James couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The priest, Kirei, seemed polite enough but his gaze was hollow and his smile was false, reminiscent of a bloodsucker he'd faced off against in his hometown when people started going missing all of a sudden.
The Church, while homely and nostalgic, held an odd air to it. As if something that should not have happened in the House of God had happened there. These feelings often came and went but James knew by now that trusting them was the right thing to do... from certain experiences.
Quietly, his fingers wandered to the peacemaker holstered on his belt.
"The rules of the war are simple," Kirei started, hands behind his back. "Masters can not be in direct conflict with one another. You may support your servant, but not by causing harm to the opposing masters. All conflicts are to be settled between servants or through negotiation."
James raised a brow. Somehow, he didn't quite believe that. That was not what magi were like at all, in his experience. They were mostly hopped up on their pride and all too keen on causing grievous bodily harm in the best of scenarios like a couple of rowdy bulls stuck with a single cow.
"What's to stop 'em?"
Kirei raised a hand. "I will get to that in time. Avoid confrontation that risks our world being exposed to the common public. The Holy Church will cover minor infractions but it must be kept in check. Not observing any of these two will result in severe penalties towards the aggressor."
That made sense. Magi were all about keeping their world a secret. It made sense that that extended to this particular event as well. Although James didn't quite agree with just how 'minor infractions' were 'covered' up, he understood the necessity of it all.
"You should report any violation directly to me. As the appointed overseer, it is my responsibility." James was about to speak when Kirei started again, on information that he had no right to share. "That reminds me. Two servants entered an altercation just last night. I suspect Lancer and Archer-"
That rang a few alarm bells. His servant was Lancer, and James was yet to see her ever since they arrived in the city. She'd spouted something about a challenge and ran off like a runt that had never been spanked by her old man.
What had she gone and done now?
"They faced off outside Miyama Town."
"That's where them rich folk stay, right?" James inquired.
The priest nodded. "They decimated much of the district. When the Sun rose, the houses were still aflame. Fortunately, one of the masters had the foresight to vacate the area. Should you come upon either, attempt to neutralise them. I've passed this along to the other masters as well."
Well, that there was a right conundrum now, wasn't it?
He had to reel in that idiot before someone else ended up paying for her shenanigans.
James grunted and rose to his feet, giving a slight nod before turning to leave.
"Another thing, if you lose your servant, retreat here for your safety for the duration of the war. The Church is a neutral zone."
"Thank you kindly for your time."
"Think nothing of it."
Suddenly, every hair on his body stood on end, alarms blared in his ears, and he turned about just in time to see the priest's hand coming down on his neck. That was enough. In the blink of an eye, he ducked his head, hand on hat, and with the other, jammed his revolver into Kirei's arm from below.
Bang.
A magically reinforced round blew through the arm as Kirei kicked James in the guts, flinging him through pews and at a wall that cracked under the impact. The rancid but familiar smell of burnt cloth and human flesh rushed his nostrils as he let out a groan.
"Now that... was mighty rude of you, Father Kirei. I thought you were supposed to be... neutral and all that." James spoke between laboured breaths, holding his ribs. That was definitely gonna leave a mark. He pointed his revolver at the priest. "I'd ask you why you done it but I gather you're one of them types don't need no reason."
Kirei idly eyed his flopping arm, clenching and unclenching the fist. "You're not quite as naive as I would have thought. And, that is why I can not let you disturb this ritual."
That was how it was going to be then. James would prefer not to inflict violence upon a man of the cloth, but in his defense, the other party had quite literally abused that trust to attempt murder. His thoughts went to calling Medea but by then Kirei moved again.
"Looks like we got ourselves a good ol' fashioned showdown."
The priest kicked up a pew lying at his feet and threw it at James with another, except, this time, there was no element of surprise to the attack. In the blink of an eye, the hammer was cocked twice and twice he fired. One exploded through the pew Kirei had thrown, and the other exploded through the priest's knee.
Some strange realisation seemed to pass through Kirei's eyes as his momentum was shattered and he tumbled onto the floor with no strength in his legs.
"Now as my old man always says, six shots is more than enough to do away with anythin' that moves. Unlucky for you, I don't got just the six."
With a flick of the wrist, the cylinder came free, the empty cases flew through the air and before they touched the ground, more materialised in their place with a quick activation of magic circuits that came to life in the form of an azure nerve-like network on his skin.
James had found that staring down the barrel of a loaded revolver that could blow your hold often changed people's perspectives in record times. That didn't quite seem the case here, unfortunately, no matter how much he wished otherwise.
He knew that look the priest was giving him.
The bastard still had a hand to play, and James couldn't tell just what it was... Well, up until his body patched itself up like nothing had ever happened and Kirei lunged for him, faster than before.
"I didn't become state champion by being a slow shot."
"You remind me of someone."
Kirei smiled faintly, drawing not one, not two, but six swords from his coat. When James fired again, the priest simply cut through the magically enhanced projectiles, leaving their changed trajectories to blow through the Church's furniture and walls.
"Well now." James scratched the side of his head but then abruptly holstered his revolver. He gave the priest a sly wink and snapped his fingers. "Get over here ya damn runt, earn your keep for once."
There was no need to give away all his cards or push himself when he had someone just for that.
As Kirei's eyes widened, the latent mana swirled. One of the crimson marks on James' hand burnt away and a being came into existence out of thin air between the two men.
With sun-kissed skin marred by coiling black marks, and blonde hair that flowed down to her ankles. She wore a black dress, trimmed with gold that wrapped tightly around her body, with open sleeves and a long skirt opened to reveal her legs. Three horns emerged from either side of her head, and a long, azure, scaled tale marked with spikes moved to coil around James.
When she grinned at Kirei, she bared rows of sharp teeth made to tear flesh. Then, she flicked the priest aside like he was some minor inconvenience with a wave of her hand and turned to glare at her master.
The marks under her golden eyes seemed to burn.
"I am the Dragon that Dams up the World."
James pursed his lips, preparing himself.
"And you replaced me with a witch?! In one day! No, even less! You shitty master-... You didn't even look for me! How could you?!"
"You weren't answerin' my calls."
"I could still hear you! Hmph! Hmph!" She settled down, looked around, and gave James a grin. "I'm not helping you. Good job, you wasted a command seal."
He... simply pointed at the priest embedded in the nearby wall.
"You already did it, missie."
"...What?" Lancer looked around again, this time eying the priest. "You needed my help w-with... that?" She pointed at him and began to laugh. "You're such a weakling...! You should be grateful that I, Vritra, find you entertaining."
James sighed.
"Darn runt."
In mere moments, she had gone from complaining like a child to getting a big head... like a child.
"My esteemed self takes issue with your lack of respect for me."
"Yeah yeah."
"Where is that witch anyway? Could she have done this? I think not." Vritra laughed again.
That...Where was Medea?
-
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