Knight of Avalon
Chapter-1
Kay
Kay shook his head.
Did my bottle have some sort of hashish in it? Kay thought, rubbing his eyes. Had he actually started projecting Artoria's face onto his master now? Had he really been affected by the Lion King that much? Or maybe his scarred eye was acting up again.
But no. After opening his eyes again, Kay could still see that it was Artoria, with much longer hair coming down to her waist, a separate strand of hair poking out…and clearly wore clothes that did nothing to hide her femininity, with a sleeveless white dress over a skirt along with black leggings and olive green gloves and boots.
"H-How do you know my name? Who are you?" Artoria asked as Kay's eyes nearly fell out of his eyes.
Who am I? I'm your older brother?! Kay thought as he almost voiced his thoughts before stopping.
Wait a minute. Artoria managed to perform a summoning spell? Kay thought as he looked back at Artoria.
His sister may have been blessed with immense mana reserves because of her dragon heart, but he was certain of one thing…
Artoria Pendragon was not a mage. Merlin said she was completely hopeless when it came to magecraft and her strength lay in swordsmanship.
Kay's mind slowly calmed down as he realized something from all the facts. Artoria not pretending to be a boy, her being able to perform magecraft and most surprising of all…her not recognizing him, definitely meant he was looking at a different version of Artoria, that had a much different childhood than the one he knew.
Like that…thing. Kay thought, shivering at the memories of the Lion King.
"Hey! I asked you a question!" Artoria snapped as Kay blinked.
"...Well, I am your servant…master." Kay spoke as Artoria's eyebrows rose.
"Servant? Master? Wait…" Her eyes widened.
"Are you human?!"
"Wha…What kind of question is that, you idiot?! Of course I'm human! Do I look like I have some abnormal appendages?" Kay asked.
"Don't call me that!"
"Well, I won't call you that if you don't act like one!" Kay spoke before massaging his nose.
Not even a minute, and I'm bickering with Artoria like we're still children. Kay thought.
"Sorry. But yes, I obviously am human."
Partially, however. Kay added in his mind.
"O-Oh…" Artoria spoke before putting up the same expression that indicated that she was thinking something.
I can already see the gears turning in her head. Kay thought as Artoria's face suddenly went red.
"O-Oh god…I have my own servant." She spoke in an embarrassed tone as Kay shook his head.
"Master, please don't lose yourself in embarrassment. I can see you're right now trapped in a prison cell." Kay spoke, scowling at the doors.
How did Artoria find herself in a prison? And for that matter, why can't I see that worthless mage anywhere? Kay thought.
If Artoria was imprisoned, could that mean…?
No. If Vortigern had truly found out about her, Artoria would have been executed on the spot. Kay thought.
But again, that did not explain why she was alone. Artoria clearly looked the same age she had been when she pulled out Caliburn from the stone. At this point, even if she didn't know, she should have met Merlin by now.
"Master, I wish to ask you a question." Kay spoke as Artoria looked at him.
"Have you by chance met someone named Merlin?"
Kay breathed a sigh of relief when Artoria clearly perked up in recognition. Even if he did not like the mage filling his sister's head with all that nonsense, he made for a useful protector with his magecraft.
"Yes, I know him! He was the one who taught me magecraft."
Kay was slightly taken aback, but nodded in understanding. It would certainly make sense if Artoria learnt magecraft from Merlin.
"Good, where is he?" He asked.
"Um…I-I actually don't know." Artoria replied sheepishly. "I've never actually met him."
WHAT?! Kay thought.
"What do you mean you haven't met Merlin? How did you learn magecraft from him, then?" Kay snapped.
"W-Well, he spoke to me in my mind!" Artoria snapped back.
So that lecherous mage didn't even deign to personally come to this Artoria? Although…I myself wonder whether we're talking about the same Merlin. Kay thought, before he smelt smoke and heard sounds of shouting.
"Hm? Is that…?"
"He was the one who…mmf!"
Kay's hand clamped over Artoria's mouth as he scowled.
"Mmf!"
"Sh!" Kay shushed as Artoria glared at him but remained silent, trying to listen for the sound while the smell of smoke entered his nostrils.
Hm, definitely sounds like fighting going on. Kay thought as Artoria looked around in panic at the strange shouting along with the sound of fire crackling.
That meant only one thing…
"This place is under attack, master. We need to get out quickly." Kay spoke, helping Artoria to her feet.
"Under attack?!" She squawked before shutting up as Kay shot her an annoyed glare.
"I'll get you out." He spoke before turning to spirit form, ignoring Artoria's yelp of surprise as he passed through the cell doors.
"How did you do that?! I haven't seen a human do that!" Artoria exclaimed before gasping and stepping back.
"Are you a ghost?!"
"Not the time, master! You can panic over my abilities once we're out!" Kay spoke.
For some weird reason, he was detecting a lot of magical presences above them, with one being so powerful that Kay could practically feel the being's aura permeating through the ground.
Again, his experience told him one possibility.
"Faeries." Kay spoke. The village was being attacked by multiple fairies.
That was a problem, and I don't want to pick a fight with the fae on my own, not without ending up getting killed or worse, getting Artoria hurt. Kay thought as he looked at the lock.
Even if he didn't have the keys, he was still a servant. A few good swings should be able to…
Kay whirled around, spotting a shadow forming up in front of him, and pointing his sword at the perpetrator.
The culprit immediately stepped back and raised a short sword in defense, staring Kay down before he realized something.
"Wait a minute…" Kay spoke, before realization struck him.
F-Father?! He thought in surprise as Sir Ector gave him an ice-cold glare, as his sword touched the edges of Kay's own blade.
"Who're you?!" Ector yelled at him as Kay almost stumbled back at the harshness within his father's voice.
It's like he doesn't even recognize me. First Artoria, now him. Do I not just exist in this world?! Kay thought.
Not to mention his height. Kay could remember him and Artoria being welcomed by their father's towering figure whenever they came back from swimming in the ponds nearby. That same old face was right now staring at him not from a tall, muscular body but a rather plump one that was the same size as that of a dwarf.
But the most shocking of all, was that he felt exactly like a Faerie.
Kay was immediately on guard.
What if this is a Faerie masquerading as Father? He thought as he stared at Ector.
"I said…!"
"Ector?! You're here?!" Artoria exclaimed from her cell as Ector and Kay looked at her in surprise.
"I told you not to call me that!" Ector snapped. "Who is this?!"
"H-He's with me! His name is…um…"
"Call me Kay." Kay replied coldly. "Master…"
"We can trust him! This is Ector. He's a blacksmith who's helped me out before."
A blacksmith? And if Artoria's vouching for him, then…it really is father. Kay thought before his caution turned into concern.
Ector was not in good shape. His body was badly mangled in several places, and he was losing a lot of blood.
Ector stared at Kay in silence before relenting.
"Fine." He grumbled before bringing out some keys from his pocket and inserting them into the door.
"You're still alive." He spoke, opening the door as Artoria came out.
"Grandpa, you're wounded!" Artoria spoke.
He must have fought his way through the guards. Kay thought.
"Don't worry! They're just scratches! Take this." Ector spoke, handing Artoria the staff in his hand, and Kay felt a sense of familiarity wash over him as he watched Artoria grab the staff.
Strange. Why does this remind me of Artoria holding Caliburn? He thought as he, Artoria and Ector ran out of the prison and aboveground.
The three of them came onto a hellish landscape, with screams filling the air as houses burned and corpses littered the streets as Kay noticed the village residents slaughtering each other.
The guards in front of the prison were already dead, most likely killed by Ector, as Artoria stared in horror at the scene around them.
"SURROUND THE VILLAGE AND DON'T LET ANYONE ESCAPE!" Kay heard a loud voice shout with a growl that rattled his skull.
Ooh boy, I'm getting some really nasty tingles from wherever that voice came from. Kay thought.
Whoever was shouting, they were something powerful.
"FIND THE CHILD OF PROPHECY!" The voice came again.
"The village…!" Artoria exclaimed, trying to run but Ector caught her.
"No! We need to get out!" He spoke as Kay nodded.
"He's right, Master. We can't afford to stick around at the moment." He spoke as Ector led them in a general direction.
Along the way, Kay noticed that there was a surprising amount of fairies in the village, all of whom were busy fighting each other.
My god, just how many fairies are here?! The amount of fairies in this village is ridiculous…and am I seeing some Fairies trying to hide in houses?! Kay thought as they continued running.
Running through the village, the three of them dodged and weaved around the fairies attacking each other, with Kay cutting down any who tried to get close towards Artoria and kept running.
"Is this some sort of faerie settlement?!" Kay asked as he kicked back a faerie trying to attack them and cut their head off.
"Of course it is! Where have you been all this time, boy?!" Ector snapped at him.
In a different world, obviously! Kay thought but chose to keep quiet, focussing on putting down any frenzied fairies that came at them.
Truth be told, Kay was expecting a very tough battle, considering how cunning and slippery the fae folk were back in his world, casting mysteries that could easily burn a hole through his armor if he ever got hit by them.
Compared to that, these fairies seem to fight more like humans who did not have an ounce of combat experience. They simply picked up the nearest sharp object they could find and were trying to kill as many as possible, regardless of friend of foe.
As a result, the village had become the scene of an utter bloodbath.
"Faster! If Woodwose sends in his soldiers, it'll be really difficult to escape to safety!" Ector spoke.
They soon heard loud booms, as Kay noticed a bunch of fiery projectiles rise in the air.
"What are those?!" Artoria exclaimed in horror.
"Woodwose brought Incinerator artillery with him?" Ector spoke before shaking his head.
"Doesn't matter. We need to keep moving. Watch out for the Incinerators." He spoke as the Incinerator ammunition bombarded the village.
Artoria screamed as one of the flaming projectiles struck a house beside them, sending flaming debris about as Kay shielded Artoria with his body while Ector kept moving.
Soon, the bombardment stopped, as Kay heard the same voice, who he assumed was this 'Woodwose', barking out instructions to search the village.
And soon after that, they noticed a bunch of werewolves charging towards them on all fours with broadswords slung on their backs.
"Wulf infantry! Mors dung!" Ector cursed. "We can't avoid them!"
"Take a different route! I'll take care of them!" Kay spoke.
"What? You're facing them alone?!" Artoria spoke.
"I have to agree with Artoria here, soldier boy. They may be infantrymen, but they're still fang clan fairies capable of tearing humans to shreds within seconds. You can't hold them off alone!" Ector spoke as Kay shook his head.
"I can, old man. Just trust me. Now what are you two waiting for? RUN!" He yelled as Artoria looked at him in concern before Ector dragged her off.
I don't doubt they can tear me to shreds. I'll just have to be careful in that case. Kay thought before materializing his helmet in his hand and putting it on.
Kay then raised his blade and began shaking it, taking a fearful stance as he stared at the Wulf soldiers coming towards him.
The fairies got up on their hind legs and squinted at Kay.
"Who is that? A human?" One of them spoke in confusion.
"Looks like one, hehe." Another one spoke, grinning.
"S-Stay back!" He spoke, pretending to be afraid as he wildly wove his sword around, while the fairies lowered their swords as four of them strolled towards him leisurely.
"Aw, we've got a hero over here, boys!" One of them spoke as the others barked in laughter.
"The little human's trying to make his last stand, I see!" Another one spoke.
"Even if they're covered in iron head to toe, they're outnumbered!" The third spoke as they kept approaching.
"S-Stay back, o-or I'll c-cut you down!" Kay stammered.
Come on, you scatterbrained animals. Get closer to me. He thought inwardly, as his eyes noticed a particular building being supported on a relatively weak wooden post.
Kay, pretending to be cornered, stepped back towards the post as the Wulf infantry cornered him with bloodthirsty smiles, continuing to keep up his charade.
Alright. Now just step a little bit closer. Kay thought before noticing the first four getting a bit too close to him.
He'll have to do this quickly.
"Come on! Let's end this quickly…" One of the four fairies spoke laughing…
…Before Kay chopped all four of them in half with one quick swing with his blade.
Before the others could react, Kay continued his swing to cut down the post behind him and made a run for it, as the small house collapsed on top of the fairies, who were too slow to get out of the way.
The fairies whined in pain as the debris crushed them, while a few survivors clambered out with heavy injuries. Kay was waiting, however, and quickly cut their heads off with a few good swings.
"Heh, Pretty surprised that worked. Thought these fairies would have immediately seen through my ruse." Kay spoke before sheathing his sword and running forward, using his connection to Artoria to track her and Ector down.
He soon caught up with the two at outskirts, as he noticed another bunch of the werewolf fairies with spears pointed in their direction.
Most likely a barricade.
"Stop!" One of them barked out as Artoria and Ector skidded to a stop.
"They're everywhere!" Artoria exclaimed in worry as Kay caught up.
"That they are, master." He spoke, clicking his tongue.
"Kay! You're here! Come on, clear the way for us!" Artoria spoke as Kay's scarred eye glanced at her.
"Master, where's your sword?" He asked.
Artoria stared at him dumbfoundedly. "A sword? I don't use a sword."
Kay blinked. "...What?" He spoke before shaking his head.
I should probably not think of all the mind-breaking revelations I'm receiving from this Artoria right now. He thought before an idea formed in his mind.
"Master, do you know explosive spells?"
Artoria nodded. "Of course I do! What does that have to do with anything? Come on, clear the way!"
"Yeah…let's clear the way for Ector." Kay spoke with a smirk as Artoria grinned.
"Great…wait, what?" Artoria spoke before screaming as Kay grabbed her arm and dragged her behind him.
"What're you doing?!" Artoria yelled at him.
"If I'm going to have to do something like this, I'd rather take your help, master! Now throw an explosive spell at them!" Kay replied.
"Wait, you can't get past them?!"
"I can. It'll just be really difficult."
"But you just took down that squadron of fang clan fairies!"
"No time to argue, master! They're preparing to charge!" Kay spoke, plopping Artoria down and taking a stance with his sword.
"Grr!" Artoria grunted before pointing her staff's rear end at the fairies and shooting a bolt of blue energy that exploded by the enemy's feet.
Fairies yelped in surprise as the explosion knocked them out of the way.
"There!" Artoria spoke as she and Ector began running, while Kay ran forward in front of them.
As they ran, however, Ector suddenly lost his footing and cried out in pain as he hit the ground.
"Ector!" Artoria exclaimed in worry as Kay looked back at the old man.
They're trying to regroup. Kay thought as some of the Fang clan fairies were getting back up, charging their spears with magical energy, preparing to attack Ector while he was down.
"Oh no, you don't…" Kay spoke before his hands grew red hot and started glowing with heat as his sword ignited.
"...Strike Flame." Kay spoke, swinging his flaming sword and sending a wave of fire at the fairies, throwing them into disarray, although one did try to attack Kay while burning…
"Hiya!"
…Only for Artoria to whack the fairie with her staff and knock it away.
Your staff? That's your melee weapon? Kay thought in incredulity before leaning down towards Ector.
"Come on, old man! On your feet!" Kay spoke as he went to help up Ector.
"My ankle's twisted…" Ector grumbled in annoyance.
"Then you'll just have to take a piggyback." Kay spoke before suddenly picking up Ector and hoisting him onto his shoulders, ignoring the cursing coming from the old fairy, and ran with Artoria away from the soldiers.
Before the fairies could regroup, Kay dashed off after them, quickly running into the nearby forest.
"What was that?!" Artoria asked as Kay looked at her.
"What?"
"That big wave of fire you just launched!"
"That's…something of a blessing." Kay replied. Just like how Merlin had enchanted Caliburn and later on Excalibur with a sheath of compressed air for Artoria, he'd essentially done the same with Kay's blade, except it was a sheath of fire that Kay could generate from his hands after a very uncomfortable experience he did not want to remember.
And like how Artoria could release her wind sheath with 'Strike Air', Kay could do the same with his fire sheath by uttering the words 'Strike Flame'.
Until Gawain came along with Excalibur Galatine, Kay was the one among Artoria's knights who used a flaming sword.
"Why didn't you use that earlier?!"
"I wanted to see your capabilities, master." Kay replied as Artoria scowled.
"We're still not safe, you two! We need to go deeper!" Ector yelled at them as Artoria's eyes widened.
"Wait, what about the villagers?!" She spoke as Kay looked back to see the burning village, with the distant screams of its residents piercing the air.
"We can't go back for them! They'll be looking for us." Ector replied.
"We can't leave them?!"
"Why're you so concerned about those bastards?! They didn't show you a hint of kind or compassion for 16 years and were hours ago celebrating about selling you to Woodwose. Do you think it's worth going in to save even one of them when they'll just regard you with distrust and hatred?!"
Artoria flinched back at Ector's response as Kay looked back at open plains beyond the forest…
…Only to do a double take as the same powerful presence appeared, all radiating from a werewolf towering above the rest with silver fur and purple skin, as well as yellow eyes dressed in really fancy clothing marching up to the scattered soldiers.
Oh dear god, that's a really powerful aura. Kay thought.
"Artoria! Woodwose's here! Get back!" Ector spoke as Kay blanched.
THAT'S Woodwose?! Kay thought in shock.
Kay used to scare Artoria with stories of the wild man of the woods called the Woodwose back when she was little, always telling her that if she ever tried to misbehave, the Woodwose would come and eat naughty children like her.
Even though Artoria had a deathly fear of the Woodwose from that story, Kay was very well aware that Woodwose was really a crooked old man with goat legs and small horns who did nothing but mischief…
I definitely do not remember the Woodwose being a massive silver werewolf who radiated enough power to make a person choke. Kay thought frantically.
"But, but-! Kay, we have to help them!" Artoria spoke, turning to him as Kay shook his head.
"Master, first of all, we'd be wasting time trying to rescue the villagers. And second of all…I'm not taking a step towards that monstrosity!" Kay spoke, pointing at Woodwose.
"I may not know him as well as Sir Ector does, but I can guarantee you if I tried to pick a fight with that monster you call 'Woodwose' over there, I'd end up as his dinner!"
"SEARCH THE WOODS! FIND ANY FAIRIES WHO'VE ESCAPED!" Woodwose's booming voice reached their ears as Artoria's terrified eyes stared at the fires rising from Tintagel.
"M-My home…" She spoke as Kay put a hand on her shoulder.
"Master…I understand this is your home and you want to protect it. But going back to that hellscape is suicide."
"I-I…"
"They're getting closer, master." Kay spoke, as Ector quickly dragged her away from the scene with Kay following close behind.
They went deeper until they could no longer hear the sounds of the fang clan fairies searching the forest.
Ector panted heavily while Kay looked at Artoria, who stared blankly into space.
Poor Artoria. She didn't have to see tonight's events. Kay thought. Now that things had settled them, Kay actually had some questions, but he didn't voice them until Artoria was in a better emotional state.
Kay looked at his father. "Thank you, sir…"
Ector suddenly coughed out blood as he fell to the ground.
Blast it! His wounds! Kay thought as he grabbed Ector and plopped him against a tree.
"E-Ector!" Artoria exclaimed.
"It's fine…" Ector spoke, coughing out blood. "They're just…scratches…"
Kay immediately ripped open Ectors shirt to see wounds cutting extremely deep into his skin. Wounds that ordinarily would keep someone bedridden.
Oh, father. Of course you would be hard-headed enough to do something like this. Kay thought as his eyes softened with sadness.
"Stay here…I-I just need to do some…"
"Sir Ector, please don't lie." Kay cut him off as he, and surprisingly, Artoria caught onto Ector's lie. Artoria knelt beside Kay, and looked down, trying not to cry.
Ector looked between him and Artoria, before his fierce expression softened.
"...Caster…" He spoke as Artoria lifted her head.
"Take up your staff…the time has come."
"Hm?" Kay tilted his head as he noticed Artoria's grip around her staff tighten.
"You can't save Tintagel now…Woodwose will…have killed everyone by now…"
Ector took a deep breath.
"You're on your own now. And remember this: No matter what anybody says, or even if you doubt it yourself, you're the Child of Prophecy."
"..."
"I know what you're thinking. What happened that night doesn't define who you are."
Kay didn't know what Ector was talking about, but Artoria gasped.
"...Y-You knew?"
Ector gave a bloody smile. "Heh, 'Course I did. If those fairies were right about one thing…it was that I was one of her elite guards. I may have gone a bit rusty, but I could still hear your clumsy movements."
Artoria clasped your eyes shut.
"The fact you didn't take the opportunity shows what kind of fairy you are. No matter how much Britain rejects you, No matter how hard the fairies shun you, No matter how much weaker you are than other fairies…you are a savior more than anyone else."
Kay stiffened at the mention of 'savior'.
"B-But how? How can I save Britain, when I couldn't even save Tintagel?" Artoria asked in despair.
"Tch. I don't think you've noticed it…but you're one sore loser, Artoria. You don't take defeat that easily, and after you've been knocked down, you always try to get back up until you're the one who's scored the knockout blow. That's always been your speciality…just like it was hers." Ector spoke.
"And besides…" He spoke.
"You have a fine companion with you." He spoke looking at Kay.
"I was suspicious of you at the prison cell, boy, but after seeing you handle stuff in our escape…you're a pretty fine knight, and make a good team with Artoria." Ector spoke.
"In all honesty, Sir Kay, you remind me of myself when I was younger."
Kay looked away.
Father… He thought as Ector blinked rapidly while his breathing quickened.
"And for some reason…you seem familiar."
Kay looked back at him.
"I don't know how…but when I saw you and Artoria break through the Wulf infantry lines, I felt a warm feeling in my chest."
"A…warm feeling?" Artoria asked.
"It's strange. When I saw you two fighting…it was the happiest I'd ever felt in my life." Ector spoke.
"I don't even know why, but watching you and Artoria fight for just those briefest of moments…I felt as if I was a father proudly watching his two children work together."
Kay pursed his lips, but he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Now this Ector had completely lost his cold and aloof disposition, and was giving the same warm smile his father gave him and Artoria whenever they went to welcome him back to their house after a campaign.
Even in a different world, where the three of them hadn't even formed a family, Sir Ector still felt the same fatherly love for him and Artoria.
Kay felt his eyes getting wet.
"Look at you two…it almost feels as if you're siblings." Ector spoke, chuckling, before grabbing Kay's hand.
"Look, boy. Do you plan on accompanying Artoria on her pilgrimage?"
"Of course, Sir Ector." Kay replied.
"Then promise me you'll keep her safe…That you'll make sure she fulfills her mission."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Ector and Kay regarded each other in silence before Ector shook his head.
"...I still feel that happiness. What a strange thing." He observed. "It's as if you're my son or something."
Kay's lips quivered.
"But that can't be right. Me? Have a kid? Ridiculous…" Ector spoke slumping, falling silent.
"Ector…?" Artoria spoke.
"...He's gone." Kay spoke, getting up.
Artoria stared at Ector before taking a deep breath.
"...He's right." She spoke as Kay looked at her.
"My speciality is to keep moving forward, no matter how discouraged I get." She spoke in a calm voice, before turning away.
"...Thank you, Fairies of Tintagel. Thank you for raising me till I was 16. Now, I shall undertake my pilgrimage as you wanted." Artoria spoke before turning back to Kay.
She smiled. "So, Kay…"
Kay simply stared at her.
Artoria's cool expression turned a bit nervous as she squirmed under his gaze. "Um, Kay? What's wrong?"
That personality shift. It's just like… Kay thought as his fists clenched.
Images of Arthur sitting on the throne of Camelot came to his mind.
"It's just like what she would do." He spoke with a hint of anger in his voice.
The Artoria standing before him was doing the same act of masking her emotions behind a facade. While the Artoria he knew put up a facade of cold aloofness to hide her emotional turmoil, this one was putting up a more happy face…
…But that didn't matter, because this Artoria was hiding her true feelings, just like Kay remembered.
Calm down, Kay. Before that anger turns into a pathetic depression. He thought dragging his hand across his face.
"Kay?"
"I'm alright, master." Kay spoke before looking back at Ector's corpse.
"We should first find a place to bury fath…Ector's body."
"Bury him? Why would we do that?" Artoria asked in confusion.
"Why would we not? Do you not bury the dead here?"
"Well...no. The fairies bodies turn into the land, so there's really no need for such a thing."
"Huh...well, I still wish to bury him. For the sake of sentimentality." Kay spoke as he and Artoria looked at each other in silence.
"I…know a spot." Artoria spoke.
"Then we'll bury him in the morning. Woodwose's men should have left by that time."
"Ok…should we start a bonfire?"
"No. Not while Woodwose's men could be still looking for us. It's better not to attract attention with a fire." Kay spoke as Artoria pouted.
"In the meantime, we can sit down and talk." He spoke as the two of them sat down.
Kay raised his hand and heated it, the light from his flaming hand lighting up their surroundings for a brief moment before his hand's glow died down, and only the faint blue glow from Artoria's light shone their surroudings.
"Now…we talk." Kay spoke.
"First of all, why're you calling me master?" Artoria asked.
"You are my summoner. That makes you my master and me your servant. And as I remember, you were rather flustered about that fact."
Artoria's cheeks flushed. "U-Uhm…I've never really owned a human before in my life. A-And I heard humans are owned by well-to-do fairies in cities or just the leader of villages like mine, so…"
Kay furrowed his eyebrows. "You're speaking of humans as if they are some sort of separate entity."
"Well…they are." Artoria spoke sheepishly as Kay's mind grinded to a halt.
"Wait a minute…you're not human?" Kay asked as Artoria nervously nodded.
"Y-Yes? I'm a fairy. Didn't you notice?"
"..."
"Kay?"
Artoria…A FAIRY?! Kay's mind screamed. Truth be told, he had felt a magical signature from Artoria as well, but he'd chalked it off to just her having a dragon core.
But…he did not expect Artoria to be a…
Hold on. If Artoria's a fairy, does that mean Morgan's a…? Kay thought before shaking his head.
"Are you that surprised?
"...I am at loss for words." Kay spoke.
And that's quite an achievement for her. I don't think Artoria's ever rendered me speechless in my life. Kay thought.
"So…you're my servant?" Artoria asked skeptically as Kay looked at her.
"I am."
"Well…you don't really look like one." Artoria pointed out timidly as Kay scoffed.
"Of course not. 'Servant' is merely a title. If you want to prefer a more accurate term, I suppose 'ghost' will suffice."
Artoria suddenly crawled back from him. "Y-You're a ghost? As in, those kinds of ghosts?"
Kay sighed. "I'm not going to haunt you, master. I guess 'ghost' isn't exactly what I'm looking for. I should have said 'heroic spirit'."
"Heroic spirit?"
"Spiritual copies from heroes across time and space who are summoned utilizing magecraft to fight for the summoners."
He didn't mention the entire concept of fighting for the Holy Grail, since he had a hunch there was no such thing here.
Besides, I would be terrible in a Holy Grail War. Kay thought. Not only did he really not have a very favorable opinion of the supernatural, but even his wish for the Holy Grail could easily be fulfilled if Artoria is summoned as well.
"Heroes from time and space…does that mean you are a hero?" Artoria asked with a hint of excitement.
It was the same excitement his Artoria had when Kay was training as a squire. Little Artoria had the same starstruck eyes when he'd announced he'd become a squire under his father and had expressed similar dreams.
Kay was silent.
Was he a hero?
"...If you look at it from a way, yes. I was a knight in my life." Kay replied.
"A knight? I don't remember the High Queen ever having any human knights under her."
"Master…when I say 'time and space', I do not mean I'm just a spirit from your land's past or future. I'm saying I'm a spirit from a completely different Britain from yours."
Artoria's mouth fell open. "Really? A different Britain?"
"Indeed. I served it's…king there until the final few years of my life. And as such, I was admitted into a place called the Throne of Heroes."
"And I summoned you from this 'Throne of Heroes'."
"Well, yes and no."
"Huh? Yes and No?"
"It's…complicated."
"...Really? It can't be that bad?"
I wonder if a divine version of you summoning me to a temporal deviation from human history 'can't be that bad'. Kay thought with a grin.
"But at any rate, you are my master, who supplies me with magical energy and in return I fight for you."
"I supply you with magical energy? B-But the villagers said I'm not even average! I have to use magecraft to perform mysteries!" Artoria spoke, throwing her arms in the air.
"Master. Even if you are below average for a fairy…by human standards you are a first-rate mage. And considering masters usually tend to be human…I don't think supplying me with mana will be a challenge for you."
"F-First rate mage…?" Artoria asked, embarrassed.
"God, do you have a black hole for a self-esteem? You get either flustered or nervous at every compliment." Kay spoke as Artoria glared at him.
"Moving on, you also have marks on your hand called command seals that signify your contract with me." Kay spoke as Artoria removed her glove to notice red command seals in the design of three circular sectors consisting of four spear designs.
"With these command seals, you can give three commands that will significantly boost my power."
"That means if I use these, you can…?"
"Before you speak of the genius idea that has entered your mind, I should tell you that I will disappear once you use up your command seals."
Artoria slumped.
"But anyways, us servants come under seven classes and mine is the Saber class. The others are Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin and Berserker."
Kay spent the next few minutes explaining to Artoria the basic knowledge of servants.
"Do you understand, master?"
"I guess…you're saying you're from Britain?"
Kay nodded. "I am from Britain, born 460 AD, and that brings us to the next thing: Your britain."
"..."
"I can see I am in a different Britain. So…tell me about this land."
"O-Okay…this is Faerie Britain, a Britain that is completely ruled by fairies."
First point of difference. I suppose that does make sense why there were fae folk living in what seemed to be a human settlement. Kay thought.
"Faerie Britain consists of six faerie clans - The Wind, Earth, Wing, Mirror, Fang and King clans, each having their own capital. The Wind clan's is Salisbury, Norwich is the Earth Clans', Oxford is the Fang Clan's, Gloucester is the Wing Clan's, the Lake District was the Mirror Clan's and Edinburgh is the King Clan's. Each clan has their own unique abilities."
"Hm. And you mentioned a 'High Queen'. Are they the ruler?"
Kay noticed Artoria grow a bit hesitant at the mention of the 'High Queen'.
"Yes. The six clans all answer to the High Queen who rules all over Britain. And her name…is Morgan."
Kay's eyes widened.
Another familiar name. Artoria's biological sister who'd constantly plotted to destroy Camelot and take the throne of Britain for herself. The wretched witch who'd made Artoria's life a living hell since she ascended to the throne.
That manipulative bitch…is the ruler of Britain? Kay thought. If the others were here, some of them would have fainted out of shock from that fact.
But strangely, it made sense in a morbid manner. Morgan had been half-fae, so one with fairy blood would definitely be recognized by fairies.
Even then…
"Is she a tyrant?"
Artoria nodded. "She does rule Britain with an Iron fist, and many fairies are tired of her tyrannical reign. So, anti-queen sentiment has emerged, and many think Morgan's reign will be put to an end by the Child of Prophecy."
That word. Child of Prophecy. What was it?
"Child of Prophecy?"
"A fairy prophesied to save Britain and give the fairies their salvation sixteen years after their birth. Many believe this fairy will be the one who shall defeat Morgan by ringing the bells of pilgrimage and bring back peace and order to Britain…"
"...And that fairy is you." Kay finished coldly as Artoria slowly nodded.
Kay closed his eyes.
"I see. Well, I think it's time we called it a day." Kay spoke as Artoria yawned.
She tried to say something, but her yawn was so big she couldn't get words out.
Kay snapped his fingers inside her mouth as Artoria suddenly closed her mouth.
"Go to sleep, master. I'll keep a lookout."
"We'll take turns?"
"Not really. I don't need to sleep."
"What?! You can't sleep?"
"I can sleep. But only when my body is heavily injured or very tired. Otherwise, I can stay awake just fine." Kay replied.
"Now, put your head on my lap."
"Huh?" Artoria asked as her cheeks went red.
"I said put your head on my lap." Kay spoke in a monotone voice.
"U-Uhm…" Artoria spoke, her facing turning as red as a ripe tomato.
Kay shook his head and took off her helmet, ignoring Artoria's protests as he pushed her head down onto his lap.
"I'm not having you put your head on the hard ground. My lap's much softer." Kay spoke as Artoria looked at him.
"Okay…it is rather soft," Artoria spoke, before closing her eyes.
Kay looked down at the staff laying by her and put his hand to cover its blue light.
Everything was then silent except for the distant sounds of insects flying about in the night.
Now, I can see what to do with what I've learnt so far. Kay thought.
He was in a Britain where instead of humans, Fairies were the main species who had built settlements and clearly lived like a proper functioning society.
There were six faerie clans, each of which ruled from a capital city and had their own unique cultures and traditions. Above these clans, sat the High Queen, the monarch of Faerie Britain.
That monarch was Morgan Le Fay, a person who had played a vital role in the fall of Camelot, who ruled Britain with an iron fist and was perceived as a tyrant by her subjects.
Those subjects believe in a prophecy about a 16-year-old fairy who was to bring an end to Morgan's tyranny by ringing the bells of pilgrimage located in each clan's city, which was apparently going to be Artoria.
Artoria being chosen for a prophecy to save Britain again. Even in a different Britain, it's still the same. Kay thought.
His mind went back to Ector's request.
"Then promise me you'll keep her safe…"
That's what is the most unsettling about all of this so far. The fact that he was being asked to help Artoria throw herself into another quest to save Britain because of another stupid prophecy.
He would definitely keep her safe, but help her on her journey?
"...I don't know what to feel about that." Kay muttered as the staff's blue light illuminated his face in the darkness of the night.
Kay rubbed his eye as his scarred eye sent a sting of pain and his vision grew a bit blurry, something which was now common ever since he'd got that injury.
"Hm, an injury I got for Artoria…" Kay muttered bitterly.
For years, he'd watched as Artoria tried to brush aside her personal feelings to be the perfect king for her people.
He'd watched her mercilessly slaughter the enemy on the battlefield.
He'd watched her cruelly reject her own daughter because of the nature of her birth and turn her against her.
He'd watched her coldly pass judgement upon Guinevre, banishing her and Lancelot from Britain without any sign of remorse…
…And he'd watched her completely break down into tears afterwards. When he'd seen Artoria's state after she'd banished Lancelot and Guinevre, he'd been convinced whatever sanity Artoria had left had just vanished.
All because she couldn't accept that she was a flawed being trying to be a flawless king.
I'd done what I could. But she wouldn't listen. Kay thought glumly before looking down at his master.
It seems this Britain's Artoria had her own prophecy to fulfill, and she was trying to do the same thing his Artoria did, albeit in a different manner.
Keeping happy in the face of loss and tragedy…eventually bottling up those emotions will eat her up and leave her without any will to live. Kay thought as he looked down at Artoria Caster.
He'd met Lancelot after he'd left Britain. He'd seen what leaving Artoria had done to his mental state. The one prim and proper knight had let his hair grow long, his face having aged 10 years more than his real age, and his once shining white armor now a dark and rusty purple.
The Lancelot he'd met smiled, but behind that smile was a broken shell of what was once Artoria's finest knight.
A cold breeze blew through the forest and Kay suddenly felt Artoria move on his lap and looked down, noticing her shivering a bit.
Kay sighed and took off his red cape before draping it over Artoria's body.
"There, that should keep you warm, you quivering twig." Kay spoke as he stroked his hand through Artoria's hair.
Yes, he did have reservations about watching history repeat over his eyes.
But knowing Artoria…she is stubborn. Even if she doesn't want to do something herself, she'll do it if she's supposed to. Kay thought.
Whatever happens, Artoria was going to go off on an adventure with some excuse or the other. She may genuinely want to go, or she may not. But in the end, she'll do what is to be done.
I suppose in that case…I can stay by her side. Kay thought.
After all, Artoria was an idiot who was terrible at traveling. She could get lost on her path…and Kay would have to put her back on track.
"Yes…I can see what I have to do." He spoke.
The next morning, Kay and Artoria took Ector's corpse, which hadn't rotted, and went out of the woods.
Artoria took them back towards Tintagel, which was now nothing but black splotch of land with no signs of life. Artoria passed by the village, although Kay did notice some signs of sorrow, before she brought them to a house by a cliff overlooking the coast.
"Here." Artoria spoke as Kay looked at the small house.
"...Is this his home?"
Artoria silently nodded
Fitting spot for a burial. Kay thought before entering the house to find a shovel.
As he walked inside, Kay noticed the typical workshop of a blacksmith with numerous weapons and tools scattered on the floor.
Father certainly didn't clean up after himself. Kay thought as he spotted a shovel.
Kay tripped over a sword as he walked over it, cursing as he fell towards a small wooden chest. Kay caught himself on it before accidentally opening it.
"Gah! Clumsy idiot." Kay grumbled before looking inside the chest to see an old worn-out battle axe and helmet…along with some kind of tapestry on a small piece of cloth.
It was that of Ector, much younger, smiling and laughing with a bunch of other people - A young blue-haired boy with a wooden stick and a white wolf, a small fairy with pink hair and a large pink hat and…
"Artoria?" Kay questioned in confusion as he noticed Artoria as well, except she was holding a different staff from the one he'd seen in Artoria's hands, and was dressed in metallic armor and white robes with her hair slightly longer.
Kay frowned. Ector knew an 'Artoria' when he was younger?
"Interesting." Kay mused before taking the tapestry and gently placing it in a pouch and tying it around his waist.
I'll have to see what this tapestry is about. Kay thought before picking up the shovel and walking out of the house.
Kay immediately dug a hole where he placed Ector's body and filled it again.
Kay then stood back as he and Artoria stood in silence, watching the grave of the man who had been a father to them in another time and world.
"...So, where do we head first?" Kay asked as Artoria stared at him in surprise.
"..."
"...Wait, you want ME to tell you?!"
"Of course, master. You are the local here. I'm just a foreigner. I have NO idea where to go. So please, guide this poor lost lamb to our first destination." Kay spoke, his lips slowly curling upwards in a grin.
"Don't take that tone with me! Aren't you my servant?"
"I am, master. Doesn't mean I'll also be your lapdog. It doesn't work like that." Kay cooly replied, unable to stop his smile from widening.
"I'll whack you with my staff!" Artoria spoke, raising her staff.
"Of course you will. Your fists can't even reach my neck, so you need a crutch to be able to reach my head." Kay spoke with a chuckle.
Artoria growled and swung her staff at him, and Kay stepped to the side.
"Now, now, master. Let's not get off on the wrong foot." Kay spoke, raising his hands.
Artoria glared at him before crossing her arms. "Well, fine. We'll got to Salisbury first. It's the Wind clan's city and closest from here."
"And then?"
"Yes! Then we'll…uh…we'll…wait, hold on…"
Kay sighed, shaking his head. "I can't believe I've been blessed with such a brilliant master, who's already made up a grand plan to save Britain. Please, master, tell me more."
"Don't make fun of me!" Artoria snapped, punching Kay's arm, only to shake her fist in pain as he struck Kay's iron chain-mail.
"Punching a fully armored knight isn't a good idea, master. I suggest a warhammer…ow!" Kay spoke as Artoria's staff landed on his head.
"Okay…I think we've had enough fun goofing off around a dead man's grave. We should really be going." Kay spoke as Artoria crossed her arms.
"You haven't told me much about your Britain."
"I'll tell on the way, master." Kay spoke.
"Well, then let's go, my knight!" Artoria spoke marching off back towards the inland coast.
Kay watched her go before he knelt down to Ector's grave.
"Kay?"
"Coming! You go forward, master!" Kay called back before looking back at Ector's grave.
He was now off on an adventure with Artoria, all under a prophecy that was already starting to eat at her.
But I'll make sure I stay by her side. Kay thought. This time, he will not run away. He won't abandon Artoria. He will fight by her side as her knight.
"You want me to protect her, old man?" Kay spoke.
"Fine. I'll do it. I'll keep Artoria safe till my last breath. I won't let her fall to despair like last time. This, I swear upon your grave…"
Kay stood up and put on his helmet.
"...Father."
A/N: And here's the first chapter, with Artoria and Kay escaping from Tintagel. Now, I initially thought having Kay be really, really weak without much powers...but after looking more into Arthurian legends, I've realized that Kay was insanely powerful in the old Welsh versions of Arthurian myth and was compared to Cu Chulainn in terms of strength. It was only during the Romantic phase of Arturian legend that Kay started getting nerfed until he became a weak, pathetic fool by the time of the Renaissance.
So, I struck a sort of middle ground here between the demigod-like Cai/Caius of Welsh myth and the weak Kay of Renaissance variants. Kay still has some abilities, but he's not really that strong compared to the likes of Gawain, Lancelot and Mordred. I can say that he's above those like Agravain and Bedivere.
In that sense, someone on reddit once compared Kay's pyrokinetic abilities to Artoria's 'Strike Air', which made me think: 'Merlin has given Artoria a wind sheath, couldn't he have done something similar with Kay?' Which led to me creating 'Strike Flame', working exactly like 'Strike Air' except it's fire. Strike Flame is not as strong as Excalibur Galatine however.
There's a lot of stuff I'll be covering about Kay's abilities. And the lore I've thought up for Kay's powers will have a big connection to this story.
Besides that, I'm going to have a lot of fun writing Kay's sibling dynamic with Artoria.
Hope you guys enjoyed and Constructive criticism is appreciated!
P.S: For the foot notes section, I'll be adding some history to the new terminologies that come up.
Foot Notes:
Wulf Infantry: Morgan's army has multiple infantry division consisting of different clan fairies and humans. The fang clan infantry here is referred to as the 'Wulf Infantry'. These group of soldiers were founded by Lord Wryneck in the Summer War to organize the wild fang clan fairies into a standardised army. Wulf infantry soldiers mostly carry a broadsword with them that suits their brutal and fierce style of combat. They were the first standardized fairy army, although contingents consisting of human soldiers are much more disciplined and well-organised.
Incinerators: The incinerators are mortar-like artillery weapons that were invented by a human and fairy black smith in 1858 EoHQ in Norwich, utilizing an explosive substance called firestone extracted from the mines near the Forest of Wales to shoot massive balls of iron filled with Firestone poweder. Ever since then, Norwich has been supplying Camelot with Incinerator artillery used for annihlating any villages that attempted to resist, without requiring the High Queen's spear to come down from the sky. Many rebels are working on ways to counter the Incinerators.
Response to Reviews:
Kleave Guy: Yes, 'Merlin' totally taught her that spell.
Seeking the Miraculous Dream: Pretty much my reasoning for having Kay summoned by Artoria in the British Lostbelt.
Guest: I know it's not that much of a problem, but I still prefer giving some explanation. If I can't, then I'll just role with the 'Rule of Cool'.
Kaustrios: Thank you. I'll be working on this story for a while before I update it along with my crossovers.
Kaleidoscope's beauty: Heck yeah Kay is the most interesting. I honestly think Kay adds a personal touch to an outsider's perspective of King Arthur, and you can really use him to look at Arthur's reign from a different and more personal perspective of someone who has known Artoria since she was born. It would be interesting to see Kay's perspective of the events of Arthurian myth, which I shall show through flashbacks in this story.