This chapter contains some significant changes to the previous one. Due to some reviews that gave me insight to a few of my mistakes as well as new ideas that popped into my head. I have decided to write this for them. Shoutout to Zeryo. He's the main inspiration for this.
This change and the original are both canon to the story. You can decide which is best.
…Previously on Fate of Camelot…
"Thank you… I almost blacked out there..." Faust said to Archer. Obviously talking about the redhead's catch from earlier. The pain from three arrows stuck in his back making it harder and harder to speak. Much less breathe. Something had to be done and quick! Or else, the Captain might die from shock.
Archer didn't know what else to do at the moment. He acted on pure instinct. He didn't want this man to die here. He wanted everyone to get out of this place alive. So what he did was either foolhardy and stupid. Or brave and heroic. Now you might ask, "What did he do, Author?". Well, just read. It's coming up, anyways.
Present time… Camelot…
"Tada! My telepathy orb is now finished and ready to use!"
"That's… that's just a glass ball though."
"Grant Merlin the benefit of the doubt, brother… but I cannot help but agree."
Currently, the Pendragons (well, Kay is technically not a Pendragon but I digress) and the white robed Wizard are in the latter's tower. The intended plan was to find a means of personally contacting the Camelotian squad commanded by Captain Faust without the difficulty of long distance communication. What they came up with was Merlin's idea - the most promising of them all.
"This 'glass ball' that you so stupidly-" Merlin started but was stopped by a loud voice.
"Hey!" Kay shouted. Clearly insulted.
"-eloquently (sorry, slip of tongue) called is but one of many treasures I kept within my vaults. For safekeeping, of course. This telepathy orb is a tool that I can use to connect my conscience into another being's mind. So that not only can I communicate with them, I will also be unhindered by outward presence. Perfect for our needs!"
"While that's all good news to hear, what's the catch? Everything seems great. But I can't help but notice you're hiding something." Kay asked. Concern etched on his face.
"Well…" Merlin looked to Arturia to see if she would be pissed at what he was going to say. The reply he got was a nod of approval. But the grim look that came with her nod didn't do much to stop the cold sweat that was forming at the back of his neck.
"We're waiting for a reply, Merlin." Arturia calmly said as she crossed her arms in impatience.
"The last time I used this orb… my whole tower blew up. It must've been because of me doing two things at the same time." Merlin explained.
"I'm sorry, I think I didn't hear that right. You're saying the reason why the whole city woke up suddenly that night of the explosion was because oF THAT THING!" Kay pointed an accusatory finger at the orb while shuffling himself between the orb and Arturia.
"You didn't let me finish, Kay. And stop overreacting. No one even died; nothing was lost as well. Anyways, the telepathy orb works by pumping mana into it for the connection to stay steady. But just pumping mana into it won't produce the connection itself. You need to inject your prana into it so that you can connect to your target." Merlin continued.
"To simplify for the idiot-
"You're doing that on purpose, Merlin!" Kay interrupted as he raised his fist in anger.
"-Sorry. To simplify for the not-quite-educated, I'll power up the orb with mana. While one of you will transmit the message using your prana. Because the last time I used this thing, I did both. Which probably caused the explosion since a lot of mistakes that I didn't realise were made back then. And since only Arthur over here was taught how to effectively use their prana, it's only obvious that she'll be the one doing it."
"And if there is an error in the process?" Arturia asked. Remembering what Merlin said about his tower blowing up the last time he used the orb.
"...Pray that it works? I don't know what you humans do, but I suggest you pray that nothing bad happens while we do this." The Flower Mage replied. Albeit not too confident as he spoke. But he cast all that aside and walked towards his telepathy orb. With the King and the Tall Knight following suit.
"Damn it, Merlin! I thought you were a genius and all that when it comes to stuff like this." Kay huffed angrily.
"I am. And this solution was the easiest out of everything I thought up to this point. It will work without killing us, I assure you. Now, place your hands on top of the orb Arthur. I already calibrated this orb to connect with Archer's consciousness-"
"Consciousness? Forgive me, but I recall you saying earlier that we would be accessing Sir Archer's mind in order to transmit our message." Arturia quickly noticed.
"Mind and consciousness, whatever. They're the same when it comes to the telepathy orb. Now, let me do my part. So that you can do yours." Merlin answered.
After everyone in the room had said their peace, Merlin began to chant silently while placing his hands on either side of the orb. A few seconds of chanting later, the air around them started to shift ever so slightly. Half a minute later, mana started to appear around the Flower Mage. The blue worldly energy started to swirl around both Merlin and the orb. Slowly, but steadily increasing in both power and brightness. A whole minute later, and the telepathy orb itself started to glow. With the swirling mana entering into it to power it up. Further increasing its luminosity. As the King and the Tall Knight watched the Mage concentrate on pushing mana into the orb, they noticed that his right hand started to glow in a lavender hue.
"Merlin. Why is your hand glowing? Is that part of the process?" Kay asked as he pointed at the lavender light.
"I'll explain everything later! All you need to know now is that light is the link I'm using to connect to Archer. Now, once I'm done with charging up this orb. Arthur. You must push your prana into your arms and out of your palms. That way, you can communicate to him. Damn… this orb needed more mana than I… I feel drained…Anyways! You must keep the message short and straight to the point. With the amount of mana this orb is taking to fuel itself, I can only grant you 30 seconds until I break the connection." Merlin started to sweat and pant in exhaustion at this point. The telepathy orb was taking a lot out of the Flower Mage.
'I can't believe I forgot about distance! I didn't take into consideration that being so far from Camelot could cost more mana than near distance contact. Dorchester wasn't that far from Camelot compared to Eastland, so I should've realised that beforehand.' Merlin thought as he grimaced at his own mistake.
At this point, the telepathy orb started to glow blue. A sign that's ready to use. Arturia didn't need to be told that this was the moment she needed to start injecting prana into the orb. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and started to channel her prana into her arms. From an outside perspective, her hands glowed a golden yellow hue. Subsequently going out of her palms and into the orb.
Eastland…on the path to Hullbridge…
The redhead reached out for Captain Faust's back and yanked out all three arrows in one pull. Much to the displeasure of the Captain. He needed to close up those arrow wounds, but he doesn't have anything in his arsenal that can heal. Everything he owned can only help him to kill.
Unless…
Archer started to mutter under his breath. He knows that he can't use it. His connection to Arturia is what fuels the scabbard resting in his soul. He cannot heal the Captain using Avalon since he is nowhere near its rightful owner. But he would be damned if he didn't at least try! The redhead won't allow his comrade to die. Not now. Not ever.
"Trace. O-."
And then, he felt it. A certain someone's prana entered his mind and consciousness. Once he realised whose prana this is, he unconsciously began to reminisce the time he felt it firsthand.
Flashback…
"Shirou!"
"There's no way you can defeat Berserker."
A boy with red hair rose up from the ground. Not paying attention to the white haired child who continued to mock him in his hour of struggle. Using the sword he forged with all he had as a cane. Bloody and bruised as he was, he paid no heed to it. All that he could think of as he glared at the enraged behemoth in front of him was,
"I've already created a sword that can defeat Berserker, but i can't use it?"
The giant warrior of old brought up his weapon over his head and swung it down with tremendous speed and power. His goal being the boy who had continued to defy him time and time again. The same boy who cut off his left hand. That would be the last time the boy would stand up against him. It is time for him to die!
CRASH!
Before Berserker's attack could even get close to Shirou, an invisible force deflected the strike towards the ground. Causing grass and dirt to fly about. But that doesn't matter, Shirou is safe. That's always what truly mattered in the end.
With Berserker's sword stuck onto the ground, Saber retreated to her master's side. Looking towards Caliburn and then at the enemy. She concluded that now was the most opportune moment to finish this fight. Unhesitatingly - despite all of the wounds and bruises that she's suffered uptil now- she powered through and held on to the Holy Sword alongside her master who adjusted his grip so that she could wield it as well.
"Shirou, give me your hand." Saber commanded. It only took a look for Shirou to understand what needs to be done. Determination burning through both of their eyes. If they were to defeat their enemy, they would have to do it together. As one.
The master and his servant brought up the Sword (that was) in Stone with a fierce resolve. With Caliburn reunited with its rightful wielder, it started to glow. Like a radiant star illuminating the night sky. The whole sword was engulfed with that bright light. Shining so bright that it was blinding. But Berserker wasn't afraid. Oh no. Instead, it became emboldened. He dislodged his sword from the ground and swung it high up into the sky. And brought the large weapon down towards the redhead and his servant with all the power he had.
STAB!
End…
"-ir Archer… Sir Arche… Can… hear me?… Sir Archer… SIR ARCHER!"
As he shook himself from his reverie, the redhead looked around to see where that voice came from. While he was doing that, Archer couldn't help but curse at his stupidity. Why the hell is it that of all the times his past memories popped up? Why now!?
"Can you hear me, Sir Archer." spoke the strange voice again.
"…What was that? That presence. It felt oddly familiar." Archer thought to himself.
"I am communicating to you through a telepathic link. Your consciousness is connected to mine. But only so that we can speak to one another."
"It's that voice again…Saber?" Archer hoped. He could feel her magical energy near him. It was practically inside him. He could feel the scabbard within him hum as its healing powers return to it.
…Wait… if he could hear Saber's voice again. As well as feel her magical energy within him. Does that mean that someone's in his mind again? Like that dream before in Dorchester?
"Who is Saber?" the voice asked. Clearly confused at the name.
Archer didn't reply. He was stunned by the fact that his mind had been invaded again. And by the looks of it, the one using his beloved's voice from before was the one doing it …again. Fortunately, he was only half right.
"Sir Archer? Please listen, we do not have time. You and your squad must find a way to the neutral city of Chelmsford. It was a Roman colony that turned into an independent trading hub. You are to find a means to contact Sir Gawain and his Company there. Be aware that he will find a way to you and your squad along the way. So keep watch. Further orders will be-"
"Who am I speaking to?" Archer abruptly asked. Effectively cutting the voice off. If this was that imposter from Dorchester again, then he needs to start placing defences to protect his mind from foreign magic later. If he can get out of this situation without his body being taken from his control
"I am Arthur, your King." the voice replied in as-a-matter-of-factly tone.
"Really?" he asked. Totally not believing what he's hearing.
"Do you wish for me to test myself to prove my identity?" Arturia bit back. Since their consciousnesses were linked at the moment. Arturia could tell Archer's every emotion. She can feel his disbelief that this interaction is happening. Frustration that stemmed from a past experience similar to this. As well as that strange warmth that's coming from somewhere deep inside the redhead's consciousness. A warmth that was strangely familiar. Like it was something she had come to cherish before but was lost long ago. And now that it's here, she can't quite tell what it is.
"...No, that will not be necessary, your Majesty." Archer replied after a few seconds of pause.
"Oh? What caused the change of heart?" Arturia asked. Genuinely curious at the sudden shift.
"If I told you, you wouldn't like it." Archer replied. Cooly hiding the fact that it was Avalon's activation that convinced him that this was the real Arturia. Because back then, when the imposter talked to him in his dreams, the scabbard didn't even glow a little bit the moment they neared it. Sure, it recognized Arturia's body. But not the prana.
Arturia could tell that Archer was suppressing the answer in his mind. But didn't pay much heed to it. There are more pressing matters to focus on.
"As long as you remember what I've told you, then I shall let things slide. For now. Head to Chelmsford until you come into contact with Sir Gawain's Company. Further orders will be sent to him once you do."
And with that, Arturia's gone. The whole encounter didn't even last a minute in reality. But for some reason, it felt to Archer that it's been hours already since he became aware of the real world. As he looked down towards his chest, he could sense that her prana still resides within him. It must've been because of Avalon.
Speaking of which…
"Now that Avalon's active… I wonder…" Archer said to himself as he placed his left hand onto the Captain's bloody back. He then closed his eyes and whispered,
"Trace. On"
And a second after that, a golden light erupted from his hand. The golden light then transferred to the Captain's back. It felt… soothing. Like every ache and pain was slowly vanishing. His strength was being renewed by the second. He could feel the wounds on his back closing in on itself. Like it was being healed. Was this some sort of magic?
"What is this?" Faust asked. He felt like a new man now. More alive than ever! Just what did this redhead do?
"I healed you. That's what." Archer replied. He hid the fact that he used Avalon to do the healing by placing the scabbard within the Captain. Since the redhead didn't know how the Captain of King Arthur would react to seeing his liege's scabbard in the possession of another man that wasn't the King, Archer simply let the Captain's imagination run wild as to how he went about healing him.
After 3 whole minutes have passed. Archer retracted the scabbard from the Captain's body. He didn't know how much of Arturia's prana was left inside Avalon to power itself up, so he went and subtly touched Mordred's thigh. Knowingly transferring the power of the scabbard and its healing abilities into the Red Knight. He'll get it back later, of course. Mordred simply needed it to boost her recovery. She lost a lot of blood after all.
"You have a lot of explaining to do…bastard…" Morded softly growled as she laid her head on Archer's back. She didn't open her eyes the whole time the redhead was casting his magecraft against the Saxons. But she was conscious enough to realise what was going on. Naturally, she was pissed because he didn't tell her the truth sooner. But her physical state demanded that she should deal with the issue later when she's back in full strength.
"Yes… I know…" Archer grimaced. Not entirely pleased with the prospect of dealing with a very angry Mordred anytime soon. But he set that thought aside when he spotted torch lights 4 miles away. Courtesy of his Mind's Eye, of course.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The reason why Avalon is activated is because of the presence of Arturia's magical energy (prana) within Archer. I consulted the wiki on this and it states that it is Arturia's magical energy that fuels the scabbard. Not just simply close proximity. Nuff said.
This is simply a changeup in reaction to Zeryo's review. I couldn't help but write this to fix up my mistake.
Don't forget to like and review the story. And also, thanks for reading!