Chapter 126: Guinevere's Growth
Huh!
Looking at the team of assassins from Rome before her, Vivian sighed, then casually waved a hand at the person in front of her. In that instant, the Roman assassin standing before Vivian transformed entirely into golden dust, like ash dissipating in the light, vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"You!"
Seeing Vivian's action, the assassins immediately drew their weapons and also took out the tools given to them by Manaka Sajyou when they left Rome, cautiously preparing for defense.
Although Rome had already ended the Age of Gods, it still had a large number of Magi at this time—so many that they could even form a court Magecraft troupe.
Thus, these assassins trained by the Roman royal family naturally had considerable knowledge and understanding of Magecraft.
However, the display Vivian had just shown made them exceptionally wary.
It was precisely because they understood that they were even more fearful.
In their understanding, Magecraft required various "activation conditions"—be it incantations, gestures, or even a gaze... and the fewer and simpler these conditions were, the weaker the Magecraft's power should be!
Only Grand Magic, which required lengthy incantations, intricate rituals, or even the entire Magecraft troupe working together to handle different parts, possessed such formidable power.
But to directly make a well-trained warrior evaporate... and for such Magecraft to be simplified to just a wave of the hand!
They had never seen such mastery of Magecraft even from the leader of the court Magecraft troupe!
Though it still required a wave of the hand to activate...
Just as the assassins were thinking this, they saw light in Vivian's eyes as she watched them—a reflection of the glow emanating from their own bodies!
Only then did they realize they could no longer move.
Golden flames burned upon their bodies.
And they were destined to be completely incinerated in this light, leaving not even a trace of residue behind!
Did she target all of us with just that wave of the hand earlier?
Or... does casting such Magecraft on a group require nothing more than a glance from her?
Why would a remote, impoverished, and backward little place like Britain have a Magus of this caliber!
Her Magecraft skill far surpassed that of Rome's Magi!
Perhaps she had even reached the level of the Advisor's Magecraft prowess!
Your Majesty... you must be careful...
They knew their will could not be conveyed, yet even so, in the final moments before their lives were consumed by the flames, they held onto this thought.
They now realized that Britain might not be as they had imagined.
But reality would grant them no chance for regret.
These Roman assassins vanished entirely within the light.
The task Morgan had assigned Vivian was to ensure Guinevere's safety. As for these assassins—kill them if she wished, spare them if she didn't. After all, Kay and the other knights were surrounding the area, so even if the assassins escaped from here, they wouldn't evade the encirclement outside.
Thus, Vivian was entirely indifferent to killing these assassins. However, seeing Guinevere still sitting on the ground, she walked over and extended a hand to her.
When not facing Noah, Vivian still showed little emotional fluctuation—whether while helping Guinevere with chores, during the recent act of killing, or even now as she extended a hand to Guinevere. Her expression remained unchanged, and her tone maintained that same flatness that still allowed a hint of emotion to be perceived.
Seeing Vivian like this, Guinevere, who had been pulled up by her, was momentarily stunned.
Thinking Guinevere was frightened, Vivian watched her and offered comfort.
"Don't be afraid. I was sent by the King to protect you. You have been safe from the start. Even if you don't trust me, you should at least trust the King.
"Within Camelot Castle, you are in the safest place."
Vivian wasn't skilled at comforting others, so she spoke plainly. Guinevere soon regained her composure, nodded at Vivian, and then—with a face covered in dust—revealed an exceptionally pure smile.
"Mhm!"
"But, Vivian..."
Here, Guinevere hesitated briefly before speaking to Vivian with earnest seriousness.
"Can you teach me that move you just used?"
After asking, perhaps feeling her question was too abrupt, Guinevere glanced around the ground, picked up a sword left by one of the assassins, and looked back at Vivian.
"Or... since you're a guard sent by the King, do you know how to use a sword? Can you teach me?"
Hearing this, Vivian was also taken aback.
Had Guinevere been spurred by the recent assassins?
As Vivian pondered this, Guinevere, interpreting her silence as reluctance, looked at her again.
"Is it not possible?"
"If not, then forget it. It was just a passing thought—maybe I'm still shaken by those assassins..."
Guinevere scratched her head, realized she was still holding the sword, tossed it aside, and prepared to change the subject.
But Vivian reacted then and spoke up.
"It's not that it's impossible... but why do you want to learn how to fight?"
"Are you afraid something like that might happen again?"
"If so, I don't think you need to worry. After all, this is Camelot Castle. You serve here, and the King will ensure your safety. And if enemies even the King cannot handle arrive, then learning to fight would likely be useless..."
Hearing Vivian say "it's not impossible," Guinevere gradually let her smile fade, adopting a more serious expression.
Now knowing her request hadn't troubled Vivian, Guinevere explained.
"It's not out of fear... but I've noticed—whether it's you, Lady Morgan, or Lady Artoria—I've realized that you women who are qualified to stand by the King's side..."
"People aren't princesses living in castles—each one is truly remarkable... well, at least far more remarkable than I am."
"Coming to Camelot Castle to become a servant was my own request. I knew that the moment my identity was exposed, no matter how much I insisted you treat me no differently, I must have still received subtle care from Lady Morgan and the King in secret—which is why I worked harder and more diligently than others in my duties as a servant."
"I intended to use this method to gradually draw closer to the King... So, before I succeed in approaching him, I believe I must learn, change, and adapt to everything I need as much as possible."
At this point, Guinevere smiled again.
"If I could also fight, then I could be of even greater help to the King."
Guinevere had indeed changed quite a bit since the first time she met Noah.
But the essence of a person does not change so easily.
It was just that Guinevere's original naivety was gradually shifting from the surface to the shadows. The sunlight that once filled her heart was now beginning to focus in a certain direction.
She was still the princess whose mind was full of flowers, but now she seemed to understand when she should bloom.