#gradalis

Was this chapter actually short or did I just feel that way due to the lack of Dinadan? (sorry, at this point the simping is a feature not a bug)

That said it really did feel short.

Mordred's grandpa being an ass, I'd like to say as usual but it's only the second time we see him.... No, actually, I'm fairly sure he's always like that. Will jump on any occasion to be a thorn in Arthur's side even in unrelated occasions, and he's mean about it because he knows he'll never be more than a thorn :)

I don't actually need to destroy him verbally because probably Mordred will do that in the next chapter.

Shithead classist lord being a shithead. Yes, like Dinadan, I have forgotten his name. This was not actually on purpose.

Palamedes is over it, over everything in fact. She is not happy about living in interesting times.

Mordred is being pretty cool, the cliffhanger was probably so we can fully appreciate the absolute takedown that's probably about to happen.... But, and Mordred wouldn't be happy to hear that... I think he looks like his mother. Which is uh. Not necessarily a good thing given her average mindset.

I like that we didn't even see the fight between Perceval and the giant. Probably because there was no fight at all but I liked it wasn't even represented. Like "fighting against a giant one on one is so hopeless we're not even gonna try to convey it".

I also like the giant a lot. He's taking care of a beloved pet the best way he knows (food) but he actually doesn't know shit about science, which makes sense for several reasons. One, he's young. Two, his dad was an ass who probably wouldn't have taught médecine to his kids if he'd known it, which I doubt. Third, I actually don't think giants have very good knowledge on how to treat wounds because I think they're just not used to wounds period given how powerful they are.

I had a moment of "wow, threatening someone's pet is kinda low but if your life is one the line..." and then I remembered that this a is freaking man eating dragon and three future man eating dragons! Just because it's loved doesn't meant it's not dangerous!

More Dinadan always makes me happy 🥰 so it's all good!

For real tho I just appreciate the amount of Mordred & Dinadan. They're great. That said, that panel when Dinadan says "the graal" and Mordred is like. Record scratch. That's right baby, it's not been forgotten.....

Incredibly funny that Din did not recognize the pompous asshole but it also makes complete sense because he must meet guys like that every month if not week. I'm more shocked he remembered it at all.

Mordred being sus and Dinadan honing on it... Both because he knows Mordred and can see he's being weird and because it's a bit obvious tbh. Also Mordred was getting defensive and that's a pattern that Dinadan is familiar with. I hope Mordred talks to him about it.......

Dinadan appearance! My beloved!!! He looks good!

The face he made when Mordred made a mean comment about his sister....... You can really tell he understood at once that he was a bit out of his depth (having previously been able to relate to Mordred on the subject of protective older siblings that they actually adored, it turns out Mordred's relationship with his sister is quite different to the one Dinadan has with Brunor....) but he asked what was wrong anyway.......

And Mordred answered! Of course it's probably that thing where you feel so bad that everything spills out once anyone asks anything but it still makes me happy he can open up to Dinadan...... Until he repressed it all by saying he's fine. I hope Din keeps digging. Also I like that he was a bit speechless. Sure he's probably the most clever character in the webtoon but probably can't relate to Genuinely Terrible Families because he had issues with his dad but visibly not the kind of issues Mordred is having and that sounds pretty serious actually so I think it makes sense he'd need a few minutes to process that there might be Actual Bad Things happening with Mordred.

Also miss Médisante you are so funny. Tying a ribbon to this guy's spear?? You might maybe be friends! Of course now that I think about it she needs him for an audience with the queen probably.......

The animosity between Dinadan and Médisante is funny as hell too because it looks like simple annoyance but actually Dinadan has very valid reasons not to trust her. Even beyond the fact that she's set a monster on his brother (which would've been enough tbh), Médisante is in fact probably genuinely untrustworthy. And probably she dislikes Dinadan because 1) he already didn't like her and when someone is already antagonistic from the start it's hard to get along with them and Médisante herself is like pretty hostile to begin with.... And 2) he's probably been too clever for his own good again if we follow the Dinadan pattern.

Also Dinadan said he was here to support his championS and I hope the other is Palamedes.

Boo, no Dinadan. But oh well, I can't have my favorite character in every chapter now can I? (I wish)

A timeskip ! How fun!!

Miss Médisante you have my entire heart. She's so funny. Threatens to kill Brunor while adjusting his armor for him. My lady, I fear you might be friends. Dreadful, I know.

Brunor naming her is also very funny and sweet but I can't help but think that she didn't give him her real name because... She doesn't have one. She probably did not expect to live long past her revenge so she simply did not chose a name when she transitioned, that's my theory.

Mordred looks tired, woof. But the creases under his eyes make him look like Brunor and Dinadan, which is sweet too. Yikes, hello mommy issues, things are definitely not going well on that front or pretty much any front for him.

It was nice to see that he's still close with Dinadan and Din tells Brunor about him and Brunor worries...... He's been adopted I fear. Good, he needs it.

Is that passive suicidal behavior I smell? Mordred nooo.

Perceval having disappeared is mildly surprising but also I clearly remember going "I wish they could just disappear from the world and live quietly and happily" so, you know, I got my wish for at least part of the cast. Not that it's going to last, probably. But oof, the fact that this very probably means that Palamedes and Dinadan have never met Tristan and Iseult's daughter...... I'm sad :( and also Perceval having to raise a kid most likely alone..... Without his friends......

Anyway GALAHD MY BELOVED holy shit the glow up. She looks like her master, it's sweet. Waiter, more of her please! And also more Dinadan! And less suffering for Mordred!

Starting with the part that doesn't make deeply unwell so I can have time to properly break into a million tiny pieces later.

Mordred did with the sword precisely what I (and, I assume, everybody in this fandom) thought he would.

Honestly this was way less turmoil-y than I thought it would be. I imagine that for some part of Mordred this might actually be a relief. He knows now that Arthur's issue with him has little to do with who he is, instead the problem is what he is. It's not his fault. He's done nothing wrong. It's in fact Arthur's fault. (problem with that is that since it's not his fault he can't do anything to solve the issue. It's not up to him.)

He can free himself from chasing after his approval, too. Godsss the irony of realizing that he probably looked to Arthur as a paternal figure since he never knew his father and Arthur is family? The irony....

Also Arthur foot in mouth syndrome strikes again. I get that being disarmed in the presence of your armed prophetised killer might be a tad distressing but had you nothing else to say?? Babe. Come on.

Also it must have been weird for him because presumably he's never seen excalibur's magic wielded by someone else. He's never seen it from that angle.

Anyway everybody boo at Arthur this dumbass deserves it.

On a more serious note you can really see that Arthur genuinely does not care about Mordred. It's frightening truly. He only sees him as a threat. Nevermind a son or a nephew, I'm not entirely sure Arthur sees him as a person rather than an omen. He said, a while ago, that he would try with Mordred but if this is him trying I'm scared. It's insane, how do you spend years seeing this cute kid somewhat regularly and not get attached a little? Dinadan only lasted one quest before adopting him.

Speaking of.

What a nice segue to my favorite character and the part of the chapter that broke my heart in tiny little pieces.

WaAaAaAaAaH 😭

I did not literally cry because I am not an easy crier but definitely tears in my eyes. Ow ow ow.

The way Dinadan had regained his entire composure talking to the servant but the moment he sees Tristan's handwriting the facade crumbles again and the tears come back?

And the letter in question.... Wailing. Nothing quite like seeing letter full of love and hope for the future written by a character who you know died gruesomely only a few months into said bliss. :'(

The way one of Dinadan's regrets was probably that fight with Tristan but in this letter it gets resolved........ The way Tristan is so so happy and ready for the next chapter in his life. Ugly blubbering. The way you can see Galahad and Brunor arrive and comfort Palamedes who doesn't even try to hide her devastation (nice callback to when she criticized Tristan's habit to hide his hurts. She's practicing what she preaches). The way Brunor finds Dinadan and hugs him and it's always Brunor who's here for him when Din crumbles. The way Dinadan is singing to their grave and only curls in on himself once his brother gets here. Tristan and Iseult being buried together. Brunor also looking at their grave because he too knew and loved Tristan.

In the most recent chapter and most probably the ones before, Dinadan isn't wearing his bracelet made of Fifi's mane. I firmly believe that's because it'd be a pain in the ass to draw each time because that man loved his horse so much, he is wearing that bracelet til the day it wears itself out.

And, as of chapter 57, Dinadan's eye color is grey (as every character's eye color is only depicted in moments of emotion or action, being otherwise drawn black) but as of the most recent chapter and I remember it being not that recent, his eyes are full-blown red. I wonder if it's a stylistic choice or... Maybe. The influence of a certain artifact that's been heavily associated with blood?

It's been several times a character did something they didn't understand afterward. Tristan hurting Dinadan when he was angry at him and genuinely not meaning to, Lancelot losing control during her fight with Brunor (... Or at least that's the way I remember it? It's been a while since that chapter) perhaps Mark making a most ill-advised decision concerning his wife and nephew (unsure about this one because that seemed like paranoia or something. And bipolar does run in the family...).

Related to chapter seven in fact!