Hi everybody and welcome back to the beginning of chapter 20 of the story and also a very happy and wishful beggining of a New Year! Hope we all enjoyed this festive season well. Now this will be the first chapter of our Second Singularity, Septem! (cricket noises)

And with that said let's start it!

DISCLAIMER: All the Nasuverse characters belong to Nasu and are property of Type-Moon, with the exception of the OC's that belong to me, the author.


Once again, the white haired boy stood on the middle of the vast green hills and blue sky. He was having the same dream the night before they went to the First Singularity. The blue sky was the same as the first time he was there. Nothing seemed to have changed. And by that, it meant that even the painter was there, sitting on the same chair and continuing his activity. Peko altough far from the mysterious painter, was now a bit closer to him than the other time he had this dream. The painting however, still could not be seen by Peko. But what all of this could mean? Nor Nala nor Ritsuka and Mash were present in it. Only Peko himself and this person he didn't know who it was.

Like the other time before, Peko walked in the painter's direction. Every step the boy made, he would feel his body getting heavier and heavier as gravity was pushing him to the underground. And the darkness started to appear again. The blue sky was now being covered by a dark mantle and the green hills were being painted of a black tone. Peko started to make an effort to take a step now, sensing his feet being swallowed by the dark mud.

Seeing the peril he was in, Peko tried to summon his sword but to no avail. It didn't answered his calling. With the air running low on his lungs and the skin already sweating, Peko was now some good meters away from the painter, being able to see his back. He had dark spiky hair, like Peko's but larger and the painter himself was wearing a priest's clothing with a red veil attached around his waist. And that was all Peko was seeing of the painter. Only his back for now. The front of his body and face, would be delayed for another time, as the darkness was covering Peko's entire body now.

He tried to reach out for the man, his arm stretching out in a effort to try and touch his shoulder. It was getting closer.

Just, a little more...


Feeling a whole weight coming out of him, Peko opened his eyes and gasped heavily, taking a large amount of air in, no more feeling suffocated by the darkness of his dream. He took his whole back off from the bed, allowing his body to be now in a sitting position.

The lights of his bedroom were turned off. Despite that, the boy still had visibility of the room. "That dream again. Who was that person?" Peko asked to himself. Looks like it would remain a mystery for a little longer. Nala's bed was empty, indicating that his sister had already woke up and left their bedroom. Spotting the plate of cookies on top of the desk that stood on front of the two siblings bed, Peko got up from his bed and went to eat his cookies.

He saw that there was a little paper on it with a message. It was written:

'Just to prove that I didn't took the chance and ate your cookies as well you sleepy head :P'

Peko smiled. Just like he had promised three days ago, Peko showed his new magic ability, the ball of light, to Nala right before they went to sleep. It took some emberassing long seconds to do the trick but he eventually nailed it. Nala was quite impressed and complimented him at the beggining, before teasing him a little by saying that a normal lamp could do the same. But Peko knew that Nala actually felt happy for him as her brother. Soon Peko could catch up to her and manage how to fight with his new sword.

Right now the boy had many questions. Did he already had this sword? Who gave it to him? Who was he? Did his and Nala relationship was always like that? Where and who was their father? What was his and Nala's life before encountering Ritsuka, Mash and the rest of Chaldea? Many questions that didn't seem to have a visable answer at the time. All that Peko knew, is that he and Nala were siblings who were searching for their father. And that was it. No more memories of his past could be revealed. It seriously frustrated him a bit.

But with the help of Ritsuka, Mash and Chaldea, they might find those answers along the journey. Or so Peko hoped for.

Either way, he had to meet the others. Today they would go to their second mission. The Second Singularity. To not be as difficult or a near train-wreck like the first was, Nala trained alongside Mash in a training facility that Chaldea had inside here. Peko also did a bit of training with his sword, hoping that he would be more able to fight this time around.

Eventualy the group took these days to train and heal their wounds sustained in the First Singularity, even thou Peko didn't suffered any. And with enough preparation now, they were all ready for the next mission.

So Peko decided to hurry up. He changed to his clothes that had been beautifully fixed by Da Vinci, wich lead to the genious inventor saying how genious she was when she arranged them, made his bed and quickly exited the room, heading torwards the cafe room since they would meet there every morning now.


"So you call those things Dango?" Nala was speaking with Ritsuka as she picked a strawberry with a fork and eat it. The young girl was sitting right next to him. The two were talking and discussing about food.

"Yeah. They're really sweet. You'd like it." Ritsuka replied as he took a bite from his own breakfast.

"People really do those kind of sweets?" Mash asked him, sitting to Ritsuka's left side.

"In all shapes and colors." Ritsuka smiled to the shielder. He stared at the small plate with blueberries in front of him. They were for Peko but he was taking a while to show up. He didn't thought of Peko to be such a sleeper. And as Ritsuka was thinking of that, Peko himself appeard on the cafeteria.

"Morning everyone!" He told to the three on the table. Or rather, four.

"Fou, fou." The little creature, Fou, was the first to greet him in his own way.

"Hi Peko. I was already thinking you would spend the whole day sleeping. And on such important day no less!" Nala greeted her brother as well as tease him for a bit, showing her smirk as Peko took a seat in front of her.

"At least it means I've been sleeping well. Also..." Peko smiled as he saw the plate in front of him. "I would be a fool if I'd lose the opportunity of eating these blueberries." His smile grew a bit on seeing the tiny blue fruits.

"Meh! Blueberries are midiocre and that's why no one talks about them. Strawberries is the real deal." Nala took a bite of one of the strawberries, enjoying the sweet taste in her mouth.

"Hum, in my honest opinion strawberries are actually overrated. People tend to put it in almost everything, until a person gets tired of eating that same thing over and over again. Blueberries on the other hand should deserve more recognition." Peko explained to his sister, starting a small squabble with no intention.

"You're wrong!" Nala slammed her hands on the table, caughting Ritsuka by surprise and almost choke on his own food. "Strawberries are definetly better!"

Peko wouldn't let Nala win this argument. He would prove to his sister that blueberries were superior. "No they're not! Blueberries are way better!"

"Strawberries!"

"Blueberries!"

"Strawberries!"

"Blueberries!"

As the two siblings argued, Mash was helping Ritsuka to cough off the food that had been stuck on his throat. "C'mon Senpai! You will be okay!"

"Strawberries!"

"Blueberries!"

"Straw-"

"Hey, could you please stop that?" Dr. Romani entered the cafeteria with some nervousness on his voice. "This whole fuss could be heard on the whole hallway." He asked for Peko and Nala calm down.

"Sorry Doc."

"Sorry Doc."

The two apologized with some regret on their faces.

Ritsuka in the meantime managed to spit out the food from his throat, desperatly coughing and breathing for some air as Mash touched him in the back.

"Was the food terrible Ritsuka?" Romani asked, trying to not find this situation somewhat funny.

"Oh no no." Ritsuka stabilized his breath. "On the contrary it was pretty great."

"Yeah. I didn't knew you had some cooking capabilities Doctor." Mash comment on Romani's cooking skills made him blush a bit.

"Ohohohoh. It was just some basic stuff. Not really that special. Also when you live alone for some years you need to start learning on how to cook for yourself right?" Romani tried to avoid everyone's eyes, looking at the ceilling instead.

"But hey! Which one do you guys think is better? Strawberries or blueberries?" Nala asked to Ritsuka, Mash and Romani, hoping to end the debate with a victory for her.

"Hummmmmm. I think both are great." Ritsuka was the first one to respond, causing shock on Nala.

"I never got to eat those two quite much but I also agree that they are equally good." Mash sided with Ritsuka's opinion.

"Both are good for me." Romani also decided to stay neutral, much to Nala's discontent.

"Guess we'll never have a true ending to this then." Peko sigh, willing to stay at a stalemate for now.

"What?! No! The purpose of existing two sides is to chose one! You can't just decide to not take one! It defeats the whole purpose of it!" Nala protested angrily, frustrated that her debate with Peko ended in a draw.

"Do you two at least have something you like in common?" Ritsuka wanted to see if the twins similarities were more than just the hair color, thinking that siblings had many mutual opinions despite never having a sibling.

"Hmmmmm." Peko tried to think for a bit. "If there is, I'm not being able to remember. What about you sis?" He asked to Nala who close her eyes and rubbed her head.

"Nope. No idea." She said.

"Not even a favourite animal? Try to remember it." Romani motivated the two kids to jog their memories. "L-like a wild animal of sorts!"

Peko and Nala went deep in their own minds to try and find what their favourite animal was, if even they had a favourite animal to start. It took some seconds until sparks flickered inside their brains and the two managed to remember the answer.

"Monkey!"

"Monkey!"

The two kids shouted in unison, somewhat happy that they shared the same liking.

"Aha! Not a bad animal to have as a favourite at all." Romani smiled in joy, happy to have restored a tiny fragment of Peko and Nala's memories even if it wasn't the most important one.

"Really? That's kinda weird." Ritsuka laughed a bit. "I mean I also like monkeys but I don't think I would have them as my favourite animal."

"They're funny and cool! How can you nkt have it as your favourite?" Nala explained to the master of humanity.

"And they can also have the capability to socialize with us. What's your favourite animal then Ritsuka?" Peko asked to his friend.

"A raccoon of course! They are cute, fluffy and funny. Best animal to have as a favourite!" Ritsuka shared his choice to the rest of the group.

"Hphm. That would explain the amount of raccoon videos on your phone." Romani said, putting a thumb under his chin.

Ritsuka almost felled off the chair. "H-How did you know?!"

"Hahahaha. Just joking Ritsuka! Of course I didn't spy your phone. Rest easy." Romani laughed in seeing Ritsuka falling for his trap. He was proud of himself for coming with that in a short amount of time. He then realized something "Oh and what about you Mash? Do you have any favourite animal?" He asked to the shielder.

"!!!" Mash who until now was only watching the conversation didn't expect to be asked to participate in it. She didn't even had exaclty a favourite animal at the moment. "Hum...well I..." Mash blushed a bit shyly as she noticed everyone was now looking at her, waiting for her response. What she would even say now? Thankfully for Mash, she quickly got notice of someone who was also in the cafeteria at the time right besides her.

"I..I think Fou is my favourite animal." She pointed to the small creature that was resting on the top of the table. "I mean he's really cute don't you think? And also Chaldea's mascout so to speak."

"Now that you say that..." Nala walked torwards Mash and grabbed Fou. "He is indeed adorable."

"Fou!" Nala's words seemed to have brought some energy to the little fur animal.

"Sorry for what I was saying earlier Fou. You are everyone's favourite animal." The girl patted Fou's body wich the creature seemed to like.

"Then I can agree with you on something else sis." Peko also approached Fou to pat him.

"A hand of affection coming right out for Fou!" Ritsuka went along and pat the animal as well.

"Hey now. He may die if you give him that much affection." Romani giggled.

"It doesn't sound like a bad way to die. I wouldn't mind honestly." Mash said to the doctor.

As the group was occupied with Fou's cuteness, they didn't noticed Da Vinci arriving to the cafeteria. The genious inventor also took a bit of her time in appreciating the scenario in front of her, before revealing herself to the rest. "Everybody, attention please."

"Hi Da Vinci!" Ritsuka greeted her. "What do you want to say?" He asked her.

"The preparations for the Rayshift are almost done. Be at the control room in ten minutes." She announced. "I hope you are all ready this time. Including you, Peko." She blinked to the boy.

This time, they were also counting with his involvement. He had proven to be able to support amd be another important member to the Rayshift group. And unlike the first time, Peko now had a weapon and some spells under his sleeve. And it wasn't only him that was better prepared. All the other three also make sure to come to their second mission more well prepared in order to not become an almost disaster as it was in the first Singularity. Now they could somewhat expect what awaited them.

"Understood Da Vinci-san!" Peko adopted a soldier posture.

"Remember that just because you have a sword now doesn't mean you can fight literally everyone." Nala told him.

"And?" Peko looked at his sister, expecting her to say something else.

"And that also applies to me..." Nala said in a low tone and with some anguish. She was saying to Peko to not get cocky but she was the one who got captured on their first Singularity due to her own cockiness. So deep down, Nala knew she wasn't exaclty the best person to be saying that to Peko.

"Hey cheer up sis. Whatever happened back in France happened. Besides we still managed to do the mission either way." Peko tried to cheer her sister up. "Let's make sure this time we can do the same but better."

"That's the way Peko." Romani told the boy. "The important is always to make out alive with the grail. Of course that I also wish it to go better this time but I also want to see you all coming back here alive and well, understood?"

"Ay ay doc. I don't plan in dying that soon." Ritsuka said with certainty.

"Please don't jinx it Senpai." Mash told him.

"Anyway you better come with me to the control room in order to give the final touches Romani." Da Vinci said to the doctor, requesting his presence. She then stared at the others. "All of you get prepared. See you later." Da Vinci turned around to walk away from the cafeteria.

"Wait Da Vinci-san!" Nala stopped the italian inventor from exiting the room. "Can I ask you something?"

"Oh? Sure. What is it Nala?" Da Vinci gladfully accepted to hear what was Nala's question.

"What is better? Strawberries or blueberries?" The girl asked to the grown woman.

"...Both suck."

"REALLY?!"


Now inside the control room, the group was formed and prepared to embark on their new mission.

"This time the grail is located in 1st century Europe. Wich means the time period is set in Ancient Rome, during the golden days of it's empire."

"Is Rome a country?" Peko asked, not remembering of a country that existed with such name.

"It never was seen as one. And it doesn't exist in the present time." Romani informed him. "However, it's main geographic location is nowdays that of the country known as Italy."

"So we are going to Da Vinci's country? That's cool!" Nala said a bit enthusiastically. She knew that they shouldn't treat their mission as an adventure but the fact of going to a place she heard about a lot in the past few weeks was very intriguing.

"You are both correct and wrong Nala." Da Vinci told the girl. "You are indeed visiting the location of my country, but a lot of centuries earlier before being what it is today and from I even being born."

"Seriously? Then how old are you Da Vinci?" Nala couldn't understand that despite Da Vinci being from Italy, neither her or the country were a thing to time location they where going in.

"It's rude to ask a lady how old she is." Da Vinci pinched Nala's cheek. "But if I tell you from what time period I am and the current year I believe you can do the math yourself."

"That's a bummer. I'd like to meet the normal version of you and see what inspired you to be such a genius." Ritsuka said, putting his hands behind his head. "Guess that will have to wait."

"Probably some huge pervert that liked to spy on women." Romani said to the side, trying to not caught Da Vinci's attention.

"Hey! I heard that!" Da Vinci shouted to Romani. "And no I wouldn't spend my time doing such things. The office is where I'd generally spend my time. Creations and inventions were my hobbies. Of course my mind couldn't have time to think of such trivialities. But I would be lying if I said I wouldn't like going to Rome and meet an emperor. Perhaps I'll join."

"Really? You will Da Vinci-san?" Mash smiled happily as well as the rest of the group.

"No. Sorry but you can't." Romani started to push Da Vinci out of the room. "You have analysis to make in the meantime."

A collective sorrow and dissapointment could be seen on the faces of the Chaldea group as they saw Romani push Da Vinci away.

"That was rude of you Doctor." Mash said with dissaproval.

"Really evil." Peko said next.

"Lame." Ritsuka provoked him.

"Party pooper." Nala said loud and clear.

"You guys know she still wouldn't join in the end right?!" Romani screamed, feeling wronged by having all four of them critizing his action. But now wasn't tome for that. "Anyway, we should proceed now. The Rayshift will start in a short time. Find the grail and obtain it as it will resolve the Singularity. But most importantly, come back safe. We'll be dropping you near the heart of the empire, the city of the same name, Rome. Make sure to also find servants that can become allies like you did in France. Ready?"

"Wait Doctor!" Mash raised her hand. "About that of ally servants, does Chaldea have a system or method that can destinguish allied servants from hostile ones? Also in hopes of avoiding unnecessary battles." Mash question was a very good one to ask.

"Hmm. I too would like to know. Making allies and avoiding enemies would spare very much of our time." Ritsuka said to Romani.

"Does it have anything like that Doc?" Peko asked Romani.

The doctor sighed. "I hate to say it but no. Even Sheba and Trismegistus don't have an ability like that. I'm sorry but that is something you'll have to find out by yourselves."

"That will be difficult. What if one of the servants is just pretending to be a nice person?" Nala said to the rest. "It's not like anyone bad will be wearing some evil outfit with a plate saying 'BAD GUY'"

"You are right. Appearances can illude people. So we will need to pay attention with their behaviour even if it seems misleading." Peko told to his sister.

"Well, what the problem may be, we will make sure to get past through it." Ritsuka put both arms over Nala and Peko's shoulders. "As long as we are a team we can make it." He smiled to the two who then smiled back at him.

"Sure Ritsuka!" Peko exclaimed.

"I'll do my very best!" Nala responded too.

Ritsuka turned his head around. "Don't you also think that Mash?"

Seeing the positivety from her master, Mash couldn't help but to agree as well. "That's right master." She went next to the trio. "Having to fight or not, we will be coming back with the grail."

Romani just showed a little smirk. "Why do you behave like a protagonist from a shounen manga Fujimaru?"

"Hum, was that a compliment or an insult?" Ritsuka frowned in doubt.

"It depends of the manga." Romani replied. "I see that you are all ready."

"Yes we are." Ritsuka said with a lack of fear or doubt, smiling alongside everyone else.

"Then let's commence the Rayshift!" Romani announced. "Everyone to your positions!"

"Iniciating operation Rayshift...

Starting in 3...2..1..."


"Rayshift successful." Mash looked to the surroundings. "And no sign of hostility nearby. A good start."

"Hmmmm." Nala looked a bit dissapointed.

"Why the long face sis?" Peko asked her.

"I expected that the scenario would look different, but it looks exactly the same as France. And Rome is supposed to be older right? It's not like I don't like of vast green hills and all, it's just looks a bit samey."

"Well you're not wrong at all." Peko stared to the sky. "Even that big ring is still there."

"The doctor already told us that thing will appear in every Singularity, so it's not like we can do something about it for now." Mash told the two kids.

"Then I guess you still haven't seen this." Ritsuka said while observing something on top of a hill. "Over here!" He called.

As the rest went to him, they all saw just a little further from the spot they where, a big ancient gate made of bricks being guarded by a soldier. Behind them there was a lot of people and other seemingly old buildings. The people looked to be trading stuff to each other as they walked on a well paved ground. The road to the entrance was decorated with tall white columns from each side as well as two statues on the big gate.

"Forget what I said. This is already different from France." Nala spoked while watching in awe.

"And all that I could see of this was in history books." Ritsuka commented, never expecting that months from now, he would be able to visit the old Roman Empire himself in a time travel sort of way. "So is this..."

"Yes. We are just on the doorstep of Rome itself." Mash replied. "It is indeed beautiful."

"Even the people's clothing is different from the one's we saw in the previous Singularity. It would make kinda sense since this is centuries before." Peko paid attention to the soldier standing in front of the gate. "He appears to be monitoring the people who enter the city." The boy took a look at himself. "Do you think we can nake through him with our current clothes?"

Mash put her hand in front of her mouth. "You're right. Our outfits would stand out very much. The soldier would definetly start to question us." She looked to both the left side and right side of the gate. "And there are other soldiers around making sure no one enters Rome without being through the main gate."

"Then our only option is...to steal someone's clothes." Nala said, realistically being the only way to get past the guard.

"The road is too big and in the open however. Also there are many people passing by. We'd clearly be noticed if trying to lure someone out of the road." Ritsuka told, revealing that Nala's suggestion had flaws.

"Then what will we- Oh." Nala realized something as she was about to lament and started to laugh. "I think we are truly idiots."

"What's so funny Nala?" Ritsuka asked her.

"Our magic abilities." Nala looked at her brother. "Peko, I think you could use that magic light ball of yours to disperse the guard, can you?"

"Oh that's right!" Peko slappes his own forhead. "How could I've forgot about it- what?! Are you serious now?!" The boy exclaimed as he saw two other soldier join the first one at the gate.

"Crap! Now there's three of them!" Nala said in revolt. "There goes the plan."

"Does this mean we will have to fight?" Ritsuka asked to the rest. "I don't think we could convince them with talking."

Mash looked displeased at the idea. "Hmm, I said I didn't want to engage in useless fights but..." She then felt a movement on her back. "What'a this?"

Mash was feeling that her back was being touched by something fluffy and with a lot of fur. She realized that the answer couldn't been any other thing.

"Fou!" The small creature appeard behind the shielder's back, much to the surprise of everyone.

"Did Fou went to us while hidding again?" Peko found it weird how this was already the second time in a row that Fou had sneaked behind Mash to go to another Singularity with them.

"Seems like it. But it's okay. He is cute." Nala said with a small smile in seeing Fou joining them to the mission.

"I also guess it's something we can't do nothing about." Ritsuka giggled. "Welcome to the team again Fou."

"Fu!" The animal jumped a bit.

"Hmmmmm." Mash was thinking on something now that Fou had appeard. "Master, Peko, Nala. I think Fou coming here turned the things a bit easier for us." She smiled. "We can use Fou to distract one of the guards!"

Ritsuka put his hands together. "Oh! Nice thinking Mash! And Peko can use his light ball to distract the other one!"

"But there still will be one remaining." Peko said despite the 'eureka' moment of Mash and Ritsuka. "How will we deal with him?"

"That's easy Peko." Nala said with a smug. "I have a great plan actually."

"How great?" Peko doubted.

"One that involves me and you so of course it will be great." Nala continued to keep her smug.

"Huh? What do you mean with 'me and you'?"


"Phew! This is getting hot." One of the three soldiers said, putting his arm above his face while looking to the sun. "How long did the temperatures didn't stop raising?"

"I guess for about a week now." The second soldier replied. "Wish I could be on the emperor's pool now. It must be refreshing."

"You two need to stay focus on your job! The emperor trusted this duty to us and we shall carry out with big devotion." The third one told the other two soldier.

"Yeah,yeah I know. Long live the emperor and all." The first one said bored. "But damn wouldn't you say that-huh?" Feeling something touch his legs, the soldier looked down to caught spot of a small fur creature sitting right next to him. A creature that he never had seen before.

"Fou fou."

"W-what?" The soldier tought he was seeing this. He had seen such creatures as lions and bears but never one like this before. "I-is this some kind of cat or-GAAAAH!!!" The man screamed and let go off his shield as the small animal bite him in the feet. "You damn..!" The angry soldier tried to kick the creature, only for it to go away. The reaction of the present public was of laughter.

"Grr! Come back here you nightmarish creature!" The soldier abandoned his position and went after the animal.

"Hey you are a soldier of the emperor! Do not abandon your position like that!" The third soldier screamed to the first one but the running soldier didn't seemed to care or have heard. The second soldier on the other hand couldn't stop laughing.

"What a moron ahahaha!" As he was laughing, a flying small object passed in front of him, calling his attention. "Oh? What's this?" He said curiously as he was about to touch the small espherical object. The ball of light then slowly backed off from the soldier's hand and was starting to get away, as if it was calling him to follow or catch it. The curiosity got the best of him.

"H-hey." He told to the third soldier. "I have something to do. I'll be right back!" And he went away chasing afted the flying ball as it went more inside of the city.

"Damn it you two!" The third soldier now left alone exclaimed in anger. "Why do I-"

"Yo sir! We are waiting here!"

JJBA: Battle Tendency OST- Day Job

Looking at who was calling him, the soldier saw two white haired kids standing in front of him with a very snobbish expressions on their faces. The clothes they were using were definetly something he had neved seen before, not even of people from distant lands.

"Is this the way the main city of the empire works? Pff what a sham! I was expecting better honestly." The girl said arrogantly to the soldier. "Now be fast and let us in. Me and my brother had been standing on this infernal sun for far too long." She demanded to the soldier.

"Hm hm. What she said." The boy behind her said, equally as arrogant as his sister."Dang it Nala! I bet no one in this time would approach an agent of authority with a Yo"

The soldier in front of them frowned. "Who the hell are you kids? And what are those clothes you're wearing?" The soldier questioned the two kids.

"Pfha! Hahaha!" The girl started to laugh annoyingly. "Did you heard that brother? This absolute clown doesn't know who we are." She pointed to the soldied mockingly.

The boy shrugged. "It seems education was never a concept in his brain." He shaked his head in disdain.

"Oh is it really?!" The soldier smiled frustrated. "Then please enlighten me of your importance."

"Hm, alright then you filthy peasent." The girl brushed aside her hair. "First things first, this clothes are actually very expensive and have a huge importance to the land where I come from. Idiots like you would never understand."

"Oh yeah? Wich land are you from then? Is it even part of the empire?" The soldier asked seriously.

"A land that every important person knows about. Even the emperor. The kingd-" Realizing what she was about to say, the girl put an hand over her mouth. "Crap! At this time there was no kingdoms in Europe, was it? It would be good to name a land that exists in this time and age so that what I'm saying has more credibility." She looked at her brother trying to hide her own nervousism. "Peko, some help please!"

Seeing that Nala was driving herself into a corner, Peko had to try and get a convincing lie from his head. "What my sister is trying to say is that we come from the land of...the land of...G..." "Damn it! Wich land starts with a G?"

"I'm waiting." The soldied corssed his arms, seeing how these two kids were failing miserably to try and fool him.

"G..G..Ge.." Peko was now looking at everything around except the soldier in front of him. "Ge..Ge..Ger..Germ-GERMANY!" Peko almost yelled. "Me and my sister come from the land of Germany." Peko quickly tried to went back to his snobbish posture.

Nala did the same. "Yeah! We've come from there and everyone with a brain knows that Germany obviously exists." She smugged.

"Do you two actually meant Germania?" The soldier raised on of his eyebrows.

Peko and Nala looked at each other for some seconds.

"Yeah of course you idiot!"

"What did you think we were saying huh?"

The two siblings said harshly to the soldier.

Meanwhile, in some bushes nearby, Ritsuka and Mash were hiding and observing the situation.

"Is Nala's plan working Mash?" Ritsuka asked as he painfully took a tiny stick from his back.

"Hum...kinda." Mash said as she peeked a bit. "As longs as they stay like this we will be able to sneak inside the city."

"Yeah. And then change that guard's attention to us so that Peko and Nala can also enter while we are chased for a bit inside the city." Ritsuka said. "Once together, we should start seeking clues for the grail. I mean, it must be here I hope."

Back to Peko and Nala, the two kids were still wasting time with the soldier at the front.

"So is your father an important political or figure in Germania. Is that what you are trying to say?" He asked to the two kids.

"Of course! Our dad is a very important figure there and is very well liked by the emperor. He sent us here earlier because of stuff but will also arrive to Rome today altough a bit later." Nala told him. "Do you understand fool? Our father has bussiness with the emperor and you are denying entrance of his two children to the city."

"Yep. The emperor would be furious if he knows about this." Peko smugged alongside Nala.

"Ok. Sorry for trying to disturb you then. You may enter." The soldier bowed in a apology.

"Hphm! Finally." Nala said. "Hell! My plan actually worked! I must be a genious of deception!" On the inside, Nala was smiling and celebrating like there was no tomorrow. "Wait! But now who will we bring Ritsuka and Mash inside too?"

"Brother..." Nala called Peko.

"Hm? What is it?" He askes her.

Nala slowly turned her body around and gave the thumbs up. "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"

Peko tried to hide his smile and gave a thumbs up. "Yay! Celebration!...for later. Also thank god for that. I wouldn't able to keep the light ball on for much longer and at such distance. Fou also must be tired of running around."

"But just one more thing." The soldier called the two siblings. "What's your father's name? For when I know he arrives here."

"Julius Ceaser duh." Nala said without thinking.

"NALA NO!" Peko silently screamed to himself.

"The great Julius Ceaser has been dead and in heaven for a long time now. What you're saying proves the lies in your words brat!" The soldier speaked agressively.

"So what? Great and remarkable people tend to have their names being used by others in the future due to how influential they were, right?" Nala tried to explain, seeing that she accidentaly messed up.

"Enough! I won't support anymore of your nonsense! Using the name of the great Julius Ceaser as a way to mock and fool others is the utmost disrespectful and disgusting crime! Leave now or be imprisoned!" The soldied demanded with anger.

Peko however, tried to still save the situation. "No! Please let us in!" He had dropped all his snobbish act. "The sun has been affecting her brain! She isn't thinking clearly!"

"I do not care! It's evident you are trying to enter the city without paying first! And aren't clearly from here either! Are you an enemy?!" The soldier took out his sword.

"Crap! Or cover has been blowed!" Peko saw that the plan that was nearing to success had completely fail.

"Do you really want to pick up a fight with two kids?" Nala said as she slowly raised her arm, ready to summon her sword.

"Do we really have to?" Peko asked to his sister as he also prepared to fight.

"We have no choice." Nala told him.

"Senpai hurry!" Mash shouted to Ritsuka. "The plan has failed. It seems we will have to fight!" She came out of the bushes and runned torwards the gate.

"Right behind you!" Ritsuka said as he also came out of the bushes. "Wait!" He screamed to the guard at the entrance.

"More of them?!" The soldier exclaimed, fearing that Rome was beggining to get under attacked and he didn't know. "I'll sound the alarm!"

"No!" Peko exclaimed. Chaos was something he and his group didn't want to cause when arriving here.

Nala quickly summoned her sword. There was only one way to stop the soldier from rinnging the alarm. "That's it! I-"

"What's happening here?"

An old voice full of authority sounded from behind the guard, getting his attention.

"Does the commoners been bothering you?" A tall old man with a dirty golden beard and curly silver hair talked behind the soldier. He brought in his shoulder a brown bag full of scrolls and was wearing a white and red tunic with a black toga that had yellow patterns on it. He clearly looked like someone in a position way above of the soldier. His deep green eyes with a serene look.

"S-senator! This two kids and their accomplices were trying to trespass the gate and invade Rome! I believe this is all a distraction for the rest of their army to attack us!" The soldier tried to explain to the older man who put his hands behind hia back and patiently waited for the soldier to end only to release a good laugh.

"You're saying two kids would try to orchestrate the fall of Rome? Please man, go and take some rest. The work has clearly been exhausting you." The old senator advised him. "Altough I do admit that their uniforms seem rather peculiar." He then noticed Nala's sword and Mash's shield. "Perhaps, peculiar is what I would describe these individuals whole appearence."

"This man talks very calmly and cordially." Mash said to the group. "Do you think we should trust him?"

"As long as he let's us inside the city." Ritsuka whispered back to the shielder.

"Say. You are not from here nor from any other lands of the empire, do I stand correct?" The old man asked them with a gentle smile. "If so, then what brings you all here to the heart of the Roman Empire?"

"I think, it's something a bit difficult to explain." Ritsuka rubbed his head. "I don't know if you would understand mister."

Taking some seconds of good looking at the group of strangers, the older man closed his eyes. "I see. I may ponder that you are also not from this time and that you are here for just some mere reasons. If so, then I as the supreme senator of Rome and it's capital, give you the absolute permission to enter it." He respectfully gestured to the Chaldea group.

"Wow! Thanks!" Peko smiled happily. "This undoubtly turns our objective a little easier for us."

"Yeah! Appreciate it!" Nala thanked the old man before looking at Mash. "Hey Mash! Do you know what's a senator?"

"Hum well..." The shielder tried to remember. "It's a person that belongs to the Senate."

"A political assembly of other senators or something like that right?" Ritsuka asked Mash for confirmation.

"Yeah. You're right master." Mash answered.

"So he really must be an important person here." Ritsuka said. "Hum, excuse me? Is it rude if I ask what your name is mister?" The master of Chaldea politely asked the old man for his name.

"Oh true. Where are my manners after all?" The old man giggled. "Telling you my name will help build up more trust between us. My name is Lucius Annaeus Seneca." The old man introduced himself. "Or like I'm known as, Seneca the Younger."

"Seneca? The philosopher Seneca?!" Mash exclaimed upon knowing the identity of the old man in front of them.

"Is he another well known historic figure?" Peko asked.

"A servant or Heroic Spirit like the ones we met at France?" Nala asked as well.

"Had a faint idea of already hearing about him, but the name never stood out to me." Ritsuka told the two.

"You should learn more history master." Mash gave Ritsuka a look of dissapointment.

"Who are you talking to, Seneca?" A female voice called out the old senator.

"Ah, looks like the praetor as come to see you with her own eyes." Seneca said to the group. "Quite the lucky opportunity."

"Praetor? Do you mean the emperor?" Mash said to Seneca.

"That's right, umu!"

In the middle of the large street, everyone stopped to bow down at the figure in the middle. A young and small woman with blond hair tied up in a braided bun and big light green eyes. She was wearing an elegant red dress with golden threads and a transparent soft tissue in some parts of the dress. She radiated an high level of elegance and royal power, showing right there that she was in fact the emperor. The young woman took a sip from a golden chalice she was holding with her right hand.

"Behold the grandeur of the Roman Empire visitors! I, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, welcome you."

To be continued...


And that's it for chapter 20!

So I guess I'll immediatly drop the act and confess it right here and now...That og Septem is shit and I'm rewritting all of it. Okay, not exaclty all of it, the servants that appeard on the Singularity will still be there. (With the exception of Stheno, Elizabeth and Kiyohime since they don't have any actual purpose there and appear only for a short minute) So the basis will still be the same, but the whole scenario will change. How, you ask? Well, here comes the intresting part my friend...

Nero will be the villain this time. Muahahahahaha.

But seriously, everybody hates/dislikes Septem. Even Nero fans don't like the chapter wich she's the main star. And hey, personally I don't hate Nero but my first contact with her character was in Septem instead of the Extra and CCC games (wich I never got very into so you can already imagine my relationship with Nero). Like I know she's more than just a Mary Sue but hell does Septem threats her like that. And let's all be honest, with the existence of Whore of Babylon/Draco/Evil Nero on FGO Arcade we all realized Nero would have worked better as a villain. (But only in Septem in specific). The writers just didn't that because at the time nobody gave shit about the early writing of FGO and Nero is one of Fate main heroines so she had to be presented as such. Nowdays...I think they would've handed Septem very differently.

And also, welcome my OG servant/heroic spirit Seneca! Famous philosopher of Ancient Rome and also advisor of Nero so that will keep the things intresting.

But anyway, with that 'little rant' I end the 20th chapter. (Oh my 20 chapters, I never tought to have reached this far.)

So with that said, see you all next time on chapter 21! Peace!

P.S: The priest smiles, has he had finally reached to the gacha. Kirei knows how to start a proper 2023 and goddamn his final design his sick af. Honestly, why does the evil guys always get the most rawest and cooles designs?!