Salon de Marie was almost completely silent this mid-July morning. The room's present staff chatted quietly at the bar, leaving the otherwise empty room silent save for a distant corner. On one of the plush sofas, Hundred Face sipped her glass of ice water. Due to the condensation, a drop fell onto her blue workout tank top, but her white track pants remained spotless. She merely placed the glass back on the coffee table, crossed her legs again, and picked up the book beside her.

She glanced to Rena, who was lightly bouncing in her comfy donut seat beside her. Its eyes gazed forward as subtle beeps echoed from her speakers. The little thing was still trying to decide on what tracks to play for the three of them, apparently. Hundred Face only smirked and lightly patted the top of her chassis, making it turn to her with beaming eyes. Rena giggled and continued her task.

Serenity hummed quietly nearby as she painted on her easel. She wore a matching set of white, fitted sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt. Hundred Face looked at her newest painting she had been hesitant on starting: A snowy picture of the mountain range. There wasn't much present, but they only just arrived. The light snowfall outside made it easier for her friend to paint.

It wasn't uncommon for them to spend time in comfortable silence when she accompanied the painter; Hundred Face didn't want to mess up her painting by accident. However, she did like spending time with her friend, that Tyler often joked was her little sister. Truth be told, she was initially hesitant on that idea, but a close bond had definitely formed. There was no doubt she was deeply invested and cared for Serenity's well-being and happiness.

With a small smile, Hundred Face opened the book Anton had recommended to her. It was an introductory primer to computer programming. It was likely useless information to servants, but her past… No, more correctly, their past life's ambition and compulsion stated otherwise. They had learned as much varying information as possible, and it only continued in Chaldea. That's why researching and learning was less of a chore, and more of their mutual continued hobby.

"Okay~! Got it~!" Rena happily chimed as her speakers began playing the first song.

~~Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck~~
~~Some nights, I call it a draw~~

Hundred Face withheld her small grievance; It was a catchy song, but this was not among her favorites to hear as of late. Her unbelievable focus attempted to block out the music, but part of her decided otherwise. Even as she read carefully over the book's sentences, the song's lyrics echoed into her head. Try as she might, even if she looked composed, she couldn't blot out those specific lyrics that waltzed through her mind like an angry thunderstorm.

~~She stops my bones from wondering~~
~~Just who I am, who I am, who I am~~

It became harder to blot out those lyrics every time this song played, but she couldn't blame Rena or Serenity. It was catchy, and they liked the little tune. She wouldn't ask them not to play it just because of her own internal grievance… a grievance that questioned something she thought was immovable. Yet her belief had been shaken in the months she's spent here, to the point she often reflected on where she was now, and which path ahead was right.

There was only supposed to be one path and one goal, yet it wasn't so obvious any longer… Not to herself, at least.

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Fragment 70: Who Am I Now?

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

The room was dark, and the flickers of a lone candle on a desk gave the only illumination; The window remained open and unshuttered, but the clouded night offered no light. Darkness shrouded the many bookshelves and a lone bed, leaving only the lone occupant discernible in the flame's glow. Even still, the dark-haired woman, clad in Arabian guard cloth from her latest task, stared into the tall mirror before her.

Years of endless work was painted on her aged face and expression. Her eyes held a flicker of the resolution and pride she always held, but they had been different in the past few years. Those once stalwart orbs had slowly filled with distraught and unrest where its glints of optimism had died. They matched the sadness and aggravation within, but she always suppressed them. It was improper to show any of them, especially to her underlings who assisted her.

Yet, she could do nothing to crush her growing anguish. They stemmed from her childhood, ever since she understood the very nature of the person in the mirror… or more specifically, persons. While she had become the great Hassan-i-Sabbah, and fulfilled the role flawlessly in a unique way, was it still proper to call herself that? Was it still right to say she was the lone person with that title?

It bothered the Hassan that her mastered specialty was that which disheartened her.

Years of studying, learning, and developing had made her knowledgeable on information far and wide. From big subjects like Christian Ideology and behavior to smaller ones like proper nutritional cooking could be gleamed from her archival mind. She was a storehouse of information, yet her inborn problem made it much more than that. It allowed her to become and act as an entirely different person… or to be more precise, to actually become another person.

All of her missions, and even parts of her real life, were like broken glass. They provided only fragments of memories, as if she dreamed the life of another. They didn't feel like her, yet they were her… but was it ever proper to say it was her? Who was she now? Who would she be in the next five minutes? It pained her that despite her mastery and seemingly collective will to complete her tasks, she never had control over who she was.

…Was she even the real identity of the many she assumed? The many rambling, disjointed voices in her head made her believe otherwise.

…What was the truth? She always saw a woman in the mirror, but was she a woman? Was she actually a man? Did the others see something different too?

Her hands curled into fists as she glared accusingly at the 'woman' in the mirror. Her underlings always praised this woman before her, the Hundred Faced Hassan who struck when least expected, never to be identified. Important figures feared their closest allies might possibly be her, and they stressed over what they couldn't recognize; She too, stressed over what she could barely recognize in the mirror.

Becoming Hassan-i-Sabbah was supposed to give her what she always wanted. It was something a master assassin should not pursue, but she didn't want fame. Celebrity and reputation were just small results over the true solution to her last, personal desire: A sole identity. She wanted to be free from the endless voices and be a lone person. Somehow… Somehow she'd find a way to do that while performing her honored duties as-

The woman froze with sudden realization; She was not alone in the room. The shrouded door never opened, yet the presence was palpable. An icy chill fell over the room, and the hardened, disguised woman struggled not to tremble. As she stared into the mirror, past the figure she only partially recognized, she saw one she did. It was the shadow that all who held the title learned to fear.

She stared into the mirror at infuriated, ghostly azure eyes. "…Mine eyes have gazed over you."

It was obvious even the great founder was not pleased.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ III ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"What do you think, Rena? Something feels off about this one mountain."

"I think it's just you. My angle and perspective software says otherwise." They both giggled.

Slowly, Hundred Face reopened her eyes; She apparently dosed off. It was something she never used to do before, but Chaldea was just so comfortable and relaxed… it made her shamefully complacent at times. Thankfully, she had more than enough composure not to make any noise for that dream's ending; She's relived that moment more than enough times it didn't startle her anymore, but it still hurt. It only taunted her further because her problem manifested in a unique manner as a servant.

It was yet another thing she learned for herself after her arrival. Dissociative Identity Disorder, or Multiple Personality Disorder, was what she suffered from in life. Thanks to the Throne of Heroes, the identities weren't all mismatched in one body anymore; It was both good and bad since they all acted as one.

She became the chosen representative of the many identities, the one they chose as the core individual to hold the title Hundred Face. That wasn't to say her ninety-nine other companions weren't also 'Hundred Face,' for they were all part of the same saint graph. Even so, they had become unique identities with different bodies, and each acted as their own individual. However, they all held the same prized goal like a collective will: The wish to become one identity.

…Or at least, that's how it should be. Serenity smiled to her, "Sorry… did we disturb you?"

'Nowhere near as much as the many voices,' she thought, but didn't state. She never told Serenity or Cursed Arm she could hear the many voices of her identities. They were most pronounced when she slept, but the incoherent ramblings would rise and fall at random intervals. She was used to it though.

"Not at all." With a small smile, she shook her head. "Sheesh… Look at me. Falling asleep in public again."

"Nothing wrong with a nap on the squishy couches!" Rena chimed in as she rocked on her donut pillow. "…Unless you're studying."

"She's always studying," Serenity noted with a teasing smile. "You should have fun more often…"

"I do enjoy myself," she countered lightly. Truthfully, she did. She was usually prompted or asked to do it. "Learning is fun."

"But playing tag with the kids is more fun," her friend retorted again, but still smiled. "You sure you don't want to join me and Gabby later? The more the merrier!"

Quietly, she thought about it for a brief few seconds. She did, just like the many offers before, though she wasn't the best with children. Another one of her identities would probably be better, but… She was just too uncertain. She shook her head. "I'll have to pass. Maybe some other time."

"You always say that," Rena chimed in lightly, and she gave the small robot a disapproving look. "What? It's fact! You always say some other time but you have yet to do it!"

"Leave her be, Rena. I'm sure she has her reasons," Serenity offered with a sympathetic smile. She returned it, and a comfortable silence ensued after Serenity went back to her painting.

Pushing some stray thoughts aside, Hundred Face stared down at the pages to absorb more information. If the descriptions hadn't been in English, she would have sworn she was learning a new language. The way Tyler and Anton put it, though, coding was a language by itself. She flipped the page and indulged in the only real hobby or activity she pursued since she arrived. It was the only one she wouldn't feel guilty about having, truthfully.

Without a doubt, there were things she knew she liked and disliked. There were even things she loved, like spending time with Serenity, Cursed Arm, and Rena. She secretly relished quiet moments like this, though she felt guilty about it. Since the other identities were 'collapsed' into her main form, she was the only one who experienced an existence until she decided to split. She believed it was unfair to them to grow even more as a unique individual, since they were trying to become one in the end.

Thus, she tried to stop herself from having too much fun, or growing too many personal interests and the like. She did her best to ensure she stayed within the bounds of her supposed identity without changing too much. For the months she'd been in Chaldea, she remained almost completely the same in the pursuit of increased knowledge or their collective personal wish… yet, she only tried to do that, and acknowledged she had failed in her own objective. It didn't take much to get her invested in a fun activity.

Silently and unconsciously, her gaze had shifted from the book towards Serenity. The smiling assassin hummed Rena's current tune on her lips and continued work on her beloved hobby, making yet another work of art that would hang somewhere in Chaldea. Hundred Face was always relieved and happy that the once shut-in assassin was living such a wonderful life now, full of colorful experiences that made her smile. It also admittedly made her envious she could define and grow freely.

It made her guilty and shameful just for feeling envious.

If she were honest… As much as Hundred Face acknowledged she would finally be able to explore new things after they were combined into one, she was uncertain. Regretfully, over the months, she'd yearned to do things her own identity wanted to do, like play with the children or pick up new hobbies. She'd forcefully bottled it up and ignored every feeling of personal pursuit; She couldn't. It was unfair to the others, and their collective as a whole… yet, as she looked towards Serenity happily enjoying who she was, she pined for it.

As disgraceful was it was to admit, over the many months in Chaldea, it had only become more impossible to hold her conviction. As much as she wanted to deny the radical thought, she didn't want to lose this identity if they all merged together. No, she had definitely grown attached. There was no denying it even after the past few weeks of failing to convince herself otherwise.

She secretly wanted to be a person she chose to be, and that went against their collective's belief.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IV ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Thank you for your continued patronage. Have a nice day," Hans droned automatically, and it nearly brought an amused smile her face.

Instead, she offered her gratitude back, took her book from the bored boy in a blue formal suit, and surprised him by walking towards the library's window seats; She always did her afternoon studying in her room or in another Hassan's company. That's all she ever did anyway, but in recent weeks the voices had started to bother her more than they should. Maybe a change of scenery was all she really needed.

She glanced to Medusa and Anton, who sat side by side at one couch; The books in their hands felt like a small ruse to her keen eye. The librarian, wearing a black turtleneck sweater and jeans, glanced back to her and they quickly fell silent. It sparked her curiosity, but she merely waved to them lightly, and they returned the friendly greeting. She walked away, and they began talking in secret again, but she paid it light attention.

They weren't loud enough to bother her, but it was just the simple subterfuge of the act. They didn't seem worried about her possibly overhearing, though. Tossing the light musings aside, she sat down on a random couch, but hadn't been paying attention to its counterpart's vacancy. It was only when Jekyll looked up curiously after she sat down that she stared at him and blinked.

The doctor, dressed in his battle attire, slowly lowered his medical book as she moved to get up. "Sorry, Doctor. I wasn't paying attention."

"Ah, it's alright. You're certainly never a bother," he smiled reassuringly. "I'm only studying here for a few more minutes anyway."

"Got a morning date with Mordred?" she asked as she placed her large book in her lap.

"It's this afternoon, to be honest," he chuckled lightly, but shook his head. "No. Hyde has a rematch with Spartacus. Last time didn't go so well."

She nodded quietly. Ever since that alternate identity had become an uncommon appearance, she grew a little curious about him. They were essentially the same person, yet they had some sort of agreement on an equal use of their body. Thankfully she didn't have any such issue with her identities. They could split off from her saint graph as she willed to form their own, then remerge when necessary. No one could beat their multitasking skills.

Jekyll picked up his black suitcase from the floor and onto the glass coffee table. He opened it and placed his book within, but stared at her new one. He smiled, "You really do love learning. Any teacher would appreciate a student even half as dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge as you."

Right, Jekyll was a professor. She shrugged lightly, there was a comfortable silence, before he inevitably broke it. "…So, have you come to any conclusion?"

It unnerved her that the voices had fallen a little quieter, as if they were listening. Still, she shook her head and answered quietly. "…Maybe. I don't know. It all feels…"

"It's alright. Please don't rush for an answer for yourself… Your condition is a difficult subject," Jekyll reassured with a small smile. She glanced to him curiously, but he shook his head. "There's no need to worry. I'm a doctor. Patient confidentiality is paramount, whether one time or not."

It had been a whim to ask him for some advice two weeks ago. It had been in private, and she ensured no one else knew; Not even her other identities. Her uncertainty and anxiety had been growing restless, and she wanted a way to calm it. Instead, his advice only stoked the fires of her difficulty.

"Frankly speaking, Hundred Face, you're not wrong for clinging to your manifested identity. I'm sure Hyde would agree with me on that."

That had been the first line that preceded the next, painful few minutes. She wanted him to disagree with her… that her radical thoughts were wrong and that she was just a single voice among the many. Instead, he said every voice mattered, and should not be ignored no matter what any believed. In fact, he apologized before he insisted that their dilemma is what defined Hundred Face's servant existence, and that was not something that was easily removed.

Hundred Face looked up to Jekyll as he scratched his chin in thought. He turned to her, "I know you probably don't want to discuss it further but… Have you tried seeing if the other identities are starting to believe otherwise?"

No. She never did ask them, for she felt what they may think or potentially plot. Still… it intrigued her, and opened her eyes just a bit more.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"We're ten days away from the debut! How do you keep messing up the blocking!?"

Hundred Face easily suppressed her laughter, but some of her other identities working the lights failed. They quickly clammed shut when Shakespeare's irritated expression snapped to them. The playwright stood in a lone spotlight aimed into the theater's front row in his favorite jade formal suit. He groaned in exasperation as Helena rubbed his back beside him. Her other hand kept the clipboard pinned against her black sundress as she reminded, "You're putting pressure on them again..."

"For they deliver pressure unto me! A ceaseless cycle of unhappiness…" Shakespeare muttered as he raised his own clipboard again. "Once more! From the top of page fifty!"

Hiding her snicker, Hundred Face gazed up into the rafters where many of her other identities worked the lightning. She took pride that their group was so well coordinated that they only received praise from Shakespeare. Few others beside the three leads and Mozart could claim that. Even poor Helena had been on the receiving end of a few of Shakespeare's rants for messing something up; She took it in stride though.

Most of her identities were present, save for one. If they weren't in the rafters controlling lights and curtains, they were in the back quietly talking, playing card games, and waiting for the cue to switch scenery or assist the actors. She barely had to tell them what to do; If they shared anything among their identities, it was their precision, dutiful dedication, stealth, and speed. From there on, they had their own unique specialties to call upon when necessary.

"Places! Places! Our stage crew is deploying in an hour!" Helena quickly instructed as Shakespeare calmed himself by pinching the bridge of his nose.

As the costumed actors got into place for the scene, Hundred Face gazed up at the rafters at her counterparts. A few remained perfectly silent, while some other chatted amongst each other. Others even quietly took leadership roles so she had less to manage. Despite the collective agreement over their task and purpose in Chaldea, they enjoyed their tasks more than she thought they would when Shakespeare asked for her assistance. She'd noticed it even more today after Jekyll's earlier suggestion.

Maybe it was just her hopeful imagination, but whenever she needed to manifest the identities for the play, she could swear they were secretly excited to be out and about; Perhaps it was because she was so used to just being manifested as their representative. Nevertheless, she kept her eyes peeled for curious signs of a subtle appreciation for who they were.

It was likely she was just desperate to feel she wasn't being treacherously radical with her own beliefs, but she was at least relieved the voices in her head were silenced; They were manifested and talking now. The voices never really talk to her or at her, rather they rambled like they were in a dream. Regardless, splitting off the others so they could be stage crew or aid in a singularity gave her one of the few respites.

Whenever they manifested, it was like being summoned from the throne. In the few times she merged instead, whether to save herself from fatal injury or not, she understood the experiences weren't shared. The time between merging and splitting was a blink, and they would form with only a rough summary of everything that's been experienced, like an outline. No visual, no vivid memories, or emotions, but only a shared piece of rough knowledge. Their experiences and feelings were all unique and unknown to one another.

That's why it worried her that they knew her thoughts were going a very different course… but if they did, it never showed in the two months she began to doubt herself. One of the lankier identities in the rafters gazed back at her as she stared. She felt him smile behind his mask, and quickly gave her a thumbs up. While she smiled back and nodded, it was only a partial relief from her uncertainty of how the others felt.

Still, as much as she wanted to follow their goal, she could never silence the voice in the back of her mind that whispered rebellious independence…. But it was joined by another in rare calmness of her mind. A softer voice that asked quietly if there was anyone out there. A tiny, timid voice that didn't want to be alone. It was only here, among practicing actors and stage crew, did she began to hear that voice much louder than ever before.

The spotlight that previously lit Phantom of the Opera went out, and Shakespeare growled in torment and aggravation. It barely distracted her from the soft voice.

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A demonic roar echoed through the jungle, but the animals have long since fled. Beneath the dark clouds that threatened to drench the area, dangers of a different kind ran amok. One of the tallest canopy trees in the lush forest fell as its cracking wood echoed into the ears of any nearby. It tore a new hole in a growing warpath of an enraged demon, whose imposing form cast a greater shadow on its path to an Aztec populace.

Hundred Face, wearing the Hassan's signature mask, darted in the tree line among her many other identities. It had been child's play finding this monstrous beast, who easily towered at a dozen meters. Its gray skin and wings rippled with malignant energies, and its unearthly gaze remained aimed at the civilization farther ahead. It didn't even bother looking towards the dozens of assassins that surrounded it, if it could even sense them.

Wordlessly, she nodded to her counterparts and dashed ahead towards a cluster of larger canopy trees in its path. With agile, elegant bounds, she was at the top of one where another manifested Hassan waited with Beowulf and their energetic master. She nodded towards the male identity, who often went by Zayd for less confusion, then turned to her master and Beowulf. "We're all in position to strike. On your signal, Gabby."

"Shame we won't get much more cocoa beans," Gabrielle sighed, and Beowulf chuckled beside her. "Oh well… Let's end this thing!"

"So what's the signal for our coordinated attack?" Hundred Face asked as Zayd walked across a small branch, perfectly balanced to stand beside her. At their core, the identities were linked telepathically; On her signal, they'd launch their overwhelming attack.

The male counterpart chuckled. "You'll see… It'll be very obvious."

The usually serious Hundred Face tossed a curious look at him, the snickering Beowulf, and the smiling Gabrielle. They all turned to the approaching demon, making her look as well. It was only a few hundred meters before it reached the first tree. Every one if its steps rumbled through the jungle floor like thunder as it tore more trees out of its path. She gazed curiously to the various other servants hiding among the tree tops, wondering which one would light the fuse.

When it almost reached the first canopy tree of their cluster, Hundred Face prepped her mental link. It pushed the massive tree out of the way with a clawed arm, but it wouldn't fall to knock down one of the othe- "YIPPEE KI-YAY, MOTHER FUCKER!"

Hundred Face was pretty sure that wasn't a noble phantasm of any sort.

She stared in surprise as Angra Mainyu leapt from the falling tree, cackling like a madman. The demon looked up just as Angra reared back one arm, surrounding it with baleful energies. He swung forward as he came in range of the angry head, carving a strike straight across its visage. The demon roared furiously into the air as ebony blood splattered into the air.

The laughing avenger landed on the ground by the demon's feet, grinning with enthusiasm. He thrust one of his bladed weapons into the air. "Yeah! I did it! Wow! I actually feel useful in combat now!"

Beowulf merely laughed loudly as Hundred Face stared incredulously. "Hey, Angra! Watch your back, buddy!"

The avenger's smile faded, and he turned around. He blinked in surprise as the demon's slashed face glared angrily towards him as it raised its claws. Angra blinked again. "…Well shit."

Zayd laughed with Beowulf as Angra shrieked, but dodged the swiping talons. Hundred Face was dumbfounded. She knew their collective were combat lightweights compared to many others. They still refused to recall that rather humiliating fight with Iskandar in another Grail War... However, this guy was just… No. He definitely wasn't the real Zoroastrianism monstrosity alright.

From a nearby tree, she heard Hijikata growl loudly, "What are you doing!? Stop running and fight, coward! Keep retreating, and I'll kill you myself!"

"I don't go for the greedy swing, dumbass!" Angra countered as he dodged another slash that rent the ground like kicked sand. "I'm not retreating either! I'm repositioning!"

"Phase two it is then…" Gabrielle sighed, but giggled. "Hundred face! Tamamo! Confuse him!"

Hundred Face sent the word. Barely a second later, dozens of thrown daggers tore through the underbrush to pelt the demon from all angles. It looked around confused as Tamamo's elemental spells detonated from just as many angles. While the demon turned every direction in perplexity, Beowulf leapt free of the tree while Zayd and Hundred Face remained. Scathach dropped down from one of the other trees, leading other melee servants into the fray.

The two identities watched the fight since Gabrielle requested they'd be in a supervisor position. It was not uncommon for either of them, and it was honestly a bit relaxing. Zayd in particular was watching Angra darting in and out of the battle to get one or two licks in before sprinting away again. She stared at it as the ridiculous act that it was. She huffed, "If he's so worried about getting hit, why doesn't he have ranged techniques?"

"I don't know… but he's sure got some guts to try anyway!" Zayd countered, and Hundred Face stared at him curiously through their masks.

The male identity had taken a seat, and was watching the battle below happily like Gabrielle. Hundred Face would pass dutiful glances to their master, who was safely on a massive and secure branch, but kept her thoughts on the identity beside her. Like all of them, Zayd acted like his own person, different from all the others and with his own unique experiences. After herself, he was easily the second most manifested of the many faces.

It made her curious how the others felt now; Maybe she should ask. She only presumed they always felt the same way about their collective goal, even after all this time. Had Zayd possibly grown attached to himself like she did? Was she wrong for secretly wishing she wouldn't lose her identity when they merged, or maybe even become the true personality?

As he laughed at the rather one-sided battle below, she stood perfectly on her thin branch with nothing else to do… so she had to wonder. The identity turned to look at her wordlessly, and she glanced to ensure Gabrielle wasn't listening. She prodded, "Having a bit too much fun there, Zayd?"

He shook his head casually. "Nothing else for me to do... Might as well enjoy the clown. I'd rather be dancing around that demon though."

"Always fond of your acrobatics," she noted. It made him a good pick for that sacrifice in the other war, though he had been surprisingly vocal about that betrayal by the other identities at first. "You think you'd like to try dancing sometime?"

"You mean those classes? …Maybe. I'd have to give it some thought."

"Think the other faces would make fun of you if you did?"

There was a pause of thought, or hesitation, and Hundred Face grew curious. He finally hummed, "…Maybe. But they're them. They're not me. They don't understand dancing like I do… I don't think they ever will until our identities finally merge together… and we vanish into one soul."

Though the curious pauses brought her a slither of hope, it came with that last stroke of doubt. So he still likely looked forward to it too, even if he had grown more experiences than much of their other identities. Even so, she clung onto that small slither of hesitation, and remained uncertain.

"That's if we find a grail that can actually do that though… It feels improbable at this rate," Zayd continued, and caught her attention again. "Maybe we'll get lucky someday… if not, you think we could manifest more often? Many of us have been enjoying the play stuff and beachball."

Suddenly, her hopes were soaring at his rather blatant and offhanded comment as he laughed at another of Angra's shrieks.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Hundred Face's hopes still soared the day after. To think some of the others were growing some attachment to their own individuality filled her with relief; Having separate bodies did amount to something. Still, she remained cautious and tempered her optimism. Their dilemma and overall belief still remained, and that was something that needed to be discussed and answered with time.

Despite that, she allowed herself to feel better as she strolled down the hallway to the Robotics Hanger. She had both hands slid into the pockets of her jeans, which were coupled with a white polo. Rena was receiving an upgrade, and she wanted to drop in on them on her way to the library; Studying there turned out to be quite a bit more comfortable than her room. She waved and exchanged greetings with a few servants and employees on her way, and before long, she arrived at the large room.

She walked through the entrance and looked about. Babbage was busy hammering away at yet another new possible prototype in some unseen room. There were repair robots repairing other robots , which was a curiosity of itself, but her eyes landed by the inactive assembly line. Rena's ball-like form rested beside Serenity, who nervously rubbed her hands together. Every time Rena got a checkup, she resembled just a bit of the concerned, nervous assassin back in December.

She wore a white turtleneck sweater and jeans, and was quietly talking to Tyler at her other side while Anton finished the programming with Rena. Her eyes narrowed with exasperation at Tyler, but not because he was doing his best to reassure Serenity; She was absolutely positive those two were growing closer, and she secretly rooted for them.

No, she was more upset at his shirt than anything. The casually dressed employee, who was likely enjoying his day off, had coupled a graphic shirt with his own set of jeans. The shirt in questions showed the logo of a game he had explained to them a while ago. Cursed Arm found this Assassin's Creed series curious. Serenity thought it was creative, and looked at it as just entertainment. Hundred Face was outright annoyed at the whole concept.

They never did figure out how King Hassan felt, but no Hassan dared to ask.

…But then again, the ever-laidback employee had some leeway with them. He still joked they were hiding their hidden blades somewhere, but it was a trivial annoyance; The man meant well. She just wished his knowledge of their order came from a different angle. He waved to her and grinned. "Yo!"

Hundred Face waved to them. "Did I miss all the waiting?"

"Ninety-nine percent of it," Anton answered back. He pushed up his glasses with a finger, then offered a small wave to her. "How was the book I recommended?"

"Confusing. I felt like I was learning Urdu with numbers…" she groaned lightly, making Tyler and Anton chuckle. "I understand coding now though. Thank you."

"Another book to the library," Serenity noted with a small smile as she gave a tiny glance at the now beeping Rena. The robot's eyes blinked and refocused as the servos whirred with action. Shortly after, she levitated off of the conveyor belt, but only continued to face forward as Anton disconnected the transfer cable. All eyes shifted onto the robot as Serenity fell nervous. "…Rena? …Are you okay?"

"Name identified. Unit is named Rena. Antidote dispensing and following protocols enabled."

Serenity was growing visibly stressed. "…Rena?"

"Name already confirmed. Awaiting further instructions from master control."

"Rena!?" Serenity cried out in horror, and Hundred Face could see the growing anguish on her friend's face. The robot quickly turned to her, and its eyes wiggled rapidly.

"Ahhhh! No! Serenity, no, I was kidding! I was kidding! I was kidding!" it quickly panicked as Serenity's place a hand to her mouth to calm herself as Tyler and Anton exhaled with relief. Rena hovered over to her, and let the assassin hug it to her chest. It rubbed one eye apologetically against her cheek. "I'm sorry! It was a bad joke! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Serenity sighed and took a few breaths to calm herself, but smiled at her little friend. "…Please don't do that to me… I don't want a different Rena."

Hundred Face stared at them with a soft smile, but then had to ponder the possible what if. If she merged with her identities and the same things happened, how would everyone she'd come to know react? Their wish had been difficult already, but it had only grown more problematic thanks to Chaldea; How ironic that the facility improved and convoluted that desire.

She wasn't the only one to appreciate what her identity meant, and it was clear a reevaluation and discussion of who they were was necessary in the future.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"… 'ground effect' is the enhanced force performance of a lifting surface in comparison to the freestream result, which is evident while operating in close proximity to the ground. The study of ground effect aerodynamics of an aircraft is mainly..."

Even as the voices rambled lightly in her head, she continued to study the Aerodynamics book in the library. It would be yet another archived knowledge into her ever-growing stores of information, and far more than the throne or a grail would ever provide. It also served as a light distraction from her still uncertain thoughts, even if they had turned hopeful recently.

"You've been here far longer than I anticipated."

Hundred Face blinked and looked towards Hans. The small caster had a cart in front of him, and though his hands remained on the handles, he looked at her curiously. He waited for an answer, but she glanced out the window as her peripherals picked up an unexpected development. '…When did it become dark?'

Hans actually cracked a very tiny snicker. "Were you that engrossed? I guess I have to re-evaluate my opinion of you."

"…Which is?" To be honest, she didn't know what it was. She was one of the few who had never received some sort of analysis from him, and it baffled her. At most, there was a small stab at her partial flashfire temperament that had been partially subdued. Besides that, though, he was only to the point with his conversation. They weren't acquaintances or anything, since their usual brief interactions just involved checking out books at most.

"That you're ostensibly the intellectual among your cadre, unless this trait is shared amongst all as it was in your past."

"It's shared among all of us," she answered calmly, which was the truth. The others would just as readily pick up something to learn as she would.

"I see." It was a plain response, and the hints of any amusement faded. "Well then… I'll just leave you to your self-administered task of memorizing the non-fiction isles."

She was baffled. No curious prods or stabs of any kind. She decided to test the waters as he turned to push the cart away, "That's the most you've ever said about me."

"You're probably right," he answered back and looked at her again. "It's not like you've been begging for the flat truth… not that you deserve one anyway."

At the disbelieving look she gave him, Hans quickly presumed, "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a scrutinizing critic to everyone. I invest interest in tragic stories, sure, but I'm no forceful antagonist looking for fun. I merely point out stories when necessary, but yours will remain shelved unless asked."

"Is there a reason for this preferential treatment?" she asked forwardly. He gazed back, and she quickly added, "I do appreciate you haven't said anything about-"

"Unlike some choose to believe, I have standards, Hundred Face." He clearly took no offense, and offered a brief, tiny smirk of amusement before it faded. "I will tear apart belligerents who attempt to validate past decisions, not those who suffer from issues out of their control. I know of your mental disorder, and I don't believe any in Chaldea comprehend what struggles you must be secretly enduring… I, for one, do not. I only presume you must wish to be rid of it?"

Surprisingly earnest, though his point made sense… and he is correct to an extent. She didn't need to answer, but since he was rather sincere, she should at least offer him something as a small token of gratitude. An answer is hardly troublesome. "That's right. We wish to be one, and not many."

"…Yet there was some hesitation in your voice." She forgot how analytical and extremely observant he was for pretty much everything. She cursed herself, but his plain look didn't change. "Having doubts about your afterlife wish? You'd hardly be the first. Sometimes it takes outside perspectives to shine a little more light on those dark corners… Just ask Arturia, Mordred… or half of Chaldea."

"…But would I be right to feel that way? Would any of us be? We're not one person like they are."

"Then perhaps you've been given your answer?" he asked quietly, and it made her ponder. "You had countless identities, but now have just as many individuals. That's a collection of different stories that I've perused. To put them all together would be a fruitless pursuit… and that will be the only thing I will willingly chastise you for. Your ridiculous desire is to shoehorn nearly a hundred dissimilar tales into a small book, and that won't work. Hundred Face can never be a book, because she's a series."

That burned far more than she liked, but the truth was obvious the entire time. As much as they wanted to be one and whole, what would the outcome be? She wouldn't be her anymore, and neither would they. They'd be something new entirely, and definitely not 'Hundred Face Hassan.' Their strength was their weakness and roadblock, and the only way around it was to destroy who they were entirely. They were Hundred Face, but more like a hundred individuals now.

"By that look in your eyes, I feel like you already knew that… Yet you're still confused…" Hans shrugged and placed his hand back on the cart. "I'll leave you to your thought… but the library will be closing in ten minutes. Maybe I didn't spoil your dinner too badly."

So she'd been lost in her readings for that long. She nodded to Hans as he pushed his cart away, and quickly got up. Dinner with her fellow assassins would be mostly relaxing, excluding the occasional scrutinizing glance she usually felt from King Hassan. He never really ate anyway… except the milkshakes. Despite the cold truth, though, she gained a bit more insight into her own stance, and the path that lay ahead.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

As a whistle blew further away, Hundred Face closed her book and laid it on the dock beside her sandals. She basked in the sun in the following Friday afternoon, wearing only black gym shorts that covered the bottom of her blue one piece. Her bare legs dangled into the water off the side of the dock, and she leaned back on her arms to give herself a minor break from reading. Enjoying the toasty rays of the sun served as a good break.

Nearby, Serenity was painting the beach from a different angle with a tiny smile on her face. Her frilly sapphire bikini was coupled with a translucent beach skirt that blew gently with the wind. Between them, Rena sat on her donut cushion and kept a curious Hyacinth Macaw occupied. Every now and then, the blue bird would look around for somewhere else to go, but Rena would quickly offer it a nut to buy its loyalty a little longer.

Serenity and Hundred Face laughed as the bird suddenly flew onto Rena and used its chassis as a perch. The robot panicked. "Ah! No! I'm not a tree! Bad bird!"

"Awww~… Rena, it just wants to play!" Serenity cooed as the large bird balanced perfectly on the rocking robot.

Hundred Face smirked lightly as the squawking bird and bickering Rena offered a small relief from the voices that had been repeating in her head. Like Jekyll's words, Hans' speech rang clearly in her mind over the rabble of incoherent voices. Coupled with Zayd's offhanded comments, it made her philosophize far more than she liked in the past few days. However, what unnerved her most was the reassurance that their words gave to her… That she was not wrong for thinking the way she was, even if it still felt wrong.

Would it be possible to try and be a crowd rather than a combined individual? To try and slowly give the other identities more of what she experienced, and see if they could find a new way? Maybe they would also come to the same appreciation for their granted lives. Perhaps they wouldn't, and they'd chase after that impossible and damning wish. Whatever the case, this was something only they, as a collective, could answer, but how much longer would that take? It's been months since her doubts began to grow.

One final whistle was followed by the excited chatter of children. Hundred Face gazed further down the dock as a stampede of little servants ran towards them. The Marina docks were more than wide enough to provide ample space for the six children to run by, but they still slowed down as they approached the painting assassin. Hundred Face had to admit, they looked adorable in their matching navy one-pieces; They were the mandatory uniform for Jaguarman and Helena's water classes.

They stopped and greeted them as a small crowd. The girls smiled at Serenity's painting, and Rena's fruitless struggle with a happy bird. Illya spoke up for them all, "Are you making it for anyone, Serenity?"

"Just for fun!" she responded happily as she made a quick dash on the canvas without looking; Hundred Face believed her art was instinctual now. She was nearly done too. "You girls still staying on the beach? I'll bet you're waterlogged."

Kuro mumbled under her breath with exasperation. "Fujimura-sensei's even more demanding in this incarnation…"

Paul beamed. "We're going to play hide and seek! Do you want to join us? Anyone?"

"I'd love to! I'll be there as soon as I finish my painting," Serenity smiled as she fiddled with her special necklace. "What about you, Hundred Face?"

The girls curiously turned towards her, and Hundred Face internally sighed. She could do what she usually did and just politely decline. She had to ensure they didn't get too attached to an identity that would disappear. It would hardly be the first time, but it was that much more difficult when the kids were looking at you so expectedly; Damn them and their adorably curious eyes...

It didn't help she actually wouldn't mind playing with them, or that she had felt more encouraged to do so in recent weeks… but she knew she would probably be rather boring to them. She was great at looking out for others, but fun wasn't her strong suit. Her temperament might even flare up in some unexpected way, and she wasn't sure if they'd appreciate it as much as others. Still, Hundred Face considered it, and was even personally split on accepting for the first time, given recent reassurance, that she should be who she wanted…

…but she shook her head with an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I'm behind on my studies."

Thankfully, the children were always understanding. Janna smiled, "That's okay! Studying is important and helpful for one's own development!"

It was, but it was just a mild excuse. Serenity gave her a small smile before returning to her painting, and the children quickly began to scamper off. She was left to her thoughts, and the voices that whispered loudly in her head. However, she had gotten better at picking out that quiet one that always echoed loudest during those quiet theater practices. She could hear it even now, and surprising even herself, she pursued a sudden impulsive possibility. She changed her mind and risked a step forward.

"…Wait!" she called out, and the kids stopped curiously. Serenity and Rena stared at Hundred Face as she stood up uncertainly. No, she wasn't the best companion for the kids, even if she wanted to be. However, that was where their specialty rested. Even if she wasn't, there was likely another who could be. Reassured since the other identities seemingly grew their own appreciation for their lives, she decided to dare even further. "…Would you girls like a new playmate?"

Serenity's eyes widened and she turned to Hundred Face in surprise. The girls looked interested and curious, but she wasn't changing her mind; She wasn't going to join them. However, there was one identity that had never been manifested, and she finally listened to those hopeful yet mournful whispers she's heard for far too long. Out of fear of having this one grow too attached by everyone, only to be lost when they merged, she never dared to bring her out… until now.

Hundred Face glowed lightly, and felt the gentle pop of the splitting saint graph as the identity manifested beside her.

In a glow of golden light that faded into a shower of dust, a small girl in a white sundress appeared beside her. Serenity and Rena gasped in surprise at the tan skinned identity, who held a small Hassan mask on the side of her navy-blue hair. The shoulder-length locks matched her eyes, who stared back at Hundred Face with a heart-breaking, distant look. She continued to do so even as the older identity knelt down in front of her.

"…What do you need of me? This isn't battle…" she whispered somberly, and the docks fell just a little quieter.

In her peripherals, Serenity struggled to refrain herself from hugging the little assassin, but Hundred Face kept a calm composure, yet a reassuring smile. "I don't need anything from you… but the other children might. Would you like to play with them?"

"…Play?" she asked quietly, as her eyes widened with just a tiny bit of hope. She gazed towards the curious group of children who stared back in surprise and wonder. It made the little assassin fall a bit more uncertain, yet she could see the sparks of innocent yearning in her eyes. "…Play with them?"

"You'd make a much better playmate than any of us ever could," Hundred Face reassured with a small smile as the child identity turned to her. "Would you like to?"

She remained curiously quiet, though the other girls had walked closer. Though she stayed where she was, the little identity looked shy and uncertain. Jack took a few steps closer until they were barely a meter away and smiled enthusiastically. "It's okay! We're not mean! You can play with us!"

Nursery Rhyme walked up to her sister and smiled. "I'm Nursery Rhyme, but you can call me Alice! This is my sister Jackie! What's your name?"

"Name…?" the identity asked quietly, and she fell even more uncertain and confused. Since she was a special case of the identities, she usually had no recollection of who she was. She would be the amnesiac sleeper-agent to take an enemy by surprise. However, there was no need for that, but even with that condition lifted and the knowledge she was a Hassan, she acted accordingly. She shook her head, "…I'm one of Hundred-"

"Yedda." All eyes turned to Hundred Face, but she only returned the surprised gaze from her smaller identity. She merely offered a warm smile and patted the little identity on the head. She turned to the children and chuckled, "Her name is Yedda. Please be kind to her. She's a little shy, but I'm sure she'll have a lot of fun with all of you."

"Hi Yedda!" "Do you need a swimsuit?" "We can help you pick one in the changing rooms! They're all new!" "Do you wanna play hide and seek?"

Though she was still a little hesitant as the children surrounded her, Hundred Face could see the kindling fire burning in her eyes. Those navy orbs didn't look as distant as they did a minute ago, and they turned to her with surprise. A minuscule smile made its way onto her lips as Paul gently took her hand.

"…Thank you."

It was quiet, simple, and short, but it was all that needed to be said; Hundred Face felt vindicated for her rash decision. The children quickly walked off with their new friend and playmate, and she merely watched the smaller identity go. There was no going back, and they'd quickly attach themselves to her without doubt... But maybe she'd find an answer of her own, while she still had yet to do so.

"I didn't think your secret identity was that cute," Serenity teased lightly, and Hundred Face turned to her with a small smile. "Will you treat her like a little sister too?"

"…Maybe." Who knew what would happen from here on? "I just figured she would be the bett-"

"Ohhhh! A new student!" Hundred Face felt her eyebrow twitch as footsteps ran down the dock; The fondness over the identity already began to grow. The remaining trio turned to see Jaguarman running down the docks with glinting eyes. Like her students, she wore the one-piece uniform, but it was coupled with a pair of white gym shorts and a tropical shirt. Hundred Face quickly moved into her path, intent on stopping the lancer from-

She didn't need to. A circle of runes formed beneath her and froze the lancer in place. Her expression turned dumbfounded, but Serenity giggled as Helena sighed and jogged up to the other teacher. Hundred Face blinked; Helena was also wearing the one-piece and a pair of swim goggles. Apparently, they both liked leading by example.

Helena's special book dematerialized as she rounded the lancer and placed her arms akimbo. "Class is out of session! You can sign up the new face later."

"Nyaaaht fair," Jaguarman complained, but Helena merely smirked to Hundred Face as she passed her a relieved smile. At least the little identity wouldn't be traumatized too soon.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ X ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

The golden sun approached the horizon, letting its amber light color the resort with gorgeous hues. Friday's dinner barbeque had just started with the vibrant conversation that defined Chaldea's mealtimes. Behind her, servants and employees mingled and chose their tables while others moved to little spots on the beach. She stayed at the railing with a small glass of ice lemonade in her hand.

Hundred Face gazed over to the beach blanket picnic at the beach. This had been the longest she had let an identity walk about in Chaldea, but she hadn't regretted any of it. If anything, she was hesitant on returning the identity back into the fold. The happy smile on her face as she enjoyed some light snacks with all her new friends was more than enough to fill her with doubt and relief, all at once.

It had been an uncertain step towards exploring the possibilities, but it was the first she'd made since she started debating her possible, inappropriate stance. Both paths looked acceptable, but only one felt right. Nevertheless, though it felt heretical, she no longer considered extinguishing her small hope. It felt wrong to believe, but she had come to appreciate who she was as part of the whole.

However, as her mind subtly tried to reassure itself, she felt the approach of two others. She turned to look at Cursed Arm as he walked over in black board shorts; It was King Hassan who kept her gaze though. The armored assassin walked across the boardwalk, but always took care not to damage it. His strong gaze remained focused on her, and she felt his mighty presence nearly suffocate her again.

She was still secretly scared of their founder. He was an imposing figure that always represented the absolute pinnacle of the Hassans. Not once did he ever order furniture or clothing, and his consumption of food was mostly limited; The milkshakes had been the only curious deviation. Despite that one curiosity, he remained the standard by which the others followed, and she envied his resolve for not slipping from his own path like she did.

"Good evening, Cursed Arm. Great Founder."

Cursed Arm joined her at the railing, but King Hassan stayed behind them. She could feel his chilling gaze on her as the man beside her chuckled. "So the last one was a child?"

"Yes… I figured she'd want to play with the kids," she responded quietly as she looked back at the small picnic. The masters and a few servants joined them in their mirth.

"I'm surprised you hid her for this long. I'm sure the kids would have appreciated her company sooner."

She hesitated with an answer. Finally, she nodded. "I was hesitant at first. I didn't want the kids getting attached to someone who may disappear in the end."

"Ah…" Cursed Arm nodded quietly. They knew of her wish, and at the mention of it, she felt the founder's gaze intensify behind her. She suppressed a shiver. "Then has something changed? They're growing attached to the little you. It's going to be impossible to merge without a waterfall of despair."

"…She's not me. I mean, she is but… it's difficult to explain," she found herself admitting, and she quickly stiffened when King Hassan rumbled behind them.

"How curious. Thy perspective is not what I presumed." She turned around hesitantly and met the curious eyes of the founder. "Thou art not the fool of accumulated knowledge I struck centuries ago… Mine eyes have watched your secret struggle. What doth thou think?"

So he knew. She shouldn't be surprised considering he was their founder. Surprising even herself, though, she looked up at him with a mix of uncertainty and resolve. She struggled not to waver, but she still tried to answer. "I'm… Hundred Face Hassan-i-Sabbah."

He looked displeased at her answer, but she continued after swallowing her hesitancy. "I'm one of the many identities… one who has been denying the idea that I am someone separate now. We're not the whole we used to be, and becoming a whole is an uncertainty that may only bring our total ruin…"

"Thy strength is thy weakness, as thou wholly understands now… But what of thy foolish desire?"

"…Great founder." Cursed Arm looked to Hundred Face. She tossed a quick glance towards Yedda to steel herself. She turned back and stared resolutely. "I'm still uncertain of a real answer… but I've come closer to an understanding. I am not Hundred Face. We are Hundred Face. We are a collective, and all of us together make up the same being… To remove one or get rid of any would mean we are different entirely."

King Hassan's gaze turned judging, but her hopeful soul thought she saw the glint of acceptance in his eyes. "Then who art thou now, Hassan of a Hundred Faces?"

"… You can call me Asako if it pleases you, Great Founder."

Cursed Arm gazed to her, and she knew he was surprised behind that mask. After all these months, she'd finally given a name to her identity. It was a small act, but the direction it stepped confirmed her uncertain path. It was a firm and radical acknowledgement she wanted to be who she was. She was not Zayd, nor Yedda. She was only a piece of the true Hundred Face, but she was still an identity on her own. She was the representative, and she dared to make her identity more pronounced.

"Asako… Yes… Thy name rolls off the tongue well." Her eyes widened with surprise as King Hassan's overwhelming stare seemed to subside. She shared a glance with Cursed Arm as the armored assassin nodded. "…It took this long to grasp but a piece of a terrible truth… Thy road will be long, Asako of the Hundred Faces. Walk it diligently."

She shared another glance with Cursed Arm, but they both slowly smiled at King Hassan's small reconsideration. He merely looked past the two of them and towards the nearest set of stairs where Serenity helped Yedda. She smiled towards them, but she appeared uncertain as she led her over by the hand, with Rena close behind. As they approached, King Hassan turned his body to them, but it spooked Yedda enough to make her hide behind Serenity.

As King Hassan took a few curious steps towards them, Serenity nodded to him and knelt down to reassure the smaller girl. "Great Founder… this is Yedda. One of Hundred Face's identities."

Hundred Face watched tentatively as he gazed at the nearly quivering child, but his voice did not boom. "I am no cause for fear, little one. Stay thy worry."

Completely surprised, Serenity glanced to Yedda curiously as she peered out from behind her. Rena's eyes darted between them. No one said anything, but the little girl didn't quiver. Even if timid, Yedda was still a part of Hundred Face, and she took a small step away from Serenity to look at him. Hesitancy, fear, and uncertainty filled her eyes, but her actions were likely driven with the same respect that all identities carried for their- "Great Elder… The Revered, First Old Man of the Mountain… Grandpa Hassan?"

"...Did she say grandpa?" Rena asked curiously in the sudden, dead silence.

Cursed Arm, Hundred Face, and Serenity paled in absolute dread at the words she dared to mention. It was unbelievably disrespectful, and she couldn't accept one of her identities would dare say that, child or not. Second quickly turned into a minute as they wait- King Hassan rumbled, "…If thy lips utter that title… I shall overlook it."

Suddenly, the three-paled assassin turned slowly to King Hassan in total bewilderment. Did he just say Yedda could call him grandp- His sudden, steeled gaze glanced between them. The fire of his intensity was relit, and they flinched easily at his gaze. "To the rest, thy heads are forfeit if that title is spoken!"

The three could only nod swiftly in absolute agreement, but Rena giggled and Yedda smiled.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"You need to be more respectful when talking to the founder!"

Yedda fiddled with her fingers as they walked alone down the hallway. "…But he said it was okay."

Hundred Face let out an exasperated sigh, but dropped the subject. Dinner had passed uneventfully afterward, so she supposed she shouldn't be too hard on the little identity. In all honesty, she was a little jealous King Hassan was actually rather considerate towards the child Hassan. She was positive the other identities would feel the same way about that at least.

Still, as they walked down the hallway towards Hundred Face's room, she thought back to the past three days. They'd been a surprising leap forward after months of budding confusion and anxiety. After weeks of swiftly growing anxiety, it had all popped… yet she still had no discernible answer. She knew who she was, yet the questions about the future remained. Was this really how it should be? Should she finally pursue her own hobbies ahead of any agreement by the collective identities?

She turned to the little identity walking beside her. "…Did you have fun today, Yedda?"

With a tiny smile, she nodded slowly and kept walking beside the older counterpart. "We played a lot of games. It made me happy."

They reached her room, and she looked around the hallway at a few other servants heading back for rest. She fished out her key card, but Yedda asked, "Will we merge inside?"

Hundred Face remained silent as the keycard unlocked the door. It slid open, but Hundred Face looked towards Yedda and not the dark, rather empty room. There wasn't much in the way of furniture, and she only ever got what 'necessities' she needed. There was plenty of space in her room, and so as the door shut from inactivity, another decision clicked in her head. Whether or not the other voices seemingly agreed or not, she pushed it aside.

Gently, she took Yedda's hand as she locked the door with the keycard. The confused assassin stared at Hundred Face as she lead them back down the hallway. "Where are we going?"

"To find Valeria. Hopefully she's not changing or anything. I want to see if there's any comfortable mattresses you can borrow until we can get you a real bed."

Hundred Face smiled down at the little counterpart, whose eyes glittered with hope again. The tiny smile on her face grew, and suddenly Hundred Face felt like pampering the little identity further. Maybe she could be a little sister of sorts, for both her and Serenity. It was another strange and uncertain step, but she still took it as one of Hundred Face, or more specifically… Asako.

There was still a lot of thinking to do, but for once, she wouldn't have to make that decision by herself.