Chapter 117 : Rider vs Saber

Alessandro was alive. He touched his chest, face and legs, nothing had happened to him, but as soon as he turned he saw Saber, seriously injured in the back, she was losing a lot of blood.
« SABER! What have you done? »
« Isn't it obvious ... Master? You ask really absurd questions ... you know? »
Saber was unable to get back on her feet but luckily Alessandro's magical energy was enough to allow her to regenerate her wounds, little by little. Meanwhile, Kazuki used his necklace again and summoned a sphere of water that turned into a spear, this was shot in the direction of Alessandro.
« Defendere! »
He snapped his fingers just in time and created a magic barrier that stopped the attack. Saber got up, now healed, and started fighting against Rider again. Rider continued to have an overwhelming advantage against Saber and in the end she was able to injure her in the side and also in the right leg with two very fast blows. Saber was on her knees and Rider noticed that her wounds were already healing.
« Your Master has a lot of magical energy, Saber. You are lucky. But mine has a lot too. This could be an endless battle ... but luckily I'm a person who does not like wasting time, so I will end you with this last blow. »
Saber couldn't move, the wounds were still healing and Rider was ready to launch a fatal blow, the last blow with which she would surely have killed her. All she could do was fight back. She knew that a sword fight with Rider was useless, the opponent was better than her but she found another way to win.
Saber touched the ground with her hand and exclaimed:
« Fortress! »
Suddenly the two Servants were separated by a wall of wooden poles which formed a rectangular fort. Rider found herself outside of it, shocked for a moment, but decided to capture Saber and finish the duel quickly.
Saber healed. She knew that Rider would find her and had to avoid close confrontation at all costs, which was very difficult for one of her class, and therefore she needed a tactic. She touched the ground again and created bushes around her, later she made crow's feet appear.
As soon as Rider found Saber she realized that her rival was motionless, in the bushes, she saw those iron mines on the ground but she didn't fall for it.
« You will have to do better, Saber! »
Rider jumped towards the opponent and, with the katana unsheathed, prepared to behead her but then noticed something anomalous among those bushes: there were sharp rods hidden between them. Saber was the bait. She had staked her life. If Rider had attempted to attack her she would have ended up skewered by those spears.
She did an aerial turn around, she wanted to kick Saber towards the posts.
« You're finished! »
Saber had the sword in her hand, Rider pushed the girl back with both feet and made her fall in the bushes but saw that she was not skewered, the wooden spikes fell, the sticks broke and nothing happened to Saber. The rods behind Saber were smaller and were like decorations on a Christmas tree, they were not fixed to the ground. Rider, however, landed outside the bushes and had completely forgotten about the crow's feet. Two of these stuck her feet.
« Aaaaargh! »
« I got you, Rider! Crocea Mors! (The Sword of Certain Victory) »
The slash of light hit Rider hard. The fortress disappeared and Saber could breathe a sigh of relief. The battle seemed to have ended with her victory, but Rider was still standing. She was injured but was on her feet.
« Do not hope to have won! You cannot win against Ieyasu Tokugawa, bitch! »
« Show me what you can do, then. I wait for you, dear. »
« As you wish! We will finish this fight immediately! »
Rider raised the katana, it lit up and from it came out astral chains, hundreds of blue chains that entered the houses, hotels and palaces through the walls.
She then exclaimed:
« Kairō no Eien no Shōgun! (The Commander of the Cloister) »
The chains lit up. A little later a hundred people came out, civilians with chains attached to their chests. Saber and Alessandro were shocked by that Noble Phantasm. There were men, women and children. Everyone had their eyes off and walked like sleepwalkers.
« Now the games begin, Saber! »

Saber vs Rider by Bikowolf

 

Chapter 116 : How to fight a war

It was night. Alessandro and Friedrich had agreed to fight two duels in two different parks to avoid letting people know they were collaborating. Alessandro chose to go to Hyde Park with Saber. He was waiting for a Master with his Servant, sooner or later someone would come and someone actually "answered" the invitation.
Nishijima Kazuki arrived with Rider, with the smile of a boor and the bold attitude, he saw Alessandro, indifferent, he settled at least four meters from him, he was practically in front of him, but Alessandro was ignoring him. He got slightly nervous.
« Do you think you're tough just because you ignore me? »
Alessandro deigned him a look.
« Let's hurry. That Servant is Rider-class, right? But where is her horse? »
« Let's say it's a surprise. »
« I hate surprises. » Alessandro snapped his fingers: « Dis. »
Kazuki was pushed to the ground by a powerful invisible force. Alarmed, Rider attempted to attack Alessandro but her sword collided with Saber's. The two Servants started fighting.

Alessandro approached the opponent who was getting up.
« You have no idea who I am! I can defeat you in no time! » Kazuki shouted.
« I doubt it. »
Kazuki took off a necklace, showed the pendant that had the shape of a drop of water on which "水" was engraved. Alessandro understood immediately that it had to be a kind of catalyst or something similar and prepared himself for anything. The necklace lit up and suddenly seven spheres made of water appeared around Kazuki and were fired like bullets.
Alessandro snapped his fingers and exclaimed:
« Defendere! »
The water bullets broke over a magical barrier that appeared in front of the boy.
« Gladius Flammae! »
Alessandro, snapping his fingers, summoned a fiery sword. This was launched at very high speed and Kazuki was forced to throw himself on the ground to dodge the blow. Alessandro had discovered his opponent's weakness.
« Lignum! »
With another snap of fingers, roots, sprouted from the ground, took the shape of a human being at least two meters long. Frightened Kazuki again used the same magic as before and it was a failure. Alessandro then said:
« Ledo. »
The root creature moved and grabbed Kazuki by trapping him in a fatal grip. The boy would have been strangled if it hadn't been for Rider's prompt intervention. Alessandro was slightly amazed by the presence of the Servant turned around and saw that Saber was fatigued. Something was wrong.
« Saber ... what do you have? Why don't you seem sure of yourself? »
« There's a problem, Master ... I think I'm not particularly suitable in a battle against Rider. »
« What are you talking about? Of course you can do it! Come here! »
Alessandro touched Saber's chest, closed his eyes and saw the parameters of the Servant and then noticed that among her skills there was a particular one: Warlord and Historian. This ability made Saber more effective against every Servant of European origin but weaker against every Servant of Asian origin. Looking at Rider, Alessandro immediately understood that Saber was at a disadvantage.
« Do you think you can face her? »
« I don't know ... she fights in a way that I don't know ... I don't understand who the hell she is. It's a problem for me, a serious problem. »
« No, you can still do it. Now we will study a plan and ... »
Alessandro had completely forgotten that the battle was still going on. Rider attacked without hesitation, he was able to lower himself just in time but Saber received a blow of the sword directed to the side.
Saber was more clumsy against Rider. She couldn't parry the blows, hesitated to hit and was less determined in her attacks. She had completely changed compared to when she faced Specter, it was like being in front of another person.
Meanwhile, Kazuki was preening himself behind his Servant:
« Apparently you are no longer the "big man". I've the best Servant. Rider will crush Saber, destroy her and you won't be able to do anything about it. »
« Then I'll just have to kill you. » Replied Alessandro.
Kazuki, clearly terrified, used a Command Seal to order Rider to kill Alessandro and so she, without a minimum of forewarning, abandoned Saber and used her Noble Phantasm against the boy:
« Mittsume! (She Who is in Third Place Compared to Nobunaga) »

Nishijima Kazuki and Alessandro Serpi by Bikowolf

 

Chapter 115 : Voices in the dark

Hisae knew she was being followed. She had gone out for a walk in Regent's Park, it was eleven in the morning, nobody would attack her but someone was following her. She didn't want to make it clear to the stalker that she knew she was being followed and therefore she simply speeded up her pace, sometimes giving quick glances behind her to check that her pursuer had disappeared.
This girl appeared out of nowhere which frightened Hisae: it was Yukiko Kumahira.
« You are one who loves to run away, I see. » Yukiko commented with a mischievous grin.
Hisae, from those words, sensed that that girl was the pursuer.
« What do you want from me? Why are you stalking me? »
« In your chest you have the Command Seal like me. We are both Masters. My name is Yukiko and I'm going to be your rival, Hisae Sunahara. »
« How do you know my name? »
« I know your brother ... little Hiro. How are you, by the way? Is he still a failure? »
Frightened and irritated, Hisae didn'tt hold back from using her hands. She slapped Yukiko.
« What do you want from me? I'm not afraid of hurting you ... especially if you intend to hurt my brother. »
Yukiko didn't lose her evil grin, she stroked the cheek that had been hit, put her hair back in place and replied:
« I'll give you this slap because I know you won't live long. In this war there are enemies that you cannot face, you're the best of the Sunahara family but you are, like your brother, the worst Master in this war. You can't win against me and I'll prove it to you tonight. So I advise you to put on something nice and make yourself beautiful, maybe dress in black, it will be great for your funeral. »
« You don't scare me, little girl. »
Yukiko didn't reply. She left ignoring Hisae's comment, who was shaken by that meeting. She pretended not to be terrified but in reality her heart was agitated, she didn't want to die in the Holy Grail War of Yggdrasil, she didn't want to abandon her brother Hiro. She had to do something so she followed Yukiko.
She pursued her, without being noticed, to an abandoned warehouse. She wanted to kill her. She wanted to eliminate Yukiko without being seen by anyone. Eliminating the Master would have saved herself. Archer appeared.
« Don't do it, Master. »
« Why not? It's my chance. I can't wait to face her. If I kill her now I will finish everything in an instant. »
« It's probably a trap. I don't trust that Yukiko. It seems to me a girl as cunning as a fox, you cannot afford to be stubborn and follow your heart. You have to think before you act. »
« She knows my brother, Archer! She probably wants to kill him! I can't allow it! » Exclaimed Hisae.
« Master ... if you follow Yukiko up in there you will die. »
« And you? What are you doing, Archer? You are my Servant, my familiar. You have to fight for me and you will defend me from anything. »
« We are entering the wolf's den, Master. I can defend you but I can't allow you to commit suicide. »
Archer managed to persuade Hisae to go back but he knew that this love for her brother would hinder his Master in the future. He had to be more careful.

Yukiko Kumahira and Hisae Sunahara by Bikowolf

 

Chapter 114 : The next move

January 31, 2021 - Day 5

Alessandro Serpi was discharged from the hospital and was able to return to his hotel room, where he also invited Friedrich to discuss the latest news.
« So his name is Dorian Benard? I've already heard that name from the Coven. »
« I'm not surprised ... he's a very famous man. Certainly the most famous French magus. »
« Now where is he? »
« He's actively collaborating with the Mage's Association. They're looking for a way to deal with Sheol. »
« So what do we do? Do we wait for the world to fall? »
« Don't you think you're being a little over the top? »
« I spent a whole day in the hospital with the fear of being fiercely buggered by a demonic creature capable of destroying our world. I guess I'm not that over the top. »
« Friend, if you stayed in the hospital, it's because of your little girl body. An arrow is enough to send you to the emergency room. »
« Oh, fuck you! Try it yourself to take an arrow in the shoulder and then come and tell me! » Alessandro exclaimed.
« For your information I can resist anything! I remind you that my Germanic descent makes me exceptional virile! »
« Kiss my ass! We Italians are ten, perhaps a hundred times more virile than any German! »
« Oh yes? Then prove it! »
« What the fuck am I supposed to do? »
« Let's do a non-mortal duel until the end of the day! The one who gives up wins! I warn you that I did aikido. »
« But I can't fight with my hands! »
« I thought you in the Coven used martial arts to fight. »
« No, I'm just a black belt of prayer. I never raised my hands. »
« Then I can't hit you, my code of honor prevents me. »
The discussion settled:
« Sorry me, Friedrich, I didn't want to raise my voice ... it's just that ... »
« Did you need to let off steam? »
« Yes. The presence of Sheol ... agitates me. »
« I know. »
« I don't want to die ... I just want to have a peaceful life without problems. I was hoping to end this war quickly and instead ... »
« It's all right, bruder! »
« Te vojo bene! »
After the quarrel, the two Masters began to plan. Their aim was to deal only with Devourer but to do this they had to first get rid of the other Masters who had taken part in the Holy Grail War. Dealing with a Servant like Sheol was almost as crazy as trying to walk on water but both Masters agreed that the problem couldn't be ignored, the Servant had to be fought, she was too dangerous to be left alive.
Friedrich, meanwhile, kept wondering when he would meet Yukiko Kumahira. The girl seemed to have vanished into thin air, Alessandro was also interested in meeting her but at the same time had the goal of ending the war as quickly as possible. 
The battle against Archer had reminded him that he could die at any moment in that conflict, living with paranoia was unbearable for him and the alliance with Friedrich, nourished by their similarity, could only be a positive thing.
In a moment of reflection, Friedrich asserted:
« I was thinking about my teacher, the man who taught me to use Magecraft. »
« What was his name? »
« Sigwald Stein. He was a very intelligent man, a magus who had traveled extensively and who treated me like a son. But one day ... » Friedrich rubbed his eyes: « One day I discovered that he thought he was being persecuted by the ghost of his son Erden, who had died at the age of sixteen. He saw his son in me, said that I looked like him, and one day his fear devoured him: he had a hysterical crisis, I don't know why, I think he was drunk ... he took a knife and cut his throat before my eyes. »
« How could this happen? » Alessandro asked, saddened by the story.
« He simply degenerated over time. Do you think we are still influenced by old fears? »
« Maybe. But why do you worry about these things? »
« Sheol ... an entire world cannot become a Servant. What if she's not a world but a set of fears? The fear of death? »
« Do you really think such a thing is possible? »
« Fear, in some ways, is like magic, don't forget it. Fear can actually distort reality: it can make you see or hear things that aren't there. The power of fear is such that it can drive a person crazy. It acts directly on a person's personal reality and influences it. Perhaps Sheol is this: the embodiment of the fear of death, the oldest fear of humanity. And maybe … »
Friedrich stopped speaking suddenly. He rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his sweatshirt to wipe away his tears.
« Maybe I too was a victim of fear. Maybe my belief that I didn't exist was nothing but the fear of being nobody. Maybe this fear, the fear of being just an intruder, has diverted my experience. Maybe I'm really crazy. »
« No I do not think so. » Alessandro said frankly. « Fear is dangerous, yes, but it cannot be so powerful as to divert reality as you say. Maybe it can alter some aspects but it can't change it up to that point. This is a fact for me. »
« How can you say it with so much certainty? »
« I was never afraid of being abandoned by my mother and yet it happened. It struck me like lightning in a clear sky. My mother destroyed my life with a single choice, pushed me away, abandoned me in the Coven and broke the bridges with me. Fears are only fears, they are in your head and can be fought. But people ... they are another story. People can be worse than a fear because they surpass it in malice and depravity. »

Alessandro Serpi and Friedrich Wolff by Bikowolf

 

Favorite historical characters who might one day become Servant - 7

Marina Mniszech

A Polish woman of noble origins, a fervent Catholic who hoped to convert Russia. She was forcibly installed together with her husband False Dmitry I on the Russian throne by king of Poland Sigismund III. After the death of her husband due to the boyars' revolt she married False Dmitry II but he was also murdered. What makes this figure very interesting is the name "witch", often attached to this woman. Why? Well, apparently when her three year old son was hanged, she cursed the Romanov family with these words:

Be damned! In Ipatiev you started, in Ipatiev you will finish! You began with the death of Tsarevich, and you will end with Tsarevich's death!

According to the folk history paradigm, the barbaric murder of Nicholas II with his family including his twelve-year-old son is an act of Marina the Witch's revenge for a barbaric public execution of her child.
So what classes I think for her?
(a note the stars indicate what for me would be the most suitable class for the character. Five stars is the maximum, no star is the minimum.)
. Rider (-)
. Caster (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
. Saber (-)
. Assassin (⭐⭐)
. Lancer (-)
. Berserker (⭐⭐)
. Archer (-)
. Specter (-)
. Devourer (-)
. Ruler (-)
. Avenger (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Chapter 113 : Blood-soaked hands

It was night. In a closed mall parking lot, Tetsuya Murakawa was comfortable leaning against a railing to smoke his cigarette while there, next to him, there was a man tied and gagged.
« I knew you worked for them, I knew immediately. I know those of T6, you are all the same. I bet your goal was to kill me. »
The other replied with incomprehensible verses and waving his head.
« Don't worry, I don't need to hear your opinion. I know you wanted to kill me. I saw you while you were stalking me this morning and I organized myself to have a happy meeting with you. So here we are, dickhead: you are now officially dead meat. »
Tetsuya put out his cigarette. He approached the man and punched him in the face, a slight pain in the knuckles, nothing unbearable, it wasn't the first time that Tetsuya had done it. He threw another punch, even stronger than before, then another, another and yet another. The guy's face was getting ruined, blood was pouring out of his nose, but Tetsuya didn't stop. Another punch, this time straight in the eye. Then he threw him on the ground and started kicking him. He wasn't having fun, he did it to take revenge, he ignored the strangled lines of pain, he went on, without ever taking his eyes off, he went on kicking that defenseless man who was like a fish on a boat, he fidgeted, he moved, he tried to escape ... but it was all useless.
Tetsuya didn't want to kill that man, he wanted to literally kill him with his own hands.
Lancer appeared.
« Stop it, Master. What you're doing doesn't make sense. »
« Fuck you! This makes a lot of sense. I'm dealing with a piece of shit that wanted to kill me. »
« Master ... he no longer reacts. He has lost consciousness. If you want to kill him do it now and end it. »
« Shouldn't you be a fucking slave? Act like one and let me do my job. »
Lancer threw her spear against the wall, missing Tetsuya by a few centimeters, she did it on purpose. The man remained motionless staring at that weapon implanted in the concrete, then turned furiously:
« Are you provoking me, Lancer? »
« I'm not a slave, remember that. I'm a Heroic Spirit. »
« Do you think I give a damn? »
« You're in this war with me, our alliance is necessary but ... anyway I consider you a vulgar killer, a bloodthirsty beast. »
« A beast, huh? Well ... I can't blame you but what do you think this man is? Now he seems innocent to you but he's not so when he carries out his orders. He killed many people for a lot of money during his "career" in T6. Sometimes they were clumsy journalists, sometimes they were nagging wives and other times they were treacherous husbands. But he also killed children, did you know? His hands are as blood stained as mine. »
« This doesn't justify you. Good people don't behave this way… »
« "Good people" don't exist in this world. We are all animals but we pretend not to be. We say we are civilized and compassionate but we are assholes who enjoy the suffering of others. I'm honest, they are hypocrites. »
« You are not honest ... you're a savage. »
Lancer disappeared leaving Tetsuya alone with that defenseless body. Tetsuya took out a switchblade and finished the job.

Murakawa Tetsuya by Bikowolf

 

Chapter 112 : Behind the scenes

In Rome, in the Vatican City, inside the Coven Abbey, the Grand Master Giovanni Monteverdi X was speaking with Davide Ponti, an Elder, who was expressing his strong doubts about Alessandro Serpi and his stability. The two men were in the central chapel of the church.
« I tell you, Grand Master, that boy could become a problem in the future. »
« Why are you suddenly having trouble with my choice? It seemed to me that Marco Lombardo had made you change your mind. »
« I never agreed with your choice. Alessandro is unstable. »
« I don't think so, my friend. In fact, I think you're really exaggerating. »
« His unsocial way of acting has always worried me, Grand Master. He is too silent, too talented and ... too individualistic. He will betray us, I'm sure. »
« Yours are very serious accusations, Ponti. » Giovanni noticed with a mocking smile.
« I know what I'm talking about. His father betrayed us precisely because years of solitude had turned him into a faithless madman. Alessandro is not so different. For now he behaves like a faithful dog but one day he will do just like his father. »
« Yet it seems to me that he is doing well so far. Our agents in London have told me that he's still alive and that he's therefore fighting ... »
David gave him some sheets of paper in his hand.
« What is this stuff? »
« The latest report. Apparently there is the possibility that Alessandro is collaborating with another Master, a German named Friedrich Wolff. Maybe he's cheating on us for the Rote Mäntel. »
Giovanni's worried and annoyed gaze made David intimidated and he kept himself at the right distance so as not to suffer the anger of the Grand Master. Giovanni tore the sheets in half and threw them on the ground leaving Davide Ponti shocked.
« Grand Master, why did you do it? »
Giovanni didn't reply, he proceeded towards the beautiful statue of the chapel, with his hands behind his back he stared at it for a while leaving Davide on the thorns and then he answered, sighing:
« I believe there is a symbolic meaning behind the presence of the Command Seals on the Masters chest. It's a sign that every contract has at stake the soul, it's a contract of non-political faith. If faith is betrayed, one becomes a disciple of the Devil and this must be prevented. If a brother of mine risks getting lost in the forest of Evil it is my duty to save and purify him, and it's also a duty of anyone who belongs to the Coven and anyone who faithfully serves the Pope. Those who lose faith must be purified. »
Giovanni Monteverdi X turned to Davide and concluded:
« If Alessandro will betray our faith then we're going take him out. Someone else will have to take Saber and fight the Holy Grail War of Yggdrasil. Elisa Mancini seems to me a good candidate. »
« As you wish, Grand Master. We will continue to spy on Alessandro and we will keep you informed. »
« Good. »

Chapter 111 : New allies (part 3)

Alessandro Serpi was still on the bed, under the covers but seated. He didn't want to sleep. Saber had just come out to get something to eat at the machine, had left the book on Napoleon in the chair. The fact that Caesar was interested in Napoleon was somewhat ironic for him and when he saw his Servant enter with a chocolate bar in her hand, which she passed him, he pointed out to her:
« Did you know that the man you're reading about adored you? He wanted to be like you, he wanted to outdo you in everything. For him, you were an idol and a challenge. There are a lot of testimonials about it, are you interested? »
« No not much. That's okay with me. I find the history of this Napoleon very 
interesting. »
« You two are very similar. »
« Yes I know. This is fate. » Saber moved the book and sat down: « As I adored Alexander the Great, Napoleon adored me. This is fate. Maybe the three of us are tied by a single red thread. The question now is: who will be the fourth? »
« It's not that simple, Saber. You simplify everything but there were several sovereigns who adored you: Charles VIII of France, Charles V of Habsburg, Henry IV of France and even Louis XIV of France considered you an idol. »
« How do you know these things? » She asked curiously, raising her eyebrow.
« Well ... I'm a history buff ... that's all. »
« Why are you blushing? It's a good thing to love history. History is the greatest of all teachers. I loved history myself. »
« Anyway, the point is ... you're wrong. You left a mark on history. Princes and sovereigns considered you the most important person of Ancient Rome and considered you a model to follow, the model of the perfect monarch. »
Saber didn't seem happy at all and Alessandro, worried, asked her:
« Did I say something wrong? »
With her hands she was clutching the book on her legs, her gaze was desolate, embarrassed to have let her discomfort shine through.
« I can accept that Specter calls me "king" I have no problems ... but I don't want to be a "monarch" for my Master. I know I'm special and that's why I don't want to be reduced to a simple "king", I'm Caesar. »
« Strange ... you didn't seem to be bothered too much when you talked about it with Specter. »
« I was joking, it was just a game. I know how to play, Master, but I'm a serious person. Being called "king" for fun is a thing ... but being considered "king" by my Master is a serious matter for me. »
« Why? »
« Because a king is only an extension of the people, it represents the will of the people. I've never been and I never wanted to be simply an extension of the will of the people. I wanted to be myself. I was loved by the people not because I was a reflection of them but because I was myself, I was and am Caesar. Only Caesar. Not a sovereign, but Caesar. »
« Then why did you try to get power? »
« To leave an imprint. This is why I love Alexander the Great, he in his day managed to accomplish incredible achievements at a very young age and managed to leave a mark on history. I wanted to do it too. I didn't want to be a king or a god, I wanted to be remembered, I wanted to be immortal. That's why you live right? Living doesn't mean dying. Living means doing everything you can to be remembered by others. Life is too short and to be forgotten is sad. I wanted to leave a mark. » 
Saber spoke those words with such a passion that Alessandro didn't even know what to say, he could read a real conviction in the girl's eyes, she was a person who had a clear goal and wanted to do everything to be remembered. He would have stayed there to talk to her if he hadn't received a call from Friedrich Wolff:
« What's going on, Friedrich? »
« We have an ally now, his name is Dorian Benard. He's a friend of mine. He will help us to stop Sheol and end the Holy Grail War. I hope there are no problems for you. »
« No, no ... don't worry. It's All right. »
Alessandro was lying. He didn't like the idea of collaborating with a stranger at all. He didn't trust this Dorian Benard but he couldn't afford to raise a fuss in such a delicate moment.

Caesar reading about Napoleon by Bikowolf

 

April update

I'm writing the new chapters that should come out in a few days, I'm sorry if it takes a lot but as I said the study is taking a lot of time.
Anyway, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the people who find the time to read Fate / Yggdrasil and I thank Bikowolf1 for the wonderful drawings he does for the blognovel. 😁😁