The two new Servants were quiet; he sort of got that from their summoning. Despite his intimidating aura and his Class, Kalpas was rather calm. When he said he'd only go after those Ritsuka sicked him, he meant it. He usually ended up turning whatever simulated environment into ash, but stayed out of nearly everyone's way. The only exception was the child Servants who approached him; when that happened, he tried being nice to them— that was to say, he only gently warm them to keep away from him.

As for Aponia, Ritsuka expected her to be around the other religious Servants. He was right… somewhat. While he did occasionally see her with Sanzang, Johanna and even Kiara among others to inquire about their beliefs, Aponia kept to herself most of the time. Even when he tried to speak to her, she politely told Ritsuka she did not feel like talking at the moment.

There was also something else he noticed: she always tried to avoid looking at him and when she did, Ritsuka felt like she wasn't looking at him.

"Is there anything I need to know about them?" Ritsuka asked the other Flamechasers plus himself, who all gave differing answers.

Pardo told him she did her best to avoid both back then because they freaked her out. "They're not the sort of people to mess with. Just… You've been around them, Master. You know what I mean, right?" She shivered in fear at the thought of them. "Oh, by the way, think you can do me a itsy-bitsy favour, Master?"

Ritsuka already figured it was something to do with the plushies with his likeness and told her to come by his room later. After that, he went to Mobius. "Kalpas is like a guard dog if you can't tell already. Just treat him well and you won't be crushed," the scientist told him dismissively. "As for Aponia, we don't really see eye to eye on most things. Her abilities are… special. Just be careful when you talk to her." Her vague warning did little to help and it was clearly intentional. If Ritsuka didn't figure that out, Klein was quick to lay things out for him— Mobius wanted to see how he would handle them.

Sakura surprisingly had the most to say about Kalpas. "He was my partner on missions— the two of us were part of the same squad," she revealed before giving similar advice to Mobius. Just careful with what he says around Kalpas as he had a habit of losing control of himself. Ritsuka assumed that was the main reason he stayed clear of everyone the best he could. "But I think you should be fine, Master. I believe you'd be able to understand him." With Aponia, Sakura admitted she kept her distance from Aponia. "She's an oddity, but a good person."

Lastly was RITSUKA as the two along with ELF Ritsuka hung out in the Master's room. "Kalpas, he's… frightening," sighed RITSUKA. "Even before his surgery, I heard he was hard to be around. If I had my book still, I would lend you it."

"Book?"

"Yeah, Elysia put together a guide to dealing with him and I managed to snag the last copy," RITSUKA sighed again. "I wanted to try talking to him, but never found the right time."

"Because you're too busy making goo-goo eyes at Hua, right?" The ELF's teasing made RITSUKA sputter before denying he was doing such things. "Yeah, and everyone here doesn't want a piece of him."

"Hey!" Ritsuka cried. "…It's not everyone."

"Just about everyone then. I felt like there was no safe place for me here," the tiny Ritsuka shuddered as he recalled flying around for his life. "They're still trying to get me, you know. Guess a talking, flying version is better than these." The ELF poked the plushie Ritsuka had on his bed— another one Pardo gave him after Sakura took his first one.

Ritsuka could only shrug before turning back towards his Servant to ask, "What about Aponia?"

"Hmm… she's a strange one, to be honest. I didn't really have the opportunity to talk to her much either, but I've heard good things about her," answered RITSUKA. "Thing is, she gives me a weird feeling whenever I do talk with her. And she always has this far off-look in her eyes— like she's looking at me but not looking at me if you get what I'm saying."

Ritsuka nodded at his observation. "Maybe I should try talking to her again," he muttered to himself. The best way to solve this mystery was to go straight to the source.

Knock knock

"I'm not here!" ELF Ritsuka cried before hiding under the bed as Ritsuka moved to answer the door to see… Pardo with a few boxes in her hands.

"Yaho, Master! Oh, and RITSUKA too! Perfect!" She invited herself in and put the boxes on Ritsuka's bed. Upon hearing the voice of one of the few who didn't chase him around Chaldea, the ELF emerged from his hiding spot. "The mini-one too? Did I wander into Sakura's dream or something?"

"Why would you say that?" RITSUKA cluelessly asked much to the catgirl's amusement.

On the other hand, Ritsuka sighed but didn't raise a complaint. "Is this about the favour? What do you need help with?"

A snicker escaped Pardo before she opened one of the boxes. "Tadaa~ Prototypes of your next line of merch!" The money-hungry MANTIS announced as she showed off another pair of plushies, dolled up in his other Mystic Codes.

"...Really?" All three Ritsuka reacted in unison.

"Yup! And I'll make sure to get a lot more in stock. Our second batch ran out the same day, you know!" She smiled as she undoubtedly recalled the QP she and her business partners were swimming in after their successful venture.

However, why did she want to show these off? "Why do you need my help then?" Ritsuka asked. "It looks like you have things well in hand."

"What? You think these two are the only ones? No, no. I need your help with these." Pardo reached into another box to pull out several costumes. "And since RITSUKA is here too, he can help! Just let me snap a few photos for referencing." The grin on her face then grew as she added another request. "Maybe even a couple of photos without the costumes. You know, just in case."

Both Ritsuka and RITSUKA could only look at her with deadpanned faces at her not-so-subtle attempt at another money-making product. Neither had any doubts she'd compile the pictures together into a book. ELF Ritsuka, meanwhile— "BAHAHAHA!" He collapsed on the bed in laughter. "Good luck, you two~"

Pardo was quick to pop his bubble though. "Don't think you're getting out of this, mini-tsuka!" She proclaimed before producing more tinier costumes in ELF Ritsuka's size.

"...You won't catch me alive!" The mechanical imitation cried before trying to escape. He might have gotten away too, had he not immediately crashed into someone as the door opened. "Ow!"

"Ah, sorry," the person apologized as she got to her feet. "...Huh? An ELF?"

"Hmm? Who are you…?" To Ritsuka's confusion, he didn't recognized the slightly-monsterous person at his door. Did another Servant get summoned without him knowing again? 'Is it finally that time?' he mentally groaned at his fear coming true.

"Ooh, another member of the animal-ear group!" Pardo, not noticing Ritsuka's apprehension, was grinning at the mystery Servant(?). It was then that a more familiar Servant stepped into view and entered Ritsuka's room: Sigurd.

"...Master?" He stared between him and RITSUKA, confusing both of them.

"Did something happen, Sigurd?" Ritsuka asked with worry before glancing at the mystery Servant again(?). "Who is she?"

RITSUKA, however, tilted his head at her. "Hang on, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before…" he muttered as he squinted his eyes.

"It's… a long story," Sigurd finally answered with a small sigh. "Though I do not think you need to involve yourself with it."

"Not them then?" The mystery person shook her head before looking at Ritsuka. "I apologize, Fujimaru. Please forget you ever saw us. It's easier that—"

"Oh, I remember now! You're SCHRÖDINGER, aren't you?!" RITSUKA suddenly shouted. "...Wait, why would you be here?"

"Urm… I think it's best we take our leave before things get even more complicate. Let's find the others," the now-named SCHRÖDINGER(?) decided before nodding at Sigurd.

"We apologize for intruding again, Chaldean Master," the Saber sighed before he and SCHRÖDINGER left the room as quickly as they appeared.

"...What was that about?"

"Better not to ask, Pardo." Ritsuka didn't need another headache.


After helping Pardofelis with her request, Ritsuka went on a walk around the halls. It was mainly to clear his head, but also to look for one of the two new Servants. Eventually, he found one in the simulator: Kalpas who was just finished with letting off steam.

It felt like a furnace when he stepped into the room; it wasn't even ten seconds before Ritsuka had to wipe his brow of sweat. "Why are you here, Master?" The standoffish voice of the Berserker questioned when he noticed Ritsuka. He expected Kalpas to tell him to leave him alone, but he surprisingly didn't. "If you want to use the room, go ahead. I'm done with my business."

Without waiting for a response, the Servant moved to leave the simulator. "...Kalpas?" Ritsuka got out just as he passed him.

"What?" The annoyed growl was intimidating coming from him, but Ritsuka didn't show any fear as he spun to face the masked man.

"I just want you to know… you don't need to fear being here," Ritsuka smiled. "Everyone here can handle themselves. We're used to having those who fly off the handle. Who knows, you might find someone here who can keep up with you."

There was only silence at first; Kalpas stared at him through his mask for what seemed like an eternity before— "...Heh…" the tiniest chuckle escaped him. "Master, has anyone told you that you're the most insane out of everyone here? You're a special type of fool to tell me that to my face."

Ritsuka's smile only widened at his derogatory remark. "I've been called that from time to time," he admitted with a laugh of his own. "But I'm serious. You don't need to be scared of being around others here.*

"It's my choice to be alone, Master. You don't need to butt in on it," Kalpas scoffed in annoyance. Ritsuka was going to reply when another serene voice spoke.

"He's just trying to help you, Kalpas." Both of them turned their heads towards the entrance to see Aponia coming in. "We all are."

"Tsk. Of course you say that." While he had been tempering his rage with Ritsuka earlier, there was now barely any restraint in Kalpas's voice. Without another word, he resumed making his exit and didn't utter another word at Aponia.

Once he was gone, she turned her attention towards Ritsuka, but didn't look directly at him. "I'm sorry, Master. I shouldn't have made myself known," she needlessly apologized.

"Don't worry, it's fine. I didn't expect to get through to him today or anytime soon, anyway." Ritsuka gave her a reassuring smile to cheer her up. "I'm surprised to see you here though."

"I was looking for Kalpas myself," she answered. "Unfortunately, he still does not wish to speak with me."

"He has a problem with you?" He asked to which she nodded.

"It's a complicated story, I'm afraid."

It's always that, wasn't it— Ritsuka thought. But now that they were on topic, he had to ask… "...do you have a problem with me?"

"...I'm sorry, Master. The truth of it is more complicated than you may believe," she tried to explain. "I do not have a problem with you or even RITSUKA. Whenever I look at either of you, all I can see is…"

"See? Wait, do you have—?"

"Please excuse me, Master. I have to go." With a small bow, she left too— leaving a thoroughly confused Ritsuka alone with his thoughts. After a few moments, he figured what to do next.

"Merlin it is." Just hope he could help him get down to the mystery…


A/N: ...Yeah, I couldn't resist. Anywho, I've reached the end of my semester so I should have a lot more time to laze around and procrastinate...Wait, I mean write. Eh, what's the difference. Either way, I'd say this mostly focus on Kalpas while the next if/when I get to it would focus more on Aponia. Pardo meanwhile will be busy making bank in the background while the other Ritsukas suffer.

Oh yeah, I also remembered Hoyo released an official relationship chart between the Flamechasers so I'll be referring to that now. Can't believe Mobius straight up told Ely she got fatter lol. See y'all next time!