章 23: Chapter 23 Drawing the sword
(Artoria's POV)
Artoria Pendragon. That was the name given to me when I gained consciousness. It was always the case when I was living in an unknown place. I don't remember what happened in those five years except that I was brought into the family of Sir Ector, my father, former King Uther's most trusted vessel knight.
Yes, I knew my father and I also know that I had a big sister but I hardly met them, no, it would be wise to say that I have never met them.
They were my real family yet I was unknown to them.
I always considered Ector's family as my own. I was trained by Ector as a knight and then given lessons by Merlin in my dream.
One may ask, where is my wish in all of this? The answer is, it was already decided the moment, no, the reason I came to this word is to do that exact job; to become 'ideal king'.
I soon realized that Ector is not my real family but it didn't change much. Brother Kay treated me as a brother than a sister and Ector trained me as a knight as always. Nothing had changed.
Before I knew it, I lost any reason to even think about my sex as a girl who has a wish to be part of society and spend a happy life.
But even so, I always questioned myself.
Why have I been falsely living as a man named Arthur?
Why ever since I gained use of reason I have been trained in swordsmanship? Taught about the country and denied my own desires as a human?
It was obvious.
The day to draw the sword of selection.
All for the sake of this day. To pull the king's sword, I must have a kind heart. I didn't know the faces of true parents…
To fulfill the objective of creating an "ideal king", I was born as a part of that plan.
Honestly, I couldn't feel any emotion or wish about the pain inflicted by my father, King Uther.
The same with the special missions that came from the teachings from the magus, I didn't have any emotions towards that.
But these fifteen years that have been lived and experienced, day by day with nothing noteworthy befalling, with 'his' adoptive father, Sir Ector, 'his' stepbrother Kay and the lively voices of the people that lived in the city.
It was something different from admiration or love. It was only that it resonated in me as something right and beautiful.
"I want to become an habitant of the city or I want to join the society," I didn't possess that kind of wish.
Even so, I occasionally pictured that scene; I tenderly shut it down…
When young, while I wasn't too smart, but I was very hardworking and therefore told myself that it was not going to happen
Just like humans born to be human. For dragons, their desired function also exists…
Everything has been going normally or at least it should have been until a new person came into my life.
Einar Sirius du lac, Merlin's disciple at that time and soon to be the person that I would yearn to protect and live.
He was the first person who treated me as a person, not as my false identity as Arthur but Artoria. When he first confessed to me, I was so confused. He was first, perhaps beside my brother, and the only person who opens a new feeling to my female side.
But my heart melted a little only for it to goes back to former self as soon as I heard his reason to be here, to serve the future King, it was me.
I knew that at that moment I can't run from this persona of mine named Arthur Pendragon.
But… there is something that eases my heart. His smile, his very existence became a reason to move forward.
His smile, his food, his foul mouth, his devious cooked food, his magic, his handmade cookies, his stories about the distant future, and many delicious dishes that will be invented in the future but I got to taste it, I liked all of it.
There are slight problems with his flirting's but I was happy that there was at least one person who treated me as a girl, I can live with that.
If my reasons to move my destructive path were visible, I wanted to move for him. For making him happy, I will do it.
I soon walked towards the shiny sword so beautiful that shall be wielded by only a king.
"Thank you, Brother Kay, thank you Einar for everything," I spoke loudly and grabbed the hilt of the sword.
'But I am sorry…'
"It is better if you think it through before pulling that sword."
Just when I was about to pull that sword, I heard a kind and familiar voice.
"You surprised me, Merlin," I said to the magus standing behind me. "This is the first time we meet outside the dream, isn't it? Merlin."
He was the same as usual except that he was hiding his face just to let me see his lips to deliver enough emotion to understand.
"I am not the one to say anything bad about it but it is better if you stop. After pulling that sword, you will stop being human… That's not all. You will be hated by all kinds of humans and you will reach a horrendous death."
At that moment, I could see a genuine concern for me but I had my resolve. I didn't let go of the sword indicating that I was not going back.
"Are you sure?" He asked once again.
I was about to draw that sword when I felt very soft and warm hands grabbing my hands.
"Please don't do this, Artoria. I am begging you…"
It was Einar. He despaired with the expression that had looked like my downfall. I guess he was also aware of it.
I knew my end for the better or worse within my heart.
"Thank you, Einar. Please don't be sad." I said and smiled. I was genuinely happy that someone cared about me.
"Many people were smiling so… I am sure of this path. It is not the wrong one. Something I must choose."
"Einar, I may not be very indecisive and intelligent like you but I am very hardworking. Please look after me, Einar." I said then looked at his eyes with my resolve. "Einar, I also love you. Please be on my side. This is my only selfish request. I believe I could change my fate if you are with me."
I confessed my true feelings it was wonderful yet painful.
"It's okay, Artoria. My resolve will never shatter but know this I will not let that doom befall on you neither do I will let you do go in that pit. But even so…" He let go of my hands with a face still hesitating.
"Thank you, Einar." 'And I am sorry Einar, there has to be someone who has to step up and it could only be me…'
With that slight regret, I pull the sword out from the slab and raised it high in the sky.
"I will not be backing down."
It was the day when drawing the sword of selection become the second biggest regret of my life.
---
(Einar's POV)
Although Artoria confessed to me I was feeling down. I didn't know why I let her draw that cursed sword but at that moment, it was the most logical thing to do.
"Merlin, is her downfall evident?" I asked the sole culprit of all of this.
"Yes, Einar. Deep down you also know, even so, better than me." He said looking at me with a serious face.
"Is there nothing we- I could do?" I asked looking at his eyes, looking for an answer.
"There is Einar, there is but… it all depends on you, my beloved disciple. More so I believe in your fate than any other being I have ever seen. You could change it. I am sure of it but it depends on your will, Einar. Let us see." Merlin smiled which assured my heart.
"Merlin, you have the greatest clairvoyance I assume?" I let go of my negative emotions to test something.
"That seems to be the case…" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Merlin, look! A bird with boobs up there!!!" I said pointing at the sky.
"Hmm? Where, where? Better be d-cup tits!" He started searching the sky like an idiot.
I reinforced my leg with enchantment magic, rose like a football player ready to kick the ball, and kicked the balls of white incubus.
Crack*
It was so strong kick that I heard a cracking sound making him raise high in the air before landing on his face.
"Emmm!" He let out a high squealed voice looking at me for answers for destroying his greatest merit to coax women.
"Hey, I thought your clairvoyance would see that coming!" I blamed him instead for not dodging the nutcracker kick.
'But it feels so good~' I felt very good to release some tension.
"I-It… doesn't… work that… w-way…" He struggled to answer looking at me with annoyance.
"Now you tell me!? So your clairvoyance is not that omnipotent. It means I could change the future! Thank you, Merlin! You are the best teacher. Bye~" I said and smiled before running away.
"Y-your…. Welcome…. Bleh…" Magus of flower passed out.
---
Artoria's feelings were shown a little shallow that you will find in next chapter. Artoria in her life confessed her love to Merlin too but Merlin knew that it was far from any romantic feeling. Yeah, she is an idiot when it comes to people's feelings.
Any body guess the reference in Omake?
Don't even think about leaving without dropping Power Stones.
1k power stones/ 2 chapters in the end of week.
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Is that called robing? Hell yeah!
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