Alaric offered no comment, his gaze lifting to the moon in the dreamscape sky. As if recalling something, he said with a hint of sentiment, "Fate is indeed never kind."
"But through a good thrashing, we can always make fate bow its head." He added, his tone shifting abruptly.
The Evernight Goddess glanced at him, a faint smile crossing her lips. "Before meeting you, I imagined many scenarios for how this encounter might unfold."
"And is this one within your expectations?" Alaric asked, smiling back at her.
"To be honest, no." The Evernight Goddess replied, shaking her head and spreading her hands. "I considered we might clash swords, engage in insincere pleasantries, or hold a serious negotiation, but…"
She looked at Alaric, her tone carrying a deeper meaning. "You're more human than I expected."
"What, did you think I was some terrifying monster?" Alaric raised an eyebrow, then asked with sudden curiosity, "Actually, I've been wondering for a while... how do I appear in your eyes? Care to share?"
The Evernight Goddess's expression grew subtle for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. "Are you familiar with the concept of a False Human?"
"I've heard of it." Alaric nodded.
Legends of False Humans varied, but they generally described non-human entities that disguised themselves as humans, sometimes even taking their place.
"In my eyes, you're like a False Human. At first glance, you seem unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, one can sense something indescribable… monstrous within that human shell." The Evernight Goddess said, pausing briefly. "Forgive me for calling you that, but that was my initial impression of you."
"Sounds terrifying." Alaric remarked, raising an eyebrow. He knew she had likely glimpsed the fragment of Nyarlathotep sealed within him, or perhaps even caught a hint of his soul's true nature. Either way, it didn't matter much.
Curious, he pressed on. "Did you ever consider striking first to eliminate me?"
The Evernight Goddess fell silent for a second before nodding. "I did consider it. You know how fragile our world is... threats from within, dangers from without. Any crisis could shatter this seemingly prosperous world."
"Yet you did nothing." Alaric said, unsurprised, his gaze fixed on her.
"Because I didn't dare." She admitted candidly, meeting his eyes. "I couldn't see through you, but I could vaguely sense your essence... something far beyond Sequence 0. I couldn't be certain that acting against you wouldn't hasten the world's destruction."
"And…" She added, a faint smile appearing as if recalling something. "I noticed your interactions with the True Creator. I don't know what deal you struck, but I believe one thing: even a fallen Sun God still loves this world. Even in madness, he would strive to save it."
"So, it sounds like the Sun God's reputation vouched for me." Alaric summed up, his tone leisurely.
"You could say that." The Evernight Goddess replied, nodding without denial. "Out of trust in the Sun God, I chose to observe you. That allowed me to see beyond the distorted, mad, indescribable essence within you."
"Your actions convinced me you harbor goodwill toward humanity. I don't know if it's a facade, but it's reassuring news." She continued, looking at Alaric. "Later, I learned you could summon the Sun God from the past and saw what you did in the border city. That confirmed you're currently on humanity's side, even if it's just a game to you. At least until you tire of it, you remain benevolent."
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "So, you shared my information with Lilith, guessing I'd approach her."
"To wage a war, food and healers are essential. Others might not sway the Earth Mother, but you can. You have the leverage to tempt her and the power to make her yield." The Evernight Goddess said, her voice still soft, not denying his accusation. "It's a win for her too. If anyone can solve her problems, it's likely you... the only one with that capability."
"You place a lot of faith in me." Alaric said, chuckling as if moved.
"That's because I've witnessed the miracles you've wrought and glimpsed a fragment of your true essence." She replied earnestly.
"Yet you still fear me." Alaric said, his smile taking on a knowing edge.
The Evernight Goddess fell silent again. After a few seconds, she nodded, not denying it. "I do fear you. I can't be certain that once you tire of this game, you won't become the next to push this world into the abyss."
"Forgive me, but this world is unkind. I must prepare for every possibility."
"Hmm, usually, that kind of talk precedes a backstab…" Alaric rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment before looking at her with interest. "So, have you got three hundred Night Archbishops lying in ambush?"
"The Church of Evernight likely doesn't have three hundred archbishops, and a human wave tactic would be useless against you." She said, shaking her head with a wry, helpless smile.
"But if that day comes, you'd still try, wouldn't you?" Alaric's smile grew more serious, though it retained its carefree air.
"It's their duty, and mine, to protect this world. If I can't…" The Evernight Goddess paused, looking at Alaric with resolve. "At the very least, when you destroy this world, I'll try to drag you down with me."
Alaric met her gaze, knowing she meant every word. She was prepared to perish alongside him if it came to that.
This struck him as oddly amusing, and he burst into laughter.
"Pffthaha!"
His laughter was loud, tinged with both joy and sentiment. After a while, he looked at the Evernight Goddess and said, "You know, I once said something similar to a loathsome being. He tried to destroy my world, so I dragged him down with me to death."
The Evernight Goddess listened quietly, her eyes lowered as if lost in thought. When Alaric finished, she spoke softly, "Yet you are still alive."
***
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to let you know that right now I'm working on a really good and promising fate fanfic. If you're interested in reading it, feel free to give it a try:
[Fate/Max Level Returner]
Synopsis:
What if you took your max-level account and replayed the entire story from the beginning?
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