A Menace

Spriggan stood beside Knocknarea, watching the burning Gloucester.

"Don't blame me, Muryan. It was your failure that forced me to make the second choice. What a pity, what a pity. There's one less person to celebrate with. It truly saddens me."

Spriggan feigned deep sorrow, seemingly grieving for Muryan's death; how much of it was genuine and how much was an act, only heaven knew. The fairy beside him, holding binoculars, observed him for a moment before arriving and whispering a few words to Spriggan.

"Hmm? There are still experts? There's someone suspected to be Woodwose operating inside, a curse has erupted within, but many of the Child of Prophecy are still alive. It's turned into a massive slaughterhouse, and... the Calamity of the Beast hasn't appeared yet?" As he said the last sentence, a hint of disbelief crept into Spriggan's voice, and he muttered to himself, somewhat puzzled:

"Tsk, was there a mistake in the information Oberon provided? No, his execution was flawless; I personally had someone go to Manchester to confirm it... So, does that mean someone interfered? Well, never mind, even without the Calamity of the Beast, I have a backup plan."

Spriggan laughed, then went into a tent, lifted the curtain, and behind it stood Aurora, the chieftain of the Wind Clan.

"Aurora, Woodwose is now surrounded. Faced with so many attacks, I believe that as long as your knight makes a move, victory will be assured."

"My knight? Oh, Spriggan, that's not part of our plans."

Spriggan's smile froze instantly, his lips twitching as he asked, "Why? Sir, we're just one step away from success."

"Us? You seem a bit too familiar. We have indeed formed an alliance, but my alliance with you doesn't mean I've formed an alliance with the Northern royal family behind you. Woodwose has been quite the flatterer, though he's clumsy and ridiculous, but you want me to do something like this that gets me stabbed? I can't do that."

Lancelot, standing behind Aurora, struggled to control his expression. He had seen Woodwose's gifts before, all rare and priceless treasures, yet Aurora had always discarded them like trash. Unwilling to act? No, in reality, she simply couldn't. Melusine had already left, and there was no way she would return.

But Lancelot wouldn't expose the lie, after all, in some ways, Melusine's departure was related to him.

Although he felt somewhat sorry for Melusine, Lancelot believed he had done nothing wrong. Aurora hadn't even held his hand for so many years, which clearly showed she had no feelings for him. Lancelot was all too familiar with this kind of situation. As a noble Knight of the Lake, he had to let his lord experience a man's tenderness.

At that moment, Spriggan felt a chill run down his spine after being rejected. He opened his mouth as if he had heard something utterly absurd.

Sister, are you kidding me? Do you think we're playing around? We've committed treason! Woodwose lusts after your beauty all the time, and you think he'd forgive you for something like this just because of your looks? If Woodwose doesn't die today, he'll come back tomorrow and devour us all!

Why do some women believe they can use their beauty to make a powerful person give in to them on matters of principle?

We're committing treason and rebelling! Can't you be serious?!

Unfortunately, even if Spriggan talked himself hoarse, Aurora couldn't conjure up the departed Melusine. Having lost such a crucial asset who could sway the course of the battle, Spriggan could only place all his hopes on Knocknarea's army. He left his tent, cursing as he went to find Knocknarea, hoping she could lead an elite force to take Woodwose's head.

Only with Woodwose's death could he welcome the Queen of the North to Camelot, thus achieving the merit of supporting the new ruler and leaving a glorious mark on Britain history.

"Fortunately, I didn't tell Knocknarea about the Calamity of the Beast plan beforehand. I only told her that Muryan would trap Woodwose. That way, I can blame the loss of this battle entirely on Muryan's incompetence... Hmm?"

A beam of light shone from afar, as radiant as the moon in the dead of winter, dazzlingly beautiful. For a moment, the darkness seemed to be dispelled by its brilliance. Everyone stared blankly at the light; some of the older fairies, at that moment, only felt fear in their eyes—the purest fear, a fear that even surpassed the fear of curses.

That was the Calamity of Londinium, what happened after Uther was killed, something no fairy could forget. In the midst of the Storm, the Winter Queen returned from the End, the Winter War that destroyed everything. Now, that light that flickered in the Storm reappeared before them.

Fear seeped into his very bones, and he lost the strength to hold his weapon.

"Hey, what are you doing? Quickly defend yourselves and protect Lady Knocknarea!"

Spriggan roared, and only then did those around him react. But there was another figure, even faster than them. A beautiful streak of light shot through the night sky, drawing a graceful curve before heading straight for Knocknarea beneath the banner. With a soft thud, Knocknarea was snatched up by the azure figure like a chick.

Upon witnessing this scene, Spriggan's mind went completely blank; he had no idea how to explain what was happening. Melusine, who was supposed to be Aurora's Knight, had instead stormed in and captured their commander. What on earth had happened? Had that bastard Aurora betrayed them?

Looking at Knocknarea in her hand, Melusine muttered to herself, "Although His Majesty said there's no need to show mercy to fairies, you seem to have some connection with Caster and the others. Oh well, it's the same as taking you back and killing you later."

"Wait, why are you... Damn it, my warriors, go kill those damned Aurora and Spriggan, they betrayed us!"

Knocknarea knew very well that she couldn't escape from Melusine's clutches. She hadn't expected this at all; Melusine's sycophantic behavior was common knowledge throughout the Britain upper class. Therefore, both she and Spriggan preferred to believe that Aurora had betrayed them rather than believe that Melusine had left Aurora.

Upon hearing this, Melusine simply chuckled.

What? Is this the first time Aurora has betrayed me?

But to them, that light laugh seemed more like Aurora mocking them.

With a flash of light, Melusine, carrying Knocknarea, vanished from the spot.

Unable to stop her, no one in all of Britain could catch Melusine. So, they all turned their gaze to Spriggan, who was standing there in a daze. Spriggan had previously allied with Aurora, and to outsiders, they were practically inseparable. After all, Spriggan had attended many parties and ceremonies with Aurora to satisfy her vanity.

Aside from Aurora, any normal person would think they were in cahoots.

Adding to Knocknarea's words and Melusine's sudden attack, the answer instantly became clear.

Damn it, we've been tricked!

"Hey, can you let me explain?"

"At this very moment? You must be joking, you traitor from the South."

But before their blades could fall on Spriggan, a brilliant blue light in the distance illuminated the entire darkness, and everything vanished in that light.