Time passed, and the azure sky was dyed in the hues of twilight. I was walking with Jeanne through the forest flanking the road.
To be precise, I was pursuing her as she attempted to avoid me. I watched her—the woman desperately trying to shy away from 'one specific' act—and finally broke my silence.
"Do not retreat, Jeanne."
"B-but I do not believe this is right!"
Her face flushed crimson as she recoiled from my approach. I continued to shadow her, closing the distance.
Seeing my unwavering, serious expression as I dogged her steps, she retreated further in a fit of bashfulness—
-Thud!
"-?!"
"There. Now, there is nowhere left to fall back."
"T-the tree!?"
Her back was pinned against a massive tree. I quickly closed the gap created by her lack of an escape route.
As I loomed before her, she attempted to pivot to the right to slip past, but—
-Bam!
"-Where exactly do you think you are going?"
"....!!!!"
I placed both hands against the trunk, blocking her. Hemmed in on all sides by this so-called 'wall-slam' (kabe-don), she trembled as my face drew near. I fixed my gaze upon her and spoke.
"Why do you squander time on something that could be finished in a moment? If we fade from this place, we cannot save the people. Consider the lives being lost even as we stand here—it is best to resolve this with haste."
"But how can you expect me to engage in 'that act'!"
At her shout, meant to cast off her own shyness, I merely smiled.
"What of it? It is merely a transfer of prana."
Indeed. The act I proposed was simple mana supply. And why did I feel compelled to provide it?
Why, you ask? Because this foolish Saint had poured out a portion of the prana meant for her own materialization while hunting down Wyverns.
The fading tips of her fingers were proof. Her manifestation was fraying at the edges.
Moreover, as I drew close, I could feel the incompleteness of her Spirit Origin.
After pressing her for an explanation, I heard the truth of her state and the reason her existence was unraveling.
'....Good grief, you hopeless woman.'
I struck my forehead, feeling the waning prana within her. It seemed she would vanish within fifteen minutes.
And even that assumed she remained perfectly still. I looked upon her and heaved a sigh that seemed to rattle the very earth.
"Sigh......I never asked you to spend the energy meant to sustain your own life. If you insist on playing the martyr like this, you would sooner donate the pillars of your own home to charity."
"Ugh, ughhh..."
Having no retort, Jeanne kept her lips sealed and bowed her head. Yet, she looked up once more to meet my eyes.
"Still... I do not think this is correct! We have barely met, and..."
"That is of no consequence..... Goodness. If we tarry any longer, you will truly dissipate. Let us begin. Open your mouth."
"-!!!"
At my final ultimatum—seeing her arms beginning to turn translucent—Jeanne shut her eyes tight.
"......."
"......."
".......?"
A long moment passed with no sensation. Jeanne peeled open her eyes.
"....What are you—"
"Now!"
"Uph!"
It must have been a matter of timing. As she parted her lips to speak, something intruded.
Startled by the sudden intrusion, Jeanne's eyes widened, followed immediately by the faint, copper tang blooming upon her tongue.
'....Blood?'
It was my index finger that had invaded her mouth. Seeing it, Jeanne went blank.
"....Eh?"
"What are you so shocked about?"
"M-mana supply was... d-don't tell me (The mana supply was... surely not)?"
"It is simple. I am establishing a mana path by having you consume my blood."
"Ah....."
The act of mana supply did not necessarily require 'that' specific intimacy. The only condition was an exchange of bodily fluids.
Since blood is a bodily fluid, there was no reason it would not suffice. Though between two Servants—not a Master and Servant—the efficiency was low, in this situation without a Master, it was the best method.
Thus, I had slit my fingertip and offered it. The mana path between us was solidified.
I funneled prana into the newly opened link. Sensing the influx, Jeanne wore a dazed expression.
So she had been misunderstanding me this entire time?
Upon realizing her own folly, Jeanne's face turned bright red again. I watched her and let out a dry chuckle.
"My, my. To think a Saint could harbor such thoughts."
"U-ugh, ughhh..."
I teased her further as she trembled with shame, and when I judged that enough mana had been transferred, I withdrew my finger.
Her arm, which had been flickering, was now solid. Seeing this, I nodded.
She should be capable of two battles now. As for me, my prana core would simply compensate for the remainder, so it mattered not.
I should be able to hold out until Chaldea arrives. As these thoughts settled, I looked toward the sky.
The crimson glow of twilight had yielded to the dark of night. Observing that her earlier shame had subsided, I spoke.
"Now that your prana has been replenished, and since we need no sleep as Servants, let us move. Do you have a next destination in mind?"
"-Ah, yes. I intend to head to the nearest village. We should arrive in about a day's walk. If we proceed this way, the village will come into view."
"....You certainly know your geography, given that you are from these lands."
As I spoke while following her, she offered an awkward, shy smile.
"Haha... that is part of it, but in truth, that next village is my home."
"Your home?"
At my question, Jeanne nodded.
"Yes. The village we are heading to is my birthplace, Domrémy. Before I heard the voice of God and departed, I lived there helping my father, who was a shepherd."
"Ho."
My interest piqued at hearing a detail of her past—before or after her reincarnation—that I had never known before.
Seeing the intrigue on my face, Jeanne smiled and shared various tales. I walked alongside her, listening to her words.
However, the brief moment of peace was short-lived. While listening to her, I suddenly sensed a presence and came to a halt.
Jeanne, who had been walking with me, looked back, puzzled as I summoned my sword.
"-? Is something the matter, Eli...-----------!"
"....You must have felt it, too. We are under attack. Ready yourself, Jeanne."
"...Understood."
Gripping my blade and strengthening my vision with prana, I gazed forward to see Wyverns flying toward us at high speed, carrying riders upon their backs.
".....Ah."
"......"
When the Wyverns neared, Jeanne and I both caught sight of the rider's visage.
".....Ha. Hahahaha, Hahahahahaha!!!!"
Pale skin, unruly, chin-length silver hair.
"-Incredible. To think that such a thing could occur."
Dark clothing and armor, bearing a standard painted with a dragon.
"It is so absurd, so entirely ludicrous that I think I might die from laughter!"
"....You are."
The woman, who shared the exact face as the Jeanne d'Arc beside me, gazed down from the Wyvern with a sneer, eyes filled with utter contempt.
Looking up at her, Jeanne parted her lips to inquire.
"Who... Who are you?!"
"That is the question I should be asking you... but very well. As one who stands above, I shall grant you an answer. I am Jeanne d'Arc."
I am the Saint of Salvation, brought back to life—yet another 'me'.
The eyes of Jeanne (Alter) were brimming with more contempt than I had ever witnessed.