London, England. The Clock Tower...
As the successor to the Magecraft Academy of 1,500 years ago, the modern Clock Tower placed even greater emphasis on student recruitment than Guinevere remembered.
However, the Clock Tower remained a Mage institution, and its obsession with bloodlines had only intensified over time.
Waver led them to register, but the two used Guinevere's original surname. When they entered the most basic classroom, the new students only gave them a second glance because of their beauty.
As for why they didn't join the El-Melloi Classroom—it was an elite class. After briefly skimming through Kayneth's lesson plans, Guinevere and the King of Knights knew they wouldn't understand a thing.
In this basic classroom, equivalent to a first-year class, outstanding students assisted with teaching the fundamentals of Magecraft.
The instructor for this session was none other than five-year-old Reines.
"Hello, Miss Caster, Miss Artoria."
Not only their names but also their appearances and ages had been disguised. Guinevere and the King of Knights both maintained the appearance of fourteen-year-olds.
As for "Caster," it was, of course, a reference to her class. The King of Knights used her real name, Artoria, because those unfamiliar with her wouldn't recognize it.
"Hello to you too, Master Reines."
The tiny girl was remarkably slender, with the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Kayneth. She even wore a knee-length dress in the same color as his attire.
In contrast, Guinevere and the King of Knights wore the Clock Tower's female uniform: an orange top, black shorts, and matching black stockings. Naturally, they also wore the black, wide-sleeved robes bearing the Clock Tower's insignia.
After exchanging greetings and introducing themselves to the class, they nodded to Sakura, Rin, and a little girl with familiar blonde drill-like hair who were also in the classroom.
The two who looked the oldest naturally took seats at the very back of the lecture hall.
However, once the lecture actually began, only the King of Knights was paying close attention.
Reines was lecturing on the Clock Tower's origins and history, as well as what students could expect to learn there.
"Master, is that really true? That fifteen hundred years ago, when Mages were being persecuted by the Church, the Kingdom of Camelot opened its borders to them and established the first Magecraft classroom?"
"Correct. This is a history known to every Mage from a long-established lineage. The level of detail you know, however, depends on how deep that lineage runs. What I'll be sharing with you is merely the basics."
On the lecture platform, Reines sat on a tall stool—even taller than the lectern—with her arms crossed. Kayneth's Volumen Hydrargyrum, which he had lent her, had formed a humanoid shape and was writing on the blackboard for her.
"Therefore, I want you all to remember this: every student who chooses to study at the Clock Tower owes a debt to the Pendragon bloodline."
At the back of the classroom, the King of Knights' face flushed slightly. She nudged Guinevere with her elbow, but the person she nudged was still engrossed in her drawing. It had only been a few days, yet she had already drawn up to their grand wedding.
"Guinevere, how about I help you draw? I should have a hand in fulfilling that wish too."
Attending class was something the King of Knights looked forward to. Therefore, talking in class and getting caught by the Master was an essential part of the experience that simply had to be savored.
As even Sakura couldn't help but turn her head to stifle a laugh, Guinevere was called upon. She was asked to recount how the Mages and the Kingdom of Camelot first formed their bond.
Should I tell them? Can I tell them? Guinevere began to narrate the story of the snow disaster, mentioning the Family Head who had first contracted with her.
While they were enjoying this most basic of Magecraft lessons...
...in the Reverse Side of the World, within Avalon, the old geezer Merlin was truly working hard. He was conferring with his counterpart from another world, discussing the optimal point in time to send Guinevere.
Should they drop her directly into the Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot Singularity, or should they have her establish contact with Chaldea first?
Past, present, and future existed simultaneously, yet time still flowed linearly forward. In the other Merlin's world, it was already the year 2016.
"I doubt she'd have any interest in staying at Chaldea permanently, would she?"
"But Morgan still needs her help with something. The best-case scenario would be to keep that aspect of her there indefinitely."
"Would she agree to that?"
"She owes Morgan far too many favors."
Communication with parallel worlds was conducted through the computer in front of Merlin, but it had already been modified by the Old Man of the Jewels.
Everyone has their strengths, and observing parallel worlds was not Merlin's forte.
A minute, a second, a day, a week...
Time flowed by as everyone bustled with activity. Once Merlin had everything prepared, he first sent a lock of Guinevere's own hair—a catalyst guaranteed to summon her—to the other side. Then, he initiated another video call with Guinevere and remotely guided Morgan through the process of restoring her memories.
"Sister, are you sure this thing can really be sent back to the Throne of Heroes?"
Returning the memories relied on Guinevere's Second Noble Phantasm, which used a fabricated soul she constructed as its foundation.
The item Morgan wanted Guinevere to take with her was the Magic-Sealing Necklace—a gift Guinevere had given her, which Morgan had returned, only to reclaim it after her death.
Of course, Morgan had since fused the necklace with the only Dragon Heart unearthed from the Albion Spirit Tomb, transforming it into a genuine Noble Phantasm.
When this item was integrated into Guinevere's fabricated soul, it greatly enhanced the soul's authenticity and even granted Guinevere the Dragon attribute.
"You just need to trust me."
This time, it wasn't just Guinevere whose memories were being returned; the King of Knights had also requested to join. The process was guided by Merlin, presided over by Morgan, and observed by Kayneth and other Lords from the Clock Tower...
As the magic circle flared with light, a small world-void formed somewhere beneath the Clock Tower. Guinevere's and the King of Knights' fabricated souls, carrying their memories, swiftly returned to the Throne of Heroes and successfully merged with their original souls.
"Ugh... After sitting idly for fifteen hundred years, I've finally reunited with Lia."
Deep within the Counter Force, in the Throne of Heroes, at the seat belonging solely to Guinevere, her memories returned. She immediately rolled around in satisfaction on her enormous velvet bed.
At the same time, she held up the necklace Morgan had returned, let out a soft chuckle, and smiled.
"Now that I have this, does it count as another Noble Phantasm? The Fairy Kingdom of Great Britain? I get it, you foolish sister. I'll definitely save the other you!"
The Throne of Heroes is a sealed space from which each Heroic Spirit cannot leave on their own. However, the size and decor of the space within can be altered entirely according to the will of its master.
For instance, Guinevere had decorated her space like a true otaku's den. Aside from the large bed in the center, the four walls were lined with all sorts of figurines. Fifty percent were various versions of Artoria, thirty percent were Mordred, ten percent were Morgan, and the final ten percent depicted other important people from her memories.
Here, Guinevere had also requested a computer and had reproduced and stored all the works from her previous life's memories.
She reviewed her past, rolled around on her bed, and waited for a future summoning contract. Since the Throne of Heroes exists outside of time, Guinevere soon heard a voice calling her name.
This time, she and her King of Knights would correct the story of another King of Knights.
Everything was supposed to unfold this way...
But...
"Alright, Pseudo-Servant summoning is an essential part of the Fate series experience. I am Artoria now!
"Then, as the King of Knights, Artoria, I shall raise the banner of rebellion against you, Lion King Artoria!"