Chapter 91: Chapter 16
After leaving the castle Cyd and Jeanne walked through the forest, one behind the other, the canopy above casting dappled shadows on the path.
"Hey... I want to transfer all my Command Spells to you," Jeanne suddenly said, breaking the silence.
Cyd stopped and turned back, looking at Jeanne with confusion. "Why?"
Jeanne halted, her tone somber as she replied, "Because... I think you're more suited to be a Ruler than I am."
Her mind was still bothered by the looks Vlad III and the others had given her. They seemed to trust Cyd more than her.
"Did your Lord tell you that?" Cyd raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"No, the Lord didn't say anything..."
"Because there is no Lord in this world."
"The Lord exists!" Jeanne puffed up her cheeks in defiance.
"Even when His followers are lost and burned at the stake unjustly?" Cyd walked up to Jeanne, his face serious.
"Those are trials given by the Lord," Jeanne said earnestly, her clear eyes showing no resentment towards the Lord she spoke of.
"Then your Lord is truly cruel," Cyd sneered. "He doesn't help with doubts, doesn't rescue His followers."
"Uh..." Jeanne was momentarily at a loss for words. Before becoming a saint, she was just a village girl, and village girls didn't know such profound things. Still, she couldn't bear to see her faith belittled by Cyd, so she stubbornly replied, "The Lord will guide me."
"I have a compass here that points to where I want to go," Cyd pulled out Hermes' compass from his pocket and tossed it in the air. "Where do you wanna go?"
Jeanne's rare outburst showed her frustration. "I'm just trying to get you to relax a bit," Cyd continued. "You don't look anything like the fearless village... ahem, saint you once were."
"I'm taking this very seriously," Jeanne turned her head away in frustration. "Besides, the Black Faction's Servants seem to trust you more."
"The Red Faction welcomes me too," Cyd scratched his chin, remembering Semiramis, the Assassin from the Red Faction, who clearly did not. "That's why I think the Command Spells should be with you," Jeanne felt hurt. Why was there such a disparity between them as Rulers? All she did was pray for a few hours!
"I don't need them. I have something more effective than Command Spells," Cyd yawned. "Besides, we Rulers just need to ensure that mysteries aren't exposed. The rest isn't our concern, and we hardly need to use Command Spells."
"I... I've already used two," Jeanne timidly raised her hand.
"Next time you want to use a Command Spell, get my permission first," Cyd grabbed Jeanne's head. "And don't stray too far from me!"
"Okay... okay!" Jeanne quickly agreed.
"Alright then, let's go find the Black Faction's Assassin," Cyd stretched lazily. "Being a Servant sure has its perks—no need to sleep or eat."
"About that..." Jeanne hesitantly raised her hand again. "Due to some circumstances, I manifested in the physical world through possession, so..."
"So?" Cyd tilted his head.
"I'm at my limit..."
With a thud, Jeanne collapsed powerlessly to the ground, her magic-formed armor quickly dissipating. The proud saint vanished, leaving behind a delicate high school girl.
After all, she hadn't descended as a true Servant, so she had many limitations. If she didn't eat, she'd get hungry. Though she could ignore it, Leticia's body couldn't, and she'd faint from hunger. If she didn't sleep, she'd get extremely tired. Though this was a novel sensation for a Servant, Leticia's body would force her to shut down.
If she hadn't dawdled, she might have made it to the church attic for a good night's sleep. But unfortunately, a series of events delayed her, and now she was utterly exhausted. With Cyd around, she let herself collapse.
"Hey! Are you okay? Hey!" Cyd shouted worried
"Um..." The [Jeanne] lying on the ground raised her head, giving a faint smile. "Mr. Cyd, please take care of things."
Then she completely passed out.
"You're hopeless. Might as well sleep through the Holy Grail War," Cyd sighed, bending down to pick her up. "you could have at least told me where you live..."
(Kairi pov)
Kairi cautiously eyed the purple-haired woman staring out of the coffee shop window.
"I don't need anything. You decide," the purple-haired woman shook her head.
"Could you bring two of these?" Mordred tugged at the waitress, handing her the menu.
"Hey!" Kairi called out in surprise.
"I have no choice! This bitter stuff can't fill me up," Mordred downed the coffee on the table in one gulp, grimacing. "If I'm hungry, I won't fight well!"
"You got wiped out last night!" Kairi pointed at the culprit sitting across from them. "And I ate before we left!"
"I... I didn't get wiped out! I just couldn't move!" Mordred's face began to reddened.
"Damn it! Hey! Magus, let's go settle this outside!" Mordred rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight.
"Hmm?" The purple-haired woman took off her sunglasses, looking at Mordred.
"Ahhh! She's just joking!" Kairi jumped up, pressing Mordred's head down.
"Hmph," the woman nodded, putting her sunglasses back on.
"Idiot! You forgot we can't look her in the eyes!" Kairi whispered urgently in Mordred's ear. "I know you're strong, but the opponent is just too much!"
"If my true form had descended, it wouldn't be like this," Mordred muttered sulkily, slumping on the table.
"Sorry for the trouble," Kairi forced a smile.
"No problem," the woman shook her head.
"May I ask your name?" The awkward atmosphere made Kairi restless.
"Medusa," the woman continued to stare out the window as if searching for something.
"Uh... huh?" Kairi's eyes widened in disbelief. A monster from the Age of Gods alive today? But then he recalled the mystic eyes that could petrify even Servants.
Medusa ignored Kairi, still watching outside.
"Master, your flirting skills are awful," Mordred teased as she accepted the steak from the waitress.
"You idiot..." Kairi covered his face in exasperation. "Didn't you notice anything strange?"
"I found them!" Medusa's usually calm voice turned excited. Without a word to Kairi, she stood up and rushed out of the coffee shop.
"Is that..." Kairi's eyes widened, seeing Medusa head towards a conspicuous figure—white-haired, carrying a black case, with a blonde girl in his arms.
"Time to go, Saber!" Kairi grabbed Mordred by the collar, dragging her outside.
"Wait! Just one more bite! Remember I can't fight unless I'm full!" Mordred protested, but Kairi didn't relent.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone