At the World's End, the tides churned. When the battered Lion King opened her eyes again, she found herself resting her head on Guinevere's lap. Guinevere sat amidst the sole pure-white divine path in this place.
Everything had returned to her—the memories of Artoria Pendragon, the King of Knights. She also clearly remembered the centuries of aimless wandering and the cold indifference she had adopted after arriving in this Singularity.
"You were right. I am an enemy of the Planet. But the power you displayed..."
A sharp flick to the Lion King's forehead cut her off, stunning her—she had never experienced such a thing before. As she reached up to rub the spot, Guinevere leaned down and, unable to resist, planted a kiss right where she had flicked her.
Then, Guinevere finally snapped out of it, staring blankly at the equally stunned Lion King. She held the gaze until, embarrassed, she turned her head away, admitting to herself that she was in increasingly desperate need of some "Artoria elements."
"Ahem... Alright, alright. I know the power I just used wasn't enough to defeat the Demon God King," she said, clearing her throat. "But even if you don't believe in me or Chaldea, can't you at least trust Merlin?
"He's been watching Chaldea's Human Order Restoration Journey this whole time. My first Master... that was Merlin, still in Avalon.
"And... he's worried about you."
The Lion King's memories differed from Guinevere's King of Knights persona. She naturally trusted Merlin more, whom she regarded as a 'godfather.' Moreover, no one believed in Merlin's prophecies more than she did.
"Merlin knows..."
The Lion King trailed off, then froze. She finally noticed that Guinevere had said 'Demon God King,' whereas Chaldea currently only knew of the 'King of Magecraft.'
The difference of a single word meant that Guinevere and Merlin knew something she had only seen with her divine sight.
"Heh."
The Lion King laughed—a self-deprecating chuckle that also carried a sigh of emotion for Merlin.
"He's actually willing to get involved in the prophecy himself?"
"I don't care what he thinks, but the fact is, he's already done it."
The mention of the 'Demon God King' had freed the Lion King from her lingering anxieties, completely extinguishing her will to fight. She raised her head, gazing directly at the still-youthful face of her other self.
As she looked, she reached out and cupped the face in her hands, tracing every inch of it with her fingertips.
In that moment, it was as if she could see Guinevere's true form—as if her younger self were speaking to her.
"Lia says she wants your memories," Guinevere relayed. "She wants to use them as a warning to herself and to draw more power from you."
Though they shared a single body, two souls resided within. Artoria hadn't spoken before because she lacked the ability, but after the recent Round Table meeting, her voice could now reach Guinevere's mind through the Holy Sword.
Guinevere could guess most of what her Lia was thinking. She likely didn't want to miss the rest of the Human Order Restoration Journey and lacked confidence in her current strength.
"Lia says that if you're worried the Human Order Restoration Journey won't reach its end, you shouldn't stay here and perish with this Singularity. Instead, you should merge with her and witness the journey's conclusion together."
The Lion King was an alternate possibility of Artoria. She had survived through the power of the Holy Lance, eventually ascending to godhood.
But this also meant she was special—an individual not recorded on the Throne of Heroes. If this place collapsed, it would mean her complete annihilation. Any future Lancer-class Artoria summoned into the world would have no connection to the Lion King here.
"My memories?" the Lion King murmured. "But if I give them to you just like that, you'll have to endure the torment I've suffered and bear the weight of the sins I've committed in this Singularity."
"But it also means I can share my happiness with you."
"Hmph. Are you saying you plan to share your Guinevere with me?"
Perhaps because they were two different possibilities of the same person, they could converse freely once the Holy Sword was placed in the Lion King's arms.
The Lion King's words left Lia stunned. She had already been bothered by Guinevere kissing the Lion King's forehead; the idea of "sharing" was even more unsettling.
"Lia, you only want her memories, not her soul," Guinevere explained gently. "It's just like watching a movie starring yourself. You'll still be you."
Compared to Artoria, Guinevere had spent far more time contemplating the complex philosophical question of "Am I me?"
"Other Lia," the Lion King interjected impatiently, "why all this talk? Just tell me: will you take my memories and leave behind proof that I once existed in this world?"
Death was the Lion King's destiny, delayed by centuries. Eternal rest was the wish she had craved for just as long. After her first-ever childish tease, she spoke:
"Then let us exchange. In my final moments, let me experience the happiness of my other self and witness the prosperous Camelot she has maintained."
The Lion King embraced the sword. Guinevere needed to do nothing more; their memories naturally began to swap.
During the process, however, the Lion King gradually curled up like a cooked shrimp, her expression toward Guinevere growing increasingly strange.
What they shared wasn't merely memories, but the full sensory experience of every event.
As a result, though the Lion King had never even had her first kiss, she was now, in a certain sense, a seasoned veteran.
"Amazing... a Camelot Kingdom that rules the entire European continent..."
Resting on the lap pillow, the Lion King turned her head, trying to move her shattered body. She failed, forced to continue experiencing the memories while curled like a cooked shrimp.
Through this exchange, Lia gained the insights into power she desired. The greatest change in the Lion King, however, was the growth of her humanity—she now possessed the demeanor befitting a young woman.
"Alright, the memory exchange is over. Now get lost. One last warning: the Holy Grail of the next Singularity was personally delivered by the Demon God King. That place holds power far, far more terrifying than mine..."
"I know, Miss Artoria—the one who isn't mine."
The Lion King's words caught in her throat. She shot Guinevere a fierce glare, her expression already mirroring Lia's.
Compared to the prepared Lia, the Lion King had clearly been far more stimulated by the memory exchange.
"Now scram. Let me rest quietly here at the End of the World and await my final slumber."
The Holy Sword remained in the Lion King's arms as Lia, still processing the memories, returned to 'Guinevere's' body.
Just as she had said, her Lia was only slightly affected—like watching a movie.
"Guinevere, let's go. Let my other self have her peace. She's been... quite shaken."
At the End of the World, though the Lion King couldn't move, she still expelled Guinevere from the area.
Cradling the sword, she reached for the scattered Holy Lance, only to suddenly realize...
With the Holy Sword and Holy Lance in hand, and here at the End of the World rather than in a Singularity, she realized she wouldn't die from her wounds after all. The collapse of the Jerusalem Singularity wouldn't affect this place.
"So... is there anyone here to help me return the Holy Sword?"
She muttered to herself, but only the sound of the tide echoed back. As she savored more of Lia's memories, she gradually regained some strength and curled into a ball, feeling a slight pang of jealousy toward her other self.
"Honestly... is it really that fun for girls to be so close?"
The Lion King lay sprawled out, her blush fading, completely devoid of her usual regal composure.