UWTD 371: Unexpected Visits

“There you are.” Adam found her on the porch of a small house. “I know I told you to get more involved with the people, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about work.”

“Well…” At first, Artoria didn’t want to leave her office and wanted to plan while keeping a close eye on the happenings.

“It is good that you are following my advice, but look at this first.” Adam showed her the letters that had arrived today.

Artoria handed the kid back to its mother and read the names on the yellowish envelopes. “It’s the lords who opposed my coronation.” Her eyes went wider with each letter.

“It is a collective surrender,” Adam smiled.

“I didn’t expect this.” Artoria felt something didn’t add up. They hid the fact that she killed Vortigern, who became a dragon using a grail. The lords won’t surrender because she defeated the Saxons. “Did you do something?”

“Not really. They must’ve felt scared that you’ll continue your unification like before when the city reconstruction ends.” Adam shrugged. “On the brighter side, you have no opposers in the land of Britain.”

Artoria went over the letters and saw the names of the lords. In the following few days, letters from other lords also came through. In a blink, Artoria had the entire land under her leadership.

‘It happened a lot faster than I expected.’ She sat in her office alone, sinking into her chair.

It wasn’t her extended battle and war experience. She doubted she could’ve done it so well even if she won the holy grail war. The previous method that was her last hope seemed full of holes, the more she found out.

‘But this is just the beginning.’ Artoria had a lot to deal with if she wanted to achieve her wish. She had to prevent the fall of Britain. And soon, she’ll have to face the one who kick-started the entire event.

‘But I have an additional reliable supporter this time.’ Artoria decided to stay in the port town for a few more months and established the order in the nearby port town, too. But she didn’t stay there for long and began her journey back.

“It is time to establish Camelot.” But she had to make a stop in between because of a recent dream visit.

In a quiet forest full of birds chirping and jolly butterflies, Artoria stood in front of the mirror-like lake. In that tranquil surrounding, mana gathered deep within the lake. It climbed up and increased in size the closer it got to the surface. Like a wellspring, the mana burst from the lake to form a fountain.

The spraying water landed on the nearby flowerbeds and trees to give them more vibrance. Artoria kept her eye on the figure clad in light. With a body made of water and clothes of light, the woman walked on water with a golden sword in hand and a pure white lance floating above her head.

Vivian, Lady of the Lake, called Artoria to visit the lake and take the sword in her dream. It happened earlier than last time, but she didn’t mind it. In Artoria’s eyes, there wasn’t anyone else who embodied the good like Vivian.

“You will need this to protect the land, King of Britain.” Her gentle voice caressed Artoria’s face while handing over Excalibur, Avalon, and Rhongomyniad.

“You won’t say anything else?” Artoria asked.

Vivian, a mother fairy born in the inner sea of the planet. She should know what was happening. Yet, instead of opposing it like Merlin and Vortigern, she called her first and hand over the strongest weapons Artoria had wielded in her prime.

“Would anything change if I told you to stop?” She asked with a faint smile.

“No… I’ve decided.” Artoria took Excalibur and Avalon.

“Then I wish you luck and hope your wish comes true.” In Vivian’s eyes, Artoria was the true king of the land. She had seen this young girl struggle and fight for a better future, so whatever choice this king made, she wouldn’t object to it.

The Lady of the Lake turned to Adam, who stood a little farther away from them, and nodded. She melted back into the water soon after.

“What’s for lunch today?” Artoria asked Adam with a smile.

“Maybe soup and hard bread?” He asked.

“I don’t know… maybe you can make more cookies for me.” No one would know that the King of Britain had developed a fascination for cookies.

“Since it is a special day, I’ll give you as much as you want,” Adam said.

“You can’t take that back.” Artoria’s steps had an extra spring to them on the way back to the army stationed outside this forest.

***

Fuyuki, Japan.

Years have passed since Grayfia wiped the Matou family off the face of the earth. The high-class area around the Matou mansion had now become more vibrant. The elegant gardens full of flowers, the uniform pathways going through the small forest area full of cherry blossoms in full bloom nearby, painted a perfect picture with the lake in the middle that invited all sorts of birds to fill the place with life.

“I am back.” Sakura, returning from middle school, slipped out of the navy-blue sailor uniform and donned the blue French maid uniform, identical to her teacher/guardian.

She knocked on the room beside the main office in the mansion and opened the door.

“How was your day at school?” Behind a desk, Grayfia arranged some papers with the computer turned on.

“It was good. I can start high school without worries.” Sakura had grown from the deadpan little kid to a gentle girl. Her purple hair that reached the middle of her back was pulled together in a ponytail, giving her more maturity.

“Are you sure you want to go to that school?” Grayfia looked up from the computer. She had taught Sakura a lot in the past years, and in turn, learned a lot about her.

“She doesn’t bother me. Someone else already saved me, after all.” Sakura was talking about her elder sister, Tohsaka Rin, the current head of the Tohsaka family. They used to be close before. Now, she only remained a distant memory.

Her sister didn’t come to save her when she needed it. So, she had lost that connection with her. Lately, Sakura has only focused on learning from Grayfia. After all, the latter had a variety of skills to admire. Cooking, cleaning, physical fitness, combat, and above all, Magic, Grayfia had it all mastered. Learning from her sparked a joy inside Sakura, she learned this to one day meet the master of her teacher and the closest individual.

“If you say so. We were to learn about spatial magic tod—” Grayfia’s still eyebrow turned crooked. “Sakura, go to your room and review the book from last time.”

“…Ok.” Sakura felt perplexed, but she left anyway.

Inside the silent office, Grayfia tapped the mahogany desk with a stack of papers to align them before setting them aside.

“You can come out.” She said, her gaze as cold as ice.

“What a hostile gaze. Truly something beyond human.” A white-haired old man with a beard appeared out of thin air. He wore a bright red suit with an ornamental golden cane.

“Who are you?” Grayfia asked, standing up from her seat.

“You don’t know me? Well, that’s a first.” The old man cleared his throat and continued with a smile. “I am Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg.”

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