Getting Your Toes Wet
Debris of reinforced concrete scattered around them, as the duel between the King and her Knight raged on for close to an hour. The golden light of Caliburn shone from its use, briefly shadowed by an indistinct longsword, blackened by corruption, that came swinging down onto the Saber. She deflected it to her side with practiced movements, though with some difficulty as the ground cratered under the Berserker's attack. Her foot rose, aiming a kick at him though not with intent to harm, as she launched herself away from him. The Berserker followed behind her with ungodly speed, swinging the longsword in an upward motion towards her. This time, she caught the blade with the heels of her greaves, launching herself further away from him.
The height difference was still no issue for a Knight like Lancelot, as he launched himself from the ground, leaving behind a crater in his wake. Once again, he swung his sword upward, though this time Arturia maneuvered the attack with a slight change in her stance. She twirled in the air out of the attack, and countered with her own, but he blocked it with his gauntleted fist. He pushed her down to the ground, with her landing on her feet and backing away immediately as he landed right after her. He chased after again with frightening efficiency and ferocity.
"Okay, that's enough for me." Ritsuka said as he rubbed his straining eyes, the reinforcements on them released. He and Mash had only just arrived, and he couldn't keep up with the fast movements of the Servants. It was at the urging of Mash that he tried to reinforce his eyes in the first place. He lasted 5 minutes.
"Its okay, Senpai. It'll get better." Mash reassured him with a smile, while making sure her shield was covering the both of them.
"How is your training regimen with Martha, Ritsuka?" Kagiso asked conversationally. He was here before them, since he was there to overlook the duel. Aside from the members of the crew that were stationed here, most of them who had made themselves scarce, it was only him and EMIYA here.
The Archer was there because he was the one to supply the Berserker the weapon.
"I try to follow the steps she's outlined for me, but… it's been put to the aside ever since she focused on the prayer rooms." He replied, somewhat hesitantly.
The Shaman raised a brow, smirking at Ritsuka's nervous form. "Are you trying to skip out on her training?"
"She's so different than how she presents herself as a Saint." He shuddered at his first memory of her training. He couldn't move at all the next day, practically glued to his bed.
"You shouldn't shirk out on your responsibilities, Master." the Archer admonished with a shake of his head, keeping his point of view locked to the battle. "It would do you well in the long run."
"I know! I know, it's just… she's really, intense…" he shuddered again. She seemed like so much like a yankee.
"Ah!"
Caliburn sailed past them, clattering on the ground, making them turn their eyes back to the duel. Sir Lancelot had disarmed Arturia, now on her knees with the nameless longsword pointed straight at her neck. He didn't look worse for wear, contrary to Arturia who looked like she had been through the ringer. Bits of her gleaming armor were scattered around the hangar, with a few rips on her dress underneath. Her hair was loose, hanging freely from her head with the black ribbon nowhere to be seen. She looked exhausted, but unfettered, judging by the smile on her face.
"Your form is perfect, as always, my King." Sir Lancelot said, breaking the silence between them, as he offered her his free hand. "What you are lacking, is strength. Especially compared to myself. It's even more apparent in this form of yours, though you are faster than I remembered you to be."
"So I should lean in on my agility?" she asked as she took his hand, rising off the ground. "Thank you, Sir Lancelot!" she thanked him with a beaming smile.
The smile on the Berserker's face was serene. They all understood the way his Madness Enhancement worked, yet somehow this White King was able to bring him out of his insanity as easily as she breathed. A Saber that seemed to be weaker than she should be, turned out to have something else in play instead.
"Aw damn, am I late?" Ayako's voice echoed in the hangar, as she rushed towards the group, carrying her rifle in her hand.
"They finished just a second ago." Kagiso replied, taking in her form with furrowed brows. "Where did you run off to?"
"I just needed to get something." She said with a smile, and a curious glint in her eyes, as she walked towards the two Servants. "Sir Lancelot! May I ask of you something?"
The Knight turned to his Master with a queried look to his face. "Yes, Lady Ayako?"
"Oh, stop it with the Lady nonsense." She waved off the title, though a rare blush formed on her face. "Here." She said, holding out her rifle for him. "It's my gun. I'd like to see you use it."
His eyes inspected the weapon in her hands, narrowing as he focused on its make. "You made this yourself? You forged it? A gun?"
"I mean, I forged the metal parts." She replied with a shrug. "I carved the wooden parts from an ancient Icelandic tree. Assembling it didn't take long, but it sure was an ass to get the materials." She said, offering the gun again.
He took the rifle with his left hand, and almost instantly, its entire form was bathed by his corruptive essence. Dark purple and black, with red streaks running through it. "Does it have a name?" he asked.
"Aurvandil. Depending on the language, it could either mean the Morning Star, or Venus." She said with an elated smile, backing away from the Berserker as he held the gun proper, dropping the longsword that EMIYA had lent him. The color returned to normal a few seconds later, before it dissipated into motes of light.
"What should be, my target?" he asked them.
"I will be." Mash volunteered, stepping forward to the Knight.
Lancelot backed away slightly, looking far more hesitant than he would be whenever he interacted with Arturia. The three Masters within the hangar noted the behavior curiously, as he stopped Mash with a raised hand. "I, am rather uncomfortable, to have someone as young as you be my target."
Mash's face formed a frown, looking up at the Berserker. "But, you dueled Saber, and she's younger than me, in that form."
"That's because I am his King, Mash! He will follow my words, even though they might not mean as such." Arturia said, moving to their side with a smile on her face.
Her reasoning, was less of one, and more of an excuse, the Masters noted. She was bailing him out.
They all glanced to one another, nodding in understanding. There was something else here they were not privy of.
"Just use one of the helicopters." An old voice spoke up from elsewhere in the hangar. The old Veteran, who had lingered around. "No one's using them."
"Wait wait, they can't just do that." Another member of the crew said, approaching the old man with a worried look on his face.
"It's fine. I'll take the responsibility." He pushed the crew member away as he walked towards them, pointing at one of the aircrafts inside, sitting at the far corner of the hangar. "You can use that one. It's been drained of gasoline, so it should be safe to fire at."
"That's convenient." Ayako commented with a raised brow, turning to the Pilot who merely shrugged back.
"The Mona Lisa said she needed it for summin'. Who knows what." He responded. "Go on, just shoot it!"
"Masters." The Knight turned to them, waiting for their order.
"Go ahead, Sir Lancelot." The Shaman gave the final order, leaving Ayako giddy with excitement. Mash had returned, making sure this time she was covering all of them, while EMIYA projected a larger sword for himself, planting it onto the floor to act as his own cover. Arturia had to nudge the Pilot along with them, standing behind the sword as well.
Lancelot nodded in acknowledgement, aiming the rifle in his hands at the target. A defunct aircraft that saw no use within Chaldea at the given moment. He held his breath, and pulled the trigger.
Half the helicopter exploded from the bullet. The other half tore apart from the impact. The surrounding walls that acted as a separator garage was also blown back. All of it was so fast that they didn't even notice the bullet flying out of the barrel, as the helicopter's destruction seemed to be in time with the muzzle flash of the rifle. Despite all of that, none of the debris went their way. The Masters, Mash, and the remainder of the crew had their eyes wide.
"A Berserker that can act as an Archer. That's a bit unfair." EMIYA commented with his usual straight laced face.
Ayako turned to her friends with an almost manic smile on her face. "We need to get Sir Lancelot a gun! Oh my god, and it has to be a sniper rifle! Think of his effective range! Damn, do I have any schematics for a sniper rifle with? Ah! I need to go check!"
And just like that, the Puppeteer was off again, leaving the hangar just as quickly as she had arrived, crossing distances with her reinforced feet. Her friends watched her leave with mouths agape, while the booming laughter of the Pilot echoed in the hangar, as he returned to where the rest of the crew were gathered. Sir Lancelot approached the Masters, holding the rifle in his hands.
"She forgot this." He said, holding it out for them.
"I'll bring it back to her." Ritsuka said, taking the rifle from the Berserker, its color returning back.
"Do you need any healing, Arturia?" Kagiso asked the Saber, still looking as disheveled as ever.
She shook her head with a smile on her face. "Chaldea's reserves will be enough for me. I'll just rest in the bunks!"
Both Masters furrowed their brows confusedly. "Bunks?" Ritsuka questioned for them.
"Yes, Elizabeth had gotten a room for us, furnished and all. Enough for 5 to 6 Servants. Well, for any Servant like her and I, she said." The Saber said with an embarrassed smile. "I'm not sure what she meant by that."
"Young maidens, I'm assuming." EMIYA commented with a chuckle. "Though with her, I'm pretty sure she's applying that word rather loosely."
Her smile morphed into a frown as she glared at the tanned man. "That's not a very nice thing to say, Mister Archer. I didn't take you for a gossip."
"It is not gossip. It is a simple observation."
The Saber narrowed her eyes on the taller man, not believing a single word he said. "I will return later, when I am all freshened up." She said, walking to where Caliburn was thrown before making her way out of the hangar.
"You are horrible with women." Kagiso commented with a shake of his head.
"I wasn't going to say it, but…" Ritsuka's words left his mouth without any resistance.
Sir Lancelot planted his hand on the Archer's shoulder. "I implore you to not earn the King's ire." His hand tightened, pinning EMIYA in place. The Archer glanced to the hand, for the first time to them looking slightly worried. "It would be unwise."
He glanced at the hand again, before meeting the Berserker with a practiced smile on his face. "Noted."
"Good." Lancelot returned the smile, freeing the Archer's shoulder from his hand. "I'm glad we could come to an accord."
"You go on ahead, Ritsuka, Mash." The Shaman spoke up, stretching his neck. "I will supervise the cleanup."
A three-tined alert ping came from their communicators, stopping whatever it was they were about to do. Trepidation, and excitement, coursed through them like electricity. This particular alert was only ever used for one thing.
A new Singularity.
"Looks like you're not going to be supervising anything, Kagiso-san." Ritsuka remarked with a smirk on his face.
"It seems to be the case." Kagiso chuckled at the coincidence, before he turned to the Servants. "Well gentlemen, it seems we have a meeting to attend."
Ayako set her rifle leaning on the table, looking out of place within the room. She was so caught up with her excitement that she just ran off, leaving the very weapon she had left to get in the first place. That was embarrassing. She tended to get lost in herself whenever she found something she could really get into. And the thought of arming the Berserker with an assortment of weapons, it was hard for her to put to words. But, she had to put it aside for the moment.
She looked around the room, gathering the people that had arrived. Herself and the rest of the Ground Team were sitting beside one another. The Casters grouped together, and so did the two Archers. Saber wasn't here, most likely still recuperating after her strenuous duel with the Berserker, who sat himself beside Elizabeth. The Lancer was talking his ear out, though the Knight was patient in dealing with the young Servant. In contrast, Kiyohime was standing behind her, though she was still keeping a good distance between them.
Doctor Roman was standing at the head of the table, with an operator just next to him from the Control Room that was temporarily acting as his assistant. What was her name? Sylvia? Yeah, it was Sylvia. Da Vinci was also in the room, sitting beside the Director, who didn't look all too well. She looked like she was sick. Or, perhaps she was crying? Ayako couldn't tell, but there was a tiredness to Olga's posture that was more akin to when she was catatonic.
Did something happen? She wondered, but didn't say, or ask. It wasn't the time, nor the place.
The door opened, as two more Servants walked in. Sanson, and Martha. The both of them separated, sitting themselves on opposite sides. Sanson, with Lancelot and Elizabeth. Martha, with the Casters.
"Alright, looks like that's everyone so far." The Doctor clapped his hands in attention, turning to the woman beside him. "Sylvia, if you would?"
"Yes Doctor." Digital taps were heard as she interfaced with her tablet, bringing up a map for them to see.
The blue atlas of the world emerged, before it began zooming in on one area in particular. The vast blue ocean between Europe and the Americas. What?
"Doctor, that's the Atlantic Ocean." Koleen commented with furrowed brows, stroking the kitten that was sleeping on her lap.
"Mhm, that's right. The Atlantic Ocean, 1573." He reiterated with a smile.
Ayako's face fell on the table in a thud, her groan leaving her lips effortlessly. "Oh my gooooooooooood."
"Wait, what are we supposed to do there?" Ritsuka asked, the confusion still on his face. "Isn't that just water?"
"There's some landmasses, but yes. It's mostly water." He kept the smile on his face as he addressed them.
"1573, that's the Age of Discovery, or the Age of Exporation." Koleen noted with an irritated frown on her face. "A pivotal moment in history that essentially led the world into an age of colonialism and globalization."
"And highlights the worst aspects of the European monarchies." Kagiso added with a slight nod.
"Did you get anything else, beside it being in the middle of the ocean?" Ayako asked as she raised her head again.
"No, unfortunately." The smile finally fell off his face. "There's not much we're getting, aside from the location and date."
"So the thing we have to consider is how we would traverse the oceans then." Ayako sighed as she calmed herself down.
"I can fly." Elizabeth spoke up with a toothy grin. "But I can only carry one person with me. Although I can carry more, it's difficult and awkward to do that."
"I can offer limited flight for the group, but it would be highly inefficient." Medea spoke to the room. "I think we should make Mystic Codes for the Masters that concerns traversal."
"Unfortunately, we do not have the time to do that, unless we wish to postpone the Singularity." Da Vinci responded from where she sat. "And who knows what would happen by the time it's ready."
"Tarrasque can serve as an adequate ship if needs be." Martha said with a smile. "The seas is nothing to the child of Leviathan."
"We can table that suggestion then."
"Can we rayshift one of the vehicles in the hangar?" Koleen asked the Genius, earning a shake of denial from her.
"Not currently. The system is still not running in an optimal state." Da Vinci replied with an unfamiliar frown. "We're months away from that, excluding the tests we'd need to run."
"So, realistically, we only have Tarrasque." Ayako began tapping her fingers on the table. "I can fly, at least, with my coat. But it's not really made for flight, it's for getting out of a bad situation."
"All of us Masters can fit on his back. The question is, how many Servants are coming along, including Mash and Martha?" Kagiso asked the Puppeteer.
"I want only six Servants with you." The Director finally spoke up, after sitting in silence since entering the room.
"Six? Why?" Ayako asked, confused by the sudden restriction.
The white haired woman straightened herself on her seat, before she answered the question. "Quality, over quantity. I'd like two of you Masters to be able to fully support a single powerful Servant." She further outlined, as her hand moved to gesture to Martha and Sir Lancelot. "These two, going by their parameters, are our strongest Servants currently. Even though Chaldea is shouldering most of their weight, you Masters are still their direct anchor. Thus, the two chosen Masters will not be so strained to handle two Servants."
The Ground Team looked to one another, digesting Olga's reasoning. It was perfectly sound. They turned to Ayako, the leader, as she held her chin in thought. She nodded. "Then, Kags and I will be the one to bear that contract."
"Are you sure about that, Ayako?" Said Shaman asked with concern. "You don't have that much magic circuits within you."
"True, but Kalls has the most among us. The two Servants contracted to her will be the closest to their full potential, compared to if two were with me." She explained.
"If we bring a Caster, then that weight will be even lighter, for either Ritsuka or I." the Witch added.
"Then who's coming with us then?" Mash asked. Though she was not mentioned by name, she was still a shoe in as a Servant.
"Both Archers would be a great help with such an open field." She answered thoughtfully. "And they're our newest summons as well, it would not do them good to just leave them here. We didn't summon them so they could be housewives."
Most of the Servants turned their eyes to EMIYA, who was deftly ignoring the sudden attention thrown his way.
Ritsuka leaned himself on the table, trying to catch her eye. "And the Caster?"
Ayako turned to the group of three, her eyes asking them an unsaid question. Cú Chulainn took the bait first. "I won't say no if you ask me to, but the seas is not my realm of expertise. Even if I was a Lancer."
"I am in the same boat as him." The host of Zhuge Liang added with a puff of smoke. "But I can still provide my expertise from here."
"I guess that leaves me then." The Grecian Caster sighed, but she met Ayako's eyes with her own. "I will return to the battlefield once more."
"Then there we have it." Ayako said, turning to the Doctor and the Director. "That's our current Ground Team."
"Mash, Medea, Martha, EMIYA, Atalante, and Sir Lancelot." Roman repeated as the names were listed on the screen. "Alright. When shall we commence with the operation?"
He asked the question to Olga, who had once again returned to the silence. Now Ayako was growing concerned, as the white haired woman stood up, with her hands planted on the table. "I will give you all two days to prepare for the Singularity. Be it resupplying or further training. And then, on the 10th of November, we will tackle the Third Singularity."
"Did she seem off, to you guys?" Ritsuka asked, stirring the fork on his plate that was holding a half-eaten burger and some fries.
"Yes." The four other people on the table answered in unison. Mash especially had a grimace that had never left her face since the briefing. "Something happened, but I don't know what."
"I think Doctor Roman knew." Koleen said, her dinner pushed to the side for the moment as she nursed the kitten that was laying on Fou's small body. The older Phantasmal Creature seemed to be accommodating for the kitten. "He didn't once look concerned, and usually he'd be the first to notice."
"So that's probably his way of saying that he's got it under control." Ayako took a bite of her fries, her pensive mood very much visible in her body language.
"I would hope so." the Shaman covered his mouth as he lightly burped, before continuing. "I would not like to see the Director relapse after her recovery."
"Is there something we can do?" Ritsuka picked up his burger, the intent to finish his dinner resurfacing.
"Not directly. This seems to be a personal problem." Kagiso answered with a shake of his weary head. "It is a delicate thing if we were to broach the subject."
"There has to be something we can do." Mash said, with a pleading tone to her voice. "Maybe… we can make her something?"
"What, like a cake?" Ayako countered with her own question. "Does she even like cakes?"
"I don't know, but I want to do something. To show that we care." Mash said with in intensity that was rare to her.
"You really care for her, Mash." Koleen noted, a small smile forming on her face.
The Demi-Servant shifted in her seat, glancing away from them briefly. "She, doesn't show it. But she cares. More than she should, for someone with her background."
"I've noticed." Kagiso nodded, looking far more contemplative than he needed to be. "Considering who her father was, I am honestly surprised."
"You knew Marisbilly?" The words left Ayako's mouth before she even realized what she had said.
"I've heard of him. By reputation." He shook his head with a frown marring his face. "The less said, the better."
"I've heard he's done a lot of good though." Koleen commented with furrowed brows of confusion.
"He's also still a true and true magus, Kalls." Ayako said with a disappointed sigh. "All magi are assholes, with differing intensities. And he was very high up there, despite his apparently noble goal."
"The Casters we have here all seem so normal though." Ritsuka looked to her, disbelief written across his face, as his hand idly petted Fou.
"'Dea and Da Vinci are sort of holding back for you, Ritsu-chan." She said with a grimace. "They like you, 'cause you're a nice guy. They don't want to scare you away. Especially since one's teaching you, and the other's supplying you Mystic Codes."
"Da Vinci at least is still, very much a nice person." Kagiso added for them. "As much as an eccentric Genius could be on the scale of niceness. And Cú Chulainn doesn't consider himself a magus, despite his expertise. He's more of a spellcaster, even summoned as he is now."
"And Lord El-Melloi II sees himself more as a teacher first and foremost." Ayako once again took over, leaning onto her elbow. "If you weren't under 'Dea's tutelage already, he'd have taken the spot easily."
"I knew Ayako was experienced, but I'm surprised you know so much of this, Kagiso." Mash wondered aloud.
"My mentor was a Clock Tower graduate. And he taught me a lot of its politics." He sighed, leaning his chin onto his metallic hand. "Escaped one war, to face a different war."
"You didn't actually join the Clock Tower, did you?" Ayako asked, her mind scrambling if she could remember him then.
His answer eased her worry. "No I did not. I did not like the idea of dealing with those kinds of people. They are warlords of a different flavor."
The conversation trailed off from there, as the group settled on finishing their midnight dinner. They talked, and chatted amongst one another. But tonight, their heart wasn't in it, and their minds were elsewhere. This was not the right mindset to be having, with a Singularity coming up so soon. They all knew it. But, with the weight that suddenly landed on their shoulders, it was difficult to maneuver themselves around such a subject.
As they all stood inside the kitchen, washing the dishes together unlike usual, Rituska spoke. "So… are we going to bake the cake or not?"
The light in the room shone bright, like a sudden illumination in a dark tunnel. "Yeah, let's do it." Ayako said with a growing smile.
"What flavor should we go for?" Kagiso questioned with a chuckle. "Chocolate? Or Strawberry?"
"Neither, we should go for vanilla." Koleen said with an intensity to her words. "Nothing too fancy, something simple will do the trick." Her words left her as she tucked her kitten into her breast pocket.
"Is there anything else we can do?" Mash asked with a peppiness to her steps, as Fou danced around her feet. "Something that, I don't know…"
"You can record her a message, Mash. To show her that you care." Ritsuka suggested as he wiped his hands with the towel that was inside the kitchen.
"Senpai…" Mash looked to him with a smile on her face. "Yes, I'll do that."
"When are we going to bake it?" Koleen asked the important question.
"Tomorrow night. Meet up here at 11pm." Ayako said, giving her order as the leader of the Ground Team. "I'll check up with Culinary and see if they have some ingredients to spare."
"Alright." Kagiso's single clap echoed in the night. "See you all tomorrow."
With the simple talk of cake, their night ended on a higher note. All, for the concern of their Director.
They used the time they had wisely. Only two days, before they were to commence the operation, and they filled their days with the preparations needed.
Ayako stood in the middle of her workshop in contemplative silence. She had all but stocked up her reserves for her runestones, so she wasn't in any trouble from that front. Her backups were laid close to the wall, covered by a thin blanket over the gurneys she had borrowed from the infirmary. And her rifle, floating with a slow spin in its platform that she had created for it. It hummed with power, accentuated by the blue glow of the runic lines that adorned its wooden frame.
"Aa-chan." She spoke up to the room, to the familiar that was busy taking inventory of her things. It stopped and looked up to her. "Now that Kags is rayshifting with us, I want you to be on standby at the infirmary, okay? Just help Sanson and the others out."
The puppet looked at her in silence, before it slowly nodded, replying in its usual unintelligible manner.
She took her rifle from its platform, and a generous amount of reserve ammo. She planned on letting Sir Lancelot use her weapon, but she wasn't entirely sure if he needed ammo, or if his Noble Phantasm would somehow magically supply it.
"Should I get anything else?" she thought aloud as she packed her things, and more, into her red coat. "Should I bother with the ration bars? Eh, what the hell." She said with a nod, leaving for her room to gather up said tasteless but fulfilling food.
"And… that's it." Koleen filled the twelfth reinforced test tube with the pink liquid that had been brewing in her pot for the past week. She closed it off with a tight cork, feeling its weight in her hand. It was far heavier than it looked.
She brought it up closer to her face, inspecting her latest creation. Most of the time, she hardly ever followed any sort of recipe. She was far more comfortable experimenting when it came to creating her concoctions and potions. The only exception was the horrid stink bomb she had made once when she was a child, and the upgraded version she brought along to the Roman Empire. And the other exception, were the dozen tubes she had on her table.
It was dangerous, she was certain, despite the fact that she had never made anything like it before. She just, had… an inkling, to the product that she had created. She didn't know where that inkling came from, but she knew that this was what it resulted in. This heavy, pink liquid that could easily obliterated her workshop, her room, and the whole section that she was currently in. What would be a good name for it?
"Monarch's Beat." The name left her lips, and immediately, she knew it was perfect. Monarch, for the Monarch Butterfly. And Beat, for the Butterfly Effect, for how a single beat of its wings could cause a raging hurricane elsewhere.
She felt her skin crawl, as she placed the test tube in its case. She needed to be careful with this. A single mistake would be the end of her.
Three knocks came upon her door. "Kitten! You called?"
She smiled when she heard the Lancer's voice. "Come in, Liz!"
The door slid open, and in walked the draconic Servant, with her thick tail swishing around behind her. "What's up?" she asked with a toothy grin.
"I need your help with something." Koleen began, turning to face the Lancer. "It's important, especially while I'm not here."
"What is it, that it's so important?" Elizabeth asked with youthful curiosity.
"Here." She held up her black, three-tailed kitten, handing it to the shorter Servant. "I need you to take care of him while I'm gone. I've got all his essentials prepped in my room." She pulled out her card, holding it out for the Lancer. "You can use this to get in it."
She waited for a response, though she felt like she wasn't going to get any soon, what with the Lancer looking wide eyed at the kitten now in her hands. "Aaaaahhhh! Oh my god you're so cute! We're gonna have the best of times!" she hugged the kitten close to her face, squealing like a child opening a Christmas present. "Oh, Kitten! I'm going to take the best care of him! Don't you worry!"
"I'm sure you would, Liz." A soft smile formed on her face, as she nudged her namecard back to the Servant. "Here, you'll need this."
"Okay!" she took the lanyard with further prompting, sitting herself down on Koleen's chair.
"Do I need to ask someone else to check up on you, to make sure that you're doing your job properly?" the Witch asked with her hands akimbo.
"No!" Elizabeth shook her head with a fervor. "I'll make sure that Little Roman is well taken care of! You can count on me!"
The soft smile on her face became more pronounced, as if the worries she has in the back of her mind melted away. "I know I can."
Within his single, simple room, Kagiso stood inside the bathroom compartment, topless as he faced the mirror inside, with his face wet from the water he had splashed on his face. This was to be his first full Singularity deployment. And, unlike the simulations and the joint practices, he was not observing. He was not on standby. He was doing much more than that.
He breathed in a lungful of air, releasing it in a slow exhale. And he began repeating:
"I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:"
The Hippocratic Oath that he took, in the name of his mentor, who took him in. The one who pulled him out of that war torn life.
"I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow."
He pulled the two sheathed weapons from underneath the sink. Daggers, though one looked more like a short sword.
"I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism."
He pulled the larger dagger freeout, inspecting its make. Nothing was out of the ordinary, it was completely mundane.
"I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug."
He pulled out the smaller one, curved like an ornamental dagger. This one was his one Mystic Code, the one he used to channel the teachings of his land's ancestors.
"I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery."
He sheathed the weapons again, placing them neatly above his sink. He reached for a small box beside the faucet, and opened.
"I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God."
He took out a few things, only a handful in number. Like Koleen, he made use of fetishes, but he did not need much. Only a select few, from his land. From his people.
"I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick."
He placed them inside a small pocket, one that will be readily accessible when he needs of it. He wrapped his largest dagger around his waist, tightening it.
"I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure."
His metallic hand, now free of his belongings, reached for his chest, his left pec. Now, bearing the telltale mark, of his Command Spells.
"I will protect the environment which sustains us, in the knowledge that the continuing health of ourselves and our societies is dependent on a healthy planet."
Three crescent shapes, each overlapping the other, from the smallest at the bottom, to the largest at the top. The smallest one, curved to almost bear the outline of an animal.
"I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm."
The second one above it, like a looming curved dagger. Like the one he had in his possession.
"If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help."
The last one, the largest one. Like the crest of the sun in the savannah. Overlooking everything else, and bathing it under its majesty.
"Mshauri, natumai ninajivunia."
He brought his Mystic Code to his face, holding it close in prayer. Praying to those who would look down upon him. Praying to his lands' ancestors, which had embraced this lost child. Praying to his mentor, for saving him.
For this, was where he would be judged.
"You're not having any troubles with the crossbow, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
"Are you sure? It's built like an SMG, you've used a gun before, haven't you?"
"No, I have not, Da Vinci-san."
"Really? Hm… what have you used before then?"
"I took Archery in high school."
"Oh, then do you want me to make you a bow? It shouldn't take too long."
"I'm fine, Da Vinci-san." He sighed as he rubbed his temple. Was this what they meant when they said that Da Vinci was a magus? "I just came by to ask for more bolts."
"Oh…" the living painting furrowed her brows. "Well why didn't you say so?"
"I did!" he exclaimed, louder than he had meant to. "That's the first thing I said when I came here! "Hey Da Vinci-san. Can I get more bolts for the crossbow?" You were there! I asked you directly!"
"You did?" she tilted her head in thought, remembering the past couple of minutes that had transpired between them. She smiled. "Oh yeah, you did! Honestly slipped my mind. Easy mistake." She ducked beside her table, rummaging through her creations, before she pulled out a box. She opened the lid for him. "Take as many as you need."
"Thank you." He said with gratitude, and relief, as he moved closer to the desk. He pulled out a few of the cartridges one by one.
"Feeling confident?" she asked him with a smile on her beautiful face.
"Hm? Oh, uhm. Yeah." He replied, smiling back at her. "More so than I usually am. I think… we can do this."
"Atta boy, Ritsuka-kun." She stood herself up, almost slamming her gauntleted hand onto his shoulder. Even though she was a Caster, she was still a Servant. It hurt. "That's the spirit."
"Hey, Da Vinci-san."
"Yeeees?"
"Can we ask you for a favor? And, to also tell the Doctor this?" he asked the question that Ayako had given him.
"Hm? We? And Romani?" she tilted her head in a cutesy manner.
"Yeah." He nodded, straightening his posture for her. "We."
"Okay, I think this is how we do it. Isn't it right, Fou?" Mash asked the small creature beside her, as she set up the camera inside her room.
"Fou!" it replied, wagging its tail happily at her.
"Yeah, I thought so." she smiled back at the creature, adjusting her glasses briefly as she made sure everything was set. She turned her chair so that it faced the camera, her body already moving to clear the mess that was on her desk.
She returned to the camera, ready to press record, when her finger stopped. "What should I say?" she asked to herself. "How do I start?" she stepped back, sitting herself down onto her bed in thought.
"Fou!" the small mascot creature jumped onto the bed, and to her lap, pawing her thighs.
Although the Phantasmal Beast was speaking to her, Mash interpreted its mewls for her own words. "Yeah, I think we should start like that." Fortunately for her, it was exactly what it had meant.
She got back up, walking straight towards the camera, and pressed record. She hurriedly made her way towards the chair, sitting herself down. She looked at the camera lens, eyeing her for an eternity.
"Director..." she grimaced, frowning at the word, it didn't feel right. "Olga…" she started again, somewhat hesitantly. "I… wanted to thank you. For, everything you've done for me. For us. Even though you'd never admit it, even though you'd never accept it. Thank you…"
The camera kept rolling, as the Demi Servant poured her heart out, for the message that she hoped would bring ease to the Director's heart.
And so, their day came and went, as quickly as it felt. And on the 10th of November, 2017, the Ground Team commenced their operation, into the Third Singularity.
"Starting Unsummon Program."
"Begin Spiritron Conversion."
"Rayshift beginning in 3…
2…
1…
All operations cleared. Beginning Grand Order operation."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
here we go ladies and gents.
Okeanos.
just a big heads up, so we're all clear, i've been entertaining the idea of having OC Servants start appearing, within the Singularities at least, but they're not gonna appear here. i couldn't find the ones that were both fitting and unique enough to have, with the time i had (my mind was on the story beats, and the post-singularity stuff), so that plan is put to the side, for Okeanos at least.
also, i've decided on keeping a rough timeline available with me now. that's not just a random date there, that was a calculated date that i've counted. which sorta lines up with the releases.
on a side note, i didn't plan on having this chapter be this long. boy oh boy. i'm kinda hoping i can tone down the length of the upcoming chapters. this is getting crazy, even for me...
there's nothing else much to say, aside from the fact that we got to see more of Koleen, and Kagiso!
oh, almost forgot!
the translated dialogue:
"Mentor, I hope I do you proud."
with that out of the way, let's get to the reviews!
Quartermass: same here! Medea and Brynhildr, best yanderes of Fate. i can't wait until the group here gets Bryn, i'm just not sure when exactly they'll get her. oh man, on another note, i gotta get Sigurd! the one chad who can handle his yandere wife with heavy balls of steel.
trexboy164: there's a reason why i'm also excited on getting Jason here, though he won't appear any time soon, since his time to shine will be in Lostbelt 5.
C2M1: yeah, there's a reason why Ayako likes Reines. Ayako's pretty much a fan of most of the Modern Magecraft Theory students, be it alumni or present students. they're the closest she has to friends in the place.
Addicted2fanfics: thanks man! they will definitely need it!
AnonReader0: thanks! and no, on Mordred. not because i hate her (although, i'll be honest, i'm not really a fan of her either way), but because i don't have her, and my one rule is to only use Servants that i've personally summoned. so, Londinium will be fun by the time we get there!
chronicler2112: thanks man! the humanness of everyone, is a theme that i unintentionally but am fully committing to starting.
Nuclear Kimchi: which funnily enough is a huge contrast to me, because i'm swimming with Riders.
GARNiDELiA: yeah, that's an aspect of the story that i'm really going in to now.
King0fP0wers: thanks dude! and her contempt is mostly at Jason. Atalante just got the splash damage, so to say. i don't remember where i found it, but i read that Heracles was one of the few people on the Argo who were truly nice to her, so i'm hoping to lean in to that.
and yeah, if i'm not mistaken, from what i read, the Animuspheres and their magecraft are one of the oldest, and they're also one of the most powerful. unfortunately for them, in tandem with the declining Mystery of the world, no one saw use in them anymore.
and i'm definitely hoping to kit Ritsuka out as the time goes on.
omegadramon2: funny you should say that, since i had been planning that above scene for a while now.
Lia Angelique: damn, i really need to finish that anime. the more i hear about him, the more i hate. but, that's a magus for you, right?
i'm also hoping that Guinevere at least pops up, in the main game/story. either as an NPC or a Servant, just so we can have her appearance.
again, thank you all for spending some of your time to read this!
leave a review if you don't mind, and i'll see you all next time!