Orginal Publishing on Archive of our Own Date: August 19, 2020
"Well, long time no see, Ruler."
I turned to Mordred, raising an eyebrow. "You've met before?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later. Gotta focus on those flying lizards. You ready to fight?" Mordred asked a startled 'Ruler'. The newcomer, clearly a Servant if both the title and the fact that the Knight of Rebellion recognized her, nodded back, a bit hesitant before looking back at the wyverns.
"Agreed."
Next to me, Ritsuka turned to Medea. "Medea, you and Mash will be the last line of defense. Chulainn, support Mordred and 'Ruler'."
"Very well," the solitary Caster said.
"You got it!"
"Sasaki, you will support the front group," I said softly, and the swordsman nodded before stepping forward nonchalantly.
"What I wouldn't give for some range attack," Ritsuka muttered. I nodded, smiling as an idea pops into my head. I turn to the Demi-Servant standing protectively in front of us.
"Mash, hold still," I said, stepping forward and reaching into the sack she was still carrying. After a few quick seconds, I grasped something metallic, and pulled out one of the water canteens. "Well, my friend, while we don't have any Archers yet, I have an idea. You said that your family specialized in mystic codes, correct?"
"Yes."
"Can you do it to inanimate objects?"
"Theoretically, yes. Why?" My grin spreading, I unscrewed the cap off of the canteen, and activated my Magic Circuits. I had approached Medea shortly after she had been summoned and ask if she would help me with being able to refine my grasp over my ice summoning magecraft. It took some convincing, but finally the Greek Caster had agreed to tutor me. While I still wasn't able to form a large wall of ice without exhausting myself, as what had happened in Singularity F, I was now able to summon ice to a certain degree with little to no cost in terms of prana.
I focused on the upper layer of the water and closed my eyes. "Eis, bilden! Eiszapfen machen!" I intoned. I imagined droplets of water flying out of the canteen and into the air around me. As I imagined them beginning to solidify, I forced them to stretch themselves out into icicles. Opening my eyes, I see that I had managed to summon about a dozen or so floating over my head. I turn to Ritsuka.
"If I call out for it, I would like you to reinforce the tips of these icicles. While I doubt that it would kill a wyvern, but it should sure as hell do some damage to it.
The first wyvern swooped down, mouth open and ready to breath fire when Sasaki swung his long-bladed sword, severing the head in a single blow. The body of the headless wyvern twitched as it fell for a few seconds before it started to dissolve.
Chulainn crouched down next to the Assassin, a feral grin matching the glint in his red eyes as he clutches his spear. Then he turned into a red and blue blur as he launched himself into the air at one of the wyverns. The next second, his spear was thrust deep into the heart of the startled reptile, slaying it. I shook my head slightly in amusement when I hear Mordred shout "show off," to the Lancer as she decapitated her own opponent with a single, brutal swipe of Clarent.
A third wyvern tried to dive down on the Knight of Rebellion from behind, but she had apparently noticed it, spinning around swiftly as she threw an armored fist into the wyvern's mouth. It snapped to the side, a spray of blood landing on the ground along with a fang or two. With a low grunt, Mordred impaled the winged creature with Clarent, pulling the blade up and disemboweling the wyvern.
However, another wyvern began to dive at her, and this time she seemed distracted. I shouted towards Ritsuka. "Now!" I said, readying myself to sling the ice spikes forward. Each of the icilces started to glow a faint red, and I then pointed at the wyvern.
The ice spikes knocked it off course, causing it to roar. The sound was cut short, however, by a familiar sword being thrown into the throat, slaying it almost instantly. I lowered my hackles as Mordred retrieved her sword as 'Ruler', Sasaki, and Chulainn dealt with the last two wyverns rather quickly
As the last body of the wyvern began to dissolve, Mash slowly began to ease her stance, her purple eyes scanning the sky for a few minutes before she finally spoke. "I believe that was the last one," she reported. Mordred walked over and gave a (somewhat) soft back pat that almost sent me stumbling forward.
"Thanks for the assist with that last one, Master. I totally would have gotten him though," she added with her trademark smirk. I shook my head in amusement and activated the commlink.
"Doctor Roman?"
"Appears so. All right, fine job everyone! I was watching with sweety palms, and sweets in my hands!"
….wait, what?
"Doctor," Mash said slowly, scowling slightly. "Are those the sweets that I got recently?"
"Huh? Is that right? I found them in the command room next to the tea, and none of the staff present said that it was theirs, so I thought…" Doctor Roman's voice trailed off, laughing nervously as Mash growled rather cutely.
"I had gotten them as a token of gratitude for when we return from this Order. They weren't for you, but for Jacob Senpai and Ritsuka Senpai, for fighting bravely," the Demi-Servant responded in a testy tone.
"Mash…you've become such a thoughtful person…" the doctor's voice was muffled slightly, and we could hear the sounds of hurried chewing. "I must say, these are some really tasty sweets. I'm sure Ritsuka and Jacob will be thrilled, too!" That would imply that there would be any left in the first place, an outcome I suspect to be doubtful.
Mash apparently felt the same, for she turned to Ritsuka. "…Master, when we return to Chaldea, please reserve enough combat resources for one last attack. I've registered one more enemy that I'd like to hit with the "back of my blade'," she said to a startled Ritsuka in one of the most serious tones I have heard yet. Mordred snorted in amusement.
The levity of the moment doesn't last for long, sadly, as I hear the man I had been talking to shout in alarm to his comrades. I look over my shoulder to see the battered and charred gate being closed. Well, so much for camaraderie.
"What was he saying, Jacob?" Ritsuka asked nervously, hands curled slightly. I looked back at my friend.
"He said to run, and that the 'Dragon Witch' was here," I turned towards 'Ruler'. The blonde Servant was staring down at her feet with a forlorn expression on her face, also understanding what the soldier had said. The others looked at her as she started to speak in a quiet tone.
"Thank you very much for helping," she finally said.
"It's what we came here for," Mash replied. "Earlier, Mordred called you 'Ruler'. I assume that means you are a Ruler-class Servant. Then what is you-" Before the pink-haired girl could continue, I spoke up, my arms crossed.
"Jeanne d'Arc, the Maid of Orléans, and one of the nine secondary patron saints of France. That is who you, if you forgive my impertinence," I said, lowering my head in apology at the last part. She may have fought off the wyverns alongside us, but from what I heard, there are two possibilities that came to my mind. Either somehow there were two people going by Jeanne here, or this was an elaborate trap. At the mention of her status in later history as a saint, Jeanne blushed.
"Jeanne…d'Arc?" Mash asked quietly.
"I thought you guys said she was supposed to have just died," Ritsuka added, confused. I briefly looked away from the Servant to look at my fellow Master with a raised eyebrow.
"Rtisuka…" I said with a sigh, causing Ritsuka to chuckle nervously.
"Yes?"
"Learn some tact next time," I gently reprimanded him, causing his cheeks to darken slightly in embarrassment as he lowered his gaze while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. Looking back at Jeanne, I shoot her an apologetic look
"Well, I fear we may be overstaying our welcome here," Sasaki suddenly spoke up, gesturing at the wall behind us. A few French archers could be seen readying bows and crossbows, eyes focused on Jeanne with fear and anger. She looked away, unable to see the expressions on the faces of her former comrades.
"Do you know a place that we could go to talk?" I asked, a bit gently.
Jeanne nodded. "Yes. Follow me."
After walking for some time, we paused at the outskirts of a decent-sized grove of trees. Suddenly, Jeanne stiffened, and I noticed her fists clenching the staff in her hands. Medea's staff appeared in the Caster's hands, and I draw my sword. "Large or small group?" I asked the Ruler. She looked over her shoulder towards me as the other Servants readied themselves.
"It seems that some more of those vile things are here. They're too close to the fort," she replied quietly. Sure enough, another dozen or so of those damn skeletal warriors clattered towards us. Mordred rolled her eyes, not even bothering to assemble her helmet as she threw herself forward and past Jeanne, arms outstretched. In one strike she body slams on skeleton and clothesline another skeleton to either of her before summoning Clarent
I sensed rather than felt the threat behind me, even as Ritsuka cried out my name in alarm. Spinning around, my sword sliced through the neck of the skeleton that was about to stab me from behind. "You know," I said to the crumbling enemy, gritting my teeth, "I am getting sick and tired of this cliché. I mean, what's next, zombies?"
Another skeleton with a spear charged forward. Seeing Mash charging forward, I simply lop the tip of off the spear before Mash's shield collides with the center mass of the skeleton. Looking around, I see that the main group of skeletons have also been dispatched.
"Enemy group destroyed," Mash reported. I sheathed my sword before wiping the back of my hand against my forehead, clearing it of sweat. The sun was starting to set as Jeanne turned towards us.
"Seeing as it is starting to get late, I suggest that we should settle here," the Ruler asked. I shoot a questioning look at Ritsuka, wanting to get his opinion. He nodded back in response.
"I see no reason to disagree with the idea. I guess we can start introductions now, huh?" I asked, waiting for Jeanne to respond. When she nodded her head, the metal tassels of her head piece clinking softly, I continued speaking. "I am Jacob Aronson."
"My individual name is Mash Kyrielight," the Demi-Servant spoke next, gesturing towards Ritsuka. "This is Ritsuka Fujimaru, my Master." My fellow Master waved his hand, apparently still a little embarrassed over the whole mentioning of the Ruler's death and whatnot. A thoughtful expression appeared on Jeanne's face.
"Two Masters? So, there are Masters even in this Holy Grail War," she said. Mash shook her head though.
"No, it has nothing to do with the Holy Grail War. I am just a Demi-Servant," she explained, and Jeanne's expression morphed into one of confusion.
"Demi-Servant?"
"Not a true Heroic Spirit." Upon hearing this, the Maid of Orléans looked a bit skeptically at Mash. I turned to Mordred. Her words from earlier and the promise to explain had been weighing in the back of my mind. Now it seemed like the best time for her explanation.
"So, Mordred. You said that you know her?" I asked. My Servant nodded once.
"Yeah. The last time I was summoned, it was in a Great Holy Grail War, between two different factions. In other words, fourteen Servants were summoned. Ruler over here was summoned to serve as an unbiased arbiter of the war, to ensure that both sides were following the rules," Mordred explained. However. Jeanne looked at her in confusion.
"I apologize, but I have no idea about what you are talking about. I have no memories of ever meeting you. If it wasn't for your Master over there, I wouldn't even have known your name."
"Doesn't a Ruler have the True Name Discernment skill?" I asked, rubbing my chin in thought. Jeanne nodded her head in confirmation.
"As far as I understand, I have indeed been summoned as a Servant of the Ruler class. However, a majority of information about the Holy Grail War that should be provided is missing. That's not the only thing, either. My stats have been lowered as well. Not only have I lost the anti-Servant command Spells that I should have had, I am also unable to reveal the True Name of any Servant I encounter unless it is given to me freely." Her cheeks flushed as she looked away from me. "Luckily, this is my homeland where I was born and raised. If nothing else, I can still speak the language."
"So, do you have any idea why people are saying that you have turned into a 'Dragon Witch'?" I asked. Jeanne hesitated once again before answering.
"Having just materialized only a few hours ago, I am not sure about what's going on. With that in mind, it seems that there is another Jeanne d'Arc in this era. A Jeanne who has murdered King Charles, and decimated Orléans," the Servant said, clearly bothered by the idea.
"So, does that mean two of the same Servants have been summoned in have been summoned in the same era?" Mash asked.
"Doctor, are there any records about this happening or being possible?" I asked. After a minute, Doctor Roman replied.
"I've found nothing so far that addresses the idea. However, we don't have access to most of the Holy Grail War's records. That means there could be examples of such simultaneous summons having occurred. On a different note, we now know what the issue is with this era. With Charles VII dead, and Orléans apparently under occupation, this symbolizes the collapse of the French nation. In a few centuries from now, France was the first nation to declare human liberty and quality, an action that many other countries followed suit. A delay of at least a hundred years would stagnate civilization, possibly leaving the world stuck in the Middle Ages!" Doctor Roman said rapidly. Jeanne leapt backward, a startled expression on her face.
"I just heard a voice," she said in alarm, amethyst eyes wide. "Is this some form of magecraft?! What in the world are you all-" Before she could continue, the acting director spoke up.
"Oh, that's right, I haven't introduced myself yet. Nice to meet you, Saint Jeanne d'Arc. My name is Romani Archaman. Everyone calls me Roman though. I do various support tasks for Chaldea.
"Chaldea?" I feel pity for the girl. Servant or not, she is being given a large amount of information that is adding to her earlier confusion over the loss or reduction of her various skills.
"Excuse me, Mademoiselle Jeanne," Mash, stop trying to use French, I beg you, "but it's our turn now."
"We're not from this era, but what you would consider the future, which is our present. In other words, we are time travelers. Our mission is to correct singularities in history such as this one," I explained before handing it over to Mash.
"Jacob Senpai is correct. We belong to an organization called Chaldea," Mash began to explain before spending the next forty-five minutes telling Jeanne about what had happened to us in the past week. By the time she's done, the sun had finished its descent while a crescent moon began to rise. However, Jeanne's confusion had been dealt with.
"…I see, I understand now," the Ruler-class Servant said. "To think that the world itself has been incinerated." The embarrassed expression she had earlier returns as she lowered her gaze awkwardly to her feet. "It seems my worries were so trivial."
"Jeanne?" I asked. The Servant looked up at me, a grim expression now present.
"I'm an incomplete Servant, and now even I cannot trust 'myself'! The Jeanne d'Arc that occupies Orléans…and not only that, but those flying dragons…"
"Seeing that neither dragons nor wyverns are supposed to be here, and that you are being called the 'Dragon Witch', do you think that this other you is the one responsible for their presence?" I asked. Jeanne nodded glumly.
"As much as I am loath to admit it, but the person controlling these creatures must be 'myself'. I don't know how though, especially since I never thought of such things when I was alive. Summoning a dragon is one of the highest forms of magcraft. To summon so many though…" she trailed off before Roman took over.
"It's an impossible feat for modern mages," he said. Ritsuka's eyes widened while my own narrowed.
"Unless one has a Holy Grail," I interjected. After all, this singularity was supposed to be caused by a Holy Grail, which has been described as an omnipotent device for granting wishes, such as gaining the ability to summon and command dragons and wyverns.
"Bingo! While the situation isn't exactly ideal, at least you guys now have an idea of where to look."
"In other words, we have to cross skeleton and wyvern-infested territory and defeat the forces at Orléans, hopefully finding the Grail and reclaiming it," I summed up, a cross-expression on my face. "Hey Mash, you wouldn't happen to have somehow brought a cannon or rocket launcher with you, would you?" I asked jokingly. The pink-haired girl shook her head, apparently thinking I was being serious before she turned to Jeanne.
"What about you, Mademoiselle Jeanne? What are you going to do now?" The Servant's eyes hardened, her facial features resolute.
"The objective is clear. I will head to Orléans, and once again take back the city. In order to do so, I must exterminate the Jeanne d'Arc who stands in my way," Jeanne said, no, declared, her tone unyielding. Mash stared at her in awe. "The Lord didn't show me the path, but I cannot, will not, turn my back on this." The Servant was certainly brave, no doubt about it.
"Even alone, you will fight," Mash said, awe-struck. "She's just like history said she was, Master." Ritsuka and I both nodded.
"Glad to see you're not throwing in the towel, Ruler," Mordred said, having remained silent behind me. "I never did get a chance to see you truly fight," she added, sounding a bit eagerly to me. The sentence gives me an idea, and I stepped closer.
"We have similar goals and missions," I said, extending a hand. "However, no one should have to fight alone. We would be honored to fight alongside you, if you will let us?" I offered. Jeanne looked at the hand in surprise, before a small smile crept across her lips.
"I cannot possibly thank you enough. Thank you, Jacob. I had thought that I would be in this fight all alone," she said, appearing relieved. I return the smile before it slips from my face as I look past her at a shadow approaching from the edge of the grove. It was charging towards us.
"Look out!" I cried out in warning as I tackled a startled Jeanne to the ground. If I had waited a second longer, the outstretched claws would have slammed into her back instead of Clarent's blade. I rolled to the side as the French Servant leapt back to her feet, twirling her flagstaff as a large, red wyvern hissed in anger as Mordred lops off its right foot.
Whatever reason behind the quasi-dragon to attack in an area where it would barely be able to hover was unknown. That it would be killed soon wasn't unknown, however, as Sasaki slashed its right wing into ribbons while Jeanne stabbed the breast of the dragon near the heart, slaying it instantly. The Servants and Mash circled around Ritsuka and I protectively, gazes swinging around the horizon when it could be seen for the next few minutes before they all slowly began to ease up.
"Well, that was a thing," Chulainn remarked breezily. Meanwhile, Sasaki shook his head before turning to me.
"Master, with your permission, I would like to take the first watch of the campsite." Medea responded with a bark of laughter.
"My, it seems that you really did enjoy being a guard despite your idle complaints last time," the Caster teased. The Assassin tensed his shoulders briefly, but otherwise did not respond to the taunt. As Mordred look disapprovingly at her, I nodded at my second Servant.
"Very well. Thank you for volunteering to go first, Sasaki," I said, learning a brief nod before the Japanese swordsman walked to the edge of the grove from which the wyvern had come charging in.
"Sorry about tackling you," I said to Jeanne, smiling a bit awkwardly and earning a snort of amusement from Mordred.
"It's fine. I do feel ashamed though for saying that I would fight on my own earlier, however," Jeanne said, her cheeks burning red once more. "Thanks to you, I feel stronger than ever. Even if I'm up against myself, a witch, I have nothing to be afraid of now that I have you as allies." I frowned, however, noticing the bitterness in her tone at mentioning herself as a witch.
"You sure you're ok?" I asked, my arms crossed.
"I am fine," she insisted as Ritsuka and Mash shot their own questioning looks at the Maid of Orléans. "Needless to say, it does sadden me that those soldiers would mistake me for that other Jeanne. Alas, it can't eb helped," she shrugged.
"You're taking this remarkably well," Mordred remarked, earning another shrug from the blonde French.
"It's only been a few days since I was burned at the stake. If a resurrected me caused a massacre at Orléans, then I can't blame me for being scared of me."
"Well, hopefully that'll change soon," Ritsuka said, and I nodded in agreement.
"So, what's the plan now?" Mordred asked lazily.
"I suggest that we break camp come morning, and head to the nearest village. We can ask around, see if they have see anyone unusual perhaps. Since Jeanne can't detect other Servants like a Ruler normally could, we'll have to do this the old-fashion way. Any complaints?"
"Nope."
"No."
"Nah."
"Then it's settled then," Ritsuka said before his stomach rumbled softly, an action repeated by Masha and myself. "Though, maybe we could do with some supper, seeing that we're not Servants and all." We all laughed at that, and soon started to set up a small camp, complete with a fire, but no tents. Thankfully, the sack contained three roll-up sleeping bags that were also used to protect the food, so we wouldn't have to sleep on the ground truly.
Dinner had been quiet but nice, considering the food we had on hand was dry and tasteless. The conversation though, that had been more enjoyable. We had asked questions about Jeanne and her childhood. Afterall, it wasn't like one could ask such an iconic historical figure to share stories about growing up. Even Mordred had joined in, much to my amusement.
However, there was a question that I needed to ask Doctor Roman. I got up, stretching my back. "I got to go take a leak," I said, a half-truth. After moving away some, out of hearing range unless I shouted, I quickly relieved my bladder and then used the small packet of hand sanitizer I had grabbed to clean my hands. I moved a little closer to the camp before pausing.
Seeing that I was alone, I turned on my commlink. "Hey, you still there, Doc?"
"Of course. What's up?"
"Roman, about what Jeanne had said that she was weaker than she should be…do you have any idea why that could be?" I asked softly, standing away from the others.
"Based on what we know, perhaps it is because she was summoned after another 'Jeanne d'Arc' had been summoned. However, I can't say for certain if that is the case," Doctor Roman finally replied, having apparently been in a discussion over this with Da Vinci.
"An idea is better than having nothing, even if it is only a theoretical one," I remarked. "Thank you, Doctor. Have a good rest of the night. We'll contact you in the morning once we are awake and ready to move out," I added, my eyes focused on the campfire.
"Good night, Jacob. Stay safe," Roman replied, and I grunted in acknowledgement as I turned off my commlink, crossing my arms in thought as I rocked back and forth briefly on my heels, humming softly.
Well, so much for this being a simple mission. And yet, it doesn't feel like an impossible one. Especially considering the progress that we had made in a single day. Saving a band of soldiers, finding out a possible identity of the enemy we will have to face, as well as the location to find both them and the Grail. And finally, meeting and forming a temporary contract with Jeanne d'Arc.
I stop rocking and instead switched to leaning against a tree while I watched Jeanne, Ritsuka, Mash, and occasionally Mordred exchange stories and occasional laughter. Despite the situation, or perhaps because of it, the sight warms my heart. My group of friends.
Ritsuka, a guy who many might describe as being average, but with an open and trusting heart. And yet, even if he didn't realize it yet, I suspected that there was strength inside him, waiting for its chance. Despite his occasional mistakes or gaffs, I am proud to know and work alongside him to solve all seven of these singularities to save our families and the future of the world.
Mash, the shy, polite, and equally kind-hearted junior of our group. A kouhai, I believe Ritsuka called her once or twice. The two seemed to work well together, even though they had known each other for only a short time. However, there seemed to be a hidden sadness whenever she smiled, adding to the suspicion that there was something else about her that she hadn't shared. Just as I had chosen when we had our first group dinner, however, I wouldn't press the topic.
Mordred, loud, brash, boastful, and reliable. For someone many would lambast as the icon of treachery, only when she mentioned her father did I see that part of her. I had told her shortly after summoning her that titles shouldn't define a person, and that I trusted her. In the time, short though it may be for now, that we spent together, that act of blind trust seems to have been validated. Mordred would forever be my first Servant, as Mash is Ritsuka's.
Maybe it was me being idealistic, but it seemed that the bond between Mordred and I was slowly starting to grow. Not in a measurable way, not let, but she was slowly easing up her reactions whenever I accidently referred to her true gender. She still glared at me, but there hadn't been threats of harm like the first time. Honestly, I found myself enjoying her company, even when she acted like a child every now and then.
Together, the three of them helped reinforce my determination to fight back.
"Oi, Master! Stop acting all dark and broody and get your ass over here!" I shook my head with a smile, pushing myself forward.
"Ok Mordred," I said, sitting down to enjoy the next few hours before it came time to sleep.
Question of the chapter: Now, for the fun stuff! Two questions: The first is for those who have played Fate/Grand Order: Which is your favorite singularity and why? For general audiences: Aside from the original form, which one of the various Artoria getups do you enjoy the most? (Including Alters and the Herione X stuff)