Chapter 145: Appearances count for something
Ritsuka awoke with a start, the boy released a sharp gasp of breath as his eyes snapped wide open. He was acutely aware of actual warmth when he awoke to the extent of being perhaps a touch overdressed. Something that clashed heavily with his last memory of being here.
His body snapped upwards, using his hands to force himself into an upright position and soon found himself staring at the foot of an old looking wooden bed frame. His brows furrowed ever so slightly before he glanced down at the dirtied sheet draped over his body like a blanket. Reaching down, he grabbed it and pulled it up and to the side.
Moving his eyes away from his conditions, he soon found himself staring at the interior of a rather sparsely decorated room. There were several book cases dotted around along with a collection of notes stacked on a desk stuffed into the corner. Sitting atop it was a faint glowing orb of light. The boy squinted at it for a few moments before he looked back around.
"Where am-?"
"My current refuge."
The voice answered in his head, the boy let out another gasp of surprise and whirled around to search for the voice before he paused and realised something. The memories of his 'dream' flooded back to him with a great deal of clarity. His surprise gradually abated as he voiced back inside his mind. "Caster?"
"Good, you recall our discussion." Caster's tone was difficult to discern, Ritsuka supposed it sounded somewhat relieved but he didn't know if that was relief that he remembered or relief that he wouldn't have to explain everything all over again. "Indeed, it would be troublesome if I were forced to explain something I have already done in such a great degree of clarity."
"I'm glad you're relieved about that then." Ritsuka muttered back in his head as he moved his hand up to cradle his temples. He hadn't noticed it before but he could feel a rather droning headache bouncing around inside his skull. It felt as though someone had taken a pair of sticks to his brain and was currently playing it like a drum set.
"A creative analogy." Caster observed with a mildly curious tone of voice "Though the pain will pass. An effect of the storm outside, given that you resisted its mental effects of your own volition you placed your willpower under a great degree of strain. Suffice to say that I shall similarly use my own presence here to support your recovery to the best of my abilities."
Ritsuka nodded his head up and down, removing his hand from his temple and glancing around the room. "So…you said this was your base or something, right?"
"Temporary." Caster responded in affirmation "But you are correct that this is the location I have been staying in for some time. It was home to a…rather odd fellow for some time with a penchant for necromancy, or at least his own curious attempt at it."
The words resonated with Ritsuka as he furrowed his brows, dropping his hands onto his lap and tilting his head. "Wait…the guy was messing with dead bodies?"
"Indeed." Was the unconcerned reply he received "Although I must admit, I had not seen someone attempt something quite like this in many, many years. Though his work is rather crude and I have no doubt that his motives were somewhat base, his results cannot be argued with."
"...What results?"
"The results of his work, of course." Caster responded as though the answer had been obvious all along. In hindsight, it truly had been but Ritsuka was slightly concerned with the implication of what 'successful results' meant when discussing a man who was apparently messing with dead bodies. "You need not concern yourself with something as mindless as a Hollow or a ghoul. I would never praise such a man who devoted himself to creating simple husks on purpose." The reassurance of Caster was more akin to being insulted that Ritsuka thought he would ever praise someone who made zombies.
The boy kept glancing around the room with a greater degree of trepidation "Alright, fine but what results are you talking-"
"Ah, she's here. Good." Caster ignored him, changing the topic once more although before Ritsuka could ask who 'she' even was. He heard the handle of the room click and twist before moving downwards. "One of my assistants."
The door creaked as it was pushed open, Ritsuka raised his brows as a person stepped forwards into the room and was illuminated by the faint blue light which leaked out from the crystalline looking orb on the desk.
Both Ritsuka's brows rose up his forehead as he stared at the newly entered individual, the bright white wedding dress was the first thing he noticed, a wide brimmed skirt with steel covered legs mounted on high heels descending from the bottom of it. Long white gloves which extended beyond the elbow ended in deep purple frills, mounted on the side of her waist was a bronze coloured orb which made a faint humming noise.
A black veil covered the top of the head extending back over the shoulders, messy burgundy coloured hair flopped down over the front of the face and covered the eyes in an almost half mask, however it split down the middle due to the large bronze horn currently jutting from the forehead of the slightly shorter girl.
On either side of her head were large cylindrical extensions, once more made of bronze or perhaps some manner of brass of a similar design to the orb at her waist, the tips of these having a thin piece of magenta fabric tacked onto the end of them.
The face of the girl was set in a mask, staring at him in silence as she rested her other hand on the door handle, staring at him without making a single sound.
After a few moments of staring, Ritsuka jolted and realised he'd just looked at her without saying anything which could be considered rather rude. Offering her a warm smile, he gestured to himself "Ah, um. Hello. I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru." he introduced himself with a polite tone of voice.
The girl stared at him in silence, still resting her hand on the door handle.
"I'm…uh…" Reaching up, he let out an awkward chuckle as he scratched the side of his head "Caster said you were his assistant?"
The girl made a small grunting noise, nodding her head up and down once.
"Did you need him for something?" He pointed towards his head "Because I can…I don't know, mediate?" he shrugged his shoulders, then looked towards the ceiling in a thoughtful manner. "Actually how does this-"
"Have my results changed in the last hour?" Ritsuka jolted at the voice by his side, whirling his head around and finding himself staring at a transparent image of himself under a faint blue hue. The copy facing the newly arrived girl with a somewhat serious expression.
"Ugh." The girl nodded her head once more, straightening out her posture.
"Excellent." The copy, Ritsuka assumed it to be Caster, nodded his head once more then glanced down towards Ritsuka. "See if you can procure any sustenance for our new acquaintance. I suspect he shall need his strength once more." he paused for a moment before speaking once more "And find out from the other one how far her summons have travelled."
A final nod, the girl turning around and closing the door behind her with a gentle click, clunking footsteps receding away from the door.
"...Why my face?" Ritsuka asked with a strained tone of voice.
"I've taken a liking to it." Was all Caster said in response, then glanced at him from the corner of his eye "Besides, projecting this appearance from you is already stretching the limits of what I can achieve in your body. As I said before, you are quite limited as far as a host goes." There was a brief pause before he shrugged. "Not that I am to complain about it, quite rare to find a host as compatible with a Heroic Spirit as you are with me."
Ritsuka huffed "Glad you approve." he remarked with a roll of his eyes, then swung his legs off the bed and onto the wooden floorboards with a creak. He turned towards the direction of the door, a thoughtful frown upon his face.
"The girl cannot speak well, but she understands my words easily enough." Caster answered the unasked question. "As I said, the work of the man was quite ingenious. Even with the fact he crafted her from the remains of multiple dead."
"...Wait, she-?"
"Indeed." Caster nodded once, then thinned his lips "Though the choice of clothing for her is rather peculiar. Then again, whatever odd proclivities he had unfortunately perished with him."
Ritsuka was busy racking his brain as he considered all of the information he had received. A guy who made an undead out of the bodies of multiple dead people and was alive in the past. He really didn't think it was possible but he just had to ask. "Hey…by any chance, was this guy's name Frankenstein?"
"Ah, I suppose you would have heard of him?" Caster glanced at Ritsuka, an ethereal eyebrow raised itself "Though I confess some slight intrigue that you are well read enough to be aware of him."
"...So it's actually Frankenstein?" Was Ritsuka's takeaway, then looked towards the door "Which makes her…" he thinned his lips, making a small noise.
"Do not tell me her presence disturbs you." There was a hint of surprise in Caster's voice "Unless you are only tolerant with undead who are created through no choice of their own rather than the machinations of the insane."
Ritsuka waved his hand "It's not that." he denied, pushing off the bed and rising to his feet "I'd be a bit of a hypocrite considering I'm actually friends with several undead." he remarked with a wry smile. "No, it's just that when you say a body made up of…multiple dead people there tends to be a less…" he trailed off with a shudder, recalling the horrors from Rome.
Caster stared at him in silence before something seemingly clicked "Ah, yes. I can see it now." the apparition turned his head. "Yes, I suppose there is objective beauty within her. Certainly more so than previous encounters you have had." he paused for a moment "Yes, I suppose those creatures would be more in line with what one expects when they think of monsters fashioned from corpses."
The Master made a slight noise of disapproval "I wouldn't say she's a monster. I was just surprised at all…" he blinked as he realised something "...She was the same height I am." he turned to the mirror image of himself "That's not even all that tall."
"Is it not?" Caster inclined his head "It must be human standards then." he crossed his arms behind his back. "Now then, I would suggest you venture out and downstairs. I have had several projects already in motion before I sensed you-"
"Sensed me?"
"Yes." Caster exhaled "Would you prefer me to explain every single detail of how I stumbled upon you, or would you prefer to find your allies?"
Ritsuka didn't even hesitate with the answer "The second one."
"Proactive, good." Caster offered faint praise "At the very least you are decisive when it counts." the apparition turned back in the direction of the doorway and then gestured towards it. "Move through to the main study. You will find my carers and bodyguards there."
Ritsuka raised an eyebrow at the Caster "I thought it was just the carers?"
Caster sighed "I have more than one need that I require managed. They all fulfil different roles. Now come along, I dare not await longer than I must. There is time to account for and much to make up from."
The boy lowered the eyebrow before nodding his head once, Caster might well have been blunt about it, but he was right. The sooner that they found the others the sooner they could form a coherent plan to actually deal with the Singularity. Therefore finding Mash and Ash were the top priorities of the moment and he was always up for meeting new people.
"I am glad this situation gives you the opportunity to indulge in your social requirements." Caster's dry voice came as Ritsuka pulled the door handle and swung the door open, the boy flattened his expression and turned towards the Caster in silence. The ghostly apparition of himself hovered a few centimetres off the ground, inclining his head towards his living duplicate. "Hmmm?"
"You know?" The boy turned back around, stepping out into the hallway and following the bannister towards the staircase. "I think I'd like it better if you did not try to read every single one of my thoughts." Ritsuka suggested in a strained tone of voice as he reached the steps and turned about, taking his first step downwards even as he spoke with the Caster. "I don't mind us having a private conversation but I think I would prefer it if you didn't read every single one of my thoughts."
He could feel Caster's amusement at his request. "You assume as though there is a choice in the matter. We are linked now, I can hear your thoughts as though they were my own."
"Oh, yeah?" Ritsuka asked, stopping on the staircase and looking up at the translucent figure "How come I can't hear your thoughts then?"
"Simple." Caster responded in a toneless voice, then his lip curled upwards in a clear smirk of superiority. "I am far more adept at containing my thoughts. You scream yours aloud like a bird in the woods." He pointed to himself "Am I to be blamed for merely being a bystander as the cries of the wilderness, that is your mind, echo out?"
Ritsuka gave a slow blink.
The arm of the Caster dropped "I can avoid commenting upon them unless you think of something truly stupid." the Servant acquiesced, his expression remaining unchanging "However, given what little I glimpsed of your mind-"
"Yes, yes…" Ritsuka waved his hand dismissively as he turned back around and continued down the staircase. "I'm prone to saying a lot of stupid things and thinking even more of them. Chances are that I will have you for a running commentary for all of it, right?
"Hardly." Caster scoffed at the notion as though it was beneath him. "I have more immediate concerns than commenting upon the stray thoughts of the uneducated. Such a thing would be a waste of my talents." the smirk returned "I am sure that others would be more willing to entertain your own level of intellect."
Ritsuka chuckled under his breath, both his brows rising up his forehead "You're really bringing out all the charms tonight, aren't you?"
"Hmph."
His banter with Caster aside, Ritsuka had made note to at least give his surroundings a glance. Especially considering he was liable to be remaining here for the foreseeable future. There was a small hallway that led directly from the private room where he had been resting that ran alongside a bannister; the view over the edge of it showed a staircase which led directly downwards.
The Master could tell the house was warm enough, however his knowledge of what technology was like during the nineteenth century was remarkably limited, however he assumed they did not have radiators. His eyes darted from side to side as he scanned the walls, they had all been decorated with a pale green wallpaper, a pattern of leaves running upwards in a vertical line akin to arrow heads.
It was an alright design, he supposed, but he was hardly an interior decorator. The carved pattern on the handrail was something impressive though, especially how it ended in the form of a horse lifting its front legs into the air in a bucking motion. Then again, a lot of these houses had that sort of thing.
Still…
"This was Doctor Frankenstein's house?" Ritsuka couldn't help but comment as he stopped at the foot of the stairs, glancing around and seeing the rather sparsely covered walls, save for the odd portrait image of a boat at sea or a landscape. This was something he hadn't been expecting in the least when he thought about the infamous Doctor.
"Was, yes." Caster responded with an unconcerned nod of the head.
"...What happened to him, anyway?"
"He died." Was the simple answer he received. No hesitation and no sign that there was an ounce of mourning in the voice. Caster sounded thoroughly apathetic as to the death of the man whose house he was currently squatting in. Ritsuka glanced over his shoulder, sporting a slightly troubled face aimed at the Caster. His duplicate cocked an eyebrow "Are you aggrieved by my lack of emotion? Would you prefer I weep loudly as though I were his widow?"
Ritsuka sighed "No…Guess not everyone is like that." he muttered back, shaking his head and stepping onto the ground floor with a faint squeaking sound. The souls of his shoes sliding against the polished floors, the Master stepped around the staircase and into the second corridor. This one extended presumably from one end of the house to the other, three doorwards existed, two on one side and one on the other.
"The first door on the right." Caster called out to him, already sensing the question building up inside the Master. "There is a benefit to being able to read your thoughts." Ritsuka gave him a questioning gaze "I can answer your ill-thought out inquiries before you have the opportunity to make yourself a public jester."
"You care that much?"
"It reflects poorly on me by associating with you."
Ritsuka snorted, a sardonic smile forming on his lips "See? I knew you cared." he spread his arms wide slightly "We've been allies for so little time and we're already bonding."
Caster didn't even deign that worthy of a reply, his lip curled down and he just stared at the younger boy without making a single sound of shifting his expression much beyond a faint frown.
After a few seconds of silence, Ritsuka turned back around and made his way towards the door frame, grabbing a hold of the handle and twisting it. The door creaked open as the teenager gently pushed it inwards, swinging it open and revealing the room to him in full.
It was around the same size as the study upstairs but the purpose was clearly different despite that. Rows upon rows of book lined shelves dotted about the room. Near Ritsuka was a burgundy coloured leather chair, the armrests curling downwards into spirals and the seat itself well cared for. The room was without windows, but it didn't lack any sort of lightning in the least.
The chandelier at the top, a bronze colour with five spokes jutting upwards each, ended in a similar coloured orb to the one upstairs and produced the same effect. An almost peaceful sky blue hue flooded the room, at the same level of ordinary lightning which Ritsuka supposed would have been far superior to candles or whatever they used. He didn't know when light bulbs were invented.
There was, however, one thing in the room that he instantly took notice of.
His eyes instantly fell upon the young girl in a black frilly dress sitting on top of a leather chair in the far corner of the room. Her little legs dangling down without even touching the floor, he stared at him with a dumbstruck expression, the girl raised her head up from the book she was reading and stared back at him.
Violet coloured eyes blinked once, her small head tilted to the side almost questioningly as her lips shifted into a semi-thoughtful expression. The young girl had long braided twintails extending all the way down to the very edge of her dress, a faint pink highlight colouring her otherwise silver hair. Atop her head was a black cap with a tied up bow on either side in a matching shade.
Though one thing Ritsuka immediately noted as she closed up the book were her arms, they were sleek black and seemed to shine in the light. Almost as though they were…
"Oh…" He realised with a rather dumb look on his face, they were metal. Much the same with her legs, now that he noticed them, with ball joints where her wrists, elbows and knees would have been. Shaking his head, he realised he had been staring far too long to be polite, and stepped fully into the room while flashing the young girl a smile. "Ahaha…sorry about staring, that was rude of me."
The girl gave him a blank stare, then a touch of a smile danced across her lips. "It's alright, Mister." Her voice was light and gentle, filled without any trace of unease for him suddenly staring. "You apologised, so that means I can forgive you."
Tilting her head to the side, she took the large book in her hand and gently nestled it into the space next to her, sliding just an inch to the left to create more space on the, frankly, oversized chair. Even with the book now taking up space in the seat, the young girl still had ample room to manoeuvre her body. A testament to how small she really was.
"Right, thanks." Ritsuka flashed her a polite smile as he straightened himself out, stepping fully into the room. "I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru." Gesturing to himself, he then bowed his head slightly "I suppose I'm your newest visitor. Sorry for the intrusion."
"Oh, it's quite alright." The young girl assured him with a wave of her hand "Miss Fran said you were awake so I thought we would be speaking rather soon." the smile brightened slightly "I'm happy to see that you're doing well. You looked rather ill when you were brought in."
Ritsuka placed his hands on his hips, giving the girl a wry smile "I'm not all that durable when left out in the cold." he snorted "But, hey, at least I got to experience being an icecream for a while, right?"
There was a brief silence, then the girl let out a melodious giggle "Hehehe, that's very amusing, Mr."
"Yes, yes." The curt voice of Caster cut through whatever nice mood was going on like a hot knife through butter, the expression of the small girl evaporated back into a thin line as she turned her gaze towards the spectral body of the Servant floating into the room. "This is all quite calming." His eyes flickered to the girl "You have done as I asked?"
The girl nodded her head once "Just as you requested of me. I sent out a few stories to the area you asked me to."
"Good." Caster turned his sight from the girl, then towards the front left corner of the room. "And how long do you intend to skulk in the shadows?"
"I was curious how this new arrival would interact." Ritsuka blinked at the voice, deep and reverberating as though spoken into a confined space, the boy turned his gaze on the owner and found his eyes trailing upwards slightly as he beheld the figure.
They stepped forwards, their form which had gone silent up until this moment suddenly abandoned all notion of stealth and made a deep clanking noise followed by a slight shudder going through the floorboards. The knight stood well over six feet tall, likely approaching six and a half, moved with purposeful strides towards the shorter individual before coming to a halt directly in front of them.
It was a testament to how long their strides were that they had gone from the other side of the room to being directly in front of him in two simple steps.
Their chest was covered in full plate dark coloured armour, a golden pattern embroidered onto the centre of it in the shape of two curls either side and a singular curl heading upwards. Their head was similarly covered in a full covering box shaped helmet, a golden strip ran up the centre line of the helm and along the jawline, two darkened slits gazed back at the boy.
Underneath the blackened armour was a dark blue cloth, draping down past their knees and up to their shins, their chainmail sleeves split down the middle and draped almost like curtains across their body as they moved to cross their arms over their chest. Fitted steel gauntlets creaking as metal grinded against metal.
"...Hello." Ritsuka nodded his head once "Were you in…erm…Astral for, just now?"
The Knight stared down at him in silence for a second before he answered "No."
"...Okay." Ritsuka nodded his head once "S-so…should I introduce myself again or…?" he pointed to himself and then to the knight "Just to be polite, you know."
"That will not be necessary." The knight shot him down in a somewhat stern tone of voice, it was hard to tell if he was insulted by the request or if it was just his normal manner of speaking. "You are Ritsuka of Fujimaru." The helm of the knight groaned as the man tilted his entire body and looked the young man up and down "Hmmmm." the head turned to Caster "This is your Host?"
Ritsuka sensed the unspoken hostility fairly easily, he got the distinct impression that the person in front of him was less than pleased with the arrangement.
The fact he heard Caster chuckle as though he'd been told an amusing joke did not inspire much in the way of confidence within him.
"Were you so hopeful that I would fade away into nothing, o'knight?" Ritsuka didn't need to turn his head to see the smirk upon the lips of Caster, or rather upon his lips? It was still a strange thing to work his head around with someone using his face like that. However, Caster had said it was something that put less strain on him so he supposed it would suffice for the time being.
"The notion such an event would occur was indeed an attractive one to consider." The knight bluntly responded back, their arms still crossed over their wide chest. "However, I have learned that bugs are the toughest of vermin to stomp out."
The Master raised his brows, looking up at the knight and wincing "Is there…um…some problem between you two I should know about?"
The Knight glanced down at the boy for a moment before his sights returned to the Caster "Only that you should be wary around this one. I know not their true name but they have an aura of deception around them. I have seen many of their ilk before, those who speak sweet words to ingratiate themselves before they strike when the guards are most lowered."
Caster scoffed "You think I would bother to speak words of little value when I can just as easily take what I desire?" the apparition turned their head "Though I suppose only a knight would see such a simplistic motive behind my words. "It was hardly as though I offered the boy falsehoods to convince him of my aid. I told him the truth and he accepted the deal."
The grunt of dismissal from the knight was something Ritsuka didn't imagine was a very polite sound. "Very well then." With a heavy sigh, the helm of the taller man twisted once more and stared down at the teenager. "Since we are to be allies, you will learn my name soon enough. I am Sir Llew, Captain of the Royal Knights of Lothric."
"Lothric…" Ritsuka narrowed his eyes for a moment before they widened "Hey, I know someone from Lothric as well!" he exclaimed somewhat excitedly "Actually, I think I know a couple of people from Lothric, or at least people who have been to the land before."
"Is that so?" Llew didn't sound particularly interested by his exclamation, however it was hard to tell. The voice of the man wasn't very emotive, a rather controlled tone that did well to hide emotion he wasn't planning on showing. "Hardly a surprise, Lothric was a long standing Kingdom even before my time and birthed many fine warriors. I have little doubt some of them would be candidates for a summoning. Especially if I were able to attain that feat."
Ritsuka blinked "I don't think it's quite that bad." he offered with a wave of his hand "I'm sure you've done plenty of impressive things to become a Heroic Spirit."
"...Your naivety is rather curious." Llew responded with somewhat curtly, turning his body side on and facing the room. "Though I shall not spit upon what little optimism exists in this frigid land, there is enough misery in this city as it is."
"Ah, speaking off…" Ritsuka turned towards Caster "What is even going on around here anyway?"
Caster stared at him for a moment in silence before he made a noise "Hmm. It would be better suited for my host to be knowledgeable of our current predicament, especially if you are to be the best hope in solving it." he waved his hand towards the direction of the spare seat. "I am loath to explain common knowledge, so I won't."
Ritsuka blinked "Huh?"
Caster started to fade away "I have taxed myself enough for this brief venture beyond your body, I must focus on regaining a sliver of my strength so that our work can begin in earnest. The knight and my assistants are aware of the situation enough to provide you with an adequate overview." he cast a glance towards Llew "Provided they are intelligible enough to grasp the complexities of sorcery."
Llew didn't so much as flinch at the blatant insult towards his intelligence.
Grunting, Caster's form completely vanished and Ritsuka felt as though a tension had left him. As though he had been clenching a muscle he hadn't realised he was holding onto.
Shuddering, he looked towards Llew "So…" he ventured, then glanced at the young girl "...It's cold outside, huh?"
The girl blinked, then smiled, "It is quite chilly, yes." then she made a noise "Ah, I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Nursery Rhyme."
"That's nice." Was the simple reply of the dark haired youth "Do you prefer I call you by your full name or is Nursery alright?"
"Nursery is fine, Mr Ritsuka." The young girl responded with a nod of the head "I think that a lack of formality will allow us to form tighter bonds of friendship." her expression turned a touch forlorn "A quality that will be well required in this place."
"Hmmm." Llew offered a simple hum of acknowledgement, neither denying her point nor agreeing with her. Instead, he turned his body once more and stared down at the teenager, their size difference now made all the more apparent with Ritsuka sitting down in the leather seat, his arms on his knees and his body slightly hunched forwards.
Llew stared at him for a moment before he spoke quickly and with a clear voice "Stop slouching and sit up straight."
It was so sudden that Ritsuka jolted in surprise, even more so when he found his body had acted on instinct and done as the knight requested.
"Good posture breeds a keen mind." Llew stated as though it was a fact. "As the Caster so rightly pointed out, I am indeed aware of the situation we face at the moment. Or rather, the situation as it currently stands. However, some aspects of it still elude me but it is something that cannot be changed at this present time."
He uncrossed his arms "The storm that blankets the city of London is a rather recent endeavour. The Lady Rhyme was summoned before I was, she spoke of a great fog that covered the city but was swept away overnight." he sighed "She believes that there used to be other pockets of Servants that existed within the City but they have since fallen silent. Either due to the storm or those who reside within it…I cannot be certain."
There was something about the wording that set Ritsuka off, the boy leaned forwards and rested his arms back on his legs "You mean there is something-?"
"Posture." Llew corrected without missing a beat, Ritsuka straightened himself out once more.
"Sorry." Apologising for whatever reason, it just felt like the correct thing to do at the time, he moved to continue on with his question. "I'm going to assume you mean that there is something in the blizzards outside?" he paused for a moment "As in something that is considered dangerous?"
"To us? Indeed." Llew confirmed with a nod of the head.
"Not to those who have already embraced the good sleep." Nursery spoke up, her legs swinging back and forth as she rested her hands on her lap, using her palms to flatten out her black dress. "There is something about the cold that makes you despondent, the appeal of rest becomes deeply rooted in your soul and you become as-"
"You don't feel like moving anymore…" Ritsuka whispered slightly, gently cutting the girl off as he looked towards her. "You…it's like this thing where you just can't see the point of even trying so you just sit back and close your eyes, right?" He swallowed and looked between the two in the room. "That's it, right?"
Nursery offered him a somewhat pitying stare before nodding her head once "That is, indeed, what we believe the effect is. Although it was Caster who discerned as much. It was also something I witnessed first hand when the fog was swept away." the expression of the girl hardened "First there is apathy to all things, then there is hopelessness…before finally there is acceptance and then peace. One questions what value they have to the world and what difference their loss will mean. Once they answer such a question, they accept the cold and fall into slumber."
"Yeah…sounds about right." Ritsuka muttered then frowned "Wait, how come the cold doesn't kill them?"
Llew made a grunting noise "The specifics of such a thing elude me. Caster has his suspicions though he has neglected to mention any of them to us. Suffice to say - in his own words - there is little point in discussing a topic few will understand." there was a sigh from behind the helmet "Loath as I might be to admit it, he is correct in that regard. The magics of this land are no less complex than those of my home. It is why Miracles came to me more easily."
Ritsuka tilted his head "That's the whole healing one and the…you know…" he made a throwing motion with his right arm "Electric javelins?"
"...Sunlight spears." Llew corrected him in a somewhat amused tone of voice "That is their name. As for the former, I am knowledgeable of some Miracles in the art of healing, yes. Though most go into the support of my sword." There was a pause. "My Class is Saber, should you be intrigued by such a thing."
Ritsuka offered a wry smile "I mean, I am a Master so I would think it would be pretty important to know all the specialties of the people I'm working with."
"...I see, that is why Caster wanted you as his host." Llew exhaled "I had assumed you were merely a final resort though perhaps there is more to this than I can see. As it stands, both you and he are now under the protection of this group while we work to clear away the ice that surrounds us."
"Well…Happy to be a part of the team." Ritsuka smiled, then looked at Nursery "I'm going to guess you're a Caster?"
The girl nodded her head once, "That's very good, Mr Ritsuka." she clapped her hands together repeatedly in a small round of applause.
"...Quick question, when you say Nursery Rhyme, do you mean like the stories?"
"Yes."
"...Huh." Ritsuka smiled, "How about that."
The girl tilted her head "Are you not surprised?" a curious look flickered across her face "I am something of an outlier amongst Heroic Spirits, they are usually composed of humans or others that existed rather than a conceptual being like myself."
Ritsuka snorted, crossing his arms over his chest "Yeah, the last conceptual Servant I met was the physical manifestation of the undead curse. So I think that one based on children's tales is a massive improvement."
Llew's head blurred as it snapped onto Ritsuka, their posture faltering as the words registered "Did you say that undead curse?" the knight demanded "The brand of the Dark Sign exists as a Servant!?"
The expression of the Master shifted, his right hand moved over to the front of his shirt just above his heart. "Yeah…" He muttered out in a quieter tone of voice "Complete with branding and all…It's…it wasn't fun."
Llew's posture straightened out once more "This is a…disturbing revelation." the knight stated with an edge in his voice "To think that such a curse could achieve form and brand others…" he looked down at Ritsuka "Do you still carry-"
"Oh, no!" Ritsuka hastily assured the man, shaking his head from side to side "Thank goodness, no." he shivered "Just…it wasn't there for long, but I had this really nasty burn on my hand and I could see it but just couldn't…feel it. Like it was just there attached to this thing that was my hand a few moments ago."
The Saber nodded his head once "I have heard tales of the undead curse and did start to see the signs of those affected. However, if the curse is not permanent then you should consider your luck fortunate. Not all contract the curse and soon find themselves free of it in such short order."
Nursery spoke up "The story aside, there is more to the storm than just the chill of despair. There are beings that wander it…bodies elongated and frightening, with the head of crows."
Ritsuka blinked "...Crow…people?"
Heavy knocking on the door caused the heads in the room to turn.
Mordred tensed herself but didn't look that ready for combat, though Jekyll instead sported a relieved expression.
Mash noticed the pair of them and while she did bring out her shield, she kept it at her side rather than make a move to brandish it.
"I think that Rider has returned." Jekyll stated, moving across the room and towards the door, then glanced over his shoulder to Mordred "That was longer than last time, was it not?"
The Knight just grunted and shrugged her shoulders in a somewhat uncaring fashion.
Jekyll sighed, turning back around and taking hold of the door handle before twisting it and pulling the door open, the man braced himself as a rush of cold air washed over his body, snow clinging to his clothes and sending the blazer on his shoulders shooting across the room as though it had been thrown.
A hulking figure stepped through the now open door, turning their body and pressing a silver gauntlet against the entrance and aiding Jekyll in shutting it once more with a hefty click. As he turned, Mash felt he eyes widened as she stared at his back and the three elongated leaf shaped blades lodged in his shoulders and back, not that the armoured figure seemed to give them much notice.
Mordred, however, did and let out a snort. "Run into a friendly bunch then, did you?"
"Indeed." The voice of the new arrival - Rider - was rough but still well spoken, a slight echo in his tone from the helm that covered his face. Leaning back to his full height, it was impressive how much he stood once he stopped hunching over. At least a full head over Jekyll.
"Though Mordred jokes, I am relieved you returned safely."
Rider snorted with the grace of shattering ice "A mere breeze such as this is nothing to me." he grunted back, hefting up a large weapon and mounting it on his shoulder, a great mace with mushroom shaped body, eight ridges ran from the top of the weapon down to the base of the metallic head. A long spike jutted out with a trickling of cold falling down from the large weapon.
He turned around to face the room, then paused as he took notice of Mash. Head tilting to the side ever so slightly "I see that I was not alone in excitement, or did I somehow miss this face during my stay here?"
Jekyll rolled his eyes "Well, this is Miss Mash and her ally Caster is in the other room. Mordred found them wandering the storm not long after you left, so we presume you just missed them."
Rider made a noise "I must have done…" He looked down at Mash's armour then back up to her face "...Rather underdressed for the storm, are you not?"
Mordred snorted.
Mash, meanwhile, had her attention firmly fixed upon the Rider himself.
She knew that weapon, she had seen it before, much like that armour he wore. A helmet carved forwards in an angular way, a diamond shaped faceplate with carved ridges and holes for the eyes. Bulky armour plated around the shoulders and joints, carved to look akin to the surface of water.
"...Vordt…"
Rider froze for a moment "...I did not think to be recognised so quickly." he admitted with a hint of surprise "Though I cannot confess to knowing anyone with your appearance, how might you have met me?"
"...Berserker."
Vordt stilled, the temperature of the room seemingly plummeting as the great mace was slowly lifted from his shoulder and back to his side, soon turning transparent as it vanished from the world and back into astral form.
"...I see." His voice was curt and dismissive, indicating how little he cared for the new topic, though he did turn his head from the girl. "That is not something I would wish anyone to see. Though if you are here, then I assume that wretched creature was defeated." when he saw her muted nod of the head, he exhaled "Then I owe you quite the debt, it seems. For ending that beast…"
Mordred cocked an eyebrow "This really the sort of conversation you should be having now?" she asked with a bemused tone of voice, then gestured to him "You've got knives in your back, dumbass."
Vordt jolted in surprise "I do?" he turned his helmet, glancing over his shoulder plates and then making a noise "So I do!" I hadn't noticed. They must have gotten wedged in my armour…I had just assumed to be struck by something." The explanation earned a roll of the eyes from Mordred.
Reaching up, Vordt took hold of his helmet and twisted, pulling it off and freeing his head. His features were somewhat rough, a bristle beard of white hair around his face and equally snow white hair atop his head. Despite that, his features marked him as someone who still looked reasonably young. At least in the range of mid twenties, the helmet vanished into motes of light as he reached around and took hold of one of the daggers.
With a grunt, the knight pulled it free and brought it around, the knife itself being more akin to a shortsword without a handle. The long blade extended outwards into an oval head towards the tip of the weapon. Vordt looked it over with a thoughtful hum "Do you suppose you might make use of this?" he glanced at Mordred.
The Saber raised an eyebrow at him "It ain't got a crossguard or a handle!" she snapped back at him as if he was an idiot "...I suppose mana infusion can account for the durability of it…" she muttered under her breath, then gave it a second glance "Not like there aren't spares."
Jekyll poked his head from behind Vordt "Besides, you did say you were getting bored remaining here."
"...Tch, let me see them." Mordred stepped off the wall she had been leaning against, marching towards the Rider and extending her hand to him "You run into more of those bird bastards then?"
Vordt nodded his head "A small contingent this time. Three members. They appeared to be searching the houses, perhaps for us or perhaps for other survivors." he glanced at Mash "...Perhaps such as yourself?"
Mash blanched "Senpai…" she muttered under her breath, bringing a confused expression upon Vordt.
"Senpai? Who is-whoa!?" He was cut off when Mordred yanked the throwing weapon from him with one hand and used her other to roughly spin him around so his back was facing her. With a bored expression, she took hold of the handle of the dagger jammed into his lower back and pulled it free, placing it into her hand already holding the first one, then repeated the same with the final dagger.
Once she had collected the other two, she stepped back and looked at them once more.
"Really?" Vordt faced her with a frown, turning back around "I was still speaking."
"No, what you were saying is that her buddies were probably getting hunted down." Mordred remarked with a flat tone of voice as she looked over the weapons in her hands. "You ain't wrong but there is a time and place for that." looking back up, she met the face of the Rider before she returned her focus to Mash. "Oh yeah. There are these pricks who look like featherless birds walking around in the snow. Doesn't seem to bother them and they can see us a lot better than we see them."
Mash was on alert rather quickly after that, her expression hardening ever so slightly. "How dangerous are they?"
Mordred scoffed "Fodder. Like vultures who hunt in gangs." waving her free hand to the side, she turned away from Mash and moved across the room towards the stairs "I'm gonna take some of your clothes." she announced without much in the way of fanfare.
Jekyll had a moment to consider her words before his eyes widened "At least leave my good coats alone!" he pleaded, he got a lazy wave of the hand from Mordred as she disappeared out the door and the sounds of thumping footsteps receded upwards.
Vordt huffed "I see her lack of a weapon has left her no less confident." then looked towards Mash and saw her questioning stare "Were you not aware?"
"Oh, I heard about it earlier." Mash assured the Rider, then thinned her lips "But I don't get it…shouldn't a Servant be able to recall their weapons to them? It is a case of astralising them, isn't it?"
The Rider offered her an affirmative nod of the head "You would be true enough, however there is something wrong with the connection between Mordred and her sword. I do not understand it myself but it would appear the Noble Phantasm was physically stolen from her, she said it was though her Spirit Origin itself has had a section carved out of it."
Mash blanched "Sir Mordred's Noble Phantasm was stolen…but…that would be Clarent, wouldn't it?" she glanced at Jekyll, the man offering a silent nod of the head in confirmation to her suspicion.
When the cluttering sound of drawers being pulled open rather roughly and creaking of wood echoed through the house, Jekyll's face twitched for a moment as he raised up a single finger in Mash's direction. "Would you excuse me, dear lady. I just need to reassure myself of something." With a strained smile, he all but bolted out of the room and quickly scrambled up the stairs.
"...I'm still surprised they get along so well." Vordt commented suddenly, earning a blink from Mash.
"They get along?" She would never have guessed that from their interactions.
Vordt chuckled, a smile playing on his lips "I figure that is just what Mordred is like most of the time." crossing his arms over his chest, his expression turned somewhat thoughtful. "I might have been much the same in the past though meeting with others tends to bring out the best in people. Besides, if she did not like him…I suspect we would all know about it."
Shaking his head, he looked back to Mash "So then…You came with allies, yes? I understand there is a Caster present here?" he glanced around the room for a moment with a searching expression "I assume they are in a different part of the house?"
"Yes." Mash nodded, then winced "Caster-san is…I think she would prefer some privacy to work."
"I understand how sorcerers work. They are a rather private sort, unless it is with their peers." Vordt assured her, then let out another chuckle "Besides, I suspect I would not be the best of company for the scholarly type. We tend to have…vastly different approaches to problems." he paused for a moment, then elaborated "I tend to smash them up and they think about them."
"...I guessed as much." Mash remarked with a faint nod of the head. "I did come with others as well to help resolve this Singularity but…" she trailed off with a troubled face.
"You were separated in the storm, I assume?" Vordt inquired, then shook his head "There is no shame in it. If I were not a knight of the Boreal Valley, I would be similarly lost in such frozen conditions. Though I am sure your allies will have adapted by now…if they have not?" his expression hardened "I would suggest you make peace with the option they might be dead."
Mash flinched at his blunt words, then shook her head "...No. I'm sure that they could also make it as well. If myself and Caster could, then they can." she declared with a confident expression.
Vordt's expression did a complete one-eighty "Then you have nothing to fear and merely have to hold out for your reunion."
Nobunaga held up the cloth in front of her, squinting in the light as she stared at the dirtied white colouring with the black shoulder cape. Then lowered the cloth and looked at the Saber on the other side of the room. "Why do you have the clothes of a Nun in your box?"
Ash gave her an unblinking stare "...Because I had little reason not to own them."
"You aren't a nun, though."
"Nor am I a Knight, yet I still adorn myself in the armour." Ash responded with a shrug of his shoulders, then looked back down at the floor at the assembled gear "Though, a question occurs. Why are we doing this?"
"It's all about presentation." Nobunaga explained as she dropped the robe onto the floorboards, placing her hands on her hips and giving the Saber a serious expression, the Servant still sitting cross legged on the floor. "It's about presenting yourself as someone that few will want to trifle with. Not to mention the fact that it serves as a factor of intimidation when fighting other Servants who might not be so brave."
Ash pursed his lips, nodding his head up and down "I see. An effect on the mind to startle my enemy?"
"Yeah." Nobunaga nodded her head, looking down at the armour "Also there is the aesthetic factor to take into account." she added on almost as a sudden realisation. Moving along the line, she paused at one of the armour pieces on the floor and tapped it. "What's this one?"
Ash glanced at it for a split second "The armour of Prince Lorian. Eldest son of King Oceiros."
Nobunaga raised an eyebrow "You've killed some pretty interesting people, you know?"
"I do not think about it." Ash simply replied "Though…perhaps they did lead storied lives before I killed them." he furrowed his brows "An odd thing to consider how such individuals were slain by a nameless unkindled."
"Everyone can die." Nobunaga snorted "Doesn't matter how storied their life is." then looked further along and narrowed her eyes "What about that?"
"Armour of the Outrider Knights." Ash explained without missing a beat "Those Sulyvahn had warped into his service through magic and torture."
"...Nice looking armour though."
"Their weapons are also rather useful." Ash added on "The straight sword was one I found to be particularly useful in my early days of combat."
"Now let's just…" Nobunaga pursed her lips as she gazed at the scattered pieces of armour on the floor, randomly crouching down and moving certain pieces along as she started to form a new layout.
When she was finished, she stepped backwards and nodded her head up and down "Now that is something to consider…but it's missing something."
Ash stood up, moving around to stand next to her and stared down "...Is it?"
"Fool, retainer!" Nobunaga snapped, frowning at the Saber "Can you not see? You are missing the most important piece of all!" she reached under her arm and grabbed the end of her cape, holding it up in a tight fist. "A cape!"
Ash glanced at the cape he was currently wearing, then back at the Archer. Her frown deepened "That hardly suits it…In fact…" she glanced down at the floor, her eyes falling upon the cloak of Sister Friede and narrowing slightly. Crouching down, she picked it up off the floor and untied the long black cape from the back, tossing the gown back to the ground without much concern. "This!"
Turning to the Saber, she pointed at the ground "Now put that on!"
Shrugging, Ash looked down at the armour and then moved his hands towards it.
Nobunaga watched as the Saber undid the straps around his cape and removed it, then went for the bracers on his arm.
The Archer raised an eyebrow at him "...You just gonna get naked here?"
Ash blinked at her "Were you not intending for me to change my attire at this moment?"
"No, not that." The Archer dismissed "I just didn't think you would…actually, you know what? Yeah. you would." she shrugged, waving a hand at him. "You can carry on."
Giving her a slightly bemused look, Ash hummed and then resumed his task of undressing, completely uncaring to the audience he had in the room. Not that Nobunaga cared too greatly about it, merely watching him with a bored expression as he went about unclothing himself.
She was more interested in how armour was worn rather than what the body of the Saber was about.
When Ash was finished switching armour sets, he lowered the diamond shaped helmet of the Outrider knight onto his head, clicking it into place and then taking hold of the black cape of Friede when Nobunaga offered it to him. Spinning it around, Ash clipped it onto his armour and let it drop to his ankles, adjusting it slightly to even it out.
Clad in the armour of Lorian, leggings of the dragon slayer set, gauntlets of Gundyr and the helm of the Outrider, the dark scheme armour of Ash now produced a rather menacing appearance.
Nobunaga nodded her head up and down somewhat approvingly "Excellent. That is part one of the plan finished." she waved her hand at the items left on the floor "Clean that up. Part two will relate to us beginning a search of the nearby houses. We'll move door to door until a better option presents itself."
Ash nodded "An apt plan. We might well encounter sane individuals."
"Maybe." Nobunaga admitted, tilting her head slightly "...I'm surprised you went along with the change of armour. Figured you would have clung to it."
"I have no reason not to change my armour." He raised his arms, clenching his gauntlets into fists. "Besides…This combination of armour is comfortable enough that it does not inhibit my movement." The cape fidgeted as the Saber returned his arms to his side "The cape can mask my movements as well as form a cover during combat. I utilised one such strategy myself against a Silver Knight."
"...Did it work?"
"It did, yes." Ash nodded his head "Throwing my cape in their face did block their field of vision and make it easier to kill them."
"Well, there you go. Stylish and functional."
"You…were aware of the combat benefits, were you not?" Ash asked with a slightly suspicious tone of voice.
"Are you doubting my tactical mind, Retainer?" Nobunaga shot back with squinted eyes.
Ash was silent for a moment before he shook his head.
"There we go then."
Yep, another Ash armour change.
Helmet: Outrider Helm
Armour: Lorian
Gauntlets: Gundyr
Legs: Iron Dragonslayer Leggings
Cape: Pulled from Friede Set
And yes!
Sane Vordt and a named Consumed Garden Knight! We all know how those guys are with their Greatswords…Harder than some bosses, I tell you.
Llew won't get a stat sheet right away, but you do get Vordt's!
Vordt, Knight of the Frozen Lake
Servant: Rider
Strength: B
Endurance: B+
Agility: C
Mana: C
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: B
'Winds of Irithyll': B (Anti-Army) Max Target: 50, Max Range: 30
He rides upon the Ice, a knight whose chariot is the frozen winds.
Calling upon the ice of Irithyll, he can ride a spearpoint and smash into enemies.
Eis: C (Anti-Unit) Max Target: 1, Max Range: 1-2
Greatmace of Vordt, imbued with ice and can cause Frostbite to permeate from the wounds inflicted.
Class Skills:
Riding: B
Magic Resistance: C
Personal Skills:
Cryomancy: D
Can craft minor points of ice with his attacks.
Knight of the Frozen Lake: B+
Protection against poisons and brief boost when near a body of water.
Knight of the Boreal Valley: C
As a Knight of the Boreal Valley, he grew up in a rather cold climate. As such, he had a good deal of protection against the chill, be it from weapons or weather.
Summoning
"Upon your summoning, I have answered. I am Vordt, Knight of the Frozen Lake. I will aid you as a loyal knight should."
Dialogue 1
"My other Classes…I could be summoned as a Berserker though…I ask you never do that. It is…shameful."
Dialogue 2
"I did make time for rest and recuperation, I understand how important such things are…Someone showed it to me long ago."
Dialogue 3
"Master and Servant? I am a Knight and you my Lord. Don't worry about the things beyond ordering me."
Dialogue 4 (If you have Sulyvahn)
"...I see. So he's here."
Dialogue 5 (If you have Dancer of the Boreal Valley)
"...A-ah…So she did…I…e-excuse me."
Dialogue 6 (If you have Carwen of the Boreal Valley)
"Ha…She was a handmaiden, you know? Before all of this and…I know she retains her sanity but still, that she could be summoned in the class of Saber at all is…I do not take comfort in the knowledge she can fight. For I know where it came from, but all the same…she is…someone very special to me."
Dialogue 7 (If you have Vordt of the Boreal Valley)
"Please get rid of him. I don't want to be seen like that, if I were summoned in such a class I would wish for death so I beg you…please, get rid of them."
Dialogue 8 (If you have Ashen One)
"How strange, I feel as though I should know them from somewhere but the place escapes me. All the same I feel…an odd debt."
Dialogue 9 (If you have Lancelot)
"Another Knight of the Lake, is it? Well…he was raised by the lake, I merely lived near one. I could hardly call us equals, either in name nor in skill. All the same, it is a strange thing to take note of, is it not?"
Dialogue 10 (If you have Oscar)
"The Boreal Valley did have a fishing trade but I never considered partaking. That being said, the Knight of Astora presented me with quite a reasonable case to at least try it. I was surprised by how peaceful it was."
Likes
"What do I like? Well…There was a time when I would walk the streets of Irithyll. No, not to guard them or on patrol. I would walk with someone close to me…I very much enjoyed those peaceful strolls of ours."
Hates
"Something I hate? A certain figure comes to mind and what they did to my…dear one."
Wish for the Holy Grail
"Wish? If there was one thing I could have…it would be to have the chance to go back and do it all over. To save her from that fate and protect the Kingdom from the evil that destroyed it. Though…I suspect such a thing is not possible."
Bond Level 1
"Did you know the Boreal Valley was quite well known for our fishing trade? Not many would, but there was a large body of water not far from the city itself. Though it was cold, many of the fish would survive the chill. Really, it was quite interesting."
Bond Level 2
"Hmph…fishing, yes, quite. In truth, I never had much patience for many things to begin with. My manner could be seen as rather brutish or akin to a barbarian than a knight, I suppose it changed at some point long ago."
Bond Level 3
"Her name is Carwen, or it would be more prudent to say her name…was, I suppose…Either way, she was - still is - something truly exceptional. She brought out the best in me and I…I wanted to be the best I could be for her."
Bond Level 4
"That earlier talk we had…erm…I would like for us to pretend it did not occur. No, it is simply that I do not like it appropriate for me to blab my troubles to you, is all. Not that I am ashamed of them."
Bond Level 5
"Well…if you would still wish to hear my stories of love, I could at least hear of yours. If you are willing, though it might be considered strange for a Lord and their Knight to speak so cordially, if you have no problems I would not mind continuing this discussion."
Birthday
"Congratulations, I wish the best for you today."
During an Event
"Do you suppose that something interesting is occurring? If you will have me, I will accompany you."
1st Ascension
"Hmph, this is rather adept isn't it? Does my mace feel colder to you?"
2nd Ascension
"I'm telling you, my mace feels like it's getting colder. I'd ask you to feel it but you'd probably never be able to let it go."
3rd Ascension
"My armour feels a bit cleaner too, now that I think about it. Was I always this shiny?"
4th Ascension
"Well…I suppose this is it then, isn't it? I think it went rather well, all things considered. So what are we going to do now? More fighting?"