Eve of the Decisive Battle (II)

I have a report to make, Queen Morgan.

Tam Lin Barghest and Tam Lin Lancelot have finished arranging their formations on Camelot's ramparts.

Lady Aurora of the Wind clan has assembled an army and departed from Salisbury.

They should arrive at Camelot's west gate tomorrow.

Lord Spriggan of the Earth clan is already here, along with his private company of soldiers.

Lady Murian of the Wing clan has sided with the Child of Prophecy, and refused your summons.

Of our one-hundred and five royal knights stationed around Britain...

...eighty have returned to Camelot, while twenty-five remain in their respective territories after refusing your summons.

(Not even all of the knights are here?) (I can't believe there are defectors in the queen's own army...)

(Doesn't this mean Camelot's forces are outnumbered now?) (Not to mention all the Bells of Pilgrimage have been rung...)

(They say the Child of Prophecy's magical energy is now the equal of Her Majesty's...)

(And the foreign mage is said to command ghosts whose power rivals even our knights...)

(What do you think we should do? Maybe it's not too late to change sides ourselves...)

(...No, it's okay. We have nothing to fear as long as we have the Tam Lin.)

(She may have been defeated, but Barghest is still as strong as ever. They'll never get through the main gate with her around.)

...Hmph. Aurora says she will be late, does she? Precisely the sort of trickery I expect from her.

Tell Barghest she needn't bother opening the west gate.

But, Your Majesty, that would mean

Do not make me repeat myself.

Your Majesty, what would you have us do with the knights who refused your summons?

If you'd like to have them branded traitors, we'd be happy to go confiscate their territories.

That will not be necessary. I have already disposed of those who refused my summons personally.

The very act of weighing me against the Child of Prophecy is itself blasphemy, and punishable by death.

(She killed knights all across the land in a single night!? How!?)

(They may not compare to the Tam Lin, but a single one of the queen's knights is still the equal of a thousand ordinary soldiers! And she killed twenty-five of them all by herself!?)

Silence, you dithering idiots.

I did not summon my knights here because I require their aid. I merely offered them a chance to demonstrate their loyalty.

Camelot will never fall, no matter what the rebel army may attempt.

In my estimation, they are no greater a threat than the eighth calamity. I can handle them alone. Easily.

And the Child of Prophecy is a fool for thinking she can match me merely by ringing the Bells of Pilgrimage.

How many times does she think I have completed the very same pilgrimage? One such journey does not give her power enough to match even my little finger.

(What was that!? Did Her Majesty just admit to undergoing the pilgrimage herself!?)

(Does that mean the rumors are true? Is High Queen Morgan actually a faerie of paradise...?)

Your Majesty. Please, forgive my interruption.

We have just received a call from Lady Cnoc na Riabh of the King Clan's mirror. Shall I answer it?

Yes. Bring me the mirror.

At once, Your Majesty! Spatial Mirror, to me!

Good day, Queen Morgan. It is I, Cnoc na Riabh, descendant of the northern faeries.

First, I must offer an apology in regards to your recent request.

I'm afraid I was unable to dispose of the Child of Prophecy as you instructed me.

Following a fair and honorable duel, the Child of Prophecy and I have become close friends.

I do hope you can forgive me for failing to do as you commanded.

...Not that I expect a frigid bitch like you ever thought I would to begin with, since you don't trust anyone.

(Why that little...! How dare that northern barbarian speak to Her Majesty that way!?)

Oh, but I do bring you some glad tidings, Queen Morgan. Allow me to offer my congratulations.

At long last, you're going to be freed from the burden of ruling over Britain.

For too long, you've been sucking us dry with your Command Spells, and been woefully inadequate with your responses to the Great Calamities.

So long as you remain on the throne, Britain has no future.

And above all...

I'm the rightful heir to the throne as granted to me by my predecessor, Queen Mab.

It's time for you to retire, Morgan. We can't trust you with Britain any longer.

As Cnoc na Riabh, the rightful queen of Britain, I offer Camelot's current administration an opportunity to surrender.

If you refuse to peacefully hand over your castle by tomorrow morning, I'll come take it by force.

Your treaty with my predecessor, the past queen, is now null and void.

Prepare yourself, Morgan le Fay.

This is a declaration of war from the Child of the Queen and the Child of Prophecy!

There! That's the declaration of war taken care of! We've established that we are in the right!

We'll be fine. We're all set to merge our forces. All we have to do now is organize a chain of command overnight.

Right? I thought first you declared war, then offered your enemy a chance to surrender after you weakened them...

Oh come on, you know Morgan would never surrender! I was just getting the formalities out of the way!

？！

...So, the fighting begins tomorrow morning...

Assuming that we'll need to organize new formations for our armies anyway, how should we go about our siege?

It doesn't look as though the queen's army will try to attack us out here in the open...

Nope. The fact that there aren't any troops out on the plains already means they're definitely just focusing on shoring up their defenses.

Good thing for us, too, since that let the Round Table Army get here from Oxford today.

So it's finally time to bring down the big castle, huh. Which gate do we take? Main, west, or east?

Just the main gate. That's what Cnoc na Riabh put together her giant corps for.

After we've smashed the main gate, the northern faerie army and the Round Table Army will occupy the castle town.

Personally, I'd rather wait to do that until after we've seized control of the castle itself, but

I already told you, no way. I want to keep my new castle in pristine condition!

...Especially the throne.

Even if we succeed at defeating Morgan, it won't mean anything if we destroy the throne in the process.

？！

...

Nn, no, not really! I just plan to get a lot of use out of it once it's mine!

Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself? We haven't even started fighting yet, let alone won.

I'd worry about yourself more than me. Never mind the castle town.

You guys are going to have the hardest time of all once you're inside the castle itself.

Morgan is going to come straight for you and Fujimaru.

If either of you dies, that'll pretty much put paid to Ainsel's prophecy.

If that happens, the Round Table Army's morale will crumble, and me and my army will be the only ones to survive.

Yes... That's a good point.

Should we have Altria and Fujimaru stay behind then?

Not an option. We'll never break through the main gate without the faerie of paradise's protection.

Especially with Barghest and Lancelot standing in our way.

Altria, Mash, and Fujimaru are the only ones who can hold their own against those two.

You three will need to be in the vanguard the whole time. First the gate, then the city, then the castle. Got it?

？！

...

What is it, Cnoc na Riabh? What's with the sigh?

If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it. You won't get another chance before tomorrow night.

If you don't say something memorable now, you'll just end up as that weird chocolate queen.

Who asked you!? Besides, you know what I pledged, right!?

So never mind that now! As soon as Morgan's defeated and that throne is mine, I'll be ready to settle things in our rematch!

Heh. No, I don't have anything in particular to say. All that matters is the dashing figure I'll cut tomorrow.

Make sure you pay more attention to me than Altria, Fujimaru.

See for yourself which of us is the better faerie to rule Britain.

Just make sure you don't spend so much time trying to look good that you slip off one of those high places you love.

What a cruel joke it would be if you helped us win this war only to immediately fall to your death afterwards.

As if I'd ever die in a dumb accident like that! Besides, I'm immortal as long as I have my northern army!

Well, what do you know. I thought you'd be in a foul mood once the Round Table Army joined us, but you're more fired up than ever.

Guess having your rival and your lover here was just the motivator you needed.

Pretty much. Neither of them belong to me just yet, but you can definitely never have too many rewards.

...Which is why we need to cover every possible angle in this strategy meeting.

Altria, the Child of Prophecy. Percival, commander of the Round Table Army.

Grímr, magecraft advisor to the northern army. Da Vinci, sage of the outside world.

You four stay here with me. Muramasa, Fujimaru, you're dismissed.

There's a tent set up for you at our campsite. Go rest up for tomorrow.

You want me here, too? Well, okay. I guess I can offer my opinion as a representative of Chaldea and Proper Human History.

Don't worry about me, Fujimaru. Take advantage of this chance to rest.

I'll go over what we cover here with you later. Give Mash my best.

I'll be fine. Cnoc na Riabh may be running the show, but I'll keep her in line if she starts getting carried away.

Besides, with Percival here, I'm sure we can figure out a strategy that both our forces can agree to.

？！

Welcome back, Master. How did the strategy meeting with the Round Table Army and northern army go?

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I see. So Cnoc na Riabh said this will be a battle between two opposing nations.

And since the general plan of attack for the castle is decided, now they just need to hammer out the particulars?

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...

...Our goals are to obtain Rhongomyniad, and to stop the British Lostbelt's collapse from engulfing the world.

I know we need to defeat Queen Morgan to achieve both of those goals, but...

？！

...If we could settle this peacefully, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

But...Queen Morgan has been ruling Britain the way she believes is right for two thousand years.

Words won't change her mind, especially since that's not how she wants to be persuaded.

She'll only change her mind once she's been defeated by a power greater than her own.

She said if you want to make your dreams come true, you need to prove you're strong enough to do so.

That's Aesc the Savior as I knew her. She was always...severe like that.

？！

...What about you, Senpai?

I know this battle will determine the future of Britain...

But I also know it's been forty-four days since we left the Storm Border, and we're approaching our deadline.

We don't necessarily have to take part in this battle to complete our mission.

We could always sneak into Camelot while the Round Table Army and the queen's army are fighting each other, and acquire Rhongomyniad that way.

If Holmes were here, he'd probably suggest we do just that...

？！

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...Right. Running away was never an option.

We have a responsibility as humans from Proper Human History who have already overthrown many Lostbelts.

And we have hope as the Child of Prophecy's companions, who have been with her on her journey.

If we're going to fight Queen Morgan for the future of this beautiful land, those are the two things we need to hold on to.

Oh, hey there, Fujimaru. Out for a walk?

We wrapped up the strategy meeting a little while ago. All that's left now is to wait for tomorrow morning.

You and Mash are the key to our assault team, so make sure you memorize the layout of the castle before you turn in.

Here, Cnoc na Riabh drew a map of the castle town.

Remember how tall its buildings were when we went for that audience?

That's why you've gotta watch your step so you don't get lost. 'Specially since I won't be there to help you out this time.

？！

I'll stick with you guys until you get back to... Um... The Storm Border, was it?

But I'm not going to fight Morgan. I'm going to see how things play out here.

That said...

If you're going to fight her, I'd like you to take her on and give her such a beating, she'll have no choice but to admit she's outclassed.

She's a really sore loser, so she'll never admit defeat otherwise.

How about you, Grímr? You gonna join them in the war?

Well, yeah. Honestly, I don't care which side wins, but I am gonna keep Altria alive.

My goal is to ensure the faerie of paradise fulfills her duty.

As long as Altria stays alive, she can always try again even if she doesn't defeat Morgan tomorrow.

？！

Oh, yeah. Ainsel's prophecy did say something about that, didn't it?

"Chosen by the Staff of Selection, the savior, guarded by travelers from afar, shall reach the throne."

"The true king shall arrive at the throne. Accept now this bloodied crown."

"Ring. Ring. Like raging thunder. Like weeping flame. Let us harken to the six bells ringing."

So far, everything's played out just as it said.

Altria rang the six bells, has a foreign mage watching out for her, and tomorrow, she'll be within arm's reach of the throne.

As far as I can tell, her and Morgan's Spirit Origins are evenly matched, and their support teams are, too.

So it will all come down to tomorrow.

That said...I really don't like the image of a bloodied crown. It's gotta be talking about Morgan's blood staining the crown after her defeat, right?

Dammit, Ainsel, couldn't you have chosen better imagery for the Child of Prophecy's victory?

I mean, it probably also means that Morgan's been squeezing Britain hard for a long time now, but still...

...

...

Oh, right. Fujimaru, could you give Percival a message for me?

I'm happy to inscribe runes on the Round Table Army's shields too, but I've got my limits just like anyone else.

So tell him to gather up his hundred best soldiers and have them see me. You'll find him in the officers' tent.

？！

No problem! We've known each other since the first Grímr, after all! Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't push herself too hard again!

...

That's it. See how your left arm got hot just now? That's your magical circuit. It's one of your gifts, Percival.

Even humans can generate magical energy. From there, it all depends on how you use it. Go on, try and copy me.

It's okay. There's no need to be hasty. I'm here for you, Percival.

Woodwose won't come here anymore. That venture has been shut down.

So you have all the time in the world to grow up.

Please don't be reckless. Please don't get hurt. Please don't do anything fun without me, either.

You're my first student. My first child. My first brother. My first friend.

Ahh, my dear Percival. May you grow up healthy and strong.

Listen, Mélusine! It's terrible! Just terrible!

After all the work we all put in to the manor, those Bones people keep messing with it.

I understand their confidence, since their own manor is doing so well...

But lately, they've been baselessly slandering ours almost nonstop, and they're even harassing the humans who work there.

I'm afraid. You know how rough they can be, right? If they did anything to the humans...

Ahh, just thinking about it turns my knees to jelly. Tell me, are my wings still glistening?

...Of course. It's okay. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything.

(Sniff... Sniff...) Aah...

Aah, aaah, aaahhh...!

...That's right. I'm going to save her. I swear it.

...I know, Gareth. I'm not a child anymore.

I WILL see that your lance finds her. It's the least I can do to make your wish to protect Britain come true.

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Oh, hello, Fujimaru. Something I can do for you?

You have a message from Grímr? I see. A hundred of my best soldiers, huh.

I'll go round them up right away. Thanks for telling me.

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...That obvious, huh? It's true. I got scolded for spacing out in the strategy meeting, too.

But it's okay. I know what I need to do now, and I've made my peace with it.

I'm Percival of the Round Table Army now. I have things worth fighting for, and wishes of my own.

Now, I'm only going to fight for what's right. Please let Altria know that, too.

...I think she probably saw right through me at the meeting earlier.

？！

Tomorrow, we face Queen Morgan. I know we're going to have to fight Lancelot as well.

So I ask that you let me handle her myself, as the commander of the Round Table Army.

I may not be able to defeat her...but I swear to at least keep her busy until the battle is over.

？！

I am. Altria and Cnoc na Riabh are the main actors in this battle, and the prophecy didn't say anything about me, anyway.

...This just goes to show that I didn't know what love was when I was a child.

Altria was here just a moment ago. She said she was gonna take a walk outside the camp to get some night air.

Sure, it's a little reckless of her to go out on her own right before a big battle, but she's strong enough now that she'll be fine even if one of the Tam Lin were to attack her.

The real problem is whatever made her want to go outside. Maybe she's tired from being around all these people?

...Well, you know. She's always had a tough time with crowds.

Well, with faeries, really. Not that she's much better with humans, either.

？！

Is that how Altria comes across to you, Muramasa? I guess she can be a little awkward...

But I think that's just 'cause she tends to be a people pleaser. I'll take that over arrogance any day of the week.

Especially since, you know, just between us, Altria's kind of scary strong now. Like, Lostbelt king-level strong.

If she ever went nuts and turned evil, we wouldn't stand a chance against her.

Just so you know, Muramasa, if things ever come to that, we won't think twice about sacrificing you so the rest of us can escape!

If that happens, you and me'll both be taking a trip across the Sanzu River. And I'm sure not gonna help you out there.

Huh? She can?

...Must be Fae Eyes.

Murian said that it used to be impossible to lie to faeries because they could see your true feelings.

From what I could tell, she still had a little of that power herself.

Hold on. Oberon told us that ever since British faeries started imitating human society...

...they lost the Mystic that gave them their Fae Eye

Oh, right! Altria ISN'T a British faerie! She came here from Avalon. Which means

She can see lies. She can tell what others are really thinking. No... She might be seeing even deeper than that.

This might be rich coming from me, seeing as I spent my life fixated on things like evil, retribution, and karma...

...but if she can see people's karma, that'd be terrible for her.

I'm sure one reason fairies disappeared from Proper Human History is the advance of civilization...

I'd bet a bigger one, though, is that they couldn't stand seeing human malice laid bare.

As humans invented language and began studying the world around them, the whole species grew wiser as knowledge spread from the privileged class to the masses.

But that also helped lies, deceit, and pretenses spread all over the world.

That's what the faeries couldn't bear. That's why they stopped having anything to do with humans.

But now the faeries of this Lostbelt are just as pretentious and deceitful as humans.

And only two faeries can see just how ugly those lies are: Altria and Morgan.

They're the only two who're like the fairies we knew in Proper Human History.

...Gotcha. Makes sense. It's one thing to see through lies, but quite another to see the lies themselves.

Sometimes, we humans choose to go along with what someone's telling us even when we know they're lying. We can turn a blind eye if it'll help things go smoothly.

But you can't do that if you have Fae Eyes. They leave you no choice but to face both the lie and the true feelings behind it.

？！

It still wouldn't be enough. There'll always be gaps between what someone says and thinks, no matter how honest they are.

In some ways, it's actually better if someone lies to you out of contempt. As long as you know what they're doing, there are ways to cope.

But if you can see the lies for what they are? The worst are the kind people tell to make you feel better.

Even if they're doing it for good reasons, a lie is a lie.

So if even white lies told out of kindness and consideration seem dirty to those with Fae Eyes...

...then this Britain must be no different from human society as far as a faerie of paradise is concerned.

And if that's true...would she really want to save a world like that?

Of course she would. She's got her head screwed on straight about that kinda thing.

If she was going to jump ship, she'd have done so long ago. I don't know why she's so stubborn...

But whatever the reason, she's definitely made of the most unyielding steel around! The kind of person who'll never compromise their principles, no matter what!

Gotta say though, you never know what lifeer, materialization, has in store.

I was planning to head back to the Foreign God as soon as I'd worked off what my life's worth...

...but this job turned out to be a whole lot longer than I expected.

One thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, we were only half a day away from attacking Camelot.

And I'm gonna be doing it together with the Master of Chaldea, too. Who'da thunk?

You know, now that you mention it, it really is a hell of a situation we find ourselves in.

I can only imagine the headaches Director Goredolf must be getting when he reads my reports.

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You know, that's not a bad idea!

？！

Sure I could. All the Foreign God did was summon Servants and give them jobs.

Said we'd have no reason to defy her since we'd been handpicked by the strongest being in the world, so she knew we'd never betray her.

She still doesn't get the idea that some people are better fits for certain jobs than others, or that they might have actual preferences of their own.

She just takes a pro and con approach to everything...though I guess that aspect might be different now.

But I think I'll let another version of me handle that discussion. This time, it just wasn't in the cards.

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I know. Make sure you hang on to that feeling, though. I could tell there was no lie or zealousness to what you said.

The only reason Altria's made it this far is 'cause of how honest you are with yourself.

Wheeew. I'm exhausted...

I can't believe Cnoc na Riabh actually wrote up orders for each and every soldier.

Squad leaders are supposed to handle that kind of thing.

I guess all that mental labor tends to fall on the few who can handle it, since most northern faeries don't think about complicated things.

Still, thanks to that, they're all honest and trustworthy, and they're all very loyal to Cnoc na Riabh.

Now that the Round Table Army has regrouped too, the battle tomorrow should

Play out just like the prophecy said. Morgan will be defeated without a single casualty.

The pilgrimage went great. None of your traveling companions dropped out along the way.

And the rebel army is in great shape. There's not a single soldier keeping secrets, just like in the queen's army.

All signs are pointing to a happily ever after. Right, Altria?

...

...I see. You're still hung up on Gareth. But remember, the prophecy predicted all of that.

"The round fortress shall burn, and the bell of water shall appear."

What happened to her wasn't your fault, and she didn't desert you, either. That was her fate.

...Is that really what you think?

Of course it is. Besides, Gareth wouldn't want us to be sad about her being gone.

I don't mean about her. I mean what you said about there not being a single casualty.

...The truth is, you think our chances of winning are slim, that the Round Table Army's going to be slaughtered, and the humans will be the first to die.

And yet, you're trying to comfort me by telling me there won't be any casualties.

...Then there's what you said about no one hiding anything, just like the queen's army.

Be honest, Oberon. You've actually known Cnoc na Riabh for a long time now, right?

But you pretended you'd never met her before when she captured us after our audience with Morgan.

It's true, I have.

But if you'd known Cnoc na Riabh and I were friends, you never would have trusted me, would you?

That's not all of it.

When we saw Mash for the first time, back in Norwich...

That's Maaash!

THAT'S Mash!?

...

You already knew who Mash was, but you pretended not to.

You also knew she was in Sheffield, but you didn't tell us.

You kept it from Fujimaru so he wouldn't go looking for her there.

I did.

I wanted Fujimaru to work with the Child of Prophecy of his own volition.

Not because Chaldea ordered him to.

I admit, it was dishonest of me.

As powerful a Tam Lin as Mash was, it was still dangerous for her to be up north by herself.

And then there's...

Yes?

You could say one of the reasons I'm so...overly invested in Britain's welfare is their kindness.

Who says they're worthless or incapable of doing anything? They might be powerless, but they were the only ones who cared for me.

So of course I have to do everything I can to pay them back☆ That's why I care so much about taking Morgan down.

...And then there's the fact you were gone on the morning of our battle with Woodwose's army.

We only won because the queen's reinforcements never showed up.

And that only happened because you did something to stop them.

...You always seem so honest and sincere, but you never tell the truth. You never tell anyone what you're really thinking.

Why is that? Why do you keep lying to us?

Do you... Do you actually want to defeat Morgan?

...

Of course I do. There's not a faerie in Britain who's worked harder to bring her down than I have.

I want to destroy her Faerie Britain with every fiber of my being. If that means I have to lie, then I'll lie.

Besides...I'm not the only liar here, Altria.

You haven't been truthful about why you've come this far. Your true motive has nothing to do with saving Britain.

And I'm not the only one who's figured that out. Fujimaru is catching on, too.

You haven't been fighting for humans, or even other faeries. Not for one second.

Your true motivation lies elsewhere. You just refuse to talk about it.

...What are you saying? That's ridiculous.

I'm the faerie of paradise. I was sent here to save Britain.

That's your guilt talking, not you. And what exactly does it mean to "save" Britain, do you think?

Do you know what Muramasa once said?

He said that every faerie is seeking absolution. That every last one of them yearns for death.

He said that, deep down, that's what every faerie in every town we've been to secretly wants.

Muramasa said that...?

He doesn't have Fae Eyes like we do, but he must be pretty sensitive to the pain people carry in their hearts.

That's why you're still conflicted about this, isn't it, Altria?

You don't talk about things like that because you know it wouldn't change anything.

It's the same with me. I'll do whatever it takes to defeat Morgan, whether I like it or not.

So why don't we leave it at that for now? Tomorrow's our last battle.

I'm sure there'll be a time when you can come clean about what you're really thinking.

That's what this whole pilgrimage was for, right?

And hey, who knows? Once you come clean, you might just find that nobody thinks it's a big deal anyway.

It seems Cnoc na Riabh's army and the Round Table Army have rendezvoused.

I still can't quite believe Her Majesty didn't even try to stop them. It's one thing to give your enemy a fighting chance, but this is far too generous.

Between the Child of Prophecy's protection, and the King Clan's fae domain, our forces should be evenly matched.

I'm sure Her Majesty means to crush them, but there's still a chance they could get lucky.

If our forces are evenly matched, then there's no chance of them winning as long as you and I are here.

The two of us alone could end this right now, whether the high queen is here or not.

I could destroy Cnoc na Riabh's army on my own, and you could do the same for the Round Table Army.

We're already being nice by giving them till morning. There's no sense meeting them on their terms.

The only ones we need to be wary of are the foreign mage, Galahad, the two Servants, and Percival.

But I can handle all of them on my own, too.

They're all fairly good fighters, but none of them can match me in the air.

The only faeries who could fight me on even terms are High Queen Morgan, or you in a larger form.

If I were in their shoes, I'd want at least twice the forces they have now before challenging Camelot.

But, unfortunately for them, the soldiers from Salisbury coming to join them have only just crossed the western plains.

The Fang clan might have helped tip the scales if they'd gone over to their side, but they're nowhere to be seen lately.

They don't have a chance. The rebel army dies here. Ainsel's prophecy will never come to pass.

...Assuming they don't secretly have a unit equivalent to one of us Tam Lin on their side.

...Indeed. As long as they lack a Tam Lin of their own, they won't stand a chance.

Her Majesty ordered me to only kill soldiers that make their way into the castle town.

So I'm going to patrol the air and take care of any soldiers that try to get past the ramparts.

The knights Her Majesty has stationed in town will never get a chance to fight.

And of course, they'll never get through the main gate. Not with you guarding it.

Part of me feels a little bad for crushing them so thoroughly, but there's no escaping reality.

Faerie Britain's last war will end with a whimper. There won't be so much as a single surprise.

...The last war, hm. True, I doubt there will ever be another rebellion of this size.

But the calamities will not end here, and Her Majesty has no intention of stopping the Great Calamity.

Our victory here won't do anything to stop most of Britain's faeries from dying.

Do you not think that's sad? Does it not make you question the point of winning this battle?

...I'm surprised to hear that from you, Barghest. I didn't think you thought about those kinds of things.

Woodwose said that fighting is the Fang clan's instinctual drive, and pitting themselves against powerful foes their greatest pleasure.

...There is truth to that. I won't deny that there is a part of me that's little different from a blood-starved beast, too.

The one thing Baobhan Sith and I have in common is that I, too, cannot help myself from dominating the weak.

But that is my own, personal issue. Not one that affects all of Britain.

I see. You did become a Tam Lin to protect Britain, didn't you?

I'm afraid I don't share your aspirations, though. The name Her Majesty Gifted me is a hindrance, not a help.

I'm an airborne fighter, not a knight. Human swordplay only slows me down.

I accepted this name, in spite of that, to remain as Lancelot.

I think it was about one hundred years ago when my body began showing signs of anomalies.

My love for her maintained my form up until then, but even that couldn't last forever.

Her Majesty saved me from that fate. Without this Tam Lin name, I would have reverted back to my old self.

I don't serve Her Majesty for Britain's sake. I serve her to preserve this form.

That's why I don't quite understand what you're talking about... No, that's not true. I do understand. I've just chosen not to think about it.

Because I have something else I care about more.

...Something you care about more than Britain, hm.

(...I do too, as a matter of fact. I at least want Adonis to live out his natural life...)

I doubt you have anything like that yourself, though. That's why I envy you.

High Queen Morgan has no love in her, but she does trust you implicitly.

She'll always send for you, no matter how many times you fail her. No wonder Woodwose was jealous of you.

...No love? Her Majesty?

...No, I suppose you're right. She has always and only ever loved this land.

I owe Her Majesty a debt as well. I wouldn't be here today without my Gifted name.

Her grace made me who I am. Even if she only offered it to control me, a debt is still a debt.

However...

(...I cannot repay that debt any further. I have to protect Britain's future...and his.)

...It's nighttime now... ...Could somebody...turn on the light...?

...I have to get...to the ball... ...I have to put on...my beautiful dress...

...Hello? ...Is anybody there...?

...Ahh... Forgive me... ...Forgive me, Mother...

...It wasn't my fault... ...I didn't want to do it...

...But, my lord said...he wanted to see... ...what moving corpses were like...

...So I sucked the blood from one... ...Just one...

...But my lord was so taken with them... ...that he had me make lots more in the basement...

...Of course they were going to overrun everything... Of course they were going to!

Help! Help! Somebody, please! Help them!

I'm hopeless on my own! I've never been any good on my own!

I never had anything of my own! That's why nobody ever helped me!

I have no power! No special skills! No friends!

Ahh... Aaaaaah! If Mother abandons me too, then... I won't have anything at aaall!

...There she goes again. Looks like Tam Lin Tristan's not long for this world. Finally.

She lost her Tam Lin name when the Child of Prophecy defeated her, then Beryl Gut disappeared...

...and now, she's finally exhausted Her Majesty's patience too. We're to seal her door up with wax tomorrow.

Probably too much trouble to even execute her. Now, she'll fade away with no one ever knowing what became of her.

What's wrong with that? Sounds like a fitting end for the most hated figure in all of Britain.

Remember how many faeries she's killed? Hell, I'd off her myself if I could get away with it.

Don't bother. She's rotted so much she can barely move now, anyway. She'll die soon enough on her own.

Hell, you might even get cursed if you got too close to her. If ever someone weren't worth killing, it's her.

Heh, you said it. At least once she's gone, Her Majesty ought to go back to being

Who goes there!? The high queen gave strict orders not to let anyoneOh, if it isn't Lord

Guh...

...Hmm. I wasn't told there would be guards here.

I hate to do that to them when they couldn't be getting paid much, but from the looks of it, I'm sure their next generations will show up soon enough.

I got the key from them. Shall I open the door?

Of course. Apparently she's bedridden now, so do be gentle with her.

But don't be afraid to get rough if she acts up. We don't have any time to waste.

Yes, sir. Come on, let's go.

Not worth killing, hmm. That's just the sort of thing I'd expect such a vulgar lot to say.

Really, most things aren't worth anything. The question is whether they're worth keeping, or best thrown away.

Prices are something we set for ourselves. Even the worst piece of junk can still have its uses.

...Ghh... Ghhh... Gaaah...

...I have...to make certain... ...I have...to ask her...

...Majesty... Majesty... ...High...Queen...Morgan...

...It can't be... ...That can't be right...

Oh, how wonderful! How good to see you're still alive, and resolute as ever!

I couldn't believe my ears when Spriggan asked me to take you in...

But, teehee, it looks like you really did survive!

Coral, do treat his wounds, won't you? Use the best magical powder we have!

...Ahh... Thank you, Aurora... ...You really are...a beautiful faerie...

...I'm sorry I doubted you...even for a moment... ...Ghh... Agh...

...It's no use. His chest wound refuses to close. Not even the magical powder can help him now...

Besides, the Round Table Army won. Wouldn't it be, well, dangerous to harbor Lord Woodwose now?

We mustn't give up. We'll gather all the medicine in town if we have to. It doesn't matter which army won that battle.

Now that the battle is over, we can't let him die.

He's the proud head of the Fang clan, after all.

He's kept Britain safe for hundreds of years. He doesn't deserve to die so miserably.

Aurora... Aurora... Ghh... How could I have been so foolish...?

If I'd only heard your voice to begin with

Now, now, don't try to talk, Woodwose. You need to conserve your strength. Ahh, I can hardly believe it...

I wanted to dismiss what all the faeries have been saying about Her Majesty cutting the Fang clan loose as mere rumor, but...

...Rumor? What rumor...? ...What did the high queen do to us, Aurora...?

Oh, poor Woodwose. Then you really didn't know, did you?

The queen never did send you any reinforcements.

She hates the Fang clan for how many humans they consume, and meant for both sides to fall in that battle.

Her Majesty only trusts the Tam Lin now. That's why she didn't even send anyone to look for your body.

...It pains me to say this, but...

She abandoned you and your Fang clan, Woodwose. She thinks you're nothing more than old guard dogs who have outlived their usefulness.

...I can't believe it... I can't believe it... ...I won't believe it...

Majesty... Your Majesty... ...That can't be true... It can't...

...The Fang clan's loyalty... Our devotion... It must have meant something to you...right?

...I have to find out... I have to...

...Even if I have to kill her to do it...

Oh? What're you doing outside the camp? Are you so amped up you can't fall asleep?

Oh? I know we're not far from the camp, but you still shouldn't be walking around on your own.

What's wrong? So nervous you couldn't fall asleep?

？！

Altria seemed like she still had some doubts, so I thought I should check in on her.

Our armies might be evenly matched, but they've still got the Tam Lin on their side. If we give them so much as a centimeter, we're done for.

So I gave her a little pep talk!

I said, "Hey Altria, know what 'King Arthur' really means? It means 'king of bears'!"

And boy, was she surprised☆

？！

You know how competitive she is, right? Lighting a fire under her works better than trying to get her to see reason.

In just a few hours, the veil of night will be lifted. The final battle will begin when the morning larks sing.

At this point, I've done everything I possibly can.

...Though I can't say I don't have any regrets.

I've been flying around this way and that looking for something, but I can't look anymore. I'm out of time.

A star. A star that'll forever be beyond my reach.

You think just because something doesn't exist means people don't look for it? You've got it all wrong, Fujimaru.

We search BECAUSE they don't exist. We can't help but seek what can never be.

That's what my queen, Titania, is to me. She's no different than the stars twinkling in the sky.

Because no matter how hard we try, those of us here on Earth will never have one for ourselves.

？！

But we can talk about me some other time. Truth be told, I'm not used to being open about my feelings.

For now, you should head back to the tent and rest up. If you're having trouble sleeping, I can always sprinkle you with a bit of sleeping powder.

I may not be much good at fighting, but when it comes to putting people to sleep, not even Merlin the incubus could beat me.

？！

Hm? What's up?

？！

Yes, I suppose I kind of am.

Truth to tell, I've been a little upset ever since I heard you have all been going around erasing Lostbelts.

Not at you, you understand. More...at those who'll learn the stories later.

I know it can't be helped, of course. Every event ends up as just a story to the people who weren't involved in it.

Decades after your adventure is over, it'll all be written up in some report.

Those who read it won't think of it as anything more than a lesson to be learned. That's what I can't stand.

Half of Oberon the Faerie King was born from a story, after all.

That's why my feelings are split right down the middle.

As a Heroic Spirit of Proper Human History, part of me wants to see Britain restored to its rightful state.

Being a fictional character myself, part of me wants to let its story continue.

And that's hard to reconcile with the rest of me.

I'm okay with excising Lostbelts to bring back Proper Human History. We wouldn't exist if not for the latter.

But the idea of those Lostbelts being neglected and forgotten in the future still hits me hard.

I don't want them to be thought of as things that deserved to disappear.

I want people to understand that, even if they were cut off before their time, their existence still had meaning.

Then again, maybe I only feel that way because I'm directly involved in this one.

People have always moved forward by recording the past. They can't hold on to the same values forever.

That we even have phrases like "old-fashioned" or "behind the times" is proof we've moved on from what we once were.

？！

No. She may be our enemy, but I don't hate her. Hell, I've never even met the woman.

And, you know...the story of this land of the fae she came up with isn't half bad.

The entire Era of the High Queen is basically a fairy tale Morgan wrote herself.

It's a dream she wanted to see come true so much that she poured her heart and soul into making it a reality.

Whether it's a good story or a bad one, I can't help but respect the effort that went into creating it.

Which is exactly why I'm pouring MY heart and soul into defeating her.

As a fellow fairy-tale being, I want her curtain call to be memorable.

Of course, we don't have a chance against her if we don't give it all we have, so I suppose memorability isn't really a factor.

Take care of Altria, Fujimaru. Like I said, my part is done. From here on, this is your battle to fight.

All I want now, before I depart this world, is to see you guys win this battle spectacularly.