Gawain, still overwhelmed by frustration, muttered to herself, "When I become stronger, I must repay this humiliation... I'm not going to back down!" She was determined not to return home until she had proven herself. As she brooded, tears welled up in her eyes. "Uuuuu..."
Lott, seeing Gawain's distress, immediately scooped her up and lifted her high in an attempt to comfort her. He cradled her gently and eventually managed to soothe her, bringing a smile back to Gawain's face.
Once Gawain was calm, she told Lott, "I'm going to look for Altria. I need to train. Even if this grudge may never be resolved, I still need to improve."
Despite her current struggles, Gawain's aspirations were simple and earnest. She wished to overcome her present state of being bullied and prove her worth as a renowned female knight in the future. However, she was unaware of the long road ahead.
Watching Gawain leave, Morgan turned to Lott with a smile. "It seems Gawain has a strong bond with her aunt," she said, her tone reflecting approval.
Lott chuckled. "Indeed. I hope she inherits her aunt's swordsmanship, not her appetite. Camelot can't handle another voracious eater."
Morgan agreed, acknowledging the ongoing challenges with food production in Camelot. "Even if we weren't facing food shortages, no country can sustain such consumption."
Morgan then turned to Lott, asking, "By the way, Lott, should the exam be starting soon? Do you think everything went well?"
Lott, a bit defensive, replied, "Are you doubting my planning? I assure you, everything was handled thoroughly. There will be no problems."
Morgan kissed Lott's cheek and helped him up from where he was seated. "Come on, we have nothing else to do right now. Let's check out how the exam is going. Also, let's see how Bedivere is performing."
"Alright," Lott agreed, curiosity piqued. Together, they headed to the examination room to observe the candidates.
At the examination room, Bedivere was struggling with a particularly tough question. "The difficulty of this question is indeed quite high," he mused, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Is this meant to eliminate a lot of people from the start?"
He glanced around and noticed others grappling with the question in various ways. Some candidates were counting on their fingers, while others were trying to use their toes, prompting Tristan to frown and intervene due to the unpleasant smell of discarded shoes.
Bedivere continued to think deeply. After a moment, his eyes lit up with a solution. He carefully worked through the problem and then moved on to the remaining questions. Although the other questions were not as challenging, their sheer number and the range of topics covered—from military and political matters to personal morality—presented their difficulties.
Realizing the constraints of time, Bedivere deduced that the exam required candidates to prioritize certain aspects. He favoured military matters over administrative tasks and chose to focus on questions related to martial prowess. Once finished, he submitted his answers and prepared for the martial arts portion of the exam.
In the martial arts segment, Bedivere faced scrutiny due to his missing arm. The examiners were concerned, but Bedivere demonstrated his skill and adaptability, impressing them with his performance. Holding the reins with one hand, he executed complex manoeuvres that left many other knights feeling inadequate. Observing this, Tristan, the chief examiner, felt a mix of surprise and satisfaction. He reflected on Lott's philosophy that true valour is tested by courage and not by superficial shortcomings.
As Bedivere excelled in the riding and lance-throwing tests, destroying the target with his powerful strike, the onlookers, including Morgan and Lott, were astounded by his prowess. They watched in awe as Bedivere's performance surpassed their expectations, setting a new standard in the examination room.