CHAPTER 52: TEARS OF THE FAKER

(Bedivere POV)

WHOOOSH!

Ghosts, in general cannot affect anything solid, that was a known fact in the Wizarding World. True, they can chill the air around them, as well as disturb anything liquid, but the spirits, generally cannot touch, nor hold anything solid. And this why ghosts are able to sink into the ground or pass through solid walls without much problem...

However, there were always exceptions to the rule. Ghosts, contrary to the traditional belief of both the living and the formerly living, can actually affect the physical realm in ways that was known to be impossible. With some focus, and meditation, a spirit can actually learn to manipulate even solid objects around them.

True it takes a lot of practice and effort, but if a ghost tries hard enough, he will eventually be able to do some of the things which he had formerly been able to do in life, like walk on solid ground instead of floating or passing through it, as well as hold solid objects in their hands as if they had a physical a body.

However, since almost all spirits do not bother with something trivial, there are very few among them who can do so... but Arturia, Bedivere and Lancelot were not almost all spirits...

Yes, they studied and learned it, although it was actually self taught, discovering the possibility by accident. It was about eight centuries ago when it happened.

According to his liege's account, she was wandering around aimlessly, only half-aware of her surroundings, when all of a sudden, there was a scream, and to her horror, she saw a boy falling off the balcony of a mansion.

As if on reflex, Arturia ran towards the falling child, and tried to catch him. However, she was a ghost, and the boy passed through her arms...

But then, the fall did not kill the child. For even if it was only for a second, the King of Knights managed to get a firm grip on the boy, and it greatly reduced the force and momentum of the fall. Also, as she regained her composure, she realized that she ran, not floated, towards the child...

Yes, with enough time, practice and effort, it was possible for ghosts to be able to do some of the things which they had been able to do in life...

And the three of them had centuries to do so...

As of present, they were already so adept with the skill, that holding items was as easy and reflex-like for them as it was for living people to breathe in air. Still...

WHOOOSH!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

WHOOOSH!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

CLANG!

The grey-eyed knight could not help but gasp in awe at the sight that beheld his eyes, as sparks flew with every blow, with metal hitting metal...

It had been a long time, centuries in fact, since the last time that the ghost had seen a duel such as the one that was unfolding before him...

While it was true that after he died and turned into a ghost, he had seen many battles in which skilful swordsmen fought against each other, none of the swordfights he saw could compare to the one he was currently witnessing...

For the silver-haired girl, wielding two, short, identical, falchion-like blades, one black, one white, mirror-images of each other, in her hands, was holding her ground against the King of Knights, whose skill with the blade was legendary, not to mention the fact that Arturia, preferring to remain alone and isolated from people, had nothing better to do, and had been continually practicing with her sword for hundreds of years...

And yet, the girl named Ilyasveil had been matching her blow per blow, parrying each one of her attacks, as ghost and human continued their dance, locked in an unending stalemate...

-BREAK-

(Arturia POV)

WHOOOSH!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

WHOOOSH!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

CLANG!

"... but I must admit I'm surprised, King of Knights," mused Ilyasveil, her voice full of sarcasm, as she continued to parry the attacks of the blonde-haired female ghost. "You did not even wait for your opponent to bring out her weapons... how honorable..."

"I did warn you beforehand, did I not?" growled the female King of Knights, as she continued launching sword strikes at the silver-haired girl. "And I also gave you ample time to draw out your weapon."

This was a lie. In truth, Arturia's plan was indeed to do just that. If the girl turned out to be someone who was evil, and not to her liking, she would put her down, partly for the sake of the innocent, but more so for the sake of her honor as a knight...

Still, even if the girl did turn out to be a noble person at heart, as her actions suggested, Arturia would have still challenged her to a duel anyway. But then, having been agitated for the first time in centuries, the King of Knights had somehow forgotten this aspect of a duel. She did not mean to, but she had gone on the offensive without even waiting for her opponent to accept her challenge, or draw out her weapon of choice...

Still, the King of Knights managed to regain herself, and while in the middle of crossing blades, the two of them, the formerly living and the living, had come to an agreement on the conditions of their duel.

If Ilyasveil managed to land a blow that would normally be fatal to a living person, or at least place Arturia in a position wherein she would not be able to defend herself, then the King of Knights would accept her defeat, and would leave her alone.

However, if Arturia managed to do the same, and place Ilyasveil in a position wherein she would not be able to avoid a fatal blow, into a position wherein she was helpless, then it was the silver-haired girl's loss, and she would have to give straight and honest answers to the questions that the King of Knights will ask her...

To the blonde-haired female spirit it had not come as a surprise. From the moment she first saw Ilyasveil, Arturia already knew that the girl was unique. Even if Bedivere had not told the King of Knights about her, had they met under different circumstances, she would have still been able to tell...

The King of Knights already knew. The moment they started following the girl around, Arturia's instincts had already been nudging at her, telling her that the girl was different. Unlike most witches and wizards. she had the aura and pressure of a swordswoman, something which the King of Knights noticed, as she also excelled in using said weapon. However...

I underestimated her, thought Arturia in annoyance, as she continued to press on with her attacks, to no avail, as the silver-haired female blocked each and every one of her strikes. She is much better than I expected...

The King of Knights could not believe it. Even though she could tell that Ilyasveil probably had some skill with swords, Arturia was confident in her own abilities, and was sure that it would be easy to take her down, certain that she will be able to end the fight quickly... Unfortunately, she was mistaken...

The blonde-haired female ghost could not help but feel her respect rising for the opponent she was currently facing, who was proving herself to be far more skilled and formidable than the King of Knights had originally thought...

Arturia had now begun putting more power and speed into her offensive. She did not want to end up killing the silver-haired girl, partly due to the fact that the King of Knights wanted to ask her questions, but now more so because she did not want to kill the girl who had so much potential, and the blonde had actually begun to take a bit of a liking to her, but she had no other choice. For the King of Knights realized that it was impossible for her to win if she did not take the fight seriously...

CLANG!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

The girl that Arturia was facing was undoubtedly an experienced fighter, and was continuously surpassing her expectations as the fight dragged. However...

The silver-haired girl's chest was open...

CLANG!

Her liver was vulnerable...

CLANG!

Her neck was open...

CLANG!

Her heart was unguarded...

CLANG!

"?!"

The blonde-haired female ghost retreated and took a step backward, her eyes wide with surprise, hesitating for a moment which lasted for a fraction of a second, before continuing with her offensive...

To say that the spirit Arturia Pendragon was surprised with what she discovered would be an understatement, as their duel progressed. No, she was shocked, mortified as she realized that Ilyasveil's fighting style...

... was suicidal...

It was the first time, the very first time that the King of Knights met someone who fought in this way. While it was true that the twin swords Ilyasveil was using was unfamiliar to her, Arturia, when she was still alive, had fought many warriors who also used sword pairs in battles... However...

She had never, in her lifetime, met someone who fought in the same way as the silver-haired girl in front of her...

Most warriors are careful, keeping their guard up, especially on their vital organs, a solid defence that was hard to penetrate. It was only natural after all. For if one was hit either through their heart or any other similar spots, it would be all over...

Instead, Ilyasveil was deliberately putting holes in her own defenses...

The silver-haired girl, instead of guarding her vital points, actually leaves them wide open, which most experienced warriors would instinctively take advantage of, to lure her enemies in. Yes, and because Ilyasveil had deliberately placed the weak spots in her guard, she was easily able to parry attacks aimed for them, and would give her a chance to counterattack. Yes, it was risky, extremely risky, for one mistake on the part of the user of this unorthodox technique could mean instant death for them, even though it has its advantages...

Yes, the King of Knights realized that that was the purpose of this particular fighting style. There had been chances, so many of them in fact, that the King of Knights could hardly count, for the silver-haired girl to launch a counter attack. However...

The silver-haired female never took them, which left Arturia even more confused...

For despite the many opportunities, Ilyasveil had not taken advantage of a single one of them, and remained on the defensive. All throughout their duel, the silver-haired female had never, not even once, tried to attack the King of Knights, always remaining on the defensive. It was baffling, incredibly so, for Arturia was certain that with the level of skill she had seen from the girl, it would have only been too easy for her to utilize the chances she created. And yet...

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

She was using a risky, suicidal fighting style, to lure her opponents in and gain opportunities to counter, yet she never used them. Which could only mean one thing...

Is she playing around with me?! She's making a mockery of this duel! thought Arturia angrily. Is she trying to say that I'm not even worthy for her to take seriously?!

It was an insult to her, both as a knight and as a warrior, that her opponent was actually holding back on her, when she was giving it her all. She was King Arthur, one of the best warriors and swordsmen of her time, and it hurt her pride. No, she could not allow this to continue...

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

WHOOOSH!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

CRACK!

Putting more fervor into her attack, the King of Knights destroyed the silver-haired female's white blade...

WHOOOSH!

WHOOOSH!

CLANG!

CRACK!

...after which, she destroyed the black falchion that was identical to it, as the silver-haired girl retreated...

"HAAAAA!"

With a battle cry, the ghost of the Once and Future King of England once again charged forward, intending to finish off her opponent, who had insulted her so and stepped on her pride, completely disregarding her original purpose...

It was the end...

CLANG!

Or not...

For a moment there was silence, save for the sound of metal rubbing against metal, as Arturia's sword was blocked...

"No way..." gasped the ghost of the King of Knights, as she looked at the weapon that the silver-haired girl used to block her attack...

Arturia's eyes widened, unable to believe what she was seeing. For in front of her, wielded by the silver-haired female, was a sword, which she recognized.

It was the sword which the ghost of Sir Lancelot had given as a gift to the spirit of Arturia. It was a typical English sword, and it was modeled after Caliburn. True, it was not made from the same material, but it was still an excellent blade nonetheless. It was made of goblin metal, which means that it will never rust or become dull, no matter how much time passed. What was most astounding about the sword, however, was that the length, shape, weight, and many other details were exactly identical as her first sword, which had been broken...

Arturia never knew how Lancelot had managed to procure the weapon. She never found out who forged it, who gave the exact description and who paid for it (although Arturia was sure that it was Lancelot), for the knight who had tried to come to her aid before her fall but did not arrive in time, never told her, and the ghost of the King of Knights had not seen him since, and over five hundred had passed since she had received his gift...

And the sword which was presently wielded by Ilyasveil...

...was identical to the one which the King of Knights was currently using. No... it was not just identical. The sword in the hands of the silver-haired girl was just a copy, of that Arturia was sure of, and yet, at the same time, it did not feel like a copy. The King of Knights had a keen eye for steel and weaponry, having lived by the sword all her life, and actually continued wielding one even after her death. And because of this, she couldn't possibly be mistaken... the sword in the hands of the girl did not seem like a copy of her own, it seemed as if it was the same one, the exact same sword, an exact replicate, an imitation, which was so much like the original, that even Arturia, had she not been the original's owner, would not have been able to tell the difference.

"Impossible..." the blonde-haired female heard her subordinate, Bedivere, say in a low voice...

"Who exactly are you?" demanded Arturia in wonder, in a low voice, as she looked at the silver-haired female in front of her straight in the face, forgetting that they were in a duel, and focused her attention on her opponent instead...

And was surprised at what she saw...

"This is your victory, King of Knights..." stated Ilyasveil, as she lowered her sword, the copy of the blonde-haired female's weapon fading into nothingness. "...for I am no longer in any condition to continue... And like promised... I will respond to your questions honestly and truthfully, so long as I know the answer..."

Silence reigned in the room for a while, as the ghost of the King of Knights eyed her opponent, who had just admitted defeat in their duel...

Arturia could not help but continue to stare in shock and wonder, at the girl with silver hair, a skilled swordswoman, and a formidable opponent, who was currently holding out her hand to the King of Knights, and was now wearing a gentle smile on her face...

As tears continued to flow from her emerald green eyes...


AUTHOR'S NOTES

Alright, another chapter out.

So far, I must admit, this chapter had been one of the most challenging ones for me, because I once again had to write a full-on battle. It's not easy mind you, and I really hope I didn't screw it up. For in the previous chapters, specifically the Tiger Dojo training parts, I actually tried to find the correct sound effect text for wooden weapon clashes against wooden weapon , wood clashes against wood, and unfortunately, I couldn't find anything... Though if anyone of you know the answer to this little puzzle, I would really appreciate it if you told me... Oh, and if anyone knows what the is best of sound for metal breaking or metal being sliced in half, please tell me as well, I would also be really thankful for that...

Anyway, there's this friend of mine who was asking me if I could write a Final Fantasy VII- Familiar of Zero and Final Fantasy VII-Fate/Stay Night Crossover.

To be honest, I actually kind of like the idea. For starters, the damn characters in Final Fantasy are really powerful, and they actually fit with the different Servant Classes. Vincent Valentine for one, is damn fit as Berserker or Avenger, Sephiroth would also be suited as a Berserker, as well as a Saber, and Cloud is also fit as a Saber, although he may also do well as a Rider Class, although most characters might as well be fit for the Caster class as well, with their Materia and stuff, and probably a Rider as well. And the Turks would definitely fit in the Assassin class.

As for FFVII and FOZ fic though, well I find that rather difficult. For you see, while many writers try and follow canon story mostly, changing and editing a few things here and there, I am one of the writers who like to write a new plot, in an empty void or space wherein there is no story yet. True the starting point is based on canon, but the entire story diverts immediately from it.

Some may say that I'm being stupid, making myself suffer to think of a plot of storyline, instead of modifying one that is already in existence, but well, I enjoy it this way, and when you enjoy what you are doing, it doesn't really count as hardship...

Now regarding my friend's request. Sadly, as there are a lot of things which I have to do, I declined his request, for the time being at least, not to mention the fact that I haven't finished with this one yet, and I do not intend to abandon this fic no matter what anyone says. My friend was actually teasing, asking me why I actually even bothered to make a story wherein Severus Snape is one of the two main protagonists. Even he found the idea ridiculous. However, I do not really care what other people think, even if it happened to be the majority. I'm writing this fic because I'm having fun writing it, and whichever characters happen to be my preference is something that no one can dictate. Yup, I like Snape as a character, as well as Ilya, and I found that they had not been given poetic justice in their canon stories, so I made a fanfic in which they will given that particular due which their original creators had not given them. Again, no offense to the original authors, your stories are good, I just think that some of the characters were treated unjustly, but enough about that...

As I said before, I am really busy and there are deadlines which I have to keep, so I may not be able to update this fic often, though I promise that I will do so at least once a week.

Anyway, like always, I hope you enjoy this chapter...

Later then, people...