June 23rd
"So, are you all ready to head up to the shrine now?" Da Vinci asked as she stood before the group consisting of Andy, her fellow master, Mash, Bedivere, all of their Servants, Xuanzang, and finally Serenity and Cursed Arm as their guide.
"Ready as we can be over here," Andy answered for her part of the group.
"We are good, Da Vinci, though, aren't you coming along?" Mash asked.
"No Mash I be staying here with Touta and Arash to protect the village, going to be putting up some Bounded Fields and help Hundred Personas with coordinating their forces to face the 10000 forces that Lion King possess at the moment," The inventor responded, and Andy remembered the number of Enforcer Knights that the Holy City had at their disposal a known factor thanks to the intelligence-gathering prowess of Personas.
Though that was unneeded on their side as long as Gawain stood guard.
"When we come down, we should have the trump card we need to turn this whole thing around, so don't worry too much about the cannon fodder." Andy joked, the discomfort she was feeling with having to do this evident even as she did her best to bury it.
"If you say, now don't go and get your head cut off," She responded with wave and smile
Andy cringed at Da Vinci's 'joke,' replying with a quick "See ya," as they began the journey up the mountain.
And Andy almost wish she hadn't as the path to the shrine was filled to the brim with traps and spirits that sought to impede their progress at every turn slowing down their ascendant to a snail's pace as they tried to make headway.
Serenity had said that the trip could take up to two days of traveling on foot, but she hadn't really believed her. But after running away from the sixth spherical boulder trying to flatten them. She was very much starting to believe the Assassin.
And even with her new body, the thin air was getting to her and Ritsuka as there simply wasn't enough oxygen for them to be very active in long periods.
But finally, as the sun was about to set, they finally stood before the Shrine of Azrael, the place illuminated menacingly by various oil torches.
Andy gulped upon seeing said shrine, and then passed the oxygen mask to Mash. "Well, this is suitably intimidating," Andy commented quietly.
And worse of all was the pressure she was feeling like Death, had just turned his gaze towards her and was starring. And the way the Hassans spoke about the Founder of their Order. She was starting to believe that thought might be a bit more literal than she would like it to be.
"It's okay, Senpai. I can feel it too, like my whole body is screaming at me to run away, and I really want to, but we have to do this."
"Whatever it takes," Andy said with a resolute nod. "Let's do this."
They all nodded and went through its gate and entered a large circular room illuminated by several torches and decorated with statues quite clearly depicting Death as an entity.
"We have to be careful this is the realm of the Founder, anything could happen here," Cursed Arm spoke in a hushed tone.
"I'm not getting anything on my end, the only things I am detecting are you and nothing… Andy, you just died for a brief second you were just dead," Said the now very much nervous voice of Roman as he joined the conversation.
"Ore wa mou shindeiru?!" Andy asked, her attempt at the joke to lighten the mood, not working for her own as much as she'd hoped.
"Apprentice of Magecraft-." A Voice rang out throughout the shrine, it was deep and heavy with power and age. And to make it all worse, it sounded like a certain Fake Priest.
"Sir!" Both Cursed Arm and Serenity shouted at the same time, and immediately took a knee and bowed.
"Huh, why are you two on the ground? No one has come out yet?" Xuanzang asked in confusion.
"Please be quiet, Lady Xuanzang," Bedivere spoke in a hushed tone. "It seems someone is already standing in front of us."
"Huh, but I can't sense anything? Even a ghost is clearly visible to my eyes, and I see nothing," She responded in a much lower voice as who Andy assumed to be the Founder spoke again.
"-Apprentice of Magecraft and ye Inhumans. Thy voices have been heard. My blade shall accept thy will, the will of saving this era. However… death awaiteth all those who set foot in my shrine. Fight, ye dead, and seize life. With that rite, thou shalt be forgiven for unveiling me." The Founder stated. "Serenity, thou shalt oversee the ritual. Show me thy conviction."
And at that, Serenity began to scream as her body began to exude a dark aura.
"Serenity!" Andy said, reaching out to the Hassan, only to be held back by Bedivere.
"Lord Andy, it seems that Lady Serenity has been possessed, and her mind taken over," Bedivere stated with a tone of frustration.
"O' great Founder, please allow me to be the one to serve you. This burden is too much for Serenity," Cursed Arm pleaded.
"Fool. Thine head shall be taken by my sword. It is not worthy for the ritual. The head of Serenity shall be offered as a tribute by those entering here. The scales accept but one head," The Founder spoke through Serenity's mouth though it was his mouth.
"Are you saying you want us to kill her?!" Andy demanded, the wave of emotions at the thought overwhelming her typical need to be polite to people who could more-than-likely curbstomp her.
"Choose thine own path. I judge only the outcome. Now start this dance of death. Whose head shall be chosen by the Evening Bell… That will be determined by thine hand."
"Guys here, magical energy levels have risen dramatically from before. Don't think of her as the same person anymore. Fight her with everything you've got!" Roman warned them.
"Senpai, what shall we do… We can't destroy her, can we?" Mash asked uncertainty filling her Kouhai's voice.
"Of course not!" Andy said instantly. "I have a plan! Everyone who isn't immune to poison, hang back! Paracelsus, be ready to do that thing you mentioned before if we need to!" As she spoke, Andy shifted into her demon form, but did not deploy Tenfold Shields. "I'm immune, so I'm going in!" She said before rushing at Serenity in a high-speed tackle.
She tried to dodge but was a little too slow to react and got caught by Andy and her arm. Andy proceeded to use her superior size and her training with Leonidas to grapple Serenity and hold her in a full nelson, her larger arms holding Serenity's legs still as well, removing all avenues for the poisonous Hassan to attack.
"There! Can't attack at all, and I'm immune to her poison. Is that enough for you, O Angel of Death?" Andy asked, hoping this would be enough and that she didn't have to actually hurt her comrade.
There was no answer, and the possessed Serenity continued to struggle in her grip, trying to escape from the hold.
"Andy, just knock her out, apologize afterward?" Shouted Ritsuka from the sideline. "We both know how this normally goes, don't we?"
"Right, sorry, I was hoping I didn't need to do this," Andy said before headbutting Serenity on the back of the head, hoping that would work.
And it seemed very much to work as the dark mist she was creating dissipated. "Ah, I'm sorry, Lord Andy," She apologized before falling unconscious.
"Is this enough?" Andy asked as she shifted the way she was holding Serenity to princess carry. Because, of course, she did.
"...I asked of thee to seize life, and yet thou would seize everything. However, I said also that I judge only the outcome. I judge not the goodness or evil of thy path… Very well."
And at that Founder fully manifested in front of the group.
"Thou art welcome to my shrine. I am Old Man of the Mountain. Hassan-i Sabbah."
"Swordsman? The first Old Man of the Mountain was a swordsman?" Mash asked in surprise over his appearance.
"No, that isn't what should surprise you, Mash," Roman interjected. "That Assassin over there, his Saint Graph level, this guy is a Gran-" And before he could finish Roman's voice disappeared as if the line went dead.
"There is no need for outside listeners here. He has not earned the right that thou hast, summoner of ye Inhumans," He spoke or more like stated.
"Thank you for this audience, then, Hassan-i-Sabbah," Andy said, decidedly not bowing her head or in any way making her neck more vulnerable. She really didn't like all the talks of decapitation around this guy and did not want to accidentally offer him her own head. "I assume you already know why we have sought you out."
"Thou wishest for the head of the Lion King, who hath fallen to a mere deity. Is that statement accurate?"
"Mostly so. We cannot defeat her immortal champion of the Sun, Gawain, and thus cannot fight the Lion King herself. As such, we beseech thine assistance in dispatching of the Sun Knight and for as long afterward as thou are willing to." Andy said, unintentionally falling into her normal issues of her speech patterns mimicking the people she was talking to.
"What Lord Andy speaks is the truth great founder, and we are sorry for the shame we have brought upon us, but our people is in grave danger, so seek your strength," Cursed Arm added prostrating himself before death incarnate.
"Cursed Arm, I see thou art shallow as ever," The Founder said, which caused said Hassan to choke slightly. "Apprentice of magecraft. Thou must know… The truth of the Lion King. The foolish words of the Sun King. The rendering of humanity. And the start of everything. When thou hast accomplished it, my blade shall lead the charge for thee. Thou spoketh of the Knight of Sun, Gawain? My blade will be the blade that pecketh out his eyes. My black shroud will be the night that swallows the light of the Holy City."
"Uhmm, I'm sorry, mighty skeleton, man! But I don't understand a word you're saying. Can you use easier, simpler words?" Xuanzang asked politely.
"You know Xuanzang, you should at least refer to him as King Hassan," Ritsuka responded utterly unfazed by the apparent Grand Servant that stood before them.
"I don't think that's a good name to use either Master," Gareth commented as she hid behind Arturia. "He might get mad."
"Fou, Fou!"
"...No matter."
"Huh?" Came the reaction from everyone present.
"No mind. Call me as thou wilt. I am nameless from the beginning. Therefore I have no preference."
"Ah, thank you for your kind words, it puts me, us a little more at ease," Responded from behind her shield.
"Well, that sure makes it easier for us to talk to you," Xuanzang happily said. "Uh, so you're saying you will only help if we search for something, right? What should we look up to? You're going to tell us where to begin, right?" She asked, and 'King,' Hassan answered.
"...There is a mystical realm within the desert. Therein thou wilt find what thou seekest. A realm even the Sun King cannot reach. A vault of knowledge buried within the sands. Its name is the Atlas Institute."
"Atlas Institute…One of the three branches of the Mage Association?" Andy asked, feeling a particular feeling growing inside of her as she asked it.
But King Hassan did not respond to the inquiry. "Apprentice of magecraft, it has come time for thee to know what caused the Incineration of Humanity. When that has come to pass, I shall appear on the battlefield. ...As the sword of divine will." His eyes began to glow menacing red. "Now Cursed Arm. Offer thine head."
"Of course, I Hassan of the Cursed Arm accept my punishment."
"Wait, wait. Why must you cut of Lord Cursed Arm's head?" Bedivere interjected.
"My mask symbolizeth an Old Man's death. My blade symbolizeth an Old Man's punishment. Knight of a foreign land, traveler with a silver arm. I am an Old Man of the Mountain for all others. ...In other words, a Hassan who killeth Hassans."
"In that case, you are-."
"When an Old Man is corrupted or hath taken a wrong turn, I shall stand before him. Dost thou understand? All Old Men of the Mountain throughout the course of history have seen my mask at the end of their lives. Not one hath escaped my blade. Thus, those who have seen my mask are the true Old Men. Should a Hassan come to and ask for assistance, they have declared they are no longer worthy to be Hassan-i Sabbah. Therefore he shall be stripped of his mask. But rise up Cursed Arm, you've have not changed and brought immense shame to the name of Hassan. I shall have your head when my task is complete. Now make haste to Atlas; there is little time left. Ere the lance of the Lion King returneth to its true form, restore the Holy Land… and return the holy artifact." King Hassan said as he simply vanished before them.
"...Well, that went surprisingly well." Andy said after a moment of complete silence as they all waited for something else to happen. "We should probably regroup with the Village and then figure out our plan from there."
"That sounds like a good idea, and now that we've sprung every single goddamn trap on the way up here, going should take less than two hours probably," Ritsuka stated with a degree of frustration in his voice of the bullshit they had to face on their way here.
Though thankfully, Serenity began to stir back to wakefulness in Andy's arms.
"You okay?" Andy asked as Serenity awoke.
"I am fine, and again I apologize, Lord Andy, I was about to harm you."
"Eh, don't worry about it, I've been stabbed by comrades before, I woulda been fine," Andy reassured. "Now, let's get out of here, my heart's pounding like crazy just from being in here."
"But I should still pay you back for this transgression upon you, so I give you my body in the form of marriage," She said with a completely serious tone which caused half of the group to croak and the other half to spit take.
"Denied," Andy said immediately. "If/when I marry someone, it most definitely will not be because of an obligation like that."
"Concubine?"
"No," Andy said just as quickly. "How about, for now, you just promise to come back to Chaldea with me, which will more than fulfill that obligation, and then you can try and seduce m...wait no forget that last bit," Andy said, face igniting at the slip.
"I shall do my best, Lord Andy."
At that, Ritsuka lost it.
Xxx
Ritsuka had been right in the fact that going down the mountain had been a hell of a lot easier than going up the damn thing. And so they had made the journey back in three hours instead of the plus twelve it had taken to go up there.
But…
"Oh, you have to be kidding me already? I knew they would try again, but already?" Ritsuka cursed as they all saw the flames rising from the village.
"I'll save the 'I told you so' for later, let's get down there and pray it's just fire!" Andy said as she shifted back into demon mode and deployed Tenfold Shields in two consecutive moments as they all sped up towards the village.
Thankfully it seemed that they had managed to evacuate everyone before any casualties happened as they ran to the center where everyone could detect Touta, Personas, along with another unknown Servant. They had not seen a single body lying on the ground.
"My how sad, how sad it seems more helpless sheep have come to be slaughtered," Spoke the red-haired enemy Servant, who stood in front of a heavily bleeding Touta and about twenty of Persona's bodies. While he and his enforcers stood utterly unscathed.
"Tori, which one is this?" Andy asked, her and her Servants holding back for a moment as Andy's brain did word associations to figure out that the harp-like bow the redhead was wielding was likely Failnaught, but she had no idea who actually wielded said weapon.
"Sir Tristan, you too have joined the Lion King's side," She answered and stated.
"I have. Now tell me Arturia Pendragon, do you understand the heart of your people, or are you still an unfeeling cold-hearted bitch who devours villages to support her armies?" He asked a cruel smile on his face, though his eyes were still closed.
"I did, what I had to secure victory that I have no regrets about, but I realize that the path of the inhuman king of logic was the wrong one to take. But I have to ask, are you really, Sir Tristan? For even he at his most self-deprecating and rebellious would not speak like that to a woman."
"Of course, I am who else would I be? That is so sad to hear that you would think that I was not me. Should I play a song to remind you."
"MOVE!" Arturia shouted in panic, and soon after, Andy heard the sound of a harp being played, and a second later she lost all but one of her arms as the fell to the ground as if cut by an invisible blade.
"Mother are you al- oh god, your arms!"
"Senpai!"
Andy looked down at her missing limbs, and was suddenly very glad those nanobots reduced pain as they were already sealing up the wounds and got to work. "Don't worry about me, I'm all-right, focus on the enemy." She ordered, suppressing the urge to scream at the sensation. The pain may have been dulled, but it was still there.
"Right, everyone, as you can see, Failnaught, can fire super-sonic arrows of sound that can home in on you and slice you," Arturia informed all of them.
"Yeah, I know I've been on the receiving end of a few, but thank the various kami for Protection from Arrows," Touta said as he strung another arrow.
"Just keep our Idiot Master safe shadow boy, reattach arms or something," Joan said as she manifested and stood alongside Arturia and Mash.
"Hear, you so do you think we can reattach them Armstrong style?" Ritsuka asked as he held up one her severed hands after they had retreated back a bit.
"Just press it against the stump," Andy said, not recognizing the reference due to pain that had just suddenly gotten a lot worse. "I'll line it up, nanos will do the rest."
"Right, right." Ritsuka aligned the arm and pressed it up against the place it had been severed from. And did so with the rest using his Stand to retrieve the severed limbs from the fighting area, where Tristan was keeping all of them at bay, by continuously releasing his 'arrows' and creating a literal barrier of them around his body.
A tense minute or so of this later, Andy's upper arms had reattached enough she could shift out of demon form for the moment. And her left arm, while not yet functional, did have her wristband in it, meaning she could swap in Servants. "Tori, Joan, get ready to astralize!" Andy called out as she prepared the menu.
"Understood!" They shouted back and vanished from physical view.
The second they did, Jeanne and Storm were swapped out for both Elizabeths. "Alright, girls, sorry about the delay, but I finally booked you a gig! It's time for your first big show!" Andy said with a wide grin. "That gloomy redhead is the enemy, if you hadn't already gathered." She added.
"Yes, Deerling, we shall give you a grand concert… and 3...2...1… Elizabeth Erzebeth!" They shouted as they utilized their Sonic Breath Noble Phantasm to cancel out Tristan's sonic barrier along with scattering the Enforcer Knights and sending the knight flying straight into a wall.
Which Bedivere took full opportunity of, as he unleashed his Noble Phantasm cutting the man in half through the blade of energy unleashed by Arigartlem.
"You've lost Sir Tristan." The knight said as they watched bowman starting to dissipate into golden motes of light.
"No, it is you who have lost, for you're all about to die the Lion King's Light of Judgement will soon strike, and this mountain and village will be erased just like all the others. I see you all in hell," He laughed like a lunatic as he vanished.
"Where are the villagers?" Andy asked the closest Personas, not liking the sound of that one bit.
"We, hid them all in a cave when one of our bodies watched Sir Lancelot cut down Arash, and I am sorry to say, but Lady Leonardo Da Vinci has perished trying to defeat him in a suicide move," Hundred Personas informed.
"Nonononononono, bullshit, I call bullshit, she wouldn't have done that," Andy said, suddenly feeling sick to the stomach. "What did she do, and where did she do it?" She asked, vehemently in denial.
"It was further down the mountain they were setting up a barrier, then Lancelot ambushed them, we do not quite know what happened, but she put him in a hold and a second later, we witnessed the area exploding."
"Nah, that can't be right I'm going to call her up right now, we should have gotten a message about," Roman said in a slight panicky voice as his hologram appeared. "Just going to. 'No connection,' no, that can't be. 'No connection.'" Roman continued to press various buttons, but he kept getting the automated response of 'No connection' from the system.
"She must have just blown up her wristband, it's fine, Leo's fine," Andy said. "Let's just go to the cave with the people. Ritsuka, you and Drake and your Servants evacuate the citizens and the injured, the rest of us will look for Leo. Simple. Simple plan. Let's go."
"I think we might be a little too late to do that, Andy, look," Ritsuka said as he pointed towards the sky, and Andy's eyes followed his finger, and in the starry night, she saw a brilliant shining light.
"I am getting a reading on it… That's, that's fucking ridiculous it's energy levels are in the millions it surpasses any registered Noble Phantasm we have data on. It's like several Holy Grails are about to explode in our face," Roman said in a slightly defeated tone of voice.
"Urgh, hey, everyone, what did I miss?" A male voice spoke, and everyone turned round to see Arash standing in front of them. But he was severely injured, looking like someone had tried to cut him in half with a chainsaw. "I heard we've got a big thing heading towards us?"
"Real big," Andy said, hoping the severity got across. "I don't think we can stop it. We might be able to knock it off course if we use a strong enough force, though."
"Well, that sounds like a job for a hero, and luckily I think I've got one more arrow in me," He said with a hearty laugh.
Andy nodded resolutely. "Thank you, Arash Kamangir. We'll remember this."
"I probably do too, it was a short period, but I like spending that evening with you all, now all you Old Men of the Mountain I must bid you all farewell," He said as he turned around to face the Light of Judgement.
A bow manifested in his left hand, and so did an arrow in his right.
"O holy lord. O radiant Lord who grants wisdom, majesty, and strength." He began to chant, and Andy could see cracks to form in his body. "My heart, my thoughts, and all that I can see. Come servants of the moon and the stars. My actions, my last moments, my sacred devotion, witness it all. With all my might, I shall release this one arrow - and let my body be crushed upon this place."
Arash's body was almost completely cracked as it simply shone with power as he took a last deep breath.
"STELLAAAAAA!"
At that, the arrowed was fired, and Arash burst into spirit particles. As his arrow flew and a few seconds later, a mighty explosion was heard throughout the land. And in the sky, the Light of Judgement was gone.
"Oh," Andy said in awe. "...So that's what that looks like." She muttered to herself. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Lord Kamangir," Serenity said in praise, and the other Hassans gave a prayer in respect.
"Yeah, that was certainly something," Ritsuka said. "Now, should we go before they decide to blast us again once it recharges?" He asked.
"Right, yes, you and yours start evacuating to the Hind, we'll start looking for Leo," Andy said, snapping out of it. "Mass Heal." She intoned, aiming it primarily at the defenders who had stayed behind. "Alright, that should be enough that everyone can move under their own power...wait, where's Laoshi?" Andy asked, having taken a headcount and realized the busty buddha was not, in fact, there.
"I think she immediately went to find Lady Da Vinci," Touta said.
"Good, good. So we'll look for them both. Fuma, stay here for right now just in case they come back here. Everyone else, we should start from the point where she fought off Lancelot and work outwards, and obviously keep an eye out on the way there." Andy ordered.
Xxx
June 24th
After hours of searching with no signs of any of the missing Servants, the group reluctantly departed aboard the Hind after relocating the villagers to another location, Touta, and the Hassans staying behind to defend it, one of the Personas coming with the Chaldea group to keep in contact as they headed for the Atlas Institute.
"Lord Andy, are you capable of continuing?" The Persona known as Asuka asked as the Hind floated through the air.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Andy said as she looked out over the passing landscape, rubbing the still-sore scar on her left arm from where it had been...detached. "There's no need to worry about me, Asuka."
"I see if that is true, I will leave you to your devices and continue to guide the Captain towards the home of the Alchemists," She said as she turned around to leave her alone.
Andy continued to stare out at the passing sands. "Leo...where are you…"
Xxx
A hole.
A giant hole in the sand was their destination.
"So, is it down there?" Ritsuka asked as they all stood close to the edge.
"According to Asuka, yes," Andy said, a tad skeptical as well. "Welp, only one way to go from here. Everyone ready?" She asked the assembled Servants (and Ritsuka).
"We are mother… And I think we should hurry I sense an approaching Servant… It's Lancelot," Arturia said as she turned her head towards the horizon where they could see several shadowy figures.
"..." Andy stared at the approaching figures for a moment, face completely blank. "Jump. Now." She said, going over the railing and into freefall as she did.
And they all landed in total darkness and on hard rock.
"Ouch my butt," Andy heard Mash complain. "Did everyone come down here safely? Senpai?"
"Still in one piece, thankfully," Andy said, rubbing her left arm. "Roll Call!"
And one after another, they responded most letting out groans.
"Excellent glad to see you all here, glad no one was seriously injured by the fall. I know how that feels like," Spoke a voice that did not belong to their group.
"Hello?" Andy greeted tentatively.
"Just a moment I turn on the lights, you be dizzy for a second, but that is part of the charm," The voice said, and a second later the light turned on, and they all found himself in a tunnel very similar to the ones Andy had wandered in beneath London. "Hello, there everyone and welcome to the wondrous mysteries of the Atlas Institute." The well-dressed man before them said.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Mister…?" Andy asked, hoping to get a name.
"Well, I thought that my identity would be Elementary My Dear, I am Sherlock Holmes, the greatest detective in the world," He greeted them with a big smile.
"AHHHHHH!" Came the silent screaming of Mash.
"Huh, it seems that you, Miss Kyrielight, is a fan of mine how pleasant; it is good to meet you as well, Ms. Murphy."
"Of course, you know our names, your Sherlock Holmes, right," Andy said in awe. "Nice to meet you too. You obviously know the situation at hand already?"
"Why yes, of course, I am here to illuminate the truth and lead the way to information, and of course, I know who you are. For this is not the first time, we have met though that was only through information."
"Eh?" Came the noise of confusion from Andy.
"The information you found in London? It was only paperwork, but it must have been something of worth to you, I only compiled it and made it easy to be found for a deadline fearing author to find. That was when I became your shadow collaborator," He explained.
"Yes, Mr. Andersen did say that, didn't he Senpai? That it was like someone had made it easy for him to find," Mash stated.
"I didn't think he meant Sherlock Holmes did it...Though I was expecting to run into you back then, Sherlock." Andy said. "But, how are you here?"
"There are many doors and roads. It's about elucidating the right path, and yes, I did Miss Kyrielight for it was information you needed to be involved in this murder case and not just be outside bystanders," He responded.
"Murder case?" Andy asked, suddenly understanding how Watson felt.
"Yes, its a murder case, and on a scale that I have never experienced before: "The complete murder of the primates by means of the Incineration of Humanity." Yes, indeed, a mythological murder case. So it's obvious that I would appear, wouldn't it?"
"Hmm, Lady Andy," Bedivere muttered. "Who is this Holmes, I've never heard of a knight by that name?"
"How sad. Yes, it's true that I, myself, never obtained knighthood. But the person recording my exploits did," Holmes said in a tone of disappointment over not being a knight.
"Sir Bedivere, this is Sherlock Holmes, and he really wasn't exaggerating when he said he's the Greatest Detective." Andy paused. "Unless Batman's real. In which case he gets the title. But Sherlock's name is synonymous with deduction and reasoning in my time."
"Thank you for the praise, Miss Murphy. I appreciate it, but please call me Holmes," The detective said.
"Alright, Holmes," Andy said, a tad starstruck. "Say, your the greatest detective, you wouldn't have happened to already solve the case of "The Missing Genius and the Buddha," would you?"
"You've lost a few of your Servants?" He asked.
"Yes, as in lost their location." Andy insisted. "I'm not contracted to either of them. It is Leonardo Da Vinci and Xuanzang Sanzang."
"I can not help you with that as that is new information to me. I am capable of solving every single mystery… Sorry, that sounds like bragging. But I can not do anything when I lack information, like a certain other mystery that I am trying to uncover," Holmes responded.
"Asuka here can give you the information, but what's this 'other mystery'?" Andy asked, now curious.
"The identity of the King of Mages, the culprit behind the Incineration of Humanity. I have almost no information about him. Every corner of time has his tracks, but none of these seem to tie to King Solomon. If someone had seen the King of Mages first hand. I could've asked if there was any resemblance to Solomon. But of course, there wouldn't be such a convenient witness I could interro- I mean question. So I have no choice but to continue inferring from information," He stated solemnly.
Andy stared at Holmes for a moment, then shared a look with Mash, before breaking down into a laughing fit.
"Umm, did I say something funny?"
Andy forced herself to calm down, still giggling as she spoke through it. "Well- we- we- we-e-e, ha! Oh, it is just too rich!" She said, stifling her giggles. "You've got not just one, but two witnesses to the King of Mages' power first hand right here!" She said, motioning to Mash. "God, narrative alignment! This feels like something straight out of a mystery novel!" She said before giggling again.
"You, you have seen the King of Mages! Tell me everything, everything from his appearance to how he acted and to anything that stood out of place. And also draw me a sketch or something while we walk to the central chamber. While normally sketching him will get you cursed here in Atlas, we should be protected," He said.
"Actually, that reminds me, we have footage of him in action, voice, and everything," Andy said as she starting cycling through the records on Tenfold Shields' databanks. "I've been recording everything since Okeanos." She said by way of explanation before finding the right file and playing it.
"Friendship ended with Watson, you Miss Murphy, are my new best friend."
