Emrys left Dun Scaith after entrusting Rou to the castle healers.
He walked through the corridors without stopping, then reached a place where he could leave Unlimited Blade Works.
"My body is made of blades."
The space around him transformed.
The familiar landscapes of Ulster gradually disappeared, replaced by those of the outside world. A few moments later, Emrys found himself at the place where he had left reality.
He remained still for a few seconds, taking the time to regain his bearings.
Then he set off.
His destination had already been chosen.
Dubs.
---
The journey passed without incident.
Emrys moved at considerable speed, using Pridwen's abilities to step on the air and propel himself in the desired direction. He could have gone faster, but he saw no reason to.
It had been some time since he had visited his former mentor and father figure.
Between managing Ulster, conducting his research, and handling the various responsibilities he had taken on over the years, he had rarely found the time to return to the forge.
He had once been accustomed to going there.
Back when he still lived with Dubs, he spent a large part of his days working alongside him. He had learned how to handle materials, recognize the properties of different metals, and understand the demands of a true craftsman.
Even after leaving the forge, he had continued to use what he had learned.
But the years had passed.
And his visits had gradually become less frequent.
When he was only about ten kilometers from his destination, Emrys slowed slightly.
A familiar sensation washed over him.
Nostalgia.
He already recognized the surroundings.
The paths he had once taken, the shape of the terrain, and the various sounds his Observation Haki allowed him to perceive brought back memories he had not taken the time to revisit in a long while.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's been a while..."
He continued forward at a more leisurely pace.
There was no need to hurry.
Dubs certainly was not going to run away.
And knowing his former mentor, it was even possible that he would complain about being disturbed in the middle of his work.
Emrys let out a quiet laugh at the thought.
Then he continued on his way.
When he was only two kilometers from the forge, he sensed two people with his Observation Haki.
The first was perfectly familiar to him.
Dubs.
The second, however, was unknown.
Emrys slowed down even further.
He focused his attention on that presence.
Something was wrong.
He sensed no particular hostility. Nor was there any sufficiently pronounced emotional fluctuation to explain the sensation that was beginning to overwhelm him.
And yet, a persistent unease settled within him.
"...Who is that?"
He tried to deepen his analysis.
The presence seemed strangely difficult to grasp.
It was not a matter of power.
He did not feel as though he were facing someone particularly dangerous.
It was something else.
An impression he could not define.
Emrys continued on his way while keeping his Observation Haki focused on the unknown woman.
The closer he got, the more unpleasant the sensation became.
He eventually exhaled slowly.
"Well. I suppose I'll find out."
He sped up slightly.
A few moments later, the forge appeared within his range of perception.
---
The sound of metal striking the anvil echoed inside.
Emrys stopped in front of the entrance.
He could feel the two presences a few meters away.
Dubs was standing near his workbench.
A woman was right beside him.
They seemed to be talking calmly.
Emrys remained still for a few seconds.
Then he entered.
The sound of his footsteps briefly drew Dubs's attention, but the giant did not turn around immediately.
"I already told you that I couldn't finish it any faster."
A woman's voice answered him.
"I understand. I simply wanted to know how long it would take you."
Emrys stopped a few steps away from them.
The conversation continued for a few moments.
Dubs was explaining something to his client, probably regarding an order.
Emrys paid no further attention to it.
His focus was entirely on the woman.
He still had not managed to understand what made her presence so strange.
He therefore decided to deepen his analysis.
He tried to use Structural Grasp on her, but that was when something happened.
The woman abruptly turned her head in his direction.
Emrys immediately felt his analysis collide with the strongest resistance he had ever encountered.
Then the analysis stopped completely, without leaving Emrys a single piece of information.
He froze.
The next instant, the woman's presence disappeared.
Emrys remained motionless.
"This is impossible!"
He immediately extended his Observation Haki over the surrounding area, then much farther away, and then farther still. After a while, he even extended his Haki to its maximum range, which covered several hundred kilometers, but it was useless. He could not detect her.
The woman had completely disappeared.
"...What the hell was that?"
At that moment, Dubs finally turned around.
"Oh, kid."
The giant set down his tool.
"Do you want something?"
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
"Not really."
Dubs nodded.
"All right."
Then he immediately returned to his work.
Emrys remained still for a few seconds.
He had just witnessed something he did not understand at all, and his former mentor had not even bothered to ask why he was there.
A laugh escaped him.
"Hahaha! Dubs, you're still exactly the same. You know I'm not a kid anymore, right? I'm almost fifty."
Emrys removed his mask and made his armor disappear. Something he did very, very rarely.
The giant did not answer.
The sound of the hammer echoed through the forge once again.
Emrys shook his head slightly before approaching a seat placed against a wall.
He sat down.
Then he turned his attention back to Dubs.
He could have pressed him about the woman.
But he preferred to wait.
Dubs would eventually tell him about his business once he had finished.
And if he did not, Emrys could always ask his questions later.
For the moment, he simply remained seated.
The steady sound of the hammer filled the forge.
Dubs worked with the same concentration as before, adjusting every movement with a precision that never seemed to waver.
Emrys followed his movements with his Observation Haki.
He recognized the different stages of his work.
The way Dubs prepared the metal.
The moments when he changed the position of the piece.
The times when he stopped to inspect his work before continuing.
He knew these movements so well that he was certain he could reproduce them. Of course, he would never reach Dubs's level.
A discreet smile appeared on his face.
It was pleasant to find himself in this atmosphere again.
The hours passed like that.
Dubs continued working while Emrys remained seated nearby.
From time to time, the giant asked him to hand him a tool or move a material.
Emrys complied without complaint.
Then he returned to his seat.
After a while, Dubs put down his hammer.
"Say."
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
"What?"
"If you have enough time to sit around doing nothing, you might as well come help me."
A laugh immediately escaped Emrys.
"Hahaha! I see you haven't lost your good habits."
He stood up.
"All right. What do I need to do?"
Dubs pointed to several materials arranged near the workbench.
"Start by preparing those. Then you'll help me finish the pieces that are waiting."
Emrys approached.
"Understood."
He got to work.
He began by sorting the materials, then prepared the components Dubs would need for the next stage.
The giant pointed out a few adjustments to make.
Emrys carried them out without difficulty.
After spending several years working in this forge, he knew Dubs's methods well enough to understand what he expected from him.
They resumed their work side by side.
Dubs handled the more delicate operations, while Emrys prepared the pieces and assisted him whenever necessary.
From time to time, they exchanged a few words.
"Pass me the tongs."
Emrys handed them to him.
"Here."
"Not those. The other ones."
Emrys paused.
"...You could be a little more specific."
"The ones next to you."
"There are three pairs."
"Then take the right ones."
Emrys burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! You're getting senile, old man."
Dubs merely snorted.
"And you ask too many questions."
Emrys eventually handed him the correct tool.
They resumed their work.
As the hours passed, the pending orders were gradually completed.
Emrys appreciated the simplicity of it.
He did not have to think about how to manage his kingdom or make decisions concerning the people living in Ulster.
He felt as though he had returned to his childhood, when things had not been so complicated.
Eventually, Dubs put down his hammer.
"That's enough for today."
Emrys stretched slightly.
"Finally."
He set down the tools he was still holding.
"I was beginning to think you were going to make me work until tomorrow."
Dubs snorted.
"You still have enough energy to complain. You can keep going, then."
"Hahaha! No, thank you. I think I've done enough."
Emrys moved away from the anvil and returned to his seat.
Dubs joined him shortly afterward.
Calm settled over the forge once again.
For a few moments, neither of them felt the need to speak.
Emrys leaned back comfortably in his seat.
Dubs, for his part, sat nearby.
They remained like that, simply enjoying the silence.
Eventually, the giant broke the quiet.
"So?"
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
"So what?"
"You came here for something, didn't you?"
Dubs paused briefly.
"Or did you really come all this way just to visit me?"
Emrys smiled faintly.
"Both, actually."
Dubs crossed his arms.
"I'm listening."
Emrys remained silent for a few seconds.
He still had what had happened at the entrance of the forge on his mind.
He decided to start there.
"Before that, I'd like to ask you a question."
Dubs shrugged slightly.
"Go ahead."
"The woman who was here earlier. Who was she?"
The giant turned his head slightly toward him.
"Since when have you been interested in my clients?"
Emrys gave a small laugh.
"It's not really a matter of interest."
He paused.
"She gave off a strange atmosphere."
Dubs did not answer immediately.
Emrys continued:
"I've never felt anything like it before. At first, I didn't understand, but after all those hours, I was able to understand what kind of emotions she was feeling... She felt nothing."
The giant shrugged.
"Well, not feeling anything certainly isn't common, but you can't exactly say it's exceptional either."
Emrys shook his head.
"No, no. You don't understand."
Dubs turned his head slightly toward him.
Emrys continued:
"I didn't say she felt nothing."
He paused.
"I said she felt 'Nothing.'"
The giant remained silent.
Emrys continued, taking care to choose his words.
"I've met people who felt nothing before, but with her, it was completely different. It was as if the emptiness in her heart had become a feeling in its own right."
He stopped for a few seconds.
"Do you realize how strange that is?"
Dubs thought for a moment.
"To be honest, I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
Emrys sighed.
"I figured."
He ran a hand over his face.
"It's not simply the absence of emotions. Nor is she someone who learned to hide them."
Dubs said nothing.
Emrys continued:
"That alone seemed suspicious to me, so I decided to use Structural Grasp on her, but she completely nullified it."
He paused.
"And that's not normal."
Emrys shook his head.
"No! No, it's not normal. Usually, even if the person I'm analyzing has a ridiculous amount of magical energy, I can still extract a few fragments of information. But this time, there was nothing. She has a great deal of magical energy, but it's not as though it was extraordinarily high either. And yet, her magical energy defended her with the greatest efficiency I've ever seen, and on top of that, she sensed that I was analyzing her."
"And so?"
"And so that makes her one of the two most dangerous people I've ever seen in my life. Her and the Fairy King. That bastard is powerful."
Dubs simply nodded and seemed to think about what he had just heard.
After a few moments, he continued:
"Did you try to find her?"
"Obviously."
"And?"
"Nothing."
Emrys shrugged.
"I couldn't find her trail."
Dubs remained silent.
Then he continued:
"I see."
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
"You see what?"
"That you have no idea what happened."
Emrys burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Thank you for that extremely insightful analysis."
Dubs snorted.
"I'm not claiming to have an explanation."
Emrys smiled.
"I figured."
He remained silent for a few seconds.
Then his expression grew more serious.
"I'm not asking you to stop doing business with her."
Dubs turned his head toward him.
Emrys continued:
"I simply want you to be careful."
The giant did not answer.
Emrys lowered his head slightly.
His voice became almost inaudible.
"I don't want to lose you too."
Silence fell again.
Dubs did not answer immediately.
He immediately realized that something was wrong.
And the way Emrys had spoken those last words left little doubt about it.
The giant stood up.
He took an object he kept nearby and used it to reduce his size until he reached a stature comparable to that of a human.
Then he approached Emrys.
He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, kid. You can tell me everything."
Emrys remained still for a few seconds.
He could have started immediately.
But when he tried to speak, no words came out.
He took a deep breath.
Then he lowered his head.
His shoulders began to tremble slightly.
Dubs said nothing.
He simply remained by his side.
After a few moments, Emrys finally managed to speak again.
"I..."
He stopped.
His fingers tightened against his knees.
"I don't even know where to begin."
Dubs tightened his hand slightly on his shoulder.
"Start at the beginning."
Emrys remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he slowly nodded.
"All right."
He began by telling him about his departure from the forge.
He told him about the years he had spent developing his abilities, and then about how he had eventually sent Fondval into Unlimited Blade Works.
Dubs listened without interrupting, despite having many questions. For example: Wasn't Unlimited Blade Works originally his magical power?
Then Emrys came to Rou.
He told him how he had met the young man, how their relationship had developed, and how he had eventually taken Rou and his six companions under his wing.
He told him about their years of training.
The difficulties they had encountered.
The progress they had made.
And how they had gradually learned to fight together.
Emrys explained how he had inadvertently created a Royal and how it had gradually developed, how he had met various people, and how he had eventually entrusted certain responsibilities to those he trusted.
Did he become king? And the population still hadn't deposed him?
Dubs occasionally asked a few questions to clarify certain details.
"How long did you train them?"
"Two decades."
The giant paused.
"Two decades? That's not much for me, but for humans, that must be a considerable amount of time, right?"
Emrys continued his story.
He told him about their departure, their decision to go to Stigma's headquarters, and how they had concealed their intentions.
He explained how he had eventually discovered their absence.
Then he told him what had happened in the Fairy King's Forest.
The confrontation.
Gloxinia's intervention.
The deaths of Farel, Adrian, Grey, Heim, Nono, and Lonni.
Dubs did not interrupt him.
He listened attentively, allowing Emrys to recount the events in the order in which they had occurred.
Emrys then explained how he had found Rou.
How he had saved him.
Then how he had brought him back to Dun Scaith after their confrontation.
He also told him how he had entrusted Rou to the castle healers.
When his story came to an end, Dubs remained silent for several seconds.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"So..."
He paused.
"You want advice on how to handle this situation with the last survivor."
Emrys nodded.
"Yes."
Dubs crossed his arms.
"I'm probably not the person you should come to for that."
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
"On the contrary."
The giant did not answer.
Emrys continued:
"That's precisely why I came to see you."
Dubs remained silent.
Emrys continued:
"I need someone who can give me an objective and straightforward opinion. I don't know anyone better suited for that than you."
Dubs thought for a few moments.
Then he sighed.
"All right."
He sat down beside him.
"Then let's start with a question."
Emrys turned his head slightly in his direction.
"What exactly do you blame Rou for?"
Emrys answered without hesitation.
"For leading his companions to their deaths."
He paused.
"And for putting Ulster in danger. And for abandoning the woman who loved him."
Dubs interrupted him.
"Wait a moment."
Emrys fell silent.
The giant continued:
"According to what you just told me, Rou and his companions couldn't reveal certain important information about Ulster."
"Yes."
"And if what you told me about them is true, they shouldn't have been stupid enough to reveal that he came from Ulster."
Emrys did not answer immediately.
Dubs continued:
"So how could they have put Ulster in danger by talking about things they couldn't reveal?"
Emrys remained silent.
The giant continued:
"You also explained to me that there was virtually no chance that this Rou had forced his companions to follow him."
"...Yes."
"Then why do you blame him for leading them to their deaths?"
Emrys opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
He remained motionless for a few seconds.
Dubs continued:
"You told me that they had all made their own decisions. That they knew what they were risking. And that they had chosen to leave anyway."
Emrys did not answer.
"So, if I understand correctly, you blame Rou for making a decision that led to their deaths, even though each of them willingly chose to follow him."
Emrys lowered his head slightly.
"...That's right."
Dubs sighed.
"In that case, perhaps you should ask yourself whether you truly blame him for leading his companions to their deaths."
Emrys remained silent.
The giant continued:
"Or whether you blame him for being the only one still alive."
Emrys did not answer immediately.
He remained motionless for several seconds.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"...You're right."
Dubs said nothing.
Emrys continued:
"I let my anger get the better of me."
The giant nodded slightly.
"I'm not saying Rou has nothing to answer for."
Emrys raised his head slightly.
Dubs continued:
"I'm simply saying that you need to distinguish between what he actually did and what you blame him for because you're suffering."
Emrys remained silent.
Dubs continued:
"You can't make him bear all the responsibility for what happened simply because he's the only one who came back."
Silence fell again.
Emrys thought for a few moments.
Then he continued:
"I understand what you mean."
Dubs nodded.
"Good."
He paused.
"But that doesn't mean you have to forgive him for everything."
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
Dubs continued:
"You can acknowledge that he isn't responsible for every consequence of his actions and still consider that he made mistakes."
Emrys remained silent.
The giant continued:
"You simply need to know which ones."
Emrys took a deep breath.
"...Yes."
Dubs straightened slightly.
"So, what are you going to do?"
Emrys remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he answered:
"I'll have to find another punishment than what I had originally planned."
Dubs turned his head toward him.
"Another punishment?"
"Yes. Until now, I was considering exiling him. But you've made me realize that I was placing too much blame on him."
Emrys crossed his arms.
"So I need to find another punishment that matches the severity of his offenses."
Dubs slowly nodded.
"Well, that's where my help ends. I really have no desire to rack my brain trying to find a punishment for someone I don't know."
Emrys remained silent for a moment.
Then he answered:
"You don't have to. I already have a few reasonably good ideas in mind."
Dubs did not ask him what they were.
He simply stood up.
"All right."
He returned to his usual size before going back to his workbench.
"In that case, if you're done thinking, come help me."
Emrys turned his head slightly toward him.
"Again?"
Dubs picked up his hammer.
"The work isn't finished."
Emrys let out a laugh.
"Hahaha! You'll never change."
Dubs snorted.
"And you talk way too much."
Emrys stood up.
"All right. What still needs to be done?"
Dubs pointed out the materials that needed to be prepared.
Emrys approached the workbench and got back to work.
The sound of the hammer echoed through the forge once again.
"And regarding that woman... she comes by every six months or so to ask if her sealing device is finished."
"Sealing device?"
"Yeah, I don't know what she's trying to seal, but it must be incredibly powerful to require an artifact like that."
"Once again, I don't like the sound of this at all. I'm going to leave a gateway to Unlimited Blade Works here. If you feel you're in danger, get there immediately."