A Silent Farewell

The crescent moon hanging in the sky slowly sank.

The sun rising again in the east heralded the beginning of a new day...

The rising sun once again spread its light across the land, and the morning breeze began to blow. Early risers started preparing for the new day. The streets, which had been as quiet as ever, were soon filled with hawkers' shouts and the clang of blacksmiths at work. People went about their jobs, doing what they could to keep on living.

I stood by the window, smiling as I watched the simple folk outside. Then I turned and set the breakfast the inn had brought on the table. I went over to the girl still sleeping in bed, gently pinched her cheek, and said softly, "Time to get up, Artoria. A new day has begun!"

"Hmm...?" The girl in bed slowly fluttered her eyelashes, then sat up and sleepily rubbed her eyes. When her emerald-green eyes opened, she saw me standing before her with a tender smile, holding food. Her cheeks flushed, and she instinctively tried to lower her head, yet she couldn't help lifting it again to smile at me with joy...

After a brief struggle, her shy feelings finally gave way to warm happiness. She looked up at me with an utterly blissful smile, took the tray from my hands, picked up a piece of bread in one hand and a cup of goat's milk in the other, and began eating heartily...

Watching Artoria's happy smile, then seeing how much she was enjoying herself, I thought... I really couldn't bring myself to leave.

Once Artoria had finished eating, I returned the tray to the table. Then I took out a white handkerchief and gently wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth. The girl closed her eyes as a matter of course, enjoying my care and affection.

Just then, the sunlight outside spilled into the room... Its warm glow fell on the black-haired boy and the golden-haired girl. One was happily caring for the person before him; the other was happily enjoying his care and affection... (Mm! The King of Knights is the best!)

When the girl opened her eyes again and met the boy's gaze, they both smiled at each other without thinking. Was it a happy smile? A joyful smile? Or a lovestruck one?

Hehe, I only hoped that this smile would last forever...

Artoria and I walked through the bustling streets. Whenever she spotted some strange little trinket, she always wanted to reach out and touch it, though I would promptly swat away that restless hand...

Watching Artoria look around in wonder, I smiled and patted her head.

For now... I only want Artoria to laugh and be happy as much as possible before she has to shoulder that heavy responsibility. I don't have much time left... This thought-form is breaking down faster and faster. It'll disappear completely in three days at most. At the thought, I couldn't help frowning.

I didn't mind my body breaking down... But what would happen to Artoria if I suddenly disappeared? Right now... I couldn't bear to imagine it.

"Hey, hey! Why the long face, Xia?" Artoria's voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts. She had just spotted an interesting object and wanted me to take her over to see it, but then she noticed me frowning in thought and asked worriedly. She had even forgotten about the fascinating object.

Seeing how worried Artoria looked, I gently pinched her cheek and smiled. "It's nothing. I'll take care of everything, so please don't worry about me."

"...You're lying to me, Xia! Even if something really is wrong, you wouldn't tell me, would you?!" Artoria turned her face away in a huff.

"Ha... ha." I awkwardly rubbed the back of my head and laughed.

That little interlude didn't keep us apart for long. It was forgotten in the blink of an eye.

Whether it was me as I was now, or Artoria, who had yet to become king, we were still just ordinary people. So, until the moment we truly had to bear our responsibilities, let's have as much time as we can to laugh and be happy together.

I spent the whole afternoon taking Artoria around the nearby market. When she got thirsty, she drank some spring water I'd brought along; when she got hungry, I went to buy some white bread. Then we sat together by a fountain and ate.

No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, no matter how many setbacks and sorrows the future holds, please hold on... until I come to your side again. My Goddess, Artoria...

The three days I spent in that town were memories I would never forget.

But when night fell on the third day in town..., Artoria, who had spent the past two days playing to her heart's content, lay quietly in bed, one hand wrapped around mine. She slept soundly, a peaceful smile on her face...

The faint, flickering candlelight illuminated my face. My eyes, slightly reddened, remained fixed on the girl in bed.

I gently brushed aside the golden hair that had fallen across Artoria's face. Loving her, protecting her, killing for her, hating for her... Everything I did existed for her sake. But... this body, already at its limit, could no longer do anything for her. I was so useless...

When I thought of everything the person I cherished would have to face, I couldn't suppress the wild urge to destroy everything burning deep inside me!

Sitting beside the bed, I slowly leaned forward, using my right hand to support my weight as I brought my face closer to the beauty sleeping before me...

"Hehe, I really can't let you go..." I admired the beauty before me from just inches away. Her closed eyes, lovely face, and smiling lips all captivated me completely...

I spent the entire night watching Artoria sleep, because... we probably wouldn't see each other again for a long, long time...

What was destined to happen would happen. The final cog in the wheel of fate had begun to turn.

On the morning of the fourth day after we arrived in that little town... news came that the bishop had summoned the nobles and knights from across the country.

According to the historical records, after King Uther died, the bishop followed the advice of the prophet Merlin and summoned the nobles and knights from across the country. He gathered them together and had them compete against one another. The victor would be allowed to try to draw the sword that would choose the king: the Sword in the Stone.

"Whoever draws this sword will be the king of the new Britannia!" No one knew who had first said those words, but every knight believed in and revered them. Artoria was no exception...

This was a vast grassland not far from the town. Once deserted, it had now become the busiest and noisiest place in all of Britannia. Rows of fine horses were tied up in the stables, while tall, imposing knights moved back and forth through the grass.

Hundreds of banners fluttered in the wind, representing the many nobles of Britannia and the knights they supported. Gleaming weapons, armor that glinted with silvery light, and bright red cloaks clearly made with painstaking care filled the field. Hundreds of noble knights and their attendants had gathered here.

The man standing atop a high rock on the grassland was the great prophet Merlin, who had organized the trial of the Sword in the Stone. Clad in a strange black robe, his thin frame sat cross-legged on the small rock. Beside him stood the King's Sword, the Sword in the Stone, glowing gold with excitement as if it sensed its master's arrival.

Click... I carefully fastened the final piece of Artoria's armor, the breastplate. Then I gathered up her golden hair and pinned it in place, braiding sections of it and winding them together.

When I was done, I stood back, satisfied, and looked at the formidable Artoria before me. The armor looked different from the one I remembered from the future, but I'd asked the blacksmith to make it as close as possible to the armor in my mind.

Artoria shifted awkwardly. The armor, fitted tightly over her body, made it a little hard to breathe. Even so, she was thrilled. At last, she could wear a knight's armor! At last, she could stand before everyone as a noble knight.

Although she had no idea where Xia had gotten the document certifying her as a noble knight, Artoria no longer wanted to worry about it! She swung her arms left and right, kicked her legs, then spun around and demonstrated a powerful downward strike.

Though the armor clung a little too tightly, its thick plates protected her vital areas, while the supple leather at the joints let her move freely. She wouldn't be slowed down by overly bulky armor.

Artoria patted the armor protecting her and smiled at me, as if asking what I thought of it...

"Hahaha. Do you even need to ask? It's the best!" I laughed and patted Artoria's head. Then I handed her the final piece of her knightly gear, her sword, and gestured for her to head to the dueling grounds.

Just before she entered the dueling grounds, Artoria suddenly turned around and caught hold of me. Before I could react, she leaned in and gave me a light kiss on the lips. Then, blushing, she hurried off toward the arena... leaving me standing there, stunned, staring blankly at the golden figure already disappearing into the distance.

...I fell silent for a moment.

Then I unconsciously covered my face with both hands, unable to hold back my laughter.

At first, a muffled chuckle slipped from my lips; then it turned into clear, hearty laughter, until at last I threw my head back and laughed wildly...

"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!! Hahahaahahaha!!!!!"

The commoners and ordinary knights who had been standing nearby to watch the spectacle looked at the black-haired boy laughing wildly on the grass as though he were a madman.

Then... under the astonished gazes of the crowd, specks of light began to rise slowly from the boy's body. A gentle breeze blew..., and it completely erased his already translucent, glowing form, as if he had never existed at all...

At that moment, Artoria had just entered the dueling grounds and was about to begin her match when her heart suddenly clenched. It felt as though the most important thing inside her had been ripped away. Her confused gaze sharpened as if she had realized something. She whirled around and began running back the way she had come.

The closer she got to where they had come from, the greater her fear grew... The agony was like something being torn from deep within her. Artoria clutched her chest, and crystalline tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.

When Artoria ran back to the place where that person had given her his final farewell...

Only a lone white flower remained, swaying in the gusting wind...

No updates during the holiday. One update every two days.

Also...

The next chapter will begin the Fate/Zero arc. That's all~!