Summary: It takes the aftermath of a training simulation for Gao Changgong to get the chance to see Vy as her true self. Just like almost everyone before him, he had forgotten that she was a human girl first, the last Chaldean Master second.

Note: This was inspired by my lack of energy to converse with anyone when coming home from work on the first day of my second week at my new job. Opening Fate/Grand Order has been one of the few ways I've found that I can both relax and not take up too much of my social battery, and considering a certain Prince's presence in my Chaldea, it's about time he gets a section to himself. I started writing this just when I achieved Bond Level 3 with him, so I hope you don't mind the references.

The theme I'll recommend for you is a track titled Silver Thread, used originally for the prequel series Washio Sumi is a Hero. The Yuuki Yuna franchise is very flawed, more so with how it treats disability in its narrative, but at least its music and voice acting helps it along. I'd like to redeem it a little here with the song choice. If you want a more Fate-like alternative, though, then I'll point you to the track called In the Dream from Fate/Apocrypha.

CW as always for spoilers to events in the Observers in the Timeless Temple arc, and the ending of Lostbelt 3: SIN.

Otherwise, please enjoy.

Day 9: Lone Flower

Gao Changgong found himself in a small predicament. Now, before you ask, the "pickle" he found himself in wasn't particularly dangerous. It wasn't even life-threatening, nor was it horribly dire.

It was a mere mental issue.

He simply had no clue what to do when faced with the locked door leading to his new lord's quarters. Unlike Yu Mei-ren, who as Akuta Hinako was awkward at best and quiet and seething at worst, Vy was gentle and understanding, no matter what situation he seemed to find her in. Unlike Gao Wei, who was far too stuffy for his own good, Vy was honest and selfless, constantly looking at what she could improve on and attempting to find the "best" way to appease others.

In spite of those traits, however, nothing quite prepared him for the silence that followed a training session.

When looking back on it, it was, in all honesty, how training was supposed to be. Chaotic, a bit messy, and overall rewarding. Fighting alongside Lord Xiang Yu and friend Yu Mei-ren was a gracious treat, even if they had never fought on a battlefield together outside of the Chinese Lostbelt up to that point. In spite of that fact, Vy had commanded them all patiently and, quite honestly, beautifully for a girl her age, minimizing damage from the opposing Divine Arms while charging their Noble Phantasms enough for a full counterattack to be completed in very little time.

So Gao Changgong could not for the life of him understand why Vy had fallen completely silent since returning to the Wandering Sea. Aside from a few nods to Mash and Da Vinci, along with the occasional quip to Yu Mei-ren and some acknowledging nudges towards Lord Xiang Yu, she had since secluded herself in her room.

Gao Changgong also could not understand why the older veteran Servants of Chaldea had given him a simple look at his previous questioning of the situation before handing him a tray of food.

"Bring that to Master before she falls asleep," Archer EMIYA had ordered, a stern look on his face. "If you want answers as to why she's quiet, it's best that you go and find out yourself."

"Why?"

Even though it was an honest question, Gao Changgong still wondered why both the Lancer and Saber versions of Diarmuid turned away from view at that moment. It was also suspicious that the newly Fully Ascended Lord El-Melloi II hadn't bothered to give Gao Changgong a glance either, his scowl clear even on his younger self's face.

Archer EMIYA at the time sighed, the lines on his forehead all the more prominent as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let it be said our Master is bad at taking care of herself, Saber." Gao Changgong could not forget how his Class Name suddenly took prominence in the conversation. "And if you're going to be a part of this group in saving Humanity, especially after what happened in the Synchronized Intellect Nation, then you're going to have to do it like how we all did."

"…On my own?"

"On your own." EMIYA's tone of voice made it clear that it wasn't supposed to be questioned.

Apparently the rest of Chaldea took after their only Master in how nothing was truly forgotten. Or forgiven. Gao Changgong couldn't blame them. After all, he had originally opposed their goal in bringing back Proper Human History by fighting with his old friend who called herself a "Crypter." Serving alongside them now for Proper Human History probably felt like a slap in the face.

Thus, Gao Changgong helplessly stared at the food in his hands. It was a simple tray of warm soup — "gumbo" or something along those lines, Archer EMIYA's more than his own — and a tall bottle of water opposing the small cup of freshly blended fruit juice. It was all enough for a modern lunch, or so the Holy Grail's knowledge had claimed.

Gao Changgong glanced between the dishes and the door still in front of him. The door itself was a pale white, just as much as the rest of Chaldea, the only signs of individuality there being the nameplate that adorned Vy's name and a handmade paper sign underneath it. Looking at the paper sign closer revealed Mash's careful handwriting with some kind of colored pencil drawing accompanying it. For such a rough and hurried sketch, the small poppy flower was rather adorable.

"For Senpai's rest, please knock to get permission to enter," Gao Changgong read to himself. "Alright." With a small nod to himself, he prepared his heart. Balancing the tray on one hand, Gao Changgong raised his other to gently rap on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Gao Changgong waited. One, two, three…

Then, to his relief, a small muffled reply came from past the door. "Yes?"

"M-Master, it is I. The Prince of Lan Ling," Gao Changgong started as eloquently as possible, bringing his hand back to hold the tray. "Archer EMIYA requested that I bring you food before you sleep."

"Oh…" echoed past the door before it proceeded to abruptly slide open. Gao Changgong took a step back just in time to see his new lord come into view via her standing in the doorway. He was not expecting to see the simple yet wrinkled snowflake-patterned pajamas and mussed-up hair on Vy's person. She was normally very neat around the other Servants, keeping her Mystic Codes ironed and clean while her hair was in a professional ponytail, away from grabbing enemies. This, on the other hand, was…

"Master?" Gao Changgong asked, softer.

Vy slowly tilted her head at him, her glasses slowly sliding down the bridge of her nose as some locks of her now loose brown hair brushed her shoulders. "Saber?" she echoed, blinking blearily at him.

This was certainly going nowhere.

Gao Changgong held back the urge to sigh, putting on a polite smile past his mask. "May I come in, Master Vy?"

Vy blinked at him again, once or twice, before nodding slowly. "Go right ahead, just close the door behind you…" she said, yawning behind a dainty hand as she ushered him inside. In spite of Gao Changgong's earlier words, however, Vy only took the tray of food once he physically offered it to her with a minute roll of his shoulders. It quickly became obvious that Vy would need a moment to "come back to Earth," or how the saying put it, because she blankly stared at the steaming tray of food in her hands in the entirety of the same interval it took for Gao Changgong to press the door's lock button. Once the door slid shut back into place in the doorway, Vy's reply came out in a tentative murmur barely above a whisper. "…You brought gumbo?"

The tiny bit of wonder in Vy's voice over the food's identity made Gao Changgong let go of some of the tension in his shoulders, the smile on his face coming about more naturally. "Archer EMIYA made it for you."

Light gradually returned to Vy's brown eyes as a smile of her own dawned on her face. "I'll have to thank him later…" She proceeded to gently place the tray onto the nearby desk table, longing for the food already in her posture before she paused.

"Master?"

Vy made a small noise, something along the lines of a "Murgh," before she proceeded to groggily walk — no, perhaps "sway" was the better descriptor — over to his side for her head to clumsily plop down against the unarmored part of his right shoulder.

Gao Changgong blinked, surprised. She wasn't heavy, per say, but this— "…Vy?"

"'M sorry."

Gao Changgong blinked again. Did he hear that correctly? "…Master, pardon my rudeness, but could you repeat what you just said?" Inwardly, he thought, What did I do to warrant your apology? Gao Changgong could have sworn he had fulfilled his duties as best as he could have.

Even then, Vy trembled. Whether it was anxiety or her barely hanging onto consciousness, Gao Changgong couldn't tell. "'M sorry," was the slow and honest response. A little pause followed, and before Gao Changgong could say anything, Vy added, "About not talking to you after we finished training in the simulator. Socializing takes a lot out of me, there's lots of Servants to interact with outside of Chaldea's staff, and I'm still trying to figure out where my mana limits are, so…" Vy stopped talking from an incoming yawn.

The words and gestures alone alerted Gao Changgong to the sheer exhaustion in her voice in spite of not raising her head from his person, and he internally reminded himself to thank Archer EMIYA later. The last Chaldean Master being bad at self-care was a massive understatement. "Master…"

"You're a good Saber, y'know," Vy drawled in a tinier voice, almost cat-like as she went about pressing her forehead into his shoulder more. "I'm just sorry I haven't told you that sooner…"

Even if they came from different time periods and lands of origin, Gao Changgong could feel a sense of understanding surge through him from Vy's words. He placed gentle hands against Vy's shoulders, pushing her back to brush some messy tangles out of her face. "It is alright, Master. I was not offended."

Vy still gave him a questioning look through her long brown hair, tiredly tilting her head at him again like her previous door greeting. "You sure…?"

Gao Changgong put on his best smile in response. "I am certain of it."

Vy blinked at him again, her eyes focusing in on his face for the smallest moment before widening. It was obvious her attention was drawn to his mask and his eyes lying exposed past it. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something about it before she decided against the action, instead ducking her head. Her hands reached up to gently grip his forearms. "…You're really okay with that?"

To his embarrassment, Gao Changgong took a moment too long to realize what his Master was asking. "With this arrangement?" he filled in, just as quiet.

Vy nodded slowly, her grip on his forearms weakening with the gesture.

"I am your Servant now, Master," Gao Changgong said easily, squeezing her shoulders in what he hoped was an assuring gesture. "Delivering food to you when you are exhausted is the least I can do. Although…" he glanced Vy over, tempted to fuss if not for the fingers still lingering on his clothes. It was obvious Vy was overworking herself. Perhaps a different choice of action was necessary. "Master, if I could offer a suggestion as to help alleviate your condition?"

Vy swayed backwards somewhat while trying to stay upright, nearly giving Gao Changgong a heart attack in the process, before she sleepily answered, "Go ahead…?"

"Then, Master—"

Before Gao Changgong could fully voice his thoughts, however, a loud growling noise echoed between them. If Gao Changgong did not know any better, it could have come from a small Demonic Beast. Vy then turned a bright red, the flush enough to color what Gao Changgong could see of her ears through her long hair. "Um." She did her best to turn away, trembling again. "P-Pretend you didn't hear that. Please?" Her voice cracked at the last part.

It was obvious as to whose stomach the growl came from.

Gao Changgong blinked before hiding his mouth behind one hand, withholding the urge to chuckle as much as possible. "P-Perhaps you should eat first, Master. Before the food I went about delivering to you goes cold?"

Vy nodded vigorously at that, her lips puckered in a pout. "S-Sorry."

Gao Changgong merely smiled. Contrary to the last Master of Proper Human History he remembered fighting in the Chinese Lostbelt, in the current moment he was in now, Vy seemed so much more like an innocent child.

Watching Vy eat her food at her desk was almost like a treat Gao Changgong could indulge himself in without having to eat himself. It was one of the so-called benefits of being a Servant — Heroic Spirits didn't have to eat or sleep to keep up their fighting abilities. All they had to do was rely on the Master's energy to retain physical form, but in this case…

Vy's cheeks were still pink when she raised one spoonful of the gumbo soup to her mouth, her eyes darting between her tray and Gao Changgong's figure as she murmured, "Y-You don't have to stare."

"If I don't, how can I confirm that you have finished your helping?" Gao Changgong said in mock seriousness, resting his chin between his hands as Vy swallowed her newest mouthful of soup. "If I cannot see you finish your plate, Archer EMIYA will have my head."

Well, him as well as the other Servants who have known you longer than I have, went unsaid. Watching the only Master in Chaldea eat her food wasn't an exact translation of what the red Archer had said when he had sent Gao Changgong onto completing this task, but Gao Changgong would take what loopholes he could. It was the best excuse to hide behind when it came to understanding the paradox that was Vy.

On one hand, Vy was Humanity's last Master. Having saved the world once already from the Beast of Goetia and the 7 Singularities, her "family" of Servants were a force to be reckoned with, not to mention her own tenacity and determination to care for anyone anywhere. On the other hand—

"But S-Saber, you really don't have to…!" Vy was close to pleading at that point, gulping down some water in-between spoons of the soup as her face colored a darker pink. Right now, with her blushing, the last Master of Humanity could have resembled a shy schoolgirl, knowing nothing about the world's darkest parts. "I-I can finish it, I promise!"

"Excuse my rudeness, my lord, but how can I trust that statement when I have not seen you partake in anything before we started training today?" Gao Changgong retorted cooly, and he carefully hid his delight at the pink flush on Vy's face proceeding to darken into a rather lovely red. "As your Servant, I have to watch over you."

"Muuuuu…" Vy shut her eyes and glanced away, taking the cup of fruit juice to drink with a face — apparently her way of conceding the point. "Dork."

Gao Changgong chuckled under his breath. "Honest lady," he quipped quietly back.

Vy turned her gaze back to him with a questioning tilt of her head mid-sip of juice. "Eh?"

Gao Changgong smiled at her. "It's nothing."

"Mm," she said neutrally, finishing the cup before putting it down and taking the napkin on the tray to wipe at her lips. Her gaze flitted between him and his mask, and Gao Changgong could already sense the question before she opened her mouth. At least she had finished her tray. Good. "But, um, Saber?"

"Yes, my Master?"

Instead of voicing it like a question in a way he expected, Vy had simply stared at him for a small moment, blankly holding her spoon in his direction as she said, "You don't have to wear your mask indoors in the Wandering Sea, y'know."

Gao Changgong carefully hid a wince. "It's… It's a long story as to why I wear this mask, Master."

Vy's gaze, even when tinged with the content of eating and bits of exhaustion, turned understanding as always as she reached over with her free hand to gently pat his shoulder. "You don't have to share if you don't want to."

Gao Changgong this time held back the urge to stare at her in surprise. "You… You are not going to force it?"

"It is your decision to make, taking your mask off and all," Vy said kindly, "Even if we are contracted now, I don't want to force you."

…That's right. The contract. Before this, they were bitter enemies from Gao Changgong working with Yu Mei-ren when she still went under the name "Akuta Hinako," weren't they? Gao Changgong ducked his head towards Vy with a wry smile. Had the circumstances of their first meeting been different, then… "Thank you, Master."

"There's no need to thank me," she responded, and a hand gently patted his bowed head. From the new angle of his head, Gao Changgong could barely see how Vy had put down her spoon in order to do so. "It's the right thing to do. I want to respect you, so feel free to voice any kind of questions or discontent you have. I'll do my best to answer them."

…This was a golden opportunity.

Gao Changgong had no clue whether Vy had meant to present it to him or not, but he couldn't help it. He raised his head to look at her, reaching over to gently take one of her hands in his. "Then may I inquire about something of you, Master?"

Vy blinked, her smile dimming slightly from confusion at the question. "Go ahead."

"Thank you, my lord," Gao Changgong said softly, and he tightened the grip he had on her hand, bowing his head. The dread was already surfacing in his heart, and he hated it. The last thing he wanted was to break this fragile peace they had between them since he was brought to Chaldea, but if there was something he learned since dying and becoming a Heroic Spirit, pain was inevitable. "It… It has been a question that has been nagging at me since I have been summoned."

"What is it?"

"Why…" The words felt tight in his throat as his tongue suddenly dried up from the tension, "Why did you summon me, Vy?"

Vy's fingers, which still laid splayed out in his grip, stilled before gently gripping his fingers back as a small hum left her lips. "You're wondering why, especially after everything that's happened?"

Gao Changgong could do nothing but nod. He could still remember the fierce look on her face when they had first fought. When she had first commanded Arjuna and the swimsuit version of the King of Knights to open fire on him while he was still Yu Mei-ren's Servant. Back then, he could've sworn she despised him. Hated him with all her being, more so since two Noble Phantasms were unleashed on him at once during their first bout. Without hesitation, either, in spite of the poison running through her veins. The stark contrast between the last Chaldean Master and the girl that was Vy right now — he couldn't make sense of it. How could she—?

Vy tugged at his hands a bit to make him raise his head, and all he could read in those bespectacled brown eyes in that moment was regret, kindness, and…and love? Could he even call the shine in her eyes that? "Just because I said I haven't forgiven your former Master for her part with the Crypters in the Bleaching of Humanity doesn't mean I hate her," Vy said softly, fully awake. "And I know I don't hate you either, Gao Changgong."

Something cold certainly splashed Gao Changgong at that point. He didn't know if it was relief or shock. Master — Vy used his True Name. Not his Class Name, but his True Name. "You… You don't?"

Vy nodded wordlessly, her thumb absently stroking the back of his palm.

"Why?" left Gao Changgong in a choked whisper. His eyes itched behind his mask.

"You were acting just like Dia back then," Vy said in the same soft voice, and it took a moment for Gao Changgong to realize that the "Dia" Vy was referring to was both versions of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne still at Chaldea. He was like them? "And if there's something I've learned from all the Knights I've summoned, they're loyal to their Masters first and foremost. I couldn't hate you after seeing what you did for Hinako-senpai."

His eyes itched again. "But—"

You could have died.

Yu Mei-ren was a True Ancestor for a reason. Taking in the blood of a Servant gave her more than enough strength to put anyone down, especially in her rage from back then. But—

Whether Vy noticed the look in his eyes, Gao Changgong couldn't tell. Instead, her thumb continued rubbing what visible skin on his hand that wasn't covered by his sleeves, a thoughtful light coming into her brown eyes. Her glasses did nothing to hinder how beautiful the light looked. "…We've all lost people," she said finally, shaking her head. "And the last thing I wanted was for a loss to stay a loss. Especially if there was something I could do about it."

In all the emotions rolling through him, Gao Changgong felt the back of his mouth dry up. "Master, you—"

Vy raised her head to return his stare and even through his mask, Gao Changgong could see the exact moment when her smile turned the slightest bit melancholy. "Losing my family and friends two times over is more than enough," she said, her voice wavering the smallest fraction in spite of her seriousness as she kept up the eye contact, "I'd rather not see someone I know deal with that again. Previous enemy or not."

Again—?!

Before Gao Changgong could finish processing those words, Vy let her hand slip away from his, the touch barely lingering on his skin. "I-I guess that's my reason?" A sheepish laugh left her lips, and with that gesture alone, the Chaldean Master was gone, leaving the girl Vy in front of Gao Changgong's eyes all over again. A single second was all it took for her to look away, hair shading what was visible of her face. "I can't deny what I did in the Synchronized Intellect Nation. And I can't deny what happened in Russia or Scandinavia either." I killed so many, was left hanging unsaid in the air. "But I've lost my mom and dad twice over, Gao Changgong." Vy's shoulders trembled from what seemed to be suppressed emotion as she finished with, "I can't imagine how Hinako-senpai felt when she lost you and Lord Xiang Yu a second time."

Gao Changgong hated to admit it, but he had shamelessly gaped at the girl opposite of him. "So then—"

"I-Is it so wrong to admit I just wanted to summon you to help make you and your old comrades happy?" Vy said, raising her head to look at him pleadingly. "Even if it sounds like such a selfish and ridiculous reason to the Crypters you once fought for?"

"I-I wasn't going to say otherwise, Master," Gao Changgong replied hastily, shaking his head. He couldn't deny the smile on his face being made from the sheer joy now flooding his veins. "Rather, I am…I am relieved."

Vy's voice sounded almost far away as she murmured, "You are?"

The Crypters had underestimated Vy. Yu Mei-ren had underestimated Vy. With a heart like hers—

Thus, all Gao Changgong could do was honestly look into Vy's brown eyes and say, "I can see why you saved the world before, Master. I am more than relieved to be serving you now." With a soft sigh, he reached over to take Vy's hand before she could potentially recoil back, pressing his lips to the tips of her fingers. "I, Saber Gao Changgong, will do whatever I can to support you in the face of the love and care you have already given me."

When Gao Changgong died, all he wanted then was to see Yu Mei-ren in another life. And now, as a Servant of Chaldea, that wish was being granted yet again. How could he not be grateful?

Thank you for giving me a chance to be with my friend once more. Gao Changgong did his best to say it through his actions rather than words.

Thankfully, to his surprise and utter delight, Vy turned a lovely pink yet again once he looked up from her hand, her eyes wide behind her glasses as something new reverberated through their bond. Her cheeks were enough to remind him of flowers he once witnessed back in his China, before the Chinese Lostbelt, before the Foreign God's meddlings. So small, so pink, so beautiful, even when alone on a tree branch. "Y-You don't have to do that," Vy stammered, looking away from him as she hid her mouth behind her free hand. "I-I wanted to help you, not just to get more support or anything out of it."

From anyone else, those words would have sounded like an excuse. But from Master—

Thankie to you too, Saber, echoed in the back of his mind's eye at the same time. Just, thankie for being here.

Gao Changgong smiled while squeezing her fingers in his palm. "I know, Vy."

"Y-You do?"

The sheer embarrassment on Vy's face was more than enough for him. Yet again, he had found someone he would be willing to dedicate his entire being to. "As one of your Servants, why wouldn't I?"

Vy ducked her head at that point, the tips of her ears burning red.

How cute. Gao Changgong chuckled softly, tugging at her fingers to get her attention. Once she raised her head, he smiled at her. "Master, if you are still feeling embarrassed or exhausted, how about I take you on a horseback ride somewhere in the simulator?"

"Horseback…?" Vy was looking at him now, the blush on her face having faded into wonder and curiosity. "W-Won't it tire you and your horse out? I haven't gone horseback riding before, Gao Changgong."

"It will not," Gao Changgong said easily with a wider smile, "My partner is well-trained and it could be a good change of pace for you. It would be better to use some of the energy from Archer EMIYA's food somewhere before you rest, after all."

There was a small hum of thought as Vy closed her eyes in deliberation. It took one hesitant squeeze of his hand for Gao Changgong to know what would happen next.

"Please take care of me?"

"Anything for you, Master."

Gao Changgong should have expected Vy's resulting pout at his reply, but she still tugged him in by the hand to bump her head against his through his mask. Ack. "Anything but blood-sucking and dying. New rule for you," she said in a stern voice. "Okay?"

I want to spend time with you like this more often.

Gao Changgong could do nothing but laugh in surprise. "O-Of course."

For a Master like you, I could sacrifice my life and die knowing you would protest simply because you care. That thought alone is enough for me to live now without regret.

"Um, Achilles?"

"What is it, Master?"

Gao Changgong did his best to keep a calm expression while standing between the two of them, ignoring the nudging of a certain talkative horse towards his hair.

"I understand you and Marie-san were worried about me, but you didn't have to come along with us to the simulator," Vy fretted, her fingers nervously playing with the ends of her braid as she looked up at the older Rider Servant. "Saber's plenty capable on his own since he has his own horse."

The Greek Hero of the Trojan War merely scoffed in response, shouldering his large green spear while tapping his left foot against the grass. "Doesn't change the fact that you're a first-timer with horses, Master." Achilles dryly motioned with his free shoulder towards the gold-and-red-saddled horse lingering behind Gao Changgong and for once, Gao Changgong felt sorely tempted to go off and train on his own. Where was his own steed when he needed him? "Xanthos should be a better lead, since he can talk and all."

The named Xanthos neighed wildly behind Gao Changgong's head as a response, and — oh god, Achilles was smirking at him, wasn't he? Enjoying this far too much at Gao Changgong's expense. Once Xanthos decided to nibble on some of Gao Changgong's hair, he could feel the beginnings of a vein start to pop on his masked forehead.

How did we get here?

Xanthos then started chewing and Gao Changgong felt another vein pop on his head.

"See what I mean, Master?" Achilles finished, whistling at the end of his sentence.

"Or you could have asked me, Master," Chiron spoke up suddenly, tapping one of his hooves against the grass similar to his student's previous actions as he raised a single pointer finger in the air. Whether he noticed Achilles' scheming or not, it was hard to tell from the scholarly look on his face. "Horseback riding lessons are something I could add to our daily schedule, more so with my centaur form—"

Pop.

Before Gao Changgong could step in and object, Vy suddenly blurted, "I understand that, but I wanted to try horseback riding with Saber, Sensei!"

All exasperation budding in Gao Changgong proceeded to fizzle out faster than fire. What?

The veteran Chaldean Servants automatically went silent at Vy's outburst, Chiron blinking owlishly just as Achilles comically tipped to the side from overbalancing his spear on his shoulder.

Vy was pink again, frowning enough to start looking like she was upset, and she shook her head vigorously. "I-I appreciate you two looking out for me, but I trust Saber! He can do it! He has his horse! Just, just," she stomped one of her boots, "watch and let me fumble through this on my own, okay!? I'm not a kid!"

Xanthos proceeded to whinny loudly in protest, giving Gao Changgong just enough of an opening to get away from any further nibbling and take one of Vy's hands in his. "Well, gentlemen," Gao Changgong said with a calm smile, "I think the Master has made her opinion clear. I'll handle this from now on."

"G-Gao Changgong?"

In response, Gao Changgong gave Vy a warm smile. "Let us run off then, my lady."

My lone flower, he thought in his mind.

It took one mental call for his old steed to materialize, and a simple means of strength to carry Vy into his arms. One second was all it took for them both to be seated on the horse's saddle. "I will see you both later, Archer, Rider!" left him in a hurry just as his steed started a run, and Gao Changgong shamelessly let Achilles eat their dust before anymore could be said.

Vy's warmth in his arms from her clinging to him from wonder was enough of an excitement for one simulation.

"…Achilles?"

"What, Sensei?" The Rider responded with a toss of his head.

Chiron rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Did you bring Xanthos just to illicit the Prince of Lan Ling's reaction?"

Instead of an immediate response, Chiron waited as Achilles rubbed the back of his neck with a carefully practiced shrug of his shoulders. "What makes you say that? I was just acting for Master's sake, Sensei. Nothing more, nothing less." With one wave of his hand, he turned away and walked off towards the direction Gao Changgong ran off to with their Master, motioning to Xanthos with his spear to follow. "I'll see you later, Sensei."

"Of course," Chiron smiled. "Make sure to watch over them both carefully, Achilles."

His old student waved at him again, Xanthos huffing through his nose along the way. Even with his back being the only thing visible, Chiron knew Achilles was smiling. Still a hero, even when meddling.