Fated Destiny Book Three

Chapter Three: Queen Takes King

Lunch had long since passed us by, but the three of us still remained as we continued chatting in the cafeteria. I sat there rubbing the brim of my coffee cup as my mind lost itself in thought, I reflected back on the Singularity in Orleans. Had I really made the right decision by betraying Alter Jeanne? After everything she had shown me and after all of her suffering. Didn't that make me no better than the people that betrayed her in life. But I couldn't have betrayed Jeanne either, because doing so would have also been have made me no better than the people who betrayed her. Jeanne and I had also made a pact and become close friends so it would have been like me betraying a friend. Jeanne and I were closer, but in our short time it felt as if Alter Jeanne and I had made some sort of connection. So either way I had been screwed, because I had ended up betraying someone that had relied on me and was close to me. I was also so concerned about the choice I had made... That I instinctively felt myself reach up and grasp the shoulder where Jeanne's command seal was. It was then when I remembered that I had used a Command Spell for Jeanne to boost her strength and power. When I had checked when we got back, her third seal had not returned and it remained at two command seals, while the command seal I had used for Scathach had returned. I didn't understand why her seal had not returned like Scathach's, but even though I didn't understand it. It didn't change the fact that Jeanne's command seals would not come back when I used them, so that means I had to be careful with how I used them in the future...

"Chris!" A Voice broke through my thoughts and I felt as someone grasped my arm shaking it. My head shot up and I saw Jeanne looking at me with a concerned expression on her face. "Chris are you alright?"

"A-Ah Yeah I'm fine. I was just thinking that's all" I said reassuringly and Jeanne retracted her hand back to her lap giving me almost an almost forced smile as it seemed like she wasn't convinced. I raised my hand up to my mouth and cleared my throat. "Ahem anyway Jeanne!" I said and Jeanne's eyes opened at the sound of her name. "Back in your fight with Gilles. You did something I never saw you do before, your sword was engulfed in your flames." I said recalling what I had seen. From my side I heard Mashu let out a surprised gasp. "It looked like you doused your sword in your own blood and then you murmured something in French that I didn't understand" I said tilting my head. "Were you always capable of doing that?" I inquired and a nervous smile formed on Jeanne's lips.

"Too be honest with you Chris, I never knew I could do that either." Jeanne said as she rubbed her hands. "It was just all out of the blue that it suddenly occurred to me and in the heat of the moment I just did it, almost as if a memory returned to me. My body and my lips moved on its own." Jeanne said and I rubbed my chin. Could it be perhaps be as I suspected.... No I don't have any further evidence to back that theory. So it's just a theory until then. I stared at Jeanne intently as I had these thoughts, so much so that Jeanne began to look embarrassed causing me to stop before it got weird.

"It just occurred to me that I forgot to ask if you're alright Jeanne, My apologies. Have your injuries healed? What about your left arm and the cuts on your hand? You were also burned pretty badly." I asked and Jeanne waved her healed hands in front of her.

"I'm fine! It's no problem at all Chris! See! Doctor Roman had me treated and a few days worth of bedrest healed my wounds. However thank you for asking!" Jeanne said and I smiled reassured. "Also all of my memories have returned to me and my parameters have been restored to how they should be." Jeanne said.

"Parameters.... That sounds like something straight out of a video game." I murmured. "How do I check these parameters and can I increase your parameters Jeanne?" I said jokingly. Jeanne only tilted her head in confusion.

"Video.... Game?" Jeanne murmured confused.

"Senpai please don't confuse Jeanne-san...." Mashu murmured in a hushed tone, it almost sounded as if she was scolding me. Jeanne looked at Mashu and then returned her attention to me.