Welcome back everyone to the start if chapter 6 of the story. And before we start, did you know there was a Superman anti-smoke commercial in the 80's against the cruel and evil villain, Nick O'Teen? Weird times. Altough it's some very well animated commercial that I happened to stumble randomly on Youtube. Totally worth it.
But with that out of the way, let's start it!
DISCLAIMER: All the Nasuverse characters belong to Nasu and are property of Type-Moon, with the exception of the OC's that belong to me, the author.
In the Chaldea's command room, Romani's fingers typed the keyboard as fast as possible. The doctor was rather uneasy. It has been some couple of seconds since he tried to establish contact with Nala, but with no avail. All that he got was Nala's signal, showing that she was still alive, however that wasn't enough.
The suggestion that something bad happened to her, was becoming more real in Romani's head. He let out a frustrated groan.
"Why I can't make contact? C'mon Nala, tell me you're okay at least." He muttered to himself, not noticing Da Vinci's arrival next to him.
"What is the problem Romani?" She asked, distressed by Romani's lack of composure.
"It's Nala. I can sense her signal despite of not being able to make contact with her." Romani said, thightening his fists that were resting on the keyboard's table.
"So something bad happened to Nala?" Da Vinci put an hand under her chin, closing her eyes for a bit. "We should not panick now. If we got her signal, then Nala is still alive." She concluded.
Even if what Da Vinci said was true, Romani couldn't let go off his discomfort. "Yes, that's true. But what worries me is if she will stay alive for much longer depending on the predicament she's on."
Da Vinci agreed. "That is correct. Unfortunately, we can't do anything for her now. We'll have to hope that she continues alive for now. We should inform Ritsuka and the others about Nala's situation. It's the only thing we can do at the moment." Da Vinci told to Romani.
"Should we really say it? You know, with Peko there it could be..." Romani bent over in his chair, feeling that it wouldn't be the wisest choice to tell Peko about his sister current situation. Perhaps lying would be a better solution?
"It's true that it doesn't sound a very good approach. But if we lie it would be a matter of time until they realize Nala is in possible danger. That is my suggestion of course." Da Vinci gazed at Romani. "You're the director here. You are the one who decides to tell them the truth or not." She crossed her arms, waiting patiently to hear Romani's decision.
Romani stayed motionless, looking aimlessly at his table, thinking on what he should do as a director of Chaldea and what was best for his team. Seconds after he proceeded to sigh. "I hate to be a bearer of bad news."
Peko wouldn't stop walking in circles, the talk with Romani having occurred some minutes ago. The boy was desperate from wanting to recieve any information about his sister.
Mash walked torwards him, putting an hand on his shoulder. "Don't panic Peko. I'm sure Romani will bring news very soon. Their probably talking with each other if that's the reason it's taking this much time." That's what Mash hoped at least. The group needed to be optimistic, that's what she tought.
"Mmmm. I know, but I just can't stop thinking about her. About Nala." Peko lifted his head, looking at Mash. "I-I have to know if she's okay!"
"She's stiff." Ritsuka speaked to the boy. " Nala probably just got lost on her way to us." He said.
And right after those words, Romani's hologram appeard again, gaining a reaction from everyone that was in the local.
"Please tell me where's Nala, doctor! I beg you!" Peko said, his heart beating extremely fast and with pressure. Peko was nervous and wanting immediatly for an answer.
The face that Romani was making, wasn't one that transmited good feelings and everyone had already noticed that.
"So?" Ritsuka asked to Romani, a bit nervous as well.
The doctor and now, current director of Chaldea, took a deep breath. "First, we still can sense Nala in the Singularity. Meaning she's alive wich is good." Romani said, resulting in a slight relief for the group and even a huge smile appearing on Peko's face. His sister was alive and that was the most important thing to hear for him.
However, Romani still hadn't finished. "But, the second thing is...we can't make contact with her. Wich means she's probably been put unconscious and captured."
The heavy feeling came crashing down on the group. Peko's smile vanishing quickly, replaced by one of pure shock. His fear had been partially confirmed. Nala was in danger. Still, the boy didn't want to believe such thing. "T-that wasn't funny Doctor. Nala wouldn't been captured that easily. I-It's clearly a bad joke, right?" Peko's voice trembled in denial.
Romani stared at him before diverting his eyes gaze. A huge face of regret in the doctor's face. It was somewhat cruel to tell the truth, but telling an untruth would be no better. They had to know about Nala's situation. It was the option that sounded better in his mind. "It isn't, Peko." He said with great lament.
Peko stood still, lost for words.
Mash bited her lip, looking down in huge sorrow. "I shouldn't have left her." The shielder blamed herself.
Ritsuka cursed silently. I couldn't bare to loose another person in a short amount of time. Not after what happened in Fuyuki. But for now as a Master, he had to comfort Peko. He was the one suffering the most right now. "Hey Peko-"
Ignoring Ritsuka, Peko turned his back on the doctor's hologram and was running away from the group, caughting him and Mash off guard by the action. "W-wait! Peko!" Mash yelled.
Jeanne, who was silent and hearing the conversation until now, quickly moved in front of Peko and grabbed him by his arm, not allowing the boy to go any further. Peko started to struggle to get off the saint's grip.
"LET ME GO!!!" Peko shouted at Jeanne as he tried to pull off his arm and tears started to appear in his eyes once again.
"I know you want to save your sister, but going alone would only get you killed!" Jeanne argued with Peko, who didn't seem to listen.
"Shut up! Y-you don't know anything about us two!" Peko shouted again, his efforts getting him exhausted. Jeanne was a servant after all, so Peko chances of freeing himself form her grip were non existent.
"Doctor, do you know at least were Nala's signal is coming from?" Mash asked to Romani.
"It's some miles away northwest from here." He informed Mash.
Jeanne gasped. "That's Orleans and also the dragon's witch lair!" She looked at Peko who now was barely able to struggle. "Even if we went together, there's no chance that we can win and rescue Nala!" She stop holding Peko, knowing the boy now was too tired to run away. At that moment, Peko's body fell to it's knees, with the face staring painfully at the ground. "There's nothing we can do now but hope that the dragon witch doesn't kill her now. If she captured Nala, it's because she has something in mind for her."
"I-I know b-but..." Peko's hair overshadowed it's eyes, covering the source of the tears. Peko found himself crying, in front of his whole group, again. He didn't knew what to feel right now. Angry? Sad? Embarrassment? Frustration? Guilt? Uselessness?
The promise he made to get stronger, was looking more and more like a distant dream that he would never be able to reach. "B-but...sniff I just want..."
Ritsuka went to his side. Mash proceeded to do the same. Peko slowly raised his head, showing his teary eyes, alongside the snot coming out of his nose to both of them. "I want Nala to be safe!"
"Hurgh... Where am I?" Nala felt her head throbbing. An uncomfortable pain coming from the back of her head. She opened her eyes to see where she was but her vision was blurry. The room didn't had much light, being barely iluminated. That would spare less effort from her eyes to adjust the brightness of the room. "I-I'm still alive?" Nala asked to herself. So the dragon witch took pity on her. Or for other nefarious reasons she wasn't aware of.
"Hmm yes. Such young and beautiful maiden." Nala heard faintly the sound of a smooth female voice. Next thing she knew, she felt something pointy gently stroking her neck and hair. "A skin so delicate and gracious. And a hair as white as snow. Hehehehe, your blood will surely taste good." Nala's entire body shivered at that statement. As her vision finally got clearer, Nala saw the were the voice was coming from.
Right in front of her, there was a woman wearing a black carnival mask with a pointy shaped nose. Her well kept white hair. And her amber eyes shining brightly, directly meting Nala's brown ones. "Ah, looks like you finally woke up." The woman gave a sadistic smile. Her beauty was only matched by her creepiness.
Watching down at her own body, Nala saw her hands were on her back, restrained by a chained that was connected to a wall behind her. Looking around, Nala saw she was inside what appeard to be a cell, with only light source being a tourch on the wall to her right. No windows, or even a bed. Just the tourch and a wodden door at the end of the cell.
"Oh poor girl. Confused about were are we now?" The woman taunted Nala. Having a better look, Nala saw that this woman used a mixture of cloths that resembled a vampire and also a dominatrix. "She's weird." Nala said to herself.
"Well my little maiden. We are in the dragon witch castle in Orleans. And you are our most recent guest. Or prisioner I should say." The woman giggled evily.
"W-wait?! I'm in the dragon witch's lair?!" Painful memories from her fight against Jeanne Alter cane back. The tought of seeing her again scared the young girl.
"Yes. And she told me that I could only observe you. No touching." The woman sighed, toying a bit with her hair. "Well, I think the dragon witch wouldn't mind if I touch you just a bit. Also I cannot help that you're such a cute thing to look at. You almost give me envy." The woman's face got close of Nala's. The girl retreated slowly, eventually landing her back on the wall. "W-what are you gonna do to me?" Nala asked afraid. This woman was almost as scary as Jeanne Alter.
"A bit of your blood dear. It must be a sweet one." The woman raised her finger, touching Nala's right cheek with her sharp blue fingernails, ready to cut it. Whatever the woman had in mind, it came to a halt when the door of the cell opened.
"What did I just told you, Assassin?" A voice that Nala wished she wasn't able to recognized speaked. From the door, the dragon witch, Jeanne Alter, entered the room, looking annoyed at the other woman.
She immediatly took out her fingernail from Nala, quickly turning her head to face Jeanne Alter. "Nothing my master. I was just seeing if the girl was in good conditions and that didn't suffer any serious or premanent injury from your fight." Assassin made up an excuse. Jeanne Alter could see easily through it.
"What part of the deal you didn't heard Assassin?!" Jeanne Alter raised her voice, clearly annoyed by Assassin's poor try of an excuse. Nala just remained silent, trying to not look at the dragon witch.
Assassin bowed to her. "Sorry my master. Unfortunately the Mad Enhancement makes me have a very lack of restraint for young maidens such as the girl here."
"Yeah, yeah. Your whole story about young girls, blood and whatnot. Still, our deal was simple. If I don't find any use for the brat here, you can do whatever the hell you want with it." Jeanne Alter reprimanded Assassin. "Understood?"
"Yes my master. I apologize for my moment of desobedience. I guarantee you it won't happen again." Assassin apologized.
"Then fuck off." Jeanne Alter ordered coldly. The assassin nodded and was about to leave Jeanne Alter and Nala alone in the cell.
But just before she left the two alone, Assassin looked back, staring mainly at Nala. "Oh but in case you end up being useless to us my young maiden, I'll make sure your blood isn't in my torture chamber." She licked her lips and finally went away.
"Alright she's definetly a freak! I better avoid her at all costs!" Nala made a mental note to herself. That Assassin definetly had some twisted mind.
Funnily enough, Jeanne Alter was thinking the same. "Jezz! There's being evil and then there's being total insane. You better be of usage if you don't want to end up in her hands brat." She noticed how Nala was avoiding her gaze. Jeanne Alter didn't like to be ignored and so, she grabbed Nala's jaw and forcefully made her look directly at her.
"Hey! Look at me while I'm talking to you!" Jeanne Alter demanded. "You better obey me or I'll make sure to kill you or do something worse." She smiled evily. She wanted to get a reaction out of Nala. And that's exactly what she got.
Nala let out a grunt of fear. "I-I'm sorry! I d-didn't mean to!" Nala apologized, not wanting to suffer again. She didn't want to feel that doomed feeling that the dragon witch gave her a while back.
"Heh. Better." Jeanne Alter simply said. She was fully aware of how scared Nala was of her, and she would try to utilize and explore that fear as much as she could. With her around, Nala's courage would vanquish in an instant. Jeanne Alter had really put the girl in her place so to speak. The confident Nala before their clash totally showing no trace now.
"No. This girl was already afraid since the start. I can tell she was just trying to act strong. How laughable." Jeanne tought. Either way, it wasn't time to think about that. Jeanne Alter went behind Nala, who stood still in order to not anger the dragon witch. Jeanne Alter unbuckled the chain connected to the wall, getting an hard grip on it, since the chain was still wrapped around Nala's arms, making sure she wouldn't try to escape.
"Now come with me." Jeanne Alter said, pushing the chain, making the girl take some involuntary steps ahead, almost losing her balance. Nala just nooded silently, confirming she heard the dragon witch order.
Satisfied enough, Jeanne Alter guided Nala outside of her cell, into the great halls of the castle she resisded now. The halls that were once of grandeur and magnific aspect, were now empty, nothing of shiny and well kept inside. Only coldness and cracks appearing in the walls. Nala could only imagine how beautiful this place must have been before it's occupation by the dragon witch.
Jeanne Alter stopped in front of a door, making a signal for Nala to stop walking as well. "We're here." She said. Opening it, they were met with a tall hunchbacked male figure. It's skin pale and glistening as if he was sick. Short darkish blue hair by neck lenght. But what creeped Nala was the man's face. Huge, rolling eyes, as abnormal as they could get, barely resembling those of a human. The man's vestiments also complemented his look. A splendorous robe and black cassock with patterns dyed crimson red like if it was stained with blood.
"Why does everyone here gives a creep vibes?" Nala was seeing who beetween this man and that assassin woman, wich one gave her the most unsafe feeling.
"Ah Jeanne, you've finally arrived. It's always good to see you." The man smiled, joyful by the presence of the dragon witch. "Oh, and I've seen you've brought a child." The smile on the man's face grew sinister upon seeing Nala.
"Yep, he's scarier." Nala hoped that he would be the last scary person she would see in this castle.
"She's just a brat who was playing hero by slaying some of the wyverns who were attacking a village. She's no stronger than that." Jeanne Alter smiled to her companion before giving a glance to Nala, who nervously look at her. "A dog who's bark ceases when it's bite is revealed to be weak."
Unknowingly, those words from Jeanne Alter hurted Nala's moral. Deep down she knew this evil woman was right about her.
"Anyway I found some ways she can be of use to us. And this is one of those ways. How's the corruption going with Archer, Gilles?" Jeanne Alter asked to the man, whose name was revealed to be Gilles.
"As you wish Jeanne." Gilles walked to the other hand of the room, staring at a wall. He proceeded to cast a spell with his book, wich transformed the wall into numerous dark purple tentacles who were slowly lowering into the ground.
Nala didn't knew who they were talking about but after the tentacles on the wall had gone, they revealed a feminine figure with green and blond hair in what could be described as a horror scene. She was naked and restrained, her private regions only being covered by the same tentacles that were on the wall. She was struggling against them, while huge discharges of eletricity released by the tentacles would agressively shock her. She screeched in pain, as parts of her body were turning into black and tears were forming in her eyes.
Nala felt sick to the stomach by such cruelty, almost giving her a need to vomit. That was just inhuman. To torture someone like that. She couldn't even imagine what they did to prisoners here, if they still had any.
"Unfortunately she still resists." Gilles said in displeasurle. "Her oath of never hurt and killing kids is truly durable."
"Tough one eh?" Jeanne Alter smirked at Archer. "We'll see about that." She pushed Nala's chain, forcing her to stumble next to the dragon witch. Now at her side, Jeanne Alter grabbed Nala by the shoulder and looked at the woman being tortured.
"Hey Archer! Enjoying the session?" Jeanne Alter called her out.
In the midst of all the pain, Archer was able to focus her eyes on the figures in front of her. "What do you want, you fake saint?! AAARGH!!!" Her voice replied in a difficult tone, trying to bare the pain shortly before the tentacles hit Archer with a discharge.
"Hm, still not wanting to side with me I suppose." Jeanne Alter continued to taunt Archer. "If you truly refuse to hurt children, how about this?" Suddenly, she unsheated her sword and quickly pressed it against Nala's throat. Nala in that moment, felt panick taking over her body, her life suspended by a thread.
"No, please! I beg you-" Nala looked terrified at the dragon witch's sword, begging in fear to be spared.
"Shut up! I didn't gave you permission to talk." Jeanne Alter shouted at the girl, pressing the sword harder against her throat. Nala silently obeyed, letting tears form on her eyes.
"What are you- YOU BASTARD! Do you plan to kill this girl in front of me bitch?!" Archer shouted in rage, trying to lash out at Jeanne Alter, only to be reminded of her predicament.
"Well, you see, that's a choice for you to make Archer." Jeanne Alter giggled evilishly "Either you turn into my servant and obey me, or chose to resist and I'll kill this poor and innocent girl right here and now."
The dilemma put on Archer was a very hard one for a person like her. The tought of watching a kid die in front of her, haunted her to the core, but also thinking about serving the dragon witch and partaking into a genocide that would also envolve the death of children, even if indirectly, did not please her.
So instead, Archer went into a fit of rage. "AAAAAAAAAH!!! YOU DAMN WIIITCH!!!" Archer trashed furiously against the tentacles. The discharges were now stronger than ever, but that didn't seem to incommode Archer who now screamed in pure and blind anger.
Gilles was on the background, enjoying the moment. "Oh yes! Such torment, such anger, such hate and dispair of one who was once a great warrior! This is definetly cool!" He yelled in pure excitment.
"I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU ONE DAY YOU FAKE SAINT!" Archer continued her struggle, looking with her eyes in burning anger at Jeanne Alter. "JEANNE D'ARC! I'LL CUR-" As Archer was about to continue her rant, something snapped inside of her. Her struggles and shouts suddenly stopped as her eyes lost life in them. The tentacles also stop giving discharges, now holding a completely motionless body.
"Wha-what happened." Nala asked scared, still being held by Jeanne Alter and with the sword in her throat, altough not so pressed against it now.
"Hmm, it seems she broke down. Her mind completely shattered." Gilles said to her.
"Heh. So her promise to not hurt kids is that strong eh?" Jeanne Alter took out her sword from Nala's throat, who was staring in shock at Archer's body. "She's true to her believes. I'll give her that." Jeanne Alter commented, turning her head to Gilles. "This will do. You already know what to do Gilles. A broken soul that we can manipulate is better than one with will that tries to oppose."
"I'll already work on that Jeanne." Gilles bowed slightly to her. "So does that mean the girl here as outlived her usefulness?" Gilles asked to his friend as he grinned at Nala. She in return gulped in fear, shaking in fear of what they would do to her. If this was all that Jeanne Alter had in mind for her, then Nala was doomed.
Thankfuly for the white haired girl, that wasn't the case. "No, not yet Gilles." Jeanne Alter smirked at Nala, grabbing her chain. "I still have plans for her."
Jeanne Alter grabed Nala's chin with her fingers, gently turning the girl's head to face her. "Congratulations. You get to live another day as a reward." She giggled. "I guess you can rest in your room for now."
Jeanne Alter walked out of the room alongisde Nala and Gilles and started walking to Nala's cell. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you Gilles. This brat was not alone, she was also together with a group of other people. I saw them run off the village while being led by that stupid other part of me." Her face contorted in contempt.
Nala gasped audibly, thinking about the them, specialy Peko. "Don't hurt them!" She shouted at Jeanne Alter, who stopped in her tracks. Same with Gilles. The dragon witch launched a serious and cold look at her.
"What did you just say?" She asked in a deadly voice to Nala, reminding the girl of her position.
"S-sorry! I-It slipped." Nala was quick to apologize despite the fear in her voice.
"You better don't shout at me like that again." Jeanne Alter replied severely. Gilles also didn't like the spontaneous yell of the girl.
"I'd say she's trying to see your limit Jeanne. I would punish her for such daring!" The evil man protested.
"There's no need for that Gilles. But as I was saying, a group that was with her is now with that saint. They'll try to stop us most certainly." Jeanne Alter said as the three started to walk again.
"What should we do then? Do we attack when they less expect?" Gilles proposed to Jeanne Alter.
"Nope. We well attract them. And that's where she enters." Jeanne Alter smiled at Nala.
"Oh, I see." Gilles smiled as his eyes got bigger for a moment. "That's quite a plan Jeanne. Truly worthy of coming from someone as great as you." He praised the evil witch.
"No, they are in danger! And I'll serve as bait for them?! Dammit! Why did I had to get capture?!" Nala cursed herself for now being the reason her whole group was at danger. If she had only go with them when they were running away...
A few seconds after, they had reached Nala's cell. Jeanne Alter attached the chain to the wall, leaving Nala with little area to walk on her cell. "Now get prepare for the tomorrow brat. You'll be of great us to me once again." Jeanne Alter gave Nala one last smile, closing and locking the door, leaving Nala all alone to think and blame herself.
"Just a question Jeanne." Gilles said as he and Jeanne were walking, now going to the exterior of the castle in top of a wall. The sky filled with grey clouds and the terrain around full of wyverns feasting on corpses. "Did you planned to kill the girl if Archer had refused to help us?" He asked.
"No, I didn't." She revealed to Gilles. "I was just messing with her. She's very vulnrable and easy to scare. But also as something else in there."
Gilles got curious. "Oh, please do tell me."
"She isn't a servant but I could sense magic in her. And altough amateur in combat, she has some potential." Jeanne Alter observed the dead and deserted lands around her fortress.
"How so? I also sense magic in her but nothing tells me she is a great fighter beyond some simple sword combat and basic magic." Gilles told, not in full agreement with Jeanne Alter.
"Like I've said Gilles, she's still an amateur. But if we polish her, she can be of great help to us. We've had some examples during this very own war didn't we? Every man when trained well, can be a great warrior." She said while touching her cheek where Nala had cut on their previous fight. It was that moment that made Jeanne Alter saw what Nala could achieve given enough training.
"So, you plan to train her?" Gilles asked again.
"Sorta. But first we need to break her. Make her swear loyalty to me. Since she's not a servant, I bet she needs food as well as the outside light like every other normal person. So let's deprive her of that. See it slowly take it's tool until her hopes are crushed and has nothing to do but to serve me." She looked at Gilles with a sadistic smile. "How does it sound to you Gilles?"
Gilles suddenly landed on his knees and grabbed Jeanne Alter's arm, resting his head on her hand, getting an awkward reaction from Jeanne Alter. "H-hey, why are-"
"Oh, my dear and sweat Jeanne. You've truly came back to me. Having you here is such a blessing. Rejecting God and it's learnings was the best thing I've done after your death." Gilles slowly raised his head to look at Jeanne Alter, it's eyes now normal looking and full of tears, as if he was a sane man once again. "And that plan my beloved Jeanne, is truly the most cruel and coolest plan I've ever heard from you."
Jeanne Alter just stood there, smilling awkwardly at Gilles words. "Y-yeah. Sure thing Gilles."
Time had past and the full moon was on display, shining the dark blue starry sky and the huge forest beneath it. Inside, the group of Chaldea and Jeanne D'arc would spent the night. A very bitter one with the knowledge that Nala was captive in enemy territory. They went the entire day trying to come with a solution to rescue her, but nothing had came. Like Jeanne had said before, going now to Orleans was a suicide mission. So the night came and they built a tent and fireplace. Ritsuka and Peko later went to sleep on the tent, leaving Mash and Jeanne to watch over the area.
"They are both asleep." Mash said as she went away from the tent, the two girls walking in the woodland. The steps they made until now were only met with small noises of nocturnal creatures, no signal of enemy nearby.
The two had been silent for a time, so Mash decided to break it. "It must be painful to try to sleep knowing a very important person to you is in danger. It would kept me awake all night, not being able to sleep." She brought the Nala's topic, thinking on how hard it must have been for Ritsuka and Peko to sleep tonight, specially Peko. The boy had refused to sleep initialy, desiring to go save Nala as soon as possible. But after some talk he eventualy went to the tent to sleep, altough sad and crestfallen.
"I've already experienced that as well." Jeanne replied. "Many evenings sleeping with the apprehension of having soldiers that I knew and share time with, missing in yhe battlefield, never knowing if that would be the last time I would see them." Jeanne raised her hand, looking at it before slowly closing it into a fist. "I'd pray to the Lord every night that the next time I'd encounter my missing companions, it wouldn't be staring at their corpses."
"The war is such a vile thing, isn't it?" Mash looked up, seeing how beautiful the night was. Even if the huge ring in the sky was still visable at this hour. Wars were nasty but essential for how humanity came to be in the present. However, the Shielder tought if there could be another way were such things didn't have to exist. To spoil the huge canvas that was the world and humanity.
"They are indeed. But, it's in times like these, humans need to fight, fight for their lives, their country, their future. And of course, the people they love." Jeanne said as she observed a nest in one of the tree inhabited by a bird and it's two small children. "I too would wish for such tragedies like this war to never happened, but it's the way our Lord made it so. We have to fight these difficulties so that we can have a better future."
Mash smiled at the words of the saint. "I see. Humans truly are stubborn but persistent beings. Their collective hope will never end as long as it has a way to move forward." Mash felt that she just learned something new today."Yes, as long as we don't lose hope as a group, we won't fall to defeat. Our order will be carried until the end. So don't lose hope Nala. We will safe you. You two as well, Senpai, Peko. Don't lose it."
"You understand now I suppose." Jeanne smiled at Mash. "If you trust in each other, then no matter how hard the situation may seem, you will surpass it." Jeanne went next to some tree branches, pushing them away, to reveal ahead the village they were sooner that day now with some lights on, the citizens coming back to their houses as others were still being rebuild.
"Mother...if given the chance,I'll..." Jeanne tought, before turning around, letting the branches to cover the view of the village again. "We should head back, we've covered enough area, it's all clear." Jeanne told Mash who was some feet away from the saint.
"Yeah, it's all safe in here too. Guess the dragon witch doesn't plan to attack us at the moment." Mash awaited Jeanne, and together went back to their camping.
"So the best chance we have agains the dragon witch is to reunite other servants. That won't be easy." Mash commented, closing her eyes. She didn't know that would have some effect on Jeanne.
"I'm sorry. If I had a complete summoning alongside some of my missing Ruler skills, I'd be of greater help." Jeanne lamented.
"Oh! There's no need for saying sorry Jeanne." Mash comforted her. "Your presence here is of great help, since we have another person to help us in this Singularity. And the more the better." She touched Jeanne's shoulder.
"Hmm, thank you Mash. Is that...I just feel kinda like a new and inexperienced servant now with this whole thing. It makes me a bit unsecure, not being truly confident in my own skills." Jeanne explained her frustrations to Mash, her face with a bit of shame.
Mash still wouldn't blame her for that. "It's not something to be ashamed of Jeanne-san. I too am new to this whole servant thing. And I'm not even a full fledged servant. Just a demi one using the spirit of a complete one." The shielder shared her experiences with Jeanne. "I too had past through that same thing. Doubting myself, if I was able to such task even not knowing a single thing about who is the heroic spirit inside of me. But Master and others helped me to clear those doubts and have more self esteem. That's how I was able to use my Noble Phantasm in a time everyone trusted in me to do it."
"Good to know Mash. You truly have wonderful friends." Jeanne felt a bit better now, knowing she wasn't alone in this problem. "So, you wont mind to help me get through this, right?" Jeanne blushed a bit, looking a bit to the side.
Mash giggled at that action "Hehe. Sure Jeanne. We're here to help each other after all."
Jeanne smiled back. "Thank you Mash."
Meanwhile,different from what Mash and Jeanne tought when they left, Ritsuka wasn't actualy sleeping. The master of humanity was trying his best, but something just couldn't get put of his head. Nala, the blame he felt for her just kept him awake. Ritsuka tried to change positions to feel more relaxed and sleep, but it would never come. Eventualy, he was growing tired.
"Hmmm, c'mon body. I need to sleep. I need to sleep...to save Nala. I have too. I-I can't let her die." Ritsuka opened his eyes, the guilt on his chest feeling to heavy for him to sleep. Somewhere in his mind, Ritsuka would like to blame the wound on his shoulder for being the reason he was still awake. Instead, he just stared at the ceilling of the tend. "Dammit. What am I doing?" He hissed to himself.
"Fou,fou." Ritsuka felt some light and fluffy touches on his back. Turning his head around, he saw it was Fou. The small creature seemed to want to say something.
"What is it Fou?" Ritsuka looked at the pet confused. Looking a bit ahead from Fou, Ritsuka spotted Peko's bed. It was empty, not trace of Peko in the tent as well.
With no second to waste, Ritsuka exited out of the tent, worriedly looking for any sign of the boy. "Where is he?! He couldn't have gone all alone to Orleans could he?! He knows better than that!" As Ritsuka was about to call for his name, Fou runned past him, calling for Ritsuka as the animal was about to go further into the forest.
"Fou! You must know where he is right?" Ritsuka asked to Fou, next to the animal. Fou just nodded.
"Great! Show me the way." Upon hearing those words Fou went deeper and deeper into the forest, Ritsuka right behind him. "I hope he hadn't gone too far away. Or just went to see Mash and Jeanne."
Shortly after, Ritsuka saw that Fou had come to a stop, right next to a tree. Ritsuka slowed down, now only walking silently, approaching the tree.
Leaning over it, Ritsuka took a slight glance to what was in front of the tree. And that's when he saw Peko, sitting in a ground of stone right in the edge of a pond. His legs close to his chest with his arms in top of the knees. Peko's eyes were staring sadly at the water that was reflecting his own mirror as well as the sky full of stars.
Inazuma Eleven OST - Buried Hope
"What am I doing? Were did I think I could go? Heh, I'm really stupid." Peko murmured. Nothing as been going nicely since they had arrived to this Singularity. He has done nothing but to cry and put himself in danger. And now Nala was possibly dead, and somehow, Peko felt it was his fault for that.
"Nala, you were right. I'm just deadweight. Something to slow all of you down. I-I shouldn't have come here." Peko put both of his hands in his face.
"Why? Why am I like this? Screwing up everything?" Tears formed in his eyes. He was sick of those tears. He had done nothing but cry,cry and cry. Truly, how someone like that expected to save it's sibling? Ritsuka continued to watch behind the tree, trying to not be noticed by Peko.
The boy shoved it's tears aside and focused on his reflection in the pond. "Hehehe. Look at you Peko, crying again. You are truly a good for nothing. Perhaps...I should just give up. At least I won't be a burden to Ritsuka and Mash."
"That's not true!" Ritsuka revealed himself to Peko, coming out behind the tree and caughting the boy by surprise.
"R-Ritsuka?! How long were you here?" Peko almost slipped accidentaly into the pond. He then felt Fou touching his leg. "Fou,but why? I didn't anyone to-"
"You're a part of us too Peko. Were not going to despise you because of your lack of strenght." The master of humanity approached Peko.
"You just say those things to make me feel better. Deep inside you all wish I'd never come." Peko picked a stone and threw it at the pond.
"If I really wanted you gone,I would've say it." Ritsuka sit down next to Peko,looking at the pond too, watching the stone slowly sink to the bottom. "While it's true that you may be weak, it doesn't mean we will abandon you. Were friends." Ritsuka smiled at Peko.
The boy however, wasn't convinced by that. "What makes you think we are really friends? We've just met not so long ago. You don't know a thing about me, and I don't know a thing about you. How that can be called friendship?" Peko proceeded to look at the stars up in the sky. "I barely know, a single thing about myself."
"But through time you will. Just as our friendship will evolve." Ritsuka tried to be positive. "Time changes people for the better or worst. And that decision is up to you Peko. You're the one who decides to stay the same or not." Ritsuka explained.
"But I tried! I really tried! And look what happened because of it!" Peko raised his voice a bit, pointing at Ritsuka's shoulder that had been wounded by the wyvern due to Peko's iniciative to help someone.
"And? What's the matter? You tried to save a person. And that's quite a noble act. People like you have a great heart." Ritsuka touched his own shoulder. "I don't care how many times I get hurt if it means to help someone. You shouldn't worry about it." He told to Peko.
Altough not apparent, Ritsuka's words touched Peko. "H-How can you say that? Ritsuka Fujimaru, how much of a good and selfless person can you be?" Peko quickly changed his gaze from Ritsuka to the pond. "But, you're courageous. And I'm not. Not even my sister thinks that. I'm just a kid. A whortless one with little to n-"
"-little to no magic. It was what you were about to say,right?" Ritsuka cut off Peko's line, finishing it instead. Peko was surprised. How did he know he was about to say 'magic'?
"H-How did you knew?"
"Well,...Olga told me back at Fuyuki when we found you." Ritsuka hesitated for a bit, the death of Olga ressurging on his mind, and probably on Peko's as well.
"Oh...I see." Peko replied. "So you knew since the beggining." He told. "See? That's what I'm telling you. I'm weak. I'm a coward. I barely have any magic! That's all I know about myself! That I'm a useless kid with a sister that thinks the same and a missing dad wich we'll probably never find! Yet, you still want to keep me around?" Peko asked, legitimately wanting an answer from Ritsuka.
"What about your promise to CĂș? That next time you would meet, you'd have become stronger?" Ritsuka asked Peko isntead of answering him.
"...!" The boy didn't know what to say. It took him some good seconds to come with a response. "I-I was just saying for the sake of it that time." He lowered his head.
"It didn't looked like that to me." Ritsuka was fast to replie, looking at Peko." It sounded more like a promise that came from the bottom of the heart. Of a kid that really desires to become stronger." Ritsuka smiled at Peko once again.
"Y-You really think that?" Peko looked to Ritsuka, eye to eye.
"Of course! I can sense it in you. That desire to change. To become stronger. To protect what matters to you. Besides, I don't even have magic at all! Hell, thinking better, I may just be weaker than you!" Ritsuka laughed a bit at the thought.
Peko now just stared at Ritsuka, the words the master of humanity echoing in his head. "H-he's right! Ritsuka doesn't have any magic and yet is here, trying to save the world from creatures way stronger than him. A normal guy picked by random chance is trying to save the world! And I'm here just crying and complaning." Peko's lips twitched up a bit. "I...have no right to do those things when you exist. I truly envy you Ritsuka..." His fists tightened. "No! I shouldn't envy you. I should become stronger. Stronger and corageous enough to save Nala. To find dad."
"Hehe." Peko smirked, before speaking again to Ritsuka. "I think I've made up my mind." He said. "I'll become stronger."
Ritsuka smiled at hearing Peko's decision. "That's good! And I'll be sure to accompain you're evolution." Ritsuka head patted Peko's head. The boy just smiled and laughed along with Ritsuka.
Fou joined the duo. "Ah Fou, come here!" Ritsuka grabbed the animal. "I guess you wont mind to see the stars with, right?" He asked.
"Fou, fou." Fou just said. Somehow Ritsuka and Peko understood that probably meant an 'yes'.
And so the three spent the next good and quiet moments looking at the starts at the sky, with Peko and Ritsuka trying to count how many they were able to see as a competition. It may appeard childish, but after so much stress it felt good to have a nice moment such as this. The next minute after that, was spent in complete silence, with them now only enjoying the company of the fireflies around. This forest was such a nice and beautiful place, completely diffrent from what was happening in the rest of France.
"Hey, Ritsuka. Can I make you a question?" Peko was still staring at fireflies as Ritsuka now laid on the ground with Fou sleeping right next to his head.
"Sure. Go ahead." Ritsuka said.
"Back at Chaldea, right before we entered this Singularity, you were the first and only one that supported my idea of going with you. Why?" Peko remembered how Ritsuka was the only one who trusted in Peko to go with him when everyone was against it back at Chaldea.
"Well..." Ritsuka got up from the floor. "I know how you felt that time Peko." Ritsuka said.
"How?" Peko asked again.
Ritsuka didn't knew if he should say it. A part of him always hurted when seeing Peko feeling down. Trying to be useful or integrated. That was something that Ritsuka knew very well. Knew exactly how it felt.
"We dont want you around."
"Why the hell would we want you on our team?"
"It's that new kid again. He's an idiot. Let's have a fun time with him."
"You're quite stupid if you think we can be friends."
Tears started to appear in Ritsuka's eyes. Memories of times that he wished to not think back again.
"R-Ritsuka! Are you okay?" Peko asked worried. Ritsuka just cleaned the tears away, proceeding to smile a bit.
"It's nothing Peko. But I know you felt the need to help others. To get stronger and protect your sister and help us. As well as find your father." Ritsuka looked at Peko. "That are things, that I respect a lot."
Peko smiled back. "Then, lets make another promise." Peko reached his arm out to Ritsuka. His hand opened, waiting for an handshake. "Until the human order is restored and we find my dad, let's always help each other out." Peko's smile grew wider. "As friends."
It didn't took long for Ritsuka to accept it. "Yeah." Ritsuka raised out his arm, proceeding to enter the handshake. "That's a promise. I'll help you till the very end of it."
The two shook hands.
From here on out, Peko could trust on Ritsuka as a friend and Ritsuka could be sure that Peko would get stronger.
"Fou,fou!" Fou exclaimed, making what could be trancribed as happy noises. It all remained silent before...
"...OH CRAP!!" Ritsuka exclaimed out of nowhere, scaring both Peko and Fou.
"W-w-what is Ritsuka?!" Peko asked confused and worried at the smae time.
"The tent! Mash and Jeanne! They will notice our absence!" Ritsuka comically panicked, causing Peko to shout too.
"Oh no!!! We forgot!! HURRY!!" Peko and Ritsuka runned with all the speed they could before the two girls reached the tent. But then abruptly stop.
"Oh wait, we are forgetting something." Ritsuka said as he and Peko started to think on what could be.
"Fouuuu..." Fou made a sad noise, seeing that he had been left. But a hand out of nowhere picked him up, not allowing Fou to have any time to react.
"Done! I got you Fou! I got you!" Ritsuka said hastly, going back to run comically desperate alongisde Peko, now with Fou on top of his head.
"Fou..." A single drop of sweat appeard on Fou's head.
The sun rised, shining troughout the forest.
Thankfully for Ritsuka and Peko, they were able to reach the tent before Mash adn Jeanne, and went quickly to bed as possible, making sure the two returing servants wouldn't doubt of anything. As for Mash and Jeanne, after the two came back and saw that Ritsuka and Peko were still inside their beds with no danger around, decided to take a rest. Mash went to sleep for how much time the night still had left, going inside the tent. Jeanne decided to take a seat near a tree outside, closing her eyes. Not quite sleeping but resting, making sure to still be awake in case somebody approached. Seeing that the night had been safe, Jeanne let her mind go empty of toughts.
Or that's what she tought.
"Arouse my breed."
The saint's eyes opened all of a sudden, touching her forhead. "Wha-what is this?" She was gasping for air, as if she had just awakened from a nightmare.
"The witch draws nearby.
"W-who are you?" Jeanne asked to the voice in her mind. "The witch draws nearby? Is the dragon witch here?!"
"Be hasteful. Time's coming to an end for the blameless."
"Time's coming to..." Jeanne realized what it meant. "The village!" Without time to lose, Jeanne left the tree and went running, leaving the rest behind without warning.
To be continued...
Lenghty chapter this time and took more time than usual. But just in time for the 7th anniversary of FGO JP tomorrow!
And the creepy Gilles de Rais as reached to the story. And to celebrate of course I had him to say his iconic word from F/Z.
Jalter has some more plans for Nala, wich includes turning her into her subordinate. Wonder how that will go.
As for the music during Ritsuka and Peko's bond moment, you'll see those sometimes during my fanfic when it's a scene that I want to have special focus and highlight. It will be played only in original scenes of my fanfic. For scenes that are already in the game you can imagine being played with the OST of the game.
Now what or who was that voice speaking to Jeanne at the end? Curious? (Well I'm not because...I know what it is since,I'm the writer)
But oh well, that's all I wanted to say, and see you next time in chapter 7! Peace!
Random Note: One Piece is now officialy in it's final saga ,( How will I leave without it? But to think that the previous saga (The Four Emperors) was almost as long as the entire FGO life span until now is absurd. It makes me kinda think how long would be Avalon Le Fae if it was adapted per chapters/episodes. Almost as big as Wano? Let me know in the comments if you have time.
