Chapter 45 -:45 Kokabiel sneered
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Silence fell over the remains of Kuoh Academy's courtyard as the representatives of the Three Factions gazed upon the lone outsider that had just shattered one of the sole unifying truths of their respective worlds.
All of them knew the story of how the Biblical God had forged Excalibur as one of four Holy Swords, only for it to be broken during the course of the Great War centuries ago. The Church had thus gathered the shards and, through time and effort, re-forged them into what were known today as the Seven Excaliburs, entrusting two to the three main branches of Christendom, while the Seventh had seemingly disappeared.
It was for the sole purpose of finding people capable of wielding the reforged Excaliburs that Valper Galilei had instigated the Holy Sword Project, butchering countless innocent 'test subjects' all for the sake of harvesting their 'Holy Element', a practice the Archangel Michael would seemingly replicate through non-violent means to allow ordinary mortals to wield the blades of his Illustrious 'Father'.
All of them knew this as fact. Indeed, for Kiba and Freed it was a reality, as they both had been subjected to Valper's research at some point in their lives, though it was debateable who turned out the better for it.
And yet, here and now, Emiya Shirou had just shattered their worldview with a few words. Words spoken with such certainty that not even Valper, whose fanaticism for the swords surpassed even that of the most devout zealot, found in him the words to deny them.
"Emiya-san..." Kiba called out, the Gremory Knight unable to keep his voice from trembling as he slowly pushed himself to his feet, his eyes hidden by his hair "How certain are you of those words...?"
"My Magecraft allows me to know everything about a sword simply by looking at it." Shirou replied calmly, his eyes never leaving the blade in Freed's hands "The Age, the Materials used in its production, even the History and skills of the wielder, all of them are perfectly made available to me at a glance."
"So...what you're saying is...that thing...isn't even the real Excalibur?" Kiba demanded, his shoulders trembling as he glared at the sword held in Freed's hands "You're telling me that my friends all died for some fake Holy Sword?"
"Yuuto..." Rias breathed, gazing down at her Knight in concern along with the rest of her peerage, even Xenovia eyeing the blonde devil with pity in her eyes, knowing all-too well the atrocities Valper Galilei had committed in the pursuit of his research.
"It's not a fake." Shirou corrected, drawing the groups' attention back to him "Caliburn is a legitimate Holy Sword that rivals even Durandal, the Peerless Sword entrusted to Sir Roland by King Charlemagne." He noticed Xenovia tense at that but ignored it for the moment "Indeed, King Arthur actually preferred Caliburn to Excalibur despite its rank as a Holy Sword being lower, evidenced by the fact it was broken in the first place."
To Saber, Caliburn was equal parts the symbol of her reign and her greatest shame. While she might have regretted the result of her rule, she could not fault the sword for choosing her, as at the time there was no-one more suited to become King, and had been honestly lost when she unwittingly destroyed her closest ally during a fit of pique in the middle of a duel.
It was the Sword in the Stone that chooses the King, descended from Gram, the Sword in the Tree that appoints the Ruler drawn by Sigurd's father Sigmund. It was a Holy blade rivaling Excalibur that would burn away everything it touched, which upon being drawn from the stone caused Saber to cease aging and become 'something 'more than Human, only to be forever lost, never to exist in again.
Until now.
"You...you're lying!" Valper screeched suddenly, spittle flying from the Archbishop's lips as he glared hatefully at Shirou, denial warring with madness as he pointed at the redhead accusingly "What would a Godless Heathen like you know?! I dedicated my entire life to researching the Excaliburs and their wielders! There's nobody more knowledgeable in the subject than I!"
"As much as it pains me to admit it, Emiya-san, Valper has a point." Xenovia muttered, though despite her scowl of disgust her tone seemed unusually subdued, as if she didn't truly know what to believe anymore "It will take more than the word of a heretic to disprove centuries of knowledge."
"True, I hardly expect anyone to believe the words of a virtual unknown Third-Rate Apprentice Magus." Shirou admitted with a shrug, only to glance up at the silent witness to their conversation "But what about the word of someone who was likely there when the blade was forged?"
All eyes drifted to Kokabiel, the Fallen Angel hanging silently in mid-air, his expression indecipherable and the battle-lust that had filled his eyes seemingly gone as he regarded Shirou with renewed interest.
"Yes! Lord Kokabiel!" Valper cried out, turning to face his benefactor with arms spread wide "Tell this godless heathen he's wrong! Tell him how Excalibur was broken, and how only I possessed the skills to re-forge it! Tell him-!"
He trailed off with a yelp as a spear of light missed him by a hair, Kokabiel's expression one of annoyance as he glared down at the Archbishop like he were an annoying dog nipping at his heels.
"Order me to do anything again, old man, and I'll make you wish for the sweet release of death." He snarled, glaring heatedly at the Archbishop cowering behind Freed before turning his attention back to Shirou, a cruel, mocking smile slowly forming on his face "Besides, I find it highly amusing that a so-called Heretic of all things managed to pick out the holes in Michael's little story when a fanatic like you couldn't."
"Then it's true?" Xenovia demanded, her expression one of shocked disbelief as she glanced between the heretofore nameless glowing sword held by Freed, who looked like he was falling asleep of all things, and her own Excalibur-Destruction "These swords...were forged from Caliburn? Excalibur was never truly broken?"
"Do you think a sword that embodies the very prayer of 'Victory' would break so easily, Catholic?" Kokabiel sneered, chuckling mockingly while Xenovia recoiled from the words as if physically slapped "That sword existed long before Father ever designed his Holy Swords, and it will remain long after the human race is nothing more than dust on the winds of time."
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If you want to read ahead by 50 Chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.
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