Disclaimer: Fate series and Persona series belong to their awesome owner. I do not own anything.
"Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth! Those are the facts of this world! And you will all surrender to them, you pigs in human clothing!"
~ Satsuki Kiryuuin (Kill la Kill)
The day has finally come for her to take the throne from its ruler. After weeks of stalking the entrance and late-night preparation of her plan. The King of Innovation, Nobunaga Oda, is just one step away from the throne of Rome. Just by looking at it, the girl cannot contain her excitement anymore as she dances around it in joy, there was no doubt in her mind that she will fail this plan, her plan was foolproof, once she claims Rome from its ruler, no one can resist her rule and everyone will sing her praise as she carves her name in history. The Great Nobunaga, the one who alone conquered the mighty empire of Rome.
She laughs to herself with pride in her achievement that she didn't notice the raven-haired man behind her. "Excuse me, but what are you doing here?" Nobunaga body startled after hearing his voice, slowly moving her head to see who it was, she saw a man wearing black-colored tailcoat staring at her in confusion. "Who are you!" She quickly turned around to face him and accusingly pointed her finger at him. "I'm Ren Amamiya, who are you?" The man named Ren Amamiya kindly answered. "I'm Oda Nobunaga, its nice to meet-!" She stopped herself from replying in the same manner. Someone found her! Her foolproof plan of stealth that she painstakingly created for a week!
"No!" She said to herself in confidence. This man doesn't know her plan, she can still get the throne, but she needs to get rid of this man first. Oda Nobunaga reclaims her composure as she then looks onto the man's eyes. "Why are you awake this late at night?" She asks and watches him let out a sigh. "I heard noises outside our room, I went outside and saw a shadow lurking around the corner, I followed it and lead me here, was that because of you?" She was right all along, this man is clueless and has no idea about her goal, seeing her chance to avoid suspicions, Oda answered the man question. "Yes, that was mine. Forgive me if I wake you up, I was doing my job of guarding this throne."
"Your choices of clothing look very unique for a guard." The girl was about to defend herself from what she thought an insult, but stop when he continued. "It looks very cool though, did you make it?" Getting caught off guard by the compliment, she bashfully nodded to answer and replied. "You think its cool? Um, thank you." She said before shaking her head fast and return to her earlier composure. "Sir, I ask you to return to your sleeping quarter, your distracting me on my job." The bashful manner of the girl from earlier suddenly changes into haughty in just five seconds. "Does the dance part of your job as well? Or it was a ritual for the guards here?" Ren innocently asks the long-haired woman, while trying his hardest to not break into the character from seeing her face turned red.
"H-how long have you been there?!" The flustered girl angrily asks and saw the cheeky grin on his face. "Before you started dancing, I don't want to interrupt you so I waited until you finished." He answered, but in reality his holding himself from laughing. "Y-you!" Due to her irritation, Nobunaga, stared dagger at Ren while pointing her finger at him. The raven-haired thief, on the other hand, just give her a friendly smile like he didn't do anything wrong. "Just go back to sleep! Will you!?" She ordered in frustration at the thief. "Fine, fine. Well, good luck on your guarding duty." Seeing the man about to leave, Nobunaga was about to let out a sigh of relief but got surprised once again when he speaks. "By the way, have anyone besides the ruler tried to seat on that throne?" She stared at the man in puzzlement before she answers.
"No, I haven't heard anything like that. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was wondering if there's a defense mechanic installed on the throne. You know against someone who'd have a malicious idea about it." He said in wonder. Hearing that made the girl a little worried, but then again his just wondering and there might be no such things installed on the throne. "Probably none, right?" Her anxiety grew when Ren gives her a troubled look as he talks. "Well from what I heard, the ruler's regalia has one, and only activate if anyone besides the owner put the ring on their finger. The throne is also connected to the ring so maybe it also has?"
"I heard that someone tried, someone who tried to put the regalia on their hand almost ended up with a missing finger." He said before letting a soft chuckle after seeing her frightened expression. "Well I'm not there when it happened, so perhaps it just stories to scare anyone who attempted it." Ren then goes into a thinking pose while looking at the throne. "But if it's true, then maybe whoever tried to seat onto that throne might end up missing lower half of their body." The girl felt a shiver on her spine when the image of her missing lower half the body came to her mind. "What do you think? Nobunaga?"
"I-I don't know, I haven't tried." She answered while stuttering in fright. "Why do you look so scared? Like I said its just a story I've heard." Ren smiled softly and started to feel guilty of scaring the girl. "I'm not scared! T-the wind just felt cold that's all! It can't be helped." Nobunaga said before taking a few steps away from the throne. "I-I'm going home." She utters and decided that having a lower half body is much important than ruling a country. "You're going home? That was fast, the sun is just about to rise." His statement stop the girl from walking away. "By home, I meant the guard's office." The girl nervously answered.
"Guard's office?" Ren asks before making a soft smile. "I didn't know about it, can I come along? I just wanted to check." The girl felt a cold sweat as she thinks of an excuse to get out of this place without getting caught. "Nothing is interesting about it!" She replied in panic, before making a run out of the room. "Anyways I have to go!" Ren watches the girl run away as fast as she could. He then realizes that the girl is going in the wrong way, but it was too late for him to tell her. "Well, let's just hope that she makes it outside," Ren tells to himself with a soft smile on his face, since his goal is done, he went back to their room to rest.
"My head is spinning," Astolfo said as he fell to the ground after leaving the ship they'd use. "I think I'm going to throw up." The pink-haired paladin warned after covering his mouth with his hand. "This is gross, I'd swallowed all of it." Charlemagne, Roland, and Gawain could only let out a sigh from the scene and the experience of letting Nero Claudius steer the wheel of the ship. The weather is great, the sun is shining brightly above the sky, and the sea is calm when they set sail toward the shapeless isle. But everyone who's in that ship felt like they are sailing in the middle of a storm once the crimson emperor took the role of the ship captain. "To think that even the automatons have passed out from this trip is in every inch unbelievable." said the beautiful rider, Medusa, after setting her feet off the ship.
"You look like about to join Astolfo as well, Jeanne." She commented at the girl walking beside her. "I think I can still hold onto it, but I don't know if I still can when we make a trip back home." Jeanne d'Arc replied while having a green-colored face from holding herself from puking. "I'll try to convince Nero to let me drive on our way back," Medusa stated before hearing a wholeheartedly laugh from the captain of the ship. "Look alive everyone! We'd make it safe here on the shapeless isle." Nero announces with a beam of a smile on her face. "From what I can tell, that cave over there is where we should be heading right?"
"That is right," Medusa nodded before answering. "It might unlikely to happened, but I still suggest to expect some warm welcome from my sisters," she said while gazing in both worry and anticipation on the familiar cave that been there home. Setting her foot on this island once again, reminded her how she truly become a monster and how life on said monster should end. After getting cursed by a goddess due to jealously, she and her two sisters are banished and lived into this island as monsters, this place holds more painful memories than pleasant ones. But this isn't the time for reminiscing, she's here to know where the blue saber is, and also check if her sisters are fine. "I'll lead the way, so follow me."
The group of servant lead by the rider, cautiously approach the entrance of the cave. There are signs of lights coming from the torches inside the cave, but there is nothing but silence looming inside. "Stay cautious. My sisters probably sense us by now." Medusa reminded the group behind her before letting herself inside the cave. How things have changed when she is the one who's cautious about the beings residing in this place is quite hilarious for Medusa's standpoint, but regardless as they go deep inside the cave, the air becomes grimmer, and the silent become dreadful. "I feel like someone watching us." The knight of the sun murmured while remaining very wary of his surroundings.
"Someone indeed is watching us. My sisters like to draw fear of whoever brave enough to enter our home." Medusa stated as she continues going deeper into the cave. "Before I forgot, there's something I like everyone to avoid saying-" The rider got interrupted when they heard a monstrous roar shaking the entire cave. "What was that?!" Jeanne asks after becoming vigilant from the roar they just heard. "I don't know," Medusa replied in a worried tone. "But whoever voice that was, it's just straight-up ahead." Due to her concern about her sisters, the girl runs straight and leave the group in the dust.
"Wait for us!" Nero shouted as she and everyone chase relentlessly the servant. "Euryale, Stheno!?" Medusa yelled and got surprised when she got greeted at the sight of a Minotaur inside the middle of the cavern. "Look what you did, Asterios, our surprise got ruined." said a disappointed beautiful small girl standing beside the Minotaur. "You also made our little sister worried from that roar you've made." replied by an identical girl in front of the Minotaur, said girl turn around and has teasingly smile on her face as the two meets. "Are you just going to stand there and not give us a hug?"
"Finally caught up with you." Nero said after catching up with the runaway rider. After catching her breath, she made the same expression that Medusa did after arriving in the area. "Ara, the visitors arrived as well." Stheno the oldest sister of Medusa said, her smile didn't change after seeing the group behind her little sister. "Are they all your friends, little sister?" Euryale, Medusa's second older sister before Stheno, asks with a genuine smile on her lips. "They are." She bashfully answered which made the two identical girls look at each other in amusement on their little sister.
"A-anyway, why there's a Minotaur inside this cave?" The girl asks in bewilderment. "I don't feel like answering without a hug from our family reunion," Stheno demanded with a hurt expression showing on her face. Knowing her sister, she's serious about it and not joking around. "Fine…" Medusa replied and walk toward her sisters while feeling the embarrassment of the stares digging behind her back. "We've missed you, little sister." The two said as they warped their arms around the girl who's on the verge of tears. "Me too." She replied with a soft smile as she hides her face on their shoulders. Everyone watches the reunion of the Gorgon sisters in warm silence.
Moments later. With smiles on their faces, the three let each other go from the embrace. "So are you going to answer my previous question now?" Medusa asks after wiping the remaining tears on her eyes. "The Minotaur name is Asterios, Euryale finds him outside while she strolling on the beach. Probably due to her boredom, she decided to converse with him and the two become close friends." Stheno replied while looking teasingly at the girl beside her. "We're just acquaintance that's all!" Euryale denied with a dust of embarrassment on her cheeks. "I'm not against it, but oh well, whatever helps you to sleep at night." The oldest sister replied while hiding her laughter behind her hands.
"Anyway, what are you and these people doing here?"
"We're here to asks if you saw a blond-haired servant wearing blue and has an aura of a knight came around here." asks the crimson emperor. "Yes, someone who'd you describe did came on our island the other day. She didn't arrive here alone, there this girl named Boudica that also came and asks for our help against Rome." Euryale answered and then stared in wonder at the crimson saber. "You're a Roman right? Actually, you look like more than just a Roman citizen." Nero nodded eagerly and proudly put her hand on her chest as she introduces herself. "I'm the emperor, Nero Claudius of Rome. I'm delighted to meet the sisters of Medusa."
"But back at the topic at hand. You said that Boudica asks for your help right? I would like to know what you did to her invitation? And what about the servant in blue, what are your thoughts about her. Does she look like a part of her group?" She asks and this time its Stheno who'd answered. "We declined her offer, we have nothing against Rome nor have the energy to do so. About the servant in blue, she didn't say anything, she only stood and watch our exchange of words. Regarding my thoughts about her, I think she just happens to be there to observe." She answered and the emperor nodded to her direction after listening to her. "Are you saying that she doesn't look like part of this group?"
"Yes, but that is only my thoughts, maybe I'm wrong and she just good at hiding her expression or intentions." Stheno answered. "My king is always true to herself, so I'd doubt she hiding something when you saw her." Gawain commented at Nero's side. "I see," The emperor utter. "Taking everything you've said on account as true, then perhaps the king of the round table is still on our side." She stated before letting a sigh out of her chest. Unsure about the reason why she came here with Boudica, the crimson emperor could only hope that the goddess judgment is true.
If not, then not only they'd lose a top servant on their ranks, but they might also lose the knight of the sun as well. She doesn't like that line of thought especially not right now, they needed every servant as possible if they are hoping to defeat Karl and his army. Mainly if said enemy is going to attack their territory soon, she needs everyone to be on their side. "Did they say anything about where they going next?" She asks and made Stheno think. "I believe they are going to return on their base."
"Did they say where this base is?"
"Just behind Rome. I remembered one of her soldiers, murmuring during the conversation." Euryale said with an amused smile after seeing the shock on the emperor's face. "W-wait, are you telling me that they are just behind us this whole time!?" She cried out while looking in disbelief at the knight beside her. "I think I've overlooked that possibility." Gawain replied sheepishly as Nero keep the disbelief on her face. "So they are just literally behind Rome territory, huh." Charlemagne said before he felt the goddess, Stheno, stared at him. "I was so preoccupied that I didn't notice everyone else." She said while smiling innocently at the paladins.
"Let me introduce myself to make it up for all of you. My name is Stheno, I'm happy to meet you all." Medusa saw how the innocent smile of her older sister changes into a mischievous one, she about to warn the male servants but it was too late. "My name is Charlemagne, I'm honored to meet you. Stheno." The king of paladin said. "I'm Roland, I'm delighted to meet such cutie like you Stheno." The leader of the paladin complimented. "My name is Gawain, similar to them, I'm glad to meet a kind goddess like you Stheno." After the knight introduces himself, the eyes of the three servants changes, they become blank and charmed.
"Charles?" Astolfo called out after seeing his king acting weird. "Roland?" The same with his cousin. "Gawain!?" The pink-haired paladin panic as the three isn't responding to his call. "Sister, what are you doing?" Medusa asks the giggling girl beside her. "Can't I have some fun with your friends, little sis?" Stheno replied and sent a wink at the charmed servants. "I forgot to warn them." The rider sigh in exhaustion. Seeing the three charmed by her sister, she felt pity for them as they are getting played like everyone who'd said the name of Stheno.
"Hey! I know these three are hopeless romantics! But you cannot just simply toyed them because you're a goddess." Astolfo angrily said at the girl who looks amused at him. "Oh my, are you a girl?" she asks the pink-haired paladin. "I'm a man! My name is Astolfo, remember that." Stheno giggled from his antics. "What a beautiful man you are, Astolfo. I'm Stheno." Astolfo sticks out his tongue at the goddess. "I'm not falling for that, sassy Gothic child!" She didn't get offended from it, instead, she becomes even more amused and the smile on her face, send shiver on Medusa's spine.
"Are you sure? Do you have the ability to resist someone like me?"
"I'm the great, Astolfo! What ability are you talking about?!" He announces with a soft chuckle at the mischievous servant. "Very well then," The entertained goddess said while looking onto the paladin's eyes. "You'll going to get charmed by me, Astolfo, one day you'll going to crawl to me while singing praises on me, I'm going to step on you while laughing to my heart content, just you wait, cross-dresser paladin, no one can resist my charm, not even you." She said with a sadistic expression painted on her face. "You think I'm fazed? Ha!" Astolfo let out a laugh and the small goddess joined him. "I feel sorry for whoever your lover is because I'm going to take you from her as my new toy."
"Ha! You think you can take me away from my lover!?"
"You have a lover?" Jeanne asks behind him. "Of course!" Astolfo replied in cold sweat at the saint. "Stop lying, we know that you don't have one." She murmured but the paladin keeps laughing nervously. "I might stop if you prove your love at her can resist my charm. But the chances of that are very, very, very low." Stheno stated. "Sister, I think you've had enough fun for today." Euryale said in concern from seeing her lazy sister becoming serious. "I have my pride, so let me protect it."
"Then consider us going to triumph at the end!" Astolfo announces in a conviction before feeling a tap on his shoulder. "What are you thinking!? you don't have a lover!" Jeanne whispered in a panic that hurt his ear. "I've got this! Don't worry about it." His statement made the saint panic even more. "What do you mean you've got this!? just call it quits and be done with it! She looks very serious when she said it, even Medusa and her second oldest sister are sending me looks to stop you."
"I'm going to prove myself to this goddess."
"Prove what!?" Jeanne questioned in bewilderment. "To be honest, I don't know," Astolfo said as he let out a snicker for himself. "But when people expect you to fail, you've wanted to prove them wrong right? That's what I do when I'm still not a servant, I cannot stop myself from doing it." He stated while sticking out a peace sign at the saint. "There's no use stopping you then, good luck." Jeanne said with a genuine small smile after letting out a sigh of defeat. "Euryale and Asterios, pack our bags, we're going to Rome!" Stheno announces out of everyone's surprise. "You're going with us!?" Medusa asks and the girl nodded.
"Bags….Rome…" Asterios said slowly while Euryale groans from moving out suddenly. "I'm bored staying on this cave, there also no goddess forbidding us to go outside, so I think its time for us to move and be together as a family." Stheno innocently stated on her siblings. "You have a point, I as well think it's about time for us to be together." Medusa replied while blushing slightly. "Do we even have a place to stay there!?" Euryale asks and her younger sister nodded. "I know the sovereign of this world personally, I believe she can let the three of you on her home."
"Splendid." Stheno genuine cheered. "I'm hoping you don't mind them joining us, Saber." Nero nodded her head after hearing the rider statement. She can imagine her praetor agreeing as well even though she's not here. Also having her sister's tag along might give Medusa the morale to serve her praetor group even more. "Then let us go. I also wanted to see this lover of yours, oh' mighty Astolfo." Stheno said at the pink-haired paladin. Astolfo could only smile to hide his nervousness, but on his mind, he's panicking whether or not this going to work. 'Hopefully, you don't mind cross-dressing for me, Ren! I'm really in need of your help!'
"Are you alright, Ren?" Marie asks after noticing the man stop from walking beside her. "I just felt an impending doom is approaching." Ren answered the queen's concern, Marie, after hearing that sent him a smile to dispel his worry about it. "It is probably just a premonition, you should not worry about it. Also, in that case, you've should take care of your health by having enough sleep to avoid such things." She slightly scolds him. "I guess you're right." said the thief and let out a yawn escape his mouth. "Anyway back to what I'm saying, did you heard that Archer caught someone sneaking around the castle last night?"
"Really? What happened to that someone?" He curiously asks as the memory of that girl named Oda Nobunaga played on his mind. "Probably locked inside the jail of the castle, I've heard that Hakuno going to talk with the perp. Before sending it to somewhere more confine." Ren felt guilty as he felt that someone might be that girl. He should make an effort to chase after her and show her the exit. "Do you know who that was?" Marie asks after noticing his troubled expression. "Maybe." He replied. "Can you take me where that perp is later on?"
"Sure, but what's your business there?" The queen said in puzzled. "If my guess is right, then the one they caught isn't that bad, and probably learned by now." He explained and saw Marie smiled softly. "I see, very well then." She said. Marie trusts Ren's judgment when it comes to a person which is the reason why she didn't ask any further. As the two walks around Rome, she smiled in awe of the beautiful things around her. People working happily, carefree children playing together, friends chatting casually. As a queen of a country, she cannot contain her happiness from seeing these sight. Which reminded her of something she wanted to talk about with Ren.
"Hopefully when I'd get back on France, my people are happy as well." She stated and smiled softly as her eyes followed the children playing tag. "My job here will be done soon. Once Rome is safe, I'll return on my duty and focus on making France even better." Marie then pointed her finger at the automaton talking on two adults. "You see those automatons? I'd suggested assigning an evacuation route to Hakuno. Those automatons are spreading awareness to everyone so that way when things get out of control, her people will know what to do." She felt the genuine smile from Ren standing beside her as she tells him that.
"I may not do anything much when the battle starts, but I'm happy that I could help even though it is just a little."
"Little? What you did might save countless lives." Ren told at the queen. "You think so?" She faithfully asks and he nodded. "Thank goodness." She said and the two exchanges smile at each other. Seeing his charming smile, her face felt hot and her heart beating faster than normal. She's used from receiving many smiles from numerous people, but his smile alone felt different compared to everyone. Marie's confuse as to why, maybe because the thief has a charm of a debonair, maybe she just looks into it too much, or perhaps its-.
"Ren…there's something I'd would like to asks." Marie felt embarrassed as she speaks. "Sure, what is it?" The queen took a deep breath before she proceeds on saying her question. "D-do you remember when you've said that you'll be there to help me, like a knight saving a princess or a king helping his queen." She bashfully said while averting her eyes on him. "I know that you've meant it when you said it. But, do they have something hidden behind those words? Especially when you said the king part. You do realize that you're talking to a queen at that moment right?" Gathering her courage, she looks straight into his eyes and asks again. "So Ren, is there any hidden meaning behind those words?"
Ren felt a deja vu, it reminded him of the part when his one stage away from completing his female confidant. He needs to think fast, Marie is waiting for his answer. The queen stares at him look very charming that he needed to avert looking from her as he thinks for a reply. Taking a deep breath, he made up his mind and answer. "There's no hidden meaning behind those words. But I've really meant it when it comes from helping you." He honestly replied, Ren doesn't want to lie, when it comes to love, he decided to become true to himself.
"I see." She replied and to his shock, the queen sigh in relief and giggled. "I'm going to reject you if there is." Ren then becomes puzzled while waiting for her to continue. "Those lines reminded me of how I've been courted when I'm still not a queen," Marie stated with a soft smile. "Not that I hated it, but I've realized that I'd wanted something for a change. I just wanted to be with someone simply because of love, not for strengthening alliance or something else. I just wanted to be courted without anything else but love." She happily giggled as she said that.
In all honesty, she wanted to keep that a secret. But the queen doesn't know why she didn't stop herself from saying it to Ren. She has control over her body to do it yet unknowingly even to her, she didn't and said everything that the girl keeping a secret. Is she wanted him to know about it? Or maybe she hopes that it will happen? Confuse about it, Marie just smiled to herself as she looks at Ren. "Did I just give you an important tip?" she asks the thief before laughing wholeheartedly. Ren, on the other hand, could only scratch his cheeks from not knowing what to say or do in this kind of situation.
"Well…its up to you now." She murmured before turning around. Ren didn't catch what she said, his about to asks her to repeat but got interrupted when they heard a commotion near them. "What did you just said!?" They heard from a man holding a bottle of sake inside the bar. The man is drunk and angrily lashing out at the girl who looks like a waitress at the bar. "I'm kindly asking you and your friends to stop touching my coworker's body." The girl said in a composed manner. "You're just a waitress, so shut the hell up!" The man said and attempted to hit the girl.
But she easily sidestepped and avoided the man's fist. The drunk man failed to stop his fist and face planted to the floor. "You piece of crap." He said after standing up and hiding his bloody nose. "Get her!" His friends then charge at the girl. "Oh, please." She murmured to herself and maneuver her way from the group of drunk men charging toward her. "You all are drunk. Stop, I don't want to upset the manager! I'll get kick out from the apartment if that happened!" She protested but they didn't listen. "Come on just-!" The girl suddenly stops and covered her mouth as she heavily coughs.
Ren saw a trace of blood as she cough. Immediately making his way to rescue the girl, he pulled one of the drunk man friends and put himself in the middle, blocking their way from assaulting the girl. "Who the hell are you!?" The drunk man yelled at him. "Leave her alone." He simply said while giving them an intimidating gaze. "Screw you!" said the drunk man as one by one they'd charge toward him. Seeing the inevitable, Ren begun to brawl the drunken troublemakers and taking them out one by one. Noticing that his the only one left, the drunk man pulls out a pocket knife on his waist.
"You're done! You hear me?!" He said and tried to stab the knife into Ren's stomach. But because the man is drunk, he doesn't have full control over his body, taking that advantage, Ren carefully disarmed the man and took the knife on his hand. "Harassing these girls, You'd disgust me." He said at the man before making him unconscious. Ren turned around to check the girl who's still coughing hard. "Here use this." He took the handkerchief on his chest pocket and offered it to the girl.
"N-no, I'm fine." She declined and continue coughing on her hand. "Your blood will stain your hand. Please, take it." Ren tried again, seeing the waiting hand of his, the girl took the handkerchief and wipe the blood on her hand. "Thank you." She answered then look unhappy from the mess her blood did to the white handkerchief. "I'll clean it up for you. Don't worry!" The girl said in panic before taking a deep bow to make an apology. "You don't have to." Ren kindly replied. "That coughing of yours doesn't sound normal, did you already tried to check for a doctor?"
"N-no. But you don't have to worry about it." She said made a sheepishly smile. "As long as I don't beat myself from working too much, then its a victory for the great Okita Souji!" She stated before taking another deep bow after realizing something. "How rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself after you help me." She stands straight and smiles softly as she introduces herself. "My name is Okita Souji. You can call me Okita, I'm very thankful for you on saving me against this drunks."
"I'm Ren Amamiya. Ren is fine, you're welcome and I'm happy to help." He introduces himself and saw the beaming smile of the girl after that. "Ren!?" The thief heard Marie's voice coming behind him. "You are not hurt right?" The queen asks in concern, seeing there a no sign of bruises or wounds, she sighs in relief. "Who is she?" Okita asks in wonder after seeing the charming girl. "This is Marie Antoinette." Hearing her name, Marie faced her and smiled. "O-oh, I'm Okita Souji. Forgive me for making you worry about your friend."
"Oh, you're not at fault. That just how he is, whenever someone needs help and his nearby, expect that his going to come." She said in a friendly manner. "But regardless, they didn't hurt you right?" Okita nodded to answer. "Thank goodness," Marie utters in relief before they heard an angry voice coming downstairs. "What happened here!?" Hearing that voice, Okita felt a shiver run down her spine. "OKITA!?" The manager yelled and stormed her way to her. "Why my business in a mess!? what did you do!" She said and pointed her finger on the mess that happened on her bar. "T-these drunk made some-" The girl tried to explain but got interrupted by the angry manager. "I've told you to leave them alone, their drunk but also our customer. Goodness Okita, I've let you work here even with your health issues and even let you stay on our apartment and this is how you'll repay me!?"
"You're fired and out of my apartment, Okita! Same with that friend of yours that didn't show up to work!" said the manager before leaving. "N-no wait!" Okita tried to stop the manager to explain, but she got ignored by her. "Great, now I don't have a house anymore." The crestfallen girl whispered. "Um," Ren attempt to get her attention. "What happened at the store is mainly my fault. You shouldn't be blamed for it, but the manager doesn't look like going to listen to us anymore." He said and then looked at Marie, the two nodded at each other as if understanding what's on their mind. "We can help you, Okita. We've known a place where you can stay, but it won't be free."
"Really?!" She said and the hope on her eyes lighted up. "Don't worry, I'll work hard to pay the rent!" Ren made a chuckle from her answer. "Didn't you just said that you'll avoid coughing that hard if you didn't work your body too hard?" He said in a friendly tone. "Anyway, I think you'd meet the owner of the place first, from there you can decide whether or not you're going to accept it." The thief stated and give her choices to pick. "Then we should go right now." Marie said, but before they leave, Okita remembered someone. "Wait, can I look for my 'friend' first? She doesn't have any idea that we both got kicked out, and she been missing since this morning."
"Tell us her name and we'll help."
"Are you sure? Aren't you helping me too much already?" Okita nervously asks. Ren shakes his head to answer. "Her name is Oda Nobunaga." She said and saw the raven-haired man sigh in disbelief. "That girl." Okita heard him murmuring. "She might be already in the place where we about to go." He answered and saw the look of bewilderment from Okita. "Let's go, I'm going to help her anyway."
"You've tricked me!" Oda Nobunaga said while accusingly pointing her finger at Ren. "Care to explain, Ren?" Hakuno asks the thief standing beside her, she just finished her questioning on the servant when they come, the girl keeps saying that someone tricks her and describe this someone similar to him. "I've seen her creeping inside the throne room last night." Ren began to tell his side of the story. "It seems she wanted to take over the throne by seating over it." He let out a sigh before continuing. "Which made me think that she's perhaps not that harmless or evil. I mean, even if she succeeded, Rome won't be ruled over her. That's not how reclaiming someone's throne work."
"What she said is true, I did trick her by telling stories about the throne defense mechanism. That if she seated on it, she will lose lower half of her body." He got interrupted when Oda Nobunaga speak while staring dagger at him. "You liar! This girl said that there's no such thing installed on that throne! Because of your lies that you'd feed on my mind, I've got caught!" She said and crossed her arm angrily. "Well to be fair, I'd save you some time to do something else since your plan of taking the throne would not work. But your effort is commendable, you'd sneak inside Hakuno's home and made it to the throne. Also, I'm not the one who took the wrong turn, I'd even let you get out of here but due to your panic you forgot you way out here."
"It can't be helped so shut up." The captured girl said while hiding the pout on her face. "So that's what happened," Hakuno said and felt content from hearing both sides. "But next time, Ren, try to report what happened alright? Harmless or not, someone still manages to get inside my home." Ren nodded and apologize to her. "Since both of you are at fault, then you'll get punished. You two will clean the kitchen for tonight." Both him and Nobunaga are in disbelief from the light punishment given to them. Surprise but they surely not going to make any complaints. After she said that, the automatons unlocked her cell and let her outside.
"Um, Hakuno. There is something we would like to say." Marie said and explained the situation of the girl standing behind them. "Okita Souji," Hakuno called the girl and respond immediately after hearing her name. "And Oda Nobunaga, right?" She said and the black-haired girl nodded. "Two servants." The sovereign murmured and stared at the two with careful observation. When it comes to servants, all that matters to her if they were trustworthy or not. She'll welcome the former with open arms but become extremely cautious with the latter. She then looks at the two who'd suggested it, they are trustworthy and she believes in their judgment, that is what matters so she'll trust that these two are as well.
"Very well. You two are welcome here." She said with a welcoming smile on her face. "But know that you'll be part of my faction from now on. So I'm hoping that your loyalty and trust are on us." Hakuno said and saw Okita nodded her head, meanwhile, it took a moment before Nobunaga did it as well. "Great, then this deserves a welcome party!" The sovereign happily glances at Ren. "You'd better cook a lot of food tonight, alright! Nero and the others are returning tonight as well." She stated before leaving the four alone. "Guess we're going to clean lots of plates tonight." Ren said and about to make his way to the kitchen but a tagged on his arm stop him.
"Um, thank you very much for helping us. Marie as well, thank you very much" Okita gratefully said while making a bow. "We'll do our best to keep the trust you have on us!" She said before grabbing Oda's head and force her to bow. "I'm sorry for tricking you, Oda. I hope you forgive me." He said at the girl who'd shove Okita's hand away from her head. "An offering should suffice for a sincere apology." She murmured and saw a smile formed on the man's face. "Is curry fine?" He asks, but before she could say anything, her stomach replied for her.
The next day, after the sun has risen and blessed the world of Seraph on its comfortable warm. Boudica heard a commotion outside her tent, letting her self out, the leader of the rebellious army saw the Roman emperor, Nero Claudius, standing confidently outside her tent. The emperor isn't alone, there are servants behind her, the knight of the sun and the others that she isn't familiar with, she also notice behind them the large group of automatons waiting on the distance. Seeing her own army, they are cautious by their appearance, Boudica decided to walk toward the emperor and face her.
Her servant's companion, Leonidas, Jing Ke, and Spartacus walk alongside her. "What are you doing here?" She asks while keeping her guard up from possible danger. "I've heard that you're stealing from us," Nero replied in firmness. "The proud knight-king is also here, is she not?" The emperor glance at the tent behind her. "You're correct, we did steal from Rome and yes, she is indeed here." As if on cue, the appearance of the young woman comes out from the tent. "My king." Gawain called out in relief from seeing the girl healthy and fine. "Gawain, Nero." Artoria greeted the two, before noticing a familiar face. "Jeanne d'Arc. Did you joined Hakuno as well?" She asks and the saint nodded, the two exchange soft smile at each other. The blue saber then notices unfamiliar servants besides Jeanne.
She felt some sort of familiarity from them, especially the young man with black and white hair. "May I know the name of you three?" Artoria said at the three servants. "My name is Roland, leader of the Twelves paladins of Charlemagne." The one with the blond hair introduce. "I'm Astolfo, one of the Twelves paladins of Charlemagne." The androgynous-looking servant who'd fancily dressed introduces after. "I'm Charlemagne, King of the Franks, leader and namesake of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne. Its an honor to finally meet you." Artoria looks at the man and smiled. After hearing his name, she finally realizes the familiarity she had at him.
"So he's the one that Merlin helped." She murmured under her breath as the picture of the magus appeared on her mind. Her thoughts got cut short when a feminine voice shouted in surprise. "Roland? Astolfo?! Charlemagne as well!?" said the blond girl with twin-tailed ponytails. "Bradamante!?" The three paladins said in surprise from seeing the girl. "What are you doing here?" Astolfo asks. "I should ask the same as well, what does the three of you doing here?! and why didn't you go to look for me!" Bradamante angrily asks the three.
"W-well, there's a lot of stuff that happened, and we didn't even know that you're here, cousin." Roland replied to his cousin and hope to calm her down. But from the looks of it, it didn't work. "So you're just going to let fate decide when we going to see each other!? Also, if you three manage to be here, didn't the thought of the other paladins would be as well?!" She said and crossed her arms from frustration. "We're sorry, please forgive us, Bradamante." said the king of paladins at the girl. "Hmph!" The girl replied while making a pouting face.
"My, there's a lot of reunion happening today isn't it?" Jing Ke commented while watching the scene in amused curiosity. "But we should settle the first issue first, right Boudica?" She said behind the red-haired servant. "That is right, you've got your answer, so why are you still here on our base?" Boudica asks in exasperation. "Because I still don't know why you're doing this to my Rome." Nero replied. Her cause of action to make an army for rebellion is unknown to her, they steal but didn't kill anyone, they even let some of the supplies for the owner to take. It confuses her as to why she doing that, is she supposed to be furious at her from losing those supplies? When no one got hurt or lost someone in their life.
She grew up during a war, she knows how brutally that time is, she even experiences when her people rebelled against her. But what Boudica army doing is different from the war and rebellion she witnesses. There's no blood splatter on the ground, these people are against her, but their actions make her unsure and baffle. "Because of Rome, isn't it obvious? Or did you forget about the things Rome did to me, to my people, to my daughters, to my country." Nero felt crestfallen after hearing that, Rome is a beautiful and mighty empire, but it cost many lives to become like that. The emperors who'd lead Rome are aware and guilty for the action they make, even her who just wanted to pursue art and beauty ended up with a throne to seat on, and people to lead.
"The reason why no one has died is quite simple. We're different from your bloodthirsty Romans." Boudica said with furious on her voice. She watches the emperor look downcast, the rider can tell that she's in guilt, pitiable look but well deserve for someone like a tyrant she is. "You are right, we are like what you said, bloodthirsty human beings," Nero replied while looking on the ground. "We live by the word of emperor Caesar. 'We came, We saw, We conquer' that is his words and us Romans live to that moral." To Boudica's surprise, when the emperor looks into her eyes, she doesn't see any signs of someone succumbing to guilt, there is guilt on her eyes but there is also courage on her. "We kill an innocent for a pair of shoes so that we can take it as ours, we make a woman widowed so that we can have someone to dump our lust, we make a children orphan and make someone's life miserable."
"My people did all of that, but being the emperor, I've done much worse. My hands are stained with the blood of many people. I'm guilty as they are, during my last day that guilt didn't leave me, unlike the life on my body did." Taking a deep breath, Nero smile to herself after reflecting on her past action. "But after becoming a servant and meet the person that changed me entirely, I've slowly learned to let go of that guilt and move forward. There's nothing I can do to change what happened in the past, I realize that after being freed from the guilt, the only thing I can do is to change myself on the present."
"Free from your guilt, after everything that happened you'd think you're free from the guilt? You think you'd change as well?!" Boudica murmured. "What nonsense are you spouting about." Due to her anger, she pulled out the sword waiting on her waist and leveled it on the emperor's neck. This cause everyone to pull out their weapon and pointed it on each side. "Put down your weapon, we've come here to talk." Gawain warned the female rider. "Pull out your weapon, Nero, I'm done talking to you." Boudica said and keep her weapon on Nero's neck. "So you wanted to fight." She heard the utter voice from the crimson emperor. She got taken by surprise when Nero looks straight into her eyes in confidence. "Then I challenge you and your group to a series of competition against our faction."
"Series of competition?" Boudica said and become puzzled from it. "Yes, this way we can fight each other without killing one another." Hearing that made her laugh. "Without killing one another? That's not what I wanted to happen." She said but Nero composure didn't break. "I don't want to kill you or any of these people. If you wanted a fight, then I'm giving you one, only if you accepted it." The emperor doesn't want to kill her or anyone on her group, that sound unbelievable for a tyrant like her. But then the conviction on her eyes, it made her wonder if she truly means it. This hesitation and doubt that breaking her conviction, she hates it. Nero is a tyrant, of course, nothing came out of her mouth is sincere and true.
"The winner can decide the fate of the loser. The competition will have five series of matches, the group that got more points will be the winner." Nero explained the rule in her group. "We can take this competition in Rome." Boudica stared dagger at Nero after hearing the place where this competition hold. "Rome? How can I assure that there are no ambushes are waiting there if we did accept this offer of yours. And how can I tell that these matches aren't rigged and without any cheats from you." Nero pointed her finger on her neck. "Then everyone here is free to sever my head off." She then glances at the servants behind her. "I want a fair and clean fight, if I'd cheat or suggested anyone to use cheat to win that match, then please, cut my head off."
"What you suggesting for us to do is very fitting for you little tyrant emperor. But do not worry, this sword will gladly take your head if you ever back out from your words." Spartacus declared with a wide grin on his face. "What do you say, Boudica, will you accept my condition?" Nero said while looking on her eyes. She hesitated to accept, it's too risky for them to come, but the conviction on Nero's eyes didn't leave of falter when she said that. The female rider is undecided about what to do. 'For me, I find her opulence pleasing. Her history might paint her bad, but once you saw the way she acts, you'll understand what I meant.' The word of Artoria from the other day ringed on her mind. The said girl is standing beside her and waiting for her answer in anticipation.
"Very well, I'll accept." She answered and saw the blooming smiled at Nero. "Excellent," The emperor said before permitting the servants behind her to lower their weapon. Hesitant at first, Boudica and her group did the same. "Then let us proceed on the type of matches we're going to compete." Taking a quick pause, Nero began to explain the matches. "The first one is called 'Take Over', the rule is simple, whoever captures the regime matrix from one another win. Teams needed to destroy the enemy planter on their designated base, once destroyed, the regime matrix will be completed thus the one who did it will be the winner. This planter will also regenerate attack programs to join the battle, we're going to use the Rome coliseum for this match. One last thing, the winner will get fifteen points while the loser gets ten."
"You can pick your two servants to compete." Nero finished her explanation and wait for Boudica to choose. After thinking carefully, she set and finalize her decision for this match. "I'd choose Leonidas and Spartacus to compete." She said and saw the content smile of the two servants. The spartan general is a great field leader, this type of match is his forte, meanwhile, Spartacus is a great combatant inside an arena, she knows that these two will do their best to win. "I see, then I'll choose." The emperor looks behind her to see her choices. Gawain is a great choice, but she wanted a fair fight, using the knight of the sun might cause Boudica to back out.
Leonidas and Spartacus, she needed two servants that can work together. Suddenly with a snap of her finger, she declared the servants she chooses. "On my side, I'll choose Roland and Astolfo to compete." Nero heard Astolfo cried out in surprise. Between Leonidas might and leadership, Roland practically mirrored those qualities, meanwhile Astolfo's quickness is the opposite of Spartacus's strength. But compared to their opponent, she can say that Astolfo and Roland can work comfortably on each other. That alone might be the one key to win.
"Alright, the first contender is decided, let us move to the second match." said the red saber. "The second match is quite simple, it's just two matches of one on one battle, each win gives ten points while the loser only gets five. Killing your opponent is forbidden, to win the match, the contender just either need to knock out their opponent, throw them out of the ring, or by making them surrender. We still going to use the Rome coliseum for this round."
"I'll go first, I choose Jeanne d'Arc for the first round." Nero announces as she looks at the saint. "I will do my best." Jeanne stated and made the emperor smile. Boudica can tell that girl is a powerful servant, she can feel it. Luckily she has one that can manage themself against a servant like her. "Mine will be, Bradamante." Hearing her name, the girl takes a deep breath and walks toward the saint while ignoring the paladins. "I'll be your opponent, I'm excited to face someone like you." She said and extend her hand at Jeanne. "The feeling is mutual." Jeanne replied and took her hand to shake.
"My second contender will be," Seeing that only the white-robe girl is that only servant left beside Boudica herself, Nero already has someone in mind against her. "Charlemagne." The king of paladin walk forward after hearing his name, he smiles and waited for his opponent. "This is a tough one." Boudica utters as she looks at Jing Ke who'd simply chuckled and nodded at her. "I'll choose Artoria." She announces and almost felt into laughter after seeing the emperor jaw drop. The blue saber calmly steps forward and face the king of the paladin. "This is going to be an interesting fight." She stated while extending her hand. "I'm looking forward to this. I won't hold back." He replied and took her hand, the two exchange friendly gaze from each other as they shake each other hand.
"Can you explain why you're here?" Nero asks the blue saber. "I was searching for them after hearing those stealing accident. When I found them, Boudica offered me a galette for dinner. I cannot decline such an invitation so I'd accepted it. After that she offered me to join her group, I humbly decline since I still haven't paid the hospitality that Hakuno has given to me. She looks depressed from it and said she cooked a lot of food for me. Since I don't want delicious food go to waste, I'd stayed here." Artoria explained calmly. "But she keeps making food, and I cannot leave without tasting it, which is why I'm still here."
"I didn't join her group, but I'm returning the hospitality and kindness she and her group on me." Nero couldn't believe it, but at the very least, the blue saber is still on their side. "Moving on, for the last match-" She's just about to explain but Boudica interrupts her. "For the last match, I want the two of us to have a chariot race." The rider said in a challenging tone. "From Rome to the boundary of Florence." Nero nodded and immediately accepted her challenge. "Whoever the first one to get there will receive forty-five points, all in a total of one hundred points."
"Let's meet at Rome coliseum one day after this." Nero said and the two nodded at each other. "I'm not going to lose on you, Nero, not anymore." Boudica stated at her opponent. "I'm not planning to lose anyway, We're going to win." Nero replied before she and her group leave their base. "I'm surprised you'd accepted her offer." said the blue saber. "You're surprised? I thought you are expecting me to accept it." Artoria chuckled after hearing her response. "I guess that's true. Anyway, let's get prepared for that competition. Oh, Boudica." Before she leaves, Artoria called the red-haired rider. "Is she still the same emperor you'd hate?" Before she could answer, the blue saber leaves her to get breakfast.
"Is she?" She murmured to herself and watch the leaving emperor on the distance.
Somewhere on a hill near Rome. The immortal witch Scáthach is staring at the city where the sovereign is right now, the bustling sound from the city can still be heard from where she's standing. Lively and beautiful, it's a pity that within days, this city will leave in ruins. A real pity, she would like to walk around the city, but the task given to her is much more important. Letting out a sigh, she turned around and pointed her crimson spear onto the hooded stranger neck creeping behind her back. "Whoa! I'm not here to fight, I just wanted to have a word with you, ruler of the land of shadow, Scáthach." The stranger said and raise his hand to surrender. "Who are you?" Scáthach asks while keeping the spear pointed onto his neck.
"If I revealed my identity, are you going to listen to what I'm about to say?" He asks while feeling uncomfortable from having a sharp object pointed with few inches away on his bare neck. "Depending on who you are and what word are going out of your mouth." The female lancer stated in full caution as the stranger remove the hood above his head, showing a long white-haired, gentle smile, and a kind gaze. "My name is Merlin, I've come here to talk to you about Ren Amamiya." Scáthach hides her disbelief after hearing the man's name, Merlin the magus of flower, a well-known wizard from the Arthurian Legends, is standing in front of her and wanted to talk about Ren Amamiya.
"Him?" She utter in puzzlement. "The two of you shouldn't have any correlation from each other, so why you wanted to talk about him, and why did the Moon Cell allow you here?" Scáthach asks and felt a weight at the tip of her spear as Merlin is trying to lower the spear away from his neck. The magus felt extremely uncomfortable for not only have a weapon pointed on his neck but also getting barraged by questions. Luckily the immortal witch notices it and pulls the crimson spear away. "Finally, I can breath easily." Merlin said in relief, before tapping his staff on the ground, the said staff release glitters of light and surround the female lancer before popping like bubbles.
"What did you do?" She asks and felt her head become lightheaded for a second. "I was wondering why you're on his side, I thought maybe he has control over you so for safety measure, I'd dispel it with my magic." The magus carefully explained to avoid making the girl angry. "Tell me, did he control you?" She shakes her head to rub off the remaining effect. "It does not matter, just tell me what you came here for." The lancer answered and made the magus sigh in disbelief. "Just to be clear, the Moon Cell has no involvement of me being here, I didn't get summoned, I'd made my way here." He stated before continuing. "My reason why I'm here is because this place and the world we all know is in danger. Due to a man that will raise an army of Gods and Goddesses to claim the Moon Cell and used it to bring an end against humanity."
"This man is so confident to himself that he came to me directly to give warning. He wanted the Moon Cell but he also wanted an opponent who can stand against him and his army." He then looks at her in anticipation. "That opponent he wanted isn't Hakuno, but Ren Amamiya. He wanted him to raise his own army of angels and demons to fight against his." Slowly taking what the magus said, Scáthach felt herself in incredulity, a war is going to happen? And an army such as that is going to exist? It sounds very ridiculous, but if the magus of flower would not make his way here just to joke around. "Why are you saying all of this to me?"
"You've seen his power, did you? You saw that what his capable off didn't you?" Merlin asks in expectation. "You witness the power of the world right?" The world, how could she ever forget that the same power that stops her noble phantasm for taking one's life and leave her stunned, the reason why she so interested in his power. "How did you know all about this?" She asks and the magus smiled before answering. "Before I've come here, I've been invested to know about him, from how his journey started and how it ended, from the people that help him and from those who didn't. And to be honest, I think it's safe to say that I've known him more than everyone else here in Seraph."
"Then tell about his power, about this world you're talking about."
"You seem very interested in him." Merlin commented in wonder of her source of interest toward the thief. "You're right, I witness his power, which is why I'm curious how did he acquire such ability." Scáthach answered the man in honesty. "His power is unique, he isn't the only one who can summon those beings called 'Persona' but what separates him from the other is the ability to summon and hold more than one personas, that ability is called the 'Wildcard'." He began to explain his knowledge about Ren's power. "Its unknown for me how one can have this ability, whether it's inborn or by any other means of getting it, regardless, it is hard to deny that this ability isn't powerful, especially if learned properly."
"About the personas his summoning, from what I've learned, they are residing in the depths of human hearts, shared with all people, and there this domain where mythological archetypes dwell, they grant influence over an individual's personality development. It said that the anecdotes of mythological divinities all over the world probably had existed because of that, so one could say that gods and demons exist not in Heaven and Hell but in the hearts of humanity." Merlin pauses to take a breath after his long explanation before continuing. "A persona can influence one physical and mental abilities, making their users superhuman, for example giving them mastery over weapons or resistance to terror and madness."
"During your fight against him, you saw his skills with dagger right?" Already knowing her answer, Merlin didn't wait and continue. "Ren didn't grow with a weapon in his hands and war happening before him, which make him no mastery over such weapon, but after his awakening, the persona he'd first summoned give him that skill to wield a dagger without any necessary training." Scáthach remembered it, the way he uses dagger against her is impressive. The lancer was right all along when she commented on the lack of training over his mastery with dagger, now that she learned the truth about that mastery, she felt irritated and have an itching feeling inside her. Mastery over a weapon should be learned not earned, as a teacher she cannot let such things slide.
"You look antagonize from what I've said." Merlin said and felt a cold sweat slide onto his head. "Don't mind it, just continue your explanation about his power. I wanted to know about the 'world'." Not wanting to irritate the lancer, the magus of flower continued his next explanation. "I see, well before I tell what the 'world' is, let me start on how Ren manages to get that power." Using his staff, he tap the ground once more, the staff release particles that formed into a screen, then they saw images of Ren Amamiya before his life take a drastic turn. "It all started with an eventful meeting, an encounter with a man that lead everyone he knows, his friends, and even his parents, leave him. But things didn't end there, unaware of the scene happening hidden from the world, he got dragged into something he didn't sign to do. One that dictates his life but also the world." Merlin swayed his hand slightly and the images change and showed colorful cards.
"Are you aware of the tarots card?" Seeing the lancer shaking her head, the caster continued. "They are tools that used to tell an individual fate or the fate of something grand." The images began to move and show the cards individually. "The ability to use this arcana is like a hard pill for a magus like me to swallow. They are like a hidden element of magecraft, they aren't just tools, considering that Ren needed them as a medium to claim this unimaginable power. The arcana surrounding these cards are something more, and from what I can tell, only a few deities can use it properly."
"Regardless, the tarots cards and Ren have a connection. He started as a Fool, the number zero of the deck, one that tells the beginning of a journey. An empty individual that become the leader of the phantom thieves of heart, he meets and befriends with people that correlate with the tarot cards, he nourishes and made those bond unbreakable and used it against his rival, arch-nemesis, and the mastermind behind it all. After he triumphs over everything that fate has thrown, Ren eventually finishes his journey and rewarded by acquiring the 'World' arcana, the combined bonds he forges resulted in that power."
"The 'World' symbolize the completion of his journey after it merges into his soul, the power he gained as a fool has been sealed. From what I could tell, Ren is still unaware of the vast potential of the world inside him." Merlin smiled in disbelief. "I see," The lancer replied. "But something is missing, why are you so willing to tell this information about it, knowing that I'm an enemy of the group he joined." Merlin let out a wholehearted laugh before answering the woman questioned. "Because you're a teacher, the reason why I'm telling you all this because I want you to train him." Scáthach sent the magus a puzzled look. "From my standpoint, you know more about his power than I, making you more qualified to teach him."
"Oh, well at least your not denying it and just wanted to hear my reason." Merlin smiled in a carefree manner. "For starters, I'm not a good teacher, Sure I can teach him some powerful magecraft, but I believe that what he needed to triumph from the coming war is to explore and harness the power of the 'World'. I'm sure once you train him, you'll learn more about that power and taught him properly than I." He said before the carefree smile disappears and replace with a troubled look. "Ren is a special servant among us, the foundation of his history to turn him into a servant isn't enough, close but not enough. He has shared history with the phantom thieves of heart, the one his leading during the fool's journey."
"They are known as a group, not an individual. His incomplete without them, if only the people he'd save remembered what he did during the final moments of his journey, then he could become and summoned as a proper servant. But that didn't happen, the moment he carves his name onto humanity history, the people who witness it forgot all about it." He pauses and lets the irritation on his mind calmed. "Thanks to the 'World' arcana, it adjusted for him to become a proper servant. Whenever the color of his eyes changes, he'd become a servant that allows him to fight other servants."
"Sounds confusing?" He chuckled and tried again. "Since Ren isn't a 'complete' or 'true' servant like us, he can only fight against another servant but cannot kill it. Like what I've said earlier, they are known as a group. For Ren to become a 'true' and 'complete' servant, he needed the phantom thieves on his side, that way he can kill a servant. Luckily the 'world' arcana has a solution for that, the combined arcana acted like a proof or medal of the completion of his journey, turn him into a servant whenever he uses it. By turning into a complete servant, the world arcana unlocks all the abilities fitting for his status and class."
"From what I saw, even his personas have noble phantasm that he could use," Merlin stated but wasn't very excited about it. "But I'm sure you notice that every time he uses the 'world' arcana, he passes out afterward. That is because his using too much mana, he doesn't have any knowledge on how to control that power or how class skill work and the importance of mana is for a servant." The immortal witch listened to what the magus said, she gets the essence of Ren's power and condition. His lack of knowledge will lead servants to take advantage of him whether or not his powerful. Without activating the 'world' even if he summoned an angel or demon, it would mean nothing if his opponent can keep coming back and away from dying.
"Which is why I wanted you to train him, teach him how to use the power hidden inside him, how to become a servant, and how to fight against the gods," Merlin asks earnestly at the female lancer. "For humanity fate, I'm begging you, Scáthach, please help him." The magus wanted her to train Ren Amamiya, but it's contradictory to what she wanted to do, the thief has potential yet she wanted to test it and know if its enough to fulfill her wish. Her desire to die or the fate of humanity, she having a hard time on choosing between the two. "I cannot make a decision yet," Scáthach replied as she walks past the magus. "I've had one more thing to do before I'd decide."
"You're going after that city right?" Merlin answered while staring at the city on the distance. "Ren life will take a huge turn when the two of you meet over Rome. Death will be approaching fast due to the wish of this world. If he died, then it's all over for everyone." Hearing that, Scáthach glance at him. "Then why you aren't doing anything to prevent that from happening." She asks and saw how the famous wizard looked bothered by answering. "I can't, if I stop you then things would become worse. I'm taking a gamble. Depending on your decision, I think this course of fate is what I think is best for him. He can only escape death if he died." Merlin halfheartedly laughs from hearing how stupid that sound was. This way of thinking is cruel, but it was needed, Ren needed to die to escape death, his still not ready to face it. "Anyway, I'm not stopping you. Do what you want, I still need to make a bargain on the Moon Cell, so I'd bid you farewell for now." He said and with a wave of his hand, the magus disappeared while leaving rain of flowers as he leaves.
"Ren Amamiya, humanity, my wish," Scáthach whispered under her breath. "Do whatever I want, huh." She then looks once again at the city behind her. Without saying anything else, the immortal witch leaves the hill after finally settling on what she's going to do.
Author Notes: Decided to make a long chapter and decided to make lengthy chapters from now on (Hopefully Epic 7 and FGO don't take all my time). Anyways I'd think I introduce mostly every servant on this arc, well they are going to play some key parts later on and also I need to find some replacement on those who didn't appear like Romulus, Caesar, Alexander, Caligula and many more. Regardless I hope that what I did on this chapter made everyone excited from what about to happen next. I mean Merlin finally appeared! Bradamante as well! (To be honest, I didn't know she was part of the paladins, I only knew it thanks to your reviews! thank you whoever tip me off about her!)
So yeah, I'm about to do a Nero Fest next chapter, I'm going to write lots of fighting scenes (It is going to be brutal for me.) Anyway, who servant you'd think to go to win? place your bets~ Also for future plans, this arc will also serve the coming of the alters, I'm also going to use a place that may not have appeared on FGO (I don't know I've started playing late on NA) In addition to that, some of you probably wanted to know if the Phantom Thieves will make an appearance here after what Merlin said. Well I have plans but not finalize, so yeah, let's see where I can take this story.
Lastly regarding the 'World" Arcana, I kinda want to make proper abilities for it, hopefully, what I did make sense, I mean this also explains why Ren struggled from knowing Gilles name last arc. Then I think it is fair to address the phantom thieves this way as well, they are known as a group not by individual afterall. So without them Ren's is not a proper heroic spirit. Anyway that is the basic power of the "World" arcana for now, also the harem I think five is acceptable? I want to make it three, but I've wanted to put my most useful female servant there. Hopefully that won't make you leave the story! It won't end up like how DXD did or any ecchi harem setting. I'll try to make it natural.
One more thing, I've got like the weirdest pull on FGO [Na], King Hassan banner is up so I tried to pull for him, but I've got Jack the ripper instead! Wow can't believe I've got something better!
Anyway that's enough of me talking, leave a review (reading them is the best!) follow and favorite this story as well, I'll see you all next time.