Hello again, everyone! First of all, thank you for the reviews, follows, and favs! I really appreciate them. Your support is what led to this quick update. Now, time for the customary Q&A!
Q'Fox: I agree on your assumption of power levels. What I meant in the previous chapter was Shirou's compatibility against the mentioned individuals, not outright strength. Since Fate/Apocrypha is lacking in material, I took liberal views regarding the power levels and compatibility. Sorry if it's unclear.
Don't forget to read the main story, Fate New Rebellion by lioncousin (beta by me), right after this.
P.S.: A little quiz! I put an original spell of mine in this chapter. Kudos for anyone that can guess the logic behind its wording, and the first winner gets a free question (including spoilers)!
The cool air buffets against my face as I traverse the rooftops in the Capital. At this speed, one must close their eyes to avoid drying them out, but I Alter the air flow around me to prevent just that. Not only the temperature, but the Altered air also negates any sound I make from being heard more than one inch from my body.
The view is great. I haven't grown tired of this city yet; my wonderment only grows each passing day. The leaves in the park and around the streets have just yellowed and withering, creating a yellow-orange background against the fiery red and purple sunset. Much as I disdain the people that lived here, I have to admit, they did a good job with the city planning.
I'm not particularly looking for targets; it's more of a planned patrol, just me trying to get used to the flow of the city. As with any new environment I encountered during my life, I mapped the local leylines first, then the overall cityscape, trying to see if the builders of this city was magically aware. 'Aware' is a loose term, as local shamans are usually already capable to design the city life to be in tune with the environment, or in this case, the leylines.
After doing so, I noted the flow of people; the place where they congregate, the time they go to work and home, the points where the underground dwellers meet. Of course, I couldn't do this in a few days. This whole recoinassance process usually takes a few weeks to complete.
Today, I'm also out for a stroll. The grunt work has been done by my subordinates needs to be confirmed with my own eyes, as well. Not that I don't trust them, but in this conditions, there's no such things as being too careful.
Maybe it's time to move on the the second stage? The passive activities were done and dusted: information gathering, covert assassinations, networking, and so on. Now, I'll move more actively to take more control of the Capital. The problem is to utilize the leylines city-wide without being detected, but it's something I've done before.
The cool air blew across the wide cobbled road, swaying her frock lightly. Elesia hugged her trembling shoulders, regretting not putting on warmer clothes on the excuse of "The sun's still out!" this morning.
'Geez, this year's fall is really cold...'
Fortunately, her new 'sister uniform' covered all extremeties, though it made running slightly more awkward. However, it's far too bland for her tastes, so she planned to ask Father Kotomine for permission to... 'modify' it.
After the announcement of her scholarship a few months ago in summer, Father decided to tutor her regarding her choice for her minor degree, which made sense. She chose 'Theology' with half a hope it'd happen that way, anyway.
Thinking about her new permanent teacher made her body warmer. It felt like a pleasant warmth from a spring's sunlight, travelling from her heart to her navel; a cozy feeling she never experienced before. When contemplating about it, only now did she berate herself for not noticing her own feelings earlier. 'I really am a kid back then...'
Of course, the path to serve God wasn't a supporter of marriage, with many priests and nuns choosing to live life in celibacy. She was worried that might be the case with Father Kotomine; he never deliberately forbid it, but he never supported the idea openly either.
'Which means I still have a chance...'
Serving at the church while harbouring such impure feelings was certainly a sin. But, accompanying the guilt she felt, was a sliver of pleasure from 'rebelling' against the rules. Perhaps it was puberty, or perhaps it was her own quirk, no one knew. Well, living together with said man for extended periods was probably the cause for her active imagination.
Back then, Father decided to have her start learning Theology both in theory and practice, therefore, currently, she lived with him. Alright, technically, she lived inside a church where they slept in different rooms every night, but a maiden could dream, right? If only that pesky kid wasn't around...
She liked Nanako, make no mistake. However, that girl kept on barging in on what Elesia privately determined as her private time together with Father, always 'accidentally'. After a while, it got annoying, and their relationship soured. Oh, not 'their' as in Elesia and Shirou Kotomine, but with Nanako instead.
Mainly, she thought the Father himself found their interactions amusing, much to her frustration. She longed for him to see her not as the village kid he taught a decade ago, but to look at her the way her parents looked at each other. Was that a sin? She couldn't muster the courage to ask him about it...
Now, though, she forced her mind to another matter to alleviate her mood. She's walking to her parent's house for their weekly dinner, and decided she'd rather enjoy the view inste-
'Crap! I forgot the quiche!'
Instantly, she turned around and ran back to the church to retrieve the French classic, made with the produce they harvested just this morning. Clicking her tongue at the oversight, she put strength into her legs to run faster, lest she be late for the dinner. Her parent's wouldn't mind waiting, but she'd be angry at herself for an avoidable mistake causing her to miss her mother's cooking.
Running around the back to the living quarters, she quickly opened the door and grabbed the dish. Now, hurr-
- Die-STATIC!
"Wah!"
Balancing herelf to avoid a fall, she exhaled a breath of relief. 'Ugh... what's that just now? ...I'm getting tired. I'll nap a bit at home, then.'
With her task done, she hurried back to her home.
"Cute girl."
The voice echoed throughout the main hall, clear and bewitchingly seductive. If a normal person heard this voice, his or her heart would've been seized with unconditional trust immediately. The most frightening thing was it's completely natural, without the usual Prana-augmenting magi usually used or the phenomena-altering eyes of some magic users. Truly, a being possessing this voice must be inhuman.
In front of me sat the Black Princess.
Petite build, similar to a preteen. Elegant, frilly, mostly black dress extends to her knee, with feet covered in long socks. Thick raven hair that looked softer than silk, accompanied with ghastly pale skin that shone in the dark. She had a habit of wetting her alluring red lips when she spoke, sending many men into a flight of fantasy. As her tongue slid out and licked them, two large incisors could be seen among two rows of unnaturally perfect teeth.
Even now, already a few years into our partnership, we still measured each other like barbarians, wondering whether our skills and strengths could kill one or the other.
Standing on each walls to her sides were her two trusted servants, the Black Knight and White Knight. The former was professionally vigilant, while the latter was dozing off lightly while still keeping guard.
Instantly, both their killing intent was directed to me.
"Don't even think about it."
The one saying that was me.
Just now, as Elesia came through the back, Altrouge's crimson eyes tracked her movements through the walls... hungrily. My mind immediately responded with a threat, which, in hindsight, wasn't a really good idea.
All of us, not including the many servants she brought along with just for show, were gathered here to discuss the elimination of Michael Roa Valdamjong. That, by itself, could explain the Princess's hostility, but I detected something different. Something... primal.
I guessed, after we complete the ritual, she... desired Elesia.
As a servant? A doll? A slave? I didn't care.
Because I had decided to save her.
Now, fighting this ojou-sama alone was doable for me, because I was very compatible against her, or against any one of her Knights. However, all three together against me could only mean defeat. Despite knowing this, I still stood by my ground.
If I didn't, who will?
I'd seen plenty who abandoned their ideals in the face of adversity. Those that gave up because it's impossible. Those that were broken because it's tantalizingly possible, yet out of reach. Those that zealously chased it, only to be destroyed when they realized their dreams. To be honest, I almost became one of them before my death.
Therefore, I wouldn't give up now. No matter what.
"Stand down."
With a wave of her hand, that hypnotizing sound rang again. Because it's not Magecraft, I had difficulty ignoring it, but by this time I'd gotten used to it.
Both men returned to their post, a scowl on Strout's face.
Returning my focus towards Altrouge, I was surprised to see... amusement on her face. 'Argh, this girl was very wicked, after all...!'
I cursed anyone that raised her in my heart. Sure as hell not Crimson Moon, since I heard he's just a quirky uncle (to those that knew him).
Massaging the bridge of my nose, I returned to our previous topic.
"How's the progress on the ritual?"
There's a disinterested look on that doll-like face of hers. "Smoothly. The container's also in place, so we'll be able to execute on-"
I raised my palm to stop her. "Don't tell me. We can't afford any leaks on my part, no matter how vigilant I am. Just tell me a few hours before the ritual will take place."
She nodded her head repeatedly in a mimicry of a sage. Not that it worked very well, but who was I to criticize? "Understood." She lightly hopped off the wooden bench, and walked closer to me. Held inside her hand was a device that looked like a palm mirror.
"This is what I promised before," she said while handing me the device, "for, you know... our other deal."
She smiled sweetly and innocently, enough that I was almost fooled by it. Dangerous. This girl was really dangerous. Luckily, my countermeasure against her forces were going well, though I needed more time than I preferred. Of course, hopefully, my preparations would prove useless, but one couldn't prepare enough when dealing with someone like her.
Turning around, she made her way towards the main door, her skirt bouncing and fluttering in rhythm of her steps. Slightly behind her, Strout and Svelten followed suit. I could still feel the hatred radiating from Strout's back towards me, but I was calm. I felt numerous Dead Apostles left immediately from the Church's detection field, no doubt scrambling to prepare for their master's return journey.
Really, did these guys never heard of a telephone or electronic message?
That said, I knew of only Ortenrosse was capable of embracing modern technology, and he's one of the oldest among the Twenty-Seven. So it's not an age thing, I suppose, merely a mindset problem.
Relaxing myself, I called out to nothing in particular.
"Nanako."
"Yes, Master?"
At that moment, a strong gust of wind occurred inside the hall, exterminating the candles altogether. Of course, it's not a freak weather, but the wind was a spell of mine, cladding the hall in complete darkness.
Through the disparate streams of sunlight, two golden orbs met my orbs of steel.
"Initiate Phase Three."
"By your command."
- Static.
"Ah, have you heard abou-"
- Beautiful-STATIC-cause-STATIC.
"Hahaha! What an idio-"
- STATIC-kill her-STATIC-all becau...
"Hmm... it's possible that-"
- STATIC!Dangerous!STATIC!I'll kill-!STATIC!Kill-kill-kill-kill!STATIC!
"Dear! Are you alri-"
A crash. Something wooden. And then a loud smash. Something porcelain. Metal? This ringing...
- Drip.
Someone's saying something...
- Drip.
Being lifted... 'Me?' A feeling of floating.
"-ang in there! We'll ge-"
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong!
...
The headache disappeared?
...
'Ah, I'm famished.'
...
- Squelch.
'It's dark...'
Elesia regained her conciousness.
'Was it... Yeah, we're having dinner, right?' Suddenly, a wave of headache struck her again, making her wince. 'Did I collapse? Huh, I always complained of Father overworking... guess I can't do tha- HUH?!'
She couldn't move.
Arms. Legs. Neck. Lips. Eyelids. Tongue. All of them were immobile.
No, other that that, she's... Everything's black.
It felt like what she imagined of going to space, only, in this instance, everything's pitch black. No stars, no planets, no meteors... It's black.
She's floating in black. Where was up? Down? She had no idea.
'No...' Her mind began to panic.
However, she remembered Father Kotomine's teachings. Calm. When things didn't go to plan, all you need to do is calm down. Take in all information, process them. After that, decide.
Suddenly, a vision appeared in front of her.
Instinctively, she reached out with her hands towards that image.
Her hand felt something solid and flexible. 'A membrane?!'
She pushed. She pulled. She clawed. She tore. All her previous calm dissipated like a sandcastle in the rain, replaced by the mad hope of escaping from this place.
What stopped her was the picture, no, the scene depicted by that membrane.
Her father, Alain. Her mother, Saya.
Their blood was everywhere.
On the dinner table. On the food. On the kitchen counter. On the floor.
On her hands.
...
She screamed.
Going by the previous analogy of 'outer space', in the back of her mind, she knew her voice wouldn't reach anywhere. Not even her own ears.
But she screamed.
- Futile.
She screamed.
- Useless.
She screamed.
[GET AWAY FROM THEM, YOU FUCK-!]
"My, my. How lively."
She felt her body turning. No, she willed her body to, since her sense of directions was gone. All of her mind was occupied with the person talking to her.
It felt like flying. Her body, no, her existence was moving across the space to the direction of the voice. She felt something solid.
She hit.
She couldn't feel her hands. She didn't have the sensation of moving her arms, but she imagined it happening.
It's enough.
She hit again.
"Why are you hitting youself?" The voice calmly replied.
[YOU'RE NOT ME! LET ME OUT! I SWEAR, I'LL-]
"What will you do?" The voice sounded amused.
Judging from the quality of the sound, the speaker was an adult, not exactly middle-aged. His accent... ah, yes, it's a male. His accent was smooth and cultured, a fluent French. Perhaps he's someone from the capital. Perhaps he's someone from abroad.
Didn't matter shit.
"What can you do? Fufufu!" The voice laughed.
Elesia felt her body boiling. Before she could speak her mind, he continued, "I'm you. There's no changing that. Because it's been fifteen years...
"We're together for your entire life. Didn't you notice?"
[LIES! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!]
"Well, true or not, it's almost time."
The voice faded away.
[BASTERD! COME BACK HERE! YOU CU-!]
"Goodbye. It's been fun!" Again, the maddening chuckle rang. "I'll take really good care of you now..."
[NO!]
A click. A lock.
[NO!]
She could feel her consciousness fading again.
[No, please... Someone!]
A face emerged in her mind. With all her will, she prayed.
[Father... Please, just... save them!]
I ran with all my might.
Every single ward I placed around town was literally shouting.
'Impossible! It's too early!'
My heart inevitably raced at the anomaly. I prepared for this moment for a few years already, but the sudden occurrence still caught me off guard. Now, the time I'd use to berate myself was better allocated to thinking up countermeasures...
Michael Roa Valdamjong has risen.
However, my mind couldn't be further than him, because only a single person filled it.
Nanako was already in her modified form, a katana snugly placed on my back. From my detection wards, Altrouge was already on the move as well, seemingly more interested in this event than returning home. A few villagers already ran towards the village's security warning system, and a few minutes later, the alarm rang across the village.
Under the safety drill I created, every man, woman, and child was to evacuate and gather to the fields near the outskirts of the village. It's a location I chose based on its relative distance from the Church and Elesia's house, for safety. I could only hope they remembered their training, because I couldn't check on them right now, nor could I fight while protecting them.
Far too late, I arrived at the bakery.
Not surprisingly, there's still some curious villagers surrounding the barrier that suddenly erected itself around the bakery. It's a standard anti-Dead Apostle barrier used by the Church, though with my personal improvements on it. This situation was very unfavourable, since I'd like to avoid bad reputation for Elesia to the people. This way, successful or not with my plans, Elesia was most certainly despised by the people around here.
I guessed I better finish with a hypnotism-fest, then. Hopefully, there wouldn't be a purge by the Association or the Church, if I handled it right.
All of them turned their attention towards me as soon as I arrived. I meant, if you came over running visually as fast as a brand-new Jaguar XJ220, people were bound to notice. But, in the next instant, a wind chime rang.
It's a sound never before heard in this village, as it's an Eastern accessory. Its effect was immediate, as all their necks turned around to see a beautiful young man walking on the street, opposite from where I arrived. He wore a pristine, crisp three-piece suit, obviously a foreigner.
In a glance, all the gathered villagers fell to the ground, fast asleep.
With a nod, I thanked him. My gratitude was predictably ignored, as only a small portion of Altrouge's men were amiable to me. Rather than that, I had more important matter to address.
As always with these subjugation requests, it's eerily quiet inside the bakery. The lights were put out, only letting moonlight streams through the windows. I cursed internally for forgetting today's full moon.
She, or rather, he wasn't hiding.
Sitting on the couch, arms spread as if he owned the place. Alain and Saya's body parts were scattered on the floor. Their blood constituted the magic circles around me, all up the walls, floor, and ceiling. Not a single drop dirtied his clothes.
He was naked, only wearing a high-collared cape very typical in vampire movies. His face was serene, eyes closed and mouth in a soft smile. He inhaled slowly, savouring the scent of the massacre around us.
Finally, he spoke, "Why aren't you on guard?"
I assumed his question was about the multiple array of ritual circles all targeted at me. In reality, I wasn't really concerned about them.
With a clap, they disappeared from my sight.
I enjoyed seeing the shock on his face. Did he really assume I did no preparatory steps for all this time? I knew what's going on inside his head the first time I entered; the usual magus pride telling him he won already.
The problem was we're not inside his territory.
He's inside mine.
And that's his downfall.
Of course, I wouldn't go about and flaunt my advantage to him.
As if on cue, both of us moved.
Having lost his previously assumed advantage, it's natural for Roa to switch to his preferred fighting style, namely, combining the physicality of a Dead Apostle Ancestor with the Thaumaturgical knowledge of the founder of Burial Agency. With lightning speed, he cleared the distance between us in a flash.
Not that I was trying to create distance.
His eyes widened in shock for two reasons.
One, he definitely didn't expect an Executor, which he expected me to be one, to fight him head-on, without backup, after a display of magical superiority just now. This was within my calculations, since he's the one who came up with the orthodox tactics and drills of an Executor back when he's still human.
Predictable.
Two, his body suspended itself mid-air.
Already, his astonishing reflexes sent a lightning bolt towards the small array of Black Keys lodged underneath the carpet in front of the couch. His eyes showed annoyance, perhaps for falling to a trap so obvious and so soon after his set up was destroyed.
However, a slight pause was all I need.
A golden blade screamed through the air, aimed at his heart.
Nanako only tore through black mist. Before she completed her arc, a light bullet the size of a truck already shot towards the place he materialized, hitting a hastily-erected Faraday barrier. When the light died down, a nearby wall where he stood was blown out, leaving a giant hole in its place.
With the calmness of a predator, I walked out through the hole.
Tracing Roa's escape through the sparse woods surrounding the forest, I sighed with disappointment. I prepared for his arrival, and this combat, for many years, in anticipation of facing a powerful enemy comparable to other Servants. Instead, I found a half-baked vampire magus with a jerkass personality, taking over someone precious to me.
During our brief exchange, I had to try quite hard to shut my perception that I was fighting Elesia. However, in this lull period, the action only served to stoke the inferno in my heart. It's a disadvantage fighting with unrestrained emotions, I knew, but I decided to use this anger to power my strike, instead.
That said, even when weakened, his mind was still very keen.
Half a kilometer from the outskirts of the village, all obvious traces of him disappeared. Fortunately, I'd set up passive detection barriers, so minute and delicate even I had trouble detecting them sometimes, around this entire province. Taking advantage of the leylines I and Nanako had mapped, they're self-sustaining and very communicative over long distances.
Finally, we arrived at a small clearing.
Unlike last time, he's not waiting for me. In fact, my speed simply overtook him, while he's being slowed down by the multitude of traps surrounding each barrier.
I was worried about his premature revival, fearing for Elesia and her family. My worries proved correct, but his early birth proved costly: his combat capabilities were significantly reduced.
So, I had to finish this tonight.
I felt Altrouge's army scouring through the woods, a few hours behind us. Weirdly, they didn't go to the positions we'd agreed on beforehand, instead opting for a standard SAR formation.
Then, it dawned on me. Phase Three was still a few days from completion, so that option was out. I clicked my tongue in slight frustration.
Whatever the results, Michael Roa Valdamjong had a good possibility to escape tonight.
Phase One was the mapping of the terrain, and the study and prediction of Roa's reincarnation process. He's a magus that reached Akasha, and had knowledge about many spells from the Age of Gods with the skill to use it, so this stage was paramount to gain the basic advantage. A being like him, powerful enough to defeat Altrouge, which was an incredible feat, although her compatibility was bad against opponents like him, needed every precaution available to beat him at the heights of his power.
Phase Two was turning the area to whittle down his strength as much as possible. While the previous stage was executed by Altrouge's side, only I and Nanako were eligible to conduct this stage, since we're the executioners of the plan. Every barrier, traps, enhancements, and curses was created with my own Magecraft and Noble Phantasm in mind, along with Nanako's Prana consumption to function at her full power. With them, elements that Roa was weak against were installed as well.
Phase Three was completely exorcising Roa from Elesia's body and soul, trapping him inside a provided container, and finishing him off. The container was prepared by intercepting Roa's reincarnation path, so that he wouldn't just escape to the next body when we exorcised him. Surprisingly, there were plenty of ways to kill him for good, such as Nanako here, or the new spell Altrouge perfected.
Unfortunately, all those hard work was threatened to be for nothing now.
Inside me, I could only hope Altrouge would jump-start Phase Three, since she's the only one powerful enough to do it, and put the plan back on track.
All I could do now was try my best.
Arcs of lightning flew from all around me after I set foot a certain distance from the Ancestor. Before they could reach me, they fizzled out as they passed the Reverse Polarity Barrier nearby.
However, it turned out to be a feint, as two tigers leaped out of the shadows, crafted from what seemed to be black mud, intent on tearing my throat to pieces. I pumped Prana to my arms, activating my Noble Phantasm.
The tigers were coated in a frosty mist, stopping them dead in their tracks, while twenty blazing phoenixes the size of motorcycles flew towards the vampire, nimbly avoiding all obstacles in their path faster than my consciousness could follow.
"Dual Chant?!" A desperate voice rang out, before he enveloped himself in a spatial barrier.
Immediately, the ethereal avians reorganized themselves, flying in a wide tornado around me, before I Break them.
He appeared a few meters from his original position, which, unfortunately, wasn't far enough.
From an outsider's point of view, a sun has just exploded in the middle of the woods.
Of course, in the thick of it all, I'd regulated the amount of destruction to avoid damaging the wards I'd set up. They're durable, but not enough to defend against a B+-ranked Noble Phantasm spell used by the Third War's Caster.
That said, neither was Roa.
In the middle of a burnt wasteland, a charred torso was pulsating. I tried to put the name 'Elesia' out of my mind, but I wasn't too successful. Even so, Nanako sank smoothly into its center before my judgement could cloud any further.
On instinct, I leaped out to the side, utilizing Prana Burst that destroyed the arteries in my legs.
I saw the body lying on the ground disintegrate to ashes, swallowed by a vacuum created by a tear in space. In its place, half a man stood unsteadily, the entire left half of his body cleanly gone.
I could already see him regenerating at a frightening speed. Both our spells collide in the air, this time neither gaining an advantage, as I healed myself at the same time.
He tried to speak, but all that came out was a bestial groan from his exposed windpipe. Of course, I had no intention of waiting for him to safely regenerate, and swords made of light descended from the sky around him.
He tried to dodge out of the way, while his Magic Circuits were overloaded, but it wasn't an attack aimed to kill, anyway.
The swords never touched the ground, merely floating peacefully about two feet above it. As they set in place, an anti-vampire barrier, an A-ranked one, was activated, blasting him clear back to the middle of the array when he crossed their perimeter.
A golden beam pierced the middle of the twenty-eighth Ancestor, shot by Nanako behind him, already in her spirit form. It wasn't debilitating to his soul, but she damaged it enough for me to close the distance.
Both my arms flooded with Prana, my stigmas and Command Seals lighting up, I put one of my palm on his forehead, and the other on his navel.
'Now, let's begin.' I prayed, 'Altrouge, you better work your cute butt off!'
- Let us pray.
The last is the first. Ten into one, one onto ten. May His Kingdom come, on earth as it is on heaven.
The ninth built upon the tenth, as He feeds it, nurtures it, sates it, as the foundation of our growth.
The eighth marks an obstacle of splendour. Submit yourself to it, do not be conquered by it.
May you reach the plains of heaven on the seventh. Contemplate without end or limit, for eternity.
Sixth is the adorned, glorious, beautiful, delightful throne of glory, the house of the world to come.
What is the fifth? Fifth is the great fire of God, the flames of His severity, the left hand of God.
What is the fourth? Fourth is the righteousness of God, His mercies and kindness, the right hand of God.
The third is the quarry of the Holy Scripture, treasury of understanding, hewn out by the Holy Spirit.
The second is wisdom, as is written, there is no 'beginning' but wisdom.
The first is supreme crown, blessed be His name and His people.
As such, ten comes to one, one returns to ten.
Ha Kadosh, Barukh Hu.
And let there be light.
Amidst silence, I contemplated the fight that occurred just now. On my lap rested Elesia, sound asleep, her body covered by my Holy Shroud.
I just messed up everything, hadn't I?
I had no idea if Phase Three worked... Heck, I didn't even know if it even started. All I could hope for was Altrouge's decision.
Reagarding the encounter, well, everything could be said to run according to plan.
Roa's specialty was lightning-based attacks. I didn't combat it like what magi usually do: use a superior concept to overrun his Magecraft in the casting stage. I merely casted many wards that disabled or countered the ensuing physical phenomena, in other words, I sealed his lightning as soon as it formed, not before. It's much more Prana-efficient, as lightning was basically a flowing current caused by two different electric potential, so I erased the difference of potential energy between the source and the target through various ways.
Nanako's timing was also perfect. It was planned from the beginning that if I missed the slash, or if Roa had countermeasures for it, she'd turn into her spirit form to distract him further for me to finish him off. However, the first stab I did revealed a possible development path for her weapon form. Maybe a ranged weapon would be better than a katana, though I was more comfortable wielding the latter. Roa's counterattack came much closer than I was comfortable with, so it's a food for thought.
Really, couldn't he revive with better timing? He even made me to resort to an untested spell I developed in parallel with Altrouge's specifically to destroy him. Now, with the container of Phase Three in unknown condition, it could be that his soul simply escaped to another body. Damn.
A presence closed in on us, silently. A few seconds later, a gorgeous gothic lolita appeared in front of me, a transparent orb in her hand.
Wait, the orb wasn't transparent. In the middle, the size of a golf ball, a tiny sphere of black and red was swirling around.
Okay. It's not supposed to be that small, when Roa's soul should've filled the watermelon-sized orb easily.
'So we did fail, huh?'
The Princess had a sad look on her face. But... no, it's fake! Fine, I'd play along, for now.
"Please, don't look so dejected," she said, making me raise one eyebrow.
"Phase Three succeeded."
I continued for her, "But?"
"He's a tricky one, that Serpent of Akasha." She looked upwards to the sky, saying, "He detected the container, and chose to split his soul into many of his containers. All I could take was only this much." She lifted the orb, showing me more clearly of its swirling center.
Her expression was solemn and caring, though I now could tell the difference when she's faking her emotions and when it's real. I felt a slight disgust at the performance, since my patience was running thin. However, losing control of my emotions now would do no one any good, so I bore with it. That said, I could sense a small sincerity form her voice, contrary to my expectations.
I asked, "Now what?"
Her eyes glinted with amusement. This time, it's genuine.
"It's Phase Four."
Annoyed, I closed my eyes, before saying coldly, "Elaborate."
"Well, if he had split his own soul into many containers, all we need to do now is hunt them all down, right? So, it should be a simple matter to you."
That's it. She said 'to you', which means she planned to employ me... no, enslave me for at least the near future, cleaning up after this mess. I didn't even doubt she had planned for Elesia taking part in this scheme, cementing the destruction of any hope of a normal life for her.
I took out my palm, where she gingerly placed the orb, a satisfied look on her face at my resignation. Even when I glared at her with killing intent, her smile only grew larger and more beautiful.
'One of these days... one of these days...' I thought in my head.
"Where are the other guys?"
"Oh, them?" She looked around. "Eh... no idea. Maybe I'll get back before they throw a fit."
With a spring in her step, she walked off towards the distance.
When I felt her going outside my detection range, I let myself lean into a tree behind me, exhaling a big lump of air as I did so.
I relaxed my body, while letting my fingers comb through Elesia's hair. Her hair grew slightly after she became Roa, now reaching the middle of her back. I didn't know her preference for hair style, so I'd ask her when she woke up later. Closing my eyes, I decided against taking a nap, but instead to think of my future options.
My preparations for the next Grail War were pretty much done. There's nothing crucial I needed to do for it, so that's out. Regarding the Church... there's no sense in involving them any more than what was stricly necessary. Same with the Mage's Association and its other counterparts. The Yggdmillenia was making noises even now, but any direct move from my part would likely met with failure. That only left Phase Four, but that's not in the next few years yet, while Altrouge looking into potential containers of Roa for now.
Then, it's already certain on what I'd do, right?
Softly, i bent down and kissed Elesia's forehead.
"Sleep well, my dear Elesia. I'll protect you."
That's for damn sure.
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