When I open my eyes, I am greeted by a field of flowers so beautiful it never fails to take my breath away. And just like usual, in this vast field of flowers that seemingly go on forever, someone is waiting for me, with winds caressing his hair like a mother touch, and flowers floating like a curtain.

"Your journey begins now." He spoke. "This is the journey of souls, a struggle of self, and a fight for humanity's future." He informed me. "It is going to be a difficult journey, filled with hardship, challenge, and parting." He warned me. "Yet even so, it is still also a journey filled with lessons, smiles, and companionship." He reassured me.

"Regardless, do not forget what you are fighting for, and never lost sight of your purpose. And be assured, that the Paradise will watch over you. May your journey be filled with blessing." And the flowers scatter around us, gathering around me and overtaking my-

With a burst of wind from me, the flowers all scatter away, finally revealing the person who has been speaking in an annoying riddle all this time. "What are you doing, Merlin?" I deadpanned.

And my mentor, Merlin the Mage of Flowers, just laughing wryly like his joke just fell flat.

"That's supposed to be cool lines from your mysterious and awesome mentor, Lily." He lamented while shaking his head as if it is my fault for not playing along with his game.

After how many times he is doing it, this has already lost any impact a long time ago, honestly.

"It's not my fault your prank failed, Merlin." I huff "Are you calling me here just to give me a cryptic message just so you can laugh when I failed to decipher it again in time before something 'funny' happened that you definitely warned me about?"

And he has the gal to laugh!

"Now now, it's a lesson. Lesson. Yes, it's not like I am enjoying watching you stressed over my message and thus missing the obvious, absolutely not- ow ow ow!" I growled while hitting his head with my staff.

"I know it! You're doing it on purpose!"

After I was finally satisfied taking my revenge on all the pranks he has done to me, we took a sit on the flower field, with Merlin creating a cup of tea out of nothing like usual.

"Jezz, you're so violent, Lily. I wonder where did I go wrong raising you?" I huff, covering my reddened cheek with my cup. I admit that maybe hitting my master's head several times is a bit too far, but he is just going to tease me if I admit it.

"It's your fault to always pranking me, Master." I huff. "Anyway, why are you calling me, master?"

"Ah yes. The message I give you just now is a real deal, Lily." I blinked in confusion. "You are about to embark on a journey that will determine the fate of humanity itself."

…What?

"W…what are you talking about, Master? You know I'm just going to go to my new job."

"Yup!" He nods with a smirk. "And that job is to protect humanity's future! Haven't you read the job description?"

"Wait, so that was literal!?" I gasped in surprise "I thought they are more of a magical research facility where we study and probably invent something magical!"

"I know right? They really need a better ad description. This is practically a scam!" Master laughed before sipping his drink. "But anyway, I'm afraid there is nothing that can be done about it. Someone needs to embark on this journey, otherwise, humanity is screwed. Since you're my beloved pupil, I figure, why not have you saving humanity?

"Rejoice, Lily Penelope. Your- wait wait wait, please don't throw that at me. I make them boiling hot as you like it!" I growled but, in the end, I relent and put down my cup. Master might hide it behind his jovial attitude, like usual, but I understand responsibility when I hear one.

"Can you tell me in more detail about what is going to happen, Master?"

Master hummed for a few seconds before answering my question. "I don't want to spoil you too much, but basically there is a plot that spawned for thousands of years, started by the shadow of the Wise King after his dead. It is a plan to erase suffering, stop pain, and eradicate death." That… seems to be a good thing?

Master must notice my confusion, as he smiled and pat my head. "I know what you think, but trust me that is not as good as how it sounds. Humanity's conflict is born from its own free will. So long as they have emotions and free will, then conflict and pain is inevitable. If you erase that, then what will that be left?"

"…A doll." Master smiled at my answer. "Unfeeling dolls who only do things as they scripted… right?"

"Correct." Master nod. "As to how he will achieve this… Well, you will know soon enough, so I don't have to tell you. What you need to know, however, humanity won't have a future if you fail here. The reality will reset, and your world will be replaced by his vision."

"And thus, killed everyone." I let out a long sigh. That sounds really terrible and must be stopped at all costs. And this also explains everything.

"I'm always wondering about this, but…" I look up to Master. "This is why you saved me, isn't it?"

I'm always curious, why would someone as great as Master is even bothering to save a no-name like me? If he just wants to stop the ritual, he can just always let my soul be erased, instead of helping me pick the scattered persona I have and rebuild them again.

To save the world, that's all that I am for. And if those movies and novels tell me, I have no doubt that by the end of it, I will have to sacrifice myself for-

"No." Master's words crashed my spiral thought in an instant. He smiled softly at me while shaking his head slowly. "Honestly, I am considering sending you to Avalon instead, letting you ride the cataclysm in peace.

"But, isn't it you who say that you want to explore the world, and see what it has to offer?" Master then placed his hand on top of my head and gave me that grin that I love so much, one that always makes my heart filled with warmth. "This is your chance. Go, explore the world, learn its people, make new friends, craft companionship, and by the end of this Pilgrimage, I hope you find the answer to what you're looking for." Of Who I am.

"Master…" My eyes get blurry, but I ignore it so I can jump and hug him tightly.

"Ahaha, you're still as cry-baby as ever." I ignore Master's teasing words so I can hug him tighter. After a second, he finally reciprocates, resting his big warm hands on my head. "Your Pilgrimage is going to be filled with partings, and you will learn not just the positive side of the world, but also its negative side. Are you ready for this, Lily?"

"I am," I answered as resolutely as I can, looking up at him to give him my best smile. "I will learn so much and make so many friends, that by the end of it, I will show you that I really am your number one pupil by saving this world!"

"Oh, Lily." Master smiled. "Just if you're a bit taller than your words would reassure me more- Aw!" Kuh- Of course, he would tease me even at this moment! I huffed after punching his stomach.

"Master mou!" I glared at him and only earned a chuckle from him. "I'm going then! Don't go choking on flowers while I am gone, Master."

"I'm not that clumsy…" Master said wryly before he then gave me a soft smile and one more pat on my head. "Good luck, Lily. May your journey be filled with blessing."

And then I wake up.

My consciousness is coming back slowly, with something seemingly… licking my cheek? Eh?

I immediately snap my eyes open, and on top of me is… "Cath Palug!?" Why is he here!?

Cath Palug immediately jump away from me, to a woman with purple hair and wearing glasses. "Oh, Good morning, Senpai. Please don't sleep on the floor. Are you the type to not be able to fall asleep unless you sleep in a hard bed?"

"…Eh?" Wait what? I push myself up and take a look around the place I am in. It seems I am in what apparently to be a corridor? And I just laying on the floor for some reason.

"That's strange. The last thing I remember is attempting the simulation of being a Master, and then…" And then I wake up in Master's Garden. Did I fall asleep after the test, or because Master calling for me?

"Oh, are you okay?" She asks while offering her hand and helps me get back on my feet- Hum?

I tilted my head at the girl, who also staring at her hands, and then turn to me with equal confusion in her eyes. That's weird, she feels different than the other people I have meet… like she is stronger somehow?

Eh, probably just because this is the facility for magus.

"I'm Lily Penelope. I'm sorry to fall asleep in the corridor." I rub my head while smiling apologetically.

"I am Mash Kyrielight, senpai. And yes, please refrain from sleeping on the floor. I can help bring you to the infirmary if you want." She then gasped. "Ah, but you have to attend the orientation first!"

"Orientation?" I didn't know we have to go through orientation.

"Yes, it is a way for the Director to welcome all the Masters to Chaldea." Mash answered before turning around. "It takes place in the Central Command Room. It is this way, Senpai."

I pick up my staff before following Mash to this Central Room.

"So…Chaldea." I begin while walking slightly behind her. "I only know that it is a facility to preserve humanity's future, but… what does it mean, exactly?" Master told me that something is going to threaten humanity's future soon, and considering that Chaldea is said to preserve's humanity, then this place definitely going to play an important factor in whatever is going to come soon.

"Chaldea is an organization created by previous Director, Marisburry Animusphere, to protect humanity's future by observing humanity's light using SHEBA, and Rayshift to stop anything that might endanger it."

Right… That explains basically nothing. What is Sheba and Rayshift, and who is Marisburry? And more importantly… "Protecting it from what though?"

Mash looked confused for a moment before she started pondering the question fully. "That's… a good question. I, unfortunately, don't know the answer, senpai. I'm sorry."

"Eh, ah, it's fine." I waved my hands while smiling wryly at this overly serious girl. "It's not your fault. I'm just curious is all."

"We're here, senpai." I look up to the double door in front of us, with a tag written Command Center Room on top of it. "Then I will take my leave now."

"Wait, you're not coming?" I asked in surprise. I thought she would join me for sure, considering her clothes has Chaldea insignia. The girl shook her head, however.

"No, the Orientation is only for new Masters, Senpai." I see… Well, that explains it. She must be a staff instead. "Then if there's nothing else…?"

Normally, I should just nod and let her go. Our business is done after all. But… well, there is just this one question that I can't stop wondering about. "Why do you call me as Senpai?"

Senpai, or senior, is an honored name you call someone who is your senior. Considering I am a newbie, and we seem to be in the same age, calling me Senpai makes no sense.

Mash blinks in surprise at my question, before tilting her head "Ah, um… It just, I think I can learn a lot of how to be a human from you, Senpai." Learn how to be… a human? "Then I will be going."

Unfortunately, before I could her what she meant, she already walking away. How to be a human huh…

I shook my head. No, it's not the time to think about that. For now, let's get inside and get this Orientation done with!

Inside is what looks like an auditorium, with a girl with white hair wearing an orange uniform in front. And for some reason, she is currently glaring at me.

"There you are." She huffed. "Take your seat already so we can begin." Ah, it seems I'm really late.

I hurriedly took a sit all the way to the front, the only empty seat left.

The Director then begins explaining about Masters, about servants' system, and basically what we are going to do going forward. She also tells us a bit of history regarding the summoning system and Holy Grail War.

And all of this is new to me.

I didn't even know you can summon long-dead heroes, much less there is an actual war for it. Master never teaches me any of this.

Wait, isn't this mean there is a possibility to summon Master?

"And that's it for now. I expect you all to contribute to this effort to preserve mankind's future." The Director, Olga Marie Animusphere as she introduced herself, finally finish the orientation. The other Masters started to get up, so I hurriedly stood up myself. "And you!"

"Eep!" I let out a startled cry as Director Olga stomped in my direction with a rather nasty glare. Eh, wait, why did she look like she is really mad at me!? "Y-yes!?"

"You're the newbie that's arriving late, don't you?" She accused with a glare, before huffing and continuing without even waiting for my reply. "As punishment, you are going to be exempted from this monumental event in history. You will not join this first mission. Go back to your room."

"…Eh?" Wait, what? I'm being… no no no. That's not good! I have to join this mission! The future of mankind rests on it! "Wait-"

And then she just walked away without even hearing my excuses!

Gezz… this woman! I blew a raspberry in her direction in annoyance. Mou, don't blame me if the world is destroyed because you won't let me join the mission!

…..

That is what I would say if I were not the student of Merlin himself!

I have to hold back from giggling as I use a veil to hide myself so I can join them in the central room, and nobody even suspects a thing! Director Olga even walked past me without noticing me.

….That gives me an idea. I smirk devilishly as I sneakily cast a burst of winds, causing her skirts to lift up, right in view of everyone in the room.

The room fall into deep silence where even a pin drop could be heard like an explosion. All eyes turned to Olga, and her quite visibly white lacy panties- wait, that's a very fancy panty! Is all magus this dirty!?

The first to break the silence is, obviously, Olga. She screamed loudly while pushing her skirts down, eyes wide with shock and embarrassment.

Man, I can't help myself. I laugh so hard seeing how comical Olga's expression is, that had I am not under a veil, I would be discovered for sure. That's what you get for bullying me!

"Hahahaha…ha…" Wait… why is everyone staring at me? They shouldn't even be able to notice my presence… right? What is going-

A flash of rainbow, and I notice one of the so-called A-team members have her mystic eye active while pointing at me… And I only realized that my veil has been shattered.

"…Oops?"

"YOU!" Uh Oh! I turned to the screaming Olga who is stomping at me with eyes full of fury. "How dare you!?"

"Uh oh, time to scram!" I immediately cast a spell to escape- but it failed. In fact, my staff can't even be moved. Eh?

"Non non! That's rather mean pranks, don't you think?" Uh oh… I look up to a giant… man? Woman? I think a man with makeup looking down at me with disapproving gaze, my staff is being held quite tightly in his hand.

…I'm screwed, aren't I?

"YOU!" Uh… I look up to a completely furious director of Chaldea, with my staff still being held by the giant man behind me. I try to look left and right, but all I see is those who look at me with scorn or indifference. Nobody is going to help me.

Curse. I have to get this out by myself!

"W-wait wait! I can explain!" I hurriedly raised my hands to stop her advance, because she is too scary!

"Silent! I don't want to hear your excuse!" She roared. "You-"

"It's not me!" I shout in desperation. Once again, the whole room falls into silence, though this time everyone staring at me instead, and Olga especially looks baffled by my declaration.

No wonder, I just lying straight to her face after all. But as Master always said, when one is in trouble, always deny, deny, and deny.

So, I'm going to deny any accusation aimed at me, no matter how obvious it is!

"You… You dare say that after being caught red-handed!?" She glared at me, and I send her my best confident smile I absolutely do not have.

"I'm being caught laughing, and you must admit, it is funny-"

"It is not!"

"But I'm not the one who creates that Gust of Winds. It must be someone else. Hum." I cross my hands and nod sagely.

"Who else dares to do something so vulgar but you!?"

"Oh wow, are you judging me by my appearance? I didn't know you are that kind of person, Director." I shook my head in fake disappointment.

"You-"

"Calm down, Olga Marie." A… admittedly handsome blonde man suddenly placed his hand on Olga's shoulder to calm her down, before turning to me. He has the fanciest clothes out of them all I have no doubts it's probably cost more than my cape. And my cloak is magical.

But what draws my attention, however, is his cane. It's Arcane focus, no doubt about it, but what takes my breath away is how efficient and smooth the flow of the circuit in it. It would allow a seamless flow of prana when casting magic, and, dare I say it, would amplify the effect.

"It's beautiful…" I breathe out while staring at his cane. He looks taken aback, before smiling.

"I see you have sharp eyes." He raises his cane a bit so I can get a better look. "I make it myself, and it is quite my pride and joy if I say so myself."

"I say!" I nod back at him excitedly. "It is truly a wonderful focus! I don't even know how you can make the circuits so complex yet flow seamlessly like that. It's like… clockwork! Yes!"

"Thank you. That's where I draw my inspiration, yes. I don't know why not many uses clockwork as inspiration, but their concept is really compatible with rituals and focus." The man shook his head as if lamenting the fact, and I completely agree about that.

"Yes, Clockwork will also allow you to put several smaller rituals that work together to create one big ritual without having several people required to cast it." I agree while inspecting the cane, and gasp when I realized something unbelievable. "Wait is that- It is!" I gasp before lunging to take a closer look at the cane. "Your cane absorbs the mana from the air while it's inactive, so all you need to do is only give a small prana to cast a spell. This will allow rapid speed casting as well as preserve your prana! This is brilliance! Genius!"

"You even notice that?" He quirked his lips at me. "That's impressive. What's your name?"

"Kirschtaria!" I, of course, ignore the director's cry of protest and grin back at the man.

"It's Lily. Lily Penelope." I offer my hand; one he reciprocates by shaking it.

"I'm Kirschtaria Wodime, leader of Team-A." He introduces himself with a smile. "Now, I definitely will enjoy more discussion about our focus, as I say yours are no less impressive." My grin widened at his compliment. "But I'm afraid we have to do our first mission, and if I remember correctly, Director Olga has ordered you to go back to your room?"

"What!?" Even him "But I need to join the mission!"

"Then maybe next time you will learn to not prank the Director, Hon." The Giant man behind me remarked. "My name is Peperoncino, by the way, but please, call me Pepe sweetie."

"But-" My words were interrupted by Pepe lean closer to me to whisper in my ears.

"She knows that you're new to all this, and gives you time to acclimate yourself. Be a dear and accept her consideration, please?" And then he winked at me.

Ugh… but still…

"Don't worry, you can join another mission next time. Even if you stay, you won't be able to join anyway, since you're not in team A."

"Ukh… Fine!" I huffed, annoyed for being ganged on all sides. "But at least let me watch, please. I know this is an important moment in history, so I want to watch and make sure everything went okay."

Wodime and Pepe's eyebrows immediately raised hearing my request, but it was Olga who answer me first. "Fine, but at least make yourself useful and fetch Romani for me. He should be in the infirmary." YES

"Aye aye captain!" I saluted her before dashing out of the room- I halted my movement and turned to them sheepishly. "Um.. Where's the infirmary."

The sound of Olga facepalming echoed loudly in the otherwise silent room.

….

So Dr. Roman isn't in the infirmary, for some reason. Fortunately, there is a picture of him in the table in the infirmary, so I can use a locate spell to find where he is, so now I just following my staff to go where this Dr. Roman is.

And to my surprise, I ended up in front of my room. Room 48.

…Eh?

I tilted my head, curious about why this Dr. Roman is in my room. Could he be… a pervert? Shaking my head, I just decide to open the door.

And greeted by a man with orange hair tied into a ponytail.

"Who are you and what are you doing here!? This is my slacking space where no one is supposed to be here!"

I stared at him with a deadpan, making a move to look at the number on the door, before turning back to the man. "I'm Lily Penelope, and this is my room."

"…Oh." The man sigh. "So you must be the last master, huh, so they really fill the number." Before he smiled at me. "My name is Romani Archman, though most people call me Roman instead. It's a beautiful name though, don't you think, like short of Romance?"

"That's actually a good way to see your name…" I muttered, before sending him a wide smile. "Then, Mr. Romance, what are you doing in my room while everyone is hard at work?"

"Urg!" I have to hide back a grin seeing my words strike his core, enough to make him stumble back. "That, well…"

"You don't have to say, my mentor is the same, so I understand." I keep smiling while approaching him slowly. "You're going to say nonsense like how there must be a lazy one in the group as an example so the other can work even harder, and you would kindly sacrifice yourself to that role, aren't you?"

"Wait wait- It's not like that at all!" He waved his hands repeatedly. His flustered expression is so funny I can't stop giggling.

"Hahaha, I'm just joking, Mr. Romance." I chuckle while patting his back. "As I said, I have a mentor like you, so I understand."

"So mean." Mr. Romance slouched with a pout. Honestly, his expression and posture is so adorable, that he really reminds me of Master. I almost forget why I am looking for him in the first place.

"Oh yes, I'm actually looking for you, Mr. Romance." That was enough to make him perk up. "Director Olga is looking for you in the Central." And that makes him slouch again.

"Oh, yeah, guess I should be there just in case huh." Mr. Romance smiled sheepishly. "All right then, let's-"

We are suddenly plunged into darkness, right before an explosion rocks us on the floor, strong enough to throw us to the wall.

"Kahh!" I gasped in pain, clutching my staff and slamming the staff's butt to the floor to keep me standing. Dr. Roman didn't have the luxury, so he slumped to the floor in a painful heap.

"Ugh! What… what was that?" And his question was answered by the alarm blaring.

"Emergency. Emergency. A fire has broken out in the Central Power Station and the Central Command Room. Central Area's containment wall will activate in 90 seconds. All staff must evacuate from Gate 2 at once."

…What? Fire broken out? In Central Command Room? But… but that's where everyone-

"Monitor! Show us the command room!" Dr. Roman immediately barked out an order to the machine, and the monitor immediately sprung to life, showing…

I gasped in shock, horrified at what I saw. Because what the monitor show is nothing less than a disaster. Fire burning the rubbles and bodies alike, with Chaldea glowing red instead of the calm blue it previously is.

It was a scene straight from hell.

"Lily! Evacuate right now! I'm going to the Command Room." Eh- what? I turned to Romani in surprise, watching him standing up. His eyes, that's previously soft and kind now has a sharp glint in it. "The containment wall is about to close. Get yourself out before it's too late."

Containment wall… eh? What? Wait, what about him? And what about everyone in the Command Room? Are they all… Died?

Olga, Peperoncino, Kirschtaria…. Mash?

A heavy weight suddenly slammed my shoulder it almost knock me down. Turning to it- "Cath Palug?" I don't know when he comes here, but now he is staring at me with eyes filled with intelligence, as if questioning what am I doing.

And it finally break me out of my shock.

He is right. I can't just not do anything! This is why Master send me, this is what I am here for!

First order of business, go to the Central Room and find survivor!

"Thanks, Cath Palug!" I flash him a grin before dashing towards Dr. Roman. "Dr. Roman, wait!"

"Eh? What?" Dr. Roman stop and turn to me in surprise. "What are-" I didn't wait for him to finish and just place my left hand on his chest while my right hand casting the spell through my staff.

"Dimension Door!" A portal appeared beneath us, plunging us straight into the Central Room.

"Eh- wha-!?" I ignore Dr. Roman stumbling beside me, knowing how disorienting it must be for him since this is his first-time teleporting. More importantly, I eye-ing the fire that burning the room, that had it been not because of my cloak, it definitely will make me sweet for sure.

But the worse of it is the smell, the smell of flesh burning. I wanted to cry and puke, but I have to hold it in. I have to because I have things to do.

Like making sure the fire is gone.

"Tidal Wave!" I wave my staff, creating a wave of water to the room, dousing the fire, and pushed away small rubbles so we can see if there is anyone trapped underneath it.

"FOU!" Cath Palug immediately jump from my shoulder and ran towards-

"MASH!" I hurriedly ran after him to reach Mash who is coughing and spluttering, but alive. Blood runs down from her head, and her left-hand looks like it has been broken from the fall, but she is alive.

"Sen…pa…I?"

"Yes, this is me, Mash. It's me. Everything will be fine." I try to smile reassuringly at her, to show her that it is fine, that everything will be fine now.

"Mash!" Dr. Roman finally caught up with us, he immediately kneels down beside Mash and checked her condition. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

I let Dr. Roman handle checking Mash's condition and turned my attention to the slap of stone that trapped Mash. I just need to move it and then we can bring Mash to the infirmary! I have to be careful to not aggravate her injury more though.

I raise my left hand and curl it. A gigantic hand made of prana appeared in front of me, and slowly I flexed my hand, seeing the gigantic hand also flexing with me. Using the prana hand, I grab the slab stone and pull it-

My concentration almost broke seeing what is underneath it, or rather, what isn't underneath it.

Because Mash's lower body has been completely crashed by that stone.

"I can't… feel my lower body… Doctor…" Her words feel like a hammer that nailing this reality.

Mash won't survive this. Even if I blasted her with my best healing spell, it still won't be enough. It's one thing to re-join decapitated limbs, it's another to heal a completely crushed lower body.

Mash is going to die, and there is nothing we can do about it.

"It's okay Mash, it's okay." Dr. Roman must realize this too, as he gently caresses her head with a soft smile. "It's okay."

"Generator operation stopped. Power level critical. Switch to the backup generator, error. Please make the switch manually. Containment wall will-" As if to add insult to injury, the speaker blares more warning, reminding us that we can't just stop here.

"… We can't let the light of Chaldea goes out." Dr. Roman muttered, but his eyes never stop focusing on Mash's dying form.

"…Go," I told him while kneeling beside him. "I will be with Mash, and we will find more survivors together. Don't worry about us, Doctor." I turn to him and try my best to smile at him. TO convey my feeling to him.

That at the very least, she won't die alone and in pain.

Dr. Roman grimaced. He looks like he really didn't want to go. But in the end, duty wins. Because as harsh as it is, the light of humanity is more important than the comfort of a single girl. He nods at me before standing up. "I'm sorry Mash, but I have to take care of the generator real quick. Lily…"

I nod at him, and no more words need to be said. He nods back and then runs out of the room.

"Doc…tor?" I kneel beside Mash and gently caress her hair.

"Hey, it's me, Lily. The doctor has to switch the generator real quick, but he will be back soon enough."

"System switching to the final phase of Rayshift. Coordinates, AD 2004, January, 30th, Fuyuki, Japan. Laplace's shifting protection was established. Singularity's additional factor slot is secured. Unsummon program, set. Please start the final adjustment."

"You need… to… run… Senpai…"

"Hey, don't worry about me." I smiled while gently placing my forehead with her own. "I can escape anytime, okay?"

"Warning all observation staff. Chaldea's state has changed. Now rewriting Sheba's near-future prediction data. Unable to detect the existence of mankind 100 years in the near future on Earth."

"Ahh…" The end of mankind. This is what Master has warned me about, and as I thought, this place is really the catalyst for it to happen.

The countdown has begin.

"Central area, sealed. 180 seconds until internal containment procedure."

"They shut off the area… now we can't get out." Mash lamented. Even in this situation, she is still worry more about me than herself… This girl is really…

"Hey, don't worry. We will figure something out." I smiled at her. "I may look like this, but I am actually a pretty good magus. Just escaping this place is an easy matter for me!" I try to brag, to ease Mash's worry, and to at least bring a little lighter in our Grim situation.

Mash look up at me, and then smile a soft smile.

"Coffin Vitals: Masters. Baseline not reached. Searching for qualifying Master… Found. Candidate number 48, Lily Penelope reset as Master.

"Unsummon program, start. Spiritron conversion, start."

"Um… Sen…Pai?"

"Yes, Mash?" I smiled back at Mash, ignoring the blaring of alarm and the warning resounding all around us.

"Would you mind… holding my hand?" I smiled, before then gently grasping and squeezing her hand. I hope this would at least bring her a little comfort.

"Rayshift starting in 3, 2, 1… All procedures clear. First Order, commencing operation." And then lights surround us, pulling us somewhere…

…And then there is nothing.