Naivety of Life
2017
"…and because of Emperor Nero's generosity, our food stocks will now last us a half a year, at least. More than a year, at the most." The good Doctor finished, flashing them all with a pleased smile.
"Our people's morale would no doubt rise because of it." Olga replied, a hint of a rare smile gracing her features.
"And our dinners could afford to be a bit more extravagant too." Kagisa chuckled amusedly at himself, followed by the other Masters, and herself.
When it settled down, Koleen leaned into the table, petting the kitten on the table. Fou had taken to licking the creature, comforting it in the foreign environment. "So, how about the Demonic Pillar? What else do we know of it? And everything else that's connected to it, even tangentially."
The mirth on Doctor Romani's face left him upon being reminded of the fact. That was a look on his face that she's never seen before, from all the years that she's interacted with the man. He tapped on his tablet, interfacing with it to bring up a picture of the Pillar on the monitor. Olga visibly flinched, though she was handling it better than she did before, recomposing as quickly as she did. Her own eyes trailed back to the picture, grimacing slightly. It was, disgusting. That was it. Simply that.
"Whatever my thoughts on it are, it is without a doubt, some sort of demonic entity." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Flauros. One of 72 Demonic Pillars. I'm sorry, I'm still coming to terms with it. The likelihood that all of this is orchestrated by the King of Magic."
"It means that right now, our focus aside from locating the Singularities, is to prepare the Ground Team on what it is they will be facing." Olga declared, her eyes focused on the Doctor.
"And to at least see if it is in fact, King Solomon." Kagiso added. "There is still a likelihood that it is all a red herring, something else that's using these Pillars."
"That too." Olga nodded to the Shaman, as the Doctor's face lit up at the prospect. "We at least aren't running in blind now."
"Yeah, that's a good thing." He sat himself down, shutting the monitor with it.
"What worries me though…" all eyes slowly turned to her Senpai, Ritsuka, looking oddly serious. Aside from his own report, he had been quite throughout the debriefing. "Is its name."
"Name? Flauros?" Doctor Romani asked him.
"Beyond that." He looked up, meeting their eyes. "The Professor's name. Lev Lainur Flauros. I assume, that's always been his name, right?" he turned to Olga, who looked a bit paler than usual. "It means, he was always like this, probably biding his time? Or maybe some code was switched, and his original mission was activated. Like a sleeper agent. And if his name is an indication to what he actually was-"
"Then there's potentially 71 other people out there, 71 other pure magi carrying these demons in their blood." Koleen finished for his, covering her eyes as she realized the gravity of the situation.
"What… what makes you so certain that it's a pure blooded magus?" Olga asked, looking sheet white, her throat sounding dryer than a desert.
"Only those fools would care so much of bloodlines and their purity." Kagiso answered in their stead. "Powerful through heritage, yes, but it means they've been carrying this blood within them. They're all ticking time bombs."
"Astute observations, all of you." Lord El-Melloi II said, nodding proudly as he inhaled the cigarette in his lips. One of two Servants currently in the conference room, what with the rest of them being occupied with other responsibilities.
"Quite a frightening thought, though." Da Vinci said in comment, the other Servant inside the room, though her reason was a lot more obvious.
Olga looked like she was contemplating the information that was presented to her, eyes shifting worriedly. "Then, if all of this is true, then I doubt that any of those 71 people are dead."
"Yeah, this King of theirs would have most likely taken them, like he did with Flauros." The Doctor scoffed to himself, taking a sip form his coffee mug. "And I doubt Flauros is actually dead. It'll most likely be back as well."
"Looks like we have our work cut out for us." The Lord said, dousing his cigarette in the ashtray. "Is there any vacant position that needs to be filled? One that I can fulfil, at least to further assist you all."
"Another head in the Control Room would do. I'll set you up your own workstation." The Doctor went back to his digital pad, already making changes to the hierarchy of Chaldea.
Olga relaxed her arms over the table, her color returning to her skin. "I think that is all that we need to discuss. Unless there's something else someone wants to bring to the table?"
"Uhm…" Mash raised her hand, bringing the attention to her. "How is Ayako doing? Is she okay? We haven't gotten word from her since we got back."
Olga sighed, eyes closed as she relaxed, as if she was happy with the question. "Aozaki's fine. Resting, after the minor surgery she performed on herself."
"Ha!" Mash turned to Da Vinci, seeing the Genius full of smiles. "'Minor', she says. She just replaced her own heart. Yeah. Minor."
"I would've thought such a thing would be considered minor, even to you, Da Vinci." Olga said, looking confused, and slightly scandalized.
"Oh, for sure. But I'm a magus. Our way of thinking doesn't align with that of a human. Ayako, however, is someone who fully embraces her humanity." There was a look of proud acknowledgement coming from the Genius. "This isn't something minor for a human. No matter what crazy thing of a life she's lived."
"There has been recorded history of surgeons performing delicate surgeries on themselves, though." The Lord countered, her brows furrowing.
"Yes, and even then, it was an exceptional achievement of the individual. To a mundane person, a dentist performing their own root canal surgery is seen as outrages." She then waved her hand before them. "We're getting a bit off topic. She's resting now, yes. She's now a bit behind on her latest spare, but that's it."
"What did you guys do with her old heart?" Ritsuka asked curiously.
"Medea took it." The living Mona Lisa sighed, shaking her head. "All Ayako said was to not make another her, and she's fine."
"I mean, I would've asked for it too." Koleen said aloud, looking scandalized.
"Well, obviously." Da Vinci rolled her eyes, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're a Witch."
"What do you guys think, about making something for Ayako-san?" Ritsuka asked the both of them, as they left the conference room. In her hands, was Fou. And in Koleen's, was the kitten.
"I wouldn't mind later. I'm still tired as it is." Koleen answered, her hand stroking the black fur of the kitten.
"What would we even make, Senpai? Do you have something in mind?" she asked him.
"Uhm, porridge would be good. It's a sort of, tradition you can say, to make porridge for people recovering." He replied with an uncertain shrug. She pouted at the answer.
"That sounds simple, and easy." Kagiso approached them, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Any specific recipes?"
"Okayu. Or wait, what is it in English? That's right! Congee. A simple rice based porridge, with salt. We can add more sides and toppings to it. It's actually, very delicious despite how simple it is."
"Sometimes, simplicity trumps complexity." Koleen said sagely. "Yeah, we could probably make it for our midnight dinners. Where is she, anyway? Infirmary, or her room?"
"Her room." the Shaman answered.
"Wouldn't she mind though, crowding her room up like that?" her Senpai asked, his worries understandable to them.
"I think Ayako would be the last person to be bothered by this." She said aloud, supported by Fou's sudden 'Fou'. "There's very few things that she would mind."
"Yeah, that does sound like her." He said with a light smile forming on his face.
"So, we all should rest now. Then, when we're all feeling better, we make something for Ayako and go visit her." Koleen concluded for them, easily taking the role as Ayako's second. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a home to make for this little guy."
The black kitten mewled in the Witch's arms, nuzzling further into her elbow. Mash couldn't help the smile on her face, turning her bespectacled eyes onto Fou, seeing him look back at her. As if reading the thoughts that were playing in her head, the little Beast nuzzled into her elbow as well. The giggle left her without any resistance.
"Deerlet. Deerlet, wake up."
Mash was startled awake by the hand on her shoulder, her eyes blinking rapidly as she looked around herself. She was in the library, missing half of its stock and barely replenished. Her arms were strewn on the desk that she had fallen asleep on, with the book she was reading facing down on it, closed without a bookmark placed. She sighed in disappointment, turning into a yawn that she covered subconsciously with her hand. She turned to her side, seeing Chaldea's first Lancer looming over her, looking concerned.
"Hey, Elizabeth. What's wrong?" she asked, stretching her arms over the desk.
She pouted, for some reason. "This isn't a comfortable place to sleep at, you know." The teen Servant said, holding her hands akimbo. "Do you want me to carry you back?"
"What?! No!" she retaliated, waving her hands as her face turned red. "I just fell asleep. I can get back on my own."
The Lancer's eyebrow rose, clearly not believing her words. "I'll walk with you. Just to be sure."
Mash sighed, knowing she couldn't convince the girl otherwise. "Alright then." She stood up, remembering to take the book she had been reading along with her.
They walked out the library side by side, passing by a couple of crew members who waved her by. "Whacha reading?" Elizabeth asked, walking with a bit of a hop to her step.
Mash turned the book, showing the cover to the Lancer. "Murder on the Orient Express. Agatha Christie."
"You really like Mysteries, huh?" Elizabeth turned on her feet, walking backwards but keeping pace with her.
"I, grew up with Sherlock Holmes. It's, more comfortable." She replied, holding the book close to her.
"Ever thought of branching out? There's gotta be other things to read."
"Yes, but, I don't know where to start."
"I actually read a lot in my time, but I'm not sure you'd like any of them." Mash would often forget that the teen Servant was an avid reader herself. In fact, most people in Chaldea had forgotten it themselves, taken in by the idol personality that Elizabeth often presented herself as. "Try something like horror. It'll get your blood pumping."
"Horror… like Carmilla?" the calm smile on Elizabeth's face quickly shifted into a frown, and Mash wondered if she had gone too far.
Then the Lancer's clawed fingers reached for Mash's cheek, pinching it tightly. "Ow ow ow ow ow ow!"
"I didn't realize you were so cheeky, Deerlet." The frown slowly turned into a smirk, just as Elizabeth let her cheeks go.
Mash's free hand rubbed the now reddened cheek, smiling herself. Amidst the moment, Mash remembered something that had slipped passed her mind. "How did… Kiyohime handle it?"
The Berserker had latched on to Ayako in a rather, unhealthy manner. Befitting for a Berserker, but it does little to assuage the worries of everyone involved, be it Masters or crew. Even Ayako seemed disturbed by it, but the Puppeteer seemed to be at least patient with the Berserker. And for some reason, Elizabeth had silently volunteered to be Kiyohime's minder. None of them had asked her of it, and she hadn't offered to do such a thing to them. She just did it. And they were all ever more grateful for it.
The Lancer was frowning again, the curve deeper than before. "I held her back before she could go all loony on all of us." She replied, turning around to walk beside her again. "She should be outside Birdie's room. She said she was going to wait."
The worry returned to Mash's face, with a hint of relief bubbling to the surface. "She didn't just go inside?"
"No." the pink haired Lancer shook her head. "Teddy told her no, saying that Birdie needed the rest."
"Teddy? Who's Teddy?" there was another one of Elizabeth's nicknames, one she hadn't heard of yet.
"Kagiso. Duh." The Lancer rolled her eyes, as if that was some common knowledge they all knew of. "He's big, and burly, like a bear."
"Of course he is." A soft giggle left Mash's lips. There was something endearing about the Lancer's antics, despite her apparent history it seemed.
"You know what I think?" the young Servant loudly pondered. "I think you should join Birdie and I with her dancing practices, especially when she gets better."
"What? No, I don't know. I don't think dancing's for me." She tried backing away, her thoughts already picturing her clumsily stepping on her own two feet.
"It's fine." Elizabeth said, waving her concerns away. "Birdie and I could teach you! And then, and then, we can form our own idol unit! In fact, I'm going to see if we can clear the room later!" and just like that, the Lancer hurried off, leaving Mash stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Well, she might as well prepare herself for the inevitable.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with the okayu, Kiyo-san." Her Senpai protested, trying to get the Berserker to stop what she was doing.
Which was inspecting the porridge that they had all made together, testing each piece like she was a poison tester. Not like it would have affected her, she was a Servant after all. She dipped her pinky into the main pot, sniffing the very soft rice, before tasting it fully. There was a hint of a nod, before she closed the pot back.
"I need to be sure that none of you made anything that could complicate Anchin-sama's recovery." She replied, trying to sound like a dignified person, yet her current demeanor made it difficult for them to see her as such.
"And?" Koleen silently tapped her foot, trying to keep her impatience from taking over.
"It is sufficient." The Berserker replied, taking a step back for them to pass.
The all collectively sighed, with Koleen taking a step forward to Ayako's room, knocking with her knuckled. "It's opened!" they heard her call out.
The door slid open, showing them the inside of the Puppeteer's room. It wasn't that much different since Mash had last been here. There was a heart monitor installed next to the bed, along with an IV drip. Her puppet familiar was at her desk, seemingly in a dormant state, resting on the miniature bed. Ayako herself looked no worse for wear, aside from being slightly disheveled. Her normally braided hair was undone, and messy, yet she still seemed to be in high spirits, if the smile on her face was any indication. She had her laptop sitting on her lap.
"Are you working?" the Witch asked her friend incredulously.
Ayako nodded in reply. "I was out after the surgery. I'm just catching up on my report for the Singularity."
"I don't think Doctor Roman would mind with yours being late." Ritsuka said as the tray rolled up beside her bed. "We made something."
"Yeah, I could tell." Ayako closed her laptop, setting it aside as her Senpai lifted the lid of the pot. She openly sniffed the congee as Mash prepared a portion for her. "Oh, smells like home."
"Ritsuka's idea." Kagiso planted his one hand on Ritsuka's shoulder, shaking him lightly.
"As expected of my fellow countrymen." She took the bowl that Mash had prepared, gratitude displayed clearly in her eyes. "Thanks, Mash!"
"Are you still tired, Ayako?" she asked as the rest of them settled in the room. Kagiso settled himself on her desk, and Koleen took a spot at the foot of the Puppeteer's bed. Both herself and Ritsuka sat themselves down on the newly carpeted floor.
"I feel better now. Like I usually was before." She tapped her chest with her forefinger. "It's not the first time I had to fix myself. But it sure was the most painful one."
"I thought you'd have, I don't know, something to deal with that. So you won't have to suffer." Ritsuka wondered aloud.
"I do have something. Something inside my brain." She answered, tapping the side of her head. "But Flauros was holding all the cards. If I took the easy way out for myself, there's no telling what it'd have done."
Mash realized that no one referred to the Professor by his normal name anymore. No one even used pronouns when referring to him anymore. It made sense, since what he was now was beyond their comprehension. But it was still a bit jarring to her, seeing everyone coming to that decision all separate from one another.
"In your brain?" Kagiso asked, curiosity displayed on his features.
"Yeah. I have absolute control over my body, even in death, figuratively speaking. If I'm ever in a position where I can't die, I activate that last trump card."
"Is that why there was nothing left of you during the explosion?" Mash asked. She remembered when they were clearing the Central bulkhead, and there was nothing but blood and ash where Ayako's original coffin was.
"Mhm. Although, that was because the explosion did enough damage to my body, causing a sort of chain reaction." She answered as she took another spoonful of the porridge.
"I wonder what the story behind that is." Koleen's eyes narrowed slightly, eyeing their friend with a smirk.
"I'll tell you guys some other time." She leaned off to the side of her bed, eyeing the door. "Kiyo-chan!"
"Hai, Anchin-sama!?" the door slid open, showing the smiling Berserker, eyes closed as she waited for Ayako.
Mash couldn't help the shiver that ran up her spine, so she settled with facing the Puppeteer instead. "Can you call the others? Whoever's awake and willing to join. They made a lot here."
"Hai, Anchin-sama!" Kiyohime bowed before them, turning to leave in a hurry, eager to carry out Ayako's order.
When the pitter-patter of the Berserker's feet grew quieter, Ayako turned back to her friends. "So? What else happened in the debriefing?"
"Same old same old." Koleen replied with a shrug.
"We did make Olga worry though, because of Flauros." Mash added for her.
"Oh?" Ayako turned to her, smirking with her eyebrow arching. "Like the fact there's 71 other people, not just Pillars, like the former Professor?"
"Yeah, yeah! That!" Ritsuka responded excitedly. "So you also came to the same conclusion, Ayako-san."
"Do you know anyone whose names share that with a Pillar?" Kagiso asked. "Perhaps from your time within the Clock Tower."
She shook her head in response. "I don't know. I'm not familiar with the Ars Goetia. So, there's not much I could compare it to."
"The Doctor was also disheartened." Mash commented, remembering the expression he bore. "He didn't take the idea of King Solomon potentially being the orchestrater well."
"Hm… didn't peg him for the religious type. Did you, Kalls?"
"No. Maybe he admired him as a historical figure?" she returned with her own question.
"Is this important?" Mash asked them, slight concern welling up inside her.
The both of them shrugged in unison. "Just a curiosity." The Puppeteer replied for the both of them.
"I have returned, Anchin-sama!" she came bursting into the room, dragging along with her two people. A beleaguered Druid, and a giggling Knight in white.
Cú Chulainn scanned the room with his red eyes, taking it all in. He sighed in understanding. "Of course it's your dinners."
"This seems like fun!" Arturia seemed to be more ecstatic in comparison, dropping to her knees beside Mash. Kiyohime herself took a spot on the head of Ayako's bed.
The Druid stayed standing, though he took the offered bowl with a gracious smile. "So what brought this on?"
"We just wanted to check up on our friend." Her Senpai responded, shimmying aside to give more room for the Servants.
"Where's Elizabeth?" she herself couldn't help but ask. "I thought she would be with you guys."
"The little gremlin's sleepin'." Cú Chulainn took a spoon of the porridge in-between his anwer. "Tuckered out, gods knows why."
"What? Is she just passed out in your breakroom?" Koleen inquired, worried eyes shared by all the Master Candidates.
"She could just take a room. We have plenty here." The Shaman added, gesturing with his one arm, holding the bowl.
"Wouldn't the Director mind?" the Saber asked, turning her innocent green eyes to them.
"We can convince her." Mash found herself saying, wondering in her mind what brought that on. "No one else is going to fill them in."
"Yeah, what have you guys been doing anyway? I know you don't need to sleep, but…" Ritsuka turned to them, his eyebrows furrowed.
"I stand guard, making sure no one unscrupulous comes close to Anchin-sama." the Berserker replied, earning a scoff from the Druid. "What? Don't be so rude within Anchin-sama's room."
"I didn't say anything." He said with a shrug, turning his eyes away from her glare.
"I have been reading through the reports and files within Chaldea." Arturia replied, ignoring the commotion around her. "I wished to see what the Organization that I pledge my loyalty to is like."
"Oh, I don't think you're going to like it, Arturia." Ayako commented, further proving to Mash that the Puppeteer knew more than she should have. It seemed Olga did share more of Chaldea's secrets with her.
The Saber furrowed her brows worriedly. "Then I will take solace that the Masters are all upstanding people."
"That's a good way to look at it." Cú Chulainn ruffled the Saber's golden hair, eliciting a grunt of complaint from her. "The Saint herself's been clearing the prayer rooms."
"So we've heard." And they did. Just around a week before they had left for Rome, the Ruler Class Servant had taken the responsibility of the prayer rooms' refurbishing, of all faiths. A very welcome respite of those who turn to their beliefs in these trying times.
"Don't know where that Professor is though, he squandered off somewhere else." He added, stifling his own yawn with a spoon.
"He's probably doing something important for Chaldea." Ritsuka offered as an explanation.
"His insight will be gratefully appreciated." Ayako said, her golden eyes looking off elsewhere in memory.
"How acquainted are you, Ayako?" Mash asked her, setting her bowl down to allow Fou his share as well.
"One of the few people who accepted me for who I was, back at the Clock Tower. Though I guess that applies to most of his students as well." She answered, swinging her legs off her bed. "I guest lectured in a few of his classes a couple of times. I don't know if he'd reciprocate, but I consider him a friend."
"Lectured? Aren't you our age?" her Senpai asked confusedly.
"Mhm. What of it?" she asked back.
They stared at each other for a short moment, before he treaded back. "Nevermind."
"Enough about me, I feel like all we've just been talking about is my history. Kagiso!" heads turned to the one-armed Shaman, who had been content in watching and listening. "Tell us yours."
"Oh, yes please!" the Saber turned on the floor to face him in earnest, eyes glowing in childish wonderment. "The land of Africa is so foreign to me. Both in life, and now. I would be delighted to know more!"
Mash was also deeply curious of it, what with Chaldea being her only experience in her short life. Kagiso's deep chuckle reverberated in the crowded room. "I don't know if modern African could live up to your expectation, Arturia. But, I'll try and weave a tale to placate that heart of yours."
He moved the chair he was sitting on closer to the group, leaving his bowl on the desk. The room was silent in anticipation. "I grew up in a shanty town, somewhere in the plains of Southern Africa…"
"So what's on your agenda today, Mash?" Ritsuka asked as the both of them walked down the sterile corridor.
"I was planning on going back to the library later, to read up on things I know little of, Senpai." She replied, absentmindedly ruffling Fou's fur in her arm. "Koleen's going to help me with things I have trouble with. Do you have another lesson with Medea?"
He shook his head, sighing sadly. "This is still a resting period, we'll start back in a few days. I was planning on heading to her workshop though."
"Oh? Why so?" she asked him.
"I just want to see what she's doing with Ayako-san's heart." His answer made her tilt her head in confusion, seeing him look away sheepishly. "I'm just curious."
"I certainly hope so." She said, giggling at his weird antics. He always thought himself as normal, but he could be as weird as the other people here in Chaldea.
The door to their left opened, and the both of them found the familiar face of Ayako, walking out of the infirmary. She smiled at their passing. "Hey guys!"
"Ayako-san! Is there something wrong?" her Senpai asked as the both of them stopped beside her.
"No." she shook her head, letting her red braid sway around her. "Just getting a thorough checkup. Everything's fine."
"That's good to hear." Mash said, followed with Fou's small bark. "Ayako, can I ask you something?"
"Hm? Sure. What's up?" the Puppeteer leaned herself on the wall, waiting for her to say her piece. Even her Senpai was looking to her, wondering what she wanted to ask.
"How… do you live life?"
Ayako's golden eyes widened at the question, before a pleased smile found its way on her face. "That's a loaded question, Mash. What brought this on?"
"In our past Singularities, I've had these talks, with the people there. With Mozart. And the Emperor." Ayako turned her face to Ritsuka, seeing him nod to her, before turning back to Mash. "And, they've both had different things to say."
"Obviously. Because that's not something you can find in a text book. Not something written in stone." She drew a long breath in, pushing herself off of the wall. "I live life with my love of humanity."
"Love of humanity?" Ritsuka asked, brows furrowing in confusion.
"Mhm. One that my mom instilled into me growing up."
"Even with, all the horrible things humanity has done?" Mash asked, surprised at her own earnest voice.
"Absolutely." Ayako said, her smile becoming more honest to them. "You can't have the good, without the bad. For all the horrible deeds humanity has done in its actually short history, its great contributions and achievements are just as amazing. And why does that happen in the first place?"
Both her Senpai and herself understood that the question was rhetorical, and instead opted to wait. Her smile widened. "It's because of how different we are. Of our uniqueness. Of all our individualities." She wrapped an arm around Ritsuka's shoulder, before moving closer to wrap an arm around her as well. "We are all different. Sometimes only a hair's breadth, sometimes as night and day. And that's why I love humanity!"
"That's how I live life, Mash." She separated herself from them, walking backwards back down the path they came from. "I don't know if this will quench that curiosity of yours, but I hope you keep on asking that question, you hear me? To as many people as can possible. I know you haven't lived much of life, but hopefully, you'll understand it more than most people in the world."
She turned on her heal, and continued on down the corridor, leaving the two to digest the words she had said. Mash herself was speechless, processing them with Fou moving up her arm. Him licking her cheek brought her back to reality, her hand subconsciously holding onto him, keeping him in check.
"I didn't expect that kind of an answer. Did you, Mash?" she turned her lavender eyes back to Ritsuka, seeing him smile at her, bringing a light flutter to her chest.
"No, I didn't, Senpai." She replied, not realizing the smile forming on her face. "What about you, Senpai?" because her mind was already clinging to what was suggested to her. "How do you live life?"
"Well…" he scratched his cheek, looking away from her as a nervous chuckle left him. "I don't think my answer would be as deep as Ayako-san's."
"I'd still like to know." Fou barked in support of her, jumping from her shoulder to his.
"Well, okay…" he resigned himself to her, opening himself up to she who had little experience in this short life of hers.
Maybe, she could understand more. Not just them and everyone around her. But herself, as well.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
i am happy with the beginning and ending of this chapter. i am not too happy with the middle. i've thought about replacing it entirely with a different scene in mind, but it wouldn't fit anywhere else timeline wise.
Mash's character grows throughout the story (some people rightfully say that she's the true protag of FGO), it's a bit of a shame we (this fic) will hardly get to see it, since most of this story is from Ayako's PoV. hopefully, we can see this little bit of growth here.
also, while we're at it, have ya'll checked out the new Requiem Servants? holy shit. a dino lady, a the freakin' Voyager 1, his 3rd ascension has one of the coolest NPs yet. didn't think i'd be that interested in him, but i am.
well, i thinks that's it for my thoughts on the chapter, and other things, so let's get to the reviews!
trexboy164: i don't have a set number yet, but i do have something in mind for Okeanos in regards to the Servants.
FateStayNight Fanboy: i don't do omakes (actual omakes), but i only have a few events in mind that i will definitely do. KnK is among them. we'll see about the others.
Lulumo: i'm not gonna do any Class changes, mostly because it would just make the Servants too versatile, especially if they have the choice. besides, i like the restrictions. it's more fun to have the Servants be represented in Classes they're not normally in.
C2M1: oof, that's a lot to take in. it'll be something i have to wait to see if its unveiled more in the game.
and Koleen is different from Alice Kuonji (especially since it's a bit difficult on what i can get from Alice.) honestly, there's not much written about Witchcraft outside of Aoko's story, aside as a skill for a few of the Casters here, aside from the fact that it's different because it focuses on "Negative Energy".
Koleen herself (and by extension, her family), are even more different than how i picture most witches are, and it's something i'm planning on showing through the story.
TarrierDrake: i have a few in mind. anything that's considered canon to the story at least. CCC definitely.
Addicted2fanfics: you'll have to wait for Altera to drop.
King0fP0wers: it will be an interesting challenge to make the Pillars more, interesting than what they are in the game. even in Salomon.
Ayako will definitely be able to match A Team. she's the daughter of Touko, and a genius in her own right. this story will definitely show us how she gets there.
Primus101: Ayako will definitely be an existence to be able to challenge Goetia, on an intellectual level, because it will still be very easy for him to just vaporize her body on the spot. and Ayako will definitely learn some Primordial Runes in the future. by who? that remains to be seen.
Guest: he won't have an interest in her, but he will be somewhat pissed by her existence at the very least.
so, another wild ride done, thank you all for joining the ride.
drop a review if you don't mind, and i'll see you all next time!