Ferry Between Two Worlds

Morgan and Kano appeared in the courtyard of the massive palace, the place where they usually took their afternoon tea.

Morgan raised her wand and cast defensive spells one after another. A translucent membrane of light spread from the sky, eventually closing around the palace to form a giant transparent hemisphere.

Kano watched as Morgan cast everything from Repelling Charms to super-powered Protego; he couldn't even recognize the final few ancient spells she unleashed.

This palace had been almost entirely stripped away from Fairyland by Morgan, forming a semi-independent world.

The tiny fairy maids inside the palace flew about in agitation, several of them even buzzing into Kano's ears to chatter and ask what was happening.

But Kano was just as confused, and could only scratch his head along with the little fairies.

After a long while, having confirmed that nothing—man or beast, living or dead, tangible or intangible—could get in, Morgan lowered her wand and sat on the chair beside Kano.

She snapped her fingers, and a fairy maid immediately brought over a glass of red wine. She held the goblet in her hand, took a sip, and slowly let out a breath.

"Not planning on explaining?"

"Which part do you want to hear?" Morgan swirled her glass, staring at the dark red liquid within.

"Let's start with Mordred, shall we?"

Morgan let out a soft chuckle and began to tell her story.

Morgan le Fay was King Arthur's half-sister. Her mother, Igraine, had three daughters with her first husband, the Duke of Cornwall: the eldest, Morgause; the second, Elaine; and the third, Morgan le Fay.

King Uther fell in love with Igraine at first sight and waged war to possess her. Merlin helped King Uther take the form of the Duke of Cornwall, and after spending a night with Igraine, she conceived King Arthur.

In the end, the Duke of Cornwall died at the hands of King Uther, and Igraine became queen, half-willingly. The three sisters were sent away and married off, marking the end of their idyllic girlhood.

Kano nodded; this all matched the legends he had heard.

"However, in Celtic mythology, a king must unite with the goddess who represents the personification of the land in order to obtain divine kingship and ensure the land's fertility and the prosperity of its people."

Morgan pointed to her own chest. "I was the incarnation of the land of Britain for that generation; my essence was that of a Lady of the Lake."

"So you were actually King Arthur's fated queen?"

Kano was dumbfounded; this tradition seemed to have completely failed to account for the possibility of a blood relationship between the new king and the goddess.

"Exactly. If I had followed destiny, I should have married Arthur and borne the future heir to the kingdom." At this, Morgan offered a mocking smile.

"Who cares about blood relations? Children born from the incestuous union of noble bloodlines are often powerful heroes."

Indeed, in Celtic Mythology, the origins of many heroes were shrouded in unspeakable shame.

For instance, Lleu Llaw Gyffes was born from a union between his mother and her own brother. Cú Chulainn's father was generally considered to be Lugh, the god of light and craftsmanship, but some versions claimed his biological father was his mother's own brother, King Conchobar.

In his past life, Kano could only sigh at how messy that social circle was, but now, with all of this laid out before him, he couldn't help but show a look of disbelief.

"But I didn't want to, and neither did Arthur." Morgan shook her head.

She later married King Uriens and frequently changed lovers, living as an absolute hedonist, while Arthur fell in love with Guinevere at first sight and took her as his queen.

"I was convinced destiny had let me go," Morgan said softly. "But one day, my foolish sister Morgause, unaware of Arthur's true parentage, used a magic potion to seduce him and sleep with him."

"Three is a magical number in our culture; the fates of us three sisters have always been inseparable."

"On that day, my divine essence shifted to my sister Morgause, and she conceived Mordred."

Kano understood; this was why Morgan said Mordred was her child—in a certain sense, she was right.

"But Mordred isn't in Fairyland now, is he?" Kano couldn't help but ask.

"He is the offspring of the land goddess and the fated king; he is the destined heir to the throne."

"Guinevere and Arthur never had children, but how could an illegitimate child like Mordred have any claim to the succession?"

"The long wait finally drove him mad. He launched a rebellion in the rear while Arthur was away on campaign, even attempting to gain legitimate status by forcibly marrying Guinevere."

Morgan took a large gulp of wine and slumped over the table.

"My child... died under his father's spear, at Camlann, cast into eternal hell."

A magical storm suddenly whipped up, roaring wildly around Morgan.

The wine glass was shredded by the storm, and the dark red liquid splashed about like blood.

"Bastard! Bastard destiny!"

"I can never escape it in my entire life!"

Morgan shrieked hysterically, her smooth, long hair floating in the air.

"Destiny wants me to marry Arthur? Fine, then I will kill him!"

"Schemes, provocations, assassinations—I tried every way I could."

"It was useless!"

"I didn't want to bear him a child, so you seduced my sister!"

"Asshole!"

She waved her wand violently, threatening the formless, shapeless destiny.

"And now you tell me that this child has to fight my son?"

"What is your intention? Those who have gone to hell can never return—you might as well just let him die!"

Morgan vented her rage until she saw the number in Canopus's palm.

"Sister Morgan, I think... I have to go."

The sudden appearance of the number in Canopus's palm meant he had to leave Fairyland in a short time to embrace his destiny in the mortal world.

Morgan stared blankly at Canopus, finally collapsing to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself to cry in silence.

Stripped of her witch's shell, she was now just a heartbroken sister, or perhaps a mother.

Yet no one could comfort her, for destiny could not be defied.

Canopus was cast out of the palace by Morgan, with Merlin waiting outside, his eyes rimmed with red.

"Mordred is currently trapped in hell; to defeat him, one must descend into hell as well." Merlin sighed, stroking Canopus's head. "Use your wisdom to find a way back."

"Although destiny cannot be defied, we still have a chance to fight it."

Canopus nodded and walked toward the lake with Merlin.

Nothing from Fairyland could be taken out, so he had nothing to prepare.

As the old man and the youth walked along the lakeshore, a small pier suddenly appeared in the mist.

Eight Ladies of the Lake, wearing white veils and long gowns, were waiting for him.

"Canopus, come."

The leading Lady of the Lake beckoned to Canopus. He stepped forward, and she led him to a small wooden boat.

Canopus lay down in the small craft, finding it slightly too large for him.

"This is the boat Arthur took when he first entered Fairyland. I hope that one day, you will be able to sit in this boat and return here."

The Lady of the Lake noticed his confusion and answered softly.

"Hasn't Morgan come yet? Is she not planning to see him off?"

"Who knows? Even I felt terrible after hearing about this; she might still be grieving."

The fairies exchanged a few words, all sighing in unison.

The eight fairies placed their hands on the gunwales, half-submerged in the water, and began to chant an ancient farewell song.

Canopus waved goodbye to Merlin on the shore, feeling his eyelids grow heavier and heavier.

In the haze, he saw a woman's figure rushing through the water, finally grasping the gunwale of the boat.

Her eyes were still red and swollen, and her voice trembled.

"Canopus, you must come back."

"Ah, Sister Morgan, it's a promise."

The nine fairies sang in unison, and the thick fog completely obscured Canopus's vision.