[—I would rather sink eternally into the dream that belongs to you. For me, the dream... is the true reality.]
...
...
The dream was hazy and indistinct.
Like mist yet not mist, dazzling to the eyes.
In the dream world, where illusion and reality overlapped endlessly, a sea of flowers from paradise stretched to the horizon, rainbow light vanishing between heaven and earth.
"Come, my friend... join me in this most wonderful time."
The magus with hair close to white and iridescent curls, a natural spiral, had arranged this tea party in the dream's flower sea. He spoke thus to the dreamer.
In a void of ethereal golden mist, dawn had been dyed gold, the air filled with an intoxicating sweet scent.
Looking afar, there appeared a road paved with silver, gold, emerald, and various gems, leading straight to a tower built of pristine white marble.
The ancient clock tower hummed, angels embodying the four primary colors floated in the sky, and then a golden petal slowly fell onto Roy's shoulder.
Then—
With a spark rising from Roy's fingertip.
The illusion shattered here.
Stepping into it, Roy's thoughts fully escaped the illusion's influence, and he became completely awake.
"Sigh, as always, no effect whatsoever. Ignoring illusions like this makes me feel like such a failure..."
"But, we meet again, miraculous boy. Er, but did I disturb your rest?"
The gentle voice of a neighborly uncle sounded in Roy's ear.
Soon, the world filled with medieval style, modern Western magecraft, and alchemical systems completely vanished. What was originally a hundred flowers made of silver, gold, mercury, and other precious alchemical materials became a genuine, flourishing expanse, extending endlessly toward the distant horizon.
Above the sea of flowers, beside the white tower, a youth with eyes full of rainbow light, beautiful as stars, and white hair in natural curls scratched his head while smiling at the intriguing friend before him who had brought a different experience.
Though his mouth said he felt bad for disturbing Roy's rest, his punchable face revealed that this guy wasn't reflecting at all; instead, he seemed to find it amusing.
"Oh, truly damnable, my dearest friend. Seeing you so exhausted truly worries my once-again-beating heart. It seems I came at a bad time~"
"Oh, Merlin's beard, look what you've done? You know I just went through forty-eight hours of hellish intensity, nearly got beaten by my mentor, then dragged to the Land of Shadows as a trophy husband. Finally ended it all, restored the ruined Mount Enzou, and caught my breath. And you dare disturb me now? Hey, old pal, if you keep talking in that weird translated tone, believe me, I'll kick your ass with my spiked leather shoes, you stupid groundhog!!"
Roy rolled his eyes and retorted in a similar tone.
Then, magecraft activated suddenly.
The next moment, golden light flickered endlessly at his fingertips, applied to this dream realm of his own.
Soon, the dream was reforged.
A luxurious mansion rose from beneath their feet, a spacious living room with a comfortable sofa, a nearby fireplace igniting warm flames, orange-yellow firelight illuminating the faces of the two by the hearth.
"Really, it was my constructed dream, yet with just a thought, you seize it and turn it into your own palace? What a cheating ability..."
"Indeed, whether as a Foreigner or your system's magecraft, it's utterly terrifying."
Sensing the dream's control slip from him as the weaver, fully into Roy's hands, even Merlin couldn't help but sigh at the terror of his magecraft and abilities.
"This is the second time, so of course I'm more proficient than last time."
Roy leaned back on the soft sofa, looking up at the crystal chandelier on the dome while explaining: "Your dream targets human minds, that is, the biological brain and soul. In terms of souls, even a Magician of the Third Magic in life wouldn't dare claim victory over an Outer God's soul, so I can maximize immunity to your illusion interference. What works at ten percent on others might only be one or two percent on me."
"As for control, that's even more interesting."
Roy extended his palm, projecting a handwritten copy of his real-world original grimoire, The Book of the Law, and gently opened it before Merlin.
"As I've always said, that famous phrase: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
"Believe in the power of your heart; that is your true magic. So, since you act on my mental world, I can naturally be the omniscient and omnipotent lord, doing whatever I wish—this is my magic. So, is this your woven dream? No, this is actually my palace."
"Believe in the heart's power... what a wondrous theory, and sufficiently deviant from tradition. From the Age of Gods to the modern era, no magecraft tomes in any system have such a theory. Yet it actually works; no wonder the author of The Book of the Law was called the most wicked and a genius."
Hearing this, Merlin lightly tapped his staff, nodded thoughtfully at The Book of the Law, then stopped pondering the book and let his back sink into the soft sofa. "If it were before, I'd have trouble understanding this wondrous and obsessive theory of the heart as magic, but now..."
Merlin smiled meaningfully.
Whether experiencing sorrow and self-blame from witnessing Artoria fall into despair and pain due to his own guidance and inaction.
Or seeing her lost, seeking nonexistent redemption, trapped in the past world, unable to escape, evoking worry.
And upon seeing her free her heart under Roy's guidance, stepping into her new future, the joy and happiness produced.
All made Merlin realize that emotions and the human heart are truly the most unfathomable things in the world. Your mind is your magic—this theory might truly work, or perhaps the heart is even more complex and mysterious than magic.
Pondering this, then thinking of Artoria stepping into a bright new future, Merlin's lips unconsciously curved into a faint smile. "Well, speaking of... calculating the time, hasn't it been several days since we last met?"
"Yeah, didn't we first meet about three days ago? It was because you kept obsessing over me, repeatedly using magecraft to lure me to sleep, and finally I thought ignoring it further would be troublesome, so I personally accepted your invitation?"
As Roy spoke, he snapped his fingers, summoning two cups of coffee from memory before them. "Hm, truly in my own dream, I can create from nothing, manifest ex nihilo, somewhat like the Golden Transmutation, but far more convenient."
He picked up the coffee, thoughtfully analyzing the dream's current state.
"Hm... who would've thought, with your soul strength already astonishingly high, you also set three layers of defensive prohibitions on your body. If anyone tries to touch your mind, it forcibly emits soul-piercing pain to wake you."
Hearing Roy mention his recent failures, Merlin's face showed a wry smile.
"Isn't that exactly to defend against old perverts like you who try to arbitrarily contact others' minds without permission?"
"Ahahaha... well, no choice, since in this era, I can't come out."
"Now it's because you have Avalon as a relay in your body that I can enter your dream so easily; otherwise, I still couldn't get in."
"So it's Avalon's doing?"
Hearing Merlin's explanation, Roy nodded lightly, now understanding the true situation.
"But this dream world is really convenient? It seems even the flow of time can be controlled by me..."
Observing the dream's time evolution, Roy's expression was thoughtful.
"Yes, quite convenient. But if people immerse in the dream's lucid time too long, the more wonderful the dream, the more addictive it becomes for the person—like sweet poison, gradually sinking them, unwilling to accept the real world outside."
Merlin sighed.
Having lived so long, he didn't know how many magi and heroes he'd seen enter the dream realm but, addicted to its beauty, their spirits refused to leave, eternally sinking within.
After all, the dream world needed no real-world physical laws; everything evolved with the owner's subconscious.
Whether filling warehouses with treasures, having loved ones accept your affection, or birds swimming in water, fish flying in the sky—any inconceivable, bizarre thing from the real world could be easily done in dreams.
Because once immersed in the dream world, you could have everything desired: wealth, love, status, and more. You could be your own omnipotent lord, but the disparity of losing it all upon waking made people involuntarily escape reality, never wanting to wake.
Until that person's mind, body, and soul completely decayed...
Such things were truly terrifying for humans.
"Enough about dreams; let's talk business, my friend." After sighing a while, Merlin smiled at Roy and spoke seriously.
"I'm extremely satisfied with the commission you completed this time—nay, couldn't be more satisfied."
At this moment, he set aside his usual irreverent face and gave Roy his most sincere thanks without stinginess.
"Hm... is that so? Then Artoria really followed my advice and started traveling?"
Roy reacted immediately, thinking of the answer.
In other words...
—The world line truly changed.
Some original history truly shifted due to his words.
But this change, unlike Artoria's original mad obsession to save Britain, was simply minor matters built on Britain's fall.
The Age of Gods was doomed to end; King Arthur, the last king, entered her era's final funeral, vanishing thence.
Some say Arthur's soul entered Avalon after death; others say King Arthur was taken by his knights to Rome for treatment but died incurable; even some say King Arthur didn't die, just traveled in disappointment at the kingdom's fall.
In any case, stories of King Arthur were full of mystery, with many versions not worth scrutinizing. As long as the outcome was Britain's fall and King Arthur's death, history wouldn't mind minor changes.
In other words...
Artoria truly traveled after shedding the identity of King Arthur.
And Merlin had lived from that era to this one.
So the correct sequence of this timeline was: he accepted the commission, punched Saber, seriously guided her; Artoria let go of her obsession, returned to before her death, made a new choice, abandoned King Arthur's identity, started a new life and travels; and Merlin, having guessed roughly in the past, waited until this day to complete the loop.
In Merlin's view, it was actually—
The Battle of Camlann, Artoria gravely wounded on the hill of swords; Artoria comatose for three days and nights; Artoria entering dream at the last moment; Artoria awakening from dream; Artoria making a new choice; the original sorrowful fate changed; finally deducing what happened in the future, until the Fourth Holy Grail War could confirm that the divergence point directly affecting the past was Roy Crowley, this unforeseen Outer One.
In other words...
"Correct, encounters between people are never accidental; all is inevitable. From the start, I knew of your inextricable bond with Artoria-chan~ So I kept helping you, and found ways to connect via dreams."
Seeing Roy understand everything, Merlin laughed happily. "From beginning to end, I merely followed the traces of Fate, playing my most suitable role, guiding you; things would surely return to the track seen fifteen hundred years ago, and many memories would fill my mind."
"You guy... you knew about this in advance?"
"No no, don't misunderstand; during that time, I only had a vague feeling, not full knowledge. After all, timelines aren't something I can see clearly. The cause born fifteen hundred years ago led to this era, completing a perfect loop; no one can guess where the start or end is. That's what your book calls the 'Principle of the Ring.'"
"Actually, it's effect before cause; that's how causality explains it."
Roy nodded, then offered his own sigh on Merlin's words.
"A cause starting at the end of the twentieth century, concluding with an effect before the fifth century, spanning fifteen hundred years. Causality, Fate, time—truly unfathomable."
"Yes... only when the loop closed did I recall the full picture." Merlin smiled and nodded. "But really, thank you, Crowley. Without you, this divergence not of this world, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly. After all, breaking Fate is never as simple as saying it."
"No matter; you helped me a lot too, and owe me a big favor, right? A favor even if it means going through fire and water, you can't refuse... you remember?"
"A favor... ahaha, yes, of course."
Merlin nodded. "I promised then: if you solve Artoria's issue, whatever you ask, I'll do."
"Correct."
Seeing Merlin not planning to renege, Roy smiled too. "But, how did our sleeping beauty end up?"
"Well, she wandered the whole world, leaving footprints everywhere; many heroic epics have her aliases. Anyway, it's complicated, but if you pay attention to archaeological news, you'll find clues." Merlin smiled, teasing.
"Finally, thank you again for letting me witness a completely different, beautiful story. Even my heart, unmoving for a millennium, revives now. I've tasted happiness personally; humans... are truly special."
Merlin clutched his chest, looking seriously at Roy.
His enraptured expression seemed as if he truly had a heart.
"Now, shall we discuss the reward between us?"
"Yes, I said: I help untie Artoria's heart knot; you become my magecraft professor, guiding me on some magecraft issues, and your specialty, illusions." Roy nodded.
"Hm, this reward is actually quite simple for me, but... your goal isn't reaching the Root, just gaining more power, going further?"
Merlin stroked his chin, pondering seriously.
"If it were at first, I truly held the attitude toward power: enough is enough, no need for blind pursuit or unlimited expansion."
"Oh? Enough? You mean draining most of the Grail's mana, forging mythic Mystic Codes, learning all Primordial Runes, mastering the Norse magecraft foundation, reviving and perfecting angel summoning, and palace spells, becoming the true master of The Book of the Law? Your 'enough' is really more than enough."
"Who let the opponent be the King of Heroes... nay, this level is merely the threshold to fight him."
"True, that king's displayed strength could be called a god reborn. Opposing a god requires such preparations to be passable."
Merlin smiled. "But I think for apprenticeship, Zelretch would suit better than me. With your aptitude, perhaps you could inherit the Second Magic."
"How about it? Want me to introduce? I'm close with him; one word from you, it's done."
"...What grudge do you have against me? Trying to repay kindness with enmity?"
Roy's mouth twitched.
A big joke circulated in the mystery circles: Zelretch's disciples.
Though Zelretch is the famed Magician of the Second Magic, who crushed the Crimson Moon, one of this world's ceilings.
—But!!
This guy's disciple-teaching ability is abysmal; so far, no matter how good the seedling or genius falling into his hands, this old man ruins them all. The only exception is Tohsaka Tokiomi's ancestor, Tohsaka Nagato.
So when Merlin mentioned handing him to Zelretch, Roy wanted to slap that face away.
"No need; if I wanted to apprentice under Zelretch, I'd tell him myself. He owes me compensation from this Grail War anyway. And he won't retire, plus the Second Magic's use doesn't suit me, so irrelevant."
"Compensation... what does he want to give you?"
Mentioning compensation, Merlin asked curiously.
"A magical girl's transformation device, and inheritance rights to the Third Magic."
Roy replied expressionlessly.
Thud thud thud!!
"Eh? You said he wants you to inherit the Third Magic?"
"Yes, Zelretch did say so, but I don't plan to inherit the Magic."
"Why?"
Merlin asked puzzled. "For you, wanting to get strong quickly, the Magic's power is undoubtedly the fastest shortcut, right?"
"Yes, you're right. But this isn't about power strength; just that current me isn't suited to master Magic."
"Not to mention if I can succeed."
Roy shook his head. "Now, my own path of magecraft isn't finished; The Book of the Law's system suits me best. In this exploring state, even if I inherit Magic, I'd hardly digest it fully, likely led by the nose by Magic. Though I don't plan to become a Magician, the Third Magic is indeed a good thing, worth researching."
"Heh, rare to see a magus unmoved by Magic, but you're right: Magic lets you ascend in one step, but likely limits your future. Inheriting Magic would hugely change your mana and soul nature; some magecraft you're good at would probably be scrapped."
Merlin chuckled lightly. "But even without inheriting Magic, your soul and rank alone won't be inferior to Magic. Anyway, since you chose me, I can't refuse."
"Though you're not a cute girl like Lily, nor my preferred onee-san type, you're at least entertaining. If it's just illusions and magecraft, I'm quite confident."
"Hehe, you old pervert."
Roy's mouth twitched. Especially hearing Merlin brazenly say "entertaining," he vaguely felt something off.
But he knew, facing him, Merlin couldn't adopt a professor attitude; their relation was more like bantering friends, and...
This guy was the one getting beaten in dreams; if he didn't want a big slap, he shouldn't court death.
"Haha, same to you. So from now on, I'm your illusion professor. If magecraft problems, I can think with you. After all, in magecraft, especially illusions, my level is no less than the Queen of the Land of Shadows' Runes."
Merlin paused, still with that happy smile. "I'm eager to see what realm a magus combining the Queen of the Land of Shadows, the Magus of Flower, and that Book of the Law creator—three top magi inheritances—can reach."
"But before starting, let's reintroduce... I, the Camelot court magus and Magus of Flower who knows a bit of swordsmanship, Merlin, will be your illusion professor henceforth."
"I, Roy Crowley, an ordinary seeker. Pleased to work with you, Merlin."
"Yes, good."
"Then... shall we end here? Nothing else, right? You should rest well. I'll take leave first..."
"Wait, you can't go."
Just as the chat neared end and Merlin prepared to leave, Roy suddenly stopped him.
"What's wrong? Anything else?"
"Yes, Zelretch already bought from me that unconditional order for you to do one thing."
"What? Wait..."
Hearing this, Merlin's face slightly stunned, then seeming to realize something, his expression changed. Before he could say anything, Roy, as dream owner, pointed lightly at him with a finger.
"Ah? How did I suddenly become like this? You're messing with me, right?"
Looking again, in an instant, Merlin had changed from the youth to a very beautiful young woman with fairy-like features. His white mage robe swapped to a simple white long dress, but the curvaceous figure and tight black stockings made Merlin somewhat unadapted for a moment.
In short, Merlin became Mari.
And it was Roy changing him based on FGO memories of the Lady Avalon, Mari's prototype.
Also his first time becoming female; before, at most illusion disguise as female, this time a direct physiological change.
This feeling was really too strange.
But, indeed wondrous...
"So it was Zelretch's trick? Really... has to do such boring things?"
Merlin—no, should say Mari.
She scratched her hair, speaking helplessly: "So, you used that request like this? To keep me eternally female?"
"Yes, used it like that. Zelretch side offered a higher price; his unconditional help is more useful than yours."
"Damn... you're looking down on me, but fine... anyway, incubi originally have no gender; I just prefer male appearance. Female, I can get used to. But..."
While saying, Mari suddenly gave Roy a charming look, then playfully said, "Onee-chan hasn't tried this state. Since you seem to like it, let onee-san keep you company~"
Seems this pervert adapted quickly to her identity.
"...Fuck off."
Roy full of black lines.
Accepted turning from Merlin to Mari so easily? To be perverted to this extent, you're quite something.
"Eh, don't be so cold. Because of you, I've been forced into your favorite Mari. Since so, accompany me for a good chat; we can do special tutoring too~" Mari leaned her face close, showing a not-so-wonderful smile.
"Scram! You dead pervert, get away from me!!"
Facing the approaching Mari, Roy felt a chill inside, immediately slapping her away like a spinning top.
Now, seeing this pervert pounce again, he suddenly regretted the deal with Zelretch.
***
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