Series Placement: The following Shard takes place at random points after Supplement Story IV: Equilibrium.

Dignity. Ambition. Prestige. Pride.

These were but some of the fundamental pillars that forged progress and success among the magus community. Recognition by one's peers and adversaries was a hallmark of true achievement, one which the great families carefully catered throughout their long lines. Lineage mattered much, but that didn't mean smaller and far more insignificant magi couldn't forge a dynasty from their lineage. The hard part was making that breakthrough, yet the challenge fell to the heirs to keep the family legacy everlasting.

No doubt, that was the driving force for every member of the Chaldean Clock Tower Team.

Their purpose was to monitor and report any potential breaches of conduct to the Mage's Association. It was a far more prestigious job than most, especially because of the freedoms it offered past their mission. To simply be in Chaldea, once a major family's hidden gem… a wellspring of countless powerful familiars… daily operations that maintain the fragile continuation of the timeline… The possibilities were endless. A magus could very well have a higher chance of encountering the root here than anywhere else.

For many, the damage the association suffered was terrible. To many wishing to be picked for Chaldea, it was a golden opportunity. Merely surviving when so many prominent magi were smashed apart by a rogue familiar was enough of a chance. They were among the best, even if their civility amongst their team remained thin compared to their own ambitions. Each one was a companion and rival who must never be shown weakness or wanting. The pillars of their kind's existence must armor them absolutely, especially…

Secrecy. A concept which Chaldea preposterously toed the line every day, or so the Clock Tower team often noted.

The following are some of their recorded recollections.

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Shard 53: Accounts of the Magi

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He could sense the same disgust among his present colleagues, but he remained silently disapproving. Another day, another supply sortie. Another minor benign singularity being lazily corrected in order for the Chaldeans to pillage the area for whatever materials they deemed necessary. The magus would hardly hold the scavenging against them; He'd have taken whatever he feasibly could get away with too.

The problem was how casually they were going about it. Regardless if these people from the past remember or not after its correction, any and all interaction must be kept to a minimum. The amount of deployed assets should be limited to save energy. There were other questionable acts he'd list in his report, but he found his eyes wandering around the Control Room to soothe his nerves.

"You alright there? You look a bit tired."

The magus eyed one of the newer employees, a normal human. Normal, which meant he shouldn't be allowed to have any presence in Chaldea. Yet they were all over the place, making the magus question just what the Animuspheres were thinking to allow it. It continued, and even now Chaldea is scanning for new employees with desirable skills…. uncaring of whether or not they themselves belonged.

"Mind your business."

"Good morning to you too, mate," the employee breathed out and turned back to his… game console. Instead of waiting diligently and attentively for new directives, this young adult was distracting himself with modern entertainment. In another row, the lead Leyshift staff member was browsing a home living magazine with a guarding familiar. That familiar was his fiancé. This is what was helping to defend the timeline…

No, he wasn't alright with any of this, but what was a lesser magus to do?

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Mount Meru coursed with energy. Merely being in this revered place made the magus feel like her spells would exceed their natural limits. Yet she had to remain careful. Diligent. Her eyes were constantly peeled and on guard as conditioned by her long upbringing. This was not the association's home, but a foreign organization.

It was equal parts awe inspiring and nerve grating. The walls, floors, ceilings… everything was deceptively well fortified. Even if she tried to lift a finger, there was no way she could even blemish the surface, let alone the structural integrity of this facility. Those magical familiars could certainly accomplish untold feats through their cooperation.

So she kept diligent in her leisure time, keeping her eyes peeled for any brief glimpse of anything that would mark her turning point. Vernier and Gordolf seemed to break ice with several familiars smoothly, yet she wouldn't take the hand offered through them. Networking must be done by one's own initiative, rather than stand on ground forged through another: That was prestige for them, not her. Yet… cold and calculating as she was, the magus wasn't the best at 'proper socializing' with these familiars like a few others.

Yet there were always opportunities. "Excuse me! Pardon me!"

A robot was pushing a laundry cart past her, yet the hallways were more than spacious enough for someone to slip between. Nursery Rhyme still called out daintily as she raced through, merely the first of a gaggle of child familiars in school uniforms. School uniforms. Their laughter made the magus blink uncaringly as she watched the group vanish down another hallway on their way to the Residential area. Alone to her thoughts again, the magus breathed out slowly.

"Absolutely meaningless."

They're familiars. They can't learn and grow. That's impossible. What good did it come when their purpose was on the battlefield. Child-like or not, tools didn't need anything more than basic proper maintenance and organization. Not an elementary school, or a mall, or whatever other needless room was going to pop up next. 'Are they seriously considering a ski lift…?'

It was easy enough to ignore normal people doing normal things while out conducting business, but how was one to ignore a hidden organization mucking about like that?

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9/12/2016

I'm being replaced. I couldn't be angrier, but I believe I hid it well today. Granted, I still get to stay in the team ranks, but a title I worked hard to maintain is being robbed from me like I never earned it. I loathe these reminders of what it means to be part of a lesser family. That's all that needs to noted before a greater one pushes you aside like you're nothing.

Gordolf Musik, a talented and wealthy magus. His family lineage specializes in homunculi, but they're shadowed by the prestige and prowess of the Einzberns. He'll never reach their heights in his lifetime, just like I'll never reach his. No, I mustn't think like that. I've survived and achieved much. I've made breakthrough and come into good standing among several servants. Those aren't meaningless child trophies like that wretched German colleague insists. Genuine cordial civility means something to the Chaldeans.

Of course I can never afford to drop it. I'm in their debt. They saved me, yet they don't hold it over my head like other magi would. There's no collar here, only incredible standards of living and possibility. If only I could transfer so easily, but that bridge was burned when they broke ranks from the Mage's Association.

It's fine. I have to keep reminding myself I'm making my own headway. My lineage has been growing steadily, but I have to keep my eyes peeled for a breakthrough. There has to be something I can do to put me in high standing with one of the noble families. Even for my lineage to merely be recognized as an honored ally would leave me content. I'd happily pass on my crest to my daughter when she's ready.

I hope she's still keeping up with her studies while I'm away. She's rather lazy for a future heir.

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The magus stared incredulously from his Club Cove booth, barely hiding his contempt aimed at a distant one. His eyes remained locked not on the casually dressed familiars, but the phones in their hands. Smart phones. That needless unsophisticated tech normal people use to do more than simply call each other. It gave them access to the internet, and they could do as they pleased while on it.

"You're leaving a comment?"

"Oh what's the harm? We're all anonymous."

But are they? Can't these things be traced as easily as enforcers can track magi? What did they call those technological specialists who could manipulate that internet like drawing on paper… hackles? Whatever that title may be, the idea remains. They're interacting with the outside world. That shouldn't be allowed, yet after voicing concern and sending the reports to the Clock Tower, nothing has been done. The Chaldean director merely brushed his worry aside with the same ease a more recognized magus scoffs.

It infuriated him, but what was he to do? These familiars were far more powerful and his hands were tied. He supposed he'd just have to grow used to this madness after the first few week… But if their little experiment and outright leniency caused a major secrecy breach, at least he wouldn't be burned at the stake for calling it out early. Above all else, the secrecy of their world must be maintained, regardless of how 'powerful' an offending organization presumed to be.

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19 October 2016

One would think being a Chaldean Master was one of the highest titles with the strictest guidelines to adhere to, but the current masters have sullied it. Perhaps I'm being too strict when I say that considering most were but fodder compared to the proper ones in Team A. The amateurs and near-pacifist that make up the current ranks is appalling. Their leniency with the familiars borderlines on absurd, especially their willingness to listen to arguments in the heat of battle.

Order must always be maintained. The hierarchy should not be challenged, but day after day they lower themselves to the familiars they've summoned. That Indian lass even considers herself lower than her favorites, clearly colored by her faulty upbringing. And her lineage has supposedly stretched far?

I held more patience than some of my other colleagues on this matter. I won't be saying anything to them, but as far as I'm concerned there is no hidden agenda of theirs to uncover. Their ludicrous actions can be taken at face value, especially the rather talkative one's. They were only lucky they were born with Leyshift compatibility.

Had I had those command seals, the reins would have certainly been tightened.