Ch. 113 When the Stars of Earth Shine

Even though it was stated clearly, Artoria still didn’t quite understand.

Because she herself was the king of Britain.

After all, she was the one who drew the sword in the stone, and what Merlin had always told her was that she was to become the King of Britain.

So, which country was Mia the king of?

With doubts in her heart, Artoria asked exactly that.

“I come from a place called The Lands Between.”

Mia tilted her head and glanced at Melina beside her.

Melina hung her head and said nothing.

“The Lands Between?” Artoria heard a term she had never encountered before.

Whether it was geography or history, she was well-versed in both, having been raised and taught by Merlin and Sir Ector.

She knew the legends and history orally transmitted by the Celtic people by heart.

She also understood a thing or two about the myths of distant Rome.

But whether in geography, history, or myth and legend, she had never heard of a place called ‘The Lands Between’.

Mia did not stop speaking: “If I were to explain in detail, I’m afraid one night wouldn’t be enough.”

“So, let me give a simple explanation. My homeland, The Lands Between, is a realm located at the intersection of many worlds.”

“…” Artoria tried hard to think.

She had not systematically studied matters of mysticism.

After all, from a young age, she had been taught with the goal of becoming a knight.

If Merlin were here, upon hearing Mia’s words, he would certainly be able to understand more precisely what kind of existence The Lands Between that Mia spoke of was.

If it were him, he would probably spout some obscure and difficult terms like ‘the outer side’ or ‘the inner side’.

But unfortunately, Artoria did not have the rich knowledge of mysticism that Merlin possessed.

If one had to say, her knowledge reserve regarding mysticism was at most that of a relatively well-read ordinary person, and it didn’t even touch upon being a mage.

Of course, she wasn’t stupid, and soon, she asked Mia based on her own understanding.

“The other worlds you speak of, are they existences similar to the ‘Land of Shadows’?”

The Land of Shadows was the netherworld in Celtic mythology that received the dead and departed souls.

It was perfectly fine to consider the Land of Shadows as the ‘world of the dead’.

Since the Land of Shadows was the world of the dead, then the place where they stood at this moment could be called the ‘world of the living’.

Since there was a world of the living and a world of the dead, it was a logical argument that other different worlds could exist.

In Germanic mythology, the World Tree Yggdrasil connected nine worlds.

These legends might not be true descriptions, but to Artoria, this was indeed easier to understand.

Mia nodded: “It is indeed a similar existence.”

Communicating with a smart child was truly a pleasure.

She continued: “In order to become the King of The Lands Between, I came to this world to train myself.”

Then, she deliberately pretended to be surprised: “However, are you also a future king?”

Since she had this ability to travel between worlds.

Her skin should also be correspondingly thick.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to integrate into other worlds.

“Although that is so…” Artoria blushed with embarrassment: “But I am still working hard to be recognized by the sword of selecting kings. So, I am also in the midst of training.”

“So,” Mia smiled brightly: “It seems we have many things in common.”

A look of joy appeared on Artoria’s face.

“It feels like I’ve made a friend.”

Mia said with a rather doting tone: “Things like making friends don’t need to be said out loud; everyone will have a tacit understanding.”

And in Artoria’s heart, the competitive spirit when facing a peer was finally hard to suppress.

Since they were both young girls advancing on the journey to become kings.

“In that case, why don’t we compete to see who can stand on their own first!”

“Well…”

Artoria’s suddenly jumping train of thought made Mia hesitate a little.

Wait a minute!

What is there to hesitate about?

This is an invitation from Artoria Lily!

“Okay!”

Once she figured this out, Mia immediately nodded and agreed to Artoria’s proposal.

Artoria happily reached out to Mia, and subsequently, their two palms were tightly clasped together.

“Since that’s the case, let’s travel together from now on?”

Taking this opportunity, Mia made the proposal to travel together.

“Okay!”

As for Artoria, she immediately agreed without a second thought.

Only then did she come back to her senses: “Ah… I still need to get the consent of Brother Kay and Merlin for this.”

“Artoria~ can you please handle this?”

“Eh? Handle it for me…”

“It’s already very late, isn’t it?” Mia began her cajoling: “I’m not very familiar with Merlin and Kay, and it probably wouldn’t be good to disturb them now, so could you please do it?”

“Then, alright.”

The knight princess who could not refuse others accepted this commission.

Then, a step ahead of Mia, she trotted away from the stable.

“Oh, right,” she had just stepped out but turned back: “Good night, Natalis!”

Once she finished speaking, she disappeared without a trace.

“Hmm…” Recalling the cute face of the youthful Artoria.

Mia nodded profoundly.

“Come, Torrent.”

Torrent shook its mane and returned to the whistle.

Walking out of the stable, Artoria was already gone.

“Melina.”

“I am here.”

“It seems we will have to stay in this world for quite a while.”

“This is a very beautiful world,” Melina replied.

Just having arrived here.

But just seeing those vibrant villagers and experiencing the kindness given by others.

Seeing the life that, after the Shattering, no longer existed in The Lands Between.

And the pure smile that bloomed on Artoria’s face, which seemed to be Mia’s.

She understood why Mia would say that compared to The Lands Between, this place was like a pure land of ultimate bliss.

Even if this village was just a corner in a remote mountain forest.

Even in Melina’s heart, a desire to stay here emerged.

“What I must do is to recreate the happiness and smiles of this world on The Lands Between.”

Mia looked up at the pitch-black night sky.

“Yes, you have said so. Therefore, I understand.”

Melina looked at Mia’s back and quietly reached out to her.

Hesitating for a moment in mid-air, she then actively grasped Mia’s palm.

Mia looked back at Melina with some surprise.

Melina was clearly shy.

She didn’t dare to make eye contact with Mia.

Even though no one could see Mia’s eyes, she couldn’t either.

Mia gently pursed her lips and smiled as she raised her head again.

At this moment, the dark clouds dispersed with the wind.

Clearing the clouds to see the moon, and also the starry sky.

Those twinkling stars, they were scattered across the vast and boundless night sky, either arranged in groups or shining independently and lonely.

That was the starry sky, the starry sky of Earth.

Without any obstruction, and not an illusory existence, it was the real brilliance of stars twinkling countless light-years away.

Mia looked straight at that starry sky.

“Let’s go, let’s find a high place!”