"So things have complicated?" Miharu asked, appearing concerned. She was accompanying Karen and the rest on their trip in Sangria. It was a bit of a challenge to focus on eight teenagers all at once, but a promise from Mei Mei had her trusting her to look after Nesat, Nakri, Chris and Touka. So she was able to focus on looking after Karen, Krovanh, Rebecca and Aoi; far more reasonable than eight.
She was on a call right now with Artorian, who had finally gotten the time to call in and update her on everything. He didn't hold back on details, and after being separated from Emilia he was finally able to vent about the problems at hand.
"Yeah, looks like this political marriage goes a little deeper than just keeping an alliance strong." Artorian responded. "The whole courtroom was short of being a ballroom blitz, I don't anyone was on the same page about anything. Granald wants to keep me away from Emilia, Miarad wants Emilia out of her hair, Gertrude's got some drama she's dragged Emilia off for, and the damn snake Bratt's got some kind of scheme involving Emilia's sister Moira. Sigmund's the only one in the family on her side."
"Poor Emilia… it's good you're there to keep her stable." Miharu couldn't imagine being caught in the middle of an entire political war, being fought by her own family on what she should do. It was worse that it was a life Emilia wanted nothing to do with, and to end this appropriately she had to play by their rules. Otherwise Little Garden may get dragged into a serious conflict with Gudenberg.
'We have enough enemies without fighting each other.' Miharu thought, looking to her healed fingers with a somber stare. The Anti-Slayer Movement was issue enough, if countries started fighting Warslran instead of the Savage humanity wouldn't stand a chance. They could barely survive two full force invasions, they had to work together.
"What happened between her and her family? It sounds like it's getting more and more personal."
"My guess, it's because Emilia was the result of an affair." Artorian stated. "Queen definitely hates her, Granald hasn't really hid the fact that he cares a lot for Emilia. Probably more than the rest if his efforts are anything to go by. I'm more worried about Bratt, something about the Prime Minister rubs me the wrong way."
"Did he do something?"
"He's the one who encouraged the marriage. Granald just agreed because Douglas is a decent guy and, more importantly, not me." Artorian explained, clicking his tongue in his mouth as he sounded concerned. "I think the king's letting his worries for Emilia blind him to Bratt's own schemes. Everyone's throwing accusations around and none of them match up fully. Sigmund think's he's doing eugenics, wanting to create a kid with the Variant Virus and a father that can use Dual Act."
"Dual Act? Sorry, you might need to run that by me."
"It's when a Slayer is able to activate two Hundreds at the same time." He answered. "It's rare, and I mean really rare. Every case of Dual Act has been with identical Hundred types, and the number that can use Dual Act is as low as natural Variants. Less if we don't know an exact number past our three and the theorized six unconfirmed cases." Artorian left out the identity of Liza, Claire's sister was known but her role as a Variant and the power source of Little Garden was confidential.
He wanted to tell her, she had every right to know and he hated keeping secrets. But it wasn't his place to reveal it to everyone. She was Claire's sister, and so the commander had all say in the matter.
"I know the trace amount of Severance is what gives Slayers the ability to use a Hundred, but I didn't expect genetics to play any role in it." Slayers were still incredibly shaky ground, this generation were infected with a dormant strain of Severance which gives them ability to use energy. There was countless variables they still didn't know, whether this immunity and adaptability was due to genes or just luck.
It didn't help that most of the Second-Generation Slayers were under the age of 20. There hasn't been a child of a Slayer yet, and even then they needed far more than one kid to start detecting a pattern.
"I wouldn't put it past, but that's for people with better experience to discuss. Maybe try asking Char, she might have some theories on that."
"Maybe…" Miharu trailed off, looking to the side as the mention of Warslran's top scientist had her conflicted. "Is there any other problems up there? I'm always ready to offer my advice."
"I'm trusting Emilia to handle herself on this, I don't think things can get more complicated then… shit." Artorian breathed out in annoyance, confusing Miharu at the sudden shift in his tone.
"Artorian?"
"Looks like I spoke too soon, a complication is walking right up to me. Sorry Miharu, I'm going to have to cut this call short, mind telling Karen I miss her and remind her to keep up on her homework for me?"
"Of course, I'll pass it along." Miharu promised, worried about the new complication but trusting him to handle it. "And you tell Emilia we all have her back, and can't wait to see her come home."
"I will. Love you."
"I love you too, bye." With a gentle tap, the call cut and Miharu placed her phone away, sighing with worry. The whole world's grown more complicated, and she was starting to worry that the problems of the past were just the start of a growing cataclysm waiting to erupt.
'How long before the next fight comes? Will they be ready?'
"You got a weird face on you." Miharu nearly jumped when Krovanh's voice snapped her out of her trance, looking over to see the boy.
"Lord, you nearly gave me a heart attack." The nurse sighed, collecting herself. "I just got off a call with Artorian, it seems things in Gudenberg are a lot more… complicated, then originally thought."
"I'm beginning to think he draws problems towards him."
"It's crossed my mind too." Miharu laughed, before she noticed the tired stare on the Hunter. "Something wrong?"
"Those three are cruel." Krovanh groaned, multiple shopping bags covering his arms as he looked ahead blankly. "We've already stopped by fifteen stores, what do a bunch of students need all this junk for?"
"Because they like having a boy to drag around, you're a new insight."
"They don't listen to anything I say?"
"I said you were a new insight, that doesn't mean they'll follow it."
"Blah." Krovanh gagged, exaggerating with his tongue out as he slouched.
"Hey Krovanh! We found another store!" Rebecca announced, the Slayer's back going straight as he got grabbed by one of the free sections of his arm. "Come on, we want to see what kind of soaps it has!"
"You already have three bags of that junk!"
"Nope, no complaining, just carrying!" Rebecca laughed, the Slayer being dragged along while Aoi followed.
"Rebecca, Krovanh's being generous carrying everything, don't go dragging him like that."
"We have to get the chance while we can, and sour face here definitely won't do it again so we have to make the most of it."
"Well I'm definitely not now!"
"Poor Krovanh, at the whim of teenage girls." Miharu laughed to herself, noticing Karen walk up to her with a small bag of her own. "Something wrong Karen?"
"No, everything's fine. I was just checking to know if it was Artorian that called." She asked, getting a nod as the two started to follow the trio ahead.
"Yes, he wanted to let you know he misses you. And that he's sorry he may be a little late. Apparently there's been a few complications."
"I hope Emilia will be okay, it can't be easy being at the center of something like that."
"She'll be okay, Artorian's with her. And you know better then anyone else what he'd do to help the people he loves."
"Is it bad that might make me feel worse?" The two laughed at the joke, letting silence take over as Krovanh and Rebecca's shouting from ahead kept everything from being quiet.
As they walked, Karen always glanced from side to side, keeping an eye on the alleys they passed. Although she did well to keep herself composed, her fortunes left a bad impression on the coming days.
"Beware the returning."
She didn't know who the returning was, whether it foretold Savage attacking, the Vessels of the ASM, or something else entirely. She also was unaware if it was meant for her or for Artorian, she had just been practicing in the morning and the draws came into focus. There was no warning of if it would be today, tomorrow or in a week. She only knew her tarots warned close to possible fates, some happened multiple times in a day but never did they take longer than a week.
'Be careful.' She thought to Artorian, concerned that what might come next will alter their course. She'd find a way to keep herself safe, and knew Artorian could handle himself.
But she still worried.
"Patience…" Knight hissed to itself, fading away after Karen's gaze just barely missed it. It's chances to take Karen were best when she was alone, even though the Chimera knew those following her weren't strong, a sense of warning kept it from lashing out and capturing her now. It wasn't the opportune time, all its instincts told it that.
Pawn fell because it pushed itself, thrashed and fought even in a losing battle. Knight would avenge its fallen brother, but would be sure to achieve their mother's wishes. Vitaly wanted Karen. Knight would deliver.
So it would wait, and rest, and watch.
"I will. Love you."
"I love you too, bye."
Artorian groaned as he was forced to hang up on his call, wishing he could have gotten to talk to Karen before having to put a pin in it. Any other person he'd have done so without a second thought, but his company while he stood in the halls of the palace was far too important to do that.
Which was even more the problem.
"Ah, I see you're taking a liking to my grandfather's portrait." Granald said, approaching the Abysswalker with Sigmund in tow as his security. Artorian hadn't realized he was in front of a portrait, he was idly walking since Emilia was dragged off by her sister and Douglas was busy on a call with his family.
The third son of Wenz was already working on his end to get the marriage called off. Artorian had to admit he liked a person that didn't waste time on important work. Guy was one of the better royalty figures he's met.
"Not really, was on a call and just zoned out." The Lord admitted, putting his phone away. He didn't turn to greet the man, but he did give a nod to Sigmund when he looked over to them for a brief moment.
"I envy him sometimes, him and my father had a much simpler time for kings and leaders." Granald stated, walking with the aid of a cane before stopping next to Artorian. Even at his age he appeared healthy, wrinkles and all. Sigmund clearly got his height from him, as Granald even at a hunch was tall.
"Can't really relate to that, my family's been the thralls of trouble and complications since our excursion into Drangleic." Artorian shrugged, humoring the old man with small talk.
"I see you're as… conversational as your father."
"Not really. I just don't have a lot I can say to you." Artorian stated. "I promised Emilia that I'd let her handle this whole thing, I'm just here for moral support. So you can skip the pleasantries and get along with what you want to say so I can breeze past it."
"…You must understand why I'm as against her being around you as I am." Granald broke the temporary silence with a glance over to the Lord, seeing the young man look blankly into the portrait. "The Abyss is as dangerous, if not more so, then the Savage we have been fighting for years. It's a plague that consumes everything."
"Emilia's aware of it too. Thanks to how you tried to strike fear into her with the worst-case scenarios about Abysswalkers."
"Every Abysswalker ends their life in tragedy, their families left in the same horrid condition. Or need I mention what happened to your grandmother and onward."
"Lord customs are different, and they were Vessels reaching their limits. Char was left alone and she has minimal traces of the Abyss, even after I was conceived." He kept a good poker face, but both Granald and Sigmund were aware of the burning anger under that calm, neutral expression.
"Your daughter has seen me at my worst, she never flinched and still accepts me even now. What she feels is genuine, and I have sworn the rest of my life to making her happy." Artorian noted, before he turned to walk away. "She locked me in before I even had the chance to scare her away. Nothing I say will change her mind, so you have to do it yourself."
"But you also know there is too many anomalies between the two of you to not question what may be happening." Granald's statement halted Artorian in his tracks, the Lord remaining with his back turned as the king continued. "Along with your curse of the Abyss, you both share the same strain of the Variant Virus. There's no telling how that affects your attraction to one another. Whether it's one built on mutual care, or a feeling of inevitability. Even you must recognize that."
That laid it all out, months' worth of questions all demonstrated and confirmed to him. Each time they were close, Emilia always felt she had to prove it was more then their shared virus. That it was more then that night of hell during the Second Attack. The stress and fear she had, the uncertainty that plagued her each time they enjoyed time together. Char mentioned it once in passing, but Artorian knew that had to be a response to having been asked it before.
"So… when you told Emilia that years ago, did you know I was a Variant?" Artorian asked, looking over his shoulder, his crimson iris glowing. "Or did you make shit up and got lucky?"
"It was an educated-"
"Do you know what that did to her? Do you know that you crushed your daughter's confidence when you told her that?" Artorian questioned, the hostility in his tone filling the air when he fully turned to the old man. "Emilia and I have been close for a couple months now, never went too far but we've had our moments of intimacy. We've spilled our hearts out knowing that at the end of this road where I get off. She's accepted every part of me, and I accept every part of her."
"But every time we talked, every time I swore to be by her side, love her and treasure her; she always spoke of "proving" her love. That what she felt was truly her own feelings and not the result of a fucking alien bacteria." The Lord stepped towards the king, pressure oozing into the air to where even Sigmund reached into his pocket, gripping his Hundred in case the Abysswalker grew violent.
"The girl I loved, the girl I risked my life to save and want to spend the rest of my days with, trembles at the idea that she is being guided by instincts not of her control. That she's being driven by lust past her control. That wasn't me. I have never questioned her, never for a second doubted that she was the person making her own decisions. I love her, and I always will. What broke down your daughter, gave way to doubt and fear wasn't the knowledge of me. It wasn't the Abyss that you tried to drive fear into her. It was you, you and your fucking spite!"
The Lord's composure that had him stand and simply listen to the courtroom drama was gone now, as he glared at the damn man and jabbed his finger to his chest. A crest of the Gudenberg heritage, the sigil that represents pride in his legacy was nothing but a disgrace in his eyes. All those times he held Emilia close to him, moments where her company gave peace of mind and kept him in bliss was tainted by the uncertainty in her mind. Uncertainty brought because her father, her own flesh and blood, was too lost in his own blind grief to let her be her own person.
But then he thought of all her insecurities, her desire to put this all behind her and to do it herself. It was the only time he saw the drive to face not the future she expected, but the inevitability that had to be confronted. He wanted to explode, to tear into the bastard and unload every piece of rage he had at what his words did to Emilia. To spit in his face and make the clear position where he was, that no matter what underhanded tactic or claim he was the one pushing Emilia away. And that he'd be there for Emilia and never put her down the way he did.
But it wasn't his place to say it. It wasn't for him to shove it in the old man's face and let him know all of his underhanded tactics were what pushed his daughter away. It was Emilia's, and he'd never take that away from her.
"You're lucky I promised Emilia I'd let her handle this." As much as his anger boiled in his blood, the Lord simply let it steam as he stepped away from Granald. His throat felt like blood was pooling in, and he simply spat to the side to get the taste of filth out the man's face gave him. A simple splat of saliva gave all the indignation needed when the Lord wiped his mouth with a sleeve.
"I want nothing more then to unload into you, but its not my place. You want Emilia to stay, you have to convince her. Because I love her, I will hold her close and never let go. But I won't stop her, I will never be the one that crushes her future. But I will stand against everyone that tries." A last glare, burning crimson glaring into cool blue torched the last of his anger before the Lord walked away. He couldn't stand to be in the vicinity of Granald any longer and went back to his room, the stench of Granald's presence becoming too much for him.
"I believe I warned that was going to be his response." Sigmund said, the silence filling the hall being cut down as he motioned to his father. "Were you hoping he'd actually agree to your fears, or did you want a violent outburst to justify yourself?"
"I… I just want my family to be safe." Granald lowered his head at the question, Sigmund keeping his composure despite the surprise in that gesture. His father always held his head high, confident and unflinching in his resolve. But the past two years was beginning to wear down on the king, and for the first time in his life he looked like his advanced age. It wasn't an easy sight, not for Sigmund watching his father be broken down like this.
"My king… dad, we're not in a world that can conform to that." Sigmund said, placing a hand on his shoulder in support. "I understand where you're coming from, I've seen the reports on Artorias and the First-Generation Slayers. But that isn't what is being done anymore. And Emilia isn't a helpless little girl."
"Every second by him puts her in danger, why can't either of them see that?"
"Dad, they know that better than you do." Sigmund couldn't think what else to say, he didn't have the same promise to keep as Artorian had. But he was also caught as his own crossroads. He shared his father's fears, he respects Artorian for his achievements despite the reasonable fear for an Abysswalker. He wished for Emilia to be safe, and that would be keeping her away from the Abysswalker.
But it wasn't his decision to make. Nor was it his father's.
"What am I to do? If I can't even protect my youngest daughter?"
"You have another daughter that needs protecting, and even if mom has hated you since Emilia's identity was revealed, you still are bound to her. Emilia will live her life the way she chooses, it will be up to you if you have a place in that."
"Never took you for the type to go asking the people you hate for help." Emilia noted, buttoning up her uniform shirt by the time she stepped out to Gertrude. After being pulled aside, she wanted to get out of the dress, something that Gertrude was surprisingly understanding on and allowed the detour.
"I suppose I couldn't argue with that, you and I never saw eye to eye."
"Oh, is that what you call it?" Emilia scoffed to the side, grabbing her jacket and putting it over her shoulders. "I call it sins of the father, but you do you I guess."
"Hm." Gertrude couldn't help but give a hum in response to Emilia. For as long as she remembered, Emilia barely if ever was willing to respond to her. Back in the throne room she was still cautious, but a bit of a spine seemed to have found itself in her. And the glare she shot back to her before buttoning her coat was more fury than the girl ever showed in the past.
"So, what is it?" Emilia questioned, crossing her arms when she looked up to her half-sister. "What was so important that the great general Gertrude Gudenberg had to drag her affair cursed half-sister into the mess?" That one almost got a click of the tongue from Gertrude. Emilia was aiming below the belt, she had every right to but it was making her feel that convincing her to help was doomed before it started.
"It's about Bratt. I have more than enough evidence to point towards corruption and malpractice."
"Wow, did you need a report and video for that?" Emilia asked. "I doubt you need me to confirm he's corrupt, I bet dad just needs your word and he'll banish him then and there."
"I did, multiple times in fact." Gertrude stated, walking over to a lone desk with several stacks of documents on it. "Every single one I had more evidence then before, and he overlooked it. Even Sigmund spoke for me at one point and still his majesty ignored it."
"Why? Dad's not stupid, he knows better then to let someone run around with authority." Looking over the documents, Emilia saw clear as day that Gertrude had been trying for some time, the earliest report going back four years, two years before she had even left. Gertrude didn't put things off, but it surprised her to see that even with her assurance that Bratt was still the Prime Minister.
"Because Bratt did the one thing that he can't ignore, he dug himself in a way to use you." Gertrude stated, picking up a folder and handing it to the white-haired Slayer.
Emilia knew what it was before even looking, but she looked through all the contents of the beige folder twice over. It was the agreements and terms to her marriage with Douglas, the king and queen of Wenz having it explicitly stated that Bratt's position was of the utmost importance. Likely because he was the one who first brought it up five years ago and got everything signed away.
Bratt was the link that would assure the marriage. The marriage her father wanted to get her as far away from Artorian as possible.
"Dad, you stubborn idiot." Emilia muttered, closing the folder and placing it on the desk with a disappointed stare. "I assume there's more then just the reported funneling of resources and bribes you put in your reports?"
Gertrude nodded, which was far more than the confirmation needed. If it was that simple, she'd have marched up and arrested him the second she got the evidence.
"Bratt's been close with Moira for some time, originally I believed that it was because he was acting more of a father figure to her since dad's attention was always centered on you." Gertrude explained, before shifting the manifesto of her latest report with a worried glance. "But now it's worse, whatever their relationship was before I've learned too late what his earliest scheme was."
"There are these… schematics that were siphoned from a router that provided a communication network I had no access to until a few weeks ago. Schematics that use Savage core fragments to fluctuate energy levels and… I believe Bratt's using a modification to manipulate Moira."
"Shit." Emilia cursed, stepping to the side as she began to think. "Okay, okay so some form of mind control. But how would that even work, Moira's never used energy, and Bratt sure as hell isn't a Slayer so he shouldn't have enough to do something like that. So what's getting him control?"
"Because the schematics also are a amplifier for energy manipulation." Gertrude explained. "It's clearly an early experiment, probably was made with the original intention of communicating with Savage given the wavelength that was noted. It matches closely with the signal they produce that scrambles our devices."
"…That's why you waited until I came here?" Emilia put it together, the information pointed to the source of who made the schematics. "This was one of Charlotte's inventions, wasn't it?"
"All information I have on it led to her categorizing it as a failure. Which leaves three possibilities: it actually failed, it never got past development…"
"Or Char realized how dangerous it could be." Emilia finished.
"My biggest concern is how the schematic got out. Warslran's secrecy is the most notorious part of it, losing a hold on something this big can't be good." Gertrude noted. "Your ship might have a mole, something that got Bratt access or deeper connections."
"…We have spies." Emilia stated, surprising Gertrude as she turned to look her in the eyes. "Do you remember the attack a few months ago? The one that happened after the Founding Festival?
"It was world news for the week, and then Artorian's arrest was the big story for a month."
"It was carried out by a splinter group in the Anti-Slayer Movement, but a lot of our defenses and the supplies they had were given to them by backers of Warslran." That part was news, no surprise that Judal kept the fact they had a traitor, multiple traitors, would only make the PMC look weak.
"We found a lead because one of the arm dealers didn't like what happened and helped us. We had two that we didn't know about, which means we probably have more."
"So it's an assumption that Bratt is linked to them." Gertrude followed. "That would make sense, Bratt isn't a Slayer and often clashes with Sigmund over politics."
"Add in Moira isn't a Slayer too, and that gives a lot of speaking power in Brittania." Emilia concluded. "Gudenberg has one of the highest support rates for Slayers in the world, they're only behind the United States on that front."
"Gudenberg also is one of the biggest suppliers of Hundreds and processes Savage Cores at faster rates with better purity." Gertrude added in. "If they want to remove power from Slayers, Gudenberg is possibly the best place to start. So Bratt's in line with them."
"The ASM has a lot of powerful allies, but I think Bratt might just be a test rather then someone important." Emilia guessed. "If he was higher in the roster, Artorian probably would have confronted him earlier."
"You don't mean… the Anti-Slayer Movement has an Abysswalker?" Emilia guessed Gertrude was aware, their father likely said it as a way to form more division. But it was good to know she didn't have to hide that part of the puzzle. Lying about it would be impossible with someone as stubborn as Gertrude.
"Probably, too many Vessels to just be a rogue unit."
"Son of a…" Gertrude swore to herself as she looked over all her reports, now seeing nothing but gaps and holes that she missed. "Scheming years in and now he's a tumor we can't just cut out."
"Do we know what the device looks like?" Emilia questioned, stepping beside Gertrude.
"I don't know on his end, but Moira's been wearing the same pair of earrings for a few years now, lime green crystals and black tinted metal." Gertrude noted. "I figured that was something, likely a gift from Bratt. But we need to find what he's using, jewelry isn't grounds to arrest him, just our best bet."
"This form of communication, we need to involve Artorian to find his device." Emilia stated, getting a raised eyebrow from Gertrude.
"And why would that be the case?"
"Sympathy. That's what Charlotte's labeled the communication method between Savage. They're like a hive mind, connected through their energy but still individuals." Emilia explained. "It was only theory for the longest time, perhaps that's why she stopped working on the schematics Bratt got."
"And Artorian?"
"Proved it isn't just a theory."
"Whoa!" Douglas shouted as he grinded his feet into the ground, sliding back before stopping himself after a heavy clang of metal. "Mind holding back on that? I'm not exactly at my best here."
"Sorry, still working it out a bit." Artorian apologized, wielding his dad's sword before taking a few steps to the side.
Both were in a training room under Claudia's supervision, dressed light while Douglas had on a pair of variable gloves. Douglas's Hundred, Red Glory, was a Chevalier type similar to Artorian's. A crimson red broadsword that radiated yellow energy, but without a variable suit to maximize energy output it was much more limited.
After his encounter with Granald, Artorian's anger needed an outlet that required sparring. Luckily Douglas came by and saw his expression, figuring that he needed to blow off some steam. Claudia was needed to get in, and supervision being a requirement for guests to spar to avoid any political issues.
"It's fine, just remember I'm not quite built like you." Douglas chuckled, following Artorian's path and rotating one of his wrists. "I need a suit to be able to be a fight that tests you, we're just here to blow off some steam."
"Forgot, you're mad about your parent's response." Artorian let out a single breath, not so much winded as he was trying to keep himself composed.
"Yeah, seems their deal's too important to just drop." Douglas answered, before the two ran forward and clashed. There was enough impact to cause a gust of wind, Claudia flinching and closing an eye as the air stung.
It made her realize how much Artorian was able to hold back, and how much the third son of Wenz was able to put forward. Even with gloves to amplify some of his strength, Douglas couldn't be considered a fraction of what he was like in full combat gear. Not to mention he was only using a single Hundred. Meanwhile Artorian even without Zaneizan could crush most weapons into dust, and shatter bones with the impact of his attacks.
'Freaks the both of them.' She thought with a deadpanned expression as the two clashed two more times before separating.
"Downside of royalty no one thinks about, you're privileged until mommy and daddy don't like your ideas." Artorian said, rolling his shoulders as the two circled each other.
"Hehe, not entirely wrong." Douglas nodded, wiping his brow of sweat before massaging his neck. "But at least I'm used to it, whatever Granald said to you really pissed you off."
"I didn't mention Granald." Artorian said, Douglas' raised eyebrow getting a tired sigh from the Lord. "Alright fine, old bastard pissed me off big time. Said shit that explained a lot."
"Yeah, like what?" Douglas asked, the two clashing with heavy blows.
"Emilia's been struggling with our relationship, even back then." Artorian noted, ducking under a swing before throwing his fist, pausing before he struck Douglas and the two separated again. "Always feeling like she has to prove she cares, or that there's more to our bond then a surface level similarity we have."
"Variant Virus, right?"
"What the fuck doesn't he tell people?" Artorian muttered with astonished disappointment, shaking his head at the revelation. "Yes, we're both Variants. We got infected on the same day, from the same strain. Granald told Emilia that was part of why she was always trying to meet me, because our instincts tell us to get closer."
"The king… the king told her that?" Claudia spoke up, the two Slayers looking to her to see her hurt expression.
"Yeah, for a long time now." Artorian stated, looking down to the side. "I just figured she was always wanting to show how much she cared… but each time was feeling more and more personal. She wasn't trying to prove to me that she loved me, she was trying to prove it to herself."
"That's too far, even under protective clauses." Douglas said, giving his own glance of anger. "She's his daughter, trying to force a marriage is one thing. Information like that could damage someone for life. How old was she when he told her?"
"I was eight when we were infected, and depending on how long he waited to say it, I'd guess around six to eight."
"That young…" Claudia muttered, looking down.
"I'd say that's cruel, but I have preferred words to that." Douglas spat. "And my parents are being willing pawns in his scheme."
"Wenz needs the resources, I'm sure they're just trying to get your country up in the world stage." Artorian assured, although his tone and look made it clear it was half assed.
"It doesn't make it any less slimy. Resources or not, my family is merely working to get themselves influence." Douglas stated, twisting the half formed sword in his hand to temper his anger. "They prided themselves on not being manipulative backstabbers all my life, only for this to be their big scheme?"
"Could be worse, they could be trying assassination."
"Ah, I see we joined at an interesting conversation." The trip turned to the door, seeing Gertrude and Emilia enter.
"Hey Emilia, did everything go well?" Artorian asked, paying no attention to Gertrude as he planted the tip of his sword into the ground.
"Well… not quite." Emilia admitted, rubbing the back of her head.
"Oof, that bad huh?"
"Emilia recommended we speak with you, apparently you have knowledge no one else in the world has access to." Gertrude spoke, before looking to Douglas and Claudia with measured stares. "If you two would leave."
"What reason?" Artorian asked.
"This is personal affairs."
"Oh, it's personal affairs." Artorian responded, resting an elbow on his crossguard as he looked at Douglas. "Did you hear that Douglas, this is personal affairs."
"Very personal affairs I'd assume."
"He thinks it's very personal affairs." Artorian then turned to Gertrude again, the knowing smirk getting a contained glare from the general. "So it's probably important he's here too. Since, you know, it's very personal and he's technically still Emilia's Fiancé."
"Claudia, leave." Gertrude wouldn't fight Artorian on this, if Douglas wanted to stay then fine. She just needed the Lord here and now, a few leaks to another royal figure is acceptable.
"No no." Artorian snapped his fingers twice when he saw Claudia begin to move, surprising the general at the defiance. "Claudia's our overseer, we weren't allowed in this room without her. And I'd hate to be kicked out so soon."
"Artorian, you don't have to-"
"And Claudia, despite her methods in the past, cares for Emilia and wants to protect her." Artorian didn't let Claudia finish, stepping away from his sword for a moment to cross his arms. "You want me to help, you're giving Emilia control of the room. Anyone that's an ally to her is allowed to stay. Say no, and I walk."
"I gladly stand as an ally for Emilia." Douglas shrugged, smirking as he deactivated his Hundred and caught the variable stone.
"And I will too… general!" Claudia spoke confidently, but remembering Gertrude's position straightened up with a salute.
"Unbelievable…" Gertrude groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Are you this insufferable with Harvey?"
"Yes." Artorian said simply, his smirk widening to a grin as he saw the annoyance on the general.
"…Fine." Gertrude relented, throwing her hands up before turning to Emilia. "Alright then, you have the floor."
"Okay… Artorian Gertrude is allowed to ask questions on her own too." Emilia stated, the Lord snapping his fingers in amused defeat.
"Dang it."
"Thank you." Gertrude sighed, before closing the door behind her and finally able to start the questions. "Artorian, what can you tell us about Sympathy?"
"Besides your lack of it?"
"I will find a way to put you in front of a firing squad."
"Ha, no you won't." Artorian chuckled, before relenting on his end and lulling over the details. "Well, I can't say for certain if it's the way Savage communicate like Char guesses, haven't had the chance to try that out. But I was able to communicate with Nesat during her final outburst at the Founding Festival."
"How did it operate? Was there some kind of immediate link or did you require permission of some conscious response?"
"I don't think I needed permission." Artorian mused, trying to recall the sensations of his encounter using Sympathy with Krovanh and Nesat. "Krovanh isn't as adept at energy manipulation as Nesat, I don't even think he knew I was in his head for the short time we were clashing. Nesat however I was able to have a conversation with."
"Were you able to perform some kind of control over them? Did this Nesat give you authority over her actions or did you do something on your own."
"Gross." Artorian gagged. "No, I didn't manipulate them in any way. I saw their memories due to the intense condition they were in, drugs were pumping them past their natural limits and it nearly killed them both times. Nesat would have exploded but because I was able to connect with her consciousness she regained control."
"Do you think you could control someone with it?"
"Okay, what the fuck is the goal here?" Artorian asked, looking to Emilia. "The hell is she going on about manipulation and control?"
"Gertrude believes that Bratt might be manipulating Moira with a prototype Char designed." Emilia explained. "Apparently she developed a device to see if she could communicate with the Savage, but it never got manufactured."
"Oh, you mean the S-Link?" Artorian responded, and Gertrude glared with intensity as energy formed around her.
"You will explain everything you know. Now."
"Nice light show, seems you were expecting trouble wearing a variable suit under your military uniform." Artorian responded, crossing his arms as he leaned back against his sword. "I only know the basics of it, my dad wrote about it in his journal and was incredibly against it. He was afraid that if it worked, the Savage would know everything the person wearing the device knew. We also don't know if the Savage are an actual hivemind, or a hive of individuals all linked together. Not a great coin flip."
"How does the S-Link work?"
"Aside from the fact it doesn't? The idea was to use the core fragments to not be a power source but a way to link with the Savage themselves. Like taking a CPU out of a computer as a way to understand and translate. Aside from that, your guess is as good as mine."
"Damn it, that's all you know?" Gertrude asked, getting a simple shrug from the Lord.
"Not a lot else to it, Char didn't continue working on it. Whatever Bratt's doing, it's uncharted territory."
"That's bad, if Char didn't continue working on it there might be worse implications behind it." Emilia noted. "Do you think this could be harming Moira mentally?"
"It's entirely possible. Has she been acting differently lately?" Artorian asked, looking to Gertrude.
"Not so much acting differently, but her ideas are becoming more directly at odds with what Gudenberg has been standing for." Gertrude answered. "She always upheld our values, even with some criticisms she never would go against Slayers. But more and more resources are being diverted, and her words are starting to echo Bratt's concerns on the growing power imbalance of Slayers. Pointing to it being like-"
"Like the First-Generation, I figure." Artorian finished, nodding twice before sighing. "So you think Bratt's connected to the Anti-Slayer Movement, is that correct?"
"Yes. And you're the only one who can prove it."
"Hold on, the ASM? How are they involved, and how is Artorian the only one who can prove it?" Douglas interjected. "I understand he fought them before, but catching a spy is a little past an ease of qualifications."
"Unfortunately, that's classified." Gertrude responded, to which the prince looked to the Lord.
"I'm sorry, but this information is actually something that keeping you in the dark is for the best." Artorian apologized. "For ease of it, say it comes with a mix of benefits of my birth. Being half Lord carries more to it then denser muscles and stronger bones. My soul's... different. Which can let me see more into humans then simple investigation."
"…Alright, I'll trust your judgement on this." Douglas surrendered.
"Is there any proof Bratt works with them?" Claudia asked. "Can you… see that in him?"
"If it was there, absolutely." Artorian stated, not even putting up a hypothetical. "But he didn't seem any different from a normal person. Which even if he is affiliated that's far better than if I could see it in him. Probably just another agent with a fraction of the movement's information."
"Then we need to get proof." Gertrude concluded, Artorian raising a hand for pause at that statement.
"First, I need to see Moira at dinner. Bratt might not show any signs of being the mole, but if Moira has any signs that might mean you've been infiltrated deeper."
"Moira would never-"
"She doesn't have to be knowing or willing to be a pawn. Trust me on that."
"…Fine, but we meet after dinner right away. Clear?" Gertrude ordered, the Lord holding his hands in mock surrender.
"Crystal."
"Okay… you've run it through your head." Karen spoke to herself, taking a calming breath as she stood outside a dorm room. Her past predictions hadn't happened yet, but the growing concern had her fear for everyone's safety. No one had attacked them or revealed themselves during their time in Sangria, but she felt something in the pit of her stomach.
She was still new to the concept of energy, her training with Sakura gave her habits but nothing she could rely on for instinctual safety. But she knew when luck was going to tip against her, her tarot cards were pointing to threats they couldn't see. And she couldn't risk guessing on if it was meant for Artorian or herself. Artorian was strong and could defend himself. But as it stood if it was meant for her she couldn't take a risk on being caught with everyone else. And she was nowhere near strong enough to protect herself.
She knocked twice on the door, preparing to tap it a third time when it opened up. She was surprised that Matthew was already answering, not even certain he was in his room when she came.
"Karen Kisaragi, I'll admit this is a surprise." The Lord commented. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes… no… I'm not sure." Karen admitted. "Can I come in?"
The Lord nodded once and opened the door for her, letting her enter before closing it. She saw it was well kept, few decorations outside of a mount on the wall with what she guessed was his Hundred kept carefully maintained.
"I have some coffee brewed, do you drink or prefer tea?" Matthew asked, leading her to the table at his corner before going to the stand with the coffee maker.
"Tea please, if it isn't any trouble." Karen said, getting a nod from the Lord before he worked on a pot.
Karen noticed the Lord was significantly quieter when he was alone, not even the clatter of silverware being heard from his movements. From the way he fought, the booming of his lightning it seemed impossible for him to move without making a sound. Even Artorian had the tiniest thud from his steps, and Matthew looked to be nearly the same build.
"I only have Jasmine, I don't usually buy any other." Matthew said after pouring her a cup, the girl nodding thankfully when he handed it to her.
"That's fine, I like all tea." Karen assured, taking a sip as the Lord sat across from her. His cup was pure black, not a hint of cream or sugar in the strong brew.
"So am I to guess this is a discussion about what happened in the Middle East?"
"No, there's really… nothing to say about it." Karen stated.
"Even after I attempted to kill Artorian? He's your closest friend, you practically grew up with him."
"I also know the full context of the Abyss." Karen responded, the Lord remaining silent. "I… I don't want to see him die, I was so scared and believed he would have died in the desert. In pain… scared… hopeless. But… but if it was between dying there or going on a rampage I know what he'd have chosen. And I know he would never hold it against you in upholding your duty."
"And I know it's because of you that he's alive now." Karen added, Matthew pausing in placing his cup down after taking a sip of coffee. "You saved my best friend, all the scars he has just means he's alive thanks to you. I'm sorry I haven't had the time but thank you. With all my heart, thank you for saving Artorian."
"…It's just my duty." Matthew eventually responded, sighing with a somber stare into his coffee. Of all the people to thank him for his attempt to put down the Abysswalker, it was the two people he least expected to be thankful to understand his circumstance. Artorian as an Abysswalker knew the risk, but no one would welcome death if they could fight it. And Karen was young and spent most of her life with only Artorian. If anyone she should have been the angriest at him, to curse his name and spit in his face.
That would be easy. But they weren't the ones who hated him. Nor the one it stung from.
"Okay, but if its not about that, then why come here?" Matthew asked, and immediately Karen showed her own worry.
"I've been having… premonitions. My tarot have been pointing to a returning enemy and I can't figure out any other meaning behind the warnings." Karen explained, and Matthew was quick to pay attention. Tarot and premonitions were well respected and trusted in Lord culture, so she knew she didn't have to convince him of it being more then superstition. "Artorian is Gudenberg and is in a safe position, and I'm here in Little Garden surrounded by the strongest people I know. And yet…"
"You're concerned that one of you will be caught off guard."
"I'm worried that I'll be attacked around people who can't defend themselves." Karen admitted, surprising the Lord. "I've recently met two girls, Rebecca and Aoi. They're really nice people and I really like being around them. And Miharu has… she's already been hurt protecting me that I… I don't want to see her hurt again for my sake."
Guilt, it was a powerful emotion that didn't get recognized enough until the person went to an extreme. Matthew saw the condition Miharu was in after Envy was defeated, the nurse had been tortured. And given their position, she was probably hurt in response to her defense of Karen. It was a heavy burden to think that way, even recognizing that Miharu would have done it for anyone else didn't change she did it for her. And unlike someone like Artorian who had defended her countless times, Miharu was a regular human. She broke and bleed far too easy. Especially for someone who would never hesitate to protect someone.
"And so you came to me?"
"I don't know when the enemy will come, or if its even meant for me or someone else. But if it is for me… I want to make sure no one else gets hurt because of me." Karen stated. "I have a plan: I want to draw out the threat. If its targeting me, then me being alone is the best chance to avoid anyone else getting hurt in the process."
"Why not go to Claire? You know her better and she's stronger than me." Matthew stated.
"Because if Claire or any of the others knew about my plan, they'd never allow it!" He couldn't argue with that. Everyone's protective of Karen, even before the attack Envy pulled she was the helpless girl everyone felt bad for. No one in their right mind would just let her use herself as bait. Even he had a problem with the idea, but he recognized what she was trying to do.
Minimize collateral.
"It's incredibly dangerous, this plan could cost you your life if we aren't careful."
"Everyone else is always willing to risk their life for me. Why should I be treated differently?"
'Because you're a good kid who deserves better.' Matthew thought to himself, looking at the girl with a mix of worry and shame. Karen was the same age as Reitia, but she looked far younger due to her time suffering with Severance. A part of him thought of his siblings, she didn't look as young as them, but a part of him saw them in her. Artorian's protectiveness was understandable, and it made the Lord hesitate for a moment to this plan.
But he knew that where she was inexperienced and putting herself at risk, it wasn't out of naivety. She knew the risks of the world now, and she was being brave. Even if he didn't like it, he saw the benefits to taking this risk.
And he wouldn't let her get hurt.
"Okay… what's your plan?"