Olga Marie Animusphere, hereditary Director of Chaldea, sat on one side of a crumbling, burnt wall. On the other side, two Servants and the only Chaldean Master arranged certain unpleasant affairs. The Director didn't want to be there. She certainly didn't want to be listening. But blocking them out meant blocking out the sound of any monsters sneaking up on them, which would at the very least be fatal for her. And Olga Marie Animusphere intended on living, thank you very much.

The Caster's low voice easily penetrated the distressed barrier as he said, "Now, since you're so fond of the lass, Master, here's how we're going to do this. Mash is going to follow my instructions as I talk her through the basics. I know you're new to this and the last thing I want to do is hurt you. Relaxing helps, but we're not exactly in congenial circumstances right now. Still, I think between Mash and myself we can make sure you're all right."

The Director hunched forward, her gaze roving around the urban wasteland as Caster's amused chuckle grated against her ears. She felt positive nothing nearly so complicated was required just for Ritsuka to replenish Caster's stock of magical energy. Why did he have to take both of them away, leaving the Director all alone?

After a brief silence—apparently neither Mash nor Ritsuka had any intelligible opinion on Caster's ridiculous plan—he began speaking again. "Now, Mash'll stay on this side of you and I'll be back here, Master. We'll be doing our best to stay dressed, so if yon Director gives us a warning, we'll be able to move quickly."

The Director ground her teeth. How dare he speak of her as if she couldn't hear everything he said? He could have at least spoken to her rather than about her.

"Let's start with Mash giving you another kiss, if that's all right with you, Master."

Shaking her head, the Director jumped to her feet. She'd watched the first kiss impatiently, both worried and upset about her own inability to perform as a Master and what that meant about her presence in Singularity F. The kiss had been… sweet: two girls who had no idea what they were doing, learning about each other under that blue-haired bastard's laughing eye. Sweet, in a way that only made Olga Marie hurt inside. Now, although the wall broke line of sight and absorbed the smallest sounds, the vision once again played in her mind's eye.

"Ah, yeah, you're both enjoying that," said Caster. "So much I'm almost jealous."

Ritsuka said, "Mmf," and then, with tragic eagerness, "Caster, I can kiss you—"

"And leave out your friend? My way's better for everyone, lass. I'll help out from back here when the time comes."

Unexpected tears pricked Olga Marie's eyes. She almost wished she didn't have the responsibility she did. If only her father hadn't died in such a way. If only Lev were around. If only even one of the other Masters had survived, and they hadn't met this blue asshole

"Now you put your hands here, Mash darling. See? Nice and soft, aren't they. And look how she likes it."

"Senpai?" asked Mash anxiously. "Do you?"

In a breathy voice, Ritsuka said, "Y-yes. It's fine."

"Kiss her again," encouraged Caster.

Olga Marie slid down the wall again, frantically scanning the wasteland for anything to save her from this incredibly unpleasant situation. Skeletons. Blackened Servants. Lev. Anything.

From the other side of the wall, somebody gasped and then moaned.


Mash had improved at kissing just from her single previous attempt, and between her soft mouth against Ritsuka's own and Caster's lips against her shoulder, Ritsuka felt well-distracted from the distant, always-burning fires. And then Caster had unbuckled her uniform front, pulling the top half open so Mash could cup Ritsuka's breasts. That moved the whole affair to another level. Ritsuka could still smell the smoke, but it mingled with Mash's hair and Caster's musk. Was it the hot breeze on her cheek, or a man's breath? Mash's hands were so warm, but it was a good warmth, a gentle warmth that would never hurt her.

Somehow this had started with Caster needing a mana transfer so he could use his Noble Phantasm against the blackened Saber guarding the treasure at the heart of the Singularity. The Director had declared they had to recover it, and Caster had smiled his quiet little smile…

…and now Ritsuka stood here, kissing Mash as the Shielder fondled her, with the Caster behind her, his hands on her hips and his breath lightly stirring her hair. The Director was somewhere nearby, supposedly keeping watch while they attended to this 'oh yes, very necessary' ritual (according to Caster). The Director was always angry at Ritsuka, which frightened her, but she'd recognized the stricken look in the other girl's eyes at Caster's proposal. And yet the Director hadn't exactly complained, and Ritsuka knew far better than to presume uninvited.

"Ah, girls, you're indulging yourselves now," came Caster's voice in her ear, as the endless hot breeze briefly died away. "But best we keep moving along. This isn't just fun and games. Mash, I'd like you to move down a little. Put your mouth where your hands are, put your hands where mine are."

Obediently, Mash broke away from Ritsuka's lips and began to trail little kisses down one of Ritsuka's breasts. The odor of smoke intensified, but Mash's mouth moved so delicately that the smoke seemed like an abstract warning written in chalk rather than the usual neon letters in the sky. Then Mash reached the soft skin at the tip of her breast.

"Oh!" said Ritsuka, and bit her lip as she caught a slight sound from the other side of the wall nearby. But Mash's lips closed over her nipple, and she forgot all about where the Director might be as sensation bolted through her body. When at the same time Caster began to kiss her neck, her knees trembled and Ritsuka could only be relieved that she was supported between two other bodies. This is an important ritual, she thought dazedly. But they're making me feel so good.

Mash's fingers tightened against Ritsuka's hips as she concentrated on her assigned task with increasing fervor. But her kohai's mouth remained gentle even as her tongue moved more rapidly. Caster leaned over Ritsuka's shoulder, watching Mash's work. "Yeah, there you go, girl. Make her forget about everything but you."

Where they stood in a seared, blackened city, that wasn't going to be happening. Those cinders got everywhere. However, when Caster unexpectedly put his hands under Ritsuka's skirt and slid her tights partway down her thighs, she momentarily forgot the fires in the face of an instinctive reaction to a potential closer threat.

"Caster—?" she began in a near panic, and Mash looked up sharply.

"Has to happen, Master, unless you want me damaging your clothing instead. As pleasant as it can be, we've got an agenda here if we want to win."

"Oh… oh yes. I was just taken by surprise," said Ritsuka in a small voice. "You didn't warn me."

Caster was quiet a moment, and Mash's arms slid around Ritsuka's waist protectively as she stared over Ritsuka's shoulder at the man.

"I'm sorry about that," he said finally, and the playful edge had vanished from his voice. "Got caught up in the moment. Forgot I'm supposed to be the guide for two in this delightful little arrangement." He stood again. When Ritsuka looked up at his tall form, he stroked his fingers along her jaw. "Have I ruined it all?"

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Ritsuka glanced at Mash, who met her gaze gravely. "Not ruined… But I liked the talking. It helps me… jump less."

Mash squeezed her around the waist again before returning to kissing her way down Ritsuka's other breast.

"Well then, in the spirit of fair warning, if we have what they call an emergent situation, I might be cutting through your tights so you can run. So let's keep moving briskly along and we'll avoid that contingency, eh?"

Yet despite his words, he simply returned to kissing her neck, giving Ritsuka a chance to once again try to relax in the arms of her lovers. As Caster kissed the tension from her shoulders and Mash grew bold in her attentions to Ritsuka's chest, Ritsuka's breath started becoming ragged, little sounds escaping her throat.

"There we are. Next step. I'll take over up here, Mash." Caster's hands, rougher and larger than Mash's, moved across Ritsuka's breasts, entirely containing them. "Master, take hold of your skirt and pull it out of Mash's way. Mash, you're moving on down again."

One of Caster's hands drifted down under Ritsuka's crumpled skirt and stroked the recently exposed skin just above her core. As Ritsuka shuddered at the surging of her internal fire, he said, "You'll put your mouth here, lass. Explore a little. Use your tongue. I'll keep things warm above, and once she's ready, we'll move onto the main event."

Mash knelt in front of Ritsuka, but looked up at her, her pale hair falling across one eye as she searched Ritsuka's face. "Are you all right with this, senpai? If you prefer, I can leave you and Caster alone. I'm sure he doesn't really need me for this." She spoke with without jealousy or insecurity, as if she was simply stating facts.

Ritsuka thought of the fires and put her fingers through Mash's hair, revealing her hidden eye briefly. "Do… do you want to go? Are you uncomfortable?"

"No, senpai. I'm enjoying myself very much." Again that calm statement of fact, and Ritsuka hoped it was more true than her previous 'fact,' which was missing some important details.

"I'm all right too," Ritsuka whispered. "You… you being here makes me feel safer."

Mash searched her face one more time, before nodding once and hiding her face against Ritsuka's pelvis.

"Good lass," said Caster conversationally, as Mash's tongue flicked out against the outer folds enclosing Ritsuka's core. "Use your fingers, too, as needed." His own fingers moved across Ritsuka's nipples, stroking softly in a way that made the almost ticklish feeling of Mash's initial contact not just bearable but exciting. She swallowed a daydream about being someplace less on fire and focused on that excitement, letting it pulse through her.

Caster pressed his mouth against Ritsuka's neck again before saying, "I'm doing my very best to be as gentle as the lass, Master, but you've already seen that I'm usually a tad more fierce in my loving."

Ritsuka drew in a breath to respond, and then another breath, sharply, as Mash's tongue delved a little deeper into shielded softness. A third gasp, and she managed, "A little of your teeth is okay. "

The Director's voice, oddly thick and low, drifted around the wall, "Oh, please hurry…"

Caster paused a moment, his head tilting as he listened. But when the Director said no more, he simply returned to kissing Ritsuka's neck and shoulders, this time adding the occasional sharp delight of a nip. Mash slid her hands from Ritsuka's hips to her backside, leaning into her task, the pressure of her fingers itself seeming to reach Ritsuka's core. Every swipe of Mash's tongue left lines of pleasure behind, each one chaining to the next.

Ritsuka realized she'd had both hands in Mash's hair, her own head flung back against Caster's chest, with her breath coming in short pants as her hips twitched. Caster had one arm around her waist, stabilizing her, while he'd continued to fondle her beasts and nibble on her ear.

"Keep up the work, Mash," he whispered. "Steady and regular, that'll get her there. Master, I'm moving a hand down there too, to get a lay of the landscape. Don't be afraid to tell me if it gets a little uncomfortable."

"Mmm," managed Ritsuka, who was having momentary trouble imagining anything short of a real fire being uncomfortable, what with Caster's arms around her and Mash's mouth where it was, even when Caster moved his hand away from her breast.

A moment later his fingers, warm and wet, moved toward Mash's tongue from behind, sending an almost nervous thrill skittering across Ritsuka's skin. She bit her lip, anxious not to send the wrong signals to her companions, but suddenly nearly every bit of her attention had been commanded by Caster. Even the threat of the distant fires faded as one of Caster's fingers inched its way inside her.

"Stellar work, Mash. Don't get distracted by me, stay focused on our sweet, soft Master. Tastes good, I bet. Later, in safer places… well, later. And you'll be getting your own refresh this way, don't forget that. She's so strong in her way, our Master. And how's that, Master? Any pain?"

Ritsuka shook her head frantically. Although his finger felt strange and new, it didn't feel bad at all. It almost felt good, especially when he pulled it out and pushed it in again. When he did that a second time, in conjunction with the rhythm of Mash's tongue, Ritsuka groaned.

"Almost there," breathed Caster, and pushed two fingers in, applying pressure to the inner walls of Ritsuka's passage. Two strokes in and out and Ritsuka found herself wriggling urgently, only the arm around her waist and Mash supporting one of her knees keeping her upright. She didn't even remember when Mash had done that, but the two Servants now almost entirely supported her weight.

"All right, nice and slick you are, Master. Mash, here we go," said Caster. "Keep doing your best." Something larger and hotter than two fingers pressed against the entrance to Ritsuka's core and then slowly, slowly pushed its way inside. When it finally stopped moving, Caster gave a long, controlled exhale, as if a challenging task had been completed.

"In a minute or so," he began, his voice hoarser than usual. Then he stopped, biting Ritsuka's shoulder as Mash swiped broadly with her tongue before he managed to continue. "In a minute, soon as I've got myself together, I'm going to move, lasses. Might be a bit vigorous, but I think it'll be okay." He added in a barely audible mutter, "Ah, Master, you're so tight…"

He remained very still for a moment made long and increasingly intense by Mash's mouth. Ritsuka started to feel like she was drifting apart and coming back together again, especially once Caster absently moved his now free hand back to her breast. He only held it, but somehow it provided just enough sensation to take Ritsuka to the very edge of reason.

"Now," said Caster softly, and began to move.


It had to be almost over, right? Olga Marie once again cowered against the wall, scanning their surroundings. She had her hands over her ears now, but only loosely. No sound was blocked but she still felt a little like she was hiding under her covers, shielded by more than a stupid wall against the increasingly loud moans coming from the other side. She knew each of their sounds too well now: Caster's little huffs of exertion and Ritsuka's higher pitched yelps, while Mash was responsible for most of the wet noises.

And here was Olga Marie, hidden away: alone, irrelevant, forgotten. They had to save everybody and what did Olga Marie matter against that? Not one bit. Her father had made that very clear. She understood. She did her best to live up to his dream. But did reality have to rub it in so much? She knew she was a disappointment: a failed daughter, a failed Master, a failed Director. A bomb had gone off in Chaldea Command! She couldn't fail much worse than that.

The sounds from beyond the wall became even more fevered, and then Caster gave a louder huff and Ritsuka's yelps quietened. Were they finally done? Or had something interrupted them again? That Ritsuka was so delicate. She needed to toughen up—

"She's whimpering…" came Ritsuka's soft voice.

Olga Marie realized with horror that it was her. She had her fist pushed against her mouth to muffle herself, but she'd still been whining like an abandoned dog.

Quickly, she tried to pull herself together, but before she managed it, Ritsuka appeared around the side of the wall. She looked like a wreck: her hair wild, her uniform partially unbuttoned and her skirt rumpled—and she clearly didn't care as she rushed over to Olga Marie.

"I'm fine!" snapped the Director as Ritsuka knelt down in front of her. "You—"

Ritsuka looked at her earnestly, those big eyes that had always seemed so empty to Olga Marie suddenly swimming with emotion. "Thank you so much for keeping watch."

The Director stiffened and tried to push herself to her feet, but her cramped legs betrayed her. "It's about time—"

Caster, having come around from the other side of the wall, put his hand on Olga Marie's head. "Good job, lass. We couldn't have done it without you."

The Director's face tightened further and she glared up at the infuriating, awful man. She opened her mouth to tell all of them off… and then, completely inexplicably, Olga Marie burst into tears.


The blackened Saber form of King Arthur faded away, but Caster remained. "I've still got some energy left," he said with a smile and a shrug. "I guess what we did bound me to you a little more closely than before."

"Whatever," snapped the Director. "How did that Saber know the name Grand Order anyhow? Well, that doesn't matter for now. Let's call this mission complete and grab that crystal—"

A cold but familiar voice said, "Well, I didn't expect you'd get this far. Beyond my plan's expectations and my own tolerance. Master Candidate #48, I made quite a mistake in believing you nothing more than filler content."

Olga Marie stared at the materializing figure first in shock and then in growing delight. Lev! Lev could explain what was going on to her, the same way he'd explained why her father hadn't loved her, and what she had to achieve as a Director. Once again, her vision blurred with shameful tears as Lev greeted her companions. He didn't sound glad to see them, which she couldn't really blame him for. They were such a rash and reckless lot.

"Senpai, that man is dangerous. He isn't the Lev from Chaldea," said Mash calmly.

"What?" said Olga Marie. "Of course he is. Lev!" She started to scramble to him when a strong arm caught her around the waist.

"Hold up, Director-lass," said Caster in a quiet voice. Frantically she tried to escape so she could run to Lev, clawing and kicking in vain.

"Hello, Olga," said Lev. "Having a rough time of it?" He smiled.

"Yes, yes, that's right, Lev! The command room blew up, this city is awful, and I can't return to Chaldea! Let me go, you oaf, that's Lev, he's my teacher, I wouldn't be here now without him!"

Lev laughed. "That's certainly true. I set the bomb right under your feet, Olga. And now here you are, a ghost in the system."

Olga Marie went limp in Caster's arms, staring at her beloved mentor. He didn't joke like that. His jokes, when he made them, were usually funny. "What?"

"Your body is dead, Olga. You'll never go back to Chaldea, never go back to your life. Not that anybody will… but you, annoying child, died there. You've nothing left." He gave her a happy smile.

"No, that can't be true!" cried Olga Marie, but even as she said it, she understood him. She never could have Rayshifted when alive. It was just one of her many failures. The only way she could be here now was if her body had been destroyed. And without a body, there was no way home again.

She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't.

"Can we kill him?" Ritsuka asked Mash quietly.

"Evaluating…" responded Mash.

Lev — or what looked like Lev — waved a hand and a burning red image of Chaldeas appeared between them. "Look at what your incompetent Directorship has accomplished, Olga. Be proud. Your brief life has ended at the same time as human history."

"That's not real!" She kicked again at Caster, wanting nothing more than to dash to that fake Lev so she could slap that smirk off his face. But Caster's implacable hold didn't weaken and she was forced to hang helplessly in his arms as Lev spoke.

"Oh, but it is. I've connected up dimensions with this Holy Grail. A fascinating invention… grants wishes, you know. Well, some wishes. Here, it's granting mine. Now, don't you want to come home, Olga?" sneered Lev. "Come touch your precious Chaldeas."

Something pulled on Olga's body, like the earth pulled her back when she jumped. But Caster held her tight and after a moment the pull weakened.

"Well, no matter," said the Lev figure, dismissing her utterly from his attention, exactly as the old Lev had done when she disappointed him. That, more than anything, proved to her he was the same person. She slumped, darkness creeping over her vision.

"Come on, stay with us, Director-lass," murmured Caster. He shifted his grip on her, picking up her legs and cradling her to his chest. "I think we're about done here, and then maybe…"

Lev was saying something to Ritsuka and Romani but it hardly mattered. She, Olga Marie Animusphere, had broken everything by trusting Lev. And now he was some kind of monster? Ugh. Maybe it really would have been better if she'd never been born.

"Aw, sniffles?" said Caster. "Come on, girl. The gloating bastard's gone."

"What does it matter?" snapped Olga Marie. "Don't you know what that burning red Chaldeas means? Everything else is gone too!"

"Yeah, he went on about that for a while," said Caster dryly. "But your base is still around. Gonna give up on that?"

"I'm dead! Even if you escape, I'm dead!"

Caster put her on her feet and patted her head again. "You're still standing here. Oy, girls! Did you get that crystal?"

Ritsuka ran over, holding something that managed to shine darkly. "Here it is!"

The ground shook underfoot. Olga Marie looked around wildly. "Is the cavern collapsing?"

"Yes," said Mash matter-of-factly. "We have approximately two minutes to restore you before we must withdraw."

"Hah! Just go, then! Don't get buried for me!" Olga Marie crossed her arms and looked away from all of them.

"Director," said Ritsuka urgently. "Lev said the crystal was a wish-granting device."

Olga Marie shook her head. "And you believed him?" She was trying so hard to be brave. Why wouldn't they let her? Why were they pushing her?

"Hey, Director-lass," said Caster, pushing more. "Do you want to be dead?"

"No!" wailed Olga Marie helplessly. "I want to live! I want to matter!"

Ritsuka shoved the shining thing into Olga Marie's arms. "Then make a wish."

The crystalline shape made Olga Marie tingle all over. She stared down at it, and saw the darkness within the light. It looked up at her, and then through her, at the burning city and the incinerated future.

Hah! said a dark voice in her mind. You really want to live, lady? Even now?

"Yes!" said Olga Marie. "Please?"

Right, said the dark voice, and stepped within her. Black pain flashed through her, the feeling of a thousand shards of molten metal stabbing through her body. Red voices howled through her mind and that dark personality from the crystal laughed and laughed until the finally the Rayshift came and she lost consciousness.

Later, when she woke up in the Chaldea infirmary, which was protected by a magnetic field from an incinerated world, she had strange tattoos all over her body. But she did wake up. That was the important thing. Olga Marie Animusphere woke up.