The return home was a rather mundane if not pleasant trip facilitated by Europe's finest travel services where comfort and luxury were held to an almost severe epitome of perfection. It started first by limo, then by train, and now by plane on the voyage across numerous time zones. Unlike the time Arturia had been ferried off by Alec using his Black Lightning, neither Shirou or Athena had such instantaneous Authorities. And frankly, even if they could match Alec's speed or capabilities by supplementing a different Authority, a human was never meant to endure something as strenuous as 'God Speed.' Alec's Black lightning worked by converting him and those in his possession into lightning itself in an almost teleportation-like movement.

If a mortal body endured the rapid acceleration from zero to the bounds of God-Speed, the G-force alone would kill anything.

Shirou and Athena wouldn't take risks, and Europe's elite mage forces were more than willing to accommodate the request to ferry them back to Japan and far far away from Europe. Europe had never seen so many Heretic Gods gathered at once, and frankly they were more than skeptical that Arturia's word could restrain them at all.

This was Japan's problem. It started there, so it might as well end there.

However, it was proven on the way that Arturia's words did carry sway when she dismissed a majority of the 'Heretic Gods,' leaving only two to accompany her. One was Athena, and the other, a Heretic God wearing a red mantle and black body armour. Godou would have instantly recognized Shirou, but as for the rest of the world, they were still scrambling for answers.

In regards to Athena's mist veil, tying in with the Authority of Lady Iris of Greek Mythology, she'd shut that Authority off after politely requesting the mage representative in Fort Andromeda to await their return.

"R-Refreshments, milady?"

Arturia immediately grew sheepish towards the waitress in business attire holding out a silver trey of drinks towards her. If her trembling in anxiety wasn't already apparent, the clinking noises of the glasses on the trey gave it all away. And it only got worse when it wasn't Arturia who responded, but Athena who reached out to sample the drinks, more out of genuine curiosity that anything else. If she'd once thought human food and drink beneath the ambrosia she partook of in the realm of the Gods, well, that pretentiousness had been discarded after tasting Shirou's cooking. Perhaps, more of such wonders existed in the human world, but the moment she took a sip of the grape wine, she made a face and reconsidered. It was nowhere near close to ambrosia.

Athena glared at the cup; her false sense of expectations shattered. In comparison, the waitress paled, eyes misting over as she hastily pulled out a white napkin and a fountain pen to begin writing her will. The waitress had heard stories of how Lord Voban killed his attendants for less.

"It's fine. You can go." Unable to watch this any longer, interceded.

The waitress gladly complied and was out of the private jet's lounging space.

For a moment, silence stretched, but Arturia didn't notice as she continued to glance at the back of her hands. She was doing her best to not let it affect her, but in the end, she was still failing.

"Is something wrong?" Shirou asked, causing Arturia to purse her lips.

There really was no hiding it from him was there? Was she that easy to read?

"The Command Seals…" Arturia trailed off, staring at the lingering markings that remained, the pigmentation shallow and now lacking depth.

These seals were her tie, a representation of her bond with Shirou and Athena, and the reduction of them was utterly disheartening. She understood that the situation had been dire, but the fact that she'd had to use all three of Shirou's Command Seals left her feeling hollow. She'd used one to bolster him in Fort Andromeda, and the other two to bring him to Europe. As it stood now, the only Command Seals Arturia had left was Athena's single seal.

Arturia couldn't stop looking as the faded arcs of Shirou's Command Seals, and this time, Shirou had nothing he could say to undo what had already been done.

Athena was different.

"Is that all?" Athena raised her brow dismissively, causing Arturia glare. "Magic is magic, that which is born from a God's Authority. Humans merely borrow that Authority to actualize their spells."

Arturia recalled Athena's particular words while Shirou was more direct.

"What are you trying to get at?" He asked.

Fools. Athena rolled her eyes, not knowing that the magic system Shirou and Arturia were referring to was wholly different from the one she knew. This difference in understanding would be made entirely evident right here and now.

"Just watch. It's easier to see than to explain." Athena shut her eyes and focused, drawing upon the magic of her Authority and branding it over the link she shared with Arturia. The process was similar to how Heretic Gods and even humans branded a grimoire with a God's Authority.

The exertion would leave her exhausted, but she should be able to recover in a couple days time.

Arturia gaped as she watched Athena's faded Command Seals steadily begin to fill and colour.

"It's back!" She exclaimed.

"I suggest you do the same," Athena opened an eye and advised a dumbfounded Shirou.

Command Seals in a Holy Grail War, to Shirou's knowledge, were only ever powerful single use magics. Just the concept of replenishable Command Seals utterly baffled him, but it didn't stop him from acting. Under Athena's instruction, he too managed to replenish two Command Seals. He didn't have enough energy to replenish the third, so Athena advise he do so after recovering.

Shirou nodded weakly, having underestimated how much magic energy it took to recover a Command Seal. However, noticing the way Arturia carefully cradled the symbol of their bond in her hands, he snorted and put up with the discomfort without a noise.

A knock abruptly sounded, and another request to see if Arturia would like more of anything came. This would be the first of four other times during the flight.

"I don't think I can take this," Arturia began to sink into her cushioned seat, features listless.

Being waited on under increasing tension wasn't exactly the most relaxing, but given the circumstances, it wasn't as if Arturia couldn't understand where all this prudence was coming from.

Every action she took, every word she said, all of it was met with an underlying tone of deep-seated fear and trepidation behind so-called formalities. In reality, Athena pointed out that their services and courtesy towards her could just be trying to butter her up or cajole her into agreeing to ask 'Enkidu' to release his binding Authority.

As it stood now, the world was down two Campione. One was obviously Doni, and the other was Black Prince Alec himself. The beating hadn't ended with just a simple beating, but further restriction on Alec's Authorities while he curled up into a ball surrounded by 'Heretic Gods' that took turns kicking him in a circle. The Authority restriction was courtesy of 'best clay' who saw an opportunity, and took it while Alec's twitching form was left forgotten on the roadside. Better yet, Athena had even joined in on the kicking…just to make sure and all. Campione's bodies were tough. Alec could endure it.

In any case, Alec and Doni were in the same sinking boat.

As far as Athena was concerned, this was their leverage. Arturia would be a fool to so easily give it up, and Athena made sure to heavily imply this, causing the matter to be continually put off.

Athena's features hardened into stone. "You must first learn to doubt before trusting."

Arturia winced, owlishly shifting away from Athena's gaze lest she manage to convince her that any good intention was always carried out with ulterior motives. Arturia didn't want that kind of jaded wisdom!

It was precisely this reaction that had Athena vexed.

Why else had Athena refused to leave Arturia alone in the company of those mage associates? In the end, Arturia just wasn't intimidating enough. Her youth made her look too childish, and her blush that constantly flushed her cheeks made her look even less threatening. Oh, Arturia had the capability to look the part of a regal Campione, but she couldn't put aside her reservations and constantly fell into personal embarrassment.

One would find a growling wolf terrifying, but switch that wolf with a recently weened cub, and terrifying becomes adorable just begging to be indulged.

Was that what her Master was? A cub or a wolf? No, she'd make her a wise owl yet.

"That food over there is complimentary, right?" Arturia's attention was drawn elsewhere.

Athena mechanically turned to Shirou for help, feeling as if her words were entering one ear, and out the other. However, Shirou seemed to agree with Arturia's priorities. He coughed, red tinging his cheeks at Athena's utter deadpan. "…Hunger is the enemy."

Arturia's eyes gleamed, her features beaming.

Athena knew then.

Zeus damn it all, he's the enabler!

Ah, stress.

A pang of longing swelled from within her, divine sense searching for that lovely black prince to contribute in her time of need. Her fist was feeling itchy, but she held the impulse down.

It could have been the heated face Athena was making, the almost perverted tilt of her lips, or even her panting breaths, but Arturia took notice.

With Athena's perception, she obviously saw Arturia staring at her, then realized the sort of expression she had been making. Ares damn her.

"T-This isn't me," she accused, falling into a genuine fluster for the first time since regaining her true form, hands pressed against her heated cheeks. "This is your fault. You could have just said to kill him!"

Arturia froze while Shirou dragged a hand over his face and sighed, intending on drawing Athena's attention towards him and away from Arturia.

"She ordered us to beat him unconscious, but didn't say how much effort to put in." Shirou said, using rationality to pierce through a God of Wisdom's accusations. "You took the first punch, and kicked for the longest. Don't you think you were the heaviest handed?"

Athena's mouth opened, then closed, before she huffed.

Her toes curled, fingers rapping against her crossed legs before splaying out and resting a hand over her embarrassingly flushed cheeks. "I should have hit him lighter," she muttered, if only because it would have prolonged the beating. She clicked her tongue.

She couldn't refute Shirou's words.

Athena then craned her neck to the side, shut her eyes, and chose to re-immerse herself in that wonderful sensation.

Like she'd thought, the stress was vanishing, but along with it, came back clarity and an unwavering sternness for what was to come.

"When we return, you will not display the bearings of a child, but of a Queen befitting the title of Campione." Athena took matters into her own hands, and pulled Arturia away from the food bar. She glared away at any protest. "As someone under my tutelage…You will not embarrass me."

Arturia didn't like where this was going. She was utterly right.

.

.

.

"Don't smile like your friends. Again."

.

.

.

"Too haughty. Again."

.

.

.

"Where's your dignity? Again!"

.

.

.

"So, help me, if you fail to get this right, we're going with the tried and true."

Tried and true.

Arturia moved like a ship with its sails cut and anchor lost at sea.

Wait. Tried and true?

The only time she and Athena had ever…?!

Athena's eyes glinted without mercy.

Gaow…Hear her roar.

"Nooo! NOOOO!"

.

.

.

Shirou blinked, clueless and unsure if he should be helping Arturia or not. But Athena wasn't really doing any harm.

It was just etiquette, wasn't it?

Kauru noted how tense everyone was while awaiting Arturia's return, a majority of attention focused on Japan's Committee who were doing a commendable job in keeping their silence.

No one was sure how things had developed to this point. The moment Arturia's 'identity' was revealed, the remaining Campione, Godou and John Pluto Smith, had been forcibly expelled from the Fort. Likely, this was an automatic feature since Athena was no longer physically there to preside over the Authority. It sensed a Campione's presence, and pushed them out. This left only the world's various mages and cabals still in attendance to hear of Athena's request to away the Eighth's return.

One moment the magic societies were aligned against an alliance of Heretic Gods that could threaten the world, Campione gathering to meet the challenge, and then now it had led to this quiet, solemn, and tense atmosphere.

"Care to explain?" The one who had spoken was a representative that tacitly understood that he was speaking on behalf of all the gathered associations in Fort Andromeda.

In this respect, Japan's Committee followed suit and sent up Kaoru's mother to act as the collective spokesperson of Japan's magic organization.

"There's nothing to be explained." Kaoru's mother articulated, tone clipped, yet not sharp enough to offend. "The Heretic Gods subordinate to the Eighth Campione asked for secrecy, and we adhered to it at their request."

It was entirely reasonable, justified even, but human sentiments were never quite so simple to assuage when frayed or at their wits end.

"All of this could have just been avoided if you shared such information!"

It was such an obvious response, and was thus met with an obvious reply.

Kaoru's mother leveled a long drawn and withering stare that could have had anyone questioning themselves. "Would it really?" She eventually whispered out in the silence, the question nothing more than rhetoric.

No one stood up to answer. They weren't fools.

The answer was no. Campione, like Voban, would have fought anyway at the chance to do battle with another Heretic God and everyone knew it. This was not only to alleviate Lord Voban of his boredom, but to further enhance the number of Voban's Authorities. In this sense, the Heretic God Enkidu's presence within the Eighth's camp was nothing less than a treasure out in the open.

An Authority to restrict other Authorities was something few if any Campione would be willing to pass up. Trouble was, Enkidu was tied to the Eighth Campione, not that it would do much to dissuade confrontation.

Each and every Heretic God under the Eighth's command could also essentially be viewed as new Authorities for any Campione to prey upon. This posed a different, yet vital sort of problem.

"Ms. Pendragon's physical capabilities pale in comparison to a Campione's." Kaoru's mother stated the obvious. "This is one of the trade offs in her Authority to command Heretic Gods. Given her vulnerability, this was reason enough to avoid divulging such critical information, let alone the fact that a Campione may hold her hostage as a literal 'Golden Hen' for Heretic Gods."

"That doesn't explain your protectiveness! You could have helped stop the Campione from infighting!"

"Better to protect the eighth than any single Campione." Unreasonable bastards. Kaoru's mother grimaced. "The Eighth's Authority wards away the Curse of Madness that befalls Heretic Gods. If she were to be harmed or killed, and her Authority broken, every Heretic God under her could fall into the curse. We've seen the capabilities of just a few of them, but just imagine all of them going mad at once? Therefore, can you really fault us for keeping silent- especially when this event was hosted over the entirety of Japan?!"

Kaoru's mother was a reserved and collected older woman, but even she had a temper.

All suddenly thought of the number of Heretic Gods they'd seen answer to Arturia's call through the mist Athena had conjured. Many were figures of legend they'd yet to even discover the identities of.

Alice of the Witenagemot let out an involuntary giggle in the tense silence. She was the only one in Europe's magic societies who felt that what happened was quite cathartic, but she also understood that the balance in Europe had taken a drastic change.

Regardless, Kaoru's points were all too reasonable, but they didn't answer everything.

Just as Alice herself was about to speak out, Fort Andromeda stirred.

The room rapidly fell quiet as Arturia, Athena, and Shirou arrived, appearing in the middle where they stood as a tight-knit group.

Arturia looked the utter picture of a poster trophy wife with a stick up her ass, not daring to slouch or move at all through constant threat of social death. Even her features were schooled into an aloof, almost lidded expression, her chin tilted to perfection, and her eyes misty from unshed tears.

Athena nodded, her smile conveying to Arturia to just 'give her the chance,' and there would be no hesitation. Still, credit would be given where it was due.

Arturia's present demeanor was stunning, even causing Shirou to blink. Athena had gotten Arturia to wear a white Greek gown that accentuated her soft features and budding curves in the style of Greek forest-folk, the dryads.

Neither Shirou or Arturia tried to get a word in. They'd agreed on this beforehand. Diplomacy was Athena's battlefield, her forte so to speak, and they both knew it. Nothing was going to go wrong. No idiots butting in to induce unknown variables in a discussion among intellectuals, allowing the inherent wit of a God of Wisdom to shine through.

"Apologies for delays." Athena began cordially, a small smile playing on her lips as she instantly took the momentum. "I'm sure you all have many questions, and I will be the first to say that we do not mind indulging your curiosity if you so wish."

"What are your intentions?"

Certainly, the opportunity to question a god was not wasted by these humans.

Athena raised a brow and answered as best as she could. "The Praetor insists that she's just a normal girl, so I suppose we'll be moving with that as a basis."

Arturia twitched vehemently, Athena's words practically mocking her. To rub salt in the wound, she even heard mutters of 'another eccentric' being mournfully muttered by the gathered association members.

Any thoughts of protest died when Athena gave Arturia a pressuring glance. She stilled and kept her silence as Athena continued.

"To this end, we, the Heretic Gods tied to Arturia, may consider obliging requests for aid as we are the core strength of the Eighth, and not her herself. Do remember this. Any and all attempts on her will be met with swift and appropriate retaliation. However, you can request that she act as a proxy to communicate with my fellow colleagues. If you have a need for a specific Heretic's aid, do be sure to contact her ahead of time."

The words roused the entire crowd. Ordinarily, the world only had seven Campione to call upon in times of a Heretic God's descent, but the Eighth's existence introduced an entirely new avenue to combat these dangers outside of the ordinary Campione. Moreover, Arturia was only human. She could be just as easily persuaded or led to adopt a normal human's common sense.

"Then if we were to ask for even mundane things?"

Athena glanced at Arturia, who tentatively nodded back. The action was a show that even if Athena was the one speaking, Arturia had final calls, hammering the dynamic of the Eighth and the Heretic Gods under her.

"If the Praetor permits our involvement," Athena crossed her arms boldly. "Then we would be able to accommodate such arrangements. Now is there anything else?"

"About the other Heretic Gods-"

"You wish to know their identities?" Athena guessed in bemusement, thoughts clicking in place. "Of course, forgive our due diligence, but we will not be disclosing the information pertaining to our strongest combatant. However, a majority of information can be arranged by Japan's Committee under the Eighth Campione and disseminated as public knowledge from there."

Many eyes from numerous magical cabals and organizations once again rounded on Japan's Committee members for the second time.

"That…" Put in the spotlight, Kaoru's mother held her tongue and sighed when Athena glanced limpidly at her, a thinly veiled smile on her lips, daring her to refute. "Can be arranged."

Helpless, Kaoru's mother relented.

Athena had just affiliated Japan's Committee under Arturia's banner in a single sentence, leaving no room for Japan to leverage or sponsor its other local Campione, Godou Kusonagi.

Everyone now knew which Campione held more sway in Japan at this point.

One should never underestimate Athena's shrewdness.

To Arturia, life seemed to steadily resume its everyday normalcy, well, as far as her student life was concerned. Everything else was kind of still in the works. Members of Japan's Committee would always be a call away, or were secretly protecting her to avoid any possible worst-case scenarios.

It wasn't as if she was just some paper doll, but it must have been terrifying that she, as a 'Campione,' had the potential to be assassinated by something as simple as a knife. She wasn't that fragile, okay? But it didn't matter since the magic organizations would never stop fretting over her due to the risk her death may impose on her so-called Authority. That, and she was the only liaison between the magic organizations, and her coalition of sane Heretic Gods.

Arturia involuntarily let out a tired sigh. Even the bullies she'd ordinarily run into as the Lion of Fuyuki were mysteriously incapacitated before she could even lift a finger. Then there were her daily purchases which were credited to her for free, totally defeating the whole purpose of punishing Kay for badmouthing her by using his credit card.

This was why she said the only real place of normalcy was her student life in Jounan Academy, but unfortunately, she simply spoke too soon.

Of course Japan's Committee would assign its members to look out for her even during classes. Mariya Yuri and Ena Seishuun made sure of this, their transfer into her classroom a clear example of shady back-hand dealings. Then again, it wasn't as if their presence here was necessary considering who was keeping Arturia company in Jounan.

Arturia was making a face, and she knew it the moment Athena, her deskmate, elbowed her on the side and smiled in warning.

Athena was in her younger form, having shifted back to keep the image of a student she'd already implemented in Jounan.

Arturia stiffened, and resumed the expression Athena had taught her in any public setting, holding back the urge to sob.

Athena nodded. Pleased.

With Athena presiding over Arturia's safety, there was no immediate cause for concern, causing Mariya and Ena to keep their distance. The primary reason was that both were still rather on guard with Heretic Gods, and couldn't muster the courage to strike a conversation. And this was even worse for Mariya due to how reserved and withdrawn she normally was. Ena had no such qualms, but she didn't want to trouble Mariya either, creating such a dynamic.

It wasn't until the end of the school day that anything really interesting actually happened.

To begin with, this class hosted not just one Campione, but a supposed two.

"Ah, Arturia." Godou unexpectedly called out to Arturia before she could leave, causing her to pause out of courtesy.

"Godou," she greeted, tension filling the air.

"Can we talk?" Godou asked sheepishly, gaze shifting to Athena before he winced. "Maybe without the glaring?"

On this, Athena wasn't quite quick to agree given that Arturia and Godou were essentially two competing predators on the same island.

"Speak Campione." Athena insisted, her arms crossing. "What doth thou desire?"

Godou opened his mouth, but almost instantly shut it when he took note of all the attention on him. Admittedly, it quite appeared as if Godou was trying to hit on more women despite already having Erica to himself, rousing the jealousy of the male code.

Godou gestured to head somewhere more private.

Glancing at each other, Arturia and Athena eventually complied.

Unseen, the air followed the two women. Shirou was obviously around, but was just out of sight.

/-/

Isolated behind the gym, Godou decided that it would be better for him to stop putting this off and just get on with it. The longer he waited, the more awkward things were getting with even Arturia starting to grow suspicious of his intentions.

"Would you like to come with us on a trip to Italy?" Godou directly invited, no longer beating around the bush.

It was Erica's idea really. Her and Godou's impressions regarding Arturia have changed entirely after recent revelations.

Two Campione vying for the same territory was never good. The best outcome was obviously mutual benefit or cooperation. To facilitate this, the tears in their present relationship had to be mended, and Godou and Erica knew that they had to be the ones to take the initiative as the former aggressors. It just so happened that Erica had planned a trip back to Italy, and this presented an ideal opportunity.

If Godou found it odd that Erica wouldn't have extended the invitation herself, he had a hunch that it had to do with Athena. Erica was never herself around the Goddess of Wisdom, and was almost always carrying a subdued expression.

"Italy?" Arturia pursed her lips. She wasn't exactly all that thrilled considering her last trip to Europe hadn't been the most pleasant.

"Agree," Athena suddenly interceded.

What? Arturia glanced at Athena, noticing the odd frown maring her face.

"A-Agree?" Arturia stammered incredulously. "We're going to Italy?"

"It's to spread your influence," Athena lied smoothly, such that not even Shirou who was listening in noted any abnormalities. The best lies were truths after all.

Arturia's status as a Campione had just been announced, but there was nothing notable to her name other than the Heretic Gods under her Authority. And even then, not all magic societies were convinced, many radicals believing that Arturia was just beguiled and this was a hoax orchestrated by the coalition of Heretic Gods.

Due to the degree of trust Athena had built with Shirou and Arturia, it didn't take much to convince them, but although Athena advocated that all good intentions had ulterior motives, this was the first time she felt conflicted. No. It was their fault for being too believing. There was just something she needed to make sure.

Athena hoped her intuition was wrong in this instance, but she was doubtful.

Powers were stirring in the ancient fields of her homeland.

The call of an Earth Goddess was welling up from within her.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to my newest patrons: That Guy Jay, Daelk2150, and Blyth S!

Next update: Fate Kill

P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious

Book links:

Fatedlegacydark. ca

The Lonely Peak

New Book: Out on Amazon (Remove dash on link)

Survivor's Log Reflection: Amazon.c-om/dp/B08VDDGN7Z?