When exactly did she first sense the existence of that sword?
Morgan could no longer say for sure.
She only remembered that upon waking one day, she felt its presence.
As if...
It was like something that had been buried underground was revealed to the light of day by an earthquake.
But no matter what, this was a godsent opportunity.
He happened to need a sword, and she happened to be able to obtain such a sword.
There was nothing inappropriate about it.
Morgan would not even consider if there were any potential problems in this matter.
"Go to the lake?"
"Mm-hmm—" Morgan nodded.
"Okay, I understand."
And so.
Under the astonished gazes of the knights, Morgan led Ian out by the hand.
Outside the city of Camelot.
Morgan did not hesitate in the slightest.
She wrapped her arms directly around Ian's neck and kissed him.
"You're a dragon, right?"
"Then—"
"Show me your true form."
The princess's request was quickly granted.
A fierce wind flashed past.
A giant black dragon carried Morgan and soared into the air, streaking a line across the sky.
The giant dragon flew at a speed beyond what any ordinary person could imagine.
The princess's hair danced wildly, looking just like waves.
However, she did not mind her somewhat disheveled appearance.
Her fingers gently stroked the dragon's back, feeling the texture of every line on its skin.
Morgan lay down on the dragon's back.
Listening to that pulsating sound.
A real, genuine dragon was right beneath her.
"How can I have you forever—"
Such a thought stirred in the princess's heart.
After flying for an unknown amount of time, Morgan waved her hand lightly, and the giant dragon stopped in front of a forest.
"This is the place."
The princess looked at the forest before her and said this.
Soon, noticing that Ian was trying to simply tear the forest apart to get inside, she immediately added.
"Don't rip up the trees here. Change back to your original form and walk in with me."
However—
Upon seeing Ian change back, completely uncovered, Morgan couldn't help but cough a few times.
Quickly, she took his hand.
"Let's just go like this."
"Anyway... I'm the only one who can see."
"Okay."
The two of them walked into the depths of the forest.
Ian soon noticed his body temperature rising.
"Your Highness, this place... seems a little different from Camelot."
"I already told you to just call me Big Sister Morgan in private."
Morgan corrected Ian's form of address with great dissatisfaction, then continued to explain.
"Of course it's different here."
The princess took out her staff.
It was a treasured item she hadn't used in a very long time, but now she took it out once again for Ian.
"The magical energy here is very abundant."
"It's nothing Camelot can compare to."
"But will there really be a weapon in a place like this?"
Ian asked, a little confused.
"No matter how you look at it, it's just a forest."
"There will be."
"You don't trust me yet?"
"..."
Ian said no more, and simply nodded.
As they proceeded deeper into the forest, the magical energy emanating from the ground grew thicker and thicker.
A crystal-clear lake appeared before their eyes.
Morgan glanced down at Ian beside her, then smiled.
"Your body seems to be particularly sensitive to magical energy."
"Is that so?"
"I... don't notice such things."
"It's fine. As long as I notice it."
Morgan temporarily let go of Ian's hand and walked towards the lakeside.
She had never been here before, but she felt a strange sense of familiarity with the place.
The princess closed her eyes and softly chanted something.
"I have returned."
Such a simple sentence, yet it acted like a spell, causing the entire forest to come alive.
Soon, several vague figures appeared before Ian and Morgan.
They were the fairies that resided in this forest.
"Vivian, it's been a long time."
"You have come here to—"
"I want to take that sword."
Morgan recalled the things from her dream.
"Is that alright?"
"..."
The fairies looked at one another, then all nodded.
"It's alright."
"It belonged to you in the first place."
"Now it is merely returning to your hands."
The moment the words fell.
Ripples began to spread across the lake's surface.
The clear lake water parted to the sides.
A golden light shot towards the sky.
Then, a beautifully crafted blade, faintly glowing with a soft light, emerged from it.
Morgan reached out her hand and grasped it directly.
"Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur)."
She knew the name of this blade almost instantly.
Ian walked over.
Without a trace of hesitation, Morgan passed it directly into his hands.
"Take it."
"..."
Feeling the Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur) in his hand, Ian could indeed sense that it was different from other weapons.
First, it was able to withstand his power.
It wouldn't crack the moment he grasped it, like other weapons.
Furthermore, as a dragon, the moment his palm made intimate contact with this sword, he almost immediately sensed a certain presence.
"This is..."
"The sword that was meant for Artoria?"
Morgan was a little surprised.
Like Ian, she looked towards the fairies.
Soon, the fairies' nods confirmed Ian's words.
"That's right."
"This was indeed meant for that King."
"But—"
"Since Vivian is here, we shall give it to her first."
"..."
Morgan clutched her chest.
Artoria!
Always Artoria!
Still Artoria!
Why was it always her, no matter where she went?!
The princess of Britain felt like she was going mad.
She took the Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur) back into her own hands.
Morgan gathered an unimaginable amount of magical energy.
It was on a level that resonated with this forest beneath her feet, no, it was with the entire British Isles.
"This is not yours, Artoria!"
"It's mine!"
"Don't you dare try to take it!"
BOOM—
The magical energy burned on the blade like fire.
Soon, the appearance of the Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur) began to change.
It was no longer shining, but was instead enveloped by darkness.
When it stabilized, the blade had been completely transformed—
The Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur Morgan) appeared in Morgan's hand.
Looking at it, Morgan panted heavily.
The cost in magical energy was great, but the result was perfect.
"That's right."
"This is my holy sword."
"It's not Artoria's!"
The princess's cry echoed throughout the forest in that instant.
It was an incredibly sorrowful sound.
Until—
She was embraced by Ian.