Late Merry Christmas to anyone still reading this (I still get feedback and faves/follows, so I assume there are still some of you). Big gap again, huh? Well, I promised my friend - he knows who he is - that I'd post an update, so here it is. Not much action here, but hopefully people find some fun here.
Anyway, before I make a new update I'll try to fix the first cringe as fuck chapters to remove the game mechanics and make Raziel less of a colossal moron. Wish me luck...
The next two days were spent in refreshing calm. A part of Louise expected for the peace not to last, that perhaps the academy would come under assault once more or something equally disastrous would come to pass. It hardly would've been the most surprising turn of events given recent months. But no, so far the peace had persisted. It scared her, somewhat. It'd been months since there wasn't some looming threat over their shoulders, no monster - she refused to call the Mad King a man - trying to take everything from them.
What was she supposed to do now?
The first thing Louise woke up to was Raziel's sleeping face looking up at the ceiling. The young mage smiled softly and deepened the impromptu hug they'd shared. Sometimes she still couldn't believe he was back. The first night they spent together she was afraid that it would just be another dream, a hallucination conjured by her desperate mind to try and keep from going insane. It got easier after that.
She drifted in and out of sleep for two more hours before Raziel finally moved, "Louise," he whispered. She made a noise of annoyance and he tapped her shoulder, "Louise, up. You have classes."
"Ugh...fine." She untangled herself from him and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing her eyes. She didn't much see the point of classes now, "What are you gonna do?"
"I do not know. Perhaps I will visit Tiffania...assuming Ciaran is not too disgusted by my presence." Louise pursed her lips. Tiffania'd been happy enough to find out he was alive; not so much her guardian. No, she made it abundantly clear that she was very disappointed he was still alive.
"Just ignore her. She's a bitch."
"...Perhaps we need to do something about your new penchant for foul language," Raziel smiled wryly as Louise's cheeks heated up. The small, rigid part of her still hated the fact that she was so improper now, and yet everything else didn't care. She'd lied to her parents, gone to war, killed scores of men and seen trauma that should've broken her a hundred times over. What was a little cursing compared to that?
"Shut up." She scoffed, "Have fun visiting your ex lover."
"Your sharp tongue hasn't dulled, at least." He stood and grabbed Derflinger from the nearby wall, "See you later."
Hours later Louise found herself looking down at her textbook with a frown. Classes felt empty, and it wasn't just because many of the parents had lost whatever leftover scraps of trust they had in the academy after the constant attacks. Her eyes scanned the room and her frown deepened at just how empty it all was. At least half the seats were unused and the half that did remain paid no attention to Professor Chevreuse in favor of chatting among themselves.
Louise sighed. The empty seats were an all too painful reminder of her own circumstances. After she'd returned both her mother and father made all too clear their thoughts on her continued attendance of the academy. If they had their way she would've been dragged back home and confined to her room under lock and key with no one but them and select tutors having access to her. She couldn't blame them for their view - Brimir knew she'd brushed with death so many times that she might've called it friend.
She snapped the book shut and waited for class to end. She wasn't going to learn anything today. Louise walked out of the room, ignoring everyone around her. It wasn't like they had anything to say to her regardless-
"Louise."
She looked back and caught Tabitha's passive gaze. "Tabitha." Louise nodded. She hadn't lied back then; she really did sympathize with her circumstances. However, a part of her found it much harder to forgive. And besides, it wasn't as if they were friends, "Going back to the dorms?"
"Going to town. The Queen wishes to discuss something," she said, keeping pace beside her.
"Oh..." Louise looked ahead, her expression passive. Even now the princess refused to involve her in whatever it was she did. It frustrated her to no end, feeling so useless again. Only difference was no one called her Zero to her face now, "Well...good luck with that, I guess."
"You have not told anyone else?"
"What, about your new gifts?" Tabitha nodded, as if it was something she actually had to verify. Louise rolled her eyes, "No. I didn't tell anyone about Tiffania and I see no reason to expose you either." No point in placing a target over themselves. Three Void Mages in one school while the fourth, Julio's mysterious master, was in Romalia. Not so long ago she would've been in awe at the knowledge that all four Void Mages had surfaced. Not she just wondered who or what else would come for them next.
"I see." She tightened her grip on her staff, "Be careful."
"Sure." Louise waved her away and made her way back to the dormitory. She wasn't feeling very hungry, "Wonder what Big Sis Catt's doing..." She stopped at her floor and frowned. She hadn't talked much to family in recent days - hadn't even said goodbye to honored sister Eleanor when she returned home. They all wanted her to go back home; even big sis Catt, though she at least wasn't as forceful about it.
Louise opened the door and stopped when she saw that her sister very much wasn't alone, "L-Louise!" Cattleya jumped up in her seat and smiled, the gesture obviously forced. At her side sat Raziel, who drank his tea unpertrubed, "I...I wasn't expecting to see you here!"
"Yes...I thought your invitation would still be open." She narrowed her eyes, "Why...Why is Raziel here?"
"She invited me for tea. Tiffania was...unavailable." He set the cup down, "Is something wrong, Louise?"
"No, just...didn't expect you." She closed the door behind her and let out a soft breath. Why was she being so paranoid? Her sister was kind, of course she'd invite Raziel over. She'd probably try to befriend that harpy Ciaran if she could, "Sorry. I've had a long day and classes haven't been going that well."
"I am surprised the academy remains open considering recent events," Raziel said.
"The headmaster's hoping that with the source of the attacks dealt with things will get better," Cattleya stood and began to prepare more tea as Louise sat, "I do hope this place remains open, despite everything. Being a teacher has been such an interesting experience." Louise rolled her eyes. More than a few of the male professors had made attempts at courting her. Surely you're of age to be looking for a husband, Professor Kaita said once. The thought of being related to him by marriage was enough to make her vomit.
Louise took a sip of the tea and sighed in relief. Big sis Catt always made the best blends, "Raziel, did you talk to...that woman? The Daughter of Chaos? You mentioned that name before..."
"Sheffield's sister, you mean." He looked down at his cup of tea and pursed his lips, "No, I have not."
"I...would've thought you might find it relieving to find another survivor from where you came," Louise said slowly.
"Like Ciaran, you mean." He shook his head, "We have little to talk about. The only Sister of Chaos I had pleasant conversation with was Quelana. The Fair Lady was too...infirm to converse."
"She seems pleasant," big sis Catt said, "Reluctant to open up, as expected, but she was very kind and polite. After everything she'd been through I expected worse."
"She was helping Mr. Colbert out in class earlier." And many of her male classmates practically had their tongues lolling out like dogs. Not that she couldn't understand why. Without the blood, grime and wounds she definitely had an almost ethereal beauty about her that would put many other noble ladies to shame. Professor Colbert seemed interested, at any rate.
"Better than being under her sister's care, I suppose," Raziel muttered.
"Did you...know her?" Louise asked hesitantly.
"Yes." He didn't say anything else. Louise took another awkward sip of her tea. She'd known him long enough to figure out that there was a history there that he didn't want to dig up again. Even now after everything they'd been through there were things he refused to talk about it. Once he'd told her it was because there was no need to dig into old wounds, but she wondered at times if he simply didn't think she could understand what he'd been through.
The rest of the hour was spent in mindless conversation with her older sister leading the way and for a brief time she forgot about everything: Tiffania's secret that would get them all burned at the stake if she were ever outed, the school likely closing down, her parents wanting her kept locked up in a gilded cage, Princess Henrietta's continuing troubles...
Everything. It all felt so distant.
She was into her third cup by the time she noticed it, "I'll never understand why you're so resistant to getting some proper clothes," big sis Catt said exasperatedly to Raziel. He shrugged halfheartedly and she could've sworn he actually smiled back at her, "It wouldn't be too much trouble to go to town and buy something else. Surely it'd be better than wearing the same clothes day to day?"
"Louise does it and you do not complain of her fashions."
"She's wearing a uniform, it's different. Come on, Razi."
Louise nearly choked on her tea. Razi? The last person who'd called him that was Kirche, and the context was definitely not something she wanted to think about.
"I do not see the point, Catt." Raziel rolled his eyes. Louise again tried not to choke at the sudden term of endearment(?). Raziel didn't do nicknames, period. He didn't even do contractions - and Brimir knew she'd tried to fix that more than once, "Clothes are meant to be functional and covering, nothing else. If circumstances called for it I would wear a dress if it afforded enough protection."
"A dress...huh, now there's a thought." She put a hand on her chin and smiled teasingly. Raziel gave her a dry, unamused look, "Your figure's definitely slight enough for it, and your skin-"
"Okay, what the hel is going on?" Louise interrupted, looking more than a little ill, "Razi? Catt? Dresses? Since when did you two get so close?"
Big sis Catt's eyes widened for the briefest of moments, so quick that Louise thought that she might've imagined it. Raziel answered first, "It was after you were taken. Catt...leya was in grief and she needed someone to talk to."
"Really?" Louise raised an eyebrow. Why did she not believe that?
"Well...no exactly," big sis Catt replied, "We've actually been conversing shortly after I arrived at the academy. The bonfire, you see. It gave us something in common to talk about." Louise pursed her lips. Well, that did sound far more plausible for how they were acting, "We didn't tell anyone because we didn't want Eleanor to throw a fit. She and Razi didn't exactly get along."
"That, I definitely remember." Louise sighed. Why was she being so paranoid? If she couldn't trust Raziel and Cattleya then there weren't much others she could trust, "I'm sorry. It's just been...hard. I keep expecting something to take Raziel away or...or..."
She couldn't continue. Cattleya stood and pulled her into an embrace, which Louise immediately reciprocated. Her hugs always made her feel better. Off to the side, Raziel looked down at his teacup with a somber expression and held onto the handkerchief on his right wrist.
"I did not think you were serious about shopping for clothes."
Cattleya looked back at him and hummed, mouth still tilted upwards in an easy smile. It didn't look fake anymore, "Well, it wasn't like I was wrong. You do wear the same clothes every day." Raziel looked down at the sleeves of the shirt self-consciously. It was the same that most commoners would wear and helped him blend in with the workers of the academy despite his...current appearance.
"What is wrong with my attire? Does it look displeasing?"
"No, no! Nothing like that!" Cattleya said quickly. She still found it hard to converse with him at times. His words often lacked emotion and his body language was still muted; and yet Louise seemed to understand him like it was second nature to her. Cattleya felt somewhat jealous of her sister in that regard, "I just think it'd be nice to change things around every now and then."
"I suppose..."
Cattleya sighed, "If you really don't want to then we don't have to do that. Truth be told I just wanted an excuse to go to town."
"It is not that I am wholly against it, but rather that..." He mimicked a cough, "Clothes often get damaged when I wear them given the situations I am often placed in. I do not wish to waste your time and money on something that would most likely be destroyed in a few weeks time, if that."
"That's what you're worried about?" She let out a relieved breath, "I'm not asking you to wear it all the time, but aren't you at least curious about it? You wore a suit pretty well during the Ball of Sleipnir."
"I also did not appear to be adolescent at that time..." he muttered, more than a little bitter.
"Clothes make the man, or so father would say. Trying on a different style would be nice, at least." She looked over the shops and lingered on a specific sign, "If not clothes then maybe some armor? I don't know much in combat, but wouldn't some leather be helpful, even if it can't stop a flintlock or musket?"
"The things we end up in conflict with are a fair bit more dangerous than a man with a firearm. Armor would do nothing." At that point Derflinger would've interjected with some dry quip, but he'd left him back at the academy. He didn't need his constant taunts about this being a date, "I...appreciate the thought, however. We can buy the clothes you wish- on the condition that you were not serious about placing me in a dress."
"Oh, and here I was already-"
"Goodbye."
He turned around and began walking away before she quickly put a hand on his shoulder, "I was kidding, I was kidding!" She laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Years ago the thought of going out for a shopping trip with no one but another individual for company would've been alien. There were too many risks, her parents would say. What if she had an attack at the middle of nowhere or people saw what she hid underneath the heavy cloth?
"It better have been a jest." He turned and started walking alongside her again.
"To be fair, you were the one who said you'd wear a dress earlier. One would think you already did it." She smiled down at him and blinked at the sudden hints of redness on his cheeks, "...Wait, did you really-"
"The dress was blessed with ancient magic and it was stronger and lighter than the plate mail I wore," he said, still stubbornly faced ahead. At this point Cattleya was openly gaping, "...Do not look at me like that. It was useful."
"Oh my God..." Cattleya covered her mouth with both hands, but the snickers still managed to escape. Raziel turned and glared at her, which was a whole lot less intimidating than he intended given the red still on his face, "Just...what kind of dress was it? And did you look like you do now?"
"I am not talking about this."
He walked ahead of her and she chased after, badgering him for details all the while. Anyone who looked at them would've considered it an odd sight - a commoner with features reminiscent of a noble being chatted to by a well-of lady of good birth like nothing was wrong. Both them ignored the occasional look and soon people returned to their own affairs.
Eventually Cattleya managed to lead (drag) him to a nearby tailor, "Hmm, how about this?" She raised a red, embroidered shirt and placed it in front of him, "It's silk, but the price isn't too expensive. We could find some trousers and boots to go with it, too."
"Could we find something a bit more loose? And...a different color."
"And you said you weren't picky..."
He didn't know how long they spent in that shop, and that alone was enough to give him pause. Time passing by in a blur wasn't rare, but usually it was deliberate when he tried to empty his mind. What was that saying about time flying?
They'd gotten through another couple set of outfits when Catt suddenly spoke up, "Why did we lie to Louise?" His head snapped to hers. She was still looking at a new blouse (they'd decided buying clothes for both of them was most expedient).
"Um...what?"
"Earlier, when she asked us about our 'sudden' closeness." She put the blouse down and picked up another, darker shade without missing a beat, "I'll admit I was surprised when she asked us, but I didn't think we'd keep our...correspondence as a secret."
"What did you expect?" He sighed, "We came together due to...unfavorable circumstances." Mutual grief out of the loss of a sister and closer friend, "I highly doubt she would have appreciated knowing we thought of her as we corresponded."
Her hold on the blouse faltered and it fell to the ground. She coughed, her face flushed, "Yes, well...not when you put it that way," She bent down and picked it up unsteadily, "Still, don't you think we should tell her if we plan to continue?"
"I suppose, if it came to that."
Her smile was all too brief and she quickly caught the meaning of his words, "You don't mean we're going to tell her, do you?" He didn't say anything, but it was all too clear, "Wow...and I thought breaking off the engagement with former Viscount Wardes was difficult."
"Given his betrayal, one would think it was a sign of good fortune."
"That's not the point."
She set the clothes down and walked out. Raziel quickly paid the fees for the clothes and followed her out. He knew that her reaction wouldn't be positive, but he expected it to be nothing more than a brief acknowledgement, "Cattleya..." He adjusted the bag of clothes and walked behind her, keeping a respectful distance, "I...feel as if I have caused you offense."
"Oh, of course not," she said, her voice dripping to the same sickly sweet tone she had when they first met, "What would make you think that?"
She walked to a nearby bench and sat down. Raziel set the bags down and awkwardly sat next to her, again making sure there was a respectable distance between them, "Louise is back," he said eventually. Despite the presence of people around them the atmosphere was stifling, "Our previous relations were based out of mutual grief. It is hardly the basis of anything enduring."
"I know that." She let out a frustrated breath and pressed her hands together, "It's not your fault, despite how I'm acting. I apologize, it's been years since I've been in..." she trailed off. He didn't blame her; how could one describe their previous correspondence? "With Wardes it was nothing more than a marriage of convenience. I knew - falsely - that he was a man of duty and honor, nothing more."
"I...heard about your infatuation with Daphne. She was the first love you mentioned months ago."
"She told you that too, hm?" Her smile turned somber. It was better than being fake, "Yes, I had feelings for her. No one else knew, not even mother and father. I'd dread to think of how they'd take it. I was desperate for affection back then. Louise wasn't allowed to visit me much - mother and father were afraid of her catching my sickness - and I'd never made friends with anyone else in the property prior. Daphne visited me a lot in that time and it only deepened my feelings."
"You mentioned that you loved her even while you were engaged to Wardes."
"Perhaps, or perhaps I simply didn't love Wardes and projected. I was a fickle teenager." She laughed under her breath, "But perhaps I'm not much better now. I don't even know how to describe what we did aside from the physical."
"Perhaps that was all it was?"
"I suppose, but then I wouldn't be so upset, would I?" she asked back softly. Raziel didn't answer. It was quite possible she would have, but he didn't know. He was hardly well versed on such matters, "I do know that I was upset when I caught your meaning. Is that not enough?"
"For what?" he asked, voice taking a harder edge, "What is this, Cattleya? Do we just...continue to have our 'correspondence' with increasingly flimsy justifications? If that is what you wish then there are easier ways to find release-"
Whatever else happened, he definitely didn't expect her to suddenly flick him in the forehead. Raziel rubbed where she hit and gave her a look, more surprised than pained, "What is with you? Either you're so unemotional that it's like talking to a golem or you're so angry it's like talking to Eleanor; neither of which are all that appealing, if I'm being honest."
"That is how I am-"
"No, that's how you're making yourself appear." She huffed and sat closer to him, "You complained before about me putting on painted masks, but what about you? You're more than the golem you try so hard to portray yourself as. If nothing else I thought we could be honest with each other."
"It is...difficult," he said eventually, the words coming out painfully slow, "The circumstances we find ourselves in means it is easier to put distance to others."
It made it easier when he had to say goodbye as well. Siesta he'd left in Albion, Tiffania had Ciaran looking over her shoulder at all times and Louise...
"I am dying."
It took him a moment to realize he'd said that out loud. Cattleya's eyes widened briefly and her expression became troubled soon after, "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. I am dying." He shook his left hand and the chain rattled softly, "Have been since before Louise and I left for Albion. My recovery at Tiffania's brought me a temporary respite, nothing more. Derflinger has given me a year, at most," Not fighting could've saved his life. Doing that was as likely as staying with Tiffania under the guise of that innocent child, "That makes things simpler, does it not?"
"How so?" She looked back defiantly.
"Why commit to a dead man?"
"Why commit to a someone who's died once already?" she asked back, "You mentioned before that you received a respite. Couldn't the same thing come to pass."
"You are asking for a miracle."
"Why not? It happened once already." She took his right hand in her left, "I was supposed to die too. Two more years, the healers gave me. My condition was getting worse and yet here I am, healthy enough to walk around town without worrying about collapsing."
"That is different."
"Why? We were both told we had no chance to a life and yet we were both given extensions. You - all of us - have survived events that should've left us dead and yet here we remain. You have one year, why not try and search for something instead of using it as a reason?"
"Yes, I will pray to Brimir and he will come down from the heavens to save me," he muttered sarcastically. He found her stubborn idealism both frustrating and oddly relieving. It was different from the naivete he'd seen far too much of in recent days.
"You're annoying sometimes, you know that?"
"I am aware." Despite the situation he found himself smiling, however wryly. She seemed to bring that out in him; he still remembered their chat at the forest and how she'd invited him to dance in the dining hall with the Alviss, "Derflinger has suggested I ask Alsanna or the river spirit when I find the chance to return Andvari's ring. What better chance for salvation than someone who has animated life already, he said."
"See? It's not hopeless."
"He merely suggested it. I doubt either will be able to do anything." He breathed out softly, "Regardless, it does not solve our issues. Do you simply wish to continue our correspondence?"
"I wouldn't be averse to it, no, but I also wouldn't be averse to more than that."
"Yes, because I want that witch Eleanor to lynch me, followed quickly by your mother and father and Louise after. Just because I am dying does not mean I am eager to dig myself into the grave, Catt."
"They wouldn't do that..." He gave her a flat look, "Okay, perhaps Eleanor, mother and father, but Louise definitely wouldn't! She loves you!"
"As a friend. I doubt she will be amused with me corresponding with her beloved older sister."
"Well...she'd definitely be surprised, but I'm sure she'd approve."
"Of us sleeping together out of mutual grief?"
She slapped his shoulder, "No, you- ugh, you make me want to pull my hair out sometimes." She took a deep breath to compose herself. Raziel refrained from telling her that she reminded him of Louise in that exact moment, "Look, I'm bad at this, I'll admit it, but I do...wish to try and see where this goes. We were able to talk to one another before Louise went missing and, much as you might find it hard to believe, I liked our chats."
"How flattering..." He paused, "I enjoyed our meetings as well. You were...annoying, at first, but I found it easy to be relaxed around you despite our differences."
"Wow...you sounded like it physically pained you to pay me a compliment."
"What? I did not-"
"I'm kidding." She giggled and leaned back on the seat, staring up at the sky, "Really, though, thank you. If it weren't for you I'd still be stuck in my room counting the days between treatments."
"It was no trouble..."
They stayed in companionable silence for a while after that. Raziel didn't feel too hopeful - their circumstances were different from one another - but her faith brought a sense of calm he hadn't felt in recent days. Alsanna tried, but her ramblings on the nature of Humanity would hardly be called lullabies.
"Hey..." He gave her a sideways look, "You mentioned some ring before."
"Yes, Andvari's ring." He pulled the box from his pocket and flipped it open. That depraved scientist had used to create those...things, trying to find the secret of immortality. Wales' body profaned by a malevolent spirit and all those who suffered madness and fates worse than death, all for this one thing. If it were up to him he would've destroyed it and buried any remnants that remained.
"How'd you get involved with that?"
"A love potion...long story." He waved away her curious look and pocketed the box again. Being in love with Louise...what a silly thought.
"You're definitely telling me that story soon." Catt hummed, "Hmm, when did this spirit want it back?"
"She did not say. Time is immaterial to it, or so it said."
She hummed again and suddenly stood. Raziel didn't get a chance to ask before she suddenly tugged him up, "We're going then."
"What?"
"To this spirit. Let's go." She started walking towards the stables. Raziel grabbed the bags of clothes and followed after her, "How many days journey is it by horse?"
"A day or two, but-"
"Good, then it shouldn't take too long. We can buy some supplies too-"
"Wait." He grabbed her right arm with his free hand, "Are you honestly suggesting we make this trip on our own? I do not even have Derflinger with me."
"We can buy a sword. It'll probably be cheaper than those clothes." She grinned back. It made her appear younger than her 24 years, "Besides, being at the academy's become a bit stifling. We won't have classes over the weekend, so why not? I'll send a letter to Louise to tell her where we're going. If all goes well we'll be back in two days, four max. Easy."
"Easy, you say..." He sighed. For a woman who spent ten years of her life confined she could be very insistent, "Fine. I still remember the way and there's a blacksmith around here with cheap blades. Do not blame me if we get waylaid by bandits."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you can protect me." She waved off his halfhearted glare and laughed, open and loud. This was going to be an interesting trip.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah." Karin adjusted her uniform one last time and clipped her rapier to the belt. Three days. Three days they stayed at the inn and it was all her fault. They were only supposed to stay for one, but again her nerves got the better of her. With a roof over their heads - shabby as it was - and no need to walk from place to place, her thoughts began to fester and it became harder to ignore the facts.
Even if she denied they were in the future, so what? Regardless of where and when 'here' was it definitely wasn't home from either of them. They turn up at the castle and regardless if they got turned away from the gate or, through some small miracle, allowed to see this Queen Henrietta, it didn't matter; neither option would allow them a solution to their current problem.
Well, her current problem. Estelle seemed to find no issue being here.
They gave each other a nod and descended the attic steps. Despite the load of patrons lightening up they both remained there. Karin didn't mind too much. It wasn't the best of places, but it was actually familiar to the flat she and Centurion - her future husband, the traitorous part of her mind whispered - had shared. That and it was cheaper. Jessica didn't mind them staying too much so long as they paid and kept quiet.
The sun was still high up, which meant the place was practically empty. The employees lounged around the tables wearing (thankfully) far more modest attire while Jessica chatted with that Siesta woman about something, "Oh, hey! Finally taking off?" Jessica asked when she saw them.
"With luck, yes." Karin nodded. She didn't want to think of the alternative.
"Right. See ya around then."
The town was in full bustle. Estelle looked around with her expected wonder while Karin took note of the differences and similarities from home. Different shops, new ones, and some places that had closed. She noted with no small amount of disappointment that her favorite book shop had been replaced by one selling tonics. Useful, but disappointing regardless.
"I never saw the capital before. It was one of the first things to fall." Estelle mumbled. She'd been a tad more open ever since the talk at the Valliere estate. She probably found kindred spirit in her - two strangers that didn't belong. Still didn't take her hood off, though, "The biggest city, so of course the Corrupted would come after it first. It was why most survivors stuck to roaming bands. Harder to track."
"We haven't run into any more of those monsters," Karin said idly.
"Small fortunes. Let's hope it lasts."
By the time they got to the gate whatever shred of confidence Karin possessed had left her. Already she wanted to return to the inn and dump her head under a pillow to try and forget her problems.
The sudden tap at her shoulder took the choice out of her hands.
She turned around and came face to face with Daphne and Amethyst, their features shaded by the thick hoods of their cloaks. The latter had a slight smile on her face while the former was in complete, flabbergasted disbelief, "Karin...?" Daphne asked softly.
"Uh...yeah, it's me-"
Her reply was cut off by the Vampire's sudden embrace, "Amethyst told me about what happened, but I didn't think..." She shook her head, tickling Karin's cheeks with her hair, "It's really you, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's me." Karin let go of her somewhat reluctantly and gestured to Estelle, "This is is my friend Estelle. We've...well, it's a long story."
"You're here to see the queen, aren't you?" Karin nodded. It was hardly a secret, she supposed, "Come on then, follow us. She's waiting in her chambers for you two."
"What? How did she-"
"Karin, the other one, saw you two leave. You weren't exactly subtle, though we nearly didn't catch your friend sneaking around." Amethyst threw Estelle an amused look, which the younger girl responded to by looking away, "Eleanor wanted to bring you two back, but Karin decided that letting you find out the truth for yourself would be more effective now that you proved that you weren't willing to sit still."
"She could've led with that..." Karin muttered.
"She was was just as surprised as you two were; she just didn't show it." She nudged her head, "Come on, we don't want to waste time."
The halls looked almost the same, which brought her a small amount of relief. Some new paintings here and there, but so far it was the most recognizable thing in this...this time, "She's through here." Daphne gestured to the door. Princess Marianne's room, or at least it should've been. Now it belonged to her daughter(?), "We can't go with you. Queen Henrietta made it clear she wanted to see you two alone."
"Wh-What?" Karin suddenly felt her confidence waning again, "But-"
"It'll be fine. She doesn't bite." Karin almost rolled her eyes at the pun. Amethyst had the worst sense of humor.
The two left as quickly as they came, leaving her and Estelle alone. She shared another look with the other girl and knocked on the door, "Come in." She didn't recognize the voice. Taking a deep breath, Karin grabbed the knob and pushed.
The place was barren; that was the first thing she noticed. Apart from a shabby bed and wardrobe on the right side, a pedestal containing a swan to the left and a desk at the center the room was distressingly empty. The room's only occupant was both familiar and strange. She definitely saw Princess Marianne's features on the woman sitting behind the desk, but in many ways she was all too different: her hair was cut short (though no less graceful), her dress was somewhat less opulent and her eyes...
Her eyes were what drew Karin the most. The same shade of blue as Princess Marianne, but with an undeniable harshness underneath. It was the same eyes Centurion sported when he wasn't under the influence of the drink.
"You're Karin Desiree de Maillart, correct?" Her voice was soft. It matched her features well, but it wasn't what Karin expected.
"Yes..." She stood in front of the desk at a respectable distance, Estelle next to her.
"Hmm..." She folded her hands on the desk, "And why did you come here?"
"I..." Why did she come here? Back when she'd first woken up in that Brimir forsaken forest she simply wanted to return to the capital to explain her sudden absence. After that she wanted an explanation on where (when) the hel they were. At the end of it she simply wanted to see Princess Marianne and King Philip III to try and convince herself that things could go back to normal.
"Karin..." Estelle muttered next to her.
"I don't know," she said eventually, "I...I suppose I thought I could find answers here, but..."
"Not exactly what you were hoping for?" The queen's smile was sympathetic, "I know the feeling."
"Princess Marianne's your mother?" Karin asked in lieu of anything else to say.
"Yes. The former queen before I took her place months ago." There was something wistful in her voice, "She's here now in her room, but I'd rather if we didn't involve her in this. She doesn't involve herself in affairs, political or otherwise."
Karin's hands balled into tight fists. Another reminder of just how wrong things went. She remembered the princess confessing her hopes of change and reform, of refusing to let nobles like Eustace consolidate power for the sake of their own greed and asking for Karin's aid in her endeavors. Finding out that they utterly failed - or didn't even try - was a bitter pill to swallow.
"I understand."
"However, I might still have answers," Karin's eyes widened, "There's a reason I wasn't all that surprised by your appearances."
"Yes, I was wondering about that..."
"To be perfectly honest, you aren't the most outlandish thing I've had to deal with these past few months. Not by a longshot." Her smile faded away, "Neither of you two belong here, correct?" They both nodded, "Hmm, then it's worse than I thought." She let out a fatigued breath, "If time is breaking down then we're closer to the end than when we first realized."
"What are you talking about?"
"A coming disaster that concerns all of us," she said grimly, "I'll be frank with you two. Something's coming, and if we don't stop it then returning to your homes will be the least of your worries."
"What is it?" Karin snapped.
"The end of the world." Karin looked at her in complete disbelief. Queen Henrietta just laughed under her breath, "I knew you wouldn't believe me, but it's the truth. Think about it: what reason would I have to lie to you? I have nothing to gain."
"But-"
"She's telling the truth, Karin," Estelle cut in, "If we don't stop it then sending you back home won't matter, not when the Corrupted destroy everything."
"...You know something," Henrietta said. Estelle nodded slightly, "...Take off your mask and hood."
"Hey, she's keeping it on for a reason," Karin said immediately.
"I heard from the Vallieres. Apologies, but I need to see your face. I'd prefer to not leave anything to chance."
"She doesn't-"
"It's...It's fine, Karin," Estelle mumbled. Her hands raised and she gripped the sides of her hood, fingers shaking, "Just please promise me that it doesn't leave this room."
"I promise."
She pulled down the hood and the mouth covering. Karin blinked. Her features were nothing out of the ordinary, or at least nothing worth hiding. Pale skin, messy white hair tied into a loose braid and the gray eyes she'd become all too familiar with after weeks of companionship. She looked to be about the same age as Karin, judging from her face alone.
Her eyes drifted over the scars. She'd caught glimpses in the past, but seeing them all shocked her somewhat. A scar on the right side of her lip, an ugly red patch of skin on the left side that ran from her neck to her jaw. A healed burn? Apart from that there were a smattering of other scratches and nicks like a line of healed skin that went from her forehead to her scalp and what looked like two claw marks dangerously close to the underside of her right eye.
"S-Sorry..." she said softly.
"What? No, don't apologize!" Karin held up both hands and cringed, "It's just...was that why you were hiding your face? The scars?"
"No, it's...something else." She looked to the queen, "Does this satisfy you?"
"Yes..." She'd hidden it quickly, but it all too clear that something in Estelle's face shocked the queen and Karin doubted it was the scars, "I...thank you for showing me. I'll call you both when I have more information. Do you two need a place to stay?"
"Yeah, we're staying at an inn." Karin grabbed Estelle's arm as the latter quickly put her hood and mask back on. She didn't want to stay here, "Charming Fairies inn. Just contact us if you need anything."
Karin dragged the other girl to the exit and Henrietta watched till the both of them were out of sight, "Oh Brimir..." The younger Karin most definitely resembled the paintings of Louise's mother she'd seen in paintings, but her companion.
She looked like Raziel.
"Alsanna." She waited till a soft chill settled into the room before she continued, "You saw the resemblance as well, did you not?"
"Yes." Her voice was soft with shock, "I do not understand. Raziel was supposed to be the last of us."
"She knew something about what I was talking about. The way she talked about it...it was as if she'd seen or experienced it firsthand." Henrietta pursed her lips. The implications were troubling, "Is she another Manus shard?"
"As I said, my brother was meant to be the last. If she is from another point in time..." She shook her head, "No, she is...different. Her soul is different from my sisters and Raziel in a way I have never seen before."
"Do you think she can be trusted?"
"I...do not know. I could not intimate her thoughts and intentions. But, from what I could see even without it she was sincere in her appeals."
"This is troubling." Henrietta let out a slow, fatigued breath, "Come then. We have work to do."
Louise's segment ended up being pretty damn pointless, but thankfully the other two managed to get up to some plot threads - Raziel and Cattleya are going off to return Andvari's ring while Karin and Estelle have made contact with Henrietta and are going to join the present day cast in their attempts to stop the cycles. Let's hope they can pull their weight.
Anyway, as people could tell from the second segment, we've got a 90% shot of Raziel/Cattleya being the pairing that sticks. I still have my doubts because I have commitment issues, but this is where we're at. I actually do have questions about it down below.
I was also supposed to have Siesta and Raziel reunite this chapter, but I couldn't find a good transition by the end of his talk with Cattleya. Maybe next time. Besides that I can hopefully streamline the next update (whenever it may come) now that the cast has been reunited and have a vague idea of what they're supposed to be doing. Germania and Gallia arcs, here we come!
Questions:
1. Obvious question, but what do you guys think of Raziel and Cattleya? My friend/proofreader was all for it and says that they have good chemistry, but as the guy who made it I can't be an impartial judge. What do you guys think, good or forced?
2. Do people find Raziel's physical appearance too leery for romance? It's brought up that he looks like a mid teenager (14-15) and due to his soul emulating the other shards he looks pretty effeminate; Derflinger even mentions having to do some fuckery to ensure he still had a dick. This wasn't too much of an issue when he was with Tiffnia (she's 15 despite appearances), but it might be questionable for Cattleya despite his higher mental view of himself.
Review Answers:
Daeon Mortanius - Louise wasn't the romance, or at least Raziel doesn't look at her as such. The kiss was more heat of the moment than romantic.
DevilMax - Nope. Don't wanna cram three games' worth of lore into this.
Guest - He would've just died/gone insane.
Ghul - Don't agree. Gwyn is the source of the Undead curse as confirmed by DS3, so the world being Hollow doesn't gel.
Mernom - The Cursed Undead retains her stats and gear; fitting since she shows up late to the party. As for Familiars, they were just an excuse for the author to have Louise summon Saito, hence they become filler in the background later. In-story we can assume Karin simply didn't summon yet - she's 15 years old, younger than Louise at the beginning of the story.
Remvis - I guess. Raziel's mental age is hard to pin since he's all over the fucking place due to his backstory as a Manus mask. As for his state...well, we'll see. Maybe Estelle's involved in that somehow ;)
Wellhaithar - I'll fix those at some point...
Ph0enix17 - Biologically 14-15, chronologically 2 (not counting Kiln) or over a hundred (counting Kiln), mentally...I dunno.
Jordanus Councilium - No Ashen One, sorry. As for Raziel, look for 'Drakengard 3 Brother One' on google to see a good approximate.
DarxMercenary - I am taking that follow/favorite :]
Thewackness35 - What do you mean the Siesta debacle?
Jaune Arc - Haven't played Dark Souls in years, dude. Probably a coincidence.
HUNKUNIT - New chapter.