Fairy Round Table Realm, Poem of Eternal Mist

"Though taking you to the palace is wishful thinking," the fairy knight Tristan said, grabbing his tattered collar, "this lady can't just watch her master sleep on the streets—come on, I'll give you a place to stay."

'Wait! Don't pull—'

Ignoring Beryl's struggles, Tristan forcibly dragged him out of the alley. Despite the filth of the homeless man staining her fine clothes, she continued pulling him along the street without a care. This incongruous sight drew stares from passersby.

'A dignified fairy knight mingling with commoners!'

'Shameless!'

Why did Your Majesty allow humans to set foot in the Holy Land?

'You despicable thing!'

Amidst the murmurs and whispers, a clear, rebuking voice suddenly rang out: "How dare you presume to speak of His Majesty's will? If you dare disrespect His Majesty again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Everyone turned to see a fairy knight with transparent butterfly wings glaring angrily. Her red and white armor shimmered with light, her crimson hair flew like flames in the wind, and her sapphire-like eyes were sharp as knives. Under her piercing gaze, the onlookers scattered like birds.

'Why waste words with these petty scoundrels?' the goblin knight Gawain strolled over. 'I've long wanted to punish them.'

"Ultimately, we must stay within our bounds." The Butterfly Knight gently stroked his sword hilt. "His Majesty has not yet issued a decree; we should not overstep our authority."

This young girl, Mordred, the Fairy Knight, was considered one of the two jewels of the royal city, alongside Gawain. As they approached the newsstand, the day's headlines exuded the fresh scent of ink. Gawain casually flipped through one, then couldn't help but frown: 'These editors spend their days fabricating pointless trifles.'

'It's not all nonsense,' Mordred's fingers paused, a news report catching her attention: "Investigation into Darlington's serial disappearances stalls; all victims appear to be bleeding." She read it carefully, her pupils suddenly contracting—throughout Britain, there was only one person who could cast that blood-draining magic.

The fairy knight Mordred shoved the newspaper in front of Gawain: 'Looks like that madman is at work again?'

"Undoubtedly." Gawain frowned after glancing at the headline. "If His Majesty finds out, it will cause a huge uproar."

'I'll intercept her.' Mordred put down her newspaper, her transparent butterfly wings instantly igniting into crimson flames. 'The truth will out, but at least I must stop her before she returns—the western plains are the only way to Darlington.'

The sound of flapping wings pierced the sky as a crimson figure swept past the pointed dome of Camelot.

***

Fairy Country Southern Forest

To reach the city-states along the Sea of ​​Mist, one must traverse this primeval jungle. Unlike the highly developed North, the South has always remained wild and untamed. The treacherous forest serves as both a natural barrier and a perfect camouflage for refuge.

Having regained her spirits, Ritsuka had been walking with the two guides for two hours. The sunlight dappled through the forest, and a peculiar crystal butterfly landed on her shoulder, shimmering with a jewel-like luster.

'How much longer until we get out of the forest?' Ritsuka brushed aside the drooping vines.

"This is my first time here too," Artoria said, looking at Amy, who was leading the way. "But our guide should know."

Just as Ritsuka was marveling at the insects' closeness to humans, Amy suddenly stopped and bowed: 'Welcome back.'

A fairy dressed in a moon-white gown stood under the shade of a tree, her magnificent butterfly wings shimmering with iridescent light, and the crystal on her crown reflecting the glow of the forest.

"Earlier than expected." The man turned, kicking up stardust. "Looks like this foreign magician is alright?"

'Thanks to their care...' Ritsuka stared blankly at his fairytale prince-like appearance.

"Nice to meet you, traveler from afar." He took Ritsuka's hand and gently touched the butterfly crown on her forehead. "I am Oberon, the Fairy King who rules this land. You must be Fujimaru Ritsuka, whom Artoria mentioned?"

'Are you perhaps the character from *A Midsummer Night's Dream*...?'

"You even know my anecdote?" Oberon chuckled. "How embarrassing."

Artoria stepped in between them just in time: 'Don't be fooled by appearances. Explain why you're late.'

'Why is Caster so harsh?' Oberon drooped his wings in grievance. 'I certainly didn't linger in Salisbury...'

"Enough." The girl raised her staff. "I summoned you here to help Ritsuka find the right person."

Watching their familiar interaction, Ritsuka couldn't help but smile. Amy, on the other hand, waited quietly for this farce to end.

"Artoria has already told me the whole story," Oberon said solemnly. "The fairy knight Bedivere who attacked you is indeed the most brutal being in the land. Since she was conferred her title, the number of innocents she has slaughtered is enough to fill a ravine."

'Wasn't anyone stopping it?'

'The fairy knight is equivalent to a lord,' Amy sighed, 'not to mention this exceptional case, whom even the queen struggles to control.'

Oberon gently patted Ritsuka's trembling shoulder: "But there's good news—only five foreigners have entered the country recently."

"That means!" Ritsuka's eyes rekindled with hope. (Besides the three of us, the other two must be Mr. Muramasa and Koyanskaya. So it seems...)

Hearing that Oberon's mention of the lingering magical effects of the foreigners, Ritsuka's anxiety finally eased somewhat. If Mash and Da Vinci were still alive, they must be scattered somewhere in the Fairy Kingdom. However, this vast territory spanning the British Isles is dotted with numerous city-states and villages, making the search for them virtually impossible without concrete clues—like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“Don’t worry,” Oberon patted her stiff shoulder. “I have an old friend in Salisbury who can provide clues.”

'You're looking for that woman?' Artoria frowned. 'Oberon, you know perfectly well...'

"Besides her, who else can we count on right now? The tribal chiefs are all clinging to their own self-interest; you and I both know the current situation."

The young knight ultimately acquiesced to the proposal. Despite her doubts about the Fairy King's reliability, she had no other choice given the current lack of information.

As the dense forest gradually recedes, a breathtaking landscape unfolds like a scroll painting. A pinkish-brown sky is dotted with shimmering golden clouds, and emerald meadows are adorned with wildflowers like stars. At the edge of the plain stands the remains of the Imaginary Tree, its withered branches piercing the clouds, its pale trunk a testament to Captain Nemo's earlier warning.

'Isn't it spectacular?' Artoria asked softly.

'Every plain is like this.' Oberon casually waved away the crystal butterflies. 'It's nothing unusual in the Fairy Kingdom.'

Ritsuka stared at the withered Imaginary Tree, a sense of unease rising in her heart. In other Lostbelts, these towering trees were the pillars of the world, yet here only stumps remained. The path to restoring humanity seemed more arduous than she had imagined.

Led by Oberon, the journey that would normally take day and night was shortened to three hours. By the time Salisbury's spires appeared on the horizon, Ritsuka was so exhausted she could barely stand up straight. This fairytale-like city was completely different from anything in the pan-human history: Gothic buildings were entwined with iridescent vines, elves and beastmen walked side by side in the streets, and unfamiliar songs drifted in the air.

The group stopped in front of a pure white building, with wing-shaped stone carvings guarding the stained-glass doors. A pink-haired woman stepped out, her waist-length hair flowing with a rosy glow, her cherry-colored eyes sweeping indifferently over the group.

'Oberon, is this the visitor who's come to see the clan leader?' Her gaze lingered on Ritsuka for a moment. 'And they've brought a human with them.'

'Miss Corra, this foreign magician deserves to be treated with respect.'

"Hello..." Ritsuka bowed awkwardly, feeling the imposing authority emanating from the other party.

The pink-haired woman carefully examined the magical energy flowing around Ritsuka, finally shaking her head dismissively: "Nothing special. Lady Aurora is waiting; hurry back." As she turned, her butterfly wings brushed against Ritsuka's shoulder, scattering fine dust of light.

Ritsuka clenched her fists, about to argue, but was stopped by Oberon and Artoria at the same time.

"Don't be impulsive," the Fairy King said in a low voice. "She is the right-hand woman of the Wind Clan Chief, in charge of many confidential matters."

Artoria gripped her staff tightly and added, 'To clash here would mean making an enemy of the entire Wind Clan.'

Oberon watched the woman's departing figure and sighed softly: 'Miss Corra, though haughty, is a key figure in the rise of the Wind Clan. Over the years, most of the clan's affairs, large and small, have relied on her management.'

Despite her immense resentment, Ritsuka could only suppress her anger. Since losing contact with Chaldea, every step she took had been fraught with peril. At this moment, her only obsession was to find her lost companions; any unexpected complications could shatter her hope.

Oberon led the group to the reception room at the heart of the building. Emerald green patterned wallpaper reflected the glow of a crystal chandelier, display cases held precious artifacts engraved with the character 'mo,' and the entire space was filled with the intertwined scents of mint and sandalwood. A member of the Wind Clan, seated on a velvet sofa, had been waiting for some time—Aurora's beauty eclipsed all the other lights in the room. Her long, flowing golden hair cascaded down to her waist like waves of wheat, and her four-colored butterfly wings shimmered with iridescent light, confirming Ritsuka's earlier discovery: in the Wind Clan, the brilliance of one's wings was indeed closely related to status.

"We've been waiting for you, distinguished guests of Oberon." Aurora's voice was as soft as the tinkling of a wind chime.

"I apologize for disturbing you..." Ritsuka bowed respectfully.

"This must be the foreign magician you mentioned?" The clan chief smiled as he sized up Ritsuka. "Indeed, she possesses extraordinary bearing."

Corra crossed her arms and scoffed, 'Just a human...'

(You bastard!) Ritsuka gritted her teeth inwardly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"Corra," Aurora interrupted gently but firmly, "every race deserves respect. Besides, this young lady's magical abilities are astonishing."

Unlike the servant's harshness, the clan chief's tolerance instantly soothed Ritsuka's anxiety. Oberon then cut to the chase: 'Regarding the two missing travelers...'

“I understand.” Aurora retrieved a file from the tortoiseshell desk. “According to immigration records, Oxford City received a foreign visitor a week ago and is currently staying at the West City Restaurant. Six days ago, a caravan picked up a young woman dressed as a knight on the southern plains; the caravan is heading towards Norwich Harbour and is expected to rest in Darlington.”

"It's them!" Ritsuka eagerly bent down to examine the map. "Which route is more convenient?"

"I suggest we head straight to Norwich." Aurora traced a line from the parchment scroll with her fingertips. "The caravans are unpredictable; we might miss them in Darlington."

Oberon patted Ritsuka's shoulder gently: 'Looks like we'll be reunited soon.'

Thank you so much!

After everyone had left, Corra frowned in confusion: 'Why did you treat lowly humans with such courtesy?'

'Do you remember the prophecy of the [Child of [■■]]?' Aurora gazed at the receding figure outside the window. 'The day the foreign magician descends will be the day that woman falls. Such a perfect pawn, how can she not be treated with utmost care?'

'But humanity will ultimately...'

"One day you'll understand, Corra." The chieftain stroked the servant's pink hair. "What we've been waiting for will soon be ours."

On the rooftop, the fairy knight Mordred overheard the entire conversation. Her clenched fists cracked against the brickwork as she muttered a curse: 'Hypocritical, wicked woman... I hope that naive stranger isn't bewitched by this feigned gentleness.'

Although the journey from Salisbury to Oxford wasn't long, it still took at least two hours. Considering Ritsuka's recent long and arduous journey, Artoria suggested they rest in the city.

"Although we've learned of our companions' whereabouts, we're all exhausted." Artoria looked at Ritsuka with concern. "Why don't we rest here for the night and set off again tomorrow morning?"

Oberon nodded in agreement: 'Indeed, haste makes waste.'

'Alright...' Before Ritsuka could finish speaking, she suddenly bumped into a solid chest.

"Don't you watch where you're going?" The familiar voice made Ritsuka look up abruptly.

"Mr. Muramasa! What brings you here?"

"Oh my, isn't this Ritsuka?" Senkomura looked at her in surprise. "Looks like we met by chance. But... where's that little girl who always carries a shield?"

'That's a long story...'

Artoria rushed over upon hearing the commotion: "Ritsuka, are you alright? And who is this...?"

Senji Muramasa suddenly froze on the spot. Time seemed to freeze at that moment—the face of the blonde girl before him perfectly overlapped with the memories sealed deep within the body he was inhabiting.

(On that moonlit night, in a warehouse filled with junk, a boy on the verge of despair met a knight girl who seemed to have descended from the Middle Ages at the last moment.)

"Servant Saber, summoned as requested." The girl's voice was clear and melodious. "May I ask, are you my Master?"

The boy, a survivor of the ordeal, stared blankly at the girl who had suddenly appeared. Her alabaster skin shimmered with moonlight, her golden hair and blue eyes seemed divinely created, and her petite figure exuded an undeniable majesty. The single strand of hair that trembled slightly in the wind added a touch of liveliness to her.

(The boy at that time did not understand why he had become a Master, or why he had met such a girl. But her image was already deeply imprinted in his soul.)

'Um... is there something on my face?' Artoria touched her cheek in confusion.

"My apologies," Senji Muramasa said, suddenly snapping back to reality. "You bear a striking resemblance to an old friend of mine."

'Old friend? '

Ritsuka looked her up and down curiously: 'Mr. Muramasa knows Miss Artoria?'

'To be precise, the original owner of this body had a connection with... another woman who resembled her.'

Although Artoria was certain she had never seen this orange-haired boy before, the sense of vicissitude in his words and Ritsuka's way of addressing him suggested that an older soul resided in this young body. What was even more puzzling was that looking at him brought a strange sense of peace to her heart.

(Fragments of memory flicker in my mind—at dusk, the knight girl and boy stand side by side on the bridge, gazing at the distant city lights.)

"Have you ever regretted becoming a knight?" the young man asked softly.

The girl paused slightly, moonlight shimmering in her eyes: 'Having chosen this path, there's no need for regret. If I were still that carefree girl, perhaps I would never have met you.'