Second Singularity, Part 2: Spartan Flotilla
60AD
"Excellent work, ladies." The Puppeteer wiped the figurative dust off her hands, smirking at the rounded up soldiers that had attempted to invade Florence in the dark of night.
One of the soldiers, almost freeing himself from the rope that held him down, was hit with the pommel of Arturia's blade, knocking him out. "It would be wise of you to stand down, villains!"
"Keep an eye on them, Saber." Ayako ordered as she walked towards the Caster, who was perusing through the leader's thoughts. "Anything?"
The soldier slumped in Medea's hand, dropping onto the ground when she relaxed her grip. "The capital is somewhere in modern day Spain. Not much else, as this contingent of soldiers were from Massilia themselves."
"So far from home." Ayako commented, turning away from the Witch to face larger group, her hand reaching to massage her shoulder. "Was there really nothing else? No Servant that's leading them?"
"I assume there is still a Servant, but these people got their orders from a courier." Medea further explained.
"Damn…" she sighed, grimacing lightly in annoyance. "Should we head out immediately?"
"I see no problem with that. We have rested as much as we could before." The Witch replied as she floated towards the Master.
"Then let's hand these people off to the local battalion. Saber!" the blonde Saber turned her eyes to the Master upon being called. "Can you find the commander of the forces here?"
"Yes Master!" she said enthusiastically, jogging back into the city with Caliburn in hand.
Seeing the Saber's shrinking form, Ayako gave a glance to the Servant beside her, once again seeing her giggle in a darkly suspicious way. "You've got something to say, Caster?"
The Greek Caster blinked her eyes, shifting them to the Master. A slight tinge of pink colored her cheeks, with a gloved fist rising to cover a cough. "She is cute. Like a doll. There is not much else to say."
"I hope that's all there is to it." Ayako said, smirking with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe we should get you some of those bottled ships to work on."
"Oh, yes. It has been far too long since I've indulged myself." Medea said with a smile, now with her composure back.
"I have brought him, Master!" the sound of Arturia echoed in the night, returning back to them with the commander in tow, along with two of his aides.
"Good." Ayako clapped in relief, meeting the Saber halfway. "The sooner we can get to the bottom of this, the better."
"So, you have a cat now?" Ritsuka said to the communicator on his wrist, his free hand pulling his collar open, giving himself a breather.
"Yeah, I think Fou's going to have a friend in Chaldea." Replied the Witch, the sound of Martha's cooing just barely audible in the background. "They can be Phantasmal Buddies."
"Have they found out what it is yet?" Mash asked, sitting across from him within the loud carriage.
"Nothing yet, at least specific to any mythology." Koleen said in return. "Are you guys still on the road?"
Ritsuka nodded, even though the American Witch wouldn't have been able to see him either way. "Emperor Nero is very eager to retake Gaul, especially now that she has outside help."
"Let's hope she doesn't get too reckless." El-Melloi said in a passing comment. "These mounts would do no one good if they expire from over exhaustion."
"What do you think we'll find there, Lord El-Melloi?" the Master asked, his free hand ruffling the fur of the white Phantasmal Beast in his arms.
"The most obvious answer to that would be a Servant. These soldiers don't hold a candle to them." he punctuated his reply with a cigarette that he pulled out of his inner jacket pocket. "Let's hope it's a Rogue Servant."
"Why a Rogue one in particular?" Mash questioned, leaning forward ever so slightly with her elbows on her knees.
"We might be able to persuade them to turn their back against the United Empire."
"You think we can do that? Actually, should we do that?" Ritsuka asked, apprehensive and worried of the situation.
"You think they might oppose us?" the Lord questioned back.
"Well, they're opposing the Roman Empire…"
"We'll see if their opposition can be diverted to the United Empire. If it is mere coincidence that they are striking Rome in its tumultuous time, then all the more better." He exhaled a long puff of smoke, shedding its ashes outside.
Ritsuka weathered a long breath, the nerves climbing steadily. "Alright, then I'll just have to prepare myself for that as well."
"Senpai…" "Fou…"
"Good." El-Melloi nodded favorably to him. "Remember that we are by your side, so don't hesitate to use us."
Ritsuka nodded back, a determined smile forming on his face. "Yes, Lord El-Melloi."
"The Second. Don't forget that." He commented off-handedly.
"Well, whatever your plan ends up being, we'll support it. Keep it up, Ritsuka." The encouraging voice of the Witch echoed in their ears.
"Thanks, Koleen-san."
"Happy to be there." She replied, her own smile forming even though they couldn't see it. "See you back at Rome."
A couple of days had passed since the rest of the team departed, leaving Koleen to watch over Rome with her team of Servants. Though mostly it was through Sanson's efforts that they have routed out most of the United Empire infiltrators, leaving Rome with cleaner streets. There wasn't much else Koleen could do, so she settled on preparing her arsenal for whatever it is that awaits them, occasionally checking in on the kitten that had been entrusted upon her with Martha's help.
Loud knocks came abruptly from the door, interrupting Koleen just as she stretched her hands above her head. The Master shared a worried glance to Martha, who still had the kitten in her own hands, as Koleen stood up from the desk. She approached the door with a sense of urgency, her hands subconsciously securing the brown pouch around her waist. A quick mental command was issued to Chaldea's Assassin, calling him back to her as her hand reached the door handle.
She opened it to see a Roman soldier, dressed in a lighter version of the uniform. More of a courier than anything, really. "Lord Mage, we have spotted a fleet approaching our waters!"
Koleen hid her surprise well, at how quickly Emperor Nero had inserted them to her army. At least, as some sort of advisory role. "What are they doing? And how many of them are there?"
"Seven triremes, still a day's away." The courier replied.
"Seven? That's not much, it's more of a flotilla…" she commented, facing away from him in thought. "Henri, change of plans. Head to the docks first, get an eye on what's happening before you come back."
"Yes, Master." He replied succinctly.
"Then if that's all they're doing, I will prepare what I can to assist." Koleen said to the courier. "I trust that the Emperor has someone far more adept leading the defense?"
"Yes she has, Lord Mage."
"Then I will join you on the morrow, or whenever they commence their siege." She said with an affirmed nod. "You are dismissed."
The courier nodded back, turning and rushing off to wherever else it was that he was needed. She closed the door, carefully letting it slide back into place with a click. She sighed when she couldn't hear the courier's footsteps again, both of her hands covering her face, and the immensely tired expression sitting upon it. The soft mewling of the kitten just almost startled her out of her reverie.
Martha had approached her with the kitten in her iron hands, a soft calming smile adorned on her face. One whose effects were working its way onto her. "You should get some rest, Koleen. I'll wake you up when its time."
"I should, just to regather myself." She agreed with a slightly hesitant tone.
Because despite the well given suggestion, Koleen spent most of the night crafting something she has yet to use since she awoke from the explosion. An ugly and terrifying thing, craft from a body of straws, held together by tight black strings. A creation that perpetuated the stereotype that she got from the crew and staff of Chaldea. One that got her a stern glare from Martha, and worried one from Sanson when he finally returned to their room. The creation lay inside a circle of blood and charcoal, a magical array of her own making, modified from the books she studied them from.
And right now, it was dormant.
"Henri," she turned on the wooden chair to face the Assassin standing beside her. "when this United Empire flotilla attacks, I want you to see if there is a Servant among them. If there isn't, then the highest ranking officer will do. I need you to draw blood from them, enough to cover your palm."
"Will do, Koleen." He answered, glancing out the balcony to where the docks were within Rome.
"What time is it?" she asked them with a tired yawn, shielded by the back of her hand.
"It's past 2AM. They haven't made a move yet." Martha replied, placing a heavy hand on Koleen's shoulder. "Get some sleep. Even the little beast is in the world of dreams now." She said, gesturing with a nod to the small kitten that lay asleep on a thick pillow beside them.
"I will. Definitely will." The Witch said, stumbling up and towards the bed closest to her, helped by the guiding hands of the Saint.
She didn't know how much rest she was going to actually get, but hopefully it would be enough.
She got just enough sleep to not be tuckered out in the bright Roman morning. And right now, she stood underneath the scorching sun of the afternoon bearing down on her skin. She, along with Martha and the kitten that found its way into her arms, stood with the commanding officers that the Emperor had left behind, assigned as it were as they all held their gaze on the small flotilla that sailed closer, attempting to surround the waters of Rome. Most of them were deliberating and discussing their upcoming strategies and tactics, arguments threatening to break among them. One of them stood beside her, arms crossed over his bronze armor, keeping his eyes on the ships.
"How are you planning on assisting us, Lord Mage?" he asked her, sounding far calmer than the others in the tent.
She gave him a brief glance of acknowledgement, before shifting her pink eyes to the Saint. "When they make a move, call him."
"Will do." Martha replied with a nod.
"We can break their numbers by half in nary a second." Koleen said, giving him an actual formed answer. "And, I have a way of crippling whoever it is that leads the charge." Her hand, one that was free from holding the kitten, snaked its way into her pouch, feeling the voodoo doll.
The officer seemed to understand her hint, evidenced by the visible shiver he displayed. "We are thankful then, that you are on our side."
"As you should." She said, turning her eyes back onto the ships. "Henri, have you found them?"
"I have." The Assassin replied, letting Koleen breathe a sigh of relief. "Second ship, from your… right. And unless I am mistaken, he is King Leonidas, of Sparta."
"He's not exactly Roman, but close enough, I guess." She commented with a mental shrug. "He must be obvious."
"That he is. When shall I strike?" he asked of her.
"When they call the order. When you've gotten the blood, return to me at once. I'll use a Command Spell if I have to." She said with silent determination.
"Yes, Master." With the final word, Koleen waited in relative silence, her hand gently stroking the three-tailed kitten as it mewled in her arms.
The Ruler Class Servant beside her was getting restless, that much Koleen could tell. Her foot tapping the floor while her hands rubbed her forearms. She was waiting for the call just as much as them. But they had to wait. They wouldn't be the ones to pull the trigger first. But, at the very least with Koleen and Martha with them, they would be the ones to draw first blood.
A war horn sounded from the seas, followed by the cries of the soldiers. The seven triremes began moving, rushing through the waters in a speed that Koleen had never seen from a boat that was rowed. A testament to its engineering, and the hundreds of professionals trained to row the ship. A loud, agonizing scream echoed, almost barely drowned by the roar of the ships, coming from somewhere vaguely her right.
Quickly handing the kitten to Saint Martha, the bright red Command Spells burned on her skin, drained of its power that she called forth. "Assassin, return to me!"
Within an instant, the air around her warped as Chaldea's Physician appeared inside the tent with them, loose papers sent to the air by his sudden entrance. His massive sword was bloodied, the tip planted on the ground for the Witch.
Koleen turned on her heel, her hand reaching for the sword, careful in not cutting herself with it. The red covered her hand in an almost instant, drenching it with its fresh coat. She pulled out the voodoo doll from her pouch, liberally painting it with the blood of the Servant, causing the people in the tent to eye her wearily. She didn't stop until the macabre image of the blood drenched doll would be seared in their heads, using a finger to trace a pattern on her relatively clean hand. A simple stick figure, wrapped by a web that trailed from the tips of her fingers. The pattern began burning on her skin, a sensation far harsher than her Command Spells.
The voodoo doll twisted and turned, its lifeless form becoming uncanny in the eyes of those around her, shifting as her Witchcraft took its hold on it. Black smoke emerged from the edges of her eyelids as red took its place on her eyes every time she channeled her brand of Witchcraft.
"The darkness in their hearts, constraints that shackletheirforms. Unburdenedbyhope, t̨hrow̨n̴int͠oth̕ea̡shes̸ǫfdeca͠y. Y̡͘͠o͏͝u͘͜rbo̴d͏̶y͢,̶ i̡͡s͏̕mi̸̴n̢ȩ͠t̶o͝͠c̨ontŗ͢ol͝." Her words became distorted, the chant becoming unintelligible to the majority of them, with only the Servants capable of gleaming what she had said.
"M̛ARI̴̸O̷NE̴TT͏E̷!"
Black smoke erupted from the doll, the weight of its ash trailing downwards to the ground. The American Witch breathed a sigh of relief, pocketing the doll back into her pouch, almost leaning back onto Martha. Her bloodied hands were shaking, the blood dripping off of them in an inordinate fashion. She turned back to the seas, uncaring of the frightened stares she got the officers around her. She quickly wiped the remaining blood off her hands, holding one out to Martha. The Saint handed her the kitten wordlessly, nodding in the silence between them.
"Martha." Her orders were succinct, the Saint understanding them perfectly.
"Tarrasque!" a large form, very well obscuring their view of the seas, shimmered in front of them. Its size, as tall as a two story building, and twice as long, growling menacingly at the invading army. The Ruler Class Servant clenched her fists, pulling an arm back as she winded herself. "Attack!"
Koleen could've sworn she heard a brief whimper coming from the dragon, before Martha punched it squarely on its behind, sending it flying with a powerful shockwave that blew the tent away, leaving a large crater where it once stood. It flew past Rome's defending army, with most of them looking up in awe, as Tarrasque sailed past, crushing a Trireme under its weight. The dragon roared in the waters, already moving towards the surrounding ships.
This spurred the remaining ships to charge faster, with the defenders bracing for the impact. "You should stay here, Master. Far from the battle." Koleen turned to face the Assassin again, seeing him eye her with concern.
"If Leonidas shows himself, then I have to get close." She said back to him, though she was careful with the kitten that mewled in her hands. "The doll won't work as well if I don't."
"Then I'll draw him towards you." Martha said, her fist meeting her open palm, clanging in their ears. "Let's push these invaders back."
Koleen relented with a hesitant nod, turning back to the Assassin. "Cover her."
"Will do."
"Let's go, Henri!"
The Triremes reached Rome with a bang, with the onboard soldiers leaping off the deck to meet the defenders head on, the battle already drowning out the air. Koleen took a few steps forward, pulling out her concoctions, throwing the first of them to the closest group; the corrupting poison that melted down their armor and weapons. She pulled out another bottle, thrown as quickly as it was pulled, the almost deadly stink bomb that could hamper a Servant. Its smoke was it produced was misleading, the smell of it reaching farther than it looked, evident by the soldiers that crumpled to the ground, struggling to breathe the debilitating air.
Amongst the soldiers that waged war, The Saint maneuvered past them with focused ease, careful in her steps to not harm the defenders with her might. A few of the invading soldiers took notice of her, rushing to strike the Saint down with their weapons, but she paid them no heed. Not with Sanson by her side, his executioner's blade drawn to meet those that attempted to harm the Ruler. Their iron make swords were nothing to the blade of a Servant, cut in two like butter. Most of them staggered back in obvious fear and shock, and those that charged further were cut down with ease.
Saint Martha herself didn't need the protection. She stepped ever closer to the Trireme the Assassin had located, with her blue eyes narrowing on the ship, trying to find the Servant that had yet to show himself. A sword came swinging down onto her, one she caught effortlessly with her heavy gauntlets. She slapped the sword out of the soldier's hand, and reached for his neck. She lifted him up off the ground, and threw him back to his group. Another came upon her with his shield raised, but a powerful hit with her fists sent him back careening into the crowd. All the while, she kept her eyes on the ship. Waiting for the Servant to appear.
She was rewarded when the bright red mane of the Spartan helmet became visible, descending from the ship. Although his torso seemed to be uninjured, the Saint could make out the blood trailing down his body. A strike to his back by Sanson. Bleeding profusely, but a strike by an Assassin Class Servant was nothing to a Knight Class. He stood with his eyes narrowed on her approaching form. Wordlessly, he raised his spear and shield, poised to strike at Martha. In return, the Saint brought forth her staff, taking a step back, almost beckoning the Spartan.
The Trireme erupted into splinters as the invading Servant launched himself from it, the loud clang of his shield meeting Martha's fists, using her staff to deflect the spear that came upon her. Despite her strength, she let herself be pushed back by the attack.
Not much of his face was visible, though she could tell hidden behind the helmet was a handsome looking man. "It seems we have struck in an opportunistic time."
"Then you should have sent a larger fleet." She countered back, dodging another thrust of his spear. And another. And another. And another. The surrounding soldiers; both the defenders and the invaders; cleared themselves of the two Servants locked together.
"They were not necessary to strike on an undefended city!" Martha's eyes narrowed on the Servant, finding discrepancies in his words with his character. "Although he would have preferred if the Emperor was here as well."
Her mouth opened, ready to voice the oddity that was crumbling, but closed it again as Leonidas charged upon her with his shield. It would easier to deal with him with Koleen, the Master no doubt still waiting at the remnants of the tent. She backed away with a leap, followed incessantly by the Spartan, chasing after her with each thrust of his spear. She blocked, dodged, and deflected all of his attempts with her staff, and herself.
A group of the invaders encircled her, attempting to bring her closer to the Servant. She closed her eyes, hands tightening around her staff as she muttered a prayer beneath her breath. Leonidas aimed his spear, thrusting it forward directly to Martha's chest. He was pushed back by a burst of a featureless explosion, leaping back away from the Saint. The soldiers were not as fortunate, their shields and weapons shattered into shrapnel that dug into their armor and skin. The Ruler Class Servant smirked, her blue eyes locked onto Leonidas' form.
Now it was her turn.
She launched herself towards him, her fist meeting his shield, though this time, she was not holding back. A loud clang echoed on the battlefield, carrying itself across the docks. Leonidas attempted to strike back with his spear, but Martha was quicker, her leg rising and kicking him away from her. She brought her staff above her, spinning it in her hands, chanting a prayer for all of them to hear. The Spartan brought his shield to bear as an explosion shook around him, pinning him in place.
When the dust settled, he lowered his shield to scour the battlefield for the Saint. She moved elsewhere, he knew. He found her, closer inland, carefully and steadily walking backwards, swatting the attempts at her life with her staff. The Spartan got back up, and opened to a sprint, chasing after her, unknowing of his impending doom.
A weight fell upon Martha's shoulders. And the Spartan's. And everyone else on the battlefield, though most merely returned to carving each other down. The Ruler Class Servant turned her head to face the Master that was approaching her, seeing the voodoo doll float in front of Koleen, slowly spinning ominously. The black kitten, still in her arms, giving her a very much stereotypical image. The Spartan couldn't move a muscle, not with his blood drenched on the voodoo doll, a piece of his soul trapped within it.
"Ruler, what did you get?" Koleen asked, still keeping a good distance away from them.
"That he is not of the right mind." Martha replied, her staff still trailed on the Spartan, her eyes never leaving him. "Something is polluting him. I don't think we can get anything else."
"That's unfortunate." Koleen said with an obvious frown marring her face. Gingerly, she placed the kitten on her left shoulder, tucking him in as he mewled in response. She then grabbed the doll with her two hands tight, twisting it, and tore it in half.
The magic that held the Spartan disappeared in a flash. And with it, most of his energy that kept him anchored to the world. He dropped to his knee, held up by his spear, now looking far worse than he did before. Koleen did significant damage to his spiritual core, leaving him in this weakened state. Giving Martha a much easier time, in raising him up with a hand around his neck, gripping it tight enough to not allow him a single word. Her staff disappeared, her hand reared back for another punch. Leonidas chuckled, seemingly at ease at his inevitable demise. A light glow emanated from Martha's gauntlet, just like it did when she struck the chimera.
A loud, wet crack spread through the battlefield, and it all stopped. Everyone's eyes were on Martha, her fist punched through Leonidas' chest. The defenders cheered by the hundreds at the apparent defeat of their leader, amplified when Leonidas fell from her fist, dropped back onto the bloodied ground with a whole in his chest.
He hacked out a cough of blood, staining the Saint's lower outfit. He chuckled in defeat, his hand resting on her thigh to support. "What, a… magnifi…" he didn't get to finish his words, dropping fully as his form began to dissipate.
The invaders broke formation, their morale plummeting as they were routed. The roar of Tarrasque as he broke the water surface crippled their will, the dragon crushing the remainder of the Triremes.
Koleen let out a long, drawn out sigh, stumbling backwards until she found a short wall to sit herself on. With one hand holding the black kitten on her shoulder, she clutched her top with the other, feeling the beating of her heart settle after 'playing' with the voodoo doll. There was a reason why she didn't even touch the idea back in Orléans, aside from the reactions she would have gotten from the locals (evidenced by the worried and fearful glances she got earlier).
The kitten began crying, frightened by the constant fighting that had occurred, Koleen immediately went to calming the little beast down, cooing it like she would a baby. Its cries lessened, nuzzling into Koleen's arms, eliciting a small smile on her face.
Her exhaustion gradually, and steadily, lessened, as she felt healing energies that ran counter to her Witchcraft. Saint Martha was approaching her, her staff in her bloody hand, intoning a prayer that was inaudible to her ears. A prayer that granted the holy energies to heal her. A mere glimpse of a miracle. A stark contrast to Koleen's own existence.
"You should use that on yourself, Martha." The light smile on her face brightened at the approaching Saint, the gratitude displayed on her face.
Martha chuckled amusedly in response. "I'm perfectly fine, Koleen. None of this is mine." She gestured to the blood on her person before she began praying again.
"Lord Magus!" she heard hurried steps rushing towards her, her eyes trailing to the side to see a few of those officers that were in the tent, their expressions being one of relief.
She straightened herself as they grew closer, the five spreading apart to not encircle around her, which she silently appreciated. "Gentlemen."
"Your presence has been a tremendous boon to us." The one she thought was the highest ranked officer in the tent said, his voice carrying equal amounts of respect, and fear. She held back the grimace that threatened to show itself.
"We all have a common goal. Helping out the Emperor is the best way to achieve said goal." She said back, carefully standing back onto her feet. "I will continue to assist in any way I can, until I am called to join my friends." She said with a nod. "Now, unless there's anything else that I am needed for…" her gaze trailed to the battlefield, seeing the defenders either killing off the routing invaders, or rounding them up. The battle didn't last as long as one would expect of a naval invasion, thanks to her and the Servants' intervention. Yet so much has happened. She sighed, remembering her uncle and his own stories of war. "Then I will retreat and rest."
"Yes, Lord Magus. Thank you!" they all bowed to her, Koleen herself already walking away from them.
"Henri, return to the room with us. We have things to discuss." She said through their mental link with the Ruler following behind her.
"Will do, Koleen."
She brought her communicator close to her face. "Doctor, how is everyone else doing?"
"Ritsuka, Mash, and Lord El-Melloi II will still have a few days until Gaul. With the rate they are going, most likely in half a week." His familiar voice was a welcome change after that battle. "Same goes for Ayako, Medea, and Arturia, though they aren't taking as long without anyone else holding them down."
"What is on your mind, Bertrand?" The Director's voice followed after his.
"Not here, Director." She responded, hoping Olga wouldn't get offended.
"Sounds like we should get the others into this conversation as well." Kagiso spoke up, though his voice wasn't as clear as the rest, probably standing a bit further back than them.
"Yes, message the others, Romani."
"Will do, Olga. We'll call you back, Koleen."
"I'll be waiting in our room." their call was cut short, but she welcomed it for the reprieve that followed. "Do you think I have enough time for a bath?" she asked the Saint behind her, compounded by the meows around her.
"Probably." Martha said with a shrug and a smile. "They won't mind waiting, I'm sure."
"Good. Do you want to join me?"
"Oh, absolutely. Let me just call back Tarrasque, I bet he's had a lovely bath himself I'm sure."
"I don't think they're all Berserk, to the same extent as the Servants the Dragon Witch summoned back in Orléans. But, their summonings have definitely altered them in some way." The American Witch explained, sounding as if she had fully rested before this. "I doubt it was to a point that it had altered their Class, since Leonidas was still a Lancer from what I had gathered. But, he wasn't acting like himself."
"Why do they have such a strong fixation for the Emperor?" Ritsuka asked, the question that they've all been wondering separately.
"Similar to the Dragon Witch, probably. Summoned by someone who has a connection with her." Ayako herself suggested, laying on the stone slab that served as their camp for the moment.
"What, you think Caligula was the one who summoned them?" Olga asked with confusion in her tone.
"No, but someone else, not necessarily a relative. Probably another Roman Emperor." She further added.
"And like the Dragon Witch, whoever this is, is probably not the one keeping this anomaly afloat." Doctor Roman said observantly.
"So, it's still the Professor?" Mash asked, finally speaking up herself.
"That, we're not entirely sure. We need to dig more into this." Ayako sat herself up, her golden eyes landing on their Saber, attempting to make some kind of stew for them from the game she hunted earlier. "Kalls, join me in Massilia when you can. You too, Ritsu-chan, when you're done in Gaul. And bring along the Emperor while you're at it."
"We haven't exactly pinpointed where this capital is, but it is in our general direction." Medea added for her.
"Don't take any massive risks. You are all that's left as our last line of defense." The Director said to them, a slight wavering in her voice trailing at the end.
"We won't make any unless it's necessary."
"Yes, we'll try to keep it by the books, Director." Ritsuka said.
"If there's nothing else, then we'll be leaving you guys back to your duties then." The Doctor said, fishing out for more.
"No, I think we're done here." Koleen replied from her side of the call.
"Good. See you all soon. Stay safe."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
this got changed a bit, used to be a bit shorter, around the same length as the previous chapter. but, after some deliberation, a few scenes got expanded, and now Septem's probably gonna be five chapters.
it's a shame that Leonidas hardly got anything here, but i didn't want to take away from his shining moments from Babylonia, so i was willing to make him be less developed than what you'd expect. we still got a few glimpses of something wrong going on, of which we'll see more of in the chapter after the next one. (honestly, i think Part 4 is gonna be real long too. if it gets too long, it'll probably get split up, and Septem might end up being 6 parts instead.)
i also hope that i got the power scaling done right. Koleen's use of the voodoo doll took a lot out of her, and i wanted to do more with her Witchcraft. (also, no name for the kitten yet)
i think you guys might also realize here what theme i'm going for here in Septem, in regards to the Masters, so stay tuned for what was one of the funnest things i had experienced in writing for Septem next chapter.
onto the reviews!
Wintersmith23: oh, dude, you kinda missed out. in case you don't want to get spoiled, i suggest you reread chapters 5 and 7. and they're always for emergencies. she will hardly, if ever, just waste a body like that.
King0fP0wers: i expanded this exact chapter (and the next one, since i was in the middle of writing it when i read the reviews), hopefully it would curb that "rushed" feeling. for now, yes, we are going to get at least 5 chapters. maybe more, who knows.
i have a plan in mind for what Olympus' ending showed, and i'd like to see more of what they're gonna show (thank god we still have time to wait). sure yes, it contradicts, but if it doesn't contradict it too much, i have an idea of weaving the story together. if it really contradicts, then at most this will just be an AU at that point. so, all we have to do is wait and see.
so, with that out of the way, hope you guys enjoyed this!
drop a review if you don't mind, and i'll see you all next time!