Chapter 97: The Duel of Strength and The Secrets of the Cage (rewrite)

Reunion and Revelations

For the sake of his image, Lott gritted his teeth and agreed to the rigorous training that was to come.

"Well, it's pretty good," Lott managed to say.

Scáthach, the formidable warrior, raised her spear with determination. "Come on, you will practice against me one by one," she declared to Lott and the others.

Thus began Lott's gruelling training regimen. He was pushed to his limits by Scáthach, a process that was as intense as it was demanding. The one feeling the pressure even more than Lott was King Leodegrance. Only the Scots truly understood the weight of Scáthach's presence—she was like a divine figure, constantly looming over him, creating immense pressure.

Two months passed in this manner. The end was in sight, and it was time for Morgan and Lott to prepare to return to England. During their stay, Scáthach's influence had caused King Leodegrance to fully submit himself as a vassal, and the reputation of Camelot's army had spread throughout Scotland. Morgan's goals were nearly achieved.

It was time to head back. Nagnivel had joined the Knights of the Round Table, and King Leodegrance had even sent one hundred and fifty knights to bolster their ranks further. With farewells said to Scáthach, everyone boarded the ship bound for Camelot.

As they prepared to set sail, Guinevere noticed a figure in a cage and turned to Galahad. "Um, Galahad, who is that person in the cage?"

Galahad felt a wave of dread. "I knew I should have moved him to the bottom of the cabin before we set sail. Now, of course, Guinevere will notice him," he thought.

Despite his efforts to keep Lancelot and Guinevere apart over the past two months, their paths were now crossing. Guinevere's curiosity was piqued by the caged figure.

Lancelot, who had been enduring a harsh imprisonment, felt a pang of despair. "Do they even know what I've been through these past two months?" he lamented. The rigorous training by Scáthach had kept both Lott and Morgan occupied, leaving Lancelot isolated. His only interactions had been with Galahad, who offered little in terms of conversation, and Merlin, who Lancelot was reluctant to speak with due to past grievances.

Now, Lancelot saw a chance to make an impression on someone new. Guinevere's beauty and presence prompted him to put on a brave face. He managed a cordial smile and said, "Well, I am an enemy of Queen Morgan. I was treated this way because I'm too strong."

Despite his imprisonment, Lancelot tried to appear gallant. However, Guinevere is more interested in Altria, who is engaged with her activities and pays no attention to Lancelot.

Guinevere looked at Galahad with curiosity. "Is this person really strong?" she asked, pointing to Lancelot.

Galahad hesitated before responding, "Well, not really." He was uncharacteristically shy about lying.

Lancelot, feeling challenged, urged, "Let me out! I want to compare myself with you." He was eager to prove his strength.

Galahad glanced at Morgan, who was looking at Lott. Realizing that action was needed, Morgan suggested, "Galahad, come and have a match with him."

After two months of intense training, Galahad had improved significantly. Scáthach's training had sharpened his combat skills, and Morgan felt it was better for Galahad to take up the challenge. "Alright, I'll do it," Galahad agreed.

Lancelot stepped out of the cage, stretching his muscles. He was confident in his strength and determined to win this time. "I'll be attacking first," he declared.

The match between Galahad and Lancelot commenced. Both knights clashed with their long swords, each determined to outdo the other.

After the bout, Lott, observing the bruised Lancelot, smiled and said, "Enjoy your time at the bottom of the boat. We'll release you once we return to land." Despite being the father, Lott had been thoroughly beaten by Galahad.

Lancelot's performance, much to his embarrassment, had been subpar compared to Galahad's enhanced skills. As he was led back below deck, his spirits were low.

Guinevere watched thoughtfully. "It seems this person is indeed prone to making grand claims," she remarked. She glanced at Altria, who was eating bread and noted the tenderness in her eyes.

Seeing this, Guinevere quickly hid a pie behind her back. "Don't look at me like that; I only had a piece of cake," she thought.

Morgan, observing the scene, felt a pang of embarrassment. "Even if you beat me to death, I won't admit that this is my sister. This is truly shameful," she murmured. Yet, she also saw a silver lining. "At least Gurney won't be interested in her. Well, forget I said anything."

Morgan's thoughts were interrupted when she noticed Guinevere's gaze. It seemed oddly similar to how she looked at Galahad, which unsettled her. "What's so special about eating pancakes?" she muttered to herself, perplexed by the fascination.

Meanwhile, Galahad felt pleased seeing Guinevere's interest in Altria. "It's right that Princess Guinevere likes Altria," he thought, satisfied with the development.

He pondered whether he should intentionally lose to Altria next time in front of Guinevere to further solidify this dynamic.