Fate/Inheritance

In my foggy consciousness I heard whispers. Countless words unknown yet known to me. It seeped into my body and entered my soul.

I tried to comprehend it till it I finally 'understood' it. I opened my non-existent mouth and cried out the words of oath at the time where knights of old had galloped in the battlefield to defend their home.

«Never do anything outrageously nor to murder, and always to flee treason;

By no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that requested mercy,

Upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship to the King of Knights for evermore;

Always to do ladies, damsels, and gentlewomen aid upon pain of death.

Also, that no man takes no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, nor for no worldly goods.

Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Round Table, both old and young.

And every year we swore at the high feast of Pentecost. »

I understood where this voices came from. The knights that had served her and their vow still held true that it rang out even in this far away world. It deeply etched to my soul and felt my blood boil in the chivalry this oath carries.

I did not know how much time passed by but I opened my eyes, and saw myself surrounded by knights and soldiers traveling in horseback.

I floated around and noticed a knight with more ornate and high quality armor. Noticing, that he is being securely guarded by the knights, I realized that he is one of high status.

'That's!!!' I was startled when a white robed figure suddenly approached him I noticed that he looked familiar, when the robed figure addressed the knight as King Uther, I finally realized who he is and noticed also the strange staff he carried.

"My king… the future ruler had already been sent somewhere safe…" The magus said while bowing even in horseback. Uther, the man who is the father of the King of Knights did not spare him a glance. He just continued to look in front and continued their journey.

"…Merlin…can this be considered the price of mine conspiracy to love another man's wife?" Finally, he whispered with a tired voice.

"Nay, the child's destiny was already written my king… for even I can only see the path that leads to happiness in her. I merely stated it as a 'price' to ease your heart." Merlin replied.

"*sigh*Is it? My brother had already fallen beyond redemption… and the sin that I had alongside the balance of the fate in the country stood in the hand of one single child…I can't even question where it started to crumble…" The king said with a tired yet full of self-loathing.

"…My king, this advisor may say something preposterous in your turbulent heart… but I believe you still ruled this country with everything you had." Merlin said and finally raised his head and looked somewhere beyond.

*ROOOOOARRRR!!!*

"Did I? I can personally say that I was not a 'just' king from the countless conspiracies that I had that had even dirtied your hands…I even failed at my private life that I did not redeemed myself alongside my brother but I am failing to live up even to the most basic expectation of being a father…" Uther said with anger to himself. Unsheathing the sword in his waist he looked at the enlarging white dragon from afar and looked at the knights who had gone ready for combat.

"Do you still wish to continue this path my king?" Merlin, as if knowing what Uther was thinking, finally looked at him with a serious face.

"*nods* If my death will help both my child and the kingdom's future so be it. I just want my citizen's future to be safe alongside my 'child' that will end this chaotic strife. Just think of it as the final moment where I can finally be a 'just' king and a father. Hahaha~ sorry for being dramatic Merlin… take care of my child…" With those final words he whispered, he charged with a roar, alongside the loyal retinue of his knights and soldiers. Merlin, observed silently and sighed after having a detailed look at the white dragon decimating the army. Then he slowly vanished.

I, who was observing their conversation got curious also and when I tried to have a detailed look at the dragon… I blacked out.

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In a black empty space, I saw how the young king's life started. From starting to apprentice under the old knight that had adopted 'him, Ector. From the dreams where Merlin appears and taught how to rule and the necessary training to be a knight in the dreams when the young king slept, alongside his sometimes visitation to Ector and the sparring and brotherly bond the future king had with 'his' foster' brother Kay.

Sometimes I see the sceneries of the chaotic kingdom where the throne had stayed empty. The chaotic and bleak future that is merely held by the small strand of hope that the Magus Merlin had placed which is a prophecy when the young king had turned five years old.

Then ten years had gone by.

"Oh, oh no…" My perspective suddenly entered the young 'Arthur' who just awakened, stood up in panic. Hearing the neigh of a horse, I looked just in time a young horse was nudging 'me' in the makeshift bed in the stable.

I had a minor confusion before of how I cannot 'see' the true gender of 'Arthur' even when I was observing and it felt like a deep fog is masking it but after observing for a 'long' time I had forgotten about it or just my curiosity waned.

"Many thanks, you woke me up. "It seems I can't control 'my' actions yet so I observed. I had seen how this horse had been tended by 'Arthur' ever since it was born. If I remember correctly, the name of the horse was Eto. As if 'he' can understand the horse, the young future king conversed with it while brushing and tending it.

After tending the horse, 'my' body quickly ran and took care of the food, alongside washed 'his' face in a pond I finally had gotten a 'clear' look at 'his' visage. A young teen with androgynous look with beautiful blond hair tied in a ponytail alongside a vibrant and lively green eyes.

'It seems the 'Arthur' I am going to inherit from is the female Atoria' I thought, and when the droplets of the water created a ripple I noticed something strange.

'Hm?' In the disturb water I thought. Did I just saw her face become more masculine for a second? I mused, but I had thrown the idea as a hallucination. After leaving the stable and meeting up with Ector they had a sparring session that lasted till the sun reached its zenith, when Ector suddenly tasked Artoria to bring Kay's lance and some things that he forgot. Nodding in assent, Artoria cheerfully traveled to town.

There she took in the sights of the festive atmosphere and noticed the people where happy and full of smiles. Asking her adoptive brother alongside the conversations she heard, it seems that Merlin is in town and he said that he will choose the heir.

Seeing the sword of selection, Caliburn made me somehow exited and felt the lineage that came from my mother was suddenly brought to life and the rising sense of chivalry was being brought out of my heart. I pried my focus at the sword and listened at the conversation of Artoria and Kay.

I noticed how even if Kay had coldly tried to push her away and tried to let her go home I realized the hidden concern the man had alongside the foreknowledge of what is going to happen next. I also felt the emotion Artoria had and it seems she realized the hidden meaning her foster brother had…

When nobles to their loyal knights tried to pull out the sword yet failed to. They decided that the one who will become king will be chosen by a tourney. So one by one people left, alongside her brother till she was alone. She stood in front of the sword in the stone and memories suddenly entered my mind. From the smiles of the townspeople alongside the wish they had in their heart. The lifeless life she had where everything was prepared in a silver platter. The plans and idea Merlin confessed to her, alongside the knowledge her 'heart' was replaced that of a dragon.

"Thanks Kay-niisan…" She whispered secretly and slowly approached the sword.

"But… forgive me." She continued while hearing the cheers from afar…

Holding the handle, she felt it's cold feeling alongside the weight in her shoulders mysteriously increased. Then when she exerted to pull it…

"It's better if you think it through before pulling that sword." A playful yet gentle voice suddenly entered her ears. Surprised, she glanced behind her and saw the man that kept appearing in her dreams.

"You surprised me." She said visibly relieved.

"This is the first time we met outside a dream, isn't it? Merlin." She continued on.

"Not to say anything bad about it but it is better if you stop." The man said and lifted his face a bit. Shocked, I felt that Merlin was also observing 'me' who is looking at this event.

"After pulling that sword, you will stop being human." He said as if stating a fact.

"Not only that, you will be hated by all of humanity and you will reach a horrendous death." He continued on with a tone of concern and forewarning.

'Hm!?'After he finished his sentence I felt that I can now move and not stay as a bystander. I felt countless gazes directed at me and what I will say next.

I smelled the scent of grass and nature carried by a gentle wind alongside the warm light coming from the heavens as if observing what will be my decision. The feeling of holding the handle of the sword became clearer alongside the sensation of responsibility overwhelming my heart. Opening and closing 'my' mouth, I calmed myself and answered the magus in an unexpected way…

"Hahahahahahahaha~!!!"

"Eh?!" Came the startled cry of Merlin.

I laughed, I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt. I rolled in the grass in laughter that is filled with mockery for a few moments. Calming myself I held the handle of Caliburn and I lifted up myself while wiped the tears in my eyes and looked at the startled man and said...

"You… are you an idiot?"

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Extra:

Birth of the King of Knight's greatest foe…

While washing her face, Artoria tended her long hair.

"I think I really need to cut my hair now. It had grown a bit longer~…" She compained while brushing her hair with her hands and a comb while properly placing the 'rebellious' bed hairs to their rightful positions.

*neigh*

"Ahh! Right I need to hurry up or Ector will get angry again!" She quickly stood up and tied her hair back, leaving the stable ignoring a certain single tuff of 'rebellious' hair.

'YAMMMERROOOO!!!!! (Noooooooooo~!!!)' Cried out William in frustration when he noticed it.