Unfortunately, when their hand catches his, there's a spark, like a static shock, and a scene, flashing quick before their eyes:
He smiles at you--this man that you have come to know and care for more deeply than you would have expected, given how poorly things started out. Everything about his expression is gentle, even though you can see his body starting to fade. He has made his choice, and he has decided that your life, and the fleeting, flickering, dazzling lives of the humans he had admired and longed to emulate are more important than his own.
He reaches out, putting his hand on your face, a gentle touch.
"...It's time," he tells you. His voice is still so terribly gentle. "The last thing I... No, the last thing WE will see is your victory."
His expression never changes, but there is a ringing determination in his voice now. Is this how he sounded like, as a king? You'll never know. "This is my order as Chaldea's commander: Don't worry about me. Fight until you claim perfect, total victory. As a human, you defeated Solomon, King of Mages. Now you must defeat the Beast calling himself the same. ...Go, Ritsuka. Everything you and Mash have done has led you to this moment, to the end of your journey."
There are a thousand things you want to say, a host of words that are choked in your throat, that will remain unsaid--but there is one thing, more important than any other. As his hand falls away, in the last second before he vanishes entirely, you draw yourself up, tall as you can, and you say: thank you. Thank you for everything, Doctor.
Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES
Unfortunately, when their hand catches his, there's a spark, like a static shock, and a scene, flashing quick before their eyes:
He smiles at you--this man that you have come to know and care for more deeply than you would have expected, given how poorly things started out. Everything about his expression is gentle, even though you can see his body starting to fade. He has made his choice, and he has decided that your life, and the fleeting, flickering, dazzling lives of the humans he had admired and longed to emulate are more important than his own.
He reaches out, putting his hand on your face, a gentle touch.
"...It's time," he tells you. His voice is still so terribly gentle. "The last thing I... No, the last thing WE will see is your victory."
His expression never changes, but there is a ringing determination in his voice now. Is this how he sounded like, as a king? You'll never know. "This is my order as Chaldea's commander: Don't worry about me. Fight until you claim perfect, total victory. As a human, you defeated Solomon, King of Mages. Now you must defeat the Beast calling himself the same. ...Go, Ritsuka. Everything you and Mash have done has led you to this moment, to the end of your journey."
There are a thousand things you want to say, a host of words that are choked in your throat, that will remain unsaid--but there is one thing, more important than any other. As his hand falls away, in the last second before he vanishes entirely, you draw yourself up, tall as you can, and you say: thank you. Thank you for everything, Doctor.