"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Mental link"

"Noble Phantasms"

POV

Chapter 44: Aftermath

"Materialisation in Progress." The intercom called out as the room burst into life, the coffins glowed as the individuals manifested within them "Summoning procedure completed."

Ash instantly stumbled out of his coffin, face planting onto the floor and coughing out another mouthful of blood. Groaning in frustration as he did so, Arash was soon by his side slowly helping him back to his feet with a look of concern.

"Take it you still aren't at one hundred percent?" The Archer quizzed, Ash shook his head in response.

"My heart wasn't fully healed before I went back into combat." He explained, grimacing behind his helm as he straightened up "In truth, I wouldn't make for much of an opponent as of right now."

"Good thing the fightings done, eh?" The Archer quipped, although his eyes still held a smidgen of concern for the Saber, hefting his arm over his shoulder, he took on some of Ash's weight onto himself "Come on, not sure if they're good for it but we should still get you to a doctor or something."

"I'm not entirely certain you can treat undead that way…" Ash chuckled, shaking his head in amusement "But as you say, it would be better if I rested up. I believe Siegward has some healing Miracles that can be-"

The crack of air and a trumpet like noise had the servants immediately assume a combat position.

Except Ash and Verndari, the latter of which let out a grunt of surprise before falling onto his right side. Hissing as his exposed wound hit the ground. Ash freed himself from Arash's grip, manifesting his sword before he let out another mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees.

The attention of the Servants fell onto the doorway.

Astolfo stood there with a party popper in his hand, a strained smile on his face as the confetti slowly rained down into his hair.

A large white banner with the words 'Welcome Home' hung up behind him. The Paladin's eyes took in the form of Ash on the ground, then moved over to Verndari with a missing arm before they moved onto the large burn marks across Sif's fur.

Then onto the new individual, stood in the centre of the room with their sun shaped helmet facing their direction. Astolfo found his eyes drawn to the snakes which seemed to function as their legs.

"So…" Astolfo nervously chuckled "...How was your trip? You get any souvenirs?" pausing for a few seconds, he eventually pointed towards the new individual "Do they count?"

"Thou stands in the presence of Lord Gwyndolin, God of the Darkmoon, boy." The lord spoke down to him "Thee will address me with all due-"

"I'm not a gir-." Astolfo froze, his eyes going wide before a giddy smile came to his face. Letting out a yelp of joy, he sprinted over to the God "You could tell I was a boy immediately! Amazing!" he slowly paused "Hey. Strange, I feel some weird connection with you...How odd." the Paladin shrugged his shoulder, then cupped his chin before humming in thought. After a few seconds he eventually snapped his fingers "God of the Moon right? That must be it." the pink haired boy nodded to himself, obviously pleased in his deduction "I once rode my Hippogriff to the moon."

"...You rode what to where?" Gwyndolin replied eventually, sounding far more confused than insulted at the sudden breach in his personal space. The sheer baffling nature of that statement took him off guard.

"It would be best if he returned to spirit form." Olga nodded over to Verndari as Gareth propped him back up "It would conserve his energy and allow for his wounds to heal."

Ritsuka gave a wordless nod before turning to the Shielder "Verndari-"

"I heard, My Liege." The knight cut him off sharply, then paused before exhaling "Apologies. It is...simply vexing to me that I had been caught off guard so easily and disarmed."

"I think we were all caught off guard." Ritsuka replied, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck "I...I didn't think that Aldrich could do that."

"It was likely when he consumed Lev." Olga remarked coldly, soon furrowing her brows "No...he referred to him as Flauros...Lev also called himself that as well."

"Is...um…" Ritsuka coughed "Is it important?" he flinched when Olga gave him a sharp look before she exhaled, running her hand through her hair.

"I forget you are barely a novice when it comes to the world of magi." The woman composed herself "A short version is that Flauros is the name of one of the seventy two demon familiars that King Solomon contracted during his life."

Ritsuka blinked "So...Lev was working for Solomon?"

"Of course not." The woman snorted "Aside from the fact that Solomon has been dead for nearly three thousand years, to even consider that the creator of Magecraft himself was the origin of this entire fiasco would be the height of folly." pausing for a few moments, she quickly added on "More importantly than that, King Solomon as a Servant would be far above what we have here in terms of power. No, it is more likely that Lev merely took on the name."

"So...he was a demon that took on the name of another demon?"

"The...evidence points in that direction." She looked down to the Grail in her hands before she placed it in his "Give that to Da Vinci, see if she can do something to contain it."

"What about you?"

"I am going for a long nap." Olga brushed past him as she made for the exit of the room "I...There is much to consider."

Ritsuka watched as she departed with a small frown, slowly looking down to the Grail in his hands.

"Senpai?" He blinked, looking up to see Mash giving him a look of concern "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know." He muttered, sending a glance in the direction that Olga had disappeared off to "Do you think the Director is alright?"

Mash frowned, sending a troubled look towards where the woman had retreated. After a few moments, she turned back to Ritsuka "I'm sure she'll be fine, Senpai. The Director...she's strong. I'm certain she'll pull through."

"Hmm…" A non-committal hum was Ritsuka's response before he let out a sigh "Well, I assume you've known her longer than me." raising the Grail to eye level he waved it in his hand "We should probably get this to Da Vinci."

"Probably, Senpai."

"Thy Facility is most...spacious." The pair blinked in surprise, their heads darting over to the familiar voice "Tis also in a state of disrepair." Gwyndolin slowly turned to face them, staring at their gobsmacked expressions "Is there some issue?"

"So…" Romani leaned back in his chair, staring at the trio in front of him with wide eyes "You some how brought back a Divine Spirit, by accident no less, with you into Chaldea barely half an hour after another Servant somehow summons herself in your room."

Ritsuka flinched "W-well when you put it like that is sounds a little far-fetched."

"Really?" Roman let out a sigh of relief "Not just me then." he spun his chair so it faced Gwyndolin "So...Lord Gwyndolin, right?"

"Indeed."

"Do...um…" Roman coughed into his hand, suddenly looking far more nervous as not only the Lord stared him down, but also all the snake heads slithering along the ground "...Do you want Fujimaru-kun to give you the tour?" he hastily asked.

"Is that not the way of accepting guests?" Gwyndolin replied in his still imperial tone, slowly turning their gaze to Ritsuka "Finish thy simple delivery and return to present this 'Chaldea' to me. Do not tally."

"R-right." Ritsuka bowed his head and quickly sprinted out of the room.

"So...We have an actual God somewhere in Chaldea." Cu summarised, Siegward next to him gave a slow blink as the pair stared down at Ash. The Unkindled sitting on the small bed in the infirmary. He gave a quick nod in response.

"It seems his contract with Ritsuka brought him with us." Ash explained "I...In truth I had not expected that, but given that the crossbreed has somehow summoned herself here, it is not too far fetched."

Cu blinked at the odd word "Crossbreed?"

"I...I believe her name is Keeyohimey?" Ash squinted his eyes as he attempted to pronounce the name "She is the girl with the light green hair?"

"Kiyohime I think it was." Cu corrected, scratching his chin "I assume by crossbreed you mean like a mix between human and dragon, right?"

"Is it called something different here?"

"Not that I know." The lancer shrugged his shoulders "But I think she turned herself into a dragon spirit or something."

"Oh. Way of the Dragon then." Ash nodded his head "That makes sense, I suppose."

"I get the feeling you're missing something here but I'm not all that familiar with Eastern Legends. Even with the Grail." He grunted "So...God?"

"Lord Gwyndolin." The Unkindled replied "We met his older brother."

"Oh shit, the big guy with the Dragon!" Cu gaped "So what can he do?"

"Illusions." Ash shrugged "Use spells. Fire arrows."

"Illusions, eh?" Cu rubbed his chin "If I were a Caster I'd probably be a bit more interested in them. Still, for an Archer they seem pretty handy."

"I could imagine that being hit by one would hurt."

"I feel as though we are being terribly calm about one of the original Lords of Lordran currently wandering Chaldea." Siegward pointed out with a raised eyebrow "It is a rather unusual experience."

"…" Ash slowly turned his head to stare at Siegward, then looked the man up and down before raising an eyebrow "I feel as though a similar comment could be made about your current attire."

"What?" Siegward looked down at his clothes.

The Onion knight had forgone his usual armour and was instead wearing black formal trousers, smart shoes, a white button up shirt with a black tie around his collar with a dark grey vest over the top.

"Is there some issue with my clothes?" Siegward frowned "I believe they are perfectly in keeping with my new role."

"New role?" Ash queried, Cu chuckled and gestured to him.

"Meet the new Barkeep slash cook." The Lancer shook his head at Ash's look of disbelief "Yeah. Guy says he has no taste buds, then proceeds to cook some of the best food I've ever eaten."

"It is simply a matter of experience." Siegward chuckled, dismissing the compliment with a wave of his hand "Once you get the timings understood and have a good grasp of the ingredients, cooking is a simple matter to do. Even unkindled can perform it." a small frown came to his face "Regrettable as it is that I shall be unable to taste my own cooking, I suppose."

"You make a fine Estus soup, Siegward." Ash reassured him, rolling his shoulder "I believe that your miracles have done their work." jumping off the bed, he winced and rubbed the area of his chest above his hear "Always hate injuries there."

"I suspect most people would." Cu dryly remarked "Then again, most don't really walk off having their heart destroyed."

"It wasn't a matter of walking it off." Ash shot back with a huff "It just...slowed me down was all."

"Oh no, my heart got obliterated and now I can't run as fast." The Irish servant rolled his eyes "That's some freaky battle continuation you have there...if you got cut in half could you still move?"

"I suspect that would kill me."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Personal experience?"

"A dozen times." Ash clicked his tongue "And being run through the heart could have just as easily killed me too, after a while. If Aldrich had been able to press his advantage while I was distracted, he may have finished me."

"Oh, so now a fatal wound to you is a mere distraction."

"...I have the unusual feeling you are aggravated by something." The unkindled pointed out, Siegward nodded behind him. Cu sighed and threw his hands up in annoyance.

"What the hell is the point of a spear that instantly pierces the heart if the guy I'm using it on just looks at me like I'm a fucking chump!" The lancer whined "First with that Gael guy in France and now this? I'm going to start feeling made fun of."

"In fairness, we are already dead." Ash pointed out "I suspect an attack like that would work on the living."

"Eh, not that big a deal." Cu sniffed, shaking his head "...Can always just use the magical thorns of he spear to ruin someone's day."

"Magical what now?"

"So he was firing lazer beams around everywhere." Gareth recalled to the person opposite her "Then there were the nasty meat pillars which were covered in more of the eyes and then there was the spells."

"Sounds great." Andre muttered back as he continued to hammer away at his forge "Aldrich right? Hm. Told he was a piece a work."

"He was...very memorable." Gareth cringed "Kind of like something that King Arthur would have fought…" slowly trailing off, the girl slumped her shoulders "Also King Arthur might have been a woman."

Andre's hammer paused mid-strike.

The Smith slowly furrowed his brows, turning his head to stare at the young girl with a befuddled expression "Feel as though ya don't understand what the title of 'King' means."

"No, no." Gareth shook her head "I mean she hid her gender."

"Makes sense...Why?" He paused "Couldn't she of just been a Queen?"

"N-no...That spot was...um...already reserved...also we didn't really have Queen's as rulers."

"Suppose it makes sense." Andre shrugged his shoulders, returning to his work "...You said the role of Queen was reserved, yes?"

"I did."

"...Was your Queen a man?"

"No!"

"Just askin'" Andre replied "With your King being a woman, thought your Queen being a man would have been in line with it."

"Well...She wasn't." Gareth huffed, crossing her arms and looking away "I don't think anyone else was a woman…" she then paused, her eyes slowly widening "Unless…Bedivere always looked quite pretty...maybe they were…"

"Sounds like a grand confusing time." Andre muttered under his breath as he held up his freshly forged sword. A simple straight sword. Giving the weapon a once over, he nodded his head. Standing up and moving over to the side of the room which had a rack of weapons. Primarily swords and spears lining it.

Gareth noticed him do so and raised a curious eyebrow "How come you're making loads of weapons?"

"I'm a humble smith, forging weapons is my purpose." Andre replied, moving over to his forge "The art of smithing is like a weapon. Best its well cared for and regularly used, otherwise it'll rust."

"Huh." Gareth nodded her head "I guess that makes sense."

"Also never knew a group of warriors who didn't need swords." He went on "Might need 'em for something. Never hurts to have 'em."

"What, like Golems?"

"Had those too, did you?" Andre mumbled, then nodded his head "Golems aren't all that good...although the ones in Drangleic were always said to be the best around. Never saw one though, heard of 'em."

Gareth did a double take "Isn't Drangleic where Sir Verndari is from?"

"Is it?" Andre shrugged "Never asked him."

"Don't you also know Ash?"

"Yes."

"Isn't there, like, a really long gap in time between Ash and Verndari?"

"Oh…" Andre paused, furrowing his brows in thought for a few moments before nodding his head "A few thousand winters by my count. Probably more."

"...How….How old are you?"

"Well...Probably about as old as I look." The smith chuckled, shaking his head in amusement "Doesn't matter too much, does it?"

Gareth mulled it over in her head before she shrugged "I suppose so. Still, it's a bit of a shock….That and there's also a God currently running around Chaldea."

Andre's hammer missed and struck his thumb, the smith yelped, wringing his hand repeatedly before shooting a questioning look at Gareth "Run that by me again?"

"Um...Gwyndolin." Gareth explained "A God from-"

"I know who he is." Andre grumbled "Been a long time since I've seen him though. Used to live in Anor Londo before I left. Was an apprentice to the Smith God."

"Really?"

"Hm. Good smith too. Also taught a giant how to forge." He shrugged "Shame he passed but no helping it. Didn't interact much with the other Lords...Mainly the Silver Knights who broke their weapons and that."

"Do you want to go meet him?"

"Probably not." Andre looked away "Not my place too. Besides...I'm not half the fool some people take me for…"

Gareth stared at him in slight confusion for a few moments before she shrugged "Alright...Do you want to hear some more stories?"

"Why are you here anyway?" Andre asked her "Not that I mind a conversation, but I've not had one for many a winter."

"Well…" Gareth rubbed the back of her neck, letting out a nervous chuckle in response "Astolfo is kind of...kidnapping Gwyndolin for a tour right now-"

"The pink haired boy?" Andre cringed slightly "Doesn't sound like good company right now...a little more hysterical than I'm used to."

"Well...Astolfo is away with Gwyndolin and everyone else went to the cafeteria."

"Reason you aren't there?"

"Thought you might get lonely." Gareth shrugged "It felt a little sad to me that you didn't really get that many people to talk to."

Andre chortled, putting his hammer down and shaking his head "That's a first….Not that I don't mind the company, I suppose." turning back to his forge, he placed the metal in the open flame "Not too many really talked to the Smith...Save Ash...And there was this one fella years ago. He often stopped by too, back when the undead were fairly new…" he paused, scratching his beard "Well...It was two thousand years after they first started turning up but still fairly new."

"That's not really new…"

"Everything is new when you live long enough." The smith responded with "Still. If you're gonna lay about here, suppose I can't really do much to stop ye."

"Alright." Gareth nodded her head, remaining silent for a few moments before she opened her mouth to speak again "So do you know how to make jousting lances?"

"And thiiiiisss!" Astolfo threw the door open "Is supply closet number five!"

"Is there any difference to supply closet number four?" Gwyndolin tiredly asked, although he could already guess the answer.

"Nope!"

"I see…" The Lord replied in a dead tone of voice "Is there anything else thee requires to show me?"

"Well...We have another fifteen supply closets to go through." Astolfo hummed, rapidly tapping their foot on the floor while cupping their chin "There's also the armoury, well...It's the armoury now because we have a smith in there but it used to be an old storage house apparently. Now we just have an old guy living there who makes weapons, which is pretty weird considering none of us Servants are probably ever going to use them...Well, except for that Sasaki guy, his sword got broken to he had to have a new one made but apart from that I don't see anyone really needing them." he stopped for breath, then opened his mouth to speak again.

"Art thou the jester of Chaldea?" Gwyndolin suddenly asked "Because I beg thee answer truthfully, nay, I demand thee answer truthfully."

"Jester? You mean like a clown?" Astolfo blinked, then laughed loudly "Ha! Nope! I'm Astolfo of the Paladins of Charlemagne! I am also the cutest one in Chaldea!"

"Thou art a Paladin…"

"Yep!"

"And Charlemagne was?"

"The King of the Franks!"

"Thou were the Paladin of a King…"

"I was indeed!"

"I see."

"Yeah…" Astolfo sniffed slightly, then grinned again "Now come along Linny!"

"What didst thou call-!?"

"We've got more places to explore!" Astolfo grabbed the Lords hand and sped off down the hallway, dragging the God behind him.

"I am a Lord of Anor Londo and Son of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight and King of the Gods! I will not be paraded around by some childish-"

"Gwyn right? I think we met your older brother! Man!" Astolfo whistled "He sure was scary! Had a big bird dragon and everything! Luckily he helped us because I did not like fighting him!"

"Listen to me mortal!"

"I mean? Did you know his spear could shoot lightning bolts? Because I didn't!"

"I know what his-"

"Then he fought Siegward and the poor onion guy looked cooked!" He paused, then let out another laugh "Get it? Cooked! Because he looks like an onion!"

"Stop speaking!"

"So anyway!"

"Big disaster." Ash recounted "Take one step into the house, and the spiders have got the people strung up on the walls." he gestured wildly to articulate his point "So, its is already approaching a level of disturbing that even I find intolerable. Then I notice that the bodies are bloated."

"Fucking grim."

"Exactly." Ash nodded to Cu "Turns out, the spiders have been laying eggs in them, which was fairly disturbing. So, I'm already cautious as it...then I hear a sound of something thumping into wood." he paused for effect "I look over to where the sound came from...then I see it. The scythe like limb emerging from a hole in the floorboards."

"How frightful." Siegward frowned, placing another tankard of Siegbräu in front of Ash, the unkindled nodded his thanks before turning back to the assembled group.

"Quite so. Anyway, not that I haven't seen anything disturbing before. The lair of Aldrich was horrible." He grimaced, taking a swig of his drink "But I see the spider, big as I am, emerge from the hole. We stare at eachother for what feels like an age."

"What did you do then?" Sasaki asked, raising an eyebrow inquisitively then gestured to the others at the table "Judging by their reactions, it must have been something grand."

Ash paused, looking around to see Arash hiding his grin behind his own drink while Beatrice was far less reserved. Her smile plain as day as she made careful note not to look Ash in the eyes.

"Well…" Ash coughed into his hand "There may have been a slight overreaction on my part."

"Slight?" Sasaki queried, turning is head over to Arash when the archer snorted loudly.

"Well, it depends on your definition." Arash chuckled "We've been outside for a couple minutes at that point. Master was getting a little worried and we were getting close to sending someone else in after him." raising a hand, he pointed towards Ash while chortling "The-then he comes barrelling out, cursing at the top of his lungs. He spins around to face the building and throws the largest ball of fire you've ever seen."

"T-tell him what he did next." Beatrice elbowed him, gleefully smiling at Ash's look of embarrassment.

"Right, right." Arash nodded his head, placing his cup down and gesturing with both his hands "So we're all stood there, dumbfounded at what just happened. Then Ash, building still burning behind him, turns around to face us and in the calmest voice imaginable just says 'We need to leave.'"

"HA!" Cu let out a bark of laughter, slamming his hand on the table while Siegward openly chuckled at his fellow unkindled. Sasaki was far more reserved, but the curling of his lip upwards showcased his obvious amusement.

"I was surprised." Ash argued back with a small frown "I wasn't expecting it."

"T-to be fair." Arash's laughter died down "It was a bit less severe than Masters."

"Really?" Cu, raised an eyebrow "How bad?"

"Turns out he has a fear of spiders."

Cu snorted, shaking his head "Well shit, bet that was fun for him."

"Hmm." Beatrice nodded "I think he screamed louder than me...Then we met the Chaos Witch Quelaag…"

"What was wrong with her?"

"Think of a centaur but instead of a horse, it's a spider."

"Kid was shit out of luck then." The lancer sighed, taking swig of his drink "Did he get better?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Ash replied, tapping his finger against the table "I don't believe he spoke with the Chaos witch all that often...Verndari did though."

"Verndari spoke to her just to hurl insults." Arash pointed out with a frown "Not that she was much better, think she enjoyed getting those reactions out of him. Then again, I heard that things got pretty heated between the two of you as well."

"Hmm." Ash let out a low hum in response "That's more related to her family than to her. That and...well...it extends to Gwyndolin too."

"Isn't that the God we have running around?" Cu raised an eyebrow in response, then blinked "Speaking of which, where is he?"

"I believe Astolfo took off to give him a tour." Siegward responded, picking up the tray of empty glasses in front of the servants and moving back behind the counter "He apparently said that he's never met God before and a God of the Moon felt like fate to him."

"...Hey." Cu coughed, looking to Ash "Can your Gods...curse people and shit?"

"How do you think the original undead came about." Ash responded dryly "Then again, Gael was my only source of information…" he furrowed his brows "And Andre, funnily enough. Although he was strange."

"What do you mean?"

"Andre was human…" Ash frowned "At least, I believe he is. I never saw any brand on his skin…" he shrugged "Probably just managed to avoid contracting it."

"Make is sound like some kind of sickness."

"It was a completely random sickness." Ash replied "Could strike anyone. Still...Never did ask how old Andre was."

"You going to?"

"I'm sure its fine." Ash dismissed "Probably doesn't matter too much….So you were talking about curses?"

"Hm?" Cu blinked "Ah, yes. If we've got that bundle of...whatever the fuck he is being our representative, what are the chances we somehow manage to piss them off?"

There was a brief pause when all the Servants looked around at each other.

Then they instantly rushed out off their seats, panicked expressions on their faces as they took off out of the cafeteria in search of Astolfo and Gwyndolin.

By the end of their exodus, only Arash and Sasaki remained at the table, both of whom looked entirely non-pulsed by the apparently hazardous situation.

"Not joining them?" The Assassin asked, raising an eyebrow. Arash mulled over it for a few moments then shook his head in response, giving a carefree smile.

"Nah. I'm sure they're overestimating that situation." The Archer replied "Besides, Astolfo is a bundle of energy, and pretty...clumsy. But he isn't exactly a detriment." he then raised his hand and tapped the side of his head "Also…" gesturing to his eyes.

Sasaki gave him a knowing smile in response "Of course. How silly of me."

"Aaaaaaaannnnndddd!" Astolfo threw open the final door "This is the kitchen!" he exclaimed, thrusting Gwyndolin inside "In case you ever want to cook…" he paused, staring at the person inside "Eh?"

"Hm?" Siegward turned around, blinking at Astolfo and then Gwyndolin "Oh! Hello Astolfo!" the knight smiled at him, nodding his head "I assume you are showing our new guest around?" he turned his head to Gwyndolin, then straightened his expression and bowed his head respectfully "Lord Gwyndolin of Anor Londo, God of the Darkmoon and Captain of its Knights. It is an honour to have you here, I am Siegward of the Knights of Catarina."

"Thou may rise." Gwyndolin gestured "Thy respect for decorum is noted." his helmet his his top half, although Siegward could feel as though the Lords eyes briefly flickered over to Astolfo "And is a welcome change."

"I suppose." Siegward then tilted his head "If I may, Lord Gwyndolin, might I make a suggestion?"

"Thee might."

"The others a-"

"Here it is." The high pitched voice called out from further in the kitchen, Siegward turned towards their direction and allowed himself a small smile "This is my conviction."

"I see." Siegward nodded his head, the teal haired girl in the Kimono approached him with a small plate, setting it gently on the counter "This is your...Omurice did you say?"

"Indeed." She nodded, then sharpened her expression "Have I proven myself?"

"One moment." He held up his hand "Astolfo, might I request your services?"

"Yep!" The pink haired paladin rushed forwards "What can this cute knight do for you?"

"If you could taste this for me."

The girl blinked, then frowned at him "I am not a poisoner."

"I have no working taste buds, I am afraid." Siegward replied with a somewhat dejected expression "Any food you made me would be wasted."

The girl's frown lessened "Yes...Yes I suppose that is acceptable then." she eventually nodded, then turned around only to let out a slight 'eep' when she found herself face to face with the golden plated helmet of Gwyndolin.

The Lord stared down at her, his lips drawn into a thin line "Thou art...Thee feels like a dragon."

The girl flashed out her fan, covering the bottom half of her face and furrowing her brows "I am Kiyohime, I am of the dragon kin."

"I...I see." He leaned backwards "I am Gwyndolin. God of the Darkmoon."

"A Divine Spirit?" She raised an eyebrow, then looked the God up and down. Her eyes resting on the small pale snakes which emerged from the base of his dress and stared up at her. They lingered on them for an extended period of time before they went back to his face "Well...It doesn't matter. What interest do you have in Anchin-sama?"

"...To whom does thee refer to?" Gwyndolin tilted his head, Siegward raised his hand and stepped forwards.

"That is her name for our Master." The knight supplied, then winced and looked down at Kiyohime "Milady...Lord Gwyndolin is a Prince."

"Oh." Kiyohime blinked, looking to Siegward in slight surprise before she slowly nodded her head, then turned back to Gwyndolin "...Do you have a sexual interest in men?"

"I beg thy pardon?"

"Milady!" Siegward let out a nervous chuckle, slowly turning her away from the Lord while sending an apologetic look his way "Milady...I do not believe Lord Gwyndolin has any interest in Master...in that way."

"I must be sure...With how wonderful Anchin-sama is, rivals are bound to be common."

"Yes...But I do not believe you need not concern yourself on this particular front." Siegward replied with a reassuring look "I very much doubt that Lord Gwyndolin is one of your rivals…"

"Well...If you're sure." She muttered, snapping her fan shut and giving the God a beautific smile "The Moon you say? I do not suppose I could have your blessing for the wedding ceremony-"

"Milady…" Siegward gave another nervous chuckle "I...I believe you may have skipped several steps."

"Thou art to be married to the mortal?" Gwyndolin asked with confusion "They made no mention of this…"

"It's a…" Siegward paused as he tried to find the right words "A sudden announcement?"

"Really sudden." Astolfo chimed in "Like she suddenly arrived and said they were married...and by suddenly arrived I mean basically a few hours ago."

"I...see?" Gwyndolin tilted their head "Regardless...I shall await the mortal...who can direct me to my quarters." the God turned away from them, slowly slithering away, out of the kitchen and down the hall.

"I must say, I would never have expected that." Siegward let out a sigh of relief, then turned to Astolfo "You've got nearly everyone in a fuss tracking you down."

"Really?" Astolfo blinked at him "Why?"

"Because they were concerned that you would do something...chaotic, I suppose." He shrugged "How is the food?"

"Can I have seconds?"

"No." Kiyohime replied instantly "It is for my Anchin-sama." then looked to Siegward, opening up her fan in front of her mouth and raising an eyebrow at the knight turned cook "So?"

"Well, if there is no issue in the cooking, then I see no reason to bar you." Siegward replied with small smile "While I would be happier to have more helpers on hand, I have no trouble if you wish to use the kitchen to prepare food for Master."

Kiyohime smiled at him "I knew you would see it my way. Indeed, it is perfectly normal for a wife to prepare her husbands meals."

"I've never been married so I wouldn't know."

"I've had people make food for me." Astolfo shrugged, then looked to Siegward "So can I get some more food?"

"I'm beginning to wonder if your lack of common sense is fuelled purely by your stomach." Siegward joked, Astolfo pouted in response.

"Are you saying I'm fat?"

"...I do not believe we can even change our physical shape." Siegward responded, then cupped his chin "Unless...do you believe I could shave my moustache?"

"I'd rather you didn't." Astolfo shook his head "Looks kind of funny...like someone's cool uncle or something."

"Why does the temperature of something matter?"

"...I really think we need to explain modern slang to you." Astolfo nodded his head "So that is what I shall do!"

"This feels like a strange idea to me…"

"Nonsense!" Astolfo proclaimed with a manic grin "I'll have you speaking the modern language of people in no time!"

"Well…" Siegward frowned for a few moments before he let out a small sigh and slumped his shoulders, his hesitant expression eventually morphed into a more relaxed one "If you are so sure, I suppose. It can't hurt that much."

"That's the spirit!"

"He's not in here!"

Ash kicked open the door to the another room, earning a brief cry of surprise from Da Vinci and Ritsuka. He looked around the interior of the room for a few moments before he shook his head, stepping back out and calling down the hallway to the Irish Lancer "He's not in here either!"

"Shit!"

"Will someone explain why they felt the need to kick open the door to my workshop?~" Ash turned back around to find Da Vinci smiling at him. Although he was slightly confused as to how a smile such as that could hold a strange sense of malice to it.

"We're searching for Astolfo." He explained, still staring at the Caster in slight confusion. Ritsuka raised an eyebrow at him in response.

"Why?"

"He appears to have...taken Gwyndolin on a tour of the facility." Ash replied.

"Okay...and this translates to you kicking doors in, how?"

Da Vinci's expression had slowly morphed into an understanding one, although there was still the hint of annoyance in her eyes from having her room barged into "Mr Protagonista." she brought Ritsuka's attention back to her "Astolfo, our cute little paladin, is currently alone with a God."

"Right…"

"…"

"…"

"...Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"No, I'm not seeing the...oh…" Ritsuka slowly paled "Oh crap…"

"Searched the entire east side." Cu came to a stop next to Ash "Haven't found any sign of them, although some of the staff said they saw Astolfo showing off the supply closets."

"Why?"

"Why does he do anything." Cu shrugged "Leaves the west side...and how ever many floors this place has to it."

"Well...it can't be that bad, right?" Ritsuka asked "Sure, Astolfo is kind of eccentric, does whatever he wants, doesn't listen to people all that much…"

"I feel as though you have answered your own question." Ash replied, then turned to the Lancer "Is there any word on Beatrice's search?"

"Even if she did find them, I think she's a little hesitant to try and stop them." The Lancer replied with a sigh "Then again, the guy is a Divine Spirit."

Ash hummed for a few moments, cupping his chin in thought before he snapped his fingers "Why not simply use Sif to track the Lord?"

Cu opened his mouth to present a counter argument, then paused and shrugged "I got nothing. May as well go for it."

"Great!~" Da Vinci clapped her hands together "If you've all got a nice little plan all lined up! Can you please get out of my workshop? Considering I have to try and fix the door you might have broken?"

Ash and Cu looked at the door to her workshop, the metal having been dented inwards as the door had been violently pushed open. Ash looked up to see the metal had been ripped from the hinges and slowly frowned "What manner of door doesn't open sideways?"

"It's supposed to open up."

"That sounds like a terrible complicated design." Ash responded with a frown "Is it some manner of gate?"

"…"

"Ah...right." He coughed "I will...be on my way. Apologies for the damages...if you need any help-"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure I'll think of something.~"

"...You're in deep shit." Cu whispered to him as they departed "Deep, deep shit."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah."

AN: We're back! So basically, the way the Chaldea chapters are going to work are a bit like Fragments of Chaldea style, if you've read it, in that we'll get specific Character(s) focused for the Chapter with a little here and there bit of development.

So…

Its a matter of which Character we're going to focus on for the next chapter, I suppose. We'll also get some character summoned inbetween.

I've been thinking of calling the Character stuff which takes place in between the main story 'By the Bonfire' which sounds kind of nice, doesn't it?

Anyway...

You might have been wondering where I have been. Worry no longer. I was away playing Elden Ring, love it.

Also!

We have 1k followers! Yay!