Chapter 132: Newfound determination
Tarkus staggered backwards as a series of blows glanced against his armour, with a grunt he swung his tower shield up and parried the next right hook skywards, drawing the shield back he thrust it forwards and smashed the ridge of the shield into the chest of the Servant. The woman took two steps backwards from the blow, raising an eyebrow at the knight.
Her left arm came up and blocked the downwards slash with the greatsword, the weapon buried half an inch into the leather bracer, the woman cracked a smirk as she drew her right arm back and thrust her palm forwards, it cracked against his chest and knocked him much further back.
The woman danced away as the spear of Brynhildr pierced the ground, the woman spun around on the weapon and performed a roundhouse kick aimed at her chin. The back of her armoured heel cracked against her jaw and snapped her head to the side, directly into a glancing blow from Nero's burning sword. The red blade earned a slight cut on the cheek and caused the Servant to step back once again.
Brynhildr brought the spear back around, swinging it into the Servants gut and knocking her backwards, Nero kicked off the ground and brought the sword above her head as she came back towards the ground. Brynhildr dragged the spear along the Servant's gut, earning a thicker slice than last time and turning the woman from the momentum. Nero fell upon the Servant, her sword crashing into the shoulder and burying an inch into the collar bone.
With a sharp smile, the woman reached up and grabbed the sword in her shoulder and held it in place. Her knee swung upwards and buried itself in Nero's gut, earning a wheeze from the Saber. The enemy Servant then turned her head towards Lancer, leaning her head to the side and avoiding a thrust aimed for her face.
A sharp blow staggered her forwards and had her loosen her grip on the sword and stagger forwards. She turned on her heel to the new attacker, finding herself staring at the blue hair and red eyes of Cu Chulainn, the man grinning sharply as he retracted his burning staff before flipping it around and implanting it in the ground.
A burning circle flashed in the snow, the arm of the wicker burst upwards with its fingers clenched into a fist. The wooden limb collided with her chin and sent her flipping through the air. Her face remained casual as she spun without any clear control, turning her head and noticing another blur moving through the air towards her. Torin loomed above her with his weapon swinging down and drove the head of the axe into her side, a second later a shock ran through her body akin to an earthquake.
With a boom, she was sent rocketing down to the ground and crashing into the snow, debris exploded all around her from the point of impact, lying down and breathing in and out as she stared up at the sky. "That's rather wonderful!" She exclaimed as she sat up, looking around and staring at all of the Servants. "No, really! It's wonderful and I'm glad you're all taking this seriously!"
"You were expecting us to take it as a joke!?" She turned towards the voice, looking up just in time to see the head of Torin's bronze axe rocketing towards her face, reaching out with her fingers outstretched.
The axe collided with her palm and stopped dead in its tracks, snow shifted around them as the shockwave rippled through the air.
"Not bad, not bad." She praised with a sage nod of the head, her fingers tightening around the axe head and then her eyes darting to the left side and smiled a little wider before dragging the weapon forwards, Torin stumbled with the movement and then saw where the woman was looking, promptly widening his eyes behind his helmet and raising his free hand and holding it out to stop Stahl's large leg from impacting his body.
The Berserker halted just before impact, freezing on the spot as if it had been unplugged.
The Servant smirked "Dear me!" she swung her right hand up and released a jet of fire into Torin's gut while he was distracted, the sudden explosion at point blank range punted him away from her as she turned away and crouched into a running position before she kicked off the ground and launched herself forwards, her shoulder crashed into Stahl's chest and carried the pair of them forwards.
Sticking her foot out, the woman dug her boot into the ground and slowed herself down as Stahl continued on.
"Stop yourself!" Olga shrieked in the background, Stahl swung their axe downwards and embedded it in the ground, dragging the weapon through the snow and slowing itself down as best as it could.
"Hmph!" The woman thrust her hands into the ground as far as they could go before ripping a large chunk of rock - approximately two metres across - from beneath the snow and leaving a crater at the base of her feet, with a grunt of exertion she spun around to face the group of humans and made an obvious motion of preparing to throw it at them.
Tarkus punched her in the face with the hilt of his greatsword, the woman's head snapped back and bone crunched as he very clearly broke her nose with the impact. Despite that, her hold on the boulder didn't loosen at all, rather she adjusted herself and swung it downwards directly onto Tarkus. The knight disappeared beneath the rubble for a few seconds before the rocks fell away, revealing his body - covered in dust, but otherwise perfectly unharmed and unmoved from the attack - directly where it had been.
The woman blinked once at him "Alright the-"
Tarkus kicked her in the gut, the woman folded with the blow and found herself skidding across the snow, glancing across the ground several times before she impacted shoulder first and was dragged through by the force of the kick.
Sticking her hands out and clawing her fingers, she halted her movement and snapped her head up, cracking her neck once and standing once again, maintaining a close eye on Stahl as they pulled themselves back to their feet before her eyes flickered over to Olga. "So that's how it is?"
Tensing herself, she lowered her body in preparation for another charge.
Focusing her attention solely on the Director, something the white haired woman noticed if the way she took a half step backwards and shifted her expression from determined to frozen like a deer in the headlights was any indication.
"Not so fast, lass!" Cu shouted out, waving his hands in front of himself and hurling forth a dozen bolts of lightning at the Servant. The woman reacted instantly, stamping her foot down and bringing up a wall of flames around her, the lightning cracked against the new barrier, tearing out chunks and exposing her form but otherwise doing little else. But it served to get her attention as she drew her right arm back and hurled a ball of flames towards the Caster.
Cu remained stationary as he twirled his staff and thrust it forwards, a pillar of ice rose from the ground and struck the attack head on.
Sweeping her arms around, the woman swung them in such a way that the flames surrounding her were fanned outwards in a wide circle. Charging out of them a split second later and charging straight for Olga.
"Wh-" Olga started, widening her eyes and scrambling backwards as the Servant closed the distance with her at a rapid pace, then suddenly twisted her body and kicked off the ground. Performing a cartwheel in the air and looking down with a smile, Brynhildr looked up at her as her spear passed through the air where she had been.
Twisting her body, the enemy Servant shifted herself to require Olga as a target only to blink when she noticed the woman had vanished. Her eyes attempted to reacquire her, only to halt as roots burst from the ground and wrapped themselves around her ankles.
"Oh!" She widened her eyes before she was suddenly dragged downwards, her body cracked against the floor as more roots burst out to entangle her arms and waist to keep her from moving. Her body erupted with flames, fire coating every inch of her skin as she laughed, burning away the restraints in a split second.
But for a Servant, a split second was all that was required.
Torin swung his axe into her side once again, the blade dug into her flesh before the weapon roared and the woman was violently shunted from the axe as if she had been punched. Ragdolling across the ground and then finding herself getting mule kicked in the face by the glass horse that Marie and Olga were currently riding.
She didn't make a single noise as she was struck, her momentum shifting to carry her back the way she had come. Nero charged in, swinging her sword and cutting another line across the woman as she passed her by, then stamping her foot down and making a sweeping motion with the sword as she spun on her heel to face the Servant once again, Astus Estus struck her in the side of the head and spun her again, carrying her away from the emperor.
Brynhildr kicked off the ground, launching herself into the air directly above the flying Servant as the arm of the Wicker burst from the ground - courtesy of Cu - and grabbed ahold of her to stop them from moving.
Twisting her spear, Brynhildr aimed it downwards so that it was directly aimed to pierce the chest of the enemy Servant, then dropped down like a rocket as magical energy coated her weapon.
The sound of crumbling stone filled Brynhildr's ear, a second later she watched as a giant ghostly arm that looked as though it was made from rock formed directly in front of her with its fingers opened wide. She had barely a moment to register it before the palm of the giant hand crashed into her and wrapped its fingers around her body in a crushing embrace.
The limb swung her down, swatting her flat into the snow before it retracted back.
"What the shi-" Cu cried out in alarm before another ghostly hand formed directly in front of him in the shape of a fist and rocketed towards him. The Caster abandoned his spell and lept to the side, watching as the fist ripped through the ground where he had been standing moments prior.
The Servant ripped her way free of the wicker arm, kicking off the crumbling summon and hurling herself into the air, her eyes rapidly darting around as she looked for the next target she could engage with. Soon landing upon Torin as he stared up at her with wide eyes.
With a grin, she twisted in the air and halted. Floating a few metres from the ground and drawing her head back as her mouth opened up. A new shape formed just behind her, skin of crumbling stone, skull shaped like an arrow and twin horns jutting from the back of the head. The fanged maw of the dragon head opened wide as the back of the throat started to glow.
Torin stared up, frozen rigid and clearly incapable of doing much more than staring up at the visage of the dragon baring down on him.
"Throw something at her!" Olga cried out at the top of her lungs, forgoing any sort of subtly in commands and just being desperate to stop the Servant before it could unleash their attack, something that was clearly not going to be very good if the cut off head of the dragon was any indication.
A second later, the circular shield of Stahl flew through the air like a discus, crashing into the enemy Servant and bouncing off her as she flew backwards from the force of the impact. The pair struck the ground at the same time, the Servant rolling backwards and getting into a crouched position.
She darted forwards, zig zagging through the ground before she made a beeline right towards Tarkus. The knight raised his tower shield to block what he thought was going to be a shoulder charge. The woman ducked to the right at the last second, appearing around the shield and swinging her left knee upwards, the kick crashed into his side and swept his legs out from underneath him. Tarkus made a surprised noise as he fell, the woman then drew back her right leg and swung it forwards like a hammer, her boot smashed into the centre of the shield and sent Tarkus sliding through the snow before she found herself immediately on the defensive as Torin, Brynhildr and Nero jumped her at the same time.
The woman blocked an axe blow from Torin with her arms, Nero stabbed her in the side with a thrust.
Her hand swept out and batted the red sword away from her body, Brynhildr smashed the butt of her spear over the back of her head.
Torin's fist caught her in an uppercut, her head snapped back as Brynhildr swung her spear around and smashed her in the sternum, folding her over the blade of the spear. Nero's sword swung into the bridge of her nose and slashed open the flesh around her face in a horizontal line.
She staggered backwards, raising her forearm and blocking Brynhildr's next thrust, she shoved the spear upwards and lashed out with a quick jab that caught the lancer in the face. Leaning backwards, she avoided Nero stepping into her guard and slashing down with the sword, she retaliated by swinging her right elbow into the Emperor's nose and was rewarded with a crunching sound and a gasp of pain.
Torin kicked her in the gut and knocked her backwards, following the attack through and thrusting the polearm of his axe into her face and snapped her head back, he drew the axe back and slicked down into her knee, catching her in the thigh instead from the steep angle. Again, the shuddering lurched through her body and forced her down.
Brynhildr's heel collided with the side of her head, catching her just above her right eye and forcing it shut. The woman twisted herself, using the heel on the woman's head as leverage as she swung around and smashed her other leg into the back of her head, forcing her to faceplant the ground.
Torin raised his axe upwards, poised to deliver a killing blow onto the Servant.
Her hand lashed out like a viper, clamping down around his ankle like a vice and holding him right. Torin felt his body lurch as he was suddenly pulled along with the Servant as she shot to her feet, swinging the taller man above her head like a flail and towards the Lancer.
Brynhildr widened her eyes and ducked down, watching as Torin flew just above her.
The Servant gave a cry as she brought Torin into the ground with a shuddering boom, then swung him backwards and into range of her fist as she brought it up. Torin had just enough time to catch sight of the limb rocketing towards his face before it smashed into his helmet with a metallic crunch as steel bent inwards, Torin's head was punched deep into the ground as the woman drove him down like a hammer.
Her hand snaked back as she whirled on Brynhildr.
"Out of the way!" Olga called out, Brynhildr didn't question it as she rolled to the side. The enemy Servant found herself staring at her own warped reflection in the body of the charging glass horse with both Marie and Olga sitting atop it, the latter had her arms tightly wrapped around the former's waist with a mild look of restrained panic on her face.
The horse trampled her, glass hooves struck her skin repeatedly as the animal bucked back and forth atop the Servant each striked rewarded them with a meaty thud as the Servant was driven further and further into the ground.
"Berserker!" Olga called out at the top of her lungs "Hit her as hard as you can! Caster, keep her pinned!"
"Ha! Now you sound like a Master! I can definitely pin her down!" Cu called out as he twirled his staff.
"I'd rather pin you down." The enemy Servant called out from beneath the horse.
Cu fumbled after hearing the remark, blinking in confusion for a split second.
The Servant beneath the glass horse lashed out, her knuckles cracked against the underside of the summon and shattered it instantly, the force blasted both Olga and Marie skywards.
"Shi-" Cu stumbled as he aimed his staff towards the sky, attempting to cast runes in order to slow their descent. He stopped midway through and was forced to duck away in order to avoid being struck by a fireball launched by the Servant.
The woman rolled onto her hands and knees, looking upwards and locking onto Olga before she shoved herself off the ground and into the air.
Her eyes flashed to the side a split second before she was about to take off, widening ever so slightly as the shadow of Stahl fell over her. The Berserker's giant axe already swinging down towards her, racing to split her in half. Forgoing the opportunity to chase down the Master, she instead twisted on her heel and raised her arms up in a cross guard to cover her face.
The axe of the Berserker impacted, her skin split as the momentum behind the attack instantly knocked her down and into the ground, the earth split with the weight of the strike. The woman bounced once as the axe retracted itself, wrenching free of the flesh and bone of the limbs and revealing the mangled left arm of the Servant, despite the damage that had been done to her, the expression she made didn't so much as waver.
Olga continued to spiral through the air, her arms flapping wildly at her side as if she was imagining herself about to fly any second now. A thin pair of arms cupped under her legs and the back of her head, catching her in a princess carry and stabilising her in the air. The woman instinctively threw her hands around the person who caught her, making a panicked cry as she descended towards the ground.
The two thudded down, the person carrying her taking up the brunt of the impact.
"Umu!" Olga snapped her head to the voice just behind her, finding herself staring at the bruised face of Nero. Her nose slightly crooked with a line of blood trailing down over her lips from her nostril, the Emperor's voice was nasally, as one would expect from a person who just had their nose broken. "You are unhurt, Master?"
Olga rapidly nodded her head.
"Excellent!" Nero beamed, shifting her position and standing the Director back on her feet "I had never caught someone like that before, so was a touch nervous!" she whirled around, brandishing her burning sword once again and pointing it in the direction of the enemy Servant. "Now then! This one is quite the tough barbarian!"
"K-keep the pressure on her!" Olga hastily ordered "We have the numbers advantage!"
Stahl was launched upwards as the Servant jumped directly up, swinging her right arm and crashing her knuckles against the chin of the helmet. The Berserker's feet left the ground as the woman twisted in the air, coiling her legs backwards and then rocketing them forwards into the chest of the Servant, drop-kicking them away from her and into a roll.
As she fell back to the ground, she twisted around once again to land back on her feet, then turned her attention onto her left arm and raised an eyebrow at its limp state. Her right arm moved to cradle it, bringing it up to her attention as she gave it a once over.
"Huh…well then." With a shrug, she let the arm fall back to her side as she refocused on the Servants "Lets-"
Tarkus tower shield cracked her over the back of the head, the Servant having thrust the base of it like a spear, as the woman stumbled forwards with the impact, she turned to protect herself from the followup attack. That gave Brynhildr the opportunity to sweep her legs out from underneath her, sliding in from behind and kicking her in the back of the knees.
"Woah!" The woman gasped as she felt herself lurch backwards, her eyes widening in surprise before they focused on Tarkus as she saw him reverse his grip on his greatsword and hoist it upwards, shouldering his tower shield and grasping his weapon with both hands as he thrust downwards in conjunction with her falling body.
Her right hand came up as the sword descended, grabbing the tip of the blade as her back touched the snow and stopping it before it could be pushed further. At least for a short moment, her face started to show the first signs of stress as Tarkus pushed the sword downwards, the blade slipping through her fingers and blood already running down its surface as her skin on her hand was cut open.
Tarkus leaned in, putting more of his weight behind the sword and slamming his left hand on the pummelled repeatedly like a hammer to drive the sword down further, aiming directly over her heart area as he did so.
The woman looked into Tarkus' helm, staring at him for a few moments before she flashed him a winning smile.
Then shoved the sword to the side as he hammered in the next blow and let go. The man felt all resistance vanish as he body fell forwards with the strike, the woman's expression didn't so much as change as the sword was driven through her left shoulder and burying the tip into the ground behind her.
Her legs snaked back and Tarkus felt himself fall onto her boots as they pressed up against his chest.
"Hmph!" With a grunt, she kicked with all her might, hurling Tarkus at least twenty feet in the air from the power behind the blow while she was forced a little further into the ground. She watched as he ragdolled through the air, hastily reaching up for his shield and slinging it around in front of himself as he dropped back towards the ground like a brick.
His armoured form collided with the ground in an earthy thud as the impact kicked up a flurry of snow around him.
Her right elbow swung down, cracking against the dirt and using the force to push herself from the ground. Almost swinging up at a ninety degree angle until she was back on her feet, still smiling as she looked at the long back sword which had penetrated her shoulder and appeared out the back of her body. "Hmmmm." She reached up, clasping the weapon by the blade and pulling it out, not making a sound as the sword was gradually ripped from her body, crimson red dyed white as the blood seeped from her wound and poured onto the ground below.
With the sword finally free of her, she tossed it almost lazily over her shoulder as she turned back around, then gestured to her arm. "I'm happy you're all giving one hundred percent." She said after a moment "It wouldn't be much of a test if you weren't trying-"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Olga all but demanded as he called out from behind Nero, her face a mixture of shock and outrage "Test? This isn't a test! You're a danger to humanity itself and you think to-"
"I don't feel too strongly about humanity one way or the other." The woman cut her off before she could continue, shrugging her right shoulder "I'm actually more affiliated with humans than I am with my own children." she remarked with an amused curl of the lip "That's ironic. As for the test itself…" she pursed her lips and rolled her jaw from side to side, looking at Olga curiously.
"I take it you're the leader here?" She called out to the woman, reaching up with her right hand and tapping her chin with her index finger as she cocked her head to the side in an almost cutesy manner. If her body didn't look as though it was going to fall apart, then it might have had more of an impact. "I mean…I can tell you're the physical weakest but there's a trace amount of magic from you. Shared amongst all these Servants…that makes you the Master, right?"
Olga thinned her lips for a few moments before she nodded once, taking a deep breath and puffing herself up. "I am Director Olga Marie Animusphere of Chaldea!" She boasted before levelling a finger at the Servant "For the sake of humanity's future, I intend to defeat you and all those who follow you!"
The woman stared blankly at her for several seconds, then lowered the hand from her chin.
The silence continued on, Olga pointing at the Servant and everyone else remaining quiet with their eyes flickering between the two of them.
"...Yeah!" Tarkus shouted out from somewhere behind the Servant, although his voice sounded somewhat strained, Olga noticed that he was in a sitting position but he actually hadn't gotten up yet.
"Umu!" Nero nodded "An impressive declaration, Pale Rose!"
Olga felt her cheeks start to flush with what was obviously pandering.
"It's a simple call that gets the spirits up!" Marie chimed in from somewhere else "I think it's a very good battle cry!"
That felt less pandering, at least.
The enemy Servant was staring at her somewhat oddly now, looking her up and down and squinting her eyes. "I have been out of touch with human naming conventions for some time…but have humans really taken to naming their children over plants?" she asked in a puzzled tone of voice. "Still, White flower-"
Olga choked, her eyes going wide. She could swear someone was stifling a chuckle nearby before they quickly ceased.
"-if you are going to give me your true name, then I should at least respond in kind, no?" She pointed her right hand towards herself "I am Akal, Descendant of Everlasting Dragons and Mother of Dragons." she lowered her hand and smiled "I suppose it comes as no surprise which side I am on, does it?"
"What the heck!?" Meuniere called out from the communicator "Is this how things normally go? The person behind the Singularity just showed up-wait? What is th-" the man trailed off, widening his eyes slightly "Director, she doesn't possess the Grail! She has an impressive Saint Graph reading but no sign of the Holy Grail at all!"
"What?" Olga whirled on the man, staring at the small screen with a shocked expression before her eyes fell back upon the Servant standing opposite her "How-!? But if you're claiming to be the mother of dragons shouldn't-" she dismissed the idea with a shake of her head. "Nevermind that!" she pointed at the Servant "Surround her, make sure she can't get away and prepare to finish her!"
"You're rather brutal, aren't you?" Akal couldn't help but raise an amused eyebrow at the woman before shaking her head "Still, though. I suppose I should have expected as such, humans don't really respond accordingly at times. The response can be disproportionate, I came here to test you instead of kill you-"
"Your words and your deeds are at odds with one another!" Marie declared with a disapproving frown "You have already said you're the mother of the dragons here, so they are acting as you would direct them to. Even if you didn't come here to kill us, you've already participated in burning so much of this country."
"Is there not some human adage about sins of the father?" Akal responded with a tilt of the head and a wry smile "Does it not work in reverse, the sins of the parent are not that of the child, and the sins of the child are not that of the parent."
"You've done a piss poor job of reining them in!" Cu hollered out to her with a curl of his lip "So you either don't give a shit or you're letting them do it, which is it?"
"I just birth my children, they are free to do - or follow - whomever they so desire." She responded in an ominous tone of voice before turning her attention onto Olga and giving her a faint smile. "Still though…I like to think I've gotten my answer. Fighting for humanity's future, you say, White flower? Alright, that's a very good reason! I look forward to seeing what will happen when you two meet! Until then!" she waved to them, then paused when she saw roots burst from the ground and wrap around her legs, holding her in place.
"You don't get what is happening here." Olga called out to her, tightening her hands into fists "You're a clear and present threat in this Singularity and by your own words, it is because of you that wyverns run amok…even if you might not be holding the grail now, there is no doubt you are with those who do."
"Ahhhhh." Akal smiled "You intend to slay me now, is that right?"
Olga's silence was answer enough.
"That is fair enough, we are enemies as it stands and we will inevitably have to fight once more." The Servant reasoned with an understanding nod of the head, not appearing too put off with the prospect of death looming over her.
That being said, the Servants under Olga's command had been reduced somewhat. Torin's head was still driven into the snow and the Servant hadn't moved since that occurred, which meant he was clearly unconscious and for whatever reason, Tarkus had still not stood up from his seating position.
That left them with Cu Chulainn, Brynhildr, Nero, Stahl and Marie to combat the Servant and she had already demonstrated some prowess in physical combat as well as being rather durable given how much work had already gone into injuring her this much. Her right eye was still clenched shut, slashes and bruises littered her body and her left arm hung limply at her side, despite that her face expression remained much the same, no hint that she had been injured at all.
"Killing me now would be a smart move, if only so that you would not have to fight me later and being accompanied by my allies." Akal continued onwards, her eyes scanning each and every person present. "Though, I'm not sorry to say, I doubt you will be claiming my head this day."
Olga narrowed her eyes at the woman.
"I'll be sure to carry your message back to my King though, White Flower." Akal hollered to her with a smile "I have every confidence he will find your declaration very interesting! A battle for the future? We'll have to see whose determination is stronger then."
"Stop her movements!" Olga called out instantly, pointing to the Servant and darting her eyes over to Cu. The Caster registered the command and reacted swiftly, thrusting his staff forwards and unleashing a series of runes that impacted the ice. The symbols glowed bright blue before the snow melted into water and rushed towards Akal like a river.
The Servant tensed her legs and prepared to jump upwards, Brynhildr charged forwards and bounded into the air above the Servant. Akal raised her forearm in preparation for the strike, the spear blade collided with her in the air and knocked her back down, her feet becoming soaked as she splashed down into the water.
"Gottcha!" Cu gave a victorious smirk as she slammed his staff into the ground once again, the water solidified and creaked as it turned to ice within a split second. Akal felt her legs turn stiff as the water vapour around her similarly froze and her feet became encased in the icy prison. "Get her boys!" He called out, a pair of white wolves summoned themselves next to him and bounded towards the Servant.
Akal widened her eyes and looked away from her feet for a split second as the wolves crossed the distance towards her in scant moments. Her right hand flew up, her palm glowed a brilliant orange and steamed as the temperature around it rose significantly.
A blur of movement caught her right side as she saw the giant armour bounding towards her.
She would either be attacked by the wolves at the front, the giant armour on the right or the Lancer in the air poised to fall down upon her. She was in quite the difficult situation and Akal doubted that her high endurance would allow her to get away from this in one piece. She'd already managed to learn everything that she wanted to, so remaining her wouldn't serve much purpose anyway.
"From before the flame my ancestors take flight!" Akal called out, the mana in the air swirled towards her as she deployed her Noble Phantasm "Time, Light, Dark, Cold, Heat…all worthless before the Eternal Stone Scales!"
The moment the three parties were close to her, the air suddenly and rather violently rushed outwards. An explosion of air and snow ripped its way from the enemy Servant and sent the entire party flying back, the shockwave rushed towards the Chaldean group as a whole. Olga had just enough time to take stock of the sudden explosion before she found herself suddenly ripped off the ground and hurtling through the air.
She found herself breathless as the shockwave struck her like a fist, air ripped from her lungs and leaving her without the ability to even scream. The world flashed around her in slow motion as she ragdolled, her limbs not responding to her commands and unaware of how far she was actually moving.
A flash of bright pink was all she knew before she collided with something soft and a thin pair of arms wrapped themselves around her body. Then she felt a shock run through her entire system as she and whomever grabbed her hit the ground, she was ripped from the grasp of the rescuer and haphazardly sent rolling through the snow.
Olga wasn't sure how far she rolled, only aware of the mix between finding herself staring up at the sky and being buried face down in the snow. Then the cold hit her, she desperately wanted to pull herself free of the frozen ground but couldn't find the energy to so much as move her limbs, her breaths came out as strangled gasps as her body desperately tried to pull oxygen into itself but failed each time, not least of all because every time she did she pulled snow into her throat.
A hand grabbed her shoulder and flipped her over, finding herself staring up at the sky with wide eyes as the face of Marie stared down at her with a look of shocked concern on her face.
"Master!" Marie all but shouted in her face as she grabbed her shoulders, then noticed the snow lodged in her mouth before her lips tightened and she turned Olga onto her side and started to strike her on the back, the repeated motions eventually got Olga to start coughing, spraying snow from between her lips. She did so repeatedly, the Rider stopped hitting her and took her hand away. "Olga! Are you alright?"
"N-no…'' Olga croaked before she could really help it, the idea of putting up an image of calm didn't even occur to her once as she continued to cough, pausing to take in greedy gulps of air with her breathing degrading to panting. "W-what ha-"
A roar split the air.
No, to call it a roar would have been to speak lowly of its intensity.
It was a thundering noise that flooded Olga's entire being, her bones felt as they were vibrating inside her body and shaking the very earth itself. The rumbling noise akin to a jet engine continued on without fail, Olga's hands flew to her ears and cupped them to try and block out the noise.
The attempt was met with failure, the titanic cry pierced her meagre defence and continued its assault on her ears without any sign that her efforts mattered in the least. She clearly wasn't the only one as she saw Marie stumble next to her and cover her ears with a pained look upon her face.
"Outstanding."
The voice shook the air, the vibrations of the tone quaked the ground with each letter uttered.
Olga remained curled up on the ground, not wishing to move herself for a few moments before she slowly turned her head and looked over her shoulder.
The blood left her face in a split second.
"To think you would force me to use this form of mine? I'm impressed. Humans truly are interesting little creatures."
The creature of stone extended well over a hundred metres into the sky, great clawed hands shifted and pressed upon the earth. Four titanic wings spread either side of the mountainous body as the arrow shaped head on the end of the snake-like neck twisted around to look down at Olga.
"I'm satisfied with this development. More so than I would otherwise be."
The body shattered, crumbling away into dust and fading into motes of light. Akal stood in its place, a rather tired look on her face as she rolled her shoulders "I much prefer this body now but it's still a little strange to me…Really strange." She flashed the group a smile "Still though, I did say this was fun!"
Her right hand was drawn across her left side before swinging it in a wide arc, fire leapt from her fingers and impacted the snow with a hissing noise. Steam erupted from the ground and concealed her form away from prying eyes. Olga scrambled backwards as she saw a shadow burst from the snow and rush towards her.
Akal suddenly paused, her right hand ducked down and scooped something off the snow before four stone wings emerged from her back, hovering just above her skin, and then launched her into the air. "Until next time, Chaldea!" She called out to them once again, flying higher and higher into the sky and leaving the group behind to pick themselves up.
Olga panted heavily, staring up at the sky with wide eyes and parted lips before a whimper escaped from her throat. "W-what was…"
Artoria had heard Kalameet return, she suspected that they all had, even if she hadn't his next actions would most certainly have roused everyone from their slumber.
Wyverns shied away from her as she marched towards the base of the Archtree, the smaller beasts cowering away from one they viewed as a superior. This would not work with the few dragons that remained but at the same time, it didn't need to. She would keep her distance from them and they would afford her the same courtesy.
They all understood that they were more or less upon the same side, what mattered most of all at the moment was the racket that Kalameet was kicking up. He'd been screaming at the top of his lungs since he returned and Artoria had been electing to ignore it until his cries had turned more desperate, almost like a child screaming for his mother.
For him to afforded the title of King and then devolve into whatever that state was…it was beyond words. Her own pride could not stomach the idea of this display any longer, least of all from the one who was her Master. There had to be a certain level of dignity involved.
"Akal!" Kalameet's words became more easily distinguished as she got closer, his voice rumbling from the inner sanctum of the Archtree and echoing out across the home they had made for themselves. She noted the complete lack of wood which implied that something had occurred while he was gone.
She stopped walking when she noticed splotches of dark liquid in the snow, her eyes narrowed behind her helmet as she stared down at them with sudden understanding. Blood.
Her eyes rose up from the mess and noted that the blood accompanied the imprints of Kalameet's clawed feet in the snow, advancing on the tree. Which meant he had also been wounded as well, it would make sense as to why he would return without the supplies he had set out for in the first place then.
It would have been a Servant he encountered, or perhaps a group of Servants.
Her lips thinned as she considered it, resuming her pace. It could well have been those she fought earlier but the timeframe was wrong. They had been many miles south when she encountered them and that was a little over two days ago. For them to make that distance in such a time would be rather impressive. Not outside of the range of possibility though, if they had been travelling alone.
Perhaps the Master saw fit to part ways with the humans they had been escorting and followed her trail back? That would have been possible and certainly a tactic she would approve of. There were more lives at stake than a single village population, if they truly wanted to save all Denmark, then they would have to make sacrifices for the greater good.
There was another possibility, and one that was more likely, in that Kalameet had encountered the knife throwing Dragon Slayer. They had lost sight of him for some time and had little way of knowing where he was. It would make more sense for Kalameet to have encountered them if he was returning wounded.
"Akal! Where are you!?" Kalameet's voice roared from within, his tone forgoing all measure of composure and cracking into desperate pleas "Akal!"
"Cease that whining at once." Artoria ordered as she stepped foot inside of the Archtree, locking her eyes onto Kalameet instantly and noticing the slashes in his armour and the holes that ran through his entire body, specifically the apple sized wound through his gut.
She dismissed them for the time being, that could be addressed later.
Kalameet jolted and whirled around, his eyes fixed upon her and widened slightly "Artoria! Where is Akal?" he cried out, looking around "I cannot…I need to find her! I need her here now-"
"And you thought howling to the sky like a dog would bring her here?" Artoria cut him off, frowning behind her helmet at him. Kalameet stilled at her words but didn't respond. "When last we spoke, you pledged to go and collect materials to build your Kingdom, hours later you return from battle and muling like a beaten dog, begging for the other Servant to appear."
"I don't need-" Kalameet growled, his right hand came up and gripped his head while his left hand was raised towards Artoria "I need-I need Akal here, now! Where is she!?"
"She ventured out to find those I fought some days past." Artoria responded blandly "I suspect she will return soon, what has brought about this change in confidence?" she remarked as she gestured him up and down, disappointment palpable in her tone of voice.
"I-I found the Servants I just need…" Kalameet lowered the hand "I need to find Akal, I need to ask her…"
"What do you need to ask her?" Artoria inquired, cocking her head to the side "And judging from the state you are in, I assume you found and did battle with the hostile Servants?"
"I…I fought them, yes."
"Hmmm. You won then?"
"I…I left."
"...You retreated?"
"...No." Kalameet shook his head, looking past Artoria and making it perfectly clear his mind wasn't all present in the conversation "I just need…I need Akal here, I need to know I'm not doing this for myself-"
"You left." Artoria sharply cut him off, glaring at him from behind her helmet "You left battle? You were not even forced to retreat as much as you just departed? You made neither an attempt to call upon reinforcements as much as you just left and allowed your enemies to remain alive?"
"I had more important things to-"
"No. You did not." Artoria once again stopped him from speaking further, marching towards him and raising her voice ever so slightly but maintaining it's commanding nature "You preached of building a new kingdom and yet, with all these ideals, you have done nothing to ensure that a strong foundation was built. You did not go out and destroy the enemy Servants after I reported them to you, even after you had decided to abandon your naive plan. You encounter another group of Servants and you…flee from them?"
She stopped a few feet from him, looking up into his eyes "Do you care for your dream at all? Do you even wish to bring about this Kingdom-"
"Of course I do!" Kalameet roared, taking several steps backwards and pressing a hand against his chest "I do! It is what I want! It is! But what is the point if no one else desires it!?" He exclaimed, his voice dripping with emotion "I need to know I'm not doing this for myself! This isn't a future for me! It's a future for all dragons! Our chance! If they don't care for it, I they don't even know why they're doing all of this, then what is the point of it?"
He stabbed a finger over her shoulder towards the entrance "I saw one of them, I saw one of the Knights who brought death to my people…who slew us all and he told me…he said he didn't even hate us!" he looked down at her "He didn't even think of us…nothing, none of them did. They didn't care why they were killing us, they didn't care what they were killing us for…they just killed us an-and…then nothing." the hand dropped "They built kingdoms and cities and civilisations but that…they didn't care…"
Kalameet looked down at Artoria "I-I need to know I'm doing this for them and they can see the future I'm building for their sake…if they can't see it then…then what good is it being a Kingdom for all dragons if it is built solely upon my own desire?"
He turned away from her, raising both his hands and grabbing his head "I need them to know why they're killing and banishing the humans…I need them to understand what it is all for, if they don't understand then…" he pulled his hands away, staring at his bloodied palms as his eyes widened "Then how am I different…? How are we different from those who slaughtered us? To the people of this land…I am akin to the Flame-kin…I need them…I need to know that…" Kalameet's head turned to Artoria "I need Akal to tell me that her children, my brethren, understand what it is all for…"
Artoria stared at him in silence, the only sound to be heard in the caves was Kalameet's breathing.
Slowly, the Lancer raised her arms towards the helmet upon her head, with a gentle twist she pried it from the top and pulled it from herself, exposing her features to the dragon. Pale blonde hair was bunned up at the bad, dull yellow eyes looked up at him without portraying a hint of emotion. The expression of Artoria was cool, not even an inclination that she had been affected by his words.
Twin black horns protruded from under her hair, jutting straight back from the side of her head as she stared at the taller Servant.
"What does the title 'King' mean to you?" Artoria spoke calmly, looking up at him and allowing the helmet in her hands to vanish into motes of light. "Did you imagine that a King was one who would sit back and make commands? One who sat atop a throne and did naught but point to his subjects to do his bidding? What did you think the title of King meant?"
Kalameet lowered his hand to his side "I do not know…" he admitted quietly "Akal…you…you speak to me of things I do not know. Kingship? Civilisation? Kingdoms? Knights? How am I to know all this?"
"Then listen." Artoria commanded "You believe a King to be nothing more than a leader? But there is more. A King is more than that…They are the one who protects their people, a duty to their country. You devote yourself to this country of yours - to this Kingdom of yours - and you work to create it so that all may prosper. As a King, you will shoulder the burdens of your people because it is your duty to do so, through whatever means lay before you, you should adhere to this path."
"But what is the point if no one else-"
"That is precisely the point." Artoria stated in a calm tone of voice, silencing Kalameet "To become a King, you will work harder than all others, you will lead all others through example and you will rise above the nature of them. You must accept that your vision is the vision that your Kingdom needs most of all, and once your Kingdom has been developed…when your people are safe and threats removed, then they might work to build upon themselves."
"..."
"What you describe, those knights who slew your kin for the Kingdom they knew nothing of, that is how Kingdoms are born. The soldier fights not for his own dream, but for the vision of their King. The vision they know their King holds within their heart, they fight with the belief you shall lead them into that age."
"...You're asking me to shoulder the dreams of my people who know nothing of dreams?" Kalameet replied, gesturing to himself "I know nothing of dreams. I know nothing of what my Kingdom will look like when I am finished-"
"Did you believe me to have the complete vision of Camelot within my mind from the moment I began my quest until the moment I was crowned King of Britain?" Artoria raised an eyebrow "Do you think that such a thing is possible? The Kingdom grows, you wish to cut out the Kingdom of the dragons and develop it as such? Then you must first shoulder the burdens of your people-"
"But I…They don't know anything…" He replied "They might have their own ideas, their own ways of doing things-"
"And as their King, it is your ideas that must take precedence. Is it not you who will lead them to this Kingdom? Is it not you who holds this dream of the future in their heart? Is it not you who makes this assertion?"
"I do not want to be the Gods…I do not want to command my kin to kill without them knowing what they are killing for-"
"Then you should not have started this quest." Artoria's voice turned cold "If the path of Kingship frightens you, then end it now. Abandon this dream for your future and let yourself fade into nothing. My knights fought for me, they fought with the belief that I would build Britain into a great Kingdom, they did not question my methods nor did they doubt my intentions. From the moment they dedicated their swords to my service, they understood that fact."
"...You're saying that only the King has a vision-"
"All humans have dreams, it is the King's who takes precedence." Artoria closed her eyes "If that concerns you still, think on this. You are not fighting for the sake of your peoples dreams, you are fighting for the sake they might have those dreams." her eyes opened "That is what you shall do as King. It is more than simply relaying orders. It is a duty to the future, that your people will survive."
Kalameet looked away from her "...So I carry their dreams, is that what you say?"
"There are many paths of Kingship. Each one will change the outcome of the country but that does not alter their inception. The vision of the King."
Kalameet slowly turned his head upwards "To carry their dreams…and once the Kingdom is built, they can have them…They fight for me without ever knowing why?"
"...They know you intend to bring prosperity to them, that should be more than sufficient."
"...Does that not seem lonely to you?" Kalameet wondered aloud "To carry the future of your people without them ever understanding what it is you do for them?"
"If you intend to complain-"
"I did not say I did not understand." Kalameet gently cut her off as he lowered his head to look down at her "If I do this…I will become like the Gods, I will fight for a future I do not yet know but I will fight for it all the same and all my people need know is that I fight it for their sake…"
"..."
"For the sake of my Kingdom." Kalameet muttered, looking past her "For the future we shall one day see. I will do it. I shall commit myself to it…Even if I do not understand in full, I shall fight for my people. That is it…was that what Camelot was like? Did you fight for those dreams and the prosperity of your country?"
"I did."
"I see." Kalameet nodded his head, his lip curling upwards "If that is the case, I'm sure it was a good Kingdom. To fight for the sake of one's people…for the sake of the people's future. I understand that. Maybe that is why you came?"
Artoria didn't respond immediately, instead she looked to the side.
"Might I ask something, Artoria?"
"You may."
"Why did you answer the summons? Camelot was a Kingdom of humans and I know enough with how you slew the dragon Vortigen. Yet you came and helped me…why?" He looked down at her with curiosity "I do not know but I…I would like to understand."
"Who knows." Artoria replied with an unconcerned tone of voice as she turned "The summoning could just as easily have been a random event." she raised the helmet up, gently sliding it back atop her head. "It does not matter now, I am here and that is all that needs to be said."
Artoria marched away, Kalameet watched her depart with a blank expression.
"Hmmmm…Alright." He allowed, reaching up and grasping his forehead. To fight for the future so that his people could have dreams of their own?
He could allow that.
It would make his people no different from the Silver Knights when they rose up, entrusting their fates into his hands, but…
But…
If his people were to have a future, he would have to do it.
AN: Hey, hey!
Good on Kalameet!
Which means the actors are getting assembled, the true determination has been found and we're entering the final.
And what, oh, what did Akal snatch off the floor? Also her giant dragon Noble Phantasm! She literally can only use it for about the same length of time as Sieg. Not all that long because of the absurdly high mana cost.
Even if she had a Master who could afford it, she herself doesn't have the mana to withstand it for very long so it balances out.
Tune in next time for-
Oh, right…yeah. Alsanna stats, right?
Alsanna, The Silent Oracle
Servant: Caster
Strength: E
Endurance: E
Agility: E
Mana: A
Luck: B
Noble Phantasm: A
Eleum Loyce: B (Anti-Unit) Max Target: 1, Max Range: 1-2
Sword named after the Kingdom itself, it can provide healing to allies touched by the blade.
Lud and Zallen: A (Anti-Army): Max Target: 100, Max Range:-
The Twin beasts who followed Alsanna's commands. They come to her summoning.
Touched by her own Abyssal nature, they now possess the attribute of Dark to their bodies. They serve as something akin to Divine Beasts as a result, but they are more powerful against other Divine beings who do not hold the attribute of Dark. Capable of utilising magical energy to launch crystals at their opponents.
Defence of the Empty Throne: B++ (Anti-Army) Max Target: 200, Max Range: 0-20
Her final stand against the Chaos. She kept the demons at bay even as the old knights burned and the city fell to ruin. She protected the Kingdom her husband built. This NP will raise the walls of Eleum Loyce to trap those who need to be kept from the
outside world and gradually freeze them. Has a conceptual advantage against Demons and Threats to Humanity.
Class Skills:
Item Construction: D
Territory Creation: A
Dark Soul: A
Marks her as a fragment of Manus and one of his children. Grants the same benefits as Divinity.
Personal Skills:
Abyssal Magic: C
Despite having a natural affinity for Abyssal spells like her sisters, Alsanna did not practise them as greatly. Therefore it is not as powerful.
Cryomancy: A
She was able to control and produce frozen winds with ease.
Has great mastery over ice.
Aspect of Fear: [B] D
Ranked down because of the life she lived with the Ivory King.
She can imbue a sense of fear within targets similar to that which she once felt.
Though it is barely passing.
Child of Manus: C
She has great influence over those with Dark attributes to them.
It is not a form of control, rather it makes communication with them more likely.
If their own dark nature exceeds hers, the level of influence will decrease.
Charisma of the Ice Queen: C
Though lacking in her husband's sheer presence, Alsanna was just as capable in certain times. Though her charisma is more akin to a frozen chill that brings one's attention to her. For allies, it is a welcome sight for her to be on their side. For enemies, it can be seen as the chilled words of death.
Summoning
"I am Alsanna, Queen of Eleum Loyce. Though you serve as Master now, know that there is only one I shall ever serve faithfully. However, I shall dedicate my service - temporary as it might be - to you."
Dialogue 1
"The heat of this place is surprising to me, but I am used to colder climates. Ensure it does not reach too high."
Dialogue 2
"Eleum Loyce was the city I aided as Queen, though my true love was for its King, rather than its people…He loved them dearly, so I loved them in his stead."
Dialogue 3
"The Master and Servant relationship between us is of titles alone, I understand the rules of summoning but know that I do not put substance into your claim of rulership towards me. I am a Queen who is faithful to her King, that is all."
Dialogue 4 (If you have Ermingild, The Ivory King)
"This presence? Ahhh…My King, you have come to this land too? I am glad to be with you once more and-Waaaah! Please do not hug me so tightly! We're in the open! Think of your image! Your image!"
Dialogue 5 (If you have Ermingild [Alsanna at Ascension 3])
"Well? Is this not the clothes befitting of a royal? E-eh? 'I would look beautiful whatever I wore?' I'm not talking about whatever else I wore! I-I just want to know how I look now! It's befitting of being your Queen, right? Why are you laughing!?"
Dialogue 6 (If you have Raime, The Fume Knight)
"The Berserker of Shadow who stalks the halls, he is the one who married my sister is he not? Aaaah…I am warmed that she could find love akin to mine. Though his responses to her are brusque, I can tell he loves her deeply. Hmmm…He is, how do you say, a very shy brother-in-law?"
Dialogue 7 (If you have Vendrick)
"I feel a great swell of pity for him. I can see he loved - No he still loves - Nashandra true and wholly, but her aspect…She would never be satisfied with all he could offer her. However…Take heart, King Vendrick. I believe that there was a time where my sister did truly love you as well."
Dialogue 8 (If you have Nashandra)
"My Sister of Want, she yearns for all and is never truly satisfied with what she gains. Her desires continue on, her fulfilment is fleeting. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to compare her to a leech that never has its fill? You think my words are harsh, but that does not make them any less true. I exist as proof we might overcome our nature…She found a path with Vendrick and she turned her head. What occurred next, she brought upon her own neck."
Dialogue 9 (If you have Fabain, Knight of Eleum Loyce)
"Brave Sir Fabian, who sought to purge Chaos before my King could do so. He lamented your end most deeply. That you tried to spare him from it…I thank you, even if it did not succeed I know you loved the King dearly as we all did.
Dialogue 10 (If you have Fabian [After Completing Camelot])
"I've noticed that brave Sir Fabian seems more on edge around the good Sir Bedivere, I wonder…does she realise…Oh, I'm sure she does. Perhaps it would be best to…Hmmm? I am a Queen and they are a Knight of mine, I am well within my rights to take interest in her life. Besides…do they not look cute together?"
Dialogue 11 (If you have Demon Prince)
"Champion of Chaos, enemy of my husband and bane of our Kingdom. Though you might desire life, I have no mercy for your kind. You, whose people took him from me, I shall never forgive you for this act. Know that you live only by the grace of your use, nothing more."
Dialogue 12 (If you have Zullie)
"My Sister of Envy…Though perhaps she overcomes it quite easily, the story of the witch Zullie and her beloved Alva is quite the tale. I would very much like to meet the man who turned my sister's heart."
Dialogue 13 (If you have Karla)
"Daughter of my Sister and her slayer as well…though I see the act weighs heavily upon her mind, even as one of happenstance. If she would expect me to spurn her, she will be disappointed. I am a Queen and she, a common girl. It is not for her to decide whether I might spurn her or not."
Dialogue 14 (If you have Bearer of the Curse)
"I would never forget the one who helped my Husband, for that alone…she has my thanks. I see she too has the air of a Queen about her, then we might speak as equals and then as friends."
Dialogue 15 (If you have Arthur/Artoria)
"A King of Knights, you say? Hmmmm…If there is one who deserves that title, it would be my Husband. Do not look at me with such a knowing expression, it could be seen as insulting. What I declare is merely a statement of fact, my Husband had the greatest knights of the land, fitting as he was the greatest knight of his land."
Dialogue 16 (If you have Alva, The Wayfarer)
"...Do we have a type, perhaps? My Sister Zullie and I? This Alva is an outgoing man who brings out the best of her. I dare not speak with him at length though, my sister is the aspect of Envy and I can feel her gaze upon me at times. His instance to call me 'dear sister' is also peculiar."
Dialogue 17 (If you gave Erik Bloodaxe)
"Does it surprise you that Bloodaxe speaks in my presence? It is Gunhild I talk with, the stories we exchange of our husbands found us common ground. She agreed not to attempt to curse me."
Dialogue 18 (If you have Anastasia)
"You believe us to be kindred spirits? Though we were from cold lands there are differences. She never ruled as Queen although…Hmmm. I am sure she would have made an adequate ruler."
Likes
"That which I like? The answer is obvious, it goes without saying…Why do you continue to stare at me expectantly? It is my husband."
Hates
"Chaos and all who come from it are those I cannot abide. My King would find my anger irrational but it is not something I will forgive nor forget…I had to live in a world where he could not hold me in his arms because of Chaos…Even if it is unbecoming of my stature…I will maintain that stance."
Wish for the Holy Grail
"I would very much like it if my King had come back from his final voyage…if he had returned victorious and not left me alone. If such a thing were possible…"
Bond Level 1
"The sword I hold is of the same name as the Kingdom. Do you understand what it means that my husband bestowed this upon me? He knew my nature…and loved me all the same."
Bond Level 2
"At times, I find your lack of courtesy for my stature vexing. Then I recall you are of the simple sort and that basic manners sometimes elude you. I can endure the disrespect you show…Though do not show it to my Husband, he deserves every ounce of respect."
Bond Level 3
"...Is the temperature in this room high, or is it just my imagination? No matter…I shall endure it…I shall endure it. For the sake of my own peace of mind, how does one control the temperature of this room? Should I not learn of it swiftly I might just freeze everything to lower the temperature myself."
Bond Level 4
"I am surprised you have not yet treated me differently. You cannot even claim ignorance of my true nature. You would willingly consort with a child of Dark who is fear made manifest without once slipping face? I retract my earlier words…you never once showed disrespect, you treated me as you would any other…Though I would much prefer you at least address my station first and foremost."
Bond Level 5
"That you do not fear me, no…that you accept my true nature without so much as a blink of the eye. Hmmm. Very well then, I cannot allow this to stand any longer. From this moment forward, I declare you a citizen of Eleum Loyce. This is a direct command from me, I shall brook no further comments on the subject. Take heart…You are of the like I would very much be proud of my husband for defending."
Birthday
"The passing of age is it? I see."
Birthday (Bond Level 5)
"You have aged another year? Very well. The Queen accepts the need for a holiday, spend your day how you wish. Should any approach you for work, inform them that Alsanna - Queen of Eleum Loyce and Silent Oracle - has decreed that you shall not be put to test for as long as this day goes on. It is only natural that a Queen would care for her subjects."
During an Event
"Tis a loud day today, is it not? What is the source of this conundrum?"
1st Ascension
"Ho? Ascension you call it? Interestingly, I can feel my soul thrum with life."
2nd Ascension
"My gown has cleaned up, yet I wonder…is this truly the cloth befitting of the Queen of Eleum Loyce? My Husband never made mention of it but that is…"
3rd Ascension
"These royal white robes, these black highlights and this silver circlet. I truly look the image of a Queen, do I not? Indeed I do. I realise that Ermingild would never wish for me to change myself for his sake but I…I wish to look my best for him. Do not speak of what I have said here, I will loosen Lud and Zallen if you do!"
4th Ascension
"In truth, I wore this gown before. The day he proposed to me, where he asked me to be his Queen. At that time, all I considered was what I could do to benefit from being at his side but…I shall wear this dress to remember what I used to be. When I wear this dress…I shall think only on how I will no longer let fear guide my hand."