Merlin was no longer imprisoned in Avalon and avoided excessive clairvoyance. More importantly, the beings he educated and observed were right before him. This Merlin, with no losses or regrets, was not the older brother we might remember.
He was the real deal. He truly didn't understand human nature and acted purely on personality and whim.
Right now, Merlin was probably the most likely person on the British Isles to deserve a good beating. He hadn't realized that events were steadily heading toward an unpredictable future.
After Kay finished the follow-up errands, Altria summoned Merlin, and they set off together. Her short journey was nearly over. She understood she would soon inherit the throne. She was free now, but soon would lose control.
Living as a king was a world apart from living as an apprentice knight. The island's future was precarious. Her first task was to unify the scattered lords following the previous king's death. Her travels had given her a rough idea of how to proceed.
But first, she wanted to fulfill one last act of willfulness.
Perhaps this choice would change her life, but Altria didn't want any regrets during this fleeting freedom. If she refused to shoulder the island's burdens, she could at least indulge herself. At this moment, she was not just an ordinary girl from this land...
Meanwhile, Aslan and Altria were heading toward the same crossroads.
This was a small seaside town, often harassed by foreign races. The town was shabby and not prosperous, but its humble appearance kept bandits at bay.
Aslan breathed deeply, taking in the fresh, unpolluted sea breeze. The water was clear, like an excellent resort.
His group came here to restock supplies. Unlike other impoverished regions, coastal towns could still fish, and dried fish was a valuable, delicious food in this era.
After arriving, Aslan's team split up. They didn't need to stick together all the time, especially within the same small town. If trouble arose, support was nearby.
All present were capable warriors. If they couldn't survive an enemy encounter, the foe must be terrifying. But if Vortigern had appeared in person, Melusine would have sensed it.
Aslan sniffed the dried fish on a stall. The pure sea scent filled his nose—no heavy seasonings, just simple sun-dried fish. The meat was fragrant in its simplicity. Truly, the best ingredients often required the simplest preparation.
Such fresh seafood would become a luxury in future eras.
Melusine gently tore off a small piece and chewed it thoughtfully, a look of enjoyment on her face. Cooked fish was indeed more fragrant than raw, she mused, but that was normal.
Aslan took out some coins to buy dried meat when a voice came from behind.
"Hello, we meet again. May I ask your name this time?"
Turning, Aslan covered his face with his hands in disbelief. The visitor was Altria.
Not long after Aslan's group arrived, Altria and her companions entered town, also splitting up.
Her goal was clear: guided by the call of the sword at her side, she walked steadily in one direction. Merlin, ever curious about humans, wandered the city, hoping to witness some family drama for his amusement. Meanwhile, Kay, the caretaker, was busy shopping for supplies.
If you saw Kay now, you'd swear he was his mother at the market—armor replaced by an apron, bargaining and picking out the best produce, carefully choosing dried foods with long shelf lives. He perfectly embodied the "male mother, female father" image of the team.
Following the holy sword's guidance, Artoria soon found Aslan. At the same time, the golden sword flashed from its scabbard with a buzzing sound and gently fell into Aslan's hand. The embedded gems shimmered, like a neon music box.
If the sword were an animal, it would be a golden retriever—panting happily, scratching Aslan gently, jumping and wagging its tail, its eyes sparkling like stars.
Aslan hesitated, unsure how to react to this unusually cheerful sword.
Artoria's mood was subtle, too. She had never felt such excitement with the golden sword. If she didn't firmly believe she was the future King Arthur, she might have wondered if the young man before her was more fit to be king.
"Be quiet, now is not the time for you to follow me..." Aslan sighed, gently calming the overly excited sword by infusing it with his magic. Slowly, the sword quieted.