A warrior's spirit
Authors note: ok now this is the chapter before the final chapter. I know I left it in a cliff hanger but I'm going to let ya'll enjoy this final confrontation between Saito and Vittorio. When I've watched the anime I've always wanted to see Saito beat the living shit out of the pope but he didn't, so will he do it here? Let's find out and move on with today's chapter.
Chapter 25:
Saito walked through the halls of the church as he searched for the pope, no guard or assassin has ever tried to come and take him out or face him. As he walked through the hall way he could clearly see a set of doors the leads to what may have been the papal chapel. Saito took a deep breath knowing that the pope must be in there.
"Nervous partner?" Derflinger asked.
"A little… but that won't stop me." Saito answered. behind the doors vittorio was praying to god in front of the alter as he waited for the final confrontation. He hoped that it would probably be Henreitta or even one of the dutchies or even a member of the germanian imperial court just so that he could sway them, however as luck would have it, that didn't happen. Saito opened the door which creaks loudly as he entered, however his footsteps were soft to the point that Vittorio couldn't hear them. Vittorio knew that it wasn't any member of the royal houses that came to confront him so he was disappointed with that, but he hopes it's probably someone of the same faith. However Saito wasn't of that faith.
"You are not the first person to defy the pope… and hopefully you'll be the last." Vittorio said, his voice echoing through the chapel.
"You are bold staying here for final confrontation, but foolish as well since you will suffer the consequences of your actions." Saito declared.
"Judging from your accent, you are not one of the four kindoms, let alone the church… if I had to guess, you must be of the rumored Samurai, correct?" Vittorio asked.
"You're a sharp one." Saito said indirectly answering the question.
"This Rissing sun empire was talked about in the archives, however your civilization should have been burned down long ago, and yet your kind prevailed the war which should have burned you to ashes." Vittorio said turning to face his foe while picking up his staff. He noticed that Saito's appearance was well within the archives. Dark eyes and black hair, rare and uncommon even in the northern areas. But the armor as well as the menpo gave Saito a terrifying look, but Vittorio knew what the sword was as he felt the magic from it.
"even a phoenix can rise from it's own ashes, an eternal cycle that could never be broken." Saito countered.
"it seems that you wield the ancient blade Derflinger. I don't know how you've got your hands on him or how you bond with him but you will not live for this, do you understand who you face?" Vittorio shouted as he threw a spell at Saito who easily deflected it.
"I know who you are Vittorio." Saito said in a calm tone. This shocked Vittorio for a bit, he knew that he was well known but this is a first for a foreigner to learn of him, so he threw a few more spells.
"I also know of all your plans for the future as well as your dark deed." Saito continued as he dodged and deflect the spell as he got behind a pillar for cover.
"All those manipulations and schemes just to unite the kingdoms under one banner and conquer the holy lands." Saito added as he threw a few shuriken at Vittorio who ducked shielding his face. Just then Saito rushed forward blade in hand as came with an overhead cut. Vittorio blocked it with a mage shield and used it to throw Saito back, he continued to lob spells at Saito left and right causing Saito to run to get out of the way from the spell that exploded nearby.
'he's on the Same level as louise in magic, but he seems to have mastered it to the point of not using any chants' Saito thought as got behind a huge pillar. Vittorio went after Saito not wanting to let him go. Saito let off a smoke screen to cover him as Vittorio prepared a spell. As soon as the smoke dissipated Saito has vanished. Vittorio looked around high on guard just to not let him get ambushed. It was then Saito started speaking again.
"I know that your heart in in the welfare of the commoners, however your political views are what need work along with the conquest of the Holy lands. it's obvious that something or someone has been giving you that Idea." Saito's voice echoed.
"the founder wished to reclaim his home there. The church must honor that wish." Vittorio proclaimed.
"Is that why you wish to conquer the holly lands? Because of some guy who wants to return home? That was long ago, and let bygones be bygones." Saito countered appearing behind Vittorio.
"You wouldn't understand… the Holly lands were where the founder and his people lived millennia ago. It's time the humans returned to their birth place!" Vittorio shouted as he swung his staff to strike Saito behind him who immediately blocked and countered and unleashed a set of slashes and locked the two in a bind.
"Which is one reason why we came here, to know why you wish to conquer it and why it's so important! But that that was millennia ago!" Saito told Vitorio as he kicked Vittorio in the chest staggering the pope. It was clear that he hasn't been trained in martial arts of any kind yet Saito is impressed with his reflexes. Saito gave Vittorio a few more strikes even putting a slash in the papal robe Vittorio wore He was lucky derflinger didn't touch his flesh but he fell onto one of the benches and saito came at him with a diagonal cut. Vittorio managed to block the cut with his staff putting the two in another lock.
"and besides the people are fine with the place they had settled in, which is the four kingdoms. It's their home now and you can't expect them to move, even if you drive them with faith." Saito lectured.
"You dare to lecture me about the founders will? You know nothing about him!" Vittorio yelled as he pushed Saito away knocking him to the ground hitting a few benches. As Vittorio began to prepare a massive spell to finish or weaken his foe. Saito groaned in pain even though armor dispersed the worst of it but he still felt the impact however his menpo fell off his face. As he got to his knees he saw that Vittorio is charging up his spell. As soon as Vittorio released his spell it engulfed Saito in a huge blast. The spell lasted for a few seconds till it ended in a fire ball and smoke.
"God's will has no room for infidels such as yourself. You fought well and hopefully he'll forgive you in heaven." Vittorio prayed, However as the smoke cleared Saito is still there alive and well. Vittorio's eyes went wide in shock, but what surprises both of the two men was that Saito is covered in a white glowing magic field that served as a shield. Just then a voice was heard.
"And hear I just thought after three minutes of wait I've decided to help you!" the boys turned to see Louise looking annoyed and worried at the same time with Tiffania who stood next to her. Their wand and Naginata were raise indicating they had used a combined spell in order to make a shield.
"Louise! Tiffania!" Saito shouted.
"Louise got really worried for you Saito, but I was the one who sugest we should follow you." Tiffania answered.
"Don't take it the wrong way, I just couldn't sit by and do nothing." Louise said in an embarrassed tone.
"now I see… two arch mages on my level have come to your aid Samurai… their fate will be different from yours." Vittorio proclaimed. Just the shield dissipated and Saito immediately went in to the attack throwing a few shuriken.
"AS IF I WOULD LET THAT HAPPEN!" Saito shouted. The two girls joined into the clash.
"YAAHHHHHHH!" Louise yelled as she gharged with her naginata in hand. She missed but continued in a clumsy yet relentless set of attacks. She still has allot to learn in Naginata Jutsu but she knows enough basics. Tiffania lopped a few elemental spells where ever she can, giving Vitorio no space to cast his spell, putting him on the defensive while Saito continued to try and close in with the sword.
"You've exploited the rift in the Galian royal family! Taken one of the twins and decided to make her your puppet! Aslo blackmailed Joseph in some way didn't you?" Louise accused.
"Not only that your dealings with Cromwell had both my fatherand brother killed!" Tiffania added.
"More than that, you were the one who had been planning these wars from behind the scenes. Manipulating others just so you can unite the four kindoms for a crusade against the elves!" Saito called out.
"It was for the good of the kingdoms! It must be done! So that we could take back what is rightfully ours!" Vittorio retorted as they continued to clash.
"How many innocent lives have you sacrificed and manipulated for this?" Saito asked
"It's highly unforgiveable!" Louise shouted, she swung her naginata so hard in send Vittorio flying. The words Louise said made the voices in Vittorios head grew louder.
"This is justice for those you've wronged your grace!" Tiffania shouted. When she said the word justice Vittorio start to hear not just one, but a plethora of voice, and blacked out. In the back of his mind he saw a circular room and what appears to be a feast of sorts, however there was no festivities as he saw that a pink haired woman in a silky white chiton using a spell hurting Vittorio, the spectators were of three different set of people. He saw the elves looking agasted at him along with a set of humans who were dressed in similar clothing as the pink haired woman looking dumbfounded and scared, the last group of human were a group with dark hair dark eyes similar to Saito but with longer hair and top knots of some sort. Just then the pink haired woman disappeared in a flash of light leaving the room in a state of silence. It was at this point that Vittorio went back to reality and found himself on his knees and Derflingers sharp edge only a millimeter from his throat. He took a closer look at saito, then Louise, and then Tiffania and realized that these three looked a lot like the people he had seen from the dreams.
"The three tribes… that sin." Vittorio whispered realizing what he had done.
"What did you say?" Saito asked confused. Vitorio looked at Saito deep within his eyes, guilt rushed through his entire body, remembering all the sins he had committed in this life and the previous.
"Forgive me for tossing you away from her, Millennia before the fall of the three." Vittorio said as tears started to swell within his eyes.
"What's wrong him?" Tiffania asked in a confused tone. Louise was also confused by this. But Saito had a clear understanding of what Vittorio meant but couldn't want to know more.
"What do you know of the three tribes?" Saito asked Vitorio in a whisper.
"Enough for me to remember the sin I've committed against you three." Vittorio answered. Saito thought for a bit and realized who he was, Atleast from a past life he couldn't remember. Then Vittorio pressed his neck closer to the blade nicking his skin as a drop of blood leaked.
"do it now… kill me." Vitorio asked in shame. Saito looked at Vittorio, he was tempted to do it but one thing stopped him from it and removed Derflinger from Vittorio's neck.
"No." Saito answered. "we need you alive… you will be brought before the monarchs and confess to your crimes, and explain all you did and why."
Saito's words have hit Vittorio deep and he knew what they were looking for.
"the answers you seek lies within the founder mirror." He explained. "Only an arch mage can wield it but it will explain everything, it's in the vaults under the church."
Saito nodded and turned to tiffania. And gave her a nod.
"You'll go find that mirror, we'll deal with him." Saito told the elf.
"I will." Tiffania answered and went to find the vaults. Saito turned back towards Vittorio who looked defeated and beaten.
"And as for you, you are going to have some explaining to do." Saito told him.
"I know." Vittorio said in a defeated tone. With this Saito took the pope and went outside. The sight of him capturing the pope and present hi, to the monarchs was enough for everyone to cheer in victory. The monarchs are going to have a field day when they are done with him. Henrietta stood in front of her troops ready to give her speech.
"Today we have achieved what we had set out for! We will find out the truth of this man's intentions, and when we do he will pay for all the innocent lives he had sacrificed. And from this day on, the church will never use anyone for their own gains!" Henrietta shouted gaining more cheers from the troops.
The occupation only last a few days. Order was kept but they the occupational leader decided not to conquer Romalia. During those days Tabitha searched for the nunnery her twin was in and hired the knights of Galia, the same ones who tried to kill her weeks ago. However this time they swore loyalty to her and added their youngest brother to the ranks. as it turns out, Tabitha's sister Jossete was brainwashed by the church so they plan to undo the brainwashing affect, but it will take months or even years to undo it's affects.
In a large council Room of the church tiffania brought the founders mirror and the leaders including the rising sun emperor minato looked at the memories of the founder. As it turns out the truth was way more horrific than they would have thought. The founder was never a man of god to begin with, he was the first arch mage to ever exist and more importantly a mad man. He experimented with magic to the point he started using other races for his experiments causing genocide in the holly lands. His people's banishment for his actions causes him to grew a hate for the other races such as the elves and swore vengeance. However his death was just as the elf who murdered him did so to protect her kind.
"All this time, our countries have made because of a madman's lack of morals?" Henrietta asked.
"It seems like your ancestor have commited a heinous crime." Minato explained.
"That's why my people hated the humans." Bidashal said softly.
"Bidashal… I don't know how our people can make for this, but I hope you would forgive us." Tabitha said in an apologetic tone, but Bidashal raised his hand.
"I have no grudge against any of you people, I now understand everything. But I will tell the council that you all are as equally disgusted by this as I am… besides the past doesn't defy us, but we can learn from it and make us stronger."Bidashal explained.
"but what shall we do with this information, if the public knows that our countries are founded by a madman would definitely incite a coup by other nobles or something." Albert explained.
"Which is why I have a proposal." Minato said raising his hand.
"You Minato! How?" Henrietta asked.
"release the information little by little, just enough for the people to understand the severity of the situation." Minato proposed, the rest of the monarchs looked skeptical at this.
"Are you sure it's wise?" Albert asked.
"Some people aren't ready for a good amount of the information if it's thrown in at once. It will be difficult for them to process, so let's give them time to accept, even if we'll be dead by the time everything is out. And besides the truth will come out one way or another, it a matter of time." Minato explained.
"I see the logic behind that your imperial majesty." Bidashal said.
"I agree." Henrietta added.
"I also vote myself in." Tabitha said. Albert was a bit perplexed but he gave in.
"For whatever it's worth… it's better than the alternative." Alberts sighed. With this the leaders came up with an agreement.
"But what do we do with the Pope?" Bidashal asked. The answered came a few days later in the churches gardens. The pope was wearing a pure white robe as he hang his head in shame. As he stood infront of the leaders of the different countries he dared not to look at them. Many of the priests looked at the pope as he knew what they were about to witness. It was a private execution with only a small set of spectators. the entire gang looked on wondering what was going on but Saito is the only one who understood what's happening. Just then Chesare came in a similar robe as the popes. In front of Vittorio was a ceremonial kodachi with the blade partially wrapped in a durable sheet of paper.
"Saito what's going on?" Louise asked in a whisper.
"we gave Vittorio the option of seppuku." Saito explained. Louise looked horrified, she had learned of what seppuku meant a while back but to see it happening right in front of seemed all to terrifying. Just then one of the ministers came in with a scroll as he read the charges.
"Pope Vittorio Serevare, st aegis the 32nd, shield of the founder has been charged with the following crimes, inciting rebellion against the Albion crown, manipulation of others to commit corruption, aiding and abetting our enemies, kidnapping of a member of royalty, and the murder of many innocent lives yet to determine, and the plotting a scheme to trick the four kindoms into an unjust crusade!... How do you plead?" the minister announced.
"I'm guilty of all crimes." Vittorio announced "Some not mentioned where inherited, and I can't explain why."
Many of the spectators looked confused by this but they didn't press.
"Since you seem to admit your guilt and have told us all the reasons for your crimes. By suggestion of his heavenly imperial majesty Meiji Minato has granted you the right of Seppuku. Death by self dissembowlment." The minister concluded. Just then one man gave Chesare an executioner's sword to end Vittorio's suffering and placed a pistol for chesare to use on himself. Just then Cardinal Mazarin came up and incite a prayer.
"Your sins are too great to be forgiven by man, while your intentions were noble, your actions were cruel. May god forgive you for your sins as pass on, and free your sole from this self-turmoil… die in peace." Mazarin prayed. Vittorio went to his knees and Chesare readied the sword. His tears swell by the fact that he has to kill his own master was more than just punishment. As Vittorio picked up and aimed the blade to his guts, he looked at Saito and Louise for a brief moment.
'Forgive me for separating you long, my jealousy won me over and I paid the price. Be happy together, now and forever.' Vittorio thought before turning to tiffania.
"I hope your people will allow our people will learn to coexist in the future, despite seeing your kind as heretics.' Vittorio thought, and he immediately thrust the blade in his guts, just as Chesare swung the blade cleaved his masters head clean off. Vittorio's body slumped lifeless as his head rolled on the ground. Just the Chesare took the pistol and place the barrel right under his chin and fired. With that the two men laid dead on the ground and picked up to be properly buried. Meanwhile the spectators were extremely terrified by the spectacle and wished to never see it again. Minato declared this to be the last seppuku to be performed in front of political officials. And with that they entire group left the garden for cleanup.
The next day the occupational armies left, leaving only a few troops and official to help vote for a new pope. The march home was more of an organized withdrawal as they left the area. Certain troops leaving home on their own time and other just boarded the ships and went. The Gang boarded the ostland as they prepare to leave. Saito was in deep though thinking of Vittorio's words.
"Partner, were the pope's words bothering you?" Derflinger asked.
"Yeah… somehow I have a feeling that there's a connection of some sort." Saito answered. still looking at the horizon
"Is it the shrine?" Derflinger added.
"Don't know… but I am going to visit it again sooner or later." Saito said.
"Listen I'm not going to tell you to go there, but right now focus on what we've accomplished so far." Derflinger lectured, Saito looked at the sword and smiled.
"You've got a point there buddy. I'll think about that later, now we have to think about celebrating our victory over the Oni's" Saito said agreeing with the blade, and celebrate they did. The day after they returned from the Romalian campaign, the entire nations celebrated their victory against the Oni's, the streets were filled with stalls and people regardless of social class, it was like a festival going on. There were many private parties as well, the ostland was having a private party itself. Many of the gang was there to celebrate the way they knew. Colbert and his fellow teachers were talking about their future for the academy and probably decide to add new classrooms for higher education for not only nobles, but commoners as well. However they must accept scholarships first before the transition may completely occur. Kirche and Tabitha are talking with each other as Sylphid pigged out at the food in her human form.
"How's the rehabilitation of your twin going Tabitha?" Kirche asked.
"Right now she's just beginning… I hope that someday we will rekindle our relationship as sisters even though we have none." Tabitha said softly.
"You'll get there… I know it." Kirche said hugging her best friend. Meanwhile Guiche and Montmorency are having some quality time being together with Guiche flirty with her like the playboy he was. However it was a bit difficult since his fan girls are trying to get close to the poor guy. The elves were enjoying themselves to, luctiana the most as she's indulging herself in the culture despite ari's annoyance, but he's happy that his fiancé is enjoying herself. The knights of the ondine are playing a dice game which they've learned from the Samurai. Malincorne turned out to have the worst luck despite the fact that they are not playing for cash.
"If you play this game Malincorne you may lose all your assets." One of the knights joked.
"Please don't… I'm already terrified of it as it is!" Malincorne whined. Of course he was comforted by a sweet girl who pittied his worse luck. Siesta, Louise, and Tiffania were talking amongst themselves as they watched Saito talking with Colbert about a future exploration to the east.
"It's nice to see him with someone who understands him." Siesta observed.
"It's no wonder professor Colbert and Saito are good friends." Tiffania added.
"I'm just glad he's making connections… one day we will rule our own territory and live peacefully." Louise said proudly, however her smile didn't last long as a worried face as got a worried look on her face. But the Girls noticed it instantly.
"Is something troubling you Louise?" Tiffania asked.
"Yeah you look worried there for a moment." Siesta added. Louise looked at the girls and explained to them that Saito has looked quite troubled since the pope had been captured.
"It's like he gave Saito a form of revelation or something, but I can't tell what?" Louise finished. The two girls eyed and nodded. Tiffania hugged her friend as she comforts her.
"Don't worry Louise we'll find that out, but right now let us enjoy the festivities." Tiffania said.
"Yeah and besides, Saito has his own troubles to deal with… we'll be there to help him when he needs it." Siesta added.
"Your right girls, but I still want to find out what." Louise said smiling, she found out why two weeks later by the shrine of the three tribes and her answeres were both complicated and weird but it will all make sense at the end.
Authors note: Ok one final chapter after this and I promise that I will make thing clear. For those who don't know what I am talking about re read chapter eight and do some speculation. I won't tell you what I'm planning so be sure to find that out in the final chapter. Until then see ya'll in the final chapter.