It must have been around late afternoon when we, the victors, finally returned to the shelter of our camp. Her soldiers chanting her name, and mounted on her horse once more, Nero guided her mount towards the center of the camp, her eyes shining excitedly as she soaked in the praise.
I felt a tap on my shoulder, and turned around to see Boudica looking at Ritsuka, Mash and myself. Out Servants began spreading out, breaking up to go to various places around the camp either as small groups like the three French Servants and the musical composer, or on their own like Chulainn and Sasaki.
"Jacob, Mash, Ritsuka, may I speak to the three of you in private?" Boudica asked, a serious glint in her eyes instead of her more mirthful look. We all nodded, and the Rider gestured at us to follow her, and we do so. Further away from the main crowd of soldiers and the occasional Servant, Boudica took a deep breath.
"There's something I'm worried about. Something about Nero," the former queen began saying. "It happened right after you all arrived. Did any of you notice, how she spaced out?"
"I take it that isn't an uncommon occurrence?" I asked, and Boudica nodded with a sigh.
"Yes, she occasionally spaces out. Nero has been like that ever since the United Empire showed up. It might just be me, but whenever I've been around her during one of those moments, I feel a slight trace of magical energy. I know that I shouldn't seeing as how she's a human from this era, and not a mage like you or Ritsuka. Still, I definitely feel it."
"Have you confronted her over this?" Ritsuka inquired, and Boudica released another weary sigh.
"Yes, I have asked her about it, but she doesn't feel it at all. At least, so she claims. Can you guys keep an eye out? I mean, about her?" Boudica asked, smiling sheepishly with a soft blush, before regaining her composure. "While it hasn't been made official yet, Nero told me that she is appointing Spartacus and I as the new governors of Gaul. That means that we'll have to stay here, protecting this place. That means I can't keep any eye on her myself…" she trailed off, sounding a bit awkward.
"Understood," Mash said quickly, rescuing the Rider from having to finish that sentence. "You're…worried about Nero, aren't you?" She asked cautiously, her 'big sister' suddenly scoffing at the suggestion.
"I wouldn't worry about her at all!" She said rather aggressively. "It's not something I want to do personally, and thankfully now I won't have too. Sadly, for better or worse, Nero's now the symbol of this land. If something happens to her—"
"The war would be lost, and with it, humanity," I guessed, and Boudica nodded her head sharply.
"Correct. I don't want to lose another war. That's the only reason I care about her."
"…Right," Mash said meekly, having been intimidated by the surprisingly-aggressive aura her earlier remark had caused the Rider to create around us.
"Well then, that's that," Boudica said with a smile, instantly dispelling the aforementioned tension. "Mash, we have time before you leave, correct?'
"U-Um—" Mash stuttered, confused both by Boudica's sudden mood shift and her words.
"Before you leave," the Rider said excitedly, hooking an arm around the Demi-Servant's and pulling Mash close to her, trapping the Shielder. "I will teach you the best of Britannia cuisine! I'd be happy if my new little sister learned it, and then made it her specialty!" Boudica gushed excitedly.
I covered my mouth slightly with my left hand, trying to muffle the soft giggles threatening to erupt from my lips as Mash tried to pry herself free.
"N-No, that's—"
"You're so cute, you should start training to be a bride!" Well, that escalated quickly. Ritsuka seemed to have felt the same, his jaw hanging open slightly, and his eyes bulging out like dinner plates as the redhead looked at him from the corner of her eye slyly. Mash was having the worst of it however, having gone stiff like a log while her cheeks exploded into a bright red. "Oh, geeze, so cute! Come here!" Boudica crooned, pulling Mash against her. Once again, Mash began having issues with a certain anatomical feature of the energetic and motherly Servant trapping her.
"W-Wah! Again—" She gasped, trying to tilt her head back slightly. "Your breasts—"
"There, there," Boudica said, apparently ignoring Mash getting, well, mashed according to Ritsuka last time. "Good girl, good girl," she crooned. "You stay cheerful forever. Don't get too hurt, and don't be too reckless. You really are an adorable girl."
Somehow, Mash's blush managed to get even brighter in color.
"Y-Yes, well, I-I am Senpai's…um..." Oh-ho, what's this? Still, it was getting a bit awkward for me, and as the sun began its final descent to signal the arrival of nightfall, I turned to Ritsuka.
"I'm going to go check on Mordred. I wanna see if she took any serious damage from that marble-coated punch from Caesar," I said, and Ritsuka nodded dumbly, unable to look away from the spectacle that Mash and Boudica were quickly becoming. "Good luck with explaining to Nero the whole thing about Servants, too," I said cheekily as I walked off. I could hear Ritsuka suddenly shouting my name as he realizes that I had thrown him to the wolves (or should it be roses in this case?), and I started looking for the Saber.
I find her sitting at the edge of the crowd, watching with a bored expression, having dismissed her helmet. Her visage brightens slightly at seeing me, no doubt expecting me to become a source of entertainment for her somehow. I made my way over to her, staring intently at her before speaking.
"Did Caesar managed to break anything?" I asked Mordred softly, ensuring that only she would hear the words. I didn't want to cause a scene or something while the others celebrated our victory. Mordred gave her reply with a lazy shrug of her shoulders.
"I think he cracked a rib or two with that bunch, but it's nothing that the pipsqueak needs to use her Noble Phantasm to fix," she responded in a casual tone. I furrowed my brow slightly in displeasure at her words. Yes, she is a Heroic Spirit, meaning that she has an unmatchable level of endurance compared to me, but that doesn't mean I would be fine with letting the matter rest.
"While that may be the case, I can give you some mana to speed up the healing process. I know, I know, you're no push over when it comes to pain and all, but there's no point in staying in discomfort when it's not needed, don't you agree?" I asked. The blonde Saber chewed on the corner of her lip for a few seconds, remaining silent before sighing.
"Eh, I guess you have a point. Better not be thinking of doing something creepy," she warned, and my cheeks flushed slightly as I remembered Medea's lesson she had given Ritsuka and I after Orléans on the various methods of performing mana transfers to Servants. Or rather, I was blushing at a combination of remembering one method in particular that I still felt had to be just a joke and Medea's laughter at the reactions of Ritsuka and I.
"Wow, glad to think so highly of me," I drawled, causing the Knight of Rebellion to snicker in amusement at my flat tone. "Just the basic method of pushing mana towards you, using the connection we have as Master and Servant," I added, and Mordred relaxed slightly.
"Good call. Welp, no point in delaying. Let's get this over with, Mas-Jacob," Mordred correct when I shoot her another raised eyebrow. Seems she was still getting used to that request of mine. Eh, progress is progress, at the end of the day. I closed my eyes and activated my Magic Circuits, and nervously imagined pushing some of the magical energy coursing through them towards Mordred. Not too much to leave me drained, but enough to ensure that come morning, the blonde knight would be fully healed.
"Ah, that's better," Mordred said as I deactivated my Magic Circuits less than a minute later. I felt a little shaky, but that is probably more to do with my body still adjusting to using magecraft on a more consistent basis in the past few weeks compared to most of my childhood.
"Well, it would be concerning if it was worst," I quipped, shooting my partner a lopsided grin that had Mordred rolling her eyes slightly at me in what I have now come to realize was mock exasperation. When we had first met, I would have worried about having somehow offended the prideful Servant, but now, I found myself starting to pick up on some of her mannerisms.
Not enough to make me some sort of expert at understanding the blonde, but enough still to make for a pleasant relationship. "So, what did you think of that guy, Caesar? Second time I've seen you fighting against a fellow Saber, after all," I said, staring into her emerald eyes curiously.
Mordred just shrugged lazily. "Eh, it was a good fight. He fought better than I'd have expected for someone of his appearance, but at least it wasn't a boring fight. Of course, in the end, not even he could stand against me," she added cockily, and I had to stifle my laugh. Honestly, the times after a fight against a Servant where Mordred doesn't boast of her skills will be a time most concerning to me over her.
"Indeed," I said instead, smiling warmly at her as the scent of Boudica's cooking wafted towards us. "Seems like dinner is ready. Let's grab some before the others eat it all and leave nothing for us," I said with a soft laugh. Mordred joined in, her voice sounding almost musical when she was giving a soft laugh as opposed to her louder and more boisterous laughter one usually would hear from her.
Tonight would be a time to relax, and come morning, we would head back for Rome, to plan our next move.
Dawn and morning came and went with very little fanfare. Nero gave one of her speeches before departing, as well as instructing Boudica and Spartacus to make sure that Gaul was fully under Rome's control once more in the meantime, just as Boudica had said last night, and then we left.
That wasn't to say that all was well, however, as we continued our march back to Rome. Boudica's warning from the previous evening, and her follow-up request, were still on my mind as I looked up at the source of unease, at least for the moment.
"Your Majesty," I suddenly said, staring intently at disturbingly-silent Emperor of Roses. We had been on the march for less than an hour, with only her escort of the Praetorian Guard surrounding us. "What's on your mind?" I asked, looking up at the mounted blonde. She hummed to herself softly, though the tune sounded rather off-key, if Amadeus's slight grimace was any indication.
"Did you hear what those men outside of the camp said this morning, as well as that traveler and fisherman we passed not that long ago? That 'an ancient god has appeared'. Could it be true?" She asked. I looked at Mash. In these matters, she and Doctor Roman were the most reliable in coming up with either soldi answers at best, or realistic theories at worst.
"I wonder," Roman said in a thoughtful tone. "It's certainly an interesting phrase. If they said 'ancient god', could it be from the Age of the Gods?"
"To be more precise, four different people have all said the same thing, even though they would normally have been completely different professions. A cobbler, a traveler, a fisherman, and a farmer. They would have nothing to gain from trying to deceive us," Mash added. I nodded in agreement.
"'An ancient god appeared on an island off the coast, in the Mediterranean'," I said, repeating the information we had been told. "It feels too specific to just be the work of idle minds."
"It's not unusual to hear such rumors, especially from a fisherman. Still, Gaul has both a naval port loyal to my faction, and also has a part facing the sea. Normally, I would have dismissed such talk, but after hearing it over and over, I confess that I am now most intrigued. It is a pity though that we must return to Rome, however," Nero said with a longing sigh.
"Hmmm, it is intriguing, huh?" Roman interjected. "Jacob, Ritsuka, what do you guys think?"
"Well, it's not like this is the first unusual thing we have encountered recently," Ritsuka said cautiously. I grunted in agreement as memories of zombies, beast-men, and dragons flashed by.
"It could do with the Holy Grail, too," I added. Mash looked at us with uncertainty.
"Well…I'm not so sure about that. Caesar said their 'Court Mage was in possession of it," she countered softly. A good point, but not necessarily valid. After all, back in France, Gilles had his hands on the Grail there, and yet he wasn't able to control everything that was summoned. Perhaps it was the Grail reacting once again in an attempt to preserve all?
"We can't tell if it's Lev or not, but whoever it is, perhaps he has moved into the Mediterranean?" Roman suggested. "Whoever has the Grail could reasonably claim therefore to be a god. An island where a god lives, huh," the ginger man mused aloud. "Ah, that sounds so romantic! An ancient god in the First Century! The supposedly-gone Divine Spirits of the past returning to the land once more!"
"You were up late on that website you're always talking about last night, weren't you?" I said with a soft sigh, cupping my face as I shook my head in mild acting-director started to splutter, but Mash indirectly cam to his aid.
"A question, Doctor. Is the materialization of Divine Spirits really possible?"
'it's difficult. So much so that it's nigh impossible. At least, if one was using Chaldea's system," Roman replied, and Ritsuka and I shared a frown.
"Divine Spirit? Not a Heroic Spirit?" Rits asked.
"Yes. It is different than a Heroic Spirit," Mash began to say/lecture. "It is said to be a higher being. Divine beings are mentioned in many legends of this world. Sometimes as a natural phenomenon, or symbols of authority," the Demi-Servant said.
"They are what you guys may call God, or gods. Just think of Divine Spirits as a term to define them. They're already gone from the face of the Earth. Perhaps they never existed in the first place. Sadly, it's hard to understand magecraft developed after Anno Domini, the birth of Christ. Not even the brightest minds at the Clock Tower can agree on this, especially since we are unable to observe them in our own time. Ahaha, but I've gone on a tangent here," Doctor Roman said with a sheepish laugh. "To answer the question of whether or not a Divine Spirit can materialize as a Servant, the answer is quite simple: They can't. Even if 'they' were inclined to do so, even if technology reached the realms of True Magic, it's disadvantageous, though not impossible," he added, though I found myself feeling quite confused.
"So, just to make sure, there isn't actually a god out there?" I asked bluntly.
"Correct. Still, that doesn't change the fact that something powerful is out there."
"Bah, this is pointless," Nero finally said with a frustrated huff. "Umu, if it's on our minds so much, fine! Like I said, we are near a friendly port, where we can board a ship to verify this report," she said. Before we could talk any more on this topic, however, the captain of Nero's personal guard came rushing back, having lead a small scouting party ahead of us. He looked worried, his gladius drawn, and a long scratch down his right bicep that was weeping blood.
"Your Majesty! The head of the column is being assaulted by unknown monsters!" He said, saluting hastily, panic in his voice. "We can't stop them!"
"I am detecting traces of magical energy. It could be a monster spawned by the Grail," Roman reported, sounding embarrassed. It seems that the discussion distracted him from checking on any readings around us, and therefore he was trying to make up for that slip up.
"Let's go, Senpai!" Mash urged Ritsuka.
"Let's quickly deal with it," my fellow master said in agreement.
"Yes, Master. Commencing battle!" Mash said in her stern manner, summoning her over-sized shield as more of Nero's soldiers came running towards us, each looking injured and panic.
The temperature started to feel like it was dropping just then, and for a second, I could have sworn that I was able to see the vaguest hints of our breaths.
"What devilry is this?" Jeanne muttered softly, and I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly. It was barely past midday during the summer, on a cloudless day, and yet it almost felt like the outside of Chaldea! Just what was responsible for this? Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long to find out, as I gasped in shock at the sight of a half-dozen figures I had never seen before.
Silently, their silverly translucent shrouds fluttered silently on a non-existent breeze. Their bony fingers curled slightly, extended partially forwards, as if to embrace one of us in a life-crushing hug. Each figure's face was an ethereal skull, staring at us with what we could clearly feel to be malicious intent, and I felt a trace of dread beginning to invade my body as the ghosts (for what other than some type of spirit could these malevolent things be?) began floating towards us.
"Wraiths! Master, Jacob Senpai, stay back! Don't let them touch you! Their claws can drain the life out a victim!" Mash called out, positioning her shield and her body in front of me. To her right, Jeanne did the same, spinning her flagstaff while Mordred stood to the Demi-Servant's left, right before me. However, one of the other Servants, the quieter ones, spoke up in her soft tone.
"Master, allow me to deal with these things."
Moving in front of us, Medea started levitating in the air slightly, her staff appearing in one hand while she held an open palm towards one of the ghosts, and the hair stood up. "Shall we begin?" The Caster asked mockingly, though the ghosts neither paused nor hesitated.
Speaking in her native tongue, a dialect of ancient Greek that I had no hope of learning anytime soon sadly, one of the half-dozen spirits was encased in a circle of energy, paralyzing it, and the Witch of Betrayal floated even higher into the air, throwing the tails of her cloak up, and several small circles of pinkish energy appeared on either side, before beams of magical energy of a similar color shot out and forth, striking the trapped wraith dead-center.
I had to squint my eyes, but even then I was unable to witness the demise of the wraith, for when the light faded only a faint whisp of smoke drifting away on the wind was all that was left. The five remaining spirits almost seemed to have recoiled, while a ragged cheer arose form behind as Nero's followers shook off the terror of this new kind of enemy.
"Hmph, time for them to experience a final symphony," Amadeus added, the usually passive Caster raising his own implement to shoot off a ball of magical energy at the leftmost wraith. While far less dramatic as Medea's opening attack, it was no less successful in evaporating another foe.
Still unnervingly silent, the remaining four wraiths began floating forward, arms outstretching further as they tried to close the gap between them and the two Casters that had dealt so easily with. Fortunately for us, they were few in number, and despite being theoretically outnumbered two-to-one, our two Casters each eliminated another two in rapid succession.
I know that this is far from the first time I've had this thought, but seeing a Servant fighting against those less powerful than another Servant was quite terrifying to behold. Especially when one realized just how much of a power gap there is between them and you.
"That was the last one," Mash reports as Medea and Amadeus both returned to their earlier positions, and everyone began relaxing slightly. Nero nodded and turned to her soldiers, instructing them to take a five minute break and deal with the wounded while I listened to Doctor Roman.
"How awful," the acting-director said sadly. "To think that spirits of the dead would materialize on their own." I found myself wondering just who the wraiths had been in life. Were they from this era or earlier? Or, somehow, the remaining traces of those who have yet to fall? I shook my head clear of these morbid thoughts just in time to hear Nero jumping in to the conversation.
"I'm used to it," Nero said in a blasé tone. I felt a vein in my temple starting to pulse slightly at her lack of concern with what she had just said. She's used to the spirits of the dead attacking her on a daily basis? I mean, sure, she's leading a fight against who-knows-how many Servants, but still! "So, uh, what were we talking abou—Right!" Nero suddenly shouted, startling Rits and I with the sudden increase in volume. "That Mediterranean god! Personally, I'd really like to find out the truth on that matter," she said excitedly. Mash shuffled in uncertainty, her spare hand brushing some of her pink hair away from her eyes.
"Are you sure? Don't you, we, need to return to Rome?" Nero shook her head.
"I don't know what this ancient god may be, btu what if it's truly one of the gods? It's not impossible, right? There are Roman legends, too. For instance, Romulus, the founder and the first King of Rome, became the newest god of our people after he disappeared amidst a storm of lightning and thunder. Things like that occasionally happen," Nero paused with a shrug, before huffing softly in amusement. "Ancient gods. How amusing. Regardless, we must assume they're gods of Rome. If one of the United Empire's 'emperors' took that god away, we'd have bigger problems." Nero frowned, before staring each of us in the eye. "I don't want that. That's the one thing I absolutely cannot stand."
"I see," Doctor Roman interjected, his tone oozing respect. Perhaps to mollify somewhat the now-fired up blonde? "Your Majesty's words are reasonable. As guest commanders, we'd be happy to accompany you."
Since when was Doc a guest commander?! Mash must have had a similar thought, for she frowned slightly.
"Aren't you enjoying this a bit too much, Doctor?"
"That's not true!" I swear to whatever deity is watching us, if he says 'that's impossible', I might have to smack the back of Roman's head slightly when we got back to Chaldea. "I just can't hide my overflowing curiosity as a researcher!"
I sighed as Mash blinked in confusion. "But…that's…"
Whatever she was going to say it was, she didn't get to voice it, as Fou began chirping in concern, looking at Nero, concern filling the critter's oddly-colored eyes.
"Fu…Kyu, kyu. Fou," the critter chirped as Nero stared off into the forest with a concerningly-vacant expression on her face once more.
"Come on, Nero, say something," Mash muttered softly, but getting no response. She cleared her throat softly and tried again, speaking louder. "Nero? Are you alright?"
"Hmmm, what?" Nero said, blinking rapidly before looking at us. "No, I've decided. A triumphant return from the sea might not be so bad! We can go to that port I mentioned, and take a ship to investigate. After that, we'll continue our return journey through the ocean. I'm rather tired of traveling on land!" She declared.
"She spaced out again," I muttered softly to Jeanne. While Mordred was nearby, she didn't exactly have a high opinion of the Emperor of Roses.
"I see. So, this is what Boudica must have meant," the Maid of Orléans murmured back, her turquoise eyes sympathetic as she gazed at Nero. "Doctor Roman, did your machines detect anything from her just now?"
"Yes, there was definitely a trace a magical energy in Nero just now. However, it could just mean that she has the potential to be a mage," Roman said quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of the person in question just yet. Thankfully, she seems to have been suitably distracted with her decision she had just made.
"All right, then it's settled! It's been a while since I last commanded a vessel, but it's good to travel by sea. Umu, Ritsuka, Jacob, let me show you my brilliant sailing skills!"
"I can't wait!" Ritsuka said, while I was smore reserved.
"I'm a bit worried," I muttered, though Nero didn't appear to have noticed, beaming a smile as bright as the sun.
"No need to be embarrassed. Umu, you're bad at hiding your feelings, huh?" Or maybe she did, but didn't take any insult from my statement of a lack of confidence in the validity of her skill?
"The emperor is amazing! Whatever you say, she interprets it in a positive way!"
…Maybe everything will work out fine?
Me and my big, fat mouth…
"Geeze, Rits," I remarked, rubbing a hand up and down my friend's back weakly as he leaned against the railing of the small liburna we had boarded with a dozen of Nero's guards. The others had been left behind to guard the port and treat their injured comrades for the time being. "I didn't know you suffered from seasickness."
"Y-Yeah…lucky m-urgh!" His words were cut off as another wave of nausea overwhelmed him. Still, it was interesting to see his attempt at sarcasm. Out of the two of us, I was the one typically giving out such remarks. I must be starting to rub off on him or something. I withdrew my hand to allow Mash to take over, noticing the protective expression on her face even as she was fighting off her own nauseous.
Ritsuka, Mash, and I, along with some of the more bolder Servants like Mordred and Marie, stood near the prow of the vessel, while Nero steered the ship from the rear, all the while acting like an admiral. Part of me wondered if Ritsuka's seasickness had less to do with the normal causes of the nauseous ailment, and more as a result of Nero's…captaining.
Somehow, somehow, she was managing to force the swift vessel we were riding to perform near-impossible maneuvers, having personally taken control of the rudder and ordering for the oars to be stowed. When I had asked why, the Emperor of Roses had said that she wished to display her skill at the helm, with only her hands and the wind to guide her.
Needless to say, it was certainly an experience.
Just one that I could have done without.
"Master," Mordred groaned, tightly gripping the railing under her gauntlets to the point that the wood began splintering. "I think I'm going to have to kill that brat if she keeps this up."
"No murdering our allies," I said sternly, and Mordred huffed in annoyance. "Look on the bright side, I think we're almost there," I said hopefully, pointing a finger up ahead to the rapidly-approaching beach.
"Umu, I see our destination is just ahead! Most wonderful timing indeed, for I have just had a moment of inspiration for a song!" Nero cried out in child-like joy. Having not heard her singing, I wasn't sure about what to expect, but the sudden, stony expressions on the faces of Nero's accompanying guard certainly weren't ominous.
No, not at all ominous…
"Worst…boat ride…ever," I growled, resisting the urge to cry out my frustration as I stood on my shaky legs that were adjusting to being on dry land, all while my ears were still ringing. Next to me, Mordred was cursing up a storm, while on the other side, the near-constantly polite Jeanne had a troubled expression on her lips as she rubbed the palm of one hand against her right ear gingerly.
If I had thought that Nero's boating skills were of dubious quality, they were far superior to her singing! No one had escaped with their hearing unscathed. I couldn't speak for the others, but for me, the best way I could describe it was as if a foghorn had mated with an angle grinder, and then was strapped to the back of the most pissed-off donkey in the world. I had a feeling Amadeus might have used harsher words, if it weren't for the near-catatonic state he had fallen into, being assisted by his close friend Marie off of the vessel.
"Umu, that was some nice wind!" A completely unrepentant Nero chirped cheerfully. "It was the most aggressive voyage ever!"
"Thank goodness my semicircular canals were enhanced. If I hadn't become a Demi-Servant…" Mash's face took on a queasy expression and she shuddered slightly. "Ugh…I'm not going to go there," she said as my commlink went off.
"Yes?"
"Y-You all seem to have gone through an ordeal. I could tell by your vitals. The soldiers couldn't leave either. Oh, poor men! Since the emperor offered to take the wheel herself, I thought she had impeccable skills. But wait, maybe, just maybe! Those were impeccable skills, in a sense," Roman suggested, and I stared at the wrist-strapped device incredulously. What in the hell is he trying to say?
"Doc?" I asked warily.
"I mean, the ship's still standing after such a rocky journey. It also leapt through waves, and drifted some turns…it's amazing when you think about it. Just what you'd expect of the emperor."
"Don't be stupid," I said with a scoff. Good grief, talk about having a case of the rose-tinted glasses. He gave off yet another one of his sheepish bouts of laughter.
"Oh c'mon Jacob, you didn't get mads, did you?" Instead of speaking, I decided to let my silence serve as my reply. Chaldea's acting-director finally coughed awkwardly, dropping the idea that Nero was good with boating. "Anyways, what's important is that you guys landed safely on the rumored island. You should start looking for this ancient—"
"We have someone approaching," Gilles called out, having been the first one off the boat and being an advance scout of sorts while the rest of us recovered from this unexpected ordeal.
'Wait, maybe we don't have to look after all? It seems the god is coming to greet us,"
Doctor Roman said at the same time, though his voice adopted a warning tone. "However, I am detecting a Servant. Be on your guard."
"Wait, another enemy attack? So this island is also under the yoke of the United Empire," Nero said with a curse, drawing her sword as Mordred and the others summoned their own weapons (well, everyone but Amadeus, that is).
"No, this is…a Servant, but…something's off," the good doctor replied, and I could imagine him squinting at his display right now with a furrowed brow based off of his tone. "It's different than normal, what is this?" A girlish laughed echoed around us, as a young girl stepped forward. She had light purple hair and eyes, and wore a white dress with dark trimming, and some odd bits of jewelry on her arms, though the most odd thing about her had to be the multi-color circle hovering around her head, like an angel's halo flipped on it's side. She looked to be around the age of eleven, but looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to matters involving Servants.
"Yes, that's right. I'm not a 'normal' Servant," the Servant said cheerfully. "Good day, heroes. Welcome to my humble temporary home for this era, the 'Shaped' Isle."
Original End Notes: And done! We're about two-thirds of the way through the Second Singularity. Sorry if the chapter had too many time skips, but I didn't have enough inspirational material to write a full chapter covering only the aftermath of the battle in the last chapter, and I wanted to move on. Still, did you guys enjoy the chapter? Sorry if the fight scene against the ghosts (which I say in-game look more like wraiths) was very short, but really, I was including it because I wanted to introduce the enemy type, like how two chapters ago I introduced the golems. Don't worry though, we'll be seeing more of those annoying pests :/ At least Medea and Amadeus got a chance to shine finally :) I swear, for all that I am having Jacob bashing Nero, I don't hate the Emperor of Roses! I find her fascinating, even if I feel that some of her mannerisms can be a bit...off-putting. It's just that in this case, she really can't do too much because the game has given her the status of a normal human (more or less). Still, I hope I am staying true to her personality? Next chapter should be either Friday or Saturday. Debating whether or not posting a chapter on Friday the 13th would be considered a bad omen LMAO Now, for the question of the day: Did you guys get anything good this week from the free thirty Saint Quartz that was given on Monday? I got a five star CE 'Vessel of the Saint', though I did a single pull right afterwards and got Tesla. Last three 30 SQ cost pulls have given me only CEs, while singles have continued giving me five and four stars. Made single pulls are the way forward? Second question: If you have to choose between listening to Elisabeth singing or Nero, and without any way to lessen the pain, who would you choose and why? Once again, a many sincere thank you to everyone who has given this story a chance, I hope y'all enjoyed another chapter, and I eagerly await to read your thoughts, comments, and daily question answers! Stay safe and healthy, and see you in a few days
End Notes 07-24-2021: As always, full version can be read on Archive of Our Own if you want, working on updating more regularly here though. Hope you enjoy and see you in the next uodate