บท 97: 97 Truth Brings Pain, Lies Make Things Worse
After encountering the witch controlled by Morgan le Fay, Roy found himself in a timeless confrontation with the infamous Witch of Britain in a remote corner of the bounded field.
As a Magician, he was now challenging the ultimate mystery from the Age of Gods... the Anchor of the Planet - Rhongomyniad.
Meanwhile...
After escorting Gray and Bersac to the end of the bounded field, Artoria immediately set off to retrace her steps, hoping to aid Roy, who was still inside. As a knight, she couldn't leave her Master alone in such a dangerous place, facing an unknown enemy.
However, despite there being only one path, her progress was interrupted by some mysterious force, causing her to veer off course.
By a twist of fate, she ended up in a vast, eerie tunnel. The atmosphere here felt strange and ominous.
Looking back, Artoria realized the path she had taken had vanished. The white mist that had originally filled the tunnel grew thicker, and a peculiar floral scent quickly invaded her senses.
"Something's not right..."
Sensing the abnormality around her, Artoria wasted no time. Before the mist could envelop her, she swiftly drew the Excalibur from her waist.
*Slash!!*
Blinding golden starlight effortlessly tore through the encroaching white fog, dispersing the strange floral fragrance under her surging magical energy.
Then, she turned her gaze toward a certain direction within the mist, frowning slightly, as she raised her sword, preparing to strike.
In a low, cold voice, she demanded, "Who's there? Come out now!"
"Ah, please lower your sword, Artoria, it's me, it's me!"
A cheerful voice came from the other side of the mist. The familiar figure rushed towards her, revealing a delighted smile as it stepped into view.
"Merlin?!"
Artoria was surprised to see the figure, but given the strange surroundings, she wasn't entirely sure if the Merlin before her was real. She kept her sword raised, wind coiled around it, ready to strike if anything seemed off.
Merlin noticed her wariness but showed no concern.
"Rest assured, it's really me, Artoria... no fakes here. I'm the genuine Magus of Flowers, as well as your mentor and guide."
"And... it's been a long time."
Merlin nodded slightly, feeling touched by this rare reunion with Artoria.
"Seeing that you're still in good spirits, I'm relieved. It seems Roy has taken good care of you."
"Are you really Merlin?" Artoria asked again, needing confirmation.
"Of course, it's me, I told you... no imposters."
"But I must be brief. I'm only able to manifest here because of the special nature of this bounded field. And since Morgan is currently tied up fighting Roy, she can't pay attention to me, giving me the chance to meet with you properly."
Hearing her sister's name from Merlin's lips, Artoria frowned slightly. "So that's how it is..."
"Morgan is indeed here, then? Does that mean she created this bounded field?"
"Yes..." Merlin nodded. "This entire Blackmore Cemetery and Gravekeeper's Village and the bounded field were prepared by Morgan for you."
"Originally, her plans were for your resurrection. But because of the plans Roy and I made, you were revived early as a Heroic Spirit, so all her preparations were rendered pointless."
"Honestly, that should have been a good thing. After all, by being revived as a Heroic Spirit, you retained your full strength without having to take over someone else's body. Knowing you, if you were forced to possess that girl's body, you would probably have ended up taking your own life in atonement."
Merlin smiled bitterly as he spoke. "But your sister isn't one to give up so easily..."
"..."
Artoria fell silent, her feelings conflicted. She knew her sister's obsession better than anyone.
"Merlin, do you know what my sister's true intentions are? Why did she want to resurrect me when we..."
"Artoria, you're still as oblivious as ever."
Merlin shook his head and said, "You've always focused on the kingdom, but you've overlooked the feelings Morgan has for you."
"You've never truly understood your sister."
Just as Roy had once told him, Merlin calmly revealed the truth.
"Your sister, Morgan le Fay, has done many things for you that you've never realized. According to Roy, you were supposed to ask these questions yourself."
"But since Morgan is busy fighting Roy, I came to tell you myself."
As Merlin spoke, Artoria's smile faded, her expression turning evasive.
"You and Roy both love to joke around like this. My sister, she..."
"No, the reason Morgan always tried to convince you to give up the throne of Britain wasn't because she coveted the title of king. She simply didn't want to see her only sister meet a tragic end."
Merlin shook his head again and then revealed a truth that Artoria found even harder to accept.
"Even without clairvoyance, as the Witch of Britain, Morgan could foresee Britain's future. True Ether was fading from the island, the age of the gods had ended, and a new age was approaching. Britain, caught between the two ages, was destined to fall. That's why she did everything she could to stop you from becoming king... she didn't want you to be buried along with a dying kingdom."
"But after countless failed attempts to persuade you, she knew your resolve was set, that you would never abandon your destiny. So, she sent her finest children to serve at your side, hoping they could ease your burdens... Gawain, Gareth, Gaheris, Agravain, and Mordred."
Merlin recited the names of the Knights of the Round Table.
"Because she sent all her best knights to you, she was forced to stay in her castle for years, guarding the north and the rampaging white dragon, Vortigern."
"And Mordred?" Artoria's eyes widened in shock.
"Even Mordred's birth was because of you. As a woman, you couldn't have an heir with Guinevere. But a kingdom without an heir would descend into chaos, and rumors would spread, damaging your reputation. So, to solve this, Morgan used your blood and hers to create the perfect successor... Mordred."
"But you never understood Morgan's true intentions. You didn't accept her, nor did you accept Mordred. That's why a seed of hatred took root in Mordred's heart. And when you didn't listen to Agravain's warnings and instead trusted Lancelot, it eventually led to the deaths of Agravain, Gareth, and Gaheris, directly or indirectly, at Lancelot's hands."
"Ultimately, it was your inaction that led to that tragic end."
Merlin sighed deeply.
"This... How could this be?!"
Artoria could no longer maintain her composure. Her sword slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground as her eyes filled with disbelief and despair.
"Are you saying... it was all my fault? Because I didn't understand others... that all of this happened?"
Recalling something her knight Tristan had once said, Artoria sank deeper into self-doubt.
"It's all my fault..."
Seeing Artoria in such pain, Merlin sighed again. He felt a pang of sympathy but remembered Roy's words and knew he had to reveal the whole truth.
"If the truth brings pain, then lies will only make things worse."
"Artoria deserves to know the truth, or rather, she must know everything. It would be best for her to hear it from Morgan herself, but if that's not possible, then it's up to someone like you, who has been both her mentor and friend, to tell her."
These were Roy's words.
Merlin had once hesitated, wondering if this truth was too cruel for Artoria to bear. Was it right to reveal it?
But seeing Roy's determined expression, Merlin understood. His friend was better equipped to handle matters of the heart than he was.
He trusted Roy, and so, while Morgan and Roy were locked in battle in another part of the bounded field, he appeared before Artoria and revealed the long-hidden truth.
"Morgan... Gawain... Mordred... They all suffered because of me..."
Artoria's expression was dazed, the painful truth overwhelming her. She stared at Merlin, hoping he would say it was all just a cruel joke.
"I'm sorry, Artoria... but this is the truth that has been hidden all along."
Merlin turned his head away as he delivered the most painful words of all.
"Because of how swift Mordred's rebellion was, Morgan couldn't react in time. Within just a few months after Lancelot's betrayal, she had already lost too much... first Agravain, then Gaheris, Gareth, and finally, the one she cherished most... Artoria, her beloved sister. It was at this point that Morgan fell into true despair."
"After the fall of Britain, Morgan grew to hate me for my inaction. She believed it was my fault that you met such a tragic fate. Together with Vivian, she punished me by sealing me in a tower at the edge of Avalon, where I was doomed to remain for eternity, never to leave…"
"But she never gave up. She abandoned the island, which had lost all its value, and began searching for a way to resurrect you. Eventually, a long time later, this village of tomb keepers who worship King Arthur came into existence."
"Was everything my sister did really for me?"
"You can understand it that way. Her initial attempts to persuade you and even her bid for power were all to save you from that tragic fate. She sent her most talented children to your side to assist you in your rule, so that you wouldn't have to bear the burden alone. Mordred's creation was her solution to the problem of your womanhood."
"She did everything in her power to help you... sending you the best knights and retainers while she stayed behind to hold the northern frontier, keeping Vortigern in check. But even with all her efforts, the end was inevitable. Just as the prophecy foretold, everyone was destined to lose, you, Morgan... all of them."
"Even now, Morgan's only concern is your safety and future. She swings the Rhongomyniad in an attempt to drive Roy away from you."
"Although she may struggle with expressing her emotions, Artoria, your sister... Morgan le Fay... truly loves you, and she has always done her best to protect you."
"So my sister… has cared for me all along?"
At this, tears streamed from Artoria's eyes.
She felt an overwhelming gratitude for everything Morgan had done for her.
And at the same time, she regretted not realizing her sister's feelings sooner.
Why had she been so blind?
If she had only tried to understand Morgan earlier, would Britain's fate have changed? Could the hatred between them have been avoided?
She had always thought of herself as the protector, the one responsible for everyone. But now... she realized that all along, it was she who had been protected.
'I'm sorry, Morgan.'
'I'm sorry, everyone...'
'I was so... foolish.'
Seeing Artoria's despair, Merlin's heart ached for the girl who had borne such heavy burdens. He leaned forward and softly comforted her.
"Artoria, you don't need to suffer so much. As I've told you before, Britain's fall was inevitable. It wasn't your fault... or the knights'... nor was it Morgan's. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I, along with your father Uther, orchestrated this tragedy that was fated to happen. If you must hate someone, hate us. The sins lie with our selfishness."
"Merlin..."
Artoria gazed blankly at Merlin before her.
"Artoria, your life has started anew. Dwelling on the past will prevent you from moving forward."
"Perhaps your life didn't start in happiness, but that doesn't define the rest of it. Who you want to become is entirely your choice."
"You've been given a second chance at life, one that's entirely your own. You can now choose the way you want to live and find happiness in it."
Merlin's gaze locked onto Artoria's as he urged her, "But right now, our friend and savior, Roy, is engaged in a fierce battle with your sister on the other side of the bounded field. I need you to go to that place and stop them, can you do that? You're the only one who can, Artoria."
Merlin raised his staff and dispersed the mist before them, revealing the direction where Roy and Morgan were locked in combat.
He had done all he could. Everything he needed to say, he had said. There was no more reason for him to stay.
It was time for him to go...
And so, his figure gradually faded, disappearing entirely into the mist... leaving Artoria alone to cry quietly.
But her sadness did not last long. After a brief moment of reflection, Artoria composed herself once more.
She looked toward the direction Merlin had pointed out, her eyes filled with resolve, and then began to run.
Her footsteps were steady, her resolve firm.
In the mist-filled tunnel, the sound of her steps echoed with certainty...
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