Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

"Ugh—" Sei Shonagon was the first to cover her mouth and rush to the outer room. Ritsuka felt a violent spasm in her stomach, and even Kalia turned pale and leaned against the wall.

Morgan cut back to the video at the opportune moment, his voice carrying a chilling weight: 'Three days ago, during the investigation, there was still blood on the operating table. Whose life did you take there?'

'That's...' Kelby's lips trembled.

"Wait..." Leonardo da Vinci, forcing himself to clear his mind, zoomed in on the file. "These victims...were all nobles who had supported Morgan in the Proof of the Election!"

The Queen nodded slightly: "Indeed. Given your indiscriminate killing habits, you shouldn't be involved with political factions." Her gaze pierced Kelby like a probe: "Someone is exploiting your thirst for revenge—like the true culprits who participated in the massacre of the Ioruf."

Kelby's single eye suddenly contracted.

'Machia, isn't this the opportunity you've been waiting for?' Morgan's voice was like a poisoned dagger, 'Using your broken body as bait, to put an end to your race, and to the sins you've committed...'

The chains rattled as Kelby trembled, and that name, like a key, unlocked the floodgates of long-sealed memories.

Sei Shonagon's voice trembled with disbelief: 'Machia...is that really your name?'

"Wait!" Ritsuka turned to the poet in surprise, "Noko, you knew all along?"

'I read about it in Duke Adimheide's library…' Sei Shonagon unconsciously twisted her sash. 'It says a girl named Machia once pleaded for help from the Mirror Clan, whose members had already been sold into slavery…' She glanced at Kelby's bloodstained armor. 'I never imagined it was…'

Senji Village approached heavily, the blacksmith's rough hand pressing on Machia's shoulder: 'I never imagined that behind your madness lay such a tragic past.'

"Mind your own business!" Machia abruptly shook off his hand, the chains rattling. "You sun-dwelling creatures, how could you possibly understand..." Nine hundred years of resentment surged in her single eye. "Since you're heading north anyway, let you see for yourselves—how the fairies crush the Ioruf tribe to dust!"

Queen's Year 207

When the Iorph tribe established a secluded city-state in Ensos, nearly two hundred years had passed since the Winter Queen ended the Age of Nothingness. This tribe, which branched off from the Mirror Clan, nurtured a unique civilization under the glow of the Eternal Lamp—their hair gradually turned golden, and their eyes settled into a pale ruby ​​color symbolizing eternity.

In this idyllic paradise, the Kelly family mansion was filled with an unusual festive atmosphere. The clear cries of a newborn baby pierced through the stained glass windows, and the elders of the family gathered together, gazing at the infant girl who had arrived on this sacred day.

'Klim Kelly, this child is a sign of the people's prosperity.' Founder Eaton gently stroked the baby's forehead. 'May the light of the long lamp forever protect her path.'

"Thank you for your blessing, Lady Eaton." The young mother, Klim, had tears in her eyes; the regal bearing of a heiress to the iron ore empire had softened into tenderness. In this matriarchal family, each new life carried the hope of continuing the bloodline and the business.

The girl, named Maquia Kelly, grew up bathed in the glow of the eternal lamp. She often leaned against the stained-glass window of the library, gazing at the distant mountain silhouettes and asking, "Mama, why can't we go see the outside world?"

Klim put down the quill pen from his ledger, his fingertips running through his daughter's long, gilded hair: 'Remember, never give your heart away when you meet outsiders. The love of our Ioruf will ultimately become a blade piercing the heart.'

'Why does falling in love with someone... lead to loneliness?' Little Maquia fiddled with the moonstone brooch on her mother's dress.

'Because the greedy eyes that covet the eternal lamp always lurk in the shadows.' Klim embraced his daughter. 'The bloodline of longevity and the secrets of the age of gods are nothing more than treasures waiting to be sold in the eyes of others.'

These admonitions, illuminated by the eternal lamp, were deeply imprinted on Maquia's soul. She was unaware that the Mirror Clan's silence regarding the stolen treasure was a covert act of protection, nor did she understand the true reason for their isolation from the world—in the Fairy Kingdom, a land that revered bloodlines, a long-lived race capable of passing down wisdom for millennia was both a coveted treasure and a heretic that had to be eradicated.

Ensos City, 1020 AD

Eaton Ioruf's fingers trembled slightly within his sleeve. Even after nearly a thousand years of seclusion here, the innate majesty of Queen Morgan standing before him, stripped of her crown, still suffocated him. Five elf knights stood like statues behind the queen, their armor reflecting the light of the eternal lamp.

'Mr. Eaton Ioruf?' Morgan smiled knowingly. 'It's quite a surprise that such a unique civilization still exists in my country.'

"Your Majesty flatters me..." Eaton's voice was dry and trembling.

"Camelot didn't come to seize your sanctuary." Morgan's fingertips traced the family crest carved on the window frame. "It's just that the painful lessons of the Eternal Calendar have taught me that some things, beautiful in their own way, need to be actively protected."

Eaton stared blankly at the contract scroll the Queen handed him: 'What do you mean?'

"The royal city will send troops to protect Ioruf." Morgan suddenly looked towards the central tower, the glow of the eternal lamp swirling in her eyes. "You wouldn't want to know how much the bloodline of the immortal race can fetch on the black market."

A sparrow suddenly landed on the windowsill, its beady black eyes rolling mechanically. Before Morgan could finish speaking, a shadow spear had already pierced the bird's body. Blood splattered on the glass window, revealing the shimmering butterfly imprint deep within its eyeball.

'Like this.' Morgan picked up the still-convulsing corpse. 'Aurora is still as eager to spy as ever.'

Eaton staggered backward, looking at the Wind Clan's mark on the insect corpse.

"You've been targeted all along." Morgan crushed the inscription in his palm, the butterfly-wing-shaped magical afterimage dissipating between his fingers. "If you wish to preserve this paradise, accept the protection of the royal city."

"Your Majesty's decree is obeyed!" Eaton finally knelt and bowed, cold sweat soaking his ceremonial collar. He didn't notice that, thousands of miles away in the Salisbury Tower, a certain clan chief of the Wind Clan was coldly erasing the image from a crystal ball.

In the Wind Clan's territory in Salisbury, Corra angrily smashed the crystal ball in her hand: 'How could she possibly see through my disguise!'

Deep within the dark chamber, Aurora's vibrant wings swirled in the dim light. She languidly rested her chin on her hand, her golden eyes brimming with amusement: 'Don't be angry, my dear. Didn't we already get the information we wanted?' Her fingertips lightly traced the air, as if caressing an invisible treasure. 'The Eternal Lamp... a treasure capable of manipulating souls, it's truly irresistible.'

"But Morgan has already deployed a large force to guard Ensos." Corra kicked away a crystal shard at her feet in frustration. "Those queen's soldiers..."

"So we must wait for the right opportunity." Aurora suddenly raised her voice. "Reinhard, have you completed the task I assigned?"

The knight commander emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee, the clanging of his armor carrying a bloodthirsty excitement: 'Everything is ready. That child will help us breach Ioruf's defenses, and the Queen's soldiers' weaknesses will soon be exploited...'

"So reliable!" Aurora's laughter echoed between the stone walls. "Now we just have to wait for the prey to jump into the trap."

The seeds of this conspiracy were sown as early as the year 966 of the Queen's calendar. As a descendant of the Krenmia family, who had rebelled against the royal family since the Eternal Age, Aurora never truly submitted to Morgan. She carefully played the role of a submissive patriarch until she had completely turned the Clan of Wind into a breeding ground for rebellion.

(When the former clan chief Maru von retired due to illness, she could never have imagined where her handpicked deputy would lead the clan.)

Through embezzled wealth and seductive words, Aurora not only instigated a rebellion by the royal clan but also wove a vast network of interests throughout the fairy kingdom. Most unsettling of all was the supporter who remained hidden behind the scenes—a mysterious entity whose appearance even Aurora couldn't quite recall, permeating the land like venom.

Upon reaching adulthood, Maquia fulfilled her wish to serve in the royal family, becoming Queen Leilia's personal maid. In the Ioruf tribe, this was an honor that countless noble girls dreamed of—not only did they need to be born into a prestigious family and possess both beauty and talent, but it also meant that their entire family would receive the protection of the royal family.

Today, Machia is a shining jewel of her tribe. Her long, flowing golden hair cascades to her waist, and her ruby ​​eyes sparkle in the morning light. Although her days are filled with mundane tasks like organizing documents and tending to bouquets, she finds immense fulfillment in being by the side of the wise queen, learning the ways of governance.

However, the turning point of fate always arrives quietly.

6th of October, 1020 (Queen's Calendar)

During her lunch break, Machia went to the birch forest at the foot of the snow-capped mountain. Just as she looked up to admire the golden clouds shimmering in the pink sky, a mournful sound drifted on the wind:

'Help... Is anyone there...?'

(They're from another ethnic group...my mother said we shouldn't have contact with them...)

But the despair in that voice pierced her heart. After hesitating for a moment, she lifted her skirt and followed the sound.

(Just one glance...at least to make sure the other person is safe...)

Meanwhile, atop the snow-capped peak, Merlin leaned lazily against her staff. Her pure white dress billowed in the wind, and her pink eyes gleamed with mischievous light.

(How amusing~ It's been so peaceful on Arthur's side lately, this innocent little princess is a perfect way to pass the time.)

When Maquia parted the bushes, she couldn't help but gasp. The injured butterfly fairy was curled up in a pile of dead leaves, its amethyst-like wings torn with spiderweb-like wounds.

'You've lost so much blood!' Machia hurriedly knelt down, completely forgetting the clan rules.

The butterfly fairy raised her tear-filled face: "I encountered a pack of wolves in the forest..." She suddenly grabbed Maquia's wrist, "Please, take me to a safe place..."

The warmth emanating from her fingertips sent a shiver down Machia's spine. Unbeknownst to her, the white-robed witch on the distant cliff was wearing a triumphant smile.

Machia's gaze fell on the strange girl's bloodied and mangled calf, and she gasped. The gaping wound from the wolf's fangs was deep enough to expose bone, and the bone fragments mixed with flesh gleamed white in the moonlight. The claw marks covering the girl's arms and thighs told of the perilous ordeal she had just endured.

(Clan precepts... but saving lives is the priority!)

Without hesitation, she tore off her sleeve and used the strip of cloth to tightly bind the other woman's bleeding calf. As she carried the unconscious girl on her back, warm bloodstains soaked through the fabric. Merlin, watching this scene from the mountainside, smiled with satisfaction.

To avoid being seen by her tribesmen, Machia hid the wounded man in the palace's underground storeroom. She carefully washed the wounds with clean water, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as she performed healing magic. By the time the last roll of gauze was wrapped, the water in the basin had turned into a dark red blood soup.

'Get some rest...' she gently stroked the girl's sweaty forehead. 'We'll talk in detail when you wake up.'

As soon as the footsteps faded away, the girl, who should have been unconscious, opened her eyes. She deftly took out a bracelet-like device from her pocket and fastened it to her wrist. Wherever a blue light flashed, the wound began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

'I almost became a wolf's dinner.' She complained to the crystal image that appeared, in which Leonard was laughing so hard he was doubled over.

'It's worth it if we can fool those immortal beings.' The knight commander wiped his eye. 'Looks like they've completely fallen for the trap?'

"The maid who saved me works for the royal family." The girl raised an eyebrow smugly, "It's practically a doorstep delivered right to my doorstep."

"Continue to lie low and wait for our signal." Leonard's smile vanished. "This time, the Ioruf will pay the price, Kleich."

The butterfly fairy known as Kleich cut off the communication and lay back on the grass mat, reverting to its previous state of being a dying, wounded patient.

Meanwhile, Machia leaned against a stone pillar in the corridor, panting, oblivious to the bloodstains on her skirt. A woman in a nun's habit quietly approached and bent down with concern: "What happened? You should be taking your afternoon nap at this time."

Maquia hurriedly sat up, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt: 'Miss Tita! I'm just a little tired...'

Dita, Eton's chief secretary, narrowed her eyes slightly. This usually composed young woman's gaze was now unfocused, and even her most basic polite smile seemed stiff.

'Machia,' Tita took a half-step closer, 'you would never lie to me.'

(Oh no... she hates being lied to the most...)

Maquia suppressed the tremor in her throat and forced herself to meet the other person's scrutinizing gaze: "I'm really just too tired... You should go and get back to work."

'That would be best.' Tita gave her a deep look, then turned and left with a flick of her sleeves.

Only after the figure in the nun's habit disappeared behind the pillar did Machia lean against the wall and slowly exhale. From then on, she was restless, making excuses to go to the basement every few minutes to check on things. Fortunately, the secret remained hidden until nightfall.

As the moonlight began to rise, Klein silently pushed open the wooden door to the basement. He met the night watchwoman right at the corner—

'You are...' The maid's exclamation was choked in her throat.

Clayher landed and snapped the man's neck, dragging the still-warm body back to the basement. Amidst the chirping of night insects, she followed the bloody footprints toward the tower in the center of the square.

(Is that the eternal lamp?)

Gazing at the shimmering light swirling around the tower's summit, Klein curled her lip in disdain. The clanging of the guards' armor was exceptionally clear in the night. She slipped into the shadows of a stone pillar, her fingertips brushing against the medical device on her wrist.

(In three days... this place will become hell.)

A complex silence filled the room as Machia recounted her story. Kalia frowned; she had never heard of the Ioruf clan, and found it even harder to reconcile the blood-stained traitor before her with the kind maid from the tale.

"She's telling the truth," Artoria said softly, a glimmer of magic shimmering in her emerald eyes. "My fairy eyes can confirm it."

Senji stood with his arms crossed, his brow still furrowed: 'Even so, she is completely different now than she was before. Something must have happened that we don't know about.'

Ritsuka unconsciously moved closer to Muramasa, her voice trembling slightly: 'Thinking back to that time on the beach when we almost...'

'It's all in the past.' Senjamura gently put his arm around her shoulder, the warmth from his palm reassuring her.

Kalia took a deep breath: 'The truth will come out when we get to Ensos.' She suddenly snapped her fingers, and the chains binding Machia fell off.

"What do you mean by this?" Maquia asked incredulously, cracking her stiff wrists. "Aren't you afraid I'll take this opportunity to escape? Or... attack you again?"

'If you want to atone, this is your chance.' Kalia turned away, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. 'I, too, have...lost everything that was important to me.'

After everyone had left, Machia sat alone, her fingertips digging deep into her palms. She couldn't understand why these people she had hurt still trusted her.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Nocnarria watched everything through her crystal ball. 'Merlin, you'd never guess,' she whispered into the communication crystal, 'they're going to Ensos tomorrow.'

"Perfect timing~" came a cheerful chuckle from the other end of the crystal. "I'll be waiting for that lovely little girl in Ensos."

Machia slowly removed her filthy armor, revealing skin covered in bruises and welts. The torture she had suffered in the hideout of the third-party forces was beyond what most people could imagine. Her fingers trembled involuntarily whenever she thought of her son still in their hands. She bit her lip tightly as warm water flowed over her wounds.

In the darkness outside, everyone sat around on the stone steps. The unexpected situation brought by Maquia created a dilemma between the established pilgrimage plan and the current situation, and all eyes were on Ritsuka.

"The pilgrimage cannot be delayed." The orange-haired girl stood up, the moonlight reflecting a resolute light in her eyes. "But we must also uncover the truth about Ioruf. I propose we split into two groups."

She glanced around at her companions, her voice clear and composed: 'Artoria's pilgrimage party is being escorted by Grandpa, Gareth, and Da Vinci. Kalia, Noko, and I are going to Ensos with Machia.'

Leonardo da Vinci grasped Ritsuka's hand with concern: 'Are you really sure about this?'