Not a phantom...?
The night was silent as Sessyoin stared in shock at Alvin and the Tiamat behind him.
Beasts possessed imnse Spirit Origins; even as a larval Beast, Sessyoin's was far larger than most Heroic Spirits.
That's why she knew exactly how colossal Tiamat's Spirit Origin was.
Logically, even the White Dragon's mana, no matter how vast, couldn't continuously sustain Tiamat, right?
As if reading her doubts, Alvin said calmly. "Summoning Tiamat's true body is probably impossible for anyone in this world... But if it's just an avatar, and that avatar is already in Britain, it's easy."
An avatar?
Tiamat had an avatar within Britain's borders?!
Sessyoin froze, then shivered slightly, goosebumps rising on her skin.
The Tiamat before her wasn't even the main body.
Just an avatar's Spirit Origin was already comparable to a larval Beast...?
At that mont, Sessyoin's heart filled with the urge to retreat, yet her gaze on Alvin grew even more excited.
"You never cease to surprise , Lord White Dragon."
"You win this ti... But I look forward to our next eting."
With that, Sessyoin didn't hesitate.
She turned and left.
Her figure gradually faded into transparency.
Before vanishing completely, she glanced deeply at Alvin, a seductive smile curling her lips, then disappeared.
Alvin watched her go, a chill running down his spine.
Why did it feel like, after driving her off, things had sohow beco more troubleso...
Being stalked by a Beast in the shadows was no joke.
Alvin quickly gathered his thoughts, turning to Rin. "Rin, I'll take you back to the palace first. After this, I'll contact your father to co get you."
The girl was still dazed.
Hearing this, she snapped back slightly, instinctively glancing at Alvin. For no reason, she recalled the stories her sister told her at the Tohsaka mansion about the White Dragon.
The day Sakura ran away, she said she'd witnessed the White Dragon fighting the Servant her father summoned—the Hero King, Gilgash.
In that snowy battlefield, Alvin had taken the runaway sister to his ho, caring for her until the Holy Grail War ended.
As a young girl, she didn't understand love, but in that mont, she felt the budding emotion called "liking." Alvin had left an indelible mark on her heart.
From then on, Sakura had longed to reunite with him in another Holy Grail War.
In fact, people rarely empathize deeply unless they've shared the sa experience or faced a life-or-death mont together.
Like when your best friend gets dumped, and you're in the passenger seat as he speeds 200 km/h through the city... That's when you truly feel it.
At first, when Rin comforted her sister, she always used superficial thods.
But now... watching Alvin extend his hand toward her, the girl suddenly felt she could sowhat understand her sister.
In a world full of crises, with no fixed ho and a heart filled with fear... yet seeing him brought an inexplicable sense of security.
The young girl stared intently at the boy.
After a long mont, she reached out her small hand to grasp his, whispering. "Thank you."
Though a bit tsundere, she was still polite when it ca to gratitude...
Alvin thought to himself, suddenly feeling a soft touch against the back of his head.
Snapping back, he saw Tiamat staring at him, her crimson starry eyes sparkling as if saying. *What about ? Praise ?*
Alvin reached out to pat the woman's head. "This ti, it's thanks to you. Otherwise, it would've been tricky."
"Aaaa~"
Tiamat nodded, letting out a contented sound.
Watching her act so curely, Alvin suddenly recalled their first eting....how she had slumbered alone in the silent imaginary number space, her appearance serene yet her heart brimming with curiosity and unease about the outside world.
For Tiamat, simply being needed was a joy, so helping Alvin filled her with imnse satisfaction.
Before Alvin could think further, he felt a warm softness in his arms.
Coming to, he realized Tiamat was hugging him, as if comforting her child.
Alvin gathered his thoughts and hugged Tiamat back.
Rin watched them like she'd discovered a new world, her eyes filled with wonder.
Monts ago, she had displayed world-ending power, yet now Tiamat seed completely harmless, gentle as a lamb.
What exactly was their relationship...? Rin couldn't help but wonder.
At that mont, she noticed a faint sound at the entrance.
She turned to look.
Not far ahead, a girl in a gothic dress with flowing golden hair stepped over the threshold.
Manaka Sajyou spotted the three in the manor at a glance.
She paused, then her gaze on Alvin quickly filled with amusent.
"Looks like I'm late, Saber?"
Who is this person...? And why call him Saber?
Rin blinked in confusion.
Then, sothing clicked.
Wait... If I rember right, in the last Holy Grail War, the White Dragon manifested as the Saber class.
This girl calling him Saber...
Could she be a Master from the previous Holy Grail War too?
At that mont, Alvin snapped out of the warm mont.
Seeing Manaka Sajyou, his expression remained unchanged, but a warm smile spread across his face. "Manaka, you're finally willing to talk to ?"
Manaka froze slightly, as if just rembering they were still in a fight, and awkwardly looked away.
Seeing this, Alvin tily said.
"Anyway, let's head back first. About the transmigration issue, I need to discuss it with Lily."
If Britain only had to deal with ordinary transmigrators, it'd be manageable... But now, with such varied types of people, including Beasts—the situation was entirely different.
This ti it was Sessyoin; who knew if an even tougher opponent would appear next?
They needed a strategy before that happened.
...
Late that night, Alvin returned to the palace with Rin and the others.
He first sent Agravain and others to Duke Cornwall's manor to handle the newly risen "cultist" incident.
Then, Alvin went to King Arthur's hall, explaining the afternoon's events in full detail.
At the end, after a mont of contemplation, Artoria said.
"If Beasts are among the transmigrators... Britain's defenses alone can't detect them imdiately. Like this Beast, if your appearance wasn't so deceptive, Sessyoin Kiara might not have revealed herself so soon."
"But thanks to you... If her followers had grown more nurous, things would've beco far more troubleso."
Artoria's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
'Is there any way to detect Beasts the mont they appear?' she wondered.
As if reading her thoughts, Alvin pondered for a mont, then smiled. "There is a way... This era may lack surveillance, but it has a humanoid cara."
"Surveillance...?"
Artoria didn't understand.
"Mm... Simply put, soone who can act as Britain's eyes.
The mont a Beast enters the city, he'd sense it imdiately."
Artoria seed to recall sothing, instinctively saying. "You an..."
Alvin gazed into her eyes. "rlin."
rlin was used to slacking off and getting him to "work" was no easy task, especially if he hid in Avalon, where no one could force him out.
But it wasn't impossible...
At least, Alvin already had a plan to et him.
"I heard you brought a girl back?"
After so casual talk, Artoria suddenly changed the subject.
Alvin nodded. "One of Sessyoin's brainwashed devotees... But she saw through the lies early on and stayed in the manor only to protect herself."
"You've probably t her before."
Artoria's brow raised slightly, curious. "Who?"
Alvin looked at Artoria and continued. "The child of the current head of the Tohsaka family, Rin Tohsaka."
Artoria recalled for a mont, then murmured thoughtfully. "Her..."
She did have so impression of the na.
After all, Ishtar had once possessed Rin Tohsaka's body for a ti, and as a Servant, Artoria naturally rembered.
After chatting a bit more, Alvin tily bid farewell.
He didn't imdiately return to his residence after all, there was one more thing to handle tonight.
Avalon was a wondrous place.
In Welsh mythology, it was another na for the land of bliss, King Arthur's final resting place.
In the Type-Moon world, it was also called the "Land of Fairies."
In other words, only mythical beings could enter Avalon.
And fortunately... Alvin was one such mythical being.
.....
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