[The British army arrived at the scene.]
[They had planned to launch a surprise attack under the cover of night—
Only to find you lying in a pool of blood.]
[You realized then—
Vortigern's grasp of the battlefield far exceeded your own.
He had already predicted this.]
[But none of it mattered anymore.
You were dying.
A dying man had no reason to concern himself with such things.]
[Your only regret—
Was that you had failed Morgan.]
[Trait Lost – Death's Resolve++:
Your assassination attempt had failed.
Your will to live grew weaker.]
[Someone recognized you.]
"Isn't this the White Dragon's Claw?!
Why is he lying here?!"
"Who cares?!"
"That bastard slaughtered so many of our knights!
This is exactly what he deserves!"
"Let's kill him now!"
"Wait! As much as I'd love to, a man like him—
We should interrogate him first!"
The knights split into two sides.
One demanded execution.
The other argued for capture.
But no matter which side they stood on—
Their voices were filled with hatred.
Hearing his former comrades argue over his fate,
Rei felt a bitter mix of emotions.
[By contract, you had failed Morgan's request.
You had no right to return to her.
You should have died here.]
But—
He wanted to see her one last time.
Even just for a moment.
Lying in the pool of his own blood,
Rei closed his eyes in despair.
For the first time—
He hated his own weakness.
[After much debate, you were not executed on the spot.
The knights agreed—there were a thousand ways to make you suffer first.]
[Trait Lost – Reckless Duelist:
Your assassination attempt was over.
The knights did not allow you the mercy of death.
Instead, they provided just enough treatment to keep you alive.]
[Trait Lost – Sovereign's Proxy++:
Morgan's sword was confiscated.
Without it, you could no longer be mistaken for her.
Someone recognized the blade as a British royal weapon—
And presented it to the higher command.]
[You were bound in thick chains, dragged through the streets like a criminal.
Each day, stones were hurled at you—
Expressions of the people's hatred.]
[They all wanted answers.
They wanted to know why you had been found bleeding out that night.]
"Speak!"
A knight seized Rei by the throat.
Not all knights were honorable.
Some were just as cruel as the enemy they despised.
And to them, Rei was not just an enemy.
He was their greatest traitor.
"Tell us what happened that night!"
Rei remained silent.
His eyes met the knight's.
And in that moment—
The knight's hand trembled.
He was afraid.
Even now—
Even in chains—
Rei was still the White Dragon's Claw.
Had he not been found that night—
None of them would have stood a chance against him.
Even a caged beast—
Still had fangs.
But at that moment—
Rei finally spoke.
"Don't be afraid."
His voice was calm, almost gentle.
"I won't hurt you."
"But…
Don't ask me that again."
"You will never get an answer from me."
For a moment—
The knight hesitated.
There was something in Rei's voice—
Something that felt strangely familiar.
For a fleeting second—
The knight wondered—
Should we really have been enemies?
[You decided to take Morgan's secret to the grave.
You swore that no one—
No one would ever learn the truth.
That this had all been an elaborate act—
A performance meant to impress King Uther.]
[You were willing to pay any price to ensure this secret was buried forever.]
[You no longer reacted to the stones thrown at your face.
You refused to answer the knights' questions.
To them, you were nothing more than a stubborn, unyielding statue.]
[They could not fathom what Vortigern had done to make you this way.]
[But only you knew—
Your silence had nothing to do with Vortigern.
It was for the one you had sworn your life to.]
[And this misunderstanding—
It was not a bad thing.
As long as everyone believed you were Vortigern's pawn,
No one would ever suspect Morgan.]
[Within mere days, you had become nothing more than a deranged monster in the eyes of the knights.
They abandoned all attempts to interrogate you—
Awaiting orders for your fate.]
[You accepted this without complaint.]
[At the end of misfortune, fortune always awaits.]
[A rumor began to spread from Vortigern's army—
Drifting into the British ranks.]
Rumors in the Camp
A group of knights gathered to discuss the whispers spreading through the army.
"Did you hear?"
"Vortigern's sudden retreat…
It was because of the Princess!"
"What?!"
"It must be true!
They say the Princess stormed the enemy camp alone—
And even wounded Vortigern!"
"That incredible?!
She truly is unmatched!"
"I don't understand why our King removed her from the front lines.
If she were leading us, we would never lose!"
"Perhaps His Majesty is simply worried for her safety.
After all, if nothing unexpected happens…
Morgan will be the one to inherit Britain."
"A brave and powerful new ruler…
How exciting!
Vortigern must have fled out of fear!"
"It makes sense.
If only we could let the King know our thoughts…"
Hearing the knights eagerly discussing the rumor,
Rei felt a flicker of joy.
[The magic Morgan cast upon her sword had worked—
Your infiltration of the enemy camp…
Had been mistaken for hers.]
[To these knights, she had already become a hero.]
If this rumor continued to spread…
If every knight came to believe it…
But then—
Rei suddenly realized something.
Vortigern never mistook me for Morgan.
Then… could it be—?
[You realized Vortigern's plan.
He, who knew the truth—
Had deliberately spread the rumor.
If the British knights believed Morgan had bested him,
She would have no choice but to return to the battlefield.]
[And this time—
Vortigern would not give her another chance.
Under his command, Britain's forces would march toward certain destruction.]
[You could accept humiliation.
You could accept disgrace.
But you would never accept Morgan being placed in danger.]
[The silent prisoner—
Began to scream.]
[Trait Activated – Hostile Presence:
Your madness seized the attention of all.
Every knight present knew—
You sought an audience with the Princess.]
[And this news—
Spread through the British army like wildfire.]