Epilogue- Dazzling Sunshine.
I don't normally do this, but this chapter was written to the New Dawn theme from the original Fate Stay Night Visual Novel and should probably be read to it as well.
Unknown Date
Unknown Time
Unknown Location
I woke in a familiar room. The colours and the smell had started to grow on me. Even if most of my confinements to the bed had been forced.
"You're awake." Mordred spoke almost as soon as I regained consciousness.
"Seems that way."
"How're you feelin'?" I took a mental catalogue of all the aches and pains radiating outwards from my body. It took a few minutes. There were a lot of them.
"Like I just lost a fight with a truck."
"Well, I wouldn't say lost. Even if the vampire bitch did hit like one."
"So we won?"
"You think you'd be waking up in a Church if you lost?"
"Good point." We both went silent for a few moments and I shifted letting out a hiss of air that attracted someone else's attention.
"Fou!" The squirrel-dog practically launched himself up from where he had been concealed at the foot of the bed and onto the mattress. Purple eyes darting about looking for injuries, finding no new ones he instead padded forward and nuzzled against my cheek.
"Hey, buddy. Missed you too." I tried moving my right arm. It felt sluggish. Like a lead weight had been attached to every finger. I chose to use my left instead, which felt like it had marginally less weight attached. Scratching Fou behind the ears.
"We won, right?" I questioned and felt Mordred rolling their eyes through our bond.
"Fou." He nodded and gave my cheek a lick. Before settling into a small ball pressed against my shoulder. Well if you couldn't trust a friendly squirrel-dog eldritch horror shadow monster that ate magic who could you trust?
What was my life?
"Hey, Mordred?"
"Yeah, what?"
"Thanks."
"Anytime." Their voice gained a softness that I seldom heard.
"Do you think I can stand?"
"The real question is could you dress yourself." Right, I was naked under the sheet and standing counted for little if I couldn't actually leave the room.
"Let's find out." I gave Fou another scratch behind the ears and rolled to the side. He got the message standing and padding over so he rested just above my head. Levering myself up to a sitting position took longer than I wanted to admit. But five minutes, and seven incidents of almost falling over, later I was dressed in clothes that weren't mine collecting my things from the small wooden table.
"You coming?" Fou looked at me like I was an idiot and jumped landing in his usual place on my shoulder and wrapping his tail around my neck.
"Fou!" He pointed his snout at the door imperiously. I took his command of 'onward noble steed' and gingerly traipsed to the door, pushing it open. The church clearly hadn't changed any from the last time I'd been here yesterday, was it yesterday? How long had I been out?
Every step I took was slow. Making sure to properly shift all my weight onto the foot in question before the other left the ground. Too quickly and I would fall over. Fou didn't seem all that bothered by the slow speed and Mordred was keeping their own council. I reached close to the end of the hall and knocked on the door I was fairly certain belonged to Ciel.
"Who is it?" Her voice echoed out from within. She sounded tired.
"Me." There was the sound of footsteps and the door was thrown open. Ciel was wearing her familiar habit sans hat. Before I could register much more than that arms had wrapped around me and I was drawn into a hug. She was careful. Treating me almost like I was made of glass. I would have been both touched and offended if I hadn't been aching enough I appreciated the tender treatment. So instead I was just touched.
I put my arms around her as well and we stayed there for a few minutes. Her head rested on the opposite shoulder to Fou. Who, quite magnanimously it must be said, moved his tail so she didn't get a face full of squirrel-dog hair.
"Probably shouldn't keep doing this in the hall." The tone I went for was teasing but I wasn't sure I quite managed it with how tired I was. Ciel didn't move for another few seconds before releasing me. Her hand grabbed mine and pulled me, gently, into the room. There were half a dozen books scattered about the table all of them seemed like no more than a few pages had been turned before being abandoned.
"Fou," Fou said quietly from my shoulder and I scratched him behind the ears. A quiet smile formed on my face.
"Thanks." It was quite heartwarming to know that Fou, Ciel, and Father Moreau had taken turns staying with me.
"How are you feeling?" Ciel asked guiding me to a simple wooden chair while she sat on the bed.
"Like I just got the hell kicked out of me by three Nightmares and change."
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
"So we won?"
"Would you have woken up here if we didn't?"
"Ciel every time I thought we were making forward progress something worse came up. Please just tell me it's over."
"It's over."
"Oh thank God."
"But we did find out why she was doing it and why Françoise didn't run."
"You did say that was odd."
"Looks like she betrayed a previous patron and attempted to curry favour with a new one. But messed up so badly that they sent her here. Her redemption consisted of implementing the ritual to drain life from the city and condense it into a magical battery. Then when I turned up I was added as an additional prize. If Françoise got me then she wouldn't just be forgiven for her previous blunder. But elevated to his right hand."
"How did you learn all that?"
"She kept a journal. It was very descriptive."
"Oh. I don't suppose you know who her patron was?"
"Dietrich von Lohengrin." She said the name like it was supposed to mean something to me. My confusion must have shown on my face. "A former noble from one of the Germanic regions of the Holy Roman Empire and a vampire recently risen to the rank of Ancestor some seventy-five years ago." Great an immortal monster over a thousand years old. That's exactly the kind of attention I wanted to draw.
"Please tell me he's not coming here. I really don't think I can do any more vampire hunting right now." She gave me a wan smile.
"Best as we know he's not coming and with the Aurors spending the last few days dismantling the ritual. Even if he did come there's almost nothing left to salvage."
"Last few days?" I latched onto that statement like a dog with a bone. "How long have I been out?"
"Three days. Three and half if you want to get technical." My stomach did a flip-flop.
"I missed my plane."
"I doubt the ministry will care given everything else going on and I doubt you actually came through customs" That was a good point. But it also brought up another one.
"About the Aurors and Françoise." I didn't need to expand.
"They aren't happy." I felt she was trying to be diplomatic about the whole thing. "Head Auror Maillot came himself and took memories from both myself and Father Moreau about the events. Additionally, we did give him permission to take your memories to view as well."
"Oh! That's what that was!" I ignored the peanut gallery.
"So you mean like a copy of them?" I really wasn't sure how that worked.
"Yes Harry, a copy of them."
"Why?"
"Because it was agree to that or they decided to take us all in and treat us like criminals. Unless I killed our way out and kidnapped you while doing it. Assuming I didn't do that and went along with it. Best guess is that'd take a couple of years to sort itself out. This way we get to walk around at least. Think of it like paying bail money if it helps. By my guess by the end of this either we get told never to come back to France again or we're all going to get awarded the Order of Charlemagne. No idea what rank though. But it doesn't look like we're facing any serious legal repercussions or a price on our heads given the circumstance."
"Order of Charlemagne?" Even I could barely believe that was the part I got caught on.
"It's the French equivalent to your Order of Merlin."
"I'm English. Would they even give me a medal?"
"So was Astolfo."
"Who?"
"Philistine." Ciel shook her head in mock recrimination. "Besides those families will at least be able to know what happened." We sat in silence at those words. It wasn't a really comforting thought. But at least they wouldn't have to wonder.
"So that's it. It's over then." I looked up at the ceiling. A hand made its way into mine.
"Yeah, this story is anyway." I looked at the abandoned books on the table next to us.
"Not sure I'd call this a happy ending."
"It could be worse." My mouth curled into a smile.
"How?"
"It could be raining," Ciel said with an impish grin. Her blue eyes looked into my green and I felt my mouth pull into a half grin to match hers.
"You know I don't mind the rain."
"You wouldn't would you English!" We laughed it wasn't much of a joke but I think after everything we'd been through. We just need a release of emotion.
"Fou!"
"Oh yeah, you probably should ask about that."
"Thanks." I gave Fou a scratch behind the ears that he seemed to appreciate. "Did the Aurors check my hotel room?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Was it booby-trapped?"
"Oh yeah, badly. If what the Head Auror mentioned was anything to go by." Probably a good thing I hadn't gone back to grab things then. Ciel stood and pulled me to my feet with a gentle tug.
"Can't stay here all day though."
"You sure? I was starting to like that chair."
"Maybe but you need food." She sniffed and gave an exaggerated retching sound. "And a shower." Her fingers stayed wrapped around mine. They were warm and gentle as she led me to the door. Throwing it open a bit more dramatically than was necessary. She turned and let her fingers slip from mine stepping into the pool of light made by the window at the far end of the hall and spun to face me.
"Now come on!" I look into her eyes and they remind me of the first time I did so. So blue. So very, very, blue. I shook my head and she answers me with a bright smile. Ciel was right. We can't stay here forever.
I follow her down the stairs and out to the door that leads into the courtyard. I give a smile and wave to Father Moreau who looks like he hasn't slept in a week. I think he would have come over and said something if he wasn't busy with a parishioner. She pushes open the doors to a courtyard bathed in sunlight.
I can hear the sounds of Annecy all around us. A city that didn't even know how close it came to disaster, and people who would never know how close they were to death. The normal people who lived here. They would never know us. They would never thank us. But a part of me preferred it that way. This way they could enjoy the sunshine. Not burdened by the knowledge of what lurked in the night.
A simple, ordinary, happiness and one that was oh-so dazzling because of it.
Ciel stepped forward into the sunlight and I followed her bumping my shoulder against her own and giving her a grin. Her blue eyes crinkled as she smiled back. I didn't know what my own smile was like.
But hers?
Put the sun to shame.
Walking towards tomorrow.
Walking toward the future.
The tale weaved in this city is over.
Place your weapons down and rest in ephemeral peace.
The world will keep changing.
And you will still chase the same star you once saw.
Feast For Worms- END.
And thus we come to the end of Feast of Worms.
This was something of a long-ish project. I think I started about mid-February and I'm putting the finishing touches on the 3rd draft of this in late April.
I hope you enjoyed yourselves. My mind wouldn't stop bothering me about this story until it was done. So that's something at least.
As for if I'll ever continue this? Maybe. I had an idea or two on where to go next and I've got plenty of plot threads I could pull on. But if I never do I hope I've given you enough that you could continue the story on your own. Even if only in your mind. After all isn't that half the fun?
If I ever do continue it I'll add a Chapter to let you know. Though I may add a Threadmark or two before then. I had some extra materials lying around about what Harry's stats and the like would be as a Servant.
So thank you for staying with me until the end. But one last, gift I suppose, before I go. In chapter one I put down Harry's skills. Well, there have been some changes thanks to this adventure so I figured I'd add those to the character sheet below.
Admiration of Rebellion (EX)- A skill gained by admiring the conviction of Mordred The Knight of Rebellion. Raises Luck by a full rank when committing to actions that one both believes in and goes against societal norms.
Battle Continuation (C+)- The ability to ignore pain and injury to continue fighting. Able to completely ignore severe physical injuries while in battle.
Eye of the Mind, True (C+)- An ability born out of an overwhelming amount of combat experience. Due to Mordred's lack of formal teaching ability. Much of their time together was spent sparring and practising skills in a live environment. Due to doing this in a dreamscape no lasting damage was caused to the body. However, the pain and lessons remain. Allowing for calm and analytical thinking even amid battle. Vastly increasing the chances of survival and victory against superior opponents.
Magecraft, Alchemy (D+)- A basic comprehension of Alchemical Magecraft. While unable to use higher mysteries. Harry can change the physical state and makeup of an object within reason.
Magecraft, Hybrid (C+)- The ability, and knowledge, to combine the basics of multiple magical systems together to achieve a result. Such as combining Alchemy with Runes to increase chances of success. Or enhancing a spell by making use of sympathetic magic from the environment along with magical circles and runes.
Magecraft, Rune (D+)- A basic comprehension of Runic Magecraft. While unable to carve runes in the air, and not holding a full understanding of each rune. Harry is still able to invoke most effects even if sub-optimally.
Magecraft, Modern (C+)- An almost complete baseline understanding of basic, and intermediate, magical theory.
Phantasmal Body (C+)- Due to the use of a Class Card imprinting itself upon the body its natural attributes are enhanced. Allowing one to break common laws that limit physical potential even without the use of magic. Proof that one is closer to a Phantasmal Creature than a human. At this level, Harry gains a level of resistance against attacks that don't have a mystical component.
Valour (C+)- The ability to resist outside mental influences. While the baseline of this skill for Harry himself is C the + Rank is due to Mordred's presence being able to shake him out of more powerful influences.
Harry's made some improvements over his former self. Gaining a C+ Rank in Battle Continuation, Eye of the Mind True, & Phantasmal Body. As well as the mental resistance skill Valour. Of course, he's gone from being mostly human with a few advantages to barely human closer to a Phantasmal Creature like Fou than a normal flesh-and-blood human. Mostly due to forcing a whole lot of power through his body using Clarent Blood Arthur. Which sped up the whole process by a mile.
About the poems, Fate ended with one each route and I wanted to pay a little homage to that in the beginning of the story and the end.
Most of you probably worked it out already but The Bloodthirsty Worm was the Vampire. The Broken Doll was Ciel and The Kindhearted Knight was Harry. The order in the poem also mirrored how long each of them had been in the city. Vampire 1st, Ciel 2nd, and Harry 3rd. Each of them wanting this to end in different ways.
Anywho.
That's all for now.
Let us meet again some other day.