Summary: In the midst of the British Lostbelt, Morgan finds herself walking across a river her past self never dared to do in her limited time as a savior; just in time for her new Master to put her life in her hands. Metaphorically AND literally.

Note: This was inspired by my feelings playing through the latter half of Section 8 of Lostbelt 6 during Act 1's release in NA, and how the Dracae River segment had me thinking about my having brought my summoned Morgan into the Lostbelt for a lot of the battles. MASSIVE SPOILERS for Morgan's backstory and the canon story up to Section 8 of Lostbelt 6, Avalon Le Fae by the way! You have been warned.

Also roughly inspired by two things: (1) Chapter 16 of the From/Lostbelt manga, titled "A Winter Tale", and (2) Carim's story, O Glimmering Star on Archive of Our Own. Because this Morgan isn't entirely her summonable game self thanks to timing — just like her Lostbelt King predecessor Skadi. Please check both stories out if you can!

Otherwise, I have to say I wasn't originally trying to summon Morgan, mind (was only aiming for Barghest and Baobhan Sith due to my conflicted feelings regarding the Proper Human History version Morgan and her canonical beef with Arturia), but when Morgan decided to come home on NP3 in my first few multis, well. Morgan seemingly woke up in the game and decided to choose violence — hence this chapter. Because to truly know if you can trust a former tyrant, why not put your life in their hands?

The themes for this chapter are (1) the Lotus Juice remix of Backside of the TV from Persona 4 Dancing All Night; (2) Sky's the Limit, the opening to Persona 4 The Animation; (3) Masayume Chasing from Fairy Tail; and (4) Hold Onto You from NateWantsToBattle/Give Heart Records. Because when it comes to the duality of the themes I'm juggling here, these four songs felt the most fitting.

Here we go.

Day 65: Exercise of Limit

"Best not to look at the river up close. It can drag you down if you're not careful."

Morgan honestly wondered what makes that imposter Oberon so apparently endearing to everyone outside of the Chaldean Servants, because even that other Arturia's eyes and Vy's own attention goes to him as soon as he raises an arm to block their view of the growing horizon of the Dracae's river. On the one hand, he definitely knew what he was doing, keeping the one human and the supposed Child of Prophecy in their party away from the potential threat that the Dracae Nightcalls posed. On the other hand, there was the glaring discrepancy of the other Oberon Morgan knew, the one faerie who never showed up until the very end, using his abilities with insects to bring her Faerie Britain to a swifter, crueler end. What was this Oberon up to, trying to help Vy by pretending to be a Pan-Human History Servant? What did he have in mind, leading them to Norwich for a chance to prove Ainsel's prophecy as the last head of the Mirror Clan?

There was no guarantee of what could happen. Even with all the powers and experience Morgan had at her disposal, not to mention the strength Vy had given back to her with Embers and Enhancements, her past constantly reminded her of the worst possible endings that could happen with the faeries. Even if she didn't like being in her younger savior form, she had to keep up the illusion of "Tonelico," Arturia Caster's older and more experienced "silver-haired faerie-turned-Servant predecessor," until she truly knew what was going on. Until she could stomp on the bug that was Oberon at the right moment by revealing her True Name.

Using "Aesc" as a name still hurt after all these years of trying. "Tonelico" would have to suffice until the time was right to achieve her revenge.

Vy still stammered out a quiet, "D-Drag down?", unintentionally interrupting Morgan's thoughts while she wrapped her arms around her middle. "Like how sirens in Greek mythology sang love songs to encourage sailors to step off their boats to drown them? Th-That kinda thing?"

"Something like that~! You sure know your mythology, Vy~!" Oberon hums appreciatively, but he still lowers his hand and yields proper distance once the green-cloaked Archer in their party is giving him a look. In a thoughtful, more submissive voice (almost like he was surrendering to whatever threat the May King is sending him through his glare, was this really the same Oberon who ended her Faerie Britain in another lifetime?), Oberon crosses his arms and goes on with, "The Dracae here entices fairies and humans with things they want once they look at the river. Using the image of irresistible treasures, essentially."

Vy paled with a soft Meep noise.

"What kind of treasures, Oberon? Someone wishes for gold and the river suddenly shows them gold?" Robin drawls pointedly, one brow raised in clear doubt as he takes one half step forward, discreetly resting an arm around Vy's waist for what appeared to be comfort. "That kind of half-baked illusion of treasure?"

"Hard to call it 'half-baked' when so many fae fall for it, Robin." Oberon proceeded to roll his shoulder back for extra emphasis, and Morgan's not surprised to see the gaze of her own sister and the others in their mismatched party follow the gesture and go to the few faeries standing by the riverbanks. Even with her Glam Eyes, Morgan finds herself internally wincing at hearing their pleas for mercy as the water drags them under for some kind of treasure only they could see. Once the last outsider of a Fang Clan faerie falls into the rushing water with a loud puppy-sounding yelp (over a request for a rainbow brooch to gift to that bitch Aurora of all faeries, it seems some things never changed from her memories of Faerie Britain), Oberon lets out an almost honest, sheepish laugh. "It's not exactly called 'the River of Tears' to the locals for nothing. The Dracae's most notable characteristic is their ability to summon the treasure you want more than anything."

"Well, shit," Robin summed up in the most eloquent manner possible, drawing a shocked look from Vy. "That's helpful. And, for the record, don't put me down for drowning on my way to go out. Peaceful sleep would be preferred."

Vy then ducked her head and started to murmur something like, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just be like Dory, just keep swimming, it'll be just fine, Daddy taught you how to swim in deep water, you'll be just fine," under her breath, drawing a concerned gaze from both Arturia Saber and Robin respectively.

Morgan withheld a sign just as Redra Bit raised one horse-y hand in the air from his spot in the growing "peanut-gallery" with a hesitant look on his snout. "Excuse me, but would you all mind terribly if I left you here and went back home now?" With a quiet neighing noise, the Wind Clan-borrowed Fang faerie went on with a softer, "Like our green Archer friend, I'd rather not drown either."

"Shut up, horse ears," Gareth retorted with a glare. "Nobody was talking to you."

"Gareth," Arturia Saber said chidingly, making the faerie knight wilt in her place standing with Arturia Caster. "That's going too far."

"I-I'm sorry!"

"So anyway," Oberon said with a wide sweep of his arms, blatantly disregarding the previous moment while raising his cloak for extra flair, "the Dracae are very dangerous Nightcalls. They lure people in with something they want, then drag them into the river to drown them when they reach for their treasure." With a dimmer smile, Oberon shakes his head. "Essentially, the Dracae are a scale that weighs your desires against your life. This collapsed bridge was probably built as a defense against them."

The Alter Ego — Muramasa was his name? — merely shouldered his white haori with a face, muttering, "So it's too dangerous to go near the water here, huh." With a raised brow at Robin, Da Vinci Lily, and Arturia Saber, Muramasa went on with a louder, "Guess that means we'll just have to hoof it." Ignoring Redra Bit's subsequent whines of protest, the Alter Ego waved a hand in the air. "If the others are fine with it, I can carry Vy and jump from the ruined bridge to the other side."

"That's if you have the confidence to carry her across without falling to your own desires," Robin retorted, voice growing low with indignation and underlying suspicion. Vy let out a soft squeak once he pointedly pulled her into his side (pink flooding her cheeks with healthier color along the way), but didn't protest it either as he went on with a louder, "Foreign God cheats or not, you've got limits too and we're not chopped liver in looking after our Master, Muramasa. We can carry her just fine, thanks."

Whether or not the Alter Ego noticed the hidden jab, he didn't give any indication of it — merely adjusting his grip on his long white haori with a frown. Was he… actually offended?

"I could probably make the jump," Da Vinci Lily puts in to ease the tension, coincidentally before Gareth and Arturia Caster can open their mouths, a frown on her face, "but I'm not sure if it's a good idea." To Morgan's growing surprise, Lily then turns to her with a questioning look, her blue eyes flashing with curiosity as she says, "From what you know of Faerie Britain, Tonelico, is it even possible to cross the river like that?"

…At least Chaldea is playing along with my ruse.

But even as the more innocent-looking "Tonelico," Morgan felt herself sigh as she shook her head, intentionally playing up her image of Arturia Caster's predecessor by tightening her grip on her stave. "No. The Dracae will most definitely float treasure down the river while you jump across. That's merely how they are."

"If you catch even a tiny glimpse of treasure," Oberon added with no invitation, "you won't be able to resist diving for it." With a side look that has a shiver climbing up the back of Morgan's spine, Shakespeare's so-called "King of Faeries" sighed. "Tonelico and I probably know it best."

How dare you say that, you disgusting worm, Oberon, you don't know anything—

An "Oh…" from Muramasa cuts through Morgan's growing anger like a knife would to a block of butter, and Morgan turns to see the Alter Ego slouch some in his stance near the carriage. "Right. Guess I should've known faerie Mystics wouldn't make it that easy."

"See, Muramasa?!" Arturia Caster screamed in that moment, exposing fanged teeth as she gave the older man an indignant look. "This is why you need to look before you leap! Literally, in this case!"

Over the Alter Ego's wilting, Vy blinked, drawing herself out of her anxious muttering with a soft, "Easy, Ria, easy," to Arturia Caster. Once the Caster version of her sister seemed adequately calmed down (after an appropriate "I-I'm sorry," to match her new aide in Gareth), Robin subtly squeezed Vy's waist, giving the girl enough courage to straighten her back and turn to Morgan with a more determined light in her bespectacled eye. "Then, um, Tonelico?"

"Yes, Vy?" Morgan responds instinctively, loosening her grip on her stave — half for show, half out of honest acknowledgement of her Master's voice. There was something about saying Vy's name that had her entire Spirit Origin thrum with hopeful warmth. "What is it?"

"What do you think would be faster? Making a detour or trying to cross the Dracae's domain?" Tossing a careful glance at Oberon over her shoulder, Vy lowered one of her hands to hold the one Robin was using to keep her close, squeezing for composure. "The Calamity of Norwich is dangerous, so I'm thinking we might need to prioritize speed if we can…"

"Vy," Oberon interrupts, making Morgan's hackles rise again, "I'd say we should opt for making a detour around the river. It'll make us lose half a day, but it's better than, you know, dying."

"She was asking me, Oberon, not you," Morgan snapped, reigning in her irritation at the last second to put on a neutral face once the imposter "King of Faeries" turned to her with a raised brow. Ignoring Oberon's persistent stare, Morgan did her best to smile at the young woman she called "Master," feeling her mouth creak from the lack of use as she nodded her head. "However, since you're asking, trying to cross the Dracae's river would be faster if you aim to go to Norwich, Vy, even with the danger included. The final decision is still up to you."

Vy closed her eyes in consideration, leaning into Robin for a moment as she took a breath. Inhale, then exhale. "…Then, um, how good are you at illusion magecraft, Tonelico?"

Morgan blinked. "…I can work with illusions, Vy, both physical and mental, but what are you getting at?"

A small, hesitant smile formed on Vy's face, the first of what felt like one of many growing surprises as the young woman went on to let go of Robin's hand and — and take off her glasses. When did Vy ever take off her glasses aside for sleep? And… And why was she still smiling? "Could you put an optical illusion on everyone but me so that they won't see the river and can pass just fine? If you hold onto my glasses and guide me over, I think I'll be okay after that."

Morgan found herself lurching back before she realized she was doing it.

…What did she just say?

"Wha—" Arturia Saber chokes just as Robin turns still as a statue, both Grailed Servants giving Vy varying looks of horror in the wake of her suggestion. Not even Da Vinci Lily is left out of the Chaldea-exclusive shock, because she is staring up at Vy in befuddlement as Arturia attempts to clear her throat with a cough. "Princess, what you're suggesting is—"

Folding her glasses into her palm, Vy nodded her head in Arturia's general direction, brown eyes bright with determination and hope despite her brows furrowing from squinting to focus her now impaired vision. "Walking over the destroyed bridge blind in exchange for letting you all not worry about drowning?" Her smile widened. "Aye."

Robin put a hand to his face with a low groan. "Saber, why did you ask…? I was afraid of this…"

Oberon's eyes were widening now too. Was a liar like him… actually getting worried? Or was it another curse to not tell the truth? "…You can't be serious. The Dracae will still try to pull you down."

"I'm serious!"

Oberon's jaw dropped.

"Wait," Arturia Caster interrupted, the young Child of Prophecy gripping the Staff of Selection closer to her chest as her eyes darted between Oberon, Vy, and the rest of the party in growing confusion. "Vy, wh-what do you mean by 'blind'?! Does that mean that — that you can't see anything right now?!"

Morgan felt the blood freeze in her veins.

Even without her glasses on, Vy's smile didn't falter, appearing brighter as she closed her eyes and tilted her head to consider her next few words. "Yes and no, Ria," she answers in that same soft high-pitch voice, shaking her head enough to illuminate the lotus ribbon clip holding up her ponytail as she opens her eyes to meet Caster's own. The stars that shine in those brown irises are warm in spite of her furrowed brows. "There's a difference between 'seeing nothing' and 'seeing something.' And I'm in the latter category since I can still see you even from this distance."

Arturia Caster lurched back with an unintelligible noise, tightening her grip on the Staff of Selection. "But that's…"

Muramasa frowned, glancing at Lily and Arturia Caster before crossing his arms and refocusing his attention on Chaldea's Master. "That doesn't answer the question, Vy. Without your glasses, how much can you see?"

Morgan found herself unable to do anything but watch as the young woman turned towards the loyal green Archer still firmly standing by her side, her gaze following the girl's free hand reaching out to take one of Robin's own to squeeze. "…My extent of clear vision goes up to Robin's arm here, actually. Thanks to being badly nearsighted and all." With one more gentle squeeze of his fingers, Vy shook her head with a sheepish laugh. "If I squint really hard enough, I can make out Art-san, Ria, and Tonelico who's standing a bit further away, but everyone else looks like colorful, blurry blobs after them! So me without glasses has limits that I can use against the Dracae since I can barely see the river and I know it's in front of us!"

…This Master… for us, she would—

The breath she never needed as the High Queen of Faerie Britain stalled in Morgan's throat once Vy turned to her with that same smile. "So, Tonelico, if you're alright with it, could you hold onto my glasses and guide me?" Taking a few steps away from her beloved green Archer (even letting go of his hand to nearly be in reach of Morgan's own), she extended the hand that was holding her glasses in Morgan's direction, offering the accessory to her with a sheepish look in her smile. "Time's ticking."

For some reason, Morgan couldn't find the energy in herself to look away or even open her mouth to try mustering a single sentence of protest. Was it the stars that shone so brightly in Vy's eyes that made it so hard to refuse? The unquestionable trust that laid in her decision to ask Morgan for holding — guarding — her glasses and life? Or was it the warm, positively hopeful threads of mana still connecting their hands together through the Master-Servant contract they established before breaching the Lostbelt's walls?

"Princess, as much as you trust Tonelico's capabilities in magecraft, it's still dangerous," Arturia pressed urgently, stepping forward to rest an armored hand against Vy's own in clear concern. "I personally don't agree with this course of action. Even if we need to rush to Norwich to help Caster, that doesn't mean risking your own life."

As grating as it was to hear her sister protest (unintentionally on her behalf), Morgan couldn't help but agree. Even when Vy started to wilt.

Not even her past self as Aesc the Savior would have made the same decision as Vy was.

"Besides, Vy," Da Vinci interrupted, her characteristic smile now pointedly gone from her face as she ran over, hastily folding Vy's fingers back over her glasses with her own hands, "there's no guarantee that going in arguably blind would work. As Oberon said, the Dracae could still drag you in even if you can't see them! Even if you want to help Arturia Caster and find Mash, there's gotta be another way—"

"Hey hey, don't just use my words against me," Oberon interrupted, striding forward to rest a hand against Vy's unoccupied one with yet another suspicious-looking smile. Why was he looking so unbothered now? "I say we let her try it. We are running low on time for dealing with the Calamity of Norwich, so Titania deserves her chance to—!" Oberon's eyes widened as he cut himself off as abruptly as he started when it came to voicing his opinion.

From the look on his face, that never happened before. Morgan could never recall her enemy Oberon in that other Britain ever making that kind of conflicted expression either.

And what was this about Titania?

"Ti…" Vy blinked, eyes unintentionally narrowing at the silent Oberon from her squinting. "Titania? But my name's Vy, Oberon, not Titania…"

All Chaldea Servants, Morgan included, turned to give Oberon various faces of disbelief and incredulity, a spectacle that made the "King of Faeries" withdraw from Vy's side and raise both his hands in the air in surrender. An embarrassed flush started to climb up his neck and cover his cheeks, matching how he pointedly averted his gaze from everyone in the party. It didn't help that he decided to rub Blanca's head once the moth rested her head against his mantle collar. "…Slip of the tongue," he said in a quieter, more demure voice. "Forget it. We're still running low on time. Besides." Defiantly raising his head towards Arturia Saber and Da Vinci, a disgustingly familiar smirk climbed onto his features as he added in a louder tone, "Do you Chaldeans have the luxury to doubt your Master right now?"

The looks on both Saber and Lily's faces soured, but before Saber could say anything, Robin put a hand on her arm while stepping forward. "Less doubt," Robin cut in abruptly to match Oberon's challenge, "but more out of concern, Oberon. Because we know how much Vy can do." With a careful squeeze to Arturia's arm, Robin leveled a dark look at the "King of Faeries," quirking an eyebrow in an unspoken threat of his own as he went on with a quieter, "Spin it however you want, but it's not the first time our little sparrow's life has been put on the line. More so when it's her own choice to throw herself to the sharks." Morgan didn't miss how Vy flinched a little. "And if Lily, Saber, and I have anything to say about it, we'd rather Vy be safe first and foremost. If Rider were here protecting her instead of our other allies, I know he'd agree in a heartbeat. Not to mention Tristan." To Morgan's growing surprise, the May King went on to shoot her a discreet glance as he let go of her sister's arm and added, "Tonelico's still new to our group dynamic, but I can already guess she feels the same."

The blood was starting to unfreeze and rush through Morgan's veins, instinct being the only factor behind her making another show of tightening her grip on her stave for Oberon to see once his attention (and the gazes of everyone else present) went to her. When was the last time Chaldea had truly acknowledged her like this?

Avalon, when had anyone acknowledged her like this outside of the telltale efforts to betray and ridicule her?

"Um…" Gareth spoke up meekly from her place in the peanut gallery, unintentionally interrupting the moment while raising one hand up past her lance, "then what are we gonna do? The bridge isn't exactly fixing itself…"

"M-Maybe we jump over the bridge, one faerie at a time? Like how grandpa Muramasa said he could?" Arturia Caster added, much to an exasperated Muramasa's expense nearby. "I-I'm the Child of Prophecy, so I can d-definitely do it!"

"…Whether you could 'do it' or not, Arturia, it's still up to Vy," Morgan found herself saying quietly with a small shake of her head. "I know I have enough magecraft prepared for a party-wide scale illusion if we go with her plan."

The then hushed Vy made another Meep noise once all attention went to her, and Robin's features softened as he walked over to take her hand. "Vy?" His previously stern voice turned gentle in almost a heartbeat, matching his consideration of tilting his head to better meet her wavering gaze. "You really sure about this?"

For the first time since approaching the Dracae's domain, Vy blushed, actually averting her eyes from Robin's as her brow furrowed against her head (this time not from squinting). "…Kinda. This was the only thing I could really think of," she murmured, not looking at her beloved green Archer but not removing her hand from his grasp either. It almost looked like Vy could only see Robin with how the world had shrunk down to the growing lack of distance between them. "You, Art-san, Lily, and everyone else have been worrying plenty about me already thanks to how humans are treated in this Lostbelt. I thought this would be a good way to mitigate the risks." Another sheepish laugh leaves Vy's lips as she twirls a stray strand of brown hair around one finger, and it all strikes Morgan as noticeably sad. "I-I kinda can't see much outside of you without my glasses anyway, Big Robin, so I might as well use one of my weaknesses to my advantage for once here, right?"

Even if it means I lose out on the magecraft protection, I'd rather let you all be okay before me. You all deserve it more.

Something in Morgan's heart ached at the words that brushed the back of her mind, just as Robin glanced in her and Arturia Saber's direction, a wry smile tugging at his lips before he turned back to look at his "little sparrow" with a soft eye. Raising a hand to cup her cheek, he whispered, "It's still risky, Vy. Are you positive about going through with it anyway?"

Those same stars from before shined in Vy's brown irises as she turned her head back to meet his gaze, leaning into his palm with a modest smile. Raising her free hand to cup his own past the loose grip she had on her glasses, she said, "Aye. Positive as I can be."

Morgan could've sworn Robin's voice echoed in the back of her mind at that very moment — saying something along the lines of, Sorry about this, need something for the road, (why was he saying that) — before Robin sighed and leaned in.

Arturia Caster and Gareth shrieked from shock once the Master-Servant couple kissed in full view of everyone around them. Morgan couldn't find it in herself to blame them for their reactions. Heck, not even Muramasa smacking both faeries on the head stopped the growing surprise wafting through the group because Morgan felt herself tighten her grip on her stave for real this time. Vy's reactive squeak was muffled by the green Archer in front of her, but she still relaxed and leaned into the gesture, closing her eyes and returning the growing, almost desperate kiss with characteristic gentleness. Robin's response of wrapping an arm over Vy's waist and pulling her closer didn't seem to deter the odd atmosphere of the moment either, because when Morgan glanced at her sister, Arturia Saber was smiling. Just to match the beaming Da Vinci Lily and the flushed Redra Bit standing nearby.

It's like they're all watching a real couple supporting each other. Just before risking their lives for one another.

The whispers the pair were exchanging between kisses were something that was shared between them and them alone. Not even her Glam Eyes could pierce through that.

Morgan could barely hear Oberon whisper, "Titania…" over the sound of her own heartbeat starting to pound through her ears as her gaze remained stubbornly fixed on the couple in front of her.

When was the last time someone had ever done that for her? Just when?

Moments later, Vy's hand was shaky and sweaty when grabbing Morgan's own. Even when hers was smaller thanks to taking on the identity of "Tonelico," Morgan knew she still had the strength to lead Vy over the bridge. Nonetheless, the glasses she was given for safekeeping weighed like a rock in her dress pocket as she kept a tight grip on her stave with her other hand, each step forward careful and precise in consideration of who was behind her.

Morgan already knew, even without illusion magecraft and Mystics concealing their form, that the Dracae were unhappy. As faeries who had no chance of fulfilling their purpose of raising children when Faerie Britain would have none, all they could do as Nightcalls was drag people down for pursuing their wildest dreams instead. It was why Morgan ignored the items they inevitably floated down the river banks, because none of them were real.

Roses, hair accessories, another stave resembling the Staff of Selection she gave up once upon a time — none of it truly mattered when Vy was still clinging to Morgan's hand like a lost child.

Mother, mother— suddenly rang through the back of Morgan's mind, a memory of laughter echoing in her ears past the roaring river water below as the old bridge creaked with each new step.

"…I'll use flight magecraft to float everyone over once we get to the middle of the bridge breakage," Morgan announces quietly, tugging at Vy's hand so that the young woman wouldn't trip. The familiar, fierce protective urge that the action excited in her blood was hard to ignore as she asked, "Will that be sufficient, Master?"

"A-Aye," Vy says, and it strikes Morgan just then how vulnerable Vy sounds. Compared to her previous moment with her beloved green Archer and her Pan-Human History sister, this Vy resembles a scared little girl relying on a parent to help her walk, tugging at Morgan's hand with a quiet sort of desperation. A desperation that made it clear she didn't want to be alone. "A-As long as everyone else goes first."

Morgan frowned from feeling Vy's gaze bare holes into her back with increased vigor. Unintentional or not, this squinting was getting concerning. "…Do you want your Archer to catch you on the other side, Vy? I can levitate him first before you."

Before Vy could answer, her hand tugged at Morgan's own, unintentionally pulling the Berserker back. "Wait…" Vy choked, her grip loosening. "I-I know I can't see things clearly from here, but… but why am I seeing what looks like a jade Buddha necklace coming down the river?"

…Oh no.

Morgan underestimated the situation. Of course a selfless Master like Vy would have some wants. And knowing the Dracae, she shouldn't have let Vy be—

The girl was slowly extending her left hand towards the approaching treasure, Robin and Arturia Saber behind her were gaping, and Morgan knew she would only have a split second.

Before the water could form the arms that would've dragged Vy down in another time, Morgan reached out first, covering Vy's eyes with one hand while extending her stave to point at the river with the other. The signature blue and black fire that came from years of cursing the faeries emerges from the stave's tip thanks to sheer reflex, Morgan keeping the squirming Vy to her chest while muttering spell after spell under her breath. Fire licked at her fingers to burn, but she didn't care. Not now.

Defense first, defense first — I can't let him see—!

"T-Tonelico, wha—"

"Archer, take her and jump," is all Morgan can spit out past her spellcasting, throwing the girl into the arms of her beloved before either can even utter a word of protest, leaping into the air. The rapidly forming hands of water immediately chased after Morgan once it became obvious they weren't going to drag Vy down, reaching out with ghostly palms in spite of the flames licking at their appendages. Past the guard of her newly erected barrier, Morgan clicked her tongue. "Damn faeries."

And of course Oberon nearby was crossing his arms and choosing to do nothing. Was he watching all this out of amusement?

I don't want to save you, I want you to—

"Burn," Morgan hissed, extending part of her stave into a spear that would undoubtedly hurt the Nightcalls once she stabbed. Hearing their pained screams at feeling flame collide with their deep watery domain would've been sweeter had it not been for one other variable.

"Strike Air!"

Morgan knew Arturia Pendragon was someone who could never leave her Master alone. She should have expected the Saber to dive into the fray if it meant ensuring Vy's safety, especially with the powers so many Holy Grails had bestowed upon her. Because that was what King Arthur was. A person who wanted to bring smiles to her people, to protect them from danger, even if it was at her own expense. It was almost fitting she was bonded to a (mostly) selfless Master.

Still, exposing Excalibur — even if it was for a split second to attack — left both the Dracae and the other faeries in their party speechless, the water receding to make way for her sister's landing on the riverbanks, robbing Morgan of the chance to advance with her anger. "I'm sorry for the hurt you've shouldered up until now. More so when I hold no grudge against you, Dracae," Arturia murmured loud enough for all to hear, Morgan included in her barrier. "But I can't let you take away my Princess. Not when happiness is finally within her reach."

A gold flash of concentrated, divine mana was all Morgan saw before she knew the end for the Nightcalls was nigh. Especially in the face of the sword that brought the last cries of Sefar in Pan-Human History.

Despite the sympathy shining in those green eyes, Arturia's expression hardened. "So please, find it in yourselves to move on to your final resting place in a place close to Avalon now, alright?"

And for the first time in a long time, in spite of all her pent-up anger, Morgan couldn't muster a single word of disagreement against her sister's decision.

"…What's a Buddha?" Arturia Caster was the first one to pose the question out of everyone in the side of Faerie Britain since their motley party had formed. Considering how she quickly latched onto Vy when they first met in the Nameless Woods, it made sense she'd ask. Even as an Avalon le Fae, she had no way of knowing. She merely clutched the Staff of Selection to her chest, looking remarkably dry in spite of nearly tripping into the water from reacting to her Saber self's attack on the Dracae. "Is it something from this Proper Human History you all come from? Like one of those, um, what was it, 'gods' you talked about?"

It was rather amazing of Arturia, even if it was her Lostbelt self, to focus on that aspect of what happened instead of Excalibur which had disappeared from Saber's hand when the battle concluded. Not even Gareth's gaping seemed to deter her. It could've been an accomplishment. Sarcasm fully intended.

Perhaps in another life, Morgan would've laughed. Not now.

"Arturia," Oberon interrupted morosely, catching Muramasa's eye in his attempt to glance away from the Child of Prophecy, rubbing the back of his neck instead, "I don't think that's a good question to ask right now…"

A few feet away, Robin kneeled in the grass while holding the now silent but shaking Vy in his arms, using a hand to pat her head as the starlight flickered in and out of her brown eyes. Like a fading candle, Vy opened her mouth and found nothing leaving it at first, weakly leaning into Robin's touch for a semblance of composure.

Even with all that, Morgan already knew from experience Vy wasn't "alright." Not by "a long shot," as Pan-Human History would say in their modern day. The girl's decision to not immediately don her glasses after the Dracae were dealt with was merely another nail in the metaphorical coffin.

"Buddha is… he isn't a god, Ria." The words are mixed in with a cough, Vy's complexion turning paler by the second from an apparent trigger of pent-up emotion as she clutched at Robin's arm with both hands. "He's… he's someone my family looked up to. Someone who tried to find meaning away from suffering and tried to lead others in doing the same. Someone who… who…"

Morgan still felt her heart stop once she caught sight of the first tears bubbling in the corners of Vy's eyes, and despite the girl regaining some energy to hurriedly wipe at her face, it nonetheless caught the attention of all the other Chaldean Servants. Morgan couldn't even muster surprise at Da Vinci Lily kneeling to Vy's sitting height and immediately offering a handkerchief, nor at how Robin and Arturia Saber both extended a hem of their mantles to dab at Vy's cheeks.

When had Vy ever openly cried? Yes, she was certainly upset at losing Mash at the beginning of their journey traversing Faerie Britain, but this—

Arturia Caster, the unintentional bearer of the unfortunate moment, blinked at what was unfolding in front of her, loosening her grip on her staff once she took in the same scene everyone else was witnessing. Her mouth opened and closed shakily. "…Vy?" Her voice cracked around the young woman's name. "Did I… did I say something wrong?"

"I-I'm sorry, Ria." Vy does her best to take a deep breath, but it doesn't stifle the sniffle that cuts through her words, unintentionally making Caster flinch as she continues to wipe at her face. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, i-it's not you… it's just — Buddha is just… he's more than a god-figure from Proper Human History. To my family, to D-Di Thuy, even as she was dying, he's… he's…!"

He's part of the family I still want back. The family I want to see again more than anything else. The family who was stolen from me—

Robin pulls her closer once another sniffle leaves her lips, and Vy ducks her head to press it against his chest, muffling the next incoming sob. "A-A necklace might be silly to e-everybody else ever, but even on her d-deathbed, Di Thuy — my auntie — was wearing that jade necklace to the very end—! And, and I know it's so silly to think the Dracae would have it, but I-I couldn't help but think—!"

I don't want the fighting I've done up until now to become worthless! Not when they're still not—

Something in Morgan snaps just as the stave in her hand creaks from the strain of her grip.

Even if I couldn't save anyone I loved—

Morgan allows her stave to dissolve into mana.

Vy only lets out a wounded, confused kind of noise once Morgan falls to her knees and tugs her into the circle of her waiting arms. Surprisingly, Robin doesn't protest, merely watching in part shock, part careful observation as Vy leans into Morgan's chest. His arms are left outstretched, extended in his little sparrow's way in case she wanted to come back, but Morgan selfishly keeps Vy close for once, pressing her cheek into the crown of the girl's hair as she shivered. Ignoring Robin and Arturia's subsequently half-confused, half-alarmed glances over the girl's head, Morgan murmured, "…I'll build you a castle."

Because even if I couldn't hold onto those I cared about—

"...H-Huh?" Vy sniffles again, hands limp just as the Pan-Human History version of her sister slowly scooted closer to rest a supportive palm against her back. "C…" Vy chokes, voice stumbling over the word as she echoes, "C-Castle…? What d'ya mean by… castle, Tonelico?"

"Exactly as I said. I'll build you a castle whenever you're ready. After Mash comes back to us. Just let me know a good date to start as well as a time to properly discuss layout plans, Master. I assure you that it will be much better than the taunts of an illusory necklace." Even when tied in a ponytail and held back by that far-too-bright lotus ribbon clip, Vy's hair feels soft to Morgan's cold fingers, barely damaged by the Dracae's water and somewhat warm from the sunlight beating down from above. It must be from the distinct lack of experience she has with comforting someone outside of Baobhan Sith that scalding heat dusts her cheeks for the first time in what feels like an eternity as Morgan murmurs, "I'll be sure to build you and your family a magnificent one."

I'll hold onto you. So that you can survive. So that you and the family of humans and Servants you love can live in peace. Because even if my beautiful Britain couldn't be saved…

Morgan's thoughts are then interrupted by Vy shakily raising her hands to push at Morgan's chest for some space, and pulling back revealed those same stars glittering in her blurry brown irises again. Despite their fainter shimmer, the light was bright from surprise and stubborn determination — even reflecting Morgan's true image past her illusion of Tonelico. "A-A castle sounds way too big, Tonelico," Vy giggles finally, a weakened but slowly lightening sound as she shakes her head. Her fingers swipe at the growing red rims underneath her already impaired eyes, accentuating the squinting she does when trying to focus on Morgan and the other Servants as she considers her next words. Then, with a second's worth of hesitation, Vy ducked her head to expose the growing pink tips of her ears. "But um… m-maybe a treehouse could work?"

Morgan blinked, feeling some of the heat on her face recede. "A… a treehouse? Is that truly sufficient?"

"I-I never did get to see a treehouse before becoming a Master for Chaldea. Not to mention live in one." Vy's admission is just as honest as everything else she's said since Morgan was summoned, but the words this time are tinged with a kind of vulnerability that makes Lily, Robin, and Arturia (her own sister) soften their stances to smile. "A-And it might be nice, waking up to bird songs and living among the trees like Big Robin did in life."

Robin chooses that moment to chuckle, scooting closer just like Arturia Saber did before him to occupy Vy's back and loosely drape his arms over the girl's shoulders, his chin bumping the one spot on Vy's head Morgan had touched mere seconds ago. "It's better than camping in a tent if that helps, little sparrow. We can look into it when we get back to Novum Chaldea."

"Perhaps even rope Rider, Caster, and the other Grailed into the construction of such a house, if we have the materials for it after this adventure," Arturia adds mildly, tender fondness shining in her green eyes as she reaches over with both arms to embrace Vy too. It took Morgan a moment to realize her sister didn't even opt for the option of "accidentally" pushing her hands away when embracing Vy from her right side. In fact, it looked like such a decision wasn't even on King Arthur's mind. "There are plenty of rooms we can make a forest home in for you, Princess."

"Th-Think so?"

"Ooh, ooh, maybe we could even use hammocks for the beds!" Lily cheers, and there's no mistaking the grin in her voice as she joins into the group hug by pressing her forehead into the Mystic Code cloth of Vy's waist. "Get Sion to fund it as revenge for making things tense lately!"

"Probably should get the Captain in on it," Robin drawled, tilting his head to lazily press a kiss into Vy's hair. "He can rope Sion in when she refuses to listen from her 'Atlas ideals.'" Past the new perch he was making for himself from his little sparrow's giggles, Morgan blinked as Robin turned to meet her eyes, a hand extended towards her and a matching smirk tugging at the edges of his mouth as he said, "What do you think, Tonelico?"

Think you can keep up, Your Majesty?

Morgan smiled and for the first time, took Robin's hand.

As if I can't.

The group hug was a bit too tight, not helped by the many elbows poking each other, but with Vy smiling tearfully in the center, it was warm and trusting. Something that, despite its foreignness, honestly started melting the centuries of ice around Morgan's heart. Calm the longing she had previously suppressed for years. Settling into her new place at Vy's left side, Morgan said, "Then let us make the largest treehouse Chaldea has ever seen. Once this is all over."

"A-Aye… aye…"

I can at least choose to try and save you.

The hesitant arms of Gareth and Arturia Caster coming around the group too weren't unwarranted for once. Even faeries like them deserved some solace with the fighting they were forced to shoulder in the name of the other fae's sins.

"This is such a nice atmosphere, I'd like to join in too — HEY! What's with the shield, Tonelico?!"

"It's insurance."

"From what?!"

Oberon, however, deserved nothing. It's why Morgan takes silent glee in hearing his comically loud protests over the sudden magecraft barrier erected around the group hug to specifically keep him away. Call her petty or even childish, but Redra Bit and Muramasa could watch and keep Oberon away for all Morgan cared. This time, not even Arturia's suspicious glance could deter her from this.

Call it whatever you would prefer, you shitty bug. This time, you will not take anyone else away from me.

Even with a shadow of my powers, a mere third of the magic I had, I will hold onto your "Titania," and I will keep her away from you for as long as I live.

Because she trusted me.

Because her heart saved me.

Safely away from the Dracae and a day's travel away from Norwich, Morgan leaned into the mess that was Chaldea's center of former enemies turned allies, hugging Vy in a way that could perhaps make Totorot and even that altruistic faerie knight version of Uther proud. Even if it was a hopeful dream.

Still, in the furthest parts of her mind, far away from the bond she shared with her new Master, Morgan wanted to hope her first love would approve of her new path once she carefully folded Vy's glasses back into her hands. It was the one hope she had left that she wanted to believe in.

Note (6/28/2023): As of this chapter's publishing, it is two days before Carim's birthday and the one year death anniversary of my maternal grandfather.

To Carim? Happy birthday. Thank you for sticking with me and supporting me through both the good and bad times. I love you.

To Ông Ngoại? I still love you. I still miss you. I wish I hugged you more. But Be Vy is doing better than how she was a year ago. Just make sure to come down from Nirvana every now and then to visit Bà Ngoại, okay? She still misses you more.

To everyone else, I'll see you at the next update.