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Ruler in Apocrypha Part III

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When I got the information I wanted out of Rider...a homunculus that gained the heart from the Saber of Black. The heart and brain are two key parts in a human while for a Servant they are their cores. Still, to gouge out your own heart...that Siegfried is someone I wouldn't have minded siding with if I wasn't acting as the Ruler. He's pretty damn cool...although thinking about it now...it sounds a bit gross.

"Ruler, what do you plan on doing to him?" Rider asked gaining my attention.

"For now, I merely wish to confirm his stance in the war. If he wishes to remain out of the war, I cannot complain for he is not a Servant despite holding the heart of one. He is someone brought into the war, but he made his choice." Rider seemed pleased with my answer and was smiling happily. "Still, I cannot say the same for the Masters of Black. If he wishes for, perhaps I can protect him from them, but is it within my duties as the Ruler?" I questioned quietly.

"It is! It is! You should follow your own heart, Ruler! As a..." Rider stared at me as if questioning if I was a Heroic Spirit or not. "Well, you should make your own choices in life! Go out without any regrets!"

"...I see, then as a Ruler, I shall complete my duties without regrets." Rider gave me one of the answers I was searching for, one I hesitated over constantly. If I was Ruler...but I'm not Ruler, I am Lucy Walker. I'll follow my own heart as well. "As a reward, I'll tell you my real name. It's Lucy."

"Lucy...That's cute!"

"Thank you. I wish you luck then?"

"Eh, are you favoring me?"

"No, perhaps it's a bit bad of me to say this, since I don't have a wish of my own...I hope that you can achieve an end you are happy with."

"Achieving an end we're happy with..."

"You said it yourself, right? I should go out without regrets. Farewell, Rider of Black." I took my leave, being escorted out by a female homunculus. They...really are similar to a doll. "...Pretty, but...May I ask you something?"

"I do not mind, please go ahead."

"Are you homunculi participating because it is your wish to?"

"Of course. This is the wish of our master who created us, after all."

"Hm..." I see, even if they are created even if they were programmed for this, this is something they still choose to do. Even if it does make me pity them, I cannot do anything if they wish to fight even if they were programmed for it. "I wonder if that child is the exception..."

"Miss Ruler."

"Yes?"

"Did he commit some kind of wrongdoing?"

"That child?" I received a nod. Despite her expressionless face, there was...concern in her eyes. I see, even if she was created she still has some emotions. "That child desired to live and Saber of Black responded to that wish. The desire to live is within all beings, humans, animals, even you homunculi. There is no such thing as a bad reason for wanting to live. Death in itself is a scary thing for you do not know what will happen after you die."

"...Thank you very much."

Although I pity them, I understand that as acting Ruler...I cannot do anything for them. Their lives are short, created for the sake of this war. I feel I am the same as well, I fear death, but I still continue to act as Ruler. Something within me...Ruler, no...it couldn't be here. She was much too kind to even force me...so perhaps it is the thing that summoned Ruler within my body, perhaps it is influencing me...telling me to continue her duties when she cannot.

"I can take my leave here." I stepped out of the gate and I changed into my normal clothing. "Thank you for your assistance..." I said staring at the homunculus.

"Thank you, Miss Ruler."

I nodded my head before taking off in the direction that child went in. I didn't hesitate to use Ruler's powers this time, using bursts of prana to rush through the forest and to the mountains where I last sensed that child. Once I reached that point, I pushed some prana into a nearby tree to figure out where he is. He's moving pretty slowly, I should be able to catch up to him, but he might run if he senses a Servant or something. I'm going to have to suppress the mana within me and use my own physical strength...ugh...I might just die a little. I'm also super sleepy!

"When I get back to town...I'm going to borrow the kitchen to make doughnuts and coffee...when I get home, I'll buy over a dozen cakes as a reward for my hard work too..." I muttered wanting to cry a little.

I kept walking despite the fact I'm trudging through the mountains late at night, despite the fact I could have held it off until morning, despite the fact this was crazy for a girl my age. Why is it I'm walking though? Perhaps...I want to know more about these heroes of the past who was brought back to life to fight for a single wish...why is it the Saber of Black would sacrifice himself for a single small life...I have so many questions...but...why is it I'm even here?

"Ah...H-Hey! Wait!" I rushed forward when I saw that figure up ahead at the summit of the mountain. That's him, I know it is. He turned to look towards me and I collapsed on my knees, tears staring to form in my eyes. "T-Thank goodness! I finally found you!" I said incredibly happy.

"A-Are you okay?"

"Ah, sorry, I'm just really tired...I can't get up anymore..." He looked hesitant as he knelt down in front of me, checking on my condition. "Ah, wait, I'm not the enemy so please don't run or something! I can't move anymore!"

"I...realized that."

"Eto...ny-nyah...well, I'm the one who is mediating this war, the Servant of the Ruler class." I placed a hand on my chest, giving him an embarrassed smile. "You see, I'm actually here because while all the Servants are still present, there was an anomaly with the Saber of Black."

"No, that's incorrect. The Saber of Black died not long ago."

"Yes, that is what I was informed by the Rider of Black. However, as a Ruler, I can sense all the Servants summoned in this war. I managed to find you because I sensed the presence of someone so similar to myself."

"Someone similar to yourself?"

"Un." I placed my hands on his cheeks, shutting my eyes. I could feel the presence of a Servant within him despite the fact he is not a Servant himself. "A strong heart beats within you...you are similar to that of a human, but you are also like that of a Servant. Un, just like the Saber of Black. As you are not a Servant despite how you feel, you are able to continue on while being free. Oh, sorry, I should have asked before touching you."

"No, I don't really mind...are there no problems with me?"

"No problems at all. You are free to do with the life you hold." He looked a bit...conflicted, why is that? "Is something wrong?"

"I...I understand the meaning of the word 'freedom', but what...I have no idea what I should be doing."

"I suppose for someone like you, you have no idea what to do with the life you hold now..." It's different from me, I was born an ordinary girl, but I at least had people around me who were willing to lead me to whatever future I want. For him, he has no idea what to do with the freedom given to him. "...For now, why don't you think about what it is you wish to do in the future?"

"What...I wish to do?"

"Un, un."

"...I...want to save them."

"Who?"

"My comrades, those who are the same kind of being as me. Those who cannot even cry out even though they begged to be saved. Those who live just to die without being able to expect any help."

"I see...so you probably wish to return to the castle to save your comrades...though you could live a normal life if you so desired, you wish to save those who were created like you." I received a nod and I thought about my position. "...Then I cannot stop you."

"...? If it's you, I think you have plenty of ways to stop me. You are a Servant after all."

"I am the Servant Ruler, my duty is to mediate this war."

"Then as the mediator, the fact that the Black Fraction is using homunculi like me as a prana supply...is that not a violation in the Holy Grail War?"

"Sou ne...that's actually something difficult to answer. While the Holy Grail War should be conducted between Masters and Servants alone, it's not an enforced rule. Also, I was told by one of your kind that they were participating willingly. It's like...like..." I paused, thinking of an example I can use right now. "Now can you say it would be different if it was normal Magi affiliated with the Black Fraction doing the same thing?"

"That..."

"Also, I cannot force them to obey even if I do wish to help you and your comrades."

"Why?"

"...Here." I unbuttoned my shirt and I showed him the Command Spells on my chest. "You see, I only have the right to issue up to two orders per Servant. While I could use this, these are naturally my own trump card against the Servants. I will not use them for minor matters. As a Ruler, I must remain neutral at all times. I will not use them based on my own personal feelings."

"Then...what can I do?"

"...For now, why not come with me? You can think of what it is you wish to do and a way you can save your comrades."

"But..."

"You have five seconds to decide!" I stood up with a grin on my face. "Five, four, three, two-"

"Y-Yes! I'll come along!"

"Good!" I held out a hand to him. "I am the Servant Ruler, what's your name?"

"Sieg, is what I decided on." Sieg took my hand and I pulled him up to his feet. "It was originally his name, but I decided to take half of it to remember him."

"That's a good name. For now, let's return to the village because I wish to go to sleep for a bit and eat."

"Eh?"

"This body is that of a human, you know. I'm tired since I wasn't using my power as a Servant. Also..." I almost fell over if it wasn't for Sieg catching me. I managed to stand, but my legs feel like jelly again. "I'm super tired and I can't feel my legs right now...please carry me on your back..."

"...I feel quite anxious about our future..."

"Sorry..."

Sieg lifted me onto his back and I had my arms wrapped loosely around his neck. I spoke with him about various things, the outside world, my life before I was chosen as Ruler's host, and the battles that I have seen. He constantly asked questions about the outside world that I did my best to answer. Sieg also asked me how I could help his comrades and the only answer I could give would be 'to move their hearts'.

"Move their hearts?" Sieg asked not understanding what I meant.

"Hm...in books, there are often stories of cold-hearted beings that are often moved by the heroes determination or the kindness of a maiden." Can't exactly call Sieg a maiden. "Every being has a 'heart' and I'm not talking about the organ in your chest. It's what we feel deep within us that moves us, that helps us fight even when the outcome seems dim." I explained hoping I made sense.

"Then how do I do that?" Sieg asked as I began to get drowsy.

"Let me think...when I was a little girl there was a story I use to love..."

"Ruler?"

"Sorry, I'm really tired...Anyways, there was a story I loved as a little girl. Long, long ago, there was once a dragon who was sealed away...he was put in charge of a powerful relic that threatened to put the world at risk due to its incredible powers. It was highly desired by man, so the dragon chose to guard it and allow none to use it. He became its guardian, it's protector. A group of humans understood, knowing that one day it could destroy the very world if used by the wrong person. To ease the dragon's loneliness, young girls were gathered all across the world and were trained in the musical arts. To lighten the burden in his heart."

"How does this key into moving the dragon's heart?"

"One day, a pair of twins were born. A boy and a girl. The girl was chosen as one of the sacrifices. She was born with a voice that could quell even the most tainted of hearts. The girl sang for the sake of her country, for the sake of a brother whom she has never met before. However, the more she sang, the more her own body was tainted by the darkness within the dragon who constantly questioned why...why was I doing this for these pathetic humans, why is it I am keeping them alive and remaining here when they have done nothing for me..."

"The dragon tainted her?"

"I don't know why it was tainting her, I haven't read it in a long time so I don't remember it exactly. Perhaps, to heal a tainted heart, she was tainted in turn..."

"So what happened next?"

"Let me think...despite how much it hurt, how much blood she coughed up, she continued to sing because she understood the pain the dragon had to go through. Despite not being told, she knew she had a family out there, a brother she holds a strong bond with despite never speaking to him. She understood and she wanted to protect them even if it costed it her life."

"Did she somehow move the dragon's heart?"

"I'll get to that part, Sieg."

"Sorry..."

"Let's see now, the girl's brother knew about his sister who was chosen. He decided that he would save her, not because she was family, but because she was wrongly imprisoned and forcibly given a duty she had no say in. He wanted to destroy the very system created to protect humanity."

"Why would he do that? If he does that..."

"Did you know that twins are a single soul split into two bodies?"

"Really?"

"Or so they said. Both knew that they were incomplete without the other, that they were twins without ever knowing. One waited and sang for the dragon, the other searched for his other half. When they did meet...something happened. One sang to protect their other half, to ensure that they live. The other sang to save his other half from the duty forced upon them. Their selfish act, the song that which they sang, it had moved the dragon's heart. Removing the taint and resentment it had felt for being imprisoned..."

"Then?"

"Who knows. The story is left at that, no one really knows the true ending. Some say that the dragon took the relic to the sky, away from earth where it can never harm humanity. Others, they say that the twins remained with the dragon, fusing with it creating an eternal seal that prevented anyone from using it. Twins who only wanted to be together and a dragon who's heart was healed by their songs..."

"What do you believe? How can I move my comrades' heart like those twins?"

"...zzz..."

"Ruler? She fell asleep..."

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Ruler in Apocrypha Part III Ends

If you get the reference at the end then you know it's a reference to the vocaloid song Synchronicity. I got bored and was listening to it and I added it for my own amusement. Lucy as a Ruler is different from the original so her abilities will be vastly different. This Lucy is a normal girl so there are moments she'll hesitate, but she's the type to fight for what she believes in! Welp~! Nothing to add! That's all for today! Bye-bye~!