The Twin Swords of the Lake, Entangled Fates

On the way to the lake of dreams.

Ian, who should have been leading the horse for Artoria, was already sitting on Dun stallion.

The girl, her face flushed, leaned against his chest, looking happy and shy.

"Sir Ian... I've troubled you again with my selfishness."

"It's nothing."

Ian held the reins with one hand and Artoria's hand with the other.

"Regardless of my role, I should accompany you to find that weapon."

"Is that so? That's wonderful."

The girl felt the warmth from the man's hand, and her heart couldn't help but flutter.

"Then—"

"Sir Ian, do you think..."

"Don't you think?"

"Well..." Artoria was a little shy.

"Sir Ian, don't you think we look like we're on a honeymoon trip?"

"..."

Ian didn't answer Artoria's question, but just gave her a benign smile.

As always, the girl took it as a tacit answer.

"It's so nice to travel with Sir Ian like this..."

Artoria closed her eyes, enjoying the long-lost bliss.

Her mind was filled with fantasy scenes.

[You know what Artoria is thinking.]

[But you can't bear to interrupt her imagination—even if it's unlikely to come true.]

[You try to keep the ride as smooth as possible, so as not to disturb her beautiful dream.]

[But you never expected that, following Artoria's directions, you would see a somewhat familiar place.]

Dun stallion stopped at a cliff.

Ian looked at the lush scenery below the cliff, full of confusion.

This seemed to be a place he had visited before—just with a different path to get here.

If Camelot were an analogy, it would be the difference between the east gate and the west gate.

"Sir Ian, what's wrong?"

Sensing something was wrong, Artoria slowly opened her eyes.

She leaned her head back, looking at the man behind her.

"Is something wrong?"

"No." Ian shook his head, "Nothing."

"It's just that the wind is a bit noisy today."

"Sorry, Artoria, I disturbed your dream."

"It's nothing."

Artoria moved closer to Ian, feeling his warm body temperature.

"If Sir Ian is by my side, I can always have a sweet dream."

[You chose the smoothest mountain path.]

[You arrived safely at the forest below the cliff.]

[The feeling of familiarity made you more certain that you had been here before.]

[You realized that you were about to encounter events that would change your life.]

"Sir Ian."

Artoria looked at the path through the forest, her tree-green eyes full of thought.

"It seems that horses can't go any further ahead."

"Okay, I understand."

The horse's hooves stopped.

Ian and Artoria got off the horse one after another.

After leaving Dun stallion in a grassy spot, they walked into the depths of the forest.

It has to be said.

This is indeed a beautiful forest, like an uncut gem.

As far as the eye can see, it's all lush greenery and deep shadows of trees.

"Sir Ian, this place is really nice."

Artoria took a deep breath, smiled and looked back at the man walking behind her.

"It's just like a forest blessed by elves in legends!"

"..."

A forest blessed by elves?

[Artoria's words awakened you.]

[You are now sure that you have definitely been here before.]

[But the person at that time was—]

That's right.

It was Morgan.

After being ordered by King Uther to return from the front line, Morgan at that time told you that she didn't want to return to the capital.

Of course, this was an irresistible request.

In the end, the two came to a forest.

It was the first time Morgan opened her heart to you, and it was also the first time the two had physical intimacy.

If you remember correctly—

Ian stared at the road ahead.

At the end of it, there would be a clear, jewel-like lake.

However, before he could decide whether to verify this, Artoria had already taken his hand.

"Sir Ian, the road is still long."

"Let's walk faster!"

"Okay... sure."

[Your perception was indeed correct.]

[At the end of the forest path, waiting for you and Artoria was indeed a crystal-clear lake.]

[It was like a bright gem, embedded in the center of the forest, and the wind blew through the trees, stirring up ripples on its surface.]

[You realized that this was the lake you and Morgan had visited.]

"Sir Ian."

Artoria looked at the clear lake, and her green eyes showed a touch of emotion.

"This is the place I saw in my dream."

"I see."

Ian walked to her side.

Looking at the crystal-clear lake, memories of the past flooded into his mind.

It was the first time Morgan cried in front of him.

All the unwillingness and loneliness poured out at that moment.

What he saw was no longer a princess.

It was a castaway imprisoned in darkness, a magician abandoned by fate.

"No one has ever given me a chance..."

The harder she struggled, the further she got from the other shore she wanted to reach.

That cry was deeply engraved in Ian's soul.

He couldn't bear it.

"It's okay, I'll always be here."

Speaking subconsciously, Ian realized that it was not Morgan standing next to him, but Artoria.

Hearing this, the girl's eyes widened a little, but soon she smiled happily.

"Sir Ian, that would be wonderful."

"..."

Ian couldn't respond to Artoria's words.

If the initial starting point is the measure—

Then he was just a lowly and despicable knight who was always coveting the princess's body.

Swearing allegiance and drinking poison were just temporary physical impulses controlled by desire.

But after experiencing many things, Ian knew that his feelings for Morgan were no longer just physical.

He had witnessed the various hardships that fate had carved on her, and knew the unwillingness in her heart.

Then—

Let yourself be her forever loyal knight in this world.

She is the princess of Britain, how can she be ignored and lose her pride?

Although there was no response, Artoria was still very happy.

The girl reached out and hugged her beloved.

"Sir Ian."

"Although you might think I'm a little greedy, but—"

"Can I have you all to myself at this moment?"

"..."

Ian's heart was once again touched by her straightforwardness.

But he still didn't speak, just lowered his head and kissed Artoria.

The girl's lips were still so soft, like the most perfect candy in all of Britain.

Just take a bite, and you can feel the sweetness of granulated sugar.

The girl would cry out, but she was reluctant to let go, and eventually became a docile prey.

[You shamelessly played with Artoria's feelings, making her shy in front of you as a king.]

[You looked at her shy appearance and cursed yourself for being a bastard.]

[But at the same time, you also know that you must not waver because of this.]

[You have things you must accomplish.]

[The lake surface shimmered, and mysterious light filled the sky above it.]

[A mysterious voice came out.]

"King, you have come."

The ethereal voice echoed through the forest.

Artoria stopped.

She turned her head and looked into the lake.

Her eyes lit up with the dignity of a king.

"The time has come."

"As agreed, I'm here to take the weapon." she said.

"Willing to offer the sword to the king."

The voice in the lake was gentle and loud.

In the slightly swaying clear ripples, a light burst out from the lake and rushed into the sky, as if it could shoot down the stars.

When the light condensed and formed a solid body, a sword appeared on the lake.

It was a sword made of gold, with a hilt inlaid with gorgeous but practical gems.

The sharp blade was sheathed in a scabbard engraved with intricate patterns.

"This is the sword we want to offer to the king."

"Its name is Excalibur."

"As long as you hold this sword, the king can be invincible in the face of enemies and bring more victories back to Camelot."

"And its scabbard, Avalon, will protect the king in this process, freeing the king from difficulties."

"It is indeed a powerful sword."

"Spirits of the lake, I pay you the highest respect."

Artoria said this while reaching out to Excalibur with the highest respect.

Grasped it—

The moment she touched it, the light on the sword slowly flowed towards the girl.

[The Red Dragon's Gift+ has been activated: You can feel that Artoria has been given a more powerful magic.]

[[You realize that the spirits of the lake possess considerable power.]

The voice from the lake sounded again.

"King, while we do not object to you wielding Excalibur,"

"It remains a part of the lake, and we request that you return it when the time of strife has ended."

"As it should be."

Artoria, grasping the lake's sword, responded.

It was a simple exchange, a ritual of contract.

All seemed to be concluding peacefully.

Until Artoria spoke again.

"Spirits of the lake, if my dreams are accurate, you hold another blade that has yet to be claimed?"

"You speak truly, King."

The lake's voice responded quickly.

"There is indeed another blade, one that was not taken when it should have been – a blade that mirrors Excalibur."

"Its name is Excalibur Galatine."

"In that case—"

A resolve flickered in Artoria's green eyes.

"May I take it as well?"

"..."

The lake's voice paused.

"King, even you should not wield two swords of the lake."

"What if, instead of myself, another worthy individual were to claim it?"

"That may be possible."

The lake's voice replied, neither yielding nor defiant.

"But the outcome is not ours to choose, but rather, Excalibur Galatine's to decide."

Artoria remained silent, turning her gaze to Ian.

Her intention was clear – she wished for him to claim Excalibur Galatine.

Ian did not hesitate.

He approached the lake, as Artoria had done.

Once again, light erupted from the lake.

But unlike the cold light that had pierced the sky before, this light was a fiery red, more ardent.

The difference was like that between the sun and the moon.

[You understand that Excalibur Galatine likely possesses power comparable to Excalibur.]

[Ordinarily, such a weapon would be difficult to claim.]

[But you also perceive something else.]

[You sense an affinity between yourself and Excalibur Galatine.]

[You see, as if from the future, the moment you claim it.]

And so it was.

Upon touching Excalibur Galatine, Ian found himself not burned by its seemingly intense heat.

Instead, he felt a sensation of blessing.

He understood.

[The Talent Excalibur Galatine++ has been acquired: due to Morgan's influence on you, you and the blade have been blessed by the sun, allowing you to wield it with ease.]

This was the blade that Morgan, the princess born of the lake, should have claimed.

But on the day of her exile, she was too consumed by sorrow to retrieve it.

Ian, who had spent time with her, and had been acknowledged by the lake, was granted Excalibur Galatine's favor.

Was it coincidence?

Or was it fate?

Ian gazed at the fiery blade in his hand, feeling an aura of entwined destinies.

Artoria, however, was unaware of this.

She only knew that he had, as she hoped, claimed the second blade.

"Sir Ian, I knew you could do it!"

"There is... some kind of bond between us, isn't there?"

The girl seemed to interpret it as a testament to their love.

Ian hesitated, ultimately deciding not to correct her misconception.

However—

It seemed necessary to solidify this perception somehow.

Then—

Anything but entering there would be fine, right?