Ais walked through the castle hallways of Camelot, feeling the air in her lungs flow freely in the atmosphere of the island surge its magical properties in and out of her. Her blood sang joyously as she tasted the air itself. A part of her felt complete now, feeling more whole than she ever felt.
"You're here." came a familiar yet different voice. Standing in front of her was Queen Morgan, mother of Hakuno and ruler of the isle of fairies. She gestured to the Sword Princess to follow, and Ais followed. They had entered a courtyard, and a memorial was placed there. "I believe that you needed a final closure with your family. Given how the tragedy that day never gave you the brief moment of grief for your loss."
Ais instantly knew what the Queen was referring to, and her eyes widened at the sight of the crystal coffin and shattered sword laid on top of it like a sacred relic. Albert Waldstein, Mercenary King, her father was resting here. A strangled noise escaped her throat, trying desperately to say something as she saw her father's body, preserved after countless years since that day he died resting peacefully. She slowly stepped forward, her hands resting on the crystal coffin as she tried to reign in her emotions.
"Your mother requested this long ago, as de facto leader of the Wind Clan, this was the sole wish Aria wanted in the case he ever fell in battle. Knowing you, her daughter, was still out there. Perhaps she foresaw this moment and made that request for this exact reason. Closure and to properly grief." Morgan spoke, a gentle hand patting Ais' shoulder gently in comfort. "Tell him your story, your adventures, tell him the tale of Ais Wallenstein. I'm sure he would love to hear of them." Morgan suggested before turning to leave.
The only thing in the courtyard was Ais in her time of grieving in front of her father's coffin. The rare moment for Ais the girl to be out instead of Ais the Sword Princess. The respect given to her father by her mother's wishes made it prove how much the family loved each other after all this time. The wind gently caressed her in comfort, reminding Ais of her mother's presence as she cried.
When she finally calmed, loosening the last of her tears and sorrow, she stood and looked at her father. Slowly, her lips parted, and she spoke. She spoke of the time she joined the Loki Familia, of the battles she fought against monsters and Evillus, the fateful encounter with Hakuno, the duel they had and her own conversion to the Hestia Familia. She told her father of the feelings she had of the secret fairy princess and her own knighthood she gained when she made her vows.
The wind blew against her back softly, reminding her of her mother's touch when she told her story, unaware of two pairs of eyes observing from afar. The two spoke softly to each other, their eyes focused on the shattered sword of Albert Waldstein with intent. The younger of the two was being a bit vocal about it and the older one had cupped their chin in thought, nodding her head with renewed interest in the blade.
Ais felt their presence the minute they walked into the courtyard and turned to see who it was. It was Queen Morgan and Hakuno, both wearing stoic expressions that match them perfectly. The Sword Princess was still trying to get used to her Lady's Faerie form. It was a different kind of beauty compared to Freya's. While Freya's was an ideal beauty that all sought to love, Hakuno's Faerie form was a beauty built on fantasy.
An impossible beauty found only in the imagination of a fairy tale author's tales about fairies.
In Chaldea, Hans Andersern looked away from his current works and sneezed. Suddenly irritated that someone was talking about him while he was busy with a story he was enjoying writing about.
"You seem better now, Ais." Hakuno quipped with a small smile. That smile made Ais feel at ease when she saw it when she returned with a small smile of her own. "I spoke with mom about giving you a weapon as your badge of office as my knight, and I suggested something special. That blade." she gazed at the broken blade resting upon Albert's grave and made Ais' eyes widen in surprise.
"My daughter deemed it fitting to reforge your father's blade so you can inherit it, all while it aids you in awakening your true power. As a child of both human and fairy, it should be special. But that decision is up to you, daughter of Aria." Morgan spoke, looking Ais in the eyes. They were judging her as the Sword Princess looked at her father's resting place, recalling the fond memories of her father as they practiced sword fighting in her youth.
The shattered blade was a reminder of all that she had lost, but her time with Loki Familia and Hestia Familia made her see the weapon differently now. It reminded her of how life is full of changes, both good and bad and she should press on with both memories in her heart. The blade once reforged would symbolize Ais' own growth, understanding that she is both Ais the Girl and the renowned Sword Princess, never one or the other. It was a clarity she was given today as she knelt before the Lady she swore her blade to.
With both adamantine hands caressing Ais' cheeks gently, magic began to swirl around Ais and Hakuno as a small sphere of deep blue magical energy hovered in-between them before being cradled in Hakuno's hands.
"You've grown a lot since we first met Ais." Hakuno commented with a soft gentleness in her blue eyes. "This is your desire, to reunite with your mother. One that will be the core of a new holy sword born from the shards of your father's blade and your own heart's desire." she explained about the blue magical energy she held as Ais' eyes widened and looked up in complete surprise.
"Hephaistos sought the secret to forging Holy Swords, but gods and mortals cannot hope to make them on par with the Sword of Promised Victory due to several factors. She'll come close with her creation Marmyadose terms in raw power, but not in purpose. As Avalon le Fae, 'we' bestow formidable weapons to those truly worthy of being great heroes." Hakuno told her, no deception in her words or eyes as the girl felt a great weight on her shoulders.
Was she worthy of being a hero? She had doubts about it, because her wishes were selfish in nature, and she felt as if—
A chuckle from Queen Morgan got her attention, a knowing look in her eyes that held wisdom beyond normal years. "Not all heroes are selfless. Argonaut was a fool who selfishly wanted to be a hero. Take from that, young one."
…Ah, she had a point.
A magic circle appeared around the three and the shards of Albert's sword flew towards them as Morgan began using her own magic to hold the fragments.
Ba-bump…Ba-bump…
Ais felt her heart beating in a slow, steady pace as she watched both mother and daughter, two Avalon le Fae perform a miracle before her. The creation of a lesser holy sword, meant for her alone to wield as Hakuno's Fairy Knight.
She watched as Hakuno slowly stepped forward, presenting the mysterious magical energy to the collected fragments. The blade and essence began to merge, wind dancing in the courtyard as numerous Sylph fairies flew around them, pouring their own power in the ritual of Avalon le Fae as a blinding pillar of light pierced the sky above.
At the end of the world, the Wind Spirit Aria took notice from her position, as did the dragon that was her only company. She knew what that was. She felt it on the wind, heard it on the wind, saw it from the wind. She smiled, happy that her beloved daughter, after all those years of loneliness were now over, and a new hope began to bloom. Using her power over the winds, she whispered this to her daughter's ear, the name of the newly forged sword: Gwynt Awydd- Tempest of Innocent Desires
The world would never be the same, as the fates had been changed once again with this miracle.
A new protector of mortal races had appeared, a new Holy Sword Wielder was born.
A/N: Alright, sue me. I'm an Ais fan okay. I took the time looking into her background when I started reading Sword Oratoria and found myself growing fond of her character. I wanted to give her a happier story and closure with her father since I pictured her unable to grieve for him properly in the past. She'll still use Desperate as her main sword. Only the 'worthy' or formidable will be permitted to face her newly forged holy sword. The principles of the holy swords Hakuno will create are vastly different from normal ones that are made via Avalon le Fae. And yes, she'll create a few more for others but for whom is a secret.