"Thy blows are weak." Arthur said as he parried an over head sweep. "Thy execution is sloppy." Arthur side stepped to the right; letting the blade that was aimed to pierce his gut miss by mere millimeters while using the opening created from the missed stab to lock the blade in place using an armored arm. "Thy stance is non-existent." Using his other arm, he pushed Shirou away; watching as he stumbled back a few paces, thoroughly disarmed. But there was a fire in Shirou's eyes. One that would not burn out even when dowsed with the coldest of water. One that represented his determination and similarly his motivation. "Yet thy sheer drive exceeds mine expectations. Let us take a break for now."
Exhaustively, Shirou fell towards the ground. His body was sore, his muscles felt torn, yet he did not care; he had a new goal to achieve. A goal to stake his life on. Initially he had wanted to return back to his world. To return to Rin and continue his life. But the faces of the people he helped in this world had steadily swayed him to stay. Faces that showed gratitude, need, and above all morality. A morality that would dictate them to do what was right in response to the good done for them. He did not know how he knew this, but he supposed it had something to do with being a god; the central point of human prayers. Moreover, Arthur said it was impossible to return in the first place; the theory of many alternate worlds working against him. He internally apologized to Rin for what he had decided on, but his own ideals and the situation at hand had greatly persuaded him to stay.
"Thou hath done well to last this long. Nay thou hath done exceptionally well." Arthur took a seat next to Shirou; watching as Shirou gradually made his way into a seated position. "Within a few years thou shall be quite skilled with the blade. Yet I can't help but point out that thou art developing an unorthodox way of fighting; even though thy strikes are becoming quite strong and accurate." Arthur stared hard at Shirou. "Why dost thou create such fatal openings?"
Shirou remained quite for a moment before answering. "To survive against stronger opponents." He thought back to the Holy Grail War. Of the monstrous servants he had to face. Each with near unparalleled skill. Each possessing the power to utterly destroy him. Which is why he had to find a means to cope. His skill was meager, his power insignificant when compared to a servant's, yet he had found a way. A suicidal way, but one that uses the enemies honed skill to his advantage.
Arthur stared at Shirou, his teal eyes meeting Shirou's amber. "I'm compelled to call thou an idiot, but mine own knightly will compels me to praise thee for such courage." Arthur stood up while looking around for something. "To use that style. Thou must first have the skill." Arthur pointed towards a pair of Chinese falchions. One of the brightest white, and the other of the darkest black; both beside each other. "Luckily, thou art a natural cheater to that rule." Arthur offered a hand for Shirou to take. "But that does not mean that thou should not train thyself in the way of the sword."
Shirou only smiled as he gratefully accepted the hand and used it as leverage to pull himself up. Having rested for half an hour, he felt well enough to begin moving again. Taking a step, he faltered as pain shot up his leg.
"Doth thou wish to continue at a later time?" Arthur asked as he noticed Shirou's condition.
Reluctantly, Shirou agreed, his body making the decision for him as he fell back to his knees.
"Very well. We shall commence learning mine authorities when thou art fully rested."
Arthur walked up to the numerous blades around him and began his own training. Training to call upon the armaments in the world he found himself within. Training in which he received from the very person he was training, Shirou. He found that being able to utilize such weaponry would be a great boon for his battle prowess.
A weapon of some kind began forming in Arthur's hand before shattering into fragments that faded away just before its completion. He sighed, he still had a long way to go. Suddenly, he felt a presence next to his and Shirou's shared body. Looking over to Shirou who seemed to have felt a similar feeling yet didn't know what it was, he forced Shirou's consciousness back to the surface.
Shirou opened his eyes to stare directly at a pair of curious glass eyes that were staring directly at him and stumbled back in surprise.
"You are a mystery." The woman with eyes of glass said. "I can not discern your true origins, your true identity; and yet I feel a strange familiarity with you. Who are you really?"
Surprised at the woman with eyes of glass's sudden appearance, Shirou was left speechless as Arthur laughed within his mind.
"I see that you do not wish to answer me." The woman with eyes of glass approached Shirou and whispered quietly into his left ear. "But I do love a good mystery."
A shiver ran down Shirou's spine as the woman with eyes of glass walked away to be replaced by the mummified monk who after a certain period of time began registering as a living Buddha in his mind.
"How goes your meditating Shirou?" The living Buddha asked as it approached. "Relearn any of your Authorities?"
"Quite well actually." Shirou said while scratching at the back of his head. "As for my Authorities, I'm still working on them."
"Can I be of help?"
"I appreciate your willingness to aid me, but relearning my Authorities is only something I can do." Shirou said as he could not think of a way for the living Buddha to help more than what Arthur had already done. Is still in the process of doing.
"A shame then." The living Buddha said as it began to walk away. "Feel free to call upon me if you need me."
"I will."
"Oh! by the way, are you cooking tonight?" The living Buddha asked as he eagerly turned around to face Shirou again.
Shirou sighed in response before nodding his head.
"Yes!" The living buddha said as it disappeared off into the house.
"So how is our guest?" Susanoo asked as he yawned from his position leaning his head against his fist while sitting down cross-legged.
"He is most interesting." The woman with eyes of glass said as she poured tea from a kettle into three cups. "I believe that we all know that Shirou Emiya is not his real identity as a god?"
Susanoo and the living Buddha nodded their heads in agreement.
"What sort of god do you think he is?" Susanoo asked.
"A god of cooking that one is!" The living Buddha said as he remembered the taste of the food Shirou had prepared. It was true that gods did not need food to survive, but the food that Shirou made can be counted as an exception.
The woman with eyes of glass blushed slightly as she remembered how much she had eaten that night; how unrefined she must have been; how un-ideal she must have appeared.
"It's a possibility." The woman with eyes of glass reluctantly said as she reigned in her features. "Unfortunately, my spirit vision does not seem to be effecting him so I can not say for sure."
"Which means that you have already tried." Susanoo stated as he sat up straight.
"Yes. But the results were minimal due to some sort of interference and the lack of knowledge within the memories of the void." The woman with eyes of glass distributed the cups of tea to those present. "A very peculiar case."
"Please continue."
"Spirit vision is simply glimpsing the memories of the void, the collective knowledge of the entire world within the netherworld as you already know." The woman with eyes of glass turned her gaze on the living Buddha making his fidgeting stop. "Yet nothing could be found within said memories of the void about Shirou Emiya; no such god exists." The woman with eyes of glass paused for a moment to let the information sink in before continuing. "As a result, I had attempted to simply glimpse into his soul as a method to discern his true origins and met interference. What kind of interference, I do not know; but I felt something in the process of doing so. Something very familiar to everyone present."
"And that would be?" Susanoo inquired.
"He who shall manifest at the world's end." The woman with eyes of glass said cryptically.
A change occurred within Susanoo's eyes as he stared directly at the woman with eyes of glass while the living Buddha became stock still.
"You're certain?" The living Buddha asked seriously.
"I do not lie. When have you, or Susanoo ever known me to?"
"I see." The living Buddha said as his face changed to one of deep thought.
"So what do you think this means?" Susanoo asked.
"He must have some sort of connection to he who shall manifest at the worlds end." The woman with eyes of glass replied.
"Or a similar power." The living Buddha put in.
"Ah yes, that could also be a possibility; many myths are built upon each other."
Many examples of such cases have existed throughout history. An example of such a case would be the Greek and Roman pantheon; where Roman mythology greatly took from the Greek. Changing the names, personalities, domains, and even the abilities of the gods in said myth.
"Now the question is who." Susanoo said.
"That is a question that can not be answered until such a time that we witness Shirou's Authorities or power." The woman with eyes of glass said.
"Then we wait."
"We wait."
An aroma like none other began filtering into the house. An aroma that smelt of the sweetest of honey and the most fragrant of meat. Of smells that would set the mouth to water in anticipation. Anticipation that would not be fulfilled by simply staying put, no; that would surely be a sin. A sin to ones own being. A sin towards mortal stomachs that works so hard to digest food every day. As such it would be best to satisfy this anticipation; this desire; this craving to sample such cuisine that would release such an aroma. A craving that would not go un-fulfilled.
"Ah! I smell food." The living buddha said as he eagerly got up.
"Food you say?" The woman with eyes of glass said as she sniffed the air, letting the aroma waft into her nose. "It most certainly does smell like food. What do you think Susanoo?"
"Susanoo?"
"The bastard already left! After him!"
"Such unruly behavior is below us. I shall walk there."
"Suite yourself, but don't blame me if I eat all the dessert before you get there."
"Y-You wouldn't dare." The woman with eyes of glass said as her composure began slipping.
"Oh I would dare! If it's for Shirou's food I would incur even your wrath!" The living Buddha ran outside the house's door and towards the direction of the smell yelling "I love desserts!" into the air as he went.
"Wait you b-barbarian! Don't you dare touch my sweets!" The woman with eyes of glass got up and chased after the living Buddha; giving off an appearance that was far from the ideal woman of her legend. She would later arrive to witness Shirou cooking, and that the living Buddha and Susanoo had chosen to eat all the desserts first while waiting for the main dish. Beyond vexed, she decided that she would get her revenge; one way or another.
A great force uprooted the ground within the Unlimited Blade works and sent a storm of blades in every direction; pelting the ground with large craters and creating chasms and fissures that spread across the area; resulting in the creation of a web-like pattern of cracks on the hard earth. The damage and the misplaced blades however were soon repaired and back to how they were originally as the world within the soul repaired itself.
On a hill not to far off stood Shirou trying to understand where he had gone wrong. What he had done, or failed to do as he began building up divine energy to try to utilize the power of Arthur's Authorities once more. Somehow he already knew that it wasn't due to his execution or lack of effort that he failed; it was most certainly due to something else. Something that he was missing, like a piece of a complex puzzle.
"To garner mine Authorities, thou must first believe in them." Arthur said as he strode to stand a few meters away from Shirou, his arms crossed. "Did thou not glimpse mine history through mine other's blade?"
Shirou nodded his head as he recalled the history he had attained from viewing Saber's Excalibur. Of the king who had given everything for her people. Of the king who had defended Britain from its invaders, the Saxons. And of the king who had done everything to bring Britain to an era of prosperity.
"Thou hast remembered I see." Arthur stated as he nodded his head in approval. "The strength of thy beliefs is the strength of thy power."
Shirou began to direct the flow of divine energy instead of spreading it outwards in random directions; mentally grasping it within his hands and utilizing it to become something more, something magnificent. While doing so, he continued to delve into the myth that was Arthur Pendragon; choosing to believe in the fiction and not the fact; bending his own views of reality.
"Place thy self within mine perspective and grasp what it is that I stood for; what I still stand for."
An image began forming in Shirou's mind. An image of a man adorned with the most pristine of armor riding valiantly into a battlefield and leading with him an army. An army that revered him as the one and future king. The king that would forever lead Britain and keep its people safe-a king of the people as some would say.
"Let thy own ideals fuel thy belief in my legend. Doth thou not wish to aid the people? To liberate them from harm? To save them like a fair and noble king should?"
A great fire pushed itself into the forefront of Shirou's mind. A hell fire that burned an unholy vermilion that reduced everything in its wake into ashes that dispersed with the wind. Hollow, desperate, and morbid screams were the background to such a hell fire. Screams of the people who clung to the burnt remains of their loved ones even as they too were burned alive. Their skin burnt black, their eyes blank and emotionless even as they continued to scream for help. And yet he, the only one to survive, trudged on ignoring their pleas for salvation; for help that would surely not come. It was he who trudged on, who did not even possess the power to survive on his own who was saved. Anger built up inside him, or was it guilt; he did not know for sure. Either way it was this feeling that welled up inside him that continued to drive him forward. A feeling of obligation to save all who were in need of aid. He would never again stand back and watch people die, no; for he would save them. After all, it was what he had promised himself to do; for Kiritsugu and himself. He closed his eyes and began to focus even harder; using his ideals of saving others as a catalyst to further enhance his belief of Arthur Pendragon's legend; the king, who like him, fought to protect. To save.
"Then truly believe. Take mine ideals that were used to construct mine legend, and let them resonate with thy own and manifest into being."
Suddenly, something clicked within Shirou's mind. The name that was Arthur Pendragon flashed like a shining beacon that compelled him to stop viewing himself and Arthur as two separate beings, but as one being. A being that was a king, but at the same time was also an ordinary mortal who can utilize a magic beyond comprehension.
"Thou art I, and I art thou." Arthur said as he felt the change within Shirou's mind. "Make myth become reality. Make reality bend to thy will for thou art a king! The king of knights! The one and future KING OF BRITAIN!"
All to quickly, Shirou took hold of the leverage he had felt from within himself and with a mighty heave pulled with all his strength. A strength that was attained through his present mind set.
"AAGHHHH!" Shirou yelled as power flowed through him in torrents; impatiently waiting to be utilized. Power that he knew could level mountains and reduce civilizations into dust. A power that was now his to command.
"Thou hast done it." Arthur said as he drew a basic blade from the ground that was free of any ornate designs that would impair the swords efficiency and pointed it at Shirou.
"Now speak mine words of power and unleash the chains that shackle mine Authorities into mere myths!" A shield adorned with the image of the holy Mary, the everlasting virgin appeared on Arthur's left forearm. "Take thy blade and come at me!"
From Shirou, a light erupted. Pure dazzling light that engulfed the area, making it so that nothing could be seen.
"Now the true training begins." Arthur said as he blocked the edge of sword imbued with power beyond mortal understanding.
"You seem troubled lately." Susanoo said to the woman with eyes of glass.
"No. It's nothing for you to concern yourself with." The woman with eyes of glass tucked a long strand of her brown hair behind her left ear as she continued to stare off into the distance through a window in the house.
"Then as a fellow god I'll respect your wishes, but as a friend I will ask again." Susanoo insisted.
"..." The woman with eyes of glass opened her mouth, but promptly closed it again as she reconsidered something.
"Awhhh. She's the quite and reserved type." The living Buddha suddenly said as he decided to no longer keep quite. "Reminds me of someone before she went into her rebellious faze doesn't it Grampsy?"
"Shut up. That girl has become a handful as of late, but it's better than how she was at the start." Susanoo crossed his arms and sent a glare toward the living Buddha while crossing his arms.
"You mean like how our princess is acting here?" The living Buddha said nonchalantly while gaining the woman with eyes of glass's attention.
"...I'm still here you know." Agitation was laced in the woman with eyes of glass's voice; she didn't feel like putting up with anything at the moment as she was preoccupied with something else.
"What was that? Is that agitation I hear coming from our most reserved and elegant lady?"
"Hmph!" The woman with eyes of glass got up and left; choosing to leave instead of stay.
"A bit far don't you think?"
"Working her up is the only way to get her to talk; makes her think less about her actions." The living Buddha said as he made himself comfortable in front of Susanoo while reaching for some sweets on a platter.
"And makes you seem like a bastard." Susanoo put in as he sipped some tea from a cup in his hand.
"At least call me a handsome bastard."
"You can be mistaken for a mummified monk even though you are actually a living Buddha." Susanoo dead panned.
"Touché. So where do you think she went?"
"Away from you."
"You wound me friend." The living Buddha said as he brought an arm to his chest. "But seriously, where do you think she went?"
"Probably to immerse herself in her new found hobby."
"Sounds exactly like her, she always did love mysteries."
"I admit however, that I too have grown curious..."
Meanwhile the woman with eyes of glass walked with her cheeks puffed up in frustration. Sometimes she just couldn't stand that Buddha, and yet she always forgives him anyway. She sighed as she knew that the living Buddha probably meant well.
Seeing Shirou who sat meditatively by the stream, she positioned herself in front of him and began to observe.
"Thou hath learned mine Authorities well." Arthur said as he looked proudly at Shirou who was panting from exhaustion. An exhaustion that was short lived as he got his breathing back in rhythm.
"Thank you. I couldn't have done it without you." Shirou said as he planted the swords he was holding into the ground.
"Thank me not Shirou. It was thy effort that let thou succeed." Arthur dematerialized his shield and stabbed the sword in his hand on the ground.
"But it was your guidance that pushed me in the right direction."
"I see that this conversation will lead us nowhere."
"Agreed."
"There is still something thou must know however." Arthur said as he took a seat on the ground; Shirou followed his example.
"And that would be?" Shirou inquired.
"That thou hast not completely mastered mine Authorities."
"But you just said that I-"
"-Learned the Authorities of the King Arthur of Legend well."
Shirou remained silent as he began to think on what Arthur had said. Had he been wrong to assume that he had completed his training? Whatever the answer was, he was currently drawing a blank at the moment. "What do you mean?" He finally asked.
Arthur drew a dagger beside him and began to etch a drawing on the loose gravel of the ground. A drawing of a dragon that became a man clad in armor, and then of the man slaying other dragons who would turn into woman that remained by the man's side. Soon after the man clad in armor became another man entirely; his old armor replaced with a more elaborate one; his blade having changed into a spear.
"There are many things that make up a god such as their legends or epics, but what you should know Shirou is that those legend or epics often tie into other legends and epics." Arthur tossed the dagger he was using away.
"Meaning?"
"That just as I am god of steel that embody's the sword," Arthur pointed at the man clad in armor that was slaying other dragons. "I can also be considered a god of the earth that embody's nature." Arthur pointed at the dragon before it became a man clad in armor. "Similarly, I can also be a different god of steel entirely." Arthur pointed at the final drawing of the man clad in new armor and weaponry.
"..." Shirou could say nothing as could not understand the points that Arthur had made. Moreover, he was still coming to terms with the Authorities he had gained.
"Forget about this for now, thou should first get accustomed to mine Authorities as a god of steel." Arthur got up and extended a hand for Shirou to take. "It would not do to have thou beliefs waver in the midst of battle; I shall teach you of this at a later point." Shirou took Arthur's hand and was hoisted up on his feet.
"Alright then." Shirou said.
Suddenly, a disturbed look crossed Arthur's face before he turned his gaze on Shirou. "It appears that woman is here again." He said.
"I admire her tenacity."
"Then go greet her." Arthur dead panned.
"Your going to force me out again aren't you?"
"Thou hast gotten to know me well."
Energy began circling around Shirou; enshrouding him in a tornado of sorts.
"...Let's get it over with." Shirou said as he felt the familiar sense of weightlessness before he awoke within his body.
Opening his eyes he met the woman with eyes of glass's face. Oddly enough, a twitch began forming on it, but more accurately, her left eyebrow. A twitch that seemed to spread, before suddenly subsiding. Subsiding into a serene state that felt extremely forced.
"Why is it that every time I begin to observe you, you stop meditating?" The woman with eyes of glass asked as an aura of malevolence began building around her.
"It's your imagination I assure you." Shirou said, trying to play it off as coincidence.
"If so, it wouldn't be rude of me to knock you out to better analyze you?"
"That would be very rude, and quite unpleasant."
"Unpleasant as it may be, this is my imagination is it not?" A question mark seemed to appear beside the woman with eyes of glass's head.
"I can't believe thou hast gotten thyself into such a situation." Arthur said as sighed in exasperation.
"Your disbelief is not helping."
"Rude is still rude." Shirou maintained.
The woman with eyes of glass sighed. "I suppose your right." The aura around her disappeared and she knelt next to Shirou. "So how goes your training? Relearn your Authorities?"
"Yes actually, I should be leaving this realm soon." Shirou said. With the Authorities he had learned, Arthur had advised him to return to the mortal realm and gain real experience.
A look of consideration crossed the woman with eyes of glass's face before it was smoothed over.
"Back to the realm of mortals?"
"Most likely."
The woman with eyes of glass sat quietly staring at her reflection on the stream. A reflection that reminded her greatly of her troubles. Troubles that would not be solved by doing nothing and hoping for the best. For in the act of doing so, said trouble might lead to something far worse. Why take a chance, if an opportunity presented itself before her? An opportunity that would eliminate the concept of simple chance.
"...May I ask you a favor Shirou." The woman with eyes of glass asked apprehensively.
"Thou should think very carefully about fulfilling a god's request. They are normally accompanied by much battle and blood she-"
"Sure, I do wish to repay yours and everyone's kindness towards me." Shirou said naturally.
"What art thou doing Shirou?! Did I not hammer into thy head the consequences of thy actions?!"
"It should be fine. We do owe them for their hospitality."
"...You're still naive Shirou." Arthur sighed. "Yet your naivety is what ultimately guided thou to me."
The woman with eyes of glass smiled radiantly at Shirou.
"You're a good man Shirou."
"No I'm just like anyone else." Shirou scratched at the back of his head as he smiled awkwardly at the woman with eyes of glass. "So what is this favor that you ask for?"
"Ah, I need you to..."
A brown haired girl fumbled with the ties of the brown one-piece gown she wore that closed by the sides; her fingers trembling to much to be of much use. None could fault her for her current inability however; being the situation she found herself in was less than forthcoming, but rather untimely and sudden. Moreover, she was still a child barely in her teens. A child who possessed a great aptitude in a specific power. A power that forced her into said situation.
A silver haired girl suddenly makes her way towards the brown haired girl; kneeling by her side, she tied the one-piece gown in one quick motion. With purpose, the silver haired girl stood up, her hair ever so slightly swaying from side to side. She too wore the same brown one-piece gown.
"Thank you." The brown haired girl said.
"I've done nothing to earn your gratitude." The silver haired girl replied back.
"And yet you have still helped me."
A silence passed as both girls regarded each other before the brown haired girl extended out her hand in greeting.
"Mariya Yuri."
"...Liliana Kranjcar." Liliana took Mariya's hand and shook it.
Letting go, they both looked around the room they were in. The room was dark, the only light coming from lit candles that were spaced far away from each other; the moving flame of the candles, distorted the shadows into odd, bent, or twisted shapes. The light, however little it may have been, illuminated the walls. Walls crafted with the best of architecture designed to be pleasant to the eyes; and yet now, in the dimly lit room occupied by scared Hime-Miko and Witches, the walls only served as an elaborate prison. A prison where many knew that they would die, or suffer from some sort of draw back from the ritual that was to be performed on this day. A ritual that required many Witches and Hime-Miko to accomplish; which spoke of the magnitude of the danger. A ritual that requires such an abundance of spiritually aware individuals could only mean that said ritual must use up a lot of energy. But an energy that amounts to literally hundreds of Hime-Miko and Witches? The ritual that is to be performed on this day must be on the grand scale.
On the ground in which Liliana, Mariya, and many other Witches and Hime-Miko stood, was the foundation of said ritual; a ginormous magical seal. A magic seal that encompassed most of the entire room. A magic seal that glowed an ominous pale green.
The sounds of foot steps alerts everyone to the approaching man who had walked out from behind a door. This man was the man who had orchestrated this whole affair. This man was the oldest Campione, the Marquis Voban.
"Greetings Witches, and Hime-Miko of orient. I have gathered you all here today for one purpose and that one purpose only, to summon a worthy god to face me in battle." Voban smiled, the smile that only true predators can attain. "To achieve such an end, I do not care whether or not some of you, or even all of you die."
Looks of fear spread throughout the crowd of Witches and Hime-Miko gathered. They had known that there may be casualties due the enormity of the ritual, but to think they were gathered to summon a god. Many of of them burst into tears at the situation they found themselves in; away from family; away from home; and under the tyrannical rule of a mad man.
Vodan nodded to one of his undead servants.
"Let the ritual begin."
The magic seal created a barrier of sorts around the Witches and Hime-Miko, caging them inside. From within, many began steadily collapsing as their power was drawn away from them. Of the many who collapsed, there were still many who stood tall even as their energy was steadily drained away. Of these people was Liliana Kranjcar and Mariya Yuri; both of them maintained themselves on their feet. For collapsing meant giving up. And giving up could mean death that may not be swift. Those who had collapsed around them suddenly began screaming, their hands closed around their faces. Empty hollow screams filled the area. Screams devoid of any real emotion but pain. A pain that steadily began to erode at their minds and their sanity; the very thing that made humans different from animals.
As the screams continued to fill the air, a ball of energy began forming above the Hime-Miko and Witches. A ball that resonated divine power. Power possessed by the emerging god. A power that would have killed all the Hime-Miko and Witches present if not for a sword that pierced through the barrier the Hime-Miko and Witches were surrounded in. That one sword however, was soon followed by another, and then another, and then another. It was an endless hail of swords that completely obliterated the magic seal on the ground.
The ball of energy that had been forming in the air due to the energy of the Hime-Miko and Witches dispersed while the energy drain stopped. This however did not mean that the effect that the magic seal had on the Witches and Hime-Miko disappeared. Many still lay sprawled on the ground; their vocal cords torn from excess screaming. And many had suffered mental damage. A damage that was not easily repaired.
Mariya and Liliana stared befuddled at an armored knight that had appeared in the remains of the broken circle. His armor consisted of a blue garment lined with white on the sides that encompassed his under body. The garment swayed to the rhythm of the knights steps as he viewed the results of the magic seal. Over his chest and most of his body was steel plate that fitted his form near perfectly so as not to hinder movement. His shoulders too had steel plate that guarded their entirety, but at the same time did not hinder his arm movements as shown when he knelt and took a fallen Witch to support on his right arm. His arm did not provide discomfort for the one who was leaning against it, for his right arm was free of armor; only the blue lined with white garb and laced gold strings covered it. He wore gauntlets however on both hands, his left arm having a sort of vambrace. His head revealed a startling blend of blond and red, so much so that it looked as if it were dyed; some parts even looking orange.
Wordlessly, the knight lay the Witch back on the ground and stood protectively in front of all the Witches and Hime-Miko. A soothing aura soon encompassed said Witches and Hime-Miko, slowly drawing their pain and anguish away as they all looked up at the brave knight who stood protectively in front of them. Of the knight who had freed them from a cruel fate. Of the knight who radiated divine power in droves as he stared down Voban. It was as if a scene from a myth was playing out in front of their very eyes. A myth where the hero would always prevail as he protected the innocent. It was in this belief that many Witches and Hime-Miko gradually began to feel safe, regardless of the tyrannical Campione standing several meters away.
"What have you done?" The knight asked Voban coldly as he glared at him.
Liliana Kranjcar watched on from her position behind the knight. Not just watching, but listening to the way the knight's voice boiled with rage. A rage created for her sake, no; every Witch and Hime-miko's sake, she corrected herself. Oddly enough, she envisioned roses around the knight as he stood protectively in front of her and everyone else. Roses that disappeared as soon as she saw them. She was getting carried away with her novels she realized, and yet she did not mind. For she, as soon as the knight had appeared, felt safe and protected. Protected from any harm that may come to her due to the knight who would save her. Who would fight for her. And who would take her away after defeating Voban. She brought a hand to her blushing face as she realized that she got carried away.
Mariya Yuri at the same time as Liliana, felt as if all of her worries just vanished while she watched the knight stand protectively in front of her, the Hime-Miko, and the Witches. There was something about the knight that drew away all her troubles, her worries, and fears. Something about the Knight that made it seem that everything would be alright as long as he was there. She took refuge in that reasoning that everything would be alright and looked apprehensively as the Knight spoke in defense of her, the Hime-Miko, and the Witches.
"Only what was necessary to provide me with entertainment." Voban replied as he smiled at Shirou. "Something it seems they were able to do."
"You would do so at the cost of death and injury?" The knight asked as he clenched his armored fist as if he were about to grip a weapon of some kind.
"Why yes. As a Campione, a being who stands atop mortals, why should I care if a few die?"
A few Witches and Hime-Miko behind the knight flinched on reflex to the Marquis's words. Of his blatant disregard to human life.
The knight raised an armored hand as a sword materialized in his grasp.
"I will ask you once." The knight said as he stabbed his sword into the ground. "Will you let these maidens go and never again repeat such a travesty as this?"
Voban laughed at such an absurd question. "I would repeat such a travesty as many times as need be to satisfy myself regardless if I let the maidens run free at this moment."
"I see." Divine power began circulating around the knight; blasting the debris around him in every direction, yet none hitting any of the Hime-Miko or Witches. "Then you leave me no choice."
"Choice?" Voban laughed aloud as he released his own divine energy. "There was no choice to begin with."
Dead servants began appearing in the vicinity; their hollow gazes directed at the Hime-Miko, Witches, and the lone knight. Gazes that had long ago lost any of the emotions that had once shined brilliantly through their eyes. Eyes that were now just empty sockets which served to frighten others.
Armed with weapons and armors from the ages that were once known to be elegant yet durable, they slowly advanced forward; waiting for the call of their master. The master in which they had all at one point fought and died; their valiant efforts no more than just a means to strengthen the influence of the oldest Campione.
Unbeknownst to everyone, a man lay hidden in the far dark corner of the room; concealing himself within the shadows.
The knight stepped an armored foot forward followed by another; his gait sure and strong, for true was his path. The path of a warrior. Of a knight. Of a king. And of a Hero. The knight's mouth moved and from it came his will. A will spoken so surely, and so strongly that there could be no doubts. These were words of power. Words that alter the very fabric of space and time.
"I am a king of the people that walk the fair and righteous path."
"A path of virtue, honor, and chivalry that lead to the creation of a kingdom. A kingdom that all would flock to, yet none would know of its location."
"As such, it can be anywhere."
Well this chapters done. I feel as if I rushed it a bit, but this is what I got.
Special thanks to souvikkundu0017