The summoning room was abuzz with activity once again. The Chaldean staff once more took their stations and began their usual checks. The facility had managed to store up enough energy for another round of summonings and Da Vinci had managed to triage the necessary power needed to sustain the Servants, so they decided to proceed. On duty today were Archer, who was relaxing by the entrance, and Tamamo, who stood nearby watching everything unfold impassively.

Ren waited near the summoning platform with the others. It hadn't been all too long since their last summoning, but the more manpower the better. He idly wondered who they were going to summon this time around. With Boudica and Waver around, it was likely more Servants from the Roman singularity were going to show up as well, like Leonidas or Romulus. They would certainly be incredibly helpful in the days ahead.

He watched impassively as Mash laid her shield down on the platform. He couldn't help but wonder if Nero would show as well. She definitely wasn't the type to miss something like this if she could help it. "How are we looking, doc?" he called over.

Roman scanned the readings, then nodded. "All good to go!" he replied. "You guys can begin whenever!"

"Right!" Morgana cried as he walked up first. "In that case, I'm gonna go first!"

Ren and Ritsuka both chuckled. "Hit it, Mona!" the former replied.

The catlike being grinned. Lifting his paw, his command seal began glowing as he recited the summoning chant. Orbs of light appeared and began orbiting around the spear as rings of light flashed around the shield. They once again converged into a pillar of light and exploded with power.

Through the resulting mist, a figure slowly stood up, slowly brushing themselves off. They stepped forward, revealing an Asian young woman wearing a loose white robe with her black hair tied up. Her eyes casually observed her surroundings before resting on her Masters, then smiled. "Jing Ke, Assassin class," she introduced herself. "I believe I said drinks are on me if we ever met again, did I not?"

"I'll pass – bad experiences with alcohol," Ren responded with a grin. "It's good to see you again."

Jing Ke smiled. "Yes, good to see you-"

Her response was interrupted by Ritsuka bouncing forward and grabbing her hand. "We have one of the best Assassins in the world with us!" she chirped. "It's awesome to see you again, Jing Ke!"

The Assassin hesitated, then grinned. "I thought I told you that I failed in killing my target in life?" she asked.

"Uh huh," replied the redhead flatly. "And who was the one who took down Romulus, the founder of Rome? Hmm?"

Morgana snickered. "She's got you there," he pointed out.

Jing Ke stared at Ritsuka, then burst out laughing. "A fair point," she acceded before looking over at Ren. "Though that was only because I had a good assistant this time around," she added.

The Phantom Thief smiled back and shrugged. "Happy to help," he replied simply. "Now, we still have summonings to do. We'll show you around later, Jing Ke – and yes, that includes the cafeteria where we store the alcohol."

The Assassin grinned. "You understand me so well already," she joked before stepping off the summoning platform to the other Servants. She looked over at Archer and Tamamo. "Good to see you both again," she greeted with a grin.

Archer nodded. "A pleasure to be working with you once more, Jing Ke," he replied cordially.

"Likewise," Tamamo replied. "Mayhaps we might share some sake later? I believe it's a drink best enjoyed with some company."

Jing Ke looked over in surprise, then grinned once more. "All drinks are," she corrected happily. "I'm more than happy to join you later, once we're done with our business." The Caster simply smiled and nodded in reply, her ears twitching. She had already dealt with Jing Ke in the Roman singularity before, but it would be good to evaluate her just in case.

Ritsuka stretched her arms and took a deep breath. "Right," she murmured to herself before lifting her own hand. As her command seals glowed, power gathered as the lights appeared and converged once more into another pillar, unleashing another explosion of power. The resulting figure stood proud on the summoning platform. Stepping forward, the figure was a powerfully built man, dressed in gleaming bronze armor. His olive skin contrasted his red, short-cropped hair as his gazed critically about at his audience. "I am King Leonidas of Sparta," he declared. "Lancer class."

He looked toward the Masters and his stern expression broke into a smile. "I am glad that this time, we take to the field as allies," he added. "Well met, my Masters."

Ren grinned up at the Spartan king. "Well met to you too," he greeted back. "I don't have any tricks for you right now, sorry. Turns out I'm not as good a jester as I thought."

Leonidas paused in surprise, then laughed loudly. "And yet you have jokes aplenty!" he boomed. "I will be counting on you once more, Ren Amamiya!" The Phantom Thief nodded and grinned in response.

"Um…"

Leonidas turned to see a lilac-haired girl approaching him – and his eyes widened. Her manner of dress was different as well as the air around her, yet he would never be able to forget her. "Ah, the valiant warrior who faced me," he remarked, his face once more spreading into a broad grin. "You named yourself Mash Kyrielight, correct? It is good to see you once more."

Mash blinked, then smiled and bowed. "It is good to see you too, sir!" she replied gladly. "I apologize for the discourtesy I had shown you on the field earlier. I'm glad we can fight together now instead of being enemies."

The Spartan king laughed again. "Discourtesy? What do you speak of?" he asked. "That duel was magnificent, Mash Kyrielight. You had shown your full mettle and strength, taking my teachings to heart and fighting with everything you had and more. No, you had shown no discourtesy. In fact, once again I thank you for showing me my time in that singularity was worthwhile."

The Shielder looked up in surprise, then smiled brightly. Leonidas had said much the same as Ren had, and she could only feel honored by the fact. Having said his piece, he stepped off the summoning platform as well to stand with the Servants, giving them silent nods of greeting which were returned in kind.

Ren stepped up last. Once more, all eyes were on him to see who he would summon. He began the ritual once more, leading to yet another pillar of light and explosion. For a moment, all was silent. Then a loud voice boomed from the mist.

"Umu! You have done well to summon the Flower of Olympia! Gaze upon my presence and beauty and know that you are blessed with victory to come!"

With a dramatic wave of her hand, the figure waved aside the mist, revealing a shorter, beautiful young woman. Clothed in a red dress, her golden hair was done up in a bun as she smiled proudly at her audience. "I am Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus!" she announced. "I am the finest of classes: Saber! Rejoice and delight, for I am now here!"

"Oh, we already are," Ren replied with a smirk as he stepped forward. "Welcome to Chaldea, Nero."

Nero looked at Ren – and her smile faltered for a split second before she was beaming again. "I thank you for your welcome," she replied happily. Looking over, her eyes widened in surprise as she noticed Tamamo. "Caster?" she gasped. "You are here too?"

Tamamo sighed, her tail flicking in irritation. "Indeed, I am," she replied. "I had earnestly hoped you were not summoned with your memories. But evidently that is not the case."

The emperor scoffed. "It seems you are in the habit of underestimating me once more," she retorted as she stepped off the summoning platform. "But there is no good sense trading barbs here, not when we have other matters at hand. This is not our battlefield – that can await another time."

"For once, you speak sense, Saber," the miko retorted. "It's good to see you are not entirely delusional." Nero simply gave an annoyed glare but otherwise didn't press her point.

Ritsuka meanwhile had been following the argument by looking back and forth between the two Servants, much like what everyone else had been doing as if it were a tennis match. "I'm guessing you two know each other?" she asked.

Nero and Tamamo looked at one another, then sighed aridly. "It is a considerable story that even I do not wish to recite," the former replied. "But for now, please show us to our accommodations. It is best we familiarize ourselves with our new palace before we take to the field."

Everyone just looked at one another before quietly moving off. Ren silently stared at Nero, his grey eyes indecipherable which quickly garnered Nero's attention. The emperor simply shook her head in response. "We will speak later," she murmured so only he would hear. "There are matters we must discuss."

Ren simply nodded and followed behind Nero. From Nero's reaction to when she first saw him to how she acted… it seemed things were different with her than in the Roman singularity. At least they could speak about it and see what could be done. He felt a presence beside him and saw Mash had walked up with a look of concern. "Is everything alright, senpai?" she asked quietly, glancing at Nero.

The Phantom Thief hesitated, then smiled. "A matter that I'll be dealing with later," he replied honestly. "It shouldn't be a big deal. But thanks for your concern, Mash. Come on – we better catch up before they leave us behind."

Mash hesitantly nodded and followed Ren out of the summoning room. She could only wonder now: What would happen between senpai and Nero?

"And this is gonna be our last stop for the day: The simulator!"

At Morgana's announcement, the doors to the simulator opened to the training grounds, allowing the group to step in. Of the three new Servants that had joined, Jing Ke had broken off once they hit the cafeteria and began plundering their alcohol stores while Archer stayed behind to make sure she didn't drink every single bottle Chaldea had. "While we can apparently switch it to whatever we want, we normally just keep it to the training grounds," the catlike being explained. "Me and Ren drop by here to polish up our skills every once in a while, and Servants can also have some simulated enemies to fight against too."

"Umu, what a fantastic place," Nero marveled. "If it can emulate a training ground, then I wonder if it can replicate my glorious theater. It may not be quite as grand as the real locale, admittedly, but it would more than suffice. Hm – yes, I must see if it can be done.

Ren chuckled, trying to keep the nervous tone out of his voice. "I would ask Da Vinci about that," he answered. "She knows better than most of us how to utilize the simulator." He idly wondered if he could make the theater in the Thieves Den, though that would involve him knowing the location inside and out. Well, it would be fun to see it in the simulator – Nero's musical 'talents' notwithstanding.

He glanced over at Nero, who was still looking around the simulator. Though she bore the same appearance, this Nero just… wasn't what he expected. It was hard to put his finger on it or directly address it, but this wasn't quite the same woman in the Roman singularity. She seemed more boisterous, happier, and yet more distant from all of them. He could think of a number of reasons but for now, it was better to observe and work from there than jump to conclusions.

Meanwhile, Leonidas looked around appreciatively at the training area. "Hm, the conditions are a bit too pleasant for training," he observed. "However, it's open, properly stocked, and straightforward. Perfect for sparring and drilling. I approve. In fact, it appears to be in use right now."

Following the Spartan king's gaze, they all noticed Boudica in the training grounds fighting against two werewolves. The beasts circled Boudica, growling as they looked for an opening as the Rider held her sword and shield at the ready. The group didn't dare call out or interfere, not even Nero – whose face had rapidly vacated of color when she laid eyes on the queen – and instead watched with rapt attention.

A moment passed.

Then another.

Suddenly, the werewolf that was directly behind Boudica charged. Whirling about, the Rider closed the distance, barely missing its claws, and raised her shield, allowing the beast to crash chest first. Charging forward to keep it off balance, the warrior queen stabbed upward through its jaw, the blade sprouting from the top of its head. The werewolf gave a choked gurgle, then fell still.

The second werewolf chased after her, going on all fours with a snarl. Boudica only took a moment to glance back at it before pulling her blade out of the first beast, its lifeless body crashing to the ground as she turned to face her opponent. As it neared, it pounced, flinging itself into the air with its drooling jaws agape and fangs flashing tear out her throat-

And at the last moment, the Rider dropped, allowing the creature to simply fly right over her. It spun around to lunge again – only for a shield to be bashed into its open mouth, shattering several fangs and causing it to reel in rage and pain. Before it could follow up, the warrior queen closed the distance again and with one smooth motion, pierced through its neck in the side. With a grunt, she pushed the blade downward, cleaving apart the werewolf's throat. Jumping back from its death throes, she watched impassively as it thrashed about, collapsed, then was still once more.

After making sure both her enemies were dead and there weren't any more, she let out a long sigh as her sword and shield vanished in her hand – and was startled by the sound of delighted clapping. Turning around, she noticed her audience with Ritsuka clapping enthusiastically and smiled sheepishly. "Were you watching all that?" she asked.

"We were," Leonidas confirmed with a smile. "That was well fought, queen of the Iceni. I regret not being able to cross swords with you during our time in the singularity. I believe our bout would be a good one."

Boudica chuckled in response. "We'll have time here, Leonidas of Sparta," she responded cordially. "I look forward to seeing how we fare." She turned to greet the others – and froze. Among them all was one she hadn't expected – no. She had seen how the emperor interacted with the Chaldeans. It had only been a matter of time before she showed up. "Nero," she stated, her tone decidedly far colder than before.

At her name, Nero gulped slightly. "Boudica, I-" she began.

Whatever the emperor wished to say, she didn't receive the opportunity. The Rider instead began stalking towards them. Ritsuka and Morgana looked in alarm as Leonidas dropped his smile, ready to intervene if necessary. Nero looked nervous, staring at Boudica as she crossed the distance, but regardless stood her ground. Only Ren didn't do anything, instead impassively watching everything unfold. The Rider stepped closer and closer…

Then walked right past them, leaving the simulator without another word. The simulator door hissed shut behind her, leaving them standing there in silence.

Morgana let out a shaky sigh. "Oh boy," he muttered. He had seen a tiny bit of how Nero and Boudica interacted in the Roman singularity but he hadn't expected it to be quite so bad. "You okay, Nero?" he asked, looking over in concern.

Nero took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm quite fine, Morgana, but thank you," she murmured. Taking one last glance at the door, she took a quiet breath to compose herself. It seemed there was much she had to do here.

"For now, however, I shall take my repose," she continued, turning back toward them. "I wish to familiarize myself with the luxuries of Chaldea here, and while plain, it seems there is plenty to be found here. If you require my beauty and glorious presence, you need but ask. But for now, I bid you farewell!" With her usual smile, she turned to leave, vanishing into particles of golden light – though not before meeting Ren's eyes with a meaningful look.

The catlike being scratched his cheek. "Well, uh…" he stammered. The atmosphere was now considerably a lot more awkward than any of them planned. "I guess that about does it for the tour. Do you have any questions or need anything from us, Leonidas? Or…?"

The Spartan king looked thoughtfully toward the training ground. "For now, I shall familiarize myself with the land here," he replied. "I will most likely be coming here quite often. I thank you, Masters, for the tour, and I promise my shield and spear shall be yours if you need it."

"We won't have to come and take them?" Ritsuka asked with a slight snicker.

Leonidas laughed heartily. "That shall not be necessary," he happily replied. "Though do let me know if you wish for me to arrange for it." He clapped the redhead on the back and began walking off toward the training ground, leaving Ren, Morgana, Ritsuka, and Mash behind.

"Well, that's that," Morgana huffed. "What are you guys gonna do?"

"I need to check in with Nero," Ren replied. "I've something I need to talk to her about."

"You work fast," Ritsuka remarked with a wry grin.

Ren chuckled. "It's more business than pleasure, unfortunately," he easily answered. One could argue it was both, but considering how the emperor had reacted towards him, it was something that needed to be settled. He certainly couldn't miss the glances she had been giving him suggesting they needed to talk. "What about you guys?"

Mash looked in deep contemplation. "I wish to speak with Leonidas," she replied. "There is something I wish to discuss with him about."

Ritsuka raised her eyebrows at Mash's initiative but otherwise nodded. "Alright, guess we're all doing something," she commented. "In that case, I'm heading off. See you guys in a bit!" With that, they all parted in different directions with their own objectives.

Mash traversed the field toward the training grounds, with Leonidas soon coming into view once more. The Spartan king had donned his bronze helmet and had his shield and spear in hand, landing swift yet accurate jabs at a wooden dummy. The Shielder watched with rapt attention at his skillful handling. They were simple drills but to be able to perform them consistently with strength, speed, and skill was not to be underestimated.

King Leonidas I of Sparta… she read about the man and knew of his legend, especially his legendary Battle of Thermopylae. He and three hundred Spartan warriors as well as their Greek allies had fought against the invading Persian army, hundreds of thousands strong and outnumbering them more than twenty to one. Even if they were ultimately defeated, it set off the chain of events that would eventually lead to the Persians' retreat.

As a Shielder, as the protector and partner to her senpai, there could be no better person to learn from.

As Mash approached, Leonidas glanced over. "Ah, Kyrielight," he called over in greeting as he continued with his drills. "Is there something you require of me?"

The Shielder nodded. "There is, Mr. Leonidas," she replied. She bowed low towards him. "I would like to be your student!"

Leonidas stopped his training in surprise, turning fully toward Mash. He hadn't expected such a request so soon – or at all – but he couldn't deny he was elated by it. The duel he had with her lit a fire in his heart that he had not expected: Of molding someone with such potential, such greatness, into a powerful warrior. There was much he delighted in, but this kind of opportunity was incredibly rare – and he would be a fool to not seize upon it.

"Hm, I will not lie – I had hoped you would come under my tutelage," he mused as he stepped toward Mash. "You have much to boast of already: Strength, speed, aptitude, and heart. Just the duel we had showed that you are a fast learner and an admirable student. And even now, you show yet more promise by having the initiative to improve yourself however you can."

Mash looked up in surprise. "Does… does that mean you accept me?" she asked tentatively.

The Spartan king grinned. "I had accepted you as a student during that duel already," he corrected. "I'm glad for the opportunity now to reaffirm it in turn. It would be an honor to be your teacher, Kyrielight. However, know that I will not be a kind taskmaster. The fields of battle are harsh and demanding, therefore so must I. Knowing this, are you prepared?"

The Shielder nodded with a determined expression. "I am," she confirmed. "Please, train me as you will, Mr. Leonidas, and I shall learn without complaint." This was one step she could take. One step so she was closer to properly standing shoulder to shoulder with her senpai. The conversation that night made it clear that he relied on her just as she relied on him, and their battles in the future were only going to test their strength more and more.

And if her senpai could become stronger from multiple bonds and teachers, then there stood to reason she might emulate that. Leonidas would be a good starting point for her.

The Lancer nodded. "Well said!" he boomed before taking a stance. "In that case, prepare yourself, Kyrielight!"

Mash's eyes widened in surprise at the declaration, then narrowed as her body was surrounded by light. A moment later, she was once more in her Demi-Servant armor with shield in hand. "Yes!" she affirmed. "Ready for your lesson!"

The Spartan king grinned and charged. With that, Mash's first lesson began.

"One more bottle would not go amiss."

"You've already drunk almost three bottles dry."

"Out of hundreds? You are being rather frugal, are you not?"

"The rest is reserved for more festive occasions and the staff who actually need it."

"What? I need it as well!"

"You're a Servant. Technically, you don't."

Jing Ke huffed a frustrated breath as she shot a half-hearted glare at the red-mantled hero, who stood behind the counter with crossed arms. Two empty bottles of wine stood nearby while a third, nearly depleted one was in the Assassin's hands. Raiding the storeroom, her jaw had nearly dropped at just how much liquor there was for such an official installation. The better ones were kept under lock and key, and while she was tempted, she knew her limits. Instead, she simply chose the ones that caught her eye.

Still, she now knew how a child felt in a sweets store. Finally, the Assassin sighed. "Very well, very well," she relented. "You have a point – the men here need it more than I do. I'll just content myself with this for now, though we might need more liquor at this rate."

"That would either be your or the dog's fault," Archer replied drily. That being said, he frowned at what the Assassin said. "Though what precisely do you mean 'we would need it more than you do'?" he asked.

Jing Ke raised an eyebrow. "It's on the faces and words of everyone who's working here," she pointed out. "They're all exhausted and dispirited. They're trying to keep themselves as optimistic as possible, but it's clear they're only hanging by a thread."

She held up the glass of wine and watched the dark red liquid swirl. "It's clear that your recent victories have brought them much-needed morale," she concluded. "But whether it's enough or not? That's a different matter."

Archer's expression didn't change as he simply observed Jing Ke. "And do you think it'll take much to break them?" he asked.

"I know you're only testing me so let's get to the point, Archer," the Assassin sighed. "If I had succeeded in life and ended just one more life, an empire would've fallen. I succeeded in the Roman singularity and brought a decisive win by also taking just one life. Frankly, it's the same here: Destroy the support pillar and watch the imperial palace come crumbling down."

She looked up lazily at the Archer's impassive, grey eyes. "Is that the answer you're looking for?" Jing Ke asked.

The red-mantled hero let out a humorless chuckle. "And you figured out all this within minutes of your summoning," he remarked.

Jing Ke shrugged. "About," she confirmed. "And a few other things as well, but all this talking is making my throat dry. Cheers to you and our Masters, Archer." The Assassin toasted before draining her glass as Archer simply rolled her eyes.

"Heh, you're awesome like I said, Jing Ke.

"Still buttering up a failed assassin, hm?" the Assassin remarked, smiling as Ritsuka sat next to her. She already noticed her Master's presence some time ago and simply gave no indications of such. "If you're here to join me, sorry – I almost drained the last bottle here." She picked up the bottle and shook it for emphasis and sure enough, there was only a minimal amount of splashing liquid audible within. "Unless you can convince this Archer to let us have one more, that is."

Ritsuka hesitated. As much as she liked Jing Ke, she hated the taste of alcohol a lot more. Maybe she could play it off. "That sounds good," she started saying. "Bu-"

"No," Archer stated flatly, staring down the Assassin.

Jing Ke shrugged at the flat denial. "It was worth a try," she commented with a small smile as she drained the bottle into her glass. "Now, are you simply accompanying me for my drink or did you have something you wish to speak about?"

Ritsuka paused. She had rehearsed the line multiple times in her head and yet, despite neither Servant actually looking at her, she couldn't help but feel incredibly scrutinized. "So, I got a question of curiosity," she began slowly as she looked between them. "For both of you."

Archer and the Assassin glanced at one other in surprise. "And what's the question?" the former inquired with a small frown of curiosity.

The redhead took a moment to properly form her question. "How do you guys stay calm and observe everything happening around you?" she asked slowly. "Like, how do you sift through so much information and figure out what you need to do? Maybe it's just me but battles are always so chaotic and crazy that I end up losing track of everything. Is there some sort of trick to it?

Both Servants were silent for a moment, already discerning the question's true intention. Archer breathed a sigh as he ran a hand through his white hair. "It seems I'm always destined to be summoned by the most troublesome Masters," he muttered.

"Come now, Archer, she's at least on the right track," Jing Ke admonished lightly.

Ritsuka blinked as she looked between the two, trepidation sneaking up her spine. "What, what are you guys talking about?" she asked hesitantly.

"It's not something that's easily learned from others," the Assassin explained, ignoring the follow-up question. "It mostly comes from experience – of fighting and being fought, of targeting and being targeted, of being caught off guard in countless ambushes and setting up countless ones in turn. My experiences were mostly in the court and in the streets so reading people and layouts of places eventually became second nature to me."

"And you learn to observe a battlefield quickly when you're sniping," Archer added. "Movements, terrain, infiltration and exfiltration locations, and more. I can't tell you the sheer number of times I've almost died because a detail escaped me that I didn't know about or, worse, I should have known better. What you're asking for, Master, isn't something that can be easily conveyed or taught."

The redhead gulped. "You're saying it's not possible for me to at least try to learn?" she prodded, trying to keep the note of desperation out of her voice.

Both Servants paused, then the red-mantled hero sighed. "I'll try to think up some exercises," he relented. "But be aware that I won't be sure of their effectiveness until I see you in action. Will that work?"

Ritsuka's eyes widened, then she quickly nodded. "It will," she agreed enthusiastically. "Thanks for at least trying, Archer."

"As for me, I'll give you a similar practice I gave to Ren," Jing Ke spoke up in turn. "Eyes and ears open. Go observe the staff around here as well as the architecture. Tell me what you see, what you learn. And then tell me what kind of conclusions you can glean from them."

The redhead frowned in thought but nodded as well. "Got it," she replied as she stood up. "I have someone else to talk to for now but thank you both so much. I'll catch you both later!" With that, she dashed off.

Both Archer and Jing Ke watched Ritsuka leave, her footsteps fading as she left the cafeteria. The latter turned back to the former with a wry smile. "Troublesome, you say?" she remarked.

Archer chuckled. "Indeed, troublesome," he confirmed. They both shared a laugh.

Their Masters were all eccentric, without a doubt. And that might be what was needed above all to succeed.

The halls of Chaldea were quiet as they always were. The staff were always busy with their tasks, recuperating in their rooms, or simply making their way to whichever destination they had in mind. The robots whirred quietly by, always background yet ever-present, maintaining the usual custodial duties. They ensured the hallways were always spotless, without a single thing out of place.

Ren could never get used to it. Back in Japan, such places were always crowded – Shujin's halls were always packed with students, the corridors for the train stations never lacked for people, and even in quieter areas like Yongen-Jaya, there were always signs of life and humanity around. Here, Chaldea always felt… sterile, emphasized by the silence. Still, it was convenient for gathering his thoughts – and before he knew it, he was in front of a door. He tapped on the panel and waited.

The screen flickered on, showing the curious face of Nero, who immediately beamed at seeing Ren. "Master, I have been expecting you," she stated. "Please, come in."

As the screen turned off, the door slid open, allowing Ren in. Nero was currently in a bathrobe as opposed to her usual clothes and her hair wet yet still. "Come, sit where you wish," the emperor cried. "Apologies for my poor hospitality – as you're aware, I have only recently made this my residence."

The Phantom Thief nodded easily in acknowledgement. "I'm guessing you're settling in just fine?" he asked with a small smile as he took a seat at the desk.

Nero nodded with a grin. "Quite," she replied happily. "Though you do not have baths here, the shower is a more than adequate substitute. Being able to adjust the temperature of the water as one wishes coupled with all these fragrant soaps and shampoos is truly a luxury I wish I could indulge back in my empire. Are there rose-scented soaps here, by chance?"

Ren chuckled. "I'm not sure, but I can check," he reassured her with a grin. Even if they didn't, he was sure that Da Vinci could whip one up in a heartbeat if either he or Nero asked. "We don't have much in terms of wardrobe or accessories though. Hope that's not a problem."

The emperor huffed but waved it off. "It is to be expected," she accepted. "This is not an imperial palace but a military installation. I shall make do. And besides-" She grinned broadly as she spread her arms for emphasis. "Beauty such as mine would turn even the poorest of rags into the finest of fashions, wouldn't you agree?" she boasted.

The Phantom Thief could only laugh in response. "It's as you say," he agreed in good humor. It's comforting to know Nero was still Nero, despite everything.

Finally, the emperor sat down on the bed with a sigh. "I wished to speak with you, Ren Amamiya," she began quietly. "For when I first saw you, I knew some matters needed to be addressed before we can properly be Master and Servant."

The Phantom Thief nodded. He fully expected that. "Right," he acknowledged. "I'm guessing you're not the same 'Nero' we met then?"

Nero's eyes widened in surprise, then she chuckled. "You are indeed as clever as my… other self remembers you," she remarked. "You are correct: I am not her. As a Servant, I merely bear her memories. Her emotions or affections, however, are her own. She was indeed worthy of being Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, emperor of Rome – but she is not me, nor am I her. I will not insult her by presuming to be her – nor, I think, will you insult me by presuming I am her in turn."

"No, I certainly won't," Ren agreed. It was an easy concept to understand: the 'Nero' in front of him was one with different experiences and different memories than the one they had met in the Roman singularity. Just having her memories wouldn't immediately turn her into that person – he knew all too well that someone with an ego like Nero's would never capitulate like that. "So, how do you want to proceed?"

The emperor smiled as she reclined on her bed. "As what is expected from either of us," she replied simply. "I am the Flower of Olympia, the Emperor of Roses. I am Nero, and I shall bring all of us victory with my glory. And you are my Master – no more, and certainly no less. However…"

She fell quiet as she gazed up at the ceiling, trying to find her words. "The sun of her rule, her glory, had been rapidly setting," she murmured. "With every victory she had achieved, she only had hundreds more losses. Even with all Chaldea had been doing, she would be hard pressed to remain standing, enough to be an effective ruler that the Roman Empire needed – both to see the war through and the reconstruction afterward."

Ren quietly listened as he thought back. All the times he saw Nero hunched over a map or going over reports, the half-eaten food and empty cups of wine, and her utter despondency over the conspiracy to have her surrender to the URE. There was much the emperor hadn't told him then, nor would she ever allow herself to, but he still witnessed it all. How long had she been doing this until they had arrived? How long could she have lasted if Chaldea hadn't intervened?

He wasn't sure he wanted to know the answers.

"However, throughout it all," the emperor continued, slowly smiling. "There were times she was bolstered. She was given the encouragement and counsel needed to proceed, and even admonished when she was about to make a mistake. And instead of setting eternally, she rose again with a new dawn, bearing the strength needed both to win the war and proceed with rebuilding her empire. You were the reason she was able to continue forward and show her glory for the days to come. Your time with her was easily among her fondest reminiscences."

Nero smiled and bowed her head. "Thus, on her behalf, as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart."

Ren's mouth fell slightly open in surprise, then he smiled back in turn. "Glory such as yours – and hers – wouldn't be so easily diminished, I think," he replied. "All I did was simply keep her company and give her a few nudges here and there. But nevertheless, it was my genuine pleasure."

The emperor chuckled. "True enough," she agreed. "But do not discount your role so easily in her play – especially one so essential to the act. Even now, I would have given you a triumph for all your contributions for the empire, Master. As it stands, so you have helped her, I shall aid you – my skills and talents, as well as my blade, are at your disposal."

The Phantom Thief nodded. "That's more than great to hear," he replied genuinely. The emperor beamed back in turn. Ah, there was that expression of hers again: Bright, confident, and vibrant. And yet…

There was undoubtedly something different about it. It felt softer and more genuine. "Do you mind if I ask you something, Nero?" he inquired.

Nero tilted her head slightly in curiosity. "By all means, Master," she replied. "What do you wish to inquire about?"

"Your… other self in the singularity always had a bit of loneliness about her," Ren explained. "As if she wanted someone to stand with her on top of the world." He peered closely at the emperor's surprised expression and smiled softly. "I don't see it from you. Did you find that someone?"

The emperor's eyes widened. For a moment, she could see someone before her: A girl with long brown hair and eyes, dressed in a yellow school uniform, offered her hand with a faint smile. Then she blinked, and she was back in Chaldea again with Ren facing her. A smile broke out across Nero's face.

"I did," she confirmed quietly. "My Praetor."

Ren smiled. "Wanna tell me about them?" he asked.

Nero's smile widened into a grin. "I believed you would never ask," she chirped. "To describe her, she may not be the most resplendent in terms of beauty – one might argue she is rather plain – but that is not so! For her beauty is only for those with the eyes to see. And as the incarnation of Venus herself, who would be more fitting to witness it than I?"

The emperor continued to talk and ramble inexhaustibly about her Praetor, drawing from a seemingly endless wealth of stories and experiences. The more she talked, the more Ren smiled. The way Nero's face lit up in happiness, how her eyes glimmered as she boasted about her Praetor, her grand gestures as she praised her to the heavens and beyond… They were someone completely dear to Nero without a doubt. He was glad that the emperor had found someone that could make her so happy.

And throughout it all, with her speech and adulation and expressions, he could still see the Nero he met in the Roman singularity. The one in front of him was far more animated and happier, sure, but it was still the same person. He couldn't help but idly wonder if that Nero would be similar had he stayed. Well, it was a question that he doubted anyone could answer. The one here was content with what she found and had – and that would be enough.

"I'm glad," Ren commented once Nero had finished (if only momentarily). "I wasn't sure how you'd handle being on top of the world by yourself like that, but you found someone to share the view with. Your Praetor sounds like an amazing person – I'm a bit jealous." He finished with a small chuckle.

Nero smiled and shook her head. "There is no comparison to be made," she corrected. "To compare my Praetor to you, Master, or vice versa, would be like comparing a drama penned by a master playwright to a comedy penned by someone equally renowned. There are different measures and aspects that either of you shine in. You are both grand and glorious in your own ways, shining almost as brightly as I do."

The emperor grinned broadly. "Thus, there is no reason for envy," she concluded proudly. "For you are more than worthy of envy yourself!"

The Phantom Thief could only stare at Nero in surprise, then chuckled once more. "Your words do me much honor," he replied easily. "I'll make sure to live up to your expectations then."

Nero laughed. "A feat you no doubt will be able to achieve with ease," the emperor remarked. They both shared a laugh at the compliment.

They talked for a while longer – with Nero expounding the virtues of her Praetor some more – before Ren ultimately dismissed himself, saying he had other duties to attend to. As the door hissed closed, she breathed a quiet sigh as she laid down on the bed. So, this was the man her other self fell in love with. How… peculiar. He was a charming, intelligent, open-minded young man who made no presumptions, instead learning more about the Nero in front of him.

And while the Nero in the singularity was not her, she was simultaneously still her at the same time – and that included how she felt. There was absolutely no doubt she loved her Praetor with her heart and soul, but… Ren Amamiya? This extraordinary young man that showed nothing but kindness and viewed her as she was as opposed to what she should be? She could certainly see how her other self may be enraptured. As for herself…

She shook her head with a smile as she stood back up, slipping her bathrobe off. It was too soon to jump to any such conclusions one way or another. They had time and much more to talk about. The whims of a heart were fickle – a fact she knew all too well. Perhaps it would be something, perhaps it would be nothing. Her Praetor only wished for her happiness, come what may. She had no doubt it would be the same here. For now, they would just have to see. In the meantime, she opened the closet… and immediately scowled at how utterly barren it was.

Some better forms of fashion would be a good start.