Tense silence was their only companion.
Barely minutes before, the Summoning Chamber was relatively and peaceful. Despite the newest lancer's curious personality, Tesla, Mashu, and Gudao had been conversing with him as Gabrielle and Da Vinci set up the final summon attempt for the day. With unkempt, white hair that nearly matched his pale complexion, the new servant would have been a curious sight had he not been encountered previously. Teal eyes had glanced the room in initial apprehension and caution, but were swiftly relieved upon seeing the familiar male master. It was clear the new hero accepted his circumstances well, though the same could not be said for the second servant.
It was obvious that one did not appreciate the lancer with a seemingly fused armor of lustrous gold and black.
Gabrielle's eyes darted warily between the two, whose silent gazes could shatter the world. Despite a barely discernible glare, the newly arrived servant's composure was the definition of regal. From his pristine white pants to the unusual lavender turtleneck, it was clear the dark-skinned man always carried himself well. Though different from how he was first seen, Gudao had recognized this man instantly thanks to familiar black hair, matching eyes, and the unique side quivers of glimmering silver and gold. If that wasn't enough, it was the tension that followed that gave him away clearly even though the new archer had not spoken once.
Mashu gently nudged Gudao with her elbow, while keeping her shield at the ready. "Senpai…"
His silent, uncertain gaze was broken. Gudao cleared his throat uncomfortably, and hoped they would listen. "Karna. Arjuna. I understand you have a… rivalry of sorts, but we have far more important matters at hand. The fate of humanity depends on all of us to work together."
"I swore to aid you in your endeavor once more, Master Gudao," Karna answered as he turned his calm gaze towards the master.
Arjuna's did not falter, and remained on Karna. "… Yes, I, Arjuna, am delighted to sincerely serve you for such a just cause."
Though the words were reassuring, the tension didn't vanish. Arjuna was clearly still upset with the circumstances, even if he did not appear like it. Mashu and Da Vinci remained ready to intervene at a moment's notice. Even the blatantly self-assured Tesla had a serious and concerned expression, made more perceptible after he shifted into his battle attire.
Gudao sighed and crossed his arms over his master uniform. Gabrielle walked over to him quietly while taking a notepad out of her own uniform. Quietly, she jotted down the potential issue with these two powerful servants, and a side note to ask her best friend and the others about reminding her of specifics; She was, almost too often, terrible with remembering large chunks of information unless she noted them down.
"Right then… We have yet to introduce ourselves to you… Arjuna, was it?" With a hopeful smile, she pocketed the book, and brought her hands together. "I am Gabrielle Rutherford, and you may know Gudao Fujimaru. We are your masters, and we look forward to working with you! Would you two mind if we gave you a tour of Chaldea?"
Karna nodded quietly, and Arjuna only now turned his gaze to them. Mashu whispered into the female master's ear. "I think that's a yes."
Silence followed, and Gabrielle sighed in disappointment and concern.
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Fragment 33: Belated Taste of Fortune
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"At least it wasn't Sasaki…" Gabrielle sighed in slight relief. Not a day went by she wouldn't receive a clever comment from him.
"I'm fairly certain he only does it because you're as easy to rile as Medea," Gudao chuckled.
With the masters curiously bickering, much to the shielder's enjoyment, Karna gazed about the hallway in silent curiosity. They had just met Saint George who was guarding the vault, yet he could still sense several more servants in the immediate vicinity. Aside from him, there were still bound to be plenty of unknowns to meet. Though he remained silent and composed, his impression of Chaldea slowly expanded. Even with Gudao discussing tiny tidbits of the facility during their alliance in America, there was still much that remained unknown to him.
Though Arjuna followed behind, and he could still feel his apprehensive gaze on the back of his neck, a rare curiosity bloomed in his mind. He had arrived in a place where heroes across time have gathered, unified in their duty to protect the future of humanity regardless of past circumstances. This was what the masters discussed before leaving the Summoning Chamber, but he knew it because of his interactions with Gudao during that major singularity. On the future battlefields, they would have to coordinate with themselves and the masters to fix the singularities.
The Hero of Charity would have no issue with that, nor would Arjuna when it came down to it, but he doubted they were the only case of tension.
Karna imagined the scales would be balanced in some manner. If there were those less accepting of their current situation, then the opposite would also be true. Of the near hundred servants that resided in these halls, there were bound to be those interested in forming alliances or even friendships. Since it did not seem they were constantly on deployments, the downtime must give more them ample opportunity for personal matters. He had struck an interesting friendship with Helena and Edison, so it was not an unusual thought to think it could happen here.
His eyes gazed forward as another familiar servant turned the corner ahead. Scathach's eyes had widened slightly upon seeing both of the Indian heroes in tow, though her approach remained calm and collected as always. Already he had encountered another familiar face from that singularity, and the tour had barely begun. It was interesting to watch the Chaldean Scathach fight with the singularity's during an occasional spar, but it was more intriguing to note her tight-fitting denims and a black turtleneck sweater. The lancer had honestly expected more to be wearing battle attire.
"I see we meet once more," Scathach greeted the two arrivals with a nod. The white, fluffy familiar hopped from her shoulder to Gabrielle. The male lancer watched curiously as Fou latched onto her face and quickly scurried onto the top of her head, using her side ponytail as a makeshift ladder. Gabrielle grumbled as Mashu chuckled.
Karna nodded slightly, while Arjuna remained silent. "It appears we will fight together once more, Scathach."
"I look forward to it. It is relieving to have both of you on our side." Scathach noted the almost indistinct glint of dissatisfaction in Arjuna's gaze, though she likely knew it was not meant for her. She instead turned her stare towards Gabrielle as she tried to get Fou to stop fidgeting on her head.
"You want to join us on the tour-"
"Illya get back here so I can tag you! Umu~!"
"That's not how tag works, Nero!"
Karna's curiosity rose at the familiar name. Though they didn't encounter each other in America, he had worked with the Empress of Roses during the Moon Cell events against the machinations of Archimedes. As the group turned towards the corridor, three presences converged from opposite directions. The sounds of a pair of running feet echoed in the halls. A robot stopped at the intersection patiently as Illya practically zoomed by in her battle attire. With her and Ruby's laughter fading happily down the hallway, the chaser finally came to a halt in the intersection with a clear pout.
"The muses won't sing praises for your cheating!" Nero cried out peevishly, only to be met with more laughter. She sighed dejectedly and attempted to flatten her rosy red sundress. The masters weren't even phased she would be running around with her dress flapping about, completely carefree. Karna seemed more interested in meeting the servant again, and even Arjuna had the hint of recognition in his eyes.
Familiar giggling came from the hallway Illya had vanished. "You look so funny when you run in such an undignified manner, Miss Empress."
"It's not funny, Casko! I've been chasing her for the last hour since Kuro and the others are so good at hiding!" Nero pouted as the caster appeared from the hallway. Her fists shook in irritation, but not at the new servant.
"You could have at least changed out of your heels," She chided. Her golden eyes were filled with mirth as she held a hand to her mouth to stifle the giggles. Tamamo placed her arms akimbo on her denim short shorts to mirror Nero's posture. Karna eyed her small blue shirt, tied at the back to reveal her midriff, and noted the casual wear definitely seemed to be the norm. Judging by the stack of clothes another robot carried as it hovered around them, it was clear wearing battle clothing was actually out of the ordinary here.
Karna was surprised seeing both of them, and in seemingly good relations for that matter as they began talking. He had honestly expected them to be bickering more, though they only just started to converse. That was already several seconds longer than it should have been for the two feuding rivals. It brought his previous inquiry back to the forefront, and he realized the possibilities of this place. To be fair, Nero and Tamamo did have previous experience working together, so their friendship wasn't that unbelievable. It still surprised him there wasn't that much bickering considering his previous involvements and understandings.
"Altera isn't helping you?"
Nero sighed. "Umu… She's sparring with Bedivere and Okita at the training grounds."
"Have you tried searching the berserkers' lodge?" Mashu asked, drawing the duo's attention. The two turned to her as Nero was about to answer, but they both stopped. Their eyes quickly widened in excitement upon seeing the familiar lancer, and the shielder's inquiry was lost in the wind.
"Karna!" They both shouted at once and dashed towards them. Gudao and Gabrielle instinctively jumped out of the way as the two came to an almost overdramatic, screeching halt in front of the lancer. Arjuna simply took a few steps back to give them space, though his gaze did seem to narrow ever so slightly. Mashu noticed, though no one else seemed to.
"You've finally arrived! How are you?" Tamamo asked nicely as her ears twitched.
"Umu~! We were wondering when you might arrive!" Nero declared proudly. "It was only a matter of time since the others saw you in America."
"Oh shush, Miss Empress. You were losing faith."
"I was not, Fox Caster! I knew he would come!"
Karna felt a small smile form. "I was nearly convinced your feud had ended."
"It will never be quite over so long as we fight over our dear husband," Tamamo noted with a small smile and roll of the eyes. "But we get along."
Nero nodded before quickly glancing towards Gudao and Mashu to one side. She then stared briefly at Gabrielle and Scathach on the other side and blinked. She smiled proudly, without a hint of embarrassment. "We've clearly interrupted the tour, Tamamo. Perhaps we should take over?"
Gabrielle sighed as Scathach gently pat her on the shoulder. Tamamo smiled. "Gabby, Gudao… if you don't mind, we could show Karna around."
"Like we have a choice," Gabrielle chuckled, though partially in dismay. Karna questioned whether it was a usual occurrence to have tours intercepted like this. It probably was. "We'll show Arjuna around. I hope you don't mind, Karna."
He nodded simply. "If my masters do not mind, I will follow them."
"Mikon!" Tamamo cheered as Nero motioned for him to follow. Karna began walking behind the girls as they fell into a brief conversation between them, but still picked up the masters' conversation… If only because he could still feel Arjuna's constant gaze.
"If you're wondering why Nero didn't recognize you, she doesn't have a memorial essence from the singularity." Gudao explained with a hint of caution. The tour's eyes turned to Arjuna as he eyed the three walking away. "Do you have any reservations about the split, Arjuna?"
"No. This is more preferable, masters," Arjuna stated calmly, though his stern gaze to Karna's back proved otherwise. Gudao and Gabrielle looked to each other in silent acknowledgement as Mashu kept a wary eye on Arjuna. Those two would have to be kept separate as much as possible.
"Something wrong, Karna?" Nero asked as the two looked at him.
He shook his head. "Nothing for you two to worry about."
"We won't ask any further," Tamamo agreed as she shot Nero a cautionary glance. She soon perked up once again. "Oh! Where would you like to go first? The only place we can't show it the auditorium since it's being remodeled. Maybe you'd like to choose a room for-"
"Hoy Nero! I'm surprised the entire facility doesn't know what color panties you're wearing while you chase us around so childishly!"
Karna looked ahead at the curious voice to see Illya floating around a corridor further away. She was blushing bright red for some reason, though he could at least discern Nero's was both in irritation and embarrassment. Tamamo was happily giggling beside her at the tease, though he still couldn't figure out where it originated from. It was then he noticed the floating girl's wand seemed to be moving… and laughing. He had truthfully seen much stranger things in his many years, but it was still a bizarre sight.
"Ruby! Don't say things like that!" Illya scolded as she stared at Nero. The empress was pouting, and her hands were shaking at her side.
"Get back here you two so I can tag you!" Nero yelled as she bolted forward, making Tamamo laugh harder as the saber ran ahead at full speed. As her heels clicked loudly down the hallway, and laughter came from the tour group further behind them, the fox caster shook her head in amusement.
She looked to Karna with a shrug, noticing his slightly puzzled expression. "You'll get used to this zany place soon enough. Though it seems I'm the only one giving the tour now that Miss Empress has found her target again. Don't mind her."
Karna simply nodded with a small smile. "I will not. Please lead the way, Tamamo."
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"I thought she'd be in there. Hm, perhaps we'll run into her in the hallways."
Tamamo sighed as her tail flicked behind her. They had just exited the gymnasium where the caster thought they might see the one of Karna's admirers. Usually she was in there keeping her body lightly toned, but her routine seemed to have shifted this day. Karna didn't mind, and simply noted the room and its equipment as its visitors observed him. There had been no other servants, though he had met quite a few new faces in the hallways. He appreciated that most of them seemed at least civil when meeting others, but more than a handful had been surprised at his demeanor.
Thankfully for him, Tamamo was there to straighten some things out. He was more than appreciative of the caster's help since most people usually got the wrong impression from his mannerisms. Though he didn't mind what they thought or how they reacted to it, the cleared misunderstandings at least paved the way for better conversations in the future. While he had a few servants he could call friends, it didn't hurt to find more who-
"This sheer presence! This astounding brightness that surrounds one's stature!"
Tamamo groaned loudly. "Oh blessed heavens why…"
Karna was about to question her instantaneous loss of enthusiasm when the owner of the voice appeared. The olive-skinned rider turned the corner with a proud, signature grin. Ozymandias brushed his loose hair to the side as his expression shined even brighter, and he uncrossed his arms to open them widely. Karna eyed the rider as he laughed, making Tamamo cringe. Slowly, the caster opened her eyes with a small scowl to eye the rider approaching in formal black pants and a white shirt, which was unbuttoned as usual to showcase his gaudy necklace and magazine worthy abs.
"Tamamo, my dearest sun sister! Why did you not inform me another pharaoh has arrived within Chaldea!"
"I am not your sister…" Tamamo growled. Her ears twitched as she groaned while Ozymandias simply wrapped an arm around her and laughed. Karna watched as she barely tried to break away, and he understood the little effort clearly. It wasn't that she secretly wanted it, because she didn't. There was simply no escaping, and she begrudgingly acknowledged it. "Let go of me, Ozymandias!"
"Of course, of course… I must properly greet the newest arrival." He boasted with a million-dollar grin. "I am Ozymandias, the sun itself and a god of my people. I must ask, hero, you are indeed a pharaoh, are you not?"
"I am not," Karna answered simply. "I am Karna."
Ozymandias' eyes did not lose their glint, and if anything, his admiration and respect remained. "Karna? Son of Surya and the King of Anga? It all makes sense then. I can tell you are without a doubt the Hero of Charity, and it explains your brilliance and shining presence."
"Careful, Karna… he might make you his brother or son," Tamamo spoke dejectedly. Ozymandias laughed again. She winced. "Can you stop doing that!?"
"But it is a momentous occasion! A great hero with the presence of the sun itself has come to Chaldea! We must celebrate this tonight, and you will prepare a grand feast for us to enjoy at the table!"
"It's my day off…"
Ozymandias now looked a bit troubled. "Hmm… I suppose Emiya's cooking will do. It's delicious, but it's not made by the hands of one blessed by the sun."
Karna looked between the two in silent amusement as the one-way argument continued, though his expression remained calm. It had supposedly been many months since Chaldea arrived to solve the American singularity, yet the organization has advanced far. In the time since the lancer had subdued their initial landing force and fallen impressed with their reserves, he was astonished to find even stronger heroes in their current roster. Ozymandias was a large name in history, and his own signature basked the surrounding in its splendor, majesty, and strength.
As Ozymandias recognized and interpreted his presence, so too could the lancer see him. The rider did not hide who he truly was, and flaunted it as readily and eagerly as Nero. Though Tamamo seemed far less than amused and appreciative of the gesture, he even decided his closest companions based on their signature; Whether they agreed to it was a different matter. In this respect, he had chosen him regardless of his gestures or demeanor. It wasn't a possibility whether or not Ozymandias would wind up his first new acquaintance in Chaldea, because it was already decided. He was going to be it whether Karna agreed to it or not.
"Karna! You will sit with us pharaohs for dinner! We have much to discuss, and I'm sure Cleopatra and Nitocris would love to meet someone of such grand brilliance!" Ozymandias declared with a proud nod. "Tamamo, I shall let you two continue the tour! I shall see both of you tonight at our table!"
"I'm bringing Kiyohime then. No exceptions," Tamamo sighed, clearly distraught.
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Lunch was already approaching the following day, and Karna was already in high spirits since his arrival. His life had been full of misfortune and constant dilemmas, which had shaped him in nearly every regard, but he did not mind. There would remain the hint of wariness that fate would turn on him once more, though he would still appreciate the gifts that blessed him since his entrance. If this was somehow karma rewarding him in this 'next life', it was a pleasant change he could quietly appreciate.
Already he had greeted several servants who had known him, and several more yet who did not seem bothered by the demeanor that drove off many. Before supper, he had become further acquainted with Gudao while learned much about his best friend and fellow master. The dinner with the Egyptians and company had gone wonderfully, and his first real meal in this place reminded him of some of the splendid feasts of the Kaurava. It had continued this morning with his first sparring session Siegfried had promised him, where they traded blows in the training grounds with Lancelot and Beowulf.
Many meetings and conversations had taken place, but while he valued them all, it was the next one that interested him. Karna entered the library in a content state of mind, looking around the room casually once more. Shakespeare and Medusa waved to him from a far corner, clearly reorganizing a section with new additions. Hans simply nodded from behind his book as he manned the front desk before casually turning a page. Though the three formally dressed servants would make for interesting company for a few moments, it was the newest that had his attention.
Karna walked casually towards the newest, part-time member of the library staff. Her presence was made obvious by the floating automaton that helped her place books in the lower, central area. Though she remained hidden behind a shelf, the miniature caricatures of a grey bearded man in formal military dress led him to his friend. One of the floating Colonel Olcotts spotted him, and instantly hovered lower to inform the caster. Soon after, it reappeared to do its work as Karna rounded the corner of the aisle.
"Good afternoon, Karna. You're here to meet me a touch early," stated the small woman as she checked the spine of a new book. A cart with a few remaining biographies was parked beside the magenta-haired caster, who brushed a bang of her framing locks behind her ear. A black wrap dress covered most of her petite frame, but kept her slender arms unhindered as they worked with her familiars. A fuchsia gaze finally turned to meet the turquoise orbs of the lancer as she casually handed a familiar another book.
"Did your spar with Siegfried go as well as you wished?"
"It did. I await the future spars with as much interest and enthusiasm."
"Saying it with that plain face doesn't suit your words. Although, I can tell you're more than just content," Helena noted with a small smile. She turned back to the cart momentarily, only to pause slightly at the next biography she picked up. With a small shake of the head, she turned back to Karna. "I suppose he would be able to tell so too, if he were here."
Quietly, the lancer watched her shelve the biography herself slowly, allowing him to see the title. Karna nodded in understanding as the familiar name slipped out of sight among its new neighbors. "Do the masters have ways of specifically summoning servants they've met?"
"No, unfortunately. Gudao had a theoretical approach, but Bedivere's case was different," she explained simply while handing another familiar a larger text. "They're at the mercy of the summoning system's algorithms unless a true catalyst is acquired. One is currently being analyzed in the Research Lab."
Helena chuckled quietly and turned to Karna. "…and before you ask, yes, Karna, I will be helping Scathach, Babbage, and Tesla in possible improvements. I'm helping with a few other projects, including a special one I can tell you about sometime, but that has to be a secret."
While many servants respected him, and some others could get past his communication issues, there were very few who understood him and his past well. Besides his fellow Indian Hero, who he also knew well to his animosity, Helena and Edison had come to this understanding as well among few others. In their long campaign against the Celts in America, they had formed a unique bond and comradery that he was glad still stood to this moment. The caster had openly acknowledged and reestablished their friendship upon learning of his arrival, putting aside any doubts, and he hoped Edison would do the same if he arrived.
Karna displayed a faint smile. "Would you like some help, Madam Blavatsky?"
"With the books? I'll be finished in a few moments, Karna. If you don't mind, however, I wish to head back to my room to check if my furniture order arrived," she responded quietly. True to her word, her familiars quickly shelved four more in the next few seconds. "Did you order clothing for yourself yet?"
"I would be fine with just my armor. There's no need to trouble others for simple cloth."
With a giggle, Helena simply waved him off. "It's a relaxed atmosphere, so we might as well enjoy the rarity. Plus, the Clothing Department staff are absolutely incredible. To think… some of them didn't even know how to stitch a year ago."
"While these modern attires are interesting, I would prefer something more traditional."
As she placed the last book away, Helena smiled. "There are a few Hindu employees who have gotten some of those for casual wear. It's an option."
Karna's eyebrows rose slightly as he stepped to the side, allowing the squadron of Colonel Olcotts to push the cart away. 'Perhaps then…'
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A crowd had blocked the windowed hallway to the cafeteria, much to Helena's dismay. Being servants helped to allow them to push to the front, with Karna leading the way for the smaller caster. As they appeared from the crowd, Helena shook her head upon seeing another crowd forming a boundary for the scene. While she had only been here a week, it was clear to Karna she was well versed on the intricacies of this place. To be fair, even he had been made aware of one of Chaldea's pranksters on day one.
"I see Nobunaga is up to her regular business," Helena sighed.
"Tamamo told me Chaldea has interesting moments. I thought she only made bombs?"
"This is a new one… but Nobunaga is Nobunaga," Mata Hari answered from the other side of Helena. She crossed her arms over her yellow sweater and sighed. Her matching yoga pants rubbed together as she shifted weight from one leg to the other while staring in slight annoyance at the scene.
"How can kind little Okita deal with her pranks so well? The poor thing," Helena questioned while they watched the archer laugh maniacally.
"Probably because she's never the target," Mata Hari replied, and chuckled dryly. "I had thought the Demon Archer would be a little calmer because of her, but after all this time, she's still roughly the same... I hope Okita isn't secretly turning into some sort of demonic counterpart. One is enough..."
"Drop the paintball gun, Nobunaga!" Robin demanded as he stood ready in his battle attire. Hiding behind his back was Elizabeth, who did not look nearly as ready. If anything, she was peering around him like he was cover, which he likely was. Her tail swayed in the air as she took glances on either side of him to stare at the Demon Archer in her signature black uniform, who merely glared at them. Robin clicked his tongue at Nobunaga's defiance. "I won't say it again!"
"Yea! You tell him manager!" Elizabeth cried out as she peered around his back, making him groan.
"Why did you have to get that memorial essence…" Robin sighed.
"I will not! This is payback for Bathory spoiling one of my ambushes! I would've gotten Xuanzang too if it wasn't for that meddling kid!"
"Who are you calling a kid, piggy!?" Elizabeth yelled. She dared to expose herself for a brief second, revealing her nearly pristine white princess dress.
Robin quickly jumped in the way as Nobunaga took aim. "Oh for- Just put it down already, Nobunaga!"
She fired a warning shot… which was hardly a warning shot since it slammed into Robin's torso. The archer closed his eyes in frustrated disbelief as some employees in the two crowds chuckled. He sighed slowly and looked down, staring at the hideous, pink splatter on his clothes. "…Really?"
Nobunaga simply chuckled. "Snitches get stitches, and so do those protecting the rats!"
"Paintballs aren't going to give anyone stitch- Again!? Seriously, Nobunaga!?" Robin cried out as he stared at the second splatter on his torso.
She simply laughed. "I got plenty of rounds, Green Archer… Don't tempt me to recolor your clothes for the day!"
"Someone help my manager!" the self-proclaimed idol cried out. Honestly, many were surprised she was even asking for help considering she could do it herself... Clearly she didn't want her clothes to get ruined if anything.
Helena placed an arm on Karna's wrist, knowing full well his intentions. It was in his title after all. Without a doubt, he didn't have it in him to deny a person requesting help, even after her betrayal and antagonistic actions during the Moon Cell Wars. They were now his allies, and regardless of the situation and those involved, he would help without hesitation. Helena had stopped him before he could do that. The lancer simply looked down briefly as the caster shook her head.
"It's alright, Karna. I think this is about to be resolved in a better way."
"I do not understand."
"In my short time here, I've learned Chaldea has unique ways of solving its interesting problems, as I'm certain we are about to find out from that robot."
Then he spotted it. The floating orb of lilac, complete with a cute little knapsack tied around its chassis, parted the crowd on the other side instantly. Perhaps it was the dark-skinned servant who did, though he could not tell at the moment. As she clutched a hand in front of her white sweater, and moved cautiously past the employees in her jeans, Serenity cried after her friend. "Rena! You shouldn't!"
"Oh, but I should! I'm getting vengeance for both of us, Serenity!" the robot cried out as Robin turned to look behind him.
He unknowingly showed enough of Elizabeth, who was also distracted, for Nobunaga to take a shot at her. She snickered happily as she leveled her gun, but found herself freezing at the sound of Rena laughing in a childish, mischievous tone. She turned her eyes in time to notice her right arm panel was open, as was its little backpack. The robot had placed a strange sort of hopper into a third port as it appeared, with one of its launchers quickly popping up in preparation to fire. Before Nobunaga could even react, clearly in surprise from what Karna could note, Rena opened fire.
The little robot had only two launchers, but the sheer rate of fire from one alone was astounding. Its autoloader chambered the newfound ammo into the launcher, allowing it to send a barrage of paintballs at the Demon Archer. Nobunaga panicked and covered as much of herself as she could, only to be pelted viciously by the robot's attack. Hit after hit, her uniform showed less of the menacing black, and more of a hot pink. She flailed in place with each impact, but could do nothing as the observers began laughing at the archer's taste of her own medicine.
"This is for the stupid, stupid glitter bomb of yours two days ago!" Rena cried out as she emptied the last of her temporary magazine. "Do you have any idea how long it took me to get those sparkly hell-spawns out of my eye ports!? Serenity's purse too, you fiend!"
Upon exhausting its makeshift magazine, Serenity shook her head but continued to giggle. "Hundred Face is right… you are way too trigger happy."
"But I got her back, see? See? I really love Da Vinci's ammo gift! It fits so nicely in this knapsack nicely too!"
"Way to go robot!" "A robot made a mess for another robot to clean." "Looks like Nobunaga dyed again!" "Good lord, man. Every time."
Karna stared at the once proud Demon Archer as she stood in place, practically dripping pink paint from the splatter marks. She groaned in place, but Karna didn't feel bad in the least. Helena was laughing hysterically beside him, while he watched Serenity and Rena talking enthusiastically. He eyed Robin checking on Elizabeth for any paint platters on her clothes, and felt a tiny smile appear. Fortune seemed to smile better on her here than the Moon Cell. It was always pleasant for him to see the signs of a good friendship, though he was second guessing if Elizabeth and Robin were actually friends.
He was compelled to learn what this title of manager meant. It seemed to be an important title for the young lancer.
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For all his travels and experiences in his past life, Karna was equally accustomed to the idea of fame and notoriety. There were always two sides to a coin, and while one may jeer and criticize him, another would place him on a pedestal. From curses to circumstances, fate often played a cruel hand to the lancer, but he always proceeded with dignity and resolve. Within these walls, it seemed he finally had relief from the hard luck, with almost everyone treating him as a venerated servant. One in particular had cautiously approached as he made his way towards dinner by himself.
With a quick glance of the woman before him, he knew he found the employee Tamamo wished to introduce to him. She was beauty incarnate, whose lush bronze skin and long, flowing black locks spoke loudly of her lineage. A sapphire bindi rested upon her forehead as onyx eyes looked cautiously, yet admiringly, towards him. In a show of unease, her fingers gently fiddled as she held her hands together near the hem of her unique Chaldean uniform. The turquoise cuffs of her black Leyshift Personnel uniform rubbed together as she steeled herself and approached him. A few passing employees took notice, and shot a smile at her as they passed. She returned the gesture.
The lancer stunned her by smiling softly and speaking first. "You must be Anishka. Tamamo has told me much of you."
The employee blushed lightly, but nodded and bowed. "Yes… I am Anishka. It's an incredible honor to be able to meet you in person, Karna!"
"Were you anticipating my arrival?"
"Ever since I saw you fighting on screen during the Fifth Singularity," She nodded. "I did not want to disturb your dinner last evening, since I am not that important to meet compared to others… so I waited until this morning to introduce myself. Please forgive my lack of punctuality."
It was only a fleeting thought in previous conflicts, but believers and admirers of heroes were commonplace. He had never met such an individual during any of the conflicts, but this situation was hardly ordinary. Secrecy was kept open within the organization instead of select individuals, making the chance of meeting a follower rather high. Tamamo had even gone on a small tangent about it, particularly pointing out how Martha and her fellow saints were revered among Christians in the complex. Though the group of Hindus were few, their belief in their heroes was likely as strong if Anishka was any indication. Her slight fidgeting in his presence, however…
"Anishka. Your nervousness is understandable, but hardly ideal. You also appear too modest when viewing yourself," Karna observed casually. He noted Helena's small suggestions about his own communications skills, and nodded slightly. "From all I've seen, you are likely the most beautiful woman in the staff. Twiddling and anxiety hardly fit a flower of India. There is no need to appear like an unneeded onlooker."
Seconds passed in silence. "…Thank you."
Karna was concerned he had been far too blunt as usual, but was quietly relieved upon seeing her softly giggle. She smiled softly. "It's wonderful to hear those words from someone I admire. Tamamo was right. You really are rather forward with speaking. It's different from Arjuna."
A flash of nervousness crossed her face. "I'm sorry. The Mahabharata was such an inspiration to me as a child, I should have been warier of mentioning…"
"It is fine, Anishka. I do not hold any form of grudge or animosity towards Arjuna."
She seemed surprised by the statement. "But… Arjuna still seems to."
Karna nodded quietly. "Yes. It is a different case with him. It is not something you should worry over. It is simply our fate and condition."
There was a slow nod, followed by a brief silence. "I will not question it further. I believe I've taken enough of your time as it is."
"Please feel free to approach me when you wish to talk," Karna offered with a small smile. Anishka looked floored and beyond appreciative.
"Thank you, Karna. I don't know what to say."
Nothing else needed to be said. He had made one of his first human acquaintances in this facility, and that made him content. Regardless if she was a believer in his story or not, it was another solid step into possibly calling this place a home. There was much to look forward to in conversations with her, and likely the woman's fellow Hindus. If they were all devout, then he could see how others saw his and Arjuna's tale. At the very least, he took some relief in knowing he hadn't been as overly blunt and inconsiderate as many have claimed him to be.
Following dharma was as easy as breathing, but watching his speech was an unusual difficulty.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Karna was walking down the nearly empty hallway, mind filled with the future tasks at hand. Dinner with the masters had been a nice experience, and he looked forward to his practice trial during a minor singularity the day after tomorrow. Until then, he would simply spend the rest of his time in his room looking into the possibility of some modern clothes, and even possibly dhotis if they could be made. He turned another corner into an empty hallway that curved slightly around Chaldea's outer shell, making casual strides towards his newly constructed room built within the mountain.
Silently, he came to a halt as recognizable battle attire came into view in the now straightened hallway.
The figure stopped and turned upon realizing a servant presence was behind him. Upon seeing Karna, and no one else within view, Arjuna's gaze narrowed as he turned completely to face the lancer. Neither drew a weapon, as their silent war engaged in the space between. There was some relief as the human presence further behind backed up after becoming visible for a moment. He did not wish for others to get caught in this. Karna remained calm and collected as he looked straight into the eyes of his former adversary and younger brother.
"Good evening, Arjuna."
The archer remained silent as he glared at the composed lancer who didn't flinch. He simply waited in silence for any response, but there was nothing. He continued. "I heard your first trial went well during the supply sortie this afternoon. You should be in a good mood."
Arjuna's gaze narrowed ever so slightly. "Do not try to deflect with small talk, Karna."
"I was simply filling the silence." The lancer did not falter in the least. Since no one was watching directly, Arjuna didn't hesitate to hide part of his hidden nature that Karna had seen. It didn't faze the lancer in the least, but it still troubled him. "I am not looking for conflict, Arjuna. We are allies now."
"Yet there is still much to settle between us."
"Only from what you believe. We have finally been brought together for another purpose, and I believe Kunti would be-"
"Do not bring mother into this," Arjuna's tone dropped to a controlled and refined growl. "Do not bring anyone else into this. This is between us alone."
Karna would actually be fine with that notion. It was by the curses of others that he had been doomed to fall by Arjuna's arrow, but he did not blame them. It was merely the conditions he had to live by, and he followed his creed to the letter. Still, it was clear this was something that couldn't be solved easily. Regardless of their conflict in America, even if settled without outside interference, this problem would have persisted since it lay within the troubled mind of the archer.
By the anger festering within Arjuna's eyes, he could see it again. The hatred and envy in those ebony orbs was palpable, yet the reason itself still baffled him. They were both heroes of great renown, and he would argue the archer was even more so than himself. To think he would be so upset simply because… no, that reason didn't matter at the moment. What did was Arjuna was possibly looking to start something within the walls of humanity's last hope, and he could not allow that to happen. Civilization needed their help, and he would not deny them that hope by fueling a flame that should have smoldered millennia ago.
"I will not fight you, Arjuna. I must make that clear once more. We are allies, and this is no longer that opportunity given in America."
Arjuna's glare narrowed. "Oh? Would it not be alright to settle this in the training grounds? There are still no gods or curses."
Karna remained steadfast. "I will not risk Chaldea over a personal dispute that cannot be truly resolved by our fighting."
"We have yet to have a proper conclusion, Karna. Neither of our fights ended as they should have. How do you know it would solve nothing?"
"I would have thought you might be at least a little interested in burying the hatchet after watching Karna get impaled by Alter Cu… or was I simply just imagining that look of outrage on your face upon seeing someone else commit a crime your own hands dealt, Arjuna."
The two turned towards the bodiless voice as Scathach appeared in her battle attire. A black cloak with deep scarlet highlights, her chosen design for her presence concealment cape, fluttered behind her as she walked between the two Indian heroes. She remained closer to Karna as she placed a hand on her hip, and stared sternly at the archer. His glare had let up considerably to the more refined look from yesterday. By the glint in her eye, Scathach had already noted the former intensity, but did not say anything about it.
"Scathach. We were in the middle of a discussion about a problem we had."
"I can see that, Arjuna. I won't stand to see it escalate, and I've brought enough insurance to ensure it."
Silently, and without a hint of hesitation, Arjuna gazed at the servants materialized, some with various colored presence concealment capes but all in respective combat clothing. He recognizing each one quickly as they appeared around the Irish legend. The Hound of Ulster. First Knight of Fianna. Count of Monte Cristo. The Angel of Crimea. Princess of Colchis. Karna knew either of them would be more than a match against any of them even when weakened by their summoning circumstances, but not all of these servants at once.
Arjuna's gaze held. "There was a problem that I wished to resolve mutually, and by agreement... I do not believe this show of force was necessary."
"I believe it was," she replied steadily. "As the head Peacekeeper of Chaldea, I am simply sending a message. We do not tolerate any infighting."
The third of the Pandava brothers didn't move. No nod of acknowledgement, nor huff of irritation. It was a loud gesture by itself before he simply turned away from Karna and his current defenders. Without another word, expression, or sign, the archer simply walked down the hallway towards the residence area. A few of the servants released a small breath of relief as the tension swiftly disappeared with Arjuna's retreat.
Medea clicked her tongue as he disappeared down another corridor. "Unbelievable…"
"Been a while since you had to call the thunder," Cu joked to Scathach with a wink. She simply chuckled along with the rest of the contingent. Karna simply stared at them curiously before Cu turned his smirk to him. "As incredible as it would be to see you two fighting again, Chaldea needs to stay intact."
"I think Arjuna's the only one we need to worry about… Strange that a hero of the Mahabharata is the antagonist here," Diarmuid commented quietly.
"Regardless, no injuries have occurred. Just as it should be," Nightingale nodded before turning to Karna herself. "With that over, I wish you a good evening, Karna."
It was soon followed by several other parting wishes as the servants began walking to where they wished to be. Many wandered to the residence area while others walked to different corridors nearby. Scathach gave one final nod to the fellow lancer before following after Cu and Diarmuid around the bending curve of the hallway. Karna watched as Scathach acknowledged the human presence with a small smile before disappearing around the corridor. It was only then that Anishka revealed herself by quickly running up to the male lancer.
"Karna! I'm sorry! I didn't intend to get in the way of your conflict, but I became panicked," she quickly explained with a small bow. "Please forgive my hasty actions. I only wished to invite you to the lounge to possibly talk with the rest of my fellow Hindus."
"When not in Leyshift operations, you still partake in peacekeeping matters. Did I mishear from Tamamo?"
She recovered herself and looked into Karna's calm expression. She sighed in small relief. "I do, yes. I'm their emergency medical magus."
"Then there is nothing to forgive, because you followed dharma. I will never be upset of a follower staying true to that," Karna approved with a smile.
Anishka still looked uneasy. "I still feel as if I overstepped my bounds."
"There was nothing you could have done to stop either of us. Calling for servants was the correct choice," Karna avowed with a small nod. The employee looked a bit more relieved about the situation and smiled softly as he continued. "I didn't expect any change in these few hours, but there is still much for you to learn about holding yourself in the presence of your heroes. Hopefully it does not require anything similar to disguising oneself as a Brahmin."
To his gratification, Anishka giggled at his basic attempt at a joke. He made a note to thank Helena for those tips later. She smiled at him and nodded. "I hope so too. I do not wish for Indra to drill into my leg. I'm not a Kshatriya."
"Neither was I. Just a sutaputra." He was a little confused as the woman before her giggled louder. Had he made another joke unintentionally? With the calm atmosphere returning, he returned to a previous inquiry. "Anishka. You requested my presence in the lounge, did you not?"
The woman nodded, a glint of hope in her eyes. Karna simply smiled and nodded. "Please lead the way, then. It would be pleasant to meet your friends."
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
"I'm just glad to know the situation was resolved peacefully," Gabrielle noted as she undid the neck strap of her uniform. The Summoning Chamber was extra hot that day due to a faulty error with the air conditioning. "We'll have to be more cautious about where you two are, without any trackers, of course."
"I have enough friends within Chaldea, Master. It should be fairly easy not to be alone any longer," Karna nodded simply.
Helena smiled happily beside the lancer in his signature armor. She wore her own combat dress after trying a fun tag team match at the training grounds. Since the caster was deploying with Karna and Siegfried tomorrow, they tried a fun sparring match with Lancelot tagging in to help the lone saber. The lancer had done a phenomenal job on his own keeping Helena safe as she mixed and matched different spells to tackle the strong duo. It brought back plenty of memories he had with them fighting together in America with their third member.
Edison was the only real missing piece. From his perspective, it was simply a greedy interest to see their friend within Chaldea, and it would likely come at the cost of another. Karna glanced casually to Tesla as the formally dressed archer approached another pedestal with his usual proud smirk. He reached to the belt that separated a black formal vest from matching pants to collect another saint quartz. The lancer studied his proud demeanor, and drew the parallels to the inventor's rival, seeing perfectly well how the two might not possibly get along besides their own past.
Still, he did miss that other caster. Despite his delusions from being affected by a collective will, they really did get along spectacularly.
Foolish while wise, and haughty yet full of humility. The lion headed man reminded him much of Duryodhana, the king who took him in and made the lancer King of Anga despite the hollers and jeers of the opposition. To think their friendship started when he begged this useless man for help on the Great Plains. Since then he had curbed his sight of calling himself that demeaning title, for they praised him as their friend and protector. It would be enjoyable to be in his company again, so he could delightedly continue to pay back that kindness.
He felt a small tap on his shoulder and looked down at Helena who gave him a reassuring smile. "Lost in thought?"
"No one was speaking, so I dared to indulge," he answered simply, making the caster chuckle as Tesla returned to the control panel.
"Perfectly set, Gabby."
"Watching the summoning, Karna? Or maybe you want to throw the lever for fun?" Gabrielle asked with a cheery smile. It was both amusing and interesting to see her so friendly to him now in her endeavor to smooth any rough patches. Upon first arrival, he still remembered her brief admonishing for being another servant who hurt her best friend, regardless of origin or status. It was foolish and reckless to get riled at a powerful spirit, but he couldn't help but admire her sheer dedication to her friendship. He could see why Scathach and a few others held her in high regard, while others much less so.
"Thank you for the offer, but I will pass, Master. I'm content with spending time in the library after with Madam Blavatsky."
"Alright, no biggie!" She spoke as she quickly started up the system. She looked to Helena, but she shook her head before she could ask.
Tesla cleared his throat in jest. "Oh? Not going to ask the genius in the room? How rude."
"But you never want to throw the lever," Gabrielle stated back with a blink and a small giggle. "Unless you do this time… do you?"
Tesla smirked and pondered for a moment. He finally shrugged. "Just this once, to gift the machine a touch from the advent of lightning!"
Gabrielle rolled her eyes but laughed at Tesla's usual pride. She stepped back and let the man grasp the biometric handle. With a confident smirk, he threw the lever and started the machine up. The lights dimmed and the Saint Quartz dissolved into energy. As the thaumaturgical circle appeared and began the spinning process, the orbs turned a rainbow color and began spinning rapidly. Among the cracks of lightning, Tesla laughed heartily at his success.
"A rainbow spin on the first try! I'm now a hundred percent perfect on summoning servants, Miss Gabrielle!"
"Ugh, I'm never going to hear the end of this one, huh?" She quipped with a small chuckle as the summoning process finished. She may have been happier with a golden spin for a memorial essence for less ribbing from the archer, but another new servant was always a welcome surprise. At least they had more rooms again even with construction still continuing. She casually covered her eyes on cue as the flash filled the room, only lowering her hand as it began to fade.
Karna stared casually into the center of the room with Helena, curious who their new ally was going to be. As the unique silhouette came into view, Gabrielle quickly rubbed her eyes to check if she was seeing things. Upon rubbing them a second time, clearly she wasn't, and the master remained confused. Karna would have found it more amusing, but he was currently smiling with Helena. They quickly turned to each other and nodded before looking back at the familiar white mane of the newest arrival as he stood arms akimbo on his blue and red bodysuit… and bellowed a signature laugh with his eyes closed.
"It appears I won't be hearing the end of this one either... as much I would demand to! Why did it have to be you who answered!?"
Edison opened his eyes and looked forward. His two friends were still in the blurry dim lighting as his eyes readjusted, and so was the master. The approaching archer definitely wasn't. He immediately spotted Tesla stomping in irritation, making him growl as he stopped before him. "You! What are you doing here!?"
"Helping Chaldea summon new servants to our cause, of course. As proper of a generous, superior genius."
Edison blinked and growled as Helena slammed her palm against her face. "Chaldea!? Are you saying I have to work with you, Tesla!?"
"Don't think I'm happy with this outcome either, Edison!"
Gabrielle blinked in complete confusion before murmuring to herself. "…that's Edison? I thought they were kidding about the lion thing…"
Evidently no one was. Before she could comprehend the situation, the two bickering servants now had their foreheads slammed against each other. Edison was bearing his fangs while Tesla growled in distaste. Karna took note of the situation and chuckled to himself, temporarily shaking Helena out of her irritation to smile briefly. It was fleeting, as the two servants began lightly smacking each other and making sad excuses that they were mistakes. Gabrielle simply blinked in confusion.
"Oops! My hand slipped!" "Oh dear, sorry about my fist!"
"Should I call Scathach or… I… maybe- no… can I even call this a fight? They're slapping each other…"
"I got this, Gabby…" Helena sighed as she began stomping over to the two fighting men. Two Colonel Olcotts flew into view in preparation.
Karna simply smiled. It seems fortune was finally smiling down on him.