Somewhat of a 'boring' chapter, at least, it's not very long. I did debate on whether or not I wanted to include a certain section of this one since Cira isn't involved in it...but I was reminded as I went through it by myself that it's not just my story being told here. So while this isn't an action packed chapter...it's a meaningful one.

Orleans: Baptism Rite

The news of Marie's death hit the group hard. They knew that she would have done it again if she had the choice, but it hurt no less. At Mozart's urging, Jeanne and Georgios went to cure a deathly pale Siegfried and save him from his curses. Cira leaned against a wall, staring up at the pale ring that still marred the sky.

"I wasn't expecting Queenie to go out so fast," Cu Chulainn admitted, "She seemed tougher than most…"

"To save her people, it was worth to her," Artoria said, "There is no greater sacrifice than that, especially for a monarch,"

"You would know, wouldn't you," Cu Chulainn pointed out.

"Perhaps and perhaps not," Artoria replied, her answer cagey, but with a look from Cira, Cu Chulainn did not push.

"Master," Kiyohime started, making Cira jump.

"Wait, me?" she asked, pointing at her.

"You're the only Master here, aren't you?" the blue-haired Berserker asked, "It may be temporary...but could you enter a contract with me? Just a pinkie is fine,"

"Uh...sure," Cira blinked, reaching out and gently hooking her pinky around the Servant's, slightly surprised at how soft and delicate it was.

Her energy lowered slightly as the bond opened up with Kiyohime and the eastern dragon smiled while Artoria and Lily gave small huffs of annoyance. Cira gave both her Sabers a look, silently warning them to be nice.

"This is a pinkie promise," Kiyohime stated, "If you lie, I'll make you swallow a thousand needles. And I'm not joking,"

"You can't be serious!" Cira sputtered.

"Try me," the Berserker beamed with a smile that seemed more predatory than friendly.

"Oh you've stuck your foot in it this time, Master," Cu Chulainn hissed in sympathy as Kiyohime glided away.

"Don't worry, Master," Lily promised, "We'll make sure she doesn't...she'll find needles in her throat if she tries,"

Cira looked at the shorter Saber.

"Who are you and what have you done with Lily!?" she demanded.

Lily just gave a sweet little smile and made her way off to explore the village as Mash came back up with Jeanne, Siegfried and Georgios.

"What did I just miss?" she asked.

"Lily giving her older self a run for her money with how scary she can be," Cira blinked, "And...I might have contracted a Berserker. But that's beside the point...how's Siegfried,"

"Georgios and I have completed the baptismal rite," Jeanne said, "We stripped the curses from him and cast them out. I could not have done it alone, thank you Georgios,"

"It was an honor," the dragon slayer saint smiled with a polite nod, "I only ask that in return I join you in order to slay the evil dragon that haunts these lands,"

"Fafnir should be slain by me," Siegfried said, "But I would appreciate any aid I can get, Lord Georgios,"

"Looks like we have ourselves a team," Romani said, "That might actually be enough to get through to Orleans,"

"Let's take down a dragon," Cira nodded.

"For Marie," Jeanne stated with a sad smile.

"For Marie," Cira agreed, "And for all of France,"

"I would love to help you out with that, Puppy," Elizabeth said, leaning on her lance as her tail flicked.

"My, my," Kiyohime purred, "Calling my Love a Puppy...that is one surefire way to get burned, Elizabeth,"

"Creepy Stalker Dragon say what?" Cira demanded.

"I am not a cheap dragon!" Elizabeth huffed, completely ignoring Cira, "I will need an extraordinary Master to fulfill my needs,"

"So the horn on your head isn't the only thing that's twisted," Kiyohime huffed, fanning herself, "Seeking an impossible dream, is your head ok?"

"It's not a dream! It's conviction! I'm convinced of it!" Elizabeth screeched.

"Let's...get out of this town before those two decide to burn it down again…" Cira sighed.

The stars shone through the branches of the trees by the time Cira and the others managed to settle down and break for camp. Cira was already weary, drained from the strain of taking on not one but two new contracts as Siegfried had asked her to take him on not long after they had left town. Her legs were shaking and her vision was blurring as they made it to a clearing, she had to nearly hang on Cu Chulainn as he gently guided her towards a tree. Jeanne did a head count, frowning as she came up two short.

"Cira?" she asked, "Where are Mash and Amadeus?"

Cira's eyes flashed wide open in slight fear, though she relaxed as she searched the bonds she was holding...sensing Cu Chulainn, Lily, Artoria, Kiyohime and Siegfried by her, while Mash was just to the south near the creek they had passed. She did not seem harmed or frightened at all.

"She's alright," Cira said, "I'm guessing Mozart is with her, she doesn't seem too worried,"

"Master, you should get some rest," Cu Chulainn said, laying a hand on her shoulder, "You...to be fair, look like hell."

"Mm, probably a smart idea…" Cira agreed, "Considering that I've got to split my energy...six ways now?"

"We'll wake you up if things get bad, ok?" Cu Chulainn reassured her as Lily unpacked one of the blankets that she and Marie had picked up in the previous village before they had split.

"Thanks," Cira nodded as Lily gave her the blanket, the young Saber smiling brightly as she went back to the fire, helping her older self set it up.

"Cu Chulainn and I will likely go hunting and get some fresh meat in a few minutes," Artoria said from the fireside, "Do not fear, Master, all will be well,"

Cira nodded and leaned her head against the tree, closing her eyes and letting fatigue drag her down into the dark of her dreams.

Mash knew that splitting too far from the party was...unwise to say the least. She did, however, want to see how Mozart was holding up after the news of Marie's death. She knew that Marie had stayed behind to evacuate a city under attack by the Dragon Witch, allowing Jeanne and Georgios to escape to Thiers, but grief was still a new emotion to her, one that she hadn't really seen outside of movies that Doctor Roman or DaVinci had shown her.

She had tailed him from the campsite to the creek and now out underneath the stars outside the forest line. She could see the glow from the campfire in the forest, so she knew that they could easily find their way back to Cira and the others.

"I suppose you wish to talk then, Lady Mash?" Mozart asked as he sat down on a rock, turning a mournful cerulean gaze towards the still shining ring in the sky.

"I...know it's a little crazy but...I had a few questions if you don't mind," she said, nodding as Mozart patted the rock next to his.

"Of course not," he smiled as she sat down, "Be it important or trivial...ask away. Tomorrow is the final battle after all...you should be wrapping up any unfinished business,"

"Y-Yes," Mash nodded, her hands curling into nervous fists on her lap, "I...hate to bring this back up. But it's about when we heard that Marie had died. You said…'humans choose what they love'. And I…"

She looked up at him, the moonlight turning her gaze an innocent, pale lavender.

"I don't understand what that meant," she admitted, "I understand the meaning of the words. But the 'choose' part is what I don't understand. Things that we view favorably are morally just, and things that we should reject are socially bad. That is what I have been taught...and what I believe to be right."

"What do you consider to be 'right'?" Mozart asked gently, though there was no small amount of pain in his eyes.

"W-Well…" Mash stammered, "Something that saves many lives, and sees value in many lives, I suppose,"

"Well, that is rather ill-defined," Mozart stated, turning to face her, "Let's assume that for a moment...Cira was not such a person. What then?"

"B-But that's not true!" Mash protested.

Mozart gave a soft laugh and held up his hands in placation.

"Forgive me, that was a bit cruel," he admitted, "However, I want you to keep that hesitation and discomfort in mind. Mash,"

He grabbed her hands, firmly and yet very gently.

"I get the feeling you're a person who just recently gained her freedom," he said, "As such, you freeze in the face of hard choices and have doubts about the person you're becoming."

"I...didn't know much about the outside world," Mash admitted, "Much of what I know is the sterile walls of Chaldea. If I know anything about the outside world, it has been because of what I have seen and heard from others or in pictures. No…"

Her voice turned shaky for a moment as her head bowed.

"Maybe I didn't have the right to care for anything in the first place," she whispered, "I…"

"Oh dear," Mozart sighed, "You really are pure, aren't you? You're like a music sheet without a single note written on it. But heed my words, Mash. Even if you are a doll created for the sole purpose of fighting…"

He gently tipped her chin up so she would look at him, her gold and violet eyes wide as she listened and he smiled.

"You have the obligation to care for something," he told her, "You may not have freedom, but you have obligations."

"Not rights or privileges?"

"Obligations...duties if you will," he explained, "Humans have that responsibility, because they have the intelligence to think."

He gently tapped her forehead and made her jump, getting a chuckle from him.

"What to care for, what to dislike, what is considered precious...what is considered evil," he continued, "Those are the things you must choose for yourself. Not by the words of others, nor by conforming to your environment. Every human is unique...so too are their values. We learn and see as much as we can. By doing so, your life is enriched."

He gently took her by the shoulders.

"Listen," he ordered, "The world is not what you make of it. You are what the world makes of you. Then, when you have become you, become more than the world. You must leave behind proof that you existed...I have. All the music I left behind is proof. Even though…"

He gave a sigh.

"Even though that in itself is insignificant," he gave a bitter laugh as Mash cocked her head in confusion, "After all...I am...a man who couldn't even bear witness to the death of his one and only love…"

His voice trembled for a moment before he cleared it.

"My legacy may have been loved by many...as Lady Cira has showcased...but my life was nothing special," he gave another sigh, "Still, I am content with that. Humans are nasty and unpleasant. I still stand by that. There are sinners that shine brilliantly and saints that make one retch. So there is no need to fear for your future. You are created by the world, and you expand and improve the world. That is what 'being human' is all about. Begin by absorbing all you can from the world and then return those favors to the world as you see fit. Worrying over what results that will have is a matter for another day,"

He stood and offered his hand to Mash.

"As long as humans are humans, evil will not prevail," he said as she took his hand and he helped her up, "After all, humanity will not be able to flourish otherwise."

He looked towards the campsite and gave a smile.

"Shall we return to the campsite?" he asked, "I am sorry I turned your question into quite the bit of a lecture. I felt this would be the last time you and I got to chat like that and I am happy we were able to talk alone in that manner. From start to finish, you are a charming young lady,"

He gave a wink and a roguish grin.

"If Maria hadn't been here, I might have proposed to you instead!" he chuckled.

"M-Mozart!" Mash protested, her pale face turning a shocking red, "I…"

"I'm teasing you, my dear...you're far more fun to tease than your Master, that's for sure," he laughed, gently patting her shoulder.

Mash gave a sigh of relief and turned it into a smile.

"Thank you for talking with me...I swear I won't forget a word," she promised.

"I don't know whether to be horrified I'm seeing this or happy that those two are getting along finally," Cira whispered, staring at Kiyohime and Elizabeth, the former was currently feeding the latter like a mother would their stubborn child.

Mash shrugged, taking a bite of the soup that had been given to her. Artoria and Cu Chulainn had been out all night hunting and gathering materials for this breakfast, eventually around daybreak coming back with a stag that they both proceeded to butcher and fix into a stew-like substance with some of the carrots and potatoes that Lily pulled out of the basket of supplies they'd gotten from the town.

"I am insanely jealous seeing that," Romani huffed, "considering we had powdered eggs and powdered milk and oatmeal,"

"Oh you'll be fine," Cira replied, jabbing her spoon at the air as if to make a point, "We could probably figure out a way to get food and stuff via rayshifting, can't we?"

"...Oh my God I never considered that…" Romani gasped, "Hey! Leonardo! Did you hear that?"

"Yes, yes, I heard and I'm already working on that," DaVinci sighed, "You owe me, Romani!"

"Awwww look at the cute couple," Cira teased.

"Shut it," Romani hissed, "Before she smacks me with a newspaper aga-OW!"

Cira started howling as Romani and DaVinci got on each other, resulting in the sound of rolled up paper smacking against clothing multiple times...as well as quite a few expletives from both parties.

"We are under the guidance of children," Artoria sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as Cu Chulainn snorted.

"It's better than not having their help at all," Mash offered, though she too looked tired, "Doctor, please stop bickering with DaVinci and help us,"

"Ow, ow, ow…" Romani huffed before clearing his throat, "Ugh, woman that hurts...Anyways...you guys are getting closer to Orleans, which means you might end up in more and more combat situations. Maybe even a war…"

"Every bit gets us closer to the false Jeanne, right?" Cira asked.

"Which may be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time," Romani pointed out, "Obviously bad because it puts you in danger. Like, more than I can even calculate. But good because that means you're all another step closer to fixing this singularity and coming back to Chaldea."

"It'd be nice to sleep in a bed again," Cira stretched, "So, what's the plan here?"

She looked up around at the Servants before her, her hands curling around the bowl in them, stealing the warmth from the bowl into her cold fingers.

"Since it's likely going to be a battle and all," she added.

"I believe I'm the only one with experience leading armies?" Siegfried asked, only to pause at the badly contained snort from Cu Chulainn.

"That's a no," the Irishman pointed out, "Pretty sure Miss King of Knights has. I have...and pretty sure that Miss Saint there's a general as well,"

"Cu Chulainn is correct," Artoria nodded, "While Lily has yet to lead a battle, I am seasoned in the fires of war."

"And I may not have fought much myself, but I have led armies," Jeanne nodded, "I may not have unsheathed my sword, but I do know my way around getting soldiers to do as they are told,"

"My apologies," Siegfried bowed, "I seem to have forgotten that,"

"Don't worry about it," Cira said, waving a hand while Mash nodded in agreement.

"I do not have a glorious military record," Siegfried explained, "At least, where I had led an army to invade a worthwhile country,"

"I didn't do much invading myself," Cu Chulainn admitted, "Save for neighboring kingdoms when they pissed my own off."

"I was mainly based here in France," Jeanne nodded, "So I do not as well,"

Artoria gave a sigh.

"I suppose that leaves me," she said softly, "I on my part have led many raids to worthwhile countries. Both France and Rome,"

"Maybe you all could work together for a plan," Mash suggested.

"That way no one harbors bitterness," Lily added with a smile.

"Our numbers are small, while the enemy's are quite large," Siegfried pointed out, nodding in agreement with Lily, "However, they are weaker than us,"

"Mere wyverns and undead compared to Servants," Artoria nodded, "Three of which cause them to quake in fear just from existing,"

"We have two options," Jeanne added drawing in the dirt with the point of her javelin, "A frontal assault or a flank from the rear,"

"Yeah, but that doesn't help us much because they know where we're at," Cu Chulainn pointed out, "So sneakin' around isn't gonna help us at all."

"So, that leaves one option," Siegfried said, taking the point of his own blade and drawing a line from the 'base' into the front line.

"A frontal assault," the Servants all nodded.

"Master and I shall see to Fafnir," Siegfried continued, "We should split ourselves up to seem larger than we are. We are strong enough to take them out...I would like the rest of you to protect us from the wyverns and other Servants."

"Where Master goes, we follow," Artoria said firmly, "Leaving her side is not an option for the four of us,"

"And I wouldn't expect anything less from the Red Dragoness," Siegfried placated her, "The fact is...the fate of this war hinges on if I can slay that dragon. And if they get to us, if they kill us...there is none among us that can kill him. I am the only one who can slay Fafnir, none else."

"Understood," Mash piped up, "I may be inexperienced, but I will do everything I can to protect you both."

"As will I," Lily nodded, "Caliburn is still reforging itself, so I won't be able to use my Noble Phantasm...but I can still fight with a borrowed blade!"

"I have my own thing to focus on," Elizabeth stated, "I'll help...but I want to kill her first,"

"By all means, go after your older self," Jeanne nodded, getting a near feral grin from Elizabeth, "I for sure am to face against the 'Dragon Witch',"

"Permit me to join you on that, Lady Jeanne," Artoria growled.

"Artoria?" Cira asked, only to get met by a very fiery emerald gaze.

"She corrupted one of my knights. I am taking personal offense to that," Artoria seethed, "My sword is the weight of my pride, and my knights are my blades under me. To see that she took one of my greatest and twisted him into that...I cannot allow that to stand."

"I would be happy to have your blade at my side, King of Knights," Jeanne smiled.

"I'll keep an eye on Lily," Cu Chulainn said, putting a hand on Artoria's shoulder, "Make sure she doesn't get into trouble...same as Master,"

"Can you defeat the witch?" Georgios said, finally speaking after being silent and listening to the conversation.

Jeanne looked at Artoria and both women nodded.

"I will. I will be victorious," Jeanne said firmly, "By the end of the day, that demoness that took my form shall return to the ashes from whence she came."

"Leave scouting the area to me...well, us at Chaldea," Romani said as Cira held up the communicator, "This is do-or-die time. I've got plenty of energy drinks and buckets ready!"

"...I don't want to know what those buckets are for," Cira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Doctor, those have the opposite effect," Mash pointed out, "They cause stomachaches, so maybe you shouldn't drink them."

"Eh it'll freshen me up if I dunk my face in it," he dismissed, "Leave everything to me!"

"If no one else has any questions…" Siegfried said, looking towards Cira, "Master, your orders?"

Cira gave a smile as she stood from where she sat on the ground.

"Let's win," she nodded.

Master: Cira Albion

Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight

Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon

Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn

Servant: Saber- Saber Lily

Servant: Saber-Siegfried

Servant: Berserker-Kiyohime