Mordred fell onto the ground, rapidly losing consciousness, as blood started to flow out of her mouth, nose and ears.
"Mordry!"
Nero quickly grabbed her and brought her to the others.
"It's the radiation exposure."
"Do something, then!"
Gilgamesh summoned the Youth Elixir to his hand but stopped.
"W-What are you waiting for, Goldie?"
"You bastard, you had that the whole time and didn't use it before?"
"If you think I would not have done everything in my power to save that girl, then you don't know me."
Gilgamesh looked down at Mordred.
"The process of rejuvenation has several steps, among which one involves a transfer of mana. However, the radiation produced by that girl could convert that mana into more radiation. I thought this was an unconscious ability of hers, but it seems like it's an intrinsic property of this type of radiation."
"Then how do we cure her?"
"We don't."
"?"
"The best way to treat radiation sickness is to treat the symptoms until the radiation dies down."
"That is if the symptoms don't kill her first."
"I wouldn't be so careless to let her die."
Gilgamesh answered.
"After all, she's the only way I know that will lead me to Saber..."
There was a golden light for an instant, then a large golden box appeared next to Mordred.
"Are you... are you going to bury her?"
"Of course not, idiot! This is the prototype of a medical device from the future. Its sole purpose is to analyse the best way to keep someone alive and to provide basic assistance."
"Wow! The future is cool!"
"The future is just a mongrel."
"A... a mongrel?"
"He's the biggest mongrel, slowly turning humanity into the second biggest mongrel."
"I'm not sure that makes a lot of sense..."
"Wow, he called me a mongrel again... not sure I can handle it a third time..." Alaya thought.
Gilgamesh put Mordred inside the medical box, and a robotic voice appeared.
"Scanning complete: radiation sickness. Internal bleeding detected. Searching for other problems. Initiating treatment."
"Now it's time to go."
"Go? Go where?"
"Go forward."
"You're really not thinking anything through today, huh? Where would we even go? Our living compass is currently inside a casket. Moreover, where would you even put that box?"
"I have other veh-"
"That's not the point."
"I don't understand what you're proposing."
"... what do you think I'm proposing? To spend the night here."
"*antisocial hesitation*"
"Oh, come on..."
"It would be a pleasure for us to host you here."
"And it would be a pleasure for us to stay here!"
"Yes... yes... it would be nice..."
"Sorry for the rude introduction we had... and thank you for helping Miki."
"It was the least that we could do, but you really shouldn't thank us... it was all thanks to Mordred."
"Yeah, but I think it's best if we change clothes into something more... wintery."
Nero transformed her clothes into a heavy and fluffy beige jacket coupled with a red scarf, while Salter opted for a more practical coat with a beanie and gloves.
"pff..."
"What are you laughing at, Galter?"
"What are you, a child?"
"Shut up, before I slice you to ribbons!"
"You shouldn't complain, Goldie! You copied my outfit!"
"I'm not copying anyone. If anything, you are copying me. And it's not my fault I always have great ideas."
"Hehe, are you saying mine was a great idea?"
"No, I'm saying you copying me was a great idea."
"Hehe, whatever suits you better."
The Snow Queen created a beautiful palace, worthy of the greatest of royals, and they all went inside. Sometimes, for example for the heating, the help of a certain golden king was needed, but in the end, they all gathered around a fire to eat what Gil's automatic kitchen had prepared.
"Wow, delicious as always... where did you find this?"
"It was a gift, a token of submission."
"You cheater! You didn't find it!"
"You think that I went around gathering every single item in my treasury?"
"I mean... most..."
"... I did find quite a bit... though I'd prefer to say... acquired."
"Once again, thank you for everything you did."
"You shouldn't thank us. We didn't do enough. We didn't do anything. We could do nothing."
Salter moved her head down as if the guilt and shame had forced her not to gaze at the sky.
"Yeah, I really wish we could have done more..."
There was silence for a moment, a veil of sadness covering everyone.
"I remember a similar event. I was traveling in a very fertile region. Though it'd be more accurate that I had decided to explore it on a whim. My friend Enkidu was there. I had heard of a tale of a mysterious spear, carved out of the skeleton of a giant sea monster, that would be given to the hero who slayed the monster who plagued the coastal cities of that region. The people there offered their submission in exchange for the killing of that living natural disaster.
I cared little about their well-being and only focused on the prospect of acquiring a new toy, so to speak. Once we found the creature, we restrained it, and I shot at it. However, its scales seemed to be impervious to all damage. Just as I was about to lose my patience, Enkidu, through his strong bond with all that nature willed into existence, told me to stop, since he had sensed a deep pain surrounding that beast's soul. He convinced me to set it free from its restraints. Sure enough, the monster turned around, exposing his weak side, and letting me slay it.
Its body seemed to become one with the waves, only its skeleton remained intact, from which one of the ribs changed forms and became a spear. As soon as I grabbed it, I saw a spirit rise up from it. I readied my weapons, but Enkidu advised me to wait. The spirit smiled and slowly ascended to the sky. As I started at it, I learned of its story:
there once was a young girl, so beautiful in appearance and gentleness that the Sky God An fell in love with her. However, she was enamored of a boy from her village and refused him. An ordered Enki to transform her into the most hideous form he could think of and said that so long as her bones remained attached she could never find peace, neither in life nor in death. All the destruction she had caused were just attempts to go back to the life she once had or to seek the liberation of death. Her lover was killed in one of these incidents, and she couldn't even mourn her death. Because who can distinguish water from tears?
Sometime later, I found myself for various reasons in the Underworld. As I was talking to Ereshkigal, she mentioned that the girl, finally able to rest in the Underworld, had found her lover's soul, and that their spirits had nearly become one. And still they are there, together, forever, until the end of time, happy.
Sometimes, from the greatest curses new fortune can be obtained, and pain and hate can be eased in order to open up a path of love. Life is precious, but sometimes to appreciate it fully, death first needs to take its course. Such is the nature of this world."
"Wow... that was... that was beautiful."
"You know, Galter, if you had not been so busy being a ruler, you could have become the King of Storytellers."
"Then I wouldn't have my treasures, because who has ever heard of a good writer who's rich?"
Laughter spread across the group at this remark. Soon the night came, and with it came also sleepiness, so everyone went to their rooms.
Meanwhile, in a place outside space and time...
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
"I didn't take you for the sentimental type, Gaia."
"I'm not sad because of that girl! Those two Sabers... they became too strong! Take the one in black... she just blitzed the supposedly strongest Heroic Spirit. Not to mention... they can cut through dimensions now?! Just casually, everytime they swing their swords? That's incredibly overpowered!"
"So?"
"So? Now the game's ruined! They're too strong! What's the point of watching? They can literally one shot every enemy they'll face from now on!"
"Mmm, I'm not sure... if the King of Heroes were to go all out, he might have a chance..."
"Well then it's just wonderful that he also happens to be their only ally."
"You mustn't worry that much, we can always tone down their strength however we see fit."
"But then... what's the point? We can make any Servant beat any Servant..."
"Well, I said we can adjust it, not completely remove their improvements. It would be a waste after all. And in the end... they need all the power they can muster to defeat the Grand Servants."
Back at the ice palace...
After a few hours, Gilgamesh woke up. It was still dark, the only source of light being distant stars. He walked around the palace, unable to return to bed. He noticed that the fire was still on and when he got closer, he saw that Nero was there too.
"Seems like I'm not the only one whose eyes won't stay close any longer."
"Ah, Goldie, it's you..."
"Were you concerned a ghost would appear?"
"Who's to say he won't?"
"I'd never allow the existence of such a ridiculous being."
"Hehe... I can't help but keep thinking at Mordry's words... about parents... loving their children... I want to believe it... I really do... but... but how can I... when I was stuck with Salty, I nearly died hundreds of times... because I kept having migraines... caused by my mother. Even now, just before going to sleep, I had another episode. But it's not just the pain that bothers me... every time I feel like my head hurts... I'm reminded of her... of what she did... both in my first life... and in this... all the pain she caused me... and the ones I care about... and I can't help but wonder... where's the love in that?"
"... the problem is that you think of love as something only positive, that you are always willing and eager to receive. Think of a sword... you love it for its practicality, for its uses, for the support it gives you... but that love will never be the same love that you have for a person... but that's just your way of viewing love. To some, people are like tools, and they love them accordingly. I have few doubts that, deep down, your mother did truly love you... but the question is... do you accept that love? Just like you can refute hate, and refute those who feel that way toward you, why shouldn't you be allowed to do the same with those who love you? You don't have any obligation to accept the love that someone offers you, just like they don't have to accept yours."
"But then... how do you view love, Goldie?"
"Love is a weakness, it clouds judgment, manipulates the will of men, and ends just as quickly as it begins. I find hate much more useful, honest, and lasting."
"But you don't hate me, do you?"
"... no, I don't, infuriatingly enough. I like you. And that's why you're a problem."
"Hehe, then you certainly are one of my problems too."
"He... I'm glad."
"Yeah, I am too."
Nero looked at Gilgamesh, as she sat on her knees, while the fire crackled quietly. She moved her face closer, as she kept looking him in the eyes, with an unreadable expression. Gilgamesh felt a certain uneasiness and something else he couldn't explain, as Nero's face was now a few inches from his.
Then, with a little sound of understanding and a small smile, she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I was trying to see if you were sincere... I can tell when I stare at people long enough... I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"You think such a thing would be enough to make me uncomfortable? Quite absurd. More importantly... what's the meaning of this?"
"I got sleepy again, but now I'm too sleepy. Would you be so kind to carry me to my bedroom?"
"Who am I supposed to be, your servant?"
"No, just a problem."
"... you really are a nuisance. I know you're headstrong enough to be willing to wake everyone up if you don't get your way, so I'll oblige just this once. You should feel honored."
"I am very honored and thankful."
"As you should."
Gilgamesh walked back toward the rooms, noticing that Nero was already sleeping.
"How can one surrender to sleep so fast..."
He reached her room, and gently laid her on her bed. He looked at her for a second, then turned around, but he soon turned toward the bed again and, with a long sigh, tucked her in. He then left, turning around one more time when he reached the door.
"Goodnight, Nero."