Code Realize: Saint-Germain Chapters 11-13
Jan. 7th, 2019 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist of Code Realize posts
This was great! Weird, but I like weird :D
Content note: Violence, suicide
So, Cardia has returned to the hotel.
Everyone is really happy to see her, but looks miserable after she explains what happened with Saint-Germain.
Van Helsing: Welp, time to kill Saint-Germain, I guess!
Cardia: No, I want to save him! I realise his smiles were fake...
Van Helsing: Because he's a liar who needs to die?
Cardia: Because he was fooling himself. He's so sad, I want to see him happy.
Lupin: Or you could stay with us and find a cure and not get murdered?
Cardia: Sorry, I know it's selfish. But his happiness is what matters the most to me.
There is an awkward pause and she thinks they're all angry at her but then they all commit to helping her out, because they are indebted friends, not just of her, but of Saint-Germain. (Well, except Van Helsing, who refuses to be part of any "lukewarm friendship", but does admit he owes Saint-Germain a favour)
Victor says he has one clue to finding Saint-Germain: an alchemy book written by a "Count Saint-Germain" two hundred years earlier, with the same handwriting. Cardia can easily imagine him being hundreds of years old.
Cardia retraces her steps but can't find the second mansion no matter how hard she looks. They decide to investigate Isaac again: if he knew about the "Apostles of Idea" that Saint-Germain is a member of, maybe they can learn more about Saint-Germain by investigating Isaac. And the reason Saint-Germain wants to kill Cardia is probably related to the way she was created.
As they visit the underground clone facility again, Cardia wonders if learning more about him will change her feelings for him, and when those feelings became so strong. Lupin good naturedly asks why she loves Saint-Germain and she's not sure why she's so embarrassed (She hasn't quite figured out it's romantic love for either of them) but explains how she came to really enjoy spending time with him, but now things have changed she wants to figure out her feelings and love him again.
Lupin: Oh man, you're making me jealous...
Cardia: What?
Lupin: Nothing!
Aw.
Cardia examines the clone vat room, trying not to be overcome by horror at her own existence. As she reaches the dried pool of Finis's blood she steps on something...
THE PENDANT
OH NO
She only got activated as a bomb on Victor's path, which is why it hasn't come up again. But if she touches the pendant now... D: D:
She looks into the pendant and is entranced by it's glow. Her boobgem start to glow and get warm D:
Victor runs up and slaps the pendant out of her hands, and her boobgem starts to cool. In his research he'd discovered that if the boobgem is ever fully refined to the Philosopher's Stone she'll become exponentially more poisonous, and correctly surmises that this pendant is the key. She is understandably horrified but he says maybe the pendant can be useful, too. He carefully wraps it in a handkerchief and puts it in his pocket.
Lupin finds a note: "My one enemy is Idea, the 'guardians of history' who have guided humanity since ancient times. I am committing a taboo in God's eyes. So I shall fight for the creation of a new world."
And then the Knight attacks. I am pretty sure the Knight is a woman, because (a) The text carefully avoids gendering them (b) There's a choice later on involving a "she", and the one other existing named female character, Victoria, doesn't seem to be relevant to this path.
Van Helsing says everyone else should run while he buys them some time but is secretly happy when Impey and Victor stay to help.
Lupin runs with Cardia towards the exit...but the Knight is there. (Or maybe there's more than one?)
Lupin raises his walking stick.
Cardia: No, even Van Helsing couldn't fight it!
Lupin: Excuse you. I am Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief. Fighting is for savages.
He uses his stick to turn off the lights, hee. He pulls her with him towards the entrance in the dark...and then she hears a sword hitting flesh D:
As Cardia's eyes adjust to the dark, she sees a bleeding Lupin standing between her and the knight. Lupin tells her to run, and then there is the sound of the sword coming down, and hitting...something metal?
Cardia: Saint-Germain???
Saint-Germain: Didn't I tell you? I'm the one who's going to kill you.
And then the knight finally speaks, in a rich, metallic, and feminine sounding voice.
Knight: Saint-Germain, what is the meaning of this?
Saint-Germain: She belongs to me ^_^
Knight: Are you betraying us?
Saint-Germain: You're the one deviating from the mission. Her murder is my assignment.
Knight: And it's because you're taking so long that Omnibus sent me. Get out of the way or die.
A fierce sword battle ensues. They're evenly matched up close but his tiny blade can't protect him from her giant sword forever, and he ends up pinned to the wall through his chest. Huge amounts of blood spill from the wound and he goes still. Horrified, Cardia throws herself between his body and the knight. This confuses the knight enough that she acknowledges someone other than Saint-Germain for the first time.
Knight: Why are you protecting him? He tried to kill you.
Cardia: But he's protected me so many times!
I'm...not sure that's a point in his favour with his coworkers, Cardia.
Cardia: Who are you?
Knight: ...
Saint-Germain: There's no point asking her. *cough* Her name is Guinevere. A tragic queen, trapped like me by a chain named Idea, all for the cause of redemption. But you belong to me, and I won't let anyone else have you.
Then he smiles gently and pulls the giant sword from his own chest.
Saint-Germain, covered in blood: You know you can't kill me like that, Guinevere ^_^
Guinevere: Of course. But how many more times can you come back to life?
Saint-Germain: I play my cards close to my chest. Miss Cardia, I'll let you go this time.
And then he tells her about a secret escape passage.
Cardia: But what about you?
Saint-Germain: You really shouldn't worry about someone who's trying to kill you.
...huh. I have the choice to stay here with him but apparently shouldn't take it. And Cardia is explicitly escaping because even if he wins he'll kill her. Self preservation ftw!
Saint-Germain: Cardia, no matter where you are...I will find you, and kill you. So for now- please, flee.
Cardia: ;_;
Lupin: I THINK RUNNING WOULD BE GOOD RIGHT NOW
And then Lupin tells Saint-Germain he's not forgiven for trying to kill Cardia, and drags her away. She hears the sound of battle resuming behind them.
Back at their lodgings, everyone but Cardia sleeps, recovering from being injured by Guinevere. The vision of Saint-Germain being stabbed keeps filling her mind, and even though she knows it's dumb she goes to try and find him...but is stopped by Lupin, who tells her it's suicide.
Lupin: Look, Saint-Germain's not the sort to fight to the death, he's the sort of disappear in a cloud of smoke.
Cardia: Look who's talking :P
Lupin: And he said he'd be back to kill you which is FUCKED UP BY THE WAY but does mean you don't have to worry about seeing him again. Also did I mention the part where he's trying to kill you? Which is bad??
Lupin takes her out into the bustling streets to clear her head. As it starts to rain she turns to suggest they go inside...but he's gone.
Everyone is gone.
And she can't move.
A figure approaches...
And old woman in a steampunk wheelchair??? (This path has TWO female characters???)
She apologises for being so "aggressive" in wanting to talk to Cardia, and says Lupin etc are fine, it's just Cardia's mind that has been transferred to a makeshift London.
Old woman: The term that would best fit your understanding is magic. Which I suppose makes me an old witch :) My name is Omnibus, I am the leader of Idea.
Cardia, unable to move, gives her best glare.
Omnibus: Yes, I'm the one who ordered Saint-Germain and Guinevere to kill you. Your existence doesn't sit well with the objectives of Idea, so I have come to ask you a favour.
"Favour", huh :/
Idea intervenes to make sure history doesn't go down "the wrong path". Mankind committed a sin against God, and was driven out of paradise to live a cursed existence. Humanity must atone for this original sin, and walk a path leading to God's forgiveness. But they repeatedly commit unforgivable crimes, nearly destroying themselves out of their own foolishness. Saint-Germain has lived thousands of years as a messenger, protecting humans from themselves.
Huh! So they're weird Christian Time Cops.
Cardia: Noone can live for thousands of years!
Omnibus: You're right. More accurately, he's been dead for a long, long time. His soul was cut away and placed in a vessel body. He is continuously dying, a walking corpse.
Cardia: D:
Me: :D
(this is like Madoka crossed with Evangelion, I love it)
Omnibus: Isaac was trying to invade the province of God. That's why we killed him.
Cardia: You killed my father?
Omnibus: Yes, we were able to kill Finis and Isaac thanks to the information Saint-Germain found with your help ^_^
Cardia: And now you want to kill me.
Omnibus: Exactly ^_^ I sent Saint-Germain to London to destroy Isaac and all his creations. He gathered everyone connected to Isaac with a series of constructed "coincidences". He achieved what he set out to do...except for you. Your very existence angers the Almighty. Your life will give people far more knowledge than they have been allowed: You are, in essence, the forbidden fruit. That is why we must kill you, before you become a true monster.
Cardia: But I finally want to live.
Omnibus: Even though you've never really been alive to begin with? You have no soul, nor emotion. You are only a doll acting out being alive, so don't need to fear death.
As Cardia is overcome by existential angst, Omnibus talks about the last time Saint-Germain disobeyed her orders, refusing the murder the last child of a town he had been ordered to massacre. A town that carried the Black Plague. As a result, 85 million people died. The crime burns within his heart like an eternal flame.
Omnibus doesn't understand why he's disobeying her orders again, but if he doesn't kill Cardia, she will revoke his immortality, and he will die.
Cardia: No! I'll do anything to save him!
Omnibus: I'm glad. Then let him kill you ^_^ I leave it to your free will...but if you say no, he will die, and you will just be killed by a different messenger.
Omnibus hands Cardia a fancy key to "the Anthropic barrier", and says if she's ready to be killed, she should bring it to the Tower Bridge at midnight.
Omnibus: You should be happy to die for someone you love, Cardia. It was never possible for me, so I envy you a little.
She vanishes into the rain, and then the rain stops and Cardia hears Lupin asking why she's spacing out. She starts to cry, but doesn't know if it's for Saint-Germain or herself.
Chapter 12: Time to Choose
Cardia doesn't tell the others, in case Omnibus can hear. She can't decide whether she's willing to die for Saint-Germain, but decides to see him one last time, and decide then.
Saint-Germain first person POV! He looks out at the lights of London, musing how much it has changed in a mere 500 years.
He doesn't know why he protects Cardia when he is so aware of the consequences, for himself and for the world. But then he mutters "So be it." The thought of his own death is almost a relief. He thinks of Cardia, and then of the child in that city. If he had killed the child, would he be free of the guilt that eats at his heart now?
Hearing him softly read out lines like "I look at the same stars that I saw that day" is very surreal, and makes him feel...above the narrative in some way.
Saint-Germain was posing as a doctor, keeping an eye out for plague signs in a village Omnibus's future-vision said would be the source of the plague. He met a sick, starving boy whose mother had been burned as a witch, and decided to heal the boy as an advertisement for his skills. The boy became his assistant and Saint-Germain unsuccessfully tried not to get attached.
And then plague symptoms started to appear. He poisoned the well, and killed anyone left. As always, the weight of each death hung on him heavily. Saint-Germain told himself he was leaving the boy until last, but deep down hoped he'd escape.
Instead the boy found him. He stared at the Saint-Germain's blood soaked face, took his hand, and said, crying, "Don't leave me." Unable to kill him, Saint-Germain ran, and then saw countless deaths as a result. He forced himself to watch, so that he would never make the same mistake again.
But would he really kill the boy, if he had the chance to go back?
He feels himself smile. He's been smiling so long, to get people to trust him, that he doesn't know what his true expressions are any more.
Cardia fills him with a warm feeling he hasn't felt in thousands of years. By the time he realised how special she was to him, it was too late. It feels like a test from Omnibus, to make him cast away his self doubt. He walks towards the bridge, and hopes Cardia won't be there.
Cardia POV. As she approaches the bridge, the other people vanish and the key starts to glow. A bell chimes midnight and she hears footsteps approach.
Saint-Germain, with a mask-like smile: How strange. I wished you wouldn't come, yet part of me is glad to see you again.
Cardia: Yes, I have a lot to say to you, but for now I'm just happy to see you.
The stand facing each other with the same smile. But then he approaches her and draws his blade.
Saint-Germain: I wish you'd run away, then I wouldn't have to suffer like this.
Cardia: But then you'd die.
Saint-Germain: I don't understand. Why you didn't run, why I hesitate...Should I kill you? Cardia, do you know?
She does her best to smile.
Cardia: You can't kill me...because I was never alive. So you don't need to suffer or hesitate. You're not killing a person. You're just breaking a doll.
Cardia ;_;
He stares at her and then puts away his blade.
Saint-Germain: How can you smile like that when I am about to kill you?
Cardia: Because it will save you.
Saint-Germain: If you die you will never laugh again with Lupin and the others, never walk with me and admire the scenery. I'm so afraid to lose you, aren't you afraid too?
Cardia: I was trying to face death with a smile! But yes! I'm afraid! Even though I'm a monster, I don't want to die! I want to live with you!
Saint-Germain: ...I can't kill you. So what if you're a monster? I'm a monster too!
He pulls her to him and takes off her glove, then puts her hand to his face.
Me: Oh, is he not going to melt? That would be inter....NOPE NOPE HE IS DEFINITELY MELTING.
I just took a screenshot of him saying "I alone can accept your touch", looking at her over the smoke from his MELTING FACE and I'm not sure I'm going to post it but I appreciate that they went there.
Saint-Germain, crying, voice cracked: If you aren't alive then neither am I. If your life isn't worth anything then neither is mine. So please don't say such sad things.
He tells her that he loves her, and that her hand is soft and warm, and then reluctantly lets her go. His face immediately heals. And then he smiles, and for the first time it feels genuine.
Saint-Germain: You helped me take off my mask. And I know what I must do. I'm prepared to fight Fate. There 12 other Apostles of Idea. I'll defeat them all, and then slay Omnibus.
If an apostle dies enough times, they face true death. Omnibus will remove his immortality, but it will take a while for him to lose his regenerative abilities and then fall apart. Hopefully long enough to save Cardia.
Cardia is not a fan of this plan.
Saint-Germain, stroking her hair: All people use the time they have before death for themselves, or the people they care about.
Cardia: But I want to live with you. There has to be another way.
Saint-Germain: A ghost met you and his heart was moved. That's all I can ask for.
He puts his hand to her neck and his glove melts, and she is pricked by a needle, and falls to the ground, paralysed.
Saint-Germain: I feel alive again. Thank you, Cardia. And good bye.
Ombnibus third person POV! She sits in a little old fashioned house in the middle of a forest.
Oh no she's hot.
Two apostles are dead. Guinevere looks a little wistful as she calls Saint-Germain a fool.
Guinevere: I know the strength fighting for a loved one can give. And how it can lead to tragedy. There is no greater misfortune than to love someone you shouldn't. I shall cut down Saint-Germain's mistake.
Chapter 13: Promise
First person Guinevere POV!
She talks about King Arthur as the perfect King, and being expected to be the perfect wife. She never found it a burden, but looking back, she didn't feel love, but respect and adoration. And then she found love with Lancelot and brought about a war that destroyed the nation. Arthur died and Lancelot left her.
She threw herself off a cliff, and as she lay dying Saint-Germain came to her, calling himself a messenger of fate, and asked if she wanted to be saved. She had no interest in living, but then he offered her one wish in exchange for serving Idea for all time. And so she wished for Lancelot's honour to be restored.
Her armour is "cursed" and makes her strong, and atoning through her work for the sake of history is the only time her heart is relieved of guilt. Yet when she saw Saint-Germain and Cardia try to protect each other, she hesitated. Why? Any time humanity deviates from its intended path, the result is always disaster.
He stands in front of her, the criminal and traitor, Saint-Germain.
First person Saint-Germain POV, looking at his former comrade, the tragic queen, and I'm probably not supposed to be shipping these two but you can't tell me what to feel, Otomate.
Guinevere: So you have killed four other apostles now.
Saint-Germain: They were already dead, just like us.
Guinevere: True. Don't you find it funny that the dead guide the living? And I suppose it's my turn now.
Saint-Germain: Yes. You're far stronger than the others, she will be in less danger if I can defeat you before this broken body ceases functioning. But for us, death is a welcome deliverance, is it not?
Guinevere: Yes it is.
The smile at each other sardonically and share a bitter laugh.
Guinevere: Loving someone you shouldn't only brings about misfortune.
Saint-Germain: It's not up to you whether I should love her.
Guinevere: Ha! I envy you, being able to change.
And then she puts on her helmet, "as if to shield herself from her own emotions".
And now we're back to Cardia's POV, several days earlier. By the time she recovers from being drugged. Saint-Germain is gone. Cardia drags herself back to the hotel, and asks to others to help her meet with Omnibus again.
Lupin grumpily tells her to trust them to help next time, then says he is going to give Saint-Germain such a punch. Cardia realises she's not the only one who cares about Saint-Germain.
Delly: You're...not bad for a human. And I'd help you if I could. But I've heard rumours of vampires in the North. And...um. If you lose hope in humanity, you can come to me.
Aw?
Victor: So I was thinking we should just destroy this pendant that turns you into a bomb.
Cardia: OOH LEVERAGE AGAINST OMNIBUS, GIVE IT TO ME
Victor: No??
Cardia: *makes puppy dog eyes*
Victor: ...UGH FINE
And then Lupin arrives, saying he's found the location of Idea's base. He found Isaac's encrypted notebook in Cardia's old house, which...I would have expected them to have investigated already?? Anyway.
On the train, knowing that she might be about to die, Cardia thanks Lupin for saving her. He says if she has doubts, he can take her away from all this, and is a little sad when he finds out that Saint-Germain beat him to fulfil Cardia's wish to experience another's touch.
Huh, a new forest background! Those are some creepy background noises. A dense fog thickens until they can't see anything, and when it clears, night has fallen. The air is filled with strange glowing blue lights...and the others have vanished.
A glowing butterfly leads Cardia towards a patch of sunlight: Omnibus's house.
...I guess all dogs wear top-hats in Steampunk England. The dog leads Cardia to Omnibus, who thanks "Lilith". (Who the glossary says is a boy dog? INTERESTING NAME CHOICE)
Omnibus offers Cardia some tea and compliments, but Cardia refuses to let her guard down.
Omnibus: Saint-Germain is nearing the limit of his remaining immortality. Like you, he must die so that humanity can take the correct path.
Cardia: Only people in the future will know what the correct path is! You only talk of what you think is right.
Omnibus: I only wish that were true. Long ago, I ate of a forbidden fruit not allowed to humans.
SHE'S EVE. OMG.
Omnibus: I gained a piece of God's knowledge, and can see all the paths humanity can take. I can't just stand by and do nothing. The last time Saint-Germain ignored my orders a third of Europe died. Are you willing to have that sort of blood on your hands?
Cardia falls to her knees, but the feeling of the dirt against her hands reminds her of touching Saint-Germain's face.
Cardia: Nothing is certain in this world. I won't believe your prophecy of destruction! I'll make you help Saint-Germain whatever it takes.
Omnibus: Haha, scary. There's no point threatening me. What you see is just an illusion of myself.
Cardia: You want to kill me because I might become the Philosopher's Stone. You fear me.
Omnibus: Uh.
Cardia, taking out the pendant: With one touch, I will contain the Philosopher's Stone, and become a monster that spreads death. Even you won't be able to stop me. So let Saint-Germain live!
But then Omnibus laughs.
Omnibus: This isn't a real threat. Killing everyone around you, being forced to live alone...that's your greatest fear. Do you want to repeat the tragedy of Elaine?
Cardia's hands shake, but she bring the pendant closer to her chest, and her boobgem starts to glow and become painfully hot. She can feel her bones rearranging inside and has to struggle to stay standing.
Cardia: I don't care. If you won't help Saint-Germain...I'll become a monster and lead the world to destruction. But if you save him, I'll shatter the gem in my chest.
Omnibus: You'd die. Why?
Cardia: Because he said that my hands were warm.
And eventually, Omnibus agrees, but with one extra condition: They defeat Guinevere.
Omnibus: I cannot forgive Saint-Germain. And if my predictions are correct, there is no way you and Saint-Germain will be able to best her. You claim my prophecy of destruction won't come true...so prove that my predictions are fallible. And then shatter the gem with your own hands.
And here's the "her" choice that made me think Guinevere was a woman, and it's not about her at all! I pick "Accept her terms".
Omnibus: This is the first time anyone has forced me to compromise. Saint-Germain is a lucky man, to be so loved. I hope you can find a future other than what I see. That... would mean salvation for me as well.
Saint-Germain POV. He rests, gasping for breath, against the Tower Bridge. Guinevere is stronger than he expected, so he ran, and is hoping to use the geography to catch her off guard. He stares at his bloody hands: he is no longer regenerating fast enough to heal his wounds. His vision goes blurry and he slumps to the ground, in this place where he was able to touch Cardia, and wish her a final goodbye.
Saint-Germain: Once again, I failed to save the one person I care about...
Cardia: That's not true. You've always protected me.
Cardia POV. She kneels in front of the bloody, tattered Saint-Germain and pulls him into her arms. They both feel like they should be annoyed at each other but are just too happy to be together again. After a bunch of hugging and affection she explains everything...except for "one small lie". When he speaks of them being together after this, her heart stings.
Guinevere arrives, and says she feels the irony of fate in being the one who must tear apart two people in love.
Saint-Germain use one of Victor's explosives to give what should be a fatal hit. But Guinevere just mutters "Killed again...", and Saint-Germain can't even stand.
Guinevere: Looks like I win.
Cardia: We haven't lost yet. I can fight too.
She takes off her gloves. FINALLY. Guinevere knocks her aside easily, but Cardia runs back and grabs her sword, melting it way faster than normal.
Cardia: The boobgem is turning into the Philosopher's Stone...
(In Victor's path that made the poison weaker, but never mind. Also, it's never mentioned again!)
Guinevere: Then perhaps I should kill you first.
Saint-Germain, standing: I don't look very good always needing to be protected. As a man, I'd like to play the knight who protects the woman he loves. Guinevere, why did you become an apostle?
Guinevere: ...because I wanted to save someone. But it's too late. I can't put my sword down now.
The clash. Guinevere says "Brilliantly...done" and then falls. Saint-Germain coldly approaches her, to make sure she is truly dead. Cardia thinks of more blood spilled, more lives lost.
Cardia: Wait. I...I have to go away soon. There was a second condition...
He stares at her in shock and pain when she explains that she has to die. "How can I ever accept that?!"
And then Omnibus arrives, with several hooded figures.
Saint-Germain: The other apostles...Cardia, run!
But she shakes her head and takes his hand, and tries to hide the fear in her voice.
Cardia: So you've come to ensure I keep my promise. But first, save Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain, shouting: I don't want to be saved if the cost is her life!
Omnibus, gesturing to the apostles to restrain him: Your desires don't have a place in our negotiation.
Cardia: Saint-Germain, thank you. That I was even capable of returning your love makes me so happy. I know I'm a human being, able to love another person.
Omnibus places her hand on Saint-Germain and he glows, and is healed.
Omnibus: Thank her. I have given you another life. Although, since you are leaving Idea, it has limits.
And then she hands Cardia a glowing knife.
Omnibus: Pierce the gem, and everything will end.
Cardia: Goodbye. Thank you. And...I love you, Saint-Germain.
She pulls the dagger towards her...and Saint-Germain rushes forward and grabs the blade, his blood falling to the ground.
Saint-Germain: I don't know what's right any more. How to atone, what justice is, what I am myself... But the one thing that is clear, no matter what happens...I don't want to lose you!
He throws himself to the ground and begs desperately.
Saint-Germain: Please...give me more time! I swear I will find a way for her to live without the gem! Please, don't take her from me!
Guinevere: I would like to ask you as well, Omnibus. Your predictions have always been the truth...but she shattered them.
Omnibus: ...sigh. What do you want, Cardia?
Cardia: I want...I want to live along with Saint-Germain.
Omnibus: ...then try it. Try to find a way to live without the gem. We'll lose even more apostles if we have to fight Saint-Germain and Guinevere. But if you find you can't live without the gem...I will come after you once again. I take it you're prepared to face that?
Cardia and Saint-Germain stare at each other, and grab each others hands tightly.
Omnibus: What will the two of you bring forth into the world? For now I will watch from a distance...
And she and her apostles vanish into the darkness. As Guinevere begins to fade as well, Cardia thanks her.
Guinevere: I merely spoke the truth. And I feel...that a part of me will be saved if the two of you can find happiness.
And then Saint-Germain and Cardia stand alone on the bridge, as the sun begins to rise. They lean against each other and take comfort in each other's arms.
Closing credits!
Omnibus third person POV (I was hoping for Saint-Germain/Cardia makeouts like we got on the Victor path, but ok)
She leisurely makes the rounds of her garden in her wheelchair, pruning plants. This moment, an early Spring afternoon, will remain forever unless she allows it to change. But unlike this place, her heart has changed, for the first time in millennia. She remembers her past: A woman whose very existence is sin, and the man who loved her despite that. Perhaps, like Guinevere, she saw something of her past in those two.
She is glad she was proven wrong. Because she has always known that no matter how hard Idea struggles, humanity will come to ruin, never achieving salvation. Might that...be false?
She smiles, and returns to pruning her trees.
Cardia POV!
She and Saint-Germain are going for a long walk in the countryside (and given their respective abilities, I imagine it's a very long walk indeed) They've been traveling the world for six months looking for information that night let her live without the boobgem.
Apparently it took some time to persuade the other guys it was ok for Cardia to travel alone with the guy who tried to kill her.
They sit under a tree and she enjoys the sincere smile on his face. They discuss what everyone's up to, apparently Victor opened a cheap medical clinic in the poorest part of London, aww (even if this Victor Frankenstein isn't supposed to be a medical doctor...)
Cardia: Two months until we see them again...
Saint-Germain: So you're not happy to be travelling with me?
She can tell he's sulking a little bit under his smile. He pulls her close.
Saint-Germain: When you forget about your lover, who is sitting right in front of you...it makes me want to lock you up, so I can always have you by my side.
Cardia: There's no need. I'll ever leave your side again.
Saint-Germain: Then prove it.
He kisses her, so briefly she can barely feel it, but the sensation stays on her lips. She's shocked and he smiles and says his lips are stinging.
Saint-Germain: This is something none of the others can do. I am the only person on this world you can kiss.
Me: Well, there's Guinevere ;)
Saint-Germain: I want to kiss you deeply, like this...*leans closer*
Cardia is deeply tempted to let him but leans away, flustered.
Cardia: Save that for after the poison's gone!
He laughs and looks up at the sky.
Saint-Germain: I used to think the sky would never change. But nothing in this world is permanently unchanging. Even the sky and stars change, however slowly. The only exception is my love for you.
They declare their love for each other, and Cardia thinks that one day, when the poison is gone, she's going to give him more kisses than all the stars he's ever seen.
THE END
That was lovely. And while not quite as laser-focus aimed at my id as Victor, was just the kind of weird I like. I'm not quite enough of a romantic to have avoided the odd "but why do you love each other THAT much"/"this is a bit silly" moment but mostly was just a ball of awww.
I find it really interesting that Saint-Germain and Guinevere are the only two people other than Cardia to get first person points of view. I don't know what it means, but it's interesting!
Something that struck me: I don't think they ever say his first name. The Wikipedia page on the real guy just left me more confused and reminded me how very different the two are. Am going to headcanon this one as an Italian and/or Jew regardless lol.
Here's all the CGs but be warned there's some sexualised violence/injury.
Saint-Germain's extra scene:
Once again, this is set not long after Cardia arrives in London. Cardia goes to tell Saint Germain that lunch is ready, since he's been distracted in his room with art from "an island nation in the Far East" HMM LET ME GUESS IS IT...INDONESIA??
Cardia is taken aback to see him in the middle of getting dressed.
This is such delightfully self indulgent fanservice. I can just imagine the writer's room. "So, we all love cute boys in cravats and kimonos. The first is easy, given the setting, but how do we get the second..."
(also his eyes are open, which feels OOC, but never mind. IT'S FANSERVICE DON'T OVERTHINK IT)
Cardia: Um, so. You told me men and women shouldn't see each other's bare bodies?
Saint-Germain: Ah, but I don't mind. Unless it offends you?
Cardia: Why would it offend me?
Saint-Germain: You're so innocent. I'd like to see you blush...but we'll have to save that as a treat for another time.
Cardia <3
She notices some incense burning and he explains what it is, then she asks why he hasn't gotten dressed yet. Haaa he can't figure out how it works.
Cardia: Maybe you should take it off so we can start from scratch.
Saint-Germain: What a good idea ^_^
Impey comes to see what's taking so long.
Cardia: Impey, come in and help us!
Saint-Germain: Yes, come on over, Impey ^_^
Impey: WHY ARE YOU TAKING SAINT-CHAN(*)'S CLOTHES OFF D: D:
Cardia: ...why did he run away?
Saint-Germain: I wonder ^_^
THE END
(*)I don't speak good enough Japanese to say what an appropriate 19th century translation of this would be, but feel pretty confident that it's not "Sainty-G".
This was great! Weird, but I like weird :D
Content note: Violence, suicide
So, Cardia has returned to the hotel.
Everyone is really happy to see her, but looks miserable after she explains what happened with Saint-Germain.
Van Helsing: Welp, time to kill Saint-Germain, I guess!
Cardia: No, I want to save him! I realise his smiles were fake...
Van Helsing: Because he's a liar who needs to die?
Cardia: Because he was fooling himself. He's so sad, I want to see him happy.
Lupin: Or you could stay with us and find a cure and not get murdered?
Cardia: Sorry, I know it's selfish. But his happiness is what matters the most to me.
There is an awkward pause and she thinks they're all angry at her but then they all commit to helping her out, because they are indebted friends, not just of her, but of Saint-Germain. (Well, except Van Helsing, who refuses to be part of any "lukewarm friendship", but does admit he owes Saint-Germain a favour)
Victor says he has one clue to finding Saint-Germain: an alchemy book written by a "Count Saint-Germain" two hundred years earlier, with the same handwriting. Cardia can easily imagine him being hundreds of years old.
Cardia retraces her steps but can't find the second mansion no matter how hard she looks. They decide to investigate Isaac again: if he knew about the "Apostles of Idea" that Saint-Germain is a member of, maybe they can learn more about Saint-Germain by investigating Isaac. And the reason Saint-Germain wants to kill Cardia is probably related to the way she was created.
As they visit the underground clone facility again, Cardia wonders if learning more about him will change her feelings for him, and when those feelings became so strong. Lupin good naturedly asks why she loves Saint-Germain and she's not sure why she's so embarrassed (She hasn't quite figured out it's romantic love for either of them) but explains how she came to really enjoy spending time with him, but now things have changed she wants to figure out her feelings and love him again.
Lupin: Oh man, you're making me jealous...
Cardia: What?
Lupin: Nothing!
Aw.
Cardia examines the clone vat room, trying not to be overcome by horror at her own existence. As she reaches the dried pool of Finis's blood she steps on something...
THE PENDANT
OH NO
She only got activated as a bomb on Victor's path, which is why it hasn't come up again. But if she touches the pendant now... D: D:
She looks into the pendant and is entranced by it's glow. Her boobgem start to glow and get warm D:
Victor runs up and slaps the pendant out of her hands, and her boobgem starts to cool. In his research he'd discovered that if the boobgem is ever fully refined to the Philosopher's Stone she'll become exponentially more poisonous, and correctly surmises that this pendant is the key. She is understandably horrified but he says maybe the pendant can be useful, too. He carefully wraps it in a handkerchief and puts it in his pocket.
Lupin finds a note: "My one enemy is Idea, the 'guardians of history' who have guided humanity since ancient times. I am committing a taboo in God's eyes. So I shall fight for the creation of a new world."
And then the Knight attacks. I am pretty sure the Knight is a woman, because (a) The text carefully avoids gendering them (b) There's a choice later on involving a "she", and the one other existing named female character, Victoria, doesn't seem to be relevant to this path.
Van Helsing says everyone else should run while he buys them some time but is secretly happy when Impey and Victor stay to help.
Lupin runs with Cardia towards the exit...but the Knight is there. (Or maybe there's more than one?)
Lupin raises his walking stick.
Cardia: No, even Van Helsing couldn't fight it!
Lupin: Excuse you. I am Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief. Fighting is for savages.
He uses his stick to turn off the lights, hee. He pulls her with him towards the entrance in the dark...and then she hears a sword hitting flesh D:
As Cardia's eyes adjust to the dark, she sees a bleeding Lupin standing between her and the knight. Lupin tells her to run, and then there is the sound of the sword coming down, and hitting...something metal?
Cardia: Saint-Germain???
Saint-Germain: Didn't I tell you? I'm the one who's going to kill you.
And then the knight finally speaks, in a rich, metallic, and feminine sounding voice.
Knight: Saint-Germain, what is the meaning of this?
Saint-Germain: She belongs to me ^_^
Knight: Are you betraying us?
Saint-Germain: You're the one deviating from the mission. Her murder is my assignment.
Knight: And it's because you're taking so long that Omnibus sent me. Get out of the way or die.
A fierce sword battle ensues. They're evenly matched up close but his tiny blade can't protect him from her giant sword forever, and he ends up pinned to the wall through his chest. Huge amounts of blood spill from the wound and he goes still. Horrified, Cardia throws herself between his body and the knight. This confuses the knight enough that she acknowledges someone other than Saint-Germain for the first time.
Knight: Why are you protecting him? He tried to kill you.
Cardia: But he's protected me so many times!
I'm...not sure that's a point in his favour with his coworkers, Cardia.
Cardia: Who are you?
Knight: ...
Saint-Germain: There's no point asking her. *cough* Her name is Guinevere. A tragic queen, trapped like me by a chain named Idea, all for the cause of redemption. But you belong to me, and I won't let anyone else have you.
Then he smiles gently and pulls the giant sword from his own chest.
Saint-Germain, covered in blood: You know you can't kill me like that, Guinevere ^_^
Guinevere: Of course. But how many more times can you come back to life?
Saint-Germain: I play my cards close to my chest. Miss Cardia, I'll let you go this time.
And then he tells her about a secret escape passage.
Cardia: But what about you?
Saint-Germain: You really shouldn't worry about someone who's trying to kill you.
...huh. I have the choice to stay here with him but apparently shouldn't take it. And Cardia is explicitly escaping because even if he wins he'll kill her. Self preservation ftw!
Saint-Germain: Cardia, no matter where you are...I will find you, and kill you. So for now- please, flee.
Cardia: ;_;
Lupin: I THINK RUNNING WOULD BE GOOD RIGHT NOW
And then Lupin tells Saint-Germain he's not forgiven for trying to kill Cardia, and drags her away. She hears the sound of battle resuming behind them.
Back at their lodgings, everyone but Cardia sleeps, recovering from being injured by Guinevere. The vision of Saint-Germain being stabbed keeps filling her mind, and even though she knows it's dumb she goes to try and find him...but is stopped by Lupin, who tells her it's suicide.
Lupin: Look, Saint-Germain's not the sort to fight to the death, he's the sort of disappear in a cloud of smoke.
Cardia: Look who's talking :P
Lupin: And he said he'd be back to kill you which is FUCKED UP BY THE WAY but does mean you don't have to worry about seeing him again. Also did I mention the part where he's trying to kill you? Which is bad??
Lupin takes her out into the bustling streets to clear her head. As it starts to rain she turns to suggest they go inside...but he's gone.
Everyone is gone.
And she can't move.
A figure approaches...
And old woman in a steampunk wheelchair??? (This path has TWO female characters???)
She apologises for being so "aggressive" in wanting to talk to Cardia, and says Lupin etc are fine, it's just Cardia's mind that has been transferred to a makeshift London.
Old woman: The term that would best fit your understanding is magic. Which I suppose makes me an old witch :) My name is Omnibus, I am the leader of Idea.
Cardia, unable to move, gives her best glare.
Omnibus: Yes, I'm the one who ordered Saint-Germain and Guinevere to kill you. Your existence doesn't sit well with the objectives of Idea, so I have come to ask you a favour.
"Favour", huh :/
Idea intervenes to make sure history doesn't go down "the wrong path". Mankind committed a sin against God, and was driven out of paradise to live a cursed existence. Humanity must atone for this original sin, and walk a path leading to God's forgiveness. But they repeatedly commit unforgivable crimes, nearly destroying themselves out of their own foolishness. Saint-Germain has lived thousands of years as a messenger, protecting humans from themselves.
Huh! So they're weird Christian Time Cops.
Cardia: Noone can live for thousands of years!
Omnibus: You're right. More accurately, he's been dead for a long, long time. His soul was cut away and placed in a vessel body. He is continuously dying, a walking corpse.
Cardia: D:
Me: :D
(this is like Madoka crossed with Evangelion, I love it)
Omnibus: Isaac was trying to invade the province of God. That's why we killed him.
Cardia: You killed my father?
Omnibus: Yes, we were able to kill Finis and Isaac thanks to the information Saint-Germain found with your help ^_^
Cardia: And now you want to kill me.
Omnibus: Exactly ^_^ I sent Saint-Germain to London to destroy Isaac and all his creations. He gathered everyone connected to Isaac with a series of constructed "coincidences". He achieved what he set out to do...except for you. Your very existence angers the Almighty. Your life will give people far more knowledge than they have been allowed: You are, in essence, the forbidden fruit. That is why we must kill you, before you become a true monster.
Cardia: But I finally want to live.
Omnibus: Even though you've never really been alive to begin with? You have no soul, nor emotion. You are only a doll acting out being alive, so don't need to fear death.
As Cardia is overcome by existential angst, Omnibus talks about the last time Saint-Germain disobeyed her orders, refusing the murder the last child of a town he had been ordered to massacre. A town that carried the Black Plague. As a result, 85 million people died. The crime burns within his heart like an eternal flame.
Omnibus doesn't understand why he's disobeying her orders again, but if he doesn't kill Cardia, she will revoke his immortality, and he will die.
Cardia: No! I'll do anything to save him!
Omnibus: I'm glad. Then let him kill you ^_^ I leave it to your free will...but if you say no, he will die, and you will just be killed by a different messenger.
Omnibus hands Cardia a fancy key to "the Anthropic barrier", and says if she's ready to be killed, she should bring it to the Tower Bridge at midnight.
Omnibus: You should be happy to die for someone you love, Cardia. It was never possible for me, so I envy you a little.
She vanishes into the rain, and then the rain stops and Cardia hears Lupin asking why she's spacing out. She starts to cry, but doesn't know if it's for Saint-Germain or herself.
Chapter 12: Time to Choose
Cardia doesn't tell the others, in case Omnibus can hear. She can't decide whether she's willing to die for Saint-Germain, but decides to see him one last time, and decide then.
Saint-Germain first person POV! He looks out at the lights of London, musing how much it has changed in a mere 500 years.
He doesn't know why he protects Cardia when he is so aware of the consequences, for himself and for the world. But then he mutters "So be it." The thought of his own death is almost a relief. He thinks of Cardia, and then of the child in that city. If he had killed the child, would he be free of the guilt that eats at his heart now?
Hearing him softly read out lines like "I look at the same stars that I saw that day" is very surreal, and makes him feel...above the narrative in some way.
Saint-Germain was posing as a doctor, keeping an eye out for plague signs in a village Omnibus's future-vision said would be the source of the plague. He met a sick, starving boy whose mother had been burned as a witch, and decided to heal the boy as an advertisement for his skills. The boy became his assistant and Saint-Germain unsuccessfully tried not to get attached.
And then plague symptoms started to appear. He poisoned the well, and killed anyone left. As always, the weight of each death hung on him heavily. Saint-Germain told himself he was leaving the boy until last, but deep down hoped he'd escape.
Instead the boy found him. He stared at the Saint-Germain's blood soaked face, took his hand, and said, crying, "Don't leave me." Unable to kill him, Saint-Germain ran, and then saw countless deaths as a result. He forced himself to watch, so that he would never make the same mistake again.
But would he really kill the boy, if he had the chance to go back?
He feels himself smile. He's been smiling so long, to get people to trust him, that he doesn't know what his true expressions are any more.
Cardia fills him with a warm feeling he hasn't felt in thousands of years. By the time he realised how special she was to him, it was too late. It feels like a test from Omnibus, to make him cast away his self doubt. He walks towards the bridge, and hopes Cardia won't be there.
Cardia POV. As she approaches the bridge, the other people vanish and the key starts to glow. A bell chimes midnight and she hears footsteps approach.
Saint-Germain, with a mask-like smile: How strange. I wished you wouldn't come, yet part of me is glad to see you again.
Cardia: Yes, I have a lot to say to you, but for now I'm just happy to see you.
The stand facing each other with the same smile. But then he approaches her and draws his blade.
Saint-Germain: I wish you'd run away, then I wouldn't have to suffer like this.
Cardia: But then you'd die.
Saint-Germain: I don't understand. Why you didn't run, why I hesitate...Should I kill you? Cardia, do you know?
She does her best to smile.
Cardia: You can't kill me...because I was never alive. So you don't need to suffer or hesitate. You're not killing a person. You're just breaking a doll.
Cardia ;_;
He stares at her and then puts away his blade.
Saint-Germain: How can you smile like that when I am about to kill you?
Cardia: Because it will save you.
Saint-Germain: If you die you will never laugh again with Lupin and the others, never walk with me and admire the scenery. I'm so afraid to lose you, aren't you afraid too?
Cardia: I was trying to face death with a smile! But yes! I'm afraid! Even though I'm a monster, I don't want to die! I want to live with you!
Saint-Germain: ...I can't kill you. So what if you're a monster? I'm a monster too!
He pulls her to him and takes off her glove, then puts her hand to his face.
Me: Oh, is he not going to melt? That would be inter....NOPE NOPE HE IS DEFINITELY MELTING.
I just took a screenshot of him saying "I alone can accept your touch", looking at her over the smoke from his MELTING FACE and I'm not sure I'm going to post it but I appreciate that they went there.
Saint-Germain, crying, voice cracked: If you aren't alive then neither am I. If your life isn't worth anything then neither is mine. So please don't say such sad things.
He tells her that he loves her, and that her hand is soft and warm, and then reluctantly lets her go. His face immediately heals. And then he smiles, and for the first time it feels genuine.
Saint-Germain: You helped me take off my mask. And I know what I must do. I'm prepared to fight Fate. There 12 other Apostles of Idea. I'll defeat them all, and then slay Omnibus.
If an apostle dies enough times, they face true death. Omnibus will remove his immortality, but it will take a while for him to lose his regenerative abilities and then fall apart. Hopefully long enough to save Cardia.
Cardia is not a fan of this plan.
Saint-Germain, stroking her hair: All people use the time they have before death for themselves, or the people they care about.
Cardia: But I want to live with you. There has to be another way.
Saint-Germain: A ghost met you and his heart was moved. That's all I can ask for.
He puts his hand to her neck and his glove melts, and she is pricked by a needle, and falls to the ground, paralysed.
Saint-Germain: I feel alive again. Thank you, Cardia. And good bye.
Ombnibus third person POV! She sits in a little old fashioned house in the middle of a forest.
Oh no she's hot.
Two apostles are dead. Guinevere looks a little wistful as she calls Saint-Germain a fool.
Guinevere: I know the strength fighting for a loved one can give. And how it can lead to tragedy. There is no greater misfortune than to love someone you shouldn't. I shall cut down Saint-Germain's mistake.
Chapter 13: Promise
First person Guinevere POV!
She talks about King Arthur as the perfect King, and being expected to be the perfect wife. She never found it a burden, but looking back, she didn't feel love, but respect and adoration. And then she found love with Lancelot and brought about a war that destroyed the nation. Arthur died and Lancelot left her.
She threw herself off a cliff, and as she lay dying Saint-Germain came to her, calling himself a messenger of fate, and asked if she wanted to be saved. She had no interest in living, but then he offered her one wish in exchange for serving Idea for all time. And so she wished for Lancelot's honour to be restored.
Her armour is "cursed" and makes her strong, and atoning through her work for the sake of history is the only time her heart is relieved of guilt. Yet when she saw Saint-Germain and Cardia try to protect each other, she hesitated. Why? Any time humanity deviates from its intended path, the result is always disaster.
He stands in front of her, the criminal and traitor, Saint-Germain.
First person Saint-Germain POV, looking at his former comrade, the tragic queen, and I'm probably not supposed to be shipping these two but you can't tell me what to feel, Otomate.
Guinevere: So you have killed four other apostles now.
Saint-Germain: They were already dead, just like us.
Guinevere: True. Don't you find it funny that the dead guide the living? And I suppose it's my turn now.
Saint-Germain: Yes. You're far stronger than the others, she will be in less danger if I can defeat you before this broken body ceases functioning. But for us, death is a welcome deliverance, is it not?
Guinevere: Yes it is.
The smile at each other sardonically and share a bitter laugh.
Guinevere: Loving someone you shouldn't only brings about misfortune.
Saint-Germain: It's not up to you whether I should love her.
Guinevere: Ha! I envy you, being able to change.
And then she puts on her helmet, "as if to shield herself from her own emotions".
And now we're back to Cardia's POV, several days earlier. By the time she recovers from being drugged. Saint-Germain is gone. Cardia drags herself back to the hotel, and asks to others to help her meet with Omnibus again.
Lupin grumpily tells her to trust them to help next time, then says he is going to give Saint-Germain such a punch. Cardia realises she's not the only one who cares about Saint-Germain.
Delly: You're...not bad for a human. And I'd help you if I could. But I've heard rumours of vampires in the North. And...um. If you lose hope in humanity, you can come to me.
Aw?
Victor: So I was thinking we should just destroy this pendant that turns you into a bomb.
Cardia: OOH LEVERAGE AGAINST OMNIBUS, GIVE IT TO ME
Victor: No??
Cardia: *makes puppy dog eyes*
Victor: ...UGH FINE
And then Lupin arrives, saying he's found the location of Idea's base. He found Isaac's encrypted notebook in Cardia's old house, which...I would have expected them to have investigated already?? Anyway.
On the train, knowing that she might be about to die, Cardia thanks Lupin for saving her. He says if she has doubts, he can take her away from all this, and is a little sad when he finds out that Saint-Germain beat him to fulfil Cardia's wish to experience another's touch.
Huh, a new forest background! Those are some creepy background noises. A dense fog thickens until they can't see anything, and when it clears, night has fallen. The air is filled with strange glowing blue lights...and the others have vanished.
A glowing butterfly leads Cardia towards a patch of sunlight: Omnibus's house.
...I guess all dogs wear top-hats in Steampunk England. The dog leads Cardia to Omnibus, who thanks "Lilith". (Who the glossary says is a boy dog? INTERESTING NAME CHOICE)
Omnibus offers Cardia some tea and compliments, but Cardia refuses to let her guard down.
Omnibus: Saint-Germain is nearing the limit of his remaining immortality. Like you, he must die so that humanity can take the correct path.
Cardia: Only people in the future will know what the correct path is! You only talk of what you think is right.
Omnibus: I only wish that were true. Long ago, I ate of a forbidden fruit not allowed to humans.
SHE'S EVE. OMG.
Omnibus: I gained a piece of God's knowledge, and can see all the paths humanity can take. I can't just stand by and do nothing. The last time Saint-Germain ignored my orders a third of Europe died. Are you willing to have that sort of blood on your hands?
Cardia falls to her knees, but the feeling of the dirt against her hands reminds her of touching Saint-Germain's face.
Cardia: Nothing is certain in this world. I won't believe your prophecy of destruction! I'll make you help Saint-Germain whatever it takes.
Omnibus: Haha, scary. There's no point threatening me. What you see is just an illusion of myself.
Cardia: You want to kill me because I might become the Philosopher's Stone. You fear me.
Omnibus: Uh.
Cardia, taking out the pendant: With one touch, I will contain the Philosopher's Stone, and become a monster that spreads death. Even you won't be able to stop me. So let Saint-Germain live!
But then Omnibus laughs.
Omnibus: This isn't a real threat. Killing everyone around you, being forced to live alone...that's your greatest fear. Do you want to repeat the tragedy of Elaine?
Cardia's hands shake, but she bring the pendant closer to her chest, and her boobgem starts to glow and become painfully hot. She can feel her bones rearranging inside and has to struggle to stay standing.
Cardia: I don't care. If you won't help Saint-Germain...I'll become a monster and lead the world to destruction. But if you save him, I'll shatter the gem in my chest.
Omnibus: You'd die. Why?
Cardia: Because he said that my hands were warm.
And eventually, Omnibus agrees, but with one extra condition: They defeat Guinevere.
Omnibus: I cannot forgive Saint-Germain. And if my predictions are correct, there is no way you and Saint-Germain will be able to best her. You claim my prophecy of destruction won't come true...so prove that my predictions are fallible. And then shatter the gem with your own hands.
And here's the "her" choice that made me think Guinevere was a woman, and it's not about her at all! I pick "Accept her terms".
Omnibus: This is the first time anyone has forced me to compromise. Saint-Germain is a lucky man, to be so loved. I hope you can find a future other than what I see. That... would mean salvation for me as well.
Saint-Germain POV. He rests, gasping for breath, against the Tower Bridge. Guinevere is stronger than he expected, so he ran, and is hoping to use the geography to catch her off guard. He stares at his bloody hands: he is no longer regenerating fast enough to heal his wounds. His vision goes blurry and he slumps to the ground, in this place where he was able to touch Cardia, and wish her a final goodbye.
Saint-Germain: Once again, I failed to save the one person I care about...
Cardia: That's not true. You've always protected me.
Cardia POV. She kneels in front of the bloody, tattered Saint-Germain and pulls him into her arms. They both feel like they should be annoyed at each other but are just too happy to be together again. After a bunch of hugging and affection she explains everything...except for "one small lie". When he speaks of them being together after this, her heart stings.
Guinevere arrives, and says she feels the irony of fate in being the one who must tear apart two people in love.
Saint-Germain use one of Victor's explosives to give what should be a fatal hit. But Guinevere just mutters "Killed again...", and Saint-Germain can't even stand.
Guinevere: Looks like I win.
Cardia: We haven't lost yet. I can fight too.
She takes off her gloves. FINALLY. Guinevere knocks her aside easily, but Cardia runs back and grabs her sword, melting it way faster than normal.
Cardia: The boobgem is turning into the Philosopher's Stone...
(In Victor's path that made the poison weaker, but never mind. Also, it's never mentioned again!)
Guinevere: Then perhaps I should kill you first.
Saint-Germain, standing: I don't look very good always needing to be protected. As a man, I'd like to play the knight who protects the woman he loves. Guinevere, why did you become an apostle?
Guinevere: ...because I wanted to save someone. But it's too late. I can't put my sword down now.
The clash. Guinevere says "Brilliantly...done" and then falls. Saint-Germain coldly approaches her, to make sure she is truly dead. Cardia thinks of more blood spilled, more lives lost.
Cardia: Wait. I...I have to go away soon. There was a second condition...
He stares at her in shock and pain when she explains that she has to die. "How can I ever accept that?!"
And then Omnibus arrives, with several hooded figures.
Saint-Germain: The other apostles...Cardia, run!
But she shakes her head and takes his hand, and tries to hide the fear in her voice.
Cardia: So you've come to ensure I keep my promise. But first, save Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain, shouting: I don't want to be saved if the cost is her life!
Omnibus, gesturing to the apostles to restrain him: Your desires don't have a place in our negotiation.
Cardia: Saint-Germain, thank you. That I was even capable of returning your love makes me so happy. I know I'm a human being, able to love another person.
Omnibus places her hand on Saint-Germain and he glows, and is healed.
Omnibus: Thank her. I have given you another life. Although, since you are leaving Idea, it has limits.
And then she hands Cardia a glowing knife.
Omnibus: Pierce the gem, and everything will end.
Cardia: Goodbye. Thank you. And...I love you, Saint-Germain.
She pulls the dagger towards her...and Saint-Germain rushes forward and grabs the blade, his blood falling to the ground.
Saint-Germain: I don't know what's right any more. How to atone, what justice is, what I am myself... But the one thing that is clear, no matter what happens...I don't want to lose you!
He throws himself to the ground and begs desperately.
Saint-Germain: Please...give me more time! I swear I will find a way for her to live without the gem! Please, don't take her from me!
Guinevere: I would like to ask you as well, Omnibus. Your predictions have always been the truth...but she shattered them.
Omnibus: ...sigh. What do you want, Cardia?
Cardia: I want...I want to live along with Saint-Germain.
Omnibus: ...then try it. Try to find a way to live without the gem. We'll lose even more apostles if we have to fight Saint-Germain and Guinevere. But if you find you can't live without the gem...I will come after you once again. I take it you're prepared to face that?
Cardia and Saint-Germain stare at each other, and grab each others hands tightly.
Omnibus: What will the two of you bring forth into the world? For now I will watch from a distance...
And she and her apostles vanish into the darkness. As Guinevere begins to fade as well, Cardia thanks her.
Guinevere: I merely spoke the truth. And I feel...that a part of me will be saved if the two of you can find happiness.
And then Saint-Germain and Cardia stand alone on the bridge, as the sun begins to rise. They lean against each other and take comfort in each other's arms.
Closing credits!
Omnibus third person POV (I was hoping for Saint-Germain/Cardia makeouts like we got on the Victor path, but ok)
She leisurely makes the rounds of her garden in her wheelchair, pruning plants. This moment, an early Spring afternoon, will remain forever unless she allows it to change. But unlike this place, her heart has changed, for the first time in millennia. She remembers her past: A woman whose very existence is sin, and the man who loved her despite that. Perhaps, like Guinevere, she saw something of her past in those two.
She is glad she was proven wrong. Because she has always known that no matter how hard Idea struggles, humanity will come to ruin, never achieving salvation. Might that...be false?
She smiles, and returns to pruning her trees.
Cardia POV!
She and Saint-Germain are going for a long walk in the countryside (and given their respective abilities, I imagine it's a very long walk indeed) They've been traveling the world for six months looking for information that night let her live without the boobgem.
Apparently it took some time to persuade the other guys it was ok for Cardia to travel alone with the guy who tried to kill her.
They sit under a tree and she enjoys the sincere smile on his face. They discuss what everyone's up to, apparently Victor opened a cheap medical clinic in the poorest part of London, aww (even if this Victor Frankenstein isn't supposed to be a medical doctor...)
Cardia: Two months until we see them again...
Saint-Germain: So you're not happy to be travelling with me?
She can tell he's sulking a little bit under his smile. He pulls her close.
Saint-Germain: When you forget about your lover, who is sitting right in front of you...it makes me want to lock you up, so I can always have you by my side.
Cardia: There's no need. I'll ever leave your side again.
Saint-Germain: Then prove it.
He kisses her, so briefly she can barely feel it, but the sensation stays on her lips. She's shocked and he smiles and says his lips are stinging.
Saint-Germain: This is something none of the others can do. I am the only person on this world you can kiss.
Me: Well, there's Guinevere ;)
Saint-Germain: I want to kiss you deeply, like this...*leans closer*
Cardia is deeply tempted to let him but leans away, flustered.
Cardia: Save that for after the poison's gone!
He laughs and looks up at the sky.
Saint-Germain: I used to think the sky would never change. But nothing in this world is permanently unchanging. Even the sky and stars change, however slowly. The only exception is my love for you.
They declare their love for each other, and Cardia thinks that one day, when the poison is gone, she's going to give him more kisses than all the stars he's ever seen.
THE END
That was lovely. And while not quite as laser-focus aimed at my id as Victor, was just the kind of weird I like. I'm not quite enough of a romantic to have avoided the odd "but why do you love each other THAT much"/"this is a bit silly" moment but mostly was just a ball of awww.
I find it really interesting that Saint-Germain and Guinevere are the only two people other than Cardia to get first person points of view. I don't know what it means, but it's interesting!
Something that struck me: I don't think they ever say his first name. The Wikipedia page on the real guy just left me more confused and reminded me how very different the two are. Am going to headcanon this one as an Italian and/or Jew regardless lol.
Here's all the CGs but be warned there's some sexualised violence/injury.
Saint-Germain's extra scene:
Once again, this is set not long after Cardia arrives in London. Cardia goes to tell Saint Germain that lunch is ready, since he's been distracted in his room with art from "an island nation in the Far East" HMM LET ME GUESS IS IT...INDONESIA??
Cardia is taken aback to see him in the middle of getting dressed.
This is such delightfully self indulgent fanservice. I can just imagine the writer's room. "So, we all love cute boys in cravats and kimonos. The first is easy, given the setting, but how do we get the second..."
(also his eyes are open, which feels OOC, but never mind. IT'S FANSERVICE DON'T OVERTHINK IT)
Cardia: Um, so. You told me men and women shouldn't see each other's bare bodies?
Saint-Germain: Ah, but I don't mind. Unless it offends you?
Cardia: Why would it offend me?
Saint-Germain: You're so innocent. I'd like to see you blush...but we'll have to save that as a treat for another time.
Cardia <3
She notices some incense burning and he explains what it is, then she asks why he hasn't gotten dressed yet. Haaa he can't figure out how it works.
Cardia: Maybe you should take it off so we can start from scratch.
Saint-Germain: What a good idea ^_^
Impey comes to see what's taking so long.
Cardia: Impey, come in and help us!
Saint-Germain: Yes, come on over, Impey ^_^
Impey: WHY ARE YOU TAKING SAINT-CHAN(*)'S CLOTHES OFF D: D:
Cardia: ...why did he run away?
Saint-Germain: I wonder ^_^
THE END
(*)I don't speak good enough Japanese to say what an appropriate 19th century translation of this would be, but feel pretty confident that it's not "Sainty-G".
