( 3rd POV )
After failing to receive the answer he sought from Ken and the others, Tony chose to proceed and entered Shadow Border, with Yinsen following closely behind him. But as soon as he stepped into the colossal vehicle, he immediately sensed something unusual.
From the outside, the Shadow Border had seemed merely large — an impressive vehicle, certainly, but nothing out of Tony's expectations. Inside, however, was an entirely different story.
As they moved through the corridors, Tony quickly discerned what set this vehicle apart from all the other.
"This... I'm not tripping, am I?"
Corridors stretched out impossibly far, the walls reinforced with gleaming panels that shimmered faintly under soft lighting. Doorways led to rooms that seemed to violate the basic laws of physics, wider and taller than the external structure could have ever suggested.
This doesn't seem like something a heavily armed, modified RV should possess. This looks like a goddamn bunker instead.
Tony stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes darting around, mouth slightly agape. "Alright," he muttered to himself, hands moving animatedly as he began pacing a small circle. "Spatial distortion? Some kind of pocket-dimension tech? Folding space? Quantum compression fields?"
He murmured to himself as his mind began racing contemplating the various possibilities employed within the Shadow Border.
Yinsen, standing just a few paces behind him, merely gave a low chuckle, overwhelmed but not questioning. In his heart, Yinsen had already accepted the impossible more easily than Tony, even though it was the first time he comes into a contact with Chaldea.
"Is it magic?" Yinsen asked softly, more to himself than anyone.
Tony scoffed, throwing his hands up. "No way. Look at this. Structured design, mechanical framework... This is tech, pure and simple."
Tony simply did not believe that such a thing could exist in this world. Long before his kidnapping, he had been researching Chaldea with Jarvis's help, analyzing their battle scattered across the network, attempting to uncover their "magic" secrets and purposes.
But just like any other people, he obviously failed. And that's precisely why, this time around, he's eager to uncover their mystery as he didn't believe there's another chance.
Turning around his attention, Tony smirked, his usual sarcasm lacing his words as he glanced around the interior of the massive vehicle. "Heh, not much magic bullshit involved in this beast of an RV, huh?" he quipped, half-expecting a witty comeback.
But the response never came. Ken and the others remained silent as they walked, offering no reaction to his remark. That only made Tony more suspicious.
"I knew it," he declared triumphantly. "All your power, everything you do—it comes from some kind of unknown advanced technology! This ridiculous spacious corridor is just one of the proofs." His voice carried a mix of amusement and intrigue, as if he had just uncovered a well-guarded secret.
This time, hearing Tony's guess, Ken chuckled with amusement, and Mordred grinned while looking at him as if he were an imbecile.
Mash, however, was far gentler in her response, offering a restrained smile. Though clearly amused by Tony's rambling, she maintained her polite composure, allowing him his moment of speculation without outright dismissing him.
"We'll explain everything properly once we reach the command center, Mr. Stark," she said kindly.
"No, no, no," Tony said, waving a hand dramatically, turning in a tight circle to look at Mash, Ken, and Mordred. "You don't just drop a guy into a freaking Narnia bus and then tell him to wait for the PowerPoint presentation!"
Mordred barked a laugh from behind him, her armor clanking lightly as she leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed. "Hahaha, Narnia bus. That's a good one."
Tony pointed at her, grinning despite himself. "See. She gets it."
Ken walking ahead, didn't turn around. "Just be patient, Mr. Stark. You'll get your answers soon enough," Ken said, his voice low and even. "And maybe… It might just turn out to be way more than you ever thought you were bargain for."
"Tch, cryptic," Tony muttered, moving to catch up, his boots ringing against the floor. "Real cloak-and-dagger vibes with you guys."
As they walked, the group passed by several rooms. Until they reached a heavy reinforced door at the end of the corridor, its surface smooth and dark with faintly glowing runes etched into the metal. Ken placed his hand on a hidden panel, and the door slid open soundlessly, revealing the command center.
Through open doorway, Tony caught glimpses of a woman holding her scepter in her hands with a playful smile on her face and another woman with red samurai armor besides her.
The first woman turned, smiling brightly, her blue eyes alight with mirth and brilliance.
"Welcome aboard, Mr. Stark, Dr. Yinsen," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "I'm Leonardo Da Vinci. Yes, that Da Vinci. You can call me, Da Vinci-chan, fufu." And she drops the bomb just like that.
A heavy silence settled over the room, Ken and the others collectively slapped their foreheads seeing her antics. Meanwhile, Tony and Yinsen were left utterly dumbfounded. Their mouths opened, only to close again, then open once more, resembling a pair of bewildered, puffed fish.
Then Tony pointed dramatically at Da Vinci.
"I–I...Y–you..."
"I understand that you may have many questions, but please, take your seat. Allow me to address all your concerns."
.....
The warm glow of the evening sun cast long golden streaks across the vast, ornate hallways of Chaldea Mansion, inside one of the west wings, a spacious lecture hall, the evening bell rang out, a slow, melodic chime that reverberated gently through the classroom.
At the head of the room, Waver Velvet, holding a thick grimoire on his hand finally sigh in relief. Soon A thick grimoire snapped shut in his hands with a definitive clap.
"Ahem," he began, adjusting his scarf with a subtle twitch. "That's it for today. I trust you'll take the time to review the principles we discussed regarding the foundations of basic magecraft. We'll be moving into structured thaumaturgy next week, and I won't slow down for those who choose laziness."
A few groans echoed lightly in the background, one even muttering something about too much homework, but none dared speak too loudly. All except one.
"Professor! Professor!" chirped a bright voice from the center row, filled with eagerness and unfiltered energy. Daisy Johnson, better known as Quake in the future, was practically bouncing in her seat.
Waver turned toward her, already sighing. "Yes, Ms. Johnson?"
"I overheard Director Olga and Sion talking yesterday about potentially awakening magic circuits in non-magi recruits like us. Is that true? Like, can we actually get them awaken? Are we going to be real mages soon?" Her voice brimmed with excitement, nearly squeaking.
The room went still.
Even the students who had been half-dozing suddenly perked up. Waver could feel the collective attention focus sharply on him. He sighed again, slower this time, and rested a hand on the lectern.
"There's discussion," he said carefully. "But nothing has been approved. Da Vinci and Ken are currently away on a priority mission. Until they return, no decisions will be finalized. Even if you could awaken magic circuits, the reality is this: mastering magecraft takes time—years, in some cases decades. You already have powers of your own. Learning to control those should be your immediate concern."
Waver stood at the front of the classroom, his gaze scanning his students as he carefully delivered his explanation. His focus lingered particularly on the newcomers—the individuals who had arrived just recently.
Among them was Robbie Reyes, the Ghost Rider, beside him stood Lorna Dane, a green-haired young woman gifted with magnetic abilities, and finally, the eldest of the group, Domino—a woman whose remarkable ability to manipulate luck set her apart in ways that few could truly understand.
These new recruits had been brought into Chaldea only the day before, following Ken's decision to split up the team. He had advised them to return to the mansion first while he and his squad embarked on a mission to rescue Tony Stark in Afghanistan.
The other people at the mansion already knew about their arrival so they quickly settle them down after they arrived. Robbie, Lorna, and Domino were promptly assigned to Waver's classroom after Olga personally arranged it, understanding the necessity of integrating them into Chaldea's system without delay.
However, one recruit, Laura Kinney, because of her trauma and psychological problem, Olga had entrusted her to Dr. Kiara Sessyoin, hoping that under her guidance, Laura could begin the process of healing.
Daisy slumped back with a groan. "Ugh. So much for becoming a magical girl by next week."
Anna Marie—better known as Rogue in the future—nudged her sharply with an elbow, a stern look on her face. "Maybe focus on mastering what ya got before wishin' for somethin' new, girl."
Waver eyebrow twitch slightly after listening to her words, "Sigh," he sighed while massaging his temple. He then turns his attention to the new students.
"And for Robbie, Lorna, and Ms. Thurman, you may access all past lectures, training schedules, and records from the internal network through your own personal CID's and if you have questions, submit them through the designated channel. And for the record, I do not answer messages past midnight unless something important comes up."
Hearing Waver advice, Robbie nodded quietly. "Thank you for the guidance, Professor."
Waver gave a slight wave, dismissing them with an air of practiced exhaustion. He gathered his notes and left without another word, the heavy door swinging shut behind him.
As his footsteps faded down the corridor, Lorna stood first, stretching slightly before brushing a lock of green behind her ear. Her gaze turned to Daisy and Anna, still packing their things.
"Hey," she said in a voice more curious than friendly. "Where are you two headed now?"
Lorna's question hung in the air for a moment before Daisy, who had been casually zipping up her bag, glanced up with a wide grin. Ignoring Anna's subtle frown beside her, Daisy answered generously, clearly unfazed. "We're heading to the bar area. Do you guys want to join us?"
Domino, standing beside Lorna, raised a skeptical eyebrow at the response. "Bar?" she echoed, a hint of surprise in her tone. "Did you guys' drink? I mean no offense, but your age..." she trailed off as she glanced at them, hesitant yet unable to ignore the obvious.
"What!? No!" Daisy exclaimed, looking mildly offended by the assumption. "We're not going there to drink. We're meeting Teacher Pepe." She huffed before offering an explanation.
"Teacher Pepe is our PE instructor. He helps us train our bodies and powers every morning. He also teaches us how to fight, but we usually go to the bar area because that's where he likes to hang out. It's just easier to catch him there when we have questions about Chaldea and its history."
Lorna chuckled sheepishly, feeling a bit foolish for jumping to conclusions. "I see, I thought you guys were drinking. Hehe, sorry," she admitted with an apologetic smile.
However, as the conversation moved forward, Lorna couldn't help but notice something peculiar—Anna seemed unusually guarded whenever she was around. Lorna frowned slightly, uncertain of the reason behind it, but chose to let it slide for now.
"So that's a yes?" Daisy asked, beaming.
"Fufu, of course. I'm curious about this mansion's bar—I hope they have some good vodka," she mused, her tone carrying a casual indifference. Unlike the others, her interest wasn't in meeting Pepe; rather, she was far more intrigued by the prospect of finding a decent drink.
Lorna, however, had a different focus. Tilting her head slightly, she considered the idea before nodding. "Now that you mention it, I do want to see what kind of person Teacher Pepe is," she admitted, her curiosity piqued.
Just as she spoke, her gaze shifted toward Robbie, who was already making his way toward the door, seemingly uninterested in their plans. Without hesitation, she called out to him. "Hey, Skull Guy! Where are you going? You're not coming with us?"
Robbie paused, one hand on the doorframe. "Nah. Gotta check on my brother. He's still adjusting to this place. You guys can go on without me." After he said that, he leaves the girl behind.
"His lost then, well let's go, I'll show you the way." Daisy said before the girls following her, leaving the classroom behind.
The girls exited the lecture hall, stepping into one of Chaldea's many twisting corridors. As they walked, Lorna stared at the walls, lost in thought while listening to Daisy story, as she is curious about this Pepe guy that Daisy told her as he is apparently a member of Team A, the same team as Ken and Kadoc belong into.
There are still so many things about Chaldea that she doesn't know yet.
Domino trailed slightly behind them, eyes scanning every corner with natural wariness.
After a while, they finally arrived at the bar area, which was more a hybrid between a lounge, café, and art studio. Plush velvet chairs circled a glass fire pit. Shelves of books lined one wall, while bottles of everything from bourbon to bizarre interdimensional liquors filled the other.
At the far end of the room stood a figure of unmatched flamboyance, one of the member of Team A, also a temporary PE instructor of Chaldea—Scandinavia Peperoncino.
Draped in sleek black outfit of his, Pepe struck a dramatic pose atop the bar. His lavender curls were pinned back with tiny jeweled combs.
"Angels! My radiant students! I know you'll definitely come. Come, gather around, and let me bestow upon you the answers and the wisdom you've been yearning for!"
Seeing his exaggerated act, Daisy burst out laughing. "We brought guests! Don't scare them away, sensei!"
Pepe slid off the counter and twirled toward the newcomers. "Fufu, I hope you guys feels welcome. Come, sit, sit! Let me serve you girls drinks."
Despite their earlier dumbfounded expression, Lorna and Domino followed Daisy and Anna to sit in the bar next to them. With Pepe personality both of them finally relax and as the evening gave way to night, laughter echoed through the bar.
.....
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A/N: Give me the stones, comments and reviews, I appreciate it. Thanks!