Ch. 106 - Start
Mash sighed as she slouched slightly in her chair. The mission reports for the singularities had been filled out in considerable detail: From their arrival all the way to their fight against Lev-Flauros. She wasn't sure how much she could fill out for the various battles, considering they had split up for the singularity. Did Ren-senpai and Morgana fill out the reports for their respective legs of the campaign as well? She would have to ask. Perhaps she would be able to provide assistance in the matter.
Writing reports was more than routine for Mash at this point. As she typed away, her mind wandered to recent events – particularly about Ren. It had been incredibly worrying when he had been found in the kitchen, collapsed and unresponsive. It was also troubling to hear that he had done it to himself, even if it was to resolve some matter with his personas. It wasn't a sight she every wished to witness.
Before long, she moved on to the personality reports on the Masters. She decided to start with Ren Amamiya, since she had been with him the longest. It was almost easy to write: He treated everyone around him well, never looking down or up anyone but merely judging them by what kind of person they were. It was easy for everyone to get along with him, and he worked well with everyone in turn, whether it was her, his peers, the staff, or the other Servants.
Yet at the same time, he seemed to always be doing something to the point where she rarely caught sight of him beyond the cafeteria these days. She wanted to see if she could assist, but it was either magecraft research with El-Melloi, conversing with other Servants, or some matter of business that she couldn't help with.
In the end, she decided to sharpen her own skills in preparation. Leonidas's training had been grueling and harsh, even for her demi-Servant capabilities: Any tactics or skills were discovered, taught, and refined during their regular spars. And once the Spartan king had figured out the capabilities of the simulator, he regularly ran combat scenarios with her: Various monsters, Spartan soldiers, sometimes fighting in groups, sometimes by herself… they were varied and grueling, but she never asked for a reprieve.
Still, there were limits. She had once asked for further training from Leonidas, but the Spartan king instead laughed. 'I am glad you are so studious and resilient, Mash Kyrielight!' he had declared. 'However, rest is just as important as training! Your body needs time to rebuild itself and adjust, the mind to process and learn, and the spirit to regain its energy and strength! While I do understand, impatience rarely serves a warrior well, young Kyrielight. Remember this well.' The Shielder decided to take the lesson to heart.
A faint squeak caught her attention. Glancing over, she saw Fou yawning from where he lay on her bed. With a smile, she moved to sit on the bed instead, softly scratching the little being's head. "I'm sorry, Fou," she softly apologized. "With how busy I've been, I haven't spent much time with you, have I?"
"Fou, fou," the furry being quietly barked out in protest. Mash could only smile apologetically. Well, now was as good a time as any for a small break. Opening her nightstand, she fished out a Sherlock Holmes book – Hound of the Baskervilles. An old favorite of hers, and one she still very much enjoyed. As she reclined on her bed, Fou immediately came over and nestled in her lap, laying himself down with a quiet huff. She could only smile before she opened the book from where she last stopped and began reading.
For a while, there was nothing but the sound of Mash turning a page as she read while Fou quietly slept in her lap. The peacefulness of her room was different compared to the noisiness and insanity of the singularities, or even just the regular hustle and bustle of Chaldea. It really felt like it had been a long time since she had been able to just sit down and open a book for nothing more than entertainment.
At one point, she decided to glance up to check the clock and, to her surprise, half an hour had already gone by. It certainly had been a while since she had been so absorbed in reading that she lost track of time. It was a good feeling. Still, she should get back to work on the reports – her break had lasted long enough.
She began slowly sitting back up, only for Fou to dig a claw into her thigh and stop her. "Fou," she whispered. "I need to get back to my report. Can you get off?" Fou looked up at her, blinking his eyes blearily, before standing up, turning around… and laying back down on her lap. "Fou!" she quietly cried out in slight shock, but the tiny being ignored her, drifting back off to sleep.
The Shielder huffed. While she couldn't get mad at Fou, she did need to get up. This wasn't the first time he had given her such an attitude before – he could be rather mischievous when he wanted to – and she doubted it would be the last. As she reached over to pick him up, she noticed the light on the nearby panel blinking. Odd. Who would be contacting her at this time?
She tapped the panel – and her eyes widened in surprise to see Ren. "Ren-senpai," she greeted. "Are you feeling better? We were all worried after what happened the other day."
Ren grinned in response. "I'm doing a lot better," he replied. "It'll take a lot more to keep me down. But enough about me – let's talk about you. Are you available right now, Mash?"
The question caught the Shielder off guard. "Oh, yes," she answered. "I was just taking a break from doing reports. Have you started on yours, senpai?"
The Phantom Thief smiled abashedly while rubbing the back of his neck. "I, er, haven't quite gotten to that yet," he guiltily admitted. "I've been busy with other work."
Mash nodded. Given how busy he had been, she wasn't surprised. "Would you like help with it, senpai?" she asked. "I might be able to help expedite the process for you."
Her heart fluttered slightly again as he grinned broadly. "That would be great, Mash," he accepted. "You really are a lifesaver. But in the meantime, you mind if I come over?"
Again she was caught off guard, but she rapidly nodded regardless. "Not at all, senpai!" she rapidly answered. "Is something the matter? Should I prepare anything?"
For a brief moment, Ren looked off to the side with a twinge of irritation before turning back to Mash with a smile. "Just your lovely self, Mash," he reassured her jokingly. "I'll bring over some coffee as well. I'll see you in… I'd say half an hour."
"Of course, senpai," she replied quickly. "I'll see you then!" The screen winked off, leaving Mash staring at her own reflection. She turned back to Fou. "Alright, time to get off," she murmured. "I need to get ready for senpai."
The little creature huffed, but nevertheless hopped off. Smiling, Mash got up. Perhaps she should straighten the bed first…
'I did not expect you to be so short tempered,' Draco commented with amusement. 'I simply spoke an observation, did I not?'
'One that was very much unneeded,' Ren shot back. 'Please don't refer to Mash that way.'
They were currently in the kitchen where Ren had 'passed out' the other day, with him manning the coffee brewers. Nearby sat a long, thin item wrapped up in a blanket. He had decided, after the scare he gave everyone yesterday, that at the very least they deserved a small treat from him. He managed to find Brazilian Bourbon coffee beans sitting among the others, and a surprising quantity too.
How did Sojiro explain it? The beans from Brazil were the highest quality in the world, with balanced acidity and bitterness. Brazilian Bourbon was known for their soft sweetness and clean finish, and it was only produced in small quantities, most of which was exported. It seemed whoever handled logistics and supplies for Chaldea knew their coffee at the very least.
Draco was sitting on the counter beside him. Like before, she was visible only to him – he doubted a borderline-naked woman in the kitchen wouldn't draw attention from literally anyone entering the room. She had been rather supportive of his use of the beans. 'My, quite a rare variety these are,' she had purred. 'And here I thought decadence was beyond scientists and engineers. But it seems I am delightfully mistaken on this front.'
Still, with the Beast Candidate there, even his usual method of relaxing by brewing coffee was interrupted. Draco had a habit of appearing out of nowhere and when he least expected it, usually to make some remark or observation – and one particular remark about Mash while he was talking with her drew his ire.
It reminded him far too much of Kamoshida, especially when they fought against his shadow with that disgusting drink in his hand.
'Hm, a man who indulged to the point of hideousness,' Draco mused, reading Ren's thoughts. 'I can't say I despise it, but that is so… banal. Simply gorging one's self on any morsel like that is something any human can do. It would be amusing for a time to watch but it would get boring before long.'
'And I suppose I'm not in that category?' Ren commented rhetorically is he watched the coffee drip.
The Beast Candidate chuckled again. 'Oh, you are not,' she retorted with amusement. 'Even though you indulge in your sins, it is never to the point of ugliness. They are far greater than most, even on the scope of heroes and gods, yet you never take the ripe fruits dangling from you. Instead, you use them to propel yourself through paths filled with thorns and flames, seize the greater ones, and instead of devouring them, toss them to the masses instead as your own indulgence.'
Her grin widened as she tilted her head. 'Still, that does not mean you are immune to said fruits,' she whispered. 'After all, Mash Kyrielight… she reminds me of a plum, a rather lovely fruit whether you wish to make it into a most delectable wine or simply bite into its succulent flesh. And a fruit like that would suit the insatiable appetites of a Trickster like yourself, wouldn't you agree? One such as you only deserves-'
'And that's where I'm going to stop you,' the Phantom Thief shot down as he poured out the coffee into two mugs. 'Mash isn't some fruit for me to take or 'devour'. She's a person, one who's still learning and growing on how she wants to do things. And all I'm doing is giving a helpful nudge.'
'But of course,' Draco easily accepted. 'Yet even you are not immune to the lure: that night when she drunk herself into a stupor and you passed the night with her as she slept, you were smiling, were you not? With your hardships, trials, and successes, only the finest fruits are worthy of you. And even now, you are seeing what ground she might blossom in, where she might swell until she is fit to burst with sweet juice, all for you.'
Ren threw an irritated glare as the Beast Candidate hopped down from her perch. 'You have a marvelous approach, Trickster,' she cooed with a smile. 'Just be aware that it is your hand that decides where she grows and when she is properly ripe for plucking – another indulgence of yours, perhaps? Regardless, I shall be most interested in what you shall do." With that, she walked away, trailing a finger – no, a claw up his arm before she walked past him, and her presence vanished.
The Phantom Thief could only sigh in resignation as he reached for a tray. He thought he knew what he was getting into, but it seemed things were only going to get more difficult from here. Filling up the mugs, he placed them on the tray while tucking the package under his arm and began carefully making his way toward Mash's room.
Still, what Draco had whispered haunted his mind. Was this his selfishness? To simply have her to develop so that he could simply reap the benefits for himself later down the line? Mash was a blank slate in many ways and as such was incredibly subject to the influences around her. His influence was especially prominent as her senpai in life and her Master. The Beast Candidate had a point on that front.
He bitterly recalled Joan's initial accusations of him: Modifying her to someone who was more 'fitting' for their – or in this case, his own – needs. He never wished to make such a mistake again.
The Phantom Thief glanced down at the package he held and took a deep breath to reassure himself. No. This wasn't for his own benefit – or at least, it would be in a different way. It wouldn't be the way Draco expected, and it would be far more for Mash than for himself. In that sense, everyone wins. He'd certainly get what he ultimately wanted in the end. Reaching Mash's room, he pressed the panel and waited to be buzzed in.
Who said selfishness couldn't be helpful to others?
Mash smiled delightedly as Ren walked in, holding a tray with two coffees – though her smile faded as she took a closer look at her senpai. As everyone had been worrying about, he looked more haggard than he seemed over the screen, with dark shadows looming under his eyes and paling skin. However, his grey eyes were as sharp as ever and his grin was still bright and charming.
"Sorry for the short notice, Mash," he apologized as he carefully walked in.
Broken out of her reverie, the Shielder immediately shook her head. "Oh, no, it's nothing to apologize for," she reassured him with a smile. Then she noticed a small bundle he held underneath his arm. "Would you like some help, senpai?" she asked.
Ren nodded with a grin. "Sure," he replied. Mash immediately walked over and took the tray from her senpai, placing it on her open desk as he set the bundle down nearby. The Shielder had always kept her own room clean – unlike with Ritsuka, she didn't have many personal belongings to clutter it up – but she had also requested a robot to come in and clean it before her arrival anyway. It didn't hurt to be sure.
In the meantime, the Phantom Thief sat down in the chair, setting down the bundle next to him and had it lean against the desk leg. Even muffled, she could hear the faint clink of metal as it rested against the floor and leg. It only aroused her curiosity more. What did her senpai have? Was it some sort of new tool or project he had been working on? Perhaps it was a joint project with El-Melloi? But she withheld her questions for now. She could ask later.
As she sat down on the bed, Ren handed her a cup of coffee. Smiling in gratitude, she slowly sipped the brew, taking care not to scald her tongue. The taste was mellow, with a surprising sweetness to it that she hadn't expected, yet soft enough that it didn't adversely impact the flavor profile. It didn't taste like the sweetness of sugar, however. Was it from the coffee itself? It was certainly different, though still pleasant.
"How is it?" Ren asked, peering over the top of his cup with a knowing smile.
Mash smiled as she lowered her own mug. "It's delicious, senpai," she answered with a warm smile. "Until you had made coffee, I wasn't aware they could all be so… different. I believed it all tasted bitter. I wasn't sure how others could really bear with it and drink it strictly to help themselves stay awake, akin to medicine."
The Phantom Thief chuckled. "It's what happens with instant coffee," he explained. "Most of beans are carelessly roasted to the point that they're burnt, ground up, and left to sit around for gods know how long. No surprise it tastes like crap afterward. But hey, if you need access and affordability, then they're a go-to for a reason." He shrugged as he took another sip of his coffee.
"Many of the staff have stated they couldn't go back to the instant coffee after your brews, senpai," the Shielder added.
"So I hear," Ren agreed with a wry smile. "Maybe I should use that as blackmail material: cut off access for anyone who doesn't do things like properly eat their food or get some sleep."
Mash giggled. "I don't believe you would be that cruel, senpai," she retorted.
"Now, now, let's not be so hasty," Ren interjected, his grin widening. "It's a good thing to add on to my resume. Ren Amamiya: Coffee Magnate of Chaldea. I can even have people back me up on that with a few… compromises. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
The Shielder's eyes widened. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out how to properly answer it without offending her senpai before Ren burst out laughing. "S-sorry, sorry," he chuckled. "I had to mess with you a little, Mash. It's a bit embarrassing you took it so seriously. Funny though."
Mash's mouth dropped open slightly, then she pouted. "It's not very nice to tease your kouhai, senpai," she grumbled as she took another sip from her coffee – and to hide her own smile. Conversations like these, jokes and teasing, and learning about various things from Ren… they filled her heart with a warmth she hadn't expected before, yet she found herself wanting more of each time. It was a good feeling.
"How does it feel fighting, Mash?" Ren asked out of curiosity. "I'm guessing it's quite a change of pace."
The Shielder glanced up in slight surprise and thought about it. "It's… been an experience, senpai," she answered. "That time in the Fuyuki singularity was the first time I've really fought, though I didn't think much about it. I just wanted to find you, senpai. And any other survivors. After that, I guess… it just came naturally."
The Phantom Thief smiled. "Know that feeling," he agreed. "Me and my friends went through something similar when we first Awakened our personas. Everything was basically a whirlwind afterward, but we muddled through as best we can. Still can't believe we succeeded at times." That surprised Mash, but she could understand. Victory was rarely a guaranteed thing no matter how capable a person was. Thus, she trained and persevered to make sure they would succeed.
"Out of curiosity," Ren asked. "What are you planning to do after all this is done? Got anything specific in mind?"
"I never thought of any plans after this, senpai," she admitted automatically. "I most likely will remain at Chaldea as a staff member." For some reason, though her hands were wrapped around the warm mug of coffee, they felt ice cold.
Even as she had answered her senpai with a response she had made countless times, something was… off. That question was one she had never truly contemplated. She never had reason to: after all, there was nothing for her after 'everything'. What they were doing now, the Grand Order, was her everything. Did she want to tell him why? Could she tell him?
No. Her senpai had already shown greatly his own capabilities and yet he had so many of his own burdens. There was no reason to tell him, especially when her own fate was set in stone. She accepted that long ago. Hadn't she?
"No plans?" Ren echoed in mild surprise. His sharp grey eyes, normally mesmerizing for her to see, felt like they could see right through her. His gaze felt like they could discern the truth of the matter if he simply observed hard enough. She could no longer meet his eyes on the chance that was actually possible. She couldn't afford him finding out. Neither of them could.
"It's a big, wide world, Mash," the Phantom Thief continued, his tone gentler. "Isn't there something you want to experience? Something you want to go for?"
The girl opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again. Her senpai was right. It was a huge wide world for her, and all she saw of it was through a screen of a computer or TV or heard about from others. But those were all for other people, not for ones like her. Especially not for her. It wasn't forbidden to have desires or ambitions, sure, but… they would be pointless to her, wouldn't they?
"Then why do you fight?" Ren prodded. "I know we have a mission for all of mankind, but… that can't be it, can it? The shield you wield… is it just for us? To protect others and help them? What about for yourself?"
"If push came to shove, if nothing else mattered, would you use that shield to protect Mash Kyrielight?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Everything her senpai said… he was right. Her mission – no, her existence was dedicated to the Grand Order, to humanity. Her own desires, her own wishes… she didn't have any. Not because she wasn't allowed to have them, but because there was simply nothing she wanted. Chaldea was where she was born, where she would live… and where she would die. She was content with that. She was supposed to be content with that.
And yet there was a new unease in her heart that she never felt before. A howling deep within that was quiet yet couldn't be silenced. What was it? Why did she feel this way?
"What… what are you trying to say, senpai…?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ren smiled sadly. "I'm not trying to say anything," he murmured, barely any louder in turn. "It's just something to think about. Not for me or anyone else, but for yourself. Like I said, Mash, it's a big, wide world out there once everything's restored."
The girl blinked in surprise before lowering her head in consideration. "Is… is that okay, senpai?" she whispered. "We do have a mission still. And… personal ambitions or desires, especially my own, shouldn't be considered. It may jeopardize everything, after all."
The Phantom Thief chuckled in amusement. "That only happens if you let it get the best of you," he corrected. "But as for whether it's okay or not, only you can really decide that. And in my personal opinion, I think you're more than capable of balancing things out: What's good for the mission, what's good for others, and what's good for you."
"Then… what should these desires be, senpai?" she inquired.
Ren shook his head. "That, I can't answer," he replied. "What you want, what your desires are, they're your goals and yours alone. No one can – or should – decide that for you." The girl couldn't help but be a bit disappointed by that response. Her senpai was right, of course, but she was muddling in the dark. These kinds of questions didn't have easy answers.
Her ruminations were interrupted as the Phantom Thief nodded over to the bundle, still innocuously leaning against the desk leg. "And to help with that, I prepared a little something for you. Your shield may be used for others but this one? It's for you to use as you will. No more, and definitely no less."
Mash's eyes widened as her eyes flicked over to the bundle. A gift from her senpai? She never expected to receive anything like that. "I…" she stammered. "Th-thank you, sen-"
"Don't thank me," Ren cut her off, looking back at her with a smile. "The gift is selfishness on my part: My desire to see you grow and walk your own path. It's your life, Mash. It's up to you to decide what to do with it in the end. As for me, I'll back you up how I can." While he spoke, he carefully lifted up the bundle and offered it with both hands.
The girl stared wide-eyed at the bundle for a moment before slowly reaching for it. Her own desires? Her own goals? What could they be? What should they be? She could align herself with her senpai's goals but from their conversation, he wouldn't approve of that. The Grand Order was important, but to call its completion 'her desire' didn't feel right. All in all, it shouldn't matter whatsoever… and yet that unquenchable howling in her heart demanded otherwise.
What had her senpai done?
Slowly and reverently, she picked up the bundle. It was light yet for some reason it felt almost unbearably heavy – a paradoxical feeling she didn't know how to describe. It almost felt like she was bearing the weight of fate itself in her hands. The feeling was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
Mash glanced over at Ren, who simply smiled enigmatically. Gulping, she slowly unwrapped it, the cloth falling away – and gasped at what she saw.
What she held in her hands was a sword. No – to call it a sword was to grossly understate it. The cross guard was gold and inlaid with white, almost radiating with divinity even under the clinical lighting of Chaldea. The grip was just wide enough for two hands if necessary and wrapped with a solid piece of black leather without any stitches or stain, as dark as a moonless night. The pommel was a solid gold piece, etched in a pattern that resembled a crown.
The blade itself was approximately a meter long. It was thin, more akin to a rapier blade than a longsword, with a point to match. Yet for all its delicacy, she could feel the strength and resilience just from sight alone as it gleamed brilliantly, cold and harsh. The light shifted with even the slightest motion, warping around the fuller and ridge, bedazzling her gaze. Fou, who had been asleep on the bed, had woken up and was staring at it in similar amazement and wonder.
In terms of design, it was a simple sword with minimal embellishments. However, it was without a doubt one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. Mash could only wordlessly look up at Ren in shock, unable to even form words of gratitude for the treasure that lay in her hands.
The Phantom Thief in return grinned. "Give it a try," he suggested.
The Shielder could only gulp and give a hesitant nod in response, slowly turning back to the sword. She slowly and fully unwrapped the weapon, revealing its full brilliance to the outside world. Her fingers slowly trailed down the blade, the cold metal almost burning underneath her touch, before finding the grip and taking a firm hold.
As she tossed aside the cloth, the sword felt… familiar in her hands. It resonated with her in ways that she couldn't put into words. Stepping back to make some space, she held the sword up in a ready stance. Taking a deep breath, she raised the sword in the air, taking care not to hit the ceiling. It felt light yet odd in her grip.
Then she sliced down. The blade sliced through the air with a faint whistle that was pleasing to hear. She could practically envision the sword cleaving through whatever obstacle was in front of her as easily as it had cleaved through air just now. It was, without a shadow of a doubt, a marvelous blade.
And yet, despite everything, it didn't feel like it fit her. It felt like a foreign implement in her hand, something that both belonged yet it didn't. Was it because she was a mere novice with a sword, or was it because of the weight it held, both literally and figuratively? For her duties, her shield had more often than not proven more than adequate. What would she do with this sword? What could she do?
She gulped, hearing her heart hammer against her chest, and took a breath to calm down. These were questions she could contemplate later. For now, as a gift from her senpai, she would need to cherish it. The first thing she would need was a scabbard for it. No doubt Da Vinci would be able to figure out something for her. The last thing she needed was for the sword to lose its sharpness and luster. And after that, she would need to amend her training regimen so she could properly practice with it. But first…
"S-senpai, I… it's…" she stammered, trying to get the words out. There was so much she wanted to tell him: That she deeply appreciated the sword, that she would keep his words and counsel in her heart, that she would fight alongside him to the very end… so many words and thoughts rushed through her mind that she couldn't possibly voice them all even if she had all day to. In the end, she could only push out two simple words out of her mouth.
"Thank you," she whispered.
In that moment, Ren took in all of Mash's features: the gleam in her eyes, the strength of her form and figure wielding the sword, her breathlessness… and her smile. It was something he would never forget.
He smiled again. "Again, don't," he reassured her as he stood up. "It's just my selfishness. Everything after this, it's all you. I'm looking forward to it, Mash." Taking up the tray with the now empty mugs, he stepped out of the room. Mash could only stare at the retreating figure of Ren before the door hissed closed. His footsteps became fainter and fainter, and soon she was left alone once again.
Mash looked back down at the sword. Picking the cloth back up, she carefully wrapped up the sword – albeit with great reluctance. Ren's words were still fresh in her mind. She had much to think about. But right now, there were things she could do. If her senpai had placed his trust in her, then she would pay back that faith a thousand times over. And most importantly, it was another step to properly being able to stand at his side. Nodding to herself in determination, she began making her way to Da Vinci's workshop.
It was a simple desire and goal, she admitted to herself. But for now, it would do.
"You think she took it well?" Morgana asked.
"I think so," Ren replied as he wiped off some sweat off his forehead. "She probably has a lot to think about at this point, but what's left is something only she can do. I'll be able to help her out however I can, though hopefully she'll ask others as well."
After giving the sword to Mash, Ren went to the training room to run a few experiments with his magecraft. Morgana joined him soon afterward, observing his progress from a distance. Draco thankfully had been quiet – it seemed she was currently content to simply observe and watch everything as opposed to talking again. Whatever her opinion was on how he handled Mash, he didn't know nor care.
Still, her words served as a warning for Ren. He had to be careful with his actions and words around Mash. With how impressionable she was, it would have been utterly, disgustingly easy to warp and shape her how he wished even unintentionally. It was the kind of power over a person he abhorred and would sooner surrender it if he could help it. Hopefully, this would be the first step for Mash to be her own person.
And if her decision was to stand by him still… well, he could only be touched and accept her gratitude. So long it was her own decision and not one influenced or forced on her by himself or others.
Draco's quiet giggle resonated deep in his mind, causing him to bitterly smile. As she had said, it was still his hand, but at least he could leave her to grow how she wished.
"Arsene!" he called out once more. His other self burst forth with a sonorous laugh before pointing at a target dummy. A fountain of darkness erupted from beneath it, engulfing it in dark energy before it faded away. As the persona vanished, Ren breathed out a sigh of irritation as he felt his energy drop a bit more. Thankfully Arsene was perfect for working with as he was easily the least costly of his personas, but that didn't help his annoyance any.
He had been trying to adjust his persona spells and see if he could at least either lower the magical energy consumption or increase the output. He had made no progress on either front: Whether he had the spell working at full blast or made it so it would barely even tickle, the magical energy usage barely differed. And no matter what he tried, he couldn't pass the maximum power threshold of his spells.
"Normally I'd ask if it was a good idea to give something so valuable to someone else," the catlike being sighed. "But, well, it's Mash we're talking about. I don't think even Makoto or Sumire would be as earnest as her, and that's saying something."
Ren chuckled, picking up a bottle of water. "They'd love to meet her, I know that much," he remarked. His best friend was right to be mildly skeptical – the sword he gifted her was incredibly valuable. Using the standard he had gotten from the Roman singularity, he had the Velvet Room craft the weapon using two ingredients. The first was a plain, undecorated sword, courtesy of Da Vinci. It served as the 'base' of the weapon, devoid of any cognition and properties.
The Phantom Thief recalled that moment when he made the request of the genius with amusement. He had to be incredibly clear and specific with Da Vinci that the sword was to be made without any additional embellishments, no garishness, absolutely none of her usual trademarks. While he had more than enough faith in the Uomo Universale to create it, seeing her expression morph between confusion, amusement, and sheer bewilderment had been remarkable.
The second ingredient was a different matter entirely: A cognitive copy of the Holy Grail from the Thieves Den. Not the Grails he had been collecting throughout the Grand Order, but the Treasure of the masses of Tokyo: Yaldabaoth's true form. The sheer amount of power radiating from it even as a cognitive copy had been astounding, to the point where he wasn't even sure he could bring it into the Velvet Room. But he could and did. The results had been nothing short of spectacular.
He had to smile in reminiscence. While the image of an electric chair wasn't something that normally brought anyone warm feelings, he still remembered when he made all his friends' greatest weapons and armor. Their delight – and subsequent excitement – was matched only by his own. He couldn't wait to see what Mash would do with her own weapon in turn – and what answer she would ultimately arrive at.
"So, what are you gonna do now?" Morgana asked.
Ren grinned as he set down his bottle. "What I always do," he answered easily. "Make all the preparations needed so when the time comes, we'll all be ready for them."
The catlike being stared at Ren silently. His words were cheerful as always and his eyes were sharp as ever. Everything about his best friend seemed as good as ever. Yet he could still see the dark shadows underneath Ren's eyes that wouldn't disappear. He looked leaner than usual too; was it because of his exercise regime, stress, or malnutrition? It was possible it was all of them at once. Over and over again, he stressed that Ren should take care of himself. And over and over again, Ren replied he was fine.
What else could he say now?
"Something the matter, Mona?" Ren asked, looking over at him in curiosity and concern.
Morgana simply sighed in resignation, doing his best to mask his despondency. "Just a bit tired," he murmured. "I'm gonna go take a nap. Don't overwork yourself, okay, Joker?"
The Phantom Thief chuckled. "I'll try not to," he easily agreed.
'You will,' he bitterly thought to himself as he walked off.
After Morgana left, he continued his experiments, making notes in a nearby notebook so he could share his findings with El-Melloi in hopes of a breakthrough. After a while, he sat down heavily on a nearby bench and sighed heavily. Picking up his notebook, he scanned through it to look for common threads.
So far, he had made no progress on naturally surpassing the damage thresholds of his spells. The only ways to do so were to enhance his abilities via persona magic – which used magical power as well and thus, defeated the entire purpose. He would check in with El-Melloi about that one but in his opinion, this line of inquiry was a dead end.
Then there was the other method. While he can vary the power and magical energy usage of his spells, the lion's share of the energy used was just to manifest his personas. The bigger and/or more powerful the personas, the more magical energy they used in turn. If he could cut down even a portion of the energy used to manifest his personas, then perhaps he would be able to…
A portion…
Ren's eyes shot wide open as an idea came to him. If summoning his personas were what was taking up so much energy, then what if he just manifested a part of them? Logically, he would cut down on the energy consumption and that part would still serve as a conduit for any persona spells. It was all hypothetical, but the concept seemed promising.
Opening a new page in his notebook, he wrote down the idea in preparation while switching masks in his mind back to Arsene. It was better to stick with his other self for such a new idea as a control variable. Standing up, he took a deep breath in preparation. Reaching out with his hand, he envisioned Arsene, then focused on the claw. Just the claw, nothing else. His circuits began glowing as he tore the mask off in his mind.
There was a sputter of blue flame, and the claw of his other self manifested. However, there were blue flames past the forearm that tried to manifest more of Arsene, forcing Ren to mentally halt the process. For a split second, his attention wavered, and the resulting arm vanished. The Phantom Thief huffed in annoyance. As expected, his energy didn't drop as much with just manifesting the arm, but that wouldn't mean anything if he couldn't keep it stable.
After writing down the results, he tried again. Experimenting with the concept, he tried to manifest different parts of Arsene: From his top hat to his wings to his heels. He also tried different methods such as mentally enforcing the parts as 'its own' being rather than being part of a persona, but that proved fruitless: So long as its identity was 'part of a persona', then it would try to manifest the rest of the persona regardless of what label he tried to stick on.
In the end, all Ren had was a page of scribbled out notes, experiments, and his hypothesis that had question marks surrounding it in frustration. The Phantom Thief sat back down with an annoyed huff as he took another sip of water and began thinking again. There was something he was missing, something both incredibly simple and yet illusive. But what was it…?
"I see you're hard at work, Master."
Ren jumped slightly in surprise and whirled about to see Artoria. "Yeah, just… trying to figure some stuff out about my magecraft," he answered with a tired smile. "I'm close to figuring something out – I think – but I'm missing a final step here."
The King of Knights nodded pensively. She pointed at his notebook. "May I?" she asked. After the Ren handed it to her, she perused it, her green eyes calm and analytical. It certainly reminded her of the lessons she had with Merlin back in life. She never had the patience to truly delve into such arts, but having such knowledge rarely went amiss. "I see you've been narrowing down possibilities and methods," she mused.
The Phantom Thief chuckled. "Reminds me of science classes all over again," he commented. "Been a while since I did experiments like this. It's more interesting than dissections, at least."
Artoria chuckled at the comment in turn. "So I see," she replied, putting down the notebook. "If you are stuck at a critical junction, then perhaps I can offer a particular method? It has assisted many of my knights at times when faced with similar conundrums."
Ren glanced up in curiosity. "Oh?" he asked. "Some form of brainstorming or thinking technique?"
The king smiled wryly. "In a manner of speaking," she replied vaguely. Walking over to a nearby rack filled with practice weapons, she picked up a wooden longsword. She whirled it in her grip to test the balance and nodded with approval.
The Phantom Thief quickly put two and two together. "Ah, that method, huh?" he remarked with some amusement as he got up and went to the rack as well, grabbing a wooden shortsword.
Artoria nodded. "At times, it is better to allow your body to move and fight," she elaborated. "While your mind does the work without you fussing over it like a worried hen. And aside from that, you haven't had much chance to further hone your martial skills as of late, have you?"
"Guilty as charged," Ren admitted with a grin. He had been so busy with other matters that he hadn't been able to practice properly fighting. At least with Artoria as a sparring partner and teacher, he would be able to make up for that. Plus, she did have a point: Perhaps stepping away and moving his body would allow his mind to put together the pieces he was missing in the background.
"Go easy on me," he said, taking his usual battle stance. "I'm a bit rusty."
"Nonsense," the king retorted, lifting her blade. "A few hard knocks will more than shake it off. Now, let us begin."
Ren smirked. For a moment, neither of them moved. A gentle breeze blew by as the two combatants locked eyes, observing and reading their opponent. He adjusted the grip on his shortsword – then charged. A simple attack, but it would be a good way for him to figure out the king's capabilities and go from there.
As he closed the distance, Artoria made no move, either to dodge, defend, or even retaliate. He got closer and she still didn't move. Then he was almost on her. As he began to swing down, the king suddenly stepped toward him – and Ren found himself gasping and doubling over as the cross guard of her sword rammed into his solar plexus.
"I truly hope you didn't expect that to land, Ren Amamiya," she admonished, her tone stern as she pushed his chest, forcing him to stumble back. Ren winced as he held the area she struck, forcing air into his lungs as he straightened himself up. That stung a lot more than he expected. As he regained his composure and stance, the king lifted her blade once more.
"Again," she commanded.
The Phantom Thief grit his teeth. Right, a frontal assault wouldn't work. He began slowly circling around, trying to take Artoria's flank. She easily moved at the same pace, keeping him in front of her. Once more, the two observed one another, discerning their advantages and planning their moves.
Then in the blink of an eye, Artoria initiated. Ren raised his shortsword in slight panic as she closed the distance far faster than he expected. With a single uppercut, her sword struck his wrist, forcing him to throw up his weapon with a cry of pain. Before he could recover, the king brought her blade back down right on his shoulder, the force of the blow pushing him down to his knees. "And I should not have been able to land that," the king admonished once more.
Ren shook his hand to get the soreness out of his wrist as his shoulder throbbed. As the Saber backed off, he walked over to retrieve his shortsword. "Do not believe you can take me lightly, Master," the king lectured. "While you are very capable, you are also distracted. A moment's lapse of concentration is fatal on the battlefield – a fact I believe you are more than aware of."
"Heh, I am," the Phantom Thief gasped out as he picked up his weapon. "But… guess I needed the reminder." She was right: he had been thinking in the background about his work and research. To do anything short of dedicating his entire being to the fight – body, mind, and soul – was not only not enough, but it was insulting and a waste of time to them both. He quietly switched personas in his mind and tore off his mask.
"Pixie."
The fairy persona appeared once more and pointed at Ren. A green glow emanated from him as the pain receded from his body, the bruises underneath his clothes vanishing. As Pixie vanished, he breathed a sigh of relief, rolled his shoulders, and settled back into his regular stance with a smirk. "Shall we take it from the top?" he asked.
A faint smile graced Artoria's features. "Let's," she agreed.
Ren charged again, and the king once more didn't move. As he was almost on her, she once more thrust her cross guard forward – only to be met this time with Ren's shortsword. A brief grin was all she glimpsed before he placed a hand on her shoulder and, using the momentum from his charge, flipped himself over her.
Once he was right above her, he removed his supporting hand and allowed himself to drop, slashing straight down at the king's head. Artoria stepped forward, dodging the shortsword by a hair's breadth and whipped around with her blade, forcing Ren to backflip away and barely avoid getting caught by the counter. "Better," she called out with a smile. "Though I believe you have more tricks than that."
The Phantom Thief stood back up with a daring grin. "Who knows?" he replied as he casually spun the shortsword in his grip. "All I can say is, you're gonna enjoy the show!"
The King of Knights grinned. This time, they charged simultaneously. Artoria brought up her sword in a wide arc, which Ren dodged by sliding right under the swing past her. Whirling the shortsword into a reverse grip, he partially turned and stabbed toward her back – a move that was blocked by the king intercepting his forearm with her own.
Before Ren could properly react, she adjusted the grip on the sword, grabbing hold of it by the ricasso – and noticed her Master's free hand fiddling with something that wasn't there. She frowned slightly but followed through regardless by ramming the pommel into his side, causing him to double over again. Grasping the ricasso with her other hand as well, she slammed the cross guard down on his upper back and sent him sprawling.
"Good," Artoria declared. "But not enough. Again." As Ren stumbled back up and they both made distance, the king thought back to his maneuver. It was only a single observation, enough that she had an inkling of what might be holding Ren's capabilities back here, but she decided to keep quiet for now.
The bout went in a similar manner: They charged one another again, this time with Artoria swinging down from a high stance. Ren raised his shortsword in a loose guard, guiding her blade past him before swinging for her face. The king ducked to avoid it and once again noticed his other hand was being hesitant and fiddling once more. She lashed out with her blade and struck her Master behind the knee, forcing him to kneel. Before he could recover, the king's sword was at his throat.
They both stayed there for a while, Ren gasping for breath from his exertions. "You are not used to fighting with a singular weapon, are you?" she asked rhetorically. "Your stance and maneuvers, coupled with how your off hand always seems to be active – you typically fight with a secondary weapon, I take it?"
The Phantom Thief blinked in response, then chuckled. "Got it in one," he confirmed. "I fight with a gun and personas as well, so… this style of fighting is new to me. Just thought I'd give this a shot, see if I can at least improve on that front."
"I see," Artoria mused as she withdrew her blade. This time, she reached out to help Ren up. "Why do you push yourself so?" she asked.
The question surprised Ren slightly. "Well, just in case," he replied. "There may be situations where I can't rely solely on a gun or my personas, so having a bit more experience with knifework is important, after all."
"That may be," the king agreed. "And yet if the opportunity presents itself that you can use every advantage that avails you, why do you not seize it? Why do you continue to push yourself down a path where the worst may or may not even come to pass?"
The Phantom Thief's eyes narrowed slightly. "What exactly are you getting at, Artoria?" he asked slowly.
Artoria frowned slightly in response. "Exactly what I said," she simply responded. "You are pushing yourself harder and harder down your path to prevent the worst outcome from coming to pass – a commendable attitude, undoubtedly, but it is not without its demerits. Why?"
Ren stared at Artoria's calm eyes. He could see her concern within, but no judgement nor reservation. And he could also see… sympathy? That was something he hadn't expected from her. For a moment, he considered brushing it off again – then Lavenza's words echoed in his mind: how honesty could be a strength as well.
He could only sigh to himself as he ran a hand through his sweaty hair. If there was any time to use it, then he could certainly do a lot worse than with someone as wise and knowing as Artoria Pendragon of all people.
"Because I'm basically humanity's last shot," he admitted bluntly. "If I fail here or die, then that's it. Humanity's gone. So I need to improve what I'm strong at and shore up any weaknesses, anything to improve our chances of winning. And if that means I have to power on through even when I feel like collapsing, then that's what I'm gonna do."
He shambled over to the bench once again and sat down hard with a huff, wiping some sweat from his brow. "I'm guessing you're going to tell me to relax as well?" he asked rhetorically.
Artoria said nothing for a moment. If anything, the sympathy in her eyes was even greater. "No, I shall not," she finally replied. "I simply believe the path you tread is a tragic one, no matter how noble or worthy it is. One that is fraught with much loss… and you would not even realize it until you look back far too late."
Ren noticed the sadness in her voice. "There's a story there, I take it," he noted.
The king's eyes slowly looked down at the practice sword in her hand. Even now, after all this time, she could still feel the sting of blisters from constantly swinging one as she trained in her childhood, all so she could be ready for her destiny. Forgoing childish hobbies. Forgoing her family. Forgoing her life.
Forgoing her humanity.
"To become a king," she murmured quietly. "I pushed myself to the utmost limit. Combat, war, politics, economics, history, engineering… Countless hours I have spent without ceasing, without resting. Even my sleep was not spared – Merlin continued to tutor and lecture me in my dreams, allowing me to make the most of my time."
The last sentence sent a cold shiver down Ren's back. This was no different than him modifying and experimenting with the Thieves Den or attended Olga and Lavenza's lectures about demons and personas while he slept.
"By the time the crown was placed upon my head, I had become the ideal king," Artoria continued, her eyes misting over slightly in reminiscence. "I would be ready to lead Camelot no matter what may assail the kingdom. I do not regret my path nor my choices – if I was in front of the sword in the stone, I would draw it without hesitation once more. But…"
Her hands closed tightly around the blade. "I had forgotten what I had enjoyed," she whispered. "What I had loved before. I had forgotten my friends. My own brother had become no closer to me than simply one of my knights. I embraced my role as the King of Knights so deeply that I forgot everything I had been before."
She looked back up at Ren, meeting his grey eyes with an unreadable gaze. "If you wish to walk this path, Ren Amamiya, I shall not stop you," she stated. "But I would have you know at the very least what it shall cost you in the end. Whether you believe that to be an acceptable trade, I leave it to you."
The Phantom Thief was silent as he wrestled with his own thoughts. It seemed Artoria had done basically the exact same thing he did… and lost everything she was for the result. She was a noble, wise, powerful king now, but she had made countless sacrifices to do so – and it was clear he would be doing the same thing. Would he stop after the world was restored? What would he lose if he continued as he was now? What would he gain? It was his life for all of humanity and the world. Logically, it was obvious what he should do.
And yet… was that ultimately what he wanted?
"You've given me a lot to think about," was the only thing Ren could say.
Artoria nodded sympathetically. "I had hoped it would," she replied in kind. "You have my counsel. I shall take my leave." She picked up the practice weapons and moved to put them away.
"Hey, Artoria?" Ren called out.
"Yes?"
"Do you mind if we make this a more regular thing?" he asked. "Whether it's sparring sessions or just talking in general – it seems to help clear my head up. Plus, you're right. I do need practice."
The king's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then she smiled. "I'm glad the method has proved fruitful for you," she replied. "If that is the case, then I shall be more than happy to. On one condition, however."
"What would that be?" Ren asked.
"That next time, you do not fight me in such a half-hearted manner," the king stated. "Whatever you need to fight at your full potential, do so, and I shall respond in kind. I believe the results would be more fruitful if you do."
Her eyes slightly narrowed as the atmosphere around them grew slightly colder. "I would be most… displeased if you do not," she added at the end.
The Phantom Thief gulped in response at the non-subtle threat. "I'll definitely make sure of that," he replied quickly. He mentally noted to pick up his Chaldean Arms next time he wanted to spar with Artoria. Despite his current fear, he was curious and a little excited to see how he would fare against her. It would definitely be an experience to remember.
Artoria nodded. "Good," she replied with satisfaction. "I leave you to your devices. Please do take care of yourself, Master." Once she had put the weapons away, she vanished into motes of golden light, leaving the Phantom Thief alone once more.
Within his heart, Ren felt that familiar warmth as yet another arcana formed: Temperence. Well, that was a new one here. Still, he welcomed it. He wondered what lessons Artoria would impart on him? It would certainly be different than his last Temperance arcana.
For a moment, he had the image of Artoria in a maid outfit. It was certainly a better fit for her than Kawakami was…
Across time and space, a certain teacher sneezed.
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