1st Night: Little Darius

Forward, my soldiers! Tear through the darkness! Plunge into the blizzard! Wander! Wander!

Naturally. One who would be Santa must be able to traverse the skies. We must deliver presents to the children around the world.

I've dubbed this sleigh Llamrei Unit II. You may relax your guard and entrust yourself to it.

Insolent fool! I am not yelling. I am singing!

By announcing my presence this way, I can also avoid running into airplanes! It's common sense for a Santa!

？！

Good. We are approaching our destination. Prepare yourself, Fujimaru.

The return address of this "Dear Santa" letter is in Persia. A request from Darius, aged 3.

...Hmm. The writing is so black and smeared I can't read it at all. Well, I'm sure once I see his face, I'll know what present he'd like.

Let us go! We shall enter from this magnificent chimney!

! !

Ahh... The iron lament that surpasses the vocal cords... Echoing from the depths of the hollow, the enamored yet hate-filled voice of a young girl's lingering affections as she "sings" of death...

Specifically, I should call it the raging moans of a girl who can no longer abide her hunger. Ahh, how unsightly yet adorable!

Though it's a far cry from my own taste, she conveys her feelings so well it truly pains me.

A cry that would pierce Heaven itself. You who spews forth such hatred, I'd liken you to... Yes, a carp swimming up a waterfall.

Actually, you are more like a carp banner. How auspicious. Ahh, how very auspicious indeed... And hateful, too!

Christine! Christine has gone so far from me! Why? Why does fate endeavor to tear us apart yet again?

Couples! Christmas! Santa Claus! Whenever I hear that this is a night for loved ones, it makes me sick!

Don't you agree, Sir Carp Banner? Why must we, upon such a night as this, be a company entirely of men?

...What a ferocious cry from the soul. It stirs the heart too greatly. Surely, that Servant is an actor of some renown.

？！

What a splendid performance. He probably has more passion in his pinky than that cursed Tristan...

...But I can't imagine that either of them is Darius. Also, that object in the middle of the floor...

There's nothing here but that tree-like candle in the center of the room. Does that mean Darius isn't here?

That's fine, then. I should simply turn around and leave now, but I do pity these two.

Merlin has said that when a man is widowed, his suffering surpasses the pain of Death. As Santa, I can't just leave them be.

Let us go, Fujimaru! We shall be like the Christmas Carol that saved Scrooge!

Bow down, little ones! Prepare to receive your presents from me!

???

Oh, Christine! You've come back to me, Christine!

Ugh. Halt, Black Mantle! Do not approach my reindeer.

Laying hands upon your audience is a third-rate performer's action. Are you not a world-class actor after all?

What? I, a world-class...actor, you say? I, the specter of this miserable underground hovel?

I never engage in flattery. You rave as though mad, but your cries are filled with truth. So much so I am moved to tears.

But more importantly, where is the master of this castle? The sender of this letter to Santa should be here.

!

Santa... Ahh, Beautiful One, what tragedy is this? Now that I look more carefully, you are, indeed, Santa Claus!

Ohh... Oooohhhh! Santa... Santaaaaaaa!

?! This candle tree moves?! You two, just what is the meaning of this?

!

Die, please. Repent! And surrender what's in that bag! Santa Claus is the one who should be struck from this world!

Oooohhhhh! Presents! Gimme!

Well! Only naughty little children try to take things by force like that! We've no choice. Prepare to fight, Fujimaru!

After all, it is also Santa's duty to give dreamy-eyed children a cold jolt of reality!

？！

Minor details. Worry not! All one really needs to be Santa is to hand out presents.

Not even Picts, and raising such a ruckus indoors? Such poor manners. It's Christmas. Take this fight outside!

Have you learned your lesson, ruffians? The form of Santa Claus pleases me greatly but it is only a temporary one.

My true form is that of Britain's Red Dragon, Altria, the King of Knights. Remember it well.

... ...(looking dejected)

Ohhh... Santa... Claaaus... Santa... Claaaaauuss...

Anguish... Anguish... Anguish... When I think of what we've done... Oh, the anguish...

？！

...Yes, it is starting to feel that way to me as well. This being my first job, perhaps I got a bit too hot-headed.

You there. You understand the speech of these other two, correct? Is that tree Darius, aged three, by any chance?

Yes, he is... His king is, in fact, the green light that burns in Hell, the Lord Cyalume... And who might you be, my lady?

I already told you I was Santa Claus. Now, accept your presents.

!

Ohhhh! Presents! Gimme!!

There, there. This is for you.

Since you would die before you could ever use a Noble Phantasm, use this to amass a little motivation, or perhaps a little love.

!

Hurraaaaay!

As for you, Black Mantle, I shall give you... Yes, this.

Oh! This is the very thing I have lost! My love, my light! Christine! You've brought her back to me!

As I said, do not come near my reindeer. We are busy. We have a mountain of work to do.

Let us go, Fujimaru. Santa should be as a passing breeze. We must not stay long.

And it is painful to have to leave a party early, since my hunger is never satiated.

Well, then Farewell, little ones! Let us meet again next year! Merry Christmas!

All right. They were the perfect companions for some light warm-up. Now it's time for you to work, my reindeer.

From now until the end of Christmas, many more battles await us, I am sure.

At each stop, gather the stockings and bring them to me. Stockings are the crystallizations of the hearts of children seeking presents...

It is by the power of such magical energy that Santa Claus traverses the globe. In other words, you could call it our fuel.

The more you gather, the greater the reward I shall bestow upon you. Remember that as you go about your work.

The next "Dear Santa" letter is on the 2nd. Let us build up our party until then!