By the Bonfire: Faith
The pillar of light shone into the sky from the platform as Ritsuka and Mash stared at it, Romani and Olga stood behind the glass at the back of the chamber in the observation room.
The hiss of a door behind them had Ritsuka and Mash turn around, fully expecting Ash to have arrived to witness another summoning.
So they were rather caught off-guard when Sulyvahn strode into the room as if he owned it without a care in the world, the Pontiff halting his movements and sweeping his gaze across the entire chamber before his attention fell upon the still shining pillar of light as it gradually diminished, leaving behind several small daggers with red 'T' shaped hilts.
He would have raised an eyebrow if he had them at the baffled expressions.
"Cease your gawking." He commanded as he crossed his arms behind his back, jolting the Master-Servant duo in front of him "Is my presence truly that surprising?"
"I-I mean, a little?" Ritsuka honestly admitted with a shrug "You…haven't really been a proactive member around Chaldea-"
"Given the quality of company you keep in Chaldea, that is hardly surprising." He grunted back "An ancient dragon slayer who would kill me for being a mage, an unkindled who would kill me because he just dislikes me and my former master who I would prefer try and kill me." his tone got more and more venomous as he went on "But regale me more with reasons as to why I should mingle with the other Servants here?"
Ritsuka remained silent for a few moments before he replied "I-I'm sure you'll find one who doesn't hate you?" Mash nodded supportingly at his side while he continued to stare at the pair in complete silence.
"Your demeanor is baffling." Sulyvahn merely replied after a few moments "As is your naive hospitality. I have no interest in making friends with the other Servants here, nor do they likely have an interest in making friends with the 'butcher pope' as I am no doubt sure they call me."
Ritsuka frowned ever so slightly, he hadn't heard about anyone calling him that. Although Sulyvahn's reputation was hardly stellar, however it was purely through word of mouth thus far that had spawned the rather poor standing. But the gossip was more than enough to cement it. Not entirely difficult when there were several who could attest to Sulyvahn's cruelty and saw no reason to hide it.
"Concern yourself less with my wellbeing and more with your own problems, boy." Sulyvahn spat, turning his attention back to the summoning chamber "You will find it much simpler to maintain a clear view of your goal if you do not allow others to block your line of sight with it."
Ritsuka stared at him in silence for a few moments before he turned back around, Mash gave him a worried look which he abated with a reassuring smile aimed towards her. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure how best he could approach Sulyvahn at all. He had been putting it off and waiting until the right moment although it would seem that the Pontiff had beaten him to it.
"So…" Ritsuka coughed into his fist as the pillar of light shot up once again on the summoning circle "What brings you here?"
"...Curiosity." Sulyvahn grunted after a few moments of silence "I was wondering what summoning appeared to be from an outside perspective, having already experienced it first hand." there was another silence "And I would prefer to be made aware if there are any more names to add to the list of individuals after my neck rather than being surprised by them while in my study."
Ritsuka winced ever so slightly "Wouldn't it be safer to wait somewhere else for that then? Just in case?"
"Whether they find out now or later makes no difference." Sulyvahn swiftly replied "And if nothing else, I will not skulk away from naysayers who question my resolve…or those who seek to mock me." he growled the second part under his breath before shaking his head.
The light gradually started to die down, revealing the figure of a woman in dark armour with an equally dark cloak draped over her body with silver crosses embolden on either side of the cloak, a silver circlet atop her head in an 'm' shape, her long blonde hair done into a braided ponytail down her back with a standard clasped firmly in her right hand. The woman's eyes opened, revealing vibrant blue orbs containing a gentleness to them as they fell upon Ritsuka and Mash.
"Servant, Ruler. I am Jeanne d'Arc." Her lips gradually formed a pleased smile. "I am glad to meet you, once again Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight."
"Jeanne-san!" Mash exclaimed with a grinning face "You remember us!"
"Indeed." The woman replied with palpable warmth in her voice as she stepped down from the summoning circle "The Lord has seen fit to allow me to keep my memories of our time together in France - brief as it was - when I was summoned here." her smile widened as she bowed her head slightly "And for that, I am most grateful."
Her eyes opened up as she turned towards the other figures in the room, peering across to Romani and Olga behind the glass, the doctor giving her a goofy smile and a wave of his hand which earned a giggle from the woman. Olga kept her face remarkably straight before pressing the button for the intercom "How useful are you outside of a Grail war?"
Jeanne tilted her head, though the question might have seemed rude the Servant couldn't detect any true hostility in the voice. It was a rather blunt question and she could admit there was some sense to it. Ruler's were summoned to Grail Wars to keep them structured and avoid any threats to humanity although this was hardly an ordinary Grail War.
"My influence over Servants is limited." Jeanne replied back "But I can keep them bound if only for a moment as well as maintain my ability to discern the true names of Servants with a glance - provided they are not under the effects of powerful cloaking magecraft - and I still have other abilities as a result of my…Sainthood." she added the last part with a slight pause.
A scoff from the other side of the room earned her swift attention, she found her eyes drawn to the rather tall and - somewhat ironically - stickly built individual in the corner of the room. Her discernment managed to swiftly identify this Heroic Spirit.
Pontiff Sulyvahn of Irithyll, one of the Servants who had crossed over from the alternate world.
Within a split second, his entire history was revealed to her. She thought she did well to school her features as every one of his actions was unveiled to her in full, the atrocities he committed to the very people he had sworn to protect as well as allegiance to one who was anything but the Saint he claimed to be.
Sulyvahn stared at her in dead silence as she stared back before he tilted his head. "Now let me guess…you are a righteous and proper cleric to your God, aren't you?" his voice was clearly mocking, hoping to earn some manner of reaction from her.
It was bait she would not fall for. "I am a humble Servant of the Lord." she replied cordially "If I might serve him faithfully with all my being, then I am satisfied." her eyes narrowed ever so slightly "And though I might walk the path he set before me, I would not claim to be righteous…not in the wake of my own history."
"No?" Sulyvahn withheld a chuckle "Does the act of spilling blood sadden you, Maiden of France?" he spread his arms wide "Surely you must rejoice in so faithfully serving your Lord and slaying those he commanded you to slay?"
"The act of killing is not something to rejoice in." Jeanne replied "And while I have participated in such acts before, I would never claim that they are to be exemplified as the path of the righteous. A necessary evil and nothing more."
Sulyvahn lowered his hands "...A necessary evil, you say?" he huffed "How quaint. Denial of your true nature perhaps? Or perhaps an act of passing off the blame of your own actions to another?"
"My actions are mine and mine alone." Jeanne replied without breaking eye contact "Though they were done at the command of the Lord, they are still my actions and I am the one who must bear the consequences for them without regret or complaint."
"I see." Sulyvahn gave a single nod of his head "...You disgust me."
Jeanne didn't react to the rather vitriol insult, even as both Ritsuka and Mash looked more than a little affronted by the declaration. She raised her hand in front of the Shielder when it looked like she was about to step forwards and say something, still staring at Sulyvahn with her cool expression, she gradually lowered her hands back to her side and dissipated her flag.
"I shall speak truly, your actions are similarly disturbing to me." She replied with a stern expression "However, it appears we are to be allies for the coming battle for the survival of humanity." She searched him for any change in his posture, finding nothing. "Therefore, I would suggest we ensure our disagreements do not threaten the safety of this place and our shared Master."
"Did your God tell you to say that?" Sulyvahn mocked "Does he whisper such tantalizing words into your ears? I suppose hearing the words from such a being must be rather grand, so much so that you forget your own person."
Jeanne gave him a smile and a shake of her head "Despite what you might think, these are my own words and I believe in them thusly."
"...Keep your distance from me with your collar you wear so proudly and I shall - in turn - allow you to leash yourself like a pet without complaint provided you do now spew your overzealous nonsense near my person."
"I am glad we were able to reach an understanding."
"Hmph." Sulyvahn grunted, crossing his arms in front of his chest and leaning back "I am certain you are." turning around, he made to walk towards the door when the summoning flashed up once again, both he and Jeanne turned towards the pillar of light shining up into the sky before it gradually dissipated.
A pair of golden wings parted open to reveal the smiling face of Caffrey, the young Goddess floating a few inches above the ground before she gradually descended and curtsied "Greetings mortals." she spoke in a sophisticated tone of voice "Servant, Ruler. I, Caffrey - Goddess of Fortune - have come to thee in thy time of greatest need to bestow fortune upon your current endeavour."
"And which fortune do you intend to bestow?" Sulyvahn scoffed "Good or bad?"
Caffrey remained pointedly silent for a few moments before she eventually replied "Nothing that would be considered fatal." she quietly admitted before she furrowed her brows at him and frowned ever so slightly "However I am to bestow luck upon all who require it." her lip quirked into a mischievous smile "I am certain I might bestow fortune upon you."
"Come anywhere near me with your false blessings and I shall part your head from your shoulders." Sulyvahn turned towards her fully and growled "I would sooner trust a Darkwraith not to tear out my soul that a Lordkin with the fate of the world." he turned to Ritsuka and pointed at the Goddess "Keep watch of this thing, all those of Gwyn's spawn are devious ilk."
"Hey!" Caffrey's mask broke, revealing an irritated pout "I'm not devious! I'm a Goddess of luck!" she raised the flat of her palms towards him "Maybe I should give you some back luck right now then?"
Sulyvahn stepped forwards, right hand moving to his side as Ritsuka widened his eyes and stepped in between the two of them.
"Whoah!" He called out, halting their movements on the spot "Lets not do that here!" he ordered, looking between the Goddess and the Pontiff. "Alright?" he lowered his voice slightly into a more stern and less panicked one "No fighting in Chaldea except in the simulator and no fatalities."
He looked between the two of them "Understood?"
Caffrey looked like she wanted to argue but soon thought better of it, opting to give the Master a strained expression - much like an irate child would - before she exhaled "Fiiine."
Ritsuka raised a lone eyebrow at the girl before his eyes turned towards the Pontiff, the half-spirit still staring at the Goddess with his hand resting at his side. "Sulyvahn." Ritsuka spoke in a stern tone, attracting the attention of the Caster and staring into where he believed his eyes were "Understood?"
"...Hmph." Releasing a grunt, Sulyvahn turned on his heel and marched towards the door, swiftly departing the room as it opened up and disappearing down the corridor with a surprising level of grace. Or as much as he himself could muster, Ritsuka watched him depart with pursed lips and a furrowed brow before he slowly turned to the pair of newly arrived Servants.
Giving them a welcoming smile, he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck before spreading his arms wide "Welcome to Chaldea!" he half cheered, earning a sympathetic face from Jeanne and a light hearted giggle from Caffrey. His posture loosened slightly with the knowledge he had at least managed to salvage the welcome to some minor extent.
Ritsuka turned towards the door Sulyvahn had ventured out of and stared at it for a few moments in silence before shaking his head. He really would have to speak to the Pontiff properly, and soon.
Sulyvahn had barely managed to get halfway down the hallway before he sensed the familiar presence of his old 'lord' come into being just ahead. Indeed, Gwyndolin slithered around the corner just a few feet from him before pausing as he caught sight of the Pontiff.
The pair stared at each other in silence before Sulyvahn silent resumed his walk, passing by the God without so much as looking in his direction as he did so-
"I had a very interesting talk with the Da Vinci woman earlier."
Sulyvahn halted at the innocent voice of Gwyndolin.
"It seems she had more questions on the Lordvessel, which I was more than happy to oblige her with the answers for." The God's voice continued to remain light-hearted as he spoke. Although Sulyvahn wasn't fooled in the slightest by the false cordial tone. "I felt it best to inform thee of our rapid progress, Pontiff." Gwyndolin continued on, his voice shifting into a hint of amusement as he looked over his shoulder towards the figure. "Purely because I know just how much thee enjoys such talks of advancement."
Sulyvahn turned on his heel, storming towards Gwyndolin who didn't even bother to move as the Caster closed in on him in but a few strides, his hands clenched into fists as he closed in before his arms raised themselves up-
"So we can begin the tour-Oi!" Ritsuka's voice echoed out through the hallway, Sulyvahn froze. The Master was glaring at the duo, a hefty frown on his face as his eyes were locked on Sulyvahn "What did I literally just say?"
Sulyvahn didn't bother to respond to the boy, instead opting to let loose a growl from the back of his throat and again turn around, stomping down the halls with heavy strides of his feet. The Master continued to frown before his features loosened up and turned towards Gwyndolin, his brows furrowing slightly "Gwyndolin? What are you doing here?"
The Darkmoon God found himself in a particularly good mood, electing to ignore the disrespect in the humans tone as he turned his full attention onto the group in front of him. "I sensed the arrival of a Lordkin and wished to see if t'was one of my kin." the God replied honestly, turning to stare at the floating girl with large wings on her back "...Lady Caffrey." he bowed his head ever so slightly "The presence of a Goddess of fortune is a blessing indeed, I welcome thee to Chaldea."
"Thanks uncle!" The girl replied with an innocent smile, then paused "A-ah…I'm not supposed to call you that in public!" Caffrey quickly realised with a gasp, clasping her hands over her mouth and looking around awkwardly before coughing into them and lowering her arms back to her side while cooling her expression. "I mean, tis a great honour to be welcomed by thee, Prince Gwyndolin of the Darkmoon." her voice had shifted back into the more formal tone and the swiftness by which she had gone from excited child to calm royalty was rather impressive.
"Thee may rise, young Caffrey." Gwyndolin raised his hand before giving a single nod "Thy father has raised thee well…" he spoke slowly, his voice distant "Thy tone was one of proper respect, however, thou art a Princess…" he paused "And may address me as thee wishes in private."
The girl couldn't quite help the smile that worked its way onto her face as - with a single beat of her wings - she cleared the distance and virtually crashed into Gwyndolin's waist and wrapped her hands around him. The Darkmoon God let out a brief gasp as he stumbled back in surprise, looking more shocked at the physical contact than anything else.
"Thank you uncle!"
"Private, I said!" Gwyndolin hurriedly spoke back to her, looking up to see the others already sporting amused grins on their faces "Not in front of the mortals!" he whispered at her, causing her to freeze and then virtually vanish from his body and reappear a second later once again having resumed her imperious expression.
"Of course, Prince Gwyndolin." She replied, bowing her head "My most sincere apologies for the unsightly display and I assure thee, it shall not occur again."
"H-hmph." Gwyndolin huffed, straightening out his white dress "I have faith that it shall not, Princess Caffrey."
The door to the library hissed open as Sulyvahn strode into it, his irate temper cooling off into one of just passive irritation. He elected to ignore the purple haired lordkin with the odd visor in the corner of the room. He had little patience for Gwyndolin and less patience for whatever muse he had managed to find.
However, he did - for one moment - consider the expression the God would make if he slew her here and presented her head to him.
He then swiftly eliminated those ill-conceived thoughts. Not only was killing the lordkin utterly pointless due to the fact she would inevitably return again due to the nature of Servants, the end result was liable to be far more harmful to him in the long term. Immediate satisfaction that the act would no doubt bring him paled in comparison to the long term consequences that would occur if he followed through with such a brash action.
He was here for an entirely different purpose other than revenge.
Swiftly moving over to one of the shelves, he scanned the catalog index for the topic he was after. His finger tracing along the words until it stopped upon the specific criteria he was searching for. Moving around and in between the bookshelves, he started to search for what exactly he was after.
The very nature of that Jeanne woman had irritated him from the moment he laid his eyes upon her and it was made worse when he attempted to bait her. It was exceedingly difficult to lie to him, he had his eyes to thank for that, and as such he could discern that all her answers were truthful. However, he suspected that there was more to her.
His dislike of clerics aside, there were few times he had gut feelings about disliking an individual and they often turned out to be accurate. This woman, this Saint…
She was someone he could tell that he would just despise.
Therefore - like all his enemies - he would learn about her. Her history, her motivations and her goals. If he was to work with her in any capacity, he wanted to understand who she was as a person. She was a devout cleric but he assumed that there had to be more to her than this.
His hands trailed along the books lining the shelves until they came to a halt on the one he was searching for.
'Joan of Arc: A History'
He slid the book off the shelf and into his hands, staring at the cover.
This would have to do, it would also mark his first official research into this new world he found himself in.
And it was on a devout cleric who had been venerated as a Saint. There was some twisted irony in that and he just knew it. Looking up, he delved further into the library and towards the very back of the room and outside of prying eyes.
He soon found a suitable spot to begin his research, a small desk and chair tucked away in the furthest reaches of the room and well outside of the range of the entrance. He sat himself down on the chair, laying the book on the desk and flipping it open. His eyes scanned the pages as he stared to flick through them, staring intently at the words.
"Which brings us to the cafeteria." Ritsuka spoke as they walked through the doors to the aforementioned room "This is pretty much where you'll find most of the other Servants in Chaldea if they aren't in the gymnasium or the simulator, both of which will be the next stops on our tour." he added on at the end. He looked to Jeanne and smiled "We've already got a few of the other Servants from France in Chaldea, so don't be too surprised if-"
"JEANNE!" The Master jolted at the sudden excited squeal, turning around and seeing Marie standing up and pointing in their general direction while grinning from ear to ear, her hands reached down and clasped at d'Eon's shoulders and rapidly started to shake the person "Look! Look! It's Jeanne! She's here! She's finally here!"
"Y-yes, your majesty!" d'Eon hurriedly replied amidst the shaking, sending a pleading glance to the others on the table across from her. Gareth and Verndari stared at them blankly, the latter through her helmet. Sif's head crested up as the wolf rose from his lying down position, Fou still perched upon his head and both of them giving the French Saber a dull look before the great wolf craned his head towards the direction the Queen had been shouting towards.
Jeanne looked as though she wanted to say something, then froze as she caught sight of the horse sized wolf staring at her curiously. Her true name discernment skill swiftly informing her that the wolf wasn't the mount of a Rider Servant. They were a Servant. While the Saint certainly knew that all manner of individuals could become Heroic Spirits, she wasn't entirely ready for the very extreme of a wolf becoming one as well.
That being said, they did look extremely fluffy.
Jeanne also recongised Mozart crane his head towards her while giving the woman a pitying look, no doubt attempting to convey some sympathy towards her at finding herself in Marie's sights. Although perhaps it might also have been amusement as well, she wouldn't really tell with him.
Then Gareth looked over to her and did a double take, her eyes widening and shooting to her feet while throwing her hands up "Why does everyone look like my King!?" she cried out in a mixture of shock and exasperation. Jeanne blinked in surprise, utterly unsure of how to take that.
It was only made worse when Ritsuka squinted at her face before letting out a small hum "Huh…she does look like Arthur, doesn't she?" he paused, then cupped his chin "Actually, I think she looks more like Cecilia, right Mash?"
"I believe it is their attire that makes them appear similar, Senpai." Mash dutifully replied with a nod of the head before she similarly furrowed her brows "However, I am wondering if this will become a theme in Chaldea with Servants sharing faces with other Servants."
Ritsuka shrugged his shoulders "I'm sure it won't be that bad."
"Aha! Young Jeanne!" The Saint couldn't quite keep the smile off her face as she turned towards the boisterous voice of Siegward, the mustached man - dressed as a butler of all things - waved at her from behind the counter top of the kitchen "Your timing is most fortuitous!" he exclaimed as he turned away before unveiling a tray of freshly baked goods "Lady Marie-"
"You can just call me Marie!" The Queen exclaimed out with an upbeat voice.
"My apologies." Siegward bowed his head ever so slightly in response before he returned his attention to Jeanne "As I was saying, Marie requested that I try my hand on the baked goods of her home country."
"Because Marie and cakes are a winning combination." Mozart helpfully chimed in, only to squawk when d'Eon kicked him under the table with enough force to rattle it.
Jeanne gave him a curious look "You can bake?" she asked with clear surprise as she started to walk over to him, then looked down at the pastries he had made and widened her eyes ever so slightly. "T-these are-"
"Ah yes." Siegward rumbled with a nod of the head, smiling gently at her and pointing towards them "I had Archer and Boudica help me, of course." he chuckled. "Cooking three different pastries at once would be a challenge even for myself!" he turned around and waved into the kitchen "And Julius was most grand in finding some of those old recipe books!"
The staff member merely grunted in response while giving a half-smile "I'm more pleased someone is getting some use out of them." the man sighed, placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head "No one really appreciates the classics anymore…"
"I…never tried these before." Jeanne whispered out, looking up and seeing the curious expression on Siegwards face "I spent most of my time fighting." she hurriedly explained "So it was mainly rations for me and…" she gestured to the plate "I didn't get this sort of thing even before then."
"...No reason not to spoil yourself now." Siegward encouraged with a gentle smile, nodding towards the back end of the room. "I am most certain that Marie and her friends would be happy to eat with you."
"I-I wouldn't want to impose…" Jeanne trailed off, looking between the baked pastries and towards the table where Marie sat at the head of. The monarch clearly beckoning Jeanne over to her with an ecstatic expression. Jeanne turned towards Ritsuka with a strained look, only to see the Master giving her a smile in response.
"We can pick up the tour at any other time." He replied to her, gesturing towards Marie "No reason to force yourself."
The Saint gave him a dazzling smile before she turned back to Siegward - the man handing her the tray of Croissants, Eclairs and Pan Au Chocolat. The man turned away and paced over to the table of associates and swiftly sat down, sliding the tray into the middle and introducing herself to the others.
"She seems to have taken to this place like a fish to water." Siegward mused with a wide smile.
"Or like Sir Pumpkin to the Patch." Boudica joked behind him, earning a barking laugh from the Catarinan knight which devolved into him thumping against his chest with bright red cheeks. The Briton gave a shake of her head and brandished a spatula at him "It's not all that funny, that paint is going to be stuck to your armour for the rest of the month!"
"Indeed!" Siegward beamed at her "A-and yet, Sir Pumpkin of the Patch brings festive cheer with him! Hohohoho!"
Boudica gave him a good natured roll of her eyes before she turned to Ritsuka and Mash "I don't suppose you two want anything, do you?"
"Maybe later." Ritsuka replied to her "We originally had another Ruler summoned as well but Gwyndolin's decided to take her up a tour." he paused, then gave a wry smile "Although he is her uncle, so I think it would be best to just leave him be."
Boudica gave him a nod "Hmmm. Spending time with family is always something to cherish." she sighed, looking down "...Who knows where you'd be without them?"
When she eventually looked up, she let out a surprised gasp as Ash had seemingly manifested next to the countertop, staring at the woman in dead silence before he eventually turned to Siegward "Estus Soup."
"I'll be with you in a moment, then." Siegward nodded back to the Saber with a smile as he shuffled off into the kitchen.
"I see we have a new addition." Ash spoke after a few moments, turning towards Ritsuka "The Saint from France?"
"Jeanne d'Arc." Ritsuka replied with a nod "We also have Caffrey, she's the-"
"The Goddess with wings and holds authority over fortune, I remember." Ash nodded his head, he looked around "She is not here?"
"She's with Gwyndolin-san." Mash dutifully replied.
"Hmph." Ash grunted "Provided she does not take after her kin, I will hold her no ill will."
Boudica furrowed her brows at Ash "...Do you really hate Gwyndolin that much?"
Ash turned to her and tilted his head "Yes. I have many reasons to despise him and few to tolerate him. Were it not for our present circumstances, I would have killed him the moment he was summoned to Chaldea."
The Rider gave him a frown "...What did he do to you?"
"It is not what he did to me." Ash replied, then turned his head as Siegward approached with the bowl of Estus Soup, the unkindled gave the baker Servant a nod of the head in thanks "It is what he did to everyone and what he represents." he grasped the bowl and stepped back "His duty ended with the propagation of suffering. My duty was to end it. We are simply incompatible with each other."
He paused, "...Have a pleasant day." turning around, he walked away from them while Siegward furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Did I miss something?"
Sulyvahn closed the book, leaning back against his chair and remaining silent as he stared down at the tome.
That was about what he expected, and yet it was worse.
To be a Ruler Servant, one had to have no wish for the Grail. Not a matter of being unable to find a use for it, but a very instinct of the being that they are satisfied with their life and would wish for nothing.
To imply that this woman - who burned to death for her actions - had absolutely no wish meant only one thing to him.
She was content with her life. From her beginnings as some peasant to her end as she burned alive at the stake.
He was right, she really did disgust him.
And yet he had to be absolutely certain of this, that there couldn't be some fragment of her person - even buried deep down - that was different. His brows furrowed with a slight creak, she spoke of memories before. A time in her homeland where Chaldea encountered her. Rising to his feet, he grabbed the book and walked past the bookshelf he had procured it from and towards the door to the library.
The information on previous Singularities was not something he had bothered to examine because he hadn't found it relevant at the time. But he was invested in this singular task now.
As for why?
He just wanted to be certain, people were more complicated than could often be seen. There was an agenda behind every mask and smile. Even Friede was no different, for all she praised the stagnation and comfort of the frozen world of Ariandel, she just enjoyed the fact they all worshipped her as their mother.
That wasn't to say there weren't people that were simple. However, they could be just as - if not more - dangerous to those around them. Gwyndolin was one such person. Keeping the fire lit was a remarkably simple goal and yet the consequences couldn't have been more destructive.
He ventured out of the library and into the hallways, his destination already in mind.
"I'm just saying…" Kerry yawned as she rubbed her eyes "This one is looking like it might last until the end of the week." she remarked as she gestured to her screen, turning to Romani "And it's Rome during the time when Ritsuka and that visited." she shrugged, leaning forwards "It could be a good place to stock up on some more supplies."
Romani paused, giving the woman a curious look before he released a hum in response "I can pass it along to the Director." he replied after a few moments "I know we might need to restock on supplies like Milk." he paused, giving a wry smile "Funnily enough, the expiration date for the stuff we have isn't far off."
Meuniere turned around in his chair, raising an eyebrow "Don't we have that preserved milk?"
"That stuff tastes like shit." Kerry groaned "But we rarely get any of the fresh stuff either." she glared at Romani "And you keep using it for those coffees!"
"It's nice coffee!" Romani whined in response "You'd be exactly the same if you tried it!"
"That just sounds like you're addicted!"
"It's caffeine! Of course it's addictive!" Romani defensively replied "Besides, It's not like I'm drinking through our entire rations of milk in one sitting-"
The door opened up behind them, Sulyvahn stepped into the room and watched as dead silence descended upon the control chamber. The staff members immediately turned away from him and stared at their respective desks and pointedly avoided looking at him. The Pontiff released a faint scoff as he strode towards the Doctor in the chair. Credit where credit was due, the man did well to hide his obvious fear up until the point the Caster was looming over him.
"C-can I help you?" Romani eventually asked, finding his voice and trying to appear as cordial as he could with the Servant.
Sulyvahn stared at him in silence before he spoke "The records of Chaldea's previous Singularities. Where are they?"
Romani blinked "Where are they?"
"That's what I asked."
"Why?"
"That is for me to know and for you to ignore." Sulyvahn snapped at him, earning a flinch from the man "The previous records, or more specifically the France report."
Wetting his lips, Romani's eyes nervously danced around the room "T-those aren't really for public consumption-"
Sulyvahn leaned down closer, his head only an inch from the Doctor's face.
"Do I look like the public to you?"
"...No."
"Then there is no issue." Sulyvahn leaned back "I am only interested in reading the document, not altering it." a scoff emerged from the Casters throat "And I doubt it holds not information I could not simply discover elsewhere."
Romani conceded that to him, turning around, the doctor pressed a few buttons on his desk and then turned back to Sulyvahn "The after action report has been sent to the terminal in your room." he replied, the winced "D-do you know how it works?"
Sulyvahn stared at him in silence.
"H-how about I just print it off for you?"
"..."
"I-I'll go do that." Romani hurriedly pressed a few more buttons on his terminal.
Jeanne imagined that her fitting into Chaldea was going rather well so far, although a small part of her did wish she had some of her other comrades with her. Gilles would most certainly have been a welcome addition. Or at least, that of the man she knew as opposed to who he grew to become.
Either way, she wasn't exactly going to demand that Master summon Gilles. If he did arrive, then it was a pleasant surprise and one she would enjoy and if he didn't then she would make peace with that. This was a battle for humanity rather than her indulging in the potential for making friends.
Not that she didn't have those now, Marie might have been a bit eccentric with her but the Queen was certainly one who she enjoyed spending time with. Both in France and in Chaldea thus far.
There was also Verndari, the knight of Drangleic who reminded her very much of the stern knights of some of her troops. Those who were very serious and yet - deep down - she could tell they were good people. She also didn't let her encounters with the English cloud her judgements with Sir Gareth of the Roundtable, who had apparently been a girl.
The Roundtable knight was just as noble as the stories often made them out to be.
All in all, Chaldea was certainly awash with interesting characters for her to speak with and fight alongside. She wasn't ignorant or naive enough to believe in the goodwill of all who she encountered though but they had all rallied behind the singular flag to protect human history. That was something that she could at least trust in them to uphold, else they would never have answered the call.
Then again, there were motives she just found that she wouldn't agree with.
The door opened up, unveiling the interior of the room to her. Her eyes danced around the inner chamber for a few moments before they fell upon the individual who had called her here.
Sulyvahn was sitting at his desk, his left arm raised and being used to prop up his head while his right arm was laying flat against the table, his fingers drumming out a quiet tune. His movements paused as she appeared in the doorway of his room.
"I suppose I can spare you praise for arriving." Sulyvahn mused in his usual slightly mocking tone "I had expected you to simply ignore me."
"You do not strike me as one to make needless summons." Jeanne cordially replied as she stepped into the room, the door closing behind her with a gentle hiss "And I would consider it rude to ignore the summons of a new comrade purely upon first impressions."
"How honourable of you." Sulyvahn sneered at her, straightening himself out and gesturing to the items on the desk. "What do you think of this?" his hand reached out, clasping the book and holding it up for her to see.
She stared blankly at him, she recongised the image of being a historical depiction of her.
And that was it, none of the words on the book's cover made sense to her. She wouldn't freely admit her illiteracy. It soon became clear that her uncomfortableness showed as Sulyvahn lowered the arm and dropped the book onto the desk once again.
"And you can't read." Sulyvahn bluntly put, his voice more disappointed than mocking. "Did your Lord not see fit to grant you basic literacy or is that beyond his abilities?"
Jeanne elected to ignore the barb he directed towards God, instead opting to get to the heart of the matter "You called me here for a reason, did you not?"
"...Vindication." Sulyvahn replied after a few moments of silence "Or correction, whichever comes first." he moved his hand towards the stack of papers on his desk and raised them up "This is the after action report from the Singularity Chaldea dealt within during the period of time labeled the Hundred Years war."
He stared at her expression, as if searching for something.
"What I found curious, was the instigator of the entire event."
"She was not me." Jeanne swiftly replied, frowning at the man.
"...Yes, I read of that part." Sulyvahn dryly responded "The Dragon Witch is a version of Jeanne d'Arc given life through a wish granted to the madman Gilles de Rais." he surmised, placing the papers down before rising out of his seat. "I just want to make sure that she truly isn't a part of you."
Jeanne's eyes narrowed ever so slightly "For what reason?"
Sulyvahn exhaled "...I told you." he replied "Vindication or correction. Whichever comes first." gesturing to the girl, he continued on "It is basic nature to feel strongly about a specific thing. You feel love for those close to you and hatred for those opposed to you. Satisfaction when you achieve victory…and disappointment in the face of defeat."
Jeanne remained stone-faced, already knowing where this was going.
"So I find myself truly curious if the simple goal of revenge that was the Dragon Witches ideal is so utterly unique to her." He asked, tilting his head "There is no need to feel as though you have dirtied yourself to admit resentment against those who wronged you, it is only natural."
He paused "Although, I suppose in this case it would be a great many who wronged you." He turned to the report "Not quite the entire country, you cannot rebuild atop nothing. But certainly the English and those who refused to lift a finger to save your life."
Stepping closer to her, he leaned down and looked her in the eye as best he could "So I ask. Is there truly no part of you that feels a glimmer of resentment to your enemies and betrayers? No part of you that wishes they had died in your place?"
Jeanne gave him an unblinking stare before she replied "From the moment I picked up my standard, I knew my life would end prematurely." she replied "Not through visions or revelation, but I knew in my heart that it would not be a pleasant end for me. However…" she exhaled "I made my peace with that long ago, that no matter what happened I would never regret my actions nor their results."
"...All is as the Lord wills it?" Sulyvahn made an ugly scoff as he turned away, pacing to the other end of his room and staring at the wall "...Yes, I was right. You do disgust me."
"Does my faith truly disturb you so?" Jeanne raised a curious eyebrow "And for one who proclaims himself a Pope, that is ironic is it not?"
"I proclaimed myself Pontiff because it was easy." He turned to her "Don't you understand-no, of course you don't." he huffed "Faith in the Lordkin is to abandon any sense of true self." he pointed at the book "Visions and messages from God to fight the English and without a second thought you just grab a sword and a flag and rush off into the front lines because 'That is what God wants of me' and you…" he trailed off, waving his hand dismissively "I won't waste my words with you."
Jeanne pursed her lips "If you have grievances to air against me, I will not prohibit you from speaking them."
"You don't understand the meaning of the word grievance." Sulyvahn sneered "Some farm girl who believed herself destined for greatness because the Lord whispered sweet nothings into her ear?"
"I never once fought for greatness." Jeanne argued back "I fought for France-"
"Because God told you to." Sulyvahn snapped, pointing at her "Don't you see? Your victories, your actions, your defeats…they can all be attributed not to you but to your patron lord." he growled, crossing his hands behind his back "Faith in the lordkin is a crutch that the ignorant hold to believe there might be some higher being in the world who might take an interest in their lives. They can attribute their triumphs to their faith and how 'merciful' this great being was as opposed to celebrating their own efforts."
Jeanne tilted her head at him ever so slightly as he continued on.
"And whenever they are struck down with illness or a famine they will blame themselves for their poor fortune as if they didn't bow and scrape at the feet of some higher being." He let out a bitter laugh "And the Lordkin probably didn't even know they existed to begin with."
Staring at the Saint, he continued on with a growl "Faith is another word for theft. It steals away everything even remotely special about what you are as a person. Latent talent? A gift from God. A moment of luck? An act of God. On and on this goes forever and the worst part is that you…you don't even care. Worse, you know about this and believe it is right and proper."
"Because it is a great comfort." Jeanne replied "That I - as a peasant girl - was the one he spoke to has always filled me with joy. Even with the knowledge that it was the path he set me on that would lead to my death, there was never a moment when I cursed and spat at his name."
She shrugged "Perhaps you are right and perhaps my Faith might be a crutch to keep my spirit strong, but in a world that can be filled with such misery and uncertainty is a great comfort to know that there is a light in the darkness." she replied "For me, that was faith, for others it might be family or perhaps something else. But in those moments of doubt or turmoil…I had my faith to keep my spirit strong. Not because I believed I could pass off my actions to God but because…because if I had not followed that voice as a young girl, I would have regretted it."
"Because you wanted to be special?" Sulyvahn scoffed "A chance for greatness that you never could have otherwise had?"
"No." Jeanne gently replied, shaking her head "Because…I really did want to save those before me, those who the Lord asked me to." she smiled at him "Because it was my choice, I could just as easily have ignored the revelation of God and lived the humble life of a peasant girl."
"...You really don't understand." Sulyvahn shook his head "The abandonment of your life because God asked a favour of you, that you could never return to such a thing and doom yourself to forever be a slave who thanks her master for looking at her…" Jeanne got the distinct impression Sulyvahn was frowning "...It is revolting to look upon. I have seen and read a dozen tales, those who sacrificed themselves to that 'light in the darkness' under the orders of a higher being with the belief they were saving others."
He snorted, shaking his head "In the end, the salvation they brought upon the world was hollow and twisted. No more an act of kindness as it was an act of cruelty…I had thought the presence of your alter would mean you are not a lost cause, that perhaps there was some small part of you, even deep down, that lamented what became of her."
"But such a person does not exist." Jeanne quietly replied to him with a finality in her voice "Because she cannot exist."
"Obviously." Sulyvahn scoffed, looking away from her "...Leave." he grunted "I will not waste more words with you. Lord of Cinder in all but name. You who burned for a world who would scorn you without a second thought and with nothing more than a prayer of thanks to the one who put you there to begin with."
"I suppose I cannot understand your stance, as I have not lived your life." Jeanne replied "But you speak so strongly of this that I cannot help but wonder why you spared such a long thought for myself?"
Sulyvahn paused "...The live is to progress. To find new ideals and new goals." he turned to her "To become focused on a sole ideal is to slowly stagnante and once it has been accomplished, you have nothing left to desire. The moment you heard the voice of God and committed yourself to his cause…your life stagnated. Your progress halted. You will never grow beyond what you are now because you cannot."
He bitterly chuckled "I see nothing more than a victim when I gaze at you, and I see that while the Lords of this world are not as wide reaching as mine, they are still just as dangerous. Your faith might be some cloth to bind your soul in and keep it warm from the harsh chill of reality but it does not change what it is. A prison which stole away your very potential…yours is just one gilded in gold."
"And when you saw me as a victim with some potential?" Jeanne raised an eyebrow "Did you perhaps see me as someone you might save?"
"Save?" Sulyvahn scoffed "...I am not one for salvation. I am one for freedom although I suppose there comes a point where the two are one in the same." he walked back to his desk and ran his fingers across the history book "But I cannot save one from themself. Those who build the prison of faith are not easily liberated nor do I care to. They are those who cling so dearly to the bars of their cage that they do not imagine a life outside of it…and such a toxic mindset has no place in a world of progress."
"...If that is all you asked of me?"
"Hmph." Sulyvahn merely grunted as the Saint turned away from him and departed through the door.
As she left, she paused and sent one last fleeting look towards the Pontiff "I cannot help but wonder what that freedom first sounded of, before it became poisoned with cynicism."
"Tempered by harsh reality." He corrected "Not cynicism."
He was aware of his own hypocrisy, the single ideal of liberating the world from the flame consumed him. He would never function in the world that came after and he knew it. As toxic as the flame was, as vile as Gwyndolin was…
Without them…
His hands clenched into fists.
"...A victim of fate perhaps, or an echo of a young fool." Sulyvahn quietly mused "I suppose there is no saving that one."
Whatever else, he did get his answer in the end and his gut had been proven right.