["But the light that She cast across the land was followed by the deepest shadow, and She wept." — Codex Orchestral, Capo 6:8]
He snapped back together. The recoil hurt far more than it should have, and he stumbled and caught himself on a stone wall. He had to take a few seconds to pull himself back together. It was not quick enough.
"Oh, so you do feel some things." The princess seemed no worse for the wear as she stepped out of the light. "Do you need me to carry you there, oh Yuusha-sama?"
He didn't dignify her with a response. Brushing the dust off his coat, he took stock of their surroundings. A stone room, smaller than the one they had come from, and beyond that—
Some soft moonlight was the only thing illuminating the silent courtyard. The shadowy ramparts told him they were in another fort, albeit one much smaller than Sonata's castle. There was a slight layer of dust—this place hadn't been abandoned for very long.
"Welcome to Fort Foclaire," she stated, walking forward. "A week ago, our vanguard against the armies of darkness. Now, she waits for them to ravage her."
Kiritsugu squinted in the darkness. His eyes weren't adjusting fast enough. "This waygate—can they use it?"
"Of course not!" She spun around on him, once again irritated. "Would we have left it behind if they could? What happened to your vaunted 'divine wisdom'?"
He arched a brow. "Vaunted by whom?"
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Perhaps this is some kind of trial to earn it. Am I to be your first party member?" She scoffed. "Senia protect me."
"They must know this fort is empty," he said, ignoring her whining. "Why haven't they taken it by now?"
She motioned with a hand and entered the darkness. The flash off her polished blade helped guide him through it. Another correction. Maybe it was worth leaving behind a list for her once he left.
"They have to unbind Senia's magic from the land before they can claim it as their own." Her fist clenched. "No doubt those foul beasts are out there, conducting the ritual as we speak."
"Is it safe for us to be here?"
She snorted. "No. That's exactly why we're here."
The way she paused made it sound like she was waiting for a response. He had nothing to say, though, and that seemed to annoy her further. They walked in an uncomfortable silence through the stone corridors until they reached another courtyard. The portcullis had been lowered, but there was a wide hole blown near the side, and they could easily slip through.
A dirt path flanked by thick forest on both sides greeted them as they exited. The princess guided the two of them down the path for four minutes before she stopped and turned left into the trees. She didn't look back once as they hopped over large roots and shuffled through muddy piles of leaves, occasionally avoiding a dirty puddle. Kiritsugu attempted to check their positioning through the stars, but it didn't take him very long to realize that there was nothing recognizable here. Constellations were very different, and the twin moons were a novelty.
After some time, they approached the edge of the forest, and she held a hand out to stop him.
"We're going to crawl the rest of the way there," she whispered. "If you can keep a steady pace through this forest, I assume you know how to crawl quietly."
They crept through the undergrowth at slighter faster than a snail's pace. As they emerged from between the trees, a blast of wind hit his face. He blinked through it, and found that they were very close to a cliff's edge. She stopped them once they reached it.
"Look."
He didn't need her pointing finger to see what she meant. A shallow, wide valley stretched before them. Every inch of it was filled with soldiers—long, unmoving, silent columns of soldiers. A few collections of tents and fires gave light to their form: the scale was difficult to judge, but he could see goat-like heads on burly torsos. If he had to guess, they were roughly eight feet tall. Each carried an oversized sword or a spiked club.
"That is a lot," he muttered. "How fast do they move?"
"Faster than you think," she replied, her hands gripping at the grass. "It takes time for them to pierce through each barrier, but they're relentless. And once they've taken it, it's impossible to make them let go. You can't make them let go, short of destroying each and every single one."
"What kind of supplies do they need? They don't eat, do they?"
"Nothing. Just wind them up and…" She swallowed hard. "The only reason we can still enjoy peace is because the barriers are so strong. But there are only so many between them and us." The hand clutched even tighter at the ground. "Even before Sonata… there are so many towns… so many villages…"
"All the more reason to take out the Demon Lord quickly."
She snapped to him, jaw clenched tight against the scream rising inside her. "I already told you, you fucking imbecile, that if you want to get yourself killed, at least make it count. Make it worth something. Make all the magic, all the time we spent calling your decrepit carcass mean something."
He looked out into the valley again. The columns were long, and there were many, but there was an end. There was a way to get past them, and his objective was just beyond them. It was not confidence that told him this, but fact. And the sooner he got started on it, the better.
The witch was probably a good start. She must have had some connections, if not through her position, then through her former mentor. She could help gather further intelligence on the situation. It wasn't like he had to ruin their infrastructure or destroy a series of oil wells. A plan of attack would soon follow, and then all that mattered was executing it.
"I can see nothing more will get through to you," the princess finally spoke again, looking into the valley with greater darkness than the shadows cast by the hills. "I won't waste my breath any further."
They left like they arrived—crawling through grass and mud until enough moonlight had been blotted out, and then they rose to their feet and made their way back to the road. No more words were exchanged, and Kiritsugu preferred it that way.
His boot had just hit the dirt path when a sudden presence at his back sent him into a roll. Something flew just above his head. Something big. Wind whipped in its wake. Rising into a crouch, he pulled out the knife—not much, but he'd made do with less.
"Who's there!?" The princess shouted, drawing her greatsword from the sheath on her back..
No answer. He watched the shadows between the trees, eyes regularly darting from side to side. Tunnel vision was too easy to fall prey to. The enemy could come from any angle.
"Get back to the waygate," she said briskly, assuming a combat stance. "I'll take care of this."
"The waygate I can't use."
Her reply was as succinct as it was exasperated. "Fuck."
A sudden rustle of leaves was his only warning. With ear-splitting shrieks, a murder of crows detached itself from the shadows and flew at them. He grabbed his coat and flung it around, catching a few in its folds. Just the space he needed to slash at the ones still in the air. Two died, bisected in a second. He threw the coat to the ground and grabbed one out of the air, wringing its neck between his fingers.
"Jan!" A single word from the princess and the darkness was banished. Bolts of flame sprung from her fingertips, some chasing down crows, others hanging in the air just above their heads. A half-dozen birds burnt to ash. Kiritsugu stomped on his coat to take the rest out. It made a satisfying crunch. But when he picked it back up, there was no trace of blood.
"Familiars," said the princess. "Reasonably powerful ones. Watch yourself."
A slow clap echoed from the trees, and a woman strutted out from the shadows. Wolflike ears protruded from a thick mane of tan hair, red eyes curled by a fierce grin.
"Well done, princess," the stranger said. "I'm so glad I could impress you."
"Who's impressed?" the princess barked back. "We took care of your birds quickly enough."
"Yeah." The smile died, an angry frown taking its place. "They cost me a tail hair apiece, you bitch."
Said tail, thick and bushy, stiffened behind her. The menace pouring off her sent the hair on Kiritsugu's neck bristling, and he pulled the Calico out. A shame to reveal it so soon, but all the subterfuge in the world meant nothing if you were dead.
"Oh, did you want—"
The princess's snide comment was cut off by the roar of the submachine gun. Nine millimeter wasn't much for anything, but at this range, it would do enough damage. The first burst connected with meaty thuds, and for a moment, he thought it would be that easy. Then the warrior's entire frame flickered and thinned, before tearing in two and vanishing.
"What the f—" sputtered the princess, before the stranger appeared right in front of Kiritsugu. Her teeth glinted in a feral grin. He tried to dodge. Not fast enough. Her fist collided with his chest with enough force to knock him back several feet. Spittle flew from his lips, and painful stars erupted before his eyes.
"What the hell did you do to me?" she growled. "That actually hurt."
Kiritsugu's response was to raise the gun again and let off another volley. As expected, her form shimmered.
Time Alter: Triple Accel.
He threw himself forward just as a thick warhammer with a long handle rent the air above his head. Even at this speed, her blow nearly connected with him. He gritted his teeth and let the magic go before his nerves burnt too hot. The damage from earlier that day hadn't healed entirely, it seemed.
"What the…" Her smile was thin and dangerous. "Well, you're just full of surprises, aren't you?"
He readied himself to cast his highest tier, before a shout tore his attention away. A flash of silver—the princess' greatsword locked with the warhammer, steel grinding on steel.
Damn it. Too risky for a shot now.
He was serviceable in melee, but likely not enough. All he could do was wait for an opening.
Then the stranger staggered back. Slowly, inch by inch, but visibly giving way as the princess put her full weight behind her blade.
"Yield!" the princess demanded between gritted teeth. "Yield, and I'll spare you!"
The stranger's lips lifted defiantly, showing a flash of fang, despite the obvious strain in her limbs. "Getting a l-little ahead of yourself, princess."
The princess couldn't see it from her angle, but Kiritsugu saw the enemy's feet dig hard into the ground. Before he could shout a warning, the stranger let herself fall. Caught off-guard by the sudden lack of resistance, the princess lurched forward, grip still hard on her sword. Instantly the stranger's foot shot up to plant itself in the girl's gut and hurl her completely over her own prone form.
A heavy thump and a grunt of pain as the princess went face-first into the ground, driven by her own momentum. Both women scrambled to their feet, but the stranger was a crucial second faster. In the firelight, Kiritsugu saw her hand plunge into her tail and rip out a fistful of fur.
He brought his gun to bear.
"Vodth!" When the hairs hit the ground, they exploded into shadowy wolves, who immediately flung themselves at both him and the princess. One blocked the rounds he managed to get off at the cost of its life, dissolving into mist with a pitiful whine. No time to rejoice—another's jaws clamped down on the arm holding the gun, and a third tried to take out his legs.
Pain flared in his bicep as icy cold fangs dug in and held. His fingers jerked with that pain and dropped the Calico. Drawing the knife, he shoved it into the third wolf's mouth. Priority threat—getting knocked down meant death.
The third wolf bit down in savage fury, thrusting the steel through the roof of its mouth. With a twist of his wrist, it buried into whatever passed for the brain. A squeal, and the animal melted into a black ichor.
Growling, the other wolf bit down on his arm with all its strength. Agony seared through his muscle and tore a scream from him, but he managed to brace himself and keep his feet. He brought the knife around to plant it between the familiar's eyes—
The stranger slammed into him with brutal force and knocked him to the ground. Head reeling, he instinctively thrust up the knife. Her hand swung around hard and collided with his fist. The weapon went flying from his fingers.
"You're too good for your own good," she said, almost regretfully. "I'm sorry."
Calloused hands closed around his throat. He reached up to pry them loose, but the grip was implacable. He gasped as his vision flashed black.
Don't panic. Last moments. What can you do?
He let his arms fall to the ground at his sides. Could he leverage her off?
No, too heavy.
The darkness was closing in, his breath coming out in wheezes.
Wish I had my flashbangs.
His fingers subconsciously reached for the familiar hook on his belt. To his astonishment, they brushed against cold metal. He didn't question it, just grabbed the canister, shut his eyes, and pulled the switch.
White blazed even through his closed eyelids. He must have screamed when the grenade burnt his hand, but he wouldn't have known through the piercing ringing in his ears.
At least he could breathe again. Staggering to his feet, he opened his eyes slightly. Spots danced in his vision, and he swayed as nausea hit him hard—balance thrown off. His bicep wouldn't stop hurting, but it was free, and he needed to take advantage of it.
The blur on the ground must have been the stranger. He took a step, but fell to his knees before he could take the other. Where was the Contender—his coat.
Fuck.
He had no other weapons on him. But he did have his fists. Scrambling over to her, he wrapped his arms around what he guessed was her neck—the guess was correct—and squeezed as tightly as he could. It was enough to instantly snap a human's neck, but she stirred beneath him, the muscles of her throat rolling under his fingers. Her hand reached up—he tensed for a blow, but she merely tapped his shoulder.
What the… is she surrendering?
Unfortunately for her, Kiritsugu didn't take prisoners. He merely squeezed tighter. The tapping grew more insistent, but not desperate like the struggling he had done under her. Did he dare to let go to try to run and grab the Calico? If he did it slowly under the guise of accepting it, would she catch on before he could fire?
Another pair of hands caught him around the shoulders and pulled. He resisted, but it was too strong, and eventually he was forced off of the stranger. Whirling around, he found himself facing the princess. She was gesticulating at the stranger, then at him, her mouth moving in what looked like angry shouts.
"I can't hear you," he said, or at least tried to. He couldn't really tell over the ringing. To make sure, he pointed at his ear.
Her shoulders twitched irritably as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Then she pushed him aside, none too gently, and stretched an arm expectantly towards the stranger rising from the ground.
They locked eyes for a moment, fierce gold meeting a fiercer red even through the latter's pained tears. The stranger grunted and collected her warhammer from where it lay nearby. The princess smiled triumphantly, holding her palm outstretched.
Only to scowl indignantly when the stranger slapped her hand aside and grinned. Ignoring the princess' hurried drawing of her blade, the bestial woman marched right past her towards Kiritsugu. He tensed, still unsure if she was going to try to throw him or choke him out again, but she stopped when she was in arm's distance.
She took a knee to the ground and bowed her head, holding the hammer out with the hilt towards him.
Oh.
Kiritsugu's fingers itched to kill her. Put a bullet through her head while she was unguarded, before she could become a threat again. He would have, had he not felt the weight of the princess' eyes on him.
Damn it. He stood to lose far more if he alienated his ally. If he wanted to eliminate her, it would have to be done quietly when a future opportunity presented itself.
Suppressing a sigh, he took the hammer from the smirking woman's hands and threw the strap over his shoulders so it swung over his back. The heavy weight unbalanced his stance, but he had to bear that discomfort for now.
An insistent tap on his shoulder brought his attention back up again. The princess held a flask out towards him. The brilliant blue liquid swirling inside the glass made him narrow his eyes. He shook his head.
The princess thrust it towards him again, more insistently this time. She was shouting at him, though the words were too muted and fuzzy to make out. Kiritsugu was about to turn away when the stranger sauntered up to the other woman and jauntily swiped the flask from her grasp.
A sharper noise from the princess as she lunged forward, though too late. Tipping her head back, the stranger gulped down over half the flask before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She pointed a finger to her neck, making him notice the deep blue bruises for the first time. Within seconds, they were gone.
Some kind of healing drug.
She held the flask out to him, and he tentatively took it. The remaining liquid sloshed about innocently, as if it were nothing more than colored water. He grimaced before putting it to his lips and drinking.
A warm rush overtook his body. Every ache, every cut, every little wound and injury reknit themselves into healthy muscle and tissue. His ears popped, and just like that, he could hear again. He blinked, and his vision cleared—he thought it had already recovered.
"There," said the stranger. "Was that so bad?"
"You… you ingrate!" yelled the princess. "Do you even realize how expensive that was!? Or have you gone so feral that currency is beyond your comprehension!?"
"Ah, come on. You're a princess, aren't you?" The stranger smirked. Kiritsugu found himself staring at the little claws that seemed to be her version of nails. "Your armor's fancy enough, and you've got that snobby royal tone nailed down. You're gonna tell me you don't have money to burn? Or are you people already so close to bankruptcy?"
The princess pinched the bridge of her nose in what was becoming a familiar sign of exasperation. "I am already regretting sparing you."
"Tch, you really are royalty." The other's smirk widened, fangs gleaming in the flames' glow. "Taking credit for things that had nothing to do with you."
"Had it not been for my intervention, Yuusha-sama would have torn you from our plane and thrown you straight into—"
"Yuusha-sama?" The stranger cut her off, turning to consider Kiritsugu with new interest.
The princess' cheeks went red with rage. "Will you stop interrupting—!"
"Hooh? So this is the hope of Senia's children?" The bestial woman paced lazily around him, openly appraising him as she took him in, from the top of his singed hair to his worn boots. Kiritsugu was irresistibly reminded of the village dogs that had once circled a certain boy on a faraway island, sizing him up as prey or rival.
Then she abruptly halted her circle in front of him and reached for him again. Kiritsugu tensed. At the very least, he had her hammer on him, and if needed he could probably break her arm, if not cave her skull in. He readied one hand to reach for it.
Rough fingers closed around his other hand and lifted it up even as she bent lower, until her lips brushed his palm. Hot breath blew over his skin.
"Hey! Hey, what do you think you're doing?" cried the princess from the sidelines. He happened to share the sentiment.
A pink tongue slid out and licked a stripe down the edge of his thumb, wet and warm, and then another down the center of his palm. Before he could yank his hand back, the stranger had already dropped it and moved away.
The princess was not appeased, her brow creased somewhere between outrage and disgust.
"That's revolting!"
"Why?" asked the bestial women with an arched brow. "Is his sweat poison?"
"No! I… it's not him, it's you!" The princess gestured towards her and scowled. "You're… ugh… you licked him."
"And?" The warrior stretched her arms over her head and sighed contently.
"It's… gah, it's slimy and gross, and—weren't you ever taught any manners?!"
Kiritsugu wiped his hand down on his pants and took a look around. He found his coat thrown aside a few dozen feet away. Damaged once more, he noted upon picking it up. He wondered if he could transfer whatever magic kept the guns in it to other pieces of clothing. Blending into a crowd would be a lot more difficult if he had a signature piece of clothing that made him recognizable.
"I bet you don't even bathe every day, do you?" The warrior's taunt drifted over as he retrieved the Calico and checked it briefly over, then holstered it in his coat. He would have to field strip it properly later.
"I do so!"
"Hah, your scent just spiked! Is that insecurity I smell?"
"Why you—" the princess sputtered.
Kiritsugu spoke up before the princess' fury could explode even further. "We should go. Staying put in enemy territory is asking for another ambush."
Murder flashed in the princess' eyes before she took a deep breath. She sheathed her sword with rather more force than necessary and turned to him. "Right. Let's go."
She glanced at the warrior and sighed. "Ugh. You too, I guess."
"Lupa."
"What?" asked the princess with a frown.
But the warrior's eyes were entirely on Kiritsugu as she repeated herself, crossing her arms. "My name's Lupa. Let's get along, Mr. Master." Her grin was playful, but it didn't hide the sharpness of her canines.
Kiritsugu merely nodded and began to lead them back up the path towards the fort. They were flinging barbs at each other the whole way back. He couldn't help but wonder if there might be aspirin in his inside pocket.
No such luck.
"Do you even own a proper shirt?" said the princess, looking disdainfully at the warrior's exposed midriff. "How does a respectable general s… strut around without so much as a shirt?"
The warrior snorted. "Do you even own a hammer? What kind of self-respecting ruler doesn't have a hammer?"
Kiritsugu's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, 'general'?"
"That's right," said the warrior, grinning. "You just hit the jackpot, Mr. Master."
Shit.
On one hand, that meant she had a lot of potentially useful information—assuming he could pull the truth from her. On the other hand, that meant she would be collecting information as well, and she would have a great deal to give the Demon Lord if—when she escaped. And she had already shown a talent for doing so.
"She only mentioned it twice already," sighed the princess. "Were you even paying attention?"
He didn't respond.
"I thought as much," she grumbled, then strode past him with her head held high.
Kiritsugu repressed a sigh when a thump against his leg made him stiffen. He glanced down to find the warrior's tail wagging merrily behind her, occasionally batting against his leg.
"I can tell it's gonna be quite interesting around you," she smirked.
"Why did you yield?" The thought had been on his mind since he recovered from the flash bang.
"I just told you. You're interesting." She shrugged.
"That's not enough of a reason."
They'd just passed under the stone gate when the warrior paused and turned towards him, giving him a wink and her most insolent smirk yet.
"Too bad. That's all you're getting."
