The Wandering Sea, one of the three main divisions of the Mage's Association, is also known as the Moving Tomb.
It is the oldest among the three. Other than the Magi within, few know its true entrance.
Originally, the Wandering Sea was closed to outsiders.
After the Incineration of Humanity, Sion Eltnam Sokaris of the Atlas Institute learned from Tri-Hermes that Earth would perish in 2018. When her father, Zepia Eltnam Atlasia, refused her plea for aid, she withdrew from the Atlas Institute and took refuge in the Wandering Sea—a realm unaffected by the fate of human order. There, in exchange for an Atlas contract, she gained the Sea's cooperation.
Though Zepia had no intention of preventing Earth's destruction, he repaid an old debt from the recovery of the "Logos React" by passing the information to Shiomi through Touko Aozaki, an envoy sent to Chaldea by the Clock Tower.
Thus, the surviving members of Chaldea followed the coordinates and guidance left behind by Tenkei Shiomi, joined with Sion in the Wandering Sea, and—under her help—rebuilt Chaldea within it.
The new Chaldea, led by Olga Marie, was formed, with Romani Archaman temporarily serving as Acting Director.
Goredolf Musik, who had been rescued in Antarctica and brought to the Wandering Sea, insisted that since he had purchased half of Chaldea's authority, the position of Deputy Director should belong to him.
However, because Tenkei Shiomi had gone missing with Morgan during the Antarctic assault, most of the original Chaldea staff held resentment toward him.
Even though Goredolf had merely been used, their frustration found an easy target in him.
In the end, Olga Marie postponed the issue.
"We'll discuss it after Professor Shiomi returns."
With Earth's link to the cosmos severed, the new Chaldea could only rely on atomic clocks to measure time. After three frantic months, operations finally stabilized and settled into a routine.
Then came the next inevitable issue—the rescue of Tenkei Shiomi.
"At the start of 2017, seven meteor-like objects fell from space. They've now taken root across the planet," Romani said as he operated the computer in the new control room, marking seven points on the projection of the bleached Earth. "Each region is sealed behind storm walls. We can't observe what's inside. They seem similar to the World's Wall—ordinary methods can't get through."
"So, to investigate those areas—" Olga Marie crossed her arms.
"Imaginary Submersion," Sakura interjected. "That's our only option, right, Doctor?"
Romani nodded. "That's one way to put it."
"Then where's Dad?" Caren asked. "Is he still trapped in Antarctica, or was he captured and taken somewhere else?"
Sion rotated the projection, fixing Britannia at the center of view. They noticed the golden marker on Britannia—different from the blue lights marking the other regions.
"The different color—does it mean it's more important, or…" Scáthach glanced meaningfully at Artoria.
Among them, no one had deeper ties to Britannia than Artoria.
"Well, it'll be clearer if we just take a look," Sion said, nodding to Romani.
Romani brought up several images—taken from various angles, low in resolution but clear enough.
A massive wall of light rose over Britannia.
At once, Artoria recognized it.
"...The Tower at the End," she murmured, too shocked to speak properly.
She had once created something similar during the Sixth Singularity, using Rhongomyniad's power as the Tower and its nature as the "needle" that stitched together the fabric of the world.
"After all..." She turned to the others with a questioning look.
Even if she recognized it as the Tower at the End, that didn't mean Artoria would know anything beyond that.
"Though for now, it's only my hypothesis." Romani cleared his throat, choosing his words carefully. "Referencing Kirschtaria's earlier speech, I believe we can make one assumption: these seven regions aren't merely singularities. They're areas where events—events that were pruned from the universe's development due to lost futures—have been anchored onto Earth. We call them 'Lostbelt'."
Olga Marie recalled that speech.
"Back then, Kirschtaria said they would rebel against existing human history. Is this what he meant?"
"But pruned events inherently signify exceptional worlds that have lost the characteristics of 'strong and stable,'" Scáthach frowned slightly. "What possible meaning could there be in forcibly recreating events already pruned by the universe?"
"Well... I can't answer that just yet," Romani replied apologetically.
Scáthach sighed softly, offering herself a slightly self-deprecating consolation.
"True. Or rather, this is precisely what Chaldea must tackle next. How could we possibly have the answers now..."
"Then, is Britannia marked separately simply because observations show it differs from other regions?" Olga Marie asked.
Technical matters were being led collaboratively by Romani, the two Da Vincis, and Sion. Today's meeting had been initiated by them, bringing everyone together.
"There's another possibility," Romani continued. "We all agree that Shiomi is highly likely to be in this Lostbelt."
His words startled everyone present.
Shiomi's whereabouts had remained unknown until now, yet suddenly a conclusion could be drawn.
"The reason? Why can you be certain Father is in the Britannia Lostbelt?" Sakura pressed, clearly unsettled.
These past days, she had been juggling her duties at Chaldea while enduring restless nights, consumed by worry for her father's safety. Even the faintest clue now demanded her full attention.
Caren, relatively more composed, wore a thoughtful expression as she spoke slowly.
"...Mother..."
"Morgan?" Artoria froze.
"Speaking of which, during the Uruk meeting to discuss countering Tiamat, Morgan confessed to us that she wasn't a Servant from the correct human history. That's why her attacks could so easily damage the Goddess Tiamat." Scáthach looked back at the Earth projection model. "At the time, none of us had the chance to ponder the essence of this matter."
And now, Chaldea was finally forced to confront this reality.
...
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