Here is the start of the 15 day project!
The church was seen as a sacred place, it was a place without impurity. A place that was untainted. To the eyes of the common person, that what it was but in truth it was anything but that. It was a place that was tainted despite the restriction. It was a place that couldn't uphold the hold it was there for.
On one particular day, this point added to the constant rumours and could only stay as rumours from the source. On the very first day of the month of May, in a desolate forest in a region of Europe, a church lay in shambles ablaze in an eternal fire as the sun beamed down above it.
There was no bodies, not any more. No pews, not anymore. There was only the candles and the remnants of what was once a church that was in full order. It's roof collapsed but it's debris was in order in the four corners of the church. At the head, sitting atop the somewhat ruined altar was a young man. An alert young man with hawk-like aqua eyes was looking directly up to the glaring sun in the sky. The fires glistened as they flickered, with no attempt to spread and no desire to burn anything that was currently outside of where they had already spread.
The young man finally dropped his head down to show his head of hair. His hair was a golden blonde. Short on the left side, but thick and medium length everywhere else. On the top of his head, his hair stuck up in an unkempt fashion angled diagonally to the right creating a small crescent. His fringe spiked down idly, short and thin at the left only getting thicker and longer the further across his forehead it got before covering most of his right eye and cheek along with completely covering his right ear.
Sensing the presence of intruders on the area, he tilted his head to the right slightly showing off the blue taper in his left ear that was shaped life a fanged wolf tooth.
"And what business do Devils have in this church?!"
The young man's voice bellowed at the three people that passed through the entranceway which only held one door barely on it's hinges. The person at the front was a young girl with long crimson hair in a dress. Then the two people behind the young girl was a man who was the male counterpart to the young girl in the front, and a silver-haired woman in a maid's uniform.
"This disturbance. We were in the area and I couldn't stop my younger sister from interfering."
"Mou~ Onii-tama~"
The young man raised a single eyebrow in interest. He had no idea what 'Mou' or 'Onii-tama' meant, not in the slightest.
"I see, then perhaps I should explain myself. I killed everyone here, destroyed everything and set it ablaze. Though I do feel slightly irked to have done so."
"You did this? You are strong for someone so young."
"Chalk that up to simple heritage, something you three are aware of."
The crimson haired male adopted a slight smirk at hearing that point. The point given wasn't filled with contempt but understanding.
"The Church tried to use you, didn't they?"
"Quick one ain't ya? However, you are correct. As a Hero Descendant and a natural Holy Sword Wielder, they wanted to experiment on me. As my body naturally exudes a higher Light-attribute count than others. In truth, I hold that in equal to whatever the 'Spear of the Setting Sun' is. Chalk that down to blood, my Holy Sword and my Sacred Gear."
"You possess a Holy Sword?! What is it, Nii-chan?"
Nii-chan? Yet again, something that confused the young blonde male. But, after slaughtering a number of priests he felt like doing some giving.
"Until I get more from you three folks, the name of that stays secret."
"Fine~! I'm Rias Gremory and the heiress to the Gremory clan."
"And I'm Sirzechs Lucifer, Ria-tan's older brother."
The Gremory clan? Pillar Devils huh?
The blonde man then turned to look directly at the Silver-haired woman who stayed quiet until the man who was called Sirzechs Lucifer looked at her.
"My name is Grayfia Lucifuge and I'm the Head Maid to the Gremory Clan."
"And I'm Gawain Rheon. The Descendant of Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's legendary Knights of the Round Table."
"G-Gawain? You hold Galatine, the sister sword to Excalibur?!"
"Along with it's ability to manipulate Solar Energy. I've faced a dragon before, compared to Corona they are pretty weak."
Sirzechs Lucifer's eyes dilated in their sockets, his knees started to bend ever-so-slightly as he was getting to bend down.
"You said your Sacred Gear helps your Light-Attribute count, does that mean you have Blade Blacksmith?"
The young man named Gawain chuckled heartily at that common misconception, everyone always had that first thought.
"No, no Sirzechs Lucifer. If you really are in the position of Lucifer then you will understand me when I say 'Knight's Prestige'."
"Y-You have that?!"
After blurting it out, he immediately kneeled down to his younger sister and furiously whispered in her ear, and presumably about what Galatine and Knight's Prestige was. In truth, it made him the strongest knight. No matter whether it was Holy or Demonic, Divine or Cursed. It was a sword that was now his.
"Can I?!"
After Sirzechs had finally whispered in his sister's ears, she jumped up and down excitedly. To which Sirzechs just knocked his head in the direction of Gawain.
"Ne Gawain-nii, would you join my peerage? Pretty please."
Gawain returned Rias' gaze enigmatically, a large surprised smile spread across his face as he stared down at her from the altar that he was sitting on. With the smile still plastered on his face, he spoke directly to Rias Gremory.
"I have been looking for someone I can call my King. So, Rias Gremory, why should you be my King?"
Rias seemed to rack her brain for all of three seconds before blurting out her answer surprising Gawain even further.
"Because if I'm to be the Strongest King then I'll need the Strongest Queen."
Gawain's smile only grew at her answer before he was unable to control what was currently building up in his chest and let it out in fervent laughter. It took several moments for him to calm his laughter but when he did, he smiled at the young heiress heartily.
"The fire burns strongly in you. Very well then. From henceforth, I will serve under you as your faithful Queen."
With a slight push, Gawain jumped off from the altar and a small breeze flooded out from his body dispersing the flames in the church along with the basic illusion of priest clothing that was around his body. His feet touched the ground with a metal clang.
With the illusion dispersed, Gawain stood up proudly in his armour. A royal blue cloak that split in accordance with his legs was under a glossy white armoured full-body torso, the collar of the cloak sticking upwards. Both cloak and armour were decorated with a golden trim. Attached to the underside of the back rim of the chestplate was a hood that rested against the chestplate, it was royal blue in colour with a white stripe down it's centre. Small white plated spaulders fitted to his shoulders by straps that locked to the underside of the chestplate. Medieval-style white gauntlets enveloped his hands, the very tips looked like they had been dipped in gold paint. On his legs were a pair of cloth pants that were also a royal blue like the cloak itself but due to the cloak and the boots it was mostly out of sight. The only freely seen parts would be his thighs or the crotch/hip region. The armoured boots were the same white plated metal as the gauntlets, spaulders and chestplate but these had extra to them. Like the normal armoured boots, it ran up his leg up to knee level and curving upwards to protect the kneecap itself but continued on slightly with a thin metal bar that wrapped around his thigh.
Gawain's smile slowly drooped but never disappeared and before the three devils could truly take in the sight of him in his armoured form, he hunched forwards slightly and put his arms out in front of him placing his left hand over the top of his right like he was leaning on something and that's when Galatine let itself be introduced.
The sword itself appeared into view, as if a curtain was slowly being opened to let in the light. A short sword with a hilt and grip that was wrapped up in a royal blue cloth. It was a single freely flowing piece of white metal. Then the scabbard for Galatine formed from the tip of the blade up, and like Excalibur's Avalon it was special. It was made from platinum and was sleek to the blade with a black flower design. The power to give nature a second wind, the ability to instantly grow a tree, the ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Sun's warmth, the act of photosynthesis.
"Beautiful~"
Gawain's smile reverted back to it's previous size. He thought the same thing. His armour, the sword and it's scabbard. They were all elegant and beautiful but through it's simplicity. The design was something so simple yet it's appearance was anything but mundane. Even by himself, he was a handsome young man in his own right but combined with the armour he gave off a divine feeling. Almost like he was art, the perfect picture of a knight. Standing tall, standing graciously, standing in wait.
Kneeling down, Gawain placed the scabbard into the hook on his cloak that fit it to a tee and looked straight into Rias' eyes from just above her level. His eyes had steeled once again, reverting completely to their original hawk-like appearance.
"I, Gawain Rheon, pledge my eternal loyalty to Rias Gremory. Through the swords in my possession, no opponent will be too tough. My sword is her sword. My pride is her pride. My gain is her gain. My triumph is her triumph. My reward … is her eternal happiness."
Surprising the three devils, with his out-of-nowhere speech, the young heiress stood there dumbstruck unable to say anything in return to his declaration of allegiance. And Gawain just waited, his expression didn't shift for all of the 5 minutes that followed, he continued to kneel there patiently.
When she returned to the land of the living, her face erupted into a bright red hue before she started to fumble around in the small bag that was by her side. Searching for the piece that would recognise him as her Queen and when she pulled the piece out, it shook in anticipation. Without command, it knew who it would be able to call it's home and so the Queen piece shot, straight into Gawain's armour shaking in it's power ready to do it's course in the reincarnation process.
"I order, in my name Rias Gremory. You, Gawain Rheon. To become my Queen, to begin anew in your life and to live happily."
Gawain's eyes softened as the Queen piece phased through his armour and started to incorporate itself with his body. A small bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as a brief pang of pain struck through his body as it was being forcibly altered. The pain only lessening slightly because of his consent, shaking his head to get rid of the pain. His eyes immediately narrowed and he bowed his head.
"From now until the end of time, your wish is my every command."
Their contract was then sealed with Gawain's oath. A reason to live and move on, a connection to his ancestor. And his pledge was the most important part of the contract, it showed his allegiance and it forced him to change colours. Until now, no other Gawain descendant had put themselves under the rule of another King so their cloak and Galatine stuck with it's Royal Blue apparel of the Arturian regime but now it was different.
The white stripe on his hood was the first to change, it darkened and deepened becoming an abyssal black. The royal blue faded to grey before darkening, taking on the appearance of blood before it's colour hardened and honed in on it's exact pigment. Then it flushed, the new demonic energy in him flooded out into his cloak and washed away it's hardened blood surface giving way to it's new crimson appearance that was no less beautiful then before.
His allegiance was set, secured in stone.
…
Around half a year had passed before Gawain was finally given sufficient freedom from the main compound of his King, which was the Gremory Castle. For six straight months, he was pushed into learning the devil language and it's politics. How devil's actually fight and then in turn training with the skills of a Devil but he was born better than average and had honed his limited skills to the level that he could freely spar with others. He sparred with someone who was actually considered a hero, in Japanese culture at least, Souji Okita who was Sirzechs Lucifer's knight. They trained together twice a week, every week for those 6 months and never did Gawain lose for it was always a draw for Gawain's style was unexpected and his level of skill was even more so.
He trained with Sirzechs Lucifer's Rooks as well, twice a week. But despite losing each and every time, he never allowed himself to falter. Always continuing to stand tall as the last line of defence to his King, and at the moment the only true line of defense to his King.
He was then forced into training with Sirzechs Lucifer's Queen, the maid, Grayfia Lucifuge. A woman who was quite frankly an anomaly to him. Her level of power truly transcended him and only when he summoned his strongest Demon swords could he truly put up a fight against her but it never lasted. While his ability to control Solar energy was more than sufficient to melt her ice with his Corona, he simply didn't have enough magic in his mana pool to even tire her slightly.
Grayfia Lucifuge was someone that Gawain spent a lot of time with, his tutoring was mostly done by her and all of his sessions, even physical training, was overseen exclusively by her and whenever his King could escape from her own lessons. Grayfia was an enigma to Gawain, her presence and position in the Underworld was something he saw as odd. She was the metaphorical third wheel and it was something Gawain learnt early on.
The rise of fame for the current Maous. They weren't descendants of the Maous he had read about before but the past heirs to Pillar Clans. There was a revolt, a Civil War with the Pillar Heirs coming on top. The point that intrigued Gawain most was the romance part. Before going to the war, Sirzechs Lucifer, at the time Sirzechs Gremory, was already set to marry the heiress from the Andrealphus clan but during the war was a dilemma, a sort of understanding than can only arise on a battlefield and to what vibrated through the Underworld a fleeting romance. When the civil war came to an end, Sirzechs Lucifer was forced into making a choice. The woman who he was set to marry, a woman who he had come to love or the woman he met on a bloody battlefield, a rare and beautiful woman who was one of very few who could keep up with him. And so Sirzechs Lucifer made his choice, the woman he grew up learning about, Karissa Andrealphus, who after the effects of the Civil War was the last remaining member of her clan.
Despite it all, it was a seemingly well regarded tale of romance and the whole thing just seemed to make Sirzechs Lucifer look better. He became the Lord of Devils, he could have technically had both women but he chose one. It surprised Gawain slightly when he was told the story and when he read the parchments for himself. It gave him a new sense of respect for his King's older brother.
And because of everything that was going on, Gawain had become someone who could freely go for 4-5 days without sleep and not experience moments of weakness. That was down to his Knight's blood and his partnership with his King. She was 5 years younger than himself, she was 10 where he was 15. They spent a lot of time together, almost as if they were brother and sister. He would spend time with her doing as she wished, watched anime with her, played games with her. His lap and chest was also a place she found to be as comfortable as her own bed, many a times she had fallen asleep on him and so he simply refrained from moving to allow his King her sleep. Foregoing his own so she could rest up.
Gawain's whole manner of being brought him respect from those in the Gremory clan. They loved him and loved him even more when they saw him with his King, Rias Gremory. The smile he wore as he looked after her, played with her, kept her safe. It wasn't a fake smile, it wasn't a smile to keep her placated, it was a true smile and one that was full of warmth but it wasn't one that was happy to be of service to his King but one of brotherly warmth. His gaze was soft, his naturally hawk-like eyes were always softened in her presence and never once was his narrowed, penetrating gaze sent her way. He always had the composure to loosen and soften up towards his King. And both the Lord and Lady of Gremory along with Sirzechs Lucifer loved him because of it, welcomed him truly as one of their own. To them he was the perfect servant and Queen Rias could have asked for. Strong and competent with feelings that were true and not out of obligation in the slightest.
Despite all of this, his only shown quirk was a more than confusing one. His quirk was his desire to dress his room himself, he instantly asked for everything to be gotten rid of in his assigned room. The maids and butler alike, stared at him wide-eyed and confused. Even though they were both servants, they had worse bedding than he did but it wasn't by much. When Lord Gremory was informed of this, his interest was instantly peaked and so he sought to find out why with his daughter and wife by his side and Grayfia in tow they went to his room. But when they opened the door, they were completely bewildered.
The door opened up to a brief spell of darkness before the newly installed floating candles lit up to dimly illuminate the room. Lined upon the four walls of the room were a countless number of the most basic black wooden desks, they fit together like a puzzle and in the corners the same desks stacked up high but in a broken yet organized manner. Crimson cloth with golden tassels lined the desks and the corners held the cloth like drapes. A single crimson carpet led from the door to the back of the room where Gawain sat on top of the desks. Standing like pillars on either side of the carpet like a barrier were ornate swords, beautiful creations that gave the room a much more regal feel.
And there Gawain sat atop the desks. With a silver jewelled crown on his head a smirk plastered on his face. A red t-shirt underneath the black leather jacket that hugged his muscular torso, a pair of black jeans tucked into a pair of black cloth boots that were kept fastened by red zip-up straps. His left leg dangled loosely just above the floor, his right leg bent and raised placed atop the desk with the elbow of his right arm balanced on the knee with a silver goblet in that hand.
Their eyes widened in surprise, Lord Gremory whistled in fascination, Rias blurted out her opinion on how 'amazingly cool' it was where Lady Gremory just blinked repeatedly unable to understand why and Grayfia … well, she just looked as uninterested as always.
"Gawain, you got rid of all the luxuries provided to you for this?"
Lady Gremory couldn't keep the confusion from her tone.
"Don't worry, I kept all the cool and fancy bathing supplies. I didn't expect there to be bath beads and the like."
"But why?"
"I believe my King put it in the best way. Because it's 'amazingly cool'."
"But where will you sleep?"
"Here. On the desks. From the ragged cloth covered slabs in the churches I've been in, this is great."
"That still doesn't explain.. No, I'm not going to bother."
Gawain wasn't interested as to why Lady Gremory gave up her questioning but was simply happy to it as he could keep the room as it was. To force him to change it would be to force him to change who he is.
"Gawain, don't you think a chandelier would work better for your candles?"
"I don't really wanna ruin the ambiance Lord Gremory. The swords are plenty."
Gawain had to give props to Lord Gremory, he understood.
"I understand, I really do."
…
The day after Gawain had finished his six months of standard knowledge and training lessons to be fit as a Queen of an Heiress, he finally left the castle to meet the people of his King with said King. With his casual clothes on, he slung on a series of leather straps that hung loosely around his hip with an empty brown scabbard connected to it. Slotting itself into the scabbard was a sword from Gawain's Sacred Gear, it was the magical steel sword Kladenets. Leaving his leather jacket open, he left his room to where his King was waiting for him.
Vaulting the ornate balcony, he drops down into the main hall of the castle and quickly straightens his body before approaching his King and her parents.
"Now Rias, remember to be good for Gawain."
Gawain's eyebrow raised in interest. It was like he was a family friend taking care of her for the day or so, not at all like he was her servant.
"Mou~~ Okaa-sama!"
He may have spent the past six months with the young girl, being forced into watching the things she enjoys and playing the games she enjoyed but still, he had absolutely no idea what it meant or why it meant whatever it did.
"Gawain. We leave our daughter in your capable hands. Please keep her safe."
To Gawain, this was a little too dramatic for their first outing which is just to scour the capital city. The place that treats her as a Princess. Basically introducing myself as her Queen to her people, showing them that she has someone to faithfully protect her always. Saying it like that and at this time is a little too much in his opinion but Gawain will respond to it in kind.
"I am more than honoured to perform this duty. I would sooner die than allow her beautiful skin to become blemished."
It may have been slightly ironic for him to respond in such a way that downplayed how dramatic he thought Lord and Lady Gremory were being but he was somewhat of a show-off.
"You don't have to go that far, my boy. She may be a young girl but she is still a Devil. A small cut or a bruise will not even last a day for her so please don't stress yourself to much about her safety."
"I'm thankful for that but I mustn't allow myself to become complacent. She is my King, if I can take the hit I will do so even if it means me being humiliated or embarrassed in some way. It's better me than my King."
Both of their gazes softened considerably, to the point it was like they were convinced that he was the right boy for their daughter. A man who would go to the ends of the earth simply just to make her happy.
"Come on Aniki~ There are so many places to go. So many people you need to meet."
He felt his left hand being tugged on the moment his King's voice graced his ears. Looking down with a raised brow, Gawain could see his king balanced on the heels of her feet with both of her small hands wrapped around his hand with two fingers in each grip.
"Of course Milady. We will depart momentarily, the Lord and Lady still would like to tell me something."
Gawain watched her pout with a small smile before he looked back to Lord and Lady Gremory who were still smiling themselves.
"Thank you for being so patient with her Gawain. She was lucky to have met you those six months ago."
"And so was I. To meet such a bundle of joy, all the aspects of my current life here have been fun."
"Good. Now onto what we wanted to say before you left."
Both of their expressions soured slightly but their smiles didn't disappear.
"There have been reports of shady goings on in the area."
"I see. I will keep my eyes on Milady and my ears on the gossip and alleys."
"No, no, you don't have to go that far. We already have our own lookouts for such things, we just thought we should inform you of this ourselves. I'm also sure that the people you'll meet today will tell you of the same thing."
"Understood. I will keep Milady safe, but not only that I will promise I will not dote on her while we are gone. Speaking of, is there any orders to be picked up while we are there?"
"Don't worry yourself about that Gawain. Just concentrate on Rias."
Showing his understanding through a bow of my head, Gawain then swivelled quickly taking his King by surprise before taking a hold of her by her waist and hoisting her up into the air before plopping her back down on his shoulders.
"Where to Milady? Shall we charge into battle?"
"Uoooooh~"
As Rias let out an enthusiastic shout, she pumped her tiny right fist up into the air in an adorable manner.
"Then we shall be off."
Without a care of anything else but putting the act into one seamless act for his King's entertainment, Gawain set off without warning and kicking his way through the large doors to the castle itself and sprinting off into the Gremory Capital with his King safely upon his shoulders. Taking a quick one-two step before the gate to the castle confounds, Gawain bent down before pushing up and vaulting the perimeter to the compounds much like a horse would to a wooden fence.
"Haaah...For all of Gawain's maturity, he sure does know how to act childish with Rias."
"And isn't that what's so great about Gawain. He is almost like a second son to us and a second brother to Rias."
"That's true dear but …"
Lady Gremory's happy expression completely dropped as a thought came to her head. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Lord Gremory watched as the back of Gawain and his daughter dropped out of view with a soft smile.
"He is so much like a son that we have become worried about his own future. He will find love, that is something I'm sure of."
"I hope so..."
…
"It's Lady Rias-sama~!"
"Rias-ojousama~!"
"It's the Princess~!"
Enthusiastic shouts from the people of the Gremory Capital leaked out into the air after Rias landed in the centre of the capital upon her trusted steed, Gawain. They were then instantly flooded with the townsfolk who had all quickly came to greet the region's Princess.
"Ara Rias-sama, who is this fetching young man with you?"
Gawain's playful smile rose up into a smirk alongside Rias' own increase in happiness.
"He's Gawain Rheon, he is my Queen."
Gawain gave a light nod of his head to go with her words as if to say 'What can you do?' about taking up her Queen piece.
"My, he must be a powerful one. Take care of our Princess, Mr. Queen."
"My honour to do so Ma'am- Oi! Get off my sword!"
Gawain's reply ended abruptly albeit the split second he had actually finished replying by looking down to the kids who were surrounding him and shouting at them indignantly to let go off his sword.
"Mou~~ But mister!"
That only further Gawain's frustration, more young people who know whatever that 'Mou' meant.
"No means no, you lot! I don't want you all accidentally hurting yourself."
And there is the first chapter! Woo~!
Honestly, the Fate vibes here are pretty obvious. He is like the love child of Saber and Archer, although the two Sabers i had in mind are both male.
Putting that aside, Fate will only be in reference here. I'm not gonna channel that much because i'm still relatively new to it all.
That won't stop me from mentioning it and having fun with that.
Then there is Gawain himself. Strong, most definitely so but he isn't overpowered.
He is someone who is tempered well and his power fits to the particular scenario.
At times he will seem weak and at times he will seem OP, and i'm ok with that.
It works for him as all he has to strengthen his body is himself, he doesn't haev the Dragon Armour of a Balance Breaker or what have you.
He simply has his Knight Armour.
And like i said in the Note chapter for Neko, for those who saw it and now for those who didn't.
You've seen the first instance of change. No Akeno as Queen and i'll say it now, it'll be a while before she is even seen in this particular story.
Some won't like that and some will be interested into seeing what i've got in store because of it.
The second instance is no GrayfiaxSirzechs, yeah that coupling got blown out of the window for me here.
Of recent months, i've become more and more infatuated with Grayfia as a character. Especially that Onsen side-story, damn that was nosebleed worthy.
I suppose that also gives away something :P
I'll get to the potential harem list or whatever in another chapter.
And i'll do some more explaining, tomorrow in the next chapter as i still have to finish the standard friday update xD.
So i'll leave you with the newest farewell and something that is close to me like my typical Ciao is language.
Seen as i'm half welsh and my character is Welsh, i'll bid you farewell in my first language.
Hwyl fawr~!