I acknowledge thee..

Although, that is one thing that piqued even his own interest. Merlin has indeed encountered many swords, whether they be normal, ancient, or legendary, in his lifetime. Never once did he hear one speak.

“I suppose it’s nice to see someone who still carries the same traditions, and values.” He mentions. Even if Merlin is surrounded by knights, honestly, after all the lying and deceit they’ve done— they’re no longer considered knights, and that’s that. However, in order to seize the throne again… Some actions are necessary.

However, such thoughts don’t even matter now, considering if his King has died again with the other world being destroyed (As much to his own shock) he has no reason to achieve the throne for the king once more.

“We have a lot of text, hmm, some items that may be of value. It depends what you’re searching for, really.” He pauses for a moment, “For someone like you I’m sure books involving magic isn’t your taste? I don’t sense a flow of mana within you, they’d be deemed useless.”

「He's more suited for the pursuit of battle, a knight that protects those before himself.」

Shosetsu blinks before looking back up to the other who inquires who he is, "A pleasure to meet you, I am Shosetsu Kirisame and the one who spoke is The Immortal Sword, Durendal." His hand rests on the hilt of his sword, even though it seems like a normal sword, it has the capabilities of talking and knowing it's surroundings like a true knight. "Being an Archmage, even if Durendal didn't speak you'd be able to tell the difference." 

「Shosetsu, you learn that in all proverbs that knights come across wisdom in many shapes and forms, I hope you remember this.」

In all his years of living, this is probably a greater magiceven Merlin himself has never experienced first-hand. Transporting one’s bodyto a completely different, parallel world- he admits, is impressed, truly! Though,a concerning factor is of what he’s been told. If he’s seeing this city with his eyes, and with the newly acquired information it seems like returning to his own world is merely impossible. Looks like with a stroke of luck he’s been granted several more hundred years to live.

With plans crushed, it’s certainly disappointing, but that just allows more to be altered, and recreated. Even so, authorities are quite generous. Being granted a space for a shop, Merlin finds it useful- a magic shop, to at least surround himself by items he enjoys, and have a space to himself. At the same time, starting small and attracting customers can’t be too much of a hassle.

Well… Until this one man comes him. Merlin only greets him with a smile, asking what he may be interested but he’s confronted with… Quite an odd question: “Potion seller, I am going into battle, and I want your strongest potions.”

An eyebrow raised, Merlin is quite perplexed. He isn’t really one to use items such as ‘potions’… As an archmage that has taken years to control mana, he doesn’t require that assistance. Well, this isn’t amusing at all, actually. Merlin folds his hands, “Certainly you jest. I may actually have to decline-“ But alas, the man doesn’t leave and only reiterates his request, “POTION SELLER. I am telling you, I am going into BATTLE and I want ONLY your strongest potions.”

“Even if I did offer you them, would someone like you be able to handle such powerful creations?” Honestly, he looks at this man, he didn’t seem ‘knight’ material at all. It’s quite disappointing! He can only sigh at this. Only this continued, and Merlin had no choice but to continuously decline. It was quite tiring, although the conversation finally ended with the man raising his upset voice to say as he leaves: “WELL THEN THAT’S IT POTION SELLER, I’LL GO ELSEWHERE. I’LL GO ELSEWHERE FOR MY POTIONS.” This is where he opens the door (bumping into someone on the way, but didn’t pay no mind to them), “You had your say and I’ll have mine… You’re a RASCAL. You’re a rascal with no respect for KNIGHTS!! No respect for anything … Expect your potions…”

There’s only silence, but finally with a wave of his hand he welcomes the other in that the rude man bumped into, “Oh, my apologies. It’s a shame you had to see that outburst.” He explains, “Honestly, I’ve met much more proficient knights that were more true to their values. Disappointing, really… Surely you’d understand, perhaps?” He couldn’t really ignore this one’s outfit. Unlike the other man, this younger male is clad in armour, with a sword by his hip that can’t be missed.

His destiny would be shown to him as long as his head is raised high and he holds an open mind along with good memory. Good memory does serve it's purpose but he is slightly shocked when coming along a shop he's never seen, perhaps new things are arranged with each and every visit. 

Now upon a sunlit dreary, while he ponders, weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While he nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. As of some one gently rapping, rapping at the store's chamber door.

「’Tis some visitor,」 Durendal muttered, 「tapping at the store's chamber door— Only this and nothing more.」They wait for the store's door to open, considering they've seen books and more books, exquisite items that Shosetsu has seen in books, heard of from Durendal, images within his cards. It piques his interest and Durendal must have noticed granted he has no eyes.

"Perhaps it is too busy for us. Should we wait and come back at a later time?" Though time isn't given to many so he stands still, ready to push the door open so he can enter inside but sadly, he's knocked into by some random stranger. Yelling his scrutiny towards the owner, anger is among this man's words and face.

“You had your say and I’ll have mine… You’re a RASCAL. You’re a rascal with no respect for KNIGHTS!! No respect for anything … Expect your potions…”

He seems.. So angry. Yet, Shosetsu only moves to the side just a bite as the man gives acrimonious proclamations. A true knight would take the words of a wise adviser. Hence why, a voice appears neither the owners, nor the tyrants or Shosetsu's, but the sword's own.

「A true knight recognizes when they are not strong enough, to train themselves so that they become stronger in order to posses the courage to carry out things they wish to believe. If you cannot succumb to truth or the words given to you by someone who sees covered in wisdom, perhaps, thou art find chill.. how does thou'st feel? The burn, I must say.」

There's a young man who walks by, overhearing the conversation and has no purpose with the shop but the shots that were fired to the bigger headed man. The pole the young man is next to, he leans on it and begins to speak to the male who's nothing more but enraged by this whole dispute. That man in the store has gotten on his nerves and then the sword too, which he believes Shosetsu had spoke such words had gotten him even enraged. So the male on the pole spoke to the fire that gleamed in the male's eyes: "Hohkay.. You mad?"

"OR NAH?"

A crowd rushes up, someone with a microphone can't help but bring up what just happened. HONESTLY! This is one of the ages. The announcer waving his hands together as signs are raised by many people at the epidemic, it's unseen always and forever to be remembered.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.. SHOTS. HAVE. BEEN. FIRED!" QUE GALAZO! THEY ALL YELL IT'S SOMETHING THAT KEEPS THE CROWDS WILD.

At this time, Shosetsu closes the door behind him once he feels that is over, he isn't one too big on drama. The young boy shakes his head, speaking up that it's fine as long as they didn't migrate themselves into it. Keeping himself cool, calm and collected, sapphire raise up as she can see the other glance at what he's wearing. "Knights true to the code are at times hard to come by." The code has been passed down many and changes so many times, not many people know it's wise words but Shosetsu does.

“My long hair is result from being able to master the Dark Core— I wouldn’t expect either of you to know about that though.” He sneered before ending with a short laugh. That remark was more directed towards Durendal than Shosetsu. He wasn’t THAT big of an asshole but couldn’t say he didn’t tell him so.

“What happened to ‘I plead my loyalty to you’? Is that only valid at Sen-cad? What a real shame considering that will save us some time and embarrassment for you if we did Buddyfight for the food. We are in a public place outside of Sen-cad and I don’t think Buddyfighting would be the proper way to settle this dispute.” He waved his hand in a dismissive manner before averting his head away from the two.

Once the knight received the food, a considerably noisy growl. It didn’t come to his attention that he was that peckish and even if it was repulsive garbage like McDonald’s. He just needed something to satisfy his hunger and they were bit of a distance from Sen-cad anyways and they were friends in the loosest terms, right? Though, neither the knight or the sword were exactly pleased to see him.

Feeling that Durendal was ready to speak, which he was, a hand removed from the tray was placed against the handle of his Buddy, "It's true." He wasn't able to handle the Dark Core and was even broken from that chance from a certain Buddy Policeman. Even to lose his cool in the middle of a Buddyfight, recalling the fact that he had even attacked Rouga as well, though smartass words would send anyone into a rage. This was why he acted the way he did, the reason why his words seemed sour towards the other's appearance.

"I was not able to use it the way I wanted, and because of that I have failed you." Words of old spoken to Durendal but as of now, this phrase being passed onto another. "Sen-cad and here are two different places, yes, but my loyalty was tarnished the moment I raised a sword against you. This is a Knight's consequence." Though, to Durendal, he believed Shosetsu to be more of a King than just any old knight, so hearing this brought the sword not to say anything as the other spoke.

"You understand don't you?" Finally looking his direction, "It's best to find someone who wasn't as misled as I. So that also means, I will not Buddyfight you, the honor to do that had been taken away that day. I also lost to Gao Mikado, there's no way to fix what I have done wrong." Friendship felt loss upon him, from all the thing he had done. Could he even consider himself that, and yet, with that..

Admitting his faults, eyes closed as he heard the other's stomach, a sigh leaving from his lips as he decided what to do. What was possibly the right choice? Even hearing that when they returned home-- like if they could. Hearing that their world was destroyed, there was nothing now. He'd never be able to repay him but, all this food wasn't something he could actually stomach alone. Truth be told, he did wish that he had gotten a salad. Picking up the burger that sat upon the tray and handed it towards the other, 

Seeing a rather familiar figure approach the establishment peeked his curiosity. Shosetsu didn’t seem like the type to eat at such disgusting place, the walls even leaked grease or so he heard. Knowing first hand how physically strong he was, this was the place he wouldn’t want to be. Maybe he was meeting someone or just wanted to get a healthy choice like salad or water or something. He didn’t put much thought into the situation but decided to advance forward.

Once he entered, he quickly slipped in line beside Shosetsu, seeing that he didn’t even notice him. It was sort of pathetic really, even if he was focused on ordering his meal, he should always be mindful of his surroundings. He would realize soon enough that he was there, which right on cue, he looked up to him.

"Right-o, Sir." The cashier had stated as he moved around, trying to get his coworkers to make the designated order. All of this was going to burn a whole in his pocket, "You do understand this isn't Sen-cad, asking me to just get you something isn't technically how things work anything." As if he was trying to avoid the other's gaze, this was probably some sort of punishment given to him over his loss and actions with the Dark Core. 

「Do my eyes deceive me.」 Really now? What eyes?「Is that Rouga Aragami? Wasn't it only time ago when you decided to partake in a decent trimming? Your hair is still as wooly as I remember. All true knights and kings believe in bringing themselves to seem par with humanity! But alas.. the Stone Ages took a number on you.」

A clear of his throat, this being Durendal's way of getting back at the other thought bad sportsmanship in public was frowned upon. "Durendal, that's enough." It wasn't even minutes until what was ordered, even the bill was rather high but luckily a twenty was able to handle it. Now contemplating if he really wanted to buy this whole insufferable amount of food, he only shook his head and as a knight, he would have to go through with this duty.