The Second French Incident: Finale
After the defeat of the Dead Apostle known as Noel…
Her mind returned to the horrors of three years ago.
With her body nearly purged by those horrid holy lights, then harshly frozen over by that callously cold blizzard, Noel couldn't do anything but recess into the deepest parts of her memory.
She had nothing left for her on the outside. She was finished. Her brief stint as a Dead Apostle had come to a brutal painful end.
The only solace that she wanted was the mental warmth of what times once were. Before those walls showed up. Before those monsters descended.
Before that snake ruined her life.
She was just…just like anyone. A country girl who wanted to live a long, quiet, countryside life.
It was such a simple wish. A wish like that should have come true so, so easily.
But God said no.
God said…He didn't want that of her. God said that she needed to be punished.
'I needed to be…'
But why?
What had she ever done wrong? Why was God treating her like this? Why did He take her parents away from her?
Even now, three years later, she could never figure out that answer. Externally, she rejected Him. She convinced herself into thinking He wasn't really as good as Priests really said.
But internally…she wanted the truth. Why it all happened.
And right there, in front of her, three years later…was finally her answer. The girl who burned down her life. The girl who destroyed their home.
She could finally get her hands on her. She could finally get her answers. Her redemption. And most importantly— that girl could get her just retribution. It was only fair.
It was only fair.
'And…yet…'
And yet she was denied it again.
Nothing went right for her. Even as an all-powerful bloodsucker, things never went her way. She was just a tacked-on afterthought for Vlov Arkhangel's plan. She shouldn't have ever listened to him.
Here she was, though. At the cusp of the end of her…
'…I'm…still…thinking…'
For some reason, her consciousness didn't fade away. She was still here.
The only thing she could come up with for this outcome was…
'Why? Why am I still alive? What's the point, anymore…?'
She felt her eyes were closed. Hesitantly, and almost against her own will, she cracked them open.
A dark, red-lit ornate ceiling was the first thing she laid her vision upon. She heard a gentle flutter of curtains to her right, letting in a warm, hearthlike breeze from the outside.
Her petite body had been tucked into a thick, royal red blanket. Her auburn hair and fatigued head lay against a cloud of a pillow.
Being a Dead Apostle was always, inherently, a slightly painful existence, especially for the lower-ranked; but for Noel, the feeling she had in laying in this bed was the most at-peace she felt in years.
At the very least, discomfort was a long-gone thought for her…physically, at least.
In fact, the feeling may have been…too good.
'…Mom…D-Dad…'
Down her face fell streaks of saltwater.
The jolt from unyielding pain to unyielding warmth and the loving embrace of a freshly-set bed was too much for Noel to handle.
She didn't even know if she deserved such luxuries. She was a mad vampire, now. Human amenities weren't supposed to apply to her.
'But I…I…'
She reached her arm up to wipe the tears.
(OST: "Himesama Ote Wo" — Hideyuki Fukasawa)
"The moon is pretty tonight, isn't it?"
And a new voice spoke softly, derailing her train of thought.
Noel blinked down at her side. Somehow, she hadn't even noticed them until now.
The second presence in the room, sitting quietly at the edge of the queen-sized bed, facing out to the open window.
A full, elegantly long, perfectly combed head of hair fell like a waterfall, gently cascading atop the bedsheet covers. A single, thick strand popped up in a crescent near the top of her forehead.
A thin, sleeveless lavender dress fit her thin frame from neck to ankle, lined in black and perfectly pairing with her lightly peachy skin.
Her size must have been around Noel's own, making her physical age that of a youthful young teenager. Though of course, given how Dead Apostles never aged like humans do, she could have been anywhere between actually adolescent, or over a thousand years old.
Noel looked in the same direction as she, intending to answer the question that her presumed caretaker had posed.
Indeed, the nature outside was pretty. She would go so far as to call it beautiful.
A kingdom of scarlet roses populated the ground, their petals flowing in the winds of the perfect, crimson lit night.
The warm colors melted the frost in the heart of Noel's core, if ever by a little.
Realizing it had been several seconds before she had given an answer, she replied simply.
"…It is."
"Mhm. If I did not see it every time I looked out these windows…I would call it absolutely breathtaking." The girl spoke once more. Every utterance of her words was clear, concise and pronounced with perfect elegance. Noel recognized her accent to be somewhat similar to how people of Britain spoke.
"Where…am I, right now?"
The girl gave a quiet, unknowable sigh. "My home. A home I have known for almost one thousand, five hundred years."
That statement confirmed to her that whomever she was with was on the ancient side of Ancestors, indeed.
Not all Dead Apostles could be trusted, even amongst themselves, but Noel could tell that this one had no ill-intent. She sensed even a bit of malice toward her in her accomplice, Vlov— but this new Apostle seemed to harbor none for her.
"You…saved me, didn't you?" Noel asked. "I was going to die…and then…the next thing I know…I'm here."
"Well of course." The girl turned her head into partial view, letting Noel catch the gaze of deep vermillion. Indeed, the two of them truly were of the same species. "You fought your hardest. I believe that is due some credit, would you not agree?"
Noel's hand balled up.
'Credit…?'
"…No…I don't deserve something like…that…" The vampire turned away. The other end of the bedroom was completely devoid of furnishment, aside from the crystal red walls. "I…I lost. I'm not good enough. Even after all this time…with all my power…I still…"
She grit her teeth. Her tongue was dry, a sign that her body was deprived of nourishing blood…one of the many things she was missing right now.
Yet a soft hand upon her own assured her with nothing more than a gentle squeeze. "Don't be silly. The mere fact that you survived is a sign that you can be good enough. If you truly were not, then you would not be laying in this bed, right now.
Dead Apostles live for countless years, much longer than humans. From what I understand, you only became one of us three short years ago…not nearly long enough to gain any meaningful strength."
The exhausted Apostle felt the girl's hand leave her own, then tentatively touched her chin and turned her face back in her direction.
It was then Noel became engrossed in her full view. Backlit by the ruby red light outside, a youthful beautiful vampire gave her a smile of a proud older sister.
"Strength comes with time…time that you plenty have. Allow me to help you find that strength, Noel."
Noel felt her sobs choke in her throat. Without any further hesitation, she took the young lady's hand and—
"Thank…you…!"
She couldn't hold back anymore. Wrapping the stranger in her arms, she buried her face into their shoulder.
"I hate…being…useless…powerless…I just want…someone to understand…the hell that I've been through…I…
…I can't see them anymore…my mom, my dad…I can't remember what they looked like…I can't ever get them back…so all that…that I can do now is just…just…"
"To get back at who wronged you, right?"
The girl reciprocated tenderly, patting the back of Noel's head.
It was the first time in her entire existence as one of the Dead, that Noel had felt something so kindheartedly genuine.
"You will. Trust me on that." The girl said. "With time, and with my guidance, you will find your answer. You are not alone; who caused your pain…I have a bone to pick with them too, to be honest."
"E…Elesia…?"
Noel felt the girl shake her head slowly. "Mmm…not her exactly. But…you are not entirely incorrect, either."
She pulled their hug apart.
"You can still fight for the outcome you desire, Noel. Even if you will never be able to return to what was, there will always be the possibility of what can be."
Noel gazed up at the Apostle that, unlike all of the others she had met…
…had a strange sense of humanity.
All Dead Apostles were supposed to have lost their sense of morality and human nature over the decades and centuries of their existence. Being one for three years, Noel still had hangups about her human past, but…
'This girl…she…'
She had the demeanor, posture, and maturity of a vampire that had likely lived for many, many, many moons.
Yet in her crystalline red eyes, Noel could find no sense of underlying insanity. No bloodlust. No rage. If she had to describe her, it would be a perfect, prim and proper princess.
"Here."
The princess scratched her sharp nail into her own forearm. A tiny streak of blood dripped out— only to float up, suspended in the air, rather than falling upon the girl's detached sleeves and staining the silken fabric.
She guided the tiny red river up to Noel's mouth. "I must go soon, so have a small drink for now and rest. It will hold you over for now, okay?"
Nodding apprehensively, and with no other choice but to accept her offer, Noel opened her mouth and let the blood flow upon her tongue.
Upon tasting it, her eyes instantly widened.
'This tastes…like…'
Naught did it taste of human, for obvious reasons. Nor was it the taste of Dead Apostle, which Noel herself had experimented with in her years as a bloodsucker.
This was…a new taste. It was something familiar, yet completely foreign to her at the same time.
And it was oh-so invigorating. Just from a single tiny slurp, her body hummed in excitement from such a potent medicine.
The long black-haired Apostle grinned in satisfaction at Noel's satisfaction, then patted her head one more time before pulling up to her feet. Noel heard the clack of what was probably a pair of heels as the girl turned toward the doorway in the corner of the room.
"I will check back on you in due time. Your body was nearly fully destroyed with holy energy, so it will take some time for your Curse of Restoration to fully heal every part of you. Hibernating for a while will help with that, so I recommend resting."
Noel nodded at her instructions. It was in her best interests to heed the young lady's advice.
Yet all the same, she did not want her to go just yet. Reaching out her arm, she called out just as the girl placed her hand upon the doorknob.
"W-Wait."
She was nothing but kind to her— a gesture that was impeccably rare amongst Apostles. There was still one thing that Noel did not know about her, though.
"I never…got your name…"
"…Ah. Right. Silly me."
The youthful Apostle's head turned back toward her, her eyes glistening in the crimson moonlight.
"It depends on who's referring to me. My enemies call me the Eclipse Princess, since they think my existence will end the world. My followers call me the Vampire Princess, since they think I'm their rightful ruler. My Knights call me their liege, their lady, their master…
…nothing you need to be concerned about, though. If you want my opinion, it's all much too dramatic. So for you, my dear Noel…"
The Dead Apostle clicked open the door and, before stepping through, gave a quick, playful wink.
"You can just call me Altrouge."
(OST: End)
Chapter IX: Crown of Red Crystal
xXx
After the Battle of Avignon…
A certain crystal red princess leaned her head on her arm, her eyes neutrally staring down from her throne as a subservient voice echoed through the grand hall.
It had only been a short while since she left the Rank VI Apostle resting in one of the many rooms of her castle. She intended to stay awake until her two Knights returned, but thanks to her…less-than fortunate physiology, regular napping was a necessity for her.
Thus, between Noel and the return of Fina, the Vampire Princess took a brief parlay. If she was being completely honest with herself, she was still trying to keep her eyes open.
"…My liege. Once again, I…"
Her White Knight set the body of her Black Knight onto the ground. A bed of velvet flowers flourished upon where he lay, so his mutilated body would not have to rest on the cold and harsh floor.
"…I apologize for our incompetence."
Fina-Blood Svelten hung his head in abject shame. It appeared he was even remorsed to be in her presence.
Indeed: her two knights had failed their one, simple task.
Apprehend Touma Kamijou, the current wielder of the Imagine Breaker.
Somehow, a much weaker, much less stable Ancestor had done the majority of what she had asked, while her two most loyal knights could not come away with the last upon her checklist. One of them was currently out of commission, as well.
"I will accept any punishment you ask of me. If it be death, then so be it, my liege."
The Princess gazed upon his protrasting figure. Upon one knee, his disheveled hair covering his regretful face, and a hand over his undead heart.
Closing one eye, curious with his acceptance of discipline, she finally responded after his arduous debrief.
"…Any punishment, you say?"
She patted the sleeping ball of fur snoring on her lap. "Palug, up up."
The animal's large, rabbit-like ears popped up, same as its cloud of a tail and fluff of a mane.
It stood on all fours and shook to wake itself up, before calmly, yet slightly grumpily hopping onto the foot of the throne.
'I know, I hate being awake right now, too. But…'
The princess uncrossed her legs and took to her feet, making her way down the steps and toward the bowing and laying knights.
Each click of her heels echoed, reverberating through the cathedral-esq hall. Stained red glass cut upward into the air more than a hundred meters, letting in the dusk-colored evening light that painted her castle interior in a permanent reddish hue.
The floor was of red stone, and the walls of sculpted ruby crystal. Each step of her feet resounded assertively, accompanied by the gentle pitter-pat of her pet Palug's trailing walk.
She stepped before the White Knight of Blood. His face failed to lift up and view her own.
Without a word, she lifted Fina's chin. Although hesitant, he resolved to meet her gaze.
"…How does nothing sound, hm?"
…
She nearly cracked up into laughter upon seeing her White Knight's jaw drop in bewilderment.
"My lady…what do you mean?"
"I mean you are not being punished, silly. You have had a spotless, impeccable record for over fifteen-hundred years…your only other notable loss being from Sir Galahad who…from what I understand, you also sort of met again today. Mm, might want to clean up.
Aside from that, though, I think you are perfectly competent and fine. You did try your hardest out there, did you not? Then I think that not completing the final objective is within my terms of acceptability."
"…Lady Altrouge…"
He pushed up onto both feet. Altrouge's eyes peered up a decent amount, since their height difference was quite staggering.
"I thank you for your compassion."
"Hehe. Sure. Do not make a habit of losing, and I will forgive your transgressions."
She tried patting his head, but only managed to slap his cheek a little.
"…Why do you have to be so tall?"
"Would you like me to bow again, my liege?"
"No no, it is quite alright. There are more pressing things to attend to, anyway."
She stepped back, and they both looked to the resting body upon the ground. There was no movement of his chest, nor a pulse upon his neck; though because Rizo-Waal Strout was a Dead Apostle, telltale signs of life like those were not useful.
Altrouge knelt down beside the Black Knight, observing both the still-beating heart carried in Rizo's own right palm, and the fatal, circular wound that had driven the organ out of his body.
The princess gently set her fingers on his unmoving hand. "…Rizo. My impervious knight…you should have known better than to challenge my little sister."
"My liege, he…likely cannot hear your words."
"Perhaps. But in case he does, I would like to say my peace regardless."
She tightened the grip on his hand, just a little. "…She will get her due retribution, don't you worry. For now…take your millennia-overdue rest for me, okay?"
She pushed herself up to her feet, yet couldn't quite look away from Strout.
'He has been by my side since I built this castle…even before I met Palug.'
The princess watched as said white creature patted its miniature paw on his cheek, as if trying to wake him up.
Smiling quietly, she closed her eyes.
'I suppose he deserves a break more than any Dead Apostle, being the one of the oldest to still be active, but…'
She sighed. "…What a serious blow this is, indeed."
"I…must agree, my liege." Fina-Blood Svelten added humbly. "Rizo-Waal Strout was our most powerful warrior…including myself. More importantly, he was a friend that I failed to protect."
"Yes. The only reason why he has not faded away is because of his Curse of Time keeping his body in stasis, but…"
She looked upon the violet greatsword sheathed at Svelten's hip. "…If we use Neardark to undo his Idea Blood, he will die before I can safely re-transplant the heart."
"Is there a way to save him, my liege?"
"Mmm…" Altrouge stroked her chin.
Dead Apostles were nigh-immortal, but they had one fatal weakness: their spiritual core, which was located within their heart. It was the reason why blessed stakes were effective against them, since it was a direct strike to their chest.
Even Rizo-Waal Strout had the same vulnerability. Even with his Curse keeping him in stasis, his heart removed from his body meant he would never be able to wake up again.
'We'd need a miracle to make that possible.' Altrouge thought. 'A miracle…a miracle…
…a ha.'
Her ruby eyes lit up with optimism. "Why yes there is. The Holy Grail."
"Wait a moment," Fina protested, "The Fifth Holy Grail War only just ended several days ago. Won't it not have enough energy for another ritual for another five or six decades?"
The Vampire Princess grinned confidently. "Normally, yes. But while you were off at Avignon, I received some news from my connections within Academy City. It appears Mister Test Tube is experimenting with it…so if he tries to turn it on, we can simply steal it and use it for our own purposes."
"I see. Then I suppose it is worth a shot." Her knight nodded. "Yet that comes to the issue of invading that city in the first place…I know you have spent the last five decades for such an event, but are you sure everything is prepared, now?"
Altrouge paused. Her head shifted slightly in her knight's direction, so that only the very border of her ruby eye could be visible underneath her raven bangs. "…Do you doubt me, Fina-Blood Svelten?"
The White Knight suddenly realized his poor choice of words, and bowed apologetically. "N-Not at all, lady Altrouge."
"…"
She walked up and flicked him on the nose. "Silly."
Her face softened. Fina's shoulders relaxed; seldom was his liege angry, especially toward her subordinates.
There were a few choice buttons that he was aware of, but he certainly would not dare to ever press them.
Altrouge clapped her hands together to clear the air as well as her mood. "Well, in any case, we must press on. Svelly, be a dear and place Strout in his quarters, will you? Be sure to tuck him in."
Nodding in obedience, yet slight confusion, Fina picked up his fellow knight and asked, "Will you not accompany me to his chambers, my liege?"
"Why should I?" Altrouge replied. "He will be up and awake again before you, I, or Palug know it."
The white furball at their feet purred slightly at her positivity. "See? Even he agrees with me, Svelly."
The White Knight broke into a tiny chuckle. The fact that the Princess was back to her normal, casual nicknaming was a sign that all was right.
"While you are doing that, I suppose I shall visit our other guest." Altrouge said, pacing toward the west wing of her crystalline castle. "Come come, Palug."
She patted her thigh, and in response the white animal followed suit, dutifully as ever.
Giving a nod of solidarity at his more-than worthy master, Fina hefted Rizo's body and marched off to the east wing.
"Seems like you may not be like this for very long, old friend." Svelten uttered to his comatose compatriot. "This was a hard loss to swallow, but Lady Altrouge will pull through. We will see her ideals come to fruition.
We will achieve the Valesti, no matter the cost."
xXx
It was an interesting few decades for Altrouge, indeed.
For so, so long, there was a quiet stalemate between the powers that be in the supernatural world. While she had many pieces to play with, the sheer magnitude of the Mage's Association, as well as the ever-present power of the Holy Church and its constituent branches always meant that she had to either play passively, or defensively.
There was also, of course, Mr. White Wing Lord. If she were to voice her opinion on Ortenrosse, he was all bark, no bite.
Dead Apostle Ancestors were powerful beings, indeed. She herself was ranked Ninth; being within the top ten ranks gave her a status that elevated her high above the others, and that wasn't even considering her surname and bloodline.
But they were not invincible. Altrouge knew the simple truth— the will of Humanity was extraordinarily powerful. For Alaya to be active despite the formation of the Twenty-Seven was an outcome that she wasn't expecting.
That was the stalemate, and why she could not make as much headway as she would have liked.
That is, until a few decades ago.
'Academy City…the Holy Church's vice.'
It was a pinnacle of human scientific achievement and advancement. The opposite of religion was science— and so, its very existence weakened the influence the Church had on the world.
Yet at the same time, it was not exactly friendly to her and her species, either. It weakened the Holy Church, yet simultaneously strengthened the Human Order.
It was a double-edged sword— one that she needed to get her hands on.
'Getting the Grail is the first step…we must get Rizo back to normal. He is my second most powerful asset, after all.
For now, though…'
Altrouge clicked open the door to one of the hundreds of chambers in her grand castle.
Inside, her eyes met the back of a large fur cape, and the silver mane of a certain icy bloodsucker staring out the open window.
"I see you have recovered from your injuries, Vlov Arkhangel." Altrouge said, "How are you feeling?"
She heard the vampire take a few deep, frosty breaths. His gloved hands tightened as he turned around, revealing a pale, muscled torso kept warm underneath his black coat. "…Ashamed. I could not fulfill our contract, Princess Altrouge…and you were forced to save and revitalize me. I am ashamed at my incompetence."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
She snapped her fingers. A piece of light brown parchment popped into her hands, with words written in dried blood. Skimming through it for a moment, Altrouge pressed her finger along the paragraphs, highlighting the relevant sentences and showing it to him.
"You did fulfill our contract. It was to destroy Avignon and bring me Terra of the Left's head, which…"
She opened her other palm. Between her fingers shimmered dirty green hair as her thin hand gripped the severed, white head of a certain God's Right Seat member. "…you did not have to take it literally, I only meant for you to kill him, but it worked out, I suppose. Palug, come come."
The small white animal poked its head through the open doorway, and immediately eyed the head in its master's hand. "I've got a snack for you. This time it is a human rather than a Ghoul or Nightkin…might even have some divinity in there, too. Eat up."
She set it on the floor. Palug hopped over to Terra's head, grabbing a handful of hair in its teeth before dragging it out of the room.
Vlov watched the whole event in silence. While he did not show any outward reaction, he simply could not fathom the casualness of the situation.
'…For her to have domesticated a creature like Cath Palug…'
He sighed. '…I suppose it is natural for a being such as herself.
She does wear half the planet's crown, after all.'
"…In any case, you completed your duty. Good job." The youthful appearing vampire smiled. "That is why I chose to save you, in the end. Since you completed your end of the contract, I needed to hold up mine."
She floated the contract paper above her right hand. Pressing her nails down into her own palm, she drew a tiny stream of blood that hovered up to the paper…
…and lit aflame in a crimson red light, burning the contract into ashes.
"Vlov Arkhangel, Nineteenth of the Twenty-Seven." Altrouge announced. "I understand your position is…a unique one. You lost your master, the previous Nineteenth Ranked, Zaria Offenbaum…I truly am sorry for what happened to her."
Vlov did not say a word in response. Not perturbed, the Princess continued.
"I despise whomst caused you that pain and suffering. In light of this, as well as your completed contract, I humbly offer you this.
Work with me. Become my Northern Knight of Ice. Your goal to destroy the Serpent shall come true under my wing. What say you, Ancestor?"
"…"
The silver-haired Vampire stared at his slight, trembling arm. Balling his hand into a fist, he recalled the events that had given him his title.
How he had betrayed his master. How he had been tricked by that revolting serpent.
Long has it been since he served under someone. As a knight, he felt it was his duty.
At the same time, taking upon a new liege may very well betray the feelings he had for Zaria.
She was his only sunlight. Yet here he was, at the cusp of joining hands with the daughter of the moon.
'…'
Altrouge could tell that he was conflicted. However, in the deepest corners of Vlov's arctic eyes, she could see a glimmer of flame within.
It was all she needed, in order to know how he would respond to her offer.
"My goal since becoming an Ancestor like yourself…and like your Knights…" Vlov began, "…was to hunt down the serpent, and to bring honor to my fallen liege. Her death…I swore upon my life as an Apostle that I would see that it would not be in vain."
His hand slowly, yet surely, began to open up and outstretch. "If you, Princess, can offer me the tools necessary for his end, then…very well."
Their hands met.
A burning scarlet flame flourished amongst their fingers. "I accept your offer, Lady Altrouge Brunestud."
Beyond the fluttering flames, Vlov peered down and saw the red in the Princess's eyes glimmered ever brighter, yet ever darker.
A smile formed across her lips. "Then it shall be, Vlov Arkhangel. Your sword shall create our destiny."
Then, a gesture that the fledgling Ancestor nearly didn't expect…the Princess closed an eye and gave him a coy, jestful wink.
"I look forward to working with you, Vlovvy."
"…I implore you to not call me that, Lady Altrouge."
"Vlovvy."
"…Very well."
xXx
The Holy Grail War seems so far away now.
I know it's only been a week since it ended, but it really does feel like an eternity. A magical conflict with Masters and Servants…heh. I trained my whole life for that. Ten years of studying and training, all for the possibility of getting my hands on the Grail.
Nothing turned out right, though.
I think I was the first one to be eliminated. I still haven't been able to apologize to Archer for that.
That's the least of my concerns, though. The War itself was a farce. Up until Emiya-kun and Kamijou could do something about it, the Grail was just a corrupt artifact that could destroy the world.
A Beast of Humanity…when I saw it emerge, I didn't know what to do. I was ready to accept that no matter what I did, I wouldn't be good enough.
After all, I wasn't good enough before that, either. Misaka-san's friend…both her friends, actually. They're gone.
So is Emiya-kun. For a while, so was Sakura and Kamijou. I couldn't even put into words how relieved I was when I found out they were still alive…
…
…Does any of that matter now, though?
The War is over. That's usually where we get the happy ending and the credit scenes, right? That's where the story ends. That's where the last page turns.
But life goes on, I guess. And it'll hit you with challenge after challenge. The clock keeps ticking, time keeps moving, and you can't simply just will it to stop.
This most recent challenge it hit us with, I…
xXx
"…I couldn't do anything, again."
Rin Tohsaka whispered up into the white ceiling, her eyes fixated on the gently rolling fan overhead.
Her eyes had opened at some point, but she didn't know when. In fact, it was hard for her to remember just exactly how she got here in the first place.
While it wasn't exactly prevalent in her mind, she figured that she must have lost consciousness carrying Kamijou— meaning someone found her, and picked them up to who-knows-where. At the very least, it was somewhere safe and warm.
Quietly sitting up out of the covers, she caught wind of gentle breathing adjacent to her.
Turned her way was the peaceful, sleeping face of Touma Kamijou. His hair was messy; though hers was probably much worse for wear, especially considering its length.
Peeking out from underneath the white comforter was a black t-shirt, letting Rin know that whoever had procured them also gave him a set of clothes.
'That's good.'
He was taken care of. She did not know where Sakura was, but she had trust that Acqua also delivered her somewhere safe. Her phone was probably destroyed, but she knew she would reunite with her in due time.
…
That's about as far as the good news went, though.
'Nothing else went…right…'
Scanning around the moonlit room, she quickly put together they were in some sort of hotel. Considering Avignon was completely flattened, they had moved a great distance away from that town.
On the bedside desk was a digital clock, reading 3:30 in the morning. Only then did it occur to her that everything that had happened in Avignon transpired in a single day.
'…'
Next to the alarm clock was a white letter, with 'PLEASE READ' written in bold at the top.
Taking the paper, she heeded its words.
"Yo, Tohsaka or Kami-yan. Whoever wakes up first to read this, I guess.
You're currently in a hotel in Lyon, about 200 kilometers north of Avignon.
If you're wondering how you got here, thank a girl named Tachie when morning comes. She works for Academy City and saw you two passed out in Avignon's streets.
We're safe. Index, Ciel and I, I mean, as well as a handful of Amakusa Christians. Sakura's safe, too; Acqua of the Back delivered her to us a short while after Tachie did, and she's sleeping in the same room as Index. It's across the hall from you guys.
…that's where the good news ends.
Avignon is gone. Flattened. Roughly 100,000 French citizens were either killed, or turned into Dead Apostles. Because of how they invaded…no one could escape. We only did because we had the means to run, but no one else was as lucky.
…We lost Itsuwa. We haven't found a body, but she would show up by now if she was alive. She hasn't.
The current Pontiff of the Amakusans, Saiji Tatemiya, is dead, too. Kanzaki is on her way straight from Japan to meet us. I can't imagine what she's feeling, right now.
Yeah, we got our asses kicked. And we lost…a lot of people we care about. The mission was basically a failure. Our only solace is that they couldn't get Kami-yan; whatever they need you/him for.
Let's keep it that way. We still have a long road ahead…I hate to break it to you, but I have a feeling this is only the start.
Anyway, I'll see you at the crack of dawn. Ciel said she wanted to take us somewhere before we start heading north to Britain.
…We survived. Let's be proud of that.
— T. Motoharu"
"…"
Rin set the paper back on the table. Without a word, she gazed out to the open window. They must have been in a relatively high-risen hotel, since they appeared to be a few stories above most other buildings, as well as having a perfect view of the glassy blue moon.
Its cool light served as only a veneer of comfort, however.
"…Ahh."
She smiled in defeat as the streaks rolled down her face. Her normally superb emotional compartmentalization had finally worn out.
Looking back on it, the last time she had gotten close to crying was the night of the Grail War's climax.
When the boy behind her had died, and she sacrificed one of her gems to kickstart his heart back to beating again.
That alone probably wouldn't have been enough to send her over the edge; but it was the buildup of everything that had come before.
She lost so much in that Grail War, so the relief of not losing another one took its toll on her.
This, however, was different.
They were tears of abject grief.
'I couldn't save them…I couldn't…'
She wiped them away, only for them to come back immediately. She grit her teeth and tried to control her breathing with quick inhales, but all it did was slow down the inevitable.
She sharply breathed in.
'D-Dammit…'
She cursed at herself as she lightly coughed from the phlegm buildup in the back of her throat. She was really glad Kamijou wasn't awake right now; she was a goddamn mess.
A mess that couldn't do anything. She couldn't save that town; no one could.
She tried her hardest.
But it wasn't good enough.
"I-I'm not…"
She gripped the bedsheets so hard she swore she could tear them in half.
Her other hand continually wiped at her eyes, trying in vain to dry the storm of grief flooding out of her body.
"I'm not…good…enough…"
'I'm sorry, Dad. I'm not as strong as you wanted me to be.
I'm sorry, Sakura. I couldn't protect you. Emiya-kun, I can't be a hero like you.
I'm sorry, Itsuwa. We couldn't save you.
I'm sorry, Archer. This is all just…too much for me…'
"…i can't do this…i can't…i can't…do this…"
Their enemies were so strong that there wasn't a point. Trying to fight them would be just as purposeful as sitting here, crying.
So why bother to try at all?
"…Definitely not…with that attitude…"
A hand touched her own as soon as those words uttered from her right.
Rin turned away and hid her face from him. She didn't know how long Kamijou was awake, and she wasn't about to show him her ugly crying. "…don't look over here, Kamijou."
"If you say so. But…"
She felt hand grip a little tighter. "…I haven't really seen you like this before, Tohsaka."
"…Yeah?" She breathed. It was slightly easier to maintain composure with someone to talk to. "…G-Guess you still have some things to know about me, then…"
"Hm? Really?"
"…Heh. Yeah. I'm good at compartmentalizing…taking my emotions, and shutting them off to a different part of my mind….b-but that just means that…"
She turned her head, ever so slightly so he could see at least the edge of her face. It was probably enough for him to see the falling tears. "…it's just being saved for later…heh…
…it's always been like this. Since I was a kid…I cried, a lot. I was just really good at when I cried. Always saved it for late nights like this, or only cried for a certain amount of time per day. After all, the world doesn't pity those who pity themselves."
"…I see." Kamijou replied. "…I can get that. That last part, especially. About the pitying…I haven't exactly had a bright life, either— though I probably haven't been through your level of hardship."
"Don't be silly." Rin gently poked at him. "…We all go through our own challenges. It's just…this one, was…"
"Too hard to handle?"
The teenage mage nodded quietly.
She heard Kamijou shuffle in the bed, probably sitting up so he wasn't awkwardly staring up from on his pillow. His hand didn't leave hers, though— while she normally wasn't about him not asking permission to touch her, she wasn't against it at the moment.
"I understand. You know what was too much for me, Tohsaka? The Holy Grail War. After Saber sacrificed herself, I was dragging you and Emiya to safety…only to realize I didn't know where safety was, and the enemy was probably all around me. I couldn't handle it. So I broke down, same as you.
Even when you feel ready…life can just smack you in the face. Even if you try your hardest, life can just be too hard. So…I get it. You aren't alone in feeling powerless. I've had that feeling…so many times."
"…"
Rin's hand let go of the bedsheets. Steadily, she flipped her palm up.
Tenderly, she wrapped her fingers around his hand.
It wasn't anything more than mutual reassurance.
"…Thank you." The mage finally said. "For…not just this conversation. Just for…just for being here."
"Same to you. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, so…we're in this together."
"Heh." Rin managed to crack a tiny smile, despite everything that had happened to them. "Just my luck, huh?"
"Oi," Touma smirked, "what's that supposed to mean? And isn't that my line?"
The two of them broke into a warm, quiet laughter.
Life had just sucker-punched them in the jaw.
So it was…relieving, to be in the presence of someone who could pick them back up in a smile.
Their challenges still remained as insurmountable as ever. Together, however, made the burden that much easy to carry.
And that very heart of the human soul— that will to hold one another's hands and push against impossible odds, was something she could appreciate very much.
"Hey so, I know this is bad timing, but—"
"—AHHH!"
The new voice nearly jumped Rin out of her own spine. Out of nothing but instinct, and with little magical energy left for any spell, she grabbed a nearby pillow and whipped it at the target.
It hit their face.
And harmlessly fell to the floor.
"…Owie. Rude."
(OST: "Gekka:re" — Keita Haga)
Kamijou and Rin blinked at the woman standing at the moonlit window, dressed in white with an ocean blue skirt.
Bobcut blonde hair. Red eyes. A slender, but feminine frame, somewhat comparable to Rin's own if it weren't for the…
…
Rin turned her eyes thirty centimeters up, so their eyes were meeting. The word choice of the woman had ticked her off, anyway.
"Rude? How about you knock first?!" Rin exclaimed. "And where did you even come from, anywa—?!"
"Tohsaka, calm down." Kamijou gently let down her pointing finger. She could read the nervousness in his eyes, but they were mostly filled with concern for her. "I…don't think she's a threat. If she was, she would have attacked us already."
"Yeah, listen to your boyfriend, he's makin' sense over there."
…
If Rin could fire a Gandr shot, she would have at that point.
"He's not my—! A-And you shut up!" She stammered, wildly directing her wrath in both of their directions. "I know you're not a threat…you just scared me, that's all."
Her posture went from aggressive to passive relatively quickly, mostly out of the realization that being unreasonably angry created unreasonable situations. "…You saved us, back there, from that Ancestor, so…thanks."
"Mmmhm." The woman nodded, leaning herself against the blue-hued glass. "Normally I would say you owe me one, but…"
Her crimson eyes seemed to scan over their bodies, as if she was sizing them up. "…considering your current state, I'll give you two a pass for now. In any case—"
She pushed off the wall, softening her eyebrows and giving a warm, confident grin. "I told you we'd meet again, right? Well, here I am.
My name is Arcueid Brunestud. Nice to meetcha."
"Arcueid…Brunestud…" Rin heard Touma sound out the word one-by-one. It was a pretty foreign name; a far cry from their native Japanese, for sure. "I'm Touma Kamijou, by the way."
"I already knew that, but thanks. And you're Rin Tohsaka, right?"
Rin blinked. "Y-Yeah."
She was mildly surprised she was already aware of their names; she and Kamijou must have said it to each other during the brief time the three of them were together in Avignon.
"Arcueid…" The crimson mage started. "I have…some questions for you, if you don't mind."
The blonde young woman shrugged. "That's why I'm here. Well, I'm also here to tell you a few things, but that can wait until questions are over. What is it?"
"…How did you get in here?"
…
The tension in the room split in two. Rin could visibly see Arcueid's shoulders slump as she processed her question.
"Is that— is that really your main concern?" Arcueid deadpanned.
"Well…" Rin glanced at the window, then at the hotel room door, both of which were latched and locked shut. There wasn't any way for any person to get through unless they could phase through walls.
Arcueid seemed to follow her eyes, and answered promptly. "It's a power of mine. No need to concern yourself with it."
"I feel…pretty concerned, but whatever." Rin resigned herself to accept that answer, and turned to the young man next to her. "Got anything, Kamijou?"
"…Yeah. I do, actually." Kamijou muttered. "Arcueid-san…"
"Just Arcueid's fine. Haven't been to Japan much to use their honorifics."
Turning his eyes up to the red-eyed woman, he cringed as he heard his words come out icier than intended. "…Arcueid. You saved me and Rin, and I thank you for that. But…"
He recalled back to the words that Rizo-Waal Strout had said upon her arrival. How that, apparently, they had detected her way before the invasion even began.
"…You were at Avignon for a while, weren't you?" Kamijou asked. "And if you were…then how come you didn't do anything to help save it?"
"…"
Arcueid's smile faded as she turned to the silent nature outside.
The gently curving river, the rustling trees, the breezing winds. Those were her domain. That is what she truly ruled over.
'Not necessarily…the living things on it.' She thought.
"It wasn't my job." She admitted, truthfully but unsugarcoated. "I left that up to you all. You can disagree with my choice all you want, but it's the choice I made. And the outcome that happened was the result of that choice."
Touma nodded in understanding. It was her way of saying that she may have indirectly caused Avignon's destruction.
'She didn't do anything to destroy it, but…
…if she was strong enough to chase away that Knight…and she didn't do anything up until that point…I guess that does make her responsible.'
He inwardly sighed. The person before him did something that he couldn't agree with. If someone had the power to make a difference, then they should do something.
That was his belief. Arcueid's inaction…did rub him the wrong way, if only a little.
But her quiet politeness was, at least, enough for him to hear her out.
Arcueid took a step forward. "However…once they threatened to take you, Kamijou, I had to do something. Especially since those Knights…have some pretty dangerous connections."
"Connections?" Rin asked. "Like what?"
"I was just about to get to that." Arcueid said, reaching from behind her back.
Seemingly out of nowhere— since she would be hard pressed to be hiding something that sizable behind her that whole time— Arcueid produced a decently long sheet of bloodred paper, offering it to Kamijou.
He was about to reach out with his right hand, but Tohsaka lightly slapped it away. "What are you doing, dummy? You're just gonna destroy it!"
"Well, no actually." Arcueid corrected, gesturing for Kamijou to grab it with his right. "Go ahead. I did make this sheet of paper using non-ordinary means, but…give it a shot and see what happens."
"U-Uh…sure."
Kamijou did as he was requested, and grabbed the paper between his fingers.
…
…
Nothing. Not a single sound.
Any supernatural, magical, or extra-ordinary scientific artifact would normally be completely disintegrated.
Yet the paper made out of thin air by Arcueid remained, in perfect condition. "…H-How…?"
Arcueid placed her hand on her hip. She seemed satisfied at this outcome. "It's simple, Kamijou.
Imagine Breaker doesn't work against me, or my powers. I'm completely immune to it."
Touma gave her the same, quizzically confused look, and repeated what he said. "How?"
Arcueid's cheek puffed into a tiny ball as she crossed her arms at his impatience. "I'll get to that. Read the damn list first."
She pointed to the top of the paper, where the title read "List of Twenty-Seven Ancestors".
Touma and Tohsaka gave each other a glance. They had been told of the Twenty-Seven's existence by Ciel— but they didn't know all of their names.
"You know about the Twenty-Seven, right?" Arcueid explained. "Well…I happen to be acquainted with nearly all of them, and know all of their names. Trust me— you'll need to know them if you're gonna keep running headfirst into vampire conflicts in the future."
Nodding at her logic, Kamijou and Tohsaka looked back down to the extensive, twenty-seven long list…
xXx
1.) The Dark Six
2.) Brunestud of the Crimson Moon
3.) Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg
4.) Primate Murder
5.) One Radiance Thing
6.) Rizo-Waal Strout
7.) Einnashe
8.) Fina-Blood Svelten
9.) Altrouge Brunestud
10.) Nrvnqsr Chaos
11.) Christian Rosenkreutz
12.) Lululily A. Paranodahila
13.) TATARI
14.) Van-Fem
15.) Rita Rozay-en
16.) Gransurg Blackmore
17.) Trhvmn Ortenrosse
18.) Enhance
19.) Vlov Arkhangel
20.) Merem Solomon
21.) Sumire
22.) Chromclay Petastructure
23.) Alice Anotherbible
24.) El Nahat
25.) Be'ze
26.) Agape
27.) Caubac Alcatraz
xXx
Reading through the list, there were certainly names that stood out as familiar to them. Vlov Arkhangel and Rizo-Waal Strout were immediate standouts; and they were ranked in the positions that they claimed to be when they introduced themselves, so it confirmed that Arcueid's information was truthful, at least in that regard.
There was one name, however, that stood out to Rin a bit too much.
The one near the top, at the third-ranked.
"H-Hold on."
She scanned that name, over and over again, in case she was mistaken it was, for some reason, someone else's.
It was not.
"Kischur Zelretch is…w-wait…"
She rubbed her head in exasperation.
Kischur Zelretch. That Kischur Zelretch.
The Wizard Marshal of the Mage's Association. The Wielder of the Second True Magic. The tutor of her ancestor, Nagato Tohsaka.
The slayer of the Crimson Moon.
"That can't be…how…how is he…?"
"Hmmm?" Arcueid noticed her confusion and popped her head into her periphery to focus her up. "First time hearing about this, it seems. Yeah…Zelretch is one of them. First one I got to know, actually.
Don't worry, not all of the Twenty-Seven are antagonistic toward humans. Well, most of them are. But Zelretch isn't, I can vouch from personal experience. He doesn't have any ulterior motives…as far as I know."
"…"
Rin blinked at the list again. Another realization was coming to mind.
Before she could run it all through her head, she felt the quick tap of Touma's fingers on her shoulder.
"H-Hey, I'm falling behind here." He chuckled. "Mind keeping your train of thought audible?"
"Y-Yeah." Rin nodded. "Sorry. So…"
She pointed at the second-ranked name. "Brunestud of the Crimson Moon. That's the Ultimate One that Zelretch destroyed in 300 A.D., right?"
"Ultimate what, now?"
"Remember when Index was talking about the planets being alive, Kamijou?" Rin derailed her progression just for a second to explain. "Those living planets— those are Ultimate Ones. Supreme beings that stand over all other existences. Yet…"
She then gestured to the third placement. "…Zelretch killed him in battle. But…judging by the list…he left progeny."
She looked at the ninth-ranked name, Altrouge Brunestud.
Then, she turned up to the woman standing in front of them, her smile ever-present.
"Figured it all out, huh?" Arcueid said. "Yeah, you got it a hundred-percent right, Rin. I am a True Ancestor, Arcueid Brunestud.
Princess of the Moon."
xXx
Nine-Hundred Years Ago…
I was only ever meant to be a tool.
A weapon. An ultimate sword, to slay all that my species saw as an enemy.
I was born from a race of higher beings. Ones who had slain and routed the Gods themselves, and commandeered their throne.
I stood as their strongest. I was born, for the sole purpose of being the absolute highest peak of the world's power.
I suppose they succeeded. Yet remembering back, I did not understand all of the bravado.
All I knew was to kill. When I wasn't killing the Dead Apostles, or hunting down any stray Magic Gods, I was sleeping within my castle, out of sight from the world until I was needed.
I was its ultimate defense force, and its ultimate exterminator. Naught did I know anything beyond that.
Until…
"…Oh-ho? What do we have here?"
Amongst the eternal, ethereal field of flowers, the shining moon, and the lustrous blue castle that I called my home, I turned to see an old man whom I did not recognize.
He did not have the same clothes as the True Ancestors that took care of me. None of them held a cane, either.
He was strange. But given his red eyes, it clued me in that he was a vampire, just like me.
Then, he did something. Something that none of my caretakers, the ones who treated me as a weapon, ever did for me.
He smiled.
That grin burned into my mind, and stuck into me even to this day.
"This is why life is interesting." He said.
I tilted my head at him. I did not understand…but the face he was making was truly remarkable and unique.
I wanted to see more of it. I wanted to understand why it made me feel the way it did.
"My name is Zelretch. You are?"
"Arcueid."
"Arcueid…Arcueid…if there was one thing your father did right, it was giving very beautiful names. Treasure that name, Arcueid Brunestud."
"Trea…sure…"
I still couldn't comprehend his words. To treasure something I called my own was never something that was asked of me.
All I did was follow orders. Seldom did anyone tell me to be selfish.
"…What is that face you are making, Zelretch?" I asked. "No one in the castle ever makes that face. But…"
I looked at his smile again. It must have warmed something in my heart, if I was enamored by it for so long.
"It is called a smile. Those that smile do so when they enjoy their lives…and a life is something that you have far, far ahead of you. Whether you find that enjoyment…is up to you. Your life will reach far, far into the future— possibly beyond even my own."
"Mmm. What is enjoyable, Zelretch?"
He chuckled at my curiosity.
"It is in the eye of the beholder. For many, however…sleeping is rather enjoyable. Do you enjoy sleep, Arcueid?"
I tilted my head and blinked. "It is not something I particularly feel anything toward."
His smile faded, ever so slightly. "What? Did I say something to make you not enjoy, Zelretch?"
"Mm. Not necessarily…I just came to the realization of how sheltered you are, young Princess.
Listen to me. You will find your freedom one day. You may just be a Dead Apostle and Magic God Huntress now…but day, you will notice that life is fun just being awake.
Maybe it is not, right now. But you have a long life…circumstances may change.
I hope your life will be full of joy, young Arcueid."
…
After that, I would never see him again.
Watching his back as he walked far beyond the blue horizon, I had wracked my head around the words he had said.
Yet all the same, I knew a deep part within me wanted to feel the same way he did.
xXx
'…Heh. I still have to get there.'
She smiled down at the clearly oblivious young couple sitting on the bed. 'But seeing others happy…does bring me some joy.
Beyond just saving them to keep them away from my sister…I guess preserving their smiles was a big reason why.
…Really wish it could stay that way.'
She flashed her smile. "Figured it all out, huh?
Yeah, you got it a hundred-percent right, Rin. I am a True Ancestor, Arcueid Brunestud. Princess of the Moon."
Her announcement seemed to take a few seconds to settle in, as they processed which part of her title to bring up first.
"True Ancestors…" Kamijou muttered. "…Ciel and Index talked about those. They said they were a race that the Earth and Moon made to neutralize the Magic Gods."
"Yep yep." Arcueid nodded. "And it all eventually led to me. True Ancestors are vampires, but we aren't anything like the Dead Apostles…at least, we aren't supposed to be."
She stared at her hand. Closing two of her fingers together, the two humans awed as a perfectly crisp, hundred euro banknote popped into existence in her hand. "This is one of a True Ancestor's powers, something that no Dead Apostle has. it's called Marble Phantasm: the ability to alter and warp the world around you by shifting probability. To make the smallest chances and outcomes absolutely guaranteed.
I take it a bit further…as the True Ancestor's strongest, I also have authority over the Earth's laws. I can make reality, if I wanted to. That's why…"
She floated the banknote over to Touma's right hand. As soon as he grabbed it, he was once again surprised to see that nothing had happened.
"…that's why Imagine Breaker doesn't work on what I create. Imagine Breaker negates things if they violate the laws of nature. Me? Not to toot my own horn, but…I am the laws of nature."
Touma nodded, his eyes wide with astonishment. "So even if I were to touch you directly, it…"
He reached out his right hand. Arcueid decided to humor him, and met him in the middle with a handshake.
Lifting up her free hand, she once again, effortlessly, created another bank note. "Yep. It wouldn't work. I'm immune to Imagine Breaker…its negation aspect, at least."
They both gave each other a look. Touma seemed to understand with her phrasing that she was at least somewhat aware of what was inside of him.
Before he could crack open that barrel, Arcueid decided to shift the topic first.
"In any case, I was made to keep the Dead Apostles in check…as well as any other uppity threats to the world that may happen. For example, if you guys hadn't taken care of Angra Mainyu, then it would have been me that took care of him, most likely…though only after much of the world was destroyed already."
"Well that's…" Rin scratched her chin. "…comforting?"
Arcueid shrugged. "…But yeah. That's my job. I'm usually the tippiest of the top so I can perform said job to the best of my ability, but…"
She giggled. "Not really at that peak, anymore."
"Why's that?" Kamijou asked. "Is it because True Ancestors get weaker over time? I remember Index saying something about them succumbing to their thirst for blood…"
Arcueid sighed. "…Not that far off. Yes, I do have a thirst for blood. I'm just using most of my power to suppress it."
She bit her lip as her mind went down a path she'd rather not remember. "It wasn't…always like that, though."
She turned away. She already felt like she said too much.
"You okay, Arcueid?" Rin asked.
"Mmm…I'm fine, it's just…" She started toward the window, tracing her clawed finger along the glass. "Hey. I have to go soon, so…"
The blonde vampire turned back to the two of them with a smile, as best of a smile she could replicate. "…If you want to know more, then ask your Burial Agent friend. She'll have some stories to tell you."
Kamijou and Tohsaka gave her a friendly wave. With a quiet ennui, she waved back.
"Thanks for talking with us, Arcueid." Touma said. "And…thank you for saving us."
The White Princess nodded.
"Sure.
Oh, but one last thing."
One final time, she turned around and pointed her finger to the red list in Rin's hands. "You might notice a name there that's a lot similar to mine."
She saw the two of them scan the paper for a second, before Touma looked back up and responded, "Altrouge?"
"Mm. Her." Arcueid confirmed. "She…well…"
She looked away. It was hard to put her thoughts into words.
Ultimately, she chose logic over emotion. "You can probably guess just from the name, but she's my sister. If you ever, for any reason, meet her…then be careful. She's deceptive, but always tells the truth at the same time."
"Is she dangerous? Evil?" Rin asked.
"…Dangerous, yeah. She is the one those knights called their liege, after all. As for being evil…"
Arcueid sighed and turned away, showing her truth-revealing face to no one. "…To a degree, there isn't such a thing as good or evil, white and black. Just…a lot of grey."
Ending the subject, she walked up to the window.
This time, just to not surprise them again, she decided on not vanishing from thin air and unlocked the latch, opening the hotel room to the outside.
"Stay safe, Touma. Rin. Same to your friends.
You're still alive. You're smiling. That's something to be proud of."
And with a quick gust of air…
…The two humans watched on, as a certain white princess jumped underneath the glassy blue moon.
(OST: End)
xXx
(OST: "Avid" — Hiroyuki Sawano feat. mizuki)
The Morning After Avignon's Fall…
"I know that my redeemer lives.
And that, in the end, He will stand upon the Earth."
Touma and Rin stood in reverent silence once again. They had done it before, multiple times in the past few weeks…but it never got any easier.
They were in a wide, flat field, deep in the wilderness of the French countryside. Morning had long since come and gone, and the sun was relatively high in the patchy skies after what had felt like forever for them.
A warm, summery-autumn breeze ruffled Touma's hair, as he quietly held the hand of the girl next to him, solely just for each other's emotional comfort. On Rin's other side was her sister, who had been concerningly silent this whole trip…though Kamijou couldn't exactly blame her.
Ahead of them were two nuns of different Church sects, coming together for a single, unified prayer in front of a carved stone cross, planted solidly in the ground. It wasn't very tall nor noticeable, only about half Kamijou's height, but Ciel was adamant that this would be the place where they do their quiet service for all who had been lost.
Around the cross, Touma and Rin watched on as the few remaining Amakusa Church members stabbed the weapons of their late friends and allies into the dirt, serving as their headstones. Glancing behind him, he noticed Tsuchimikado and Tachie, watching the makeshift service from afar.
Tenderly and quietly holding Tachie's hand was the little girl they had met in Vlov Arkhangel's blizzard, who appeared to be the only survivor from that town's destruction. The Demi-Servant was quietly talking to her, probably in her native language to give the girl some form of comfort.
A handful of Black Keys were also planted like crosses, ten in total; one for every ten-thousand innocent citizens of Avignon that had been completely wiped from the map.
Kamijou didn't know much of how the wider world reacted to the destruction of an entire city. After overhearing Tsuchimikado and Ciel's conversation in the car ride on the way to this field, he only put together that it was being covered up in some way.
A hundred-thousand deaths, of course, could never be fully concealed from the world. However, who, and what caused it, could be.
'…And they blamed the Catholic Church.' Kamijou thought, as the prayer continued.
"And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God."
Specifically, Academy City, as well as the Mage's Association, managed to pin the cause to the Roman Catholic Church thanks to their presence in the city before the vampires invaded.
Of course, he knew the Church would not take it lying down. He knew that pointing a finger at one another would just cause tensions to further overboil.
Even with a hundred-thousand already dead, he knew.
'Things are just gonna get worse.'
But for now, he held onto Rin's hand, and partook in a prayer of a faith that could send those lost to a better afterlife.
"I, myself, will see Him, with my own eyes. I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me.
Amen."
It was done. Letting go of Rin's hand, Kamijou heard the quiet crunching of grass approaching from his left.
Without even looking, he knew who it was.
"…Kanzaki-san."
A certain eastern sword saint walked past his periphery without a word. He internally forgave her rudeness, considering the circumstances.
She was a hair too late arriving in France, in part due to her hesitance on seeing the members of the Church that she had willingly left. By the time things had turned from bad to worse, then worse to worst, she wouldn't get there in time.
He couldn't even fathom a fraction of what she was feeling.
Index and Ciel noticed her, and quietly moved aside so Kaori Kanzaki could stand before the stone cross, surrounded by the weapons of people that she knew all-too well.
Her eyes scanned the dozens of swords, spears, axes and halberds. Upon viewing the wave-shaped blade of the man she left in her stead, Kamijou saw her hands tremble.
Quietly, she turned over to the Burial Agent.
"…Where's Itsuwa's?"
Ciel looked down, her hair covering her eyes in shame.
"…We were…unable to recover it. I'm sorry."
Kanzaki nodded in resignation.
Then promptly fell to her knees.
Gripping the grass in regretful rage, she found it raining underneath the sunny sky.
Index and Ciel stepped aside as the handful of remaining Amakusans made their way to her. While she knew they were there, she neither had the strength nor the heart to look them in the eyes.
"N-No…I'm sorry. I…
…I wasn't there…I could have…I should have…but…but…"
Her follower's hands patted her shoulders as streaks of salty rain fell upon the grass and stone.
"You're here now, my Priestess." One of them said. "…That's all we can ask for. Thank you."
His words only served to make her sobs louder. All they could do was stand in solidarity with her.
Perhaps it was too little, too late, but she was there now.
Kamijou had a feeling she wouldn't leave their side anytime soon, even if their numbers were few.
Deciding to leave Kanzaki be for now, Kamijou quietly walked up to Ciel, who appeared to be picking up the Black Keys from ground. Every time she pulled one from the earth and retracted its silver blade, she seemed to mouth a Hail Mary.
He waited until she reclaimed all ten, before speaking his thoughts.
"Ciel…thanks for all this."
She turned to him with forlorn eyes as she delivered a hearthful smile. "No, the thanks is all mine. I thank you, and everyone else for coming out here. Which…"
She gestured to the stone cross, "…you're probably wondering why I requested we do their memorial here, right?"
Touma nodded. He also saw Rin, Index, Tsuchimikado, and a few Amakusans walk up to hear what she had to say.
Their goal was to keep traveling north, since the mystery of Britain's fog still needed to be uncovered, but this field was a couple-hour detour from where they needed to go.
Fortunately, it seemed like Ciel had a good reason why. "I'll put it simply. Yesterday…was not the first time that vampires had encroached on French territory, and destroyed an entire population.
The Holy Church and the Mage's Association are calling the destruction of Avignon the Second French Incident. Here, where this cross stands…"
Politely excusing herself, she made her way to the cross, placing her right hand upon its lacquered stone.
"…is the location of the First French Incident. This is also my home town.
You can…probably understand why protecting Avignon was so important to me, but…it turned out that the result was exactly the same."
"Ciel…" Index muttered. "I…didn't know that about you."
"It's not really something I openly admit about myself, but…yes." Ciel said. "It was an event covered up by the Catholic Church and Mage's Association…not too similar to what's happening with Avignon right now, though considering the life lost is many, many times higher, it's not going to be as easily swept under the radar. In any case…"
She turned around, her eyes glistening yet tightened into a certain scowl. It looked like it was time to stop holding anything back.
"…Both here…and Avignon…were destroyed by the Dead Apostles. And I think I have their modus operandi. Kamijou-kun," she turned everyone's attention to him, "I was told that Vlov Arkhangel, the Nineteenth Ancestor, said something about why he was doing what he did. What was it?"
Kamijou thought back to the evening before. Indeed, so much had happened that it was almost too much to remember.
However, the words of that icy, fiery vampire were not hard to recall. "…Yeah. He said he was doing it to send a message to…a serpent?"
It was such a simple, vague term. A serpent.
Yet Ciel's eyes widened at his words, then closed in bitter affirmation. "…I see. It appears everything's connected, after all."
The Burial Agent stared up to the blue sky.
Through her eyes, she imagined the air pilfered with smoke, ash, and cinders. Fires burning down the mortar and wood from the buildings that many called her home.
She imagined the walls that snapped shut, forcing the people within to burn and be slaughtered like cattle.
"…The First French Incident…was caused by that same serpent. If Vlov Arkhangel, and the other Knights had destroyed Avignon to send a message to it…that means that that serpent is active now.
…I knew it. I knew he would be appearing at some point. The Church had been preparing for this next cycle, but…this confirms he's come back once again."
"Ciel…" Rin interjected. "…What is this serpent's name? Do they have one?"
The Executor nodded. "Yes. He's one of the Holy Church's most sworn enemies. He's also the Twenty-Eighth of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors. He destroyed my home…"
Ciel seemed to say that last part with hesitance, as if she herself wasn't sure if that explanation was correct, but continued anyway.
"…And is dangerous enough that his enemies are willing to kill countless people as a show of force to him.
He's known as the Immortal, Infinite Reincarnator."
Closing her eyes, she remembered looking in the mirror at herself, three years ago.
Her ocean blue hair seemed paler, and lifeless. Her body was stripped of human clothing, replaced with the black cape of a monstrous, unkillable vampire.
Her red eyes gleamed, as a sadistic smile wore across her own face.
No longer was she herself. Yet at the same time, that was her.
Despite her explaining the darkness behind both of the French attacks…she still couldn't find it in her to explain the deep, core truth behind her hometown's destruction. For now, at least.
She didn't have to, anyway. At the very least, she could point the cause of all this pain and hardship to one enemy, and one enemy alone.
Forcing her eyes to see reality again, she looked back down to the men and women awaiting her answer.
"The Serpent of Akasha…
Michael Roa Valdamjong."
A/N: (December 7th)
Ah, there's his name. I love dramatic namedrops XD (I think I may have done it three times in this chapter alone)
In any case…two stories in just over a year. Damn.
Hey everyone, and happy December. Christmas is coming up soon, which is also Arcueid's birthday (she made it up. I think), so that's pretty neat.
It's so weird to think that only a year ago, I wasn't even one-third of the way done with Heaven's Fall. But now, not only has Heaven's Fall been done and squared away with since June, but now I'm also wrapping up its direct sequel story!
There will be one more after this, cuz yknow, I like to do epilogues, but this chapter will hopefully wrap up some plot threads, while also opening the door for the future.
I also find it sort of amusing that some of you just now caught the Dragon that's connected with Kamijou— even though it already happened in Heaven's Fall, lol.
I suppose that it's because some readers decided to read this story first, which is perfectly fine. I hope that, even without a lot of context, this story has been enjoyable.
You have no idea how excited I was to introduce Arcueid, lol. I've been a fan of her's for a while— and jumped on the hype train for her even more when she debuted in Fate/Grand Order.
Ever since I started writing Heaven's Fall, getting to Arcueid's introduction in my crossover story is something I was oh-so hyped about. Last chapter meant a lot, and I'm glad that you guys thought I did it justice.
But in any case, there's still some more to go.
I'll see you guys soon.
Final Release: "Epilogue" (December 14th)
During Vlov Arkhangel's invasion of Avignon…
The only reason why she woke up was because of how unbelievably cold it was.
She opened her eyes, only to be met with a wave of terrible frost howling at her skin. All that she had to wear to bed was her nightgown, which provided nothing against the blizzard.
'C-Cold…cold…col…'
She touched the side of her head. It felt wet, but the cold must have stopped it from bleeding.
That's right— before this, she and her family were trying to run. A radio warned them of something dangerous. They were trying to pack up and run.
Then she was here.
Where were they?
"Mo…Mo…
…Ah—"
Crushed under the rubble of their own home. Under piles and piles and piles that she couldn't hope to die out, she spotted an unmoving head of hair facing away from her.
The blizzard. The blizzard must have destroyed their home.
Biting her lip, she tried pushing herself up.
"Gah—!"
Something sharp and painful dug into her thigh. Grabbing it instinctively, she recoiled away from how cold, cold, cold it was.
A metal something pierced into her. A pipe, or something else, pinned her to the ground and beneath debris just like her mom and dad. The only reason she wasn't like them was probably because of her small size.
"Ah…ah…"
She couldn't move, though. And it was just getting colder. And colder.
She wanted to curl up into a blanket. She wanted her mom or dad to come and kiss the pain in her leg away.
But they couldn't anymore. She couldn't anymore.
'It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
Help me. Help me.'
She looked up at the sky.
Past the cruel snow wind, stood a silent moon barely illuminating the storm.
'Help me.'
Tears streamed down her face, turning to ice down the sides of her head. She wanted to sob, but the cold prevented her tongue from moving or her throat from screaming.
She reached out for it. It was the only light that she could yearn for. Even though it was so far away, she knew that if she just hoped, it could give her warmth.
Its cool face never changed. Expressionless. If it were a person, it wouldn't have given her even a blink of recognition.
She recoiled her hand, just as she heard the groan of something near her.
"…Huh—?"
She felt something grab at the wood and rock and metal above her. Multiple somethings.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see fingers curling around the rock and pulling it off of her.
She breathed in relief. Help was here.
They could help her.
They could—
"Wha…"
They looked at her. Teeth ragged and sharp. Clothes ripped, skin pale.
They looked at her lifelessly. Empty.
They weren't people.
'A-Ahhh…!'
Her mind told her to run, but she couldn't. Her body told itself to move, but she wouldn't. It was like those soulless eyes were peering into her heart and keeping it firm in place.
They threw the rubble away and lumbered toward her.
She couldn't scream. It was too hot.
'H-Hot?'
She felt warm…and was getting warmer. She didn't know why.
The peopleless people grabbed her arms, her head, her leg— whatever they could get their icy, grubby hands on. They ripped the iron from her thigh, causing her to wince as she watched one of their mouths open and approach her neck.
She couldn't stop them. She couldn't even think straight anymore.
She just wanted this feeling to end.
"…"
Something wet spurted onto her face, instantly freezing over. The tearing of flesh resounded in her ears as the grips on her body loosened.
Her eyes opened. Something silver and sharp stuck through the peopleless people's heads.
They all collapsed at once. She was going to fall on top of them too, until—
"I gotcha."
A voice she didn't know comforted her ears and wrapped around her body, cradling her in their arms.
She saw their large, masculine hand hover over her torso, emanating some green light into her.
She gasped. The unbearable heat in her body vanished, but so did the cold. In its place washed in genuine, true warmth, like wrapping in a blanket before a fireplace.
She tried looking up at the man, but the tan-colored hood and black mask covered everything but his eyes.
"Th…Tha…nk…"
"Don't speak. It'll make you weaker." The man reprimanded. The girl nodded silently, and winced as his hand lowered to the injury on her leg.
The light shone into the bloodied hole, patching it up in just a few short moments.
He lifted her up, and carefully put her on her feet.
"Can you stand?"
She set her bare feet on the ground. For some reason, it didn't feel cold.
She nodded at the man. He was probably thrice her small size, though she couldn't tell exactly of his appearance from the cloak on his body.
"Good. Now listen carefully."
He reached behind him. Her eyes widened as he produced a cross-shaped blade, alight with azure, wavy fire.
Gently and tenderly, he opened her palms and let her grab it with both hands. "Hold on to this. This will keep the cold away…and it will keep anything from hurting you."
He stepped to the side and pointed out, straight ahead. In her periphery, she could see flattened and collapsed buildings of what used to be the homes of her neighbors, shops from a town she used to call home. "Keep walking, and don't stop. I cleared out the path for you, so you'll be okay as long as you keep moving. You'll meet people that will take you in and keep you safe. Got it?"
Through her tear-stricken eyes, she found it in herself to nod resolutely.
"…"
But looking at the unmoving head of her mother, she could feel her lips quiver in hesitance.
The temporary second wind she gave herself was fading fast.
Yet a hand on her shoulder quelled her aching heart.
"…Head up. You have the strength to carry on. It's what your mother and father would want from you."
She bit her lip, and faced forward. Wiping her hair from her forehead, she planted one foot in front of the other. The blue flame of her sword guided her like a torchlight, warding off the evil and burning away the cold as her fragile body traversed through an impossible storm of snow.
Watching her walk away, her safety assuredly guaranteed, the man looked back toward the heart of the town.
His eyes narrowed as he felt a presence; multiple presences, actually, that were admittedly above his pay grade.
"…I should stay out of their hair. The Princess is bound to show up soon and clean up this mess, anyway."
With that, he turned away from the collapsed palace of popes, and his silhouette slowly vanished amongst the snow and ice.