"I'm so happy—Lily finally accepts me."
Morgan, lying in bed, hid her flushed cheeks under the quilt. Every day soaked in happiness made her feel the luckiest woman alive; even after recovering she feigned frailty to keep Artoria by her side.
"Have these days been joyful?"
"Of course—blissful."
"Time to return to your own place."
The words yanked Morgan from her dream-world. She threw off the covers to meet Gu Yi's gleaming bald head and those calm, unfathomable eyes. Instantly she felt dunked in ice-water; memories of being crushed by this woman days ago flooded back, that hopeless power still paralysing.
"I don't want to leave, Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi. I've finally found my sister's reincarnation and she accepts me. How can I bear to let her leave my side again? Sorcerer Ancient One, can't you let me stay?"
Morgan's inner magic already restored, her pyjamas morphed into an elegant black gown woven of pure mana—proof of formidable control. Her tone was resolute, threaded with plea; she could not endure separation again.
"Morgan le Fay, you and I have known each other far longer than a year or two. Even from a single meeting I can read your nature: too impulsive—then and now. You failed to win King Arthur's heart and turned extreme; your character decides it. Now you bring murderous intent to New York though you know mighty guardians stand here."
"Yet you insist on staying. Your rashness and jealousy will bring disaster upon yourself, Artoria, New York—even the entire United States. I cannot allow it."
"You must leave. Letting you meet Artoria was meant to settle your obsession and erase your killing intent, but you only sink deeper. Rather than letting you cause irreparable harm, it's better you two never meet again."
Gu Yi's sharp words rang out; her assessment of Morgan was spot-on. Once Artoria's countless admirers gathered, the jealous Morgan would strike at them, forcing Artoria into an impossible dilemma and worse consequences. Ever since walking the kabbalah tree of life, Gu Yi saw Artoria and pictured that cold, mighty woman cleaving Earth in two with a radiant sword.
"Why, Sorcerer Ancient One? What have I done wrong? Can't I stay with my sister forever?"
Morgan refused to accept Gu Yi's verdict. Was fate truly denying her and her sister? Was their bond not love? Sorcerer Ancient One, do you lack normal feelings? Have you never loved someone irresistibly?
"Artoria bears a duty; she cannot devote herself wholly to you. It is a necessary sacrifice for the future. Morgan, an unimaginable calamity is coming, and she embodies the Hope of billions. I will not let you destroy that Hope."
Besides, when you insist on doing something, it would already be too late for me to stop you. Morgan, you believe Artoria is the reincarnation of your little sister, but that is wrong. You only see Artoria and forget her name is Artoria Stark. They are not the same person. King Arthur's life ended long ago. Wake up. Artoria Stark is not your sister, nor a substitute.
The words were flat, yet Ancient One's gaze seemed to pierce the soul. Morgan trembled, her calm heart seized as if by an invisible hand, the words driving like knives into her heart.
No—no! She is not a substitute. She is my sister, Artoria reborn. Even if her name has changed, her soul is unchanged. She is still my Artoria.
Morgan denied Ancient One wildly, so shaken she could barely stand, yet she clung to her conviction: the resonance deep in her soul, the familiar scent, those eyes—every detail was her sister Artoria.
You are a stubborn woman, Morgan le Fay.
Watching her deranged, Ancient One sighed. She did not doubt Morgan's sincerity, but the woman was volatile, like a lovesick yandere: devotion mingled with obsession, prone to uncontrollable emotion and irreparable mistakes.
Then let us make a bargain. When you fulfill it, I will no longer stand in your way, Morgan le Fay. I will not trouble you further.
The woman was troublesome, but Ancient One had a plan. In the future Artoria would bear the burden. For now Morgan had to leave; Ancient One could not trust her temper. When the greatest calamity arrived, she would pass the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to Stephen Strange and leave the rest to those who came after.
Ancient One showed Morgan a 'kind' smile. Though Morgan could not fathom why the woman who had forbidden her to see her sister now relented, she accepted the task, determined to earn the right to stay with her sister forever.
She is gone?
After finishing company matters, Artoria returned to her bedroom to research new 'knowledge' and found a note: Morgan had left for a while to handle unfinished business and asked Artoria to wait. Signed, her sister Morgan le Fay. Artoria felt no sorrow; neither of them were ordinary people, and they could wait.
Morgan is away. I might as well spend the night at Helen Cho's place.
Since crossing forbidden lines, Artoria's draconic traits had begun to surface. She toyed with the idea of flying to some small kingdom to abduct a princess, but dismissed it. A crimson dragon dozens of meters long would draw unwanted attention.
master, an anomaly has occurred.
Perfect. I was bored. Show me.
While preparing to bathe, Artoria received Saturday's report and ordered the video displayed. A screen appeared on the wall: a dark box, a bloodied figure running along the wall in defiance of gravity, a black swordsman faster still, cutting the runner down.
The corpse dissolved to ash, leaving only a pool of blood. Artoria recognized the phenomenon.
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