"Is, you've come."
In the evening, within the stunning realm of Avalon, the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, whose appearance remained unchanged by time as always, seemed to have known Ryuya would visit.
She warmly received Ryuya. Looking at the man, now fully grown and different from the past, she let out a soft sigh, "Ah, it feels like you were still a child just yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, you've become so big."
Ushering Ryuya to sit, the familiar room had lost the traces of Merlin and Ryuya's former life here… only Vivian remained.
"Vivian, you could live with us. Camelot's environment is good, and Merlin misses you too."
Holding a special feeling for Vivian, who raised him, Ryuya had invited her to leave Avalon more than once, but Vivian never agreed.
"That won't do. I still need to guard these Holy Swords. Look... they're all very happy to see you back."
As if confirming Vivian's words, the Holy Swords emitted a 'buzzing' sound.
"Haha, is that so."
Laughing, as if returning to those past days, Ryuya remembered when Vivian was scatterbrained, often causing messes, and Merlin was even worse – that girl seemed completely unaware of what reliable contract spirit meant.
For a moment, it felt like returning to those carefree days. While chatting and laughing with Vivian, Ryuya suddenly noticed this all-too-familiar fairy leaning her upper body closer.
"Your collar is crooked."
One snow-white hand rested on the table supporting her weight, the other gently grasped Ryuya's collar, straightening its slightly messy state.
Her gentle demeanor was that of the fairy who had always protected and cared for him in his memories. The distance between them was very close.
Ryuya could even smell the floral scent on Vivian.
"You, why are you still so immature?"
Her tone slightly reproachful, looking at Ryuya with dissatisfaction, Vivian spoke.
"I've grown up, Vivian... Sister."
Looking at Vivian with a slight struggle, Ryuya softly uttered that long-unused form of address.
"Hmph, no matter how big you get, you're still a child in my eyes."
Lifting her head, bringing herself even closer to Ryuya, their gazes almost touching, even their eyelashes seeming to meet, Vivian's unquestionable tone seemed to emphasize something.
"I... I understand."
Ultimately unable to win against Vivian, Ryuya conceded, slightly averting his gaze.
Too close. So close he could clearly hear her voice by his ear.
"Hmph."
Her long hair under the night sky swayed in the wind. Casually tucking her hair behind her ear, Vivian could see her and Ryuya's breaths converging into tiny mists in the cool air, mingling together before slowly dissipating.
Pursing her moist lips, looking with a radiant smile at the dazed, silly expression of the youth from her memories, Vivian adopted a serious tone, "Although I'd like to continue catching up with you, Is-chan, you came to see me alone so suddenly. There must be something important, right?"
Ryuya had returned with Merlin before in the past, so it wasn't that Vivian hadn't seen them at all. But this meeting... was clearly different from before.
"You could tell?"
"Of course, who do you think I am?"
Humming twice, Vivian looked quite pleased with Ryuya's surprised expression.
"Alright, actually, I..."
Ryuya told Vivian about the decline of the Age of Gods in Britain. Faced with this helpless situation, he didn't know what to do.
"Hmm, so what are your thoughts?"
Looking at Ryuya, Vivian asked.
"I've thought about expanding the territory."
The decline of mystery is actually closely related to Britain's land area. In this era, Britain's existence is still too small on a global scale, naturally insufficient.
Pondering whether to bring the entire British Isles under his control, Ryuya wasn't yet prepared for an expedition to Rome.
"Expanding territory is one method. Do you have any other ideas?"
Nodding, Vivian neither agreed nor disagreed with Ryuya's choice.
"There's another way. King Uther told me he considered combining his bloodline with Camelot's fortune, adding the Red Dragon of the Age of Gods, to create an innate king to lead Britain forward."
"But I didn't agree. I don't want to entrust Britain's future to a child who knows nothing, even if that child hasn't been born yet."
Shaking his head, somewhat tempted by Uther's idea, Ryuya felt that Artoria's birth might also be a mistake. Remembering the girl who called him Teacher and saw him as a lover, he didn't know if he should let Artoria be born this time, continuing that tragic destiny.
He wanted to believe in his own strength, to change this nation.
"Hmm, that's also a good method."
Looking at Ryuya, Vivian said, "Is, I think both methods can be used."
"Huh? Vivian, you mean..."
Seeming to understand something, Ryuya looked at Vivian with some interest.
"Yes, my idea is to pursue both simultaneously. You expand the territory, unify those messy little countries around, and simultaneously nurture Britain's Red Dragon."
"You don't necessarily have to treat that child as a tool. You can also raise her, have her assist you as your helper."
"After all, whether it's Morgan or Merlin, the two of them aren't enough, right?"
Smiling, as if thinking of something, Vivian actually concealed a lot when she said this.
Watching Ryuya seem to understand, wearing an enlightened expression, the Lady of the Lake had already made some major decisions.
'Is, if it's for you, if this is your wish, then I am willing to give my everything.'
'Even if you resent me, despise me, I will not regret it.'
'Because, in my eyes, you are this world's future...'
Looking at Ryuya with complex emotions, the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, was prepared to give everything for the man before her, even if it meant herself, or Avalon itself.