Chapter 164: And the monster revealed.
A war stretches across the world, a billion souls are plunged into ruin.
Why?
The army sweeps through the cities, homes burn and thousands are put to the sword.
Why? Why?
The temple is set alight, centuries of knowledge and learning is turned to dust.
Why? Why? Why?
The horse that stands as tall as a tower breaks, the ceasefire ends in rivers of blood. All for the love of a married woman.
Why? Why? Why? Why?
The fury of the Child of Light rips the land apart, he slaughters everyone in his path.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
A spear is driven through his back, he dies to the hands of his friend
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Rage of a widow destroys everything
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Her love goes unrequited, Anchin lies again and again
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Her children are put to the sword, her people and returned to the dirt, her home is lost to invaders from across the world.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
A second sun rises in the city, shadows are painted upon the wall, the flash turns all that is into all that was.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Dark clouds rise into the sky, the scent of burnt flesh lingers in the wind, metal carriages arrive with a thousand more and a thousand more will arrive the next day. The clouds do not stop rising.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Her mother does not love her, the food is poisoned again and again, she does not feel the love of her, only the love of the people.
It's ugly, it's horrible, it's hideous.
He kills one to save ten, he kills ten to save a hundred, he kills a hundred to save a thousand but he cannot kill enough to save himself.
Stop, stop, stop-
He watches the suffering before him with but a thin smile on his lips, with the power bestowed to him by God himself-
Why does he not act to aid them? Is he not their King? Does he not-
"No. It is God who punishes men. The King just regulates them. The sadness of others does me no harm. All humans are creatures that reach that conclusion."
…
…This way of thinking is wrong.
This planet is wrong.
Why do they do this, again and again?
A land swallowed by the greed of a single man,
A people slaughtered by the hatred of but a few,
A race enslaved to the whims of another,
It's endless, it's horrible, it's revolting,
It's ugly….
Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly,
Why would any defend this life?
Why would any consider this worthy?
Why do they reject that which would bring them peace?
This world, this planet, this humanity…
…They do not - themselves…
…They do not seek out peace, they seek only pain…
They don't better themselves.
They do not change.
It's horrible.
I cannot bear to look at it.
I cannot allow it.
I will not allow it.
This…evil…
I…won't let them hurt themselves.
If they cannot stop, then I will stop them.
I will spare them this suffering.
The only way I can.
Ritsuka mentally chided himself as he climbed the hill, not even hiding the scowl on his features as he marched. His eyes moving to the distant figure stood right at the summit of the small incline, directly next to the large white tree. Their back was still to him, unmoving even as he moved.
"Senpai…" Mash's voice was a low whisper as she walked in step with him "You shouldn't blame yourself-"
He stopped walking, letting out a breath. "I'm not…" he had intended to say he wasn't blaming himself, but that would be a lie. He really was blaming himself, especially with the fact he had let Ash wander off. Perhaps it had just been the chaos they had gone through and all of the stuff with Haku but he really felt like he could have done with a break. Maybe letting Ash go off by himself had been influenced by letting him calm down, or it could have been because he really didn't want to throw himself into another argument.
"...Alright, I am blaming myself." The admission was pained, his expression twisting ever so slightly. "But it is sort of my fault for letting him go off. I should have figured that something was wrong. Even with Drake, he didn't immediately fly off the handle like he did within seconds of meeting Mordred." dropping his arms to his side, he turned to the Shielder. "I figured everyone had gone through their own troubles but a mental attack right off the bat and now he's been left alone by himself?"
Mash opened her mouth, then hesitance flashed through her eyes before she closed it again. Looking troubled for a few moments. "It's still not your fault, Senpai. We were all separated and Jeanne-san said that she tried to help him but couldn't find any sign of a curse."
"That probably makes it worse." Ritsuka exhaled with a shake of his head, jerking it towards the group they had been walking away from. "Medea still has her hands full healing Sulyvahn's injuries and strolling up to Ash and asking 'how are you?' is obviously going to be a stupid thing to do." his right hand came up, nursing his temples. "It's just…from the very start we've been on the backfoot, haven't we?"
"...It has not been ideal, Senpai." Mash spoke slowly, nodding her head up and down in acceptance before her features hardened. "But I know that we can push back. I believe in you, Senpai!"
"...Thanks, Mash." Maybe it just needed to be said aloud, but he really needed that little assurance that he was doing something right, or that people still had faith in him. It was always good to hear, but with everything that happened, he just needed it said aloud. A hug would have been nice as well but he wasn't going to ask Mash for something like that. "Come on. Lets see how Ash is getting on, he could probably do with some peace as well. We'll get him down to Medea and see if she can do anything for his head."
Mash smiled, "Yes, Senpai!"
With a smile of his own, Ritsuka nodded back to the Shielder, armed with newfound confidence, he turned back to the hill and trudged his way up. Though it did make for a short if only silent journey, he could feel himself frown the longer he stared at the unmoving back of Ash, the change in armour aside, there was something else different about the Saber. He couldn't quite tell-
"Ah!" He let out a short hiss, darting his eyes to his right hand and watching as the seals burned a brilliant red for a moment before they reverted to their usual state. "What the-?"
"Senpai?" Mash sounded just as alarmed as he felt, the girl moving in front of him and staring at the hand, having caught sight of the light for a split second. She reached towards him, gently taking the limb into her own hands and examining it with laser focused vision, "I've learned some things from Doctor Roman about simple examinations." she informed him.
He figured it was something more magical than anything else, but it felt like something a little more than that. As though an elastic band around his arm just snapped and he was freed of the pull. The link between Master and Servant just…vanished. Pinging away from him so quickly and suddenly that he had no idea what even happened. He just couldn't feel the same pull anymore.
"It's…" Ritsuka whirled his head around to the bottom of the hill, eyes sweeping over all of the Servants present with a narrowed gaze. The last time he felt something like this was when Oscar died, the loss of a Servant and the end of a contract. However, he could see all of his Servants still present and the one who he lost a contract with was…
His eyes fell onto Ash once more, widening in alarm. "I just lost my link with Ash."
Mash froze, her head snapped up "Eh? But how-?" her head blurred as she spun around to look in the direction of the Saber. "But if he doesn't have a contract, how will he be able to maintain his existence?"
He wouldn't.
Ritsuka burst into a run, the Shielder following him with more than enough ability to keep pace with him, the final stretch between himself at the Saber was closed rapidly, words falling from his mouth so urgently that he very nearly ended up biting his tongue in the process.
"Ash! Your contract with me just broke!" He blurted out to the Saber as he slid to a halt, Ash showed no sign of even reacting to what he had just said, more akin to a statue than anything else. Though, he did not much care for that lack of reaction as he continued to speak out. "If we don't make a new one then you're going to end up vanishing!"
The Saber did not move.
"Ash-san?" Mash called out, taking a single step forwards "You need to contract with Senpai, again. You'll run out of magical energy without him and even if you have enough to last the rest of the Singularity, you won't be able to return to Chaldea."
Not a single word was spoken by the Saber.
"Ash!" He shouted at the Servant, he didn't like to raise his voice but the complete lack of response was starting to test his nerves. Between what he had been told by Nobunaga and Jeanne and his reaction earlier, he was more than a little worried about the Saber. No, that was a lie. He was downright alarmed at how he was acting right now. "Just talk to me, you're going to-"
"When were you going to tell me?" When Ash did finally speak, his words were delivered with a calmness about them. An emotion that was much too out of place for someone whose very existence was currently under threat of vanishing from existence.
Ritsuka raised his brows, his confusion rose and he could feel his expression twisting to match the newly birthed bewilderment within him. "When was I going to tell you what?"
"About Human History." The Saber continued on, the pause was short lived as they added another sentence as little more than an afterthought. "The Human History of this world, anyway."
He was worried about this now?
"Nevermind that right now, Ash. Your contract with me just broke and Nobunaga said you're suffering a magical attack to the head or something that's scrambling with your mind." He took a step forward "We need to get you to Medea so she can actually help you!"
His plea was ignored, "Were you intending to set aside some time in Chaldea to walk me through all of human history? Or just the parts that conformed to what you believe I would approve of?" through all of it, the tone of the Saber remained unchanged. "Though, it does not matter now. I know."
"Huh?"
"About human history. I know."
"That's great." He waved his hand, at a time like this he really didn't think this was where he should be focusing his efforts. "But it really isn't important right now, Ash-"
Ash cut him off. "I disagree." The response was as curt as it was short. "I feel as though it is, perhaps, the most important topic for me."
"...Alright, we can discuss it after you get healed-"
"No. We shall discuss it now." Ash dismissed swiftly, turning his body around to face him. The Saber still had his arms loosely hung by his side and his head covered in the valugly diamond shaped helmet. "Because I doubt there shall be time enough to discuss it later."
He felt his brows furrowed, something settled in the air around them. Like a subtle pressure.
"...Okay, if you really want to discuss this now, we can, but your contract-"
"I have surplus magical energy for this brief discussion, Ritsuka." Ash replied with a slow shake of the head. "There is no true risk at the moment."
He shared a glance with Mash, he could see that behind her own confusion there was apprehension as well. Good thing that he wasn't the only one to feel all the tension around them right now. His eyes fell back to Ash. "If you say so but I'd feel more comfortable if you made a contract with me agai-"
"Ritsuka." The interruption was delivered with more force. "What I have to say is important. I would prefer you listen before we continue."
Ritsuka pinched his brows "...Okay?"
Ash inhaled "Do you know why I snuffed the flame?" he didn't even get a chance to speak before the answer was delivered. "Because it was the cause of human suffering. Or, rather, the greatest factor in the suffering of humanity that I could see. The world was forced into an existence that was…a mistake. Life was predicated on the belief that the Flame was the greatest good in the world. Which…was wrong."
The Saber took a single step forwards. "I understood that, at least, by the end. The Flame was the real cause of human suffering, chaining all humanity with the Dark Sign and forcing them to submit to its yoke." He stopped moving. "So, I ended it. With its destruction, all those still linked with the flame would perish as well. Myself, whatever Gods might have remained…and the humans who still remained in the world."
Ritsuka felt his blood turn to ice at the emotionless delivery "...Huh?"
"True, there existed the Painted World. The land of true peace. The world painted from the Dark Soul…not this mockery of existence." Ash continued onwards "But from that, it would birth a people untouched by the flame and all its vices. The removal of the old so that the new might flourish."
"Ash…what are you-"
The Saber did not stop. "I was prepared to fade away in that cold world, die alone…until I felt a pull. One final summoning from someone who called for my aid. I had no reason to deny, I was still a Warrior of Sunlight, so I accepted…" his arms came up, gesturing to the ground. "And I came here. A new world, a new humanity that was free of both the flame and the Gods and I was…jubilant."
Ritsuka blinked once, the words running through his head for a few seconds before he felt his body lock up. That wording he used "Wait…you…Ash…what do you mean you were summoned here?" wetting his lips, he felt his mind run at a million miles and hour. Everything he knew about Servants was that - with the exception of Mash - they had to die first. But the way Ash was speaking "How…how did you die?"
Ash was silent for a moment, then confirmed those thoughts with a single shake of the head. "I didn't…not like the other undead Servants. It would be more accurate to say I travelled here…to this new world, so different from my own." There was an audible smile as he spoke. "Without the Gods to force their hands and the Flame to chain their souls, I was convinced this world was a paradise…until the cracks set in." like that, the warm tone vanished. "I saw flaws in this world. Minor, at first, and easily ignored. Yet they built. Stacked atop one another until they reached the very heavens."
He dropped his left arm to his side, his right remained up "A cruel awakening. Even without the flame and the Gods, humanity would suffer, and I knew why." the limb drew itself to the front of his chest, pressing his index finger into his breastplate. "I could see why. You all lacked that greater purpose, that duty, that provided spiritual fulfilment. That…place in the world suited just for you. Instead I saw you ruled by emotions, by…vices."
The hand came away, clenching into a fist. "I was…horrified. Yet, I could ignore them. After all, I was witnessing these sins in Singularities. Moments in history designed to destroy humanity, so it should have been obvious that the very worst of human nature would be brought forth to destroy it."
Ash took in a deep breath. "Except…that was not just what I saw as it was in those who would 'save' humanity that exemplified these sins most deeply of all." he dropped his right arm down. "Francis Drake, Sir Mordred, King Leonidas…all of them once ruled by their ambitions. Now I see that such emotions are not shunned…rather, they are seen as virtues."
An empty wheeze. "You prop up those who exemplify these qualities, spin their stories into legends and then they become Heroic Spirits. Individuals who are, clearly, the very worst humanity ever had to offer. Blinded by their accomplishments, you do not realise the motivator of their actions are evil. They are wrong."
The Saber tilted his head. "And yet, even when you see the faults of those involved, the ambition of Sir Mordred, you will still walk over the truth of the matter and place fault on the individual and not on that which they lived by." Now pointing to the ground, he carried on. "There lies a body at your feet and you place blame upon the sword, and not the one who swung it."
Ritsuka frowned "That's…Ash, that's a pretty twisted way of looking at it that takes a lot of things out of context-"
"Mordred was the ambitious knight who destroyed Camelot because she would not be made King. Drake was the pirate who travelled the globe in search of more treasure to plunder, Leonidas was a king who ruled a culture that would beat slaves to death as a rite of passage. What further context am I missing?"
His brows furrowed "That…those are some bad examples, sure, but it's not like everyone is running about killing slaves!" he pointed to himself "I'm not going around setting fire to cities because I want to be made town mayor or stealing everything not nailed down to the floor. These are people who are famous because they were-"
"They should be pariah's." Ash cut him off swiftly "Yet, Sparta is looked upon as some great testament to warriors? Leonidas can stroll the hallways of Chaldea without ever needing to confront that he is a swine? Drake was spared because her greed was aimed in the right direction, regardless of how many lives it will ruin? Even Sir Percival spared Mordred's life moments ago. I would have killed her then and there and he acts to save her? Why?" he snarled, throwing his arm towards Ritsuka and pointing. "Even if you do not agree with them, you do nothing to criticise them. Any of you. You would call upon these ilk to protect all of human history? As if any contribution they made to it should not be excised from the world like the cancer it is?"
This time, the Saber scoffed "But perhaps my perception is skewed. My dependence on duty was engraved into my very being. The willing slave…" there was an edge to his voice. "The legacy of my past self. Of my mothers machinations."
Ritsuka felt himself jolt. "Mother? What the-? You mean you remember-"
"Oh, I remember Gawyn's life." Ash leaned forwards, derision dripping from his every word. "I remember the life of one who was born into the servitude of his mother. How that witch poisoned his mind into believing his duty was to hang off her every word as though it was the sweetest water in a desert of ruin." the hand pointed over him "And how she now stands over there with Gawyn's Father, the one who beat those skills into him from the moment he was old enough to walk."
Taking a step backwards, Ash spread his arms wide "All so he could make his mother Gwynevere proud and throw himself into the flame to propagate the Age of Fire. To become a tool that would continue the cycle of suffering and death." his arms dropped like weights, striking the side of his body with metallic clang. "And how that dependence on duty was carved into my soul as well. Gawyn's chains remain so tight that they pull around even my neck."
He felt as though the conversation was moving at a million miles an hour, with barely enough time for him to stop and process half of what was being said. Though from the sounds of it, there was nothing about it that was even remotely good to hear. "Ash…are you saying that Gwynevere…made you to die?"
"Ha! She made Gawyn to die." Ash laughed, a single bark of anything but amusement, even if it held the same form as one. Imitation without any meaning behind it, making it all the more terrifying to be in the presence of. The weight around him was getting more intense, now as though there was something pushing down on his shoulders, not strong but just enough to become aware of it. "And die he did. Though he failed to die the right way and was turned into ash unfit even for cinders. He became me."
"But that does not change anything about me." Ash continued onwards "Because I was ashamed when I was raised, believing myself to be a failure and I truly was. I was a failure to the Gods." The sneer in his voice was as obvious as the hatred in his tone. "The Gods who carved the very duty that I extol into my being. It is little wonder that the humanity I saw disgusted me so. Because it was without the influence of those Gods."
"Ash-san." Mash took a step forward "You're…these are some very troubling things. I think you should sit down and-"
Ash did not stop, he did not even give the barest inkling that he had even heard Mash speak at all, his voice rising higher and higher, his every word struck his body and reverberated through his bones as an actual force. "So I understand my hypocrisy, my failure. I judged humanity based upon my own experience as a slave to the Gods duty without ever realising it…"
He fell silent for a moment. "And I would have stood back and watched you, content in realising that my differences, my origins, would account for any discrepancies." he shrugged "I may not have ever understood humanity but I would be content that I worked to protect it from suffering of my own volition once again. That desire to protect them was, at least, a duty I formed for myself."
Ritsuka shook his head "Alright, I'm glad you feel that way, but this-"
"However."
That was the word Ritsuka had been dreading, everything Ash had said felt as though it was building towards that, yet he had hoped in his heart he wouldn't. He tightened his posture, he could feel Mash doing the very same thing directly to his right, while she hadn't brought her shield out yet, he knew she was getting dangerously close.
"However…" Ash slowly nodded his head up and down, his tone quieter "...that was when Solomon came to me."
It took him more than a few seconds for him to truly register what Ash had even said, even when he did, it still didn't make sense to him. "Solomon…?"
"He appeared in my mind, just a minute ago-"
Only that long?!
"And he made me an offer."
"Ash…" Ritsuka gulped, dread seizing his heart. "...What offer?"
"He would show me human history in its entirety." Ash explained, his posture still loose and his words unconcerned, as if to contradict what he just said. "And in exchange, he wanted to hear what my judgement was."
"...And?"
"...You only hurt yourselves." Ash declared "Again and again and again and again and again…your own cycle of death and destruction. Even without the Flame, humanity will serve to make themselves miserable and ruin all." the Saber shook his head from side to side. "Perhaps I do not understand humanity and I am a creature of duty…but it is that duty that has led me true thus far. The duty I made for myself."
He slowly moved his right arm across his body, towards his hip "I will protect you - all of humanity - from suffering." it disappeared under the cloak, the click of the Bottomless Box opening was like a gunshot, Ritsuka flinched at the sound.
"Ash…"
The arm came back, this time with Galvatyne firmly clenched in his fist. "Even if the only way to protect you from suffering…is to kill you all." The finality in his words broke something inside him. "I will not be party to another cycle of death and ruin again, Ritsuka. I shall not aid humanity in prolonged suffering."
"Ash…don't do this…" Ritsuka glanced from the sword to the face of the Saber, the cold steel helmet stared right back at him. Clenching his hands into fists, his upper jaw biting into his lower lip. "This isn't you-"
"On the contrary, Ritsuka." The sword burst into brilliant orange flames, the pressure that had surrounded him skyrocketed, his knees buckled as it felt like an entire set of weights was placed upon his shoulder, every ounce of his strength went into stopping himself from being driven to the ground.
Mash was directly in front of him, shield raised.
"This is me." Ash declared "This duty is all I am. For what little it is worth, I am sorry that you have to die." he sounded as though he truly meant it as well, his voice cracking ever so slightly as he spoke. "But you will be swept up in the torrent of human pain and suffering and…I truly do not wish that fate for you."
Ritsuka widened his eyes, croaking out "T-the contract-"
"Solomon broke it the moment he heard my judgement." Ash confirmed "And it would have tied you down. I realise why I sealed myself when I entered this world. Perhaps a part of me knew that, if I was aware of what humanity was, I would act immediately and sought to spare them. However…the only mercy to be delivered now, comes from me."
He took a single step forwards, raising the burning sword up. "Farwell."
It wasn't the clang of steel that Quella had been alerted to at first, it was the immediate sense of something tearing open the walls of his domain and nesting within it. Something malignant, yet in spite of all that he could feel there was something at the very centre of that evil. It was not pure evil, but it was evil regardless. Though, such a thing was little more than a footnote.
This world was his domain, he controlled every ounce of it from beginning to end. It was a trial and a half to create it within the world of Ariamis but he managed to do so, not even Prisicilla was capable of breaking the boundary of this world with the Holy Grail and taking control of it for herself, even if she had thrown all her might against this sanctuary, she would have came away with only defeat.
Yet this outside force…
There had been no warning, no hint of anything amiss.
It had simply appeared and just as swiftly ripped open his sanctuary with the ease of tearing into a satchel, just to look at everything inside. Yet in the short time the presence remained, he had sensed no hostile nature about it. There was no indication that it meant any ill will to the group, it might have been evil but nature, but it was not aggressive. A paradox that stayed his hand for but a brief moment, yet that hesitation had been more than enough for the presence to retreat.
Whatever had arrived, it left willingly during that time, seemingly satisfied with whatever it had seen. The thought of its retreat did not assuage any of his worries, rather they were compounded. It had broken into not just his Reality Marble, but Priscilla's as well - he knew it did not originate from her - just to look at them for all of a few moments then it departed. He did not force it out, it left of its own volition.
His mind burned with questions, not least of all was what it had been searching for in the first place and, woods forbid, found what it had been looking for.
Such were the questions that burned in his mind, so much so that he did not even glance at the feelings of aggression that were growing from other areas of the sanctuary. His mind was left to wonder about something else.
Then he felt it, the prickling in the back of his neck, the creeping sensation of malignancy once more. At first, he thought the presence returned and yet he sensed no invasion into his world, there was no evidence of tampering and no clear sign that anything had returned once more. Yet, the sensation of evil remained.
But this was…different.
The evil remained, but the texture was all wrong, or rather, it was without hatred. By its very nature, he could find it repellant and yet there was nothing hostile in this foreign sensation, this swirl of negativity. What was more, he could not find it within himself to hate the source which was strange. He did not like the texture of this sudden arrival, yet there was no outward revulsion to it beyond a desire to turn away. There wasn't the same drive to expel it as there had come with the first breach.
This was a different one.
Then the swirl of evil intensified, so close that he could almost reach out and touch it. He pulled his head towards the direction he sensed it, staring at the young humans discussing something with the Unkindled Ash. There was something about them that was now different, their general feeling had…shifted.
Everything about them changed.
Then they drew their sword and set it alight, the fire embraced the blade like a lover as it was brought above the head of the Saber. Quella widened his eyes and felt his body locked up at the sudden murderous intent that filled the world, so powerful that he could do nothing when the sword descended. The shielder girl was less restrained than he was, perhaps it was the shock that something like this happened or that he had not sensed it beforehand.
When sword met shield, it was like a drum. The thunderous crash of metal striking metal signalled out across the entire world, silence descended immediately afterwards. Quella felt the focus of the land fall squarely upon the two figures now locked in combat.
Ash moved forwards, driving the sword down and forcing Mash to her knees in an instant, the fact he was still only using one arm and appeared to be applying the bare minimum level of effort was all the more worrisome. The sword slid across the surface of the shield and struck dirt with a thud, then he pulled the blade back and reversed the strike, this time catching the shielder on the backfoot and with a boom, she was sent twisting into the sky with a pained gasp, soaring far above the heads of those still in the world.
"Mash!" Ritsuka let out a cry of alarm, struggling to his feet only for Ash to press a boot to his chest and force him back down to earth. Reversing his grip on his sword and poised it to be thrust downwards.
That was when his body caught up with his mind.
With a mere thought, he ripped the ground open, hundreds of roots burst from underneath the soil, charging the Saber faster than he could even react and tightening their hold around his body, the moment they touched the Saber instantly started to fight back, pulling at them as he was dragged away from Ritsuka, it allowed Quella to loop another root around the Master and pull him down the length of the hill to his allies.
Ash, meanwhile, pulled forwards.
Quella stumbled, the sound of splintering wood roared in his ears as over half the roots were shattered in the very moment that he pulled, shouts of alarm and confusion now filled his head as the companions raced towards Ritsuka, but he did not care for the details. His mind focused on keeping the Saber contained, already calling upon more and more of his sanctuary to lock them down.
Through it all, he felt his muscles tremble as he flexed his body, veins emerged on the side of his neck and head as he channelled more and more magical energy into containing the Servant, yet it did not stem the tide, no matter how much magical energy he called upon, the Saber was matching him step for step, it was difficult to say at what point he exceeded Quella's output, all he knew was that in the split second before his world was turned upside down, it felt as though every ounce of magical energy rushed towards Ash.
Then was expelled outwards, an explosion of purest midnight surged out from the body of the Saber, ripping apart the shackles that had held him down, pulling himself forwards and then whirling his attention onto Quella. He felt his body very nearly freeze again when the full focus of the Saber fell upon him, to be subject to that singular intent of death…
When he saw the left hand of the Saber swing upwards, the flat out his palm pointed out and more of the vicious black flames swirling into the centre of the limb, he reacted. Pulling his arm up, he called upon the largest he could muster at the time, the titanic tree of pure white bark rocketed from beneath the Saber's vert feet, the explosion they had been attempting to launch was sent skywards in the chaos, the fire of darkest black blotted out the sky for a split second, shrouding them all in darkness before it faded a second later.
He could feel the Saber already ripping the branches apart, even as he called upon them to hold his body tight, Quella could feel as though it was a losing battle from the very beginning. Even here, even with the world to support him, he could not hope to match the generation of magical energy that Ash was currently generating, with a snarl he brought his hands together in a clapping motion.
The top of the tree imploded, curling into itself and wrapping around its own body so tightly that wood cracked and splintered, crushing its own body at his command. Yet his hands would not close completely, the invisible force that kept them apart fought back, his eyes bulged and he grit his teeth, feeling something pushing his hands apart.
He dared to glance at the tree, wisps of black vapour leaked forth from the growing gaps between the wood, horror flooded his body as he put forth more effort into closing his hands, yet they locked in place, he could push them no further and found that it was now impossible to step them from widening.
Hands were flung aside by the invisible force, a noise like a falling mountain filled his ears as he turned his eyes upwards, the top of the tree was torn apart, the branches violently shattered into splinters of burning debris, and large chunks of broken wood rained down upon them. With a gesture, he pulled forth a small cover for the children, their screams of panic spurring him onwards as his barrier protected them from the worst of it.
A shape dropped from the top of the tree, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud. The Saber stood there, wisps of darkness pooling around his body as he slowly straightened himself out. Rising to his full height and brandishing the burning sword in his right hand, trace amounts of black fire intermittently sprung forth from him in flashes. Yet, that was not the alarming thing.
It hovered, just around the front front of his helmet and doing a full circumference. Small diamond shaped spots of fire linked together to form a crown which did not truly touch his head, but remained there as though it was nailed to him.
The Saber silently gazed across the stunned crowd for a few seconds.
He stepped forwards, bringing the sword across his body and underneath his left arm for a split second. In the next, his arm was a blur and rivers of brilliant orange flames surged out from his blade, washing over the grassy fields and reducing them to dust within the next second.
Quella snapped his arm up, a barrier of branches sprung forth and grew around the Servants, the flames crashed into them and set the walls alight with fire but not a single one broke, The Saber whirled his attention onto him, which was the best thing. In this world, he controlled everything but he could not protect every and fight the Saber at the same time.
"All of you, run!" He shouted out, sweeping his arm out in front of him and bringing forth a singular root which churned up the entire space in front of him, sweeping his arm across with the root mirroring the movement of the limb, flattening the ground and snuffing the flames that still burned with the force it carried with it, the hurricane winds crashed into the Saber, who made not even the slightest attempt to dodge or even block the strike.
Instead, he stepped forwards and swung his left side forwards like a battering ram, fire surged across his body at the moment of contact. Quella covered his face, the explosion of black fire incinerated the centre of the attacking limb in a split second, in the next the mana of Ash flared once more and he accelerated like a rocket. Quella jumped back as the Saber appeared in the space directly in front of him, the debris from the shattered trunk had not even gained height by the time he was there.
His left hand surged forwards, clamping down around the front of his head. Quella felt the grip like a vice, threatening to crush his skull then and there without even adding onto it the sudden intense heat that spread across his face. Roots answered his call, ripping their way up and snagging around the outstretched arm of the Saber and pulling to the side, Ash stumbled slightly and loosened his grip, just enough that Quella dropped down.
Clenching his left hand, he swung his fist upwards, he did not have the strength to match the Saber. But it did not matter because his intention had never been to punch, it had merely been to aim the attack. The roots around his arm yanked him to the side once more, he pulled his body back and snapped away most of them a moment later, but he had been trapped just long enough.
Roots surged up from the ground at the same angle of his rising fist, wrapping around one another to form a coiled shape as they drove themselves directly into the chest of the Saber, he let out a single wheezing noise as he was forced up into the air, carried along with the power of the attack, with a grunt, Quella swung the fist downwards, the roots curved their body and drove the Saber down to the earth with an explosion of soil and grass.
He sensed they were still present "I can't hold him for long!" Quella shouted out, feeling urgency flood his being, turning his head around to face them, "You have to run! I can keep him for as long as I can!"
"But what about you-!?" Someone shouted, he didn't focus on who it was, just what they had said.
"Forget about me! Get yourselves to safety first! I can't fight him and protect you at the same-"
It was in the very instant that he took his eyes from the Saber that the opening was revealed, and Ash exploited it. The thunderous roar of an explosion filled his ears once more, heat rushed across his back and past his face, he whirled around just in time to see the roots that had pinned the Saber down disintegrate courtesy of another ball of black fire, the flames parted for their owner, the Saber bursting forth from the inferno and reaching him in a moment, sword already gliding through the air towards his neck.
Quella widened his eyes, he felt as though his body was moving in slow motion as his eyes tracked the sword rapidly moving towards his neck. The ground beneath him parted, a single branch rushed from the ground straight up and in the path of the sword-
The blade cleaved through without even slowing down.
He raised the flat of his arms, forming a guard over his body and strengthening his body as greatly as he could it was all he could do before the sword struck his guard with the strength of a giant, his arms shuddered from the flow and the shock coursed through his entire being, his bones creaked and his skin split, white hot pain flashed through his arms as his teeth ground themselves together.
The image of them locked in combat hung in the air for all of a second, then the Saber pushed onwards. Even if his arms could take the blow, his legs could not and he quickly lost his anchor on the ground, worse still when the Saber twisted the sword in his grip at the last second and dragged it upwards, slinging him into the air and twisting through the sky. The world blurred around him as he flew, eyes swirling around in their sockets as he tried to reposition himself.
The spirit was the greatest threat here, this world was their domain and everything he had learned thus far told him that. His every instinct that was returning from the throes of madness was screaming at him to deal with the Spirit first.
Memories of the toughness of the cursed great tree in the undead settlement filled his mind, the comparison was easy to make considering the fact he felt as though his sword had struck it once more. The toughness of the skin could not be underestimated, he had been forced to apply more strength to them in order to lift them from the ground, even then he had barely felt the skin split under the weight of the strike.
The plants that worked to slow his movements did not aid matters much, but it would be more than enough to deal with them later.
His focus fell back onto that of Ritsuka, the look on his face was rather troubling but at the same time it could not be helped. Bringing forth pity from the deepest parts of him, he could explain to Ritsuka at length why he was doing this but - for right now - there wasn't the time. He had given the indications and the longer this endured, the more time they had to combat him.
It would also be pointless, he knew deep inside him that Ritsuka would not understand his reasoning but…that wasn't Ritsuka's fault. The boy was blameless in this entire affair, a victim rather than a perpetrator. What he was doing was the greatest kindness possible, the mercy of ending his suffering before it could begin or before he could inadvertently create more.
Galvatyne burned in his arm, drawing the limb back with the tip aimed straight towards his former Master. The blade glowed a hot white, he thrust his arm forwards, the beam accelerated from the tip of the weapon at blinding speed, crossing the distance instantly and aimed squarely at Ritsuka's head.
…Who then dodged?
Confusion flashed through him for a second, watching as the body of Ritsuka moved at speeds he had not seen him perform and avoid the beam, the white hot light burnt through the ground and a safe distance from the boy, though the explosion did send him into a roll and forced several others onto the defensive.
All the while, he felt his brows pinch.
How did Ritsuka do that? He had never seen such displays before in the past-
His body shunted backwards, several flying swords bounced off the front of his armour while a spear buried itself in his shoulder to the shaft. His focus fell onto the golden haired Lordkin, the boy's crimson eyes bore into him, the space next to him rippled like the surface of water, golden pools formed in the air with the tips of yet more weapons emerging from them.
Fire swarmed into his left hand, the black flames twisted in his grasp before slinging the limb forwards, hurling the ball of abyssal flame directly towards the young boy. The expression shifted for a brief moment as a round gold shield manifested in the path of the fire, blocking it and releasing a shockwave at the point of impact. A dozen more weapons of assorted quality surged forth.
His box answered him.
The Shield of Havel fell into his grasp and was held up, the weapons struck the guard and bounced away from the sturdy shield, each impact feeling as pitiful as throwing stones at him. He felt different from before, his body felt as though it was lighter, as though some pressure against him had snapped and he was let loose. Not just his body but his mind as well, though he was unburdened.
…Was this what Romani Archaman called the 'Self-Seal'?
It didn't matter.
Swinging the shield wide, Galvatyne roared as he swung the blade upwards, the tip barely grazing along the ground before it unleashed a river of fire towards the direction of the lordkin boy and whoever else was around him at the time. A blur rushed in, a second later he watched as Mash raised her own cross-shield in the path of the flames, the inferno washing over her while leaving those behind presumably unaffected, though he was guessing as such. She was rather sturdy after all.
Light flashed in the corner of his eye, yet he felt nothing. turning his head just in time to see a beam of magenta light dissipate an inch from his body. His eyes moved to the source, seeing Medea with her hand extended towards her and several glowing circles full of odd symbols hanging in the air beside her. There was an odd note of surprise on her face before her features hardened.
Tossing the shield of Havel aside, he returned it to the box and swung his left hand towards her, snapping his fingers in her direction as he did. Flames surged into existence, swirling inwards towards the direction of the Caster. Who raised her hand, the air beside her shimmered for a moment as though she was coated in glass.
The fire exploded, the air shattered and she was tossed from the direction of the explosion-
Something struck the left side of his head, forcing him to lean forwards ever so slightly. The blow felt…rather weak.
He turned his head, hearing a grinding of metal and seeing the upper half of Jeanne's standard resting against his head where she had just struck him. She opened her mouth to say something, presumably at least. Though he wasn't all that interested in whatever she had to say.
Bending his arm, he swung his left arm back towards her head, she ducked at the last moment, just able to avoid him driving his elbow into her temple. Her leg swung out, an armoured shin striking him just behind the knee, he barely felt his body so much as twitch at the blow, something that clearly caught her by surprise if the brief hesitation was any indication. He turned, thrusting his sword down towards her-
Turning his sword at the last moment to block a strike from the smaller Sulyvahn. Though when he felt the blow connect, he wondered why he had bothered to protect himself at all. Not feeling anything in the way of weight against his weapon, effortlessly pushing back and shattering the glowing sword that sprung from the Catalyst. He punched, his fist driving itself into the chest of the boy and dropping him onto his back instantly with a deep wheeze being forced from his lungs.
Jeanne's standard slammed into his chin, his head twitched backwards before he swung his body back in retaliation. His armoured helmet seeking her out and slamming dead on into her face, she staggered away from him with a pained gasp, her hand already moving towards where he had struck her. He reached out, grabbing the standard in her hands and pulling back.
With her hands still tightly gripped around it, she came with the weapon as he pulled into the air with another surprised gasp leaving her lips as he twisted on his heel, flinging her away from him and across the other side of the scenery. He whirled back around, fires surging across his sword once more. His eyes sought out Ritsuka and narrowed. Drawing more power from deep within him.
The heat from his blade grew great enough that the ground burst into flames around him, the air shimmered and warbled to distort his view. Then he watched as Vordt charged up the hill towards him, body coated in freezing chills and a warcry leaving him. He supposed it was Vordt - even though they were smaller than he recalled - because of the weapon and the armour.
Bringing the great mace up, Vordt swung it down the moment he was close enough.
…He really was slow, wasn't he?
Ash stepped to the side, the mace embedding itself into the ground, then rammed the pommel of his sword into the side of the Servant's head like a battering ram. Vordt stumbled with the blow, Ash followed through and dragged the sword across, slashing up the side of the Knight's armour and drawing a hiss of pain from him. He turned his body and swung his left arm forwards, slamming his fist into the knight and released an explosion of black flames at the moment of contact.
Vordt was sent flying from him and the mace from his hand, the pair fell to the ground a short distance from him.
Satisfied, he turned back and then found his vision and his body consumed with heat. Snarling, he brought up his left hand to cover his face as fires consumed his every inch of view. He knew the heat of these flames well enough. Chaos fire, which meant they had come from the demon child.
He knew they would be a bother to him.
Calling from deep within, the power of his soul answered him and surged through his body. It felt as though he was flexing a muscle, but the results were far more pronounced. The energy was expelled from him as a shockwave, the flames recoiled back the way they had come, vanishing into nothing as they did. His eyes dropped to the ground, watching the young boy roll on his back and cough heavily, the skin around his hands already blistering.
Galvatyne was raised above his head, moving forwards and swinging it down.
A spear blocked his path, Percival stood in front of him with the weapon raised and a deep scowl upon his features before he pushed backwards. The spear glowed, a strange power coating its surface that seemed to repel him. Ash frowned behind his helmet, letting himself move backwards. That weapon seemed troublesome to him, but he might be able to handle the user instead.
He swung.
Percival kicked down on the top of his knee, his body jerked, the knight jerked to the side and let the blow slide right by him before stepping forwards and driving his shoulder into his face. It was the force of the blow that moved him backwards, though it was only a few steps. Ash thrust forwards, the attack was sidestepped and the spear swung up, sending the thrust pointed to the sky.
Spear twirled in Percival's hands before being driven forwards. His left hand came down, grabbing the spear just beneath the head and catching it before it could strike him. He felt his arms bulge, Percival forcing all his power into the thrust and it was all he could do to keep the knight from actually running him through.
He didn't know how.
He didn't know why.
All he knew was not to let that spear stab him.
Galvatyne was swung downwards, Percival released the spear and rolled to the side, the greatsword screeched as it glanced along the shoulder plates of the knight as he swung down. Ash followed him, already pulling the spear to the side, the butt of the weapon dropping with its owner to support it. Then Percival swung upwards into the knee he had previously kicked.
Ash grimaced and staggered slightly.
Standing up straight, Percival swung his next punch and slammed a haymaker into the side of his head. Ash heard the noise of the wind cracking around him, a sound of thunder followed by a ringing, his body shifted to the side and his grip on the spear loosened a touch. Percival yanked the weapon from his grasp, drawing the spear along the front of his armour and slashing through it, the spear met skin.
…
He never felt pain like it.
Mana surged on instinct, an explosion ripped from his body was only punctuated by his cry of pain. The black fires rushing to consume everything, Percival was blasted away at the same time his staggered backwards, his left arm falling to the point where Percival had slashed him and hold his hand over it for a moment, the spear had slashed through his armour as though it had not even been there, yet the length of the cut was barely comparable to his little finger.
What manner of spear was that!?
His eyes fell onto the knight. This was now the most pressing target to-
A dozen cracks filled the air, he felt something slam into his body from somewhere, a feeling like crossbow bolts. He stumbled, then turned his head to the new origin.
Nobunaga stared back at him with an emotionless mask, rifles hanging in the air around her pointed squarely at him.
He drew the sword back-
…
A pointed sack overlapped with her posture, a man wearing rags.
He froze for a split second.
Then the ground split apart and more roots rushed upwards.
He reached out, his senses honing in on the target and calling forth the world to answer. It pained him, truly it did, but this was no longer a case where he could afford to hold back, despite how much he wanted to. He would not kill Ash, because unkindled were still human and he could not kill one, no matter what they were. However, keeping him contained - even by force - was still something he could do. The growl of the world shudders reached his ears, he swung his arm out and caught onto the branch he had launched towards himself.
Quella snapped his head onto the Saber, watching at the ground beneath his feet rippled before splitting open, hundreds of roots surged upwards and swarmed the Servant, dragging his arms wide and constricting around his body, trying to keep him contained as best he could, dangling from the newly ground tree he saw that the Chaldeans were still lingering. "All of you! Run!"
The prison of roots tore itself apart with a burst of magical energy, the force blasted fragments across the entire length of the world, the Servants guarded themselves to avoid being harmed by the subsonic debris. Ash stood amidst the ruins of the prison, ripping his arms free of the chains once more, then reversed the sword in his grip and thrust it straight towards, with a sharp twist, the weapon glowed like the morning sun before it exploded.
Quella dropped down, clapping his hands together, a cage of roots, bushes and trees instantly covered the Saber, though the explosion was refined into beams of light as they pushed through the gaps in the cage, carving burning lines across the fields. The Chaldeans were still present, a state of shock. He could no longer risk it. "I. SAID. RUN!"
The walls of birch trees collapsed inwards, their branches surging towards the humans and Servants before dragging them backwards, one by one he ejected them from his domain and into the world of Ariamis once more, even ignoring the protests and alarms from some of them. When the last of them had been flung from his world, it was safer out there than in here and he made certain the passage of the children was the most delicate. He flexed his might, snapping shut the entrance to his grove and trapping himself and Ash together in the world.
Not a moment later, the cage burst like a balloon, fires spewed forth and rolled across the ground like rivers, covering the once peaceful land in streams of ash and choking the skies above with the black smoke that climbed into the air. Quella straightened his posture. Narrowing his eyes as the shape moved through the thickest point of the black cloud, Ash stomped forth and into the open, his body set against the backdrop of the fires behind him, the flickering dark climbing from him and poisoning the flames.
"They are beyond your reach."
"For now." Ash did not even hesitate and he had no need to, marching towards him. "You cannot keep me here forever."
Quella curled his lip upwards "No. I can't." he admitted, the Saber stopped walking for a moment, perhaps he was surprised by the admission but Quella was no fool. He probably couldn't match the unkindled as he currently was, not with the rising level of magical energy he was unleashing, it had grown since he had started and was now eclipsing him. Even his sanctuary - the place where he was most powerful - was not enough. "But I can delay you long enough for them to get to safety."
Ash stared at him in silence for what felt like hours. "Why? Why would you go so far to protect them? You are not even human."
"I don't need to be human to care about them." He responded quickly "They are such fleeting and wondrous things. It might be sentimental of me to admit now…but I love them all. No matter what form they take…Even undead."
"...Your love will not save them." Ash rebuked quickly "Do you even understand what you are trying to protect? What you are doing in saving their lives?" he pointed with his sword to the place where the gate had once been. "You only prolong their suffering."
He stared at the Saber for a few moments, then exhaled. "Well, I cannot speak for suffering. I think that they probably will struggle in the future. They'll encounter hardships that will test them and some might lose faith." he smiled "But that's alright. Struggling to do their best, growing from adversity and walking away with all the joys and sorrows that come with it. That's what it means to be human. Sure…they might suffer-No."
Nodding to Ash, he would grant him that one point. "They will suffer. You are right." then tilted his head. "But no life is perfect. Watching what humans can do with those imperfect lives of theirs. It's…why I love them. Because no matter how bad it gets, they always try."
"...You know and let them leave still?" The frown in Ash's voice was audible "Do you delight in watching them struggle and fumble? Seeing them wallow in their lives as they fail to discover their true purpose in the world? Content to smile and wave your hand to them because they 'made the attempt' regardless of where they end up?"
Quella shrugged "I can protect them from threats but I can't protect them from themselves. Because they'd lose something important if I did that." thinning his lips, he sighed once more. "Is that what you're doing here? Killing them for their own good?"
"You have not seen the history of this world, the horrors that they will inflict upon themselves." Ash snarled "They do not learn and you might be capable of turning a blind eye to their cruelty, their suffering…but I cannot. If they will not learn the error of their ways and correct their path, if they will continue down this pilgrimage of suffering and death…" he exhaled "Then I will save them first. The only way I know how. The only way that I can."
Quella blinked at him, the strength of his words and the conviction that he spoke with. It was coming from a deeply personal place and his motives were…
"Oh." It was a rather strange thing to realise, but it made sense why he could not see Ash as evil, not truly at least. He disagreed with them, but they were not evil. He could feel the smile coming upon his lips, though it was more resigned than pleased. "So that's how it is. You love them as well, don't you?"
Ash did not immediately respond, but his posture tightened "...Is love what you would call it? I would call it a duty. A value in my existence to prevent human suffering." he swung the sword around, now pointing to Quella. "And you stand in the way of-" he cut himself off a second later. "...You are stalling for time."
He offered a wry smile. "Well, I don't like fighting and the longer I spoke with you, the less I was doing that. You can hardly blame me for wanting to keep to my oaths. It's why I…really, won't kill you."
"A restriction I lack."
"Yeah…" He nodded his head. "I'm sorry you can't see what humans are like. Sure, they can be evil at times but…they can be pretty good as well. I believe the expression is to 'roll with the punches' or along those lines? They're a bit like undead…they bounce right back up after getting knocked down."
"...I will not waste further words with you." Ash declared, stepping forwards and pulling his sword arm back. The weapon glowed a brilliant white as he charged it with magical energy. Quella frowned and tensed himself, narrowing his eyes.
Ash thrust forwards at the same time Quella dropped down and slammed his palm into the ground, a thicket of roots burst from the ground and charged the Saber, striking him the with force of a hammer as the beam of platinum light carved through the sky, the aim of the sword violently shifted to the side from the impact. Naturally, the explosion of black flames came next, Quella winced at the feeling.
This was going to be rough.
It was eerily silent as he sat there in the snow, placed firmly on his backside and his eyes still locked onto the place where the door had once been. If anyone was saying anything, then he did not hear it. All he could think of, all he could focus on, were the events of the last minute or so. They had happened so swiftly that it was very nearly impossible for him to believe they occured at all.
Ritsuka could just not process it, the speed at which what he had thought of as being a mostly harmless situation could escalate into whatever had happened…it was something that he just couldn't accept. Didn't want to accept.
After everything they had been through, everything they had done and experienced so far, to think that Ash would turn around on his own and just try and kill him like that. That he would break their link just to have the chance was…there had to be something more to it.
Solomon.
Ash said Solomon had spoken with him, he didn't know how or when but he had somehow spoken with him and definitely done something. He had to, there was just no way that he would do something like this. Then there was what Nobunaga said about Ash's mind being under strain which was supported by Jeanne, it meant that there was certainly already something wrong with Ash that was made even more terrible when Solomon got involved.
Gritting his teeth, he felt his hands clenched into fists.
He had been too slow to help Ash and then Solomon took advantage of it, what a joke of a Master he was turning out to be. Something pressed against his shoulder and then pulled him upwards, he complied with it but did not tear his eyes away from the wall of white trees, which had once seemed so mysterious and entrancing were now ominous, a barrier that separated them from what lay behind.
But there was still so much he didn't know, Ash had said he remembered his memories and that…
Ritsuka was turning his head before the rest of his body followed, his eyes whirring around and seeking out the target of his focus. Naturally, she fell into the limelight immediately, especially considering her nature it should have been expected. The muted world gradually filtered back into his ears, though were still little more than muffled sounds. Yet, silence descended when he spoke in a deathly serious tone. "Who the hell is Gawyn?"
Gwynevere blinked at him once, surprise colouring her features "Where did you hear that name from?"
His face felt numb, ignoring everyone else who was trying to speak and focusing solely on the Goddess right in front of him. The rest of the world be damned right now, all he heard from Ash was that Gwynevere had made him for death. He had been born for the explcit purpose of ritualistic suicide and was made to do that by none other than his own mother. Ash might not have been in his right mind, but that was something that you did not just make up on the spot.
"Did you birth Gawyn just to sacrifice him to the flame?" He elaborated this time, just to leave out any hint of misunderstanding.
The Goddess did not reply for a few moments, her expression shifting into something thoughtful for a few seconds before she closed her eyes and exhaled. "Gawyn was to be our champion to link the fire. That is true." eyelids lifted and the golden orbs shone once more. "His death would serve a higher purpose."
"...He was your son." Ritsuka didn't think of himself as a judgemental person, he really didn't. Hell, he could even let a lot of stuff go. But this? Ash had just learned about his entire past and…
He swallowed "...Why?"
"The Flame was fading." Gwynevere explained easily, not even looking the least bit apologetic, though there was regret or perhaps shame there. But certainly not guilt. "To link the fire was to prolong the era of prosperity. We needed a champion who could Link the Flame…thus, I offered my own flesh and blood. He was raised and trained in the ways of combat, we did all we could to ensure that he would serve as the finest kindling."
"...He's unkindled." Ritsuka noted with a muted tone "He couldn't link the fire."
"Pffffthahahahahaha!" Laughter rung out around them, it pierced through the tense silence and forced Ritsuka to drag his head towards the origin of the noise, his face numb and watching as Sulyvahn hunched over forwards, gripping his wounded side and laughing as though he heard the funniest joke in existence. "Hahahahahaha! T-th-the unkindled dog is-pfffthahahahaha!"
He continued to laugh, Ritsuka could find no amusement in his mockery. "H-he-he was birthed to light the flame! Hehehehahahah! An-an-and he is the one who-hahahahahaha!" removing the hand from his side, he brought it to his face, wheezing deeply and letting out a final breath, when he spoke again it was still drowned in sadistic mirth. "Haaaaaa…I almost do not mind that he is the one who killed me. That is such poetry it is almost as though it was fated to happen…" pulling his hand away, he turned to Gwynevere.
"Your machinations explode in your face one final time in the greatest way possible, Gwynevere. Though now we shall all suffer at the hands of this bastard son of yours." He exhaled one final time, shaking his head from side to side. "A shame that I shall not get the chance to enjoy this humorous display."
The Goddess brought her head away from him and towards the direction of the wall, furrowing her brows for a brief moment before her expression evened out. "I see. Then the one who lies on the other side of this wall is-"
"Amazing." The voice of the young blonde came next, crimson red eyes shined with mirth. "The Gods birth someone to chain the world of man to them once more and he rebels against them to end their rule…if he didn't come from another world I'd accuse him of plagiarism." chuckling, he continued onwards. "If he did not currently seek to kill us as well, I would have spared him a compliment as well."
"Lets just roll back to 'what the fuck happened'? for a second." Mordred spoke up with a growl, pointing a finger to the wall. "What the fuck happened in there?"
"The unkindled bastard turned rabid and betrayed his Master." Sulyvahn remarked with a dry tone of voice, then turned his attention to Ritsuka. Even without a face, the smile remained strong. "Hmmm. Just as I said he would, back in that Roman city. Though you dismissed me then, didn't you?"
"Ash-san is just being controlled by Solomon!" Mash staunchly defended, offering her own arguments into the mix with quite a bit of heat into her words. "He's…Jeanne-san said that he was suffering from a mental attack-"
Jeanne nodded her head in support "Quite so, that is what myself and Nobunaga came to the conclusion of. Though I could do nothing for him, which is why I wished to enlist the aid of Medea…" she trailed off, a pained look crossing her features. "He had been desperate and troubled for aid…speaking of voices within his head speaking of him to do things."
Nobunaga shouted in support "Yeah! Someone screwed with his head and now they're pointing him at us! Just gotta smack him around a bit first to bring him to reason." she paused, shrugging "Always worked with my retainers when they stepped out of line."
"Yes, so Ash-san wouldn't betray us!"
…That was too convenient though, wasn't it?
Ritsuka couldn't help but think to himself. Even if Solomon had spoken with him, there was no real reason for him to do anything. Not when he said he didn't even view Chaldea as enemies in the first place. Solomon might have struck him as many things…but he didn't seem as though he was lying.
Ash always had problems with some things around Chaldea that didn't focus on duty…but he'd just considered it a little quirk. Like Ash was a very duty bound person, much like a knight would focus on chivalry, and therefore he didn't make a lot of time for enjoyment.
"...Solomon…" His words silenced everyone else "...Ash said that Solomon showed him all of human history." blue eyes swept over the assembled faces. "He said that…he saw nothing but suffering and that it was…better for us to die to avoid that."
Jeanne's expression froze. "...Oh."
"...Oh?"
"We…myself and the Saber spoke in Romania during that Halloween festival." The saint quietly revealed, her features were now bitterly resigned to something and Ritsuka had a sinking feeling what it was. "He…made his opinions quite clear. He thought that a life of duty was the best life possible and to stray from it was to invite pain and misery onto oneself. He said at that point…the only thing that would await them would be mercy to prevent further pain."
She met his eyes "I…Master…if he has seen human history…he will have seen a great many things he will not accept."
"...Yeah." Ritsuka whispered to himself, nodding his head up and down. "He…thinks he's doing the best for us. Because that's what his duty is." he felt his lips curl into a sardonic smirk, aiming it towards Gwynevere "And duty is really important to him now, isn't it? Gotta love that." the smile dropped off his face, looking over his shoulder towards the wall. "...We can't do anything out here and Quella chucked us out. There is still this Prisicilla to deal with and-"
Medea was staring at the wall "We should leave immediately." she announced with no small sense of urgency, Ritsuka turned to her in surprise, especially given the fact her complexion was approaching bone white. "And make plans to fight the Saber when he breaks free."
"When? I thought you said Quella would be-"
"That was when the Saber was not channelling magical energy equal to an Olympian." Her head turned to him "That world will hold him for nothing more than minutes. That Nature Spirit was doomed for death the moment the Saber unlocked whatever kept them restrained. Their magical energy was showing no signs of slowing its growth and it was already equal to that of a God."
"Yeah…" The blonde - Gilgamesh, as he had been informed - sounded equally apprehensive. "Retreating would be a good strategy. I can't see the nature spirit lasting long against him. Whatever problem that we had with the others of this world, we've all got bigger problems to deal with." Ritsuka turned, seeing the boy already backing away without tearing his eyes off the white trunks. "I would suggest moving to somewhere safe, especially since we have non-combatants."
Ritsuka blinked, then turned to the direction the boy was pointing and bit his lip. The group of children that had accompanied them. All huddled together and looking none too calm. "Right…erm…they're in bigger danger with us than away from us-"
"I can take them." Jekyll strode forwards, looking slightly dishevelled. "The copy of my home should still be there, I have more than enough room for them." he offered a shaky smile "And…I believe that there is nothing more I can reasonably do here."
"I can accompany him." Sully spoke up, the red head stepping forwards "I can cloak them to some extent and the only one who could track me down would only be interested in me to begin with." he glanced around "Right?"
Splitting their forces sounded pretty bad but it wasn't like they had a choice. Besides…
"Fran." The girl who had been otherwise silent thus far perked up, giving him a curious grunt "Please go with them. They need someone to protect them and…" he trailed off, she wasn't a Servant and although she had proven herself competent the display that Ash had just shown was far beyond anything he was confident in her managing. "I'd feel better if you were at least out of danger. If…when Ash breaks free, he'll come for us first so you should be safe. He doesn't know about Jekyll's home either so…"
Fran was silent for a moment, then grunted once and nodded her head. "Uuugh…"
"Yeah, I'll be careful." He smiled at her, nodding back "Same goes for you. It…" he strode towards her, extending his hand "It was a real pleasure to make your acquaintance, Fran."
The girl stared at his hand for a moment, then took it in a firm handshake, a wide smile coming onto her face as she enthusiastically shook the limb up and down. He was thankful for the improvements Haku made to his body, else he was certain his shoulder would have been wrenched right out of its socket.
"As well, you should be grateful."
"Ah, figured you were being too quiet." Ritsuka thought wryly as he retrieved his hand from the girl, she turned and walked towards Jekyll as himself and Sully gathered up the children into a group. "Why so silent?"
"What is there to say? It is often our greatest failures that can come back to haunt us. If you want my strategic opinion, then I require more time to think over the capabilities of this Servant of yours. If you want my personal opinion?" Haku let out a long sigh "Gwynevere can birth strong children…but the act of raising them always fell to another for a reason. She cannot help but sway all to her. Any child she raised would be little more than a slave to her bidding because they were so enamoured with her."
"She did this on purpose though."
"She did indeed…desperation makes us do things that we would otherwise recoil from." Haku argued with a gentle tone. "Though her crimes remain, think on her motives. She has always done what is best for the Gods…from what I saw, at least…but time changes many things. I would never have thought her to kill any of her children. Abandon, to be sure, but death? They are symbols of her power, they came from her and her part of her collection, her achievements. Gwynevere might discard a toy once she grows bored of it…but she will not break them."
"This is her son. Not a wooden horse." Ritsuka argued back, then jolted as he realised he might have missed a conversation.
"-est that Quelan accompanies Jekyll and the others." Sir Percival voiced out loud, gesturing to the assembled group. "It is safer away from the thickest of the fighting-"
"I disagree." Gwynevere spoke up, turning her head from the wall and towards the knight. "The healing for his affliction requires more than one casting. Without my aid, he will revert to his damaged state before long, and his suffering will resume." glancing at the boy, she continued on "I believe it best he remains by my side for the foreseeable future."
Percival frowned "If the danger is so great, then would it not be best for you to join them as well-"
Gwynevere shook her head "Even if such a thing interested me. Gawyn will likely seek me out from some form of grief. It would lead him to the other civilians who he would doubtless slay." her expression hardened. "Besides, I shall not avert my eyes to the crisis my actions have caused. He is my child and I shall not let others deal with my mistakes."
After a moment of silence, her expression softened, sending a confident smile to Quelan. "Besides, I remember a great many little talents from him at a young age. He is a son of the Witch Queen Izalith. Every bit his sisters equal in power. He is a greater help than any of you can see. That is what I believe."
Quelan himself fidgeted under the compliments before giving a single determined nod "Alright!" he glanced at the knight "I want to help, Percival! Let me pay you back for all you've done for me!" There was an earnestness in the voice that almost made Ritsuka smile, though he noticed that Percival looked even more troubled than he had done before, glancing in the direction of Mordred for a brief second before returning to the young Servant.
If it was the threat of his being here, then Ritsuka was fairly understanding of that. But Servants were Servants for a reason and Quelan sounded pretty confident, it would be no different to him asking Nursery to sit out because she looked like a young girl as well. Though he had no idea who Izalith…wait a second-
"You're Quelaag's brother?" He turned to the young boy with wide eyes, the child with small horns on the side of his head - he just noticed them protruding from underneath his hair - froze for a moment and then snapped his head to Ritsuka in surprise.
"You know big Sister?" Quelan asked with an almost reverent tone of voice before he quickly composed himself, a mask forming over his expression. "What I mean to ask is, you are affiliated with Lady Quelaag?"
Ritsuka had no idea where the change in conversation had come from, but he thought it was rather odd. At the same time, there was still a lot they had to do that wasn't really focused on this. "Alright, we probably don't have a lot of time to argue over this. We'll go our separate ways for the time being-" he looked to Jekyll "Lead them back to your house or wherever you were staying. Stay there until we return or…" he trailed off, grimacing "Well…until we return."
Jekyll was silent, but offered a small smile and a single nod of the head.
Clapping his hands once, the man started to usher away the children with the assistance of Fran, the two of them herding the children away from their current location. Sully stopped for a brief moment, casting a look over his shoulder towards them, or rather, towards Jeanne. He smiled once, raising his hand to them. "I wish you luck, Jeanne d'Arc. I feel as though you will need every bit of it."
Jeanne exhaled "...Thank you. I wish the same for you, Sully."
"Sulyvahn." Sully then nodded to his older version. "...I hope you die." with those final words, he turned and jogged after the group, taking after the children without turning back once as they moved. Ritsuka had to hand it to him, in the short time he knew Sully they certainly made an impression. Shame their time together was so limited, though.
With a breath, Ritsuka cast one final look over his shoulder to the wall of wood. The ominous silence that accompanied it never felt as pressing as right this moment. "...Let's move."
What was it Gilgamesh had said? They all had bigger problems than themselves right now?
…Worth something, he supposed.
He started to walk, Mash accompanying him. There was one place they had that could be journeyed too, the place that Ash had not been to. "We're going to where Haku found me. I think he can remember the way."
"I can."
"He can."
The directions fed through his mind, pulling his legs through the snow once more with a lack of effort to his movements. Perhaps it was because the full weight of what occurred had yet to fall upon him, but he found it as though his body weighed a tonne.
"Mister Llew…are you not going to move?"
The voice of Nursery broke him from his trance, his movements halted and he turned around to face the back of the knight, who was now standing directly in front of the wall, facing it with his sword buried in the snow at the tip.
Sure, he had moved.
Closer to the wall.
Ritsuka frowned openly, calling out to him "Llew? What are you doing?"
The knight barely even turned his head, but his answer rang out clear and true. "I'm staying."
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LOST B̴͎̩̼̹̬͋̄̽͊͝Ĕ̵̹͍̞̙͔́̾̏͊̂͘͘͝Ạ̷̯͇͎̫̥͍̫̎͌ͅS̸̰̠͈̿̔̈͐̈́͜T̷̯̟̄̇͜ AWAKENS: MERCY
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