It's hard being satisfied with my own work. I'm trying to fix that mindset. lol
Chapter 8: The Saint
Any other time he could have appreciated the beauty of the French grasslands and forests as he did the few times he came to the country, but the angry gaping black hole in the sky and the strong magical presence that reached even all the way where they were that smelled corrosion stopped him from enjoying the scenery as they ran—with him being carried by Alter—and jumped towards their destination.
Not only that but the towns they passed through, big ones with castles and forts, even the towns around it were all devoid of life according to both his servants—no sign of life other than the animals now inhabiting and looting the place for all its worth. Just like the roads themselves where the empty footpaths serving as roads lined with cartwheels and hooves were now empty with nothing but the tumultuous myriads of feet, hooves, and cartwheels signifying people passed through here. And the final mile led to a town with a gravel-laden road with none of the life it should have.
The settlements and this part of France seemed empty, a sad part that he wished wasn't true because, throughout the years with Rin and Saber, he loved seeing new places and having the chance to meet new people.
Mash for all her small frame, kept up easily even with the hefty Arthurian shield alongside Saber Alter whose aggressive attacks more than handled the wandering skeletons and the usual group of three Wyverns before he could even strike it from afar.
Somewhere along the way, their communication with Chaldea got cut off and his skin tingled from the strong magical scent in the air.
After more than a full day of running and no closer to their destination, they stopped at his behest and projected camping tents and started a campfire just after the sunset for whatever it's worth during these times.
He took out a lump of frozen meat in his pack followed by spices—the backpack that can hold much more than it normally had thanks to Rin. The two sat on guard while he cooked with a small smile forming on his face every time Alter thought he didn't know she was looking.
"Master," Mash said slowly, eating her roasted beef. Her eyes looked down. "Do you think… someone like me could be of help in this?"
"Mash," said Alter sternly. "You are a servant bearing a shield of great power. He would not have bestowed you the power for no reason. Trust in yourself and those who trust you."
"But," her eyes downcast even as her lavender eyes bore into theirs. "I only wield a shield, I can't help much in situations other than covering your back. I can't hope to compete with you, Saber-san, or Alter-san in combat against Jeanne and her dragons."
"You're doing fine, Mash." He smiled at her in encouragement just as Saber did at one point in time during the Grail War. "In fact, you're doing better than I did. There's also nothing wrong with being a shielder, it just means you protect, right?"
The young woman looked away, the fire hiding any change in complexion as she muttered, "I… thanks…," as a reply.
"I was supposed to help you with your sword lessons, aren't I," he said with an embarrassed smile. "Some master I am, huh."
Holding out a hand, she shook her head. "I understand, senpai. We were all busy the last few days, and whatever break we had was after it all."
"What about now?" he asked, magic circuits firing up.
"Master," Mash said in surprise.
He straightened when he looked up at the night sky far away that thundered where the peaceful blue night turned a darker glowing red covered in smokey black. "Sorry Mash, looks like we'll have to put a raincheck on that promise."
"Let's move."
His heart grew troubled because that only meant one thing: an attack. Through his Reality Marble, he knew the many wars the world had gone through just by reading its history, and this era was no more different than theirs. So it spoke a lot when he knew that the overwhelming fire that lit the sky was not something that could be done by anything at this time other than magecraft.
Without looking back, they left camp approaching the burning place with greater speed than before with the wind whipping against their skin. Magically reinforced eyes saw through the distance where the intense fire shrouded anything or anyone that might have been in that area.
High above, winged figures bigger than the ones before blew flames that burned his eyes just opening their maw.
"Master!" Mash gasped.
The entire town of Albi burned to the ground, crackling in the night and making his heart grow cold. Not in fear, no.
Summoning the black bow, his shot never ended as arrow after arrow of anti-dragon weapons, piercing and felling the lesser dragons. His senses grew cold feeling the wind shift towards something and he called forth Kanshou and Bakuya but not before Mash blocked something behind him sending him skidding forward.
The clash of sword and shield created a strong gust of wind that pushed back Mash with him.
"Chaldea Master, this is your only warning." A woman's voice that held strength from the other side of the shield said.
Alter slashed from behind the enemy and he was behind as the now female servant turned her back towards him. The twin married swords slashed only for the warrior to duck and cartwheel away.
With Saber to his right and Mash to his left, they faced the enemy servant.
"An honor to meet King Arthur, Mash of Chaldea, and Master of Chaldea," said the enemy servant bowing, her flowery themed uniform being shown more elegantly as her flowered saber. "I am Servant Saber. Were it any other time, I'd be delighted to have met you. Tis not our fate. It is unfortunate that we are enemies."
"Chevalier d'Eon." Her weapon revealed all that she was, all she is, and all she will be. "To think Jeanne d'Arc managed to turn France's greatest heroes into its enemies."
"I see," she said. "It is true what my master said, no identity safe from your steely gaze."
Saber disappeared only to be stopped by Saber Alter, a black flamed great sword against a glinting white saber where the meeting force created gusts. He jumped over and spun midair with the twin swords only for her to turn and block his strike and continued spinning blocking the second strike of Alter. Their strikes continued like a dance and he joined in from the back, his strikes hit true only for her to face them both and reverse from their strikes. Strong was she as she blocked their attacks but even he could see him and Alter pushed her back.
The King of Knights was something she could not fully contend with.
Physical strength was not her strength, whereas Alter's strong strikes that continuously sent black beams of light were complimented by her strength and supported by him.
With a strong swing of her sword, Alter sent her flying followed by another black flame causing her to dodge by jumping. She could have evaded had Mash not come in from the side and with a great shove, pushed her and sent her flying to the bricked wall.
His arrows rained on where she was but his last one overloaded with mana threatened to break but held by the virtue of its make, flew and exploded more than ten meters big of dust.
"Thanks, Mash," he said. "But it's not over yet."
From the dust and debris, it all blew apart with a swing of her sword.
"I see, he was right. Even the Master is not to be underestimated." She whistled and a dragon roared making him cross his arms as the automatic barrier defense kicked in followed by Mash's shield. Blue magic barrier against the searing pure magic magic flames the phantasmals blew.
When the flame disappeared, Chevalier d'Eon was gone along with her dragon companions.
When he looked at his companions, Alter answered, "She's the only one from this region, Shirou. The evil servant fled."
"Do you think she'll come back?" Mash asked her attention now to the burning town.
"I don't think so," he replied. "She's achieved her objectives." Steely turned his gaze at the now burning Albi where the blood of the innocents lay dead from the reckless destruction brought by Lev himself.
To burn an innocent town to death, Lev, the anger in him boiled but he pushed it all down for the task at hand.
"Mash, Saber, can you two create a wave big enough from that river."
"I believe we could, Master," Alter quickly replied. The energy in Excalibur Morgan glowed darkly.
Mash's shield glowed with power, emanating the power to block any magical attacks when she nodded.
"Good," he nodded. "I'll head straight for the town to find any survivors."
He ran forward, dashing through the dancing chaotic flames swallowing the entire town of Albi and despite the suit regulating temperature he could feel the sweat building up inside the suit. His breath controlled once more now that the servant was gone and his mind running fast with a singular goal in mind.
Flames, flames everywhere he turned. it was Fuyuki all over again, his breath hitched at the thought, and his body froze for a second. Was it fate that everywhere he went flames followed him?
He turned when the powerful released and thundered behind him only to see a giant wave of water from the lake in a giant splash that reached even where he is now. Hope turned bitter as the flames still stood without stopping dancing as if mocking their efforts.
"Mash, Alter."
'I'm fine, Master.'
'I'm coming to get Mash.'
That was a big wave no normal lake could do yet, the flames persisted like a plague.
The thought of the helpless people pushed him on, screaming and fighting to live just as those he met during that helpless night. Nothing but the that powered him on, the suit's barrier kept at bay the fire but not the heat. Even with numerous mystic codes that released freezing ice and water, the fire refused to die and only retreated playfully swaying. Afar, far beyond the giant looming castle came a pure white and blue light that radiated the entire area with soft grace.
Cold wariness urged him forward, but also hope for something better for those in the town of Albi.
The heavens opened, clouds parting as resplendent waves of white and gold pulsed outward followed by a gentle breeze when he jumped up for a vantage view.
'Mash, Alter, can you sense that.'
'A powerful presence,' Alter's wariness was all clear to him shielding her presence against the pure white energy that came from the other side of the city. 'Be careful, master.'
Mash's concern reminded him of Sakura. Sakura was gone as everyone else He breathed deeply to center himself.
'I will.' Even as he said that never did he feel threatened or scared by this. It… rejuvenated him entirely. As if, the demons of fear born of fire inside him crawling to the shadows where they belonged.
The pulsing white light weakened, but the fires swayed against it returning to embers until no more of it was left. Only the night was left to illuminate the burnt Albi and the central area where he saw the light flickering, and the magic fading. And the heavens that parted, became whole once more as all things were.
The feeling of… wholeness, faded along with the light.
When he landed in a town center, people huddled, crying and shaking as they held each other. Some in grief, but most in joy of giving another chance to live. The atmosphere felt heavy, a somber choking coldness in the air that reminded him of the grief he had seen throughout his life. But still, when he saw them his chest lifted seeing them survive. So much so that he did not hesitate to project blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags for them while checking their conditions as he walked to the center of it all.
At the center of it all, a woman supported by many held on to a standard that gleamed silver under the moonlight. Strong was she to hold on to it and still stand after that magical energy she released.
"Help her! Please! She's not the witch everyone claimed she is!" A man ran towards him when they saw him land.
A soldier with charred armor knelt before him, praying to either him or the heavens that no longer had God with all this madness going on. "Stranger of great power, please save the saint. She saved us when the beasts came."
From a simple gaze, he knew they all were of the same thought; gratitude to their savior of themselves but of what was left of their home. Even if they didn't say so, Shirou would no doubt check on her, after knowing who she was.
Before all that, he asked, "Is everyone okay? Is someone injured?"
"Nay, stranger," an old man hugging a young boy replied. "The saint's light, it healed us of ailments. It is she you must tend to."
When none replied, he approached the still woman almost kneeling and only supported by her banner of fleur de lis that waved victoriously. Her dark shadowed hair became golden blonde on his checkup, and her skin glowed fairly under the moon's gaze.
Memories not of his came to him when he focused on his banner. Of war for a country, the voices she heard, were his to hear too until her fiery yet valiant death. He shivered, for the voice, was far yet a unlike power anything he had encountered before.
"Jeanne d'Arc," he muttered wide-eyed at the realization of this implication. "But… she's the Dragon Witch."
"Nay!" A pitchfork pointed against him by one woman, eyes burning with fury. "Take that back, stranger. Given us comfort you did, but none will besmirch her name, of the holy lady that saved us."
That means...
'There's two Jeanne.' His two companions became surprised.
"Take one more step," said Saber Alter, landing beside him, her form causing everyone to gasp when her sword lit aflame with darkness.
"It's the witch!"
"You have brought us doom!"
"Hold on, everyone!" Mash landed not a second after. "She's not the witch.
Shirou breathed deeply in frustration, not because of the people, but because of the situation. He apologized to Alter and thanked Mash for her quick resolve to cut down any further misunderstanding. "We're simple travelers, we seek to go to Lyon asking for the help of a knight to journey towards the defeat of Dragon Witch herself. My companion is not related to the witch herself."
"Is that so?" answered one in armor too. "All right, why didn't you say so earlier before the witch's lookalike showed up."
He blinked, much to his disbelief and that of the others. it was that easy? He guessed that if he had planned to kill them, he could've done it easily as he breathed. He thought not one more of it and focused on Jeanne before him.
"We're in no position to doubt you for your help. So the lady does bear resemblance to our holy lady and the one behind it all."
She eased the strong woman's hold on the metal shaft of the banner, supporting her weight and giving the banner to Mash and ordered Alter. "Alter, can you get back my pack and Mash, scout ahead to find a better spot for us to camp tonight."
The two left, silently voicing their concerns but followed nonetheless after a few promises from him to stay with the people. Not that he'd leave considering all these defenseless survivors.
"What happened." Sitting on the ground of what's left of the fountain, he let her sleep on his shoulder. "The attack was much more than what Toulouse had."
The knight beside him turned to face him fast. "Toulouse burns?!"
"No," he replied with a shake of his head. "We arrived just in time and saved most of it."
"I see," he said sighing. "Then Toulouse is where we must go. It seems they have not destroyed all of France yet."
'Master, I found an open area,'
A flat open area in the middle of the forest, he saw through Mash's eyes, perfect. And only half an hour walk by the distance of it.
He led them all the while carrying unconscious Jeanne d'Arc on his back. On their way, Alter caught up with his pack on her back looking sour. With not one word but her actions, he somehow knew what ailed her.
"Saber," he said, keeping the grin from forming. "When we arrive I want you to set up a fire and the utensils."
Her dour look vanished only for her to lick her lips and deem this a success.
"Master," Alter called beside him. Were it not for the few rays of light seeping in the tree gaps he might not have seen her dark form and her golden eyes that glanced on the passenger on his back. "Are we sure it is all right to bring her? I know of deception in my time as King, she could be trying to put us off guard and strike us at our weakest."
Whether she spoke from experience, he glanced back at the unconscious heroic spirit. "I don't sense malice from her and the magic she released. I'm sure you felt that. If she was, I don't think she'd make the effort of saving these people."
'What do you think, Mash?'
The girl hummed even in her thoughts. 'I think, she's not bad.'
"I agree with Mash," he eventually replied. "I know we have to be wary, Alter, but you feel it don't you? Her low mana reserves. She'll be no threat to you, unlike that enemy Saber."
Alter frowned in clear concern. "I hope you're right, master."
So, he flashed her a smile that made her look away. "If anything happens, I know I can trust in you and Mash."
The woman said nothing and walked ahead of him walking in a rush to get to the campsite until eventually they arrived on a flat open space in the middle of the forest. Projecting tents, blankets, and pillows that left him reeling that cost nearly half his reserves.
Putting Jeanne inside, he circled the camp and ended up setting sigils on the edge of the camp. When his reserves took a further dip down but very much worth it in setting it up for almost an hour when the almost thin veil hid their presence from the world. If these people could get a night of secured sleep to stave off the despair in them, then that's what he'd do.
When he arrived at the center, Mash and Alter chopped the vegetables—or attempted in Alter's case, which he even appreciated, and helped the process even faster and cooked a stew that took half an hour with how big their serving was.
He served each people, all more than forty of them, and cooked more even after midnight until everyone was satisfied and slept soundly in their tents. Low in mana, energy, and mentally tired, he sat on a wooden chair outside of the tent humming in content all while just gazing at the nonexistent moon above and enjoying the silver light of the night sky with a tea in hand.
"Are you okay, Shirou?" Alter asked.
He hummed and nodded, letting himself bask and contented. He often wondered when did the moments he had with his dad became moments with Rin, Sakura, Illya, Rider,—with the occasional Luvia—Taiga, and Saber. Somehow, he could now see Alter and Mash in the picture as well. He sipped tea and enjoyed the chatter of his friends and companions.
To his left, Mash giggled. "Senpai, you look tired but refuse to rest. I can guard for the night."
"No," Alter said firmly. "As a full servant, I can fill that role easily enough. Mash, your job is to ensure our master gets the rest he needs."
"Don't I get a say in this?" He knew it's futile when Arturia got her mind to it, but still, he put on a brief complaint while hiding a small smile as he drank the tea.
"No." Quick was her reply without hesitation. "Your brave act does not pass my scrutiny."
Because I have been there, he could almost hear Saber say, but he knew more than enough about her. Standing up, he winced and went inside the tent. "All right, you win, Arturia. Don't forget to inform me if anything goes wrong. Goodnight."
The woman simply gave him a nod. Taking his place on the chair he now vacated, leaning forward on the sword.
He got in a tent that opened up to a wider interior, once again thanks to Rin. The still unconscious Jeanne slept peacefully on the left sleeping bag and Mash took the right, leaving him in the middle.
The moment Shirou closed his eyes, his mind drifted into the realm of nothing.
Flames.
He walked, walked, and walked until his foot felt nothing. Not the hot ground set aflame, not the rocks piercing his soles, and not the bleeding that trailed behind him. He might as well be dead. Rather, he was dead. Dead to the world. Dead outside. Most of all, dead inside.
Millions cried behind him, a grieving mother, a sobbing father, a lonely child whose cry desired the safety and comfort of a mother's bosom. All this he knew and should want. But... instead, he felt nothing. Not in his chest, in his heart, and his soul. His chest grew colder even as the fire grew higher.
He walked, treading the path of hell until he reached a door that was no more with a wall of nothing and a roof that fell to pieces long ago. His heart stopped, and the very air in him froze whilst staring into nothing and everything at the same time.
Moans and cries came from the Earth, arms broke through and flaming corpses of pristine alabaster hobbled forward, their faceless head shaking and with every shake, their faces becoming human. First a nose, a hair, then half frowning lips, and their cries of nothing turning to clearly worded agony.
"Sh….ou. Why di—eave u..."
He stood frozen, dead to the world as unmoving as the earth yet his heart flinching from their touches. "No, get away."
"Yo—left us…"
"Get away!"
"Why..."
"Get AWAY!" Stiff arms frozen moved, pushing them and
"Sh…ou—"
"No!" Hands crossing, he recoiled.
Warm hands pulled him back down as gentle golden warmth eased his soul. Frantic eyes drooped until darkness took him once more.
Blinking bleary eyes opened against the weight pressing against it, but the morning warmth gave him strength to see. When did he… change pillows? The tent flaps opened and Saber came in, her frosty expression and glaring gold eyes making him frown as it bore into him.
"Arturia? What's wrong."
"Nothing Master," she said, cold like the evening wind. "Except for the witch that dared intrude on your personal space."
Blinking in confusion, he said back, "witch?"
"She may be referring to me." A different voice said behind him.
He jolted up faster turning to face the woman who sat in place where the pillow used to be. "Jeanne! What… What are you doing?"
Jeanne d'Arc sat on her knees with a serene look on her face.
She frowned at him in worry and concern before a small smile graced her lips. "You were muttering in your sleep and i sensed you were in distress, thus I helped."
"Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I have rested enough, there's more to be done," she said meeting his gaze despite the tiredness in it.
"Foolish woman," Saber Alter said stiffly, her disdain for the woman clear as day. "But since you helped my master, you stayed my hand from this incursion of yours."
"Think nothing of it, I simply helped as needed." The woman looked patient as ever in the face of Alter's open contempt for her.
Thinking about it made him shiver, from just the sliver of images, he remembered. Shaking his head slowly, he pushed it out of him to worry about her instead.
"Are you okay now?"
Under a brighter light, he could color returning to her now unlike the visible pallor she had under the silver moonlight.
"Yeah, thank you." Grateful was her smile in thanking them. "Now I have to head north. I must stop this. The Dragon Witch can't be allowed to continue to raze my country into the ground. Far too many have suffered for this."
"Speaking of that," he said slowly, unsure how to word it because he didn't know how she would react to her other self. Would it be like him and EMIYA? Would it be cordial? He just didn't know, but he had to ask. "Why are you here? I thought you'd be in Bordeaux"
"I'm afraid I don't understand you." Confusion etched in her face when her face furrowed.
"A saint was rumored to be in the city of Bordeaux," Alter answered for him.
"No," said the woman with a shake of her head. "It must be someone else. I was summoned south of France looking for the source of this calamity."
That would mean it was someone else who was on the other side of France. Still, there was one thing on his mind. "Then, why are there two of you here?"
"Two?" Brows furrowing in confusion, she looked at him and then at Alter.
"This is going to be a long story," he said sighing. "Alter, can you please get us some breakfast?" It seemed the people of Albi thought to cook an early breakfast.
'Mash, can you please come in the tent?'
The Saint of Orleans frowned, looking at something that only she saw, what that was, he had no idea while they waited for Alter.
"It's not something terrible is it?" Jeanne kept a cool expression, neither demanding nor timid. Fitting for someone like her who's not a warrior yet stomached through the violent era of her country. "I dread it is something terrible, I can feel it. Even if I no longer have the skills of a Ruler, my strength as a servant remains."
The cacophony of the civilians outside turned to hushed noises, presumably because of Alter. He trusted her not to escalate things, and Mash was there to facilitate and mediate.
"You may want to prepare." There was one thing that confused him though. "Ruler?" He didn't think there was a Ruler-class Servant in the Holy Grail War.
She blinked, confusion settling in her as it was for him. "I sense weariness from battle in you, one of Holy Grail War yet truly you have not heard of my class?"
He shrugged, it wasn't the first time he missed things. "I know of the seven classes." Thinking about it, he was missing one and corrected himself. "Eight classes; Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Berserker, Caster, Assassin, and Avenger."
"Then in that case, Ruler-class servants are summoned to safeguard and enforce the rules of the Grail War, to ensure no servant will summon a servant, and that no unnecessary harm befall the innocents. I cannot feel the power of Ruler on my summoning and I cannot discern the strengths and classes of your servants nor did I sense you and the enemy." She sighed, but not letting it get to her. "I do not have the power of Command Seals in me yet, I know I am of the Ruler class."
A class that could have helped them in their own Grail War, where was a Ruler class servant when they needed it?
Alter came on three plates in hand followed by Mash. Projecting a small Japanese table, Alter sat to his right and Mash on the left, Jeanne sat across him.
How do I say this to her? Better to let her know slowly.
"On the topic of you," he said before biting into his food. "Do much you know about the Dragon Witch?"
Just as he suspected, she shook her head. "None other than others called me by that name at the start."
Gravely, he released a deep breath and continued. "You are the Dragon Witch." She lowly gasped, her eyes widened and her body stilled. "Or another you. That's why they mistook Saber and Alter too now that I've seen you. The resemblance is there."
"Then…," slowly she took a deep breath, drank water, and when she opened her eyes, her amethyst eyes lit aflame in resolve. "Then I now know my purpose knowing that the cause of it is another me.
"I must go to Orleans right away." She turned her gaze at the people outside with their chatter as they ate breakfast.
"Jeanne-san," Mash said. "How about coming with us?"
"Come with us, we're going to Lyon."
Her brows furrowed in wondering. "What is in Lyon?"
"Someone who could help us," Mash said. "A knight."
The woman looked at her food, just seeing the imaginary gears in her head rotating. "If that is what God wills it to be, then you have my banner. God brought me here to help my people in time of need and to meet you. Although I do not hear his voice, our meeting here was more than fateful of that I am certain."
"God," Alter scoffed. "Gods retreated from this plane long ago. Even the Christian God."
Shirou shook his head. "Whether she's sent here by God or not, what matters is we found a friend to help us."
Alter opened and closed her mouth but reluctantly nodded.
With that out of the way, he can get on to lighter topics. "Did anything happen last night?"
Mash opened her mouth but nothing came out and she looked away eating instead.
"Nothing of importance," Alter said in Mash's place. Her expression said otherwise, but he didn't press any further and ate in peace enjoying their presence instead.
Jeanne looked at the people still open tent flaps. Her reason for doubt open to everyone in the tent.
"Captain Jehan of Toulouse can take them in," he said ahead before she could say anything. "We saved the city of Toulouse before the dragons could destroy it."
"I appreciate the gesture, truly. Still," she said looking down and back at his gaze. "These people need protection from the dragons. I am conflicted what to do first. I'll give my answer later."
The whole morning they spent patrolling the camp and having one heck of a festive French breakfast courtesy of the ingredients Mash had given them. Not only did it calm the grieving people enough for them to eat in solemn silence, but also for them to repay the Saint and them for saving them all, or so the Knight Captain said.
Jeanne gathered the warriors and the village leaders while they discussed whether Jeanne should accompany them to Toulouse. They on the other hand looked at the map planning their next move toward Lyon.
Alter said pointing to the next town over. "Master, if Albi was attacked, then it's more than possible the next one Jehan pointed will be in peril as well." Alter frowned, glaring at something he could not see.
"Alter-san, what's wrong?"
"It's the path we will go," she said. "Peril blocks our path and I cannot tell what monstrosity we will face without information from scouts. In these times, information is key, an element we lack."
His eyes weren't as good as Archer's even at his maximum range. There was no sign of anything ahead of them.
"Then let me help," Jeanne sat next to Alter. "I have convened with the people and they will go to Toulouse as soon as they're able." The woman looked at the map and ask the pen from Mash. "Days before we arrived, there was an influx of people," he cringed inwardly containing his anger, "coming from here." She circled the places near the area but not Rodez. "I heard you were going to Rodez?"
"Yes," he answered. "The Captain recommended the path from Albi, Rodez, Mende, Le Puy, and Saint Etienne as the safest path to Lyon." He lined the route exactly as how the good captain did.
Jeanne sigh. "That may not be possible. Word spread of the town of Rodez burned. No survivors."
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the thought. They were too late, but they would stop this. "What about the other towns."
"That I cannot confirm," she said with a frown. "Any information I got from the two is all hearsay. Some say it still stands, some say it burned from the dragon's fire despite the French Army resistance. And Mende is too far covered by mountains to be easily accessible unlike Le Puy and Saint Etienne." She pointed to a small town on the map. "Rodez may be no more, but I can… sense that we're needed on the path you're taking."
"Precognition?" Mash said in surprise.
Jeanne followed too quickly, pausing to correct her. "No, no. It's… more than a gut feeling too."
"I see," Alter said. "She tells the truth, master."
"I trust you two." Jeanne's eyes had something, similar was she to Saber in face, but there was something different about her fundamentally.
"Then it's confirmed." Face taut and resolved, he made his decision. "We go through Rodez all the same and if fate favors us," he took a deep breath then looked at them in the eye, "we can still save people. Is that all right?"
Alter smirked, readying her blade, Mash nodded with her eyes glowing with silent determination, and lastly Jeanne d'Arc was resolute in her calmness as if used to it, which she was when he recalled her history.
Midday they left with fanfare and well wishes from the survivors, but not before leaving a note for the Captain about the situation. With a servant's speed, they passed through the grim results of a massacre under the morning light.
They stopped by at the behest of Jeanne with a silent prayer for the departed before continuing.
Winds whipped past his face in his bid to catch up to his companions. Long has he mastered the art of reinforcement, but even still that wasn't enough to catch up to Saber. Mash, perhaps, but that was because he could see she wasn't fully used to her newfound power. So, once more, he was carried by Alter, something that he was getting used to, much to his embarrassment.
"Master," Mash said. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, don't worry Mash." And he really meant it, no lies or assurances of the sort that he'd say to Rin but she would push on asking despite his protest. "I'm okay."
They run past through smaller towns, his patience at the grave injustice running thin and stopped only by his self-discipline. All these people had nothing to do with larger-than-life things other than to live their own lives.
Rodez tested him. A smaller town—yet nearly a city, than Albi built on a hill yet all that remained were nothing but ashes and stones where houses and buildings stood. It burned on his memory so much that he could see them running, hoping, praying, and resigning themselves to their fate without a single salvation that he had. It turned his heart cold. Shirou often saw the sites after a battle in his journey, but never did he fully get used to such sights.
Faintly in the air, through his enhanced sense of smell, the burnt flesh repulsed him but he bore it all for them. On river Aveyron floated charred bodies, his eyes saw every detail of their ghastly death. Sliced to pieces, pierced by shrapnel and swords, maimed by their own weapons, and cauterized til burnt. All with a forever open-mouthed scream of agony in their last moment in the river of blood.
Weapons littered the broken bridge connecting them from the Rodez.
Mash gasped, but he pulled her and turned her to his chest, unable to bear someone like her face something if he could help it. She deserved none of the sight before her. She was neither a warrior like Alter nor a battle-hardened maiden like Jeanne.
"Senpai…"
"Shhh, Mash," he said, hands circling her back letting her tears wet his combat suit. "It's all right. Let it out."
Jeanne knelt, her white banner gleaming on the still twilight while Saber Alter closed her eyes in solemn focus.
"Rarely did I do atrocities, Shirou," Saber Alter said. Whether to herself or them, he had no idea. "When I did, all was for justice."
My justice, Alter's words echoed in his mind.
"But not atrocities at this level. Not even the Saxons could be this savage."
Closing his eyes, he saw it; a village burnt, a surrendering group knelt before her with eyes gleaming in unbreakable defiance saying something he could not hear while he saw things from Saber Alter's eyes.
"Any last words." Rage and resolution filled her that never once wavered even as the sword poised to cut the nape.
Each one said something one after the other, even if he heard none of it somehow he knew what it all entailed.
"So be it."
"So do I, Alter, so do I."
You can't save everyone, he knew it. An impossibility but against all odds he continues to do so going beyond his limits.
The twilight gleam would give them no choice but to camp in the forests south of Rodez, but they had to get away from this. It stole his breath away with every second he looked at it, but he bore it all.
"Come on, " he urged them, gently pushing Mash away and nudging her. "We have to get away from here."
Traveling at night was a bad decision, he knew, yet none protested. Alter even supported the idea, with her gaze returning to Mash every once in a while.
They traveled in uncomfortable silence. Saber for all her sins he accepted, knew she never took a life for no reason, unlike the Dragon Witch and Lev who was the root of it all. Jeanne remained solemn, but through her facade, he saw her distress for the people, and Mash, silently reached out to her.
Unlike Fuyuki devoid of life, or Toulouse and Albi that they saved, Rodez… none was left. All left to rot in the open elements.
Further down the line, the river stretched with the same empty but smaller towns that greeted them. On the road lay the dropped household items left in a rush. Items that would never be used again.
They ran and ran until they reached a small clearing beside the river and covered by the forest away from the main road.
On the clearing, they set up the tent while he created the Bounded Field then ate in silence. He forced himself to eat despite the lack of appetite and urged them to eat, especially Mash, just to distance themselves from what they witnessed.
Fou who now had revealed himself, sat on Mash's lap in what he could figure as a way to console her. From the way she petted his smooth fur, it was working making him glad the little creature was there when he could not break through her.
"You know," he said licking his lips, the thirst just settling in now with his realization. If not for the suit's temperature control he would have sweated much more than he noticed "With all this distance we ran, I wonder where was Fou all this time."
The little white creature looked up at him and tilted its head. "Fou? Kyou?"
Mash massaged his head making him close his eyes and purr in clear delight and giggled, a welcome contrast to the frown and red eyes she had. "Fou is Fou. He's always been there wherever I go."
Saber turned to the creature in Mash's lap narrowing her eyes. "Strange creature, he's no ordinary one that's for sure."
Jeanne clapped her hand and gestured for Fou to jump to her lap but Fou only blinked and yawned making Mash laugh. "Sorry, Jeanne-san, Fou doesn't like a lot of people. If it helps, I think he likes you, he's just a little shy about it."
Cheeks puffy from the food even as she grabbed some more, Alter asked anyway. "You can tell."
She put a hand on her cheek, thinking about it only shrugged with a cute giggle. "I… it's something you learn when you know Fou long enough."
"I guess," he said, more than a bit unsure. Frankly, he still had no idea what Fou is and he traveled a lot to know more than the basic animals. "I wonder what he tastes like."
The little furry creature's eyes widened jumping at her shoulder and hiding behind her head, coiling around her neck, hissing at Shirou. "Senpai!" Mash said with puffy cheeks.
He chuckled. "I'm kidding!" He extended his open palm with roasted meat. "Friends?"
The creature jumped to his outstretched hand and back to Mash eating the meat without leaving his eyes on him in possible wariness.
"I think you may have scared him, Shirou."
"I think so too." He scratched his cheek and raised his hands in defense when Mash glared at him. "How about I make you something special to make it up to you, Fou."
"Me too, Shirou," Alter said with a completely straight face.
"Of course, Arturia. I'm guessing you guys too."
Mash looked away, not meeting his gaze when she said, "I don't want to bother you, senpai."
"It's fine." He laughed. "Cooking is the only thing I'm good at.
Behind his smile, relief filled his chest that Mash found the strength to smile once more after the horror that she'd seen.
Never do I have to squint again when editing on the site thanks to a new second monitor. lol