One morning, as the girl awoke from her bed, donned her armor and male attire, and prepared to lead her army to attack the next of Vortigern's territories, her white-haired magus found her. He informed her that today was an important day.
The day the broken sword would be reforged.
After a long time, she was finally going to get her new weapon.
So, after giving orders to her men and temporarily entrusting the army to Kay and Gawain, Artoria changed into plain clothes and went with Merlin to the Sacred Lake to claim the sword within.
"Merlin, what kind of sword is it?" Artoria, back in her female attire, asked as she rode her white horse, curious about the weapon Merlin was leading her to.
After so many days of military life, although her appearance hadn't changed, her demeanor and bearing had transformed significantly. Her every move now carried the air of a leader. But out of long-standing habit, whenever she encountered something she didn't know, she would instinctively ask Merlin. And for his disciple's questions, Merlin would always patiently explain until she understood. This time was no exception.
"That sword, ah, is quite something," Merlin chuckled, his tone as gentle as ever. "Lily, the sword I have found for you is named Excalibur, also known as the Holy Sword of the Planet. It is a true divine construct, the materialized barrier of this planet's will."
"Excalibur... the Sword of Promised Victory?" The girl, who had been instilled with the ideals of a king and the spirit of chivalry since childhood, had not received any other education. In terms of age and worldly knowledge, she was really just a village girl with a slight understanding of the world. So, for the most part, she didn't understand Merlin's explanation. She only understood that the sword's name meant 'Promised Victory,' which sounded nicer than her previous 'Golden Sword of Victory.' And from the name, it also seemed more important than the Sword of Selection.
After all, in Celtic culture, oaths (geis) were extremely important. In the Age of Gods, making an oath could grant corresponding power, while breaking one would bring disaster. Artoria didn't know what kind of constraints and sacrifices the 'Promise' in this sword's name represented, but according to Merlin, it was the best sword in all of Britain. If she wanted to defeat Vortigern, she had to obtain it.
To achieve this goal, to save Britain from the White Dragon, she had to get this sword.
Chatting idly like this, when the sun had risen to the southeast, they arrived at a clear lake in a forest.
"Is this the place of the Sword in the Lake?" Artoria first looked around curiously at the surroundings of the Sacred Lake, then, at Merlin's signal, walked to its edge.
"Respected Lady of the Lake, Vivian, as per our agreement, I have come to request the Holy Sword from you."
Following the script Merlin had given her, Artoria first performed a knight's salute to the lake, then shouted respectfully.
As the girl's clear voice echoed across the lake, the next moment, the originally calm surface rippled. Then, two figures slowly emerged from the water. One of them held Artoria's objective: the Holy Sword of the Planet, Excalibur.
But... why were there two figures? Was the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, two people? Artoria blinked in confusion.
Behind her, Merlin's smile instantly shattered when he saw an extra person next to the one who was supposed to appear alone. "What's going on? Why is Lamorak here? This isn't what we agreed on!"
"Lamorak?!" At the same time, upon clearly seeing that the male figure was the Lamorak she had been longing for, Artoria froze. That grayish-white medium-length hair, that handsome face, those azure eyes, and that gentle, clear aura like water—she was confident she wouldn't be mistaken. But if this was Lamorak, then the person next to him... Vivian? Or her Royal Sister, Morgan?
She instinctively shifted her attention to the woman beside him, and was soon surprised to find that the person's appearance was identical to her own. The same eyebrows and facial features, as if carved from the same mold. Except, compared to her own flat plains, that person's could be called towering mountain ranges. A strange sense of being outdone washed over the girl.
At this time, Morgan was also sizing up Artoria on the shore. Seeing her still-immature face and petite frame, she let out an involuntary cold snort. "Hah, so frail."
Then, without averting her gaze, Morgan walked up to the girl with Cang Ye, holding the Holy Sword. "What's the matter? So respectful in your words, yet you forget your manners upon seeing me in person? My dear sister."
Morgan spoke with a cold smile, deliberately emphasizing the word 'sister.'
Merlin, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly tugged on Artoria's sleeve from behind, signaling her not to act rashly. Fortunately, with Cang Ye present, although Artoria had no good impression of this Royal Sister for various reasons, she didn't want to appear ill-mannered in front of him. So, she forced a smile and said, neither servile nor overbearing, "My apologies, Your Highness Morgan. I truly did not expect the so-called Lady of the Lake, Vivian, to be the same person as you. I was a bit presumptuous." She then bowed to Morgan again.
But Morgan clearly had no intention of returning the gesture, merely staring at Artoria with a mocking gaze. "Even with the truth right before your eyes, you're still unwilling to call me 'sister,' Arthur?"
Faced with this blatant provocation, Artoria did not get angry but countered with action. Ignoring Morgan's taunts, the girl shifted her gaze to Cang Ye beside her, her eyes instantly lighting up, her voice becoming more cheerful. "It's been a long time, Lamorak."
"Mmm, long time no see, Artorius." Feeling the explosive tension between the two women, Cang Ye didn't dare say much, his face a mask of helplessness. He then noticed that after Artoria spoke, Morgan's face had soured due to being ignored, and her gaze shot towards him like a sharp sword. He quickly used his eyes to signal Artoria to stop and get to the point.
Fortunately, Merlin stepped in to save the situation. "Alright, alright, let's save the catching up for after we're done. Lily, didn't you come to ask the fairy for a sword? Let's not delay and begin the trial." Merlin patted Artoria's shoulder while making eyes at Morgan.
"Don't look at me with those disgusting eyes. I'll do what needs to be done," Morgan said, shooting Merlin a disgusted look, and stopped deliberately making things difficult for Artoria. Such a boring and tactless person. If she weren't my father's much-hoped-for sister, the so-called Son of the Red Dragon, I wouldn't even be able to muster any interest in her.
Thinking this, Morgan glanced at Cang Ye again. Feeling her gaze on him once more, Cang Ye silently took half a step back. I've got a bad feeling about this. Time to get out of here, guys...
Pushing other thoughts aside, Morgan began the sword-bestowing ceremony as Merlin had requested in the dream. "Arthur, since you have come seeking this sword, do you know its name, its meaning, and the responsibility that comes with possessing it?"
Silently reciting the lines Merlin had given her, despite feeling intense shame and annoyance, Morgan, bound by her oath, forced herself to finish the sentence. "I know."
Reminded by Merlin that the trial had begun, Artoria put aside her other thoughts, her expression and attitude becoming serious. "The sword's name is Excalibur, translated as the 'Sword of Promised Victory.' It is a sword forged by the planet, and its purpose is to save the world and fight against calamities. The responsibility of wielding it is the same."
Artoria answered fluently. These were the answers Merlin had repeatedly drilled into her, and she had long since memorized them.
"Then what is your reason? Do you seek it merely to have a weapon?" Morgan's eyes flashed, her deep, cold-pool-blue eyes reflecting Artoria's golden figure. Behind the girl, the white-haired magus frowned almost imperceptibly. This question was not in the script he and Morgan had agreed upon.
Hearing the question, Artoria was taken aback. She could feel that Morgan's tone was calm and serious; this was not another attempt to provoke her. So, she didn't answer rashly but calmed her mind and thought carefully. After a long moment, the girl's voice rang out across the lake again.
"For salvation."
"Salvation?" Morgan repeated, her gaze probing.
"Yes, salvation. I will take back the territory that rightfully belongs to my father from the Usurper King, rescue the people oppressed by his tyranny, and protect and save all the people and things I hold dear." The girl's eyes were firm and serious. After speaking, she nonchalantly glanced at a certain someone.
"Heh." Although she couldn't find fault with the girl's answer, Morgan was still dissatisfied with some of her wording. She let out a cold laugh and tossed the Holy Sword to her. "Spoken so righteously, but that's all it is."
"If you want the Holy Sword, then try to draw it yourself. No matter how well you speak, if you are not acknowledged by it, your words are just empty talk."
Instinctively catching the thrown sword, Artoria looked at it in a daze, then looked back at Merlin.
"Draw the sword, Lily." Merlin didn't say much, just nodded at her with an encouraging gaze.
So Artoria no longer hesitated, reaching out to grip the hilt.
There was no dazzling light, no sound of a sword being drawn. Artoria drew the Holy Sword as if she were drawing the most ordinary of knight's swords.
Witnessing this scene, and recalling how the sword had seemed fused with its scabbard in his own hands, Cang Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. Just as the Golden-Hooped Rod's final master could only be the Monkey King, the wielder of Caliburn could only be the Saberface. This was what they called destiny.
And although she had long known the prophecy, seeing the other girl draw the sword so easily still displeased Morgan. But she didn't show it much, instead moving on to the next question, the most important part of this ceremony.
The classic story of the Sword and the Sheath.
"Choose, Arthur. Will you take the sword, which represents power, or the sheath, which represents protection?" With that, Morgan said no more, her beautiful eyes fixed on the pondering Artoria.
Behind her, Merlin did the same.
And just as Cang Ye was wondering if the current Artoria would make the same choice as in the original story, he saw her lift her head and look at him.
Wait, what are you doing!!!
Alarm bells went off in Cang Ye's mind. A voice in the back of his head told him that if he didn't run now, he was about to be in deep trouble.
But it was too late to run.
Under the watchful eyes of Morgan and Merlin, Artoria gave Cang Ye a brilliant smile.
"Lamorak, what do you think?"
-------
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