[FGO] Mourning Hill
"An audience with King Arthur will take some time; until then, I will serve as your personal knight, Your Highness Morgan."
So said the red-haired knight.
There was no tea served in the reception room, and the knights who remained were not very quick-witted; they just stood there stiffly, not even knowing how to make a joke to get to know each other.
Morgan waited tediously for two hours before Tristan knocked on the door and delivered the above message.
The island witch couldn't hide her impatience, mixed with a touch of the spoiled princess's capriciousness. "It's just a meeting, what's so difficult about that?"
She didn't believe King Arthur would use such methods.
Even for a Knight of the Round Table, disrespecting royalty is a serious crime.
Or is it a disguised form of cold treatment?
The question flashed through Morgan's mind, so he asked, "Sir Tristan, has my movement been restricted? What about my resting place? Who has been serving me during this time?"
"No. You may choose your preferred room. I am your personal squire and knight." Tristan answered calmly, addressing Morgan's aggressive questioning.
"...Do you hate me?"
"No, it's just that I'm not a good conversationalist."
lie.
He was eloquent and persuasive when talking to the girls in Camelot, but remained silent in front of Morgan Le Fey. This differential treatment was clearly bullying!
Morgan snorted inwardly, then said defiantly, "Then tell me about yourself, Lord Tristan. I want to know what has happened in this world and what you have been doing so far."
Although Morgan was quite concerned about the children's whereabouts, she wanted to escape reality for a while.
Morgan, who always saw herself as a British princess, was not mentally prepared to become a mother, and she had no maternal love; instead, she felt mostly awkward.
"Regarding what has happened in this world, I believe it is up to the King himself to tell you. As for my own affairs... I have now been granted the blessing of 'reversal' by the King, and thus I am the complete opposite of the Tristan of the Round Table as recorded in the past and even in legends."
Morgan doesn't remember King Arthur having the ability to give gifts, so now the unfamiliar figures include not only the Knights of the Round Table, but also King Arthur, who has undergone an unknown transformation.
"Completely opposite?" Morgan looked the red-haired knight up and down, asking curiously, "In what specific aspects?"
"—So that my weakness is no longer a weakness."
Morgan blinked.
"What is your weakness?" She kept this question to herself, since she couldn't yet determine how much Tristan trusted her, and the question was a bit too sensitive.
However, without a clear goal at the moment, how to make use of this time is indeed a problem.
She couldn't possibly ask Tristan to take her for a stroll through the streets, let alone examine each room in the city (to increase her suspicion).
Looking at the Knights of the Round Table standing with their eyes downcast, Morgan spoke again: "Where are the other knights—no, where is Lord Gawain?"
"At this point in time, Gao Wenqing should be at the funeral mound... Even if doing so is meaningless, it is truly sad."
"A memorial mound? Did you erect tombstones for the knights who died in battle?"
"A more accurate statement would be that every deceased person has a tombstone."
Upon hearing this, Morgan raised her hand and lifted a corner of her veil. "Sir Tristan," she said, her icy eyes, reflecting a cold glint, staring directly at the knight with his bow. "I want to see him."
Tristan's voice remained unchanged: "Yes, sir."
His attitude of offering no objections was like that of a knight endlessly fulfilling the wicked woman's various unreasonable demands.
Because Tristan habitually closed his eyes, Morgan was unable to decipher his thoughts from the changes in his eyes, only vaguely sensing that he wanted to say something but hesitated.
The fairy eye isn't a mind-reading ability. All that can be confirmed is that Tristan harbors no ill will towards her, yet it seems to be mixed with many other "things," making their interactions always filled with a subtle atmosphere.
As Morgan mounted her horse again, leaning against Tristan's chest to admire the scenery, her thoughts drifted as she couldn't help but think...
Since Tristan has acquired the "reversal" property, his current words, actions, and attitudes are the opposite of his true self, right?
Given Tristan's current conciliatory and cooperative approach, under normal circumstances, he would probably refuse my request or even forcefully control my actions.
Should I be happy or disappointed?
Fortunately, I had freedom of movement and the treatment I received wasn't bad; what was disappointing was that I was actually disliked and expected to stay well-behaved.
-- Well... since Lord Tristan didn't object, let's just assume he did it voluntarily!
Instead of getting stuck on his own worries, Morgan chose to put them behind him.
After regaining his composure, Morgan keenly realized that the Holy City only had the Guardian Knights as a protective measure.
That's true. None of the Knights of the Round Table were famous for magic, and Agarwin's job was mainly paperwork and administrative matters. Even though Morgan le Fay had taught Agarwin magic, it wasn't for defensive purposes.
Morgan secretly considered how many layers of defensive barriers he should set up.
Enemy detection, automatic counterattack, anti-air sniping, internal and external blockade... in short, using the highest level of spells, this chalk city was transformed into an impregnable fortress.
—Even if this holy city is only a part of the "Holy Lance".
—
The memorial mound is located at the foot of the mountain. The barren land is devoid of any greenery, and rows of nameless tombstones made of piled stones stand on the bare land, almost covering the hills and valleys within sight.
Since everyone who passes away receives a tombstone, and this includes the demon's subordinates, then all lives here are treated equally.
Ironically, certain religious doctrines are realized here.
Morgan's knight wasn't here, but she suddenly changed her mind and turned to her personal knight, saying:
"Sir Tristan, please bring some flowers."
Even if you have no relation to someone, or even if you were once rivals, it would be extremely impolite not to offer a bouquet of flowers to their grave.
Whether Tristan could pluck flowers from this barren land was not Morgan's concern.
Watching the other person's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Morgan spoke softly:
"Aren't you coming out yet?"
She was met with silence.
So Morgan called out again, "Sir Lancelot."
A moment later, the faint clanging of armor against armor came from behind Morgan, followed by a steady voice: "Your Highness Morgan."
"I didn't expect to meet you here. Was Tristan, who just left, your personal knight?"
"That's how it is for now." Morgan turned her gaze to the white-armored knight who had stepped to her side. The knight knelt on one knee in a perfect posture that was impossible to miss. His tall and strong figure was like a tamed beast, showing complete obedience. This docile appearance reminded her of him in a certain world, and she felt a little affection for her familiar (?).
The British princess's voice softened as she inquired, "Are you here to pay your respects, or are you on a mission nearby?"
Lancelot lowered his head and replied, "No, it was because I saw Tristan and noticed that he seemed to be carrying someone, so I followed to check, only to find out it was you."
Is it strange that I'm with him?
"That's not the case. I simply assumed you would be with the King. Has Prince Morgan already seen the King?"
"I would like to see him, but Arthur doesn't seem to think so. Perhaps... Arthur harbors a strong sense of apprehension towards me."
"No! No matter what, my king would never ignore or make things difficult for you. You are a member of my king's family. I believe my king is just preoccupied with other matters."
The knight on the lake answered Morgan's question frankly, his earnest tone suggesting there was nothing to hide.
The conversation flowed so smoothly that Morgan's sense of déjà vu grew stronger, and she couldn't help but tentatively ask, "...How have you been? I heard you've been staying outside the capital. The environment outside must be very harsh, right?"
"Fortunately, at least we found a lake where we can fish."
"Should we use the saying 'A knight never dies unarmed'?"
"Your Highness Morgan is joking. This isn't a competition—"
"..."
"..."
Their purple and blue eyes widened simultaneously!
"Lord Lancelot?"
"Your Highness Morgan?"
In an instant, the everyday moments in that gentle world surfaced in their minds.
Morgan had to admit that she felt a little guilty towards Lancelot. If she had chosen to stay in that world, Lancelot could have stayed by Artoria's side and remained loyal. However, she ultimately decided to leave, which also caused Lancelot, whom she had summoned, to bid farewell to that world.
She deprived Lancelot of the opportunity to live a peaceful life.
The pride of the British princess prevented Morgan from apologizing, so he could only swallow his guilt and let the bitterness in his heart seep out through his words:
"You were summoned by King Arthur this time; you must be even happier than I was last time, right?"
Upon hearing this, Lancelot did not show any sign of being hurt. Instead, he lowered his head even further, maintaining his submissive kneeling posture, and said, "Please don't say that. I haven't forgotten your kindness to me."
Seeing this, Morgan quickly suppressed his emotions that had inadvertently surfaced.
She hadn't intended to make things difficult for the other party, and knowing she was in the wrong, the Island Witch changed to a calmer tone, saying, "Speaking of which, what happened in this world? And what about that holy city?"
"After I was summoned, I assisted the King and the other Knights of the Round Table in defeating the man who led the Crusaders. As for the rest... I think it would be better for the King to explain it to you."
Lancelot's reserved tone made Morgan frown. "Why are you so wary of me too?"
Seemingly sensing Morgan's displeasure, Lancelot then stammered, "My king... is different now. Your Highness Morgan, King Arthur has made his choice. Now we are led by the Eternal King, the King of Storms."
Morgan's brow furrowed even deeper. She believed that Lancelot had not simply changed the way he addressed Arthur. Judging from the words "eternity" and "storm," the King Arthur of this world had chosen a different way of being. This also explained why Arthur was able to bestow blessings upon the Knights of the Round Table.
Remembering his unwavering purpose, Morgan felt that persuading King Arthur would become even more difficult, and he let out a long sigh without making it obvious.
"I understand. I'll ask Arthur about the rest myself." After saying that, Morgan looked at Lancelot, who was kneeling before her with his head bowed. Then she gently touched the back of the Lake Knight's hair with her soft hand and said in a gentle voice, "Unexpected situations are bound to occur when you're traveling. I'll cast some enhancement and defense magic on you."
Knowing the high level of magic skill of the Island Witch, Lancelot readily accepted the gift, saying, "I am deeply grateful, Your Highness Morgan."
In short, Morgan obtained important information from Lancelot and, by a stroke of good fortune, performed many magic spells for him, such as warding off disasters and bestowing blessings.
--Oh right, let's add another layer of access, granting the user the freedom to enter and exit the barrier I've set up.
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