Spectre: Well, that was quick. Let's get it on.
Ykomat9: His character is a bit tricky to pull off. Have to read Visions of V to get the full scope of his thoughts and how he would execute them.
Mnava1205: Thanks for the feedback! Had to go and recheck Fontaine, especially since I also imagine the interactions between him and Arlechinno as well. Dante and Mauvika is something that I'm also working on.
: Thanks! Given that World of V exists, I'd like to make him as some sort of alter ego of Vergil.
Hellsink Bathall: Yeah I could see that. Vergil and Eula's interactions are something that I've simulated for some time. And next chapter might be a bit...off the rails.
: I think so, or at least the physical part of it but the power remained in Nero all along as the arm was basically Yamato's storage room.
Kerrowe: Yep it is.
Redhood001: You could say he's mellowed out a bit this time. It would be a totally different story if it's DMC3 Vergil being in here.
Hutakata: Some people might suspect something, but that is if they could even encounter V and live.
Zabaniya: Dante for sure would still appear, but Vergil is the primary focus.
Chapter 16: The Spindrift and the Swordsman Part 2.
That night, Vergil headed over at Angel's Share to find a certain Reconnaissance captain for additional information regarding her uncle. After ordering and drinking his Berry and Mint Burst, Vergil looked over In the corner, he spotted the slumped figure of Eula, surrounded by a sea of empty bottles. "Man, lady's got the liver to handle all of that, Chief!", Griffon remarked as the swordsman moved closer to the knight in question.
"Captain Lawrence.", he called out calmly to the Spindrift Knight who is slumped at one of the table. "I would need to ask you a few questions.
Eula looked up and huffed at him. "You have some nerve coming here while being aware of your transgressions.", he replied in a drunkenly threatening tone.
"I'm pleased that you noticed.", Vergil replied in a neutral but cool tone. "Fortunately, we are at the precipice of finding out what your beloved uncle is planning with those friends of his."
The Spindrift Knight didn't look too interested as she took another mug of Apple Cider. "And you think I have the answers for that?", Eula asked almost incredulously.
"Indeed. But at this time, I'd prefer to leave a moment for you to get sober and make sure you're coherent enough to speak, Captain Lawrence.", the swordsman deadpanned.
Eula could barely stand up, giggling at Vergil. "You are my best friend.", she slurred. "C'mere; I'll kill you!"
The Spindrift Knight's arm swung in a wild arc as she attempted to punch Vergil. But he too quick, his hand catching her slender wrist with ease. He couldn't help but sigh in annoyance at her feeble attempt. "At ease, Captain," he advised her. "You've had enough for one night."
The Angel's Share patrons watched the scene unfold with amusement. As Vergil unenthusiastically leaned in to support her, she glared at them. "What're you all staring at?" she slurred. "You've never seen a girl express herself before?"
The crowd erupted in a chuckle by her drunken bravado. "It's best if we go back, Captain.", Vergil plainly stated to her.
"Oh, don't call me that," she protested, leaning heavily on him. "You made it sound like you're all high and mighty like you're the son of a king of something..."
"You are not completely wrong, Captain," Vergil replied, guiding her through the tavern's door into the cool night air. "And since the Knights are your friends, I know you won't let them down."
"Friend, huh?" Eula murmured, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "We're friends?"
"Depends on how see it," Vergil replied, half-carrying her through the moonlit streets of Mondstadt.
"Come on," Vergil pressed on, her arm around his shoulder as he steered her in the direction of the HQ. "The Headquarters is this way."
"No, no, it's over there," she insisted, pointing in the opposite direction with a wobbly hand. "I can feel it in my... Vengeful senses."
Vergil raised an eyebrow. "Vengeful senses? I think the only thing your vengeful senses are telling you is that the nearest tree is your best bet for not falling flat on your face."
Eula shot him a glare, which would have been more intimidating if not for the fact that she could barely keep her eyes open. "You commoners and your lack of respect on noble ladies," she slurred .
"Oh, I respect your ways," Vergil pointed out to her. "But right now, I would respect whatever's left of your dignity and mine. And that means getting you to shelter without any... unfortunate incidents."
In his mind, Griffon was laughing like a maniac. "Hoo, boy! If only Dante and Nero could see you now!", he cackled.
"I don't need your help, you impudent fool," she protested, trying to pull away from him. "I can walk."
"I'm sure you can, but I'd rather not explain to your colleagues as to why the Reconnaissance Captain fell face-first in a mud puddle."
"I'm not going to fall in a mud puddle!" she huffed, though her legs didn't seem to agree, wobbling precariously.
"That's what you think," Vergil said with an annoyed sigh, tightening his grip. "But I've seen worse in my days, and I'd wager a sober you would agree with me."
At this point, Vergil is hoping that she would simply would pass out from the sheer exhaustion of her drunken tirade, but it seemed that fate had other plans. Just as they reached what he thought to be the headquarters she pulled away from him with a sudden jerk, her eyes widening in horror. "Ah, gods, not again!" she groaned, doubling over and barely missing his boot by a hair's breadth.
The sound of retching filled the air, and Vergil couldn't help but take few steps back to give her privacy. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to channel the patience and calm that his father and himself taught.
As the sound of her vomiting subsided, Eula straightened up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Vergil tentatively stepped closer, her, only for her to stumble into him, her face a ghastly shade of green. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to... I just..."
Her words trailed off as she leaned heavily against him, her body heaving once more. This time, she was not so lucky. A spray of vomit hit the side of his boot, the smell of sour ale and regret wafting up to his nose.
Vergil took a deep breath, his eyes squeezed shut. The avian familiar within him got worried when a Mirage Blade materialized at Vergil's side and was near the woman in question.
"Calm down, Chief...", Griffon cautioned his keeper, who looked like he was seconds away from skewering the woman right now when a Mirage Blade was hovering close to Eula. "That was just an accident."
I am not planning to kill her..., Vergil assured the Familiar when the Mirage Blade spun onto his vomit-covered boot to blow away unwanted stains. But it then turned into one of Beowulf's greaves, glowing in the dark amidst the night. "Oh, are you now?", Griffon snarked as it looked like he was prepared to give a sweet kick on to the drunk woman like a home run on a baseball match.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case. As Vergil's right leg transformed back into it's normal form where Griffon saw he only activated Beowulf to clear out the remaining vomit because it was good as new moments after.
"I'll let it slide this once," he remarked in a calm tone but it was almost tempting to draw the Yamato right here. "There won't be a second time."
Eula looked up at him. "You're not mad?"
Vergil took a deep breath again. "Mad? No, Captain. Just a bit... inconvenienced.", despite his attempts to have a calm demeanor, the swordsman sounded like he was done with her already. "Now, let's get you back to HQ before you decide to redecorate my coat."
And so the two went ahead and arrived at the HQ, with Vergil waving a hand at the two guards before they entered the building. "We have finally arrived. At this point, you're free to express your...difficulties as well as slur whatever you'd like to slur without having to look like you've been released from an asylum.", Vergil told her, but she drunkenly took offense to that.
"You slobbering...good for nothing... ungentlemanly gentleman!", Eula slurred, faceplanting at the HQ's carpet. "I will have my vengeance!", she declared in a muffled voice.
"Sure you would, Captain.", Vergil rolled his eyes. "Save it you're sober enough to do so."
He scooped up the woman and carried her by his shoulder, admonishing himself as to how absurd this had gotten. Once he's at the barracks, he placed her down on the bed and left the room.
"So, not the type of Intel gathering you were hoping for, Chief?", Griffon quipped.
Be quiet, you insolent bird., Vergil retorted, though Griffon was already laughing.
The next day...
"Ughhh...what happened?", Eula groaned as she went to the Mess Hall with Amber by her side, who handed her a cup of coffee while she held an ice pack on her head.
"You ended up drinking a lot again last night, Eula.", Amber explained to her, placing her hands on her waist. "You're lucky Vergil managed to bail you out and got you back on the HQ since I'm out on patrol that time."
The Spindrift Knight only slumped onto her table. It was appreciative for him to do so, but to her, it felt like it was his own way to get a rise of out her for whatever reasons he had in mind. "And what did he want from me again?", she asked her friend.
"Intel about your uncle Schubert, particularly on how he act other than him being a noble and what he likes.", Amber explained to her, inwardly admiring the swordsman's intention to complete his work. "He was pretty calm about it, especially after what happened last night."
Eula looked at Amber, dreading at the possibilities on her head. "What did I do, Amber?", she asked in a low, but dangerous tone.
Amber blushed in embarrassment. "Other than you ranting a few things, and maybe 'sharing' your wine at Vergil's boot, I'd say it's pretty benign and cool of him to bring you back safe and sound."
Her friend slumped onto the table in embarrassment at her behaviour. "He is never going to let me hear the end of it, is he?"
The Outrider chuckled bashfully. "I don't think he would, but I think he'd appreciate it if you answer a few questions that'll help him out about your uncle.", she pointed out.
Eula sighed as she drank her coffee. "I'd swore I will have my vengeance on him once we're over and done with it..."
"Give it time, Eula.", Amber encouraged. "If you know him well enough, I'd say he's a good listener as long as he's interested that is."
An hour later, Eula went to the training grounds to find the new initiates being instructed by Vergil rigorously as they listened intently onto his lectures even in spite of the swordsman appearing to be uninterested to say the least. Eula watched as the recruits fought one another with precision and skill, along with speed that isn't normally present with new recruits. She had heard discussions amongst citizens and knights alike where he would take them to Dransponspine to subject them in hard conditions to test their limits. Although unorthodox to many, the initiates were eager to follow him, as if they are motivated to prove to him that they want to be knights and not be a burden, which is quite impressive for someone like him.
After they had dispersed following a last lecture, Eula approached Vergil, whose hands are behind his back as he casually turned his attention to her and maintaining the stoic expression typically seen of him. "I suppose you're well rested, Captain Lawrence?", the swordsman asked in a carefree tone.
Eula gave him an annoyed 'hmmph'. "Well I supposed you are at least capable of courtesy and consideration of the people around you from what Amber had told me."
"Oh?", Vergil feigned ignorance, which peeved Eula a bit. "And what would that be?"
"I'd rather not explain that to you,", Eula's blush of embarrassment reddened. "But the point stands that you intend to investigate my uncle Schubert, is it?"
He looked pleased as he crossed his arms at her. "Apparently I am.", he confirmed to her. "And it would be beneficial it you could spill whatever you know from him."
Eula looked at him at him for a moment, observing him keenly before she asked him a few questions first. "Are you at least capable of enough of approaching him?", she asked him. "Because he does not take kindly to those having 'lower' blood than him."
"Already had, Captain.", the swordsman confirmed for her. "He was as gullible as a rat grabbing cheese on a mousetrap."
"Good, because you will need to bring him a specialized dish on his camp at Springvale because that is where he often spends his time at.", Eula further instructed him. "And since you have confidence that you approached him without a hitch, then there is no reason for me to teach you how to be formal as such."
The swordsman seemed pleased at the information. "Not as formal as having drunken rants it seems.", Vergil calmly stated which only caused Eula to bare her gritted teeth at him.
"Just go and do what you need to do, yes?", she beckoned him exasperatingly which he does by casually walking past her.
"Didn't take you as someone who'd make fun at someone being so melodramatic, Chief.", Griffon commented at the exchange between the two. "Dante must've rubbed on you more than you thought while being stuck in the underworld."
If you are spending time in the world where you have yet to learn much from and knew no one in a familiar level, I'd take an opportunity to branch out of need be, Vergil mentally replied to the familiar. But never say that I am 'infected' by him in any way or I will have feathers plucked off one by one.
"Riiiiight, whatever you say, Chief.", Griffon conceded but could help but admit that he was amused by it as well.
"Here is the Gebratenes Fleisch mit Sauerkraut is ready to go! Be sure to eat it while it's hot, otherwise the flavor will be spoiled.", Sara cheerily informed of him. "And by the way, don't worry too much when Eula says strange things. She's actually a very good person."
Vergil took the packaged meal from her. "It would appear so, if being melodramatic of her mannerisms is also part of it."
The cook couldn't help but laugh at that. "Well, that's Eula for you, Mister Vergil!", her smile fell shortly after. "If only the other people of Mondstadt would see it that way."
The swordsman nodded at her, aware of the history of Eula's family. "Being known by the family name while trying to do things differently than the others is indeed a burden that more than a few people had unfortunately.' he stated.
"You're right about that," Sara told him. "Eula had been doing things much differently ever since she joined the Knights despite initial opposition from the people. And it seemed that she wanted to prove to be more than her family name and that it does not solely define her."
For a moment, that struck a chord in Vergil. Even as a child, he knew of the incoming responsibilities he would have as the keeper of the gateway between the Human World and the Demon World and how he imagined himself as being the primary carrier of Sparda's legacy, and as to how much he wanted to be like him by trying to obtain his power those twenty years ago.
Although him being an heir of the Legendary Dark Knight also caused tragedy for him and his family when he was a boy. Where Mundus sent his underlings to rip them apart because he wanted Sparda's blood and name erased.
But now, after everything that had happened, Vergil didn't simply rivaled his father for his strength, but also surpassed him in a way that he saw himself as being more than just Sparda's legacy while remaining committed in carrying it nonetheless. To understand his father's journey and why he left it all in favor for something so insignificant to him.
Vergil shook his head to go back to the present. "Indeed it is, she simply fulfills her duty as a Knight, helping one person after another.", he stated to the woman.
"I believe a day will come when things will get better.", Sara voiced her belief. "And given she has friends and has the capacity to make more in spite of her name, I think that would make her very happy, though she might not ever admit it."
Vergil simply nodded and put the package underneath his coat. "I'll keep that in mind. She is persistent after all."
Sara grinned at him. "Thank you and please come again, Mister Vergil! And don't tell Eula what I just said or she'll think I'm a bit too nosy!"
The swordsman left and exited the city gates. "All right then...", he sighed. "Let's deal with this noble, shall we?"
Spectre: Decided to skip out the entire learning under Eula since Vergil could pretty much do that without much guidance, instead replacing them with something a bit unique. Minor spoiler ahead. Vergil will gain a new power. Revealed at the next chapter.