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End of the Era Chapter 23
🕑 Added 2023-06-09 11:52:02 +0000 UTCChapter 23: Reunion
Walking through the white void, Kallen and the rest were blinded by its light, their vision only clearing as they exited the other side of it. As her eyes regained focus, she saw that they were not in the forest anymore, probably thousands of miles away but nowhere she recognized it. She and the rest of the massive group continued to keep moving and not bottleneck them, as she did she realized that they were exiting from a small hill, in its side was an entrance similar to the tombs she had seen in textbooks covering the Ancient Greek world, getting an amused huff from her as she realized that Lelouch's method seemed to involve stepping into a grave.
Her attention shifted from the burial mound that seemed to act as a Thought Elevator to the surroundings, as they walked further, they saw that this entire area didn’t match up to reality. It was late spring, they all knew that and were expecting the summer heat and rains to come, but here it seemed like summer had already passed. The fields in the distance which looked to be farmland were either bear, or they could pick up little dots-people harvesting their year’s crop. The leaves of the massive trees in a nearby forest weren’t green but a rich red, turning the forest into a large patch of red in the distance. The weather matched up as it was colder here, as she rubbed her arms a little for warmth. She couldn’t make heads or tails of it, was this in the southern hemisphere? Maybe, but this place didn’t seem like any she would have associated with the south, and she was damn sure that no trees that massive grew down south either.
It wasn’t only the land that gave them pause as they were ushered forward, but it was the town that they were being led to. Built on the hills that sat on the banks of a river that looked at least half a kilometer thick, it seemed like it was a large town built in a style closer to older methods. Getting closer, they saw that most buildings were made from wood and brick, with around 1 in 7 made from what was seemingly only brick and mortar and those tended to be the larger ones that seemed to serve as stores or office spaces. It wasn't static either as she saw many people rushing about in all stages of construction as pack animals the likes of which she never heard of pulled the carriages that carried the workers and materials.
She would have assumed it was back-breaking labor but this didn't seem so as the people appeared happy, joking in their native languages as they worked, even the small children that seemed to be involved appeared to be restricted to smaller jobs and being runners, carrying water and small tools to where it was needed. Hearing grasps to the side, she turned to see what had grabbed their attention and lost the breath in her lungs as in the distance, aiding in the construction of a mainly brick-and-mortar building, was honest to God Giant. Children with them oohed and awed at the sights while she and so many other adults wondered about the fantastical sight they were witnessing as the people, around 30 that were working on the building didn't seem to care about the giant, one even saying something they couldn't make out from their distance but it must have been a joke as the giant broke out into a roaring laugh that boomed through the air, shocking them at its intensity and volume that the man's massive lungs could produce even from where he was concerning them.
Of course, this changed as with the last to come out from the portal, Lelouch and Jeremiah crossed as well, the gate closing behind them. The prince in exile, having summoned his mount, was now riding past Kallen and co, his helmet off and allowing them to study his features, and note how he had changed and matured since they last saw him as an 18-year-old. The door closing seemed to be triggered an alarm as in the distance, a bell in the town began to ring, the dongs carrying through the air like a knife through butter, alerting not just the town, but people and buildings that they were crossing through to their arrival. A fact she was made aware of when the giant they saw earlier stopped carrying a load of supplies onto a second story and pointed at them, with many others turning to them and shouting out their arrival in more languages than she spoke, so at least she could say this seemed to be the place Lelouch was taking people to.
But it was only as they approached the town, crossing over from its farming outskirts and passing into the town proper did she realize two things. Chief among them being that the entire place didn’t seem to follow any one design style, or local doctrine as if to reflect the numerous cultural and religious backgrounds of the residences, buildings, shops and homes were built in whatever style its occupant or builders wished as while she would assume that the clear lack of heavy machinery would limit that, it seemed that the people adapted as many homes seemed more like works of art, symbols of expressions. That lack of machinery and modern equipment's lacking effect stretched into infrastructure as the streets and roads were paved from the moment they entered the walls of the town, there seemed to be street lights, public restrooms and even a fountain in a small square she peeked out before it vanished as they continued to move. The buildings also seemed to be made of tougher stuff as before it 1 brick and mortar house for every 7 wooden buildings, it was now 2 brick for every 5 wooden.
The other thing was the reaction to their mounted saviors as people already on the streets cleared for them, cheering their return like they were war heroes returning from a successful campaign, with Lelouch at their head, though she didn’t think that was the best comparison as if this was their triumph, then that would make them the "Prizes of War" which she was firmly against. Regardless of her feelings on it, the people seemed to be just as excited to see Lelouch as Romans would have been Caesar. He rode with his helmet off, held in his hand and his spear nowhere to be seen. Like his time as Zero, the people revered him.
She and Milly being closest to the friend saw how a small girl, no older than 10 broke from the building crowds to the sides of the large road they were travelling down, their parade stopping as Lelouch did, the man getting off his mount and approaching the small girl, towering over her.
'Thank you for protecting us and saving more people.' She looked down at her feet, shy as she spoke with the man that she and the rest seemed to treat as their beloved king. Lelouch softened at this, kneeling to her level and lifting her head to see her eyes.
'I do not do what I do for thanks, my child.' He replied, his words calming and clear, so different to the attitude he had with Suzaku not even an hour prior. Still, his words had their desired effect as the girl regained some of the confidence that saw her disturb his procession as she presented to him what she had been hiding behind her back.
‘Please, take this. My friends and I made it for you.’ In her small hands, she held a flower wreath, crudely made but one she seemed proud of. Lelouch gave her an amused smile and a raised brow but acquiesced as he lowered his head, allowing her to gently place it on his head to honor him. With his new crown, the man gestured for her to return to her parents as he turned back to his mount, the mighty beast kneeling to allow him to mount it before they continued. This seemed to break the gates as more people tossed flowers their way, mainly at him but some went towards his knights, some removing their helmets to smile and wave towards the masses.
Hearing cries of Lelouch being the "Second coming of Arthur" drew Milly's interest as she turned to Kallen, a silent question between them as the disguised redhead merely shrugged her shoulders. She was used to seeing this kind of reaction to his Zero persona, but even she was surprised by just how well-liked he was with these people. No, that wasn't quite right, it was true that he was branded a criminal, was accused of being the instigator of the SAZ massacre, and spawn of Charles, but he also was the one that saved these people or at the very least ordered that they be brought here. He had journeyed to their aid and fought off that bastard Suzaku, risking himself for their sakes when he could have easily had someone else do it, living up to his motto of leading by example.
Line Break
At last, their journey came to an end as they reached the large forum in the middle of the town, the three hills that surrounded it housing large buildings that overwatched them, a wheel-less carriage floated, waiting for them but it was far too small for them. It proved to be for their leader as Lelouch dismounted for a second time, his mount vanishing much it did as it did before as Lelouch entered the carriage, the door opened for him by a servant before it drove off, the man had never spoken a word to any of them.
Taking up the role of leader, Jeremiah stepped up in his master's place, taking a deep breath before he spoke. 'Welcome to our city, our stronghold in Annwn: Safe Haven.’ There were some mummers at that, as no one present knew anywhere that went by that name.
Having expected this, Jeremiah calmly explained things. 'Yes, Annwn. No, this isn't some lesser-known province of some faraway land, this isn't even Earth but the land of magic. As you saw with the giants and fairies, the locals that lived here that are far from humans which are collectively known as Fey.' The younger children started to clap and ask questions about them, getting a smile from the cyborg as he waved them off but promised that they'll get their answers soon enough.
'There is more to discuss, but that can be done in the morning after a warm meal and a good night's rest. Lodging and food have been prepared for all of you. You'll either be assigned a room in one of the hostels or be housed by one of the families already settled who have volunteered. As to keep an idea of who is where they're going to need to get basic information and give you a meal ticket.' He directed their attention to the side where they were some tables set up with people manning them, ready to begin the process.
'Those who can work will be asked about their prior occupations and experienced and placed into positions where they can contribute the most, children under 16 will be required to attend schooling unless given parental consent to work. Children who don't have parents or guardians will be escorted by myself to Arthur’s Hall which acts as a foster home.’ Jeremiah directed their attention to one of the three hills that overlooked the central plaza, it housed the second largest building which seemed to be part palace, part castle.
'With all that said, please form into 8 orderly lines so we can start the process and hopefully finish before nightfall as I can imagine that many of you wish to rest now that you're safe.' Jeremiah clapped his hands as more of the people were directed to form those 8 lines, the riders from earlier largely leaving the place with some goodbyes, leaving only a fraction of them. Kallen and Milly found themselves in one line close to the front where they could see that the woman asking questions seemed to be bi-lingual, switching from English to French without issue. The questions themselves seemed to be rather simple such as name, date of birth, religion, basic medical information like vaccinations and blood type, and other identifying factors.
Once Kallen stepped up, she gave them her real information, assuming that it wouldn't look good for her to lie. Once they finished, she was handed a small card which she was told would act as her temporary ID till they could print a permanent one. With it, she was assigned a room with a family of 3 that lived nearby, and a means to get meals from one of the mess halls built across the place. She also got some papers which she could use to get some work as while she downplayed her skills, being a ‘soldier’ had them assign her to construction, after all, she saw many places being built on the way here and could imagine that increasing the population would need increased housing and other infrastructure.
Hand and papers in hand, she met up with the rest of them as Gino noted that he was given papers for work at the dockyards. 'Kallen now is the best time.' Cornelia nodded her head towards where Jeremiah stood, the man had removed his helmet and was in a conversation with his younger sister and the still-helmeted knight in white and pink. Their mounts had been taken away by one of the knights they had with them.
‘Yeah, let’s go.’ She nodded as the group broke from the rest who were being directed either to their host families, a hostel or in the case of children with no parents, up the hill towards Arthur’s Hall.
Seeing the approach, Lilicia tapped her brother’s shoulder and pointed at them, getting him to turn their way. ‘Yes, is there an issue?’
'Jeremiah, it's us.' Cornelia spoke up, the man giving them a weird look.
‘Who is this…’ His eyes widened before they narrowed as he recognized them, his frame stiffening up in a way one could only see from a man now cautious, his hand reaching for his axe. ‘You.’ They were prepared to stop him from fighting them, but the man looked to the side and saw many still being processed and decided otherwise as he took a deep breath, and his arm fell back to his side, though he was still rigged in his stance as he turned on his heel and started walking towards Arthur’s hall as well.
It seemed like he was ignoring them before he stopped and looked over his shoulder at them. ‘Follow me, or do I need to bring out shackles?’
Kallen wasn’t expecting a happy reception, but this was better than being arrested so they went without a fight. At least they were getting somewhere after the crazy day they already had. ‘No, we’ll give you no problems.’ She spoke for them, neither Tamaki nor Chiba voicing objection to this as the cyborg's suspicious gaze looked over them.
‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ He turned back and continued to lead them away, his sister and the still helmeted knight at his side.
Line Break
Walking up the hill, they noted that despite being the second largest of the three buildings sitting on the hill, it was still magnificent. Standing 4 stories tall, it wasn't a brick-and-mortar building but one made from the finest marble and clear-cut red bricks that they had seen in the town. 3 towers dotted its roof, stretching another 3 stories into the air with one seemingly to serve as a clock tower and the other two as bird stations as they noted a large number of owls nesting or sitting around them. Its walls were manned by more soldiers, but these didn't wear nearly as much armour as the knights from before. Behind the walls, lay large and well-cared-for grounds which boasted not just shrubs and flowers, but also large trees and vegetable gardens. Children could be seen running about, playing games or seated at the many tables either talking in groups or reading.
It was a familiar sight to Milly, as it reminded her of her days at Ashford, and she wondered if Lelouch had reconstructed that vision on purpose, or perhaps it was just him recreating a place he felt truly happy on instinct. Either way, their small group didn't get much attention other them some looks, as most of that was on the newly arrived children who met up with some of the caretakers. Approaching a different entrance then to the one the children used, they were let in by the guards who Jeremiah nodded to. Inside, they found that the place was lit up not by electrical lights, but by crystals that were hung from the ceiling like small chandeliers. The wooden floors were smooth and clean, with a red and golden carpet down the center with closed doors now and then to their sides.
Milly assumed that this must be a private wing to the rest of the place as while they had seen at least 50 children outside and expected even more inside, they hadn’t seen or heard another one. Rather it was only servants who upon seeing Jeremiah and company, cleared from his way and bowed to him, greeting the man as he returned the favour, never breaking his stride. Walking towards one door in particular, Jeremiah opened it to reveal a small guest area. Like the rest of the building, it was well decorated, resembling what one might have expected from the Britannian nobles of old if only lacking in priceless art and sculptures. They were couches for them all to have a place to sit, a table and fireplace, and a great view of not just the town below, but also the riverfront where they could see even with the sun setting, ships both small and large coming and going, receiving or offloading their cargos, the setting sun reflecting a brilliant golden color on the water’s surface, only disturbed by the movement of ships.
With the door closing behind them, Jeremiah stopped holding back. ‘Now that we’re away from the people, it would be prudent for you to answer my questions.’ He turned to them, his words clear that he wasn’t requesting, but demanding they answer even if they outnumber them, they were armed and they had seen what they could do if pushed.
‘What purpose do you have in coming here? Why do you intrude on my lord’s domains? Do you truly seek his aegis, or are you here to finish what you started?’ His hand reached for his axe again and while the two with him didn’t reach for their weapons, they stood ready to act.
Rising her hands, Cornelia stepped forward with a pleading look in her eyes. 'No, Jeremiah. We're not. We bear no ill intent; I can promise you that much.’ The man turned his gaze to the royal he at one point served under as a guardsman, then a soldier before he saved her as a Black Knight. His stance didn’t relax in the slightest.
‘And yet, your promise,’ He emphasized that word, getting her to wince as he seemed to throw it in her face the times she had broken such in her time serving as Britannia's premier general. ‘Carries little weight here, or with me.’ The group looked nervous, Milly stepping forward to try and lower tensions but her appearance proved to be enough as even in disguise, Jeremiah recognized her.
'However, the fact that brought along Mr. Cardemonde and Lady Ashford does give credence to your words.’ His hand lowered once more from his weapon, his stance relaxing even if it was just a little. ‘Why else would he have asked that I cleanse your minds of Charles’s geass.’
‘That was him?’ Rivalz asked, having never figured out why he and Milly went from being under its effects to be free of them.
Jeremiah nodded his head, gesturing for them to take seats now that he wasn’t about to arrest them. ‘It was. He wished for you to have free control and access to your minds. A final act before our self-exile.’ He recalled his lord’s orders on that and while he found them strange, he nevertheless carried them out to the letter, sneaking into the school grounds when both were present and leaving without a soul ever seeing him.
‘Jerry, I’m pretty sure they came to do as they say,’ Lilicia advised him, the assembled group taking the moment to take in her features. Like her older brother, she was a tall young lady, with soft features, warm orange eyes and a kind smile to her, one that would have been extremely out of place if this place was run similar to the Britannia of old. Her hair, much like her brothers was teal in color but longer, styled into a shoulder-length bob cut.
‘Be cautious, Lilicia. You don’t know them as I do.’ Jeremiah replied, though his stance did further loosen as he remained standing while his sister joined the group, taking a seat opposite them.
‘But I know Gino,’ The knight in white and pink stepped up, speaking for the first time since she had appeared before them as she reached for her helmet, slowly removing it, revealing locks of pink hair that made Gino’s eyes widen as his heart skip a beat. ‘He’s not for tricks.’ She finished as Anya’s face was revealed to them once more, the girl-no woman placing her helmet on the table between them.
Believing was one thing, but to see it with their own eyes was another matter as Gino shot to his feet, his eyes focused solely on her. ‘Anya…It’s, you, really you…’ He walked up to her, more shuffled, his hands reaching for her face, taking it how it had changed and yet, stayed the same, at least to him. His hands landed on her cheeks, holding her gently as if afraid whatever illusion this was would shatter if he held too tight.
Disproving that, Anya reached for his hands, holding them close to her face as she gave him something he had never seen from her; a smile, a pure and honest smile as her red eyes gazed into his blue orbs. ‘Hello, Gino. It’s good to see you again.' She replied before yelping as the tree of a man grabbed her around the waist and hugged her close, nearly jumping for joy with her in his grasp.
‘I knew it! I knew you were alive!’ He cried tears of joy as seeing his long-lost friend, being able to hold her again, to see she was healthy and strong. No one interrupted this as Anya just laughed, hugging him back in a show of affection that they had never thought possible from her, but one that Gino lapped up like a man parched man would in a forest.
Eventually, he let her down but didn’t let go of her as she reached for his face this time, giving him an apologetic smile as she held his face. 'I am, sorry for breaking contact like that,' She knew that it would have hurt him, and it hurt her to see just how she underestimated that as he could hide it from the rest, but even after all these years, he couldn’t hide his true feelings from her, and underneath that relief and joy at seeing her again, she saw grief and sadness from her disappearance. 'I…I needed to sort some things out.'
‘But what could have been worth that? You just-you just vanished!’ He raised his voice with that last part, but she didn't mind as he had every right to be upset, frankly, he was handling this better than she would have expected. Still, she looked away for a moment before she replied.
‘What do you know about geass?’ Gino gasped at that, his hold on her tightening as she looked into her eyes, really looking into them as if to search for something.
‘You have it?’ His question made it clear what that was, and while she had been given the choice on that years ago-
‘No, I was its victim. Robbed of my life.’ She shook her head, having far too many bad memories about it to entertain the idea of using it herself. Although her admission did get the group to stiffen and watch her with some caution.
‘Was Lelouch responsible as it was with me?’ Tamaki asked though she noted that Cornelia and Guilford remained quiet on the topic despite what she knew Lelouch did with the both of them. Their eyes showed that they knew more than the others, interesting.
'One can't blame the son for the sins of the mother.' She told Gino, not able to hide the sneer that started to grow on her face, her prior good mood gone as she was reminded of that witch.
Both Cornelia and Jeremiah took a breath there and sighed, knowing the full story, or at least enough to understand her anger and not fight her on it, despite their complicated feelings about it. ‘Marianne.’
Anya stepped back from Gino, her face twisted with rage. ‘She wore me like a goddamn puppet, I was just her tool…Do you have any idea what that was like? To find yourself in places, doing things but never remembering when and who you landed in that situation?’ She asked them, the group looking away as they couldn’t relate, as much as their fear made them think they could have years ago. None had memory gaps of importance, only Kallen and even then, it was brief, from her time from Ashford and ever since, she’s been in full control of herself and her actions.
‘Anya,’ Gino took her smaller hands into his own, his blue eyes pleading with her. ‘What did she do to you?’ He asked her, getting her to calm herself, at least enough to speak before she explained things to him.
Line Break
‘Shit.’ Gino summed up the feelings of those present after Anya's story in a single word, Cornelia included as while she had known about this, thanks to Suzaku's testimony, and had heard Guilford's experience with the power, neither could prepare her for what she had just heard. Guilford was under her brother's control for a few hours, she was only under it for a few minutes, but that couldn't compare to the nightmare of being under another's control erratically for years. Being a hostage in your own body and never knowing when and why it happened.
‘Yeah…’ Anya agreed with him there, her issues being something she was resigned to dealing with for the rest of her life. ‘My whole life, taken from me. After that…I just couldn’t return, not when it was never my choice to join in the first place.’ She looked away, ashamed of the consequences of her choice on her only human connection, but not ashamed of the choice in itself as leaving gave her the time and space she needed to sort herself out.
Reaching up for Gino’s face once more, she gave him a weak smile. 'I didn't want to put this on you, to make you choose between me and Britannia because…because I knew how much he loved our country, even with all its faults, he saw the best in it.' While others have called him a fool, she had seen it as a strength. He loved his country and fought for it but never blindly. He believed that it could be better and as a Knight of Round, refused orders he saw as against that.
‘A lot of good that did.’ Gino mumbled as he thought about how it all came crashing down, but she wouldn't let him carry on that notion.
Tightening her hold on him, she pulled the taller man’s face even closer to her level. ‘Don’t say that,’ She told him, giving him no room to argue or refuse her on this. 'You're one of the best people, you know that? You're caring, and you were so patient with me, even on my worse days, you were always just a phone call away. All that made you the person I missed the most.' She spent more than a few nights by herself, moon gazing and just wishing that he had been with her. He wasn't into stars, but she could tell he would have loved to see the alien vistas that flew over their heads every night.
Gino grabbed her hands in his own, giving her a watery smile. ‘Just don’t go disappearing on me again, you hear?’ He seemed to try and make a joke out of it, but she could tell how much he meant it as she smiled in return.
‘I promise.’
Jeremiah coughed, breaking the two out of their little world even if they kept holding the other, a sight that was quite comical if the cyborg was honest with himself as there was a 21cm and over 40kg difference between them. 'You may have some time off tomorrow to get reacquainted with Sir Weinberg, Anya, but there are pressing questions that need to be answered.'
‘Of course, sir.’ Anya nodded his way and returned to her seat, but Gino sat down next to her as well, the smaller girl leaning into him with a content smile.
Seeing no need to break the two up, the group continued as. ‘Right, the reason we came. I don’t suppose you’ll buy that we’re refugees.’ Tamaki asked him, the man giving him a stone face in return.
‘No.’
‘Figures.’ Tamaki muttered as Cornelia took things from there.
'Since you're been getting people off Earth, I'm guessing that you already know how bad things have gotten.' She gestured outside, towards the town where street lights were coming on as people finished the last of their business while there was still daylight.
‘It’s hard not to, not when every person has a story to tell.’ Jeremiah replied.
‘It’s been years and we’re no closer to defeating Schneizel, that last encounter with Suzaku might have been the first time in that period he had been beaten back. And it was thanks to your efforts.‘ The former princess went on, not hiding the fact that it had been years since anything resembling a victory had occurred for them against Schneizel and his forces.
‘We heard about the strange disappearances, and how Anya was sighted in London not too long ago.’ Kallen picked things up from there, with the pink-haired girl only humming in response to her name being called.
‘I suppose I was a bit careless, that would explain how Suzaku knew to even go to England.’ She would have normally ensured there were no witnesses, but that would have taken too long and surely results in those two would-be fishermen being slaughtered by the Kelpie.
'It was bound to happen eventually, such an operation like ours was never going to remain under wraps forever. At the very least, there were no casualties amongst the refugees.' Lilicia shrugged her shoulders, though this would mean that their Wales Gate would be out of use for a while, even if the forest protecting it wasn’t burned to the ground, the entire area would no doubt be under heavy watch for weeks if not months.
‘It was a miracle, and right now, we could need some of those. Jeremiah…we came here to ask for his help, for Lelouch’s help.’ Chiba finished for the group. With the request made, there was silence between them as Jeremiah thought about their offer, the man closing his eyes and leaning back into his seat, his armour creaking and shifting with him as he crossed his arms.
With a frown, he opened his unamused eyes and looked their way. ‘…If nothing else, you all have some serious backbone, seeking out my master’s aide after you tried to kill him the last time you spoke. Why should I even entertain this? Why should I bother my lord with this foolishness?’ Milly spoke up once more, Rivalz at her side before things could get worse as while she didn’t know the full story, she knew enough to understand that A; things had ended extremely poorly between their group and the man they sought out and B; that Jeremiah was fiercely loyal to that man and most likely wouldn’t have thought twice about carrying out that threat if not killing them if they proved difficult.
‘Jeremiah, please. We just want to talk with him, just have him hear us out.’ She pleaded with him, wishing that he was Sayoko as while also loyal to Lelouch, she had a history with the Japanese maid. The imposing man turned his gaze over to them, watching them like a hawk before he responded.
'As the former friends of my master, and people, not party to the death of Zero…I can bring this up with him, but that's all. If he chooses to refuse, I won't hesitate to throw you in prison, is that understood?’ His eyes gave no quarter, and despite their prior connections to him, they knew that this was the best deal they’ll get out of the man.
‘Crystal.’
