The quiet morning in Chaldea's library took an unusual turn as the Master of Masters sat cross-legged on a large, comfy armchair, animatedly gesturing as he recounted the tale of the ancient Keyblade War. Gathered before him were Nurse Rhyme, Jack the Ripper, and Jeanne Alter Lily, all seated on cushions, listening with varying levels of curiosity.
"It all began in a world bathed in light," the Master of Masters began, his voice taking on a dramatic, almost theatrical tone. "But as is often the case, humans—well, let's just call them people—couldn't resist reaching for more. They wanted to control the light, to possess it, and thus began a conflict so grand, so epic, it nearly destroyed everything."
Jack tilted her head. "So... they fought for shiny stuff? That's dumb."
"Jack!" Nurse Rhyme chided gently, her soft voice tinged with concern. "It's not just shiny stuff; it's the foundation of their world. Isn't that right, Mr. Master?"
"Rhyme, you're a star pupil already!" he exclaimed, pointing a gloved finger at her with approval. "The light wasn't just light. It was hope, dreams, the very essence of what made their world beautiful." He leaned forward, his hood casting dramatic shadows over his face. "But greed... greed is a terrible thing. It twisted hearts and minds, and before anyone could stop it, the Keyblade War erupted—a war between those who sought to protect the light and those who wanted to claim it for themselves."
Jeanne Alter Lily clutched her knees to her chest. "That's awful. Did anyone try to stop it?"
"Of course! That's where the Masters of the Keyblade come in," he said, puffing out his chest proudly. "They were tasked with safeguarding the light. But," his tone grew ominous, "even they weren't immune to the darkness lurking in their hearts. Betrayal, mistrust... it all spiraled out of control. In the end, the world was shattered into countless fragments. Worlds split apart, isolated, each holding a sliver of the light that once united them."
"Did the good guys win?" Jack asked bluntly, her tiny hands fiddling with a small dagger.
"Well," the Master of Masters said, tapping his chin, "define win. The war ended, sure, but at what cost? The original world was lost, and the Keyblade wielders? Most of them faded into legend, their sacrifices forgotten by time."
"That's so sad..." Jeanne Alter Lily murmured.
Nurse Rhyme hugged her storybook tightly. "But what about you, Mr. Master? You talk like you were there. Did you fight in the war?"
The Master of Masters chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, me? Nah. I'm more of a... behind-the-scenes kind of guy. You know, pulling strings, writing scripts, that sort of thing." He wagged a finger at them. "But enough about me! The real lesson here is that light and darkness are like two sides of the same coin. You can't have one without the other."
Jack squinted at him. "So... you're saying people are always going to fight over dumb stuff?"
"Pretty much!" he said cheerfully. "But hey, that's what makes it fun, right? The unpredictability of it all! The potential for redemption or ruin! It's all so... fascinating."
Jeanne Alter Lily frowned. "I don't think fighting over light or darkness is fun..."
The Master of Masters reached out and patted her on the head. "Good! Hold onto that thought, kiddo. Maybe you'll be the one to break the cycle someday." He leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees as he continued weaving his tale. "Now, let me tell you about the Foretellers," he said, his tone suddenly more conspiratorial, drawing Nurse Rhyme, Jack, and Jeanne Alter Lily closer. "They were a group of incredibly talented Keyblade wielders, handpicked by a certain... mysterious Lost Master." His eyes, hidden beneath his hood, gleamed with mischief. "This Master—let's call him... oh, I don't know, the Craziest Teacher of All Time—had a grand vision. He wanted to teach these apprentices to control their own destiny, to guide the future, and spread the Keyblade legacy to generations yet to come."
"Wow," Nurse Rhyme whispered, her soft voice filled with wonder. "That sounds so noble. Did he succeed?"
The Master of Masters waved a gloved hand dismissively. "Ehh, noble, sure. But noble plans often go awry, don't they? The Foretellers, bless their hearts, were given tasks. Secret tasks. And oh boy, did those tasks sow the seeds of conflict."
Jack tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Conflict? Did they fight?"
"Well, you see, each of them had their own ideals, their own way of interpreting the Master's words," he explained, clasping his hands together. "And when you give five brilliant students wildly different instructions, it's like... handing out five bombs with really long fuses. Sooner or later..." He mimicked an explosion with his hands. "Boom! Another Keyblade War."
Jeanne Alter Lily frowned, her expression conflicted. "Why would the Master do that? Was he trying to cause a war?"
The Master of Masters leaned back, tapping his chin. "Good question, kiddo. Was he? Or was he trying to prevent something worse? Maybe he was testing them. Maybe he was testing... fate itself." His voice dripped with mystery as he shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? Crazy teachers can be hard to figure out."
"But didn't the Master feel bad about it?" Rhyme asked earnestly, clutching her storybook tightly.
"Feel bad? Hah!" The Master of Masters laughed, standing up dramatically and pacing in front of the group. "I bet he laughed it off! Said something like, 'Oh well, lesson learned!' and moved on to the next big idea. People like that tend to see the big picture, not the tiny details—like, you know, lives."
Jack furrowed her brow. "He sounds mean."
"Or brilliant," the Master countered with a grin. "It's all about perspective, isn't it? Anyway, the Foretellers may have had their falling-out, but their legacy lives on. And isn't that what really matters?"
The trio exchanged glances, unsure whether to admire or resent this enigmatic Lost Master. Jeanne Alter Lily raised a hand hesitantly. "Um... do you know this Master? You talk about him like you met him."
The Master of Masters froze for a moment. "Oh, me? Nah, just a fan of ancient history, that's all!" He winked under his hood. "But if I had met him, I'd probably say something like, 'Dude, maybe dial it back a notch with the whole 'destiny' thing.'"
The young Servants stared at him, unconvinced, as he dramatically threw his arms behind his head and began humming a familiar tune. Despite their skepticism, none of them could deny the fascination his tale evoked—or the nagging feeling that this so-called Crazy Teacher was closer than he let on. He leaned back casually, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Nurse Rhyme, Jack the Ripper, and Jeanne Alter Lily, who all regarded him with suspicious curiosity. With a dramatic flair, he finally broke the silence.
"May your heart be your guiding key," he said, his voice dripping with cryptic intent.
Jeanne Alter Lily furrowed her brows, crossing her arms. "What does that even mean?" she asked.
The Master of Masters shrugged, his hands flopping limply to his sides. "Beats me," he admitted with a chuckle. "I thought it sounded kinda catchy, though."
The three Servants stared at him.
"You're serious?" Jeanne Alter Lily asked incredulously.
"Dead serious," he replied, raising a hand as if swearing an oath. "Well, mostly. Okay, sort of. Look, an old friend taught it to me. I figured I'd keep it alive—y'know, tradition and all that."
Their eyes lit up with curiosity at his words. Nurse Rhyme tilted her head, her soft voice cutting through the room. "Old friend? Who was it?"
Jack immediately perked up, leaning forward. "Yeah, who?"
"Who?" Jeanne Alter Lily joined in.
The Master of Masters smirked mischievously, a chuckle slipping from his lips. "Sorry, kiddos," he teased, standing up and stretching his arms lazily over his head. "That mystery's for another day."
Jeanne Alter Lily let out a groan. "You can't just say something like that and not explain!"
"Sure I can. I just did," he retorted, shooting her a wink. "But don't worry—I'll sprinkle more breadcrumbs for you someday. Keeps life interesting." As he walked to the door, his hands folded behind his back, he paused just before stepping out. Glancing over his shoulder, he added in a surprisingly sincere tone. "Here's a freebie for now. Keep questioning, keep doubting, and never stop seeking your own truth. The world's full of people who think they've got all the answers—but trust me, the real fun starts when you realize there's always more to learn."
Jeanne Alter Lily blinked. "Was that... actual advice?"
"Why not both?" the Master of Masters said with a grin, before stepping out with a playful wave.
The trio watched him go, a moment of silence settling between them before Jack broke it. "He's so weird."