Chapter 19 – Albion 1

Deep in the heart of Avalon, the greatest of fairy smiths was working his craft. Not like a human would do, with tools of iron and flames of a forge, but with his Will and Soul alone.

He sat cross-legged on a stone pedestal in a middle of a circle of white masonry, a foundation of an ancient tower. Bright sunlight illuminated his red hair, making them almost glow with an unnatural shade as the gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers swayed the fiery locks. His eyes were closed, his face set in a serene expression.

Above him, a golden-blue sword in a similarly colored scabbard floated in midair, motionless, suspended by seemingly nothing.

And nothing truly held it there. Not fairy magic, nor magecraft, not even the mana of Avalon itself.

Just Shirou's will.

It should be strange. He rarely visited the birthplace of fairies, but he didn't remember having such an influence on this realm. And yet, since he lost his body, his connection to Avalon somehow deepened. More, it felt natural. Like it was always meant to be like this.

When in Avalon, Eternal Forge was less… constrained. There wasn't a distinct border where his Domain ended like in the human world, or even in Faery, but a seamless transition between his magical energy and the mana of Avalon. His Fairy Patterns that kept his Mystery from diffusing in the sparse environment of the human world somehow relaxed here, almost merging with the background. Some sensitive magi could detect Eternal Forge in the human world, but he was sure that would be impossible here.

It didn't scare him. He was so far away from the human boy he was born as, that this change didn't bother him that much. It took some time to get used to his new form, his body often 'crumbling' into silver swords for years after the fight with the Crimson Moon, but it was never uncomfortable. Sad, maybe, but not uncomfortable.

Nor was this another state of being when in Avalon.

It did rise the question of where his magic ended and his 'body' began. Was Eternal Forge 'magic' or was it his 'magecraft'? Or something else entirely? Shirou considered his 'Heart', the ever-changing sword of gold and iron, as his 'core', but not exactly his 'soul', as Eternal Forge and his 'Heart' were both aspects of it. It was strange to not know the true nature of his existence. It wasn't a problem when he was younger. He didn't differ from a regular fairy then, even with the addition of Eternal Forge. He had a body, a soul, and Fairy Patterns that connected it all. A self-contained system that made him, him.

But now it was all blurred.

His soul and his body were the same thing, as were his Fairy Patterns to a lesser degree. He had a 'core', an anchor point of his being, the crystallization of who he was. Then there was Eternal Forge, his 'body', but it was all parts of his soul, together with his 'core'. Fairy Patterns were his 'skin' separating the 'outside' from the 'inside'. Those equivalent of Magic Circuits were the threads that held him together, their beginning stemming from his connection to the world and spreading throughout his soul like roots of an enormous tree.

It didn't help that being a fairy further complicated matters.

Fae were spirits of nature, but their inherent magic distorted the reality around them, making it harder to distinguish between what was 'truth' and what wasn't. That magic was what made Eternal Forge possible to begin with, and so Shirou was always using it, even if it didn't feel like it.

Then there was his magecraft, the little he was still using from time to time. Or was he? It didn't feel different from using his fairy magic, so what he called his 'magecraft' may as well be a form of fairy magic he deluded himself into believing it wasn't.

In the end, it didn't really matter. It may be his magic, his magecraft, or simply his soul that held Excalibur afloat, but those were all parts of him, of Shirou.

He focused on Excalibur again, a thousand Perspectives watching from Eternal Forge, each one looking at the floating sword from a different point of view, both physical and metaphysical. He observed how the mana of Avalon streamed through the scabbard and around the sword, how it influenced the World itself, the truths and concepts hidden in the weapon resonating with the greater Mystery. Thousands of years ago, the greatest of fairy smiths forged that blade, and Shirou knew replicating it was beyond him. It was much like Rhongomyniad, a product of the World itself more than the hands that forged it.

But it didn't mean he couldn't take inspiration from it.

It wasn't even the first time he tried to do so. Shirou considered himself the greatest of fairy smiths, definitely better than the lazy Bihev, so of course, he attempted to forge a sword on par with Excalibur. The results were, uh, mixed.

His first replica was a failure. As was the next one and a hundred thereafter. The first one he considered passable was an even greater failure in hindsight, as too much of his own aspect got mixed into the sword. He still cringed when he recalled how Vivian and Dienu mocked him when he showed them that blade. Well, Dienu mocked him. Vivian was attempting, and failing, to hold back her laughter, which hurt Shirou's ego more than Dienu's ridicule.

But for Merlin's sword, he didn't need to aim so high.

He opened his golden eyes, and a sword he was forging in Eternal Forge manifested between his hands. It was a beautiful blade, similar to Excalibur but much more ornamental, as it was supposed to be a sign of kingship first and a tool of war second. It wasn't the greatest of his works, nor did it hold the highest of Mysteries or concepts, but he placed it above all the others he ever crafted, nonetheless.

For it was made out of his love for mankind itself.

A crystallization of his hopes and wishes for their prosperity, a prayer for a better future. It was still based on Excalibur, but also in large part on Avalon. He wasn't ready to risk blessing it, so he had to achieve an 'agelessness' effect in another way. Avalon was much more than he needed, its gift almost a form of immortality, so he copied only a minor aspect of it. The blade would simply take the burden of time from its wielder as a limited form of protection.

"I dub thee, Caliburn. May your light illuminate the way to the future of man."

Shirou smiled in satisfaction, admiring the newly created sword. It was a little narcissistic of him to like his creation so, but he couldn't help it. This weapon represented all his love of humanity, their beautiful struggle in a shape closest to his heart.

Soon, however, someone dispelled his good mood with her careless words.

"Whoa, your naming sense sucks as usual, Red."

And you're as insensitive as ever, Dienu. He threw a glare at his long-time friend, but the blue fairy didn't even acknowledge his irritation.

"What's wrong with Caliburn? It's a perfectly good name."

Dienu narrowed her eyes at him, her gaze searching.

"… I'm not sure if you're making fun of me or your naming sense is that bad. Caliburn? Seriously? You just struck the 'ex' from 'Excalibur' and added an 'n'! That's just lazy, Avalonman!"

"Shut it. And don't call me Avalonman. Why're you even here?"

He didn't keep it a secret, but he stayed at his home in the human world for decades at a time, so how did she even know to look for him here?

"I was bored."

He sighed. Figures. Dienu was one of the most stereotypical fairies he knew, always doing what she wanted, disregarding everything else. She bowed to no one, be it a Great Father or a Fairy King, always making her own 'happiness' a priority. But she was also one of the kindest fairies he knew. Not even Vivian with her 'heroes' came close. She acted like a child, sometimes cruel, sometimes wise, but she was always there when he needed her, always at the right place and time.

Always helping him out or smacking some sense into him.

"Hey, Red," Dienu said a few minutes later, the small fairy perched on his head and lazily watching as he worked on Caliburn's scabbard.

"Hm?"

A shape wove itself into being around the blade, a cocoon of radiant strands, flames of his soul with salvaged material in their core. Shirou rarely made scabbards for his weapons, but he wasn't a complete novice. Besides, all the magic was inside the sword itself, so he just focused on creating something regal looking. Something to match the splendor of Caliburn.

"You're almost a thousand years old, right?"

Huh, was it so long since then, already? He wasn't counting, to be honest. Time seemed to pass faster the longer he lived, and while he was technically living in the human world, he rarely actually interacted with short-lived humans nowadays. But now that Dienu mentioned it, it was quite some time since the Age of Gods ended on the mainland. Centuries. Five, to be exact.

After a quick calculation, Shirou had to agree with his friend. Ignoring his years in Fuyuki, and it was weird to realize the twelve years he spent as a human amounted to barely more than a single percent of his current age, he was more or less a millennium old.

"Thereabouts."

"… be careful in the human world."

Shirou paused in his work, the flowing strands of flames freezing in midair. He glanced at Dienu, noting her subdued mood. Normally, he would make a joke or retort here, but there was something in her voice that made him take her words seriously. A weight in her ancient eyes compelling him to listen.

He smiled and nodded, and the fire flowed again.

"I will."

"I'm sorry, Master Avel, but Sir Merlin isn't in the castle right now. There was an urgent matter requiring his attention in a nearby village, but he assured me it shouldn't take long. An hour at most. If you'd please follow me to the waiting room, we will deliver you refreshments while you wait."

Shirou squashed down his irritation. He went out of his way to deliver Caliburn to Merlin, and the magus wasn't even here. And Merlin was the one who told him the exact time to arrive at!

Still, there was no point in lashing out at the Guard Captain. He was only doing his job.

"I see. I'll wait then, Captain."

"Thank you for your understanding, Master Avel."

Shirou nodded at the bowing human. The fact he referred to him as 'Master' meant Merlin told him something. Most likely not that Shirou was a fairy, as there was a bit of confusion in the human's aura but no fear, but enough to get him quite a treatment. Not only the Captain of the Castle Guards greeted him at the gates, but he even treated him like he would an important noble.

Still, annoying.

Gripping the thickly bundled-up Caliburn tighter, Shirou followed.

Castle Pendragon was an impressive structure. Thick castle walls of gray granite with massive towers at four corners hid a smaller keep inside. Well, smaller wasn't a good word, as the building was quite large, but the surrounding towers dwarfed it, making it appear smaller. There were more buildings in the inner bailey, from stables to servant quarters, all constructed from similar gray granite. Overall, it was a much larger complex than Scathach's Dun Scaith. But maybe that was to be expected. The Castle of Skye was many centuries older than the Pendragons' one, and humans advanced since those times. The atmosphere inside, however, was similar.

A bustle of servants and knights filled the afternoon air, a pleasant aura of purpose that dispelled some of Shirou's annoyance. Times changed, humans progressed, and Mystery waned, but the spirit of man remained the same.

They entered the main keep, gathering several curious eyes. Most of it was probably because of Shirou's appearance. He expected a short meeting with Merlin, nothing more, so he didn't bother with an elaborate form. He looked like he usually did, a young man in his twenties with red hair and amber eyes garbed in a simple black and red tunic and pants. If not for the vivid colors, he could pass for a peasant farmer, his crimson cloak the only piece of 'clothing' that didn't look poor. That the Guard Captain escorted someone like him must've looked unusual.

When they ascended another flight of stairs, something caused the Captain to pause in his tracks.

A heated voice, a shout almost.

"… listening, Claire!"

"Princess, please! They surely have their reasons."

Shirou's guide face was a stoic mask of politeness, but his aura showed a mix of embarrassment and apprehension. He threw a quick glance behind them as if judging if they have time to retreat, much to the fairy's amusement. It was a long time since he last witnessed such, but he still recognized when a servant wanted to flee the notice of an incensed noble.

"And why would I-"

Before the Captain could do anything, however, the owner of the voice emerged from behind the corner, her mouth snapping shut when she noticed she had an audience.

It was a young woman with platinum blonde hair and pale blue eyes wearing an elaborate dress of blue and white. Behind her stood a maidservant with a panicked expression frozen on her face.

"Princess Morgan."

The Captain bowed, one hand clasped over his chest.

The Princess, apparently, didn't seem to hear the captain, her eyes focused on Shirou. She stared at him with intensity, her expression set in a slight frown. Shirou didn't avert his eyes, curious what this was about. Was she trying to intimidate him? His mouth twitched in amusement at the thought, but he refrained from laughing out loud. He was a guest, after all.

After a solid thirty seconds of uncomfortable – to everyone else, at least – silence, the Princess opened her mouth again.

"Arneth, who's this?"

"A guest of Sir Merlin, Princess. I'm guiding him to the waiting rooms."

"I see." She nodded, her intense stare still boring into Shirou's eyes. "Claire, let's go."

With that, Morgan left, her maid hurrying after her, and Arneth released a large sigh before continuing.

Curious. There was something unusual about that girl, but he couldn't quite pin it down. She behaved like a stereotypical 'princess', arrogant and rude, and yet something about her was off.

After Arneth left him in a spacious waiting room, a small space with a couple of red sofas facing each other and a small table in between, Shirou kept observing her through Eternal Forge, his Domain large enough to cover most of the keep.

The Princess, Morgan, was beautiful by human standards, he had to admit. A woman just blossoming into adulthood, but already outshining everyone else in this castle. But that beauty wasn't something that exceptional, not enough to catch his attention so. There had to be something else. She wasn't a magus, even if she had the potential. There were some enchantments woven into her dress, but it looked like Merlin's work, the style of magecraft matching what he saw on the magus's own robe and other hidden spells in the castle. As she moved through the keep, she was aloof and cold when interacting with the castle servants, but not unkind. Some feared her, but they were a minority, and their fear was a minor thing, all considered. Most were the opposite, their auras brightening when they saw her despite the princess's overly direct words. Morgan walked all over the castle, exchanging a few words with everyone she came across, her maid always following her. That was until the Princess dismissed her with a few words, seemingly done with whatever that was she was doing.

Still curious, Shirou kept watching as Morgan made her way through the corridors, a purpose in her step and face set in a determined expression. It wasn't until she stopped he realized where exactly in the castle she was.

Right behind the entrance to the room Shirou was in.

Without hesitation, Morgan walked in, the doors closing with a snap behind her. For a few seconds, they stared at each other in silence, Morgan standing where she entered and Shirou sitting on a red sofa. Then, without a word, the Princess strode through the room and sat across from him.

The silence stretched as they sat there, Morgan with a slight frown and cold expression, and Shirou with a smile. He had no idea what she wanted from him, but he didn't mind this sudden staring contest. It beat sitting here for an hour alone and it let him study her up close.

After what felt like ten minutes, but was probably closer to two, Morgan's eyes narrowed and she broke the silence.

"You're Avel. A blacksmith that works for Merlin."

Heh. Shirou's smile widened. He won. This girl was surprisingly fun in her weird behavior. She presented this aloof mask to the world, an image of a perfect princess, and yet her personality didn't match it. It was as if she was trying too hard to keep everyone away and constantly failing, judging by the way her servants treated her.

Still rude though.

"That's my name. But it's quite rude, Princess. That's not how you introduce yourself."

If his lack of deference angered her, she didn't show it. She simply accepted his words and immediately introduced herself.

"My name's Morgan Pendragon, eldest daughter of Uther Pendragon, the king whose castle you're currently in."

"I see. I'm Avel, a blacksmith, as you've said, but I don't work for Merlin. He just commissioned something from me and I'm here to deliver it. Anyway, should a princess be alone in a room with a stranger? I don't imagine Arneth would be happy about this."

She frowned harder, irritation flashing in her azure eyes.

"That's none of your concern, blacksmith. Now tell me, what are you?"

Huh. Did she see through his glamour? It didn't appear to be so; she was far too calm for that to be the case. Besides, he was only using glamour to mask the glow of his eyes, so there wasn't much to see through.

"I'm sorry? I've just told you. Don't tell me you've already forgotten, Princess."

She didn't acknowledge his words, however.

"A blacksmith named Avel. A redhead, no less. That's too much on the nose to be the truth. Merlin's a scoundrel, but there's no denying his skill. If he wanted something crafted, he could make it himself or retrieve it with a spell. Yet you're here. A young man he told Arneth to treat like a royalty, with an obvious fake name and claiming to be a blacksmith despite having the body of someone who didn't spend a day doing hard labor. Not to mention there's something strange about you, Avel. The moment I saw you, I knew you're not who you appear to be."

Shirou indeed looked like a thin young man, a form he was most used to, but Morgan's suspicion was unwarranted even so. He could be a noble visiting incognito. It probably wasn't that rare of an occurrence, so why did she confront him over it? She even implied he wasn't a human and yet was still here.

Alone.

This girl was a bit too bold for her own good.

He donned a cruel smirk and let a sliver of his magical energy circulate through the room. Not enough to summon his flames or weapons, but enough to charge the small space with power. Shadows seemed to lengthen and the air grew heavy, golden sparks flickering into being for bare instants before disappearing.

Maybe a scary display will put some sense into this girl's head.

"Is that so? If you believe that to be the case, isn't your presence here an even greater risk? What if I turned out to be an assassin or an enemy magus? You should be more careful, Princess, this world is larger than your small castle."

Once again, she ignored most of what he said, focusing only on a part she wanted to hear. Even the sudden change in the room didn't phase her. She just crossed her arms and smiled, her cold expression turning into something else for the first time since he met her.

"I knew it! You aren't who you appear to be, even if you didn't lie."

And now she was smug. Shirou cruel smirk froze on his lips, his brow twitching in irritation. Did this girl know no fea–

Ah.

So that's what it was. This nagging feeling he felt since he met Morgan, an instinct telling him something wasn't right. It was so obvious he didn't notice despite searching for it.

She didn't have an aura.

That shouldn't be possible. A good enough magus could mask it, but not erase it completely. Fairy Eyes weren't a type of Mystic Eyes, despite the name. It was something every fairy was born with, an ability to see the 'truth' of the world, to see through all 'lies', illusions and barriers, and warp them. Even the 'truth' and 'illusion' of the World itself. The mechanics of Fairy Eyes weren't something a human could grasp and create countermeasures for. That ability simply worked on a more fundamental level than any mystery known to man.

And there was only one type of being Fairy Eyes didn't work on.

Another fairy.

The problem was, Morgan was a human. He was sure of it. Shirou focused on the girl, his eyes glowing with intensity despite his glamour, his lips pressed into a thin line. Thousands of 'eyes' opened in Eternal Forge, all his awareness concentrating on this small part of his Domain, peering through the layers of reality to see the truth.

Shirou's sudden change of demeanor didn't go unnoticed.

"What is this? What are you doing?"

Pale-skinned Morgan was looking around, her eyes darting from corner to corner as beads of sweat gathered on her skin, her crossed arms now more hugging herself than anything.

"A fairy."

Morgan flinched, her head snapping to face him again. If his goal was still to scare her, then he could say he succeeded. But it wasn't anymore, and her eyes showed more than simple fear.

"… w-what did you just say?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper.

It wasn't an act. She wasn't some imposter fairy pretending to be a princess. Nothing could hide from Shirou's sight, and soon he knew the truth. Morgan was a human, down to the very marrow of her bones, but deep in her 'heart' hid a core of gold. A familiar signature buried under a lifetime as a human, masked by years of mundanity.

Morgan was a human, but her soul was that of a fairy.

He didn't know how, or that it was even possible, but the girl before him was born with a body of a human but a soul of a fairy.

He looked into her wide-open yeses, pale blue meeting a glowing gold, and his heart hurt. Every fairy was born with Fairy Eyes, and Morgan was no different, but her human form made it a shadow of what it should be. He didn't know the details, but the fact she immediately noticed something about him was 'strange' meant some part of that ability still worked for her. For better or for worse.

"Princess, do you-"

The sound of the doors slamming open cut Shirou off as Arneth barged in.

"Princess!"

Morgan flinched at the intrusion. Shirou dispelled the oppressive pressure when the Captain opened the doors, but it was obvious from Morgan's ashen face that she was shaken, even if she was quick to compose herself.

"Arneth, you don't have to shout. Avel was just telling me some interesting stories. I'm fine."

The man frowned, glaring at Shirou with narrowed eyes, not quite believing her words. He clearly wanted to know what made her like this, but his princess, however, took priority in the end.

"I see. That's great, Princess, but we shouldn't bother Master Avel." He not so subtly helped Morgan out of her seat and guided her out of the room. "Miss Claire was looking for you, so if you would follow me, please."

And so, they left, the Captain with aura full of suspicion and the reluctant Princess glancing back, her eyes overflowing with questions. Shirou would be happy to answer those, but for the rest of his time in the castle, Arneth was constantly by her side, so she didn't return to the waiting room. The girl clearly suspected he knew something about her situation. What that situation she believed was, he couldn't be sure, but it must've been bothering her for a long time if she was so desperate for answers.

Well, there was always another time now that he knew about it.

Five hours. That's how long Shirou had to wait for Merlin. When the annoying magus finally showed up, Shirou all but threw the bundled-up Caliburn at his face and left the castle. He wanted to help Morgan, to answer some of her questions and ask some of his own. She was something he had never seen before, a curious being that defied what he thought possible. Merlin was no help there. Shirou asked him some leading questions, but it was clear the magus didn't know about her situation. It wasn't a surprise as it took Shirou, a powerful fairy, some time to notice.

Shirou didn't want to expose Morgan's situation without telling her, so he didn't use Eternal Forge or glamour to meet her, as Merlin would notice it. He considered sending her a message using fairy magic anyway but decided against it in the end. She lived without problems for years by now, so she should be fine for a few months more until he figured out a way to meet with her in private.

He underestimated Morgan's desperation, however.

It was already nighttime when he left the castle, but the dark didn't hinder him. Not that he needed his physical eyes to see. He just passed the castle gates when he spotted a certain princess acting suspiciously. Eternal Forge was large enough to still cover a good part of the keep by then, so he saw Morgan sneak out of her chambers and jump out of the window on the lower floor. From there, she proceeded through the castle, somehow avoiding the sight of every guard on her way. She even passed through the gates without notice, darting through when the gate guards were distracted. If he didn't know better, he would swear she used a glamour to do that. But she didn't, and it was either luck or something else at play.

Shirou slowed down to keep her in his sight, so he wasn't that far away from the castle when Morgan sneaked out. Close enough for her to see him. But he didn't stop or turn away to acknowledge her. He continued deeper into the night, away from the castle and the town behind it.

Seriously, where were this girl's guardians?

He didn't believe for a second that Merlin or his Bounded Fields didn't notice her, and yet nobody was raising an alarm.

After five minutes, Shirou took a sudden turn into a nearby forest. The darkness grew oppressive, but Morgan didn't give up. She followed, her gown hindering her, catching on the branches and her breath coming in ragged gasps, but the fire in her eyes didn't go out. Soon, however, she lost sight of him, her head swiveling around in desperation. Choosing a random direction, she took off again, now almost running through the dark woods. Twigs lashed at her and dry leaves crunched underfoot, but she ran with an unnerving need.

But she was still a sheltered princess, and soon her body gave out on her. She tripped on a root and fell, tumbling on the forest floor.

"N-No." She struggled to get up, her body shaking with exhaustion. "I… I can't…"

Shirou sighed and let his physical form crumble away. This should be far enough. He reformed his body right in front of her, silver swords growing from nothing in midair and snapping into shape. He didn't smile, his face an expressionless mask half-obscured by darkness.

"Princess, there should be a limit to your recklessness."

She stared at him, her eyes full of desperate need but not fear. He didn't bother with a glamour, so his half-slitted golden eyes glowed with inner light, his red hair bright despite the darkness.

"I… I need to know. You said 'a fairy'. Are you really the Fairy of Fire and Iron, or…" She swallowed, her voice shaking. "Did you mean me?"

"If you think I am who I said I am, then why did you follow me? Following the fair folk into the wilds is exactly what you shouldn't do. And why would you think I was referring to you?"

He was playing dumb, but he wanted to hear it from her. What Morgan was doing was beyond what a human would do, even one that was searching for answers she didn't know the questions for for her whole life. Maybe he was diminishing her struggle, but if he were a different fae, she would be all but throwing her life away right now. Why was she going so far for this?

"… all my life, I was different. Please. I want to see it. Just one time. The world I belong to, not the one I was born in."

The look in Shirou's eyes softened. It was a simple answer, but one he was familiar with. He was similar for his first few decades in Nibelung. Surrounded by the fae, but away from the human world, always aware he differed from the fairies he lived with, no matter how similar their bodies may be. Even Dienu and Tile, his first friends, didn't understand him back then. They couldn't. He was a human in a fairy body, isolated from his kind by a barrier they couldn't even see.

And here was a fairy in a human body. A mirror of his past.

He couldn't change her into a fae, he still didn't know how he became one himself, and it may not be what she wanted, but he could show her some of it.

Shirou extended his hand as flames bloomed behind him, dispelling the darkness. He smiled, a warm thing from one mismatched soul to another.

"Let's go then, Morgan." She grabbed his hand, a smile blooming on her face even as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. "Let me show you the world of wonder. May it be all that you hope it is."