The Puppet Mastermind
And here we are with the latest installment of A New Crusade! Got a lot happening this chapter so hope everyone enjoys it. And of course, a quick shout out to Noble Eight and all my other readers who've helped make this story better. Now, with no guest reviews or further ado, let's get to the story!
Midday: Roswaal Manor
"ULRIC!" Exclaimed Rem and Petra as the two maids ran forward and embraced the knight. Apparently without the presence of Ram there, the two seemed to think they could get away with being a little less professional. Not that Ulric really minded at the moment as he hugged the two back. "You're back earlier than I thought you'd be," said Rem, "but where's Emilia?"
"She's still at the Sanctuary," said Frederica, who'd been listening to Ulric's explanation of the situation before being interrupted by the arrival of the other two maids, "which is where we'll be going now."
"You mean we're going to your home Sister Frederica?" Questioned Petra with a degree of excitement in her eyes.
"If that is of course alright with you," said Ulric, directing his comment towards Frederica, "I understand it might not be the most welcoming place right now, but it should be safe for the time being. Though if you know of another-."
"It's quite alright Sir Ulric," said Frederica with her customary soft smile, "Emilia made you her knight for a reason, so I trust your judgment on the situation. And after all, I still need to fulfill my duty as head maid and look after my two charges."
"You have my thanks, Frederica," said Ulric with a bow of his head, "if anyone can keep these two safe, I know you can."
"You're too kind, Sir Knight," said Frederica with a hand to her smiling mouth, "it's little wonder they adore you so."
"He really is wonderful," said Rem as she pecked Ulric on the lips, "even though I can't remember anything, I know that much."
"No fair Rem," said Petra as she pulled Ulric down slightly with surprising strength and pecked his cheek, "I said I won't lose and I meant it!"
"Now now you two," chided Frederica, "Sir Ulric has informed me that time is of the essence right now. We'll have a proper reunion when he meets up with us back at the Sanctuary."
"Then why not take us on a tour later," said Petra to Ulric, "we can call it a date!"
"I-I would like that as well!" exclaimed Rem, clearly caught off-guard by Petra's declaration.
"It, uh, would be an honor," stuttered Ulric upon realizing what he'd just been asked, "but we need to get there first, so you'd best get packed." The two maids nodded enthusiastically before heading into the mansion while Ulric let out a small sigh.
"They really are good girls," said Frederica as she watched the two depart.
"And they both deserve a chance to be happy," said Ulric, "so please take care of them, and Spiegel and yourself. With luck I should be along shortly after I convince Beatrice to leave the library."
"Then we shall all eagerly await the moment you two join us," said Frederica.
A Few Minutes Later: The Forbidden Library
The creaking of the door echoed across the large library as Ulric entered the familiar mystical space. Unlike most times where he had to go through a few doors before finding hers, this time he found her on the first try. Given her words upon his entrance, perhaps that's because she'd wanted it that way. "It seems you're finally here, I suppose," said Beatrice, seated on the same stool that Ulric now knew contained her apparent Gospel.
"I've come for some answers," said Ulric, "and they have to do with you this time."
"Ask whatever you wish I suppose," she said, "though it is quite ironic. The end of a long, long contract. One could say bringing an end to the end of the end I suppose. Will I truly be set free this time? Although, considering you're the one who might be doing the deed, makes it far too ironic of an ending for me, I suppose."
"Is that your admission of guilt?" Questioned Ulric, "Or more from that book of yours? Tell me the truth, has it told you to betray me and the others? Are you really without a will of your own?"
"Betty doesn't like repeating herself I suppose," she replied, "but I don't know what betrayal you might be referring too."
"I figured you'd be difficult," said Ulric with a shake of his head as he crossed his arms, "and here I was hoping this would go quick so that we could both get out of here."
"Get out of here?" Said Beatrice, "what are you talking about, I suppose. I never recall asking you too-."
"What does your book say about it then?" Asked Ulric, "you said it's been directing your steps from the very beginning. Why not ask it what you should be doing now?" For once, the little magic wielder looked unsure of herself as she opened the book and started leafing through the pages, her eyes darting back and forth in what might have been mild desperation. "If you knew this conversation was going to take place, you'd have already been opened to that page or had it marked. So if it won't tell you," Ulric moved forward and snatched the book from her hands, startling Beatrice as she grabbed his arm in a vain attempt to stop him, "then what good is-My God, what is this?"
The pages in the book, were blank. The so-called instructions that Beatrice claimed to have been following for so long, did they not actually exist? "It happened, some time ago, years now," she said after slowly releasing her hold on his arm, "the tome of knowledge, stopped showing my future."
"Tome of knowledge?" Parroted Ulric, "I thought this was called a gospel."
"The 'Gospels' that the Witch's Cult carry are nothing more than inferior copies I suppose," said Beatrice, "They show their reader a path to their desire, but it's often full of discrepancies and does not tell you every single event that will transpire. But this book, is one of only two in the world that are capable of giving its reader a clear view of the future. Even then, there are occasional discrepancies I suppose."
"But how did you even acquire such an item?" Questioned Ulric, "and why did it suddenly stop showing your future?"
"I was given this tome upon being contracted to maintain and curate this library's knowledge I suppose," explained Beatrice.
"And who would need someone to curate so much-," Ulric stopped as a possible and potentially bad realization set in, "tell me, was this library founded by Echidna? Are you a spirit contracted to her?"
"She loved storing up knowledge more than anything else," said Beatrice with a nostalgic gleam in her eye, more or less answering the Crusader's question.
"But if this tome is now blank," said Ulric as he held the book up, "does that mean it's magic has run out?"
"It was the last thing she asked me to do I suppose," said Beatrice with a solemn look on her face as she gripped her skirt, "'one day, that person will appear in the library'. My task was to wait for that faithful day. And so, I've waited, for four hundred years I've waited. Never once did the book tell me who it would be. So now, I don't care whether or not you're 'that person'. If you can end my contract, if you can take my life, if you're the one that finally lets me rest in peace. Then I can settle for that I suppose."
"You're telling me," said Ulric with a frown, "that you have been waiting for someone to kill you? That all this time in the library was simply you waiting to die?"
"As a spirit, saying I want to 'die' is not entirely accurate," replied Beatrice with sad eyes, "what I want specifically is for someone to free me from this contract which has bond me for eternity, I suppose."
"And then what happens?" Questioned Ulric, "you return to wherever it is spirits like you go when your contracts are terminated? It sounds quite similar to dying if I'm being honest."
"I never worried about my fate," said Beatrice, "because I had the book. I've had dreams, so many dreams, of its last page being filled in. Every time that door is opened, and my time doesn't come, my heart would feel betrayed I suppose. But with the passage of enough time, I realized something about the blank pages in the book. It remains that way not because it's magic has run out, I suppose, but because it's owner has reached their end."
"Hmm," Ulric mused as he considered the Spirit's words, "that seems far too…..fatalistic, in my opinion. You believe that simply because it has not shown you anything else that it means you will die? I have a different view. It won't show you anything else because you refuse to move forward."
"Where could I even go, I suppose," questioned Beatrice quietly.
"Where do you want to go?" Questioned Ulric, "this world is vast, enormous and full of wonders beyond imagining. In just my short time here I've seen and done things that my fellow Crusaders would never believe in a million years. And you've spent 400 hundred years here, reading and learning everything that's been archived. In the dreams you mentioned, have you never once seen a place you'd like to visit or an event you'd like to be a part of?"
"What are you saying?" Questioned Beatrice, "that I should just abandon the library, abandon the task that's been given to me? It's not that simple I suppose. I'm a contracted spirit who can't even die on their own!"
"Do you really want to die?" Ulric asked back, "you've hardly been outside this library for the entirety of your existence. You've been bound by Echidna and by a book for far too long. So why not tell me, is there a way to overwrite your contract without sending you away? I know a few people who would be sad to see you go, so if there's something I can do to help, tell me."
"Something you can do I suppose," Beatrice almost whispered as she clenched her tiny hands while tears began streaming down her face, "do you know how long I've wanted to hear those words? How many years have passed?! Why, why couldn't you have come sooner?! Why did you leave me here for so long?! You say you'll overwrite my contract, blot it out completely and take me from this place?!"
Her head drooped a bit then as she spoke her next words. "There's no way you could do such a thing, I suppose. That's why I want you to destroy this utter failure. If you cannot be 'that person' for me, then I want you to kill me with your own two hands I suppose." She reached up towards him with tears in her eyes, her arms held out in complete surrender. Ulric had seen this once or twice before. She was waiting, for the fatal blow to end it all.
The Swordsman let out a troubled sigh at the scene before him as he gripped his sword with his right hand. Then, taking a deep breath, he drew his weapon while throwing his left arm up, and slashed apart the tome. Beatrice, in her confusion, hardly had time to register what was happening before the knight knelt and embraced her with one arm as blank, cut up pages floated down around them. "Did I ever mention," he said, "how many fairy tales there are in my homeland, about a girl trapped in a tower and waiting on a knight to rescue her?"
"Betty doesn't…..understand," she said, still trying to comprehend his actions.
"I'm saying I'd like to share some of those stories with you," answered Ulric, "and many more things. I meant it when I said there would be those who'd miss you if you suddenly perished. If nothing else, at least let me take you from here and give them a chance to say goodbye."
"What sort of nonsense are you spouting now, I suppose," said Beatrice, "my end has already been written."
"I don't believe that," said Ulric as he released her and looked her in the eye, "I believe that tome stopped showing your future because even it does not know what comes next. Only God can tell either of us that now and I believe he is telling you to write the next chapter in your story with your own hand. And if it is your time to die, then I don't believe it should be a simple execution in a library but out there, giving your life for others."
"Your talk of faith, is always so amusing I suppose," said Beatrice, "surely you should know, the reason I'd trust my death to you is because-."
"So sorry to interrupt," purred another voice from the door of the library as Ulric stood up with his sword at the ready. In a familiar scene, Elsa had entered the mystical room with her same demonic smile on her face. "but would it be possible for me to become 'that person' for you?"
"Who gave you permission to enter this library I suppose," questioned Beatrice in a commanding tone which revealed that she too was surprised at the assassin's presence. 'That proves it,' thought Ulric, 'Beatrice had nothing to do with her entering last time. She's not a traitor after all.' "No one may enter this forbidden library without my permission, so how-?"
"The magic you use to create these isolated spaces has doors as it's medium, doest it not?" Said Elsa, "Once I knew that it was just a matter of leaving every door open. Quite simple really, though it took a little time. But I'm relieved I was able to find you before Meili returned from her pursuit."
"So, you saw them leave then," said Ulric as he placed his helmet on his head and stood between her and Beatrice, "that confirms my theory that you've been watching this place ever since our departure."
"Indeed," said Elsa, "and it seems you intend to protect this spirit. How enviable that she has someone who cares for her. I'll send you both to see the angels together."
"To a degree, I wish you could!" Exclaimed Ulric as he leapt forward with mana assisting his charge. Elsa was quick to intercept his strike with her kukri as the two exchanged a few quick blows, sparks flying from their blades before Elsa flowed around a right diagonal strike and aimed one of her own at the knight's neck. But Ulric was in no mood for wasting any time and slammed his whole body into the woman, flinging them both out of the library and into one of the living rooms on that floor.
The two of them crashed into a chair with their momentum, crumpling it under their combined weight before Elsa rolled back and kicked Ulric off of her. The two came up swinging as their weapons met again and again before Elsa twirled and lashed out with a surprisingly powerful kick, knocking the knight's sword out of his hand. This didn't deter the Crusader, however, who caught her blade hand and slammed it on the nearby table, breaking off a section as Elsa's temporarily broken fingers dropped the weapon.
The Assassin responded by kicking away from him, freeing her wrist from his grip before dodging a powerful punch that destroyed another chair. The knight continued after her, attempting to prevent her from drawing her second kukri by throwing punches and kickes at his adversary, forcing her on the defensive as he busted holes in the wall, destroyed the couch with a powerful kick and shattered the table with a missed punch, all the while his body glowing with the energy of Jiwald. His efforts were almost in vain as the dreaded woman flipped over him and pulled out her weapon in midair, managing to scrape the knight's helmet with it the in the process. Ulric was knocked off balance only for a moment before rushing her again, timing his attack with her landing.
"DEUS VULT!" exclaimed Ulric as he held his arms out in front of him to block the descending blade from his adversary, feeling a bit of pain as it bit into his left arm. But that was all it did as his momentum carried him and Elsa forward where they bashed through a nearby wall and onto the floor of the hallway beyond. The Crusader was quick to draw his dagger and aim a two-handed stab at his opponent.
But Elsa's speed was greater than his as she managed to raise her weapon and block the blow with both of her hands. She managed to kick Ulric off of her once again, this time causing him to roll to the side before rolling up and back to her feet while Ulric tried to get up, only for her to pin his left arm, which had the dagger, with her heeled shoe. "Now, show me your-," Elsa's sentence was halted as she turned and blocked a purple spike which had been sent flying at her back.
"Something you should know I suppose," said Beatrice from the other room, "it's naïve to think that shadow magic can't be used offensively." She demonstrated this by firing a few more projectiles at the assassin, who deflected them skillfully with her kukri.
"My how lovely," said Elsa in what must've been genuine surprise, "I had no idea you could do something like that!" Clearly her interest was piqued as she charged after Beatrice now, who responded in kind by firing several more of the purple shadow spikes. The assassin deflected the first several, but the intensity of the attack was enough to bring her to a halt as she was forced to leap back to avoid an ever-increasing number of them. One of said attacks actually managed to cut her arm.
"Well," said Elsa as she examined the wound which seemed to be icing up as if it was freezing, "this was a mistake on my part."
"I'm much older than you," said Beatrice as she held her hand in the air and summoned at least a dozen of the shadowed shards, "now kindly fall apart where you stand I suppose, Minya!" She clenched her hand then as the projecticles rained down on the assassin, forcing Ulric to roll to the side to avoid getting hit. Fortunately, the assault only lasted a few moments. Getting up and looking back into the room, Ulric saw the attack had apparently been successful as a statue frozen in purple ice stood where Elsa once was, missing its arms and head.
It didn't stay that way long before toppling over. "That was, astounding," admitted Ulric as he entered the room and retrieved his sword.
"Betty did not lie about her abilities I suppose," she said, "now, where is it you wish to take me first?" Ulric couldn't help the small smile that came to his face.
The Path to the Village
"This is not the most dignified way to be carried I suppose," said Beatrice as the knight ran forth with the girl tucked under his left arm.
"A thousand apologies your greatness," said Ulric, not entirely joking with the comment, "but I need a free hand to reach my sword when the situation calls for it. And given what that wench said, we'll need transportation from the village to-." The knight stopped as they came upon a small bridge over a stream as he set Beatrice down. The reason for his sudden halting, the little blue-haired girl standing on it.
"Now how did you manage to make it all the way out here," said the girl with an amused smile on her face as held her hand to her hip. If Ulric didn't know better, he might've assumed she was attending a party given her black, long-sleeved dress and black boots with a white ascot around her neck. Most striking of all was the black cape with a red inside, secured to her shoulders by a neck piece with purple frills along the edges and a gold string with a symbol resembling a monster's tooth. "Elsa really can be sloppy sometimes."
"I take it you're Meili," said Ulric as he drew his sword, a memory flashing through his mind, "we've met before, haven't we?"
"We sure have," said the blue-haired girl as she tossed her braid over her shoulder, "I had a lot of fun when you visited us all that day, even if you did ruin my plan with the wolgarms afterwards." She smiled deviously as a pack of said wolgarm, flying rat and cobra mabeast emerged from the woods and formed up behind her. "Now I suppose I should properly introduce myself. I'm Meili Portroute."
"I'm curious why you'd be here," said Ulric, "I was led to believe you were after the maids."
"Sure am," said Meili, "but that doggy of yours sure is fast. Even my quickest mabeasts will have trouble catching up to them. But don't worry, when they do I've given them orders to finish Petra with one bite. I wouldn't want my friend to suffer after all."
"You have no right to call her friend," said Ulric as he glanced at Beatrice, "take care of the mabeasts and-damn!" The knight swung over the librarian's head with his sword, batting away a strike from someone he'd thought was long dead.
"Now running away like that wasn't very friendly," said Elsa, who was now missing her cloak, as she retreated a short distance while Ulric stood back to back with Beatrice.
"Just what kind of demon are you," Ulric almost snarled, "to still be alive after something like that?!"
"I'll admit that I'm not entirely human," said Elsa as she licked her lips, "but I wouldn't say I'm a demon. No horns you see."
"This situation appears to be a bit more precarious than we first anticipated, I suppose," said Beatrice, "I can wipe both of them out, but I'd have to send you away first, Sir Ulric."
"I do admire your willingness to sacrifice," said Ulric, "but we're short on time and your power is still needed elsewhere."
"Then what shall we do, I suppose," questioned Beatrice with a glance back at him.
"You could always surrender," said Meili, clapping her hands together as if she'd just thought of a brilliant idea, "if you do, I'll even ask super nicely for Elsa not to gut the both of you! It would be a shame to see two of my other friends suffer, especially after all the fun we had."
"Tempting," said Ulric, "but I have another thought in mind. Tell me, what would happen if your client were to suddenly die off? Have the both of you been paid in advance, and if so, was it the full price or half?"
"Our contract would be void, unfortunately," said Elsa as she relaxed her stance only slighty, "we were only paid a small sum in advance, given the nature of our assignment. But even knowing that there's little you can do. Both of us has enough courtesy to not speak of our clients, and even if we did, neither of you will escape from here alive."
"You don't need to speak of your client, I'm sure I already know," said Ulric as he glanced at Meili and said the name of the one he suspected aloud. Elsa might've been professional enough to keep from showing her surprise, but Ulric didn't miss the widening of Meili's eyes before she stopped herself from blurting out something to the effect of 'how did you know?'. "So, it turns out that piece of shit is responsible for this after all. That's good enough."
The Crusader relaxed his stance then and sheathed his sword, much to the surprise of the gathered women. "Are you giving up now, I suppose?" Questioned Beatrice, "and here I thought you were a fighter?"
"I've simply decided our fight is elsewhere," replied Ulric as he glanced at Beatrice, "tell me, given who your contractor was, you'd know the location of the Sanctuary, correct?"
"Betty does, I suppose," she replied, "and I can get us there in record time."
"Then we're done here," said Ulric, "take us to the Sanctuary." Beatrice simply sighed at his request before raising his hand in the air. Too late, the assassins realized their intentions as Elsa darted forward with her kukri aimed for Ulric's neck while Meili's mabeasts charged them from the other side. But all they managed to hit was a burst of light before their two targets disappeared and went somewhere else well beyond their reach.
Laboratory of the Sanctuary
"Hmm," said Ulric as they appeared in the lab that had been used to create Ryuzu Meyer, "so you knew the location of this lab. Quite convenient. But now I'm going to have some questions as to how you've been accessing the stone from a distance later."
"Betty could easily answer all your questions now, I suppose," replied the Miniature Magic user, "what's so pressing that we needed to be here instead of dealing with the attackers at the mansion?"
"As you heard," said Ulric while trekking towards the entrance with Beatrice right beside him, "the assassin's contract will be voided should the client be killed or withdraw the order. It just so happens that we can resolve the problem of those two here. But, that is actually a secondary concern with what's coming….no, it's already started." The ground crunched underneath the Knight and Spirit's feet as they walked out into a cold, snow-covered woodland.
"This is a bit unusual I suppose," said Beatrice as she caught one of the flakes on her hand, "this snow is being produced by magic."
"As I suspected," said Ulric, "will you be warm enough like that?"
"The cold won't bother a spirit like Betty with her abundant mana, I suppose," replied Beatrice, "don't underestimate me."
"Then we'd best move, time is short and a terrible enemy will be arriving soon," said the Knight as the two trekked down the forest trail for several minutes. Ulric, thankfully, had experience with both his native European climate and the cold nights of the deserts of the Middle East to assist him in resisting the low temperatures. And Beatrice, true to her word, never once complained as the two arrived at the now snowy entrance to the Witch's Graveyard. "You wait here and keep a lookout," said Ulric, "I imagine I don't have to tell you why you can't enter."
"Just don't take too long I suppose," replied Beatrice, "Betty didn't grab her favorite book to read for this surprise trip." Ulric smirked slightly at her possible attempt at humor before continuing into the stone tunnel and down the passageway. If his assumption was correct, he should find her here right about now attempting to take the trial again, and if not then they'd simply check the village. He got his answer soon enough upon arriving at the wooden door and pushing it open.
"Ulric," said Emilia, surprisingly awake as she turned around in surprise, "is that you Ulric?"
"It is, your ladyship," he replied, "are you well right now? Did you pass the tria-?" His sentence was halted as the half-elf girl moved forward suddenly and hugged him tightly. It was not the type of hug one would give to a friend they hadn't seen in a while but rather a more intimate one.
"I was so lonely, Ulric," said Emilia, "why did you leave all of a sudden without saying anything?"
"I left a letter explaining that I had something to do," said Ulric, not liking the smile on her face. Something about it seemed mischievous and, unnatural.
"What are you talking about," laughed Emilia as she released the knight and turned around for a moment. Ulric didn't like how it sounded closer to the laughter of an imp than Emilia's normal, bell-like laughter. "You don't have to make excuses for why you left. After all, you came back to me. In fact, I never stopped believing," she turned and hugged Ulric again, burying her head against his chest as she spoke, "that you'd come to me."
"Lady Emilia," said Ulric, "I'm you're knight, of course I'd-."
"That's right, you are my knight," she said sweetly, "you always do your best for me. That's why I did my best to fulfill my task. Taking the trial over and over again without rest. And now, you're here at last to save me. It's what you always, always do, after all, isn't it?"
Ulric backed away slightly as she reached up and touched the side of his head. "I've thought about it for a while now, how you're always so kind and brave and willing to risk your life for me. When you left so suddenly, I was afraid you'd finally had enough of protecting me from the world and had gone out to run away with that other girl. I got scared thinking that, so I came here. But that didn't help me deal with it at all. But I'm really, truly happy that you've come back because it means you really do care for me."
Ulric's eyes widened upon looking into Emilia's. The usually kind eyes she'd always had were replaced with a kind of lifelessness, as if some spark had been extinguished within her and now, she'd become delusional. "Could you stay with me, forever, Ulric," she continued, "as long as I have you, I'm certain I won't need anything else because you've always tried to be everything I need. I'm sorry you've suffered because of me, but I finally realized how you feel about me and how I feel about you. You see, I love you, Ulric, my brave and wonderful knight. I finally realized I love you."
The Crusader backed away, not wanting to hear anymore. Whoever this was standing before him, it was not Emilia or at least not the Emilia he'd come to know. Cursing under his breath, Ulric turned and headed back out of the graveyard, his mind a whirl of anger and confusion. 'What happened to her,' he thought, 'it couldn't have just been my absence, could it? She somehow missed the letter I gave her, or it was taken, which is why she was here in the first place but even so, why is she-?'
Another terrible thought occurred to him as he turned the facts over in his head. 'She attempted the trial again and again, without rest, because she believed I was gone. The number of failures must've taxed her beyond her limit until, oh no. What have I done?! By allowing her to continue enduring the trial and not stopping her from suffering that pain over and over again. Is this the ultimate outcome? Is that to be her fate if she continues to keep taking the trial?!'
So lost was he in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice the new presences outside until Garfiel spoke up. "Hey, when'd you get back?" Questioned Garfiel, "and where's the Princess?"
"Lady Emilia," said Ulric as he managed to orient himself just enough to stop walking, "she's still inside. But something's wrong, she thinks she loves me."
"Just what in the world are you talking about," snarled Garfiel as red energy began to circulate around his body and his muscles began to bulge, "this isn't the time for the two of you to-."
"You're not hearing me Garfiel!" Exclaimed Ulric as he turned around quickly, "Emilia knows I'm in love with someone else, she knows we're at best close friends! There was nothing in her eyes when she said those words to me, her mind is shattered!"
"So that explains why there's snow every-," Garfiel started to say before Ulric cut him off.
"It's not her!" said Ulric, surprising even the half-beast man with the ferociousness of his glare, "I've seen a snow like this from her before, and it's only possible when Puck is with her. But she hasn't been able to contact him for days now. The source of this snowfall is elsewhere."
"What," said Garfiel, "but if it's not the half-elf then who could it be?"
"I'm afraid the main issue isn't the snow itself," said Ulric, "but what it's bringing to the Sanctuary."
"And what might that be, I suppose," asked Beatrice, "Is it the threat you mentioned earlier."
"Wait," said Garfiel as he turned to the white-robed Ryuzu copy that had been standing by quietly, "you mean when you told me rabbit mabeast were starting to appear-."
"Damn," said Ulric, "the Great Rabbit is already upon us."
"You mean one of the three Great Mabeasts is about to appear here," said Beatrice, "that is cause for concern, I suppose."
"It is," said Ulric as he turned to Garfiel, "find Ram and Otto. Have them get the Arlam villagers ready to leave immediately while you, Ryuzu and the other copies gather the denizens of the Sanctuary in the village square."
"I can do that but then what?" Questioned Garfiel as he clenched his fists, "and how do you even know about Ryuzu's copies?"
"I'll tell you when there's time to explain," said Ulric, "for now, gather those who can't leave the barrier and have Beatrice teleport them all to the lab. With luck it should prove a good enough hiding space for at least a little while. And if the need arises, call for more Ryuzu copies to help with the evacuation."
"I can do all that, but what are you going to be doing while all of this is happening?" Questioned Garfiel.
"I have a good hunch where the snowfall is originating from," said Ulric, "I'm going to find it and stop it."
A Short Time Later: Main Village Cottage
Things were proceeding at an interesting pace for Roswaal L. Mathers. Not long ago, the peace and quiet of the house was shattered by Garfiel all but busting down the door to their room looking for Ram. It would've been an amusing scene had he been there attempting to confess his love for her, but instead he brought news that they were in danger. Apparently, the Great Rabbit was on its way and the villagers needed to be evacuated.
Naturally, Ram wanted to move him first before the other villagers, but he declined. His explanation was that the villager's lives took priority and that he wasn't so helpless that he couldn't handle a few carnivorous rabbits. He was glad when Ram finally agreed on the condition that she come back for him the moment the other villagers were ready to move. Had she been a bit more stubborn, he would've had to do something drastic.
After all, the real reason he sent her away arrived a few minutes later, walking through the door with a sense of mild urgency to his movements. "Roswaal," said Ulric upon entering, "I take it you've been informed of the current situation?"
"I have indeeeeeed," replied the mage, "but I am curious about it's accuracy. Tell me, how do you kn-SLAAAAMMM!" His vision was blotted out for a moment as pain erupted from his face. A fist of both mystic steel and mana had collided with his face with such force and speed that it sent him out of the bed and rolling on the floor until he moved back up to a half-kneeling position. "My, what a surprise, Sir Ulric. Have you picked now as an appropriate time to take out your frustrations on me?"
"Don't play dumb with me you bastard," said Ulric as he pulled off his helmet, revealing a visage of absolute hatred and disgust that was directed at the mage, "you know damn well why I'm here! It was you who hired the assassins wasn't it, you who's causing this snow right this very instant?!" Roswaal's expression fell slightly as he stood back up to his full height, seemingly unbothered by the numerous bandaged wounds.
"Those are some interesting accusations, Sir Ulric," said Roswaal, "tell me, on what grounds do you suspect me of these crimes?"
"Where to begin," said Ulric, "perhaps the fact that they had specific instructions detailing their targets as three maids and a knight. I thought it odd from the start, that neither you nor Emilia was targeted, and that the instructions were meant to coincide with 'my' return, almost as if," Ulric quickly stuck his hand in the now messy pile of pillows and pulled out a familiar black book, "the client knew when and where everyone would be or the future, to put it simply."
"Oh, so you're aware of what that tome is," said Roswaal, "excellent, that saves us a lot of explanations. And it must also mean that you discovered Beatrice's as well, so you know it's not a Witch's gospel either."
"No," said Ulric, "it is the only other existing tome of knowledge in the world apart from Beatrice's. Her explanation already answers quite a bit about some of your actions, but what I still don't understand is why? Why do any of this? Why hire assassins to attack the mansion, why create a snowfall and attract a horde of mabeasts? All of it will only lead to your own demise?"
"Why, you ask," said Roswaal, "to fulfill my own deepest wish. And before you inquire further, I cannot say what it is specifically as I have made a vow of my own. What I can say is this, that I am constantly doing my utmost to fulfill my dearest wish. Everything from my schemes, to my inhumanity, and the assistance and backing that I've offered up to this point are for that purpose."
Whatever reaction Roswaal had been expecting, a sudden smirk followed by a low cackling was apparently not it. "Your utmost?" Parroted Ulric before bursting out into full blown laughter that lasted for a few seconds until he was able to catch his breath. "You call following this book your utmost?! Do you even know the reason it asked you to do some of the things you've done? Did you even know what would happen when you caused this snow fall in the first place?!"
"It isolated Emilia, of course," said Roswaal, "surely you realize what the inhabitants would think of an unusual snowstorm in a place with a deep connection to the witch? Garfiel would condemn her and the villagers have more than a little experience with cold spells. Once she was isolated, Emilia would then become emotionally unstable." Ulric glared dangerously at Roswaal upon learning this new information. "Of course, you wouldn't be able to distance yourself from her when she needs to lean on you."
"So, you somehow knew about the letter I left her," growled Ulric, "that's why she didn't know about it."
"Letter?" Questioned Roswaal, showing genuine surprise on his features at the mention of it.
"You, don't know about the letter I left her," said Ulric, "but what about the assassins? Why did you send them?"
"Because your current self cannot bring about the future indicated in that text," replied Roswaal, "you're still trying to save everyone you can. And discrepancies like that, must be corrected." This got another quick laugh out of Ulric as he tightened his grip on the tome, causing the cover to singe a bit from the light magic he was releasing in his hand.
"So despite your praise of this little book, even it can't tell you everything," mocked Ulric, "no wonder I was able to take you by surprise."
"Indeed," said Roswaal, "but I imagine you'll be at least the slightest bit more understanding the next time around, Goa." Ulric's eyes widened upon that statement as a fireball from Roswaal destroyed the tome in his hand. His instincts flared as he reached for his sword, only to be knocked back by the bed being flung at him with a powerful blast of wind magic.
"Kito Jiwald!" Ulric said quickly as the mattres was blasted apart by a ball of light which continued sailing towards where the knight had last seen the mage, only to be quickly dissipated by a shroud of darkness before Roswaal himself glided across the room and attempted to stomp on Ulric's head. The knight rolled to the side as the mage busted a hole in the wall with the surprising strength of his kick before the mage blasted him backward with another burst of wind. Ulric grunted in pain as his back hit the wall, but he held firm to keep himself from collapsing and retaliated with a mana-infused leap, cratering the wood behind him as he barreled into Roswaal and sent the both of them crashing through the window and out onto the snow-covered ground.
The mage was quick to kick Ulric off of him and onto the ground, but Ulric rolled back and up, drawing his sword in the process as he swung his light-infused blade at Roswaal's neck. But the crafty magician reacted quickly and managed to block the strike with a small but powerful vortex of wind-magic. "You've known all along what I could do," said Ulric as he put more mana infused strength into his arms, attempting to push the blade closer to Roswaal's throat, "that's why you've been so confident in my abilities thus far, and why you haven't hardly done a thing!"
"I've done what was necessary to make you what I need," said Roswaal as he too put more mana into his defensive spell, causing the vortex in his hands to expand and force the two of them back a few feet. "You see, you are my hope. It is through you that I shall attain my deepest desires."
"Such expectations despite having destroyed your precious tome," said Ulric, "I take it you assume I'm just going to start over now?"
"For the sake of protecting Emilia and everyone else, you will," said Roswaal before both his and Ulric's eyes were drawn to movement in the nearby bushes. Glowing red eyes stared back at them, numbering in the hundreds. "So, this is how it ends." The Great Rabbit had again arrived in the form of a massive horde of small but ferocious hares who hopped into the village at a slow but certain pace, headed for the both of them. If they behaved as before they'd take their time in surrounding the two before pouncing.
"It is not the end," said Ulric, "a mage of your caliber should-."
"No," said Roswaal, "you seem to have forgotten one thing, Sir Ulric. While you can restart, I cannot. The present me here shall end. But there will be another me waiting to fulfill my goals, and so long as that happens, I will be satisfied. Before I go, however, listen carefully. Focus on the one, truly most precious thing to you, get rid of everything but it. Think of nothing other than protecting that one most precious thing, and you will become….like me."
Ulric's reaction was simply to snort at that statement before speaking. "You think I have to be like you to accomplish my goals, but your 'hope' already has a solution to the current predicament," said Ulric as he blasted a nearby building with a light orb, burying a few but clearly not all of the approaching rabbits, "if being like you means giving up so easily then it's hardly worth it, now blast that other building so that we can get the hard part out of the way!"
"You'll understand someday," said Roswaal as he launched a powerful fireball into another nearby building that buried even more of the rabbits, "but for now, tell me what's nex-." His voice was cut off by the sudden rushing of blood into his lungs caused by the blade which had suddenly buried itself in his chest.
"The easy part," said Ulric as he shoved the weapon even deeper into Roswaal's heart, "I warned you what would happen should you become a threat to Rem, Emilia and the others and now you'll pay the price for your sins."
"Not a bad play," coughed Roswaal, still managing to smile despite the blood seeping out of his mouth and the glowing sword in his chest, "but it was already the end for me anyway. Do give the next me my regards."
"It's funny you should mention that," said Ulric as he moved closer to reveal a little secret of his own, "because I've learned that if you and I die at the wrong times, there won't be another you." He then put a hand on Roswaal's shoulder and yanked his blade out, scattering blood on the snow and his armor. "Now be useful for a change, as rabbit food!" The Crusader used his mana enhanced strength to toss the nearly dead mage onto the ground by the largest gathering of rabbits.
They wasted no time in swarming their new prey, ripping and tearing at his flesh in a frenzy. Ulric only needed to watch for a moment, feeling an odd mixture of satisfaction and revulsion at the memory of having experienced the same thing. He didn't look back as he walked away from the gruesome sight. That night, the Sanctuary would be set ablaze.
In the struggle, Ulric was reminded of the many passages in the Holy Gospel about weeping and gnashing of teeth. One such verse stood out to him quite clearly now, Lamentations 2:16: "All your enemies have opened their mouths wide against you; They hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, "We have swallowed her up! Surely this is the day for which we waited; We have reached it, we have seen it."
It was an apt comparison, to a degree, as he, Ram, Garfiel and the Ryuzu clones fought against the unending horde of the Great Rabbit, buying as much time as they could for the Arlam villagers to flee and the Sanctuary inhabitants to be teleported away by Beatrice. Not quite all of them made it. Wind and light and pure brute strength tore at their enemies as they set the houses ablaze in an attempt to corral the unending demon. But it was a battle of attrition that Ram was not suited for and Ulric was not much more prepared himself.
In the end, it was Garfiel who ordered Ryuzu and her remaining three copies to get an injured Ram and Ulric away before they both got devoured. But the knight opted to head for the Witch's Graveyard instead, ignoring his own injuries while ordering the copies to continue fleeing with Ram. What became of them after that, he never found out nor did he want to dwell on all the possibilities as he cut through more and more and more of the white vermin on his way to Emilia, sustaining injury after injury as exhaustion crept into his movements. Between that, the pain and the blood loss, Ulric had lost all coherence by the time he reached the graveyard.
At least he thought it was the graveyard. In all honesty, he wasn't sure about much of anything at the moment as he felt his life ebbing away from all of his wounds. His breathing was shallow as he stumbled along the now familiar stone hallway, wandering aimlessly. He heard a voice then. "Gosh, where did you get off too?" Questioned the feminine voice. "I was so worried?"
Ulric was so unfocused right now he didn't know whose voice he was even hearing. Was it Rem, Emilia, Frederica, Petra? All he could do at the moment was nod or shake his head in answer to anything. "You look exhausted, here, let's sit down for a moment," said the voice as the knight suddenly found himself on the floor leaning against the wall, "try and take it easy. You know you always go way too far for other people's sake. I wish you would only go that far for me, but that's just me being selfish."
Whatever he could've or wanted to say, it wouldn't come. He could feel his life ebbing away and the shroud of death closing in once more. But strangely, the last thing he felt before passing on once again, was a pair of soft, cold lips against his.
Whew, I think a thought many people had about this part of the story was that Roswaal could Goa fuck himself (I'm not sorry). Anyway, I hope you all liked this latest installment and as always, feel free to leave a comment or review about what you liked/disliked or if you've got any neat ideas for future chapters. Be sure to stop in next time as Ulric faces the second trial, and more unpleasant truths. 'Til then.