A quiet evening.

-"Before everything else, this is Morgan le Fay, the Mage of the Court."

-"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Yue."

~"I'm also happy to meet one of the Great Fairies for the first time."

-"Few know my identity as Vivian, but as you are a True Spirit, what else could I expect."

~"One mage is thought to be unreliable and capricious while another is known as an evil and scheming witch. No wonder your legend is so popular in the fantasy."

-"Hey! That's rude! I'm not unreliable. Right?"

-"I don't know how you can say so with a straight face."

-"At least I'm not an evil witch."

-"Stop it, you two. Sorry for that, Yue."

~"I don't mind. I prefer we all speak comfortably rather than stick to useless ceremonials and titles."

-"I share the same opinion. I wanted to meet you to talk about a problem I encountered lately."

~"Mage's Association, I presume."

-"Indeed. They not only rejected the authority of Avolon as the Counter Force but even tried to invade this realm."

~"They are similarly uncooperative with us. If Tamamo could, most of their messengers and representatives would return with their own head in a box."

-"That's why I want to cull their arrogance."

~"You want our two forces to join against the Mage's Association?"

-"Yes, but don't forget about the remains of the Holy Church. They are your sworn enemy, as it's already common knowledge that Hold is behind the death of Alaya."

~"Right, they are starting to be annoying. They adamantly denied Alaya being their god, yet now, when sacraments were weakened by their death, all of them started to panic and go haywire with their zealotry."

-"Even during my rule in Britain, they were rather forceful with their beliefs."

~"What is your plan?"

-"I plan to put fire under them. Get rid of their precious Mystery."

~"Cruel but efficient."

-"Now that sacraments are weaker, we can easily reduce the number of those who follow religion by unmasking some of these old monsters that abuse their positions."

~"I can also release some of our research that delves into borders of the supernatural. This should alarm the Mage's Association."

-"I was thinking about destroying some of their Spiritual Tomb of Albion."

~"Also not bad. This would especially hurt the Lords that exploit it."

-"Aside from those, I also wanted to target the Magicians, the Second and Fifth, to be exact."

~"This may be a little tricky. While they can't defeat us, neither can we defeat them without destroying a part of this world."

-"That's why I plan to extend an invitation to them to join us here, to first talk about our problems."

~"You plan to make Avalon the place of the meeting?"

-"You have any better location?"

~"Well, we can use Hold as the location. Even some other realm in my world can be chosen as the meeting place."

-"While this might give us an advantage in the talks, it places you in danger, so I'm against it."

~"You don't have to worry. After my ascension, they can't do any serious damage, especially in the domain of my world."

-"Right that ascension of yours, mind telling me what had happened?"

~"Sure."

As our talk started to meander around various subjects, others also began to join in on it, and soon, the whole atmosphere turned friendly and casual. We quickly got comfortable with each other, and as alcohol found its way onto the table, the atmosphere continued to become more and more relaxed.

As my avatar outside was managing a more and more drunk band of women, I was also relaxing while talking with Nian, Ling, Dusk, and Ch'en.

-"I truly pity you, man. To think you can't get drunk anymore. You are losing half of the enjoyment from drinking."

~"Why do so many people around me like drinking?"

-"Don't move, Yue. I still hadn't finished."

~"Sorry, Dusk."

-"Give me a copy of that later."

-"Sure."

-"Thanks. Right, Yue, did you see my last movie?"

~"I sure did, but it was not to my liking."

-"Nah, you just don't understand art."

~"Thay may be. Art is not my strong point."

-"Don't even start that. Excessive humility easily turns to hubris. I think that when it comes to instruments, few can beat you in the Hold. Even Eden conceded defeat in playing piano to you last week."

~"It's just a hobby."

-"Right, just like your cooking."

~"Rather than focus on that, tell me how was your trip to Shen Meng's world, Nian. I hope that there weren't many fools that tried their chances with you."

-"It was interesting, especially those trials left by Cultivators of old. But the amount of 'main characters' and entitled brats..."

-"Right, I don't understand how so many people living there have such a mentality. I'm free-spirited, but they were a personification of anarchy."

~"That's how Cultivators are, free and proud."

-"But I had lots of fun. That tomb of an Ancient Dragon had some nice contraptions. When I'm free, I'll make something similar and wait until someone uncovers it."

~"How about you create such nonlethal traps and film people trying to solve them, similar to how those trials work? You could make a nice movie or show."

-"Nice! I'll suggest this to my film crew tomorrow."

-"Done. Here."

Dusk finished her painting and gave it to me. It was an ink painting of us sitting under the tree. I was in the center with zither on my knees. Nian was lying next to me, sleeping, while Ling was drinking on the other side. Dusk also painted herself painting a little further away.

~"Beautiful as always. How about we hang it in the passage to the garden?"

-"Sure."

-"I'll prepare a short poem to accompany this painting later."

As we wanted to continue our evening, I received an urgent message from da Vinci. Four of us quickly went to the World Compass, where da Vinci was waiting.

-"Sorry for interrupting your family time, but I found something that needs your attention."

~"Don't worry, I don't think you would call me here for no reason."

I took the documents da Vinci passed to me and started to read through them.

~"Is this confirmed?"

-"I scanned five times before calling you."

~"Focus the whole World Compass on this task. I want to know everything about this world as fast as possible."

-"Sure, I'll give you all the data tomorrow."

~"I'll be waiting for that."

-"Do you want to send anyone in?"

~"Under no circumstances. There might be something to threaten an Aeon there, so do not risk the lives of our people."

-"Sure, I will limit myself to Divinations and scans."

~"Herta made some experimental puppets that can be operated from just outside the world. Get the Astrall Express there and have some members use those puppets to descend."

-"Hmm... Five or six days will be needed for them to go there."

~"I know, but we have to be careful. Something that can force Aeon to run away is nothing good. Especially if it can follow Trailblaze for so long."

-"Indeed, I'll put any safety precautions there are."

~"Thank you. Report any changes directly to me. We can't let Akivili slip away."

-"Leave it to me."

Sometime later, most of the girls in Avalon were dead drunk. Morgan and I were the only ones still not passed out.

-"You are loved."

~"Where did that come from?"

-"Sigh. You know, Artoria, Merlin, and I can be considered sisters. Each of us is part human and part Phantasmal Species. Artoria is part dragon, Merlin is part demon, and I am part fairy."

She looked at the Camelot Castle, which was not far away.

-"None of us was even accepted by humans. I became a witch, Artoria a king, and Merlin a Beast. Even as we tried to bring Utopia to them, more and more tried to stop us, take the power for themselves."

~"There is no legend without evil, no myth without ordeal, no tale without an enemy. Sadly, most of them are told from a human perspective, and humans don't like being in the wrong."

Morgan smiled softly at that.

-"Right. While I don't mind being considered evil. I pity Artoria and Merlin. Being king is a thankless job, especially if your subjects reject you as nonhuman. I can't imagine the suffering she had to endure on that throne."

She looked at Artoria, who was seated next to me, laying her head on my shoulder.

-"So imagine my surprise when she called me and Merlin to rebuild the Camelot here in Avalon. Thinking that something bad had happened to her, I used magic to understand what prompted her to act."

~"From the contexts, I can deduce that it was I, but we met after she had already reclaimed the crown."

-"Just wait for the day when she tells you everything. I won't be long away."

~"I don't have any other choice."

-"Heh, that may be so. I also wanted to thank you personally for freeing Merlin from her fate."

She looked at Merlin, whose head was lying on her knees.

-"When she became Best of Gaia, she closed herself in the tower to never be used against what we worked for. You not only freed her from the grasp of Gaia but showed how humans and demons can coexist."

~"It was thanks to Tamamo and countless others that Yōkai can live in peace."

-"I'm aware of that, but without you, it would never come to be. I just wanted to tell you that you've become someone dear to us three. While I know some things about your relationships in Hold, I just wanted you to know that neither of us wishes to give up."

~"You are quite direct."

-"I lived my whole life scheming before. After getting to know you through Artoria, I decided to learn from you. Home is built upon truth, love, and trust."

~"But why do you also wish to follow your sisters? While two of them have reasons for their attachment, you are different."

-"I just find you attractive. Do I need a stronger reason?"

~"In the end, it's all that matters."

-"So please, take care of us."

~"Let's get to know each other first."

-"Sure. Anything you want to know?"

~"First, should I call you Morgan or Vivian?"

-"Morgan, Vivian has some connotations that I wish to avoid."

~"Merlon's lover, huh?"

-"Right, while I love Merlin as my sister... That already stretches my patience thin."

~"I can imagine."

-"What about you? I am quite interested in the story behind your name."

~"When I was created, neither Long nor Yaoshi gave me any name. In Long's eyes, I was him, the next Permanence. I lived without a name for many years until, one day, I found myself stranded on a backwater planet.

Pouring myself another cup, I continued my story.

~"Because I had to wait for my ship to be repaired, I stayed there for four years, and having nothing to do, I decided to help in an orphanage. I started teaching children there life skills such as sewing, cooking, and carpentry. On the planet still before the industrial era those were necessary to survive well."

-"Indeed, many of our knights know those."

~"Everyone there called me teacher, be it adults or children. But among those who I met there, one person stood out. A girl who took care of the orphanage. She herself was brought up there, but rather than seek her own family later, stayed to care for others."

Taking a short barke to drink, I continued.

~"She also listened to my lessons, helping others to understand, but also me to care for the students. As the year passed, we became close, and our relationship changed from coworkers to close friends."

-"Quite the normal story."

~"I wish it stayed that. In the end, we started living together, and she even started to plan for a child, but a tragedy struck. War between countries started, and this village was close to the border."

-"..."

~"You probably already know the rest. One day when I was away, the mercenaries raided the village, killing and raping everyone there, including her."

Opening my eyes to see my reflection in the cup, I sighed.

~"Sigh. When I returned, it was all over. None survived. This was the first time I felt true rage. Unleashing my full power, I destroyed this planet, turning all but my beloved into dust. As for her body, I took it to the moon that was still there and buried her there."

-"Sorry."

~"This was also there when Terminus appeared for the first time. Offering me the power to avert this tragedy. I accepted, and she bestowed me the name Yue. Moon, which represented burying my loved one that I was too weak to save."

-"..."

~"Over the years, I accepted her death, deciding to let her rest. While I thought of bringing her back, I'm afraid that she might not accept what I've become."

-"I think she would accept everything."

~"That may be, but I've already accepted what had happened. I decided never to look back, so while I treasure the memory of my first love, my present family is what matters."

-"Everyone carries some burdens from their past."

~"A power without a cause is meaningless. A cause without power is foolish."

-"Indeed."

Morgan smiled at me and poured me a drink into my empty cup.

Two of us drank until the sun was already up before waking up everyone and helping with their hangovers. Artoria was a little ashamed for lying on me, but I told her to don't mind.

After a short breakfast that I prepared for everyone, I sent Herrshers Jingliu and Cellina back to Hold while I teleported nearby to where da Vinci detected Akivili's traces. While keeping my distance, I cooperated with World Compas to seek more information.

In Hold, I was with Elysia, Astraea, and Ningguang as we waited in Simulated Realm. Elysia was running around, bringing chairs and food, despite having the ability to simply create them here, but we decided to let her have her fun.

-"Are you going to train them personally?"

~"We will see, but most likely, I will just offer advice. My style of combat is not easy to copy."

-"Right, manipulating the reality, time, and nature might prove challenging."

-"What about your sword style?"

~"My sword style relied heavily on my body, utilizing control over elements and illusions."

-"Now that you mention it, did you ever name your sword style?"

~"No, I never compiled it into distinct techniques, to be honest. I just used everything I could to my advantage. Jingliu's style also has a similar core, but later, she formed standard techniques to pass them onto others as Sword Champion."

-"Yue! It's time!"

~"I've already given them permission to teleport."

-"Thanks!"

Luckily, she didn't have to wait long, and soon, twelve people appeared looking curiously around.

-"Sorry for our intrusion."

Polite as always, Lily White Lyricist was first to speak, opening the meeting of the Chat Group.