"Ahahahahahahahah!" Valtor laughed, seeing that Mael's servant was not coming.
"How about you then?" Valtor summoned his servant, but this time it was different; nothing appeared.
Mael held back his laugh, then burst out wheezing as no servant arrived upon Valtor's summons. He was utterly confused. What was happening today? Had Plot Armor been negated because Mael was here? Or was it something else Valtor didn't know?
It needed a catalyst, but none of them appeared, even after using many Fate catalysts. Something was truly wrong, and Valtor was confused about it.
"Brother," Valtor looked at Mael, who gave him a clue, pointing at Jeanne.
"I can't summon a servant because I have a servant in the first place... oh no, it's a worse possibility." Valtor sat down and thought it through.
The current situation was Laeticia's wish: "My first wish, please let Jeanne live a happy life with Cardinal Ars Viole in Domrémy where Jeanne was born. My second wish was... please let Jeanne and Cardinal V live as human."
"V?" Valtor raised his hand and continued to come up with a plan that would not be like that for them.
"Laeticia, please don't be sad, okay... hear me out," As Valtor tried to brace himself, he explained something.
Jeanne was counted as a Servant because her soul was a "servant" molded into a new human body by Laeticia's wish. The Grail treated her as a Pseudo-Servant: she was human but labeled as a servant, though not possessing servant abilities.
"If we make a contract, it will contradict the wish. Jeanne will be a Servant again as a lingering soul, and it will also negate the first wish that you cannot enjoy a happy life as a human. And your servant construct will turn into an altered state where your embodiment as a saint of purity will become a saint of resentment and gloating towards humanity, because it will alter your history where you were supposedly burned at the stake, but you were tortured and imprisoned as a witch. You will abhor humans equally and without even an ounce of empathy or humanity left for them; not even the slightest human reasoning can convince you otherwise. That is the effect for Jeanne. But there is another possible action."
"What is it?"
"Reverse Servant. Jeanne will be the Master, while I will be the servant." Jeanne thought about it. Mael nodded in agreement, as it was a possible answer to not negate the wish and avoid a worse outcome.
"Is that possible?"
"Possible. Just trust me." Jeanne looked at Laeticia. Laeticia nodded, and Jeanne nodded to Valtor.
"Yes, I am ready." Valtor grabbed Jeanne's hand then spoke in an Angelic language.
Suddenly, Jeanne could feel her body change tremendously as the Divine Arche Body started to take effect upon her. God Chain: Oath began to activate as God and Angelic entities manifested as the brightest light and blessed her with an Oath.
"Win the war with V as your servant." God's Will had already been declared. The angels and God vanished from the sanctum, and God Luck: God Favors activated as Jeanne was literally coated with Holy magic all over her body. An ethereal light luminous upon her, and she was a walking saint.
And suddenly, she received a mark of an Angel as Summon Guardian: Angel specifically activated; she could summon them whenever she wanted.
Jeanne's Fables & Poise
Light Descending to Abyss: The User is immune to darkness and evil effects. (This fable started taking effect as World Impurity and Evil would not corrupt Jeanne.)
Final Boss I Am: User is always at their peak, full potential, and surpasses their limits in battle situations and other challenges. (This fable boosted Jeanne's capability beyond her wildest dreams.)
Aeion Heart (Unknown): Chaos and Hope Ability, Specific Condition Required.
Prima Materia Heart / Yliaster Heart (Myth): Empowers Magic and Supernatural abilities to the highest degree, granting mastery over all aspects of creation and transformation, Perfect Purity, and Mastery Over All Magical and Spiritual Aspects. This heart serves as the source of all matter and energy, allowing the user to manipulate and transmute matters at will. Additionally, the Prima Materia Heart / Yliaster Heart grants the user control over the fundamental essence of existence, allowing for manipulation of matter, energy, and the fabric of reality itself.
Purified Cursed Dark Soul (Unknown): Grants Immortality and Curse Immunity, Attracts and Harnesses Pure Dark Essence.
Trinity of Fierce Deity (Myth): Bestows various mystical abilities, including invulnerability to any magic and supernatural power, divine wisdom for better usage of knowledge, and magic protection and fear. The Trinity embodies the unity of Wisdom, Power, and Courage, granting the user unparalleled strength, knowledge, and bravery. Additionally, the Trinity's capabilities can adapt and evolve based on the user's actions and intentions, ensuring that they always have the necessary skills to overcome any challenge.
Unity of Solaris (Unknown): Grants the user omnipotent energy to sustain power, energy, or conceptual force.
As the Poise activated, she felt like an entirely different person, getting more above her head with her new power.
"V, did my eyes fail me?"
"No, what you see before you is real. You met God in person. Laeticia also met God, the Devil, Angel, and Demon. You two are the luckiest people to see them in person. They exist beyond creation... You met God and an Angel. Laeticia's memory is vague because her brain responded to it as a natural reaction to shock. I apologize for hiding it from you and unintentionally hurting you. Please do not brag about it to others, or they will literally pester you." Valtor took out the Blade of Chaos, Gauntlet of Zeus, and Fierce Deity Sword.
"We will have company here. There are 40 Masters and nearly 48 Servants. Hide here with my brother. He will protect you. You can summon an Angel to aid me." A prototype Angel Wing appeared. Valtor changed the prototype into Sankta Wing, a true light wing that was amazing to look at.
"V, please be careful." Valtor went out and rampaged on all the other Masters. He fluidly used the Blade of Chaos, defeating immortal beings supposedly using the Gauntlet of Zeus and defeating Divine Spirits using the Fierce Deity sword.
Valtor only took three hours to defeat all of them, even Darnic's Servants, who were now different from the original.
"What a waste." Valtor was lucky to be using a cloak that hid his face and a voice changer to alter his voice. He arrived in the Sanctum with the Greater Grail manifest upon them.
"Three-hour record. What took you so long?" Mael tossed the water, Valtor grabbed it, and looked at Laeticia and Jeanne, who had fallen asleep.
"I took my sweet time." Valtor rested, as his weapons had already grown addicted to their master's skill and power.
"Be honest, why did you lose the scenario? It's unusual for you to lose willingly." Valtor drank the water and looked at Laeticia and Jeanne.
"No reason. Sometimes losing once is not that bad." Mael smiled and looked at Valtor, who sneezed, creating a blast of fire. Mael cackled upon it as he tried to engage in simple brother-to-brother interaction.
"Talk about the future world. Which one will you go to?"
"Suggestion?"
"Xianxia or Wuxia, whatever you choose, man."
"Either of them is practically busted due to the Unity of Solaris as my Spiritual Roots. That's a fact. And using the Golden Tree as a 'Martial Foundation' is another busted ability to access many things... But the majority of Xianxia or Wuxia conflicts pit faction against faction, with highly esteemed people who think they're above the sky, but they literally still walk on the land."
"Yes, that's true. And they still consume whatever they find on the land, not from the sky as the 'rule' says so. But we're not going to follow the rule, though."
"Correct. We play the game with cheat codes in advance. We don't play fair; we play our own game." Valtor dismissed the Spirit sharing and the Master-Servant bond from Jeanne and healed her before the incident like with the other Servants.
"By the way, there is something I need to do in Greater Ark and Svarga. You should leave this world as soon as possible. Don't dwell in the world for too long, or you will grow fond of it." Mael opened a portal to Greater Ark, and he vanished. Valtor nodded and looked at the two of them, who were still sleeping. Valtor returned to his church.
The news of the Grail War spread. An anonymous Master won the war and escaped with the Grail. Valtor was cunning; he pretended to participate, but his Servant was also defeated by the anonymous winner. He needed more time to build a new Grail, as the Mage's Association was now keeping an eye on him. However, the Church had already given him many benefits, as his church had been completely modified and changed. Some even sent Church Executors, Exorcists, and members from the Mage's Association with fake identities as Church members to observe Valtor.
The church became rowdy with the arrival of new members. Jeanne and Laeticia had little free time, as the new members were as strict as before and could not tolerate slacking off. Valtor had already experienced this strict rule in the church as he also studied sacraments with his new Angel wing that glowed in the night.
Usually, Valtor asked Laeticia and Jeanne to go to the secret dungeon, while everyone was busy pretending that the three of them were checking something in the basement storage.
"Hyperbolic time chamber?"
"Think of it like a dream. One second in here can be 1 to 10,000,000 seconds, hours, days, or even years, entirely depending on us. As long as the second passes here, it will be inflated inside, and whatever you do inside will affect it. You two don't seem fond of others who pester you, so we'll be a little naughty. We're going to slack off for ten days in there while only one second passes here."
"No wonder you mysteriously disappear at times; you're actually in here?"
"Yes. Go in before they realize we've vanished." The three of them entered and reached a white room. Valtor summoned a room for them to slack off in, filled with many things they liked.
"You can slack off in there. Don't disturb my training." Valtor started his training as usual, and his Dark self appeared to help him master the Blade of Chaos and Gauntlet of Zeus. He was observed by Jeanne and Laeticia, who focused on Valtor's muscle mass.
"Jeanne."
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever thought to make a move?" Jeanne blushed upon hearing Laeticia, who was observing Valtor fight.
"Why do you ask that?"
"Do you like him, right?"
"... Yes, more like admiration than love." Laeticia smiled. She was aware that Jeanne loved everyone, but no one surpassed her love for Valtor. Valtor was a bit of a sadist and a teaser, but he genuinely cared about those he held dear.
"Can I love him?" Jeanne was shocked by Laeticia's bold approach, as she kept observing Valtor. Jeanne didn't avert her eyes from Valtor, who continued his training.
"... You can. Love is for everyone, right?"
"You're not jealous, right?"
"Jealous? No, no, no, absolutely not."
"I will confess. I hope you won't get jealous." Laeticia made up her mind and approached Valtor, who had stopped training with his Dark self. Jeanne watched Laeticia, who boldly executed her plan, feeling something in her heart hurt.
Until she saw something beyond her sight. Laeticia boldly kissed Valtor's cheek, her face turning bright red. She sat back beside Jeanne and hid her face from her.
Jeanne really wanted to ask questions, but Laeticia's actions made her question her own resolve.
"Laeticia, what did he say?"
"He said yes. But due to Church regulations, we should keep the relationship secret."
"But he's a Cardinal; he can't do explicit things like that."
"Jeanne, you're mistaken. A Cardinal has duties; he's indeed a God-chosen man, but that doesn't mean he's perfect. He's a man, a lonely man who misses a woman's embrace. He would love to build another relationship, even with someone inexperienced like me. But it doesn't matter. I might learn one or two things from a widower like him." And Valtor, as a dedicated man, did so wholeheartedly.
He understood that women were complicated, but he took a simple approach: paying attention to them.
He took his time to understand Laeticia, learning what she liked, what she didn't, her hopes and dreams for the future, and helping her overcome her past trauma, which she openly shared with Valtor.
As Valtor gave Laeticia affection, he did so as he would to his wife, excited and happy when she was around. He would meet her when his duties as a pastor were done, always checking on her condition or seeing if there was something she wanted to do or could do in her spare time. Whether it was cooking, knitting, or anything else that genuinely enhanced her skills, he didn't mind offering physical contact at appropriate times and places. Sometimes, Valtor would give her cheek kisses or forehead kisses when she did a good job, and he couldn't make hand physical contact with her dragon hand, as it stung others. When Laeticia was in a mood swing, Valtor would give her gifts or snacks to boost her mood.
Valtor and Laeticia's relationship wasn't visible to others; they knew when the right time and place for affection were, being professional during the day but giving each other affection at night. However, Jeanne was always there as the third wheel, witnessing everything.
Valtor had many chances and opportunities to commit adultery, but he didn't want Laeticia to become corrupted, remembering what happened to Kal'tsit and others. Indulging in sexual satisfaction could make one foolish.
As Valtor went to Notre-Dame for a Cardinal meeting, especially regarding his involvement in the Grail War, which concerned the Pope due to the Miracle item, Jeanne and Laeticia sat face to face.
"Jeanne? Why did you make me stay? I should go help others."
"You two actually did it?"
"Did what?"
"You know... *gestures intercourse*" Laeticia gasped and looked around, then at Jeanne.
"No... We cannot do that. You know, these people are spies. Eyes are everywhere and ears anywhere. Pay attention, Jeanne. Do not let your guard down because you're jealous."
"I am not jealous."
"Yes, you are. V and I are aware, and so are you. You're just not being honest with yourself. Stop being a saint; treat yourself as a maiden in search of the meaning of life. Saint Jeanne D'Arc is already gone, a part of history. Make a new one today as who you are, Jeannette." Laeticia held Jeanne's hand, looking at her with concern and understanding.
"We indeed have a duty to preach the will of the Lord, but God never forces us to do so. God gives us the freedom of free will. You freely treat yourself as a servant of God to preach His holy word and command, but don't be jealous of mortal affection. But you've overlooked it. I wish for you to be human so you can be Jeannette, not Saint Jeanne D'Arc. You don't understand my true wish. I thought you understood me, but it seems I misjudged you. I am sorry, Jeanne, if my actions robbed away your happiness, which I wished for. But I hope my actions make you aware. Happiness comes from someone who earns it. I must go, or I'll get another scolding from Sister." Laeticia walked away in a hurry as she heard someone calling her name downstairs.
Jeanne sat down, gripping her hand, her heart and feelings arguing. What was true happiness? She had already reached the end of being a saint, having met God and the angels in person, albeit temporarily. Her saintly duty was over; everyone here called her Sister Jeanne, a kind older sister who always smiled and brought joy to others.
But despite all of that, deep down in her heart, she was unhappy, unsatisfied. She saw Laeticia receiving so much affection from Valtor, happy and excited around him, talking, interacting, and engaging in physical affection like forehead kisses and cheek kisses. Despite the limited time they had, Laeticia was genuinely happy, even though she was better off than Jeanne.
Valtor taught Laeticia anything she wanted to learn. When she did a good job, he praised her and boosted her mood and confidence. When she was going through mood swings due to menstruation or hormones, Valtor would give her gifts to lift her bad mood, sometimes giving snacks to alleviate her pain. This made Laeticia never have a bad attitude toward others or Valtor, despite her condition.
Valtor treated others the same but not as special as Laeticia in secrecy. Jeanne was there as the third wheel, listening and seeing everything. What if their positions were switched? Jeanne should be bold and take the initiative, not be passive and wait. God favors the brave, and Laeticia deserved Valtor's affection because of it. Jeanne couldn't blame Laeticia or Valtor; she blamed herself. Someone wished her happiness, and she was the one who didn't earn it, but rather pushed it aside.
"God, what should I do?" Suddenly, a light appeared. From the light emerged an envelope with angelic wings and Latin font.
Jeanne opened it and read the message from above.
"Be honest and be brave, My Child.... Signed, God." The envelope disappeared into light, and Jeanne now had a purpose.
"Pastor V, I'm in love with you." Jeanne actually confessed when Valtor and the others were in a meeting. Laeticia smacked her head for Jeanne's confession, while Valtor was caught off guard.
"Thank you. Everyone also loves me, but could you please sit down? It's an important matter." Jeanne was confused, and Laeticia whispered to her to sit down and be moderate with the others. Valtor announced that he was honorably discharged from his Cardinal duty and free from Church jurisdiction due to a violation of Church order. As compensation for returning the Holy Grail to the Church Order, Valtor gained a pension and a little pocket money for retirement. He could retire in Paris, as the Pope ordered him to stay there.
"That's a wrap. Thank you for your duty, my fellow God Servants. I'll see you in Paris. Finally, I can pursue my passion job of opening a pâtisserie shop. Jeanne and Laeticia, you two are also honorably discharged from the Pope's Degree to stay as common citizens of France. Here's the degree. We should go now, as the Pope wants it. So, let's go!" Both of them hurriedly packed their things as Valtor said goodbye to the others, having already used the grail to make his wishes. The wish was simple: retire from church membership, retire Jeanne and Laeticia as common citizens, and detach himself from the Mage's and Church's business.
As they finished, they left the Church to the Church members to take care of. The trio then returned to Paris as ordinary citizens, no longer tracked by the Mage's Association due to the wish that Valtor secretly made without Jeanne's awareness.
He used the wish to secretly twist the law so that polygamy was accepted for the three of them. The second wish was simpler: a marriage certificate approved by the Pope and the Government. The third wish was also simple: Valtor wanted three more wishes for himself.
And the grail fulfilled them. Valtor's simple wishes included renovating his shop with comfortable architecture, securing a good second-floor location with ownership under his real name, and upgrading his benevolent deity trait for his own use.
[ Benevolence Deity Upgrade into Innocent Fallen Angel
Royalty Courtesy: The user possesses a regal aura that compels those around them to behave with utmost politeness and respect. Merely by their presence, even the most irrational or chaotic individuals are compelled to conduct themselves with dignity and orderliness. This ability extends to instilling a sense of sophistication and decorum in others, preventing outbursts of emotion or disorder and fostering an atmosphere of civility and respect.
Pure Innocent: The user emanates an aura of innocence, influencing those around them to perceive and embody innocence themselves. This effect absolves the user of responsibility for any wrongdoing attributed to them, shifting blame onto others or even causing events to appear as accidents. It creates an aura of purity around the user, shielding them from consequences and allowing them to navigate situations with impunity.
Indomitable Compassion: Through their presence and actions, the user exudes a boundless and profound love that encompasses compassion, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. Their compassion knows no bounds, extending to all beings without discrimination. This indomitable love serves as a guiding light, inspiring others to acts of kindness and fostering a world of empathy and understanding.
Gentle Hand: The user possesses a delicate touch, able to provide care and assistance to those in need with unparalleled tenderness and attentiveness. Whether through physical affection or subtle gestures, they offer comfort and solace to others, helping to mend wounds and ease suffering. Their gentle touch brings warmth and reassurance, fostering healing and renewal.
Comforting Presence: The user's very existence radiates comfort, imbuing their surroundings with a sense of ease and tranquility. Whether through conscious effort or subconscious influence, they have the ability to make anything comfortable for those around them. Their presence brings solace and peace, creating a sanctuary of comfort in even the most trying of circumstances.
Empathy and Tolerance: With a profound understanding of others' emotions and a deep well of tolerance, the user can empathize with individuals on a level beyond superficial observation. They discern hidden feelings and inner turmoil, offering understanding and support without judgment or discrimination. Their acceptance of all beings, regardless of nature or condition, fosters an environment of inclusivity and compassion.
Be One with Yourself: The user embraces a philosophy of self-acceptance and harmony, extending this acceptance to all aspects of existence. They recognize the inherent value and equality of all beings, embracing the diversity of life without prejudice or bias. This harmonious acceptance encompasses all facets of existence, from light to darkness, creation to destruction, fostering a sense of unity and interconnectedness in the world]
They arrived at a location completely covered with an intricate house covering, situated close to the Eiffel Tower and near the Seine River. It was an ideal location for business, and once Valtor removed the cover, a grand design of a pastry shop was revealed. The bottom floor boasted a comfortable layout designed for tourists and locals alike.
The design was simple, minimalist, and easy to navigate, with a complete kitchen equipped with cutting-edge technology. A staircase led to the upper floor, which housed four rooms.
"Stay here. You can rest if you want, or you can help me prepare the shop. You're free to do whatever you like here or out there. There will be no interference from the Church or the Mage's Association to disturb our peace," Valtor declared, and they lived happily ever after. Well, not really. Valtor had already intended for them to spend their time together.