Fate/ Grand Crypter

Chapter 22 (Orleans)

Thiers was a mess of melted stone and ashen timber. No fires of destruction raged here, and the sky was empty of the wyverns that had no doubt razed this place. Thiers was silent and still, a graveyard of ash. Leo took it all in, a tight feeling in his stomach. The others stood alongside him, silently watching the ruin. Ophelia wore a troubled expression, her eyes drawn to the white bones poking out of the rubble.

"I shall check for survivors," Gilles said, his grave tone breaking the silence. The knight marched alone into Thiers, Leo watching his profile disappear into the ruins.

"We... we should set up a camp while we wait for him," Ophelia suggested, wresting her eyes from the destruction. "We will need all the rest we can get if we are going to continue our march to Orleans."

Leo swallowed and nodded. He was still not used to scenes like this, still too slow to react. They had originally wanted to check on the survivors hiding in Thiers before their march continued to Orleans. But it was clear from the wreckage that the Dragon Witch had visited the town recently. Leo did not want to think about the fates of those hiding here.

"Oberon, weave an illusion around us. Would the rest of you mind scouting around the town, just in case? Oberon, join them when you are done."

The Servants nodded and split away, giving Leo and Ophelia space. Butterflies flew from Oberon's hands, fluttering up and causing a light rain of light to fall upon them, like a cloak. Leo nodded in satisfaction as Oberon left, leaving him alone with Ophelia. An awkward silence descended upon them, as the two looked out over the town. Leo began to regret sending the Servants away.

"I... thought mages were meant to be unfazed by the deaths of others." Leo nearly bit off his tongue as he finished the sentence, wishing dearly to take back his words. That was a terrible start to a conversation.

"Mages are human too," Ophelia said softly, her chin in her hand. "You're also a mage and you're affected too right? Or was that your attempt at a joke?"

"I... am sorry," Leo said. "That was... the wrong choice of words."

"It's fine Leo," Ophelia shrugged. "You didn't bother me. And you don't have to feel the need to make conversation if you struggle with it."

"And here I thought I had charmed you with my wit and guile on our expedition," Leo sighed dramatically.

"If you had tried anything of the sort, our "expedition" would not have been so polite," Ophelia glanced at Leo and smiled. "I am glad that out of everyone, I arrived with you. If it had been some others, like Beryl, it would have been a much longer journey for me."

"While I am glad that I am the superior choice to Beryl Gut, it is not exactly a high bar to clear is it?" Leo said, getting a snort in response from Ophelia.

"Besides," Leo continued. "You might have gotten stuck with someone that you would have worked well with. Like Kirschtaria."

"You think so?" Ophelia shook her head slightly. "I ... doubt it. Lord Kirschtaria would have taken issue with many of my choices throughout this journey."

Leo watched Ophelia's eye drift away from Thiers, towards the dark shadow of Orleans on the horizon.

"If Kirschtaria and the others are there, we can meet up with them. I am sure that he will have come up with a plan to destroy Orleans by then," Ophelia said.

"I think you may have the wrong idea about Kirschtaria," Leo said. "He may be a bit more... approachable than you think."

"You think so? The man I have seen has always been composed and perfect. Even his Servant is on a different level to ours."