Anno and Lamorak met on the way to the Knights' Cemetery. To reach the cemetery, they first had to pass the entrance to the Royal Court.
"Commander Anno!" Lamorak cried excitedly as he strode toward them.
Anno looked up at Lamorak, who was taller than him, and felt his arm muscles with an appreciative squeeze. "Lamorak, it seems you haven't neglected your martial training during the year I was away."
"Of course not!" Lamorak said proudly. "I can take on ten men at once now!"
"Heh." Kay chuckled. "Looks like our friend here is pretty confident."
They were around the same age, and Kay couldn't help wanting to test his skills against Lamorak.
"Hm?" Lamorak glanced at Kay, then at Lancelot and Artoria standing to the side.
After greeting Lancelot, with whom he had once fought side by side on the battlefield, Lamorak's gaze settled on Artoria.
"Commander Anno, so these two are the candidates you found to be Britain's king?" Lamorak couldn't tell which one Anno had brought.
Anno smiled. "Let's go to the cemetery first. You'll know which one once we get there."
Artoria's mind was elsewhere.
Gao, hiding behind Lamorak, studied Anno. He seemed like a very stern old man, but he wasn't nearly as frightening as his mother had described.
Anno noticed Gao and asked, "Who is this child?"
"He's the second son of Princess Morgan le Fay," Lamorak said with a grin.
"Morgan's second son?" Anno glanced at Artoria.
"So he's Lia's nephew?" Kay crouched down to look at Gao, who seemed a little nervous.
Anno came over and patted Gao on the head. He had spent time around many children over the years, and ruffling their hair had become a habit. "Little fellow, is your mother well?"
"Ah, Sir Knight, my mother has been doing well lately," Gao answered in a loud voice.
Anno nodded. "After the king pulls the sword, I'll pay a visit to Her Highness the Princess."
As for now—
Lancelot tugged at Artoria, who was still lost in thought. "Come on. You're the main character, after all."
At the Knights' Cemetery, before the Sword of Selection.
Anno looked at the disheveled cemetery and angrily asked Lamorak, "What happened here?"
Lamorak sighed. "After Princess Morgan le Fay failed to draw the sword, the knights who came running at the news went mad. They left the place like this."
Anno was furious. "Trampling the graves of their forebears. What a ridiculous bunch!"
Many of his comrades lay buried here. Looking at the cemetery, nearly flattened, Anno felt both angry and helpless.
The throne held an overwhelming allure for these knights. No one—not even Anno—could remain unmoved by it. He had simply managed to restrain himself.
Merlin stepped in front of Artoria.
"Lia, are you ready?"
Artoria didn't answer. She stared straight at the long sword embedded in the meteorite iron.
Anno had composed himself as well. "When you draw it, you'll have no more connection to the girl named Artoria. You'll rule a country and govern its people."
"You still have a chance to change your mind," Merlin said, glancing at Anno.
"I won't regret it. This is my destiny!" Artoria stepped forward and gripped the hilt of the Sword of Promised Victory.
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