#AIDEN WILLIAMS POV#
"Come this way, I will show you to the kitchens first as it is the closest to the dining hall," Says Artoria as she motions for me outside of the dining hall
"It's only a short distance away," She says as I walk behind her
"This place is big," I speak out loud as I finally have a chance to look at the inside of the manor properly
"Truly, from what Kay has told me, Sir Ector's estate is actually on the smaller side," Artoria comments as we leave the kitchen while I take glances at the servants who are cleaning up the dishes that were used
I wince as I just see them dip the plates in water and scrubbing them before putting them on the side for another person to dry them
Right, I am in the past, the matters of personal hygiene are as well-known
Looking forward, I see that Artoria stopped a bit of a distance away from a door, and through a window on the side, I can see a stable outside of the manor
"Why didn't you accept Sir Ector's offer to become his squire?" She asks looking away from me
"I don't think I would be a very good one," I tell her trying to deflect the question
"Also, I just met all of you, and the offer really took me by surprise," I let out a bit of the truth after a second which caused her shoulders to sag as she took in what I said
"True, the offer to become a squire from people you just met would inspire unease in you," She says after contemplating for a bit
"Come let me show you the stables," She says with a pep to her step opening the double doors to go outside
I let out a small smile as I follow her
Getting closer, I see over a dozen or so horses in the rather big stable
"This is my horse," Artoria says proudly as I look at where she is pointing and I see a majestic steed with a pure white coat of fur that looks incredibly well-groomed
"Woah," I let out as Artoria looks incredibly proud of her horse
Not that I can blame
I never really saw a horse before in my life, but her horse has to be a prime example of one
"What's its name?" I ask her as Artoria runs her hands through the horse's coat
"His name is Dun Stallion," She says proudly as something in my mind begins to surface
Huh...that name seems really familiar for some reason
"Do you help take care of the horses?" I ask as she gets out a type of hand brush and begins to rub away some of the fur of her horses
"Yes, I have been helping tend to the horses since I was around 6 winters I would say," She answers almost absentmindedly while she looks over her horse with a smile
"As much as I like being here, I think we should get a move on," I say as I notice some of the stable hands looking at us
She catches my eyes, looks to where I am looking, and nods my way as we get a move on
As we leave, I notice a horse lying on the ground with a big belly
I think she's pregnant
"Where are we going to next?" I ask her
"Oh, the fields, I am sure that you are going to like them," She says as she begins to pick up some speed as I jog after her
I take a deep breath as I get near her as I once again enjoy the clean air
Human pollution is incredibly disgusting
That's why taking a deep breath of pure fresh air helps me relax a bit
Never mind how much ambient magical energy is in the air...
"Wow," I say looking at the fields
The fields stretch as far as the eye can see, but I can also notice that the crops that will be harvested will be at best 1/3 of the entire fields as they are just hoping for the best at this point
"Incredible isn't it?" Artoria asks with a smile which I return while hiding my...slight concern at the crops
From my lessons, I know that the end of the Age Of Gods is near
Once Arthur Pendragon claims the Sword of Selection, it shall mark the countdown towards the end of it
The magic user in me is already mourning the loss of Mystery and magic by extension
"Yes, it is," I answer her while looking over the fields and doing my best to memorize the beauty of this sight
An idea suddenly pops into my head
"Hey, Artoria," I call out to her as she turns to look at me
"If I accept Sir Ector's offer, would you be willing to help me learn how to ride a horse?" I ask her to which her eyes widen
Then she gives me a smile that seems to make my smile widen
"I promise," she says with a tone that she doesn't mean it lightly and I know that she means it
"Thank you," I whisper as I turn to look at the manor once again
The question still remains in my mind
But...now it feels like an easier choice to make
I blink as I place my hand near my stomach as I feel something rumble
Except it is a bit above my stomach and a bit below my chest
(What was that?) I ask myself as that felt...familiar
My eyes widen as after a long time as I remember the feeling once more
Magical Energy...
But how
I know, I don't possess my Magic Circuits anymore
I woke up without them
I narrow my eyes as I try to think about what it could be...
"Hey, we should head back it is almost midday," Artoria says while looking at the position of the sun
"Alright," I say putting off my thoughts about the Magical Energy to the side
For now
#TIMESKIP NIGHTTIME#
I sit down on the bed while I think about everything that has happened to me so far
I was somehow sent to the past with a new body and missing my magic circuits
I have lived here for a while now
Teaching myself how to hunt and learning how to use my new strength and senses to my advantage
I am stronger and faster than I was before
I can catch up to deer and snap their neck or cut their throat open
I even wrestled a bear one time before I ran away as I was being overpowered
But the fact, that I even managed to struggle with it in a contest of strength is something no human from the Modern Age is capable of doing
I look at my hands as I try to think back on that feeling...
Closing my eyes, I use my trigger again to try and activate my Circuits or whatever is inside me that made the small burst of Magical Energy that came from me
I open my eyes as I feel magical energy coming from me again for a moment
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I feel some tears begin to form
I have access to my Magecraft...maybe
I shake my head as I force myself to keep calm
Now...how do I access that Magical Energy within me...