FATE: The Man with Divine Keys

'When faced with difficulties, they do not retreat; when confronted by enemies, they show no fear. They remain humble, hold compassion for the weak...'

Ector gently tapped the tabletop, carefully pondering the meaning of these words from Arkhan's mouth a moment ago. After a while, he let out a heartfelt sigh.

'I'm starting to believe what Karl said. Such profound wisdom is not something a teenager can possess.'

With these thoughts, he couldn't help but glance at his eldest son and sighed inwardly.

'If only Kay could possess half of Arkhan's wisdom, no, even a tenth would do...'

Kay found Ector's reaction a bit perplexing but quickly brushed it aside and urged, "Father, you must have noticed Arkhan's talents. He is undoubtedly a person of great wisdom. If we could bring him to our side, he could undoubtedly become Lily's right-hand man in the future. We can't afford to let such talent slip away!"

Though he had his differences with Arkhan, Kay had always been impressed by Arkhan's intelligence. Arkhan had a unique ability to simplify complex knowledge and his understanding of things surpassed others. His deep black eyes seemed to possess the power to easily penetrate everything.

Artoria was fated to become a king, and the thought of her carrying the weight of shaky Britain on her slender shoulders in the near future filled Kay with anger.

But he couldn't change anything. Artoria had accepted her fate, and all he could do was work hard to support his sister and share some of the burdens in the future.

So, he wanted to bring Arkhan into the fold. Arkhan possessed knowledge comparable to the Great Mage Merlin, and with his assistance, Artoria could carry her burdens more easily.

Ector continued to tap the tabletop, his eyes filled with contemplation.

If even Kay could see it, how could he not? He also knew that Arkhan possessed not only exceptional wisdom but also unparalleled valor.

In an instant, Arkhan had slain dozens of wyverns, making him one of the best in all of Britain.

But it was precisely because of this that Ector hesitated.

Would someone of Arkhan's caliber truly be willing to be bound by the constraints of a small Camelot?

Although he didn't want to admit it, the thoughts that constantly surged through Ector's mind made it clear that if Arkhan were willing, he could undoubtedly create a nation as powerful as, if not more powerful than Camelot.

Merlin was not human; he was mixed blood from the union of an incubus and a fairy, a being incapable of understanding human emotions. He helped Camelot not solely out of duty or obligation—on one hand, it was because of the pact he had made with the former king, and on the other hand, it was to observe humans closely for his own satisfaction and entertainment. {T/N: It seems like Merlin is a mixed-blood of incubus and fairy in this story.}

Merlin had the ability to see everything in the 'Present' with his 'Clairvoyance', allowing him to view the world from a god-like perspective. He aided Camelot not because it chose him, but because he chose Camelot.

Arkhan was similar to Merlin in many ways—wise, powerful, and possessing a perspective that transcended time. The only difference was that he was a true human.

And perhaps that made things even more complicated.

Humans were complex beings, and what drove them to take on responsibilities was usually either self-interest or emotion. Camelot couldn't offer Arkhan anything that would truly sway him, and as for emotions, Arkhan didn't seem like someone who would easily become emotionally attached.

'Maybe I should use Artoria?'

Ector was startled by his own idea, but after careful consideration, he realized that it might be a viable option.

Binding through a marriage alliance was almost common in this era. Uther had married his daughter off to powerful neighboring kings to ensure that Camelot remained stable until Artoria took the throne.

Using Artoria to secure a powerful intellect like Arkhan seemed like a good deal.

It was not a surprise.

Ector was a knight loyal to King Uther. In his heart, only King Uther was Camelot's true king. Raising Artoria was simply an order. If he were to treat her as a daughter, Ector would undoubtedly cherish her as the most precious gem in the world.

But when it came to treating her as a king? Unless Artoria could demonstrate talents surpassing those of King Uther, he would never acknowledge her.

Speaking more realistically, apart from Merlin, Uther, and Kay, almost everyone who knew the inside story did not believe Artoria could take on the responsibilities of a king. It was just because of the threats from King Vortigern and the Anglo-Saxons that they had to soldier on.

Artoria lifted her head to glance at Ector behind the desk, then lowered it again. Her sacred azure eyes remained calm, like a tranquil lake without a ripple.

Although she didn't have the power to read minds, her natural intuition allowed her to see something in Ector's eyes.

Ector gradually returned to reality. He still remembered his position and knew he couldn't decide such matters himself. So, he cleared his throat and looked at Artoria. "Art, what do you think?"

The golden-haired girl fell silent for a moment, then raised her head. In a calm tone, she said, "I will find a way to seek help from my teacher—using my own methods."

"Is that so..." For some reason, under the gaze of those azure eyes, Ector inexplicably felt a bit guilty and uneasy. He unconsciously shifted his gaze away. "Then go ahead and do what you need to."

===

"You want to discuss something with me?"

Arkhan, who was preparing his lesson plans for the next day, turned his head to look at the golden-haired girl in front of him. After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and said, "Sure, can we talk here?"

Artoria hesitated for a moment, her expression showing some uncertainty.

"Well, it seems to be an important talk..." Arkhan picked up his coat. "Let's go. I haven't been out for a walk in a long time, and staying in one place all the time is getting boring. My bones are starting to rust."

The two of them then walked out of the house, strolling along the edge of the lake.

Artoria remained silent, keeping her head down.

Arkhan didn't rush her, casually enjoying the scenery along the way. After spending over a decade in that desolate land of the dead, even seeing a pile of manure could bring joy to his heart.