Royal Knights’ Guild and the Grand Academy of Magic. Since the previous monarch’s death, however, the city had become increasingly divided by political tension.

Beyond the capital lay the Verdant Expanse, an enormous enchanted forest where ancient trees were believed to possess their own consciousness. Druids and nature mages once maintained its protective enchantments, but the forest had begun to wither. Its rivers were drying, magical creatures were fleeing, and the mana that once sustained its vegetation was rapidly disappearing.

Further north stood Greyhaven, a fortified settlement known for its smiths, merchants and travelling adventurers. It was the last major trading post before the mountains. The expedition had replenished its supplies there, repaired damaged equipment and gathered what little information the locals possessed. Nobody was particularly eager to discuss the mountain.

Beyond Greyhaven stretched the Ashen Highlands—a vast expanse of rocky valleys, abandoned villages and scorched earth. Strange lights appeared across the night sky, and occasional tremors sent rocks tumbling from the cliffs. Several settlements had been evacuated after rivers of molten fire emerged from beneath the ground.

And finally, there was the mountain.

Mount Vharos.

An ancient, imposing peak surrounded by perpetual storms and clouds of ash. According to old records, its caverns had once housed a dragon sanctuary, though the kingdom had long since dismissed such accounts as folklore.

Now, it was impossible to ignore.

The mountain had been trembling for weeks. Its summit glowed with an unnatural crimson light, and enormous roars occasionally echoed through the surrounding valleys. Even from miles away, the mana radiating from it was enough to disrupt ordinary enchantments.

⸻

THE ROYAL EXPEDITION

The crown had assembled an unusual collection of individuals for the mission.

Izuku Midoriya — Royal Knight / Battle Mage. The expedition’s appointed field commander. A disciplined scholar of magical combat, Midoriya possesses One For All, an extraordinarily powerful enhancement magic that amplifies his physical strength, speed and magical output.

Katsuki Bakugo — Royal Knight / Destruction Mage. An aggressive combat specialist whose Explosion Magic allows him to generate and manipulate explosive force. He specialises in offensive combat and breaking through enemy defences.

Shoto Todoroki — Royal Knight / Elemental Mage. A noble-born mage capable of wielding both ice and fire. His rare dual-elemental affinity makes him particularly valuable in extreme environments.

Ochaco Uraraka — Royal Knight / Gravity Mage. A capable support knight who manipulates gravity, allowing her to alter the weight of objects and individuals. Particularly useful for rescue operations and navigating unstable terrain.

Tenya Iida — Royal Knight / Enhancement Mage. A highly disciplined knight whose Engine Magic grants extraordinary bursts of speed. Responsible for maintaining formation and coordinating movement.

Eijiro Kirishima — Royal Knight / Defensive Knight. A frontline warrior with Ironblood Magic, which hardens his body into an almost impenetrable armour.

Denki Kaminari — Royal Knight / Lightning Mage and sometimes our at home jester. A lightning specialist capable of releasing powerful electrical attacks. His magic is useful against hostile creatures, though prolonged use can leave him exhausted.

Momo Yaoyorozu — Royal Knight / Creation Mage. A highly educated noblewoman and tactical specialist. Her Creation Magic allows her to produce objects and equipment using her mana.

Fumikage Tokoyami — Royal Knight / Shadow Mage. A mysterious warrior accompanied by Dark Shadow, a living shadow entity that can fight independently and becomes stronger in darkness.

Hitoshi Shinso — Royal Inquisitor / Enchanter. A specialist in interrogation, reconnaissance and forbidden enchantments. His Brainwashing Magic allows him to control individuals who verbally respond after its activation.

Itsuka Kendo — Royal Knight / Combat Mage. The field representative of Class B. Her Giant’s Fist Magic enlarges and strengthens her hands, making her a formidable close-combat fighter.

Neito Monoma — Royal Knight / Copy Mage. A talented and rather theatrical mage capable of temporarily copying the magical abilities of others through physical contact.

Ibara Shiozaki — Royal Knight / Nature Mage. A devout priestess who commands enchanted vines and plant life. Her magic is particularly effective for restraint and defence.

Juzo Honenuki — Royal Knight / Earth Mage. A tactical specialist whose Softening Magic allows him to alter the consistency of solid materials, including stone and earth.

The expedition also included several specialists from outside the Royal Knights.

Mei Hatsume — Royal Artificer. An eccentric magical engineer responsible for the expedition’s experimental equipment. She combines machinery and enchantment to create communication devices, protective armour and specialised tools. Her enthusiasm for dragon-related discoveries was, according to Shinso, a potential safety hazard.

Kyoka Jiro — Royal Sound Mage. A specialist in resonance magic. Her enchanted equipment allows her to detect vibrations, movement and unusual sounds through surrounding surfaces.

Tsuyu Asui — Royal Scout / Amphibian Mage. A reconnaissance specialist with amphibious magic, enhanced agility and the ability to navigate difficult environments.

The crown had also appointed several royal scholars and healers to remain at Greyhaven, where they would monitor the mana disturbances and maintain communication with the expedition.

⸻

MOUNT VHAROS — THE DUNGEON ENTRANCE

The final ascent had been brutal.

The narrow mountain path was covered in loose volcanic rock, and the air grew hotter with every step. Ash drifted through the sky like dark snow. Far above, lightning flashed between thick crimson clouds. A particularly violent tremor shook the mountain.

CRRRRACK.

Several rocks tumbled down the slope, forcing the expedition to stop. Todoroki raised an enormous wall of ice to divert the falling debris while Kendo ordered everyone to move away from the cliffside.

Kaminari groaned. “I officially hate mountains.”

“You said that three hours ago.” Sero rolled his eyes.

“And I meant it three hours ago, too!”

At the front of the expedition, Midoriya consulted the ancient map they had recovered from Greyhaven. Its markings were almost illegible, but one symbol remained clear: an enormous dragon carved into the mountainside. “This should be it. According to the map, the dungeon entrance is just beyond that ridge.”

“The mana readings are unbelievable. I’ve never encountered a concentration this high.” Momo glances around.

Shinso spoke. “And something is interfering with our communication enchantments. We’re effectively on our own.”

Monoma clicked his tongue. “Wonderful. An unstable mountain, failing magic and a potentially murderous dragon. What a prestigious assignment.”

“Monoma. Not now.” Kendo elbowed him.

Bakugo stomped forward huffing and puffing. “Quit whining. We’re here, aren’t we?”

They rounded the final stretch of the path. And there it was. Embedded into the mountainside stood an enormous stone entrance, partially concealed by volcanic rock and ancient roots. Two colossal dragon statues flanked its doorway, their carved eyes glowing faintly beneath layers of ash. Strange runes covered the archway, pulsing with a deep crimson light.

Beyond the entrance, darkness swallowed the passage. Then came another tremor. A low, thunderous roar rolled through the mountain.

Everyone fell silent.

Even Dark Shadow retreated closer to Tokoyami.

“...Something is awake in there.” Shoto murmured , already on guard.

“Everyone, hold position. We don’t know what’s waiting beyond that entrance. Don’t touch anything until we’ve assessed the situation.” Midoriya commanded.

The Royal Knights gathered before the ancient dungeon, their weapons, spells and enchantments ready. The expedition had finally reached its destination.

What happened next was anyone’s guess.