The Holy Man of The Church Creek

41

Xenovia was confused. From the moment she had closed here eyes it was as if she could see the histories of other individuals flash within her mind. It wasn't so much seeing as it was knowing, similar to how one would absently recall something only when they consciously thought about it.

What she saw, what she understood, was a history of swords and the various personalities of their wielders.
To take up arms for Virtue.
To take up arms for Necessity.
Various reasons suffused her inner psyche, but above all honours, duties, and oaths, what resonated truly with her was a single motivation.
To fight for one's self, and one's belief.
She would become the sword brighter than the most dazzling of suns, unable to be contained by self-doubt or personal views. Only she could decide her own worth; who she was suitable to fight alongside with through life and in death, in Heaven, the Earth, and the Underworld.
She would settle for only one.
-The title reverberated from within her.
Her Master.
"Servant Saber, answers the call."
A link was formed, one that reached out beyond the fabrics of time and space and connected to an eternal throne of humanity.
The Ring of Deterrence.
The Throne of Heroes.
It was a concept that the One God only truly understood after traversing worlds and researching the connection between the corrupt grail and its ability to summon Heroes of Old. And in the moment, that research came into play.
It was a product of the One God assimilating properties of the tainted Grail, and storing it within the confines of Seven monuments.
When Xenovia opened her eyes next, she felt a power beyond her own capabilities as the monument of Saber fully assimilated with her. Her appearance was different from before, the skin-tight battle garments replaced by a form-fitting black-sheened steel-plated armour. The joints and circular plate that fastened over her shoulders were riveted by interlocking patterns of metal.
On her waist, was a sword she had never once seen before, nor knew the name of. It was sleek, yet refined, possessing a nobility that didn't pale in comparison to the Durandals she still held in each of her hands.
Despite her curiosity, she didn't pay the new sword much attention as her sights focused on Loki and narrowed sharply. She could vividly recall how he had used her as a hostage and it filled her with both anger and a hint of happiness. Anger at her own inability, and happiness due to the concern Shirou had displayed for her, his expression displaying traces of anxiety.
It was with these thoughts that Xenovia hardened her resolve. If she wanted to remain by Shirou's side, then she could no longer falter or hesitate.
She charged forward without warning, striking out with the Durandals in her hands and releasing a staggering amount of magical energy.
The Saber monument was a combination of Evil Pieces, traces of the Holy Grail, and the energy of the One God holding everything together. It all added up to a single conclusion.
The enhanced power of a Demi-Servant.
Fueled by a gigantic reserve of magical energy, each Durandal in Xenovia's hands shot out titanic pillars of Holy Light that stretched out beyond the Underworld's purple horizon.
All Loki saw was a sword's tip pointed forward before he was caught off guard and consumed by Xenovia's sword attack.
Already weakened, Loki let out a tragic cry as his body crashed along the ground rolling uncontrollably before eventually coming to a halt partially buried beneath a mound of dirt.
The remaining energy of Xenovia's attack exploded in the distance, creating shockwaves that none in the Underworld would be able to ignore. The ground itself cratered, the cracks turning into fissures that collapsed a once flat plain into a low hanging cavern.
Shirou blinked incredulously.
"It's only to be expected," God spoke in Shirou's mind. "From the moment I created those monuments, I've been allowing them to continuously gather magical energy. For now, its best if you apprehend the Norse Trickster God before he regains consciousness. Trickster Gods are always difficult to detain."
Shirou nodded wordlessly before appearing next to Loki and pulling the God out of the dirt. Thereafter, God's voice resonated from within him.
"I am the Heavens and the ruler of all beneath my sovereign. My will is eternal, my words unbreakable restraints," God spoke with a somberness that was piercing in the silence. "Thou who is a God shall become mortal, divinity stripped and detained."
Following the One God's decree, the Nordic Runes and magic that covered Loki's body began flashing before shattering one by one, each symbol releasing fragments of power into the air until there was nothing left. It was a direct representation of a God falling from immortality in accordance to the legends told of Gods becoming man.
In the current instance though, the process was a matter of chance. If Loki had been conscious, he would have been able to stubbornly hold onto his divinity, but as Loki was now, it was impossible. God then spoke a simple incantation and stored Loki away in a separate space of God's own making.
Shirou would have to contact Rossweisse later to send a message to Odin to retrieve Loki and have him handled at the All Father's discretion.
For the time being, it was best to deal with the current situation.
The battle that had just ensued flattened a large majority of the forest they had previously been in and altered a portion of the landscape as well. Such changes were impossible to remain hidden and even from where he stood, he could feel the magical energies of numerous Devils, Fallen, and Angels converging on the location.
Adelina was the first to arrive, a scowl over her face as it was evident that her quarry had gotten away. Yet, when she arrived on the scene, she froze. Sirzechs, Ajuka, Serafall, and the other devils arrived one by one moments later, but all mirrored Adelina and stood in place.
Still unused to her new-found power, the excess energy being discharged by the Durandals in Xenovia's hands produced waves of fluctuating Holy Light. No Devil wished to recklessly draw near until Xenovia sealed both Durandals into the holding space given to her by Griselda.
When both sword's disappeared, the new arrival still hesitated to move foreword.
Unsure of what exactly had transpired, no Devil other that Sirzechs and Serafall had the mind to act recklessly. In Sirzechs case, he wasn't thinking properly due to the matter concerning Rias, and as for Serafall, it was a different kind of emotion provoking her.
Serafall and Xenovia were staring directly at each other.
In Xenovia's case, there was a blatant intention in her eyes. Although she hadn't admitted it before or shown any clear signs, she had been feeling inferior whenever she compared herself with Serafall. Whether it was standing, disposition, strength, Xenovia knew that she was lacking in all departments. She accepted the fact, and therefore decided to put in all her efforts to train as a natural Holy Sword Wielder to close the gap. However, even then her resolve continued to waver the more she heard of Shirou's supposed past in the Underworld under the name of Marbas.
It didn't matter.
The past should have no say in what's done in the present.
When the Saber Monument had first melded with her, she had felt the type of convictions and beliefs that each Hero of the Sword maintained.
Unbending wills.
Single-minded devotions.
A path followed, but never strayed.
The ideals of every Saber she drew knowledge from converged into a single message.
Fight for what you believe in.
Under the eyes of all present, Xenovia sucked in a breath and began walking towards Shirou, the clanking of her new armour the only noise in the area.
The determination in her eyes reflected the change that had occurred inside her, like a lavender rose that had just bloomed in the spring, fragrant and full of life, reaching for the sun above.
Her gaze was half-lidded, her body struggling to cope with the sheer volume of magical energy now stored within her but even still she proceeded onwards.
Watching Xenovia approach with a dazed expression, Shirou's instinctively held a hand out to support her.
How could he have expected that rather than allow him to steady her, she would pull him by his hand, push up on her toes, and capture his lips with her own. The feeling that assailed him was a soft and tender touch, as if trying convey every sentiment Xenovia had through actions alone.
Caught up in Xenovia's sheer passion, he didn't react until Xenovia pulled away, a string of saliva sticking to her glossed lips which she wiped with a flushed complexion.
Turning around to all the spectators, she focused her gaze on only a single individual and shouted out. Loudly. Strongly.
"This is my man!"
Serafall's expression darkened while Ajuka made the conscious choice to drag himself and Sirzechs away from the area while warning the others nearby to retreat as a precaution. Adelina for her part was in the midst of drawing her sword, magical energy coating her in a blazing inferno of red as low and deranged chuckles escaped her mouth, her mental restraints broken. She'd previously met with a hustler that had tried to seduce her Lord, and now mere minutes later and under her watch, another woman was taking advantage of her Lord.
Ajuka was quick to detain Adelina before she could do anything drastic, the woman hissing at him while spewing profanities.
Adelina aside, non one present dared draw near Serafall let alone try to intervene.
Ajuka was already on Serafall's bad side, he didn't want to further deepen the divide between them. As such, for the time being, he didn't care about learning about what had transpired in the area. It felt to Ajuka and many others present that they weren't guarding against an enemy attack, but spectating an Underworld Drama that spanned from the midst of the Underworld Civil War.
It was a headache and issue that neither Ajuka or Sirzechs wanted to deal with. Sirzechs in particular came to the conclusion that he was wasting his time and immediately left to find out the specifics of what had happened to Rias, trusting in Ajuka to handle the situation.
As Sirzechs left, a large majority of the other High and Ultimate-Class Devils followed him, leaving Ajuka with his mouth curved downwards. Ajuka knew about Sirzechs's matters so he didn't try to dissuade his friend, but at the same time when he looked at Serafall, he was left at a loss for words.
Outwardly, she seemed fine, like that woman thing when they say they're okay, but really, they're not okay.
Her hands had balled into fists, and there was a smile on her face that was far from inviting. In fact, it was the first time Ajuka saw Serafall smiling so widely that it unnerved him.
In the face of Serafall's smile, Xenovia stared back unblinkingly.
Feeling awkward, Ajuka could no longer allow himself to spectate Serafall's affairs and respectfully turned his gaze to the side. Ajuka's actions were mirrored by all, none daring to meet Serafall's gaze.
Unfortunately, Shirou was unable to pull off such an action, caught up in the middle. However, this was his battle to fight and no one else's. He wanted an ending where everyone was happy so if he had to work doubly as hard- no triply as hard, he would put up with it.
The staring between Serafall and Xenovia lasted for what felt like an eternity to Shirou, but rather than a huge confrontation like he was expecting, nothing of the sort occurred. With women, rather than release their frustrations outwardly, most seemed to prefer to do it subtly instead.
Serafall approached faster than Shirou was expecting, arriving right next to him in a heartbeat.
"Your man?" She questioned Xenovia lightly with a tilted head. "Fine, of course you can call him that."
Serafall's response caught Xenovia off-guard. In the Underworld, although relationships like polygamy were rare, they still occurred enough times to be commonplace unlike the Human World. Although Serafall didn't like the concept much, it was something she already accepted.
The only thing that mattered to Serafall was something that she already had.
Something she obtained in the midst of the Underworld Civil War.
Serafall wrapped her hands around Shirou's free arm and pressed herself close, gaze never leaving Xenovia's.
"You may call Kuro 'your man,' but," Serafall puffed out her chest while revealing the joint seal of Marbas and Sitri on the back of her hand. "He's already my Husband."
Shirou's mind blanked, unable to process what he'd just heard as his body grew stiff.
The revelation itself stunned Xenovia who had never heard of such a thing before. Furthermore, it had yet to end. Serafall was far from finished, the emotions she wanted to vent released in full.
"Furthermore, our formal marriage ceremony will be tonight at my family Manor," Serafall's grip on Shirou's arm became increasingly uncomfortable as her fingers pressed into his skin. Worse, Shirou couldn't even complain because he had given Serafall free reign to decide when he would visit house Sitri.
Xenovia's mouth opened but no words came out in her shock.
Meanwhile, Serafall tactfully invited Xenovia to House Sitri before bidding herself adieu with a single phrase.
"I am the legal wife."
Xenovia was not in a good mood, but even then, she grudgingly accompanied Shirou on his way to House Sitri in silent contemplation.
Shirou had only been able to leave the area after promising Ajuka to turn in a detailed report of events when he had the time. Of course, Ajuka had wanted the details then and there, but knowing that Serafall had plans with Shirou later in the night, Ajuka didn't dare keep Shirou for any longer than necessary.
As such, Shirou and the others ended up trudging along the road to House Sitri.
Xenovia was still wearing the armour granted to her as a Demi-Servant and hadn't thought much about how to dematerialize it yet. The pure energy Xenovia was outputting as a result was hard for average Devils to cope with, but fortunately, the only ones in the vicinity were Shirou and Adelina.
The matter regarding the monument of Saber wasn't exactly decided by Shirou, but by a reaction from the monument itself similar to the selection process of the Sword in the Stone. It reacted with Xenovia do to the type of individual she was, her bearings, her beliefs, and natural abilities meeting whatever requirements the Saber monument had.
As more time passed, Xenovia would obtain better control of her new strength but currently, Shirou helped ease the pressure of Xenovia's energy by placing a hand on her shoulder. God then began to assimilate the excess.
As the three walked, a silence hung over their heads.
Shirou had no idea what he should say at the moment. On one hand, he wanted to ask Adelina about just when he and Serafall had gotten married, and on the other, he felt it wasn't appropriate to currently do so.
As for Adelina, she was too focused on deciding if Xenovia was worthy to be her Lord's companion. Even now, Adelina was still contemplating if Serafall was worthy and that spoke volumes of Xenovia's odds of passing Adelina's assessment.
The reason Serafall had not yet passed Adelina's assessment was for the sole reason that Serafall had let her lord die. Words could not describe how much resentment Adelina had as a child for Serafall for failing to save her lord.
Adelina's lips pursed as she fell into thought.
Meanwhile, the situation being as it was, Shirou distracted himself by viewing the changes he had brought to the Underworld by participating in the Civil War.
House Sitri was located at a farther location from the other districts of the remaining Seventy-Two Pillars and in honour for Serafall's relation to the Demon Marbas, many lower-class Devils saved in the war had taken residence nearby.
Shops and residential areas run by Low-Class Devils marked the way to house Sitri and with how tense the air around him, Xenovia, and Adelina was, Shirou decided it was the perfect time to sightsee.
It was had just turned evening, and still the shops and homes were lit by magical light.
Sellers were out promoting their wares with loud bellows and families were idlily browsing the display shelves.
Perhaps the most eye-catching structure in the entire walk to house Sitri was the building-sized statue of the Hero Marbas, the Last Demon of the Underworld. It was stunningly made with pure Devil Core, a conductive magical ore that shone brightly under the use of magic.
Mainly used for the creation of weaponry and armour, Shirou face twitched just looking at it the Devil Core that made up the statue. Seeing Devil Core used as mere decoration, the inner blacksmith in him was screaming in outrage.
It was such a waste.
And yet, seeing just how many low-class devils stopped by to pay tribute to the statue left him feeling warm inside.
His actions acknowledged by those he had saved.
As Shirou, Xenovia, and Adelina passed by the statue, Xenovia maintained a neutral expression while Adelina took note of the devils paying their respects. Expression breaking into a smile, Adelina subtly deposited a few bags of currency to each family from her personal collection she kept within a magic circle.
Shirou didn't miss Adelina's actions and raised a brow.
He wasn't against Adelina doing what she did, but the sheer amount she was giving wasn't exactly practical.
Noticing Shirou's raised brow, Adelina's cheeks flushed red before she turned her gaze away and murmured in a small voice.
"They deserve it," she said stubbornly despite running low on personal funds. Besides, she could still extort some from Lucas with a bit of persuasion.
As much as Shirou wanted to advise Adelina, he became too preoccupied with hiding his face.
With how accurately the statue depicted him, he knew he'd cause an uproar if anyone noticed him nearby.
It was with such thoughts that he hurried his pace, Xenovia and Adelina having no trouble keeping up.
By the time he slowed down, it was to the sight of a grand mansion stretching out over a vast plot of land. A fence marked the outer boundaries of the mansion and fashioned over the front gate was the seal of Sitri: Three crosses tied together by a U and fully encircled.
Evidently, Serafall had arrived back to her family house far faster than Shirou and the others.
In the Aristocratic circles of the Underworld, Serafall had wasted no time inviting all remaining Seventy-Two Pillars to attend her grand wedding while making sure to keep the news away from the general public. Serafall was acting impulsively, but she wasn't stupid enough to allow anyone untrustworthy to know of Shirou's identity.
Just like Serafall had intended in the Civil War, the promise she had made with Kuro to return to House Sitri was in preparation for the wedding she had always wanted after Kuro's abrupt proposal in the past. Legally, she and Kuro were already married, but she wanted something grander to commemorate one of her life's greatest milestones.
An official marriage.
Initially, Serafall had planned to invite Shirou to House Sitri after the issue concerning the Gods and the Alliance concluded, but she abruptly changed her mind because of Xenovia's actions.
Serafall wasn't even thinking about any future repercussions as much as picturing she and Shirou standing in wedding clothes.
Busy as Serafall was, as soon as she returned to house Sitri, Serafall and her mother occupied themselves in choosing the perfect wedding dress while Lord Sitri was forced out of his own manor.
All kinds of preparations were completed by Serafall in mere hours and by the time Shirou and the others came, everything was ready.
A red carpet ran over the cobblestone path directly from the Sitri mansion's entrance to the gate, and lined on either side were rows upon rows of butlers in black suits and maids in frills with their heads bowed low.
Behind the maids and butlers were numerous red and gold marquees positioned around the Sitri Mansion that contained several Upper-Class Devils eating complimentary snacks and drinks. Devils such as Lord Bael, Gremory, and Agares were even in attendance.
Directly at the front gate to welcome Shirou and the others was a familiar face.
The man that had been Serafall's attendant in the Civil War, now the Sitri Family Head-Butler,
Allon.
Allon had worn a mask and a cloak throughout the entirety of the Civil War, and even now he was basically the same. The only differences between then and now, was that he had discarded his cloak in favour of a white lined butler suit.
Shirou paused and stared, old memories surfacing in his head as Allon took the opportunity to approach and open the front gates of house Sitri.
"You've really kept this Old Man waiting Lord Marbas," Allon greeted with his head tilted lowly. There was a sarcasm in his voice that denoted a hint of mischievousness and relief that was unmistakable. "I feared that the Young Lady I've watched grow up since her adolescence would never bear herself a child. You would not believe how pleasantly surprised I was when Serafall told me of your return."
"Oh, my apologies," Shirou said smiling stiffly, glancing at Xenovia from time to time to see how she was coping. Unexpectedly, she was doing pretty well with ignoring everything around her.
Not noticing Shirou's concerns with how Xenoiva was feeling, Allon suddenly stepped forward and temporarily pulled Shirou to the side.
Allon leaned in close, bringing a hand to muffle his voice as he whispered into Shirou's ear.
"Take this, and keep it close," Allon said cautiously, the eyes beneath his mask darting back and forth before producing a sealed pouch with the symbol of a pink-heart overtop from his pockets.
Subtly, Allon placed it in Shirou's hands and gave Shirou a sacrilegious nod. "I won't say just how long it took Lord Sitri to finish the deed, but this is the good stuff that will guarantee results. I've spent my entire fortune on this, therefore, don't disappoint me and don't say where you got this from. I made a vow with Lord Sitri never to divulge this matter!"
Allon pulled away from Shirou, putting his hands on Shirou's shoulders thereafter.
"This Old Man has placed all his hopes on you," nodding his head once more, Allon released Shirou's shoulders and stepped away.
"W-Wait hold on!" Shirou called out, waving a hand forward due to how suddenly Allon had sprung this matter up on him.
Allon acted as if he had no clue of what Shirou was talking about, tilting his head to the side.
As much as Shirou wanted to beat Allon over the head, his interaction with Allon had not gone unnoticed by Adelina and Xenovia, and he'd be damned if he allowed either of the two to see whatever thing Allon had given him.
Reluctantly, he pocketed the pouch and didn't want to think of what purpose it served.
Allon noticed Shirou's actions with his years of experience in espionage and was inwardly pleased at the prospects of finally being able to dote on great-great grandkids. Serafall and Sona were already too old and independent for an Old Man like himself to continue offering his services, but he still wished to pass on his knowledge to the next generation. With Shirou's reappearance, the problem that had been weighing down on Allon for years was resolved.
Mood ecstatic, Allon wasted no time leading Shirou and the others passed the grand reception and directly inside House Sitri's manor.
Lady Sitri was already waiting by the stairs of the open hall wearing a black-ballroom dress with the hem made of silk fabric. Long satin gloves were worn on each of her arms and on her feet were a matching pair of obsidian coloured high-heels.
From the moment Shirou walked in, it was hard to describe how radiant Lady Sitri's expression became. It was like she couldn't stop beaming at him. After all the reports Lady Sitri had read from Allon in the Civil War and Serafall's personal accounts, Lady Sitri's impression of Shirou was beyond simply good. She found Shirou to be perfect, his status as the Last Demon only the icing on a gorgeous cake.
In comparison, Lord Sitri who stood a small distance away from his wife was the opposite. He was dressed roughly with the tuxedo he wore heavily ruffled. Even his hair was disheveled but the man really couldn't be blamed. Both Lady Sitri and Serafall had kicked him out from the dressing rooms until the last minute, leaving him no choice but to put on the first suitable clothes he could find.
Lord Sitri was far from happy. Moreover, as a father, why would he be smiling with the prospects of giving his daughter away?
Lord Sitri grumbled profanities lowly, but maintained a dignified expression. Even if he wasn't happy himself, he could settle his personal accounts so long as Serafall was happy. Seeing her in despair was more unbearable than letting her go.
Behind both Lady and Lord Sitri was Sona wearing a plain white dress. She wore few frills but instead her dress had long white fabrics that attached to her arms from the base of her shoulders.
As of the moment, Sona was trying hard to hide away from Shirou's gaze after noticing the enthusiasm on her mother's face. Her head was bowed low, and the tips of her cheeks were starting to flush red from the embarrassment.
Eventually, Sona couldn't stand it anymore and began anxiously tugging on her mother's arm in hopes of getting her to stop looking so eager. It ruined whatever dignity Sona felt the Sitri Family had, her mother's eagerness able to be misinterpreted as desperation.
Lady Sitri frowned.
"Relax Sona," Lady Sitri chided. "This is your sister's big moment. What's the harm in me being excited- I've waited years for this!"
Hearing Lady Sitri speak, Lord Sitri who was of similar mind to Sona immediately closed his mouth and pretended he didn't see Sona's pleading expression.
Lord Sitri coughed into his hands while addressing Shirou and the others.
"Welcome to House Sitri," he said dully, earning an elbow from his wife.
"Please, please, make yourselves at home!" Lady Sitri pushed Lord Sitri out of the way and promptly descended down the stairs to personally receive Shirou and the others.
Shirou's mouth twitched when he noticed Lord Sitri gag from just how hard Lady Sitri had hit him, but he made no comments as he meekly followed Lady Sitri into a waiting room.
"Wait here," Lady Sitri said hurriedly after seating Shirou and the others on a recliner. "I'll go make some snacks."
Before Shirou could decline, Lady Sitri was already gone, dragging Lord Sitri along with her when she noticed his foul mood.
Sona was left behind, standing stiffly as she watched her parents leave before her shoulders slumped in defeat. Why was she the only normal one in her family? Sure, her father was quite practical, but he became useless when faced against her mother.
A sigh leaving her mouth, Sona entered the room Shirou and the others were at and found herself a seat not too far away.
"Sorry," Sona said almost as soon as she sat down. "I wasn't expecting my mother to act so…" Sona trailed off.
"No worries," Shirou shook his head before falling silent, the series of events happening one after another causing his mind to blank.
He didn't have any problems with the revelation of an abrupt marriage as he had already resolved himself to make everyone around him happy, but it was precisely because he wanted to make everyone happy that he was stuck in a predicament.
His brows furrowed glancing at Xenovia in guilt. She hadn't said anything, but he could imagine the kind of emotions she must be feeling right now. Even Irina had to be considered.
Just as he glanced at Xenovia, she glanced up at him too.
Due to the amount of time the two had spent with each other, it wasn't difficult for either of them to understand each other and that was why Shirou quickly shifted his gaze away, unable to maintain eye contact.
Xenovia for her part was no longer thinking about just herself. A realization had come to her at that moment when staring at Shirou. As upset as she felt about the situation, the one who felt worse than her was Shirou. He was the type of person who willingly helped everyone no matter the risk.
With his personality alone, it was impossible for only a single woman to develop an interest in him, and she'd be a fool to believe otherwise. Moreover, would Shirou be able to live with himself knowing that he was constantly causing another woman who had fallen in love with him pain?
Throughout the entire evening as she made her way to House Sitri, she'd been trying to place herself in Shirou's shoes and decide the type of actions he would take. It was only when Shirou glanced away from her in guilt that she came to an answer.
Rather than deepen the relationships he currently had with her and everyone else, he'd probably leave to lessen everyone's pain. The likeliness of this outcome occurring left her feeling hollow.
What did it matter about being the legal wife or a mistress if it meant that Shirou would be gone?
It wasn't worth it.
Xenovia bit down on her lips.
At this point she was certain that she had fallen in love with Shirou, and that the same could be said for Serafall and Irina.
What mattered in a relationship wasn't legalities, but staying together and fostering the birth of children, the symbol of love between a man and a woman.
If it meant a happy future with Shirou, then she knew that she, Serafall, and Irina would have to come to compromise.
It was with such thoughts that Xenovia stared up to see Serafall enter the waiting room.
Serafall was dressed beautifully in a white shoulder-less wedding gown, a veil opened over her face. On her arms were long reaching and frilled satin gloves that complimented her simple earrings.
She was positively brimming with excitement. Her wedding was to take place in a couple of hours just before midnight and it was growing harder and harder to contain herself. A healthy flush was evident on her face as she stared at Shirou but it cooled off somewhat when Xenovia suddenly stood up from her seat.
Xenovia's prompt action drew everyone's attention but she didn't seem to care.
Xenovia stared directly at Serafall.
There was something Serafall could see in Xenovia's gaze that was different from before. She wasn't being confrontational or provocative, but instead, there was a sense of urgency that was present in her eyes.
Serafall completely viewed Xenovia as a rival, but in the moment, even she had to consider what it was Xenovia had to say with such an expression.
As far as Xenovia was concerned, a compromise had to be reached.
At least for Shirou's sake, and she was certain that Serafall would be able to understand her.
"We need to talk," Xenovia said decisively.
Serafall furrowed her brows before glancing at the time and frowning.
The expression on Xenovia's face didn't change once, and it was because of this, that Serafall felt herself swayed by Xenovia's determination. She would at least hear Xenovia out.
Slowly, Serafall nodded her head, much to Shirou's incredulousness.
He was already in the midst of standing up to mediate between the two but paused half-way through.
Sona just stared awkwardly while Adelina watched unblinking.
"My apologies for having you wait a little more then," Serafall spoke politely to Shirou before she and Xenovia left for a separate room.
Left alone with Adelina and Sona, Shirou felt both relief and apprehension that a fight didn't break out like he was dreading.
Shoulders sagging, he made his way to sit back down on the recliner beside Adelina.
Sona stared at him, traces of pity in her eyes.
"It seems you have it tough," Sona commented wryly.
He didn't reply. There was no need to.
A minute passed, then two, and Sona suddenly burst out laughing at his expense.
He grimaced.
"You're not doing yourself any good by laughing at the man you've asked a favour from," he muttered.
"No no, everything should turn out fine," Sona said placatingly. "As much as Serafall appears imposing on matters related to her relationship with you, inside she's actually a big softy. How much of a heart do you think she needed to openly go out in public for my sake in a Magical Girl Outfit?"
Sona's words left him speechless, but they weren't without evidence. All he had to do was think back to the personality of the woman he had met in the Underworld Civil War, now his wife by a string of events.
His lips slowly curved upwards before Sona's words struck him again.
"On another note, are you really thinking of attending your own wedding in a Kuoh Academy Uniform?" Sona pointed at Shriou's current attire and couldn't help crossing her arms in a huff. "As much as my big sister irritates me at times, I believe she deserves you looking the part at least? Where's your effort?"
Shirou mouth opened, then promptly closed when he was moments away from saying he was short on money. As the Head of the Alliance between Heaven, the Fallen, and the Underworld, it would be too much of a joke if he said that he couldn't afford a simple suit.
He was forced to hold his tongue, but perhaps because Sona was expecting such a thing, a group of maids was already standing by her side, blushing at him bashfully.
"Follow my house's maids, they'll prepare you some proper attire," Sona said pinching the bridge of her nose.
"T-Then you have my thanks," He said earnestly.
Standing up, he made his way towards the group of maids who were shyly keeping their distance from him.
He didn't know it, but the legend he created in the Underworld as the Last Demon of the Underworld had put him on the spot as the number one bachelor every female Devil secretly fantasized about.
As Shirou approached, none of the maids dared to let out a sound. Because they were Sitri family maids, the maids had been made aware of Shirou's actual identity, and many were too self-conscious to interact with him.
Sona had a feeling that Serafall would throw a fit if she found out about so many women secretly fantasizing about her man, but for the time being, Sona made due with what she had.
The maids whispered heatedly amongst themselves, but a voice ended all discussion.
"Enough," Adelina spoke for the first time since arriving at house Sitri.
Adelina gave a nod to Sona before staring piercingly at the maids.
With the Sitri family preparing such a grand wedding, it was only natural that a suit was going to be tailor-made for Shirou, and that meant measurements. And that meant that the maids would have access to her Lord's body.
Thinking along those lines, Adelina felt inwardly stifled as she didn't want to openly admit her envy.
Devils were individuals led by their emotions and Adelina was no different, only that she had an image to maintain.
Unable to express herself out of shame, she crossed her arms and emanated a cold aura. How could she allow women her lord didn't even know to experience such a blissful moment when she herself had yet to do so?
Her countenance darkened further.
With Sona's numerous years of interacting with Adelina, she was quick to understand the root of Adelina's behaviour and intervened.
"I'll do it myself then," Sona said, standing from her seat and dismissing the maids who left in disappointment.
Adelina stared at Sona, but felt safer knowing that Sona and her lord could technically be considered family.
"Wait here," Sona said to Adelina while pulling Shirou by the arm. "We'll be back when the suit's ready."
Saying that, Sona left with Shirou in tow towards the Sitri Family's main dressing room.
The entire place was lined with rows upon rows of silk fabrics, dresses, suits, anything one could think of was present. The interior alone probably costed a fortune.
All in all, it made Shirou's thought about his previous assets feel insignificantly small.
Sona took him towards the center of the room where she got him to stand on a small podium before taking out a set of measuring tapes.
He did as she instructed when she asked him to take off his outer wear and hold out his arms and legs while she meticulously took the proper measurements.
The entire process was quiet and the feel of Sona's fingers were somewhat cold over his skin. The sensation itself was actually rather pleasant like a cool breeze on a hot day.
While Sona worked around him, he took the time to study her, noticing that she would occasionally frown despite the joyous occasion of her elder sister's wedding.
It was only when Sona had finished her measurements that he brought the matter up with her.
"Is something wrong?" He asked her as he placed his clothes on.
Sona appeared startled when he first asked, but she quickly smiled wryly.
"You know, its probably that quality of helping others you have that got my sister to fall for you, really," Sona shook her head knowingly. "You're too good of a person. Did you ever consider whether or not you're being too much of a busy body before speaking?"
"Uhm, okay?" He said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "It doesn't change the fact that I want to help if I can."
Sona blinked before letting out a forced smile.
"You really do know how to make me jealous of my own sister," Sona murmured grudgingly. In the first place, it was Shirou that had beaten her in a game of chess and therefore, Shirou should have been her groom. Unfortunately, with later developments, this tidbit of information concerning Sona's future husband was left to the side with only Sona herself to mull over the matter.
Sona digressed, her love life wasn't what she was currently fretting about.
It was something more pressing. And perhaps getting Shirou to aid her would help lighten her mental burden.
"You see Shirou, it's like this," Sona began, using a hand to tuck a strand of her hair behind her left ear. "What do you know of the events pertaining to the Young Devil's Gathering?"
The question caught Shirou off guard, but he knew enough about the importance of the event to answer Sona's inquiry.
It was the fact that Sona brought up the Young Devil's Gathering in the first place that gave him a sudden sense of foreboding.
I just want to save my little sister.
He shook his head. Surely it couldn't be so coincidental?
"The truth is Shirou, near the end of the first day of the gathering, something happened to Rias and her peerage that's left Rias wallowing in self guilt," Sona sighed while thinking about her friend. "I fear that if nothing is done, then Rias's chances in winning in her ranking match tomorrow maybe slim to none."
"A-Are Rias and the others okay?" He stuttered out. The bad feeling, he had was only intensifying.
Sona nodded. "To be truthful, none of them were really injured as the enemy seemed to have no intention of severely harming them. However," Sona paused, staring directly at Shirou's eyes to convey the seriousness of the situation.
"Rias's rook, Koneko was forcibly knocked out and taken away."
Please. I need your help.
As Sona finished speaking, he stood rooted for a moment before pretending as if nothing was wrong.
He already knew the culprit.
How could he not?
He was the one who helped her.
As the thought sunk in, he realized just how deeply he had buried himself in a hole of his own making. One that he'd have to dig himself out of in a day at the latest lest he cause Rias to lose her chances in the Young Devil's Gathering. With the wedding set to occur in a couple of hours, the only priority in his mind was how to go about doing it.
And that was perhaps the hardest question to answer.
He was being stupid, and he knew it.
He had actually snuck out of his own wedding hours before it was meant to be held, but what choice did he have? If he waited until after the wedding, there was no way Serafall would let him out of her sight to allow him the time needed to contact Kuroka and come to an understanding.
Given how many Lords of the Seventy-Two Pillars House Sitri had invited for the wedding's reception, getting out undetected had been for more difficult than he was expecting.
However, with God aiding him to mask his aura, all that had been left for him to do was sneak out while avoiding people's gazes. With the Sitri manor's sheer size, he was able to leave undetected after a strenuous twenty minutes.
As of the moment, he was pulling twigs and brambles off of the suit Sona had just measured and made for him after crawling through the Sitri Gardens on his stomach. Inwardly he apologized to Sona for his lack of care in regards to his suit.
The suit was tailor fashioned and fit him snuggly, the fabrics never tugging or feeling too large. A red tie was fastened around his neck and was engraved with the joint symbol of House Sitri and Marbas in gold thread.
Honestly speaking, the only reason he had been able to bypass Adelina, Serafall, Xenovia, and Sona was because of the privacy he had earned in the process of putting on his new suit. Sona had ushered him into a changing room and had most likely grown suspicious due to the amount of time he was taking.
When she discovered that he was gone, she'd probably be at a loss for words.
It was just another thing he'd have to apologize to Sona for, but he'd make it up to her.
As soon as he exited the lands owned by House Sitri, he rummaged through his pockets in search of the paw ornament Kuraka had left with him to contact her. In the meantime, he was considering just what exactly he could say to convince Kuroka to return Koneko. Worse, he had to do so with a time constraint. If push came to shove though, he'd prioritize his wedding above all else.
He owed it to Serafall for waiting so long.
The matter with Kuroka though felt like he was going in for an uphill battle.
If Kuroka was anything like Taiga, his surrogate elder sister, then it would be exceedingly difficult to persuade her. Not when Kuroka felt fear for Koneko's behalf.
As he was contemplating the issue, the skin on the back of his neck began to crawl.
The presence of Divinity.
He pocketed the cat-paw ornament and sharply turned his gaze towards the night sky.
There was an invisible sheen of power that completely blanketed the area, spreading outwards like a thin vapour.
The skies began to quake with the luster of an orange horizon as the area became sealed off.
Bumbum bumbum.
The roaring of the drums.
The sounding of the horns.
The scent of iron and ash permeated the air, the clanging of metal raising up the hymns of man's death-throes. Of violence and conflict. Of hopes and desperation, seeking an ever-distant twilight.
A field of warriors, of courage, and of honour.
"This presence, this aura," God's voice echoed in Shirou's mind, a trace of foreboding in his tone. "Gods with unlimited potential in battle."
The ground began to tremble with the vibrations of footsteps, light yet impactful, reminiscent to the marching of a legion, a forgotten banner held high. Phantoms of imperial cohorts that had once walked upon the earth, praying to their Gods for victory.
The red plume of Ancient Greece.
The Bronze Eagle of Rome, the Aquila.
Two individuals were approaching, garbed fully in armours.
A man and a woman, each emitting an aura of bloodthirst stronger than the other which only continued to grow.
Masters of combat.
Progenies of brutality and bloodshed.
They whose power qualified them as juggernauts even amongst the Gods.
Weak initially, the longer the battle, the stronger they became.
"Gods of War."
They who were least likely to ever agree on an Alliance.
Shirou's expression hardened as he felt both individuals lock onto him with their gazes.
Sharp, poised, it was if their eyes alone could stab into a person, but what they saw wasn't a human like they were expecting, no. It was something more.
It was Steel.
Unbending steel the likes of which the two had only ever seen in themselves.
Forged in fire, tempered in combat.
What stood before them was not a Human.
Nor a mortal.
But what felt like a fellow God of War.
The image of the bronze horizon created by the aura of the two Gods of War seemed to shift, momentarily reflecting monolithic gears and a desolate hill of swords influenced by the aura Shirou was steadily outputting.
A land more war torn than any battlefield either God had ever seen.
The expressions of the Gods of War momentarily faltered.
It was a world within a human.
An Armory greater than any other.
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