Half as Polite

Night fell, and hoofbeats sounded along the forest path.

"Ah... my hands are so sore I can't even hold the reins."

The girl's plaintive voice rang out, tinged with helplessness.

A flippant male voice followed:

"Well, there's nothing we can do about that. It's the most important part of a knight's oath of fealty, after all.

Oh, right, Lia. Your scabbard.

Also, why can't I ride a horse?"

The man pulled a jewel-encrusted scabbard from inside his robes and handed it to the girl, slipping in a complaint along the way.

"If you can float, spare the horses the trouble.

All right, Lia, give me the reins.

Anyway, over two thousand knights swore loyalty to Lia today. That went remarkably smoothly. I thought we'd have a huge fight on our hands."

The boy in white robes took the reins from the girl sitting in front of him, letting her rest her hands for a while.

"Hehehe, it's all thanks to you, Kay."

"You raised your sword nearly five thousand times. It's a miracle you could still mount a horse and hold the reins yourself.

And... with the two of you riding one horse, that poor thing really has its work cut out for it."

As he spoke, Kay stroked the other horse's head.

"There's her, too."

The boy in white robes pulled a little black puppy out of his gorget.

"Come on, Barghest. Say hello."

"Woof! Woof!"

Hearing the demon hound's name, the knight Kay protested:

"Hey, why would you give her a name like that? Isn't that asking for trouble?"

"Well, I think it's because Barghest is Barghest. Right, Sovell?"

That was the girl's answer to the knight's question.

"Yes, Barghest is indeed Barghest. She's just a pup, though, so she won't hurt anyone for now.

Oh, right. Let me introduce myself again-

My real name is Sovell, Sovell Pendragon. As for my father... he's Vortigern.

I'm a student of Merlin, the one floating beside us.

Stam was a false name I used to disguise myself in public. I now serve Lia."

As he spoke, Sovell removed his gauntlet and offered his hand to the other knight beside him.

But at the name "Vortigern," the knight's expression changed drastically. His mouth twitched as he asked the girl:

"First Barghest, now Vortigern, and a false name on top of that... Art, can we really trust this guy?"

"Don't worry, Kay. It's fine."

"Come now, boy of House Ector. Even if you don't trust him, don't you trust me? I held you when you were little, you know."

"Yes, all right, I get it. Still, you old fairy, you told an outrageous lie in front of all those people without even blushing."

The four headed toward Sir Ector's estate outside the city. Once inside, they passed the chapel and saw a fully armed old knight watching them from the castle entrance.

"Dad's still awake."

They all dismounted and walked toward Ector.

When the four came within about five meters of the old knight, before Artoria could speak, he dropped to one knee and addressed the girl:

"A vassal of Uther Pendragon-

Ector Senor.

Hereby swears fealty to Britain's destined king, Arthur Pendragon."

Seeing the old knight who had raised her for ten years treating her with such humility, the girl's already less-than-brilliant mind promptly shut down:

"Huh? What?! Ector, get up! Don't do this."

When she finally recovered, the girl tried to help the old knight Ector up, only to discover that he was stubbornly resisting and had no intention of rising.

The boy in white robes leaned toward her ear and whispered:

"Lia, try speaking like a king."

By then, the girl had no time to worry whether his "presumptuous" behavior had made her blush. She could only try his suggestion:

"Ahem. Rise, Sir Ector."

"Yes, as my king commands."

"Ector, honestly, why..."

The girl let out a breath of relief and stepped forward, about to complain about his excessive formality, only for the old knight's strong arms to pull her into an embrace:

"Child, are you certain?"

The girl's body, stiffened by his sudden action, relaxed. She hugged her foster father back and replied:

"Yes. Yes, I've made my decision. Someone has to shoulder the responsibility, after all.

Besides, a knight should wield their sword for their country, their people, and their convictions, shouldn't they? I still remember what you taught me, Ector."

Hearing this, the old knight smiled with quiet pride:

"Then go forward without fear, child. These old bones are still sturdy enough. I will always be there to support you."

He straightened, a watery gleam seemingly flickering in his deep-set eyes. Wiping them, he turned to the white-robed mage beside him and asked:

"Art has drawn the Sword of Selection now. What do you intend to do next, Merlin?"

"I plan to have Kay and these two children travel elsewhere for a while, make some more friends, that sort of thing."

The white-robed mage answered, then pushed the boy beside him forward:

"Let me introduce Sovell, my student."

"Hello, Sir Ector."

Hearing that name, the old knight murmured:

"Sovell... that sounds a little familiar.

Hmm, I feel as though I've seen this child somewhere before, but I can't remember."

Sovell paused for a moment, then realization dawned. Smiling, he removed the lily from his ponytail.

In the next instant, his dark hair turned a gleaming white, and his eyes changed from blue to brilliant silver.

"How about now?"

Ector snapped out of his daze and said to Sovell:

"You're Vortigern's boy? Didn't they say you died of a sudden illness?"

Merlin answered Ector's question for Sovell:

"It wasn't a sudden illness, but something else. I saved him, though. He serves Lia now, and he can be trusted."

"I met you eight years ago. I didn't expect you to remember me. Please, just call me Sovell."

Sovell placed a hand over his chest and bowed to Ector in respect for his elder.

"Hey, could one of you geniuses explain what's going on here?"

Kay voiced his question from beside them.

"Kay, mind your manners."

"I'll explain."

The white-haired boy offered an explanation:

"I met Sir Ector at the Royal Court eight years ago.

Some time after that, I left my father because of certain circumstances, and Merlin saved me.

But judging by what Sir Ector said, my father announced that I'd died of a sudden illness. That's more or less the order of events.

As for why I left my father... I'll keep that to myself for now. I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize, Sovell. Everyone has their secrets, don't they?" the old knight reassured him.

"Yes. Thank you for your guidance."

Seeing such a polite young man, the old knight could not help letting out a deep sigh.

Then he turned to his own son, whom he considered a disappointment, and said:

"Kay, if you were even half as polite as Sovell, I wouldn't be so disheartened."