waltz of gold and silver... any chance a Great holy grail war situation might happen in this one?
I'm Not a Regular Mom (FGO OC)
- Thread starter Blinktwice13
- Start date
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Not an Apocrypha situation no.
Since I'm posting anyway, update is… work has burned me into an exhausted husk and SMTV is providing me a nice break.
I'm about 7/8 done with current chap and whenever I can get the will to finish it I will post. Thanks for all the patience and sorry for the radio silence.
Good luck there. hope your break is restful
not sure if you decided on what do with her or how wrong i might be, but here is my understanding and supposition on Velver/Altera.
Velber was something created by those beings who created the Moon Cell to regularly destroy civilizations it came across. the versions of altera are beings created by the knowledge it absorbs from the civilizations it destroys to help in this task, hence the catchphrase 'bad civilization'.
from the moon cell, after defeating Sefar and the Velber Star (at least that version), Altera larva was born to try and get a better understanding of Civilization. Karl de GroBe located and used it's virtual remains the system to help with his purge of "false history", as he put it.
when it comes to supposition, technically there might be tiny fragments of Sefar in Altera larva, not enough to become a problem on it's own, but theoretically enough for Manaka to mess with.
In addition, if we return to the moon cell at any point in F/GO, i expect Altera would be summonable under the Foreigner class, bearing minor traits of Velber and Existence outside the Domain at B or less, given her stellar origins.
i could be wrong or inaccurate on some points, but that it my understanding.
One of the many things i'm looking forward to with Mordred (and Lily) arriving is a big family day!
With dad, tiny dad, sword mom, her and tinydad's fae mom, fae mom's entourage, and Auntie's Mash and Galahad!
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jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
And the biggest miracle is that only about half of Chaldea will need to be rebuilt from smoldering ashes by the end of said family day.
From the USA, i wish everyone a happy thanksgiving!
And for the time, i leave you with the mental image of Matthew helping with the food preparations at Chaldea~!
"matthew, why can't we enter the kitchen?"
"What's that purple smoke?"
"Has anyone seen Caspan?"
And for the time, i leave you with the mental image of Matthew helping with the food preparations at Chaldea~!
"matthew, why can't we enter the kitchen?"
"What's that purple smoke?"
"Has anyone seen Caspan?"
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In Which There is Shore Leave
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Dear lord it's done. I've probably got the usual two-part finale worth of material left for Okeanos after this. That being said, my output is drastically lower because work is hell in general. I read over it a couple times, and I feel I got what I wanted done. Will I get to Xmas by this Xmas? Who can say. I'm doing my best despite work (more specifically, my new manager) sucking my life out with a straw.
For the most part it's character interactions and plot building. The action barely qualifies until near the end.
Mild Content Warning: Celenike and Beryl.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Hm-hm-hm~"
The gravelly hum was buried under the ruckus of the crew. The ship carved through the endless horizon, making its way forward in the world so newly small.
What treasures awaited ahead? What enemies awaited to have their assets seized?
The captain gave a wide smile, his jagged beard bouncing beneath his chin.
Women, gold, silk, wood, ore. A frontier of exploration, new lands to be seen. New fruit and wine to taste. He was a simple man, with a simple dream.
After all, it was the ones who died with the most toys that won, no?
"Cap'n! Land ho!" a ragamuffin bellowed from the crow's nest.
Sharp eyes picked it out - an island, larger than the rest. No sign of other ships, no sign it had been touched by human hands. His smile grew even more, baring his gums to the sea breeze with teeth like headstones.
Resources! Valuables! In a word - loot!!!
Steam poured from his nostrils in excitement, and his gilded galleon surged through the waves. Black scaly bodies writhed around it, ushering it forward to plunder. The patron's orders had been clear.
"Take what you want. Use what you want. Any life you find on these islands is yours to use and abuse. My command is this: should you encounter a collective of Servants led by two mortals…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Rob them of everything."
Rob? Rob? Like a common pirate!? Nonesense! He was an explorer, a conquistador! His goal was to take what was already there, waiting for him.
The captain's lips thinned as he spun the wheel to turn the Santa Maria towards the island.
"Though if they get in my way, accidents are unavoidable," he muttered with feigned regret. His eyes glimmered with hunger for riches and luxury.
He always had that hunger. It drove him to seek the New World. But here and now, it forged a fire in his belly that could not be quenched.
"Orders, Captain?" one of the scallywags asked.
His smile snapped back into place. "Alright, you rats! Prepare yourselves!" He let out a bellowing laugh. "We're going exploring!"
"...more like exploiting…"
"HRM?"
"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN COLUMBUS!" his crew roared.
"YAHAHAHA!" he bellowed, swinging his sabre forward. When had he drawn it? No matter! It was time for adventure!
____________________________________________________________________________
Perfect little dolls. That's what they were, standing side by side. Even the dreaded Gemini were unable to stand against her.
Celenike licked her lips, eyeing up the man of the two. Oh, he was a pretty one - pretty but near-mad. Only his sister kept him in check, and even then a good portion of her newfound power went to subduing the two of them.
The others were easy. Columbus wanted to exploit for gain, for all he tried to hide it in euphemisms. Ahab, the old coot, wanted to kill a whale.
It was all about focusing in on what they wanted and making it their entire world.
The Dioscuri… well. She could easily capture Castor. He wanted vengeance on humanity, and the incineration of history did that neatly. Pollux… was another story.
The girl's eyes were devoid of shine, flat gaze scrutinizing her.
Celenike scowled. Neither of them were weak or pliant. There was no room for her to play and enjoy herself.
Her options for entertainment were nonexistent. The pirates as a whole were weak, slaves to her will - but they were all so ugly. Columbus was no exception, though his weakness was in will rather than body.
Jason's will and body were both fragile enough to heat her blood, but she needed him at least somewhat intact to manifest the Argo.
...she'd hoped that it would be her flagship and while it was, she couldn't hold control over all its crew. Atalanta's desires were alien enough to her that she couldn't tie the noose 'round her neck. Orpheus' enchantment could run counter to her own and so he wasn't viable to keep. The doctor could outsmart her, and this and that-
"Deep in thought?"
Celenike's eyes narrowed.
The girl sat on the railing, legs kicking over the side of the boat. Her seafoam dress floated in the breeze. Blue eyes gazed at Celenike with mocking intelligence.
"It really is depressing," Celenike moaned, punctuating her complaint with a dramatic sigh. "The easy ones to push around are hideous, and the pretty ones are either too fragile and valuable to risk or too tough a nut to crack." She scowled.
This… restraint… was vile. Disgusting. Against her nature.
Manaka looked away.
"Sooo… you're pissed because you don't have a toy to play with?" The smooth voice mocked her. "Damn. And here I thought I was the hedonist."
Celenike whirled around.
That damn dandy gave her a mocking smile, gloved hand cupping his chin. He sat in midair, legs crossed. His 'seat' was one of the dark wings emerging from his Servant's back, the brunet reclining with hands behind his head.
"Why are you here?" Celenike bit the words out, directing them to Beryl.
Beryl arched an eyebrow. "Not for you, that's for sure." His smug smirk twitched.
On an impulse, Celenike tugged the chains spiraling from her pin, lurching into his desires-
It came more easily than anything else. She saw beneath the surface, under the smile.
So tiny so tragic so frail so angry so fascinating- wait no tall dark what oh yes want potential grow yes yes like me like me like me-
Her head snapped back, mind reeling.
"I wouldn't," the Servant said idly, a single finger pointed in her direction. Eyes like dried blood pierced through her.
Beryl shrugged. "I couldn't tell anything was happening." Which didn't surprise her. If she'd stayed connected, what he felt might have...
Celenike felt a flare of power surging down the chains from her captive in the sky. That… wasn't a desire. That was…
"Beryl," Manaka said, interrupting her thoughts. "Are you satisfied?"
The man gave her a long look. Eyes like ink weighed her. He smirked. "Yeah. I'll just head to London. Even if she can give him a push, it won't be all the way." The killer hummed to himself. "From what you told me, the circumstances there will push him over the edge. Probably."
Manaka swung her legs over and strode across the Argo's deck. As if she owned it. "Celenike. Please put what I've given you to use." The girl gave her a look of disappointment. "Forneus' reports have been… unflattering. If I compose a Demonic Beast capable of slaying heroes, I expect more than the results you've shown. Not to mention I all but made you worthy of the horned crown." Her eyes narrowed. "Which I note you do not wear."
"Neither did 'Daji'," Celenike scoffed, recovering her equilibrium. "And last I saw-"
"Daji did her best," Manaka replied dismissively. "But ultimately, she could not engage a true manifestation due to her own issues with identity. She was unable to cast her origins aside and embrace the persona I forged for her."
...like Celenike would just give over to that goddess!?
"Hm. Well, there is a Servant of the Crown abroad, not to mention a wandering goddess from Morgan's alliance. And more than one enemy of some concern." Manaka walked over to Beryl and the Assassin.
"We heading back, Crowley?" Beryl asked.
"I told you to call me Aleister." The taller man stretched his arms and rotated a full ninety degrees in midair until upright.
"Too rich for my blood," Beryl retorted. "'Crowley' is more my speed."
"Says the man named 'Beryl'." The Assassin's eyes gleamed. It took all Celenike had not to buckle to her knees.
She grit her teeth.
"At least kill one of them, won't you?" Manaka murmured. Her face, usually a mask of polite disinterest or feigned kindness, was a work in resignation.
"Or give out some good trauma. Honestly, I feel like I'm going to need therapy just from thinking about you anywhere near my kitten." Beryl smirked. "Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll show you his claws."
Like me like me like me-
Celenike banished the echo from her mind, but even as she did so the three interlopers vanished. Within a moment the sea breeze stirred, and in the next their outlines wavered and dispersed - likely back to the Temple of Time.
Of course she'd deal with that sort of feedback.
Even if she hadn't felt that sort of thing, Celenike knew what 'love' was supposed to look like. She wasn't utterly inured to pop culture. What that was… what it was…
Twisted, obscene, obsessive. Yet that too is love.
"Shut up, Aphrodite," Celenike hissed under her breath.
If I had my way, that man would be ten times the host you are.
She turned on her heel and stormed towards her cabin, power surging to plunge Jason under again so she could watch him fall apart by inches. She needed to take the edge off.
And again. The only things you love are yourself and your indulgences. These chains can't last forever.
The door slammed behind her.
____________________________________________________________________________
The sun shone. The wind blew. In the distance, the seagulls cried.
And before my eyes was a miracle.
It wasn't that the tragedy was undone. It wasn't that pain and suffering was erased. It wasn't that the many journeys had come to an end.
No - it was a continuation of something that had been final. Even if they were echoes of the originals, even if the account of the Trojan War closed years ago - Achilles and Patroclus were here, holding each other as though they were each others' final lifeline.
Even if briefly, even if only for a moment. The world, the past itself was defied without destruction. A second chance was the greatest miracle I had ever seen. I'd never seen something so beautiful.
Not even the Sword of Promised Victory?
Light and substance. A prayer for warriors. A promise of subjugation. None of which impressed me, despite my affection for its wielder. This… this was real. Was human. Was everything I wanted from humanity. An ideal love, something which could forgive and heal and make better.
I could tell that whatever came next, they weren't done. There was still damage done and a partnership to rebuild. I'm not stupid. But it was still enough to have hope.
"Grmf."
I twitched when Fou bit my earlobe and tugged to get my attention. Oh, right.
Ritsuka's twitching eased gradually until I set his feet on the ground. "Sorry, boss." I gave an apologetic grin.
"Issokay." Ritsuka exhaled the sentence, using me as a pillar for balance.
"There, there." Illyasviel pat his hand gently. "We'll break you of your fear of heights yet."
"Didn't you fly on the backs of dinosaurs?" the old woman asked. She had some sort of golden-yellow stuff on her arms, a travelling dress, and a rainbow scarf. Her expression was stuck between amused and compassionate.
"That was an illusion," Ritsuka wheezed, as though that explained anything.
The pirate guy and old woman exchanged a side-eye which told a different story. "Anyhow," the man said. "Introductions?"
"Guuuuuys!" And suddenly I had an armful of idiot, almost knocking over Ritsuka like a very short domino chain. "Hi." Astolfo grinned sunnily.
"Hello my comrade in cross-dressing," I droned. "How goes?"
"Your knife isn't very good for hunting," Sieg said apologetically, half-hidden behind Illyasviel's tall hot holy shit can you smash my skull between your pecs and biceps please associate.
The pirate took a long side-step behind the old woman, giving me the side-eye of the century.
Ritsuka cleared his throat. "My name is Ritsuka Tohsaka. It's a pleasure to meet you." Despite his brush with terror, he was utterly composed and gracious. It was almost as though he hadn't been hyperventilating scant seconds before.
"Matthew Kyrielight." I dumped Astolfo, letting him nimbly land on his feet. "I'd give more of an introduction, but I have this strange feeling that my reputation precedes me."
"Fou." The fuzzball pawed his nose.
"You know these three, of course," the woman said with a gesture at our wayward companions. "I am Kunapipi, of the Avalon Council." She folded her hands in front of her waist, eyes gleaming in the midday sun. Despite her readily apparent age, every inch of her glowed with vitality. "Mother of Heroes, She Who Journeys. I am the Earth Mother who brought forth the plants and animals into the world alongside humanity."
The pirate hunched behind the goddess. "Edward Teach, Rider-Class. Most know me by Blackbeard." He squinted at me with suspicion. "Oi. Oiiiii. Kids. Are you sure we can trust him? Blondie's kind of… shady."
I puffed out my chest. "Shady!?" I snapped.
Astolfo tilted his head. "Weeeeell…" he drawled.
Sieg cleared his throat. "He's a staunch ally and good friend."
"Though he also follows only his agenda and there's possibly two or three people who can call him off if he gets going," Illya added absently. "And he's reckless, vindictive, abrasive," she continued, ticking off each quality on her fingers.
"Impulsive!" Astolfo added.
"Hypocrite," I hissed.
He stuck out his tongue.
"Surprisingly reliable and kind when the mood takes him." Ritsuka folded his arms and lightly nudged me with his shoulder. "But enough about him. I think we can all make assumptions about those two based on their reunion." He nodded at Achilles and Patroclus.
"Achilles," the hero said, thumping his chest.
"We know," Sieg and Astolfo chorused - Sieg with subdued happiness and Astolfo with an unimpressed drawl.
"Right! The hero of the-" He paused. Looked at the man at his side. Looked back at us. Looked to Patroclus again.
"Oh no. Please do go on. There's no history like ancient history after all. All the more if it's a bloody Greek Tragedy." Patroclus gave him a dead-eyed stare. The older man was darker of skin and hair, short-cropped as it was. His beard was full in comparison to Achilles' fair face. Where Achilles was sharpness and speed matched with power, he was sturdiness and steadfastness incarnate.
It probably didn't help his mood that he was clad in what I could easily surmise to be his lover's arms and armor. Sword, shield, breastplate, all of it.
Achilles gave a nervous laugh, scratching his cheek with a single finger. Patroclus' response was to deflate slightly with a wry smirk.
So a sore spot, but not insurmountably so.
"Huuu. Well, now we know who wears the pants there," Blackbeard mused in a mutter.
Achilles went scarlet, hackles raised- only to be quelled by a dour look from Patroclus.
"And that leaves…" Ritsuka looked up at the giant with a questioning look.
The man had wild hair down his shoulders, a riot of curls that somehow managed to avoid tangle. His crimson eyes gleamed with kindness, and his frame boasted of a strength beyond mortal men. The lion's pelt hung from his sho- hold on a goddamn minute.
Oh look, the sound of a shoe dropping.
Shut!
I looked over him once more, noting the absence of rocklike skin. The bronze expanse was smoother and more welcoming by far, and the more monstrous aspects were gone. No longer a constant scowl or grimace, but a mask of stoic calm. Muscles at rest, not bulging or straining veins. A crimson pattern stained his skin with divinity - much like Gilgamesh himself. (Cu never did tell me if his marks were from heritage or a tattoo, so I couldn't hold that as comparison.)
"...Heracles?" I asked after a moment.
He gave a small smile. "You seem to be doing well, fairy prince." The Son of Zeus spoke with a voice like thunder's distant echo, a soothing rumble that danced along bone and eased the blood. Smooth and deep, with the faintest edge of the growl that his Berserker incarnation carried.
Ritsuka stared up at him, then looked at me. His eyes narrowed. "No."
I stared back innocently.
"No."
I pointed at my chin, eyes wide.
"Fou." He began to bat the side of my head with both paws in great enthusiasm.
Illyasviel grimaced before whirling upon me. "I will turn you into a. A. A." Her brain visibly stalled.
"Twinksicle?" Blackbeard offered.
"THAT!" she yelled, pointing at the pirate.
Heracles' head tilted back, and his laughter boomed across the isle. It echoed through the air, cleaving through the sky like cannon fire. His eyes squeezed shut in mirth, shoulders heaving with amusement.
Oh no. When he's not a rock monster. He's hot.
Fou's battery intensified.
____________________________________________________________________________
"So we'll be heading out then?" the pirate - Blackbeard - asked the small old woman.
Achilles paid only cursory attention, still enraptured with Patroclus' mere existence. He knew enough to know the list of Servant containers that would support him were… low. It was nothing short of a miracle that their reunion could take place, and he had every intention of making the most of it.
If Musashi was any indicator, there were sure to be a surplus of lovely ladies in Chaldea - spoils to share with his partner with all due eagerness. Men to fight, and some to… engage with on other grounds. A gathering of heroes with all manner of appetites and great power to match with his own. Even if the 'spars' were sure to be limited in scope.
He hadn't sprung the question to the (frankly adorable) little Master yet, but he had every intent of offering his contract to the lad. In part for what he owed his father, and in part because he gave off an air of innocent youth that made Achilles want to safeguard him. Fraternally, that is. The way he went around punching things instead of slinging spells was just endearing. Hm. Perhaps Achilles could pass on some of his knowledge of Pankration…
"I dread whatever's cycling through your head," Patroclus murmured in his ear, breath tickling the outside. "Whenever you stare off into the distance like that, it bodes ill."
Achilles gave a sheepish smile. "Just thinking that perhaps forming a contract with a Master might be in the cards. From all appearances, Chaldea looks like a good time and a cause worth my efforts."
Patroclus, patient and kind, his better half and partner in all things - simply raised an eyebrow. "Seeing as I have every intent of holding onto this for as much time possible, you thought you had another option?"
Achilles cleared his throat, hiding a smile behind a hand cupping his face.
He glanced up to see Ritsuka staring at the two of them in some sort of stunned shock. The lad turned to the young prince - who, in a credit to his station, had never tried to order a single solitary being around in earshot of Achilles.
"They're you and Cu Chulainn," Ritsuka said flatly, pointing at the two heroes while looking Matthew dead in the eye.
The blond tilted his head. "I can see it," he admitted with a small shrug. The small white creature continued to knead the side of his head with its paws. "But seriously, two ships and a heading - is there a reason to stick around besides letting Drake catch up?"
Kunapipi, the old crone, gave an indulgent smile. "Have you managed to make steady contact with Chaldea as of yet?"
Ritsuka and Matthew shook their heads. Fou kept batting away, as though the tendency to ogle any sufficiently attractive prospect could be swat out of his skull. (Achilles could commiserate.)
"We've been searching for a leyline, but the options are limited for 'land' and Roman and Da Vinci haven't indicated-" Ritsuka began.
Matthew's eyes widened. "Ohhhh."
Kunapipi continued to smile.
Ritsuka frowned, then whatever inspiration hit Matthew must have struck him as well. "Ah." He nodded. "Right. We can spare a few…" He glanced at Matthew. "How far ahead are we?"
The sand shifted under Achilles' feet. He dismissed the continuing deliberation, especially when 'Blackbeard' began to posture. His eyes found Patroclus once again.
"So you met the children before?" he asked, a note of true curiosity in his voice.
"Mm. Lent them my shield to face off against a hero I would have found a challenge." Achilles hesitated. "No clue how that ended, though."
The lad watched as Rider of Black dangled from one of Heracles' frankly massive arms.
"And you did this… why…?" Oops.
"Well, a comrade of mine had gone mad in a 'this won't resolve itself' way and I had to handle it. I had also fought Teacher right before and gotten my heel sniped, so that complicated matters. Ended up dying alongside said comrade, actually. Grail Wars, Pat. Nothing like them, though I can't say they'd be to your taste." Achilles grinned brightly.
Patroclus slowly blinked. "I have less than no idea how those events conspired to occur, let alone so closely together. I am unsure if I wish to know."
Achilles gave a sheepish laugh.
"So we've got a little time to kill before your 'Shielder' shows up and helps you get things running," Blackbeard said, catching Achilles' attention again. The pirate squinted at the sky for a moment, then rummaged in his coat. He withdrew a pack of cards. "Blackjack?"
Matthew twitched viciously. "Oh, bullshit."
"Well we can play that too-" Blackbeard began, only for Matthew to tackle Ritsuka to the ground. "Uh?"
Achilles felt the change in the air heralding projectiles, and his spear materialized in his grip.
A familiar red polearm landed in the sand, dead in the center of their little gathering. Midway up the haft was a serpent thick as his arm and long as the little girl. It slid to the ground, slick blood steaming despite the balmy tropical air.
With a long-suffering look, Blackbeard put the cards away and withdrew a pistol in the same motion. "Wanton slaughter it is, then," he droned.
____________________________________________________________________________
"Watch him!" Matthew barked at a tiny old woman, gesturing once. Their Master was confined within a runic Bounded Field, the circle of fairy letters gleaming with surprising solidity in the sand.
Cu Chulainn landed on his feet and reached for his spear.
"AHT!" He got an armful of Caster for his trouble. "Poison blood, remember!" Matthew held up a hand. "Toxin… antitoxin… right." Letters sprang from his fingertips, characters that still strained Cu Chulainn's eyes to gaze upon directly. "Nullify… there!"
Liquid sloughed off of his weapon, and with a look at Matthew Cu reached out once more. This time he wasn't stopped from reclaiming it.
A crack rent the air, and he glanced over his shoulder.
A smaller serpent collapsed, head conspicuously absent as its stump sprayed poison while flailing.
"Mrkflgl- WHAT PART OF POISON BLOOD DO YOU GUYS NOT UNDERSTAND!?" Matthew screeched, somehow managing to bodily haul Cu out of the splash range.
The big-bearded guy who took out the snake simply took aim again with a disinterested look.
Cu looked up and over at Achilles with a raised eyebrow.
The other warrior manfully nodded at him, lips barely twitching. Cu could respect it.
"You might want to see to the other side of the Revenge," the old woman advised, raising her voice slightly. "It seems our time of peace has ended."
Ritsuka had long since gotten to his feet. "Right. Matthew, Illyasviel - can you enchant weapons to minimize bloodspray?"
"Flash-freeze… possibly…" the little girl muttered to herself.
"Fire works best," her giant said - suddenly verbal for a change. Hm, useful.
Snakes slithered up the beach, even as several floated to the surface of the waves. Arrows dotted the multitude of bodies, spearing through so that only the fletching was visible.
"Sis still got it." Achilles twirled his spear. "Well, so long as I take care I'll be fine," he drawled.
The Hind approached gradually, a rain of green light accompanied by silent rays of violet. Medea's outline was visible as she strafed through the air, and an azure mantle slowly swept over the ship.
"Thankfully, there seem to be none of the larger variety."
Everyone jerked, looking around while Cu glanced upwards.
The glider folded back under Souichirou's garb, the ninja landing with grace Cu would expect from his mentor.
The snakes hesitated, just at the edge of their gathering.
"What are they waiting for?" Sieg asked curiously, hand on the sword at his hip.
Heracles frowned.
As one, the serpents collapsed. They lolled on the sand, boneless.
It was then that Cu noticed the sand under their bodies start to melt.
"Are the scales poison too?" he asked, directing the question to Achilles.
"That would be acidic, and no," the bearded man to his left drawled. "I've had to fend off more than one incursion. The smaller ones aren't that lethal. A bit overkill, don't you think?" The man directed this to- ah.
Matthew scowled. "Heracles said fire would work." Runes bloomed in a sphere, revolving around a tiny ember in his palms. One by one they blinked out, and the fire flickered away in the sea air.
At the same time, the Bounded Field walling in Ritsuka vanished. The Master trudged over, eyes narrowed. "How many?"
"Just the one spell. I fine-tuned it and it'll handle anything uh. Illya-sized or smaller."
Illyasviel slowly scowled. "And how is it that I am the most readily available unit of measurement for these things?"
"Anyways, I just boiled their blood. I was able to use sympathetic magic via encircling fire from Aoibheall with runes, and set it to target snakes in a…" Matthew trailed off. "Anyways, it's not like it was hard."
The bearded man, who had to be Patroclus, slowly turned to stare at Cu Chulainn.
"He's kind of… like that. Mostly I let him do as he will." Cu shrugged.
"Seriously! They don't even have resistance to magecraft at all!" Matthew protested. "And Atalanta and Medea got the bulk of them anyways!"
The sand bubbled and popped, turning to molten glass.
Patroclus made eye contact with the Celt. He dropped a hand on his shoulder, and gave a solemn nod. His expression showed a clear understanding of the situation.
Almost as though in the script of some great comedy, Achilles and Matthew tilted their heads in unison. "Eh?"
Ritsuka dragged a hand down his face. "...Mash. Please get here as soon as possible."
The snakes crumbled into desiccated powder, blending with the melted sand.
____________________________________________________________________________
I leafed through the book I'd claimed just last night, peering at the symbols.
Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard. Scourge of the Caribbean, and the ur-example of 'pirate' in North American culture. He lived and pillaged for many a year. Often he secured treasure through sheer terror. A favored tactic was lighting wicks hidden in the beard which gave his moniker, shrouding his head in smoke and giving him the appearance of a devil. He died by decapitation near the outer banks of the territory that would come to be known as North Carolina.
Kunapipi, an Aborigine Earth Mother Goddess. Her origins are from the landmass now known as Australia, and she created humans, animals, and plants alike. She was known for travelling alongside heroes, and is closely related to the monomyth of the Rainbow Serpent - an intensely sacred figure across multiple cultures. For all her name is uncommon in popular culture, her power is undeniable in its spheres. Easily she is equal to the likes of Morgan and Baba Yaga.
_________, inheritor of ______. My forehead tightened, something like a headache starting to echo in my skull. ...not yet, then.
Who are you, anyway?
I looked up and around.
Blackbeard held his hands together, wriggling in almost-glee while Illyasviel dragged Heracles around and showed him off to our group. Astolfo rubbed the back of his head, laughing openly.
Caeneus scowled, arms crossed and back hunched as he glared at Heracles from Drake's side. Kirschtara stared at the Son of Zeus with starry eyes, and Medea looked… put-upon?
She didn't dislike him, but he was her former husband's favorite.
...so much could have been avoided if the gods left her alone and just let him and the big guy hook up.
Mm yes, homosexuality will fix all the world's problems.
Would have fixed that one.
Oh my sweet, summer child.
Mash had Galahad in the driver's seat, as shown by the snowflake shield. She stood guard over it further inland . Sieg and Ritsuka were nearest to her.
Atalanta stayed up near the crow's nest of the Hind, well away from the gathering. Even from here I could tell she was watching with some small amusement as Achilles slung himself over Patroclus with no regard for space like some oversized puppy.
And a fair greeting to you as well, Sir Pot. Your observations on Lord Kettle are duly noted.
I huffed, closing the book. The symbols were starting to make my head swim anyway. I was starting to make some mild headway, though.
Mm, yes. The Universal Language is a rarity, even amongst the Fair Folk. When Babel shattered, so too did the connections which tied mankind to the world of nature. Even though their climb to the vaults of heaven was thwarted, the path was set - progress in the name of pride, of luxury, and ultimately consumption. Point being, were you of any other Name it would be unlikely that you would have inherited that trait.
Name? Like the Name of a Fairy?
I narrowed my eyes, drumming my fingers on the book's cover.
"You seem perplexed." Kunapipi sat herself next to me on the sand, heedless of the grain. "Perhaps an old woman can lend an ear."
"Well, depends on if you can recognize this book. I get this feeling that…" I frowned. "It's connected to a few things."
It's all connected. Someone disturbed things best left alone, even more so than usual.
She leaned over and peered at the cover. "Old. Certainly old. Possibly as old as I am, in some regards. Powerful too, that's of no question. However… it's asleep."
"Eh?" Cu leaned over the two of us, hand firm against a palm tree.
The goddess hummed. "See the pages? Something with that coloring should shine, or gleam at least." She ran a finger down them, and the colors shifted dully. "It's missing a 'certain something'. A dichotomy in opposition. Such things usually slumber until it's provided."
Well yes. Once that's provided, it's entirely possible the words will come clear to you without hindrance.
"So basically we need a key. Here's what I know." I sat up. "Raphael recognized it. It belongs to someone they haven't seen in a long time, and they either really loved them or really hated them."
"The distance between the two is narrower than you'd consider," Kunapipi mused. "But that does narrow it significantly." She hummed and nodded. "Well, here is what I know. Though the Church of the White Christ spread far and wide - even over my homeland - there are certain aspects which are of… questionable certitude."
I looked up at Cu, and he shrugged. I stared at Kunapipi. "Like?"
"Firstly, the existence of a 'hell'. I can say for certain that the existence of 'Sheol' was valid and verified. It was not unlike Hades or Kur in that regard - simply a place for souls to linger until passing back to the Origin of All Things. Angels existed, but they were more conceptual than even some gods. Where gods and divine spirits sprang from a mixture of human faith and nature, the angels often skewed sharply towards humanity. In some regards, they were also kinder than a severe plurality of divinities. While I never met the one who they claimed to serve, it would stand to reason that they too would fall closer to an entity aligned with humanity rather than the World." Kunapipi rubbed her hands together, shedding flakes of golden-yellow. "That said, the evils - the fallen angels and devils of that tradition - well, I don't believe…"
They were sealed in Sheol long ago. Funny, really. Humans claim until they're blue in the face that they have innate goodness and it is only due to temptation they fall to sin. That 'the devil made them do it'. Between that and the very concept of the Messiah, I truly despair for humankind learning anything approaching personal responsibility.
"So apparently they were sealed in Sheol." I rubbed the book's cover.
"Which begets the question: how do they walk our world?" Kunapipi's eyes glimmered, a prismatic sheen crossing them and thinning her pupils. "The Goetics remain, those recorded as familiars of Solomon. Perhaps he was capable of summoning them forth, and bound them?"
The resulting laughter was half-mad. Barking cackles, a bestial cry of disbelief and outrage. The sound carried loss, hate, love, and despair all in one. It was the mockery of an ancient, one who held knowledge and heard a lie of such transparence that laughter was as appropriate as screaming.
"...I don't think that's the case."
Mana flooded my body from the connection I held to Ritsuka, and I slowly relaxed. I was far from tapped out this time, but having a steady supply was always preferable.
...ah, I haven't had a laugh like that in eons. A darkly amused hum echoed, and for the first time… I felt scared of the voice. Not to the degree which I feared the Counter Force sinking its claws in, but definitely more than Morgan ever could frighten me. Well, I've been coy long enough. The book is Sefer Raziel HaMalach, the sum of all knowledge secret and otherwise. I'm sure you'll make great use of it. He paused. And the reason those 'demons' walk this earth is because those which bore their names now bear their echoes. The power which usurped humankind's incineration is at fault. A misstep which I will take great pleasure correcting in the future.
And then there was silence. True silence, and I could feel that the speaker had withdrawn from my mind entirely. His influence lingered - now that he had stepped back I could feel the structures which could only be defenses.
"Well, now I know that he means well for me at least, and is also definitely at least kinda unhinged."
Kunapipi and Cu Chulainn stared at me.
"Also this is the Sefer Raziel HaMalach." I shook the book side to side. "Which tells me… not much."
Kunapipi shrugged. "I was a little busy trying to keep my people alive when the Europeans arrived and established colonies in my homeland. Bible study wasn't exactly on my short-list of things to do."
I raised an eyebrow.
"All I gave you was hearsay that I've collected in years since from other divinities and solid fact based on the functions of the World."
"Sounds less Christian and more Judaic," I muttered. "At least from what little exposure Da Vinci gave me to Church information."
"Fantastic. We have a name, though it still doesn't give us what it is when it's at home." Cu stood up. "That said, we have resources. Let's go pester the Acting Director, shall we?"
I grinned, following him. I paused after standing, then offered a hand to Kunapipi.
"Respecting your elders, hm? Good boy." She clasped my hand and tugged herself up. "At least your mother raised you right."
"She was pretty emphatic that anything on my spectrum and older than me might be able to kick my ass," I allowed.
"And yet you mouth off to Gilgamesh and Caeneus on a regular basis." Cu gave a wry smirk.
"Gilgamesh started out aggressive and at this point we've hit a pattern where he's waiting in the wings as a sugar-daddy-to-be and I'm a total brat."
That made him choke on his own spit.
"So, the odds of him trying to murder me for sassing him are low. Not non-existent, but low. And Caeneus doesn't stand on ceremony so we have decent banter. It's fine."
Cu and Kunapipi exchanged another glance.
"Power to you keeping him alive," she acknowledged.
"It'll be a labor of love," he replied dryly.
"I resemble that remark!" I scowled, folding the book in my arms. A light weight landed on my head.
Cu looked up and paled. "Ah."
"Fou?" Oh hey, it's Fou.
"GIVE ME BACK MY HAT!" Drake roared, coming at me with both flintlocks drawn.
Oh shit, it's Fou.
"Well, gottarunbye!" I snagged what I hoped was her hat and flung it towards her on a gust of wind. This was immediately followed by bolting towards where my sister had a magic circle connecting across spacetime to talk to a chicken doctor and my mentor.
Behind me, Cu gave chase. The jerk didn't even bother pretending not to laugh.
____________________________________________________________________________
Roman folded his hands, the hologram floating over Mash's original shield. "So Matthew unearthed a book of some sort, you've encountered two of the most famous Heroes in history, are sailing with two pirates of no small name, and have a sea snake infestation. Anything else?" His uncharacteristically blunt description was punctuated with a raised eyebrow.
"We've been trying to establish rapport with each other and our newest allies as well," Kirschtaria pointed out.
Ritsuka had been surprised that Kirschtaria had managed to get first-name rights from Matthew, even if the fairy continued to be surly in their interactions.
"Right." Roman's mouth twitched into a small smile. "That solves a few internal issues, but leaves the question of where Medusa ended up and who you're up against."
"Oh, we have news on that."
Ritsuka looked over his shoulder, catching sight of the elderly woman who travelled with Blackbeard and Heracles. She followed alongside Cu Chulainn and a hunched-over Matthew.
Said fairy prince's gaze flicked around like a cornered animal, and Fou sat smugly atop his head.
"Is all well?" Galahad asked, his deeper voice coming from Mash's mouth.
"Fou stole Drake's hat," Cu explained with a pointed grin.
Galahad shot the small animal an unimpressed look.
"She's scary. Hot, but scary," Matthew muttered.
Caeneus opened his mouth.
"Killed any Divine Spirits lately?" Matthew challenged.
His mouth shut with a click. After pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes, Caeneus gave a grunt of acknowledgement.
"...that's news-worthy." Roman gave Ritsuka an inquisitive look.
"Francis Drake blew up the Greek Sea God and stole his Holy Grail." Kunapipi smiled. "Given the oaf was about to flood the world to raise Atlantis, I find myself unmoved by his passing."
Da Vinci's head popped into view. "Wait what?" She actually looked a little startled, smile thinned and eyes slightly wide.
Caeneus gave a sigh that sounded almost... wistful. "Yeah she did." He grinned.
Da Vinci and Roman stared at him. "Moving on from that information," Roman said slowly, "what's this about a book?"
Matthew immediately unfolded his arms, shoving the grimoire towards the hologram displaying Roman and Da Vinci.
The two of them stared.
"Well, that's something I have no frame of reference for," Da Vinci said mildly, smile back in place. "Romani?" She paused. "...Romani?"
The redhead didn't move, mouth slightly agape. Even through the transmitted hologram, his eyes shone with some strange light.
"So the voice called it the-" Matthew began.
"Sefer Raziel HaMalach." Roman's voice was soft. Ritsuka couldn't identify the emotion in it. It could have been reverence. Fear. Despair. Hope. Hate. Love. Whatever it was, it was powerful. From that alone, Ritsuka knew that Roman knew exactly what the tome was.
"You recognize it?" Kirschtaria asked, eyes narrowing.
Roman jerked. "I. Well, yes. I'm… Jewish. And I've had some interest in Kabbalah in the past." He scratched the back of his head, the intense look fading into his usual sheepishness. "That's a very, ah, potent book. Some say it's what Solomon used to build the early foundations of magecraft as it's known in the modern day."
Matthew frowned. "So the voice in my head is Solomon?"
Da Vinci raised her eyebrows at Doctor Roman. "Would it make sense?"
"None whatsoever. He could be capable of telepathy through magecraft, but whatever purpose he would have… let alone there's no sympathetic resonance between him and you to establish such a connection." Surprisingly, Kirschtaria was the one to dismiss the idea. "However, the name sticks out - Raziel. Was he not an archangel of some manner?"
"In some traditions," Roman said slowly, "yes. Some held him as the angel of secrets who recorded every word from Elohim - in that book no less. In other traditions, he was the highest of all angels who taught Adam the spiritual laws of nature and life on earth, the power of planets, stars, and the laws of creation. He taught speech, thought, and the truth of the soul."
Ritsuka swallowed.
Things like that. Things like that sounded small at first, the basics of human function. The laws of nature. However… when one looked at it through the lens of the Moonlit World. The rules outside the rules. The existence of miracles. Then...
Roman pursed his lips. "That book is, in theory, a wellspring of knowledge from the earliest days of the Age of Gods. By definition, any and all secrets rest in its pages."
"And said book is, at the moment, dormant." Kunapipi rubbed her hands together. "And while we've strayed from the subject, it would seem we have a name for your benefactor."
Ritsuka looked at Matthew. "Benefactor?" he parroted.
Galahad-as-Mash stepped forward, eye glinting. "I recall what occurred when certain powers touched Matthew in Septem. If the angel in question interceded on his behalf afterwards…"
Matthew nodded. "It came back in Seraphix. I didn't get blasted that time, at least."
"So is it benevolent, or merely protecting its interests?" Da Vinci pondered aloud. "Even the gentlest Divine Spirits have some form of agenda, to my knowledge."
"Oh, certainly," Kunapipi agreed. "The Council of Avalon is no exception. Our interests align, but make no mistake: it is not solely out of the goodness of our hearts that we help you. Partially? Perhaps, in some cases. But never that alone."
Ritsuka turned that over in his head. Everyone had implied Morgan had some kind of endgame. Something that involved a goddess council, and included forging through the Singularities. Resolving them played into it, and while there was some interest in salvaging humanity… He never got the feeling that any of the goddesses were upset that it happened.
It wasn't something they had wanted, but there was an opportunity for them to grasp. Chaldea sought to correct the timeline, while there must have been some sort of change they wanted to make, or knowledge they wanted to obtain. Their goals aligned, and it wasn't that they did not care for humanity. But that didn't mean there wasn't another layer behind it all. Not that they were bothering to hide it…
"Medusa's on the Shapeless Isle with her family," Matthew said, jolting Ritsuka out of his reverie. "From what I heard from… Raziel? Recently. And we're up against, uh." He looked to Kirschtaria. "What's the psycho's name, again?"
"Celenike Icecolle." Kirschtara frowned. "And a different term may be more appropriate. Her depredations are not caused by any sort of mental instability."
"Icecolle was very nearly invited as a Master," Roman muttered. "But Marisbilly decided on Beryl Gut instead in her place."
Matthew bared his teeth, but remained silent.
"Of course, when Olga began looking for additional candidates I immediately shredded her file and hid it in Fou's bedding." Da Vinci smiled placidly. "One dangerously unpredictable Master was more than enough."
Fou looked mildly scandalized at that.
"Yes. We'll also need to watch for her lieutenants." Kunapipi rubbed her palms together, flaking ochre onto the ground. "From what I've observed, the Argonauts didn't submit to her quietly so few if any of them will remain."
"Wait. She's adept at curses, but how would she hurt a Servant?" Da Vinci narrowed her eyes. "If she held contract, that would be one thing - but no small number of Servants that fall under the title 'Argonaut' would be able to shrug off the bulk of her magecraft regardless."
"Manaka Sajyou needed a stop-gap when her plans for the Demon King Mara were disrupted." Kunapipi frowned. "On one hand, this 'Evil of Humanity' is far weaker. On the other, she overreached and overcompensated. The serpents are a sign of that."
That didn't make sense.
Matthew cleared his throat. "Beasts are defined by a 'love of humanity'. From what I heard…" He trailed off with a meaningful look.
Kirschtaria paused. "While that information is new to me, if true it does raise several questions."
"Simple. The 'love' isn't hers, merely the 'malice'." Kunapipi's deceptively mild tone could have desiccated a man. ...likely not literally.
Roman's head flopped downwards. "Aaaah. Of course. Nothing can be simple, can it? Can't just rely on figures who might actually qualify, noooo. We have to look out for any sort of hellish mish-mash of myth, history, or even current figures. Because of course." His mutter was audible even to Ritsuka.
"Did someone say something?" Illyasviel poked her head out from behind Kunapipi.
Ritsuka was sure there was some level of irony there, but felt ill-equipped to comment.
"So taken from the top," Kirschtaria cut in, "there is a book that has been around since the Abrahamic times of genesis connected to an angel who is most likely the one turning Matthew's head into their vacation home from wherever they may be."
"...well when you put it like that."
"There is a very cruel and sadistic curse-master who is connected to an at least affectionate being of great power just so they can slide under the bar of what qualifies as a Beast-class threat." Kirschtaria ticked off another finger.
"Revolting is what it is," Kunapipi agreed in a dark mutter.
"Said mage has pirates as subordinates?" He looked first at Kunapipi, then Matthew.
Kunapipi tilted her head side-to-side. "In a matter of speaking. Sailors, certainly."
"One of whom is almost certainly Captain Ahab, if we follow the chain-summon theory. If Fafnir arrives due to Siegfried and Sigurd, then Moby Dick would likely also follow that man in particular." Kirschtaria frowned. "And then there is what is at least mostly the Lernean Hydra, if not yet another monstrosity of composite legends."
Roman slowly lifted his head. "...would you gentlemen like me to rally the Monkey King and Gilgamesh?" he asked after a moment.
Ritsuka turned that thought over in his head. "Would they feel the need to take action and/or listen to our requests?"
Roman wilted once more. "Point taken."
____________________________________________________________________________
Musashi gazed off the bow of the Hind. Waves passed, and now that they had reached the open ocean once more any attacks were replaced by eerie silence and the faint traces of blood and entrails in the water.
Whatever her motive, Mash was grateful for Moby Dick's guardianship where it could be enjoyed.
"So… the Shapeless Isle."
Mash looked up.
Musashi kept watching the waves. "I really hope that…" She closed her eyes. "Nevermind." The swordmaster seemed calmer, but also… tired. Tired was the word Mash was thinking of.
"We're not too far."
Mash raised her eyebrows at Matthew's intrusion. He landed next to Musashi, wings sliding back into his torso.
"Doc Roman said that thanks to linking up, he's got a good map of the islands. Kunapipi's hideaway was actually already pretty close." Matthew's eyes were wide and earnest. "And he got a visual of Medusa. She's there with a big guy and two tiny girls, and they're all just relaxing and stuff. So Raziel didn't lie."
Mash winced against the dry sob in the back of her skull. Raphie… had not taken the confirmation of the news well.
At all.
Waves sluiced by the Hind, the echoes breaking the silence that spread in their small part of the ship. Wind blew and tousled their hair.
Musashi's eyes rested on the horizon, restlessly shifting to take it in. The hope of some change, some sight of the island she sought was obvious.
Was it a quirk of being a Servant, to connect with speed and depth? It had only been a month or two. Mash felt drawn to Ritsuka, sure, but that had an entire bond between them beyond social.
The Master-Servant connection was intimate, no matter what one said - dreaming of history and touching minds could hardly be described otherwise.
Hm. Galahad made himself known. Each Servant is unto themselves. The experiences of life shape them, and as we have seen prior summonings can have an impact - at least under Chaldea.
Could she have known Medusa from a past war? But those were almost always pure conflict; any alliance or dalliance was doomed to end from the start.
Her brother… Matthew was not the norm. The speed with which he cleaved to people - friendship, romance, familial bonds - and the depth of that emotion was something she couldn't comprehend. The ease with which he accepted Gawain as his sibling, for example. So Mash knew he was more the exception than the rule, and using him to gauge what was going on with Musashi was a poor idea.
"You have questions." Musashi's expression didn't change.
"Not- oh. Mash?" Matthew sent her a quizzical look.
Mash nodded slowly. "Y-yes. Not to push, but… you and Medusa seem close. Er. Closer than I would have thought, given…"
Musashi's eyes lowered, and the corner of her mouth twitched. "Yeah, I guess. I don't want to talk too much about before, but… well. I was summoned before Chaldea, despite not exactly being part of this world's history. I had a lot of time, and a fulfilling journey. People I cared for, lost. And then that time ended. This is kind of a second chance for me with a whole new group of people. You guys are easy to get attached to, given I'm not wandering far and wide." Her smile was wry, but she seemed more at ease. "Not to mention my summoning here was… eh, let's call it unorthodox."
Ah…!
Mash stilled at Raphael's voice. Raphie? Are you alright?
How long…? How long has…? What else has he touched? Ah, they said the Morningstar was born of cunning but they never knew just what he was capable of-!
Mash worried her lip.
However she came to be, she is connected to the FATE system now. I doubt she is some sort of sleeper agent. Morgan's influence over that, and now BB and Hakuno, would eliminate that possibility. Variant or not, the former is not one to let control slip her fingers with that sort of ease. Galahad's monotone was somehow comforting, despite the dismissive words.
Raphael went silent once more.
"So basically you lost everything and re-started from scratch." Mash winced at her brother's bluntness.
"Basically," Musashi agreed with wry humor.
"I must have caught you when you were really off-balance, huh?" Matthew hopped onto the rail and sat there, undisturbed by the sway of the ship.
"Something like that." Musashi stood up, shaking her head. "Let's say I've settled in for the long haul, and…" she trailed off.
"Even if we could resummon her since she's registered, you're worried. That's natural I think. The only reason I wasn't freaking out alongside you was, well." He tapped the side of his head. "Though I got just enough to know she was okay."
At that, Mash twitched. With viper-like quickness she grabbed his ear and pulled.
"GEH!"
"Perhaps, brother, you should have expressed more sympathy!" she chirped.
"I did! I was the one who stuck with Musashi the most!" Matthew whined.
"He's right," Musashi noted with a sly smile.
"Then why aren't you helping meeee!"
Mash twisted.
"Owww!"
"Because it's funny and it's not like you're actually being hurt."
Matthew gave Musashi a look of utter betrayal.
"...what?"
"Mash. Friend. Knight in training. You have the potential to be an engine of true carnage." Musashi laid a gentle hand on Mash's shoulder. "But head slaps and ear twists can't exactly break divine protection."
"Noooo! Now she's gonna try!" Matthew wailed.
"So you were… just playing along…?" Mash saw red.
Seconds later, she blinked furiously while heat receded from her cheeks.
Ritsuka stood there, eyes wide. "Are you all right?" he asked quietly, looking between her and Musashi.
Matthew was nowhere to be seen.
"Um." The warmth came back in force, this time from embarrassment. "Did anyone see…?"
"Everyone saw," Caeneus drawled, a sharp grin on his face as he loomed over her. "And I gotta say, it was kinda gratifying."
Hesitantly, Mash looked over the side of the ship.
Matthew bobbed along the waves, a line of runes tethering him to the side of the ship. He glowered up at them all, arms crossed and pouting fiercely. There was no sign of danger or sinking.
Added to that, somehow Fou ended up on his stomach with what appeared to be tiny sunglasses, half a coconut, a miniscule umbrella, and a straw.
Mash gave a small wave.
Then she whipped out her shield to block the spheres of saltwater that hurtled her way in response.
____________________________________________________________________________
Medusa paused in her exploration of the new-old island.
Over the sound of wind and waves echoed the creak of wood. The soft groan belonged to something larger than the boats that had approached her temple in the past, which meant… a ship.
She turned on her heel and launched herself towards the shore. The sparse trees provided no resistance as she weaved around them, body flowing through the soft breeze. Uncoiling step by step, it was the work of heartbeats to get to her destination.
Eurayle stood alone, a petite bow in her grasp as she observed the oncoming ship. "One of yours?" she asked in a too-mild tone. Asterios and Stheno were nowhere to be seen.
There was no sign of anyone on the ship. Not that Medusa could see. It creaked in the wind, slowly gliding across the waves like a coffin above the water. The effortless bob across the sea was marred by the unnatural stillness it radiated. The wind blew, the tide pulled - but the ship seemed to remain stationary. It carried an air of quiet malice, letting the world pass it by as it laid in wait for prey.
An ambush predator. Something that hid form and claw until the last moment. That was what it reminded her of.
"I doubt it," Medusa finally answered. She kept her voice low.
A figure clad in black materialized behind the railing. He was tall, thin. His arms were long, and he rested on a cane of solid black wood. His height was such that Medusa could see the prosthetic leg below the knee, balanced as he was on the cane. His bald head was threaded with faint traceries of veins, and his long beard flowed down his chest into a sharp point above his navel. His skin was scorched by the sun, all but a line of white that trailed from his scalp down face and neck beneath his clothes. His naval outfit was finely pressed and absent of a single wrinkle. Eyes like crimson coals roved the shore with the barest minimum of interest.
Eurayle stroked her bow idly, gaze moving to catch Medusa's eye.
Medusa shook her head slightly.
"A fine day, is it not?" The old man's voice was soft, yet it carried with ease. Despite his visible infirmity, he radiated a dark vitality that told another tale entirely. "Tell me, ladies - have you seen anything peculiar in these seas? Something that may not belong?"
"Aside from you?" Euryale crooned, tittering at her own jab.
Medusa was hard-pressed to disagree. He did not look like someone suited to the light of the midday sun that shone down upon them all.
The man did not smile, but neither did he frown. "A creature of great size, well beyond the norm." The elaboration was offered as a continuation of his question, utterly ignoring Euryale's insult. "You see, while it has been… asked… of me to keep abreast of certain parties, I have my own priorities."
Stheno stalked into Medusa's field of vision, hand reaching out and grasping Euryale's. Asterios hovered in the background, massive body tensed. His twin labrys were nowhere to be seen, but that could change in moments.
The man glanced at the giant for a brief moment before his eyes flicked over the shore once more.
Medusa looked along the ship, eyes crossing dark wood in search of any identifier- and then she saw it.
Pequod.
The old man sighed. "Very well. If the beast lies outside my reach as of yet…"
The cane rose from his grip, but he did not so much as stumble. It flickered in form, like a jittering film. In and out of reality. Longer, thinner. A sliver of shadow that split the air of noon, dark breaking through daylight. The handle bloated, extended, sharpened.
He raised his hand and aimed his palm at Asterios. "Then I'll make do with this one. More monster than man, tainting this world." The spear, no, the harpoon took aim.
Medusa's eyes locked on him, and she pushed. Grey spread across the suit like crawling moss, stone beginning to encase-
She leapt backwards, dodging the golden flare as she called her blades to hand.
The white-clad figure looked up, blue-gold blade in her grip. Her eyes, color of the sky, gazed blankly. The body slowly stood as though pulled upwards by strings.
Medusa was torn from her observations by spinning rings curving through the air, and with a sharp swing of her arms she parried the twin discus with her own blades. She grimaced upon seeing the slightest chip in their edges.
The rings returned to a second figure which stood behind the girl - a man of near stature, eyes equally vacant.
"...a petrifying gaze. Ah. Ah, ah, ah!"
She looked up.
The old man smiled, his stoicism falling away to reveal a dark mania. "Ah! A monster! A titan! A creature of the sea! Worthy of my spear, here you stand!"
The harpoon snapped to her, angle changed without true motion.
"Gorgon! I see you!" the man cried in a rasping voice. "You may not be the whale, but you will serve!" His palm swung to cover her.
Medusa raised her blades, eyes burning as she tried to engulf him in stone once more.
A line of pink traced through the air, only to be stopped by a flying discus. The two white-clad Servants bounded towards her sisters, and she heard Asterios' howl from her periphery.
She crouched, sand scattering grains from the power she pushed into her legs.
"Know the name of your hunter, monster! I am Ahab, Captain of the Pequod! Avenger-class Servant!" The coals in his skull burned brighter, and no stone took root.
Even as Medusa lunged forward, the harpoon tracked her movements.
"I see you. You will not escape my grasp!" Ahab's smile split his skull, a sneer consumed by greed, hunger, and hate. "I SEE YOU, BEASTIE!"
Medusa poured all she had, lunging forward-
"TAKE MY VENGEANCE, AND THAT OF ALL HEROES YOU FELLED! OLD THUNDER!"
The spear lurched, carving through the air. To call it a spear was to admit it existed - rather, it was a void that erased all which shared its space. A curse made manifest. Skill and practice made legend, however young.
Medusa grit her teeth. Even as the weapon approached. She could still dodge it. She was fast enough. It would require drawing on reserves of strength that would push her closer to monstrosity, but she could do it.
As it turned out… she did not need to.
Twin blades crashed down, catching the haft of the weapon and sending it spiraling off-kilter.
Ahab scowled, raising his hand and bringing the 'spear' in a cross before his body. The void settled into his grip with ease, leaving him unmarred.
Medusa landed on the deck of the ship, eyes wide.
Musashi raised her blade and pointed it at Ahab. "Hey, gramps. We've got questions for you."
A cloud passed overhead, casting the deck into shade.
"Of course, I don't mind taking them from your corpse," the swordmaster drawled, dropping into a low stance. "Pointing something like that at her… well. That's not something I'm going to forgive."
"Musashi…" Medusa breathed in shock.
"Medusa!" her Master called, voice echoing from nearby.
Clouds began to spin, billowing and multiplying. The bright sun faded, casting the world below into shadow. The wind picked up, a strange chill touching Medusa's bones.
"Ohhh. So that weapon's for hunting that sort of creature, huh? And that's why she's here…"
That voice…!
Musashi snorted, slowly moving around and keeping Ahab in her sights.
The Captain stepped back, eyes flickering around him. "Where are the serpents?" he growled. "Where are my men?"
He raised his spear, forcing space as a blade swiped where his head had been scant seconds before.
"You'll find the Dioscuri are a little occupied," Musashi retorted with a fierce grin.
Asterios roared, joined by battlecries Medusa did not recognize.
"And that sort of thing is very niche, you know. It'll only work on one particular kind of being, and Medusa isn't that yet. Well, it would work, but it's not as good." He hummed a little. "Anyways. You forgot your line!"
In the newfound shade, glimmering gold footprints appeared one by one down the side of the mast. Medusa's eyes tracked upwards, spotting Ritsuka in the crow's nest of the Pequod. Mash covered him with her smaller shield. Medusa's gaze slammed back to Ahab, who she was sure had not seen them.
"What is this? Cease this nonsense at once!" Ahab grit out, keeping just enough distance from Musashi that she couldn't rush in for a quick end to the fight.
"Well what nonsense would you like?" A flash of gold heralded the low wave of flame that scattered across the deck, forcing Ahab to leap to the wheel to save his false leg.
Matthew turned out of thin air, hands folded behind his tailbone and standing back to Musashi's back. He turned his head to peer over his shoulder.
For whatever reason, Musashi didn't press the advantage - or at least, not that Medusa could see.
Something was happening. She didn't know what, or she would have unleashed her full fury beforehand.
"So what line were you talking about?" Musashi asked, dark amusement dancing in those bright eyes.
Medusa frowned.
"You know! The line!" Matthew pouted in frustration. "If you don't say it, I'm gonna! And you won't like it!"
Azure ghost-flame flickered across the ship, and Ahab tightened his grip. "Boy," he snarled, "you play with forces beyond your ken."
Matthew narrowed his eyes. "Warned you."
And the sea opened.
Like a black gate peeling back, it opened, parting around a horizontal tower of flesh. Skin the color of bleached bone rose, brine and blood streaking away and leaving it untouched. A massive eye, bleak as the space between stars, gazed down on them all. The intelligence, the power, all of it echoed the deepest fathoms of the sea itself.
And it fixed upon Ahab. The unfathomable became known. Ambivalence turned to malice. The gaze held acknowledgement, awareness, and worst of all familiarity.
The Captain blanched, stepping back in the face of the sheer power and majesty of what Medusa knew beyond doubt to be a Divine Beast of the highest order.
"So once more, with feeling!" Matthew crowed.
Musashi dashed forward, sea-spray whipping around her and dancing around her blades. Her speed spoke of the potency of a Command Spell.
Medusa joined her, breaking ahead in a burst of sheer speed. In the span of a breath she cleared the rail between the wheel and deck. Violet lightning traced her path.
The white whale screamed and the ocean shattered skyward. Waves roiled, but did not plunge them under. The ship was encased in a orb of salt and darkness in which the star of day would find no purchase.
Darkness where the only light was the fairy prince, sliver armor refracting the golden light of his runes. Light that reflected across the alabaster body which was now above the ship.
"THAR SHE BLOWS!"
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Enjoyed the chapter, sincerely hope the bit about Beryl and evil Crowley going to London to tip someone over the edge wasn't talking about Mordred (Mordred is awsome and best saber).
Still think seeing Mash and Matthew interact is one of my favourite parts of this fic so nice to see more of it
Still think seeing Mash and Matthew interact is one of my favourite parts of this fic so nice to see more of it
- Location
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
A few thoughts so far.
Columbus is a piece of crap.
Celenike is clearly underestimating Columbus because while he's many things, weak willed is the one thing he's not.
Ah, so Beryl has summoned the World's Wickedest Man, that's certainly not ominous at all given what he liked to call himself. Though Assassin is surprising when Caster seems more his speed.
Matthew seems to have really assholish things to say about Excalibur.
And so it seems the voice is just as much misanthropic as Matthew in some respects, at least enough to generalise. Sure a lot of idiots do that, but a lot of people also don't. Some people.
Columbus is a piece of crap.
Celenike is clearly underestimating Columbus because while he's many things, weak willed is the one thing he's not.
Ah, so Beryl has summoned the World's Wickedest Man, that's certainly not ominous at all given what he liked to call himself. Though Assassin is surprising when Caster seems more his speed.
Matthew seems to have really assholish things to say about Excalibur.
And so it seems the voice is just as much misanthropic as Matthew in some respects, at least enough to generalise. Sure a lot of idiots do that, but a lot of people also don't. Some people.
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Or so he thinks at least.
Takes one to know one.
Yeah that book would be the sort of thing to set Roman off.
So did Mash punch him off the ship or shieldbash?
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Enjoyed the chapter, sincerely hope the bit about Beryl and evil Crowley going to London to tip someone over the edge wasn't talking about Mordred (Mordred is awsome and best saber).
Still think seeing Mash and Matthew interact is one of my favourite parts of this fic so nice to see more of it
Mordred is safe. Beryl is trying to set up something to unleash Matthew's darker side. I left some implications there.
Celenike underestimates everyone. She's coasting by on a lot of power and doesn't really get it at all.
Yup, I brought Crowley in around the end of Septem and he's waiting in the wings to make London onward that much worse. As for the reason for Assassin, he's more a Caster in Assassin's clothing. Though he still has quite a bit up his sleeve I haven't revealed yet.
Matthew does not have a normal view on Excalibur. Remember how back in Orleans, he wasn't affected by the usual awe that strikes warriors? That's a plot point. And Excalibur is amazing, the weapon forged to protect the world and more just like in canon. But consider the person who is the viewpoint, his values, and exactly what being 'to the side of human' means. And also consider what it means that he views it as 'just a sword'.
Raziel has spent most of history in Sheol with Clairvoyance EX. Unlike Goetia, he has seen the good of mankind. Unfortunately, he is unimpressed with the tendency to dodge blame and the failure of humanity to live up to a Lawful Good ideal as a whole. I'm pretty sure I've said it before: he wanted Star Trek, the Original Series to happen by now. If his plan to hand his book to Adam and Eve had panned out, it would have in most respects. He's personally nicer than Gilgamesh, but he has the same exacting standards for humanity as a whole (if in different directions).
Hammer throw. I left it vague for Comedy.
ExNihilo
SPACE!
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I take requests.
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Ah well, practice for when she meets the non-Berserker Lancelot in the Camelot Singularity. Here's hoping she gets better air-time on her second attempt.
- Location
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
You know, I kind of want to have him see Avalon Le Fae to appreciate just how important it actually is and why "Dreams of Subjugation" is a pretty stupid way to describe it considering why and how it was forged. Then again Avalon Le Fae would either make his Misanthropy that much worse, or make him appreciate that as crap as Humanity could be, there were actually worse options (and isn't that sad). (Also funnily enough seeing Avalon Le Fae would probably make Raziel admit that at least Humans can eventually own up to their mistakes, given the way Faeries react to responsibility is pretty much Humanity at it worst on a constant basis.)
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
That was so fucking chuuni and I fucking loved it. Theatrics need not be supplanted entirely by realism if the story isn't that kind of story.
Garreon
Paldean Top Champion
- Location
- Mesagoza, Paldea
welp looks like Celenike is getting a knife right to the tit. Matthew keeps his promises after all and Medea is a good friend of his
Mattie, sweetie, at this rate you will have more notches in the bed post than Zeus did....at least yours are all consensual.
I have a question however.....why does it look like Aphrodite wants to Advent as a Beast? I mean, I guess Manaka could have influenced her, like what happened with Zeus in the Atlantis Lostbelt but......
God, Medea is going to have PTSD I just know it
- Location
- Germany
Fit with her version from Fate/A
that one failed to see beyond her narrow POV as well.
"Doesn't get it"
seems to apply to Manaka as well, these slapdash beasts seems so very frail.
Is she trying unable to find fitting candidates? or unable to recognize them?
Or does she lack an understand of love? Her own plans for Arthur seem more like an obsession that ignores his feeling.
...or is there a bigger plan? She burns through the lower numbered beasts so she can make Beast VII a real gamebreaker?
sibling-pranks have officially reached the next level.
Mash should keep a close eye on her wardrobe next time Matty feels like mischief
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Considering her canon 'armor' it's kind of hard to get worse. I mean that thing is basically an armored one-piece swimsuit.
Or maybe he just makes all her lab-coats disappear and sicks Medea on her for the purpose of a wardrobe overhaul.
- Location
- Germany
If not sexy, then he could replace the lab-coats with something ultra-cute.
or place some spell that changes the lab-coats into something else once Mash wears them and leave her room.
Neko!Mash, Maido!Mash, Arabic Princess!Mash.
Monty Phyton-Style Galahad!Mash.
Or suddenly dress in live flowers!Mash.
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So... you're going to hate Zero, then love it (possibly). That's what I have to say on that. The Zero-London-Paradox d'If Arc is the attitude adjustment I've been building up to.
Matthew's excessive tendencies towards attraction are actually a plot point. It'll be revealed by Zero at the latest.
Aphrodite is not having a good time. Manaka got hold of her remnants while she was vulnerable and Did Her Thing. And yes, Medea is going to be Displeased.
Manaka wants Beasts she can exert control over or parlay with. Mara would have been great and let her have her own little timeline because he would find it hilarious. Unfortunately for Manaka, BB happened.
Beast V is closest to full Beasthood without being there. II had issues.
IV is being fuzzy, VI is... around. And waiting to Advent proper. VII is not yet on the table. And Goetia got hoodwinked because he underestimated someone with a full connection to the Origin so despite his power he's got to put up with her.
- Location
- Germany
So for all her power, she can't just create a fully fledged Beast and control it.
But she can create a Beast that she has no control over.
Does her basically stealing the slots for the Beasts have any consequences for her?
I would think that an anti-humanity system would have anti-human-tampering included on some level.
makes sense, Fou is a fuzz-ball
So she's at least a pseudo-servant of Aphordite, any chance she's an alter ego with a few more?
hey astolfo! always great to have him around.
yup, sounds shady, this Matthew.
and like Astolfo would let not having room to talk to comment
oh Matthew, so easily read.
Go for the kicks, Fou! also, i think Matthew's poker face might actually be garbage
Pffft!
for the watching, or over sized puppy?
oh who am I kidding, BOTH!
Reminded of the Mamodo books from Zatch bell with that description of the words
It's official, Fou wants a hat!
Moar Mash taking it out on her bro! we got approval from the harem!
the strings feel ominous to me.
yes! or a bunch of frilly dresses!
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
I doubt he's going to go too extreme. He did promise Ritsuka that he'd back off on shoving him and Mash together.
Also there is Mash's A-ranked Magic Resistance that might put a bit of a damper on his hijinks.