AN: Please enjoy the chapter!
Ch 3 New Party Member
Naofumi's party was on their way back from a grinding mission and was heading back to town. "That was some good experience points we required Naofumi-sama." Raphtalia looks at the black-haired man. "Naofumi-sama, are you alright? You seem to be distant."
The Shield Hero blinks, looking at the Demi-Human. "Mmm? Oh, sorry Raphtalia. I've been having strange dreams and I can't get my mind off it." Naofumi apologizes to his sword.
"Strange dreams? Is it nightmares, master?" Filo asked, concerned for the person who took care of her.
The black-haired man shook his head, "No Filo, it's nothing like that. It's more of…a distant memory, but I don't recall anything like it before." Naofumi explains to his Party what his dream is like.
Raphtalia ponders on what her master said, she may have something that could explain what he is feeling. "Naofumi-sama, maybe it's a far cry but could it be a past life that your dreams are based on?" She asked the Hero of the Shield.
Naofumi took a moment to process what Raphtalia had said. 'Past life…well there were many Shield Heroes in Melromarc before I was chosen to be the current one. Maybe it's one of them who I'm experiencing in my dreams.' He ponders on the thought. "Maybe Raphtalia,"
Raphtalia's tail wags, happy to be of assistance to the man who saved her. "Glad to be of service, Naofumi-sama." Then her ears picked up some yelling in the distance.
The Demi-Human steps out of the carriage, getting a better hearing. "Raphtalia, what is it?" Naofumi asked, causing Filo to halt her movement.
"Onee-chan?" Filo looks at the auburn-haired woman, seeing her ear twitch.
"Naofumi-sama, innocent people are being attacked by monsters nearby!" Raphtalia jumps out of the carriage, rushing to where she heard the screams.
Naofumi jumps up from his seat, seeing the Demi-Human run in the other direction. "Raphtalia!" The Filo transformed back into a blonde little girl with white wings.
"Wait for Filo!" Filo rushed after Raphtalia, wanting to help the ones in need.
The black-haired Hero ruffled his hair, seeing the two already off and about. "Geez, I can't even have a break. Hold up you two!" Naofumi cried, leaping out of the carriage and following his Party members into the woods.
A young mother and her two children were huddling together, Hell Hounds was surrounding them. In front of them was a young blonde girl with a staff in her hand and a dagger in the other. "Stay behind me!" The girl shouted.
Then a Hell Hound lunges forward, fangs bare towards the girl. "HA!" The girl cast a field around her and the family, knocking away the monster.
She leaps forward, slicing the Hell Hound in two. "Ngh," The girl turns around, seeing more of the attackers coming at her.
The blonde girl twirls her staff before swinging it at the Hell Hounds. A barrier knocked them away only a few more left. "There's no end to them, but I need to keep going." She looks back at the family and turned back. "I must save these people far most!" She shouts.
Three more Hell Hounds appeared before her. The girl promptly uses her staff to deflect, twirling it around and shooting three spells at each of them. "Three down," She turns around, seeing more of the Hell Hound pack,
"This is bad, monsters shouldn't be appearing at this time when there are no Waves." The girl turns to the family with a serious expression.
"Can you three make it to the village on your own?" She asked the small family.
The mother nodded, holding her children tight. "Yes, but what about you miss? Can you really take care of these monsters by yourself?" She asked.
The blonde girl smiles at the worried family. "Yes, after all. I'm a Servant of Humanity, it's my duty to protect you all." She twirls her staff, prostrating in front of her. "Now go! I'll create a Bounded Field for you to make your escape." With that, a bright light spreads across the area, making time for the Human family to run.
"Thank you, miss. Good luck." The mother took her children by the hands and ran to the opposite side of where the Servant was standing.
Once the family was out of the Servant's view, she turns to the battle before her. "Geez, I was hoping to be in the Shield Hero's party by now. With my support, he could be capable of physical attacks instead of defense or that's what he said." She ponders on what he told her.
When pondering the Hell Hounds took the advantage to strike the distracted Servant. She gasps, inches away from being killed when someone slashed down at the Hounds. "Hell Hounds? Here!?" A Demi-Human cried out in confusion.
"You're-" The Servant looks above her, a little girl jumping above them then transformed into a giant Filolial. The giant bird crashes down at the Hounds, killing them instantly.
Filo smiles, seeing there are no more enemies left. "Filo doesn't see any more enemies, Nee-chan do you?" The Giant Filolial asked Raphtalia who took out her blade from one Hound.
Raphtalia surveys the area, seeing nothing dangerous around. "No, I guess we finished them off. Mostly you, Filo." She smiles at her fellow Party member. She turns to the girl in a blue hat and cape. "Are you alright? You were surprisingly strong to fend off these Hell Hounds."
"Filo did see that! You're even stronger than Filo!" Filo smiles, jumping in place.
"Oh, i-i-it was nothing. I just saw a family in need of help and acted accordingly." The girl responded to the two females. "Oh, forgive my rudeness, my names Caster! Or Arturia if you prefer." Castoria introduce herself.
Naofumi huffs, made when the battle was already over. "Those two are quick, and they even save-" He paused when a little blonde boy flashes before his eyes. He gripes his head before seeing one Hell Hound evade both Raphtalia's and Filo's eyes.
The Hell Hound growls, leaping out of the bush at the Caster Servant, fangs bare to tear her apart. "Arturia-san! Look out!" Raphtalia shouted at the Servant,
Castoria was about to defend herself when a green translucent Shield appears above her. "Air Strike Shield!" The Hell Hound was repelled back from the defensive wall causing Castoria to attack.
"Take this!" The Staff of Selection glowed a blue hue then a powerful attack blasted the monster in the face. The Hell Hound drops down on the ground, disappearing into EX points for Raphtalia and Filo.
Castoria looks up, seeing Naofumi coming down from the small ledge. "Arturia-san, are you alright?" Raphtalia asked the Servant.
"Filo was worried for Arturia-chan, are you sure you are alright?" Filo transformed back into her child form.
"Yes, thank you for your concerns but I'm fine." Castoria smiles, hearing a tongue click coming from the man behind him.
Naofumi glared at Castoria, feeling like he should scold her. "You should pay more attention to your surroundings. I swear, if I weren't here to save you then it would be troublesome for me to heal your wounds." He sighs at the recklessness this girl was showing.
"Naofumi-sama! That isn't the right way to speak to someone you saved!" Raphtalia scolded her master for speaking unusually.
The Shield Hero blinks, realizing what he said to the young girl in front of him. "Sorry, I didn't know what came over me." He apologies, not sure what just happened.
Filo skips over to Naofumi, gripping his sleeve. "Master, you're acting not yourself. Filo notice when you told us about your dream."
"Filo, it's nothing." Naofumi ensures Filo he's fine, he then turns to Castoria who's looking down at her heels. "Again, I'm sor-"
Castoria shook her head, "No, you're right. I should be more careful Sir Sheild Hero." She said to Naofumi, who's a bit surprised that he knows who he is.
"Y-You know who I am?" Naofumi asked the Servant, who nodded in response.
"Oh yes, I've heard many stories from the people I encountered when I entered this country!" Castoria responded with glee. "There's some who hates you for an unknown reason, but the good you do out weights everyone's negative aspects!"
Raphtalia smiles, never knew that there are so many people who speak highly for her master. "Naofumi-sama, maybe those are the people we saved that speaks highly of you." She optimistically commented.
Filo agreed, "Filo is so happy to hear that, Master!" The Filolial cheered.
Castoria gave a cheerful smile, "Yes, after hearing those stories I felt the urge to meet you. Actually, I want to join you." She truthfully explains.
Naofumi was skeptical of this girl, why would she want to join up with him? He knows next to nothing about her, he just saved her, and yet something tells him that she could be trusted. "Alright, but first why would you want to be at my party Arturia?" He asked, feeling both a strange and familiar ring when he say that name.
"Because you saved me, Sir Shield Hero! And as I'm a Servant, I want to pay back your kindness!" Castoria smiles, hoping this would get her in Naofumi's party. She couldn't exactly say that the Queen request her to keep the Shield Hero safe from the King's cruelty towards him. "T-That is if you don't mind, Sir Shield Hero."
"Naofumi-sama," Raphtalia looks at her master, hoping he would agree. They do need more Pary members if they're going to face the Waves of Calamity.
The Shield Hero sighs, seeing the puppy dog eyes that the Caster Servant. Ruffling his hair, he gave in to her expression. "Alright, fine you can join."
Castoria's face lightens up with glee, "Thank you, Sir Shield Hero!"
"First, enough with the Sir Shield Hero business. It doesn't feel right." Naofumi told the young Saber face, not liking how she addressed him like the Knights before.
The blonde Servant cocked her head, curious about what she could call him. "Then what should I call you, if not Sir Shield Hero?" She ponders before coming up with an acronym for him. "Oh! How about Onii-san!?" She asked.
"Onii…san?" Filo questions the strange acronym that Castoria gave her master.
Raphtalia blushed, having the word Onii-san playing over in her head. "Y-You can't call Naofumi-sama that way-"
"Onii-san…sure why not." Naofumi shrugs, never been called Big Brother before other than his own little brother back home.
The blonde Caster smiles at the black-haired man, appreciating that he allowed her to call him that. "Then, thank you for saving me Onii-san!" Castoria grins.
Naofumi, feeling the urge to ruffle her hair did so. "You're welcome. Now let's go, we need to go back to the capital to get some supplies from the boss." The Hero explains their agenda to their news Party member.
Castoria stood still, nodding with a happy expression. "Of course! I know the shortest root there!" She smiles, wanting to be helpful to her Onii-san.
Raphtalia walks beside Castoria, grabbing her hand and guiding her to their carriage. "Come, I'll show you the ropes in the Party, Arturia-san."
"Yeah, Filo too will help! It's going to be fun traveling with you, Arturia-chan!" Filo jumps with joy, happy there's a new member of their Party.
Castoria smiles. "It'll be a joy to learn from you two, let's support Onii-chan!"
"Yeah!" The three girls cheered, Naofumi smiles a bit happy to have a new capable fighter in their group.
He then checks his Party-list, seeing Castoria's name under Filo and Raphtalia's names. There was Castoria's name with a golden wand and a star indicating her Caster part; however, the level is higher than theirs. Ninety, and there's her name. "(Arturia Avalon…what a strange name…)"
Brightwell Village
Ritsuka sat beside the injured boy he saved last night. He didn't even get a good night's sleep, he was with the boy the whole time.
During that time span, the Knights of the Roundtable helped with the villagers' homes. Most have minimal damage to them while the others were left untouched.
Probably it's because these Knights were only after them only.
In any case, the retired doctor walks into the bedroom with medicine for the sick injured boy. "Lord Fujimaru, you're still awake? As a medical professional that's not healthy for a young man such as yourself." The old man slightly scolded the Magus.
"Sorry, It's just-" Ritsuka looks back at the boy, the one who reminded him when he was his age.
"I see, well do not worry. I'll take care of him; just get some rest Lord Fujimaru." The doctor said, tending to the boy.
Ritsuka nodded, got up from his chair, and walks out of his home. He walks on the dirt road, seeing the village being repaired with his Servants assistance.
Gawain, Mordred, Barghest, and Lancelot were helping the villagers with the repairs to the homes that were damaged during the Knights attacks.
Gareth, Tristan, and Bedivere were helping with the crop fields nearby during the attack. They replanted the crop seeds in preparation for Morgan to do her Magecraft to make them grow.
Baobhan Sith and Saber were checking the villagers if any were injured during their containment. They took down the names and were ready to hand them over to the doctor.
Ritsuka smiles, walking over to Lancelot, carrying some wood to the damaged homes. "Lancelot, how are the villagers' homes? For that matter, how are they doing?" The master asked the Knight of the Lake.
"Master, you seem tired. You didn't get enough sleep am I right?" Lancelot took note of his Son-in-law's tired eyes, figuring that he stayed awake to keep an eye on that boy. Receiving a nod from him, he sighs at the truth. "I swear, Mashu would scold you for not getting enough rest." He sighs.
Ritsuka chuckles slightly, being scolded again by his Father-in-law. "Yeah, sorry Lance."
Lancelot shook his head, moving on to his question. "No, forgive med for scolding you off master. To answer your question, Lady Baobhan Sith and Saber are checking everyone if they have any major injuries. For us, we decided to assist rebuilding the homes."
"In short," Lancelot turns to the back, seeing men and some women carrying tools or hammering wood to their homes alongside the Knights. "Most of the villagers saw our work and stepped in to assist us."
Ritsuka blinks, seeing the community helping one another in rebuilding their homes. A wonderful sight to his eyes if he says so himself. "That's great Lancelot. But where's Arthur and the others?" He asked, noticing his missing Servants.
The violet-haired Knight points to the jail next to an abandoned manor. Oddly enough, it's still in good condition to live in, just dusty. "My king is in the prison with Morgan, Sir Agravain, and Sir Galahad interrogating the captured Knights."
"Thanks, Lancelot." Ritsuka waves, heading over to the jail to see the rest of his Knights.
Lancelot turns around, notice Mordred walking with an elderly man next to her. "Sir Mordred?"
"So, yeah Lance this old man wants to speak to master. Something about a lord or something as thanks?" Mordred looks at the elderly man, nodding to the Knight of Rebellion's shortened explanation.
"Indeed, forgive me Sir Knight but I'm the Lord of this here village of Brightwell." The old man explains, his frail body ready to give out. "As you can see, my village was in deep trouble with a neighboring village's Lord. As such, he deems that I'm an old coot who's ready to croak at any time that my people will be up for taking."
Lancelot ponders, listening to the old Lord of Brightwell. "By 'up for taking' you mean to say-"
Mordred clicked her tongue, crossing her arms. "That bastard Lord wants to make slaves out of the people here. Regardless of age, race, and authority. It pisses me off just from thinking about it!" she hissed, in a short span they were in this small village most kids her looked up to her for saving them. That is something she won't have,
"Y-Yes, that's why it's the utmost importance that I must speak with your leader." The old Lord stated with conviction.
"I understand, my Lord. I'll relay your message to our master once he is finished with his task at the moment." Lancelot explains to the old man.
The old man smiles, bowing to the Knight of the Roundtable. "Thank you, Sir Knight."
Ritsuka saw the jail just a few meters away, standing guard was Galahad leaning on the wall. The Knight of Heaven saw him making his way towards the building. "Galahad is-"
"They're inside a bit of a warning. Agravain is there using his Noble Phantasm on the captured Knights." Galahad explains the situation to the director of Chaldea. "Morgan and King Arthur are playing good cop and bad cop. Though you already know which is which, master."
Ritsuka deadpans, picturing the interrogation in his mind. "Oh, that's great." He said sarcastically, he could trust Arthur with the interrogation but Morgan…it's a different story.
Entering the prison, he could hear screaming from the Knights enduring Agravain's Iron Punishment. Upon arriving at the cell blocks, he could see a red light coming from the end of the halls. Ritsuka was surprised to see Arthur standing outside, assumingly that the Good Cop tactic didn't work.
"Let me guess," Arthur turns to his master, sighing at the scream. "Good cop didn't work out?" Ritsuka asked the King of Knights.
"Your guess is right on the mark, master." Arthur smiles, looking back at the imprisoned Knights they've captured. "They are stubborn I give them that, but Good cop doesn't always work in my opinion."
Ritsuka petted his loyal Servant, making him feel better. "At least you stick to your role, Arthur." He comforts him.
Arthur inclines his head, appreciating his words. "Thank you, master."
The Knight Captain screams in pain, telling what he knows of the world and other information. "Alright! Alright, I'll tell you everything!" The Knight screams can't endure the pain anymore.
Agravain lowered his arms at the knight. "Good, now Morgan." He looks at his Lostbelt Mother.
Morgan had her hands folded; she has already gotten some valuable information from the other Knights. Her eyes opened once the Knight Captain was ready to talk. "Now, answer me. Who are the Heroes that called themselves the Three Heroes Roundtable? What are their origins and their purpose in this world?" She asked the Human before her.
"T-T-They used to be the Four Cardinal Heroes. But everything change when the Sheild Hero raped the first princess." The Knight gave in, telling the Lostbelt Queen what he knows. "After some time, the King and his attendants got permission to rename the Four Cardinal Heroes from the Three Heroes Church. Now they go by the Three Heroes Roundtable"
"Their purpose is still the same." The Knight continues, giving more information.
"'And what purpose is that?" Agravain demanded, crossing his arms ready to inflict pain on the Captain once more.
The Knight looks at the aid to the Chaldean master. "T-To defend us from the Waves of Calamity. That's all I know, I promise you!" He begs.
Morgan stood up from her seat, walking to the exit. "Agravain, you may place him back with the others." She ordered her son, noticing her Husband standing with her brother from Pan Human History.
Agravain nodded, obliging to her request. "Of course, Morgan." He proceeded to place the Knight Captain back with the others, still chained up in his Iron Punishment.
"So what did you find out, Morgan?" Ritsuka asked his Servant.
"Many things master, more importantly, there are people known as Adventurers. People with extraordinary skills and combat parameters." Morgan stated, telling her master what he found out from the Mage in the group.
"So like an RPG game? I played some back in Fuyuki when working at the convent store." Ritsuka stated, remembering his early life when he left the Dursleys. "Aniki showed me some when I first arrived in Japan."
Morgan nodded, recently knowing the term. "Yes…that's right Husband. To make it short, in this world there's a lot of monsters from the Waves of Calamity. With the onslaught of monsters, the Adventurers form groups called-"
"Parties, yes I know the term." Ritsuka ponders, thinking that this world must work like that in that game his Aniki showed him. "It's been a while since I played. The gist is to survive in this world we need numbers." He explains, receiving a nod from the Queen.
Arthur blinks, somehow knowing what she's aiming for. "Sister, don't tell me we're going to have master do it? It's still early for this." He said, wanting him to have rest.
Morgan stared at her brother with cold blue eyes. "If not now, then when? We're in a mysterious world, though we are powerful we're still not in our full strength." The Lostbelt Queen explains to her young brother. "If we want to research this world, and possibly get in contact with Chaldea then we need to take this chance of peace before anything happens."
Arthur has to admit, Morgan was right. She may be a Berserker, but she does have the sense of a ruler, thus making rational decisions. He sighs, admitting to her logic. "Very well, let's see if our strand of luck is working." The blonde states.
Ritsuka blinks, unsure what these two have in mind. "Wait, what's going on? What do you want me to do Morgan?"
"Husband, I suggest we need allies to bolster our ranks." Morgan smiles, leading him out of the jail building,
Arthur and Ritsuka followed to the edge of the village, where the Mana density is very high. "After I interrogated the first couple of Knights, I found out that they used a different kind of Magecraft or Magic. Where there's Magic, there's usual a-"
"Leyline." Ritsuka understood what this world is, "So it's a world where Mystery remains, and Humanity evolved along with it."
"That seems to be right, master. I did sense an odd amount of Mana within most of the villagers. More in the boy you saved last night," Arthur commented, arriving near a small lake.
Morgan stops, turning to her master. "Husband right here is where the Mana is dense. It's an ideal area for a Summoning." She clangs her staff on the ground, creating a Summon circle below her.
Ritsuka blinks, taking out the Saint Quartz in his pockets. He smiles, looking at his Servants, "If I didn't know better, I'm assuming you want me to summon her. Am I right, Morgan?"
The white-haired Fairy blinks, still retaining her ever emotionless expression. "I have no idea what you mean Husband. I'm simply advising you as your humble wife." She gave a slight smile, walking out of the Summon circle.
Arthur just stares at his Lostbelt sister standing next to her. "Real subtle, sister." He chuckles, receiving a glare from her.
"Welp, considering you are all here," Ritsuka stretches, readying himself to Summon the rest of his Servants. (Insert Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia OST 『Hanging on this shield)
Placing sixty Saint Quartz in the middle, the circle began to react. Stepping out of the circle, Ritsuka held out his hand and took a deep breath. " Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.
Let Humanity's wishes crystallized.
The Summoning circle began to glow blue, the Saint Quartz started to glow a blue hue.
Let the wishes of those who cannot be heard to be heard.
Let me be your anchor on this plane to serve those who cannot.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Throne.
The Command Seals glowed brightly; the Saint Quartz soon dissolved into liquid. The liquid began to merge, creating two bodies.
From your collapse shall be our beginnings to a new path to the future.
For I embodied that is all good in the world and you shall be the defender.
For rings of light appeared around the bodies of the Heroic Spirits answering Ritsuka's call. A myriad of colors shines with sparks of gold in the room as it forms two more rings.
To those who hear to their will and reason from Gods to Men, Heroes to Villains then answer!
My will creates your body, and your body shall be the sword of justice for the innocents.
To those who hear the plea for help then heed my call! If you do respond to those who plead!
The mass took form as the rings merged with the Heroes that Ritsuka summoned.
Come forth in the line of Duty! Guardian of the Scales!" (End Song and Insert Fate/Grand Order - OST – Rebellion)
A massive surge of Magical Energy burst throughout the area, enough to gain attention from neighboring villages. A blinding light appeared before the Magus and his Roundtable Servants, once the light subsided were two figures appeared within the smoke.
"Husband, you did it. The Summoning worked." Morgan said, sensing powerful Magical Energy signatures from the smoke.
"This aura, I know it." Arthur saw a familiar lance being held by a grey-haired man in grey armor. Next to him was a light grey girl wearing blue armor,
The light grey-haired girl had a familiar masked on her eyes, once the smoke cleared, she kneels to the one who summoned her. "Servant, Lancer. Fairy Knight Lancelot has arrived in response to your summons." The Fairy Knight introduced herself to the Magus from the stars.
Melusine looks up at Ritsuka, blinking at the sight of him." …I see. Even someone as rotten as me can be of help to you as your Servant." She smiles, hoping for this day to meet him once again. "…Yes, I'm very happy. Even if it's just for a short dream, my wings will fly for your sake."
"Melusine, it's great to see you again." Ritsuka smiles at the Fairy Knight before him.
"Indeed master, from now one I shall be your sword instead of your enemy." Melusine proclaims, turning to her side only to gasp at the sight. "I-It can't be…"
The man opened his eyes, grinning at the one who called him into this land. "Second Seat of the Round Table, Knight Percival. I have hereby come to this world. Along with the other Holy Lance!" He inclines his head towards his master.
"I shall become your power. Master." Percival looks up, his eyes catch a glimpse of Arthur standing behind his new master.
Arthur smiles, seeing one of his trusted Roundtable Knights. "Sir Percival! It's been a long time since I've seen you, my friend." The King of Knights greeted the Knight of the White Light.
Percival blinks, not knowing who this man is but he could tell he's indeed his King. "My… King? No, no, no wait…master who is this person that is my King?" He turns to the Magus.
Ritsuka sighs, having a feeling this was his world's Percival and not Avalon Le Fay's. "Percival, I have a lot to catch you up on, since you're not the one I know." He smiles giving the Knight a confused expression.
Morgan noticed her Fairy Knight staring at her brother's Knight. "Husband let's go to a private setting. We've caused much commotion this morning."
"Yes, you're right Morgan. Let's go you two, I have to catch you both up on the situation." Ritsuka said to the news Knights of Chaldea.
"Yes, master." They replied, following their respective monarchs and master to the village.
Castoria blinks, sensing a familiar aura in the country. She smiles, having a feeling who might cause a disturbance like this. "So, you're here Fujimaru,"
"Arturia-san, we're here in the capital." Raphtalia touches the Servant's shoulder. Looking up at the city she smiles. (End song)
AN: After all this time, they're here! Percival and Melusine, anyways please leave a comment or review.