Chapter 84. Chained Together
Koyanskaya gazed intently at the ceiling, pierced by the dim light of the moon. Everything around her seemed empty and meaningless, as if she were locked in the prison of her own thoughts. She felt deep loneliness and hopelessness, battling these emotions like a ruthless demon. How did she end up here? What ghostly threads of fate had brought her together with Dudley Dursley, the peculiar sixth-year from Hogwarts, who had become fixated on Gryffindor fire? Her heart burned with sorrow and incomprehension — how could she be responsible for his calling?
Recalling her conversations with Dudley and his strange companion, Ritsuka Fujimaru, Koyanskaya felt familiar words stirring her mind again. They spoke of unknown concepts, of powers that surpassed her understanding. They spoke of good and evil, of the intricate dance of justice and injustice, of love and hate intertwining in the lives of every mortal. But the strangest thing was that they said she should not be who she was. That she should fight for what is right, even if it contradicts her nature. That she should not serve those whose goals would destroy all worlds and plunge them into darkness. That she should not remain indifferent to the suffering of others. That she should be more than just Koyanskaya — she must surpass herself.
Deep within, Koyanskaya felt the flame of doubt tearing her apart. She was a villain, merciless and cold-blooded. But with each word from Dudley and Ritsuka, she felt something greater awakening within her — a spark of resistance and the opportunity to change her fate. Now she stood at a crossroads, where each path led to different worlds. She had to make a choice: remain true to her dark nature or embrace the path of goodness and fight against the forces that sought to taint all existence.
Minutes stretched into eternity as Koyanskaya continued to stare at the ceiling, feeling the weight of decision upon her. Her heart beat in unison with the ticking of the clock, resounding in her mind. But in the end, she realized she could not remain indifferent to the world that surrounded her. She must overcome her own dark parts and channel her strength for the greater good. This was her trial, her chance to become a heroine in her own story, despite all obstacles and doubts. And she decided not to succumb to fear, but to step out of the shadows and confront her inner demons, shedding light where darkness reigned.
Opening her eyes again, Koyanskaya looked at the edge of the night sky on the ceiling. The stars twinkled, illuminating the formless darkness. For they were living worlds, where someone was born and someone died, creating an endless flow of events. She saw herself there — a tiny moment in the space of light and shadow. She was a creation of countless worlds that simultaneously existed and did not exist. And the manifestation of truth, so elusive and multifaceted, flickered before her eyes.
All these reflections triggered a turning point in her thoughts. Perhaps those two were on the right path. Perhaps she was wrong. Maybe she could find a new essence. Maybe she could become better. Maybe find her happiness.
A smile played on Koyanskaya's lips. Maybe she would prove herself worthy. Test herself, become someone new, better than before. Find the key to the dizzying clarity of this life.
Closing her eyes, she peacefully sank into a dreamless sleep. A sleep without dreams, a sleep to conserve energy, unnecessary to Servants, but so important for ordinary people. A sleep that remained beyond the awareness of the monstrous evil, against which even the Holy Grail commanded her to stand.
"Jeanne," Harry addressed her. "I've noticed you haven't been yourself lately."
"What do you mean?" she casually flicked her hand, and a piece of fried potato fell off her fork onto the tablecloth, but she paid no attention to it. Her gaze was refined, and it sparked with a light that hadn't been there before.
"You seem...joyful after we restored London on Christmas. What happened to you in those ruins?"
"I just spent some time alone with myself, Harry."
"And?"
The onlookers gazed at Jeanne with admiration.
"Golden words!" Sirius praised her.
"Words worthy of a true saint!" Okabe applauded.
"I never called myself that," Jeanne calmly responded.
"And yet..." Suzuha Amane pondered. "I can't understand how Jeanne d'Arc can be an alternate version. What makes her alternative?"
"Don't think about it," Ritsuka curtly interjected.
"But... why?"
"Just trust me, don't think about it, and it will be easier for you to live."
"But... sir!" Hermione addressed him. "You haven't even told us how you met Jeanne..."
"That..." Fujimaru began, but at that moment something beeped, and Mash unleashed her shield. She placed it on the floor, and in the middle of the central disk of the shield, a blue hologram appeared.
"Ritsuka! Looks like you've made new friends without me!" alive Mona Lisa exclaimed.
"Mona Lisa?" Okabe exclaimed in surprise, looking at the flickering image.
"Apologies, Da Vinci," Ritsuka and Mash said, flustered. "We're at a loss without our allies," Fujimaru continued.
"Next time, introduce me when you have the chance."
Tesla slipped past the table. He approached the hologram and, leaning in, studied it intently. Then he turned a meaningful glance towards Da Vinci.
"Pleasure to see you again," he politely bowed. "Any news?"
"Nothing good," she replied. "Your time is swiftly running out... multiple distortions are being detected..."
"What about the signal?" Ritsuka asked, looking at the fading hologram.
Tesla reached out his hand towards Mash's shield and quickly adjusted something. The hologram intensified once again, but not for long.
"...just a reminder, you have exactly one and a half years left... Report any anomalies."
"Understood," Tesla responded. "Time travelers have arrived with us. John Titor and his friends."
"John Titor?" Da Vinci exclaimed. "He is supposed to appear..."
"I know John Titor's story, thank you," Tesla replied.
"I'll search for ways to help you," Da Vinci confidently said before her holographic image finally disappeared.
"Look at this news!" Ron exclaimed, holding up the latest issue of the Prophet before them.
The muggles are conducting a raid on an ancient family of wizards!
Yesterday, December 30th, a shocking event occurred in the world of magic, which you, dear readers, have surely already heard of. Cunning muggles used firearms to carry out an attack on one of the oldest and most powerful wizarding families. This family, who lived a quiet and secluded life in their estate, suffered from the ruthless attackers.
The muggle police have already launched an investigation and suspect numerous young gangs that have been active recently. One of them is a gang called the "Bloody Angels". Our sources report that the police will consider the possibility of including other gangs in the list of suspects who may have been involved in this brutal attack. We do not yet have a complete picture of what happened, but a random attack seems increasingly less likely.
This event cannot leave any wizard or magician indifferent. Such an intrusion of muggles into the world of magic has caused strong indignation and outrage among the magical community. Considering the current situation in the world, where the Second Magical War is underway and against the backdrop of the unfolding Holy Grail War, such an attack becomes even more dangerous and intolerable.
The magical community is addressing the Ministry of Magic, demanding a harsh and decisive response to this attack. It is time to show unity and strength and punish those responsible in accordance with magical legislation.
Our readers are already familiar with the war being waged in the magical world, especially with Harry Potter, a Hogwarts student who is fighting on the fronts against the Dark Lord and his followers. The skillful use of firearms by muggles is astonishing with its incomprehensible mastery and can threaten both ordinary wizards and students of the magical school, located beyond its walls. The authorities of the Ministry of Magic must undoubtedly react immediately and do everything to prevent such attacks in the future.
We will monitor the development of this situation and inform you in a timely manner about any new details and actions taken by the Ministry of Magic. We wish all our readers safety and hope that the magical community can overcome these trials together by uniting their efforts.
"That doesn't sound good," Astolfo snorted.
"I'm more concerned about how they managed to infiltrate that house," Okabe mused. "We didn't even see your house from the outside. How did they do it?"
"It seems like they weren't hiding from anyone and weren't expecting armed guests," Sirius speculated. "That means we can't feel safe unless we establish additional security measures."
"Worse if they have Servants," Cedric suggested, casually running his fingers through his hair. "They'll pierce through any defense."
"Well, sorry, Cedric!" Mordred retorted, playing with her chin with a hint of mockery. "If a Servant gets in here, you know what will happen."
"But you're with us now, so we'll have to accept the challenge," he said, radiating confidence.
Reluctantly, Mordred agreed, her face distorted with dissatisfaction. Only a cunning smile, spread across Koyanskaya's face, stood out, giving her an involuntary incentive to fight.
"Alright!" she barked, seeing that there was no turning back. "What else is in the news?"
"Oh…" Harry replied, trying to contain his annoyance. "They found more heroes willing to fight for the Grail…"
Mordred approached him, her eyes sparkling with fury, her face almost touching his. He could feel her breath on his nose, as she closely studied the newspaper article in the Prophet. This made Harry raise his eyebrows. But Mordred didn't step back, she thundered with a menacing laugh.
"Let them challenge me if they're bold enough! Clarent Blood Arthur eagerly awaits the hour to test their armor!"
"Why just you?" Jeanne interjected, her voice filled with liveliness. "We'll be fighting alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, and no one will be able to break us!"
Young and ambitious gang, the Bloody Angels, had planned a daring robbery in London. They relied on their Servants - Archer, Rider, and Pretender - to assist them. They planned to break into a bank and steal its vault, using their abilities and weapons. They knew it was dangerous, but they were not afraid of the risk. They wanted to prove to themselves and the world that they were the best of the best.
However, before starting their daring task, they wanted to take a walk and explore the city. They strolled slowly through the streets, admiring architectural masterpieces and marveling at the shop windows. They paid no attention to the passersby, who, in turn, watched them with a mix of astonishment and fear. They carried themselves with such audacity and excessive self-confidence, as if they were kings and queens capable of any prank.
However, one face caught their attention more than others. Her name was Medusa - a Servant of Lily, dressed in leather. The contours of her outfit perfectly accentuated the outlines of her figure and her hair, stretching in long straight strands. On her head, she wore an unconventional ornament that covered her cursed eyes, capable of turning anyone who looked into them into stone. She was incredibly beautiful and mysterious, but at the same time, a little out of place in this world.
"Look at your amusing servant, Lily," Archer started mocking. "She looks like some pervert from a cheap movie. Don't you think she stands out too much?"
"Yes, yes, it's funny," Lily replied, trying not to pay attention to his words. She respected Medusa and did not want her to be offended. Lily understood that Medusa suffered from her curse and felt lonely and useless. She strove to make Medusa happy and confident, to make her feel, even for a moment, that she had a friend.
"And why did we end up with servants we have to spend money on?" Rick, Pretender's servant, supported Archer. "She isn't even capable of doing anything other than using her eyes. And if she accidentally looks at us, we'll all turn into stone! It's suicide, simply the height of recklessness!"
"Don't say that, Rick," Jason defended Medusa. "She's not as useless as you think. She has incredible abilities: she can ride her horse and obliterate everything in her path with a laser beam. All of this makes her indispensable in battles. Besides, she's just unbelievably beautiful. Didn't you notice?"
"I must say, she's quite elegant," Lily joined in with a smile. "I adore her just the way she is. But I want her to feel comfortable in this world. I want her to choose her clothes based on her own desires, not obligations. I want to see her happy."
"Why don't you come up with a new wardrobe for her?" Jason suggested. "That boutique over there looks good. There must be plenty of fashionable outfits that will emphasize her personality. Why don't you choose something unique for her?"
"Do you think so?" Lily asked, looking at the shop. "Well, why not? We're still planning to rob a bank, so money is not an issue. Let's go in and see what they have."
"Alright, let's go," Jason agreed. "But hurry up. We don't have much time. We need to be prepared for the robbery."
"Yes, yes, don't worry, I'll be quick. Let's go, Medusa, let's start picking out new outfits," Lily said, leading Medusa along. She was sincerely grateful to Medusa for her patience. She wanted to see her happy and joyful, right now, and even for a moment, Medusa could be reassured that she now had a friend.
"Alright, Lily," Medusa replied, following her. She felt deep gratitude towards Lily for her care and attention.
"And we'll wait here for now," Jason said, addressing Archer and Rick. "Don't go too far. And don't do anything foolish."
"Don't worry, Jason," Archer said with a self-satisfied smirk. "We'll behave. Right, Rick?"
"Of course, Archer," Rick nodded. "We're not children. We know what we're doing."
"Alright then," Jason said, not entirely convinced. "See you soon."
Lily and Medusa entered the store, where they were greeted by the saleswoman. She was nice and friendly, but also surprised by Medusa's appearance. She couldn't understand why someone would wear such a strange costume.
"Hello, welcome to our store," she said. "How can I assist you?"
"Hello," Lily replied. "We want to buy a new outfit for my friend. Do you have anything suitable for her?"
"Of course, we have many different things," the saleswoman said. "What style do you prefer? Classic, sporty, rock, pop, gothic?"
"I don't know," Lily said, looking at Medusa. "What do you think, Medusa? What do you like?"
"I don't know," Medusa said, lowering her gaze. "I've never chosen clothes for myself. I've always worn what was given to me."
"Well, let's try something new then," Lily said, taking Medusa's hand. "Let's see what suits you. Maybe you'll find something you like."
"Alright, Lily," Medusa said, following her. She was glad that Lily wanted to make her beautiful and fashionable. She wanted to resemble Lily and look worthy beside her.
Lily and Medusa started trying on various things that the saleswoman offered them. They tried on hats, sunglasses, jackets, sweaters, jeans, sneakers, and much more. They laughed, hugged, sometimes argued, but always skillfully complimented each other. They became like old friends who had known each other for years and rejoiced together endlessly.
Finally, they found something they liked. It was an outfit consisting of a cap, round glasses with pink lenses, a leather jacket, a sweater, jeans, and sneakers. The bright, stylish, and enchanting outfit fully emphasized Medusa's wonderful features, giving her a sense of her own uniqueness and impeccable style. All this beauty was capable of making her happy and confident.
"Medusa, you look absolutely stunning!" Lily exclaimed with admiration, unable to contain her awe-inspiring gaze. "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen! This outfit suits you so well."
"Thank you, Lily," Medusa happily replied, visibly blushing. "You're also very beautiful and lovely."
"Then let's buy this outfit," Lily excitedly suggested, grabbing Medusa's hand. "Let's show everyone how cool we are."
"Yes, yes, Lily," Medusa exclaimed, literally glowing with happiness. "Let's prove to everyone how fashionable and happy we are as friends!"
They approached the cash register where the saleswoman was waiting for them. She was glad that they found what they liked. She was kind and helpful. She did not judge them for their choices.
"Here is your receipt," she said, ringing up their purchase. "That will be 199 pounds."
"Here you go," Lily said, pulling a 200-pound note out of her pocket. "Keep the change. Thank you for your help."
"Thank you for your purchase," the saleswoman said, taking the money. "Come back again. Have a great day."
"Thank you," Lily and Medusa said, putting on their new items. "Goodbye."
Leaving the store, Lily and Medusa happily held hands, humming the song they had just heard inside. They were enveloped in an atmosphere of joy and satisfaction. The air was filled with the energy of new adventures that awaited them.
Approaching the corner, Lily and Medusa noticed that Jason, Archer, Rick, and Pretender were already waiting for them. All four boys were mesmerized by Medusa's new outfit. Her transformation impressed and amazed them, causing them to gaze at her. Everyone except Agent Smith.
"Wow, Medusa, you look absolutely stunning," Jason said, approaching them. "You've changed completely! You've become even more beautiful and attractive."
"Thank you, Jason," Medusa replied shyly, not knowing how to respond to so many compliments. "It was all Lily's plan, she helped me choose the outfit. She's so caring and kind."
"Yes, Lily, you did great," Jason warmly said, hugging Lily tightly. "You made Medusa happy and confident. You're the best friend one could wish for."
"Thank you, Jason," Lily whispered back in submission, gently kissing him. "And you're wonderful and loving too."
"Hmm, Medusa, you've really changed," Archer cunningly said, evaluating her appearance. "You're incredibly stylish and fashionable. There's no way anyone could mistake you for a character from a low-quality movie now."
"Thank you, Archer," Medusa hesitated, trying to understand his compliment. "You're always so attentive. I hope we won't fight or mock each other anymore."
"I can't promise that, Medusa," Archer said with a smirk. "But I agree that you've become more interesting and impressive. You're no longer just subservient, you've become a real ally."
"Thank you, Archer," Medusa said, feeling something like respect welling up inside her. "I'm very pleased that you recognized my worth. I hope our collaboration will be fruitful."
"Wow, Medusa, you're a ray of sunshine," Rick whispered, winking at her. "You no longer look like a scarecrow, you've turned into a true beauty."
"Thank you, Rick," Medusa replied, averting her gaze. "I'm glad you appreciated my makeover. But don't think I'm an available girl. My heart already belongs...
At that moment, she hesitated and lowered her gaze completely.
"I understand, Medusa, of course," Rick replied, not taking offense at her words. "But I'll always be glad to have a legend of antiquity by my side."
Medusa was about to respond to Rik, when suddenly the Pretender interjected into the conversation, giving a cold glare towards the girl.
"Well, Medusa, you look strange," the Pretender began, fixing his disdainful gaze upon her. "You have become more alien and unfitting. You no longer resemble a warrior, you have become a puppet."
"Thank you, Pretender," Medusa said, not understanding his words. "I don't know what you mean. I haven't changed my essence. I am still a warrior."
"Lies, Medusa, lies," the Pretender said, dismissing her words. "You deceive yourself and others. You have become a victim of human weakness. You have become nothing."
Medusa lowered herself to the ground. She took off her glasses, covered her face with her hands, and pressed her knees against her face.
"What a despicable character you are, Pretender."
She didn't look at those around her, but it was at that moment that the Bloody Angels all turned to face the one person in the stern suit, and that face showed no emotions. Even the usually arrogant face of Gilgamesh expressed a silent question of "what is wrong with you, Pretender?"