Author's Notes
Welcome back to The Red Dragon's Saber. It's been a while. My other stories took up more time than I expected them to, but at least now I know how to avoid that in the future. Still, I didn't want to leave this story alone for too long. I'm quite fond of it.
My thanks goes out to the Beta Readers of this chapter: Andivia, striberx, and ekaterina016. Their perspectives were very welcome.
Without further ado, let us begin.
Chapter Two: Master and Servant
[High School DxD OST: Utsukushiku, Akai...]
At this point, Issei Hyoudou isn't sure how many bad days in a row he will be able to survive.
Okay, admittedly, he hadn't actually survived the first one. There's more on the line than just the teenager's own life this time, though.
Lost in thought as he is, neither Issei nor almost anyone else notices the small twitch of Koneko Toujou's nose. The petite girl holds an entire club chair over her head as she detects the approach of someone new. All take notice, however, when Koneko makes the soft announcement to follow.
"Multiple Fallen Angels."
Despite his wounds, Issei's blood chills at his high school junior's words. Fallen Angels have attacked the newly-reincarnated Devil three times in as many days now, give or take. While the boy's record against his enemies has technically improved with each encounter (from being killed, to being grievously injured, to being spared), the constant assaults have left the second-year student more than a little shell-shocked.
Nearby, a deranged man in priest garb laughs cruelly. Freed Sellzen may not be a Fallen Angel, but Issei's newest injuries at the man's hands are no less traumatic. The rogue exorcist's weapons are held at the ready, a sword of white Light in his right hand and a pistol filled with blessed rounds in his left; each one is poison to a Devil, and both of which now burn inside of Issei.
"The tables are turning, huh!?" Freed yells. "You guys are all gonna be eating Light Spears!"
Just a moment ago, Freed was cowed by the dangerous weight of power exhibited by Rias Gremory. The High-Class Devil came here to save her newest servant from being killed again. Now, as a purple swirl of energy ripples into existence on the ceiling above the mad killer, Freed's lust for battle returns. Just as Koneko had detected, the albino murderer is about to receive reinforcements from his Fallen Angel allies.
Behind Rias, Issei kneels in pain. Blood leaks rapidly from the bullet hole through the teen's left leg and the sliced-open gash on his back. Even worse than the blood loss is the Light that contaminates the Devil's body, which leaves him mostly incapacitated. Issei desperately wants to stand, to fight by the side of his allies, but the teen can't quite make the transition from desire to action anymore.
The boy squeezes his knees in frustration. As Issei's fingers bite into his skin through his pants, the red gauntlet on his left arm draws the Devil's eye. The armor piece, which Rias taught Issei to summon from within himself, supposedly has great power. Unfortunately, aside from one lucky punch, the Sacred Gear didn't seem to help much in the fight against Freed.
'I've got to do something,' the boy chides himself.
FATE
As Issei struggles in pain, Rias Gremory makes a decision. Even if the High-Class Devil is confident in her own power, she has an injured and inexperienced servant to consider. The number of Fallen Angels coming here is also unknown. If enough Light-wielders appear in these cramped quarters, the house of a man who had attempted to make a Contract with the House of Gremory before Freed killed him, the Low-Class Devils may be injured in the fight which ensues.
There are also the possible ramifications to the three-way cold war between the Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels to consider. Should a full-on battle break out here, with an heiress of one of the Underworld's remaining Seventy-Two Pillars involved, it could easily turn into a political disaster. There is only one right answer to this situation in the young leader's mind.
FATE
"Right now, retrieving Issei comes first," Rias declares. Behind the Pure-blood Devil, Issei once again struggles against the pain his body is wracked with and fails to stand up. "Akeno, prepare to jump. Koneko, you get Issei."
Akeno Himejima responds with an affirmative, then proceeds to summon forth a red magic circle which glows in the shape of the Gremory Family Crest.
Koneko Toujou emphasizes her acceptance of the order with the chair over her head, which she hurls at Freed to knock the enemy down and keep him occupied while she retrieves her newest ally.
Yuuto Kiba needs no additional order to take up a defensive stance and guard his companions as they move. The swordsman does so automatically.
Issei soon finds himself swept up in Koneko's arms and thrown over the smaller Reincarnated Devil's right shoulder. When the brunet looks around he can see that he, the white-haired Koneko, the redheaded Rias, the black-haired Akeno, and the blond Yuuto have gathered inside the magic circle. All of the members of Rias Gremory's Peerage have turned their backs on the room, but because of the way Koneko holds Issei he catches sight of the other figure who will be left behind.
Asia Argento.
The blonde nun still lies on the floor, sprawled out where Freed threw her down and kicked her earlier. Asia's large green eyes shine in the red glow of Akeno's magic, which Issei is captivated by... until he realizes his friend isn't in the circle with them.
"President!" the young man yells desperately at his master, the president of Kuoh Academy High School's Occult Research Club. "She's coming with us!"
FATE
Asia pushes herself to her knees, forced to hold her robes together in front of her. Freed tore the girl's clothes open while he threatened to rape her earlier as punishment for her failures. Despite the instinctive act of modesty, Asia's attention is fully trained on Issei. The boy befriended the short sixteen-year-old earlier that day when she was, to him, just a strange Italian foreigner lost in Kuoh Town. Asia didn't know back then the Japanese teenager who came to her aid was a Devil. Issei still helped the girl, though, regardless of her open affiliation with the Church.
Just moments ago, Issei also fought to protect Asia from Freed after she tried to defend him from the exorcist. It was the shock of Issei's presence, and the discovery of the murdered owner of the house, which caused Asia's barrier around the place to fail. Asia is glad for that failure now, no matter what Freed might do to her later. Because the barrier went down, Issei's friends were able to detect the danger and come to save him.
And now, maybe, save her too?
"I'm afraid not."
Rias' cold answer kills the former Holy Maiden's last shred of hope.
FATE
"Only members of my household can jump with this magic circle," the redhead explains with a detached tone of voice.
Issei recalls the mark which makes the magic possible, one he received just a little while ago himself. The brunet would normally be incensed by his master's casual disregard for his friend, but the way Rias doesn't quite look at him as she speaks makes it clear she takes no pleasure in the matter. The redhead may have scolded Issei earlier for befriending an enemy of the Devils, but she isn't heartless enough abandon an abused youth unless she has to.
Rias' empathy won't help Asia right now, though.
"Asia!" the wounded boy screams again as he desperately stretches out his uncovered right hand toward the girl. Issei hasn't made many friends in his life, especially female ones, thanks to his well-deserved reputation as a pervert. As a result, the boy cares deeply for the friends he does have. Even if the two only met today, Issei will not willingly abandon Asia to the hands of the Fallen Angels, not when she so clearly doesn't want to be with them. The same Fallen Angels who murdered the high school boy just because he'd been born with a hidden power bestowed upon humans by the God of the Bible, one Issei hadn't even known about at the time, clearly couldn't be trusted to have Asia's best interests at heart.
'What good is this damn Sacred Gear,' the Reincarnated Devil curses in his mind. 'If it can't help me save a friend who's right in front of me!?'
Unbeknownst to all present, something begins to change within the gauntlet attached to Issei's arm.
"Let go of me!" Issei cries as he begins to struggle against Koneko's superior strength. The girl's hold on the boy doesn't even budge. "I have to save Asia! Let go of me!"
Normally, the unseen process within Issei's gauntlet would have no discernible outcome. The Sacred Gear is not yet fully awakened, and its host is not experienced in its use. Despite these limitations, the strength of Issei's heart and his unusually powerful emotions forces a reaction out of the power which sleeps within his soul. Of all the infinitesimal possible variations of these events, this is one where the Sacred Gear's response to its owner actually has an effect.
Somewhere out there, in the vast expanse of creation, a similar existence begins to resonate with Issei Hyoudou's desperate pleas.
"Asia!"
The blonde girl sees her one friend in the world's genuine desire to help her. Issei can tell that Asia recognizes the total desperation with which he wants to take her away from this situation.
"Issei, I'll..." Asia begins to say, but halts when a tremble runs through her body. The blonde is scared, her friend realizes, but she still wears a sad smile for the boy's sake. Asia is truly happy Issei will escape, even if it is without her. "I'll see you later... somewhere..."
Asia closes her eyes, probably unable to bear the sight of her friend's panicked struggles any longer. The sight only strengthens Issei's desire to free the maiden from this madness.
"Someone! Anyone!" Issei suddenly calls out, though he isn't sure where the instinct to do so comes from. Despite all the reasons to think otherwise, deep inside the teenager's soul, he feels there might actually be someone who can hear his voice. If the boy can't save Asia himself, the sensation tells him, then all he can do is beg for aid. If God won't answer a Devil's prayers, and if Issei's master and fellow servants won't risk themselves to grant his desire, then the earnest young man will call out to anyone else who might respond; it doesn't matter who. "Please save her!"
The call is made.
[End Track]
FATE
Far away from the boy who calls, another individual is drawn into his pleas against her will.
In a dark room, a lone female figure of both Vampire and human descent hunches over a table in fear and confusion. The woman's hands brace her weight on the edge of the surface as she stares down at the magical phenomenon before her. Three golden cups, each with intricate designs engraved upon them to further denote their importance, stand upon the table. Each cup holds nearly unfathomable potential, and all three of them currently glow with brilliant power.
Power which their owner did not invoke.
Valerie Tepes stares at the physical manifestation of the Sephiroth Graal. This Sacred Gear, alongside the sealed spear and the sealed cross, is one of three which are known as the Holy Relics. Also known as the Holy Grail of the Secluded World, the Sephiroth Graal is the Sacred Gear the God of the Bible placed the legendary cup into.
Since it was sealed, the Holy Grail's presence has manifested within the souls of newborn humans, or human hybrids like Valerie, whenever its host dies, just as all Sacred Gears do. Valerie's specific subspecies of the Sephiroth Graal, a mutation of the abilities it normally grants its hosts, is one of astounding potential which creates three Holy Grails at once. All of the cups Valerie creates grant her the power to connect to the principle of life, at the cost of being subjected to the minds of the dead.
The three cups currently overflow with more magic than Valerie herself has ever possessed. The source of that power is completely outside of the young woman's influence or control. Even worse, the Dhampir's mind is being assaulted by a powerful intruder because of the side-effect of her Sacred Gear, one whose will and intentions burn more forcefully and fiercely than any single one the current owner of the Holy Grail has ever experienced before.
A young king with an indomitable will. An unrewarded life of duty and hardship. Strength and skill great enough to battle the most famous of legends. A wish powerful enough to rewrite reality itself. A love dear enough to wait an eternity for. A single, endless moment on a hill of swords which repeats itself over and over again. Valerie Tepes has all of these memories forcefully tear through her consciousness. Above all the others, though, a single thought stands out to the girl, the one which currently dominates the mind of this dead soul she has been connected to.
'I will claim the Holy Grail.'
FATE
A wave of power washes over Issei and floods his senses. When Asia's teary-eyed form vanishes from the Reincarnated Devil's sight, he wails in despair. Issei is convinced he failed to save the innocent girl from the clutches of her abusers. The boy's sorrow remains until the light around him shifts from red to white, then clears away. Issei's vision returns, only to reveal the confused form of Asia still across the room from him. The blonde still kneels on the ground and clutches her torn clothes to her body to protect her modesty, but her green eyes have shifted from a sorrowful acceptance of Issei's escape without her, to a bewildered worry for his safety.
"Akeno, what's happening?" an authoritative voice demands. Issei glances over to his master. Rias is unusually tense, especially compared to her calm handle on the situation just moments ago. The redhead's blue eyes are filled with concern as she looks between the magic circle on the floor and her black-haired best friend.
"I don't know, President!" Himejima responds, also with an uncharacteristic fervor. The young Japanese woman holds her hands open together before her and tries to exert her will over the magic once more. "I've lost control of the circle!"
Issei looks down and sees what has the others so worked up. The red lights which once formed the Gremory family's crest beneath their feet have not only shifted to a light blue color, but the lines which make up the symbols within the circle have also begun to rearrange themselves into a different pattern. The magic which should have allowed the five Devils to teleport to safety has been lost.
"Everyone out of the circle!" Rias commands.
The redhead, the brunette, and the blond all leap off to one side of the lights. Koneko continues to carry Issei over her shoulder and jumps to the opposite side. The boy doesn't complain even when the shorter first-year dumps him down roughly on the floor behind her in order to stand guard over him. Koneko is far more capable than Issei, even when he isn't poisoned by Light.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
That voice. It is the voice of Issei's murderer, Yuuma Amano... no, Raynare.
Raynare pretended to be a human girl and asked Issei on a date, only to kill him at the end of it. It is because of that raven-haired Fallen Angel Issei had to be revived as the servant of a High-Class Devil in order to continue living. Raynare now floats in the air on the other side of the room below an open portal, along with three other winged companions. Two of the other Fallen Angels are the man and woman who have also attacked Issei since he was reincarnated. Despite the number of dangers present, though, it is Raynare alone who draws Issei's eye. The woman's appearance is still as beautiful and erotic as they were when she thrust a Light Spear into the boy's stomach.
Issei can feel a cold sweat break out on his brow just from the sight of his first girlfriend's true form. The Fallen Angel brings up an unpleasant mix of emotions in the young man, and he can't help but notice not all of them are unpleasant. The happiness which Raynare dangled in front of Issei before she cruelly destroyed his trust flashes across the teen's mind.
'Yuuma-chan...'
The other members of the Occult Research Club shift their focus as well. None of the experienced Devils are willing to show weakness to the Fallen Angels, not even as an unknown phenomenon interrupts their escape. Rias and her other servants keep one eye on the new threats and the other on the rogue circle between them. The changes of the blue lights go largely unnoticed by the new arrivals, though, since none are aware the magic isn't doing whatever the Devils want it to.
"Some lousy Devils have come to interrupt our exorcist's work?" Raynare continues without a care for her effect on Issei's mental state, or perhaps she just intentionally ignores it to be cruel. The woman's violet eyes scan the five youths, unimpressed by what she sees. When that inhuman gaze lands on Issei, the boy's heart stops for an instant, partially in fear and partially out of misguided hope.
"Oh? And it looks like Kalawarner was right. Someone actually wasted their time bringing that worthless fool back to life," Raynare laughs. Issei's heart twists in fresh pain as a deranged, toothy smile fills the Fallen Angel's face. Raynare raises an empty right hand next to her head, and sparks of red begin to light up between the killer's black-gloved fingers. "Guess I'll just have to finish what I started."
"Raynare," a voice from behind the woman interrupts. Issei is relieved to see the words draw his murderer's attention away from him.
It is the lone male among the Fallen Angels who speaks. The winged man stares at the blue circle with narrowed eyes as its lines cease their changes and stabilize into a new pattern. "That isn't the Gremory family's symbol. What is th-"
The question never gets to be asked. A blast of raw power and light erupts from the magic circle and fills the room with its brilliance. All curiosity is momentarily forgotten, replaced with an awe inspired by the magical force unleashed between the two enemy factions.
The call is answered.
FATE
The Sephiroth Graal shines. The intricate engravings on each of the Sacred Gear's three cups glow with a rainbow of colors. The Holy Grail's master has never before seen this happen.
The three manifestations of the Holy Grail act together as one. Valerie Tepes has used the principle of life to revive the dead in the past, but never with a process like this. One cup summons forth the soul of a mysterious entity from places unknown, another creates a powerful body devoid of its normal mortal weaknesses to house it, and the third does something completely new to the Dhampir. The Sacred Gear's last cup works to instill the summoned creature with unique powers that are dictated by an unknown, alien will. Until now, Valerie was not aware her Sacred Gear could be capable of such a thing. The very thought of it seems too powerful, powerful enough to upset the...
'...balance?'
The Dhampir's stray thought is quickly engulfed and lost amid the iron will of the dead woman connected to her mind.
Throughout this process, Valerie's eyes remain wide open. Never once does the girl blink or lose sight of her rogue Sacred Gear. Valerie can't move a muscle, she can't even attempt to scream for help. All the Dhampir can do is endure. The time it takes for the Sephiroth Graal to finish is incalculable to the young aristocrat. Perhaps it is only seconds, but it could well be hours. In the end, there is only one possible result.
The lights fade, the cups become inert once more, and the exhausted woman collapses completely to the floor like a puppet whose strings have been cut.
Valerie Tepes is nearly comatose. Though the girl's Sacred Gear was fueled by energy from somewhere else, she still experienced the unusually fierce rigors of its unique activation. The pain caused by channeling the power which seized the Holy Grail is immense. Valerie's mind is now an incessant buzz of incoherent thoughts, and her body shudders uselessly.
The Vampire royal will be discovered by her attendants soon. The magical forces at work were too intense to have been missed by the other residents of the Tepes home, but until the girl is found she will not move from her crumpled position on the floor. Valerie simply lies where she fell, shakes with pain and fear, and has one constantly repeated thought bubble up from within the current chaos of her mind.
'She's coming for me.'
FATE
[Fate/Stay Night OST: Inga Ruten]
'An Angel?'
More than one occupant of the room shares this thought. Almost all who have either witnessed Heaven's untainted children in person, or have seen accurate representations of them, believe they see one now. The figure who emerges from the magic circle only has a few of the aspects associated with the denizens of Heaven, but those few are striking indeed.
Rias Gremory, who has witnessed delegations of Angels in the past, has her eyes drawn to the stranger's clothes. The figure's raiment consists of a royal blue dress with full sleeves and a long, wide skirt guarded by silver-white steel tassets. Greaves and gauntlets which match the protection on the woman's thighs adorn her arms and legs as well, and her torso is encased in a breastplate with decorative azure etchings. Each piece is so immaculately crafted and maintained that they are breathtaking to look at. Equipment of such quality would be suitable for any of Heaven's warriors.
Raynare and her companions, who each lived among the Angels before they Fell, are captivated by the intruder's face. As far as beauty goes, the heavenly host is renowned for their perfect skin and sculpted features. Despite the Fallen Angels' intimate familiarity with this fact, they each still feel at least a single throb of envy at the sight of this woman's visage. Flawless. There is no ostentation to the stranger's appearance; she simply bears an obvious beauty which requires no effort to convey itself. Any additions made by even the most skilled cosmeticians would only be an insult to that face. Even the woman's conservative clothing and bulky armor fail to detract from the majesty her features, and neither does her stern countenance.
Several of the Reincarnated Devils present don't have a clear view of the newcomer's features at first. Those few have their gaze initially drawn to the woman's hair instead, which is a work of art in and of itself. If Asia Argento's locks can be considered golden blonde, then this person's must be cast from actual gold that was spun into fine silken threads. Most present find it instinctively difficult to believe a mortal could be born with such beautifully-colored hair. The stranger's locks are worn in an intricately-laced bun and tied with a blue ribbon, save for two bangs that frame her face.
Issei Hyoudou is immediately awed by the sheer charisma of the new arrival. Despite being only a fraction over five feet tall, the woman exudes a presence which towers over the others in the room. The effect is no doubt amplified for the brunet, since he has to look up at the woman while seated on the floor. Regardless, there is a palpable air of importance and rightness the mysterious intruder carries with her, enough to match the most righteous of Angels.
Of them all, Asia Argento alone finds herself enthralled by the woman's eyes. Those emerald orbs scan the room and its occupants with incredible precision and insight. Even in the stranger's supposed blind spots, no one ever feels like they aren't being tracked by her. Those beautiful green pools of strength look confidently back at every potential foe who meets them. Within those eyes, most feel trepidation at the sight of a warrior ready for battle, but what the sister with a heart of peace sees is more distinct: a protector ready to defend her charge.
The majority of those assembled can't help but think, at least momentarily, that the third faction of the Great War has sent down a representative of its own to join the current conflict between Devils and Fallen Angels. There is no visible weapon on the woman's body, but no one doubts she is dangerous. After the initial shock wears off, though, there are a variety of reactions. Most realize the presence of a true Angel would come with a more palpable aura of pure Light, and recognize their mistake. Some, mainly females with black wings, curse their even momentary jealousy of the figure's appearance and begin to mentally reassert their own egotistical self-images. Others begin to question the odd nature of the stranger's arrival and wonder what the interruption might mean.
Whatever the specifics of their response might be, everyone in the room continues on in silence for another tense heartbeat while they gather their wits.
FATE
While all of her potential allies and enemies are stunned into silence for a few scant seconds, Artoria Pendragon completes her initial assessment of the situation. There are two distinct groups present, both of which show signs of hostility or mistrust to one another. More importantly, the summoned spirit also deduces the identity of both the boy who called her here and the girl he wishes to save.
The people closest to Artoria are her first priority for analysis. When Servants are summoned in Fuyuki City's Holy Grail War, they can sense manifested spiritual entities as a means to track their competition. The Holy Grail of this world seems to have granted the knight a similar ability, because the blonde detects a presence similar to a Servant's, but less potent, from everyone in the group around her. Whoever these people are, they are not likely human with so much spiritual essence infused within their flesh and blood bodies.
There are two young men and three young women to the blonde's left and right. The standardized uniforms the group wears, and the language spoken by the voice who called for help, suggest to Artoria they are Japanese high school students. The knight recognizes the form of dress because of Shirou, who was also a student throughout her brief time with him.
The boy to Artoria's right wears his uniform impeccably. That one maintains a two-handed grip on a sword aimed halfway between the knight and the other group across the room. Artoria is surprised to see the blade is not of Japanese make, but the boy himself has features to suggest a European ancestry. The swordsman's blue eyes watch the room calmly for any sign of danger. Such a composed warrior is not likely to be the owner of the deeply emotional cries which reached into the Once and Future King's soul across time and space.
To Artoria's left, the other boy sits on the floor behind a protective girl. This one is a brunet, and clearly Japanese. Most notably, the young man's left arm bears a decorative red gauntlet with a large green orb set in the back of the hand. Artoria can't help but take note of that particular accessory, for it registers on her newfound sense as a unique signature. Curiously, in the sixth sense Artoria has been granted, that gauntlet has a very similar presence to her own.
The boy who wears the red gauntlet is seated on the floor, not just because of shock or clumsiness, but due to a deep injury in his lower leg. The expression on this one's face is easy to read; he takes in the sight of Artoria with total awe and confusion. There is no mask over the boy's genuine emotions at all.
'This one.' Artoria has little doubt this young man is the one who begged for someone to save a girl named Asia. Next comes the identity of the one in need of rescue.
The women near Artoria's summoner are unlikely to be the one he wishes to save, but the king doesn't dare disregard them since they may still be threats. Like the boys, these girls all wear the same uniform.
The girl between Artoria and the brunet looks young. This student is likely Japanese as well, though her pure white hair makes it more difficult to discern. The girl has a small, thin stature at least half a foot shorter than the king herself. Regardless of the albino's size, she stands like a trained fighter and holds herself protectively over the boy without any sense of nervousness. Indeed, there is almost no emotion at all displayed on the girl's face or in her hazel eyes, even after a strange warrior's unexpected appearance. Someone so close to the boy who called for help, and who currently acts in his defense, is unlikely to be the one Artoria came to save.
To the king's right, two other women stand by the blond boy. Each one is much more open about the suspicion they feel toward the new arrival.
One of the young women is Japanese and has her hip-length black hair tied in a high ponytail with an orange ribbon. That one's violet eyes and thin line of a mouth convey only a few true emotions, but the narrow glances she sends toward the other side of the room suggest a stronger enmity for the other party than for the knight.
The other girl appears to be another person of European descent, and the slightly wild red hair which flows freely down her back makes the former King of Britain think initially of the Scots. That one has her attention focused more closely on Artoria herself than the other group. A blue gaze assesses the new arrival just as much as a green one currently does in return. The redhead holds herself with the familiar composure of nobility as well.
'A leader.'
Those observations aside, neither of those young women appear to be in particular distress at the moment.
Across the dimly-lit room are six more figures, seven if one counts the freshly-mutilated corpse laid up against a wall. Among the group are four more whom Artoria's new sixth sense detects the partially-spiritual nature of, but the king doesn't require such a vague impression to see these are not human either. The four people hover in the air on great black-feathered wings, one pair on the each of their backs, which apparently have no need to flap to keep their owners suspended. Three women and one man make up the company. A purple swirl of magical light fills the ceiling, and whatever its purpose is, Artoria can tell its epicenter is above this group.
The male is not Artoria's concern, and neither of the two women in the back of the formation seem to desire any aid from the knight or her summoner, either.
At the front of the winged people is the only Japanese-looking one among them. Of all the women present, however, the death glare this one sends Artoria's way is especially potent; it is a look which suggests its owner wouldn't accept anyone's aid, even if she were in trouble.
Fortunately, there is one candidate left on that side of the room.
The two figures who remain have European features as well. While the pair do set off Artoria's new sixth sense, it is not their entire beings which do so, and the nature of the sensation is different. The detection is localized on the figures as an internal presence in the girl, and on the equipment carried by the man. Artoria interprets this to mean that these are the only two humans present.
The male has a bland face with large, manic red eyes. This one's shoulder-length straight hair is a dull white color, not quite as stark as the white hair of the girl to Artoria's left. The figure only now gets back to his feet from the floor where he had been splayed out when Artoria arrived, an overturned chair next to the man the apparent cause of his fall. The human wears a long dark robe with yellow decorative embroidery along the lining, and a white shirt and pants underneath. The outfit and the silver cross necklace the figure wears would normally suggest he is a holy man. In contrast, the angry, sadistic look on the albino's face, which first turns wide-eyed and then lustful when he looks over the new arrival to the scene, belies an inner personality which is ill-suited for a religious vocation.
Honestly, Kirei Kotomine did a better job playing the role of a priest than this guy. Artoria has only been here for all of four seconds so far, and she's still confident in that assessment.
The obvious candidate for Artoria's charge is the one human who remains. The pretty young girl wears a white religious habit, and she currently kneels on the floor between Artoria and the human man. The sister's expressive green eyes are filled with a sense of wonder and concern which make her seem innocent, despite what surrounds her. Artoria is convinced she is correct in her assessment by the wet tracks which run down the girl's cheeks.
Dressed as a nun of some kind, the girl appears to be in the most obvious distress of all the females present. Artoria would think this girl appears the most distressed of everyone here, were it not for the physical injuries which cripple her summoner. Those wounds are, no doubt, what caused a need to ask someone else to save the girl. The sister is not untouched either, and even now she uses her hands to hold her torn-open dark teal clerical robes over her otherwise exposed but uninjured chest. Artoria frowns at the thought of what such specific damage might have been caused for.
In the span of the few seconds it takes for every other party to blink and process the arrival of the armored blonde woman, Artoria identifies both her Master and the objective he called her here for. Since none of those present seem eager to act, however, Artoria decides to begin with her traditional greeting.
"I ask you..."
The blonde closes her eyes and speaks with the intention to lock her gaze on the injured brunet to her left as she finishes her question. Everyone in the room is transfixed by the words of the unexpected invader. Artoria has a clear, refined voice which demands attention and rings with the same combination of strength and beauty as her face. Whether the individual members of the assembled audience listen out of genuine curiosity, cautious fear, or just anger which seeks a target, none present want to miss out on what question the stranger has appeared here to ask them.
"...are you-"
None, except for one.
A sudden rush of footsteps interrupts the blonde's words and shocks the other occupants of the room out of their stupor. Artoria is not someone accustomed to being ignored. The only one not surprised by the interruption is Asia Argento. It's only natural the former nun wouldn't be caught off-guard by this, though. After all...
…Asia has kept at least one eye on Issei the entire time.
[End Track]
FATE
'I've got to get Asia out of here!'
Issei Hyoudou's body screams in agony when he forces his injured leg to run. The Reincarnated Devil's muscles protest every movement as the Light in his system saps their strength. The teenage boy's emotions also churn with terror at the knowledge that his murderer and her kind are in the direction he runs toward.
Ultimately, though, Asia's one friend in the world ignores the pain, the weakness, and the fear. Issei Hyoudou may possess a myriad of character flaws, but a willingness to abandon the people he cares for is not one of them.
Two seconds ago, Issei had been just as enraptured with the appearance of the mysterious beauty as anyone else in the room. The sight of the majestic blonde would have taken the kid's breath away, that is, if his blood loss hadn't already done a fine job of that beforehand. If the stranger had shown up in some sort of revealing outfit, then the unapologetic pervert might very well have become insensate to the rest of the world for a few more seconds. Fortunately, the new arrival's conservative dress wasn't enough of a distraction to prevent the young man from making an important observation.
Rias and (after a quick glance around the room) everyone else was just as shocked by the new arrival as Issei himself. Once the boy realized an opportunity to move existed, it didn't matter to him how much his body still protested it. Devil biology must have some equivalent to adrenaline, because the brunet was energized by the possibility of saving Asia. Issei sprang to his feet as soon as the stranger opened her mouth.
Now Issei's wounded legs carry him straight for Asia, pure determination on his face. The small maiden looks up at the boy's approach silently as a mix of hope and fear wells up within her. Issei would call out the girl's name again if he didn't need to grit his teeth against the pain. The Reincarnated Devil also stays silent because he hopes whatever the woman behind him has to say will continue to distract the Fallen Angels from his actions, at least long enough to get Asia out of the building. Issei is sure that, if he can get a hold of Asia, his fellow Devils will help them both run away.
Issei's strength wavers, but after what feels to him like ten minutes of running in place, he finally gets near arm's reach of Asia. Both teenagers smile in defiant hope as the other fills their vision, and they desperately reach out their right hands to one another. That hope is dashed when a dark shadow looms over the blonde on the floor.
Issei's brown eyes grow wide in recognition and fear. The shadow isn't the Fallen, as the boy first expected. The winged ones are still in the air further back, wary of the unexpected intruder. The truth of the shadow's identity is no less terrible, though.
"Hey, thanks," Freed Sellzen says to Issei with unnecessary glee. The psychotic smile on the man's face stretches his cheeks and lips unnaturally tight as he chambers a slash with his right arm. "For a minute there, I didn't think you'd let me finish. You're a real classy lady!"
Issei dives for his friend. Asia screams the boy's name in fear. Both teens know it's too late. Freed swings his right arm up and over his body. The strike is meant to come down through Issei's head, just as the Devil reaches his friend, and drench Asia in a torrent of his blood.
Rias Gremory futilely calls out for her servant to come back. The redhead raises a hand to summon her power once more, even if she is too slow to react.
Akeno Himejima glares at the Light-wielders and her hand sparks with electricity, even though she knows her spell won't be fired off in time to help.
Yuuto Kiba curses his position in the room. The swordsman is ready to run to his fellow servant's aid with his enhanced speed, but to get by the Fallen Angels safely would take a heartbeat too long. Unfortunately, to ignore those foes and charge in would surely just get Yuuto killed as well.
Koneko Toujou laments her failure to stay focused on the boy her master has charged her with. If only, the girl thinks, she hadn't been distracted by that scent...
Issei Hyoudou doesn't have time for any such regrets. All the boy does is stare into the sad face of Asia Argento and swear to himself that, somehow, he will save her, even if he has to die again to do it.
A sharp tone, the song of steel as it clashes with steel, assaults the air a split second before Issei collides with Asia. The boy drags the girl down and to the side, where the two bodies tumble a short distance before they come to a stop. The brunet, afraid for his friend's safety, holds her closely underneath him. The blonde, overcome with fear for her friend as well, hugs him back. Issei intends to shield Asia from the blow he expects to come from above at any moment, his eyes pinched tight as he awaits the familiar pain of death once more.
The hormonal young man also tries very hard not to ruin his heroic sacrifice by allowing his last thoughts to drift to the fact that, by hugging him, Asia has let go of her ruined dress and is currently pressing into him with her-
"Well," an unfamiliar but calm voice says to disrupt the undesired, if enjoyable, train of thought. "I suppose there is no need to ask. It can only be you after all."
Issei blinks his eyes open and turns his head. The boy's neck is still attached to his body, which he considers an unexpected plus. Asia also pokes her head out and blinks curiously for a moment, before she remembers herself and swiftly gathers together the sheared-apart pieces of her clothes again, cheeks on fire as she does so. Issei tries not to feel disappointed at the loss of contact by focusing his attention on the sight above the pair.
Freed still stands over the Reincarnated Devil and his friend. The man's right arm made it most of the way down to Issei's head, but seems to have frozen in midair before it could reach its goal. The albino priest's arm trembles with effort, and his gloved hand squeezes ever tighter on the intricately-shaped golden hilt which projects the Light he uses as a weapon. Both of these actions indicate the madman doesn't stay his sword by choice. Freed grits his teeth in concentration and scowls angrily, but his eyes are aimed across from him rather than down. Issei follows that scowl to find the source of the problem.
There stands the stranger. The blonde woman is a little further back in the direction Issei ran here from. The armored warrior's own right arm is extended out toward Freed's sword as well, though it doesn't reach it. Issei notices the blonde's fist is held partially open in a way which mimics the act of holding a weapon, but there is nothing visible in the warrior's grasp.
Around the four people caught in the altercation, the rest of the Fallen Angels and Devils watch on with curiosity. Although the stranger has no aura of Light or Demonic Power those assembled can detect, the strength of her raw magical potential is palpable. The woman also moves with far greater speed and strength than any ordinary human would be capable of. The Gremory Peerage hold on to the spells and attacks they had planned to launch, just in case the stranger's intervention turns sour.
In the midst of it all, what really draws Issei's attention now is the woman's appearance. No longer does the blonde glance around her with a fierce expression on her face. Issei, and most others, had originally thought the stranger's pretty features required no improvement to show off her beauty. Now, however, that assumption is proven wrong. The small, soft smile of approval which shines down on the boy has made the woman look radiant enough to light up a stadium. Issei can't even imagine how spectacular an expression of actual joy might look like on that face.
"What, you can't wait for me to do you next, bitch?!" Freed yells to ruin the moment. The woman's emerald eyes turn cold and her lips become a thin line once more, her focus now on the exorcist. Whatever it is the blonde does to hold Freed back, Issei notices, she doesn't struggle at all, no matter how much effort the albino seems to exert. "If it's a threesome you want, I'm happy to oblige!"
Freed abandons his attempt to cut down into Issei and pulls his sword back. Simultaneously, the exorcist's left hand whips a large silver firearm forward with the speed and precision of a cobra strike. Freed points the cross-shaped barrel straight at the stranger's forehead. By the time even Issei's enhanced Devil senses can perceive the movement, the mysterious blonde's brain is just a single twitch of Freed's trigger finger away from being filled with blessed lead.
Unfortunately for Freed, when the warrior moves in response she is faster than any snake that has ever caught its prey. Rather than shy away from the gun, the blonde shows no hesitation and advances instead. A gauntlet-clad right arm bends at the elbow, and the partially-open hand is raised to eye level next to the woman's head.
The revolver barks, a sound last accompanied by a burst of Issei's flesh. This time, though, the only accompaniment is a loud clang as the bullet bounces off of an unseen obstacle between the muzzle and its target. Sparks erupt before the woman's face in the wake of the shot, but her focused eyes don't so much as blink in response.
Freed has no time to try for a second shot before the armored warrior in front of him spins around on one leg into his space. The woman's wide skirt flares open as she turns, which gives Issei a clear view of... well, actually, it's not what the boy has gotten used to seeing whenever he has a chance to look up a woman's skirt. The blonde's lower body is still fully clothed underneath the garment.
What Issei really gets a good view of is just how deeply the blonde's armored right foot embeds itself into the exorcist's abdomen. Freed is struck so forcefully the man folds over on the spot and practically envelopes his attacker's limb between his legs and torso.
What happens next drives Issei to cover his head. Not even one second after the blonde's foot makes contact with Freed, the man is rocketed away from the point of impact with an audible blast. The sound of the woman's kick is more comparable to the roar of a cannon than the measly gunshot which Freed's weapon produced. A rush of air washes over Issei and Asia hard enough to flutter their hair and clothes. The brunet's low position also gives him a decent view of how the floor behind the woman's planted foot cracks as she braces herself against it.
Freed hits the back wall, then smashes right through it into the room beyond with a painful clatter. The armored woman demonstrates impeccable grace and spins back onto both feet without delay, after which she stands with her left side toward the Fallen Angels and her right to the Devils. All of the airborne warriors now openly scowl in the blonde's direction, but each one fails to match the intensity of the emerald glare she returns their way.
A few heartbeats later, Issei realizes the only sound his superior Devil ears can pick up from Freed Sellzen now are some very shallow breaths.
"Can you run?"
The woman doesn't remove her eyes from the angry Fallen Angels, but Issei knows the question is meant for him.
"I..."
The boy starts, then hesitates. Issei wants to say yes, but whatever rush of energy he'd had before is gone now. The Light in the Devil's body still weighs him down as well. Issei is about to answer in the negative, when a soft green glow envelops his leg.
"Asia?" Issei asks in awe as he looks down at the determined face of the girl.
The maiden throws away her sense of modesty and allows her hands to hover over her friend's gunshot wound, the two silver bands of her Sacred Gear now prominent on her middle fingers. Asia focuses on her work and ignores all else.
The power of Twilight Healing is incredible. Even the holiness of the exorcist round can't resist Asia's restorative power. Issei feels more than just his flesh and bones being mended and his system being cleared. There is also a gentle warmth which retroactively soothes every throb of pain the boy has had to endure since he received the injury. It feels as if the girl can heal the soul itself. Issei could easily be lost in that sensation, especially since Asia's clothes once again hang ope-
"Yes," Issei declares, once his leg is restored. The boy tears his eyes away from the girl beneath him to the one above him. Issei is well aware now is not the time to get distracted, no matter how easy or pleasant it might be. The sword wound on the Devil's back remains, and the Light from it still burns through him, but his leg works. That's enough for now. To wait for Asia to heal the second injury would only invite the Fallen Angels to attack.
"Take her to safety," the armored stranger instructs, her gaze still locked on the winged figures. "I will eliminate the threats."
"You'll eliminate us?" Raynare asks with barely-contained disgust. "I don't know who you think you are, but beating a worthless human like Freed doesn't make you strong. You'll die like the rest of these fools!"
A red spear of Light erupts into Raynare's hand. Each of the Fallen Angel's fellows project a similar weapon of their own in a variety of colors.
Issei doesn't wait. The boy has no desire to listen to his murderer's complaints. At the words of the incredible woman who saved both the Devil and his new friend, Issei pulls himself and Asia to their feet, then leads her back toward the front door of the home. It's hard for the boy to imagine the stranger won't be able to do what she claims.
"Hold on," Issei hears Rias protest, her blue eyes narrowed at the profile of the golden-haired knight. The redhead hasn't had time to identify if these Fallen Angels are here on some official business yet. If the four are all killed now, before their wrongdoing is publicly established, then the Grigori might be able to turn the situation around on the Devils politically. "This is the territory of the Gremory Family. I won't have you barge in here and restart the Great War by slaughtering Fallen Angels under my watch."
"So war will be avoided if I leave them alive?"
Rias speaks with the full authority afforded to her by her station, but the armored girl shrugs off her words like they are no more bothersome than a light spring rain. The calm response also further incenses the Fallen Angels. Each one seems happy to forget the Devils in favor of the woman, who they perceive to have insulted their egos in multiple ways since her arrival.
"That's hardly the point," Rias responds, her controlled demeanor tainted with a dangerous edge. Issei has never seen the President exude such threat before, not even to Freed when she first arrived here. "I don't know who or what you are, but-"
"Dragon."
For the second time tonight, all activity in the room stops cold. Even Issei and Asia's slow but steady retreat is halted by the single terrified word spoken by the usually stoic Koneko Toujou. It is that scent which had momentarily paralyzed the young Devil in fear earlier, and allowed Issei the chance to rush to Asia's side.
Whoever this stranger is, the blood of a dragon runs through her veins.
The Fallen Angels have not attacked yet, but only because, despite her words with the Gremory heiress, the target of their ire never once looks the least bit distracted. Raynare still would have launched her assault by now out of a lack of patience, but only if she wasn't caught off-guard and left to stare wide-eyed after this announcement, just like everyone else in the room. Even Rias' carefully-sculpted persona cracks a little from fear when she turns back to the stranger.
Dragons never care about the rules or authority of the other races, after all.
"Get her to safety," the armored woman repeats herself. "I will wait here for your return."
Issei doesn't delay any longer. Rias might be the boy's master, but Asia is his friend. To save the nun is the Reincarnated Devil's highest priority right now.
"Thank you."
As the cool night air greets him outside, Issei can't help but notice this is twice now he owes a beautiful woman for saving someone he cares about. First it was his own life, and now Asia's. Maybe, the teen's over-taxed mind considers in a moment of fancy, these consecutive bad days aren't so terrible after all.
Not if this is a trend that will continue.
FATE
The young man's quiet words of thanks bring another small smile to Artoria's face, though this one is far more competitive than the last. The woman's certainty sends a challenge to the winged warriors. Whether or not King Arthur has been summoned as a Servant, or as something else entirely, it is still a knight's duty to protect the one they have sworn an oath to. Artoria will not accept any form of failure in that task.
"Everyone, follow Issei and keep him safe," Rias instructs quietly as she ushers the rest of her Peerage to exit the building as well. A concerned look is on the redhead's face, but she accepts the situation is beyond her control and places the safety of her servants back at the top of her own priority list. "We'll have to handle this later."
"You guys kill them and get Asia back," Raynare snarls to her fellows. The woman's violet eyes take in the taunt on the armored stranger's face with outrage. "I'll deal with this one."
The other three Fallen Angels, all too happy to not fight someone who might very well be a dragon in human form, take flight toward the front door of the house. The group's leader charges the mysterious blonde with a thrust of her red spear. The trio after Asia almost make it a whole three feet, but then a sound akin to shattering glass pierces their ears. The group's black-haired colleague crashes into the side of their formation, after which all four are sent into one of the unbroken walls and collapse to the floor.
The Fallen Angels untangle themselves, and Raynare angrily pushes aside her male subordinate's offered hand as she gets back to her feet. The sound of metallic footsteps draws the group's attention to their opponent's movement. The knight walks calmly on her silver plate boots to stand between her gathered opposition and the way Asia left the building, her hard eyes locked on each of them the entire time.
"None of you may leave until I allow it."
Artoria draws her hands up together next to her and holds one over the other. Once again, the knight's steel-covered fingers grasp the hilt of a sword no one can see.
The king will fulfill her duty, just as she always has before. Even if Artoria never got to ask her question, the answer was obvious.
'You...' the blonde thinks as she pictures the boy with the red gauntlet. The image of the brunet as he rushes with foolhardy determination into danger to save an innocent person is still fresh in Artoria's mind. That scene is easily transposed over many similar memories of another important young man, which brings a deep satisfaction to the maiden's heart. '... are my Master.'
Chapter End
Author's Notes
And now chapter two is complete. It feels good to come back to The Red Dragon's Saber. The plan is for me to update this story again before my others, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait for the next installment.
Sincerely,
Captain Bell