Bab 34: [34] Breaking Her Chains, Toppling Her Fate
The night fell silent, the darkness resembling a tale.
Next to the verdant valley, a bright bonfire crackled.
The flickering flames danced upon the delicate face of a golden-haired girl.
Without a word, she opened her mouth, tore a large piece of meat from her hand, and chewed it silently.
No joy, no admiration, just an ordinary meal to fill her stomach, a taste that used to excite her immensely.
After experiencing the culinary skills of someone, her own cooking now only felt like chewing wax.
Chewing on the roasted meat in her hand, Artoria's gaze seemed somewhat distant.
No matter how hard she tried to erase it, no matter how much she attempted to clear her mind, she couldn't help but associate it with that name.
The team ate in silence, as if trying to break the eerie atmosphere.
The blond and white-haired youths exchanged glances, deciding to start a conversation.
"In Cornwall County, beasts seem to appear more frequently than in our Essex County."
"Is it because Vortigern drove people away? But he doesn't use it. Could it be some major illness..."
As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place.
Adhering to this philosophy, the three-person team advanced southwest into Cornwall County, now the southwest of Britain, a territory once tread by Vortigern.
The Celts here were driven away, but Vortigern didn't occupy it, quickly turning it into a paradise for beasts and fairies.
The golden-haired youth counted the days on his fingers. It had been almost a month since they left home and went on this journey.
During this time, they learned various survival skills from that person who couldn't be named.
Now, they could recognize strange mushrooms and were not afraid of poisoning.
However, that person, their guide, still had a strong presence even though they had run away. Kay remembered those days with mixed feelings.
Thinking back, he had also fought against Vortigern's son. Perhaps he could brag about it in the future.
Although this was Vortigern's territory, with Merlin covering them, Kay thought it was unlikely their whereabouts would be exposed.
Moreover, looking at Lily now, dressed in pure white knightly armor, her flawless beauty was emphasized.
This outfit, while a result of Merlin's strange taste, showcased Lily's immaculate charm.
Although Kay couldn't help but want to see it too.
"Well, Lily, you're getting stronger and more exaggerated. You knocked down that beast with just one strike..."
The blond youth glanced at the headless corpse of the giant wolf next to them, which they were currently roasting its thigh.
This foolish creature attacked them, aiming to leave no one alive, but Lily beheaded it with a single sword strike, severing its spine.
Kay thought that if he were to fight, it would take at least a dozen rounds to bring it down.
In other words, one Lily was equivalent to ten Kays!
Damn, thinking about it makes him lose confidence.
"Well, Kay, eat more."
The girl managed to force a smile, casually responding.
As an older brother, Kay could naturally see the distracted state she was in.
In this past month, Lily had changed so much.
Not only was her swordsmanship sharper than ever before, but her once radiant smile was nowhere to be seen.
Every day, besides eating and fighting beasts, she tirelessly practiced swordsmanship.
It seemed like she was attempting to empty her mind through endless training.
The tremendous violence now contained in her body... Kay shuddered at the thought of how they got the firewood for today.
Damn it, Lily broke a tree with a single punch!
What kind of knight is she?
But... as a brother, he couldn't bear to see his sister's gloomy expression.
Whenever she looked down, Kay's heart couldn't help but tighten, and couldn't help but curse.
"Alvin! You deceitful scoundrel! You made me and Lily miserable! You turned out to be a scumbag who disappears when things get tough!"
"It's just because your identity got exposed, right?! I... damn it, am loyal to the end, can't you believe that? Take responsibility for once!"
Kay cursed while roasting meat, aggressively poking the cooked thigh with a stick, as if cursing someone.
The more he endured, the more he felt wronged, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
He slammed the stick onto the ground!
"Alvin! Damn it! I know your dad is Vortigern! But...Not like this too!"
"Come on, let's fight again! I'll crush you! Crush your teeth!"
"If you're still a man, get the hell out..."
Merlin, beside him, covered his face.
Oh my goodness.
'I asked you to liven up the atmosphere, not become a disturbance.'
Meanwhile...
Listening to these words.
Listening to... that name echoing repeatedly in his mind.
Artoria tightened her thin lips.
Her already dim expression became even more somber.
"The son of the White Dragon? So what?! My Lily is such a beautiful lady, and she even carries the Red Dragon blood! Can't you match up to her... grr-ugh!"
The magus of flowers circled behind the blond youth and directly covered that big mouth with his hand.
Merlin lifted his head, smiling bitterly at the girl.
Artoria shook her head, indicating that she didn't mind.
"If your emotional intelligence were any lower, people would take you for a mute."
"So I'm telling you, you don't understand women. What are you doing to upset a heartbroken young girl?"
Grabbing Kay's collar,
Merlin lowered his voice, preparing to drag him away.
Under the moonlight.
If you observed carefully, you would find that the magus's figure seemed a bit dim at the moment.
Like a withering flower, losing its original vibrant colors.
Because this was not his main body.
The main body was currently in the land of fairies, engaged in a chase with Morgan, causing the clone here to struggle.
That crazy woman... actually consecutively cast powerful magecraft, imprisoning the entire land of fairies.
Merlin could only flee in embarrassment.
These days, he had been bombed to the point of nervous exhaustion.
Well, if he couldn't hold on, he would have to release Alvin anyway, since his goal had already been achieved.
Dragging Kay towards the forest, he intended to repeatedly warn him not to mention that name.
The faint voice of the girl echoed softly behind the two.
"... I'm okay, Kay."
Artoria raised her eyes, looking at the cloudless night sky.
Every night.
It was the same color as his sword.
"I will stand in front of him."
"That day is not too far away."
"Alvin Pendragon..."
"Those smiles, are they sincere or just masks?"
"I will confront him face to face with this question..."
As the words fell silent.
Without any warning.
Crack~
The flower wand in Merlin's hand, the deep purple crystal embedded at the top, suddenly cracked in the middle, and then unexpectedly shattered.
Snap~
Merlin released his hand, and the blond youth fell directly to the ground.
With an expression that was moved, surprised, and almost shocked.
Merlin incredulously lifted his head, looking towards the distant horizon under the night sky.
What...
This couldn't be!
One month.
It actually only took... one month?!
He had used his full power to release a Noble Phantasm, consuming the magical energy that was supposed to imprison him for a whole year.
That Avalon, the independent ideal land, the watchtower of the Inner Sea of the Planet, the solitary tower like a sky trench.
It was actually severed by him, Alvin Pendragon...
...Cut?!
...
Bathing in the bright moonlight.
Brushing through the profound night.
The silver-haired youth reached out, gently pushing open the courtyard's fence.
The rough wooden fence emitted a teeth-aching low creak.
Seated upright in the backyard, a white-haired old man had two lamps on the small table in front of him, gently rippling with the moonlight.
Seeing the silver-haired youth entering, the old knight smiled gently.
"Sir Alvin, care to join this old man for a drink?"
Alvin did not conceal his own presence.
Therefore, as a distinguished knight, Ector sensed the arrival of the guest.
Like meeting the former king.
The old knight solemnly put on the now rusty armor.
Even though his hair was almost entirely silver-frosted, the old man sat upright, his aged body still robust and erect.
"Aren't you going to run, Sir Ector?"
Alvin slowly sat down in front of him.
The youth's voice was as light as the elusive wind, instantly dissolving into the night.
"Run? If you were to chase me, how could I escape? If you don't chase me, why would I need to run?"
Ector smiled gently.
"They asked me to leave, but children still need a home to come back to."
"I, this old man, naturally have to stay here."
"I am the son of King Vortigern..."
"...Alvin Pendragon."
"Ah, I knew that a long time ago..."
The old knight's tone was full of regret and emotion.
"When I first saw you, I felt that you looked quite familiar."
"...Aren't you afraid?"
"Afraid?"
Ector laughed silently, shaking his head.
"If you're not His Highness's heir, I have no reason to be afraid."
"If you are, then I have even less reason to fear."
"Why do you say that?"
Hearing the youth's inquiry.
The old man lowered his murky pupils.
Gazing at the clear moonlight in the cup.
The old knight seemed to recall the days of his vigorous past.
"A 'prince'...hmm?"
"Who would have thought that the king and His Highness Vortigern would come to this point, fate is truly a mocking thing."
"In my memory, that Highness, clearly had a very bright and gentle smile..."
Gentle...?
This was the first time Alvin heard such an adjective for his old man Vortigern, from someone other than Morgan or himself.
The dragon devouring light.
Could it really be described as...gentle?
The old man lifted his gaze, casting a soft look at the youth's face.
"How should I put it? Truly, like father, like son."
"I can see that you are also a gentle person...Sir Alvin."
Alvin fell silent for a moment.
"...Let's consider this as your praise."
"Hahaha..."
Ector burst into laughter.
He laughed heartily and cheerfully, as if he were not an old man at the end of his life, but the once vibrant knight.
"Even this shyness, and words that don't match the heart, seem to be carved from the same mold..."
Ector raised his wine cup, toasting to the moonlight.
"I'll drink to His Highness, please give him my regards."
Alvin looked at the old knight, raised the cup, and drank the wine in one go.
"Your brewing skills have also given this old man a good taste."
The old man put down the cup, smiling.
"I wonder how His Highness Vortigern is doing lately?"
"That old man has not abandoned his lofty ambitions, and his spirit is as vigorous as ever."
"Good, good. Hearing that, I can be at ease..."
The old knight turned his gaze to the young tree sprouting in the courtyard.
"You have grown into an outstanding person, Sir Alvin. The era of Britain now belongs to you young people."
"But, even though you carry the White Dragon blood, the road ahead is still full of thorns..."
"Such a request might sound presumptuous, but?"
"Just, this old man might not be able to accompany Lily in the future. I hope you can take good care of that child."
The shadows swayed.
The bright moonlight falling down was blocked by the branches and leaves of the old tree planted in the courtyard, dividing into two bunches.
The old man sat in the shadow, and the youth sat in the moonlight.
In the old knight's eyes, there was the gentleness he had described.
"I just hope that Lily can live a peaceful and happy life."
Oh, so.
The son of the White Dragon, entrusted to take care of...the daughter of the Red Dragon by her father?
Alvin twirled his fingertips, gently picking up the cup.
"Thank you for your care during these days. It is my great honor that you trust me. Lily is a good child."
Facing the moonlight.
"I cannot guarantee, but I will do my best."
Breaking free from the chain, and tearing apart the fate.
Today he knows, he is truly himself.
The silver-haired youth finished the wine in one go and stood up to leave.
"I will do my best,
"To break her chains and topple her fate."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
XElenea
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