Opening Song: None

"Even if you and Kagura win, who will they blame when we are gone?"

The serious voice of a determined individual bounces off struggling thoughts. Mind and spirit have been active, but my body has been unable to wake. The hopeless feeling of being trapped in a prison that is my own body grows. The only thing that is visible are the veins in my eyes.

"Even if you and Kagura win, who will they blame when we are gone?"

A surge of energy zaps me in the neck and I leap to life. The dim orange provided from the fireplace offers a bit of warmth. Formal night garments cover the bottom half of my body. All the scars acquired over eighteen years zigzag, cross and overlap on my chest, shoulders, back and stomach. Roger's still being the biggest scar ever sustained, but now Cataphract has pridefully added his signature alongside all the bullet and stab wounds that dress me. I hold up my arms and check for any signs of unmitigation.

Darkness and sin have not corrupted me yet. Nor is there a primal desire for blood stirring within like there was back at Caligula Island. The strange scab that had formed on the inside of my thigh has been removed, but there are grafted markings that cover the healing holes with stretched skin.

A wooden cot that houses me rests close to the fireplace. The area reeks of the pungent smell of vinegar mixed with turpentine. I peel the wool blanket off and stand. My yoma skin duster, black leather armor and chest plate glisten from a nearby weapon rack. Apart from a couple deep grooves from serious blows, it all looks brand new.

I want to put it on, but it feels nice to have it off for once. Yet it makes me feel vulnerable. The only thing covering me are these leggings, and I don't think Annalise would appreciate me running around without a shirt on in her castle.

The idea of putting the armor back on is tiring though. This might be the small bit of down time I get before having to jump back into the fray. It's a chance worth taking though. I grab the wool blanket and drape it over me. If worst comes to worst, I'll just say I was looking for a shirt.

The hallways seem much more quiet than usual. Then again, there's only four of us living in a castle, and everyone has their retrospective spots. Annalise in the throne room, Raesetsu doing ground keeping, Rutur living in the woods, and Daemogina preforming the inside tasks such as cooking and cleaning.

I head up a spiral case to the top of the castle. Annalise is standing on an elevated battlement directly underneath the sambrum moon. Other than the one time we had dinner; I haven't really seen her outside the throne room. She appears to be in deep thought over something because her faceless mask rests on a nearby bench.

"You certainly gave your elder siblings quite the scare."

A sudden gust of wind kicks up her silvery hair and obstructs the view to her face. The snowfall grows in density and forms a barrier that prevents me from seeing around her shoulders. The only bit of pale skin that is visible is the nape of her neck and her exposed hands. I take the hint and step back.

"There is nothing to be afraid of child. What troubles weigh on thy aching heart?"

"Is Raesetsu okay?"

"Raesetsu lies in slumber, but she has completely recovered from all wounds and blood lost. And what of you?"

"Barely survived, but I'm still here."

"Excellent. What of your bride?"

"Safe and in good hands until my return."

"I am grateful for your success."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"You left on the previous sambrum moon. Both an azure and auran night have passed since your rejuvenating rest."

In Annalise's right hand is a stone with black root like protrusions. Faint squiggly lines of white float around in the dark crimson color. It looks similar to what was forming on my thigh before Rutur swooped in and brought me back. Annalise examines the stone and ponders again on the internal conflict raging within her.

"Annalise, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Shortly after a battle, my enemy asked who would they blame once him, and his brothers were gone. He wasn't specific when he said 'they,' and it's been driving me wild."

"They? What is the context of your battles?"

"I have been tasked by an opposing harbinger with stopping his enemies. They need four scrolls to trigger an apocalyptic event in my world."

"The question that spurs your troubled mind is one only you can answer. Ask yourself, why are you fighting? For whom do you spill your blood for? Is it humanity? Your kith? Your beloved bride? In time, the answer will reveal itself from within your own heart, but be warned my child, the fight that lies ahead will all be for nothing. Battles that will culminate into chaotic calamity. The end result will be a war from which no victor will rise but rest assured, I will aid thee."

"Thank you, Queen Annalise."

Annalise holds the rock up and returns to her deep thought, "Like you child, I find myself in a situation of conflict."

"How so?"

"All I've ever wanted was to give birth to a child. One of my own rotting blood. One that could carry on the name of my vileblood lineage. This blood dreg is the key to having everything I could ever want. Something that has been countless ages in the making."

Annalise's composure changes and her shoulders drop, "yet it is a decision I am unable to make."

"Why is that?"

"If I were to consume it right now, then I would be condemning someone important. A choice for another day." Annalise puts her mask on and walks down the stairs, "All is calm now, but there is a much bigger storm brewing off in the distance. Your battles have only just begun, but for the time being, enjoy what little leisure you have with your siblings."

"Yes Queen Annalise."

She makes her way back towards her throne room. Annalise is right. One horseman down, but Cataphract is probably the tip of the spear when it comes to the others. I barely survived that encounter, and that's because my wheel was the wildcard. Neither of us knew what that thing was capable of. It's ridiculous design really gives off a false impression. The wheel might not be much of an offensive choice, but it is deadly when used for defense.

I head to my room and lay down on the bed. Cup Maker. Morabis. Paladin. Kagura. The four horsemen want the four scrolls to trigger Armageddon, but what do the scrolls that reside in those four girls have to do with Kagura or Morabis? What caused all this, and why was Cataphract so hellbent on killing everything?

I think for a moment and hold out my hand. The cup Cataphract left behind solidifies in my palm. Black liquid swirls around the brim of the cup, and the image of the weapon he was wielding forms on the surface.

I stand up and half heartedly swing. Gauntlets wrap around my hands, and Cataphract's huge halberd fazes into existence. The sudden shift in weight causes me to stagger, but an ulterior instinct automatically corrects me and ensures no momentum is wasted. I roll across the ground and mount the halberd across my shoulders.

There is no burning sensation or pain like there was when I picked it up the first time, but it's sapping a lot of energy quick. That one little move has me gasping, and it's still tiring me out. The gauntlets and halberd take the form of the cup, and I reabsorb it.

So that's what Cataphract meant by cup maker. Once defeated, I gain their weapon and developed skills. At the cost of a lot of spent energy. I lay back down on the bed and think about what my next move is going to be after I visit Asuka…

Meanwhile on the other side…

"Where is she?" Shokudo checks the clock again.

The sound of an opening door causes the immense joy swelling inside him to jump out of his seat.

"Nice set up you got here."

Silent disappointment leaves Shokudo's mouth as he stands at attention at his private dining room for two. An awkward feeling of dread fills Shokudo as Paladin sits down at the opposite end of the table and thumbs through the menu. The strange air looming in the room gets even more crushing. Paladin isn't wearing his armor. Nor does he have his weapons. He is wearing the same clothing any normal person would.

"5A Wagyu beef? Fugu? Yubari King melon? It seems you have a keen eye for the exquisite." Paladin says.

"I only try to give Fubuki the best." Shokudo answers as he breaks eye contact.

"Please. Sit. We have some things to discuss about the next phase." Shokudo sits down and tries to hide the anxiety of wishing it were Fubuki instead.

Before we proceed, I would like a cup of wine please."

"S…sure…" Shokudo stutters as he uncorks the bottle and pours a glass. Paladin swirls the cup around and smells the gold tinted liquid.

"Tell me, how did a child like you get ahold of a bottle of wine?"

"The owners called it grape juice, and they received a generous donation for doing so."

"Of course. You know, I didn't take you for much of a sweet tooth."

"Fubuki doesn't like aged red."

Paladin sips the wine and gives a physical hand sign of satisfaction. "I have to say your little Fubuki-Chan has great taste. Nothing shy of a perfect decision."

Paladin puts the cup down and leans back in his chair in a relaxed manner, "Now, I don't mean to intrude on your date, but do you remember the outline of what comes next?"

"You were going to challenge Gessen Academy by making it look like some kind of tournament."

"And?"

"You were going to see who was the strongest student, challenge them for the title, and then take scroll."

"Precisely. Now if you were in my shoes, how would you prevent it from looking like a hostile takeover?" Paladin asks.

Shokudo racks his mind for solutions, but nothing is coming to mind. From the day he became a shinobi, the only thing he's ever known is forcefully taking from others and not giving anything in return.

"Come now. There are no wrong answers."

"You're not offering to make them halfbloods are you?"

"Heaven's no, but you are on the right track. Power is one thing nobody can resist. Without it, you have no right to exist, but what do you do when you want to conquer someone but don't want to spend the resources to fight an actual war?"

"Subjugation through mercy." Shokudo states.

"Exactly. Now unlike my brother Belum who thinks victory only exists on a bloodstained battlefield, I prefer the satisfaction of doing the least amount of work and achieving the biggest reward. We could go in there and forcefully conquer those girls, but none of them would want to fight after that. Nor do I want to hold down Yumi against her will and forcefully yank that scroll from her chest."

Paladin pulls out the real talilbasha and rolls it around his fingers, "but if I promise Yumi a power greater than what she already possesses, then the chances of her rebelling after she willingly gives me the scroll will be unlikely."

"That's why you're the leader of the horsemen." Shokudo states.

"Speaking of my brothers, have you seen Cataphract?"

"I have not."

Paladin reaches over and grabs the wine bottle and pours himself another glass, "Really? Because what I think happened is you told him to go kill the little Hanzo girl without me knowing about it."

"Look Paladin, I told Cataphract that the Hanzo kitten is not a threat, and if he felt up to the challenge, he could probably find a ton of unsavory souls that needed slaying along with her." Shokudo states.

"Then answer me this, was it your idea, or hers?" The calm demeanor melts off Paladin's face and extreme anger boils within his fractured heart. Nothing but the flicking flame from the candle lit chandelier from above fill the room with audible sound.

"No comment? Then allow me to explain the predicament we're in. Cataphract is no longer with us."

"What?"

"He's been felled."

Shokudo panics and tries to find a possible explanation. "But how?"

"You tell me." Paladin calmly sips the wine.

"There's no way he could have made it back from the Korin Fuma!"

"Yet Father Morabis did, and it's trivial mistakes that have always led to our downfall."

"Fubuki didn't have anything to do with the choice. It was all me." Shokudo confesses.

Paladin finishes the wine and stands, "If you ever make a decision or act without my permission again, I will crucify you and Fubuki on the same cross. Regardless of who is at fault. Understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Then enjoy your date."

Paladin leaves the private room and marches through the fancy restaurant. Knight Belum and Cavalier Nihil are both leaned against the building's wall. Nihil draws in a notebook as Knight spins a throwing dagger up in the air.

Cavalier rips out a drawing from the notebook and hands it to Paladin, "What next?"

"We stick to the plan. Cavalier? I want you to continue collecting information so your job is a success. On the night of the tournament, you know what to do."

"Yes sir."

"What about Morabis' harbinger, and the Hanzo girl?" Belum asks.

"Both of them are in hiding, but they can wait. The goal remains unchanged, but for the time being, I want you to keep an eye on Kagura and her apostles. Just in the event Cataphract talked, and Alan gets an idea."

Paladin examines the sketch Cavalier drew and deciphers the coded letters that are arranged in a particular order. The strange word KIYAH boldly sticks out as several other letters float all around the page. Below the message are a series of dots that uniformly rest between several dead tree sketches. Underneath the bold flatline that represents the ground are the letters MK.

"Anything particularly interesting?"

"Nothing we can't handle." Nihil replies.

Ending Song: Apocalypse by Jesper Kyd

Paladin smiles as fire flows into his palms and torches the paper, "Then it shall be written. Calva Victora…"

End of the Road to Perdition Arc