Basic Training
05:48
The desk was a mess, barely cleared the moment Ayako finished modifying her familiar. Her tools were pushed to one side of the desk, with the box- now a makeshift tiny bed- on the other. The small puppet looked lifeless, resting on its bed, when its eyes opened abruptly, the blue orbs staring at the room's ceiling for a good minute before it rose from its own slumber. It looked around the room, before it settled on Ayako's own sleeping form, hidden beneath her blanket and her arms sprawled above her head. The puppet shook its head disappointingly. It got off its bed and made its way to the edge of the desk. Arms were stretched to the side, then slowly rose till its body was in a low Y shape. The circuits on its body lit up a tame golden color, releasing thin magical strings that were near invisible to the naked eye. The strings, numbering to nine, attached themselves around the room; mostly the ceiling. The puppets hands closed into tight fists, and by its will it was propelled.
As the circuits on its body faded, so too did the strings, disconnecting it from the room as it landed on the bed, barely even disturbing its slumbering master. It shuffled its way to the head of the bed, standing on the pillow right beside its master's head. It shook its head disapprovingly, before it lifted its hand up and swung it down onto its master's face, slapping her. Ayako looked momentarily disturbed, visibly wincing in pain, before her face calmed down as she went back to sleep. The puppet then slapped her face again, and again, and again, and again.
"Aaahhhh, I'm up! I'm up!" the now irritably woken Ayako threw her blanket off of the bed, almost knocking the puppet off.
The orange haired young woman, now sat up on her bed, was rubbing her bleary eyes to shake off the torpor that was still pulling her into the bed. Ignoring the gibberish of her puppet that was as per usual angrily mouthing off on her, she threw her feet off the bed and got up. Not wasting anymore time, she shuffled towards the bag that kept her clothes, pulled out a fresh pair of undergarments along with a clean towel, and made proceeded to the room's personal bathroom.
Less than half an hour later Ayako appeared back in her room, wearing a white camisole and boyshorts with her towel draped around her shoulders, one end still used on drying her hair. She dropped by her desk, pulling out a lite makeup kit from her bag and began applying the usual makeup she wore; the false natural look men would think when they see her face. She then threw her towel off to the side, brushing her now dried hair before braiding it to her usual style. A professional look that contrasts with her free, if subdued personality. She waved to her puppet as it got back to its makeshift bed.
She then turned to where her uniform was laid out, and made her way towards it. The top looked good enough, though she wasn't really a fan of the way the belts were positioned, outlining her bust if she were to wear them. Why the emphasis, she wondered to herself. Then she glanced down onto the skirt below. The short skirt. The exceedingly short skirt. If she were to bend down just a bit, her ass would be on full display. Fuck this she cursed to herself as she threw the offending article off to the side. She put on the top, and searched for something else more appropriate from her own collection. She came out with a tight fitting black jeans. Not really something she'd wear in a professional setting, but it was still a better alternative to the skirt.
It was barely half past six when she finally left her room. She carried her red trench coat, letting it hang off her shoulder like a cloak. She glanced to her neighbors, seeing the Noble's room already empty as indicated by the signal above his door. The meek blonde however seemed to still be inside. She debated with herself if she should just ignore her and be on her way. But this girl seemed way out of her depth. So she knocked. There was shuffling, and a muffled response that she couldn't make, but at least the blonde was awake.
Not a moment later, the door slid open, and with it the blonde meek woman appeared. She somehow looked smaller than yesterday, as if the fresh new uniform was too much of a foreign thing to her. Speaking of uniform, Ayako raised a brow at the blonde's figure. It looked good, if she were to truly be honesty, but she can't take it seriously with how short the skirt was. And the belts, oh wow, they really did emphasize their busts. She felt validated just seeing the uniform in action. And the redness of the blonde's cheeks amplified the feeling.
Koleen's eyes immediately locked onto the tight black jeans Ayako had chosen, and grimaced to herself. "I should've listened to myself." She commented.
"You should've." Ayako remarked with an amused smile on her face. "Let's get some breakfast, while we still can."
The blonde nodded as the orange haired young woman began leading them down the hall, on their way to the cafeteria with a good hour and a half before Basic Training would begin.
08:44
The orientation portion of the so called Basic Training went off without a hitch, as the three master candidates were given a rundown of the Throne of Heroes and the Heroic Spirits, the Servant Classes, as well as the FATE system that operates under Chaldea. They were also explained upon them in detail the function and objective of the security organization, further reminding them of their new responsibilities now that they were walking inside these halls.
But, Basic Training encompasses more than just theories and book-learning. Ultimately, it was what they could offer that would determine where they stood in the hierarchy of the teams. As the three master candidates stood amongst themselves surrounded by standing metallic coffins, dressed in the Chaldean Combat Uniform. And they all were staring upwards at the observation deck that looked over the entire room. The white haired Director was visible from where they stood, along with a few other notable people.
"The Simulation will have you, as Master Candidates, acting under a hypothetical scenario that we might encounter in our operations down the line. You will have a Servant under your command, and you will be facing off against another Master and their Servant. The environments themselves, which will also affect your Simulation, will be random. This Simulation will show us how you all operate in the line of duty. Are there any questions?" the Director's voice sounded loud to the three of them coming from the intercom.
"Are enemy Masters something we will be encountering frequently?" the Noble asked.
"Not necessarily, but the Simulation will allow us to more accurately grade you on the performance we will be looking for." She answered. "Anything else?"
"What about our Mystic Codes?" Ayako herself asked, gesturing to the coat in her arms. "Can we use them in the Simulation?"
"Yes, your Mystic Codes will be always be part of your arsenal. In regards to this Simulation, they have been scanned to be used in the exercise."
There was a silence after the answer from the three of them, which Olga Marie took as a sign to continue. "Very well. If you would all please enter the sarcophagi so we could all proceed with the Simulation." She ordered as three of the coffins opened on command.
Ayako looked around, seeing the Noble enter his pod apprehensively, while Koleen looked calmer than her usual self, as if such a confined space didn't affect her like most people. She then looked to her own coffin, putting on her red trench coat before she got in herself. She closed her eyes as the coffin closed in, sealing her from the world as she awaits for the Simulation to start.
Director Olga Marie scrutinized the three screens that were displaying the Simulation before her. On one side to her was Lev Lainur, also keeping his eyes on the screen, while on the other the orange haired Doctor led the techies in making sure the Simulation went smoothly. Besides them, were some of the members of A Team, also eager to witness the aptitudes of the candidates.
Just a step behind the Director was a short haired bespectacled girl, with one eye covered by her lavender hair. She wore a Chaldean hoodie, distinct from the rest. Just off to the right of her was a taller, more serious looking blond man. A noble to an ancient family. Behind those two was Ophelia, her eye almost locked to the screen, if they weren't occasionally shifting to the girl in front of her. And behind her, was a scrawny pale, almost sickly looking man, appearing as if he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep in weeks.
The blond noble glanced behind him to meet the scrawny man. "Are you alright, Kadoc?"
"I'm fine." He said back, sounding almost forced, though the noble didn't pay it any mind.
"They seem interesting." The bespectacled girl commented, her eyes easily shifting from one screen to another.
"Well, not all of them." Lev said with a chuckle. He gestured to the screen in the middle. The Simulation's landscape was that of an arena. He stood a great distance between the conflict of the Servants with a serious look on his face. A seashell shaped shield was protecting him from the onslaught he was receiving from the enemy magus. In his free hand was a boiling ball of water, turning almost white that he threw at his opponent. It was textbook.
"His pedigree so far is the only thing of note to him. Although the craft he showcases are evidence to his lineage, he's not offering much to the table." Lev finished with a disappointed shake of his head.
"I agree." Ophelia said. "As of right now, he's no different than any other Clock Tower student. Which, I guess, isn't really wrong."
"His inexperience shows." The blond added. "He's not getting the best use out of his Servant, even though they have the upper hand."
"Yes, it is quite disappointing." Olga Marie finally spoke up herself, frowning at the performance shown. Her eyes then shifted to the screen to its right. "In contrast, the American witch is showcasing skill and expertise I didn't expect from her demeanor."
As she said this, the screen showed an urban environment, focusing on Koleen's Servant; a nondescript Lancer-Class Servant, defending her from the onslaught of the enemy Servant. Though her face still showed her nervousness, her left hand was outlining a pattern on the palm of her right, before she closed it to a fist. "Lancer, move aside!" she commanded, leaving her vulnerable as the enemy Servant charged straight at her. Then she faced her palm to it, and muttered something unintelligible. The enemy Servant crumpled onto the ground, its body contorting unnaturally as it struggled to free itself. She nodded, before she approached the opposing Master with her Servant in tow, all the while she began outlining a pattern in the air, before clapping in, leading to the Master's body to contort as well.
"So that's how American Witchcraft works. Fascinating. And frightening." Olga Marie commented.
"Who was it that said that she might be related to Abigail Williams?" the blond asked the room. "It seems he was right on the money."
"We do not know if she is related to Abigail Williams, Wodime. Just because she's an American who practices witchcraft doesn't mean she's related to her." Ophelia told him.
"But it is still a possibility." He said back. "She disappeared in 1697, never to be seen again."
"Is that the Aozaki on the left?" Kadoc spoke up from the back, leading to the room's eyes to gravitate towards the left screen.
"Yes, it is." Olga Marie answered, as the screen showed Ayako and her Servant; a Caster-Class Servant; flying as they maneuvered themselves out of the attacks of the enemy Servant, circumventing a harbor or port of some kind.
"What is she doing?" the lavender haired girl asked.
"Waiting for an opportunity, Mash." Lev replied, as the screen showed her face, with her eyes displaying the colorful spiraling pattern of her Mystic Eyes.
Ayako made sure that she was facing the enemy Servant, slowing it down with her Mystic Eyes as she slowly undid her trench coat. Three runic symbols appeared on the back of her red coat. ᚱ ᛟ ᛊ. "Rauðr!" she shouted, as her coat launched itself from her, and towards the enemy Master, who attacked the coat relentlessly. The red coat shrugged off all its attempts, as it wrapped itself around them, constricting their movements. "Caster, do it." She commanded the Servant.
There was a flash as the screen was blinded by whatever the Servant did, an explosion just to eliminate this simulated Master. "Huh, I wished we could've seen more of her." The blond commented, though there was a hint of respect in his tone.
"So she was holding back?" Kadoc asked the group.
"Not necessarily holding back, per se. More so she is very concise with her efforts." Lev himself commented.
"Did anyone else see that?" Mash spoke up.
"See what, Mash?" Ophelia asked.
"Her hair."
"Yes, I saw something, though I'm not sure what it was." Olga Marie agreed. "It went by fast."
"There was a shade of blue, for just a moment." Mash explained.
"Maybe it's a way her Magic Crest manifests." Roman himself spoke up, reminding a few of them that he was also there. "Her name does mean Colorful Child, so I guess it makes sense, like that?"
"Ah, if only Da Vinci was here. His genius would be appreciated." Wodime said, shaking his head.
"She prefers being in her workshop. Besides, she's not the biggest fan of Chaldea." Roman elaborated, glancing to the Director, who in turn glanced to Mash, who didn't notice the stare she got. A look of guilt flashed on her face, before she returned Roman's look. "It's a miracle in and of itself that we could get her input and help in filtering the candidates."
Olga Marie nodded, before she turned to face the rest of the, more relevant group of people. She met their eyes, turning to them one by one. "Well, we got what we wanted. What do you all think?"
"I'm so glad I'm not alone."
Ayako paused her drinking to glance down on the exhausted Koleen, her lunch tray pushed to the side as she sprawled her upper body on the tabletop, the both of them back in their standard uniforms. The demure blonde was mentally drained from their excursion, and that was before the bruises that formed on her body were concerned with. The simulation was an incredible feat of technology and engineering in that regard, as Ayako's own free hand messaged the bruise on her abdomen. But, right now most of the strain was felt on their minds.
"I assumed you knew Witchcraft, since you're from the States, but damn. To learn that you manhandled your opponent?" Ayako commented with a teasing smirk, leading to the groan that left the blonde's mouth.
"I just learned from my ancestor's texts. That's all I did." She replied, downplaying her accomplishment within the simulation.
"And now we're both in B Team. Good job Kalls." The young Japanese woman congratulated, ruffling the blonde's hair.
"I thought they would've waited for more people to arrive, before putting people in B Team." Koleen said as she pushed herself up off the table. "I assume there's only so many open slots for B Team that they would wait until all the candidates had arrived. And having already separated the few that stood out, that they would perform a final screening test."
"Yeah, I get that." Ayako replied with a nod. "But maybe they already know what it is they're looking for B Team. Maybe that's what they did with A Team as well."
"How many people are already in B Team anyway?"
"We are the third and fourth members of B Team. I haven't met or seen the other two yet." She answered as she took another sip from her drink.
The blonde sighed, internally debating on something before she locked eyes with the Japanese redhead. "Should we go look for them?"
A pleased smirk formed on Ayako's face, one that almost sent a shiver down Koleen's spine. "That sounds like a great idea." She replied, finally finishing her drink before she stood up, followed by the now unsure blonde.
Side by side they made to leave the now crowding cafeteria, before Ayako's golden eyes landed on the most peculiar sight.
The eye patched member of A Team, peering from the corner that leads inside the cafeteria, her one eye shakily scrutinizing something, or someone inside the cafeteria. Just behind her was a tall, older flamboyant looking man. Not a typical example of the word, but compared to the rest of the staff? He was as flamboyant as a flamingo. Emphasized by his pink hair and light pink lipstick.
Considering how much he stood out, and the fact that he seemed to be comforting Ophelia, Ayako guessed that this man might be a member of A Team as well.
"What're you two doing?" she spoke up as both Koleen and she walked past by.
Both Ophelia and the tall man turned to face them, as a glow of red tinted the one eyed girl's cheeks. "Nothing. We were doing nothing." The tall man rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"She's just being a little shy." He ignored the glare that was leveled at him by Ophelia, as he took a single step forward and planted a hand on Ayako's shoulder. "Good afternoon, dearies. My name is Scandinavia Peperoncino, and congratulations on the training test."
"K-Koleen, Bertrand." The blonde said, waving from behind Ayako.
Ayako herself looked at the man with a raised brow, before she smiled and returned the introduction. "Ayako Aozaki." She said, holding her hand out.
The older man returned the shake. "And where are you two heading?"
"We're looking for the other two members of B Team." Koleen once again taking the initiative. This girl might not be as spineless as I thought. Ayako thought to herself.
He sighed, before turning to Ophelia and placing his hand on her shoulder. The brunette turned her gaze away from them, as if embarrassed about something that they didn't know. "See, Ophelia? They haven't even seen the rest of B Team, and they're already making an effort to get to know them. It's that easy."
"What's that easy?" Ayako asked again. "What are you two doing?"
"I'm… trying to…" Ophelia then glanced from the corner, and both Ayako and Koleen followed her gaze. They saw the lavender haired girl that was with the Director during the Simulation. She also had helped Dr. Roman during the orientation. "Talk to her."
"So… go." Ayako said with a shake of her head, confused at the apparent trouble Ophelia seemed to be in. "Just talk to her, what do you have to lose?"
The brunette sighed as Peperoncino shook her shoulder. She turned to face him, glaring at him again. "You're coming with."
"Of course I am." He agreed, urging Ophelia with a nod. She nodded back, and then nodded to them, before finally stepping inside the cafeteria. He followed behind her, waving the two girls goodbye.
Ayako and Koleen followed the two with their eyes for a few seconds before they turned to each other with furrowed brows of confusion. "Let's get going." Ayako said for the two as they continued their path out of the cafeteria.
"It's so nice to finally have someone to talk to." the tanned woman said with relief, with a loosely worn hijab around her head.
"What do you mean, Dunya?" Koleen asked as the both of them made themselves comfortable inside the library with one of the earlier members of B Team.
The Middle Eastern woman sighed dejectedly. "Yes. There was another candidate before your wave, Candidates Delta. One man was placed within B Team, but he's spent most of his time inside his room."
"That sounds unhealthy." Ayako commented, crossing her arms over her chest. "You got a name?"
She shrugged. "He's a Russian noble, Mstislavsky. That's all I got. And I'd rather not ask the administration, don't want to be seen as circumventing his privacy."
"So we have a shut-in, that's just great." The Japanese redhead let her head droop down on the back of the chair.
Even Koleen look unconvinced, as her usual 'deer in headlights' expression caved way for the closest thing to disgust on the blonde's face. "Do you know how many people will be in the team?"
"Yes, eight. Just like A Team." Dunya answered with a nod.
"How eccentric are they?" Ayako asked, her head straightening back up.
"As a whole, quite so." The Middle Eastern woman replied. "The difference being, they were all handpicked by the previous Director."
"Who was the previous Director?" Koleen asked curiously.
"Marisbilly Animusphere, the founder of Chaldea, and father of the current Director." Ayako nodded her head in recognition.
"What happened to him?" the blonde continued.
"The reports say he committed suicide. Bullet to the head." A gasp came from Koleen's side of the table, but Ayako's eyes narrowed at the thought. Dunya took notice of the scrutiny. "You think something else is at play."
Ayako nodded her head, but her answer was a simple sigh. Koleen also settled for silence; a rather uncomfortable one, thanks to how awkward it became not just with the sudden turn in the mood from the news, but also the suspicion Ayako had at the moment. Dunya's eyes moved from the blonde to the redhead, back and forth, before she took control of the conversation with the change of subject.
"Well, as fellow B Team members, I think we should spend this time to get to know each other."
"Aaaannd we're done." Proclaimed the Japanese redhead as the room that was given to her had finally been tidied up. The mess she had left that morning was perfectly ordered, looking like a makeshift dollhouse for her familiar. Said familiar was sleeping at the makeshift bed, as if Ayako never existed in the first place. All her clothes, both the ones she had brought and the uniforms she was given, were finally placed in the wardrobe. The bags she had brought along were now positioned just above the emergency crate that was already inside. The smaller technological knick-knacks were inside the drawers, but the laptop was set on her nightstand. She might have to requisition a small desk just for that.
Standing in the middle of her room as she surveyed a job well done, she had just taken a step towards her bed so she could take a quick nap when she heard a knock from her door. She sighed, debating to herself whether she should just ignore the knock before turning around.
When the door opened to reveal the unseeming, if pretty noble that roomed beside her, the thought that ran through her head was Damn, what was his name? "Hey neighbor." She settled for a generic greeting with a nod, leaning on the door from with her arms crossed.
He had a flat, if slightly troubled look on his face as he eyed her form. When the simulation had concluded earlier, she only caught a glimpse of him before he made himself scarce. A glimpse of disappointment. She assumed it was at his failure.
"Aozaki."
"That is who I am."
"Let us spar."
She eyed him with a raised brow, not too surprised by the invitation, though she was disappointed that she was already propositioned on her second day at the organization.
"Why?" she gave back a flat reply. She'd need a good reason to get up off her feet after their Simulation.
"I need to know." She wasn't amused at his short replies.
"Know what?"
"Where I stand." He sighed, his mask crumbling just a bit as he took a step back and raised his hand close to him. "I need to know, how much of a failure I am."
She was actually quite surprised by the declaration, and for sure it must've been visible on her face. "You're just setting yourself up, you know that?"
He locked eyes with her, and all she could see was a man who knew exactly where he stood. "I know."
The gymnasium was a well-equipped facility, built for the needs of the many people within Chaldea. That included a connecting training room that, among other things, served for the purposes they wanted. Ayako on one side, and the noble on the other. Off to the side, and mostly in the main gymnasium, was an irate looking Director and the Doctor right beside her, along with two members of A Team; the lavender haired girl, and the tall blond noble. The Director in particular wasn't in the best of moods because her early slumber had been waylaid because of the current situation between the two newest candidates.
The Director leveled her glare to the Doctor, who coughed into his fist before he addressed the two. "Let's set the rules. Nothing lethal, and the combat will be concluded if anybody is in critical condition. The spar will end until one of you either cannot continue, or surrenders. If there are no other questions, we can begin."
Silence reigned the room when the Doctor finished the ground rules for the impromptu duel, with both Ayako and the noble waiting for the Doctor to start for them. When a good minute had passed, she realized that it had already started. She turned looked her gaze on the noble, seeing him still staring at the Doctor expectantly. It seems that he had not realized it himself. So, with a nod, she took a few steps back. A quick wave of colors seemed to ripple in her hair, all in a split of a second as she opened her ciruits. As it turned back to her natural shade, she began drawing in the air.
ᚦ ᛁ ᛊ
Thurisaz, of the God Thor. Isaz, of ice. Sōwilō, of the sun. The meanings of the runes, glowing a pure white, enough to catch the noble's attention. They coalesced into a rough diamond shape, beating like a heart. "Leiftur!" and it propelled towards him almost instantly.
The noble's circuits lit up, holding a hand out to her. "Aliento del mar. Carapazon de la tierra!" the light grew closer as magic converged where his hand was. "Concha!" and a giant transparent seashell was conjured, held in front like a shield, ready to block whatever it was that Ayako had thrown at him.
A blinding light and a deafening sound blast erupted upon contact, his shield effectively useless because of its see through nature. With his hearing now numbed with an endless ringing sensation, he couldn't react to what Ayako did next.
"Rauðr!"
Her red trench coat flew off her shoulders, slipping by the shield and wrapping itself around the noble. It tightened when he struggled, the shield weakening when he faltered, before it disappeared entirely.
"La pared de la ballena!" he reinforced his body, trying to free himself from the coat, almost gaining leverage.
"Rauðr." She incanted again, tightening the coat that was around him.
The blindness he suffered tapered off, along with the deafness that held him down, allowing him to see Ayako walking towards him. Methodical, calculated. And she looked at him with eyes of pity.
"Damn it. Damn it." He cursed at himself for his weakness, visible to her and the four people that were watching them.
She arrived to where he stood, the coat lowering itself just slightly, giving her room to work. "Sorry neighbor." And with a magically lit finger, she began tracing on his neck.
ᚦ ᚻ
"Thurisaz, of the God Thor. And Hagalaz, of hail." She whispered, and he could feel the runes lighting up, as if it was ignoring his magic circuits. Then, locking eyes for the last time, she incanted. "Eldingar."
And as if the Nordic god had called upon it personally, lightning began coursing through his body. His screams filling the room as his body convulsed with electricity that no normal man could endure. And all of that, in the span of the longest three seconds the noble had felt, as his body finally fell on the floor. The coat flew off of him and draped itself around her shoulders as she made her way to the four people that had watched the spectacle. The tall noble clapped earnestly, backed by the lavender haired girl unsurely. The Doctor went towards the downed noble, while the Director caught Ayako's eyes with hers.
"Are we done here?" she asked, irritated by the whole scenario.
Ayako shrugged. "Seems so."
"Good." She turned on her heel and made her way out of the gymnasium, leaving everyone else.
"That was a good show, Aozaki. And not even a minute. Kirschtaria Wodime, member of A Team." The blond noble introduced himself.
"Oh yeah, Marisbilly's apprentice, and Head of the Celestial Body Department." She nodded back to him in recognition. "Are you the leader A Team?"
He shook his head with a chuckle. "No, that would be her." He gestured to the lavender haired girl.
The bespectacled girl took this as her cue to introduce herself. "Mash Kyrielight."
"Mash? You mean Matthew?"
"Matthew is more of a boy's name." she replied with a straight face.
Ayako rolled her eyes. "Well then, no offence, but whoever named you, is a weeb."
"It's a good name!" the Doctor called out from the training room, as laughter erupted between them.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
yeah, sorry it took so long. my main computer died, and my back up computer can't stay on for long before it overheats and shuts down.
so her uniform. bit different from the normal set (like all A Team having different variations of the uniform.) instead of the skirt, she's wearing black jeans that aren't really suitable for a work environment, since unfortunately she didn't bring anything else that's more appropriate. despite that, it's a lot more appropriate than that skirt.
i mean, my god, what was the Director thinking?
speaking of the Director, Babylon ep.0!
that sure threw me in for a loop. not too much discrepancies, but there were still a few things to adjust, so hopefully things will be fine.
so, without further adue, thanks for reading and i'll see you all next time!