Some time later, within the Youkai Palace, the atmosphere had become unusually gloomy.
The normally lively halls of Yasaka's residence were quiet.
Servants moved through the corridors with subdued expressions, speaking in whispers whenever they passed one another.
The rumors of what had happened to one of the Sekiryuutei's allies had spread quickly through the palace, and everyone understood just how serious the situation was.
Inside one of the palace's bedrooms, medical equipment surrounded a large bed.
Several modern monitors displayed various readings, but none of them looked particularly alarming.
Yet that was precisely what made the situation so disturbing.
Siegfried was lying motionless on the bed with his eyes open, but there was no life behind them, and his face was completely blank.
He looked as though he was doing a thousand-yard stare.
Hovering directly above his chest was a small golden Grail that was constantly spreading golden aura throughout Siegfried's body.
This was Valerie Tepes' Longinus, Sephiroth Graal.
Valerie herself stood beside the bed, with her ruby-red eyes glowing faintly as she examined Siegfried one more time.
She remained silent for several seconds, then she sighed in defeat.
Across from her, Arthur sat on a chair beside the bed, barely moving for the past several minutes.
His elbows rested against his knees, his hands were clasped together, and his eyes remained fixed on Siegfried.
Arthur had seen his self-proclaimed sword rival injured before, but this was different.
Siegfried was alive, yet somehow, he looked more dead than an actual corpse.
Arthur finally looked toward Valerie.
He didn't need to ask.
His expression alone did it.
Valerie was silent for a few seconds before she sadly shook her head.
"When I used Sephiroth Graal on him, I was able to completely heal his physical injuries. But as I did, I went to check on his soul and.... what Jeanne said was true..."
She glanced toward the golden Grail hovering over Siegfried's chest.
"His Sacred Gear... is gone."
Arthur's hands clenched.
"There's more... "
Valerie hesitated but then continued.
"His soul seems to be broken."
Arthur's eyes widened slightly.
"Broken?"
Valerie nodded.
"It's like looking at a cracked mirror... The pieces aren't scattered, but the cracks are visible..."
She looked toward Siegfried.
"I did everything I could.... And repaired the damage to his soul as much as I could."
Valerie's hand hovered over the Grail.
"Then why isn't he awake?"
Arthur looked at her, waiting for her reply.
"..."
Valerie looked Arthur in the eye, then answered.
"I don't know."
The answer came immediately.
Valerie's expression became increasingly troubled.
"That's what I can't understand."
She looked toward the swordsman's blank expression.
"I've done multiple checkups on Siegfried, and there are no more physical injuries, and there are no visible mental injuries either. But..."
Her voice became quieter.
"When I finished fixing his soul, it looked like a piece was missing."
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
She slowly clenched her hand.
"I removed the cracks, but there was a piece that I couldn't find. It's like a part of his soul was removed."
The room became silent.
Valerie looked at one of her three Grails.
"We were fortunate that Jeanne and Siegfried arrived here so quickly... Otherwise..."
Arthur looked toward her.
"Otherwise, what?"
She shuddered slightly.
"If he had remained without treatment... His soul would have continued to scatter."
Arthur's expression hardened.
"And if that happened?"
Valerie looked down.
"Then Siegfried's soul will eventually vanish into nothingness. That's something even I wouldn't be able to repair."
Arthur's fists clenched.
He stared at Siegfried and felt something burning inside his chest.
Anger.
Whoever had ripped Twice Critical from Siegfried, Arthur wanted to find them.
And once he did, he was gonna make them taste their own medicine.
Arthur slowly closed his eyes.
(Partner... Is there any way to fix this? Literally anything...)
Inside his mind, the Red Dragon Emperor stirred, but remained silent for a moment.
(Ddraig, tell me that there's a way we can fix this... Please...)
Ddraig finally answered.
(I'm sorry, Arthur... But this situation is beyond my capabilities.)
Arthur clenched his teeth in silence due to frustration.
(But if it helps, let me tell you what I know...)
Ddraig's voice became more serious.
(Did you know that being a spirit trapped inside a divine construct for countless years has its advantages? Because of my current situation, I've had more than enough time to understand my own soul. And I've been able to learn a few things with the help of the memories of previous Red Dragon Emperors.)
Ddraig paused.
(We know what normally happens when a Sacred Gear is forcefully removed from its host. Every known case results in the same thing.)
Arthur nodded.
(But Siegfried is a different case... Wanna guess what it is?)
Arthur's eyes landed toward Siegfried, specifically on his blank stare.
(He's not dead.)
(Exactly.)
Ddraig's voice became thoughtful.
(He's the first case I've encountered where the host survived the loss of their Sacred Gear.)
Arthur looked at the unconscious swordsman.
(Then why isn't he conscious?)
Ddraig began explaining.
(Arthur, think of the soul as water or any liquid, and the body as a balloon or any container. They're separate components, but they're fundamentally connected. The body houses the soul, allowing it to interact with the physical world, while the soul gives life to the body and is essentially a mold that shapes it.)
Ddraig's tone became more technical.
(Sacred Gears are different. They're the spiritual equivalent of a prosthetic device, such as a pacemaker or an artificial heart. Except a person is born with it already inside them.)
Arthur's expression shifted as he finally understood.
Ddraig continued.
(So imagine someone violently ripping a pacemaker out of a person. That's what happens when a Sacred Gear is forcibly extracted, except it's worse. Because while the body can be broken as many times as it can handle, it can always be restored as long as the soul still exists as the mold. But if the mold itself is broken, then the body is affected as well due to having nothing to base its shape on.)
Arthur winced at the idea.
(That's why Sacred Gear extraction is so dangerous. Sacred Gears are connected to the host's soul. It's not merely removing an object. It's something they need because their whole existence cannot properly function without it.)
Arthur looked at Siegfried.
(And Siegfried?)
Ddraig's voice became grim.
(Whoever extracted his Twice Critical has done it far more damage than the others. If I can describe it, it's like a back-alley surgeon crudely removing a prosthesis, but also removed a vital organ. They didn't kill the patient outright, but the surgeon left them crippled.)
Arthur slowly lowered his head.
All of a sudden, Arthur's eyes widened slightly as he recalled something crucial from his past.
In the original events Arthur knew of, Asia's Twilight healing had been forcibly removed, and she would've died if not for Rias reincarnating her into a Devil.
The idea of turning Siegfried into a Devil is a plausible option.
(But... I don't think Sieg is gonna like becoming something he is not against his will...)
Arthur decided to push that idea as a last resort and ask Ddraig for his opinion.
(Ddraig... Is it possible to restore Siegfried's soul by returning his Twice Critical or give him another Sacred Gear to fill that gap?)
Ddraig didn't answer immediately, which made Arthur a little nervous.
Ddraig thought for a minute before he answered.
(Theoretically? There is a slim chance that it could work...)
Arthur's eyes widened slightly.
(But there's a problem. For starters, we neither have Siegfried's Sacred Gear nor a spare Twice Critical lying around. But even if we did, there has never been a confirmed case of the victim having their original Sacred Gear restored. And there isn't a known case of someone receiving an entirely different Sacred Gear after losing their own. So we don't know.)
Arthur sighed.
Ddraig's voice softened.
(Partner... while we can't put all our hopes into it, your former suggestion sounds like our best option. Because there is one important piece of good news... He's alive, and Miss Tepes' Sephiroth Graal is acting as a temporary substitute that's keeping his soul together... So we still have a chance.)
Arthur nodded and glanced toward Valerie.
(Yeah... At least that's something.)
He leaned back in the chair, then rubbed his face with his palm.
"This mission just got more complicated than I thought."
Valerie suddenly spoke.
"Arthur... I-I'm so sorry..."
Arthur froze.
Valerie looked down and clenched her fists.
"I have the one thing that could fix Siegfried... You all put your hopes on me... but I couldn't even... It wasn't good enough..."
Valerie's voice trembled as her eyes began filling with tears.
"I couldn't even wake him up... I-I'm not even capable of restoring his missing piece..."
She began wiping her tears away.
"I-I really am pathetic..."
Arthur's eyes softened, and he immediately stood.
"Valerie."
Before she could say anything else, Arthur was suddenly in front of her.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
"Shhh... Don't cry, Val... It's okay... You did your best... Nobody blames you for trying."
Valerie's eyes widened.
"Arthur... But I-"
"You're the only person in our group who can save our friend."
Arthur's voice was gentle but firm.
"If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't have a chance of surviving. Don't you ever call yourself pathetic when I..."
He glanced toward Siegfried.
"I'm the one who failed to see this happening to one of us."
Valerie's expression crumbled as she buried her face against Arthur's chest.
"But... is it really fine that all I could do is keep his soul together...?"
Her voice became muffled.
Arthur gently rubbed her back.
"You did more than enough."
Valerie silently cried.
For several minutes, Arthur simply remained there.
He didn't tell her everything would be fine, because he couldn't promise that.
He didn't tell her Siegfried would definitely wake up, because he didn't know if it was possible without getting his Sacred Gear back.
Instead, he simply held her.
Eventually, Valerie sniffled before speaking.
"I... I don't know how I'm supposed to face Jeanne... I don't think I can stomach seeing her... when I tell her that I couldn't..."
Arthur's expression became somber, and Valerie tightened her grip on his clothes.
Arthur had no idea what Jeanne would say or react to the news.
Siegfried sacrificed himself for Jeanne.
Arthur couldn't imagine what she was feeling at this moment.
"You did your best... That's all we could ask from you, okay?"
Valerie nodded weakly.
Arthur continued.
"But for now, I need you to stay here and keep a close eye on him."
Valerie slowly looked up with her eyes remaining wet.
"I'll personally tell Jeanne myself... how you saved Siegfried's life."
She nodded.
Arthur gave her a small smile and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
After another minute of silence, Valerie finally calmed down.
Arthur turned toward the bed where Siegfried remained motionless, and the Holy Grail hovered above his chest.
Arthur stared at him for several seconds, then he walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked back one final time.
Arthur's expression hardened.
(I'll find a way to bring you back, Sieg... So you better not die on me.)
He stepped outside, leaving Valerie alone with Siegfried.
Arthur stepped out of the bedroom and quietly slid the door shut behind him.
For a moment, he remained standing there.
The hallway of the Youkai Palace was unusually quiet.
Only the faint sounds of footsteps somewhere in the distance and the occasional muffled voice coming from another room.
Arthur noticed someone leaning against the wall near the door.
The Strongest Exorcist of Today was standing with his back against the wall, his hands inside his coat pockets as he stared at the floor in complete silence.
Arthur watched him for a moment before walking over.
Dulio heard his footsteps and slowly raised his head.
The two men looked at one another.
Arthur decided not to beat around the bush.
"Good news or bad news?"
Dulio's expression didn't change.
"Start with bad."
Arthur nodded and leaned against the wall Dulio was leaning on.
"Siegfried's basically lobotomized."
Dulio's eyes narrowed.
Arthur's expression became grim.
"His body's healed, but his soul's messed up when his Twice Critical was stolen. Valerie said his soul was shattered into pieces. She managed to repair most of it, but apparently there's a piece missing."
Dulio slowly rubbed his temple.
"Fucking hell."
Arthur looked toward him.
"The good news is that he's still alive. Valerie is using one of her three grails as a temporary substitute to keep his soul from falling apart again."
Dulio let out a long sigh and began massaging his temple.
"That blond bastard is going to give me a migraine with his bullshit."
Arthur couldn't disagree.
"Yeah. You and me both."
He paused.
"There's something else."
Dulio's expression became slightly more attentive.
"Me and Ddraig came up with a theory. If we can somehow return Twice Critical to Siegfried, there's a chance it could repair the damage."
Arthur shook his head.
"It's not a guaranteed solution, though. Ddraig says there's never been a case where someone got their Sacred Gear back after an extraction like this."
Dulio nodded slowly.
"So it's theoretical."
"Exactly... But it's our best shot in fixing Siegfried."
Arthur sighed.
Dulio remained silent for several seconds, then he pushed himself away from the wall.
He began stretching his arms.
"Thanks for the info, Arthur. But the atmosphere is getting too depressing for my taste."
Dulio looked toward the hallway and began walking away.
"I'm going out for a walk."
Arthur looked at his back.
"You're gonna find Gilgamesh alone, aren't you?"
Dulio glanced over his shoulder.
"Actually, I am going on a VERY enthusiastic walk."
Arthur's expression became serious.
"Before you go on your "walk"... I want to know everything you know about Gilgamesh."
"..."
For several seconds, Dulio said nothing.
Then he slowly turned around with a faint smirk appearing on his face.
"The junior doesn't have to handle the senior's problems."
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Dulio-"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of this. Trust me."
Dulio's grin widened slightly.
Arthur stared at him.
"Wouldn't it be better if we face your ex-BFF together?"
Dulio chuckled.
"Don't worry about it, Arthur. There's no need for you to stress yourself."
He pointed his thumb to his chest.
"Your No. 1 favorite senior will take care of this."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
Dulio turned around to walk down the hallway.
"For someone like me, the bad guy's plans and schemes are useless. After all..."
Then, without looking back, he finished his sentence.
"I'm the strongest."
His voice echoed through the hallway.
Arthur watched him disappear around the corner in silence.
Then he muttered under his breath.
"Sometimes I wonder how his brain works."
There was still someone else Arthur needed to check on, so he began walking toward another room where they were recovering.
A few minutes later, Arthur arrived in front of another sliding door.
*Knocked.* x3
"Lav? It's me."
There was a brief pause.
Then the door opened, revealing Lavinia standing on the other side.
She looked at Arthur.
"Arthur..."
"How's our friendly patron saint doing?"
Lavinia's expression became sad.
She looked back into the room and stepped aside.
"I believe you should see for yourself."
Arthur nodded and entered.
The room was dimly lit, and from the bed he saw someone he knew.
Jeanne was sitting on the bed, still covered in injuries, and one arm was secured in a sling.
Her blond hair was slightly disheveled, and she looked exhausted.
But what immediately caught Arthur's attention were her sky-blue eyes that were red.
She had clearly been crying for a long time.
Arthur frowned.
(Well... At least she had a sling now.)
Jeanne had stubbornly refused most treatment until everyone prioritized Siegfried.
Lavinia gently spoke.
"Jeanne. Someone is here to see you."
Jeanne slowly raised her head.
The moment she saw Arthur, Jeanne's expression changed.
Her eyes widened, and she immediately stood up.
"Arthur!"
She rushed toward him and grabbed Arthur's wrist with her uninjured hand.
Her grip was surprisingly strong despite her injured state.
"Tell me Siegfried is okay."
Her voice trembled.
Arthur looked at her.
He gently placed his hand over hers.
"Jeanne."
Her eyes were desperate.
"Please... Just tell me..."
Arthur looked at Lavinia, who gave him a small nod in return.
Arthur turned back toward Jeanne.
"Sit down. We're gonna have a long talk."
Arthur gently guided her back toward the bed.
Jeanne slowly sat, Arthur sat beside her, and Lavinia remained nearby.
Jeanne's heart was pounding.
She didn't know what Arthur was about to say.
But judging from his expression, it wasn't going to be good.
Arthur took a breath and explained everything.
He told her that Valerie had repaired the majority of the damage but couldn't find a missing piece.
He explained that Sephiroth Graal was currently keeping Siegfried's soul from scattering.
And finally, he told her about his theory.
"If we can return Siegfried's Twice Critical, there's a possibility that it could fix his soul."
As he said that, Jeanne's eyes brightened.
There was hope.
"But I wanna make this clear. This hasn't been tested yet, so we don't know if it'll work."
Arthur added.
But Jeanne didn't seem to hear what he said as she immediately stood up to leave.
"What are we doing here then? We have to get it back!"
Arthur grabbed her uninjured arm.
"Jeanne. You're not going anywhere."
Jeanne looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Stopping you from getting your ass kicked more than you already are."
"I'm fine. I've been through worse before."
Jeanne pulled against his grip.
"I need to get Siegfried's Sacred Gear back."
Lavinia stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Jeanne. You shouldn't be pushing hard while in your current state."
Jeanne looked toward the Ice Princess and shook her head.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"Didn't I tell you just now? I've been through worse than this."
Lavinia's expression became serious.
"Your arm, that is clearly in a sling, is saying otherwise."
Jeanne refused to listen.
"I can still fight."
Arthur's patience began wearing thin.
"Jeanne."
She turned toward him.
"I said I'm fine!"
"Jeanne!"
Arthur's voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Jeanne froze.
Arthur's expression was stern.
"If you charge back out there like this, you're going to die. Period."
Jeanne's eyes widened.
"And then what? They'll take your Sacred Gear too."
Arthur clenched his fist.
"And when that happens, then you're spitting on what he did for you."
Jeanne became silent.
Arthur's voice became heavier.
"If you go charging back there without thinking, get yourself killed, and let them take your Sacred Gear in the process..."
Arthur pointed toward her.
"Would that make Siegfried's sacrifice meaningless?"
Jeanne's lips trembled.
Arthur began to soften his voice.
"Listen... I'm not telling you to let this slide. I'm telling you that the only way you can help Siegfried right now is to rest and recover. Because with your current state, you're nothing but deadweight."
Jeanne looked down.
For several seconds, Jeanne didn't respond.
*Sniffle.*
Arthur and Lavinia looked at her.
Jeanne's shoulders trembled.
"But... I had to..."
Her voice was barely audible.
Jeanne's knees suddenly gave out.
Lavinia's eyes widened, and she knelt beside her.
"Jeanne"
But Jeanne grabbed her arm.
"W-Why? Why did he do that?"
Her voice cracked.
"That idiot... I didn't ask him to save me... So why did he do that?!"
Jeanne's eyes filled with tears as her voice became increasingly broken.
"Why couldn't it have been me?! Why did it have to be him?! It's so unfair!"
She grabbed Lavinia's arm harder, as if demanding answers.
"Tell me... Why?!"
Lavinia didn't mind as she gently held her.
"Jeanne..."
Jeanne's composure finally collapsed.
She buried her face against Lavinia's shoulder.
She began sobbing.
Lavinia gently wrapped her arms around Jeanne.
"It's all my fault... It's all my fault..."
Lavinia stroked her blond hair.
"Jeanne..."
Lavinia continued trying to calm her while Arthur stood silently.
His fists were clenched.
He knew exactly what Jeanne was feeling.
The thought that someone else had suffered because of you.
The desperate wish that you could trade places with them.
Arthur had that feeling when his mother and later his old hometown were taken from him.
Arthur approached the crying Jeanne and knelt beside her.
Then he gently reached out and placed his hand on top of her head.
He gently patted her.
"Jeanne."
She slowly looked up.
Her tear-filled eyes met his.
"Siegfried is going to get through this... I'll make sure of it."
Arthur's voice was calm.
Jeanne stared at him with tears continuing to fall.
She slowly raised her hand.
Then grabbed the hand resting on her head.
Her fingers tightened around it.
"Please..."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Bring Siegfried's Sacred Gear back."
Arthur looked directly into her eyes and nodded.
"I'll find a way to fix Siegfried."
He squeezed her hand gently.
"That is my promise."
DxD
Hello readers!
I think I was half-asleep when making this chapter, so it might be boring.
Go ahead and feel free to send me your Power Stones again, or not.
Thank you, everyone, and see you later!