*Clop* *Clop*
The first thing I heard was the trotting of a horse. And it was loud.
Incredibly so.
'Urg… Who the hell is making so much noise? Is it Andras? Why is he walking around and making so much noise?' I thought while slowly opening my eyes.
"Andras, I swear to god-" I tried to tell my familiar to stop, however before my sentence ended, I stopped because of what appeared in front of me.
A little child. One that I knew well. Too well for my liking.
The boisterous trotting continued in the background.
Seconds later I found out that it wasn't only one horse that made the noise, but a lot of them… Nevertheless, although the horses' intermittent walking were still loudly heard, that didn't matter anymore.
'Why… is Leonardo in front of me?'
Dirt blond hair, a face a little bit handsome but not too much, and a pair of emerald eyes hid behind a pair of rectangular glasses which adorned him. He would have looked better with the greenish suit he wore if it wasn't for the apparent nervousness found in his eyes and the slight tremors his body made time and time again.
'...' Slowly I closed my eyes while massaging my temple in an attempt to make me remember, however although minutes passed, the last memory I had was of myself closing my eyes on the infirmary. Sighing in defeat, I open them again and take a look at my surroundings.
A carriage. That was the thing where I found myself in, as it was the only thing that explained the sound of horses and the slight movement it made sometimes. It was small and wasn't decorated too much, however if you saw it you could know damn well how pricey it looked. Taking a peek through the window and only a deep and black forest was seen even though daylight made itself known.
My gaze then stopped on where the child sometimes looked with a trace of anxiousness.
Next to me, an old man with a grave face appeared.
'Father…'
"This is a once in a time opportunity Leonardo." The old man said, taking his gaze from the window towards the shivering child. "The Ashborn family is capable of passing the Er-Meyer Magic Crest without almost any chance of failure, so don't be afraid. Although the process will hurt a bit, it's the only way for you to inherit it without any consequences happening."
Hearing his words, the child nodded, however nervousness was still apparent on him. Seeing that the old man just sighed.
His face was filled with tiredness, but that was rapidly replaced with a devilish smile as the man took from his pocket a small origami of a black rat.
"Leonardo. Isn't it beautiful?" He changed his tone to be more sweet sounding while showing the origami to the child, which responds with a confused nod. Seeing that he took his attention the old man continued. "Papycry."
From the origami a small rat with a purplish black color made itself known. This time the reaction of the child was one of amazement, and seeing that, the man scoffed.
"This is a Shadeling Rat. He is a monstrous beast which excels in sneaking without being detected. Do you know why it is with me?" Without waiting for the child to respond he answered himself. "It's to protect you." At those words, the child became confused. "The Ashborn method of passing the crest from one to another isn't extremely dangerous compared to others but it's incredibly lengthy. Unfortunately I can't be with you for long, however he will accompany you at all times." He said while smiling towards the rat.
Hearing that I unconsciously frowned my brows.
"We are a proud magus family which is incredibly special compared to others. We have the gift of talking with animals and commanding them, Leonardo. And I want you to be the one who takes on my mantle." He said while warmly smiling unlike before. "I want you to be the next head of Er-Meyer."
Finishing his words, the face of the child was one of expectation, and although nervousness was still seen, he was more relaxed unlike before.
Seeing both of them I take a deep breath while getting up. I look for a moment at the outside before suddenly turning and launching a fist towards the face of the old man. However, instead of smashing his head in, my hand phased right through him.
"Tch. I had a feeling that would happen..." I said while sitting myself next to the small Leonardo.
After that, seconds of silence prevailed between the grown man and the child. Meanwhile I stayed put next to blond while rubbing my forehead in exasperation.
'...Really, what a sick joke to appear in this memory.' I thought with a deprecating laugh. 'After reaching the Ashborn's castle, the happy Leonardo will go right through his first 'session' of becoming someone 'worthy' of being an Er-Meyer… What a really shitty joke.'
After having such thoughts I turned towards the smiling man in front of me. Just to be sure I tried to kick his leg, however like before, it passed right through him. Seeing that I couldn't hit him, I just stayed still.
Waiting for this memory to end like the other one.
'...'
However, no matter how much time passed, it felt like nothing changed. Hours passed and the sun was still up to my shock. I took another look outside which only makes me feel bitter.
'...The sun didn't move.'
I looked at Father and little Leonardo, however they weren't moving.
I chided without thinking.
'...This is annoying.' Was the only thought in my mind all the time. 'Why can't I just go back to the infirmary? Maybe I need to do or find something?'
Following that line of thought I got up and while grabbing myself so I don't fall, I inspected the room with more detail than before.
But even then, nothing looked important enough to be, well… important.
Minutes later I gave up and sat back down.
'Whatever, I can use this time to rest a bit more.' I thought while I tried to make myself comfortable in the small carriage. '...Although it feels unpleasant to close my eyes in front of father… I am too tired to continue thinking about him or past Leo.'
Like that I went to sleep again.
.
.
.
If only I didn't do that.
Opening my eyes I found myself in the infirmary bed again, however… there was nobody.
"...Maybe the others woke up early and are already jumping from one place to another? If that's the case I need to hurry before they cause problems." Rapidly getting up I yawned while grabbing my glasses from the nightstand…
However, to my surprise they weren't there.
'...'
Slowly I moved my hand to my face and I could feel them. Already on.
Feeling suspicious I tried to rouse my magic crest, circuits, anything… However I felt a certain void instead of the mana that is regularly felt.
Agitated, I took another glance at the infirmary.
"Kura?"
At first I called the name of my first companion, the Flame Infested Demiurge. However seconds later I got no response.
"Andras!" I raised my voice in panic as I started looking at the other beds near me while calling the name of the Kelpie I found on the British isles, however no response came back and nobody was seen on the beds.
"Aurora! Jiniri…!"
One by one the names of my familiars left my mouth, and when I said the last name that came to my mind, I found myself in front of the door that took me to the hallways of Chaldea. But unlike always it felt… off.
.
.
.
…I am sorry, that was an understatement.
Something was wrong.
Incredibly wrong.
It wasn't a door that should be in Chaldea, but instead…
'In the Er-Meyer Mansion.'
In Leo's memories this door appeared a good amount of times because it was different to the other ones found in the mansion, as it was the only one that looked off.
The other doors didn't have a pristine white colour, however anything would look white next to the one in front of me.
As it was almost pitch black.
And what was the most peculiar is that it never was open in those memories.
.
.
.
Just by curiosity I put my hand on the handle, however as I was about to turn it, I stopped myself.
Something was behind it.
I couldn't see it, but I could feel it.
.
.
.
'...Why is this happening to me?' I thought while retreating to one of the beds where I sat to stabilize my breath. Putting one of my hands on my chest I could feel a drumming that I never heard before. 'It feels like my heart wants to jump out of my chest…'
Only the sound of my heart beating repeated in my ears. Moments later I took a glance at my hands and as I saw them shake, the trembling Leonardo from before came to my mind.
.
.
.
'...Fuck.'
I took a deep breath and got myself up.
'I don't have the time for this. I need to do a lot of things in Chaldea.'
With heavy steps I found myself in front of the door again, and grabbing the handle with the same shaking hand I took one last breath.
'Let's get this over with.'
Then as I opened the door I could finally see what was behind it.
.
.
.
Nothing.
Quite literally that.
A grey space that looked like it expanded infinitely without anything in it… Moreover, for some reason it felt strangely familiar and cozy even.
However, that was a miscalculation on my part. It was akin to a trap, as the moment I took a step out of the infirmary to that nothingness I felt it.
Something was watching me.
Every single strand of my body told me to retreat, and without thinking twice I turned around to go back inside the infirmary for a safe place, however it wasn't there anymore… Instead, what appeared was a gigantic mountain that extended to the heavens… or at least looked like a mountain.
I felt my heart drop.
Without thinking I opened my mouth.
"I-I recognize you."
Were the words that came out as my teeth clattered against themselves. My body was shaking worse than before, and I tried to calm myself down.
But I couldn't.
The being in front of me just wouldn't let me.
An anxiety that made me want to vomit everything encroached on me.
Sometimes my vision would blurry and the need to run outweighed anything. Not even when I was in front of Saber Alter or Lev I felt like this. My mouth felt parched as the name of the being in front of me came to my mind.
The moment I recognized it I tried to find a way to escape, but there was nothing in this grey space to help me. My circuits didn't activate for some reason, and one of my greatest strengths, my familiars, weren't with me.
Finally I was able to reign my trembling body almost back to normal, however his presence was so gigantic that it was hard enough to stay still.
Even then, I gulped and looked forward.
I need to confront it.
Even if I don't want to.
The reason behind that decision was really simple in reality.
There is nothing here.
And I don't have anything, so the only option left is to confront it to my distaste and helplessness.
When I gathered enough courage, I took a deep breath before opening my mouth.
The divine beast engraved on the Er-Meyer family crest. One of the grand beings who were mentioned by God to Job in the Bible.
.
.
.
"Behemoth."
And finally.
A fear that engulfed my whole being made itself known.
The moment those words left my mouth, the mountain moved. Slowly the being that I hoped didn't exist was gradually appearing before me. A body of stone resembling an enormous mountain. Three pairs of horns adorned its head as a crown, and almost impossible to see thanks to how far away they were, three tails extended towards the never ending horizon.
That's how gigantic the being in front of me was. Its eyelids opened, and five amber coloured eyes resembling the setting sun, made themselves known.
I couldn't move. Nor breath. The only thing I could do was hear the increasingly beating of my heart.
That was until it opened its mouth.
"$#$+&* $ !?"
Something resembling a roar composed of a hundred screams came out of its mouth, prompting me to block my ears urgently as I tried not to stumble onto the ground. It was only one roar being made by one being, however, at that time I heard several voices intertwined with said roar. Male, female, children and even animal voices made together to form that one hellish scream.
"Y (_)#+*($ (_)/_&+ /#&?"
Even though I tried my best the sound still passed through my fingers and reached me, however unlike before, I could kinda hear what he was saying.
Then silence.
.
.
.
Confused, I looked at it and took my hands from my ears.
They were bloodied.
However it didn't matter as its gigantic head was in front of me. As it opened its mouth again I prepared myself to block my ears, however I stopped halfway because of what it said.
"Ẃ̴̮h̸̭̔y̸̧͝ ̸̪͒d̸̝̕o̴̳͝ ̴̤̾y̷̖͝o̸̺͋u̸̜͗ ̷̮̿ḫ̷̑â̶͉v̸̬̀e̶̗̽ ̶̹͂ț̵̿ŵ̷͍o̷͈͒ ̶̗̄s̵̗̍o̶̰̔ǘ̵̦l̸͖̚s̵̜͑?̴̫̊"
My body froze.
It felt like my eardrums exploded, and the pain that came along that wasn't funny at all.
For a second fear escaped from my body and only strangeness settled in.
"How-"
'-did you know?' I tried to say, but before I knew it my whole being felt like it was being compressed.
A howl similar to behemoth's came from my mouth.
Tears came streaming down my face. Something was grinding inside me and the pain that came from that was unimaginable. My insides didn't feel like they were churning.
They truly were.
Instead of blood it felt like lava ran through my veins.
"Foolish." A million voices said while my body fell towards the floor. "Wear my body, then perhaps you will survive..."
Although his voice resonated inside of my head, I couldn't focus. It felt like my whole being was engulfed in flames.
"Don't tempt Fate." It's deprecating voice continued. "Two souls in a vessel that isn't prepared will only end in-"
Suddenly the voice stopped.
"Time is running out. Don't be stubborn. Wear the Black Lines. Don't be foolish like your predecessors."
Thankfully I could start to feel my body slowly become numb towards the pain. But next I couldn't feel anything. I looked at the beast, however cracks appeared everywhere my gaze ended.
"I'll wait for you."
Those were the last words I heard before everything crumbled and my vision went to black.
"Mhm..." A groan came out of myself involuntarily, then my eyes slowly opened by itself. "I… I can't continue sleeping like this…" I complain while looking at my sleeping partners.
First, Jiniri. The Efreet was huddled up to my arm without a care in the world, and it looked like she was enjoying it, because even if she lacks some facial expressions…
*Joy*
…Animal Communication can easily supplant me with the information.
'However… It's like I am sleeping with a stove next to me.' I try to get away from her, however her grip becomes stronger. '...Jiniri, please…'
Sighing, my gaze changes to the little snake, which instead of staying in my neck like yesterday, it decided to take my other arm over the night. Although wondering how I'll get out of this situation without waking him up, my eyes end on my lower half, where on top of my legs, a certain Kelpie's head is found.
'...I am trapped from all sides…' I think while resting my head back on the pillow. Then hopefully a thought reaches my head. 'Maybe if I continue sleeping. then…'
.
.
.
"Yeah there is no way I can continue like this." I murmur towards myself. "Jiniri generates so much heat that it feels like I am in the middle of summer…" I steal a glance at the Efreet, who is totally unaware of my plight.
'I'll become a steamed ham if I don't get up…!'
As those thoughts started to fill up my mind, I started to move myself little by little with the purpose of getting up without waking any of them.
.
.
.
However, almost ten minutes later I found that I didn't make any progress.
'...Shit. I only got more drenched in sweat…' Then a certain thought reached my mind. 'Now that I think about it, I am feeling pretty thirsty…'
Feeling more nervous than before I tried to make another attempt, only to be interrupted by a little bird which landed on my face. Grumbling at where she landed, I flared up the magic crest.
"Did you rest well, master?" Aurora's giggling voice resounds in my head.
"The greatest I had in years." I say sarcastically while doing another attempt. After giving up I ask her for a bit of help. "...Could you please help me?."
"Oh, yes I could, however… Didn't you know?" She says while flying away from my face and rousing my attention. "Two of the three children sleeping with you are awake." She continued not through Animal Communication but with her own mouth.
The moment her sentence ended, Jiniri's and Andras' bodies trembled. At that, I open my mouth indignantly.
"...If you are awake at least tell me so…" I said annoyed. "I was here for over ten minutes to get up without trying to wake you up."
"...Comfortable." Jiniri responded as a defense.
*Neigh*
And Andras responded almost the same.
"..."
Hearing them say only that almost made me sigh, however I repressed it.
"Teoti wake up, we need to move." I said to the sleepy snake who yawned in response.
Then to the dismay of Andras and Jiniri I got up.
.
.
.
"They are still sleeping." I say while looking at the director and the two protagonists of yesterday. "Aurora, do you know what time it is?" I ask her while trying to find the clock Romani had over here. However, instead of Aurora's voice another one reached me.
"That man screamed that it was ten o'clock before, and as one hour passed since then, then it should be eleven o'clock." Kura's voice appeared in my head.
"Kura-!" I almost yelled the moment I heard him. After seeing that nobody woke up I continued while turning my head to the red origami on the nightstand, where I left him yesterday. "Are you okay?"
"Better than before I am." He says proudly while I take him, however his tone changes to one of displeasure. "Although if you could undo the magecraft I would find myself better."
"I'll undo it in a moment, however…" I say looking at the small infirmary. "I think you are a bit too big to fit here..."
A sigh comes from Kura.
"Then please hurry up. I don't want to continue being small and of paper… Especially with her so close-" He almost finished his sentence, only to be interrupted by the one she was talking about.
"Oh, is Flamey up?" Aurora asks gleefully, flying to my hand where Kura is.
He didn't say anything at Aurora's words, he only groaned.
"Ah c'mon don't be a killjoy Flamey!" She continues while pecking him, even if it upsets him… No, because it upsets him that she continues! "I must say, you look pretty small right now…! Wait. You look even smaller than me!" Aurora says giggling.
"...Shut up." His voice becomes a tone heavier. "Girl, if you continue running your mouth like this I swear…"
"What?" Aurora said while Kura's words trailed off. "I am just joking little tiger. After all, I am truly bigger than you, aren't I?" Her taunt easily reached Kura.
Suddenly Kura became quiet… Then before long a heated atmosphere started to surround me… And what was worse is… That even Jiniri, a being close to the elementals of fire, was getting farther from where I was… Or better said where Kura was. Seconds later Andras and Teoti followed her.
"...Look at this little shit…" Even though his current form is that of a small origami, a certain presence that I only felt when talking with one of the lord's of the clocktower started to ooze from him. "Leo, I don't ask you this often, however…" Before I knew it his voice was devoid of any emotion. "Let me fight in that thing that you humans call the simulator… I can't let her continue disrespecting me like this."
With an eerily giggling tone Aurora responded to him.
"Now, now, Flamey I didn't want to disrespect you like this, however…" Like with Kura, her own presence becomes known thanks to the amount of magic power coming from her. "I think calling me a little shit is a bit to much, even though you are smaller than myself right- Ow!" Aurora's taunt stopped halfway through because I 'gently' smacked her.
"Yeah you deserve that, you little-! Argh-!" Kura, seeing that I punished her, tried to continue trash talking to her, only to be smacked like her.
"Now stop the fighting." I say while seeing Aurora with her head down and the origami of kura looking at me while growling. "You are scaring the others." I continue while pointing toward the three shivering beasts on one of the corners of the infirmary. "If you want I can ask the director if you both can use the simulator, but that's for later. First we need to meet Romani."
Hearing me, both of them stay silent.
In the silent room only one thing is heard clearly.
"...Master. Scary." Jiniri's murmur made me stop in place for a moment.
"Just… let's go." I said while shaking my head as I approached the door of the infirmary.
.
.
.
"Master?" Aurora's worried voice suddenly came. "Why are we suddenly stopping in front of the door?"
"...nothing, let's continue." I said absentminded.
.
.
.
'Why does it feel like I am forgetting something?'
After tidying myself a bit, I went out towards the bluish hallways of Chaldea.
"I am not a mount." Kura's grumbling voice is heard behind me. Turning my head I can see an excited Jiniri and a sleepy Teoti on his back.
"Your punishment for continuing fighting Aurora and scaring them." I say to the growling lion.
"Master, please… I promise that I won't anger Flamey anymore…" Aurora's pleading voice comes from my side, where she is almost submerged on Andras's head, with her head the only thing outside of him.
"And that's your punishment for starting the fight. Plus for the time, don't call him that, or you'll have more punishment time." I say to her while changing my gaze to Andras. "Are you okay? It isn't bothering you or is it?"
*Neigh*
"Good, tell me when it starts bothering you, okay?" I say while patting his body to the dismay of Aurora.
"Master! Please! Don't ignore me!" The bird's desperate chirping continued, however instead of paying attention to her, I continued walking. "Master!"
'If I am not wrong he should be either in the control room or CHALDEAS' room…'
As I continued down the never ending hallways and stairs of this place while hearing the grumblings of the two behind me, on my way towards the control room a familiar face appeared down the corridor.
"Oh! Excuse me, can you please move to the side for a moment!" A female voice said behind some type of cart with a grand amount of debris in it. "This genius has some work to do!"
Before I could even respond said cart was already in my face, meaning that I only had less than a second to evade it.
And, of course.
I failed the QTE.
"Argh!" The cart hit me with all of its speed in the leg.
"Oh Lord!" The brunette said while nearing me. "I must say that you mister really has bad reflexes- Oh it's the other me!" She changes her berating tone to a gleeful one while extending her hands towards me.
Seeing her expression change so suddenly, a sigh comes out of me as I take her hand.
"Just because we have the same name ,it doesn't mean that I am other you." I tell her as she helps me get on my own two feet again. "Da Vinci."
"Well, you are truthful in that, as in the use of magecraft you are still a bit worse than myself!" She says proudly while raising her gaze towards the ceiling.
"..." Suddenly I start to feel exhausted. "Anyways, did you see doctor Romani? I need to talk with him."
"Oh yeah, he is in CHALDEAS' room, telling everybody what they need to do~ After all, director Olga Marie is still resting~." She says grumbling as I help her to put back the debris which fell from our collision.
A chuckle comes out of me.
"You don't look very happy that he made you do labour, don't you?"
"But of course!" She almost yells in my face. "How dare he use my intellect as a genius to move some rocks from one place to another! He said that only I can move the debris and repair the room rapidly, which it's a bit flattering on his part, however it doesn't change the fact that I am still mad!"
Seeing her move boulders big enough to be capable of squashing myself whole and do it while pouting is a sight to behold.
"Oh right!" She says while putting the giant rock back on the cart. "Since when did Chaldea have such high quality magical beasts?" She asks while taking a long look at the five beasts behind me.
"Oh, didn't Romani tell you? They are my Familiars." I respond while putting the last debris on the cart. "...That was heavier than I thought."
Hearing the words that came from me, Da Vinci's eyes opened wide.
"...So Romani wasn't crazy." She says while getting closer to Kura. "I thought he was just daydreaming, however…" She touches his head and slightly stretches it even with him growling. "They are the real deal." Ending her words she turns to look at me.
"Can I-?" She tried to ask with sparkling eyes, however before she could continue I stopped her.
"No."
"Ah, I didn't even get to finish!"
"However, I already know you well enough to know what you are asking." I say to her while patting away the dust from my clothes.
"Oh really?" She says in a challenging but playful tone. "Then tell me, what was I about to ask-"
"You wanted to use materials from them for your research didn't you?"
"..." She suddenly becomes silent for a few seconds. "...well in reality-"
"Like when you used Chaldea's limited resources to continue your research even though you knew that-"
"Ah, I need to continue following Romani orders!" She instantly changes topic while grabbing the cart handle. "It was good talking to you, other me! I hope we can talk about this again at a later time!" She shouts while rapidly getting away. "Goodbye!"
Snickering to her last words I continue without looking back.
Opening the door to CHALDEAS' room, a grand amount of the debris from yesterday is long gone. Instead the amount of noise and people moving things from a place to another became a greater nuisance than the fallen rocks. Looking for Romani I sensed some gazes on me, but I ignored them. Seconds later I spot him.
On top of the greatest mountain of debris, a pink haired man is seen directing others like a general.
'He looks like he is having fun.' I think while making my way towards him.
As I start to get closer, the people that I pass momentarily stop. Faces of fear, amazement and nervousness are plastered on them.
'Some people here never saw a magical beast, not to mention five…' Following that thought I remember about Shiro. 'Let's just hope he isn't making any trouble.'
Maybe because of the forming circle of people around us, or the beasts following me, Romani saw us and started to climb down the small monticule.
Seconds later he is in front of me slightly agitated.
"I saw that you had a bit of fun up there." I say teasing him.
"The same can be said with you yesterday." He counter attacks the same way with a cheeky smile, but it rapidly changes after looking behind me. "By the way, are these all your familiars? There is a great diversity of them…" He continues while looking at the efreet who is having fun on top of Kura and the wet Aurora on Andras' head. "Both in form and personality…"
Hearing him say that cracks a smile on my face.
"Although I would like to say yes, one isn't with us right-" I tried to warn him, however before I could end my words, a childish voice interrupted me.
"And you are wrong about that." From the small mountain of rubble behind Romani, a sitting child with white hair and red eyes is seen. In his hands a bitten red apple is found. "Truly… This place is a total trash heap." He says, turning his head towards us with a smug smile. "Really reflects the place where you belong."
Hearing that so suddenly makes both of us take some seconds to process.
"Is… Is that an insult towards me or…?" Romani murmurs beside me, a bit shocked at Shiro's words.
"Don't worry, it's for me." I respond to the pink hair. "Shiro, could you please come over here?"
"Mhm." The fox grunts at my order, but still follows it.
'...I am sure he was waiting to make that one liner from before for a good time.'
"...He looks and acts like a total jerk…" Romani continues in a low voice.
"...I know, however, he is the strongest familiar I have." Hearing that gives me a pitying gaze from him.
Finally in front of me, Shiro takes another bite of its apple.
"Sho? Wuat do yu ned?" He talks with his mouth still full of food.
.
.
.
'He is doing this on purpose now.' I think while repressing a sigh.
In Leonardo's memories Shiro would never act so childish. Normally he is the one with the best manners from the six. Only when he is incredibly irritated would this happen.
The reason?
Surely to annoy me and make me look bad in front of Romani.
Normally that would work, however Romani…
I take a glance at Romani with the corner of my eyes. His face is scrunching more by the second.
'...Surely it won't work, right?'
"...We need to document you guys. From background to skills." I repress yet another sigh.
Hearing my words both Shiro and Romani look at me confused. As I turn my head to Romani he rapidly nods.
"O-Oh right, yeah!"
'You forgot didn't you? You told me yesterday to come tell you!'
Seeing this exchange Shiro finally swallows the food and continues.
"For what reason?"
"As I 'smuggled' you into Chaldea the only two who are registered are Teoti and Andras. The other ones included you are like illegal immigrants."
Hearing my analogy, Shiro only glances at me.
"Whatever. Let's get this over with." A bit later he says while taking another bite and going with the others.
"Thanks." I say, however it falls on deaf ears.
'...Why is he so difficult to deal with?' I think while repressing another sigh.
Before long the six familiars were reunited behind me.
Of course I stopped the punishment for Aurora and Kura. After all, they suffered enough.
'Right?'
Both of their heads nod, one slower than the other.
"...Now seeing them all side by side feels a bit…"
"Imposing right?" I respond to Romani's amazed voice with a bit of sass.
"Yeah… Oh well, anyways, let's make this fast alright? We still need to move and repair a lot of things here." He says with a sigh before continuing shouting. "Can anybody pass me another clipboard?"
.
.
.
As I continue to write events and the different abilities of the familiars I take a glance at Roman's face.
It's one of concern and tiredness.
'...Maybe I am bothering him too much.'
Probably because I was watching him, he notices me and talks.
"...Is everything okay Leonardo?" He asks while taking his gaze from the clipboard in his hands.
Hearing him say that makes me feel a bit flustered.
"...No, I was just thinking maybe I was bothering you a bit." I responded slightly embarrassed.
"Ah, that? Don't worry. Even though I must admit that the fatigue is back, someone needs to supervise everything while Olga is resting." Romani continues with a small smile. "However if you feel that I am doing a bit too much work, then a little coffee won't be bad, after all I already finished my cup." He says playfully while shaking the thermal cup on his hands.
I look at him for some seconds before smiling.
"...Yeah you are right." I say while getting up.
"Yeah, I am- wait, what?"
Seeing that I take his cup, I start walking towards the door.
"Eh, uhm, Leo, I was joking, you don't need to-" Romani stuttered while trying to justify himself.
'Alright, let's stop the little joke.'
Before he could continue I stopped him.
"Don't worry. I haven't eaten anything since I woke up so I figured it's a good time to go and get something for me also."
"..." He hesitates for a moment before sitting back. "Alright. Please don't put too much sugar on it."
"K, captain." I respond to him as I make my way down the monticule.
"Really…" he mutters flabbergasted at my response.
Yet back again in the hallways I start to think about what I should eat.
Following me is Teoti while curled on my neck. The other familiars except Shiro helped the others in getting rid of the rubble. Although he tried to help too, because of his small body and incapacity of… well, being snake shaped, he couldn't help as much as he wanted, so reluctantly he came with me.
While making my way to the cafeteria, I stop myself in front of a gigantic door.
Maybe because I suddenly stopped, Teoti looked at me confused.
Seeing him, I only giggle.
"No it's nothing. I was just thinking." I say to him to assure him while continuing my way.
'...I say that but…'
I take a last glance before continuing down the hallway.
Of course the door isn't what took my attention but instead, what is behind that door.
'FATE…'
A certain memory of the time before Oscar and Leonardo became one suddenly resurfaced.
"...No one was able to summon a single servant?" Olga's voice resounded in the room.
Seeing that nobody responded to her, she continued.
"I was hoping that at least someone from the A team was going to make a contract, however really nobody did it?"
Her voice slowly became more despairing at the results.
Just as she was about to start screaming at us, Lev appeared and calmed her.
Hearing him she took deep breaths and told everyone to scram. However before everyone left a sentence was heard from her mouth.
"What the hell will I tell the Lords?"
Ending said memory I walk with a certain awkwardness.
Just out of curiosity I look at my right hand and unlike before.
Red traces of something are seen.
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[Leonardo Er-Meyer's Familiars]
Phantasmal rank beasts
Shiro - White Kitsune
A two tailed white kitsune found in the northern part of Japan. It was contracted by a previous head of the family when it only had one tail. Main weapons are a Naginata that utilizes at close range and a diversity of curses that he is able to…
Aurora - White Fiacc
A small bird resembling a long tailed tit. Found on the British isles. Not much is known as it was first contracted by Leonardo Er-Meyer. It can utilize its feathers as weapons against its opponents. It also utilizes healing magic, although what type isn't known. Also…
Kura - Demiurge
A Flame infested Demiurge which specializes in controlling fire and heat. It mainly utilizes a different array of fires with different capacities and its incredible physical prowess for attacks. It was contracted by a previous head of the Er-Meyer family. It isn't known where it was found…
Monstrous rank beasts
Andras - Kelpie
A being related to the elementals of water, found on the British isles. Its forte is speed and the water spells it can utilize. Contracted by Leonardo Er-Meyer…
Jiniri - Efreet
A being related to the elementals of fire found in the middle east. It's capable of manipulating fire and is almost impervious to physical attacks. Contracted by Leonardo Er-Meyer in the year…
Teoti - Quetzalcolite
A winged serpent that was found in South America. The youngest of the familiars. Although it's physical prowess is the lowest of the six, It's capable of utilizing a variety of curses, however it's real strength is the poisonous attacks that it can inflict with its spells. Contracted by Leonardo Er-Meyer…
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As I finish re-reading the report I give it to Romani.
"Yeah all the info is okay." I assure him.
"Great, as soon as the director is up, I'll send her this. Let's hope she doesn't chew you too much." He says with some giggles.
I laugh with him, however the moment I see his gloved hand I stop.
'Solomon…'
Seeing my serious face, he stops too.
"... What's the matter Leonardo?"
Hearing his worried tone I look back at him.
"Hey Romani this will sound strange, but…"
"But?"
"Is the FATE system online?"
My words make him stop for a moment.
"...Leonardo-" He tried to speak, however I cut him short.
"I know it's nonsense, however… I want to try again." I look at him with the most serious expression I could muster.
"..." Romani stops and closes his eyes. Seconds pass and his face changes rapidly like he is thinking. "Mhm…" Then he frowns and after a bit he responds. "Bah! Alright. I am so occupied over here that I wouldn't see if someone entered a room they shouldn't enter…"
I smile towards his words.
"Thanks."
"...Thanks to you. We were able to do everything faster thanks to your familiars. Maybe tomorrow the room will be like new." Then he changes his tone. "Go fast. Who knows when the director will wake up." He says kinda fed up. "When all of this ends I'll make you treat me with something good."
His words stopped me.
'When this ends…'
I close my eyes for a moment before continuing.
"Yeah… I'll make sure to treat you after all of this." I say to him.
With a nod of his part I go back to the corridors of Chaldea with my Familiars.
"I'll make damn sure…" I mutter to myself.
'...If I was able to save director Olga Marie then…'
Again I find myself in front of the enormous door.
"And this?" Aurora's voice resonated in the hallway.
Hearing her I opened my mouth to respond, however another voice behind made me stop.
"It's one of the most important and magnificent rooms in Chaldea! The 'Guardian Heroic Spirit Summoning System', or better known as FATE! The same place where I was summoned!" The voice behind me boasts with a clear voice.
"And what are you doing here?" My voice of annoyance startles Da Vinci.
"What do you mean 'And what are you doing here?', but of course I am here to manage FATE by request of Romani."
"...What?"
"What? You don't know how FATE works?" Da Vinci's confused voice makes me look at her.
Now that she mentions it… In Leonardo's memories there isn't anything detailing about FATE. The only thing is Olga despairing at the results.
I shake my head at her words.
"Ha… well it's easy. Not only FATE summons heroic spirits but at the same time it permits the people managing it to see the information about the summoned spirit. The only thing that I need to do is write the information that the system gets about the servant's class, skills and noble phantasms… and end the summoning process in case something goes wrong."
"I see."
"Now, hurry up! The sooner we end this the sooner I am back at my workshop!" She says while lightly pushing me. "Oh and also no familiars! We don't want another magical signal so close to the summoning circle."
Hearing those words I put Teoti down to his dismay.
"Oh, and this will cost you! Maybe a bit of fur from your flame friend or some feather of…" I leave Da Vinci talking to herself while entering FATE.
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As I pass through the door I find myself in a totally black room.
"Initializing." A machine-like voice resounds in the room, and one by one lights appear.
Before long the summoning room is brightly colored as I remembered in the game. Slowly the density of the mana in the air becomes greater almost to the point where I feel lightheaded. However, the atmosphere rapidly changes to how it was before. The lights start to spin around the centre of the room slowly making them to be seen as lines.
"Everything is okay, you can start Leo!" Da Vinci's voice comes from a speaker.
Hearing her saying the okay I prepare to open my mouth, however I suddenly stop for just a few seconds.
'...Should I use the same chant as before?'
After a bit of deliberation I opened my mouth again.
"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Let silver and steel be the essence."
I hesitate for a moment before continuing.
"However, is that your only essence? Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation. But is that what you want?"
'...I don't know what I am doing nor why am I doing it.' I thought while looking at the centre. 'Why the hell am I changing the aria so much and questioning everything? Let 's just focus.'
"Let your color be the one I follow. Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall. Close the four cardinal gates."
Thankfully it looked like changing the aria halfway through didn't affect the summoning, as everything looks alright.
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.
Or so I thought.
"Step down from the "crown." "
A feminine voice which I never heard before resonated with my words. Astonished, I almost fumbled the next part of the aria.
And thankfully I didn't. Because for some strange reason, I felt that if the aria went wrong at any time…
The summoning would end.
"Rotate the three-branched road reaching the kingdom." I continued feeling my body heavier by the second.
'It… suddenly everything feels heavier!'
As the mana starts to become heavier like before, the air becomes thinner. It becomes hard to breathe, but even then I don't stop.
" "An oath shall be made." " Our voices overlapped for the second time.
As those words became like the precursors of the apocalypse, one of the speakers lit up. "-!" Da Vinci's voice came through it, however I wasn't able to hear it.
What I was able to truly hear was the following.
"Warning. Atmospheric mana levels reaching dangerous levels. Suspending summoning." The machine-like voice of before announced to my despair.
Slowly, the mana from the room went down, and with it the light became dimmer.
Even the voice was heard farther than before.
'No! I can't let it end now!'
Panicking, I flared up my magic circuits to the maximum, and manually I started to input both the atmospheric mana I was able to collect and my Od in the circle. Suddenly lightheaded thanks to that action, I felt something wet coming down my nose, but I ignored it. I waited for what seemed hours for her next words.
"Let it be declared here and now." She responded gleefully to the new surge of mana.
" "I'll follow thee." "
Our voices resonated yet again. However, unlike before my voice was a bit agitated thanks to the sudden expulsion of mana. Bit by bit I could feel my blood become hotter inside of me.
But I ignored that too.
The summoning was taking all my concentration. I couldn't falter now after all.
"For as long as you follow my fate." I said between heavy breaths.
"I'll follow yours." She responded to me.
With her words, the light of the room almost became pure white. And even though it was blinding, I never closed my eyes.
For some reason a great amount of wind picked up. So much that it was harder to be up. The poorly made hair tail undone itself between the gusts.
"-!" Da Vinci's voice came again and with it, the mana that the machine supplied earlier too.
Thanks to that I could take a breather. But even then I continued to pour everything into the circle.
"Now! Answer my call!" As I took my arm forward patterns became engraved on the back of my hand.
They looked familiar, however that didn't matter for now.
"Let chaos flood the world!" Her voice became happier at those words.
"And order to build it anew." I responded to her calmly.
"From the heaven above heaven!" Her sweet voice reached the peak.
"Attended by the great three words of power." I imitated her, raising my voice to the maximum.
Slowly a burning sensation was felt from the back of my hand.
However, like before.
I ignored it.
"Let me "Come forth from the ring of restraint-!" " Our shouts resonated one last time.
The light gathered again in the centre of the room for a final time, like it was waiting for something.
And waiting for something it was.
"Protector of Balance!"
As I finished the words, the light exploded with brilliance.
Seeing that I felt lightheaded.
'Did… did it fail?'
As that thought plagued my mind, the small motes of light in the surroundings moved gracefully like fireflies all around me. Then as it looked like they remembered their task, all of them converged.
I had to close my eyes for a moment from the blinding light.
Then when I was finally able to open my eyes…
A girl in front of me did the exact same, making our gazes end on the other.
A short black coloured spiky hair with small parts of blue adorned her. A white shirt with a red tie, black jean shorts, some extravagant stockings of what appeared to be a painting and a pair of knee high black boots clothed her. It should be noted that it didn't look like anything a servant should wear, but instead a delinquent high school girl.
But what was truly strange were her hands.
They were pitch black.
Although I wanted to ask her if she truly was my servant and about the color of her hands, unfortunately for me, my body couldn't keep up anymore, and fell to the ground.
The wind died down. The light almost completely too. Just a bit remained which let us see each other.
The only thing that remained there was her and me.
"Hehe." A childish giggle was the first thing that came through her. "It looks like you need a bit of my help. Servant of the Caster class, the great Salvador Dali asks you." As she approached she extended an open hand towards me. "Are you my master?"
Seeing that, I got closer to take her hand and answer her.
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However, before I could grab her hand Da Vinci came and attacked her.
"Fill. Fill. Fill…"
As Leonardo started the summoning process, Da Vinci overlooked him from the FATE control room.
"...For the moment, no response." She talked to herself while seeing the magical signatures of the room.
She can see how Leonardo is trying his best to summon a servant.
'...I hope you are successful.'
Although he used a different chant as before she didn't see a problem.
In the heat of passion some mistakes can be made after all!
'Still, from those mistakes maybe something can come out-'
" "-crown." "
Another voice appeared.
Hearing that she was astonished and happy for Leonardo as it means he was successful, however because she was distracted, she forgot for a moment.
Servants aren't summoned until the end of the chant.
As she approaches one of the monitors, the stats, skills and even class of the servant appears.
"Oh! Another caster servant! If I am lucky maybe another genius like myself will be summoned and my research will advance a lot fast- wait what?" She already was seeing how to progress with the help of another servant, however her words of happiness were short lived.
As the class of the servant was changing to one she never saw.
Or even heard about it.
"E-Eh? F-Foreigner?! This isn't recorded anywhere!" A certain panic suddenly engulfed her.
And it wasn't the only thing that surrounded her.
Suddenly a great amount of mana made itself known.
"H-How is this amount of mana even reaching here?!" Pushing a button she starts talking through the speaker. "Leonardo! Stop the chant right this instant!"
Finishing that she touches another button and the machine voice resounds.
"Warning. Atmospheric mana levels reaching dangerous levels. Suspending summoning."
'...It shouldn't even be possible for the mana from the summoning room to reach here!'
Some seconds later after activating the emergency system she was able to slightly feel what the mana reminded her.
The space.
Or better said something beyond space.
'This… something that isn't from this world is trying to enter here! We need to cut the link right this-!'
"Warning. Mana was found inputted manually. Continue action?" The voice interrupted her.
"What?"
Taking a look at Leonardo she can feel how desperate he is squeezing everything from himself to maintain the circle.
She sees that for a moment deciding if to permit it, but before long she puts on a bitter face.
"I am sorry Leonardo…" With bitter feelings she continues. "Cancel action."
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.
Or better said, tried to.
"Continuing action." The voice betrays her expectations.
"What?!" She almost shouts. "Cancel action!"
"Continuing action."
Instead of stopping everything, what it did was release the mana that the machine was holding, even though said crucial function wasn't even included in said action.
"Leonardo, stop the chant now!" She shouted into the microphone, however her voice didn't reach him.
Finally seeing how serious the situation was, she prepared herself to forcefully interrupt the summoning by entering the room Leonardo was in, but before she was even able to open the door, the machine-like voice spoke… with another intonation.
One more organic than before.
"...Please don't disturb us." A male dignified voice said to Da Vinci through the speaker which made her stop.
'Who…?!'
As it spoke, something akin to ink or paint came from the small crevices of the speaker.
Although startled, instead of opening the door for some reason that she doesn't know, Da Vinci spoke with it.
"Then tell me for what reason I shouldn't do that?" She said with clear aggression in her voice.
Silence permeated between the two of them, until it spoke again.
"...For your companion will be sad."
Hearing that made Da Vinci remember how all the masters and Olga felt when the summoning failed. Although it was saddening, she continued her words.
"Still… even if he becomes sad I need to go."
The voice didn't say anything but just as she was about the door it spoke.
"Alright… But let me tell you something before you go out there."
Of course she stopped to see what he was about to say, but after hearing those words Da Vinci's skin trembled.
"It's already too late."
As those words ended, the paint was sucked back to the speaker like it never appeared once, and Da Vinci rapidly passed the door frame.
The attack of Da Vinci was sudden, however the response to it was calm. Like it already was waiting for it.
The girl who called herself Salvador Dali moved her hands in front of where the attack came. And from her black fingers what came out was paint.
An absurd amount of it and in a grandiose diversity of colors.
Startled, I tried to get up, however this body, as always, had problems with basic movements in crucial moments.
A wall of paint was made between her and Da Vinci.
The moment the attack touched the wall, it exploded and the paint went everywhere, however the attack of Da Vinci disappeared as it didn't exist just some seconds ago.
"Who dares attack the magnificent Dali in front of its, soon to be, helper?!" The girl shouted angrily. "Identify yourself right this instant!"
Because of the tiredness that came from using all of my mana so suddenly, I was just now able to get up.
"Da Vinci what the-" I tried to ask her however she didn't even let me finish.
"Leonardo get away from her!" She shouted while preparing herself to attack again. "I don't know what she said to you, however she isn't the class you think she is!"
Hearing that, stupefied I turn towards the girl.
Her face became emotionless.
"Her class is Forei-" Da Vinci tried to speak, however, in a blink of an eye 'Caster' appeared before her, startling both myself and Da Vinci.
"Why don't you shut it for a second…? Or maybe you want Dali to do it for you?" The girl said while swinging her arm towards the real Caster.
Yet again, a lot of paint appeared from her fingers, however instead of stopping like before, they fell towards Da Vinci.
This happened many times. Da Vinci attacked too, however like before, Dali made a wall of paint and both attacks canceled each other.
The only thing that remained of that was paint that flew everywhere.
In that time I was able to finally recollect my thoughts.
'I summoned a Foreigner…? Why? And how?' as those thoughts filled my mind, a sensation on my leg made me stop.
I gazed down and what I found was an Ocelot looking towards me.
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"...who are you-?" I was just able to mumble before a groan from Da Vinci made me look back towards the fight.
She was able to dodge the majority of the last attack, however a bit of paint drenched her and…
And it did nothing.
For some reason I took my glance from Da Vinci towards Dali and…
She was smiling.
The moment I thought of using a command spell to stop the fight…
I saw Dali looking at me.
"...ha." She sighed, almost sounding disappointed. "Well, let's stop this now." Dali says regretfully as she walks leisurely towards me. "Dali felt it just now. You are weak." She says to the exhausted Da Vinci. "Dali doesn't think that the Da Vinci she respects so much is weak, so the only reason is that you don't have anyone helping you."
Da Vinci took a deep breath after hearing her words. Mana slowly powered her next attack even more than before. "Who says I am-!"
"You should stop too, unless you want to be unsummoned." She said, stupefying and confusing both Da Vinci and myself at the same time. "Dali's paint weakens the enemy and slowly absorbs their mana. Meaning that the more you use magecraft the more possibilities Dali has to win."
Hearing that Da Vinci rapidly shakes all the paint from her body, however her face paled right after looking at the state of the room, as…
Everywhere you looked it was filled with colorful paint.
In less than a breath, droplets of paint fell from the roof and landed back on Da Vinci, staining her with the accursed paint.
Seeing that, Dali smiled at her plight.
"This is one of Dali's noble phantasms. Everything that Dali's paint touches becomes her territory. She named it Black Atelier." The girl who called herself Salvador Dali said while turning towards me with a smile. "Such a beautiful and simple name, isn't it?"
The moment she finished speaking, the only thing I was able to think was:
'...What did I just summon?'
"...Next time you ask me something I'll decline you." Romani says next to me with his head down.
"I am truly sorry and thank you." I say my heartfelt feelings towards him, even though my face is low like his too.
"Please speak to Dali like that everytime you talk, okay?" Dali says while sitting next to me munching some biscuits she found from somewhere.
"...I'll go and prepare a bit of coffee." A messy looking Da Vinci says while getting up.
Right now the four of us and some of the familiars are found in the office of someone.
Whose you ask?
"Please bring me one too, Da Vinci." Olga says while never parting eye contact with us. "Not much sugar please."
Da Vinci nods and goes to where the coffee machine is. In the meantime…
"Now, Leonardo Er-Meyer, candidate for master- I mean, Master of 'Foreigner', and smuggler of Familiars, would you care to explain yourself?"
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Now I regret my decisions.
I should have waited until she was up to use FATE.
End of Chapter 3: Summoning
Hello everyone, it's been a long time since I last updated everyone right?
I am sorry, but university is unrelenting, especially university induced depression (The character development I had, eh?), so although I want to I can't write new chapters as much as I wanted (That and writer's block is one of the worst things to exist).
Can this justify not updating any of my fics? No.
Still, I'll make this short with just a small update for everyone: I am not dead, and I'll try my best to update the fanfics as much as I can (Yeah specifically Out of Time (I have a lot to talk about that one, but that goes when the next chapter goes live (Let's fucking hope I am able to update it this week))).
Let's just go to the reviews and finish this here author's note (It beyond 2 AM here, oh lord have mercy).
T-B-R: Hahaha yep, I already have a scene in my head when Tamamo and Shiro meet each other.
Morganllefae: Just as you said, although Leonardo will have some servants, the majority will go with Ritsuka! Also, thanks for the compliments!
Rinko Arisugawa: Thank you!
The Black Kraven: It looks like he did, so yeah!
Soluxy: Yep, I can't lie. He does feel like a passenger, but this is because we didn't start to get into the singularities, where he will show a bit more of worth than now.
Bighead98: Hello! I don't do story collabs, as with my schedule the story will never get out.
Illya Emiya: For the moment it continues!
That's all.
For the ones who waited, thank you.
For the new ones, I hope you don't like this fic because I fear that you'll be disappointed if I don't update it in the next month.
Unfortunately I can't make promises about updates (Like saying next week you'll have another chapter of X (Even though I just did it earlier)) because life is pretty hectic right now (I say that since two years ago) nevertheless, don't worry, as I want to finish these stories.
Hiogen, going out!