Hello guys and welcome back to chapter 32 of the story! Het in a comfortable position to read and 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.


Fate Grand Order OST- Lingering Ice

"Hm? They read my works in your time?"

"Yes. You are regarded as a popular philosopher that influenced many other figures of the next centuries Seneca-san."

"Oh, I see."

"To be honest, I never tought of getting that sort of fame. I always expected so little of myself. That is the way I used to think. During my entire life, I never wanted to feel dissapointed, angry, sad, overconfident, arrogant, jealous or greedful. By becoming more emotionless, I tought I could live without feeling those sensations."

"I expected you to be more happy Seneca. Why that face instead?"

"It's nothing young lad. I just don't know how to process those facts in my mind."

By conforming with the way life went, no matter how tragic it turned out, I could somewhat live happy. If a friend, accquaintace or relative of mine died, so be it. That was the nature of the world after all: to born and die, and we couldn't change that. If I felt sorrow with their passings, I couldn't have a happy peaceful life. Virtude was all that mattered to me. I simply didn't want to grow attached with things I deemed unnecessary. Only teach the young and that's it."

"Hey Seneca! Seneca! Come see my new painting! I made such an effort to make it!"

"Already going My Praetor."

"But then she appeard. At the beggining, I would be lying if I said I cared about her. Just like everything else, I didn't cared nor felt nothing by seeing Nero. Only pure indifference. Another person to be used on plans of backstabbing people."

"Nero is going to be the future emperor, and I want you to be her advisor and tutor. Mold and shape her to become a great one. But also an obedient, foolish one. You will teach her how important I am to her as the mother. That my position is of great importance to her."

"Since the very start, I knew of Agrippina's intentions. She would saw her daughter as nothing more but a puppet. Knowing of my situation at the time, that sly woman approached me and presented that offer, wich would take me out of exile and return to Rome. I accepted it. Not because of a desperation to return to the empire nor the good need to educate the future emperor. I simply did not cared, for I had seen too much betrayals and schemes to still feel something about it at this point."

"How was my singing Seneca?"

"Very good Nero. You have a natural talent for it."

"Really?! Oh thank you so much Seneca! Hahaha!"

"I'm a fool. And only realized that by spending more days next to her. Of course she isn't perfect. No one is. And yet, how could someone do something so cruel to a child like Nero? I promised to myself to never grow attached to another person in my life. It felt pointless. It was pointless to me before. But then I saw that perhaps, I needed that. To care for one again in a personal level. So I started to teach her while ignoring Agrippina's request to turn Nero into a more manageable tool. However, I still choose to ignore her obvious manipulation on Nero."

"Do you think that no one really loves me Seneca?"

"I was the worst type of blind. The one who sees but chooses to turn their head to the other side. Sure that I never knew about Agrippina using poison to subdue Nero, but I knew what the woman's intentions were. I'm so sorry Nero. I truly am. I could have preventend this sooner. And now all of Rome pays because of it. You and its suffering is due to my obstinacy to intervene. To have this pain and sorrow throughout all your life, when I could have stopped it..."

"That's not true my emperor. The people of Rome do and will always love you."

"I hate myself. It's self-depreciating I know, but I am the cause for why the things are in the state that they are now. I should have done something when I could. I tought by ignoring the pain, we could find happiness. But the way the empire screams now, it's too much agonizing to turn a blind eye to it. I know you would never want this Nero. You love Rome more than anyone. But it seems the pressure and anxiety got to you. And I am to blame for it."

"You were an inspiration and wise man to many others, Seneca-san."

"No. I'm a stupid old man. Perhaps that's why I felt so suprised when the youngsters told me about the influence I had on the future. Heh. I never thought people would spend hours and days of their life analyzing the works and mind of an old fool...Still, I need to take action now. This time, I'll have to do something different."


"Run away! Rome is burning!"

"Save your lifes! The emperor has gone mad!"

"Take your belongings out of the buildings while you still can!"

"Help us gods! Help us all!"

The civillians were screaming and fleing in dispair as they would try to leave the giant consuming flames behind. The entire city was suffering a great fire. The flames were so big that one could notice them in the distance, making the clouds above turn into a hellish red with smoke. Temples, statues, houses, towers, everything was falling down. It was circulating almost the entire city, giving it's inhabitants a small chance to even escape. It would be a matter of time until the fire swallowed everything and the people died carbonized or by inhaling the smoke. The cries of commotion would fill the entire area, as the citizens would hopelessly try to find an exit to escape this hell that was devouring Rome. In the periphery of the city, above all the chaos and destruction, there stood the building of the principal culprit to all of this.

Inside Nero's palace, a silent and determined Seneca was climbing the stairs that would lead to the roof, ready to confront the person he once held dear. As he reached to the gates, a hand grabbed his clothing.

"Please let me go. I have to do this." Seneca said with a calm but serious tone, not looking at the person behind him.

"Ni gè bèndàn! Do you know what you're trying to do here?" Jing Ke told to Seneca, trying to change his mind about facing Nero. Unfortunately, the old philosopher wouldn't take a step back in his decision.

"I am fully aware of what I'm doing. What about you Jing Ke?" He stared at the assassin woman. "What are you trying to do?"

"Trying to save you from basically commiting suicide!" She answered in anger. "I know that Nero has lost it! But she also became very powerful all of a sudden. You won't even stand a chance against her like that! Just focus on escaping! As her servant, I'm giving you an opportunity to do it!" Jing Ke advised the old man, being okay with letting him go away if Seneca wanted.

"Thank you for the offer my friend, but I have to politely decline." Seneca responded calmly, much to Jing Ke's annoyance. "I have ignored things for far too long. I did nothing but watch tragedies unroll during my entire life. I want to make what's right this time!" Seneca raised his voice. "It may be futile, but one never knows until it tries!"

"You'll die stupid!" Jing Ke shouted at him.

"Then be it." Seneca responded. "At least it will be by doing the right thing. Jing Ke, whether you want to fight against your master or not, it's up to you. I won't force you to decide and will respect whatever choice you take. As a woman that also has good knowledge, I'd assume you should respect my decision as well." The philosopher said to Jing Ke, hoping that she could understand his motives.

The assassin woman frowned, still showing her annoyance. "Damn you..." She then looked to the ground and took some seconds to think, before staring back at Seneca. "Fine then. If that's what you want, I won't stop you no more."

Seneca nodded. "Thank you for the understanding my friend."

Without saying nothing, Jing Ke turned around and started to walk away. "Perhaps you were senile after all. But still...what you are doing is indeed right. Good luck, Seneca."

Now left alone, Seneca went back to stare at the gates in front of him. Putting an hand on it and checking his bag of scrolls, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm coming to end this Nero."


On the roof, enjoying and pleasuring on the cries and screams of despair, the vile beastly emperor, Nero Claudius, grinned with joy as she watched and felt the flames below destroying everything from below. This Rome was ugly. Unwhorty of being her garden or stage. Full of rotten flowers and ungrateful people. Thankfuly, Nero had found the solution for all of it. Her madness had gone so high that while watching the fires happen, Nero was glamorously playing on her lyre. Never she would thought that such destruction and suffering could be so beautiful.

"Hashire sori yo

Kaze no you ni

Tsukimihara wo

Pa-

"NEROOOOO!"

A strong scream sounded behind her. He had come. Of course he would. After all, the decision of burning Rome was entirely hers and without even telling him about it. It would be pointless of Nero in sharing her idea with him, since the emperor knew he would most likely be against it. So Nero was already expecting her advisor to come see her the moment the first blazes of fire were released upon the city.

"Ah! I see you have come to watch the show Seneca!" Nero giggled, looking at her previous advisor with her now red eyes. Eyes that could tell the person's intentions behind it were certainly not good ones. "The seats here are super good you know? You can watch everything from here." She smiled cheerfuly to him.

"Nero, why are you doing this? Dont you see the damage that you are causing to the people and the city itself?!" Seneca said agressively to Nero.

"Well, do you know the problems like that plague and other problematic things that the people wouldn't stop shutting up about it?" Nero pulled a sad face. "I was only thinking about the best way to help our poor unfortunate citizens to get rid of all those things." She then smirked evily. "Thus I decided to go for the most efficient option. The plague will be gone and they won't have to worry anymore after being burned by the flames! A win win situation don't you agree? Hahahahahahahahaha!" Nero laughed psycothicaly, resulting in a very dissapointing glare from Seneca. This was far from the Nero that he used to know.

"Stop this immediatly Nero! There is still hope to save at least half of Rome if you put an end to this insanity!" Seneca demanded to the mad emperor. Nero however, wasn't willing to do it.

"Hm? Insanity? Stop this? Oh, you silly old senile Seneca." Nero shaked her head in mockery. "Don't you know that it's rude to interrupt the middle of a play? Are you going to tell me you aren't enjoying it?"

"This is not fun, Nero." Seneca told her with seriousness.

"IT IS FOR ME!" Nero shouted at Seneca. "And it's Praetor for you. Altough since I'm going to kill you, I guess that won't matter anymore." Nero smiled to him before sighing. "It's such a shame you know? You were the only one I could trust in the end. But it looks like you are the same as the rest, wanting to kill me in any way possible."

"I came here to stop you. Not to kill you." Seneca responded.

"Lies, lies, lies. You are like that bitch of my mother. You think those words will convince me and then I can be easily ordered around by you. That, or you just want me to lower the guard so that you can kill me. That won't result Seneca." Nero told him, not wanting to hear any consolation words that he might had for her.

"What Agrippina did was despicable. And you are right for hating her as well as directing that anger to me too. I was originaly part of her plan to manipulate you. I...I should have done better to save you from such cruel things." Seneca told Nero with great lament on his chest. "You are entirely in your right to hate me for never informing you about the truth of your mother. But please, the civillians do not deserve any of this! Rome itself doesnt!"

Nero stared at him with a cold rude face. "That's where you are wrong." She replied.

"Hm? You always told me you loved Rome. That it was your garden. That you wanted to gift it and it's people all of your talents. That you would turn the city into one of absolute glory and domain of the empire. So what is this?!" Seneca pointed to the burning city in front of them. "Why are you doing such vile things to the city you swore to love Nero?!"

"Hehehehe." Nero closed her eyes while she chuckled. "Yes Seneca. I indeed plan to turn Rome into a city of glory and beauty. I love it after all." Nero said before menacingly stare at the philosopher. "And that will become true when this old Rome burns to the ground!"

"What?!" Seneca exclaimed with shock.

"Rome can indeed become a beautiful and powerful city, but only after the current one dies! My ideal Rome is not like this! This Rome is disgusting, terrible, annoying, loathsome. And it's infected with equally nasty ingrates!" Nero said in anger. "I gave them my best! My affection! Everything! And yet, they all come crawling from the ugly dirt they came from, demanding more and critizing my efforts! Such ungrateful bastards, don't deserve to be in my garden! Their place is to applaud and cherish me! I am the emperor after all! I am the one who rules all of their miserable lives!" Nero ranted. "Anyone who refuses should be killed!"

Seneca just grunted in sorrow. "Then it's true. You really are out of your damn mind."

Nero laughed at those words. "And I have never felt better than before! You can't imagine how good this feels to me." Nero smiled excited. "This will be my best piece of art ever created!"

"I should have done something the moment you started to act unhinged. Back then when we crushed that tribe in Britannia..." Seneca remembered of how brutal the army was against their foes in that battle. "That isn't the way to treat anyone. Not even enemies."

"Hphm! They were asking for it." Nero smirked, remembering of those same memories. "No one challenges my empire and gets away with it."

"But thankfuly, that was probably the first instance I realized something was wrong..." Seneca looked at his own hand. "A good thing that half of them are still alive and well." He closed it into a fist.

Nero's eyes suddenly widened. "Don't tell me you-"

"Yes. I was the one who helped them escape. As well as the ones from Chaldea." Seneca responded to Nero, resulting in the emperor grin wildly and crazily.

"Seneca hehehe, you old fucker." Stretching her right arm, Nero summoned her own sword. "I shall kill you right now! No one dares to defie me! No one!" She yelled at him.

Seneca was ready. He didn't want to but knew this was the most possible outcome. Fighting Nero was completely unavoidable. He went to grab a scroll from his bag. " Hm. You act like an immortal in all that you dream, but act like a mortal in all that you fear."

"Oh?" Nero fixated her eyes on him. "And what do I exactly fear?"

"I'll show you." Seneca responded, transforming the scroll he grabbed into a sword. "This will end here, Nero!"

"Hahahahaha! Come and die Seneca!" Pointing her sword at him, Nero summoned huge debris infront of Seneca. The man however was prepared and threw a scroll from his bag at the incoming wreckage.

"Ignis!"

Catching fire, the scroll exploded in flames as it collided with Nero's attack. Coming out from the smoke, Seneca jumped torwards Nero and the two clashed their swords against each other.

"I see that you know some tricks you old fool." Nero grinned as she stared to Seneca's face during the clash. "But how far can you rely on that?" Nero said before pushing Seneca away from the clash. "I wonder how much will it take to break those bones of yours!" Summoning another broken parts of random buildings, Nero threw them once again at Seneca.

The old man, despite the age, managed to dodge, altough the philosopher still got slightly hit on the leg, resulting in a cut. "Ghg!"

"Hahaha! What's the matter Seneca?" Nero took the opportunity and charged at him, giving Seneca barely enough time to block the attack. "Are you too sluggish to keep it up with the pressure?" Nero mocked him as she hit the man's sword until it's guard had give in, leaving Seneca exposed.

"Crap!" Seneca cursed as he got slashed in the stomach by Nero, painfuly falling to the ground. All the scrolls in the bag fell out and scattered around in the floor. Before he could even try to stand up, Nero was already on top of him, with her sword pointing to his chest.

"You know that fights aren't your strong Seneca. It almost gave me pity." Nero smiled sadisticaly to him. "You should have stayed with those dull and tedious scriptures of yours. At least it made you sound competent."

"N-Now...that's a thing that we can both agree Nero." Seneca told her as blood flowed out from his mouth. "Saying those things definetly made me appear like a wise figure." Seneca continued talking as he sneakly spotted a scroll just next to his hand's reach.

"And instead you now wanted to play a fantasy of some kind of hero. Pff! You're as sane as me." Nero laughed as she taunted Seneca, distracted from the scroll that was next to her previous advisor.

"Yeah...you are right. Only an insane man would even dare to face these types of danger by himself." Seneca gave a small smile before looking at Nero in the eyes. "Wich is why I still have some more tricks!"

"Wha-"

"Tonitruum"

Seneca shouted as he quickly grabbed the scroll by his side and threw it at Nero. Out of the scroll, several thunderbolts appeard and instantly caused an high shock on Nero.

"GHAAAAAAA!" The mad emperor screamed in pain as Seneca's attack made her fall some distance away from the philosopher. The attack had been a success. Nero was now open. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Seneca fastly got up from the ground and runned torwards the fallen Nero.

"It's over!" As he raised the sword up in the high, something made Seneca stop in his tracks.

"Hg..gh...! This...hurts!" Nero grunted in suffering as she tried to get back up. Seeing glimpses of Nero's face in pain and anger made the old man hesitate for a moment. He knew it had to be done. But it hurt seeing a person he had spent many time with in anguish like that. "D-Damn you Seneca..!" He wanted to protect her but at the same time he had to hurt her for the sake of everyone else safety. He was aware of how much suffering she had already been through.

"N-Nero, are you okay?" Seneca asked, for a moment seeing his enemy as the former girl he used to teach and advise. Nero was still on the ground grunting and trying to get up as Seneca approached her.

"I-It hurts! It hurts so much! My body wont stop hurting!" Nero screamed with angst as her body would move very painfully.

"I'm sorry Nero. I didn't meant to. So please, cease this lun-hgg!" Seneca suddenly felt the sharp steel of Nero's sword penetraing his chest.

"It hurts me so much on how easy to deceive you was!" Nero smiled wickedly, droping the act that she was badly injured. "You have grown too soft Seneca!" She took out the blade from his chest.

"Really...How ironic. This is what I get from caring about another person so." Seneca took some steps back as he coughed more blood.

"Honestly, this little performance of yours was pathetic." Nero said with dissapointment. "But at least you tried if that serves as consolation prize."

Despite the wounds, Seneca still managed to smile. "Who's to say that my role has ended already?" Seneca went to grab something inside his clothes. "I admit that it is coming to an end, but still...I have one more scene to do. I'll put my best performance into it if that makes you happy emperor." From behind his vestiments, Seneca took out a shinning blue scroll with golden patterns.

Nero stared at the scroll in confusion and shock. "You senile! What are you going to do with that?!"

"It's a wonder what a person can do with magic, don't you think so, My Praetor?" Making that comment, Seneca unrolled the scroll that wraped itself around the sword. Following that, all Seneca's scrolls that where on the ground began to shine and hover around the old man. "This is the lifetime of all my works Nero!"

Nero's eyes widened in anger. "You think that will be enough to stop me?! Your works are nothing but trash pieces of paper! I'll torn them apart just like you!"

Seneca's blade was now shinning of a celestial blue and all the scrolls a light red shine. "True. My writings and works may not be on the same league as of an Homer or Virgil. But I won't give up in bringing you down, Nero!" Shouting at the top of his lungs, the red scrolls sprinted torwards their enemy alongside Seneca.

"You insolent fool!" Nero screamed in rage as she summoned a giant building to crush Seneca. "DIE SENECA!"

"This will be my all

The search of a natural truth."

"Cosmic Analysis of Philosophy and Morality:

Naturales Quaestiones!"

With the power about to unleash, Seneca jumped staright into the building, ready to destroy it with it's blade. For the very first time, the wise man decided to fight, not with his words or mind, but with his fists and weapon.

"Ritsuka Fujimaru and all of you that came from the future...thank you for never forgetting about the essays of this old man..."


On their way to Rome, the group from Chaldea and the other servants were on top of a carriage at full speed, running across the open fields and following the path that would guide them to the city. They where the only ones on the way. No soldiers or battalions behind them. Romulus had ordered for the army to stay behind and protect the civillians as well as rebuild the city that had suffered great damage during the attack. Seeing and sensing that they couldn't waste much time, Romulus had told his commanders and the people from Chaldea that they should move quick and that time was running out. Above them, the sky was now clouded with grey and dark clouds, feeling the smell of smoke in the air.

"If Nero destroys all of Rome, it will be the end for humanity." Mash said, knowing what was at stake.

"And something tells me she wont leave at that." Cleopatra, now healed from the wounds of the previous battle commented.

"Yep. Nothing is stopping her from doing the same to the rest of the empire afterwards." Peko told them.

"Do you think Seneca, Jing Ke and the others are trying to stop her?" Nala asked them.

"I dont know. Jing Ke, Spartacus and Lu Bu are all her servants. It would be impossible for them to disobey their master." Ritsuka responded. "As for Seneca...I can't imagine the hard choice he had to make."

"He loves Nero but he also wants to save Rome." Mash said. "I just hope he can figure something out and help the people flee."

"It has been a day since we left our base. I hope we aren't too late." Peko said.

"Looking at the area, we are just some kilimoters away from Rome." Caesar told him. "There's still a chance."

"That depends of how brutal the fire is." Cleopatra said to Caesar.

"Rome still stands." Romulus speaked to them, looking at the path ahead. "I can feel it. It's spirit remains alive. But it's getting weaker by each minute."

"Hey. That reminds me of something..." Ritsuka looked at Mash. "A great fire indeed happened in Rome, right Mash?"

The hologram of Romani appeard. "You are indeed correct Ritsuka. A fire happened in Rome on the year 64AC. But just like the plague, it's events still aren't meant to occur during this time. It's slightly early for it."

"Then Rome survives to that original fire?" Nala asked to the doctor.

"It does. However, a great part of it was completely destroyed. And something tells me that this fire will be more devastating than the one that really happens." Romani told them. "If Rome falls, humanity does. We can't let the city be evaporated at all costs."

"Then we shall go there and defeat Nero. Once we do it and retrieve the grail, this Singularity will get fixed." Mash said the basics of their plan.

"I think that won't be our only problem." Peko said as he stared at Boudica who was sitting alone at the end of the carruage, examining her own sword.

"Oh right. That is also a possibility..." Mash said sadly. "If Nero dies it will also be over for us."

"But we also can't let Boudica die against Nero, right?" Nala said, opposing to the possibility of Boudica dying.

"I too wouldn't want that. But if Boudica intends to kill her..." Peko told to his sister.

"Does that mean we would have to protect Nero from Boudica? I would hate that!" Nala said slightly angry.

"If the situation calls for it..." Mash said to the girl. "I too can't imagine doing that but Nero's survival is what guarantees our mission to save humanity still existing."

"Even if Nero is the enemy?" Nala asked.

"Yes Nala. I know it's hard and I would hate seeing Boudica dying to Nero and vice-versa. But we have to do has history tolds unfortunately." Ritsuka told to his friend.

"Don't forget that we don't know if Boudica's life is actually supposed to end here. We already had that discussion before guys." Romani reminded them.

"Right. If Boudica survives it could also end up screwing up this Singularity even more." Peko said.

"Does that mean...we will have to kill her?" Nala asked with uter sadness.

"N-No!" Ritsuka responded almost immediatly. "At least, that's what I hope for." He said, rubbing his own head.

"This situation really looks difficult." Mash said, feeling troubled on what to do just like the rest of her group.

"Hm? What is bothering you all?" Cleopatra asked, seeing their faces of discontent.

"It's about Boudica..." Peko responded.

"Let me guess. It's about the possibility of her killing Nero thus resulting in humanity's ultimate collapse?" Caesar pondered.

"Yeah. It's exactly that." Ritsuka said. "How do you knew?"

"Hmm. Should we tell them?" Caesar looked to Cleopatra.

"I don't know. Boudica perhaps wouldn't like it." She whispered to Caesar.

"Are you two trying to hide something from us?" Nala questioned them.

The two servants tried to deny it. "No! It's just that-"

"Boudica has already died earlier this year." Romulus revealed to the group, shocking them completely.

"What?!" Mash was astonished. All four of them were. "Boudica has been dead all this time?"

Peko then realized something. "So this means she is a servant like the rest of you!"

"You are correct boy." Romulus told him before looking at the redhaired woman. "Does it bother you telling them?"

"Not at all." Boudica responded, still observing her sword. "They would discover it sooner or later. So better tell them now."

Ritsuka couldn't believe that she had been keeping a secret away from them. "But why? How did you-"

"When Nero's troops assaulted her homeland, Boudica stayed behind, sacrificing herself in order to let many of her tribe escape. She died valently on the battlefield, protecting her people." Romulus informed the Chaldea group. "However, her wish to continue protecting her family and tribe from Nero's empire was so powerful that she eventually was summoned to this Singularity months after being killed. The need to make sure her people are save is what made her summoning as a servant possible. Shortly after that, she offered me her help and in return I would keep her tribe in safety. Boudica has been hiding her status as a servant so that when the moment comes, she can face Nero at full power."

"Wait!" Romani exclaimed. "You do know that if Boudica kills Nero the empire collapses right?! Your empire! Are you really letting her fight Nero?!"

"Boudica is well aware of the consequences if she comes to kill Nero. Right now, she is restraining her anger to make sure that won't happen." Romulus explained to them.

"Is that true, Boudica?" Nala asked to the warrior woman who got up and looked at all of them.

"It is. But I won't deny that a part of me, wishes to do it." She closed her hand into a fist. "To kill Nero after all she had done to me and my people. Every time I think of that, my blood boils and my body just..." She speaked agressively before taking a deep breath. "But I know that wouldn't be right. By doing such thing, my tribe alongside many other innocents would dissapear. I know you also don't want Nero to die nor kill me." Boudica smiled. "And it wouldn't be right to throw away a future where such nice people like you exist. So even if I desired for it, I won't kill Nero. For the sake of your existence. After all, I do consider you my friends. Ones that are worth to keep living and have a future."

"B-Boudica..." Ritsuka didn't knew what to say. Despite everything, Boudica was willing to not kill Nero just because of them.

"Thank you Boudica!" Peko thanked the woman. "I know that it's something that goes against your wish but-"

"No. Don't feel guilty about it Peko." Boudica told him. "My main wish is still to protect my tribe. I'm sure I can do that without killing Nero."

"That eases our problem a bit. Thank you Boudica." Mash told her.

"I'm glad that you are willing to do that for us. You really are a good friend." Nala complimented the woman.

"You are as well." Boudica replied back.

Ritsuka looked at Caesar and Cleopatra. "What do you have to say about it?"

"I won't change her decision. And I guess your arrival made her change her perspective about certain topics." Cleopatra told him.

"True. Before that, Boudica was more open and absolutely focused on killing Nero, even if she knew of what could happen. I feared that we would have to kill her to prevent that. But thankfuly, you and your group made her think otherwise. We thank you for that." Caesar told him.

"If that is so..." Ritsuka walked torwards Boudica. "Hey, Boudica."

"What is it Ritsuka?" She asked to the master of humanity who proceeded to show her his Command Seals.

"Form a contract with me. Become my servant." He told to Boudica.

"You sure you want do it Ritsuka?" Nala asked him.

"Yeah. Since you are doing this for us, I'll lend you some of mana backup. It may not be te strongest or the largest, but all the support to you is necessary. If we are going to defeat Nero, we will do this together." Ritsuka said. "So please, accept my deal Boudica."

"You speaked like a true master Senpai." Mash told him, giving a little smile.

"That sounds like a good deal to me." Peko said before facing Boudica. "What do you think?"

"Ritsuka, your mana isn't what indicates if you're a good master or not. But your actions and morals." She told him. "And by what I saw of you until now, I'd say you are a pretty good master. So I accept it of good will." Her smile widened.

Ritsuka smiled as well. "Thank you, Boudica." And with that, the contract between the queen of a tribe from Britannia and the master of humanity was formed.

"Does your body feel anything when doing that?" Nala asked to Ritsuka.

"A bit of a tingling sensation on the hand I guess. But nothing more than that." He replied to the girl.

"It must be your mana circuits at work." Peko told him.

"Fu fou!" Fou appeard behind Mash, feeling restless.

"Hm? What is it Fou?" The shielder asked to the animal.

"Does he want to eat?" Nala wondered.

"Impossible, we already gave him food a few minutes ago." Peko told his sister.

"Perhaps Fou likes to eat a lot, I don't know." Nala replied back.

"No. I guess Fou knows where we are arriving." Romani told them as he typed on his keyboard. "Yes, according to the coordinates, you lot are..."

A sudden hotwave in the air hit all of them. The temperature rised and the clouds were getting redder and darker. All of them could feel a certain sense of dread as they continued to go forward. And just in front of one of the seven hills, where the carruage managed to get to the top of it, they all saw an image that could be described as hellish. The entire city of Rome was burning wildly, with giant flames of the size of the mounts that surrounded the city. Nero surely wanted to reduce the place to dust. They all stood in shock, watching such horrifying and dreadful scenario.

"This is madness..." Caesar couldn't bare to see a city he once had saw so proudly suffering like that. "If it continues like that there will be nothing left."

"Nero decided to go with everything." Cleopatra commented. "Causing this on your own people..."

Without warning, Romulus started running torwards the city in front of him. "Then come quickly! We can still save it! No children of mine will continue to be harmed like that!"

"Romulus!" Mash yelled, seeing the founder of the empire going ahead.

"He is right! We can't stand here and just watch guys! We have to move!" Nala told them.

"Sure!" Ritsuka agreed. "Let's go down there and help Romulus!"


Reaching to the city's entrance, all of them could feel the massive heat of the flames coming from it.

"It looks like there are no soldiers here now!" Mash said, observing that there wasn't more guards on the gates.

"Makes sense! They must have saw how unhinged Nero was and decided to leave her!" Peko responded, trying to cover his face from the heatwaves as he and the others entered Rome.

"It's all burning down!" Boudica said, as she watched the majority of the buildings around them getting on fire and about to collapse.

"Damnit! Years and years of building all of this just to be teared down in mere seconds!" Caesar exclaimed with anger. "We romans created this with our blood and tears! I can't let those sacrifices mean nothing now!"

As they walked, they saw Romulus up ahead. Reaching torwards him, they saw the path ahead was blocked by giant burning debris.

"There are people behind this!" Romulus informed them.

"Crap! How are we going to save them then?!" Nala asked, not knwoing what they could do to save those people. "This thing is huge to be moved away!"

"Not for me!" Romulus said. "Step back!" Summoning his lance, Romulus pierced it to the ground. In a instant, large branches germinated from the ground and moved the giant debris away.

"Wow! You can do that?!" Ritsuka asked amazed to Romulus.

"A founder like him has many tricks up his sleeve." Cleopatra responded.

Seeing the citizens now with a route to escape, Romulus pointed them to the city gates. "Hear me my children! Don't waste time and run! Run to the gates for your safety! We will deal with Nero and this great fire!"

Obeying without question, all the civillians runned away torwards the city exit as Romulus and the rest runned in the opposite direction.

"There it is!" Mash said, looking at Nero's palace way ahead and on the top, untouched by the flames. "We just have to walk straight torwards there!"

"Right! Let's keep moving!" Ritsuka told them as they were about to run torwards the palace.

"H-Help..!"

"Somebody...help us!"

Hearing words of help, Peko stopped immediatly and looked around. "These voices...where are they coming from?"

Noticing her brother getting behind, Nala went towards him. "What's the matter Peko?! We have to keep going!"

"I know! But I just heard someone asking for help!" He explained.

"HELP! SOMEONE!"

"See?" Saying that, Peko now with Nala were turning their head and looking at everywhere around them to see the place the voices were coming from.

"There!" Nala pointed to some wreckage to her right, spotting two pairs of legs beneath it. In a hurry, the two siblings went torwards the spot and both hold the big piece of stone that was beneath the entire debris and stucking the persons below.

"Alright Nala! With me!" Peko said to his sister who nodded. Counting to three, the twins used their combined strenght to lift the piece of stone and create space for the two people to get free.

"Hurry!" Nala said to the two people stucked, feeling her arms and Peko's about to give in. Thankfuly, the two citizens got out of it in time and Peko and Nala let go off their grip on the stone.

"It's you!" Hearing that, Peko turned around to look at the two people.

"What are you sa-" Seeing now the identity of the two people he and Nala had just saved, Peko recognized them as being those two boys back when he had gone to the city alone to get paint. He wasn't expecting to see them again. Much less under these circumnstances. "I remember you two too!"

"You made friends here or something?" Nala asked to her brother with confusion.

"No. They just fooled to go into that dark alley I mentioned to you already when I went to buy some paint." Peko told her.

Not responding immediatly, Nala thought for some seconds before reaching to a conclusion. "So that injury on the head when you came back..." The girl turned her head to look coldly and menancingly at the two boys. "It was you two, wasn't it?"

"W-W-We're sorry! We didn't meant to!"

"We understand what we did was bad! P-Please forgive us!"

The two boys started crying abundantly, due to the dire situation and the mean look Nala was giving on them.

"I-It's alright. Besides, that wasn't what injured me sis." He tried to calm Nala down before staring at the two kids. "No harsh feelings. It's no time for that but for you two escape. Now go!" He told them.

"T-Thank you! You r-really are a cool guy!"

"Y-Yeah. I-I think we should be friends!"

"He already told you to go away idiots!" Nala shouted at them, resulting in the two boys running to the city gates totaly scared.

Peko sweated a bit. "That was unnecessary."

"Giving those two a good punch is what would have been necessary." Nala said, still a bit upset at those two boys.

"What happened happened." Peko touched her in the shoulder. "Now let's join Ritsuka, Mash and the rest."


Reaching to the front of the palace entrance stairs, Ritsuka and Mash noticed Peko and Nala coming from behind, joining them just in time before entering the palace to confront Nero and her servants.

"Where you two have been?" Ritsuka asked them with a scolding face. "You just can't dissapear like that without telling us."

"W-We saw someone that needed help and we rescued them." Peko said, taken a bit aback by Ritsuka's reaction.

Mash was with the same face. "Still, it's dangerous to do that without telling us. You could have gotten hurt."

"We know! Sorry for having done it all of a sudden." Nala apologized, both her and Peko getting a bit sad by Ritsuka's and Mash's faces of discontent.

However, Ritsuka and Mash suddenly smiled to the two kids. "We were kidding. You did well Peko, Nala." Ritsuka praised them.

"We would have done the same honestly." Mash giggled. "Good on you two for saving those civillians."

Getting a bit overjoyed, Peko and Nala tried to hide the happiness on their faces from the two friends.

"That wasn't funny." Peko said, rubbing his head.

"True. Y-you two are idiots!" Nala punched softly both Ritsuka and Mash.

"Whatever you say. I'm glad you helped someone." Ritsuka told the two before looking at the servants that were next to them. "Now, are you all ready?" He asked, looking at the high stairway that would led them to the entrance.

"Let's end this. As my master, I am counting on you." Boudica told Ritsuka.

"Count me and Julius as ready too!" Cleopatra responded.

"Whatever the foe may be, we shall defeat it. For the prosperity of not only Roma but to all of the civilizations in the present and future ones as well." Romulus said.

"Good to hear." Ritsuka said, turning around to look at his group. "You?"

"Ready!" "Ready!" "Ready!"

The three said in unison.

"Alright people! Let's go!" Ritsuka announced as they took their first steps on the stairs. However, as they took a step, they heard a slight noise on the left, coming from a pile of debris that where at the stairs based.

"There's something moving there." Caesar said.

"Could it be another person?" Nala asked.

"Hg..gh..."

"It is!" Ritsuka exclaimed as he went next to the pile and tried to get the debris out of the way from whoever was beneath all that rubble.

Mash walked torwards him. "Let me help master!" She offered her help, and the two together moved the debris out of the way, getting to see who was behind that. "Oh no!" Mash exclaimed in shock, putting her hands in front of her mouth.

Ritsuka was also stunned by what he was seeing in front of him. "S-Sen..."

Getting closer, Peko, Nala and the rest also got to see who it was. Getting the rubble out from the top of his body, they all saw a beaten and bloodied Seneca, with an enormous wound across his chest and another one on his face. The old philosopher's blood had even stenched the other debris near him.

Tales of Arise OST- A Peaceful Moment

"Seneca! Seneca can you hear me!?" Ritsuka called out the dying old man, who weakly opened his remaining eye.

"...R-Ritsuka Fujimaru...Is it you young man...?" He asked, already in a low voice. His skin was getting pale and not much strenght was left in him.

"Yes! I'm here! We all are!" Ritsuka said, grabbing the philosopher's hand to let him know he was indeed here. "W-what happened?"

"I did...what I thought was right...my own decision..." He explained, breathing heavily and looking to everyone around him. "I see...that you did ones too..."

"You tried to take on Nero alone Seneca-san?!" Mash said, with tears appearing in her eyes. "W-Why?!"

"This world...humanity...is always changing because of...someone's decision...that being for the better or worse...And I tried to change Rome's fate..." Seneca explained, coughing weakly.

"T-this is not fair..." Peko said, tightening his fist as tears would also appear in his eyes. "Not fair at all!"

"Heh...Death sometimes...is just like that...Unfair, cruel and even cold...with no glorious trumpets to play at the end..." Seneca smiled to them. "But that...doesn't mean the end for those who continue living..."

"P-Please. Stop talking. You cannot die." Nala said, making her best effort to not cry. She didn't want to, specialy in front of her brother.

"We elders must eventualy vanish...to give our legacy and everything that life has to offer to the youngsters...They are the ones who will keep the light of the future lightened...They are the reason why humanity will keep existing..."

"Seneca-san...please..." Mash tears rolled down from her eyes. Unlike that one time in France, she was seeing a person she considered a friend dying in front of her.

"I-I should have done something." Ritsuka said, with tears also flowing from his eyes. "I should have been able to save you!"

"W-Why...for all those tears...Ritsuka Fujimaru?" Seneca smiled to him. "You are doing...the very best you can...More than I ever could...Saving the entire humanity...is worth a thousand times more than saving this old life...I'm glad...to have met you at the end of my life..." Raising his hand with the help of Ritsuka, Seneca touched the teen's chest with his finger. "Always...go forward...despite of everything...all of you mustn't...give up..."

As the tears would drop from Ritsuka's face, Boudica approached Seneca. "I've heard you were the one who helped my tribe escape from Nero's army. Even if you were Nero's advisor and I barely knew you, you have my gratitude for that."

"After seeing...how hard you fought...I just couldn't let all that effort be in vain..." Seneca said to Boudica. "Looking closer...you truly embody a warrior's spirit..."

Romulus also approached the moribund philosopher alongside Caesar and Cleopatra. "You did well. Now you may rest. Roma is grateful for your services."

"Haa..." Already with his vision fading, Seneca could only catch a blurred image of the three. "Founder Romulus...The great Julius Caesar...and Queen Cleopatra...working together?" Seneca said, before slowly closing his eyes. "That sounds like...a nice idea for a play..."

And the old wise philosopher, writer, advisor and mentor's life had perished. His body finally sucumbing to the injuries. He left behind so many essays and works. So many ideas of philosophy and whatnot. Altough the man himself didn't want to admit it, he was considered an important figure to Rome and everyone. Being liked or not, it was undeniable that Lucius Annaeus Seneca had influence to enrich the empire's culture during his lifetime. Despite thinking he shouldn't end up being remembered as a great figure, he would. The stoic person who learned to feel emotions again during the time spent with Nero Claudius. For the empire he had lived, and for the empire he had died. His legacy, would always be remembered. And a certain teary group of young people, would surely never forget him after such moment.

"You must move on, people from Chaldea. Humanity's hope lies within you."

To be continued...


And that's it for chapter 32!

A Seneca centric chapter, since it's time to say farewell to this OC. And in case that you might be wondering, yes, Naturales Quaestiones would be his Noble Phantasm if he ended up as a Servant. And like...in this fanfic version of FGO he might well be. So if you got sad by his death, just imagine him enjoying doing a stroll in the halls of Chaldea and that type of thing after getting summoned. Like the real FGO.

Now if you liked him, hated him or was indifferent towards his death, that's okay. I tried to create a character that I thought could fit and give depth to this version of Septem (since og one is trash) and tought that no other historic character like Seneca could ever be more fitting, as Nero's advisor and his philosophy. Gave him interaction with Ritsuka and Mash in order to make him feel more organic to the story. With that said, I hope I did a good job with this OC character of mine. But like he said, Chaldea shouldn't waste time to mourn his death and has to stop Nero instead! And that's what they will try going to do in the next chapters! The Second Singularity's end is getting closer!

That's all I wanted to say, and see you next time on chapter 33! Peace!

P.S: Now wipe those tears away because oh boy the fabulous Takasugi is free from NPC jail and joined the gacha! (But Camazotz still continues in the jail T_T) Saw his combat animations and I can tell you this...He is an hilarious dude.