The question didn't get much attention, but I feel I should update regardless for those that did comment on it. I made the thread on Spacebattles, which you can find via searching 'Spacebattles Twisted Reflections' on Google. I'd give a link but it's not allowed on here...
The thread is mostly for discussion or back and forth talks, similar to some of the things I do with others on the review section. I'd also be receptive to suggestions on what you guys want to see/focus on: I'm pretty sure a bunch of segments are ignored because people didn't care about them so I'd like to know what you guys want me to focus my writing on and what could just happen 'offscreen' so to speak.
For those interested I suppose I'll see you there, and if it doesn't get any clicks then I suppose I'll be like Claptrap :P See you next chapter/on the thread.
EDIT: I posted the AN as a separate update beforehand, but as another user pointed out it wasn't allowed. Hopefully this is better.
Karin looked around the inn, mouth parting in a heavy sigh. It had been a few days since she and Estelle had tagged along on the caravan and they still hadn't arrived the capital. She had assumed it would take maybe two days at most, especially since the caravan had horses on it, but it had been three days and she saw neither hide nor hair of the supposed Germanian capital city.
It wasn't as if the trip itself was intolerable: The caravan head, an older Germanian male who spoke a little Tristanian, was surprisingly affable and patient with her lack of understanding of the language. As she managed to gather he usually went to a specialist Mage when he needed to go to another country to trade rather than getting a permanent translation spell. As he had (tried to) explain he mostly did business within Germania's confines so he had little need for a full translation spell.
She understood his reasoning, though it didn't make talking with him any easier. Estelle could converse with him just fine and she seemed to have a fondness for the old codger given the way she acted, but she had to content herself with remaining silent or interjecting when she heard the odd Tristanian word mixed in.
Still, it was far better than the alternative. She'd managed to look at the map of the trade route they were passing through and it turned out that the town they were on previously was literally on the ass end of Germania, opposite the border to Tristain. It would have taken them weeks if they decided to run back to her home, and that wasn't even considering their lack of horses and supplies. They'd be lucky if they made it halfway before collapsing from exhaustion.
Though at this point she wondered if she would still have a place with the knights. She'd worked hard to achieve that rank but now that she had seemingly been kidnapped and dumped on this barbaric country she was beginning to dread the reactions of everyone when she got back. Maybe they thought she was dead? She wouldn't blame them; at this point she'd been here for over a week and in their place she would assume the same.
...No, she couldn't give up so easily. If that was the case she might as well stay in this blasphemous country and be done with it.
"Mmm..." She gripped the spoon she held tightly, stirring it through the thick stew in the bowl. She wasn't what one could call a picky eater - Brimir knew she'd eaten her fair share of nasty things given how often she traveled in her line of work - but these Germanian stews were something else entirely. They weren't bad per se, but their smoky aftertaste was far too strong and left much to be desired.
She took another glance around the inn. The caravan master was chatting with a few of his employees, his rotund belly bouncing as he told what she could only presume to be either a jest or amusing story. Not too far away she spotted Solas chatting with one of the serving girls, the flush on her cheeks making it clear that whatever it was they were discussing it wasn't for public ears.
"Also das Mädel war perfekt!" The caravan boss leaned forward excitedly, "Knackiger Hintern, schwarze Mähne, alabaster Haut...alles was man sich wünschen könnte! Und nachdem ich sie verführt hatte-"
"Sicher, dass du die nicht bezahlt hast, Boss?" Another interrupted with a raucous laugh.
"Halt die Fresse, Franz! Naja, wo war ich? Ach ja, das Mädel. Absolut perferkt in jedem Winkel und ich habs geschafft sie weich zu klopfen und mit aufs Zimmer zu bringen. Also, ich zieh ihr den Rock runter und finde den fettesten Schwanz den ihr euch vorstellen könnt!"
"Laber, Alter? Also...haste es durchgezogen?"
"Naja, das Lustige ist; dass-"
Another sigh escaped her. She wasn't ungrateful to either of them considering the dire straights she and Estelle were in but she would have preferred it if they hurried to the capital. At the slow rate they were going she was going to go mad.
Estelle's absence definitely caught her attention, however. While they weren't exactly what one would call bosom buddies she found the other girl's presence to be a relief despite their shaky first impression; it helped that she could actually understand the language and translated for her benefit. Without her she would have been still stuck on that village chopping wood so she could sleep on the stables.
"Might as well find her..." Muttering to herself, she stood and grabbed a couple of sandwiches from the table before leaving quietly.
The fresh air of the outside made her pause. Closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, she briefly relished in the fresh air running through the town. It was a riverside village, simple and rustic in nature. The inhabitants were friendly enough despite her obviously Tristanian bearing, so for at least that she was grateful. Brimir knew that the Germanians that visited her homeland were far more crass in demeanor and were hardly better than hired thugs.
A quick look around made it clear that Estelle wasn't there, so she made her way to the river. It was the only other place of interest that would draw the taciturn archer's attention.
She was proven right when she found the leather clad figure kneeling by the riverbank, gloved hands cupping the flowing water and splashing it across her face, "Es..." The words died in her mouth as the sight in front of her finally registered. Her hood was down, exposing her white, lightly braided hair and the pale skin of her neck. Her face was still hidden since she was facing away from her, but it was definitely more than anything she'd seen so far.
The sight didn't last long. Taking another unconscious step, the archer realized her presence and quickly pulled her hood up and wrapped her scarf around her face haphazardly. By the time she could utter another word the pale young woman was already on her feet and facing her, visage once again covered, "Karin...was there something you needed?" She asked calmly, hands wiping against her pants quickly.
She looked at her incredulously, "Right...so, are we just gonna pretend that didn't happen or..."
"What do you mean?" She asked with seemingly genuine confusion.
"Look, I know you wanna keep your face covered and all but it kinda helps when you don't make such a big deal out of it." She snorted, giving the other girl a small smile, "I mean, I get it; we all have our secrets and all, so I'm not gonna pry. You don't have to sneak around just to watch your face or anything. If you want some privacy just say so and I'll turn around."
"Um...well, actually could you turn around now?" Her cheeks flushed a slight red, "My face is still kinda wet since I covered up so quickly."
"Right..."
Turning around, she yawned and stared at the early morning sun. The soft sound of the shifting cloth behind her was quickly followed by more splashing water. She had no idea why Estelle was so insistent on keeping herself hidden, though she at least understood the severity of which she went about it. On her first forays to being a knight she had done a lot to given an aura of masculinity from her voice to even her carefully hand-picked outfit.
"I'm done..."
Looking back, she was met with a slightly more stable Estelle sitting against the bank. She seemed to be in a better mood if her soft humming was any indication.
"Don't you ever get hot under there? She sat a small distance away from her and took off her boots and stockings, placing her feet on the flowing river. She breathed a sigh of relief at the feeling of cold water running through her skin, "I get that you wanna keep yourself covered up but even when we're sleeping you never take that off. I'm surprised you haven't collapsed from heatstroke yet."
"I'm used to the cold...the warmth is actually very refreshing." She tucked her knees into her chest, hugging them closer to her, "...I'm surprised you're not cold yourself, you're baring...a lot of skin."
Her face flushed red at the subtle accusation, "W-Well, excuse me then!" She crossed her arms and 'hmphed' in annoyance, "It's not my fault this is what knights wear and it's not like I chose to wear it cause I like it."
"I've never seen a Knight wear something like that." She muttered, though she decided to not press the issue. Better they not get into an argument.
"Hey, I gotta ask you something. You okay to talk?" Estelle nodded, a small laugh escaping from her muffled lips, "Right, okay, how do I say this...what the hel has been wrong with you the past few days?"
"What...?" She blinked in surprise at the blunt query, "Um...did I do anything wrong to upset you?"
"Huh? No, that's not what I meant." She waved a hand to brush away the thought, "It's just that you've been kinda quiet...well, quieter since we ran into that Solas guy." Estelle looked away from her. Karin's eyes narrowed, "Look, I know you have your secrets and all but I have to know for sure: Is there something that makes you not trust him? You didn't say anything when we agreed to go with him but if he's untrustworthy then I wanna know know."
"N-No, he's not untrustworthy or anything like that." She answered hurriedly, hands waving in slight panic, "It's just...he won't remember, but we've met before." She closed her eyes and took a moment to compose herself, "He's not a bad person...more the opposite actually, he's a very kind man despite his...eccentricities. It's not really him that caused me to be so quiet..."
"Then what is it? You don't have to tell me if you want but I want to help if I can. I do owe you for all the help you've given me so far; I'd still be stuck in that village without you doing the talking for both of us."
"You don't owe me anything." She could tell by the way her eyes shifted that she was smiling, "I'd be dead in that twice over if not for you, both with the Corrupted and that fuck- ...that Minotaur."
"Well I guess we're even. That's how partners work, yeah?" She leaned back and looked up at the blue sky, feet shifting slightly in the water, "Still, that doesn't really explain why you've been acting so weird. I mean you told me it wasn't because of him so it has to be something else."
"It's..." She took a deep breath, "Do you remember when we ran into those Corrupted in the forest?"
"Kinda hard to miss." She gestured to the bandage covering her forehead, "I got injured, if you recall, and things like that...well, they're not something you forget anytime soon. Even the giant scorpions have nothing on them."
"Right...?" She fingered the bow at her side, "Where...Where I come from, the Corrupted are a common sight. Gatherings like towns are abandoned simply because remaining solitary with such a large group is simply inviting them to feed on you." She paused. Karin waited for her to continue, "But here...it seems as if they don't even exist. We both know they do since we ran into them at the forest, but..."
"Maybe you were just really unlucky?" She suggested, "Or hel, maybe other things killed them. That Minotaur we ran into could have killed them easy if they passed by his turf. Most Firstborns don't get along just because they're the same species; it's why they haven't overrun as at this point."
"Perhaps..." She muttered something under her breath before looking back at her, "In the end I suppose it doesn't even matter. I won't look a gift wyvern in the mouth; if it means no longer having to hide through forests or scavenging abandoned towns and looting the corpses of the deceased then I won't question it. I...I just hope that Vent is alright as well. I was lucky enough to run into you but he might be alone out there..."
"I'm sure he's fine." Karin clapped her shoulder in reassurance, "If we could survive out here then he could to."
"Hopefully..."
"Hey, cheer up, okay?" She peeled the wrapping covering both the sandwiches and offered one to her. She shook her head, "Look, I get that you have issues with showing your face and all but you gotta eat." She still seemed reluctant to accept. Karin rolled her eyes, "Look, I'll face away if you want but you gotta eat something. You may not be used to just being able to buy your food but in here you don't just loot dead bodies for scraps of nourishment."
"O-Okay..."
Estelle accepted the sandwich with a tiny nod before facing away from her, hood and scarf once again lowering. Her focus lingered at the back of her head, taking in her features once more. The white hair was somewhat odd, though given her own hair color she wasn't one to talk. Given her self-admitted lack of magic it was either a dye of some sort or she had noble blood in a distant part of her family. The pale skin she could attribute to the face that her clothes just about every inch of her body; she'd look white as a sheet too if she spent all day covered in leather.
They ate in comfortable silence. Karin's gaze wandered to the relaxing sight of the wooded riverside. As much as she disliked Germania - which was only proper given that she was a proud Tristanian - she wouldn't hesitate to admit that the sight in front of her was endearing. Splashing her feet on the water, she finished off her small meal and allowed herself to relax. This would be the last time they would come to a town like this; hopefully it would be a straight shot to the capital from here and after that...well, they would cross that bridge when they got there.
Soft, crunching footsteps came from behind. Looking back, she gave Solas a lazy wave, one which he returned with one of his own. Beside her Estelle once again covered her face before the mercenary could fully take in her features.
"So this is where you two were." He grinned, looking at each of them in turn, "Going on a little date, eh?"
"Just talking. That's what friends do, after all." Karin rolled her eyes, "Anyway, given that you're here I can assume the old man sent you to get us?"
"Yeah. Pietro wants to leave early so we can make it to the capital by nighttime." He replied, "He'll pay for our stay at the inn when we get there but after that we're on our own. He's not gonna need a bodyguard while trading in the capital, after all."
"Right..." Well, she was thankful to the codger for getting them this far. She wasn't going to complain, "...Hey, by any chance is he going to make a trip to Tristain? Maybe I could sign on as a bodyguard again."
"Tristain? Nah, most traders aren't willing to make that trip." He waved a hand in front of his face, "Tristain's pretty much broke after that war with Albion. I mean they made em pay reparations and all but hiring an army full of mercs ain't cheap-"
"What!?"
Solas jumped at the knight's sudden scream. Ignoring his look of shock she stood up abruptly and grabbed his shoulders tightly, bare feet slapping against the dirt, "Tristain and Albion were at war!? Since when!?"
"A few months ago!" He pried her grip off with a wince, "Something about Reconquista and the royal family of Albion getting killed off in a coup d'etat. Tristain was at war with them not too long ago but last I checked they won. Since they're broke now most merchants aren't willing to make the round trip."
"That's..." She grit her teeth and took in a deep breath, "That...That makes no sense." She forced out. Tristain and Albion had always been staunch allies. For fuck's sake, the king was considering betrothing Princess Marianne with one of their princes! How could they go to war? She hadn't heard of this 'Reconquista' or any attempted coup at all. There was no war with Albion when she'd left for her mission, and yet Solas had no reason to lie to her about this. He...He'd said that the war had finished 'months ago' so...
How long had she been gone?
"Karin...?" Estelle touched her arm gently, jolting her out of her reverie.
"I...I'm fine." She gave her a forced smile and shook off her hand, "I just...what the fuck is going on?" She tried to calm herself, keeping her breathing level, "First I end up with no memory on the ass-end of Germania, I get attacked by twisted monsters and a Minotaur and now there was a war with Albion that I don't even know about? What next?"
"Well...look on the bright side?" Solas pushed his shoulders up in a helpless shrug, an unsure smile on his face, "Look, I have no clue what the story is between you two, but I can tell you're a couple of good kids. I gotta ask: What's your plan? You said you were both planning to go back to Tristain, yeah?" Estelle nodded for her, "Well, you two plan to walk there or something? I mean you at least need one horse and at least a week's worth of supplies, and those don't come cheap."
"Don't remind me." Karin massaged her temples.
"Well...why not work with me?" He countered Karin's look of disbelief with a snorting laugh, "Why not? I mean unless you plan to beg for cash or steal a horse you're pretty much stuck. You two can handle yourself just fine given the Minotaur incident, so a few simple jobs should be nothing for you. When you guys have enough cash then you can buy your stuff and we go our separate ways."
"...Nothing too time-consuming." She looked to Estelle, who gave her another nod, "If you're asking us to make another four day trip to get paid scraps I'll take my chances with running through the border."
"Yeah, yeah. We'll keep it to the capital." He grinned, "You ever been there? Kirkwall's big enough that it's practically it's own country. Trust me, we're not gonna lack for things to do there. Delivering messages, bodyguarding bored nobles who want to slum it up or whatever. The pay isn't glamorous or anything, but it pays the bills and you can buy what you need."
"Hmm...I guess we don't have a choice." Karin sighed, "Fine, until we can make ends meet Estelle and I are with you...hopefully we don't regret this."
"Perfect." He nudged his head to the town's direction, "We can get to the fine details when we get there later. For now we should finish up this job first...and you might wanna put your shoes back on."
"Huh...oh, right."
"Will that be all, Your Majesty?"
Opening the door, Raziel was only slightly surprised to find Julio sitting across from the monarch. Closing the door behind him, he gave Agnes a questioning glance to which she responded with a shrug. The unspoken message was clear, 'I'm just as confused as you are'.
"Oh, you're back." The Queen turned to look at them, a practiced smile on her face, "I wasn't aware you would be returning so soon."
"Your Majesty, we finished our task and achieved the desired outcome." She placed a hand against her chest and gave a short bow, "The...exact details are known only to Sir. Raziel, but I can give my report now if you wish." She eyed Julio suspiciously. It was to be expected; she had no idea of his motives and the source of his strange abilities. She wouldn't put it past him to be another traitor; they seemed to be coming out of the woodwork in droves.
"Such a steely gaze you give me, Sir. Agnes." Julio laughed softly, "Worry not, my intentions for coming here are not malevolent. Queen Henrietta and I were simply discussing the one Lady Sheffield calls her master and what I could do to assist you."
"Did you find out anything new?" Raziel cut in.
"Regrettably not. Still, we have narrowed it down to either Gallia or Germania. Historically speaking the four ruling families barring Germania have a Void Mage of their own, but as Lady Louise and Lady Tiffania can attest it's not always the direct bloodline that inherits the gift." He sighed, "Of course, that only concerns lineage. Just because they originate from those two does not mean that they still reside there. They could be living in this capital now and we would have no idea."
"A distressing thought." Henrietta chimed in, "Regardless, I had asked for his assistance and Sir. Julio has agreed to aid us. On your next undertaking he will accompany you."
"Huh...well, I suppose we need all the help we can get." Agnes frowned, though she bowed again regardless. If her Queen could trust him then she could do so as well...besides, he couldn't be any worse than her current teammates.
"I look forward to working with you when the time comes."
Julio smiled at them both before passing, leaving the room without another word. Raziel's mouth twitched; being in the same room as both of them felt somewhat disconcerting since Derflinger hadn't finished repairing the seals completely, but it was...tolerable. He watched the door briefly before clicking his tongue. Working with him would prove difficult, but his skills would be undoubtedly helpful.
"...Are you sure you can trust him, Your Majesty?" Agnes asked, "Far be it from me to question your judgement but we don't know where his loyalties lie."
"One could say the same of Sir. Raziel and yet here he is." She answered coolly, expression never wavering, "We cannot afford to turn away assistance, Agnes. The unfortunate cannot choose their alms, so to speak."
"Of course..."
Raziel remained silent as Agnes explained the situation. Given their lack of options they had taken the displaced villagers back with them to the capital, which was no easy feat considering some of them seemed to have lost their minds. More than a few wailed about lost loved ones and at least a couple tried to slit their own throats in order to 'give themselves to the Dark Mother'.
His presence only seemed to agitate them, though the exact reason escaped him. Nevertheless it was agreed that the Vampires would 'babysit' them (after inducing some mist-assisted sleep) while they explained the situation...well, while Agnes explained the situation and he waited for his turn. He had a feeling their conversation would take a while and he preferred to have no interruptions.
"Lady Daphne and Lady Amethyst are still watching over them, yes?" The Queen questioned.
"Yes. We decided to wait on your orders on what should be done with them."
"Hmm..." A hand covered her mouth, masking the frown she wore. Finding them shelter in the town would be easy enough but what they truly needed were tonics and other medicines in order to clear their minds. From what Agnes had told her they had become unstable due to the traumas they endured and if they simply left them at a shelter they would only hurt themselves and others.
"...If I could interject?" Raziel murmured, "I may have a solution, temporary as it may be. Are either of you aware of the mercenary guild in the town?"
"Yeah. Most of the brawls and fights on the street come from there or the bars." Agnes grunted, annoyance etched on her features "What does that have to do with anything? Think they'd be willing to house a bunch of unruly refugees?"
"Not directly, no," He replied, ignoring the barb, "There is a man there called Creon. Tell him I sent you..." He took off his necklace and gave it her, "This should be enough proof. Tabitha and I did a job a few days prior which earned us a sizable reward. I had told him to donate it since neither of us cared for it, but if it is still there then you could use it however you wish. Given the amount there should still be some that remains."
"I...thank you, Sir. Raziel." The Queen gave him a relieved smile before turning back to the Musketeer, "Please do so, Agnes, and please don't hesitate to come to me if anything comes up."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Agnes left with another bow, leaving them alone in the wide room. Henrietta stared at the Undead awkwardly, waiting for him to say something. Whatever it was they had found there it was clearly unpleasant given everything Agnes had told her. She would have to be careful on how to broach the topic.
"As Agnes tells me-"
"Did you know there would be Darkwraiths there?"
"-you faced some resistance in the village."
An awkward silence settled over the room. She knew of the Darkwraiths...well, Gwyenevere had and she had access to her memories. The 'Daughter of Sunlight' kept out of political affairs, preferring to tend to her followers and Miracles, but the Darkwraiths were a name known to all. The boogeyman lying in the darkness, consuming the very soul of their subjects. Sir. Julio- Gwyn had made the hard choice to drown New Londo to try and stem their tide.
An attempt that failed.
"...If you do not mind, might we perhaps have this conversation elsewhere?" She stood up and walked past him before he could reply, "The garden is radiant early in the morning-"
"Do you still think I plan to kill you?"
She paused, hands still on the knob of the door. After another moment of silence she answered, "No. Believe it or not that fear has grown weaker as the days passed." She smiled bitterly, "I know I have no right to fear given my own actions, so worry not. Right now...I just want to leave this room for a bit. I've been staying here for the past few days and the sight has grown numb."
"...As you wish."
He followed after her at a respectful distance till they reached the open air. Since it was relatively early in the morning the guards were scarce, consisting of nothing more than a few yawning sentries only halfheartedly standing up straighter as she passed them before going back to their slouches when she was far enough away. Certainly nothing to the Silver Knights that guarded her in her past life or the illusion's guardians Ornstein and Smough.
If nothing else she was certainly correct in her assertion: The garden was almost breathtaking in the morning light, the dew almost glistening from the leaves and various plants dotted around. The lack of noticeable people only added to the calming atmosphere while the Unicorns grazing in their own corner only added to the almost picturesque feel of it.
Still, the sight didn't concern him.
"Did you know about the Darkwraiths?"
"No." Her voice was firm, holding no trace of hesitation, "I knew there was trouble in the village, but what that trouble may have been I had little inkling. Given what Agnes has told me I doubt that this Sheffield woman was involved. They were acting on their own, yes?"
"Not exactly" He muttered, "When I interrogated one of them she cursed at me, saying that the 'Dark Mother' would see to my demise." He rolled his eyes, "They could have been delusional, but somehow I have my doubts. I am sure they would have lost their minds even more if they realized they were fighting against the body holding the shards of their beloved Manus..."
"Hmm..."
She walked to where one of the solitary unicorns grazed, its head held low as it chewed on the grass lazily. He'd only seen one so close once before - twice if one counted the festival when the Queen arrived in Albion - but already he knew the creatures held no allure to him. Others saw an animal of beauty, a something of grace and kindness. All he saw was a horse with a horn on its head. No doubt if he'd seen it in his early days here he would have been frozen in shock but the allure of discovery eventually passed.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" She hummed, petting its elongated head gently. The horned horse didn't resist, giving a small neigh and stepping closer to her.
"If you say so...all I know is that those that are considered 'pure' are even 'worthy' of touching them." He stepped closer to it. Its gaze turned from the monarch to him and it let out a snort, but beyond that it showed no resistance to his presence, "...They may appear to be nothing more than mindless animals but they seem far more intelligent than the are given credit for if they can still see it in them to see us as pure."
"How so?"
"Ha...I doubt someone who whose hands are so full of blood would be treated as 'pure' by anyone else." His smile was simultaneously chilling and sincere, "Clearly it is not our personalities that they find to be so pure, so it must be something else..."
"...What are you implying?" Her eyes narrowed.
"Nothing."
He petted it, the smile never fading. The Unicorn let him, giving another soft neigh, before it eventually trudged back to its herd. Purity wasn't the same as kindness or innocence. Blind obedience was purity, belief in a flawed ideal was purity...he had little inclination as to how they judged who was 'worthy' of being near them without getting speared by that horn of theirs. He supposed he was lucky enough in that regard.
He gave her a sideways glance, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he caught sight of something covering her face, "You're wearing make-up," He commented idly.
"Hmm?" Fingers raised to trace across her cheeks, a light blanket of powder dusting her fingertips when they touched the skin. She'd almost forgotten, "Oh, yes..."
"...Does it make it easier to lie?"
She couldn't stop her mouth from twitching at the blunt accusation. Hands clenching, she took a calming breath before replying, "I...don't appreciate what you're trying to imply." It was hard to keep her voice even. While she liked to think otherwise she often wondered if she was still susceptible to Gwynevere's urges and instincts. Was she simply pre-disposed to hating him because of her nature?
Or was it simply because he was, to be blunt, an annoying bastard even without the influence of the shards?
"It was a question." He shrugged, seemingly oblivious to the implications, "I am curious: Who did you have to wear a mask for? Julio, Agnes or myself?"
"Who says I'm wearing a mask? I might simply have worn make-up because I wished to."
"Yes, I am sure it is simple coincidence that you wore something that covered your features when you had to talk to Julio today." He released a cold breath, "That paint on your face might hide some things but there are still signs. I see the way your eyes shift to the side, the twitch of your lips when you try to keep your expression from changing...not everything can be hidden under a layer of maquillage."
"Since when were you so observant?" She countered.
"Ever since I had time to fully grasp everything that has happened." A soft laugh came from parted lips, "It does not come naturally to me, of course. I must look for the signs..."
"The fact that you're looking makes it clear you don't trust me."
"Was it that obvious?" She gave him a flat, unamused stare, "You have not given me reason to in recent days. When we talked in Albion I agreed to become your pawn, but I did so with the expectation that you would not ask me to blind myself. And yet on the very first task I assist you with we were sent to a nest of Darkwraiths worshiping a mural of what appeared to be Dusk. You can certainly understand why I have my doubts."
"I...I didn't know there would be Darkwraiths there."
"But your 'source' did." His left hand flared, expression morphing to a slight glare, "Whoever they are they knew something was happening there and knew to tell you in order to send us there. Who is this...benefactor of yours?"
"...You do not need to know-"
"That is not good enough." He snarled, stepping closer to her. The Queen flinched at the sudden closeness but made no move to back away, "We do not have to be friends, but I will not blind myself anymore. I am asking you to...to please be honest with me. Who told you of the Darkwraiths? Their presence here defies any other sign."
"I..." Alsanna's plea rang in her mind. It seemed silly to be so hesitant to talk to family, but her very nature was comprised of fear. It must have been difficult to even make contact with her let alone someone who could kill her if he ever found out about her existence.
She couldn't betray her trust.
"I can't tell you."
To his credit his expression shifted back to a facsimile of calm, but she could tell it was only skin deep. The Undead looked away and let out a humorless laugh, "Right...I suppose that was asking too much from the Daughter of Sunlight-"
"Don't call me that!" Her hand shot out and grabbed his to pull him closer to her. She had no idea what she was trying to accomplish; a display of strength to intimidate him like some common thug? Or did she simply want him to look her in the eyes when he judged her? "I am a lot of things, I've made my share of mistakes, but one thing I will never do is abandon everyone for selfish reasons."
"You already attempted it before." His left hand burned at the contact but he made no move to wrench it away from her, "Or did you forget the night with the impostor? I spent days unable to see because of you."
"I acknowledge my mistakes, but I believe I can atone for what I've done." Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"How? By sending us blind? By not telling us who feeds you this information? If you have any hope of stopping the cycle-"
"I promised her I wouldn't tell you!"
The odd pair stood rigid, neither willing to break eye contact. Eventually Raziel grunted and pried his hand away from her, ignoring the searing pain running across his flesh. Even being near her was difficult, though she seemed to have no problem with contact given her lack of discomfort. He never felt such pain when he was near Julio; she needed to contain the Goddess' spirit better.
"...She told me that she would meet you when she was ready," She continued, her voice much softer, "She...I cannot tell you everything, but she does genuinely care for you."
"Care for me? I have no idea who 'she' even is and you expect me to believe that she cares for me?" He scoffed, "Enough. If you do not wish to tell me then keep quiet. I would rather be left with the silence than meaningless platitudes."
"You told me that you could tell when someone was lying so you should see that I'm being honest now."
"..." He mimicked a deep breath and forced himself to calm. They had come to an understanding back in Albion, yet now here they were again arguing. At this rate they would accomplish nothing save treading the ground they'd already covered that night at the inn, "Fine then, humor me another question." He turned back to look at her, "Why are you doing this? Protecting this woman, sending us to fight Darkwraiths. You told me of your intent to stop the cycle but your reasons were unclear."
"If I could stop the destruction of my home, why wouldn't I?"
"So that is all then? You are doing this for wholly selfless reasons?"
"I wish to live in a world that is in no danger of ending, does that count as selfish?" She forced a smile but it fell quickly, "...There is another motive for my actions, of course. While I wish to keep Louise and the others safe I wish revenge for everything that has been done to us. For all the people that died, for Louise, for..."
"Wales..." He didn't need to see her nod to know he was correct, "...Even now his death haunts you, but you know that doing this will not bring him back." He'd learned that lesson the hard way. Back then he had naively believed that every death could be undone, that by linking the Fire he could undo all the pain he experienced in that fruitless journey...of course in the end he realized the falsehoods they'd fed to him.
"I know that." The laugh that escaped was bitter, almost akin to a cry, "I wanted someone to pay for his death and I thought that heretic Cromwell would be the end of that path. But now I find that there was someone else pulling his strings and that...that all of this might have been pre-destined, that Wales died because it was 'meant to be'..."Her hands shook, "No more. Even if Wales has passed...I don't want someone else to suffer like he did. Not again."
"I tried to stop it before and faced the consequences. What if you fail...we fail? What if our actions only hasten the end?" He wanted to believe they could end this...this recurrence, but already he had his doubts. This 'Dark Mother' was unlikely to be that Sheffield woman so he could only assume it was someone else. It would have been so simple if the lines were drawn so clearly, if there was only one monster they had to kill.
"A nightmare for some, for others as a savior I come. My hands cold and bleak, it's the warm hearts they seek." She recited. It was a riddle she'd heard often as a child, one of many really.
Raziel's eyes furrowed in annoyance at the roundabout reply, "...Death."
"I suppose you have your answer then." She put a hand to her mouth to cover her empty smile, "If we fail then we die, it's as simple as that. Still...I find it preferable to living in willful ignorance now that I know the truth." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Even if I have to die that's a price I'm willing to pay if it means stopping any more tragedies from befalling my home."
"You-"
"My, my. How sweet!"
Both turned to the source of the voice. The figure was unfamiliar; a young man dressed in cloth of fine make. Raziel's eyes narrowed; he could sense no Humanity from him, and the way he moved was stiff, almost lifeless in a way. The Queen seemed to share his sentiment, both hands gripping her wand tightly.
The flash of steel was barely caught before he moved. Grabbing the monarch's shoulder, he spun her around before letting out a hiss of pain as something pierced his back. Biting back a growl of pain, he reached behind him and pulled out the foreign object, "...A dagger." He gripped the bloodied blade and threw it back at its user, the weapon embedding itself against his chest with a dull thud.
No blood. The figure didn't so much as slump or take notice of the hilt jutting out of his chest.
"Did you really think that was going to work?" The voice was unmistakably feminine and the figure smiled, the expression contrasting against his empty eyes, "I would've thought you'd catch on by now."
"Sheffield, I presume." Henrietta had to resist the urge to chant a spell. This might have been her only chance to properly converse with the enigmatic Void Familiar.
"My, my. It appears my reputation has begun to precede me." The construct pulled the knife outs of its chest and played with it in its hands, "I do hope you'll forgive my rude entrance. I had come here to recover a certain belonging, but my master insisted that I drop in and give you their regards. They do so enjoy this little back and forth you both share."
Henretta looked around the grounds. No guards and the Unicorns seemed to have no issue with the intruder. She must have done something to ensure this meeting.
"Waiting for your guards, Your Majesty? I'm afraid they're preoccupied." She taunted, "Worry not, my master insured that no one died for this meeting to take place. They didn't want widespread panic to grip the capital; that would break the rules of the game."
"Enough of this charade." Raziel snarled, "Why are you attacking us? We have done nothing to you."
"Hm...? Oh, I see, you still haven't caught on." The golem raised its head up and gave a melodramatic sigh, "Well, it's not my place to explain my master's motives to you so I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed if you're seeking answers."
She laughed. Raziel felt a burst of anger run through him and Henrietta had to grab his wrist before before he could move, "Calm yourself, Sir. Raziel. She is baiting you." She stepped forward slightly, eyeing the knife it held warily, "You exposed yourself for a reason else you would have killed me and moved on. Given the way you referred to our exchange earlier as a game I can only assume your master finds amusement in this."
"Indeed, as expected of Tristain's budding new Queen." It tapped the tip of the blade against the side of its head, "My master doesn't wish to kill you, that would end our exchange far too soon. One does not win chess by killing the other player, you understand." It eyed the bloody knife, "My master was certain that attack wouldn't end your life, though I will admit I didn't expect this creature to take the blow in your stead."
"I nearly killed you once before, Witch, I shall do so again-"
"Please, Sir. Raziel." Henrietta shushed quickly, "You told me that you came here to 'recover a certain belonging'. What might that be?"
"The assassin you captured months ago." Another melodramatic sigh, "I'm sure he hasn't talked, his conditioning wouldn't allow it, but it's better to err on the side of caution. As we're speaking now you'll find that his cell is empty and that he is by now far away from the castle. Worry not, as I said before I didn't kill any of the guards. For all intents and purposes it will appear nothing more than a miraculous escape due to incompetence."
"I...see..." She wanted to say more, but she didn't trust herself to simply not attack the smug woman outright. Raziel looked back at her, teeth bared in a snarl, but she squeezed his wrist again to try and calm him.
Attacking the construct was pointless. Where it came from a dozen more would replace it.
"Well, that's all I came here for." It bowed with practiced flourish before its mouth parted in mock surprise, "Oh, I almost forgot, there was another thing my master wanted to relay." At this its smile turned manic, threatening to almost split its face in half, "You might wish to check up on the two daughters of the Void back at the academy. With luck you'll have time to say your goodbyes before they're gone."
"So what was up with you earlier?"
Tiffania jumped from the seat across her and looked away. Louise rolled her eyes and suppressed a sigh; despite all the time they had spent together the younger girl was almost painfully shy and naive, which she found both somewhat endearing and extremely frustrating. It had taken a tremendous effort on her part to have her actually reject her seemingly endless crowd of admirers rather than accepting their advances on the basis of 'politeness'.
Despite all this she was - reluctant as Louise was to admit it - a friend. At the very least she was certainly more tolerable the likes of Zerbst or the rest of her classmates, though at this point the teasing had dwindled to becoming almost nonexistent. Given the precarious position of the school and the war ending not too long ago her classmates had become more like actual students, much more insistent in studying and spending time with friends.
It didn't surprise her. Already she heard rumors of the school possibly shutting down due to the lack of trust with some parents outright claiming they'd rather send their children to the Germanian academy than place their trust in an academy that has twice over proven they couldn't protect their students.
Scarily enough she could understand where they were coming from...
"Wh-What do you mean?" Tiffania finally answered, eyes meeting hers.
"Earlier when we met up with big sis Catt and that Ciaran woman." She waited for the wince- there it was. Huh, so she wasn't mistaken, "Alright, so spill it. That woman obviously cares about you but I get the feeling that sentiment isn't wholly reciprocated, so to speak."
"I-It's not that..." She answered softly. Louise raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue, "I...I appreciate that both she and R..Raziel care so much about me, but..."
"Go ahead, it's only the two of us here." She gestured to the empty expanse of the library. Most of her classmates were still eating lunch while the two had chosen to skip it in favor of getting more progress in their practical studies, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to. I know what it's like to keep secrets even from family."
And she was proven right considering even leaving the academy was impossible unless she went with one 'guardian' and one of her sisters. She was grateful their care, but even going to the capital for shopping had to be done under vigilant watch.
"O-Okay..." She swallowed nervously and placed her arms on the table to balance herself, "L-Like I said I appreciate them placing my safety so high, but...but if she had never attacked Raziel..."
"Then none of this would have happened?" Louise finished. Tiffania nodded meekly, her lips quirking down in a pained frown, "Well...I guess I can see why you'd think like that. Raziel didn't give me much details on what happened that month but I definitely know that woman was attacking him and Agnes when we ran into them. For whatever reason Raziel seems to trust her, so..." She shrugged, "Maybe she's not so bad."
"I'm not saying she's a bad person, it's just that..." She took a deep breath, "Ms. Agnes explained the situation to me before...she told me that when she'd gotten to them Ms. Ciaran had already...stabbed Raziel." She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to banish the mental image, "Vaan also said that I shouldn't trust her since she attacked without provocation."
"I get the feeling that's not everything." Louise murmured, sweeping their books aside. At this point they weren't going to get any studying done.
"Maybe...Maybe if she never came, Robin wouldn't have changed..."
"Robin...?" She recognized the name vaguely. The name Raziel had gone under when he had lost his memories and changed. He was scarce on the details of said memory loss, only remarking that it was over and there was no need to dwell on it, "Right...I heard that you and Raziel were in a relationship." Tiffania flinched as if she'd been struck, "Oh, damn it. Sorry, I didn't mean to to be so insensitive." She forced a smile, "Just...well, he didn't explain much. I mean he said you were together but I wasn't there for it so I have no clue how it was between you."
"We were...We were happy."
Louise palmed both hands across her face and let out a muffled groan. This was awkward; what exactly was she supposed to say in this situation? She couldn't claim to be an expert on romantic interactions; her last relationship ended with her fiancee being a traitor to Tristain and getting tossed off a burning ship. Considering Raziel didn't seem to want to talk about his current relationship with the other Void Mage she had the distinct feeling their parting wasn't on the best of terms.
"Do you regret coming here?" She asked, trying to change the subject. Maybe a new topic would get the conversation flowing again...granted the topic was just as awkward, but she could take what she could get, "You seem kind of...wistful at times."
"...Somewhat." She admitted, "I miss the forest and spending time with the children. It's been so busy here that I haven't gotten the chance to visit them in the capital yet..." She chewed on her lower lip, "I...I also regret leaving Miss. Elizabeth behind."
"Elizabeth...?" That name didn't ring any bells. Must have been an old friend of hers.
"Mmm, yes." She wrung her fingers together, "My mother's guardian..."
"Your mother? Does that mean she came from that Lordran place as well?"
"I...suppose?" She nodded, clearly uncertain, "She never explained much...even when we saying goodbye." She covered her mouth with a free hand, "I still think about her at times...that maybe I should have stayed with her before she passed. It's...sort of silly dwelling on it, I know. Raziel told me when we left that she would be lucky if she survived another week given her age. She's...probably dead now."
"Don't worry, I get it." Louise did her best to give a comforting smile, "It's hard to leave loved ones. I cried like an infant when I had to go to school and leave big sis Catt behind. It faded eventually, but at the beginning those first few days were hel."
"Thanks, Louise." A soft laugh came from her friend. An improvement at the very least, "It hasn't been all bad. The lessons we have are interesting and I'm making new friends. It feels odd being around people my age, but it's fun."
"That's the spirit." She laughed in turn, "Now if only we can make big sis Catt and that Ciaran woman get along we'll be golden."
They simultaneously winced at the memory. Earlier they'd gone to big sis Catt's room to ask for help but the shouting match inside had quickly deterred them from entering. She didn't know what it was they were arguing about: From what she'd managed to hear they were over someone named 'Fenris', which Tiffania claimed was that woman's pet. A part of her doubted they would argue with such severity for a simple pet but then she remembered how invested her sister got when it came to her 'friends'.
Still, she'd never heard her sister shout before. She would've been lying if she claimed to not feel a smidgen of fear.
"Miss. Ciaran really doesn't like Miss. Cattleya." Tiffania murmured, "She called her, um... 'A pampered noble that sticks her nose in business that does not concern her'."
"Why do I get the feeling you're toning it down for my sake?" Louise rolled her eyes. She didn't like the woman and she seemed to make an effort to be actively disliked so she didn't even feel guilty for doing so. Their poor first impression didn't help matters.
"Maybe it will be good for her?" Tiffania suggested hopefully.
"Did you hear the them going at it earlier? Not likely." She snorted, "Trust me a relationship like that can only go bad, I should know. No, better they stay as far away from each other as possible before- Get down!"
Before the other girl could understand what was happening Louise grabbed her wrist and pulled, dragging her under the table. From behind her Tiffania heard the the large window shatter, glass raining down from up above.
Looking back, the young Void Mage gasped as she caught sight of the winged Gargoyle that stood at the broken remains. Across from her Louise tugged on her arm again and placed a finger against her lips, 'Stay quiet.' She mouthed, nudging her head to the door. Letting go of her hand, she got up to a slight crawl and beckoned Tiffania to follow. If they had any chance of getting out of this they needed help.
Tiffania followed after slowly, doing her best to keep her footsteps light. From behind her she could hear the sounds of something crashing and she clamped her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming. Louise looked back and mouthed something else to her, though what it was she had no idea. She watched her friend gesture to her side before taking out her wand.
Eyes widening, she nodded quickly and gripped her own foci. She had little in the way of offensive spells, but she would do her best.
Louise stopped at the table's edge, wand raised. The Gargoyle was still looking for them, slowly drawing closer to their hiding place, and the library's entrance was still a fair distance away. They could run for it and hope that it wouldn't hear them or she could cast an explosion in hopes of incapacitating it temporarily so they could escape. Either way it posed a risk.
Ah...damn it, she hoped she wouldn't regret this, "Prepare to run..." She whispered. Concentrating on the spell, she pointed her wand at the creatures chest and chanted.
The sound of the explosion was deafening. Tiffania's heart beat faster at the overpowering screech the creature gave, "RUN!" Louise yelled, rushing towards the door. Forcing herself up, she followed after the running pinkette.
She could hear the sounds of crashing behind them but didn't dare look back. Her lungs burned, her heart beating rapidly against her chest. Louise looked back occasionally to make sure she was still following; they had to get Miss. Ciaran or..or someone else to help!
Louise crashed through the exit to the open field. Besides her she could hear Tiffania panting, her hands on her knees and her posture shaky. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she took the girl's hand in hers and ran to the direction of the faculty tower, "Come on! We need to-"
Her words were drowned out by another screech. Looking up, she gaped as two of the Gargoyles bore down on them, "Explos- Ahh!" She screamed in pain, hands nearly dropping her wand altogether, as their clawed fingers scratched against her shoulder. Next to her she could barely make out Tiffania struggling fruitlessly as well as the creature pulled her into a crushing hold.
"Let go of me! Let go you piece of shit!" She backed away and kicked at its legs, but it ignored her attacks. Letting loose another screech, it pulled her into a similarly crushing embrace and flew.
She continued her struggles even as the construct flew ever higher. Legs swinging frantically, she looked past the stone construct and let loose a frustrated scream: Perfect, Tiffania had fainted! That was just what she needed! Her struggles renewing, she managed to pull her arm free and let out a hiss of pain. The injuries on her shoulder flared and she had to focus to keep her grip stable.
"Tiffania, wake up!" No response, "Exp..." She stopped. The second she cast a spell the constructs would notice, and even then they could crack their head open on impact with the ground, "Damn it all..." She looked between the Gargoyle carrying Tiffania and her own. One spell, and she couldn't cast it on both of them.
Taking a deep breath, Louise raised her wand and began to cast.
Tiffania awoke to searing pain across her head.
The half-Elf's eyes shot open in shock, mouth parting in a pained scream. Blinking rapidly, she tried to dispel the dark spots in her vision. The back of her head burned and it was difficult to breath; even blinking sent waves of pain through her head.
"A-Ah..." She swallowed desperately and looked around in a panic. Green grass with a gray tower in the distance, so she was still in the academy. She remembered losing consciousness when she'd been snatched by that Golem and then...then she was here. Looking around again, she called for her absent friend, "L-Louise...?" Her voice was faint. She took another gasping breath.
Louise wasn't here, she had to find her-
...
She couldn't feel her legs.
Sitting up in a rush, she looked down at her lower body: No noticeable injuries of any kind, and there wasn't even any pain...there wasn't anything she could feel, "No, no, no..." She tried once more to stand, but her legs didn't respond. This wasn't...This wasn't happening!
She turned around and pushed against the ground, trying to force herself up. The sinking feeling in her stomach worsened as he head slowly raised - This was...wrong. She was attempting to stand, she knew that, but it was as if she was being torn apart; her arms pushing herself up while her legs remained unresponsive, dragging her down to the hard dirt.
"Ah..." Her arms shook from the heavy weight and she fell, face smacking against the grass as her body collapsed. Her vision swam, her consciousness fading with every shallow breath she took.
A screech from above drew her attention. Looking up, her breath quickened as she caught sight of the Gargoyle once more bearing down on her. Twisting her upper body, her hands grabbed at the ground to try and drag herself forward. It was pointless, she knew that; the best she could do was crawl and it wouldn't take long before it caught her once more.
Ceasing her struggles, she raised both arms and closed her eyes in meager defense and waited for the inevitable.
Seconds passed. Through the darkness she heard another screech along with the sound of something hitting against stone. Cracking one eye open, she gasped at the sight of the construct struggling to keep itself upright as Ciaran clambered on its back.
"M-Miss. Ciaran...!"
The assassin didn't respond to her call, her attention focused on the large golem. She watched as her guardian stabbed both of her daggers into its head, the gargoyle giving another desperate screech before it quickly grew still. Ciaran pried the daggers off the its stony flesh and took another look around the area, "...There does not appear to be any more for now..."
"M-"
"Oh thank God, you're alright!" Frantic footsteps came from her side, a hand quickly pulling her up. Cattleya looked down at the half-Elven girl and gave a relieved sigh, "When that woman attacked us she said you were in danger. Are you-"
"Are you alright, Princess Tiffania?" Ciaran knelt in front of her. Tiffania saw the golden flecks of blood dripping down her cheeks and stomach; injuries? Looking to the side she could make out a nasty gash on Cattleya's left arm, crimson blood trailing across the length of her white blouse. They were both attacked as well...
"I-I can't move my legs..."
"We...We will heal you." The uncertainty in her voice was clear. She appreciated the attempt at comfort regardless.
"Where's little Louise?" Cattleya asked, looking around the field frantically, "I thought she would be with you."
"I-I don't know..." Tiffania bit her lower lip. She couldn't bear to look at her, "W-We were together when we left the library, but I fainted when that...that thing tried to take me. When I woke up I was alone..."
"That's..." Cattleya's eyes widened, the implications finally sinking in. Shaking her head forcefully, she stood up and called for her sister, "L-Louise! Louise, where are you!?"
No answer. Ciaran looked down at her ward, the pain in her chest worsening as she saw the tears escaping her eyes. The youngest Valliere had been taken, that much was clear. Staying here was pointless; they needed to go somewhere more defensible before more constructs were sent, "Your sister is no longer here." She stood up and took Tiffania in her arms, lifting her up gently, "We cannot stay here."
Cattleya ignored her, "Louise, please! Just say something if you're here!" Silence again. She tried to call out again before Ciaran once more.
"...She is gone-"
"Shut up!" She shook her off and glared at the golden eyed assassin, "It's easy for you to be so calm, isn't it!? You're not the one who just had her sister...her sister..."
"No, but if we stay here then Princess Tiffania could be taken as well." She adjusted the young girl's place in her arms, "I am leaving. Stay here if you wish, but I cannot place her at further risk...I am sorry."
Cattleya turned and continued her futile calls. With a soft breath, she pressed Tiffania closer to her and left. The Valliere girl was gone, but Princess Tiffania need not share her fate.
That's done. I wanted Raziel and Henrietta to get along better like the other two, but that scene pretty much wrote itself so they were slightly hostile all throughout. They did manage to calm down by the end, though. Anyway, I was supposed to make a segment for Ciaran and Cattleya where they both get attacked by the assassins but I decided to save their interactions for another chapter.
You didn't miss much; it's pretty much a retread of the Raziel and Henrietta scene with Sheffield dropping in to taunt them and Ciaran pushing Cattleya out of the way so she doesn't get fatally stabbed. Sheffield gives the same warning then we go jump to the Louise and Tiffania moment.
It took me a while to decide who between Tiffania and Louise would get taken. Both have great plot potential and adversely affect whoever's left behind, but both friends I asked voted for Louise to be the one kidnapped. Whoever gets taken is also the one who interacts with Joseph, which I can see being interesting in both scenarios whether it be with the innocent Tiffania to the more jaded Louise. If you guys think the other should have been the one taken then drop a comment; I was honestly torn even when writing the scene.
Again, if you have a Spacebattles account then hop on over to the thread :) I'm definitely interested in talking with some of the people here about their comments/concerns about the story.
Question and answer time:
Warden of Lore - It's unlikely Nadalia would be an ally. While her kingdom being a hellhole isn't her direct fault, she came there fully intending to do the same thing as Nashandra and Elana. She might have turned like Alsanna did given the chance, but given her insanity and obsession I rather doubt it.
SirSquirtle - That's a question I've seen repeat so at this point I'm just gonna be blunt - No, and I don't plan for him to. He doesn't need it: At this point he's capable of using Abyss magic, dark Pyromancy and using the Dark Hand as a sort of claw. It's pointless to have him learn a new art only for him not use it. I already made that mistake with the Miracles, which Julio is shown using now.
Natsirt2610 - I'd say Dark Souls I, that's where I started, Anyway, not so much hype: While I will check it out for the lore the game itself is pretty much retreading the same steps that started in Demons Souls. While the boss fights are amazing, the gameplay is almost virtually unchanged and I'm genuinely confused as to how FROM Software gets away with this while companies like Ubisoft get flack for it. I guess so long as it's teeth-gnashingly difficult and has new bosses people ignore that it's the same game from before.
Roku - Most of Tabitha's development came from Season 3 onwards and her own side-novels. As for Henrietta...while she's certainly emotionally stable she's definitely showing signs of cracking from the strain of her responsibilities.
Abyss Watchers - We'll see where it goes. Some of the lore is definitely fascinating, but I can't put it in if it contradicts the planned story.
UseFistNotMouth - How? Tabitha didn't enslave, abuse or force him into anything; everything he did in that chapter he did of his own free will. Also, these one word conversations are difficult to respond to so this'll probably be the last answer I give. Sorry.
Xxampp - Whether Raziel is a mask or not is a pretty long argument. Since I'm going to be repeating it for Kishinokurobi here's a part of the argument I sent him: Raziel and the Shards share the same soul, hence why killing it isn't feasible. The Shard's soul dies and Raziel, lacking a soul with it gone, passes with it. It's not like he doesn't benefit either: Chester outright states the only reason he never Hollowed or went insane in the Kiln is because the Shards kept the Raziel personality tethered via it's soul. So to reiterate the only feasible way to beat it and no longer be a 'mask is to destroy his own soul, which as you can expect would leave a ton of issues.
Kishinokurobi (my new debate buddy :P ) - I sent it via PM cause it was long and bloating up the AN. You can respond in the reviews or thread or wherever.
Guest - Raziel's personality wasn't finalized yet. As I said on the Spacebattles thread the first eight chapters were definitely amateur hour and it's only at chapter nine to eleven that I finally managed to get a hang for writing this kind of story.
Codyman45 - Dark Souls 3 lore is a definite maybe. While I find some parts of it interesting I need to check over it to see if it doesn't contradict anything I have planned.