The number of ships approaching Menagerie's ports were concerning. Not only did they bear the flag and banners of the White Fang, the Belladonna family knew them to be from Sienna Khan's branch in Mistral. The direction that these ships had come from were proof enough of that. Not one of these ships signaled their arrival. Worst of all, the crew members that they could see were so small in number that those watching believed that someone else had to be manning these ships.
But that was impossible. These were White Fang ships. The only time that anyone else would be manning them would be those who would capture the White Fang and bring them to justice. Never would they use it to bring them here; Menagerie was a peaceful settlement. Faunus were welcome here with some even abhorring the violence conducted by the White Fang.
To Sanson's eyes, what worried him wasn't the lack of crewmen running about. But rather, it was the fear that he could see even from the distance that he was. He stood atop one of the roofs of Kuo Kuana and even he could see that there was a terror that chilled the crewmen there. Not even True Assassin had caused this much fear and those of the White Fang were at least exposed to violence. Sanson had a bad feeling about it.
"Keep them safe," Sanson told Sun. "Tell them to run. Secure any of those ships if you can and bring however many you can with you."
"And leave you here?" Sun replied. "No way, dude! We're getting out of this together."
"This is not a battle that you should engage in, Sun. I doubt that even Assassin nor Curious Cat would be able to match whatever walks on one of those ships."
Sanson couldn't even tell which one had them; every crew member seen on every ship had their tails tucked between their legs and their ears flat on their head. If it did come to that, Sanson had little chance of winning. He was an Assassin-class Servant; he wasn't meant for direct combat.
There was disturbance in the water. A murky visual filled the waters hid the movement underneath. Sanson ignored Sun's cries at being left behind as he rushed in.
"Get inside!" Sanson demanded. All the faunus complied.
He was the Heroic Spirit. He was the Servant. He is Menagerie's Companion. Sanson may have played a hand in the downfall of his home country to anarchy and terror but he will not let the same fate befall here. Just as he took up the family tradition to strike down evil, he will do the same here. Whether the Servant there had intentions of malice or not, if they were to harm the people of Kuo Kuana, Sanson would ensure that they would face the guillotine.
Stopping near the shores, Sanson stood alone. Tentacle creatures called Cthnonians from the depths rose and walked in crude formation. These creatures did not attack; they guided the ships to their docking stations and awaited further instructions. Someone was controlling them.
With clearer view, the White Fang were paler than snow. Even their masks and their uniforms could not hide the cold appearances of their skin. Some wore masks that used to fit them but no longer do with how sunken their facial features clued Sanson. Many were looking towards Kuo Kuana with regret guiding their steps while others were on their knees begging for some kind of penance.
"Quite unfitting for an Assassin, aren't you?" boomed a masculine voice. "Or perhaps your Presence Concealment is so low that you only barely qualify as one?"
The knightly-looking Servant stepped out. His noble robes flew arrogantly in the breeze as the blinding light shone from behind. A theatric display as his path was cleared by the terrified White Fang members not wanting to be anywhere near him. Even the large man next to that Servant appeared small next to him.
Sanson's attention was drawn to the chained White Fang member. He was being pulled like he was a dog. Sanson recognized that one: Adam Taurus. Adam, proud White Fang fighter and desirer of one day being the messiah of the faunus, brought down to a pathetic state where he was less than a poor farmer's mistreated cattle. Still, there was some burning resistance in Adam's eyes.
The Servant stepped down and met Sanson. He pulled Adam behind him. Adam looked at Sanson with the same disdainful anger that he had for the Servant.
"Caster," the Servant introduced himself. "My announcement was rather sudden so I forgive you all for such a terrible welcome. Rejoice! I have come with great news! For recently, I have just taken my place as leader of the White Fang and thought it best to return home!"
Caster spread out his arms, expecting applause. The White Fang behind him made it as loud as they could be. Sanson could see the terror in those eyes. It didn't help that the Cthnonians lurked dangerously close to those they deemed weren't cheering enough.
"But what is this?" Caster asked. "Everyone here seems to be quite terrified! What has happened here, Companion Assassin?"
Sanson raised an eyebrow. "How certain are you that I am a mere Companion?"
They must have gotten Kojirou. Sanson's eyes drifted towards the spellbook in Caster's hands. It was shaking violently and ceaselessly. From it, there was an emission of swordsmanship.
"I might have been the True Assassin," Sanson continued.
Caster laughed. "Do not think so highly of yourself, Companion Assassin. I have an eye for the art of killing and you have none of it. You and I may both be from the cloth of nobility but I have stained mine with pleasure while your cleaning the blood off of yours, executioner."
Sanson could only cautiously walk alongside Caster. The familiars that Caster had brought with him put too much fear on the White Fang that one could not help but pity them. Only Adam Taurus didn't appear pitiful but that was more because he still had some fight inside of him. The chained faunus was throwing too many daggers at Caster with his eyes that he didn't once glance at the Belladonna household. Sanson knew of the history between Blake and Adam, courtesy of the non-approving parents.
"True Assassin has already arrived," Caster commented. He too had just noticed the grave. He couldn't help himself but throw an insult in Sanson's way. "Getting away with their crimes? My, my, aren't you slacking in your duties, oh enforcer of justice. Tut, tut. We can't have that now in my new lordship now can we?"
"Lordship?" Sanson gritted his teeth. "I do not remember you ever being born into one here nor do I remember anyone ever voting for you."
"No?" Caster mocked ignorance. "Has word of my marriage to Sienna Khan not reached here? Or perhaps…"
Caster leaned closer.
"Is there someone else whom I should have brought to my Red Room?"
Sanson gulping betrayed him. Caster's grin went from ear to ear. Even Adam looked to Sanson's direction.
"So there is!" Caster gleefully sang. "Chieftain's—no. Not her." He shook his head as he considered his options. "I would rather pick someone unused." His eyebrow was raised at Adam. "Or perhaps, someone who hasn't been used as much."
"You leave Blake alone!" Sun's voice broke the uneasy silence of the crowd's people.
Sanson's neck cracked as he saw Sun running towards them. He sighed for he could see traces of some of the faunus taking refuge in the ships. At least, there were those who could get away. However, there were no signs that he could see of the Belladonna family.
As Sun ran towards Caster, Sanson took his chance. Unsurprisingly, Caster had been prepared for it as his sword was already there, defending that neck. Sanson's executioner profession made him quite predictable. Sanson's eyes turned towards Adam in an instant. He reached out. Caster pulled Adam away.
"Not quite!" Caster exclaimed. The White Fang began to act in manic and fearful abandon as they breached every home in Kuo Kuana. Each one begging for forgiveness.
Those who resisted were dealt with by Cthnonians who constricted them in place. Those who still fought back were bitten and harmed. They were like children, confused why some were able to defend themselves with aura while there were those who could not. Screams and shouts came together like a terrible song as Sanson continued to keep Caster occupied; it was the only thing that he could do.
Sanson kept swinging his blade at Caster who only fought back with one arm. The other kept reaching for Adam. Adam was being tossed around like he was a toy being fought over. Sun's gun-chucks were blasting in the background as more faunus made their attempts at a getaway. Sun's cried out to them, asking them to get behind him. None of the White Fang listened; they were too consumed by their panic and fear. The Cthnonians were converging towards Sun.
Caster was moving backwards, maintaining his distance and posture. Sanson kept pushing him away, as far away from the rest of the faunus. Sun was alone in protecting the faunus against Caster's familiars that only had a child's curiosity. Eventually, Caster tripped. Sanson knew Kuo Kuana more than he did and Sanson knew that there were graves and shovels littered about. Taking his chance, Sanson took hold of Adam Taurus and broke his chains.
"Get your people out of here, now!" Sanson demanded. There was no time for arguments and Adam followed, taking what weapon he could from his fellow White Fang that had been consumed by delirium.
Sanson was on the defense. Caster's strength was far greater than Sanson that he could not hope to contest it head-on. The most that he could hope for was to deflect and keep Caster's blade away from him. But as long as Caster was focused on him, Caster would not harm the rest of the faunus.
Sun and Adam worked on their own. Heated heads made them stay away from each other as the faunus were captured, freed, and captured again. These Cthnonians were getting excited. Like children, they found new toys to play with as the first signs of chaos drizzled on Kuo Kuana.
Sanson could not hope to win in a direct confrontation against Caster. He still had to. An evil was brewing and befalling Kuo Kuana and it was his duty, both as Companion and executioner, to see justice be served. His and Caster's agility were about equal. Sanson had to leverage as much of his own luck as he could.
Then, the fires began. Some of those that had escaped ran to their homes. With either monster or White Fang chasing after them, Dust used for their lights sparked and created the first embers. They were growing, taking the first bites of their surroundings as the small fires turned big and got bigger.
Caster proved to be a greater combatant. Born of the noble class and of knightly background, Caster was a greater combatant. As Chevalier Charles-Henri Sanson de Longval, he too was of knightly background. But his path had been into the field of medicine and eventually back into execution. Caster was a knight that went to quests and wars.
A tentacle wrapped itself on Sanson's foot, making him lose his balance. Sanson just barely managed to block an incoming strike from Caster's sword. With his other hand on the flat of his blade, Sanson pushed Caster's sword aside, cutting the tentacle and setting himself free. He had to move. He had to keep moving.
Doors cracked and windows broke. Sanson guided Caster to his losing rhythm. Some of the ships have already begun to leave. Caster's monsters returned to the depths and glued themselves to the ships. Many were screaming as they were dragged back down. Aquatic faunus were the most unfortunate of them all, drowned even in their own element.
Sanson's focus on Caster was costing him innocent lives. White Fang apologized and begged for forgiveness as they chained their fellows with as loose of a leash as they could. Only those that fought back were being chained with any sort of tightness. Sun and Adam, unable to deal with the sea demons, focused on getting as many of the faunus and White Fang members out as they could. Adam in particular was trying to get some sense back into his comrades.
Caster's superior strength pushed Sanson aside. Demons surrounded him. Sanson swung his sword in circles, cutting off what tentacles that he could. Sanson pushed himself back onto Caster who was approaching one of the nearby faunus. Sanson never knew that faunus. It didn't matter. Sanson's knees buckled at Caster's power. For someone seemingly scrawny and of a class known for their magecraft, Caster possessed a great strength that Sanson simply could not match.
"Go!" Sanson called out. "Run! Save yourself!"
Still, he will not back down. Unbecoming of an Assassin perhaps, but he was a noble himself. The Sanson family line were nobility shunned both by the common folk and that of royalty. An indispensable service of execution, he had come from a line of dirtied hands when no others would take up that mantle. Sanson still had that noble pride that told him not to give in the face of some barbarian.
Of noble birth Caster may be. But he was nothing more than a serial killer that craved the death of many.
Sea demons continued to capture and recapture faunus. Adam himself had been captured again and was being punished severely with Sun soon following behind with that waning stamina and aura of his.
"Dad, no!" Blake's voice made Sanson pause. He turned to see Ghira charging in, ignoring what damage that was being done to his aura as he forcibly dragged what faunus he could and threw them towards his daughter and wife.
Sanson barely raised his blade again to block an incoming strike by Caster. But his loss of focus had cost him his balance. Rising to his knees, Sanson eyes turned to Caster then to Ghira. He kept shifting his attention as Caster neared him at the same time the sea demons neared Ghira. Kali's face screamed worry and fear as Ghira forced his way towards Sun who had been closer than Sanson was.
Caster's blade fell and Sanson had to roll to the side. He was too slow in getting back up. Caster's swings kept making Sanson fall to his back. His larger blade kept tossing to the side as a proper and truer warrior's sword kept it there. Sanson struggled to get out.
"Keep my family safe!" Ghira commanded. Sanson heard Sun shout as he had been thrown over his shoulder.
Sanson cursed. He was the Servant. He was the one who should be risking his life over them. Caster's sword descended. Sanson parried it. The strength was too much that Caster's sword buried itself into the ground. With a kick as an added measure, Sanson pushed Caster aside as he got back up, uncaring for his balance.
Sea demons began to wrap around Ghira. Sanson cut through his own share. He didn't kill any one of these. He didn't have to. Time spent on these was time not spent on getting to Ghira. Sanson had already wasted enough time as he did so.
Caster's summons slowed Sanson down. Some of the White Fang and faunus had already escaped on smaller ships. But there were also those who had sunk to the depths. Pain panged in Sanson's chest, seeing them all die when he could not do anything. It reminded him of the Reign of Terror and the White Terror that came after it.
Sanson cut through as many of the aquatic fiends as he could. With his free arm, Sanson freed and threw what faunus he could grab as he pushed his way towards Ghira. Others he could only apologize as they were too far from him. He could not reach them if he wanted to get to Ghira. Even Adam was freed but that had been convenience; the White Fang needed some kind of leader at the helm and none of the Belladonna family were willing to take it up after their violent turn.
"Sanson!" Ghira called out. "Take ca—"
"Take care of them yourself, monsieur Belladonna!" Sanson wasn't hearing it. Uncharacteristic given their body shapes and size but absolutely believable given that Sanson was the Servant, he threw Ghira towards the ships where Kali and Blake were there to catch him.
Sanson panted. His knees wobbled. But he kept swinging. He kept fighting. Whichever faunus he could reach out were freed. But that didn't last long, they were captured back. Sanson looked back at the ships. Sea demons controlled the waters. Sanson turned towards Caster again. The knightly serial killer was smiling, waiting for him to decide.
He grunted. He went for the ships. Sanson had to secure the ships. Even Blake took up her weapons again, fighting off the tentacle monsters that were creeping closer. The demons attached themselves like starfish on their prey. It took many faunus, those who retained enough sense at any rate, to peel any one of them off.
Neither Ghira nor Adam held any resentment. They pushed it aside and focused on keeping themselves safe.
Behind him, Caster laughed. Sanson turned to see his sword raised.
"A wonderful display!" Caster declared. "But all things must come to an end."
The waters were disturbed at the snap of Caster's fingers. Large tentacles broke the surface and wrapped around the ships. With a pulling motion of his sword, Caster dragged the ships back with only a select few managing to escape. Sanson's eyes widened as all his efforts bore no fruit.
Sanson raised his sword to block an incoming strike from a sea demon. He was being bogged down, unable to do anything more. Faunus were kept alive but many were wounded. The White Fang that resisted in this moment were made an example of. They were used and torn apart in however these demons pleased.
He could not use it. Sanson could not use his Noble Phantasm. He doesn't have his opening. The sea demons kept him from it. One tentacle constricting his leg was cut off. Two tentacles took their place. His arms grew heavier. He couldn't swing as he used to.
Eventually, Sanson was on his knees. He resisted, pulled and wiggled his way out. But the constriction only tightened with every breath he took. Sanson was brought to Caster on his knees. With him was Adam, Sun, and the entire Belladonna family. Ghira's focus was on his wife and child. Blake was brought closest to Caster.
"Blake!" Ghira tried to grab his daughter. But Caster's familiars kept him down.
Caster's hand was on Blake's face. He investigated and studied her as though Blake were a specimen for research. He was checking the wellness of produce.
Ghira and Kali made to protest but with tentacles covering their mouths, it only came out as muffled sounds of panic and worry. If a Servant could not break free from these demons' constraints, then there is no hope for any of the faunus here in Menagerie. There were even a few White Fang members among them, those that had fought back in a last ditch effort to survive.
Adam Taurus and Sun Wukong were brought to the front. Out of everyone here, these two were of most help to Sanson, Sun especially. It had cost them all when Sun revealed their plans like that, though. They could have had some more time to escape, time that may have meant the difference between life and death for many of those here right now. Sun appeared to be remorseful, seeing that error he had made.
"Now then." Caster threw Blake aside, as though she were nothing more than garbage. He moved closer to Adam Taurus. "What to do with you? Still so defiant even now. Such behaviors need to be punished."
Adam may have his head low but he was nowhere near cowering. Whether that was because of his pride or his stubbornness, Sanson did not know. Either way, Sanson was confident in thinking that neither Ghira nor Kali were complaining. If it meant keeping Caster's attention away from their daughter, they'll take it.
"I cannot risk having you meet with him," Caster said. "He might even teach you a trick or two with how your weapons are similar enough."
Kojirou, Sanson really have got he wasn't mistaken, Caster had come here for Sanson as well. His eyes sought out that spellbook that Caster is making an army of Grimm!Sanson soon they intend to make Grimm-Servants!
"Oh?" Caster noticed Sanson's renewed struggle. "You already know of my Master's offer?" Caster gave applause. "Wonderful! It shortens negotiations if nothing else!" Caster then addressed his summoned sea demons. "Take the rest as prisoners! Keep these three close to me!" He gestured towards Sanson, Adam, and Blake.
The demons did as they were told. Then, Caster halted one of them, the ones that held Kali Belladonna
"You," Caster said. "Perhaps you will do. An example needs to be made."
"No!" Ghira begged. "Take me instead! Spare her! Spare my family! Take me instead!"
"Caster!" Hazel raised his hands. "Is this really necessary? They're defeated!"
"Nonsense!" Caster reprimanded. "Disobedient pets need to be disciplined!"
No matter how many times Ghira kept begging, there was no changing Caster's mind. Cthnonians made sure that every faunus could see, especially those here in Menagerie. Those who were from the ships could only close their eyes or look away.
Like rising out the ocean depths, a locked door had appeared before them. Sanson did not need to guess what fate awaited Kali. Blake and Sun couldn't widen their eyes any more even if they tried. It was hard to tell what Adam was feeling with his face covered behind a mask; but his jaw was certainly wide open.
Kali struggled and wriggled in vain. She begged but no voice came out. The Cthnonian's tentacle had kept her mouth full.
"Please! Please! Please!" Ghira kept begging. "Pick me! Pick me instead! Sanson! Please save her! Leave me behind, just please!" Tears rained down from his face.
"Now then." Caster looked ecstatic. "I only have one rule." He gave Kali a key. The Cthnonian moved her hands for her. "Do not open the Red Room. It is forbidden."
"Save her, Sanson! Save her!" Ghira kept begging.
Sanson and Sun gave their best struggle. But only Sanson could give out a fight. Sun was a huntsman-in-training and these monsters were more than mere Grimm. Sanson could not even use his own Noble Phantasm here; he was restrained.
The Cthnonian moved her hand that held the key. The key slid into the keyway. She kept begging. She was crying. Caster only watched and began to laugh. Only he laughed.
Kali was looking towards Sanson. He was the only one who could save her. She begged him with those eyes. Tentacles wrapped around her arms and legs tight. They moved towards her wrists and ankles.
Ghira kept screaming. Sanson kept struggling. Ghira kept crying. Sanson kept trying. Kali was kept silent. Sanson struggled to raise his hand, reaching out to her. Kali forced herself to do the same towards him.
The door's lock clicked.
"Oh such a shame!" Caster called out. "I only gave you one rule, and you failed it."
The door opened. The Cthnonian set her free. The gargantuan one on the other side grabbed her before she could move. Her deafening cry lasted only a second before they were silenced.
"No!" Ghira cried out till his throat hurt. His lungs kept pushing out what little air it had left.
As the door slammed shut, if Kali were screaming on the other side, her voice was unheard.
Sanson kept his arm raised even as the door to the Red Room descended back into the abyssal depths that it had come from.
The Cthnonians had let go of Ghira and Blake. They rushed towards where the door used to be and clawed their way below ground. Grabbing handfuls of soil and rock, they kept digging to find Kali. They begged that she was alright. They cried that she was lost. Caster only sat back and enjoyed the show as father and daughter broke down.
"I'm not quite keen on taking grooms," he said. "I always preferred brides myself. But for the young one? I do find it delectable to see them broken first. You only ever live life to its fullest when you're close to death. Why else would you cling to it so hard at your final moments? As a fellow artisan of death, oh executioner, even you must agree, surely?"
Sanson gritted his teeth. Mustering strength that wasn't his, Sanson pushed himself forward that the Cthnonian that held him back was being dragged along. Caster did not deserve the quick and painless death of the guillotine.
Caster snapped his fingers. More Cthonians held Sanson in place as two others went to hold an unresisting Blake and Ghira. Kali was brought to the Red Room. The Forbidden Red Room of Bluebeard, serial killer of brides. Bluebeard had been based on a different individual, one whose history in Remnant was familiar to Sanson.
"You sully the name of Gilles de Rais," Sanson declared. "You sully his face, and dirtied the legacy he left behind."
"Am I?" Caster responded. "That man obsessed himself with salvation for his so-calledHoly Maiden. I do not know what it is that he sees in her but she is clearly not someone worth rallying behind. Gilles should have been joyous when the Maiden of Orleans perished. She lived up to her ideals and died as any believer aspire to be: a martyr."
Caster approached. He squeezed Sanson's face.
"There is no greater calling in life than to bring about death. You, as its harbinger in your time, should understand that."
Sanson spat in Caster's face. Never. Charles-Henri Sanson had wanted to leave that legacy of his behind. He had wanted to become a doctor, a savior of lives.
"You know my history," Sanson said. "You and I are not fellows in the slightest."
"Perhaps not." Caster appeared disappointed as he wiped the spit off of his face. "Shame then. I had thought that I would have had some kind of camaraderie in you." He then addressed his familiars. "Take them away. You already know where to bring them."
Sun continued to struggle free but he could not hope to break out. Ghira and Blake were lifeless as they were separated from each other. Neither of them were even reaching out to each other. Sun tried to speak to Blake but she was unresponsive. Sun looked to Sanson for answers but Sanson could only shake his head. Sun was then separated from the rest.
Looking around him, the fires that were burning Kuo Kuana were still there, slow in growing with the space between homes. Some had already burned down. Cthnonians threw the prisoners towards one of the homes.
"Oh?" Caster realized something. Sanson did too. "There is another Servant around here?"
Cat, Sanson are they doing, being this close?
"So shy this one!" Caster said. "Very well. I shall welcome them when they are ready! Master needs more for her little experiment and you Companions are just perfect for her plans!" Caster then mumbled something to himself. Sanson could not hear it.
Sanson was thrown into one room with Blake and Adam thrown into another. Their prison was the Belladonna household with Sanson's cell being one of the guest rooms. They were guarded by Cthnonians with his having two that he could see. There were more stationed outside, making escape without a fight difficult.
Sometime later, Sanson heard Blake's incomprehensible ranting across many rooms down the hallways. It was followed by Adam's own as their voices threw venom at one another. There were no chains that held him but the Cthnonians were everywhere. The shouting match continued until Sanson heard a banging noise that silenced them. It had to be one of Caster's familiars, probably heralding his approach or something.
Blake shouted something after a time. Adam made no response. He was still there since Blake kept going but that eventually broke into sobs.
Sanson, meanwhile, was splintering the walls and floors at his failure. Cthnonians paid little attention to him as they could always move him somewhere else should the room be made unstable. He couldn't save Kali. He couldn't break free from the constraints of the Cthnonians that held him in place.
He was glad that there was no one else in that prison room of his. His own weeping was a shameful display, unbecoming of his nobility of France, unbecoming of a Chevalier.
/-/
Caster had his attention towards what lies outside the borders of Kuo Kuana. Menagerie's Companion wasn't the only one here and it was quite a shame that Caster had just missed Assassin. But he knew that there was another Servant there, another Companion.
He waited and waited. Still, the other Servant just did not appear. Caster turned around and continued on the task that his Master had set out for him here.
Then, Caster felt it. He felt a disturbance among the special familiars that he had sent out specifically for this reason.
"Ho, ho," Caster commented. "So the Companion is a fellow of my class?"
It was subtle, Caster would admit. A slight pull away from his control. It would appear that this Companion had the capacity of altering the purpose of those they touch. Caster's other familiars dealt with the unwitting traitor among them.
He then looked towards the household that kept that executioner prisoner.
"I look forward to compare notes with you," said Caster. "Though I fear that Sanson still has some fight left in him." Caster's thoughts then turned to other prisoners. There were many to choose from. "Now then, which one should I choose?"
AN: First time I'm editing this via the FFN app. don't know what it looks likes to non app users. will edit this once the site is back.
Anways, to the chapter specifcially: Character deaths is something I've already done and considering that this is a Grail War, it is to be expected. However, not counting Jaune in the beginning, this is one of the first where said character is someone I happen to like. Needless to say, this was hard to bear through.
The fact that most of the Servants and Masters are characters I happen to like as well, otherwise I wouldn't have chosen them for the roster... *sighs*
Edit: FFN is back and so far, minus a few minor edits on alignment, seems normal to me.