In Which There are Too Many Swords
Blinktwice13
Underpaid Struggle Bus Attendant
- Location
- Eastern US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Caster - Cu - looked behind himself at me before facing the rest of those gathered. "Right. Berserker's going to stay put, so he's a non-issue. Our main targets are Archer, who guards the path to the Grail, and Saber. For questions on Archer, please direct them to him." He gestured with his staff at our Archer.
The white-haired man stiffened. Now that the light had gone and I didn't have a faceful of Caster, I could tell that he was built like a fortress and had piercing grey eyes. Is that what an archer's build looks like, I wonder?
Tristan's bow was magic and did most of the heavy lifting, so possibly one who doesn't cheat. Or cheat as much, I guess. Oh, he does look upset though.
"What, is it an ex?" I muttered.
Animusphere gave me a withering look.
Archer relaxed slightly, and gave a dry chuckle. "It's not an impossible question. I'd be willing to assume that the Archer in question is myself, however."
Fujimaru caught my eye and flashed a subtle thumbs-up.
Look at you, making friends. I'm so proud~
"Which means trouble," Caster sighed with a shake of her head. "I might be able to match his rate of fire, but if he has close-quarter capabilities then I won't be of much help there."
"...does Magic Resistance count for helpful spells?" I wondered aloud.
"As a general rule, no," Animusphere replied. "Why?"
I looked to Caster. "What happens if you apply an enhancing spell to a knight?"
A slow smile crossed her face. "I do like your thinking." She turned to Mash. "Well, young lady? I can improve a standard human to the point where they can compete with a Servant. Are you willing to risk yourself on the front lines?"
Mash stood up straight. "I'll fight for Senpai and Chaldea!"
...I probably count as 'Chaldea' in there. Maybe.
I startled as Cu Chulainn reached behind him and nudged me forward, resting his arm across my shoulders.
"Right. So we need to split into teams to handle Saber and Archer," Fujimaru began.
"Moron! We still need information on Saber!" Animusphere bristled. She whirled on Cu. "If you're done agitating your allies, then get on with it."
He raised his eyebrows. "Bold words for someone made of flammable material."
She reeled. "You heard that!?"
I stuck my tongue out and squinted at her.
Really, darling?
"Matthew," Fujimaru said calmly.
"Dunno what you're talking about, but regardless. Saber is a top-tier knight with a holy sword. It's become corrupt, but she has full control of her faculties." Cu drummed his fingers on his staff. "Didn't see much more than that before she flung a wave of dark power at me, and I felt discretion was the better part of valor there."
Archer slowly tensed once more. "Damn."
"You know who she is?" Caster asked, tilting her hood.
He didn't speak.
"Archer, we need to know," Fujimaru coaxed him, cutting off Animusphere's undoubtedly blistering invective. "Anything you know about Saber could mean the difference between life and death."
Archer fixed his gaze on Fujimaru for a long moment before he relaxed. His eyes cut over to me. "For his sake, don't send your little Caster against her. She'll kill him on sight, assuming your statement of his partner is true."
What?
...Morgan? You're usually more glib about-
Hush, Matthew. Her 'tone' was firm, and lacked its usual airy quality.
"Oh." Cu's arm tightened. "He'll take on Archer with me, then."
Assuming she doesn't simply notice me and head for you. I honestly didn't think it was possible for my cute little sister to be corrupted, but here we are.
"Saber is King Fucking Arthur!?" I squeaked out.
Animusphere froze. "Eh?"
Mash's visible eye widened. "Eeh!?"
Caster stiffened. "...is there some way we can get more mana? And a few months of preparatory time?"
"I don't know how much longer you have," Archaman interjected, his hologram appearing once more. "Fujimaru we Rayshifted as an emergency, and his contract to you four will bring you back when he returns. But we don't know how much longer it's safe to leave him there, given our own status."
Caster tilted her head. "I was provided with some knowledge of Chaldea. What 'status'?"
"Everything fucking blew up." I scowled. "And almost everyone's dead. The world's not looking too great right now."
She stared at me from beneath the hood. "That is… unfortunate."
Animusphere clenched her fists. "So what do you suggest, oh knowledgeable Caster?" she grit out.
I shrugged. "Well, from what Morgan told me her sister was an absolute beast in combat." Fou's ears perked up as he squeaked. "Her swordsmanship was tight, her instincts nearly flawless, and apparently she now has her sword bared full-time. So lots of big energy blasts. Also Mana Bursts and a powerful aura of charisma. Oh, and she's dragonblooded so direct magical assault is a no-go." I gave a mirthless smile. "And we have… three Casters, an Archer, and a shieldbearer. Yeah, if we can summon like… five more times we might be okay."
"Our systems are still on backup. That's a no-go," Da Vinci cut in. "You're on your own." Her eyes slid to Archaman, their images flickering. "Though if he'd had time to forge rings, mix potions, or-"
"What's done is done," Animusphere stated, cutting Da Vinci off. "We'll need to accept that outside of minor offensives and his illusions, Matthew will not be an active participant in battle."
...I do have some other tricks you can use, but it will cut down on your remaining time. Assuming I can't achieve a higher state of my power, that is- then I might be able to confer more upon you.
What? Nevermind. ...the tricks you mentioned. Will they kill me outright?
No, but the minutes they grind away will eventually add up. Item construction, illusions, and basic elemental spells are simpler and safer. Drawing on my fae ancestry beyond that will have consequences.
"Matthew." I blinked as Cu jostled me. "C'mon."
I walked next to him as we followed the rest of the group, which had already taken off.
Mash hung close to Fujimaru's side. Caster and Archer each kept their distance, with Caster behind the group but in front of us. Archer took point. Animusphere was slightly off to the side, away from Mash and Fujimaru.
"You going to be alright?" Cu murmured. "Agh. I really wish I'd been summoned as Lancer…" He slumped a little.
"You managed to get through my illusion," I offered.
"Eh. They have a lot of power, but I'd already sensed you before you vanished. After that, it was mixing a tracking rune with basic strategy - search the high ground." He paused. "That said, Saber must know you're here… and she hasn't made a move."
He has a point.
Gotta say, Morgan, not a fan of the 'serious' you.
It's my sister. Your regularly scheduled 'fun mom' will resume after we deal with the situation at hand.
"Guess so. My point is, you're a pretty strong Caster."
Cu smiled down at me. "Shit, kid. You might make me think you like me or something."
I looked away with a frown. "Shut up."
He rubbed the back of my neck. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. But the thing is… I might not have the speed of my runes or my plants as Lancer, but the runes are still there. And added to that, I'm fast, strong, and have a weapon with a curse of death on it. Gae Bolg's power is well worth the trade-off." He paused. "Also, as I said, I'm younger. More energy, more vigor."
A younger Cu Chulainn? "What, are you as much of a tease?"
He chuckled. "If there's any luck in the world, you'll see."
Fujimaru looked over his shoulder. "Do you know the plan?"
"...no? Morgan was debating giving me access to her stronger stuff, even if it might hurt me later on."
Animusphere grimaced at me before facing forward. "Don't bother. If it won't help against Saber, it's not worth cutting into your resources."
One, two, three, one, two, three-
"You and Cu Chulainn will take on the Fuyuki Archer. The rest of us will handle Saber. Mash will be our forward guard, Caster will support her with her magecraft, and Archer will give fire support. Cu Chulainn will handle your strategy," Fujimaru explained.
I looked up at him. "How good is his Magic Resistance?"
"...not the best," Archer admitted in a low tone. "Why?"
"I'm an illusionist. If things get hairy, I can draw on that and hit him with some high-end mental interference." I leaned my head on Cu's arm. "And if we wrap up early, I have an ace that might help against Saber."
"Like what?" Animusphere asked suspiciously.
I just smiled.
____________________________________________________________________________
Soon, the temple came into sight. I squinted up in the dark, trying to catch any sight of the enemy Servant.
"He sees us," Cu Chulainn murmured.
"From this far?" Fujimaru whispered harshly.
Mash leapt in front of him and swung her shield wide, knocking the bright blur off its course. "Master!"
A plume of dust erupted from the ground scant meters from Fujimaru and Mash, quickly clearing to reveal a short gouge in the land itself.
Caster looked up and around, holding her hands in front of her as though warding herself.
Archer opened his hand, and a black bow dropped into it. Translucent blue prana danced over his free hand, and his eyes narrowed. "He's here."
Cu dropped his arm as a shadowy figure came into sight, perching on a tree over the path ahead.
"An Archer this close to a fight?" he asked in an unimpressed tone. "Mark me surprised."
"Close, middle, long. You likely know full well how I fight. Applying what I know of you and taking the fight to you is my best option for success." His voice was low, emotionless. It had all the depth of our Archer's, but none of the personality.
I narrowed my eyes and swept a glamour over myself.
"Damn it, Kyrielight!" Animusphere hissed as I started to circle.
"Abandoned by a member of your party? This bodes ill. You won't last against Saber with such half-hearted resolves." The Fuyuki Archer hefted his bow, and drew it back with a shaft of pale blue light. In the faint glow, I could see that he resembled ours with crucial differences. His hair wasn't swept back, but drooped down. Half of his face was traced with tainted, dripping cracks, and he was missing his mantle - revealing arms whose muscles rippled as he drew the bow taut.
And as he let fly, it hit a building in the far distance, reducing it to rubble.
"Oops. Did I do that?" I flicked a hand, and an image of myself appeared next to him on his perch, grinning upwards with pitch-black eyes. "Clumsy me."
I could feel his Magic Resistance from where we were, but it wasn't enough to escape the trap I'd sprung. My powers of illusion were of a sufficient rank to overcome it, and-
I felt my eyes widen as I backstepped frantically, dodging the hail of metal that shredded through the tree in front of me.
Corrupt Archer's eyes skimmed the area as he prepared another volley, and the… swords? Swords. He'd shot swords at me. Vanished into swirling blue dust.
And then his tree erupted into fire, forcing him to leap to another perch.
"Go! Matthew and I can hold him here!" Cu barked out.
Caster glanced at him, and nodded. "I think so. Little one, don't merely misdirect - attack his senses! Even the most skilled warrior isn't wholly immune to pain!" she called out. Then her feet left the ground, and she shot ahead, Archer pacing her easily.
"Mash!" Fujimaru ordered. He looked around as Corrupt Archer gripped his head, victim of Caster's advice while I simulated a powerful migraine. "You better catch up, Matthew."
"I will," I had my projection reply before it vanished in the flames Cu lit.
Animusphere spared a glance back at the battle as Mash led the humans towards the mountain temple.
Corrupt Archer fell from his perch, landing on the ground after they left. He lashed out with blades that formed from thin air, and I began to run around the underbrush, somehow managing to avoid ensnarement.
Cu closed with his staff, only to be obstructed by a pair of short swords. "What kind of Archer are you?" he snarled.
The back-and-forth was intense. I'd never really seen true combat - my scuffle with Beryl when he tried to sneak into Mash's room notwithstanding. Even with my enhanced senses, tracking the two fighters was nearly impossible. They were too close for Cu to etch runes on the air or for Corrupt Archer to loose an arrow. Runes gleamed on Cu's robes as he artfully parried slashes and stabs with his staff, while the Archer dodged any attempt at stabbing him with the staff's pointed end.
It's a close match. If Cu Chulainn had more range or a spare moment, he could likely…
I already had infiltrated Archers' senses, but adapting an illusion on the fly was hard. However, I'd already established a migraine… if I waited for the opportune moment…
Archer left an obvious opening, likely to draw Cu in for a counterattack. His swords were away, and Cu's staff was aimed right at his abdomen.
It was almost like he was asking me to fuck him over.
"I've got you!" Cu Chulainn roared, thrusting his weapon forward.
Archer's expression didn't change as his body started to move… but it screwed up in agony as I radiated pain through his skull once more, focusing it into a point behind his eyes. He stumbled, and with a spasm that bowed him over, he rolled with the strike, taking the blow to the gut and disengaging.
Cu's staff was wet with blood when he pulled it back, readying a symbol in the air that blazed with power. "Not bad, kid!" he yelled, a bloodthirsty grin in place.
Corrupt Archer's eyes gleamed in the firelight, and he moved back and away with supernatural speed, scattering leaves in his wake.
I stepped out of my glamour as I felt my influence break. "He's breaking away," I said worriedly.
Cu's eyes scanned the horizon as I got closer, shortly before I felt the wash of mana from a distance. His breath caught.
Get out of there! He's readying artillery!
With swords!?
Something about the mana felt… off. Cracked, or-
Runes gleamed on Cu Chulainn's arms as he grabbed me by the scruff of my neck. I met his intense gaze with wide eyes.
"Might be where we part, Matthew. Remember me fondly and don't look back, alright?"
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but his forehead brushed mine with a gentleness only matched by the ferocity of the throw that followed.
I flew through the air as I heard a phrase.
"Caladbolg."
A shaft of light lanced through the air as I flew, aimed directly at the battlefield I'd been forced to vacate.
I couldn't even scream as the explosion blew the trees away, and light obscured my sight. The world buckled under me as my armor gleamed, and the air gave way to water.
Sinking, bubbles wreathed my glowing body as I plummeted to the lakebed.
...is he gone?
I can't feel either of them. There's something in the water that's interfering. For what it's worth, we aren't far from where the rest of them are.
I scrunched my eyes shut until I impacted the silt at the bottom of the lake.
Don't be afraid of drowning. My armor has a multitude of enchantments upon it for just such an occasion. Hence the runes, you see? The choker lets you breathe regardless of the quality of air or presence of water. Morgan's voice was soothing, or tried to be.
He's gone.
Possibly.
I really did like him, I think.
You did. I could tell.
Pepe, Kadoc, Hinako-
I know.
Am I an idiot, Morgan? Or is it just my luck that the people worth liking seem to die around me lately? Should I just let Mash and Fujimaru handle Saber and stay here?
I opened my eyes, and they widened at what I saw.
The fires above couldn't illuminate this far down, but somehow the moon did. Three bodies, only one barely bigger than I, rested here. Two wore similar tan clothes, while one wore a red jacket. The largest one held the smaller ones close, as though protecting them. The flesh had already worn away, leaving no immediate way to tell gender or anything else. There was a soft gleam from the largest body, and as I swam closer to investigate it brightened.
Oh. Well, that's… excuse me for a moment.
I blinked, and the glow vanished.
Sorry, sorry, but I had a little business to attend to. Laying these poor children to rest or something.
...I wasn't in the mood to argue.
As I floated above the bodies, I wondered who they were. If their peaceful lives had been sundered by the fires above.
Morgan?
Yes, dear?
Can we fix this, if we break the Singularity? Can we save them?
They're humans, you know.
And most humans aren't even aware of magi. But… just because magi suck, that doesn't mean I should let people who haven't done anything wrong suffer from history being warped. Right?
A sense of amused pride spread. My, my. Getting out and about really has done wonders for your emotional maturity.
I resisted the urge to blow a raspberry, if only because I didn't want to even think about tasting corpse-water.
Right. Time to go help Mash and the rest.
I righted myself, and began scissor-kicking towards the surface, pushing energy into my limbs to force myself upward faster. In seconds I broke the surface, and with a shake of my head, cleared my eyes of water. After, I dragged my arms in front of me and propelled myself forward until I hit the shore.
"Well, hello there."
I stared upward as I struggled to my feet.
Cu, his robe tattered and completely shirtless, grabbed my arm and hauled me upright. "Glad that worked. How long were you under?" Worry lurked in his eyes, for all that he tried to play it off.
"A bit. Apparently the choker lets me breathe water." I stared at him. "I… may have thought you died."
He shrugged. "I thought I might, but I managed to get behind a strong enough barrier to take the brunt of the blast. Got messed up enough that he closed back in, and finished it from there."
I looked up and down. "So you're injured…?"
He grinned, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Servant regeneration, kid. If it doesn't kill us outright, we can patch ourselves up pretty quick assuming we have the mana." Cu winked at me. "As it so happened, I had enough to get back into shape. Some kind soul topped me off earlier."
I flushed. "It wasn't that much..." I grumbled.
Cu Chulainn shook his head. "We'll argue that later. Can you feel it?"
The oppressive feeling around the mountain seemed to intensify into a tangible pressure as he spoke. "Yeah."
That isn't her sword. Whatever this is, it's not her.
"Saber's winding up to strike. I'm surprised you didn't feel the fight where you were."
"If I had, I'd have been there already," I retorted, striding towards the cave entrance. "Something's up with that lake."
I stumbled as Cu wrapped his bare arm around my neck. "Oi. You said you had an ace that could hurt Saber." Any levity left his voice.
"It can stop her, but direct harm is a little much." I looked at him. "Do you have an offense that…?"
"I do. You set her up, I knock her down?" His eyes rested on me.
"Not going to ask what it is?"
"The thought of me dying was bad enough you sat at the bottom of a lake for five minutes. I don't see you stabbing me in the back." The smile returned to his face.
I leaned into his side for a brief moment. "...you're right. And yeah, if they can't handle her, we'll clean up." I raised a hand. "Shall I?"
"Not going to conserve your mana?" he asked, surprised.
"...it doesn't use mana, exactly. Or not as much as you would think."
He gave me a curious look. "Alright, kid. We'll see."
And we walked into the cavern, heading for the end.
____________________________________________________________________________
Saber was my size, clad in black and purple armor, her head exposed. Her blonde hair was tied in a bun, and yellow eyes blazed from her face. In her hand was a blade that burned with black and red energy, and the trickle of blood from her temple did nothing to detract from her elegance.
Archer stood by Animusphere and Fujimaru, bow drawn taut and face scrunched up in concentration. A similar feeling came from the arrow as the ones outside.
They're the same person dear, just different circumstances.
Caster floated overhead, and Mash trembled behind her shield.
I immediately began to make my way forward, only for Cu Chulainn to loop an arm around my torso and pin me to him. "Wait," he hissed.
Saber raised the blade overhead. "I must admit some recognition of your strength. Unskilled as you are, you got to this point. That deserves commendation."
"Let me go!" I yelled, struggling. None of them could hear me, because like an idiot I hid us both under a glamour.
"Look at your sister. Really look at her," Cu Chulainn murmured into my ear.
"Caster, dive!" Fujimaru ordered. He launched himself away from Animusphere as she erected a barrier, Fou on her shoulder.
"Fujimaru! Wait!" Animusphere's eyes widened.
They're going to be alright.
How do you know!? What good has that meathead knight ever done her!?
Fujimaru and Caster landed behind the shield, and Archer let fly with his sword-arrow.
"EXCALIBUR!"
Black energy roared overhead.
"MORGAN!"
I watched helplessly as the sword fell, bringing a tower of shadowy death with it. It consumed Archer's projectile, barely slowing as it crashed against Mash's shield.
Fujimaru - Ritsuka - braced his shoulder against Mash, placing his hand on her arm and funneling magic energy into her. Caster folded her hands and began chanting at a speed I couldn't comprehend, wrapping protective energy around the three of them.
The ceiling of the cave dropped boulders that shattered on the ground, shaken loose from the power of the strike.
Despite all of this, Mash held firm.
"She's a Servant too, you know." Right in my ear, Cu murmured reassurance. "She has her reason to fight. She wants to see the future of humanity." I looked up at him, and he smiled. "I've been paying closer attention than you, looks like."
I looked down at my hands, and up at Mash, where she continued to weather the assault. "It can't hold. Against something like that, how can it hold?"
"You're a Caster to the bone. Subversion, inflicting curses, only committing to a straightforward assault when victory is certain. It's not a bad thing, but you don't understand. Your sister is a knight, and her weapon is a shield."
I felt the breath in the cavern still.
"And before causing harm, a shield has one duty."
"Deploying Virtual Noble Phantasm!"
The shield of the man whose soul inhabited my sister glowed, a mystic array spreading from its face and pushing back the tide of darkness spawned by the demonic sword.
Cu rested his chin on my head, letting me go and placing a hand on my shoulder. "A shield is meant to protect."
"Lord Chaldeas!"
The array flashed, and with a shockwave the dark energy was forced back. The roar continued, Excalibur Morgan's arc carving back through the ceiling as Saber's arms were forced back over her head. More rubble fell, obscuring the area between the two parties.
I looked at Archer, and he drew a spiral-shaped sword from thin air. It contracted, narrowed, changed to something suitable to be launched. He pulled it back, and crimson energy danced around the point of the projectile.
"I… am the bone of my sword." Somehow, I heard those words.
The dust cleared as Saber whipped her blade around, blood streaming down her face. Her eyes landed on Archer as Mash buckled, Caster and Ritsuka supporting her. Quickly, she raised her blade. "Ex-"
I moved.
The greaves clasped to my legs shone silver with the mana that lit the Fae Runes etched into them.
I am a warrior queen, after all. If I didn't have a little something to aid my martial combat, why would I have that title?
The glamour fell, and her eyes widened as I came into view. "That's-!"
"Altria Pendragon, hear and attend."
She froze, as did Archer.
Shoot, damn you! If I go much further-!
It's going to be okay.
I inhaled. "O' flower of hell, you wither. You collapse. The power that sustains you flows like water, leaving you harmlessly and dispersing into the air around us." Blood slipped from my nostrils and down my face as Saber's knees buckled. "I call you by your name, I address you in a tongue you cannot reject. For all your hybrid nature, you yet hold the blood of mankind in your veins. Hear and attend, Altria Pendragon."
Wood erupted from the ground, forming a massive construct in the shape of a man. It swept down its arm, ensnaring Altria in its grip.
"Burn her completely, giant of trees! Cage of Scorching, Consuming Flame! WICKER MAN!"
Cu Chulainn's construct slammed Saber into its chest, followed by Archer's arrow. She flopped in helplessly, ensnared by my command. The arrow pierced her, and the giant fell to the ground.
I felt a strong arm wrap around me and drag me back as the world turned to flame. I turned my face from the heat, closing my eyes. Slowly, the fire died down and sound returned to the world.
"When you said you had an ace, I wasn't expecting that," Cu muttered.
"You wimps have Noble Phantasms. I have words," I slurred tiredly.
Slowly, Saber stood from the charred wreckage.
"Really?" I whimpered.
...it's fine. Look.
Morgan...
Violet sparks floated away from her body. Her eyes turned to me, and flashed in recognition.
"It's not enough. If this strains you so… it won't be enough. Gain strength. Seek power and numbers." The bearing of a king pressed down on us all, even as she faded away. "But still… it is a good start. Take care, Chaldea. The Grand Order starts now."
...so they couldn't drown you all the way. Goodbye, little sister. Maybe I'll see you again, on the same side of battle.
Saber gave me a slight smile, and looked around our numbers. The smile vanished. "The mastermind still lurks. Think, Chaldea: who could have sown such destruction? What have they to gain?" She lowered her head as she finished vanishing.
Golden sparks flit around me, and the body behind me began to feel much less solid. I staggered away, turning to look.
Cu Chulainn gave me a warm smile. "Well, it was fun. I figured I'd spend more time showing the rest of the kids the ropes, but you were just too fun to tease."
"I'm not a kid." Wow. Great last words. Fantastic.
The Celtic warrior grinned widely. "See? Too damn fun." His smile gentled as his body faded. "Hopefully…"
And he was gone.
I rubbed my eyes roughly, and took a deep breath. "So…"
"We all made it, somehow," Animusphere said before sighing. She gave me a thoughtful look. "What was that? It felt like someone was gripping my bones, and you weren't even using it on me."
"Morgan called it the Universal Language. Apparently it works like top-tier mental interference…?" I shrugged.
"...it is quite literally the universal language of humanity. You transcend tongues and speak to souls." Caster's tone was flat. "For all it cannot be used to invoke magecraft, the quality of the power surpasses my own Divine Words."
I rubbed the drying blood under my nose. "Huh."
"It's dangerous, isn't it." Mash gave me an accusing glare.
"No more than throwing yourself in front of a death laser with a hunk of metal," I retorted, crossing my arms. "At least Ritsuka was there to back you up."
He blinked at me before giving a warm smile.
...when is the Singularity going to fall apart? We won the fight, so…
It's being held together. Stay sharp, dear.
"Guys-" Archaman cut in.
"We aren't alone," Archer finished with narrowed eyes.
Soft clapping echoed through the cavern.
"Well done. Well done! For all that it won't matter in the end." A figure clad in shadows stepped around and picked up a shining fragment. "Though despite my plans and expectations, you made it this far." Lev Lainur, a magus associated with Animusphere, stepped from the shadows with a sneering grin. In his hand rested a golden chalice.
"I truly shouldn't have dismissed any of you. Master Candidate Forty-Eight… Mash… Matthew." His eyes narrowed on my name. "You in particular are a bit of a cockroach. All of you should have been incinerated."
...this bastard!?
So it seems.
"Lev!?" Roman asked, shocked.
"Ah, Roman. So you lived too. And after I asked so nicely for you to report to the command center." Lainur's face contorted into a vicious snarl. "Trash who can't even follow orders, just the mere sight of you makes me want to vomit. Why must humans continuously fight fate?" He sighed in irritation.
"Master…" Mash moved in front of Ritsuka, her shield at the ready.
"Yeah." Ritsuka nodded. He glanced at me.
Don't. The Tongue won't work on him.
"Well, I always guessed you didn't have a soul," I joked darkly.
Lainur's eyes flickered. "You have no idea."
Animusphere shot me a look full of venom before turning an adoring gaze on the monster before us. "Lev… you're alive! Thank goodness, without you I don't know what we'd do!"
"Director, stop! That man isn't the Professor Lev we knew!" Mash shouted as Animusphere made her way forward.
"Has the girl no sense of preservation?" Caster whispered harshly.
"Olga. You've had a hard time of it, it seems," Lainur said in a condescending tone.
"Yes, that's right! The command room exploded, this city is in ruins, and I can't go back!"
What? But why…
We were speaking when that topic was covered. ...I didn't want you to know. But it looks like that's about to become relevant in the worst possible way.
"These complications are maddening, but we'll solve them! You'll solve them like always, right Lev?" Animusphere gave him a pleading look.
"Certainly. I, too, have been vexed by these… complications." Lainur slowly gave a vindictive smile. "And the biggest one? Is you."
Animusphere froze, her smile rigid.
"And after all the trouble I went through to put the bomb right under your feet."
...I didn't realize it was possible to feel bad for Animusphere, but here we are!
"What?" she croaked, eyes visibly tearing up.
"Oh, you're dead. Very, very dead. With us in spirit, as they say." Lainur's smile grew ever more sardonic. "No aptitude for Rayshift while alive, but without a body? Your lingering memories got to go for a nice little ride. I do hope you enjoyed your trip, because it was very much one-way. If you return, your emotions and thoughts will dissipate into nothing."
A red sphere appeared behind the mastermind.
Oh no.
"Ch-chaldeas… is red? No, that can't be right! Lev, it's a joke! Right?" Animusphere stepped forward again, face pale as tears streamed down her face.
"Oh, it's real. Having a Holy Grail makes all sorts of things possible - like connecting dimensions. Take a look." Lainur stepped away, gesturing at the swirling scarlet behind him. "Do you see a sliver of blue? No? Me either." His face split in a maniacal grin. "Humanity is gone! Lost to flame and oblivion! This is the fruit of Animusphere's labor! Behold, the results of your grand incompetence!"
"N-no!" Animusphere stepped back, shaking. "I couldn't have failed! I can't have died! You're not Lev! Who are you? What have you done to my Chaldeas!?" Her voice grew more and more hysterical as she stumbled backwards, eyes wide.
Caster hung close to Ritsuka and Mash, watching impassively. Archer stood by Mash, eyes sharp.
Mash screwed her eyes shut, planting her shield in front of her and Ritsuka as Archer kept Ritsuka from bolting out.
"...how?" I whispered. "Before I even got to see it…?"
"It's not 'yours'. Truly, an annoyance to the end. I could destroy you now, but… no. I'll grant you a kindness." Lainur's smile softened into something dark and intimate.
Slowly, Animusphere's body lurched forward. "Wh-what? I'm being-?"
"Reach out, Olga. Lay hands on this, your greatest treasure. This is my kindness."
"My- Chaldeas? No, it's a super-dense body of data! A dimensional anomaly! If I-!" Animusphere's voice devolved into primal terror as she fought the inexorable force drawing her in.
"Oh, yes. It's a bit like a black hole, or a sun. Contact would mean disintegration stretched across time, eon in an instant. Please, have this taste of living death. I insist." Lainur tilted his head as Animusphere's body dragged along the ground.
"No!" Archer barked, pinning Ritsuka in place. "You'll only die as well!"
"No… no! Someone help! Save me! I don't want to die! Because… no one has ever praised me!"
I jolted, feeling my eyes widen.
"No one ever valued me! I was hated, right from the start! From the moment I was born, I was never accepted by anyone-!"
That…
Closer, she fell. Words left her, and she… under Lev Lainur's watch, she…
I reached my hand out. "Olga Marie Animusphere. Hear your name. Listen and attend."
She turned to me, frozen in space. She was just memories of a soul, after all.
Lainur's eyes narrowed.
She didn't have Saber's inhuman heritage, or defense against magic. It was easy to… to give her this.
"I hated you. I despised you. Not once did I understand you, until the end."
Her eyes welled with tears once more as Lainur began to cackle into his fist.
"I can't save you. There's nowhere for you to go if I try. But…" I swallowed, tasting the tang in my mouth. "I accept you. I see you. The groundwork you laid down for us, the path opened by Chaldea… your work isn't in vain. Even if sabotage stole your life, it will not steal your hope. Though it be for mine own ideals and desires, I promise you."
Her face relaxed as the tears spilled forth.
"We will not falter. You, at least, will be remembered as the one who set humanity on its path to survival. So rest, and fade- go gently into the night, and not upon the teeth of Chaldeas."
Lainur's eyes flew open, the sclera turning black as his teeth turned jagged. "You-!"
Olga Marie Animusphere blinked slowly, her body floating. Almost languidly, her eyes met mine.
"I wish we understood each other sooner." She gave a tired smile.
"Thank you… Matthew."
Her body erupted into golden dust.
I staggered, only for Ritsuka to catch me as I drooled blood on the ground.
Well, dear, you DID etch peace onto her soul and wrench it away from an interdimensional body by voice alone.
"The gall."
I forced my head up.
"The unmitigated gall," Lainur giggled hysterically. "Do you think you can do that? 'Save' humanity?"
I spat. "Honestly, magi can go choke. Present company excepted. But the rest of them…" I found myself thinking of those young bodies in the lake. "They don't deserve it. The Moonlit World is its own hell. I'll reserve judgement on the rest."
"We'll stop you," Ritsuka added, voice firm. "Matthew's right. It's our job to make the Director's- to make Olga's efforts count. We're going to stop you, and put things right!"
"Master-" Mash said in a hushed tone.
"You can tell, can't you? And the rest of you." Lainur grinned. "That I am beyond any of you here. But, my superiority is no cause for rudeness." He doffed his hat, and gave a sweeping bow. "My name is Lev Lainur Flauros. My role is to oversee this particular year - the year humanity ends." He stood back up. "Romani, are you paying attention? I do sincerely hope so. As an old friend… a word of advice? Give up and wait quietly. Chaldea is done, humanity is finished. Judgement is passed, and you were all found wanting- per usual."
"Professor- no. Lev Lainur. What do you mean? Is this related to our inability to see the future?" Archaman's voice grew tense.
"Related, pah. No, it simply is. The entire earth is ablaze, just as this city. Chaldeas' field may protect your little outpost, but even that is temporary. The future is gone, swallowed in flame- Chaldeas' crimson hue speaks to that." Lainur shook his head.
"So… it's not that we lost contact with the outside world - we lost the world itself," Archaman breathed.
...hasn't he been saying this? What's the point of repeating it?
"Yes. Honestly, I should have killed you beforehand; you're too competent to leave… but no use whining about should-haves. After all, once the year passes Chaldeas will extinguish. Along with all of you." Lainur sighed. "Honestly, it was your own fault. It wasn't an evolutionary dead end or invasion that sealed your fate. Merely your incompetence and idiocy. After all, you lost the grace of our King."
I shrank into Ritsuka's side as he stepped in front of me to try and shield me from Lainur's gaze.
The world began to shudder.
"And so the Singularity has reached its limit. Amazing, really. Even when steeped in dark, that Saber still wished to preserve humanity in her way." Lainur shrugged. "Well, it will be what it will be. As amusing as it's been to lecture you, it's time to bring this to a close. Savor your last days, before you all turn to ash on the wind." He gave a small smirk. "Try to find peace with whatever power you believe in." And then, he vanished- the Holy Grail in his grasp clattering to the ground.
The cavern began to shake, and I swallowed. "Oh fuck."
"Doctor! The cavern's unstable! Perform an emergency Rayshift!" Mash cried out.
"I'm working on it, I'm working on it!" Archaman shouted, his image flickering as his hands flew over invisible keys. "The collapse is faster than I can account for-! Humans can survive in space for a few seconds, right!?"
Archaman…!
"Inept bastard," I hissed. I turned my eyes on Ritsuka.
"Mash, Matthew-" he started, eyes worried.
"If you two discorporate, you'll have time to be pulled along," I said to Caster and Archer as the world began to crumble.
Archer immediately turned translucent, shortly followed by Caster.
I swallowed. "Mash? Hold onto me after."
She met my gaze and nodded.
I turned to Ritsuka.
"Hey. Master."
His eyes widened.
I smiled. "You're not as shitty as most folks I've met. So keep living, okay?"
____________________________________________________________________________
I wheezed as I turned on my side, shivering.
My, my! That was reckless. But effective! Morgan paused. And good of you. Olga didn't deserve what that fiend planned.
...no. She didn't.
I sighed, and put my hand on my chest. "Wonder how much time that burned."
Not as much as I feared. It looks like the little changes I've made over the years left you more durable than I thought!
...chan-
Oh look! It's Da Vinci!
"And that's the three of you!" Leonardo Da Vinci swanned into the medical room, smiling benignly. "Archer and Caster have gotten nicely settled in. Honestly, to think you had a trump card like Universal Language!" She placed her hands on her hips. "Naughty little apprentice of mine. I'm so proud!"
I blushed, ducking my head. "It's… something I got recently."
"Well, we'll keep it off the books. I heard the last person to have it couldn't form memories and got a Sealing Designation!" Da Vinci winked. "A little blood is minor in comparison, and well… you wouldn't do well in a lab."
I gave her a long look.
"Yes, yes, I know! I know." She sighed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really." I grimaced. "So on a scale from one to inconsolable-"
"Mash is fine, Ritsuka is fine, Romani is fine." Da Vinci paused. "Ritsuka cares because he's a decent young man- which I know you've noticed. Mash was never too close, but seeing someone die the first time is hard, and she hasn't had your brushes with death before. Romani…" She trailed off.
I rolled my eyes. "You clearly want to tell me, so go ahead."
"He's holding on. He's the acting Director, now. The only person of rank, really." She gave a sad smile. "He's already thrown himself into his work."
"Right. So what needs doing?" I asked as I dismounted the table. I smiled as a ball of fluff darted around my ankles. "Petting Fou, clearly."
"Fou! Kyuu, kyu!"
I leaned over and scooped him up, holding him in a single arm as I scratched his ears.
"Caster's been of immeasurable help, really. Her Dragon Tooth familiars have been clearing rubble at an incredible rate, and she has some healing knowledge as well. We've managed to heal some people we nearly had to write off."
I kept looking at Fou. "Anyone on…?"
Da Vinci gently pat my shoulder. "Scandinavia hit his head badly enough that there's severe brain swelling. Kadoc's left limbs are both all but shattered. Hinako's ribs ruptured and she started bleeding internally. They'd all be cost-intensive to heal and wake, so we need to keep them in cryosleep. ...do you care about the rest of them?"
I snorted. "Marisbilly's lackey, his bride-to-be, the oddball, and the rabid mutt? Not as much as you think I should."
"Rabid mutt… I need to remember that one…" Da Vinci muttered. She shrugged. "Anyways. You kept to yourself pretty well, so no other news to report. Oh! Apparently Archer took over the kitchen and-"
"Ahem."
I turned to see the Servant in question with a steaming bowl in his hand. "I heard you'd be waking soon," he commented with a stern gaze. He approached and gave Fou a meaningful look. "He'll keep. You need to eat."
I gave Fou another scritch and set him on the examination table. "Thanks." I took the bowl, and…
Uh.
"You can eat it, you know," Da Vinci teased as the aroma hit me.
I quickly sat at a nearby desk, broke open the chopsticks on top, and dug in. Meat, veggies, rice, some sort of sauce… it was quite possibly the best thing I'd ever put in my mouth. A low bar considering I mostly subsisted on field rations to avoid the cafeteria, but I'd stand by it.
Oh no, it's quality. This guy knows what he's doing. Try to get him to marry you! You need a househusband like that!
…
Or not. Sorry.
"I take it you like it." Archer smirked, something in his eyes softening. "Come by the cafeteria any time. I insist."
I finished the bowl and set the chopsticks on top. "...I'll think about it."
He scoffed. "Sure. It looked as though you hated the meal."
"Food's fine, it's the people here I can't stand," I muttered darkly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Not you," I explained. "I keep to myself so I don't have to deal with Animusphere's toadies. Or Archaman, for that matter." I paused. "I don't mind Mash, and Ritsuka's okay."
Da Vinci squealed under her breath. "He likes him!" she stage-whispered to Archer.
"He put his life on the line for Mash. He's worth keeping around," I grumbled.
"Mm. Well, we have a skeleton crew at this point - somewhat literally," Archer said with a grimace. "It's unlikely you'll be bothered by anyone if you come to the cafeteria."
Which… he had a point.
He does. And you'll be able to eat with Mash and Ritsuka! Trust me, that sort of thing's fun.
"Okay. I'll drop in."
Archer smirked. "How gracious of you."
"My presence is a present, and don't you forget it," I fired back.
His eyebrows raised for a moment, then he shook his head with a tired chuckle. "I'll keep it in mind." He picked the bowl up, and gave a wave of farewell as he left the medbay with his free hand.
I stood and stretched. "Guess I better report to Archaman and see if there's anything I can do." I rolled my shoulders. "He still in his office, or did he take over Olga Marie's?"
Da Vinci gave me a long look. "He's in his," she said softly.
I nodded at her. "Thanks. Fou?"
The little guy squeaked as I walked to the examination table, and jumped up my arm and to my shoulder.
"I'm off," I said with a wave.
"Mm-hm. Go see Mash after you talk to Roman?"
"Naturally." I grinned at Da Vinci. "Thanks for looking after me."
Da Vinci hummed cheerfully. "Naturally! I've put this much time into you, and at this point finding another apprentice is impossible." She paused. "Literally so, it seems."
With that sobering thought, I shook my head and left the medical bay.
____________________________________________________________________________
I opened the door and stared at the absolute mountain of paperwork.
My, my.
"Fujimaru? I told you to go rest," Archaman said in a chiding tone. "I'm sure Mash and Matthew will want to see you. Honestly, I'm still in shock he called you by name! And so soon… anyways, go on."
"So about that."
The sound of writing stopped. "Matthew."
"Yeah. I figured you'd want a report." I leaned on the one chair not full of paperwork.
"Fujimaru and Mash were pretty comprehensive in their own. If you don't want to, you don't have to."
"Mm-hm." I scratched the back of my head.
For a moment, there was silence.
Archaman sighed. "Fine. What do you have?"
"I uncovered multiple new abilities I got from Morgan. Her armor's enchanted with Fairy Runes, and so far I've uncovered two functions. The choker purifies air and lets me breathe underwater, and her greaves grant increased speed. Also I can speak the 'Universal Language', which lets me control people." I shifted. "I used my illusions to break through a level of Magic Resistance possessed by Archer, and was able to use them to inflict pain. The Language carries physical backlash."
"That, we've recorded," Archaman said stiffly. "At this point, any standing orders regarding you and a workshop are rescinded. I've set aside a place for you to establish yourself near Medea and Leonardo's respective spaces."
I blinked. "Medea?"
"Caster?" Archaman's voice carried a hint of exasperation. "She kept her identity secret so that you wouldn't turn on her, but there's no point now."
"I don't get it."
There was a heavy thud. "Do some reading on the past for a change, rather than the present." Archaman's voice was muffled. "Or ask Morgan. She's knowledgeable."
Poor dear. She was a princess cursed by a love goddess to be utterly besotted over a man. He was complex at best, and she ended up betraying her country, killing her brother, and desecrating his body - all for love. This was after the two of them had struck up a bond. The Greek deities are truly cruel. It's hard to blame her for what she became, but also to blame Jason for leaving that person. Morgan's airy tone was scarily matter-of-fact.
"Right. Princess got fucked over by Aphrodite and her husband. Boyfriend? Whatever. She doesn't sound too bad to me."
"...right, then. I've had materials brought to your workshop, and a nameplate put on it. If you need a guide-"
"I know where Da Vinci's is. I can find my way when I'm ready." I turned and moved for the door.
"We're getting close to being at functionality with the Summoning System. We have some catalysts in storage; do you have any idea what your team might need?"
I found myself pausing.
"You're not unintelligent, Matthew. I trust your judgement, even if putting you in charge of a group isn't what I consider a good idea."
...he's not wrong.
"We need a melee fighter. Archer can do in a pinch, but he's better at range. Mash is primarily defensive. Medea's worse up close than me, and that's saying something." I exhaled.
ULSTER CYCLE ULSTER CYCLE ULSTER CYCLE!
...uh?
"Morgan recommends something from the Ulster Cycle?" I said hesitantly.
"We have an early copy of the Tain we can make use of," Archaman noted. "I'll put it at the top of the list."
Excellent. Well done, darling!
"...and now I'm scared. Well, I'm gonna go find Mash and let her know I'm still breathing." I resumed my exit.
"Something we're all glad for," Archaman murmured.
I paused at the door. "...sorry I couldn't save Olga Marie."
"You did more than anyone else could. It was kind and merciful." Archaman paused. "It was your first live excursion. You did better than anyone had a right to expect."
I rubbed my eyes. "Thanks. I guess. Try not to overwork yourself."
That earned a dry chuckle. "I'll make the attempt."
With that, I closed the door behind me.
Fou rubbed his head against my cheek.
"Thanks, buddy." I smiled a little.
It was time to find Ritsuka and my sister.
The white-haired man stiffened. Now that the light had gone and I didn't have a faceful of Caster, I could tell that he was built like a fortress and had piercing grey eyes. Is that what an archer's build looks like, I wonder?
Tristan's bow was magic and did most of the heavy lifting, so possibly one who doesn't cheat. Or cheat as much, I guess. Oh, he does look upset though.
"What, is it an ex?" I muttered.
Animusphere gave me a withering look.
Archer relaxed slightly, and gave a dry chuckle. "It's not an impossible question. I'd be willing to assume that the Archer in question is myself, however."
Fujimaru caught my eye and flashed a subtle thumbs-up.
Look at you, making friends. I'm so proud~
"Which means trouble," Caster sighed with a shake of her head. "I might be able to match his rate of fire, but if he has close-quarter capabilities then I won't be of much help there."
"...does Magic Resistance count for helpful spells?" I wondered aloud.
"As a general rule, no," Animusphere replied. "Why?"
I looked to Caster. "What happens if you apply an enhancing spell to a knight?"
A slow smile crossed her face. "I do like your thinking." She turned to Mash. "Well, young lady? I can improve a standard human to the point where they can compete with a Servant. Are you willing to risk yourself on the front lines?"
Mash stood up straight. "I'll fight for Senpai and Chaldea!"
...I probably count as 'Chaldea' in there. Maybe.
I startled as Cu Chulainn reached behind him and nudged me forward, resting his arm across my shoulders.
"Right. So we need to split into teams to handle Saber and Archer," Fujimaru began.
"Moron! We still need information on Saber!" Animusphere bristled. She whirled on Cu. "If you're done agitating your allies, then get on with it."
He raised his eyebrows. "Bold words for someone made of flammable material."
She reeled. "You heard that!?"
I stuck my tongue out and squinted at her.
Really, darling?
"Matthew," Fujimaru said calmly.
"Dunno what you're talking about, but regardless. Saber is a top-tier knight with a holy sword. It's become corrupt, but she has full control of her faculties." Cu drummed his fingers on his staff. "Didn't see much more than that before she flung a wave of dark power at me, and I felt discretion was the better part of valor there."
Archer slowly tensed once more. "Damn."
"You know who she is?" Caster asked, tilting her hood.
He didn't speak.
"Archer, we need to know," Fujimaru coaxed him, cutting off Animusphere's undoubtedly blistering invective. "Anything you know about Saber could mean the difference between life and death."
Archer fixed his gaze on Fujimaru for a long moment before he relaxed. His eyes cut over to me. "For his sake, don't send your little Caster against her. She'll kill him on sight, assuming your statement of his partner is true."
What?
...Morgan? You're usually more glib about-
Hush, Matthew. Her 'tone' was firm, and lacked its usual airy quality.
"Oh." Cu's arm tightened. "He'll take on Archer with me, then."
Assuming she doesn't simply notice me and head for you. I honestly didn't think it was possible for my cute little sister to be corrupted, but here we are.
"Saber is King Fucking Arthur!?" I squeaked out.
Animusphere froze. "Eh?"
Mash's visible eye widened. "Eeh!?"
Caster stiffened. "...is there some way we can get more mana? And a few months of preparatory time?"
"I don't know how much longer you have," Archaman interjected, his hologram appearing once more. "Fujimaru we Rayshifted as an emergency, and his contract to you four will bring you back when he returns. But we don't know how much longer it's safe to leave him there, given our own status."
Caster tilted her head. "I was provided with some knowledge of Chaldea. What 'status'?"
"Everything fucking blew up." I scowled. "And almost everyone's dead. The world's not looking too great right now."
She stared at me from beneath the hood. "That is… unfortunate."
Animusphere clenched her fists. "So what do you suggest, oh knowledgeable Caster?" she grit out.
I shrugged. "Well, from what Morgan told me her sister was an absolute beast in combat." Fou's ears perked up as he squeaked. "Her swordsmanship was tight, her instincts nearly flawless, and apparently she now has her sword bared full-time. So lots of big energy blasts. Also Mana Bursts and a powerful aura of charisma. Oh, and she's dragonblooded so direct magical assault is a no-go." I gave a mirthless smile. "And we have… three Casters, an Archer, and a shieldbearer. Yeah, if we can summon like… five more times we might be okay."
"Our systems are still on backup. That's a no-go," Da Vinci cut in. "You're on your own." Her eyes slid to Archaman, their images flickering. "Though if he'd had time to forge rings, mix potions, or-"
"What's done is done," Animusphere stated, cutting Da Vinci off. "We'll need to accept that outside of minor offensives and his illusions, Matthew will not be an active participant in battle."
...I do have some other tricks you can use, but it will cut down on your remaining time. Assuming I can't achieve a higher state of my power, that is- then I might be able to confer more upon you.
What? Nevermind. ...the tricks you mentioned. Will they kill me outright?
No, but the minutes they grind away will eventually add up. Item construction, illusions, and basic elemental spells are simpler and safer. Drawing on my fae ancestry beyond that will have consequences.
"Matthew." I blinked as Cu jostled me. "C'mon."
I walked next to him as we followed the rest of the group, which had already taken off.
Mash hung close to Fujimaru's side. Caster and Archer each kept their distance, with Caster behind the group but in front of us. Archer took point. Animusphere was slightly off to the side, away from Mash and Fujimaru.
"You going to be alright?" Cu murmured. "Agh. I really wish I'd been summoned as Lancer…" He slumped a little.
"You managed to get through my illusion," I offered.
"Eh. They have a lot of power, but I'd already sensed you before you vanished. After that, it was mixing a tracking rune with basic strategy - search the high ground." He paused. "That said, Saber must know you're here… and she hasn't made a move."
He has a point.
Gotta say, Morgan, not a fan of the 'serious' you.
It's my sister. Your regularly scheduled 'fun mom' will resume after we deal with the situation at hand.
"Guess so. My point is, you're a pretty strong Caster."
Cu smiled down at me. "Shit, kid. You might make me think you like me or something."
I looked away with a frown. "Shut up."
He rubbed the back of my neck. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. But the thing is… I might not have the speed of my runes or my plants as Lancer, but the runes are still there. And added to that, I'm fast, strong, and have a weapon with a curse of death on it. Gae Bolg's power is well worth the trade-off." He paused. "Also, as I said, I'm younger. More energy, more vigor."
A younger Cu Chulainn? "What, are you as much of a tease?"
He chuckled. "If there's any luck in the world, you'll see."
Fujimaru looked over his shoulder. "Do you know the plan?"
"...no? Morgan was debating giving me access to her stronger stuff, even if it might hurt me later on."
Animusphere grimaced at me before facing forward. "Don't bother. If it won't help against Saber, it's not worth cutting into your resources."
One, two, three, one, two, three-
"You and Cu Chulainn will take on the Fuyuki Archer. The rest of us will handle Saber. Mash will be our forward guard, Caster will support her with her magecraft, and Archer will give fire support. Cu Chulainn will handle your strategy," Fujimaru explained.
I looked up at him. "How good is his Magic Resistance?"
"...not the best," Archer admitted in a low tone. "Why?"
"I'm an illusionist. If things get hairy, I can draw on that and hit him with some high-end mental interference." I leaned my head on Cu's arm. "And if we wrap up early, I have an ace that might help against Saber."
"Like what?" Animusphere asked suspiciously.
I just smiled.
____________________________________________________________________________
Soon, the temple came into sight. I squinted up in the dark, trying to catch any sight of the enemy Servant.
"He sees us," Cu Chulainn murmured.
"From this far?" Fujimaru whispered harshly.
Mash leapt in front of him and swung her shield wide, knocking the bright blur off its course. "Master!"
A plume of dust erupted from the ground scant meters from Fujimaru and Mash, quickly clearing to reveal a short gouge in the land itself.
Caster looked up and around, holding her hands in front of her as though warding herself.
Archer opened his hand, and a black bow dropped into it. Translucent blue prana danced over his free hand, and his eyes narrowed. "He's here."
Cu dropped his arm as a shadowy figure came into sight, perching on a tree over the path ahead.
"An Archer this close to a fight?" he asked in an unimpressed tone. "Mark me surprised."
"Close, middle, long. You likely know full well how I fight. Applying what I know of you and taking the fight to you is my best option for success." His voice was low, emotionless. It had all the depth of our Archer's, but none of the personality.
I narrowed my eyes and swept a glamour over myself.
"Damn it, Kyrielight!" Animusphere hissed as I started to circle.
"Abandoned by a member of your party? This bodes ill. You won't last against Saber with such half-hearted resolves." The Fuyuki Archer hefted his bow, and drew it back with a shaft of pale blue light. In the faint glow, I could see that he resembled ours with crucial differences. His hair wasn't swept back, but drooped down. Half of his face was traced with tainted, dripping cracks, and he was missing his mantle - revealing arms whose muscles rippled as he drew the bow taut.
And as he let fly, it hit a building in the far distance, reducing it to rubble.
"Oops. Did I do that?" I flicked a hand, and an image of myself appeared next to him on his perch, grinning upwards with pitch-black eyes. "Clumsy me."
I could feel his Magic Resistance from where we were, but it wasn't enough to escape the trap I'd sprung. My powers of illusion were of a sufficient rank to overcome it, and-
I felt my eyes widen as I backstepped frantically, dodging the hail of metal that shredded through the tree in front of me.
Corrupt Archer's eyes skimmed the area as he prepared another volley, and the… swords? Swords. He'd shot swords at me. Vanished into swirling blue dust.
And then his tree erupted into fire, forcing him to leap to another perch.
"Go! Matthew and I can hold him here!" Cu barked out.
Caster glanced at him, and nodded. "I think so. Little one, don't merely misdirect - attack his senses! Even the most skilled warrior isn't wholly immune to pain!" she called out. Then her feet left the ground, and she shot ahead, Archer pacing her easily.
"Mash!" Fujimaru ordered. He looked around as Corrupt Archer gripped his head, victim of Caster's advice while I simulated a powerful migraine. "You better catch up, Matthew."
"I will," I had my projection reply before it vanished in the flames Cu lit.
Animusphere spared a glance back at the battle as Mash led the humans towards the mountain temple.
Corrupt Archer fell from his perch, landing on the ground after they left. He lashed out with blades that formed from thin air, and I began to run around the underbrush, somehow managing to avoid ensnarement.
Cu closed with his staff, only to be obstructed by a pair of short swords. "What kind of Archer are you?" he snarled.
The back-and-forth was intense. I'd never really seen true combat - my scuffle with Beryl when he tried to sneak into Mash's room notwithstanding. Even with my enhanced senses, tracking the two fighters was nearly impossible. They were too close for Cu to etch runes on the air or for Corrupt Archer to loose an arrow. Runes gleamed on Cu's robes as he artfully parried slashes and stabs with his staff, while the Archer dodged any attempt at stabbing him with the staff's pointed end.
It's a close match. If Cu Chulainn had more range or a spare moment, he could likely…
I already had infiltrated Archers' senses, but adapting an illusion on the fly was hard. However, I'd already established a migraine… if I waited for the opportune moment…
Archer left an obvious opening, likely to draw Cu in for a counterattack. His swords were away, and Cu's staff was aimed right at his abdomen.
It was almost like he was asking me to fuck him over.
"I've got you!" Cu Chulainn roared, thrusting his weapon forward.
Archer's expression didn't change as his body started to move… but it screwed up in agony as I radiated pain through his skull once more, focusing it into a point behind his eyes. He stumbled, and with a spasm that bowed him over, he rolled with the strike, taking the blow to the gut and disengaging.
Cu's staff was wet with blood when he pulled it back, readying a symbol in the air that blazed with power. "Not bad, kid!" he yelled, a bloodthirsty grin in place.
Corrupt Archer's eyes gleamed in the firelight, and he moved back and away with supernatural speed, scattering leaves in his wake.
I stepped out of my glamour as I felt my influence break. "He's breaking away," I said worriedly.
Cu's eyes scanned the horizon as I got closer, shortly before I felt the wash of mana from a distance. His breath caught.
Get out of there! He's readying artillery!
With swords!?
Something about the mana felt… off. Cracked, or-
Runes gleamed on Cu Chulainn's arms as he grabbed me by the scruff of my neck. I met his intense gaze with wide eyes.
"Might be where we part, Matthew. Remember me fondly and don't look back, alright?"
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but his forehead brushed mine with a gentleness only matched by the ferocity of the throw that followed.
I flew through the air as I heard a phrase.
"Caladbolg."
A shaft of light lanced through the air as I flew, aimed directly at the battlefield I'd been forced to vacate.
I couldn't even scream as the explosion blew the trees away, and light obscured my sight. The world buckled under me as my armor gleamed, and the air gave way to water.
Sinking, bubbles wreathed my glowing body as I plummeted to the lakebed.
...is he gone?
I can't feel either of them. There's something in the water that's interfering. For what it's worth, we aren't far from where the rest of them are.
I scrunched my eyes shut until I impacted the silt at the bottom of the lake.
Don't be afraid of drowning. My armor has a multitude of enchantments upon it for just such an occasion. Hence the runes, you see? The choker lets you breathe regardless of the quality of air or presence of water. Morgan's voice was soothing, or tried to be.
He's gone.
Possibly.
I really did like him, I think.
You did. I could tell.
Pepe, Kadoc, Hinako-
I know.
Am I an idiot, Morgan? Or is it just my luck that the people worth liking seem to die around me lately? Should I just let Mash and Fujimaru handle Saber and stay here?
I opened my eyes, and they widened at what I saw.
The fires above couldn't illuminate this far down, but somehow the moon did. Three bodies, only one barely bigger than I, rested here. Two wore similar tan clothes, while one wore a red jacket. The largest one held the smaller ones close, as though protecting them. The flesh had already worn away, leaving no immediate way to tell gender or anything else. There was a soft gleam from the largest body, and as I swam closer to investigate it brightened.
Oh. Well, that's… excuse me for a moment.
I blinked, and the glow vanished.
Sorry, sorry, but I had a little business to attend to. Laying these poor children to rest or something.
...I wasn't in the mood to argue.
As I floated above the bodies, I wondered who they were. If their peaceful lives had been sundered by the fires above.
Morgan?
Yes, dear?
Can we fix this, if we break the Singularity? Can we save them?
They're humans, you know.
And most humans aren't even aware of magi. But… just because magi suck, that doesn't mean I should let people who haven't done anything wrong suffer from history being warped. Right?
A sense of amused pride spread. My, my. Getting out and about really has done wonders for your emotional maturity.
I resisted the urge to blow a raspberry, if only because I didn't want to even think about tasting corpse-water.
Right. Time to go help Mash and the rest.
I righted myself, and began scissor-kicking towards the surface, pushing energy into my limbs to force myself upward faster. In seconds I broke the surface, and with a shake of my head, cleared my eyes of water. After, I dragged my arms in front of me and propelled myself forward until I hit the shore.
"Well, hello there."
I stared upward as I struggled to my feet.
Cu, his robe tattered and completely shirtless, grabbed my arm and hauled me upright. "Glad that worked. How long were you under?" Worry lurked in his eyes, for all that he tried to play it off.
"A bit. Apparently the choker lets me breathe water." I stared at him. "I… may have thought you died."
He shrugged. "I thought I might, but I managed to get behind a strong enough barrier to take the brunt of the blast. Got messed up enough that he closed back in, and finished it from there."
I looked up and down. "So you're injured…?"
He grinned, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Servant regeneration, kid. If it doesn't kill us outright, we can patch ourselves up pretty quick assuming we have the mana." Cu winked at me. "As it so happened, I had enough to get back into shape. Some kind soul topped me off earlier."
I flushed. "It wasn't that much..." I grumbled.
Cu Chulainn shook his head. "We'll argue that later. Can you feel it?"
The oppressive feeling around the mountain seemed to intensify into a tangible pressure as he spoke. "Yeah."
That isn't her sword. Whatever this is, it's not her.
"Saber's winding up to strike. I'm surprised you didn't feel the fight where you were."
"If I had, I'd have been there already," I retorted, striding towards the cave entrance. "Something's up with that lake."
I stumbled as Cu wrapped his bare arm around my neck. "Oi. You said you had an ace that could hurt Saber." Any levity left his voice.
"It can stop her, but direct harm is a little much." I looked at him. "Do you have an offense that…?"
"I do. You set her up, I knock her down?" His eyes rested on me.
"Not going to ask what it is?"
"The thought of me dying was bad enough you sat at the bottom of a lake for five minutes. I don't see you stabbing me in the back." The smile returned to his face.
I leaned into his side for a brief moment. "...you're right. And yeah, if they can't handle her, we'll clean up." I raised a hand. "Shall I?"
"Not going to conserve your mana?" he asked, surprised.
"...it doesn't use mana, exactly. Or not as much as you would think."
He gave me a curious look. "Alright, kid. We'll see."
And we walked into the cavern, heading for the end.
____________________________________________________________________________
Saber was my size, clad in black and purple armor, her head exposed. Her blonde hair was tied in a bun, and yellow eyes blazed from her face. In her hand was a blade that burned with black and red energy, and the trickle of blood from her temple did nothing to detract from her elegance.
Archer stood by Animusphere and Fujimaru, bow drawn taut and face scrunched up in concentration. A similar feeling came from the arrow as the ones outside.
They're the same person dear, just different circumstances.
Caster floated overhead, and Mash trembled behind her shield.
I immediately began to make my way forward, only for Cu Chulainn to loop an arm around my torso and pin me to him. "Wait," he hissed.
Saber raised the blade overhead. "I must admit some recognition of your strength. Unskilled as you are, you got to this point. That deserves commendation."
"Let me go!" I yelled, struggling. None of them could hear me, because like an idiot I hid us both under a glamour.
"Look at your sister. Really look at her," Cu Chulainn murmured into my ear.
"Caster, dive!" Fujimaru ordered. He launched himself away from Animusphere as she erected a barrier, Fou on her shoulder.
"Fujimaru! Wait!" Animusphere's eyes widened.
They're going to be alright.
How do you know!? What good has that meathead knight ever done her!?
Fujimaru and Caster landed behind the shield, and Archer let fly with his sword-arrow.
"EXCALIBUR!"
Black energy roared overhead.
"MORGAN!"
I watched helplessly as the sword fell, bringing a tower of shadowy death with it. It consumed Archer's projectile, barely slowing as it crashed against Mash's shield.
Fujimaru - Ritsuka - braced his shoulder against Mash, placing his hand on her arm and funneling magic energy into her. Caster folded her hands and began chanting at a speed I couldn't comprehend, wrapping protective energy around the three of them.
The ceiling of the cave dropped boulders that shattered on the ground, shaken loose from the power of the strike.
Despite all of this, Mash held firm.
"She's a Servant too, you know." Right in my ear, Cu murmured reassurance. "She has her reason to fight. She wants to see the future of humanity." I looked up at him, and he smiled. "I've been paying closer attention than you, looks like."
I looked down at my hands, and up at Mash, where she continued to weather the assault. "It can't hold. Against something like that, how can it hold?"
"You're a Caster to the bone. Subversion, inflicting curses, only committing to a straightforward assault when victory is certain. It's not a bad thing, but you don't understand. Your sister is a knight, and her weapon is a shield."
I felt the breath in the cavern still.
"And before causing harm, a shield has one duty."
"Deploying Virtual Noble Phantasm!"
The shield of the man whose soul inhabited my sister glowed, a mystic array spreading from its face and pushing back the tide of darkness spawned by the demonic sword.
Cu rested his chin on my head, letting me go and placing a hand on my shoulder. "A shield is meant to protect."
"Lord Chaldeas!"
The array flashed, and with a shockwave the dark energy was forced back. The roar continued, Excalibur Morgan's arc carving back through the ceiling as Saber's arms were forced back over her head. More rubble fell, obscuring the area between the two parties.
I looked at Archer, and he drew a spiral-shaped sword from thin air. It contracted, narrowed, changed to something suitable to be launched. He pulled it back, and crimson energy danced around the point of the projectile.
"I… am the bone of my sword." Somehow, I heard those words.
The dust cleared as Saber whipped her blade around, blood streaming down her face. Her eyes landed on Archer as Mash buckled, Caster and Ritsuka supporting her. Quickly, she raised her blade. "Ex-"
I moved.
The greaves clasped to my legs shone silver with the mana that lit the Fae Runes etched into them.
I am a warrior queen, after all. If I didn't have a little something to aid my martial combat, why would I have that title?
The glamour fell, and her eyes widened as I came into view. "That's-!"
"Altria Pendragon, hear and attend."
She froze, as did Archer.
Shoot, damn you! If I go much further-!
It's going to be okay.
I inhaled. "O' flower of hell, you wither. You collapse. The power that sustains you flows like water, leaving you harmlessly and dispersing into the air around us." Blood slipped from my nostrils and down my face as Saber's knees buckled. "I call you by your name, I address you in a tongue you cannot reject. For all your hybrid nature, you yet hold the blood of mankind in your veins. Hear and attend, Altria Pendragon."
Wood erupted from the ground, forming a massive construct in the shape of a man. It swept down its arm, ensnaring Altria in its grip.
"Burn her completely, giant of trees! Cage of Scorching, Consuming Flame! WICKER MAN!"
Cu Chulainn's construct slammed Saber into its chest, followed by Archer's arrow. She flopped in helplessly, ensnared by my command. The arrow pierced her, and the giant fell to the ground.
I felt a strong arm wrap around me and drag me back as the world turned to flame. I turned my face from the heat, closing my eyes. Slowly, the fire died down and sound returned to the world.
"When you said you had an ace, I wasn't expecting that," Cu muttered.
"You wimps have Noble Phantasms. I have words," I slurred tiredly.
Slowly, Saber stood from the charred wreckage.
"Really?" I whimpered.
...it's fine. Look.
Morgan...
Violet sparks floated away from her body. Her eyes turned to me, and flashed in recognition.
"It's not enough. If this strains you so… it won't be enough. Gain strength. Seek power and numbers." The bearing of a king pressed down on us all, even as she faded away. "But still… it is a good start. Take care, Chaldea. The Grand Order starts now."
...so they couldn't drown you all the way. Goodbye, little sister. Maybe I'll see you again, on the same side of battle.
Saber gave me a slight smile, and looked around our numbers. The smile vanished. "The mastermind still lurks. Think, Chaldea: who could have sown such destruction? What have they to gain?" She lowered her head as she finished vanishing.
Golden sparks flit around me, and the body behind me began to feel much less solid. I staggered away, turning to look.
Cu Chulainn gave me a warm smile. "Well, it was fun. I figured I'd spend more time showing the rest of the kids the ropes, but you were just too fun to tease."
"I'm not a kid." Wow. Great last words. Fantastic.
The Celtic warrior grinned widely. "See? Too damn fun." His smile gentled as his body faded. "Hopefully…"
And he was gone.
I rubbed my eyes roughly, and took a deep breath. "So…"
"We all made it, somehow," Animusphere said before sighing. She gave me a thoughtful look. "What was that? It felt like someone was gripping my bones, and you weren't even using it on me."
"Morgan called it the Universal Language. Apparently it works like top-tier mental interference…?" I shrugged.
"...it is quite literally the universal language of humanity. You transcend tongues and speak to souls." Caster's tone was flat. "For all it cannot be used to invoke magecraft, the quality of the power surpasses my own Divine Words."
I rubbed the drying blood under my nose. "Huh."
"It's dangerous, isn't it." Mash gave me an accusing glare.
"No more than throwing yourself in front of a death laser with a hunk of metal," I retorted, crossing my arms. "At least Ritsuka was there to back you up."
He blinked at me before giving a warm smile.
...when is the Singularity going to fall apart? We won the fight, so…
It's being held together. Stay sharp, dear.
"Guys-" Archaman cut in.
"We aren't alone," Archer finished with narrowed eyes.
Soft clapping echoed through the cavern.
"Well done. Well done! For all that it won't matter in the end." A figure clad in shadows stepped around and picked up a shining fragment. "Though despite my plans and expectations, you made it this far." Lev Lainur, a magus associated with Animusphere, stepped from the shadows with a sneering grin. In his hand rested a golden chalice.
"I truly shouldn't have dismissed any of you. Master Candidate Forty-Eight… Mash… Matthew." His eyes narrowed on my name. "You in particular are a bit of a cockroach. All of you should have been incinerated."
...this bastard!?
So it seems.
"Lev!?" Roman asked, shocked.
"Ah, Roman. So you lived too. And after I asked so nicely for you to report to the command center." Lainur's face contorted into a vicious snarl. "Trash who can't even follow orders, just the mere sight of you makes me want to vomit. Why must humans continuously fight fate?" He sighed in irritation.
"Master…" Mash moved in front of Ritsuka, her shield at the ready.
"Yeah." Ritsuka nodded. He glanced at me.
Don't. The Tongue won't work on him.
"Well, I always guessed you didn't have a soul," I joked darkly.
Lainur's eyes flickered. "You have no idea."
Animusphere shot me a look full of venom before turning an adoring gaze on the monster before us. "Lev… you're alive! Thank goodness, without you I don't know what we'd do!"
"Director, stop! That man isn't the Professor Lev we knew!" Mash shouted as Animusphere made her way forward.
"Has the girl no sense of preservation?" Caster whispered harshly.
"Olga. You've had a hard time of it, it seems," Lainur said in a condescending tone.
"Yes, that's right! The command room exploded, this city is in ruins, and I can't go back!"
What? But why…
We were speaking when that topic was covered. ...I didn't want you to know. But it looks like that's about to become relevant in the worst possible way.
"These complications are maddening, but we'll solve them! You'll solve them like always, right Lev?" Animusphere gave him a pleading look.
"Certainly. I, too, have been vexed by these… complications." Lainur slowly gave a vindictive smile. "And the biggest one? Is you."
Animusphere froze, her smile rigid.
"And after all the trouble I went through to put the bomb right under your feet."
...I didn't realize it was possible to feel bad for Animusphere, but here we are!
"What?" she croaked, eyes visibly tearing up.
"Oh, you're dead. Very, very dead. With us in spirit, as they say." Lainur's smile grew ever more sardonic. "No aptitude for Rayshift while alive, but without a body? Your lingering memories got to go for a nice little ride. I do hope you enjoyed your trip, because it was very much one-way. If you return, your emotions and thoughts will dissipate into nothing."
A red sphere appeared behind the mastermind.
Oh no.
"Ch-chaldeas… is red? No, that can't be right! Lev, it's a joke! Right?" Animusphere stepped forward again, face pale as tears streamed down her face.
"Oh, it's real. Having a Holy Grail makes all sorts of things possible - like connecting dimensions. Take a look." Lainur stepped away, gesturing at the swirling scarlet behind him. "Do you see a sliver of blue? No? Me either." His face split in a maniacal grin. "Humanity is gone! Lost to flame and oblivion! This is the fruit of Animusphere's labor! Behold, the results of your grand incompetence!"
"N-no!" Animusphere stepped back, shaking. "I couldn't have failed! I can't have died! You're not Lev! Who are you? What have you done to my Chaldeas!?" Her voice grew more and more hysterical as she stumbled backwards, eyes wide.
Caster hung close to Ritsuka and Mash, watching impassively. Archer stood by Mash, eyes sharp.
Mash screwed her eyes shut, planting her shield in front of her and Ritsuka as Archer kept Ritsuka from bolting out.
"...how?" I whispered. "Before I even got to see it…?"
"It's not 'yours'. Truly, an annoyance to the end. I could destroy you now, but… no. I'll grant you a kindness." Lainur's smile softened into something dark and intimate.
Slowly, Animusphere's body lurched forward. "Wh-what? I'm being-?"
"Reach out, Olga. Lay hands on this, your greatest treasure. This is my kindness."
"My- Chaldeas? No, it's a super-dense body of data! A dimensional anomaly! If I-!" Animusphere's voice devolved into primal terror as she fought the inexorable force drawing her in.
"Oh, yes. It's a bit like a black hole, or a sun. Contact would mean disintegration stretched across time, eon in an instant. Please, have this taste of living death. I insist." Lainur tilted his head as Animusphere's body dragged along the ground.
"No!" Archer barked, pinning Ritsuka in place. "You'll only die as well!"
"No… no! Someone help! Save me! I don't want to die! Because… no one has ever praised me!"
I jolted, feeling my eyes widen.
"No one ever valued me! I was hated, right from the start! From the moment I was born, I was never accepted by anyone-!"
That…
Closer, she fell. Words left her, and she… under Lev Lainur's watch, she…
I reached my hand out. "Olga Marie Animusphere. Hear your name. Listen and attend."
She turned to me, frozen in space. She was just memories of a soul, after all.
Lainur's eyes narrowed.
She didn't have Saber's inhuman heritage, or defense against magic. It was easy to… to give her this.
"I hated you. I despised you. Not once did I understand you, until the end."
Her eyes welled with tears once more as Lainur began to cackle into his fist.
"I can't save you. There's nowhere for you to go if I try. But…" I swallowed, tasting the tang in my mouth. "I accept you. I see you. The groundwork you laid down for us, the path opened by Chaldea… your work isn't in vain. Even if sabotage stole your life, it will not steal your hope. Though it be for mine own ideals and desires, I promise you."
Her face relaxed as the tears spilled forth.
"We will not falter. You, at least, will be remembered as the one who set humanity on its path to survival. So rest, and fade- go gently into the night, and not upon the teeth of Chaldeas."
Lainur's eyes flew open, the sclera turning black as his teeth turned jagged. "You-!"
Olga Marie Animusphere blinked slowly, her body floating. Almost languidly, her eyes met mine.
"I wish we understood each other sooner." She gave a tired smile.
"Thank you… Matthew."
Her body erupted into golden dust.
I staggered, only for Ritsuka to catch me as I drooled blood on the ground.
Well, dear, you DID etch peace onto her soul and wrench it away from an interdimensional body by voice alone.
"The gall."
I forced my head up.
"The unmitigated gall," Lainur giggled hysterically. "Do you think you can do that? 'Save' humanity?"
I spat. "Honestly, magi can go choke. Present company excepted. But the rest of them…" I found myself thinking of those young bodies in the lake. "They don't deserve it. The Moonlit World is its own hell. I'll reserve judgement on the rest."
"We'll stop you," Ritsuka added, voice firm. "Matthew's right. It's our job to make the Director's- to make Olga's efforts count. We're going to stop you, and put things right!"
"Master-" Mash said in a hushed tone.
"You can tell, can't you? And the rest of you." Lainur grinned. "That I am beyond any of you here. But, my superiority is no cause for rudeness." He doffed his hat, and gave a sweeping bow. "My name is Lev Lainur Flauros. My role is to oversee this particular year - the year humanity ends." He stood back up. "Romani, are you paying attention? I do sincerely hope so. As an old friend… a word of advice? Give up and wait quietly. Chaldea is done, humanity is finished. Judgement is passed, and you were all found wanting- per usual."
"Professor- no. Lev Lainur. What do you mean? Is this related to our inability to see the future?" Archaman's voice grew tense.
"Related, pah. No, it simply is. The entire earth is ablaze, just as this city. Chaldeas' field may protect your little outpost, but even that is temporary. The future is gone, swallowed in flame- Chaldeas' crimson hue speaks to that." Lainur shook his head.
"So… it's not that we lost contact with the outside world - we lost the world itself," Archaman breathed.
...hasn't he been saying this? What's the point of repeating it?
"Yes. Honestly, I should have killed you beforehand; you're too competent to leave… but no use whining about should-haves. After all, once the year passes Chaldeas will extinguish. Along with all of you." Lainur sighed. "Honestly, it was your own fault. It wasn't an evolutionary dead end or invasion that sealed your fate. Merely your incompetence and idiocy. After all, you lost the grace of our King."
I shrank into Ritsuka's side as he stepped in front of me to try and shield me from Lainur's gaze.
The world began to shudder.
"And so the Singularity has reached its limit. Amazing, really. Even when steeped in dark, that Saber still wished to preserve humanity in her way." Lainur shrugged. "Well, it will be what it will be. As amusing as it's been to lecture you, it's time to bring this to a close. Savor your last days, before you all turn to ash on the wind." He gave a small smirk. "Try to find peace with whatever power you believe in." And then, he vanished- the Holy Grail in his grasp clattering to the ground.
The cavern began to shake, and I swallowed. "Oh fuck."
"Doctor! The cavern's unstable! Perform an emergency Rayshift!" Mash cried out.
"I'm working on it, I'm working on it!" Archaman shouted, his image flickering as his hands flew over invisible keys. "The collapse is faster than I can account for-! Humans can survive in space for a few seconds, right!?"
Archaman…!
"Inept bastard," I hissed. I turned my eyes on Ritsuka.
"Mash, Matthew-" he started, eyes worried.
"If you two discorporate, you'll have time to be pulled along," I said to Caster and Archer as the world began to crumble.
Archer immediately turned translucent, shortly followed by Caster.
I swallowed. "Mash? Hold onto me after."
She met my gaze and nodded.
I turned to Ritsuka.
"Hey. Master."
His eyes widened.
I smiled. "You're not as shitty as most folks I've met. So keep living, okay?"
____________________________________________________________________________
I wheezed as I turned on my side, shivering.
My, my! That was reckless. But effective! Morgan paused. And good of you. Olga didn't deserve what that fiend planned.
...no. She didn't.
I sighed, and put my hand on my chest. "Wonder how much time that burned."
Not as much as I feared. It looks like the little changes I've made over the years left you more durable than I thought!
...chan-
Oh look! It's Da Vinci!
"And that's the three of you!" Leonardo Da Vinci swanned into the medical room, smiling benignly. "Archer and Caster have gotten nicely settled in. Honestly, to think you had a trump card like Universal Language!" She placed her hands on her hips. "Naughty little apprentice of mine. I'm so proud!"
I blushed, ducking my head. "It's… something I got recently."
"Well, we'll keep it off the books. I heard the last person to have it couldn't form memories and got a Sealing Designation!" Da Vinci winked. "A little blood is minor in comparison, and well… you wouldn't do well in a lab."
I gave her a long look.
"Yes, yes, I know! I know." She sighed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really." I grimaced. "So on a scale from one to inconsolable-"
"Mash is fine, Ritsuka is fine, Romani is fine." Da Vinci paused. "Ritsuka cares because he's a decent young man- which I know you've noticed. Mash was never too close, but seeing someone die the first time is hard, and she hasn't had your brushes with death before. Romani…" She trailed off.
I rolled my eyes. "You clearly want to tell me, so go ahead."
"He's holding on. He's the acting Director, now. The only person of rank, really." She gave a sad smile. "He's already thrown himself into his work."
"Right. So what needs doing?" I asked as I dismounted the table. I smiled as a ball of fluff darted around my ankles. "Petting Fou, clearly."
"Fou! Kyuu, kyu!"
I leaned over and scooped him up, holding him in a single arm as I scratched his ears.
"Caster's been of immeasurable help, really. Her Dragon Tooth familiars have been clearing rubble at an incredible rate, and she has some healing knowledge as well. We've managed to heal some people we nearly had to write off."
I kept looking at Fou. "Anyone on…?"
Da Vinci gently pat my shoulder. "Scandinavia hit his head badly enough that there's severe brain swelling. Kadoc's left limbs are both all but shattered. Hinako's ribs ruptured and she started bleeding internally. They'd all be cost-intensive to heal and wake, so we need to keep them in cryosleep. ...do you care about the rest of them?"
I snorted. "Marisbilly's lackey, his bride-to-be, the oddball, and the rabid mutt? Not as much as you think I should."
"Rabid mutt… I need to remember that one…" Da Vinci muttered. She shrugged. "Anyways. You kept to yourself pretty well, so no other news to report. Oh! Apparently Archer took over the kitchen and-"
"Ahem."
I turned to see the Servant in question with a steaming bowl in his hand. "I heard you'd be waking soon," he commented with a stern gaze. He approached and gave Fou a meaningful look. "He'll keep. You need to eat."
I gave Fou another scritch and set him on the examination table. "Thanks." I took the bowl, and…
Uh.
"You can eat it, you know," Da Vinci teased as the aroma hit me.
I quickly sat at a nearby desk, broke open the chopsticks on top, and dug in. Meat, veggies, rice, some sort of sauce… it was quite possibly the best thing I'd ever put in my mouth. A low bar considering I mostly subsisted on field rations to avoid the cafeteria, but I'd stand by it.
Oh no, it's quality. This guy knows what he's doing. Try to get him to marry you! You need a househusband like that!
…
Or not. Sorry.
"I take it you like it." Archer smirked, something in his eyes softening. "Come by the cafeteria any time. I insist."
I finished the bowl and set the chopsticks on top. "...I'll think about it."
He scoffed. "Sure. It looked as though you hated the meal."
"Food's fine, it's the people here I can't stand," I muttered darkly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Not you," I explained. "I keep to myself so I don't have to deal with Animusphere's toadies. Or Archaman, for that matter." I paused. "I don't mind Mash, and Ritsuka's okay."
Da Vinci squealed under her breath. "He likes him!" she stage-whispered to Archer.
"He put his life on the line for Mash. He's worth keeping around," I grumbled.
"Mm. Well, we have a skeleton crew at this point - somewhat literally," Archer said with a grimace. "It's unlikely you'll be bothered by anyone if you come to the cafeteria."
Which… he had a point.
He does. And you'll be able to eat with Mash and Ritsuka! Trust me, that sort of thing's fun.
"Okay. I'll drop in."
Archer smirked. "How gracious of you."
"My presence is a present, and don't you forget it," I fired back.
His eyebrows raised for a moment, then he shook his head with a tired chuckle. "I'll keep it in mind." He picked the bowl up, and gave a wave of farewell as he left the medbay with his free hand.
I stood and stretched. "Guess I better report to Archaman and see if there's anything I can do." I rolled my shoulders. "He still in his office, or did he take over Olga Marie's?"
Da Vinci gave me a long look. "He's in his," she said softly.
I nodded at her. "Thanks. Fou?"
The little guy squeaked as I walked to the examination table, and jumped up my arm and to my shoulder.
"I'm off," I said with a wave.
"Mm-hm. Go see Mash after you talk to Roman?"
"Naturally." I grinned at Da Vinci. "Thanks for looking after me."
Da Vinci hummed cheerfully. "Naturally! I've put this much time into you, and at this point finding another apprentice is impossible." She paused. "Literally so, it seems."
With that sobering thought, I shook my head and left the medical bay.
____________________________________________________________________________
I opened the door and stared at the absolute mountain of paperwork.
My, my.
"Fujimaru? I told you to go rest," Archaman said in a chiding tone. "I'm sure Mash and Matthew will want to see you. Honestly, I'm still in shock he called you by name! And so soon… anyways, go on."
"So about that."
The sound of writing stopped. "Matthew."
"Yeah. I figured you'd want a report." I leaned on the one chair not full of paperwork.
"Fujimaru and Mash were pretty comprehensive in their own. If you don't want to, you don't have to."
"Mm-hm." I scratched the back of my head.
For a moment, there was silence.
Archaman sighed. "Fine. What do you have?"
"I uncovered multiple new abilities I got from Morgan. Her armor's enchanted with Fairy Runes, and so far I've uncovered two functions. The choker purifies air and lets me breathe underwater, and her greaves grant increased speed. Also I can speak the 'Universal Language', which lets me control people." I shifted. "I used my illusions to break through a level of Magic Resistance possessed by Archer, and was able to use them to inflict pain. The Language carries physical backlash."
"That, we've recorded," Archaman said stiffly. "At this point, any standing orders regarding you and a workshop are rescinded. I've set aside a place for you to establish yourself near Medea and Leonardo's respective spaces."
I blinked. "Medea?"
"Caster?" Archaman's voice carried a hint of exasperation. "She kept her identity secret so that you wouldn't turn on her, but there's no point now."
"I don't get it."
There was a heavy thud. "Do some reading on the past for a change, rather than the present." Archaman's voice was muffled. "Or ask Morgan. She's knowledgeable."
Poor dear. She was a princess cursed by a love goddess to be utterly besotted over a man. He was complex at best, and she ended up betraying her country, killing her brother, and desecrating his body - all for love. This was after the two of them had struck up a bond. The Greek deities are truly cruel. It's hard to blame her for what she became, but also to blame Jason for leaving that person. Morgan's airy tone was scarily matter-of-fact.
"Right. Princess got fucked over by Aphrodite and her husband. Boyfriend? Whatever. She doesn't sound too bad to me."
"...right, then. I've had materials brought to your workshop, and a nameplate put on it. If you need a guide-"
"I know where Da Vinci's is. I can find my way when I'm ready." I turned and moved for the door.
"We're getting close to being at functionality with the Summoning System. We have some catalysts in storage; do you have any idea what your team might need?"
I found myself pausing.
"You're not unintelligent, Matthew. I trust your judgement, even if putting you in charge of a group isn't what I consider a good idea."
...he's not wrong.
"We need a melee fighter. Archer can do in a pinch, but he's better at range. Mash is primarily defensive. Medea's worse up close than me, and that's saying something." I exhaled.
ULSTER CYCLE ULSTER CYCLE ULSTER CYCLE!
...uh?
"Morgan recommends something from the Ulster Cycle?" I said hesitantly.
"We have an early copy of the Tain we can make use of," Archaman noted. "I'll put it at the top of the list."
Excellent. Well done, darling!
"...and now I'm scared. Well, I'm gonna go find Mash and let her know I'm still breathing." I resumed my exit.
"Something we're all glad for," Archaman murmured.
I paused at the door. "...sorry I couldn't save Olga Marie."
"You did more than anyone else could. It was kind and merciful." Archaman paused. "It was your first live excursion. You did better than anyone had a right to expect."
I rubbed my eyes. "Thanks. I guess. Try not to overwork yourself."
That earned a dry chuckle. "I'll make the attempt."
With that, I closed the door behind me.
Fou rubbed his head against my cheek.
"Thanks, buddy." I smiled a little.
It was time to find Ritsuka and my sister.
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