Chapter 127: With my own hands…
Kalameet was silent as he entered the more recently destroyed village, this one was still fresh in the devastation. The bodies of the deceased still held some warmth to them and the fires around them still burned hot.
Despite that, the black dragon's posture was calm as he walked onwards, stepping over the bodies and sparing them barely a glance as he approached one of the larger structures in the centre of the small town. It was different from the others, much like the one he had seen the night before but not damaged.
It was still intact, more or less, but it was still physically different. The general shape was slightly smaller and the roof was made of what looked like tied together twigs.
Kalameet came to a halt in front of it, raising his hand to stop the wyverns from burning this one down. The beasts paused, the flames in their throat dying down as they turned their heads towards the large humanoid and tilted their heads in an innocent display of confusion.
"Not this one…not yet." He ordered them as he stepped closer and closer to it. His actual height was still far reaching so that he towered over the wooden door. His eyes scanned it with a thin curiosity, looking it up and down before giving a low hum.
A large hand extended forwards and gently pressed itself on the front of the door before pushing it forwards. The wood gently creaked as it swung open. Kalameet ducked his head down low to get a good look inside the structure itself, poking his head forwards and briefly sweeping his gaze across the interior before he hummed quietly to himself.
Lowering his body further, he moved towards the doorway and paused as his shoulders struck the doorframe. He stepped back and curled his lip ever so slightly before he twisted his body to the side to lower his width and moved into the building. Barely getting in before he heard a thud, the door cracking as it caught against his chest and coming loose with a snap of wood.
Kalameet stared down at the broken entrance before his eyes closed and he exhaled in annoyance. Shaking his head left and right before he turned his attention back onto the interior once again. He had to crouch down in order to actually fit inside the building itself.
One knee was placed upon the floor while his other leg was bent to allow his foot to rest flat on the ground. His right arm rested atop his raised knee, his eyes drinking in the surroundings with a curious glimmer in his eyes.
Eventually, he turned his attention towards the table near enough to him, the small side table with four legs and made from carved wood. Nothing overly complicated and yet Kalameet could not help but find himself intrigued by its design. Reaching towards it, he clasped it with his left hand and raised it up and pulled it towards himself while twisting it in his grasp to examine it closer.
"Hmmmm." A hum escaped from his throat as he turned it on its side, his right hand came off his knee and gently grasped around the closest leg to his body. With a gentle pull, or rather as gentle a pull as he could manage, the table leg gave way and snapped off the main body.
He pulled it up and looked towards the broken end of it, staring at the small holes in the top of the leg that appeared to have already existed before he had even broken the wooden creation. Then turned his attention towards the base of the table and looked at the spot where the leg had joined with the body, staring at the metal spikes that jutted out from it and tilted his head.
Moving the two close to each other once again, he placed the leg of the table against the spikes and pushed it back, he heard a crack and then watched as the wood split down the centre of the leg. He paused for a moment before he narrowed his red eyes. Releasing the leg and tossing the table across the room and out of sight.
Kalameet's eyes trailed downwards and stared at the floorboard. His clawed hands reached towards them and pushed, his fingers easily puncturing through it and curling around the wooden panelling before pulling upwards with a resounding crack. He stared down through the hole at the stone that lay beneath the wood.
He extended his hand towards the stone, pressing his fingers against it for a few moments before pulling them back and turning his head to the wooden panel in his hand. Kalameet dropped the wooden panel onto the floor and slowly rose back up to his feet as best he could, careful to stop just short of punching a hole through the top of the building with his stature.
Turning around, he slipped out of the building the same way he had walked in and looked down at the wyverns that were in front of him. "Tear it apart." He ordered, then raised a hand to stop them before they rushed forwards "Gently…I wish to see every single part of it." He walked forwards, then turned back around and crossed his arms over his chest and watched as the wyverns moved forwards and started to tear into the building with their jaws, ripping away sections of wood and thatch.
"You ventured out once again."
"Hello, Artoria." Kalameet casually responded to the voice with a jerk of the head in its direction "I didn't think you would follow me."
"Your declaration earlier gave me the indication you would be taking a more active role in the subjugation of this country and this era." Artoria remarked as she walked close enough to stand next to the taller Servant. "However, upon following you I find you…examining huts."
"I am, yes." Kalameet admitted without a hint of shame in his voice, still watching as the wyverns pulled the walls apart and moved onto the roof of the building. Careful not to use their flames but their jaws were still clumsy enough that it was more destroying the building rather than carefully dissecting it as Kalameet had initially wanted.
"Is there a reason for this?"
Kalameet remained silent for a moment before he replied "I spoke of how I want to build a future but it occurred to me not long after…" he turned to look down at Artoria, his jaw curled itself into what looked like a frown with his eyes shining with uncertainty "I do not know what it is that I mean when I say a future…I do not mean a repeat of what we were back in my own world."
Artoria remained silent, content to merely listen to the dragon as he monologued.
"What sort of future do I want to create…what do I wish for us to achieve?" He gestured to the town "The humans achieved this with their own hands and when I think of how I find myself…stumped." his voice turned frustrated "I think of how such a place came about and I cannot…I cannot understand the thought process."
His hands came away from his front and towards the front of his face "I do not understand how the human mind could stare at something like a tree and think to…to…to bring it down and turn it into such intricate designs for such simple purposes." he pointed at the building "Shelters such as this…my people would have used caves for the same purpose and yet humans build their own shelters and it confuses me but…it intrigues me all the same."
"The construction of homes intrigues you." Artoria simply remarked "Or is it the construction of something unique that intrigues you?"
Kalameet paused for a moment to consider her words "Yes…yes…the construction of something unique." he nodded his head slowly "That might indeed be it but when I gaze towards the shelters here, I wish to understand how they were made. What the humans did to create such…odd constructs."
"And then you will make your own?"
"Perhaps." Kalameet nodded his head slowly, although his voice sounded troubled. Something Artoria picked up on and narrowed her eyes behind her helmet.
"You doubt your ideal so soon after realising it?"
"Hm? No, no." He shook his head quickly "Nothing such as that…It is merely that when I create something I do not wish…when we dragons carve out our own Kingdom, I do not wish for it to be nothing more than a mere copy of what the humans have achieved." he explained "Else there is no difference whether it be my people or humans that rule this land, there is nothing that we can say is ours…"
He paused for a moment before he exhaled "There is no point in carving out a future for us if it is nothing more than humanity with scales. I want something unique to our existence and yet when I try to picture such a thing…" he extended his left hand out as if to grasp something "When I try to picture it I find that vision of my future…" he clasped his hand into a fist "...It slips through my grasp."
Artoria slowly nodded her head "I see. You wish to create your own perfect Kingdom that has not existed before, yet when you try to understand how to realise this ideal you find yourself incapable of visualising it."
"...Yes." Kalameet nodded his head, looking back to Artoria once again "You speak…truly."
"Do not focus upon building your perfect Kingdom." Artoria replied "And do not give thought too greatly to whether something has existed before, create your Kingdom in the manner you believe it would better benefit your people."
"But I do not think-"
"Doubting yourself before you even begin is already planting the seeds for your own failure." Artoria cut him off before he could get much further, turning her head to stare up at him "You proclaimed a desire to seek out a future for your people? Then do so. Fretting over whether your Kingdom might be 'unique' or 'special' will defeat the purpose. Would you prefer a secure future, or a Kingdom that will collapse after you perish?"
Kalameet closed his jaw, staring at Artoria in silence for a moment "...I want a future that will allow us to grow. To build something special for us…" he placed a hand on his chest "For all dragons. To carve out a history to rival that of humanity and the Gods."
Artoria nodded her head once again and looked away from him before turning on her heel and walking off. "Then think less upon what will make your people special, and think more upon what will make your people last. Humanity has a history that spans thousands of years and every single one contains progress. Look at the town you stand in, learn what you can and ask how it might serve to benefit yourself."
"Learn from humans…" Kalameet asked aloud before he turned his head back to the building the wyverns were destroying. Then watched as they continued to use their jaws and their tails to rip the building to shreds.
If his face were capable of it, Kalameet's expression would have been irritated at the complete lack of care they had used. Not that it was the wyverns' fault, one could only be so delicate when they had nothing but a jaw and a tail in which to grab things. They were not like him, he had hands.
He paused, then directed his attention down to the limbs in question before he returned to stare at the wyverns.
That might at least be a decent starting point, with hands they could actually do much more than they were currently capable of. It wasn't so much a case of copying humans as it was a case of understanding a basic advantage when he saw one, he had hands as well and he could achieve a great deal more than the wyverns could.
He would have to ask Akal if she could do anything about giving the next generation of wyverns hands of a sort. Something they could use just as he could.
Until then, he would make do in examining the wreckage as best as he could to understand exactly how it was all put together and what went into doing so.
It was pointless if he just copied the designs of humans, but if he took their techniques and made something different with them then that was an entirely different matter.
"Artoria." He called out from a distance while the black knight was still within his range, the Lancer halted her movements once again and looked over her shoulder towards the dragon. "If I were to wish to learn about human history…how would I go about doing that?"
Artoria stared back in silence "You hold the Holy Grail, or at least a shard of it at present. Consult that with your questions and you will be provided with answers." there was another pause "I see. So you intend to learn about the Kingdoms of Human history?"
"Though I intend to build something unique with my own hands, I must first understand how it was constructed." He explained, gesturing to the houses once again "Much like these shelters…I know nothing about them save that they exist. I never bothered to learn how the humans and the Light-kin built their vast cities. All I cared for was destroying them in fits of anger."
He exhaled "Though, that has evidently come to cause me trouble at this point in time. I simply do not understand how to begin therefore I will…learn how it was that human societies grew…finding their fair chance is one thing but I am beginning to understand that having the chance alone is not enough." he raised his hands before his own eyes and stared at them "The future that I seek…that existence where we are dominant…I will have to build it with my own hands and I do not know where to start."
"Hence your sudden fixation on human architecture." Artoria bluntly surmised "Very well. Though from her own language and manner of speaking, I would suspect Caster to be one such being who witnessed the birth of human Kingdoms." she pointed out "Before consulting with the Holy Grail, perhaps you should seek out the advice of your kin, considering you hold them in such high esteem."
Kalameet fell silent as he lowered his hands back to his side, his head rose and fell slowly as the suggestion registered with him. "Yes…Akal is more aware of the world than I ever was. Strange for one who is…who was born." he grunted "But if that is your advice, then I will seek it out once again. Perhaps I am becoming dependent on you for such things." Kalameet realised with a jerk of his head in the Lancer's direction.
"I would suggest that you swiftly abandon that notion of dependency. A Kingdom does not exist without a King and for a King to doubt his every action and seek out counsel for every decision is a clear sign of weakness."
Kalameet turned his head to face her, tilting it ever so slightly as she continued to speak coldly.
"If you intend to have any Kingdom at all - any future at all - then you need to embrace the role of King." With that said, she turned away from him and jerked her head once. Her black stead manifested to her side "You are the one who declared that you would build the future for your people. Then you are the one to bear that responsibility, to bear that burden. To say you will build a Kingdom and to achieve it are two entirely different actions…" she fell silent as she climbed atop her mount and adjusted herself, remaining still for a moment before continuing on "That said…Even the most confident of Kings would do well to heed the counsel of their advisor before acting. A rash King is an even greater fool than an indecisive one."
Though the words were designed to have an impact on him, Kalameet remained silent all the while. Still struggling to come to terms with the concept of a 'leader' or a 'king'. The idea of ordering someone else to do something and expecting them to do it simply because he commanded it was…
It was alien.
Whenever he told the wyverns to act in a certain way, he had always done so as a phrase of question and if they had refused that would be the end of it. Yet they had never once refused him, even the dragons did not go against his requests.
Did that mean they were accommodating?
Somehow that didn't quite feel right to him.
The way in which Artoria spoke of commanding others so easily, was she simply more aware of the concept than him or did it come from experience? He could not truly tell. Commanding others was something the humans and the light-kin did and he had never been able to understand that.
His eyes turned back to the ruins of the house.
Recent events were showcasing that there was much he didn't understand and it was these very products of his ignorance that had assured the dominance of the humans and light-kin over his race.
Kalameet gave a long and resounding hum from the back of his throat, maintaining his focus on the house as it was torn down to the base.
"Wait." He raised his hand to the wyverns, ceasing their actions yet again. The way in which they didn't make a complaint or even turn to him was something he was now acutely aware of. They never once even questioned what he was even making them do.
Was this what it was like to have power over someone else?
Something boiled away deep inside himself.
"What an ugly feeling." He voiced aloud with disgust before shaking his head and walking towards the corner of the house. Staring at the wood that had been flattened down on four sides and rose up from being embedded in the stone floor underneath the wooden covering.
He stared long and hard at the wooden pillar buried in the stone before he tilted his head ever so slightly. Extending a hand towards it, he gave the pillar a gentle shove, not strong enough to destroy it but strong enough that it would have toppled it over, the pillar creaked but remained standing.
Red eyes narrowed before they darted to the wooden pile on the ground, looking around for a similarly shaped flat wooden pillar and finding one. Though the end had been snapped and it was covered in rough bite marks it would still suit his purpose. Reaching down he took it in his right hand and reversed it so the sharpened points were facing downwards.
With a gentle grunt, he plunged the wooden beam into the ground with as much force as he could, effortlessly puncturing through the mud and causing it to stay there in a mirror match way to the wooden beam in the stone. Letting go of the beam, he pulled his hand back and then gave it the same shove he had given the previous pillar.
The angle of the wood bent with his force and was now jutting from the ground at a wonky incline.
"Ooooh." Kalameet murmured aloud as he looked between the two of them, then to the stone base of the first pillar and the mud of the second one. "I see, I see…so that's why." His jaw slowly curved up into a smile that showcased his fangs. So this was what learning was, it was certainly intriguing.
He stared out across the horizon, amber coloured eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he squinted harder for a few moments before he exhaled. He watched as the swarm passed close enough that they should have seen them, the fact they continued on moving meant that the spellcraft was working.
The steel helm held a 'T' shaped slit in the front to allow the wearer to see beyond it, a metal ridge ran across the top of the helm. The individual in question was also wearing a large white furred collar around their shoulders and trailing down their back, beneath this they wore simple sky blue fabric underneath curved steel armour.
Around their waist was a chainmail protection resting atop a blue coloured waist cape and leather fittings, black fabric trousers rustled in the wind and shin high thick brown leather boots creaked as the wearer adjusted his footing atop the wall of ice.
"They're gone." He spoke aloud, turning back around to face the others "However, we should remain quiet until they are further away and make ourselves ready to move once again."
He got grim nods of the head in response.
"How many did you see?" A voice asked, he turned his head to the approaching Servant. Clad in dark silver armour that covered his whole body. It was individually segmented with each plate curving around his form, the helmet itself covered the speaker's entire head with some minor spell that concealed the face. Twin wing shaped protrusions jutted upwards from the top of the helm.
"Near enough to forty this time." He replied in a troubled tone of voice, the Silver Knight stopped walking and gave a low hum. "Yes, more than last time."
"That is indeed cause for concern. They are getting bolder and bolder, especially since they have already gone over this territory before. That they are doing so again is…" The knight paused for a few moments, humming once again in a thoughtful manner "It is not like the behaviour of the wyverns I am more familiar with."
"I will default myself to your advice, given your experience with them, Ledo."
Ledo nodded his head "The wyverns of this land might well be different to those that I am familiar with, but once they have roosted themselves they would not expand so far from it." he paused for a moment, reaching up and cupping his chin "Unless…they might be seeking out food?" he offered "It might be that their large numbers have wiped out the local life."
He hummed in response to Ledo's suggestion "That could well be the case. Though my experience with animals and other creatures is limited enough." he turned his head back towards the direction the wyverns were flying off in "Is that not large for a feeding party?"
That gave Ledo pause "...True enough." he said after a moment "What of the small detachment you saw not long ago pass by us?" he changed the subject "The dragon and the Servant, have they returned?"
"Erik says he saw the Servant return in the late night." He replied to the Silver Knight "But there was no sign of the dragon or its smaller kin. Though the storm was in full swing that night, perhaps it was merely difficult to see them or…"
"Or the Servant was retreating from defeat?" Ledo surmised easily enough "That is another possibility. Perhaps you should bring this to the attention of the others."
"Mmmh." He nodded his head and turned away, giving one final glance over his shoulder "I'll be back soon enough, though I will bring up the idea of moving to the others. If the activity of the wyverns and dragons is going to escalate, then even the combined spellwork of myself and the others might not be able to withstand them." he paused for a moment "Speaking of which, I heard he returned last night?"
"He did." Ledo replied with a slightly annoyed tone of voice, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away in a huff. Though there was the distinct impression he was pouting behind the helmet "I would have been more than up for the task of accompanying him if he asked." he thumped a fist on his chest "I'm a Silver Knight and I missed out on all the excitement!"
A roll of the eyes behind his helmet "He moves faster alone." He explained, "And besides, you are still needed here." was another point he made.
"I know…" Ledo sighed "But I'm more used to travelling and helping people out than sitting still and guarding…" the Silver knight grumbled before he turned back to his conversation partner "He returned with twenty people, fleeing from one of the destroyed villages east of us."
"How many does that make our number now? Two hundred and thirty?"
"Two hundred and forty seven." Ledo corrected grimly "We might need to move for more reasons than the wyverns. Food provisions were meant for a group barely half this size and even with us not partaking…"
"The storm might well have been our best chance to escape." He realised with a sense of grim finality "Without it we will likely be spotted, even if we were to use our spellcraft to hide as many as we could it would only afford us so much and I am…" he trailed off, looking away "...Nevermind that for now. Keep watch, I will see what the others have to say on the matter."
"Very well." Ledo nodded his head, turning back and staring out across the horizon "I'll prepare myself just in case. If we have to move…"
"I know." He nodded his head back, turning away from the Silver Knight and dropping down from the ice wall the pair stood upon. The sharpened layer of frozen water surrounded the entire camp, dozens of symbols carved into the surface that were designed to shield them from sight.
It worked against the unobservant at any rate but there was only so much they could do.
Trudging through the snow, he moved further and further through the makeshift camp and nodded his head to those who greeted him as he closed in on the larger tent towards the back. Giving a slight pause as the huge cat cloaked in black clouds shifted its head to stare at him, glowing red eyes fixed themselves upon him.
The two stared at one another in silence before it opened its mouth, exposing the two sabre teeth, and yawning before its eyes fluttered shut and it rested its head upon its paws yet again.
He exhaled.
Those things were never not going to put him on edge.
Reaching out, he clasped the tent and pulled the entrance flap open before stepping inside.
"Good 'morrow, Erik."
The red haired man with flat horns jutting from either side of his head grunted in his direction, the Berserker sat upon a stool at the far end of the room with his arms resting on his knees.
"Ah, good morning brother-in-law." The glasses wearing man greeted, turning to face him with his welcoming smile. The man was slightly shorter than him, wearing a pitch black combat suit with a pale violet cape cloaked over his shoulders, spiked metal shoulder guards rested atop either side and kept the fabric on his person. White hair with a thick grey streak down the centre rested atop his head.
The man then frowned as he noticed the lack of reaction before he closed his eyes and sighed "...I apologise once again, that was-"
"I believe it best I stop you from correcting yourself at this point." He raised a hand, cutting the man off politely "We are…technically related, though it is only through unusual circumstances. Regardless, there is news I have to inform you all of."
That got the man to pause once again, his troubled expression disappearing in favour of a more serious one. "How dire?"
"I caught sight of a flock of wyverns, some forty strong, moving across the land." He explained, earning the full attention of the three people in the room "They were heading west last I checked and it makes it the second group to head in that direction within the last few hours. Since early morning they appear to have been kicked into a frenzy."
The glasses wearing man narrowed his eyes, reaching up and cupping his chin "This behaviour is certainly worrying. The summoner of the wyverns might indeed be preparing for a much greater push, especially given the interference I have been running."
"Your behaviour has had much greater ramifications than we could possibly have accounted for." The third person in the room spoke up, wearing a pristine white robe and long black hair that flowed down to the ground with a silver circlet around her forehead, the woman looked towards the glasses man - showing her delicate features and pale red eyes - as she frowned lightly "Though your behaviour was indeed admirable, it has attracted a great deal of attention to us."
"Being summoned to this era and not working to protect the people would make my being here pointless." The man replied back evenly "Though I admit…the wyverns did not behave in a manner I expected them to."
"There is much of this situation we were not prepared for, Sigurd." He replied to the Norse warrior with a shake of the head "Even Ledo is concerned about such behaviour, he believes it might be because the wyverns have exhausted their supply of food in the locale area that they are starting to branch out."
Sigurd fell silent "...That could well be it."
"Can they not eat fish?" Erik asked, prompting both Sigurd and the other male in the room to stare at him in naked surprise at the face he was speaking fluently.
"You…" Sigurd looked between Erik and the dark haired girl "But I…"
"Ah." Erik chuckled lightly "...Gunnhild and her got to talking and…well…" he shrugged his shoulders, smiling lightly "Her opinion improved when she found out that Caster was married and very devoted."
"Ah." Sigurd smiled and nodded his head "The talk of a true love…I confess that I have one such as well. My beloved Brynhildr…" he paused for a moment before humming "I wonder…is it possible that she might have been summoned as well? This is a crisis in the Norse lands…" he quietly pondered to himself.
"The great Brynhildr? The legendary Valkyrie?" Erik spoke in clear surprise before he hummed quietly "I'm not sure…" he paused for a moment and winced, then looked off to the side and softened his face "I'm quite certain she won't be interested in me, my beloved."
"Indeed." Caster spoke in an almost reverent tone of voice "The King is the only one who might lay claim to my heart." she spoke softly before her expression steeled once again "However, there is the question to be answered."
"Hm?" Sigurd blinked in response before making a noise of understanding "Ah, yes. I would assume wyverns are capable of eating fish, yes." the man nodded his head in response after a moment of silence, then turned to the other male "Gordin, What about you?"
"...I do not see why they would not be able to." Gordin replied evenly, shrugging his furred shoulders "It's meat, isn't it?" He looked around the room once again. Now realising that he might actually be surrounded by what could almost be described as a group of lovestruck individuals. "That said…there is another matter to be brought up."
"Is there?" Alsanna looked towards him, her almost lifeless eyes causing him to look away within his helmet. He didn't quite know what it was but something about her just put him on edge, whether it was the fact she could summon walls of ice, giant tigers or those strange knight familiars. It might very well have been all of them.
"The dragon and Servant that you saw last night." Gordin nodded to Erik "Only the Servant returned."
Sigurd frowned "Yes…Erik brought this up to me when he saw it." he turned to the man in question and leaned forwards, resting his hands on the table of ice that Alsanna had constructed for them "You are absolutely certain of this?"
Erik nodded once "Without doubt. Only the mounted Servant rode back…They are also a woman." he added on "Gunnhild could tell."
"...I see." Sigurd hummed "That does slightly limit the amount of Servants it could be, though the more pressing question would be what became of her entourage."
"They headed south with a not insignificant force." Gordin pointed out, placing his hands on his hips "A dragon, even one of the lesser ones as you claim-" he waved a hand to Sigurd "-is still an opponent that would give most of us trouble, combined with the Servant?"
"Then perhaps there are other Servants further south." Sigurd suggested, humming to himself "It is not an unreasonable assumption to make and there is a good chance that the Lancer was forced into retreat when faced by a superior force, or at least a force that outnumbered them."
Erik frowned "Interesting though this is, for us it is a moot point." he spoke up, bringing the attention of the room back onto himself "The knowledge there might be allies elsewhere does not directly aid us for the moment until such a time that we can meet up with them but knowing of their existence does not mean we know their location." his frown grew "And we cannot truly concern ourselves with other Servants when we already have more pressing concerns."
Alsanna nodded her head slowly "The husband of Gunnhild speaks truly." Gordin stared at her complete refusal to use the man's name, although the Berserker in question didn't seem particularly caring at the disrespect. "Since you have made repeated ventures beyond this camp and brought back refugee's, our supplies are in a somewhat dire situation."
Sigurd made a pained face "I imagined that would be the case." he spoke slowly before he turned to Gordin "How poor is our food situation?"
Gordin remained silent for a moment, crossing his arms over his chest and pursing his lips behind his helmet "...We can confidently withstand another day before we will be forced to start rationing." he paused for a moment before he continued on in a more troubled tone of voice "However, that was before the latest addition to our numbers…we may need to introduce rationing starting from now."
The norse king nodded his head slowly, his expression showing that he had understood the repercussions of his actions at least. "We had always intended to move." He pointed out "And this way we have been able to at least save more lives than would otherwise have been lost."
"I am not going to argue against saving lives." Gordin evenly responded "But you cannot deny that it might well have forced us into the challenging position of having to move during the day and with the wyverns expanding outwards…" he trailed off meaningfully.
Alsanna spoke up "Your effort to save lives, might well lead to more perishing as a result." she paused for a moment before closing her eyes and allowing a nostalgic smile to come upon her face. "Though I am not unfamiliar with the sentiment…My King was very much the same in his desire to keep his subjects safe."
Gordin remained silent for a moment before he returned his attention to Sigurd "I have already informed Ledo that we might well be required to make preparations to move swiftly. What do you suggest I do next?"
Sigurd remained silent for a moment, reaching up and cupping his chin once again while tapping his finger upon it "...Prepare everyone to move as swiftly as possible." he looked to Alsanna "Can you create a blizzard to block us from sight?"
Alsanna raised a delicate eyebrow at him "I am capable of such feats, however the size and scale would be difficult to control."
"Nothing so dangerous, merely enough that it blocks us from sight and large enough not to attract attention. At least not from the average wyvern or dragon." Sigurd offered with a casual wave of the hand before he turned to Gordin "Go and inform Ledo that we shall have to move. Going south appears to be the safest solution and perhaps we shall see if there are other Servants in this era who would aid us against the dragons…if not, we shall have to return here ourselves to put this crisis to rest."
Gordin slowly nodded his head and loosened his arms "A daunting task to be sure…I have never fought dragons."
Sigurd's expression turned strained "It is not something that someone should truly set out to do either. I cannot truly tell you of the experience, only that it is…encompassing." he responded with, after a moment of thought before he smiled more reassuringly "Though I have every confidence in you, brother-in-law."
Gordin sighed "...I realise I made it clear I would not complain but it is still disconcerting for me to be called as such…" he reached up and scratched the back of his neck "Especially since I was an only child."
"Ah…Sorry."
"No, I have already said you may call me that if you wish." Gordin allowed as he removed his arm from himself "And it is not that you are incorrect…nevermind. I will go out and see to it that the task is done." he nodded his head to Sigurd before he turned about and made his way back out of the tent.
Erik turned his head back to Sigurd "...Does being the avatar of Lord Tyr truly make him your brother in law?"
Sigurd remained silent for a moment before he replied "Considering I am married to Brynhildr and she is technically a child of Odin alongside Lord Tyr, I would assume so." he responded casually "However, Lord Tyr has merely gifted Gordin with his power rather than outright possessed him so I cannot be truly sure…Though that is no reason not to be welcoming with him. Especially if Lord Tyr has reason to gift this young man his power, as the God is one of Brynhildr's siblings, I shall treat him as though he was my own."
Alsanna hummed "That is kind of you."
Sigurd made a noise of affirmation as he looked to Alsanna "Can your pets sniff out any trouble in the event we are detected by the wyverns?"
She nodded "Lud and Zallen were trained by my King personally, they shall protect all those I wish them to and hunt down any foe that might stand against us."
Erik blinked once before he thinned his lips and looked away "I can see why you and Gunnhild get along." He spoke with a clear sense of amusement before he winced. "I don't mean anything by it, I'm just happy you have someone to get along with is all."
Sigurd nodded towards the Caster and smiled lightly "I, as well, feel the pain of being separated from one's beloved." he moved towards her, reaching out and placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder "I wish you the best of luck that you might one day be reunited with him."
Alsanna stared at the hand for a few moments before gradually turning her eyes towards Sigurd, staring up at him with her dull red orbs. Her lip twitched upwards ever so slightly as a sense of camaraderie passed between them "And I wish you fortune in reuniting with your own beloved."
The man smiled, "My thanks, Lady Alsanna."
Tarkus frowned awkwardly as he looked around to the others that were eating. He couldn't tell if the food was good or not because of his less than ideal taste buds, but judging by the dull expressions on the people surrounding him as they ate the dried meat, he imagined that the food itself was nothing special.
Then again, he had come from a relatively poor background so food was always food. Whether or not it tasted nice was always considered a luxury to his family and he was just happy to eat something.
He thought as much as he placed the meat in his mouth and tore off a small chunk, and chewed it quietly. His eyes wandered around to the others, watching as they ate in similar states of silence.
Jorunn watched him eat with a certain intensity, or she was staring at his face. Without his helmet on it was much more obvious he was actively trying to avoid staring her in the eyes. He could look at her face easily enough but he still had issues with looking women in the eye. The red head narrowed her gaze at him as she chewed the last of her breakfast.
"I-is something wrong, Miss Jorunn?" Tarkus asked, voice cracking at the start of the sentence before it tapered off into his usual tone. Judging by the way several of the men near him smirked to themselves for a brief moment, it didn't go unnoticed.
"...How old are you?" Jorunn asked with a raised eyebrow, rolling her jaw "Because you look a fair bit younger than I thought you would be."
"Hmm?" Tarkus blinked once, then frowned in thought "Ummm…do you still measure in winters?"
"Yes." One of the others, Hemming, grunted as he looked to Tarkus expectantly. He was one of the older men here, probably around fifty winters by Tarkus estimating, dark blonde hair and a braided beard with chainmail armour over the top of a dull red tunic. "You look younger than some fish I've eaten."
"I'm…" Tarkus scrunched his face up in thought for a moment before nodding his head "At this time I am twenty-one winters old." he smiled after a moment, turning to the others.
Bjarne stared at him for a moment before the brown haired man shrugged his shoulders and looked back down to his scrap bit of dried meat and placed the rest of it in his mouth. "About what I expected." he voiced loudly as he chewed.
"You shouldn't speak with your mouth full." Tarkus pointed out, earning blinks from both Jorunn and Hemming "It's rude."
Bjarne sent him a look "Wha-" he man spoke with a muffled voice as he was still in the midst of chewing before he frowned "What in the fuck do you-"
"Stop. Talking. With. Your. Mouth. Full."
The man's jaw slowly worked itself closed, his head turned away and stared down towards the ground. Now more eager to avoid eye contact with the knight. The man had stood up and was now leaning over him with a hefty frown on his face.
Satisfied that there wasn't going to be any more problems, Tarkus' tranquil face returned as he perched himself back down on the ground and looked to the others. Noticing them staring at him with blank expressions. The knight blinked twice before he tapped the tips of his fingers together and looked away from them. "Sorry. Mother always told me it wasn't good to be rude."
Hemming stared at him before nodding once "Your Ma' taught you to speak like that as well?"
"Hmm?" Tarkus blinked before shaking his head "Oh no. She was much scarier."
Hemming continued to stare at him before he cracked a smile "I can believe you lad." he snorted loudly, shaking his head and jerking it towards Jorunn "She's one of the scariest people in the camp, don't let anyone fool you."
"Shut up, idiot." Jorunn scowled at him, ramming her elbow into the man's side and prompting a wince. "I wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't surrounded by fools. Half of you would end up tripping and falling on your own swords if I wasn't paying attention."
"We're probably not that bad." Another voice spoke up, the others turning to see Brynjar approaching the group with a smaller piece of meat in his hands than the others. The blonde haired man nodded a greeting at them with a smile, although there was a troubled look in his eyes. "Though your help is greatly appreciated by all, Jorunn."
"You'd do well not to forget it too." Jorunn grunted at him before tilting her head "What's with you?" she asked after a moment before pointing to his face "You've got that look in your eye."
Brynjar sighed loudly "Ten winters and I can still keep nothing from you, even now?"
"You should give up, lad." Hemming chuckled from the side before turning to Tarkus and jerking his head to the pair "Never able to lie to one another. Train together sometimes too…Never seen him win a single match against her though."
Brynjar gave the man a flat stare "Must you speak of me so disappointingly to the emissaries of all people?"
Tarkus regarded the man with a puzzled stare for a moment before he remembered the lie that Mr Cu had told. That brought a frown to his face, he didn't like lying all that much. Mother said that was rude as well but if it was a lie to help someone then it was okay. Tarkus found it a little difficult to tell when the best time to lie was though, so he just didn't.
"You see?" Brynjar pointed to the knight, completely misunderstanding the frown "Now he thinks of me poorly."
"I what?" Tarkus jolted and looked around.
"He barely thinks at all from the looks of it." Jorunn flatly responded before looking back at Brynjar "Well?"
The blonde man sighed, reaching up and rubbing his brow with his free hand "It is Jarl Torin…he has made some concerning choices as of late." he looked up "Not in the way he has led us, I might add but…" he sighed and looked to Tarkus "You know how you mean to save the land from the serpents, yes?"
Tarkus blinked once "Oh, you mean the dragons." he nodded several times "Yes. That is what Miss Animuspear is here to do."
"It means you shall all head North soon enough." Brynjar pursed his lips and turned to the others "They have invited Jarl Torin to join them."
"As well they should." Bjarne coughed into his hand to clear his throat, making sure there was nothing left in his mouth. "Jarl Torin is one of the strongest men I have ever seen and to be invited by the emissaries and a Seidr to do battle with Fafnir is a great honour, especially if the Allfather himself has invited him."
"That…is the issue." Brynjar revealed with a grimace "Jarl Torin does not intend to take leave of us when the emissaries depart. At least not until we have moved further south."
Hemming frowned "He what? He would reject the call of the Allfather?"
Brynjar raised his hands "Not reject, merely…postpone." the man corrected "Until he is certain we are safe. He still fears for our lives if more serpents were to ambush us without his being here."
"We can do battle with the smaller beasts simply enough." Jorunn argued back with a frown "The dragons though…" she grimaced "There is cause to fear those."
"I will not deny there is truth about his words." Brynjar nodded along "But…I fear that Jarl Torin is allowing this honour to slip through his hands out of fear of what might befall us."
Tarkus tilted his head as he looked around "Wouldn't you want to be safe though?" he stared at each of them in confusion "Wouldn't it be better if he was here to protect you?"
Hemming turned his head to frown at Tarkus before he squinted "You are not from these lands, are you?" Tarkus shook his head "Then you know not of our ways…One does not simply reject the call to arms of the Allfather." he turned to Brynjar "Nor does he seek to delay it. The Allfather is not one whom can be commanded so casually."
Brynjar sighed, nodding his head "I tried to explain as much to Jarl Torin but I fear that he has past experience with the Serpents…he holds much fear in his heart for what might befall us. His words spoke of past battles and the death of his old clan."
"And he did not die with them?" Bjarne raised an eyebrow before he frowned in thought "A coward?"
"Nothing so stupid." Hemming cut him off sharply "A survivor yes, a coward? Nothing of the sort. But that does not mean the roots of terror do not cling tightly to his heart." the man muttered and looked up "I have seen it before in those who have returned from battles…They deny the call of Valhalla and would risk Helheim because of these very roots."
Tarkus was still somewhat confused by what they meant, but judging by the grim faces on the others around him it was nothing very good.
"What do you suggest be done?" Hemming turned back to Brynjar.
"Jarl Torin said he would not leave while we still had need of him." The blonde man responded with a hefty sigh as he crossed his arms.
"The solution is simple then, fool." Jorunn responded with a smirk before she turned to the others and crossed her arms over her chest "We need only convince him we can battle the serpents ourselves, at least until we are out of these lands."
Bjarne scowled and looked to the side "...Why do we even wish to depart these lands?" he asked openly as he looked around before gesturing to Tarkus "We have emissaries of the Allfather at our side and this is the home of our ancestors!" he stood up, stamping his foot "We should be marching north to help them slay the wicked serpent Fafnir who seeks to burn our lands to ash!"
Hemming opened his mouth to respond before he paused and slowly closed it, blinking several times before shaking his head "We still have many who cannot hold swords and spears. Children and what few elderly remain."
"Then the elderly have a chance to enter Valhalla before age takes them." Bjarne argued back and pressed a hand against his chest "Jarl Torin has no desire to leave us? Then we should advance north with as many warriors as we can muster. Even if we are to die, it shall at least be upon the field of battle and we can enter Valhalla with grins on our faces and songs upon our lips."
Hemming thinned his lips and looked across to the others, staring at Brynjar "...He makes excellent points. We agreed to a retreat because before the arrival of the emissaries it was suicide to remain but they slew a dragon last night and more emissaries have arrived." he leaned forwards, resting his arms upon his knees "Our chances of victory and of obtaining glory are higher…especially if we have the blessing of the Allfather."
Brynjar clenched his jaw "...We would have to send many of the children further south regardless, and those who could protect them from harm…"
"We've seen the black clouds in the distance." Bjarne argued again "That's our land they're burning. It's our people they slaughter and eat as though they were cattle."
Jorunn turned to Tarkus "You are one of the emissaries, what say you?"
Tarkus froze like a statue for a few moments, his eyes widened and his jaw hung low "Ummm…I…would need to ask Miss Animuspear…" he then thinned his lips "But I…don't see why you can't fight wyverns." he replied with a shrug before gesturing to himself "When I was younger, I used to fight giant rats and spiders. I wasn't even a Ser-erm…Emissary back then."
"Animuspear?" Brynjar narrowed his eyes for a moment "That is the small pale haired woman in the odd cloth, yes? The Valkyrie."
"She's not a Valkyrie." Jorunn rolled her eyes "She doesn't even have wings."
"She's an emissary of the Allfather." Brynjar argued back "She is either a Valkyrie or a Volva."
"Then she's a Volva." Jorunn remarked with an exasperated tone of voice before she smiled and became somewhat excited "Now the white haired woman in armour and with a spear? She is a Valkyrie."
"But she doesn't have wings?"
"And? You think her to be a simple shield-maiden?"
"Well…no."
"Exactly."
Brynjar shook his head for a few moments before he turned to Tarkus "She is your leader though, this Animuspear woman?" at the man's nod, he grunted and rose to his feet. "Then I shall bring this to her and tell her we intend to travel with her. I shall also require some of our number to take the children and continue south if we do not return."
"Wise enough." Hemming offered with a grunt before he chuckled "If Jarl Torin has no desire to leave us, then we shall make sure he doesn't."
Brynjar gave a victorious grin "Quite so!"
Kalameet found Akal easily enough, wandering into the Archtree and noticing the woman more dressed than she was last time, but it still showed off her rather impressive physique and toned muscular body.
Her lower half was clothed with thick fabric trousers and a red half skirt hanging down her left side, thick leather boots went up to her knees. Her upper half was less clothed but still more so than before, a leather strap went across her chest to cover her breasts with her arms being protected by metal bracers, her upper right arm to her shoulder continued this armoured trend with a rough moulded pauldron while her left arm was bare.
The woman opened her eyes and stared at Kalameet with a raised eyebrow. "You left just as quickly as you arrived. Artoria stopped by and said you were…busying yourself with houses?"
"I was curious as to how the humans created things." Kalameet replied with a grunt and a nod of his head as he looked her up and down "You are clothed as the humans are."
"Yes, I am." Akal replied as she looked over the mismatching bracers "I like it."
"I know nothing about human cloth." Kalameet bluntly replied "However I am sure you look…well."
"Why thank you." Akal smiled lightly "So, what is it I can help you with?"
"There are a couple of favours I would ask of you." Kalameet replied slowly as he approached "The next generation of wyverns you birth…would it be possible to give them arms like myself?"
That brought a slow blink from the Caster "Arms you say?"
"Yes."
"...Well, it would certainly be possible to do so." She replied after a moment "But I would like to ask why?"
Kalameets brows furrowed as best as he could manage with his head shape "I noticed when I asked them to deconstruct the house…the wyverns, my kin, they struggle with…delicate tasks?" he sounded unsure before he nodded his head "Yes. I feel as though they would be unable to replicate the same skills that the humans and light-kin could do without the aid of hands."
"You would be correct enough." Akal agreed easily before giving a smile of clear amusement "Hands are quite a useful trait. So I suppose this means you would like for our people to start building something then, would you?"
"That…brings me to my second request." He replied "You have lived long…what can you tell me of the human kingdoms that existed?"
Akal raised both her eyebrows "...That would depend on which human kingdom you would like to learn about and what you would seek to learn of."
Kalameet frowned, "I…want to learn how they lived."
"Each Kingdom lived differently, to discuss them all would take quite a considerable length of time and there are many that I know nothing about or only heard of in passing. I was a dragon and therefore could only learn as much as my followers would tell me."
"That alone is enough. You received many followers over the years, did you not?"
"I did…so I suppose I have a considerably long answer for you." Akal replied with a half smile "I suppose I might start with one of the oldest Kingdoms in the land which lasted every age. The land of Astora, or so the humans called it."
"Astora…this one I have heard of…How did these humans live?"
"It was a Kingdom that heavily valued chivalry." Akal replied before she paused, "I suppose you don't know what that is either?" Kalameet shook his head "It was a code by which humans would live. They put great meanings upon honour, kindness and courage. Those who followed this code were called knights."
"...They named their people after the time without a sun?"
"Nights with a K."
"K-nights?" Kalameet made a face as best he could.
Akal chuckled lightly, "I suppose we shall have to start somewhere after all…Artoria is a Knight as well…or rather, she is the King of Knights."
Kalameet blinked "These humans who valued kindness, courage and honour? She commanded all of them?"
"Her Kingdom was famous for its knights and she was their King. Hence her title…though I doubt the Artoria we know would be willing to be called such a title."
"I…am not sure I understand…does she dislike commanding others as well?"
"That is not quite the issue but if you wish to learn more of knights, she would be better to ask than myself. Just think of them as a special type of warrior for the moment." Kalameet nodded his head "Astora itself was also a monarchy, meaning they had a King who ruled over all of them."
Kalameet growled quietly "Command of another…it is…baffling to me. I believe I might command our kin in this way…"
"You do." Akal replied in a blunt fashion "Kingship is not an evil. Sometimes it falls to those with vision to lead a people. Can you imagine one of my children doing what you do?"
"...I…would…like to imagine so." Kalameet responded slowly, although he didn't sound as though he believed his own words.
"Then I am grateful for your faith in my children, but as much as I love them, not a single one would ever consider what it is that you are doing now." Akal replied "The idea of holding authority over someone else might seem strange to you at the moment, but sometimes it falls to those with greater wisdom to lead their people down a better path." she paused for a moment before she shrugged "Or those with power to drag their followers down a worse path. There is no reason to say that all paths lead to prosperity."
Kalameet looked down "This is…troubling for me…and now a daunting experience."
"Such is the path of Kingship." Akal gently smiled back at him "But if you are to lead our people into a brand new future, you must be absolutely certain in your own vision."
"Artoria said a wise King would seek out the counsel of his allies before charging into the fray."
"And she would be correct. But a wise King does not doubt his end goal, the steps he takes might change or perhaps he switches paths but the end goal remains the same. You will strive to create a future for all dragonkind, one that can rival human history. That goal will never change…but the way in which you accomplish this is always one in which you can receive guidance on. That is not a sign of weakness."
She rose to her feet, placing her hands on her hips and inclining her head to the side. "And you still regard me as an equal, do you not?"
"Yes." Kalameet answered without a moment of hesitation.
"Then as your equal, listen to my advice. Do not doubt this future you fight for and do not doubt your own resolve in it. You already have my assurance, never forget that I will work to help you at every step to ensure you can see this dream."
"...Thank you." Kalameet responded quietly before he exhaled "You were saying of this Kingdom?"
"Yes."
"They built shelters the same as these people as well?"
"You mean wooden huts? Nothing so rudimentary." She chortled, "They built grand towers of stone and cities that held thousands."
"...With their own hands?"
"With their own hands."
Kalameet remained silent for a moment before he looked Akal dead in the eyes "How?"
AN: Yep. We got another group in Denmark.
And I absolutely love writing Kalameet and I didn't realise it.
But yeah, the vikings are deciding that 'Hey, why the fuck are we running away from dragons when the Allfather is on our side?'
So Kalameet will get his battle for the future after all!
And yes.
We have our second Dark Souls Pseudo-Servant!
Gordin, Knight of Forossa!
Who is a Pseudo-Servant of Tyr! Although it's similar to how Lakshmibai is a Pseudo-Servant. In that the Divine Spirit just gave them some juice and then peaced out of there.
Also Alsanna is there and making friends with Gunnhild!
No surprise, considering how devoted both of them are to their husbands.
And Erik can speak easily enough, Timeless Temple showed that, it's just that Gunnhild gets jealous when he speaks to other women.
But anyway!
Gordin!
Gordin, Knight of Forossa
Servant: Saber
Strength: B
Endurance: B+
Agility: B
Mana: C
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: A+
Greatsword of Majesty: A (Anti-Unit) Max Target: 1, Max Range: 1-2
Sword has a passive ability to deal additional damage to wraiths and other dark beings.
"Scriosta Dorcha": A+ (Anti-Unit) Max Target: 1, Max range: 1-2
In its single target attack, the blade is overcoated with Light said to banish away the Dark and slashed into the target. Releasing an explosion of Anti-Army calibre into a single area. A weapon which has passed from owner to owner and carries skill with it.
Because it is the build-up of massive amounts of Miracle light, Gordin can call upon this NP rarely as using it can harm himself. As he discovered the weapon rather than claim ownership this NP is weaker than its previous owners.
Arm of Chains - My right hand becomes a prison: B++ (Anti-Unit) Max Target: 1, Max Range: 1-15
Something carried over from Tyr. If Gordin sacrifices his right arm, then he can create a prison against Servants to contain them. However the right hand that is lost can never be permanently healed nor can it be replaced as long as the prison remains active. Even then, the arm takes a considerably longer time to heal than an injury such as this would otherwise take for a Servant.
The chains that bind the enemy in question scale with the greater mystery the target holds, as Fenrir was the wolf that would help bring about Ragnarok, it stood near the pinnacle of norse myth. Therefore the chains are even more powerful against beast type opponents or those that are more animal than man.
Class Skills
Riding: D
Magic Resistance: C
Divinity: B
Son of an Unnamed War God in life and the Pseudo-Servant of Tyr, though the Wargod serves as a power source. Their consciousness isn't truly present.
Personal Skills:
Wandering Knight: B
New locations are not too great a hassle.
He can accurately acclimatise to them, great mental defences.
Eternal Arms Mastery (False): D
The legend of the sword claims that all those who wield it were superb swordsmen.
Gordin - however - is not and while left handed like the greatest wielders, he isn't near their skill. The sword carries him onwards and grants him skill that he otherwise wouldn't have. However, it is the sword which grants this increased skill.
If he lost the sword, he would lose this skill.
Knight of Forossa: B+
As a Knight of Forossa, he is one of the more hardy human warriors to walk the lands.
Can apply a '+' stat to his endurance.
Wisdom of the War God: C
Wisdom bestowed to him by virtue of being the vessel of Tyr. Though Tyr isn't present, he still grants some latent abilities to his vessel. Tyr himself has bestowed Gordin with the Knowledge to utilise Runes in combat to bolster his own skills. Although not a great amount.
Summoning
"I am Gordin, Knight of Forossa…I am also the Pseudo-Servant of the War God Tyr but…I apologise, he is not the one in control. However, I shall serve to the best of my ability."
Dialogue 1
"My sword looks familiar to you…I suppose it is quite a legendary blade, is it not? Though in truth is it…something I found."
Dialogue 2
"Tales of my time as a wanderer? I suppose I have a few I can share with you. There is some excitement to be found in them."
Dialogue 3
"Master and Servant? Do not worry. I was once a Knight of Forossa, I understand that you are my superior and will obey your commands."
Dialogue 4 (If you have Nameless King)
"...The Great God, Faraam. As children, we all hear of his exploits and how he blesses all knights who worship him. Yet…I wonder if I have done something to offend him in some way, I dread to think that is the case. Hmmm? Why do I ask that? Well…he seems to avoid looking at me, as though I am not worthy of his sight…Perhaps it is because I merely found this sword and he awaits me to prove myself worthy of it?"
Dialogue 5 (If you have Nameless King [After Interlude])
"I cannot even…I could never imagine that…my…my father? How do I ever prove myself worthy of such a blessing?"
Dialogue 6 (If you have Sigurd)
"Brother-in-law he calls me. Though he does mean Tyr when he speaks as such. He does not do so maliciously so I take no real offence to it but…As a single child it is…strange to have siblings? Not unpleasant but…hmmmm. It is hard to explain. It might be the influence of Tyr but when he calls me that it does feel…right."
Dialogue 7 (If you have Scathach-Skadi)
"The Jotunn…or Giant as I know them best. I do keep her company but…That might be the lingering spirit of Tyr within me that guides my actions. Or it is my code as a Knight who does not wish to leave the woman to suffer alone. I shall not dwell on it further. She has been alone for long enough, even if it is a fleeting time…I shall keep her company."
Dialogue 8 (If you have Cu Caster)
"I do feel something odd when around him and yet I cannot truly put my finger on it…Well, I suppose it might not be terribly important."
Dialogue 9 (If you have Cu Caster [After completing Avalon le Fae])
"I am not calling him father. Absolutely not. I refuse wholeheartedly. I believe it best for both our sakes. Though I do feel some kinship with him that we were both bestowed the powers of Gods who then departed…Perhaps it is some manner of family tradition to do so?"
Dialogue 10 (If you have Sitonai)
"Lady Sitonai…Though it feels strange to see more than one God in a body willingly…It is not something I am…familiar with hearing of. Though we share some thin connection by sharing an origin to our godly benefactors. There is no reason for us to be overly familiar with one another. I can call you Illyasviel if you would call me Gordin, if that is acceptable to you?"
Dialogue 11 (If you have Brynhildr)
"...Sister? It is odd to feel that the term of address feels correct. Though I will not call you that if you do not…There is no concern? I see…"
Dialogue 12 (If you have Valkyries)
"This is somewhat…unusual for me. To be a single child all my life and then being assailed by multiple individuals who might be called family. Though…being called Lord Tyr by them is…I wish to be judged by my own deeds rather than that of another."
Dialogue 13 (If you have Mandricardo)
"Mandricardo? Yes, we do have much in common so I elect to spend time around him. In truth we feel comfortable with one another. Perhaps it is merely the feat of finding weapons of great renown and simply wielding them that draws us together."
Dialogue 14 (If you have Brynhildr [Berserker])
"...That sword you're holding looks completely absurd. What manner of fool would design such a clunky looking blade-Eh? Why are you staring at me like that? What is with that hesitant look?"
Dialogue 15 (If you gave Lothian)
"I am not surprised to see that the great General Lothian is here. I feel more greatly motivated now to represent the ideals of Forossa. I know he has high expectations for me and I intend to meet every one of them."
Dialogue 16 (If you have Sif or Lobo)
"A large wolf. Hmmm…for some reason I find myself put on edge more than I reasonably should be. Greatwolves are no surprise to me, Forossa had some of them that reached much larger sizes than them. Yet now when I see a wolf I feel…tense. My right arm tingles for some odd reason."
Dialogue 17 (If you have Artorias)
"I have asked him to spar with me from time to time. He is…very accommodating to my somewhat selfish requests. It is just that…he is the very first wielder of this sword and I want it to be…I want to be worthy of it. Him being left handed only serves to further better the situation. There are not many left handed swordsmen in Chaldea."
Likes
"Something that I enjoy? Well…I always did enjoy training. There are relatively few left handed swordsmen about and I wish to improve myself to the best of my abilities."
Hates
"I…want to be judged for me. I might hold the power of the God Tyr but I would rather be judged by my own merits in what I can achieve. I would not call it something I hate as I am truly grateful for this opportunity but…In Forossa, you are judged by your own feats. Not those of your forefathers."
Wish for the Holy Grail
"A wish you say? I wouldn't even know where to begin in what I would wish for…It is not that I do not have a wish but suddenly being put on the spot like this it becomes hard to narrow down just a single one."
Bond Level 1
"I'm thankful you're giving me the chance to prove my skills in this way. I'll be ready for whatever battle you have prepared next."
Bond Level 2
"Being a left handed swordsman? I admit, it was quite rare. I knew of no others if I were to speak plainly. It did set me apart but not as much as you would think. Though…I feel as though that changed when I found this sword."
Bond Level 3
"This greatsword that I hold…It has a long and storied history to it. A weapon wielded by some of the greatest swordsmen to ever walk the lands. When I think that every single one of them was like me when it came to grip it is…daunting to look upon it. Especially when I consider just how much the sword aids me in battle."
Bond Level 4
"I'm not lacking in confidence mind you but even still…perhaps I have always felt the need to prove myself? Not above my father though. I never met him…Mother said he left us before I was ever born…She never spoke more of it and never once said she didn't love him. I do not understand why…"
Bond Level 5
"I'm grateful for this chance you've given me. I…I truly do feel as though I am on the path of becoming a true wielder of this sword. Though my life might be fleeting and whatever progress I make now might be lost…I can take solace in the fact that in this life…I came close and it was through my own power. Well…perhaps not my own but…being granted the aid of a close ally isn't so bad."
Birthday
"Your birthday is it? Congratulations."
During an Event
"Let us be on our way. There is more to do."
1st Ascension
"Ascension is it? I can feel the sword's power grow."
2nd Ascension
"A little bit closer than before. I will become a true wielder of this blade at this rate."
3rd Ascension
"Almost there. Perhaps just a little bit closer but…I am thankful for this much. I don't think I can truly explain this feeling."
4th Ascension
"I feel it. The strength of the sword has reached its peak. Now I can work upon becoming a proper wielder like those who came before me and those who came after me. This time…I have something to wield this sword for. Perhaps that is why I never unlocked its full potential in life?"