Jayr POV - Nasuverse, Moon, SE.RA.PH, Tsukumihara Academy - 2030 AD
Morning arrives quietly, the artificial sunlight spilling into our room with that same soft glow I've gotten used to.
I stretch, breathe, then push myself out of bed. Nero does the same a moment later, revealing her naked body under the sheets, her hair tousled in a way she'd never allow anyone but me to see.
Then her clothes magically materialise covering her body before she smiles lazily and says, "Another day, my Praetor. Shall we greet destiny with energy or elegance?"
In response, I also make my own clothes to cover my body and reply, "Coffee first. Destiny can wait a few more minutes."
After that, we fall into our usual rhythm: shower, breakfast, light conversation about our plans.
Nero bites into the soft croissant, hums in delight and after gulping down the meal, she asks, "Praetor, it is the fifth day. Shouldn't we go see Rani and hear what information she has for us? Now that we have her cooperation, we should definitely speak with her on a regular basis."
I pour some hot coffee in Nero's cup and reply, "I agree. However, it is still too soon for that. The perfect conditions for Rani's Astromancy Magecraft can only be found in the evening..."
With the "relic" that Rani needs secured yesterday, there's no need to rush, and soon we agree that keeping a balanced mind is more important than pushing too hard.
So for the first time in days, we let ourselves relax within the comfort and security of our Private Room.
The quiet that follows is very comfortable, the kind that needs no effort to maintain.
As I set the empty plates aside, Nero wanders toward the window, stretching her arms overhead as if presenting herself to an invisible audience while the artificial sunlight washes over her, catching the faint shimmer of her figure.
For a moment, I simply watch her silhouette while thinking, 'I used to think the Moon Cell's imitation of life would always feel shallow, but mornings like this chip away at that belief. Maybe because Nero never treated any moment as artificial. If anything, she carries herself as if every second deserved a stage.'
While I'm thinking that, she glances back at me with a grin and says, "Praetor, do not stare so intently. You will fall even deeper under my charm." Making me smile back and reply, "I fell for it a long time ago."
She puffs her chest proudly, satisfied, and the sight eases a tension I haven't realised I was carrying.
These small pockets of normalcy are rare, fragile things, and I find myself clinging to them more than I expected.
For a few breaths, the war outside our door feels like a different life.
Then an idea came to my mind, and I materialised an acoustic guitar with the intention of playing a song, this time, choosing to honour my Italian heritage, which has what is considered by many to be the best language for singing, by singing a song by the songwriter Francesco Gabbani named Viceversa.
Before touching the guitar, I let my fingers hover just above the strings while thinking, 'Music had always been a grounding force for me. But here in SE.RA.PH, where every emotion could be a trap and every moment a potential ambush, it felt even more necessary. A reminder that I used to be someone who lived days measured by sunlight and wind, not digital cycles and system alerts.'
Meanwhile, Nero sits cross-legged beside me, chin resting on her palm, watching with an intensity that would have made any stage performer sweat before she urges softly, "Play something from your world. Something that carries your heart in it."
That was why I chose Gabbani's song, not because it matched the mood, but because it spoke of contradiction, of two people balancing each other's chaos, and in a way, it feels right for us.
I strum the first chords, and the room seems to settle around the sound, as if even the walls pause to listen while the strings of the guitar produce a soft and enchanting tone, then I start to sing.
"♪Tu non lo dici ed io non lo vedo (You don't say it and I don't see it)
L'amore è cieco o siamo noi di sbieco? (Love is blind, or are we biased?)
Un battibecco nato su un letto (A quarrel born on a bed)
Un diluvio universale (A great flood)
Un giudizio sotto il tetto (A judgement under the roof)
Up con un po' di down (Up with a bit of down)
Silenzio rotto per un grande sound (Silence broken for a great sound)
Semplici eppure complessi (Simple yet complex)
Libri aperti in equilibrio tra segreti e compromessi (Books open in balance between secrets and compromises)
Facili occasioni per difficili concetti (Easy opportunities for difficult concepts)
Anime purissime in sporchissimi difetti (Purest souls in the dirtiest flaws)
Fragili combinazioni tra ragione ed emozioni (Fragile combinations between reasons and emotions)
Solitudini e condivisioni (Loneliness and sharing)
Ma se dovessimo spiegare (But if we had to explain)
In pochissime parole (With fewest words)
Il complesso meccanismo (The complex mechanism)
Che governa l'armonia del nostro amore (That guards the harmony of our love)
Basterebbe solamente dire (It would be enough to only say)
Senza starci troppo a ragionare (Without reasoning too much)
Che sei tu che mi fai stare bene quando io sto male e viceversa (That it's you who makes me feel good if I feel bad and vice versa)
Che sei tu che mi fai stare bene quando io sto male e viceversa (That it's you who makes me feel good if I feel bad and vice versa)
È detto questo che cosa ci resta (And having said that what will remain)
Dopo una vita al centro della festa? (After a life in the spotlight?)
Protagonisti e numeri uno (Protagonists and number ones)
Invidiabili da tutti e indispensabili a nessuno (Enviable by everybody and indispensable to nobody)
Madre che dice del padre (Mother who tells the father:)
"Avrei voluto solo realizzare ("I would have only wanted to realise)
Il mio ideale, una vita normale" (My ideal: a normal life")
Ma l'amore di normale non ha neanche le parole (But of normal love does not even have the words)
Parlano di pace e fanno la rivoluzione (They speak of peace and make the revolution)
Dittatori in testa e partigiani dentro al cuore (Dictators in the head and partisans in the heart)
Non c'è soluzione che non sia l'accettazione (There is no solution that would not be an approval)
Di lasciarsi abbandonati all'emozione (To leave yourself abandoned to the emotions)
Ma se dovessimo spiegare (But if we had to explain)
In pochissime parole (With the fewest words)
Il complesso meccanismo (The complex mechanism)
Che governa l'armonia del nostro amore (That guards the harmony of our love)
Basterebbe solamente dire (It would be enough to only say)
Senza starci troppo a ragionare (Without reasoning too much)
Che sei tu che mi fai stare bene quando io sto male e viceversa (That it's you who makes me feel good if I feel bad and vice versa)
Che sei tu che mi fai stare bene quando io sto male e viceversa (That it's you who makes me feel good if I feel bad and vice versa)
È la paura dietro all'arroganza (It is the fear behind the arrogance)
È tutto l'universo chiuso in una stanza (It is the whole universe closed in one room)
È l'abbondanza dentro alla mancanza (It is the abundance inside the lack) Ti amo e basta (I love you and that's it!)
È l'abitudine nella sorpresa (It is the habit in the surprise)
È una vittoria poco prima dell'arresa (It is a victory a bit before the surrender)
È solamente tutto quello che ci manca (It is only everything that we are missing)
E che cerchiamo per poterti dire che "ti amo" (And that we are looking for in order to be able to tell you that "I love you")
Ma se dovessimo spiegare (But if we had to explain)
In pochissime parole (With the fewest words)
Il complesso meccanismo (The complex mechanism)
Che governa l'armonia del nostro amore (That guards the harmony of our love)
Basterebbe solamente dire (It would be enough to only say)
Senza starci troppo a ragionare (Without reasoning too much)
Che sei tu che mi fai stare bene quando io sto male e viceversa (That it's you who makes me feel good if I feel bad and vice versa)
Che sei tu che mi fai stare bene quando io sto male e viceversa♪ (That it's you who makes me feel good if I feel bad and vice versa♪)"
Nero listens with attention, clearly enjoying the song and sometimes humming off-key, and at the end of the song she showers me with praises, but then her competitive spirits lits up, and she demands a turn with the lyre.
She doesn't hold back and activates her Skill Imperial Privilege before she starts plucking the strings of the lyre wildly but with passion, producing a melody that rivals those of Orphèe before proudly and haughtily proclaiming her melody a triumph of the arts, while I encourage her and clap my hands.
Nero hands the lyre back with a flourish, chin high, expecting applause even after I'd already praised her, and I give another exaggerated clap, because she thrived on excess.
She suddenly leans forward, narrowing her eyes and says, "You are smiling, Praetor. Is this because my performance has awakened your sense of artistic duty? Do not fear. Even if you cannot match my brilliance, I shall still accept you as my beloved student."
Hearing that, I smirk and reply, "I'm not sure anyone could handle you as a teacher."
Nero hums in mock outrage and says, "Ridiculous. My teaching methods are flawless. First, I inspire awe. Then, I demand loyalty. Finally, I accept tribute in the form of compliments. A perfect system." Making me snort, "Of course."
She pauses, then softens, her voice dipping into something more genuine, "It is nice, though. Creating something together. Even if it is only sound."
The sincerity catches me off guard before I squeeze her hand lightly and agree, "It is."
The moment passed quickly, as all such moments did with her, but something inside me settled.
After that, we end up watching a few movies from my home universe, making Nero complain loudly about every villain's poor decision-making, then criticise the protagonist's lack of imperial flair.
It feels alien, but at the same time also so normal, making me realise how much we needed this brief moment of peace.
Hours drift by without pressure, no Enemy Programs, no deadlines, no hunting for clues and information, just the simple comfort of company.
By evening, though, the calm shifts as it's time to meet with Rani and hopefully learn more about our opponent, so I calmly get up and grab the broken Pokéball from the table while saying, "It's time for our appointment. Let's go and meet with Rani."
Nero nods and slips into Spirit Form beside me as we walk out of our Private Room and head toward the far end of the third-floor hallway.
The halls of the third floor are quieter than usual, almost too still, likely because of the late hour.
Footsteps echo a little longer than they should have, like the Moon Cell is listening.
I then hear Nero's voice in my mind as she says, [Praetor, your expression has changed. You are already thinking ahead to the information Rani might give us.]
I nod lightly and say, [Hard not to. Every answer leads to another question. And Helena… something feels wrong about her.]
Nero replies in a surprisingly serious tone, [We shall face it together. Whatever truth waits at the end of this corridor, you will not meet it alone.]
I exhaled, tension easing just enough for the moment.
Just as expected, Rani is there, at the very end of the hallway, standing in front of the window while gazing at the simulated sky.
As soon as I approach her, she notices my presence, and with the usual emotionless tone, she says, "Good day. I see you've brought something of Helena Harrison's, as I had requested. I give you my thanks. You brought it at the right time, as I can read Helena Harrison's star today."
Watching Rani's innocent and curious expression, I still feel somewhat uneasy about having her help me, especially as I worry about what could happen to her.
Meanwhile, Rani seems to notice my hesitation, and misunderstanding the reason behind it, she says, "My professor's words are my guide. He told me specifically to learn about humans. So please put your mind at ease. You have nothing to worry about from me. Learning more about Helena Harrison will help your cause as well, correct?"
At this point, I can only hold back a sigh and offer her the broken Pokéball while saying, "It's all yours."
She takes the cracked Pokéball into her hand before manipulating her Mana while forming a strange half-magical array, half-digital analyser.
The runes flicker, light spirals upward, and soon an indistinct projection forms in the air, not images but vague impressions, shapes of memories that seem to imprint themselves into the starry sky outside the window.
With her almost mechanical reasoning, Rani examines the broken Pokéball for a few moments, brushing the object softly with her fingers, mumbling a few things before nodding in understanding and saying, "With this..."
Then she closes her eyes and turns her face to the sky, fully focusing on her Magecraft before she says, "The fate of which the stars speak, you can learn many things if you simply open your mind."
At the same time, I hear Nero's voice in my mind as she comments, [Astrology, is it? I can see various stars in the sky, but they only confuse and rankle me. However, for today only, I shall feign ignorance on this matter of the stars...]
Running her hand along Helena's broken Pokéball, the now entranced Rani begins speaking in a quiet tone, but the words feel deliberately chosen, "This one… Her past radiates warmth. A caretaker. A guide. A cornerstone of her family. Her nature was shaped by responsibility... family, earth, the weight of many younger lives were influenced by her, making them more than what they were before."
In response to that, Nero mutters through our bond, [That is a far cry from the cold woman we fought yesterday.]
I can't help but agree with her, but before I can think about it, Rani continues, still watching the sky with her eyes closed, "There is a fracture here. Not from battle... No. Something foreign. A shadowy figure. Stealthy. Insidious... Forced a change. Directive, not desire."
In an instant, I feel a cold shudder running down my spine as the chilling implication behind Rani's words makes my mind run amok as dozens of possible scenarios quickly take form, each one worse than the previous one.
But as I try to follow this line of thought, Rani begins to speak again in the same quiet tone, forcing me to rein in my thoughts and focus on the present: "The star which governs Helena Harrison's Servant shines brightly in the heavens today."
She pauses for a moment before she says, "Her Servant... The resonance is unusual. Something reactive. Still. A form shaped, not born. A being closer to ideal than to life."
My mind immediately thinks of Enkidu again, another tick on the list of qualities connected to that Servant.
At this point, Rani doesn't go further; she opens her eyes and concludes by saying, "That is all the relic reveals. I'm sorry it isn't more."
Then she looks at me and comments, "This may not be the one that I am searching for... To say clearly, I'm not sure, though. Longing is the reason for this fissure. This is something told by my professor, a part of humans that I understand."
After saying that, she lowers her head in a bow and thanks me before she once again turns her eyes to the sky.
Seeing that, I also lower my head in a bow and thank her back, "It's enough. Thank you for your help. Have a pleasant day."
Then we leave the 3rd floor and return to our Private Room to fully digest what Rani just revealed about our opponent.
The walk back to our Private Room feels heavier than the walk out as Rani's words replay in my mind in scattered fragments. Warmth. Fracture. Shadow. Directive, not desire.
Each phrase carries its own gravity, enough to warp the ideas around it.
Nero, still in her Spirit Form, walks at my side in silence, not brooding, not upset, just thinking. When she is truly unsettled, she grows quiet in a way only I can recognise.
After a while, she says, [If someone changed Helena… if someone broke her… then they have committed a sin too grave to be pardoned.]
I don't answer right away; my thoughts go to Helena's empty eyes in our battle, the way she gave orders with precision devoid of humanity, before I finally say in a low tone, "No one deserves to have their will stolen."
Nero then adds firmly, [And we will not allow it to happen to anyone else.] Her certainty helps anchor my own.
Back in our Private Room, the quiet feels heavier. Nero sits beside me on the couch with her arms crossed as she mutters, "So that Helena was once a gentle woman? A guardian of children and creatures? That same woman who ruthlessly sent a swarm of her Pokémon at us with suicidal tactics? That same woman who tossed away her partner's Pokéball without a flicker of emotion?"
Hearing those questions, I nod and reply, "It seems so... And, standing by what Rani told us, something or someone changed her. And whatever that thing is, it is strong enough to bypass or even overcome the power of a Champion. And I don't know why, but a hunch tells me that the one behind Helena's change is another Champion... This makes him or her a very dangerous enemy."
In response to that, Nero hums thoughtfully and comments, "Umu... A dangerous enemy indeed. Anyone who can bend a will like that…" I finish, "… Won't hesitate to do much worse if the chance to do so presents itself."
Silence settles between us, but not the uneasy kind, more like the space before a storm, where you gather everything you are and quietly steel yourself for what comes next.
I lean back and let out a slow breath and say, "Tomorrow won't be as easy as today," making Nero reply, "It rarely is."
She places her hand over mine, warm and steady, and says, "But today we remembered why we fight. Why do we endure? That is enough."
For a while, it really is, the world feels less sharp, less cold, as if the Moon Cell itself steps back to give us this single breath of calm.
We talk a little longer about nothing in particular, letting the weight settle where it must, then decide to rest as the next day will be crucial.
Morning comes again. This is day six, the final day of the preparation period before the Elimination Battle.
Nero joins me at the table, folding her arms with a serious expression, "Tomorrow is finally the day of the Elimination Battle. Since until now we have defeated all our opponents without revealing even half of our strength, I doubt we will have much trouble. Still, in order to face our current opponent, I may need to display a bit more of my true abilities."
I understand immediately that she is implying she might unleash her Noble Phantasm. It draws a wry smile out of me, "We'll need to use it eventually. Luckily, that isn't the only trump card at our disposal."
She arches an eyebrow as if daring the world to disagree. The confidence suits her, but underneath it, I sense a different shade of emotion.
Not fear, but anticipation, Nero has always lived for the stage, and tomorrow's battle is nothing if not yet another stage.
After that, I say, "We'll do a full sweep of the campus and a final check of the Arena."
Breakfast finishes quickly, and soon we're walking through the tense hallways of the Tsukumihara Academy.
The atmosphere is different today, thicker, more alert; even the air feels like it's waiting for something to break.
Masters move cautiously, their invisible Servants close at their side, and even the ones who try to look relaxed carry stiffness in their shoulders.
Even Nero remarks, [The air itself trembles. Fear turns mortals silent.]
She is not wrong; everyone knows that tonight marks the end of the safety net.
After today, there is no preparation period, no second chances, only battle, a battle that may very well be their last one.
We continue toward the Arena, hoping that maybe, just maybe, we will catch a glimpse of Helena's Servant out of Spirit Form, but deep down, I know she won't slip; she has been an annoyingly cautious opponent until now.
Inside, the second floor still bears traces of Helena's influence: the underwater desert, the drifting dunes, the shifting currents of sand suspended in an ocean that should not exist.
The illusion is stable, eerie, and polished, too polished, a Servant who leaves this clean a field is either confident or hiding something.
Enemy Programs lurk in the corners like restless insects, but we avoid them unless absolutely necessary.
We comb the entire floor, slow and thorough, searching for anything: a ripple in the environment, a stray presence, the faintest hint of a signature. Nothing.
No trace of the Servant, no residual aura, no cracks in the illusion.
Helena's Servant remains hidden, and with every passing minute, the message becomes clearer: she is saving everything for tomorrow.
Her true hand, her true nature, whatever lies behind Rani's cryptic descriptions.
By the time hours have passed without progress, we return to our Private Room.
The door closes behind us with a soft click, and the quiet that follows has weight but not despair.
It's the quiet of people who have already chosen their path.
Nero places a hand on my shoulder. "You have done all you can, my Praetor. Tomorrow, we face whatever awaits."
I nod, appreciating the gesture while saying, "Then tomorrow we give it everything."
I expect her to withdraw her hand, but she doesn't. Instead, she sits next to me, shoulder to shoulder, gaze shifting toward the artificial sky, and for once, she doesn't speak right away.
After a moment of serene silence, she says softly, "You looked troubled earlier. When Rani spoke of Helena's change. You were thinking of something more than battle."
I hesitate, then answer honestly, "It reminded me of how easily a person can be rewritten. How the Omniverse is full of power that bends all the rules we're used to trusting. If someone could reach into Helena and twist her into something she isn't… Then we need to be ready for the possibility that we're not just fighting a Master and Servant. We might be fighting something moulded by the one who rewrote her."
Nero's expression hardens, a rare seriousness sharpening her features, "Good. Then we know our true enemy is not fear, or uncertainty, but whoever believes they can play with human hearts as if they were trivial things."
She turns to me, eyes bright with a fierce resolve that warms something inside my chest, "And if they stand before us tomorrow, I will cut down their arrogance myself."
Her confidence is strangely calming. Even hopeful.
We remain like that for several minutes, neither of us speaking, the kind of silence that doesn't push you away but draws you closer to reality. To purpose. To the people you choose to fight beside.
Night settles around us, calm but tense, the final quiet before the storm.
And for the first time since this week began, I feel ready.
Whatever tomorrow brings, we will meet it together.