CHAPTER 3:

ACCLIMATISING

It was after that, and a quick meal, that Barghest began to truly come to terms with her situation. Zelretch and Arc were going to buy some more clothes for her (well, Zelretch was going to provide the money, as payment for meeting such a unique being, and Arc was going to do the shopping), so she was free to do as she wished. While she would admit to being curious about her host and his daughter, she restrained herself from asking for now. True, they already knew thanks to Harry gaining a few of her memories, but he had done so accidentally.

Instead, donning her armour, she asked for and was given a place to train. Outside was a training area with self-repairing mannequins. But as she walked out, she found her gaze drifting to the sky. No longer was it the pink of her Lostbelt. No, it was blue.

For a moment, she stood there, overwhelmed by emotion. If what Cernunnos told her was true, her Lostbelt no longer existed. And for all that so many of her kind did not deserve to live anymore, she knew, in hindsight, that there were some who did. She remembered the old blacksmith at Tintagel, Ector, the one who created her armour, and whom, she suspected, had harboured Arturia. There was Arturia herself, the Child of Prophecy, and Barghest hoped that, wherever she was, she was happy, or at least fulfilled. And Melusine…for all her ruthlessness and her devotion to Aurora, to say nothing of her rivalry with Barghest…Barghest thought she had the potential to become something more. Oh, and Habetrot, of course.

But when she thought about it, she couldn't name another Fae off the top of her head that deserved to survive. Hindsight, and seeing her people gleefully torture and murder humans in Manchester, claiming to follow her example. They didn't…no, couldn't understand that devouring her lovers was the result of a curse.

That Morgan had a point in oppressing the Fae was a bitter pill to swallow. But Barghest refused to believe she was wrong in turning on her. In fact, it was possible that Morgan's tithe of mana weakened many of the good Fae, or at least those who could develop a moral compass. Either that, or they ended up in the Nameless Forest, or that enclave Oberon…no, Vortigern formed in Wales, the very place Barghest herself laid waste to. And Morgan sent Portunes to try and murder Arturia and Ritsuka Fujimaru, and even murder Barghest if she refused to cooperate.

"Are you okay?" asked Harry behind her. Barghest turned to find Harry and Delphini behind her.

Barghest was briefly torn between etiquette, pride, and her brutal honesty. The latter won out. "Not really. I was just thinking…my timeline is probably gone by now. From what I was told, it was never meant to be. I find myself fortunate to have been given a second chance I do not deserve, though most of my kind in the Lostbelt deserved it less. And yes, they were that bad."

"I saw bits of it," Harry said. "The Fae torturing and murdering humans in Manchester. And…I felt your horror towards it."

Barghest nodded. "That I am perhaps the only survivor of my timeline is a good thing, in all likelihood. I may not be a threat to you, but I am still a monster. Even before I succumbed and became the Bestial Calamity, the blood of hundreds if not thousands stain my hands. I was a soldier, killing the enemy was what I was good at, but…I was also a tool of oppression and terror. If I now have a second chance at life, then the least I can do is atone by my deeds. But…at least I understand the concept of atonement, of repentance. While the Fae have purposes to fulfil, not all of them needed to fulfil it in such a twisted manner. If I am a monster, then they were worst monsters than I for the most part, caring for nothing more than their own capricious whims and desires. Now, excuse me a moment…"

Harry looked on as Barghest, clad in armour that looked both elegant and yet brutal, began fighting. The sword she summoned out of thin air along with her armour flashed through the air, burning with fire, and cutting through the dummies like a less-proverbial hot knife through butter. Within mere seconds, the dummies were dismembered and burning.

It wasn't a dance. It wasn't anything so elegant or beautiful. It was sheer ruthless and efficient slaughter. He had no doubt that, against ordinary humans, she could devastate a medieval army with ease. Hell, she could probably shrug off most ordinary bullets too, so a modern army wouldn't prove much of an obstacle either.

Yet she looked at her sword, and clicked her tongue. "So I have become weaker. Is it because the curse is gone, or my body is still recovering its reserves? Or maybe my transformation into the Bestial Calamity did something to weaken my body?" She dismissed the sword with a gesture. "It's adequate for now."

"Still pretty awesome, though," Delphi said, even as Harry extinguished and repaired the dummies. "Though what's the armour made of? It can't be iron, can it? I thought the Fae couldn't touch iron."

"No, it's enchanted silver," Barghest said. "I am far more resistant to iron than most of my kind, but my armour was specially smithed by a man called Ector."

"Ector…as in one of the Knights of the Round Table?" Harry asked. "King Arthur's foster father, I think?"

"…Curious how you mention that. The Ector I knew was harbouring a girl I later learned was called Arturia, a child chosen by prophecy. In any case, this armour, due to the enchantments placed on the silver alloy, as well as the metals mixed in, is stronger than iron or steel. Don't worry, I should be fine around most iron or steel implements, as long as they're not enchanted or made from 'cold iron'. Cutlery and the like should not bother me."

"I'll make sure you have silverware to eat food with anyway, just in case," Harry said.

At this, Barghest gave him a gentle, if lugubrious, smile. "Thank you. You are a gracious host, Harry. The Fang Clan prided itself on hospitality and etiquette, but most of them only learned it as superficial artifice. I tried to emulate it as best as I could, as I believed that was part of being a knight and a lady, and I believe it succeeded, but I am grateful for your hospitality, despite knowing something of my past."

"Yeah, well, the way that Fang Clan guy, Woodwose acted…he reminded me too much of a few people I've known."

Barghest nodded, before she looked pensive. "My apologies, Harry, but…while you know something of me due to…an interaction with my A-Ray Antennae? You have seen parts of my life, but…I know little about your life. Indeed, I know nothing of the difference between Magi and the wizards and witches you and Delphini are part of, though I gained the impression that you are separate societies, given your talk with Zelretch and Arcueid. Your magic certainly seemed different. Zelretch seemed to even indicate you were renowned to some degree. And your eyes…you gaze with the air of a seasoned fighter. And you were willing to take on that dangerous Magus. Forgive my temerity, but could you tell me something of your life? I mean, once I have finished my training. I do need to discover just how much my resurrection has affected my strength and ability."

After a moment, Harry nodded in his turn. "Sure. We'll discuss it over lunch, and besides, I already know something about your past. It's only fair to share a little of mine…"

And what a past it was. He didn't say everything about his past, but Barghest heard more than enough. Harry may have been physically and magically weak compared to her, but he had strength of heart and will that far surpassed his physical ability and magic.

Long ago, a vicious warlock called Voldemort led an uprising against Magical Britain and its government. He didn't target Clock Tower, intending to solidify his powerbase before taking on the Magi (Magi and wizards had a strong and bitter rivalry at best, and at worst, were all but at war with each other), but the wizards and witches, who were able to use a different form of magic, one that did not get affected by Gaia or Mystery, were another matter. He specifically went after those with what he considered impure blood, though anyone who opposed him was fair game anyway. Then, Voldemort overheard a prophecy naming a newborn child as one with the power to vanquish him, so he tried to kill the child, after first killing his parents. There were two children who could have fit the prophecy, but Voldemort chose to go after Harry Potter.

However, thanks in part to a ritual calling upon ancient magic, Lily sacrificing herself for her son's sake allowed Harry to withstand the infamous Killing Curse. Indeed, Voldemort was vanquished, though thanks to phylacteries known as Horcruxes, he remained a wraith tethered to this plane. Harry was famous as the Boy Who Lived, surviving when nobody else could withstand the Killing Curse.

To shield him from his fame, Harry was left with relatives. He didn't speak much about them, but his tone suggested that, until he was admitted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it wasn't a good one. He learned of his fame, how to wield magic, made friends, and had many adventures.

But Voldemort eventually regained a physical body, and started his campaign of terror anew. Harry did eventually manage to defeat him, but only after destroying the phylacteries, and after so many friends and loved ones died. And such a war left its scars on so many, including Harry.

Barghest nodded solemnly after Harry finished his tale and she finished her lunch (grateful that he had, on her request, given her a normal portion, for her appetite, anyway). "I see. While many of our human soldiers were young, and we were trained young in the arts of war…I get the impression that, in this era, to fight is a choice. But you didn't get that choice, because of Voldemort's obsession with the prophecy."

"…And Dumbledore's obsession with keeping things close to his chest." Harry sighed softly. "Don't get me wrong, he was a good man, but…he did too many things wrong. Kept too much stuff from me, from others…I was lucky to survive, and not everything has gone well for me since."

Delphini then said, "Well, Voldemort gave you one good thing, Dad. He got you me."

"I beg your pardon?" Barghest asked.

"I'm not Harry's daughter by blood," Delphini said casually. "My birthname is Delphini Hydra Riddle-Lestrange."

Riddle? But that was Voldemort's real name, Tom Marvolo Riddle, according to Harry. And then it clicked for Barghest. "I see. So you were Voldemort's biological daughter?"

Delphini nodded. "Yeah. It got revealed to the newspapers some years back by a former friend of Harry's, who had issues with my biological parents. I knew I was adopted back then, but I didn't know who my biological father was. Dad and I had a pretty nasty row, I ran away from home…honestly, I was glad it was Aunty Luna who found me. She talked me into giving Dad a second chance…and in the end, I'm glad I did. I mean, my birth parents were both heavily inbred xenophobic nutjobs, and Voldemort was a bloody hypocrite, preaching blood purity and all that crap when he was only a Halfblood, with a Muggle father. Besides, how long your lineage in magic is only matters when you're a Magus, and even then, they're still so damn snobby about it. I mean, I always have to restrain myself from slapping Lord El-Melloi every time he enters the room."

"Delphi, I understand that urge, as I get it myself, but unfortunately, Kayneth is also one of the more powerful Magi in Clock Tower, politically and magically. Besides, you're friends with Reines, right?" Harry pointed out.

"Yeah, she's also a bit of a snob, but at least she knows how to have fun," Delphini said. "And she pranks Kayneth for me."

"Your bond is strong, despite that trial," Barghest observed. "I confess myself envious. I was considered an outsider by the Fang Clan, partly because of my curse, but also because of my human-like form. Most within the Fang Clan would resemble anthropomorphic animals to your eyes, whereas some other Fae clans had a more human-like form."

"…In other words, they considered you a freak?" Harry asked gently, his emerald gaze meeting her own eyes. She knew he had gone through something similar, given his knowing gaze. So she nodded solemnly.

"In many regards, you sound like a better hero than I was," Barghest said quietly.

"I'm no hero. I was just a stupid kid in over his head who survived through luck and other people's plans," Harry retorted wearily. "I tried to do good things, but…more than once, I messed up. The problem is, people have this idealised image of me, even before I knew I was the Boy Who Lived. People throw around the term 'hero' way too much."

"Dad, just take the compliment, okay?" Delphini said, rolling her eyes as she turned her gaze back to Barghest. "Look, don't mind him, he's a gloomy sod, Barghest. I swear, if he got any more broody, he'd be like Batman, not that you know who that is. Don't get me wrong, I understand why, as much as I can without going through the same crap. Those morons couldn't decide between putting Dad on a pedestal or toppling him off it. And it got worst after he adopted me. I mean, I'm the spawn of pure evil, there's no getting away from that, but I like to channel it towards worthy causes. But, well, Aunty Hermione put it best. Dad's got a saving people thing. He may not be a knight in shining armour, he hates that chivalry crap, but if someone is in trouble, and they're not a complete berk, he'll help them. That's why he helped you, Barghest. He saw something in your memories that had him decide to help you."

After a moment, Barghest began to chuckle bitterly. Adonis…Ritsuka Fujimaru…Mash…you'd find Harry good company, she thought to herself. What strength you lack in your bodies, aside from Mash, you more than make up for in your hearts.

Out loud, she said, "Very well. But while I am sure you do not expect a reward, I still intend to repay that debt. What remains of my honour and pride demands it. Still, I find myself curious, about your working at this Magus Association as an Enforcer. Tell me…would they be averse to my offering my sword in their service?"

CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:

Barghest has learned of Harry's past, and now has offered her services.

Now, her asking for a job has all to do with paying her own way. While formerly a knight of Morgan le Fay, she is well aware of the need to work for pay in lower social strata than her own (remember, Lostbelt Britain is in the feudal system for the most part, with a few elements from Victorian society thrown in for good measure). Given that her estate and lordship don't exist here, she wishes to get work to pay her way, and work that she can respect doing.

I could have had her swear loyalty to Harry, but there were a couple of reasons I did not do that. Looking at Barghest's in-game dialogues for My Room, at lower levels, she does not wish to swear herself to the weak, which is reason enough here. However, more to the point for her later character development, she just foreswore an oath to Morgan, and is not in any hurry to find another liege lord, especially after all the trauma she went through. She's also trying to find herself again, and joining the Enforcers is kind of clutching at straws. However, we will have another solution in mind…

No numbered annotations this time.