And here we have our first religious back-and-forth. You've been warned.
One could call it friendship.
Turns out Ritsuka's hunch was right. The combination of George and Siegfried worked out marvelously, with George's Noble Phantasm transforming the Doors into Dragons, and Siegfried able to put them down quickly. Coupled with another Master's Asterios, they made short work of the Doors guarding the treasure.
As the temporary Asterios left and waved farewell, the group was pulled from their positions and brought back to Chaldea.
"That was awesome!" Ritsuka had way more energy today than he'd ever seen. "I don't know why everyone brushes you two aside, you work so well together!"
George slowly opened his eyes and sat up, looking around the room. The others were gradually coming to.
"I'm a little sad I wasn't able to do much," Diarmuid said, holding his head in his hand. "Perhaps next time I can be of more use."
George had climbed out of his Coffin and made his way towards Siegfried. When he looked inside the coffin, the Dragon Slayer was still unconscious. George placed a hand on his shoulder and gently shook him. "Siegfried, wake up," he said.
Siegfried's eyes fluttered open. He looked around and eventually sat up. "Is this…?" he started.
"We have returned to Master's world, yes. Are you all right?"
"I believe so. My head's spinning and I don't think I should get up too fast."
"It's like that for all of us. Take your time." The Saint stepped back and waited. Within minutes, the Dragon Slayer had slowly crawled out of his Coffin and tried to stand, only to collapse upon taking a step. George was quick to catch him before he'd fallen flat on his face.
"I'm sorry." Siegfried was quick to apologize. "I don't want to be a burden, but…"
George cut him off. "It isn't a burden if I wish to do it. Please, let me take you somewhere to rest."
Since George's chambers were closer, he brought him there. He sat Siegfried on his bed and sat next to him.
"The first trip is never the easiest," he told him. "Not that it's ever easy, but it's always the first that's really rough."
Siegfried nodded, holding his head in his hand. "I'm still very sorry for troubling you," he said to him.
"As I told you, it isn't trouble if I want to do it. Now please, just focus on resting. I assume Master is finished for today, so please try to rest."
"Okay." Siegfried reluctantly curled up in George's bed and closed his eyes.
George was greeted by Ritsuka when he left his room. "Is he okay?" he asked.
"Not exactly," George sighed. "Worn out from Rayshifting. I'm letting him rest in my quarters for the time being, if that's all right."
"Whatever he needs, but where the heck are you going to sleep?"
"I will confront that problem when the time comes." He turned his attention back towards his chambers. If they were going to be working together, then he had to start somewhere.
Siegfried later came to, only to find George not there. Concerned, he got up and walked outside of the room, only to see that the Rider had fallen asleep outside the room. He stared for a moment before kneeling next to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Rider, wake up," he said, shaking him gently.
"Hm?" George's eyes fluttered open and raised his head, turning to meet Siegfried's gaze. "You're awake. How do you feel?"
"Better. Thank you for allowing me to stay."
George simply smiled. "It's the least I could do for an ally." He stood up and faced the Saber. "Unfortunately, I'm not quite tired anymore," he sighed. "Would you mind if you stayed a little longer? If we're to be working together, I'd like to know more about you."
Siegfried's eyebrows raised in surprise. "I mean, if you're sure it's not going to be a waste of your time," he answered.
"I've plenty of time. Are you still exhausted?"
"Not at all, but…"
"I don't mind. In fact, I've actually been curious about those from other faiths." With that, he entered his chambers again, and Siegfried reluctantly followed.
George promptly sat on his bed, and motioned for Siegfried to sit with him, but Siegfried shook his head. "I'm all right with standing," he answered.
"If that's what you wish," George said with a shrug. "Master seemed pleasantly surprised to see you when he first summoned you."
"I don't even know why. I don't think I was much use back in Orleans, and I'm surprised he's getting such mileage out of me now."
"God works in mysterious ways, yes."
The Saber's eyes widened as he took a step back. "Oh…" he muttered. "I forgot you had only one god."
George facepalmed. "Just as I forgot you claim to have several," he responded. "How do you live like that?"
"I couldn't begin to tell you. I just do. Is it true that your god does everything on his own?"
Now it was George's turn to be surprised. In his past experiences, people who worshipped false gods tried to lure him into their hell-bound faith rather than try and understand his own. "Not exactly," he answered. "He has angels who help Him light the way, and people can either choose to follow what He and the angels have laid out or stray from His path. However, they will eventually find their way back to His light."
"What's he like, anyways?" When George shot Siegfried a suspicious look, Siegfried explained, "Sorry. I'm asking out of curiosity."
"He loves His children," George answered, "even those that stray from the path He has laid for them. He even sent His only Son to pay for the sins of humanity as a whole."
"Did the boy have a choice in the matter?"
"He knew of His fate, yes. I tried to emulate Him, to not falter in the face of danger. To proclaim God's word even at the cost of my life." George suddenly looked up at Siegfried, his eyes narrowed. "Well?"
"'Well' what?"
"What of your 'gods'? Are you not going to convince me they are superior? That I've been blindly following some 'non-existent being' my whole life?" He braced himself for what he thought the Saber would say, the same drivel he'd been hearing since he left the Emperor's service.
"I wish my gods were as kind as yours," Siegfried sighed, looking down at the floor.
George stayed silent, eyes wide in shock. Had he heard right? Siegfried wished that the "gods" of his faith were like his own? "Excuse me?"
"Your god sounds much nicer than the ones I'd dealt with," Siegfried continued. "He is what a divine being should be, isn't he? A firm but gentle hand guiding the way?"
George hadn't been prepared for something like this. "I-" he spluttered, "yes, He is. My apologies, I'm so used to those of other faiths trying to tempt me into their own, I didn't expect you to say such things."
"Be that as it may, I've only known of my own gods in life. Even if I wanted to follow yours, I don't know if I could. I'm very sorry."
The Saint was still trying to wrap his head around what he'd heard Siegfried say. Your god sounds much nicer than the ones I'd dealt with. He is what a divine being should be, isn't he? A firm but gentle hand guiding the way?
"Rider?" Siegfried's voice brought George back to reality.
"Please, Siegfried," he answered, "you may call me Georgios or George, whichever you prefer."
Siegfried nodded. "Anyways, you spaced out for a moment there. Did I say something wrong?"
A large smile spread across George's face. "Not at all," he answered. "I'm just pleasantly surprised to find someone so accepting of God's word, even though you're of a different faith all together."
Siegfried chuckled, "As you said, we will be working together, so no point in trying to fight with each other."
"I agree." George stood up and walked over to Siegfried, his hand extended. "I look forward to saving humanity…No, the children of God, with you, Siegfried."
The Saber shyly extended his own arm and took George's hand. "If your god intended for us to work together, then I won't waste this chance," he declared. "Let's do this."
