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/Fanfic/TheTricksterAndTheGrandOrder


Ch. 93 - Return

A swirl of light and colors blinded them as they were summoned back to Chaldea, just as disorienting as when they first were sent to Septem. It was a sensation that was incredibly hard to get used to, but after a short interval, there was a bright light… then darkness and silence. Just the sound of their own breathing within tight compartments. Then there was a hiss as a crack of light appeared, slowly widening, then it opened fully, revealing the sterile floor and walls of Chaldea, and the smiling figures of Romani and Da Vinci.

They were home.

"Welcome back!" Roman greeted as Ren, Morgana, and Mash stepped out of their coffins. "I know you guys are tired so we can hold off on the debriefing for now. I just want to do a quick health check and see if you guys need anything before you head off to your rooms. I'm guessing you guys want to rest for now, right?"

Ren grinned. The strength boost from Romulus had long since faded, as well as his adrenaline. He could feel all too well his aching muscles and burning circuits throughout his body. And now that he was back in Chaldea – back in actual safety – he could also feel all his bones turn to jelly and his body loosen to an alarming degree. "That would be great, yeah," he agreed. He turned to his companions. "I'm guessing you guys feel the same?"

Morgana sagged as he transformed back into his cat form. Sitting, he yawned as he replied, "Same. I'm honestly about to pass out. Back-to-back battles aren't anything new, but they sure as heck never get any easier. I could do with some tuna or curry after sleeping for about…. Twenty hours or so?" The Phantom Thief had to chuckle a bit at his best friend's complaints.

Mash had returned to her regular ensemble that she normally wore in Chaldea: Glasses, combined with a lab coat, black top with red tie, and skirt with leggings. "I'm not as tired, but still weary," she admitted. "I think I'll try to work on a report for a bit before resting. It is better to at least have a start on that than beginning with nothing, after all."

"Ryuji could definitely learn from you," Morgana grumbled, leading to a confused look from Mash as Ren chuckled once more.

"I certainly could use some time to freshen up," Tamamo sighed as she brushed some ash off her kimono. "That battle was certainly straining, even for Servants. Perhaps a shower with a cup of tea would be best." She turned to look over at Archer, Medusa, and Joan. "Would you care to join me for tea?" she asked.

Archer and Medusa blinked (or in the latter case, started) in mild surprise as they glanced at each other. Then the former smirked. "I don't see why not," he replied. "I believe I saw some decent snacks that go well with matcha tea in the storerooms. I'll join you."

Medusa was silent for a second, partially considering and partially hesitating. "Perhaps for a moment," she conceded haltingly.

Joan didn't respond. In fact, she didn't even seem to notice she was being addressed until she felt eyes on her. Blinking in surprise, she pointed to herself. "Wait, you were asking me too?" she asked in shock.

Tamamo rolled her eyes. "Yes," she confirmed. "I thought I made that abundantly evident."

The Lancer blinked again, clearly not expecting any sort of invitation. As she tried to find some way to refuse, the door to the rayshift room opened as two women walked in: Jeanne and Marie. "Welcome back!" Jeanne chirped. "Apologies for the delay – we only just heard you had returned. I hope we are not interrupting anything?"

"Caster was inviting Joan and us for tea," Medusa murmured, surprising everyone in the vicinity. Ren could swear he saw a faint smirk on the Rider's face. "And I believe she was just about to join us."

"Wha-" Joan spluttered.

"Oh, that sounds fun!" Jeanne exclaimed. "Is it alright if I joined as well? Or is that too much trouble? I do wish to hear about this singularity, after all."

Tamamo looked at Joan, then Jeanne, then smiled widely. "It is no trouble at all, Jeanne," she assured the Ruler. "I have no doubt you are fabulous company. I shall wash first, but Archer? Might I trouble you to provide some snacks?"

Archer smirked in response. "Easily done," he replied. "Jeanne, Joan, Rider. Would you come with me and see what would be to your liking?"

"Of course," Medusa replied quietly, her smirk widening ever so slightly as she approached the red-mantled hero. Jeanne grinned eagerly at Joan before following suit. Joan in turn could only shoot a glare at Tamamo (who smiled innocently in response) before sullenly following the others, knowing she was defeated.

As soon as they left, Tamamo's face morphed into an expression of utmost seriousness as she gestured to the last Servant: Loki. "And what should we do about this one?" the Caster asked.

Roman frowned in response, looking at the Avenger. "For now, they're under house arrest in their room," he stated. "They're to be visible at all times and monitored 24/7. Entering spirit form or the Metaverse without explicit permission is grounds for immediate desummoning." He glanced over at Ren and Morgana. "Will that work for you guys?"

Ren nodded without hesitation. "Works for me," he replied.

Morgana huffed. "I still think they're getting off lightly," he muttered.

Loki in the meantime had been scanning their nails, dressed in their detective prince uniform once more as though they couldn't be any less concerned about their predicament. "Well, it was fun while it lasted," they replied simply with a shrug as they looked up. "I'll admit, my work was pretty sloppy there so no complaints about me about the whole situation. If that's the case, I don't suppose you mind being my escort back to my room, Caster?"

Tamamo glared at the trickster god. "Mind your tongue and attitude," she snapped. "Consider yourself fortunate your fate is not my decision, else I would personally slap dozens of seals on you – starting with that flapping mouth of yours. Now move. And I will only trust that for now, you'll behave yourself." Once more, the Avenger shrugged casually to the growing irritation of the miko, and they both left the room with Caster eyeing Loki closely.

Roman watched as they left, then turned back to Ren. "I thought you would have something to say against that," he commented in surprise.

The Phantom Thief shook his head with a sigh. "Loki's a… difficult matter," he admitted. "We definitely need to do something about them. Thanks for the consideration though, doctor."

The current director of Chaldea blinked in surprise, then simply nodded with a smile. "It's no trouble at all," he genuinely replied. "Now, both of you seem to be healthy and hale. Just need rest for now. And as for Ritsuka…"

They all turned to the remaining Coffin. Ritsuka was leaning on the edge of the opening, a hand covering her eyes as though she was still adjusting to the light. If she had heard or noticed anything that had just transpired, she had shown absolutely no sign of it. Her quiet demeanor had everyone looking at each other in concern before the doctor started to approach. "Ritsuka…?" he asked gently.

The redheaded Master stiffened for a second. She took a breath… then swiped her hand down, revealing her smiling face. "Hey doc!" she greeted cheerfully. "Sorry about that, not too used to rayshifting. I was dizzy as heck for a moment and thought I was gonna tip over, but I'm good now! But man, that was a trip! Oh hey, we even brought along our armor! How about that?"

Ren blinked with surprise before checking himself. As Ritsuka said, he was still wearing his iron scale armor that Nero had gifted them a while ago, to his surprise. It was always iffy precisely what did or didn't come along from the singularities, but he certainly didn't expect full on armor. Maybe he would find a use for it. He wasn't sure about the Velvet Room, but perhaps Da Vinci could do something with it. If Septem was any indicator, they would need every advantage they could get.

"It should be a nice souvenir if nothing else," Ritsuka continued without bothering to take a breath. "This armor's pretty damn cool. I'll have to look up how to maintain it – last thing I need is for it to start rusting. But anyway, you guys took care of Romulus and Lev, right? I knew you guys could do it! But I mean, that's to be expected of the Phantom Thieves and the ever-awesome Mash! It must've been one helluva battle. Honestly, I wish I had seen it but hey, I got a front row seat t-to my own battle so I guess I shouldn't complain too much, right? Not that it was as… as impressive as yours, of course."

Ren frowned a bit in concern. Though she had only done this once, he already locked onto one of Ritsuka's particular habits: If there was something especially bothering her, she wouldn't stop talking, trying not to leave any gaps for anyone to question her. Even now, he could see just how forced the smile on her face was as she animated herself as much as she could.

"But my god am I tired!" she moaned as she sagged a bit from exaggerated exhaustion. "Roman armies are cool and all but their life is not for me whatsoever. Nope! It's modern conveniences for me! And do they ever tell you how dusty roads get out there? They get really dusty, even though the roads are all these nice, lined cobblestones. Which makes sense – the Roman Empire was known for their roads and whatnot – but still! Smack me upside the head if I ever even consider joining any military in the future. Anyway, I dunno about you guys but I'm gonna have a nice, long, hot wash, then pass out for the next century. Hot shower and soft bed here I come!"

With that dramatic, forced declaration, Ritsuka almost ran right past them before anyone could stop her and sped out the started following her in concern but was stopped with an outstretched arm. "Non, mademoiselle Mash," Marie gently admonished. "I understand your concern, but she needs time to herself right now. I suggest you leave her be until tomorrow."

Mash blinked. "But…" she stammered.

Ren came up behind her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, surprising the Shielder. "Marie's right," he quietly said. "It's probably better to wait til tomorrow when we're all a bit better rested. I'm sure she'll be fine."

The lilac-haired girl hesitated, then nodded. "Alright," she replied. "Then perhaps I should reach out to her tomorrow morning? Perhaps with breakfast?"

The Phantom Thief grinned. "That's a good idea," he agreed. "I'll be sure to whip up some curry and coffee for her. She's as bad as resisting it as you are."

Mash turned red at that comment. "S-senpai!" she cried in embarrassment as everyone chuckled.

"Alright, you've all had your fun," Da Vinci commented with her ever-present smile. "But I think we've all spoken enough. Ragazzo, gatto, and Mash, off with you. There is no urgent business present and I'm sure you are all weary from the singularity. We can speak later – I am especially curious as to how Ren charmed a Roman emperor. Bravioso, Ren Amamiya~"

Da Vinci smirked at the last phrase as Morgana chuckled, Mash turned even redder and looked away uncomfortably (something the adults quickly noticed), and Ren laughed sheepishly. "It's quite the story," Ren agreed. "But yeah, we'll catch you guys tomorrow. I'll be sure to make some coffee for you guys too." With a wave, Ren left the room, followed by Morgana and Mash, leaving the three adults alone.

Roman sighed wearily. "I'll need to update my plans for Ritsuka's session," he muttered as he brushed away a stray strand of hair. "I knew she was affected by what happened with Astolfo. I just wasn't sure until I saw her."

Da Vinci nodded soberly, her smile fading. "That is for the best," she agreed. "We shall have to observe her and see she's not too emotionally compromised to act as Master."

Marie smiled sadly. "Oui," she murmured. "Though I wish to believe she is stronger than that. I believe she shall overcome this. Would you like me to keep an eye on her, just in case?"

Roman hesitated, then nodded. "Could you please?" he asked. "I don't think anything is going to happen but let us know just in case."

The Rider smiled and curtsied. "That I shall," she agreed before vanishing into spirit form.

The doctor sighed again. "Better get back to it, Da Vinci," he said, rolling his shoulders. "It seems we have a lot of work to do."

"That we do," Da Vinci replied. As much of a genius she was, even she struggled with dealing with another person's heart at times. And she knew the value of patience and time. This wasn't a matter that could be solved immediately, nor was she the proper one for this situation. But between Romani and the ragazzo, as well as their dear Mash, Ritsuka Fujimaru was in good hands.

She smiled to herself as she followed Roman out. Marie knew people well.

—-

Ritsuka could only watch despondently as Astolfo vanished in her arms, his body transforming back into its constituent mana before disappearing. She was the one who came up with this plan, she was the one who gave the commands. And now, under her watch, someone she considered a friend had died. She had directly seen casualties among the Roman forces, and while those had pained her, this was a different matter entirely.

A distant roar reached her ears. She looked up, barely able to make out anything through her blurry vision. The skeletons that had been approaching were crumbling away into nothing. Lu Bu was there in the distance, roaring angrily at his battle being denied as Darius also started vanishing too, dissolving into golden particles as well. Ritsuka knew what happened: Without any link to their Master, Darius was no longer receiving mana. And without mana, he couldn't stay on this world.

Further in the distance, she could hear the sounds of confusion from the Roman soldiers. Then they began cheering, the noise getting louder and louder. Over it all came Spartacus's loud bellow of triumph. The URE soldiers had probably stopped functioning in some regard as well, it seemed. Did they dissolve as well or simply collapse on the spot? She couldn't tell from here. Her legs refused to even move as she stayed there in the dirt.

But that mattered little. Their victory had come not through her little scheme, but by the efforts of Ren, Morgana, and Mash, as well as the Servants that went with them. They had trusted her to hold the fort and make sure everyone was safe. And yet, because of her hesitation, someone died when they shouldn't have. Because of her fear, she couldn't decisively put an end to an oncoming threat when it should have been dealt with. And now, the battle had concluded in their favor in spite of her.

She had failed.

—-

Ritsuka's eyes opened into the dark silence of her room. Her body felt oddly wet and cold – she had been sweating despite the air conditioning in her room. She reached up and tapped the bedside panel. Three in the morning. She slept a good while, yet she didn't feel even close to feeling well rested. Despite how tired she felt, she didn't feel like she could go back to sleep right now.

With a sigh, she quietly swung her legs off the bed and slowly got up. The bed felt incredibly… odd when she first laid in it. It felt too soft, a sensation she didn't think would ever exist for beds. Chaldea's bed was definitely a luxury compared to the beds back at the orphanage (though the beds there actually weren't too bad either) and she was tossing and turning before she finally got to sleep – only to be woken up by a nightmare based on memories.

Sliding her feet into slippers, she quietly shuffled through the room, brushing past the clothes she had tossed on the floor. She needed to clean that up later and toss it into the laundry chute. Or maybe just leave it to the robots. With how much she had worn them, they were probably considerably filthy. Maybe she could sell the dirt? Authentic Roman dirt, ninety-nine cents an ounce!

She rubbed her head as her bedroom door hissed open. Yep, she was definitely going insane. Just like the world had already gone insane.

The halls were quiet as she shuffled along. Most of the halls right now were dimly lit with glowing safety lights that lined the wall close to the floor. It was more than enough to see one's surroundings but still dim enough to maintain one's circadian rhythm. The redhead yawned loudly as she moved through the silent halls. Everyone else was either sleeping or working at this time. And here she was, shambling like some zombie.

Before long, she reached the cafeteria. It was mostly dark except for the well-lit kitchen, forcing her to blink as her eyes adjusted to the glare. A singular robot was waiting at the counter. "Good morning, Master Fujimaru," it greeted in its robotic voice. 'How may I serve you this morning?'

Ritsuka forced a smile as she waved at the robot. "Just gonna get myself something," she replied as she stepped into the kitchen and made her way toward the storeroom. "Don't mind me."

"As you wish," the robot replied. "I will be here to assist if necessary."'

"Not like you can help with what I'm dealing with," she muttered under her breath as entered the storeroom. With experienced steps, she quickly found what she was looking for: Milk and a packet for hot chocolate. Finding a mug, she opened the packet and poured the brown powder in, followed by the milk. Once done, she put the mug into the microwave, timed it for two minutes, and just stared at the mug as it slowly rotated within, listening to the buzz of the appliance.

It was all so ordinary, so simple. It felt utterly surreal. What was the dream: Septem or Chaldea? Or was her own home and past the dream and she simply woke up here? It was hard to tell anymore and at this point, she wasn't sure which she wanted to be true. The beeping of the microwave caught her attention. As she opened the microwave, the aroma of the hot chocolate wafted out. Ritsuka couldn't help but smile at the scent. It smelled comfortable and familiar. Like home.

Taking the mug, she sat down at the counter outside the kitchen. The robot was inactive. It was quiet, to the point where she could hear the creak of plastic and metal on the chair beneath her. She lifted the mug up, then set it down – her hands were shaking. Astolfo's face appeared once more in her mind before she shook her head to get rid of it. For now, she simply settled on blowing on her hot chocolate, trying to cool it down before drinking it when she heard the cafeteria door quietly hiss open.

"I did not expect you to be awake so early, ragazza. Did you sleep well?"

At the familiar voice, Ritsuka turned in surprise to see Da Vinci walking towards her, smiling as always. The Master forced herself to smile back. "So-so," she replied genuinely. "Got some hot chocolate for myself. Never fails to help get me back to sleep whenever I have trouble."

The genius's smile widened. "Is that so?" she mused. "Then I shall try partaking myself. I must admit, hot chocolate is a beverage I have heard much of but had never given the thought to try."

As she sat down at the counter beside Ritsuka, the robot stirred. "Good morning, Madame Da Vinci," it greeted. "How may I serve you this morning?"

"A hot chocolate for me, cameriere," she requested, holding up a finger for emphasis. The robot immediately rolled off into the storeroom to gather the ingredients needed for her order, leaving the two women alone.

Ritsuka waited with dread. No doubt Da Vinci was about to ask how she was doing, did the mission go okay, what happened on the field, why did she let Astolfo die – and once more, she had to forcefully shove the thoughts out of her head. Da Vinci already knew what had happened. After all, she was with Roman back at the command center and probably saw everything. The plans, the battles – hell, she was the one who had requested the disguise for herself as well as the calling cards (her idea though she thought Nero had the right to write it out). If anything, the only thing she should expect from recriminations.

But nothing of the sort happened. Da Vinci instead just simply sat there patiently, humming a quiet tune to herself. The robot whirred as it moved skillfully – albeit stiffly – to prepare the hot chocolate. "Hm, a bit more flexibility," she murmured to herself as she watched it work. "As well as smoothing out its motor functions. It is not bad, but it could be adjusted and calibrated. Perhaps I should take a look at the joints…"

The Master blinked with surprise at the Caster muttering to herself. She seemed off in her own little world, probably dissecting the unsuspecting robot with her mind and figuring out which components or programming to remove. For some reason, it put Ritsuka at ease slightly. They hadn't talked to each other so far, but the presence of someone familiar was… calming. Da Vinci didn't seem angry or disappointed in her whatsoever. Or at least, that's what it seemed like.

Eventually, the robot came forth with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and placed it front of the genius. "Grazie," she said with a warm smile.

"You are most welcome, Madame Da Vinci," the robot replied before moving back to its station once more, ready for the next guest.

The Caster lifted the mug up and breathed in the aroma, her smile widening. She glanced over to see Ritsuka watching in curiosity. "I believe your own should be cool enough to drink," she pointed out.

Ritsuka blinked in surprise, then glanced at her own mug. She hesitantly took a sip and while it was still hot, it at least didn't scald her tongue. The sweet liquid tasted like nectar to her as she savored it, enjoying the creamy texture and warmth as it descended her throat. Da Vinci simply smiled once more and took a tip of her own beverage as well.

They sat there for a few minutes, simply enjoying their drinks in silence. Ritsuka wasn't sure if she should talk, but… the silence started to feel slightly stifling. "How-" she began, then cleared her throat as her voice cracked a bit. Da Vinci simply glanced over and waited patiently for the question. "H-how is Chaldea?" she asked, her quiet voice sounding as loud as a drum in the empty cafeteria.

Da Vinci's smile widened. "It has been quite active here lately," she replied. "The hydroponic farm is nearly fully repaired. We should be able to plant seeds before long, in case we have a need for more oxygen and food supplies. We aren't short on either, but better to have too much than too little. Besides, freshly grown vegetables have a certain… savor that normal ones seem to lack, no? Though perhaps that is just me."

The Master blinked. Right, she remembered the hydroponic farm during her tours and wanderings. She always found it fascinating – it felt like a mix between a greenhouse and a laboratory, with robots and scientists checking the conditions of the plants and making sure they were healthy. While she had no especial love for vegetables, they always seemed a bit more delicious when someone told her they came from the farm. She was probably imagining things, admittedly, but still.

"I believe Martha is also teaching some kickboxing as well," Da Vinci continued. "It is surprisingly popular for exercise and stress relief. It is rather adorable, to be honest – I don't think our dear Martha can refuse an earnest request for something so handy. Especially if Jeanne of all people asks for it. The face of panic on her was entertaining, I must admit!"

Kickboxing… Ritsuka thought about it. She debated learning self-defense for herself – all she had was a standard issue trench knife from Chaldea – but she wasn't sure. There's only so much she could do given their opposition. A punch from her would probably barely even phase a trained soldier, let alone a Servant or monster. It wasn't like she had any magecraft to work with. The Master uniforms were meant for supporting Servants, not directly fighting them. And she certainly didn't have any persona abilities…

And just like that, the warm feeling rapidly dissipated into cold realization once more. Her grip tightened around her mug slightly as she tried to push away the feeling of helplessness that resurged once more. To distract herself, she drank more of the hot chocolate. Instead of the usual comfort, the sweetness now tasted sickly and ashen in her mouth as the heat turned to lava in her throat. She could only laugh bitterly at herself. Great – now she made herself depressed to the point her favorite treat tasted like crap.

Meanwhile, Da Vinci watched Ritsuka closely. "There are others you may want to speak with, Ritsuka," she pointed out gently.

Ritsuka blinked in surprise as she swallowed another mouthful of the hot chocolate – and began coughing as it went down her windpipe. "S-sorry," she rasped as she beat her chest to clear it out. "Could you repeat that?"

The genius smiled. "I'm not the most experienced in such matters," she elaborated. "I may be a genius, but I know full well there are plenty of things and aspects in the world that I am quite ignorant of. I was neither a general nor warrior on the battlefield, for instance, despite creating plenty of war machines during my time. As such, perhaps speaking with someone who has experience in what you have gone through may be more prudent."

The redhead blinked in surprise as she considered. True – Leonardo was many things and created machines for war (of varying practicality – she still remembered the drawings of her tank in school and on the internet), but she had never heard of her taking to the battlefield in life. It most likely helped that she was more than talented in so many fields that having her as a soldier or even a war engineer would be seen by everyone as a waste – an exception given how many skirmishes happened in Renaissance Italy.

"You have any particular suggestions?" Ritsuka asked hesitantly. She could think of a few people here to ask. Perhaps Siegfried or Artoria, probably Jeanne too. They could certainly come up with some advice-

"Perhaps the ragazzo and gatto would be able to assist you in that regard," Da Vinci suggested.

Ritsuka almost choked again at the suggestion. "Th-them?" she stammered. "Er, well, they're probably busy and they need their rest after all. It's not fair to bug them so soon about such a thing. I mean, they probably need the peace and time to plan for their next heists or singularities, right? I shouldn't bother them when they have so much to do." She was making every single excuse under the sun, she knew. But most of all, she didn't want to see either of them again so soon.

Da Vinci's smile became more sympathetic. "They have lost Servants, you know," she pointed out. Noticing Ritsuka freeze at that, she continued. "Marie and Mozart had sacrificed themselves back in Orleans when Morgana was leading them, and Jing Ke had perished, trading her life for Romulus's."

The redhead's eyes widened as she stared at Da Vinci in horror. "Th-that's…" she stammered. "I-I… should you be telling me about this so… easily? Ren or Morgana should be the one telling me about this, so letting me know outright like this is… it's a bit disrespectful, isn't it?" There had to be extenuating circumstances for what happened there, right? It was Ren and Morgana, the Phantom Thieves. With their personas, they were way too awesome to ever let something like that happen under their noses!

The Caster chuckled. "If I believed that the two were the type to be bothered by me revealing this, I wouldn't have," she replied easily. "However, I am of the opinion that they will easily tell you this just as I have when you consult with them. There is sadness and grief here, yes, but not shame. They understand this well – perhaps as good as any Servant here, I think. Talking to them about this may prove enlightening."

Ritsuka was silent, staring into her mug of hot chocolate. If what Da Vinci said was true, then… well, maybe there were other circumstances at work. She wanted to ask her, but it felt rude to pry any further into Ren and Morgana's situation after that revelation. Any more information, she would have to ask them herself. Maybe they did hold the answer. Or at least, they would know how to cope with the situation better. The guilt still sat in her stomach like a stone, but at least she had a way forward instead of wallowing. She couldn't afford to with the incineration of humanity at stake.

"It seems you've made up your mind," Da Vinci noted as she observed the Master.

"You could say that," Ritsuka quietly replied. She lifted her mug and drained it, barely noticing the heat of the hot chocolate as it slid down her throat. Setting down the mug, she stood up. "I better get some sleep," she said. "Otherwise, I'm going to be a zombie in the morning."

Nodding, the genius's smile widened. "Of course, ragazza," she responded easily. "Rest well."

The Master began walking out, then stopped. "Da Vinci?" she called out.

"Hm?"

"Thanks for keeping me company," she said, giving her a small but genuine smile. "It means a lot."

Da Vinci's smile widened once more. "Any time, Ritsuka," she easily accepted. She watched as the redheaded Master left the cafeteria and chuckled to herself. Hopefully, that fire of hers wouldn't prevent her from getting a bit more sleep, but at least she seemed to be doing a bit better. All she needed was a slight push. Ah, this was the one reason why she could never get enough of humanity despite everything: Their ability to find a way forward no matter what.

Smiling, she took another sip. "Hm, delizioso," she noted. Perhaps she should make hot chocolate more often…

—-

Olga sighed as she went over her collection of tomes on the bookshelf. It had become impressive as of late: All the walls of her section of the Velvet Room were lined with bookshelves, all filled with tomes, scrolls, bundles of bamboo, and more. They all detailed various myths and constellations as well as heavenly bodies. Linking between her own knowledge to Personas, as well as researching on top of that, proved to be both remarkably simple and obnoxiously frustrating at once.

Finding what she was looking for – an ancient-looking tome with an elaborate leather cover inlaid with golden and gem decorations – and began moving back to the astrolabe with it. Many of the connections were obvious, after all. Mythology and constellations went almost literally hand-in-hand in every culture. However, the further connections between them were myriad: mapping them out was like finding a single thread of a cobweb, then following it into the tangled mass that followed.

It would perhaps be easier if she could actually focus on her work.

What happened with Lev Lainur was something she didn't know how to process. She had watched as he ranted about the failures of his Servants, transformed into a demon pillar, and tried to kill the others. Watching her beloved mentor figure transform into… that thing was something she had no words to express. Was this truly the same man? The man who had watched over her as she grown up, who had assisted her countless times in running the morass that was Chaldea, who had taught her and encouraged more than her own father?

Then she remembered him laughing, as he tried to toss her into the burning CHALDEAS without any remorse. It was only because of Ren's quick thinking that she wasn't currently burning away for eternity.

Throughout the whole battle, with Lev ranting and raving, she thought he might have said something about her. Maybe through it, she could hear a hint of her former mentor, or a sign of what he truly thought of her. Something she could perhaps latch onto to get some form of closure. Instead, he had said absolutely nothing about her. She wasn't sure if he even thought of her whatsoever.

For some reason, that hurt far more than any insult he could've paid her.

As she set the tome down beside the open Compendium at the astrolabe, the sound of footsteps caught her attention. She glanced up and blinked with surprise to see Ren walking towards her. "Amamiya," she greeted. "I believed you would be resting at this time. Is there something you require?"

Ren smiled and shook his head. "Nah," he replied. "Honestly, I just came to check up on you."

That once more took her by surprise. People only came when they needed something from her. It still felt deeply unfamiliar whenever people came to see her because… well, they simply wanted to see her. "I… see…" she said slowly. Then she sighed. "The usual spot," she stated with a wave. "I'll be with you momentarily."

Nodding, Ren went over to the carpeted spot, grabbed a pillow, and laid down, once more watching the glimmering stars. He glanced over as he saw Olga soon come over and do much the same, laying down beside him. For a while, they lay there in silence as they observed the stars. "I'm guessing you saw everything?" Ren finally asked, breaking the silence.

Olga frowned slightly. "Most, but not all," she admitted. "I hadn't watched the ending of your battle with Le- with Flauros. However, by that point the conclusion had been obvious. You did well against him – and against Romulus, of course."

Shifting a bit, Ren looked over at her. "That's it?" he asked.

The former director glanced back, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean by 'that's it'?" she questioned.

"You said you didn't watch the battle all the way through," Ren pointed out. "And it was against… well, Lev Lainur. I thought you had more to say about it. What are you really thinking right now, Olga?"

She glared momentarily at Ren, cursing once more his perceptiveness and spirit of inquiry, then aridly sighed. "My thoughts on the matter are… difficult," she murmured, looking back up at the stars. "Tell me, Amamiya, how would you feel if the man that had been teaching you and looking after you the better part of your life, had assisted you in the morass of administration that was Chaldea, and had been with you every step of the way, suddenly turned around, declared you useless, and tried to incinerate you?"

There was a moment of silence. "I think I know how you feel," Ren murmured.

Olga looked fully over in surprise as he continued. "When I first started my journey, Igor helped me how he could," he explained. "He was cryptic, a bit condescending, but he provided a lot of assistance, like the various Velvet Room functions and of course, my Third Eye. My attendant at the time wasn't Lavenza but a pair of twins: Caroline and Justine. They were… personalities, to put it lightly, but they were fantastic in their own right."

She listened silently. Right, Olga heard bits and pieces of what had happened. She hadn't seen it fully – she had been dedicating herself to her research and her studies – but enough to get a general story. But hearing it from Ren was a far different matter entirely. All she could do was keep quiet as he told her his story.

"Eventually, we reached the bottom of Mementos, and we found a Holy Grail waiting for us," he continued. "Not that kind, by the way – it was a cognition of the masses. They wanted someone or something to grant their wishes of doing their thinking for them." He could still remember it: A gigantic panopticon prison, surrounding the massive grail. It was dull and lusterless at first, and yet as it restored itself with the wishes of the people, it gradually became more golden and lustrous. All through those red veins that reminded him so much like blood vessels that flowed right into the basin of the grail.

"We fought as hard as we could, but every time we made any headway, it regenerated," Ren said. "It just used the wishes of the masses to heal and power itself any further. Eventually, it just booted us out of Mementos. There's no other way to put it: We lost. Completely. And with the Grail's control of the masses, it altered cognition so that 'the Phantom Thieves didn't exist'. By that logic… we didn't exist. So we were erased one by one."

The former director could only stare at Ren in shock. However, he wasn't done.

"I woke up in the Velvet Room," he continued. "There, Igor told me that I apparently lost his 'game' and my life was forfeit. From there, I was dragged out of my cell and he sicced both Caroline and Justine on me."

Olga continued listening with her eyes as round as saucers. The Velvet Room… almost became Ren's execution chamber? With everything she had seen and heard of the place so far, that sounded almost like an entirely alien concept. "That's…" she said, trying to find the words to describe it.

"It's a lot of things," Ren finished for her with a small chuckle, before his smile faded. "But during that time, all I could remember was feeling confused, shocked, upset, and most of all, pissed off. Pissed off that someone, even Igor of all people, had the damn gall to tell me I had failed and would be killed off for it on his whim. He wasn't any better than all those we had fought against up to that point."

He raised his hand and looked at it, the red glove visible in his mind's eye. "From there, my Phantom Thief regalia – my symbol of rebellion – appeared. I still got my ass beat black and blue by Caroline and Justine, but I still wasn't about to give up. From there, they realized things were… out of the ordinary, had me fuse them, and they became Lavenza once more. The rest, you already know."

When Ren finished his story, they were both quiet for a moment. "So… what is your point, Amamiya?" Olga asked quietly. "That I should… lash out on a selfish whim? Rage against the dying of the light? Against Lev Lainur, or Flauros as he is now? Is this what you are telling me?"

Ren shrugged. "If it helps, then absolutely," he replied bluntly. "When it comes to emotions, selfish and selfless are honestly irrelevant. You learn to vent them out how you can – sometimes that can be productive, sometimes unproductive. But bottling it up or trying to force it away? Doesn't really help. And sometimes, you can vent in a very cathartic manner if you're clear-minded enough for it."

The former director blinked as she turned to look once more at Ren with a small frown. "What do you mean by that?" she questioned.

The Phantom Thief smirked. "I decided to let Flauros know my opinion on his appearance," he explained. Switching his masks, the Flauros persona took form and stood a small distance away from them in all its red, bipedal, leopard glory.

"Honestly, a gigantic black pillar of flesh lined with red eyes? That's so last millenium," Ren said as Olga gawked at the persona. "We have here a perfect specimen, don't you think? The ferocious gaze of the jaguar, the immaculate peaks that sit on his shoulders, and of course, his designer boots. We have here the peak of what a demon should be! I think Flauros-Lev got pissed off because he wasn't nearly the figure like this absolute unit." As Ren spoke, the Flauros persona grinned with its leopard mouth and began flexing, posing every way with each compliment. It even gave a sultry wink with its blue eyes to complete it.

"You…" Olga started to say, then the dam finally broke. Every emotion, the absurdity of the situation, the sheer ridiculousness of Ren and his Flauros persona overwhelmed her. She began giggling, then laughing uproariously, the clear sound ringing throughout the Workshop. The laughing was non-stop as she felt the weight on her chest and shoulders become lighter and lighter. Then she imagined both Lev and Flauros reacting to the persona – the former confused yet intrigued, the latter utterly furious – and began laughing anew as tears started streaming down from her eyes.

"That – is the most – stupid – thing – I have ever heard of!" she gasped through her giggles as she clutched at her belly, trying to withstand her laughter before it tore at her muscles.

"I know, right?" Ren agreed. "Like, I'm more than happy to have Flauros here model for him – Flauros-Lev doesn't have to look so terrible. He just needs a few pointers in fashion. Isn't that right, buddy?" Flauros flexed once more in response, his eye glinting in pride and machismo, sending another pang of giggles ripping through Olga as she failed utterly to retain her composure.

Finally, she had settled down, gasping for breath. Flauros had long since vanished as Ren lay there contentedly. "Better?" Ren asked.

Olga let out a deep sigh. "Somewhat," she admitted, wiping away a few more tears. "It has been… a very long while since I had laughed like that. I haven't had much cause to throughout my life. Or express my emotions, I guess. Ever since taking the mantle of my father's position – no, even before that with the Clock Tower, I…"

She trailed off as she wondered when she had genuinely allowed herself to show emotions. As the only child of the Animusphere line, she had to be on her best graces at all times: With her own family, with her peers, with her betters, and even when out casually. She couldn't do anything that would besmirch the family name, nor give any result that would fall short of perfection. A stance that caused her to have a near mental breakdown when she became director of Chaldea. She felt like she could be more… herself when she was around Lev at least.

And now that he was gone…

"Hm," Ren mused. "How about I help with that?"

The former director blinked. "I beg your pardon?" she inquired.

"You're already helping me out a lot with all this," he elaborated, waving a hand to her Workshop. "So I think it's about time I return the favor. If you want, I can help you vent and let loose a little bit. It's only fair, after all."

"You're offering to be my therapist?" Olga asked skeptically.

"More of a sounding board," Ren clarified. "Helps a lot more than you'd think. What do you say?"

Olga breathed out a small breath as she considered for a moment. "Your suggestion is not without merit," she murmured as she slowly stood up. "Very well, Amamiya. I will take you up on that offer. But for now, I must insist we end the visit here. You need rest, and I have much to ponder. But regardless… thank you, Amamiya. For everything."

Ren smiled as he stood up as well. "Not a problem at all," he replied earnestly. "Take care of yourself, Olga. I'll try to do so on my end too." Flashing a last smile, he turned to walk away. As the darkness consumed him, he felt a familiar warmth bloom within his chest: An arcana bond with Olga. Tower.

He smiled to himself. How fitting.

Olga watched as Ren vanished from the Velvet Room. She felt more relieved than she had in quite some time. And… reassured. A bit like how she felt whenever she had been in Lev's company. Ren couldn't replace Lev - she knew nobody would - but in that regard, no one could replace Ren Amamiya either. Whether in his importance in restoring humanity, as a Wild Card or simply as a person she was growing a deeper respect for. A profound connection like this, even she knew needed to be treasured.

She turned back to her astrolabe. Well, if he was going to be repaying her for her work, then she wouldn't settle for offering anything less than her best. Her eyes gleaming with determination, she opened her newest tome. A wave of her hand, a whirl of the stars, and the work of Olga Marie Animusphere began once more.


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