A Dishonored Demigod

A Meeting of Kings

Perseus lowers Kirei to the ground and keeps working on his soul. He fingers move around to unlock the different emotions and make sure they take properly to avoid a breakdown. Anger, fear, love, and desire are easily unlocked due to the priest having felt shadows of such. However Perseus runs into a snag when he tries to unlock lust, pride, greed, and satisfaction.
With a grunt the temporary human forces his own emotion through Soul Touch and shatters the bindings on the man's soul, making the body under him jolt. Acting with a little more haste Perseus undoes the bindings on laziness, tranquility, and fear before simply forcing his own emotions into the man to jump start his own. The process drains a good chunk of his energy and forces the servant to take a seat on his wooden chair.
Reaching into the Darkness he extracts a small silver flask and pops the top off before taking a few sips. When he pulls it away a few drops of nectar drip down his chin before he wipes them away with the back of his free hand. Inside he feels his energy recovering slowly while also feeling his immortality hasten its restoration and sighs,"Too bad I can't drain the whole thing. I'd hate to be burnt alive so close to my ascension."
The flask disappears into his shadow and he picks himself up,"Well, better get this gent on home."
He picks Kirei up over his shoulder and steps into the shadows to appear inside the church and sets him down on a pew with a small note explaining what he did and reminding him of his debt. As he exits he feels the full moon empowering Thrafsma and once again hastening his recovery. He smirks as he feels the faded tattoos crawl across his flesh and his eyes flash red,"One more day. Maybe less at this rate."
He tracks across the town and doesn't even notice when his feet leave dry land until he's halfway across the man made lake dividing splitting the city in half. When he does come back to his senses he notices a reflection of something too small to be a plane soaring through the sky, and the booming laughter tells him it's Iskandar. Curiosity drives him to shore and eventually onto the road.
Reaching into his shadow once more his motorcycle emerges with the runes he cut into the metal glowing faintly. He follows closely but keeps the warrior king in his sight until he enters a wooded area,"So he's going to see Saber? Guess this could be interesting."
He makes his way up the road down the center of the trees and ends up in front of a castle,"What is this?"
"Einzbern Castle, boss."
He nods his head to the answer provided by a Darkling that suddenly pops up next to him,"Interesting. I wonder how much they pay for maintenance?"
The Darkling chuckles,"Nothing boss. The place is filled with homunculi to act as maids. You want me and the boys to be ready to attack?"
"No, but for now just be ready for anything. I've got a feelin' this is gonna be very interesting."
The Darkling melts back into the shadows and Perseus accelerates towards the steps leading up before pushing some magic through the runes circling the wheels. A cushion of solid air forming an angle with the steps creates a ramp for him to go up and inside. He moves past the parked chariot and up another set of stairs before zipping down the hallways towards the biggest gathering of life force in the area.
When he arrives he does so silently, turning off the motor so he coasts towards the two heroic spirits seated in the courtyard, and stopping at the edge of the shadows projected by the walls. The machine sinks into his shadow once more while he equips his mask over his face and his lion skin coat flutters in the breeze. "You wish to compare your rank against mine?"
Perseus is paying close attention now as Rider laughs at Saber's question,"Of course. We both call ourselves kings, so this was unavoidable."
He pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts,"Between us, who is more suited to be the king of the Grail? I believe we will both find the answer as we drink."
He smashes a meaty hand down on top of the massive barrel next to him, obliterating the wood separating the wine from the world, and produces a ladle to take a sip. When he lowers it from his lips he grins and refills it,"Come now Saber," and holds the wooden utensil out,"have a drink!"
Saber slowly grasps the handle and lifts the wine to her lips, draining it with small sips. When she hands it back Iskandar grins,"It's very good, is it not?"
Before Saber can respond Perseus senses another presence invade the grounds just as Archer exits his astral state,"Enough of this foolish talk," and he starts moving forwards,"mongrel."
Saber tenses but Rider remains calm,"Relax Saber. I ran into him in town and invited him. You're late goldy. Still, I did fly here while you walked so I can understand why."
Archer frowns,"Yes, you did. You even chose to hold a king's banquet here in this gloomy place. How will you make up for having me walk to such a sorry structure?"
Rider simply waves a hand,"Well giving you a drink would be a start. Here!"
He hands Archer the ladle and the king takes a sip before his lips purse in disgust,"You dare serve this swill at a royal banquet? This is not fit for me to wash my feet in!"
Rider shrugs,"It was the best I could find at the market."
Archer sneers,"Of course you did. I suppose I will have to provide an example of a king's drink for you, mongrel."
He holds his hand facing towards the ground and a small golden portal deposits a golden pitcher and three small cups,"So your armory doubles as a liquor store? Nice."
Perseus steps out of the shadows and plops down across from Archer,"Pour me a cup too. This is getting interesting."
Red eyes narrow in revulsion,"What are you doing here mongrel? Shouldn't a dog stay by their master's side?"
Perseus grins behind his mask,"Takes one to know one, blondy."
Archer growls while Perseus continues,"Besides, my little master is protected by wards, ancient runes, and magics only myself and my true master know. If anyone tries to enter or harm her they will find themselves quartered, eviscerated, burnt, suffocated, and then reduced to nothing by being torn apart by the very fabric of reality. Not exactly in that order, but still."
Silence follows his statement before Saber slowly says,"That seems a tad....excessive."
Perseus shrugs,"I really don't know the meaning of restraint. Besides, I need to keep sharp with my more lethal spells considering we are all technically enemies."
He eyes the three while his hands are covered in a small sheen of red energy,"As a matter of fact," and sighs before releasing the power into the air,"nah. It wouldn't be as much fun as crushing your skulls."
The tension dissipates like steam and all four take a cup and, when the wine is poured, drink. Perseus pauses a second and wills the mouth of his mask to open wider so the lip of the cup is against his own to drink. Iskandar licks his lips and cries out in delight,"Oho! This is really good!"
His response is enforced by the shock in Saber's eyes while she stares at her empty cup and Perseus' air of contentment. Archer's smile has a trace of arrogance in it as he swirls the bit of wine at the bottom of his cup,"Of course. My treasury houses the finest, be it drink or weaponry. This alone should tell which among us is greatest."
Rider frowns,"This wine is indeed enough for the finest drinking vessel. Unfortunately the Grail is no drinking cup. You have to tell us what your wish is before we can decide who is entitled to it."
"Not really," Archer states,"as I see no point in fighting for what is rightfully mine. All the world's treasures originate from my vault, including the Grail."
Perseus snorts,"Sure, then how did it get out without your help? Surely such a powerful object would've been amongst your more well guarded pieces?"
Archer glares at him,"Throughout the ages my vault's treasures has surpassed even my knowing. And with the use of the Kaleidoscope, I wouldn't have known even if I entered my Gate of Babylon myself. It is treasure though, which is enough for me to consider anybody taking it a brazen thief."
"You sound like Caster during his mad speeches," Saber comments,"I had hoped only one of us spirits had gone insane."
Rider chuckles,"I don't know about insane, since I think I know his real name. What say you Archer? We only need your consent to obtain the grail?"
"Yes, but I see no reason to grant you mongrels something so beautiful."
Rider frowns but Perseus cuts in,"Pouting is unbecoming of a king. Remember that Iskandar. Besides, I can see why Archer thinks this way. We aren't his subjects or of his culture, so we are technically invaders. However if you bare your neck to him he might let you have it."
Archer nods and Rider grunts,"A king does not roll over to another without a fight. Do you even have any real desire for the Grail?"
Archer shakes his head no,"Of course not. But I must judge those who seek my treasure. It is simply a matter of law, my law."
Rider laughs,"That's why you are a king, because you follow through with the law. Still," and he sets his cup down,"I want the grail so bad I can stop myself. I've always had a habit of taking what I've wanted. As the King of Conquerers it is simply how I am."
Archer smirks,"I don't care. Break my laws and I will punish you without mercy."
"You two can kill each other later. I swear if you get blood in my cup..."
The two stare at Perseus as he takes another drink and Archer's smirk deepens,"At least one mongrel here knows not to make light of this wine."
Iskandar pours himself another cup while refilling the two other males while Saber declines. As the Macedonian king drinks Saber breaks her silence,"King of Conquerors," and makes the burly man acknowledge her,"you acknowledge another's claim to the grail but you still declare you will take it? What would make you go so far?"
He closes his eyes while mumbling drunkenly before speaking clearly,"True Incarnation."
Perseus is the only one not surprised,"I knew it."
Waver runs up to his servant,"What?! I thought you said it was conquering the worl-!"
He thrown back and Iskandar lowers his arm,"I won't trust a drinking cup to do what I've done once before. I wish for a true life to once more conquer the known world! To defy the heavens and the earth is what conquest is all about from start to finish. That is what I desire."
He downs another cup of wine while Archer takes a sip from his own cup,"I've decided Rider that when the time comes," and he licks his lips,"I will kill you myself."
"Hehehe," Iskandar's laughter is like two stones being struck together,"I already know that as I will be attempting to take the Grail for myself."
Saber now takes her chance to speak,"That's not how a king should be."
Three sets of eyes settle on her,"Oh?" Iskandar questions,"then tell us what you wish for."
Saber remains silent for a moment before speaking with absolute conviction,"I wish for my homeland's salvation. With the Grail I will prevent the destruction of Britain."
Silence follows her statement and Iskandar sets down his cup,"King of Knights, you wish to change fate? To change the past?"
She nods,"Yes, even if it isn't a wish that can be fulfilled then I will find another way to-" and is cut off by Archer's soft chuckling and Rider's questioning,"Just to be sure, Britain fell during your rule yes?"
"Yes," she confirms,"that's why I can't accept it. Why I lament it. Why I want to change the end. Because it is my responsibility-"
By now Archer's laughter has grown loud enough for her to take offense,"Why are you laughing?"
His shoulders shake from the force of his amusement,"You're called a king and praised as such, and yet you 'lament' it? Tell me how it is possible for me to keep a straight face?!"
"Saber," Iskandar speaks gravely,"surely you don't regret the marks you left on history?"
"How could I not?!" the woman speaks seriously,"the country that gave me my blade, the country I gave my life to, was destroyed. Why is it strange to lament that?"
Perseus now jumps in,"Because it shaped the world today. Tell me King of Knights, who sacrifices for their country? The king who rules, or the people who are ruled?"
She answers without a second's hesitation,"The king of course. A king should sacrifice anything to ensure the safety of their country!"
"So you're telling me I have to sacrifice my friends," and his fist tightens around the golden cup,"my sister," by now dents are forming in the precious metal,"my beloved," and the cup is crushed into one disfigured shape,"and my daughter for a temporary ideal?!"
"Saber," Rider says to draw her attention from the angry spirit,"a king does not sacrifice herself for the people. The people sacrifice themselves for the king."
"Those are the words of a tyrant!" she says, appalled at the thought.
"That's what we all are!" Perseus yells at her,"we are kings! We ruled as dictators! There is no difference between the terms!"
Iskandar nods sagely,"Joker speaks the truth Saber. We are tyrants but you are something worse, a fool. For only a fool would regret actions they did not know would come to pass."
"Iskandar," and Saber stands to look down upon the seated king,"your empire ended with the deaths of your heirs and the dividing of your conquests. Do you not regret preventing it?"
He sighs and looks her dead in the eye,"No. Since the end of my empire came about by my decisions along with my subjects then I will cry, I will grieve, but I will never regret. For in showing regret I'd spit on the memories of those who fought alongside me!"
Saber is taken aback,"Only brutes find glory in battle. To be a king is to protect the powerless, to rule with just laws, that is what it means to be a king!"
"Hah!" Perseus crows,"justice?! Protect the powerless?! Your words are those of a knight, not a king! A king exists to empower their subjects, to turn the powerless into warriors. A king exists not to enforce justice but to create it!"
Saber whirls on him,"And what do you know of justice?! What do you know of sacrifice?! You are only a brute masquerading as a kin-!"
The ground a few inches from her right foot explodes and a deadly silence follows until Perseus stands up to tower over the woman,"Silence pretender. I sacrificed years of my life to fight a battle that was never mine, all for my father to acknowledge me. I sacrificed part of my life force to hold up the sky in the place of a former love. In return I was judged by my father and the rest of his siblings. I was betrayed by the love I gave part of my life for. I was subjected to a justice perverted by fear and spite."
With each sentence he takes a step closer until he's right in her face,"And you're right about my kingship. I wasn't chosen by some divine power. I wasn't born into a throne. I didn't conquer the world to prove my might. And I never drew a piece of iron from a damned stone!"
He sighs,"I simply led my people against my father and siblings. Those under my command waged war with the gods of Olympus. And. We. Won. I was uplifted by the people, elevated to my place as king simply because I am the only one who can gather them together and lead them."
He turns away from her,"You never led the people of Britain, only saved them. And we all know what happens when a people are constantly saved, don't we?"
Rider and Archer nod with the former's face set in a grave frown as Perseus continues,"I value power over popularity, loyalty over adoration, ambition above mindlessness, and diversity over singularity."
Saber takes a step back in shock,"A king exists to sacrifice themselves for their ideals! Would you?"
"No."
The word stops Saber cold,"Without me my people would scatter and become easy to destroy. I would fight to live with every bone in my body, unless one of my precious people is hurt. If that happens then I will eliminate anyone, and anything in my way regardless of the cost."