Fate Grand Order: Blessing of the Fortuity Shard

by FGO-BoFS

Meetings are something that most people experience often. They can be either frivolous or life-changing. Or anything in between. But there is a type of meeting that is rarer than any other. The type that has occurred scarcely more than a few times throughout Human History. A meeting between two people that could decide the future of Humanity itself.

7. Chapter 7

Summary:

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Singularity F has been restored, yet in the end, it was merely a prelude to catastrophe far greater than anyone could have imagined.
Upon returning to Chaldea, Ritsuka and Mash are tasked with a mission far too immense for any single person, a quest crucial enough to crush the will of nearly anyone attempting it.
But fortunately for them, even if they are the central figures responsible for this duty, they don't have to face it all on their own.

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Chapter 7: The Weight of the World and a Tiny Shard of Fortune

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As the blinding light began to subside, Mash prepared herself for anything. For any possible threat that might befall Ritsuka or herself.

'

And yet there was nothing. No threat to be found.

'

Without a doubt, they had returned to Chaldea, recognizable instantly by the familiar Command room. Well... mostly familiar. The area was still effectively in ruins, but at least the fires had been put out.

'

"Fou fou!"

'

And much to her relief, the strong grip on her hand, the unmistakable white hair in her peripheral and the familiar sound made it clear that both Ritsuka, Brynhildr and Fou had successfully Rayshifted as well. "We made it, Senpai! The Rayshift was on ti-"

'

Mash's thought process was cut off instantly as she felt the grip on her hand loosen significantly and the familiar weight hitting her side. Realizing what had happened, she quickly moved her other arm to catch the now collapsed Ritsuka, preventing her from falling on the floor. "Senpai? Are you alright, Senpai!?" Dread began to rapidly sink in as there was no answer. Unlike the last time when she could at least still talk, Ritsuka was completely unresponsive. A terrifying thought appeared in Mash's mind. What if... what if something had gone wrong with the Rayshift. They had been lucky the first time, but what if Ritsuka had actually 'lost her existence' during this one, and only her body had made it back?

'

"Mash, let me see Master!"

'

Before the Shielder could think of any other possibilities, Brynhildr had moved to her side and began to inspect their Master. While Mash knelt down to make the inspection easier, the Lancer dematerialized her gauntlets and moved her hands to Ritsuka's mouth and chest. Her usual stoicness was nowhere to be seen, concern clear on her face. "...Her body seems to be fine at least. But what about..." Drawing a rune in the air above the redhead, Brynhildr began to inspect something while all Mash could do was wait. The fact that she couldn't do anything to help just felt so... suffocating.

'

"Mash! Ritsuka! Oh, there you are!"

'

Hearing a familiar voice, Mash turned her head and spotted Roman sprinting towards them at full speed, somehow looking both worried and relieved. "Thank goodness you're both actually here. Since you didn't have coffins, I wasn't sure where exactly you would end up and-"

'

But Mash didn't have time for rambling now. "Doctor, please come quickly! Senpai is... I don't know why, but she just passed out, and, and... Please just help her!"

'

Instantly, the relief disappeared from Roman's face and more worry took its place. While only giving Brynhildr a quick glance, he immediately began to check Ritsuka's pulse. "Fast, but not dangerously so..." Moving to her face, he took out a small flashlight and flashed it in her eyes after opening them. "Pupils responsive... Temperature, quite high, most likely due to continuous use of magic circuits..."

'

As the seconds ticked by, Mash grew more and more worried. She could see that the Doctor was genuinely doing his best and that Brynhildr was doing something, but not knowing anything was wracking her nerves. Just what was hap-

'

"She is fine." The Lancer's evaluation had been so sudden that Mash couldn't process it for a second. But as Brynhildr stood back up and the Doctor nodded beside her, she felt relief washing over her like a wave of cool water. "Just very exhausted."

'

"Yes..." Roman agreed while looking at Ritsuka with a sad expression. "Considering everything that has happened, that's no surprise. From using her Mystic Code for support and having an active contract with two Servants at once, she has spent a great amount of od. Adding to that what just happened with Lev... She's extremely fatigued both physically and mentally."

'

That was certainly true. In all honesty, Mash still wasn't sure what to make of everything that had just happened. But that could all be put aside for now. At this moment, Ritsuka's health should take priority, and the fact that she was partially responsible for her condition didn't particularly help the girl's current mood. "So... what should we do? Is there any way for us to lighten the burden on her?"

'

Brynhildr gave her a confused look. "We already are. Haven't you felt it yet?"

'

Felt it? As soon as she tried to feel 'something', Mash realized just what the Lancer meant. She had been so worried over Ritsuka's condition that she had ignored her own, only now noticing that massive increase in magical energy flowing into her.

'

That's right, they were now in Chaldea, meaning that the mana that used to be funneled through Ritsuka was now being sent directly to them. While Mash wasn't sure exactly how much faster the process was, she could tell that it was improved several times over. At this rate, it would only take a bit over an hour for her to fully recover. "Ah, I'm sorry... I was just so focused on Senpai, and..."

'

"There's nothing to apologize for, Mash." Roman smiled at her in such a sincere way that the Demi-Servant had only seen it a few times. "It's good to see you show concern for others in such a passionate way. But as for what we should do with Ritsuka. Well, right now she needs to rest more than anything, so we need to set her on a proper bed and let her sleep until she wakes up on her own. The closest one would be at the infirmary, so could either of you two carry her there? I'll also be checking her for any minor injuries or the like."

'

"Yes, Doctor." Making sure to support her head now that she was unconscious, Mash carefully picked Ritsuka up and began walking towards the Command room's exit. While it was a bit awkward to admit, she had actually gotten used to carrying her Senpai around like this, after doing it so many times during the Fuyuki incident...

'

"Ah..." A wave of melancholy washed over her as soon her thoughts returned to the burning city. She had been so worried over Ritsuka that she had almost forgotten about it all, and yet... "Doctor, please explain everything about our current situation. Was what Professor Lev said true? Is humanity truly destroyed? ...And, what do we do now?"

'

Roman's mood dropped like a rock once again, looking troubled to say the least while rubbing the back of his neck. "...Yes. There's definitely much we need to talk about. So much in fact, that I believe we should wait until Ritsuka wakes up so that I can properly explain everything." Mash responded to his words with an exasperated frown. Did he genuinely mean that, or did he just want to save himself the trouble of explaining things twice?

'

As if reading her thoughts, the Doctor quickly shook his hands defensively. "No, no, no, I'm really not trying to slack off this time. The whole explanation and the necessary after talks will most likely take a few hours. It would be really awkward if Ritsuka woke up in the middle of it, forcing us to start over. Besides..." Shifting his eyes to the sleeping Master, Roman's expression was extremely... apologetic? "She's quite heavily involved in what our next move will be, so we really can't even talk properly without her..."

'

Accepting the Doctor's reasoning, Mash turned to look at Ritsuka herself. She couldn't even begin to imagine what would be going through her head once she woke up. Mash was well aware that she was barely someone who could be considered a human, nor had she any ties to anything outside of Chaldea, yet she still felt horrified at the possibility of humanity being wiped out. So her Senpai, someone who had ties to the outside world, who no doubt had several people she cared about, was certainly far more affected by all this compared to her.

'

Mash really wasn't sure if there was anything she could do in the first place, but if there was something she could help Ritsuka with, even the tiniest, most insignificant thing that could somehow be of use to her, she would do everything in her power to accomplish that.

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"No, no, no, no, no... l haven't even accomplished anything yet! From the moment I was born. I've never been accepted by anyone-!"

'

Awakening with a start as soon as the Director disappeared into the crimson sphere, Ritsuka could only stare at the unfamiliar ceiling for the next few seconds. What an awful dream that wa-

'

No. Not a dream. A memory.

'

Someone else might've grasped at the straw handed to them, trying to reason that the whole thing had been a horrible dream. But Ritsuka was just pessimistic enough to know that wasn't the case.

'

Bringing a hand to cover her eyes, the frustration felt back at the cave resurfaced in the Master's mind. The Director had been right there. Right in front of them. Close enough to reach. To save. Yet Lev, whatever the hell he was, stood between them, stopping them from reaching her. And then she was gone. Without a trace. Even with two Servants by her side, Ritsuka had been completely helpless in the situation, and it frustrated her to no end.

'

"Ah! Senpai, you're awake!"

'

A small wave of relief washed over her as she heard the familiar voice, followed soon by the sight as Mash rushed to her bedside, wearing the familiar hoodie. And judging by her face, she was just as relieved as Ritsuka. "You're not in any pain, are you? The Doctor gave you a quick checkup while you were unconscious, but he didn't find anything. Just in case he missed something, does any part of your body feel odd?"

'

In face of such earnest words and attitude, Ritsuka couldn't help but to smile, once again thankful that this girl had become her Servant. "Yes, I'm fine, Mash. A bit tired, but fine. I'm just glad that you're safe as well."

'

Blinking a few times, Mash returned the smile with one of her own. "...It's because you held my hand, Senpai. I'm... I'm very glad that you're safe, too."

'

Looking around, Ritsuka noticed that there were curtains by the side of her bed. That, together with everything being perfectly white around her, it didn't take much to figure out that this was the infirmary "I see we're back at Chaldea. How long was I out?"

'

"Oh, um..." Mash mumbled, taking a quick look at the Multi-Appliance on her wrist. "...An hour and twelve minutes. And yes, you're currently in the infirmary. I, uh, carried you here after we Rayshifted back."

'

...Again. She'd been carried by Mash again. What was this, the fourth or fifth time?

'

Doing her best to hide her embarrassment, Ritsuka sat up on the bed and took a better look at herself. She was still wearing her uniform, although the jacket and boots had been removed for obvious reasons. "...I'd like to know a bit more about the current situation, and-" The Master's words came to an abrupt end once she realized that while both she and Mash were present, the third member of their group was nowhere to be seen "Ah. Where's Brynhildr? She made it back with us, right?"

'

"...I am quite fine, yes."

'

Appearing out of spirit form by the end of Ritsuka's bed, the Valkyrie gave her a quick, graceful bow. "...I am relieved to see that you are well, Master. If you need anything, you only need to ask."

'

This was... certainly something. Being treated like some kind of lord or, well, Master was a wholly alien feeling to Ritsuka. Frankly, she really wished that Brynhildr treated her a bit more casually, but considering her disposition... Well, she could just deal with it. Maybe she'd even get used to it over time... "Ah, no. I don't need anything right now. I just wanted to make sure that you returned to Chaldea with us. But back to what I was talking about before. I'd really like to know more about what's going on right now."

'

"Of course, Senpai," Mash nodded and pressed her Multi-Appliance a few times. "I'll let the Doctor know that you're awake, so that we can start the briefing."

'

"Thanks." Peeking over the edge of her bed and noticing the boots on the floor, Ritsuka started to put them on. While the Chaldean uniform was certainly distinctive, as far as mages were concerned it's design was thankfully quite simple and functional. She especially liked the boots. Even if her feet were still getting used to them, she could tell that the footwear were designed to do more than simply look good.

'

The jacket was a bit of an exception to this, though. Like... three belts? Really? They were positioned in a way that wasn't really constrictive and did a good job in livening up the dull whiteness of the jacket, but... belts? Ritsuka was about as far from a fashion designer as possible, but the actual designers couldn't have come up with something else?

'

Putting the jacket in question on, she really couldn't figure out what the designers had been thinking, considering that it already had a zipper. Well, at worst the belts just cost a few extra seconds when dressing, so it wasn't that big of a deal. "So, are we heading to the Command room, or...?"

'

"Ah, no, the Command room is, well... in disrepair," Mash mumbled awkwardly, making Ritsuka slap herself inwardly for asking such a stupid question. The room in question had been literally bombed earlier today. "So instead, we'll be using one of the conference rooms close by. The walk will only take a minute."

'

The Master was actually a bit disappointed by that. She could've used a nice walk to get her blood flowing after the rest. "Alright, you lead the way, Mash."

'

"Yes, Senpai." Nodding happily as she walked out the door, Mash led the three of them to the corridor, with Brynhildr holding the rear. Looking around at the surroundings, Ritsuka was glad to see that the walls, floor and ceiling were all in pristine condition, as if no disaster had occurred at all. Knowing that there were some areas in the facility that had been unaffected by the bombs was definitely relieving.

'

And like Mash had said, after walking along the corridors for about a minute, Ritsuka spotted the familiar, pinkish hair from a distance as Romani stood by a door, waiting. His expression brightened as he spotted them, but also seemed... sad, for some reason. "Good to see that you're awake, Ritsuka. I trust that you feel a bit better after your rest?"

'

"Yes, thank you. I..." Sighing audibly, the redhead scratched her cheek. "I honestly don't even know where to begin with my questions."

'

The Doctor's expression noticeably fell, looking at Ritsuka almost apologetically. An act that gave her an awful premonition. "That's understandable. But, we've already got the briefing effectively planned out, so they should all be hopefully answered by the end of it." Pointing at the door, the faintest hints of a smile appeared on his lips. "Let's go inside. It's about time you met our resident geniuses."

'

'Geniuses?' Plural? Ritsuka did remember that Arista guy being referred to as such, but there were more? Well, that was good, considering what she expected their situation to be, they'd need all the help they could get.

'

But as the Master walked after the Doctor, she noticed that Brynhildr was looking towards the room... cautiously, for some reason. Was there something that only she had noticed? Although, if Roman was the one leading them in, she doubted there would be any cause for concern. Whatever the Valkyrie was feeling, it couldn't be that shocking after everything that had happened today.

'

And thus, as she entered the room after Roman, Ritsuka was immediately proven wrong.

'

As soon as she stepped in, the Master froze, only capable of staring at the brunette woman sitting by the conference table, wide eyed. There were two reasons for this: First, was that the woman was absurdly, unbelievably beautiful. Unlike Brynhildr, whose ephemeral beauty reminded Ritsuka of an angel or a fairy, this woman was more akin to a human, whose beauty could be compared to a goddess. From her sky blue eyes, to her smooth, brown hair, to her soft, feminine figure, no flaw could be spotted on her body.

'

And the second reason being that this woman was a Servant.

'

For the next few seconds, Ritsuka stood there, bewildered, staring at this new Servant in growing confusion. Something that, judging by the smile growing on her face, the brunette greatly enjoyed. "Ah, and there it is. I haven't met any new people in a while, so it's been some time since I last saw it, but the appropriate, stunned reaction to my beauty is always nice to see~ "

'

"Senpai? Is something wrong?" Mash called out from behind her, getting Ritsuka to notice that she was effectively blocking the door and preventing her from entering. While still keeping her eyes on the woman, she took a step to the side to let the Demi-Servant in. "Did something-? Oh? Who is this?"

'

As equally curious Mash entered, the Master finally managed to put together a coherent sentence. "So, um... who is this Servant?"

'

A sentence that clearly surprised the Demi-Servant. "Huh?" Turning to look at the brightly smiling woman, Mash's reaction was much like her Master's, though noticeably more vocal. "Ah, you're right, Senpai! This person is a Servant!"

'

"...Yeah. Before we begin, some introductions are probably in order," Roman muttered while rubbing his neck awkwardly. "First off, this is-"

'

"Now, now, Romani. Give the ladies a chance to figure it out themselves." Cutting him off, the new Servant looked at the two standing by the door with clear amusement. "Even when stunned by my beauty, you could still tell that I was a Servant right away, Ritsuka. Very nicely done." Well, she was certainly self aware of how gorgeous she was... Her lovely smile taking a sly tone, the brunette kept her eyes locked on the Master. "But, can you tell who I really am? It should be quite easy by my appearance alone~ "

'

As Roman let out a deep sigh, Ritsuka began to look over the Servant in a more detailed manner, Mash doing much the same by her side. The clothes didn't really give much away, aside from the sleeves, which had that certain renaissance feel to them. Unfortunately, the renaissance was hardly her strongest time period when it came to history. Sure, she knew some important events and people, but there really weren't enough clues in this woman's appearance to narrow it down. In fact, the Master highly doubted she had actually worn her current attire back then. Mostly because of the skirt, which was just waaaaay too short for that time period. She would've definitely gotten arrested or something if she walked around in that short skirt and those thigh-highs that showed off her tantalizing, soft thigh-

'

No! Bad! She had to focus, damn it!

'

As Ritsuka did her best to keep her thoughts as decent as possible, the woman, looking even more amused than before, shifted in her seat. "Maybe a little hint?" Turning her torso slightly away from them while keeping eye contact, the Servant rested her left arm on the table and laid her right hand on top of the other... Where had she...!

'

The realization hit her like a truck, even though it was ridiculous. How? What? As Ritsuka tried to comprehend the answer, the brunette's smile grew broader in the face of her shocked expression. Just... what could she say in this situation? The answer was ridiculous. Sure, she was an extremely famous woman, but that wouldn't be enough for her to become a Servant. Hell, it wasn't even the woman herself who was famous, but a picture of her!

'

And yet... it was the only answer she had... As the Servant awaited in anticipation, Ritsuka gave her answer awkwardly. "...Mona Lisa...?"

'

In response, Mona Lisa? grinned happily and clapped her hands, while Roman sighed and shook his head in the background. Mash could only stare in shock. "Nice! I'll give you eight points out of ten~ "

'

Before Ritsuka could even begin to question that scoring, Mash managed to find her words. "W-please wait a second! Certainly, the Mona Lisa is quite likely the most famous painting in the modern world, but could she really become a Servant? In fact, the painting is the only notable thing about the subject's life in general. No matter how one looks at it, that wouldn't be enough for someone to become a Heroic Spirit."

'

"Quite right, quite right," the woman in question nodded, smiling proudly. "Judging by her reaction, Ritsuka here also thought of that, yes?" Giving a quick nod of affirmation, the redhead watched as Mona Lisa? stood from the chair and placed her hands on her hips. "That's why you didn't get a perfect score. Think about it. If a Servant looked exactly like Mona Lisa, of course that person had to have achieved more than just absolutely stunning beauty. So, who would be the next guess~?"

'

The next guess...? In all honesty, Ritsuka was still trying to wrap her head around this whole situation. Was this really the time to be playing a quiz game? But, considering the Servants enthusiasm, it was unlikely they would get anywhere without at least making a guess, so she could at least try to answer correctly... Wait.

'

Gears started turning in Ritsuka's head as she recalled what Roman had said earlier. He had referred to the occupants of the room as 'geniuses.' And if 'Mona Lisa' wasn't the subject of the painting, then the only reasonable answer left would be... the painter...

'

As she realized the answer, Ritsuka's expression turned completely dumbfounded in contrast. A reaction that managed to make the brunette's grin even broader. "Leonardo da Vinci!?"

'

"Good job! You've really got some potential," Da Vinci applauded before skipping over to pat Ritsuka's head. Considering that the redhead was nearly 20 centimeters taller than her, the act made the younger woman feel incredibly awkward. All the while, Mash had once again frozen from shock, and Ritsuka wasn't that far behind. She'd really need an explanation for all of this. "But yes. I'm Chaldea's Engineering Department's 'special' honorary advisor, I normally go by Leonardo here. And as you realized, I am the proud inventor of the Renaissance! The one-and-only Leonardo da Vinci in the flesh!" the inventor announced boisterously. "Although, you can just call me Da Vinci," she added with a wink.

'

...Ritsuka had known that Chaldea wasn't exactly a normal place when she got here, but this was really taking the cake. Roman sighed a second time, but now looked amused more than anything. In the bizarreness of it all, she mumbled a single sentence. "...Yeah. I'd really appreciate an explanation right about now."

'

"That's-that's right!" Mash suddenly exclaimed, having apparently processed the situation long enough to actually speak. "This is strange. It's abnormal. It's wrong! I mean, Leonardo da Vinci should be a man!"

'

"Now wait a second." Before the inventor could answer, Ritsuka managed to cut in, confused by the wording just used. "Mash. We just fought King Arthur. Who was also a woman. Da Vinci being one isn't really that much stranger." In response, Mash blushed a bit, looking away awkwardly. Well, Ritsuka couldn't exactly blame her for forgetting that for a second. This was one chaotic day. "What I really want to know is; Why does Leonardo da Vinci look like Mona Lisa?"

'

"Isn't that obvious?" Da Vinci asked as if it actually was. Pulling out a pair of classes, that actually suited her really well, and placing them on her face, she began her explanation. "I pursue beauty with both my inventions and art. It was I who personified all ideals-all beauty. To me, the ideal beauty is the Mona Lisa. That being the case: See? Isn't this simply an unavoidable result?"

'

…What? Huh? That was the explanation? Granted, Ritsuka could see some logic in that, but this was just... What?

'

Apparently waiting for this moment, Roman walked behind Da Vinci with a somewhat exasperated smile and placed his hand on her shoulder. "That's right girls, this guy here loved the Mona Lisa so much he became the Mona Lisa. A genuine pervert."

'

Both Mash and Ritsuka blinked simultaneously, staring at the person in front of them as they tried to process the situation.

'

"Yeah, I think shutting down your brains is the natural response," Roman sighed.

'

Shaking her head lightly, Ritsuka managed to clear head the slightest bit as she did her best to assort things in her mind. Alright, so Da Vinci was Mona Lisa because he had wanted to look like a beautiful woman... She could accept that on some level and definitely understood the desire. She wasn't even going to question how it had happened, but considering this woman was a genius, there was probably some complicated explanation, and she really didn't need that right now. But there was still one detail that bothered her... "So... you mentioned that you were an advisor for the Engineering Department, right?" Ritsuka asked, prompting a nod from the inventor. "But then... How long have you been in Chaldea?"

'

"Roughly three years."

'

"Eh?"

'

"Huh?" Looking at Mash who seemed just as surprised as she was, Ritsuka's confusion only continued to grow. "Wait. What is...? Why are you surprised by this, Mash? Haven't you lived your entire life here? How could you not know someone like this worked in Chaldea?"

'

Looking away awkwardly, a blush crept on Mash's face, making Ritsuka regret her hasty reaction. "I... um. I really don't know what to say, Senpai... I'm just..."

'

Thankfully, Romani cut in before things got too awkward. "Aside from being a Master Candidate, Mash really wasn't that involved in any of Chaldea's inner workings." The girl in question gave him an appreciative look as he spoke. "She's always been pretty... what's the right word...? Moderate, let's go with that. If she didn't have business somewhere, she didn't go there. If there was no reason to talk to someone, she wouldn't talk to them. She never really had any reason to go to, or ask about the Engineering Department, so she just... didn't."

'

So that was why... While Ritsuka still found Mash not even knowing someone like Leonardo da Vinci being here odd, she could at least accept that answer. Although, it in turn raised another question: Why had Mash been so friendly with her then? Sure, the girl herself had explained how Ritsuka qualified to be her 'senpai', but...

'

Ugh. She was getting sidetracked. There really was no time for this right now and she could always ask about it later. "Well, anyway. It's good to know that we have another Servant on our side, especially a world renowned genius like you." Ritsuka said, offering her hand to the inventor. "It's nice to meet you, Leo-ah, I mean, Da Vinci. As you already know, I'm Ritsuka Repo." Although the redhead was careful not to let her middle name slip out. She really didn't need anyone here knowing that. If she could keep everyone from finding it out, all the better.

'

Da Vinci raised an eyebrow, but still shook the offered hand. "Hm. Bit of a serious girl, aren't you? We really don't need any more of those here. But yes, I already know who the three of you are, so we can move on to other topics."

'

Three?...-!

'

Ritsuka felt a tinge of guilt washing over her as she realized that she'd completely forgotten about Brynhildr, who was still standing behind them in the doorway. As she quickly turned around to apologize, she stopped before the words could even leave her mouth as she saw the Valkyrie's face. She clearly wasn't looking at her or Da Vinci, but somewhere behind the inventor, with her expression identical to the one she wore shortly after being summoned. But before Ritsuka could turn back to see the target of her interest, a question rang out.

'

"Since you're done, can I get my turn now?"

'

Recognizing the voice of the man that had talked to their group quite a few times during the Singularity, Ritsuka turned to look at him sitting further down the table from where Da Vinci had originally sat.

'

And she instantly questioned how she didn't notice him before now.

'

Sitting by the table, smiling at them, was a man with long, black hair. And long, meant really long. As he stood up to walk towards them, it only made it more obvious just how ridiculous his hair was. It was about as long as Brynhildr's, reaching all the way to his shins, yet unlike her hair that somehow spread out, his hair was fully slicked back from both the top and the sides, forming a ponytail being held together by a few metal? hair ties.

'

But somehow, even more strange than the length of his hair, was its color. While black hair could hardly be called rare, Ritsuka had never seen it in a shade like this. It was neither ebony, charcoal, or licorice black, it was just... black. Completely pitch black to the point where it almost looked like it was sucking the light from its surroundings. If she didn't know this guy was a mage already, this would've been an obvious clue.

'

And then were his eyes, which were blue. Again, not very rare, but the shade was bizarre this time as well. Unlike Da Vinci, whose eyes were beautiful like the sky, his eyes were like... stars. Like two blue stars, shining brightly in a lonely sky, sharply contrasting his hair. Ritsuka didn't really know why, but that was the only way she could describe them.

'

The man was without a doubt the tallest person in the room, being somewhere between 180 and 190 centimeters at a quick estimation, with a strong build. With extremely smooth skin, lacking any facial hair, he was a person Ritsuka would definitely qualify as handsome, maybe even beautiful.

'

He wore an ultramarine coat with white collar, sleeves, and hem, that reached to his knees. It had been left open to expose the tight, dark gray shirt he wore under it. Tight being the keyword. It left literally nothing to the imagination, sticking to his well built torso like a second skin, only stopping when it got cowered by his pants. Said pants were almost metallic in their coloration, yet looked far too soft and pliable to be anything other than fabric, and were held up by a belt that had a buckle shaped like Chaldea's logo. On his feet he wore a pair of black boots that had a really smooth surface, though unlike his hair, they at least had a natural shade. As a final detail of interest, on both his wrists and neck, the man wore bangles identical to his hair ties, which, upon closer inspection, were filled with really detailed engravings.

'

"Nice to finally meet our little Hero gang in person," he said while offering his hand to Ritsuka. "I'm Dio Orlin Arista de Pamplona y Íñiguez de Tudela."

'

For a second, the redhead was stunned by the sheer onslaught of words presented, to the point where she forgot to even grasp the offered hand, her arm hanging awkwardly in the air. Was that actually his name or some bizarre greeting? Although... names were always important to mages, so maybe the length was some cultural thing. Thankfully the man was kind enough to offer alternatives. "But, since no one has time for that, you're free to call me Dio, Arista, or Dio Orlin Arista if you want to be formal for some reason. Oh, but never call me just Orlin, 'cause that's just kind of weird, and not Dio Arista either. It feels really empty without the middle."

'

"O... okay." Finally shaking the offered hand, Ritsuka felt a bit confused by the whole naming thing. Then again, the 'Orlin' part actually made sense to her. If someone called her just by her middle name, she would most likely crawl into a hole out of pure embarrassment. "Well, you've heard me introduce myself a few times already, so you know who I am. It's nice to be working with you, Dio." She had considered going with 'Arista', but given that she was already on a first name basis with everyone else in the room, it would've felt odd. Now she also understood why he didn't like 'mr' being added in his name. If she had to guess, the man was around his early-to-mid twenties, much like the Director wa- ...had been.

'

"Likewise. Also, hi Mash," he greeted immediately after letting go of Ritsuka's hand. "You really went full badass mode in the singularity, huh? Real MVP material."

'

Blushing, the Shielder turned her gaze on the floor and tapped her fingers together nervously. "Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. I couldn't have done anything without the support of Senpai and the others."

'

"Always so modest. Although it's true that a shield loses much of its use without allies to protect, you still did great. And finally..." turning to the last one of their group, Dio smiled at the Servant standing in the back. "You must be the Heroic Spirit Brynhildr, summoned in the Lancer-class."

'

"Ah! Yes..." Snapping out of her staring, the Valkyrie looked away much like Mash had. "...I am here simply to serve as my Master's spear. Please... Don't look at me so kindly..."

'

Raising an eyebrow at the troubled Lancer, Dio shrugged and walked back to his seat. "Ooooookaay... Well, since everyone knows each other now, I think it's about time we got this meeting started." He was certainly an interesting man, and very... sociable for a mage. But the moment Ritsuka had shaken hands with him, she also understood a few things. Mainly, why the Director had been so against firing him despite his lack of regard for her words, and why Brynhildr seemed so keen on observing him.

'

To say that the Master was aware of her limits was an understatement. While it was mostly through trial and error, she was quite certain that she understood her own exact capabilities as a mage better than most, including her parents. As much as she hated it, she couldn't help comparing herself to others, especially when it came to magecraft, and for better or worse, she had learned to gauge things such as a level of magical energy an individual held fairly precisely.

'

While Ritsuka herself was just about the most average mage imaginable when it came to the amount of od her body could store, Dio was... absurd to put it lightly. He far surpassed anyone she had personally met, to the point where gauging him was difficult in its own right. But with an extremely rough estimation, the redhead could tell that this man held at least 50 times her maximum amount of od. It was to a point where it honestly felt suffocating, like comparing a glass of water to a bathtub. And on top of that, he was apparently someone who qualified as a 'genius,' making him just that much more frightening. While he appeared pleasant enough as a person, Ritsuka still made a mental note to tread lightly around this guy. Ultimately, she had been so focused on the man that her attention only returned to the situation when the Doctor started speaking.

'

"...Yes. There's much to discuss." Walking to the seat at the end of the table, Roman sat down and motioned the others to follow. Mash took the seat closest to the Doctor while Ritsuka settled for the one on her other side. Brynhildr, seemingly preferring to stand, stood beside her Master in her usual, statue-like manner. "First of all, congratulations on surviving and completing your mission, Ritsuka, Mash. While the situation was forced onto you two gradually, you eliminated the singularity at Fuyuki, and returned home safely. For that I thank and respect you from the bottom of my heart."

'

Normally, Ritsuka would've felt happy being congratulated for finishing such a difficult task, but now, that feeling was far overshadowed by another. 'Returned home safely.' That's what he had said, even though that was only true for the two of them who actually 'returned.' Judging by Mash's somber expression, she was thinking much the same, something Roman was quick to pick up on. "...Yes, it's a shame about the Director, but right now, all we can do is grieve. We must defend humanity in her place. That's how we pay her tribute."

'

"And if you even think about blaming yourselves, don't," Dio added firmly. "That overgrown Leprechaun was more powerful than an individual Servant. If you'd tried to fight him, you would all be dead."

'

Of course, Ritsuka understood all that. Attempting to save the Director would've led to Mash and her dying, without a doubt. And yet, the fact that she could do nothing at all was just so infuriating. Although... there were currently far bigger issues than that. "Give it to us straight, Doctor. What is the current situation of humanity?"

'

Looking between the two girls sitting by his side, Roman sighed. "Leonardo, could you turn the map on?" Immediately, a hologram of Chaldeas emerged from the center of the table, burning bright red like before the Rayshift. "Judging from Chaldeas' state and a few other procedures, what Lev said was true. We can't contact the outside world. The destruction of humanity is fixed, and the light of civilization is still gone from beyond the year 2016, in spite of the fact that you eliminated the Fuyuki singularity."

'

The words were damning to say the least. That was basically the long way to say: 'Humans have effectively gone extinct.' The atmosphere of the room grew unbearably heavy. No one said anything for a while, just staring at the orb in silence. But, the fact that both Da Vinci and Dio didn't look as troubled as most would be over the apocalypse, gave Ritsuka the faintest bit of hope. "Considering how calm you three are, is it safe to assume that we can actually do something about all this?"

'

"...Yes," Roman nodded. "Chaldea seems to be the only place outside of the normal timeline. Perhaps it's staying on the timeline right before the collapse. Think of it like a colony floating in space. The outside world is dead, until we do something about this situation. We had believed that Fuyuki was the source of the future's distortion, but in truth, that wasn't the case. Leonardo, if you would." With those words, Chaldeas returned to its original, blue state, yet there were several spots, like stains, littering its surface. Ritsuka had a good guess what those were, although she really wished to be wrong. "First, I want you to see this. We've once again scanned the Earth's past using the restored Sheba. The result being; this distorted world map. A newly-discovered dimensional disturbance against which Fuyuki pales in comparison."

'

"...Those are all singularities, right?" Ritsuka mumbled, receiving a nod from the Doctor that confirmed her dreaded hypothesis.

'

"Indeed. They say changing the past changes the future, but you can't overthrow the future by slightly altering the past. History has the power to heal itself. You might be able to save a person or two... But the end of that era will still end up with its definitive result unchanged. But these singularities are different."

'

"Our current hypothesis is that Lev used the Holy Grail you saw to bring humanity to ruin," Dio continued, adding an image of the cup next to the map. "Specifically, he used its power to alter some of humanity's most crucial turning points."

'

"You're referring to vital points in the foundation of human history, correct?" Mash confirmed. "Such as a great war getting its conclusion changed, or an important voyage failing, these types of events?" Ritsuka had had the same guess, but since it had just been one, she was hesitant to voice it.

'

"Exactly. And our sole pinned down singularity is a prime example of this." As Dio flicked his finger, the floating globe zoomed in until only western Europe was visible along with the distortion floating over a certain country. "This singularity is located in France, year 1431. And I'm sure we all know what's going on over there at that point in time."

'

"The Hundred Years' War, right?" Ritsuka ascertained, earning a nod from Mash.

'

"That's right, Senpai. But precisely, it's the year Jeanne d'Arc was burned at the stake." Oh... Ritsuka was happy that she'd actually remembered right, but if the year was that important, plenty could've gone wrong.

'

Something Da Vinci agreed with. "Indeed. And that makes it all the more crucial. If something happened to change the death of such an important historical figure, the consequences would be enormous."

'

"Oh, you've got that right. Who knows what insanity would go down with a grail in that era." Dio agreed as he started listing speculations. "There's plenty of possibilities as to what could have been changed. Maybe Jeanne d'Arc's execution was prevented, leaving the war going as it was. Maybe her closest allies sought retribution for her unjust death and managed to cause a nationwide rebellion. Maybe the war escalated to the point where other countries got involved and kickstarted the Alpha version of World War 1. Or maybe..." Before he could go any further, he noticed Da Vinci glancing towards him in amusement, prompting him to move on. "Well, you get the idea. But we can't really know exactly what's going on until we pinpoint the exact date and begin our investigation on site, so those are just some guesses for now."

'

The slightest hints of amusement also snuck on Roman's lips before he continued. "Yes. And this is just one example of the ultimate decision points. Destroying them is like causing the foundation of human history to crumble. That's what these seven singularities are. The future had already been decided when they formed. As Lev said, humanity doesn't make it to 2017." While the declaration was dire to say the least, as soon as the words left the Doctor's mouth, his expression changed to an absolutely determined one, far more than any Ritsuka had yet to see from the man. "But, we're different! Chaldea has yet to reach that future! Only we can fix this mistake!"

'

"I can see where this is going," Ritsuka chimed in, moving the attention of those present to her. "Chaldea's mission from this point forward is to Rayshift into these singularities, much like in Fuyuki, and set history back on track."

'

"...That's right," Roman confirmed, looking at Ritsuka once again like he had before they entered. She absolutely hated that look, but at least she understood the reasoning for it now. "They're just like Fuyuki. Just like you stopped the Holy Grail War, if we can Rayshift to each Singularity and return history to its correct form, the Singularity will be eliminated. This is the only way to save humanity."

'

Out of the corner of her eye, Ritsuka saw Mash glancing at her in worry, the reasoning quite clear. They were supposed to battle against foes far surpassing humans once again, like in Fuyuki. No, these singularities, given their historical importance, would almost definitely be even tougher...

'

...But, there was at least something positive. They had been quite literally flung into Fuyuki, while Chaldea had been left crippled, making their task that much harder. Yet with these singularities, they could at least better prepare themselves. Ritsuka did remember that repair work was already well underway, meaning that Chaldea would be able to offer much more substantial backup this time around.

'

"So, I'm supposed to act as the leading Master in the field until some of the other Candidates recover enough?" This was definitely far more dire than Ritsuka had imagined, even though she had knowingly joined an organization formed to protect humanity's future. She also hated that she had to ask Mash to fight again, given her obvious fear of it, but their options were currently extremely limited. But, her mind was already made up. If this was something she could do, she would give it her all. Even if she ended up dying in the process, if she could help Chaldea in their quest to restore humanity even the slightest bit, she would be satisfied with the outcome. Even if she ended up failing, at least the other Masters could continue where she left off. "It definitely won't be easy, but if it's something I can do, I'll be giving it my all. And if nothing else, it helps that, unlike in Fuyuki, there are at least other options this... time?"

'

As Ritsuka was about to finish her sentence, Roman, Da Vinci and Dio all looked... extremely troubled for some reason. Mash had noticed it as well, her eyes darting between the three of them in confusion. It was then that, for a reason she couldn't explain, an awful chill ran through Ritsuka's body. Why did they react like that? Was it because of something she said? Not being able to bear the silence, the redhead spoke up again. "...Did I, did I get something wrong? Was there something I misunderstood?"

'

"...Yes. Unfortunately, yes." As Roman turned to look her straight in the eyes, Ritsuka fought against an unbelievably powerful urge to look away. Sad, apologetic, ashamed, regretful, were all words she could've used to describe the look in his eyes. It made Ritsuka... scared for some reason. She wanted it to stop. ...Why? Why was he looking at her like that? What had she done to deserve such a look? What was it for? But before she could even begin to guess it, the answer was given to her. "I will just say this to you straight, Ritsuka. The reason I, we, are asking you to do this, is because there is quite literally no one else alive who can."

'

At that moment, all of Ritsuka's senses shut down in an attempt to comprehend the answer.

'

She didn't notice Mash turning to her with an exceedingly anxious expression.

'

Neither did she see Brynhildr's stony exterior finally breaking.

'

All she could do in response, was utter a single sound:

'

"...Huh?"

'

'

---

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---

'

'

As the Doctor explained what had actually happened to the Master candidates, Mash experienced a sensation which she believed was called; 'heart sinking'. It wasn't just because the number of the dead had shot up considerably. Nor was it because the odds of them successfully restoring humanity had lowered substantially. No, the main reason why she felt so anxious was because of the gargantuan responsibility that had just been laid on her Senpai's shoulders. The fact that she was the only person alive with the ability to Rayshift. The only one who could act as a Master.

'

Soon after Roman had started, Ritsuka had rested her head on her hands as she leaned on the table. Due to her downward gaze and the fact that her hands pressed against her brow, a large portion of her face, especially the eyes, were completely unobservable to others. That, combined with how she hadn't said anything during the explanation, unnerved Mash to now end. Something which, looking at everyone else in the room, was the same with all those present. Brynhildr appeared especially troubled, judging by the look she was giving her Master. Mash herself felt awful having to rely solely on Ritsuka in this situation, so she couldn't even imagine how unsettled it made an ancient hero feel.

'

Doctor himself didn't fare much better, but at least he tried to hide it while speaking. "...And now that you fully understand our situation, I will ask this of you: Master Candidate #48, Ritsuka Repo. You have already Rayshifted to Fuyuki in the year 2004 and reverted history back to its correct form. If you wish to save humanity... If you want to take back the future beyond the year 2016, you need to repeat that 7 times in different countries, different times. We have no choice but for you to do it again. All by yourself, you must go and face these 7 singularities in human history." Taking a deep breath, he gave Ritsuka the most serious look Mash had ever seen on his face. "And so, do you have that resolve? Can you shoulder the burden of Chaldea and humanity's future?"

'

Silence took over the room, with no indication that Ritsuka had even heard what was said to her. There was no response. No reaction. She just sat there like a statue. All eyes rested on her, and Roman's gaze wavered the slightest bit. "...Of course, we can't force you to do this, so the choice is ultimately yours. So if you de-"

'

"That's wrong..."

'

The Doctor's gaze wavered even further as he was interrupted, guilt beginning to return to his eyes as he stared at the Master. The reaction was shared to a varying degree by the others present, Mash ranking close to the top. Ritsuka's tone was extremely dry, sounding almost lifeless compared to how she had spoken ever since they had first met. It felt... scary. "...I, um. What exactly are you referring to, Ritsuka?"

'

"...That's the wrong word, Roman." Keeping up her nearly apathetic tone, Ritsuka continued speaking, her face still mostly hidden by her hands. "If I don't do this and succeed, everyone who lives, has lived and ever will live, will die..." A brutal statement, yet undeniably true. "...You called this a choice, but this is just about the most textbook example of an ultimatum I've ever heard of." As the words left her mouth, the guilt in Roman's eyes just about tripled, yet he kept them on her. It was the least he could do. A painful silence took over the room once more, leaving the Doctor searching for words. "...Or am I wrong?"

'

What could he say in response? What could anyone say when directly confronted like that? If she had to answer, Mash knew exactly what she would say. The only thing that could be said in response. Something Roman clearly agreed with, even if hints of reluctance were apparent on his face. "...No. You're right. Absolutely right."

'

"I thought so..."

'

Mash really wanted to say something. She wanted to say anything that could either help or encourage her Senpai, but she couldn't come up with anything. What could a person like her even say? What could someone like her, who had lived her whole life in Chaldea, not knowing of the outside world, say to someone who knew it well, and had now lost it all?

'

But before she could come up with anything resembling an answer, Ritsuka breathed in quite audibly. It was then when she finally raised her head, looking towards the ceiling as she released the air back out, blowing her hair out her face. Said face was... unreadable to say the least, stoic to a point that could've been expected of Brynhildr. And yet... "But... that doesn't really change the answer I already gave you."

'

"...Eh?"

'

For a second, Mash doubted what she had just heard, staring at Ritsuka in bewilderment, expecting to see something that would contradict the words. And yet, there was no such sign. As if it had never left, she wore the calm, yet willful face Mash had seen several times in Fuyuki, always when they had faced a powerful enemy. The face of the Master she had come to trust so much.

'

Roman too appeared surprised, his eyes still showing their guilt, yet they seemed... hopeful. "You... You're sure of that?"

'

"Like I said," Ritsuka nodded, looking far more determined than ever before. "'If it's something I can do, I'll be giving it my all.' My answer hasn't changed."

'

"Senpai..." Mash wasn't quite sure what she was feeling towards her Senpai at that moment. Admiration? Marvel? Reverence? She didn't know, but... A part of her wished to respond to her words, reciprocate them, support them. To say that she would follow Ritsuka on this path, no matter how hard it got. Although... to say the words out loud was much tougher than thinking about them.

'

The reactions of those around her, however, were far clearer. Both Da Vinci and Dio had started smiling again, the latter's gaze appearing more curious than anything else. Brynhildr was looking down at her Master while smiling as well. Although her smile seemed strangely... intense. Mash could've sworn she'd seen the same look on her face before, but she couldn't remember where.

'

And thanks to Mash's hesitation, it was Roman who managed to speak out first. "Thank you. With those words, our fate has been decided." As he gave his gratitude, the Doctor bowed quite deeply, an act that seemed to confound Ritsuka more than anything, breaking her serious expression. But before she could say anything, he rose from his chair, expression changing back to match the one he had worn as he asked the big question.

'

"We will now carry out the Preservation of Humanity as laid out by Olga Marie Animusphere, former director of Chaldea. We will fulfill her mission for the continuation of human order.

Our objective: the protection and recovery of human history.

Our target: to retrieve the relic thought to be the cause from each era, the 'Holy Grail.'

Our opponent is history itself. Standing in your way will be many Heroic Spirits and legends. Challenging them is an act of blasphemy against the past. To save humanity, we must defy human history."

'

Mash was taken aback to say the least. The way Roman was speaking was unlike anything she had heard from the man up to this point. He sounded like... a genuinely competent and upright person. Her reaction was shared by the two across from the table, with both Da Vinci and Dio raising their eyebrows at the speech. The Doctor seemed to be taking his current role as the acting director very seriously, something that was, admittedly, very comforting in their present situation.

'

"But to remain alive, we must fight. No, to take back the future, we must fight. So, no matter what conclusion awaits us, we hold more than enough resolve. The name of this operation will no longer be First Order. This is now Chaldea's last yet original mission, to protect the human order. Designation, Grand Order. With the highest ranking mission in the world of magecraft, we will take back the future!"

'

As Roman finished his speech, a silence took over the conference room. Though this time, it was far from the painful, heavy silence that had occurred several times during the meeting. No, this was more akin to a respectful silence, that was only possible due to the sheer astonishment of all those present. Mash looked to her left, meeting eyes with Ritsuka, whose expression perfectly matched her own.

'

The silence was finally broken, not by words, but by the light clapping of the two people on the other side of the table. With amused grins on their faces, they gave the Doctor a mild applause, an act that seemed to embarrass him somewhat.

'

"Whew. And that's a wrap," Dio whistled, looking extremely delighted by the event. "Like... damn. That was some great stuff, Roman. You went way beyond my expectations. You've really been holding out on us."

'

His embarrassment turning to confusion, Roman cocked his head at the man. "Wait... A wrap? Did-!" Quickly turning to look at the center of the table, his eyes were wide as he stared at the instrument currently projecting the map. At first, Mash was confused by the act, until she noticed exactly what he was staring at. At the base of the machine, there was a tiny camera, aimed directly at the Doctor. "Did... did you seriously just...?"

'

"Oh yeah," Dio nodded without a hint of remorse. "I started recording the second you began to get serious. This should work as a real Morale Bomb for any of the more frightened employees."

'

"That was really impressive, Romani," Da Vinci agreed, her smile growing noticeably mischievous. "You legitimately sounded like an actual leader. If you'd act like this more often, maybe people would start to put some respect on your name."

'

While Roman gawked at the sheer callousness of the statement, Mash couldn't help but to agree with it. Seeing the Doctor act like this once in a while would do wonders to his reputation. But, at least someone decided to show him some sympathy.

'

"Come on, dude. Don't just rain on the man's parade like that." While clearly amused with the current situation, it seemed that Dio was actually taking the Doctor's side. "Roman just got himself a rare and impressive W. At least let him bask in it for a while before stabbing him with harsh reality." ...Seemed to take his side.

'

And thus began an amusing three way debate between the 'grownups.' The tension of the room had dropped like a rock, and while she did her best to appear serious, Mash still spotted a tiny hint of a smile on Ritsuka's lips. Something that greatly relieved her. Seeing her Senpai smiling like that even after everything that had been said, Mash could feel her own tension lowering as well.

'

But, all fun had to end eventually. "Alright, alright. As amusing as this talk about Roman's Ls and Ws is, we seriously need to move on to the important stuff," Dio chuckled. "After all, we still need to tell Ritsuka here how we'll be backing her up."

'

That definitely got the Master's undivided attention, looking at the Spaniard hopefully. "So you're still able to provide support even if there's no one else to Rayshift?"

'

"Obviously. We can't just sit on our asses doing nothing while you guys are running around saving humanity. As frustrating as it is, we can't really help you that much when it comes to battles, aside from providing you with magical energy and info. So, that's why we gotta make sure to give you all the aid we can before you Rayshift," Dio grinned, with Da Vinci nodding by his side.

'

"Preparation is the key for an operation to run as smoothly as possible. Meaning, we'll gear you up properly. You've already used the standard Mystic Code to great effect, even though you just received it today, so you should have no trouble using the others."

'

"Wait. Chaldea had more Mystic Codes for the Master candidates?" Ritsuka asked in disbelief. "No one told me about that. Are they as high quality as this one?"

'

"Two, specifically. There were definitely plans for more, but they were put on hold until the others were fully completed." The smile suddenly faded from Dio's face, being replaced by an annoyed frown. "Seriously, though. This is exactly why you don't half-ass things by working on multiple products at the same time. If we had started on the creation of the other Mystic Codes, the ones currently ready would be nowhere near as refined. Quality work takes time, damn it."

'

"Tell me about it," Da Vinci nodded sagely. "When presenting the first drafts, the guys at the Engineering Department seemed so proud of their third-rate creations. Sure, those Mystic Codes might've been acceptable, if Chaldea was some tiny security company instead of an Organization for the Preservation of Human Order." The smile on her face quickly grew proud as she continued. "Well, thankfully we put those numskulls in their place and got them working on some proper gear."

'

"Right on!"

'

As Dio held out his hand, Da Vinci slapped it almost instantly without even looking. These two seemed to get along extremely well.

'

"But, back to the main topic," the mage noted, pointing at Ritsuka. "Each of Chaldea's Mystic Codes is a Specialised type, holding three spells for the wearer to utilize. Of course, they're also stuffed full of protective spells and the like, as you probably noticed in Fuyuki."

'

"Yes..." the Master agreed, looking down at her midriff. "During the bridge battle, as Lancer launched those rocks at me, I realized just how effective they were. Even though it was debris from the attack of a Servant, the large piece of rubble only caused a bruise on my abdomen. If I wasn't wearing the Mystic Code... Well, I'm pretty sure it would've ruptured my stomach..."

'

At mention of the event, Mash felt a chill running through her. When she saw that Ritsuka had gotten injured, she had felt... awful. Like a failure of a Servant. Even if the injuries weren't that serious, she couldn't ease her worry. Just the thought of what could've happened if her Senpai hadn't worn the Mystic Code... Ugh. It was enough to make Mash nauseous.

'

"Probably, yeah," Dio agreed with morbid honesty. "But, that is far from the only combat assistance we can prepare for you, oh no. Now, comes the awesome part." With a grin, he lifted a familiar backpack onto the table, before taking out yet another familiar object from inside it. A jewel colored like a rainbow. "You remember these babies, don't you?"

'

"The Saint Quartz?" Mash questioned as six crystals were placed on the table. And then she realized what he meant. Dio had placed them on the table so casually that the answer had eluded her for a moment, but it was obvious what they were supposed to be used for. "Wait, so you're planning to-?"

'

"Oh yeah, now you're catching on." Twirling one of the stones on the tip of his finger, Dio grinned with almost childish glee. "With these babies, we should be able to summon six more Servants to help you. While two is already good and all, eight is definitely better in this situation."

'

"Six more...?" Ritsuka repeated hopefully, her expression brightening... until it noticeably dimmed back down even lower than before. Her hopefulness replaced by dejected frustration. "...But, if I'm supposed to act as the Master, we run into a serious problem. No matter how strong a Servant we summon, their overall strength will be reduced due to my mediocrity as a mage..."

'

Ah, that... That would certainly be an issue. Mash remembered how Ritsuka had spoken about this after summoning Brynhildr. She had wanted to disagree with the notion... but couldn't. No matter Ritsuka's actual skill as a Master, her magic circuits were painfully mediocre, ultimately limiting her ability. As her Servant, she wished she could've done more to help her in this regard, but ultimately, encouraging words were the best she could manage.

'

And yet, she didn't need to in this case.

'

"Ah, that. Yeah, that's a slight issue," Dio agreed nonchalantly, yet the wording caught Ritsuka's and her attention. And what followed, even more so. "But, it's nothing a little Saint Graph Ascension won't fix."

'

Both her and Ritsuka blinked in surprise. It was times like these that Mash felt a bit more ashamed over not knowing some of Chaldea's inner workings, but now wasn't the time to worry about that. If they really had a way of strengthening Servants like that, then maybe even she could...

'

But before either of the girls could say anything, it was surprisingly Brynhildr who spoke out first, unusually confounded. "Saint Graph Ascension? Do you mean to say that Chaldea is able to modify a Servant's Spiritual Foundation?"

'

"That's right," Da Vinci confirmed. "I realize how it must sound, being a Servant myself, but the process is actually quite benign. Saint Graph Ascension is essentially a reform for Servants to become stronger by coming closer to their 'starting point of conception.' Of course, the more powerful a Servant's original self was, the greater the effect."

'

The answer seemingly satisfying enough to calm her back down, Brynhildr took a step back to move behind Ritsuka as Dio nodded in agreement. "Aside from the straight up increase in strength, I believe that in your case, it would become easier for you to utilize your runes while confined in the Lancer-class. While it mostly depends on the Servant, it's theoretically possible for them to unlock things that would normally be sealed away, like a particular Skill or some equipment."

'

"Then, could you do it to any Servants we end up summoning?" Ritsuka asked, her earlier hopefulness having returned in full. And she was hardly alone, with Mash's own hopes rising with this encouraging revelation. If this method would return Servants closer to their origin... could it be possible to use it on her? If she underwent this procedure, would it help her unlock more of her abilities as a Servant, thus being of more use to her Senpai?

'

"Slow down there. It's not that simple," Da Vinci reproved, shaking her head with an amused smile. "We can't just flip a switch and make a Servant stronger. It takes time and some materials to do it, and is overall a very delicate process. To put it simply, the best comparison I could make would be surgery."

'

Ah... Mash admittedly felt a bit silly at the moment. Obviously it couldn't be that easy, considering Brynhildr's surprise. Ritsuka herself seemed much the same. "Oh, yeah, of course... Then could you explain more about the procedure so that we can understand?" Thankful for the question, Mash's hopes rose back up... only to lower once she noticed Dio shaking his head.

'

"Yeeeah... I'm gonna be real with you. We're gonna go over this another day." A statement that confused the girls in equal amounts. This seemed like such relevant information, yet they were just going to skip over it? Mash wanted to object, but before she could, the Spaniard continued. "We'll do the same with the two Mystic Codes and some other stuff, 'cause frankly, if we talked about all of this now, we'd be here all night. You've already got tons of stuff to deal with tomorrow, so we'll focus on what's relevant then."

'

That... was something Mash had to agree with. Going over every bit of information right this moment could very well be more detrimental, since it would almost certainly still require recapping details when different subjects became relevant again. Especially so if it came at the cost of time Ritsuka could use to rest. An opinion the Doctor shared, based on his nodding.

'

"I have to agree. Especially after everything that has happened today, you both need some proper rest. And while we'll be giving Mash a proper examination after this, Ritsuka at least should get a head start on a good night's sleep."

'

Yes. That... Mash felt a blush creeping on her cheeks when she was reminded of what had happened earlier. The Doctor had wanted to examine her after they had returned, yet she had been so adamant about staying by Senpai's side while she slept, that he had eventually given up. In hindsight, it really seemed rather silly. Ritsuka didn't have any notable injuries, and even if there was a chance of something dangerous occurring, Brynhildr had dutifully stayed by her side the entire time. The only reason Mash had stayed was because of her groundless worry... Which was a new emotion in her case. She couldn't remember ever being worried over someone like this, so why now, for a person she'd just met today? It must have been because Ritsuka was her Senpai, her Master... Could this be a feeling of loyalty experienced by Servants? That was the only logical explanation she could think of, so that's what Mash went with. "...Yes. I believe that would be for the best, for both me and Senpai."

'

Although Ritsuka looked like she wanted to disagree, she kept quiet, breathing out lengthily. "All right, then. In that case, let's go over our schedule for tomorrow."

'

"That we'll do," Dio nodded before pointing at Da Vinci and Roman. "I'll let the two of you take it from here, since you'll actually be there while the whole summoning business is taking place. Me... well, I've got a wrecked facility to fix, so I'm sitting this one out."

'

"Yes, that's fine," the Doctor agreed, pulling out a tablet. "We pretty much went over the details earlier, so please speak up if you have any problems with this schedule, Ritsuka." After receiving a confirming nod from the Master, Roman continued. "We had planned to start the summonings at 9 in the morning, so you'll have a fair bit of time for breakfast and any other morning activities. The summoning itself, and the resulting explanation of our circumstances to the Servants, should be taken care of in an hour or two, depending on whether we summon any difficult Servants. Any issues thus far?"

'

"None," Ritsuka confirmed and motioned the Doctor to move on.

'

"Very well. Next, a tour of Chaldea's most relevant facilities, both for Ritsuka and the Servants. I trust that you're able to take care of that, Mash?"

'

A tour? For Senpai? Upon hearing the request, Mash felt a wave of relief running through her. She had been a bit anxious on how she could contribute during this difficult time, so a task like that was definitely more than welcome. "Yes. Please leave it to me." Though as she gave her confirmation, she received a questioning look from Ritsuka, the reasoning not hard to guess. After all, Mash really didn't know that much about the happenings at Chaldea, even though she lived here. The fact that she didn't know that a renowned genius had lived several years in the facility as a Servant, made the look all the more painful. But, she couldn't afford to lose her Senpai's faith over something like this! "Um-uh, there's no need to worry, Senpai. Even if I'm not that familiar with... the staff, I still know the layout of Chaldea from memory. You can count on me!"

'

Thankfully, Ritsuka replied with a smile. "Yes, that would be really helpful. I was given a map during the flight over, but time was limited and, well, there's only so much a piece of paper can tell. I'll be looking forward to it." Relieved, Mash returned the smile with one of her own. Though the moment came to a sudden end when Ritsuka moved her eyes away from her, specifically, to Roman, now smiling much like they were. "Um... Doctor?"

'

Jolting upon being called out, the Doctor lifted the tablet in front of his face quickly. "Oh! Right, moving on. Ahem, so after that, there really isn't a deeper plan for the rest of the day. We were hoping you could spend some time with each of the Servants to properly familiarize yourself with each of their skills and strengths. As you're aware, it's paramount that a Master knows every bit of detail about their Servant's abilities."

'

"Of course. That's something I would've done anyway," Ritsuka nodded.

'

"Nice, that's a good quality for a Master to have." Taking out a tablet of his own, Dio began working on it. "I'll also start prepping rooms for the Servants, so they should be ready by tomorrow."

'

"Please hold a moment."

'

Upon the sudden interruption, all eyes turned to Brynhildr. "I trust that you're already aware of this, but Servants have no need for living quarters. There's no reason for you to-"

'

"Oh?" Raising an eyebrow, Dio looked at her with an amused smile. "Are you all just planning on floating around Ritsuka's room in spirit form?"

'

Mash had to admit, the image of such a situation made her hold back a giggle, something other around the room seemingly agreed on. On the other hand, judging by her face, the Valkyrie hadn't expected a response like that. "I... That's... Well, no, but to prepare entire rooms for us is still unnecessary."

'

"Trust me. We've thought this through." Dio raised his hand, extending a single finger. "First, this isn't a Holy Grail War that lasts just a number of days. This operation will almost certainly take several months, perhaps even close to a year. As for how long exactly, unfortunately, there's currently not enough data, so we can only make rough estimations."

'

That... was something that had yet to be touched during the meeting. Something Mash herself hadn't given too much thought to. This certainly wasn't a task that could be taken care of in a manner of days. The Singularities themselves would almost certainly be more challenging than Fuyuki, and even the preparations for the Rayshift itself would possibly take several days. As the words sank into the listeners, he raised another finger. "Second, back to that floating around part, even if you try to argue that Servants should be treated like weapons, shouldn't weapons also have a place where they're held? A spot where their wielder knows where to find them? Sure, Servants are still free to walk around Chaldea, but having spots like that is only beneficial."

'

At this point, Brynhildr seemed to be contemplating the proposal quite seriously, even looking the slightest bit troubled. And, now looking quite serious himself, Dio raised a third finger. "And finally, this really is no trouble. After all... there's currently plenty of unoccupied rooms in Chaldea..."

'

The air grew noticeably heavier again. ...It was a brutal point, yet not inaccurate. Considering Chaldea's current number of personnel was less than tenth of the original, free rooms were certainly abundant. It had also seemingly worked as the final one, since Brynhildr had returned to her usual expression, moving behind Ritsuka. "...Very well. Under these circumstances, I will withdraw my objection."

'

After an acknowledging nod, a smile returned to the Spaniard's lips. "All right, then. Back to some more fun topics. The summoning itself." A subject that certainly did lighten the air, with Ritsuka looking at the man quite eagerly. "Now, while we are able to summon 6 more Servants, due to a certain 'incident' with the Catalyst Department, we currently lack proper catalysts for most of them. Honestly, it'll be pretty interesting to see who exactly shows up under these circumstances." The mage nudged the genius on his right with a grin. "Considering this is an unprecedented crisis, maybe the Counter Force will throw us a bone?"

'

"I wouldn't count on it~" Da Vinci laughed, with Dio joining in. ..It was honestly a bit unnerving.

'

But while the two were enjoying themselves, Mash noticed her Senpai pondering over something. "...So, you don't have catalysts for all of the Servants?" Ritsuka repeated, earning a confirming nod from Dio. "Well... I have one."

'

A wave of surprise ran through the room, catching Mash off guard the most. She didn't remember Ritsuka mentioning this at any point. Though in Dio's case, his surprise quickly turned to curiosity. "Ohhoo? Seriously? And do you know which Servant you could summon with it?"

'

Ritsuka shook her head. "No. Honestly, I don't know what the catalyst itself is, only that it is one..." Falling silent for a few seconds, the redhead's expression saddened. "...My father gave it to me in a box right before I left. He said it was something he had wanted to save for my next birthday, but considering where I was going, it would be more useful to give it to me now. We didn't really have much time, so he didn't tell me what it was and I never opened the box, but it should still be in my luggage."

'

"I see..." Da Vinci muttered, looking quite invested in this turn of events. "In that case, it should've been delivered to your room by now." Soon, the serious expression faded to make way for her beautiful smile. "Well, it's still better to have some idea as to who you're summoning, instead of just playing the lottery with it. Just bring it with you in the morning, and I can look it over."

'

As Ritsuka nodded in affirmation, Roman took a quick look at his Multi-Appliance to check the time before turning to her and Mash with a serious expression. "Alright, in that case, we can move on to the last point in our schedule. The actual date for the Rayshift. By the estimation of our resident geniuses, restoring Chaldea to acceptable working conditions and preparing the Rayshift itself should take two weeks. As such, we've scheduled the proper start of our operation to exactly two weeks from tomorrow; August 14th." Two weeks... Mash shared a quick glance with Ritsuka. It wasn't a long time, but not exactly short either. She herself had no problems with it, but since her Senpai was the one with the far greater burden between them, it was ultimately up to her to decide. Noticing their contemplating gazes, the Doctor was quick to add with an awkward smile. "Of course, this date doesn't have to be set in stone. We've set it as our goal, but should notable problems arise, we can postpone it. We just wanted to make sure if this schedule is fine with you."

'

"If Mash has no troubles with it, I'm fine with this," Ritsuka answered, turning to Mash for her answer. The Shielder responded with a quick shake of her head and a smile. There were no issues with her. "It seems we're in agreement then."

'

"Then it's settled," Roman nodded, with Da Vinci and Dio following suit. "Our Grand Order will truly begin on the 14th of August, 2015." Almost simultaneously, the three began tapping their tablets, likely setting things up for the coming work. But as Mash turned her attention back on Ritsuka, she seemed hesitant for some reason, her eyes downcast on the table. Before she could inquire further, the Doctor also noticed. "Ritsuka? Is there something bothering you?" Hearing her name mentioned, the redhead's eyes snapped to Roman, only to notice that she had become the center of attention in the room. She looked around awkwardly, seemingly trying to say something but not finding the words. "If you have anything to say, please go ahead. If we want to succeed in our mission, we need to make sure that everything is as close to perfect as it can be. You don't need to hesitate."

'

Closing her eyes, Ritsuka took a deep breath. Upon opening them, her eyes were now shifting between Roman and Dio. "...Alright. What I really want to know is; is everyone alright working?" Aside from the Master, everyone in the room looked surprised. But before they could ask anything, she continued, now a bit awkwardly while tapping her fingers together. "I mean, even ignoring the whole 'Incineration of Humanity' for a second, so many people died here due to Lev's bombings. Basically every staff member must have lost a friend or at least a close acquaintance. So, is everyone really able to work in these conditions?"

'

So that's what she meant... At first Mash wasn't entirely sure what the question was about, but now... She couldn't help but to smile. Of course her Senpai would ask something like that. The expression quickly spread across the room as Da Vinci shook her head in amused disbelief. "In a situation like this..."

'

Dio was much the same, but in Mash's eyes at least, he seemed genuinely pleased. "So that's what this is all about. You really are a nice person. Frankly, would've been great if we had more people like that around here from the start." The slightest hints of a blush growing on her face, Ritsuka looked away awkwardly as the mage flashed her with a friendly smile. "But if you're thinking about me specifically, then no worries. After all, my sorrow is completely overshadowed by all this unyielding rage."

'

The atmosphere of the room changed instantly as a menacing pressure flowed through it. While Dio still kept smiling like before, everyone else stared at him cautiously, like a bomb that was about to explode. Ritsuka's earlier bashfulness was gone, now staring at the man across the table with her eyes wide, while Brynhildr kept a hand on her shoulder, ready to act at a moment's notice. And Mash didn't need an explanation why, considering that she had almost changed into her Demi-Servant armor on instinct. It hadn't been even a second, only the slightest moment conceivable, but in that instant, Mash's sense of danger had flared on high alert. The fact that it had happened so suddenly in such a short period of time, and that Dio just kept smiling without change, was enough to send a chill down-

'

No. Not a chill. The opposite. It was like the usual chill was replaced by a bizarre wave of warmth that ran down her spine instead. So this was it, then... One of; 'Chaldea's Mysteries' that Fou was also a part of. She'd never experienced it herself, but the Doctor had talked about it a few times: That while rare, whenever Dio got angry, people in the near vicinity felt an uncomfortable warmth running through them.

'

"Oh? Whoops. Guess a little indignation managed to leak out," the Spaniard chuckled innocently. "Sorry about that guys~"

'

Roman was the first to recover, letting out a deep sigh as he rubbed his neck. "Seriously... I feel like I'm losing years off my life whenever I feel that..."

'

"Ignoring this Incendiary Idiot for a second," Da Vinci quipped, looking at Dio in amusement as he shrugged apologetically. "While there definitely are those who are... let's say, troubled by the current state of things, Chaldea doesn't just choose its employees randomly. Everyone here knows the purpose of this organization, and they're aware of the stakes, so you don't have to use your time and energy worrying about them." The Caster's words seemed to have the desired result, based on how Ritsuka's troubled expression lost most of its worry. Though she quickly followed it with a wink. "After all, you've absolutely got enough on your plate already~"

'

"...Alright. If you say so, I'll trust you," Ritsuka mumbled, though the slightest hints of discomfort still clung to her features. "Then, there's just one more thing to worry about..."

'

"Senpai?" Just as Mash was about to ask what that last thing was, Ritsuka turned her body to fully face her, the discomfort in her beginning to increase once more.

'

"There's you, Mash..." Even after everything that had happened today, Mash was quite sure she had yet to see Ritsuka looking as troubled as she was now. She almost seemed... fearful. But why would she-? "If you... Ugh, I really don't know how to say this... But, if you want to stick purely to a supportive role, I want you to know that I won't blame or disapprove of you doing so."

'

...Huh?

'

What was Ritsuka talking about? Why was she suggesting something like this? Even as Mash tried to comprehend what was happening, Ritsuka kept going, her tone growing more pained by the second.

'

"I know you don't like fighting, and despite that, you've already done so much for me... Even if you're not a Heroic Spirit, even if you'd never been in a real fight, you still fought so bravely for my sake... So if you make that decision, I'm sure I'll be fine, since we have plans to summon more Servants, so you don't need to worry about that..."

'

Mash didn't say anything.

'

No. She couldn't say anything.

'

Nor could she see the worried gazes of the others in the room.

'

No. At this moment, the only things that existed were her, and her Senpai.

'

The words that had just been spoken... That had been directed at her... What was the intent behind them...? Was Ritsuka worried for her safety? That could have been it, based on the wording... Yet they could have also been a kind way to say that she wasn't needed any more... Yes, after all, no matter what type of Servants were summoned, they would all almost certainly be more helpful than her, a fledgling of a Servant... If one were to prioritize both the safety of Ritsuka and the future of humanity, replacing her was without a doubt the right decision... Yes, that was right... In that case, the right thing to do would be to accept the offer given to her and-

'

"...Well, that's what I wanted to say at least. To give you the opportunity..." The words, and their tone, snapped Mash back to the conversation at hand. Ritsuka's voice sounded so... pained... and vulnerable... Her head was cast downward, her bangs preventing her face from being seen, but that wasn't needed to know how she felt. Her hands, which were held together on her lap, shook the slightest bit.

'

It was then that Ritsuka raised her head, looking Mash straight in the eyes. A look she recognized instantly. After all, that was the exact same look Roman had given to Ritsuka throughout most of the night. "But, I'm going to be honest. Mash... will you please keep fighting as my Servant?"

'

The question came so suddenly that Mash couldn't even respond. Couldn't even think of a response. All she could focus on was listening. "It hasn't been long, we haven't known each other for even a day at this point, but over the course of everything that happened in Fuyuki, I've really grown to trust you. Maybe it's the result of all those near death experiences, but if I had to choose between trusting you or any other Servant to protect me, I'm pretty sure I would choose you every time."

'

With each word, Mash felt something growing inside her. Pride? Happiness? Gratification? All of them? She didn't know... But whatever it was, it felt... warm. And she finally understood. She understood the reason why Ritsuka had offered for her to step down and purely support her.

'

Kindness.

'

It was as simple as that. Ritsuka knew that Mash was afraid of fighting, so she gave her a chance to back away now... Even if it was clear that she really wished to keep the Shielder with her, she still felt guilty even asking it...

'

As Ritsuka continued her pained request, Mash felt a smile growing on her lips. "And that's why... I... Of course, the final decision is yours, Mash. Like I said, you don't have to worry about me, this might just be my selfishness speaking, so please choose whatever you want to do. I doubt anyone in this room will judge you whichever option you choose."

'

At this point, everyone in the room was smiling much like Mash was. But the two of them hadn't noticed a thing. Ritsuka kept looking at her, ridden with guilt and worry, and she kept looking back, her mind already made.

'

Ah. She really had been lucky to have found such a person to be her Senpai.

'

"Of course I'm going to fight with you, Senpai." As surprise took over Ritsuka's features, Mash gently placed her hands around the pair shaking on the Master's lap. "After all, I was the very first Servant you formed a contract with, so it's my responsibility to fight by your side for as long as I am able to."

'

Not knowing what to say, Ritsuka kept staring at Mash, until finally, an identical smile grew on her face. "Mash... I, thank you. Thank you so much."

'

She wasn't sure how long they sat there, just smiling at each other. The pure gratitude in Ritsuka's eyes almost felt like a reward to Mash, like some sort of precious gift. But, such moments always had to end...

'

It was when Ritsuka's eyes finally moved away from her that she stopped smiling, a blush rising to her cheeks. As she followed suit, Mash immediately understood the reason: Everyone in the room was looking at them with smiles on their faces.

'

"Ahem," Ritsuka coughed extremely awkwardly. "Now that we settled that... Maybe we should move on...?"

'

"Damn this is precious," Dio muttered while rubbing his nose. "Come on guys. Don't make me cry in front of my ripal."

'

"...Ripal?" Ritsuka repeated.

'

Dio nodded with a grin. "Well, I can't call her my frenemy, since we're not really enemies, so ripal was the logical next step."

'

Da Vinci could only roll her eyes in response. "Ah, yes. Very logical. ...Well, not that I dislike the term."

'

As the geniuses started bickering about something by themselves, Roman shook his head, turning to Ritsuka with his usual smile. "Well, since everything is settled, I think we can officially end this meeting. You're free to leave, Ritsuka. I know things are pretty crazy, but at least try to get a good night's sleep."

'

"...Yeah. I'll try my best... at that." She really didn't sound that convincing, but Ritsuka still stood up in preparation. "Well... I'll get going then... See you tomorrow, Mash."

'

"O-oh! Please wait, Senpai!" Rising so quickly that she nearly jumped, Mash's sudden call got Ritsuka to stop in her tracks. ...Even though she didn't have a proper reason for it. She had wanted to spend a little more time with her Senpai, but what could she...? Ah! "I'll escort you to your room. You're still new to Chaldea, so I want to make sure you don't get lost."

'

Ritsuka looked at her awkwardly, scratching her cheek. For a second, Mash was worried that she might refuse, but. "All right then. I guess I am pretty unfamiliar with the layout. Thanks, Mash."

'

"Of course." After all, this was simply her duty as both a kouhai and a Servant. Taking the lead to leave, Mash had nearly reached the door, until.

'

"Oh yeah. Almost slipped my mind. Hey, wait a second, guys," Dio called out, stopping the group. "Ritsuka, can I borrow Brynhildr?"

'

"Huh?" The sudden question drew surprise from the three, Brynhildr most of all. Ritsuka exchanged a confused look with the Lancer. "Why? What do you need her for?"

'

Dio stared back as if she had asked the most obvious question in the world. "Are you serious? To help with the repairs. Aside from her absurd physical strength, she can use Primordial Runes. I know you've seen what those babies are capable of. Having her around could let us get a day's worth of work done in a few hours."

'

Mash hadn't really thought of that, but it was certainly true. Both her strength and ability as a mage far outclassed anyone in the facility. Having someone like that would be extremely helpful for the restoration efforts. Ritsuka exchanged another look with her Servant, who had now returned to her usual stoicness upon understanding the request. Scratching her cheek a bit awkwardly, she spoke out. "Um... Well, the choice is ultimately up to you, but it would be really helpful if you could assist with the repair work."

'

"...As you wish. I will do so, then." Like it was completely natural, Brynhildr agreed to the request, taking a step back from Mash and Ritsuka. But as she did, she flashed the redhead a soft smile that nearly blinded the Demi-Servant. "...If we are to part here, I wish you a pleasant rest, Master."

'

"Oh, yeah... Um, to you as well," Ritsuka mumbled even more awkwardly, hints of a blush on her cheeks. "I'll see you in the morning, I guess..."

'

As the Master hastily walked out into the corridor, Mash gave the room one last look before leaving. "I'll return for my examination after escorting Senpai, so don't start slacking off in the meantime, Doctor."

'

"I won't, I won't," Roman replied in a tone that instantly gave away that he had planned to check on that virtual idol of his.

'

'

---

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'

'

As the girls finally left the room, Roman slumped back into his chair. Mash had definitely seen through him at the last moment...

'

Well, nothing to be done about it now. At least the meeting had gone surprisingly well. Ritsuka had responded... far more calmly than he had anticipated. Almost to a worrying degree... He would need to arrange for a counseling session with her, along with the physical checkup...

'

But... that last moment with Mash was what had really caught his attention. Even after all these years they'd spent together, not once had the Doctor seen Mash being so invested in something as she did while accepting to fight with her Master. And even before that, when Ritsuka had offered her a chance to back down, she had seemed almost scared... While it had only been a short while, it seemed that having a girl around her age to interact with had really jumpstarted Mash's emotional development. Well, there were also the life threatening dangers she had faced, but that first one was far more pleasant.

'

Despite everything that had happened, he couldn't deny his happiness at this new development. Ah. To see Mash, who's serious, quiet, and frankly, kind of mysterious, grow up to be such a fine lady... Truly, this was a gratifying moment-

'

"Yup. We're all going to hell."

'

An awkward silence took over the room. Everyone present turned to Dio, who was leaning back on his chair and fiddling his thumbs while looking at the ceiling. Da Vinci looked at him questioningly, until realization dawned on her face, changing the look to a sad smile. But, Roman was well aware that he wasn't a genius. "...Where's this coming from?"

'

The mage turned to him, more amused than anything. "I meant exactly what I said. Even if we really don't have a choice, all three of us are going to hell for making that teenage girl carry the weight of human history on her shoulders."

'

Ah... That... Roman felt quite stupid at the moment. The meeting had overall gone so well that he didn't think it over, but... Yes, it really didn't matter how Ritsuka had reacted. That didn't change the fact that they had effectively forced this burden on her.

'

"It was a pleasant surprise to see her handling this all so well... And also worrying..." he mumbled.

'

Da Vinci nodded in agreement, showing rare concern. "It's definitely a front she's putting up. No sane person would be able to keep so calm under these circumstances..." Though soon the concern made way to her usual smile. "But, to be able to keep that front up through all this wouldn't be possible without considerable strength of will. While she may not be a first-class mage, we were fortunate that the sole surviving Master was someone as capable as her."

'

"Yeah, that's one of the few saving graces in our situation." Going through Ritsuka's files on his tablet, Dio seemed quite curious as he flipped through the pages. "Even so, we still need to do everything we can to make sure she doesn't have to worry about anything else, aside from the duties only she can do. Ultimately, even if she's a mage, she's still a normal person. She can't handle the weight of the world on her own, no matter how capable she may seem, right... Brynhildr...?"

'

Following his perplexed stare, Da Vinci and Roman turned to look at the woman still standing by the door... In a... concerning state...

'

"...Yes. She's such a virtuous young individual..." The Servant had a faint blush on her face, along with a smile, yet not the same one she had sent Ritsuka off with. Oh no, this was a smile that sent all of Romani's danger senses on high alert. And if that wasn't enough, the Valkyrie was gripping her own arm rather violently, to the point where he was quite sure he heard her gauntlets scratching the rerebrace. "Brave... Kind... Responsible... Ah, much like..."

'

"All right! It's about time for us to begin working as well!" Standing up and hastily striding over to the Lancer, Dio placed a hand on her shoulder. "Or, is there something you would like to do first, Brynhildr?"

'

"Ah!?" Jumping a bit, Brynhildr's eyes darted across the room until she returned to her usual, calm appearance. "No. ...Nothing. ...I am fine. ...I just let my mind slip for a moment." Taking an awkward step away from the man, she motioned towards the door. "...Shall we get going then, sir Arista?"

'

"No need for that," he chuckled. "Everyone who participated in the meeting calls me Dio anyway, so you don't have to be so formal, Brynhildr." As the dark haired man finished his sentence with a bright smile, the previously faint blush on Brynhildr's face made a comeback, now brighter than ever.

'

And there it was! Roman barely held back a groan as he witnessed one of his natural enemies in action: a true, natural born Lady Killer. It wasn't even funny how popular Dio was with most of the female staff... Granted, he was fairly popular among the staff in general, but the amount of times the Doctor had seen a nervous woman approaching the Spaniard to hand him something was more than one. Therefore: far too high!

'

But what made it all the more frustrating was the fact that despite all that attention, he knew that Dio had no interest in women. Or men. Or any type of romantic relationships in general. And not just because he was a mage, but more so due to his... way of being...

'

"Ah! Y-yes... If... if that is what you wish, then I shall do so..." Brynhildr mumbled awkwardly, turning to walk out of the room. "But please... Don't show me such kindness... If you are so kind, I...will be troubled."

'

"All right, whatever you say~" Dio grinned, following suit. Though before the door closed, he made one last call. "Roman! Send me a message when Mash comes back! There's no way in hell I'm missing this examination!"

'

And then it was silent... Roman slouched back on his chair again, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Yes. There was still so much to do today. And through all that, Da Vinci still kept smiling like there was nothing wrong... Oh, what he would give for even a tenth of her bearing.

'

"What's this? Are the pressures of being the active director already crushing you?" the Caster quipped, rising from her chair to walk towards the door, ready to move on to her own tasks. "Well, putting that aside... What just happened was certainly a bit concerning."

'

More than a bit if he was asked. "Yeah... Brynhildr may be a strong Servant, but this... Let's just hope it doesn't become an issue." Ritsuka already had far too much on her plate to deal with a lovesick Valkyrie. Well, if nothing else, at least Dio seemed to have the talent to draw her attention for a while. And if Roman was lucky, the 'hopefully amusing' consequences would fall on the Spaniard.

'

'

---

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---

'

'

Finally.

'

Her room was finally in sight. After everything that had happened today, a personal room was a godsend to Ritsuka. She could finally... let it all out.

'

Well, not quite yet, since Mash was still with her, but soon.

'

"And here you go, Senpai." Standing by the door, Mash smiled with that usual, helpful attitude of hers. There was absolutely no reason for her to escort Ritsuka back to her room, but she did it anyway. "If you need anything else before I leave, please don't hesitate to ask." It really was a wonderful quality... Even though the redhead really wished that she lacked it at this very moment.

'

"It's alright, Mash. You can get going now. I'm just going to rest and prepare for... tomorrow." She could barely keep her composure at this point. Just speaking normally was an absurd strain. Quickly placing her Multi-Appliance next to the door panel, with a beep, the door itself slid out of the way. And as she walked in, she turned to look at Mash, still waiting there... Honestly looking really cute.

'

"Are you sure? I really don't mind taking care of something."

'

"I'm sure. Go on. You have that examination, right?" She really appreciated Mash going out of her way for her, but she really wanted her to leave at this moment. After everything that had happened today, her charm was barely hanging on for dear life. Ritsuka really didn't know what she would do if she ended up breaking down in front of Mash.

'

Thankfully, she didn't need to, as Mash gave her a light bow. "Very well. I will see you in the morning, Senpai."

'

Relief washing over her, Ritsuka gave her the best smile she could muster. "Same. Have a good night, Mash."

'

As Mash turned away, she gave Ritsuka one last wave before disappearing behind the corner. And with that, the redhead closed the door. She was finally, truly, alone.

'

Without wasting a second, she rushed for the room's lavatory, located just to the left of the entrance. Yanking the see-through door open without care of it possibly breaking, Ritsuka wordlessly cursed the designer who thought it was necessary to have two doors, before opening the second one, finding what she so desperately needed: the toilet itself.

'

Collapsing on her knees, she opened the lid.

'

And then threw up in it.

'

Thankfully, it had been several hours since she had eaten, so nothing solid came up. Of course, that didn't stop her throat and mouth from burning, but at this point, she couldn't even feel it. Even as she continued vomiting, all that was on her mind was a single question: Why?

'

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy!? WHY!?

'

Why was she the only one left!? It was just her!? Just her!? Every one of them had died, except for her!? The only one who could be a Master, who could Rayshift, was her!?

'

Feeling one more wave coming, Ritsuka gripped the toilet bowl as she threw up one last time and turned to sit down, leaning her back against the wall. She didn't know how long it had been, but at this point her stomach was completely empty, so there was no longer a chance of vomiting. If only that could have been the worst of her problems.

'

"Ei vittu... Mitä helvettiä..." Gripping her head with her hands, she leaned her face into her knees, trying to sort out her disarranged thoughts.

'

If there had been just one, it could've worked out. Just one more Master, then she could have dealt with it. But no... She was alone. She, a nobody third generation mage, was supposed to save human history... She would've thrown up again had there been something left to throw up...

'

Of course she knew the stakes when she had signed up for this job, but it wasn't supposed to be like this! She should've been just one in a group of Masters... And instead, she was now the sole Master of Chaldea... The last Master of Humanity... She was supposed to be someone expendable... someone who could be replaced in the event that she failed... But now it was the opposite... She was without a question indispensable... someone absolutely crucial for the completion of this mission... And if she failed... that would be the end of it all...

'

As the unending stream of sweat running down her face started to sting her eyes, Ritsuka slumped over, laying on her side on the lukewarm floor. Her hands shook, she could barely breathe, and she felt like she was about to go deaf due to the ceaseless, booming beats of her own heart. For a second, she wondered if she had actually died and this was just her personal hell, but quickly threw the thought aside. No. That was just wistful thinking. The situation was hellish, but she was far from the only one affected...

'

But, there was still the issue with the Servants... Truth be told, she had been perfectly prepared to work together with a Servant as their Master. Though not in a relationship one would expect of, like a superior and their retainer, but more of an equal partnership. She had been perfectly fine with her first Servant. She had still been good after Brynhildr joined them. And while she started to get anxious when Caster tagged along, she could deal with it, since it was only for a short while...

'

But this? This was on another level entirely.

'

She was supposed to act as the Master, as a commander, of 8 Servants!? She would be responsible for the combat instructions of that many fighters!? She could barely handle three, and now she was expected to do this!? This was a job for a proper commander instead of someone like her, who enjoyed strategy games as a hobby!

'

All of this was just so absurd. How could anyone expect her to do something like this? What could she even do in the face of something like this? She wasn't trained for a mission like this...

'

It was completely ludicrous.

'

And yet...

'

"Of course I'm going to fight with you, Senpai."

'

"Mash..." As the scene from earlier played in her head, Ritsuka's whisper broke the silence of the room.

'

Mash had chosen to help her... This young girl who was afraid of fighting, who had never even been in a fight until today... had chosen to help her fight against these absolutely crushing odds...

'

And she ultimately didn't even need to. Like Ritsuka had said, there were other Servants who could have fought in her stead. Unlike her, who was the only one who could fill this role, Mash had a choice. She could have walked away. She had even been offered a clear chance to. And she didn't. She had chosen to help her. She had chosen to fight. Despite being so obviously scared...

'

As Ritsuka laid there on the floor, she thought about her...

'

She thought about Mash...

'

Those thin arms, holding that heavy shield. That back of hers, standing tall against nigh certain destruction. And that shield of hers, shining brilliantly as it stopped anything and everything trying to pierce it. And at the end of it all, that happy, earnest smile of hers.

'

And she did it all, despite being so, so scared...

'

"...Thank you." Those words of gratitude may have been the most genuine thing she had ever said. Even if the one they were meant for wasn't here to hear them, that didn't change their meaning. If it weren't for Mash choosing to fight with her, Ritsuka wasn't sure she would've even made it out of this room. She might've just passed out from the sheer pressure of it all. But now...

'

She thought about Mash's smile when she had made her choice. Her smile was warm, even as her eyes divulged the fear she still felt. But that wasn't the only thing they contained. Shining right beside that fear, was a tiny, yet bright ember of resolve. And it shone just like the shield Mash held in her hands.

'

That resolve of hers... There was no way Ritsuka could let it go to waste. No. She wouldn't let it go to waste.

'

At the moment, Ritsuka was still too physically exhausted to get up, but that was only temporary. As soon as she was able to, she would get up, clean this mess she'd made of herself, and do her evening routine before going to bed.

'

And in the morning, she would begin her progress towards being a Master who was deserving of that resolve.

'

'

---

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---

'

'

"Aaand that's it. We're all done. Good work."

'

Upon Dio's announcement, Mash let out a tiny sigh of relief. She was well used to examinations, they were a daily part of her life after all, but this one had been quite a special one. Over the course of her life, she remembered only two or three checkups that had been anywhere close to this thorough.

'

"Thank you for your patience, Mash," Roman smiled apologetically as she started putting her shirt back on. "Sorry we had to go this far, but your condition is... unique to say the least."

'

"There's no need to apologise, Doctor. I am well aware of my current circumstances being unprecedented." She really did mean that, though the process had been exhausting to say the least. When Mash had arrived for her examination, she had been told that they were going to measure everything. But she had greatly underestimated what that word truly meant.

'

When they said; 'measure everything', the two of them had truly meant everything. Aside from the usual, like her height, weight and measurements, every possible detail that could possibly be measured, was. And as accurately as humanly possible. From reasonable things, like her eyesight, hearing, and other senses, to seemingly miniscule ones, such as the exact length of her nails, hair, and the precise length and firmness of her body on effectively every spot.

'

"Yeah... I'm sorry too, but this is incredibly valuable data." Organizing the info into proper files on his tablet, Dio seemed quite excited. "We'll be performing a few tests over the course of the next two weeks, and we need our statistics to be as accurate as possible."

'

"What will these tests be monitoring?"

'

"Your needs as a human, now that you're a Demi-Servant." "Things like: Do you still need to eat and sleep, and if so, how much? As well as changes to your body, such as hair and nail growth. Or do you gain or lose weight if we change your diet? These types of things."

'

That... was something Mash hadn't really considered. Thinking about it, it was true that she was essentially a new type of being compared to how she was about a day ago. She currently had the strength and abilities of a Servant, but what else had changed? She was admittedly a bit curious. "So, what do I have to do?"

'

"We'll get to that a bit later," Roman said, sitting down on a chair and motioning Mash to do the same. "Right now, there is something else we need to talk about: Your relationship with Ritsuka."

'

"With Senpai?" The subject admittedly caught her off-guard. She had explained the circumstances of how they had met and how they formed their contract to the Doctor earlier, so she wasn't really sure what else there was to say.

'

An unusually warm smile grew on Roman's lips as he started explaining. "Well, based on everything I've seen, you made an excellent choice in choosing her as your 'senpai.' She ended up showing you the most shining example of human kindness imaginable, something you hardly would've seen from basically anyone else in Chaldea."

'

Ah, that. Despite how she had been so very close to death, the last moment before the Rayshift, when Ritsuka had talked with her and held her hand, was currently the most prized memory in Mash's heart. Just thinking about it made her feel warm... "Yes. It was... wonderful. Had Senpai not been there, I would certainly be dead at this point."

'

While Roman gave her a somewhat sad look, Dio simply nodded while smiling. "That's right. It was pretty damn miraculous. Your life was saved and you ended up becoming Ritsuka's Servant. Though we don't know if it has affected your... overall lifespan yet, she definitely kept your life from being cut short."

'

That's right. That was another gift she had received. "Yes. Until the moment that my life truly ends... I've been allowed to live as my Senpai's Servant." Until their contract, Mash had lived her life by simply doing what she was told, whatever that may have been. But now, she had a distinct goal, something to use her life for. "I couldn't be happier about that."

'

The Doctor still looked a bit sad, but he started to smile softly at her words, while Dio just seemed genuinely happy. "Well, having a clear purpose for one's life is often a nice thing to have. You just have to wait and see where that road leads you."

'

Indeed. As Mash nodded, Roman placed his tablet on the table, turning to her with a serious, yet strangely happy look. "Anyway, to get back on topic, this is something that concerns both you and Ritsuka. You've been through quite a bit together, even if it has only been a short while."

'

Remembering the conversation they'd had in the conference room, Mash felt the familiar warmth in her chest. "Yes. Earlier, when Senpai said that she had really grown to trust me... It made me really happy... And I feel the same about her, which is why I've chosen to give my all in helping her."

'

"...That really is nice to hear. For you to have a relationship like that..." For a change, every hint of sadness disappeared from the Doctor's face, being replaced by genuine happiness. "But, to move on: The 'task' we're about to give you is something that is both extremely crucial, and very beneficial to both of you. Meaning, we highly recommend that you give it your best effort."

'

If those were the benefits for this task, there was only one answer. "Yes! If it not only helps me, but Senpai as well, I'll work as hard as I'm able to." Though Mash currently had no clue as to what it might entail, if it was for Senpai's sake, she'd give it her all. "So, what do I need to do?"

'

It was then that a wide grin spread on Dio's face. "Frankly, Mash, we want you to try your best..." Pausing, as if to add suspense, he looked right into Mash's eyes as she waited in anticipation, and: "To be a friend to Ritsuka."

'

For the next few seconds the room was silent. Roman shook his head but seemed quite amused while Dio just kept grinning. Even after she finally managed to react, all Mash could utter was: "...Eh?" To say that the request had caught her off-guard would be an understatement. Friends... her... with Senpai? "What... do you mean by that?"

'

"Exactly what I said," Dio answered, his tone suddenly growing more serious. "No matter how strong she may seem, Ritsuka is still human. If even she's not showing it, the weight of the responsibility resting on her shoulders is just completely absurd." Ah. Of course. While Mash knew that her Senpai was both a reliable and capable person, that was still what she was; a person. And unlike her, who was replaceable if something were to happen, Ritsuka's position was something only she could fill. "Which is why having a friend, someone she can talk to and spend time with is so important. Someone who can help her relax."

'

Truth be told, she found the idea quite pleasant. While she'd never had anyone who could be categorized as such, she obviously knew what a friend was. To have her Senpai be her first friend was... But... How would she feel about it? And could someone like her, who was still so immature as a human, really be expected to fill such a role? "...Why are you asking this of me? Surely there are people more fitting to fulfil such a role in-"

'

"Are you serious?" Dio interrupted, giving Mash an incredulous look that made her feel stupid, even if she wasn't quite sure why. "First off: You're the closest to her in age out of everyone in Chaldea, the difference only being 2 years, 5 months and 27 days. When everyone else is concerned, the closest we've got are the Yuan twins, who're both 4 years, 4 months and 25 days older than her. Not to mention that the two of you are the only teenagers in Chaldea."

'

That certainly matched what she knew. From what she had heard, people closer in age were usually far easier to relate to, even if she lacked the experience personally. But still... Was that really enough?

'

Luckily, the Doctor continued the explanation. "And secondly: You are without question the person she has interacted with the most in Chaldea. It's way easier to spend time with someone you already know, instead of trying to connect with someone you've just met."

'

"It wouldn't even really surprise me if she already considered you to be friends," Dio added, nearly making Mash's heart skip a beat as Roman nodded in agreement.

'

The notion just seemed so... dubious. Senpai already considered her a friend? Even though they'd just met today? And yet... "Over the course of everything that happened in Fuyuki, I've really grown to trust you." Those were undeniably the words Ritsuka had spoken. And Mash felt much the same towards her. She didn't know if that was enough, but if nothing else, she would try. "...Very well. I'll... I'll try my best! For Senpai!" An announcement that drew smiles from both of the men present.

'

"Sweet. I've even got a nice suggestion on how to start for you." Reaching into his coat pocket, Dio pulled two slips of paper out, handing them to Mash. Blinking in surprise, she turned them around and realized what they were: meal cupongs for the cafeteria. "Returning to the earlier topic, I'd recommend that you go eat breakfast together with her in the morning. This one's on me." Eating breakfast together... With Senpai... Certainly, sharing meals with friends was a common activity, but... "You eat alone in your room way too often, plus having familiar company from the start would definitely brighten up Ritsuka's day."

'

...Yes. That. After being authorized to move around Chaldea fairly freely, Mash had also been allowed to eat in the cafeteria. Which was something she had done a few times, but... Ultimately, she had chosen to mostly keep eating in her room, not really seeing the necessity in doing otherwise. The few times she had shared a meal had been with the Doctor, though she did remember Dio joining them at least once. Currently, this presented a problem: How should she go about mealtime interactions? She had very little experience in smalltalk, greatly reducing her appeal as company for such occasions. But... as Ritsuka had said when they first met: "But if you don't try properly, how would you even know how someone's first impressions would go?" Yes, while the subject was different, the base idea remained the same. She would just have to try her hardest and hope for the best! "Very well! I'll give it a try!"

'

"Don't forget to have fun," Roman noted with a smile. "After all, a gloomy dining partner isn't exactly the most exciting company."

'

Oh. That was something Mash wasn't really sure how to handle. ...Although, if it was spending time with Senpai, then she was quite sure she could enjoy herself. "Yes! I'll do my best!" Putting her shoes back on, Mash headed for the door. "I'll be going now, then. I'll see you both tomorrow."

'

Dio grinned at her, thumbs up. "I'll be rooting for you, girl."

'

"Me too," Roman waved as Mash walked into the corridor.

'

Making her way to the elevator, she remembered one of the subjects for her coming tests: her need for sleep. If it was supposed to be tested anyways, she might as well perform a short test herself and cut a few hours from her usual sleeping schedule tonight.

'

After all, she had much to research and plan for tomorrow.

'

Unbeknownst to herself, as she thought about the coming morning, Mash started skipping along the corridor, reaching the elevator far faster than usual.

'

'

---

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---

'

'

As a familiar beeping woke Ritsuka up, her eyes were met by an unfamiliar ceiling. Well, not completely unfamiliar. New was the more fitting word, since she was perfectly aware of where she was.

'

Chaldea... And there went the last, slightest chance that the whole thing might've been a dream.

'

Switching off the alarm she'd set on the table, Ritsuka stretched her arms before reaching for the lightswitch on the wall. And immediately regretted it as she was nearly blinded. Shielding her eyes with her other hand, she quickly started dimming the lights down, sighing with relief when the brightness was low enough for her to bear. Admittedly, having lights where one could set the exact brightness was handy, but she would really need to get used to it in order to not repeat that screwup. There were 4 buttons, with two for turning the lights off or fully on, and with two for raising and lowering the brightness. The lowest possible setting where things were barely visible was perfect for sleeping, while the max brightness, combined with the sterile, metallic design of the room, was like high noon at the equator.

'

Well, putting that little annoyance aside, she had actually slept quite well, despite everything that went down. She'd been a bit worried over the bed, but it had thankfully been fine. The mattress was neither a sheet over the bed frame or a marshmallow that threatened to swallow her whole.

'

Taking a sip from the water bottle on the table to rinse her mouth, Ritsuka began her morning stretches. Thankfully, despite all the running around yesterday, the worst she felt was a slight soreness on her shins. Well, if she hadn't done her stretches in the evening, they might have been worse.

'

Finishing up, she took another sip of the water. While she hadn't noticed them when she had first rushed in last night, someone had left her a sandwich and a bottle of water identical to the ones she'd had in Fuyuki on the table. Considering that her stomach had been completely empty and that she really didn't want to go out at that point, it had been a godsend.

'

An equally pleasant surprise had been the new, clean uniform next to them. Well, aside from the tights, the one she had worn was still perfectly fine, but it was nice nonetheless. Picking up the clothes and taking them to the lavatory, Ritsuka returned to her luggage, placed next to the closet, and started picking out the things Chaldea didn't provide. Hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner, emollient (God she needed that after spending a day in that furnace of a city), comb, brush, and... underwear...

'

Ritsuka shuddered remembering that fiasco from yesterday, praying that everyone had just forgotten it at this point. There was no way in hell she could wear anything even remotely padded after that. Well, the saving grace was that her Chaldea uniform did draw out her more feminine features. She might not have understood the point of the two belts on her chest, but they did augment it nicely... Wait... Was that actually the point?

'

Putting aside the questionable design, she picked up one of her planer pairs of underwear and headed for the shower. ...At least she was going to, until she noticed the metal jar peeking from the bag. Her jar of dried Valerian root...

'

Should... should she use it? She'd used it yesterday as a just-in-case deal, since she was nervous about starting on her new job. And considering what had happened, Ritsuka was unbelievably grateful for it. But, it was unlikely that she would face anything remotely dangerous today, so maybe it wasn't necessary...

'

No, who was she kidding. She would absolutely need it today. After all, she'd have to summon 6 new Servants, so she couldn't afford the risk of a bad first impression.

'

Picking up the jar with a sigh, Ritsuka opened it and poured a small piece onto her hand. After picking up the box of matches next to it, she carefully closed the lid and placed the container back into the bag, and finally properly entered the restroom.

'

Setting the clothes and other things aside, she moved by the sink and placed the root on it. Lighting a match, she set the extract on fire and turned her magic circuits on. As the fumes began to flow out, she started to carefully gather them into a floating sphere, making sure none could get away. Well, manipulating gasses was the basic of basics, so it wasn't exactly difficult, doubly so thanks to her Elemental Affinity of Wind.

'

By far, the worst part about the procedure was the smell. The fumes had an odor best comparable to sweaty socks, and maybe even that was giving it too much credit. That's why she always made sure to properly wash herself after using it. Still, ingredients used for magecraft could rarely be described as pleasant in general.

'

As the last of the Valerian burned away, Ritsuka was finally ready to begin. Slowly spinning her right index finger, she formed the sphere of fumes into a disk in the shape of a spiral and started rotating it. As it kept spinning faster and faster, she knew the effects were starting once she found it hard to take her eyes off of it. At that point, she began drawing some of the fumes towards her face by motioning with her left index finger, slowly covering it with vapor.

'

The charm itself was extremely simple, relying on the calming effects of Valerian and self-suggestion to make her face quite literally incapable of showing fear (with a single, frustrating exception). Well, simple to a proper mage, but it had taken her years to refine the whole process.

'

The fact that she even had to use something like this was beyond pathetic, but the stakes at this point were far too high. She lacked ability as a mage as well as a commander, so this was the only thing she could contribute.

'

After all: Was there anyone more reliable than someone who could stay perfectly calm and collected in dreadful situations or in the face of near certain death?

'

No. Obviously not. That's why she did this in the first place. Although... this presented another glaring problem. If anyone ever discovered that she used something like this, they would definitely lose all respect for her... Well, she would just need to make sure that no one ever did.

'

As she felt her facial muscles tingle, Ritsuka knew that the charm was ready, proceeding to the final, worst phase. Cringing internally, she breathed in all the fumes covering her face, doing her best not to gag until it was all gone. After a light cough, she looked at herself in the mirror to check the success, and was pleased to see the desired effects. Good. That was at least one source of stress out of the way. She could finally take a shower.

'

As she was taking off the massive t-shirt she used as a replacement for pyjamas, Ritsuka made the mistake of glancing towards the mirror again, souring her mood immediately. Reflected there, were her abhorrently wide shoulders, as unattractive as usual. If only there was some kind of magecraft that could do something about them...

'

With a sigh, she opened the side door that let her into the tiny room with the toilet and the shower. That was enough moping around. She had more important things to do now. Mainly, taking care of her hair, one of the rare pleasing features on her body. She'd been so tired last night that she only gave it a quick wash, but not today. After everything that happened yesterday, it would need a thorough rinsing, with her own surfactants. Sure, there was some provided in the shower already, but they were the most basic soap and shampoo available. Good for a quick shower, but nothing else. They weren't going to cut it. With how thick her hair was, it would quickly go out of control if it wasn't taken care of properly. And hers was only shoulder-length. She didn't even want to imagine what sort of trouble Brynhildr had to go through with her own back when she was alive, or Dio currently.

'

Switching on the shower and feeling the warm water running over her skin, Ritsuka began what she suspected would be her only relaxing moment of the day.

'

'

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'

'

There was no trouble! She could do this! She was fine!

'

These were the thoughts running through Mash's head as she stood in front of the door to Ritsuka's room... for the last five minutes.

'

It's just... How should she go about this?

'

Should she call her through the 'doorbell'? It was 7:30, a perfectly normal time for breakfast basically everywhere in the world, so it should be fine, right? But... what if Ritsuka was still asleep? She had worked extremely hard yesterday, so she might need more rest. If Mash either called her or went in now, she might disturb her.

'

Although... Based on everything thus far, Mash did see Ritsuka as a diligent person, so it was quite likely that she was already up. The safest option would definitely be calling her. If she did wake her up or otherwise disturb her, she could always apologize afterwards. Yes, that would be the most logical solution.

'

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Mash pressed the 'doorbell' button on the panel, also called a door phone, and called out. "G-good morning, Senpai. Are... You're awake, right? I hope I'm not disturbing you." Waiting a few seconds for a response, when none came, she tried again. "Um... Senpai? I would like to... to speak with you, so could I come in? ...Please?"

'

Her heartbeat accelerating as the seconds ticked by, Mash awaited patiently for an answer.

'

And waited...

'

And waited...

'

And after about a minute, the slightest hints of worry sprung to her mind. Surely there would have been some sort of response even if her Senpai wished to be alone... To not answer at all... Could something have happened? As Mash considered the possibilities, the idea that Ritsuka had been so exhausted that she had passed out and not woken up yet seemed quite plausible. After all, the Doctor had said that she would need a proper rest, so maybe a single night hadn't been enough? But that presented another problem: What should she do? Should she call for help? To ask someone to check on Ritsuka?

'

But as she considered the best course of action, Mash noticed a small detail she had missed earlier: A tiny green light under the button that opened the door, indicating that it wasn't locked.

'

But if that was the case... Should she go in? It would be better to check the situation herself first, to avoid wasting someone's time by calling for help... But wouldn't that be an intrusion? No, no. This could be an emergency, so it should be permissible. She'd even called twice without an answer, so it wasn't like she was just barging in unannounced. "Ex-excuse me, Senpai. I'm coming in." Giving one last call before entering, Mash pressed the button and walked in... To find an empty, quiet room.

'

Looking around, aside from some luggage in front of the closet and a bed that had clearly been slept in, it seemed like a perfectly normal Chaldean room. Which... wasn't really odd, considering that Ritsuka had only arrived yesterday. As Mash walked further in, she spotted a Multi-Appliance on the table by the bed, which certainly belonged to the room's occupant. And it was unlikely that she would have left without it. "Senpai! Are you here?"

'

"Huh? Is that you, Mash?"

'

Jumping slightly at the sudden reply, Mash's gaze shot to her right... to not find Ritsuka. Instead, she only saw a pair of fogged up glass doors, which she knew led to... the restroom.

'

"Oh..." That's right. In her worry, that was an answer she hadn't considered. If one was taking a shower, it would be difficult to hear the door phone, let alone answer it. The water was no longer running, so Ritsuka must've just finished, but... "I-um, I'm sorry, Senpai. You didn't answer, so I... kind of just came in..."

'

"...Huh? Sorry, I couldn't hear you over the shower." As Ritsuka walked out of the shower space, Mash, already feeling quite silly due to her misunderstanding, felt the awkwardness of the situation escalate even further. Since the glass doors were completely fogged over due to the shower, all she could see through them were rough outlines and some colors. But even then she could tell that, aside from the white towel on her head, Ritsuka was completely naked. Well, she did just come out of the shower, but still... "So... did you have something important, or...?"

'

"Ah, no, no! Nothing of the sort," Mash mumbled, trying to think of a good reason. Although... Did she really need to think one up? She was already here, so she might as well ask her straight. Ask her... calmly... Taking another deep breath, Mash looked at Ritsuka through the foggy doors, and: "I just... came to see you to, to ask if... if you would like to have... b-breakfast with me?" ...She wasn't sure if she could've botched the sentence up any worse.

'

"Oh? Sure, I'd be happy to," Ritsuka answered cheerfully, much to Mash's surprise. Though that surprise soon made way for joy. Mission: 'Invite Senpai to breakfast' had been a rousing success! "But, uh, do you mind waiting a couple minutes?" she quickly added sheepishly. "I need to dry my hair properly or people will mistake me for a red Fou."

'

As Ritsuka let out a soft giggle, Mash joined in when she visualized the image. Her red hair had always looked very soft, but to imagine it on the same level of fluffiness as Fou, she... she would honestly want to see that some day. Still, waiting a few minutes was hardly a problem. They didn't really have anything planned until the summoning, so there was still plenty of time. "No need to worry, Senpai. I really don't mind."

'

"Alright. Feel free to sit on one of the chairs. Sorry I don't have anything interesting here."

'

As the whirring of a hairdryer began, Mash did as Ritsuka had suggested and took a seat by the table. Looking around, there certainly wasn't anything notable in her room. The only things that weren't just furniture were the luggage, a few potted plants, and some books on the shelf built into the wall. Of course, she knew from experience that those were just guidebooks, explaining things about Chaldea, Rayshifting, and maybe a book or two on Heroic Spirits.

'

This left Mash with little else to do but think. She'd already succeeded in inviting her Senpai to breakfast, which was great, but there was another issue bothering her. She'd done her best last night in researching activities that could be considered normal among friends, and had come up with quite a few possibilities that most would find enjoyable. But currently, she was struggling on whether or not she should execute one of them. Would her Senpai find it enjoyable, or displeasing? This question being:

'

Should... should she give Ritsuka a hug?

'

She'd thought about it first when she had collapsed in Fuyuki, which later resurfaced when the possibility of them being friends came up. After all, the point of hugs was to indicate support, comfort, and consolation, and was considered perfectly normal among friends. It would be a proper, nonverbal gesture to show her Senpai how much she cared and wished to support her, without any dubious goals. ...Although as Mash thought about it, the idea did sound quite appealing. But in hindsight, she'd carried Ritsuka around several times, so compared to that a hug shouldn't feel that awkward, right? There were absolutely no problems with it, right?

'

That is... as long as they were friends.

'

While Ritsuka had agreed to eat breakfast with her, it could just be for courtesy. If Romani and Dio had been wrong, taking an act that could be considered too intimate for acquaintances had the possibility of forming a breach between her and Ritsuka, which was something Mash wanted to avoid at all cost. She would first need to confirm whether or not her Senpai did in fact consider her a friend. As for how to accomplish that... Well, she was still working on it.

'

"Sorry for the wait. Should we get going?"

'

"Eh?" Hearing a voice from her side, Mash turned... to see Ritsuka standing there. With her new, clean uniform she looked just like when they had met, missing the wear and dirt accumulated over the Singularity. But to do so so quickly... "Ah, I didn't expect you to finish so soon, Senpai."

'

"Well, I wouldn't call 15 minutes that fast," she smiled sheepishly, much to Mash's confusion. Had she really...? Taking a quick look at her Multi-Appliance, it confirmed Ritsuka's words by showing 7:47. She'd gotten so drawn in by her current dilemma that she hadn't paid attention to the passage of time. While they were certainly in no hurry, it was still a bit embarrassing. "We're going to the cafeteria, right? This'll be my first time there, so I hope it's nice."

'

"Y-yes. From my experience, it is quite pleasant." Well, she had only eaten there a few times, but it hadn't been unpleasant, so it was technically true.

'

"Mash?" Ritsuka looked at her questioningly. "Is there something bothering you?"

'

"Huh?" Did, did she really look worried? While it was true, and concerned her Senpai... But... asking something like that out of nowhere... "No! Of course there's... nothing..." Mash fell silent as Ritsuka gave her the most skeptical look imaginable. ...There was no way she could fool her at this point. Should she just admit it and ask? Lying at this point would just be stupid and rude. If she had to ask the question, now was as good a time as any. "...No, I'm sorry, Senpai. You're right. There is something that has been weighing on my mind..."

'

Ritsuka nodded with a small smile. "Well, is it something I can help you with?"

'

"Yes... Very much so..." Taking a few quick breaths, Mash did her best to calm herself before looking the redhead straight in the eyes. It was now or never. "You see, um… Senpai, do you... consider us friends...?"

'

Seemingly caught completely off guard, Ritsuka blinked a few times upon hearing the question. For the next few silent seconds, Mash was genuinely worried that she might suffer a heart attack, given how fast it was beating. And yet, it made way to overwhelming relief as Ritsuka began smiling warmly. "Of course. I mean, as long as you're not against it, I'd be happy to call you my friend, Mash."

'

Mash wasn't entirely sure what she was feeling at the moment. It was like those words had opened a floodgate that released a cascade of emotions that flowed out faster than she could identify them. But, there was one thing she could tell for certain, a single feeling she could clearly identify. Right now, Mash felt really, really happy. So happy in fact, that even if she tried, she would've definitely been unable to stop herself from smiling. "Yes! I would be happy as well, Senpai."

'

"Great." The fact that Ritsuka was smiling as broadly as she was, made Mash all the more joyful. "But, we better get going now. We still need to eat breakfast before the summoning."

'

As the redhead walked to the table to grab her Multi-Appliance, Mash returned to her earlier problem: The hug. Now that it was confirmed without a doubt that they were friends, it should be appropriate. After all, she still wanted to convey to Ritsuka that she would support her as a kouhai, a Servant, and now, as a friend. From all her research, she had determined that it would be the most appropriate gesture for the job, so it was the one she had chosen.

'

...But that didn't make her any less nervous about it.

'

"Alright, now I'm all ready," Ritsuka noted as she fastened the Multi-Appliance on her wrist.

'

As she walked past her, Mash finally steeled her resolve, fully prepared for the moment. Yes. She would do this, right now! "S-Senpai!"

'

"Yeah? What is i-nnngh!?"

'

Silence took over the room. A far too painful silence. Though Mash thought she had completely steeled herself, she still couldn't bear to keep her eyes open the moment she actually touched Ritsuka. And with her arms fully wrapped around her, she could tell that her Senpai had gone utterly stiff, not a single muscle of hers moving. Nor was her hug being reciprocated. She really wanted to end this awful silence, but for some reason, even after all the practice she had put in, Mash couldn't remember the words she had rehearsed for this exact moment.

'

"...I, I, ah, I, um-Mash?" Ritsuka stuttered unbelievably awkwardly. As Mash finally dared to open her eyes and look up, she was met by a completely dumbfounded, blushing face. The situation was growing more unbearable by the second. "...Why, I mean-what, or... I'm really confused right now..."

'

This was bad. That was absolutely not the reaction Mash had hoped for. Had her plan backfired? Had she read the situation wrong? "I... Do you not like hugs, Senpai...?"

'

"Huh?" Ritsuka still looked quite confused, but at least the awkwardness had been reduced a bit. "I mean... I don't dislike them. I was just a bit surprised."

'

"Ah, well... That's good at least." If nothing else, that was a slight relief. But, that didn't stop the unbearable urge that compelled Mash to look away. "...This really isn't going how I planned." The entire execution had gone... awfully to say the least. This really proved how immature she still was as a person. It should have been such a simple task, and yet... Well, at the very least, even if she didn't remember the exact words, she should attempt to convey what she had wanted. "I... I'm sorry, Senpai... At the very least I can say this."

'

Taking a deep breath, Mash looked Ritsuka in the eyes, which, due to their height difference and the close distance, was still a bit awkward, but she did her best to stay as focused as possible. "I... I know that I'm still an immature Servant, but I also know this: As long as you're my Master, I'll keep working as hard as I can to get stronger!" Even as Ritsuka grew more surprised, she still kept going. "With that, and with the support of everyone else, both the staff at Chaldea and the other Servants, I'm sure that we'll be able to carry out the restoration of the Human Order Foundation!"

'

As Mash finished, she could just barely keep her eyes on Ritsuka's face. She'd never realized just how embarrassing it was to say something like this until now. And waiting for the reply was absolutely the worst part, with each fraction of a second making her heart feel like exploding. But thankfully: "So that's what you meant with this."

'

A wave of unbelievable relief washed over Mash as Ritsuka started smiling warmly at her. But even that was blown away by what happened next. "Thanks Mash. I really appreciate it." Simultaneously, Ritsuka's right arm wrapped around Mash's side to her back, while her left came to rest on top of her head, stroking it gently. And it was at that moment that the Demi-Servant fully understood just how wonderful hugs actually were. "I'll also do my best to respond to that resolve of yours."

'

Feeling Ritsuka's hand softly moving through her hair, and the other rubbing her back, Mash instinctively strengthened her own hug. The earlier awkwardness was all gone. Now, it was just... nice. "Yes! We'll do our best together, Senpai."

'

"Yeah..." As Ritsuka lifted her hand off her head, Mash took it as a sign that it was the proper time to end the hug, releasing her own arms and taking a step back. She internally cheered as her Senpai did the same, thankful that she had at least managed the end gracefully. "Although..." While it was nowhere as bad as before, Ritsuka smiled at her a bit awkwardly and scratched her cheek. "I guess this was your first time doing something like this, huh?" Oh... Guilty as charged, Mash's eyes finally lost to the pressure as her gaze fell towards the ground. In hindsight, it was probably pretty obvious... "Well, the first time is always the hardest, right? So I'm sure the next time will go much better."

'

"Ah! Y-yes, Senpai!" Certainly... next time she would do better.

'

"...Alright, then. We should probably head for breakfast now." Ritsuka chuckled while motioning towards the door. "If we keep getting sidetracked any more, we might seriously be late for the summoning..."

'

...Oh. Oh! That's right! Quickly checking the time, Mash noticed to her relief that it was only 7:51. They still had time, but her Senpai was certainly right about them needing to avoid any distractions. "O-of course. Shall we then, Senpai?" Walking to the door with Ritsuka close behind, Mash opened it with a hiss, and-

'

"Fou!"

'

SMACK

'

"Ah!"

'

Her face was immediately assaulted by a certain squirrel-like creature. In a familiar manner, he then slid around to her back, and settled on her shoulder. "G-good morning to you as well, Fou."

'

"Kuuu, Fou! Fou!" he barked, snuggling against Mash's cheek.

'

"Hi there, Fou," Ritsuka cooed, giving the critter a few pats. "You wanna come eat breakfast with us?"

'

"Fou!" Wagging his tail, it seemed that Fou agreed.

'

"So, it's gonna be breakfast for three now. You don't mind, do you Mash?"

'

"Of course not." Giving Fou a few scratches under the chin herself, Mash started walking towards the cafeteria. "It's quite close, so you should have no trouble finding it in the future. Just follow me, Senpai."

'

As Fou took a more comfortable position on her shoulder, Mash glanced to her side where a happy, red haired girl was walking. Soon enough, her smile matched perfectly hers.

'

Yes. This girl, Ritsuka, was her Senpai, her Master, and now, her friend. Her first friend.

'

'

---

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---

'

'

What a bizarre, yet wonderful way to start a morning.

'

When she woke up, Ritsuka had been quite unsure of how her day was going to go, but thus far, it had all been completely unexpected. But also far, far from unpleasant.

'

Mash asking if they were friends and then hugging her afterwards had caught her completely off guard, yet she wouldn't have traded that moment for anything at this point. She had already thought so before, but that had fully cemented Ritsuka's opinion of Mash as unbelievably cute. The way she had so awkwardly yet resolutely announced that they would accomplish their mission, clearly trying to encourage her, had been just so... precious. Ritsuka had almost had to force herself to stop from stroking Mash's head, that was just how sweet she had been.

'

The following breakfast had also been really enjoyable. Great, even. And, Mash's attempts at small talk had been, frankly, extremely adorable. The point where she had asked about the weather, only to realize just how nonsensical it was a few seconds later, followed by a sleuth of panicky apologies, had been one of the most precious things Ritsuka had ever witnessed.

'

Ritsuka really hadn't been sure what to expect from the cafeteria, but her first experience was definitely positive. While it was no aesthetic marvel, what with the tables and chairs being sterile white and the structure itself being identical to basically any corridor in Chaldea, it wasn't off putting. The staff, though she had only met one, a southeastern Asian man, had been pretty quiet, but really polite, so no complaints there. And then there was the food itself, which had been another pleasant surprise.

'

The coffee, much like yesterday, had been really good, and the scrambled eggs had been great, with a really nice texture. None of that soggy, oily goop some places served. The most surprising, yet welcome detail had been the finely chopped chives, which she could tell were fresh. How did that work? Did Chaldea have some type of magecraft powered super fridges or something, maybe they grew some plants here? That wouldn't exactly be unusual for a research facility run by mages.

'

In fact, how much food did Chaldea have in the first place? They were in an extremely remote location, so they must've had a considerable amount of stockpiles in case of an emergency, where delivering supplies was impossible. And considering that nearly all of the staff were dead... Well, she could always ask about it later. It was unlikely that it would become a problem any time soon.

'

After breakfast, they'd returned to Ritsuka's room to pick up the catalyst, contained in a small, wooden box, and were now heading for the Summoning Chamber. Throughout the walk, the Master could feel something from within the container. She had no idea what it might be, but it didn't feel unpleasant. In fact, it was the opposite. Just holding the box made her feel really... hopeful, for some reason. She honestly wanted to take the lid off and see it for herself, but decided against it. Catalysts were often very delicate objects, so she didn't want to take the risk of possibly mishandling it. Better leave it to the professionals.

'

"Buon giorno! It's nice to see kids who are diligently ahead of the schedule."

'

Speaking of professionals, they were greeted by someone who more than qualified for the title. Looking as captivating as ever, Da Vinci smiled at the two of them, well, three with Fou, by a door. "Hope you both slept well, because you're going to need the energy soon."

'

"Morning, Da Vinci. And yes, I slept pretty nicely," Ritsuka nodded, taking a gaze at Mash.

'

"Good morning. I also rested sufficiently."

'

"Well then. Come on in so that we can get started. The time of a genius is precious, you know~" Walking to the door and following the Caster in, Ritsuka and Mash were greeted by... a surprisingly normal room. There was some machinery, tables and chairs, but nothing really out of the ordinary. Was this really the Summoning Chamber?

'

Noticing her mild confusion, Mash was quick to provide the answer. "This is just a side room, Senpai. The actual Summoning Chamber is beyond that door." Pointing at a door on the other side of the room.

'

"Thanks, Mash. You're always so quick to help," Ritsuka smiled gratefully.

'

"Oh, hey. Good-yawn, morning, you two." And then there was someone who clearly hadn't gotten enough sleep last night. Roman sat by one of the tables, sipping coffee, with faint, but still noticeable bags under his eyes. "You're early."

'

"Morning, Doc. And better early than late."

'

"True enough," he nodded in agreement, nearly spilling his coffee in the process. Was... was it really fine for him to work? "I assume your catalyst is in there?"

'

"Yep," Ritsuka tapped the box lightly, careful not to disturb its contents. "What about the catalyst already here?"

'

"Over here." Hearing Da Vinci calling from another table, Ritsuka and Mash walked to it to find a box much like the one that held Brynhildr's catalyst. Except this one was much larger, which made sense considering the contents.

'

The catalyst appeared to be a piece of armor, most likely for the arm if Ritsuka had to guess. It was mainly black with some green markings, surrounded by golden edges, complimented by six golden spikes along its surface. It honestly looked really cool, but she had no idea where it might be from, let alone which Heroic Spirit it could summon. "I can definitely see a hero of some kind wearing this, but... I honestly have no clue where it's from."

'

Da Vinci nodded in agreement. "While it looks pretty unique, this arm guard is actually from Japan." Oh? Ritsuka actually hadn't expected that. But who did it belong to? Was it someone she knew well, or... "Specifically, it belonged to a warrior who lived during the Heian period, Sakata Kintoki."

'

Caught completely off guard by the answer, Ritsuka moved her eyes between the arm guard and Da Vinci in disbelief. An act that clearly amused the inventor. "Huh? Wait, you mean Kintarō? This catalyst can summon Kintarō?"

'

"So you already know who he is, Senpai?" Mash asked, looking at her proudly. "But, I do remember you being half Japanese, so of course I'd expect nothing less."

'

Ugh. Ritsuka really did appreciate Mash, but her having such high expectations of her was frankly, pretty embarrassing. "Well, my granny from my mother's side used to tell a lot of stories about him whenever I visited Japan as a kid. So, yeah. I know him fairly well. ...Although, I'm not really sure what class he could be summoned in."

'

"Well, that's certainly helpful. Saves us time since we can skip the history lesson." Apparently pleased with the result, Da Vinci tapped her chin as she pondered the other question. "As for his class, well, he was known as a wild child, so Berserker is a possibility. Maybe Rider with his connection to all kinds of animals?"

'

"I guess." Truth be told, Ritsuka was hardly an expert when it came to Servants. She knew the basics and some of the more advanced stuff, but that was it. She would really need to do some more research during the next two weeks. But, they currently had more pressing matters. Specifically, the box she held in her hands. "Here you go, Da Vinci. I'm pretty sure the quickest way to find out what exactly this catalyst is, is by letting you have a look at it." As she handed the box over, the inventor looked at it curiously. "Although, if even a mage of my level can clearly feel the magical energy from it, you should have absolutely no issues."

'

"Hmm? Do you now?" Cocking an eyebrow at her, Da Vinci seemed... really curious for some reason. As she proceeded to rotate the box in her hands, Ritsuka could only stare in confusion. What was so interesting. "I'm going to be honest. Even if I really focus, I can only feel the faintest hints of anything from here." The redhead's confusion peaked as the Caster happily placed the box on the table, looking extremely invested in this. "Consider me intrigued~"

'

She could only stare at the brunette humming happily as she inspected the box, Mash looking quite confused herself by her side. What was she talking about? That didn't make any sense. Ritsuka had clearly felt the energy from the box, so why would a mage light years ahead of her barely feel anything? Was she making a joke of some kind? ...But she did look genuinely intrigued. This was all just... really confusing...

'

It was then that Da Vinci finally opened the box, looking very surprised for a second, before letting out a gasp filled with excitement. "Oh, wow! Now look what we've got here!" The renaissance genius looked almost like a kid on Christmas morning as she showed her hand into the container. "This is definitely something you don't see every day."

'

As Da Vinci lifted the catalyst out of the box, Ritsuka felt her jaw drop. It was a piece of some kind of metal, clearly a shard of something larger originally, now small enough to fit onto one's palm with room to spare, carvings running along its surface. To most mages, it would have appeared mildly interesting, but to her, it was mind blowing. From the first glance, from the first fraction of a second she saw it, Ritsuka could tell what it was without a doubt, even if she had never actually seen one of these things in person. No mage from Finland could ever mistake this for anything else.

'

The real question was: How?

'

How in the world did her dad get something like this? They were just a fledgling family in the world of magecraft, so it couldn't be heritage. He definitely couldn't have bought it, since these things were worth literal millions. Stealing, not that her parents would ever stoop that low, was also impossible, since the families that did possess these, guarded them with their lives. No matter how she put it, she couldn't find a logical answer to how she now possessed this tiny shard. "...How? This doesn't make any sense... How do I have this?"

'

"Senpai?" Mash's eyes moved between shocked Ritsuka and the gleeful Caster, clearly the most confused person in the room, while Roman continued sipping his coffee, seemingly in his own world at the moment. "I'm... I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is this shard?"

'

Ritsuka just barely heard the question over the shock, her eyes still locked on the tiny piece of metal. As her own excitement started to surface, she unconsciously covered her mouth with her hands. Even if what was happening was supposed to be impossible, it was still happening. And without a doubt, this tiny shard was a catalyst for summoning a first-rate Servant.

'

"This... This is a piece of the Sampo..."

---

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---

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Notes:

---

Damn. My upload schedule has really been blasted to hell and back at this point, hasn't it? I mean, I still manage to put out a chapter around once a month, so not all is lost at this point, I guess? Being late on the last chapter + the overall length of this chapter were really the problems here.

'

To give some context on the length, the other chapters are each about 20 thousand words in length, give or take a thousand or two. This one, on the other hand, is 27 thousand words. The worst part is, I actually cut some scenes from this chapter, most notably the scene of Ritsuka and Mash actually eating breakfast, and the beginning of the summoning, which I just moved to the start of the next chapter. (Though to those who really wanted to see it, don't worry. I have plans to make a little sidestory series, which will have fun little scenes like that, that are not really important to the overall story, but kinda just nice extra scenes.)

But back to the issue of length. I would've wanted to cut some more to put this out earlier, but when I looked over the script, I really couldn't without reducing the quality of the chapter overall. I dunno, maybe that just shows my lack of competence as a writer?

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For the story itself. I always just found it kind of... let's say questionable, that when told that the human history rests on their shoulders, Guda just kinda goes: "Mmmmkay." Both the actual game and adaptations (except for the turas réalta manga) have them just going along with it all, without any issues. Like... what? I just kind of wanted to portray a somewhat more realistic reaction.

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Oh, and to those of you concerned about Ritsuka: Don't worry. It gets worse.

The initial freakout is out of the way, but there'll be plenty more troubles and pressure piling on as we go through to singularities. Doesn't really help that, as I'm sure you've all noticed, this kid's got some serious issues.

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On the other side of the spectrum, we have her and Mash's relationship. I'm gonna be real. Writing Mash's "How to Friend?"-parts was both extremely painful and tooth meltingly precious. I'm simultaneously dreading and looking forward to writing more of them in the future. And you can probably guess why I couldn't cut any of those scenes (except breakfast.) Like, who wants to follow a story that just makes them sad and depressed all the time? The characters need their Ws from time to time.

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Now then, the detail that was probably the most eye catching by the end of it all: "Hooooo boooi, OC Servants?"

First off: Don't worry, I'm not gonna shove the entire Kalevala crew into my story. Unfortunately for Ritsuka, this specific piece of the Sampo can only summon one of them. Which is for the better, at least for the story, considering that most of the guys related to the Sampo are stupid OP. ...And with that, I'm pretty sure that anyone with general knowledge of the Kalevala can guess who's gonna get summoned.

Second: Don't worry x2: I'm not gonna force like 50 OC Servants into the story. There'll be more than one throughout it all, but their introductions are pretty far apart. I've also got some fairly serious rules for them all, more on that later.

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Next: Y Kintoki?

1: As I'm sure you're all aware, this poor boy got shafted giga hard in the story. Granted, Heian kyo did make up for that in strides, but this was decided more than 2 years before it came out.

2: Wanted to give Chaldea a break by letting their first Berserker not be a screaming, raving lunatic. There'll be plenty of those down the line.

3: He's the best. Like come on. Who doesn't like this good, golden boy? I love Kintoki.

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Now for something important in regards to the next chapter: On the same day it comes out, I'll be putting up a "World revisions (name not final)"-page. This'll mostly compose of "game mechanics made fit into a story" type of stuff, as well as changes to Chaldea itself. It should be easy to find from my profile, since BotFS is the only other story there.

The point here is that you should read through it AFTER reading Chapter 8. Mostly because it'll spoil some stuff happening in it. Not like something major that would ruin your entire experience, but more like: "Huh? So that's what's gonna happen? Really would've been more fun to read about it properly..." I'll also put the warning at the beginning of the page, so just keep an eye on that.

I really wasn't sure where to put this, so I guess here's the most optimal part. The room design I'm using for the Master candidate rooms is the My room used in FGO Arcade. Although more compressed, so that there's no giant empty space in the middle of the room. For anyone looking for reference, finding them on YouTube should be pretty easy.

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Next chapter is also going to be a bit on the lighter side, so I might actually be able to get back on my schedule. For those wondering, at the way things are planned, we'll get to Orleans at the beginning of Chapter 10. The next two chapters are going to focus mostly on the summoned Servants and preparations at Chaldea. I'll also be focusing more on fluff rather than depression for them, though there's still some of the latter too. Best way to think of it would be: the Calm before the Wyvern Hell.

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As the final thing, this is actually something I really wish to get feedback on. I'm looking for an artist to get some nice looking references for my OCs, so if you could recommend any, I'd be grateful and I'll definitely be checking them out.

Now don't worry. I'm not some crook that tries to rob free art with: "Muh exposure." I'll pay with cold, hard cash.

OK, technically it'll be ephemeral, electric cash, since I don't literally send bills inside an envelope, but you get the idea.

For the specifics, it'd be good if the artist's artstyle didn't horribly clash with the overall aesthetic of FGO's characters. And by that I mean, some of the wilder, really out there styles wouldn't really work for the characters. Also, while I definitely will be paying for the provided art, there are some limits. I can't go paying several hundred euros for a picture, seeing how I'm constantly plagued by the vile demons known as Food and Rent.

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But with that, I'm now going to go pass out for the night.

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Next time: [It begins with a Squad]