Wonder if anyone's still reading this? For those that still remember what the fuck this thing is here's a surprise update for you. I've been playing the FF7 remake so I guess I got put into an RPG mood, especially after playing as Cloud for multiple days.

I tried to get more plot in so hopefully this chapter doesn't feel like a waste. Stay safe everyone.

Also, for Sascha: surprise! Bet you didn't see this coming, huh? Talk when you can, you prick.

Raziel was often used to silence. In Lordran he'd spend what felt like weeks in utter solitude, only occasionally running into other people briefly before passing. There was Firelink Shrine, of course, but even then that became more and more barren the more time passed. Friends and acquaintances leaving for their own trials and journeys after their all too short respite.

And then they died. Either Hollowing after failing to achieve their goals, being driven insane or because they willingly chose to be monsters. Solaire, Griggs, Siegmeyer, Laurentius, Rhea...how many of his friends had he killed with his own hands? How many of their dooms came because of his actions? If only he hadn't kept showing up Siegmeyer, if he hadn't fed into Laurentius' curiosity of his pyromancy, if he'd been more careful on exterminating those insects before he met Solaire. How many of his friends could he have saved if he'd only been more careful?

He supposed that was why he cared so much for Louise and all the other friends he'd made here. At first he'd concerned himself only for surviving to the next day; he didn't expect he would ever bond with anyone here. Defending Siesta against Guiche had been his first push to that. And Louise, his master who seemed to despise summoning something so weak, grew to love him and he in turn loved her.

Which was why seeing her look of utter shock and complete silence hurt.

They were no longer at the river. Instead they'd packed up whatever supplies they had and made a makeshift picnic blanket to sit on. Cattleya passed around the sandwiches they'd bought from the last town but none of them ate. Louise just looked down at the bread without a word while Cattleya futilely tried to make conversation. Raziel himself looked down at the apple Catt had given him. He hadn't even taken a single bite.

Eventually he spoke, "I am sorry."

That jolted Louise out of her stupor. She looked up at him with a questioning gaze, "For what?" She sounded genuinely confused at that.

"For..." For being forced to see her former Familiar and the sister she adored hiding secrets, "For the position you found Cattleya and myself in," he said, slow and neutral, "The last time you caught us in a similar state you did not take it well." That was an understatement. She'd been very adamant at the time that the thought of him and Cattleya together was not something she would ever willingly entertain.

"Wh-What?" Her cheeks turned red and she cringed, "N-No, that was my fault! I...shouldn't have attacked you like that. I'm sorry." She out her hands on her lap and clenched them tightly, "I was...I was just worried about big sis Catt before. Back when she was still sick even running could sometimes worsen her condition so the two of you doing...that...would've made her even sicker."

"Still, given your surprised state prior I can only assume you took offense to our...closeness."

"No! I mean..." Louise sighed and rubbed the back of her hair in slight frustration, "I just...I'm not good at romantic relationships, Raziel. Back when I was a child I thought I loved Wardes, but honestly I just clung to one of the few people who didn't look at me like I was a disappointment." And even that was a lie. As far as that bastard was concerned she was just a convenient tie to the Valliere family.

"Louise..." Cattleya whispered.

"But I do remember how happy I felt for this first few years, thinking that I had someone who cared for me. And...if you both feel that way about each other then who am I to stop you." She looked between them, eyes steely, "And I know that I love both of you and if this makes you both happy then I'm happy too." He looked for any sign of falsehoods - an old habit he still hadn't quite gotten rid of - and found none.

It felt...nice.

"Louise-" Whatever Catt was going to say was cut off by his former master suddenly tackling her in an embrace. Cattleya wrapped her arms around the smaller Valliere and seemed surprised that she managed to keep her balance. A part of her still hadn't gotten used to being so much stronger than before.

"I'm just...I was just surprised that's all," Louise mumbled, her voice muffled by her big sister's blouse, "The last time Raziel had been with anyone was with Siesta and that...didn't work out."

Raziel cringed and finally took a bite from the apple. The last time he'd met his old friend was back when he'd lost his memories - when he was still 'Robin'. After he regained his memories he never saw her again. It was for her own good. Being with her, the time they shared, it had only hurt her in the end. She hadn't returned to the academy after the war and as far as she was concerned he'd long perished in Saxe-Gotha. Best if it stayed that way. Now she had a chance to find someone who wasn't a walking corpse.

Cattleya gave him a sidewards glance and mouthed 'we'll talk later'. Raziel nodded mutely. She knew of Siesta, barely. After all she'd been the one to give him advice on whether to pursue a relationship or not prior to them leaving, "...We apologize for lying to you, Louise," Raziel said eventually, if only to fill the silence, "The...circumstances of our relationship was difficult to bring up."

"I was wondering about that." Louise separated herself from Catt and sat next to Derflinger again, "How did you two...that is, how did you go from being acquaintances to being...well, a couple?"

"We've actually been more than acquaintances for a while." Cattleya hummed with a smile, "The first time honored sister Eleanor and I came to the academy to keep an eye on you was when it started. I explored the forest since I was so excited about being cured and I ran into Raziel by chance. He caught me when I fell. It was all so romantic." Her smile was soft and teasing and he rolled his eyes.

"You mean you jumped and I had to catch you." Raziel scoffed, though it lacked his usual bite, "I also recall dropping you."

"Uh...this doesn't sound very romantic." Louise looked almost disappointed that it wasn't the love story of the ages she'd expected.

"It wasn't. It was just the first time the two of us started talking," Catt said, "We talked about a lot of things, even Raziel's previous love troubles." Raziel took another pointed bite of the fruit. It was clear he didn't wish to discuss it, "I even showed him the Alviss dancing in the dining hall. It was more fun than I've had in years." Raziel coughed and ignored Catt's knowing smile. He hadn't done much that night so hearing that felt more than a little embarrassing.

"That sounds nice..." Louise smiled softly, "So why would you not tell me if that's when you two got together? Was it because of the war?"

"That was not when we entered into a relationship." Raziel coughed. This was going to be difficult, "It was...after you were taken." Louise blinked and just stared at him. That wasn't what she expected, "Many of us were in grief, Louise. I came to Catt's room to apologize for my absence despite my promise to protect you and we...found comfort in one another." Meaning they fucked out of grief because they could do nothing else.

Louise stared blankly at them both, the double meaning in her former familiar's words slowly sinking in, before her eyes widened and she gasped loudly, "You mean you two..." She looked between them. Raziel refused to look her in the eye while her big sister's cheeks were a fiery red despite her smile, "Oh my God, I didn't think that...I assumed you simply just...you two fu-"

"Yes, we did." Cattleya cut her off. She did not want to hear that word coming out of her little sister's mouth, "As Raziel said it was a difficult time and we-"

"You two slept together?!" she screamed.

"Yes, and could you not scream that, Louise?" Raziel cover his face with his right hand and tried to ignore the bubbling embarrassment in his gut. Sex was nothing to be embarrassed about. Humans and even the so-called gods did it and for many it was treated as no more a serious vice than the drink. Still, having someone he loved just blurting it out like this was...embarassing.

"I'm sorry, it's just..." She took a deep breath and put her hands on her lap, fists balled, "I was always told that...that should be saved for marriage." Then again a lot of the things she'd grown up believing ended up being wrong. War wasn't glorious, her fellow nobles were just as selfish as many criminals and loyalty was conditional for all but a rare few, "I guess this means you two are getting married, right?" She had to admit the thought wasn't too bad. Having Raziel as an official brother seemed more formality at this point. They were already family, blood or no.

"Yes."

"No."

Cattleya and Raziel looked at one another. She'd said yes and he said no, "Um...what?" Cattleya's smile was stiff and little Louise shrunk back slightly when she saw it. Oops, "I'm sorry, I thought we were on the same page here. We agreed to a relationship, right?"

"I agreed to one, yes. I did not agree to burned at the stake by your mother, father and witch of a sister." Cattleya almost protested to defend her older sister before mentally conceding. Eleanor could be...difficult to those who didn't know her, "That does not even mention the fact that you are a noble and, as far as the world is concerned, I am a commoner. The only times relationships of this kind work are in those romance novels you love to read."

"So what was your plan then? We would just be like this forever?"

He didn't think he would survive long enough for it to be a concern, "...I do not know." It wasn't the whole truth but it also wasn't a lie, "You are aware that you are my first actual relationship." With Siesta it never got any farther than stifled attempts at intimacy and feelings left unresolved. That night at Albion would've been his last and yet it had turned into a nightmare with thousands going Hollow.

"I still think you two should get married," Louise said, "Big sis Catt has her own noble house so technically she has final say on whoever she marries." Sure the rest of their family would complain but I doubt father's going to revoke her house. Marriage shouldn't be an issue." Apart from the rumors, of course, but she doubted her older sister really cared about that.

"In fact it'll give me a reason to reject all those offers of marriage and courtship," Cattleya added brightly. Some of them like Professor Colbert were nice, even if they were getting on in years. Others like Professor Kaita she could do without.

Raziel put one knee up and looked down. Hearing them talk about the future after seeing what he'd seen, it hurt, "...Perhaps," he said eventually. He tried to ignore the painful stab in his chest at their smiles, "...Could I talk to Derflinger alone, please? We have something to discuss." He raised his left hand, the chain shining dully in the midday sun.

"O-Oh, sure." Louise nodded and took off with Catt to the riverside. The reminder of his 'condition' had dampened her spirits.

Raziel waited till he was sure they were out of earshot before he spoke, "...You have been oddly quiet."

"Yeah, well, you were talkin' about sex and marriage and all that junk. I'm a talking sword, partner. Relationships ain't exactly my cup of tea," he clicked, "And I'm guessin' you didn't actually wanna talk about the seal keeping that pal of yours in check."

"The world is ending. The spirit of the lake showed me a vision of the cycles past, how long this has happened." He assumed this was merely the third in a short line. He was wrong. This happened countless times through the eons, light and dark always in conflict, always in flux, attempting to gain dominance over one another till eventually their war devastated the world they claimed as birthright.

And then it happened again and again and again. For all he knew Gwyn and Manus weren't even the first.

"Thought so." Derflinger sighed and moved out of the sheath slightly, "Thing is we already knew this, yeah? You told me that talkin' mushroom warned you, that priest and that assassin."

"A part of me always doubted." Because the alternative was the realization that nothing they did mattered. Him, that other Undead and maybe hundreds - thousands - of other, desperate fools. All of them to feed that dying ember Gwyn tried so hard to keep alive, "...I do not know if we can survive this, Derflinger. Many have tried before us and they all failed. Even the other Undead only managed to save herself from Hollowing."

"You know, I think I've seen this before." Raziel looked up to stare at Derflinger's hilt, "Memory's still fuzzy, that's what 5000 or so years does to ya, but I think ol' Brim was trying to stop this too. It's why he went insane at the end."

"Given what is happening now it is clear he did not succeed." He sneered weakly.

"I'm not so sure." Deflinger hummed, "You told me before that there were four Gods, yeah? Gwyn, Nito, that Witch and Manus."

"Manus was not a god."

"Whatever. Point is he was part of that fucked up quartet and they were the ones responsible for the mess your home got into. But think about it. You've got what's left of that Manus thing inside you, priest boy's got ol' beardy and that mad king had one of the Witch's daughters. So you know what I think? I think ol' Brim was tryin' to break the wheel by making sure the cart turned when he said so. Get me?"

"Not really."

Derflinger sighed, "If all the Void Mages controlled all four of the Gods then that'd give em a leg up on the cycle, wouldn't it? Now I'm still just guessin' here but it makes sense. If all four of Brimir's castoffs play nice and work together then how's this cycle gonna pass? No one to light that bonfire, no one to bring out the dark doom and gloom. Things stay as they are."

"You forget Alsanna, and Sheffield was not the only daughter of Chaos. The Dark and the Light will always find pawns to serve as their proxies."

"But they'd still be the second choice. And hel even then ya fight fire with fire. Get a witch to fight a witch, get a Manus to fight another Manus. Even if you can't win ya still get a stalemate. Sometimes that's the best ya can hope for." He slunk back into his sheath, "Course that's just my guess. For all I know it's all just a weird coincidence and it doesn't mean anythin'. Ain't like we can go back an ask ol' Brim."

Raziel thought about it. In some odd way it made sense. Manus was born at the destruction of Oolacile and the powers he received from Louise only amplified his capacity to kill. Gwyn the ruler, the beloved, could control people the same way Julio could control animals. The witch was known for her fire and creation - and her collusion with demons - and so Sheffield could create Golems like no other.

That left Nito for Tiffania, and he did not wish to delve what that meant for them.

"Hmm..." He stood and slung Derflinger across his back. Perhaps he could talk to Ciaran when he got back. Much as he loathed her she was still the one who lived through that time the longest.

"Where to next, partner?"

"Where else? Time to go home."

They arrived back at the capital city at evening time. Raziel disembarked his shared horse with Cattleya and ignored the stiffness in his legs. He hated riding horses, "Pretty late out," Louise said next to him. They'd chosen to stay in the city due to the late hour and go back when the sun was up once more. The last thing they needed was to accidentally fall into a ditch.

They were all about to leave when a familiar voice called out behind them, "There you are." He turned back and hummed in affirmation when he saw Agnes walking towards them. Judging by the hooded cloak she wore she'd been trying to keep a low profile, "I've been looking for you. I just came back from the academy and they said that you weren't there."

"What is it you want?" Raziel asked.

"The queen is asking for you. She needs our aid with a task." Raziel grunted in slight annoyance. Great, just got back only to be sent to yet another mission. He wondered just how much Henrietta knew about actually stopping this madness.

"What task?" Cattleya asked as she walked up to them.

"I'm afraid that I cannot say, Lady Fontaine. Just know that it's of importance and cannot be delayed." Agnes looked to Louise. The younger girl was fidgeting in place and clearly wanted to involve herself too, "That goes for you too, Lady Valliere. Her Majesty was resolute on that."

"But-"

"It was not so long ago that you came back from danger, Louise. I understand her concerns," Raziel muttered. He looked to Agnes, "Will that be all?"

"Oh, could you also pass by the Charming Fairies inn? You two should be well aware of it. Lady Valliere and Lady Fontaine should look for a girl named Karin and her friend Estelle. I...think you'll both understand when you see them." She gave his two companions an undecipherable look and walked away without another word. All three of them looked at each other, confused, but made their way there. He wasn't even aware it was back in town already.

Seeing that all too familiar sign again brought butterflies in his stomach. The last time he was here he was still Robin, still that naive child who thought he could have his fairytale ending. Despite everything a part of him missed it. It reminded him of his first time out of the kiln.

For those first few days after escaping the kiln his mind had still been shattered and it took some time for him to crawl out of his stupor. Regaining all his memories had made him bitter - angry - but it also came with a clarity that he didn't have before. He doubted the shattered being that came here first would have survived this long. He would rather the harsh truth than a happy lie.

They stepped inside and were met with the well-known sight of a blonde, twintailed girl leading them to a table. Catt was obviously surprised at what they saw, though she also saw they were her eyes lingered on a few of them, "An...interesting place." Catt hummed, sipping at the wine they bought. The waitress agreed to call this Karin so they decided to just wait. Derflinger was set at the table, quiet as he often was nowadays.

"It's certainly...something." Louise swirled her own diluted wine, cheeks dyed a similar shade to her hair. Evidently her own experiences here hadn't faded from her mind just yet.

"Agnes said you two knew this place?" Catt asked.

"Ah...yes. We had to, um, come here a few months prior as a favor to the queen." Catt raised a brow while Louise shook her head, "Probably shouldn't say anything. It's not exactly a pleasant story."

"Did someone hurt you?" Catt's left hand balled into a fist at her lap and Raziel squeezed it briefly.

"No, it's just-"

"Hey, so you were asking...for...me."

They all turned to the source of the voice and Louise completely froze. Cattleya gasped, right hand covering her open mouth, while Raziel's eyes narrowed slightly. The girl in front of them was a stranger and yet all too familiar. The same pink hair and short height and yet her features, particularly her eyes, had a sharpness to them that Louise and Catt didn't possess. It was as if he was looking into a portrait.

Louise was the first to speak, "What the Hel...?" she dropped her glass of wine on the floor and stood, stopping only when she was right in front of her would-be reflection. The girl - Karin, she reminded herself - mirrored Louise's shock, eyes wide and mouth gaping to expose a particularly sharp, fanged tooth on the left side of her mouth.

"Uh..." Karin said dumbly.

"Em..." Louise said back.

"It appears something odd is going on." Raziel put down his drink and leaned back on his chair.

"Yeah, guess so..." Karin shook her head and steeled her expression, "I'm guessing that you're Louise and you're Cattleya?" she pointed at both of them in turn, "Or is it the other way around? Sorry, I'm still trying to get used to this whole thing."

"I'm Cattleya, yes. Um...who are you?" Cattleya asked.

"That's kind of complicated. If you can trust what everyone else says then I'm your mother from about 34 years in the past, give or take a couple." Neither of Catt or Louise said a word. Raziel looked down at his red wine grimly and pursed his lips. He couldn't sense any falsehood from her, so either she was telling the truth or at least she believed it to be so.

The former brought more implications he didn't care for. One of the ways Lordran was fundamentally broken was time; or rather, the its lack of consistency. Individuals from different years, perhaps even eras, all trapped in the same loop without even realizing it. Big Hat Logan and possibly even Griggs who were long dead legends traipsed around at the same time as the likes of Siegfried and Laurentius. If this Karin was telling the truth then it was another sign of just how close they were to the end.

"Excuse me, what?" Louise choked out, "You're saying you're my-"

"I'm not sure, okay? I'm still trying to make sense of things even now." Karin interrupted with a huff. She crossed her arms and looked Louise in the eye, "I already met your mother and that Eleanor woman and that's what they seem to believe, at least. Me and your mother know things only I - or her - should know, so either she dug into my past or they're right. You choose what to believe."

"How did you arrive here?" Raziel asked. Better they keep on track.

"Hel if I know." She sighed and brought a hand through her hair. Last thing I remember was traveling with this nobleman back to the capital and the next I woke up in a forest apparently 3 decades into the future.

"A nobleman?"

"Yes. He was sort of odd, truth be told. He wore far too ornate attire like that top hat and his mask was...odd. It had this demented little grin on its face. If he weren't dressed so fancily I would've assumed he was a bandit of some kind.

Raziel's grip on the cup hardened. Chester, it had to be. Louise didn't seem to notice the connection, still gaping at her time displaced mother. He shook his head and stood, "...I should leave you to converse." He walked to the counter and sat, the three's conversation drowned out by the drunken revelry of the lecherous patrons. Chester...he'd killed him back in Tarbes, and yet now a part of him wondered if he was still out there, slipping in and out of time like he did back in Oolacile.

"Hey, what can I get- woah, Robin?" He looked up and flinched at Jessica's cheerful smile. Of course she'd be here. Scarron's absence made him assume she'd be out as well, "That is you, isn't it?"

"Ah...yes." He nodded hesitantly.

"Hah, I knew it!" She put her arms on the counter and leaned forward, "Where were you?! You just stopped coming to work one day! I even had your dress all picked out!"

"I told you I was not going to partake in that." Raziel sighed. He hated how Manus' influence made him appear so juvenile. Even now he had no idea why the shards preferred a female form. Alsanna seemed to believe it was due to the mad ape's obsession with Dusk but that was just guesswork, "Apologies for leaving without notice. Circumstances appeared and it became difficult. We had to leave."

"Hmm...you're talkin' kinda funny. You hit your head or something?" She shook her head, "Ah, nevermind. Sie-Sie seemed real bummed when you just up and left. Oh, speaking of which. Hey, Sie-Sie! Over here!"

Raziel followed the buxom girl's gaze and froze when Siesta stepped out of the kitchen. He'd heard that she chose not to come back to the academy but he'd always assumed she found work elsewhere or just stayed with her family. The short haired brunette wiped her hands on the skirt of her dress and turned to them, "Yes, Jessica. What is-" She stopped when their eyes met and he immediately knew that this wasn't just a reunion between work acquaintances. She knew.

She coughed and forced a smile, "O-Oh, Robin! How nice to see you again." Her voice was high and all too fake, "Didn't realize you lived here."

"I..."

"Yeah, funny coincidence, huh?" Jessica said obliviously, "Oh, hold on, customer's calling. You two catch up, 'kay?"

And just like that they were alone. Even with the jeers and cries from the drunken patrons the silence between them felt all too stifling. Siesta looked down at the ground, hands tightly tugging at her skirt, before looking up once more, "W-Well, it was nice to see you again, Robin, but I should really-"

"That is not my name." And, thinking of nothing else he could say, he raised her left hand to show her the faded runes.

Her eyes widened in realization, "...You remember?" she asked softly. Raziel nodded and she took a single, small step back, "...I can't do this. I'm sorry."

She turned and ran back to the kitchen. Raziel moved in instinct and chased after her, pushing through the back door into the alley and ignoring the cries of the kitchen staff behind her that he wasn't allowed. Siesta stood near the edge of the alley, her right hand propped against the wall to help keep her balanced while her left covered her mouth. As he stepped closer he heard what was undoubtedly soft cries she barely muffled.

"Siesta-"

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, so soft he barely heard her even through the night's quiet, "I thought you were back in Albion? That you were happy with someone else? Why are you-"

"Things...happened. I recovered my memory and we had to leave." Because Ciaran attacked him out of a desperation to feel useful once more in a world that didn't need the Lordsblades, "I...I never apologized for-"

"What? For telling me that you were getting out when you planned to stay behind and let yourself die?" She rounded on him and the tears in her eyes felt like a sword through his gut, "Or maybe that you were never planning to survive after all? I mourned you, Raziel. When you died I tried to move on and then I saw you again. You didn't have your memories or even your face, just those damned runes!"

Raziel looked down to the ground and didn't say a word. What could he say? He'd lied to her and, whether it was an accident or not, came back to her life again when she was moving on. He felt like the festering corpse he'd always claimed he was.

"And now you're back again? Different face but you remember everything? I just...I don't..." She hugged herself tightly and made a valiant effort to stop her tears, "I mourned you twice! I let go of you twice! And now you're here again and I don't know whether to hug you or punch you in the face and tell you to stay away from me."

"Whichever your choice I will respect it." He looked up again.

"Don't. Don't just be so...accepting and okay with this. I'm just..." She wiped away what was left of her tears and met his eyes once more, "I can't deal with this right now. I was all set to move on completely and here you are again, like you didn't die all those months ago."

"I'm sorry," he said again. There was nothing else he could say.

She chewed on her lower lip and tentatively stepped closer. Raziel stayed completely still when she reached a hand out and touched his right cheek, "...Cold." She pulled back and, for the first time, her mouth quirked up in a small smile, "It's really you, isn't it?"

Siesta hugged him. Raziel stiffened at the contact before slowly reciprocating the gesture. The contact lasted for only a few seconds before she pulled, back, hands barely touching his shoulders, "...I have to go. I need to...think about this, try to make sense of all of it. Will you come back."

"Of course. It's the least I can do."

She laughed softly under her breath and kissed his cheek before walking past him. Raziel stood still and touched where her lips made contact with the tips of his fingers. It was a strained gesture, carrying none of the affection and intimacy from months prior. It was for the best. After everything he'd put her through he expected worse. A punch to the face, a knee to the groin...anything but the reluctant acceptance she showed him now.

More footsteps came from behind. At first he assumed Siesta had come back to tell him off proper but when he turned around his head was suddenly engulfed in an overwhelming ache that nearly pushed him to his knees. He grabbed the wall with both hands to keep himself upright and, through his fading vision, saw a pair of dull brown boots come to a stop in front of him.

"...ight?"

"What...?"

"I asked if you were alright?" He looked up. The figure (a girl?) in front of him had leaned forward slightly to offer him a hand. Her entire body was covered in a mix of cloth and leather that left nothing but her gray eyes and exposed.

"I'm...I'm fine..." He took her gloved and she pulled him up. She was short, easily the same height he was just a scant couple of inches taller than Louise, which made her all-covering attire all the more stand-out. The girl looked him in the eyes, gray on gray, and stepped back slightly, "Is something wrong?"

"I think I should be asking you that." Her right hand drifted to the bow slung across her chest and she looked back to the door leading to the inn, "Customers aren't allowed back here so they told me to tell you to go back inside."

"Right...my apologies." He shook his head and ignored the dull ache across his temples. Pain like this was all too common, especially with how shaky the seal was. He had to to do his best to push through it.

"...You're Raziel, aren't you?" He raised a brow and she stepped back again, "Please don't be worried. I'm with Karin and Agnes told us about you. Agnes said that she needs us to to the palace tomorrow so I suppose we'll be working together. My name is Estelle."

"With Karin...you are displaced from time as well?"

"Yes." She nodded, "If you don't mind I don't want to talk about it, please. It's not a pleasant memory."

"Your business is yours." Raziel brought a hand through his scalp and looked at the twin moons. Another night they drew closer to oblivion.

The Queen had gathered them all to her secreted room. Him, Agnes, the Vampires, Julio, Ciaran and now Karin and her friend. The room felt cramped and it was clear that Ciaran did not wish to be here either judging by her narrowed eyes and pursed lips.

She walked them through their mission. They were to go to Germania to 'silence' a noble that was trying to ignite a war between Tristain and Germania at the behest of the Mad King's daughter. Ciaran scoffed at first, assuming they were being used for political games, but Henrietta had made it very clear that if Tristain were to fell so too did their chance to work together to fight against this damned cycle. The more time they spent fighting one another the less bodies they had to fight against the Light and the Dark.

"This place, huh?" Karin said, looking over the map. She turned to Estelle, "You think Solas is still back there?"

"Maybe. He'd be really useful to have since he knows the local place and politics better than we do." Estelle nodded, "I say we search him out and make an offer. He could really help us out."

They finished their meeting and most of them left. He stayed behind alongside Julio, Ciaran and the Queen. They needed to talk, "I went to a Lake Spirit yesterday," he said. The Queen looked at him curiously, "It showed me a...vision of cycles past. This has happened again and again, more than we even realize."

"Oh? Just how many?" Julio asked.

"...Hundreds, possibly even thousands." Ciaran's pressed lips tightened to an even thinner line. Julio simply raised a brow curiously while the Queen looked sickened, "We do not have much time left."

"How...How long?" The Queen asked softly."

"...Two years."

The already tense mood in the room plumetted even further. The queen turned away from them, managing to choke back her frustrated sobs even as he shoulders shook. Julio smiled grimly and shrugged while Ciaran cursed in her original tongue and glared down at the map laid down on the table. It was one thing to know oblivion was coming, it was wholly another to know just how close it truly was.

"Derflinger believes we can stop it, however, and that the Void Mages are the key."

"And how is that?" Julio asked again.

"I think I should take over here, partner," Derflinger clicked behind him.

He told them the same thing he'd told him a day prior. About Brimir and his possible plan to control the cycle by stealing away the pawns. Ciaran's crossed arms shook and it was clear the thought of a a human, of all things, binding three of the 'almighty' gods to his will disgusted her down to her very core. Thankfully for them all she'd kept her thoughts to herself. The last thing they needed was a rant on their heresy and unworthiness.

"An interesting theory," Julio said, "If this is true then father Brimir really did attempt to save mankind."

"By enslaving the souls of those worthier than him." Ciaran barely held back a sneer, "Assuming this is even true what do you propose we do? The souls of the Gods have evidently been reborn in lesser bodies. Even you, who has possession of Lord Gwyn's soul and part of his memories, pale in power and influence to Him at his prime."

"Either way it means that we need to focus on the Void Mages," Queen Henrietta said, "With that said this does align to one of my goals today." She looked at each of them in turn, "Before each of you left I was hoping you'd join me and Tiffania. She agreed to summon her Familiar today and it might be better if all three of you were present. We cannot be certain that whoever she summons will be cooperative."

"So that is why you summoned her as well," Ciaran said, "Very well. I shall protect the princess with my life."

"Given your past performance that does not reassure." Ciaran glared him but said nothing.

They joined Tiffania in another chamber, this one wide and filled with murals from past royalty, "It's the royal summoning chamber," the Queen said, "It's where I summoned Odette a year prior. Don't worry, no one will disturb us here." She gave Tiffania a comforting smile and stood beside her while the three of them took up the other side of the room, "You remember the incantation?"

"Y-Yes." She nodded and held onto the small wand tightly with both hands.

Tiffania closed her eyes and began the spell. To his right Ciaran gripped her tracers while to his left Julio leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed, "This should prove interesting," he said, "Despite the damage we are all capable of the Lipfrasir is the most capable of destruction. I suppose it makes sense. If your sword's theory is correct then this summoned Familiar would be the equivalent of Nito."

"Nito..." It was clear by Ciaran's expression that even she was repulsed. The gods' alliances were strained at best but Nito went beyond the pale. Then again, he thought, what else did Gwyn expect when he made a deal with a being that sought death in all things? Even his joining them against the dragons was purely because the thought of immortal, unchanging creatures offended him by their very nature.

Tiffania finished her incantation and multiple bright lights engulfed the room. Two gates appeared in front of her...alongside two gates just a couple of feet in front of him and Ciaran. The Queen and Tiffania looked at each other, utterly confused, while he and Ciaran shared a wary glance. Off to the side Julio's face slackened in surprise before he suddenly smiled and let out a loud peal of laughter.

"...What is so funny?" Raziel muttered.

"This." He gestured to the twin gates, "I see you're confused, so let me explain. For Void Mages there are two conditions to who they will summon as their familiar. The first is Destiny. The one they're destined to bind themselves to, the one who would serve the role of Familiar best. I can only assume that this applies to Lady Ciaran."

"And the other?" Ciaran asked.

Julio's smile turned to a grin and he looked Raziel in the eyes, "Love." Across from them Tiffania's entire body stiffened and she nearly dropped her wand, "If a Void Mage loves someone, even another one's Familiar, then they have a choice to be summoned as well. Given your prior relationship with her I think it's very clear that her feelings for you fulfilled that condition. Meaning that we have a choice."

Raziel and Ciaran glared at each other briefly before looking back to the shimmering gates in front of them. One was who she was destined to be bound to and the other was the one she loved. They couldn't both go through.

Neither of them got a chance to step through before the gates suddenly disappeared. Across from them Tiffania had dropped her wand and would've fallen to her knees if Queen Henrietta hadn't held her shoulders, "It appears that she's unsure herself." Julio hummed and walked towards them with Raziel and Ciaran reluctantly following, "I advise that we postpone this, Queen Henrietta. Give her a chance to make her choice."

"I...yes, that seems to be best." The Queen nodded, "Go to your mission first. We can discuss this more when you return."

"This shouldn't even be a choice," Ciaran said, "Princess Tiffania, I offer myself to your service. I will gladly take part in this heathen ritual if it means being able to serve you better."

"...You should be the one to choose, Tiffania. We cannot make the choice for you," Raziel said.

"I...I don't..." She looked between him and Ciaran and shook her head, her eyes closed, "I can't do this now. P-Please give me some time to think about this. This is all...it's too much."

"Princess-"

"You heard what she said, assassin. If you are truly loyal to her then you will respect that," Raziel interrupted.

"What would you know of loyalty, beast? If you think I will let you hurt her like your progenitor hurt her mother then you are truly lost."

"Stop it!" Tiffania's scream echoed through the confines of the chamber, "Just...stop fighting! We're not doing this now. Just...please give me some time to think about this. I promise I'll have an answer for you by the time you come back."

"...Of course, princess." Ciaran bowed slightly and let out a soft breath.

"Take your time, Tiffania. We will follow whichever choice you wish."

So we've got Raziel/Cattleya/Louise talking about the relationship, Derflinger explaining the Familiar system's tie to Dark Souls, a Siesta reunion and both Ciaran and Raziel being viable candidates for being Tiffania's Familiar. Next chapter we'll go back to Germania for a spell so we can pick up Solas and finish up the gathering of the heroic cast members.

Question:

1. Just curious, who do you guys prefer between Cattleya and Siesta? A lot of people seemed to like how the latter was built up and were bummed when she and Raziel essentially lost contact after Albion. OTOH people also liked Cattleya not being as innocent as she first appeared along with her repressing her cynical side.

2. So who do you guys think fits better as Tiffania's Familiar? Raziel is more emotional but it's also awkward due to their breakup and her loving 'Robin'. Likewise while Ciaran is pushy and loyal to an ideal there's also no emotional baggage unlike with Raziel.

Review answers:

Sillus and Mernom - Do you two still remember what happened? :P

Raftel17 - Could be Cattleya or Louise. Remember the future is bad so either of those two could've ended up being bad parents.

UniversalTomato - Not exactly 300 years, but hey.

G119 - Raziel generally is pretty pleasant to most people so long as they don't antagonize him. Sure he isn't exactly warm but most people aren't with regards to strangers. He was pretty nice to characters like Guiche, Kirche, Tabitha (before she betrayed them) etc etc. He's really only an asshole to Julio, Ciaran and Henrietta and only the latter is unjustified.

I...doubt Julio's the dad :P Raziel makes it clear they ain't happening.

UnholyDriver - Louise? Eh...maybe, but she seems happy enough being his sister in-law without any sex involved.

NeoArmstrngCycloneJetArmstrng - Hm, point. Raziel and Cattleya are pretty much the poster of the Brooding Boy Gentle Girl trope, though I'd argue it's very hard to put Raziel in any other kind of relationship given how he behaves. If he got together with Siesta or Tiffania the dynamic would be similar. The only way it would be different would be if he got together with someone like Henrietta or Tabitha, both of whom are equally cynical and cut off.

Raziel and Henrietta do grow more similar as the chapter passes. I also tried to write them as being less antagonistic to one another to coincide this. Dunno if it works or not, though.

Raziel and Estelle both have white-blonde hair and gray eyes, so Estelle looks like a clone almost. As for Ciaran being the mom...yeah, I can't even imagine what kind of fucked up future that'd be if these two got together.

Remvis - The mom's a mystery and as for why she doesn't want Raziel to know? It's pretty clear that she doesn't have fond memories of her parents. Also, Raziel refusing to purge Manus makes sense. Look at all his fights across the story and just how many times Manus' essence has saved him. He'd be dead multiple times over if not for it.

Raziel can't touch the bonfire because now he's a full Manus shard and doing so saps at Manus' essence and hurts him.