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700  The Moonlit Lake

— Morning —

The feast ended, and the drunken guests regained their composure after receiving hangover medicine in the morning from the servant golems after they had woken up.

The medicine quickly eliminated their discomfort, leaving them clear-headed. The guests thanked Merlin for his hospitality before departing to their respective domains.

After the guests had all left, Daniel let the metal scarabs dismantle the temporary guest houses, leaving only a few built with more sophisticated architecture intact.

This ensured that the woodland and the environment around the lake remained undisturbed while still making sure that there was some room for the guests to stay when someone came over.

The scarabs and the servant golems worked efficiently, restoring and cleaning up the feast site until everything returned to its pristine state.

Morgan le Fay and Arthur continued to stay in the tower. Daniel had not asked them to leave, and both of them enjoyed their time there, enchanted by the magical scenery of the lake and the delicious meals prepared by the servant golems.

Morgan le Fay, who served Ealdorman Norman as a subordinate, was technically a guest in his castle, waiting for him to call in a favor she owed him. Otherwise, she would have already set out to travel the world. However, since the Ealdorman had yet to call upon her, she was free to go wherever she pleased, provided he had a way to contact her when the time came.

For now, the place she most desired to stay was this magical realm surrounding the Lake of Avalon.

— After a Few Days —

The news that Arthur had gained the unconditional support of Merlin, the powerful wizard, spread throughout the British Isles.

The lords who had sent representatives to the selection and those whose representatives witnessed Merlin's power grew wary of Arthur Pendragon, the new king without a throne.

Meanwhile, those who had not witnessed the events or whose domains were too far from Merlin's remained skeptical of Arthur and Merlin.

Some even dismissed the rumors as nonsense or hearsay, doubting that one man and a wizard, no matter how powerful, could possess the strength to change things.

Among those wary of the situation, one man was torn between supporting Arthur and seeking an opportunity to eliminate this potential threat to his ambition. That man was none other than Ealdorman Norman and his allies.

Ealdorman Norman's hesitation stemmed from Arthur's connection to Morgan le Fay, or Claudia, the powerful witch who had long been a guest in his stronghold and the target of his affection and courtship.

Arthur's origins as a war orphan serving Morgan le Fay added to the situation's complexity.

On one hand, Arthur could be seen as one of Norman's own people because of his origin. On the other hand, the lack of guaranteed loyalty and the means to control this... so-called Arthur made him a wild card for the Ealdorman.

This dilemma left Ealdorman Norman deeply conflicted as he deliberated over this new situation, which presented a new challenge to him.

While contemplating this new challenge, Ealdorman Norman sat on his throne in the stone hall. He addressed one of his advisors seated at a nearby table.

"It's been nearly a week. Has Lady Claudia not returned from Merlin's domain yet?" the Ealdorman asked.

"No, my lord. From what I've heard, Lady Claudia is still enjoying her stay as a guest at the Lake of Avalon. She resides in the tower where the wizard lives. Some say the tower contains a library with unimaginable knowledge. I believe she chose to stay there because of Merlin's vast collection of books," the advisor reported in detail.

"I see…" The Ealdorman nodded, but a flicker of jealousy flashed in his eyes.

He had long known about Morgan le Fay's insatiable appetite for books and knowledge. She loved reading all kinds of books. Whether they contained knowledge, provided entertainment, or delved into religion.

But that didn't give her the right to stay under another man's roof for so long. If not for Thegn Cuthred and others stationed near the Lake of Avalon to keep him updated, he might have already marched his army there, trampled that cursed tower to the ground, and dragged her back himself.

For his ambitions, the witch was a key asset he couldn't afford to lose. The power he had witnessed from her could tip the balance of power in his favor and was the only thing keeping the king from making a move against him.

"Prepare our men. I'll wait another week, and then we'll march to the tower. We'll plunder every book from the wizard's library and kill him," the Ealdorman commanded coldly.

"My lord… but the wizard…" The advisor hesitated, attempting to reason with him, but was cut off by a dismissive wave of the Ealdorman's hand.

"Do you think someone as powerful as Lady Claudia is easy to find? At most, that wizard can only contend with a thousand men. But against ten thousand? Mana is limited, no matter how powerful one is. He's just one man. He's not like Lady Claudia, who can channel the power of otherworldly beings," the Ealdorman said confidently.

"Yes, my lord," the advisor replied reluctantly, sighing. He knew the Ealdorman well; once he had decided, there was no reasoning with him.

The Ealdorman was aware of his advisor's doubts but dismissed them. This wasn't merely a decision driven by jealousy but also a calculated move against Arthur, the so-called new king.

It was difficult for him to directly act against Arthur, as the witch regarded him as her little brother and had taken him under her protection. Any action against Arthur could incur her wrath, which the Ealdorman wished to avoid.

Merlin, however, was a different story.

The wizard was a stranger, someone she had only recently met. Eliminating him might anger her for a short time but would never earn her a lasting grudge. Besides, he planned to plunder Merlin's library and gift the books to her, a gesture he believed would earn her forgiveness.

With Merlin out of the picture, Arthur would lose his most significant support. The fuss surrounding this so-called king would die down, and without allies, the throneless Arthur would have no choice but to turn to him for support.

And with that, the Ealdorman could use Arthur's reliance as leverage to claim the throne and seize the magical sword that Arthur wielded.

— Night - Lake of Avalon —

The flowers had begun to close their petals on the shore of a moonlit lake, where pixies and fairies flitted about, flying amidst the tranquil night from flower to flower.

Fairies and pixies rested within these blossoms, their pale yellow lights from their wings glowing faintly from within the sealed petals. A gentle breeze swept through the scene, adding to the serenity.

Within a gazebo adorned with flowers and vines forever blooming with vibrant colors, Morgan sat on a cushion arranged to provide the utmost comfort. A light, flowing cloth draped over her white shoulder, which looked fragile to the touch, shielding her from the cool night air as she read a magical tome under the soft glow of moonlight.

"You seem to be enjoying your book," a familiar voice said, breaking the stillness of the scene. Morgan le Fay did not turn toward the voice, for she knew who it was.

"Lord Merlin, it seems you, too, cannot sleep. Care to join me in admiring the moon?" Morgan le Fay replied with a gentle smile.

Daniel's eyes glanced at the book in her hands. The Optimization Theory of Magic. A title he's not familiar with. Magic optimization? He pondered briefly. Did the book delve into methods of reducing mana costs for casting spells? He had heard from Envy that modern magic had been heavily optimized, sacrificing raw power and grand effects to ensure its usability in an age where mana was nearly depleted.

All the books in the library within the tower had originated from the Lake of Avalon. Since Daniel had only recently managed to actualize The Lake of Avalon, he had not yet had a chance to read many of them.

"If you like it, you may take any book you wish," Daniel said with a warm smile as he sat down on the opposite side of Morgan in the gazebo.

"Truly?!" Morgan asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement at his offer.

Seeing her enthusiasm, Daniel couldn't help but smile warmly. "Yes, I would never joke about such things. Besides, I believe these books would serve you far better than they would anyone else."

She slightly frowned as Morgan saw the warmth in his smile and the unwavering trust in his eyes. It felt strange... peculiar, even. Somehow, she got the distinct feeling that Merlin knew her well.

That complete trust, that warmth in his tone… This was not the affection one showed to someone they had only known for a few days.

"Have we… met before?" Morgan asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and confusion.

She searched her memories, trying to recall if she had ever met this man in the past. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she could not remember it.