I open my eyes to see blurry greenery around me to my shock. It was a surreal sensation paired with the grassy smell and warm rays of light from the sun. I cock my head upwards but my body was met with a soft sensation of the white sheet covering me.

Thus, I find myself sleeping in a bed outdoors with trees all over the place and birds incessantly chirping and the sound of a lake gently waving at the shore. Unsure, I tried looking up just to be only met with a crystal clear sky.

O how proud I am to say how stupefied my countenance right now.

"It must be a dream, yeah. A very realistic dream..."

I laugh a little and felt empty internally but I immediately bounce back from the shock. I place a hand beside me so I can support my shaken body when I felt, I quote, I felt a horrible sensation of a man's chest!

"Kyaa! Honey, it is still too early!~ You were so rough with me last night!"

It was Merlin with his shit-eating grin that I harbored eternal hate but I will keep that to myself for now.

For now, I threw a punch at his face with a nonchalant expression.

"Ow! I think you broke my nose!"

"Ow--! I...I was planning on breaking everything!"

"What a horrible wife! I won't stand for domestic violence!"

"Shut up!"

"Oh, now that's an adorable expression!"

I hurt myself in the process of sludging his smug face with my knuckles. I click my tongue and expresses my ever-growing disgust of him. A drunkard, womanizer, and a blatant schemer...

He thinks it is so much fun teasing me!

I sigh once again, letting out all the happiness inside me. I laid a clear fact inside my head that I won't get anywhere near productive trying to blatantly show my repulse against him. Instead, I am more worried about the current situation.

"Just so you know, and I think it is obvious but I'll say it just to make sure, where the heck are we? I remember about last night that we are discussing about..."

My eyes fell short in as look down and start cowering on the confines of my knees as I hug it. There is a bad churning in my stomach and don't want to remember how Merissa told us how my mother, Nivalis, messed this world to a horrible degree.

I am thinking that there must be some biases in the story but recalling her face, my mother's face that looks so defeated and guilt, I accepted in my heart that...she has done something horrible...

"The talk yesterday put you in so much shock that you fell unconscious. You were probably hurt that you shook as you sleep."

"That was...really embarrassing. What happened afterward?"

"They postponed the meeting. Everyone was so shocked, even I. What was it that happened, I wonder? Who is Nivalis to you?"

"My mother..."

I honestly told Merlin since there's no point lying to him. Even if I lied, he'd just find it out one way or another in his little fancy investigation.

"I see, so that's why. That is the reason you had so much...no...a nigh-infinite amount of Divine Energy."

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

"Nigh infinite?"

"Wait, you didn't know? Or rather, you can't feel your power?"

There are some facts that I know and I didn't know. If and if that is one of the things I haven't learned yet. then I'll be damned. This body isn't even something natural in this world.

About feeling my power, I can't feel any growth whether physically or magically, which I am bothered. They said that this body has a plethora of magical energy but what I can use it for is very limited and specific. I can't even use Divine Possession or Divine Ascension without host or medium.

At the very least, I have hyper regeneration that acts as a relief for all the wound that I receive, however, I don't want to be complacent by such convenience.

It will dull my sense of pain...is what Master said and it will eventually turn me into a barbarian or a reckless fighter.

No...I mean...I already am...

Master will surely scold me if he is still alive. But he did get reckless in handling my body in our training so I could probably debunk his reasoning.

"Just how much you don't know about your own body?"

"I would like to know more about myself and what can this body do?"

"If you don't mind, we can study your body together. Come, the bed's here!"

"Please cut that out...It is seriously disgusting!"

"I get it. Because you are previously a man that such thought doesn't come across as normal. Then, let me ask you this, would you prefer a woman as a partner?"

"...That's...I am still..."

"Indecisive, eh? I'll tell you this, you better start picking up your preference or you'll be left with nothing."

"Easier said than done. Anyway, answer my question earlier. What is this place?"

If anything, suddenly waking up in the wilderness is, in itself, is wild and traumatizing.

Please, no plot twist!

"Currently, and technically, you are still asleep. I used a spell that transfer your consciousness in this world while maintaining your sense of wakefulness even though your body is currently in bed."

"So...It's like lucid dreaming?"

"Quite close. It is somewhat lucid dreaming but your consciousness was forced to leave your own body...of course through magic."

"...So...why here?"

"Good question. You see, this is that place...Avalon."

"..."

"..."

"...What the heck did you bring me here for?!"

"To be honest, you shouldn't even be here...or it is as you guess, even I shouldn't be here. If Viviane or Morgan finds out that I am here and brought over someone, I'll get scolded."

"Then what will happen to me...?"

"Huh? You will also be scolded, and sent back."

This guy...

I hope that's only it.

"So...why here in Avalon?"

"At least show a speck of fascination for you have come into the land that even King Arthur struggled to find. The only time he was able to come here was when he was dead."

Indeed, this place is fascinating but I cannot bring myself to express such thought. While this is such a prophetic place that fiction and reality clashes, it comes to me as lonely and unreachable...

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

It has air that similar to where my mother is confined...

"Merlin...tell me. This place..."

"You are aware that I am half incubus, yes?"

"That's what written in the book, about the Arthurian Legend."

"Are you aware of what we feed off?"

"...Vegetables?"

"..."

I honestly do not know, forgive me for this.

"Little Miss, we feed off from people's dream. There is a various form of energies around us and some are only visible to specific people or races. Are you following me here?"

"I understand that concept as I, my self, is having trouble grasping the energy called Ki."

"Yes, I never heard of such energy. Moving on, we incubus feeds off from dreams, to be more precise, the desire imbued on those dreams."

"Desires..."

"We are not humans or we will ever be close to understanding them. Even now, my antics are nothing more but driven by emotions I replicated from the dreams I fed off whether it is sexual pleasure, the pursuit for good booze and food, and even intimacy."

"Are you saying that you are only wearing a facade in front of everyone?"

"Who knows? Nowadays, it is something I cannot explain."

I cannot show sympathy or even the slightest concern for Merlin because of what he was trying to do to me or his antics and shenanigans. However, deep down, I am sad thinking that none of his acts may be genuine up to this point.

In the first place, why is Merlin always following me around? I am not saying I hate his company but I am curious as to why.

"Say, why don't you stick around King Arthur and not me?"

"Of course, I am the King's advisor so that should it be, no? I am well aware of that, however, King Arthur himself doesn't need me for anything anymore and I do not have any responsibilities for him as well."

"Your service for King Arthur expired and the two of you no longer has any connection."

"Well, in the first place, everything will be decided by the King himself and I no longer have any voice. Seeing that King Arthur will soon fade away and will become inherently part of the current host. Simply sticking around with him will be nothing but rude for him and his presence. I can still bid to his orders but that is the only relationship we have."

What a complicated relationship between the King and his subject has. I have seen how stern and steadfast a king could be, however, to have this mutual understanding where one has already regarded the other's will, it is simply attractive.

We can also factor the circumstances involving in this mutual relationship such as the duration that King Arthur slept and how Merlin patiently waited and the will and wishes of King Arthur, however, to have such strong bond despite the passing of time...

This is certainly and truly something deserves awe and respect.

However, even if I got a satisfying answer to why Merlin does not approach King Arthur, there's something that I hadn't found out yet.

"You know, there are a lot of people to follow around, though I won't accept if you started following around the twins, Topaz, or anyone visibly way too young."

"Oh, so it is fine if I continue following you around? You see, I am developing some romantic feelings for you!~"

"Bullshit..."

"But I am quite serious."

I didn't know what or how to react from his words and he wears a countenance that his words are honest. Before I can respond to his advance, he gently grabs my hand and pulled me closer to him.

"You are still unsure whether you wanted a male or female partner. How about I show you the joy of being a woman, just this once?"

"Wha--!? Wait!"

Merlin made an advance on my next as he starts breathing sensually that both tickled and sends a tingling sensation throughout my body.

I have to admit, it is in fact, that Merlin is nothing short of handsome. Despite being a wizard, he has quite muscles not too lean but has some bit of trained muscle.

Merlin pushes me onto the bed while trying to undress me by pulling my shirt upward which he successfully did and laying my bare body in front of him. In a feat of embarrassment, I covered my chest with my one hand as he still holds onto my other hand.

"Amazing...it's like the very creative minds of the gods and spirits were all poured in creating your body. Translucent and unblemished skin, as smooth as a baby, even though you are so flat, the very essence of your youth transcends anyone's desire to feel you. The flowery smell emanating from your body is a lure to anyone and could potentially seduce people."

Merlin tirades of sweet words kept entering my ear as he whispers it like honey dripping into my lips.

His free hand started caressing my hips sensually as if outlining my body until it ends up in my thighs that gave a slight shiver. The sudden sensation made me unconsciously clamps on my legs.

"Did you know that most people can feel pain and pleasure at the same level, to the point that sometimes they perceive pain as pleasure and vice versa. My thoughts about that are that there must be something wrong with that person. However, you, your body is so honest and sensitive that it reacts to both pain and pleasure to an extreme degree."

"Please stop this...I don't like it...I hate it..."

I pleaded with a coarse voice with eyes filling my eyelids.

It was that trauma...

"I know about it. I peered into the deepest fear and regrets that you have. My apologies as a gentleman should never escalate into this."

"You have escalated far enough!"

I shouted angrily. Merlin didn't take a second to release me from his grip and back away from me.

"The true reason I started coming into contact with you with such proximity is that I am feeding off from the residual divine energy that your body constantly release, which you probably don't know."

As Merlin spoke, I covered my body with the white sheet of the bed.

"Then why do you have to do that? Is there any good reason for pretend assaulting me? Why do you even lied that you want me?"

"No, I am, in fact, actually craving. Hadn't done it for thousands of years, you know. But I like it consensual and I don't mind if it is you, despite the huge difference in outward appearance."

"I really can't bring myself to be mad at you when you are this annoyingly honest... I'll forgive you but I don't you pulling the same stupidity again."

"I am most honored for your forgiveness."

Good thing I already know Merlin so much from the Arthurian Legends. I expected much worse, to be honest, but now I know that he keeps minimum decency.

Putting aside whether I truly preferred a male or female partner, I don't think I am mentally prepared for any intimate relationship. I even get troubled by Higan's advances.

"I understand that your reasoning now for your persistence, however, is it really alright for you to consume divine energy? And what are you going to use it for?"

"Divine energy isn't determined to be pure all the time. We do not take anything like we are scavengers. However, the divine energy coming from you, influenced by none other than you, is pure and rich. The closer we are, the better quality I will get."

"If you had told me that from the start, I wouldn't mind you that much, following me around that is, however. I still won't permit you to touch me like how you did earlier!"

"That, I understand much and will ask permission if I have the urge."

"So you won't give up after all, huh..."

"Yes! I prefer if put into mind that I will go as far for marriage if I am permitted! After all, you are an endless supply of energy for me."

"I don't think I am fine with that reason for marriage. Now, where are you going to use th-- Eh...?"

My body suddenly felt weak and my eyes are starting to shut. I started swaying back and forth before laying back down on the bed.

"You'll find out soon, Little Miss. For now, it is time for us to return."

"Wait..."

My mind blacks out instantly as I doze off in the world where fiction and reality clashes.