By the Bonfire: A severe lapse in judgement.
"Honestly though." Siegward chuckled as he closed the oven door, turning to the other two cooks and giving a hapless shake of his head "Never would have believed it if I hadn't been told it by anyone else."
Archer raised his eyebrow at the man "You never would have believed that a God would stoop as low as to steal?" he asked with incredulity. Most of the history of the Gods either related to them being incapable of keeping it in their pants or them wanting something which they really shouldn't be touching. In that regard, Archer was only surprised that Artemis had only been out to steal some fried food rather than anything else.
"Not that." Siegward shook his head "That anything I baked a God would deem worth stealing."
"You give yourself too little credit." Boudica chided him with an expression of reassurance, she soon gave him a faint smile as he turned his attention to her "You cook just as well as anyone else in this kitchen, probably a little better than me."
"Your Grace-"
Boudica sputtered at the contents of the sentence while Archer let out a brief snort at the reaction, the red haired woman continued to choke on air as she stared at the Onion Knight with naked shock written all over her face "Your Grace?" came her strangled voice soon after she finished choking on her surprise "W-what?"
"Well...you are a Queen, are you not?" Siegward explained with a face full of childish innocence "isn't that what your proper title is supposed to be?"
"Wha-"
"Yes." Archer cut her off before she could even make up a reply "That is indeed her title. Boudica, Queen of the Iceni." another amused snort left his nose as he received a sharp slap on the arm from the woman, he looked down at her to see quite the embarrassed glare being levelled at him.
She continued to glare at him for a few seconds before she turned back to Siegward with a patient smile "It's...alright. You don't have to call me anything special." her face took on a slightly flustered note to it "I'd actually prefer it if you called me Boudica."
"It seems we humble peons have been granted a great privilege." Archer spoke in mock reverence as a smirk plastered its way onto his face "I shall not abuse this honour you have granted me-ow." he withdrew his leg and stepped away from the Rider as she lowered her boot from having kicked him in the shin.
"Don't start, you." She demanded, soon realising she might have made a mistake as Archer raised his hands and gave her an innocent expression.
"As her majesty commands." Boudica looked like she was about to explode before her shoulders slumped and any irritation visibly left her, soon shaking her head in exasperation and returning to the stove.
"You...I give up." She muttered "You just push peoples buttons on purpose, don't you?" not waiting for his response her attention refocused itself on Siegward "So none of that 'Grace' nonsense. I'm just Boudica, alright?" she finished with a faint smile holding a slightly hopeful tint to it.
"Very well." Siegward rumbled with a smile of his own "Then you may refer to me as Siegward."
"Don't think the God's were as nice as you make 'em out to be." Andre's voice came from the side, the old smith sitting at the countertop with a pint of ale in his hands. The man picked up a small flannel and wiped down his messy beard after taking a long sip of his beer "Most of them were pricks."
"Sounds about right." Archer muttered in response before he shot the man a frown "And couldn't you have cleaned up a bit? You're getting soot all over the table." he gestured to the black smudges on the white surface, earning a flat look from Boudica as well, although the Rider was far more accustomed to such habits. It didn't make them any less irritating to her when people couldn't clean up after themselves but she was at least expecting such things at this point.
"...Sorry." Andre grumbled in response in an apologetic tone of voice "Got thirsty...been working long."
"Really?" Boudica asked as she threw a damp cloth at him and sent a pointed look towards the stains "Are you still making weapons?"
"Eh?" Andre blinked at her as he picked up the cloth, staring at it for a few moments before he cracked a tiny smile and went to work wiping up the filth "Gettin used to the work space." he explained "That and the little wolves have been botherin me about it."
"Wolves as in plural?" Siegward raised an eyebrow before he chuckled "I assume the latter is the Lady-...oh, right." he muttered "She doesn't like it when I call her that...hmm…I assume the latter is the Knight Gareth along with Sif?"
"That's them." Andre huffed half heartedly "Bothersome pair they are...well. Girl's got lot of enthusiasm at least."
"Of course she does." Boudica boasted with a proud smile on her face, placing her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest "She's of Britannia." was her explanation as if it cleared up any of the confusion. Which apparently it did for Andre, given his sage nod in response to her statement.
"Makes sense. Astoran Knights were the same." He reminisced with a nostalgic smile "Bundles of laughs they were...Although they never worked out how to take good care of their swords."
"Did that irritate you?" Archer leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest, Andre let out a cackle in response.
"I'd have been outta work if they did take care of their weapons." He paused "Well...never liked seeing them comin' to me with busted swords. How you get killed."
Boudica gave a small nod "...So how have you been treating little Gareth?"
"Treating her?" Andre raised an eyebrow before he shrugged "Like a stray animal. Just let her sit there and watch me if she's so content." Boudica gave him a look of disapproval at the analogy "She wants me to make her a jousting lance."
"What's wrong with the one she's got?" Siegward asked with a confused look "It seems to be far better than anything that could be forged."
"I assume she wants to joust someone not bifurcate them." Archer answered with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose "Also her weapon being superior means it no longer becomes a fair competition against her opponent is what I assume she takes issue with...not that I know who she could joust with." he scoffed "None of us have horses and she rides a wolf."
"I have a horse." Boudica pointed out with a frown.
Andre drew his lips into a thin line and raised his eyebrow at the red haired woman "You wanna joust her too?"
"...Well." Boudica coughed into her hands "If it would make her happy I'd be willing to learn?"
"Hmmm." Archer hummed in response to her not entirely confident response, given the legends associated with Sir Gareth of the Round Table and their skill in the art of jousting, he would hazard a guess that she wasn't exactly a 'beginner' opponent for someone who was taking up the sport. "In any event, I heard that a certain Saber was able to reclaim their box of equipment?"
"Indeed." Siegward smiled "Sir Ash has managed to recover his bottomless box." his smiled widened and took on a mirthful edge "And I do not believe there is a soul in Chaldea who did not hear the Lady Olga's scolding of his butter fingers."
That was an understatement. The woman had ranted at the Saber for hours about it, what had made it worse was that she had actively followed him through the halls while continuing her tirade even as they re-entered the celebration for the Moon festival. It had gotten to the point where Romani had to step in and try and save the poor man.
Which had backfired horribly when the man suddenly became her new target, unfortunately leading into a fresh source for her aggression at how he had managed to forget mentioning the fact that Artemis was currently wandering around France and had also managed to break into Chaldea.
Suffice to say the woman's excitement had been thoroughly soured by the ease of the theft.
"It'll just teach him not to be so careless in the future." Boudica rolled her eyes in amusement before she sent the Onion Knight a curious look "Although you seem to find a lot more joy in this than I expected."
"I merely am rejoicing in now having fresh bantering materials." He replied amidst a boisterous laugh "True he can forever bring up that I fell asleep and was robbed of my armour without waking...but I can now say he dropped all his possessions and had to rely on the good will of a thief to reclaim them." that earned him a tired sigh from Boudica, the woman had quickly come to understand that Siegward was a simple man "It is all in good fun."
"Hm." Archer grunted "Although it is worth mentioning that he did still lose his own Noble Phantasm. Worse was the nature of it, a repository of Age of Gods level mystic codes is certainly the type of boon Chaldea needs in our current situation. Especially given the resistance we have faced thus far and are likely to face in the future." his sombre words managed to damper the enthusiasm of the room just a bit.
Up until the point a giggle Astolfo came bursting into the room, alongside a stone faced Ash and an extremely guilty looking Shielder. The pink haired rider looked around the room before he spotted the group at the kitchen counter and went bounding up to them with a grin which promised nothing good. Made worse by the fact both Ash and Mash froze like deer in the headlights at the Rider's actions before they rushed after him.
"Soooo!" Astolfo began as he slid to a halt, jumping onto the stool in front of the counter top – and nearly toppling it over – bringing his hands up, then slamming them down against the surface "The funniest thing just happened-"
"No it didn't." Ash interrupted, his expression perfectly blank, save the slight hint of nervousness in his eyes as they darted from the Rider to the other Servants. Mash did little to abate concerns as she looked equally shifty, continuously looking down and making sure to avoid Boudica's piercing stare.
"Ha!" Astolfo barked a laugh "You're only saying that because when Da Vinci finds out-" an armoured glove clamped its way onto the Rider's mouth to prevent further words from spilling forth and implicating the Saber in something "Mmfmfph!" although the Rider still continued to attempt to speak.
"Nothing. Happened." Ash reiterated "He speaks nonsense. Isn't that right, Mash?"
The girl stilled, mouth slightly ajar and eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets at being addressed "W-wha...eh?"
"Nothing happened."
"B-but-"
"What happened?" Boudica asked, placing her hands on her hips and fixing a suspicious look upon the two Servants "Mash. You know only bad girls lie, right?"
"H-huh?"
"You don't want to be a bad girl, do you?"
"No." She shook her head furiously, Boudica responded with a caring smile in response.
"Good. So what happened?"
"W-well...um...it...er…."
"Hey...um...Guys?" Ritsuka's confused voice sounded out from the entrance to the cafeteria, the hustle and bustle stopped as the other Servants present turned towards their master "Yeah. I like to consider myself a fair sort of person. You know...if you're gonna do your own thing, make sure it doesn't bother other people." he raised his hand and gestured with his thumb over his shoulder while scratching the side of his head with his other hands "So...um...with that in mind. Why is there a hole in the wall of the gym?"
The heads of the Kitchen staff – and Andre – robotically turned from the Master and towards Ash and Mash. The two servants stood stock still before the Shielder took a single step away from the Saber. "I-its probably best you admit to it, Ash-san."
"Admit to what?" Boudica narrowed her eyes and fixed them solely on the Saber "What did you do? And why is there a hole in a wall?"
Ash cringed and lowered his hand from the Rider "Well…" he barley got a word out before Astolfo sucked in a big intake of hair.
"Man! I can breathe again! That was rough." He giggled as he span on the stool towards the others "So basically…"
"It's called the Follower Javelin."
"Really?"
"Well...I'm not sure. It was a Javelin wielded by the Follower's of Farron so its just easy to call it that." Ash shrugged his shoulders "Either that or I simply call it a Javelin." spinning the simple metal spear in his hands, it was slightly taller than he was and had a diamond shaped tip on the end of it "Regardless. The true skill of the weapon lies in the craftsman ship and the spells imbued within in."
"Its a magic spear!" Astolfo grinned "So what magic can it do? Blow something up? Set something on fire? Oh! Oh! Does it freeze something!?" the Rider continued to list off a growing number of outrageous ideas for the simple looking weapon as he bounced on his heels.
Ash had originally wanted to show Mash an alternative weapon she could use as oppose to a sword, given that even if she was improving in sword play it was still better to have more than one weapon at her disposal. It was basic logic to not be entirely reliant on something and the Follower Javelin was one of the more simple weapons he had which she could prepare for without being in Servant form. Given that the special ability of the weapon lied in the ability of ones throwing arm.
Ash and Mash stared at him for a few moments before the former turned back to the latter "As I was saying. If you wanted a weapon you could use as oppose to a sword – and I found a spear worked best with a tower shield – then the Follower Javelin is a simple one."
"So what makes it special?" Mash asked with a curious expression "I can tell its a Mystic code but it isn't a Noble Phantasm, is it?"
"No." Ash shook his head "It is a rather common spear used by the Followers. Aside from its innate ability there really isn't anything special about it."
"Fine." Astolfo pouted, the weight of reality crushing his imagination left him slightly disheartened but he was still prepared for something cool. "So what does it do?"
"It is blessed with the ability to create an illusion of itself." Ash explained "As long as you remain the anchor point, you won't really lose the spear hence why it is useful as a Javelin."
"Anchor point?" Mash blinked "What do you mean?"
"You channel magical energy into the spear." Ash continued, raising the spear up and reversing it so the tip was pointed towards the ground "And that allows you to access its ability. The Follower Javelin has the ability to craft an illusion of itself which you throw." he finished before smiling at her "Like so." he drew his arm back with the spear pointed upwards and the two other Servants had only a split second to realise what he intended to do before he hurled the Javelin across the gymnasium and buried it in the wall.
Lowering his arm, he clenched his open hand into a fist. However the metallic pole of the Javelin prevented it from closing the whole way as it instantly disappeared from its spot in the wall and reformed in his grasp. "It is only an illusion, but it is one with weight. So it does unfortunately have poorer durability than the real thing but that does not take away from its use."
"Nice! You get a never ending supply of throwing spears!" Astolfo beamed "Well...until you run out of magical energy but then you can just use it like a normal spear!" he paused when he realised something "Wait if we run out of magical energy we die don't we? Huh...well, its a nearly limitless supply of throwing spears. But not really."
Ash nodded "The actual spear itself remains bounded to you, so the moment you recall it the illusion is broken and the spear is back in your han-"
"Ash-san!?" Mash's horrified voice had the Saber and Rider jolt in surprise at the volume of her cry "What did you do?"
"What?" Ash blinked at her "What do you mean? I just demonstrated that the spear can create an illusion of itself-"
"You threw it at the wall!" She cried out, pointing towards the now obvious indentation in the steel which collapsed inwards towards a glaring black hole. "We could have used a simulation to test it out!"
Ash stared unblinkingly at the damage while Astolfo cracked a smile and soon let out a chuckle "You had an Evaporation of Reason moment! It feels great to just do something without worrying about it, right?" he nudged the Saber in the ribs while continuing to grin.
"How are we going to explain this to Da Vinci and the Director?" Mash realised before a panicked look came to her face.
"Simple." Ash sniffed once, staring down at the Shielder who looked up to him with a slightly hopeful expression.
Unfortunately his next words crushed it into dust.
"We won't. I've never seen that hole in my life." Astolfo parroted deep tone of voice as he mimicked Ash's words and even went so far as to steel his expression. The story over, the Rider's face reverted into one of giddy humour "Amazing, right? Then he just walked out the door and came here!"
The four other Servants stared at the Rider with varying expression of bewilderment before they all trailed over to the Saber. Siegward snorted, his shoulders soon began trembling as he struggled to withhold his laughter. Archer let out a heavy sigh as he turned away from them and made a rather obvious escape into the safety of the Kitchen, soon busying himself with making another meal that someone was inevitably going to order. Andre gave the Saber a blank look before he a sigh escaped him and he turned back to wiping up the side.
Boudica, however, managed to level him with a look of disapproval which had Mash cringe despite not being the focus of it.
"What." She eventually managed to get out in a flat tone "You…" her failure to articulate a single sentence ended with her reaching across the counter-top and grabbing the Saber's cheek and pinching as hard as she physically could "You idiot. You careless fool." the reprimands continued as she twisted the – disturbingly cold – cheeks between her fingers. "What on earth could have possibly possessed you to do something so foolish as to throw spears around indoors?"
Ash grimaced at the pain in his face although he did have a high tolerance for such things "I-if you must know." he pulled himself out of her grasp and took a single step back when it looked like she was about to chase after him to continue the physical assault "Most of the locations in which I tested weapons were not as in good condition as this or had been long since abandoned. So it did not matter what I did."
"He does have a point." Siegward admitted with a slight shrug of his shoulders, however his mouth snapped shut when Boudica levelled her focus upon him. She continued to frown at the Onion Knight before turning back to the Saber.
"So? Surely when you were a child you were taught not to throw things around indoors?" She noticed the way in which Mash winced and Astolfo cringed that she had said something wrong.
"I have no memories of my time before being risen." Ash replied in a tone which indicated he didn't think much of it "I have more memories of my time in Chaldea than I have of the world I originated from."
"O-oh...I...I'm so sorry."
"It doesn't matter." Ash shrugged "I doubt I am that different a person...and I known enough of who I would have been before or at least the end result."
"Yeah...he's technically the youngest person here." Astolfo pointed out as he waved to Archer "So when can I order food?"
"Wait." Boudica frowned and turned to Ash "What does he mean?"
"Well...if we are to consider being an Unkindled a new life and coupled with my current shortage of memories…" Ash rubbed the back of his head with a look of discomfort on his face "I would technically be a little over two months old." he replied before he looked around at the others "But I do not ascribe to that belief-"
"You're a literal child…" Boudica realised and looked him up and down "A child in a man's body."
"That probably isn't true."
"You've been alive in Chaldea longer than you've been alive outside of it." Archer raised an eyebrow at him as he looked up from cooking Astolfo's food "That is certainly a unique set of circumstances."
"I am not a child." Ash crossed his arms "I am a perfectly mature-why are you laughing?" he furrowed his brows as Boudica's scolding expression had melted away into one of amusement, her right hand covered her mouth to stop the laughter spilling forth from it before she looked away from the Saber.
"S-sorry." She mirthfully replied, not at all sounding like she meant it "But that's just the sort of thing a child would say."
"Quite the whipper snapper, ain't ya?" Andre chuckled to himself "Explains why you were always so eager to run back to yer firekeeper. Young man and all-"
"That is not what it was about." Ash denied vehemently "My feelings for Cecilia are not romantically inclined."
"No, no." Andre waved his hand "Course not. Who doesn't want to impress their mother?"
"Moth-" Ash choked "She-She is not my mother!"
"Good thing she didn't hear that then." Archer replied with a smirk as he placed the bowl of stew in front of the pink haired Rider – who immediately began to consume it – and brought his full amused attention onto Ash "I imagine it would break her heart."
"She isn't my mother!"
"Is that why you didn't want her being Nero-san's wife?" Mash asked innocently, looking as though a puzzle had just clicked into place for her "Because it would make you her Son-in-law?"
Boudica's amused expression vanished instantly "...I don't blame him then." she remarked coldly "Being related to that tyrant isn't something I would wish on anyone." turning around and moving back into the Kitchen, none made a move to stop her. Not that they could if they wanted to. Boudica made no effort to speak of it further and very much appreciated the fact that no one else looked to speak of it.
With the sole exception of Siegward casting a concerned look at her back as she worked, he locked eyes with Archer. The tanned man shook his head silently, the message to not broker upon the subject was received and was very hesitantly accepted. Although Archer doubted that Siegward would adhere to it for long. The man was good intentioned but this was one of those instances where it was best to leave well enough alone.
"Ash-san." Mash turned to the Saber with a resigned look about her "You should tell Senpai about the damage."
"...Probably." Ash admitted after a few seconds, turning to the doorway to see the Master still stood there with a blank look on his face which had slowly been turning more and more strained as no one stepped forwards to admit to the deed. "Ritsuka." he seemed to perk up at Ash's voice "I admit that I was slightly careless earlier which may have led to damages being sustained."
"Oh…" Ritsuka blinked before he let out a small sigh and shook his head "Well...alright then. Da Vinci wants to see you then."
"Shit." Ash cursed before he could help himself.
"Using such crass language at such a young age?" Archer tutted quietly, Ash levelled a glare at the man before dragging himself towards the door.
"Really." Siegward gave an exasperated breath "Must you antagonise him?"
"Probably not." Archer admitted with a small shrug "But once that gets out others are certainly going to leap at the opportunity. Best he gets used to it now."
"That is rather a runabout way of providing aid to someone, is it not?"
"If you're getting help, does it really matter at the end of the day where its from?" Archer asked before he took on an ugly frown "No. I already know the answer to that one...but there are worse sources of help to receive from."
"That...I can believe." Siegward nodded his head.
"What did you even do anyway?" Ritsuka asked as the pair made their way through the hallways of Chaldea towards Da Vinci's workshop "Looked like you stabbed something into it."
"I did."
"Oh...What was it?"
"I was demonstrating the function of the Follower Javelin." Ash explained "It lets you throw an illusion of it while still being in possession of the real one." his expression turned slightly sheepish "Normally when I test weapons I do it in locations where it does not matter if I cause damage to my surroundings...I admit I am still getting used to the idea of being in a location which isn't in a state of disrepair."
"That why you keep breaking everything?" Ritsuka joked with a mirthful smile "First there was Da Vinci's door and now the wall...What can I expect for you to break next?"
"Nothing." Ash replied quickly "...Hopefully."
"Hopefully." Ritsuka parroted while rolling his eyes "Well...A throwing Javelin for Mash? Hmm...It certainly seems useful. That and she can use it as a spear as well."
"Its always best to be proficient in more than one weapon." Ash responded with a serious look "In case of being disarmed or finding yourself in possession of a weapon you have never used before. While I would not consider myself a Master of anything, I am of passing skill with all manner of weapons from melee to ranged."
"Jack of all, Master of none, eh?" Ritsuka nodded his head, then noticed Ash's confused expression "It means you're good enough at loads of stuff but you don't excel at anything."
"Ah...yes, that makes sense." Ash agreed "Given the sheer quantity of weapons I acquired on my journey it was normally best to-"
"So you got the box?"
"By the Flames!" Ash jolted as Ritsuka let out a surprised scream, the pair both span around to find the excited face of Kiyohime behind them, the dragon woman having snuck up silently without either noticing her. "What?"
"The box." She repeated "The one with the rings." she went on, leaning forwards with stars in her eyes "You found it?"
"...Yes." Ash affirmed, glancing to Ritsuka to see the boy already cringing "Why?"
"You said you would let me look at the Rings." She pointed out, then narrowed her eyes "You weren't lying, were you?" the question carried an aura of danger to it, indicating that there was only one correct answer.
"No, I wasn't." Ash replied then shrugged, holding up one finger as he manifested the box and held it out in front of him. Flipping the lid open, he looked inside and stared into the blackness as he held his hand just above it. Soon he stared muttering as he sorted through the contents "Not that one...no...Only have one of those...too useful...got sat on getting that one…"
That particular comment drew looks of bewilderment from both Ritsuka and Kiyohime.
"That one is actually useful." He frowned, still looking and completely oblivious to the stares he was receiving "That one turns me into a woman."
Ritsuka's eyebrows sharply rose up to the top of his head at that one "Can you um...just go back a second." Ash paused and looked away from the box and towards the two in front of him "What was that thing you said just now?"
"Hm? Oh, the Ring of Steel Protection raises my Endurance." He explained "I've already got the Knights Ring on...I believe it has raised my Strength stat?"
"Huh?" Ritsuka blinked and looked at him "Yeah, you're now at Strength rank B." he waved his hand "Anyway you said something about turning into a woman?"
"Ring of Reversal." Ash replied, as if it explained anything and was all the contexted that was needed. Which for Ritsuka and Kiyohime, it most certainly wasn't.
"Why do you have that?"
"...Why not?" Ash shrugged "Could be useful."
"Have you...ever worn it?"
"...Yes."
"Oh...what...um…" Ritsuka leaned forwards and asked in a whisper "What was it like?"
Ash frowned in response, briefly glancing to Kiyohime who was also looking at him suspiciously now "It was...a little tight around the chest. My back was also a little tenser than usual."
"I hope you aren't planning on using such a thing to seduce my Anchin-sama." Kiyohime absently commented "I would be most upset."
"I only wore it once." Ash replied "Besides…I doubt a situation will emerge where I ever need to wear it again….did you want it?"
"No." Ritsuka shook his head "I think I'm alright...maybe." he paused as a brief thought entered his mind "So if I put it on, I would become a woman?"
"Yes."
"And if I take it off I turn into a man again?"
"You do."
"….I see."
"I would love you no matter what form you take, Anchin-sama." Kiyohime remarked from the sidelines with an earnest expression on her face. Ritsuka seemed to ponder the issue for a few more moments before he shook his head and turned to the Berserker.
"Me and Ash are a little pressed for time right now." He explained "I need to get him to Da Vinci to discuss some damages but I promise you'll have time later discuss rings with him." he looked to the Saber for reassurance "Right?"
"Well...I have some rings I consider off limits but I'm sure I have something worth looking at." The Saber shrugged in response "I can only wear four at a time and from my experience the abilities do not stack if it is the same ring so I can probably find you something."
"It's a promise then." Kiyohime giggled, opening up her fan in front of her face and showing only her sparkling eyes "I look forward to it, Anchin-sama!" she parted from them, waving her hand in farewell before gracefully moving through the corridors and out of sight.
"...She seems...genuine."
"She's nice at least." Ritsuka shrugged and turned to the Saber "A little bit clingy but she's not exactly malicious. I do wish she wasn't as eager though, I've barely spoken to her all that much and she acts like I'm her soulmate." he sighed "I like to think if I were to form a relationship with a girl it would be with one I knew better."
"You'll have time to speak with her in the future though, will you not?"
"Oh, yeah." He nodded his head "Of that I have no doubt but that's probably true of all the other Servants I've summoned or am likely to summon." a grimace worked its way onto his face "...Havel being one of them."
"That would be problematic. Considering his stance on mages." Ash agreed "Although from my understanding, you are a poor mage."
Ritsuka released a snort "If that's the case it'll be the first time a lack of talent has ever saved someone's life." soon furrowing his brows and sending a curious look towards Ash "Hey, how come he doesn't seem like he despises your guts?"
"Pyromancy and Sorcery are two very different schools of magic." Ash explained "Pyromancy dates back to the Witches of Izalith who were allies of Gwyn and Havel, Sorcery originates from Seath the Paledrake who was an enemy of Havel." Ritsuka nodded along "It is likely that he does not differentiate between Sorcerers and Mages from your world."
"Seems a little stereotypical, doesn't it?"
"I don't know." Ash shrugged "Sorcerers are often arrogant and commit themselves to achieving their goals regardless of personal opinion towards them. A pyromancer just wants to learn of a new way to set things on fire."
"That's just called being a pyromaniac."
"There probably isn't much of a difference" Ash chuckled "I learned all I could of Pyromancy because it had so many uses...as far as Sorcery goes I do not believe I had the correct mentality for it. I tried but Pyromancy was just easier for me to align with."
"You mean like an affinity?"
"Something like that." The Saber agreed with a quick nod of his head "All undead are capable of learning the three major schools of magic. However it entirely depends upon personal preference. I just had a preference for throwing large balls of fire at things."
"I think you actually are a Pyromaniac."
"Yes but I am a Pyromaniac on your side." Ash pointed out "So there is that."
"Yes, yes." Ritsuka rolled his eyes playfully "You're a Pyromaniac but you're our pyromaniac."
The two shared a laugh as they approached Da Vinci's door, Ritsuka stopping in front of it and giving two knocks. There was a slight clattering from inside before it opened upwards.
Da Vinci rested her right hand on the door frame and her left hand on her hip as she stared at the two in front of her before she cracked a smile "Alright, what did you break now?" she asked in jest.
"I threw a spear at the wall in the gym." Ash replied, the joking expression on her immediately vanished into a dull, half-lidded, look at the Saber "...I wasn't thinking properly at the time."
"…" She stared at him for several seconds before she let out a tired sigh, moving her hand off her hip and rubbing her forehead in exasperation "Of course...How bad?"
"It's a small hole." He reassured her "...Inside a small dent...near the ceiling."
Her thoroughly unimpressed look slowly shifted down his person and towards the Bottomless box he still had materialised "Alright...I suppose I could overlook this one little issue for a favour." she teetered out with a mischievous look.
Ash furrowed his brows "What manner of favour?"
"Well...I understand you have some Mystic codes in that box of yours." She pointed towards it with a growing smile "I would be more than happy to forget this little incident and avoid mentioning it to the Director if you were to show me some of its contents." her smile became positively catlike "Of course its your choice~"
A choice in name only and they both knew it. After her last rant, Ash very much did not want to get further onto the Directors bad side.
"...Very well." He sighed, Da Vinci beamed as she took a step to the left "I suppose you would want to know about it."
"Wait for me." Ritsuka walked in as well, seeing Da Vinci's amused look he pouted "What? He's about to show off other wordly weapons? Why wouldn't I want to know." he cracked a grin "He's got a ring that reverses peoples gender, for crying out loud."
"Wait, really?" Da Vinci's eyes bugged out and turned towards the Saber "You have something like that?"
"Yes." Ash nodded his head and then gave her a flat look "No. I am not wearing it."
"Mou!" Da Vinci huffed as she closed the door, still holding an amused smile "Take the fun out of everything. Although I will say that it feels liberating to be a woman."
"I became somewhat top heavy."
"Pfft!" Da Vinci cackled "All the more reason!"
"No!"
AN: Back into the thick of it in the aftermath of the Event. Anyway. We'll have either one or two more By the Bonfire Chapters before we head into Okeanos.
As far as Servants we'll be bringing there. It's going to be Ash, EMIYA, Boudica and Havel.
As for why Havel?
Simple.
Who doesn't want to see Havel fight Heracles?