By the Bonfire: Familial preference
Ariamis had always been cold.
She had few memories - if any - of what it was like to exist beyond the painting.
Perhaps a few flickers of warmth had spurned up memories of staring above to some ceiling, as a woman with golden eyes stared down at her.
That was a memory that lingered.
Even as the years went past, it had been the memory which never once faded from her mind, one which always remained.
That woman with the smile.
Beyond that, all she knew was cold.
Always cold.
In that way, this new place she found herself within held some small nostalgia for her, there was a comfort to be had as she was within the freezing lands. In the blizzard which was forever surrounding the silver structure which housed what was to be her abode for however long she was there.
But it lacked…no.
It did not lack.
Rather, there was just too much warmth.
She had lived with the cold on her skin and the frost upon her fur all her life, how could she cope with being separated from that?
It was why she found herself out here, sitting in the mound of snow as the blizzard howled around her, just beyond the walls of Chaldea and gazing out into the murky sights beyond. Such that could not be seen through the chilled blanket of ice.
Priscilla felt a faint smile form on her lips as she gazed ever onwards and just surrendered herself to the embrace.
This was always as it was supposed to be for her.
Though even this chill was-
"Ariandel was colder."
She blinked rather slowly at the voice which called to her from over her shoulder, one that lacked any warmth or even kindness. Rather, the mere mention of the name was spoken as though it had been spat with poison. Yet there was some other emotion that swelled under the word, hidden beneath the toxic face.
Yet that was not something she could think to comment on.
Instead she slowly turned her head over her shoulder and looked to the one who had spoken.
Barely a silhouette amidst the storm but she could see beyond that to the strange wings he wore, or perhaps they were branches that formed upon his back. They seemed to exude a faint smoke which was blown into the distance.
The figure strode forwards until they cleared the layer of ice, there was a flash of purple in their right hand, thrusting down into the ground.
Ice cleared away, a dome of clarity formed.
She found herself looking towards the man of wood and flesh.
"Sulyvahn."
His hand rested upon the pommel of the sword, the featureless wooden face gazed back at her, but she could feel the measuring in his stare.
"You know of me, then?" Slowly, his head tilted. "And how did that come to pass? Through rumour or through…"
The words he wanted to speak trailed away into nothing.
But her brows furrowed as he seemed unwilling to speak them aloud, unsure of what he could harbour against the question. She hummed and slowly turned back around to look into the newfound shield that protected them. Reaching out very slowly and passing her fingertips through the invisible wall.
All too soon, she felt the brief chill on her fingers.
The snow that found a home upon her palm.
"I know of every soul who found home in-"
"It was never my home!"
His interruption came quickly and with the same hardness as he spoke before, the words were delivered as almost a hiss.
Her hand twitched, quickly withdrawing from the blizzard as she looked back around and into his face once more.
Sulyvahn leaned forwards, hands clenched into fists before he shifted back as though catching himself. Taking a step away from her and flattening down his white robes, a rumble sounded out from him.
"...It was not my home." He repeated again. "It was our prison."
That was a curious way in which it could be phrased, and it was certainly one that she did not find herself agreeing with. A frown pulled upon her lips as she faced him, making clear her own dissatisfaction.
"A curious prison it is then, that one can leave whenever they desire."
He shifted and huffed. "The word you search for is escape, not leave. Unless you mean to claim that if you so happened to find the urge to walk beyond those frozen lands, you would have been met without even a raised brow."
Priscilla hummed. "If I so desired to leave."
"Your answer is vague." Sulyvahn responded in an amused manner. "And unconvincing. A prison that one finds solace within remains a prison. Just because you did not experience or hear of the world beyond does not mean Ariandel became a welcome home for anyone."
He spoke of it all with the same disgust as her brother.
"I see thou shares mine brothers dislike of peace."
Sulyvahn's posture shifted instantly, he went straight and even without eyes there was a glare levelled her way that would have melted the snow around her if it could have found form in the real world.
She met it without even a blink.
He was no more fearsome than grandmother at her worst.
Perhaps he realised how futile his rage was, as he soon lost that glare and restrained his anger, folding his arms behind his back.
"Cattle are kept at peace as well." He said after a moment. "That does not make their lives enviable."
Priscilla thinned her lips. "Didst thou join to me purely to spit venom upon our shared home?"
"No." A quick answer. "But it is remarkably simple to do so. I am well aware of your love for Ariandel and why you would so quickly see it as a wondrous solution."
His body creaked as he moved his hand across, his palm idly rolled above the pommel of the glowing sword.
"I came here only to tell you that I am not to be so easily dismissive of one who can accept what Ariandel is…and can still view it with anything that could be construed as…affection."
"Truly because thou disliked our home doth not compose it worthy of hatred."
The look she received from him was nothing more than a tilt of the head and twitching brows, but the unspoken statement rang loud between the two of them. Priscilla felt her own nerves flare at the arrogance before she settled them back down once more. Feeling more protective to those who had found peace under her watch.
She would not argue her own reason for being there.
It was deserved.
But those who came to her home - whom she shared her peace with - were not deserving of scorn purely because one soul found the land to be unlikeable.
"Such things are not true by merit of thy word alone."
He hummed as though he was indulging her.
"...Ariandel was a curse." Sulyvahn announced. "A curse and a prison for every single soul who lived there. I am telling you, here and now, that I shall never again allow such a place to exist. As many times as needed, I do not care for which fool I insult in the process, I shall smash your peace until it becomes clear to you that it is not welcome."
He pulled the sword from the ground.
"I do not welcome it. Any with sense, would not welcome it. If I am the only one to see such things, then such is the normal state."
Priscilla could only sigh and shake her head, turning back around.
"It is no wonder thou could not find peace in that land."
From behind, she heard a huff which sounded like a mocking chuckle. "A greater compliment I do not know of. I hope to die a thousand more times before I find myself welcoming the cold as you do now."
She twitched and replied before she could help herself.
"And yet thou remember Ariamis as colder."
A loud trudging of snow receded away from her, the dome fell and she was embraced by the blizzard once more. Left alone to her own thoughts before she gradually looked down towards her lap and felt whatever peace she had purchased fade away, replaced only with shame.
…She would forever remember the peace of Ariamis.
…But it seemed to be something few would accept until they truly had nothing and until these humans had lost everything, until there was nothing that was left for them in a life that knew only pain…
Perhaps it was fortunate one such as Sulyvahn existed here.
At least there was something to prevent her from slipping and regressing to an enemy of Chaldea.
It was something she…did not wish to inflict.
Even if it was the greatest kindness that she knew of.
Priscilla was aware of a great many things.
Chief of all was that despite being her mothers first child, she was not her only child.
And…being an older sibling was not something she was entirely certain how to handle. There was much that she imagined went into the roll, most taken from her being raised by Grandmother, but all else was rather complicated. She did not envisage a sibling relation as being wholly similar to a mothering one.
Yet it was either that or how she had treated those in Ariamis.
Between the two of them…she was left decidedly confused as to which would be-
"Hey, Priscilla?"
Her head rose up and she looked across the room, feeling a twitch upon her lips as the door opened and Ritsuka poked his head inside, only to blink and lean back in surprise.
She understood quickly why that was and felt a faint wince of guilt shoot through her, tugging at the cold in her room and drawing the ice away from the door.
It had been no more than a mere flex of her powers to bring the cold of home to her room, for Sulyvahn had raised a valid point earlier. The cold of the outside world was still an uncomfortable warm to the cold she remembered all her life. One that she could not quite find herself without anymore.
Ritsuka breathed out, a mist flowed from his lips as he cupped his hands together and started to rub them, stepping into the room and huffing a little louder as he glanced around, only to pause and look at her.
As though he remembered something.
Now he was the one who sported an expression of guilt.
"Sorry." He breathed, rubbing his hands all the faster. "I should have knocked and asked before coming in."
Priscilla blinked. "Why?"
Ritsuka stopped and looked rather puzzled now, perhaps as much as she currently felt. "Because it's…rude to invite yourself into someone's room?"
"...It is?" That was certainly news to her and now she was recalling the many times she had all but burst into the chambers of her denizens to watch over them, or the times she had flung herself into the home of Grandmother to speak with her.
…She did not realise she had been rude so often.
She looked once more at his expression, then gave a soft smile. "Thou need not worry about such things with me. Thou may enter and depart as oft as thou wish."
He shook his head. "It is your room." he answered as though that was somehow a reason to refuse her.
Though all she could really pay attention to was how his hands moved from one another and started to furiously rub up and down his sleeves. She kept her expression as even as she could manage, but her eyes flickered between his movements and his face, reading his emotions and seeing the rising level of discomfort from him. Yet he did not speak even once.
She frowned.
"We may speak in warmth, if thou are pained here."
Ritsuka looked back to her with raised brows, then folded his arms a little tighter. "It's just a bit of a chill. I just was not expecting it-"
Her brows started to fall and her stare turned half-lidded.
He stopped speaking and wisely abandoned the notion of attempting to lie to her, or if that was not the case, he wisely kept his mouth silent as she rose from her seated position and strode towards him before he could even utter a single word, reaching down and taking him by the wrist before dragging him along with her to the outside corridors.
Once there, she twisted him around and then reached down, coiling her arms around his body and then hoisting him upwards into a tight embrace, feeling his head resting upon her shoulder as she let her furs warm him.
She could not understand why he went rather still.
Or why his head was suddenly feeling rather hot.
Though it served to prove that the technique was working, so she just held him there for a little bit longer-
"What…" Ritsuka's voice cracked, there was a noticeable pause before he gulped and then resumed speaking. "What are…uhm…why are you hugging me?"
Priscilla found herself blinking.
Was it not obvious what she was doing?
"Thou were cold." She said, "An embrace would allow mine furs to warm thou."
Perhaps it had been the sudden action of it all that had taken him by surprise, yet now that she had explained her reasoning, she was sure that he would start to relax and lose the surprise. She knew that would likely be the case and held him close to her for just a little bit longer.
"T-that's fine-!" His voice was still strained. "You can set me down now. I wasn't in your room that lo-"
Did he, perhaps, think that she could not feel the cold still clinging to him? The chills of her room were far removed from the ordinary cold that existed in this world. She had been outside and felt the coldest this place had to offer and she knew that it would have been nothing more than a gentle chill for those of Ariamis.
She would take no chances that he would succumb to the cold.
Instead of replying, she just held him a little tighter so that he would understand the implication and how unwilling she was to just outright let him go right at this-
She felt something rather strange at that moment.
As though someone was trying to set her on fire without the use of flames.
Turning her whole body, Ritsuka swinging in her grip, she faced the corridor and then tilted her head as he found herself looking down at a girl with teal green hair and an almost matching coloured cloth outfit. Though what truly drew her eye were the pair of horns that came out from either side of her head, small white things that they were but still taller than her own.
Priscilla was momentarily stunned at the sight of another crossbreed such as herself.
Further beyond, she heard a faint whistling sound before light coiled inwards and vanished.
The pillar of brightness revealed a figure in silk garments, mantle draped over their shoulders and past their arms.
But she was caught between glancing at their rather beautiful face and the serpentine legs which reminded her of the Lancer, Messmer, and his curious addition to his body.
Ah, she knew this person, did she not.
Inclining her head in a polite bow, she gave a faint smile. "Uncle Gwyndolin."
It was her hope that she had gotten across as polite but not overly familiar.
He just stiffened and looked rather pale, even for his lighter tone of skin, before closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath.
But it was not him who broke the silence of their encounter after she had spoke, no. That went to her fellow crossbreed.
She approached with gentle steps, holding a smile that for some curious reason did not reach her closed eyes. Posture coiled tight and her grip on the small fan in her hands being tight enough that she could see the strain in her muscles. Priscilla furrowed her brows ever so slightly at the curious actions but thought little of it.
Keeping her smile and inclining her head.
"Greetings." She said. "Mine name is Priscilla. Recent guest of this-"
Her words were cut short when the smaller girl raised a single finger, lips pursed and the smile slowly vanishing off her face as she nodded her head up and down.
Then she was pointing towards Ritsuka.
"...What are you doing?"
Priscilla blinked.
Then she felt Ritsuka wince. "Ah. Hang on, Kiyohime. It's not what-"
"Master-sama." Kiyohime(?) interrupted with the gentlest of chuckles. "Though I am always open to hearing your voice, there are just some things that require another to explain first. Which is why I am asking this snake-"
Priscilla jolted at the sudden venomous hiss before the girl leaned back and cleared her throat, smiling once again as though she had said nothing unusual.
"-this…guest…why she is acting so overly familiar with you."
Overly familiar?
Had she made some sort of mistake? Though she could not see how this was overly familiar in her eyes, instead shifted and glancing towards Ritsuka and then back to the smaller girl, raising a brow and tilting her head.
"Forgive me, yet I am unsure as to what thou mean."
Kiyohime's smile did not dim, but instead sharpened. Her eyes opened and the bright yellow - they were yellow, not golden - orbs bore into her with an intensity that would have rivalled even the coldest winds. Despite the clear difference in stature, the girl seemed to grow until she was looking her at eye level.
"...Why are you holding him so closely?"
Priscilla tilted her head. "Because he was cold and Methought to warm him?"
"Ah, well." The smile shifted, turning lopsided as the girl leaned backwards and made an exaggerated roll of the head. "As long as you were just making sure he was warm, of course. I doubt there were any other thoughts going through your mind that would have you trying to take hold of Master-sama like that. Purely innocent, mmmh?"
She felt as though she was missing some context here.
"You can put me down now, Priscilla." Ritsuka whispered, as though trying to be unheard by the duo in front of them.
Thoroughly confused, she did as he requested - and only because she was confident he was now warmed - and slowly lowered him back to the ground, all while keeping her eyes fixed on the smaller girl and finding her confusion difficult to hide.
Ritsuka, now freed, patted himself down and turned around. "There wasn't anything-"
Kiyohime opened a fan in front of his face without looking.
"What are your intentions towards Master-sama?"
Priscilla was stumped by the question.
The confusion only grew deeper as she watched her uncle sigh and pinch his nose, shaking his head in a clear display of exasperation.
Yet he made little attempt to-
She stiffened.
"And what, pray tell…"
Another presence flooded the corridor.
This one from behind.
Melodious words that dragged with them a warmth that was all encompassing.
"...do her intentions matter to one such as you…girl."
Priscilla did not need to turn in order to know who had now come upon them and she was starting to feel as though there was something she was missing here. What had begun as an innocent visit had quickly spiralled and she had never been the centre of so much attention with such colourful personalities.
It was making her feel more than a little nervous.
Especially from the presence which was now right behind her, doubtless looming over her shoulder.
Her Uncle stiffened and his face shifted into a tight glare, a true anger burning in his eyes aimed for the one behind her.
"What business brings thou hither, Gwynevere?"
Priscilla frowned at the tone of voice, one that disguised very little animosity and brought only a sense of feigned politeness.
If it could even be called something as generous as that.
She wet her lips and glanced down to Ritsuka, who was now cringing and looking either side of the two before he sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Look. I think that this is starting to spiral out a bit. There is nothing the matter. I was just going to Priscilla's room to talk with her-"
""What about?""
Two voices asked as one, even Ritsuka looked puzzled as he stared between her fellow crossbreed and the warmth. Both questions held a strange undertone to them which gave the implication they were asking for something more.
"Just talking." Ritsuka repeated. "And her room was really cold, so she got worried and was just trying to warm me up. That was it."
Kiyohime fixed him with a look of scrutiny, then hummed and nodded her head. "I know you believe in the best of others, Master-sama, but there are some who might take advantage of such innocent intentions for their own means-"
"Speak with care." The warmth rose, now turning to an uncomfortable heat. "Before you make accusations that could be…misinterpreted as insults."
Ritsuka jumped in to answer. "Alright, enough. We're not going through an argument over who was doing what. Everything is fine and no one is taking advantage of anything…now then…"
He turned and walked to Kiyohime, she could not see the expression he made but there was a visible shift in the posture of the smaller crossbreed. Her face brightened almost immediately.
"What was it you wanted to speak with me about, Kiyohime?"
Uncle huffed. "She insisted that there was something wrong and then took flight in the direction of this room. I would have left her to her own devices, had she not let slip that she sensed there was a great danger surrounding you."
With a roll of his eyes, then folded his arms.
"Though if I had known what the danger was, I would have intercepted her before I was greeted with this mummers farce."
Kiyohime whirled around and pointed the fan. "Make light of this if you wish, but some of us are interested in whether Master-sama is being seduced by those with impure intentions."
Uncle squinted at her very hard.
Priscilla felt she missed something in some unspoken conversation.
Kiyohime sniffed and drew her arm back. "...I shall not dignify that accusation with an answer."
"Hmph."
"...Right, well." Ritsuka cleared his throat and gestured to the smaller girl. "I suppose you haven't been introduced yet. Kiyohime, this is Priscilla and Priscilla, this is Kiyohime. You've…well…already managed to deduce who Gwyndolin is."
Priscilla nodded her head. "Grandmother spoke of him."
Uncle snorted.
She blinked at the dubious face he wore before he shook his head and stalked off, a silent mutter escaping his lips that she could not quite hear. But Ritsuka just winced at the reaction and then sighed.
"...That's…probably not best to mention her." Ritsuka muttered quietly, though it did not explain anything and left her feeling very confused.
There was…a lot that was happening that she did not understand and it was all happening very quickly.
"Are matters oft so…" She struggled for the right word that would not have been offensive. "...Chaotic as this?"
Even that, polite as it was, felt as though it would have been an insult to them.
Kiyohime puffed out her chest. "The fight to protect Master-sama from base harlots is a long and gruelling struggle that I am more than willing to-"
Priscilla slumped her shoulders.
"Doth…doth thou refer to me?"
Ritsuka folded his arms and remained silent.
The smaller girl seemed to stiffen at the sudden presence, both from Ritsuka and from the warmth, then she slowly shook her head from side to side, but her answer was still rather lacking.
"That remains to be seen." She said, squinting at her and stepping backwards. "Rest assured, I shall have my eyes on you…your innocence seems honest enough, but one can never tell…"
With that said, she turned on her heel and marched away, sparing one final glance over her shoulder before vanishing.
The hall fell into silence once more, at least until Ritsuka sighed and palmed at his temples.
"Sorry about that…she's…" He seemed to struggle for words, then pulled his hand away. "She's a Berserker so a lot of stuff just…well, she's focused on me and apparently it could be worse but she still has her moments. She doesn't mean anything horrible by them and I'm sure she'll be fine with you given time."
Priscilla was well aware there were many who did not like her.
But she was rather puzzled as to the context surrounding this one, turning her eyes to him and furrowing her brows.
"For what reason was she hostile to me?"
"No reason that you should waste sleep over." The presence drew closer, but did not step around to the front. "It is as the boy said. She is riddled with madness as a fact of existence. Her reasons and motives are not meant to be understood. She will hate you for a time and then she will forget why she did so. That is all you need to worry yourself with."
Priscilla was…not so sure about that.
Nor was she certain she approved of simply dismissing the words of the younger girl as though they were without worry.
She was rather…invested now.
Or perhaps it was simpler to be said there was a problem before her and she would at least like to understand.
Without responding to the warmth, she looked down to Ritsuka and inclined her head. "Might we resume? Thou journeyed to mine room for a purpose, yes?"
"Hm?" A single blink, then a jolt. "Ah, yeah, I did. Sorry. Just forgot for a moment in all the excitement. I was just wanting to ask if there was anything you felt like you needed in Chaldea."
She shook her head. "Thou hast been gracious enough that I dare not bid for more."
"...Well, alright." He looked unconvinced by her words, but did not seem to argue them further. "But if you think about something, let me know."
She would do that and silently confirmed as much with a nod of the head.
Though her mind was truly elsewhere at this time.
Her eyes strayed the hallway where the smaller girl had since retreated, and already she felt some embers of a goal in mind.
Priscilla, at this point, long since regretted not paying attention to the tour that she had been provided with.
At the time, she had been more focused on how uncomfortably warm everything was and how clean the walls and floor were. It had been a passing nod of the head when she had been asked a question and no more than a hum in terms of a verbal response. Whether Ritsuka ever knew she was not paying attention did not occur to her.
Clearly he had not, as otherwise she felt he would have been more patient.
She felt somewhat guilty and ashamed for that and her being lost at the moment was clearly some manner of earned punishment for that.
Vaguely she recalled that this was the hallway that would lead somewhere, to something, but she did not know the precise details and it was only the sensation of Servants ahead of her that really spurred her forwards. There were at least half a dozen, perhaps more, and that gave her the impression it was some manner of gathering point.
With that in mind, she calmed her features and braved onwards.
Her hand pressed to the door and pushed.
A terrible screeching sound met her ears and she locked up on instinct as the metal folded inwards, sparks dropped down from the frame, and an awful silence followed.
She yanked her hand back and just stared at the mangled remains of the metal with wide and horrified eyes.
All she had done was push the door.
Was she not meant to-?
Her mind caught up with her and she flinched and cringed rather deeply, dropping her head and staring down to her feet as a flush of shame welled up within her.
It had been an action of pure ingrained instinct to open the door as such, but the doors of Chaldea were different. Their manner of working was far removed from what she had been used to. All the more embarrassing in that she had seen Ritsuka open her own room in such a manner but she had utterly failed to connect it.
She truly hoped that she had not done some irreparable harm to-
The screeching of metal returned, her eyes snapped up and she blinked at the sight of what appeared to be metal fingers curled around the slight gap in the newly opened entrance. They pulled and pressed the metal around their grip before giving a firm yank and tearing the door clean away from the space and catching it.
Priscilla stared as the remains of the door were pulled back, looking with furrowed brows to either side for a moment.
One hand of flesh and blood and another hand of metal?
That was…odd?
But it lasted very little time as she stared beyond into the interior and felt the heat rise up her cheeks and overcome her face.
A sea of eyes stared back at her in utter silence.
"Huh."
There was a grunt from within the room.
Her gaze snapped to the speaker, a man with long hair of a rather curious colour - it looked to be purple? - gazed back towards her with his hands hidden behind long sleeves. With a single brow raised, he glanced at the remains of the door and then towards her before he hummed and turned back around.
"I can see the family resemblance."
Priscilla did not understand how that sported a laugh from behind the mangled door, but she winced all the same.
The hunk of metal was set back down to the ground and revealed the one who had caught it, wearing a rather simple set of chainmail and dark trousers with long blonde hair of his own, yet what truly caught her eye were his mismatched arms. She had thought one was merely more armoured than the other, yet it was not the case.
One was made of metal.
"I had heard such gossip but did not think I would live to see it myself." The blonde man - nay, the God - chuckled and shook his head, brushing down his hands and casting a rather amused look at the remains of the door. "Though I admit I have come close to making such a folly on more than one occasion."
The man of purple hair hummed. "It seems the way of Chaldea to do things in an unorthodox fashion."
"Perhaps, perhaps." Musing, the man turned on her and shook his head. "Do not trouble yourself with the guilt, girl. You are far from the first to make such a mistake and you stopped after the initial push. I've heard the other repeated this several times over before he was finally stopped."
The silver hand gestured to his chest.
"I am the one to truly blame for the remainder of the damage."
The purple man hummed. "Yes, I suppose that would be the case. I am curious how you shall explain this when prompted."
With a shrug, the God turned on him. "The door was already damaged to a point beyond repair."
"An engineer are we?" Despite the words, there was an amused smile on the face of the man as he leaned forwards.
The God smiled all the wider but said nothing else, then turned back to her and made a rather offended noise.
"This has been rather awkward to simply leave you there, come, come."
He stepped to the side and waved a hand to usher her inside.
She hesitated for a moment, sparing one final glance for the mangled door, then stepped forwards and finally found the courage to speak. "If there are amends to be made, I-"
A silver hand was waved in her face.
"I shall take on the brunt of the blame, girl…given that I was the one who wrenched the door clean from its hinges and dumped it on the floor."
He paused, then turned across the room and called on.
"On that matter, Francis?"
Priscilla blinked, then turned her gaze to the individual she had missed, situated behind a waist high wall of wood. The human gazed back with folded arms and a face that was less than amused before he sighed and shook his head.
"I'll call Da Vinci…" He seemed resigned more than angered, but that made her feel a little worse for troubling them so much.
It had been her inattentiveness which had caused this, after all.
Only when she watched the man wander off did she truly start to look at her surroundings and furrowed her brows ever so slightly. The initial shock wearing away and treating her to greater clarity. This was a place that she did vaguely recognise from the tour but she had forgotten the name, or had not paid attention enough to learn it in the first place.
Dimmer lighting than the outside, tables and chairs scattered about with some situated in alcoves in the far corners.
"Now then."
Her eyes snapped back to the God as he cleared his throat and folded his arms, the stern visage faded away, replaced with a gentle smile that reminded her of grandmother.
"A pleasure to meet you, I am Nudd." He nodded his head. "The fellow over there with a grudge against garden birds is Sasaki Kojiro."
"Everyone is free to make jokes, but swallows are fearsome things."
Nudd rolled his eyes at the response. "Mayhaps to bugs."
"And farmers."
"...Of that I cannot argue." With a shrug, the attention returned to her.
Ah, she was supposed to introduce herself next, wasn't she?
Right.
Clearing her throat, she stood up a little straighter.
"I am Priscilla," She said, then thought for a moment before adding. "and I apologise for mine base introduction."
Nudd raised a brow and smiled reassuringly. "There have been far worse first impressions than a single broken door and a regretful girl."
Yes.
But she felt as though she had one of those as well in the past, at least it was alluded to when she was Chaldea's enemy. Such a thing still made her feel a pang of shame because she could not even recall the time. Though she imagined it had been with reason, a reason she would likely understand, and it felt wrong for her to be with those she had tried to do battle with in the past.
"Now then, what is it you would like? I sense you came here for a purpose."
She jolted back to the present on account of the words, then widened her eyes and nodded her head up and down, catching herself as she wet her lips.
"I was in search of someone."
Nudd hummed. "Anyone that we might have seen?"
"Her name is Kiyohime." She was sure it was pronounced as such.
"Ah, the young girl." Nudd brightened a little. "I know of her but have not had many a chance to actually speak with her. She seems to be the nice sort, if a little offended by those with deceitful tongues but given her past, one can understand why she would hold something of a grudge to liars."
Priscilla tilted her head in confusion.
That might well have been, and she held no greater love for those who wove lies, but she could not understand the animosity she had been shown by the girl and she did not think she could ask about such a thing without coming across as rude or accusing.
Oblivious to her thoughts, Nudd cupped his chin and hummed. "I cannot presume to think of where she might be as of this moment, but finding her should be no great feat. I would wager her to have either returned to the cafeteria or to be walking in the shadow of Ritsuka."
Priscilla could not say for the former, but the latter was unlikely as she had just come away from where Ritsuka was.
"Come then."
She blinked and looked across, Sasaki was striding past her towards the door with a smile upon his lips, his eyes briefly met her own and he inclined his head to the doorway. "I shall endeavour to serve as a guide."
Priscilla blinked before shaking her head. "Thou need not-"
"I also fear for the safety of the many doors in Chaldea that stand between here and the cafeteria."
Her mouth clamped shut and she felt the heat climb up her cheeks once more.
"Try to avoid bullying the girl, Sasaki." Nudd chastised with a roll of the eyes and a shake of the head. "And you are doing this so that you might also avoid being swept up in the wrath of Da Vinci when she arrives."
Sasaki chuckled but did not answer.
Priscilla felt as though the shadow of this 'Da Vinci' was long and terrifying indeed if the mere mention of her name was enough to send fighters running in the opposite direction. And they were not even responsible for her. She glanced the way of Nudd and opened her mouth to insist that she remain to explain herself.
He pointed to her.
"You have someone to meet. If you wish, you might stop by the room of Da Vinci later and apologise to her, but she will offer no grudges for this. Hardly a matter worth being angered over, I can assure you."
Priscilla leaned back and thinned her lips.
Even with such assurances, she did not feel wholly convinced.
Her eyes turned the way of Sasaki, he patiently awaited her with that same thin smile upon his lips and she found that it was difficult to make a measure of the man. There was just something about him that almost made him blend into the background. She would have said him invisible like her, were it not for the fact he was still very opaque.
At the repeated insistence of the God, she was eventually bullied from the room and journeyed with Sasaki through the door.
Every few moments, she would glance over her shoulder.
There was a strong urge for her to remain.
"You still feel guilty over it, do you not?"
Priscilla was not surprised that such had been noticed, she did not doubt that she was showing off her feelings.
"I was the one whom committed the sin," She explained. "Thus I should be the one to compose amends for it. Whether Nudd damaged it further, it began with me."
Sasaki hummed and nodded his head in understanding. "Yes, that much is quite true."
He did not soften his words as Nudd did, and for that she was quite grateful.
"Though there is little to say that you must make amends immediately, is there? And it was truly an honest mistake." Sasaki continued onwards. "Nor is it any unforgivable crime."
Priscilla shook her head. "It is the sin itself, rather than the magnitude of it."
"Then why not remain?" He asked, it was a strange thing indeed. It should have sounded like an accusation or a chastisement, but it was presented as no more than a mere innocuous question.
She fell silent and looked down. "I did not wish to be insulting."
"Ah, I see." Sasaki hummed, then chuckled after a moment. "Truly, it seems as though you have been caught in quite the conundrum, have you not?"
With a glance his way, she noted the smile but now she felt as though it was nothing more than a usual aspect of his face.
"...Yes." She answered with some hesitation. "Though I shall make every effort to clear away this debt."
"Then you have little else to concern yourself with so long as you hold yourself true to that."
Such words were easy.
"Now on the matter of Kiyohime." Sasaki began and his eye shifted to her, a sidelong gaze which settled and flickered with some mirth. "Though you did not mention it, I assume you are seeking her out to make amends for a slight of sorts?"
Priscilla turned her head. "Thou are a sharp one." she grumbled.
It had not meant to come out in such a manner, but she had gone through the effort of not saying it in the first place.
"Might I guess?" Sasaki continued, though did not actually wait for her to answer before he was already speaking. "I shall assume you were caught engaging in friendly conversation with our young Master and she took issue with such blatant displays of pleasant interactions between a man and woman?"
Priscilla blinked for a moment, then turned a surprised look at him.
"Mayhaps thou…" Wetting her lips, "read minds like the pages of a book?"
With a rather startled blink, he turned his head up and stared at her before throwing his head back and letting out a louder laugh than before, though it was no less amused than those previous.
The heat was climbing up her cheeks again at the implication she was being teased once more.
She was deciding that speaking with this man was perhaps rather dangerous indeed and now she wondered if he had come with her purely so he could poke fun at her.
As though to put the matter to rest, he purposely stepped in front of her when they came upon another door and very slowly reached out to open it, swiping his hand above a glass panel and then drawing it back.
She kept her face passive as the pair of them stepped into the enclosed space and the doors shut behind them.
"I only tease, of course."
"Mmmmh."
He chuckled at that. "How have you found your time at Chaldea thus far?"
"...It is not what I am accustomed to."
"Yes, I felt much the same way." Sasaki replied. "Often times there are still moments in which I shall reduce myself to a distant observer for the sake of comfort. Hardly as though I had many partners for conversation in life."
"By choice?" She felt the need to ask.
He nodded his head slowly and she alleviated some of the pity she felt, but not all of it. Whether by choice or by force, it was still a lonely life to lead and it was one that she would not truly wish upon any.
"And when thou stray beyond being mere eyes?"
The man hummed and shrugged his shoulders. "There are times when I am pleased to take a step forth and speak. Though whether the feeling can be considered mutual often depends on those I am speaking with…"
He glanced her way and offered a lopsided smile.
"For instance, that would depend on how you currently feel."
Priscilla flattened her features and stared straight ahead.
"I hast known thou only a short time." She said. "I could not comment upon such a fleeting conversation."
With a pleased hum, the man nodded his head. "Then I shall continue my streak of remarks against you then, confident in the knowledge that-"
She twitched at that and glanced down at him from the corner of her eyes. "I would be most grateful if thou would spare me them."
He gave a dramatic sigh and hung his head. "I suppose I might have to force myself into silence, if you would wish. Though there are so few who can appreciate my words. Between yourself and the witch, you are by far the more pleasing partner for conversation."
"If thou speak to this woman in such ways, it is little wonder."
The reaction she got was a wider smile.
"It would seem I am not the only one with a sharp tongue."
"I learned much under the tutelage of Grandmother." It was true and though she had not verbally sparred with her in some time, she did not forget the ability to do so.
She just…wasn't quite as good as her.
Though since he already knew…
"Thou speaks as though thou know Kiyohime."
A small tilt of the head. "It is not as though she is unknown. You will find that she has a rather front and centre personality."
She noticed that he did not comment upon whether that was a good or bad thing, so she accepted that and nodded her head up and down. She already had experienced that front and centre personality for herself.
It seemed more defensive the more she thought of the encounter.
And she was starting to form a picture of the girl she was understood and perhaps even empathised with.
"Art thou friends with her?"
"I cannot say I have spoken with her in any meaningful way to answer that question, though I doubt I would be much the sort of person she would speak with…Yet I would not turn down conversation if it was offered."
"Offered." She caught upon. "But not presented."
He shook his head. "No. We have little in common beyond the master we serve, I cannot myself think of much that would interest her and am sure she has little to speak of with me."
Priscilla glanced away. "Many of all walks of life found themselves within the land of Ariamis."
Sasaki hummed. "Yes, though I have heard they had quite a bit in common by the time they arrived, did they not?"
They did indeed and she felt her argument fumble underneath her.
They had pain and suffering in common and all seeking peace and abandonment of the agony which had remained with them all their lives until that moment. Perhaps it truly was a shared sense of misery which had bonded them all together, but they remained peaceful and kind for as long as she could recall.
The door before them opened up, and there was something that twinged her senses.
That familiar warmth, but without any sign of where it might be.
As though it was just over her shoulder, but not quite there.
"Come along then." Sasaki strode forwards, unknowing of the sensation. "I am curious if you shall make yourself her friend."
Priscilla nodded. "I would be much pleased if she would speak to me with a smile, rather than a scowl."
"Most would prefer as much, regardless."
Sasaki pointed her out in the cafeteria, but she did not truly notice for a few moments.
Instead her eyes drifted to the kitchens and took in the sight that she had been promised of.
That of her youngest brother, hovered over a counter and palming at dough.
She did not know if he sensed her or not, but even if he had, she did not expect much of a reception and would not ask for one. They were strangers to one another at best and she could not force a change. No, she was here for someone else first and foremost.
Turning to the raised hand of Sasaki, she spied the younger girl with her back turned.
"I believe I should wish you some luck." Sasaki remarked as she walked off. "But I am sure you will not need it."
His silent confidence spurred her on and she found him to be a confusing man, she had not met many of his like.
Perhaps that was because those she had met did not have much left to offer.
She dealt with those of despair, not full of life and wit.
Her eyes flickered left and right, seeing if there would be any who took notice of her or had issues. Yet she found herself somewhat…
…It was strange.
None turned their heads to her.
It was as though she did not exist, as though she had cast herself under the blanket of nothing and it was only that she did not feel it clinging to her furs that told her she could still be seen. Yet here, it was as though she was nothing special.
They just…paid her no mind.
Far removed from the treatment in Ariamis and detached from what Grandmother said awaited her in the outside world.
Just…nothing.
A thought for another time, she would not let herself be distracted now. With that renewed confidence, she strode forwards until she was eventually beside the table of the younger girl and looking down.
It was her shadow that Kiyohime seemed to register first, then her eyes flickered upwards to her and the bright yellow orbs narrowed upon her. There was no outward hostility as of yet, but there was some suspicion.
"Might we speak with one another?"
Kiyohime watched her for some moments.
Then silently inclined her head to the space opposite, her hand sliding the tray of rice away from herself and folding her hands onto her lap.
Priscilla took the invitation and placed herself down, unsure of where she should begin.
"I…would like to extend an apology if I caused offence earlier to thou."
Kiyohime watched her silently, then hummed and leaned back. "What do you imagine you did wrong?"
She blinked.
"...I…I'm not sure."
The girl sighed and shook her head. "Of that I was quite afraid. Apologising for something you do not understand is rather pointless, but I do appreciate the honesty that you wish to try and do it."
She leaned forwards, then gave a nigh imperceptible smile. "But that you came here speaks of your character and though confused, I can tell your words were genuine. Thus I can approve of your continued presence before Master-sama."
…What?
Priscilla's brows pinched, unsure of what had just transpired. "I…I am most confused."
Kiyohime exhaled. "When you met with Master-sama, what struck you as a defining feature of his?"
It seemed an odd question, but Priscilla did not need much time to answer. "He is…kind."
Even to those who likely did not deserve such things.
He was kind, but also very hurt.
Kiyohime narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. "Mmmmh, true. That is a wonderful thing about him, but you know there is more. Don't you?"
She silently nodded her head.
Kiyohime did not press further, but perhaps she did not need to.
"Master-sama is kind and trusting." The girl continued onwards, "And it is because of that he has been…manipulated in the past. He has had his kindness used against him by liars-"
The girl spat the word with such venom and heat, Priscilla was certain she saw wisps of smoke sputter from between her teeth, the girl quickly brought up her hand before her lips and coughed once, the heat vanished and she composed herself as though the slip had not happened.
"-in the past." She finished, the frown deepened but her eyes grew softer. "He hides it away to keep others at ease, but I can see through such things. Though it wounds me to see him lie with every smile…it is an attempt."
The words were strained, but Priscilla understood.
She looked down at the girl with some new understanding.
"Thou art protecting what thou loves."
Kiyohime nodded. "I am. I was not there for Master-sama…if I had been, perhaps he would not have suffered as such. Though I am here now and I swear that I shall not allow another to shatter his heart with such brutal words. Once is too many times."
On that, Priscilla could agree with her.
"I understand thy fears." She replied. "I did much to protect those I decided to take under mine shadow. I shall accept thy suspicion-"
"The suspicion has been gone from the moment you sat down."
Priscilla blinked very slowly. "...Pardon?"
Kiyohime raised a brow at her. "I am rather skilled at detecting liars. More so than others would expect but I told you. There was a genuine desire to apologise, it might have been misunderstood but the intention remained to make amends. That and…Master-sama places much in your wellbeing."
The reminder had her glance down. "I have done little to earn such things."
"That is not for either of us to decide, it seems." Kiyohime responded. "But if Master-sama wishes you well, then I be the dutiful wife and support such wishes."
Then her eyes narrowed into slits, she leaned forwards and across the table, looking right into her eyes.
"But know that I shall be watching."
Priscilla was oddly thankful for that.
No, there was nothing odd about it.
In response to the threat, she gave a grateful smile to the younger girl. "I understand."
Kiyohime hummed and leaned back. "You do, don't you?" It was no more than a whisper of a sentence, but it was there all the same.
Priscilla hummed.
Then stopped.
Then blinked.
"...Wife?"
Kiyohime nodded her head.
"...Ah." Priscilla was rather surprised at that, but the defensive nature made sense.
She thought.
Maybe.
…Did it?
She did not know anything about this sort of thing.
"...What does that mean?"
Kiyohime looked at her rather oddly after that.
Then she tilted her head and hummed. "Well…"
Priscilla was treated to a rather odd conversation about matrimony and such things.
And a conversation about personal boundaries and what was considered acceptable.
Suddenly the offence to the hug made sense in Priscilla's mind and she could grasp why the girl had been slightly offended by seeing such a thing.
Priscilla fought hard to keep her grimace off her face during the explanation.
From the understanding smile on the face of the girl opposite her, it seemed as though she had failed.
Well.
As we expected.
Here they are.
Priscilla
Height/Weight: 211cm/206 kg
Servant: Assassin
Strength: B (A)
Endurance: D
Agility: B
Mana: B
Luck: C
Noble Phantasm: EX
Mystic Eyes of Life-Hunt: EX (Anti-Unit/Anti-Divine) Max Target: 1, Max Range: 1-2
Visualises her ability to end the life of a living being. Her scythe strikes true.
Perhaps this is known by something in a different world, these eyes can perceive that which is 'living' and foresee the best path to its end.
With this Noble Phantasm, she focuses all her magical energy and strains her eyes to their limits before delivering a single strike aimed at annihilating the enemy before her.
Ariamis - Chilled Lands Cold Comfort: EX (Anti-World) Max Target: ?, Max Range: ?
Reality Marble of the World that Priscilla called her own, carries within her the frozen lands of comfort.
Ebbing away at the strength and vitality of those dragged into it, they will slowly but surely lose the will to do anything and everything. Succumbing to the cold winds of the Reality Marble and accepting their place in it's embrace.
All who have ever lived in the Painted world are here, even those who come from Ariandel. The two worlds are the same.
Class Skills:
Presence Concealment:-
Divine Core of the Crossbreed: D
She is a Crossbreed between Seath and Gwynevere, the former holding a shard soul of Lord Gwyn and therefore being a God by proxy. The end result is her being a minor Goddess herself, although it is still on the low end.
Magic Resistance: B
Personal Skills:
Mystic eyes of Life-Hunt: A
It is not the Scythe itself, but merely the skill channeled through the weapon. Priscilla can perceive how to kill something provided it can die. Visualising them as lines across the body.
Crossbreed: EX
Immunity to Poison and unaffected by the cold. However, her Dragon Nature makes her weak to those with Anti-Dragon perks.
Monstrous Strength: A
She who resides in the cold world: B
In conditions that are freezing, she gains a boost to her stats, as she spent her whole life in the painted world. Can also generate small blizzards with her breath to hide herself away.
Blessing of the Sinful Goddess: B
Velka watched over the girl during her time in the cold world of Ariamis.
Priscilla has a bonus granted to her stats when she faces anyone of Evil Alignment.
Invisibility: A
Priscilla can render herself invisible to the naked eye and conceal her sounds.
However, her physical presence remains.
Summoning
I see, then I hast been...Very well. I am Priscilla, Guardian of Ariamis. If thou should'st hast want of mine cursed eyes, then I shall doth all I to protect thou."
Dialogue 1
"Here is…much unlike mine home for years past. There is much too vibrancy, methinks."
Dialogue 2
"To speak of master and servant? An apprentice and tutor, haply? If thou should'st want our relationship as such, then I school thou of Ariamis-oh? Hast I made a mistake? Mine apologies."
Dialogue 3
"Thou are eating well, yes? That is good, I realise that humans are in want of regular sustenance."
Dialogue 4 (If you have Gwynevere)
"Long since, I recall a warmth that I ne'r place. A sensation of belonging I hast not felt again till…Ah, then she is…She approaches us now. Greetings. Mother, I am Priscilla and-oh. An embrace was not expected yet…ah…this is…"
Dialogue 5 (If you have Caffrey)
"Long didst Methinks of myself as guardian of Ariamis, yet I never wot the sensation of siblinghood. There is much excitement in a soul so bright yet…I am ashamed, for her lines. Aye so clear. Haply it meetest we keep apart, yet her brow is so wounded would I say to her such."
Dialogue 6 (If you have Jeanne)
"To offer salvation to another is a strength not many owe and some are beyond e'en that light. Those whom canst not be saved can at least be cared for, myself should regard."
Dialogue 7 (If you have Kalameet)
"There is one whom walks about. His eyes track mine movements and his gaze is sharp, yet there is something wounded about it. Myself should see it clearly yet it ne'r lingers. Myself should like to meet the one whom wishes to reach out yet they are so distant."
Dialogue 8 (If you have Nameless King)
"To the one whom bids themselves mine uncle, they are a something vibrant force. I am oft at a loss with our conversations as they pull me along. Such a warm hand is extended yet my liver moves moe the fool whom canst not understand it."
Dialogue 9 (If you have Gwyndolin)
"I am sometimes struck with a dream. A dream of a young girl and her elder brother. A distant tower 'i the cold, and a loving hand upon mine brow. The dream is so vague and distant, haply it is nought and yet. when I see you dear uncle…Would I might hast a hand upon mine brow? Ah…it is a dream…aye so lovely."
Dialogue 10 (If you have Filianore)
"Mine aunt and mine…I suppose thou are…? I see. Then we are both? Oh, thou would speak no moe of it? That I would understand. We shall traffic words as kin 'i that case. I believe it would please Aunt."
Dialogue 11 (If you have Nahr Alma)
"Such a cold soul thou are, little brother. Belike it is with the care of an elder sister thou want a momento of life and 'tis value? for as much as thou would preach of the value of survival, thou never see what I might."
Dialogue 12 (If you have Havel)
"There is one of rock and hatred whom stalks the halls. Or so I am told. Forsooth, I dare not wander should'st i hark the thud of their steps."
Dialogue 13 (If you have Ashen One [Avenger])
"Our goals are divers. Our dreams differ. Ay, they are one that I canst not accept, and he canst not accept me. Yet we are also kin and our love is true. That much I believe."
Dialogue 14 (If you have Scathach-Skadi [Completed Lostbelt 2])
"I shall speak 'i earnest. Thy goal was not mistaken, merely difficult. I canst not consider a path there was to take which would hast brought peace to all. Yet methinks thou didst all thou could. For that, I shall offer mine own words. None can bid moe of thou, Skadi."
Dialogue 15 (If you have Amakusa Shirou)
"Thy hope is…ah…tis a most beautiful wish. If it might aye become true, I wish very much so."
Dialogue 16 (If you have Velka)
"Ah, grandmother. Thou are keeping in good health? A relief to hark. Myself? I am well enough, I thank thou for thy import. Thou would to spend time together? of course, whenever thou would wish it so."
Likes
"Thou bid me of mine likes? They are…I hast merely enjoyed the role of caretaker. That is all I find lovely."
Hates
"I find rising temperatures disagreeable. Do not laugh, it is not a joke! I am most sad! This heat is unacceptable! How may you stand it?"
Wish for the Holy Grail
"This holy grail. Ah, then I would for a land of peace and kindness, if such a thing possible."
Bond Level 1
"Thou are a most kind soul, to take 'i one such as I. A kindness i shall see repaid."
Bond Level 2
"I rarely use mine eyes, just so thou know-Oh? Thou never keep me for that reason alone? that is. most surprising to hark."
Bond Level 3
"There is much beyond the land of Ariamis that I never dreamt possible. To see such a sight that people would flee from is indeed a strange thing. I feel as though I understand mine charges more now."
Bond Level 4
"Thou would to know why I answered a summons? Hh, was merely that 'tis said a soul 'i anguish and sought to lend mine shoulder to 'em. For as long as thou want this comfort, I shall be hither for thou."
Bond Level 5
"When thy journey shall come to an end, at whatever stage, know that I shall see to it thou are welcomed 'in a land most gentle and kind, with souls such as yours for company. skeletons of wheels? There are those yet whence hath thou hark such tales?"
Birthday
"The benisons of the travelling lamp upon thou, a most joyous day."
During an Event
"There is much excitement afoot. Thou would to attend? I am…not accustomed yet if that is thy hope…"
1st Ascension
"Hmph. This strength is most unusual. A beating in mine chest burns a bit hotter."
2nd Ascension
"I feel this surge of something in mine bosom once more. Is this something normal? I see, then I shall accept this boon as praise from thou, even if it is not needed."
3rd Ascension
"Mine eyes doth itch as of late. The lines become clearer still. Is that what is wished of me? to regard that this beshrew had been thought of as a boon and yet-no. I shall not lose myself to it."
4th Ascension
"No matter what may comes, or how firm the urge might grow, it shall remain only a distant thought to be banished. Hmph? what doth i speak of? ah, never thou mind little one. Merely know I shall put this symbol of trust thou hast placed upon me to good use!