Gabrielle blinked before glancing at Tesla.
The uniform-clad master, who was still on call in case today's morning leyshift went awry, held a new perspective when summoning servants. At Roman and Anishka's insistence, she had curbed her initial judgement when summoning a servant who had been antagonistic towards her best friend. Their circumstances were different then, so she could at least give them a chance earlier. She had tested it, and it had worked, since she was now on amazing terms with Medb, much to Scathach's slight chagrin.
She was excited, and was happy to welcome the next servant just as eagerly. They would activate the system, hope for a servant or memorial essence by the third attempt, and then call it a day. They were on the last attempt, and the first two had already failed to deliver. She had to half-heartedly glare at the black-suit wearing archer to make him promise he wouldn't tell Gudao she rolled two bowls of tofu, which had been the saddest and most confusing excuse of a craft coin yet.
"Why the hell are these dumb things even considered concepts!?" she groaned, making Tesla laugh heartily as she pocketed the coins.
With a reluctant throw of the lever, the system spun up again. Tesla sobered up quickly as the protocol went through its usual paces, only for the orbs to emit a rainbow glow. As Gabrielle pumped her fist, the archer smirked. "A memorial essence or servant. Three time's the charm, Master."
"I would have killed something if I got three bowls of tofu…" she admitted as she looked eagerly at the spinning orbs. Tesla laughed yet again.
As quickly as it began, the summoning ritual's spinning dance concluded. With practiced ease, Gabrielle shut her eyes as the flash occurred, only to open them as the bright light dipped into an observable glow. She stared towards the center, becoming far more excited upon realizing that the silhouette was not translucent. By now, a hazy figure would have already begun to collapse into a memorial essence, but it would not be the case today. Since summoning Li Shuwen two days ago, they now had another servant to aid their endeavor.
The more the merrier, especially since the employees have finally made a breakthrough with the leyshift research.
Gabrielle happily walked around the console as the prana-infused light began to fade further, allowing the silhouette to take shape. With a raise of her eyebrows, she took in the handsome man before her with a delighted smile. She couldn't help feel a strange sense of familiarity from the servant's warm presence… like she's felt it somewhere. The strapping blonde was likely related to someone else already in Chaldea, and judging by his blue accented underclothes and gleaming silver armor, it was probably Arturia's knights. As she locked onto the man's warm, green eyes, she noted his hesitance and caution upon seeing Tesla.
"I must ask, fair lady… are you my master, or an enemy?"
"I'm your master, servant. Please relax! I assure you, all the servants present here are allies!" Gabrielle began with a smile and quick display of her command seals. She inspected the small details on him in curiosity. Leather fastenings, familiar designs, and plenty of regal trim with accents. His tension only drooped slightly, so the female master giggled. "There's a lot to explain, but to prove we mean no harm, the archer back there is Nikolai Tesla! My name is Gabrielle Rutherford! I'm one of your two masters, along with my best friend, Gudao Fujimaru!"
"Two masters… peculiar circumstances, but so long as these servants are allies as you say… I, Servant Saber, shall place my trust in your words, fair maiden," the newly arrived servant nodded. He smiled brilliantly at Gabrielle, threatening to make her swoon. "I swear to you, Master Gabrielle. My sword is yours."
"Oh, just Gabby is fine!" she replied with a giggle and an excited smile. "But, hmm… You're definitely a knight, but I don't know your name yet, Sir…"
With one hand over his heart, he bowed to her with a smile. "Gabby, then… I am King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, the King of Knights."
He fixed his posture and opened his eyes, only to fall curious at the master's sudden growth in excitement and partial confusion. The two shot each other glances before Gabrielle quickly inspected him again. The saber looked to her in curiosity as she looked into his eyes. "…King Arthur, you said?"
"Yes. I am King Arthur. Is there a problem, Master?"
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Fragment 45: Twice-Told Legend
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
The news had hit Arthur like a runaway truck.
Blindsided and confused, he had the memories of past summons vividly in his mind. He knew where he had been, and some of the countless places he had wandered. From the deserts to the paved asphalt streets of the modern world, the King of Knights had learned much and discovered many answers across time itself. Though much remained hazy, he felt there was little that could stun him as the grail gave him information once more. As the light faded in the summoning room, he even came to terms he may face his dear knights in battle.
Nothing could prepare him for the idea he wasn't the only King Arthur present, nor that the other was a woman.
His new, friendly master had done a wonderful job of explaining everything with the occasional help of Tesla. Through their interactions and discussions, he had lost much wariness that this was an elaborate trap. To be on the same side as over a hundred servants was a miraculous situation, and even better to know many seemed to get along well. Though he still had many questions, the master was prevented from leading the tour for him due to being on standby for the singularity. Instead, she had requested another servant be his guide in a way only previous allies, and adversaries, could.
And so, only a minute ago, their tour began. With passing nods to employees, and curious glances at the unusual robotic helpers, they strolled through the corridors of the futuristic facility. He had followed the former comrade as he walked about in a teal sweater and deep, acid-washed jeans. Though his dress was curiously casual, his grin was beyond familiar. "I still can't believe you're here! We thought you would turn into a memorial essence!"
"I'm glad I didn't then. I like making memories, not just being one," Arthur chuckled as Arash patted him on the shoulder.
"We get to fight alongside each other again! Brynhildr too, and the rest from our war!"
"They're all here? Even Ozymandias?" Arthur asked curiously, and was answered with a quick and excited nod.
"He's even more down to earth now! I know, hard to believe," the archer chuckled. "Everyone's present, and we've become pretty close! It'd be great for you to join us, but we can talk about that later. I'm sure you have bigger fish on your mind."
Arthur's nod was firm, and his smile faded slightly into concern. "I cannot lie, yes. I was told I am not the only King Arthur."
"Arturia and her Knights of the Round Table are present, but none of them have any recollections of you when we brought up the idea only once," the tanned man began to explain. "It appears you hail from a different timeline where King Arthur was actually male, which is what Da Vinci surmised. Arturia only posed as a man due to views of her time."
"Fascinating…" Arthur murmured as he faced forward with a tad smile. He chuckled. "To think I have the chance to meet myself. How peculiar."
"Would you like me to take you to her? She's not on the deployment, and she's friendly," Arash offered with a small smile.
"I'd like that, if you don't mind. The tour can wait," Arthur nodded with a smile. "I don't believe this place will be moving any-"
"Get back here, Blackbeard!"
Instantly, Arthur summoned Excalibur to his hand. The familiar gold and blue accents of the broad, shining sword came into view as his eyes turned serious. Gabrielle said there was a peacekeeping force to ensure tranquility, but if he could do something to help, his code of chivalry demanded it. The recognition of the fearsome pirate's name only furthered his resolve as he felt the servants run closer. With a tight grip, and tensed leg muscles, he-
Arash calmly placed a hand on his shoulder while laughing. Arthur, completely perplexed, looked at him. "It's alright, Arthur. Looks like you're getting the true Chaldea introduction early."
"Arash… what do you me-"
A shriek echoed from the intersection barely a few paces from them, and it sounded vaguely like it was from a man. "Help! Someone save me! They've got the wrong idea!"
"Wrong idea our asses! You took our panties again!" "Friends don't take friends' panties! Pirates or not!"
Arthur blinked as Blackbeard, wearing only white boxers, turned the corner and sprinted down the hallway in front of them. He was soon followed by Anne and Mary, both wrapped in towels, as they sprinted after him, making Arthur turn his head in consideration with closed eyes. As they disappeared further down the hallway, female laughter echoed from the hallway they appeared. Soon, Nobunaga in her battle attire appeared in a shower of golden dust. She laughed happily while holding both pairs of black, lacy panties.
She turned to Arash and grinned. "Did you see that, Arash!? Pirates are too easy!"
"I'll have to write a report up about you, Nobunaga. I will thank you for admitting guilt," Arash shook his head and crossed his arms. The smile on his face showed how much he did find the prank relatively funny. Arthur could only look between them in puzzlement. "I will say Okita will not likely be happy about this one if Blackbeard gets injured again."
Nobunaga rolled her eyes and waved it off. "Ah well. That hitman can deal with-"
"Nobunaga, why must you do this to me!?" "Nobuuuu!" "NobuNobu!"
"Oh! Gotta run! I'll meet you later, new kid!" Nobunaga cackled as she quickly sprinted down the connecting hallway. Okita, or at least her blur, shot past like a bullet. She was soon followed by a small train of a few chibi Nobus with their own haoris, happily running in cadence as they attempted to keep up with their employer.
Arthur blinked again, causing Arash to laugh loudly. Though partially incredulous over what he just witnessed, he soon found himself chuckling too. "…This... is Chaldea?"
"Our one and only home! Now then, let's get you to Arturia before something else pops up!"
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ III ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
"Arturia's room is the third one on the left down this hallway."
"You're not coming with me, Arash?"
"I'll be close by. I'm on great terms with Arturia if that's what you're wondering," the archer reassured as they stopped at an intersection in the residential area. He offered an apologetic smile and a small point of the finger. "I just saw a situation unfolding and thought I should keep watch for now. I think Cu will be fine though."
Acknowledging the familiar name, Arthur looked down the opposite hallway only to find himself partially baffled. The blue haired lancer he saw further away had tamer hair compared to the one he fought, but the eyes and color were familiar. His light green shirt that depicted Ireland removed any doubt of his identity as he shifted weight on jean-covered legs. While scratching the back of his head, the lancer looked between the two arguing servants.
"You're lying! He's in his casual clothes!" Medb complained as she pouted. The pink-haired rider crossed her arms over her tight white tank top, allowing her hot pink bra's silhouette to stand out beneath it. Her jean shorts were also daringly tiny, but that was to be expected from the shamelessly sultry queen.
"Changing into battle attire is instantaneous. How do you not understand this?"
"Of course, I know this! That doesn't excuse the idea you're probably covering for him!"
"We agreed to this fight beforehand, and I've been looking forward to it all night!" The red-haired lancer shot back. Unruly hair was tied into a short ponytail, though a few lonely bangs fell over the sharp features of his face. His onyx eyes glared back at the rider, but he kept his arms uncrossed and at the sides of his traditional Chinese martial arts attire. Though the sleeves and legs were black, Arthur could appreciate the intricate designs that faintly covered his red tang shirt.
"Doesn't look like it's letting up…" Arash sighed but chuckled. "I'd love to accompany you so you're more comfortable, but I best help Li and Cu with this issue."
"It's fine, Arash. In the event this meeting may take a while, I shall inform you," Arthur nodded. His eyes widened slightly as Arash held his hand out with a grin. The saber smiled back and shook it. "May fortune shine."
"I might need it," the archer chuckled.
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"How may I help you?" Arturia asked as the door slid open. She stared inquisitively at Arthur, but he gawked back. Their auras combined with the same regal, powerful presence and echoed in harmony. Vibrant green gazed into the same color, but still, Arthur could not shake his amazement. With her blonde hair loose and running down the back of her royal blue sundress, he had to second guess if she really was his counterpart. The feeling of being in her commanding presence removed all doubt, as did the golden necklace with a familiar, yet different, sword.
He shook himself from his small daze. "I apologize, that was very rude of me to stare quietly. I am the newest Saber servant in Chaldea, who has arrived but mere moments ago."
"I see. Welcome to Chaldea, Saber," Arturia responded with a small smile. She raised her hand politely and shook her head as he opened his mouth. "It's alright, I understand. A few servants did not feel comfortable admitting their true names on their first day. Though, admittedly I am curious. Did you seek me for a specific reason, knight?"
"King Arthur…" Arthur began, catching her attention. He couldn't get over how strangely familiar her voice was, but he couldn't place why.
"Yes, that is correct. Though I go by Arturia here, my real name. Do I know you, knight?"
"That is a difficult question to gauge," the male saber admitted with a small shrug and a light smile. "We may know each other far more than most."
One eyebrow slowly raised in suspicion. "What do you mean by that? I do not recognize you among my closest knights… though you feel very familiar..."
"Allow me to finally introduce myself, King Arturia," he started slowly, but with a kind smile. Lifting his hand, he summoned his own Excalibur. Arturia eyed the sword before her eyes slowly grew wider. He slowly nodded as she stared at him once more. "This is difficult for both of us, I'm certain. But it is true, I assure you. I do not know how this happened, but I… King Arthur Pendragon… have been summoned to the same plane of existence as you."
"So there really was a male me in another timeline…" Arturia breathed as she looked once more at his version of Excalibur. He was startled by how well she was taking this information; It made him curious, and a touch concerned. With a lift of her own hand, she summoned its counterpart. The differences were stark, and though hers was far less ornate, they shined brightly in their shared glory. She opened her mouth to-
"There's two fathers!?"
Arthur and Arturia turned to look into the female king's room. The male saber's eyes widened as he noticed the very similar girl sitting cross legged on her bed. So braced was he to meet his counterpart, he didn't acknowledge the other presence in the room. No, to be fair, he couldn't feel her presence at all as she remained wrapped completely in a peculiar cloak. By her own loose, blonde hair, and the shock-filled green eyes that stared back, he knew exactly who he was looking at. Having her yell that last statement also helped.
He found his voice as Arturia turned back to him. "…Sir Mordred?"
"F-Father! Why is there a male you!?" Mordred asked curiously as she turned her astonished gaze between them rapidly.
Arturia only chuckled as she looked between them. With a content sigh, and after dematerializing her golden sword, she stepped into her room. "King Arthur… This is my child, as you may have guessed. Mordred Pendragon."
"You're also a woman in this timeline?" Arthur asked. Arturia looked at him nervously as he remained in the doorway. He placed a hand to his chin. "…Are the other knights also females?"
"King Arthur… I'm sorry, but Mordred does… not…" Arturia began, only to fall into total surprise as she looked at her daughter. "Mordred… You're not mad at him?"
"He… he said he was father too!" Mordred proclaimed, only to turn back to the male counterpart as he looked between them curiously. "So if he's father then… it's okay… because you're him but… maybe?"
The male saber could only blink with a blank expression. "… You two are… surprisingly calm about the idea of a second King Arthur present in these halls."
"The idea was raised, though we were not expecting it. This is also not the first time something similar has happened. There are two Jeanne d'Arcs in Chaldea," Arturia calmly offered as an explanation, making Arthur's eyes fill with confusion and surprise. She smiled and shook her head. "Before you ask… No, they're both females. It's a long story."
"I see…"
"Where are my manners… Would you like to come in, my counterpart? I'm sure we have a lot to talk about, which is the reason you came, is it not?" Arturia asked politely with a regal smile. She turned to Mordred who suddenly held a slightly downcast expression. Arturia's smile fell by a touch. "Mordred… I'm sorry, but can we continue our talk later? I'll make it up to you as best as I can. I promise."
Quietly, Arthur observed the usually feistier saber as silence filled the room. Compared to the Mordred he knew, she was very different, but he couldn't shake the biggest thought that bothered him. This cloak-covered girl was far closer with his female counterpart than he had ever been with his. It was a curious note, and one that came with several more curiosities. Perhaps when she is in a better mood, he could inquire, but not now.
"Yes, Father…" Mordred finally responded softly, making Arturia's smile fade further. With one last fleeting look at the male King of Knights, she slowly vanished into spirit form, leaving the bed unoccupied. Arturia sighed, but Arthur remained at a temporary loss of words.
"I apologize. She has been enduring a terrible past few days. I can only do so much to cheer her up," the female King of Knights admitted sadly. She shook her head slowly and turned back to Arthur. "I digress. Please do not feel the need to trouble yourself with my daughter's dilemma. I will help her."
"As a knight and your literal equal, I feel like I should. But at your request, I will not," Arthur nodded slowly with a reassuring smile. "I hope it turns out well."
Arturia's smile returned, though there was a hint of sadness in it. "As do I… With that aside, perhaps you would like a seat on the couch while we talk? I have quite a few questions for you as well, if you do not mind, King Arthur."
"Please… just call me Arthur, King Arturia," Arthur chuckled lightly.
"Then I request you drop my honorific as well, Arthur," the female saber smiled back as she walked over and took a seat on her couch. "I'm glad to see we can see eye to eye easily, and that you appear to be in good spirits."
Arthur dematerialized his armor out of courtesy for her furniture, but did not approach. He chuckled again and held up his hand. "If you don't mind, I must inform Arash I may be a bit. I do not wish for us to rush through our lengthy discussion."
Arturia smiled and nodded. "As do I. If necessary, we may also discuss more in the future should this information overwhelm us. Misunderstanding is the enemy."
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
"Only two and a half hours? I thought you'd take longer than that," Arash asked as he walked with Arthur away from Arturia's room.
"As did I, but it was not necessary. It seems besides the gender difficulties, our stories are nearly one and the same. Discussing how stoic she had been during her reign had been one of the lengthier points of interest. I find it hard to believe she was so emotionless compared to her current self."
"You two talk about anything else, or just reminisced of the old times you both shared? Was it like talking to yourself?"
"I was talking to myself, Arash." They both chuckled as they turned down another hallway. "Yes. We discussed a lot, and will continue to do so later tonight when I partake in dinner with her knights. Arturia informed me there is a Camelot room."
"You're one of the few nations or kingdoms to actually have one," Arash chuckled with a grin. They made yet another turn as the archer led him on a shortcut to the first destination on the tour. "It's a rather cozy room. You'll love it. I'll take you to see it as soon as-"
"Remarkable. You really are here, King Arthur."
The two stopped walking to look forward, finally acknowledging one of the many servant presences that had been nearby. Just by sitting and talking with Arturia, and feeling the nearby spiritual auras come and go calmly, Arthur had already gotten adjusted to the idea Chaldea was a relaxing place… save for the occasional lunacy he might witness. So acquainted with the idea, in fact, he only turned to gaze at occasional servants to get a clear picture of his new allies. With a conversation no longer occupying his attention, he turned to the caster in surprise.
Even with slight reservations from the past war in mind, he felt it was only proper to wave back as Paracelsus waved to him while standing beside someone's room. Clad in a set of formal clothes and coat designed similarly to his battle attire, Arthur smiled back as the door slid open. To the saber's further surprise, Jekyll stepped out of the room and glanced his way, only for his formerly saddened eyes to twinkle with recognition. After a quick, habitual adjustment of his white collared shirt, he placed both of his hands in pockets on his grey slacks before following Paracelsus.
"It is good to see you on cordial terms, King Arthur," Paracelsus smiled as the pair stopped before them. The caster bowed slightly. "Before anything else, I am sorry. Everything I have committed in that war was atrocious and against my very nature. I can only hope I can make it up to you now that you have arrived."
"I am willing to forgive since, in the end, you aided me. What's more, we are now allies," the saber nodded with a smile. "Manaka played a cruel hand throughout that entire ordeal. I doubt our masters are as treacherous."
"Our masters would never do anything of that sort," Jekyll responded quietly with a small bow of his own. "To be fair to you, I ask you pardon my own actions against you. Grails wars are rather terrible affairs…"
After his discussions with Arturia, the male saber was well aware of what had transpired to cause her daughter to fall into the grasp of depression. By the look on Jekyll's face, and more accurately his eyes, he was absolutely stricken with guilt. He was not completely invested in the conversation, but not of impolite intent. It was not his place to intervene, and he had only just arrived, so it would be far too forward of him. All he could do was wish for the best for the two, and that it would resolve itself in some way.
"I appreciate the apologetic gestures, but let us leave them in the past as well. I only look forward to getting to know you all personally… and correctly, this time," Arthur added with a small chuckle. "I'm meeting with Arturia and her knights, but mayhaps tomorrow evening we may partake in-"
A proud, disembodied laughter echoed in the hallway, making Paracelsus and Arash roll their eyes in good nature. Jekyll kept the fairly somber expression. "Yes! We will have a bountiful feast to celebrate your arrival, and it is only proper it is hosted by the Sun King!"
"It was only a matter of time," the archer grinned as the rider of their war materialized nearby. He leaned against the side of the hallway, hair loose yet glimmering in majesty. He wore his rather expensive, white collared shirt completely open to showcase his muscles and extravagant Egyptian jewelry. Matching formal pants were pristinely pressed, and even his glossy ivory shoes shined like spotlights. They almost flared as brightly as his teeth when he smirked at the saber.
"Arthur Pendragon! At long last, you have arrived and are basking once more in the glory of Ozymandias, not as a worthy adversary, but a prestigious ally!"
"Fair greetings to you as well, Ozymandias. I see you haven't changed much," Arthur observed with a small smile. He was met with the boisterous laughter of the rider, making Arash chuckle.
"Of course, of course! There is not much to change when pharaohs embody the ideals of perfection, no?" Ozymandias asked as he closed the distance with his hands akimbo. "That said, enough about me! For tomorrow, it shall be you! You will dine with all of us. I will arrange it with Nitocris and assure it is proper. The heroes of our war shall gather and get properly reacquainted while indulging in fine wines, food, and entertainment!"
As Ozymandias continued to ramble on, Arthur could only smile back in relief and satisfaction. He had been an incredible tough opponent, so much so that it took the combined might of the three knight classes to topple him. It was reassuring to have such a powerful servant fighting beside him this time, and he appreciated the idea greatly. With no lingering ill intent for getting in the way of his glory and self-appointed purpose, the chance to truly understand the pharaoh presented itself.
The opportunity for all his former adversaries was now open, and he would gladly accept the notions. As a man embodying chivalry, he would show mercy and kindness to his allies, and sheer defiance and determination to his enemies. With his former adversaries now allies, he understood who was watching his back. Though he would truthfully remain wary at first, he hoped he could come to trust them with little to no reason for doubt, just as he did Arash.
As Ozymandias continued to boast of their dinner tomorrow, Arthur grew more hopeful and optimistic for the days to come.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
With the warm sun beating down on his armor, Arthur looked around in amazement. After walking the modernistic halls of Chaldea, he suddenly found himself on the boardwalk of their greatest, luxury achievement. It differed significantly even from Salon de Marie and some other renovated rooms, and he thought those had been shining, aesthetic achievements. Registering he was even in the same plane of existence was jarring, and he felt it was possible they got sucked into a reality marble without their knowing.
"All the new servants have the same look when we show them the resort."
"Do tell? I can't fathom why," Arthur joked before his attention was torn to the beach.
Three servants seemed to be fighting, but judging by the nonchalance of the nearby sunbathers, it was nothing to be alarmed about. Still, his eyes widened upon seeing one of them, and not because they were in bikinis. Though the other two in blue and lime green bathing suits were unfamiliar, he easily recognized the beautiful shield maiden. Brynhildr's form was unmistakable, and even her fighting style rung true as she weaved through her opponents' attacks with unbelievable grace in her lilac bikini.
Where her face was remarkably more serene than he remembered, her students were determined but exasperated.
Brynhildr ducked beneath a swing of Tamamo's wooden pole. With a twirl of her wrist, her own training stick spun to deflect Kiyohime's incoming thrust in a random direction, making the berserker flinch. With a swift and graceful turn that sent her hair cascading in a beautiful arc, she made a wide sweep and lightly struck both of them. With mumbles and pouts, the two women jumped back to take up positions beside each other. Brynhildr quickly flipped backwards, landing perfectly with one hand on her hip.
"Too slow, Kiyohime. Step up your strikes, Tamamo. You'll never hit me at this rate!"
"I wish I could use my spells…" Tamamo mumbled with a twitching ear, making Kiyohime giggle beside her.
With a calm spin of her wooden polearm, Brynhildr re-assumed a fighting stance and smiled. "Let us continue the lesson. Work with your allied pole bearer and strike!"
As Tamamo and Kiyohime retook stances to charge, Arash nudged Arthur. The saber looked at the archer and noticed his gesture towards the beach. He nodded, and they approached the stairs quickly. Upon reaching the railings, the archer called out. "Hey girls! Bryn! Do you mind if you pause for a second?"
"Arash?" Brynhildr asked as she turned towards the boardwalk. Her eyes opened wider upon seeing Arthur descend the small steps onto the beach behind him-
Smack! Smack!
Brynhildr's eyes remained wide, but she slowly turned to look at Tamamo and Kiyohime who had instantaneously closed the gap. They were grinning happily as they looked at their teacher while their weapons touched her outer thigh and upper arm where they struck harmlessly. They looked to each other before turning back to their teacher. She opened her mouth to talk, but the two students quickly dropped their weapons and began hugging in absolute ecstatic bliss.
"We did it" "We finally hit sensei, Kiyo~!" "We got her! We got her, Tama!" "Ahh~! That was perfect!"
"Girls, I'm sorry. That does not-" She couldn't even finish her declaration before the two girls quickly switched to pouting and begging over each other.
"But you didn't call for a pause yet!" "We even agreed to the attack as partners!" "It was a perfect exploitation of the moment of weakness, teacher!"
They only continued their verbal assault as the two males approached. Brynhildr sighed and placed a hand gently on her face. "Very well… For turning my attention away from my enemy inappropriately, I acknowledge those hits… Let us take a momentary break."
As the two shifted back to celebrating their hard-earned victory nearby, or exploitation by Brynhildr's view, she moved to the two males approaching males. Arash rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Bryn. I let your students rip your streak of invincibility away."
"It's fine, Arash," Brynhildr smiled back at the archer before turning to face the newly arrived saber. "King Arthur… it is good to see you did not become a memorial essence."
"I believe it may have been awkward memories for Arturia," he chuckled before he noticed her smile slowly fading. He quickly held up his hand, surprising her. "Oh no, shield maiden. Please save the apology. You were forced to do it, and it was a war. It was hard enough getting Serenity to stop asking for forgiveness. It is best we not forget, all of you lent me your hands in the end."
Though Arash believed her master in that war had been killed by her hands for the vile act, Brynhildr no longer had control over herself. That curse of hers was a terrible burden to bear, and Arthur had to put an end to that suffering even as she fought him with full force. It was not a chivalric duel he would hope for, but he did not like seeing others in pain. Avalon knows, he's seen far too many pained faces towards the end of his life. If he could help it, he'd ensure he wouldn't have to again.
Brynhildr's smile quickly returned, making the saber's shine brighter. "I… I'm glad you're still that wonderful, courageous knight. Thank you, Arthur."
"My pleasure. I look forward to working with all of you as soon as I get myself situated."
"I'm just finishing up the tour. He'll have time to get acquainted with his room, and the services, before having dinner in Camelot," Arash quickly explained with a grin. "We're having dinner with him tomorrow evening in the Egyptian's Pyramid."
"Ozymandias' declaration, I suppose," Brynhildr mused with an amused giggle. "I'll be there. We have much to make up for, and a new friendship to build. Ah… yes. Before we continue, please come. Allow me to introduce you to my hardworking students."
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Their meeting had started a bit awkward, even though he saw many familiar faces. That was quickly remedied as the servants, dressed in battle attire to present their chivalric splendor, took their seats at the Round Table.
As agreed beforehand, Arturia introduced Arthur to her surprised knights, and laid the groundwork for their mutual foundation. These knights were Arturia's, not his, since they lacked any memories, so they would only address Arturia as their liege. So as not to disrespect Arthur, he is to be considered as a visiting royal, such as King Leodegrance… or, that was the plan, until Arthur proclaimed they may simply call him by first name to avoid any confusion with his female counterpart.
It was unsteady footing at first, but it soon worked.
As they ate appetizers and drank in the Camelot Room, Arthur, who was seated beside his counterpart, kept silent at first to observe the others. Though he was informed ahead of time, it was still remarkable to see the once shattered table reassembled and in high spirits. There was also the addition of Mashu, who held the saint graph of Galahad, as the newest knight. She happily chatted with him at his side, but her father remained almost completely silent since the introductions. He had only grown more uneasy since then.
Many at the table could see it at this point, and side conversations fell quiet as minutes passed. Even the quieter Mordred looked to them curiously as Arthur turned his gaze to Lancelot. The knight met his eyes briefly, before turning away in slight shame. Bedivere looked between them in concern while Gawain kept a blank expression. Tristan was nearly unreadable as always, but Arturia looked ready to act at a moment's notice.
However, Arthur remained quiet and collected. He had made peace with those demons a long time ago, and he thoroughly recognized none of the knights here, though exactly alike, were his own. None had any form of memorial essence, but this Lancelot brought that into question. Whether he was regretful for what his other self might have done and had the memories of it, or was simply trying to avoid any potential outburst, Arthur was unsure. What he did know, was that problems should not be left in the dark or allowed to bud.
They had to be answered immediately less something terrible blossom. "Sir Lancelot. If I may ask, and please answer truthfully… Do you have any memories of me?"
The room fell deathly silent at Arthur's serious demeanor. Though emanating no negative signs, he was firm in his voice and far from the rather friendly and open individual only moments before. He had made his peace, but there was that lingering slither of disappointment and frustration at his most trusted knight and his queen. There was even some for Mordred, but it was hard to feel any negative emotions for a somber girl who looked nothing like his illegitimate son.
Lancelot, who was exactly like his own, was a far different story. The saber met his eyes, and Arthur could feel the frustration welling up once more, but he put it down unseen. He only remained calm as Lancelot shook his head. "No… Arthur. I do not have any recollection from a memorial essence. I only know of King Arturia… of the wrongs I have dealt her and my fellow knights. I merely wish for you to be comfortable, so if it means keeping cordial distance, I will do so for your sake."
"I see…" Arthur nodded slowly. To the table's relief, he gave a small smile. "Please forgive me. Though I hold lingering difficulties with my own, it is unfair to treat you as him. I only ask you give me time to adjust. There's… quite a lot to get used to in Chaldea, but I will do my best for all of you."
He made a sweeping glance of the table with his soft smile before nodding towards Arturia. "After seeing my kingdom torn asunder, it is wonderful to see its likeness brought forth once more and reformed. You have done wonderful seeing that through, and the last thing I want is to cause any confusion or disruption. I would never wish that upon my equal, who also knows intimately of division and turmoil. It is why I wished for you all to call me Arthur, against what we initially agreed upon, King Arturia. I apologize for the unstated adjustment."
"Let it not bother you, King Arthur," Arturia emphasized with a small smile upon his own slip. He chuckled, as did many others.
Arthur stood up and held his goblet up with a smile. "I propose a toast."
All at once, they stood as their armor clinked before their cups moved to touch. With raised goblets, they joined his smile. Even Mordred forced a brighter one to be polite, causing Bedivere to gaze at her momentarily in sympathy. "To the glory of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table! The mirror kingdoms under the rules of King Arthur and King Arturia!"
The knights chimed as one. "Long live the king!"
"…or kings?" Mashu asked quietly, making the table burst into laughter. As they clinked their goblets, Arturia shot her counterpart an appreciative look which he returned. They tapped their own together and chuckled before taking a sip. Soon, they were all seated once more as a few robots floated in to deliver the appetizers. Already, Arturia's eyes were sparkling, and Arthur couldn't help but chuckle again.
"Excited for the food cooked by your Queen?" Arthur asked, causing Mordred to actually break into genuine laughter. He was glad he could at least cheer her up a touch.
Arturia chuckled, though her eyes shined even brighter. "Of course! Just wait until you try Shirou's food!"
"You've praised it ceaselessly to me, but I am a cook myself, need I remind you," Arthur commented with a gleam of pride. He looked down at the appetizer in front of him curiously, gazing at the interesting seafood canape. Nestled on top of a miniature slice of lightly toasted bread was a mix of white ingredients on top. The creamy topping was perfectly shaped into a dome, and his eye could recognize diced tomato, dill, and scallions among the seafood meet he couldn't identify. As a final topper, an ornate, tiny crab meat rose was perched at the small summit.
In addition to the fact everyone had the same appetizer, there were three per plate with accompanying garnish. Arthur lifted the first of his carefully with his fingers as Arturia continued to ogle the bite-sized bits happily. "I recognize this! It was in the book I gave to Shirou!"
"I thought a chef would be miffed by it," Bedivere joked before eating the first one. His eyes lit up like fireworks. He was followed by the rest of the table as conversations collapsed in favor of content chewing.
Tristan was already reaching for his third. "If it is from our king, I doubt Emiya would ever be insulted."
Upon seeing everyone else enjoying the treat, Arthur took the plunge. Popping it into his mouth and chewing, his eyes slowly glazed over as the treat melted into his mouth. He slowed his chewing down, causing Arturia and Mashu to chuckle at his sides. It was only when he finished, and gave a long pause, did he slowly nod. "… I see. This is not an enemy I can defeat with my own hands. I am powerless against this."
"Now you see the reason no one skips dinner? The other cooks are also wonderful!" Mashu happily added. She had quickly eaten her trio of appetizers, but compared to everyone but Arthur, she consumed them the slowest. The newest, male saber only now realized he had the only remaining food…
… and Arturia was eyeing it hungrily. He quickly popped the second one into his mouth and grabbed the third. With a playful glance at Arturia, he chewed on the food as she sighed in disappointment. The two kings were soon laughing with the rest as Arthur only continued to grow more comfortable.
It wasn't his ideal home, but it was one he knew he'd cherish and appreciate undoubtedly.
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While Marie's staff continued to finish cleaning the bar area, and Mozart continued his dance with the grand piano, Arthur found himself amongst new company. Taking up a rounded booth in the corner, usually occupied by the Romans, he had become acquainted with Arturia's core friends. She was undoubtedly close with her knights from everything he witnessed, but it was a different air of respect and familiarity at this table.
With these three, she smiled a little brighter and laughed that slight bit more. Only one was currently missing, but she was running late; A pre-planned, private dinner with her fellow goddesses took precedence. The group even made him feel welcome, though they had become personal far faster than the respecting knights.
"So you two fought over the family-style served dessert? My, my… I guess I have two Saber appetites to please now. I best warn the girls"
"I think we should also warn the masters to get more food on the next run."
"A fine idea, Diarmuid. Chaldea may be facing a new food crisis otherwise."
"You two…" a flushing Arturia grumbled in her end seat as she glared at Emiya beside her. The archer kept his smirk as he took the jacket of his black suit off. While he loosened the tie on his white formal shirt, he rubbed Arturia's shoulder reassuringly with a wink. Diarmuid only continued to chuckle across from them with arms folded across his black polo. He only paused when Jeanne lightly elbowed him, and he nodded in agreement to cease. Satisfied, the saint in the halter-topped, amethyst evening dress smiled.
With that, the Salon's lounge singer turned to the male king sitting opposite of Arturia. Arthur could tell by the look in her eye she was glad he was taking the ribbing well. Truth be told, it reminded him of times in his childhood with his older brother. "I'm sorry if we're becoming too informal for you."
"Think naught of it, Jeanne," he smiled back with a nod. "I'd like to be less formal myself… or, I must admit, I look forward to wearing something different, at least."
"Naomi and her staff are fast. Two days for a set of three clothes if there's no line," Diarmuid explained as a robot floated over with a tray for their tea. "I believe that's the case."
"There usually is, unless Cleopatra and Nero have been inspired by pictures," Jeanne giggled.
Arturia shot a pleasant smile at her counterpart as the robot placed the final cups on saucers. "If you'd like, I could ask Medea to speed up the process. I've been modelling for them a lot recently."
"I shall decline. I do not wish to intrude, but I appreciate the kind gesture," Arthur commented with a smile of his own. "It's only my first day, but by how many have treated me, I feel like I've been here for years. I'm humbled by the kindness you've all shown me."
"It helps you're a respectable hero," Emiya offered as he began pouring tea for everyone. "I was admittedly concerned and cautious about how you'd act. We ran into a troublesome King of Knights only a few months ago, mind you."
"So I've been informed by Arturia. Though it pains me to admit, I can understand why she may have come to such horrible conclusions, but they are still unforgivable. I am glad you've successfully put down such a corrupted deity," Arthur commented before quietly thanking Emiya for the tea.
He gazed curiously as the archer slowly put the cup and saucer down on the table instead of completing the transaction. It was only then he realized the four of them had turned towards the doorway with tense expressions for the newly entered presence. He ignored it at first, until it got closer. As he looked through the air at the unseen, approaching servant, he broke the silence. "This presence. it feels… familiar?"
"Oh? So this new King Arthur knows of me prior… Good. As it should be."
'This must be…' Arthur thought curiously as his back straightened even further in slight tension. In a shower of golden dust, Gilgamesh appeared as his red eyes gazed into Arthur's green. The male saber fell confused, making the King of Heroes narrow his eyes as the cloud of gold faded. He stood as a regal statue with crossed arms over a signature leopard print suit and black formal pants. His hair was spiked up, but it looked different from what he remembered. Even the expression was far more aggressive than he was used to.
"Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes…" Arthur began slowly, making the tension on Gilgamesh's face lighten. "I see… you are not the same I have encountered. Your presence feels different."
"Different? I trust you mean that in a positive light. Whether in this timeline or not, I would always remain the summit," Gilgamesh declared, but he didn't smile. "I hope this… other me, did nothing to tarnish the title? I shall allow you to answer."
It was the fact he didn't smile that sold it. "So you really aren't the Gilgamesh from my timeline… I see. No, he didn't, Gilgamesh. The one I fought returned a degree of mutual respect. From what I've been told… you're far too arrogant and rude to even give that idea a chance."
In an instant, the archer's anger flared, though his eyes only narrowed to deadly slits. "You dare voice those words to me, mongrel? Such insolence is punishable."
"It appears it's all true then…" The male saber stated, earning a deadlier glare.
"I will not allow you to antagonize my counterpart, Gilgamesh."
The King of Heroes turned his glare on the female saber, only for a scowl to quickly form. "You have no right to make demands of the only true king… Saber… You might have had that chance, had you accepted to be my wife. Instead, you chose to be with this faker and allowed him to sway you."
Emiya's eyes narrowed, but Arthur's widened at the hidden information. "…your wife?"
Gilgamesh turned to Arthur once more, but the glare remained. "I do not repeat myself, and it is none of your business."
"The King of Heroes wanted Arturia as her bride…" Diarmuid answered instead, making the archer's glare intensify.
"He thinks of Saber as nothing more than a beautiful addition to his collection of possessions," Emiya practically growled out. Gilgamesh's eyes were a wildfire.
"It matters not what any of you think. The dogs beneath my feet are needless rabble I do not acknowledge. The King of Knights will-"
"-Will not stand for this!" Arthur practically roared as he stood up swiftly from the booth, drawing surprised looks from Arturia and her closest companions as he matched Gilgamesh's glare completely.
"You dare stand to the King of Heroes? I have lost interest in you, mongrel. You are nothing worthy of noti-"
"I consider myself at least worthy of standing up for Arturia's honor, both as a knight and her equal!" Arthur interrupted. Marie and her staff were watching from the safety of the distant bar while Sanson pocketed his radio.
"Such insolence. How dare you!" the first of two portals shimmered into view, but Arthur did not budge.
The group felt the swift approach of several servants as Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes. The tense silence continued, but Arthur did not budge. With a slow turn of his head, the King of Heroes observed Scathach and Karna come into view, followed swiftly by Rama, Nightingale, and Helena. A combat-dressed Ishtar, who wasn't a Peacekeeper, flew into the room with murder in her eyes as she followed closely behind Siegfried. The male dragon slayer turned to Ishtar and held her back with one arm on her own. "Ishtar, this is not a situation you should be involved in."
"Of course it is! Those are my companions that disgusting man is troubling yet again! Let go!" She yelled angrily. Thankfully, the situation quickly began to de-escalate as the portals vanished. With a growl, he turned to the male King of Knights and drilled his glare through the man's skull.
"This will waste far more of my time than worthy… You have not won here, mongrel, but I will remember this."
Arthur only glared back. "As you should. Saves me the time of reminding you later."
The cloud of golden dust soon enveloped Gilgamesh, and his presence quickly began to fade from the room. Scathach breathed a sigh of relief as she dematerialized her lance, as did Karna beside her. Ishtar finally broke from Siegfried's grasp and huffed at the dragon slayer, but he only stared back blankly. Still pouting, she carefully righted a chair she had knocked over as Okita came storming into the room with Ushiwakamaru, Tristan, and Benkei.
The arrived peacekeepers moved to meet with her as Ishtar floated over with a frown. Scathach gave one last glance to the table, only for Diarmuid to nod to her silently; They'd discuss the details once their friendly meeting was finished. She walked over to help inform Okita as Ishtar reached the table and crossed her arms.
"What did he say this time, Saber?" she asked without pause as she focused on Arturia. Her agitated gaze soon shifted between her and Emiya.
"It was less about them and more about Arthur this time," Jeanne answered for them, causing the archer to finally turn to the standing male saber. With newfound curiosity overpowering her irritation, she turned to the male saber and blinked. Had she not noticed him here before?
"Ah, so we finally meet, King Arthur!" Ishtar exclaimed as her mood picked up. Arturia and Emiya shared amused looks as the floating goddess eyed the male saber up and down. "I trust my friends have told you much about myself?"
He released a sigh to calm his last nerves, thankful that things seemed to be returning to their previously relaxed state. "To an extent, fair maiden. Would I be wrong to assume you would be the beautiful goddess Ishtar?"
"Handsome and well mannered… I approve of you," Ishtar nodded with a content smile, making the table chuckle. "I am indeed the Goddess Ishtar of Mesopotamia."
"It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, and to be found worthy. I am honored," Arthur bowed, making Ishtar smile back. As he restored his posture, he tilted his head curiously as Emiya chuckled.
"Very few have actually praised her in the way she wishes."
"Is it wrong for me to want what I deserve, Emiya-kun?" she asked with a small huff. The content smile on her face remained as her friend chuckled. "I like you. You're going to be one of my favorite humans, I can tell. Not many dare stand against Gilgamesh so aggressively. I favor anyone who does."
"It wasn't the first time I've faced a King of Heroes," he explained, earning Ishtar's curiosity and renewing the intrigue of the table. "The other one was bearable when compared to this one."
Emiya leaned into the table as Arthur sat down and scooched in, giving room for Ishtar to sit beside him. With a quick flash of light, her battle attire had been replaced with a golden, strapless dress that hugged her form. She elegantly took her seat and asked, "A tolerable King of Heroes? Would you mind elaborating for us?"
As the red archer waved down a robot to bring another cup for Ishtar, Arthur smiled as the memories of that war, and his master, sailed through his mind.
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"Do you often spend time with the other servants?"
"As much as we can without overworking ourselves! I have to make sure Gudao doesn't do that."
"Oh, why thanks, Gudako. I haven't pulled an all-nighter since Christmas, and you joined me for all that extra effort!"
"Let me have my teases, Gudork!"
"Your teases actually need some credibility! You can't just throw things out there like that!"
"Fou…" Arthur laughed as the small familiar sat on the table between them and sighed. Its ears drooped as it looked exasperated between the two bickering masters.
The male King of Knights sat across from them in their booth within Salon de Marie, still wearing his battle attire as opposed to their casual dress. It was a little past lunch so he could meet with the masters in peace… at least until Gabrielle and Gudao had their foreheads mashed together comically as they grumbled their current grievances. The female master's hands were crossed over her tight, hot-pink shirt, mimicking Gudao with his folded across his white polo. Fou yawned and curled into a ball, clearly bored with the occasional occurrence.
"I'm gonna tell your mom you've been picking on me again!" Gabrielle proclaimed as she pulled back and stuck her tongue out at him.
He only smirked back. "Your mom and dad will just tell her you're trying to win sympathy again!"
"That only happened nine or ten times!" she shot back, making Arthur laugh at the two. They turned towards him, and surprisingly smiled. He looked between the two curiously.
"I have funny masters," he mused before taking a sip of his tea. "Are you two always like this?"
"Sometimes. We fight because we love each other," Gudao simply shrugged. "We're like the siblings we've never had, and it caused a lot of rumors at the Clock Tower."
"We're really bad mages by the modern definition," Gabrielle continued as she threw an arm happily over Gudao's shoulders. With a roll of his eyes, Gudao returned the gesture briefly. They soon broke apart. "Gudao and I are only third generation, and his father didn't even want him to be a mage!"
Arthur blinked. "Did he dislike magecraft that much?"
"No. Mom was the mage, and she has dad on a willing leash," Gudao chuckled as Gabrielle giggled. "Military service ran with my dad's side for eight generations."
"So that side was disappointed one of the eighth generations was aspiring to be a famous TV magician instead," she added with emphasizing fingers before turning to Gudao. "At least your dad knows the real truth, and it's not like you don't have four cousins in the military to make up for it..."
Arthur slowly nodded in understanding. "A proud heritage, for sure. If only they knew you were a fighting mage."
"Secrets have to be kept…" Gabrielle shrugged as she quietly pet Fou. She shook her head and smiled. "How did we get on this tangent again?"
"We were talking about his past masters to learn what we shouldn't do, Gudako, then we got into another squabble session."
She nodded happily. "Ah, right. Thanks, Gudork. I think we bothered him enough about them, then. Let's go to something more fun to talk about."
"Like…? Usually you're the one picking those."
Arthur chuckled. It was his second lengthy meeting with the masters, yet he had already learned quite a bit about them. From what's been revealed by others, they did make an effort to really know and understand who they were fighting with, and it was an admirable duty. Many mages wouldn't go to such extents to help make them feel welcome and human, though there were notable exceptions of course; He had the privilege of knowing one.
Though, it did bring up an interesting dilemma. Knowing he had two masters at first had been concerning upon arrival, but now it was bothering him for a far different reason. As they thought of what to discuss next, he spoke up. "Masters… I do have one concern to raise. Are you not worried for what may happen if both of you are… incapacitated?"
Their faces turned serious as Gudao nodded. "Da Vinci raised this issue with us, but the answer isn't straightforward. We're discussing the possibilities though."
"Have you been told about the requirements for leyshifting? You don't have issues as a servant, as you'll see for yourself tomorrow, but for us masters…"
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It seemed his first few days were meeting after meeting, but at least dinner at the Egyptian's pyramid was different. He didn't mind the festivities in the least. All of these jovial get-togethers brought fond memories of the feasts and parties held at the Round Table in its glory days. Thankfully, as they ate Tamamo's Japanese-styled cuisine, this dinner had been relaxing. It was a stark contrast to how they were during their war, but a change he gladly indulged in.
As a blatant copy of the idea Arturia had, Ozymandias made the dress-code battle attire only so Arthur wouldn't feel left out. While he had placed an order earlier this morning, it was still being fulfilled as expected. He took a sip from his goblet before taking another bite of the Chicken Teriyaki on his plate. A robot hovered past to deliver more steaming-hot food as Ozymandias continued with his vibrant jokes he learned from the Romans. Arthur gladly listened, as did Arash and Brynhildr across from him, until the rider at the head of the table paused.
Serenity and Paracelsus, who had been ensuring Jekyll would not have time to think of anything else, turned towards the doorway behind the assassin. Also curious, Jekyll slowly turned as the doorway seemingly opened by itself. Ozymandias chuckled as the robot left the room. "Excellent! The entertainment has arrived! Send them in, Nitocris!"
Rena bounced in the air above Serenity in curiosity and excitement as a slightly larger Sphinx Kitten scurried into the room. It was roughly the size of a large dog, but otherwise looked similar to its tinier counterparts. What was most curious was the large, golden ball on its tail that waggled wildly as it scurried. The ball had a small wedge cut into it with two dots marking eyes.
As it began to run around the table, four Medjed quickly filed into the room to give chase. With waggling feet under their sheets, their eyes stayed locked on the beast while they gave chase. Each one had been colored differently in vibrant shades, causing Serenity to giggle upon recognizing the sight. Arash and Ozymandias laughed at the reference, but Arthur did not understand what he was looking at. Brynhildr looked far more interested in how adorable it all looked while Paracelsus explained the reference to Jekyll.
"My fellow Pharaoh Iskandar gave us this first idea!" Ozymandias declared as the Medjed chased around the kitten. With a barely audible mumble from Nitocris at the doorway, the sphinx began to glow softly, only to turn against the Medjed. In organized chaos, the makeshift ghosts scattered in an attempt to outrun the sphinx. It mewled every time it caught up to one and playfully smacked it. Ozymandias laughed. "Worry not! As we enjoy our main course, there is still plenty more for our entertainment!"
"Do you have exotic dancers?" Arash asked with a chuckle. Brynhildr rolled her eyes playfully, but Ozymandias laughed.
"I considered it for Arthur, but Nitocris had a more interesting idea when taking dance lessons with Cleopatra! It is coming next!"
As the Medjed flew out of the room, chased by the sphinx kitten, mummies began to file into the room from a portal Nitocris likely opened out of view. It unnerved a few at first, until the music began playing from the room's speakers, and the mummies seemed to move to the beat as they made their way to the spacious end of the table. Many at the table chuckled and smiled upon seeing them move so perfectly to the beat. Arthur had to wonder how Nitocris did it, and if she was a puppet master of sorts with her abilities.
"Oh~! Oh~! I know this song~!" Rena cried out happily as the mummies shifted on their feet. They clapped their hands over their heads, then their heads boogied in place as they took a long step to the side.
As they kept pulling choreographed moves, Arthur felt like he was missing yet another reference. Seeing the cloth- covered individuals dancing was still very entertaining regardless.
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It was already late afternoon during the following day. Two days since arriving, and Arthur was confident he had inadvertently joined a Holy Grail Festival.
Arthur stood in his still bare room, placing the last of his three sets of clothes in the closet. Two casual pieces, and something semi-formal just to start, but it was enough for now. There was a supply sortie he would take part in soon, and due to being in the mid twentieth century, there was bound to be possible clothes to obtain. While not as modern as what the Clothing Department could turn out, they made great base materials or alternatives if he found he preferred that area's style.
He slid the closet door closed and looked around his empty room. With the help of the many blossoming friendships he had gained since arrival, he had ideas on what to actually have in his room. It didn't need to be incredibly exotic or elegant, since this was not Camelot or Avalon. It just needed to be enough to make any potential guests feel welcome since he spent most of his time enjoying Chaldea itself. The sofa, which was the first ordered, was being refurbished from stock inventory at the moment, but he was in no rush.
As one of the newly constructed rooms, it had a layer of insulation between its smooth, wooden walls and the mountain rock. The floor and ceiling matched in a darker walnut compared to the ivory maple of the sides. It came with a fully equipped bathroom like the standard Chaldean ones thanks to Edison's manufacturing processes, as well as the same closet, bed, and table. It was even equipped with a proper beverage dispenser linked to the filtering and heating systems, though this one had a different design. Otherwise, it remained bare until his order arrived...
… except for one chance discovery from the furniture stock.
Arthur approached the painting with a small smile. It was rather large and generic, but it spoke to him far louder than anything else in that warehouse. The small table and chair set was going to be customized like the sofa, and he was fine with waiting for that. Even the display cabinet for any craft coins and mystic codes to be displayed alongside Excalibur was being newly built. This painting, however, even with its slightly worn oak frame, was perfect the way it is.
It was a field of flowers bathed under a moonlit sky, interrupted only by a lone pond in the middle. The stars sparkled gloriously above, mixing with the flying petals of an unfelt wind. They were a ghostly blue, but it was far warmer to him than anyone else. Even the trees at the sides wore the fantasy petals that shimmered even across the lake's reflection. Coupled with the scene, it was the petals mirroring on the calm waters that reminded him of that moment.
The time when he saw the reflection of those ghostly petals in her eyes on that fated day. 'I'm Saber. A servant that will protect you.'
There was a knock on his door. "Arthur. Do you wish to walk with Jeanne and I?"
"I'll be right out, Arturia." He was gladly spending a lot of time with his other self, that's for certain.
With a fond smile, he turned away from the painting. It was about time to meet at the Deployment Room for his first outing. Thankfully, there would be friends to help.
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"Watching you two fight together was incredible. You're so alike, yet, unique," Jeanne recollected with a smile as the trio walked away from the Deployment Room. There had been some clothing acquired in mass, but he would have to retrieve it from storage later. The berserkers were still busy hauling the crates to the warehouses. At least the cultural exploration had been rather intriguing and eye opening… until the teams found the source of the problem. They handled it quickly, and the two kings had been the most noteworthy that deployment.
"Yes. I can read his fighting style well. We make a great team," Arturia nodded as she dematerialized her armored attire, replacing it with a royal blue, knee-length skirt and white blouse. Jeanne followed soon after to change into a white, zipped-front sweater and a black skirt.
"Oh? So we can switch to regular clothing from our true garb? You did not inform me of this, Arturia," Arthur teased as he remained in his battle attire.
Arturia blinked before quickly interjecting. "I believed you knew! You said you did so in your wars, and Rin did it last night. Did you not take heed?"
It was Arthur's turn to be taken back. "Well, yes, I… I guess it was just a slip of my mind then."
"You must not forget next time then, just like you won't try to take my second sundae! For shame, King of Knights."
Arthur only smirked back. "Such gall, Arturia… Dareth I say, I do recall you trying to make off with mine first. For shame, indeed."
Arturia quickly stammered and folded her arms. A playful smile shined through her tough act. "Your eyes have been playing tricks on you! I do not recall-"
Their playful bickering was interrupted by Jeanne's giggling. Confused, the two turned to the saint as she brought her giggling under control. With a surprised smile, she looked between the two as they kept walking, only to start giggling again. Arturia looked to Arthur before staring curiously at her close friend. "Jeanne?"
"I'm sorry," the Maid of Orleans quickly offered as she smiled. "It's just… It's the third day, and you too act so warmly with each other. It's adorable."
Arthur and Arturia quickly glanced at each other before staring back at Jeanne incredulously. The ruler blinked before lightly flushing. "Ah! No, that's not what I meant! Not in a dating sense! You have Emiya!"
Still confused, Arturia stared at her as the wheels turned in Arthur's head. He came to a conclusion just as Jeanne offered an apologetic, yet adoring, smile. "What I meant to say is, well… I'm a little jealous. I wish I could be like this openly with Joan."
"You think we act like brother and sister," Arthur surmised, making Arturia glance at him in surprise before turning back to Jeanne.
"Absolutely. How similar you two are, clearly, but there's more besides how much time you've already spent together. You're always doting over her well-being like an older brother ever since the encounter with Gilgamesh… when you two are bickering or teasing each other like siblings. Wasn't this how you described your childhood with Sir Kay, Arty?"
"… It… It's similar, yes…" Arturia admitted as she looked back curiously at Arthur.
The male King of Knights smiled back and chuckled. "I guess I am acting a bit like Kay… I see why he did it so often now. It didn't bother you at all, did it, Arturia?"
"No… No it didn't," Arturia whispered with slightly raised eyebrows, making Jeanne smile brighter.
"Sorry, it was just my observation from being sisters with myself."
"Maybe you're on to something, Jeanne… Mayhaps…" Arthur thought out loud. Without looking, Arturia slowly nodded, clearly on the same train of thought. Jeanne looked between them in barely contained excitement.
It was a curious idea, but if it worked with Joan and Jeanne, it could work for them. There would no longer be any lingering issues on how to properly regard the two near-identical figures. Mordred was practically treating him like Arturia at this point, though he had remained distant on trying to personally help her out of respect for his counterpart. Any issue with actually acting like an older brother could be handled easily since he remembered everything Kay did well; He would just adapt that knowledge, because he was not Kay, nor could he ever replace him.
Then there were the knights. When they suggested he be treated like a visiting royal, like King Leodegrance, he didn't think of the family tie. The man was treated with upmost respect as the father of Guinevere, and it would potentially remove any awkward footing with the knights. Arturia and him were unconsciously already acting like family due to how familiar they were with, well… themselves… so that removed any real hurdle. It honestly wasn't that much of a leap from here, and the option was one he didn't mind taking if Arturia was for it.
It was a strange and curious idea… but it could certainly work.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Two days later, Arthur had an entire day to himself without deployments or scheduled meetings. With just a blue polo and khaki shorts, he set about his early morning task with Arturia.
After much discussion, they finally dropped the family agreement to each member of the Round Table. Many of the knights seemed intrigued by the revelation, and the now-informed Emiya seemed relieved of any lingering jealousy of how close they were; They had laughed at that guilty admittance, and Arturia planned to make it up to him in some way. Jeanne was the most excited that her fleeting idea held merit, but none was as loud regarding the decision as Mordred.
It was probably the fact her new uncle called her cute, like her real father, that had everything to do with her sudden flustering.
After a morning filled with the revelations, he was enjoying the last day of February among the flower gardens of the resort. After many requests, a good portion of the butterflies from the Bioscience gardens were set loose among the colorful fields. They've strived here to the ecstatic appreciation of many, but none more so than Asterios who enjoyed the pure nature in the distance. Arthur smiled at the sight of the happy berserker before turning back to his friend's canvas.
Rena was floating beside Serenity holding her painting palette. A small yellow rose was painted on her side as a tattoo from her assassin friend, who continued depicting the butterfly-filled fields on her canvas. The light wind blew the hem of her lilac sundress gently, making her giggle a bit as Serenity ensured it stayed politely down with a free hand. Arthur stood nearby, waiting for their pause in conversation to break while enjoying the silent, tropical atmosphere.
"So I've heard that you're now Mordred's uncle," Serenity inquired with an amused expression. "She might be tough family."
"I am willing. Truthfully I was jealous of your sibling companionship with the other Hassans," Arthur jested, making Serenity and Rena giggle. "Her reaction was priceless."
"Too stunned to talk?"
"The most excited I've seen her since I arrived. She's not confused about two fathers anymore."
Serenity giggled as she made another brush stroke on her canvas. "It's good to hear she's smiling. I wish we could do the same for poor Jekyll..."
"As much as I want to help them both, I know it is not my place," Arthur admitted with a sigh. Serenity slowly nodded her head. "I'm sorry. I know you've had a recent rough patch as well. We should talk about something else."
"Thanks for the consideration, but I'm fine, Arthur. I'm getting over it," Serenity smiled back softly. "Gabby will always be my friend. She's right... I'll find someone else who will make me just as happy in time since I can be held by anyone. Rena and my charm will make sure of that."
"I'm going to be a harsh judge~!" Rena exclaimed happily. Serenity giggled, but pulled her brush away before she could make an accidental stroke.
With a smile of his own, Arthur stole a glance at the beach. There were more employees around today since it was the weekend, and it was a far sight from the war effort he knew was happening. The research department nearly had the final kinks ironed out, and Da Vinci was working on some interesting prototype assets that were being kept secret. He had arrived in a calm just before the next storm, and even though everyone looked complacent, he knew these veterans were merely enjoying the time allotted. For now, he would relax with them gladly, and enjoy this inconceivable world he had been summoned to.
When the storm broke, he would gladly stand with them as Chaldea's second King of Knights.