Ayato was walking around London. He was lost. However, the fact that he was lost didn't frighten him. He was happy.
Ayato has been to several countries. It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that he had been to 50 different countries. The problem was that he was hunted. He never had the time to enjoy such places.
Absorbing the sight of modern-day London was a wonder for Ayato.
"Uhm, excuse me, where am I?"
The boy went on random buses and got off at a random stop. On the bus, others stared at him. Ayato thought it was because he was a foreigner but it was because of his unnaturally happy expression.
When Ayato looked down, he had realised who—rather what—he had asked.
It was a robot. A cleaning robot. A small one, designed to clean up any trash thrown onto the ground. These aren't regularly seen in Japan due to how clean the streets are.
As Ayato was ready to walk away...
[You are currently near Tower Bridge.]
The robot spoke before rolling away, continuing its task. Ayato stood there, perplexed. As far as he knew, cleaning robots couldn't talk.
"Well... It is the 22nd century. I need to get with the times."
He said like an elderly person.
The boy walked on the pavement. He went to the edge of the pavement and looked over the railing. He saw the river.
It was the River Thames. Rivers were not very rare in Japan but they were in urban areas. London was a city built with the River Thames in mind. The water was pristine and clear.
If it was the 21st century, such a thing would be unthinkable but thanks to technology, rivers could be clear of any trash.
Above the River Thames was a bridge. Ayato was captured by its appearance. Almost like two castles conjoined to one another. Tower Bridge.
It was around 1 kilometre away from London Bridge.
"I always thought that this was London Bridge..."
Ayato murmured.
"Ah!"
Beside Ayato, someone was over the edge.
"Oi!"
Ayato rushed over and grabbed the person's back, he pulled them up. The woman fell onto her butt. She clicked her tongue while holding back her tears.
The woman opened her eyes.
"My phone!"
She cried, looking over the edge.
Her phone was now floating in the River Thames. She sighed, disappointed.
"It's common."
She suddenly said. Ayato curved his brow.
"Huh?"
"Foreigners do usually think that this is London Bridge because of its extravagant appearance. London Bridge over there doesn't look as special."
'Why do I meet a lot of women?'
The boy frowned, thinking about his life since the start of high school.
"Hey, you're handsome."
The woman randomly inserted. Ayato backed away, slightly.
"Is that something you should be saying to someone you just met?"
"I'm Ciel!"
"I honestly don't think giving your name will make it any better."
Ayato told her. The woman, Ciel, looked unsatisfied. She shrugged her shoulders.
"So, are you here for sightseeing?"
"...Yeah."
He hesitated in his answer. Ciel didn't think anything of it. She was just a passerby, after all. Ayato looked almost longingly at Tower Bridge.
"Did you know, that once a day, the bridge opens up. Every day, a boat full of amethyst goes through."
The boy furrowed his brow while listening to the stranger. Ciel looked at the watch on her wrist.
"Oh, look at it now. It's a bit late but whatever."
She glanced over at Tower Bridge. Suddenly, the cars that were going back and forth to and away from Tower Bridge stopped. A magic barrier was placed at the two entrances of Tower Bridge.
There were no cars currently on the bridge. The bridge's road split into two, before rising, giving room for a boat to pass through.
The boat passed through. It was an odd boat. It looked like it was purposely covered to hide something. Something valuable.
"That's the boat of amethyst."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I wonder."
Ciel smiled before asking something else.
"Where will you be on Halloween?"
"..."
The black-haired boy glared at the woman. He was suspicious. Ciel didn't look the least bit intimidated.
"Everywhere I go, there's always someone suspicious."
He said.
"Perhaps. Have you ever thought about who you are?"
She asked him.
"No, honestly."
"Well, maybe the reason people gravitate toward you, suspicious or not, is because the world wills it. Sooner or later, you'll find out who you are."
Ciel walked away from him.
"By the way, who are you? Judging from how you're talking, you didn't coincidentally meet me."
"Sadly, I came here by pure coincidence. However, I don't think it's pure coincidence that we became acquainted, Ayato Kyouya."
Ayato scowled.
'Why can I not have a single fucking day without being pestered?'
He mentally cursed.
The woman left casually. Ayato didn't chase after her because he was unsure what to do in a foreign land. As she left, Ciel also left Ayato's mind. It was a brief problem that he didn't have to deal with anymore.
·———·
Ciel joined up with a girl. She was Alicia Pendragon. The girl walked alongside Ciel with a staff in her hand. She clutched it close to her chest. Ciel looked over at Alicia. The girl looked annoyed.
"What is it, Alice?"
"My lizard got killed."
"I expect nothing less from that woman, Joker. Morgan told you to summon it because she knew it would get killed."
Ciel told the girl. Alicia puffed her cheek and tightly held her staff.
"Why are you outside of the palace, Ciel?"
"I was looking for Orfan but it seems like she's waiting for us."
"Didn't she go...?"
"Yeah, she's not in England right now. After Halloween, we'll be able to see her."
The girl nodded. Alicia let go of her staff. It dropped into a pocket of space and sealed itself.
"Morgan... What is she telling us to do?"
"It's all so we can return the world to what it was. You weren't alive in the Medieval Era, so you wouldn't know."
Ciel told the girl.
"I wonder how Her Highness is doing."
"She's probably searching for Arthur right about now."
"Why?"
"He got caught in bed with a maid."
Alicia blurted out as if she had chewed on trash. Ciel facepalmed while nervously laughing.
"He never stops."
"Such a scumbag."
·———·
(October 24th)
Nothing had happened for two weeks. There had been unusual incidents in London, but nothing to do with Ashley.
Ayato and Ashley walked out of the hotel.
"Is it supposed to be chilly today...?"
Ashley shivered in her furry hoodie. Ayato stood in the cold, exhaling, viewing his breath.
"It's not winter yet, is it?"
The boy asked, walking back inside the hotel. The entrance of the hotel has a heater, aimed at the doors. It was extremely warm. He stood in the entryway.
"Does London get this cold in the winter?"
"No, this isn't Scandinavia..."
·———·
(The River Thames)
"Heretic magician."
The River Thames had been frozen over. The river section between London Bridge and Tower Bridge had been frozen to the point it became stable footing. The ice was as white as a sheet.
"You should be worth my time."
The man said, facing the white-haired woman.
The man was facing the Magician of Niflheim, Haukea Crystal. The man himself was a member of the Round Table, Indrain.
"Heretic magician. One who does not devote themselves to their country but rather destroys it. I shall kill you."
"Ciel led me here... I guess she wanted me to take care of this woman."
The two glared at each other.
A World Magician and a member of the Round Table were about to fight in the middle of London.