Look here... Savior of Humanity... For we are impressed by your dedication in saving this world...
OUR world... and so we adhere our lives before you, the living and the dead...
for we serve with the one volition and that is to obey our Master... Even if our Master was the only one left...
Even if all your servants were to be perished... Even if the world is upside down...
Even if the humanity will be compose of only you... Even if the world abandoned you... Even if the world was against you...
as long as you remember US Contractor... OUR Contract...
we, the servants whose name forged upon the forgotten and lost... we, the servants who only exist in the alternate side of the world...
we, the servants forgotten by the reality ... no matter what, as long as you have the will to live... we will come for you...
Chapter 5: Assurance
It's been a month since I have remained in the Chaldea and so far, it was still getting more interesting the more I spent there. Currently, I was playing chess in their lab together with one of the most famous Caster named Paracelsus. Paracelsus was eyeing me and then to the chess pieces on the black and white board. All around us were flasks and containers of various sizes filled with mysterious liquid.
Maybe, in this peculiar way of life, I still missed the mundane parts of my former world.
"I must say, Pink Saber, that I did not expect you to have interest in this boring game," Paracelsus commented as he moved his pawns forward.
"Please don't say that, Mr. Paracelsus. This is not a boring game after all." I stated somewhat as if I was becoming familiar with him even though this is one of the few times I have encountered him.
Actually, while exploring the laboratory and seeing all of those amazing contents, with my hands wrapped around my back and almost leaning all the time as I was quite absorbed by the interesting reactions.
Paracelsus at that moment was caressing his chin while observing the neatly positioned chess pieces on the board. He somewhat looked like my biology teacher but that would be a story for another time.
Looking at him observing the chess just made me feel pity about him. The place Chaldea was always filled with weird and unique and Paracelsus feels like he's one of them as a lone scientist of sorts. Well I do have experience in playing chess so I asked him if we can play together, to which he happily agreed.
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As much as I like playing chess, the score of 0 - 7 doesn't bode well within me. In short, I was always the loser and then Paracelsus also had to obviously point out the moves that should have made me advantageous and yet I always lose to the end, much to my dismay.
Still, it did not deter me to give up, much to the Caster's enthusiasm.
"To be honest, I didn't expect your enthusiasm towards playing board games to be this much." Paracelsus commented once again as he moved his Queen and checked my King piece, forcing me to move it away from danger. "...and not to be rude but I expected a fellow Caster like me to be quite interested in facing me through chess." Classist much? At that point I was just joking.
"Trust me, despite my class I still like playing this board game. " Ah, quite reminiscing of my youth when I was extremely curious about chess, mind you that I am still not yet terribly affinized to electronics. Paracelsus moved his bishop, preventing my King from exiting from any point of escape.
Dammit, I feel that one of the conditions of being Caster was to have blessings toward intelligence and wisdom. "Do you think this might be one of the hints of your true self?" He curiously said and it made me think for a while.
"No, I do not think this game is related to restrictions of my true name." I'm getting worried, because there is obviously a side effect of not being able to be your true self, even to my container and I might have not noticed it yet.
Paracelsus just hummed when he once again checked my King. Dammit, he has this cool way of controlling the flow of the game. All Servants are awesome after all. I could see the endgame he was trying to achieve and how I had no other choice but to comply with his strategy.
"Saber, I have a question for you…"Paracelsus mysteriously asked me. This is the first time he asked for my permission and I could feel that it was somewhat serious this time. He moved his queen and checked me once again once more.
"O-of course, have at thee..." I nervously agreed. I moved against my King, forcing my safe space to be reduced into two or three moves.
"Do you think that the restriction that was set on you could pertain to your possible betrayal?" The Caster boldly asked as he set his eyes on me, which made me freeze for a second. What sort of realization has made him reach this conclusion.
"W-what do you mean!? Of course, I do not dare to think about it!" I defended myself to the grim. Caster remained his serious stare at me until he looked down and covered his mouth in embarrassment. I firmly believe that I am not as easily provoked by those desires, as I am obviously very aware of the FGO timeline… which for some reason I couldn't confess to everyone.
"Ah, apologies, please do not think of what I have asked as of the recent…" Caster apologized to me. "As someone who is awfully familiar with the word betrayal, please forgive me," he added with his face scrunched in sourness. Of course, I have quite read all of the backgrounds of all the Servants in FGO and one of them was Caster's. I was aware that Paracelsus was connected to Fate/Prototype and that he betrayed his Master there according to the forums I have read.
"Don't worry! It was just natural that you are curious about my unique condition." I told him.
"Speaking of your condition, you are getting popular because of your unique disposition and how you didn't come from the Summoning Chamber naturally." He said in wonder. It was amazing how he recovered from the shame he inflicted to himself. "To be honest, one of the reasons for my assumption was how you weren't naturally summoned by Master."
"Yes, it was unfortunate that I would be getting the spotlight, much to my dismay." I remarked. It was getting hard to ignore all of the staff and Servants who gossiped around me. It did not help me that I have an acute hearing as a Servant. "They must be excited to know who I really am." And to the extent, me of course.
"I do believe that you will recover from your curse someday."
"I hope so."
"Seeing that Medea's Rule Breaker is off limit, I could confidently say that my Alchemy wouldn't bring a relief either." He admitted.
"Don't worry, I assure you that I did not come here to be healed."
Finally, Paracelsus ended the game with my King cornered by a combination of Queen, Bishop and Rook for good and with the score of zero, courtesy of mine, and eight for the Caster. We quickly fixed the board game and cleaned the table.
"Despite the obvious outcome… I still should thank you for entertaining me and listening to my meaningless rambles."
"Yeah sure, I'm just quite board really." I sucked at puns and Paracelsus in turn hid a sudden chuckle from my attention. I bit my tongue in frustration. My puns indeed sucks.
He eventually recovered from fits of laughter. "Your puns are good enough." Eh. "Before you leave, let me give you a parting gift." He said before he left me in order to find some suitable items.
I waited for a minute before Paracelsus appeared with a flask filled with a reddish liquid. "A recovery potion to be exact." Cool. Real life counterparts of a cliché bottle liquid that replenishes health points sounds too good for me.
My eyes were visibly twinkling from seeing the flask, much to Paracelsus appreciation. "It was just a small recovery potion enough to ease you from pain… this is my gift for you."
"I think this is enough." I said as a matter-of-fact, I held the bottle with care with both of my hands. "Thank you, Mister Paracelsus!"
"You're welcome." He said before he shifted his attention to one of the boiling liquid. I happily strutted out of the laboratory in order to keep this precious gift.
To the room of course!
When Ritsuka fell unconscious for a long time, that's the time that I remembered that he was somehow bound to a Prison Tower through his Spirit, where Dantes was the featured Servant. Indeed, without even my intervention, Ritsuka managed to recover that illness, much to my relief. I have a certain belief that my appearance alone could invoke unwanted inaccuracies to the FGO timeline that I fondly remembered.
Dantes somehow ended up in Chaldea one way or another and boy, he was the embodiment of edginess. He was an Avenger after all. Whenever I see him, it seems that I could feel that he was somewhat unapproachable by normal standards.
Goddamn,he was as edgy as the last time I got him in the gacha. Bestest First Avenger after all. I just couldn't help but watch him everytime he walks through and from around Chaldea. I kept a stealthy gaze at him every time I passed him and I do not know if he noticed it but his grumbles seemed to indicate he was well conscious about it.
I do remember why he was absent most of the time because he resides in Ritsuka's mind, a literal anti-mind control Servant that will not allow any mind interference to reach Ritsuka.
I was spending my time in the cafeteria when Dantes, err, King of Cavern just stopped for a moment and looked at me. I was scared shitless of course, and froze like a deer in a lamplight, or something like that. His eyes were shining sickly yellow and for an Avenger, he looked scary enough.
Of course, to thwart any further embarrassment, I tried to look away but found out I can't. I could literally feel cold sweat flowing down on my skin.
It doesn't help that he was now strutting toward my place and I don't have any other choice but to face this dread personally. The vengeance incarnate was now literally nearing me!
Gathering my thoughts and prayer, I realized that I have no other choice and just face Dantes with the time of my life.
"Sup'."
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Ha! I have already prepared my coffin in advance for this embarrassment! The Avenger was already in front of me, scrutinizing me to mere details. I shrink upon his appearance of course as I was intimidated. He was almost leaning towards my face when he was eventually satisfied by my looks.
"You feel different." He said as a matter-of-fact. Now, I could feel my breath being taken away from me and it was getting uncomfortable here as Dantes was invading my personal space.
"All Servants feel different too, what's your point?" I bravely retorted. I have a hunch that somehow, the Avenger knew what he was talking about and I do not know what I should do about it.
Meanwhile, the King of Caverns just laughed. "KUHAHAHAAHAAHA!" One that could really attract some attention to us. C'mon, I'm the one who thinks that being a center of attention is bothersome. "Interesting!"
What was interesting about me other than being with a unique circumstance. I only gave Dantes an unsure sight. Then he gave me a glare that could kill a human in a glance.
"Why has an outsider like you taken interest in me?" Dantes whispered to me, just enough to be heard between us.
"..." An outsider? Is that what he thinks of me? Dantes was really grinning like crazy about me. I think this is the first time someone managed to figure out my dilemma! Perhaps, he has some answers.
I immediately stood up with a hope that somehow the Avenger might provide something beneficial for my condition. Maybe I'm just oblivious that Dantes was trying to rile me up.
The Avenger was waiting for my reaction. I immediately grabbed his shoulder, which surprised him a little bit.
"You knew about my condition, didn't you!" I exclaimed. "Then can you help me discern my issues?"
Dantes was disgruntled by my pitied face. "W-what are you doing, outsider?!"
"Yes, that's what I'm talking about! You obviously know that I'm quite different here!"
He looked at me for a long time before he somehow figured something out. He gritted his teeth in frustration. His eyebrows scrunched in worry. "It seems that I am wrong, outsider."
This time, I really don't understand what he was trying to imply as I released him from my grasp. Oh Lord, why did I grab him as he was just an ordinary friend, Why did I realize this right now?
"What do you mean, Avenger-san?"
"You do not seek maliciousness here in Chaldea as actively as I assume and your pleading for your own curse speaks volume of your current disposition." He said with a grin.
"Then why threaten me in the first place." I wonder why.
He chuckled as he admitted why. "Those eyes… it is as if they stare right into my soul, stripping me into nakedness. Detail by detail, it is as if you have already conformed to my familiarity down to my soul." He squinted as he said it. I only tilted my head in curiosity on how he managed to figure it out.
"Don't hold back, outsider… I could already guess that you are familiar with my true name." He said as a matter-of-fact and his cool deduction just only made him edgier. Wait, guessing should be the job of Sherlock, aren't they? Welp, he is still not here. Not yet.
"Your clairvoyance was at best dangerous to deal with." Dantes continued. "So do understand my reaction when someone can identify at the first sight."
"O-ok?"
Then Dantes just unceremoniously left me by the table and acted as if nothing happened. What a guy. Then I just continued sitting on my favorite place by the table.
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If only they would stop looking at me like gawking fish, I would be more comfortable than ever. The people that are currently inside the cafeteria that is.
Ritsuka was walking along the hallways, attending to some matters and on his way to the control room when the shadows coalesced from the edge. It made the Last Master stop for a moment and witness the spectacle.
When it formed into a shape Ritsuka was familiar with, he formally greeted it.
"Avenger-san, it's nice seeing you again..."
The darkened shape fully materialized into a person known as the King of the Caverns. The Avenger looked at him in an uncomfortable manner, as if he disdain being greeted casually.
"How's Chaldea? I hope you are comfortable staying here." Ritsuka added.
"Pink Saber." Dantes begin.
"Pink Saber?" Ritsuka parroted. Yes, he was aware of what Avenger was referring to.
"What can you think of her?"
Ritsuka caressed his chin as he thought of it. "She's an awesome Servant, just like the others. Although she's a bit shy and needs a bit of socialising… maybe it's just her nature. Also, she's as capable as a Saber when in battle. I never thought that halberds were considered swords!" Then he ended it with a good natured laugh.
"I see." Dantes then looked down at the floor with solemn expression. "Then I am sure that you are fully aware of her powerful Clairvoyance by now." He added as a matter-of-fact.
"..." Ritsuka was struck with quietness, as if he had no words to follow it. Then he just breathed in and relief came to him for a moment. "What do you mean? Almost half of the Servants do have Clairvoyance to boot with."
"Indeed, I might have overlooked the others and hell, they can effectively use theirs as if it was just a mere second nature to them… but that's not what we are talking about."
"..." Ritsuka was quiet again once more then chuckled nervously. "So you are talking about it, huh?" Then the answer would be yes, I am aware of Pink Saber's Clairvoyance… as well Doctor Romani, Da Vinci and the rest of the Servants." Ritsuka attempted to add Mashu but god forbid, she could be the only one clueless about the issue.
"So you haven't done anything about it?"
"Even if she has a powerful Clairvoyance, I doubt that she will confess it to us due to the restrictions set to her." Ritsuka reasoned. "It is as if a powerful restriction was set upon her to counter her powerful clairvoyance."
"Since she's now officially contracted to her, a command seal might be enough to spill everything." Dantes teased.
Ritsuka just swayed his head in denial. "Saber is contracted to the Chaldea and I intend to remain it as it is until due time. Besides, I do not want to make Saber be forced to speak against her own will." he tightened his hand into fist as he responded.
"What a unique Master you are." Avenger remarked. "You won't do it even if she holds the knowledge in defeating the King of Magecraft?"
Ritsuka then confidently replied. "I won't."
Dantes then just laughed to his own accord, upon witnessing Ritsuka's steadfast will. "Haha, then I am glad to work with you, Master."
"Thanks for telling me." Ritsuka said before he went on while the King of Caverns was content on moving on too.
A couple more steps and Ritsuka realized something.
"Wait, did Avenger just tested me?" He wondered at last but no one was there to answer him.