Fate/Broken Order
Chapter 11
-Final Preparations-
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'Lord have mercy on my soul,' Artoria internally despaired. The purposefully blank, unreadable expression on her face contrasted heavily with the most recent Caster beside her who was beaming with cheer, joy, and what Artoria could only be described as "good vibes" if she was using her modern slang right.
There was no doubt she was being melodramatic right now, but the King of Knights could hardly bring herself to care with literally everyone having borne witness to her being...compromised earlier.
(The fact that Gillian and, strangely, the female Prelati kept giving her these 'looks' and doing strange, undecipherable things with their eyebrows really wasn't helping her mood for some reason.)
At least she wasn't being clung onto right now. Small mercies.
She cleared her throat, finally deciding to address the others in the meeting room. "Ahem! So...this is a good...friend(?) of mine, Irisviel." Gods, why did that have to sound so awkward? She was King Arthur! Feigning steeled composure should not be this hard!
The ginger Master and Prelati were doing it again! Why?! What was the point of their brow related shenanigans? Curse these inscrutable rascals!
"Hello!" Iri, bless her soul, paid none of it any mind. "I am Irisviel von Einzbern, a Caster I guess! I'm not sure where I am, but I'm glad to be here!"
"Einzbern..." Director Olga-Marie murmured, sounding dazed and looking at the Caster with dead eyes. She slowly rambled, as if figuring out an profane truth, "I summoned an Einzbern...because of the Grail...this makes a frightening amount of sense and I don't know what to make of that..."
"Hey," Ritsuka stage-whispered to Aldia, "are the Einzberns a big deal?"
"Mhm," the tall Master nodded. "They are another German Mage Lineage, so I'm somewhat familiar with them. The Einzberns were actually the ones to create the Holy Grail War as a concept, and are therefore responsible for the existence of any artificial Holy Grails."
"Oh," came the simple response. Ritsuka nodded sagely. "Yeah, that does make sense."
"Aah, that Einzbern!" Francesca exclaimed, slapping her hands together in emphasis of her realization. "The one who was the Grail Vessel for the Fourth Fuyuki Grail War. I remember you now!"
Irisviel did not share the reaction. "Er, well, excuse me but I don't believe I know you, miss."
"Oh, we haven't met. Not in person, despite my wishes, mind," the female Prelati said with a distressingly genuine sounding giggle. "I was meaning to come see how the War was going in person, but was stonewalled by that wretched pile of worms from 'interfering'. I do believe you must have met with my protégé though."
Even as Artoria's veins chilled at the statement, Irisviel completely missed the ominous air from the young-seeming girl. "Protege?" the woman asked with one of those cute frowns she did when she was confused.
Not that Artoria thought she was cute or anything. Just an objective observation on an aesthetic level. Nothing strange with-why is Gillian still doing that?!
(Little did Artoria know that Gillian was the absolute lowest denominator, the most basic, and the most despicable kind of deviant degenerate. A shipper.)
"Oh, apologies, how rude of me!" the youthful little lady mimed being sheepish, bowing to a tiny curtsy. The wide smirk on her face gave her away in a heartbeat. "You may call me Francesca Prelati, and I do believe you tangled with my dearest friend Gilles de Rais." Irisviel's eyes widened at the declaration. Francesca then tilted her head impishly. "Or, as you might better recall him-OW!"
"Knock it off," Aldia scolded her Servant, lowering her fist back to her side. "You said you'd behave, so that's what I expect of you."
"Spoilsport," Francesca whined, rubbing the back of her head. "I was simply trying to initiate a bonding moment through shared experiences!"
"You social doctrine leaves much to be desired," Carmilla noted with all the elegant sass possible. "I thought we already established this."
"Fine, I take your point," the female Prelati, to the surprise of many, raised her arms in surrender. "God forbid I have any fun here."
"You're either very foolish, or too brave by half," Emiya remarked before quickly ignoring Francesca's huff. Unfortunately, he then turned his attention to Artoria and-god damn it he was smirking! Why?! "So, totally didn't take you for a hugger."
"My vengeance will be absolute, Archer," the Saber spoke in a low tone. The man just kept smirking at her.
(Off to the side Kriemhild suddenly perked up at the mention of vengeance, but went largely ignored.)
"I thought it was a sweet display, My King!"
"Not. Helping. Ser Gareth," Artoria ground out. She couldn't really raise her voice to her most innocent of Knights. But what was going on? Was it suddenly Let's Embarrass Artoria Day? And why did Iri have to laugh so lightly at her misery like this and make it feel like it was Artoria who was being unreasonable?!
"Hey, you dipshits done being cute or some shit?" The very casual but rude voice cut through the light atmosphere, cutting Irisviel's laughter dead and gaining the attention of the room to the only person leaning back on one of the chairs with their legs rudely crossed on the meeting table. "Yup, that's right! The Source of all the World's Evils, still here! Fear me and despair or whatever."
The quite literal shadow man managed to be magnanimous, sarcastic, and bored in his delivery, all the while sounding like he barely cared in the first place. Even his gesticulation was lazy and half-assed.
Still, Artoria had to admit that the level of anger the man managed to incite from the usually nothing but sweet Irisviel without even really doing anything was...concerning to say the least.
The woman in question frowned darkly. "No one asked you!"
Artoria almost flinched at the sheer vitriol one of her dearest allies and possibly friend(?) was exhibiting. It was so wildly out of character it was dizzying. Just what could have caused such deep dislike? (Artoria couldn't think of it as pure hatred. Not from Irisviel. Never from Iri.)
"Oh, give it a rest will ya!" the shadow Servant groaned, rocking back and forth on his seat while carelessly miming about with his hands and speaking with a high-pitched voice. "Oh no, don't corrupt/kill all those people, Mr. Angra Mainyu! That's mean! Think of the children!" He abruptly stopped and pointed at Irisviel. "That was you. For 10 bloody years! So quit your whining! It's done, I'm over it!"
Artoria placed a hand on Irisviel's shoulder, partly to comfort her as she seethed, but also to stop her in case she would try to attack the Zoroastrian Embodiment of Evil. It was frightening how believable the outcome was, though she did not take pleasure from imagining it.
"Is it just me, or does it feel like we're missing out tons of context?" Gillian dared to question.
"You are," came the eerily unanimous reply from Artoria, Cu Chulainn, Sasaki, and Emiya. The only one not to do so of the Fifth Fuyuki Grail War participants was Medusa, who was not there on account of actually having something else to do.
...The three turned to look at Cu, Emiya in particular raising a brow. "Hold on, didn't we establish we aren't from the same timeline? How do you have an opinion on this?"
"Eh, it's weird," Cu shrugged, scratching behind his ear. "Could swear I fuzzily recall something about a week, but like, multiple times?"
"Say no more," Emiya replied swiftly, understanding fully and wanting to leave it at that.
"Sorry, but could you not have your feet on the table?"
Angra Mainyu, and a few others turned to look at Ritsuka, who chuckled nervously and suddenly looked really awkward about all the sudden attention. To his side, Mash just shook her head fondly.
"...Please," he added sheepishly.
"...Well, someone finally has the balls to call me out on that," Angra remarked in surprisingly god cheer, and with a weak kick planted his feet on the ground as he slouched forward on the chair. "Shit, just for that, sure! Why not!"
"Mhm!" Olga-Marie coughed loudly, finally having regained her bearing. She stared down sternly at the living shadow with her arms crossed. "While Cas-Irisviel has introduced themselves, you have not. Identify yourself at once!"
"God, could you have more of a stick up your ass," the rude Servant muttered, utterly irreverent. Though he did cackle a bit when Marie's face flushed in offense and anger. "Hah! Right, fine, calm your tits. Angra Mainyu, Avenger Class, and the most useless Servant you would never wish for. I'd say I'd be pleased to meet you, but you seem too tight for that, if you know what I mean."
The Avenger might have done something with his eyebrows, but it really didn't work due to his lack of such visible features. The obviously perverse tone was enough to convey what he meant though, to Olga-Marie's utterly mortified disgust.
"You want me to hit him a little, Olga?" Aldia offered with, Magic Circuits already aglow with power in her upheld fist.
"Yeah, Master? You gonna oppress me, like 'The Man' you aren't?" Angra questioned with utter disregard for social graces. He then snapped his head to the tall woman threatening him. "Seriously though, holy shit that's a lot of power you got there! I might actually die."
Aldia narrowed her gaze before blinking as the radiant blue in her eye shone softly, causing her to lower her fist. "Oh. You weren't actually joking."
"Wha?" Angra tilted his head, confused. "Hey, I mean, good for me but don't just lose steam like that, you big ogre!"
Magic Circuits flared to life and immediately Carmilla, Francesca, and surprisingly Blackbeard grabbed hold of a suddenly very murderous Aldia. The three of them had to put in serious effort to keep the tall woman from destroying the mouthy Avenger. For understandable reasons Blackbeard was putting in most of the work.
Marie groaned miserably as she massaged her brow. "By the Root, I can't believe this utterly gross and inconsiderate creature is the Servant I summoned."
"Hey!" Angra snapped in obvious utterly unnecessary mock outrage. "That's an insult to all creatures everywhere! At least compare me to dirt or shit or something more inoffensive to life!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Marie snapped in outrage. "Do you make it your life's mission to be as unbearable as possible to make everyone you meet hate you?"
"As a matter of fact, yes!"
That response threw Marie for a loop. Mostly because the Avenger had actually sounded angry while shouting it. Genuinely angry.
"Tch, whatever," Angra clicked his tongue, lazily leaning back in his seat as if he hadn't just erupted. "Hey, Master! Why don't you magic me up some power from that fancy tramp stamp of yours!"
And suddenly any burgeoning seeds of sympathy stopped out of sheer spite. There was only a shred left for the basic decency to not do something drastic.
Marie glared at the vermin. "My what?"
"Relax. I said it's fancy."
That did not, in any conceivable way, make what he said better. But this time the young Director did not rise to the obvious bait.
Instead Marie coldly asked, "Why?"
"So that I can manifest properly, duh," the Avenger stated plainly. "What? You think I just look like this 'cause I wanna?" Marie considered this, and yes, his appearance was a bit irregular. "I mean, I do, but it sure would be swell to have an actual face you could look at. I'm sure many mirrors would thank you for the service."
...Olga-Marie breathed in and out so as not to explode. The Avenger was obviously needling her now and she would not give him the dignity of responding like he wants to. "Assassin, assessment?"
"Angra Mainyu of the Avenger Class-"
"Jesus fuck!" Angra yelps loudly and recoils(he was not the only one, just the loudest and most prominent), only now becoming suddenly cognizant of the fact that Hoover is casually sitting on the table by him and currently pointing a snub-nosed pistol at his head, along with two more barrels on the back of his head from two Men in Black. They had in fact been there for a while now.
"-of Zoroastrian faith and tradition, stated to be darkness incarnate and the Source of All the World's Evils," Hoover continued without so much as missing a beat. "However, for all his supposed reputation the most he has done is be rude, mildly uncooperative, and very confrontational."
"Wow, read that off my horoscope?" Angra snarked, acting very hard as if he hadn't just freaked out.
"He also keeps needling anyone he can for anything her could conceivably spot as an exploitable mental weak spot, and if he can't he just picks something crude and generic," Hoover continued unabated. "His main motivation for this behavior seems to simply be making himself as hated as possible by as many as possible."
Surprisingly Angra seemingly had nothing to say to that. He just glared at the androgynous Assassin intently.
"That being said," Hoover pulled their gun back and into their trench coat as they stood up while the two Men in Black seemingly vanished, "there is little sign of any actual malicious intent. That, with his own tacit admission to his nature as a particularly weak Servant lead me to conclude that he's just being rude and repulsive out of what I perceive as a self-destructive desire to be reviled, and is not an actual threat."
…
"Holy shit," Gillian quietly spoke up, turning to Ritsuka and Mash. "Did we just watch Hoover Sherlock Holmes a guy?"
"I-I think so," Mash answered, looking at the androgynous Assassin with what appeared to be stars in her eyes.
"I didn't even know you could use that as a verb..." Ritsuka muttered distractedly.
A sudden sound stopped their awe.
"Hehe," a low chuckle rumbled from the Avenger before exploding into rapturous laughter, "hahahahaa! Oh man! That's some grade-A stuff right there!" A wild grin manifested on his Vantablack face for the first time, looking at Hoover with interest. "Read me like a book, do ya? That's some eyes you got there, Spook!"
"I'll take that as a compliment," Hoover said simply, walking over to stand by Marie's side.
"Fuck you," Angra Mainyu replied cheerful, retaining his almost predatory grin as he leaned back in the chair in a relaxed manner, arms crossed behind his head. "Hurry the fuck up already, will ya? I could siphon some of the shit-ton of residual Mana about this place but that'd take, like, two forevers!"
Marie looked at Avenger for a good bit, then at the others present. Aldia seemed to have calmed down, face returning to her hard to decipher neutral state, while everyone else seemed a mix of wary and uncertain.
Irisviel still glared at the reprehensible servant, though Marie couldn't help but note it had lost some of it's initial heat. Artoria was focusing more on Irisviel than Avenger, frowning slightly in what might have been concern.
Gillian looked indifferent, while Ritsuka and Mash looked sympathetic and almost understanding, being far too nice for their own good.
But the first vocal opinion came from a surprising source.
"There really is no reason to deny his request," Kriemhild stepped forward, speaking for the first time since the gathering. "For all your worries, granting such a meager thing will avail him little, and cost you not much at all."
Avenger, apparently, could not reign in his need for a snide quip. "Sheesh, who died on you lady?"
"Thousands," came the cold response as the far-too large sword for her small frame appeared in her hands with a flourish of dark, malevolent energy. "I changed my mind. May I enact vengeance upon his ungrateful wrenched heart?!"
Gillian and a few others immediately went for damage control on the off-chance the female Berserker would actually fly off the handle. Even Angra Mainyu seemed actually wary for once, if the limited body language was any indicator.
Still, Marie had to admit that Kriemhild had a point. Before Avenger went and opened his mouth, that is. And a good leader did not ignore good points when they were pointed out. It was true. There wasn't really much for Avenger to gain, and in the end they didn't even lose anything due to the Command Seals replenishing thanks to Chaldea's Mana Generators.
With a resigned sigh, Director Olga-Marie Animusphere raised the hand with the three geometric red lines that in total formed a triangle shape. "By my Command Seal, Avenger, gain this power and obtain a compete form!"
As one of the red lines glowed and vanished, Angra Mainyu grinned. "Now that's what I'm talking about! You might make a decent Master yet." Then the darkness that composed his form started amassing Mana particles that quickly started to build a more defined form with all the extra details where there were none.
It didn't take that long. Soon the Avenger was defined by a lightly dark tone of skin, covered in black and red tattoo-like glyphs. He manifested black hair and his eyes gained a honey-brown color. For clothing(what little he had) he wore a tattered red cloth tied around his waist with dark wrappings around his arms and his bare feet. A similarly torn red cloth was tied around his head like a crude bandanna.
By his now legible features, Angra Mainyu seemed satisfied. "Hah! What a feeling, to have this familiar, nostalgic form again." He eyed the Servants, one in particular. "Ain't that right...Mr. Mirror?"
Upon observation, for some reason Artoria seemed positively livid for some reason as she glared hard at the Avenger's face. Meanwhile the real target, Emiya, was crunching his brow in extreme annoyance and seemed personally offended. Angra Mainyu blew his tongue at the Archer in a truly childish display.
Marie did not linger on the exchange.
"For my second Command Seal-"
"Oh shit you're not done," the Avenger turned back to her with a tinge of mild surprise.
"-I order you to never touch me with so much as a finger." Call her petty, but his previous...obscene comments still unnerved her in a particular way she did not want to think about any more than she had to.
"Oh, your ass is not that good," Angra complained petulantly even as the second red line gave a glow and vanished. "Is that it? We done inconveniencing my sorry ass for the sake of your ass?"
Internally, Marie started to understand why Hoover had called what Angra Mainyu did a compulsion. The Avenger quite literally did not seem capable of stopping himself from being the worst. Or at the very least couldn't find it in himself to put in the effort to try.
If he didn't make her feel so grossed out, maybe she might one day sympathize with such a pitiful mindset.
That day, however, was not today.
"Alright everyone, we're done here," Marie turned to the collection of Masters and Servants. "Unless something urgent must be said, you are dismissed until called upon."
Most complied easily enough, probably as done with what this thing had devolved into as much as Marie was. But, for woe, her professional responsibilities still called to be fulfilled.
"Except you two," Marie addressed both Irisviel and Angra Mainyu, both of whom gave her looks. One questioning and another preemptively bored. Tough. Marie did not care. "You both still need to be briefed on the specifics of your summoning and our mission here at Chaldea."
As if sensing a lecture coming Avenger groaned like an unmotivated high-school student at a surprise test. By contrast Irisviel looked serious about the moment, if not downright excited.
Artoria gave the new Caster a light squeeze on the shoulder. "I'll wait outside. Give you a tour."
Irisviel smiled kindly. "Thanks, Saber. I'd like that."
"Please, Irisviel" the King of Knights smiled right back. "Just Artoria. No need for formalities."
Willingly ignore by everyone, Angra Mainyu gagged at the display.
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"What a charming morceau de merde," Francesca commented idly.
"Crude, but I can not bring myself to disagree," Carmilla replied begrudgingly.
"Ah, see ma chère Elizabeth," the female Prelati said with her usual impish cheer. "We're bonding!"
The Countess' face contorted as of forcing herself to hold down vomit. Francesca just tittered at the expected reaction.
"Why are you even here?" Carmilla asked heatedly.
'Here' being Aldia's personal quarters. Carmilla was seated on the simple bed, while Francesca was by the workbench with the true resident of the room.
"Because I'm helping~," the female Prelati said in far too cheerful sing-song.
Carmilla shot her Master a look of insulted betrayal, and though her back was turned to her the essence of her ire must have transcended adequately through their connection.
"Sorry," Aldia spoke lamely, even as her lone arm worked her current project. "I just needed help with this step. And since you're not a Magus..."
"Needs must!" Francesca filled in enthusiastically. "Really, you don't have to be so hostile. We have a truce, non?"
"Keep pushing, see how far that gets you, wretch!" Carmilla snarled back.
"Girls, don't fight in my room," Aldia calmly tried to broker peace, but the effect was blunted by her immense focus on her work.
While Carmilla silently seethed Francesca just giggled, but did turn her attention to the bundled items on the workbench. "I must say, this is some fine work of Magecraft. Quite the ingenious design, for how crude it's base concept is."
"Mhm," was the only reply as the tall Magus did something with her own Od, infusing it into the item being worked on.
"Hmm," the female Prelati's inner Magus turned analytical. "That is a curious way to go about things. I can see why no one would have done something like this to such a degree. Macabre details aside, the process itself demands strict upkeep of Prana Flow and very high quality control. Not to mention the sheer power required to push it to this extent..."
"Yeah," Aldia commented offhandedly.
"In fact, the framework seems strangely specific for such a treatment method," Francesca continued, taking pleasure in observing the craft(and partly because she could feel her male Other seethe at not being allowed to be present for it). "This, despite the fact that upkeeping the build-up process would be beyond most, if any Modern Magi. So I can only conclude it was originally a group effort."
"True," Aldia confirmed neutrally.
"All the more impressive that you manage it so well on your lonesome," Francesca gave an earnest compliment. She could recognize talent where it was due. She then moved to influence the flow of Prana in the material. "Ah, a small misdirection in flow. A flaw in the original Circuit lining, I wager. Minor, but one that had started to worsen over the decades. I'll patch that up and correct it."
"Thanks," Aldia said with a nod.
Francesca was not a master at reading people(unless it served to amuse herself by toying with them), but even with how obscure Aldia's expressions were she felt what might have been some real gratitude there.
Idly, the Caster turned her head slightly to look at the Assassin in the room. Carmilla was glaring intensely in her direction with a complicated look in her eyes. Since it served to amuse her, Francesca went about identifying the root cause of the look.
When she did, a devious smile crept on her lips and spread to her eyes. The Countess appeared to grow even more aggravated, her metal staff manifesting in her hands for the sole purpose of being wrung aggressively. It seemed to be somewhat of an unconscious move, which just made it even more interesting.
Oh, how tremendously delicious this opportunity was. But Francesca realized she may be pushing her luck just a bit much. It would be far too reckless of her to push the boundaries of their truce so soon after it was forged.
Instead she wiped the expression of her face and turned back to being a helping pair of Magecraft certified hands.
As much fun as watching Carmilla try not to blow her lid from the Caster getting so friendly with her Master, in the end it simply wasn't worth the eventual fallout. As Francesca herself stated, let it be known she wasn't without priorities. And currently messing with Carmilla was not as enticing as living.
"There," Aldia spoke up, cutting the seemingly limitless flow of Od and straightening to stand tall, really highlighting the height difference between herself and the more petite Caster. "The additions should be about done."
"It truly is impressive work," Francesca stated with full sincerity. "Honestly. Even if I can see its original state has been compromised and altered, it still holds up surprisingly well. A true masterwork of a Mystic Code."
"It's useful. Could save lives," the woman said in a slightly muted tone. "Doesn't mean I have to like what it represents. Used to represent."
Francesca looked up at the woman, having to crane her neck up a lot, with a confident smile. She raised an arm to lightly grab Aldia's forearm. "If I understood it right, and it functions even a quarter of how I imagine it should, you'll certainly manage such a feat." She smirked. "I can't wait to work together with you further, if only to see such a modern wonder in action."
*SKREE*
Francesca and Aldia both flinched at the sudden and brief noise. They simultaneously turned to the source, seeing an also surprised and wide-eyed Carmilla, who had gripped her staff so strongly it had somehow actually bent with a loud screech of twisting metal.
While initially as caught off guard as the other two, soon that bewilderment shifted as she slowly turned and accusingly glared murder at the Caster without so much as a sound.
Francesca pouted. This was just unfair! She hadn't even done anything on purpose that time!
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Romani Archaman was not a man who liked stress. Stress was unhealthy both to your physical and mental well-being, so as a doctor he was against in on principle.
No. Stress was a slow, insidious poison that could cause a great amount of damage with just a seemingly minor slip-up. An unfortunate reality of the situation, as he now had to actually do his job to counter one such slip-up and correct some of the mess left behind.
Let none say that Roman wasn't dedicated to his job, his occasional quirks aside.
"Alright, so moving on: how would you rate the quality of your sleep?" Roman asked, looking up from his notes at his current(and thankfully for now only) patient.
Sylvia, as she had done ever since this session started, took her sweet time bringing herself to actually answer the fairly simple question. Sometimes Roman really hated how prevalent Magus Pride had grown in Mage society that even admitting to the slightest fault was seen as a personal failure. Honestly, basic therapy wasn't supposed to be like pulling teeth!
At least she didn't look like death, though it was obvious she hadn't bothered to hide her still darkened eyes with any make-up. Small steps.
"...I can fall asleep after some effort," the woman finally relayed her answer, unenthused as usual. "I usually wake up at some point and can't go back to sleep without help."
Roman mentally noted down the 'help', which seemed to be a tired slip-up by how Sylvia's face twisted after realizing she's said it. He had a hunch on the nature of said help, and as much as that element was a contributing factor to Sylvia's breakdown Roman thought better than to bring it up right now.
Sylvia might become embarrassed enough to try to poison his coffee, or something equally sacrilegious. You just don't do that to another man's brew in a work environment.
"I assume it's probably just anxiety from not being able to work," Roman posited. "I understand that you desire to do your part Sylvia, but right now that part is to rest until you're fit for service again. I know it's frustrating, but the Director's decision is not wrong. You are still an important part of Chaldea, and we do need you. But you aren't helping anyone, least of all yourself, by working yourself to the bone."
Sylvia just glared at the floor with no comment, clearly unhappy with just being there. Roman also knew she most likely didn't respect him, which was fair as he had...a reputation as being somewhat unreliable. Which, okay, was his own fault.
Anyway, forgetting his failings for a moment.
"Your period of enforced leave ends tomorrow," Roman filled the silence with his next point. "And I know I cannot force this issue, but in my professional opinion you should have a couple more session after returning to service. It's become clear to both the Director and I that there are some things that need further addressing than we have time for. But once again, this is something I cannot force you on. I just highly suggest it, but in the end it has to be your choice, Sylvia."
After a long period of the proud woman silently stewing in her own displeasure: a single contrite nod. Roman would just have to take that as a 'I'll consider it'. It had to do.
"Okay," the doctor said. "I think that's enough for today. I expect to see you tomorrow for your final session, after which you'll be working with Hoover to temporarily fill the Monitoring Crew's positions."
Taking that as dismissal, Sylvia wordlessly rose from her seat and briskly walked to the door. A bit too suddenly, as when she opened the door to leave the blood must have rushed to her head and she stumbled. But before any tumbling could occur an arm reached out and stabilized her.
Medusa, in her casual attire, had been in a perfect position to act, having accompanied Sylvia to the therapy session(partly to make sure she actually showed up like she was told) but staying outside Roman's office to maintain a level of privacy.
Sylvia quickly righted herself and glared back into the office, Roman pretending like he'd seen nothing by making it look like he'd fumbled and almost dropped his datapad. The woman sniffed derisively at his 'undignified clumsiness', but that passed quickly. From his periphery Roman saw Sylvia regard the Rider for a moment before averting her gaze and giving a very muted: "Thank you."
The automatic door closed just as Rider gave a muted nod, leaving Roman to his own devices. He gave a sigh and stopped his little pretend clumsy act, though a smile did burgeon on his lips. To most mages Servants, or Ghost Liners as some referred to them, were merely strong familiars. Tools to use.
Sylvia thanking Medusa was a good sign. Not to even mention any other 'assistance' the Rider must've been providing the woman, going by context. That there was actual gratitude there soothed many of Roman's initial worries about the whole thing.
He truly thought that Sylvia's issues with her physical needs and any relating stigma when it came to her sexual orientation deserved at least some time to be worked through. Being the heiress of a Mage Bloodline with a 'responsibility' to continue the lineage and also being homosexual was a near sure-fire way for a ton of mental hangups and issues concerning sexuality.
Roman couldn't even pretend he wasn't angry at how modern Mages worked at times like this. At least it seemed that Sylvia hadn't locked herself in an armored closet and was actually interacting with her sexuality, even if in an understandably covert manner. So that was a small relief.
It took him a moment to realize that at some point Roman had left his office and was walking through Chaldea's stark halls. Looking around some of the hallways it was hard to believe the facility had been severely bombed. But he'd seen the more damaged sections with his own eyes, so the deception didn't sink far.
He wasn't even sure where his feet were taking him. He'd probably eventually find his way to continuing with the search for the Singularities. They were getting close, he could feel it in his gut. But for now, for this small moment of reprieve, Roman just let his feet take him wherever they lead.
He passed an intersection and heard arguing from the far distance of one of the corridors. In passing he saw Aldia trudge along at a placid pace with her usual composure, seeming utterly unbothered by the two Servants accompanying her baring fangs(metaphorically, thank God!) at each other.
Whatever Carmilla and the female Prelati(what was her name again? Francesca?) were upset about, they seemed pretty intense about it. Carmilla trying to maintain an elegant appearance even when it was obvious something was getting under her skin. Prelati on the other hand seemed to be more of an instigator, who may or may not have been directly responsible for the argument but was still milking it for all its worth for her own amusement.
Roman often wondered how Aldia had so much patience to put up with that sort of thing.
(He knew. Thinking of it just made him feel sad, so he avoided it.)
After they left, not soon afterwards a familiar head of orange hair bobbed about as Gillian skulked into view in what probably was her attempt at stealth, hiding in the intersection on her end while peeking ahead.
Ah, Roman thought, that rascal was still stalking("Investigating, Doc!") Aldia and Carmilla. Gillian was probably the person Roman interacted with the most after Mash, so of course he'd been 'briefed' of her new conspiracy theory("It's an educated deduction!") about their so called "relationship".
First off, whatever was or was not happening was none of Gillian's business(or his to be frank). Second, his office was not an open forum for whatever was going through Gillian's brain at any given moment, but Roman didn't have enough authority to actually keep the very willful girl away. And third, he wanted nothing to do with Gillian and her obsession with 'shipping'.
Modern youths sometimes worried him.
Gillian soon spotted him, shot him a grin and a thumbs up as if saying 'Mission proceeding well', before darting off to follow her prey once more.
Roman kept walking, washing his hands of any of that.
Next he happened by the cafeteria, and chanced a look inside. Not many of the staff were present, off working on essential systems no doubt. But plenty of the servants were around, wasting away the time until their skills were needed.
Emiya was, as usual, manning the kitchens and providing snacks while keeping track of their provisions, which no one could be upset at him for. Plus, his food was delicious. Currently he was being badgered by Cu Chulainn the Caster, which he took with his usual frown. The two just couldn't seem to get along for long periods of time, though so far it hadn't been an outright detriment. Sasaki was also there, but just seemed to stay out of their business. Maybe he was just there for the company?
In another area Artoria was seated with Gareth, seemingly introducing her young Knight to Irisviel, who for her part seemed absolutely taken by Gareth's youthful enthusiasm. Roman hadn't interacted much with the female King, but she seemed more relaxed and at ease recently. Power of a friendly face, he supposed.
In the far corner of a room Roman did spot something worrying. The male Prelati was immersed in conversation with Angra Mainyu. Both wore near identical mischievous grins. However, before Roman could worry more a figure blurred past him. He could only blink in mild confusion as the female Prelati leapt through the room and dive kicked her male counterpart in the face. Francesca then grabbed him by his lapels and started loudly berating him for whatever scheme he'd tried to concoct while violently shaking him.
In the commotion Roman could spot Angra Mainyu trying to covertly slink off, but he sure was no Assassin and was stopped by an approaching Kriemhild, who was looking quite severe. He must've inevitably opened his mouth and said something wrong(something about how she was undesirable except for her 'assets'), because the Berserker summoned her blade and quickly had to be restrained by the combined forces of Blackbeard and Mash while she was busy shrilly screaming of bloody vengeance.
Ritsuka quickly interposed himself into the mix and did his best to play peace keeper, and whatever he said did seem to calm Kriemhild down from MURDER to just seething. All of which allowed Angra Mainyu enough time to escape without anyone being able to stop him. Mash shifted from restraining Kriemhild to consoling her, which seemed to work until Blackbeard cracked an inappropriate joke.
Kriemhild threw him the length of the room like a javelin. No one moved to catch him, so he out of nowhere slammed into Sasaki and crumpled onto the floor, probably faking being unconscious to escape worse. The samurai on the other hand groaned on the ground while Cu just started howling in laughter.
As the chaotic energy filled the air, and for the life of him Roman couldn't help but smile as he finally moved on. Despite how dire things were, here they were. The legends of ages past, Defenders of Humanity. Chatting, bickering, squabbling. Just interacting with one another in different, simple ways.
It was such a little thing.
It filled his heart with hope.
A message to his datapad from da Vinci later, he was running at full speed.
They just might have found a major clue that could lead to a breakthrough in their search.
⸨~ʘ~Ω~Ʊ~Ӝ~Ʊ~Ω~ʘ~⸩
Three days later, it finally happened.
The Masters and their respective Servants were summoned to the meeting area before the giant astrolabe that was CHALDEAS.
Ritsuka was the second to arrive, Director Olga-Marie already present by the time he showed up with Mash, who had alerted him of the new development, and his own Servants. Marie was currently accompanied by Hoover and a middle-aged man. It took a bit for Ritsuka to recall his name.
"And you're certain that the Coffins are safe to use?" he heard Marie ask.
"About as safe as they can be," Duston responded in a clear and concise manner. "Since we were on an unknown timetable we prioritized system integrity, so we only have so many to work with. But the ones that are operational are secure. I'd wager my credentials on it."
"Good." Marie turned to her Assassin. "Are you sure you can handle Monitoring duties?"
"Ms. Lavorre was very thorough, once we got into it," Hoover answered with confidence. "Trust in me, Madame Director. You don't lead an Intelligence Agency without a good memory for procedure."
Marie gave another satisfied nod. She then turned and saw Ritsuka. "Ah, Fujimaru! Good timing. Have you seen Gillian or Aldia?"
Ritsuka was about to shake his head when a familiar shout answered for itself.
"Have no fear, Gillian is here!" the young woman stated in a grandiose fashion as she stalked into the room with her much smaller retinue. She then opened her arms wide with theatrical flourish. "And bear witness, for I come armed!"
While dressed in the female version of the white uniform Ritsuka himself wore, there was now a distinctive addition. On her arms Gillian wore what looked like separate black sleeves with pauldrons strapped to the outfit, with orange lines running down from shoulder to forearm. The ends of the sleeves were both widely flared at the end in a quite peculiar five-pointed star shape. And on her hands were black gloves with the palm of the hand colored orange, with both pointer and middle fingers covered in black metallic claw rings.
It honestly looked quite cool, even if Ritsuka had brief flashbacks of his brief stint with Chuunibyou. A time he quite understandably wanted to bury so deep it would never see the light of day again.
"Your personal Mystic Code, I take it?" Marie asked, sounding far less impressed.
"Sure is!" Gillian struck a over-dramatic pose, and boy the flashbacks were strong for Ritsuka. "For these are my Cursed Armaments, [Tàirngean Mallaichte]!"
Cu snorted with a slight grin. "Good one, kid."
"Thanks!" Gillian replied, back to her state of 'normal'. "I went back to my Irish roots for that. Seemed only right."
"So," Ritsuka was the one to ask, "what do they do?"
"I'm glad you asked, brother in arms!" the ginger girl explained, raising one of her now clawed pointer fingers in the air. "So, do recall that my Magecraft utilizes a Cursed Heart of Phantasmal Beast within me acting as a sort of Mana Battery. With my Tàirngean Mallaichte, I'm able to better control the flow of that Cursed Energy, essentially getting more output for less strain."
She put on a wide, confident grin and punched the air, filled with hot-blooded spirit. "You won't see me flop to the dirt after one big Spell anymore! And that's a promise!"
"Whooo! Sugoi, Masutah!"
"Don't ruin this for me, Teach!" Gillian screamed, whirling around to a Blackbeard wearing a shit-eating grin.
"Moving on," Marie spoke up, utterly ignoring Gillian pulling Blackbeard down by namesake with all her might("How's that you cringe piece of shit! HUH!"), "that just leaves Aldia and her team." She frowned. "Which is strange, since I made expressly sure to give her an advance notice..."
Ritsuka could understand that. Aldia would probably need a bit more time to get ready since...you know.
Few moments later the doors opened and the missing Master entered with her retinue of three. "Sorry for the hold-up. It took a bit to get dressed."
Everyone in the room turned and...just stared. It was usual for Aldia to exude at least a mild presence, with her greater than usual height and size. But what she was dressed in just added to it this day.
In contrast to himself and Gillian who still wore their Chaldea uniforms, Aldia had gone for something entirely different. A black uniform comprised of a collared shirt, a long coat that reached her knees(the empty left sleeve was folded up to keep it out of the way), pants with some poof around the thigh area, and sturdy-looking combat boots with reinforced metal parts. A black cap rested on her head, and her eyepatch with it's golden pyramid-shaped all-seeing eye just added to the look.
It was a well put together ensemble. But...it did remind Ritsuka of something unfortunate he'd read in his history books and seen in far too many foreign films.
No one wanted to be the one to say it. Especially considering the woman's nationality.
One was brave(foolish) enough to try.
"Heee-y there, Aldia" Gillian started, her delivery sounding weak and strained even to herself. "Looking pretty...Fash today~. Hehe...hee..."
The pun sounded like it pained her to say out loud. Many in the room hissed as if it hurt them to hear it too.
Aldia just stared at her blankly.
For a moment the silence was tense. But not for too long.
"It really shouldn't," Aldia spoke up, tone dry as the desert. "It took a lot of work to remove all the swastikas without compromising functional integrity."
Gillian looked at the woman with wide horrified eyes. "Oh," she managed to squeak out. Most others also winced in response.
It took a bit for it to register to Ritsuka that that had been Aldia's attempt of breaking the tension. Which had obviously failed miserably.
"Uhh...sorry," Gillian apologized, looking quite chastened. "Just...blurted it out. Wasn't thinking. It was stupid."
"I understand. It's all Reich."
…
…
…
Francesca patted the tall woman's arm. Hard to tell if out of sympathy or pity. "Perhaps leave the jokes for someone else."
Aldia almost visibly wilted, in posture if not expression. "Was it that bad?"
"I may not be much into humor," Carmilla said, "but even to me that was horrendously tasteless."
"Sorry..."
Ritsuka and many others sweat-dropped at the display. Thankfully a loud clearing of a throat from the Director got things back on track.
"Right!" Marie exclaimed to reclaim the moment. "We're all here. Dr. Archaman, da Vinci, fill in everyone of your findings!"
Glad to return to business as usual, Roman stepped forward with da Vinci in the wings.
"As some of you may already know, we've finally located a Singularity," Roman spoke as he did double checks on his datapad. "We've even identified the location and time period. France, 1431 AD."
"Ah," Francesca exclaimed in glee. "the Hundred Years War! The time of my original lifetime. How fortuitous!"
Francois, standing a bit away from the rest of Aldia's team hummed, "Hmm, if memory serves, it should also be the year Jeanne d'Arc was burned at the steak." He smiled blissfully. "Aah, what fond memories spring from that singular moment..."
"Ignoring the morbid comments, yes," da Vinci continued. "Fortunately for our means, this time was one of the more peaceful periods, so we won't have open warfare to worry about." The Renaissance (wo)Man then smiled brilliantly. "And, as was just established, we have two locals who can serve as guides and can help pinpoint the exact nature of what's causing this Singularity!"
Francesca curtsied with a genteel smile. "I would be honored to travel my homeland once more."
"In that case, Carmilla and both Prelatis come with me," Aldia spoke up. She looked at the Director. "What are our current constraints, Olga?"
"Good question," Marie nodded. "Due to our limitations at this time, each Master can bring at maximum two Servants with them while Rayshifting, just to be on the safe side. Discounting Mash of course, who is an essential field operative and must be present." She glanced at the Prelatis. "Since Aldia's Caster technically count as a singular but separate Spirit Origins, it would be safest to count them as individual Servants for now. So if both are to come, one of the other Masters would need to make do with just one Servant."
"Yeah, pass!" Angra Mainyu quipped, lazily tossing one of his strangely shaped knives in the air. "As far as Servants go, I'm only useful for killing people. So unless you need a lot of simple murdering done, you won't find much use for me."
Marie sighed at her rude Servant's comment, but steeled herself. "In that case, I'll take only take Irisviel with me."
"I'll be sure to do my best, Master!" Irisviel cried out excitedly.
Gillian chuckled in a faux-mysterious manner. "Well, my picks are obvious." She twirled to her Servants, pointing at her chosen. "Emiya and Kriemhild!"
"The fuck?!" Blackbeard cried out in outrage. "How could you do me like this, Gilly!"
"Sorry Teach," Gillian gave the man a resigned look and an empty smile. "We're gonna need Archer's ability to scout and ranged support, as well as Berserker's sheer power. You just...don't offer as much for this mission."
Blackbeard sank to all fours, feeling his soul wither and leave his mortal vessel, but received a pat on the head from his Master. "Don't worry, buddy. Your time will come..."
"It's a logical choice," Emiya agreed with no small amount of self-satisfied pride. "There's no target I can't reach, and having a Berserker on hand is just plain convenient when you most need one."
Kriemhild huffed primly, narrowing her eyes at the Archer. "You better not doubt my resolve, you ungrateful chef. I'll carve a vengeful path forward, no matter the cost!"
"Umm," Emiya nervously umm'd. "Right...won't do that."
"If that's the case, then along with Mash..." Ritsuka contemplated, "my Team will have Artoria and Sasaki."
"Ah, drat," Cu cursed. "Guess next time."
"It seems I still have ways to go before I may fight by your side once more, My King," Gareth said solemnly. "No matter! I'll just have to train hard while you're gone."
"At ease, Ser Gareth. Your chance will come in time and I look forward to such a time as well," Artoria spoke to her loyal Knight. "But for now, I'll make certain my blade will serve you well, Master."
"As will mine," Sasaki agreed readily. "It has been a while since I felt the call of a true challenge. Mayhaps you will lead me to one, young Master."
"So that is a Shielder, a Saber, an Archer, two Assassins, three Casters, and a Berserker," Marie summarized. She gave it some thought before nodding. "Not the most balanced team, but it will serve our purposes." She turned to face the doctor. "Archaman, while I'm gone you'll act as Substitute Director. Can you carry out this duty?"
"I believe so," Roman nodded seriously. "We'll keep things running here, you have my word."
"Good," Marie said simply, flames of determination growing stronger in her chest. "Then no more need to dally! Our first goal is right in front of us. We have a job to do, and failure is not in our job description!"
⸨~ʘ~Ω~Ʊ~Ӝ~Ʊ~Ω~ʘ~⸩
After clearing the slightly disorienting feeling of Rayshifting, Gillian blinked her vision clear to see a clear blue sky and green pastures far and wide. She smelt the air, far fresher in scent than that of modern cities with their pollution. In the distance lie a moderately sized town, architecture old but pleasant to the eye. Lived in, in a way.
Then she looked up at the sky and saw the halo of light. It was so obviously out of place that she couldn't help but just take it in. Then she activated the communicator on her wrist, calling up the hologram used for visuals. After some static the image of Roman appeared.
"Communications established. Gillian, can you read me?"
"Loud and clear. But, uh, Roman," she spoke and twisted the visual receptor to take in the abnormality. "Any clue the hell that is?"
There was a beat on the other side. "...What in the world? That construct is definitely out of place, we have no records of anything like it. It's massive too, and obviously contains a lot of magical power. I wonder, could this be the cause of the Singularity? Or is it merely a symptom of it?"
It was an interesting theory for sure.
"Master," Kriemhild spoke more softly than usual. "We may have a problem."
Gillian blinked, looking back at her Berserker, also seeing Emiya scanning the surroundings, and...and...
…
...Oh, fuck.
"Roman!" Gillian yelped, doing her best to maintain composure.
"What, what is it? Are you attacked?!"
"Not...yet," Gillian gulped nervously. "So, uhh...where is everyone else?"
"...Excuse me?!"
⸨~ʘ~Ω~Ʊ~Ӝ~Ʊ~Ω~ʘ~⸩
"Breathe. Just breath in, and out. Things will be fine." Irisviel's words of motherly comfort, while much appreciated, were also painfully nostalgic in the worst way possible.
Still, Olga-Marie Animusphere counted her blessings. Even if the process had filled her with unspeakable levels of discomfort, verging on painful, she had done it. Her spiritual body had successfully Rayshifted and hadn't disintegrated in transit!
Which was all well and good, except she and her Caster had landed in the ruined remnants of a town, burned to the ground and utterly swarming with undead. They'd luckily managed to avoid attention and hide out in a remnants of a mostly intact church, but that comfort was cold. And not why she was currently huddled in a corner and hyperventilating while Irisviel tried desperately to curb her growing panic.
Where the hell was everyone and why couldn't she establish communications? What was going on?!
⸨~ʘ~Ω~Ʊ~Ӝ~Ʊ~Ω~ʘ~⸩
Carmilla was frozen with open shock.
Francesca Prelati felt a cold shiver run through her spine in what she could identify as a personal rarity called fear.
Francois Prelati was equally unenthused and indignant at the "unfair" state of affairs.
Aldia, in turn, could only stare up at the massive, hulking frame of what was unmistakably, without a shadow of a doubt, an honest to Root black-scaled Dragon with quite a distinctive glowing green scar-like mark on its chest.
The god damned Dragon was staring her down in turn.
She'd thought things had been going too well! She should have known better!
"Verdammt noch mal..." the woman could only curse as she resisted the urge to lie on the ground and simply accept her fate.
Leave it to her to forget that her luck truly was horrendous!
⸨~ʘ~Ω~Ʊ~Ӝ~Ʊ~Ω~ʘ~⸩
Author's Notes: No plan survives contact with the enemy. Or in this case, getting separated upon entry to a Singularity.
And so starts Hundred Years' War of the Evil Dragons: Orleans! A total fustercluck from word go! Ritsuka and Mash started out exactly where they did in Canon. As for the other three groups...we'll see how things go for them. Next chapter the madness gets to start!
Gillian and Aldia are armed with their own Mystic Codes! Gillian's very fashionable and chuuni [Tàirngean Mallaichte] is really simple in function: it just gives better results for less effort when channeling power from the Cursed Mana Battery in her chest.
Aldia's FAMILY(I can't stress just how important of a distinction this is) Mystic Code, called [Stahlvorhang], is very much based around the black officer uniforms worn by the German Schutzstaffel during the reign of the Angry Mustache Man. Hence Gillian trying to crack a horrible pun to lighten the mood about it(and Aldia's even worse follow-up).
Long story short: the von Grimm family REALLY like their eugenics and fully subscribed to Race Purity back in the day. Aldia is veryunderstandably not happy to be using an item with such a dark history. But desperate times...
Finally, here is some insight to my writing method for the Singularities! I've recently played the game again(after quitting for a while due to tragically losing all my previous progress for...reasons...this is honestly why the last chapter took so long to get back to) and paid mind to the series of events as they came...while largely skipping all the cutscenes. So I'll remember the framework, and just fill all the blanks with all my nonsense! And boy, some of the ideas I have...
Sideline to the game, I lucked out on getting me a Herc(now Grailed), and after whaling for Van Gogh for a totally reasonable amount, I now know the beauty of Van Gogh collecting crit stars, Herc eating them up, and Chen Gong lying in wait in the wings to provide maximum pwnage at the right time.
Lost my Grailed Carmilla to the digital void though. Sad :(
