Ritsuka Fujimaru was a heavy sleeper, always.
And ever since coming to Chaldea, her sleep had only gotten stronger. At the same time, numerous beings were more than fascinated with pulling her mind to other worlds, or simply giving her nightmares.
At the very least the had someone to protect her dreams, as weird as that was. Edmond Dantes.
However, ever since she fell into her last slumber, somehow, she hadn't seen him once.
She simply spent her time falling down an abyss, feeling nothing but the passage of days, months, years. She couldn't think of anything else. She couldn't form any memories, or recall feelings more than a few minutes ago.
Ritsuka felt something in her cheek while continuing to fall down. A warm, wet and sandy surface over her cheek.
And again.
And again.
And this time, she didn't forget that feeling. In fact, she soon found it an annoyance. Annoying enough to make her swat her arm with closed eyes. Then, she slowly opened them.
She wasn't falling down anymore.
A white, clean room greeted her, along with another of those licks.
Ritsuka looked to the side, and found a pair of cute eyes looking back at her.
She smiled, heart warm with relief.
"Fou…" she said. The animal wiggled it's tail, inmediately noozling in the nape of her neck.
She had escaped the abyss, for now.
Afraid to shut her eyes, Ritsuka hugged the fur ball, leaving her face away from him in case that would make her blink.
"I'm so glad…" she whispered into his fur.
"Yeah. Me too," a voice replied from her right.
Inmediately, Ritsuka and Fou jumped together, falling on the other side of the bed.
"Interesting reaction. But you should try not to fall down," said the voice that she hadn't heard in a long time. A woman in purple circled the bed and helped her back into it. Sion, their newest ally.
"Maybe you could try not scaring me," Ritsuka replied, getting back into the soft bed. It was a struggle. Her bones screamed at her as if they had seen better days. Sion smiled at her sheepishly regardless.
"Right. That was my bad. But also required of me, since someone needed to watch over you," she replied with a smile.
Ritsuka sighed. Her body ached now. "Right. Everything hurts," she said, putting both hands over her stomach. It felt weird. It hurt, it felt weak, like if she ate anything heavy it would break down.
"That's normal. You were posioned after all, and with a devious concotion at that. I've been studying the poison, Immortal Decline. It makes your body degenerate, as if aging rapidly, starting from your internal organs, to your bones, and then the rest." Sion replied, smile fading.
Ritsuka's eyes widened.
Poison.
Mash was supposed to be able to protect her from that sort of stuff.
That only meant this stuff was strong. And if it was, then that meant she was in mortal danger. And as the last Master of humanity, she had a duty to fulfill. She couldn't die on her Servants, or on Mash, or on Emiya and Ophelia.
She didn't want to die.
"I see," she replied, mouth dry. "That bad?"
"Very bad, in normal terms," Sion replied, adjusting her glasses.
Ritsuka didn't look at her, simply staring at Fou, who had now set down on her lap. "What now?"
"Luckily, we've moved in haste. So you should–" Sion said, finger raised up with a smile.
"–What do you mean 'we'?" Ritsuka asked, turning to her in an instant. If Ritsuka knew Mash, then it was safe to say she would have been the first to see her wake up. But she wasn't here. In fact, she didn't feel her anywhere, even through their Master-Servant connection.
Sion once again stopped smiling, simply looking at her with a neutral expression. "There was little time, for both you and Goredolf. So Emiya, Ophelia and Mash took the Valkyries and went to get an antidote."
Ritsuka's heart stopped for a moment.
"Went…?" She whispered. Her heart beat fast, and it hurt. "Where?"
Sion's expression didn't change. "The Chinese Lostbelt. That's where the antidote, and Koyanskaya, where located."
Ritsuka coughed, and coughed again except this time it came with a piercing pain in her lungs, and something that tasted salty in her mouth.
"Don't stress yourself," Sion replied, and then proceeded to smile. "I may not know much of entertainment, but I've been researching specifically for this."
Ritsuka looked at her eager expression for a moment, and then smiled. "That's very thoughtful of you. What did you plan?"
"There's this one called 'I spy'. Perfect for long periods of idle time," she said. Ritsuka felt a drop of sweat form on the side of her eye.
"Y-yeah," she replied. Her mind wandered back to the others in the Lostbelt. Her heart ached, literally and figuratively, for Mash. "There's no way we could go catch up with them, right?" She asked with closed eyes.
"Nope," was Sion's answer.
"Of course," Ritsuka said. She balled her hands for a second, before putting her worries aside. "Can I pick the game at least?"
"Of course," said Sion. "Let me bring everything."
As Sion left, Ritsuka looked at Fou. He seemed fine.
She stroked his ears, the fluff warming her fingers.
She saw the command seal on her withered hand. Three strokes.
She remembered then that the Valkyries were still contracted to her. She had wanted to bring the idea up to him, to allow him to become their master.
Without her, without the power of command seals, Ritsuka worried what would happen.
She then shook her head.
They could handle it. Mash could handle it. She was strong, very strong.
"Fou!" As if sensing her distress, Fou ruffled her hair with her nose, earning a giggle from her.
Yes. For now, she would try to relax a bit.
When the light faded, and Hildr could see again, she found herself on what appeared to be a rocky field, midway through a mountain range. They were on a slope, full of crags and jutting rocks, with a river running beneath them and the rest of the mountain raising to their left. They were well secured.
She felt something warm in her abdomen and arms, and noticed that Leif was there, holding on to her for dear life. A strange sensation, she rarely held warriors or souls, merely guiding them and keeping her distance.
She almost squealed with excitement at this new sensation.
She patted his head, and Leif turned to look at her with glistening eyes. She didn't know how to react, but from watching the others, she simply tried her best to smile, which she found harder to do naturally.
"Maybe we should turn back to the others, Hildr?" Ortlinde suggested.
With a silent nod, she got on her feet, leaving Leif to be on his own.
The others were all there.
Ophelia was on the floor, leaning on her side.
Sigurd stood on one knee.
Mash was the same.
And finally, Emiya stood a few feet away from Mash, holding his arm outstretched to reach for Koyanskaya.
"He's making… a deal with the enemy…" Ortlinde said in her head. A flash interrupted her thoughts, and then an orange explosion made her turn her eyes west, along with everyone else's.
It didn't last, as a deafening sound and shaking comparable to an earthquake, or the march of Jotün-kind, made everyone stumble before being blown away by a shockwave.
Even as a Valkyrie and heroic spirit, Hildr couldn't help but be pushed back and hit against the side of the mountain, along with Sigurd, who protected Ophelia in his arms, and Mash who used her shield to protect herself, Leif and Emiya from the impact.
A few moments later, the Servants were able to upright themselves and look upon a mushroom-shaped cloud rising above the mountain ridge.
"Oh…" Mash said, looking in bewimdernent. "... What was that?"
"A precious gift from the emperor, of course. He really doesn't want confucians alive, does he?" Koyanskaya asked, needing to support herself by standing next to the mountain wall.
Now that Hildr could look properly, the fox woman looked deplorable. Dress in taters, abdomen covered in blood, hair and fur dirty and loose. Her expression denoted how much pain she was in, likely.
Hildr inmediately understood that they were still in danger, and looking at Sigurd, he seemed to think the same.
Even if she didn't like him, they both still silently agreed, and began tracing the inverse Ansur Rune: A symbol of dialogue, communication, magic, and the transmission of knowledge. Thus, inverting it would lead to lies and subterfuge. Invisibility was one of the many ways to channel those effects, even if the Valkyries were wanton to use such underhanded tricks.
"My…" Shirou said, unclasping himself from Mash's shield.
"Indeed. Good thing we made that deal in the nick of time," at that reminder, both Mash and Ophelia glared at Shirou for a second.
Hildr didn't understand it.
"Yeah," Shirou said. He looked tense, eyes with bags under his eyes, like a cornered animal. "So what do I need to give you?"
"Well, since you were so-" Koyanskaya's devilish expression banished as she began to spasm a little, coughing blood onto the ground. "-ok. Maybe it was too much effort."
Shirou simply looked at her, mouth shut and eyes narrowed. Then, Ophelia appeared at his side.
"Sorry to interrupt, but you still have something we want. Give us the antidote," at this demand, Koyanskaya raised an eyebrow, smile dissappearing.
"I already made a deal with you," she replied.
"No. You made a deal with Shirou," Ophelia said, glancing at the man for a second. "Regardless, I saved your life. I think you owe me something, 'bestie'"
There was a hint of satisfaction in Ophelia's voice as she said that.
Koyanskaya noticed as well, chuckling slightly. "My. See? That's why I like you, Ophelia. You understand the rules."
"No. I just understand how simplistic you are underneath your fancy clothes," Ophelia replied with a glare.
"Whatever. There's a reason we're besties," Koyanskaya said. The fox woman reached for her dress opening and from beyond her navel she pulled out a vial of blue liquid. "Here."
She threw it, and Ophelia was quick to catch it. She inspected it for a moment, and then looked back at Koyanskaya. Hildr was no expert on poisons, they weren't the tools of proud warriors, but she could tell something was amiss. "We need more than this."
"Sorry, but an assassin only ever makes one antidote for each victim. It's not my fault Gordy was dumb enough to poison himself as well," Koyanskaya said, managing to right herself. "You're on your own for the second one."
"Where is it then?" Shirou demanded, taking a step forward.
"Over there," Koyanskaya said, pointing towards the flying structure of Xianyang. "There's a tree from which the flower sprouts."
Koyanskaya then turned tail to them. "If that's all, I'll collect my payment."
Shirou sighed, fists gripped. "What do you want?"
Koyanskaya chuckled, eyes looking at him as if he were a toy. She turned around with a sultry look, and Shirou visibly tensed, eyes wide."Well, right now, nothing. However," she took a few steps to stand right in front of him. Hildr had to fight the urge to point her spear at her.
"I want your service," she stated.
"My what?" Shirou asked.
"Wherever and whenever you are, when I call, you will come to me, and you will fulfill my request. Seems fair for saving you and all your companions, right?" she said. Hildr controlled herself even as something inside her told her to interfere. She was a Valkyrie, she had to keep herself controlled.
So would Thrúd say.
Hildr could tell Shirou tensed more with every word.
"And if I say no?" He asked after a pregnant silence. The fox woman leaned forward, pupils dilating. For a second, all pleasantness and grace left her.
"Then I'll kill you all, right here, right now. And even if I don't, you'll still lose the antidote. You really want that?" she said, still smiling. A dark aura emanated from her, and Hildr felt the air grow heavier. This Koyanskaya was no normal Servant.
Shirou said nothing for a moment, looking at the ground. A tense moment later, he nodded.
"Shirou wait–!" Ophelia said, grabbing his arm.
"Then deals done! Nice doing business, but um…" Koyanskaya held her chin. "… I need some insurance. A promise, a precious object. How about that pendant you carry on yourself all the time?"
Shirou grit his teeth. "You're… kidding me."
"Nope."
Shirou glared at her, just when she thought he was a calm warrior.
Just like herself.
"Fine," he spat out, the venom in his tone unprecedented. He reached out to his neck, below his black undershirt, and pulled out a silver and red pendant, taking it out with care. He walked towards the fox woman, and left it in her palm.
"My, how precious. Just wonderful," she said, bringing it to her mouth, chewing on it a little before holding it to her chest. "One last thing though."
"What?" Shirou asked, anger sipping through.
Koyanskaya wasn't fazed. "Relax, it's easy. Just kill that detestable, pompous emperor. Burn his whole empire to the ground. Simple, right?"
Shirou didn't say anything at that.
"Well then. Ta ta!" With that, Koyanskaya turned around and disappeared in a blue haze, leaving nothing behind.
The area was overcome with silence.
"We should move. The emperor likely thinks we're dead," Sigurd said. That was enough to get the group moving.
During their climb down, Shirou was silent, Hildr noted.
She was quite aware now of her battle partner, even if it distracted her.
But she put that worry at the back of her mind.
"Would you rather I take over?" Ortlinde asked. Her sister's caring voice soothed her.
"I'm alright. I'm still in good operational capacity," Hildr replied in their network.
"Maybe. But… there's something bothering you. And I want to talk to Emiya, for a bit," Hildr didn't say anything for a moment, looking back at the man heading the rear.
"Ok. Once we reach the bottom, I'll give control to you," Hildr said after a moment.
"Appreciated, sister."
Things hadn't gone well at all.
First she failed to kill Ophelia. A job was a job and that kind of failure was just humiliating.
Then the emperor captured and tortured her.
And now, she was on the run like an injured prey.
She couldn't even teleport out of the Lostbelt, just a few hundred meters away from Chaldea's group.
It hurt. The emperor's measures were stronger, and left a lasting impact on her.
It would heal if she licked her wounds enough, but it still shamed her.
The fox woman sat down near a tree that had survived the cragged fields.
"Damn you all…" she whispered.
"It was your fault, trying to play the devious fighter," said a voice, cold and full of spite. Koyanskaya's head janked to the side, like an alert cat.
To the side, a woman towered over her. She had a dark complexion, violet hair adorned by bun, which was interlocked by two wings twisted on themselves. She wore dark blue robes, with some armour sprinkled in. A delicious, if faint, divine aura could be felt around her, even if such divinity was so faded it might as well be sprinkle of salt.
"All animals are fighters, dear," she said. Although she wanted to play the devious secretary, she was too tired, and this woman didn't deserve it. "I can't believe the Alien God decided to activate you."
The woman didn't change her expression, crimson eyes boring through her. "You are all out of control. An arbiter was needed."
Koyanskaya grit her teeth. "You don't control me. I'm not one of those pesky Alter-Egos. I'm much more than them."
"I thought you were just an animal," the woman replied. At this turn, Koyanskaya smirked.
"Right. Did you come to corner me?" She asked.
"I came to put you down," the woman said, raising a well crafted sword, almost as big as her own body.
"That won't do. Don't you know anything about business, you brutish drone?" Koyanskaya asked, spitting every word.
"I don't see any benefit to keeping you alive," she said.
Koyanskaya sighed, having to play her card so soon. "Ok. I screwed up, but I have made up for it," she said, reaching for the pendant she had extracted from the red-haired boy. "I got what Rasputin needed."
She spun the pendant around her finger, and sure enough the woman's eyes followed it.
Only a scowl could be seen on her face. "Very well."
With a swift movement, the woman slung Koyanskaya over her shoulder. It hurt, every internal organ screaming.
"Watch the tail!" She shrilled.
"Hmph."
With that last expression, they both vanished from the Chinese Lostbelt.
A few hours passed, with Chaldea making their way down the mountain ridge, near the river. As they did, vegetation began showing itself, progressing into woods that would cover them from the eyes of the emperor. That was Mash's hope at least.
Ortlinde brought up the rear with Shirou. She had an easier time moving after all, with her wings of light allowing for better traversal.
She carried Leif on her back. The boy moved sparingly, his magical energy still not restored fully.
Shirou Emiya followed behind her, lost in his own thoughts.
Their trip was interrupted by Ophelia's raised hand. The woman kept up with Sigurd all the time.
"There's a clearing up ahead. We'll rest there," she ordered. Her voice reminded Ortlinde of her elder sister, Sigrùn.
She thought about her lately. As did her sisters.
It made sense, in her mind. Back in life, She was a pillar of comfort and stability for the other Valkyries. She and Brynhildr.
All this fighting, and questioning of their purpose made Ortlinde's heart ache, no matter how much she tried to suppress it, ignore it, or rationalize it.
Dusk began when the group moved down, and the Servants quickly moved to establish a rune circle to mask their prescense. It was all a silent endeavour, only the animals and wind being heard, an atmosphere of dread looming over them all. The mushroom cloud of the meteor was still visible.
"We'll need food if we want to pass the night," Shirou said, breaking the silence. Leif, Sigurd and Ortlinde herself were quick to nod.
"That would be for the best," Sigurd replied, adjusting his glasses while facing the forest. "There should be some animals to hunt. Boars mainly."
"Understood. I'll get to it then," Shirou said, looking at Mash and Ophelia for what Ortlinde guessed was approval.
Ophelia took a moment to narrow her eye at him. "Very well. We'll get a fire going."
Even with limited understanding of human emotions, Ophelia acted colder than usual.
Emiya seemed to notice this as well.
"Ophelia-"
"You should have talked to us," Ophelia said, turning around with a strained expression. She held Emiya's gaze for a moment before continuing. "This… affects all of us. How could you simply make a deal like that with her!? Are you aware of what she'll do to you!? To us!?" She raised her voice, and her eye glistened.
"I was fine with the first time, when you ran to engage Xiang Yu. But now I see you'll keep doing this, won't you?" She asked.
Shirou narrowed his eyes at this. There was also an air of resignation around him, as if he had seen this before. "There was no time. I had to save you, all of you," he said, voice completely even and almost emotionless.
"There are other ways. You don't… don't get to choose like that, over us…" Ophelia said, fumbling over her words, as if unused to these kinds of battles.
"Again, There was no time," Emiya said after a moment. "But you're still here, so it's all right. I'm happy with what I did," he smiled, but neither Mash nor Ophelia returned it. In a second, the smile was gone. "I'll go hunting then."
With that, he disappeared into the forest, leaving silence in the camp.
"Should we–?" Mash asked, looking into the forest.
"No. Let's just get a fire going," Ophelia said, a solemn look upon her face. Ortlinde went up to her.
She had to talk to Shirou. "Lady Ophelia, may I follow Emiya?"
Ophelia turned to her, eye wide, before taking a breath. "Very well. Make sure he's alright."
With a bow, Ortlinde turned to the forest. From behind, she could hear their whispers.
"I thought–"
"–me too. I should have seen it earlier."
"–not your fault."
As Ortlinde soon found, Shirou had penetrated deeper in the forest than it would be recommended. And far from his prey as well.
The Valkyrie quickly caught up to him. "Emiya."
He seemed to instantly turn at the sound of her voice.
"Ortlinde," he said with a solemn expression.
"You are scaring the prey, and wandering far from your allies without a proper light source," Ortlinde said. She noted that he had his bow in hand.
"It's still not totally dark out," he replied.
"Then we should make haste," she said, floating past him and towards a more elevated position. She could spot a small pond ahead, surrounded by trees. A boar was drinking water there.
"Y-yeah," Shirou said.
"Aim your bow at coordinates X 243, Y 56, Y -66, angle sixty," she ordered. He looked at her for a second before projecting an arrow and knocking on the bow.
"Understood," he said. In a second, he released the arrow, taking her calculations at face value. Usually, most humans usually had confidence to ignore commands, or too skeptical. To Ortlinde that was natural, and according to some of the many gods she had met, that too was a good thing.
Following orders to the letter was relegated to soldiers, servants and Valkyries.
He hit the mark, the boar squealing before toppling over.
"Nice one, Ortlinde!" Shirou expressed, going over to their quarry.
"I simply gave you orders," she said, following closely. "You executed them perfectly."
Without meaning to, she smiled just when he looked back at her. He turned back with a crimson face.
"R-right. But still, you made all those calculations," he replied. Ortlinde narrowed her eyes.
"You should accept praise, Emiya. Especially from a Valkyrie. A-at least, that's what sister Sigrún would say," she turned away for a moment.
"I don't think that's fair to… anyone really. Everyonde else does hard work," Shirou said, trying his best to move the large boar. It was almost his own size.
"Here," she said, lifting it much easier than him.
"It's okay. You don't need to bother," he replied, getting in her way.
"I'm made for this, as a Servant," she said.
"And I don't want to inconvenience you. Just let me do this thing," he replied, once again struggling to lift the animal, even if he did manage it with an odd posture. "Got it."
He gave a step forward, fell off his balance, and dropped the animal. A click of the tongue followed, but he said nothing as he attempted again.
Ortlinde watched. Anyone else would have accepted help.
She had seen many dead heroes to that kind of thinking.
Yet that was what made them perfect Einherjars.
"Do you really have to take on every burden?" She asked, a fleeting thought slipping through. The quiet, subdued space around them, along with a several pangs of familiarity made her feel at ease for a moment.
Shirou turned back to her, eyes wide, before looking away with lips pursed. "Yes. If I can help those in front of me, I'll do anything."
"Why?" Ortlinde said, unable to stop herself.
"It's just what I do, in part. Also what I believe in," with that declaration, Ortlinde circled around him and lifted the boar over her shoulder, fixing him with a serious gaze.
"That sounds like what a Valkyrie unit would say," they remained in silence for a moment. Ortlinde did believe in that. He was just like them. Maybe he was even questioning himself, or pushing the questions in the back of his mind like they did at times.
"Maybe," Shirou said while scratching the back of his head.
"So why did you tell us to choose our own paths, to disobey our orders, when you won't do the same for yourself?" She asked. Shirou turned away.
"It's… it's not the same."
Silence fell. Ortlinde pondered if to express the next part.
"Do it sis! I… I feel the same way! Strange as it is…" Hildr's encouragement was all she needed.
"I figure then, that if you are like us, then maybe we should support each other," She said, smiling.
Shirou looked at her with an expression of surprise. "I– I mean, that sounds… wonderful."
Ortlinde felt her cheeks redden. "I-it was j-just a suggestion."
"Don't be such a wuss, sis!"
"Want to get out here again?"
"Uuuuuh…" Ortlinde smiled internally at her small victory.
She turned around and began walking towards the camp. Shirou followed with a quick jog.
"It was a good suggestion though," he said.
"Yes. Can I make another one?" She asked, looking at him from the edge of her vision.
"S-sure," he said.
"You fulfilled your duty. Although as a hero, pledging service to others like that isn't very valorous. But you stuck to you ideal. I think that doesn't deserve scorn."
Shirou said nothing for a moment. "But I hurt them."
"You did?" Ortlinde asked.
"Yeah. It's not the first time I've done something like that. I'm… trying to get better, but… you know… I have to fight some awful feelings on the way," he said.
Ortlinde pondered for a second. Why was he so open to her? Sure, as an automaton, she would keep secrets if he so desired and none would pry them from her unless it were Odin. But even so, the question gnawed at her. "So you hurt them, and yourself."
"Y-yeah."
That was similar to what Brynhildr did, to what Sigrún did.
She didn't want that.
"Neither do I. Maybe we should do something," Hildr whispered in her mind.
"Come on, let's go back to camp. Are you sure you don't want me to carry that?" He asked, walking a bit ahead of her. With a sigh, Ortlinde easily let the boar fall on his arms.
"If you insist, my dear companion," she said, the boar almost making Shirou fall forwards.
"Didn't know you had a sense of humor," Shirou replied, struggling.
"I was not designed for humor," was Ortlinde's dry reply as she smiled.
He was so much like them. He was almost like a dear companion, someone to keep close, even if he wasn't a Valkyrie.
Ortlinde wanted to keep him close. To see what else he would see, to hear what he could teach them.
At the same time, she wanted for him to hear what they had to say. To watch them be as powerful as they could be, and in turn, maybe be stronger himself.
In an amicable silence, they returned to camp, discussing what they would make with their prey.
"What do you report, Han Xin?" Li turned to the emperor's main interaction platform. The only thing that a human could talk to comfortably and know it was the emperor.
Then, the captain turned to Han Xin, who still smiled despite the losses suffered.
"We've finished preparations on the new Shi Huang Mobile Armouries. However, we still have to figure a way to mass produce them efficiently. As it currently is, our workforce will–"
"Leave those logistics to me, Han Xin. I'm more interested in what you learned of our opponents," Qin Shi Huang asked.
"Oh yes! A lot, actually. I'm sure you've seen yourself they are formidable with few numbers. Especially the man with the sword, and those independent units. What were they called again?" Han Xin said, talking with pep.
"Vakura. Valerie. Valery. Walure. Something of the sort. A formidable foot soldier, and with multi-directional mobility to boot! We need to get our hands on those designs, on those soliders–"
"My emperor… those designs would be wasted," a frail voice said. Li turned to see a deplorable sight.
Qin Liangyu stepped out of the entrance door. She was covered in blood, hair dishelves, and half her body was blackened by some sort of substance.
"Ho? Why you say that?" Qin Shi Huang asked with curiosity. Li smiled. His emperor was always eager to learn, good for any fighter or reign. He was too old to learn new tricks yet, but the emperor was eternal.
"Y-yeah! They are perfect war tools!" Han Xin replied. "And lovely to boot."
"You do not understand. They are heartless. They have no concept of loyalty. You can not replace loyalty with them. They'll never fight beyond their parameters," Qin Liangyu's voice sounded hollow. Li could tell she was on the boundary of life and death. Yet she still fought.
"So you say. And yet, you were defeated. You chose our people, and abandoned your post." Qin Shi Huang said.
"Yes. Forgive me," Qin Liangyu said, kneeling despite her injuries.
"We forgive. Your loyalty is undisputed, your bravery unmatched," Qin Shi Huang said.
"But you lack the stomach. You don't understand war like us, do you?" Han Xin asked, now serious.
Qin Liangyu clicked her tongue. "Yes. You are right. I couldn't help my people, I could only put them out of their misery, and destroy the spread of confucianism."
"My lord, sorry to interrupt, how far is it spreading?" Han Xin asked.
"It is contained. Your strategy was sound, but we lack the manpower. We need something fast, and better. Efficient. Uncorruptible," Qin Shi Huang replied.
Then, Qin Liangyu stood up, eyes dark. Li felt a chill, but it wasn't enough to move him from his post. "My emperor."
"Yes?"
"We've lost Xiang Yu. Will you make a new weapon? New retainers?" Qin Liangyu asked.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. "We will."
"Then make me one. Please, make me incorruptible. Make like them. A warrior, pure and loyal. With no doubts," Qin Liangyu said, her voice raising.
Li thought about stopping her, about berating her tone, but Qin Shi Huang replied faster.
"We see. You're very eager! So are we! We'll make a new kind of warrior. A warrior not on the path of destructive, ill-defined confucianism, but of resolve and strength. Strong enough to bring peace. However… we lack the designs. Han Xin!"
"Yes, Heavenly Emperor!" Han Xin said, standing straight.
"You're going to test our new mobile armouries. Find those Valeries, analyze them, destroy them if you can. We'll take care of the rest," Qin Shi Huang said.
Han Xin balled his fists in front of him, smile growing. "Finally! I'm not one to run operations on the field but… I'll make an exception. And to try out the mobile armouries. I can't wait. I can't wait for what desings you come up with."
"As do I. Qin Liangyu! Prepare yourself."
"Yes, my emperor!"
When Ortlinde and Shirou got back, the group had already set up the fire, and Leif was already up and about. Seeing his smiling face made Ortlinde feel strange, as if happy.
With Sigurd's help, they were able to prepare some stew with projected items Shirou made and some water.
They sat in a circle around the fire. On one side were Shirou, Leif and Ortlinde. On the opposite, Sigurd, Mash and Ophelia.
"Wow, this is delicious Emiya, even without spices common to a kitchen," Mash said, her previous animosity reduced.
"That's good, isn't it?" Hildr asked inside her mind.
"Possibly. Good for group cohesion," Ortlinde responded.
"Indeed."
"Thanks," Shirou replied with a proud smile. Ortlinde hadn't registered that kind of proud smile on him before. Indeed, they had him pinned as a person with little pride.
Seeing that, once again, made her happy. Or at least, it sent a warm sensation through her chest.
"Ortlinde…"
"Sorry Hildr. I cannot deny it. I don't know if I should,"
"B-but…!"
"Although it should be no surprise. The other Emiya also cooks very well," Mash said.
"Really now," Shirou said, eye twitching despite his smile. Seeing that, Mash almost choked on her stew.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean–!" Mash began.
"It's fine," Shirou interrupted, taking another spoonful of stew. "That bastard's me after all, although I would not dream of showing up anyone. Regardless, he and I had long journeys, little food, and lots of mouth to feed, so we learned to make do."
"That… must have been hard," Mash said.
"It was. But the smiles of the people were worth it," Shirou said, smiling longingly.
So that was what made him happy, what moved him.
"Hm. How interesting," Sigurd said, interrupting them. "Usually a hero protects smiles, expectig no reward. Or so I was taught. I'm glad you can find enjoyment of the act."
"Didn't you like being a hero?" Shirou asked. Sigurd closed his eyes for a moment.
"Well, I did like the praise, in some way. And I liked the fighting and maybe… when I was younger…" he looked away, cheeks tinted red. "… the women."
"So on top of stealing sister… he's also lecherous…!" Hildr complained.
"I… don't think it's that way at all. But it is still a big dissappointment."
"Weren't you two scared? Or you, miss Valkyrie?" Leif asked out of the blue, his bowl already empty.
"I wasn't designed to fear," Ortlinde said. "As long as one Valkyrie stays alive, victory is achieved."
"Same for me. I did not fear death. For in death, I would go to Valhalla. Or so my mother, my foster father, and my companions told me," Sigurd said with a smile.
"I… did fear for my life. But I pushed on anyways," Shirou replied. Ortlinde found that curious, given his sacrificial dispositions. It intrigued her.
"We never had to fear anything in the village. We didn't even know what death was. I still don't know what it is, outside falling asleep," Leif said.
"I think that may be a bit too complex for you yet," Sigurd replied, putting his bowl down as well. Ophelia looked away.
"Indeed. But death should not be feared," Ortlinde explained, catching his eyes. "Even if your body dies, your soul will move on somewhere. Great warriors and heros are taken by Valkyries. But then again, while you should not fear death, you shouldn't also rush to it willingly. Those that do are not considered fit."
"I… I see. So it's alright to be scared?" He asked.
"Of course," Ortlinde said. "But you must push on, for warriors require experience."
"He's not a warrior though, Ortlinde," Ophelia said, finally deciding to speak up.
"Forgive me," was her reply.
Shirou opened his mouth, and Ortlinde anxiously awaited his answer. However, a sudden move from Sigurd, a break in the wind along with the whistling of a knife made them all jump.
The knife impacted something in the dark, a few meters away. Soon after, the sounds of something slimy dissolving were heard.
"What was that?! Enemy?" Mash asked, picking up her shield.
"Siegel!" Ortlinde said, casting the rune that symbolized lightning and energy to create light on the area ahead of them, where Sigurd's knife slid down something.
But even from that distance, Ortlinde could feel something malevolent, something corrupted and foul that invaded her nostrils, as if curses upon curses had been piled on something or someone.
When the light reached the dissolving mass, only a puddle of blackness remained.
"Unidentified foe," Ortlinde reported.
"I know what that is," Shirou said.
"Yes. What we saw in the village Beryl destroyed," Ophelia said, voice quivering. "He's spreading them."
A/N: Yooo! I got this chapter done. And in good spirits to boot.
Because, dear peeps in JP and NA, we got Summer Valks! Yeah, thinking about it still makes me almost squeal. And they are a welfare, and relevant! Feels surreal, and also fills me with energy to write them!
I just can't wait for Summer 7. In the meantime, I'll try to fill it with Valkyrie Flavor. I know LB3 is kind of turning into Namek now, but I don't want to rush it.
As always, reviews and comments, maybe some criticism is very appreciated.
Have a wonderful day, and until next time!