Summary: Even when facing the High Queen Morgan in all of her oppressive power, Da Vinci Lily notices how Vy doesn't even flinch. The cold mana of the air doesn't seem to matter anymore when looking at that small back. With a disguised Morgan at her side, Lily remembers the words of her older Caster self — words that were said one day before they charged at the walls of light surrounding Faerie Britain.

Note: This was a chapter taken from my feelings reading Da Vinci Lily's dialogue with the enemy Morgan in the beginning of Act 2 of Lostbelt 6, specifically Section 10. Considering I've been bringing the summonable Morgan with me for almost every single quest I could since writing the previous chapter, I wanted to explore her debut story again. Just with the eyes of a younger genius that hasn't been covered as much. Da Vinci Rider deserves some love too, considering her Caster self has shown up more often in my recent memory.

Massive spoiler warning for up to Section 10 of Lostbelt 6 by the way! You've been forewarned.

The theme for this chapter is Bye Bye Yesterday from Assassination Classroom. Because when addressing the emotional aftermath of a canonical goodbye, this song worked. For those of you looking for an alternative, I'll point you to Shukufuku, or The Blessing in English, from Gundam: Witch of Mercury. Even the English cover of Idol from AmaLee if you'd like. As for an instrumental? Go look for the soundtrack titled Allied Force from Gundam Build Fighters.

Let's do this.

Day 66: Stars Twice Over

"…How did you do it?"

Her older self carefully sipped at her teacup, holding the matching saucer in her other hand with nothing but elegance in every move. Even when doing something so simple like drinking tea, Caster was beautiful. Perfect, even. "What are you referring to, Lily?"

I want to know how.

Lily fidgeted in her seat, feeling sweat gather at the edges of her palms past her gloves as she lowered her gaze to the pristine tablecloth of the break table Caster had made for her personal room. With the finely detailed lace hems, the silky feel of the cloth, and the faint scent of fresh detergent, it was just one of many things that distinguished her original self from her own existence. Lily could make a miniature Shadow Border just for a Valentine's Day gift, sure, but not go into intricate detail like Caster could. It's why the words that leave her lips sound weak even to her own ears as she said, "…In all the singularities. Everything before the advent of the Lostbelts. How could you handle seeing Vy fight so much, original me?"

Because she's barely holding herself together, me. If we weren't here, if all the Grailed and the other Servants and Mash weren't here, she'd be—

Da Vinci Caster slowly put her teacup back onto its saucer, inhaling a deep breath through her nose as she folded her hands in front of her mouth. "…You have my memories up until the fall of the original Chaldea, Lily," she says instead of a direct answer, blue eyes darkening with unspoken emotion as she shakes her head. "You should know just as well as I do how easy it is to use the Mona Lisa's smile as a mask."

She knew it. Why wouldn't she? She was a genius too. And Lily knew her original self would say something like that. Leonardo Da Vinci was the Eternal Genius, the third Heroic Spirit to be summoned by Chaldea in the previous administration's reign. Even acting as the former Acting Director after… after…

Leonardo, a faint voice called out in the back of her thoughts. It was a memory that wasn't hers, but—

"That doesn't…" Lily shook her head, ignoring the scent of soaked tea leaves wafting up and past her nose as her older self reached over to take the center teapot and start refilling her own teacup with it. "That doesn't mean I understand. Because I'm…"

I'm not you anymore. I'm…

Caster stared at her. Lily stared back.

Then, Caster smiled. Unlike the instinctive, mysterious mask of the Mona Lisa, this smile seemed more vulnerable. "Just because you are a homunculus bearing the name of the Eternal Genius doesn't mean you have to be all me, Lily," she said while pushing a new full cup of tea Lily's way, and Lily blinked. When did Caster prepare that? "You're your own self now, not just my 'backup body.' The Technical Advisor to Novum Chaldea and your own Eternal Genius. You should be formulating your own answers, not just looking at mine." A tiny laugh leaves Caster's lips as she pushes the shared teapot to the side. "But I'm guessing it's still a little tough to take coming from me, huh?"

Lily couldn't open her mouth to reply.

Caster tilted her head, raising a hand to rest her chin against her gloved palm. The smile that graced her face then is wistful as she says, "…You're worried about mia bella too, aren't you? That's why you asked?"

With nothing coming to be at the tip of her tongue, Lily nodded her head. It was scary enough not finding Vy in her room one day thanks to a Space version of Ishtar kidnapping her to a whole other universe, and she knew she didn't want to feel the same panic and regret from that infamous training session post-Olympus either. Because even if she didn't know Vy as long as Caster and the other Servants did — especially when compared to Vy's handpicked Grailed, there was just no competition in that department — there was nothing that made Lily's heart stop more than the image of the light fading from Vy's eyes.

If Lily could wish for anything from the Holy Grail — anything at all, it would be…

"I-I know she's been seeing Chiron for therapy," leaves Lily's mouth in lieu of a direct answer, her voice sounding more and more like she's giving a guilty confession as she goes on with, "But ever since we found her in the simulator that day, I… I don't…"

I don't know what I can do to help her. To understand her like you do. How she keeps fighting, how she keeps smiling, how she—

The last thing Lily expected was for a gloved hand to pat her head. It was soft, smooth to the touch, not even jostling one strand of hair out of her scalp. Lily looked up into her original self's blue eyes, and Leonardo da Vinci smiled. "Hey," she said softly, almost like a mother would to her child, "do you remember the first time I ever truly looked at Vy, Lily?"

"O-Of course I do." There was no way Lily could forget, what with how much emotion filled that memory in the data banks that made up Lily's beginnings as a homunculus. The same could be said for the amount of meaning that it held for Caster when she passed it on with Lily's creation. The significance that was stored in the images that Lily had to review before awakening in the Shadow Border in what felt like a whole lifetime ago. "It was in the Camelot Singularity, before Lancelot…"

Before your first brush with death.

"Yeah." Caster let out a soft laugh. "The Grailed all put it as when I saw the stars in Vy's eyes. And when she talked to me about her family, her reasons for becoming a Master, I can't think of anything else that really codifies it otherwise." With another pat to Lily's head, the smile of the Mona Lisa was back on Caster's face. "Maybe you need to see them for yourself. Vy's stars, I mean. Then you'll get your answers, Lily."

"Stars, huh?" Lily felt her fingers tremble over the airbrush gun in her hands, the nozzle aim shaking as she attempted to point it at a miniature of one of those Gundam model kits. For such a tiny "mobile suit," the amount of detail shoved into the plastic model was enough to make the effort of repainting feel painstakingly tedious. Sure, it was better than using the provided color-correcting stickers when the kit that she had picked up from the Akihibara tower — the Star Winning Gundam, was it? — had way too many of the things to really provide the same effects from its source material, but still.

How did Vy and her friends from before Chaldea like this kind of thing?

Da Vinci found herself sighing and putting down the sprayer. Her hands felt too sweaty to even paint, and she knew she needed a break. There was no point in sitting around now, even if the light walls around Britain were starting to shift.

"Where can I find Vy, then…?"

The last thing Lily expected to hear was laughter. Now, Novum Chaldea wasn't exactly the quietest place, what with the many Servants and remaining staff populating the Wandering Sea. But it wasn't known for being loud either, the hallways usually being fairly peaceful.

So what was with all the commotion? All the Servants she was seeing were running around a bit more frantically than usual. In fact…

"R-Reines-san, Reines-san! Where's Shishou? I need to find Shishou!"

"Gray," Sima Yi's vessel let out surprised laughter once the Assassin tugged at her long sleeves a bit too eagerly, "what's the big deal? My big brother should be in the library with the other bookworm Casters—"

"The King of Conquerors is finally here, Reines-san! He's why I need to find Shishou — he's been waiting for almost 3 years!"

…Oh.

Reines' jaw dropped automatically once Da Vinci thought, She did it again, huh? The materialization of her roller skates was instantaneous and instinctual, the wheels happily sliding across the floors as Da Vinci ducked her head.

Gotta check on her while those two get Zhuge Liang, right?

"Ohoho, so this is Chaldea! You've done well to summon me, lass! I've been waiting for this moment!"

In front of the towering, big muscled figure of Alexander the Great — Iskandar, the King of Conquerors — Vy merely smiled up at the new Rider, shaking her head. "Aye aye. It took a bit too long to summon you, King of Conquerors, but I'm glad to know the wait was worth it." Her voice came out wispy even to Da Vinci's faraway ear, the barest hint of fatigue seeping into her words as she said in a softer tone, "I actually know someone who's been waiting for you too."

"Oho, someone else who's been waiting, you say?" Even when summoned in his First Ascension, Iskandar's smile was proud and toothy, shiny even from Da Vinci's vantage point at the control booth of the Summoning Chamber. "Perhaps it's the King of Knights? The golden King of Heroes? Or is it—?"

Da Vinci didn't have to even look at the security camera feeds to know who was approaching the entrance. She merely pressed the button that opened the doors and let the incoming visitors do the rest.

"R-Rider…"

Iskandar's loud bumbling fell to a quiet lull as soon as the younger Zhuge Liang was pushed into the room by Sima Yi and Gray, the red mantle on his shoulder drooping past his blazer collar thanks to running. Red eyes met dark green bordering gray, and Waver grinned shakily. "I-I heard from Gray that Vy finally pulled it off, but it's different seeing… seeing this."

Vy carefully stepped to the side so as to not block Waver's view of his former Servant, and Iskandar closed his eyes to chuckle. "…Now I can understand why this young lass seemed so relieved to see me. She already bonded with a stern tactician such as yourself, hasn't she, boy?"

In any other circumstance. Zhuge Liang probably would've bristled at the name of "boy." Heck, even from afar, Da Vinci could see Reines behind him turn her head away to hide snickers in Trimmau's offered handkerchief. But Waver Velvet — the man-turned-boy who served as the vessel to one of China's greatest tacticians — merely grinned wider as he quickly strode over to offer his mantle to Iskandar, ignoring his adoptive sister along the way. "I-I can't deny that. Our Master is barely a Lady you can confidently leave by herself. Besides, I-I've been holding onto this for a bit too long, Rider." Waver's voice cracked as he raised the mantle up to Iskandar's eye level, head slightly bowed to hide the first shimmers in his eyes. "My King should wear this, not me."

Gray was placing both hands over her mouth to keep in the first happy sob, Add mumbling something quietly at her side while Iskandar looked on. At the mantle being offered to him, at Waver, at the smiling Reines and Gray, and then at the quiet Vy who had chosen a spot at a nearby wall to lean against.

"…It seems my arrival had a lot of hopes riding on it," Iskandar said softly, a stark contrast to his loud introduction as he proceeded to reach past the mantle in front of him and instead rest his hands underneath Waver's smaller arms, hoisting him up without any effort. "But I am here now, boy! So why are you crying?! This is supposed to be a joyous occasion!"

"S-Says the giant guy who's partially naked without his cape!" Waver was flailing about in Iskandar's grip, but the smile on his face was undeniable as the Rider carried him around, swinging him like one would a child as surprised laughter left his lips. "You had to keep me waiting for—for three whole years, you asshole!"

"But you made a bond with students of your own and contracted with a girl not unlike your past self, didn't you!?" Iskandar was laughing too, twirling Waver around like no tomorrow as the others watched fondly. Da Vinci couldn't even find it in herself to tear her eyes away from the reunion playing out in front of her. "That makes the wait all the more romantic and glorious, boy! You've grown into a fine subject, so you should keep that mantle!"

Gray and Reines' shared giggling at Waver's sputtered "Really?! That's what you wanted to say?! I'm happy, but—but put me down already!" was enough to almost put a smile on Da Vinci's face.

Emphasis on "almost." Because the instincts drilled into her from the start of her creation couldn't let her miss how Vy had shuffled past Reines and Gray both during the commotion to silently slip out from the room. On shaking, unsteady feet too.

The roller skates forming underneath Da Vinci's own boots were not even thought into being at that point. Not even her clicking the nearby call button that led to the Grail Lounge of Novum Chaldea on her way out could be missed either.

If it's for Vy, then I—

It's when Da Vinci is barely a few feet away from catching up to the only Chaldean Master that she sees it.

The dark circles under those normally clear brown eyes were now unmistakable as Vy puffed for breath, hands pressed against the nearby wall for balance. With her hunched back, shaking legs, and bowed head, she looked more like a struggling toddler than a young woman as she tried to walk forward, huffing with each subsequent step. How long had she been working herself up for this moment? No. How long had she been preparing? "N-Need to… to get back…" A shake of her head seemed to bring her legs to a more steady walking pace as she clutched at the wall. The growing pale color of her skin was still concerning as Vy muttered, "Gotta get… the Embers and… and Rider skill gems, so… so Waver and Iskandar can…"

Da Vinci couldn't take it anymore. She extended the metal limbs of her backpack, but it took a split second.

Vy tripped over her own boots, Da Vinci reached out, and then there was a flash of gold.

"What you need is your daily nap, Princess." In a stark contrast to their shared Master, Achilles didn't look any worse for wear in his divine armor provided by Hephaestus, face pensive and very much not amused in spite of the obvious concern shining in his yellow eyes as he held Vy up to standing height in his arms. "Less farming, more sleeping to get your mana back."

"What he said!" Saber Musashi added with extra vigor, jumping up and down a little over Achilles' shoulder as she reached past his grip to gently ruffle Vy's hair. "No collapsing on us this time, little riceball!"

"But… Achi… Mii-chan…" Vy's only protest came in the form of her hands weakly clutching at Achilles' own larger ones, knuckles turning white over his gold armor as she shook her head. The fact that she was able to account for Saber Musashi's presence over her Grailed Berserker counterpart via the nickname difference was, in of itself, a feat worthy of some applause, but it didn't change how pale her face looked. Brown hair fell rather messily past her sweaty forehead too as she said, "Still need to… to get to… to the Enhancement Center…"

"No buts. Enhancements can wait when you're tired, Vy. Waver's already waited three years for the King of Conquerors. He can wait another day." The last thing Da Vinci expected was for Achilles to shoot her a smile past Vy's head as he pulled the young woman close for a hug. Did he notice her putting her metal arms away? "Besides, our Technical Advisor seems to have been worried about you too. So you gotta get some rest."

Once Vy was slowly turning her head in Da Vinci's direction, Da Vinci found herself unintentionally lurching back. "Oh…" was all Vy said at first, blurry brown eyes reflecting Da Vinci's image before — before the faintest of starlight started to glimmer in her irises. "I-I'm sorry, Lily. I-I didn't mean…"

To worry you, to hurt you, the light spelled out instead once Vy's voice had died. Da Vinci found that her mouth couldn't move to formulate any kind of reply for a moment.

That's not it, Vy, the look in your eyes—

Once her senses came back, Lily found herself smiling wryly, folding her arms behind her back to hide the sudden trembling of her own hands. "I-It's alright, Vy! I just called the Grail Lounge and Achilles and Saber Musashi decided to answer! Besides that, we really need to get you to bed, or else Arturia and Robin won't let me hear the end of it!"

"A-Aye…" And just like that, the starlight winked out of Vy's eyes once she nodded and closed her eyes, letting herself be carried by Achilles and Saber Musashi out of the hallway.

Lily could ask her Caster self about what she just saw another time. What mattered now was getting Vy to bed and weathering the incoming storm.

"Wait, boy, you mean to tell me the legendary hero of the Iliad is here?! Why did you not inform me sooner?! I must joust with him!"

…A storm that was coming sooner rather than later, it seemed.

Now, if Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, could be likened to a storm, the Lostbelt King version of Morgan le Fay felt like an oppressive hurricane.

"Arturia. Vy. If either of you would ask questions of me, now is the time." The High Queen Morgan in her dark veil and flowing robes was intimidating even when doing something as simple as sitting in her throne, holding her scepter-halberd mix of a stave almost like one would a pair of chopsticks as she leaned back. "But be warned: though you are my guests, careless words may cost you that status and the protection it affords."

Da Vinci wasn't surprised to see Arturia Caster flinch. Even if she was the so-called beloved "Child of Prophecy," she was still a 16-year old teenage girl who, in any other circumstance, would've preferred to live a normal life instead of standing in the throne room of the Lostbelt version of Camelot. Even she could feel her teeth chattering inside her mouth from the intense mana pressure, and she firmly set her jaw so that Morgan nor anyone else in the vicinity could notice.

It's why Da Vinci finds herself mentally lurching back once Vy took a step forward to nod her head. Was it from the careful touch to the shoulder the disguised Chaldean Morgan (no, it was "Tonelico" now, right?) gave her in support past her wooden stave? Or the gentle pat on the back from Arturia Saber? "I have a few questions, then."

She didn't even flinch. How—

"So," the High Queen Morgan's blue eyes flashed when glancing at "Tonelico" and the Grailed Saber Arturia who stood protectively at Vy's immediate sides, "you will speak up first, foreign mage Vy?"

"That was my intention from the start, Lady Morgan," Vy continued, tucking her hands close to her chest and slightly bowing her head, but her tense shoulders inevitably proved her apparent growing dislike of the High Queen as she met those blue eyes in eye contact. "I don't intend to back away now."

Morgan's gaze lingered on "Tonelico" specifically before turning back to Vy, and for a moment, Da Vinci could've sworn those cold blue eyes warmed a little. "Very well. You are indeed brave, conqueror of five Lostbelts."

Says literally everyone else, suddenly rang through the back of Da Vinci's brain like wildfire to an unprotected forest, and before she could think on it more, Vy took a breath.

Unhindered by the stray thought, Morgan tapped the bottom of her stave against the tile floor. "What is it that you want?"

With almost practiced ease, Vy exhaled, raising her head confidently. "Chaldea's goal is to resolve the Bleached Earth Phenomenon."

Morgan blinked slowly. "Yes, I am aware of the situation of the outside world. Beryl Gut informed me."

Yet again, another thought brushed the back of Da Vinci's mind, something along the lines of a disgusted, Of course it was him who told you, the bastard, before Vy breathed again. "But there's been another anomaly detected in this Lostbelt that needs to be addressed. That's why we came here."

Morgan's blue eyes flashed again. "Oh? What sort of anomaly?"

Vy merely tilted her head in Da Vinci's direction once and she knew.

That's my cue.

"Using an ability similar to Ainsel's ability to prophesy, we've observed a future depicting a cataclysmic collapse, Queen Morgan." Da Vinci made herself step forward, flanking Tonelico's unoccupied side while keeping a steady grip on her staff. "We don't yet know what causes this collapse, or how it will actually happen…" Nor if it plays out like how our Morgan knew it in her memories, was left unsaid, "…but if it isn't stopped, it will spread across all of Britain and ultimately destroy the entire planet." With a steady breath out, Da Vinci schooled whatever emotion was starting to show on her face as the crowd of faeries that made up Queen Morgan's court began to murmur in growing unrest. "That is why Chaldea came to Faerie Britain. We need to investigate this collapse and prevent it from ever happening."

To save what we can, while we still can.

With a shake of her head, Da Vinci inhaled and exhaled again. The others in the room didn't matter. "Now that the Tree of Emptiness is gone, we have no quarrel with this Lostbelt. Our goal is to stop the world's collapse. That's all."

Queen Morgan turned her head to meet Da Vinci's gaze, a quiet, "I see," being her only response for a moment as she blinked. Then, Morgan focused her gaze on Vy, and Da Vinci couldn't miss how the young woman's shoulders tensed oh-so-minutely at the attention. "So you say you have come here not to conquer our world, but to save it. Is that all?"

Da Vinci didn't even need to have her older self's memories to know that High Queen Morgan was issuing a challenge. Wanting them to prove that they would stay true to their word.

With her lips pursed into a thin line, Vy stood tall and said, "…We also want a Divine Construct we can use against the Foreign God. As impulsive as it is to ask, we wanted to request the spell that you fired in Olympus."

Da Vinci nodded her head. "We were specifically looking for the Divine Lance you used against Kirschtaria Wodime, the Rhongomyniad. Either a Mystic Code that lets us use the spell ourselves, or the magecraft theory we can use to recreate it." Because if we have something like that, then the Black Barrel doesn't have to be relied on. If we were able to use Rhongomyniad, then Vy and Mash won't—

"...Heh." With that soft, uncharacteristic laugh, the Queen leaned back against her throne chair. "Yes, I know of the weapon that you seek, but that won't be necessary." With an almost delicate shake of her head, High Queen Morgan merely adjusted her grip on her stave. "Despite how I believe you when you say you have come to save Britain, I am the one who will still bring you and your Proper Human History to a miserable end."

Da Vinci couldn't stop the frown from surfacing on her features. She didn't miss how Artoria and "Tonelico" both clearly tensed at Vy's sides, matching their shared Master in how her fists clenched in front of her chest.

"This collapse you have observed will be the result of me expanding my territory. I shall be the one to put a true and final end to your history. It is why I will never willingly surrender my Divine Construct to you, my mortal enemy." High Queen Morgan's blue eyes flashed again, her gaze lingering on Vy and Vy alone as she murmured, "Vy… you arrogant child. To save your world, you will have to defeat me. What you call Proper Human History cannot be saved otherwise."

In spite of Beryl starting to smile happily in the background of Morgan's throne, all Vy did was unclench her fists, opening and resting her left palm against her chest to show her Command Seals. You're not the first 'king' to call me a child, you bitch, rang through the back of Da Vinci's mind, scorching and hot despite how it was in no way directed at Da Vinci in particular. Red lotus petals glowed from the corner of Da Vinci's eye as Vy whispered, "…Is that your way of declaring war on us, Queen Morgan? Deciding for yourself that the entire world is yours for the taking?"

High Queen Morgan blinked slowly, gently and slowly twirling her stave between her gloved fingers. "What else must I say? Proper Human History and my realm can never coexist. If you wish to save your world, child, you will have to win it from me."

Da Vinci opened her mouth, but Vy beat her to the punch. Not even the stray thought of, Nothing's really changed from the norm at this point, then, truly prepared her for it. One step forward was all it took and there was another flash of red. "…I see now. Is that how you truly intend to go through all of life when taking the world, Queen Morgan? Squash everything and everyone by force, just because it is not your way? Forgive the unwarranted remarks—" and this time, Da Vinci could hear disgust start to surface in Vy's polite voice as she went on, lowering her right hand to her side, "—but as a curious question from your mortal enemy, I must ask: have you considered what you will do with your territory when we are all gone?"

For the first time since their group had entered the throne room, there was silence. "…Pardon?" High Queen Morgan blinked. "Tonelico" at Vy's side turned stock still in place. The smile had slid clean off of Beryl's face.

"This is a discussion, isn't it? So I can ask." The frown on Vy's face deepened as the red glow from her left hand grew stronger. "How do you plan to rule the world after we are gone, Queen Morgan? Have you considered such plans yet?" Vy was speaking louder now, disbelief leaking into her words. "Once any and all enemies are dealt with, how will you govern a world that is blank? Will your subjects truly be happy with a land that has no people?"

To Da Vinci's growing surprise, the High Queen merely shook her head again after only a second's worth of a pause, adjusting her grip on her stave. "…The people do not matter. The coming future does not matter. All that truly holds value to me is my land. This year's end will bring another great calamity, which shall once again destroy every faerie in Britain. But faeries do not learn. Ever." There was finality, quiet fact delivered in the tone of Morgan's voice as she exhaled. "No matter how many times they die, they will always be born anew. As long as my castle remains intact, Faerie Britain shall always be reborn, even should all of Britain burn."

Almost as if it was expected, Arturia Caster's face fell. "Your Majesty…" came out in a soft whisper, barely flanking Vy's own previously voiced thoughts as her knuckles turned white against the Staff of Selection. "Are you saying you'll only protect your kingdom, not your citizens?"

"Yes." High Queen Morgan didn't seem to notice how "Tonelico" flinched at Vy's side, nodding her head. "I offer faeries no salvation. I shall defend my land. Nothing more. With all the magical energy I have stored in my throne, I have nothing to fear from the Great Calamity. Only a faerie like you, chosen and sent from paradise, can bring me to justice."

In spite of the voiced confidence, Da Vinci couldn't help but see how "Tonelico" visibly tightened her grip on her own wooden stave in response to the High Queen's words, her shoulders tense and taut through the robes and armor that let her pretend to be Arturia Caster's predecessor. Even if they were different people now, Chaldea's Morgan seemed to have a different idea regarding the Great Calamity High Queen Morgan was referencing.

So why was High Queen Morgan not moving?

"..." Arturia Caster fell into silence.

"If you wish to save Britain," Queen Morgan continued, unimpeded, "you must defeat me, and claim the throne for yourself. Fulfill that foolish prophecy if you can. You know you have no other choice."

Once again, Arturia Caster was silent. Even with her own Eternal Genius of a brain inherited from her original self, Da Vinci didn't know what else to say. Vy seemed to be quiet too.

With one last glance over the throne room, Morgan reclined back in her seat at the throne of Faerie Camelot. "Then it would seem our discussion has concluded. I am pleased we now understand each other."

"…No, it hasn't."

Morgan blinked. "…Pardon?"

Vy's left hand was clenching the front of her Chaldean Winter Mystic Code uniform. Red was prominent against her knuckles, and when Vy raised her head past her ponytail and shoulders, Da Vinci saw them.

Bright, angry, unmistakable stars gleamed in her brown eyes past Vy's glasses. Her voice came out remarkably calm and solemn in spite of the rage bubbling up in the back of Da Vinci's mind, the sound enough to make the Rider's heart skip a beat. "The discussion isn't over yet if you plan to let this all end on your terms, Your Majesty. Because letting only one side assert their opinions defeats the entire purpose of a 'discussion.' And with an attitude such as yours, I can understand only one thing about you."

"…Oh?" High Queen Morgan tapped one delicate finger against the handle of her halberd. "What is that, foreign mage child?"

With one long, long look, Vy blinked and the stars in her brown eyes sparkled with what looked like years of pent-up emotion. "…With such short-sightedness and lack of trust in your own subjects, I can see why you could never become Queen of Britain in Proper Human History."

There it is. Those stars—

"…Excuse me?" The mana was condensing in the air, becoming colder and almost choking, but Da Vinci could still surprisingly breathe as High Queen Morgan exhaled. "You are an insolent child, foreign mage Vy. What do you know about me?"

"That you are a fool to keep a bastard like Beryl Gut as your husband when he's backstabbed allies before, Lady Morgan, what else? He's already started influencing your daughter when you haven't been looking." With a practiced shrug of her shoulders, Vy stood tall and barely leaned back into the supportive hands of "Tonelico" and Arturia Saber beside her, taking only the tiniest of touches for strength — a stark contrast to how Beryl had frozen over Morgan's shoulder. An aura seemed to be emerging from the Chaldean Master now, a glimmer of pink that was warming just the atmosphere around the Chaldean group in particular as Arturia Caster inhaled sharply. "And really. In Proper Human History, it's common knowledge that someone in brutal control of power will inevitably breed distrust amongst their allies. And if you can't even see the discord amongst your own court, then this war will not be yours to win. Not when the people can and will bite back, faerie or not. My stay in Cornwall taught me that." The stars in Vy's brown eyes then were blinding to Lily as a slow, professional smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Besides, Lady Morgan. Beryl Gut was able to take down Kirschtaria Wodime via a good stab to the back when his guard was down. Who says he wouldn't do the same to you?"

That's it. That's what Caster saw.

Da Vinci Lily could do nothing but smile in return as Morgan opened her mouth and found nothing to say. Because the only thing that could describe the Chaldean Master at that very moment was beautiful.

With the stars in her bespectacled eyes, the lotus ribbon clip in her ponytail, the confident stance in her words, and the bright red glow of her Command Seals — Vy Duong was proving to be more crafty and strong than anyone was giving her credit for. It was thanks to her alone that the faeries in Morgan's court were already murmuring amongst themselves in confusion, Beryl himself awkwardly and uncharacteristically fidgeting in response to the High Queen turning a raised brow in his direction. Arturia Caster was loosening her grip on the Staff of Selection too, matching the proud look Arturia Saber was giving Vy from over her shoulder. Even "Tonelico" seemed to be breathing a bit easier, her hand on the back of Vy's waist relaxed and confident.

With those kind of stars in her eyes, Vy Duong was just as dazzling as the first flower of spring.

And just like her original Caster self, Da Vinci Lily found herself falling in love with that starlight. Because even through the darkness of the Lostbelts and even this faerie kingdom, that kind of light could be trusted. Relied on.

Especially when that light was never meant to hurt the people around it.

All Lily had to do now was make sure that starlight didn't wink out of existence. Not when they had come so far together.