IBHJ 1127

"Back away, all of you." Shirou guided Guinevere backward while the soldiers retreated, giving Mordred enough space to lead Xuanzang and Abigail to safety.

The soldiers from Camlann remained still, reluctant to move. They all knew what made Guinevere special within the Empire - she was the only one who hadn't received eternalization. Not one of them wanted to risk her safety with a rash move.

While keeping his eyes trained on the soldiers, Shirou maintained his hold on Guinevere, one hand gripping her sword wrist and the other pinning her arm behind her back. Being this close to her, he couldn't help but notice the subtle floral scent drifting from her hair.

The proximity didn't bother him - he'd been through far more intense training with Guinevere back in the Eternal Kingdom. But this Imperial Princess was different from the woman who had trained with him. She trembled in his grip, clearly caught between fear and embarrassment.

She felt so much more fragile than the Guinevere he knew, completely powerless in his grasp.

"Tell me something, Princess," he said without loosening his hold. "What do you know about Eternal King?"

"N-Nothing, I don’t know who that is." Her voice quavered with fear. "Please... you're hurting me..."

"Do you think a battlefield is child's play? If someone else had caught you, you'd be dead by now."

Shirou's grip tightened, making Guinevere's legs shake beneath her.

"Does it hurt?" he asked.

"Yes..." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Good." He smiled. “I enjoy seeing you in pain."

Guinevere fell silent, her body stiffening with fear.

Then Kama appeared. Her breath stopped at the sight of so many Imperial soldiers, thinking for a moment they'd walked into a trap. But when she saw it was just Shirou holding Guinevere captive, she relaxed.

They'd gotten lucky. If they'd faced several Apostles in Imperial Armor instead, especially the First Apostle, this would have been their last stand.

A thick fog rolled in from the sea, swallowing the strait in an impenetrable white blanket. Nothing remained visible beyond a few feet - no waves, no horizon, just endless white.

"Whooo-whooo—"

The train whistle pierced through the fog. Then the locomotive itself emerged, cutting through the void as if the sea were solid ground, gliding across the water before coming to rest at the shore.

"Big brother! The train is here!" Abigail called out.

Shirou glanced at the train and nodded. He kept his grip on Guinevere while the others boarded, then began backing toward the train.

The Imperial soldiers moved closer with their weapons raised, but with Shirou still holding their princess hostage, none tried to make a move.

Shirou leaned close to Guinevere's ear. "Remember what I said about the battlefield, Princess. This is twice now. Come after us again, and I won't be so gentle."

With that, he pushed her toward her soldiers and leaped onto the train.

The Imperial soldiers rushed to attack from both sides, but the train was already in motion.

With a piercing "whooo-whooo," the locomotive plowed forward, scattering the soldiers who tried to block its path.

"Your Highness, are you hurt?" The soldiers crowded around Guinevere.

She didn't answer. Her face was ashen as she watched the train disappear into the fog, Shirou's words still ringing in her mind.

"Lord Shirou... why must you stand against the Empire? You know you can't defeat His Majesty..." she whispered.

Guinevere bowed her head. All her life had been painted in shades of gray until he appeared, bringing with him colors she'd never known existed.

But why did the first person to make her world brighter have to be an enemy of the Empire?

…

Shirou stood at the back of the train, watching the shore fade into the distance. He'd finally seen her again - that same timid yet capable Guinevere from his memories.

But this Guinevere wasn't the one he knew. She stood with his enemies now, separated by a divide neither of them could cross.

"Stay away from the battlefield, Guinevere," he murmured.

When he turned around, he found Kama standing quietly behind him. She was staring at the distant shore with a thoughtful expression.

"Worried about Goetia?" he asked.

"Goetia can handle himself." Kama frowned. "Something doesn't add up though. If they knew enough to trap us from both sides, why weren't there more Apostles with the ambush force?"

She had a point. If they'd faced Apostles in Imperial Armor along with those soldiers, there would have been less chance to escape.

"Maybe they weren't completely sure we'd pass through this place," Shirou said, though he knew better. Guinevere's strategy had given her a seventy-percent chance of success, and most Apostles hadn't joined her operation simply because they didn't know her hidden talent.

That would change after today. They would start taking her seriously.

The thought troubled him. If Sakura learned about Guinevere's hidden talent, she wouldn't hesitate to eliminate this threat no matter the cost. That's why he kept this from Kama.

He understood the risk he was taking by letting Guinevere go. His warning about the battlefield being no place for games had been meant for himself as much as for her. This was a war between worlds - he couldn't afford to show mercy to enemies.

Yet when he looked at Guinevere's face, he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless. For all his apparent coldness, he was like that sword she'd carried - still wrapped in its sheath, unable to draw blood.

Shirou knew he should never have seen this connection point. His hesitation showed he lacked the resolve to clear it. Deep down, he understood this was his greatest trial within this connection point.

These people were the same yet different, their circumstances both familiar and foreign. Since opening his eyes in this world, he'd felt it. The Eternal Empire shared countless ties with the kingdom he'd poured his soul into building.

As he walked past Kama into the train car, Mordred approached him quietly. "You keep sparing them—Mom's counterpart, Teacher's counterpart... You should know that even the sharpest blade can't cut when it's sheathed."

"What would you have me do?" he asked gently.

She sank into a nearby seat. "I... I don’t know. I can't go through that again. Not a second time."

"You feel it too, then." He leaned back, watching the distant shore through the window. "How our kingdom and this empire are so similar.”

A beam of white light pierced the sky and landed inside the train.

Goetia had returned, and his rage was immediate. He rounded on Shirou, eyes blazing. "You let that witch escape! Have you lost your mind, Eternal King?"

Shirou stared back. “Why does everyone care so much about that witch?”

"The fairies of Avalon want her. Without their power, you can't defeat the Eternal Empire." Goetia's voice grew bitter. "You talk about protecting Pan-Human History, but where is your resolve? Solomon valued your foresight so much that he destroyed me, his life's work, his ideals, and everything just based on your prophecy. Even though I hate you for turning him against me, I respected his vision. Back then, I had developed my own consciousness, and obtained something important. But now, I don't see your resolve anywhere!" He gestured in disgust. "This Eternal Empire exists because of your mistake!"

Shirou furrowed his brows, "What do you mean by that?"

Goetia just crossed his arms and walked away with an angry huff.

Shirou turned to Kama, who let out a weary sigh. "When we reach Tír na nÓg, you'll get your answers from Merlin and his father. They'll tell you everything about the Empire and the Emperor." She paused. "But prepare yourself, Eternal King. Everything that exists now... it all started with you."

Hearing this, his frown deepened.