A killing intent, a field of red flowers. Two hungry and hateful eyes stared at her from the other side. The figure, bathed in black, resembled someone she knew. It dashed at her, intending to rip her heart out.
Ophelia woke up in the middle of the night. Her head throbbed badly. She supposed it was a residual effect of her mystic eye. As she rubbed her temple, she thought she should have removed it completely, but at the time, Da Vinci suggested otherwise.
Of course, visions of the future were nothing new to her. That territory came with having a Mystic Eye of Precognition. Still, she had assumed with it's loss, she would be free of it.
Her tent was dark and barely furnished. Their camp was temporary, after all.
"Master," a grave voice called to her. Opposite of her, Sigurd sat on a crate, looking at her with his emerald eyes. "You were having a bad dream. I thought for a moment about using a sleep rune."
"Oh... Saber. Why didn't you?" She asked him, rubbing her working eye.
"It might be dangerous," he said. She felt a tightening in her chest as a result of his statement.
"I see," she said after a moment of silence, her eyes glued to her lap. Her head still throbbed. She wondered if, for a moment, Surtr was still out there, waiting for her to grow weak and summon him again. "Do you remember what happened? In the Scandinavian Lostbelt, I mean."
Saber said nothing for a moment, staring at her with a furrowed brow. She felt herself grow smaller under the scrutinising sight of a great hero.
"Mostly. Though it's not the exact me that was present. However, I like to treat those memories as if they were mine, since I was able to meet my beloved," he said evenly. However, his eyes turned downcast after that. "But also because of my great failure to resist Surtr."
"It's… It wasn't your fault! It was mine. If I hadn't existed there, with this Mystic eye of mine... " She caressed her eyepatch. "Then you would have been fine. Better than fine, actually."
"But you would not be alive," he shot back. She grimaced at that.
"True. Well, without other people putting their lives on the line, I wouldn't have lived either. So… it's not my choice, really," she admitted in the dark of her room.
"Hm. So you do not think you should be alive," he said. Ophelia's hand gripped her chest, above where her heart would normally be.
"It's not that. I just want to earn that right," she said.
"Your existence should not have to be justified, or earned," he replied, voice even as always.
"Right," she admitted, moving her legs out of her bed. She would not be able to go back to sleep.
Saber said nothing as she lighted up her lamp, illuminating the tent in a warm light.
She set out to dress herself. Her head still throbbed. It reminded her of how easily she fell to the flame giant.
"Saber," she asked him, looking away. "Would you put me down if I asked you to?"
"No," he said quickly, but with a cold demeanour. She turned to him, her white and black shirt already covering her.
"No?" she repeated. He stared at her, lips pursed.
"No. You are my Master. I'm your Servant. My role is to aid you. If you really wish for me to kill you, then you'll have to use a command spell," he said, as if chastising her. She turned around, her cheeks flushed. She searched for her pants.
"Even if I become a liability?" She asked. He said nothing, so she turned around and found him raising an eyebrow.
"You will not. That Mystic eye won't bring him back anymore," he stated, as if it were a fact.
"...s-still…"
"A better question would be, why do you feel like you need to prove yourself?" He asked her, standing up. He was tall, and Ophelia felt somewhat intimidated.
She turned away, to look for her boots. Sadly, she didn't remember where she put them.
"You wish to face Akuta and her Saber, to offer yourself up to Beryl so he'll stop harassing your companions, and just asked me to put you down should you become a liability. I don't need the wisdom of the gods to paint a clear picture," he stated, stepping closer to her.
She retreated, gritting her teeth.
"Well, it's the one thing I'd be able to do," she said. Saber remained silent as she found and put on her boots. "It's the only thing I would earn. Everything else in my life… I've had it because of others. Wether it's because they pitied me, or needed to use my body, or… anything. I've never earned anything of my own. I've never done anything on my own. Choosing how I die, would be my first and only freedom."
"Really now. I believe that is someone else talking," he said. Ophelia's eye widened, and all her motion stopped. "For a long time, I only did what was expected of me as a hero. I was never loved, I never expected love. I was just waiting for the moment I would stop being useful. Warriors of my time needed to prove themselves through battle, and sometimes even death."
Ophelia turned to him. For the first time since she met him, Sigurd's features seemed to have softened. "When I saved my beloved, when I found someone that was simply happy I was alive, then I understood what my path was, even if it ended in tragedy."
He closed his eyes, as if the memory were painful.
"Sigurd…" she whispered. He opened his eyes, and his gaze nearly made her shiver.
"If you want to give your life up fighting, do so. But don't mask the simple act of dying as noble. It is what you make of that death what matters," he said. Ophelia lost her breath for a moment. For a second, she feared Surtr would return. But seeing into Sigurd's eyes, she knew there was no malice in them.
"I–"
"There's something else," he said, looking for a moment towards the exit of her tent.
"W-what is it?" she asked him.
"They are gone. Qin Liangyu, Emiya and the Valkyries. They left, headed to the east," he said. She had to take a step back.
"Why didn't you stop them?!" She asked.
"I prioritized your security and the Shadow Border's. I still do not believe Akuta's stopped trying to eliminate you," he said. Ophelia relented, letting out a sigh.
"We must help Shirou," she stated, looking him in the eye. The dragonslayer nodded.
"Then let us be on the move," he answered.
Ortlinde floated above the floor, gliding at Qin Liangyu's side. She was surprisingly fast for a human. Ortlinde suspected she may be something more than human, but at the time, she did not focus on that. Her mind, and her sister's, were focused on the situation at hand.
They were nearing a forested hill, at the other side, black smoke rose up from the ground. Something, most likely the village, was being razed by Beryl and his Archer Servant.
Thinking about that grey skinned woman made Ortlinde's stomach lurch.
We'll defeat her, Ortlinde. Hildr said inside her mind.
How? Her command made us bend our knees.
Well… we could use the Odinseal override–
Have you gone insane Hildr?! Thrúd asked, voice booming inside her head. The group entered the forest. Emiya had a hard time keeping up, enough that Ortlinde every once in a while looked behind her to make sure he was still there.
B-but sister… without that…
We will not override father's commands! We cannot! Thrúd argued.
But it's for victory… Ortlinde protested.
And one step closer to sister Brynhildr's fate. To Sigrún's fate. Is that what you want? For us to fall? Ortlinde felt a cold stab in her chest. Hildr did too.
N-no…
But then, what do we do? Hildr asked.
We'll find a way. We are Valkyries. We are strong, our will and valour are unmatched. Thrúd replied. Although her words sounded desperate. But that was something Ortlinde kept to herself.
She did not want to keep it to herself. She respected Thrúd a great deal. But when thinking back at how it could endanger the mission, Ortlinde tried to say something, even if it incurred her sister's anger.
I… know that, sister. But I do not believe that will be enough. T-This woman has something else. We should think–
Then give me control. Was Thrúd's cutting answer.
W-what? Ortlinde asked, looking at the ground with widened eyes. It was enough distraction to make her stop dead in her tracks for a moment. They were just shy of the forested hill. Qin Liangyu did not wait.
Give me control of our Spirit Origin. I'll show you, both of you, that we do not need to become like sister Brynhildr.
Ortlinde stood there, mind racing. Thrúd was wrong. She knew she was wrong. But she loved her, and hearing and feeling how hurt and… scared she was, it made her not want to disobey her.
Emiya passed by her, and stopped just a meter ahead of her.
"Ortlinde?" He called her attention. But she did not respond.
Thrúd… That's not necessary. I can deal with this–
–No. You evidently can't. The fact that you considered using the Odinseal proves it. Thrúd's words were harsh. They hurt.
That's not fair! She is as experienced was we are! Hildr said, voice loud.
"Ortlinde…" Emiya whispered, stepping closer. Ortlinde ignored his existence.
Even so, I must handle this. Please Ortlinde, allow me to manifest. Thrúd said. Thrúd did not trust her, and that made a pit in her stomach begin to form.
"Ortlinde!" Emiya said, raising his voice a little, just enough to jolt her out of her inner conversation. Her head raised to meet his eyes.
"E-Emiya. I'm sorry! I got distracted," she stated, bowing a little, cheeks tinted red.
"Is everything alright?" Shirou asked. Ortlinde looked away, and nodded.
"Yes. Just a little… no, nothing. I'll be giving control to Thrúd in a moment," she said, looking him in the eye. Shirou held her gaze, lips pursed. Did he know about their argument? No, Ortlinde knew that was impossible.
"Alright," he said. Ortlinde nodded, just then, Qin Liangyu emerged from over the hills.
"Please, make haste!" She said, dashing beyond their sights. Shirou turned to Ortlinde, looked at her directly for a moment, eyes glinting, and then turned towards the mountain.
The Valkyrie looked at his back. He seemed concerned for her. He always was. It warmed her heart.
He doesn't trust our abilities. Thrúd reminded her.
R-right. Then I'll relinquish control to you, sister. Thrúd hummed.
She closed her eyes. She felt herself lose control and sleep into a tranquil sea, as if underwater. She feel her sister's thoughts, see out of her eyes, and hear the sounds reaching her ears.
Hildr was at her side, or so it felt like. A feeling of comfort washed over her, as if being consoled.
Thrúd thought that gaining control again would lower the cold feeling she felt. It only made it worse, since now she felt it physically as well.
She had to do everything in her power to suppress it.
She was a Valkyrie. Feeling fear, or anything, was humiliating, and set a bad example for others.
It was all that Archer's fault. Just thinking of her, what she did to her, made a flame ignite in her chest. A flame of madness and rage. She found it hard to quell it, and she was afraid it would consume her.
She followed Emiya and Qin Liangyu with a stone face, and without saying a word.
The hill was dark, barely illuminated by moonlight that was blocked by the trees. Once they emerged on the other side, they had to stop themselves.
In front of them, the orange glow of a giant pyre blasted them in the face. Smoke, embers and flames rose out from the burning buildings. From atop the hill, Thrúd could not see any humans alive.
"The village…" Shirou muttered, looking at the disaster area with a haunted look that made Thrúd's heart shudder for a moment.
"We must see if anyone is alive!" Qin Liangyu stated, readying her spear.
"Agreed!" Shirou said, voice shaky.
"Hold on!" Thrúd said, stepping in front of them, sight adjusting to the sudden onset of darkness.
"Thrúd, we can't waste time!" Shirou said.
"That woman may be there. We need a better plan," Thrúd said, however, Qin Liangyu frowned.
"We are three. She is one. We have the advantage, and should crush her appropriately," Thrúd swallowed. That was the safest, correct approach. However, she needed to prove herself. The flame in her chest demanded she face and surpass that woman's control.
Her thoughts stopped. Had she gone insane? Like sister Brynhildr? That thought alone nearly made her lose her sense of breathing.
"Yes. However, we have a better plan," she said. Qin raised an eyebrow, and Shirou looked at her with worry.
"What plan?" Qin asked. Thrúd closed her eyes for a moment.
Thrúd, this plan is…
I-it's not efficient. Not appropriate. At least that's what I–
Silence!
With that, her sisters went quiet.
"Lady Liangyu, you go on ahead, through the perimeter, and rescue any survivors," she ordered. Qin Liangyu looked surprised, but nodded soon after.
"Understood. What will you do?" She asked.
Thrúd looked at the burning village for a moment. "We'll face that woman on our own."
She turned back to her allies, and she saw Shirou step closer, before retreating, mouth opening and closing.
"I… I'll go with you, then," he announced. Thrúd frowned. She didn't need help, but rejecting aid would be beyond foolish.
"Be on the lookout for the Master, but do not interfere," she said. Shirou hummed. She would not let him hold her back or doubt her abilities.
"I'll come to assist as soon as I'm done," Qin Liangyu said, before jumping from the hill towards the village. The strength was impressive for a human. She rivalled some of the most capable heroes she had escorted in Scandinavia.
Thrúd and Shirou remained in silence for a moment.
They descended towards the ground level, flaming village standing before them. Thrúd floated down, while Shirou had to mind his footing.
As she was about to enter the fray however, Shirou stopped her. His touch on her shoulder felt strange. It was warm, yet, the fact that he could attempt to stop her made her reject it.
"What do you desire?" She asked, turning to him rapidly. His hand was off her shoulder in a second.
He stared at her with an impassive face. "You can beat her, right?"
That question froze her in her tracks. It took a moment to answer, which to her was unforgivable. "I can."
Shirou closed his eyes for a moment, as if pondering something. "Do you really have to do this?"
Her eyes widened. Again with that. "Yes. Why is it so hard to understand? Don't you believe we can surmount this?" Thrúd asked, the flame in her chest alighting.
"We know what happened last time. Maybe we should approach this another way–"
"There is no other way," she replied, leaning forwards to emphasise her point. Emiya did not back down, ee did not say anything, simply staring at her with pity and that same awful face Qin Liangyu had made. Keeping her voice calm didn't seem to have any effect. It made her want to explode.
"There always is. You know better than anyone that no battle is straightforward!" He replied, raising his voice. She turned around, as if ashamed to face him.
"You don't know me!" She said, looking at him once again. He looked at her with shock, before frowning again.
"Thrúd, I've met you three times, in three lives. I may not be able to read your mind, but I think I know you if just a little," he said, much calmer now. Thrúd grit her teeth.
"Then why?! Why do you insist on stopping us?!" She asked, raising her head to meet his eyes. "Do you not see us as adequate?! Are we not strong enough? Broken? Defective?"
Shirou seemed taken aback enough to take a step backwards.
"What?" He asked, stuttering.
"What I said. You're like everyone else here. They all disparage us, tell us that we are not needed, that we are useless, that we are only war machines, while forcing us to kneel and driving our pride through the mud," she muttered, her feelings slipping out. Her flame had become uncontainable.
"Your pride isn't everything," he replied after a moment of silence. She scoffed, smiling sarcastically for a second. Even she felt that foreign. That was her inner flame talking.
"Hollow words. And it is everything, all I am is a Valkyrie, all I have is my pride, my valour, and my sisters. And I already lost most of them, to love, madness or time. Pride is all that I have left, and now even that is being taken away," her eyes were darkened, looking straight at the ground. She was admitting weakness, because she was weak. She could never be as strong as Sigrún or Brynhildr. Never strong enough to remain on the path, but also not enough to break away from it.
She was a failure of an elder sister.
"Thrúd…" Shirou said after a moment. She raised her head, and met his eyes. They looked tired. "… I… I never meant to disparage you. I always thought you were… something else… something beautiful and amazing ever since I met you. But I already lost you… and Hildr… and Ortlinde… two times. If I lose you a third time, I… I don't want that," he said. She closed her eyes. How selfish could he be?
She looked at him square in the eye, looking for something that would betray his intentions.
But there was nothing. His feelings were honest.
He truly did not want to lose them. Any of them. They were distinct, and irreplaceable. Right?
She wished she could tell. She probably could, but the answer scared her enough that she did not try.
Still, she appreciated his comfort.
"Thank you, but… I'm a Valkyrie. I cannot allow myself to lose myself like sister Brynhildr and sister Sigrún. If I survive, or if I fall, I want to remain a Valkyrie."
For a moment, there was no response. Then, the sound of footsteps registered in her ears. Emiya came to stand at her side, facing the flames.
He said nothing as she looked at him.
"I still think this idea is… not the best," he said, turning to her. "But I still want to be with you, whatever happens."
For a moment, Thrúd's flame didn't burn her, didn't make her hate weak self. Instead, it felt warm and comforting.
She didn't know what it was.
She had no time to ponder.
Her true enemy laid inside the village.
And so, the two entered the flames, side by side.
Entering Mash's tent, Ophelia quickly spotted her friend's sleeping form.
She quickly knelt to her side and shook her.
"Mash…" she whispered. Her friend stirred a little, eyes shut more tightly. Deciding enough was enough, she raised her voice. "Mash!"
The Shielder awoke, single visible opening slightly. "Ophelia… som–" realizing that Ophelia was in her room, Mash shot up, face red. "Ophelia-san! Why are you here?!" She asked, covering herself with the sheets.
"Shirou left," she said.
"Shirou? Oh…" Mash said, sounding disappointed. Then, her visible eye widened. "Oh! Why?"
"I don't know," she said, standing and shaking her head. "But he left with the Valkyries and Qin Liangyu. And according to Sigurd, they were in a hurry. We have to go help them."
Mash rubbed her eyes, before looking at her with a determined expression. "Got it. I'll suit up."
"Good. I'll… uh… wait outside…" Ophelia said as Mash got up from the bed in a simple long shirt.
She left the tent, and found Saber looking ahead.
"What is it?" She asked him.
"Saber and her Master," he said. Ophelia looked ahead again, and noticed the too figures standing in the moonlight.
"Akuta…" Ophelia muttered, balling her fist.
"Sleeping away in the middle of the night? Like the cockroach you are?" She asked, spite in the tone evident. Far too evident.
"Ok," Ophelia said simply.
"W-what?" Akuta asked, eyes widening. Her Saber looked at her.
"I don't have time to deal with you. Even though I certainly would like to. I have a… friend I need to say," talking like that about anyone was embarrassing, but even so Ophelia spoke without asked.
"You'd… ignore me?!" Akuta asked, seething.
"Yes," as she said that, Mash came out of the tent, clad in her Ortinax armour.
"Sorry. Mash Kyrielight reporting– oh. Akuta…" Mash said, growing tense.
"She won't do anything. It would be foolish, right?" Ophelia asked, turning to Sigurd for a second.
"Indeed. She is heavily outnumbered," Sigurd added.
"Well, well, it seems everything is quite tense," said a voice from the sky. The Emperor spoke. "While we do not require your help, it is quite appreciated, interlopers. Your vehicle is extremely interesting as well. I'm fascinated. You may help if you wish to."
Ophelia looked at Akuta, who seemed to be livid.
"Calm down Master," her Saber said. "There will be another time."
"Or you could help us," Mash said, stepping up. "Help us defend your world."
Akuta narrowed her eyes, as if wanting to disintegrate Mash with her eyesight.
"Let's leave, Saber," she said, turning around. Her Servant followed her, not uttering a single world.
"How amusing," said the emperor. "I'll tell Xiang Yu to remain here. Go now."
"Guide us, Sigurd," Ophelia ordered. Her Servant dashed ahead of them at incredible speed.
Ophelia nodded at Mash, and the group set off towards where Shirou had gone off to.
The entire town was devoid of any life that wasn't flames. To Thrúd, it wasn't an issue. But it did bring back unpleasant memories. The smell of fire alone made her remember Surtr's final attack.
They made their way along smoking alleyways and burning homes, until they reached an open area. A very barebones plaza among the similar looking buildings.
Shirou coughed every so often, but did not slow down.
On the centre was a broken metal statue, representing an old human male.
On top of it's missing head, sat a figure that made her want to click her tongue. Yet, she retained her composure. She would not give her enemy a chance.
The Archer class Servant whose name she did not know looked at her, swinging her legs along the statue as if she were a child.
"So the doll is back. You look less pretty than before, though. I heard humans get wrinkles if they frown too much," she said, smiling like a devil.
"Where are the villagers?" Shirou asked, stepping at Thrúd's side.
"Where?" Asked the woman, putting a finger in her chin. "Don't know. Beryl took them. Every decent magus has a workshop. Or so he told me," she said gleefully.
"Return them at once," Thrúd ordered, keeping her voice steady.
"Because you say so?" Asked the Archer, looking at her with her mouth twisted upwards. She felt a bout of anger.
"Yes. As a Valkyrie and Heroic Spirit, I'll stop you, and you will repent for the humiliation you put us through," Thrúd said, floating above the ground to be at the same level as the Archer.
The woman frowned, her smile disappearing. "Valkyrie? Heroic Spirit? Really?" She said, face twisting in disgust. "You're wrong. That's not what you are at all."
Something snapped inside her. She dashed towards her enemy.
She smashed what was left of the statue, the woman jumping away into the air. A harp was played, and in that single instant, crimson projectiles came to slice her from every direction.
At lightning speed, she flew away from them, twisting her body to evade them. Their directions were predictable, aimed towards her vulnerable spots. Back of the leg, clavicule, wrists. All spots that would make a human bleed out in seconds or cause them enormous pain.
Archer landed on another one of the rooftops, continuing to play her harp and shooting near impossible to dodge projectiles at her. Some even hit, but her Mystic Code protected her.
This being, this Servant, was extraordinarily powerful. She could tell. Even so, she would not back down.
Wether she survived or she fell, she would end things.
"Is that the best you can do, doll!?" the fiend asked. Thrúd narrowed her eyes. Taunts in battle. They were pointless, so would Sigrún say.
Despite her distaste, she kept her head as cool as she could. Good importance in battle was of utmost importance.
She threw her shield, and it rotated along the air like disk. Archer shot it multiple times with her bow, but nothing could stop it. It would never bend, it's user would never be forced to retreat.
Her eyes widened, and she was forced to jump away. Perfect time.
Thrúd flew at top speed towards her target, Lance charged with magical energy. A few meters atop of Archer, Thrúd shot the energy towards her. The radiant force impacted the Servant, forcing her through the roof and into a burning house. They landed in what appeared to be a large room full of small beds, each with their own toy that looked the same.
Thrúd kept up the assault, dashing at her opponent, intending to pierce her like a living lance. Once she charged into the house, she found her target. Archer was still recovering, but as she extended her Lance to pierce her chest, Archer lifted her bow.
Both women became locked in a struggle. Even though Thrúd tried to break it, the Servant was strong. Much stronger than she could have calculated.
"You are quite fun, you move very well," Archer said, smiling with her face strained. Thrúd said nothing in return. "However, you lack grace!"
She let one arm into the air, and her fingers snapped. From behind her back, four sets of tendrils emerged. Thrúd retreated before she could be impaled.
"Too slow! Too dumb!" Screamed Archer, snapping her finger's again. Thrúd then noticed the toys being enveloped in red light, and from inside stakes burst towards her.
She had no protection. She would need runes.
"Thrúd!" She heard someone shout. From above, near the whole, Shirou threw her his Divine Iron shield. "Catch!"
She caught it without looking, and raised it in front of her to block the spikes, which were once again aimed at painful spots, such as her guts, liver, and diaphragm. They impacted against her shield, unable to penetrate it.
"You…!" Archer muttered, pulling her harp. Seeing this, Thrúd dashed, not intent on letting her opponent run away.
Now with the advantage, Thrúd slashed, kicked and stabbed. Her moves were swift, if she dared say so herself. Archer was left blocking with some annoyance. However, whenever Thrúd injured her, the cut would heal.
Thrúd let out one final thrust, which lodged itself between the harp's iron strings. Archer grit her teeth, looking her in the eye. "Why you…! How annoying! You're hurting me! I'm your superior!" She complained. Of course she hurt her, they were fighting her.
"You are not," replied the Valkyrie, before moving the harp away and delivering a powerful kick towards the Servant0s midriff. The woman was launched through the flames, into the wall, and halfway across the plaza.
Despite that however, she righted herself without much difficulty. Her only visible injuries were smog and dust on her dress.
Thrúd clicked her tongue, and left the building through the hole she made. The fires around them were beginning to fade.
She heard someone, likely Emiya, land behind her.
"You can't beat me, surrender," Thrúd said, pointing her spear. At this, Archer smiled.
"Me? Why would I surrender to a toy such as you? You fight pretty, and your body and clothes are top notch. But that's all you are. All looks, but no personality and no taste," Archer said, as if proud of her analysis.
Thrúd found herself not caring. While Valkyries maintained their appearance pristine, they did not care about getting dirty or bloodied.
"It's time for you to perish," Thrúd stated, Mystic Code activated so she could dash towards her target.
"Oh, I don't think so," Archer pointed a finger in her direction. Thrúd's expression strained as she dashed. Any spell, any move, any action, would be too late to stop her.
"Stop, my servant!"
Thrúd flew past her, stopping herself by using her feet to slide on the floor. Her lance pristine, she had not hurt her at all.
Of course she hadn't. That command she had given her, it was of the highest priority. Except it was not.
But it felt like it.
"See?" Archer asked, cackling madly. "Now come over here."
Thrúd obeyed. She didn't want to, but her body, her mind, all of it recognized that command as legitimate.
"Why…?" Thrúd asked, now standing before the woman. She was close, too close.
"Why?" She would smell her breath. "Because I am a Blessed Successor, the daughter of the Queen of Britain. Everything that can be ruled, I can rule. No king can silence me.
"And that's why I'm Faerie Knight Tristan."
Thrúd eyes widened, pupils dilating. "Faerie Knight?"
Fairies were powerful entities, deeply tied with mystery. Meeting one was sure to end in disaster one way or another.
"Indeed. And you…" she pulled closer to her left cheek. "… are quite delicious."
Thrúd recoiled at the words whispered in her left ear, stepping away from Tristan. But she couldn't do much else. She was compelled to stay near her.
"How dare you…"
"How dare I?" She said, hips swaying as she paced around the Valkyrie. "Because I can. Because I'm allowed to. Because the dominated were made for me to dominate. But you are lowlier than that. You are a toy, a tool, a disposable piece of garbage, meant to be discarded."
Those words, they hurt.
"I am not!" She said, teeth clenched.
"Oh? Then why are you standing there, like the perfect little doll you are? Accept it, you were made for me. You said you were proud of being a Valkyrie? Then rejoice, because you are doing exactly what you were made for," Thrúd entire being shook. A turmoil of 'she's right' and 'she's wrong' rolled around her mind. Her decisiveness was gone.
"Thrúd!" Emiya screamed, and then, a blue projectile impacted Tristan.
When the smoke cleared, she stood there, right shoulder of her dress torn.
She sighed. "What a pest," she played her harp, and immediately, Shirou's knees were slashed by glowing crimson streaks.
He screamed in pain, kneeling on the ground as his legs bled.
"Emiya…" She muttered, turning towards the Fairy Knight. She had some control. She could beat her, if only… she disobeyed her orders. If only she broke her vows and went against her father's commands.
Like Brynhildr.
That would be doing what Brynhildr did.
That was… wrong.
But if she could save Emiya, defeat her enemy, then…
Her body shook, her grip on her lance threatening to snap it.
"What's wrong?" Tristan asked, smiling. "Want to kill me? You are free to do so. But that would mean breaking you oath, right? You would have no purpose. You would be… useless," she said, as if enjoying every word that came out of her mouth.
She knew her. She knew her far too well. How?
Only one thing came to Thrúd's mind. It was a vain and useless action, but also the only way she could rebel against this oppressor. Or so she felt Spartacus would say.
"You would know, right?" She asked, tone serious.
"What?" Tristan asked.
"Yes. I can tell you were made with a purpose. And that you were hurt for it. And now you torture me to prove how far you've gotten. Am I wrong?" She asked. The deepening frown on Tristan's face should have given her satisfaction, but there was none to be found.
"You know nothing!" She screamed.
"I'm a Valkyrie. I have great insight. Not like anyone would need much to figure you out. Your reactions are very telling," she said. Now Tristan was seething. However, in a second, her face turned impassive.
"You are right. I think it's time I show you your place," she turned to Shirou. So did Thrúd. Her heart stopped for a moment.
"Kill, my servant."
Thrúd's eyes widened. The command was input.
Shirou looked at her, eyes strained.
"Thrú–"
The air moved. Without thinking, Thrúd executed the command.
Her spear pierced flesh, and broke bone, as she impaled Emiya through the chest, enough to lift him off the ground.
With bloodshot eyes, he looked at her while his chest was became painted in crimson.
Thrúd kept her eyes on him.
Blood trailed from his mouth and nose.
He muttered something, but her ears rang, and she could not hear. Thrúd's only reaction was to pull her lance out of him with haste.
She did it too fast. He fell to the ground, hitting it with a loud thud as blood continued to pool around him.
It was done. The order had been executed.
Thrúd looked at her previous Master's body.
He had died on his knees. Not a warrior's death, but an execution. He would not go to Valhalla, she would not be able to judge him, he would go to Helheim, or worse.
Because of her.
Because she could not disobey.
"See? See?" Tristan asked, skipping around her. Thrúd turned to face her tormentor. "You are only a thing, a robot. Are your eyes open now?"
She wanted to do nothing else but kill her. Yet, what good would that do now? She had disgraced herself.
But at least… she had obeyed her commands. She was still a perfect Valkyrie.
Yes. She was.
She wasn't like Brynhildr.
Tristan sighed. "How pitiful. Then for my next order, kill–"
A lance pierced Tristan's chest, blood spewing out.
The fairy looked at the silver blade, and then back at her. Behind her stood Qin Liangyu.
"You…!" The spear was dislodged, and Tristan fell to her knees.
"You left yourself wide open. Your lack of experience in warfare is notable," Qin Liangyu stated.
Tristan looked at her, and scoffed. Her body began to peel away.
"Damn. Beryl never… told me about this…"
She was gone. The flames of the village had subsided.
Thrúd immediately went to Shirou's side, dropped to her knees, and began drawing runes on his chest in order to heal the gaping hole she had procured.
She had not been able to beat her opponent.
Something dark, void, settled in her heart.
She had obeyed her commands. She was still a perfect Valkyrie.
She was still a perfect Valkyrie.
Nothing more. Nothing less. Just one more.
Just one more.
Beryl looked at the wooden doll in his workshop. It was getting late.
In a second, dark petals began to stick to it, until the wood was overshadowed. Then, Fairy Knight Tristan replaced it.
"I hate it when that happens," she said, cranking her neck.
"Had fun?" He asked her, turning from the table he was using.
"Yes. But people just love to spoil it," she said, looking past him, towards his test subject.
He looked at it as well. "Wondering about this? It's just something new I'm trying," he said, smiling. The human was a literal shadow of their formel selves, with only two white dots breaking up the mass of curses their body had become.
"Ugh. You disgust me sometimes, Beryl. But yes, it is done," she said, heels clicking as she strode outside the cave he used as a workshop.
"Alrighty then. Now... we wait."
Akuta was reading her book, although she found it hard to concentrate. She still seethed at her inability to kill the Chaldeans.
So much time, and now that even Xiang Yu was here, everything fell apart, her enemies were now allied with her Lostbelt King.
And to top it all off, Beryl was probably laughing at her.
She didn't know why she cared. He was scum. But having scum on her world was a humiliation in and of itself.
"Oh! You can read too!" Said a voice. Akuta lifted her head.
"Excuse me? Leave me alone," she stated. A boy, clad in the same white clothes and hat as every other villager, recoiled.
"Oh, sorry. It's just… I thought I was the only one who could read," he said. Akuta raised an eyebrow.
"You are not supposed to be able to read," she stated.
"Aren't I? Miss Valkyrie taught me runes quite easily, although they are different from your … thingie," he said, peeking into her book. She recoiled, pulling it close to her chest.
Akuta's eyes widened. The Valkyries were… those winged Servants in the red haired man's command.
An idea formed in her head.
"You said that they taught you."
A/N: And that is all. Sith has finally broken Thrúd, or has she? Regardless, things will only go down from here on.
I got to admit, I'm not very happy with the pacing. But I really wanted to make this arc for the Valkyries, and I think I did pull it off, somewhat.
So, next chapter, more juicy stuff. Until then, I'll be seeing you!