After ten days and nights of relentless travel, we finally set foot in the city of Londinium.
"Ugh... I think I'm dying..."
"Tell me about it... Argh!"
Crack!
As I stepped out of the carriage and straightened my back, a series of crisp pops echoed through the air. These medieval carriages lacked even the semblance of suspension; every jolt and shudder of the road was transmitted directly to the passengers. Traveling for ten days over unpaved earth had been nothing short of torture.
The constant vibrations made sleep impossible, and sitting for so long left my tailbone throbbing with a dull, persistent ache. Never had I missed the comforts of modern automobiles more than in that moment.
"Are you alright, Eli?"
"Mm, I'm fine. Just about managed to endure it."
Artoria seemed remarkably unfazed, perhaps due to the Mystery of the Dragon's Factor coursing through her veins. Well, as long as she was well, that was enough for me. After resting on a nearby bench for a few moments, the world began to stop spinning. Kay, however, still looked like a ghost.
Sir Ector, noticing our weary states, called out to us.
"Kay! Eli! If you've regained your senses, move along. And do not forget—in public, you must address Artoria by her chosen name."
"...Yes, Father. You mean 'Artorius'."
Because tradition dictated that the King must be a man, Artoria was forced to live her life under the guise of a youth. To me, possessing the perspective of a modern man, it was stifling; merit should outweigh gender. Yet, in this age, the station of women was low, and such deceptions were the only path forward. It was an inescapable reality of the times.
"Sir Ector, are we going straight to the Sword of Selection?"
"Indeed. Now that we have arrived, we should see it through. I've heard it stands in the main plaza. Go on ahead; I must tend to the horses."
"Understood."
We wandered through the streets of Londinium. Being a proper city, it was far more bustling than the quiet village where we had been raised. Artoria and Kay seemed to share the sentiment, their eyes widening as they took in the unfamiliar sights.
After wandering for quite some time, a fatigued Kay finally groaned.
"Haa... where is it supposed to be?"
"...I think it's over there."
I pointed toward the distance. In a vast, open plaza, a crowd of men who appeared to be knights stood gathered in tight circles. And there, in the center of them all, a blade thrust into a massive stone shimmered brilliantly beneath the afternoon sun.
Every man present had likely come with the singular hope of drawing it forth. We stood back for a moment, observing their attempts. One knight tried to leverage his sheer bulk to wrench it free; another climbed atop the stone itself, teeth gritted in desperate exertion.
Despite their struggles, the sword did not respond. It was only natural. The Sword of Selection would never answer to those who sought the power of a crown more than the duty it demanded. In the end, not a single soul could move it an inch.
Frustrated, the failed knights soon decided to change their methods, agreeing to choose a king in their own way. They resolved to settle the matter through a tournament of jousting and horseback combat. Satisfied with this new arrangement, they began to recede from the plaza like a ebbing tide.
Watching them go, I clicked my tongue in disdain.
"Unbelievable... selecting a King through a mere tournament?"
"Hmm? I think a joust is as good a way as any," Kay remarked.
I gave Kay a look reserved for the truly pathetic. He flinched under my gaze.
"W-what? What's with that look? It makes sense, doesn't it? A King has to be able to fight off foreign invaders."
"...A King does more than just fight. Are they going to handle diplomacy and internal affairs from the back of a horse?"
"...Ah."
Kay scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"Dammit. Whatever. I'm not cut out for being a King anyway. If I ever became one, I'd probably just drive the country into the ground."
Muttering that he was going to watch the tournament instead, Kay disappeared in the direction the other knights had gone.
"Do you wish to try as well, Eli?"
"Me? Not particularly. I don't believe I possess the vessel for kingship... but you, Artoria."
As we were alone, I addressed her by her true name. She turned to look at me.
"Do you wish to pull it? That sword."
"I... I am not certain. But my instinct—something within me—is speaking. It tells me to take up that blade."
Artoria stepped toward the altar. The blade caught the light, gleaming with an ethereal radiance. She reached out and grasped the hilt, applying pressure. Slowly, the sword began to slide from the stone. But just before it left the rock entirely, a voice rang out through the plaza.
"You should stop while you still can."
A sudden gust of wind swept through the area. Swirling flower petals danced in the air as Merlin materialized beside me. I began to scowl, ready to snap at her, but she raised a hand to silence me.
"If you take hold of that, you will cease to be human. It is not just that. From the moment you claim it, you will be reviled by all of mankind and meet a truly wretched end."
Through her illusions, Merlin manifested a glimpse of a desolate future. A hill stained with blood and littered with corpses; a city consumed by fire.
"That is the miserable death that awaits you. Do you still wish to proceed?"
Artoria hesitated, unable to answer immediately. It was only natural. Who could offer a definitive answer when faced with a guaranteed, tragic fate?
"Artoria."
"...Eli."
I placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze.
"We do not know the future. It may end in tragedy, as Merlin says—or it may not."
I looked her in the eyes.
"But I... I will always be there. Even if the end is grim, even if the world turns against you, I will follow you as your knight until the very end. So, whatever you choose, make it a choice you won't regret. I will be by your side, no matter the conclusion."
I said this to encourage her, but it was also a vow to myself. Whatever decision Artoria made, I would respect and follow it. I would ensure she had no regrets.
Upon hearing my words, the tension left Artoria's face. She looked at me and allowed a soft smile to touch her lips.
"...Thank you, Eli. That was... most helpful." She then turned her gaze back to Merlin. "Merlin?"
Merlin watched her intently.
"I... I will pull this sword."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes. I see so many people smiling. Surely, fighting for that cannot be a mistake. Therefore, I will fight... so that I have no regrets."
Finally, the sword left the stone. As it rested in the girl's hands, it burst with a magnificent light, as if celebrating the birth of a new King.