Chapter Ninety-Three
Saito's feet carried him like the wind itself through the hallways all the way to Tiffania's room, where a pained scream was all that it took for him to rip the door asunder with a powerful kick, only to come face to face with a crying Tiffania clutching on to a pile of...to a pile of red clothes, barely stitched together with what appeared to be rough hemp, or perhaps wool.
It was only as he recovered his breath and stared at Julio's slightly saddened face that he understood that the clothes, the child-sized clothes, weren't red because of a dye.
A cracked spyglass with the lenses shattered and its coppery form dented stood amidst the pile, a lonely Chef hat covered in splotches of blood by its side.
"That-" Saito's mouth dried up suddenly.
Louise herself stilled once in the room, her eyes roaming from the crying form of Tiffania to that of the Romalian priest.
"Their remains were found a short distance away from the palace of La Rochelle. It is perhaps because he held on to an object of the Void at the time that the Elves managed to pursue him," the Romalian priest exhaled softly. "Thankfully, my presence nearby prevented them from stealing the Founder's Music Box, which I returned to her Grace, Charlotte Helene D'Orleans. She had no wish to let this gory news breach out, and was willing to let it be. I agreed on behalf that the familiar of the Heart of God would still be summoned," he looked from Saito to the tear-stricken Tiffania, "but recent messages told his Holiness that the Void User of the Albion line did not seem keen on doing so, and thus-"
"The academy staff saw Marteau come by and ask after the Zero Fighter," Saito said sharply. "He was alive, and well, and-"
"Her Grace Charlotte sent her knights to act as if they were the Chef, in order to complete the recovery and the repairs of the Zero Fighter. She had no desire for the flames of vengeance to stroke the heart of one of her friends, and also wished to make amends with you both," Julio smiled sadly, "It is a sad day that one as innocent as this fair maiden has to face reality in its blunt cruelty, but any who are touched by the Void are eventually forced to come to terms with the consequences of it."
"No," Tiffania whispered, "Pierre-Marie-they would never have-it's not possible," she shook her head firmly. "They were supposed to take carriages. I bid them farewell the morning before-they were all so happy-"
"The cruelty of Elves knows no limit," Julio Chesare spoke crisply. "If they cannot have the Void User they set their eyes upon, they will target everyone dear near them, thus driving them in a state of despair and apathy from which the casting of spells is severely limited. There is a reason the Elves are thus so feared," he narrowed his eyes. "And it is for that reason that we must have a crusade, for their cruelty has gone too far. Do not let this pain stop you, fair maiden, from doing what the Founder wishes of you. Take strength in this, and summon forth your familiar."
"Cut that out!" Louise snapped airily, stepping closer to the priest with a hand clenching firmly the handle of her swordwand. "You can't just expect someone to do as you want after giving them a news like this! What kind of cold-hearted monster are you!? Even that ice queen wasn't this ruthless!"
Julio did not smile, his lips setting in a slightly offended curl. "Why not? What more needs to happen before you stand ready? Do you think the dalliance of students can apply to the likes of you? To the chosen of the Gods, to the Founders' heirs? Do you truly think that a life of peace may be yours to claim? Until the Holy Lands have been claimed, what can you expect if not more carnage? More senseless, meaningless deaths?"
"But why would they do this?" Saito's voice cut through the priest's words. "Why kill innocents like this? Elves aren't monsters, if there are both good and bad Elves, then-"
"Because we are fighting not a war desired by the Gods, although that is what the common folk believes," Julio said plainly, staring into the eyes of Saito. "We are fighting a war of survival. Both of us, both the humans and the Elves, we are staking our existence on the line. We cannot coexist, not both of us-never."
"But why," Saito snapped, "You seem to know, so why not just say it?"
Julio smiled bitterly, and then sighed. "Perhaps because this is not the right place to speak of it," he said. "Perhaps there will never be a right place to discuss this. Very well," he nodded, and moved slowly towards the window, which he opened to let the wind in. "Humanity is fated to die if it does not leave this land," he said crisply, "The Elves, in their cruelty, cursed the land beneath our feet to fill with Windstones -the same ones that hold Albion afloat- and the time of them shattering through the crust and emerging is closing in. Soon, the very land beneath our feet will break away and float away in the skies, impossible to reclaim. Before that happens, we need to move to the Holy Lands, who are free from this curse."
"That's bull-" Louise was, however, interrupted by Saito.
"Let's say that's true," Saito said, both hands raised in a placating gesture towards Louise, who seemed quite keen into driving her swordwand up the priest's spine and make holy spit-roast. "Let's say that's true, and if it is, then I can understand -not share, but understand- why you did this horrible thing. Why can't you speak with the Elves about this?"
"Because the only way that allows for a massive amount of people to be transported would be through the 'Gate' spell, but that would require all four Users of the Void to be together in order to make it big enough," Julio took a small breath, "And to have it reach far enough, but there is a problem. The Founder created a machine. This machine, this 'Gate of Demons', as the Elves call it...it powers up the more Void Users become powerful. This machine was designed to suck away the root of the Windstone Crisis' problem. This machine...would kill spirits, leaving the Elves powerless and unable to use their Spirit Magic. It would render most magical stones inert, but would save the people of Halkeginia."
"So I can guess why the Elves don't want to let Void Users live, but then-why not destroy the machine?" Saito hazarded. "That could be tried, couldn't it?"
"It was attempted, recently too," Julio sighed. "There was-there was an expedition, led by very devout, very courageous men and women into the Sahara. Only one woman returned alive from it, maddened and covered in blood. She screamed few words, a terrible fever wracking her. Those words were 'They hunger beyond the wall'."
"Who does?" Saito asked.
"The machine, this machine that the Elves call 'The Demon Gate' is perhaps not a tool of murder, but merely a prison for spirits. Spirits of ages long forgotten must have been trapped in there, and without a way to sustain themselves of the world's energy-they turned mad."
"So destroying this Void-Machine would be a bad idea," Saito acquiesced. "Not destroying it, it activates, and it kills their spirits-"
"Yes," Julio nodded. "Thus they raid upon the Founder's lands searching for the descendants of the Founder, and until now, they always found them first. Thankfully, after the expedition something happened, and they no longer could." Julio took a small breath of relief. "That is how we reached the current situation, that is why we cannot afford to lose any precious time."
"You're hiding something," Louise spoke plainly, staring up at Julio. "Why does she have to 'summon' someone? Why not have her 'contract' with someone?"
"Ah, the best familiar is the one that can, in time, come to understand and accept everything of their master. Every quirk, every expression-that is something only a summoned familiar may do. That is how the Void's power grow stronger, especially for the Heart of God. The stronger the bonds, the stronger the energy," Julio murmured. "Even with the Void-we are still facing an army of Elves. Every advantage would help."
"I appreciate honesty," Louise hissed back, "But I am not Tiffania. This is despicable. This is utterly despicable, and from a minister of God, I would have expected better!"
"So you will stand aside, Lady Valliere?" Julio asked.
"I'll talk with Tiffania," Louise said flatly. "You have done enough damage for the moment. You might have a pretty face, but you are horrible with girls."
Julio laughed cheerfully. "I am a priest, sworn to the Gods."
"There is nothing to laugh," Louise snapped curtly. "Saito...just bring him out, will you?" she knelt near Tiffania, who was still clutching on to a dirty and bloodied sweater handcrafted without a doubt. "I'll stay with Tiffania."
Saito nodded, and as Julio simply walked out, bowing primly as the door closed and left the two boys outside, the Japanese youngster had no idea what to make of the priest. They remained in quiet silence, contemplating one another and their surroundings, for a few minutes, or perhaps ten or more.
"You have never had to choose between a lesser evil and a greater evil, have you, Lord La Baume?" Julio asked offhandedly. "I can see it by the way you look at me as if I were scum, whereas the Pope, and I, merely have the best intentions in our hearts."
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," Saito replied, locking eyes with the priest who simply smiled, and conceded the point.
"Perhaps so," Julio admitted. "But some live in hell to begin with," he murmured, "Should they not have proper roads, then?"
Saito did not answer.
He was too busy staring at the bright green portal in front of him.
