Zuria Kingdom

[Apollymi]

He was his own knight? What was with the men in her life today, trying to make their own choices? Had everyone in this place forgotten who they worked for? The only people still standing that didn't seem to have completely lost everything that they were since Merlyn's unveiling were Cador and Arthur. Though she recognized that Lot was likely enchanted, it still wasn't to her liking that he could be so easily swayed. "Watch what you say..." was what Kolin said in the moment, but she was truly just upset. She should have taken that advice herself. Merlyn had always said that words had power in this world, and she meant that lesson to be taken to heart. Merlyn knew what was happening, her hands still in chains still standing within that anti-magic circle. Hector said her idea was wonderful and Kolin was a bit antsy about it. She didn't really want to lose Hector for Elyan but she supposed if he didn't consider himself hers anymore there was hardly anything worth being upset about.

"Ugh, you make decisions like that when feeling free... its a wonder any of you actually live to serve," Kolin mentioned. Only, her eye twitched, the words Merlyn spoke hit deep within her body like a sharp dagger. Bringing up that man here and now was just more proof that Merlyn should die the fact that she couldn't would remain a source of anger for Kolin. "I cannot kill you sorceress but you will suffer!" she exclaimed which made Merlyn laugh aloud. There was no torture that Kolin could offer her, and there was nothing she could do to her which would ever do real harm. As for the switch taking place apparently Charles demanded that Kolin acknowledge it. He was always like this when these sorts of things happened. "Fine, its his funeral... Hector instead of Elyan." Kolin stated. The amount of negative Karma she accumulated meant nothing to her. Kolin was so far beyond crazed nothing could have stopped her. She was always plotting, always planning. What would she do in this instance? Have one of the other Knights harm Merlyn, Lot seemed apt enough. Perhaps she'd let any man here have a turn with her, turn her into a whore she so obviously wanted to be given her desire to take her men. And once she was a broken crying mess, she'd toss her to the side, maybe overboard that ship of Jason's just like she planned with Leorio. Still she acted as if she wasn't about to watch someone she apparently favored be killed because of her rash over-reaction.

[Bloodedge]

Watch what he said? How moronic. Hector's words were chosen with great care, as always. His death would be the one offered, so long as Kolin gave her executioner the order. Lo and behold, that was precisely what the mad queen did, after expressing her unbridled rage to Merlyn. Charles took this order as he always would. "Oui," he said, raising his blade before its guillotine-tip slammed into the floor. Hector happened to be in the perfect position. With a single phrase, the execution would begin. "La Mort Espoir: Death is Hope for Tomorrow," was his command to the sword, which proceeded to call forth a massive guillotine likened to a gate, right in the center of the throne room. Dark tendrils featuring hands reached out from the guillotine to claim Hector's arms and legs, passing judgement on him. Of course... this didn't occur the way it normally should have. Those same shadow arms rose around Kolin as well, maneuvering from the ground for the sake of caressing the queen's body from toe to head, almost intimately. Their touch's intensity ranged from a gentle caress to a violent claiming, all depending on how the world viewed its bounty. With Kolin as a stand-in for said bounty's judgement... well, that was dependent upon the number and quality of her calls for unjust execution. . .

This technique of Charles' was one which checked the value of life, letting the world decide if Charles' target was an acceptable execution target. Any who were more likely to receive an execution than to fall in combat were its victims, but Hector was not such a man. None of Charles' targets under Kolin's order would pass that check, but Kolin always would... so it was her value used in exchange to sacrifice life, and that value for execution grew greater every time she called upon him this way. Bypassing the viability of the soon-to-be dead, the guillotine pulled Hector into itself. "Does anyone have words to share for this lost soul?" the executioner asked. Cador had nothing, nor did Dagonet. Lot still did not care. Elyan could only manage to scoff and look away, and Arthur... was still seeking the right opportunity before making any rash decisions.

[Apollymi]

Charles took his order, as only he could. Merlyn knowing what he was, couldn't hold this against him. He was a true neutral in this situation, he did only what needed to be done... in this case he was locked into the Mad Queen's will but being so was doing something very interesting. Merlyn noted, that Kolin upon the throne was the one being checked. It would figure that she alone could be the only one this weapon of the world wished to claim. And every unjust death she caused using the world as its mechanism tainted her very being. This face alone accumulated enough negative karma, that the intimate touch of these hands were near violent in their aim to claim her. She sat on the throne prepared for this assault as she always would be. The hands closing around her throat, angrily gripping her arms and legs, clutching her ankles as if aiming to drag down each and every ounce of her being. It obviously wished to claim her, but this wouldn't be allowed. Merlyn watched in disgust. "So, that how you get around it." She said wondering exactly what Kolin had done to claim the World's Executioner and finding that instead of letting the natural order lay claim to whom it may, she was simply using and accumulating her own negative karma for every kill she decided when the world didn't align with the wish for that same death. Whose deaths were added to Kolin's list? The deaths of the former King and Queen of the Nation of Zuria, the head of the Princess of a foreign land, many innocent lives, of women prettier than her, men who refused her, any who stood in her way or even just angered her a little. The blood of innocence tainted this woman's very being. Obviously, this was Charles way of balancing out the will of the world with his need to act as death. Kolin had to realize that she was damning herself, further and further with each kill she made in this way... but Kolin was mad. Merlyn doubted this woman realized the full gravity of the situation. As a being who didn't know death, Merlyn wouldn't be surprised if Kolin was a being who would experience it for every unjust death she'd caused.

As Hector was prepared for death, none of the Knights had anything to say. Arthur was also without words, likely still thinking through his best course of action. Merlyn knew this was one of her many times to shine, the lives of each of the Knights of the Round Table would be forever etched into her memory. She looked at this man with those glowing eyes of hers. "Sir Hector de Maris, Saint of Swords and most Just of Knight of the Round Table. May the Light of his sacrifice shine forever in my memory," her eulogy spoken she bowed to this man and gave him a wink along with contact with those glowing eyes. A death was owed and one would be paid. There was naught to be done about this, the Mad Queen managed scoff at this lass' words and offered none of her own, for a knight whose worth she claimed to treasure. At this point Kolin simply assumed that like many others she came across this lass known as Merlyn was taking her Roleplaying aspect in this world too seriously. She wasn't court mage to the round table, she was simply following around a boy she wanted to make King Arthur. Whatever, none of it would matter. Lies... everything about Kolin was absolutely trash, Merlyn couldn't help but feel this way.

[Bloodedge]

This method of execution was one which disgusted even Charles, the executioner himself. No matter; he was in position to claim a life, and that was all that mattered. Hector was pinned beneath the guillotine, ready for death, but one voice spoke. Merlyn shared words to honor Hector, even acknowledging him as the most just member of the Knights of the Round Table. Those specific words struck Hector in a very interesting way, and the same could be said of Arthur, Cador, and Elyan. Of the group who inhabited this room, most were fated members of the Round Table. Just like that, Arthur understood Merlyn's true purpose in bringing him here. Lore-obsessed as he was, how had he not seen it before? All of these names appeared on the physical representation of the Round Table in writing, and now that he looked out, he could visualize it perfectly.

There was but one thing for Arthur to do now. Arthur moved from his location, taking a seat upon the throne next to Kolin. These would be his knights, would they? He hadn't given a single reason for any of them to follow him, so that time would come soon. Yet... he could not stop this death so readily accepted by even Merlyn, nor could he strip Hector of his honor by sullying his sacrifice. The only thing to do, was give this alleged Knight of the Round Table the honor of his would-be king observing the execution. Hector saw this, and actually respected the blonde who sat upon a throne with his sword drawn, tip against the floor. With that, Hector bowed his head. The guillotine fell, decapitating Hector without fail. Elyan looked away, Cador closed his eyes afterwards, but Arthur continued looking forward as Hector's head rolled along the floor.

The life was claimed. The doors of Charles' guillotine gate faded away, and his sword was lifted before it began to fade as well. "Is that all?" he asked as the world's hands around Kolin also began to subside.

[Apollymi]

Merlyn watched as Arthur moved. It seemed he finally understood some of the greater purpose of bringing him to this land. She'd come here to spare as many lives as possible. To do what needed to be done to give fortitude to as many of the individuals within this land as she possibly could. Of course, even then, some sacrifices had to happen. Without Hector being freed of Kolin this scenario would have played out very differently. The death of Elyan would have changed Guin in a fundamental way. She saw it in her head clearly as day. That abandoned time where Guin lone survivor of this family took this land back by force and blood shed. When Guin gave herself over to the spirit of the land, and it forced out Kolin with the same force the Executioner's blade wanted, her killed. Where Zuria was trapped in ice to protect it from invaders, and she sat upon an icy throne a single eye glowing for eternity with none but the whispers of the ice to keep her company. That future avoided for this one instead, where a just knight died for his comrade because a mad woman decided to throw a tantrum. Here, a blonde future king sat upon the throne to honor a man who would have been dishonored by the queen he served with utmost respect. Terrible.

At the same time, Kolin seemed satisfied. Even as Hector's head rolled she was immediately smitten. She looked to her side and Arthur was there!! How exciting. The idea of him at her side as her King was beyond what could be expected. She was pleased beyond belief, especially when she considered the actions of the others, he'd taken this seat of his own accord. He and Cador were without question the tops of her Knights. None of the other Knights ever dared approach her while she did this little dance with the Executioner. Arthur stayed proving his worth to her, and in her own twisted logic, if all this cost her was the life of a single Knight, she'd sacrifice a thousand more. A huge smile spread across this woman's face, "Yes, that's all... you can go." she said to Charles as if she had the Aurthority to give him orders. As if she didn't truly understand that the Execution was just waiting for the day her name rolled. In light of the death here, everyone even the chipper Merlyn seemed a bit solemn. It would have been disrespectful of her to sully this man's sacrifice, she'd honor him as she said and she turned and shook her head. Kolin was truly a disgusting existence. In all the time she'd walked this world, there were none who made he feel less appreciative of the human condition than her. "Alright, I've calmed down now... and you... still haven't given an oath. So, Merlyn give it... or I'll keep killing people. If you can't die... everyone else can." she said to the white haired woman in the anti-magic circle. Merlyn looked at her and sighed. "You truly think to threaten me, with suffering?! Again?!" she said as if utterly surprised. Madness truly was repeating the same actions without deviation and expecting a different outcome. "A man literally just died... an honorable one, and you really think that threatening more deaths will result in acquiescence to your wishes?" she said. "I didn't think a human could properly disgust me, but you alone in the centuries stand as a monument to be the worst humanity has to offer... all for what? The attention of a man who doesn't want you..." she said. "Never would I bow to such an existence, nor would I swear an oath to it," she said flatly. "It would be a disservice to every human light extinguished... and I never would." Kolin heard Merlyn's words and for the third time she was infuriated by them. How dare she?! She would learn... "Fine. One of you run her through. I don't care whom or what tool you use, but make sure she shuts her fucking mouth!" This was Kolin, in her purest form. She couldn't kill Merlyn, so why not have her tortured or raped instead. She would submit if she suffered enough, everyone did eventually.

[Bloodedge]

Nothing remained by way of work for Charles, so he would take his leave. Alas, the male would not be allowed to go very far, for reasons yet to come. Kolin delivered yet another threat to the sorceress who angered her repeatedly, only to have another outright refusal of an oath. All but Kolin seemed to expect such a reaction from Merlyn. There was... one thing Kolin demanded in exchange for this further angering. Merlyn was to be run through, and not necessarily with a sword. Who would show visible excitement over this? Lot. The Lancer-Class knight lowered his weapon at last, beginning to tug on his armor. Clearly, the answer here was the rape of Merlyn. There wasn't even a thing the sorceress could do about it while in that circle, the red-haired knight thought.

Arthur knew this could not be tolerated. If he was truly to be king of the knights before him, he had to make a stand. He very well couldn't have his would-be court wizard violated before his Round Table was even established. Excalibur was lifted slightly, only to strike the floor loudly to grab the attention of all present. Even Lot could only be attentive when startled in such a way. "Stand down, Lot. You've already proven yourself incapable, haven't you?" Arthur asked. If nothing else, being addressed this way by a newer knight was enough to earn Lot's ire, resulting in the redirection of his attention. Who was this pitiful bastard sitting upon that throne, ordering him around and demeaning him? Lot was quick to retrieve his spear, brandishing it against Arthur. "Queen Kolin, where did you find this cur? Is he allowed to sit on the throne next to you so casually, ordering around your loyal servants?" he asked, seeming to have raged his way out of the intoxicating effect of Merlyn, if only for a moment.

[Apollymi]

There was so much tension in this room, and still Kolin could not be happy with what she had. No, she desired Merlyn's punishment, quite obviously this time by some sort of penetration. Ah, well... it seemed that Merlyn would be killing someone today. Or at least that would be what she thought. The man known as Lot seemed rather apt to take up this place, he'd practically already tried and been told he could not do anything for the sorceress. She supposed if she killed him dead by his own desires, it couldn't be held against her. After all, a succubus needed a defense mechanism, lest they be reduced to nothing but sex slavery. But though she knew she had nothing to fear, but no one besides Cador might have been casually aware of that. But not much to her surprise Arthur had something to say about it. It was he alone who spoke for the sorceress while the rest of his would be Round Table watched on. After all, the decisions of royalty were always watched by their potentially followers. Merlyn stood there looking quite harmless, knowing that if Lot put himself within the range of her body he'd be dead in seconds, but Lot's attention refocused.

It seemed that Arthur's words to him, upset the man in someway. Kolin for her part in this seemed rather surprised. No one truly dared contract her, but, he'd taken the seat beside her of his own accord. Perhaps she'd allow him this as a reward for his candor. "He walked in the front doors. And... he took this seat, after resisting whatever magic isn't stopped by that Anti-magic circle," she said with a casual shrug. Merlyn almost wanted to say something but was now the right time? Well, since she was the one up for a rape she might as well right? "So, any bossy blonde will do?" she uttered under her breath, but everyone was having a moment... she doubted anyone heard. "I'll humor this for now..." said Kolin. She'd never had another just take seat beside her, not since Cador in his own Kingdom. So... she'd see what it was Arthur decided. Did he wish to order someone specific to harm Merlyn would he act mercifully so she could be harmed outside of his eye-sight? Well there wasn't much left to do but wait and see. The funny thing was, that Kolin somehow still thought she was in control of this situation and hadn't even noticed that Charles had yet to vacate the premises. Oh well, when deluded people went off the deep end, they tended to lose all sense of reason.

[Bloodedge]

Why hadn't Charles left the throne room? The reason would soon be revealed, and it happened to be the same reason Arthur had no further words to share. The late Hector's body dispersed strangely into Mystic Code, as if his soul were being put on display. Segmented as his head and body were, the code lines converged upon one another, forming the shape of... a large feather─ specifically the design of one belonging to a legendary Phoenix. It was from this structure that Hector formed anew, fresh as when he'd arrived earlier this day. That sheathed sword of his was held out, pressed against Lot's neck as if its blade were brandished. "Right. Where was I? Oh, right... A knight's blood was shed, wasn't it? I guess that means Kolin's head should be next," was the speech he offered, though many residents of the castle were far too busy looking on in shock. What sort of sorcery was this? Of the men in the room, it seemed Cador was the only one not surprised by this sudden revival.

Arthur's mouth hung agape, having been prepared to speak with Lot... but what could he say when a beheaded man reconstructed himself casually right in front of him? "I─ you─... Merlyn, what the hell is this?!" he demanded, naturally assuming Merlyn's earlier words had been some sort of customized revival incantation. Could she do that? Had she already placed one on him? If so, he'd like to know before further risking his life in the future.

[Apollymi]

Everyone in this room was indeed surprised when Hector stood again. A phoenix feather above him before he completely reconstituted himself. The one known as Nerys almost fell over, never before had she seen such a thing. How was it possible? She too made an assumption it had something to do with the unknown magic type of the sorceress. In the meantime Kolin managed to look absolutely shocked, she'd seen his head roll, it was literally on the floor, there were few ways people could live again, but this one simply didn't make sense. Her eyes immediately shifted to Charles, if he killed surely there was no mistake, he hadn't betrayed her so what was this!? Both her hands were open in front of her as hse pointed at this man who should have been dead. "What happened here?" she demanded of the Executioner.

In the meantime, Merlyn was likely the only person in this room who was not surprised by Hector's resurrection. "Welcome back, Sir Hector!~" she said turning to offer the man a bow. They'd have to have a conversation later, she was quite curious about what death was like since she didn't know it. Ah, but she could put that aside for now, Arthur directly questioned this scenario, abandoning his words to Lot, for the sake of questioning Merlyn directly about her part in this. "Arthur?!" she said mocking his outrage. "Don't look so shocked, this wasn't my doing... well... not in this case at least. I am bound right now. I can't actually use magic. And that sort of outright resurrection is a bit outside of my purview. Some of us, respect the boundaries the world gives us... some of us are given other things by the world. The Executioner for instance is obviously one such individual. I am as well... though not in the same sense. I can explain more later if you like~"

[Bloodedge]

"The world accepted its bounty," Charles said after being questioned by the queen. His kill was certain. Even if it were possible for him to make mistakes, such a blunder could not be made by his guillotine. Hector was dead, and then... he wasn't. That was the simple truth of the situation. "He came back," Charles offered with a shrug. He didn't care; there was a life claimed, even though this shocking event came just after. "Do you have another request?"

According to Merlyn, she had nothing at all to do with current events. Her magic was nonexistent at the moment, and something like a revival was beyond her anyway. Arthur could only believe she spoke truth, but it would be Cador who spoke regarding what actually happened. "Hector de Maris is the most blessed knight I've ever met. Revival, unmatched skill, etcetera," he explained of the knight who possessed numerous Divine Blessings in this world. Arthur sighed. This was far too much to take in within the span of a few days, but it seemed this was the apex of his and Merlyn's journey through Zuria. Leaning back in his throne, he gazed upon the group before Kolin and himself. Now was the time for the ultimate decision to be made. "Alright then. I haven't said anything important yet, have I?" he asked, though only rhetorically as there was more to follow immediately. "Sir Cador. Sir Hector. Sir Elyan. Sir Dagonet."

As each name was spoken, each knight's attention was gained. Even Dagonet, who wasn't truly a knight, felt somehow compelled to heed Arthur's call. What was this ethereal presence shrouded over the blonde knight? Whatever it was, the simple act of Arthur addressing these men as if they were his knights, made them feel like they truly were his knights. "Are you the first seats at my table?" Arthur's eyes were glowing as he spoke. A power not acquired by the man himself flowed through him. Cador was the first to kneel, grinning as he did so. Hector wasn't sure the actual trustworthiness of Arthur, but if Cador was willing to bend the knee... he would as well. Elyan wasn't sure why, but he trusted this man enough to kneel... and Dagonet could harbor trust due to the fact that Merlyn clearly held nothing against the man, while herself being the one who freed him from Kolin's clutches. Four knights were at Arthur's beck and call in the short span of a few moments, and with that... the almost-possessed blonde spoke again. "Alright. You will be the first. That was actually much easier than I thought. Thank you all."

[Apollymi]

He died and came back. Yes, she knew it was possible to trick and avoid death at various turns, but she'd assumed that a death caused by the Executioner of the World was one which was of a more permanent nature. Ah, that was her own mistake, it didn't stop it from being distasteful. "There isn't much point now is there..." she said, sounding a bit like a petulant child who'd just been told no for the first time. Still this was likely the most sane sentence she'd spoken aloud today. Soon enough she was curious, and thus distracted. Was that what this was, some sort of play at power? Being kind in the face of these Knights to claim them so that they could move on without fuss. How interesting... with a man like this at her side she could be openly merciless and he could offer just enough kindness to keep stringing along the masses. How many new converts could she achieve like this? She was giddy at the prospect. So giddy in fact, she'd overlooked the idea that she was being all but ignored, as every reasonable man in this room gave his oath to Arthur, thus freeing them from any binding agreements that left them in Kolin's court. She was losing and she was too busy scheming to see it. There was also that previously mentioned threat of Sir Hector's but surely that was a thing of the past, spoken in anger. He truly wouldn't try and kill her simply because he died, especially not when he'd been able to come back... right? Knights were supposed to be forgiving and all of that nonsense.

At the same time Merlyn's explanation seemed to be enough for Arthur and it would be Cador who gave a real explanation. Sir Hector de Maris was indeed a blessed Knight. Loved by the World in ways that the normal people wouldn't understand. All the while Merlyn continued to stand in her little Anti-magic bubble, watching as Arthur claimed the first four of his Knights. This moment was one of many she waited for, given that she'd met him as a farm boy getting pushed around in the church... his visage here was one of comfort. A nice potential for the future, "Aww, they grow up so fast~" she would have wiped a tear from her eye, but... hands still chained. Yep. What an interesting day. All the while she seemed to very happy, a day like this was one which her heart could have used... all those times she'd decided life wasn't worth living any further. Maybe she shouldn't have questioned her place in the world so readily, for all the bad moments she'd experience or would a few moments like this would surely help her out.

[Bloodedge]

True enough, there wasn't much of a point at all. Charles' job was done, so unless Kolin required another dose of negative karma to herself, he could officially take his leave. And so, he did just that. These kneeling knights were not his concern; they were Arthur's to deal with. It seemed Kolin took no issue with what was going on. Was she really so dense? Arthur wasn't collecting knights for her, but for his own goals and the good of this world. He was doing as Merlyn guided, not forming an alliance against her. Kolin suffered blindness by the light of her own insanity, and she would one day pay the price.

Arthur was still far too forgiving, though. He wanted anything but to take a human life that had even the slightest chance of being saved. More importantly, he took issue with the apparent vengeance desired by Sir Hector. "Sir Hector... I apologize, but I can't let you take a life in response to having yours taken. You're a good man, and I don't want to see you kill in rage. Kolin..." He took a deep breath, thinking over his coming words. As he'd done numerous times since arriving here, he took special care when speaking. The point of such a thing was becoming less and less clear, but it had become his way by now. "You plan to be queen, yes? What sort of queen do you imagine yourself being to me?"

[Apollymi]

Kolin was indeed this dense. Or rather, it was more correct to say... she wasn't presently capable of reaching truly rational conclusions because she was just the sort of person who was far too mad to do logical things. She was far beyond what one would or could consider normal. No, in her current manner of thinking she was trying to figure out how lenient Arthur planned on being. She'd need to temper her own responses to keep everything going according to plan. Ah, she was even right... Arthur did indeed stop her potentially having to deal with Sir Hector's immediate retaliation. Between now and later, she'd likely find reason or plot something to get rid of him... he wasn't among her favorites and knowing he couldn't easily be killed getting him banished from Arthur's court would be a far better use of her time. Yes, that was fine. Oh... she was being questioned...

Kolin's face turned to Arthur, he asked if she intended to be queen... surely he jested. Of course that was always her intention, from the moment she laid eyes on him she decided that she wanted him as a replacement for Leorio. Ah, but that wasn't what this was about... he was asking for the sake of the men... right? He wanted to hear her intentions what kind of Queen did she plan to be for this lad? Well, that was obvious... "Obviously, I plan to be your merciless Queen. The one who allows you the peace to be as kind as you wish. You can mediate from the point of your kindness so long as you don't interfere with what I intend which is to conquer every single naysayer every time they appear, in whatever way the world allows. No disrespect shall ever be tolerated to me or you... and every provocation will be met with decisive and swift action. That includes any who try to take away what is rightfully mine, obviously just the sort of Queen you need~" she said as if she'd made the most profound statement in the world.

Merlyn looked at this woman in absolute disbelief. Did she truly think a vengeful harpy who turned her destructive glance towards anyone would be what someone wanted out of their Queen? Did she actually think this question was being asked of her for just the purpose of helping him manipulate the Knights before him. Did she really think everyone had forgotten that just moments ago, she'd given an order to have someone raped and tortured because they'd refused her? Disrespect for Kolin was literally just existing in a way which contradicted the way she thought, and being a woman not willing to whore yourself out for her ideals. And being a woman better liked by a man that she also liked. Ah, but Merlyn had to be quiet at a time like this... because these were important decisions for the young Arthur to make, she wanted to tell him that taking care of this now instead of leaving it for later was more important, but she supposed this was something he'd figure out for himself. Nerys had been quiet for a long time, but unlike Kolin she'd already read the shifting of the room. She'd gone absolutely still, trying to disappear, because when the dam of this event broke she wanted to escape everything.

[Bloodedge]

Kolin offered her explanation, and oh what a twisted thing it was. Her summary sounded more like an enforcer than a queen, and in no way was there mention of anything wifely. Moreover, what was this about disrespect? The tyranny of everything she said was beyond mad, beyond outlandish. It was... sick. The kind of queen he needed, the kind of queen he would consider ideal, was anything but those things. Arthur's eyes closed, his head leaning against the back of his hand. "Cador. Bring Guin and Emilia," he said, resulting in the Spirit Knight's smile. "Oh? For that much, I needn't even move." Cador spoke truth; he knew those two were not very far away at all. Soon enough, they would surely appear.

Arthur wouldn't specifically wait for them, however. He desired information from multiple sources, and they were not the only women in this castle. There were two more in this room, one of which had been silent since her earlier questioning by Kolin. When Arthur's eyes opened again, they shifted toward... Nerys. "You there," he called out to her, seeming oddly stern while still clad in the strange aura that began manifesting during his call to the knights. "Give me your honest opinion. What qualities make a good queen?"

[Apollymi]

Ah, Arthur asked Cador to get Emilia and Guin. Both of those individuals were currently within a nearby hall. They stayed this close to the throne room routinely. Keeping an eye on the comings and goings as well as the workings of the Kingdom. Such was their nature, they only didn't appear in the throne room itself because of the random occurrences that took place there. They'd watch until such a time as they found what they were seeing to be too much, then they'd excuse themselves back to work. This time however they were near enough by to have taken in the whole of this day. They'd spent much of the morning subduing each other at various moments to keep from interfering in the the goings on. One such moment had only been recently recovered from... and it concerned the man known as Elyan. She was still recovering from that one, it would be a few moments.

In the meantime Nerys was spoken to very directly and froze under the eye of Arthur. She'd really been trying to disappear, and now she was asked a question. What a dangerous question that was. Actually, there was no more dangerous question than that in all the land, of this she was absolutely certain. Her eyes opened and closed several times, why was he asking her this, right now... in front of this woman. Did he not know the amount of wrath she reigned down on individuals for contradicting her. There was so much obvious anxiety in this woman. "Um... that's a pretty dangerous question... " she said making sure she never once made eye contact with Kolin. In fact she was looking at absolutely nothing. Her eyes wandered but she decided it best to answer quickly and go back to hiding. "Hypothetically, if I was choosing a Queen, for myself. Someone attractive, but also clever... patient I guess. Wifely... I don't know someone who can help me look after things I don't do," she said, of course this answer was pretty normal for her, and to be honest if she was a man as she should have been that sort of thing would have been what would have been preferred. After Nerys spoke Emilia and Guin popped up hand in hand. Nerys words earned her an ireful glare from Guin, one she felt down to the core of her being. She could swear she was suddenly cold, but she still wasn't making eye contact with anyone. The words she had spoken no doubt struck home for Guin, cold words were coming. "Funny those things weren't good enough qualities for you when you decided to betray our mother..." Guin said those words hit Nerys like icy daggers. Of course... they were meant to, Guin's hand was pulled by Emilia in the moment. "You wanted to see us?" the white haired girl asked, the tips of her pointy ears hidden behind the falls of her straight white hair. Emilia was speaking now, because she knew Guin was still furious she was trying but far too much had happened and Guin was quite on the edge.

[Bloodedge]

During the time it took Guin and Emilia to reach the throne room properly, Arthur would receive the answer of Nerys. She seemed quite reprehensive about the idea of giving it, but there was nothing to fear as far as Arthur was concerned. Sure, Kolin could clearly be a menace... but that time could only last so long, he thought. "It's fine. Just give it," he said, adopting a more comforting tone. Nerys' answer was... decent, the knight supposed. Frankly, Arthur pinned it as the response he'd expect of the average man, but that was fine. "By the books, I suppose. Thank you." This was all he had to say, though Guin's outrage would not go unnoticed. Something more had gone on in this kingdom prior to the arrival of Merlyn and himself. There was hardly a thing to be done about it now, but perhaps Guin was not the best second target for his question. Luckily for him, it was Emilia who questioned his summoning of them.

"Yes. I appreciate you coming as quickly as you did," he started, sure to express his honest gratitude for them walking into this mess of a meeting. "Emilia, could you give me your honest opinion on what makes a good queen?" Simple as that, he wanted to hear the answer to this question multiple times. There was an obvious fact that everyone's answer would not be the same, but he figured there would be a blaring difference between Kolin's belief and... well, literally anyone else's.

[Apollymi]

Arthur had no idea how long the meanace of Kolin could last. Perhaps one day, Merlyn would get around to explaining to him the amount of time that had passed between now and the time period of Kolin being turned down by the man whose affection she wanted. But that would be another day, today he was faced with the answer of Nerys who seemed to want a wifely woman of patience. A plain bit of salt came from Guin when she approached but that much was to be expected. The Merlyn knew why she was this way, she knew of the problems that Kolin had created in this place and she knew that Nerys played a great role in the death of the innocent previous King and Queen. Guin also knew this was nothing to harp over anymore. Even so, she couldn't help but feel upset by Nerys commentary specifically in this context. Whatever the case, Guin was given a moment or two to calm herself while Emilia took up speaking roles for the pair. In this case, Arthur thanked them for making their way here so quickly, which caused Emilia to look a little sheepish. "We weren't that far away or anything... " she said speaking the way she always did. Still his next question made her brow raise slightly. He truly was asking a dangerous question, but the difference between Emilia and Nerys was... that Emilia didn't care what Kolin thought of her. "A Queen should be kind, honest and diligent, stern when needed, but not terrifying." There was much honesty in Emilia's answer. She'd been in this world for so long she could barely find it in herself to care about the wrath of Kolin. Meanwhile, Merlyn smiled. Nerys had given a bland answer, much like she would have expected from a man hiding in a woman's body. Emilia had picked an answer which stabbed right at the heart of Kolin. She could see the blonde woman on the throne thinking. The gears in Kolin's head were turning... she was trying to figure out what Arthur's angle was on asking two other women their thoughts about a Queen. All the while she managed only to look confused. But the words of Nerys still garnered glowering and Emilia and Guin's mere presence caused the woman's face to sour immediately. She truly didn't like other women appearing before her in anyway. In the time Emilia spoke, Guin managed to calm down quite a bit... there was coldness in her stare but it no longer swirled with obvious discontent. Though there were still several things about the current situation which upset her.

[Bloodedge]

Kind, honest and diligent. Stern when needed, but not terrifying. No, anything but terrifying. Emilia's answer was a proper one indeed; he could serve such a queen. As a potential king himself, he could even see such a queen at his side. Yes, it was a marvelous answer that made Arthur nod as he heard it. "Mm," he murmured. "Thank you, Emilia." Something special resonated within Arthur at the time. The answer was a bit spot-on, and it seemed to reach out to something other than Arthur himself. He couldn't quite tell what it was, so he personally paid little mind to it... but it was there.

Now, there was a slight problem. Guin appeared less infuriated by the time Emilia spoke her opinion of a good queen, yet true fury could not be quelled so easily. He really didn't want to ask her the question he'd ask the others, but he needed to make a point. Would he dare? No, he couldn't leave her out. Guinevere was undoubtedly the closest thing to a queen herself, as far as women in Zuria were concerned at present. Nevertheless, he delicately approached the matter of asking her as well. "Guin. I am very sorry to do this, given the circumstance, but may I ask you the same question?"

[Apollymi]

Emilia in the moment gave a slight bow of her head. She was a respectful lass after all, and the man had saved her once... he was owed at least that much. Beyond this point while all the speaking took place Guin managed to calm herself to more tolerable levels. Even so, the words of Arthur reached her ears causing her brow to furrow. Surely he realized he didn't need to apologize. None of the negatives she'd experienced in her time were the fault of anyone but Kolin and Nerys. Moreover, Guin's own demeanor was far from what one would consider Queenly in her own opinion. She gave it a few seconds of consideration before speaking carefully. "Those apologies from you... aren't necessary. I can't speak on the qualities of a Queen I would choose... I am not sure I would choose one..." she said truthfully. "Emilia and though I dislike saying it... Nerys have the most of it covered... I think for general purposes, but the only things I'd find or want to be in addition to those things... are confident and compassionate," she said with that gentle demeanor bringing light to her eyes. She saw not herself playing through her own mind, but the face of the woman who raised her. Who walked the halls of this cavernous castle and made it feel warm and inviting. "I don't mean the gaudy type of confidence that someone who asserts themselves harshly with force. But instead the confidence of one who walks into a room and fills it with their presence, while not stifling those around them. A stability and warmth of character and personality, which would in turn bring out the best in those around them. And the ability to be compassionate, to show what is needed through ones own actions and demeanor. Your family, friends and people should see you and know that whatever they bring before you will be addressed with all the care the situation can deserve whether the Queen could sympathize, empathize or maybe not do either thing, the presence would still be comforting... " Guin's words were the truth. But in saying them she found a simpler way to express herself. She looked up from her doll in this moment her icy eyes meeting Arthur's. "I guess what I mean to say is, regardless of her disposition, a Queen should feel like home and all the comforts, consequences and justice that provides." that was it. Her Mother always felt like that, whether Guin was being chastised for pranking her younger brother, or she was being praised for doing well in her lessons. When she cried remembering her previous childhood and was comforted and when she made her first use of magic here... all of these things done in the Queen's presence felt like home and that is what she would have wished for herself as a leader and that is what she expected from one. Though it wasn't what she ended up with at all. Her role models for Queen were her Mother and Artoria Pendragon... and they fit this ideal. She would have tried to be those kinds of people while retaining her true nature... but not letting that nature overwhelm the needs of others.

[Bloodedge]

At long last, the most important answer was coming. When told his apology was unnecessary, Arthur shook his head. In no way was it an unnecessary apology; asking the question during her upset state was regrettable. Regardless, she shared her opinion. There was a bit more depth to what she said, compared to answers given by the others... even though she agreed with the other two as well. Many words were spoken, and there was much attention being paid by Arthur. Something about her response seemed... oddly perfect. Her description of an ideal queen was so close to what Arthur himself would imagine, there was almost no discrepancy. Home... yes, it was as perfect as an answer could be. Arthur couldn't resist the feeling of warmth encompassing him as he heard that honesty, though there was one additional thing he needed to know.

"Thank you, Guinevere. That was a fine answer," he announced, moving quickly toward the next matter. Everyone's answers stacked up interestingly against Kolin's, yet there was one thing missing from all of them. A queen was not simply a queen; no. A queen was also wife to a king in most scenarios, and in his ideal scenario, a kingdom would naturally contain both. One more question would come─ just one. This time, he asked every woman in the room simultaneously. "All of you, then. You've said what makes a queen. What about a wife? Most queens have a king, right? I'm sure it can't all be about the ruling of a nation."

[Apollymi]

Guin also gave a minor curtsy she had little care for much else. She had no problem answering questions posed by Arthur. All the while she knew that Kolin was starring daggers through her, but unlike many others, she had no obvious fear of the woman in a direct manner. In fact, she was one of few who looked back at Kolin as if she didn't care. Truly Guin was not nearly as fearful as others, but she also knew the truth. That without whatever deal she'd worked out with the Executioner, Kolin was weak enough to be taken out. Maybe not all at once, but she was far less of a physical threat than many of the magical creatures this world contained. Whatever the case, Arthur wasn't quite done asking questions. In fact, the next question he posed made the eyes of every young woman in the room widen, Kolin herself included. Why on earth was he asking these sorts of questions, especially of girls she had no intention of ever letting become anything more than sex slaves. He had to know her intentions hadn't changed right? Or was this another matter of simple pacification to lull them into a false sense of security before he crushed their hopes and dreams all at once. Kolin couldn't wait to see something like that... perhaps she'd get to.

All the while, Merlyn found herself smiling happily. She really was a good matchmaker... they really had no idea. She'd seen this pair together in a vision and knew they could work. She could even see that same thought crossing Arthur's mind. Merlyn needed to be given way more credit for her abilities. All the while, Emilia and Guin looked at each other with casual glances. As girls they never really considered what being a wife would be like... so they'd need a few moments of consideration. Nerys having been asked another question really wanted to tell this man to stop before Kolin actually realized what he was doing. "I would think a wife for anyone really should be someone they find attractive, who is ambitious and responsible... they would be the ones looking after their husband after all," Nerys said quickly, shrinking back into nothingness. She really needed to flee this place before anything negative came of this situation. After a few moments, Emilia thought about it and spoke in turn. "I never really thought about it, but I guess a wife for someone should love them and they should trust them? Marriage implies permanence it wouldn't do without those two things..." Emilia said, but she had far fewer requirements than most people did. Ah, but what of Guin?? What would she say... a smirk came to the face of Merlyn as Guin began speaking.

"Well, if one is choosing a wife, it should be about chemistry. Not in one sense but in all of them, someone you can work with, someone who can motivate you and help you be better, someone whose ambitions and at least their core beliefs align with your own. Not just in one aspect but in all of them because marriage is a lot more permanent thing than most things. Trust can come with time, so can love and responsibility if the situation is right. but if something integral to your beliefs was too different or if your likes and dislikes were too vastly different without the ability to compromise, then everything about that pair would just become chaos."

[Bloodedge]

Once again, there was a series of incredible answers. Nerys' rebuttal was quite by the books, once again, though at least part of it was acceptable. One shouldn't be stuck with someone they didn't find attractive, ambitions and responsibility were always good, and spouses were meant to look after one another. Emilia's clause functioned as the proper closure for what Nerys had to offer. Emotional bonds were the most important thing to any lasting relationship, no matter the type. Then, there was Guin, who managed to shock Arthur once again. Arthur's eyes widened; he couldn't help the reaction at all. Chemistry was a thing that was all-encompassing, something to be considered a requirement above requirements. She was right, and he wouldn't dare pretend she was anything less.

Ah, but there was more yet again. He previously needed an answer from everyone else to the same question he'd asked Kolin before them. Now, there was a different matter at hand. All who'd been questioned, had been presented another query. Not all had answered. As such, Arthur said a single word for the sake of bringing this to light. "Kolin," was the word he used. He didn't look at the queen; he didn't look at anyone, bar a few subconscious-driven glances in Guin's direction after hearing her piece. This was the final piece of information he needed; Kolin's thoughts on being a wife, as well as a queen. One could wonder if she even had a concept of both in that twisted head of hers.

[Apollymi]

The random instances of eye contact between Arthur and Guin were noted by three of the other females in the room. One of them Emilia who happened to always be watching Guin and thus would have seen it. One of them was Merlyn who was watching everything as she blended into the background of this room. And the other was Nerys who already understood what such a thing meant, not specifically as a woman but as a man. Oh, this was going to be a debacle. Nothing related to finding a way to tell Kolin off would ever work out in anyways favor. It'd be best right now if this simple line of speaking questions and receiving answers stopped and someone started a fight. Yes, that would be great and in the scuffle Nerys could disappear never to be seen or heard from again. She could probably get passage to one of the other continents, and start over. That's what she would do, and hope to never lay eyes on anyone in this group of people again.

But before such a plan could be enacted, Kolin would be addressed rather directly. Her brows furrowed in the moment because the question and the reasoning for it being asked of her was completely lost upon her. "That question is too strange. I've never considered what anyone looks for in their wife... someone like me I assume. Since the bonds of marriage never seem to mean much of anything anyways, it isn't really about that. You simply have to match with someone who can provide whatever elevation you seek," she said and that was simply her answer. Emilia's eyes widened. This woman literally tore apart the Kingdom they were staying in, after trying to ruin someone's marriage and she hadn't even considered the emotional investment of marriage. She simply wanted the title of Queen. Of course, this shouldn't have been too shocking considering the way she treated Leorio but the idea that she saw marriage as nothing other than a material upgrade was shocking and kind of disgusting when combined with the rest of her attitude. Merlyn in the moment really wished she could palm her own face, but alas she was still confined within the shackles of her day. What a shame, if anyone considered that Kolin might not have been so bad, the fact that literally everyone including her husband was just a disposable piece to upgrade at her leisure was just sad really. In the moment she just sounded bitter which made her outright shows of jealousy and manipulation even worse as well, as she truly only cared about things as they related to her own perception, and only cared about how things affected her. Even Nerys was outright aghast by someone actually speaking a sentence like that aloud.

[Bloodedge]

All things came to a close with a single statement from Kolin. The one missing truth to her identity, was laid bare in the throne room of Zuria for all to witness, and it was repulsive. Romance? Such a thing was nonexistent. Arthur had been of the opinion that there was a chance to salvage something within the queen, but her line of thinking was skewed beyond his ability to fathom it. "I see," Arthur stated, sighing thereafter. There were a few simple facts in his mind. While rubbing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, he gathered his thoughts to share them with the would-be Round Table, as well as the women presently inhabiting the throne room. "Shall I be frank? If I had to choose a queen to serve, I would want one like Emilia. If I felt myself lacking, I guess I would choose one like... uh..." Ah, it seemed Arthur didn't know the court mage's name. It was a small hiccup during a speech for a would-be king, but Cador thought to bail the blonde out a bit. "Nerys," he said. "Nerys. Thank you, Sir Cador. Sorry, Nerys. Anyway... if I wanted the full package, I would choose Guin─ uh─ a queen like what Guin mentioned."

Bit by bit as the Future King spoke, his point was coming to the surface. Never could he imagine a queen like Kolin; never would such a totalitarian woman succeed as anything more than a hateful, and hated, tyrant. How would she take this information, though? Well, the turning point of this entire ordeal was here and now regardless. "I don't believe a queen who has a king, can exist without being a wife. I think the same about a king with a queen. If two rulers aren't in sync, the people they rule over won't have the guidance they need. What sort of kingdom would that make?"

[Apollymi]

A sigh escaped Kolin, it seemed all was fine. What the hell did he bother asking such a question for? Better yet, why did every woman in this room have a look on their faces somewhere between pity and outright disgust. What could possibly be the reason they looked like that? Did they honestly believe 'relationships' were worth more than what they could get them? Were they the types waiting on some man to sweep them off their feet so they could feel special? No, no one was that type of special. You make yourself special and then you get everything you want and you take it because its yours. You don't let anyone else have it and you make sure they don't get any stupid ideas about feeling special in your presence. It didn't matter, Arthur was now speaking and it was far from what she wanted to hear. His frank speech came with some very interesting moments. Including a mention of how given the answers presented he would have devoted himself. Emilia? If he wanted to serve? That flat-chested half-elf was barely more than a child... what did she know of anything but how she felt in the moment. A virgin's ideology. An eye roll followed that thought and his conclusions. He'd have chosen Nerys if he thought he was lacking? Nerys was lacking herself. Not flat-chested but barely more tolerable than the average woman, besides that Nerys was a coward, there was hardly any other way to describe her. "Don't worry about it..." she said softly, she was truly trying her best not to be seen and people just kept bringing her up and that fear she felt at the back of her throat only intensified as Kolin's eyes shifted towards her in the moment. Arthur didn't understand these comparisons would make them into targets of her ire, though she was already the type to torture others for no reason... he was giving her fuel for her hatred. Helping her legitimatize the parts of her that didn't like these women already.

That last comment struck a nerve... Guin. He'd choose her because she was the full package? Or rather the Queen she thought ideal... where? It sounded like just another woman stuck under the thumb of some lesser man. Every one of these women had to go... and quickly, Kolin didn't like the idea that they were being compared in a way that was even remotely favorable. Guin's eyes widened at Arthur's words. She heard them and heard him clarify and she still understood what he meant. It took all of her composure to have her face remain flat because she knew... she new that Kolin would hate her more than she already did. Still that didn't stop Guin from meeting this woman's eyes in the moment. That same bit of defiance which was always present still very surely there. Kolin wasn't something she actually feared and Kolin still didn't understand why... why she could hold her head so high in front of her. Kolin scoffed by the end. "All of this conjecture just about people... Comparisons between my ideas and those of lesser women, why does it matter? The Kingdom and everyone else is here to serve... me. They don't need guidance so long as they don't act against me..." these words were so crass. So devoid of actual logic and desire necessary to be a leader, Merlyn's being would have rejected her physically from existence. In all the years of her life, she'd never ever looked upon a person she was more sure was unfit to be a ruler. But... looking at Kolin she was certain she had negative amounts of the traits necessary, not just lacking in some areas... literally as far negative as one could be in all of them. "Now then, my kingdom will function as I wish it to... speaking of... what are you doing about this entire debacle, we have an immortal prisoner whose punishment you stopped and a group of knights who almost mutinied... all need to receive their punishment and then we need to go. All of this conversing about Queens and wives doesn't matter you're already mine. Now... get to it. Either you mete out punishments or I will. This isn't an option, you will do as I say or you'll be next..." Kolin was being demanding once more. As if she hadn't realized the reasoning for the entirety of the conversation. Or maybe she had and she was giving him a chance to remember that he was sworn to her service and couldn't act against her... they would do as she wanted and nothing else he wanted mattered. The threat of violence returned so swiftly heads could have rolled.

[Bloodedge]

After all of that, Kolin still didn't get the point? How bothersome. He was no longer expecting her to save face, but she was actually managing to make herself seem even worse with every word. No matter. Arthur had gone through what most would consider far too much deliberation for the ongoing events of Zuria, but at long last, he'd made his ultimate decision. These people were not here to serve Kolin. These people were neither tools, nor stepping stones for her grand scheme of achieving godhood. None should have to bow to a queen such as Kolin, be it now or in the distant future.

She still thought he was her knight, her future king, a person who'd sworn an oath to serve her. Those things could have been true. "I made an oath in honor of my future queen. There is something I want all of you to understand," he said blandly, seeming as if he would actually follow her orders. Arthur rose. That aura leaking through his eyes intensified once more, encompassing his full form. Now, it was almost a true energy source not Arthur's own, but... feeling it within himself gave the young man an unquestionable amount of certainty. It involved... his sister. He wasn't sure why, but he felt as if she walked with him down the throne room stairs, where he joined his knights, Emilia, Guin, Merlyn, and the somewhat captive Lot. He could feel the hope of the world coursing through him, as his namesake in this world once felt; it connected them. Once he stood amongst the others, he raised Excalibur overhead... only to turn himself toward Kolin before making another move. "My queen and my wife will be one and the same. My kingdom will not be a place of terror, bigotry, misogyny, misandry, or anything of the sort. I will claim Camelot in whatever state it is in, I will do my best to be the king my people need, and I will make sure the queen is nothing short of ideal. Kolin... my oath was not for you; you could never be my queen. Surrender yourself."

[Apollymi]

A long deliberation had taken place but finally the moment of truth was at hand. It'd been a long time coming, especially for those who'd been waiting for such a moment from the beginning. Even so, Arthur eventually made his way down the steps, though none were too surprised by Kolin's idea that Arthur had taken an oath to her. It seemed for a second that Arthur might have intended to do what the mad queen wished. But... Merlyn hadn't moved or spoken nor did anyone else. As much as Arthur felt like his sister stood with him as he made his descent, Merlyn could easily see such a thing happening. A gentle smirk came to her own face as she wished she could have glanced to her left to see... Oh well. This would do for now. She was quite proud to see him make a stand in this moment and watched as visible relaxation overtook bodies of ones such as Guin and Emilia who would understand what he meant. Kolin hated everyone, men, women and the world at large. She only had love for herself and everything she touched ended in discord and chaos. Knowing this no one would ever want to bow to her when there was anything resembling a reasonable alternative. Even Nerys looked on in marked surprise. She began at least to consider that her selfishness and cowardice might have helped her displace her loyalties. If something like this were actually possible maybe she should have kept her alliances were they were originally, but alas such choices couldn't be changed.

But how did Kolin take this? She watched Arthur rise and make his way down. She watched his sword raise... she expected him to admonish the knights, perhaps make an example of one of them for good measure, but what did she get instead? A speech... about all the things he wouldn't have in his kingdom and how his oath was made to his future queen, who would be his wife, but... not her?! Those blue eyes of hers widened and her whole body seemed to swirl with rage, he claimed she should surrender. "MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~" Maniacal laughter escaped her. Was he truly serious? Did he think he could do this to her? He planned to replace her with someone else? "You think you could replace me with someone else?? I am the ideal woman... I am the goddess all should worship me, there is none better than me. I won't surrender to you or anyone else. You will do as you're told or you will suffer... whose head needs to roll for you to behave yourself?!" she asked like it was an easy question. It would be Nerys who looked around... no matter what the odds of this weren't good. Kolin and Lot against 4 Knights, 4 Mages? How the hell was that supposed to work? Nerys had already started shaking her head, backing herself away and shrinking down into a corner. She hoped Kolin's rage would allow her to remain unseen and she could slip away finally.

[Bloodedge]

Arthur was such a fool to stand against the magnificent queen, Kolin. He would be felled easily for such ridiculous words as what he spoke to those others, and Lot would enjoy watching him be reduced to the sniveling dog he was... after he personally dealt with the others, of course. Sadly, this would not be. The moment Lot moved to lift his spear, there was nothing in his hand but a mere fragment of the tool. He seemed baffled, but upon looking to Cador, he saw the Spirit Knight winking. Hector was already pulling back his sword, and delivering a swift pommel strike to the unarmored knight of Kolin's abdomen. It was Elyan who followed this up with a leaping kick to Lot's face, whilst Cador took the time to speak. "Are you just going to stay chained like that, Merlyn? I think there are much better uses for bindings," he said cheekily, having the thought that such things were best suited to Kolin's personal lapdogs. Of course, there were other thoughts crossing his mind as well, but... there was a time and place for that.

Meanwhile, Arthur kept his focus on Kolin. A bright light seeped through all corners of the castle, filling the air and accumulating around Excalibur's blade. He'd seen enough. So many days of slaying giant beasts─ it was time he turned his blade on people, for people. "In a way, I agree with you. Physically, you are incredible. When I first arrived, the thought of turning against you when you spoke of being my queen and all that... it wasn't all pleasant to think about. That doesn't matter, though. You're sick, and I prefer women who can offer me something more than lustful thoughts," he explained. As something of a butler himself, Arthur felt badly about what would soon happen. He knew the repercussions of using his sword, but he didn't have much choice but to brandish it inside this broken kingdom's castle here and now. Still... he could at least be polite about it. "Guinevere... Sir Elyan... sorry─"

"Ex─" Once more, he would call upon the hopes of humanity through that second-hand blade of his. In addition to the grand lightshow, the pressure erupting from Excalibur's blade burst forth, filling the atmosphere and causing the castle to tremble furiously. Excalibur was lowered, gripped at Arthur's side with both hands, and eventually... it was swung. "CALIBUR!" The Future King failed to realize one thing: Excalibur behaved not based on his own power, but on its own. Due to the purpose of wielding at present, the Divine Construct could unleash a far greater power for the sake of thwarting evil at its roots. An arc would appear, but far too large. Arthur knew his slash would lay waste to the throne room, but this... would endanger the entire castle, along with a large chunk of the kingdom surrounding it.

[Apollymi]

Sir Lot found himself on the receiving end of a combination of attacks which left him without movement for a time. Merlyn watched with a gentle chuckle hearing the words of Sir Cador. Right, she should have taken off her shackles... "What, I was respecting the court, just like I respected my imprisonment... " said Merlyn in response to the statement about her being in chains. "Sir Cador, I could think of much better uses for them. But I suppose if you want them... I'd be remiss to keep them from you," Merlyn said snidely. She very easily stepped out of the magical circle which had kept her magical enchantments from working. As she did the desire for her which was caused by the state of her being, disappeared within seconds as she lifted her own hood. From her body came the shackles and her chained collar seeming to just slip off of her person as if they'd never properly been in place to start with. She'd hand them off soon after, "Nice kick~" she mentioned to Sir Elyan finding that particular maneuver to be one of her new favorites.

But there was a show happening now and it would soon require the attention of all. As light began to gather Merlyn scoffed. Maybe she should have been a bit more firm with Arthur about his use of that particular skill. Oh, this was going to be a joy to fix. His words to Kolin hit her ears, and sounded like nothing but the excuses of a weak man. He wanted something more than lustful thoughts? How stupid, no man wanted more than to steep himself in his lusts. Any one who said any different was just lying and she knew it as a fact. Never mind that she was absolutely psychotic and wanted no more than to abuse every individual until she got to the one she desired. There was nothing he could do. "This little light show means nothing... you literally cannot harm me!!" she said her entire body became a hard shell of diamond magically enhanced. She was a veritable fortress of hardness that nothing could pernitrate. Or so she thought... Elyan and Guin received an apology and Guin who was very conscious of magic herself understood why this was the case. She sighed. "I told you there is no need..." it was only a castle... there was hardly anything left of her home anyways. Ah, but just a she resigned herself to this... a whisper from her doll brought her eyes down to it. A smile spread across her face, and she watched as a beacon of light and hope formed on this very day, to wipe out the evil that was Kolin. Of course, she recognized this, literally everyone should right? The cry of Excalibur was one which ended battles far and wide and brought hope to those downtrodden.

Arthur's attack hit Kolin and everything surrounding her and and she felt the cracking of the diamond. That should have been possible but Kolin felt herself shattering. If she'd stayed that way, she surely would have died if it reached her one flaw no matter. She did her best to protect it until the very end and got to reveal in the fact that at least this lowly kingdom would fall with it. Ah... but that wasn't to be either. Merlyn had already appeared at Arthur's side, clapping her hands together, she said a single word in the moment. "Shift." and this ignited her ability to manipulate. She shifted the reality of this attack turned the surrounding area into a dream for the duration. So that more of it focused on Kolin and not the true landscape of Zuria. She condensed the attack further, because it was now part of the dream. The parts which would have destroyed the castle instead reached for more of Kolin, ravaging her diamond body to the point of reaching her fault. A sigh escaped Merlyn, she'd almost been too late. She reached out and firmly aimed to smack Arthur across the back of the neck in the wake of this attack. "Are you crazy?! You can't just do that anywhere... you are literally borrowing the power of the hopes of the world as protected by one of the highest level players in existence. You basically are using the closest thing to a god-tier skill a human can possess, against a mid-tier mage." she exclaimed. Had she been the one to tell him about such an attack... yes. Did she tell him to perform it that way... yes. But she figured he would have learned between those monsters and now how little power was needed to fell a creature. Ah but what of Kolin her body now back to human form was well beyond saving. She coughed blood and felt her body still cracking further. "Ner-ys... heal... me." Her body was coming apart and without tending she would surely lose this face.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh? Well, I can't be mad at that. Good girl~" Cador said to the succubus, claiming her shackles when offered and leaping toward the stumbling Lot. Off his balance, Lot could do little against the superior knight's swift movements which bound his arms in mere seconds. Lot continued to stumble back as a result, finding himself further disoriented by... a blinding light, and the psychedelic effect of Merlyn shifting the castle to a dream-like structure. What was even happening?

Palpable awe filled the room as Kolin's crystalline body was struck and crumbled by the Future King and Grand Sorceress of Camelot. What could have been a very epic moment, though, was topped off by... Merlyn slapping Arthur's neck in the wake of his attack, even after contributing to its effectiveness herself. In an almost comedic fashion, Arthur lowered his sword and jerked himself toward Merlyn, holding the back of his neck. "MERLYN! You're the one who told me what to do and how to do it! You never said it was going to randomly jump to a new level of power!" he whined. How was he to know precisely how that sword functioned? He'd been under the assumption that his own input was the determining factor, only to wind up accidentally adding more to an attack already considered 'anti-fortress' by all means.

While this exchange took place, the Knights of the Round Table who were present... snickered. All of them, almost in unison, had a laugh at their to-be king's expense. Alas, this was also a time period utilized by Lot. He heard Kolin's order for healing by Nerys. No true knight could allow his precious queen to be in such a state, so his vendetta had to take a back seat, in a manner of speaking. Quickly he moved, aiming to use even his chained arms to join Kolin. If he managed, he would even be pulling her ─ and Nerys ─ along toward where his useless little brother awaited outside.

[Apollymi]

Cador calling Merlyn a good girl, made the succubus giddy. Yep, more fun to be had... not now but later. Now, she was being a proper teacher and good general influence on the world. She was helping Arthur navigate his abilities, but not without immediately punishing him for overuse of a skill. Yes, she'd made it more effective, and yes she'd taught him exactly how to do this but that wasn't really the purpose. "Yes, I taught you that..." she said about the attack. "Against monsters, in the wilderness... not in the middle of civilization. Time and place lad. Time and place." she said. "Keeping in mind the power level and fortification of what you are attacking is key. There are some minor things... I couldn't tell you before, but at least be aware of your connection. You should feel it by now..." Merlyn chided. All the while Lot aimed to capture both Kolin and Nerys. The latter of whom still just looked scared. After Lot got Kolin he was coming for her. And she was backing away. Nerys was above all things, a coward. She did what was necessary for her. If she stayed here... she'd likely be sentenced to death for her actions against the former King and Queen. Even so, Kolin's madness was infectious... would helping her secure her spot or leave her at the woman's mercy. She couldn't know... which decision was the right one.

Lot was going to have a hard time reaching Nerys, because Merlyn was going to be speaking to her. A look in that direction and all was still but Merlyn's face as Nerys looked at it. "Making the same choice more than once and expecting a different outcome is madness, Nerys," she said with finality. "There are things in life worse than death..." she also mentioned. This was a choice. A point of impact. Nerys could go with Lot and fix up Kolin or she could stay here and receive whatever punishment Guin and Elyan thought for her. She thought it death and death was too permanent. "I'm not so stupid as to think I can get away with anything. You can speak like I have a choice but are you really able to tell me life is worse than death when you literally don't have to fear it? No... then don't blame a coward for the choice they make to save themselves..." said Nerys and that was all. That distance closed again and Sir Lot would succeed in dragging along Nerys who would try to begin healing Kolin, but... there wasn't much she could actually do. Her diamond form had been shattered, which broke apart her body. She could delay it, but she couldn't actually stop the death. "All of them will suffer..." Kolin mumbled. "All of them will pay..." she uttered. "But none more than Arthur Pendragon!" her words were practically a curse, she truly now held a vendetta against him. She hoped they'd make it off. But as Merlyn had released Nerys' consciousness, she also knew they were getting away. "The other prisoners aren't nearly as respectful of the court as I was..." Merlyn mentioned. All the while the dream state of the castle returned to normal and Guin looked at it in amazement. Merlyn was truly magical as an entity and she looked so calm and poised. She also told Arthur off for his folly, she was obviously a very good teacher. Guin was very familiar with Queen Artoria's exploits though and she knew of Merlin how could he be here and a woman at the same time? These were questions worth asking right?

[Bloodedge]

"I should feel─" Arthur stammered halfway through a response, halting abruptly. Yes, he could feel something akin to a connection. Before that attack was unleashed, it was almost as if Artoria Pendragon had a hand on his shoulder to offer direct guidance against his foes. With that in mind however, he could only feel as if that amount of force was necessary. "Would you have done anything less, Merlyn? She isn't even dead from that," he said. Following a brief exchange between Merlyn and Nerys, Lot had managed to use the distracted state of all present to whisk the former queen of Zuria away. Arthur could already see Leorio's chariots racing off in the distance. Perhaps they should charge after them?

No. There was no use following the crumbling queen and her band of three servants. These people had been through enough, and Arthur was certain they would be brought together again one day. One sigh of relief after another occurred in Zuria's throne room; peace could be enjoyed, if only temporarily. "Everyone's alright then?" the blonde knight questioned. In response, those who had been deemed future Knights of the Round Table, simply took a knee. Cador, Hector, Elyan and Dagonet were all in perfect health. Kolin may have escaped with her life and a few of her lackeys, but they would never stop preparing to fell her properly. "All is well, King Arthur," said Cador, the first to speak for the group. He couldn't help it; something about the showing of Excalibur was more comforting than his wildest imagination. Some others could say the same, whether it was voiced or not. Slightly shocked, Arthur cleared his throat and looked to the women of the throne room. "Guinevere? Emilia?"

[Apollymi]

It seemed Arthur at least understood what she was talking about with the connection to the other... Queen Artoria. A smirk came to her face, when asked if she would have done anything less, Merlyn could only scoff. "No... I wouldn't have done any differently. Unfortunately, we are quite similar in that regard. Just two younger twin siblings," she mentioned with a chuckle. "And all is well, young King Arthur. I can tell you with authority that the woman known as Kolin cannot be healed from the wounds she has. She will die... and it will not be pleasant..." Merlyn said that wasn't an angry sentence though it could have been. Truly she was just more saddened by that stain on the face of a brilliant showing of humanity. Ah, but now was not the time to worry and frown. No... it was the time for celebration and for the coronation and acknowledgement of the young King by his current court.

When Guin and Emilia were called both did small curtsies as well. They seemed to be calmer as well thanks to the sight of Excalibur. "We are fine, King Arthur..." said Emilia who took a moment to give waving eye brows to Guin who still seemed a bit star struck. "Yes, we are fine indeed. Thank you... still it's surprising, you're truly King Arthur, Excalibur and all..." she said trying to recover and seeming flustered. Merlyn's voice would be the next one heard, always one to help a fellow lady out of a jam. "Yep, easiest to think of it as twin stuff... and just be happy with our Future King~" she mused, which gave the girl enough time to be able to raise those eyes of hers without feeling embarrassed. Mostly due to the fact that the man kept using her name to address her. "And thank you as well Merlyn for saving the castle," she offered the mage. Which made Merlyn scoff, "Oh please, I planned to save as many as I could when I came here. I didn't just include things physical in that ideal... it's one of those twin things... speaking of twin things..." Merlyn said turning to Arthur with devious light in her eyes. If the young Guinevere was embarrassed it was her duty as court mage to see to it, that all things would be balanced, at least a little. She turned her head away from the girls and spoke a little to Arthur about something he'd said, in a whisper so soft it would only be heard by him. "You know that thing you said about incredible bodies Arthur? Those proportions are standard in something like sixty percent of the women in this world. It is an ideal of beauty after all... Lady Guinevere is truly going to be the whole package~" she teased before sauntering off, to join the Knights as a group.

[Bloodedge]

Just as he thought, Merlyn's approach to dealing with Kolin would have been no different to his own. There was a reference added to the other Merlyn connected to the other King Arthur. Strangely enough, it felt as if a strong bonding moment was present between the two. Both of them were younger twins, and both of them were quite different compared to their respective siblings. Perhaps this was for the better; perhaps it was for worse. Whatever the case, it seemed Merlyn knew that Kolin would experience a rather unpleasant death in the near future. "You can tell that? What makes you think it won't be pleasant?" Merlyn's statements were always so very cryptic to Arthur. He understood that she had some strange foresight, but there was always a lack of clarity.

Emilia and Guin, too, were fine. Good. It felt strange, however, being addressed as King Arthur so many times in a row. He may have announced himself as such before, but hearing it from a group before properly claiming Camelots throne was... odd. He actually seemed a bit embarrassed as Excalibur lowered to his side, and his free hand rubbed the back of his head. "You guys don't have to call me King Arthur or anything," he said, though the first of his knights, Cador, spoke quickly. "Nonsense. Your kingdom begins with us; you should get used to being called King Arthur, even if you don't have a kingdom just yet. Or a queen," he added cheekily, knowing of the shared attraction between Arthur and a certain former princess. As if this wasn't bad enough, Merlyn also had something to say, though she spoke of Guin directly to the blonde male.

Oh... right. He did say something about incredible bodies when speaking to Kolin, didn't he? What did that have to do with anything, though? Of course, it had to do with Guinevere. One more instance of foresight came from Merlyn, though far less cryptic this time around. Guinevere was going to be... what? Arthur couldn't resist his eyes immediately shifting toward the white-haired lass. His eyes were wide, his face was beet-red, and there was a quick vertical switch or two in his gaze that he fully failed to resist. "Uh─"

[Apollymi]

Merlyn might have been the Queen of Cryptic statements. But she knew the death Kolin would suffer would not be pleasant because of how the woman would handle it. She wouldn't go peacefully. She wouldn't free her servants and send them off into the world. No, she'd drag them all down with her, kicking and screaming. And she was going to meet her match as she tried to drag herself across the desert. "Yes, I can tell. I've already seen it..." Merlyn said those eyes of hers glowing beneath her hood. Back to being a relative unknown and definitely neutralizing the effect of her existence. "It won't be pleasant because she won't accept it. Kicking and screaming... aimed at the Argonaut, unmoved by her tantrums," Merlyn stated, it was no less cryptic than her original statement but maybe, the exact details of this situation were very much unnecessary. Since he wasn't involved in what would happen she could be more clear in her description of these things than normal. Ah, but she couldn't really explain why she knew these things, nor could she explain the depths of her own Clairvoyance.

"I'm sure a King worth following should always be called a King..." these words were said by Emilia who managed to further nudge Guin. Merlyn for her part in handing off information to Arthur saw clearly that beet-red face of his as he tried nobly and failed to not scan the current form that belonged to the blue-eyed lass. In he meantime, Guin managed to find the wandering eye of Arthur once more, why was he embarrassed? What had Merlyn said to him in that moment of passing? Perhaps she didn't need to know? She looked down at the doll in her hands and her own eyes widened as well... Viy was no less meddlesome than Merlyn, luckily enough Guin was the only one who could hear her.

While the embarrassment of the situation settled, it seemed the Kingdom of Arthur and his Round table were coming together, nicely. Merlyn was pleased, the least number of lives had been lost today. The least amount of trauma had been applied to the group... best possible outcome. Still she paused before Sir Hector and Sir Dagonet offered and offered them a smile... beneath her hood her lonely eyes showed true sorrow. Merlyn had Sir Cador release Hector from his oath, knowing he would sacrifice himself for someone else, yet another thing she'd bear in her conscience. She truly meant every word she'd spoken in his eulogy. As for Sir Dagonet, Merlyn used herself as bait to free him and she also felt strangely about that use power. Though she was long-lived she enjoyed the freedom of the Knights. Especially the freedom from herself.

[Bloodedge]

"I'm... sure you have─" Arthur said, nearly sweating bullets upon realizing that Guin was privy to his glances. He cleared his throat, averting his gaze from Guinevere. He didn't have much else to say about Kolin's situation, if only because he didn't learn much from what Merlyn said. The information he had was what one could expect; Kolin would fail to properly accept her own defeat, and things would go farther south from there. Oh well. One could hope for less innocents to suffer, but at least they knew where to set their gazes.

Emilia referred to Arthur as a king worth following, in a roundabout way. Ah, wonderful─ more embarrassment for the Holy Sword wielder. "You're too kind," was all he could say in response. Now then, what were they to do? Anything would do to get him out of the current setting. Well... if these people would all follow him, he thought it best to leave Zuria before some act of vengeance fell upon it.

And so, the journey of the Future Round Table began officially. Where they would go, time would tell. Zuria would be left in the state of disarray Kolin created for it; it wasn't as if there were many people remaining anyway. The few people left in the kingdom were cared for to the best of the knights' ability, and then... they were all gone, leaving a shattered kingdom of ice behind.