Allen

Having finished the trial, Joseph and Pantalone, started leaving the Zapolyarny Palace, finding Alina waiting for them outside.

"Master" Alina politely bowed towards Pantalone.

"It has been decided that from now, the kid is under me" Pantalone explained Alina "I'll let him under your care, you can take 1 month away from your work."

"Yes! I will do my best" Alina nodded, taking Joseph's hand and bringing him outside the area.

Joseph wanted to say something, but somehow he could sense it wasn't the right time. With his little interaction, Joseph took Alina as someone prideful of herself, but a reliable person that you could talk with, however, now with Pantalone's presence, she seemed to change completely, becoming a cold and submissive person.

"So, what happened?" Just as they crossed over the 'gray wall', Alina seemed to return to her previous self, curiously asking Joseph.

"I'm a little confused and I need to clear everything, but it was mostly..." Joseph started explaining what happened at the trial. From what it seemed, even when Pantalone was in charge of him, it would be Alina who would watch over him, so he preferred to have a good relationship, also she seemed a good person to befriend.

"So you gained the Tsaritsa's interest enough to gain a postponement?" Alina said impressed as she made a thoughtful face, thinking about how she should prepare over the next weeks. "Now that the Tsaritsa had made her decision, the others won't reckless act, you were quite lucky."

"Yes" Joseph nodded "I really thought that I would die."

"Dying might be on the lower side punishments" Alina said "If it was Lord Pulcinella..." Both Alina's and Joseph's unconsciously trembled.

Pulcinella was another of the Fatui Eleven Harbingers and he was in charge of the security and punishments, plus having great political control. He was known to be ruthless and cruel, his tortures, massacres and show of them being famous.

It was said that he was able to keep someone at the brink of death, feeling the pain of it eternally, but never reaching that sweet final. Without any doubt, he was the most dreaded of the Harbingers by the normal people, that fear being engraved in their soul, causing shivers with only hearing his name. It was true even for Joseph who only was able to see Allen's memories.

"Better forget about what could happen. This was a good ending for you" Alina calmed "I will show you your new place."

"This will be your house, from now on" Alina brought him to a small house near the third wall. It was small compared with others, but it was as a house over the Noble District with four rooms and two bathrooms, it was far grander than the ones at the Commoner District, far superior than the shared room at the orphanage that for Allen was the best home that he had.

"Could I continue being over this district? Shouldn't I return over the Army?" Joseph asked her once they enter the house.

"By order of the Tsaritsa herself, you are now in charge of Lord Pantalone. That way, even if you don't reach the qualifications, your status should be similar to mine who works directly under him" Alina explained "Don't worry about procedures, I have already prepared them."

"Thanks" Joseph nodded.

"You might be tired of today's travel and experiences, so I will let you rest, tomorrow we will start with your new regime" Alina informed "Be sure to eat something before going to sleep" She said before leaving, letting Joseph alone.

"So, this is my new place" Joseph said in wonder as he looked all over the new house "It's funny that at 8 years old here I'm able to have a place for me alone, something that I didn't accomplish in 20 years on Earth."

"I'm kind of hungry. Let's see what I have here" Going to the kitchen, Joseph discovered, the dinner already prepared, being mashed vegetables. "They really took into account my actual state." Being so underfed all this time, he couldn't possibly digest a great deal of food, so something light but full of vitamins was perfect for him.

After eating, he quickly went to the main room, throwing himself to the bed and closing his eyes. "It has really been an exhausting day." The travel over the blizzard, even with the coat protection, had been physically expending and the trial and the near-death situation had been mentally exhausting, now all the tiredness falling over him, quickly falling asleep.

...

Opening his eyes, Joseph found himself over a snowy land, with shacks all-around "The slums" Joseph quickly realized where he stood, however, there were two big differences. First, there weren't any people around, nor any sound and second, he found himself with a familiar and nostalgic body. Yes, he wasn't in Allen's eight years old body, instead, he had returned to his previous 20 years old body.

"What is happening?" Joseph whispered while walking around.

"Thank you" Suddenly, a person appeared in front of him. It was a short boy with blue hair, with his head lowered into an awkward bow, tears falling from his eyes.

"Allen" Joseph instantly recognized the boy who had become so familiar with him lately.

"Thanks for helping me save Ellen. I'm weak and I always have been protected by her, but when she needed help, I was unable to do anything at all." He said between cries.

"Don't worry, you gave me a new opportunity, take it as a simply pay" Joseph stated a little embarrassed, not knowing how to really act with children.

Joseph thought for a second if Allen would retake his body, his own soul disappearing, but seeing Allen's face, the answer was clear.

"Thanks and please, continue protecting Ellen" Allen's body started dispersing, transforming into a blizzard that surrounded Joseph.

"I will. But don't push you so down" Joseph whispered, extending his arm over the blizzard. "You were afraid of your own feelings affecting my own, keeping them away to let me act rationally. You were bright and strong and that what's saved us in the end."

The blizzard engulfed all his body and once it completely disappeared, it only left Joseph, this time with Allen's body like before.

Joseph? Like before? No, it wouldn't be correct to call it like that as the one standing there alone was a different person than before. With this simple act that seemed like a dream, both Allen and Joseph had fused into one single individual, their souls completely becoming one together.

Previously, Joseph was capable to access Allen's memories, but it was only seeing them like a spectator, similar to reading a book. You can be moved by a book, but in the end, it was only a book.

Now those memories were completely his, the happiness, the joy, the pain, the sadness... all the feelings were his own.

Due to Joseph having greater knowledge and experiences thanks to his older age, his mind could be predominant, but Allen still remained there, especially his love for Ellen that in an unfamiliar world like this, easily became the most important. A new Allen had been born and he had clear what he wanted to do now.

...

Over the bed, Allen opened his purple eyes that were shinier than ever. He smiled and threw a punch towards the ceiling "I will save you, Ellen!"