Kawashima Toya swung his blade at Mery.
She made no move to block; instead, her body dissolved into a flurry of petals.
"My, the new King Arthur is quite the hothead," Mery's playful voice rang out.
"I suppose I should show you what a Magus of Flowers can really do."
In an instant, the sky was blanketed by swirling petals, a scene of surreal beauty that would have entranced anyone else.
A thick, sweet fragrance filled the air, carrying a subtle suggestion: You're tired. It's time to sleep.
"It won't work," Toya said flatly. "Just stand still and let me hit you."
With his iron will and mastery of martial arts, he wasn't about to be swayed by a simple illusion.
"No way!" Mery pouted.
"Why are you so stubborn? Can't we just talk this out? If you promise to stop trying to cut me, I could even conjure an illusion of Artoria for you."
She really is a piece of work. If Artoria were here, she'd hack you to pieces for even suggesting that.
Toya scanned the area, searching for where this white-haired scammer was hiding.
He didn't activate his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception yet, but his instincts told him she wasn't on the ground or in the sky.
The Tower. Merlin is always cooped up in that tower.
"Excalibur!"
Without hesitation, Toya unleashed the blade's True Name.
He aimed the golden pillar of light directly at the tower standing in the center of the island.
The divine radiance surged forward with unstoppable force, slamming into the structure.
BOOM!
"Hey! Stop that!"
Inside the tower, Mery scrambled to cast a defensive barrier. The collision between the holy light and the shield was violent, sending shockwaves through the landscape. In the end, Mery's defense held firm, but only just.
Toya felt a surge of frustration. Not enough power. If I were at full strength, that would have finished it.
His body had finally reached its absolute limit. That final release of the Star-Holy Sword had drained the last of his stamina. Toya slumped to the ground, focusing on his breathing.
I can't believe I'm actually in Avalon.
The legendary land that countless heroes dreamed of reaching, and he had simply arrived here after a nap. If Morgan le Fay ever found out, she'd likely lose her mind.
"Honestly, you have no manners at all," Mery grumbled as she approached him. "You nearly leveled the place. Do you have any idea how much extra work this is for me?"
Mery's graceful figure manifested nearby. She raised her ornate staff, which pulsed with soft light.
"Return to how you were."
A gentle wave of energy radiated from the staff. In the blink of any eye, the scorched earth and shattered flowers were restored. Within seconds, Avalon was once again a paradise of blooming blossoms and fragrant air.
Toya sat on the grass, eyeing her with deep suspicion. "Are you a male nightmare or a female one?"
"What do you mean, 'female nightmare'?" Mery replied huffily. "I am a half-incubus. Please don't use such confusing terms. You make me sound like a monster."
Are you sure you aren't just Merlin?
Toya scrutinized her, checking if the "catfish" Merlin was just using a girl's skin to mess with him. He even flickered his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception to look for a disguise.
One had to be careful with Merlin; falling for his tricks meant becoming a laughingstock for centuries.
As he peered through reality, Toya was surprised to find that she was the real deal. This wasn't a disguise; she truly was Mery.
Oho. A rarity. An actual female version of Merlin. Still, I should stay on guard. They probably share the same twisted personality.
Confirming she wasn't a man in a dress, Toya felt a strange sense of relief. Having Mery as a mentor was a win, regardless of whether he learned anything.
"Keep your inner thoughts to yourself," Mery said, her face darkening. "I'm not that bad. I'll have you know I'm a perfectly adorable maiden!"
Toya offered a small, tired smile. "I'll be in your care then, Mentor Mery... But before we start, I need to sleep."
As the words left his lips, he tipped over and fell fast asleep.
Mery stared at him, her teeth gritting in annoyance.
"He beats me up, calls me names, and then has the nerve to fall asleep right in front of me? I should definitely find a way to pay him back for this."
Despite her words, she made no move to harm him. Instead, she gently moved his head onto her lap.
"Rest well, my King. You've worked hard. I will be by your side, no matter where your path leads—be it the highest heavens or the deepest abyss."
The sun shone gently over the island, casting a warm glow over the flowers. The sight of the girl cradling the youth was like a masterpiece come to life.
.....
When Toya finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Mery's smiling face.
"Merlin?"
The reflex was so strong he almost reached for his sword. He only stopped when he remembered his mentor was Mery.
"So mean! You're mistaking me for him again!" Mery puffed out her cheeks. "I'm the good one, I promise!"
"Thanks," Toya said, sitting up. "And thanks for the magic, Mery."
He could feel that his exhaustion had vanished. There was no way he could have recovered this quickly without her intervention. Normally, it would have taken days.
"Think nothing of it," Mery said, her smile turning soft and professional.
"My King, let us begin your training. You've already faced the trials of Nyaruko and Cthugha in the City of Ruin and the World of Fire. For most, that would be enough combat experience for a lifetime."
"But for you, it isn't nearly enough. I will teach you how to truly fight. First, put that Star-Holy Sword away. Your enemies won't always be evil, after all."
Mery glanced at the legendary blade with a look of feigned disgust.
Typical Mery. She really does have the same personality as the Merlin from the other timeline.