Jwebb96: Thank you :D
Wacko12: We will have to wait and find out :)
DJDrake: I most certainly will, I am glad you've been enjoying it so far.
FenrisFiltiarn: lol, that he did. Issei's greatest nightmare that has not even occurred in canon has come to pass…his Dress Break was used on a man…
Sakra95: I think Issei got the worst of his exchange, he never wanted his move used that way XD. Indeed it seems so…
naruto: I most certainly will!
Guest: We'll have to see how things go, it is true he has history with Irina, though he has yet to meet the flirtatious Nekoshou yet xD
fanficcyberman: I hope to never disappoint!
Slayer Cross: That means so much to hear that, thank you! :D
ahsoei: You act like it's surprising that Akeno would act flirtatious at first meeting lol, she did the same to Issei before knowing him.
AJR3333: I love that I could make you laugh so much. Alas for poor Dorian, quite a few got a look at the "product" XD. I think it was a combination of what he saw and the fact he had caused it that got to Issei most. Even in the show he's never dress broken a man and voiced on occasion his distaste for it.
Dragonare: I know what you mean, alas the entire team must be utilized despite your (and Dorian's) preference. It means so much that you've been enjoying the story from the beginning, never feel an obligation to review unless you truly want to. :D
OberonHK96: That would be quite the lineup, though Bennia he sees more like the precocious little sister. Well, he'll be meeting one of them shortly, I hope you enjoy the exchange :D
Curse of Whimsy: True lol, they will have to put up with Issei, at least Akeno seems to like them :) Compared to how professional and diplomatic Dorian tries to act...meeting the Gremory team must seem like pure chaos XD
And with that…Onto the show!
"We were given expressed orders to keep Rias Gremory out of the conflict," Irina explained as she walked the streets of Kuoh Town with Dorian and Hecuba. "They didn't mention other parties but…"
"You were worried that if you had allied with us instead right in front of them it would have made relations between your people even worse than they already are?" The Spartan commander guessed correctly as Irina nodded.
"We know how strong Kokabiel is, even without what you said. As it stands, Xenovia and I would need to have all the luck in the world to even succeed in destroying the Excaliburs to say nothing of actually beating him."
Dorian grimaced, he had beaten Forcas with his balance breaker however he had only eight wings and talked about Kokabiel as if he were far above him. In this case, numbers were infinitely preferable for the best chance of victory.
If only I could call in the others without causing a diplomatic incident.
"I told you my offer stands and I meant it," Dorian replied at last. "We are searching for Hrotti, I swear we have no plans or devices on any Excaliburs. In truth we didn't even know which swords had been stolen when we arrived. We can retrieve BOTH sets of weapons without any conflict of interest."
"I hoped that would be the case."
The three jumped as a cloaked individual emerged from an alley ahead; they relaxed upon recognizing the individual.
"Xenovia!" Irina gasped, clearly confused. "How did…?"
"You aren't very subtle," the blue-haired woman revealed. "Did you think I honestly believed your story about finding a Saint in a piece of art as the reason for leaving?"
Irina chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head. Despite the ridiculous excuse she seemed to have given Xenovia, Dorian could not help but notice she tucked a full wallet deeper into her cloak.
"We were planning to scour the area in search of the weapons. Unfortunately we have no direct leads as to the location beyond it is within the city limits," she approached Dorian, her face ever serious and focused. "I presume your heretical magic has a means of locating your lost weapon?"
"We do," Dorian ignored her jab. "We can locate it if close enough; the question is if you had any plan to track down the thieves." Xenovia allowed a smug grin to cross her lips as she looked up into his grey eyes, admiring the gold flecks located within.
"Come with us, we had an idea or two." She led Dorian towards their base of operations, neither noticing Irina sadly eye a hideous looking painting of a man in poor robes and a trumpet-carrying angel in the background hanging in the window of a nearby art exhibit.
Unbeknownst to the temporary alliance, four devils led by the perverted pawn were currently disembarking the train into town in search of the church agents. The task would not be as simple as they had hoped as they were nowhere to be found by the time they arrived…
Abandoned Church…hours later…
Dorian tugged at the white collar around his neck that felt as if it were tightening with each passing moment. He had donned all-black clothes befitting a protestant pastor complete with a cross at his neck and a dark robe. The idea was that if only agents of the Church were being targeted that they should play the part and draw as much attention as possible to bring the perpetrators right to them.
"How do I look?" He spun to Irina seeking her opinion that his disguise looked authentic.
"It's just how I imagined if you'd followed me on the path to God," she gushed, hands gripped together like a girl swooning over her favorite idol. She practically had stars in her eyes as she looked him up and down.
"I…feel that I should be opposed to this," Hecuba remarked, constantly flipping her wide sleeves over and over to free her hands only for them to slide back down. She was wearing a black and white nun robe which covered all of her features except her face. Fortunately it made concealing her weapon infinitely simpler.
"Snazzy boss, you look ready to grant salvation upon some hot young…"
"Rat…"
"...Devout wholesome followers," the denizen of Yggdrasil corrected from a nearby beam. They were currently in an abandoned church that the women had selected as their base for the duration of their stay. Dorian had already stressed his behavior after requesting assistance from the Roads, admittedly he was doing his best.
"We can split up to cover the most ground," Xenovia acted as an impromptu strategist. Her words were sound so Dorian saw no reason to oppose it. "You claim these two can locate your stolen sword?"
"Correct, Skilja can sense the magic while Ratatoskr can sniff it out, right?"
"Yessiry!" His ally saluted. "I don't care what form of powers they have to hide it; I can smell something like Hrotti from two blocks away minimum or your money back!"
"Aawwww he's so cute," Irina smiled at the playful rodent unaware of his qualities akin to her childhood friend-turned devil Issei.
Dorian shot his comrade a look demanding his best behavior as he noticed the squirrel's eyes roaming up and down the church fighter. Ratatoskr could only slump his shoulders with a defeated sigh.
"Can I at least ride with her?"
"If you're good, but you only get once chance." Ratatoskr did not need to be told twice, bounding to the ground her ran up the girl giggling as his tiny feet tickled her before settling down on her right shoulder.
"Ratatoskr Remelia Roman Regalia Regisan IV at your service," he bowed dramatically to her.
"We call him Rat."
"But the ladies call me charming."
"We can cover the West side of town," Xenovia reported, ignoring his antics, he stuck out a tongue at her cold demeanor. "If you two take the East we can cover most the area before nightfall."
"If you see anything, ask Skilja to contact me," Dorian revealed an odd pair of small ivory binoculars. "I can see whatever he does through these and you'll be able to hear me."
"Understood," Xenovia nodded. "If we do not find anything by midnight then we meet back here."
"Aaaaanddddd….break!" The mischievous rodent could not help but shout before the teams went their separate ways in search of the stolen blades.
In Asgard…
"He really did organize everything didn't he?" Thrud asked as she looked over Dorian's makeshift meeting room.
Before departing, Dorian had laid out a map of Kuoh Town noting possible hiding places far from the public eye that the perpetrators may have been using to both remain secluded while also keeping an eye out for agents looking for them. How he'd had time to plot this out and get a good night's rest was a mystery to them. The table and desk were covered with related paperwork and information.
The entire task force had gathered in case they would be needed on call. The odds were very unlikely due to the volatile situation of too many entering devil territory, but they were prepared nonetheless. Rossweisse was analyzing Dorian's papers with laser precision trying to find a way to help; Thrud did the same but was only sparingly perusing the documents. Bennia was trying to balance on the back legs of her chair with little success.
"Doesn't look like he had a real plan," Rossweisse admitted after some time of this. "We didn't have enough information before he set out. Other than allying with the Gremory family to search the city he didn't know what else to do."
"This much paper and that was all he had?" Bennie remarked. "If he actually found something we'd be buried alive in this room."
"We'd be much more useful out there," Thrud dropped a thick folder on sites of power scattered around Kuoh Town onto the table. "My family doesn't do politics so well. What is even the point of us being gathered otherwise?"
"Worst case scenario," Rossweisse replied without lifting her eyes from what she was reading. "And if any decision is made before their return."
Olympus and Asgard would be meeting later that day whether a resolution to Hrotti's theft and the ones behind the siege had been achieved. None of them were permitted entry until the talks were done as it involved the future of their new team including permanent housing on neutral ground and how much freedom they would have.
"If they get into trouble, I vote we just jump in," Bennia declared to a nodding Thrud.
"That could endanger this force before it even gets off the ground," the silver-haired Valkyrie warned, finally setting down a book on known Runic Blades. "For now we should try to find information to help."
"What kind?" Thrud sighed as she knew her friend was right. She was just as worried as them about Hecuba and Dorian but it would not do to taking rash action however much she wanted. Rossweisse had always been like that.
"We didn't know what holy swords had been stolen before," she started. "Now that we know it is the Excaliburs I was trying to determine what their overall plan was. Why those? Their power was fragmented long ago and there were plenty of others stronger…"
"Think Dorian hides anything good in here?" Bennia suddenly blurted out, glancing around the room she only just realized doubled as Dorian's.
"He is a man, so I would assume..." Thrud started as she began eyeing all the potential hiding places.
"BENNIA!" Rossweisse shouted, slamming her book closed much to her friend's amusement.
"What? He could have something interesting…a love charm or two perhaps?" Odin's bodyguard didn't utter another word but quickly stood from her seat.
"We're leaving."
"Come on, I didn't really mean…"
"No, I mean we need to leave, there aren't enough references here on the holy weapons of outside mythologies. I have more at my house, we can research more there."
"You have an idea," Thrud correctly guessed. She'd know Rossweisse long enough to tell when she was onto something. She could never contain the fringes of that all-knowing smile.
"I do, come on. There is only one thing I can think of that sets the Excaliburs apart from most known other holy weapons…"
Kuoh Town…
Xenovia walked with Hecuba, unlike Dorian and Irina had planned, they did not act like missionaries spreading the word of the lord, rather they walked sternly together on their predetermined search grid. All the while they kept an eye on Skilja perched atop the former Spartan commander's arm for any sign that he became drawn to the elusive Nordic magic. Thus far there had been no luck.
"I must ask," Hecuba started if only to fill the silence between them. "Would you truly have slain that former saint…Asia?"
"To save her soul in the name of my God…" Xenovia started as she had in the clubroom, Hecuba wasn't hearing it.
"I don't mean for your God," she specified. "I mean you Xenovia, devil or no she appeared to be the most innocent girl I've ever seen yet you showed no remorse in your move to cut her down."
Xenovia threw a sideways glance towards Hecuba who did not waver in her stare. After several moments she finally sighed with a slump of her shoulders.
"Slaying her would not have been my desire," she admitted. "But sometimes we must do what is necessary for our faith…and repent for our actions later."
So such cold words aren't her, but her belief talking, I am glad.
"I've found," Hecuba postulated. "That it is oft better to cloak ourselves in our faith rather than to become it."
"Do you not serve your Gods?" Xenovia countered, a hint of annoyance in her eyes.
"Of course I do, but my pantheon is…known for making mistakes. I would serve them to my dying breath, yet should an order be given that I feel is unjust or beneath their grace to command I would question it."
"My God does not make such errors; he has a plan beyond our sight."
"And therein lies my confusion with your people," Hecuba latched onto her words. "Whichever realm we come from, we are told that humanity was made in the image of our deities…and are we all not flawed beings? Yet you are taught that is not so of your Lord, no disrespect intended."
"You never betrayed your own desires for your belief?" The azure-haired swordswoman turned the conversation away from the awkward and potentially blasphemous question.
"Nothing that would blacken my soul, my faith reinforces who I am but does not warp myself in the process."
"And why are you so curious as to how I interpret my belief?" Xenovia came to the question of the hour.
"Our force is not meant to just represent Asgard, but Olympus as well," Hecuba explained tactfully. "Our purpose is to uphold peace across many realms and just as many ways of thinking. To achieve that goal…I must learn the different ways of thinking as well. So I may see with the eyes unclouded by the differences."
Xenovia let a smile and brief chuckle escape her lips. "You speak well for a pagan; I hope we never have to cross blades."
"Indeed, Monster's Bane would be ill faired against you, as you are not evil, though if I ever find my family's ancestral blade we could have an honorable duel."
"That sword is not of your family?" Xenovia raised an eyebrow. It was so finely crafted she thought for certain it was of ancient make.
"No, this is a recent reward for my service at the Siege of Olympus," she tapped the hilt through her wide robes. "Forged from the bones of a primordial beast, but my honored ancestor possessed a Trojan Legendary Blade of unrivaled craftsmanship. It was lost with the fall of the City and none of my family has seen it since."
"And you hold out hope of one day finding it?"
"I do," she smiled. "Joining this force will allow such freedom of travel, never before have I left my home. There is no better chance."
"I wish you well in your search," Xenovia nodded to her traveling companion.
"And I do the same for you, to find that balance between your faith and yourself…"
The Opposite Side of Town…
Dorian felt so out of place, in order to blend in while potentially attracting their quarry, they had to be as conspicuous as possible. While he was no expert in the bible and verses, Irina had it memorized by heart. She would go to people on the street quoting scripture and the true path to salvation while Dorian followed behind fumbling to find the same passages in the bible he held and point them out.
Considering it was a normal town in Japan, there were not any takers though he supposed that made it simpler. Perhaps people would be talking of the foreigners going around town and alert the ones they were after. As the sun started to set, they started becoming disillusioned if their plan was working. Hecuba and Xenovia had reported similar lack of activity.
"I know this was just for show, but I thought for sure we might have SOME takers," Irina pouted a bit as another couple turned away from them. So far Ratatoskr had been following from the trees and had yet to smell anything. "Even one new believer in this far-off land."
"It makes sense," Dorian consoled her. "It isn't a big religion in these parts and I've found people generally don't go for something different trying to be pushed on them. Your tactics seem more at place where Christianity is a dominant religion than as missionary work. Don't feel bad; remember the Christmas collection we worked on? I think we made enough to keep that church running for five years from your ideas."
Irina giggled as she recalled the fundraiser years earlier, she'd just turned thirteen and it had been incredibly successful. The image of Dorian in a fat suit and white beard playing the role of Santa Claus only made her laugh harder.
"Oho, so you do know each other," Ratatoskr coyly muttered from a nearby bush. He had emerged from the Roads shortly before they set out and hadn't overheard the discussion at the dormitory. "Spill the beans, perhaps some forbidden rendezvous between followers of opposing religions? Whatever will our Rose and Thrud say?"
"I wasn't with Asgard at the time," Dorian asserted, diverting fire from Irina who was clearly flustered by his statement. "It must have been four or five years ago when I was studying in England."
Dorian had been transferred to a prestigious Christian academy in England, the next in line for the long-term international exchange program he had been a part of. There were plenty of friendly faces welcoming him, yet none were more inviting than that of Irina Shidou's. She showed him the best school clubs, where they could hang out after class and of course where they could pray when time allowed. Despite the fact he was not a follower of her faith, she had still made him feel at home for the year he studied there. She kept her involvement with the Excalibur project a secret, making her life before and after school appear completely normal.
"I like to think of myself as an excellent judge of character," Irina bragged with a beaming smile as she oft did when sure of herself.
"I was surprised you knew that Issei," Dorian could not help bringing up at her declaration. "I am guessing he's the boy from Japan you mentioned?" Dorian recalled Irina talking about a childhood friend she'd been heartbroken to leave behind when moving to England. It sounded as if she'd really liked him; he couldn't imagine the perverted pawn had been the devout Christian's type.
It was time for Irina to look embarrassed. "He…wasn't like that when he was little. I can't believe how much he's changed since then."
"Well, none of us are the same as we once were."
"No," she muttered as if deep in thought on Issei's change of character. "I suppose not. Still, despite his newly developed sinful appetites he still seemed kind-hearted. Love from God can be found everywhere, even for those who do not worship."
"Not through lack of trying," he laughed at the times she had come knocking at the boy's dormitory demanding his company to the morning masses. At first he just couldn't say no to her and afterwards it became a regular until the time came to move again.
And that had been what truly stuck in Dorian's mind. In every other country students had said their goodbyes on the final day of class, even the close friends he made for the short-term would wish him farewell, but not until he met Irina Shidou had one of them come down to the airport to see him off. If there was anyone in the world who could have converted him to Christianity…it would have been her.
"You never mentioned knowing a Catholic schoolgirl," Ratatoskr elbowed his cheek over and over again playfully.
"Protestant Christian, please," Dorian corrected.
"Potato, tomato, in the end they are still curvy vegetables. How lucky are you to have met a knockout like her?" He whispered only for Dorian to hear. "She's almost as bosomly blessed as your Rose..."
Dorian groaned in embarrassment, Irina had escaped one pervert to be paired up with another. It was while thinking of a means of apology that he realized where they had wandered to. A dilapidated structure lay before them clearly condemned, the walls scorched by fire damage that had not yet been repaired. He froze as he looked over the old apartment building, the sight unsettling and undeniably familiar.
"Are you alright?" Irina asked. Even Ratatoskr was leaning forward concerned at how pale his friend had gone.
"Just…fine," he answered hesitantly. Before they could inquire further, the extra-dimensional squirrel raised his nose, sniffing high into the hair.
"Do you have something?"
"Not Hrotti," he sniffed some more. "Something though, I haven't smelled him in…"
A cackling laughter echoed through the air as a form leapt from the nearby building.
"Fresh meat!" He cried as a man with white hair and an outfit vaguely resembling a cleric's dropped down. He was bearing down on Dorian with an impressive sword.
Even as fast as Dorian was, Irina intercepted the strike first as the Einherjar leapt back. While Excalibur Mimic transformed into her signature katana, Dorian had his Sacred Gear summoned. In a flash, he drew Twilight Star from a blue portal and took a stance beside her. In an instant, his armor materialized over the priestly disguise, revealing his service to Asgard.
"Oho, naughty naughty," the assailant chastised in a harsh tone. "Feigning service to Heaven but all I see is another naïve bitch and a filthy pagan."
Dorian focused on his blade, it wasn't Hrotti. The instrument appeared to be an oversized Kris with a pair of spikes protruding near the blade and a diamond-shape opening near the hilt.
"That's Excalibur Rapidly," Irina informed him. "It will greatly increase his speed and reaction times!"
"Aw, nobody likes spoilers!" A shiver ran up Dorian's spine at the absolutely sinister grin of insanity locked on their opponents face. He leapt down, swinging wildly towards the pair. Despite the seemingly chaotic motions of the sword, it was evident that he was an expert.
Dorian parried the first swing, yet before he even had a chance to ready his blade, the maniacal cleric was behind him. Only Irina's intervention prevented his sword from finding his back.
He's not overly strong, but his speed is incredible!
Thinking fast before Irina became similarly overwhelmed, Dorian's gear rotated to purple. Magic circles denoting defense and augmentation, with some help from Vanaheim he'd be able to close the gap in terms of their speed just enough. He did the same to Irina as she felt her body grow warm at the enhanced strength and speed coursing through her.
I don't know what tricks this guy has, I'll save my balance breaker until I have no other choice or else I could burn myself out too fast.
"Now now, no outside blessings!" He taunted once more, kicking off Irina to fly back towards Dorian who clashed with him again and again.
"Who are you?" Ratatoskr asked from the nearby tree he had retreated to as the fight commenced. "I know the smell of Siegfried anywhere, usually it's pretty good but yours is a bit rancid."
The swordsman leapt clear of the two fighters, giving Dorian a moment to tap the lorgnette in his pocket. He couldn't use them mid-fight but with any luck it would alert Hecuba and Xenovia that they had located the one picking off church agents.
"A talking rat? Maybe I am as crazy as everyone thinks," he remarked with a twisted expression as if he wasn't truly uncertain if what he saw was real. "And how did you hear about the Sigurd Institution…was there a particularly mouthy sparrow? I've never introduced myself to a rodent before but I guess there's a first time for everything. The name's Freed Sellzen and I'll be the one butchering you lot today!"
He's absolutely nuts! And that smile…
Dorian had seen that insane grin before along with that cleric trench coat, and now he remembered.
"Were you here?" He demanded, tightening the grip on Twilight Star as he scowled. "This building, were you here the night it burned?"
"Oooooh, I love that expression," Freed licked the edge of his sword while keeping his distance. "I suppose I was, it's hard to recall, you know how it is…kill enough people and they start to run together. Though I vaguely recall a quarry of mine fleeing here, she was quite elusive."
Dorian felt his blood boil as he blasted forward despite Irina's attempts to calm him. His plan to work alongside Irina to double-team him already a far-off thought as the blade of Twilight Star crackled with lightning. The energy leapt from Twilight Star to the Excalibur as soon as they clashed, forcing Freed to squeal in pain at the unexpected shock. He did not make the same mistake again, instead ducking forward then bending back impossibly to avoid the follow-up slash.
"It was you, the fire was your fault…you killed me!"
"Dorian, be careful!" Irina slipped in as Freed wheeled around Dorian's angry and predictable attack. He parried her own slash before kicking her in the head to send her flying.
"He's a bloody cockroach!" Ratatoskr called out. His entire style appeared to be around avoiding his opponents, allowing him to stand up against even those who were much stronger.
Just like Issei when fighting Irina…
The gods may have been hearing his thoughts, as soon as he made the comparison, a whip-like vine shot out from the nearby trees and wrapped around Freed's leg while he was unaware.
"Wha…" he started before being pulled hard and thrown into the dilapidated building, collapsing a portion of the wall.
Four new shapes emerged; Dorian recognized three of them as members of the House of Gremory. Her knight Kiba, rook Koneko and pawn Issei rushed out ready to fight, a fourth young man with short blonde hair and a matching Kuoh Academy uniform was with them. Based on the identical aura to the others he was also a devil.
"About time we found you!" Issei called out. "We've been looking for you all day following the rumor of annoying foreigners, thanks for making such a ruckus. Don't think you're kicking this guy's ass without us! Take my power Kiba!"
TRANSFER!
An aura of power jumped from Issei's Sacred Gear to his ally. Kiba's face was warped in rage as he leapt over Dorian's head, bringing twin demonic swords down on the flattened Freed who avoided it at the last moment, but that had been the young knight's plan.
"SWORD BIRTH!"
Dozens of more swords erupted from the ground, with the newcomer's strange cord tethering Freed, he could not move enough in time. Numerous cuts appeared across his arms and chest as the blades struck home, twisting the insane man's face further.
He can transfer energy into others as well as doubling his own? The Boosted Gear is useful indeed.
"Nice work Saji!" Issei complimented his friend; the cord he used was attached to his own black Sacred Gear bracer shaped like a lizard's mouth on his arm. "Hold the bastard!"
Dorian approached alongside Irina, yet Kiba raised the latest of his unique blades towards them, demanding room.
"I swore to destroy all of the Excaliburs," he muttered angrily, his rage focused on the still-tethered Freed. "He is mine!"
"He is stronger than Xenovia or Irina!" Dorian called out the madness in his request. "He will kill you!"
"You're almost as insane as I am," Freed taunted. "Do you hate Excaliburs so much? You may have scratched me up a bit, but it takes only one slash to end your miserable existence with this."
Kiba clashed with him once more, his weapons shattering as before despite Issei's transfer of energy leaving him wide open. Before the blow could impact him, Saji pulled on his connection to the madman's leg, yanking him off his feet.
"I'm draining his energy with each second!" The new devil named Saji called out. "Just leave him be a bit longer and take him down when he starts to pass out!"
"Damn it!" Freed swung at the line over and over but his sword refused to cut through it. Whatever it was made out of, it did not seem to have a physical form.
Every Sacred Gear is so unique; no wonder Azazel is fascinated with them. The plan was solid yet the knight looked annoyed at his lack of strength compared to Freed. Dorian and Irina had advanced behind him and were ready to jump in if he got reckless.
"My oh my, you seem to be in a spot of trouble."
An old portly man with a grey mustache wearing a priest's attire a stepped out of the destroyed building. Dorian did not recognize him.
"Valper…Galilei..." Kiba growled.
"Who?" Dorian turned to Irina who also had a look of recognition.
"He…he was the former head of the Holy Sword Project. He committed such heinous crimes in the name of God that he was excommunicated years ago!"
"He experimented on me and my comrades years ago to unlock the secret to wielding holy swords," Kiba filled in the blanks as he tightened the grip on his weapon so tightly his fingers turned white. "Then disposed of us when it failed."
"Indeed, that was I," he answered without the hint of remorse.
If that's true…he's a monster."
"Freed, I have a gift for you, it took longer than expected but I've finally unsealed it. Give it a whirl if you would."
Without hesitation, he threw the wrapped item to the cornered swordsman who caught it expertly. With a tug of the sealing cord, the cloth fluttered to the ground to reveal a claymore. The hilt was black with a red gem affixed to it leading up to the thick diamond-shaped blade that glowed pale white like the moon. An all-too familiar sight.
Hrotti!
Rossweisse's Home…
The night was dragging on without an update. As soon as they arrived at Rossweisse's surprisingly small abode, she had quickly gotten out a dozen tomes thicker than phone books and assigned everyone to reading on legendary weapons and their lesser known applications. It had not taken long before the young Bennia was passed out; her book flopped over her head barely muffling her snores. Thrud tenderly placed a blanket over the sleeping grim reaper. She decidedly left the book over her head both out of fear of waking her and for finding her current state hilarious.
"One down, two to go," she joked while sitting next to Rossweisse, offering a new cup of the strongest coffee she owned. Bags hung under her eyes as she flipped the page on her latest read. Thrud was ever astounded at how much she had accumulated in her home. "Reminds me of our old sleepover study sessions."
"This is a bit more pressing than upcoming finals," Rossweisse muttered as she listened yet never stopped reading. She was currently hip deep in an account of the shattering of the legendary blade Gram.
"Bite your tongue," she chuckled with a wide yawn. "There was nothing more important to you back then. How often did Brynhildr stress for every student to be just like you?"
"Things change."
"They really do," Thrud noticed the pot was just about empty. "I'll get a refill if we're going to be here all night."
The Valkyrie goddess stretched as she stood up, cracking her back loudly. Taking the empty coffee pot she casually slipped into the nearby kitchen, having the next batch brewing in no time. While waiting for it to finish she glanced about, taking note how criminal it was how little Rossweisse was paid. She had moved into that building not long after her early graduation, asking Thrud to assist with the furniture. The bookshelf had been the trickiest, the door was barely big enough to…
"What is this?" Thrud asked, spotting a hunk of wood sticking out from the side of the shelf. Rushing over she tugged on it, the one thing she didn't recognize in the whole room.
"What is what?" Rossweisse finally pulled herself from the interesting passage, massaging the bridge of her nose. Turning around she realized that Thrud was holding the painted shield from the festival. The color popped, especially the flames billowing at the borders. They had been uncertain of the colors to use for the creature taking up the entirety of the surface so they had selected those known to the various creature attributes making up its body. It was beautiful in a terrifying sense which was no doubt why Thrud looked quite confused she had it.
"What…is this?"
"It…was a gift, from Dorian." Thrud raised an eyebrow coyly, smirking like the cat that'd eaten the canary.
"Dorian eh? I had no idea he was so good with his hands."
"I don't think he is," she set the book down. "At least not consciously, apparently it is from a recurring dream of his. An elf used her natural light to bring for the image from his subconscious, his hands did the rest."
"And he decided to give you his terrifying masterpiece?"
"He…saw my interest in it. I couldn't say no."
"And why did you want it?"
Rossweisse sighed, pointing up at the bookshelf towards a particular thick binder with words printed on the side.
'Trihexa: The Beginning of the End?'
Thrud pointed to it, then to the shield then back at the book, Rossweisse nodded at the look of understanding on her face.
And how does Dorian know so much about Rossweisse's one blemish on her perfect academic record? The beast whose very existence could not be proven?
"He started recalling it more after Olympus."
"Ah, his shining moment," Thrud laid the decorative bulwark aside for later. They still had research to do. "I can only imagine what it must have been like seeing his balance breaker for the first time. I hear he tore that Forcas apart."
"It…was like a different person," the young woman admitted. "He and Bennia fought him together at first and they couldn't touch him. Dorian…he was so badly wounded I was certain he would die. Yet he got back up after Despoina's death and had become so much stronger."
"Despoina's death set it off?"
"I believe so, I left him on the ground after he'd been wounded, I tried fighting alone but Forcas was too fast. Dorian seemed to have crawled over to her afterwards to see if she could be saved."
I don't buy it.
"Forcas broke my barriers and got a solid hit, shattered my armor and sent me through a wall," she recalled the battle. "When I emerged, he had already started to transform. Thankfully it seems only the first time is difficult, once unlocked it can be activated at will according to Azazel."
Knew it, Thrud leaned back, the answer clear as day. It wasn't just Despoina's death, but seeing you hit like that? That would be Dorian to a T, how did you not put two and two together?
"Take a break," Thrud insisted as Rossweisse returned to her books. They had both spent many nights together when young for various reasons. Rossweisse was so focused on her studies that all else came second while Thrud, being the daughter of Thor, had been so idolized by her peers they were too afraid to approach her...all that is except the silver-haired Valkyrie who had inspired her to become one. "We can talk like we used to…"
"Not until we find something…anything that can help. I feel so close; it's on the tip of my tongue."
"Now who is being the blunt one, if something isn't working you can't force it. Believe me I've tried, it's like trying to smash in a puzzle piece that doesn't fit because you're tired of looking."
Rossweisse froze at those words, slamming the book she held shut and immediately diving into the pile for a very specific one among her collection. In stark contrast to Thrud's request for her to relax, she was anything but.
"That would make sense," she muttered to herself before finding the passage she was looking for. "Trying to force what doesn't belong using the pieces of…THRUD YOU ARE A GENIUS!" She leapt to her feet, pulling the gold Valkyrie into a powerful embrace.
"Um…thanks?" She replied awkwardly as Rossweisse grabbed her coat and started straightening her suit which had been loosened while researching.
"I know why these particular weapons were taken, we must inform Lady Freyja and the Allfather at once!" Without another word she was out the door, forgetting to close it behind her.
"Guess that spark was all she needed," Thrud never stopped being amazed by her. With a playful kick she nudged Bennia who shot to her feet glancing left and right.
"Huh…what?" She asked groggily with a snort as the book slid from her face. "Where am I?"
Kuoh Town…
"Rat how did you miss that?" Dorian groaned to his companion that had failed to sense the approach of the very item they sought.
"Hey don't blame me," he threw his tiny arms up in the air. "I was dealing with the putrid smell of that Sieg wannabe over there. Can you smell chocolate cake when someone is holding asparagus under your nose?"
"Considering the root of your genes," Valper explained. "It should obey your command, give it a swing." Freed complied, easily severing Saji's lizard tongue and freeing himself.
"Haha! It can even cut the intangible! Can I open the path?" Valper nodded.
"NO!" Dorian cried, leaping forward and cursing his lack of action at Kiba's request. Extending Twilight Star to its full length he hurled it towards Freed who had already started raising Hrotti into the air with one hand as a shimmer like rippling water appeared between them. His impossible weapon of twin mythologies struck the ripple, pushing against what strove to emerge from the other side.
"What is he doing?" Koneko asked a straining Dorian.
"Hrotti is both the key and gateway to Fafnir's Hoard," he explained. "If he opens it he will have full access to the contents!"
"What, is he going to throw money at us?" Issei asked, the danger passing right over his head.
"It is the hoard of his conquests and treasures spanning millennia. That includes gold this is true, but it also means armor, magical artifacts and weapons all of which are tied to the will of Fafnir and in his absence…Hrotti!"
"A twisted artificial bastard of Siegfried holding Hrotti?" Ratatoskr asked, while he was unaware of Freed's origins as a test-tube baby made in Siegfried's image by a division of the Church, he could sense the unnatural portions of his creation. "What a sick joke of the universe!"
Despite his best efforts, Twilight Star was repelled as the barrier shattered. A dozen similar openings formed all around him glowing bright as objects started to emerge from within. Swords, polearms, knives and every weapon-type imaginable of the Norse people inched out blades-first honing in on the assorted devils, Einherjar and Church swordswoman before him. Every single one of them was the quality of a legendary blade…no weaker in might than the holy swords themselves.
"Rider's Regalia!" Dorian immediately cried as his root-metal armor and helmet exploded into being, startling everyone around him. He needed the power boost.
"He…has a balance breaker?" Issei looked on shocked, even his Scale Mail had only been unlocked temporarily and he could not summon it at will yet.
"Slice and dice!" Freed cried as a dozen runic-blade quality weapons rained from the sky towards them. They may not have been holy weapons, but even a cut or two would have killed everyone present. Dorian opened a portal to the roads expanding it as large as he could muster until it encompassed almost the entire field. Nine of the twelve blades disappeared inside, unable to intercept any more; he sealed the portal and severed Freed's command of them.
"Hey hey hey, watch it!" Ratatoskr called out as the blades entered the Roads. "That's my home you're skewering!"
Of the last, Kiba deflected one into the ground as Irina intercepted another and the last flew towards Koneko who had only her bare hands. Issei was in the path, deflecting the final blade though it cut his Sacred Gear, causing him to grunt in pain.
"A balance breaker?" Valper looked a tad concerned. "Best withdraw for now until we can assess the contents of the hoard we can utilize. Lord Kokabiel will be most pleased, with so many arrayed against us we will need him to succeed."
"You won't escape!" An explosion rocketed past their heads Freed barely dodged as Xenovia and Hecuba joined the fray. "You WILL be cut down in the name of God!"
"Even he is in on this?" Freed contorted his face in disgust. "Don't mention that bastard in front of me!"
Before they could reach him, he had produced a small sphere of light from his cloak and thrown it violently to the ground. It was like a small nova of light consumed the entire area, Dorian shielded his eyes with his collapsible aegis and squeezed them shut tight. The others were similarly affected and could not see a thing until it subsided. Valper Galilei and Freed Sellzen were gone, though there were few paths they could have taken to retreat.
"After them Irina," Xenovia commanded.
"Right!" She confirmed with a jump after her partner.
"Hecuba," was all Dorian needed to say to notify her that they would do the same. He quickly created miniature portals to absorb the stray runic blades lying about into the Roads. They were all treasures of Asgard and he had to make sure not to miss even one. She nodded as they raced to track down where their quarry had fled. He dispersed his balance breaker to conserve energy.
Dorian glanced back, noticing that the devils other than Kiba were not following to pursue. They were facing the other way towards two newcomers who had entered the area. One was Rias Gremory and while he did not recognize the second, a young woman with glasses and black hair, based on Saji's terrified expression as she twisted his ear there was no doubt she was his master. The young Einherjar could only shake his head as he turned back towards his task. They had to stop Freed and Valper from reaching Kokabiel with an unsealed Hrotti at all costs…
Hrotti has been located at long last in the hands of the enemy. Agents of Olympus, Asgard, the Church and devil pursue them before greater harm can be done while Rossweisse follows leads to aid Dorian however she may. As always, Read and Review…but most of all Enjoy! :D