"Now that the introductions are done," Yukio announced, her voice crisp and commanding, "shall we get down to business?" She gestured towards the empty spaces reserved for Orihime and Levi, the Rank 2 and 3 respectively, and signaled Kojo and Lin to have a seat.
"But the seating arrangements—" Saint Leo began, but Yukio waved a dismissive hand before he could finish.
"It's quite alright, Saint Leonard."
Elias, a knight with a more relaxed demeanor and a perpetually amused glint in his eyes, chuckled.
"Don't be so upright about it, Leo. The seating isn't that big of a deal."
"Yeah, Leo. Smile a little. Otherwise, you'll get wrinkles," Astropunk added.
Leo's jaw tightened. "Is that the reason you insist on wearing that ridiculous mask?"
"No. I simply don't want to subject myself to staring at your… aesthetically challenging visage directly," Astropunk retorted casually.
A loud "oooooh" rippled through the assembled knights, punctuated by Astropunk's delighted cackle. Even Kojo let out a low whistle.
"Damn," Kojo muttered, earning a sharp elbow to the ribs from Lin.
Leo scoffed, turning away and folding his arms. "Do as you please," he grumbled, his shoulders stiff with indignation.
Yukio, unfazed by the brief interlude, gestured again towards the remaining empty seats. "Please, let's not dawdle."
Lin smoothly took the seat designated to the Rank 2 position, while Kojo settled into the chair belonging to the Rank 3 spot, placing him next to Leo. A palpable wave of dislike emanated from Leo, but Kojo subtly adjusted his position, ignoring the simmering hostility.
(Anyway, that accent though,) Sysia said, referring to Astropunk.
(British?)
Kojo shrugged. Yukio's voice cut through the hall, bringing the focus back to the matter at hand.
"As I've already informed you, we are gathered here on the behest of His Holiness, the Pope, concerning a matter of grave importance: a vision experienced by our esteemed Lady Cassandra Amavit Dea Adamas."
Yukio's masked gaze swept across the knights before settling on Kojo. "More specifically," she continued, gesturing towards him, "a vision concerning you, Kojo."
Lin's brow furrowed slightly. "A vision? Is that truly enough to summon all the Glory Knights?"
Yukio nodded firmly. "Indeed. Ever since Lady Cassandra developed her… affinity for revelations, her ability to foresee the future has become remarkably precise. Initially, her pronouncements were met with skepticism. However, due to her noble standing, she couldn't very well be reprimanded every time she shared a premonition." Yukio paused, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Then came the night she was found weeping in the main cathedral. When questioned, she revealed the source of her distress: a vision of the Pope's demise. Many suspected demonic influence, attempted exorcisms even. But His Holiness himself intervened, confirming the truth of her vision."
A murmur rippled through the assembled Saints.
"Over the years," Yukio continued, "Lady Cassandra's visions have, without fail, come to pass. Her foresight has guided us through countless trials and averted numerous disasters."
Kojo leaned back in his chair, a skeptical expression on his face. "I'm not really convinced, but… okay."
"Do you dare to call into question the veracity of our Holy Lady's visions?" Saint Leo asked.
"Whoa there, Captain Uptight," Kojo retorted, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not calling anyone anything. Don't put words in my mouth."
He shifted his gaze back to Yukio. "Look, the future is ever-changing, right? So yeah, maybe she saw a future, but that future might not necessarily manifest in our world, the original timeline. It could be just another variant in the Nexus."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. The knights exchanged tense glances, the term "Nexus" hanging in the air like a tangible threat. Paladin Vanica finally broke the silence.
"How do you know this, Sir Kojo?" Her voice was laced with suspicion.
"I was… informed about it by a certain subordinate of mine," Kojo replied casually, avoiding eye contact with Vanica.
Reze, her eyes narrowed with curiosity, pressed further. "And who exactly is this subordinate of yours?"
"Just a certain Daemon," Kojo said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Nothing you all need to concern yourselves with." He waved his hand dismissively.
Yukio, sensing the rising tension, cleared her throat, redirecting the conversation. "You didn't listen to what I said. I said over the years her visions have been made manifest, so no, it won't branch out into a variant. Regardless of the specifics of Lady Cassandra's vision, we must also address the recent, undeniable events. The revival of two Chaos Lords: Minatori the Accursed and The Destroyer, Dona Crimson."
Paladin Razak nodded grimly. "Yes. We all sensed the fluctuation of power. It was… unsettling."
"The world… it felt like it ended for a moment. The sheer magnitude of their return… it confirmed the Destroyer's legend," Saint Quami added.
Yukio nodded slowly. Then, with a casualness that belied the weight of her words, she pointed directly at Kojo. "Kojo here," she stated, her voice even, "is the one who brought them both back."
There was a moment of silence before a collective gasp echoed through the Grand Hall. A cacophony of voices erupted, questions tumbling over each other in their urgency.
"Why would you do that?"
"How is that even possible?"
"When did this happen?"
"What are your motives?"
"Is this the result of some… ability?"
"Will you do it again?"
Kojo raised his hands, palms facing outwards, attempting to quell the uproar. "Whoa, hold on a second! I was… being controlled at the time."
He elaborated, his voice slightly strained. "It's… something they call 'Soul Link Magic'..."
A fresh wave of disbelief washed over the knights.
"Soul Link magic?" Saint Myron scoffed. "There's no way someone like you would be capable of wielding such arcane arts!" Paladin Nico added, looking at Kojo in disbelief.
"Even we," Paladin Tobias interjected, his voice laced with incredulity, "some of the strongest individuals in the world, know little of such a complex magic. And yet you… you casually ripped into spacetime and dragged two Abstract Entities from the Nether?"
"Calm yourselves," Yukio commanded, her voice cutting through the noise. "Despite his… unassuming appearance, Kojo possesses a strength that should not be underestimated. The circumstances surrounding the revival of the Chaos Lords are… complicated. But we will delve into that further. For now, understand that the Pope himself has deemed this matter of utmost importance, hence this assembly."
On a grand, ornate throne typically reserved for the Pope that was behind the head of the table on a platform with stairs sat a figure shrouded in shadows. The Unseen observed the unfolding drama with an almost detached air, a half-eaten apple held languidly in her hand, occasionally taking a silent, deliberate bite.
"Did this… subordinate of yours happen to have mentioned anything about the Gates?" The Archsaint asked Kojo.
Kojo, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation, leaned back in his chair with a casual air. He then proceeded to prop his feet up on the polished surface of the long table, crossing them at the ankles. A few of the more rigidly inclined Saints, including Leo, twitched at the blatant disregard for decorum.
"Oh, The Gates of Sephirot, yeah," Kojo replied, his tone nonchalant. "She mentioned something about them, though," he added, a slight frown creasing his brow, "she didn't really delve deep into the details. Said something about that knowledge making me go insane for some reason."
He noticed Yukio staring at him with an unreadable expression. "What'?"
"It's just… surprising," Yukio said slowly, her gaze unwavering, "to hear that a daemon showed… affection, or even a semblance of care, towards a human."
"It's almost as if he's not entirely human himself," Saint Aldean said, though he was implying something of an insult instead of questioning Kojo's existence.
Kojo, oblivious to this, chuckled awkwardly.
"That actually saves me a lot of time," Yukio said.
Lin, who had been observing the exchange with a furrowed brow, shot a questioning look at Kojo.
"I'll tell you about it later," Kojo whispered.
"You'd better fill me in," she warned. "I don't like being kept in the dark."
"You're so cute when you're demanding," Kojo said with a playful grin, earning him another sharp elbow from Lin.
Yukio was about to continue her explanation when Razak raised a hand.
"Captain," he began, his voice deep and resonant, "forgive my interruption, but is it truly wise to share further sensitive information with Sir Kojo Atari? He is, after all, a foreigner, hailing from another nation. And then there's this revelation concerning his capacity to affect the very fabric of reality via ancient magic. He even possesses a Sacred Blade, as you yourself confirmed when you returned to Ezkanur after the Dio'ri Tournament in Archadia. Is it really prudent to proceed?"
The eyes of the assembled knights shifted from Saint Razak to the Archsaint.
Yukio sighed softly, a barely audible exhale. "I understand your concerns, Razak. You are right; it is indeed a precarious situation. Sharing national secrets with someone from another land, especially someone with Kojo's… unique abilities, is inherently risky. But," she continued, her gaze sweeping across the faces of her knights, "I trust him. Just as I trust all of you."
Razak looked at her, then suddenly relaxed. "If you trust him, Captain, then I will trust your judgment."
A low murmur rippled through the ranks of the Saints.
Kojo, observing the exchange, thought to himself, These guys might be legendary knights, but they act more like a bunch of boys in a dorm room. So free, so… jovial. He almost smiled. Like a family.
Yukio cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention back to her. "Before we delve deeper into Lady Cassandra's vision and its implications, I believe it's crucial for Kojo, and perhaps as a reminder for the rest of you, to understand the vital role we, the Glory Knights, play." She paused, her masked gaze settling on Kojo. "You may not believe this, Kojo, but we are superheroes who protect this world."