[The nobles at the banquet continued to mingle in an atmosphere of friendliness.]
[Amidst it all, you and the girl in the corner met each other's gaze from afar, and in that instant your thoughts turned rapidly.]
[The information about the girl named "Morgan le Fay" unfolded completely within your mind.]
[You thought of the so-called "witch," of the so-called "authority of the island" — the existence known as Morgan le Fay was, without a doubt, one who would leave heavy brushstrokes in the long history of the mystic side. Even after the end of the Age of Gods, she was still a legendary magus capable of demonstrating the arts of that age, the one who held absolute dominion over the British Isles as the "Lady of the Island."]
[In terms of weight within the mystic side, purely inside Britain, Morgan even surpassed King Arthur — Artoria, the one who had gained the throne and bore the blood of the Red Dragon.]
[She also held an extremely important place within the story of King Arthur.]
[If King Uther was the beginning of Arthur's legend, the first creator of his tale, and Merlin was both the co-creator with Uther and the witness of the entire story, then Morgan was the one who brought about Arthur's final tragic end — the hand behind the collapse of the knightly kingdom she herself helped establish, and the final curtain of the remnants of Britain's divine era.]
[As Uther's eldest daughter.]
[As the one who should have inherited the throne.]
[She pushed events forward perhaps with jealousy toward Arthur who had taken her throne, and perhaps with pity for Artoria, forced to disguise herself as a man — all these complex emotions intertwined.]
[And in this moment, the girl who was staring back at you seemed to take an interest in you.]
[Yet in the blink of an eye—]
[She suddenly vanished.]
[But such a "disappearance" could not possibly deceive your eyes. You immediately recognized it as a high-level folding-space teleportation spell — and the "coordinates" left behind could only be regarded as an "invitation" for you.]
[Whether to accept or not was entirely up to you — to let things flow naturally.]
In the next instant, Subotai appeared in a lush courtyard.
The warm slanting sunlight poured overhead.
Before his eyes stretched a land of blooming flowers, with winding paths threading through them, and at the end of the path stood a small pavilion.
Before the pavilion sat the very same girl from before. In the shade, she guided several butterflies to dance amidst the flowers. The girl did not look much older than Subotai. The silk fabric of her tightly fitted dress hugged her hips, outlining full curves; her breathing caused a gentle rise and fall that pressed the cloth into a rounded contour across her chest. At her collar, a strip of pale clavicle was exposed. From the slit of her skirt, her legs sheathed in black stockings crossed elegantly, her toes lightly tapping the ground.
The butterflies rested upon her fingertips, their wings stirring subtle air currents that brushed against her falling golden hair.
And in the very instant Subotai appeared, the butterflies sensed it too, taking flight and scattering back into the sea of flowers.
The girl named "Morgan" turned her gaze, looking at the boy standing on the far end of the path.
"You…"
"You actually could see me — and even followed me here?"
"…Interesting."
Her voice was clear, tinged with coldness, matching her refined and noble face, so lofty it forbade any desecration.
But Subotai only said: "I'm not blind."
"And you're not stupid, are you?"
Not blind, so he could see.
Not stupid, so she wasn't surprised at his appearance.
"Hah…" Morgan gave a small laugh. Rising slowly, the split hem of her dress swayed. The black stockings traced her lines, shadows emphasizing the curve of her hips. She only said: "Truly a 'barbarian.'"
Though she didn't spell it out, anyone with sense could see the nomadic air clinging to Subotai and his companions.
Subotai turned his eyes slightly: "I, black hair and black eyes."
"You, blonde hair and blue eyes."
"Who's the barbarian, who's the civilized one — plain to see."
In this era, whichever nation or people claimed "civilization," they all traced it back proudly to Rome.
Black hair and black eyes — the mark of Romans.
Blonde hair and blue eyes — the mark of most "barbarian tribes."
Morgan clearly thought of herself as civilized — indeed, the native Celts of Britain all did, looking upon invading Anglo-Saxons as savages.
At once, her face darkened with anger:
"You…"
"I, barbarian!" Subotai declared.
That one sentence choked off whatever she was about to say.
Her full red lips trembled slightly, glossy and flushed, her chest heaving against the fabric, the shadows of her curves shifting. She gave a small hum; a thousand words caught in her throat, until only one remained: "At least you know your place."
"But… actually, kind of cute… not so barbaric…"
"What?" Subotai had heard her muttered words clearly, but deliberately feigned ignorance.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!"
Morgan drew a deep breath and straightened: "My name is Morgan le Fay. I am the eldest daughter of the great King Uther — the princess who shall inherit Britain!"
"What is your name?"
[It seemed this version of "Morgan le Fay" did not yet know the story of the future — knew nothing of Artoria Pendragon.]
[You thought quietly.]
[The young Morgan and the witch of Arthurian legend were, in truth, nearly two completely different beings.]
[Though haughty, this Morgan was kind, sensitive, and still innocent.]
[This did not surprise you.]
[From what you "knew," there even existed a timeline where she became a "savior."]
You answered Morgan and gave your name.
"Subotai, is it… a fine name." Morgan, unfamiliar with affairs of the continent, showed no reaction at all, and only said: "You look younger than me — then from today, I'll be your elder sister."
"If anyone dares bully you, just tell me!"
Her pose like that of a gangster boss made Subotai want to laugh.
He thought: Who could bully me?
And also: Who would even be able to?
"Who's elder brother and who's elder sister — it doesn't work like that." he said.
Morgan blinked, surprised the boy would refuse. But thinking it over, she found it natural — he clearly had ability. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to pierce her concealment, nor follow after her disappearance.
Such a person had every right to be proud.
And such a "little brother"… taking him under her wing would be quite interesting indeed!
"Then what do you want?"
"Let's compare our magecraft." Subotai finally bared his intentions.
[All that is seen is all that is gained.]
[All that is gained is all that is thought.]
[All that is thought becomes your law.]
[Your Triple Cycle now cries out with hunger — waiting to engrave upon itself the pinnacle of this age's mystery!]