The sounds of battle accompanies the pan in, into the people present in this location.
Emilia fires hundreds of sword shaped ice towards her opponent while taking advantage of the situation and running a wide arc with a sword made from ice on her hand. They have done this a lot of times but the results are usually the same, she hopes to change it.
As some of her ice raise up dust in the environs, she charges in putting her strength on her foot as she clears the distance easily, she holds no delusions that this would be enough to ensure her victory so she conjures more ice in the air while freezing the ground solid in order to give her even the slightest advantage.
She makes a sideways strike towards where she senses her opponent, and she is not surprised when her sword is parried by his own. She immediately slides back using the ice on the floor as the conjured ice in the air starts raining down on the spot her opponent was.
She observes the dusty cloud for a bit, which cost her as her opponent springs out of it, sword aimed for a strike, knowing she won't be able to keep her distance, she rushes to meet him halfway as their swords clang against each other.
Emilia would usually not go so far like this but today is different. There is too much on the line for her to not try and win.
Before another sword forms in her left hand, she's already swinging it down, the smirk of her opponent tells her he is impressed by such a display but then he tilts his sword in such a way that her own slides down then easily sidesteps the downward swing from her left hand.
But Emilia has a trump card that she has been waiting to use.
Now!
She quickly takes a distance while dispersing both her swords as a pillar of ice shoots her into the air.
It doesn't take long and then the forces of gravity starts pulling her down, she doesn't scream, she closes her eyes as she makes no effort to cushion her fall…
This is a reckless move, an absurd move, who would fight against an enemy and deliberately put themselves in danger like this? This is a move that should cost her greatly. This is not a move that would work again anyone but Emilia is confident it would work on her current opponent.
In fact, to Emilia right now, she is not in danger even though she is currently falling to hard ground.
True to her thoughts, instead of landing with pain, a pair of arms grab onto her gently, easily nullifying her momentum.
She points a short blade of ice towards her opponent as she smiles.
"My win~?"
He smiles back at her.
"Are you sure about that, Lia?"
She looks to the side and sees a sword just a few inches before her skin.
She pouts.
"I thought I had you Fate!~" She whines and laughter is her response.
"It's impossible for anyone to 'had' me Lia." Fate drops her to her feet as he flicks her forehead. "You of all people should know that."
"Ow!" She pouts some more then looks at him with doe eyes "Does that mean no reward?"
He chuckles at that and then rest a hand on her head "Hmm, I suppose I should reward you for your unorthodox plan at least."
She hums happily at that.
***
"Delicious~"
The voice of Emilia rings out from the rest area in the garden, enjoying a cup of ice-cream made by Fate.
On the table lies a bigger frozen bowl filled to the brim with the same ice-cream Emilia is having from which she had scooped from. In front of her sits Fate with a cup in front of him as well.
"I made it, Lia. Did you expect anything less?"
She shakes her head in denial "hmm hmm. As expected of Fate." she gives a thumbs up as he chuckles.
Ever since Fate had arrived, Emilia has had the chance to taste various things of all kinds that she can't even place words for and this might just be her favorite.
He had called it ice-cream, she thinks the name of such confectionery is too on the nose though.
It should have a name like… happiness cream? Cause it's like happiness made manifest.
This is her reward for the day, whenever they spar, if she impresses Fate, he gives her a reward. That always makes her give it her best, not like she wouldn't give it her best in the first place.
Let it be known that Emilia is a hardworking person. Let it also be known that incentives go a long way.
Her mind drifts as she puts a hand on her stomach with a red face, when she had told Puck that she was pregnant, he had sighed and took her straight to Beatrice who had thoroughly educated her on how women actually got pregnant.
Such memories still cause her to feel embarrassment.
How ignorant had she been?
Or rather, it was definitely Puck's fault right?
What makes her even more embarrassed is that Fate knew the correct way and then had said he didn't mind if she has his baby.
She looks at him, a blush coloring her face as she scoops a spoonful into her mouth.
D-does Fate want to do that with her?
I-it's not like she is averse to the idea anyway but…
"What got you looking so red, Lia?" Fate asks her as she almost sputters.
"No-nothing, no-nothing! I'm not thinking of anything pervy at all." She blurts out.
…
Then she immediately goes redder and covers her face with her hands.
"Oh? Just what sort of pervy thoughts were you having, Lia?" Fate teases her, driving her embarrassment higher.
"Fate… stooop~" She whines even as he chuckles at her antics.
"But you are just so easy to tease, Lia. I mean you had thought kisses could get you pregnant after all." Is his response with obvious mirth.
She immediately stands up, both hands on the table, looking at him wide-eyed and face red with embarrassment "Fate, y-you knew. H-how did you know that~?!"
That makes him start laughing.
"Oh Lia, you are so adorable. If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were putting on an act."
She pouts sitting back down even as she feels her heart flutter from the compliment.
"You are such a dunderhead, Fate."
He chuckles some more as Emilia smiles.
She likes this.
She wishes for more days like this.
◇◇◇
"Careful, my lady."
Anastasia takes the offered hand of her knight as she steps out of the carriage that had stopped on the entrance of the Mathers manor.
"Hmm, thanks."
She looks around the surrounding noting how neat and flamboyant it all looks.
It definitely lives up to it's name
A blue haired maid standing to the side bows to them. "Welcome dear guests. Please come with me, Rem shall lead you to the meeting area."
"Thank you for your hospitality." Her knight smiles to the maid.
"You are welcome." She says leading them.
Anastasia is very aware that the Valkyrie will be coming soon as well so she hopes to take advantage of the situation which is why she came early.
***
Walking into the spacious room, with her knight just a few steps behind her, Anastasia sees the elven candidate sitting on a couch. The clothes she is wearing surprises her, she has not seen designs like those before. She wonder where she got it from.
Emilia stands up as she sees them.
"Lady Emilia, it's nice to see you again." Julius says as he kisses her hand.
"You as well, Julius." She replies with a smile.
"Anastasia! Nice to meet you." She says as she offers them a seat.
Julius stands behind Anastasia as she seats on the opposite couch separated by an ornate table which holds cups of hot tea.
"Nice ta' meetcha as well."
Anastasia observes the girl before her, she doesn't seem like much and only her looks stand out. Well, that kind of look would stand out in any place though.
She also realizes that if there hadn't been a definite proof, no one would have believed she is the hero— as she is now called by some people in the capital— who killed the White Whale, she doesn't seem like the type after all.
Someone like the Valkyrie would fit the profile.
"How was your trip here? Good?" Emilia asks with genuine curiosity.
"Nice 'nuff. We had a few problems on the way but my knight easily took care of them." Anastasia replies.
"That's good to know."
"Thank ya for the concern." Anastasia says waving her hand in a 'Don't worry about it' motion.
Reading the girl in front of her is difficult, she seems to genuinely care about their wellbeing, even without knowing the finer details of why they are actually seeking her.
Is she confident or just naive?
"That's an unusual outfit ya have on, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before." Anastasia says, subtly trying to wring out information from her and test the waters.
You have to put your opponent at ease in order to hold the advantage in negotiations.
Emilia's smile immediately widens at that. "Oh this?!" She is adorning a white blouse with a black string tie, a flowing black knee length skirt and black thigh high socks, although the clothes look simple, there is a certain grace that seems to be emanating from Emilia who adorns them. "I got it from Fate. He said it looked good on me." Anastasia can almost see the happiness fluctuating off her.
But she asks.
"Fate…?"
She of course has heard of him and even looked into him as well but the furthest information about him is defeating the bowel hunter.
Is it a coincidence that there are two people who she has met who has no know history beyond the same day? And seemingly possesses knowledge never seen before? Anastasia is curious and that is one of her reason for coming here today.
While Subaru's knowledge is indeed a goldmine, she wonders what she would find here, it's looking good already though.
"Oh! Fate. Fate is my…" She puts a hand to her chin seemingly looking for the right word even as Anastasia and Julius stare at her in amusement.
It's surprising that someone like this is who is being discriminated as the Witch, appearances can be deceiving huh?
After a while, Emilia blushes in embarrassment. "I don't know the right words to use, sorry. But we are definitely friends!" She says as if they were doubting her.
Anastasia giggles at that as Emilia coughs into her hand with a blush.
"That's alright, I do not doubt ya."
"By the way, Aren't you technically breaking the rules of the selection? We candidates are not supposed to meet each other after all…" Emilia adopts a thinking pose and before Anastasia could respond, she continued.
"No, I guess you are here as the head of the Hoshin company, not a candidate, hmm that makes sense."
Emilia looks up to see both people with surprised looks. "What?"
Had she said anything weird?
"Oh, nothing. I'm just surprised you could intuit as much. I'm sorry but to be honest I didn't see you as such a person."
Emilia giggles.
"I guess that was true, but if I can't do at least that much, Fate would be veery disappointed in me~"
The same Fate again, Anastasia notes, and looking at Emilia, it's definitely obvious she harbors romantic feelings for him.
She would like to meet this Fate as well. What is so special about him?
"Anyways, yer' right on the mark. Although 'm here as the Head of the Hoshin company, my goal is to form an alliance with ya…" Anastasia replies.
"Hmm, but why me though? You must have been aware of my situation right? Even now, not everyone has a favorable impression of me." Says Emilia but Anastasia notes that the girl doesn't seem all that bothered about it.
"I'll be blunt with ya, before you went an' killed the White Whale, ya would have had the lowest standing amongst us candidates, with me just being right behind due to being a foreign gal, but now that ya have achieved somethin' crazy and being lauded as a hero, 'm basically dead last. And to be honest, out of everyone to form an alliance with, I think ya would be the most amiable. As for the reason, I think we can both benefit from each other. According to Natsuki Subaru, gal power and all that." Anastasia says honestly, not bothering to hide it.
"Subaru?! You know Subaru?!" Emilia asks abruptly.
"Yeah, we are currently business partners…"
"I-is that so?" She smiles softly. "I'm reeeally glad he's okay." She says sitting down, not realizing she had leaned over the table before.
"So, what do ya think about my proposal?" Anastasia asks, she hopes that by 'accidentally' letting the name of Natsuki Subaru slip, Emilia would have a favorable impression of her.
Emilia puts on a thoughtful face. She realizes having an ally would most definitely make things easier but it's not something she should rush head in to. Fate had said ignorance is the enemy after all.
"Hmmm, can you give me time to think about it? I don't think this is something that should be accepted on a whim. At the very least I'll put a lot of thought into the offer." She says honestly.
Anastasia nods. "That's fine, just keep an open mind. We will be stayin' 'ere till tomorrow so I hope ya would have an answer then."
"Unn. I'll sleep on it." She says as they shake hands.
"By the way, Lady Emilia, I have a request." Julius who had been quiet till now asks.
"Hmm? What is it?" Emilia asks with a tilt of her head.
"Can I trouble you with telling us about your exploits with the White Whale?" He requests, the look on Anastasia's face says she is curious as well.
"That conversation…" The door to the room is opened by Rem as Crusch Karsten and Wilhelm van Astrea walks in.
"May we join in as well?"
***
"I see, a single blow was all it took, huh?" Wilhelm van Astrea says, a conflicted look marring his expression.
"But, is such a thing really possible?" Crusch asks. Defeating the White Whale with a single blow sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale after all, but she had sensed no falsehoods in Emilia's recounting of the tale— if you can even call it that— which means.
"Emila, can I meet this Fate?" She asks.
Before Emilia can reply, they hear muffled voices from the door.
"Yes, although your Rem would like some head pats so she can do her best, yes?"
A small laughter follows. "Blue, I am beginning to suspect you might be a cat, from the way you keep purring."
"That's because Sensei's hand feels good."
Everyone in the room exchange glances.
"Emilia, could that be?" Anastasia questions.
Emilia jumps to her feet nodding with a smile, she walks to the door and swings it open.
"Fate!"
Fate stands before the door, hugged by Rem as he pats her head. Rem immediately steps back to her position with a blush on her face as Fate chuckles at that.
"Lia… you have guests?" He asks as she holds his hand, taking him inside the room.
"Unn. I want them to meet you, Fate~"
Wearing black pants and a black sweater, his hair tied back in a knot and flip flops, he looks at everyone as they all look at him with varied expressions.
A few seconds pass and.
"The spirits… are praising… him?"
That breaks the silence in the room as everyone looks towards an astonished Julius.
"Hmm? Ah that? Such a thing is only natural for myself. Whose praises would they sing of if not mine?" Saying so, Fate walks further into the room as Emilia follows to her seat.
Anastasia looks at him with undisguised curiosity, her breath had caught when she immediately saw him, her merchant senses are telling her that she must not let this person go no matter what.
Crusch looks perplexed because his statement of just now held no falsehoods. Unlike Anastasia, she doesn't know much about Fate, her first impression upon seeing him is simply: Handsome, like admiring a well made sword.
Wilhelm sees a warrior.
And Julius is still surprised by his spirits praises of him.
"So ya must be this Fate we keep hearing about, aren'tcha?" Anastasia asks with a smile. "Anastasia Hoshin, head of the Hoshin company."
"Hmmm, a kansai accent huh? And…" he leans over the table and takes hold of the one of the paws of her scarf as her knight tries to move in to protect her, she stops him even as she blushes a bit from the lack of personal space.
Her heart pounds, whether that is from him seeing something unusual about the disguised scarf or something else, she can't really tell.
"See something ya like?" She teases.
Fate laughs instead. "…Hmm, I do, in fact. How interesting." He then looks directly at her "I shall call you Ana then. It's an honor so feel pleased." He says so as the residents in the room stares at him with varied expressions.
"A-ana?" Anastasia whispers to herself, not a lot of people call her that and the people who do usually have known her for a while.
"I am Crusch Karsten, head of House Karsten." She offers him a handshake and instead of shaking her hands, Fate removes her gloves and kisses the back of her hand. "Charmed. That's a good taste in outfit you have. I'll give you my praises." He says easily.
"Oh? Thank you. How well-mannered." Crusch says, surprised at the compliment while oblivious to whatever meaning the action might have held. "And this is Wilhelm van Astrea, a member of my house." She introduces as Wilhelm gives a bow. "A pleasure to meet your acquaintance." He says.
Fate looks at Wilhelm. "Oh? A relative of my rival huh? Hold your head old man, I am not disappointed at all. Although…" He walks closer to him staring intently as Wilhelm's hand unconsciously finds the hilt of his blade. "Don't you think you should curse the world instead of your blood?"
The question which puzzles everyone makes Wilhelm school his face to an even more passive one.
"Rival?" Crusch asks, taking the attention away from Wilhelm.
"Hmm? oh yes, Reinhard is a rival of myself."
"The Sword Saint? Then ya must be a pretty big deal huh?" Anastasia says.
"Biggest."
"Huh?"
"I believe the word you should use is Biggest. I am the biggest deal."
"Oh, I-I see." Anastasia is at a loss for words from the blatant display of pride.
"You truly believe so." Crusch says in obvious shock.
"The sky is blue. This world is flat. It is not something I believe, it is fact." Saying such humble words, Fate takes a sit beside Emilia who scoots closer to him.
"And you are a spirit arts user, like Lia." He says looking at Julius.
"Julius Juukulius, a knight of Lady Anastasia, it's an honor to meet someone of your caliber." A hand to his chest and a small bow, he says with genuine respect. Having heard the praises of his spirit, Julius believes Fate is not a regular individual.
Fate smiles at him. "Julius huh?" He chuckles. "You have pleased me so I shall remember your name. Consider it a privilege."
Julius gives a short bow once me. "You honor me."
"Anyway, Emilia had said you assisted her in subjugating the Whale, can I ask for your perspective on it?" Crusch asks.
"Oh, I would also like to know how ya procured those clothes. I'm a merchant ya see, so such things make me curious." Anastasia adds with a wink.
"Oh? You wish to hear of my exploits? It can't be helped. It's only natural for one to be curious before greatness." Fate easily replies, it is not the first time people had been curious about something he did after all. "Emilia defeated the Whale because I wanted her to. And I created these clothes myself. Such a thing is as trivial as breathing for me."
Conversing with Fate is difficult for Crusch because even knowing that his preposterous statements rings true, she finds it hard to believe them.
"You wanted her to?"
"You created them?"
Two people surprised about different things.
"Fate can make a lot of clothes, it's reeeally amazing. And he is a very good cook as well, and he can paint, and make this picture books and play this box called a piano, and, and~"
Fate laughs patting Emilia's head as she praises him with glee. She leans into it giggling.
"Oh? That sounds very interesting. Can ya tell me more about that?" Anastasia says with a glint on her eyes.
"Should we really be focusing on something like that?" Crusch asks.
"Hey, speak for yer' self, this is just as important to me, ya know." Anastasia rebukes as Crusch sighs then looks back at Fate who is still patting Emilia
"Can you clarify your earlier statement? You wanted Emilia to defeat the White Whale so she did?" She asks.
"It is as you say. In simpler words, it would be 'The whale died by Lia's hands because I wanted it to.' That's all there is to it."
Everyone looks perplexed at that, except Emilia, she has seen Fate do ridiculous things before so that's hardly surprising and the idea of "It's Fate, so that's expected" has become the norm for the household.
"Hmmm, I don't know how to react to such statements." Crusch says honestly as Anastasia nods in agreement.
"Yeah, it does sound unbelievable, but it's also undeniable that the Whale was killed by a single ice spear. Yer' really something huh? To be honest, I find myself wanting ya more." Anastasia says shamelessly.
"Lady Anastasia?" Julius is surprised by his lady's lack of subtlety.
"I'm also curious about you as well. You are the first person I've met where all your words ring true but hard to believe." Crusch adds.
Fate chuckles quietly. "It is natural to desire someone like myself, when you stand in front of I who is greatness, isn't it logical to seek it?"
"Y-you can't have him!" Emilia says abruptly.
She blushes realizing everyone's attention is now on her.
"Oh?" Anastasia says. "Why is that?"
She pouts in response, hugging Fate's arm.
"You just can't…" She says.
Anastasia laughs. "Don't worry, don't worry. I'm not tryna steal yer' lover away from ya."
"M-my lover? Is that what it looks like? Stop it Ana. Hehehe." Emilia says holding her cheeks as she giggles.
"Eh, yer' gonna call me Ana as well?" Anastasia mutters, it seems both Fate and Emilia are not one for formalities.
Crusch smiles looking at her. "Emilia, you are a very honest person aren't you?" Crusch has not met a lot of people that wear their hearts on their sleeve like Emilia.
"Eh? Why are you saying that all of a sudden? Well, I don't like being lied to, so I don't like to lie to people either~" She says.
"Hmm, I see. That's very admirable. But you have to realize that sometimes people might lie for the right reasons." Crusch says, it's natural that she would think so, Crusch is a duchess so she knows that sometimes, especially when running a country, sacrifices have to be made, looking at Emilia, she feels she is not someone who can make such decisions.
"Hmmm, what do you think, Fate?" She asks her trusted advisor.
"Well, I would like to know what you think Lia." He queries instead.
Putting a finger to her chin, she hums. "I know that there are times when it can't be helped, maybe you need to lie to protect someone, or lying would stop a terrible situation from happening… but I don't want to lie for a selfish reason, especially if I can help it." She finishes looking at him.
"Then that is the answer you need." Fate replies simply.
"What do ya mean?" Anastasia who has been listening intently questions. She is a merchant and lying is part of the market as well, so she has no place to refute others.
"It's easy. The answer is 'Do whatever you want.'" He says bluntly. "Such trivialities do not matter to me, for the truth is always as clear as crystal to myself. So the answer is whatever you want it to be or whatever you want to do. Whether that be when it comes to telling the truth or anything else."
Everyone looks at him, surprised by his answer, it's an answer you don't really need anyone to tell you but when Fate says it, it sounds and feels profound, like remembering something that has been stuck on the tip of your tongue.
The silence is broken by Emilia's giggles.
"That's just like you, Fate~" She says.
"'Do whatever ya want' huh? Somehow I'm not surprised by such words from ya." Anastasia titters.
"That's a simple way of viewing things…" Crusch says, a little smile on her face. "I can't say I hate it."
'Do whatever you want.'
Those words holds more weight for Julius, who tries his best to be the perfect knight.
Is being the perfect knight something that he wants or something that he felt obligated to become?
Where does the 'Finest Knight' ends, and where does 'Julius' begins?
Wilhelm has a distant look on his face.
"What if…" He voices looking at Fate, as everyone look at him. "What if what you want to do is no longer possible?" He asks, a bitter look on his face.
"I see." Fate looks at him in understanding. "Then you do the impossible."
"The impossible?" Wilhelm mutters.
How does one begin to do the impossible?
Fate laugh as he stands up walking to the window in the room. "You all are very interesting people, I wouldn't mind continuing this conversation later. But for now…" He pushes open the window. "…It seems like we have unsavory guests."
In the far distance only Fate can see, a group of individuals stroll casually into the Mathers domain, two young boys who look like twins, sharp teeth on display.
Two individuals wearing dark purple robes.
Fate looks in curiosity towards the man with short white hair and gold eyes walking without a care in the world.
"Fate, what guest is that~?" Emilia asks walking closer to him.
"People who do not know their place. So, pests, they are pests, Lia."