I am still alive people. My apologies for the delay. There was just too much happening, I got stuck in a writer's block, the pandemic outbreak, busy with RL, my health. My tablet and laptop are nearing the end of their lifespan and sadly I have no money to get new ones. If I end up not updating for a long time it's because I would be forced to write on my phone. I did it before but... that is a real pain.

I ended up rewriting this chapter because I just could not feel satisfied with it and I am glad I did. It took more than a year, but I think this is one of the few chapters I am 100% happy with. I really hate writing half-assed chapters for the sake of updates, so you won't get any of those from me. In the meantime, this story is already more than 2 years old wow thanks everyone for staying with me for so long. Anyway, the next chapter is almost finished, unless I decide to also rewrite it, you wouldn't need to wait that long for the next update. Unless my laptop and tablet decide to stop functioning 4 ever.

Extra thanks again for my beta MidoriKurenaiYume. Enjoy people!

Arturia could not help but gape in awe as she looked at the bustling market of Uruk.

It felt quite similar to the markets back home, where merchants gathered to sell their products, where children ran and played, where hard-working men and women earned their bread. The ambience, however, felt different. After being holed up in the palace for too long, the new scenery was a welcome change for the young knight, and she took it all in with curiosity.

The woman winced slightly as the sunlight shone directly at her face. She was wearing a shawl to protect her skin from the sun and any unwanted attention, but it did little to shield her eyes.

"Try not to stray away from my side, okay? And don't take off that ring," Enkidu reminded her as they glanced back at the woman.

Arturia looked at the ring she was wearing on her left middle finger. It was the only accessory she was obligated to wear: a golden ring that, aside from its simple design, had an odd jewel embedded inside. She could feel traces of magic emitting from it.

"Honestly, for Gil to have given you that is pretty amazing," Enkidu commented.

"I do not see your point. That man has given me a fair amount of jewellery. How is this ring any different from the others?" the woman pointed out flatly.

A mischievous smile crept on Enkidu's face. "That's because that ring came straight from his treasury."

Arturia's eyes narrowed in suspicion. She did not understand the meaning behind such words. Wasn't that obvious that it would come from the treasury? Wasn't the fact that the ring contained magic what made it different from the other jewellery?

The woman closed her eyes and grimly thought back on the previous day.

More than a week had passed since Arturia met the priestess. While she was more motivated than ever to reach her goal, she was disappointed to recognise that she had not made any progress at all.

Her study sessions were briefly interrupted after the servants came in to prepare her ceremonial dress for the dreaded day. While Artoria reluctantly obliged, her lack of full cooperation made it hard for the servants to proceed. That was until Gilgamesh entered.

The room went quiet in seconds as the servant respectfully greeted their king.

"Leave the room, I have some private matters to discuss with my bride!" the man ordered.

The servants quickly obeyed his order and not long after Artoria and Gilgamesh were the only two left.

An awkward silence lingered between them as their eyes met in a challenge for dominance.

"And to what do I owe this visit?" Arturia eventually spoke up, her voice calm despite the caution in her eyes.

"The feast for the full moon festival is approaching, thus you are allowed to venture out into the city."

Artoria blinked. Had she heard that correctly? She could go outside. It was the opportunity she was looking for. She could familiarise herself with the streets of Uruk. "I am allowed to go outside?" she repeated.

"Yes, however, there are conditions which you must abide by."

Gilgamesh flicked his finger and pointed at the table behind her. "You are obliged to wear that ring at all times and you cannot venture outside alone. Enkidu will be coming with you."

There was a tone of authority in his voice that she could not refuse. She looked over her shoulder at the table. While disbelieving what she saw, she stared at the ring that rested there. The woman was certain that it was not there before. Arturia carefully picked up the ring and inspected it.

Her attention returned to Gilgamesh, "I assume there is a reason why I must wear this," she said. Her question was clearly present in her voice. While she was suspicious of the man's behaviour, she did not complain and placed the ring on her middle finger. The conditions were not that difficult to agree on.

"You should be delighted. This is not something I would bestow on anyone." Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed as he looked at the woman.

Arturia did not respond to his comment. Instead, she met the man's gaze again, this time without hostility. "I have no reason to reject the opportunity to go outside. Yet, I am surprised. Is there any reason why I am allowed to at this particular point in time?"

The king shrugged his shoulders. "Would it not be unbecoming for a queen not to know the city her husband the king reigns over?"

The knight's expression slightly twisted into a grimace. "You should hope that that pride of yours will not come to bite you back in the future," she said bitterly, a slight tone of mockery in her voice.

Arturia's vision blurred as she felt her face being slammed back by an immense force. Her face was trapped by Gilgamesh' firm grip. The woman groaned in pain due to the strength behind his hold. The King was glaring at her. "I did tell you to entertain me. But if you undermine my authority, you should be prepared to be punished accordingly," he warned her with vehemence.

Arturia was released from his grasp and fell to her knees, desperately gasping for air. From her half-closed eyelids, she watched as the man disappeared from the room, leaving her confused and frightened.

Arturia slowly got up from the ground. Her jaw hurt and her body trembled, but she did not pay it any heed. The only thing that bothered her was the erratic beating of her heart that gave away her fear.

Arturia breathed in deeply to calm herself down. She quietly walked over to the mirror to look for any other injuries. To her surprise, aside from the faint bruises from Gilgamesh' grip, she could not spot anything else. Did he, despite the force of his actions, hold back his strength?

An unpleasant feeling of confusion spread across her being. She really could not understand the man at all. Testing his patience would not help her gain anything, but at the same time, she did not like her patience being tested.

Arturia groaned. She clenched her fists in pure frustration. A bitter feeling climbed up from her stomach and crept throughout the rest of her body. Her frustration did not stem from the king's actions. Nor from his words. It stemmed from her inability to react and the pressure of being intimidated that momentarily took control of her being. Had she become so passive since her arrival? Where had all her bravery and pride disappeared to? Was it that hard to find her ground in this environment?

"Maybe going outside will help me clear my mind," she mumbled to herself.

Walking through the street did liven up her mood. While it was still incredibly hot outside, she had been stuck inside the palace for too long and as a result, she welcomed the new environment and heat eagerly.

Arturia's curiosity was once again piqued when she approached one of the many shops. A crowd of people were present in front of the shop. It made her wonder what they were selling. She kept some distance so she would not attract too much attention. But stayed close enough to understand what was going on. She saw a vendor negotiating the price of their products with a potential customer. Not far from them, she spotted a pair of siblings enjoying some of the food their parents bought for them at another nearby shop.

It reminded her of when she and Kai would go into town with their father Hector as young children. They would race each other to decide who was the fastest, check many vendors to see where they could find something delicious and beg their father to buy it for them.

Sometimes they would even sneak out secretly to roam around, only to be found out by their father, who scolded them heavily for their reckless behaviour.

Arturia smiled unconsciously while fondly thinking of the past.

"This is the first time I see you smile."

The woman quickly snapped out of her daydream. Her smile disappeared as quickly as it came. "Excuse me?" she asked.

"Since the day we've met, I haven't seen you smile at all. Well, I can't blame you. But I'm glad to see you're doing better. Ah, and don't worry about Gil, I already gave him a scolding for what he did."

Arturia's hand went towards her jaw. The bruise was almost nonexistent now. It did not hurt as much as before. But the feeling of Gilgamesh' strong grip was still imprinted in her mind. "Thank you for your concern," she responded, "But I can assure you that there is nothing to worry about."

The two continued to wander around the city. They checked out various places and shops. Arturia even had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with some of the citizens. The talking, however, was mostly done by Enkidu.

"How is your mother doing? Is she feeling any better?" Enkidu had asked one of the vendors.

"She's still weak, but at least she has enough strength to sit up and eat," the man answered.

"That's good to hear, last time I was told she was in a critical condition."

"The gods must have heard our prayers. I heard the father of a friend of mine suffered from the same symptoms but he did not survive. Many similar cases have happened for the past few months," the man lamented before his eyes shifted to Arturia. "Ah, I see that you have brought company with you."

Enkidu nodded. "Yes, she's an acquaintance of mine who arrived not long ago. I'm just showing her around."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. My name is Arturia." The woman awkwardly introduced herself.

"Mhm, that's an unusual name."

Arturia hid her embarrassment behind her shawl. "Yes, as Enkidu mentioned, I am not from around here."

"Well, I hope you like Uruk. Here's a little something as a welcome."

The vendor was more than eager to give her something from his shop, but Arturia strongly refused. "Oh no, I would not dare!"

"I insist. Enkidu has done a lot for us and the least I can do is show hospitality for their guest."

After some hesitation, the woman finally accepted the gift. "Thank you," she replied.

"Well, we have to move on," Enkidu exclaimed. "Good luck with your business."

"Feel free to come again and enjoy your day!" the shop owner politely responded.

The two left the marketplace and continued onward.

"Well?" Enkidu spoke up. "What is your first impression of Uruk?"

"It is a very lively city," Arturia answered. "The citizens are very friendly too."

The woman rummaged through the food that she was given by the vendor. They were all snacks commonly eaten by the citizens. She grabbed one and handed it over to Enkidu, before taking one for herself. Unlike the dinners at the palace, she did not feel suffocated at all and could eat the food with no problem.

"That's good to hear," Enkidu replied before taking a bite. "I want you to make some good memories."

"It would be a nice memory if I could go home," Arturia mumbled.

Enkidu did not react to her comment and continued to eat their snack. "These kinds of snacks are really good. I would like to bring some to Gil. But he's not fond of this type of food. Oh well, that means there's more for us."

The two fell into silence as Arturia shifted her attention back to the city. Her eyes scanned every nook and cranny as she memorised the city's layout. There was one thing she had noticed while they walked and she was sure that Enkidu knew.

"Enkidu," the woman began.

"Hmm?"

"Have you not realised that the citizens are acting a bit too ignorant?"

Enkidu turned around to face Arturia. "What do you mean?"

"The vendor from back then. He did not act as surprised as I assumed he would be. I know that I am currently dressed to attract less attention. However, the citizens are acting too passively. Clothes cannot hide everything and after I introduced myself, the vendor seemed to brush it off as if it was just uncommon. What is the reason behind their behaviour?"

Arturia peered Enkidu directly, her eyes did not let go of theirs. Her expression filled with determination and stubbornness. She would not let go of the issue until she got an answer.

Enkidu, on the other hand, smiled at her. As if they were expecting her question. "Well yes, there is a reason behind it."

The knight had her suspicions, but she stayed quiet and allowed Enkidu to continue answering.

"That ring you are wearing blurs the existence of the wearer. Or to be precise, the perception others have of you. Your presence is acknowledged, but at the same time, it is unconsciously being weakened. It would be too bothersome if they realise who you are. You would be treated differently. I am sure it would ruin your first day out too."

Arturia stared at the ring. Was that the reason why that man told her that she had to wear the ring while going outside? "So it was the ring after all. I thought it was strange that I was given a magical ring."

Enkidu crocked their eyebrows. "So you knew? I didn't think you would be able to sense magic," they inquired.

Awkwardly the woman bit her lower lip. "... Yes, my mentor is a mage, the best in my homeland."

"Hmmm, he must be proud to have such a diligent student."

"I wonder. He is not someone who reveals his thoughts to anyone."

The mage Merlin, born from a human woman and an incubus. Baptised by the church and dubbed the 'mage of flowers' was also one of the greatest magicians alive. She wondered what he was up to. If he was trying to find her, why didn't he try to contact her through her dreams? The mage possessed the clairvoyance ability, so he should have no problems in searching for her whereabouts. Was there something that prevented him from using his abilities? She had been waiting and hoping that Merlin would make contact with her. But as of now, she had not heard a word. Or a dream, for that matter.

Despite the turbulent thoughts about her mentor, Arturia still smiled. "He has his shortcomings, but to me he is—"

Their conversation was quickly interrupted by a sudden change. A crowd of people came frantically running from the direction the two were heading towards. They looked incredibly distressed as if they were fleeing from something.

"What is happening?" Arturia asked.

Enkidu quickly got in front of her. "Stay close, Arturia—?!" However, as they turned around, they could not find her anymore. Enkidu looked around, but there were too many people to make out her position. "It shouldn't be too difficult to find her," they mumbled, "Gil, your little gift is working too well."

Enkidu let out a frustrated groan before collecting themselves. They took a high leap and landed on top of the nearest building continuing their search from above.

Alarmed, Arturia looked around the crowd. She had unintentionally been separated from Enkidu. While it was the perfect opportunity to escape, she did not truly consider it. In contrast to her rationality, her emotions made her push through the crowd. Her sense of justice and desire to help made her unable to abandon those people.

It was a very odd development. One moment before, everything seemed peaceful; a second later, the area became entirely chaotic. But for the situation to have escalated so quickly, something terrible must have happened. The woman's gaze caught sight of a child. The little girl was crying for her parents as she got pushed around by the frantic adults. Without wasting any time, Arturia forced herself forward and quickly grabbed the child before she would be crushed under the mass of people.

After painfully tumbling out of the crowd, she looked at the girl. "Are you alright? Do you know what happened? Where are your parents?"

The child's cries lessened when Arturia patted her head. Between her sobs, the girl pointed behind Arturia. "Da-Daddy!"

Arturia turned around. To her surprise, she found a man staggering towards them. After a quick observation, the knight realised that the man did not appear to be wounded, but he did not seem well either. She quickly pushed the child behind her. "Sir, are you alright?" She asked cautiously.

The man did not answer and instead mumbled something almost unintelligible.

"Ugh! It hurts, it hurts! I can't take it. IT HURTS!"

"Sir?"

"Don't touch him!" One of the civilians yelled as Arturia was about to reach out to the man, "He's been cursed!"

The knight's instincts kicked in as she felt something sharp passing next to her cheeks. She quickly backed away and pushed the child into the crowd. "Someone, take care of her!" she yelled as she turned her attention back to the man.

His posture was slumped, a dark-purple shell-like substance engulfed half of his face and arms, and the man's expression was twisted in agony. It was almost hard to believe that the man was human anymore. Whatever he was becoming or had already become, it did seem to be dangerous. Arturia scanned the area, hoping to find a usable weapon. But she was not given any time to do so as the man lunged at her with incredible speed.

A painful grunt escaped her when the man grazed her body again. It was a shallow wound, but the sting was painful. Her attire was not suited for combat. The woman quickly allowed her tunic to be ripped as she rolled away from another incoming attack. The man continued his rampage in a frenzy, his ramblings now having evolved into an inhuman screech.

"I must lure him away from the crowd," Arturia mumbled softly.

She picked up a few small stones and threw one towards her opponent. It got easily deflected. So she threw another and then another one until one finally hit her target. Arturia continued with the same routine until the rampaging man became irritated enough to ignore anyone else in the vicinity but her.

A grin appeared on her features as she eventually backed away from the crowd and ran further into the city. Images of the foreign shops, streets and buildings passed her sight. She was still not acquainted enough with the city, but she had no other choice than to press on. Arturia ran as fast as she could while trying to evade any incoming attacks. As long as she could find a space that was desolate and big enough— and if she could get a hold on a weapon— she was certain that she could find a way to overpower the man.

Those thoughts, however, soon came to a halt when her body was suddenly smashed against the wall. Arturia let out a painful cry when she felt the pain from the impact. The man was right behind her and moved again for another strike.

The woman ignored her screaming body and the dizziness in her head as she grabbed a large piece of the collapsed wall and used it as a shield. The hardened clay was easily broken through. Arturia quickly used the opportunity to slam the two broken pieces against the dark claw that reached for her and steered the man into the debris with the help of her enemy's own force. Therefore securing an escape from the close-ranged attacks.

Blood dripped down from her forehead into her left eye. The woman quickly wiped it away with her hand. "I need a weapon." Arturia cursed in frustration at having left her sword back at the palace.

Amid all the wreckage, the knight picked up a piece of broken timber. She readied her improvised weapon and focused on her opponent. The mana in her body pulsed through her veins. She had been training for the day when she would have to wield her sword for the greater good. Now she had the opportunity to put those skills into practice, even though she was without an actual sword.

Arturia lifted her weapon as power filled her body. Her mind was completely devoid of any unnecessary thoughts. She swung with full force, ready to strike her opponent. "Haaahh!"

—

"Arturia?! Arturia?!"

Enkidu continued to search among the frantic crowd. The situation did not look good, the guards should have noticed the incident by now. Although their efforts would be futile if they were to face an Edimmu unprepared.

"Of all times, why did one have to appear today?"

Who would have thought that the ring that was supposed to protect Arturia would end up leaving her more vulnerable? Even Enkidu —who could easily detect any presence— was struggling to find her.

They were sure that the woman was not far, but they could not predict what would happen if she had encountered a human possessed by an Edimmu.

"Huh?"

Enkidu began to sense a large surge of mana. The source was further away from the centre and closer to the city walls. They wasted no time in heading towards the location. As they arrived at the area, Enkidu did not know what to expect.

They found Arturia facing the demon. The woman had lost her shawl during the chaos. Her clothes were torn from the attacks she had endured. Her body looked beaten and battered, her loose hair was smeared with blood and whatever was left of her weapon was unusable. Despite her condition, she still stood strong and to Enkidu's surprise, a large amount of mana emanated from her body.

The demon let out an infuriating roar. From its appearance alone, Enkidu surmised that the demon had reached an advanced stage of possession.

"Arturia?" They uttered her name in worry.

Enkidu was about to aid her. However, a second later, they decided to stay put and observe. "Is this all a coincidence or not? This was what you wanted to confirm, right?" A conflicting smile graced their features as they looked at the lone knight. Whilst their words, uttered in contemplation of their own, reached their intended perceiver.

Arturia frowned. Amid the destruction, the fight had caused, as she eyed her enemy. The man she was facing had lost any humane traits by now. It looked closer to a monster or a demon. Aside from almost having doubled in size, the creature was covered in what seemed to be hard, dark-purple skin. Its face was a far cry from the man she had seen before. Something akin to horns sprouted from his back and his eyes were completely hidden underneath the shell-like skin. It growled and screeched like a monster from a child's nightmares.

"I am a knight of Britain! As a knight, I am obliged to uphold my oath of Chivalry! You may be a victim yourself of whatever misfortune has befallen upon you. However, I cannot allow you to hurt innocent people!" she exclaimed loudly, "thus I shall grant you your desired reprieve!"

The woman gathered the mana in her body. Her armour, which she had been wearing upon her arrival, materialised along with her sword, which glowed brightly.

Arturia took advantage of the first opening and swung her sword. Upon contact with the enemy's body, it released a densely concentrated amount of mana and tore a part of the former human's hard skin.

Her opponent let out a painful scream, but the knight did not stop her attacks. The monster retaliated and exchanged blows with Arturia's blade with its claws. The woman grimaced slightly due to the wound on her right arm that she had received before the battle. Her body could only last for a short while longer. If Arturia did not finish the man quickly, she would certainly risk her life.

The woman gritted her teeth harshly as she poured all her strength into her next blow. The mana infused attack collided with the creature. It staggered for a short moment. Nevertheless, that small opening was the opportunity she was waiting for. She took one step backwards and thrust her sword forward,

"Sword of Selection, grant me your power! Cleave the wicked! Caliburn!"

A powerful burst of light shot from her blade. Her enemy had no opportunity whatsoever to defend itself. Its surroundings began to flash. Soon the former human was engulfed by an explosion of light.

Arturia stayed put and waited for the aftermath to clear up. As the dust began to settle, the scene of blood spatters and unrecognisable remains of the corpse entered her vision.

She fell to her knees; her strength had finally left her. She was out of breath. Her mind, which was calm and composed just seconds before, slipped into complete disorder.

She had killed a man. She had killed someone and was even prepared for its consequences. It wasn't even the fact that she took someone's life that bothered her, as that was a truth she had surrendered herself to many years before. The man was obviously suffering. If it was not his life, she would have lost hers instead. But what about the man's family? What about the little girl who was crying amid the chaos? What about his wife? Did he have any siblings or living parents? It was so strange. She had felt nothing when she decided to end the man, nor when she took his life. However, when she thought about the people he left behind—

Her vision began to blur. The woman's body had finally succumbed to the damage she endured. It almost felt like a dream when her surroundings shifted. She fell to the ground. As the adrenaline faded from her system, the pain finally caught up with her.

It hurt. The pain was becoming unbearable. Her back ached terribly from the blow she had received while she lured the man away from the people. Her head was still bleeding and throbbing painfully. She was certain that her abdomen and ribs had not escaped the battle intact. From the corner of her blurred vision, she discerned something. But she could not make out what it was. Was it a person talking to her? Her ears rang too hard to understand what was being said. Nonetheless, she could still make out some words. People were approaching the scene. From the blurry figures, she could detect at least one person who stood out more among the others.

"A light that is still weak, but it has proven that it can shine brighter than anything else. Amid the chaos, it has prevailed thus proven to be worthy of my affection!"

Her mind was too tired to think about the person to whom the voice belonged or what the spoken words even meant. Arturia finally gave in to her body's demands and succumbed to the darkness.