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Message: [QUOTE="Six Paths, post: 21999458, member: 163208"]<img src="https://i.imgur.com/qerauTp.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/qerauTp.jpg" class="bbImage " style="" alt="" title="" /><img src="https://i.imgur.com/shgaSxO.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/shgaSxO.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" /><table style='width: 100%' class=''><tr><th><img src="https://i.imgur.com/wlaUoIu.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/wlaUoIu.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" /></th></tr><tr><td>Name: Artoria Pendragon Titles: King Arthur, King of Knights, Saber Gender: <s>Male</s> (Female) Age: 32 Clan: Uzumaki Alignment: Lawful Good </td></tr></table>  体は剣で出来ている。Karada wa tsurugi de dekiteiru. 「 I am the bone of my sword. 」<table style='width: 100%' class=''><tr><td>Looks</td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: justify; max-width: "><img src="https://i.imgur.com/OZbcmkX.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/OZbcmkX.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fir" style="" alt="" title="" />Saber has the appearance of a young woman in her late teens with a slender physique, soft skin, and green eyes. She has "finely textured" blonde hair that seems "as if sprinkled with gold dust." Her face shows some signs of naivety and displays elegance. She is more muscular than someone like Rin, leading her to believe her body is unappealing, but Shirou believes her to be very feminine. She normally wears shining armor with an old styled dress, made from old-fashioned blue cloth, underneath. She is actually older than her appearance would show, as her body did not age from the moment she pulled Caliburn from the stone to the time of her death. Shirou sees her as being a few years younger, and the age of her body is probably a year younger than him. Though she lived as a man most of her life, Shirou and Rin describe her as beautiful instantly upon seeing her. Despite her armor being unrefined and unaesthetic, Shirou describes Saber as being beautiful enough to make the steel clanking of her armor seem like the chiming of a bell. Due to her inability to dematerialize, she needs to wear modern clothing in order to travel in public. Though she can wear her own dress when not in battle, she needs modern clothing to keep from standing out. With the ability to control the materialization of her armor, she can be ready for battle instantly and return to normal without damaging the clothing. During the Fourth Holy Grail War, Irisviel decides to match Saber's clothing with her own appearance by dressing her as a man. During the Fifth Holy Grail War, Rin Tohsaka prepares clothes for Saber, a blue, knee-length skirt (with tights) and white shirt (with a blue string tie), and brown boots originally a birthday present to Rin from Kirei Kotomine.<img src="https://i.imgur.com/yZEpljb.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/yZEpljb.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fir" style="" alt="" title="" /></div></td></tr></table>血潮は鉄で、心は硝子。Chishio wa tetsu de kokoro wa garasu. 「 Steel is my body and fire is my blood. 」<table style='width: 100%' class='alternate'><tr><td>Personality </td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: justify; max-width: "><img src="https://i.imgur.com/zYXU27V.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/zYXU27V.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" />Saber is a strong-willed young woman who usually speaks truthfully but is willing to lie if necessarily. She is courageous, determined, and set on winning. She constantly insists that she is a knight and king above all, and that her gender is of little importance to her and her role. She is resolute in following her own morals, regardless of the more viable, yet underhand, tactics being available. Saber prefers direct, fair confrontations based upon codes of chivalry. Not even her hunger for the battle can make her abandon her code of honor. This leads to regular conflicts with many others over strategy within. While obtaining the victory. lt is of the utmost importance, rejecting her chivalry is something she will never do, even if it should put her at a disadvantage. Saber's identity as both a "human" and a "king" is one of the greatest struggles of her character throughout the continuation of her life. She tries to keep the notion that she is only a Servant, a tool for her subjects, first and foremost in her mind. A normally quiet and reserved young knight even begins to raise her voice in defense of this non-human identity. Despite being granted knowledge of the modern world upon being summoned, Saber also shows some signs of being a 'fish-out-of-water' in many social situations due to her strong disconnect from her humanity in her past and lack of interaction with others her age and social status. Due to conducting herself as an untouchable king at all times in her past, she is unfamiliar with affection. Notably, she is sexually inexperienced as a woman, but seems knowledgeable about a man's sexual experiences nevertheless. Once Saber "allows" herself to become more self-aware of herself as a girl, Saber becomes very obviously self-conscious of her body and hides it, remarking it "unsightly", and makes conscious efforts to stay out of the center of attention. These experiences of womanhood were, initially, incorrectly viewed by both Saber and Shirou to be a complete contradiction to her identity as the king of knights. This causes much strife between them, and internally, for Saber. Through careful self-exploration and support from those around her, Saber finds the answer for herself: that she is allowed to be happy as a woman; that she does not need to punish herself, locking that part of herself away, since she "failed" her own land; and that she is a capable, respectable woman-king of Britain all the same. This accumulates in Saber accepting Fate, and her declaration to herself and Gilgamesh that she will always be "a king before a woman", but a woman king all the same. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/CAvGAKP.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/CAvGAKP.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fir" style="" alt="" title="" />Saber is loyal, independent, and reserved. She appears cold, but is usually suppressing her emotions to focus on her goals. She is bewildered by Shirou's "protective" tendencies, and believes his over-valuing of her humanity jeopardizes her chances of winning the Holy Grail War. However, Saber is secretly deeply insecure, having no real sense of self-worth. As she was born and raised to be a king in service of her country, she has no sense of self-worth past that, and can only feel fulfilled by serving other people. Shirou realizes from his dreams of her past that, even though she is a supremely skilled warrior, she would be happier if she didn't have to fight at all. Throughout her rule, she was plagued by self-doubt about being a worthy king, and eventually came to hate herself for not meeting the impossible standards she set for herself. She feels deep guilt over the eventual destruction of her kingdom, holding herself solely responsible and calling herself an inadequate ruler. When she was shown her death before pulling Caliburn, Saber accepted that she'd die alone being ostracized by everyone due to her taking many lives. However, even though she accepted that, she was horrified after realizing that her kingdom would be destroyed alongside her in the bloody Battle of Camlann Hill. She understood, as Merlin told her, that Britain would fall, but she wanted to believe its end could be more peaceful, like a slumber. As a result of these factors, her wish for much of the Fourth and Fifth Holy Grail Wars is to completely undo her rule so that someone more suitable can take her place in order to give Britain a peaceful end. Rider and Shirou both chastise her for this, saying that to undo her rule would be an insult to all those who died in her name, or that she is selfish for wanting to redo the past merely because she didn't like the result. For the most part, Saber is a serious person who fully devotes herself whatever task she's given. This can especially be true when it comes to competition, since she's a sore loser, though truthfully her soreness is directed at her own weakness. Saber, normally over-sensitive to others' feelings, can become obstinate at her worst. She can spend hours on a single task that she doesn't feel satisfied with. Her devotion to her kingly duty, however, is obviously greater than any poor sportsmanship. Her fanatic lock-on to this "duty" can disturb others, who see her denying herself of everything for the sake of this duty. This zealotry causes her to be so stubborn in completing her duty that she ignores, rejects, and/or actively fights against others' opinions in a desperate attempt for validation. This is most obvious in her fights with Shirou about her past. This tendency to fight against others who she disagrees with is compounded by how Saber is unable to ignore what others say, even the smallest of words or actions. She cares greatly about others' opinions, and their disagreement hurts her greatly; her brother, Kay, compares her heart to a reed in that respect. If the other party is, instead, making a transgression against her, she is extremely ready to fight, even physically, anyone for that perceived insult. This most often includes Shirou, in a great variety of situations, both serious and light. Shirou implying that Saber is a human, and not a Servant, is immediately cornered verbally by Saber. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/oAB2ZQA.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/oAB2ZQA.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" />Underneath her serious exterior that she feels forced to hold, Saber shows herself to be a kind-hearted and gentle person who wishes to protect those she cares about. She is perceptive when it comes to the others' feelings and their troubles, almost dangerously so when combined with her low self-worth and habit to overthink. Her ability to perceive others' troubles also made her reckless in her pursuit to save others during her training with Caliburn, for which she was scolded many times by Kay. Saber greatly enjoys seeing the happiness of others, even though she doesn't wish any happiness for herself. This trait is a cause of great concern to those who care about her, thinking she should obtain her own happiness. Saber herself believes she doesn't deserve happiness due to her self-perceived failure as king. She rarely smiles for herself but smiles for others upon seeing their happiness and safety. During her reign, she never laughed once, with the last time being during her training with Caliburn. She is still very capable of laughing. Her kind heart can also extend to her enemies, such as while identifying the Saxons as her enemies, she didn't see them as evil. Rather, she understood they sought Britain for a land to call home, believing their aspiration to be inherently good. During her younger days, Saber loved to take care of horses, which surprised Kay when she used them in battle, despite her love for them. But, to her, a horse dying in battle is a different sin than a soldier dying, as a soldier knows why they're on the battlefield, while a horse does not. This kind-hearted facet of Saber is seen as her true self for it is a person free from unhealthy, inhuman expectations - Shirou sees it as a Saber who no longer needs to fight. When Saber does not feel as though she needs to be inhumanly strong, she is less argumentative and confrontational, for these are traits she developed to make up for her inability to meet her impossible goals. <div style="text-align: justify; max-width: ">Though she once felt more linked to dragons due to her unique birth, she came to enjoy lions after taking care of a lion cub for a month at some point in her life. She claims that it is not that she "likes" them, but rather the happiness she experienced as he became attached to her brought forth a bond with them. The lion cub in her past was very energetic, often biting or scratching, but she wished to be able to stay with him until the end. She has had feelings for lions since then and remembers these fond memories while holding stuffed lions. Shirou, seeing the memory of her rubbing her cheek against the lion, comments on it being a special time where she truly looks like a girl her age.</div></div></td></tr></table>幾たびの戦場を越えて不敗。Ikutabi no senjou wo koete fuhai. 「 I have created over a thousand blades. 」 <table style='width: 100%' class=''><tr><th><img src="https://i.imgur.com/u3MhCyQ.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/u3MhCyQ.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" /></th></tr><tr><td><img src="https://i.imgur.com/9JpHvLI.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/9JpHvLI.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" />「V I L L A G E  I N F O R M A T I O N」<img src="https://i.imgur.com/k8oEvii.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/k8oEvii.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fir" style="" alt="" title="" /> Village of Birth: Uzushiogakure no Sato Village of Alliance: N/A WSE Clan: N/A 「R A N K  &  C H A K R A」 Rank: Jonin Health & Chakra: 160 | 2000 「E L E M E N T A L  N I N J U T S U」 Wind Release ( 風遁  ) Completed Water Release ( 水遁 ) Completed Lightning Release ( 雷遁 ) Completed Earth Release ( 土遁 ) Completed Fire Release ( 火遁 ) Completed Entropy Release ( 水遁 ) Completed/Creator Arctic Earth Release ( 土遁 ) Completed/Creator Liner 「O T H E R   N I N J U T S U」 Ninjutsu ( 忍術 ) Completed Kenjutsu ( 剣術 ) Completed Genjutsu ( 幻術 ) Completed Taijutsu ( 体術 ) Completed Toad Summoning ( 口寄せの術 ) Completed Centipede Summoning ( 口寄せの術 ) Completed Renewal Taekwondo ( 改戦 ) Mastered Kenmashinjin ( ヘア ) Mastered 「S P E C I A L T I E S」 Single Handseal Specialist: Wind Release Increased Tracking Specialist Apex Speed Specialist Lifeline (Chakra) Renewal Taekwondo Specialist. </td></tr></table> たった一度の敗走もなく、Tada ichido no haisou mo naku, 「 Unaware of the beginning, 」 <table style='width: 100%' class=''><tr><th><img src="https://i.imgur.com/l0Ap3vf.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/l0Ap3vf.jpg" class="bbImage fr-fil" style="" alt="" title="" /></th></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: justify; max-width: ">This story could be a tragedy, a comedy or the simple and miserable fate of irony, it entirely depends on the eyes of the reader of the story, that of course, is a fact. But, something for sure is true, that this story will continue, even if the writer falls silent, even if the protagonist vanishes, it will continue, for that is the beauty of it. What I will be telling you today though, on the contrary, is a story not written like we would normally expect, but on the other hand, something lived. A story forged by the person who is in the lead role. Yes, it sounds unique...but it is not at all. Everyone has the power to do the same. For some of them hail greatly into the sky, while some others...are forgotten. In this case... In her case… It would have been better if she slept for eternity in this dream like slumber, but she was tied to something that altered who she really was. It forced on her hands, power and responsibility she believed herself to be ready for, but as every delusion comes in the end, the truth dawns in the morning light. Born in the times of total chaos, was a small child, which from birth was said to be carrying a huge burden. Prophecies have told of a birth, a birth of a person, who will be appearing in this world, created by chaos. A child said to have the power, intellect and moreover, the ability...to stop whatever was happening in the world. This everlong war between everyone. Brothers connected by blood, slaying one another, families torn apart, taken by the miserable death angel. Nations falling one after the other...this child, was said to bring a halt to these all. Not knowing how, not knowing who, not knowing when...it simply was said that there will be one. But...how does this differ any little from wishing to the stars? Of course it wouldn’t. After all, these problems surely needed a miracle to bring them at peace. As we turn back to the story, in a calm peaceful night, where the wars over the world seized, for at least a brief instant. The room was lit by candles, as the sound of a woman struggling through her birth was being heard. By her side, was a man in the middle ages, holding her hand, giving her conformity. It seemed like the simple gaze in his eyes would give her strength to continue...this was after all an important and special night. Minutes passed one after the other, they were all waiting for something. The room seemed in a sense in total silence, no matter what was happening. But, it was at that brief instant. When the morning is said to have dawned. With the sun rising, cries of a child are heard. The mother was relieved...she sighed as she was thinking that her job now is done. The father sighed, as all the tension during the birth vanished in that instant. Through the glass of the window, the sun rays scatter, shining in the home, far surpassing the light these old candles were producing. But, even the light of the sun, of such a majestic dawn...would not beat the light the child was radiating, in the hearts of the many. With the birth….they believed that everything will now come into order. They believed that this miracle cannot be mistaken. This birth was the answer, to decades, no..centuries of prayers. But, as in the moment of the greatest joy, her father asked to hold the newborn child, to at least gaze at him. But, it was when his own world went upside down. The birth they were wall waiting, the one which everyone had prayed for...the person who was supposed to end the calamities...It was a girl. He felt dizzy. He gave the child to the doctors, as he was wobbling around, needing a seat. His vision was unclear, as he was rubbing his eyes slowly. His mind was fully stressed. Truly...he was relieved that the child was in good health, but, he always believed that this work, such an immense burden, has to be carried by a male. He could not dare face his people like that. He could not dare to look at them in the eyes, telling them how this long expected birth, could simply ruin her dreams. In the moments as the father is divided into thoughts, the door slams open. A hooded man with long white hair, stormed through. Wearing a blue robe, simple...one which only a wanderer would rest on his shoulders, came close to the man. Lowering his head, to the side of the man standing in the chair, the cloaked figure was worried. With the cloak moving through the wind in the background, he rushed forward to check himself, disregarding everything in the way. The child...he put his gaze on her. Truly something from a fairy tail. Her eyes shining in the green color of a field of grass. Her hair, as if it was decorated by gold. A shine which would even rival that of the sun. This truly might be the child whose birth they were expecting. The old man wouldn’t understand the father's troublesome and desperate look. It wasn’t until then, when he found out. The surprised expression turned slowly into a smile. From the smile, a loud laughter is heard. Truly...he was older than the man, his experience, way of life and actions, were far more ancient. His culture was seemingly worlds apart, but what was funny...is that the youth was having the primitive sight. This birth made the old wise sage happy, because he believed gender to hold no meaning in holding her back. This child was destined for greatness, he knew it already, just the sheer sight of her would allow you to believe that. So, given to her was the name Artoria. Artoria Pendragon, the daughter of Uther, leader of the small legion of brave fighters, expecting a miracle. This was the start of it...the dawn of the story, the dawn of the sun, and rebirth of the hope for every person who prayed at night, for this calamity to end. The next morning came along, after a sleepless night. It was time to continue the focus on the matters which seemed to trouble everyone. That night seemingly was an escape, even for a short while, towards another calm world, but all knew that it would not remain in that matter for long. It was a time of calamity, war and destruction. But, things did seem different from before. This time, they were not walking aimlessly, in search of hope. This time...there truly was a hope in sight, something or someone, that might be able to make a change. Uther was troubled, while his thoughts believed that the feeling of holding her was truly like holding a miracle, he still stood to the ideas he had prior. Maybe it was not because of him believing a male is more suited, but…him actually caring for her. Truly...it was his daughter, it is only natural for a father to think like that. After coming to live in this place, experiencing the pressure and duty of a leader, after knowing what war, sufferings and despair could turn people into...he knew that in order to continue, someone must no longer be a human. A leader of a nation, is not a human. Could this be right, taking her right to live freely for everyone? Could she be able to bear all that pressure, he was unsure. This matter truly was worth thinking, but, there was something which needed more importance in the first place. Getting up from the chair he has been resting his body and mind in, he goes out, meeting the people around him. A group which was growing, all seemingly in hope for peace. Skilled warriors, which would call this individual their king, even though Uther didn’t fully agree with this title he was given, but he could not force people not to call him that. It was a group built in comradery, goals, and belief. People who this lonely leader, or….let’s call him “King”, people who this lonely king was swinging his blade for, and would trust his own life on each of their blades. Not in his life, has he ever lied to them, neither was he intending to. But, after a discussion last night, it seems like this oath needs to be broken. Slightly after the birth, in the early hours after dawn, they believed that the daughter needed a correct form of upbringing. This small nation was in constant war, it was no place to properly grow someone who was destined for such greatness. After all, despair would overcome anyone, as they see people being slaughtered, starvation and sufferings, no matter how strong willed, their eyes would simply change, looking at the world something that does not need to be saved, rather something that needs to be overcome. That is truly something that should be avoided, thought the king to himself. It needed to be avoided not solely because of her maybe being the one destined to change something, but also since he wanted his daughter to have a correct upbringing. He was a leader, his time was not severely limited, but he also believed that one day, he might not return from the battlefield, a sight which should not be experienced by any child. So, was there anything else Uther could do? He knew the answer already, as his head started lifting, while looking at the people present in the room. The old sage simply nodded, as if he knew what the king was gonna say. So, his sight moved towards his wife, who had just passed a very hard night, but her eyes as well, showed nothing but understanding. In a sense, she knew what the best choice would be. Raising from his chair, his look seemed determined, his eyes were fiery, just like the times when he was in the battlefield, and had to make a tough decision of war, this one would be the hardest of all. For this time, he needed to make a choice as a father, and not a king. Calling forth one of his most trusted knights, he was an older individual. His voice spoke nothing but loyalty, his eyes and determination seemed to be fiery, each time the king would say anything. He was ready to give his life, in whatever request Uther had, and seemed proud for it. But, unlike before Uther couldn’t confront, or request anything of him as his leader. It was a time when he himself...begged. Calling him forth, he came down low, towards him, and placed his right hand on the shoulder of the individual. Sir Ector! Unlike before, you heard and obeyed my command as a king. And your loyalty is something I always knew I could rely on, with my own life. But, this time unlike before, I am not giving you an order...no, I am making a request, not as your king, rather as a father who is begging for your needs.” His voice started breaking. He was shivering, as he lowered his head. Truly, this was important to him. Even Ector would understand Never had he seen his king cry before, no matter how large the pain. He knew that this request was maybe the dearest and most important, the king may ever make. His voice spoke reason, understanding and mostly, a dear care and worry. The Knight didn’t do anything but nod. As previously, he promised in his own life that a long mission will come true, but...his voice as well was different. Fire and determination and most importantly, compassion...they were all heard in that agreeing sound. So, he takes off, carrying the child with him, in the back of a loaded horse, as he moves north-east. After him, was the old magus, which was simply riding behind him, with a smile across his face. The King made the right choice...maybe his hardest in his life, but it will be proven right, along the years to come. Amongst the villagers, the story was hidden. The child was believed to have died at birth. The mother was mourning, the father was lost in his mind and inner self. These villages, these knights believed that a reason they will be fighting for will finally dawn, but...to them hopes continued seizing. Still….just like this birth was one fact, they could as well rely on the next one, if not that...on the next one. They always had a reason they fought for, and that reason was something beyond them. That reason was known with the poetic name of what they believed the world should be...Avalon. This dream...was growing, and along with it, was she. In a dense forest in the northwest, dark smoke comes from the trees, as if a fire has been lit. But, this smoke would not get larger over time, as it would start at dawn, and extinguish by the time of the night. Going into that dense place, would be as if you are walking in a labyrinth, over time...you would be entirely lost, in colossal trees, each one like the other. A small path leads towards that location where the smoke is coming, as you slowly pass the trees, and reach a small field, with a lake closeby. In that small field, men's hands altered the terrain, creating a small cottage. In that residence, an old man was trying to live in calm and peace, apart from the world. As the door opens, a young girl moves through. The old door of the shack creeks, as she slowly turns left and makes her way forward, towards a small extension. Her hair was tied up behind her, rolled and pressed, not taking up any space or being problematic or distracting. She was wearing a bright white blouse, as it reached below the thighs, and contrasting black trousers. It seemed more like what a boy her age would wear. The small girl was seemingly going towards the side, towards the extension of the barn. In the most normal and natural cases, she would be reaching for the animals, but reaching that location...it revealed that it was nothing what someone would see at first sight. Under an old brown piece of thick cloth, were weapons. Taking out 2 swords, in a very calm way, it seemed like what she did at this time of the day was usual. She reaches the front of the house, where she bumps into a man, going the same direction. She looks up to him, as he saw him yet again in a sense of surprise. The man sighs and simply turns around, walking towards the location she was headed as well. Giving one of the weapons to him, the young girl readies herself, as she carried a blade, far greater than a person of her size would be holding. They were broadswords, very unlikely to be seen in this land. Heavy weapons, used in warfare and they were based more on strength, and raw power, than grace and skill fully. These knights though, always made an exception. They used these weapons with pride, showing that the blade itself cannot be solely praised, so was the wielder. The Young girl, at about the age of 8, readies her sword and takes off. A speed which was not held back by the blade, neither her inexperience. Attacking that man ruthlessly, he blocked the first strike, immediately starting a counter attack. Pulling the blade back, towards her right, she lowers the edge of the blade, covering her body from the very broad, but yet again very fast and physically strong attack. Rotating towards her left left, she pulls in closer, as she pulls her sword quickly, and tries a direct vertical assault. With that attack, she screams, as if that anger and excitement would also power the strike. A bright flash of light slowly takes away out sight of what is happening. A man with long white hair, was forever gazing, as he was resting on top of the rock. His right hand below his chin, and a smile present as she was watching the skillful battle. 8 years had passed, and it was unbelievable how much she had matured, he thought to himself. The other man training with that girl again, wasn’t he? Sir Ector truly seemed to fit his role as a father. And it was he who trained with her like this, almost everyday...noticing how no matter how experienced he was...he was slowly, day after day, being pushed back by a little girl. Though, something unlikely of the knight...it didn’t even hurt his honor. For, every strike that she did, he felt that she was truly one of a kind. Simply standing in her presence, Sir Ector felt as he was with his king. In a sense, the prophecies maybe didn’t lie. She truly seemed to be someone destined for greatness. During these 8 years, sword practice was not the only thing that she believed to be important, but...she was also fascinated by whatever the old sage was able to create as well. An art, which was foreign and not pleasant to the other knights, this lonely Sage...was a skillful wielder of ninjutsu. An act, almost like magic and sorcery...something which is not natural, but fascinating as well. It was over these years that this young girl didn’t only learn being one with the blade, but also being one with the world and the elements. She truly believed that this place was one that the whole world would desire as well. A place of eternal peace, calm and serenity. This thought, of such a beautiful scenery truly being able to exist, is what pushed her into believing that...yes, it could truly be achieved, and no...it was not a silly dream. She learned about the wars, deaths and sufferings as the years continued. Believing that this was truly wrong, Artoria grew with the desire to truly change something about it, trying to reach a world which was similar to how she spent all these years. In care, knowledge and love. Such a foolish dream for someone to achieve...that is what others thought at the time. They knew about what the world was packed with. Unlike her, that only learned things in tales, they saw the world before themselves. They knew, you can’t change it...rather you can live through it, readying your brethren to do the same. Yes...they were not living, they were surviving. Now, she...would be the one to carry all that pain and continue? As if that would be possible. It was then...when Artoria chose to give up, on herself. She knew that her satisfaction, her desire for happiness...would only be complete if she saw every creature happy as well. Yes...there was no other way that things might have turned out. She truly was...destined to be it. The person to save this nation, this world crumbling apart. So reaching the age of 16...she looked back at that very same cottage, closing her eyes, she slowly placed her fist close to her chest, praying for luck. Sir Ector called forth, as she returned back to reality. Climbing the back of the horse, they are headed towards a location they left long ago. Artoria was going home for the first time, but...little did she know, it was the first step to her dream...which would begin there. With the sun dawning behind a small path, sounds of galloping were being heard. Dust and debris would fly up, at the path that the creatures were leaving behind. Making their way out of this forest, they continue heading south, the 2 individuals, pushed by the light itself. The eyes of the small girl, they were truly shining, as the path before her is being lit. Each time, she would move faster, faster and faster...she was reaching a location that the old man behind her had told her for so long. A place where her dream for this world might truly be achieved. The knight behind her, truly was old..but in a sense, he believed her dream to be not just a fairy tail. It was that desire, which truly would complete and kill any doubt he might have had. She was a king, nothing else. She would be the one...to lead this nation to prosperity, and maybe even turn this world into what people always envisioned. Yes….she truly could be that one. As the path slowly becomes more and more clear, close to the path they were riding, we could see a place which appears in the sky, after such a warfare. In that patch of land, the rays of the morning sky would turn red. The blood on the ground, the bodies which were fully armed, as well as the weapons, dug either into the corpses, or the soil. A soil where flowers won’t bloom anymore, for the sheer fact of lives that have been taken. A sight which would truly make her feel what this true world’s colors are, but...they won’t even waver her spirit. If anything, the desire to bring a change would be bigger, greater...and all the lives that were given here, would simply be a sacrifice, to the world which was to become. She simply grabbed more tightly onto the reins and moved her hands once. The horse picks up speed...it seemed as if she was evading that scene, but no...it was those poor lost souls and spirits, which pushed her further. She needed to reach that location...she needed to reach Camelot. With the sun almost at dawn..she continues her walk, as she walks into an inhabited region by the greater nations. It was a small countryside, and a land far greater in size, than what the people believed. A place forgotten, because they didn’t deem it worthy, but...this is where the land could indeed prosper. Ector took a deep breath, the attention of the girl was taken. He seemed to be relieved, as a small silent and lonely tear left his eyes. Her voice says calmly her name, as she was left in surprise. It seems like...they reached the location which was destined. They reached Camelot. They way continued forward, as they walk through the inner village, with the place being almost entirely lonely. Not a soul was inside the city, while...only a lonely old man was sitting in his chair, on the porch of his house. The knight moves close to him, as he gets off his horse. The old man’s eyes recognize him, even after all these years passed. It seemed as if the mission was complete, but the village truly had no idea of this. Ector spends a few minutes with the man, while Artoria moves throughout the place. This village...why was it this empty?  The village, which truly had no sight of anyone...it wasn’t the fact of the sounds though. Coming towards the left of the village, towards a building which was considerably larger...it seemed like a stadium in some sorts. Sir Ector returns towards his own animal, and climbs up, as he comes close to Artoria. In a voice which almost said regret, he tells her about what had happened throughout the years, though...it seems like he is shaking, while desperately trying to keep his calm. “Artoria, it seems like 2 years ago, tragedy has struck and a great war took the life of the king. This place was vanishing slowly, so they were in desperate need of a true leader. As luck has struck, today is the day that this leader will be picked. A traditional jousting tournament, most skilled of whose..will be renowned, the true king of this land. We must hurry” Seemingly like that...he stopped. There was nothing more he could say...was there? Not saying much, she simply continued forward, reaching that intended location. Stopping her horse close by, she got off, and slowly directed towards that entrance...as a bright light, took her attention. That bright light, was the sun? No..it was reflecting on something. From an old lodge, a blade was stuck in it. A decorated blade, with a golden hilt. Disregarding everything else, she moved closely towards it. She read on that blade, an inscription which was written, more like carved into the blade itself. “Whoso pulleth out this sword is the rightwise king born of all Britain” She didn’t know how to react...but her hand naturally moved towards it, as she grabbed that hilt. But, her attention was in that second, taken by someone beside her. A cloaked figure..the very same mage she was fascinated by, as he made proof of his magic. His voice was a calm one, and it seemed like he was warning, but yet again, he seemed happy and relieved. “This is a word of advice, do you truly want to pull out that sword?” He continued, in that humble voice again. “You will no longer be a human, once you have taken it, so think with caution, young Artoria”. Closing her eyes, she made a small smile, while replying in that calm voice once again. “No, I don’t believe this to be a mistake”. And she continued “I believe this is the right thing. Such a beautiful dream, such a beautiful world...can’t possibly be a lie. Look at those people cheering...today will surely be something worth recalling”. The old sage smiled, as he vanished just as he appeared. The sword was loose, it started slowly being lifted, by the woman who was standing before it. The cold sound of metal, released from the lodge, was like a melody to her ear. She lifted it high, believing that this was the first step to a dream. Her long path, and true sad story, began from this moment forth.</div></td></tr></table>[/QUOTE]

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