"I hope Malrick never leaves."
Eriyi made her wish to the Holy Grail.
The magic within the Grail surged briefly, then settled into stillness.
The wish was rejected.
Eriyi blinked, disappointed but not truly surprised.
After a short pause, she spoke again. "I hope to fulfill Malrick's wish."
This time, the Holy Grail did not react at all.
Eriyi frowned slightly and tried once more.
"I hope to use the remaining magic in the Holy Grail to help Altria achieve her wish."
Eriyi had never been driven by ambition. She had no grand desire for power or rewards.
Being able to enter this world together with Malrick already made her feel satisfied.
Compared to her, Altria needed help far more.
A girl who hid her identity and bore the burden of becoming King Arthur deserved a gentler fate.
Eriyi even remembered that Altria loved good food. For a fleeting moment, she considered wishing for something simple, like a warm plate of fried rice, to be sent to her.
But before she could add anything else, the Holy Grail released all of its remaining magic.
Brilliant energy wrapped around Eriyi, lifting her slowly into the air like an angel ascending.
Malrick stiffened. "Eriyi, what did you wish for?"
He could feel powerful magic tearing through time and space, preparing to send her away.
The suddenness of it left him unprepared.
Eriyi herself looked equally confused as she hovered above him. "I wished to help Altria."
"Altria…" Malrick processed it quickly.
Her true wish was to have someone replace her as King of Britain.
"You wanted to help her," Malrick said quietly. "So the Holy Grail turned you into a Child of Destiny. You are going to become King Arthur, Eriyi."
Eriyi's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement, like someone who had just received the protagonist role in a game. "Me? King Arthur?"
Then panic set in. "What about you, Rejedo?"
"I told you to call me Malrick," he said calmly.
She hurriedly corrected herself. "What about you, Malrick?"
"I will go with you," he replied. "At least to see how it begins."
Most of Malrick's consciousness was still immersed in the Root, absorbing knowledge that required time to fully comprehend.
Where his main body remained during that process did not matter.
Watching the end of the Age of Gods alongside Altria was not a bad choice.
Malrick turned toward the Emiya family.
"Kiritsugu, goodbye. This time, cherish your family."
"The Holy Grail's magic is exhausted. The next war will not begin for another sixty years."
"As for the Third Magic, I have already mastered it. The Einzbern family's mission is complete."
As he spoke, he briefly demonstrated the Third Magic he had learned from the Root.
Then, just before Eriyi vanished completely, Malrick reached out, grasped her wrist, and followed her as they left the present era together.
Inside Ryudou Temple, the Emiya family stood in silence.
"Big sister is gone," Illyasviel said softly. "Kiritsugu, should we go home now?"
Kiritsugu shook his head. "No. You and your mother are no longer homunculi. We will live in Fuyuki from now on."
...
Altria returned to the day she drew the Sword in the Stone.
She stood among the gathered knights, the Sword of Promised Victory resting firmly in her grasp.
No one present was more qualified to be King than her.
Yet she had never believed that herself.
A king who could not understand human hearts was unworthy.
Tristan's words echoed in her mind.
She, Altria Pendragon, did not understand human hearts.
This time, the Holy Grail was supposed to choose someone better.
She tightened her grip on the sword, resolved to serve the new King faithfully.
But as knight after knight stepped forward, failed to draw the sword, and retreated in disappointment, unease crept into her chest.
Why had the chosen King not appeared?
Had she made her wish incorrectly?
Altria glanced around, anxiety growing as the crowd thinned.
The sun dipped lower in the sky. The excitement faded into restlessness.
From the crowd, Kay and Merlin exchanged meaningful looks, urging her silently.
Still, she waited.
At last, the final knight stepped down from the platform, defeated.
Merlin cleared his throat. "Fate is fond of coincidence. The most suitable person often appears at the very end. Why does the one who has not yet tried not step forward?"
His gaze rested on Altria, amused.
She pressed her lips together, realizing something had gone wrong.
She was about to suggest waiting for more knights when space above the sword twisted violently.
A surge of magic erupted.
Two figures emerged from distorted light.
A red-haired girl, her clothes fluttering in the wind.
Beside her stood a black-haired man, impossibly striking, his presence commanding attention without effort.
Every gaze locked onto him.
He radiated an aura so profound that people instinctively wanted to bow.
Altria nearly cried out.
It was Malrick and Eriyi.
If Malrick drew the sword, Britain would surely be saved.
The crowd seemed to share her belief. Everyone felt that this man was destined to become the new King.
But then Malrick gently patted the red-haired girl's head.
Eriyi stepped forward.
Her slender fingers closed around the hilt.
With a clear, ringing cry, she pulled the sword free.
She raised it high, joy shining in her eyes as the red glow of sunset reflected off her hair and eyes.
In that moment, she looked like a crimson dragon spreading its wings.
"She pulled it out!"
"Red hair, red eyes. Is she the Red Dragon of legend?"
"But she is a woman. How can a woman be King?"
The crowd erupted.
Merlin stared as if he had seen a ghost.
His clairvoyance had never shown him this future.
It differed entirely from the plans he and Uther had made.
Yet instead of anger, Merlin laughed and applauded.
Interesting. Truly interesting.
He knew the coming years would never be dull.
Not everyone shared his enthusiasm.
Voices of protest quickly spread.
"We will not accept a woman as King!"
"How can someone of unknown origin lead us to victory?"
The shouts stopped abruptly.
As the curses reached Malrick, knights began collapsing where they stood.
In seconds, the ground was filled with groaning bodies, blood and foam staining the earth.
Silence fell.
Fear replaced outrage.
Then a blonde girl stepped forward from the crowd.
She lifted her skirt and knelt on one knee.
"I, Altria Pendragon, swear my loyalty to the new King, King Arthur."
"I swear never to betray, to remain brave, to defend the land, and to protect my King."
____
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