Da Vicni and Romani were having a post mission brief after the trio had just returned from the London singularity. They had fixed it, but no one was in a joyous mood, unlike the past three where there had been congratulations, cheers and increased determination the atmosphere was sombre
Gudao has been uncharastically silent while gudako was trying to lighten the mood with jokes. Mashu had just returned from a post mission checkup and even she had no comforting words to say
"How?" Gudao said his first word in a while
"How can we even hope to defeat that-that thing, he wasn't even trying or taking us seriously. How can ever save everyone if that thing is in our way"
"Well that just rude Guda, that thing has a name" Gudako quipped
Gudao shot a look to his sister and she fell silent. Perhaps understanding that now wasn't the time
Mashu sat besides him and put a hand on his shoulder
"Senpai, you remember that time in fuyuki, when i was um-"
"Crushed under a pile of rubble and dying slowly?" Gudako added helpfully
"Yes thank you for the reminder Gudako Senpai, I had almost forgotten" Mashu said sarcastically but there was a hint of a smile
"You know, I was 90 percent sure I was going to die. Chaldea was in flames. The master were dead or in a coma. It felt hopeless. And I accepted that"
That day both Guda and Gudakos life had changed. Gudako had found an online recruitment ad for a "scientific study" as it claimed And they needed young people to help with the tests. She tried to convince Guda that they should both sign up for it. The pay was really good and there were a lot of benefits. Guda of course was hesitant. What kind of science agency post online ads. Shouldn't they be recruiting the best people from ivy league universities or something. It was sketchy to say the least. He told her no
That was until he had found out Gudako had already put there flat on sale. After a 3 hour argument, with a lot of fake tears (from Gudako) and banshee screaming (from Gudao) he had been persuaded. If he thought about it, there were more pros than cons. They had no family. They didn't know there parents who had abandoned them in an orphanage and frankly the cost of housing had dramatically increased to the point where they had to starve sometimes
"Boomers, I swear" Gudao thought as he and Gudako went to do a physical to see if they were eligible. He assumed they were because the next thing they knew black bags went over their heads, and they were stuffed into a private jet.
Thankfully it wasn't an ogran harvesting operation. Guda and Gudako got a seminar with 48 other candidates on what was going on. The organization was called Chaldea and was in an undisclosed location ("totally not suspicious" Gudao thought to himself), the Director of it was a woman named Olga Marie and she was explaining with a man called Lev Lavanur The Masters as they were called were to go in and time travel (or Rayshift as it was called) into the past to fix it as something was going on.
"That is really awesome" Gudako said after the seminar concluded
"We will be like Time travelling heroes, like from that old England Tv with the blue telephone booth"
Guda was more pessimistic
"Be real Dako, from what ive seen, the other Master candidates seem more experienced and well trained, they probably hired us to fill a quota, our chances of actually Rayshifting are close to none"
"Wow Guda, I should have brung a broom, to clean up after your party pooping ass"
They started their usual bickering. Gudao turned out to be correct. Olga Marie nicely (not) told them that they were back ups in case one else was available, and with their horrible stats they were lucky to even be considered.
Gudako had been bitter about it but Gudao was relieved. That meant they didn't have to risk there asses and could get a fat paycheck. Of course reality wasn't going to be that easy
"But then you, sat beside me. Comforting a girl you had just met earlier, you probably were scared too. But still you held my hand. And that was when I knew. I wanted to live. I wanted to protect the person who was kind to me, and I did. We all did" Mashu smiled and looked around the Room
"Guda listen to our reliable kouhai, sometime I wonder whos really the senpai here" Gudako put her hand on Mashu's
Gudao groaned
"Yes it does seem hopeless bro, but have you forgotten who we have with us" Gudako stood up
"A charming redhead who not to brag, but is pretty good at the heavy lifting stuff"
"Her brother who although is not as great as her is pretty smart at making up battle plans and strategies for the servants"
"A cute reliable kouhai who has a heroic spirit in her, i mean come on. You can't find a girl like her anywhere else" as she suggestively winked at Gudao. He pretended he didn't see that
"The best, smartest most beautiful inventor/genius of our time, Da Vinci Chan"
Da Vicni smiled "Thank you Gudako, but again I am not giving you extra Quartz"
"Damn it" Gudako whispered under her breath
"Also a really ferocious bunny dog thing called Fou"
"Fou" Fou said
"And last but not least the weird idol loving Doctor!"
"Hey" Doctor Romani protested
Gudao looked at his hands. The command seal that was physical proof of him being a master stared back at him. Meeting Solomon had shaken him up. He was the king of mages. The inventor of magecraft. It was going to be impossible, but...
He thought of the servants he had met in all their journey so far. The contracts they made and the people who so graciously helped them. He couldn't let them down. He had to save them all. He had made a promise.
"You guys are right" Guda said
"I can't allow myself to think like that. We have sacrificed and fought a lot to get here. We will save human history. Let him fight us. We are a team and together we'll win"
"Yeah solomon can suck my dick" Gudako said with enthusiasm
Doctor Romani flinched
"Really Fujimaru,a girl shouldn't be saying things like that"
"Oh yeah I forgot doc, you're a fan of Solomon huh?" Gudako patted him on the back
"Its okay Doc, thats why they say never meet your heroes" Gudako said sympathetically
"Dont worry Fujimaru, as long as Magi Mari is with him he"ll never fall into despair" Da vinci assured her
"Da Vinci!" Romani shouted
The mood considerably lightened up and everyone went back to laughing and joking around.
"Alright you guys should clean up and go to the cafeteria for dinner before turning in for the night. Training is scheduled for tomorrow. And you need all the help you can get if you want a chance at beating Solomon" Doctor Romani said
"Oh it's Emiyas turn to cook today" Gudako said as she hurried off excitedly
Gudao walked besides MAshu
"You Okay?" He asked as they walked the path to the cafeteria
Mashu nodded "Yeah, i've just been having weird dreams lately"
Guda frowned "Nightmares?" He asked
"No there not even all that bad. More nostalgic if anything. Its of the A team"
"I've seen them before, during the seminar, They were supposed to be the main team to solve the singularities right"
"Yeah, I should tell you about them later senpai"
Guda smiled warmly. Mashus heart skipped a beat "I'd love to hear all about it, but let's eat first. It is Emiya's turn to cook, gonna be a warzone"
Hand in hand they ran to the cafeteria