[FDJ]Chapter 79: The Girl with the Mystic Eyes
Under the setting sun, the red-haired Archer played music from a distant homeland. The melody carried a special enchantment, expressing a yearning for abundance and hope tinged with sadness and loneliness. Fate had long predetermined the outcome, yet there were still those who chose to ignite themselves in an attempt to alter it. That fleeting hope was like a shooting star across the initial darkness, piercing the hearts of those who witnessed it.
The strings of the instrument intertwined with the fingers of the musician, inadvertently causing passersby to instinctively pause and listen. As the song ended, the silvery harp still reflected the glow of the sunset. The music concluded, but the story was far from over.
What would be the outcome?
With questions in his mind, the King of Jerusalem, who had stopped and lingered, approached the red-haired Archer.
...
He didn't rush to ask but instead waited for the performer to finish playing all the pieces, hoping that the next one might provide him with an answer.
Archer ceased playing, his eyes closed tightly, resembling a blind musician. If it weren't for Richard's introduction, stating that he was the Servant Archer who wielded a bow and arrow, the nobles in the palace would never believe that this musician possessed extraordinary heroic power.
"I apologize for interrupting," King Guy quickly apologized, realizing at this moment that he had been somewhat impolite, indulging in the music and disturbing the musician due to his desires.
"It's alright. Please have a seat, Your Majesty. It was impolite of me to make you stand and listen to my humble tunes. It eases my sorrow to have someone willing to listen to the entirety of my performance," Archer replied.
The red-haired Archer stood up and bowed, only sitting back on the stone edge of the courtyard after King Guy had taken his seat. "Do you prefer cheerful melodies or melancholic ones?" he asked.
"No, there's no need for a change. Please continue playing," the thirty-year-old King of the Kingdom of Jerusalem earnestly requested of Archer. He couldn't wait to hear the next piece, to understand the protagonist's ultimate fate. The hidden melodies before had been everywhere, hinting at a tragic ending, but he still chose to believe in hope. Perhaps that was how people were, cherishing the fleeting moments of brightness.
Archer's fingertips touched the strings, and the harp emitted a crisp vibration. "I couldn't witness the end with my own eyes. Although I received prophecies of the future from fairies, mag, and sages, and even as a Servant, I obtained the definite outcome, I am unable to continue writing the poem. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. My talent is far from enough to complete the story of that king."
King Guy didn't pursue further. He respected the red-haired Archer, who was willing to engage in conversation and could discern that it was a tale of a sorrowful past. "If given the opportunity, would you consider becoming the court musician of my palace?"
"Unfortunately, Your Majesty, I came here to participate in the Holy Grail War, and my stay in this era will not exceed one month. Furthermore, I have a Master to whom I must remain loyal. I cannot switch my allegiance," Archer replied.
"Please forget my momentary jest, for music and poetry hold as much allure for me as a beautiful woman. Rationality quietly fades away within the music you play."
"Oh?" Archer slightly opened his eyes upon hearing this, but his subtle movement went unnoticed by the other party. Archer recalled the knight companions he had fought alongside, many of whom had a preference for beauties surpassing even gold. In this regard, Archer was no exception. "Then let's change to a dance tune. Sadness should not occupy all of life. Laughter, on the contrary, can numb everyone and make them overlook the approach of fate."
The red-haired Archer switched to a composition he had written for Isolde, whether she had golden or white hair. Until now, he couldn't determine to whom he should dedicate his love. From their encounter, marriage, and poisoning, to the final performance on the black-sailed ship, he had played the same dance tune, "Dedicated to Isolde." The ambiguous words were just like the music, filled with the author's love that he wished to express but couldn't pinpoint to a specific person.
If given the chance, could the king issue a decree allowing multiple wives? This irresponsible thought occasionally crossed Archer's mind, but he never truly considered such an act that would contradict the ideals of a knight.
After finishing his performance, Archer leaned against a stone pillar for a brief rest. The sun was about to completely set on the horizon, and dinner time was approaching, leaving him with little time to play.
"Your composition reminded me of the time I encountered Sibylla, Sir Baldwin IV's sister," King Guy casually mentioned, completely forgetting about seeing the late king wearing an iron mask outside the palace, which had almost caused him to faint.
Archer didn't care about or concern himself with King Guy's character or requests. He still couldn't make a choice that aligned with the ideals of a knight, and if faced with another decision, he would still welcome the black-sailed ship with love's poison.
"That's quite a coincidence. However, Lancer didn't mention this to us. He only said that he knows more about this era than we do and is willing to serve as the vanguard of the cavalry forces. Is he the previous king of this land?" Archer inquired.
"No, he is the successor, and it was only last year that his son, Sibylla's child, unfortunately, fell ill, leading to my ascension to the throne," King Guy replied calmly, maintaining a normal level of respect for the deceased. However, anyone with keen eyes could see that there was more to the story behind the "unfortunate illness." Baldwin IV died in 1185, and his successor passed away just a year later. Guy obtained the throne through his marriage to Sibylla, leaving only the "luck" of King Guy to be noted by historians.
"Unfortunate events always come one after another," Archer sighed deeply, putting away his silver harp.
"Time always flies by. Two years ago, the people were still hoping for King Baldwin IV to lead the army and strike back against the Egyptian forces that were provoking us on the border. Now, Saladin has already led his army to the outskirts of the city. If it weren't for Sir Richard summoning you and other heroes from history to assist us, the radiance of Jerusalem would be extinguished in our hands, and it would be a great tragedy," King Guy called over a nearby attendant to prepare dinner and extended an invitation to the red-haired Archer. "Would you like to join us for dinner? My children also enjoy music and stories of heroes. It would be wonderful if you could satisfy their curiosity."
"I would be honored," Archer replied. He briefly recalled the whereabouts of his companions: Lancer, Rider, and Berserker were guarding the city of Tiberias, suited for direct combat; Assassin and Caster were responsible for reconnaissance and guarding against surprise attacks; and Richard, accompanied by his elite forces, was stationed around Hattin. He, on the other hand, remained in Jerusalem, becoming the least occupied Servant.
"By the way, we've been talking for so long, and I still don't know how to address you," King Guy said, gesturing to the waiting attendant to expedite the arrangement of the dining table and leading the red-haired Archer to his study.
In a normal Holy Grail War, each Master and Servant would adhere to the principle of concealing their true names. However, in this case, one side had a magus who controlled all the Servants. Archer waited for a moment and then replied to King Guy, "The king I served in my lifetime was the Red Dragon of Britain, King Arthur."
"King Arthur? Are you a Knight of the Round Table, the Child of Sadness, Sir Tristan?"
Tristan nodded and confirmed. He was glad that he hadn't encountered any familiar faces from his past on the battlefield of the Holy Grail War, regardless of friend or foe. Some misunderstandings needed to be reconciled with his familiar comrades from the Round Table, similar to how King Guy feared Lancer Baldwin IV.
---
That night.
The night wind was colder than the previous days. After enjoying an exotic dinner, Suzuki Yuki finally met the Servant summoned by Saladin.
"Huh? An elderly knight?" Suzuki was surprised and nearly dropped the wooden spoon he was holding into the soup. He had expected a gallant Middle Eastern hero to appear, like the illustrious Osman I who founded the glorious Ottoman Empire, but instead, a middle-aged European knight with half-white hair and a slightly yellowish complexion walked in.
He carefully examined the old knight's attire and recognized the Spanish-style robe he was wearing.
"Wait, this person..." Suzuki was not the only one taken aback. Even Eleanor, who always maintained a noblewoman's aura, exclaimed in surprise. The knight's appearance looked exactly like an aging veteran who should enjoy his twilight years—he didn't fit the ideal image of a knight, especially not one in his prime, even if it were the prime of old age.
"Your Excellency, I apologize for being late. The situation is approaching the worst possible scenario, and my Master and I took some time to handle it." The old knight respectfully greeted both Saladin and Eleanor, his movements quite proper. However, when he kissed Eleanor's hand, she noticed that the old knight did not belong to the conventional seven classes.
Saladin also slightly bowed in return, not neglecting any of his Servants due to his secular status. He pointed to the entrance and called out to someone outside, "Aphaf, come in."
In response to Saladin's command, the girl who came with the old knight lowered her head and entered the hall. She was dressed in a heavy dark-colored robe, and a pure white scarf tightly wrapped around her hair and neck. Her eyes were covered by a thin veil in a powdery purple color. From Suzuki's perspective as someone from the 21st century Chaldea, she looked peculiar in her attire, and it took a second look for him to realize that the person who entered was a young girl younger than himself.
"As I mentioned during the day, I have very little magical power myself, and I am not suitable for commanding Servants in battle. I also have no wish that must be fulfilled by the Holy Grail. Therefore, I entrusted the Servants to a more suitable magi, Aphaf. Despite being only 15 years old, her magical abilities are not inferior to some of the experts I've hired."
Under the gaze of everyone in the hall, the girl called "Aphaf" became even shyer. She dared not lift her head and only showed the back of her right hand, which was hidden under the heavy robe. There were three magic crests on it, forming a kite-shaped shield.
"Aphaf, her magical attribute is 'Wind,' and she is proficient in obstructive magecraft." The girl nodded and quickly withdrew her hand back into the robe, never daring to raise her head.
Saladin coughed twice, gesturing for the guards and attendants in the hall to leave. His orders were unquestioned. It was only when there were only two Servants and three people left in the hall that he approached Aphaf and softly reiterated, "I released you from your slave status a year ago. You are a free subject of the True Lord, and I granted you the noble title of magus. Be confident, you are more suitable than someone like me, who only knows divination and superficial magic, to pursue the path of magecraft and possess the talent for it."
The girl lifted her head and cautiously looked at Eleanor and Suzuki Yuki. She, too, expressed astonishment, completely losing her previous shyness. "Magic circuits spread perfectly throughout your body! Are you human?"
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