In an old wooden church built on a hill overlooking a small village, the sounds of tolls appeared from nowhere. The villagers quickly rushed outside, kneeling and praying toward the old chapel. Among them, a group of three looked toward the source of the sound with wariness, until one of them, a white magus, said with a smile.
-"Artoria, won't you go welcome him back?"
The blonde girl nodded and started walking, a smile already on her face. She entered the noisy chapel and looked at how a light appeared above the altar. The holy light soon was replaced by the blue glow of magic as a figure in sliver-white armor appeared. The remaining glow morphed into a halo above his head, and the wings made broken shards of light.
He slowly landed before her, his height causing the girl to look up. But she stepped forward, and standing on her toes, she took off the hood covering him, revealing the face she had missed these months. She noticed that he had changed since they parted ways, looking with interest at the headdress on his head, but all her questions could wait.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes, the gentle glow of moonlight illuminating his face. He instantly looked at the girl in front of him, green eyes meeting his blue. Soon, a smile appeared on his face as he knelt on one knee, performing the courtesy of a knight.
-"I'm back."
-"Welcome back, my knight."
A short while later, Artoria and I walked out of the chapel, meeting up with Merlin and Key. Merlin greeted me with a smile and a nod, while Kay threw his arm over my shoulder.
-"Man, I missed you."
-"Good to see you in good health. I heard about your victories in the north. Tell me, how was fighting with those barbarians?"
-"It was eye-opening. I had previously underestimated them."-I quickly recalled what I was doing before my job for Gaia.
-"That serious?"
-"Let's just say that we'll need many elite knights to push them out."
-"Oh... What about the ruler of the north?"
-"You mean Princess Morgan?"-The image of the cold princess appeared in my mind.-"She is a typical mage. As an ally, she is indispensable; as an enemy, she is a nightmare."
-"Then what do you think of her capability as a king?"-Merlin asked suddenly.
I thought for a moment before answering.
-"She has the ability and qualification, but she can't win the hearts of people. She would be a great empress, a tyrant ruling over a unified empire, but the landscape of Britain is ill-fitted for that. While it's not my place to speak, I think that she would be better suited for the role of Chancellor than a king."
-"You mean to be the brain behind a king?"
-"Yes. Morgan needs a balance to her cold rationality, someone with hearth set on people."
-"I couldn't have said it better."-Merlin smiled, glancing at a place in the air that rippled like water.-"Let's go before the 'miracle' that just took place spreads to surrounding cities."
We quickly moved to the stable, three of them bringing out their horses while I called out Arion. We mounted our steeds and started to ride toward their destination. As we talked about what happened to them this past year, I learned that we were a few miles from Falmouth, where the court was about to take place.
-"So I arrived at the perfect moment?"
-"Yes. With you here, we can relax a little."-Artoria nodded, the smile never disappearing from her face.-"What about you? We talked about our journey, but you haven't talked about yours."
-"My journey, huh? Sure."-I nodded and started retelling my story.
I started from my contract with Gaia and the Grail War, describing the participants and what happened. I didn't forget to tease Artoria about meeting her 'daughter' and a clone there. Arturia listened attentively, but when I mentioned them, she couldn't help but ask questions.
-"Wait. A daughter? How is it possible?"
-"I'm unsure. She always referred to you as male, so maybe some magic was involved."
-"Hmm... But having a daughter..."-She fell into deep thought before intense red bled into her ears.
She quickly shook her head to clear her mind, glancing at me to see if I noticed something. Seeing me not react, she sighed in relief before changing the subject.
-"But what's all that about my clone? A French saintes nonetheless."
-"I myself have no idea. From face alone, she was like your twin, only your auras and personalities differed."
-"But to think someone could have such a long braid... Do you think I would look good in one?"
-"While I don't think that you'll look bad in one, I think that your usual bun suits you more, though you should let your hair grow a little."
-"Is that so?"-She fiddled with a strand of hair hanging on the side of her face.-"I'll try to do so then."
I then talked about Terra. About my journey through Ursus and Leithanien, not forgetting to mention Laterano. Artoria showed great interest in the place that was my home, asking about many details.
-"The Holy City..."-She looked into the sky.-"I'd love to see it."
-"There will be a chance. For now."-I extended my hand, lightly poking her forehead to pass some of my memories.-"This will have to be enough."
She closed her eyes, and the images of white walls and clean streets filled her mind. She saw countless Sankta living their lives, but also witnessed the reverence they showed me.
-"Eno, let's build a city like that here, in Britain."
-"Sure."
Next, I moved to my time in Leithanien. I talked about people I met, about Fremont and Laqeramaline, the Twin Empresses. But also about everything that happened, the incident, and the trial after. She was quite interested, but her focus, for whatever reason, was on Laqeramaline.
-"So this is Banshee's Crown?"-She looked at the white headwear on my head.-"It's look quite nice."
She reached to touch it, but I grabbed her hand, stopping her.
-"Careful. Banshee's Crown is enchanted, causing those who touch it to faint."
-"Ah!? Is that so..."-She was surprised, but believed me.
She looked at the hand I was holding, but didn't take it back, just looked away, pretending not to notice. But the thing we didn't need to pretend not to notice, as we were truly oblivious, were the two other members of our group who, at some point, moved a few meters back, talking in hushed tones.
-"Are they?"
-"You know your sister. She'll put her duty before her happiness."
-"So what's your plan?"
-"Let them develop naturally. Artoria might be a little slow, but when she decides something, she'll do it. Eno is more problematic. He understands all emotions easily, but he never moves beyond some flirting."
-"He might think that his identity makes others not dare to reject him. You know, from his words, his status was so high that his words were law. If he asked someone out, would they dare to reject him?"
-"Hmm... That might be it. Or at least part of it."-Merlin nodded, his mind replaying the dreams he saw in my sleep.-"There might also be the part that he lacks security, as someone who left home and couldn't return for so long."
-"Then how should we handle him. It's he who'll have to change my sister's mind."
-"Don't worry, at first, let them interact normally. I have an idea that might work."-Merlin smiled mischievously.
We arrived in the city of Falmouth just before sundown. Merlin took us to the castle that previously belonged to Artoria's mother, arranging rooms for us. He said that we still had a week before the court will happen, so we could use our time freely before then.
As Artoria and Kay were already tired, they quickly went to rest, leaving Merlin and me alone.
-"So, how do you see our current situation?"-I asked him.
-"After you made trouble north, Vortigern had to send part of his army there. Morgan kept the fighting going, but never tried to capture more ground. Now, she left the north in the hands of Fionn, taking her 'sons' to be present for the first court."
-"What about the mainland?"
-"Watching the situation develop. Rome has its hands full, but they always considered us a province in rebellion, so who knows what they will do. France continuously skirmishes with everyone around it, but its ties to the Holy Church are getting more and more apparent. Germanic kingdoms are trying to push the Barbarians south and east, while Rus seems to have it's troubles in the far east."
-"So our only trouble now is the hyperaggressive France and the quiet Rome."
-"Yes, Germans shouldn't ally with Vortigern due to his ties with Norse that are close with the Barbarians, and Rus is too far for war to be profitable."
-"How do we plan to keep them in check?"
-"Holy Church is our only possibility."
-"Alaya is in a bad state, you know that."
-"I'm aware, but this is why we have a chance. I can feel that you gained something from your trip."
-"I gained part of Spirit Origin from Jeanne."-I gave him my skill card to look at.
He looked through it, getting surprised with each line he read.
-"You are truly an absurd being, Eno. How many gods favor you, and those Noble Phantasms..."
-"Ehem. Let's focus on the Holy Church for now."
-"Eno, how about taking over the Holy Church?"-He asked suddenly.
-"How? I don't think they will hand out their power for free."
-"Not for free, but in exchange for real power that can rival magic, many will choose our side."
-"You mean miracles?"
-"Yes. The Holy Church is divided into three groups right now: the aboveground Christian Church, the hidden Executors and Exorcists, and the Chivalric Orders that are mostly independent. The Christian Church is now intertwined in politics, but due to them controlling the resources, it can keep others in check. But many Executors and Exorcists don't see eye to eye with them, let alone Chivalric Orders that fight wars they start for profits."
-"So you want us to create a schism?"
-"Yes, but we alone can't do so."
-"What if I can make the Lateran Church appear here?"-I said after a moment of thinking.
-"In what capacity?"
-"Literally, connect this timeline with Terra through my Azure Dream."
-"We'll need to step over Counter Force."
-"Gaia won't care, Azure Dream has a strong affinity with them, as for Alaya, they have too much trouble on hand to worry about us; they will agree to this if we help with their situation."
-"How will that profit your side?"
-"Laterano needs to get rid of stagnation and people. Sankta were born from another race, morphed into what they are now. If we can replicate this..."-I looked at Merlin, whose eyes were wide as saucers.
-"You... You want to change humans of Britain into Sankta?"
-"Not all, at least not at first. But we can start with believers to establish the Lateran Church here. With little promotional work, we should be able to quickly establish ourselves."
-"I always forget that you are a mage through and through, your knightly appearance and saintly aura are too deceiving."-He shook his head.-"I'm not human, so I can't decide that. I suggest you consult with both Morgan and Artoria."
-"I will."
-"Good. Eno, in your eyes, what is human?"
-"For me, there are three elements that are often confused for 'human'. First is race, human, and this is just that, homo sapiens. Second is humanity, or rather, mankind, would be more appropriate; it's the general term for all sentient and sapient races that share the characteristics like humans. Lastly, a person, an individual."
Merlin nodded, agreeing with my distinction.
-"What is most important?"
-"First you are a person, then you are human, lastly part of humanity."
-"Then how will the change from human to Sankta change them?"
I just smiled and waved my hand, creating a temporary halo above Merlin's head. He was once again surprised... No, he was much more surprised than before. His whole body trembled, almost falling down, until I grabbed him to steady him up. I helped him sit down, noticing that tears started falling from his eyes.
-"Merlin?"
-"Ah?"-He noticed his tears, trying to wipe them, but they fell quicker than he could do so.-"Sorry."
-"No, are you good? I just wanted to simulate the Sankta Empathy."
-"You didn't do anything wrong."-He shook his head.-"Eno, have you read about Suc... Incubi?"
-"Not in detail, but I understand the basics."
-"Incubi don't have feelings; they can only simulate them using others' dreams. Thanks to you, I was able to feel it like others... to truly feel how it is to be joyful, sad, angry... It's not about the emotion alone, but how to share it, how to sympathize and empathize."
-"That's why you always kept your distance."-I looked at him with sympathy.-"We might be opposites of each other."
-"One who desires to feel, stealing dreams of others to do so, one who always feels others' emotions, trying to numb them."-He smiled, amused by the absurdity of fate.
-"If you want..."
-"No."-He shook his head.-"At least not yet. I'm afraid I'll lose myself in those feelings, and now we can't allow ourselves to do that. But when everything is settled..."
-"Don't worry, I'll wait for you as long as you need."
-"Thanks."-Merlin looked at me, thankful but also slightly exasperated.
We talked for a few more minutes until he decided to rest, leaving me alone in the room. Sleep not being my priority, I decided to climb one of the towers to watch the city. I looked at the dark city, with only a few torches and candles lighting up some windows.
Comparing it to Laterano was outright useless; aside from both being cities, there were almost no common denominators. Here, I could see at least five crimes and assaults that took place since I started looking, not to mention the red light district blooming with life. The clean and orderly Laterano, where the only chaotic elements were the shooting celebrations that would occasionally damage some walls or windows, was like a different world.
Well, it was a different world... But what made me compare them like that was thinking about what was better. Would I prefer Laterano to be a chaotic city where order and chaos intertwine, with darkness hidden in plain sight, or the current, seemingly perfect holy land: suffocating but truly bright? To some, the answer would be easy, but I couldn't decide.
I couldn't stand the idea of crime happening in my home, but I also despised the lifelessness brought by the order. Achieving a balance between two extremes would be perfect, but the question lay in whether there was something between chaos and order, or if there could be only one or the other.