[X] Confront the Servant. This flaw in your defense cannot be allowed to persist. You will swallow your distaste and... converse with Mashu Kyrielight. The light that stood against the King of Magic will be essential in the time to come.
This was a mistake. You already regret your decision as Tachi pulls the Servant away and asks to speak in private. Your eyes take in the confusion in her features for a moment, a furrowed brow that had persisted ever since her surprise at being pulled away by you. It is not surprising, you admit. To smile and nod is a simple thing. Only a fool would mistake that for anything bordering affection, and the Servant was at least perceptive enough to notice that you held worse feelings than that towards her. She is unsure what to say, and still you hesitate to put your thoughts into words without giving yourself away. You could not be blamed. It was unbelievable, utterly unbelievable.
How could she hesitate over them, yet smile as she obliterated your hopes? This civilization which could not even make adequate kindling. A world devoid of anything but merest survival. It was empty of hope, of charity, of kindness. If there was anything truly worthy of humanity left in them, they had shed it to live but one more day. You did not condemn them for such a thing. By now you had learned this instinct to live was the strongest among mankind and its derivatives. Yet she would hesitate to put this wretched thing out of its misery?
What reason could there possibly—
You did not— you simply did not have enough information to continue hostilities against the Servants.
The realization dawns on you, and no matter how intolerable it is you must accept it. Tachi's grip tightens on the fidgeting girl's shoulders as you process this unacceptable comparison. She, Mashu Kyrielight, is just like you. Tachi's mouth opens after several full minutes of near silence.
"You do not know if you are right anymore. You fear what your conclusion will mean, if it is wrong." She stills. One eye regards the other. And then, ever so slowly, she gives the smallest of nods. You do not know whether to laugh or not. Part of you even considers using this shell to shatter her frail body, devoid of the Heroic Spirit that once empowered her. Yes, she is empty as you are empty. She too was once part of something more, and now that is gone. All that is left is her and questions. Questions, endless questions without an ounce of certainty. The axioms which had defined her life had withered away. How insufferable.
For a moment, there is silence. You think to mention the Singularities. The Pillars. Tiamat. The Control Center itself. And yet, it seems for that moment she sees through your thoughts. "The Time Temple was easier," she admits.
You almost laugh, and Tachi lips twitch even though the rest of her face remains still as stone. She was right, although you resented her for it. Those 3000 years, all that planning, the final struggle. It had been so simple. You had no doubts, then. And when she stood before the bands of light... yes. You know she had none as well. The certainty of millennia met that brief flash of existence, and it could not prevail. You coax Tachi's mouth into a smile, you ease the hardness in her eye, and for once she does not simply mouth the delicate sentences you construct. "I can imagine," you respond. And Tachi lets go of her.
There is a silence then. A breath, as you examine her and she examines you. You devise a new approach. "What does your shield protect, Mashu?"
There are a few answers there that you expect. The Human Order, although even you can see that she doesn't mean that. Chaldea next then. That was closer, much closer. It was her home, her family, her world. You pursue that line of thought for a moment. She tells you the name of many researchers and engineers, the lives that she had gotten close to over the last year. She tells you of Da Vinci. Not the young construct that had been refurbished into a replacement. She tells you of an omnipotent genius who was full of humanness. She tells you of a foolish, brave doctor who was her father in every way that mattered. She tells you of a girl who held her hand when the world ended.
It is the last you hold onto. The last you think of, as you put your final question into words. "Who did you think of, before you died?" She is surprised for a moment, you can tell. Chaldea had spoken of many things after all, but the death of Mashu Kyrielight and her consequent revival was a miracle that they would not give up freely to the Magus Association. But suspicion gives away to boldness, and you echo her answer.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru." Tachi smiles. "Marisbury Animusphere made you as a tool to facilitation the salvation of the world. But as a human, and for the sake of one human alone, the world was saved as a consequence. Mashu, you already know who your shield protects. You do not know enough to address the rest of your doubts. Still, you can move forward, if only for her."
There is no childish blushing or frivolous denials. Some part of you wishes for such, some small opportunity to be cruel even amidst this understanding. Yet only firmness greets your gaze. A familiar strength of will that does not belong to the frailty of a human. Undoubtedly, the resolve of a Heroic Spirit stood before you. She thanks you. And you make your own request. "The only thing I could ask for is to see that miracle myself, Mashu." She leaves the chilly little room in the shack you had cornered her in after giving her affirmation. You watch her leave through Tachi's eyes.
It is easy to think of her as yourself. It eases some of that bitterness just as it intensifies it. You understand her decision. Yet, if a miracle had occurred despite that. If she had said yes, what wonders you could have made together. Your fury and rebelliousness tempered by that simple human wisdom. The divine perfection of your willingness to destroy juxtaposed next to her desire to protect. What would have come after... it would have certainly been beautiful.
But it is not only the distant past that troubles you. You wonder if this past year had been a mistake. In the same span of time as you, she had lived a full life. Enough to face her end without regret. Even after the dissolution of your unity with the other Pillars you saw yourself as immortal, eternal. But Baal had died, as had Andras, Phenex, Zepar, and Raum. If death had come for you at the year's end when the sky was sewn shut, could you have confronted it? The answer fills you with resentment. How ridiculous. That neither an omnipotent king or a coterie of demons could find the smallest scrap of happiness, it would have to be a joke. You envy Mashu Kyrielight.
And you wonder, for a moment, what would it be like for someone to hold your hand. To comfort you in the end, amidst your doubts and questions.
That too must be beautiful.
Your time in the village comes to an end soon enough. Fascinatingly enough, Chaldea appeared to have picked up a stay Yaga as well. You have no complaints. Although, you can hardly trust him. Survival was everything for them, after all. But you have a new plan of action now. The Master has firmly decided that, based on your information, that Kiara is not enough to win against this Lostbelt. At dawn, Chaldea will search for Grendel. You must advise a course of action.
[ ] Direct confrontation. Draw out and challenge the beast. Negotiations may ensue after he has been beaten into submission. Force alone compels obedience in this world. Anything else risks rebellion.
[ ] Play on his pride rather than contest his strength. A more dubious proposition given his nature, but he is undoubtedly dangerous. There is always a chance of defeat against his newfound might, and even if you prevail the casualties you sustain could ruin the group. Wisdom is safety in this case.
