42
"Kid, you know that girl's sword, the one that can fire slashes of wind?"
"...Yeah. Wild Rose's AG saber."
"There used to be hundred of Azumaria copies like that. They were as common as pebbles on the ground, and about as varied. Some worked well, others would blow up in your face if you spilled coffee on it. They're all based off of Saint Maria's sword, Azumaria."
"There are no known facts of Saint Maria, or her sword. We don't even know how she died. History just falls into a black hole about her mid-life. And what we do know, is mostly hyped up BS."
The Merchant massaged the bandages over his eyes.
"For example, there's one account that claimed Saint Maria cut a castle in half with Azumaria. Obviously we have to filter out crap like that... but what we do know... Saint Maria came from the small village of Tyre, which had an abbey to it's north... and that abbey housed Azumaria. The religion at the time foretold that a prophet would come one day to claim Azumaria and awaken a new age of faith. Maria Magdala, a teen-aged girl at the time, claimed Azumaria where hundreds of self-reputed prophets and disciples failed."
"So...how'd she become a hunter, if she was a prophet?"
"From what we know, she chose to be a hunter. With Azumaria, it seems she was invincible; apparently, she killed the vast majority of her targets with a single stroke. Kid, imagine if you could shoot a Wyvoid down with just one bullet."
"I'd like that."
"Azumaria might not cut a castle in half, but if our most reliable accounts are correct, it was the most powerful weapon ever created."
"So if it's because of the sword Maria became the greatest hunter, then why would you clone her?"
"...Kid, from what I know of Saint Maria, she started developing special powers after she claimed Azumaria. You notice anything in Riu when you were with her?"
Rhiem glanced at his hands. They were both bandaged heavily, from-
"Wild Rose had this shield. Dad's Southern Eagle couldn't even punch through it."
"That's right. Saint Maria caused strange things to happen around her. Water became blessed, swords lost their edge despite years of careful sharpening, and glass would turn to diamond overnight."
"Miracles."
"If it weren't for very clear wording in their scriptures, Saint Maria probably would have become their second savior to them."
"So... how do I fight her, then?"
The Merchant looked at Rhiem in surprise.
"Kid... If that girl is Saint Maria...you can't fight her."
"..."
"I'm not joking, kid. You want to kill yourself, I got some aspirin and some booze in my pillow, we'll be done in ten minutes."
"I need to."
The Merchant muttered something to himself, shaking his head.
"Kid, I can't help you. Even if you knew more about Maria Magdala, it wouldn't help you. She's not the greatest hunter that ever lived for nothing."
"Then convince me."
"Feckin'... Fine. You know that shimmering shield?"
"Yeah."
"Most powerful defense ever. It blocked a Fatalis' fireball. You don't know what that is, but imagine a kiloton of TNT going off on that shield, and it being unscratched."
"Then-"
"Azumaria. Conservative estimates put that sword, in her hands, at the same destructive power as a bunker buster. You don't kill a heavily armored dinosaur-thing in one hit with nothing."
"Well-"
"Saint Maria had a second sword, where once she dropped it, and it sunk into solid concrete to its hilt."
"You can't win, RHIEM!"
"I have to."
"God fuckin' dammit. What are you going to do to her? Shoot her with the power of love?"
"Where are the other Cardinal Arms?"
The Merchant froze.
"..."
He ran some calculations in his head.
"Kid... goddamn. You might have a chance."
Some life seemed to spill back into him.
"You have the Southern Eagle."
Rhiem pulled the enormous magnum from his holster. The silver gun shone in the florescent light.
"You still need the Hidden Shrike, the Northern Cross, and the Grand Core." The Merchant bit his lip.
"But...the Grand Core is in the Rubina's Capital. You ever been to the Iron Plateau, kid?"
"No."
"The place is more than a fortress. It might as well be a whole-effin nother planet if you're thinkin' of attacking it. I know the Supreme Leader of Rubina has the Grand Core on her constantly."
"I could ask her."
"Hey, you could ask her. And then she'll kill you for mentioning it."
"...then what about the Hidden Shrike?"
"Lost in the last Great War. The owner is MIA."
"But not to you?"
"Not totally to me. There's one more."
"The Northern Cross."
"Yeah. I know where it is."
The two glanced over at the doorway where Doctor Halfvelt had left from.
"You getting bored here, Old Man?"
"Yeah. Open that window. I'll get my peg leg."
Rhiem unlatched the second-story window, to let in a new southern wind.
"Hey Old Man?"
"Mm?"
"Glad you're still here."
"How mushy. Jump already."
Rhiem smirked, and leapt out into the sun.