Day of Fate II

The dining area is empty when Ren and Morgana entered. It was unsurprising since everybody was busy getting ready for the first Rayshift.

"Good thing you packed enough curry for the both of us," Morgana commented as he jumped out of Ren's backpack to take a look around.

"And good thing there's a microwave to warm it up as well," Ren added, removing a large piece of Tupperware from his bag and heading over to the microwaves.

Five Minutes later, Ren and Morgana sat down and were eagerly taking in the scents of the Master Class curry Ren cooked before they departed. Morgana was quietly perched across Ren and eating his fill from a paper plate while Ren was eating the other half of the curry directly from the container.

"This is so good!" Morgana complimented.

"Fou!" A third voice said, causing Ren to frown. Did Morgana say something weird?

"Isn't it meow?" Ren asked, quirking his eyebrow at the cat

"For the last time, I am not a c-"

"Fou."

"Wait," Morgana said in a confused tone. "Who said that?"

When the third voice called out again, both of them turned to see the source. A white furry four-legged creature jumped onto the table and was sniffing at Ren's curry. From Ren's perspective, it looked like a small white puppy with bunny ears.

"That must be somebody's familiar," Ren said, observing the strange creature. The creature looked at the Ren with what the dark-haired man assumed tone a questioning gaze.

"What's the wrong little guy? Do you want some?" Ren asked. The white-furred creature nodded eagerly in response. Ren grabbed a bit of curry rice and set it aside for the mysterious being to eat.

"Fou!" The creature squealed excitedly, accepting the piece of curry and Rice. Both Morgana and Ren chuckled as the strange creature began devouring the curry rice with a ferocity that would match either Futaba or Yusuke at their hungriest.

"Fou! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" An annoyed voice called from the entrance of the eating area. Morgana and Ren's heard turned to see an exasperated girl wearing a white jacket over a one-piece dress, stockings, and a red tie. "I'm sorry! I hope he wasn't bothering you."

"Hey, anybody that enjoys my cooking certainly can't be all that bad." Ren shot back, chuckling at the creature named Fou.

"What about that rude Le Blanc Customer last summer?" Morgana asked.

"With how drunk he was, I don't even think he could taste what I made for him."

Ignoring the fact that Ren was casually speaking with his cat-like person, the pink-haired girl frowned when she got a good look at Fou eating the food. Her eyes widened in surprise at what she saw next: After eating, he jumped and Ren's head and began to take a comfortable nap on his head.

Worried that Ren was doing something wrong with the girl's familiar, he was about to move Fou off his head when the girl spoke up:

"No, He can stay there. I'm sorry; it's just that Fou normally doesn't do that with strangers. He hides or sticks to me whenever there are other people around."

"He probably takes longer to warm up to strangers. Maybe he knows something about the people around here that you don't," Ren said with a shrug. His hands reached out to Fou and began to scratch behind his ears. The action elicited a small purr from him. Morgana looked torn between being jealous that fou was receiving that kind and wanting to stand by and declare that he was not a cat.

"I'm glad there is somebody else in the place that he gets along with." The pinked haired girl said with a smile. She assumed a seat right across from him, sitting next to Morgana.

"Mash Kyrelight." She introduced herself. Her own hands reached out to Morgana began to gently stroke his neck. Morgana was about to hiss in protest but was purring and drooling the moment she touched the cat.

"Ren Amamiya." He responded. He almost barked out a laugh at the way Morgana was acting and that fur ball your petting there is Morgana."

Mash giggled at the cat. "Nice to meet you Amamiya-Senpai, Morgana." Her one hand managed to find another relaxing pressure point which caused the cat to drool. "Your English is pretty good." She noted.

"I should hope so," Ren smiled back."Otherwise, studying over at clock tower would have been a complete waste of time.

"You're from Clock Tower? I take it you are a researcher then? A recent transfer? Which family do you belong? I thought that Clock Tower didn't accept many mages from the East."

"Master Candidate and I'm a first-generation magus: Well, Magecraft user if you care about semantics."

"Wait! If that's the case, then what are you doing here and not at the Rayshift room?"

Ren sighed at this question and began explaining the circumstances leading to his late arrival and his delay in joining the first mission.

"I'm not happy about it. What can you do? There is always a tomorrow. I suppose. Besides, I can always ask an active master advice about what to do when out in the field. It may be a small victory; It is a victory nonetheless. Having more information before diving in is a plus.

"I'm glad you can find something positive out of all of that."

"What about you? What do you do around here?" The former Phantom Thief asked, changing the subject.

"I'm a Master Candidate as well."

"Wait," Ren replied with eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here? You can't possibly be in the same boat as I am. Are you?"

"Nope," Mash replied with a smile. "I'm not required at the meetings. I am only required once they activate the Rayshift.

I was looking around here for Fou. He went missing for a couple of hours. I was worried something might have happened. I wanted to make sure he was safe."

"Good to know." Ren nodded, looking slightly relieved "So what team are you on?"

"Team A."

"What? You're a part of the Lead team with Lord Wodime. Why are you calling me senpai?"

"I call anybody who has lived a longer life than me senpai," Mash said matter-of-factly.

Ren's expression turned thoughtful at her choice of words. His first question was why is she using the word "Senpai" if she was speaking English. Although a more pressing question came to his mind:

Was she a Homunculus? Ren wondered. The girl looked around his age, maybe a little younger. He was considering asking if she was one but thought better against it. Instead, he decided to try to get to know the girl more. His reason did extend more than just simple curiosity. He had a slightly more selfish reason for doing so; If he befriended somebody from Team A, he'd be able to navigate the ins and out of this branch of Chaldea.

There was also the fact that the way Mash said senpai had reminded him of a certain red-haired girl back home.

"Would you like some?" Ren asked, noticing Mash staring curiously at his and Morgana's meal."

"Oh, I don't want to impose."

"You won't. Come on! Have something to eat. You can't save the world on an empty stomach."

As Mash continued to protest further, Ren grabbed the closest paper plate from the condiments stand and set aside some curry for her fellow Candidate. After a tag team of Fou and Ren urging the girl to eat. The pink-haired girl finally acquiesced. After taking a couple of bites out of the rice curry, Mash was crooning over the curry.

"This is so Good! Did you make this?" She asked.

"I did. Curry is a specialty of mine."

"Who taught you?"

"A Family Friend taught me," Ren replied proudly. "Stayed and worked at his cafe for a year when I lived in Tokyo and whenever I've had a summer break and winter break."

"You lived in Tokyo?" Mash said with shining eyes. "My guardian lived there for a few years. He doesn't talk much about his time there. What's it like?"

"Large," Ren said with a nostalgic smile. "It can be busy most of the time. The people may seem cold but, once you throw yourself out there then, you can have so many friends."

Ren went to describe some of the more colorful characters in his friend group. He talked about Ryuji's dedication to exercise and the general advice he'd give Ren about staying fit. The dark-haired youth praised Makoto's all-around brilliance and how amazing she was as a student council president and a tutor. The topic soon shifted to his High school. He talked about his difficulties with studying and keeping a balance between that and his old part-time jobs. Amamiya was careful to keep his activities about the phantom thief secret.

Throughout the conversation, Ren picked up a sense of longing in Mash's demeanor. The girl seemed to hang off his every word about his stories and activities in Tokyo. Simple things like going to a convenience store or hanging out at an arcade were something that seemed mythological to her. The girl didn't even seem that interested at his time in London and Clock Tower. Considering she was a Master Candidate, she's probably heard all about London from the other members of Team A. Perhaps even studied there herself.

"Miss Mash Kyrelight. We are about to begin the operation. Please report to the Rayshift room." A voice over the PA spoke, interrupting another story the former Shujin student was telling.

With the announcement of Mash's name, Fou hopped off of Ren's head. Mash stood up and gave one last stroke to Morgana's head. The pink-haired girl was disappointed about not hearing Ren's tale of hiding Morgana from a shrewd train inspector.

"That's my cue," Mash said sadly at the announcement. Fou hopped on Mash's shoulder. She turned to Ren and gave her one more warm smile. "I'll see you around senpai. Thank you for the meal. Also, thank you for being kind to Fou."

"It's not a problem Miss. Kyrelight. You don't have to be so sad," Ren responded. "After your shift, we can get together like this again; I'll tell you more about my home." He finished with a wink.

"I'd like that." The pink-haired girl replied. She paused there for a moment as if to consider something. When she spoke again, she went slightly red when Mash decided what she wanted to say: "You don't have to call me "Miss." Mash will do just fine senpai."

Just the way she said senpai was adorable to the number forty-eight Master Candidate. It elicited a blush Ren as well. Morgana couldn't help mischievously chuckle as he observed this little exchange.

"You can call me Ren as well." He responded.

"Ren senpai it is then. I'll see you later."

"See around Mash."

Mash bowed politely and left the lunchroom, making her way towards the Rayshift room. Her overall demeanor remains of him of Yoshizawa. He was looking forward to getting to know her better during his coming year.

"So a girl has to call you senpai to get your attention." Morgana teased. Ren's face grew as red as a tomato at that statement.

"Shut it cat!"

Rather than be offended at being called a cat, Morgana let out a hard laugh.

"I think I've finally put together how you fell for Sumire and how you ended up overlooking Haru, Makoto, and Futaba. After all the effort they went through to get your attention; It turns out all they had to do was say 'senpai' to you.

"Eff off Kitty!"

Morgana continued to laugh. It wasn't often that he could get a rise out of Ren. When he did, it would be a moment he'd like to treasure.

Once Ren finished cleaning his topple ware and the area he dined in, Ren soon made his way out of the Cafeteria and towards his room. The moment he got in, something happened that he couldn't quite believe.

"Ren! Look; The entrance to the Velvet Room door." Morgana said. Ren turned to Morgana, shooting him a look of disbelief. The fact that Morgana could see it this time was both unusual and alarming.

"Wait? Can you see it? Why couldn't you during the Emma incident?"

"It beats me. The fact that I can see it means something ominous is going on. Let's go. Let's see what Lady Lavenza has to say.

The pair stepped through the door. Ren and Morgana soon found themselves in a world between dream and reality. Mind and matter.

—-

For Ren, the shape of the Velvet room had always taken the form of a prison. According to Lavenza, the shape of the Velvet room reflects the state of the Guest's heart. It was no surprise that the Velvet Room wouldn't take the form of prison this time. After all, he had been metaphorically free for the past year.

The shape the Velvet Room took was in the form of a room within a castle. It was a room with stone walls, a large round table in the center of the room. One could even see full medieval knights' armor.

"Hello? Is anybody here?" Ren called out, looking around the area.

"Lady Lavenza, Are you here?"

Silence.

"Maybe she got delayed?" Morgana asked.

"There's something's going on." Replied, He said, taking in more of the new Velvet Room. His eyes glanced on the surface of the round table, observing its detail. The Wood of the round table looked rough, ancient, and worn out. On the table, there were words carved on different segments of Round Table: Veritas, Libertas, Vita.

"Truth, freedom, and life." Ren translated the words out loud.

"I wonder why that's written there," Morgana asked, reading the words along with Ren.

"Beats me, but I'm assuming it has something to do with the upcoming mission. I'm surprised. Why wasn't I called here sooner? You'd think that Human Order being in danger would warrant a visit from here. "

"It's depressing to hear you say that and not feel phased about the imminent apocalypse. I guess it's a sign that we've probably grown accustomed to the world being in danger at this point."

Ren chuckled and shrugged at the remark. He thought back to what some of the professors were saying about Atlas. According to the lecturer for his Magecraft classes, the Atlas institute runs several different calculations about how the world would end. He wondered if the scenario of Yaldabaoth ever came up in those calculations.

"Do you think we should just leave and come back later?" Morgana asked

"Better to wait. Time doesn't have any meaning here anyway. " Ren replied. He moved towards one of the Round Table's chairs to pull one out at sit down. Before sitting down, they heard a door open behind them. Ren smiled, thinking that he turned to see a certain young blond girl dressed and blue whose eyes were far older than they seem.

However, when he turned around he instead, saw a girl with bruises all over her face, her outfit burned at certain parts. She had the eyes of a girl who had just seen hell.

"Tri..cks..ter." The young girl whispered. She was about to fall over.

"Lady Lavenza!" Morgana yelled, rushing over.

"Lavenza," Ren said, catching her before she fell.

"What in the world happened?" Morgana asked.

"I don't know. We have to bring Lavenza to the medical ward."

"Don't." She whispered weakly. "Just set me down on my bed."

"What bed?" Ren frowned.

As if responding to his question, another blue door materialized within the Velvet room. The door opened. Within that door, a room as blue as the rest of the medieval castle they've found themselves in. Both cat and Chaldean Master candidate stepped in and laid the girl on the bed.

"Thank You." She said with a hoarse voice. "I'll just let me rest for a bit. The room will take care of the rest."

—-

Lavenza was asleep for an hour before she opened her eyes. The moment she did, her tattered clothes mysteriously patched up and self-repaired and her burned and singed skin healed instantly.

"Ren, she's waking up! Look!" Morgana said. Ren, who was pacing around in the Round table part of the Velvet room. Upon hearing Morgana, he quickly rushed to the blond girl's side.

"Lavenza! Are you all right? What happened?" Ren asked. He was trying to keep himself composed in calm. It was a struggle.

Lavenza stood up. She leveled the Former Phantom Thieves an unreadable look. Despite her attempts to make herself look composed, both Ren and Morgana could tell she was about one step away from a breakdown.

"The world is in danger... or perhaps it is more accurate to say that danger has already approached the world." Tears began to fall from her eyes. To Ren, it looked completely wrong. "My sisters and I have done everything we can to delay its arrival. Unfortunately, the shadow of a greater being has seen fit to fight us. We've managed to escape it, but we've lost master Igor along the way. Because of our failure human history, will meet great catastrophe even sooner." Lavenza cried.

"It's okay, " Ren said, pulling Lavenza in a hug. "We're just glad that you are safe." The young girl cried in his shoulders.

"Lady Lavenza," Morgana spoke up. "I know you've been through a lot but, we're going to need to know more about this threat."

Ren shot the cat a glare. Morgana is resolute.

Lavenza, having regained her composure, shook her head at Ren. "It's all right. I'm better now." She said and stood up and beckoned the girl the meet them in the round table room.

"The threat you are dealing with is something ancient and powerful. It is a being that looks down on humanity."

"Whatever this threat is. Morgana and I will take it to head-on."

"You're going to need more than yourselves to face this great enemy," Lavenza said with another shake of the head. "You're going to have to remember all your bonds; Not just the ones you made on your previous journeys but the bonds made beyond the flow of time."

Silence greeted Lavenza's words as both he and Morgana considered the meaning for a moment.

"Beyond the flow of time," Ren repeated her words, trying to wrap his head around it. What does that mean?

"You will understand once you truly recall those memories," Lavenza said cryptically.

A loud ringing noise echoed throughout the Velvet Room.

"It looks like the time has come, my Tricksters," Lavenza said. "Remember what I've said. My Tricksters. Please. You save this world!"

With those final words, the velvet room faded away in a flash of light both the sapient cat and the dark-haired Chaldean master were both out into the hallways of the base.

The moment they got back was the moment the world went to hell. They heard an explosion in the distance, and then an alarm siren rang through every hallway of the base.

"Warning!" A robotic voice-over from the loudspeaker said. "Headquarters is under attack. Please retreat to the nearest save zones!"

"Oh no!" Ren and Morgana whispered at the same time.