Biggest thanks for Ace-Triad for fixing my SPAG problems, and Angel Wraith for beta-reading the chapter, providing feed backs, and proving a scene of his own.
As always, I will blabber some more in my end note.
Yes, I suggest you listen to the same named son From Persona 3 as you read this chapter.
The Cathedral of Three Heroes still stands tall even after the faith had fallen out of grace. Right now, nearly a thousand people are standing around in the yard to witness the final punishment of the two biggest condemned criminals of the coup launched by the Three Heroes' Church. The ex-blessed battle master of the Romalia Four Heroes' Church, Roger of Ajax. And the former pope of Three Heroes' Church, Biscas Tiberius Balmus. The traitors who tried to kill the wrongly accused Shield Hero. Neither man's body showed any sign of decay, which suggests their souls have not yet left their mortal vassals. And their souls would be shredded as their final punishment.
Abaddon Abel, the wrathful son of Balmus, had to be restrained. And the peacock fights against said restraint every step of the way. The rest of Balmus' sons are much more subdued as they solemnly look on at their father's judgment. For the more observant spectators, they would notice small drops of blood trailing down from some of their balled up fists.
Epilogue 1: Memories of You
"It is time." The solemn voice of Melromarc's High Queen can be heard by everyone gathered to witness the punishment. "Those who betray not only their faith, their lieges, but the honored heroes must suffer the worst punishment. So their example will further deter future conspirators and traitors!"
A giant cage is moved into the yard on a cart pulled by twelve filorials. Slowly, the gate is raised up that allows a giant worm with a blue, luminous body to slowly slither out of its confinement. It has no visible eyes and ears, only a giant, void like maw at its front. Even the most courageous knights frown upon seeing the monster. A gutterbeak could snap someone's limb off, a dragon could blow fire that reduces your body to ash, but a soul worm is a few monsters that could destroy your immortal soul forever. So despite the intimidation factor, such rare monsters would rarely be seen in open battle. They would serve much better as a glorified punishment tool, deterring would-be rebels and conspirators from going against any liege who possesses such abomination. It seemed to notice the meal prepared for it, as it immediately turned towards the two bodies placed on the ground.
The soul worm slithers its way over towards its first target, opens its maw and leans down towards the body of the fallen battle saint. For a brief moment before it sucked the body into its void, a white, luminous body shaped the same as the one lying on the ground appeared in front, and tried to hold the monster back with his tree trunk like arms. "I am a true hero who fought in The Great War! I will not- AH!"
Roger of Ajax's soul let out a bone chilling screech as it's sucked into the endless abyss of the soul worm. It sounds like a hundred explosions going off at the same time, and a thousand nails being scratched on glass. After the monster is done with its gruesome and macabre work, only a puddle of half, dried up blood remains on the ground. Almost everyone who spectates wobbles on their feet, their faces white. The ultimate punishment for traitors is enough to make everyone, but the most resolved souls lose their composure.
Abaddon's struggle is renewed as the soul worm turns itself towards the body of Balmus. Once again, all six of the Seraphim brothers had to pile on top of the peacock. Janne's lips turn white as Biscas Cain puts a hand on her shoulder, lending some of his strength to his sister. But as the monster's maw closes in on Balmus, a transparent, glowing hand suddenly appears in front of it with a simple command. "Heel."
The ethereal luminous figure standing in front of the soul worm wasn't the soul of Balmus, but a young looking man. His face is plain, his short hair slightly messy, and a bow is carried on his back. He looks young, even younger than the current Shield and Sword Hero. Maybe only slightly older than their current Bow Hero. The Soul Worm, which devoured Roger of Ajax's soul and the body when he tried to stop it, backs away. Its body slightly shakes, almost like it is afraid of the spirit, something it usually predates upon, standing before it. The Shield Hero takes a step away from the crowd, his eyes and mouth both opened wide. "Shirou Emiya?!"
"What's wrong with my bow?" The Bow Hero Itsuki's exclamation also drew people's attention. The young man is currently holding his legendary weapon in his hand. The legendary bow is violently vibrating in his hand, the topaz on its center glowing with the same colored light as its core. Itsuki's eyes look up at the ghost of Shirou. "Is it... reacting to him? Its last user?!"
"This must mean he really is the spirit of Lord Shirou Emiya, Martyr of The Bow." Iris Amelia, the golden heiress of House Amelia bends her knees with the rest of her noble house. Their family was descended from Bow Hero. Which requires them to show proper respect to arguably one of the greatest Bow Heroes, even if they have no blood tie with Shirou Emiya. Many more people followed House Amelia's example. Some out of awe, others out of fear, and many out of genuine respect for one of the most selfless heroes to ever be summoned.
"I know you are still in there, Biscas." The ghost of the previous Bow Hero didn't react to the Shield Hero's exclamation, or the movement of the crowd kneeling down towards him. He turns around to look at the body of Balmus. "I know I was not a good teacher, or a good role model, Biscas. But have I done something that disappointed you so much, you would not even come out and talk with me in your final moment in this world, my student?"
"It is I who have done something that disappointed you. Master Shirou. And I fear facing your judgment the most." The glowing, transparent figure of Balmus appears in front of Shirou. Every single one of his demi-human children kneels down in his presence. Thankfully, this includes Abaddon, so the most short-tempered son of Biscas didn't cause further issues in front of everyone. Neither the Martyr of Bow, nor the Chief God's Miracle Maker made any acknowledgement of the people around them. "I have gone against your teachings, Master Shirou. I have found more truth in Master Mikage's words than yours, and committed great evil in this world as a result. I... do not know how I can face you after failing you so much."
"Worry not, Biscas. After my passing, I had a lot more time to think over my life, and the lives of my friends. I, too, have increasingly found more and more wisdom in Mikage's words. Alas, if I had not taken to his method at the worst time, none of this would have happened." The head of Shirou's ghost bends down towards the ground, he looks ashamed as the two spirits stand in complete silence for a few moments before the Martyr of Bow raises his head once again. The ghost of Shirou extends his hand towards the ghost of Balmus. "You did not even try to resist your punishment. Why?"
"I have sinned, Master Shirou. More than most people in this world, because of my position. And worse, I have sinned against those who I come to regard as my children." The Ghost of Balmus looks back, at the demi-human slaves serving under Three Heroes' Church who he had genuinely come to view as his children. "My actions must be punished. Or else it would not be fair to my children, and it would be followed by other people in power. The gods must see the queen's judgment on me as a fair punishment, or else they would have intervened."
"The one people call the 'Chief God' will not do anything for you. He fundamentally does not care about the well beings of mortals under his domain and only cares about how much worship he would get to maintain his divine sphere. By which, there are countless different timelines of this same world. So he would not lift a finger to help, or to condemn you for he sees it beneath him." The people around them begin to murmur to each other even with the queen's guards maintaining order. If words like this come from anyone else, those in power would instantly denounce the speaker as a heretic, or worse, possessed by demons. But with it being one of the most prestigious summoned heroes and his identity more or less confirmed by the reaction from the legendary weapon of the current Bow Hero, his words leave a much different impression on the gathered people. "Come with me, my student. I have come to take your soul to Avalon."
The gathered crowd, which were only exchanging muffled murmurs before this point, now explodes in countless voices, clearly surprised at the offer given to the condemned former Pope of the Three Heroes' Church. But perhaps more surprising is the identity of the first person to reject the offer. That being Biscas Tiberius Balmus himself. "I'm afraid I can not take up on your offer, Master Shirou. I am unworthy. You have taught me to commit no evil, no matter how small. Yet, I have chosen the path walked by Master Mikage. The one to take power and commit the lesser evil. But in the end, an act of evil is still evil, and should not be left unpunished."
The ghost of Balmus slowly turns to look at his children. Even with his ethereal 'body' glowing and transparent, his eyes obscured with his spectacles, everyone could read the melancholy and regret on his face. "I tell the demi-human children enslaved by my faith that they are my sons. Yet, I used them like tools of war. Having them fight in the most furious battles, or against the most dangerous demons and monsters. I could have used my reputation as Chief God's Miracle Maker, and my authority as the Pope of the Three Heroes' Church to make their lives more bearable, but I choose not to because I prioritized protecting the human citizens of Melromarc over my own demi-human sons. If I face no punishment, and get rewarded in death, it would not be fair to any of my children."
"Mikage was not wrong when he said I was naive for my ideology. In the end, even I have come around to his method. When he tried to save the world by sacrificing himself and his daughter to ward off future Waves. I was the one who chose to merely stop the current crisis. I have no right to criticize your method when I did the same." The sound of argument and gossip exchange grows more and more intense as the spirit of Shirou Emiya reveals more and more information about himself and Mikage Mikami. For the people of Melromarc, 'The King of Rape' sacrificing himself to stop not their current, but future waves is new information. "As for how you treated your children... you could have treated them better. But you prioritize what you believe to be the greater good to commit lesser evil. And as you said, even the least evil is still evil. However, you didn't try to make excuses for your own actions. You knew you did wrong, and you faced your punishment without any hesitation. That makes you a much better person than most in this world. A true saint who is flawless does not exist in this world unless he shuts himself from the rest of the world, ignoring greater evil happening in the world in the process. As a person does good, they commit evil to someone else. You are willing to face the wrong you did in the end and repent for them. That makes you fit for Avalon."
"BEGONE! You fiend!" Among the talk between Shirou Emiya and Biscas Balmus, over the muffled gossip and loud argument of the crowd, a loud, piercing voice interrupts the Martyr of Bow. Knight Captain Sarah Palmer is fulfilling her duty as the queen's personal attack hound, even if she has to face the spirit of one of the most prestigious saints. "You dare offer a place of heaven to a condemned criminal who caused countless deaths? You are no saint! You are nothing more than a pretentious brat who uses his power to pamper those he favors!"
"I have never claimed I was some saint. You are not wrong in saying I'm a pretentious brat who simply does what he thinks is right." Shirou seems to be aware of Palmer's spats, as he slowly turns around to look at the female knight. One gets the feeling that he's not directly talking to his detractor, but using the point she brought up to address the rest of the people listening. "But if I, someone whose mistakes caused much more death both in my own time and beyond due to what I did to my best friend Mikage Mikami, is fit to be Avalon's gate guard. Then my student Biscas Tiberius Balmus, whose actions have caused much less death than mine, and did countless more good than I have is fit to enter Avalon."
"Even if I could qualify for a position in Avalon, there are yet more I could do for my children to further repent for my sin against them." The spirit of Balmus didn't even dignify Sir Palmer with a proper response. He simply continued his conversation with the spirit of Shirou Emiya as he cast his sight onto the runic bronze sword held in Eclair Seatto's hand, and then at the shard weapon held by his children. "Lady Seaetto has a weapon empowered by the soul of her ancestor. I could do the same for my children. Using my own soul to further strengthen the Replica of the hero's shard weapon."
"NO! Do NOT do it!" An urgent voice blasts out from Eclair's sword with a heavenly echo. In a flash, a transparent figure clad in old style knight's armor and glowing with the same white light as both Biscas Balmus and Shirou Emiya stand between them. "The shard weapon you used is neither prepared as a proper vassal for a soul, nor specifically tuned to your soul from long use like my old sword. If your soul inhabits such a weapon, you would be completely cut off from the mortal world as your soul is slowly drained hollow by the weapon. It will be the worst torture for eternity."
"King Ariona. I appreciate your concern for me." Balmus gives a bow to the spirit of the ancient wise sage king. The talking among the crowd grew loud at the appearance of another prestigious figure's spirit, in what seems to be an act to support the fallen Pope. "But it would be a proper punishment for what I did to my children."
"NO! Please do not do this to us, Father." Jeanne D'Arc suddenly breaks her silence, and kneels down where she stood. The rest of the sons of Balmus turn to look at her. "Please, go to Avalon with Master Shirou, Father. You might have given us a harsh life, but you are the only reason we get to have a life, rather than being given 'Chief God's Last Mercy' as soon as we were born. Even if you feel the need to be punished, please do not take away our hope from seeing you again when our lives end. Give us something to look forward to at the end of our lives, father."
"Give us something to look forward to at the end of our lives, father!" All the sons of Balmus who are present kneel down after Janne, to repeat her last words. The Seraphim brothers let go of Abaddon, who had also stopped struggling and followed Jeanne's example.
"My dear children... What have I ever done to earn such devoted love and respect from you all?" The spirit of the Three Heroes' Church's fallen Pope stares at his sons. He looks genuinely moved by their actions. "I thank you, my children. I do not deserve your love, but I will not take your hope away. Live your lives with diligence, my sons. Be better than me, live the lives of the righteous, so we may meet again in the end, in Avalon."
"WAIT! Before you go!" The Shield Hero suddenly takes a few steps forward and reaches his hand out towards the past Bow Hero, almost as if trying to stop the ghost from leaving. "Can you tell us anything about this current Wave? About The Burning Legion?! I'm told by Fitoria that this Wave is different from others."
"I see the current avatar of Alaya has informed you of the precarious situation, Shield Hero." The spirit of the past Bow Hero turns to look at the current Shield Hero. There is a sign of regret on his face. "Unfortunately, my position as the guard to Avalon prevents me from diverging too much information of the celestial plane to mortals. But I will tell you this: the current threat you are facing was initiated by the one the mortals of this world call 'The Chief God'. But it is not divine in origin. If that was the case, then The Chief God could have stopped it eons ago. The threat you are facing is also mortal in nature, which is why it also has to be stopped by mortals such as yourselves."
"I am ready to go, Master Shirou." Biscas Tiberius Balmus turns around to face Shirou Emiya. The spirit of the last and (arguably) greatest Bow Hero ignores the riot his word caused to the crowd, or the angry war cry Sir Palmer made as she charged at him. The ghost of Shirou smiles at his disciple, and reaches his hand out again. For one moment, the ghost of the fallen Pope looked as if he had lived. A tall, broad shouldered old man in his ceremonial robes. But when their hands touch, his ethereal body is that of a young boy barely ten summers of age reaching up to his mentor. Almost as if he was finally washed clear of his sins, the spirit of Balmus walks into the final ray of sunlight with Shirou. Sir Palmer's arm sword, coated in holy fire that should be the bane of evil spirits, sails harmlessly through the body of both Shirou Emiya and Biscas Balmus as they disappear into the light.
Sarah Palmer isn't the only person to lose composure. Abaddon Abel suddenly shoots over at the still reeling soul worm as soon as the spirit of both Shirou Emiya, and Biscas Balmus disappeared. Amongst ear piercing screech and dying wail, the peacock begins to tear the monster apart with his bare hands. It barely took as much time as the queen's knight captain to recover from her overreached swing and turn around for the monster to lie dead in countless pieces at the wrathful son's feet. "You dare to kill my queen's prized soul worm, you untamed little shi- AUGH!"
Abaddon Abel closed the distance and appeared right in front of Sarah Palmer without even giving the knight the chance to blink. Despite their height difference, the peacock easily picked up the much taller female knight up by her throat as the wrathful son levitated off the ground on purple peacock wings. The most loyal son of Balmus stares into Sarah Palmer's eyes with a satisfied smirk as the knight uselessly kicks her feet in the air. The peacock only breaks eye contact with the queen's knight captain when Janne calls out. "Release Sir Palmer, Abaddon! We are not here to cause another rebellion!"
"Better learn to behave yourself if you know what's good for you and your pretender queen, little man-animal. We are no longer slaves you kept on a leash, you see." The words said, Abaddon Abel throws Sarah Palmer into the wall of the cathedral. The knight's head makes a loud crack against the marble wall. The wrathful son tears the medal of Chevalier off, and throws it at the queen's face like a throwing knife. "Take your trash back, you backstabbing little pretender queen! I don't want anything from you!"
Queen Mirellia has to quickly dodge to the side to avoid the attack, losing any sense of grace in the process. Jeanne D'Arc walks in front of the queen, her brothers following behind her. She didn't follow Abaddon's example to attack the queen, but she takes the badge of Chevalier off her chest just the same as she stares at the queen. "Thank you for this great honor, my queen. However... I found I would rather be my father's slave for eternity, than your Chevalier for a single day. From this day, let our new knightly order be known as 'Sons of Biscas'."
With her words said, the black swan throws the medal of Chevalier at the queen's feet. She is followed by all of her brothers, some more reluctant than others. Biscas Cain, Raziel and Rehab immediately followed Jeanne's example. Turel and Melchiah followed after the four of them half a beat later. Dumah and Zephon exchanged a look with each other before they slowly took down the medal from their chest and carefully left them onto the pile after everyone else.
Cromwell walks out behind Queen Mirellia. The former Head Confessor, newly promoted Vicar of the Three Heroes' Church, is sweating profusely as his body shakes. "The appearance of both Saint Shirou Emiya, and the wise sage king Ariona's spirit showed that we were too hasty in condemning His Eminence. He should be resting in the hall of Martyrs just like young Sir Jaune Arc. If you give us a moment, we will prepare his body for his final rest."
"There's no need, Master Cromwell. We have already bid our farewell to our father's soul. Now, we shall prepare his mortal vessel for his last great journey, as per our traditions." Janne no longer focuses her sight on the queen. She turns to her fellow Sons of Biscas, particularly at Abaddon Abel. She hands the Replica shard weapon with both of her hands, towards the wrathful son. "You are the most loyal son of our father, Abel. This weapon used by him should be yours by right."
"You think I care about who gets to use some fire sticks?" By contrast, Abaddon looks almost offended at Jeanne's offer. The peacock walks over to their father's body, slowly kneels down and picks Balmus' mortal vessel up. "I will carry our father's body on his final journey."
"As is your right." Janne nods her head, and all the children of Balmus turn around to leave the steps of the grand cathedral of the Three Heroes' Church, not sparing another glance to their queen. Dumah and Zephon did take one last look at the pile of chevalier medals, but they didn't say or do anything to break their ranks. Their group is flanked by the side by the recently promoted Arch Vicar Logarius, Vicar Duncan and Archduke Wales at the front. And slowly but surely, more and more of the now freed demi-human slave fighters of the Three Heroes' Church joined their group till they began to move like a wave themselves.
The sound of the crowd begins to die out as the Sons of Biscas leave the cathedral. At first, nobody made any movement, barely daring to breathe underneath the gaze of their queen and her loyal guards. Then one of the old inhabitants of Melromarc Castle whose hair and beard white turns around, he is followed by a child barely ten summers of age. The old man cast a long stare at his queen and down at the child, likely his grandson and tried to push the child away. But the child remains firm holding onto his arm. Finally, the grandfather relents as they both turn around to catch up to the children of Balmus. After their example, more and more people begin to leave the farce of an execution till the only ones remain are the guards who are still loyal to the queen, and those who wish to gain something from her.
On the street, the procession of the late Pope Balmus slowly made their way towards the city's gate. They are slowed down by the constant stream of people who both stand before them, and trailed after them to pay their final respect to one of their greatest heroes from The Great War who saved their nation, and themselves from the brutal Siltvelt occupants. People choose to remember Biscas Tiberius Balmus for his acts of heroism, not his mistakes. The Sons of Biscas show any signs of annoyance at this. If anything, they seem to take some comfort in the affection shown by the people towards their father, and themselves. Or perhaps they appreciate the chance to spend a bit more time in the presence of their father's body for a little longer. One of the inhabitants of the capital lit up a candle, in a gesture to show the soul of the deceased their path, and soon the city of Melromarc Castle began to resemble the star filled night sky with how many glowing lights dancing in the street.
Some of Balmus' children fly into the night. Not too long after, there is the sound of trees being felled in the distance. Not long after, the demi-human knights brought large logs of timber back. They begin to build a funeral pyre out of the materials. Abaddon Abel leaps onto the top of the pyre, and gently places the body of Biscas Balmus on top before jumping back down. The peacock lights up a torch, and tosses it onto the piles of logs as it slowly begins to fire, engulfing the body of the former pope of the Three Heroes' Church. Jeanne D'Arc leads the chant of her fellow Sons of Biscas, as they look up at the rising smoke. "Earth, water, air, and fire... travel, our father."
On that day, the people of glorious Melromarc forever lost one of their greatest heroes, and the Chief God's Miracle Maker. But his sons will continue to protect them against any threat. Be it monsters, or men.
End Note:
Epilogue 1 of Ambition of the Red Princess. Originally, I planned to have this be part of the last story chapter. But it kind of got into the length that's too long to be added to the last story chapter, and too short to be its own thing. And unfortunately, it really doesn't work if I combine it with Epilogue 2 either. So I just went 'fuck it! I'll have two epilogues and update them on the same week!'
So... the final FINAL appearance of Balmus, and the last moment (for now) of the Humiliation Conga for Whipping Boy's Bitch... for now. Yes. The soul of Shirou Emiya literally descended down from the heaven and told the queen: "I'm taking my student's soul to heaven with me. Go fuck yourself."
Also... yes. Balmus' sons are the Sixteenth Legion, in alternate heresy fanfictions where they are loyalists. I think it's fitting how both Horus and Balmus (didn't even realize the last two letters of their name are the same till now) are arch heretics of their original, canon work. But I redeemed Balmus just like certain WashHose40K writers redeemed Horus.
But to be clear, Abaddon Abel is not a shota version of Abaddon the Despoiler (even if I stole his name). Abel is based more on Palus Abel (if the whole peacock motif isn't enough) from GaoGaiGar Final.
Oh, right. And Shirou also didn't speak too highly of the Chief God. Because frankly... why should he? The only reason everything worked out in canon was because Alenko didn't let any negative consequence happen to their imaginary dream pet husbando. For all SIOC's self-awareness lacking, wrong genre savvy bluster, he is right in saying Naofumi (the one he knows from the novel, at least) really wasn't that smart. Of course, his mistake as a lot of other SIOC, or time travel fanfiction protagonists is believing everything is pre-determined, and that people can't become something else through different experience.
