Just as Kayneth was filled with doubt, he suddenly heard Mordred beside him mutter instinctively, "Father?"
"..."
For a brief moment, the atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze.
After Mordred said that word, Kayneth's eyes slowly widened. His expression stayed the same at first, then, as his mind turned into a mess, his face gradually stiffened bit by bit.
He looked at Mordred as if he had just seen a ghost.
"What did you just call him?"
'What the hell?'
'No matter how I recall, that boy's voice at the door is clearly Alvin's, isn't it?'
'But now, Lancer just called him "Father"?"
If he remembered correctly, the mother of the Knight of Treachery, Mordred, was Artoria, and the one who created her was the witch of Britain… Morgan le Fay.
Because Lancer carried the blood of both the Red Dragon and the White Dragon, there was no doubt that the White Dragon was her father.
From Kayneth's point of view, his own student should have absolutely no connection to Mordred. Yes, Alvin possessed the White Dragon Furnace Core, but no matter what, he could not possibly be the father of the Knight of Treachery from ancient Britain.
At this moment, Kayneth was completely stunned.
Sola behind him was just as stunned. The carefully made-up, charming face of the woman was full of shock. She clearly had not recovered from Mordred's sudden "Father" either.
Mordred glanced at the engaged couple with a look that clearly said, "Why are you two acting so clueless?" and said, "Didn't you already know who my father is? Why are you so shocked now?"
'I know your father is the White Dragon… but Alvin only has the White Dragon Furnace Core. He has nothing to do with that magic dragon of Britain,' Kayneth opened his mouth, about to say something more.
But at that moment, another light knock came from outside the door, pulling his thoughts back to reality.
No matter what, since it was his student, there was no reason to keep him outside.
Kayneth steadied himself and opened the door.
What came into view was a young man dressed in black. He wore black from head to toe, yet the dark clothes made his skin look even paler. At first glance, he looked like a harmless boy next door.
Mordred gave Alvin a strange look. Normally when he went out, he would wear a mask and a very bulky long robe. But today's outfit was quite modern.
The white shirt under his coat added a bit more youthful air to him.
"Alvin, why did you come all the way to Fuyuki?"
The moment she saw him, Sola smiled, clearly quite fond of him.
Born into a magus family, Sola had no talent for magecraft and therefore did not inherit the family's Magic Crest. That was why her father treated her as a tool for political marriage.
Because of that, she had no good feelings toward Kayneth at first. On top of that, the Lord of the Clock Tower had always been immersed in magecraft. Although he truly liked Sola, he simply did not know how to express his feelings.
Back then, most of the methods Kayneth used to pursue Sola had actually been taught to him by Alvin.
During that time, Alvin often went to Kayneth to consult him about magecraft, and over time, he and Sola became quite familiar with each other.
"Reines heard that Teacher came to this seaside city in the Far East to participate in the Holy Grail War. She's been worried, so I came to take a look."
Alvin paused, then smiled, "Now that I've seen you both, I'm relieved."
"It's just a mere Holy Grail War. Your worries are completely unnecessary."
Hearing that Alvin had come because he was concerned, Kayneth immediately snorted coldly, "The Holy Grail War only lasts a week. There's no need for you to come all this way. After a week, Sola and I will return."
'If I hadn't come, I'd probably be visiting your graves every year,' Alvin complained silently in his heart.
Kayneth was too arrogant. From the very first day he arrived in Fuyuki, he looked down equally on every magus here and did not believe anyone could defeat him.
But in truth, even Kayneth himself had grown up like a flower in a greenhouse.
At least compared to someone like Kiritsugu Emiya, the magus killer who fought his way up from the dirt.
But if he told Kayneth now that if he continued participating in the Holy Grail War he would die here, with his teacher's personality, he would never believe it, nor would he retreat.
Alvin was not surprised by Kayneth's response. He only smiled, "Even so, as your student, I'd still worry. To be honest, when I came to Fuyuki this time, I was really shocked."
"The Servants in this Holy Grail War all seem very strong."
Kayneth glanced at him casually, "You're not even a Master, yet you know quite a lot."
"Come in first. Don't wander around during this time, especially at night."
At night, Masters and Servants were most active in Fuyuki. The Lord of Mineralogy was genuinely saying this for Alvin's sake.
Mordred gave Kayneth a strange look and was about to speak.
But at that moment, her eyes met Alvin's.
Father and daughter exchanged a glance, then both looked away as if they understood each other without words.
Kayneth brought Alvin inside and had him sit in the living room with Sola to rest.
He himself walked out alone and went into the kitchen.
Watching the white steam rising from the kettle, Kayneth casually looked toward the boy in the living room and said calmly, "Lancer."
The moment he finished speaking, Mordred's figure silently appeared.
"What is it, Master?"
Kayneth turned to her, "If I'm not mistaken, you only called the person outside 'Father' after hearing his voice, right?"
Even now, he still did not believe Alvin had anything to do with the White Dragon. But the Knight of Treachery's form of address earlier was impossible to ignore.
And thinking about it carefully, it really was strange.
In the Arthurian legends, he had never heard that the 'Watchman' had any descendants, especially one with such a complete White Dragon Furnace Core.
Yes. From the day Alvin first returned from crossing over, Kayneth had noticed something unusual about the magic circuit inside him.
To be precise, what Alvin possessed was not a magic circuit, but a complete White Dragon Furnace Core filled with immense magical energy.
Normally, even powerful magus families would see their magical talent gradually thin out over generations. Many once-great families declined for that reason.
Yet Alvin's White Dragon Furnace Core was too vast. His magical energy far exceeded that of ordinary magi.
If he really was the 'Watchman' of Britain, then it would explain why Mordred had just called him Father.
But no matter how he thought about it, Kayneth could not believe that the student he had taught for years was actually the husband of King Arthur… the "culprit" who caused Arthur and her elder sister to turn against each other.
With that thought, Kayneth stared into Mordred's eyes, "Have you met the boy at the door before?"
Mordred blinked. After a brief moment of confusion, she nodded lightly, "Of course I have."
Before Kayneth could speak, she continued, "Isn't that normal? Not long ago, so many people crossed over into Britain. Your student was one of the earliest to be captured and brought into the palace. I saw him the day I entered the palace."
"But just now you called him Father—"
Before he could finish, anger flashed in Mordred's eyes, "Master, if you keep talking nonsense, I'm going to get mad."
"I just mistook him at first, that's all. How could I possibly be the child of some brat who still smells like milk?"
Doubt and confusion flashed in Kayneth's eyes as he gave her a long look.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Alvin was sitting on the soft sofa, holding a cup of black tea with both hands, looking every bit like a well-behaved student.
Sola wore casual home clothes, carrying a lazy yet charming air. Her bright eyes studied the boy before her, "Alvin, you know Kayneth's personality, right?"
"Even if you try to persuade him now, he won't withdraw from the Holy Grail War."
Kayneth had always been an arrogant magus. And this time, many of the higher-ups at the Clock Tower had heard about his participation.
If he withdrew halfway, how would the other Lords see him?
And how would he face his teacher, her future father?
Alvin nodded lightly, "I know. So I didn't plan to persuade him to withdraw."
From the moment Kayneth joined the Holy Grail War, Alvin knew he would never convince this proud Lord to quit.
Whether it was his personality or outside expectations, he was already pushed to this point.
"I came this time, partly to confirm he's still safe and partly because I have some questions I'd like to ask him," Alvin said.
"Oh?"
Sola raised an eyebrow, her beautiful face showing clear interest, "What are you plotting?"
She was quite familiar with Alvin and understood his personality to some extent.
"I really just want to ask something, nothing else."
Alvin smiled and shook his head.
Just then, Kayneth walked out of the kitchen into the living room and looked at his student on the sofa, "What are you talking about with Sola?"
"To be honest, Teacher, I came this time partly because I'm worried about your safety, and partly… because I have a question to ask."
Alvin said sincerely.
Kayneth raised an eyebrow. In the middle of the night, his student came all this way just to ask a question?
"Go on," he said in a low voice.
"I have a friend… really a friend. He knows a woman whose body has developed some abnormality. She can't draw even a trace of magical energy from the outside world."
Alvin said, "What should she do?"
This question was not really within Kayneth's academic specialty, since he was the Lord of Mineralogy.
But as a genius, he pondered briefly and said, "Unable to draw magical energy from the outside world. Then her magic circuits must be the problem."
"In that case, either she takes specially made magic medicine, or… there's a simpler method."
At that point, he paused and did not continue.
'You're really going to stop at the key part too?', Alvin was about to press further, but when he saw Kayneth glance subtly toward Sola, he suddenly froze.
'Wait… Could he be talking about?'
In the Type-Moon world, magic circuits represent everything to a magus. The higher the level of the circuits, the greater the magical energy.
Alvin's White Dragon Furnace Core already possessed immense magical energy. That was why, even with his "connection to the Root" sealed and Irisviel unable to supply him with magic, he could still maintain Independent Manifestation.
A Master could supply magical energy to a Servant.
In other words, a Servant could also supply magical energy to a Master.
'Only… using that method would be a bit…'
Just as Alvin was thinking this, Kayneth suddenly frowned, "You should worry about yourself first. You shouldn't have come to Fuyuki, Alvin."
"This Holy Grail War is far more dangerous than you imagine."
"Why do you say that?", Alvin asked instinctively.
"It's not seven Servants, but eight participating in this Holy Grail War. If I'm not mistaken, the eighth Servant is likely a Ruler who judges victory."
"For the time being, stay in this building. With the magical barriers I've set up, at least no magus will be able to break through the defenses here."
Kayneth said.
Alvin fell silent.
Indeed, from the moment he entered the building, he had sensed the extremely complex magical barriers here.
If relying solely on magecraft, it would likely be very difficult to break through.
But—
"If, I mean if… if the enemy uses physical means to break in, what then, Teacher?"
Alvin asked tentatively.
Kayneth froze.
To be honest, he really had not thought about that at first.
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