That was a lake.
Like a massive, benevolent sapphire set into the earth amid lush greenery, its waters were calm and mirror-smooth, quietly reflecting the sunlight. Like a divine eye, it gazed tenderly from the ground toward the sky, toward the blue heavens and white clouds.
This was the Fairy Realm.
And also the human world.
It existed in both places at once, watching over everything with tolerance.
"In the end, I returned here, Viviane."
The handsome man walked with gentle steps, leaving blooming flowers in his wake, adding another touch of beauty to the already breathtaking scenery.
"Great Mother among the fairies, you who should have belonged in paradise... are you no longer here?"
He stopped by the lakeshore, a trace of melancholy in his eyes as he looked upon the azure lake and let out a sigh.
Yet his gaze did not linger on the Holy Lake for long.
He had come from Avalon, but someone else had come from the human world.
From... Britain.
On the other side of the lake stood something like a statue.
It was tall, yet withered. Vines and flowers grew along its body, stretching forward.
It held a posture as though it had been walking forward while preparing to slash, but what drew the eye was that it had only one arm, yet two swords.
No, that was not a slashing posture.
It looked more like it was about to... throw something?
Looking at its hand, the only thing it could have intended to throw was that sword.
That sword.
"[Excalibur], the Sword of Promised Victory."
The handsome man had already gone around the lake and reached the opposite shore, standing before the statue-like figure. Several small birds perched on the blade and the figure's body were startled by his arrival, fluttering