Chapter 7: Central City
The capital of the country Amestris; Central City. Where its Command Station holds the Fuhrer's office, and where the Fuhrer himself lives. The city sidewalk occupied with residents casually pursues their everyday lives, and every few seconds a car or truck drives down the black gravel road. Far different from Resembool, it was similar to East City with its expansion easily notable; bustling with over thousands of people and noises everywhere.
This is where Jeanne will find the Overseer, to confirm where the Church truly stands in the Holy Grail War, where she may expect to meet one of the Masters from the Mage Association who is also complying with the military, and more than likely, where she will be greeted with another offer for her to join them - a sensible request given the circumstances, yet she cannot shake this off-putting feel within her that would have her accept it.
Lastly, where she will have Edward's Command Seals be taken by the Overseer, and exclude the Fullmetal Alchemist from the war for the Holy Grail, but not before they go to a place he and Alphonse have been meaning to look for. And here in this city, they found it.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?!"
Or what's left of it.
The Fullmetal Alchemist had yelled as he and his equally shocked brother stood before the building where the doctor Tim Marcoh promises his research hides - the first branch of the National Central Library, the source of knowledge open to the public and with records used at times for the military. But everything in sight, their one and only lead, it was all burned to the ground.
Piles of black charred clumps scattered all over within the branch of the library, a mess of ash smothering floor. A few structures and walls remained standing, but they were in such horrible states and barely intact, a simple nudge could topple them over, yet nothing was worse as it did inside. Just as it was for what was left of the Elric brothers home, it was a graveyard of destroyed essentials.
"What in the world...?" Alex was at a lost for words. Jeanne frowned as she looked at the scene before them.
They stepped upon the rubble carefully, walking around the area with its ruined pieces and furniture. The Elric brothers dug through the pile, searching for anything that may have lived through the fire; something that could be the notes they have come to look for. But their close examination of everything only shows that whatever was left here, it could no longer be of any use or legibility.
"It's all gone..." A burned book crumbled in Edward's hands, pouring through between his fingers like sand. "There's nothing left here but ash..."
What are they supposed to do? This was the only lead they had and it's destroyed. Just when they actually have a chance, it was taken from them like some kind of cruel tease; a horrible joke.
Jeanne looked to the brothers sadly, even though she knew the truth, these brothers did not. To come at a place where they hoped to find answers and a solution to their tragic predicament, they must be so disheartened. While she would think that this might be for the best, her heart felt heavy when she saw Edward's upsetting face and Alphonse's dispirited body language.
She looked back at the ruined library, a question she shared with the three Alchemists and her confusion. What on earth happened to this place?
"Major Armstrong!"
All turned at the call from behind. Military officers have approached them, saluting to the larger man they had called to. The officer pair appeared rather young, with a man of dark blonde hair that reached his jawline, and a woman with short-cut black hair, a mole under her left eye.
"Second Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Brosh," Major Armstrong recognized the pair. "What can we do for the both of you?"
Maria Ross answered, "An order is issued for your report to Command Center, sir."
"We'll be taking over guarding the Fullmetal Alchemist and his brother. Effective immediately," Denny Brosh relayed.
A thoughtful sound from the major, once more he looked at the destroyed branch, and then a nod, "Very well, he's all yours."
Edward was hardly as agreeable, "More babysitters? I'm getting pretty tired having someone look over my shoulders for this long. I don't need any more guards!" Now that he has his arm repaired and Alphonse in one shape again, they should be good on their own with only the exception of Jeanne just so she can lead them to the person who can get rid of the red marks on his hand.
"We still haven't found Scar, or this other man who attacked you," and if Alex remembered the details correctly, this mysterious attacker with a blue color theme is far from being an average human. The Strong-Arm Alchemist straightened his back, towering over Edward by a few inches more, "I don't want to hear anymore complaints, understand?" He ordered with a narrow gaze, daring to be challenged.
The Fullmetal Alchemist backs down with only a mumble of displeasure. Satisfied, the Major then addressed Jeanne, "You'll have to watch over him along with my subordinates," he offers his hand, "Take care, Jeanne."
Their few days spent of becoming acquainted, Jeanne shakes his hand with hopes for his well-being, "You as well, Major Armstrong." She watches the Major speak to the two officers, and leaves right after.
Denny and Maria have already been informed about Jeanne from their superiors in Command Central, but upon Ruler's brief interaction with them, it seems they thought of her as a normal girl and nothing more, nor do they sound aware of her role to the secret war happening within Amestris. Jeanne reasons that with the miraculous results that are these Servants, their nature and her own must be kept confidential no matter how close or feign it is to Human Transmutation. The stability of this world's understanding must be cared for if possible.
"Do either of you know what happened to that place?" Edward asked the officers as he, his brother and Jeanne sat in the backseat of a moving car. It was tight where the teens are due to Alphonse's size, but they were able to manage fine enough, if only slightly uncomfortable.
Denny answers from the driver's seat, "We haven't found any strong evidence, but it could have been an accident. Someone might have lit a cigar and didn't put it out right."
"You boys wanted to find something there?" Maria looked over from the passenger's seat.
"We were looking for information," Alphonse said, disappointment in his tone, "and we hoped to find it there."
Edward sighed, sharing the feeling, "Yeah, but from what we saw. Looks like everything got lost in the fire."
"Maybe not all of it," Maria grasps the brothers attention, "There's a woman who was responsible for the materials in that branch. She doesn't work there anymore, but who knows? It might help you boys with whatever you're looking for?"
It was a stretch, and Edward feels utterly unenthusiastic about it, but he suppose it's worth a shot. He wants to make sure if Marcoh's notes were actually burned in the fire, or if there is a chance that it could be somewhere else.
"Hey, sorry if this sounds intrusive," started Denny, looking into the rear-view mirror and seeing the one specific teen who stands out from the rest by size alone. "But why are you wearing armor? Doesn't it make you feel cramped in here?"
The brothers flinched, panic struck them. It was more than a few times that they were greeted with questions like these, and the Elrics always has to come up with excuses that hides the truth of Alphonse. It doesn't happen too often, and people simply accepted that this is what Alphonse wears all the time, but when the question does come up, the brothers were usually unprepared for it.
They looked to each other, mind racing in search for a decent answer to give. Their troubled hesitation so distinct that Jeanne could sense it, and she too began to worry how they will explain Alphonse's appearance without revealing that they committed an illegal act.
"...It's a hobby."
Edward's response did not do much to help them, confusing and arousing even more questions from Denny and Maria, leading the officers to wonder who exactly are these brothers. Just as the Elrics began to sweat in growing internal distress - how Alphonse could was beyond even Jeanne's level of understanding, the Holy Maiden spoke in order to help evade anymore suspicions.
"Do you know anything else about this woman who worked at the library?"
Maria's curiosity of the Elric brothers sidetracks in order to answer Jeanne, the woman informs, "Not so much. Just that she lives at an apartment with a guardian. Her place isn't too far. We should be there in a little bit."
A sigh of relief from the boys. Alphonse whispered his thanks to the Ruler Servant and she offered that it was no trouble, and throughout the ride, she hadn't noticed the few glances spared in her direction from Edward.
They arrived at the home of the ex-librarian. After receiving information from the front desk, they walked up the stairs and found her room number. Edward knocked against the wooden door, and to no one's expectation, it was moved slightly ajar by his one knock.
"Hello?" He pushes the door further, and the group came to an appalling sight.
Books, and more books, and far more books than there should be for someone's dorm, filled the entire room. Papers in-between hard covers in multiple stacks that reached the ceiling like towers, aligned against the walls of what they could only assume to be the living room; thousands of books in view. Papers and pencils piles over tables and corners, shelves overflowing with tomes and stories. Some evidence revealed that someone had at least tried to keep this home clean, yet despite the efforts, the place was its own cluttered library.
"Whoa...Is this really someone's home?" Denny asked, amazed by the number of books there are.
"So many..." Jeanne quietly gasped. The amount of books in here was overwhelming. Whoever this woman is, she clearly has some form of love - if not obsession - with reading and collecting.
"There's got to be millions of them," Edward said, reading off the titles from each few book's spines. Alphonse slowly moves around the stacks and the smaller ones near his feet, cautious of his size to avoid hitting these towers that would fall and cause a huge mess.
"Does anybody even live here?" The younger Elric wondered.
"Miss Sheska?" Maria calls out.
"Is someone there?!"
A urgent voice of a female broke through. Following it into another room, the group discovered a large pile of books in between tall shelves, a twitching hand sticks out from the bottom.
Alphonse gasped, "Someone's trapped under there!"
Without wasting a breath, they all hurried to dig through pile, "Hang on! We'll get you out!" Edward said, tossing away a tome and another. One by one, they threw the books aside, and began to see the brown hair of the trapped woman. They quicken their haste to free her when-
"I'm home Sheska!" The sound of another woman came through the front door. "Did you make dinner yet? I bought groceries just in case!" The woman of orange hair casually maneuvers around the tall stacks, her yellow dress fearlessly brushed against them. She prances to the next room with bags of food products carried in her arms, concealed by the sleeves of her mint green overcoat.
"Hm...?" She halted at her discovery of the group, and a brief pause was exchanged between them, surprised by each other's unexpected presence.
"M-Ms. Fumora? Is that you?" The one underneath the piles of books spoke.
"Sheska?!" Startled, the bags slipped from the new woman's hold, "W-wait! Who are all of you?! What have you done to my Sheska?!"
"It's alright ma'am! We're with the military!" Maria stood up to confront and calm the woman, letting the others resume their rescue of the named Sheska, until finally freeing her. The brunette, in her black turtle neck blouse and blue jeans, inhaled the air outside her avalanche of books with utter relief.
"Sheska!" Ms. Fumora ran passed Maria. She drops to her knees and enveloped Sheska in a hug, "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"I-I think I'm okay," said Sheska, but her brows furrowed as her hands searches the ground. Jeanne spotted a gray frame spectacles right beside the brunette's leg, and picked it up.
"Are you looking for this?" She allowed Sheska to pat around her fingers until the glasses were felt.
"Thank goodness they're not broken," she wore her glasses, and Sheska could now see her rescuers clearly, "Thank you all so much! I'm really sorry for the trouble..."
"I'm so glad you're okay, but..." The hugging friend grips the shoulders of Sheska, her eyes moist with tears that threatened to fall. "Does this mean there's no food waiting?"
...Blatant stares of disbelief shot the woman's way. Sheska however, stuttered an apology, "I-I'm so sorry! I was caught up with reading, and I accidently tripped by some books and they fell over to another stack and it all fell on top of me-!"
"What's going on here?"
A voice of another unexpected visitor, standing outside of the room. A young man with dark hair and glasses, in a student's uniform with a gray schoolbag he carries by the strap over his shoulder. The student calmly evaluated the people in front of him, looks at the books that were all over the place, and in an instant, his mind clicked with the idea of what could have happened here.
He sighed in exasperation, "Again Sheska?"
The named girl sheepishly lowered her head, "S-Sorry Isaiah…"
Tea was served by the young man name Isaiah Rioden, a friend of Sheska. Thanks were given by the ex-librarian to her rescuers while her guardian - Talia Fumora, pampers her with constant asking and worries if she is alright still. Just as everyone has their cup - Alphonse accepting one in order to make himself look less suspicious(as best as he could), they watched the male student start to scold the orange hair woman.
"I just helped clean this place last night! How could it be like this again?" He then steered his tone to Sheska, "And I told you countless times about these books, and look what keeps happening!"
"B-but you can't make me get rid of them! They're too precious to me!" said Sheska.
"It's for your own health. Honestly..." Isaiah's fingers ran through his hair, "You're supposed to be the adult here Ms. Fumora. This isn't how a teacher should be!"
"Oh don't be so uptight Isaiah," Talia waved off his words, "For the record, I understand the problem, but I can't help it if Sheska is too attached to all of this! Do you really want to do that to her?"
"Do not push this back to me, you're the one responsible for her, and she nearly suffocated because of all this!"
"G-Guys! Please don't fight!" Sheska begged, "It's my fault! If only I wasn't so clumsy and just downright awful-"
Her mouth was clamped over by Talia's hand, "Stop saying things like that! You're an amazing person!"
Isaiah pushes the brim of his glasses, "I know how much you love books, but you have to look after yourself better than this. I'm only saying this because..."
Sheska nodded, moving away Talia's hand, "I know. I know you guys care about me so much. Looking after me while mom is..."
"...Should we come back another time?" Alphonse whispered to his brother, feeling that they were somehow listening in on a personal matter, but Edward wasn't really too keen on leaving just yet. He came here for a reason.
"Anyway, let's talk about this later," Reminding herself of their guests, Talia pressed her hands together and warmly addresses the visitor, "What can we do for all of you?"
Edward starts, "Well, Ms. Fumora, we're here because we wanted to talk to someone who used to work at the library."
At the very mention of the place, a dreamy sigh arose from Sheska, "Ah...Even just the word. Such a wonderful word~"
Yup, another girl with an obsession. Edward gained a distinct idea that this girl and Winry might get along.
"I love books for my entire life," Sheska explained, "Ever since I learned how to read, I never went a day without going through a couple of chapters or the entire book. That job I had was heaven!"
"That's amazing," Jeanne whispers, she could barely get through signing her own name without trials and constant errors in her life when faced with literature. Not a very particularly proud fact of hers. Thank goodness for Rose's substantial knowledge of what she originally lacked.
"Sure, until she got fired for reading too much instead of working..." So bluntly put by Isaiah.
Talia tapped him right in the head, "Don't be so mean!"
Sheska's revel for books immediately diminished at Isaiah's point, "He's right though. I thought that job would be perfect for me, but I guess I'll always be-"
"Don't you say it!" Talia immediately shushed her, "Really Sheska, you give yourself too little credit. You know you have an incredible passion!"
"But I lost another job. If I don't find one and stick with it, there's no way I can help pay the hospital bills for my mother."
A hand covers Sheska reassuringly as Talia spoke in a soft tone, "I already told you-"
But the book-lover shook her head, "I know, and I'm forever grateful that your grandfather and Isaiah's dad has helped my mother for so long, and how all of you were so kind enough to look after me, but I can't keep relying on it. I can't keep allowing you guys make so much effort...while all I am is a burden."
"Sheska..." Concern traces in Isaiah's tone, his stern expression breaking a little.
"...Hey. I have a question."
Sheska listens, looking at the Fullmetal Alchemist as he continues, "When you worked at that library, do you remember seeing any notes written by Doctor Tim Marcoh?"
"Tim Marcoh? Let me think..." Recollection then shimmered behind her glasses, "Oh! Yes! I remember! They really stood out for me since they were shoved in book cases they didn't belong to."
"Then those notes were there..." Edward's eyes shimmers with glee at the research's existence, before they dimmed, "Which means they burned up along with the rest of that branch." Dispirited, the brothers could only sigh. Jeanne eyes them with sympathy.
"Did you wanted to read them?" Sheska asked.
Edward admits dejectedly, "Yeah, but it's gone. Nothing but ash is left there." Looks like it's another dead end. They could visit Marcoh again, but as the old doctor has shown, he wouldn't talk about his work no matter what, and they would never wish to force the old man from the village who needed him. It seems they have to start from scratch once more.
"If you want, I can write it all out for you."
The brothers perked up, "What?"
"Oh yes!" Talia happily said as if to boast for the book-lover, "Sheska has this incredible memory. Always remembering every book she's ever read word by word. I swear, she'd be one of the top students in the school I work at."
"And you occasionally take advantage of that by making her your own personal notepad and shopping list..." Isaiah adjusts his glasses as he glared accusingly at the teacher.
"Hold on! You're serious?!" The Elric brothers stood up, gazing closely at Sheska in disbelief and anticipation.
She nodded, "It'll take me a couple of days, but I can get them done for you."
How incredibly fortunate. What could have been an end that would either leave the brothers to backtrack or start all over again, here they meet a young woman who has what it takes to finally put an end to their quest.
White gloved hands shot out to shake the hands of Sheska, "Thank you bookworm! You just saved us!" Edward thanked immensely.
So this is how it will be, thought Jeanne, her face solemnly stoic.
"H-hey! Don't call her bookworm!" Isaiah's demeanor suddenly changed, his shoulders stiffened as he spoke to the golden-eye teen, "Is that anyway you say thanks? You'd be on the short-side of manners then."
The button was pushed, and Edward's temper possessed him. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING SHORT?!" Alphonse immediately grabbed him as everyone else was taken aback by his reaction, "SAY THAT TO MY FACE AGAIN! I'LL SHOW YOU!"
Moving on instinct, Isaiah sprung from his chair and raised his arms in ready to defend himself from the sudden outburst of the shorter boy. Sheska knew this familiar fighting posture of her friend and fumbled, "D-Don't hurt them Isaiah! Remember they saved me!"
"How do you expect me not to defend myself?!" Isaiah asked, "He's little but look how rabid he is now!"
"THAT'S IT! GET OVER HERE, I'M KICKING YOUR ASS!"
The demonic likeness from this boy reminds Isaiah of certain girl he knew from his school, "What is wrong with you?! I swear you're just like a tige-" Isaiah slams his hand over his mouth, but it was too late.
A slam against the table, it rattled with the point of a wooden stick on top of it, silencing and freezing everyone in the room. Threat oozes from the orange hair woman, clutching to the wooden sword she had grabbed nearby.
"Go on Isaiah. Finish that sentence..." Talia dared, a dangerously sweet smile on her delicate features, but the anger so obvious they could feel it, "Weren't you about to say Tiger?" The infamous nickname she hates with all her heart and soul, and will attack anyone who say it around her.
Almost everyone gulped in fear, even Jeanne was startled by the silent fury this woman is emitting.
"I think you've met your match, brother," said Alphonse, quietly frightened by the woman who shares an even worse reaction to a supposedly despised word. Now calmed from the shake of sudden fear in his system, Edward quickly nodded in agreement. Mental note: never mention Tiger around this woman.
Things alleviated soon enough, and after a rather mild awkward goodbye from the apologizing Sheska, the glaring but silent Isaiah, and the once again bubbling Talia, the group leaves the residence of the ex-librarian and her guardian.
"Well, that could have ended better," Denny said as the group stepped onto the sidewalk outside the apartment complex.
Edward snorted, his peeved attitude at the "short" comment and the embedded fright subsiding, "As if. We found just what we were looking for."
"Sheska says that it'll take her a couple of days to write down all of Doctor Marcoh's notes, so what should we do then?" Alphonse asked.
Appearing to be a spare time for all of them, Jeanne steps forth, "If there isn't anywhere else for you to do, then..."
Edward looked to his hand, where the Command Seals hide under his glove, "Right. It's about time we go meet this guy you know."
"Yes...and you haven't changed your mind?"
He almost laughed at the question, "Absolutely. No way am I getting involved in this," and with Marcoh's notes to wait for, he really can't think of anything else but that.
Jeanne nodded, a little more at ease, "Then I will lead you to him." But before she does, she spoke to the soldiers, "There are matters that the Elric brothers have to settle, have your superiors told you of this?"
"Just that we should expect you to take them somewhere," Maria answers, "Where should we drive you guys to?"
"There is a specific church we must head for," with her eyes closed, Jeanne touched upon her Revelation skill, "I will direct you, but once we get there, I have to ask the both of you to wait outside. It shouldn't take us too long."
The officers glanced at each other. Maria and Denny were specifically ordered to watch over the Elric brothers and protect them whenever it is necessary, but they were also told that whatever the girl name Jeanne says, they should listen. It was beyond surprising that this girl was declared by their superiors to be someone of great importance when she seems like an ordinary civilian. She actually takes their attention more than they have with the brothers, as odd as they are. It wasn't their job to question, but they can't help to wonder; who is she to the military?
They eventually nodded, with only the promise that it will not take too much time, and Jeanne agrees. Back into the vehicle, and with it's running engine as Denny takes the wheel, Jeanne began wordily leading him to their next destination, pointing to certain streets with such confidence that they would think she must have been here before.
One drive later, the Holy Maiden instructed Denny to park the car at an available spot beside the sidewalk, and once he did, she exists the car.
"This is it," she said as the others steps out to follow her.
In the middle of a large grassy area, a church of silver walls and brittle blue glass windows stood there, separated from the rest of the city buildings by having its own lot. It was smaller than the church in Liore, with many symbols of what faith this church follows in some places, a cross on the roof's top, and a statue of a figure in robe at the front of the entrance. This is no doubt the place Jeanne believes it to be; where the Overseer of the Holy Grail War should be.
"Wait here," Jeanne tells Maria and Denny. Though they were still uncertain, the soldiers listened. The Holy Maiden then ushers the brothers to follow, and they set off for the building.
"Here I was hoping we avoid a place like this after Liore," Edward said bitterly.
"How is this church you know involved with what's happening in Amestris?" Alphonse asked Jeanne.
"The Holy Church has partaken in the past few wars due to the name of the device. Like me, their priority is to ensure stability within the war. They send their own member to watch over the proceedings - the Overseer. It is his or her duty to moderate the competitors and the Servants while having the authority to make judgment based decisions should it be necessary."
If there were a competitor who has broken too many rules and caused damage that may have led to many casualties, it is within the Overseer's power to request that Master's end from the other participants or outside help, he may even give out a reward that can benefit a Master in the war once the request is completed.
"Together, with the other Masters and their company, they are responsible for meeting the necessity of the war's progression, and to ensure that no threat of it reaches the public."
It was a wonder to Alphonse that a small church like this could ever have any connection to something so extravagant as this war for a wish, and for Jeanne to know this just as amazing. "You've been here before?"
She shook her head, "This is my first time coming to this city, and I've never met the Overseer, but I'm sure that he is here. When we meet him, I want you two to go along with whatever I will say. I've been told what he looks like by members of the Church I've met during my travels, but we should still be cautious."
It was news to her that the Military has taken a part in this war, allied with the Overseer and by extension, those from the Mage Associations. Yet with their compliance hushed from the Masters she has met and the other chapels she has visited as none of them ever hinted this apparent fact, Jeanne intends to find out what is happening, if only a small portion of an entire mystery way beyond her reach to unravel. However, whatever the case, she must have her priority of removing Edward from this war come first.
The Fullmetal Alchemist looks to the entrance of the building, "Well, whoever we're supposed to meet, it better not be some crazy priest again."
The light of the sun fades through the blue glass of the church, inviting a blue glow while other sources such as candles lights the room. Two rows of wooden benches aligned towards a small stage with a path separating them. In the back of the stage beneath the glass window, a man sat in a chair with an open book in hand. This man is the Head Priest of this chapel, and the owner of the property.
He paused at a page he was about to turn. "...They're here." He closes the book. "Let us prepare ourselves them."
A shuffle in the backroom, and a discussion discloses between the hidden individuals, their voices faint through the door. Other then the two people in hiding and the priest, no one else should be in this chapel, an early closing for the day due to cleaning, an excuse the priest went with, so that whatever will unravel here, it will be private.
As owner of this church, he is often the man responsible for nearly every mass, owning a deep voice that resonates the souls of followers who have come here for some form of enlightenment, reaching them in a way that held them firmly in place, as if frozen without feeling the chill of danger. He is a...unique man so to say, and if he were to hear this, he would laugh at how very understated it was, because he understood just how unique he was, and only a few have witnessed his true character.
But to the people of Central City, he is a normal priest in their eyes, eyes that could not see the darkness the lies in his heart. The evil that he is. The very meaning of a sinful man could not begin to describe him. He is no pure man, but then he would think, what man out there is without sin anyhow?
Well, what man out there is anything like himself?
The doors ahead of him opened, a girl of mostly blonde hair comes into sight, followed by a boy with hair and eyes like gold, and another covered from head to toe in armor. The priest smiles wryly as they entered, and he greeted.
"Welcome, children of God."
He stood behind the podium at the end of the chapel in their view; a tall man of dark brown hair, his outfit a black priest garb and blue sashes draped over his shoulders, golden sewn religious symbols at its ends. A long necklace around his collar with a golden cross attached to it. His brown eyes were dark, lacking the sort of shine that makes a person look alive, even though he smiles.
At the appearance of the priest, the pace in Jeanne's footsteps lessened.
"Have you come to answer a calling?" The priest added, "Or do you wish to seek enlightenment? Let it be known now that to truly obtain joy, it cannot be found anywhere, it must be created within you. By understanding yourself, you will discover your purpose given from God."
Edward didn't bother to amuse himself or the priest, "Can we skip the preaching? I've already got enough of that not so long ago. Keep on babbling and I'll end up falling asleep."
The priest inwardly smirked, "Very well, how may I help you?"
Jeanne answers, "I wish to speak with the one who runs this church."
"So it would seem. You won't have to look far then, Servant Ruler."
The brothers flinched at his knowing. "You know who I am," Jeanne calmly said.
"I was given word of your appearance from the churches you've visited days prior," An arm around his waist, the priest bowed slightly, "Greetings to you oh Saint, I am Father Kory Kotonelm; Owner of this church, and Overseer of the Fifth Holy Grail War."
He straightened his back, "Considering what I've heard happened in East City, it is fortunate that you have arrived here safely. Am I correct to assume you have brought along a Master?"
"Yes," Jeanne confirms, "He has come to relent his Seals. My request for these boys is their protection, and to reaffirm that they are not competitors in this war."
A nod from the priest, "Let me see to him then."
Jeanne ushers Edward to step forth, and he did, eyeing the Overseer warily. At Jeanne's asking, he pulled off his glove and presented the Seals.
"You wish to relinquish your title as Master?" Father Kotonelm questioned.
Edward stared at his Command Seals, "...I have a few questions I want to ask first."
Jeanne hadn't expected that, she turns to Edward with a controlled expression but was nonetheless surprise.
Father Kotonelm was unfazed, "I shall answer to my best of knowledge. What are your questions?"
"I've already been told enough about this whole Grail business, but I'm still trying to get around the idea of it," Edward's eyes narrowed, "A few things I'm curious about is who's running this war? And what are these Mages trying to do?"
Jeanne had told him the main purpose that was the Grail, reaching the Root or Truth, and if that goal remains with whoever is part of this war, then what are they planning to do with it? And if they have something else in mind, what else could they do with this said to be miraculous device? Could it really be that powerful as a Philosopher's Stone? Greater even?
With his lightless eyes, Kotonelm evaluated the boy. In the priest's years of observing people and how much he is separated from their normality: what they find happiness in, and what they cry for, he was able to assess the kind of person they were, and so was able to do the same with this young man. His conclusion; this is a boy who only understood and accepts the law of science, of Alchemy. It wasn't surprising, anyone not within the Mage Society would rather avoid understanding what incredible feats have been uncovered, instead they would prefer rejecting it, and while he can assume this boy must have indeed rejected the idea such as the Holy Grail War, he realized that there was a notion of curiosity that dwells within the Alchemist's skepticism.
From his previous statement, Kotonelm had thought this boy to be a doubter, but from these questions, he came to another understanding. This is a boy with both bite and bark, sensible enough to distrust even the priest by the subtle glare of his golden eyes, but decidedly not ignorant of the existence of something, even if he does not understand it. To Kory Kotonelm, he finds people like this to be very interesting, and amusing.
The Overseer pauses with a thought, "The groups involved in this war are the Magus sent from overseas, and the Holy Church that I am a part of. There is a balanced system which we each have a part in it's process, though generally it is a Magus who is directly involved in the battle ritual. Recently however, there is a new addition to this war, acting as our Intel which as of now, has yet to be officially known by my organization and the Mage's."
"Then it is true," Jeanne said, "The military is involved that much."
Kotonelm nodded, "The expansion of this war ranges beyond the seven candidates, with battles occurring all across the nation. In such conditions, I cannot perform my duties as well as I should, even with the help provided by the Holy Church and the Mage Association. Then there is the matter of the antagonist group, causing destruction anywhere as they please with Servants of their own. The both of you may have come across them in East City."
It would be difficult to say otherwise, these Servants had attempted to kill Ruler by orders of their Master. Jeanne slowly nodded while Edward silently stood by her side, looking down to his own chest in remembrance.
"This group has committed countless violations, and are responsible for incidents such as the one with the fifty Amestrian soldiers years ago."
The False Ice Trail Incident. The brothers were informed of this before their leave of East City, and hearing it again, remembering the details of what happened, they grimaced.
"The Holy Church and the Mage Association works to prevent any knowledge of the Holy Grail War leaked outside of us," said Father Kotonelm, "But the death of those soldiers was disastrous enough that it couldn't be covered, and the military's persistence with their investigations led them to my church."
At that point, denying the existence of this war would only be futile, and to try manipulating any information towards another direction was pointless with how much the Amestrian forces were able to discover. If they had continued and potentially meet one of the Servants responsible for the killings, they could not hope to combat them by any means, there would only be more unnecessary deaths that would expose the war to the entire public.
There was no other choice but to see value in allying with the Military, the scale of this war had surpassed the Holy Church and the Association's resources combined, and with the enemy group of Masters not yet known to either of them, this new alliance must be kept quiet if they wish to hold some form of advantage.
"Any wish of those part of this alliance will have to be put aside for now, the enemy group must be dealt with foremost," so told the priest.
"...I'm guessing what happens after that is an all-out debate over who gets the Grail?" Edward tucked his hands into his pockets, "This thing must really be something for people to fight over it."
"Do you doubt the Grail's omnipotence?" The Overseer questioned.
The young State Alchemist shrugs, "I'm sure it does something, but hearing that it's omnipotent gets me to wonder. As far as I know, there's not a lot of things that can be powered without Equivalent Exchange," not unless its backed up by a lot of energy, like what the Philosopher's Stone is said to do. "But how is creating a miracle or a wish possible?"
Kotonelm answered impassively, "Are you aware of the nature of these Servants? I'm sure that someone who has studied Alchemy for a great time, it is impossible to believe what these warriors are, but regardless if they are true or not, they are an existence that bypasses the laws of Alchemy, and anything else." A small smile etches his cold expression, "They are the results of reaching through the Gates of our world to the realm between realities - made possible through the Holy Grail."
The brothers were in disbelief, and looked to Jeanne whom confirmed the truth of this with a nod. Alphonse was stunned, amazed by the supernatural existence that are these Servants, of Jeanne herself! He and his brother could hardly believe it. Though Edward shares the reaction of his brother, he kept calm to bear with it all, and to hear any further explanation from Kotornelm.
It's questions like these that he could have asked Jeanne herself a day before, since she and the Overseer are generally in the same position by her description, but at the time, he was still reeling with how to go about this question, and he wanted to hear the answer from a second party for more credibility. Jeanne has been sincere as far as he's come to know her, but he wanted to make sure that it wasn't coming from a girl devoted to a fantastical idea.
Now, he knows just how serious these people are about this.
"Their arrival to this world is a miracle of its own," Kotonelm continues, "And with their strong connection to the Holy Grail, when they perish, they are consumed by the Grail, effectively powering it until it reaches the point where it will be active and takes form, responding to the sole winner's desire within it's grand ability."
"...and to use it, a bunch of these Servants have to die?" Edward's frown deepened, "So much for 'bypassing Alchemy' then, if all it takes for it to work is using the lives of these guys in exchange."
Solidifying his decision, he pulled back out his marked hand, "If all I'm going for is fighting against the undead and killing for some promised wish, then I want nothing to do with your war," with another objective at hand that prompts this Holy Grail to be an unnecessary essential - whether it's powers are as true as this priest and Jeanne has said, he certainly won't allow himself to follow some cup's demands for him to kill. He will gladly rid of this Seals and be out of this mess of claimed miracles and warriors from another dimension.
Kotonelm voiced his understanding, "Then I here by revoke your title as Master." His hand hovers over Edward's, and a red glow ignites beneath his palm. A startling effect of a tingling prickle below the knuckles of Edward, and the Seals disappeared like paper being burned. Once the glow diminished and Father Korronel retracted his hand, and together with his brother, Edward looks at his backhand. Only faint dashes of the red marks outline, the Command Seals was taken.
"If you wish for protection from the other Masters, you may stay here until the war passes," Kotonelm offered.
Edward rubs the spot where the Seals were once at. "Sorry, but we already got other plans." Albeit, there's nothing much to do than to wait until Sheska is finished with rewriting all of Marcoh's notes, but the last thing he would think to spend his time is staying at a church.
"Then I can only ask for you two to remain in Central City for the time being," the priest advises, "I have been informed that the Servants you met are possibly connected to the Masters who has been wrecking havoc towards a few villages. If they have seen you, it would be best that you are within this city's range."
Jeanne had to agree with the Overseer, "It's for your safety. Besides Scar, the Servants who saw you will likely attack even if you are no longer a Master. It would be best to stay low in Central for a while, or depending on what your superiors will say." With her duty inclining towards the war now that she has fulfilled her objective in bringing Edward here, she can only trust that the military, by word of their Fuhrer, that the Elric brothers will be protected in some way once she leaves.
"Getting pretty sick and tired of being pulled along by a leash..." muttered the state Alchemist. He looked to his brothers for his thoughts.
"Well, we might be able to stay in Central for a little while," two weeks at best if Alphonse believes that reading Marcoh's formula will be a lengthy one, and to understand it takes time.
"It is your choice. The church will welcome you both at any time," said Kotonelm. "If there is nothing else, I would like to discuss with Ruler alone."
With Edward no longer entangled with the affairs of the Holy Grail, any talk of the war will be out of his earshot just as it would to avoid any citizen from hearing it. Jeanne understood this, and turned to the brothers, "You both go on ahead, and inform the officers that I will be staying here for a moment, but say no more of what we talked here."
The Elrics looked to each other, "...We'll be waiting outside." They leave with that promise, with only a brief glance spared from Edward at the priest, what his thoughts were behind this look could not be identified, perhaps some bad aftertaste from their last meeting of another man that carries the name priest - however feign it was.
Once the brothers have left, Jeanne faced the Overseer and was immediately frank with him, "Is it appropriate to meet with the Magus and his Servant now?"
So she had noticed the Servant's presence upon walking in, or perhaps the moment she had walked onto this property. Of course, any Servant would, especially a Ruler Servant.
"Indeed," He eyes the door behind him, "Come out now."
The door opens and two figures walked out. The first to show himself was a man with an appearance unlike that of any Magus who values themselves to be poise. He was of a gruff exterior, with dark sunglasses over his eyes, and long dirty blonde hair. A brown leather jacket worn over his orange shirt, with black rugged pants and boots. Claw marks on the right side of his face over the brow, he could make children or even adults run away in fear from his appearance. And on his right backhand were the Command Seals, confirming himself to be a Master.
Following him was undoubtedly his Servant, every movement of the hero a clank and shifts of his silver armor that covers his entire body, painted with red markings. Red garments as the sleeves and the fabric hanging below the waist, his helmet with horns on it's sides hid his entire head, and the sword on his back, a silver metal with red designs below the hilt and on the blade, it was a definite clue of his class; a Saber.
But the most estranged thing about the Saber, Jeanne can't read his True Name. Was it the armor that's preventing her to see? It's nothing out of the ordinary, all Servants will have unique abilities along with whatever special object they carry with them, it may even be of use as their second or third Noble Phantasm that's been embedded within their legends. Still, Jeanne would find comfort to see the face of the Hero and know who he is.
"This is one of the Masters who has agreed to cooperate with the military, and to battle against the enemy group who has destroyed a total of four villages as of now," Kotonelm says as the Master went to sit on the bench of the first row, his Servant stood beside him, "For the amount of blood they have spilled, we have dubbed them the Red Faction, and ourselves the Blue Faction."
"You are a magus?" Jeanne questioned for certainty, he looks more of a bounty hunter than a magus, though it could simply be a preference in apparel.
"Yeah. Kaere Shirigal," the man introduced himself in a rough tone. "I'm a freelancer hired by the Mage Association, and not the only one."
Kotonelm explained, "Kaere represents the other Masters of our group, the rest are currently travelling around Amestris in search of a clue for the whereabouts of the Red Faction."
The Holy Maiden's face scrunches slightly. "And his Saber?"
Kaere wordlessly signals his Servant with a tap to his head. Saber complied to his command, and removed the helmet.
The Saber revealed feminine features, yet rough and tomboyish, but not so much that it deterred the royal beauty about her. Her silky golden hair of an abrasive style tied in a ponytail, a single braid on each side of her head. She greeted Ruler with a pointed look, assessing her with emerald green eyes brilliantly shone with an existing fierce determination that may define her personality.
"One of the few Sabers we have on our side," informed Kaere. "Hasn't clashed swords with any of the Red Faction Servants just yet, but we're biding time until they make a move. She's eager to fight real soon though." His Saber merely huffed at his comment.
There was nothing surprising about the actual gender of this Servant, but two things did caught her off guard. Not only has Jeanne read the True Name of this Saber, this Servant even looks just like that Dark Knight.
This led her to the next question, "Is there another Saber among you who has battled against three Servants a few days ago?"
A 'tsk' from Saber. Her clenched fist shakes as an intense rage seethes from her with gritting teeth. Her air of immense fury practically swarmed the room, demanding blood from the described dark Servant.
"Cool it, Saber," Kaere tells his Servant. Saber's hateful glare shot his way, despising the order that refrains her right to be angry that surely wasn't inexplicable, if Saber knew very well who Jeanne was referring to.
For if the legends are truly accurate, the Knight of Treachery's hatred for the King of Knights is a fact known and recognized for centuries to come in her world. Though surely, everyone who has known King Arthur's legend, would never figured that the Servant named Mordred - the "son" of King Arthur - is actually a girl, it was just as unexpected as it was for her "father's" true identity. But even so, this is the knight who was a member of the Roundtable, led a rebellion against her father, and the one who inflicted a fatal blow to the King of Knights in the Battle of Camlann, putting an end to the legend of King Arthur along with her own life.
Kotonelm answered to Jeanne, "Yes, she is also fighting for us. The Master of that Saber was in that city where your were attacked, but due to the choice of taking caution as a priority, we could not make direct contact with you at that time, not when the Red Faction's Servants were there and their Masters hidden. It's to avoid the risk of loosing the element of surprise, or else the Red Faction will attempt to escape us too soon. In these troubling times, your assistance would be a great asset to the Blue Faction."
And here it is, what Jeanne had expected. The priest made his request, "Servant Ruler, the Fifth Holy Grail War has come to a point where it is beyond control, and with the unknown group threatening the citizens of Amestris, we request that you join our cause against the Red Faction, and to bring back order to the Grand War for the Holy Grail."
Kaere had lit a cigarette, and exhales a puff of smoke as they waited for Ruler's response. For a long moment, the room was quiet, with the Holy Maiden in deep thought. She had come here to receive an explanation from the Overseer, and she did just that, and his story aligned with Fuhrer Bradley's. If a group of possibly deranged Masters are out shedding innocent blood, then would this alliance not be the most reasonable course of action?
If there are actually more Servants other than the ones she had combated, then wouldn't joining the Blue Faction be essential to her? It would be far better than letting herself face this group alone, against those who are out for her blood, and with more help, she would be able to mediate the war and find the source of its anomaly much easier. Even a Ruler Servant could not do the amount of work to judge this absurdly grand war all on her own. To join this faction would mean that she has to break her oath of neutrality, but the reasons the Overseer has offered are enough to make an exception.
However...
"I understand the situation and how dire it is. But as a mediator of this war, I am to refrain from taking anyone's side. If your group intends to battle the Red Faction, then I must stand by and observe to ensure your fight does not exceed the boundaries of this war. But I will not ignore the issue, and I will investigate these serial attacks personally."
"You will likely be targeted again," a more than plausible fact, pointed out by Kotonelm.
"That is another matter, and I will handle what must be done when it comes to it." There was no room for anymore discussion to her choice, and for the Overseer, it would almost be heretical for him to go against this.
The priest accepted her words with a nod, "Your decision will be respected, but should you come across the Red Faction and their entirety, and you see that they are the ones responsible for the death of these villagers-"
"Then they must be dealt with at once." There was no hesitation. The murder of the people nothing to do with the war is a crime Ruler will not leave unpunished. If they do prove to be too much, she may actually return here for the Blue Faction's assistance to combat against them, but she will still not join them if they wish for her to help them win the Grail.
"If you wish to start your investigation, there is the village where the fifty Amestrian soldiers were attacked," Kotonelm suggested, "It was the first among many places a Servant's power was identified, I will bring you a map and mark the other locations should you wish to see them as well."
Jeanne will do just that then, "Do you insist that I should keep your alliance quiet from the other members and Masters?"
"Only until we confirm the identities of the Red Faction Masters. But your judgment will be trusted if you decide to do otherwise."
"Then I pray that once these culprits are found and the war resumes, you will not be judged harshly by your other members for your cooperation with the military, and that not so much blood will be spilled for what comes after." The Fullmetal Alchemist had brought up a valid point, once the Red Faction is put to an end, all there is left are the Masters from the Mage Association, the random competitors who has their desire for the Grail, and the Military who now has their attention to the Heaven's Feel Ritual.
This was the very reason why the Holy Grail War should not have been known outside of the Association and the Church. Soon, there will be the eventual conflict between the Amestrian Military, the Mage Association, and perhaps even the Holy Church should they be forced to pick a side. For that future, Jeanne prayed for the lives of all those who will be involved in the eventual war after this one.
Kotonelm smiled, "It brings an ease to the soul to be prayed for by a saint, if I'm correct to believe that it is what the Ruler Class Servants generally consist of."
He is not wrong, but Jeanne would say it again that she is no saint. She let it subside without a response, and instead, there was a question she wishes to ask, "Father Kotonelm, do you have any idea the reason for this war's strange anomaly?"
"There hasn't been any successful findings over the cause of why there are more than Seven candidates, or the Grail's inexplicable choosing of Masters."
Jeanne frowned, "What about the Grail itself? Was there any evidence of tampering? Has it shown any odd signs from receiving the many deaths of the Servants so far?"
She waited for the priest to answer, an answer that took too long to arrive. "The Grail's whereabouts are not within my knowledge."
Jeanne blinked, "What?"
The priest bowed with his head, "My apologies, I thought you were aware of this." Jeanne asked what happened, and what the priest tells left her stunned, "After the fourth war, preparation for the next Heaven's Feel have already commenced, though at the time we did not realize how soon the war was to come. It was then, when it was least expected, that a key essential of the Holy Grail was stolen - the vessel."
As Ruler, Jeanne knew how the Holy Grail functions. Though the Grail is referenced as one thing, in reality there were really two forms of it, and only one of them would be activated as a true wish-granting device; the Lesser Grail and the Greater Grail. The Lesser Grail, also known as the vessel, is the catalyst which brings forth the real Grail that is the Greater Grail. As far as she knows, the Lesser Grail takes the form of a literal cup, but it can be in any shape and size.
If ever the Lesser Grail is destroyed, then so long as the Greater Grail remains undamaged, another vessel can simply be made, but if the vessel hasn't been ruined, then whoever has it will be the first to access the Greater Grail once it was ready. A second Lesser Grail cannot be created so long as the first remains unbroken and usable.
"The Mage Association scrambled for any information to who could have taken it, even suspecting the surviving Master of the previous war, but earlier this year we had discovered the true culprit."
Kotonelm goes to take a seat on a wooden chair, "But when a retrieval team was sent to his fortress here in Amestris, they found it destroyed, the man who took the Lesser Grail was presumed dead, and the vessel still missing. It's confirmed that the Lesser Grail is still in one piece, but where it is now..."
He paused for a moment, "We can only wait until the Greater Grail activates, and we will know by then where it will be. Though, it would be problematic should it be discovered that the Red Faction has it."
...This is much more worrying than Jeanne realized, and as Kotonelm says, if the Red Faction - the group who has massacred these villages, were to possibly have hold of the Lesser Grail, who knows what they plan to do with it. Nothing better than now that Jeanne should reconsider the Blue Faction's request, but she had to see at least one of the Red Faction's Master first, and moreover...
Something still wasn't right here. It was the same feeling as before when she first met the Fuhrer, the suspicions that she is not being told everything. The clue to this was the Overseer, and him relaying all the answers Jeanne's question with a cool expression and subtle concentration, nothing that indicates any actual concerns or troubled sense to the condition of the Fifth Heaven's Feel. And it wasn't just the doubt she had for the priest's truthfulness, but rather an unknown entity of dangerous means that lurks somewhere around this building...and the rest of the city.
In this church with it's candles not enough to clear away the somewhat chilling environment, the dread of a hidden threat thickens as Jeanne gazes narrowly at the priest.
"-So how long have you guys known her?"
The Elric brothers and the two military officers stood beside the car, mildly chatting as they waited for Jeanne who remained in the church for some time now. Edward counted the days in his head before answering to Denny, "A couple of days, even counting Liore where we met her."
"She's been really nice to us and our friends back home," said Alphonse.
"I'm sure she must be a decent girl if she was able to help the both of you out," at least Maria thinks so, how else would she call someone who the boys said to have bravely defended them from Scar?
"Now I'm really curious who she is, can't you guys tell us already?" Denny prodded, he's been trying to fish for anything that tells the officers what happened inside the church they just left five minutes ago, and anything else about Jeanne.
"Hey, if your superiors didn't tell you why Jeanne's important, what makes you think we should?" Edward questioned with a raised brow. It would be a wonder if these guys would even believe the brothers if they actually decided to tell the officers.
"Have either of you guys heard any news lately?" Alphonse asked, hoping to help diverge the conversation, "Like, maybe some strange happenings?"
The vague question confused the officers, but Maria gave it some thought, "Well...we have been getting a lot of reports about some properties being destroyed late at night. A lot of trees in forests inexplicably cut down, and a few findings of meteorite impacts on fields and mountains, now those have been interesting to read about."
Denny shivers, "I hate to be hit by a rock from space just out of nowhere."
"...Meteorites huh?" Edward thought back the battle between the blue Lancer and the green hair man name Rider, then the fight between Jeanne, the one out of sight she calls Archer, that other Lancer, and that Assassin. The power they displayed, enough to carve the ground with just their feet.
"Oh! Here comes Jeanne."
They looked back at the church. Just as Denny said, Jeanne had stepped out of the front doors and walked her way to them with what looks to be a paper in her hand, a hint of concern in her furrowed brows. The group approached her halfway the lot, and called her out of her thoughts.
"You got everything you needed?" Edward asked.
"...Yes," she tucks away a folded paper into her pocket, glancing back at the church.
"So what's next?"
"I suppose nothing much else," Jeanne answered, "I've done all I can to help you, what's next for me to do is to resume my journey."
"Where are you going?" Alphonse asked her.
"There are some places I need to look into, but I need to gather supplies first." There's not a lot of money she has on her, having spend the majority through Rose's finances back in Liore, and even the other girl didn't have that much. Jeanne may be able to suffice if she avoids spending for a room at inns, but she will run out soon. There is the thought of finding a job, but it has to be something that she can work at minimum time and not a weekly pay.
She was able to do this back in Resembool, Pinako was kind enough to pay her after her help around the house, their laundry and their chicken pens. Sometimes, she would even help the neighbors, earning a little money by working on the field, or restocking the shelves with fresh food at their local store. However, in a city like this, it may not be so simple. She'll have to hope for the best chance in the next town she comes across.
"Do either of you know the nearest store I can go to?"
Edward looks at the road, "Down a couple of blocks, there's a market." He turns to his guards, "Think you guys can give her a lift?"
"Sure! We'll be happy to help," Denny says. Maria nodded along as she opens the passenger seat. Jeanne thanked them, and entered the car after Edward and Alphonse.
"What did you two talked about in there?" Edward asked in a quiet voice, Alphonse leans forth to listen in.
"Just some things I needed to confirm," at least some of it, but not enough that Jeanne honestly felt that there was so much she wanted to ask, but if her suspicion has anything to tell her, she won't find the answers in that church. "...It's nothing for you to worry about," she tells the brothers. It was her mission to follow through these worries, not theirs, now that they are not involved in the war anymore.
Edward was skeptical. Back in East City, the colonel and lieutenant told him and his brother that the military wanted to recruit Jeanne as they continue their efforts to unravel the Holy Grail War, when he asked this to Jeanne during their time in Resembool, she answered that she had to speak with the Overseer first, but was set on her choice not to join the military. He didn't understand why, and she explained that in her position she cannot take any side, and that she has to judge all groups fairly - hard to imagine a girl like her could be in charge of something like that, but then again, he's a fifteen year old State Alchemist.
"...You sure you can trust that priest?"
The question was almost unexpected for Jeanne, and what's more, she almost had an immediate answer. I don't know... She thought to herself as she figures a way to answer his question.
"Because...well..."
Jeanne waited for Edward to finish, he seemed to struggle what was right to say it, and just decided to be blatant about it. He pointed at the church through the window with his thumb as the car began to move. "Did that guy not look evil to you?"
"...Huh?" Jeanne wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"I'm serious. The way he looked and smiled. It's hard to explain, but something was off with that guy. Didn't you get that kind of vibe from him, Al?"
Alphonse armored body adjusted with his uncertainty, "Uh...well...I try not to judge people on first greeting...but he did kind of made me nervous." That empty stare of his, as if the people he's looking at were nothing more than meaningless lives. If Alphonse had skin he would have felt chills.
"Right?! It's like he's clearly up to something! Honestly, with the way he looks, it wouldn't surprise me if he's the kind of guy who feeds on people's misery."
"You barely know him, Ed," Alphonse wishes his older brother could see the best in people, although it did get them out of serious trouble some times. "I doubt all priests are like Cornello, we've met a few nice ones before."
The young State Alchemist crossed his arms, slouching into his seat, "There's just something about him I don't like." And quite frankly, doesn't trust.
...Strangely enough, it helps Jeanne to know that she was not the only one who felt something was odd in the church they had just left, even though it only deepens the concerning notion that there are hidden dark secrets looming around not just the Overseer, but this alliance he has created with the military.
There are a few reasons why a Ruler Servant has come, it may be that there are abnormalities with the war, or if the Holy Church has not been acting their duties as they should, either because it was beyond their control, or that they had deliberately done something they shouldn't. With the military partaking the war all because of someone from the Holy Church approaching them and revealed the truth of the war for the Holy Grail, it seems the case for her summoning varies besides the war's expansion, among many oddities.
If the man of the cloth, the one person she would expect to trust in this war, is not telling her what she needed to know, then she can't stay here any longer than she should. Emphasizing her decision to deny joining this faction not solely due to her role, but if Tim Marcoh's fear and the truth of his research was anything to go by, whatever involvement the military has for his work, she would have to judge the Blue Faction as much as she would for the Red Faction.
Throughout the ride, with Jeanne nodding politely at Maria's start to converse and Denny's telling of having younger siblings, listening and talking to the Central soldiers, being introduced to their good and kind nature that even the Elric brothers relaxed to, the Holy Maiden sincerely hopes that whatever dark secrets there are, whoever had part in Tim Marcoh's research, it was nothing else worse beyond that, beyond the Amestrian Forces heavily trusted by the citizens and soldiers alike, and that she can be calm to believe that she is only overthinking things.
The Holy Maiden and those she came with distance themselves further from the church, and once they were far away, Kotonelm spoke to the seated Kaere, "Ruler will resume her journey alone then."
"At least we know she's around, and where she'll be heading next," Kaere drops the cigarette and steps on it. He very much hated the bitter taste of it. "As long as she has her privileges to use against the Red Faction, that'll be enough to help us."
"So you are satisfied?"
Kaere removed his sunglasses, "Yeah, we'll just be keeping an eye on her. That's all."
Red sparks swarms the top of his head and falls across his body, a dark green head of hair bloomed and drooped over his now pale face, a sinister grin. His body had changed into a leaner build with a younger, androgynous appearance, and his outfit had morphed into a two piece black clothing of a small shirt and shorts, with his feet wrapped in black fabric between his ankle and toes. From his bare skin right below his short, there lie the ouroboros tattoo on his thigh.
"You did well, Kotonelm," he says in a voice that was no longer Kaere Shirigal. His Saber glared bitterly at the true form of her Master - or at least, his most preferred form among many, many others. "I was wondering how you were going to explain about the Grail."
"I did only what I could, and I was right to say that I didn't know where your kind has hidden the vessel," said Kotonelm, "It would be a sin to lie - excuse the pun."
The shape-shifter chuckled, tossing the sunglasses aside, "Still, I'm glad I got back here in time to see your performance."
"I despise having to play along with your deceitful games, Envy," his Servant talked at last. Tied to an order that prevented her from being too out-spoken when Ruler was present, Saber now freely throws spiteful words to her Master from being forced to acknowledge his folly identity. She especially hates it whenever he shape-shifts in front of her, it was always creepy.
"You should be used to it by now, Mordred."
A sign of another quarrel about to occur between these two, Kotonelm spoke in order to distract them and avoid a disastrous mess in his church, "But it seemed Ruler had suspected something was wrong. If she decided that there is more going on, there's nothing I can do to stop her. But so long as her focus remains on the war, your kind should be safe for now at least."
"The others will have that covered," said the shape-shifter, "By now their Servants should be fighting, all happening in separate places." Nothing so serious though, just enough to take Ruler's attention.
Kotonelm nodded, a Ruler Servant should be able to detect the battles of Servants even if they were miles away. If she has her suspicions over what goes on around here, she will have to ignore them if she wishes to uphold her duty to watch over the Servant battles, as she said she should.
Envy rises from the bench, "Ruler didn't accept the offer, but I'm sure Father will be pleased to hear you've got the runt's Seals."
"Yes...your family seems rather intent to ensure this boy is not involved," it was very much persisted that Kotonelm convinces the Fullmetal Alchemist to give up the Seals, the boy did the priest a service by simply relenting the marks without much fuss other than some questions, the man ought to applaud the boy's astute distrust in this war and ritual - people who simply offer their trust like giving out candies are doomed to be taken advantage of, or even more foolish, turning their backs on someone whom they have given a knife to. He certainly knows this better than anyone.
But regarding the boy, Kotonelm's 'allies' seemed very peculiar to ensure that the young State Alchemist does not partake in this war, and he was curious, but he doubts that he'll get a direct answer from these monsters and why this boy is important to them. He can understand their interest in Ruler - she has the Command Seals of every Servant summoned for this war, and these Homunculi wishes to possess that power even if it means to manipulate the mediator Servant for their own gain, but their reason of interest for the boy is a secret they will not share. They would be smart to see the priest as untrusted despite the service he was able to do for them.
It certainly has been an effort, cooperating with these Homunculi for a couple of years now, without much choice other than death. It goes against his training as an Executioner, working with monsters he was meant to kill, albeit, his organization has never dealt with artificial creations like Envy and his siblings, with their nature surely nothing less than evil; as that is literally what they represent if their names are any indication, making this alliance all the more ironic...while at the same time fitting.
Very fitting, as he had once suffered a sin of jealousy at seeing other people's joy, joy that he could not share, because his happiness is not the same as theirs. At least by this, he's able to make himself amusing for Envy. The creature had figured out the priest's deformity long ago, and was fascinated by it, as if tickled by the evil residing within this supposed man of God, or that such a thing can exist within a human. As long as Kotonelm can make himself entertaining for the homunculus, he might be able to live a little longer than be replaced.
Not that he fears losing his life, he understood that the Homunculi have a goal that surely cannot be anything good, and that if he ever fails to stop them as his duty tells him to despite having no knowledge of what their plans are, it could lead to a travesty. Even so, he's intrigued to see what they intend to do, now that they have long involved themselves for the Fifth Holy Grail War.
"It's nothing for you to be concerned about," Envy dismissively says.
It sounded like a lie, but what else could Kotornelm do? "I suppose not. By the way, how was your trip?"
The shape-shifter smiled, "All well and good, just needed to tie up loose ends. Ever heard of a certain other 'priest' in Liore?"
"Ah yes, the supposed 'man of miracles.' My associates I've met during my travel a week ago have spoken about him, and their interest to start an investigation for his rumored power." Anything remotely claimed of miracles and it's expected to gain the attention of the Holy Church, just as it did for this war, "If it turns out that he's nothing more than a false figure spreading heresy or had ulterior means, he'll have to be dealt with."
"Then you'll be happy to know that he already has. Lust and Gluttony can even tell you..."
Kotonelm blinked, "...I see," the corner of his mouth pulled, "It saves me the trouble then. How amusing it is that you've done a service for the Church, Envy."
"If it's filled with people just as interesting as you are, I wouldn't mind."
Mordred merely watched as the two individuals of distinctly corrupt souls share their evil nature through talk. Her glare hardening at their increasing grins. She still does not know what their plans are - and this priest is just as clueless, but if she wasn't bounded by a Command Seal and had met these people even for a short time, she would have chosen to cut them down without hesitation.
Unfortunately, the consequence of this action would led her to disappear right after, that and her Master's damnable regenerative ability.
When Jeanne and the others arrived at the market, Edward suddenly claimed that he had somewhere to check and asked Alphonse to stay with Jeanne. Though his younger brother was curious, he'd agreed, and when the Fullmetal Alchemist walked away with Denny right beside him - of course he would never go on unguarded, Jeanne began her shopping with Alphonse and Maria.
Considerate of how much money she carries now, Jeanne made sure to buy only the necessary essentials - mainly dried food that can last longer than a couple of days, however distasteful they were, and some water. Throughout her shopping, Maria and Alphonse have been pleasant company. Jeanne was normally a quiet girl, but the officer and Alchemist have moved her to be sociable, even to the point of her saying that she wasn't from here - she came from West Jeanne decided to say. Maria had asked what Jeanne thought of Amestris so far, and though the Holy Maiden had to overcome some troubles here and there, most of her journey was spend with meeting friendly people, which have been very nice.
After Jeanne purchases all the supplies she needed, a discomfort settles in her stomach, and she immediately recognized the feeling to be hunger. Wishing to at least preserve the dried food she had already bought, she proposes a meal to dine at a nearby restaurant, which is where Edward suggested for them to regroup at.
"So Jeanne, what brings you to Amestris anyway?" Maria asked. They all sat in a white round table while waiting for the food Jeanne had already ordered - Maria had a good breakfast this morning and Alphonse merely excused that he "wasn't hungry".
Jeanne contemplated what answer to give, for Maria to ask that question only deepens the certainty that her superiors hadn't told her or Denny about Jeanne's mission, or that even their superiors weren't told. Whatever the reason, the Holy Maiden had to give an acceptable response.
"...I'm a student outside of Amestris," Jeanne said, "I came here to write an essay about the history of this country. After I met Edward and Alphonse, the military has taken an interest in what I'm writing and wished to be...involved," She doesn't like to lie, but it had to be done if she wishes to evade the truth of her arrival from people who's suspicions of there being a secret war could endanger them, furthermore, they were in public, not the most favorable place to expose anything vital for unintentional prying ears to catch.
She could have given an acceptable excuse the night she was taken in by the East City military, but it would hardly be believed that a girl in armor and a flag at hand having saved a talented State Alchemist from a powerful spearman would ever be dismissed as a simple student from outside of Amestris. She hopes for now that this story will hold up. Alphonse briefly glances at her, hearing the story she has made up for herself, and remained quiet in understanding.
"Awfully tenacious to come all the way here by yourself just for a school assignment," Maria said, honestly confused about this essay when her superiors makes it sound something more important...well, if it helps build a good face with whatever country Jeanne is from and her class, she suppose that it's somewhat understandable. "I guess your parents were okay with that?"
A smile comes its way, a mince of longing, "They have their faith in me."
Through her mother's tears and her father's understanding yet sad eyes, they knew, at that time, they could not sway the mind of the girl who voluntarily answers the voice of the Lord, and will not turn her back on Him, and so they placed their trust in their daughter - even if they knew what end awaits for the girl, and so did she.
Just as Jeanne received her plate of food, Edward and Denny had returned, taking a seat beside them. There wasn't much disclosure where Edward had went, he only appears to tell Alphonse quietly and the younger Elric simply nodded. For the rest of the time as Jeanne eats, they talked for a while.
"Where are you heading from here, Jeanne?" Edward asked, curious to know.
Jeanne thought for a moment. There are the villages and towns attacked by Servants she could investigate, but as of now, she's picking up the activity of Servants fighting, and this surprised her. Fighting while it was still daytime? Surely they cannot be so daring? It was also strange that the timing could not be any more perfect than now, right after she accomplished guiding the Elric brothers to the Overseer.
Despite the questionable timing, she knew she had to leave at once. Once eaten all that was on the plate with a final small bite, she answered, "I might stop by at a village near Central, and then go west."
"You have everything you need for your travel?" Denny asked. Jeanne is sure, and said as much. "Are you going to take a train? If you want, we can drive you to the station."
It is rather urgent that she goes the quickest way possible. "...I would appreciate that." When the waiter came by, she paid for her own meal, and no later did the group got back into the car and began their drive to the train station.
In five minutes, they reached the place. After parking their car and stepping out, they approached a booth and discovered that the next train Jeanne plans to take is coming in right now. With the whistle of the transportation heard in the distant, Jeanne faces the Elric brothers while the officers stood not too afar, but enough that they may not overhear the teens final talk before Jeanne departs for the train.
"I guess we'll see you later," said Alphonse, despite how extremely odd things have been this week, it was nice for the amount of time they had spend with Jeanne. He sincerely hopes for the best in her journey and safety.
"...Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Edward looked to Jeanne, his golden brows furrowed with question. "What if you're ambushed again?"
Yes. What will she do then? She thought of finding the Red Faction and look for her answers there, and if they do attack and overwhelm her, she may have to use her Command Seals, yet those are to be a limited use, and if there really were more than just the three Servants that are after her life, then even she could not think to take on so many Servants at once...
But Jeanne couldn't accept the Blue Faction's request. Nothing could sway her that promises it would be right - no matter the logic behind it, when all she felt from entering that church was an impending sense of menace, the like of it at least. She held back a sigh, her predicament giving her quite a headache, "I'll be fine," she smiled to ease their worries, "When it comes to facing them again, I will deal with it."
If she can't, she may have to meet with one of the Masters who aren't trying to kill her, and perhaps they can come to an agreement of assisting her. That was the best she can do for now, and if the push comes to shove, she may not have any other choice but to consider the Overseer and military's offer of alliance - but only out of immense necessity.
The Fullmetal Alchemist pauses, his frown still in place, and then he pulls something out from his red coat pocket. "Here, you should take this."
Jeanne takes it carefully, a curious look on her. It was an envelope, at hold, there seems to be quite a thickness inside, too much to be a simple letter. "What is this?"
"Just a little something," Edward said, "Compensation. For helping us out," and for saving his life, twice at that, maybe even three times if counting Scar, and probably more if he thought himself generous to include Jeanne defending him from the chimera in Liore and her pushing away the shotgun Marcoh would have most likely used.
For someone to pull him out of death's door more than once, he won't have it to just leave it at that without showing his gratitude if he knew there was something he could do - Equivalent Exchange, so to speak.
He'd seen her helping the neighbors back in Resembool, and heard her gentle passing comment to Pinako that the currency she earned through hard work would be enough for her to live through her travels for a while. He already figured that she's not the richest person there is, so maybe the little gift he's handing to her - something he withdraw from the bank which was where he went earlier - can help her suffice for more than just a few weeks.
"Oh! You didn't have to," Jeanne said, almost flustered.
Edward shrugs, "If you're going to be busy travelling everywhere in Amestris, trying to get any money along the way probably won't be so easy. At least you'll have something to buy food with or a place to rest, it beats having to eat ants from the ground and sleeping in a forest...trust me, I know."
That certainly sounds like there's an interesting story behind that. Still, Jeanne hesitated, "You might be right, but I don't think I could actually take-"
She opened the envelope. Through Rose's comprehension of math, she counted what was inside, and her hands shot the envelope back to Edward as if it was molten rock she had just held. "I-I-I could never accept so much!"
There was cash inside that envelope. A wallop of cash. Too much for someone to simply give it away without thought! There was enough in there for food, water, rent for shelter, and even clothing that could last her for more than a couple of months! It was far too generous! Surely she could not consider that she'll be here in this world for that long?!
"...ow..." Edward grasped the envelope he held against his chest, "Did you really had to jab that right where I was stabbed?" He's still healing dammit!
"AH! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" Jeanne's hands reached out and retracted for and from the envelope she unintentionally forced back with a little too much of her own strength, wondering if she should heal away the pain she accidently inflicted.
Rubbing his shirt where his scar hides, Edward held up the envelope, "Look, this should cover your travels. Don't worry about it." It was hardly any loss. Honestly, if Edward has any complaint in how he's being paid, it's that it was too much. It's no wonder why Winry practically robs him at every visit he comes for repair, she knew that he'll always have more money later. "...You know, I still don't believe these Servants are what you say they are, and that's including you, but as far as I know, you have needs like any living being."
A rather strong, agile being with impressive skills and unknown power, he'll give her that. "So just take it, you're going to miss your train if you don't hurry."
It was a trial trying to refuse as Edward did not yield, what a stubborn young man, and with the train signaling it's preparation depart by another whistle - heaven knows that she can't chase after it like last time with so many people around, Jeanne had to accept the gift. "...Thank you, Ed." She touches the envelope, and paused.
"...Edward, Alphonse. What ever you find in Marcoh's notes," she suddenly says, "Whatever is in the research, if...if it's too impossible for either of you," to impossible to commit such a crime, so long as her account of the brother's moral is truly accurate, "Don't give up. I'm sure there is a way for the both of you to find what you are looking for."
The brothers were surprised by her firm words, her expression soft and...guilt-ridden? Before either of them could question her, a man from the train called out for people to board at once.
Jeanne pockets the envelope, "I have to go now. Be safe you two."
"Uh...sure," said Alphonse, "Take care Jeanne!"
"Yeah..." Edward watched Jeanne hurry to the train, her braided sunny ponytail whipped in her hasty movement, hauling the luggage she carries without trouble. It looked as if she wanted to say something, but whether it was the fault of the time-constraint for the soon-to-depart train, or something else, he can only watch as the girl so obviously not normal boarded the transportation, repeating her words of advise in his mind.
As Jeanne takes a seat, she still sees the brothers through the window, waving their hands goodbye as she returned the gesture, a faint smile on her. I've learned a lot about those boys... Were her thoughts. I'm...glad to have known them.
Acknowledging their gentle and kind side despite how blunt Edward is, with moments between the Fullmetal Alchemist and the Holy Maiden shaky and at times rough, a sort of balance on common ground was nevertheless found. Knowing that they might get along no matter how doubtful Edward is of her truth and the connection she managed to forge with Alphonse, a light of joy emerges in her heart, Rose must be just as pleased. Should they ever meet the brothers again, Jeanne hopes it will be under non-threatening circumstances.
With a prayer leaving her lips for the Elric brothers and herself, the train steadily leaves the reach of Central City, and the duty of the Ruler Servant returns to it's original course.
The Elric Brothers and the Ruler Servant part ways once more. How and when will they meet again?
A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait, I've been very busy for a while. But anyway, we have the new chapter, and a new addition of characters from the Fate Series!
Talia Fumora - Taiga Fujimora
Isaiah Rioden - Issei Ryuudou
Kory Kotonelm - Kirei Kotomine
For the parallel persona of Kirei, originally his last name was going to be Korronel as a play off of Cornello's name, but I looked at it again and it didn't really feel like Kirei's alternate name, so I played with it for a while and low and behold, Kotonelm came to mind! I really liked it.
If you're wondering about what's Sheska's relation with Talia and Isaiah, you'll find out in the next chapter, but basically, think of Sheska living the normal life of Shirou Emiya - minus the involvement of the Holy Grail War, that spot is taken by Edward. Of course, you would think otherwise with what happened here - things is just too crazy and quite frankly, he will not kill no matter if the Holy Grail is a genuine miracle granting machine. Same reason for when he found out the ingredients for the Philosopher's Stone. However, the Holy Grail isn't giving up on him that easily…
I wasn't sure what Sheska's age was, and I looked it up but couldn't find anything, so for this fic, I made her 18. I hope it won't be a bother for a lot of you.
Be ready for the next chapter, it probably won't come for a while since I really have to focus on the rest of the stories I have waiting. This new story has earned it's favoritism long enough. All I can say for what will happen in the next chapter, if my writing allows it, it will be...epic.
Thank you all for your support! For over 100 Followers, Favorites, and 80 Reviews! It's incredible! Please leave a kind and honest feedback, they help me improve, but also lets me know how much people would like for me to continue! Have a blessed day!
