For the first time, the eternally peaceful expression on the Ancient One's face showed a distinct ripple. Her pupils contracted imperceptibly, and her gaze toward Artoria was filled with genuine surprise and even deeper inquiry.
She could discern Artoria's soul traits because she was the Sorcerer Supreme, insightful of all things. But how could Artoria, in turn, perceive the "chronic illness" and "exhaustion" deep within her soul that she had deliberately hidden, brought about by drawing power from the Dark Dimension?
This wasn't just a matter of powerful perception; it required an extraordinary understanding of life energy, the essence of the soul, and high-level energy erosion to achieve! Could that warm life magic actually reach such a realm?
The silence lasted for several seconds. The Ancient One slowly exhaled, the breath carrying a trace of extremely faint, icy, dark green particles into the air, which then dissipated.
"Your perception... is sharper than I imagined." The Ancient One's voice remained steady, but it lacked a trace of its previous detachment, replaced by a hint of complex emotion. "Yes, 'wear and tear'. A very apt term. Making a deal with the power of certain ancient existences to obtain the time and power needed for protection has the price of one's soul gradually becoming stained with its color, becoming cold and heavy. This is a choice, and also a price."
She admitted it frankly. To counter threats from the multiverse and to cultivate more Guardians for Earth (such as the future Strange), the Ancient One had to draw from Dormammu's Dark Dimension power for a long time to maintain her life and strength, which also continuously eroded her soul. In the movie, her eventual choice of death due to severe injury and long-term erosion was also a form of release.
Looking at this Sorcerer Supreme who had silently protected Earth for countless years, and who now finally revealed a trace of genuine exhaustion between her brows, a wave of respect surged in Artoria's heart, along with an impulsive thought.
"Master Ancient One," she stood up, looking at the Ancient One with a firm gaze, "You have sacrificed so much to protect this World. Perhaps... perhaps I can try, using my methods, to alleviate some of this 'wear and tear' for you? Not to dispel that power—that is your contract and balance with it—but to try to purify the coldness and stagnation it brings, and to soothe the soul exhausted by it. Just like... cleaning the years of dust and grime off a gemstone, allowing its own brilliance to shine through more clearly."
This proposal was even bolder. Minerva almost spoke up to stop her, but she forcefully suppressed the impulse, merely raising her alert level to the critical point, ready to deal with any sudden situation at any time.
The Ancient One looked deeply at Artoria, light flowing in her eyes as if she were deducing countless possibilities. After a long while, she slowly stood up.
"A very generous proposal, child." She said calmly, "But this involves the level of the soul and essential power, which is very dangerous—for you, and for me. Are you sure you want to try? Even if it might have no effect, or even trigger unpredictable reactions?"
"I am sure." Artoria's answer was without hesitation. On one hand, it was out of respect for the Ancient One; on the other hand, she also wanted to try and see, with her current understanding of "Guardian" and "healing" power, combined with the possibilities granted by the system, what she could achieve. This might also be a verification—to verify how much influence her power could actually have on the "mysterious" side of this World.
"Then," the Ancient One gently unfastened her hood, revealing her smooth, shaven head. Her expression became incomparably solemn. "As you wish. But please be sure to act within your limits; if you feel anything amiss, stop immediately."
"I will."
Artoria walked in front of the Ancient One, and the two stood facing each other. Minerva nervously monitored every trace of energy flow.
Artoria closed her eyes and sank into her consciousness. "System, activate Projection—a character capable of high-level soul soothing, purifying deep energy erosion, and possessing strong stability."
The interface scrolled; this time, it was not a simple healer, but an icon symbolizing "guidance," "purification," and "supreme divine compassion" that lit up.
["Fate/Grand Order" Artoria Caster]
[Staff of Selection / Protection of the Lake / Blessing of the Fae Domain / Anchor of the Holy Spear]
[Note: Not manifesting as a Knight of the Sword, but as Artoria in the guise of a Fae of Paradise and Child of Prophecy. Wielding the Staff of Selection, possessing the ability to guide souls, purify curses, and bestow blessings, her very existence is a symbol of stability and hope. She has supreme affinity for the concepts of "Guardian" and "King".]
C-Dai! And it's the Caster form with the Staff of Selection, possessing guidance and purification traits! This is essentially the same as Saber, but more focused on the mysterious side and the soul level—it couldn't be more perfect!
[Use Projection: Artoria Caster]
There was no burst of holy light, only a breeze as crisp as mountain air, carrying the gentle scent of starlight and lake water, sweeping through the living room. Artoria's temperament suddenly became ethereal and majestic, her golden hair moving without wind, as if stained with the radiance of the stars and moon. Her eyes turned into a clear azure, reflecting flowing runes and vast star charts in their depths. A gorgeous dress interwoven with pure white and blue, adorned with exquisite fae patterns, replaced her casual clothes. In her hand, the Staff of Selection—that staff topped with a brilliant gemstone and entwined with ivy and starlight—quietly appeared.
The Ancient One's eyes suddenly brightened, filled with pure amazement and appreciation. "So that's it... is this your deeper form? Not a healing saint, but a guiding fae, a king of prophecy... an incredible form of existence."
Minerva was also stunned, her optical sensors locked firmly onto Artoria, her core processor frantically analyzing this brand new energy spectrum and existential nature, different from any previous form. But the analysis results were a mess, with only vague labels like "extremely high-level mystery," "deep resonance with Artoria's origin," and "extremely stable."
Artoria (C-Dai form) nodded at the Ancient One, her expression solemn. She gripped the Staff of Selection with both hands and tapped it gently against the floor.
"In the name of the Child of Prophecy, with the Staff of Selection as the guide—"
"This body is a mirror, reflecting the truth; this heart is a lake, washing away the dregs."
"Manifest, ancient frost entwining the soul; calm, deep exhaustion eroding the radiance."
She was not attacking, nor was she forcibly expelling the power of the Dark Dimension—that was a source of power the Ancient One had chosen herself, and it had long since merged with her. What Artoria was doing was "purification" and "soothing." The gemstone at the top of the Staff of Selection bloomed with a cool yet warm azure light. The light was not dazzling, but it carried the power to discern the essence, enveloping the Ancient One.
In C-Dai's vision, the Ancient One's soul appeared as a boundless, brilliant sea of stars containing infinite knowledge and wisdom; this was her essence as the Sorcerer Supreme. However, within this sea of stars, wisps of deep, dark green cold air that seemed to possess life were entrenched. They were not external enemies, but like maggots attached to bones, they intertwined with the sea of stars, constantly emitting an aura of coldness, deathly silence, and the consumption of all vitality, making the entire sea of stars appear somewhat dim and heavy. These were the traces of the Dark Dimension's power erosion.
Artoria guided the power of the Staff of Selection, the azure light like the gentlest tide slowly washing over the Ancient One's soul sea of stars. Wherever the light passed, it did not clash violently with the dark green cold air; instead, like the morning sun melting the night dew, it gently brushed over the surface of that cold air with a power of "order" and "blessing" of a higher dimension and more essential nature.
"Ding..." It was as if countless tiny sounds of ice crystals shattering and reforming were ringing on the soul level. The dark green cold air did not disappear—they were still an external manifestation of part of the Ancient One's source of power—but the "negative traits" of cold, deathly silence, and vitality erosion they emitted were quietly purified and neutralized under the soothing of the azure light. The cold air itself seemed to become a bit "quieter," no longer so restlessly emitting malice.
At the same time, the azure light, like the purest spiritual spring, nourished the Ancient One's soul starlight, which appeared exhausted from long-term resistance to erosion and the passage of long time. The light seeped into the depths of the sea of stars, smoothing out the tiny cracks and "burrs" caused by energy conflicts and long-term tension of will, bringing a long-lost, warm, and vibrant sense of tranquility.
The Ancient One's body shuddered slightly, and she closed her eyes. She could clearly feel that the coldness and stagnation deep in her soul, which had been like a shadow following her and constantly accumulating since she established a connection with the Dark Dimension, were being relieved and diluted in an unimaginable way. It was not that her power was being stripped away, but that the "side effects" brought by that power were being soothed and purified by a more grand and warmer order. The exhaustion receded like a tide, and her soul seemed to have shed an invisible, heavy shackle, becoming clearer and lighter than ever before, and even feeling a long-lost trace of warm vitality belonging to "life" itself.
The entire process lasted about three minutes. Fine beads of sweat seeped from Artoria's forehead; the power of the C-Dai form placed a considerable mental load, especially when performing such delicate operations on the soul level. But she held the Staff of Selection steadily until she felt that the dark green cold air in the Ancient One's soul sea of stars had been temporarily "soothed" to a relatively stable state, and the exhaustion of the soul itself had been significantly relieved, only then did she slowly withdraw the light.
The gemstone radiance of the Staff of Selection dimmed, and the gorgeous dress and starlight on Artoria also gradually dissipated, returning to her original appearance. She panted lightly, her face a bit pale, but her eyes were very bright.
The Ancient One slowly opened her eyes. Her face seemed unchanged, but those eyes, like ancient wells, were now strikingly clear and bright, as if a dusty pearl had been wiped clean, once again radiating its inner, warm, and profound brilliance. The unfathomable aura around her still existed, but the indescribable "stagnation" and "coldness" that Artoria had perceived before had faded, replaced by a feeling that was more rounded, transparent, and even carried a trace of lively vitality.
She looked down at her hands, then looked up at Artoria, her eyes filled with undisguised amazement and gratitude.
"Incredible..." The Ancient One's voice carried a trace of imperceptible tremor, "You... you actually did it. Not expulsion, not confrontation, but... purification and soothing. It's like wiping away the years of salt grime from a lighthouse in the eye of a storm, allowing its light to shine without obstruction. I feel... I haven't felt this 'relaxed' in a long time. It's as if I can clearly hear the sound of the river of time flowing gurglingly again, rather than just the undercurrents and reefs within it."
She took a step forward and solemnly bowed slightly to Artoria—this was an extremely solemn gesture of etiquette. "Thank you very much, Artoria. This gift is more precious than any magic or knowledge. It has allowed me to see another possibility, regarding power, regarding protection, regarding... balance."
Artoria quickly waved her hand: "You are too polite, Master Ancient One. Being able to help you is my honor. Moreover, this has also given me a new understanding of myself." She indeed felt that after this attempt, her understanding of the power of the C-Dai form, and of the soul and energy levels, had deepened by a layer.
The Ancient One straightened up, and that peaceful smile reappeared on her face, but this smile seemed to have a bit more genuine warmth than before. "You possess extraordinary potential and a heart, child. The doors of Kamar-Taj are always open to you, if you are interested in the mysterious side of this World. Of course, I respect your wish to choose a peaceful life."
She glanced at the sky outside the window. "I should take my leave. Thank you again for your tea, and for this precious gift. May the starlight always guide your path."
She raised her hands and traced complex golden trajectories in the air; a familiar portal, dancing with sparks, opened once again.
"Goodbye, Master Ancient One." Artoria nodded in greeting.
"Keep in touch, child. And," the Ancient One looked at Minerva, who had been on high alert and was now slightly relaxed but still vigilant, and smiled slightly, "this Guardian is very outstanding. May you always shine upon each other."
After saying this, she turned and stepped into the portal, her figure disappearing. The portal closed rapidly, and the living room returned to calm, as if everything that had just happened was just a dream. Only the extremely faint, lingering scent in the air, mixed with tea, starlight, and the smell of some ancient scroll, proved that the Sorcerer Supreme had once visited.
Artoria let out a long breath, her body swayed, and she was steadily supported by Minerva, who had instantly flashed over.
"Excessive consumption. Please rest immediately." Minerva's voice carried unquestionable concern as she helped her to the sofa to sit down, while simultaneously rapidly scanning her physical state.
"I'm fine, just a little tired." Artoria leaned back on the sofa, feeling somewhat mentally overdrawn, but her mood was exceptionally comfortable. Not only because she had helped the Ancient One, but also because the success of this attempt gave her a clearer understanding and confidence in her own and the system's power.
Minerva didn't say anything more, just went to pour her another cup of warm water, and then quietly stood guard to the side. Her optical sensors occasionally scanned the place where the Ancient One had disappeared, and deep in her core, data regarding "extremely high-level mysterious side individual," "harmless (tentative)," "beneficial to Artoria," etc., were recorded and archived. At the same time, a new complex data stream related to "Artoria's weakened state after casting high-level purification magic" and "the urgent protective emotion generated within herself" flowed into that constantly expanding buffer zone again.
The afterglow of the sunset dyed the sea surface golden red. The cabin returned to tranquility once again, but certain connections had been established, and certain perceptions had been changed. The curtain of the World, for Artoria, had been lifted by another corner.
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