[X] For her peace of mind.
A Caster's main arsenal is their Territory. Being Mages or variations thereof, they require a place, a Workshop, or a given foci point to be able to restock and rearm. Of course, that's not all. Being their sanctums and place where their biggest secrets are kept, such Workshops are often filled with assorted advantages to help the normally physically-challenged Servant Class even the playing field.
For Medea of Colchis, one of the greatest of Magus of the Age of Gods, this meant that the Fuyuki Church turned to a proverbial fortress laden with utilities.
One of which is the capability to observe everything that happens inside or around the Church with clarity. A utility that proved useful as she watches, with considerable attention, towards the verbal confrontation between her Master and the Shielder.
"For my peace of mind." Her Master said simply. "I wish to simply be left alone and tend to my matters in peace. That is why I joined Chaldea in the first place."
"You... That's
all you wish for?" The Shielder's hands tensed, as if struggling between tightening into fists or not. "Joining an organization dedicated to protecting human history, being picked to be a member of the A-Team... And yet all you wanted is to be a
hermit?"
The non-human looks at the Demi-Servant in the eyes. "Yes. I am being truthful. It is my only desire. If it meant that saving the world is a means to that end, then I will do so."
Medea could only look raptly at the countenances of the two, seeing their reactions and examining them raptly.
A Demi-Servant who could not comprehend the desire of an Elemental, who herself could not comprehend the disbelief of the homunculi despite answering the query truthfully.
How...
odd, her new Master is. Direct, to the point, and with no desire to obfuscate. She reminder the Caster of... of...
No, let's not dwell on that. The times of mourning passed already. The time for revenge, however...
"I... I don't understand. I can't understand why you'd go this far for that." Kyrielight's frown faltered a bit. "...But, I guess, it's not my place to tell you what to do. Miss Hinako, I hope you can be with us until the end of this."
"And that is what matters." The Elemental said. "Is this all, then?"
With the conversation ending, Medea stopped her scrying efforts and faced her patient. As per the orders of her Master, she was to heal her arm first before operating. And immediately, it is easy to see what is wrong with the unconscious woman in front of her.
By simple diagnostics, Olga Marie Animusphere does not have an Origin.
Well, that's not right. By simple diagnostics, Olga Marie Animusphere doesn't seem to have an Origin. It's truly a complicated matter in front of her. According to any sort of information she learned in terms of the workings of the soul, one cannot survive without an Origin. But by all accounts, her patient is fine.
By not so simple diagnostics, one that exerts a not-so-insignificant amount of her magical prowess, she still does not seem to have an Origin... but she
should be having one.
So either her patient, for some reason or another, manages to break all the important parts of the established knowledge on how souls work or
something - or someone - obfuscated the capability for others to note what her Origin is and frankly, Medea isn't sure which possibility is worse.
For now though, it's a mystery that the Colchisian has to set aside, because as curious and mind-boggling as it was, it is ultimately irrelevant.
....In the same way that someone having their legs cut off is 'ultimately irrelevant' to their current cardiac arrest. Both are serious ails, but the latter is more important to deal with.
On that matter, she does not know whether to thank or curse her new Master. Thank her, for the fact that patient is unconscious, which meant that she can operate easier; and due to the fact the cognizance of the Director to her predicament meant that it is easier for Medea to do more...
thorough surgery. Curse her, for the fact that it puts a timer to the surgery. The degradation of her soul, detached from her body that has been long gone according to her Master, is accelerating at an exponential rate. Aside from that, it makes her soul all the more vulnerable towards spiritual weaponries.
Reckless, but as luck would have it, the patient has
her as the surgeon.
Her professional pride will see to it that the girl is cured of her current state... if not improved
further.
"
Silver and Gold as the Foundation."
Busy would be a gross understatement for the current state of one Romani Archaman. Being in command of Chaldea after such a crisis was not what he had in mind.
"
Kaleidoscope as the Essence..."
...Well, as they say, no plan survives first contact, though this is less of a contact and more a direct, catastrophic collision. Ten years of preparation, and...
Oh! On the bright side, not all the Masters are disabled! That's something at least, right?
...Could he have done better to prepare, he wondered.
"
Hear my declaration." Ritsuka Fujimaru continued her chant, quickly drilled into her by the combined effort of himself and Medea. For a fledgling Master and newcomer to mysteries in general, she is quite a quick learner. Being able to focus on learn the chant in such a short time speaks volumes of how composed she is, even after having just experienced the End of the World. That, or young Ritsuka still hasn't processed her current situation yet. He'll have to prepare to counsel for her.
Mashu, too, and possibly the Director... if sh- no,
when wakes up.
"
Let ye Spirits of the Bow come forth." As expected of a Caster from ages old, Medea has done an excellent job in modifying the summoning ritual to restrict the Servant summoned to that of Archer Class. Were that not the case, Ritsuka could've ended up with a Servant with high magical energy demand — Berserkers, in a worst case scenario. Romani made a note to himself to free up some time to brush up on magecraft knowledge. He can't afford to forget something that might come in use later on.
But for the meantime, preparing for data analysis on the summoned Archer takes precedence. While Independent Action means Archers are a lot less mana-intensive, it also means they're less inclined to follow their Master's every order. If Ristuka happens to summon a particularly troublesome Archer, a thorough understanding of their history can go a long way in accommodating-
"
Come forth, above the aegis, ye Spirits Ancient!" The summoning circle flared into light as the rookie Master's chant finished. A blue hue permeates the lines of the circle as magic pours into it. The foundation of the Church itself seems to shake as the connection to the Throne of Heroes clears and the Third Magic made itself known.
A more blinding flash of light followed suit, one of pure white that, for a single moment, wiped out the connection between Chaldea and the Singularity.
When it fades, Romani Archaman could not stop his mouth from gaping.
...So much for needing a background research.
Ritsuka Fujimaru fell to her knees as near searing heat pulsed through her veins. Her Magical Circuits, weak and underdeveloped, simply couldn't cope with the strain of summoning her first Servant. Why, of all people, was she chosen to save the world again?
She looked up, forcing herself to stand and gazing face to face with her Servant.
Well... for starters, her Servant is easy on the eyes. A rather youthful one, with fair and gentle eyes that calmly looked upon her. The most striking feature would be his red mop of hair. Not unlike the Director's own, in fact, if much more vibrant and deep in its redness.
But that isn't
all, of course. Physical attractiveness aside, two things caught her eyes. Specifically, the items in his possession. A shepherd's crook held lightly on his right hand... and the sling strapped on his belt.
"I ask of you," The Servant's voice light yet carried itself in a firm tone. "Are you my Master?"
"Yes. I am." The Master brought her hand to her chest, the back of her hand flaring with the red Command Seals.
"Excellent. So..." The Archer looked around. "...I take it that I need no introductions?"
"Erm..." Ritsuka looked back at the projection of the doctor, who seems to be in a state of gaping at the sight of her new Servant. For his part, Archer waved at him which, for some reason, brought twitches to the doctor's countenance. No help from the doctor, she's guessing. "Well, for the sake of it, welcome?"
Archer nodded, a warm smile gracing his face. "Thank you for the hospitality then, Master. So, where are the other Servants?"
Oh, right. Of course he'd notice. "Uh, Miss M- I mean, Caster is busy. And Mashu is," Ritsuka looked around, not finding the Shielder anywhere in her vision. "Uh..."
"Mashu is outside, trying to meditate by herself, she said." Hinako intoned simply —
how did she snuck up on them like that — as she walked out of the nearby alcove. She stopped in her tracks as she looked at the Archer. "...A pleasure to meet you, King David."
"A pleasure to meet a beauty such as yourself." The Israelite King nodded sagely. "Truly, to have a lovely Master and companion alongside her..."
"
King David, you really are as promiscuous as in the legends, huh?" Said the doctor in a sudden, yet almost cheerful tune.
"Aha, well..." He peered on to the holographic visage of the Doctor. "....And you are?"
"Romani Archaman." He said, Ritsuka looked somewhat confused. Did the Doctor seem unsure all the sudden? "Acting Director for Chaldea. ...Pleasure to meet you, King David."
The auburn-King nodded. "Likewise. So... if my summon is correct, the world is ending, huh?"
"That... would be half of it, yes."
"Doctor, the circle is still functional, right?" Hinako said, barging into the conversation once more.
"Well, it is unpowered, but it can still be use-" Romani looked at the second Master, slight alarm on his face apparent. "Wait, ar-are you?"
"We have evened the number, now let's tip the balance." Said the girl simply.
Ritsuka looked at Hinako. "But, don't you already have Medea as a Servant, Miss Hinako?"
"What Ritsuka said, even if you're to summon an Archer, the combined mana drain from supplying two Servants would put a serious strain on you even if you're some kind of prodigious magus."
"Hoo?" The shepherd gave the black-haired master a gaze. "Not just a beauty, huh? And were my ears failing me, or did I hear
Medea, the famed Colchisian Mage, is here?"
Hinako nodded in affirmation, not paying any attention to the two humans' babbling. "Yes, she was originally in this Singularity before you arrived. Will there be a problem?"
"Not at all, actually." Archer said matter-of-factly. "Pettiness of religious strife is not something to worry about when the world is literally ending."
"Great. Now if you would excuse me, there's no time to lose." Ritsuka senses the circle that she used prior lighting up, magical energy coursing through the entire array. With a deep breath, the second Master recited the chant.
"Silver and Gold as the foundation.
Kaleidoscope as the essence, the wellspring of possibilities be the cornerstones that stretch infinitely.
In the defense of the world, I beseech of you, Spirits of Heroes.
Let your differences separate you not.
Let your similarities bind you all on the table with which you are called upon.
Hear my declaration. For I am the protector of the World and the World is your commander until the very end.
Let it be so, that you are bound to me as you are to the World.
Let ye Spirits of the Bow come forth.
Let ye whose body and soul wanders unimpeded come forth.
Let your free spirits aid the World once more.
Under the powers of the Third, I beseech ye once again!
Come forth, above the aegis, ye Spirits Ancient!"
From afar, Ritsuka notes just how blinding the flash of light is. Maybe the second time made it so that the sense of wonderment went off.
But one thing for sure, as her vision returns, is that Miss Hinako had snagged herself an... interesting Servant. Old western clothing fitted his rather short frame. A scoundrel look fitted his face, a natural expression to him. And more importantly, the singular detail that is noted quicker than others.
The revolver, holstered tight to his belt.
"
Howdy partner. Are you my Master?"