Chapter 9: Conversing with Luvia Edelfelt

Another day, another job. It's basically like life back in Arizona—except now I'm forced to live in Britain until I can find a way to bargain my way out of this boondoggle.

Still can't believe Waver is gonna try to summon Iskandor again. It's almost kinda funny—imagining mr. serious jazzed just summoning his old buddy again.

And people say I'm full of surprises...well some people do. Most people just call me infuriating. But that's irrelevant. Point is things could get pretty interesting around here soon. Not as interesting as Mordred, but somewhat close. And the day's not even half over yet.

March 27

Elric explained to Mordred in more detail about Iskandor—his and El-Melloi II's involvement in the Fourth Grail War, or as best he could based on what little Waver had told him in the past (before the incident six years ago)—and to a minute degree she seemed to understand; though argued it did not warrant the extreme degree of mirth it inspired within her Master.

The Knight of Betrayal just didn't view the situation in a similar way as Elric, so they had differing opinions on the matter.

From there, Mordred went on to toy with a local cat—just as she had done when they were in Arizona—while Elric pulled out a cigarette and his lighter. He watched as Mordred and the cat carried on in their funny little game, flipping the lighter open and closed out of an old habit—one which he could not recall how he developed it. Lost in his own thoughts as they returned to the matter of his family and the arranged marriage once more. Causing him to scowl as he remembered what he realized the day before—how it was possible Emiya was the guy Luvia might now have her sights set on.

It would be a lie to say the spellcaster was not a little envious, and he knew it. Just thinking about it ruined the mirth he discovered from the recent job. But there was a simple remedy: he could simply inform his father and he would no longer be an issue—however, that was assuming it would not interfere with Edward Rheon's current schemes involving Rin and her boyfriend. Then he realized what he was considering and, for a moment, was disgusted with himself.

What the hell is wrong with me? He shook his head. Aggravated, Since when am I this petty and spineless?

He was considering something so low that he half expected the idea to be something Lisa Rheon would recommend to him—if he could ever actually bring himself to be on remotely agreeable terms with his step-mother ever in his life—and it sickened Elric (somewhat) to realize it.

If he actually did that he'd probably have to swallow a bullet out of his own idea of redemption. Why the matter came to mind at all was beyond Elric. He simply tried to change his train of thought.

I need to focus on getting my freedom back, not girl problems.

A female shadow appeared not far from the table whilst he was lost in his thoughts and contemplations.

A voice asked "Problem?" returning Elric to reality. He glanced to the other side of the table to find Luviagelita Edelfelt standing before him. Garbed in a more darker blue dress than normal. Resembling, as always, an elegant swan.

The sight of her caused Elric's concerns and scowl to vanish from his mind and a few local men to become distracted..

"Luvia." he muttered. Surprised she was even talking to him. Bringing him back to the memory of when he first traveled to Finland with his family. Temporarily seeing a younger version of her—when they met in a garden—before the image of the current Luvia rematerialized and he came back to the present. Gesturing his hand towards the empty second chair while he told her "Seat's available."

Edelfelt gracefully took her place in the chair as Elric watched with a feeling that almost resembled trepidation.

What does she want?

Luvia faced her old friend with a smile. "How have you been, Jame-"

"It's Elric, Elric Belmont." Elric corrected her.

"Right. Elric." Luvia remembered him saying the last time they spoke directly. "My mistake. I am still acclimating to that new name of yours." Then a smirk appeared on her lips. "Interesting choice of name, I never imagined you would be a fan of Michael Moorcock."

"Oh, good, so you've heard of it." Elric said facetiously. He somewhat was surprised, secretly, to hear she actually knew about the series of dark fantasy novels. "Didn't peg you for the fantasy reading type."

"I am not but have some knowledge of the writing world, and his work is hard to ignore."

"Let's cut to the chase. What can I help you with?"

"Is it not possible I merely wanted to have an idle conversation with you—we have not spoken in six years, after all." Luvia feigned innocence. "You have changed so much since we last saw one another."

"If you say so." It was a lie. An obvious lie. One that was so easy to spot that Elric would need to be blind to not see it. But he decided to play along while Mordred watched, holding the cat up by the paws. "What do you want to talk about?"

"What do you think about this arranged marriage."

Oh, that.

Elric responded plainly "I don't like it." without attempting to conceal his opinion remotely on the matter. "If it wasn't obvious when you found out, I'll make it easy to understand: this wasn't my idea, I had no notion that it would go down, and if I could I would find a way out of it."

Luvia looked a tad dejected, for a brief moment, but nearly concealed it near completely. Asking in response "Why?" then teasingly "Am I not appealing?"

Elric chuckled. "It's not that. I just...I don't appreciate being jerked around and having my freedoms constricted. Rheon misled me and Dio, lied about why he wantedyou brought to him, and he planned all of this without my consent or approval; and on top of all of that he's threatening my friends. The problem isn't you. And if I am going to marry someone I'd prefer it be of their own volition, and not be blackmailed."

Luvia seemed satisfied with that response.

"I see your loathing for your father is yet to be remedied."

"After all he's done, combined on this past stunt of his, I'd rather make friends with the Church or Stark before I'd ever make amends with him, now." Elric said. Causing Luvia to make a who's Stark face. He then moved to turn the table by asking "What about you?" while reclining back in his chair.

"I was surprised, I will not deny." Luvia told him. "Personally I thought they had forgotten about the arrangement."

"Yeah; same here." Elric put out his cigarette. "Didn't really see it coming til it was too late."

He then decided to chane the subject, but Luvia beat him to the punch.

"What do you suspect your father's intentions are for Emiya and Tohsaka?"

And there it is...Elric felt a pang of irritation, and suddenly that voice of animosity towards Emiya resurfaced. He barely knew the guy, yet he was finding a litany of reasons to resent Shirou vehemently. Thankfully it was easy to keep in check. "Not a clue."

In truth, Elric was secretly a little curious himself. "At first I thought it might just be for more leverage against you, but the more I think about it...that doesn't seem probable. My guess he plans on using them for as long as he can until he has no alternative but to send them home—long after they're no longer of use."

"Such a manipulative man, that father of yours."

"Don't remind me." Elric was tempted to light another cig. "Guy really makes patricide look appealing."

As they continued to converse, a young man approached the table. Looking at Luvia with indifference and Elric with contempt.

"Edelfelt." he said, trying not to look at Elric.

"Yes, Walter."

Elric looked at Walter with surprise upon hearing the name. A wicked smirk appeared on his lips. "Well if it isn't…"

"Don't you bloody dare say it!"

"Jolly Wally." Elric laughed. A grin even began to show on Mordred. "Oh, how many years has it been—Six, Seven?"

"That nickname was never clever."

"Aw," Elric looked to Luvia with some amusement "Jolly Wally doesn't like his nickname." then back to Walter. "Still being a sad lad?"

Walter groaned. Then resumed his business "You agreed to be a part of the demonstration today."

"Yes." Luvia said in agreement. "Have the instructors found an opponent?"

"They are still working on that." Walter told her. "They wish for you to prepare for the upcoming fight."

"There's not even an opponent ready?" Luvia seemed a mite disappointed. "There almost does not seem to be a point in going at this point." then looked to Elric and suddenly smiled as a light bulb went off in her head. Making you'll do expression.

Christ...


Elric waited in the training room, dressed in the appropriate amont of gear on, smoking a cig as he waited.

A crowd gathered in the training room. Some of the Clock Tower students were waiting in a congregation. A few curious members of the faculty came as well. As did Shirou and Rin. Even Nyx and a few of the Glaives came to watch.

Mordred decided to watch, as well, curious to see how tough Edelfelt was and how well her master would fare with only his fists and no backup.

Luvia emerged. Barely wearing anything, the sight of her nearly made Elric's jaw drop. But he managed to conceal his own bewilderment and just continued to look on as Luvia took her position not far from where he was leaning against the pillar. Admiring her lithe form—greatly exposed by the training gear she was clad in—and nearly forgot why he came there in the first place.

Stepping up, a former Glaive, Sebas, shouted "Begin!" and Elric was almost sorry he couldn't enjoy the view a little more.

Dropping his cigarette and stomping it out, Elric glanced over to Luvia and his eyes turned crimson. A red spark briefly was visible, resembling the ones around Mordred when she went into a mana burst, and the circuits in the Freelancer's body began to glow, illuminating his skin with red lines, and he charged; moving at a speed so accelerated that all the eyes in the room nearly lost track of him.

Even Luviagelita had some difficulty.

The next thing Luvia saw was Elric within arm's reach from her with his right leg raised up—ready to come down upon her like a battle-axe—and bearing a devilish smile. She only had half a second to react, reinforcing her arms with magecraft as she formed a block just as the foot plunged down on her.

She held firm when the foot hit her arms with enough force to damage the pavement, looking up with a confident smirk.

Elric's smile persevered as he saw she had successfully blocked his attack. He expected nothing less from the designated heir of the Edelfelt family, afterall.

Sudden Luvia gripped his foot and began spinning him around then throwing him—sending Elric flying toward one of the pillars. He bounced off it with his hands and sent himself flying back at her like a bullet with both feet first and aimed for Luvia's torso. But she dodged that time and all he did was merely cause a lot of black smoke to shoot up when he hit the ground like a meteor.

He began to look around, preparing his next attack.

Where did she…?

Before he could finish his thought a pair of hands suddenly wrapped around him from behind and he was pulled back and hitting the ground hard on his upper back and shoulder blades.

It took him a second to realize what just happened.

Recovering to his feet, Elric was still smirking as he shrugged his shoulders. As was Luvia.

"Okay, Mrs. Forklift, that's how you wanna play? I'm game."

Elrc charged again, but with a punch primed for this attack. Luvia blocked the first, but his second landed on her gut. Then followed up with a third, also landing on her gut.

Luvia recovered as if it was nothing.

"Excellent!" Luvia complimented as she recovered to block and dodged the following attacks.

Elric targeted her medulla oblongata but she still refused to go down. He was sent flying back in retaliation from a punch. Ending up a cloud of dust.

The crowd was left confused.

"So...did Edelfelt win?"

Nyx scoffed. Telling Jolly Wally "I wouldn't bet on that just yet." as he looked to where Elric landed across the room, then saw his adversary emerge on his feet—applauding Luvia with his hands and a laugh. "He is a Rheon, after all; and you know how resilient and stubborn they can be, at times."

Elric laughed. Amused. Looking like someone who had been reacquainted with a source of delight after being previously deprived of entertainment for a long while. The look on his face surprised and unnerved some of the crowd.

But Mordred saw it differently. She saw nothing disturbing in the way he looked at Luviagelita Edelfelt—in fact, to her surprise, it reminded the Knight of Betrayal of the way a certain Knight of the Roundtable used to look at her stepmother.

The crowd watched in anticipation.

Luvia shouted out "Ready to yield yet, Belmont?"

"Not on your life, Luv!" Elric retorted. Popping his neck on the left and right, then he charged.

The fight would continue for several hours. Until they were both too exhausted to continue.