So this is going to be a fun chapter...we're going to continue where we left off in the last one with some fun combat. Things happen, there's some heartfelt stuff happening...but more importantly, we're gonna be getting new people joining us!
Orleans: Saint
"AAAAAAARTHUUUUUURRRRR!"
Artoria leaped backwards, her back colliding against a tree only for her roll away as Lancelot's sword sliced into the wood. The crazed knight shrieked, keeping on Artoria like a burr. The King couldn't even reach her sword for how much she had to keep on her feet. Lancelot seemed dead set on not letting her get anywhere near that blade.
"Cu, Mash, can you help her?" Cira pleaded, "We can't lose her!"
"On it," Mash nodded, charging forwards as Marie gave a sharp cry.
Cira's head snapped towards the queen as Sanson charged at Marie and Mozart, the composer waved his baton and what seemed to be angels of light materialized, batting aside the executioner's blade with a trumpet before shattering into shards of light. Jeanne was racing towards the French army, which was being beset upon by wyverns.
"CU! CHANGE OF PLANS!" Cira yelled, "GET HIM! Help Marie and Mozart!"
"Gotcha, Master!" Cu Chulainn confirmed as he dashed towards the Assassin servant, "OI! Why don't you pick on an actual combat Servant?"
He hurled Gáe Bolg at Sanson, getting him to snarl and dodge backwards as the blood red spear cratered the ground where he once stood.
"God, you bloody Frenchmen call us Celts barbaric," the Irishman huffed, yanking his spear from the ground and circling the Assassin, "At least we had the sense and honor to not go after defenseless women! Good God, man! Didn't your mam teach you any better?"
"Tch, an Irishman. Go back to your pagan gods, Servant of the Spear," Sanson huffed, "This is between the Queen and I, and unfortunately that Godforsaken musician, so kindly step aside."
"Nah, I'd be goin' against my oaths as a knight if I did. I might not be a total stick in the mud like the King over there, but I still hold my honor close," Cu Chulainn preened, "I promised I'd protect Queenie here, not gonna break that."
Cira trusted that Cu would let her know if things were bad, she turned her attention back to Mash as the Shielder set her shield before her, put her head down and rammed right into Lancelot, sending him flying as she bowled him over.
"That's my girl," Cira grinned, helping Lily to her feet as the latter shook her head as if to clear it.
Lancelot roared, getting to his feet and bringing his sword crashing down on Mash's shield. Mash's eyes were a hard, freezing gold as she shoved forward with a yell and knocked him off balance again.
"Artoria! Your sword!" Mash yelled as she took a stance between Artoria and Lancelot, "I'll hold him off best I can!"
Artoria's face was still stricken, pale and horrified as she caught her breath and made a break for her sword. Seeing her move, Lancelot seemed to burst once more, the tendrils from his back thrashing and shooting forwards with a mind of their own, latching around Mash's ankle and holding her fast while Lancelot's sword swung at her.
Mash's golden eyes flashed as she whipped her shield to face him, getting a slightly confused growl from Lancelot, but the crazed knight shook his helm and kicked her shield, sending Mash flying back towards Cira.
Cira gave a shocked yelp as Mash collided with her, knocking the wind out of her as a very, very sharp pain in her chest accompanied the cracking sound that caught her ear. Cira screamed as her back collided with a large boulder and her breath painfully rushed out of her lungs.
"Master!" Lily and Artoria cried.
"Sword...Now!" Cira cried, trying to suck her breath back in but was met with sharp pain every time.
Mash didn't move, faintly groaning as she tried to get her thoughts back. Artoria continued to race for her sword, only to yell as Lancelot tackled her and both went tumbling across the ground.
"LANCELOT CEASE THIS MADNESS!" Artoria roared as she grabbed his wrists and tried to prevent him from bringing his sword down on her head, "We were friends once! Why do you do this!? What evil spirit has possessed you!?"
The only response she got was a snarl.
"Sacred Sword of Selection…"
Cira's head snapped towards Lily, who held Caliburn before her with her eyes closed, the slim blade glowing with brilliant golden light that only seemed to grow. Light peeled off the blade, sparking to the ground and glittering at her feet, ghostly lilies of golden white light bloomed around her as the smell of said flowers filled the air.
"Grant me your power," Lily prayed, her emerald gaze opened, hard as the gemstones they resembled, "Cleanse this evil! CALIBURN!"
She pointed the glowing blade at Lancelot, light blitzing from the point of her sword and pushing her backwards with the force. The beam slammed into him, knocking him to the ground a few meters away from Artoria. The air seemed to glitter with motes of golden light around him...and he shrieked as each one of the motes detonated.
Cira saw Lily's wounds heal, not even leaving scars as the flowers at her feet faded to ashes. She lowered her sword, her shoulders heaving from exertion...right as a loud cracking sound caught Cira's ear. Lily's head snapped up and she stared at her blade in horror…
As with the tinkling sound of glass breaking...Caliburn shattered in her hands, showering the ground in bits of silver and blue metal and leaving the golden hilt in Lily's hands. Lily fell to her knees, stunned as she reached for the broken shards, watching as they seemed to dissolve into golden firefly like embers.
Cira's attention was torn away from Lily as a flash of blue caught her eye. Artoria bolted forwards, scooping Excalibur up in her hands and with a cry, Artoria rammed the golden blade through Lancelot's chest. Her shoulders shook as both heroic spirits sank slowly to the ground.
"A-Arthur…"
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, quietly laying him on the ground so that he was propped up against a rock.
His hand reached up, still shaking.
"My...King...I...please…" his voice was broken and hoarse as his body began to break into golden motes of light.
"I'm so sorry…I drove you to this, old friend…" Artoria murmured, holding his hand, "It is my fault…"
His body dissolved as his helm leaned against a rock.
"...Gala...had…" he rasped, "Forgive...me…"
And Arondight clanged to the ground, fading away as he did.
"Master…" Mash coughed, struggling to sit up, "Are you...ok?"
"Hurts...to breathe," Cira gasped, as Artoria slowly made her way over and scooped Cira up, surprisingly easily.
"Mash, can you stand?" Artoria asked.
Mash nodded, shakily getting to her feet.
"He...was a lot stronger than I gave him credit for," Mash whispered, looking at where Lancelot had faded away, "I...what is this feeling?"
She looked up at Artoria...tears shone in her eyes and one streaked down her face.
"I feel...grief?" she shook her head, "I didn't know him...but someone like that...shouldn't be that way,"
"I agree," Artoria's voice was shaky, disheartened, "Lily?"
Lily had not moved from where she knelt to the ground. The young princess knight stared at where the shards of her beloved blade had dissolved. With shaking hands she held the broken hilt to her chest and let out a cry of pain, curling into herself and sobbing. Artoria closed her eyes for a moment before sighing.
"We must move on, Lily," she told her gently, "Master is gravely injured...we must get her somewhere safe. Please stand, there will be time to mourn...for you...and me…"
Mash gently helped Lily to her feet, the younger Saber sniffing as she wiped her tears from her eyes as Cu Chulainn immediately raced over.
"Oh Lugh...Master…" he whispered, "What happened?"
"Sir Lancelot threw me into her," Mash said, "I'm fine...but she hit a rock,"
"Marie...Mozart?" Cira coughed, trying to sit up.
"Stay still," Artoria ordered, "I do not know the extent of your injuries. We need to get you and Sir Siegfried to the town immediately for medical attention,"
Cira gave a pained nod, laying her head back against Artoria's shoulder.
"I'll take her," Cu Chulainn said, "It's my fault I didn't get back sooner…"
"What happened to the Assassin?" Artoria asked.
"Jeanne musta rallied the French Army. There were cannons firing at him and that vampire hag that came with them,"
"Carmilla was here too!?" Mash demanded, "When did she show up!?"
"She showed up for like a second before running with her tail between her legs when Jeanne started in on her," Cu Chulainn replied, taking Cira from Artoria and wincing at Cira's cry of pain, "Never seen someone run that fast. She grabbed Sanson and they just ran away leaving the other Berserker here...I don't see him so I guess you guys took care of him?"
Artoria was quiet, bowing her head as her shoulders sagged.
"...You two musta been close," Cu Chulainn winced, "Sorry...for what it's worth, I can understand how you feel. I had to fight against a brother in arms once too,"
He looked up to see an absolutely crushed Lily.
"Aw Hell, what happened to little Lily?"
"Caliburn was never designed to contain our magical energy," Artoria explained, "It is able to function like Excalibur...however, doing so will shatter the sword. Lily...saved my life at the cost of her noble phantasm,"
She put a gentle hand on Lily's shoulder.
"For that...I am eternally grateful," she told the little Saber.
Lily gave a slight smile...though it didn't reach her eyes.
"We should catch up to the others and go," Mash suggested, "We need to contact Doctor Roman...we might need medical supplies for Cira and Mister Siegfried,"
"I agree," Cu Chulainn nodded, "Let's get moving,"
Cira woke up hours later with both Marie and Jeanne hovering over her. She jolted, trying to sit up only to cry out as a sharp pain lanced through her ribs. Jeanne gently put a firm hand on each of her wrists and forced her back down.
"Easy, Cira," she soothed, "You are safe, nothing is coming to harm you,"
"Mash...Artoria...Lily...Cu…?" Cira rasped, her throat dry as she looked around for something to drink.
"They're fine," Marie said, tilting Cira's head up gently and pressing what looked to be a canteen or waterskin to her lips, "Drink...you have been unconscious for nearly a day,"
"A day!?"
"You, Master, are quite lucky to be alive," came Artoria's voice from the door.
Cira's eyes flashed as a violet and sable blur rushed to her side. She gave a smile as Mash fussed over her, trying to feel for a fever and experimentally poked Cira's rib...getting a sharp hiss from the other girl.
"Doctor Roman says you might have a few broken ribs," Mash said quietly, her head bowing, "I'm so sorry...If I had been more careful, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have gotten grabbed and thrown and you wouldn't be hurt an-"
"There's not much we coulda done there, I don't think," Cira said, once again trying to sit up and once again getting forced back down by Jeanne.
"If you re-break those ribs after Marie and I set them…" she warned, letting the threat hang in the air.
Cira raised her hands innocently before turning her gaze to Artoria.
"Lily?" she asked.
Artoria's gaze turned sad and she shook her head.
"She has not left Spirit Form since we arrived here," Artoria sighed, "I...knew she would one day lose Caliburn, as I did...I was not expecting it to be so soon,"
"We've done all we can do," Jeanne said gently, "We are going to go check on Siegfried, his wounds are grave...I can only hope we can do so,"
"Mash and I will keep an eye on our Master," Artoria nodded, "My thanks, Maiden of Orleans,"
With that, Jeanne and Marie left the room and Cira turned her attention to Artoria again.
"Are you alright?" she asked, as Artoria joined Mash at Cira's side, "I know Lily's broken up...but…"
Artoria's face turned stricken for a moment, and she balled her fists in her gown. Cira noticed that those hands shook and trembled...something that she had never seen before.
"I...do not know," Artoria admitted, her voice was hushed and Cira could hear a tremble in it, "That Servant we fought...it was most certainly Sir Lancelot. But to see him manifested as a Berserker…"
She shook her head violently.
"I cannot understand why…Did I drive him to this? Something I had done in life...he begged for forgiveness but there was nothing to forgive…" she whispered, "How...why…?"
"Maybe it was to do with his summoning from the Dragon Witch?" Cira suggested, "Remember...Jeanne said that D'Eon and Martha both had madness enhancement on them. Maybe the same could have been said for him? Though...he seemed really out of it…"
"Maybe he had such a strong will it needed to be enhanced even more," Mash suggested, "The stories of Sir Lancelot paint him as someone of strong will,"
"And they are true indeed," Artoria said, giving a slight nod, "He was the finest of mine...very few could best him in both battle prowess and character. To see him like this…"
Her fists clenched again, though it wasn't out of sorrow or fear. This was rage.
"Master, if we engage the Dragon Witch, permit me to be the one to strike her head from her shoulders," she growled, "She corrupted one of my knights. And I will not stand for that."
"Noted," Cira nodded.
She sat up, hissing as pain knifed through her ribs, but she refused to continue to lay down on the pile of blankets.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"An abandoned fort of sorts," Mash told her, "You passed out on the way here so we have been encamped here until you woke up. Siegfried wasn't looking very good either, so Jeanne and Marie have been working on fixing both of you up. We have some medical supplies from Chaldea, which has been working wonders on you...not so much on Siegfried. Jeanne thinks he might be cursed...and there's so many on him that she can't do much,"
"Lovely," Cira sighed, "Hey…Doctor? Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." Romani said, "Based on the scans I'm getting here, you've got three broken ribs and a stress fracture on two more. You are very lucky your spine wasn't damaged when you hit that boulder. Thanks to the leyline you guys opened up we were able to send medical supplies. DaVinci's knowledge about the human body and Jeanne and Marie's healing have sped up the healing process for your ribs. You should be good to move around again but please...try not to crack them open again,"
"I'll do my best," Cira said, "Uh…"
She looked around and then looked at Mash and Artoria.
"Can...I have some time alone with Lily?" she asked.
Artoria nodded and put a gentle hand on Mash's shoulder, both ladies making their way out of the room. Cira turned her gaze to the corner, where she could sense an invisible, small form trying to make itself smaller under her gaze.
"Lily, can I talk to you?"
Lily was silent, seeming to draw her knees closer to her chest and holding the hilt of Caliburn closer to it as well.
"C'mon, Lily...please?" Cira tried again.
There was more silence and Cira sighed, forcing herself to sit up straight though a pained hiss came through her teeth.
"...Master, please don't hurt yourself…" Lily's voice was quiet, echoing through Cira's skull as she sensed Lily getting close enough to touch...but still did not exit spirit form, "I wouldn't be able to bear it if you did,"
"You're barely bearing it now," Cira pointed out, "Lily, I'd like to see you face to face, please,"
Lily seemed to draw back slightly before a soft sigh whispered through Cira's head. There was a sparkle of light next to her, suddenly turning into more sparks and flurries of light as Lily rematerialized, her head bowed as she sat on her knees. She was not in her armor, Cira noticed. Rather like her older self, she had shed the armor and wore the underdress along with a pair of black heels. Her small hands twisting the fabric of her dress, though they shook horribly still.
"Hey," Cira started, reaching out and gently tipping Lily's chin upwards, "Look at me, ok?"
Lily's eyes were bloodshot and still full of tears, her green irises standing out extremely well. Her cheeks still held the remnants of her tears though it seemed she had just managed to get them to stop.
"I know it's hard," Cira brushed an errant lock of blonde hair away from Lily's forehead.
It was so very hard to believe that this Heroic Spirit...her Servant, was only 14 like this. Younger than she was in body...despite being 1500 years older. It was...confusing to say the least. Then again, with the Pendragons it was hard...Artoria looked no older than 16, yet talked like someone in her late twenties, early thirties. Lily looked 14 and acted like it.
"It...was all I had left," Lily whispered, laying a shaking finger on the sapphire in the pommel of the hilt in her hands, "All I had left to remember Merlin...and Kay...and Bedivere...my family. Now it's gone…"
Her shoulders shook.
"I know...that I was supposed to release it one day," she breathed, tears starting again, "But, Master...I'm not ready. I'm nowhere near ready or at Artoria's level. I...I…"
Her voice cut off as her throat closed and Cira put a hand on her shoulder.
"You did something that I would never have dreamed someone your age to do, Lily," Cira told her, "You sacrificed your sword to save Artoria. Did you know it would do that if you used it?"
Lily shook her head.
"I knew it was a training blade for me...that I would eventually have to give it up for another one," she admitted, "But to think it would shatter like that…"
"If you could redo it, would you?"
Lily was silent for a moment, her hands shaking for a moment before going tight on the hilt.
"No. I'd do the exact same thing," Lily said, looking up at Cira, "Because...if I didn't, we would have lost Artoria...and I would have lost a connection to my past and future. There's...so much I want to know...so much I need to learn...and without her...I can't do that,"
Tears streaked down her cheeks.
"But it still feels like I had my heart ripped from my chest, Master…" she whispered, "I am a broken Sword...I'm useless…"
Cira frowned and hugged the young Saber, ignoring the pain that knifed through her ribs as Lily went rigid in shock.
"You're not useless, you're Lily," she said firmly, "You may not be my first Sword or my last, but you are my Sword. You're not useless. You're a ray of sunshine who even gets her stoic older self to smile and laugh when I've not seen anyone do the same. You're selfless and kind and willing to do anything just so that those around you are safe. I don't care if we had a thousand Caliburns. If it meant I'd lose you, then I wouldn't want them. I'm proud of you, Lily. And nothing is going to change that,"
Lily seemed to sag in Cira's embrace and the young Saber sniffed, burying her head in her Master's shoulder.
"The Lord has graced me with a second chance at life," Lily sobbed, "What grace have I that I got a Master like you…"
They stayed like that for a long while, until Lily's shaking and crying finally subsided and she sat up, her ever present smile once more on her face.
"If we get you a regular sword, do you think you can still fight? Even if it isn't Caliburn?" Cira asked.
Lily nodded, giving a wry smile.
"Master, you think I started my training after I pulled Caliburn?" she grinned, "Oh no I was training to be Kay's squire for much longer! But…"
She held the hilt up and gave a sad smile.
"I would like to keep the hilt, just as a reminder tha-" she stopped.
"Lily?" Cira asked as Lily pulled the broken hilt closer and examined it.
"Master...look!" she gasped, showing Cira the hilt.
Cira frowned, looking at the golden crossguard. It didn't look much different than the glimpse she'd gotten of it earlier. A jagged piece of silver metal, likely a shard left from when the blade shattered, still embedded itself in the hilt.
"What am I looking at?" Cira asked.
"This," Lily lay a finger on the silver shard of metal, "That wasn't there when we started talking! It...it's reforming! That's it! That has to be it!"
Cira blinked, looking from the hilt to Lily's happy face and she gave a smile, nodding.
"I don't have the heart to disappoint her…" she thought.
The next day ended up being one of travel. They had discovered that Siegfried had indeed been cursed and that they would need a second saint to help break the sheer amount of curses put on him. So, they had decided to split up. Jeanne and Marie had gone together to search for the Saint on their own and Mozart had stayed behind to go with the Chaldeans and the wounded Siegfried. There had been some incident with the local wildlife and a few wyverns, but Cu Chulainn, Mozart, Mash and Artoria had swiftly dispatched them.
"We should not be too far from Thiers," Mash said, coming back from scouting ahead with Cu Chulainn.
"And Missy Saint and Queenie shouldn't be too far behind us," Cu Chulainn drawled as he stretched and put his spear over his shoulders with his arms looping over it.
"Hm, if I remember right," Mozart said, "Thiers was best known for their knives. Perhaps that may translate into a sword for Mademoiselle Lily,"
Lily's smile turned blindingly bright as she nodded.
"It doesn't look like it's been destroyed from where I can see," she said, "Perhaps they are friendly and will be willing to help us,"
"Hey, Roman...was there any Servant signatures in Thiers?" Cira asked, holding up the communication device.
"Scanning now," he told her, "...Ok, scan's done...looks like there's two there. I'd suggest making contact right away so we don't scare them o-"
A brilliant burst of flame shot into the sky from the city and Cira's heart dropped slightly. She put her head in her hands and sighed.
"...Please, for the love of God," she mumbled, her voice muffled by her hands, "Tell me that was just a trick of the light."
"I am afraid not, Master," Artoria said, looking towards the city, "It seems it was real,"
Cira let out a load groan, falling off the rock she was sitting on and laying on her back with her arm over her eyes.
"Just one day. One effing day. That's all I ask!" she hissed.
After a minute of Cu Chulainn smirking and Lily trying to contain her giggling, Cira gave a heavy sigh and sat up, hissing as the pain knifed across the still healing ribs. She felt Mash's hands on her arm and the Shielder hauled her upright.
"Fiiiiiine, let's go check it out. Hopefully it's friendly," Cira huffed.
It was not friendly.
Upon arriving in town, Cira and her group were met with an odd sight. Two women were currently arguing in the middle of the square while terrified townsfolk were currently scurrying for cover behind stalls and in buildings. One of the women was dressed in a pale blue kimono, her azure locks spilling down her back in waves as two ivory horns curled from her head, she held a fan...which she was using to coyly fan herself. The other woman was...Cira didn't know how exactly to describe her. Her clothing appeared like something from modern day, a pleated pink and black plaid skirt and white top with black corset, and her hair was such a shocking shade of pink that Cira was absolutely sure that it had to be dyed...two horns, sable as opposed to the other woman's ivory, curled up from a headband on top of her head.
"Well this does not look fun," Cira muttered.
"You...y-you you cheeky eastern squirrel!" the pink girl screeched, batting some flames that had caught on her sleeve.
"Ware, Master," Artoria warned, putting a hand before Cira, "They are not what they seem,"
The blue-haired girl gave a smirk, her golden eyes impish as she flourished her fan again.
"Oh that's cute," she beamed, "Do you really think a failure like you could beat a true dragon such as myself, Elizabeth?"
"Wait, that blue haired kid is a dragon?" Cu Chulainn asked, "I mean...I know we've got two dragons here and you two look normal but...what the actual Hell…?"
"They're both dragons," Siegfried said, "Though that blue haired woman is one I have never seen before,"
"THAT IS IT!" the pink-haired girl, Elizabeth, roared, twirling what looked to be a long, black iron lance, "I WILL DEAL WITH CARMILLA LATER! YOU DIE NOW!"
"Not if I kill you first!" the blue-haired girl snarled, fire flickering in her palm as the other girl started towards her.
"Stop right there!" Mozart ordered, raising his baton and waving it as an angel of light materialized between the two, singlehandedly stopping them from striking each other, "I cannot allow you to continue! What you two are doing is sacrilege against all voice and sound!"
"And they're not saints to boot, are they?" Cira sighed.
"If those two are saints than all of humanity and it's religions would crumble into ash," Mozart huffed.
"Look, can't you guys come back the day before yesterday?" Elizabeth demanded, "I'm busy,"
"You won't be busy!" the blue haired woman hissed, "Not until next Grail War!"
"Oh yeah?! Bring it Kiyohime!" Elizabeth snarled.
"Frill necked lizard," Kyohime sniffed.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" Elizabeth shrieked, charging forwards, "JAPANESE RAT SNAKE!"
"Mexican bearded lizard!" Kyohime retorted, elegantly dodging the spear thrust at her.
"Sharp nosed viper!"
"KNOCK IF OFF!" Cira yelled before sighing and turning to her Servants, "Please stop them…"
"You got it, Master," Cu Chulainn nodded and Artoria inclined her head.
A hissing sound caught Cira's ear and she let out an exasperated groan.
"What now!?" she demanded.
"Seems like their squabbling brought out some wyverns hiding the woodwork," Mozart hummed, "Cira, with your permission I would like to borrow Mash so we can properly take them out."
"Lady Lily and I will stay to protect Cira," Siegfried said, giving a low, deep bow, "Lady Lily, should the fight come here, I will allow you to use my blade since I cannot,"
"N-No no! That won't be necessary!" Lily stammered, putting up her hands and shaking them vehemently, "I-I have utter faith in Mash's ability!"
With that the two teams of two broke off. Cira watched as Mozart's conjured angels shone and glittered, their musical instruments blocking the strikes of the wyverns where they could and breaking apart as Mash took down the wyverns via a good shield bashing. Cira turned to the other fight, Mash would let her know should things go awry.
"Oi, girls, you two are gonna destroy the city if you keep on squabbling like rats," Cu Chulainn said, grabbing Elizabeth and lifting her off the ground, growling as her struggling beat against him.
"Put me down!" Elizabeth demanded as Kiyohime gave a high-pitched laugh, pointing her fan at her.
"Oh this is funny, please keep her still so I may roast her...you might get roasted too but that's a price I'm willing to pay!" Kiyohime grinned.
A heavy gauntleted hand put itself on her shoulder as the same dragon aura that Kiyohime and Elizabeth had radiated from Artoria.
"I would advise against that," the King stated, her voice calm and measured yet very threatening, "He is my comrade and I would be most upset should something happen to him,"
"Oh so there are three dragons here," Kiyohime hummed, lowering her fan to wave at herself, "Quite interesting. And you're not a fake like...that one. She's a vampiress wishing to be a dragon, but you're the real deal it looks like,"
"All the same, my Master wishes that you cease your fighting for the sake of the townsfolk," Artoria said, laying a hand on the invisible Excalibur's pommel, "I suggest you do as she asks,"
"And why should I? She's not my Master,"
"Because if you do not, let us say I have slain many dragons in my time and what is one more to add to that?"
"You'd kill your own kind?"
"To protect my Master, certainly,"
Mash and Mozart made their way back to Cira, Siegfried and Lily. The Shielder set her shield on the cobblestones with a faint clang and watched the proceedings.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Artoria is effing terrifying when she wants to be and Cu is a very brave man," Cira said, starting forwards and cupping her hands around her mouth, "Hey! You two really shouldn't be fighting. There's bigger things to fry than each other."
"Recklessness and bravery aren't the same thing," Kiyohime sniffed, turning a golden gaze towards Cira, "Are you stupid?"
"Better than reptiles," Cira retorted, her blue eyes flashing as she came closer, faster, "Look, I get you hate each other. You dragons are territorial,"
She looked at Artoria, who gave an uncharacteristic smirk and Cira quickly checked over the status of the two Servants before her.
"Lancer and Berserker...not too terrible I guess," Cira hummed, "I think Saber here could wipe the floor with you both. But honestly, I'd really like not to fight. We just tangled with the Dragon Witch's lackeys about two days ago and I'm still healing. You two hate her too. I think you...Elizabeth was it? I heard you say something about wanting to kill Carmilla,"
Elizabeth stopped struggling, but she still bristled.
"Yeah, there's only one Elizabeth Bathory that should exist and it's me," she hissed, "Not that vampire witch who's walking around here claiming to be me."
"Have you two seen any other Servants besides us?" Mash asked, coming up.
"I've seen no one but Miss Crazy here," Elizabeth huffed, "And that fake, Carmilla,"
"Please do not lump me in with them," Kiyohime hissed, "I am a Berserker with my reasoning intact,"
Cu Chulainn gave a coughing sound, but Cira could have sworn she heard the word 'Doubt' in it. Mash gave a sigh.
"It looks like we've just wasted our time," she said, "They haven't seen anything besides the Dragon Witch's minions, themselves, or us."
"It's not entirely a waste," Cira replied, We're in Thiers...we should be able to get a sword for Lily while we're here. Still, what a shame."
"Shame?!" Elizabeth scoffed, "You met me and you call it a shame!?"
"We're looking for a Saint and you, very obviously, are not one," Cira deadpanned, making Elizabeth sputter indignantly and Cu Chulainn smack a hand against his lips to bite down the snicker.
"Oh that took guts to say that," Kiyohime purred, giving a grin, "But a saint? I know of one...but only if you mean that their teachings took a deep rooting in this nation,"
"Really?" Mash asked.
"Yes, I met him before having the...pleasure...of meeting Elizabeth," Kiyohime nodded, throwing a dirty look at the other girl, "I...almost ended up fighting him, but he realized I was a 'genuine' berserker and sheathed his sword. His True Name is Georgios...I believe he is quite famous around here,"
"Georgios...the dragonslayer saint, Saint George?" Artoria asked.
"Another dragonslayer?" Cira blinked, "What are the odds!"
"This is fantastic!" Romani's voice piped up, "Do you know where he went?"
"I do and it was a shame," Kiyohime sighed, fanning herself with a dramatic air, "He went to the west, opposite of me."
"...That's the direction Jeanne and Marie went!" Mash gasped, "I need to open communications with her!"
"You do that," Cira nodded, "I'm going to re-arm one of my Swords. Ready, Lily?"
"Of course!" Lily smiled, trotting up, "It will feel good to fight again, that's for sure!"
With that, Cira and Lily split off from the group and went towards the marketplace. Since the fight had been avoided, the townsfolk had started to make their ways about their daily lives again.
"Oh! Master! I found the blacksmith!" Lily beamed, grabbing Cira's hand and racing towards the booth, dragging her Master along.
"Good Lord you've got a strong grip," Cira said, rotating her arm to get feeling back into it.
"Aha...sorry, Master," Lily apologized, giving a shy smile, "I'm excited is all,"
"You're the ladies who stopped those girls from fighting!" the Blacksmith announced, "You have no idea how much we appreciate it...we just rebuilt the last wall from the wyvern attack a few days ago...how can we repay you?"
"We've heard your town is famous for it's knives," Cira said, "Is it possible that it may have translated to swords as well?"
"Swords...not many people around here ask for those," the Blacksmith hummed, his ruddy face was kind as he tapped his cheek in thought, "But since Orleans fell, we have been getting more orders for our blades. Some of them have been swords,"
"Lily here lost her sword fighting against the Dragon Witch's minions," Cira said, putting a hand on Lily's shoulder, "I was hoping that we could replace it,"
"I...wasn't aware young ladies such as yourselves were skilled swordsmen," the Blacksmith admitted, "But if the Maiden of Orleans was before she came back as the Dragon Witch...then I suppose I was wrong. Wait one moment,"
He left his bench and rummaged around the back of the building. Cira could hear the clanking of weapons and blades shifting as he went through them. He came back with a blade that was a bit shorter than Caliburn had been, but wider.
"This the best sword I have ever made," he said, handing it to Lily.
She gratefully took the blade and examined it with a practiced gaze, smiling as she gave a few experimental swings.
"Light but strong," she announced, "And well balanced! You should be proud, this blade is fit for a king."
Cira bit her lip to keep from smiling and Lily looked up at the blacksmith with a happy light in her eyes.
"How much is it?" she asked.
The Blacksmith shook his head.
"If you run it through the Dragon Witch's heart, I will consider that payment enough," he said, "You saved this village from those girls, you're fighting against the Dragon Witch...peace is all I hope for."
"I will come back to give this kingly gift back and pay you for it," Lily promised, "If I don't, then I will send someone to compensate you for sure,"
With that, Lily and Cira made it back to the group, just to see that Jeanne had arrived with a man. His long dark hair cascaded down his back in ringlets as he held a hand on his sword, his armor flashed in the light as his kind, dark eyes landed on Cira and Lily. Lily tensed, a shudder running up her spine and Cira gave a hum. That had to be Georgios. Though something was amiss, she noticed as she and Lily returned.
"I see we found our Saint," Cira smiled as Georgios gave a low bow, "It's nice to meet you, Georgios,"
"I have heard quite a bit from Jeanne about you, Lady Cira," Georgios said, "I would be honored to fight at your side,"
"That's good to hear," Cira nodded, doing a headcount and frowning, "Jeanne...where's Marie?"
Jeanne's face turned sad and she bowed her head, shaking it. Cira noticed that Mozart was a ways away, seeming to have curled in on himself against a wall and sobbing. Her heart sank all the way down to her toes.
Marie was gone.
Master: Cira Albion
Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight
Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon
Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn
Servant: Saber- Saber Lily