C A L L U M

Immortality is stupid, Callum thought as he jogged.

He didn't need to run for exercise, as immortality kept him perpetually in peak human condition. That didn't mean he didn't need something to clear his head.

The boy ran down the park's main walkway, the cool early morning breeze gently rustling the flowering trees that flanked the road.

'Those trees look like the ones near Merlin's tower...'

Callum frowned, his not-wanting-to-think jog wasn't working out the way he planned. He waved at an elderly woman and beamed a smile,"Good morning, Mrs. Ellis!" The woman grinned, waving back.

He turned down into the wooded biking trail, breathing in some fresh hair. The hustle of New York City often overwhelmed him, and the brief time he could spend in nature often helped alleviate his stress.

The boy smiled at a woman walking with her little boy,"Your little boy is adorable." He waved, and darted forward, running inhumanly fast. Another immortality quirk he liked, but would kindly give it back.

Callum owed his immortality and peak human condition to the Holy Grail, and Merlin's magic. After being fatally wounded by Mordred in the final battle of Camelot, he had almost died until Merlin had him drink from the sacred relic. To ensure he was safe, Merlin petrified Callum until he would be needed again. Too bad that time wasn't for another millennium.

Callum sighed when no one was in sight. His homesickness stirred inside him, flashes of the castle he used to run down the halls in, his mother's smile, his best friends. Callum shook his head, shaking it off. That was a long time ago, Callum, he reminded himself.

Callum checked his watch, and decided to head back to his place. In a few minutes he had arrived back to the crowded streets of the city. He tried to give people greetings and smiles, but most street-goers weren't in the good-morning mood.

Callum came to his apartment building, and climbed the stairs until he came to his window. He opened it, and hopped to the floor. Callum grinned at the sword propped against his bed,"Hey, Cal." The sword didn't answer anything back, but Callum cracked a grin,"It was a good run. But I gotta get to work."

A few minutes later Callum was ready to go, dressed in a nice shirt and tie. His spiky blond hair was still damp from the shower, making it appear darker than it actually was. He touched a silver locket around his neck, making sure he still wore the piece of his past. After a moment Callum looked to Excalibur, putting a platinum signet ring on his finger,"What do you mean you don't want me to go?"

The sword once again remained silent, being heard only by Callum. He made a face,"I'm not going to need you. It's just work."

Callum turned to leave but stopped, glancing over his shoulder at the sword in defeat,"You know, you're pretty persuasive for an inanimate object." He walked over to the window, cracking it slightly. He raised a brow,"Here's a way out, which you won't need. I'll see you soon." Callum said goodbye to Excalibur before stepped out of the door.

Soon he was walking up the steps of the American Museum of Natural History. He clipped his badge to his shirt as he stepped inside, the badge reading Cal McKnight, Docent.

He grinned good-naturedly at the receptionist at the front desk,"Morning!" She playfully rolled her eyes,"Glad you're excited to be here."

Callum stepped to his post, and soon was guiding a group of tourists through the Medieval Europe Section of the museum. Callum relayed the information he was protocoled to say, but he would always add a few things that the history books didn't know.

A small boy glanced up at a tapestry hanging in between a pair of suits of armor. The tapestry was intricately woven, showing a crowned man with blond hair and bright blue eyes holding a sword. Callum stopped the group,"This is believed to be a portrait of King Arthur himself. Time and legends shroud the Once and Future King's history, and many historians today argue on whether or not he actually existed."

"Do you think he was real?" The boy asked Callum.

Callum glanced up at the tapestry, remembering it being woven by a gentle handmaiden. He cracked a smile at the memory, and kneeled down to be eye-level with the child,"Of course! King Arthur was a hero. The best f-," Callum mentally panicked, catching the word father before he could say it. "Fighter there ever was," he finished with a small sigh of relief.

"You kinda look alike," a woman commented to Callum as they walked on. He smiled,"I get that a lot."

* * *

A dozen tours later, and Callum was about to take his lunch break. He had almost left the museum when he noticed a little girl wander into one of the closed-off backrooms, where a new exhibit was being constructed. Callum darted through the door, ducking before knocking his head on scaffolding.

He scanned the room with his pale blue eyes,"Hello?" Callum spotted the little girl's pigtails, poking out from behind some wooden planks.

"Are you lost?" Callum inquired gently as he approached,"Don't be afraid. My name is..."

"Pendragon blood runs through your veins," a voice emanating from the child spoke. Callum watched as the little girl arose, her eyes serpentine slits.

Callum instinctively grabbed his side for Excalibur, and realized his futility. On his other hand, his signet ring glowed. Instantaneously, the ring spiraled outward, growing into a large, round shield.

The little girl let out an inhuman hiss, transforming into a hideous monster. Green scales erupted over her skin, and snakes protruding from her head. Her hands became razor-sharp claws, her teeth elongated into fangs.

The gorgon's snake-like body suddenly lashed forward, striking Callum and throwing him across the room.

Callum somersaulted in the air, landing on his feet. He let out a sigh,"I hate it when that sword is right." He held his hand up, shouting,"Excalibur!"

A metallic swishing sound filled the air, and immediately, Excalibur flew into the room and into Callum's grasp. With his sword in hand, he charged at the gorgon.

The gorgon slithered toward him, and Callum hurled his shield to his right, where it began to ricochet off the walls. He dodged another powerful swish of the monster's snake-like body, and sliced a large gash into her torso with his sword.

The gorgon lunged, claws reaching for Callum's neck when his shield struck her with a hard clang. She flailed forward, and Callum sidestepped, catching his shield and stabbing her in one fluid action.

The monster let out a shrill scream as Excalibur pierced her heart. Callum jumped back as she exploded, disappearing into a wave of fiery embers.

Picking up his sword, Callum let out a deep breath. He jumped as someone started clapping from behind him.

A middle-aged man walked toward him. His salt and pepper hair was disheveled, and he wore a trench coat, along with steel-toed boots. As he approached, he smirked,"Did I come at a bad time?"

"Mr. Maddox?" Callum smiled, pleasantly surprised,"It's so good to see you!"

Maddox grinned,"I would love to say you've grown since I last saw you, but I'm afraid we share a similar affliction."

Callum nodded,"Yeah, I guess we do. What are you doing here? I thought you would be busy keeping the world safe at Aegis's headquarters."

Maddox shrugged,"Actually, that's why I'm here. And I see I came just in time. Do you have a moment?"

Callum gave a nod, and lowered Excalibur, which materialized a sheath around itself. His shield swirled back into its signet ring form. "I was just about to have a break anyway," Callum informed.

Maddox looked to Callum's ring,"I see you like the adjustments Aegis made to your equipment."

The two walked out of the Museum, and Callum found a black SUV waiting for them. Maddox opened the door,"After you, Callum."

Callum and Maddox got inside, and the driver soon was driving them down the street.

Maddox looked to Callum,"I came to you to discuss a program Aegis has been proposing for a few years. This program is designed to keep the world protected from supernatural and otherworldly threats."

Callum gave a nod,"Sounds promising. How can I help?"

Maddox opened a briefcase at his feet, and handed Callum a folder. The file was entitled: THE SENTINEL ENACTMENT.

Callum found the file containing information on various people with mystical abilities. It also had lists of possible threats and criminals that were labeled SUPERHUMAN.

"What is all this?" Callum inquired, upon coming onto a document about himself.

Maddox tapped the file,"The Sentinel Enactment is the creation of a group of extraordinary people that would protect the world. A team designated to fighting the battles that mortals cannot. I believe the age of heroes has come."

Callum nodded,"You want my help recruiting people for your team? I'm sorry, Maddox, but I don't know many people."

Maddox cracked a grin,"I would like you to lead this team, Callum. If you wanted to join, that is."

Callum looked at the file for a moment. He could finally get back to helping people, to being the knight he had almost forgotten he was. He wanted to be a sentinel.

Callum smiled,"I would be honored, Maddox."