Finis Chaldea

[Apollymi]

Artoria sat patting her sister's head, thinking over the right answer to her question that didn't involve telling the truth to everyone in this room about her original nature and why she had no faith in herself as an individual. She gave it a bit more thought and came to an answer that would be satisfactory enough. "I placed it within a tool that cannot be taken from me. It is an item bound to my name, meaning that only its creator or one who shares my name can even bother holding it. I do not have to worry if I fall with it, because only Rie or Kei could even bother claiming it after the fact. It would keep what is mine from the hands of others, and allow the appropriate handicap if I need to be appropriately dealt with," Artoria explained to her sister. Jeanne heard this explanation and sighed. "That is a lot of words to say you do not trust yourself, Eri-nee," Jeanne's words made the Queen of Knights scoff but she only continued to sip from her cup cutting a glance over to her younger sister. "Vigilance has never led me astray, even when myself is the thing I should be vigilant of," Artoria summarized.

But how would things progress from here? A furrowing of Gilgamesh's brow, the twitch in his lip... All things seen before by the Queen of Knights. She'd purposefully provoked him into this introduction and it'd taken less than a few seconds of thought for all present to end up back in the white room as it it was. The voice of the Nexus was the same to all present though Nefertari had something to say. "My Sun and Stars, did she just goad the Golden King into doing something he seemed to have no interest in?" she asked in a hushed little whisper. "And did he then accomplish that task with the grandest bravado?" Ah, yes this had taken a bit of a turn Artoria herself could almost feel the shivering and pleading of the Nexus. "Or apparently we can leave the wrangling of disembodied voices to the King of Heroes. That was a far easier task than I imagined it would be," she said as if this was exactly what she thought would happen. "I had planned to do this with my lance but I suppose finding out the simplest method you can all use is for the best," she said nonchalantly. To the Nexus itself who seemed to have the same quality in it as Agravain did when pleading for her life earlier Artoria had only a few words to share, "I would not have forced the issue, but as I said, I know not your King of Magecraft. Temperament is something that I can only test directly, and faith is only earned in combat. I would not leave the only person who can speak to you directly, to be someone I have never associated with, especially after I figured out why you did not know this one directly. I do hope you understand." she said to the Nexus directly. To Gilgamesh she said something else. "King of Heroes, you cannot think of something a bit more magnanimous than banishment for the man who created the cups which made it possible for us all to progress?" Even drunk Artoria seemed to have nothing but solid points. Her younger sister wondered if she knew she was doing the girlfriend manipulation thing while trying not to be someone's girlfriend. Meanwhile Artoria herself would call her actions something closer to writing a will.

[Bloodedge]

A quiet discussion would take place between the pharaohs taken into this realm. Nefertari's initial inquiry warranted a hushed laugh from Ozymandias before his reply could come. "Yes, she did... and yes he did," he agreed. It was rather interesting to see how things played out between those two; Ozymandias could almost call it a full nostalgia trip. His initial response had come at a near-whisper, but the rest of what he had to say... well, he would speak the words loud and clear. "Moon of my Life, do you recall that day, oh so long ago, when I declared that only one opinion in the world is impactful to me?" When Ozymandias spoke these words, his eyes cut toward one Artoria Pendragon. There was a point to be made involving Gilgamesh's smitten state, as he did still wonder how much Artoria truly realized it.

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh was ready to burst a blood vessel. How dare this thing fail to recognize his greatness? Worse yet, how dare anyone believe even for a moment that someone like that bastard Solomon could take his place? "Of course I am your king! Gilgamesh is king to all; even moronic entities beyond the scope of the world! The Mongrel of Magecraft is never to step foot in this plane of mine again!" Gilgamesh seemed firm in his order, though there was really nothing the Nexus could do. However... "My King and my Queen, forgive me. I cannot keep the King of Magecraft─"

"Mongrel!" Gilgamesh interrupted. "... The... Mongrel of Magecraft from this place if a key is in-use. However, it seems he has recently lost connection. I am unsure why; I once believed it was because his key had been taken. Strangely, that does not seem to be the case with my King here," the voice explained. Gilgamesh huffed, his arms crossing and his head turning from Artoria. "There is nothing more magnanimous than ensuring some insect in need of stomping is kept from the path I walk! No matter. He will not make his way here regardless, no thanks to this useless buffoon at the bottom of our drinking cups. As for that Solomon himself, he merely copied my favorite utensil. Would you give credit to a man who steals technologies, and cannot even make use of the thing he replicated?"

[Apollymi]

Nefertari couldn't help but smile. Such an interesting couple this pair was turning into, whenever the Queen of Knights decided to listen to the combined beat of her heart and body. Ozymandias' first words were whispered, his second were spoken aloud and those eyes cut in Artoria's direction would be met by the Queen of Knights as she heard them. Why would he speak such a sentence, to enforce the idea that she alone could reel in the King of Heroes. Did the Sun King truly think her opinion held such weight? She could more easily assume that he was so furious about the idea of not being first, and because it would seem Solomon had his eye on her as the object of his affections. Nefertari seemed to think on this and smiled along with him, "I suppose I do recall, my Sun and Stars, the day you finally accepted your perfection as absolute fact~" she said her own eyes shifting towards the King of Heroes. Ah, well... they were having fun were they not?

Listening to the Nexus stumble over words made Jeanne feel bad for it. "Aww, but the Nexus is so nice. It doesn't seem like it's something worth being so upset at it over, especially not if it all works out at the end..." mentioned the Queen of Saints. Ever so saintly as to forgive even things that required no real amount of forgiveness. "This little sister, is exactly why you are a saint," Artoria mentioned as she sipped from her cup. Ah, she was approaching the bottom of it, how very sad. Whatever the case, it was Artoria who was asked why she gave credit. It was because she harbored a few beliefs based on her interaction with the Nexus and her knowledge of the King of Heroes' Gate of Babylon, there was also the knowledge she harbored about their previous lives and how easily she managed to hang on to hers, and how little of his own he seemed to remember. "I give credit because he added to the flow of lives, by giving Magecraft to the world. While I knowingly harbor a great distrust of mages, because of the one who had a great hand in raising me, I do understand the usefulness of such tools to humanity," she said seeming to think about it consciously. "Besides, I know a great many things, like the version of Caliburn you possess is obviously different from the one I pulled from the stone. But I also know I did not take yours, nor did I know of your existence here until you appeared before me. I also assume you do not possess Excalibur which I received directly from the Fae Princess..." she mentioned. "I do not understand it in fullness though I likely could, but I would assume you have collected the earliest versions of the world's works. It would mean that though you have your cup. It is very possible that Solomon created his with no knowledge of yours," she explained her understanding. "Does having an idea of something that already exists, nullify one's creation if you did not know about the other one? Not really. One cannot be faulted for a creation similar to one they have never heard of before."

[Bloodedge]

"Hmm yes, it was that day, wasn't it? To think it took that long for you to get the point across. Well... it is only human nature to not see one's own worth," Ozymandias added. It took a pair like them to drive a learned point into the brain of another. Thinking it obvious that the apparent king and queen of the world belonged together, Ozymandias figured there was no harm in a small amount of intervening. Still, eyes likened to the morning sun remained on Artoria. "Oh well. Some things take time and understanding... which itself can take time. If I'd rushed accepting it, I would have become something terrible." Intervention aside, Ozymandias was not one to batter away at the hesitant queen's mind as some others were content to. She seemed to be struggling to rationalize everything, but that was alright. If no one else had made that clear already, he would be the one to do so.

Jeanne d'Arc clearly disagreed with the king's behavior toward this Nexus. He didn't seem to care; it was obviously just some stupid child in need of discipline. The only concern to Gilgamesh presently, was the mentality of Artoria Pendragon. Why did she think to save that bastard of exile? Well, she apparently didn't look upon his thievery in a negative manner. Moreover, the fact that Solomon brought Magecraft to the world was simply pitiful. Gilgamesh had seen Magecraft, and none of it was worth any salt, so to speak. "H'oh? So you praise diminishment as if it were innovation? Magecraft is but a poor replica of Magic. The only weight it holds in the lower world, it does so because I chose to limit the gods' affinity. As a replacement to true Magic, Magecraft is a farce." Ah, he had endless complaints about the one called Solomon. As for his possessions, even Gilgamesh himself hardly knew what was, or wasn't within his collection. The likes of Excalibur could have been floating around somewhere without his knowledge of what it was. Whether Solomon knew of his cup or not, all he managed to do with it was share the original template with this Nexus thing, spreading it to the world at large to claim by merit. "Intentional or not, a fake is a fake. Letting mongrels fight over imitation goblets does nothing but increase my workload each time a victor is chosen," Gilgamesh griped, in spite of the fact that he still took that very work unto himself.

In light of the current information, Ozymandias had a thought or two. These explanations made him think in terms of the video game they all once played, and indeed, King Gilgamesh had every reason to possess literal templates of all things in the world. "Did the King of Heroes not win something like that in his previous life? I remember an announcement about Age of Eternity's flagship player, being offered access to the game's dev room," he mentioned. He wasn't sure whether the man known as Sage-King took that offer or not, but it seemed to go with him into this world regardless. While the pharaoh spoke, Gilgamesh quirked a brow. What the hell was this man even talking about? He had only the vaguest memories of a previous life, but... frankly, it played in his mind more like a segmented dream─ only the best parts.

[Apollymi]

Human nature not to understand one's worth? The words of the Sun King hit the ears of Artoria as she met eyes like the sun with ones made of emerald. How very interesting that he thought to share such information with her. Both of these people intended to clarify the nature of extended relationships with both the King of Heroes and herself. Like older siblings giving advice, "I suppose that is true, even eternity feels like seconds when the prize you've waited for finally gains clarity. It's well worth it, in the end..." those rainbow eyes of hers hadn't left the King of Heroes either. Strange though this pair was, they were good advisors, Artoria might even take their words under advisement. Not that she had any intention to fall for the King of Heroes. She could not do anything of the sort.

The words of Gilgamesh hit Artoria's ears and she sighed just briefly. "You call it diminishment but you live in your own utopia. Sanctuary as even the Nexus refers to it. For those of us who grew bloomed in the mud at the base of this world, who bent the will of reality with our own hands... even something as simple as what you would consider a downgrade is enough to let us grow into something proper, King of Heroes," she said specifically. His life at the top, untainted and unaffected by the movement of the rest of the world. With only the 'gods' who bothered him... that was very different from the lives of the rest of the humans. Artoria did not believe they needed gods, instead she believed they needed tools to handle that which came to them, in whatever form those tools chose to take. "Do not mistake me, I do not care if it is Magic or Magecraft. Mage of Flowers, King of Magecraft, both are names which cause annoyance in the depths of my soul. I only care that it can be used and countered by any who chose to stand against those who would abuse it. This is what Solomon gave so I cannot find fault," she mentioned. As for the extra work of Gilgamesh, he took that upon himself. It could only make her smile as she took her last sip of wine. "It does increase your workload, but you chose to be King of Everything. Wouldn't it be better served to see such things as a mark of your greatness, instead of an annoyance?" Artoria asked. She could be oddly persuasive for one who chose violence before all else. But perhaps that was the drunkenness of her current state. Seven cups of goddess blessed wine and even the Queen of Knights found herself in a fairly good mood.

A work in progress was happening as well. The Sun King knew of the game, he had his wife and held onto himself. Artoria had seen players hang on to themselves easily with the addition of other players, close family members or even just a friend or idea. But the King of Heroes spoke of his one friend and not as if he'd known him outside of this world. As such, she was almost certain he did not have anything holding him on to his previous life. She'd seen those too, people who were obviously based on those from stories in other worlds, unable to become anything but what they were because they had lived a life far too in-depth for their original psyche to bear. "Emi, how do you know who you are? If your first contact with someone who could identify you properly should have been a decade ago when we encountered each other at the Holy Grail War," she asked of her younger sister. "You know full well that we underwent the same training. I can hold on to myself irrespective of anything else in the world. I am always prepared to become someone else to complete the task at hand. I know who I am even when I cannot say my own name, because that piece of me is absolute," she said carefully. "I should be more depressed by that as an idea, but I am sure that is a trait of our family, in its entirety. I am glad you are still you..." she said giving her sister's hair a gentle toss. "Rie was born as my big sister the second time... I have always been identifiable. Even without her being there... I could keep my former life in my head because of the contradictions in my nature," Artoria said still so careful as to not mention what it was they were actually as a family. "I assume you Pharaohs also hold your previous selves..." she said coming to an understanding. Her eyes shifted to Gilgamesh and she fully understood he had not held on to this much of his life. "He probably does not recall that part. But in the most technical sense that would make him the first ever winner of such a thing as a wish that changed the world," she mentioned carefully. She knew what it was to not hold on enough to ones self. She would not be the one to cause him undue stress in a moment like this.

[Bloodedge]

"I call it what it is, and nothing more. What this thing refers to as Sanctuary means nothing to me; it will only be a surplus of mediocrity as these foolish wars continue through the ages," Gilgamesh claimed. In truth, that was the exact future that would come eventually. This Nexus was some sort of idiot, producing a method of raising the lower world's strongest to Finis Chaldea. It would take centuries, but eventually, history repeat itself. Those with power and those who desired it would be melded together, and events the Nexus attempted to spare humanity from in the lower world would occur in their current plane of existence as well. Even now, he could see the possibility several centuries, even millennia after the lower world crumbled. How many realms in the sky would they have to go through for a small section of humanity? "Somewhere within, there is a part of you that understands how disgusting that is. Envy is the fall of humanity a thousand times over. True Sanctuary can only be granted with prejudice."

Artoria found no fault, but Gilgamesh found few things faultless. The pharaohs were remnants of the truth in this world. Jeanne and Artoria were not quite, but certain aspects of each placed them perfectly on the line between. What of the next Holy Grail war this world enabled? What of the one after that, and those that followed even later? The negative paths he saw far outweighed the positives, and that was precisely the reason one such as himself had to mediate further. One day, some lowly dog would rise to Chaldea and need to be stamped out. In fact, he could see it happening a lot. Should Gilgamesh take those actions, and that workload, as marks of his greatness? Perhaps. Did that make it less of an annoyance? Certainly not.

Ah, but these things were featured in those dreams of the past he had. One Hoshimi Eri, and by association the sister always attached to her hip, was most of it... but there were a few more things. He recalled a great victory during a time in which he stood alone. In current life, it was processed as the dreams of an embryo. In truth, it was Ishigami Daisuke who first referred to Finis Chaldea as Sanctuary. When this world was only a video game still in development to people like them, it was his choice to create a realm separating the strong from the weak. Those who reached the upper limits would never know boredom, and those who remained weak would never have to fear the oppression of the strong. Little did Gilgamesh realize, growing up in this world had once turned him into an oppressive force for even the strong ones. Well, that hardly mattered after more recent developments. He eventually became the shelter for an even greater problem than what he was becoming. This life they all spoke of, though... could it have truly been so pitiful? "You speak of past dreams that mean nothing. Live the life you are dealt. Strive for the limits always, but never too far beyond one's own capacity. That is all that must be done. The lives you speak of are irrelevant," he surmised.

Ozymandias could agree with that notion, though he could just as easily disagree. How very conflicting that view was. Artoria had already made sense of it though, hadn't she? He'd never seen Sage-King in a collaborative video or livestream; the most that man had ever done was send his audience to someone else at the end of a stream... usually to the stream of PenDragonWitch and MaidOfOrleans if possible. It was strange to see how this life changed people from an outside perspective. Alas, not everyone could be as lucky as the pharaoh himself. "Interesting. When we appeared here, we were raised together. I was born Ramesses II, and of course... I was elated to discover that Nefertari, my fated wife, was her reincarnation. The only difficulty we had growing up was... well, going from adults to children."

[Apollymi]

Gilgamesh said truthful things, but in the end... his points were both right and wrong. Artoria would be the first to deny mediocrity at its core, but she would not be the one to turn away those who truly wished to work to become better. That was simply outside of her nature. He claimed that somewhere within Artoria she was disgusted by what the world could become if too much went wrong too quickly. "Of course. I never said I was not disgusted... but there is a reason I am always prepared to crush underfoot any whose hearts and ambitions are ill-aligned. Hope and vigilance, that is the crux of a conversation we have had before. I built my table on such a foundation," Artoria said and her sister couldn't even fault her for the logic. The Queen of Knights was allowed to incite a rebellion and murder her older sister as Arthur Pendragon because she was male and the girl was touted as evil. The issues of the world were only solved by those with the power to make it happen. And Artoria would see her own life all the way through to her own utopia.

The lives they had before were irrelevant well yes, but also no. There was a certain pretext that needed to be worked upon and that was that not everyone living in this world would do so in the bubble of their new life. Those with outer knowledge were bound to become problematic as they progressed, and their personality flaws would eventually be on display for all to see. "The lives we speak of, are how we hang on to what is left of personalities this world would have crushed, twisted or changed. It keeps some of us from becoming the worst of ourselves, but in the same light some are bound to become the worst of themselves instead with nothing around to ground them," Artoria said, Jeanne pouted in this moment. "Too pessimistic. People will be who they are, but there are good and bad sides to everything. It seems to me the good in this is those of us who made it here first, can help you... preserve this notion of yours. And that you coming here now, will allow you to make any alterations you seek now that you know how it works. The only remaining question is; Would you not accept the help?" Jeanne's words made Artoria's heartache, yes, the Queen of Saints was truly a saint. "She is right though, given the Nexus would do whatever I ask. I imagine the same would be extended to you... if you wish to keep the changes to your realm at bay, you could consider changes that would make that possible," Artoria mentioned as she'd considered something similar. But she also had the power to control all knights and the necessary knowledge to murder everyone she saw fit. Well, except the King of Heroes, as such there was very little else she needed to make the transitions possible.

The Pharaohs in Egypt lived a love story for the ages. Everyone else seemed to be struggling just to get from place to place. The worst thing mentioned by the Sun King was going through actually being raised a secondary time. And having the mind of an adult in the body of a child. For Artoria this had been worse, because she had the mind of an assassin stuck in the body of a child. There were several points in her childhood if she had been bigger that would have gone vastly differently. "I can commiserate, heartily. Childhood with my true mind was frightening though for what I imagine are very different reasons," Artoria said which made her sister chuckle. Somehow she imagined her swearing elder sister threatening to rain death and dismemberment upon the populace, challenging people to duels and then actually fighting them into submission. At the same time, she imagined the loving couple of Pharaohs, not knowing if they were old enough to continue on with the activities they enjoyed of each other physically.

[Bloodedge]

Not disgusted? It seemed Artoria was unaware of what he actually meant. He saw a glimpse of her future existence, one likely more relatable to her previous self. It still wasn't clear, but that woman was one who would end the many for the few, with neither thought nor regret... and even her own people were not safe from her methods. While viewing this version of Artoria Pendragon, he spoke in the way he would refer to such a woman. "Hmph. Your current resolve and ambitions are mighty, my Lioness, but even you may sink further into tyranny. Perhaps you will see for yourself one day," he ended.

Hanging on to personalities from another cycle of life was such a pointless endeavor. Given what Gilgamesh saw of that life, he regarded it as irrelevant in the greatest way possible. Nothing of that existence could be of use here, where might truly made right. Besides, there was another side to the proverbial coin Artoria spoke of. "It remains without purpose then. Some will be kept the same regardless of their memories, and some will change irrespective of them as well. Place the mind of a goat into the shell of a mammoth; watch it try its hardest to bleat." There was no changing the soul in this world. Those who were corrupt, were corrupt by design. The pure ones would remain so unless corrupted, but Gilgamesh refused the idea that silly memories would negate that change.

Oh well. Artoria did make one decent point. As King of the Nexus, he could do whatever he pleased, no? With that being the case... "Then I tire of this discussion. This meeting's purpose has been served, so all of you, begone." This order was accompanied by a wave from Gilgamesh, which would cause the ejection of the pharaohs back to their own temple, Jeanne to the banquet outside, and Artoria... nowhere. Indeed, he was far from done with her. One side of this debate would be proved truthful eventually, but the discussion itself was one Gilgamesh initially participated in for one purpose: he was waiting for the others' eventual exodus. Was he to make another move on the Queen of Knights? Well, pleasant as that idea always was, he didn't seem keen on doing so immediately. "Splendid. Now we may share a more purposeful meeting."

[Apollymi]

Lioness? Sink further into tyranny? Artoria spent a few moments wondering if she liked that reference for herself, deciding after a moment that she did, but as for the thought that she might sink further into tyranny, nothing but a small smile spread across her face. Why? Well, because there would be no sinking. "I do not think such a thing would involve any real amount of sinking on my part King of Heroes," she said and Jeanne could only nod. It was the truth of the matter that 'tyrant' was simply part of Hoshimi Eri. It was part of her underlying personality there was no downward spiral. She was presently simply a an understanding tyrant instead of a truly tyrannical one. But it was always there just below the surface of her being, but no matter.

As for the matter of the changes in nature of people she truly couldn't argue. Her own existence was one which could not truly change given her own start. She could only live as she wished to and try to force the issues. Still, there were people who would become terrible because they now had the ability to do so, Gilgamesh himself could be considered such an individual. Ishigami Daisuke had once decided to create Sanctuary to protect the worlds low level players from high level bored ones... and he had been the tyrant of his people so high on himself during his isekai adventure that he'd been stealing people's brides from them. "The inverse is also true and leans more liberally towards that problem of envy you mentioned," she said easily. Things that thought themselves bigger than their bodies were bound to be more problematic than everyone else. She sorely wished her cup was still full but it didn't seem to matter.

Ah, the King of Heroes was done with the discussion with everyone. Artoria herself had relayed the information she found necessary, still... it was a little strange to have her younger sister's warm rather suddenly disappear from her side. "That was rude..." she said now holding both an empty cup and a missing warmth. Now they could have a more purposeful conversation? Truly? "And what would you like to discuss, King of Heroes?" she said staring at him the flame of curiosity dancing behind her eyes. She seemed unworried about being alone with him, even though her earlier leave of his person said she would rather not be so. She still did not truly understand how she felt about him, but she was not feeling particularly murderous in the moment so that was fine right?

[Bloodedge]

"Easily said when you have done so much to float upon the surface thus far," he countered. True, tyranny was in her nature; he could see that. Even so, the simple fact that she rose above the level more true to her meant some sort of downfall. Ah, but he never said it was a downfall he would not gaze upon favorably. In the eyes of Gilgamesh, this woman could truly do no wrong. Whatever the case, more points were thrown. Was that comment about the inverse some sort of jab? Well, it wouldn't be wrong. Gilgamesh had so few memories of his original life, he hardly knew what he was like. Perhaps he had been one to fall into depravity through this rebirth. If so, it only meant he was tainted from the beginning... but perhaps his self-alteration spoke to the contrary.

All these things were too much bother for a discussion between the two of them─ at least now that they were alone. Was it so rude that he rid them of the riffraff? He thought not. "Worry not. I willed them to the places they have more comfort. The pharaohs may indulge in each other in their own home, as opposed to breaking in a place I may use as our wedding venue. Your sister, however, has been returned to Siduri and the others. You, Nexus! Fill my chalice." Ending with a demand to the realm around them, Gilgamesh had his own grail topped off. The wine was even sweeter while they were alone and sharing words, and it was clear they both desired another. He would surely have one for himself while Artoria questioned his desired topic of conversation. "The matter is yours, is it not? You were to tell me of your selfish tendencies. That is, unless you would rather christen this empty gutter meant to be our shared throne over all creation."

[Apollymi]

"The restrictions I place upon myself are for the good of everyone else," Artoria countered. Yes, she was floating on the surface of her own tyrannical nature, but she could so easily wrap that around herself, it would be like snuggling up in one's favorite blanket. Right before she picked up a nearby object and slayed an entire room full of people without remorse. Whatever the case, after she called this man rude he went on to explain that he'd simply moved the others to places they would find more comfortable. Her younger sister back in Siduri's care, and the Pharaohs back in their own temple to avoid them 'christening' this venue. "If not rude in the straight forward sense, then at least sudden... but I suppose you are simply like this," she said seeming to accept at face value the way he was even if it did not quite line up with conventions.

Now what were they going to talk about alone in a room like this. He wanted either to know of her selfish tendencies or to christen the room. How very him as a demand. "I will also require another," she said watching as her own cup filled. Once it was full again she brought it up to her lips while giving thought to how to broach the topic of her selfishness. "This is a strange topic to undertake," she said trying to think about how to start speaking on her former life and why she wished to live and die by the rules she set. "I... seek redemption," she said carefully. "In the simplest terms my life was one where I made only one choice of my own. I was in that time, a remorseless and merciless killer, an assassin for hire. I was so much, a killer that the only thing that gave me anything resembling happiness was figuring out how I would kill the next target on my list, cleaning weapons, and my time spent with my family," she said. "I made the choice to be that to spare my brother and younger sister from such a life, and I was fine with that... Both of them are better people than I can be," she gave it consideration while speaking on it, taking a long sip of wine while she considered her stance. She hadn't changed her mind at all. Even know, she'd take on the terrible parts of the story of King Arthur, if only so her brother wouldn't have to bear with the parts that would break him, this was simply the kind of person she was, realistically.

[Bloodedge]

"That much is obvious," Gilgamesh spoke without hesitation. Her restrictions certainly weren't for her own sake; essentially nothing she did could be counted as such. Destroy everything to save everything. That was her way, but even in destroying herself, she refused to save herself. Such fallacy could not stand.

The King of Heroes drank and drank, while hearing Artoria's explanation of her selfishness. So many words passed her lips, and some of them even made sense. However, the whole of it was completely ridiculous. She was a remorseless assassin? Fine. She made only one choice of her own, and it was to dive headlong into the life of merciless killing to spare her younger siblings the same fate? Also fine. She wanted redemption for making that choice? Foolish! Regardless, he let her speak her mind. For every few words that left her mouth, a sip of wine entered his. Artoria Pendragon was far from a fool, despite how easily he referred to any and everyone as such; but he could not find an ounce of wisdom in her current decision. Did she not see? It was clear as the cloudless sky how foolish she was being! "I see..." he said, seeming quite serious after that information dump. Suddenly though, the King of Heroes laughed, as if to mock her stupid decisions. "I didn't imagine even you could be so foolish. Queen of Knights, has your body that refuses to grow managed to impact your mental development as well? Fuhaha!"

Of course, there was purpose to his laughter. It was hilarious, wasn't it? Artoria took the time to say all those things, just to claim that her selfishness was some desire to fill an endless cycle, closing it without breaking the proverbial wheel. "You lived a life, you made the choice to throw it away. You are granted another life by fate, so you choose to do the same thing for redemption? I will not fault your desire for forgiveness, but tell me, what is to be forgiven? Killing, that your loved ones may live in bliss? Even a common beast would do as much. If you believe your life is owed as a debt, it should be considered that your life has already been given twice. If you believe differently, you are free to show me the difference between a man who died and a child never born. Don't bother. The difference is subjective, depending on whether the man lived his life to the fullest. You, Artoria Pendragon, have not yet been born... So why do you not live?"

[Apollymi]

The Queen of Knights went through her explanation and then she drank wine. The words and laughter of Gilgamesh were about what she expected. She knew no one would agree with her on this matter, but that is why it was selfish. She couldn't even help the small smile that formed on her lips in the face of such a thing, as hearing the King of Heroes laugh properly even for just a moment. When did that sound become something likeable? "No, I still have my own brain aside from the rages, I am myself..." she said truthfully. His summary made her sound so outlandish but it wasn't really that big a leap was it? "I gave away a life, on purpose. And I am holding the place of another, incidentally, but I made the choice to live this one in a manner which I could like it," she said that very carefully. "That first decision I made, knowing full well I would never know who that person was. I do not know the girl assassin, or anything associated with her. She was never really a person, she was a tool, her siblings refused to treat as such. Artoria Pendragon, is a person I know and one I can like..." she said of her current self. "I do not expect anyone to understand... but ever since I was born in this world, I have dreamed of a utopia at the end of the world, in the most beautiful and quiet space my life could know. Even more quiet than my brain gets before I kill something... I have never seen that before, it intrigues me," she said this and couldn't help herself but be elated at the thought. "I know it is absolutely selfish, and foolish and stupid, but I want to live and die on the terms I set and then happily sit in the solitude of my own creation, even if it is forever. I will live the life of an upstanding protector, and have an honorable death that does not just drown the world in the blood from my hands," she said with a smirk.

"And the truth of it is, I know that everyone would be upset. And I know that none will understand why I made the choice, but I made it because it is mine to make and I wish to live the way I want and die that way as well. It would not even be anything worth being upset about if it was not the case that I will not return. But I am fine with that as well..." she said. "When I die I will not return so I will live this life on my terms, without regret and create the standard I wish upheld. And then I will die the way I lived and that is something I could not have, without taking it for myself." Artoria's words were foolish. She realized it was flawed and she knew no one would go along with her logic, but it was what she wanted and she would have it. She resolved herself to the life and death of King Arthur even if it meant she had to disappear from this world too... and she would do all she could to walk the line and embrace the death at the end. Strangely, though... the King of Heroes words still resonated with her. Every time he accepted something about her, she found herself, confused surrounding the King of Heroes. 'Are you really so content, to insert yourself into my mind as something I cannot peacefully leave behind? Will you truly set yourself up to be something I regret?' That question danced behind her eyes like a strange flame. The King of Heroes was a person she could not tell her feelings about but at the same time she also could not easily separate herself from him. It was strange. "I live the terms I want. I do not reach for things I do not understand because I will not have my resolve shaken. I am not the sort of person to let go of anything... so to live the way you would define it would open my heart to swaying and I will not allow it."

[Bloodedge]

Artoria would continue sharing her resolve and all the reasons behind it. No matter how much she spoke, it was only words. Sure, those words had infinite meaning within the queen's own mind, but her selfishness was too foolish to be given proper credence. "The choice you've made is the worst choice possible," he commented, though she would be allowed to complete her speech anyway. In her initial life, she let herself inhabit the body of a tool. In this life, the way Gilgamesh saw things, she was doing no differently. No... there was a minor difference; she was a tool she could appreciate the quality of. In a way, one could say she made a trophy of herself after all the madness of previous life. Her dreams were essentially all she had, but why follow a dream when life was right there in front of her? It truly didn't make sense.

The long and short of it all was that Artoria knew her self-sacrificial path was completely selfish, and she knew it was something others would look upon negatively. If nothing else, Gilgamesh could admire her resolve. That attachment to some silly old dream was very possibly her most attractive feature. Even so, it was no less moronic a thing to do. And, of course... there was one important clause she continued to miss. Of all the issues Gilgamesh had with her purpose, one blaring thing stood above everything else. That would be the only matter worth truly discussing. "Very well then. Follow your dream, Queen of Knights, and see the utopia that waits when the bloodshed comes not from you, but from those you've indirectly mobilized to your honor," he started. Gilgamesh himself knew the outcome of Artoria's sacrifice. The battle which saw her fall... there was no honor in it. No glory, no dreams, no satisfaction for anyone involved could exist on that bleak day. However, he had no intention of halting her pursuit of that horrendous fate. "But, you are mistaken. You may go with no regrets. You may die as you wish, having lived this life by your silly terms. You may see the utopia you have dreamed, but you must remember one thing. When you know the satisfaction of utopia, you will take up your place at my side. You and I are kindred, you see. I, too, am not the type to let go of something. There is an unreachable star in my sight, and I fully intend to bypass the heavens to make grasping it with these hands into a possibility. Kick and scream if you like. Your place is with me, not in some endless realm of phantasm."

[Apollymi]

The worst possible choice? Yes, that sounded about right... still the smile on the Queen of Knight's face was so very genuine for just a moment. "Yes, it is. But it is mine to make," she said simply. Just that, the thought of that alone, and a retirement that would actually be quiet and unhindered was enough. The world did not need Artoria Pendragon. Artoria's choice was the one which was the worst. It would under most circumstances break everything. The table she held together by might alone, would likely crumble without her to hold tempers in check. The men she raised from boys would likely turn against each other in a fight for whatever the saw as right. And for a while with no one to bring the light of Excalibur to the land... it was very likely to seem bleak. But, Artoria was a warlord and tyrant. She was not fit to lead the Knights of the Roundtable. She crushed those men underfoot because she needed to do so at the time. Though she'd gained attachment to them, she'd still decided that ultimately they would not need her. There was one better suited to serve than her... and she'd leave the fixing to the one most suited to do so.

Artoria knew there would be a battle the likes of which the world have never seen. She spoiled to death her nieces and nephews knowing at some point the children of the slayed Fae Princess would turn against her. She knew the story of King Arthur better than most, because it was a personal obsession and she could die happily knowing that the hope she held was only borrowed. Ah, but the King of Heroes had something more to say. She could destroy herself, find the death and the honor she meant to take... see the bloodshed in her honor but not by her hand and then... retire. That is what all assassins wanted. A quiet life, in an endless space after two failed childhoods sounded damn good to her, but... she belonged with him? He would not let her go? Even knowing the depth of absolute stupidity she was willing to live and die on? Even knowing she did not understand his obsession with her? He would truly come after her at the end of it all? "He...hehehe...hahaha... Bwahahahaha!~" she laughed over the top of her cup pulling it away from her face in the strangest showing of humor she'd had so far. Her entire face lit up, what kind of tragedy was this? This ridiculous man stood before her, knowing how absolutely ridiculously selfish her hopes and dreams were. He knew now how very contradictory she was, to want to save those below her while wanting to die herself... and still he'd do something so ridiculous as take unto himself the demand to pull her out of her own eternity. According to him she could kick and scream if she liked, because he'd be taking her to be with him regardless. She didn't even have to look at him now to know the strength of his convictions. But as her emerald green eyes danced over his form she knew his certainty and remembered the first time she'd laid eyes on him. If there was anything in this world she could trust outside of her siblings, it was the King of Heroes, even more so than she trusted herself. Ishigami Daisuke, had always been a man to beat, one to topple and one who stood too high for her liking. He was annoying and obnoxious always raiding her streams with viewers she did not ask for and issuing that laugh of his as an emote. Hoshimi Eri hated this man and the attention he tried to give her even then, it always directly contradicted her understanding of her worth as a person. But here and now she felt quite differently. "You are and have always been such a ridiculous man, Ishigami Daisuke."