(A/N: So I took a break from writing because the second semester just started, and I had two different presentations.Tough luck, I know.)
(A/N: I was also reading a Pokémon fanfic I found a few days ago. It's called Pokémon: An Unexpected Odyssey by Adamo_Amet. It is definitely one of the more decent fics I have read, and that's considering all the Ash betrayal fics I know of.)
(A/N: I am also definitely not saying all of this just to divert your attention to it so that you all can go and read it, comment there, hence, pressuring the Author into posting more chapters on that fic instead of his Naruto fic, all so I could sate my hunger for content. Anyways, enjoy~.)
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Arriving at Arlam Village, Emilia, Ram, and Rem found the villagers huddled together around Beatrice, who was kneeling in the dirt, healing the children.
"Lady Beatrice!" Rem called out.
The villagers turned. The moment their eyes landed on Emilia, their fear turned to fury.
"Witch!"
"This is all because of you!"
"Burn!"
Accusations exploded into the air, curses flying like daggers. Emilia lowered her head, her expression blank. She was used to it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.
"You lot be quiet, I suppose," Beatrice said flatly, not looking up. This silenced the distraught villagers as their focus reverted back to their children. "Betty would like some silence while she's working, in fact."
Rem rushed over, clutching the holy sword and scabbard tight against her chest. "Lady Beatrice—where is Lord Artorius?"
"In the forest. Just follow the explosions, I suppose," she answered.
And almost as if on cue, a blinding pillar of light shot into the sky, far brighter than before. The world stood still for a moment—then came the sonic boom. A deafening roar tore through the air, knocking the villagers flat and shredding the calm of the night like paper.
Rem bowed quickly to Beatrice, then sprinted toward the forest. Emilia and Ram followed.
"Rem, slow down!" Ram shouted, but her sister didn't even glance back.
The deeper they went, the more witchbeasts they encountered, fleeing from something far worse.
"Out of my way!" Rem growled, swinging her Morningstar. The spiked head crushed anything in her path.
"El Huma." Emilia summoned a barrage of icicles, skewering the ones Rem missed as she supported an exhausted Ram. Still, Rem charged recklessly ahead.
Seeing this, Emilia acted. "Sorry, Ram." She formed icicles under Ram's arms, lifting her gently, and sprinted after her sister.
"Rahhh!" Rem's horn burst forth as she roared in fury.
'What is going on?' Ram thought, dazed. This morning, Rem could barely tolerate Artorius's presence. Now she was rushing headlong into a forest full of witchbeasts for him. Why?
They kept pushing forward, cutting down the last stragglers. Then—
"Rem!" Ram cried out.
A wave of slithering black venom lashed out toward Rem.
"Huma!" Rem conjured a watery shield—but the venom pierced through, splashing her arm.
"Hah!" Emilia froze the venom solid, giving Rem enough time to yank herself free—but her hand was already burning, the skin sizzling with corrosion.
Magical energy surged from Avalon. Golden energy wrapped the wound, purifying it. The charred flesh healed, turning smooth and white once more.
They regrouped, Emilia freezing all the venom she could reach. "What is this doing here? I thought Puck—" She stopped. Her breath caught.
The Black Serpent's venom. She'd seen it once, long ago in the Elior Forest. Back then, Puck was the one who dealt with it.
But now… he wasn't here.
Her ice could hold it at bay, but not forever.
Emilia's fingers curled around the jewel on her chest. She could force Puck to come. But that meant breaking their contract. Still, if she didn't… Rem, Ram, and everyone in the village could die.
'What should I do?' What can she do? What would she do? What could she do? What-?!
"Lady Emilia!" Ram's voice jolted her from her stupor.
Ram shoved her aside just as a fresh surge of venom crashed toward them. Emilia hit the ground hard. Through her half-open eyes, she saw Ram take the blow meant for her.
"Fura!" Ram retaliated with a blast of wind, blowing the venom off her. "El Huma!" Emilia froze it solid and conjured a dome of ice around them, creating a temporary shield.
"Sister!" Rem dropped to her knees beside Ram. Her sister's body was charred down one side, flesh blackened and cracking.
Rem shoved Avalon into her hands. "Please… please work…"
But the effects were slow—too slow. Only faint strands of golden strings reached out. The venom's advance had slowed, yes—but the damage remained.
"Why?!" Rem shouted. Why wasn't it healing her like before? What was happening? Was it because it was only meant to work for her?
"No…" Rem snuggled her twin sister's body. Was she going to be the cause of her sister's death? Dragging her along with her in a selfish desire. Was taking her horn from her not enough?!
The situation was the worst. They were surrounded. Venom pooled on all sides. The ice cracked overhead. Ram lay dying, and escape was no longer an option.
Emilia clutched the glintstone so tightly that it bit into her skin.
The cracks spread. The venom hissed. Her barrier of ice wouldn't last long.
To do or not to do.
This was the moment books talked about—when hesitation killed.
And now she understood.
They were going to die here. Helpless. Useless. Powerless. Worthless. Defenseless. Feeble. Frail. Inept. Voiceless. Nameless. Faceless. Expendable. Replaceable. Forgettable. A burden. A flaw. A stain. Failures stitched together by hope and delusion!
The barrier gave out and the venom rushed to them.
BOOM!
…
However, the expected pain and suffering never came. Instead of a gust of wind hit them, waking them from their despair.
"They say heroes always arrive late," Artorius muttered as he emerged through the smoke, "and regrettably, he was no exception."
He stood with Rhongomyniad in hand, its spiralling form humming with restrained power. Blood streaked across his armour, clinging to him like a second skin. His complexion was pale, worn thin by wounds and mana exhaustion.
His eyes scanned the situation. Emilia and Rem were fine, but Ram, on the other hand… "…My apologies." He moved to her side, placing a hand over Avalon. Mana surged through it with a dull pulse. "I only left enough power in Avalon to heal Rem," he said quietly. But worry not—Ram will be fine."
Behind him, the Black Serpent's venom writhed—quivering, recoiling, pulling itself back together after being scattered by the violent winds.
"You've done well," Artorius said, not looking back. "Rest now." He rose, turning to face the slithering dark once more. And stepped forward. Mana surged from his core.
The wind screamed around him as the sky darkened. Clouds churned like an ocean above. The anchor of the storm dropped.
"Let me show you the truth buried beneath the peeled skin of this world," he said, lifting the lance high. "Holy Lance, overloading." Magical energy poured into the weapon. The spiralling metal began to glow, threads of light piercing through the seams.
『Removing Restraints…』
A pulse rippled through the air like a heartbeat.
『Bedivere: The enemy must be more powerful than oneself.』
『Condition failed.』
『First restraint: Bedivere approved without condition.』
The light intensified.
『Palamedes: The battle must be one-on-one.』
『Condition met.』
Wind coiled around Artorius like a serpent. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
『Lancelot: The enemy must not be an elemental.』
『Condition met.』
Merlin's voice echoed faintly in his mind..
『Mordred: The battle must be against evil.』
『Condition met.』
『Galahad: The battle must not be for personal gain.』
『Condition met.』
『Gaheris: The battle must not be against humanity.』
『Condition met.』
He exhaled.
"Split the Heavens and tether the Earth—Anchor of the Storm."
With six seals undone, the lance's true name could be revealed.
『Rhongomyniad: The Lance That Shines to the End of the World.』
***
"..." Artorius looked upon the devastation he had caused. "They're going to have to redraw those maps." Hey, at least the cartographers were getting paid.
He turned around to look at the party of three. "So, I would like to ask why you're all here… But I have a pretty good idea as to why." He narrowed his eyes at Rem, who avoided his gaze. "You saw it, didn't you?"
Although for a short period, due to Avalon, Rem and Artorius were connected for a short while, enough of a window for Rem to experience a dream cycle.
"I won't ask what you saw. That is for you alone to keep." He said before leaning forward to grab his holy sword and sheath. "Hm?"
He brushed aside Ram's hair, pushing a bit of magical energy to her forehead. A pink horn appeared on her forehead, much similar to the one Rem had.
Rem's eyes widened when she saw it. Her sister's horn that had been broken all those years ago was now… healed? Was that even the right term?
"Congratulations," Artorius said, clapping his hands.
"Con–Congratulations," Emilia followed suit in true sheep mentality. She was still confused since so many things had happened so fast. Her mind wasn't processing properly.
"In any case, let's get back. Beatrice and the other must be waiting."
It was a quiet journey back. Rem was carrying her sister in a princess carry.
…
"They're here! They're back!"
"Ohh!"
The villagers erupted into cheers at the sight of the returning group—though their excitement was clearly centered on one man.
"Lord Artorius!"
"Thank you! Thank you for saving our children!"
Praise and song rained down on him, which Artorius accepted with a modest smile.
Then came the children, now fully conscious and bright-eyed, pushing forward from the crowd.
"Lord Artorius!" called Petra, the lead of the group. The children bowed in unison. "Thank you for saving us."
Artorius let out a soft chuckle. "I promised, didn't I? That I'd come back to play. If you weren't around, I couldn't fulfill that promise—so no need to thank me."
He placed a gentle hand on their heads, ruffling their hair. One boy, lacking in that department, received a pat on the back instead—Artorius tactfully pretending not to notice.
"You're back, I suppose," came a familiar voice.
Beatrice stood with her arms crossed, trying, and failing, to look indifferent. Her pouting lips and narrowed eyes betrayed her mood.
Artorius turned toward her with a bright smile, saying nothing at first, simply drinking in the sight of her.
"…What are you staring at, I suppose?"
"Well… I just realized how cute you are."
"Wha—Wha—Wha—What are you saying?!" A crimson blush exploded across her cheeks. She turned away, flustered, only for Artorius to gently pat her head.
"Oh? So you don't like my compliment?" he teased, putting on a sorrowful voice despite the amused smile on his face. "Or… does Betty think she isn't cute?"
"T-That's not a compliment!"
"Of course not! It's a fact." He suddenly scooped her up and twirled her into a hug. "My Beatrice is the cutest!"
Her embarrassed squeaking was lost in the laughter of the watching children.
After their little moment, Artorius stepped forward to address the gathered villagers. His voice carried calm authority.
"Everyone, I know it's been a hard night. But rest assured—no more witchbeasts will trouble your village. Go home, rest, and find comfort in sleep."
He turned to Emilia and Rem.
"You two should do the same. Head back to the mansion."
"But what about you, Artorius?" Emilia asked, ever gentle, ever concerned.
"I need to dispose of the corpses in the forest. If left alone, they'll only attract more witchbeasts. We'll also need to repair the barrier, though I'll leave that task to you—tomorrow."
"But—" she began.
"No buts." His tone remained soft, but strict. "I know you want to help. But you must understand—we each have a role to play. I have mine, and you have yours. Trust me to carry my burden, and I will trust you to carry yours when the time comes."
Emilia hesitated, still torn.
"Rem."
"Yes, Lord Artorius?"
"Take Emilia with you—and tuck her in. That's an order."
"As you wish."
Without hesitation, Rem looped one arm around Emilia and, somehow, managed to carry Ram in a one-handed princess carry with the other. Emilia tried to protest, but was promptly dragged off by the unfazed maid.
Artorius watched them go with a quiet smile.
Then, with a sigh, he looked to his side. "Say, Beatrice—how good are you with fire?"