#edoguda

Late at night in Novum Chaldea.

In her room, Ritsuka could not sleep. Her heart felt unsteady.

The feeling that, in order to save the bleached Earth, she had taken with her own hands the lives of people who had truly lived in the Lostbelts.

The weight of choosing which lives had to be cut away—something she had never known on the journey to restore Proper Human History.

As she sat there, staring vaguely into the dark, a voice reached her.

‘…You cannot sleep?’

At that voice, she lifted her gaze.

A shadow clad in black.

The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantès.

‘No… I just keep thinking about all sorts of things.’

Ritsuka lowered her eyes slightly as she murmured.

Seeing her like that, the Count began to speak.

‘You are you. No one can interfere with the way you exist.’

‘But—’

‘Even if those hands, those feet—no matter how deeply they may be stained with blood—your essence is not defiled in the slightest. …As if it could be. Do you think such base karma could ever shake your worth? I shall be the one to declare it. You remain my Master. So long as you are reflected in these eyes—that alone is an unshaken truth.’

‘…Thank you, Edmond—my Avenger.’

Ritsuka smiled.

The darkened fingertips visible beneath the black innerwear she wore as sleepwear. Her scarred hands and feet, and the wound across her stomach.

She had already drifted away from the sensibilities of an ordinary girl.

Even so, there was someone who still called her his Master. His accomplice.

Silence fell between them.

But it was proof of understanding and trust.

At her feet, lit by the room’s light, the Count’s shadow lay beside her own.

"why don't you sit beside me?" ritsuka said, her eyes soft as the same hand he held moved to cup his cheek. "is there something wrong?"

he remains quiet before her, staring at her from below with a gaze unreadable. what was he to say? what was he to do in answering that question? there are many things wrong, such as how each inch of his existence vehemently refuses to believe this is reality and no dream, that she breathes before him, safe and sound? but he remains quiet, for there is truly nothing wrong.

not in this moment. not in this timeline.

it takes a breath. of closing his eyes, and leaning only very slightly against her touch to anchor him back to this world.

"nothing of the sort, my accomplice," he spoke softly, as if afraid of disturbing the well of starlight before him. "we have a long ways to go before we reach this castle's exit. so rest, slumber for now while i keep watch.

and he rose from his position, reaching out to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. clearly, her eyes convey the desire of tucking herself in his arms and sees his reason, yet stubborn as she is, she holds onto the hand he had threaded into her sunset hair.

"its cold though..." with cheeks dusted pink, the Avenger nearly gives up then and there. but his determination remains, persistent on its own as his desire to protect her from all harm. (yet he had nearly given up in the face of her gaze with the chains of logic barely holding him back)

so he gives her his coat. and wraps her around it, imbued with the right kind of warmth she liked. a compromise for his Master where he almost immediately regretted as he felt a twinge of jealousy to an article of clothing he owns.

but being given his coat, ritsuka had reached out to kiss him. feeling the push of magical energy to his being as well as the tenderness of the gesture on his lips, "come back soon, Avenger." like a star had burst before his eyes, her smile was soft as it was bright.

(as soon as ritsuka fell asleep, the hundreds of enemies awaiting outside the room had disappeared,leaving only the faintest scorch marks on the floor.

Oberon/Gudao + Edmond/Gudao: Competiting for their Master

Page 1:

Oberon: Oh, isn’t this weird? Master has a plan with me from now, so I wonder why is there other people with him?

Page 2: 

Edmond: He has made a promise with me earlier but... You didn’t know?

Page 3:

Oberon: *goes to his Vortigern mode, shows middle finger*

Edmond: Oh? *triggered*

Page 4

Gudao: Ah... *interally panicking* “I don’t remember making a promise with those two in the first place. And I promise to eat with Ichi-chan, and they’ll picked me up soon...”