So I've been, unable to write the next chapter. I keep trying but no ideas are flowing for the Norse and Church interactions. So I've written an interlude instead in an attempt to get my drive to write back.
COMMENTS!
myfunvideos: Perhaps, you'll see soon. I have been planning the stuff regarding Tachie's Valkyrie heritage for a while and it's going to be… interesting.
As for the roses… if you know you know, if you don't… you will soon.
keybladelight: Tachie is going to meet her very strange family soon, or at least most of it. As for the DxD Church being like the Mage Association, well you'll have to see.
IAmJustAndIdiot: DAMN E-RANK LUCK! Caren's bizarre adventure anyone? As for Albion, Ddraig and the Nasuverse versions… you'll have to wait and see.
chiquilhol: Thank you for informing me.
SolSparda369: Considering how important the Valkyrie considered family, to the point they basically hate Sigurd forever for "taking" Brynhildr away, family is super important to them.
That guy… hehehe did nobody actually realize who that was? It's pretty obvious if you read a few chapters back. Tachie is supported by Olivier who is very much wealthy, so she has no money issues.
Idiot444: You'll have to wait and see. Thanks for the compliment.
xbox432: Indeed, Politics can be hell. Olivier is in a weird space between brother and uncle to Tachie. I mean it's just 3 kids, surely they won't be much of an issue to Olivier and Tachie… right?
A story is written to invoke feelings and emotions, so yea I'm pretty happy that it made you feel that way. We will see some good in the Church eventually but, yea not easy thing to find.
deathgeonous: Thank you for reading and commenting.
Potato-Sama69: This… isn't a bashing fic? But if you don't want to read it that's fine.
Michael let out an exhausted sigh, ruling Heaven normally was exhausting, but current circumstances made it even worst. A mad cult serving an unknown god, an attack on the Vatican, and worst of it all, the Sacred Gear system had been glitched worst than usual.
The last time the System had glitches this bad, Balance Breakers were created. And the leader of Heaven dreaded whatever was occurring this time, working overtime to keep things safe and secure. The other Seraphs had done their best to help, but it was clear even greatest angels of Heaven were just as exhausted as him.
Right now, Michael just desired rest and relaxation that he knew he could not have. Every second he rested, more chaos was created and who knows what else was happening. So with an effort of will, Michael got out of his resting position and started sorting through the paperwork on his desk.
Reading through the first paper, it seemed to be from Sir George. Michael had alwasys liked the man, noble and just, the very image of a knight. The fact he was one of the few Hero Reincarnations on the side of Heaven probably helped with that. Reading Sir George's report, Michael had to hold back a scream at the amount of lives lost during the Vatican attack, when he found whoever did this, the Archangel swore to avenge those lost souls personally.
But something else quickly grabbed his attention, the information on Olivier Sharpe's personal apprentice and the descendent of Galahad, Tachie Kyrielight. With speed only a supernatural could possess, Michael quickly gathered and read every report regarding the girl, and there was MANY.
A natural born Holy Sword wielder, a hero descendent and suspected reincarnation, and possessing one of the finest blades ever crafted, Aestus Estus. While the blade had no great legends told about it, Michael was quite aware what power a sword crafted from meteorite could do, especially when influenced with the magical aura of Nero Claudius. It wasn't quite an Excalibur Shard, but perhaps in some ways it was better, especially in durability (He never understood why those swords were so fragile).
This, this was finally some good news. He had always considered it a shame Lance had been banished from the Church for falling in love, he had truly been a warrior among warriors, skilled in any weapon he could get his hands on. But by the time Michael had heard of the news, Lance was already banished and Olivier had lost any respect and influence he had, why did he not simply invite Lance back to the Church? Because the man would not abandon the woman he loved, and while he would welcome the Valkyrie with open arms, the church and many angels would not.
It was a sad case of losing a brilliant knight, and then it rolling downhill from there. Olivier Sharpe would rather eat dirt then fully be a part of the church again, and only the offering of Excalibur Nightmare had kept him even allied, not that Michael could blame the poor man. Losing a father figure in Lance and then watching as others trampled over his legacy, leaving Lance's daughter without a home, servants or any of her family's property. At least Olivier and Tachie had found a new family in each other, and perhaps the young girl would finally bring Olivier out of the shadows he had slowly been falling into.
Putting the reports away with a smile, Michael could feel things would be getting brighter soon.
? Location.
It was a place of unparalleled beauty, perfection personified. With clear shining waters, fresh grass that seemed to shine in the sunlight, and ethereal pink flowers spread about. In the middle of this paradise a white tower floated, of an unusual design.
This place was the ultimate utopia, the paradise King Arthur had sought his entire life.
Avalon, the ever distant utopia.
Within the tower, a figure walked around a darkened area, muttering to themselves. They wore a white and lilac cloak and carried a staff in their hands. If one had to use a single word to describe this person, it would be… flowery.
"Oh? It seems Michael has become aware of Galahad's reincarnation, good, poor boy could use some good news with all the chaos going on at the moment". The figure spoke, their voice seemed to carry a playful tone to it and their eyes seemed to shine in amusement.
With a wave of their staff, the area filled with light and the full appearance of the entity was revealed. Soft white hair and mesmerizing violet eyes. She smiled and started preparing.
"After all, I can't leave my cute little knights alone for too long can I?". Merlin smiled, the sound of her heels clicking as she walked about.
She had been separated from the modern world for far too long, and she believed it was time to get reacquainted.
? Location.
This place could be considered the opposite of Avalon, where the land of fairies had supernatural peace and was literally the perfect utopia, this place was dark, cold and cruel.
A castle made of blackened bricks surrounded by dead land, not even a single thing dared to grow here. The sky covered by unnatural clouds, with a hint of the moons light shining through. If Avalon was the perfect utopia, this was a man-made hell, built upon the suffering of thousands and cruelty unimaginable.
Inside the castle, a laboratory resided in the basement area. Scientists rushed about between large tinted green glass containers, filled with an unknown grey liquid. One such scientist, seemingly the leader, walked about between the containers with a sick grin, exposing his sharpened teeth with 2 fangs standing out even amongst the already sharp teeth.
"Marvellous… Project Rebirth is continuing as planned, Lord Daos will be pleased". The lead scientist said, his red eyes shining with glee. One of his assistants, a man with greying hair and wolf-like features approached.
"Doctor Beryus, is it really a safe idea be so frivolous with this project? Already many subjects have escaped and it seems more do every day". The scientist asked, but Beryus just smirked and began to explain.
"Ah you misunderstand, our goal was never to keep them here". Beryus's word caused the wolf-like scientist confusion and from this Beryus continued. "Attempting to control the subjects of Project Rebirth is a fool's errand, they were never meant as an army. But their very existences spreads chaos, even if they have the best of intentions, the existence of these people cause chaos".
"I see, but a personal question Doctor". The scientist asked, a deep confusion over a certain part of Project Rebirth confusing him.
"I give you permission to ask". Beryus replied, grabbing a nearby notebook and taking notes on a certain glass tank.
"Why did send the black knight to the Vatican? His strength was perhaps the greatest amongst all of Project Rebirth, and armed with Arondight, he was near invincible, even the 4 Satans or those fools in Heaven would be unable to defeat him". The wolf-like man asked, causing Beryus to sigh.
"The choice to send the prototype to the Vatican was not mine, but an order from Lord Daos and only a suicidal fool refuses an order from him. And do not be so foolish, the prototype was powerful but mindless, it would lose to any faction leader. But he did serve as a powerful message, that we of the Lunar Embrace are powerful, and that we have no fear of any of the 3 great factions". Beryus explained to the other scientist, who nodded before walking away to work on another subject.
Beryus however slowly approached the container he had been taking notes on and gazed into it, at the entity waiting within. They were currently sleeping, soft features and long hair leading to a feminine appearance, her skin was tanned while her hair was a startling white, her eyes were not visible so it was impossible to tell their eye colour.
"Soon my masterpiece, soon…". Beryus smiled, sending shivers down his workers spines. While the small figure seemed to shiver in disgust in her sleep.
Unknown French City.
Gareth was tired and hungry, the money from that nice and strangely familiar girl had managed to last her a few days, but she had run out a few cities back and was quickly realizing even if she was a 100 times stronger than any human, doesn't mean she could easily survive on her own unless she resorted to more… criminal measures, something she refused to do.
Surely she could find some way to feed herself? She a basic idea of how to hunt wild animals, so if she managed to make it to an area with something like deer, she could hunt those.
But every step her body fought her, telling to her to sit and rest, but she feared if she rested, she wouldn't get back up again. One misstep and Gareth started falling, to be left in this alleyway to die alone and starving, a journey ended before it could truly begin.
However, 2 soft hands quickly grabbed Gareth before she could finish falling, blinking tiredly Gareth took in the appearance of the one who had grabbed her. She was a young girl, possibly a little bit older then Gareth with Cyan eyes and silver-white hair, with the oddest hat she'd ever seen on her head.
The other girl smiled, but Gareth could barely keep her eyes open and now perhaps on some instinctual level knowing the white haired girl would help her, Gareth slipped into darkness.
London, Midnight.
Tick… tock… tick… tock. The ticking of the clock was an uncomfortable sound, each second another tick would occur and it would send a chill down its watcher's spines. He was a young man with messy brown hair and blue eyes, wearing what looked like a Halloween costume of an alchemist's clothes.
This man was an aspiring alchemist, if not a very good one. He could barely do the arts of magic, and was spiteful of everyone else who could. But today, today he would have his revenge. He had been preparing for this for months, gathering supplies and waiting for the perfect time, a full moon in the sky and large amounts of blood, taken from some woman he had found in the streets, no longer with the living of course.
It need not be said this man was very much insane.
As he started using an enchanted knife to dig long carved marks across the floor and then filled those with blood, the man couldn't stop smiling an insane smile. He believed this ritual would grant him the magical power of those woman he had killed, while none were magicians even with the small amount of magical power they offered, with the amount he had killed for this ritual it would still grant him a large amount of power.
However, he had misunderstood the ritual and not considered certain things. Such as the fact one of the woman he had killed, was pregnant with a child… and that child had a Sacred Gear, Soul Prison.
Soul Prison was a simple but dangerous Sacred Gear, it allowed the user to create black ribbons that had the ability absorb the souls of those the users defeated and use them as magic fuel.
And as for what the ritual truly was… it was a soul entrapment ritual, designed to trap someone's soul inside an object.
And thus, the soul of the unborn child was now trapped inside Soul Prison. Taking the form of a black eye shaped orb that floated out of the bloody ritual.
The alchemist, believing this to be part of the ritual reached towards the Soul Prison, but as soon as he got close the black ribbons emerged from the eye shaped orb and latched onto the alchemist, completely absorbing his soul and turning it into magical energy. The man was now dead and all that remained was the black eye shaped orb, plus the man's shoddy alchemist robes.
However it would not stay that way for long, the orb started shifting, growing and mutating. By the time it was done, a small female child with white hair was left looking around the room.
The child looked around, seemingly confused before she started shivering. Quickly noticing the now empty alchemist robes, she grabbed them and wrapped them around herself.
Who… was she? She couldn't remember, all she knew… she was hungry.
SHEESH that was, a lot more stuff then I originally planned to put here. Originally it was just going to be, the Avalon, Lunar Embrace and Heaven bit, but then I ended up including Gareth and Jack. So I hope you all enjoyed this!
For those wondering wtf just happened with Jack, I have an explanation down here.
Essentially, the alchemist's ritual bound the unborn child that would be jack to the Soul Prison Sacred Gear, which as it was her SG it did not turn her soul into magic. When the alchemist tried taking the Soul Prison containing Jack, his entire existence was basically consumed inside it, a few pieces remained which made Jack well, not be an unborn child and just be a child. It gave Jack some knowledge of the world but she's still basically clueless.