It is kind of difficult to max out the levels of CE's, but I'm drawing close to that 100 level for Another Ending which is currently level 97. Those extra CEs with silver and gold always deliver the best experience points, especially if limit broke. After that, Victor of the Moon and Premonition of Beginnings are my priority of max leveling. Then some of the lesser CE involving the Fate/EX series will be leveled up in the future.
Fun fact: the Age of Will is a future for humanity to live among the stars and no longer need a flesh and blood body to live. Fate/EX series explores that with Hakuno as Sovereign using the Moon Cell as an environment provider on the Moon and even has inhabitants from other stars living there at the end of the True Ending of Fate/EXTELLA. It was foreseen by both Merlin and Gilgamesh so…Hakuno is the true Pioneer of the Stars and ushering in a new era! All hail Hakuno, the founder of a new age!
It was that time of the year, of passionate feelings, the alluring smell of sweet delights, and the despair of many men.
That's right.
It's Valentine's Day once again in Orario.
Today, the Hestia Familia had recently got Lili converted into their Familia and Soma himself had gotten a thank you chocolate from his child before they parted ways. They decided to make this Valentine's Day a special occasion in the Soma Familia's case while Hestia began her idea. It took some convincing, but a collaboration with the Hostess of Fertility in a special cooking class. Specifically, how to make chocolates from its natural ingredients.
For Ais Wallenstein, all she was experiencing was confusion. Because she had mainly focused on the Dungeon her whole life, she missed out on several holidays to celebrate. Per usual as Captain of the Familia, Hakuno had to explain the traditions of the holiday.
Valentine's Day was a romantic holiday with parts of the traditional methods vary depending on the region. But it was most known for couples and exchange of chocolates. This variation of Valentine's Day is based on how the Far East celebrate the holiday. Woman giving out chocolate to people they know.
There were three types of chocolates to give to people, obligatory chocolates are the simplest of them all, for one can buy any box of chocolate and give it to the intended recipient. Friendship chocolate is melting chocolate into molds and giving them unique shapes to give out. It was a more fun type of making chocolate, especially with various types of chocolate flavors to give.
Then there was the romantic chocolate, meant for lovers specifically. It was the ultimate symbol of dedication and gratitude to one another by making chocolate by hand from the raw ingredients used to make it. To craft that ideal taste with your own hands with the work, effort, and feelings inside of them.
Like with Riveria, Ais took Hakuno's words like gospel. But even the rather innocent Sword Princess took notices of Hakuno's attire for the day. Instead of the black witch dress and veil Hakuno usually wore, she wore a white sleeveless blouse, a brown blazer, and a long blue skirt with a simple pendant around her neck.
Child Ais reasoned that every holiday must have its own customs, including what to wear and the Level Six Adventurer formerly of the Loki Familia made her decision. She must dress up for the occasion, get the things to make chocolate for Valentine's Day, and deliver said gifts to the people she knew personally.
With that, the Holy Choco Wars have begun, with Ais Wallenstein under the class of Swordswoman as she prepares herself for one of the greatest battles of her life.
*Twilight Manor*
"This day sucks…!" Loki bemoaned as she laid on the couch with her head down with Lefiya and Riveria looking at her. While Ais visits the Twilight Manor now and then, Loki is moping whenever she's not here (and that's pretty much every day when she doesn't visit) but today the trickster god was being more vocal than before. The reason why? Valentine's Day.
Loki was complaining of how'd she'd never get the chance to eat any chocolate that Ais would (never) give her on such a holiday and was attempting to drink herself drunk just to pass the entire day away. Of course, the two sane elves would ensure their god would not go through with her own self-pity party.
"Loki, do not assume Ais wouldn't even participate in this holiday in the first place." Riveria chided while Loki whined.
"But she always goes out to the Dungeon during these holidays for years Mama! YEARS!" Loki countered.
"Who are you calling 'Mama'?" the High Elf scowled as Raul walked in with a bemused expression on his face. The three looked at him while the boy scratched the back of his head while they noticed him holding a box of chocolate purchased from a convenience store.
"When did Ais start celebrating Valentine's Day?" he had asked while Lefiya and Loki froze at the question while Riveria gave the goddess a knowing look with her arms crossed.
"Raul…Ais…gave you…chocolate?" Loki asked in a deadly quiet tone as the human began to sweat.
"She's giving out chocolate to the rest of the familia." He corrected and stood aside just in time to avoid a collision with both Loki and Lefiya as the two women dashed out to find Ais and get her chocolates. The screams of joy of obtaining chocolate from Ais (obligation for Loki, friendship for Lefiya) echoed throughout the Twilight Manor that day.
…
"Task complete, Loki Familia defeated." Ais muttered as she crossed off her checklist. Obligation chocolates and the few friendship chocolates for the Loki Familia were done. The next one on the list was Goibniu, for he's been the one she had always worked with when it came to the care of Desperate. The Three Hammers was still operating even on this holiday and were usually crafting certain holiday trinkets for civilians. She made her way towards her next destination with a brisk walk.
While Ais was delivering her obligations chocolate, Hakuno was doing her own delivery of obligations chocolate.
Now, one must be wondering whom they are for, right? Well, whether she likes it or not, she's giving one to Lucius, if only to follow the traditions for Valentine's Day. And here he was, drinking wine in some fancy place he frequents before taking notice of her and smiling. She doesn't like that smile and needed to finish this errand fast so she can take care of her other obligations.
"My dear Violet, what brings you here to me? Have you come to devote yourself to your emperor?" Lucius smiled as Hakuno rolled her eyes.
"It's Valentine's Day, and I have to follow its tradition and uphold the obligations that come with it. Here." She answered him while holding out a box of chocolates with a simple wrapping on it. As Lucius began reaching out for the box, Hakuno honed her instincts into overdrive for quick reflexes in case he got a little too touchy this time. But he took the box and looked contended for the moment.
"I await the day your duties as a Vestal Virgin are done with my dear Violet. For now, I can contend with merely standing alongside as your protector." Lucius spoke as he looked her in the eye. Hakuno felt a nasty itch run up her spine. This man was persistent in his so-called love for her, yet she knew he wanted to dye her his ideal woman in terms of manners and way of life. He was truly an old fashioned Roman all right.
And what did he mean by protector?
She could ponder later, for now, the one obligation chocolate she had to do was finish. Her friendship chocolates were now the next ones she must deliver. Fortunately for her, she knows where to find most of them.
*Hostess of Fertility*
"Flover-san…" Hestia spoke up with a twitch of her eyebrows. "Just what exactly is this?" she asked, her tone wariness and hints of irritation in it.
Syr Flover smiled, presenting the seemingly innocent brown object to the goddess with a smile. But the dark aura around it (the smell) sent warning alarms to everyone there. "They're chocolates! I did my best to make it by hand." The waitress beamed while Hestia sighed.
"Syr, are you sure you're not one of Hakuno's people? I mean to say…are you a fellow witch like Hakuno?" she asked. The waitress looked confused by that, and Hestia decided to elaborate further. "Your chocolate smells like a witch's brew Hakuno makes occasionally; did you follow the instructions carefully and not put too many things inside your chocolates? Because what you made is a specific type of poison brew that can kill any non-adventurer in one bite."
Syr looked away, embarrassed by that as the other girls making chocolates were nodding their heads in agreement of their opinion that Syr's chocolates were no good. This caused Hestia to glare at the girl with folded arms and her twin tails moving on their own as they wrapped themselves around the girl's wrist. "You're staying by my side for lessons Syr Flover. I'm going to ground in the most basic rules of the kitchen into that thick skull of yours so that way no innocent soul suffers from your blasphemy in the kitchen." She declared as Syr looked nervous by that sinister aura the petite goddess was giving her.
"Welcome to Hell's Kitchen." Hestia spoke in ominous monotone as Syr was going to experience true fear for the first time in her life. Ryu Lion could not aid her this time, as the elf was conflicted between wanting to aid her friend from escaping the goddess's clutches, her own task at hand from Mama Mia (as said owner of pub looked amused at Syr's predicament) and praying that Hestia would go easy on the poor girl.
Hestia didn't. She was leaving no corner unturned in giving Syr lessons on the art of the kitchen since cooking is part of Hestia's job as the Goddess of Hearth and cared for her children's smiles when they eat a delicious, happy meal. From which utensil is which, how to properly mix, stir, grind and various things required to make homemade chocolate before roasting Syr whenever she tried to add something unusual to the chocolate (which is something that's usually questionable to add) as the poor girl was almost reduced to tears when they finally finished their first batch of homemade chocolate.
All the other female students watching that scene while making their own chocolates suddenly felt relieved, they weren't as hopeless in the kitchen like Syr was and inwardly swore not to slack off in the kitchen or face the petite goddess's ire. Their pride as woman who can cook depended on it!
"This is incredible…as expected of Hestia-sama, her knowledge of the kitchen surpasses Takemikazuchi-sama's if her guidance is capable of helping that girl master the art of chocolate." Mikoto noted while she and her friend Chigusa nodded her head in agreement. Both had understood the importance of training from hell with their god, and so this kind of thing from Hestia to teach like that to Syr was considered a norm when they're serious.
"I can see that…" Eina muttered as she too had participated in the cooking class and had taken notes from what she learned from Hestia's teaching (or roasting as the gods would say) to Syr on the dos and taboos of the kitchen. She came to this class because out of a sense of duty to ensure that she can give the adventurers she advices chocolates for Valentine's Day each year. And the half-elf learned more about making chocolates from Hestia than any book she's read. This was it, the best way to describe Hestia's role in the kitchen would be that of what the gods call a 'pro'.
Truly, few gods could ever match up to Hestia in the art of cooking.
Then a timer went off and Hestia did a one-eighty, clapping her hands and beaming a friendly smile that erased any evidence of the scary teacher from hell in that split-second. "Class is done! Thank you all for participating in the morning class! I hope your Valentine's Day is an eventful one~!" she sang out joyfully as the atmosphere became more lighthearted.
That was when Ais Wallenstein walked in with the party of Hakuno, Haruhime, Lili, Hephaistos, and Naaza right behind her as Hestia blinked at the unexpected group. "You're here for the noon class, aren't you?" the tiny goddess guessed while they all nodded. "Well give me thirty to clean up and prepare. Knowing you girls, this won't be a mess unlike someone I know." Hestia noted while giving the trembling Syr a side glance. Poor girl was traumatized by Hestia's own Hell's Kitchen.
*Windchaser's Confession*
Done. Ais Wallenstein has reached her endgame with Valentine's Day. She had delivered her obligations chocolate to acquaintances, gave friendship chocolates to Lefiya, Tione and Tiona, Riveria, Gareth-san, Finn and the Hestia Familia save for one. Now for her final challenge, the lover's chocolate. Everyone saw it, that fiery determination in those golden eyes and had some knowing looks to their face. They recalled the girl's 'confession' during that duel in the stadium and some were silently cheering her on, to express those feelings.
Hakuno and Naaza had finished earlier, already used to cooking if brewing potions gave them the experience needed. Ais, Lili and Haruhime were the last to finish, all inexperienced with chocolates and were very careful with each step with Hestia's guidance. Hephaistos finished before them, apparently using this course as a refresher as she was being secretive of whom the chocolate was for before bidding everyone farewell.
The Sword Princess followed the wind's guidance, leading her to Hakuno that was standing on the walls of Orario as she was looking at the setting sun. Almost as if she's been waiting for her. "Ais, there you are!" she said, holding a box of chocolate out to her. Ais can tell it was friendship chocolate from the way it was wrapped carefully. Part of it brought joy to Ais, because it represents the bond the two have. She took it, and then handed Hakuno her chocolate in exchange.
"This chocolate…" she noted, recognizing it from Hestia's class with the colors of wrapping and the ribbon.
"I wanted you to have it, proof that what I feel is real." Ais told her as the wind brushed their hair as it swayed in the wind. "Lady Hakuno…ever since we first met, I felt this special connection to you. A desire to be by your side no matter what it took. Ever since I was a child, a black flame within me threatened to consume my life and that of others. But when you and Bell came into my life, it fades."
Hakuno was surprised by this revelation, Ais was basically giving up an equivalent to a Secret Garden to her. "I had no idea…but, you must have suffered for a long time with no one there to understand your loss." She admitted while Ais gave her a soft smile.
"But you were the first to understand me and reach out to me. Guide me as a person instead of an adventurer. Helped me understand myself as a human being instead of the Sword Princess. For that first time in my life, I felt joy at simply being alive." She reassured Hakuno. The witch was happy for her friend, but to give her own lover's chocolate was akin to…!
"Ais…do you really…?" Hakuno slowly began while Ais smiled and nodded her head.
"Hakuno, you are the first person to be considered important to me, the guiding star in the night sky that gave me hope. I may not understand my own feelings well enough, but I do know I want to be by your side until the very end." Ais confessed, her cheeks warm with gentle affection in her eyes. It was that moment Hakuno saw the girl named Ais Wallenstein behind that mask known as the Sword Princess.
She had a wish that wasn't selfish in nature, and her own fairy blood spoke to her.
Grant her purpose and salvation. Deny the Mors.
She had no idea what the voice inside meant, but if it truly helps Ais and prevent this 'Mors' which she speculates is the 'black flames' Ais spoke about, then she'll do whatever it takes to save her. For that…
Holding a hand to her side, magical energy with the blue color of a deep lake, an ethereal sword appeared in her hands. "Approach and kneel." Hakuno spoke with authority in it, a newfound resolve swelling within her as she made her decision. The blonde girl did so, understanding this ritual in a heartbeat. Tapping both shoulders with the flat end of the ghostly weapon and her reciting something.
"By will and conviction, young one sworn to protect the light of stars. I Hakuno Kishinami, descendant of Morgan le Fay who was known as Avalon le Fae knight you, Ais Wallenstein, the child of the winds as one of my champions, a Fairy Knight whose tempests repels evil and becomes a gentle breeze for the innocent. Rise and embrace your newfound purpose and fly free from the shackles that once bind you."
She felt it, Ais felt a great relief as if a burden was removed from her. Her black flames snuffed out, and a tranquility she never experienced before filled her being. She looked up to Hakuno as the rising moon became a halo behind the girl's head, resembling a crown as the Witch held out a hand to her. She looked breathtaking that moment as Ais took the offered hand and was lifted to her feet and wrapped in a hug.
Joy crept into her heart, and the night wind felt warm and gentle to her skin as Ais smelt the gentle scent of flowers in Hakuno's hair. She was content with the moment they had.