Chapter XXI
Shirou's eyes narrowed as he fought against the homunculus. Sieg was his name, if he remembered. And who he had dismissed during the Siege of Millennia Citadel as insignificant and not a threat to his plan turned out to be the last obstacle to his plan. He had thought that the other Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc would be his most dangerous opponent in his plan, in this fight for the Greater Grail. It was why kept William Shakespeare in reserve, for his Noble Phantasm could bring down the mightiest Heroic Spirit to their knees for they would witness their regrets and lamentations over and over again.
Oh, how wrong he was.
The homunculus's existence was completely absurd. How could he carry the power of not one Servant, but two? Siegfried, Frankenstein, two Servants that he thought were dealt with and no longer a concern. Frankenstein's Blasted Tree and her power appearing in the homunculus, the Master of Rider of Black, was nothing short of ridiculous, even in a world filled with what humans would call myth and fantasy.
And to think, he thought that Archer of Red's Master, the Ashford boy was going to be the greater threat given that he housed both a phantom and a Phantasmal Beast within him, a hero in the making. And quite honestly, Shirou would rather fight the Enforcer than the homunculus who fought in vengeance for the fallen Jeanne d'Arc. At least then, he would've been added to the young Ashford's legend.
Though, perhaps the Ashford son would manage to come in and fight the homunculus for the Greater Grail if he lost, even if Barthomeloi's Crimson Wolf wouldn't be able to stop the wish he already had made. Semiramis did mention that Ashford, not Archer of Red, had managed to beat Achilles in a one-on-one fight, surprising as the fact may be.
Still… he didn't intend to lose to the homunculus.
His wish, the salvation of humanity depended on it.
…
As promised, I had detonated the weapon that had been stabbed in Achilles ten minutes after our duel. I didn't really know what to make of the idea that he wanted to fight me to see if I had what it took to become a hero. Being a hero wasn't a thing I had considered being, as the concept of a hero was something I had dismissed as mere tales of fancy so long ago.
"Faelan," Atalanta nodded as she materialized beside me.
"I'm guessing that Saber and the old man have been through here," I looked around.
"What makes you say that?" she raised a brow, a small smirk on her lips.
Both of us looked around at the ruined defenses and broken walls. With both Berserkers of either faction gone, only Saber of Red was capable of such destructive and extravagant displays of power.
"Just a feeling," I shrugged with a grin.
As we followed the path of destruction, I could tell something was on Atalanta's mind. "Is something wrong?" I asked aloud. "I noticed that you didn't follow after me when I left the roof of the Hanging Gardens. Did you and Achilles have a talk about something?"
She was silent for a moment, "We did."
"What about?"
She hesitated, "You, actually."
I frowned, "Me? Was it about me having the capacity to become a hero?"
"Yes and no," she sighed, her expression a bit sad. "But right now isn't the time to talk about it."
I opened my mouth to protest but closed it when I realized she was right. With Achilles gone and Sieg fighting Karna, the only Servants left in the Red faction were Caster and Assassin. And while neither of us had any clue who Caster of Red was, Assassin herself would present no ordinary fight, being the first poisoner in human history. And since we were in her home so to speak, that meant that every brick in this place could be filled with poison.
It didn't take long for the two of us to arrive at what I assumed was the Hanging Gardens' throne room, but I was surprised to see that most of it was destroyed with only a part of the steps to it still remaining intact. But what had drawn my gaze wasn't the destruction of the throne, but who was sitting at the bottom.
"Old man!?"
Mordred, who had been sitting next to the old necromancer, turned to us with a sad grin, a cigarette between her lips. "Hey kid, glad you made it."
Rushing over to them, I stopped short when I saw the wounds on Sisigou's body. I couldn't heal this kind of damage with my runes, not in time. "No, no, no. I have to have something…" I muttered as I desperately searched the Gate of Babylon, opening all six of the portals that I was capable of opening and allowing every kind of medical resource that I kept in there to fall from them. Bangages, gauze, first aid kits, tourniquets. "I can… I have to…"
"Kid," I felt Mordred put her hand on my shoulder. "He's gone."
I bit my lip, my fist trembling. "No, I…"
"He's gone," she repeated herself. "He left me with the last of his remaining magical energy to pass on his goodbyes to you."
"No," I shook my head, breathing hard as tears stung the edges of my eyes. "He... " I didn't know how to put what I was feeling into words. That stubborn, old man… he was the first friend I ever really made. And now with him gone… I realized how much I treasured his friendship. "No. We were supposed… to get a drink… at…"
"He wanted me to let you know that you were a good kid," Mordred spoke gently. "A bit of a smart aleck who needs to grow up a bit, but he knew that you were going to take this world by storm. Though he regretted that he wouldn't be able to see you do so and really shine…"
I choked back a sob.
I didn't know when Atalanta had embraced me, but when I realized she wrapped her arms around me, I heard her whisper into my ear, "It's okay, I've got you, Faelan. It's okay." My face fell onto her shoulder, desperately holding onto her as I silently cried. She held onto me tighter, letting me weep and mourn one of the greatest people I ever knew as she offered her comfort. I felt Mordred gently grip the shoulder she had placed her hand on a bit tighter.
After a long moment, I took a step back, rubbing the tears with the back of my fist. Sniffling a little, I opened a portal to the Gate of Babylon, the golden ripple releasing a tarp before remaining open, though it did widen considerably. Taking the tarp, I wrapped the old man's body with it. I wished that I had something better than this, he deserved better.
"I'll take his body back to Japan," I promised, unable to help the tears that managed to leak out. "He should rest right next to his daughter." He had once told me of the daughter he had adopted long ago in order to pass on his family crest and he also told me what had happened when he had done so over a few drinks. A part of me suspected that he entered the Grail War to get her back, not that we actually talked about what we really wished for on the Holy Grail.
But I wished that we had.
"Good," Mordred nodded as she watched me put Sisigou's body into the Gate of Babylon. It was then she looked down at herself. "Huh, looks like my time's up now."
I frowned before turning around and saw as her form began to fade into motes of magical energy. Her feet were already nothing but golden outlines that were close to disappearing.
"Wait, Saber, I can form a pact with you," I said hurriedly. "I've been training with the wolf," technically wolves, "with it as a magical reactor, I can provide magical energy to both you and Atalanta."
"Nah, it's fine kid," Mordred shook her head, the cigarette still between her lips. A cigarette that no doubt came from the old man. Dragon Smoke, a rare brand of cigarettes that I had known that only seen mages from the Clocktower enjoy. "I don't mind if my journey stops here, the wish I had for the Grail, I don't need it anymore."
For a moment I stared at her, baffled. "I see," was all I could say.
"But kid," she said as more and more of her began to disappear, "I don't know what your plans for the future are, but make sure you leave your mark any way you can. You have my Master and I rooting for you all the way to the top." She seemed to ponder on something, I don't know what for before I could ask her about it, she disappeared into motes of mana with a rather peaceful look on her face, her cigarette falling onto the floor.
I watched as those motes floated into the air above before they too disappeared. My gaze settled on the ceiling of the ruined throne room.
"Faelan?" I heard Atalanta ask with uncertainty in her tone.
Upon turning my gaze to her, I saw that she looked at me with such worry it was almost staggering. Letting out a large sigh, my gaze rose to the roof of the room.
"Faelan." I heard the worry in her voice as she walked over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Faelan, are you all right?"
"I'm so tired, Atalanta…" I whispered, my eyes staring up at nothing. "So freakin' tired…"
All my life, ever since New Mexico, my life has been one of constant movement. The Clocktower, Barthomeloi, the assignments she had continuously given me over the years, Lin's kidnapping, my so-called vacation that ended up with me being here, Faust, and now the old man's death. And looking back, this was the first time I had lost someone I cared about.
And it hurt. It hurt so much.
"I know," Atalanta said, her tone just as quiet as mine, as she pressed her forehead against mine. "I'm so sorry, Faelan, for what happened to the necromancer. I know he meant a lot to you."
My eyes turned downward towards hers, looking deep into her emerald green eyes. In them, I saw the care, love, and worry she had for me. Reaching up with a hand, I cupped her cheek and in response, she leaned into my touch.
Before either of us knew what hit us, a rumble reverberated throughout the throne room.
"What the hell?" I frowned.
"Something must have happened to Assassin," Atalanta surmised, a frown on her own features as her gaze trailed over to the destroyed throne. "Saber must've destroyed her spiritual core and now Assassin of Red is losing control of the Gardens as she loses magical energy."
"We have to get out of here," I said, standing up.
"Faelan, but what about the Holy Grail?" she frowned.
"Ruler probably got it already," I shook my head before looking at her with a regretful smile. "And I'm sorry, but I'm not really interested in that stupid cup anymore." Though to be honest, I never was. At first, I had gone along with it because I at least owed Atalanta that much, but now, with what Amakusa did, the Holy Grail and its omnipotent wish just wasn't worth it.
She looked at me, silent for a moment before she smiled at me, "Neither am I, like Saber I don't need my wish anymore. I finally figured out what to change my wish to."
"What is it?" I asked.
Walking over to me, she pressed her forehead against mine again. "To be with you."
Wrapping my arms around her, I held her close. "Not a bad wish."
"Even if it sounds a little selfish?" she chuckled.
"Aren't all wishes a little selfish?" I replied in turn.
Before either of us could say anything else, another rumble pulsed through the room.
"Okay, this time, we really need to leave," I said hurriedly. "If we go now, we can make it back to the plane."
"Right," she nodded.
Before we left, I had spotted the fallen cigarettes on the floor, Morder's and the other I assumed was the old man's and grabbed them both. Running back the way we came in, we managed our way up to the Gardens' roof where the F-35B was still parked. Daylight was in the midst of peaking over the horizon, signifying the new day. But there had been something in front of the sun, blocking it, something that was flying.
"Is that…" I frowned, "... a dragon?"
Atalanta followed my gaze and was too surprised. "How in the world…?"
My eyes were then drawn to the large object in the dragon's grasp. "Atalanta is that…?"
"The Greater Grail, yes," she nodded. "Well, it seems we officially lost, even if we informally withdrew from the War."
My gaze fell down to my hand, my thumb rubbing against my pointer finger before I turned my hand over to look at the back of it. Where my Command Seals that signified my bond to Atalanta laid.
"I will be able to remain here for a day or two, or even more, since we don't have to fight anymore," she continued in a somber tone as she smiled rather serenely at the sight of the dragon taking the Greater Grail off into the sunrise. "Enough time for me to say goodbye…"
I looked over to the dragon carrying the Greater Grail towards the East once more before looking back at Atalanta again. This was really it, the end. Even if she was indeed able to stay for a day or two, she would eventually be gone.
Unless…
Turning my palm upwards, I opened the Gate of Babylon and let the treasure I had kept fall into my hand, sighing in relief at the sight of it. "Well, we may not have won first place," I said, hoping my voice wouldn't shake and bely how anxious I felt right now. "But this should be a satisfactory consolation prize, right?" I bit my lip before I rather casually tossed the treasure over to Atalanta, who had caught it out of reflex, but her eyes widened at the treasure that she held in her hand.
"Faelan, this is…!" she breathed in surprise.
"A Holy Grail," I nodded with a wry lopsided smile. "Turns out Gilgamesh really did have every treasure in the world in his treasury." It wasn't the Greater Grail and it wasn't capable of granting wishes, but like the Greater Grail, this Grail was a reliquary of magical energy, which said reliquary was full. More than enough magical energy to help me sustain a Servant with Independent Action like Atalanta to keep her anchored in this world for god knows how long.
"How…? What…?" her gaze had switched from the Grail to me a few times.
"I know I just dropped a bombshell on you, Atalanta, but we really do need to be going," I said urgently, noticing more and more of the Hanging Gardens breaking off and falling down below. Taking a step closer to her, I smiled at her as I placed my hand over hers. "I promise, Atalanta, I will answer your questions when we get back."
She stared up at me for a moment, before she nodded, smiling back at me. "I will hold you to that, Faelan." She returned her gaze to the Grail in her hand and I watched as it disappeared, it's magical energy dissipating into Atalanta.
"Let's get outta here," I nodded before running towards where we left the F-35.
…
As the Hanging Gardens continued to collapse around him, Shakespeare continued to write and write with his quill pen onto the book before him. He needed to write, he needed to finish this story. He had initially thought that the Master of Archer of Red would somehow upset the balance of scales within this Grail War, this Greater Grail War. What with his lineage and the tools left for him by his ancestor.
"Of course!" he crowed as he finished writing, gazing up towards Sieg's dragon form. "This story was the homunculus'! Not Ashford's! His story is yet to continue! And what a glorious story it will be!"
The Caster of Red then threw his work for the world to see into the air, content knowing at least one person will be able to see it, his greatest work yet.
"A shame though," he lamented as the floor he stood on collapsed and he fell to the ground below, his own supply of magical energy fading away. "I would've quite liked to have written Faelan Ashford's story instead. I can see that it is wrought with far more tragedies and it would've been my privilege to have stood witness to it."
He gave one more sigh before grinning devilishly, "So here are my parting words to you, Faelan. Don't die! The show must go on!"
…
On our way back to the airport we had all initially deployed from, we had met briefly with Astolfo on his hippogriff, though he had some passengers with him, Caules and… Ruler? She seemed different though. Landing the plane in its VTOL mode near the hangars, I had turned off the plane's instruments and engines before unbuckling the harness. Hitting the switch for the canopy, I jumped out of the cockpit and was waiting for Atalanta to jump off so that I could open a portal to the Gate of Babylon to put the plane in it.
"So you guys made it too, huh!"
My gaze turned upward as Rider of Black's hippogriff landed beside my plane just as Atalanta jumped down, landing beside me.
"Yeah," I nodded, taking off my helmet as Caules and Ruler disembarked before Astolfo did. "Ruler, what was that dragon?"
"Er," Ruler looked at me rather shyly. "I'm sorry, Mister Faelan, but I'm…"
"This is Laeticia," Astolfo grinned as his mount dematerialized. "See, it turns out Ruler's summoning got botched up somehow, so Laeticia offered her body for Ruler to temporarily possess."
I blinked before looking over at Atlanta, who looked back at me just as bewildered as I was. This Grail War really did end up being one giant mess. Thank the Root and whatever god (if they even still exist) that is listening that I don't have to deal with the fallout. I may be just Barthomeloi's glorified henchmen, but at least I knew where I stood on the totem pole and was satisfied with it.
"Right," I sighed, waving my hand at the F-35B behind me, causing a golden ripple connecting to the Gate of Babylon to appear above the plane and swallow it up before disappearing, much to the quiet surprise of everyone else besides Atalanta. "I think we're all due to a nice breakfast in one of the restaurants nearby so that we can all finally unwind. Caules, Rider, you two can explain everything when we're done eating." Spinning on my heel, I walked towards the airport itself where Fiore had been waiting for the rest of us as her plane had gone back after Chiron had been killed.
When we finally did manage to get to a restaurant, though we did make a pitstop for Rul-, er, Laeticia, Atalanta, and Astolfo to get a change of modern clothes, most of us barely said a word through the entire meal. Caules was sitting at the head of the table, something of which he looked uncomfortable doing so, with Fiore at his right and Astolfo on his left. Laeticia sat next to the Rider Servant while I was sitting next to Fiore with Atalanta in the seat next to me.
And while breakfast was indeed a quiet affair, Astolfo was the exception as he was talking rather animatedly with Laeticia. But the poor girl seemed to be quite uncomfortable, not that I blamed her. Two Servants were sitting at the table along with two mages, one who was recently ascended to clan head and your truly, an Enforcer.
"So," I said after Fiore waved away the waiter, "what happened back there?"
"First, can you tell us what happened to you and Archer?" Caules frowned. "I thought you were going to confirm the deaths of the other Masters."
"I assume it was you who had found them, then?" I raised a brow.
"Yeah," he nodded. "Lancer asked me to get them out of the Hanging Gardens, in exchange he would have to let us pass if he wouldn't be able to beat Sieg in a fight."
"An odd request," I frowned. I didn't know the Lancer of Red long, in fact, my time with him probably added up to about twenty minutes at the most. So anything I could say about the guy would be just pure speculation on my part.
"Ah, Karna had a fight with Siegfried at the beginning of the war and wanted to fight him again," Astolfo piped in. "Which meant fighting my Master."
Atalanta nodded, "Ah yes, I remember Achilles mentioning that duel."
"Right," I nodded, remembering that little tidbit. "Anyway, I had barely got out of my plane after landing on the Hanging Gardens before Achilles stopped us."
"I assume Archer fought him then?" asked Fiore.
Here, Archer and I shared a look, an act that caught the attention of everyone else. The Yggdmillennia clan was in shambles, but they were still a mage alliance and they were capable of creating waves, though they would be minor, in the mage community if they felt the desire to. As Atalanta debated via our mental link the pros and cons to them knowing, we were interrupted by a voice.
"Did they not fight?"
Surprisingly, it was Laeticia who asked the question. My gaze turned to her and it was then I knew I could tell the difference between her and the Ruler Servant Jeanne d'Arc who had until recently possessed her. Jeanne was sure of herself and every action she made had the confidence that reflected that. Laeticia on the other hand, looked like every other mundane girl in this modern era, carefree though if not a little ignorant to the world at large. Much less the Moonlit World at large.
After a moment, I realized my gaze was rather intense as she seemed to withdraw into herself a bit. But what had broken my gaze from her was the elbow from Atalanta to my ribs.
"Hey!" I protested.
"Is there a particular reason you've been staring at her so raptly?" she narrowed her eyes at me.
…
Was she jealous?
"No, dearest," I grinned at her cheeks reddened at the term of endearment. "Just noting that she and Ruler are indeed different people. You know you're the only girl for me."
"Ah," Laeticia fiddled in her seat, though she seemed to be looking at the two of us with great interest as if finding a new television show to watch.
Atalanta, despite her red cheeks, glared at me.
"Ahem," Caules coughed, no doubt uncomfortable as to how the conversation led to. "If we can get back to the topic at hand, please? Did Archer fight Rider of Red or not?"
"If you want the answer to that, we'll have to make a geas scroll demanding your silence in exchange," I replied, my gaze hardening.
The Forvedge siblings shared looks, no doubt internally debating if their curiosity was worth it.
"We'll discuss that further when we get back to the Citadel," Caules frowned. "But you and Archer are responsible for eliminating Rider of Red regardless, yes?"
"We are," Atalanta nodded.
"All right then," he sighed. "Well, as for our side. Well, I don't what really happened, but I assume Ruler engaged Amakusa but lost because by the time Rider and I got there, it was Laeticia who was there and the Greater Grail was a bit damaged. Sieg took on Amakusa and…" I raised a brow when he hesitated, but I was more confused when he began smiling. "Well, it turns out a part of Berserker was still with us, in Sieg. That's how he was able to defeat Amakusa."
Atalanta frowned, "What of the dragon?"
"That was my Master too," Astolfo grinned. "See, Master thought of a clever way to cheat the system since the priest had already made his wish on the Grail, though what the priest didn't know was that even though humanity would finally achieve salvation, the consequence of that would be that humanity would become lethargic as they would no longer look to the sky and dream of attaining greater heights. So Master made his wish on the Grail to speed up the process of Saber of Black's heart on him and turned him into the dragon, Fafnir, so he could take it to the Reverse Side of the World."
Figures that the priest wouldn't have thought about the repercussions of his wish.
"The priest's wish would've proved disastrous," I muttered, "not that anyone would've noticed."
Everyone grimaced at the thought.
Though I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that Sieg, a homunculus, not only had the power of Saber of Black, but also Berserker of Black, and had asked the Holy Grail to turn him into a dragon. If I wasn't currently housing a pair of wolves who made up an Entity whose abilities and functions are still unknown, I would've called bullshit.
Faelan, if you transform yourself into a wolf, I will put my foot down.
I had to bite my lip from bursting out laughing.
"So what now?" Astolfo asked.
That question seemed to have brought most of us up short. What do I do now? Of course, I had to report back to Barthomeloi, no doubt she'd be giddy over the fact that I had a magical reactor in me plus a Noble Phantasm and add the fact that with me, she also gets a Servant as a bonus. Well, as close to giddy the boss-lady can get. After that, I had no idea. But I was going to ask for another vacation, I deserved it. Maybe my parents, Lin, Atalanta, and I could go somewhere warm. Maybe the Caribbean or Hawaii?
You just want to see me in a bikini again.
I raised a brow at her, not denying the claim as she eyed me in amusement.
"Why don't we all head back to Citadel first," Fiore suggested. "Breakfast aside, I'm sure we're all exhausted and would appreciate some time to get some rest."
That I could definitely agree with.
…
"So… a Holy Grail?"
I had to resist the urge to sigh. Of course Atalanta wouldn't let it go, but I figured she would at least give me time to get some sleep. Not that I haven't done days of going on without sleep, three days being my max, but after the fight with Achilles, I really wanted to get some zees. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, I sat down on the couch and unlaced my boots, kicking them off and letting them lay where they had fallen on the floor. Leaning back against the couch's backrest, Atalanta took a seat next to me and leaned against my shoulder.
"Whenever you're ready," she said patiently.
Placing my head atop hers, I breathed out a sigh through my nose. "To be honest I didn't know that I had it until a few days ago, I had been talking with Caules about the War and after I left I took out a random item from the Gate of Babylon, fully expecting something I had thrown in there."
"I thought Gilgamesh's treasury had been sacked and its contents spread through the world?" I heard the confusion in her tone as she laced her fingers with mine. "Wait, did someone else put this Grail in there?"
"Gilgamesh's treasury was sacked, however, there is one treasure that neither of the Darius kings or Nitocris were able to remove," I replied. "A weapon that Gilgamesh truly claimed as his own, Ea. And Ea is a powerful crystallized legend, a Noble Phantasm" I bit my lip, "An anti-planet one if I'm not mistaken."
…
"Faelan, surely you jest…" she breathed in shock.
"Nope," I sighed again. No doubt that her knowledge of other Heroic Spirits on the Throne of Heroes afforded her the knowledge of Gilgamesh and the anti-planet level Noble Phantasm that he had once wielded.
"You had such a Noble Phantasm at your beck and call?! Why didn't you use it against the priest?!" she pulled back to look at me incredulously.
"I can't use it," I shrugged.
"What?"
"I can't use it," I repeated myself, shaking my head in wry amusement. "I once tried to grasp the Sword of Rupture when I first discovered it in the Gate of Babylon, but all I got were burns all over my hands for my trouble." And those burns had been a bitch to heal, it took several runes from myself and healing magecraft from both my parents to heal the damaged nerves in my hand.
"Oh."
I raised a brow in quiet amusement, I didn't really blame her for remaining flabbergasted. After all, I did have an anti-planet Noble Phantasm in my back pocket. Though I couldn't help but remember the conversation I had with her and me joking about asking the Holy Grail for an anti-planet Noble Phantasm. I'm sure Barthomeloi wouldn't let me out of her sights if she ever did discover I was able to use Ea or had somehow acquired another Noble Phantasm of the same level. I remember that it was the only time I saw her actually come close to pouting when I told her that I wasn't able to use Ea.
"But what does this Noble Phantasm have to do with the Holy Grail you gave me?" she frowned.
"Well, when the Grail fell into my hand, I went into the Gate of Babylon to see where it had come from," I continued to explain the situation. "Turns out it had been hidden in the handguard of Ea."
"Truly?" she raised a brow, dubious.
"Hidden very carefully," I nodded, "I found a spot in the handguard where Gilgamesh had hidden it."
"But why would he hide a Holy Grail?" she frowned, pondering on it.
"No idea," I shrugged, "I'm certainly not complaining." I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against me.
"Obviously," she rolled her eyes with a chuckle.
Now that it was just the two of us, my arms tightened around her. Something of which she seemed to notice.
"It's okay, Faelan," she whispered, running her hand through my hair. "I miss them too."
Tears seeped out from the corners of my eyes as I mourned the deaths of old man Sisigou and Mordred.
…
The next day, I found myself on the ramparts of the Citadel. Atalanta had busied herself by going into town by getting souvenirs with Astolfo inviting himself along. Something about surviving Servants needed to stick together or something like that. Though when I reached the top, I was surprised to see that I wasn't the only one who had the same idea.
"Laeticia?"
The blonde french girl turned around in surprise. "Oh, Mister Faelan! What brings you up here?" she asked, her tone nervous.
"Just Faelan is fine," I assured her, shaking my head with a chuckle as I joined her on the ramparts overlooking the plains that had once been the arena for the attack of the Red faction on the Citadel. "You don't need to be so formal. You may not have been "awake" so to speak, but you were still with us in this Grail War."
"Eheh, maybe, but I didn't really do much," she chuckled sheepishly, averting her gaze.
Jeez, she really was a shy thing.
"I'm guessing you're going back home?" I asked her.
"Yes," she nodded. "I must return to Paris, I still have my studies to go back to."
"What are you in school for, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked curiously.
"Nursing," she replied with a smile. "I'm in my second year. Though I confess that I'm a little surprised that you would ask about it. I thought you would see it as something dull, considering you can use magic."
"Magecraft actually, but yeah, I get why you'd think that," I laughed with a shrug. "But to be honest, mages are kinda uptight and it's kinda refreshing talking to someone who now walks that thin line."
"Thin line?" she frowned.
"You're a normal human yet you're aware of the world, the real world, at large," I explained. "Of course, I don't expect you to become a magus or start spouting to the world what really goes on. I doubt the Mage's Association would allow the last one. But like I said, it's nice talking to someone who doesn't have a ten foot pole up their ass wherever they go."
"Oh," she shifted uncomfortably, probably at my language. "Is it really that bad? Caules and Fiore seem to act like normal people."
I looked up in thought, "Mm, I'll give you that, but they would be considered outliers. Though Fiore acts like how a typical mage would act than Caules, I don't know if you've seen it, but have you seen Fiore try to use a smartphone?" I had once and it was freakin' hilarious seeing her trying to figure out each app's functions, even the basic ones that toddlers could figure out.
"Ah," she looked off to the side, a blank expression on her face.
Oh, I guess she has too.
"Are all other mages like that then?" she asked.
"Not all," I shook my head. "My family has been using modern technology since my father likes to do business with the mundane. An old professor of mine likes to play video games in his free time and a colleague of mine regularly uses modern technology since it provides him an edge over other mages."
"I see," she frowned, no doubt confused by the idea that the greater mage community was inept with what a regular mundane child could easily figure out how to use. "If you don't mind me asking, Faelan, what do you plan to do after this?"
I blinked before releasing a sigh, "Well, I have to make a full report back to my boss of what happened in this Grail war." So much paperwork… "After that, I dunno," I shrugged. "I'm thinking of going on another vacation."
"Another?" she tilted her head.
"Well, when I got roped into this Grail War, I was on vacation with my sister in Bucharest," I sighed once more, my shoulders slumping.
"Ah, I see," she smiled in sympathy. "Well, if you will indeed go on another vacation, I wholeheartedly endorse going to Paris. It's actually quite nice this time of year and there are a few festivals going on as well. If you do go, hit me up and I can show you all the best places to go to."
"Sure, I'd like that," I smiled at her. "Oh, actually, hold on, I'll give you my number." Opening the Gate of Babylon, I pulled out a notepad and a pen from it and wrote my phone number for my phone before handing it to her.
"Thank you," she smiled. "I'd give you mine in return, but…"
Right, Ruler probably left it behind, not knowing that such devices were pretty normal for people.
"What seems to be going on here?"
A cold shiver went down my spine upon hearing the rather sharp tone in Atalanta's voice that rang out.
"Ah, Atalanta," I smiled nervous, turning on my heel to face her. "When did you get back?" For some reason, it felt like a dangerous predator was eyeing me like it was deciding whether or not it should expend the effort in hunting me down.
She was wearing some of the modern clothes I got her back in Bucharest, her lion features gone as she had her arms crossed as she looked at Laeticia with a blank face, but with a brow raised.
"Not long ago," she answered, her tone curt. "What were you two talking about?"
Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Ah," Laeticia seemed to have understood how Atalanta was feeling. "You don't have to worry about me, Miss Atalanta," she said assuringly. "I was watching the two of you while Lady Jeanne had possession of my body and I was rooting for the both of you, quite honestly."
Atalanta blinked, "Rooting for me?"
"Yes, yes!" Laeticia's eyes outright sparkled as she took the Huntress' hands in her own. "I could tell you felt so strongly for Faelan and I couldn't help but be enamored by it. Tell me, when was it that you fell in love with him? You must tell me the details!"
Atalanta was baffled at the blonde girl's behavior, but I wasn't that socially inept to understand that she, intentionally or not, got her first girl friend in this modern era. And no, Mordred most certainly did not count. I'm sure she would've been insulted at the thought. I laughed a bit when Atalanta turned to me, her eyes reflecting that she was begging me to buffer for her. Shaking my head in amusement, I walked over to the two to help Atalanta.
…
"There, it's done," Caules sighed after signing the geis scroll. "Now what was it that called for such measures?"
Rolling up my copy of the scroll, I tossed it into the Gate of Babylon. Along with whatever I was going to say about the fight with Achilles on the condition that I keep quiet about what Darnic had tried to do besides Barthomeloi. I also threw in that they, or rather Caules, wouldn't tell anyone of my Gate of Babylon. With Fiore abandoning the path of a magus, her only ties to the Moonlit world was her family who remained mages, so no other mage would even speak with her unless necessary. Thereby, making her sign the scroll moot. Glancing over at her, I realized that she was only here to support her brother. After all, she was the one who designated the family heir and had received a majority of the training in order to fulfill that role.
"Atalanta did not fight with Rider of Red," I confessed with a sigh. "I did."
Both Forvedge siblings balked.
"Excuse me?!"
"What?! Wait, are you serious?!"
Ah, well, at least they were giving me the benefit of the doubt somewhat.
"How are you still alive?!" Caules pointed his finger at me incredulously. "Even a low-quality Servant is more than a match for a magus, regardless if they are an Enforcer as well. Sure, there's a chance you might be able to take Servant by surprise for a bit if you prepared extensively, but I doubt you did, even with the Gate of Babylon."
I couldn't help but smile. He was right, I wouldn't have been able to. Not even with the wolves in my… heart? My soul? Wherever they were. Even with them providing me with millions worth of mana, I wouldn't have been able to win against Achilles, regardless of how I did win. Even with his injuries, he should've stomped me like a bug.
"I'm pretty sure he was holding back," I shrugged. By a lot.
"Why in the world would he have wanted to fight you?" Fiore looked at me, still flabbergasted.
"He wanted to know if the world was still capable of creating heroes," I sighed, leaning back against the chair I was sitting in. At another batch of their incredulous looks, I could only shrug again. "No really, that's what he told me. I don't know if he had been lying, but he didn't seem the type."
"I see," Fiore frowned. "Tell me, Faelan, even if Rider of Red did hold back in your fight. Was the reason you were able to keep up with him have to do with what you and Kairi Sisigou were busy with while we were dealing with Jack the Ripper."
I blinked, hoping I didn't betray anything. "It is… related to that incident," I allowed. What we spoke about here would be covered by the rules of the geas scroll until the conversation ended.
"Then would you elaborate?" Caules frowned.
"No," I shook my head immediately. "Just as there are secrets of your own that you would never discuss, I have secrets of my own."
Caules looked like he wanted to argue further, but he seemed to have thought better of it and stilled his tongue. "I see," was all he said, sighing as he scratched his head. "Well, it can't be helped then."
"Thank you, for understanding," I nodded. "And with that, ends our conversation over the matter." And with those words, the terms of the geis scroll had been made and had been made binding.
After a moment, Fiore spoke up once more. "If you don't mind me asking, what do you plan to do now?"
"I think it's time I go home," I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck in exhaustion.
"Don't you have to report back to Barthomeloi?" she pointed out.
It took everything I had to hide my grimace. Of course I had to report back to her. No doubt she had gotten word of the debris that had fallen as a result of the Hanging Gardens crumbling after Semiramis' death. And she would only tolerate my silence for not much longer.
"Have you made your travel arrangements?" Caules asked curiously.
"I have, Atalanta and I will be leaving early tomorrow morning," I nodded.
"I see," he replied before he stood up and walked over, offering his hand to me. "If I don't see you off, then let me give you my thanks for all of your help."
I stared up at him for a moment before smiling and clasped his hand with mine. "You're welcome. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some packing to finish."
"Can't you use the Gate of Babylon?" Fiore raised a brow.
"Of course I can," I shrugged as I stood up from my seat and walked over to the door. "But Atalanta got some souvenirs and the Gate of Babylon can get messy if I'm not too careful." And it was true, I used to store some useless crap in there along with some emergency equipment and everything became cluttered and a mess. After that, I only stored what would be useful.
"Really? How peculiar," Caules frowned in contemplation.
"Anyway," I said, opening the door and standing in the doorway, "don't worry about contacting the Clocktower on your side for the details of the War. Ask for Lord El-Meloi II, he's a professor there, he'll help you in straightening things out." The instructor wasn't exactly happy that a portion of this would fall onto his lap, but having a student who participated in a Grail War seemed to have softened him up.
"Oh, thank you," Caules nodded.
"Ah, by the way, make sure you get your school materials, classes start in two months."
"Wait, what?"
Not giving them more time to react more than that, I closed the door and walked down the hall towards my room.
…
I wonder if Atlanta was up for watching more Marvel movies later.
"Heya, Faelan."
Turning my head, I found Astolfo standing at a nearby corner.
"Oh, hey Rider," I greeted the Rider of Black. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," he shrugged, raising the tray of food in his hands a bit. "Just grabbing some food for Laeticia. I've been helping her acclimatize to everything. Apparently, even with Ruler's spirit protecting her from harm, having a Heroic Spirit possess her still exhausted her body."
Idly, my thoughts trained to the Entity that inhabited my body. As either a phantom or a Phantasmal Beast, while powerful, there have been examples in history of either possessing a human body or or a human having a heart or soul of a Phantasmal Beast with both Siegfried and King Arthur being prime examples. Though, never before had a combination of phantom and Phantasmal Beast come together and inhabit a human body. Makes me wonder if there will be any drawbacks that might come up.
"I see, keep up the good work then," I nodded.
"Aye aye!" he grinned.
"Oh, hey, Rider, if I don't see you again before I leave, I'd like you to have this," I said, opening the Gate of Babylon and allowing an item to fall from it, a prototype Mystic Code. I then placed it on the tray given that his hands were occupied.
"Hm, what's this?" he blinked, his curiosity evident. "A phone?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "it's an experimental Mystic Code that works on magical energy rather than electricity. And since you're a Servant with a Master who is now a dragon that was formerly a magical energy battery…"
"Means that I probably won't ever have to charge it!" Astolfo's eyes lit up.
"Technically, you'd always be charging it," I chuckled. "It's just that it'll never die on you. I don't know what you plan on doing now that the War's over and I doubt a free spirit like yourself would appreciate being cooped up in a castle all day every day, so it'll help you keep in touch with people."
"Thanks, Faelan," Astolfo smiled. "You know, my Master was right. You really are a good person."
I blinked, "Sieg thought that I was a good person?"
"Totally," Astolfo nodded, "whenever we talked about you, Sieg would always say that you were a good person, helping people, even when there wasn't really any benefit to you."
"I wouldn't say that," I frowned. "I always got something out of it."
And it was true. Letting Caules go to help Fiore back in Sighisoara, that got Berserker of Black to back off. Helping Sieg with getting the homunculi out of the Citadel, it gave me a route that I could infiltrate into the place.
Astolfo raised a brow, still grinning, "And what about when you helped Toole?"
"Who?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"That homunculus girl whose leg you healed," he explained. "You may not have noticed since you weren't around much when we dealt with Jack the Ripper or you've been cooped up with Archer of Red in your room, but the other homunculi actually respect and appreciate your efforts. Sieg being chief among them." He then looked down at the tray in his hands. "I really do gotta go though, before the food gets cold." Turning in the direction he needed to go, he trotted off. "Thanks again for the cool phone!"
I watched Rider leave with a frown on my face. Did I really leave that much of an impact on Sieg? Besides a few conversations, we didn't really interact much.
Still…
"Hmph, wherever you are Sieg, I wish you good fortune," I whispered.
He deserved that much.
…
More snow.
Getting down on one knee, I reached down and took some snow in my hand. Was the snow because of the wolves or me? The forest I understood could be a little bit of both, as wild wolves would undoubtedly feel more comfortable in the forest and spending time in the forest gave me some comfort. But this snow, I really had no idea from whose influence it came from. Feeling a breath on the back of my neck. I looked over my shoulder and saw the Amaroq staring at me for a moment.
"Hey," I greeted the Phantasmal Beast, standing up and turned to address it properly. "Thanks again for the other night, giving me all that magical energy in that fight against Achilles. I doubt I would've been able to fight him without you and Lobo."
The Amaroq gave a small snort from its nose, regarding me with a tinge of amusement in its eyes before pressing its snout against my forehead for a moment before turning around. It walked a few paces before it turned its great head to look back at me. Understanding that it wanted me to follow, I took a step forward and fell into step with the wild canine.
My eyes scanned the perpetually snowing forest for a moment, trying to find any sign of Lobo. Usually, the blue-white wolf was sleeping somewhere nearby whenever I found myself in this plane of… Huh, I still don't know what this place was. My mind? My soul?
Eventually, the wolf led me to a clearing and in the middle of it was a sword stabbed into the ground.
"What is it?" I asked the Amaroq.
It regarded me for a moment before it walked towards the sword. I followed after it and got a closer look at the sword. It looked like a combination of Mugetsu and Ea; a single-edged sword colored black with red veins running along the blade.
"This isn't some kind of Arthurian legend spiel is it?" I raised a brow at the Amaroq. "Cause I swear if you start calling me a king…"
The Amaroq snorted in amusement before it gave the sword one last look before it turned around and walked towards the trees. I for one, didn't even glance back at whatever the sword was, I had enough swords anyway.
"Was that all you wanted to show me?" I asked the white-furred Phantasmal Beast.
It only spared me a glance as we continued walking forwards. Eventually, it led me to an outcropping of rock and lying upon it with his head lying on his front paws was Lobo. No doubt sensing our presence, Lobo's eyes opened and found the Amaroq and I. Narrowing his eyes, Lobo lifted his head, continuing to glare.
"Please tell me you didn't bring me here to let him eat me?" I sighed at the Amaroq.
Lobo growled, his hackles rising at the chance. But the Amaroq growled in turn, though in warning, as it moved in front of me. The other wolf that made up the Entity regarded the Amaroq for a moment before it scoffed and laid its head on its front paws again, seemingly going to sleep once more. The more I see Lobo, the more I don't understand him. Over the past few days he seemed to at least tolerate my presence, but now it's like we went back to square one.
"So, what now?" I asked the Amaroq.
It turned to me, regarding me for a long moment before it raised its head, pressing its nose against my forehead.
…
When I opened my eyes, I found myself awake in bed, Atalanta still curled up against me as she continued sleeping. Lying my head back against the pillow, I stared up at the ceiling before reaching for my phone on the nightstand and looked up the time.
4:30 a.m.
Great. An hour before my alarm was going to wake me.
Fully awake and unable to fall asleep, my attention turned towards Atalanta. She was cute when she was asleep. The side of her face was lying atop my shoulder and her tail was curled around my leg as she slumbered on, breathing silently as one of her lion ears twitched every so often.
With the Grail I gave her and her high parameter in Independant Action, she barely needed any magical energy on my behalf, only needing to take magical energy from me sparingly and only in order to maintain my connection to her. Hell, if she wanted to, she could actually leave on her own with no detriment on her part. After all, despite not being a Holy Grail that could grant wishes, it was still a reliquary of magical energy that had been gathering such on top of what magical energy it had when Gilgamesh stored it away. Though to be honest, I don't know how or where it got all that mana from. Since the Gate of Babylon lay in another dimension, it didn't have a leyline to draw from.
That I knew of anyway.
Though, I wouldn't be surprised if Gilgamesh managed to toss a leyline into the Gate of Babylon somewhere. Looking back at Atalanta and thinking about the Grail I gave her, it was then I remembered something. Something important I had to do before I left the country.
…
"So this is really it," said Caules to me, Fiore beside him. "Thank you once again, for everything you've done."
"Even the part where I barely took you seriously in that fight in Sighisoara?" I raised a brow at him as I shook his hand.
"Um, especially that part," he laughed sheepishly. "I don't know if there would be anything left of me if I fought you in a fight where you took it seriously."
"Of course there would be," I grinned. "I do like to keep trophies of the people I've killed."
Much to my amusement, the new Forvedge heir's face paled considerably.
"That's enough teasing, Faelan," Atalanta chuckled as she arrived. "After all, it would be in poor taste if a Master should die now that the War is over." Fiore joined Atalanta and I in laughter as Caules grumbled to himself. "The car is ready when you are," the Huntress said to me.
I nodded to her before looking back at the Forvedge siblings, "If you guys ever need help, don't hesitate to call."
The two blinked, surprised.
"Why the surprise?" I chuckled. "We haven't been enemies for a long while and the Grail War is over."
"We're still mages," Caules pointed out. "Or rather, you and I are."
"Technically, I'm an Enforcer," I shrugged. "So unless if you start looking into vampirism, I don't see why we can't be allies."
Caules looked to his sister.
"You're the head of the family now, remember?" she reminded him, but shrugged nonetheless. "Still, he has a point. Besides, there would be little to no detriment in having an Enforcer as an ally." The fact that I was one of Barthomeloi's was better left unsaid.
Caules frowned, pondering on it before nodding. "Allies then," he said to me.
Exchanging contact information, I said the last of my goodbyes before Atalanta and I got into the back of the car.
"How do you think Lin is?" Atalanta asked, her fingers threading through mine.
"Probably hungry," I chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if she went through a growth spurt to be honest."
"Perhaps not too many," Atalanta smiled. "She should enjoy her youth."
"I know," I smiled back before breathing out a sigh. "Time to go home. Huh." I frowned as I realized something.
"What? What is it?" she looked at me in concern.
"It's nothing, just thinking of places to take you," I shrugged, my eyes narrowing in thought. "Places to see, food to try…" It was then I noticed her smile. "What?"
"Nothing," she shook her head. "Home," Atalanta spoke the word, as if trying it out before nodding. "Yes, let us go home."
…
It had been waiting.
It had been watching.
"The boy returns home," it spoke into a communication device.
...
"Yes, I see. Yes, you're right, my master. Finally, the game will be able to begin."
…
A delightful first act. Hmph, perhaps making investments into you will indeed bear wonderful fruit. So I will admit this, you mongrel, I await on bated breath to see what more tragedies will befall you before you can truly shine.
Apocrypha Epilogue: A Toast
"Ah, good afternoon, how may I help you?"
I looked around the restaurant. It was quaint, homey. Something I would miss when I left Romania and went back to England.
"Your bar open?" I asked.
The waiter smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, it's not. But if you want, I can have a drink served to you with your meal."
"Sure," I nodded.
"Please, this way," the waiter led me to a table. "Here's a menu-"
"A hamburger, well done and some french fries is fine," I waved off as I sat down. I didn't really plan on eating the meal. Maybe I could get it in a to-go bag later and give it to Atalanta.
"And your drink?" the waiter asked.
"A whiskey on ice," I replied.
"Of course," the waiter nodded. "Your order will be out soon."
It wasn't long before my meal was placed in front of me with a glass of whiskey right next to it. Grabbing the glass, I raised it.
"To you, old man. You and Saber," I breathed out, hoping that my voice wouldn't break. I then brought the glass of whiskey to my lips and took a long drought of it. "May your souls find the respite you earned."
…
"Whiskey's still a shit drink…"
Omake: Kairi's Last Laugh
It was a sunny day in Kyoto, Japan. The opposite of how a group of people felt as they stood before a new grave in a cemetery. More specifically, the Ashford family. Faelan and his parents were staring down at Kairi's tombstone while Lin waited patiently, hanging onto her mother's hand. She understood someone important to her parents and her brother was gone, but she didn't really know who it was. Atalanta was holding Faelan's hand, offering as much support to him as she could.
"It was a good idea, son," said Galen. "Burying Kairi next to his daughter."
"It's what he would've wanted," Faelan shrugged.
"It's a shame he didn't have any other family," said Aella.
Faelan frowned, sighing as he glanced between the two tombstones. He was a bit surprised that Kairi arranged for his daughter to have a tombstone all to herself rather than cremate and bury the ashes at the family Sisigou gravestone. But then again, his daughter was his only family for a long, long while.
"Yeah, well, I think he liked the solitude sometimes," Faelan shrugged. "That way no one would scold him for his smoking habit."
"A habit of which I scold my Kerry-bear for all the time!"
Looking over their shoulders, the Ashford family was surprised to see a family of four approach them, a man, a woman, a teenage boy and a young girl. All wearing black clothing fit for a funeral. The woman being the one who spoke.
"Emiya?" Galen raised a brow. "What're you doing here?"
Kiritsugu Emiya sighed, "My wife here found out about Sisigou's death. Practically dragged all of us from Fuyuki to come here and pay our respects."
"Yahallo~" said waved wife waved happily with a beaming grin. "My name's Irisviel! And these," she paused to wrap her arms around her kids, "are my very cute and adorable children! This is my son, Shirou, and my daughter, Ilya."
"Hiya!" Ilya beamed with a smile while Shirou politely waved.
Faelan blinked at Irisviel. Wow, if Lin was like the warmth of a summer sun, then this woman was the "in your face light" coming from said sun. Though the name "Shirou" caught Faelan's attention. The last Shirou he knew was a delusional reincarnated priest who almost took human desire away from the whole planet in a misguided attempt to save humanity.
"Hello, Irisviel," Aella smiled back. "I'm Aella and this is my son, Faelan, his girlfriend, Atalanta, and my daughter, Lin."
"Good afternoon," Atalanta bowed her head cordially.
"Hi," Lin said shyly, hiding behind her mother's leg.
"So this is the family you've mentioned, Emiya?" Faelan raised a brow at the Magus Killer.
"Yeah," Kiritsugu nodded before his eyes turned onto Kairi's tombstone before looking over to the tombstone of Kairi's daughter. "I see you buried him next to his daughter. He'd like that."
"Yeah, thought the same," Faelan shrugged.
"You work with Kiritsugu?" Irisviel frowned with a tilt of her head. "Aren't you a little young for that, young man?"
"Ah, finally someone else with some common sense," Aella chuckled. "I'm sure you'd be worried too if your son had the same job as his father, yes?"
Off to the side, young Shirou Emiya was wondering what they were talking about. All he knew of his father's job was that it took him overseas most of the time. However, Shirou froze when Irisviel's eyes snapped over to him with a sharp look that caused a shiver to go up his spine.
"Shirou~ You are never allowed to have the same job as your father, mmkay?" Irisviel was smiling, but it scared the ever living daylights out of him.
"Wh-What? Mom, I don't-" Shirou stammered.
"Ever. Are. We. Clear?" Irisviel's smile intensified.
"Crystal!" Shirou squeaked out as he vigorously nodded.
Aella blinked at the scene before a smile nearly split her face in two. "Yes! Finally, another mother who understands!"
As the two mothers striked up the beginnings of a camaraderie, Ilya seemed to have struck up a conversation with Atalanta while Lin held onto the Huntress' hand.
And as for the guys, well...
Kiritsugu, Galen, and Faelan came to a sudden realization as they in unison, slowly turned their heads towards Kairi's grave. For some reason, the three of them knew, they just knew that wherever Kairi was, he was laughing his ass off. And the reason why was explicitly clear.
Aella Ashford and Irisviel Emiya had just joined forces…
AN:
So ends the first arc of Cats & Dogs, sorry if you were expecting a big ending to this, but I emphasize that this is only arc 1 and there is still more to come. I am currently working on arc 2 of this story, however, the plot is original, so I can't post these chapters almost every week as I did for arc 1 since it was basically a retelling of the Apocrypha story with Faelan in it. So, my schedule is going to be a monthly or a two-month basis for chapter release depending on how busy I will be or if writer's block kicks in.
So Koyanskaya was just released for FGO on JP and I know you Tamamo fans... or masochists, are jumping for joy. At least that'll give you two years to save on SQs to save for her. Speaking of FGO, I finally managed to pull Merlin... and leveling him up, his skills, and unlocking his summer costume basically wiped out all the QP I earned in the summer event thus far. Back to event farming... again... Anyways, any of you who are still or have yet to roll for any of the summer Servants, I wish you all luck for Berserker Musashi, Ruler Artoria, or Assassin Okita when she gets her banner. Because let's be honest, they're the only ones most of you are rolling for.
One last thing, last month the day after when Chapter 20 was released, that was the first time this story hit a thousand views in a single day. Thank you all for your support and for reading this story. And a note for any of you who want some clarification, PM me for answers. I kinda hate it when authors reply to their readers in their chapters, especially if there are a lot of them. At that point, half the chapter they posted isn't the story at all and excessively bloating their word counts.
Anyway, stay healthy, stay safe, and you all have a good day!