Stoking the Pit
Some time had passed since their return from Chaldea's first official expedition into a Singularity, and they all soon set into a comfortable rhythm. Just as planned during the Masters' midnight dinner meetups, their next supply run consisted of them gathering materials for their next summoning. Five days of them fully resting before they would conduct said supply run, and during that time they also spent it preparing for the future.
More of Chaldea had also been cleared, cleaned, and refurbished, with the mana generators all fully operational. There were many rooms still empty and unused after the explosion, but at the very least they along with the corridors have been cleaned. The rubble and debris themselves were repurposed, used to fill in the cracks and holes they had created. At the very least, the rooms and hallways that saw the most traffic looked like it did before the sabotage occurred.
The supply run itself, when the time came for it, proceeded without a hitch. All three Masters, accompanied by Mash, Elizabeth, and Kiyohime, rayshifted to somewhere in Northern Africa, around the early 90s. Six hours they were there, longer than usual for a minor Singularity, at least from what Ayako and Koleen experienced in their past expeditions. But those six hours were fruitful, giving everything they needed and more. They even managed to get a picture of themselves overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, a little souvenir to commemorate the experience.
Now here they were just a day after the supply run, all gathered in the summoning chamber. The Masters stood side by side, along with Mash as she stepped back, her shield now at the center. The Casters, as usual, stood on each flank, ready and prepared in case something unnatural occurred. Kiyohime was also in the room, initially planning on standing by the Masters, but Elizabeth was holding the Berserker back, keeping the both of them farther away from the circle. On the terminal, where the materials they had gathered were being consumed, was a member of the staff operating them, with the Doctor beside him. The Director herself, with Kagiso behind her wheelchair, was in between the Masters and the quarrelling Servants.
"Can we get on with this?" the Director called out, her patience wearing thin thanks to the Servants behind her.
"Just a few more seconds Olga." Roman replied, the sound of his fingers hitting the keyboard audible to them. "We're still processing the materials."
"What Class would be good to have?" Ayako asked the room. "I'm thinking Rider. Marie Antoinette was invaluable in allowing us to just move around France."
"I agree on that one lass." Cú Chulainn said from his side of the wall. "The Queenie's horse was great to have, as unreal as it was."
"Wouldn't a Saber be good?" Ritsuka said, turning to his fellow Masters.
"Sabers are the strongest Class." Mash nodded in agreement.
"A bit of a one trick pony though." Koleen said, voicing her own thoughts. "I'd rather have a Class that's much more flexible."
"How about an Archer? That wouldn't be- ugh- too bad." Elizabeth grunted out, still holding the Berserker.
"Let me go! I just want to stand next to Anchin-sama!"
"SHUT UP!"
"Doctor, please." Medea's voice reached their ears, sounding completely done with their antics.
"Alright! Brace yourselves people! Initiating Summoning Protocol!"
The summoning circle glowed with power, its pattern floating above the massive shield on the floor. The lights of the room dimmed as the power was routed, electricity pouring through the room and striking the shield. In return, the light of the summoning circle grew brighter, and brighter, until the room was completely blinded by its light. And when it was at its brightest, they all felt a brief flash of power, before the light began dimming, with the room's lights turning on again.
Now standing before them with a hand on her hip was a familiar figure that they had run into before, albeit with a few noticeable differences. A woman with long blue hair, with a hint of purple, spreading like a wide fin. Clear blue eyes, one that could pierce one's soul. Her outfit was a leotard/dress with a revealing front, along with a cutout of a cross that exposed most of her torso, connected with an open red skirt that went as far as her ankles. Her shoulders were covered by an exposed chainmail shawl, with a thin cape coming down one shoulder. Unlike the last time they saw her, there were no tassels or ribbons on her hair, her large cross/staff looked like it shrunk (merely reaching her shoulder instead of towering her height), and her gauntlets and greaves were smaller, though looking much more tightly wrapped and weighty.
The Servant smiled a smile that was far calmer and genuine. "My name is Martha. Martha of Bethany, though simply Martha will do. Servant… Ruler."
She gave a short bow while addressing them. "Together, we will save the world without fail!"
The Masters and Mash were all speechless, wide eyed at the Servant they had just summoned. Ayako was the first to gather herself, approaching the Servant with an extended hand. "Welcome to Chaldea, Saint Martha! Glad for you to join us this time!"
"Thank you! And please, just Martha is fine." The newly revealed Ruler said, shaking Ayako's hand with her own gauntleted one. "It feels, ostentatious and undeserved, to be referred that."
"And humble too. You wouldn't expect less from a Saint." The Director joined her, followed by the rest of the Masters and Mash.
"I understand Servants aren't supposed to remember previous summonings, but Cú Chulainn remembered his from Fuyuki. So… do you remember anything?" Koleen asked, sounding somewhat hopeful.
"It's all fuzzy, because of how I was summoned." She answered, her hand on her cheek as she struggled. "But I remember your faces. All those that I met, anyway." She said, glancing to the two Servants that were approaching her.
Well, the Druid was. Elizabeth was still preoccupied with Kiyohime, struggling under the Lancer's hold.
"Well, we haven't introduced ourselves. My name is Ayako." The Puppeteer said with an inviting smile. She then placed a hand on the wheelchair. "And this is the Director of our operation, Olga Marie Animusphere."
"I can introduce myself, Aozaki." The Director patted Ayako's hand away, before coughing into her hand. "Welcome, Ruler. Allow me to welcome you Chaldea. As has been introduced, I am the Director." She then gestured to the people to her left.
"This is Mash, Demi-Servant Shielder. Koleen Bertrand, and Ritsuka Fujimaru." She then gestured back to Ayako. "The de facto leader of the Ground Team has already introduced herself."
"My pleasure." Martha she said, nodding to all of them, though her blue eyes lingered on Ritsuka, who seemed to be looking anywhere else but her. "Is something the matter?"
"Uh, no… nothing's wrong." He said, carefully turning to meet her eyes, as if making sure that was all he could see.
"The lad thinks you're dressed in a manner that's not befitting that of a Saint. Especially compared to the last Ruler we met." Cú Chulainn said with a chuckle.
"I didn't say that!" his widened eyes turned to the Druid, a deep blush painting his face.
"Senpai…"
"Huh, you're not wrong about that." The Saint said as she looked down on to what she was wearing. She nodded to herself, before her staff disappeared in a flash. Then her shawl also began glowing, as it too disappeared. It was soon replaced by an open red jacket with white scaled accents, with its sleeves tucked into her gauntlets. On her neck was also a deep blue choker with a cross dangling from it. "There, much better." She said, satisfied as she pulled the zipper up.
"There you go lad, she's all covered up." The Caster smacked his hand on Ritsuka's back.
"Cú Chulainn-san!"
The group shared a laugh at his expense, a situation that he didn't exactly mind, as he too joined in on the laughter. Olga Marie rubbed her face with both her hands, a tired sigh escaping her. "Our first impressions…" she said, mumbled through her hands. Even saying that, she understood that these Masters, as much as they occasionally get on her nerves, were the best in understanding the Servants. And through that understanding, meant that they could get the best out of these ancient heroes.
Something that she was inherently lacking. As if she needed anymore reminders on how much she lacked.
"Straight into a Trial by Fire." Ayako turned around to face the Ruler Class Servant, seeing her eyes wash over their surroundings in curiosity. "Somewhat of an expected welcome for a new Servant."
"We didn't really want to just get out immediately." Ayako said, her light smile conveyed apologetically. "But we really need to gather supplies. Of all kinds, really…"
"Don't worry too much, Ayako." Martha said with a smile, patting her head with her heavy hand. "Tis necessary, as you said." She then looked back around, seeing the oaks almost surrounding them. "So, what is it that you're looking for, specifically?"
"Oh, a lot of things." Ayako said with a sigh, as she too began looking around, making sure that they were in fact alone. "We're out here because I'm looking for more runestones, and then I'd like to drop by the town. I need to make a new backup or two."
"Backup…" the Servants eyes then trailed up and down her body. "Quite an interesting predicament you're in."
"I thought it might be familiar to you." The Puppeteer said with a smirk.
"Huh, picturing yourself as a Lazarus, huh?" Ayako felt the hand become heavier, as if holding her down.
"Uh, truthfully no. But having a backup's nice." She said, worried that she might have offended the Servant.
Martha kept her eye on her, as if silently judging Ayako. The Puppeteer stood up straight, letting herself be judge, for she stands for who she was.
Eventually, the weight on her head lessened, as a much more sisterly smile formed on her face. "It's okay, I trust you. You're a good person." She said.
Ayako sighed in relief, before she met Martha's smile and gaze with her own. "I try."
"And that's more that can be said about some people." The Saint said with a nod. "So, where are we heading?"
"There's a cave, a bit north of here. Most of the time I got my runestones there, back in the present at least." She said, pointing to said cardinal direction.
"You mined them yourself?" Martha asked.
"I wouldn't call it mining."
"Ayako-san! There's a chimera heading your way!" the both of them were alerted by the frantic voice of Ritsuka, coming from Ayako's communicator.
"Straight at me? Or vaguely my direction?" she asked back as she pulled out her rifle.
"Wh- strai- vag- does it matter?!" he said back incredulously.
"I guess it doesn't." she said with a chuckle.
"I can confirm familiar readings heading to your location, Ayako." The Doctor's calm voice confirmed for them.
They hear the rustling of trees coming from a distance, slowly and ever so gradually getting louder and closer. Ayako aimed her rifle towards its general direction, when Martha held her are out, as if ushering her back.
"Let me handle this, Master." She said, her tone of voice confusing Ayako.
"Alone?" she asked, hesitant.
"I am enough." The Saint said, as she closed her fist, pulling it back.
Sensing that things might get a bit out of control, the Master flew back with her coat wrapping around her, not too far away so she could still get a good view of what might happen. With Ayako out of the way, the Ruler Class Servant fell into a stance, one that Ayako wasn't familiar with. And expected, considering Martha fought with her prayers back in Orléans, like a magical girl. Ayako then blinked and rubbed her eyes when she noticed the feint glow on Martha's fist, her own eyes closed in concentration as the rumblings of the earth got more noticeable, with even the trees ruffling and toppling. She aimed her rifle anyway, though this time with some semblance of a cover.
With a mighty roar, the chimera emerged from the trees, leaping in the air with its claws ready to strike Martha.
A loud heavy crack resounded in the forest, as Martha's fist slammed down onto the Chimera, its lion skull crushed by her attack and sending it straight back onto the earth. The goat and snake head cried out in pain, filling their surroundings with its bleating and hissing, attempting to fight back as an orb of magic formed in the goat head's mouth. Martha's staff materialized in her hand, pointing it to the sky as she uttered a prayer, before the chimera erupted in a featureless explosion. The now dead beast crumpled on the earth, as it began breaking apart into black dust.
"Holy shit." Ayako's arm relaxed, the rifle almost slipping out of her hands.
"Holy shit indeed." The Doctor said, the awe in his own voice was palpable.
"I fail to see how it was similar to shit, but it was holy, yes." Martha said with a smirk, dusting her hands off.
"Why didn't you fight like that in Orléans?" Ayako asked the Ruler, closing the distance between them.
"I didn't?" she asked back with what sounded like relief. "Oh, thank God. I must have been summoned as a Rider then." She sighed, her fist brought close to her chest. Ayako's brows furrowed in confusion, noticed by the Servant. "I'm more in control of myself as a Rider."
"Oh, so you're saying you're unhinged as a Ruler?" Martha's gauntleted hand reached for Ayako's cheek, painfully pulling it.
"I never said that." She said calmly, all the while the Puppeteer squirmed under the pinch.
"Ayako? Is everything alright?" Koleen asked worriedly.
"M'm phine!" Ayako said, trying to pry off Martha's hand off her face. "Vryfing's ok!"
"Shall we head north, Ayako?" Martha asked, finally letting Ayako's cheek go.
"Phwa!" The Puppeteer rubbed her reddened cheeks in pain, but the smile on her face didn't leave. "Yeah, let's go."
After gathering what was left of the chimera, both Master and Servant continued their expedition, maneuvering themselves northward, towards the cave the Puppeteer was seeking. A forgotten location that only a very few know. A cave, surrounded and overgrown with moss, its entrance almost covered by the thick branches of the oak trees beside it. Martha had offered to cut them a path, but Ayako had told her that it was fine. In fact, the Puppeteer almost forbade the Servant from doing so. They shifted the branches aside, careful not to disturb the landscape. Now within the lip of the cave, as they began their descent, Ayako took off her coat, folding it neatly before handing it to Martha.
"Can you hold this for a second?"
The Servant, though confused, complied. "Ayako?"
"Doc, can you shut off any visual input you have of my location? This is a bit personal." The Puppeteer continued, slowly unbuttoning her orange shirt.
"Ooookay? It's all audio now, Ayako. What's going on?" he asked her.
She didn't respond, instead holding her arms apart, as if she was inviting something.
She was. "Ó, göfugur andi, gefðu okkur leið." At her call, a tall figure emerged from the stone. A spiritual being, in the guise of a mole taking on a more humanoid appearance, standing on its two inhuman legs. "Við krefjumst þess að jörðin hjálpi okkur í leit okkar."
The spirit's eyes, glowing a light brown, stared down Ayako as it peered through her words, judging her. It then turned its gaze to the Servant behind her, Martha making sure she appeared as unhostile and relaxed as possible. The spirit turned its eyes back to Ayako, before it answered her with a very slow nod, slowly disappearing back into the earthen wall.
Ayako then buttoned her shirt back up, letting out a drawn out sigh as Martha approached her, draping the red coat over the Puppeteer. "A nature spirit." The Ruler commented in an almost whisper.
"What just happened? We detected a faint magical signature." The Doctor spoke up, figuratively in the dark.
"I was communing with a landvættir, Doctor." Ayako answered, before they began walking deeper.
"A landvættir… I didn't know there were still any in Europe, or Earth for that matter. And if there were any left, they'd be in Iceland." He said, the intrigued in his voice very much clear to them.
"They are. Iceland's still teeming with them." Ayako said with a soft smile. "But there are still some left, protecting what is left of Earth's natural resources."
"And that was you, asking for permission?" Martha asked as she walked beside her.
"Yup. It's not mine, it's theirs." She responded, carefully pulling a small hammer and chisel from inside her coat. She placed the pick on the wall, and gave it a hard but careful tap, cutting off a sizable chunk. "Do you feel that?" Ayako asked Martha, showing her the chiseled piece.
"There's latent energies within it." The Servant said observantly.
"All because of the constant exposure to the landvættir. Its protection gave the earth, the stones power." Ayako said, as she casted her gaze deeper into the cave. "There's actually more minerals in the cave, more valued by people, deeper inside. But, all I need are the walls holding this place up."
"How convenient." Martha said with a smile directed at the Puppeteer. "Then allow me help you."
"As long as you're careful to not destroy the place."
"What kind of person do you take me for?"
"Why can't I be with Anchin-sama?!"
"Because Birdie doesn't need too many Servants hounding her!"
"But then why can't it be me?!"
"'Cause you suck! She needs a Ruler! Not a Berserker!"
"I'm sure she'll understand!"
"SHUT UP! GET BACK TO WORK!"
"Are you alright Koleen?"
"Hm?" the American blonde looked up from where she sat, seeing Chaldea's Assassin look down on her with an understanding smile. "Oh yeah, I'm just blocking it all out."
The Physician chuckled, sitting himself down beside her on the fallen tree trunk. "Yes, Elizabeth has been quite energetic ever since Kiyohime joined us."
"Ha, they're like old friends already." She said with a giggle, briefly glancing to them, seeing the two Servants bicker with one another. She then took the large sack that was beside her, seeing the contents that they had procured.
"What is it exactly, that you're looking for, Koleen?" Sanson asked, peering into the sack.
"Nothing specific." She replied. "An assortment of materials that I can use to brew my potions and concoctions, be it good or ill."
"Anything else we're looking for?"
"I'd like to fill up our bags just a little bit more." The Witch said to him. "Then we'll head to the town and group up with the rest."
Clawed hands clamped down on her shoulders, leading to Koleen looking up, seeing Elizabeth above her. "Are you sure you don't want anything specific, Kitten?"
She shook her head again. "Saint Martha's dealt with that chimera." She told the young Servant. "So… Ayako will probably give me its claw again."
"Oh, I gotta see what she did to it." Elizabeth said, sounding very much excited. "Even the Doctor was surprised."
"She's a Ruler, so she must have advantages the Class offers." The Assassin offered, standing himself up.
"Hostiles detected." Both he and Elizabeth turned to Kiyohime, seeing the Berserker look back into the forest with her fan unfurled.
"Henri, by my side." The Assassin stood behind Koleen as she straightened herself, her pink eyes focusing on whatever was approaching her. "Liz, Kiyo, prepare for them."
"Yes Master." The Lancer brought forth her lance, standing beside the Berserker.
"Steady now." Kiyohime said to Elizabeth.
"Speak for yourself, Berserker." The Lancer countered with a smirk.
"Why are you always so rude?!"
"Focus you two." Koleen stopped the quarrel before it could escalate.
Both Servants kept quiet right after, falling into a stance as they waited for whatever it was. The movements grew louder, and closer. And as it grew louder, it also got clearer, the heard distinct clicking and clacking heading towards them. Then they saw them; blank white eyes obscured in the dark forest, numbering to more than a dozen, circling around them. The clicking/clacking was almost replaced by loud drilling sounds, one by one emitting from all sides. One of the eyes launched out from Koleen's flank, its limbs spinning like a fast drill, aiming its landing straight for her.
And yet the Witch was unfazed.
The Assassin swung his massive blade sideways, cleaving the doll in half as its bifurcated parts clattered on the ground, missing Koleen by a hair's breadth. That was the bullet that signaled them all, as Elizabeth and Kiyohime met the automata head on, two Servants against ten dolls. The remaining four came upon Koleen, now fully facing the danger with Sanson acting as her shield. Their spinning limbs aimed directly onto her, blocked by Sanson's sword, as he pushed them all back.
The first doll was skewered by Elizabeth's lance, sputtering briefly as it clung to life before it went limp on her weapon. The second one attempted to strike her at her side, but she sent it back with a powerful kick, though it still got back up. The third and fourth automata went straight for Kiyohime, but their charge was hampered by Kiyohime's breath of fire, slowing to a crawl before it crumpled to ash. She cried in pain when she felt a fifth doll struck her from behind, directing her anger to it with a point of her fan, causing the doll to be engulfed by her blue flame.
On the other side of the battlefield, Sanson was doing his best in making sure none of the four would get close to the American Master, moving as fast as possible for him as he swung his blade to and fro. Koleen in the meanwhile was preparing herself, drawing something akin to branches on one palm, and one of a morning star on the other. The edges of her irises darkened, turning her pink eyes slightly red.
One of the dolls managed to get through the Assassin, swinging its arm down on Koleen. The Witch move to the side, not fast enough leading to her forearm scratched and ruining the sleeve of her shirt, spilling blood. She touched the automata's chest with the morning star, and shouted. "C͟R̷̢̨͜͝Ų̵̶́͘S̶̵̴̀͠H̵͠͡!̴̛̕͞͞!̢͘͢͡"
The doll's torso erupted in her hand, its splinters scratching her all up to her elbow. Yet despite the wounds she was accruing, there was no change to her expression, merely a calm determination.
Back with the two Servants, two more dolls were dealt with, its scraps littering the ground them. Elizabeth swung her lance downward on the seventh doll, bifurcating it until its hip joints, crumpling to the ground as she kicked its remains away. She then rushed towards the Berserker, seeing Kiyohime surrounded by the last three. She threw her lance at the farthest automata, pinning it with her weapon, as she launched a kick to the one at Kiyohime's blind spot. That left the last one at the Berserker's mercy, as she punctured its torso with her fist, burning it from the inside out.
The automata were also easily dealt with by Sanson, his methodical attacks preventing them from getting past him barring the one, as he too felled two of them, leaving the last remaining one, still trying to break his stalwart defense.
Koleen grew tired of this foreplay, closing her branch palm into a fist, directed at the last doll. "Ẁ͟͝I͜͝͏̶̨Ĺ̷̸̴͟T̨!̧͡!́̀͞" The pseudo-metal structure of the automata began crumbling, as if it no longer could support itself. Sanson dealt it its finishing with his sword, sealing its fate.
All four of them stood in silence, taking in the lull that graced them after the battle.
"No more hostile signatures detected." The Doctor's voice told them, breaking through the silence.
Koleen's shoulders deflated as she let out a drawn out sigh, collapsing back onto the fallen tree. She wasted no time though, using the blood that dripped from her cuts, and drawing a tribalesque pattern of a tree on her forearms. Then, clasping her forearms together, she chanted. "G̛R̨̨Ò̢͘͟͡Ẁ̧̛!̀!̶̷̷̛"
A layer of shadow began permeating around her form, flowing down as if carried with it weight. And slowly, but surely, her wounds began healing. "No wonder Ayako got so eager when she found out where the minor Singularity was." The Witch commented with a wince.
"They all look so… inelegant." Elizabeth said with a scowl, kicking away the heaps around her. "Nothing like Birdie's."
"Well from what I heard, Ayako and her mother are the premier puppeteers, so I doubt many puppets could compare to theirs." The Master then grimaced, as if she remembered something. "Although I heard Da Vinci's made a puppet, so if there's anyone that could rival them, it would be her."
"It takes a genius, to rival a genius." Sanson said with a smile.
"As it should be!" Kiyohime said, with some semblance of pride.
"Well, gather anything that still looks usable. Ayako might be able to recycle them." A chorus of affirmations resounded among the Servants, as they all got to work. She sighed, still waiting for her arms to heal. "I wonder how Ritsuka is doing, with the Casters… "
"It feels wrong, doing this…" Ritsuka said with obvious displeasure. "And I can't believe Da Vinci would make these."
"It was either that, or we pillage them, Ritsuka." Medea said, holding the counterfeit money said Genius had created for them. She was also disguised in a more, appropriate set of clothing to blend in. "Once the anomaly's been solved, this Singularity will be pruned, just like the rest."
"We would literally throw away our resources, in order to accrue our necessary materials if we didn't, Senpai." Mash said, appearing in her Chaldean getup. "I know it's distasteful, Senpai, but-"
"No no, I understand." He said with a defeated sigh. "It's just… it doesn't feel right. We're supposed to be saving humanity, right?"
"It's for the greater good, consider that." The Druid said as he entered the room, forgoing his robes with for dirtied cargo pants for his disguise.
Ritsuka silently nodded, unable to disagree with the sentiment. The Greek Witch turned to her fellow Caster, a slight frown on her face, though it wasn't actually a reflection of what she was feeling. "Did you get everything on your list?"
"You bet your ass I did." The frown on her face became more genuine, as he dropped the large mountain bag on the table. "Got a bit of weird looks thrown my way, but no one asked any questions." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why'd we get the mundane shite?"
"Because it's just as important." Medea said without a beat. "Da Vinci and her department are creating some kind of fabrication engine, but until they have it up and running, the rest of Chaldea will need to get their things the hard way."
"From us." He said, leaning back onto the wooden wall. "How about you?"
"I've gotten all the mundane medicines I could get, without it becoming too suspicious." Medea answered.
"We've got all the other things as well." Mash spoke up, opening the bag she was carrying to show it to the Casters. "I should prepare the shield then."
"Ah, that's right." Ritsuka brought his communicator up. "Doctor, are Ayako-san and Koleen-san close?"
"They're reaching the city from the east and south respectively." He replied. "Did you find the store Ayako was talking about?"
He shook his head. "No, we didn't. But we were close to the anomaly though."
"Did you get a clear look as to what it was?" the Director asked, speaking up for the first time. He heard Kagiso say something in the background, though he couldn't make it out.
"Some kind of errant magus. The Casters said that, whoever it was, had a similar, if minor signature, to the Professor."
There was a few seconds of silence before she asked another question. "Similar… some kind of demonic entity?"
"We're not sure if Lev is actually a demon yet, Director." The Doctor said to her.
"I know, but Mash and Medea referred to Lev as such. I remembered that much, amidst my screaming."
"Similar, but very feint." Medea further clarified. "So, probably some kind of thrall for him."
"Good. When you finally regroup, finish this."
"Yes, Director." Ritsuka closed the connection, setting himself comfortable in the chair he was sitting. "Mash, how's the connection?"
"It's all done, Senpai." The Demi-Servant replied, standing back up from the shield. "Now, we just wait."
A knock came onto the door to the room, as if on cue. Ritsuka looked to the Servants, seeing them all nod back to him. He stood up, walking towards the door to their motel room, and opened it. Chaldea's Lancer almost brushed passed him, looking tired and disheveled as she walked into the room, her hands and back carrying the bags she was assigned to. Koleen followed behind, her own arms carrying heavy looking bags. Behind her was Sanson, followed by Kiyohime. His fellow Master took the chair that he had vacated, sitting tiredly upon.
He furrowed his brows when he noticed the tears on her shirt, showing her exposed forearms. "Koleen-san, what happened?"
The Witch looked up, seeing his concerned gaze, before laughing lightly. "Got hit a bit. Don't worry, it's all healed up."
He was about to ask her more, before another set of knocks interrupted him. A gasp of delight came from their Berserker, as she rushed towards the door to open it, only to frown in disappointment. It was Chaldea's newest Servant that had knocked the door, waving at them with a smile, carrying a large bag with ease. The Japanese Puppeteer was behind her, with her own heavy bags, alongside a few suitcases.
"Hey guys!" Ayako greeted them as both she and Martha entered the now crowding motel room. "Phew, that was fulfilling."
"You went to that store already?" Ritsuka asked, noticing the out of place suitcases.
"Yeah, I assumed you guys wouldn't know how to get in. Well…" she turned to the Casters, seeing them smirk knowingly. "most of you."
"It seemed like the kind of place to be in the know." Cú Chulainn said.
"So, shall we send these back?" Ayako asked the group.
"Let's." Ritsuka said, moving to stand beside her. "The Director's getting impatient."
"Alright." The Puppeteer nodded in reply. "Did you guys find where the anomaly was?"
"Three blocks down the road from that store." Mash answered, as she began placing their items on her shield, helped by Elizabeth and Sanson.
"Oh… I know who that is." Ayako shook her head, a frown finding its way on her face. "So what happened?"
"Smelled like that Professor of yours." The Celtic Druid answered.
"Ah, of course he'd make a deal with the devil." She brought her hand to her chin, pushing it until an audible crack was heard by them. "Alright, let's finish this before things get out of hand."
Despite the veritable army that Chaldea had brought, their numbers were not necessary in dealing with the minor Singularity, especially for an errant magus who bit off more than they could chew. After sending the various materials the extended Ground Team had gathered, ranging from raw ingredients to medicine in bulk, from the rocks of a cave to the scraps that were left behind by the creatures they fought. All of it, and more. The three Masters and Mash were simply enough in dealing with the errant magus, a testament to their skill and coordination.
With their reserves replenished, Chaldea as a whole could breathe a sigh of relief.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
first of all, are ya'll safe? COVID-19's been spreading through the rounds, and now i'm also in a situation that's not too bad, my uni got online classes for us to take, so we good. hope the rest of ya'll are also good, stay safe everyone!
now, onto the meat of it!
Ruler Martha has entered the fray! one of my fav Servants in FGO. why Ruler, instead of Rider?
why not? she's more awesome as a Ruler.
from the mats we got, Ruler Martha is the only Servant, among all the 1st Summer Servants, that's not some weird event shenanigans. Saint Martha can actually be summoned as a Ruler. as for her appearance? that was a bit difficult, so i combined aspects of her Summer version with her Rider version. (also, what the hell? why is she dressed the way she is? Jeanne's at least covered up, why ain't she?)
i'm also real proud of the way she displayed her power.
also, a little side note. i remembered i was writing this, and getting the new Servants' parameters written. like holy shit, Martha (Ruler) is insane. contrasting that, Kiyohime sucks as a Servant, except for her NP. man, Berserkers get the short end of the stick, eh?
in regards to the fic as a whole, i've gotten a bit of a backlog already now, so we're good!
i've also gotten an idea of how i'm going to tackle Septem. it'll probably be shorter that Orleans, but whatevs. i hope it comes out good.
the translations, for the brief Icelandic used by Ayako.
"Oh, noble spirit, grant us passage."
"we require the earth, to help us in our quest."
now, onto the reviews!
Wolfsadler: thanks, and i also hope i can do Septem good. events, depends on which. KnK and Fate Accel/Zero are guaranteed events i'll feature. GudaGuda, i'm waiting for when Avenger Nobu gets released in NA. anything else, we'll see.
King0fP0wers: aw dude, they're gonna be tuckered out after Babylonia, it's not even funny. and i already have a few more help for them as well. and yeah, she's really filling in that role of the big sister for him, something Ritsuka's not used to, but accepts with a smile.
Lulumo: No, unless the Servants are distinct enough from one another, they're only gonna be summoned in the Class i pick. eg: CasterCu and LancerCu aren't distinct enough, but CasterCu and BerserkerCu are. Emiya and his Alter, if either get summoned, are also distinct enough.
amerdism: that's an interesting idea. i'll see if i can find a way for this to be implemented in the story. and yeah, Aa-chan. we've been in France for so long, but now we'll hopefully get glimpses of them!
guest: huh?
Trapdere: what can i say, the woman doesn't hesitate most of the time. even at times to her detriment.
and thanks for your time, hope you guys stick around!
drop a review if ya'll don't mind, and i'll see you all next time!