[You accept King Uther's scabbard.]
[He permits you to return the blade—
The very one he deflected barehanded—
Back into its sheath.]
[New Trait Acquired: "Knight's Oath."]
[Having been recognized by Uther—
You are once again a knight.
You swear upon your honor—
That you will protect Morgan with your very life.]
[Uther does not doubt your words.]
[He has already witnessed your loyalty.
Your willingness to lay down your life for Morgan was proof enough.]
[After paying your respects, you take your leave.]
[Outside the tent—
Morgan is waiting.]
[The moment she sees you without shackles—
Her eyes widen slightly in surprise.]
[As her most devoted knight, you hide nothing from her.] [You recount everything Uther told you.
His view of the war.
His judgment of her.]
"..."
Morgan bites her lower lip.
For a long time, she says nothing.
Then, with a trembling voice, she asks:
"Rei… is it true?"
"Did my father… truly say that?"
Rei understands her feelings completely.
But as her knight, he refuses to lie to her.
"Yes, Princess."
"Those were the King's exact words."
"..."
Morgan's elegant features twist with raw emotion.
Being judged unworthy by one's own father—
Who could endure that?
Rei sees the fury in her eyes.
But as a knight—
He does not know how to ease her pain.
"Rei…"
Morgan struggles to suppress her emotions.
"Do you think the same as him?"
"No."
Rei denies her without hesitation.
"Princess, no matter what I hear—"
"In my heart,
Britain's rightful ruler
will always be you."
Morgan turns away.
Her voice is cold.
"Rei—"
"You truly are a fool."
[For the next few days—
Morgan does not summon you.]
[Yet, under King Uther's command—
You, once a war criminal, are released.]
[Moreover—
You are permitted to walk freely among the army as a knight.]
[The soldiers are bewildered.
They whisper theories about Uther's reasons.]
[Eventually, they reach a conclusion:]
[The White Dragon's Claw—
Had been awed by Uther's majesty,
And now willingly fights for Britain.]
[It is a great morale boost—
If even the White Dragon's Claw bows before the King,
Then Britain's victory is assured.]
[But you, who know the truth—]
[Understand that from the moment this war began,
The true outcome had already been decided.]
[And yet—
Knowing that Morgan is no longer caught in its fate—
You find yourself strangely indifferent.]
[However—]
[There are sins you must atone for.]
In the Military Camp.
A group of knights murmurs amongst themselves.
"Hey, do you know what that madman from Vortigern's army is doing now?"
"No idea… but whatever it is, it's unsettling."
"To be honest, I still don't understand why the King let him go free."
"Shh… keep your voice down."
Just as they say,
Rei is carving something into a massive stone slab.
The names of all the knights he slew.
Of course—
He cannot remember them all.
For those whose names escape him,
He engraves symbols in their place.
[It changes nothing.]
[But as the one who took their lives,
He cannot simply let them be forgotten.]
[Perseverance earns respect.]
[Your quiet dedication—
Slowly earns you acceptance among the knights.]
[They come to believe—
You are recording something of importance.]
[Trait "Infamy" has been replaced with "Unyielding Resolve."] [Your relentless actions earn the knights' reluctant acknowledgment.]
[They ask if you need help—
But you politely refuse.]
[Mourning the dead is a personal duty.]
[You do not want anyone else to bear your sins.]
[By day—
You carve their names.
You whisper apologies to each one.
You beg them to place their hatred upon you,
Not upon Morgan.]
[By night—
You stand guard before Morgan's tent, never leaving your post.]
[You understand her pain.
You never disturb her.
You simply protect her.]
[Trait "White Dragon's Claw" has been lost.]
[You are no longer seen as Vortigern's soldier.]
[Rumors spread—
That you, the White Dragon's Claw,
Have been utterly defeated by the Princess.]
[You do not confirm nor deny it.]
[After all—
You know you have long since surrendered to her.]
[Then—
King Uther's final decree arrives.]
[Morgan—
By royal command—
Is ordered to withdraw from the battlefield and return to the capital.]
[You are to serve as her escort.]
[The knights are stunned—
For Morgan was a warrior of great renown.]
[But no one dares question the King's will.
To do so would be treason.]
"Your Highness, be careful."
Rei helps Morgan onto her horse—
Then mounts his own.
Under the watchful gaze of the knights,
The two of you depart from the battlefield.
Hooves rise and fall.
A trail of footprints is left behind.
Rei, Who Knew Morgan's Heart, Kept Silent Along the Way.
He simply cleared the path for his sworn princess.
Together, they crossed streams, cut through thickets,
And traveled through countless days and nights.
They left the footprints of a knight and a princess upon the windswept plains.
Atop a high hill, Rei reined in his horse and gazed into the distance.
Turning back, he bowed to Morgan and spoke with utmost respect:
"Your Highness, just a little further, and we will arrive at the capital."
"There, you will find the safest protection."
However—
Morgan hesitated.
Rei noticed.
But he said nothing.
He still remembered her words from long ago—
"A knight should only know what his princess permits him to know."
After a long silence, Morgan finally spoke.
She held her reins tightly, her voice laced with an uncharacteristic sadness.
"Rei…"
"Can we… not return just yet?"