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Jane sat on her hospital bed. It was time for tea. However, she could not bring herself to take a sip. It was as if there was a lump in her throat. The local doctors said that she was fine now, noting that she had almost died. She coughed into a napkin just in case. There was no blood.
But then what was preventing her from breathing freely?
***
Goll was surrounded. Are these gods, and not some punks? She was not going to interfere in the conflicts between the gods—this was Brunhilde's job, not hers. She was only here for bandages and medicine. Why is she always so unlucky?!
"The violence of either grief or joy, their own enactures with themselves destroy;" a gentle female voice interrupted Goll's inner scream.
Everyone present immediately turned to the new face.
"And the heck are you?" Ebisu turned to the newcomer indignantly. "What was that about "axe-sures?"
"Oh my," the woman muttered in disappointment. "It was Shakespeare. Haven't you heard of him?"
Goll finally turned to the girl to examine her possible savior or companion in misfortune.
"Wait a minute," Goll finally recognized the person in front of her. "You..."
"The aroma of Darjeeling tea is a balm for the soul," the woman declared. "Would you like to try some, sir?"
***
"Jack the Ripper!" Ebisu jumped to his feet in shock and nervously grabbed his fish gun. "Thanks for the offer, but I only drink green tea."
Goll became worried and began to look around in panic. They weren’t planning on starting a fight here, were they? Especially since Jane was still injured...
The Valkyrie looked up. She stared at the einherjar in front of her—the killer of her dear friend. She should hate her, but...
Goll remembered how Hercules had held Jane so carefully in the last seconds of his life. As if she wasn’t a dangerous maniac, but just a confused girl. Hercules could have killed her at that moment. The Ripper couldn’t defend herself. But he didn’t. What did he see in her that changed his opinion so drastically in less than half an hour?
Looking at her now, the famous villainess didn’t look special. She looked like an ordinary woman. She had changed her ruined clothes and was wearing a white lace shirt and a simple burgundy knee-length skirt. Almost every inch of her body was covered in bandages. She looked thin, although powerful muscles were definitely hidden under the layers of fabric. After all, without being strong enough, it was impossible to resist a god like—
Goll shook her head, scolding herself. She was damn ashamed of snapping at Brunhilde. Being angry at Jane was just as wrong. She needed to think less about the god so as not to get lost in her feelings again.
"The senseless destruction of life is unacceptable," Bishamon declared, pulling Goll out of her thoughts and preventing any conflict that might arise. "Let's go."
The Gods of Fortune hurried out of the room. However, Ebisu stopped right in front of Jane, looking up at her.
The Valkyrie was taken aback. Jane was... super tall! She was almost a head taller than Ebisu and clearly taller than Benzaiten. It was very easy to be fooled by the fragile appearance of the Ripper, especially compared to the giant Hercules. Ouch. Goll mentally slapped herself for bringing up her friend again.
Even as he was dragged along the floor by the scruff of his neck, Ebisu continued to shout threats at the Valkyrie until Benzaiten dragged him far enough for him to finally fall silent.
Goll sank heavily to the ground. Becoming the archenemy of the Gods of Fortune was not in her future plans.
"I thought I was finished. Those Seven Gods of Fortune are more like Gods of Misfortune," she complained.
"Seven?" the Einherjar asked, confused. "Did you say seven, young lady?"
"Oh, right," Goll turned around awkwardly. "I'm sure in Japan they're called the Seven Gods of Fortune. Do you find that strange?"
Jane chuckled softly at this, looking intently in the direction where the gods had gone.
Goll was lost in her thoughts. It was strange, but she didn't feel hatred towards the Ripper. Especially when she saw her in person. It was just... not how she imagined a person with such a terrible reputation. Even Hlokk, who seemed to have every right to hate Jane, came back after the fight simply unhappy that she had gotten dirty. As if nothing had happened. Goll was confused.
Jane's voice brought her back to reality.
"What?" Valkyrie asked, confused. She hadn't heard what the Ripper had said before.
"Nothing. I beg your pardon," Jane simply answered, then extended her hand with a cup of warm tea on a beautiful white saucer. "Would you like a cup of tea, young lady?"
Goll's gaze turned to the woman's bandaged hands. Uninvited memories invaded the Valkyrie's mind again: black-gloved palms sticking out from behind the god's back; Brunhilde's cold, distant face; and her own cruel words.
Goll pursed her lips in shame from the disgust that rolled over her, primarily towards herself.
"You are seriously injured." The Valkyrie's eyes ran over the numerous wounds again.
"Quite a sight," the Einherjar replied, chuckling. "I'm sorry to have made you worry, but you have nothing to worry about."
Her low voice was even, and her tone was polite, as if she was completely unaffected by the injuries she had suffered.
And as if to confirm, Jane added:
"It's not as painful as it seems," she said and smiled softly.
"Still, you shouldn't have gotten up," Goll insisted. "With such wounds, you should be lying in bed."
Suddenly remembering why she had come here in the first place, the Valkyrie did not notice how Jane's face twisted in surprise and how she recoiled slightly.
"I must hurry!" said the Valkyrie, picking up the medicine. "That's why I have to refuse tea."
Running out of the room, she quickly said goodbye to the Einherjar.
***
Jane watched as the nervous young Valkyrie walked away. She had scattered several jars around the room in her haste, and the Ripper decided to clean them up later.
Jane looked down at her now cold teacup and tilted her head to the side in disappointment.
What a pity.
The tea would have to be thrown out.
***
Brunhilde walked to the memorial hall. Two more names would be added there today. Her sister and the warrior Raiden Tameemon had died. They had fought valiantly, but none of that mattered when the gods were once again ahead of the humans.
A victory snatched from the gods' hands with such effort, all to even the score, and then end up behind anyway. Buddha would be next to speak for humanity, and he would most likely win. And the score would be even again... If so, the humans urgently needed to do something, because they were still one step behind the gods. They needed to carefully choose who would go in the next round.
Come to think of it, first there was Lü Bu—pure power and a loss. Adam, who also fell despite being so close. Sasaki Kojirou, the first victor, relied mainly on his ability to predict. And... Jane.
Brunhilde stopped. She put one hand on the wall and the other grabbed the hem of her dress.
Goll’s words would always remain with her.
Was she glad that Heracles died? She could clearly feel the triumph when her predictions came true, when she realized that victory was one step closer.
Is this normal? Can she still be a good person after this?
"Miss Brunhilde, is everything all right?"
The Valkyrie’s head snapped up. This was the second time she couldn’t hold back her emotions in the hallway.
Suddenly pulling herself together, she looked at the woman in front of her.
"Jack. I mean, Jane." Brunhilde corrected herself. "Do you need something?"
"No, not at all." The Ripper shook her head slightly. Her tightly bandaged hands were folded in front of her. "I simply couldn't help but wonder. You look a little... complicated."
"What I feel is none of your business." Brunhilde couldn’t keep her tone from getting aggressive. Something about the woman always had the effect of a spark on a powder keg. She tried to soften her words. "I don’t often see you without your monocle."
"Oh, well, you see," Jane shook her head sadly, not at all offended by the comment. "It was destroyed during the battle. And even if I found a suitable replacement, I would not wear it again."
"Is that so?" the Valkyrie answered dryly.
"That’s right." The Ripper raised her hand to her face, right where her red eye was shining. "I usually wear it to curb my creative urges and when I want to keep a cool head. But in the last few days, I’ve found that my self-control has become somewhat greater."
The Einherjar simply radiated happiness, as if she had shared truly wonderful news. Brunhilde did not care.
"I wanted to see how long I could hold out like this before I met someone who would light the fire in me so much that I could not hold back," Jane continued casually.
Immediately after these words, Brunhilde jerked forward, almost bumping noses with the Ripper. She barely resisted the urge to grab the collar of the girl's blouse and pull her toward her.
"Don’t even think," she hissed, "of killing anyone while you’re here."
Jane was slightly taller than Brunhilde and therefore looked down at her. Jane’s calmness only made the Valkyrie boil more.
A dangerous, delighted glint flashed in the Ripper's eyes.
Brunhilde quickly got her emotions under control and slowly backed away.
"I beg your pardon. I don't know what came over me," she squeezed out, her voice full of neutrality. Every wrinkle on her face was out of alignment.
Jane made a surprised sound.
"It's amazing," Jane sang, covering her red eye with her hand, "how different a person's emotions can be from how they act on the outside."
A shiver ran down the Valkyrie's spine. She hated how this woman read her like an open book. Brunhilde wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
"If you insist, miss," the Ripper added, "I will try not to kill anyone. After all, I am only a guest. It is not proper for a lady to cause trouble in someone else's house."
"Yes." The Valkyrie tried to take slow, unnoticeable breaths to calm herself, even if she knew it was useless. "I should have warned you beforehand."
"Everyone has bad days. Now, if you'll excuse me"—she made a short curtsy and walked away—"Lady Hlokk is waiting for me."
Brunhilde turned toward the slowly departing figure.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"Miss Hlokk invited me to have tea and watch the next match," the Ripper answered patiently. After receiving no response, she nodded slightly as a sign of farewell and walked on.
How Brunhilde is annoyed by this woman.
***
At first, Hlokk hated her. She knew about her crimes and what she was capable of, deeply despising her for what she had done.
Then Jane forced Hlokk to be her Velundr.
The Valkyrie was terrified. At second glance, seeing that crazed look, she thought she was going to die. The feeling of cold fingers on her neck sent a wave of panic through her.
And then their souls united.
Hlokk realized what a weirdo she was dealing with.
When there is a union of souls, it is a literal union. Memories, emotions, and even the heart become one.
Hlokk saw everything—what Jane had been through, how she lived, who she lost, and how she herself had become a participant in life. And what a surprise it was to learn that Jane was not who she claimed to be. In just a few moments, Hlokk discovered everything about the one she had considered a deranged maniac.
And the conclusion? Jane was a deranged maniac.
She just wasn’t quite the kind Hlokk had imagined. Her beliefs were different. And that changed everything.
Hlokk, to her own surprise, couldn't help but sympathize with the Ripper. After all, what was so wrong about killing scumbags and cretins? Hlokk had never been a particularly virtuous person. Perhaps that was why Heracles hadn’t judged her too harshly. His ideals were too naïve for her taste. Loving all people—oh, sure. He had fought Jane like a man possessed. Did he love rapists too? Yea, right. What nonsense.
In a word, Hlokk found herself closer to Jane’s worldview—though the Ripper hardly had a worldview. She simply lived for her own pleasure and killed all sorts of bastards whenever she felt like it.
Kind of admirable, in its own twisted way.
That was why, when their souls separated after the round, Hlokk let Jane know that she was open to further communication. Even if she was still mad about how rudely she'd been treated. While the Ripper was recovering in the infirmary, Hlokk slipped her a note inviting her for tea.
Tea, of course, would be on Jane’s tab. Since she loved it so much, she must know how to prepare it properly.
***
The girls settled in the living room. Hlokk eyed the tea with slight suspicion. She knew poisoning wasn’t Jane’s style, but for just a second, she had her doubts.
"It's not... poisoned, is it?" she asked cautiously, holding the cup.
"How could you think that!" The Ripper clutched her own cup with a satisfied smile. "I wouldn’t poison someone with a nose like Windsor Marco."
"Who are you comparing to a Spitz!?" Hlokk almost choked with indignation.
"Although, if that weren`t the case, I’d like to try it myself." Jane closed her eyes and took a small sip.
"Damn maniac!" The Valkyrie still wasn’t calm. "You need to be watched like a hawk!"
"Oh," Jane opened her eyes and looked directly at Hlokk, "now you remind me of the London crows."
Hlokk spluttered with outrage. This girl! How dare she make fun of her!
Jane, covering her mouth slightly, chuckled at the stormy Valkyrie.
***
Watching Göndul die was hard. Hlokk clutched the hem of her dress in her hands, trying to contain her emotions. Though she might not seem particularly close to her sisters, the eleventh Valkyrie actually cared deeply for them. Her eldest sister had died fighting alongside a human, against the gods. Was it selfish to wish that hadn't happened? Was it wrong to wish that Ragnarok had never occurred?
It just wasn’t fair.
"Miss Hlokk?"
The Valkyrie turned around. Jane was looking at her with a slight awkwardness on her face. Right. Hlokk couldn’t even hold it against her, knowing how bad the woman was at social interactions. The Ripper had probably seen the full range of the Valkyrie’s complex emotions, but no one had ever taught her how to deal with them.
Hlokk sighed intermittently, jumped up from the couch she had been sitting on, and shamelessly invaded Jane’s personal space, hugging her waist and pressing her face into the Ripper’s stomach.
"Just shut up and hug me already," the Valkyrie’s voice was muffled by her blouse.
A second later, she felt gentle hands on her back. Jane leaned forward slightly, most likely unconsciously, creating a protective dome around her.
Hlokk’s sobs became louder with this small gesture. Since Jane was sitting on a chair, the Valkyrie had flown up to her, but after the Ripper raised one of her hands and slowly ran it through her hair, all of Hlokk's strength left her, and she simply collapsed to the floor. Tears rolled down in a continuous hail. She didn’t understand why she reacted this way to such a gesture from the maniac. But why were her hands so gentle, then?
***
Jane didn’t know what to feel. The little Valkyrie was crying on her lap right now. The Ripper’s hands acted on their own, without even needing to be asked. Jane remembered how her mother had once hugged her and comforted her when the girl came home with scraped knees and bruises. And although Jane hadn’t been in pain at the time, her mother’s love had been the greatest comfort she could have received. That had been the happiest moment of her life, even if she later realized that her mother’s love had been fake.