《The Changeling》 Chapter 1: The Narrator is confused I tried to help, fuck did I try. Many times, many times I tried. But they didn''t fucking listen. They replied with spit and rocks. So I gave up. I understood, eventually. I wasn''t charismatic enough to sway them. To dissuade them of their prejudices. Why did I try. Who was I kidding. I''m different. Achangeling. Unwanted. With my fell, "fae knowledge", "accursed brown skin", "foreign cloth", "giant blood" and "daemon gold eyes" that could bewitch holy women into eternal slavery, the fuck would they want me around? So I left. My perceived debts to those who saved me were unwanted. They did not save me out of kindness, I realised, but of fear. My only true companions in this new world threatened them into it. Who are, ironically, the true fae¡­ I think. Glowing lights of all colours about the size of my fingernail, capable of shifting a small rock with difficulty, but manipulating and casting illusions with ease. I''ve yet to meet anything else to call "fae" or disfavor the hypothesis, so I assume that''s what they are. The termFaeis pretty catch all anyway. The light themselves can''t communicate with me further than vague notions and emotions, plus they seem rather¡­simple. And so, here I am. Not fourteen days into a new reality, and homeless on the road accompanied by two dozen floaty light things, clearly of magical nature, with not a fucking cluewhy. Ah, did I mention this was medieval times? As in, King Arthur, (or a ''Ing Artur!at least) medieval times. No? Well now you know. ¡­ At least I''m not dead. ¡­ I think. Probably? Possibly. Perhaps. ¡­ At least I have the magic bugs- oi. The bugs were flying away. Oi. They swarmed into the treeline to my left. I follow after, breaking into a light jog. They weren''t all that fast, but they could fly. I however, had to navigate a web of exposed roots and loose rocks and underbrush. I also wasn''t the mostgracefulof men. Despite the disloyal bugs slow speed, I was still tripping over twigs, stumbling on rocks and awkwardly bumbling through the shrubs, yet there was no sign of stopping from the bugs. They didn''t even transmit humour or background feelings like usual. They had been my constant escorts, even showing intelligence to browbeat those villagers into healing me. That they were now completely ignoring me in favour of some unseen destination or calling¡­ hurt a bit. ''It''s silly but I''m lonely.'' Suddenly (to me) one of the bugs slowed. The rest continued, but Radish (a radish coloured mote) seemed to fall back to me. It conveyed slight exasperation. Radish always stood out in the group. She felt like the big sister for some reason, often herding smaller (than her) motes of light back to the swarm when they strayed to far, bumping into motes that seemed alone, buzzing around the swarm as if to check up on everyone. Never joining a "clique" but welcome to all. She "boinked" me on the nose, then snuggled in under my jacket collar. Her usual place. I sniff. "Thanks Radish. You''re rad." She conveyed what I could only call a huff. Thenhurrying,expectation,meetingandgood. Pushing forward, despite being under my collar, in the direction of her compatriots.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Now content in the knowledge not all the bugs were backstabbing, betraying bastards, I calmed my jealous heart, "Meeting, good? For you?" Both,all, she conveyed. It felt like she was grouping me and the betrayer bugs together, apparently this meeting would be good for all of us. ''Hmm.'' With my head screwed on straight once more, and Radish''s warmth near my neck I was stumbling much less and able to close the small distance between the swarm and I. ''Humph, see if I give you belly rubs now ya disloyal bugs.'' The forest was much the same as when we entered, not especially cramped and with good lighting, but the floor was covered in ferns and hidden roots, I still had no clue where we were headed. We continued like this for some time, my head on the swivel, the bugs heading steadfast in a single direction, but a few more lights had decided to join Radish under my clothes or clinging to my hair. Don''t sulk. ''I''m not.'' Uhuh... Was basically how they all went. I''m pretty sure an hour or two must have passed judging by the movement of the sun, but I''m still not tired. One thing that never ceases to amaze me in this new (technically old) world is my stamina. My strength has not improved nor has my speed or agility, but for some reason I feel as fresh and energised as I did when I was strolling through the meadows an hour ago. Like Ihaven''tconstantly traversed the forest floor for over an hour. I theorised it was either something in the air that the other world didn''t have, or the bugs were keeping me going with magic. Honestly not sure which, the question is too complex for the bugs to comprehend and answers too, which is a shame. Around the three hour mark, and most the bugs now reside on my person, taking turns to lead the way in short spurts of speed, I finally heard something different. Somethingsthat were different actually. ''Running water. Neighing of horses. Thudding boots.'' I slow. ''And the murmurs of voices.'' Surprisingly, the leading bugs slow with me. Don''t sulk. ''I''m not.'' Hmmmmm. "Shut up." I whisper. Now... I crouch down, hidden by the underbrush and lean against a tree. ''What to do...'' "Knave! Behindan that tree!Slowly!Unarmed!" ''Never mind'' My bugs conveyedworry. I briefly assure them. Slowly, as instructed, a rise and step out from behind the tree. Hands held in front of me, palms empty I face in the direction of the voice. A group dressed in green, no. Dressed in leather, with green dyed cloth over it, all wearing the classic robin hood hat thing. ''Group of five. Armed. Scout? May be more. People coming over. Shiny? Metal. Knight?'' Three of the five greenies had their bows notched and trained on me, the rear two were surveying the surrounding; for more people I assume. Big clunky guy, who I can only assume to be a knight can be heard approaching from the direction of the voices, which had quieted. I can see the occasional glints of light over their armour, but they are too far away to make out details. They seem taken aback by my appearance. Or it may be the shiny bugs on me. Probably a combination of both. They look less sure, rear two shuffling, front three visibly blanching, but they kept their bows steady. I spread my arms slightly to show I''m unarmed and unarmored. "Who?!" Short and clipped, practically barked, but I could hear the slight waver in his undertones. "A wegferend." I respond with calm I didn''t feel. They were armed and a knight- no, two knights were approaching. My first encounter with armed primates was not ideal. Especially since they caught me hiding. "Why hide?" Good question. But the leader greenie seems slightly more calm. Less twitchy. Less twitchy is good. "... You may have been bandits." Good a reason as any. The knight was near now, greenie seemed to consider it. He eyed the bugs on my head warily however. Gradually, as the knights approached, greenie and his boys lowered their bows. I too lowered my hands but consciously didn''t put them in my pocket as I usually do when nervous. I could tell the greenies were fighting fidgeting. So was I. I empathise. With a jerk of his head, lead greenie walked me towards the knights, his boys flanking us and bringing up the rear. All of them adults, all barely as tall as my chest. ''Stop staring at my bum¡­'' The two knights came in deceivingly long strides, swords drawn and- oh shit¡­ I blink. Bugs stall. Greenies stop. ''That¡­ is not a normal sword.'' Nor are those designs what I consider medieval. The craftsmanship on the lead knight''s armour and sword were not what comes to mind when you think "history". No. Those wereFantasy. Not only that, I recognised it. My bugs seems to finally react too;fear,blood,beast,dragon. Angles only machinery should be capable of, bulging, layered shoulder pauldrons, and iron side-skirt thing, pointed metal boots, vivid red accents on much of the otherwise (impossibly) pristine silver metal¡­ But above all thehelm. Draconic horns adorned it''s sides, impractically large, but fucking intimidating. The underside of the horns where it connected to metal was glowing an angry looking red, and finally;they gave off heat. I don''t know why that struck me as it did¡­ but it did. ''Dragon horns are hot. Good to know.'' I knew who it was. She who was fictional.Supposedto be fictional. "Sir Mordred, ''e claims ta be a wegferend." Yeaaap. I fight the urge to sigh, or cry, or smile, or faint, or do all of the above at the same time. I feel dizzy. I ignore lead greenie after the name. I ignore my bugs buzzing. I ignore the green boys kneeling. I ignore everything but those impossibly vivid green eyes peering up at me from through the slits of the female heirs'' helm. ''Is this a joke? Because I want to laugh.'' "Hello princess." My bugs only have a moment to buzz me a warning before a metal gaultney fills my vision. ''Why is it never To Love-Ru or something¡­'' ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ "Shut (fill)." ''...'' "Shut (fill)." ''Hmm?'' "Shut (fill)." ''Ah?'' "Shut (fill)." ''...'' "Shut (fill)." ''Wait a sec¡­'' "Repeat every five times. Simply, shatter once filled." ''Huuuuuuuuuh!?'' "¨D¨D¨D¨DI announce." ''What!'' "Your self is under me, my fate(doom) is in your sword. In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer." ''Oi, oi, oi!'' "Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead." ''That''s way to fukin fast!'' "You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance ¨D¨D¨D" ''What about my backstoryyyyyyy-!'' He was sucked somewhere, somehow, by someone¡­ from somewhere. ¡­ Even I the narrator am confused. ¡­ Whatever. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ AN: First posted on SpaceBattles Forums, then FF.net and now here on Royal Road. Hope you enjoy. Chapter 2: My seats over there right?
. A faint sense of regret, no, should I call it vague regret? Perhaps calling it "mild regret" would be more accurate? That''s the feeling I get when looking back on my childhood. I was an active kid with good beginnings and good parents. We weren''t rich, but we also weren''t poor. We knew how to be frugal so there was never a lack of essentials. My parents had good jobs, they worked for charities. My mum worked in child-care charities, a youth centre and later started training to be a teacher. My dad organised charities, he would allocate funds, direct human resources and have organizations group up for better effect. With those two I was naturally of decent moral fibre. They raised me well. At five I got a little sister. I learnt care. We were a happy family of four. But it was nothing with family that I regret. Rather it was my schooling, or rather my clubs. As I said I was an active kid, I did Karate from the age of six, competitive swimming from the age of seven, full contact rugby from the age eleven and anything else done in school PE and sports lessons. Those three sports (karate, swimming, rugby) accompanied me for the better half of a decade. I was proud of it. I was good at it. I had to stop. Around half way through secondary school, I was about fifteen, things came to a head. No family is perfect, but that wasn''t the main thing. I was simply doing too much. Rugby every other Lunch and Saturday mornings, swimming after school every other day and karate every Friday to Sunday evenings¡­ I''m not the smartest kid by any stretch, not stupid, but middling. So I had to work hard to get any satisfactory academic results at that time. Eventually it got above my head. I couldn''t keep up. I flunked a test completely. It was stifling. I tried to cling to them, but I they still slipped out from between my fingers. First went karate, I got dropped off at the site by my parents, and with the home situation it was easy for me to sacrifice that if it meant easing the tension somewhat. I don''t really know if it made a difference, but I recall things cooling down a bit around that time. However it wasn''t enough for my situation. It was the time of hellish GCSE''s after all. Next went swimming, I enjoyed it but I was never the best. I was just barely scraping by in B squad. It was fairly easy to inform the coach I wanted to focus more on academics. The hardest to go was rugby. I loved it. I was good at it. Out of all of my sports I was best at rugby. I clung to it. I saw exams as a river to cross, rugby was my passenger. I endured. I almost made it. But in the end, it was taken from me by means beyond my grasp. I broke my leg. Completely unrelated to sport, I was in a car accident. I was fully imbursed, my bills paid for and my grades took a turn for the better. Somehow... ''it''s not as bad as I thought''. As soon as I thought that it was over. My leg healed but I never returned to rugby. I would come to regret that. In the end, those subjects I struggled with; ''math, science, languages,'' became completely irrelevant in college. I went for an Art course. That said, by no means do I think all that studying was useless. It taught me patience, and enriched the mind. The feeling of going beyond what I thought I was capable off in those subjects was something I do not regret. But I do regret never going back to rugby. I could have also started going to karate by myself, or taken a dip in the public pool at any time, but I never did. Maybe I just put those times on a pedestal, those sports were my youth, did I not want to defile them with half-hearted dedication? Perhaps it was fear, was I scared of enduring that pressure, that pain once more? Perhaps. But most likely, it was just plain old Laziness. I became content. Comfortable. By the time I realised I regretted it, I was all wrapped up in college work. I no longer had the luxury of time. I was not a child, but a young adult. I was working for money, working for my future, I was growing up. ''Heh, my youth was no over yet'' I thought back then, ''not by a long shot. I plan on going wild at university'' I planned. ''But I''m no longer a child.'' Nostalgia, happiness, achievement, no little longing for a simpler time¡­ but also mild regret. That is the feeling I get looking back on my childhood. ''I wonder if that''s normal.'' Why am I thinking of such boring things now you may wonder? Because for the first time in what feels like decades, I once more stand before a classroom. A different country, a different time, but still, a classroom. "Stand." Such nostalgia. I couldn''t help but indulge in some useless memories. "Bow." Though this time I''m not just any old student. "Be seated." I straighten the collar of my jacket and pat down my hair. "Ehh, It is unplanned but today we will be having a new student join us." I wait patiently outside the sliding door. "Yes, yes. I know it''s at an awkward time, but there are circumstances. Regardless, I hope you act appropriately and help your new classmate as is propper."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. My auto translate works well, but often makes normal phrases slightly old fashioned and stuffy. I get most of the meaning via tone of voice and pasture. The teacher continues saying something. Although I can''t see her, she probably has one hand on her hip and one and holding a clipboard resting on her shoulder. Facial expression is probably professionally neutral. Neither too enthused nor too dispassionate. The appropriate amount of effort with the appropriate distance. "Yes, well then. You may come in now." As instructed I open the sliding door, ignoring the murmurs I walk to the blackboard (which is actually green). Artus Knightley. I write in katakana. Turning to the class, I observe. ''39 students, 40 desks, one teacher, windows to the right, two exits to the left¡­ not much of note, no one of particular interest... save one.'' I bow politely as per custom. I rise and face them with a neutral smile. "Greetings, my name is Artus Knightley, Artus is my given name, Knightley is my family name. I was born in Japan but have lived abroad for the last few years due to family circumstances. I am seventeen and like rugby." I see the feigned polite curiosity of my contractor. My lips quirk. "Let''s get alon- oh heeey princess!" Smiling widely with the abrupt change of tone, I look to one person. She suddenly look less composed. "Due to family ties, my current place of residence is the Tohsaka mansion. I owe her a lot," I look to the class, still smiling but my eyes narrow to hide my mirth. "If any of you bully her¡­" I stop smiling, "I''ll kill ya." Her eye is twitching. She''s resisting the urge to face-palm. ''Guehehehe.'' "Ah! With that said," I bow low once more, "let''s get along yeah?" Silence. Rising I survey the scene. Seeing what I like and temporally content, I turn to the teacher. "So, my seat''s over there right?" .
. The last thing I recall was Mordred-chan punching me in the face. Now I suddenly speak Japanese. ''How strange.'' But right now, I''m falling. I impact, I breath, I land. ''What?'' More information is... downloaded? It''s like knowledge I didn''t know are suddenly surfacing in my mind. But only bits. ''Holy Grail, Master, Command Seals, Servant¡­'' Then it stops. I blink. I feel there should be more but I more or less realise what''s going on. I''m indoor. Dim yellow lighting. Shelves to my right. A sofa behind me. Fireplace before me. Door nestled in the corner and windows to my left covered by rattan curtains. ''An attic maybe? Why would an attic have it''s lights on with no one in there?'' Ah, also the floorboards have quite the dent in them. That impact I felt was me landing. My metal boots have made quite the impressio- wait. ''Metal boots?'' Suddenly there were bangs on the door. I feel a weight in my hands, they are wrapped around a handle at chest height. I feel it''s tip stab into the floor. ''What? Sword?'' The door is knocked down and a figure stumbles in carried by their momentum. ''Oh yeah, this is actually happening isn''t it.'' [Play Archer''s Theme] I observe her. She rights herself and stands on the fallen door, hands on her hip. She''s young. Black hair tied in twin-tails, red long-sleeve top, a too short black skirt and black stockings. ''Pretty cute.'' I can''t help but smirk. For some reason I feel calm, slightly amused and despite everything; clear minded. I can faintly feel there''s a connection between the two of us. The girl narrows her eyes at my smirk and appearance, then looks surprised at something, suddenly composer breaks. Clutching her head turning around she squats out of distress. It''s pretty amusing. ''Her skirt is too short to squat in though...'' ¡­ However she is relaxed. Despite the situation and distress there is no panic. Perhaps you could call it a loss of composure to outwardly show her distress, but you could also see it as a show of confidence to show an unknown man her back. She has surety in her safety, be that out of arrogance, naivety or something else is yet to be seen. She looks over her shoulder to me. "Well? What are you supposed to be?" Nice composure for someone showing me their ass crack. "Hmm. That''s the first thing you say? It would seem I''ve gotten quite the unusual contractor." I surprise myself with my voice. It''s different than I remember, deeper, yet also familiar. "Good grief, a little princess on my hands yet again." ''Again?'' She grunts and stands, walking off the door towards me where I wait, minding the cracked floorboards. "Just to confirm..." her voice is haughtey yet cute. "You''re my Servant, right?" She crosses her arms. "I am a Servant, but are you are my Contractor? You were absent upon my summoning." I can''t help but throw tit for tat. "You aren''t a baby bird. Don''t joke like you imprint on your Lord when you first open your eyes." She tilts her head, I get the feeling she''s trying to look down on me. "Well alright, fine. I''m just asking to confirm. Master-Servant relations should be clearly laid out, right from the start." She stressed the word Master. Noting my use of Contractor instead. How amusing. I can''t help but smirk wider. "Hmmm. Well then¡­" I pause for effect. "Why should I serve you, princess." I lean in, still towering over her. ''Am I taller than before?'' "Excuse me?" She looks taken aback. "I''m used to serving princesses," I feel I am, "but I had a reason. What reason is there for me to serve you?" I step forward, looming. To her credit, she doesn''t step back. "I''m not entirely dissatisfied, you are rather cute," no visible reaction, "but that''s it." She narrows her eyes. Good. "Why should you be Princess instead of Girly hmmm?" I once more stab my unknown sword into the floorboards to stamp my point. "Why should I serve you?" A silent beat, then I turn, my sword magically sensing it''s no longer needed, dissipates. It''s not there, I can''t feel it, but somehow I know it''s always within reach. I walk to the sofa a sit, hearing it creak under the combined weight of my body and armour. ''Armour?'' "If there is no reason¡­ then I will simply fight this war myself." The words come out unbidden, but true. I would rather not enter a deathmatch with a child. I would prefer her safe. "I see¡­" she gritts out, "you''re not entirely... dissatisfied due to my looks, but you refuse to serve me without a reason?" It seems the quip on her looks is a bit of a sore point. She is very prideful. "Very well¡­" Come to think of it, why am I provoking her. I don''t want her fighting, but there was no reason to dissuade her in such an abrasive manner. "You are my Servant, aren''t you?" it seems to be a rhetorical question but I answer anyway. "In form only. So I will obey only when it aligns with my own wishes," when I feel like it, "you aren''t my Princess after all." That seems important. "When there is fighting, I will fight alone." now I get to express my reasons. "I don''t want a child fighting, nor do I really want to abey a mere child. I call my own shots. Until this war," more like a skirmish, "ends, I would prefer you stay here where it''s safe and hide." "Of course you are my contractor after all, I have no quarrel with that. You summoned me to win you victory. My victory is your victory, I will yield all glory and spoil to you. No matter of your involvement henceforth, that will not change." You stay safe, I fight, I win, you get the grail. "Surely that is ideal?" She''s looking down. Being told to stay and hide must hurt ones pride after all. But I''m confident she will see reason. No child wants to die. Seeing no response, I decide to end the conversation. "Mah, leave everything to me girly, you will have victory, for now see to your own wellbeing." Still no reply. She might feel guilty at me doing all the work. I smirk. How cute. "Don''t worry," I look at her bowed head with sincerity, "I don''t expect anything more from you." I smile reassuringly. "You are my Contractor, but you have no need to be my Princess." It''s a heavy name to bear after all, to be my Princess. I nod at my own thoughtfulness. I''m so nice. I hear an illusionary snap. ''Huh?'' Her frame trebles for a moment before exploding into movement. The sudden movement flipping up her too short skirt. ''Oi, oi.'' "Ahhhh, Now I''m mad!" Hands clenched in front of her she glares at me. ''It''s cute, but why?'' "Reason? You need a reason huh? I''ll give you a reason!" Flamboyantly waving her fist at me she clenches her right hand, it''s Command Seals facing me, and holds her forearm with her left hand. ''Oro?'' "Fine! If you need a reason I''ll give you a reason!" ''Eh-!'' "You wouldn''t!" What?! "I would! Anfang!" ''Anfang!'' The word reverbs through me too. "''Vertrag. Ein neuer Nagel''¡­" ''Why?!'' "''Ein neues Gesetz. Ein neues Gesetz''..." "Wait, are you serious girly?!" ''What did I do?!'' "You would use a precious Command Seal over silly pride?!" Her voice gets louder at that. "''Ein neues Verbrechen.'' Shut up! Get it, your my Servant! You need a reason?" She thrust up her hand. "Then by the power of my Command Seal; I''m now your Princess!" A ring of read light suddenly spread out from her hand with an eerie ring, staggering me as it went through. A mark on her hand faded to a smudge. "Ghu." I felt something change. The ringing noise faded ''... Oi, oi¡­'' She held the pose, embarrassment creeping onto her face. Suddenly realising what she just did. I could only look at her slack jawed. "Y-You impulsive girl! You realise what you just did right? You would waste such a precious Command Seal for t-this?! For such a broad Command?" ''What the heck Princess.'' "...Couldn''t you have worded it a bit better at least?" She blushes bright red at that. Looking to the side she awkwardly lowers her hand. "... L-Lets take this elsewhere¡­" Her voice was pretty meek now. ''Goddamn bipolar Princesses¡­'' .
. The rest of the night wasn''t particularly interesting. ¡­ "I have amnesia¡­" "What do you mean you have amnesia?!" ... "I have no astral form¡­" "What do you mean you have no astral form?!" ¡­ "I have no Noble Phantasm¡­" "What do you mean you have no Noble Phantasm?!" ¡­ "I want to go to school with you¡­" "... Yeah, sure. Whatever¡­" ¡­ Nothing of particular importance. .
. Chapter 3: The premier of skincare "Youth." "What?" I turned. "That''s you''re Origin; Youth." "... Huh." .
. My eyes open. I was disoriented. My mind tried to match what I expected to what I saw. I expected stone walls lit softly by orange crystals, the smell of lavender and a wooden beam ceiling. Instead I saw cream plaster walls and ceiling, lit by the light streaming through glass windows and fine fabric drapes. ''... Curtains. They are called curtains in the modern day and they''re not particularly ''fine''...'' The clashing memories, old, new, modern and medieval, disoriented me a while longer. I sat up on my bed, observing, somewhat nonplussed, as the softest thing I had felt in decades catered my weight. ''Decades¡­ This luxury was once commonplace to me...'' I rub my forehead. Then blink at the sight of my hands. Smooth, unblemished, hairless. ''What?'' They weren''t like that yesterda- oh. ''Oh yeah, I remember.'' Throwing off the covers and standing up, luxuriating at the all too soft carpet beneath my toes, I walk to the full sized mirror in my new room. The room feels bright, the colors more vivid than I remember, the feel of air passing my skin far more noticable. Standing before the mirror I take in my appearance. Possessing clear brown skin, jaw-length silky black hair, princely features, haunting golden eyes and dressed in a baggy black shirt and shorts combo was a boy around the age of ten. ''Me.'' I clench my fist before me, feeling the strength flowing through my veins. It gave me some much needed reassurance. Looking at the mirror once more, I... willed it. I grew. Or rather, I aged. A few inches in height. Eleven. Slightly more broad. Twelve. Delicate features hardening. Thirteen. Baby fate gradually disappearing. Fourteen. Muscle definition more obvious. Fifteen. Filling in the clothes. Sixteen. Scars surfacing on the skin. Seventeen. I stopped. I had aged seven years in seven seconds. ''An Origin of [Youth] in the Age of Fae and a mentor like Merlin¡­'' "... If I couldn''t do at least this much I''d be a complete waste I suppose." What "prettiness" and androgynous there was to my ten-year-old form had completely disappeared. I looked very masculine. The original jaw-length hair had shortened considerably as my scalp grew, the hair length was spread over surface-area. Still, it was long enough to run my fingers through it, and felt just a silky as before. My jaw was strong and defined, eyebrows thickened, skin tone a shade darker and brow more heavily set. I was rather handsome, but not disgustingly so (you know what I''m talking about). My good looks are "simple", not so much beautiful, but without obvious flaw. Along with my new stature that strained in the, now too small, top and shorts, I would be the archetype ruggedly handsome man if not for my skin. My skin, now slightly bronzed but still as soft and clear as it was in child form, gave a feel of someone well cared for. Unblemished, but not delicate, full of vitality and colour.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. As a result you have a mixed appeal of a manly man and a cultured scholar. ''You could say the prince had become a king.'' "... Just kiddin''." ''No king is without wrinkles¡­unless you have Avalon...'' Magic: The premier of skincare. I do faintly remember what I was like before, eh¡­ "hopping". And I can still see it in my current face, but it''s like someone took my old face and had their way with it using an "artistic licence". ''I.e: Photoshop.'' Magic: The premier in software editing. I huff, feeling my jaw. My beardless jaw. Save the hair on my head, all body hair falls off when I de-age, it wouldn''t do to have a ten-year-old with a hairy chest after all. After aging up to an age capable of body-hair I still have to wait till it grows if I want a beard. Magic: The premier of shaving. ''Well¡­ Merlin gave me potions to grow back hair rapidly for when I really wanted it.'' Magic: The premier of hair recovery. ''Whatever.'' My body is built far, far better than it was when I was actually seventeen. Almost two meters and broad, once again magic has airbrushed me, bringing out my very best. I clench my fist, once more feeling the strength run through my veins, but this time, my arm bulges. Everything below the head is "thick". My hands are thick, wrists are thick, forearms are thick, biceps are thick, shoulders are thick, chest is thick, neck is thick, trunk is, waist is thick, thighs are thick, calves are thick, ankles are thick, feet are thick¡­ yet I am still streamline. I give the impression of a tall tree. However... I know I am also as flexible as a cat, strong as an ox whilst retaining that steadiness of an ancient oak. That is how I trained after all. Proportion, endurance, strength, stamina, flexibility and fortitude¡­ ''Even if I don''t remember that training right now¡­'' And I get even bigger the more I age. After making a few more poses I de-age, my clothes are straining pretty bad right now. Seventeen, sixteen, fifteen, fourteen. Stop. At fourteen-ish my build had only just begun to truly expand in width, I looked more like a well built swimmer. Less stocky then when I was actually fourteen. However my clothes now fit porpperly, this was the age I went to sleep in. Must have de-aged further whilst sleeping. ''That happened a lot I think.'' Smaller body = more body heat. Good for sleeping. ''Time to get the day started.'' I close my eyes for a second, focusing in on the connection with my dear Contractor. ''Asleep.'' I grin. ''Gooood.'' Two doors down, Rin''s eyes flew open. Completely awake. ''... Aww.'' .
. Servant Name: Artus Class: Saber/Caster Alignment: Neutral Good Sex: Male Height: 70cm - 250cm Weight: 20kg - 120kg Armament: Armour. Shield. Sword. Cape. ? . Parameters Strength: B- Endurance: A Agility: C- Mana: D++ Luck: C Noble Phantasm: None . Class Skills Magic Resistance: A Artus was a knight and warrior renowned for slaying the magical in life. He had also befriended the Elements, and trained with Fae offering them his hand in friendship and gained an eternal ally. Artus'' Magical Resistance is not only empowered by his legend but also supported by the spirits themselves. Item Enchantment: D+ A third-rate magus in life has just barely become a second-rate in death. However his speciality is tied to his fighting style closely enough to warrant the skill. A knock-off of the Item Construction Skill. Independent Action: E+ Empowered and supported by spirits and fairies, they are able to supply minimal assistance. Has received a downgrade due to being summoned in the modern world. Stronger in places of greater magical concentration and nature. Eye of the Mind (True): C Artus has the skill due to his experience challenging a variety of Magus and Phantasmal Beasts. The mindset of a "challenger" was predominant in him even after his rise to power. His ability to learn was not to be underestimated. Clairvoyant (Demon): C+ Artus understood space. Due to his Demon eyes Artus was naturally able to track fast moving objects, "see" around corners and grasp the space around him. He is able to increase the rank by applying Reinforcement to his eyes. Riding: C- As a knight he was relatively skilled at horseback riding, but due to his weight and stature it was difficult to find a stead suitable. Skill receives a rank down due to Artus'' inability to ride all but specially enhanced steads in life. . Personal Skills Comradeship of the Fairies: B Artus retains the close ties he had with all Fairies, Fae and Spirits of Gaia he had in life. This can be said to be a superior version of Protection of the Fairies. The Fairies actively help attack and defend, gifting resistance against elements, illusion and magecraft, whilst also capable of using illusion to confuse, empowering one''s mana and adding minor elemental attributes to attacks. With this skill one is equal as partners with the Fae. Demon eyes of Dimension: C The Demon is foreign. The Demon is alien. The Demon has golden eyes. It is unknown if Artus was born with the eyes or came to possess them later in life, they are largely responsible for Artus'' reputation as a Changeling. The title "Dimension" in this case refers to layer, space and distance. Protection from projectiles: C A slightly superior version of the skill Protection from Arrows. Although both skills provide protection from projectiles, Protection from Arrows is of course obtained fending off arrows, where as Protection from projectiles is gained via fending off a greater variety of projectiles. This skill provides a larger umbrella of concepts that fall under the term "projectile". On an unrelated note, it was said Artus was often plagued by nightmares of flaming rocks and dead cows flying at him. Bravery: C The ability to negate mental interference, pressure, confusion and charm. Artus is used to fighting against greater odds with lesser tools or simply empty-handed, his "fortitude" is able to not only empower himself but also his Fairy allies. However that is not all, Artus is famously known to be belligerent. Defying lords, nobles and knights as a commoner and later being one of the few to talk down his King. Artus does indeed possess great Bravery on and off the battlefield. Charisma: D Although he himself never considered he was particularly charming, Artus possessed an unspeakable dignity at times. Steady like a mountain, his presence and abnormal stature calmed and fortified allies whilst stifling enemies. Artus'' Charisma is focused on the concept of "reliability". That is... at least when he is in adult form. As he takes a child like form, Charisma tends to show itself in a drastically different manner... Dual Summon: C Granted the Class Skills of both the Saber and Caster class, an exceedingly rare trait. However Artus'' qualifications as a Saber class has sufficiently close ties to his ability to use magic, thus granting the Dual Summon skill. . Noble Phantasm Artus does not possess any Noble Phantasms, or perhaps one could say his Noble Phantasms is not having any Noble Phantasms? In place of a NP, Artus instead possessing drastically more skills than the regular Servant. The weight that should be a NP is replaced by more empowered qualities of his life, thus using up that "free weight". .
. Chapter 4: Punching cotton Somehow, presumably via magic, my clothes had been burnt from the inside out. Or that was the closest explanation I could find anyway. There was a blackish crust that lines the inside of the cloth nearest my skin, like it had been burnt. My t-shirt, relatively thin cotton had numerous holes in it, only held together by thin strips of fabric in some places, this meant the "black crust" could also be seen on the inside of my jumper I was wearing over my shirt. My t-shirt was completely ruined, practically rags, my jumper being thicker and further from my skin was in better condition, but in the end was cut up for the extra cloth. My trousers I am thankful for. They were thick, heavy duty camo pants. Lots of pockets, and durable cloth. Although there was much black crust on the inside of it, there were no holes, and my trousers were too valuable to cut up. Fortunately my underwear had taken the brunt of the "burning" so there was much less damage around my groin. It would have been uncomfortable to have that crust rubbing on my dick¡­ The least damaged piece of clothing I had was my jacket. Thick, waterproof, long and dark green with brown fur lining the hood, the collar and neck area was protected by my (now ruined) scarf, the hood was burnt and had holes in it, but the body was pretty much completely unharmed, my t-shirt and jumper had soaked up all the damage. My boots and socks were noticeably missing however... It was those (rags of a t-shirt, semi-ruined jumper, singed camo trousers and jacket) that I woke up in upon arrival in this new (old) world. At the age of eighteen, I woke up in Arthurian Britain. About a fortnight later, wearing a slightly small black gambeson, my jacket, semi-repaired camo trousers and horribly uncomfortable small pointed shoes, that I was resoundingly knocked out by the homunculus, gender-confused, heir of Britain. ''Yeah¡­ I''m remembering now...'' .
. ''She got me on the chin¡­'' I rubbed my chin tentatively. "Ugh." Wasn''t even that hard, I had even managed to lean back slightly on instinct, but it was probably that that was my undoing. Mordred, when standing her next to the greenies and other from before, was pretty short anyway, even with the slight boost from the heels on her boots, and given my height she would just barely be able to touch my nose should she stand on tippy-toes. However, I was at the time looking down to face her- my chin was tilted down- and when she punched, I instinctively leaned back, thus exposing my chin. I don''t think she punched hard, else I would have a larger bruise from getting hit by a metal gauntlet, but she rattled my brain enough. I probably made quite the expression when my face went slack and my knees dropped¡­ ''How embarrassing.'' I sit up, finding myself laying down on soil. Not a human soul in sight. "Where''d they go?" Gone. Radish conveyed. My bugs were calmer now, like before they set off. "... The meeting?" Done. Complete. "... Kay then." Apparently my bugs wanted me to meet Mordred. I stand, bugs rising with me. Dusting Myself down and checking pockets. ''Broken phone, playing cards, keys, pocket knife (modern), knife (medieval), hidden arrowheads, handmade slingshot, salted meat, wrapped cheese, strip remains of jumper¡­ check.'' I hear no one. Only the sounds of running water and wind through the leaves. Judging my the sun, I don''t think I was out long. Less than an hour in fact. But it would seem Mordred''s group really has moved on.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ''... Well. It''s not like they would take some shady guy like me to Camelot or something would they?'' Unfortunately, life is rarely even so convenient. ''Rather, I didn''t even know I wanted to go the Camelot till less than an hour ago¡­ I didn''t know I was in a fantasy...'' They might have been in a bit of a rush, I don''t really blame them for not sticking around for some stranger to wake up. Or rather, I can''t blame them. I don''t know what the norm is for situations like these. I mean, what do you do when you knock out a strangely dressed man surrounded by floating lights in the middle of the woods? ''... Actually, just walking away seems pretty normal now.'' At least one of them had the decency to straighten me out on the ground. I doubt I was knocked out flat on my back with all stones removed from my vicinity. ''The stones may have been my bugs moving them though.'' I walk in the general direction of where I heard the voices before, towards the river. There was of course no one there. I''m not sure what I expected really. There was no camp, no burnt out logs, no scraps, no remains of food. Only the smell of poop and trapped mud. ''Of course.'' It was passed midday, but still some time off sunset, there was no need to set up camp, no need for a fire. They may have had some snacks, but food is precious, they would not leave waste. They probably only stopped to fill canteens, water the horses and take a piss break. ''Of course.'' What did I expect? There were more hoof marks travelling downstream. No continuous lines, so they didn''t have any carts, in fact there was no other human foot marks once you got away from the little clearing. They all had horses. They would be travelling relatively quickly then. I can''t count how many there are from the prints, but they were probably weren''t a large group. A relatively small company, all with horses and at least two knights who had scouts roaming around whenever they stop¡­ They must have been doing something important. They probably couldn''t afford to take me even if they wanted to. Not to mention I had offended Mordred the moment I opened her mouth by calling her something to suggest she wasn''t the manliest man to ever man. ''Of course.'' What did I expect? I''m not sure why this is hitting me as it is to be honest. I guess¡­ I''m just a bit confused. Who wouldn''t? I wake up in the past accompanied my fairies, practically chased out of the village that "saved" me, find out I''m in a fantasy past, a fictional past¡­ then get knocked out and left behind. ''Well it''s not like they owed me or anything, just feels¡­ anticlimactic? Like I punched flesh and felt cotton?'' I feel off balance and out of place. My head is spinning a bit, and not from the punch. I feel alone. "... And why wouldn''t I?" I ask nobody. Only the rustle of leaves and lazy humming of my bugs fill the air. ''Nobody answers.'' Of course. What did I expect. ... ''Really...'' ... ''What did I fucking expect...'' ... Warmth. My eyes blink away tears, ''Huh, when did I start crying?'' Warmth. Warmth. I look. Warmth. Warmth. Warmth. Lights, brighter in the dimming sun, surround me, nay. Envelope me. Warmth. And at their head, hovering in front of my face, was a reddish-purple ball about the size of my thumb nail. Warmth. I smile. "Thanks Radish. You''re rad." I let out a long sigh looking up at the sky. ''I probably needed to get that out the way anyway...'' "What to do now then?" No that''s not right. "Where am I?" No wait. "Are there more of you now?" I go cross eyes at the swarm. For now they truly deserved to be called a swarm. Two dozen had somehow become nearly fifty. ''What?'' Frowning at them, I air the question. "Do you know what to do?" Silence. Unfortunately even Radish was too dumb to grasp the problem. "... Do you know how to get back to the road?" Silence. Some of the small ones in the back were playing dodgems. "... Which way did we come from?" I dunno. Some of the smallest (newest?) ones were nesting in my hair. ... ''Of course.'' I pinch the bridge of my nose. What did I expect? .
. By the way, my pocket knife is completely legal. A folding knife with a blade of three inches made of stainless steel. Completely legal obtained via legal means, and used for legal purposes. ''Umu.'' . . The school bell broke me from my daydreams. I suddenly felt a bit emotional. ''How long has it been since I experienced that?'' How nostalgic. "Well that''s all for today class, no homework, travel safely, and Artus!" I raise my head at being called. "Focus more tomorrow, I saw you slaking near the end." "Sorry sensei, still a bit jet lagged." I lie flawlessly with a sheepish smile. "Hmph." So nostalgic. The sound of chairs scraping floor, bags being packed, doors being opened, words being murmured¡­ ''So nostalgic I could almost cry.'' I stand and move to my contractor. "Hey Rin, I was thinking a bit before, do you prefer Princess of Hime? Perhaps Hime-sama?" Her glare and eye-role were adorable. ''Can we stay behind and scout the school grounds?'' I ask telepathically. I get a slightly confused look and nod in return. She doesn''t seem to want to speak much right now. ''Probably scared what she would say would blow her image¡­ hur hur,'' I get a kick in the shin. Whatever. I know this place might well become the place of a few skirmishes in the future, and memorising my Princesses surroundings were an obvious thing, but that''s not why I want to scout it out more. I want to see if I can find the Justice Puppy. I quirk my lips up. ''Maybe just straight up join the Archery club¡­'' Huh? I fall into contemplative silence. ''That would give me more chances to kill Shinji¡­'' I get a kick in the shin. "No killing my classmates without good reason." She whispers to me. I felt a pang of rage. ''... If only you knew.'' She looked at me confused. ''Aw jeez¡­ Imma have to destroy her worldview aren''t I¡­'' My lips quirk down. ''Not fun.'' I walk faster. ''But not yet¡­'' ¡­ ''Goddammit I really don''t wanna.'' Well there goes my good mood... .
. Chapter 5: I beg . My peace was disrupted. "Please help us. I beg thee." I blink at the offender, propping my axe against the chopping block. She was diminutive, most people were compared to me, and skinny. Young, though she was already a mother of two, yet still managed to maintain a waifish impression. Coffee brown hair in a ponytail, oak brown eyes framed by long eyelashes and a smattering of brown freckles on tan weathered skin. She wore a light brown tunic and dark brown long skirt held in place by a brown leather belt. Average enough, but pretty in a simple way. Something I''ve come to appreciate here. I blink again. Then sniff. ''She''s had a bath.'' Strange. There was less grime in her hair, the usual soil and sweat smell was absent, even as she wrung her hands nervously I noticed the lack of dirt beneath her finger-nails. Looking again, her clothes, although simple, were also rather clean, there was a lack of frayed edges¡­ there were also buttons. I narrow my eyes. Buttons were a sign of wealth at this time, excess material meant to show of one''s fortunes. ''Or make a good impression...'' This one had dressed up for me. To beg for help. ''It must be pretty bad.'' "Where''s the chief?" The one who usually came to "deal" with me. "Dead." How succinct. "... I see. Why are you here? What about his eldest son?" "He¡­" she fidgeted¡­morethat is. "He sent me." She looked at me with upturned eyes, they were starting getting moist, her lip trembled. ''Oh boy.''But I remained impassive. I''d been screwed over by a ploy that started like this once and that was enough. It won''t happen again. "He sent me to beg aid," she took a breath, and curtsied slowly. Her legs were trembling. "If it pleases, thee has mine body at thy mercy should sir help¡­" I close my eyes. I can''t even get angry. This is just how it is here. The mother, I don''t even know her name, taking my lack of response a bad way, starts to panic. Her eyes well up with tears and she starts shaking. "S-Sir, I b-beg of the-" Stuttering and quivering, she found herself choking on her words. She began to fumble with the buttons of her tunic, clearly unused to such a luxury. She was trying to strip for me. ''Goddammit.'' She couldn''t undo the buttons with trembling fingers, her knees drop, dirtying her skirt, she looked like she was about to break down. She looks at me. "Stop." The light stops fading from her eyes. I sigh. Covering the distance between us in few steps, I haul her to her feet from under the armpit. ''So light.'' She barely came up to my stomach. He head was tilted fully back just to see my face at this close proximity. "Don''t you have a husband?" Or is it bad enough for the husband to endorse her cheating on him for the good of the village? "Died with the Chief." Her tears well up once more. ''Oops.'' I step back and bow a fraction. "My condolences." She panics at my bow, even if she doesn''t know the word she got my gesture. She still panics though. Not sure where to look her head swivels anywhere but me, unknowing of what to do. "N-n-nay, ah, I-I me-" She chokes once more. Words stuck in her throat. I feel for her. Once more she curtsies, once more with legs trembling, but this time her head is lowered, looking at the ground. "I thank thee." I could only barely hear her whisper. "... Come. We will talk further inside." I walk to my "hut" and she follows, still keeping her head lowered. ''I only woke up a few hours ago and I already want to go to sleep¡­'' . . Incidents like that became increasingly common after I dealt with the firstit. "It" in this case being the Phantasmal Species:Goblin. As in, real (as much as I) living, breathing, raping, raiding, Goblin marauders. Green little shits who live to fuck and murder. Seven of them. I killed them all. It was anticlimactic, as many things seem to be. Myself, equipped with a Fae enchanted wooden cudgel and woodcutter''s axe,butcheredthem. My bugs guided me to their temporary camp and hid me under illusion till I got close enough, then Isaw. Then Iacted. Two little green heads were knocked clean off their necks with a single sweep of my cudgel. Another head was split in two by my axe. Another neck was broken by my kick. A skull was caved in by my elbow. An eye pierced by the broken shaft of my axe. The final was strangled to death in my bare hands. It lasted less than a minute. The bodies of defiled women returned to their villages, half eaten corpses of men recovered, and bound children were freed. Of those women I am told only half survived to the next year, and half again were willing to leave their homes. The men were burned in great pires. Their families would go hungry in the coming winter. The children who watched as mother and sisters were raped, whilst fathers and brothers eaten, would return home with nary a bruise or cut. However innocence was lost to their eyes forevermore. More people would come to me after that. I accepted them all. There were some incidents here and there, such as breaking the Chief''s son for tolling those who would come for my aid, and anointing the brown haired women as my official correspondent, then later housing both her and her two daughters in my "hut"... I received money, weapons, clothes and animals for my service, but I tended to only take what I needed and gave the rest to the families of those affected. Myself, my bugs and a family of three lived like that in relative "peace" for a time. Two weeks I spent in a village recovering from my arrival. A day on the road I met Mordred. A month more I spent wandering the lands. A month further I spent in solitude at the edge of a new village. A month later I was accommodating a family. A month later I was celebrating my nineteenth birthday. A year added I was celebrating my twentieth. A day after I had a visitor. ... A somewhat distressed voice greeted my return to the hut from a successful day of hunting. At first I thought it was someone new come for aid, but the voice was too cultured, it was not panicked or begging but... embarrassed? Sheepish? A tad awkward? I raise an eyebrow and as I listen. "My ladies, please, I beg, I just want to speak with the one known as Sir Giant-kin. I mean no harm-" The voice wasn''t deep but mellow. I sensed no malice. "Liar!" Ah, it was one of the girls. "Ye attacked Banana!" Heh. Banana is one of my bugs. "I''m sorry! It was simply by accident, I swear to thee." I can guess what''s happened. Banana is always a bit in your face, but the girls love him. The guy must have swatted him on reflex. The girls also know this. They''re probably just teasing him because they''re bored. I look to the home guard bugs, their lack of action and continued laziness confirm the guest bears no ill intent. That or he''s skilled enough to hide it from my bugs, or has already swayed the bugs and girls to his side as to set a trap for me. ''In which case worrying would do no good ''cause I''d be screwed anyway.'' I approach the back of the "hut" from the woods, carrying a large boar over my shoulder effortlessly. From this angle the voices are on directly the opposite side of the three-story "hut" from me. The half of the swarm that always accompanies me bump into the lazing home guard as greeting, and theyallfollow me as I move towards the voices. "Ye also wear armour and fine cloth! Ye are anoble!" One bell-like voice exclaims like it''s an insult. "Sir Giant-kin always said not to trust nobles because they''ll kidnap us-for-being-so-pretty-and-sell-us-to-ugly-ladies-''cause-they''re-jealous! You''ll never take us alive fiend!" A younger tinkling voice rushes out. "Wha-!" "Noble''s dog!" "Goblin-brained bogie!" "Dirty-minded imp!" "Hentai orc-spawn!" "Flat-chest maniac!" ""Lolicon!"" "Gwah!" ''... My girls¡­''I wipe a tear from the eye. ''They grow up so fast.'' Overflowing parental pride aside, the guy is probably not a bad one. He''s let the girls play with him for so long, the bugs don''t react to his presence, and none of the intent wards have been tripped. With that in mind I walk around my "hut" to relieve him of his torture. "Virgin!" "Cherry-boy!" ''Ouch.'' "That''s enough girls," I interrupt their metaphysical teabagging, "I''m here now." "Sir Giant-kin!" They rush up and hug my legs. One twelve, one ten, both girls. Both with brown hair and brown eyes. Little versions of their mother. They giggle as a pick them up with ease, sitting on my forearms with their hands resting on my shoulders as I hold them at eye level. They both give me a kiss on the cheek and speak their usual greeting. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "I love you more than she does!" It feels nice to be so wanted. "Where''s your mother." I ask with a chuckle. Gods I feel like a father. "The village-" "Radish and a few others accompanied her-" "She''ll be back soon-" "Never mind that-" ""Play with us?"" Both hug my neck and give me puppy dog eyes. At times like these more more twins than sisters. "Sorry girls. This looks slightly important." They pout but let go. "Go play in your rooms, I''ll tell you a bedtime story later." Their eyes lit up, previous (feigned) disappointment forgotten. They new I couldn''t play, but wanted to get something out of it anyway. Little imps. I watch as they run to the "hut" and up the stairs to their bedrooms. "Well then," I turn, smile dropping but not unfriendly, "who might ye be?" "Ah," straightening up from the floor whence he was smite, the man addresses me with a bow. "Greeting Sir Giant-kin." He stands tall and faces me with a straight back. "I am Sir Gaheris, Knight of the Round Table. I have come today to treat with thee." He talks with dignity, largely unphased by my height and accompanying swarm. "May we talk?" I''m mildly impressed. ''I feel a new chapter is starting.'' "... Come in." ''Will we be seeing the king soon I wonder¡­'' The two of us walk into the darkness of my hut. . . "So, once more, I must ask how many traps have you planted for the upcoming, time-honoured tradition of indiscriminate murder of this generation''s Murder-Death-Kill?" "... You mean the Holy Grail War?" "Did I stutter?" "...Aghhhhhh¡­This is gonna be a thing with you isn''t it." "You know me so well." "..." "So? Traps?" "... It is beneath a magus such as I to u-" "No traps then. Surveillance system?" "... I am the Second Owner of this town, I need n-" "No surveillance system then. Do you know who else has summoned?" "... No." Hmmm. Well then. "Y''know¡­" I smile at her, "other than a decent mana supply, you''re a pretty shit Contractor..." Her eye twitches as she flushes. "Like, really fucking pathetic..." Starting to tremble. "As in, top-class weakling¡­" Though, of embarrassment of anger I know not. "You call yourself a magus and all, but¡­" But who cares. "Really, the weak-link namby-pamby is y-" "SABEER-!" I move in quickly, slinging one arm around her shoulder and pulling her to my chest, other hand cupping her chin with my thumb on her lower lip. This is fun. This needs to be said. "But, as my Princess I adore you regardless." I spoke with absolute sincerity. My voice light but my eyes solemn. Her pupils enlarge, voice stops, face flush, breath quickens¡­ Thank youCharisma. Ahhhh. This isn''t good. ''I want to bully her more.'' Why must I be like this? "You know what they say," my thumb strokes her lip as I lean in, voice breathy as I speak, "The dumber the kid the cuter they are." A beat passes. She freezes. Realises our position. Remembers what I said. Realises what I just said. Cue eye twitch. ''Oh, I heard the illusionary snap again. I think I''m getting the hang of this.'' "Saber." She says sweetly, not moving from her position or minding my thumb. "Yes Princess?" "I will make you suffer." I smile. Sharp canines shine. Pit forms in my stomach. "I look forward to it Princess." ''That''s not what I wanted to say...'' We smile at each other, staring deep into each other''s eyes. Ahhh. not good at all. My arm tightens around her waist as I move my hand to tuck a hair behind her ear. ''I want to bully her more~'' I think I''m getting addicted. ''Why must I be like this?'' "Ahm... Am I interrupting something¡­?" My smile drops. Killjoy. Thank you. I reluctantly release Rin and face the offender with a slight glare. It seems the gal we were waiting for has arrived. She flinches a bit at my glare and looks rather awkward. ''Well... I don''t really blame her.'' I lower the glare to her visible relief. I''m sorry. "You were but that doesn''t matter." It totally does. "Today we have come to meet with your boss. We would like to talk with Fujimura Raiga." The "Yakuza house receptionist" looks taken back, then gathers her courage to glare at me. "Listen here boyo, you can-" "Tell him it will be the same as ten years ago." I interrupt. "He''ll know what it means." She stops. Maybe at the cryptic words or the utmost seriousness in my voice, but she stopped. My mind was clear. My voice was clear. My purpose was clear. "... I''ll give him a call." She reaches to the telephone in her booth. Pulling Rin into my arms absentmindedly, I rest my chin on her head. ''It''s a start.'' Looking down into my contractors hair I sigh. She''s not reacting, I teased her to much before. ''Why''s it always all or nothing with me¡­'' "I''m sorry." I started. Placing my lips on her scalp, I began to talk to her. Both physically and mentally. "You''re my dumb but pretty Princess that I adore, I treasure you, never doubt that." I let my words vibrate into her head. "So as someone who cares for your well being above all¡­I beg you." She twitches in my arms. "Put away with that Magus arrogance for a while? Please?" My arms tighten around her as I began to rock her back and forth in gentle swaying. I close my eyes, pressing down into her hair further. "I''m not telling you to do away with pride or honour." She''s at the perfect height, "IamI knight when all is said and done," her head is at my chest, eye level with my collar bone. "Butarrogancewill get you killed." She fits perfectly in my arms, like a bird coming home to nest. I wonder what expression she''s making. I wonder what expressionI''mmaking. "You would get killed¡­" I breath in her scent and speak. "That will not stand." My tone is iron. "That is not allowed." My arms are iron. "I will not permit it." My will is steel. "Soplease?" But I am weak. A beat passes. Then two. There is no answer. My heart was about sink. I grit my teeth. My eyes darken.Would I have to use drastic measures? But then she answers. Not verbally, or even mentally. But it was enough, nay it was more than enough. She nestles into me, pushing her head into my clothes, feeling our warmth combine. Her thin, twiggy arms snake under mine, settling around my back. I stiffen. Hardly believing it. But it was real. I held her in a vice like grip, not tight, but unmoving. She held me in a delicate hug, unsure and uncertain. I could feel her emotions through our bond. They were turbulent. At putting down her arrogance, hugging me back or something else¡­I did not care. I do not hug her tighter, I do not sway with her more, but it feels different. My smile widens as I kiss the top of her head. "Thank you Princess." I weight is lifted from my shoulders. This time I do tighten my hug, this time I do sway more, even spinning around with her. I am happy. I am content. Of course it had to be interrupted. "Oyabun has agreed to see you." This time I don''t glare, she''s only doing her job, but I do sigh. Once more releasing Rin, this time with even more reluctance, I face the sorta-receptionist lady. She was looking at us with a rather subtle expression. "Just head on through, someone will guide you the rest of the way. I nod at her and hold Rin at arms length. She had a rather dazed look on her face, and her hair was slightly mussed up from the hug. I guess she was getting comfortable too. "Just¡­ for things like this follow my lead, okay?" I meant to look at her confidently, but in the end it was slightly pleadingly. I was scared her agreement earlier was just a spur of the moment. However my worry was unneeded. She didn''t talk, but she did nod. I''m slightly worried at her lack of chatter, this disposition was vastly different from when we first met, but it can wait. ''My victory is your victory, I will yield all glory and spoil to you.'' I remind her of what I promised when we first met. She opened her to talk mouth but nothing came out. My heart skipped a beat, but then settles. It was just her throat had gotten dry. She nodded more firmly instead. Slightly disappointed at not hearing her talk, but glad she was getting out whatever funk she was in, I smile widely, eyes closing as I did. Had they not closed, I may have noticed the conflicted look in her eyes. ''But then again maybe not. I''m rather dense when it matters.'' . Chapter 6: Sword and Shield He has forgotten. He has forgotten what he''s forgotten. He is remembered. So then, where are the Fae? We await in thy shield friend. . . My shield huh?'' jewels. The Bejewelled House of Fae] A homely hill. A token of friendship. My shield...'' Warmth. She conveys, then¡­ You''re late. Rune-Span] Cry of the Futhark. Fang of Artus. I am ashamed. I am truly ashamed. Ugh. *Kiss-kiss-kiss* *rub-rub-rub* Disloyal bug.'' Avalon] The Everdistant Utopia. Armour? You might ask. What armour? The Bejewelled House of Fae] and [Rune-Span] are more like the "second name." Not the "True Name." The Everdistant Utopia." to their [Avalon]. True Name] The Bejewelled House of Fae. And: [True Name] Rune-span, Fang of Artus, or something. have to do. Thus I will make do. Contractor, not my Princess. That said... I''m certainly not against stacking the odds in my favour either. My Princess will be strong. Youth¡­ unexpected." My mouth is a bit cottony and throat a bit dry, so I try not to talk too much. The silent treatment is perhaps even more disheartening¡­" Merlin sulked then shook his head, shaggy white mane flopping around. "Student mine, thy have dual alignments I believe." Ether. An element that did not even exist prior to the current age. Fairly rare. Magical Energy at its most raw form." He listed off. Storage." I twist round to look at the half-breed in confusion. "Yes. Best I can tell thy possess an affinity with ''storing''. To store, to keep, to hide... That is the feel I got." Well¡­ I have always been a bit of a pack-rat, and in Skyrim I would take literally everything I could take with me. Even the pots and pans.'' Jewelcraft perchance?" ... Yes actually.'' Chapter 7: I am not a Seiba-face thank you very much. records of my legend had been stricken from the world along with my recollections. That is... surprising?'' I tilt my head. I have a clever little Princess on my hands¡­'' I blink. ''That''s a first.'' Dumb but cute and easy to bully.'' She''s learning. How glorious'' ... Wow. Even a life(and death) away I still managed to have Boku no Hero flashbacks¡­" is in the end just a girl. A girl in a bit over her head. And now she''s my Princess, it is only natural I should help her in all endeavours. Good.'' The ''war'' hasn''t even started and I''m already winning.'' that a "meeting". Who knows.'' But that''s enough running from reality for now.'' Hwaaa...'' something anyway. Rather impressive actually.'' Announcing the arrival of His Royal Highness the King! All hearken the King of Britons Arthur Pendragon!" feel the sheer intensity of their fervour vibrate through the air on their skin. ... I guess he''s (she''s) still pretty popular at this time.'' abnormally well documented you know that?" She looks at me. "Yet the majority of all those sources are half conflicting, half stupid, and half slander yet all are well written and have multiple origins to back them up!" She exclaims quietly. Ugh.'' I involuntarily make a face. understatement is an understatement. The church huh¡­'' religious" and "pure" organisation¡­ was a joke. A complete and utter farce. ONly concerned with power and money." property, "I hiss the word out, "of the church. Despite their apparent purity," I spit the word out, "our dear and holy father priests were regular patrons¡­ They did not treat the women well." all bad." I narrow my eyes. It was hard for me to say given how much hate was cultivated between us in life... but that was the truth. "The holy men and women stationed in Camelot were mostly alright, and the places I toured often were generally less corrupt¡­" universal enemies, telling stories of how they were all monsters, rapists and beasts; making them even easier to hate... that was the truth. Too few, too few.'' I was still bitter however. disappeared" more priests than I would care to admit during the early days. at least half of the assassins I dealt with in my lifetime were zealots. more popular¡­" He was actually meant to fail that. A failure on top of him "abandoning" his ruling duties was supposed to bring down his popularity with the common people. And keep in mind, these are the crooked roots of those fucks who would go on to fund nine stupid as shit Crusades¡­'' Plot of the Holy Grail. Quest for the Holy Grail made Arthur and his Knights stronger whilst further cementing his place in the heart of the people and history. complicated feelings noises) at Camlann... In any case.'' -blink, "who were both men," -blink, blink, "and you according to some sources, used you foul magic to seduce the two brave knights to your harloting ways¡­" Blink, blink, blink. Bruh.'' Uruz. Raidho. Chudan no Kamae in Kendo terms. Impressive.'' Ingwaz. Feh¡­ not used to this duel style format¡­'' So then.'' I fight off a grimace. ''What to do know huh?'' are coming." Slowly but surely. "I''m not sure why I even have amnesia in the first place though¡­" Though I think it was by my own design strangely enough.'' being here fills me with an intense sense of smugness. I occasionally have the urge to say the line. Come to the dark side, we have Light. make you cry- Eh?'' Kiss what?'' -Ah, I got my thoughts and speech mixed up¡­ also, I''m a being made purely of prana Rin, pepper spray means nothing to me¡­ You should stop lest the librarian will shout at you.'' make. Ingwaz. Ingwaz. Ingwaz. Calm. Composed. Collected.'' Phewwww." I breathed out a long breath. Ingwaz." I whispered my first verbal rune of the fight. That''s enough pussy-footing.'' must rely on me. But I must say I''m most proud of that last one.'' that''s familiar. "The Friendly one of Lights." That one isn''t. that would be there. The Knight of This-and-That." The Knight of This-and-That is still sung to this day. Said to originate from sometime in the late 1700''s. Said to be authored by a group of historians studying Arthurian tapestries and documents in their free time." Huh. "It somehow lasted ''till the modern day." really weird to know you are being sung about by children across the world¡­ Weird, but good. Big Three, as it were." Oooh, now that sounds proper cool and anime-like. "The Knight of Fae, the Last Knight and the King-Maker." Artus the King-Maker that King Arthur and his Knights were cemented as fact not fiction. It was your existence that confirmed King Arthur as a legend not a myth." She lectured. Oh¡­'' !... oh yeah.'' ... Oh yeah¡­'' I remember them. a twitch, "it was fairly certain you did not fight for Mordred." Another twitch. "And It is documented you saved Arthur''s life a multitude of times... It was said your presence at Arthur''s side cemented his rule." Now that''s exaggerating a bit.'' Don''t let Kay here that.'' Crownless King of Britain. The Last Knight of Arthur who ruled justly in his stead. Bringing the country prosperity and protection as you raised the next generation of Rulers." ...'' That''s one name I didn''t want remembering.'' Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Rune. Set. Ingwaz.'' Sowilo!" lit up with the Rune, empowered and empowering the light of the sun. Make an advantage.'' No pun intended.'' fwump" as I finished the flip. Easily landing on my feet in a crouch. I was not one to let up. Rune. Set. Algiz.'' My muscles were reinforced, a rune set and ready in waiting. Good.'' Much as she did in life...'' Yeah¡­ I close my eyes. "The Last-" Not now.'' that out for me." Good.'' me." Well, this was just a paper-thin projection though. If I brought out the real one, it''s mere presence and aura would attract too much attention.'' Short Fang of Artus, as it were." People do like to name things fangs. "After Camlann it was reforged into a spear; the Long Fang of Artus. The weapon of the Last Knight¡­ not that of I." I explain. Ugh.'' I really don''t want to see a female me acting like a slut though¡­'' Knight of Fae." I proclaim peacefully, yet my words suffused with power. that bad of a habit.