002 - Fate/Half Astral
"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~" Ritsu skipped along happily, her footsteps light as she made her way to Da Vinci.
Ever since her father left, Dr. Romani had asked her several times how her papa knew a Beast of Humanity like Draco, but Ritsu didn't understand what he meant. Draco had been around for as long as she could remember—even her mom had said Draco was around back when she was still a teenager.
Despite Draco's tendency to whisk her papa away on mysterious trips, Ritsu didn't mind having her around. In fact, it was fun having Draco here. They were the same height, after all, and Ritsu liked playing with her.
"Hello, Ritsu. You seem so happy today. Where are you off to?" One of Chaldea's staff members waved at her as she passed.
"Hello, Uncle! I'm going to Da Vinci's workshop to see what she's doing~"
"Ah, I see. Be careful while you're jumping like that, alright? Don't fall." He patted her head with a smile before waving goodbye.
"Bye-bye~" she chirped, resuming her hopping pace.
Over the past week, Ritsu had become close to the Chaldea staff. At first, they had been hesitant around her, unsure of what to expect, but thanks to her natural cuteness, she quickly won them over. Now, none of them were afraid of her anymore, and instead, they all doted on her.
"Are you not bored?" Draco's voice suddenly echoed in Ritsu's head.
"Nope! There are lots of people here, and it's fun playing with Olga-neechan too~" Ritsu replied, her mind light and carefree.
"...Well, do what you like. I'm just here for the rewards after I'm done." Draco's voice trailed off, and then there was silence. It was probably a sign that Draco had gone back to sleep or was doing whatever she wanted.
Now, it was just Ritsu and her destination: Da Vinci's workshop.
---
After greeting several more people along the way, Ritsu finally arrived at the workshop. She didn't hesitate to barge in cheerfully. "Hello, it's me, Ritsu~!"
"Ritsu, you're back again? Come here." Da Vinci immediately greeted her with a smile, waving her in.
Ritsu quickly trotted over to see what Da Vinci was working on, her curiosity in full swing as she peeked at the gadgets and tools scattered across the table.
Ritsu eagerly peeked over Da Vinci's shoulder, eyes wide with curiosity. "What are you working on today?"
Da Vinci chuckled softly. "Today? Oh, just a few improvements on these. You know, making sure everything runs smoothly for the next Singularity." She gave Ritsu a playful wink and handed her a small gadget. "Here, want to try tightening this? It's a harmless little device."
Ritsu's eyes sparkled as she took the tool, her hands working carefully under Da Vinci's guidance. "Like this?"
"Perfect! You've got the hang of it, Ritsu." Da Vinci ruffled her hair.
Ritsu grinned, feeling proud of herself. For the next hour or so, she spent time watching Da Vinci tinker with various gadgets, occasionally helping here and there. The atmosphere was warm and lively, with Da Vinci constantly chatting about her projects, while Ritsu listened intently, fascinated by the brilliant inventor.
After some time, "I think I should go now."
Da Vinci smiled warmly, wiping her hands on a cloth before giving Ritsu a light pat on the head. "Alright, Ritsu. Come back anytime. You're always welcome here."
"Thank you! Bye-bye!" Ritsu waved as she bounced out of the workshop, her heart light from the fun she had.
Da Vinci watched her leave, a soft smile on her face. "Such a bright kid... So much different from her father from a week ago..." she murmured, before turning back to her work.
---
Ritsu continued walking through the corridors of Chaldea, just like before, greeting all the staff she passed as she tried to become more familiar with them.
Eventually, she spotted two people she knew very well. "Mashu-neechan, Fujimaru-niichan!"
She immediately ran toward the pair, who seemed to be on their way somewhere.
"Ritsu? Good afternoon, Ritsu," Mash greeted her, crouching down in front of her.
"Good afternoon, Mashu-neechan. Where are you two going?"
"Oh, we're going to—" Before Fujimaru could answer, Mash suddenly coughed, stopping him.
"We're just walking together. I'm showing Senpai around the entire Chaldea facility."
"Why are you coughing? Are you sick, Mashu-neechan? I can heal you if you want," Ritsu asked, tilting her head curiously.
"No, I'm fine. Go on ahead, Ritsu. Have fun, don't mind us. Oh, and if you find Fou, can you bring him to me? He's been missing for about three days."
"Cath Palug? Oh, he's been with me." Ritsu then started rummaging through her dimensional pocket.
It didn't take long before she found Fou and pulled him out. "Here, Fou!" She showed him to Mash and Fujimaru.
"Kyu?"
"Fou?? What are you doing inside her pocket??" Mash looked shocked.
"Fou!"
"... So, because the inside of her pocket is warm and comfortable, you decided to make it your home?"
"Fou!" Fou turned to look at Ritsu.
"Yeah, I don't mind you staying there, but don't touch anything inside!"
After that, Mash and Fujimaru said goodbye to her and walked off toward their destination. Ritsu just stood there, watching them with Fou still in her hands.
"Kyu?" Fou tilted his head, confused.
"Of course, we're going to follow them!" Ritsu smiled, placing Fou on her shoulder before casting a spell to make herself invisible.
With that, Ritsu began trailing behind them quietly, listening closely to their conversation.
They were talking about how Fujimaru had almost let slip some details about the discussion they were about to have regarding the next Singularity.
Hearing this only made Ritsu more eager to follow them.
Eventually, they reached Olga's office, and the two of them entered.
Without wasting a moment, Ritsu slipped in behind them, eager to eavesdrop on their conversation about the next Singularity.
---
As Mash and Fujimaru entered the room, Olga greeted them, her usual stern expression softening just slightly.
"Ah, you're here. Good," Olga said, gesturing for them to sit. "We have a lot to discuss."
Dr. Roman, who was already inside, gave them a casual wave from his seat. "Glad you made it, Fujimaru, Mash. This next Singularity is going to be a bit different, so we need to prepare."
Olga turned her attention back to her desk and tapped a few buttons on her terminal, bringing up the data on the Singularity in Orleans. "We've detected an anomaly in 15th century France."
Olga leaned over her chair, focusing on the data displayed. "We're still analyzing the Singularity. There are reports of disturbances in the timeline, but we don't have all the details yet. We'll need to gather more intel before we can make a move."
Dr. Roman adjusted his glasses, glancing at the screen. "We know that it's a historical setting, but the specifics are still unclear. We're trying to determine which figures from that era are involved and what threats they might pose."
Fujimaru crossed his arms, a determined expression on his face. "So, we don't know what we're walking into yet? That sounds risky."
"Exactly," Olga replied, her tone serious. "We're not sure how many enemies we'll face or if there are any key historical figures we need to be wary of."
Mash nodded, her resolve unwavering. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you, Senpai. We can figure things out once we get there."
"Right," Olga said, her expression softening slightly.
Olga gave a small sigh and looked between the two of them. "One more thing: We need to make sure Ritsu doesn't find out about this. If she does, there's no doubt she'll try to tag along. And given what we've seen from her... well, you know what's gonna happen."
Fujimaru and Mash nodded, fully understanding the potential trouble if Ritsu got involved.
Meanwhile, Ritsu—still invisible—was crouched in a corner, listening to every word.
She grinned to herself. "Orleans, huh? That sounds fun…"
Olga tapped on her console again, displaying data on Chaldea's FATE System. "Now, let's talk about the FATE System. It's still in the adjustment phase, which means… we won't be able to summon any additional Servants for this mission."
"So, it's just me?"
"Exactly," Olga replied, crossing her arms. "The system needs more time to stabilize, and we can't risk a failed summoning in the middle of a Singularity. Until the FATE System is fully operational, you'll have to handle things with only your skills and Mash's capabilities."
Dr. Roman nodded, but he looked concerned. "I've been monitoring the system's progress, and while it's getting closer to stable output, there's still too much risk. The magic circuits aren't fully synchronized yet."
Fujimaru glanced at Mash, his face showing a mix of worry and determination. "So, it'll just be you and me, Mash. Are you okay with that?"
Mash smiled reassuringly. "I'll protect you, Senpai. We'll get through this together."
Olga interrupted their moment. "I'm aware this makes the mission even more dangerous, but we don't have a choice. You two are the only ones we can send right now. The situation in Orleans is critical."
Dr. Roman added, "We'll be keeping an eye on you from here."
Olga continued, oblivious to Ritsu's presence. "We'll monitor the situation closely, but until the FATE System is stable, you two are all we have to rely on. We're counting on you."
After hearing the conversation in the room, Ritsu felt excited and determined to follow Fujimaru and Mash to the Orleans Singularity. She carefully crafted her plan, making sure no one would notice her intentions.
---
The Next Day
Ritsu woke up earlier than usual, excitement flowing within her as she prepared herself. She put on a comfortable dress and checked her dimensional pocket to ensure Fou was inside. After making sure everything was ready, she stepped out of her room, determined to follow Fujimaru and Mash on their journey.
After greeting a few Chaldea staff members she encountered, she walked down the corridor until she spotted Fujimaru and Mash chatting near the control room. Ritsu hid behind a corner, watching them with great curiosity.
"So, we're leaving after breakfast?" Fujimaru asked.
"Yeah, we need to prepare before entering the Singularity," Mash replied. "But we have to make sure everything is ready. We don't know what we'll face."
Hearing that made Ritsu smile, and she used her spell again to make herself invisible as she headed to the command room.
Once she arrived, she saw many staff members working hard, focused on the singularity displayed on their monitors.
After scanning the screens one by one, she finally found the coordinates of the singularity and smiled happily.
"This is it! I can't wait to see the singularity" she thought to herself, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Now that she had the information she needed, Ritsu quietly made her way out of the command room, ensuring that no one noticed her presence.
With her heart racing, she prepared to follow Fujimaru and Mash into the Orleans Singularity, eager to embark on this new adventure.
Or that's what she thought... Because when she stepped out of her portal, instead of seeing Mashu and Fujimaru, she was met with something entirely different.
Before her sat a woman on a throne, radiating an overwhelming presence. She had long, silver hair that cascaded over her shoulders, and her striking crimson eyes glinted with a mix of confidence and mischief. Dressed in dark, ornate armor adorned with intricate gold patterns, she exuded an aura of both elegance and danger. A flowing black cape billowed behind her, adding to her imposing figure.
Surrounding her were multiple figures, each enveloped in a dark aura that seemed to pulse with a maddening energy. Their expressions were wild and chaotic, as if they were caught in a trance of insanity, ready to unleash their unpredictable powers.
Next to the throne stood a peculiar man with a book in hand, his eyes flickering with an unsettling intelligence. He wore a long, tattered coat and had an unsettling face.
"This isn't what I expected…" she whispered to herself, trying to comprehend the scene unfolding before her.
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