Author's notes: I've got nothing, really. I may rename this.
Don't drink an energy drink on an empty stomach. It kinda hurts.
And no, I hold no ownership of DxD or Elden Ring, or even free will.
The lost Empyrean
Chapter 4
Tepes faction, Romania
"I assume the matter has been dealt with?"
He sat lazily on his throne; a golden chalice filled with blood held in his grasp.
"Yes, my lord. The Manthur stray has been eliminated."
"But?"
The servant reporting the news stiffened, sweat immediately began to gather at his brow. The air suddenly became heavy.
"B-but... it was not by us."
The man did not respond, only looking deeper into his servant's face.
"T-there were traces of holy aura, my lord. It would appear some exorcists had taken care of the stray."
The man's eyes narrowed even further, causing the servant to pale.
"Just how were exorcists of the church able to get this deep into our lands?"
"I... I have no idea..."
The man shook his head, letting out a sigh.
"It matters not. Send word to the son of Lucifer and inform him the research with the Sephiroth Graal are still running smoothly."
The servant gave a bow, inwardly pleased he had lived longer than the last servant of their lord.
"It shall be done, Lord Tepes."
...
She finally had time to rest for a moment. Despite being revived, and even cured of her affliction, Malenia was only running on fumes. However she was saved, the technique had not returned any stamina.
"Your staring into my skull will not harm me."
The stare only got sharper, as she turned to the nuisance. When did she cut her hair?
"Why did you help us?"
"Xenovia! At least say thank you for the assistance!"
Malenia had been given time to rest, but at what cost?
"Irina, she stabbed you!"
"We attacked her!"
Across from her, on a hospital bed each, were the two girls with peculiar weapons she had just humiliated hours prior.
The brunette pressed her hands together, bowing her head.
"The lord is the reason we had been brought together! But now, we must repent for assaulting this kind woman!"
The blue haired girl beside her frowned, going right back to staring into Malenia's forehead.
"As I have just said-"
"You can wield it."
She had no idea what the girl meant by that.
"I know you can. It called out to you."
"I know not what you speak of"
Xenovia sighed, clearly not amused. Unless the woman really had no idea.
"Durandal. Probably even Mimic and Destruction."
"Really? Could she be a natural holy sword wielder, like you?"
Irina chimed in, undoubtedly shocked at this information. Malenia was as stoic as usual.
"The lord truly did want our paths to cross! This is fate!"
Xenovia sighed again.
"Regardless, this needs to be reported to the church."
"Yes, I suppose you're..."
As if a lightbulb had gone off in their heads, the two exorcists climbed to the edge of their beds, moving closer to the giant woman.
"The church..."
"She is unnaturally tall..."
"And unnaturally beautiful..."
"She has a higher pairing with Durandal than me..."
"Her aura feels divine, now that I can think clearly now..."
Both girls, at once, had leaned even closer, their faces ecstatic.
""You must be an angel!""
Malenia had never been more irritated in her life. Not even when Godrick had wasted her time with a promising battle, only to end up begging at her feet like a mutt.
...
Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Griselda Quarta hadn't been more confused in her life. Her ward and student, sent to Romania to hunt down a vampire much stronger than her. The Shidou girl going along had not calmed her nerves any, either. Fortunately, she just had heard they survived, as well as completed their mission. Yet now they're returning... with an angel?
...
Romania
'Miquella, I can finally utilize the abilities of a child of the Eternal Queen.' She had thought to herself, clenching and unclenching her golden fist. Her brother had learned countless spells and incantations of golden light from their father, always eager to show them off to her. Now, she could use them too.
'Yet, who could have cured me of the scarlet rot?' She had been cured but could now no longer utilize her affliction for battle. She was no longer blinded and in constant pain, yet the great rune she had seized was gone as well. Her abandoned pride had somewhat returned, having been lost the day she gave into her affliction to match the Starscourge.
"Lady Malenia?"
Her golden eyes slowly drifted over to the voice she had unfortunately become accustomed to.
"Are you alright? You've been staring pretty intensely through the window."
She turned back to the said window, staring up at the stars above them.
"Leave it, Irina. She probably prefers to fly with her own wings, rather than sitting in an airplane for hours."
Olive and Violet eyes still stared at her, nonetheless.
"Still, Xenovia, it isn't good to-"
'Cold', Malenia thought, at the same time noticing something odd coming towards them from outside, something dark and spherical.
"Hm?"
Her eyes only widened in the slightest, as the ball of dark energy shot through the wing of their transportation.
'BOOM'
"What was that?!"
"Vom muri!"
"Irina!"
The other passengers on the plane began screaming, much to her annoyance.
"We're being attacked!?"
The two exorcist girls weren't faring much better, their faces shocked and confused.
'SHHHIIINGGG'
A side of the plane had torn open and had begun pulling passengers out and sending them falling into the sky.
"What do we do?!"
"Tine-te de ceva!"
"Doamne, nu!"
The plane now rapidly plummeting, she looked back at her two unwanted companions, making the worst decision in this land yet.
"Both of you, hold onto me" 'Miquella, you are much too kind for your own good.'
The girls don't hesitate to do so, wrapping their arms around her with all the strength they can muster. Xenovia was only a little less terrified than her partner.
"What's the plan?"
Malenia wasn't too sure, herself. She had never fallen from such a height. All she could think of working with were those wings of light used by Godfrey's Crucible Knights. However, she had never used any magic in her life. This plan relied on faith she had never cared to need before. She thrust her golden hand into the wall next to her, tearing a new hole into the airplane.
"Are you insane?!"
"Suicide isn't the answer here!"
She ignored the girls' ramblings, wrapping her hands around them both and jumping out of the plane.
...
"We're gonna die!"
They were falling fast, the weight of her golden prosthetic alone making them sink quicker than the other passengers, who were also falling to their deaths.
"Lady Malenia!"
She resisted the urge to just drop them, her concentration constantly being broken.
"Be quiet."
"How can you be so calm!?"
Her affliction must have also rotted away whatever magic reserves she had been born with, along with the other damage done to her soul. Now, however, without the scarlet rot, Malenia could feel something swelling throughout her body, even throughout her very core. She pictured the wings she had seen from those Crucible Knights once, now all she needed to do was use her newfound golden light to form them. She remembered her use of those wings of rot and was confident she could use these the same way.
'An aspect of the crucible... made from light of the golden order...'
Golden feathers of light burst from her back, drawing the attention of the girls in her arms.
"You really are..."
"...An angel!"
She sighed, resisting the incredible urge to drop them.
"Be quiet and be grateful."
The girls nodded; yet their faces never changed from distress.
...
She landed rather gracefully, the motes of light behind her fading away into nothingness as her feet touched the ground.
"W-we're alive."
"L-lady Malenia..."
The girls let go of her, collapsing onto their behinds. The brunette slapped her hands together, silently chanting something. The other girl...
"As expected of an angel."
Malenia couldn't care to correct her.
'BOOM'
They all turned to the loud sound of an explosion in the distance.
"There goes the plane..."
Irina spoke, going right back to praying immediately after.
"Everyone else on the plane is most likely dead."
Xenovia spoke up as well, standing up on her feet.
"You should have been as well."
An unknown voice spoke up. It quickly gained their attention.
"Vampire..."
Irina whispered, quickly getting up to her feet. Both girls readied their weapons.
"I am quite curious though, where did you learn to use such a spell?"
Malenia, for all the stoical she was, calmly replied.
"Just now."
She would have laughed at their shared deadpanning, if she knew how to.
"W-what...?"
The man, the 'vampire' in front of them, was also just as shocked.
"I said-"
"I heard you!"
He yelled, interrupting her.
"No, it doesn't matter. I can have some fun now."
The man bared his fangs, showing proof of his race, as well as his intentions.
"Lord Tepes was this close to killing me, you know."
He started to rant, much to Malenia's disappointment.
"All because you damn fools killed that exile. It's your fault!"
Wind began to pick up, Malenia's cloak blowing behind her.
"Lady Malenia."
She had no doubt the girls wanted to help, but this was the strongest opponent she had felt thus far.
"Stay back. I shall handle this myself."
"Cocky, are we? I'll have you know, I'm quite formidable. I did track you down, after all."
His crimson eyes glowed as he spoke, the church girls immediately recognized him as pureblooded. He was like the Manthar exile, yet so much stronger.
"Good, it seems at least two of you know how outmatched you are. Facing a servant of the great house of Tepes! I'm one that reports directly to the Lord! How utterly-"
"Chestnut, give me your weapon."
Irina, confused, realized Malenia was speaking to her.
"Huh?"
"Give me your weapon."
She looked down at mimic, currently transformed into a katana. She hesitantly gave it over.
"What am I supposed to use, then?"
"Blueberry, protect her."
Xenovia responded with a tiny glare. Malenia ignored it.
...
"Are you prepared, then?"
He scowled, no doubt upset at being ignored, as Malenia took a few steps forward.
"I am."
'Mimic...'. She noticed how the brunette could make it transform, from a simple string to this sword currently in her grip. With only a thought, the blade transformed into something different. It became nearly as long as her, guard less, and golden. It was nearly shaped as an arc, yet thin and single-sided, like a katana.
"A shard of Excalibur..."
The man whispered, his excitement now doubling. No, tripling. His fear was pushed down.
"No..."
She responded, popping the newly formed blade in place with the mechanism on her golden arm.
"It is the last thing you will ever see."
Feeling a sense of completion, she dashed forward, sparks flying between her hand and her blade, as Malenia thrust her blade at his head.
...
Vatican
Griselda was in despair. She had just heard her ward's plane had crashed in some town in Romania. No survivors.
"Don't worry, big sis. I am certain they are fine."
The blonde man smiling widely beside her was not helping right now.
"Gesualdo..."
He could feel her irritation yet smiled regardless.
"If they have survived fighting the stray with an 'angel' on their side, who's to say this Malenia woman hadn't saved them from the plane crash as well?"
She hated him. He was lazy, carefree, and usually correct.
"But what caused it?"
She leaned back on the bench, pinching her nose. She was surprisingly calmer now.
"Maybe a vampire? That civil war of theirs sure is intense..."
A few kids with a soccer ball saved Griselda from his annoying presence.
"Fratello Dulio! Giochiamo a calcio!"
"Ohhhh? Sei sicuro di voler perdere con me?"
They nodded happily, running back out to the field. Dulio stood up from the bench, flashing her a smile before following them. Griselda sighed, her eyes moving up to look at the sky.
...
Romania
'Clang'
'Shing'
'bang'
Irina and Xenovia could do nothing as they watched their angel fight the vampire. They were both equally as fast, each slash of a sword or thrust of lengthy fingernails deflected.
"Wow..."
Xenovia was seeing beautiful stars. Malenia, despite her stoicism, was glad the vampire was at least somewhat formidable.
"Don't get too comfortable!"
He laughed, transforming into bats just as she had managed to bypass his defense and thrust Mimic in his chest.
'Irritating' Malenia learned from the church girls of how effective holy weapons were against creatures like these, who can only come out under the stars. She could have ended this quickly, but the power of this man had caught her interest.
"Foarte bun!"
He yelled, disappearing into the shadows. Irina, not drooling like her partner beside her, knew what this meant.
"Watch ou-"
'clang'
Malenia ducked under the hand that had appeared from nowhere, deflecting the second one as the man lunged at her from behind. He went in for a kick, instead, with it being redirected with her free hand. However, now slightly off balance, the man saw and took advantage. Darkness appeared before her eyes, her vision cut off, unable to see his next movements.
"You're mine!"
'A decent try'. She literally tripped herself, sidestepping the swing of his arm, flicking her blade upward along his chest. He blocked it with his fingernails, grinning down at her.
"Nice try!"
She didn't return the smile, despite finally having the chance to draw blood. All she had to do was shorten mimic's blade currently clashing against his nails, taking him by surprise as she re-lengthened it and stabbed it through his leg.
"GAHH!"
She shifted her blade, tearing it through his thigh. He stumbled back, his face contorted in pain as he held onto his barely connected leg.
"YOU BITCH! IT BURNS! AI TRISAT!"
She didn't need to understand his language to know what his latter words were.
"I did not cheat."
"TRISOR!"
She could tell it burned, the holy sword in her hand having sliced through his leg like a hot knife through butter.
"LORD TEPES WILL-"
She understood he was in pain, but he was too loud.
'Shing'
Mimic went through his neck just as easily as his leg, the vampire's head falling as his body similarly crumples to the ground. He hadn't even reacted.
"An interesting match, nonetheless..."
Malenia stated, her arm dropping back to her side, with mimic reverting back to the armband Irina had originally worn it as. She tossed it at said girl, hitting her in the face.
"Incredible..."
Irina mumbled, looking up at her with a look of worship. She hadn't even registered getting hit. Xenovia, beside her, nodded vehemently.
"Your sword skills are amazing..."
Xenovia added, sharing a look with her partner. Malenia suddenly felt irritation rising once again.
"You're..."
"...Our."
"Guardian..."
""ANGEL!""
Malenia seriously regretted saving them.
...
A few hours later
Vatican
Her elder brother asked her to come down. The request was a bit strange, but Gabriel would never shy away from meeting a new sibling. Priests of all rank and file bowed to her as she walked by them, a big smile always set on her face.
"Lady archangel Gabriel."
"Ah, sister Griselda!"
She went to hug the exorcist immediately, despite the other woman's exasperation.
"Ehh..."
"It's an exciting day, is it not? We get to meet an angel!"
Griselda looked up at her funny, as if thinking 'You're one too'. She let the poor exorcist go, taking her by the hand to the room where she's supposed to meet her unknown sibling.
...
They put them in a cell. Not just Malenia, the unknown entity, but them, as well.
"I wonder if we'll be executed."
"Xenovia!"
Irina looked at her friend in shock, now panicking even more after hearing those words.
"Well, we're kind of the reason our plane crashed."
"How would we have known someone was going to hit us!?"
Xenovia only shrugged in response.
...
She wasn't pleased, even if she was still smiling. They put her supposed sister in a cell? It was a little understandable, but she still felt the need to defend her new sibling's actions. She had saved two young exorcists after all! And even repeatedly!
"We're here."
A priest had led them down below the basilica, into the catacombs. Into the prison section. Gabriel started to feel even more upset. Her sibling did not deserve to be kept away from the light!
"Lady archangel, sister Quarta."
He handed Griselda the key, before giving a polite bow to them both. He had scurried away quite quickly, as if scared of something.
'She doesn't even try to contain her aura' Griselda thought, feeling the same irritation in the air that the priest just now had. At least it was dissipating now, back into the contagious joy Gabriel constantly emitted.
"Are you ready, sister? I know I can't wait!"
She only nodded in response, pushing her given key into the lock of a tall iron door. It was probably heavy, but she had no problems opening it up. Gabriel sauntered in immediately, before stopping and looking straight up.
"Lady arc-"
She stared up as well. She now understood why Gabriel had stopped and stared. This woman was huge.
Malenia, on the other hand, never felt her heart twist in such a way before. The blonde before her was a woman, had a different eye color, and different facial features, yet she had reminded her so much of Miquella. And why was this woman blushing?
...
Chapter end
Notes: I feel the need to explain myself. Malenia, born from Marika and Radagon, can use their magic, the golden order spells and incantations. If she hadn't been cursed with the scarlet rot, that is. The powers of rot were all she could use, which would then spread her affliction quicker, so she tried not to use them at all.
Without scarlet rot, Malenia is free to learn and use golden order magics, as it's something Marika and Radagon invented/ taught to their followers, including Miquella, her brother. If anyone wants more details, look this up, or ask and I will explain. It is canon (Not her not having rot, the other things).
As for Excalibur Mimic, and the other holy swords, they require the user to have a certain level of holy element to wield them. Once again, Marika/ Radagon are the holiest, light infested person in Elden Ring (I'm actually not too certain of this one) Malenia and Miquella are their full-blooded children. With no rot and based on how resistant she is to holy attacks when you fight her in-game, it's no surprise now she has a holy aura. Natural holy sword wielders, like Xenovia, Roland, King Arthur, only appear once in a decade. Malenia isn't even of this world.
I want to let everyone know; I try not to bullshit. I do my research.
Btw, this current part of the story, namely the church duo who were supposed to fight that first vamp, takes place three years before Issei gets clipped.
Anyway, 2,900 words, not counting the notes? Something like that? Thanks for that input on chapter lengths, my one reviewer. Sayonara.