Chapter 2

"This was Avalon, one of the many links between the mortal world and Fairyland."

Merlin put away his wand and winked at Canopus.

"Of course, it's also the most famous one."

"Why did we come here? To pay our respects to King Arthur?"

"Though you can see him too, he is still asleep." Morgan's expression darkened. "Since you wish to leave Fairyland, you need a 'destiny.'"

Canopus was somewhat puzzled. A "destiny" was the path Heaven had arranged for a person or an event. No matter how one resisted, they would eventually walk that road.

Such destinies were often told in the form of prophecies, like the prophecies Morrigan, the Goddess of Death, and Cathbad, the Great Druid, had made about Cú Chulainn's death, or the prophecy the seer Fedelm had made regarding the outcome of the war between Connacht and Ulster.

Those prophecies had all come true, but what did that have to do with him leaving Fairyland?

Merlin saw his confusion and explained softly, "The mortal world and Fairyland have long since been separated. If you wish to leave this place, you need to establish a stable connection with the mortal world."

"For example, if your destiny is to destroy Voldemort, avenge your parents, then before you fulfill that destiny, you will remain in the mortal world. Once you complete it, you may return at any time."

"Can you choose your own destiny?"

"Of course not." Morgan shook her head. "You are one who has been reborn. Even Merlin and I cannot see your destiny."

"How did you get here?"

A deep voice rang out as a fully armored knight rode out of the mist on a white horse.

When he drew near, he leaped down from his horse, gave the three of them a knight's salute, and lifted his visor, revealing the handsome face of a middle-aged man.

"Big Brother Gawain! Why are you guarding this place?"

"I am the king's knight. Naturally, I must guard his bedchamber. Little brother Canopus, have you finally made up your mind to become a true knight? I've long prepared the ceremonial sword for your dubbing."

With a cheerful grin, Gawain squeezed Canopus's shoulder with his large gauntleted hand, as if he could already see the ceremonial sword resting on his shoulder as he took his oath.

Canopus winced from the pain, but said nothing.

Gawain was Canopus's instructor in the seven knightly arts. It was hardly the first or second time he had chased Canopus all over the ground while beating him with a stick. This much pain was nothing.

"Stop dreaming, nephew. He will become a noble druid in the future."

"Heh heh, Auntie, I don't know whether he'll surpass Lancelot someday, but he'll at least be a match for Tristan. What would he become a druid for? To learn your venomous ways?"

Gawain and his aunt Morgan always argued whenever they met, though they were far more restrained than they had been while alive.

"Enough arguing. We came here today to see the Fate Stone."

Merlin stopped their quarrel. Morgan rolled her eyes and said no more, while Gawain's eyes widened.

"Are you sure?"

Merlin nodded silently, while Canopus remained utterly confused.

Everyone fell silent for the rest of the journey. They bypassed King Arthur's bedchamber and headed straight for the small hill behind it.

Atop the hill stood a towering cylindrical monolith, surrounded by ring after ring of large stones.

The purpose of a stone circle was to heal wounds. With injured soldiers placed at its center, a druid's magic could restore their fighting strength more quickly.

But the stone circle here served to amplify the power of the cylindrical monolith at its center.

"We can only escort you this far,"

Merlin said.

"I don't know whether Merlin and Morgan explained this to you." Gawain spoke solemnly. "That stone possesses the power to judge destiny."

"When you touch it, your destiny will reveal itself. It cannot be escaped. If you fail, you will fall into hell forever and never return to Fairyland."

"Have you made up your mind?"

Canopus scratched his head and smiled at him.

"Yes, I have. My resolve to touch that stone is as firm as my resolve to knock you over someday, Big Brother Gawain."

Gawain froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. He lowered his visor, swung back onto his horse, circled Canopus once, then turned and galloped into the mist.

"I'll wait for you to return and challenge me."

"Ah, I definitely will."

Canopus walked alone through the layers of massive stones, gradually drawing closer to the towering Fate Stone at the center.

He could feel a powerful summons and involuntarily placed his hand against the surface of the Fate Stone.

A tremendous scream rang out at once, then fell silent after repeating three times.

Child of Rebirth, The road ahead is arduous, You must understand.

Twisted life casts its shadow, The rebellious prince draws his sword against you.

Friends and family stand on the brink of disaster, The life of your beloved hangs by a thread.

You must remember, Increase your wisdom, Wield your wand, Strengthen your body, Hone your edge.

I am the Fate Stone, And I never lie.

Morgan's face turned pale. Throwing caution to the wind, she ran toward Canopus, only to be blocked by an invisible barrier.

Furious, she pulled out her wand and fired one colorful spell after another from its tip. Yet every one of those devastating spells was stopped by the barrier, without even causing a ripple.

Canopus knew that "twisted life" referred to Voldemort, who had created countless Horcruxes and existed neither alive nor dead.

But the rebellious prince... could it be Mordred?

He hadn't entered Fairyland? Clearly, any powerful knight or Druid who died would come here. Why wasn't he here?

Canopus walked over to Morgan's side, and the barrier vanished on its own. Completely abandoning all decorum, Morgan scooped Canopus up and slung him over her shoulder.

"It's useless, Morgan. Fate cannot be defied. You know that better than anyone."

Merlin slowly stepped forward, but Morgan merely shook her head.

"I refuse to accept this fate! Why should Canopus have to fight my son?"

Hanging over her shoulder, Canopus asked in confusion, "Isn't Mordred the son of your elder sister Morgause and Arthur? How could he be your son?"

"Look, he still doesn't understand anything. This is far too cruel for him!"

Morgan simply roared at Merlin without restraint, paying Canopus no attention at all.

"Fate? I refuse to accept it. Let's see who can take him away from my side!"

Then, under Merlin's helpless gaze, Morgan angrily drew her wand, pointed it at the ground, and vanished before him with Canopus.

Merlin continued toward the Fate Stone until he stood before it.

He raised his hand. An invisible membrane separated his hand from the stone, but he did not care.

"Fate, I know you have always been this cruel."

"You made me serve three generations of kings, only to bring me back to Fairyland at the final moment, forcing me to watch as Arthur's Round Table crumbled and the kingdom perished."

Clouded tears slid from Merlin's eyes and into his graying beard.

"But please, grant Canopus a good life."

"Because he may be the last Druid in this world."

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