Although they called it a village tour, Aesc had already visited the church and the cemetery. Even the windmill village, a place the locals rarely went to, had only been glimpsed by Gray when she saw Aesc and her husband walking down from the hill.
So, with nothing else to show, the young girl could only lead her esteemed guest on a casual stroll through the village.
As they walked, Aesc noticed something: Gray was particularly respected by the villagers—though not universally so. Still, many of those they passed gave confused or even displeased looks when they saw Gray supporting Aesc.
Their expressions seemed to say, "How could a mere outsider let our noble girl act like a servant?"
Though unspoken, the sentiment was easy to read.
The village's faith in King Arthur was deeply rooted. And with a face so similar to that of Artoria, Gray was naturally seen as a divine child—an object of reverence.
Of course, a thousand years had worn away much of that devotion, until it rekindled nine years ago.
No one could have predicted that a Holy Grail War ritual, happening far off in Japan, would trigger changes in a girl from a remote English village—causing her body to begin resembling King Arthur's.
In other words, she and her kin had, for generations, been raised as vessels for Artoria's return.
Among them, Gray's aptitude ranked among the highest. That was why the moment King Arthur manifested, she responded physically to the resonance.
At the thought, Aesc couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
After retrieving "Avalon: The Everdistant Utopia," Artoria had made her choice. With a heart set on protecting the world, and a touch of unwillingness, she gave up on saving Britannia. She accepted death—and went to Avalon.
This meant Artoria would no longer answer the call of the Holy Grail War.
That was what Aesc regretted most. Otherwise, she would've gladly recorded every detail of this village with Magecraft, and presented it to Artoria the next time they met—just to unsettle her a little.
Still... Heroic Spirit summoning wasn't limited to the Holy Grail War. The thought gave Aesc an idea.
"By the way, may I ask you something? May I... ask you something?" Gray, who had been explaining the rather unremarkable sights of the village, finally tried to initiate conversation.
But when she did, she didn't know how to address Aesc.
"Just call me 'Lady.' I came here with my husband, after all," Aesc said gently. "What did you want to ask?"
"I'm just a little curious... why did you both come to this village?" Gray asked.
"No real reason. We arrived here just looking to do a bit of sightseeing," Aesc replied, her eyes drifting toward the village roads. "But after seeing you, I found something I might want to do."
"Eh? Me?" Gray gasped.
She was full of curiosity about Aesc—her resemblance to the King, her deep understanding of Add's secrets.
All in all, Aesc was a woman shrouded in mystery.
Something about her presence reminded Gray of the Black Madonna enshrined in the village church.
Whenever she spoke with Aesc, it felt like facing the Madonna herself.
Even though Gray knew nothing about the Black Madonna at all...
"Rather than that, have you ever been outside the village?" Aesc shifted the topic, turning her attention to Gray's circumstances.
"Outside the village? You mean...?" Gray asked.
"Other places. Like the nearby towns or cities," Aesc clarified.
Gray shook her head. "Not even once."
Then, almost as if trying to make up for it, she added quickly, "Ah, but sometimes we get traveling libraries or merchants with full carts of goods. I look forward to their visits every time."
"Libraries? So you like books?" Aesc sounded a little surprised.
"Yes. I love classical literature, especially detective novels."
The girl lit up for a moment, only to fall quiet again as if a candle had just been snuffed out.
"Sorry... I got carried away talking about myself."
"No need to apologize. You were only answering my question," Aesc shook her head. "You're a lot like me. I've always loved reading—then and now."
"Really? What kind of books do you like, Lady?"
It was rare for Gray to feel so naturally at ease with someone, so she couldn't help but try to prolong the conversation a little.
But the moment was broken by someone else.
"Ah, there you are."
A gentle-looking woman in her early thirties approached them and greeted Gray.
She wasn't particularly striking, draped in a light shawl, with a soft, calm expression that naturally put people at ease.
"Mother," Gray responded.
"So... this is the guest who came to visit the village?" The woman looked at Aesc, whose face was partially hidden under a hood, and then at Gray, who was supporting her, without showing any particular reaction. She introduced herself to Aesc, "My name is Magdalena."
She was indeed Gray's mother, but Aesc noticed that Magdalena hadn't mentioned that in her introduction.
"Aesc," Aesc replied simply.
After observing Aesc quietly for a few seconds, Magdalena suddenly made an unexpected offer that even surprised Gray. "If you don't mind, would you like to come to our house? There's not much to see in the village. But if you're willing, please come in and have some coffee, take a break."
"Is that alright?" Gray asked.
"Of course. Your guest is the village's guest. We should treat her properly," Magdalena said with a gentle smile.
But the tone she used didn't sound much like a mother speaking to her daughter.
So Aesc followed the mother and daughter to Gray's home. But as soon as they sat down, Magdalena found an excuse to send Gray out for a bit.
Aesc, quietly watching, saw Magdalena close the door.
That gentle expression from earlier vanished—replaced by one of deep reverence and sorrow.
She knelt before Aesc like a devout believer in prayer.
"If my instincts aren't mistaken... you're the noble 'Holy Mother,' aren't you?" Magdalena lowered her head deeply, speaking words that could shake anyone who heard them.
Aesc remained seated, unmoving, silently gazing down at the kneeling woman.
"If... if you would allow it... please, save that child. Must the King's vessel really be Gray?"
Her voice trembled with grief as she bowed low, earnestly pleading.
"Before I answer, why don't you tell me why you're saying this to me?"
Aesc's instincts told her—Magdalena was hiding a secret that no one else in the village knew.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake