I raised an eyebrow at the sign over the door. In bright green were the words 'Isabella's Imaginations', the words written in cursive. Besides me, Mordred shared a similar skeptical expression. On my other side, Mash stepped forward and knocked on the door. A muffled voice shouted out. "Coming," A feminine voice with a British accent said. A few minutes later, and I find myself blinking at the woman now standing before us.
She was rather tall, though whether the black leather boots she wore helped with that, I wasn't sure. Her dark brown hair was done up in a loose ponytail, though it wasn't anywhere near as messy as Mordred's. Blue eyes sparkled in excitement behind a set of glasses as her gaze focused on Mordred, still in her 'under armor'.
"Ah, so this is the new Servant in Chaldea, and you must be one of the new Masters. My name is Isabella Ruben." Her eyes narrowed as I suddenly find a rather long needle pointing at my face. "If you make any remarks about what kind of sandwiches I like, I'll fillet you like a fish. Got it?" I gulped and nodded, stepping back as the woman tossed the needle casually over her shoulder, the smile from just a few seconds before back on her features, acting like she hadn't just threatened bodily harm.
What the hell kind of seamstress is this lady?! Next to me, Mash cleared her throat politely. "Jacob Senpai, I will leave you and Mordred here. I look forward to dinner tonight," She said with a smile.
"I look forward to it as well. See you later, Mash," I replied, still eyeing Isabella warily as she circled around Mordred, a thoughtful expression on her face. Mordred's expression, however, was one screaming of discomfort, a mutual feeling.
"I've been dying to make clothes for a Heroic Spirit ever since I started working here at Chaldea! Gah, it took too long if you asked me, but hey, better late than never!" She said, words coming out like water bursting through a dam. The expression on her face slowly morphed into something that some might describe it as almost ecstasy. I shudder slightly, the urge to get away increasing.
"Alrighty then. I'll leave the two of you alone. Just give Mordred the bill and I'll pay for it later. I should start unpacking my stuff," I said, glad to have an excuse to escape from the scary lady. Next to me, Mordred stiffens, staring at me with wide eyes.
"Master, don't leave me alone with her" Mordred mouthed frantically to me. I shake my head sadly, stepping back.
"Have fun!"
"You son of—" Before Mordred could finish cussing me out, Isabella pulled on her arm with a surprising amount of strength, dragging the knight into her shop and closing the door behind them. Hopefully, Mordred won't murder Isabella…or me for that matter. Oh well, nothing I can do about that for now.
I turned around and began walking back to my room. After a few minutes, however, I paused as I realized that I hadn't memorized the way that Mash had lead Mordred and I to Isabella's workshop.
Well, crap.
Note to self: Find out if there is a map of Chaldea, and if so, acquire one. I was lost for what felt like an hour before I ran into one of other surviving staff members. Thankfully, they gave me instructions on how to get back to my room finally.
On the bright side, I now know where the gym and a few other locations were, so hey, silver lining and all. I shake my head, bemused by my train of thoughts as I open the door to my room.
Flicking the switch, I walked in and made my way over to the closet. Opening it up, I noticed several things. The first was that a spare Master Candidate uniform was hanging, along with what I presumed was a standard-issued, heavy-duty winter jacket for anyone daring enough to step outside of Chaldea into the frigid snow outside. The other thing are my two duffel bags that I had brought with me from home. I picked up the two bags and placed them onto my bed before unzipping the first one.
I had packed several pairs of jeans and t-shirts, a pair of gym clothing, socks, and some basic toiletry items. Mom had been insistent about also bringing a simple white dress shirt and black pants for any potential formal occasions. I had argued about how ludicrous that sounded to me, but in the end, I had packed a pair. I spent the next five or so minutes placing my clothes into the dresser that was in the room. Once that was finished, I decided to take a shower, wanting to wash off properly. After drying myself off, brushing my hair, and putting on a fresh t-shirt and jeans, I then returned and unzipped the second bag.
If one were to ask which of the two bags were more important to me, I would have to say the second one. In this bag, I had packed personal items. A few books on history, my computer, an MP3 player and headphones, and some DVDs. My family was one that would be considered unorthodox in the moonlight world, being willing to use modern technology, unlike many of the more prominent Magi families. I had also brought a picture of my parents and I, to help me deal with any bouts of homesickness while I was at Chaldea.
Now, it would be yet another reminder of what's at stake. I picked up the picture frame, and walked over to my nightstand, looking at the proud expressions of my parents as their son graduated from high school.
I was about to put the picture down when the door opened suddenly, startling me. I almost threw the picture up in the air by accident as a familiar voice spoke up.
"What ya got there, Master?"
"Gah! Can you try knocking next time?" I asked, putting the picture down properly this time, one hand over my racing heart to calm myself. To my mild annoyance, my Servant let out a brief bark of laughter.
"Oh, relax Master. So, what do you think?" I turned around to see what Isabella had made for Mordred. The first reaction that I had was confusion. If she hated being referred to by her gender, then why the hell does she insist on wearing clothing that highlights the fact that she is a woman?!
A wide, toothy grin on her face and hands on her hips, Mordred prodded me. "Well?" She asked. Instead of almost Medieval lingerie, she had gotten a white tube top with blue trimming, and one of the shortest pair of shorts I think I have ever seen in my life. Completing the outfit was a crimson leather jacket. Instead of the red choker-like thing she wore under her armor, she had a simple necklace with a blue stone inset. Contradictory to her words or not, the outfit she got seems to suit her perfectly.
"It suits you," I finally said, being rewarded with a pleased expression from the shorter blonde. "Glad to see you have something to wear when we have down time and all. Did Isabella give you the bill?" I asked. Mordred shook her head as she walked over.
"Nah. She said that she would just take it out of your paycheck. Apparently, all the Master Candidates get salary while being employed by Chaldea," she explained. Huh. Well, that certainly is convenient. "Anyways, thanks again for the outfit. It really feels great."
I smiled at those words, pleased. "That's great to hear," I said, as the Saber walked over to look at the picture I had placed there. She cocked her head to the side briefly before speaking.
"Those your parents?" She asked.
"Yeah. From when I graduated high school earlier this year. After yesterday, it feels like it was a few years ago, instead of a few months," I sighed. Mordred nudged me with her elbow slightly before I could brood or anything.
"Hey, don't worry Master. We're going to win this," Mordred said in her typical proud and confident tone. I returned a faint smile as I nodded my head. "On another note, if you ever leave me alone with that crazy Magus ever again, I'll kick your ass so hard you won't sit down
Well, at least that wasn't anywhere close to being as bad as I was expecting to hear. I nodded my head. "It was that bad, huh?" I asked, curious. Mordred sighed and plopped herself down onto my bed, thankfully missing my electronics. I move them off the bed as I listened to my Servant ranting about how Isabella made her feel like a slab of beef, or a mannequin to be displayed before she finally got the clothes she was now wearing to be made.
I shook my head in mild amusement after the Knight of Rebellion finished her diatribe. "Well, hey, on the bright side, you did get the clothes you wanted. Although, if you don't mind me asking, is there a particular reason behind your choice?" The fact that Mordred didn't immediately dismiss my question was rather telling. Before she could answer, however, there is another knock at the door.
"Come in," I said, turning around as Mash and Ritsuka entered. The latter takes a quick second to notice Mordred's outfit before speaking up.
"Nice outfit," he said, stroking her ego apparently as her trademark smirk grew.
"Damn right."
"Doctor Roman wanted to know if you were up for trying to summon another Servant or two along with Ritsuka after dinner. Since we won't be deploying for the first of the singularities until the end of the week, he thought that it would be a good idea if all Servants had time to practice working alongside one another. The doctor also said it would be a good way to start working out any issues our Servants might have amongst one another," Mash explained. I hummed softly in thought.
It certainly made sense. I looked over at Mordred, who had a rather neutral expression on her face. "Yeah, that's fine. Now, enough about work, at least for now. Let's eat."
There was a bit of an awkward silence between us. Well, rather between Ritsuka, Mash, and I. Mordred just has a bored look on her face, seemingly uninterested in conversation. We all agreed that it would be a good idea to get to know one another, but it seems that we are all unsure of who should go first.
One of the kitchen staff walks over, holding a tray bearing our dishes. The silence is still present as our meals are placed before us.
"So, who talks first? You talk first, I talk first?" I asked softly, cutting off a slice of my steak. Seeing that the inside was a soft red, I brought the slice to my lips and eat it. Ritsuka picked up his chopsticks and shrugged.
"While, since you brought the question up first, why don't you go?" He said, pointing towards me with his chopsticks. I nodded in response as I finished chewing the portion of steak. I swallowed before replying with words.
"Ah, fair enough. Well, I'm a Magus hailing from America. Just completed high school when a representative from the Clock Tower met with me. Before I know it, I'm being given an offer that, to paraphrase an old movie, I couldn't refuse." I'm rewarded with laughter from Ritsuka, though Mordred and Mash both had a look of confusion on their faces.
"I'm from Japan, obviously. Just simply applied after seeing a flyer and that's how I got here. I guess that meant that Chaldea thought I would be useful," he shrugged. "So, what's up with your summoning of ice?"
"My family focused on working with natural elements. It's a small and rather informal kind, so we just used it when needed. I decided to go with ice because I thought it would be useful. I guess I was right. Now, all I have to do is to practice summoning and controlling ice bigger than an ice cube. What about you? What's your specialty?" I asked in response.
"My family focused on being able to give temporary enhancements to oneself or others. For example, I could give a temporary boost to Mordred's strength if she required it. Any siblings?" I shook my head.
"Nope. Only child. What about you two?"
"I'm also an only child, Jacob Senpai."
"I have a twin sister," Ritsuka replied, pulling out a flip phone. Ah, so it seems that my fellow Master is able to use at least some modern tech as well. That's great to know. After pressing a few buttons, he turned the phone around to show a picture of him with a smiling girl with orange hair.
"I'm assuming the two of you weren't fraternal twins then," I idly commented, staring at the smiling faces. Ritsuka chuckled in response.
"No. Her name is Gudako. She had actually applied for Chaldea at the same time that I did. It seems we both would have been accepted, but apparently because my application was received first, I got the job. She was upset that she didn't get it, but she didn't hold it against me. Of course, now I am wondering if she was the lucky one considering what happened yesterday," Ritsuka muttered darkly, putting away his phone.
"Don't worry. We'll see our families again," I reminded my fellow Master. Ritsuka nodded, features resolute. I looked toward Mash. "What about you, Mash?" The quiet girl blinked, eyes wide.
"Oh! I've just been here in Chaldea for most of my life, really," Mash said, sounding rather evasive to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mordred leaning forward slightly.
"Huh, interesting….so what is your job exactly?" I asked, trying to press further on the issue. For a brief moment, there seems to be a panicked expression on her face
"Ah, I am just Doctor Roman's assistant, really." I resisted frowning, having a feeling that she is lying. However, at least for now, I'll drop the issue. For all I know, it could be a major trust issue thing. In that case, the best way to deal with it would be to just wait and see.
"Well, one thing about us working at Chaldea is that it would look good on our resumes. Saviors of humanity," Ritsuka interjected with a chuckle. I snort in amusement.
"Well, it's not like you applied to Chaldea thinking it was a summer job or something similar for a college resume, right?" I laughed. It doesn't last long as Ritsuka's cheeks flushed, looking down at his plate. My jaw dropped slightly as I stared at my fellow Master. Mordred's bored expression morphed into one of incredulity, while Mash merely shook her head and sighed.
"…In my defense, the advertisement left out a number of details about what I was signing up for," Ritsuka finally said, rubbing his head awkwardly. Recovering from my shock, I let out a soft bark of laughter.
"Did you read the small print on the back?" I joked, causing Ritsuka eyes to widen. Before he could start panicking, however, I continued speaking. "I'm kidding. Honestly, there are worse reasons for why you could have applied here. Besides, it doesn't matter, or at least to me. We're in this together, all four of us." I gazed around my group of newly-acquired friends with a smile, grabbing my glass of water. Raising it up, I smirked.
"To victory, friendship, and saving humanity." Three other glasses clinked against mine, my words being echoed as our meal continued. Our conversation was livelier now, with Mordred even joining in every now and then. It seems Ritsuka's idea worked out, something I am incredibly grateful for.
"So basically, we use these things called Saint Quartz as catalysts to summon Servants? Wouldn't it be better to go with the more traditional way of using items as catalysts?" I asked, staring at the colorful, star-like object Da Vinci was putting into the machine that was used for summoning.
"It was Olga Marie's father who came up with it. Honestly, it just works, which is useful since a lot of items that could have been used for summoning rituals have disappeared in the past few years," Roman explained with a shrug.
After we had finished dinner, Mash had led us to what she called the summoning chamber. The carved lines are similar to the glowing ones that Director Animusphere had summoned when she used Mash's shield back in Singularity F, except for being more permanent.
Standing by the door, arms crossed, was Mordred. She had summoned her armor back, but the helmet was absent, at least for now. She had fallen silent after dinner. If I had to guess, maybe she is on edge about if her father was to be summoned? Honestly, I hope that doesn't happen, or at least, not yet. I turned to Ritsuka.
"Well, since I summoned Mordred last time, why don't you go first?" He nodded and walked over as Da Vinci and Roman readied the machine. Then my fellow master pulled the handle of a lever that the former had indicated, and a familiar set of light bands appears over the circle.
The bands of light fade, and I lowered my hand to see a woman of medium height and in dark green and purple robes. Her lips, with purple coloring, were tilted upward in a small smirk, indicating her amusement. Whether it was the good or bad type of amusement was unknown, however, as the cowl of her robe hid the upper half of her face. She turned her head slightly to Ritsuka, examining him for a second before speaking.
"Medea, Caster. My, you're a rather cute one, Master," the Caster teased, causing Ritsuka to blush and stammer. I snickered softly at the fate of my friend before stepping over, having seen Roman signal that they were ready for my turn at summoning.
A few minutes later, and a man with purple hair and what appeared to be a massive Katana slung over his back stood before us. He was garbed in what appeared to be traditional Japanese clothing. He looks at me before speaking in a calm and composed voice.
"I am Sasaki Kojirou, an Assassin-class Servant. I have been called upon to your service," my new Servant said. His eyes narrowed when he notices Medea. The Caster stopped teasing Ritsuka and stares back, her hackles raised. Huh, so this must be what a Servant with E-rank luck must feel like.
Before blows could be dealt, however,
As once more the lights faded away, I notice the striking blue hair in a ponytail, though cut in a slightly different manner. Instead of robes and a staff, however, there was a close-fitting set of blue armor and a long, red spear with several barbs on either side just below the tip.
"Ah, good job kid! You summoned me in my proper class this time," the Irish Servant grinned happily. Stepping off of the platform, his face has a look of interest on his face. "Assassin and Caster are here as well? Did someone schedule a Grail War reunion or something?" Chulainn asked.
Ah, so the other two new Servants did indeed know each other apparently. I'm not sure if this will be convenient or just complicate things. I cleared my throat, getting the attention of the three Servants. For a brief moment, I almost felt like wilting beneath the stares of the powerful beings before me, but I swallow my hesitation.
"Welcome to Chaldea. I am Jacob Aronson." Ritsuka spoke up after that, catching on to what I was trying to do. He walked up to my side, a friendly smile on his lips.
"And I am Ritsuka Fujimaru. We are your Masters."
"And we are honored that you answered the call to save humanity," I finished as I felt Mordred and Mash position themselves besides us, probably as a sign of support. I remember the traitor's words after what he did to Director Animusphere, and how we were doomed. "Let's show our foes the will to resist!"
Today's question is this: who do you think is better as a character overall, Mordred or Artoria, or do you think they are equal? Hope you enjoyed and see y'all next tim