Disclaimer: English is not my first language. I'm using Grammarly to check the Grammar and using Word to write it.
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"Morning," I said, entering the cafeteria.
Right now, only Dad and Daisy are there.
Dad is reading the newspaper while Daisy is eating.
"Morning," Dad said, putting down the newspaper.
"Morning," Daisy said, eating bacon and eggs.
"Where's Mom?" I asked.
"In the kitchen, helping Barghest cook. Is there some event happening that needs so much food?" Isaac asked.
"Yeah, I have a meeting at noon and the place where it's happening won't have anyone serving anything since we want some privacy," I said
"Where will you be meeting?" Isaac asked curiously.
"Somer's Rock," I said, grabbing an apple.
"...and where's that?" Isaac said, not knowing the place.
"It's neutral grounds that all the capes, heroes, and villains use to meet in emergencies. Like when the Slaughterhouse was in the city back in the nineties," Daisy explained before she turned to me. "Who are you meeting?"
"Myrddin," I said, taking a bite of the apple.
"Are there some problems with the Protectorate?" Isaac asked, slightly concerned.
I shake, "No. Turns out he's a magus. This's our chance to learn in what state the moonlit world is," I said, taking another bite.
Dad and Daisy stayed quiet for a few seconds.
"Shouldn't magus be a little more, you know, discreet about their status?" Isaac scratches his beard.
"They should," I said, deadpanned.
"Hold on, if Myrddin is posing as a parahuman...how many more magus are doing the same?" Daisy asked nervously.
Yeah, she's right to be nervous.
With parahumans around, magi have more freedom in their actions. And that is the last thing that you want a bunch of psychos to have.
"We're taking a closer look at all the capes and organizations around the world. It's going to take a while to do that. I will keep you guys posted," I rub my neck.
"I swear, the world just keeps getting weirder," Isaac sighs.
The world has always been weirder. You're just realizing that now.
I notice an image of Medhall on the front page of the newspaper.
"Anything interesting?" I finish eating the apple.
Isaac shrugs, "Not much. Mostly praise for the Protectorate, New Wave, and Chaldea for finally bringing down the Empire. There are some criticisms about collateral damage, especially the destruction of Medhall during the fight. They also mourn Max Anders' death," he scoffs. "If they knew he was Kaiser, the story they'd be telling would be a lot different."
"It doesn't matter anymore. The Empire is gone, and it won't be long before Medhall is ours," I shrug.
Isaac nods, "Good riddance."
Couldn't agree more.
"What about NEPEA-5? That bill stops parahumans from owning businesses. I mean, you aren't one, but everyone thinks otherwise," Daisy said, finishing her food.
"The bill only prevents parahumans from using their powers to manipulate the market. It doesn't say anything about simply owning a business and competing like anyone else," I said.
"What're you going to do with the company?" Daisy asked, tilting her head.
I hum thoughtfully, "Nightingale and Asclepius will work on creating new medicines and treatments that are more available to the masses. Besides that, nothing much. The entire point of acquiring Medhall is to increase Chaldea's influence so that the PRT/Protectorate or anyone else can't mess with us without serious repercussions."
"You think they are going to do something?" Daisy asked.
I nod, "Eventually, they are going to try to place some restrictions on Chaldea or something like that. It won't matter to the PRT if we're trying to make the world a better place. To them, we're just an independent group that has too much power and no supervision."
"That's stupid," Daisy said flatly.
"It may be, but it's unfortunately true," Isaac said.
It is what it is.
"Oh! Before I forget, we're going to have some guests stay here for a while," I said.
"Who is it?" Isaac asked.
"The Undersiders," I said.
"I don't follow," Isaac raises an eyebrow.
"Last night, Tattletale came to us with a deal- she'd betray her boss in exchange for protection. And in case you're wondering, her boss is Coil," I explain.
"And you trusted her? She's clearly using you," Isaac asked.
"I know that, but she's telling the truth. And Tattletale will gladly throw Coil under a bus," I said.
"Why's that?" Daisy asked.
"She was forced to work for him at gunpoint, and he kept threatening her to maintain control," I said.
"Oh," Daisy said with a displeased expression.
"Yeah," I nod. "Are you guys planning to head back home soon?"
"What? Already sick of us invading your space?" Isaac asked, amused.
I smirk, "Well, you're eating my food and staying in one of our rooms. I'd say I'm being pretty patient."
"You hear that, Daisy? He's being patient," Isaac chuckles.
"Maybe we should stay one more week, just to test it," Daisy said, giggling.
"In that case, I will just hide the snacks," I shrug.
"No! Not the snacks!" Daisy cries in despair.
We exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
"In all seriousness, would it be better for us to stay here until Coil is gone?" Isaac asked after he stopped laughing.
"I would prefer that. According to Tattletale, Coil has no problem killing if it benefits him. And we believe he's going to cause some kinda of commotion to divert everyone's attention so that he can escape the city," I said.
"Ah, I see," Isaac frowns. "Well, seems like we're staying for a few more days."
"Wouldn't it be better for us to just move in?" Daisy asked.
Isaac shakes his head, "We would be just increasing the chances of someone finding out who we are."
Daisy pouts in disappointment.
"Daisy, you can come here anytime you want. Hell, just ask Hassan, and she will bring you here," I said, placing my hand on her head.
"I know," Daisy said with a wide smile. "Oh! When do my lessons on magecraft start!?" she asked excitedly.
I twitch at that.
Right, she wants to learn magecraft.
I cough, "I still have to talk with Medea, and we're to be busy with Coil. So, it's going to take some time."
Daisy frowns, then her expression shifts to one of determination.
"Then make sure to punish Coil for getting in the way of me learning magecraft!" Daisy exclaims.
I pinch my nose.
Only you, Daisy.
"...Daisy, could you give us a minute? There's something I want to discuss with Henry," Isaac said. "Go help your mother and Barghest in the kitchen."
I raised an eyebrow.
Daisy tilts her head in confusion, then shrugs and heads off to the kitchen.
"I take that learning magecraft isn't easy," Isaac said.
"It's also extremely dangerous, even for those who'd practised their whole lives. Once I was training with runes, I messed up the formula, and it blew up right on my face. Got first-degree burns from that," I said.
It was sheer luck that I didn't lose any of my fingers.
That reminds me, I need to get back to runes training. I've barely used any magecraft since becoming a cape.
"I'd been hoping she would forget about it," I said.
Isaac snorts, "That was never going to happen. You know that once Daisy sets her mind, she will go through with it no matter what."
"I know, and that attitude will help her. Learning magecraft takes dedication, and it isn't something to learn on a whim," I said seriously. "She will also have the best teachers you can hope to find."
Isaac nods in relief, "That's good."
What time is it?
"Is there anything else you want to ask? Cause it won't be long before I have to leave," I said, after checking the time.
"Yes, there's something else I want to discuss," Isaac takes a deep breath. "How are you doing?"
"In relation to?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Being part of ending the Empire, and all the fighting and all that," Isaac said.
I shrug, "I'm fine. None of the Gesselschaft capes got close to me. Leonidas, Sasaki, and Bazett made short work of them."
"I know that, and I'm grateful for them keeping you safe, but that's not what I'm trying to get at," Isaac rubbed his temples, letting out a weary sigh. "It's the killing, and ..." he trails off, searching for words he doesn't seem to have. "I don't even know how to talk about this," he admits quietly, sounding worn down and a little lost.
"We don't have to talk about this," I rub my neck awkwardly.
Isaac shakes his head, "You have been through so much, Henry. And I know that in times like these, your first instinct is to turn to Da Vinci or the other servants. But I'm here too. You can talk with me about these things."
"These kinds of conversations aren't pleasant," I said grimly.
"I don't care," Isaac said seriously.
"Talk with Da Vinci for some tips about how to approach these kinds of topics. And Dad...I appreciate this," I said softly.
"Of course," Isaac said.
I sigh, "So, about yesterday. I won't say I feel guilty, but that doesn't mean I'm indifferent to taking lives. I prefer to solve my problems without resorting to murder, but sometimes it's unavoidable. You have to understand that everyone reacts differently to killing. Some are consumed by guilt, some overcome and become stronger, and some sadly find pleasure in it."
"I see," Isaac said thoughtfully. "...does it get easier with time?" he asked softly.
"It does help a little," I said quietly. "What had helped was talking about it. At first, I was bottling up everything, telling myself that I would deal with it 'later'. But I kept making excuses to not think about it," I sighed tiredly. "It took Romani, Da Vinci, and Mash to knock some sense into my head."
"It's such a shame that I will never get to thank Romani for lookin after you," Isaac lamented.
"He would be flustered and say that you don't have to thank him. That he was doing what anyone would do," I chuckled a little.
"And when do we get to meet Mash? She's such a lovely girl," Isaac said.
"Hopefully soon," I said.
My family is going to adore her.
It also feels weird to not have her around.
"I'm gonna talk with Goredolf later about Mash coming here. I'm sure by now they can handle the paperwork without her," Da Vinci said, standing by the entrance of the cafeteria.
Dad and I turn to her in surprise.
"Were you there the entire time?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Just got here. Do you need more time?" Da Vinci asked.
"No, this's enough for now. I might talk with you later, if you don't mind," Isaac said.
"Just give me a heads up so that I can free my schedule," Da Vinci said.
"Thank you," Isaac said. "I'm going to check your mother and Daisy in the kitchen."
Dad leaves for the kitchen, leaving Da Vinci and me alone.
"Who are we taking?" I asked.
"Ushiwakamaru, Cu Chulainn, Joan, and Arash are going to be in a building nearby. Ready to bust in if something goes wrong," Da Vinci said.
"Hopefully it doesn't come to that," I said.
Da Vinci nods in agreement.
Daisy, Mom, Dad, and Barghest, who is carrying lunch boxes, leave the kitchen.
Damn, that's a lot of food.
"Hi, sweetie," Nora said.
"Hi, Mom. Sorry, I don't have the time to chat right now," I said.
"It's fine. Daisy told me about your meeting," Nora said.
"Let's get going," Da Vinci grabs all the lunch boxes with her mechanical hands.
"See you guys later," I said.
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"What're you tinkering on?" I take a bite of an onigiri.
Da Vinci and I are at Somer's Rock, waiting for Myrddin. Our lunch boxes are laid out on the table.
"It's a projector linked to the ruby. The Director wants to join the meeting," Da Vinci said.
She makes a final adjustment before placing the projector on the chair to her left.
It lights it up, projecting a life-like image of Goredolf. And he's wearing a full-head mask, white/gold in color, with a blue visor.
"Nice mask," I said with a smirk.
"Is it supposed to feel so odd wearing a mask?" Goredolf asked.
"Give some time, you get used to it," I finish the onigiri.
"I'm not sure I ever want to get used to this," Goredolf remarked.
"You know, that mask goes quite well with your outfit. It gives you an air of mystery while still making you look rather dashing," Da Vinci said with a teasing smile.
"Truly?" Goredolf asked.
"Oh yeah. But there's something important that you're missing," I said seriously.
Goredolf and Da Vinci turn to me.
"What is it?" Goredolf asked equally seriously.
"Your cape name," I said with a shitting eating grin.
"Cape what now?" Goredolf asked, dumbfounded.
Da Vinci's eyes light up.
"Oh yes! How could we have forgotten something so crucial!?" Da Vinci said excitedly.
"Ho-hold on, that isn't nece-" Goredolf is interrupted by Da Vinci.
"Nonsense! We can't have our director not have a codename up to his status! Don't you worry, we will fix that right now!" Da Vinci exclaims passionately.
I spoke before Goredolf could protest any further.
"How about: Gearstorm," I said.
"I like it. What about: Phantom Driver," Da Vinci said.
"Overdrive!" I said.
"Nitro Blaze!" Da Vinci said.
"Racer Xcel!" I said.
"Full Throttle!" Da Vinci said.
"Enough! Stop with this madness right this instant!" Goredolf orders. "And why do all of them have relations to racing!?"
"Simple, you're an incredible driver," Da Vinci and I said at the same time.
"Th-that may be true, but it's besides the point!" Goredolf said, slightly flustered.
"So you didn't like any of them," Da Vinci said with a pout.
"I might have liked one or two of those names...but I'm not using them," Goredolf said quickly. "Please don't ever do this again. If Toole ever learn about this, she would never let me forget it," he holds his head in dread.
I have to meet Toole. She must have all kinds of histories.
"All right, all right. We will stick to just calling you Director," Da Vinci grabs a lunch box.
"Good," Goredolf nods, pleased.
"So, how have things been going?" I reach for a lunchbox.
Let's see if there's some curry.
"Nothing much has happened. We finally dealt with all the paperwork. Some of the servants are up to their antics, but nothing Holmes and Nemo couldn't handle," Goredolf said. "Oh yes, how did yesterday's operation go?"
"It was a success. The Empire is done for, we're taking over their territory, and it's only a matter of time before Medhall is ours," I said, taking a bite of curry.
"Now only Coil is left," Goredolf hums.
"We also got more information on him. Turns out, he recruited Tattletale at gunpoint, and she is more than happy to get rid of him," Da Vinci said, eating some spaghetti.
"What kind of intel did she provide?" Goredolf asked.
I shrug, "I haven't seen it yet."
"I asked Hassan to give it to Moriarty. He's going to give me a report later," Da Vinci said.
"There's something that I've been meaning to ask, Magus. Do you want to take over the city?" Goredolf asked.
"It's not my intent, but given how much of Brockton Bay was under gang influence, we will end up controlling most of the city," I said, taking a bite of curry.
"What of the Protectorate/PRT? I doubt they will just stand by and let it happen," Goredolf said.
"Right now, they are going to focus on Coil. They need a win to regain some of the public trust," Da Vinci said.
"That bad?" I asked.
"When you have time, check the social media. The populace is criticising the hell of them," Da Vinci said.
Oh, that sucks.
"Myrddin is arriving, and he isn't alone. Chevalier is with him," Hassan said.
"Look sharp. Myrddin is almost here and he brought company," I said, placing the lunch box down.
Da Vinci and Goredolf sit straighter.
Myrddin and Chevalier enter the place.
"Hey there," Myrddin said, greeting all of us. "I hope there isn't any problem that Chevalier came along."
"I got no problem with it," I shrug.
I never said he couldn't bring anyone else.
"No problem from me either. Hi, I'm Da Vinci," Da Vinci said cheerfully.
Chevalier and Myrddin take a seat at the table.
"As in Leonardo Da Vinci? The Renaissance genius?" Chevalier asked, looking intently at Da Vinci.
"The very same," Da Vinci puffs her chest proudly.
"Aren't you supposed to be a man? And why are you so young?" Myrddin asked, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"She looks like a younger Mona Lisa," Chevalier notes.
"That's cause I choose to take the form of ideal beauty. And of course, only the Mona Lisa fits that description!" Da Vinci said. "As for my 'age', sorry but that's personal."
"...is that something that all servants can do?" Chevalier turns to Myrrdin.
Myrddin turns to me.
"No. That's a Da Vinci thing," I said flatly.
Myrddin and Chevalier slowly nodded, not truly getting it.
Goredolf cleared his throat loudly, drawing the attention of both Protectorate heroes.
"Greetings, I'm Chaldea Director. It's a pleasure to meet you both," Goredolf said politely."I apologize for not being able to attend this meeting personally."
"Ah, don't worry about it," Myrddin said.
"Okay, now that we've got the formalities out of the way. You two want anything?" I gesture to the lunch boxes.
"Oh? I see that you didn't wait for us to order some food," Myrddin said, amused.
"We didn't order anything. Today it's the employees' day off. So all of this food was cooked at the hotel," I said.
Myrddin takes a closer look at the lunch boxes.
"Is there lasagna?" Myrddin asked.
"I'm not sure," I check the lunch boxes. "Oh, here it is," I hand one to Myrddin.
"Want anything?" I glance at Chevalier.
"I'm fine for now," Chevalier said.
"All right. Let me get the ball rolling. How long has Chealdea been active?" Myrddin takes a bite of the lasagna. "By the way, this is delicious."
"I will let Barghest know that you liked her cooking," I smiled. "As for your question. It's been eight years since Chaldea started its operation."
Myrddin hums, "If you don't mind me asking. How did Chaldea stay under everyone's radar? It's hard to believe that no one would ever have heard of such a unique organization."
"You can thank our anonymity to the first Director," Goredolf said bitterly.
"I take that not everyone was on board with that," Chevalier said.
"It's more complicated than that," I said with a frown.
"I'm going to give a summary of what happened," Goredolf takes a deep breath. "The first Director lost his life before Chaldea started its operations. His daughter stepped in, becoming the second Director, to continue his mission. Then, tragedy struck on the very first day of our operations. Unfortunately, it was also the day we lost the second Director. I won't go into detail, just know it became imperative to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world until the crisis was resolved."
"And your first Director was the cause of this incident?" Chevalier leans forward.
Da Vinci shakes her head, "It was a...let's say two-part attack. We only had knowledge of the first attack. And after it was solved, we thought that it was over, but then the second attack happened," she sighs tiredly.
"The second time was a lot worse," I said grimly.
"We found out later that the first Director was the culprit of the second attack," Goredolf said.
Chevalier and Myrddin share a glance.
"So, you're saying that it was only recently that Chaldea rejoined the rest of the world, correct?" Myrddin asked, taking a bite of the lasagna.
"That's correct," Goredolf said.
Myrddin rubs his beard thoughtfully.
"Okay, now it's my turn," Da Vinci said. "You said that in London, there is more than one magical organization. We were under the impression that there was only one there."
Myrddin snorts, "Was this 'Mage Association' that told you that, girlie? They lied to you, big time."
"It was actually the Clock Tower that told us this information. They are a branch of the Mage Association," Da Vinci said.
"Never heard of them," Myrddin said flatly, finishing the lasagna.
Okay, so they don't exist here.
"Well, it was the first Director that dealt more with the occult side of the world," Da Vinci said, shamelessly throwing Marisbury's name under the bus. "Can you tell us more about this Arcanum and the other organization? I'm going to need to update our files."
"Sure. The Arcanum was established by five families to study magecraft and innovate its applications. Initially, their membership was very selective, but that slowly changed with time. Nowadays, they function more like an institution where one can deepen their understanding of magecraft, should they wish to attend," Myrddin said.
Except for the five families thing, so far it sounds like the Clock Tower.
"What about factions? Anything that stands out?" Da Vinci asked.
"Oh, yes. The heir to the Wyndham family, one of the founding families, was inspired by the First Industrial Revolution and decided to modernize magecraft. He aimed to merge machinery with mysticism, forging a new path called Magitek. To pursue this vision, he formed a faction to unite magi who shared his ideals. Today, it's one of the most influential factions in the Arcanum," Myrddin said.
Okay, that's new.
"The other big faction is all about keeping the 'tradition'. Its members are all aristocrats who believe that magecraft doesn't need such drastic changes to flourish. They are backed by two of the founding families: the Fitzroy and Beamont," Myrddin said.
"What about the last two families?" Goredolf asked.
"From what I hear, the Montague and Elderglen only involve themselves when there's something to gain," Myrddin said. "There are also some minor factions, but these two are the ones you should pay attention to."
"Could you explain more about this Magitek? And the name of the heir that started it all?" Da Vinci asked, very interested in this information.
"His name is Edmund Wyndham. His family specializes in making mystic codes, and he's a particularly talented craftsman. As for Magitek, that's out of my expertise...hold on, got an idea," Myrddin said.
With a snap of his fingers, he opens a small portal and retrieves a piece of paper and a pencil from within. He writes something on the paper.
"Use this password to access this site. There, you're going to find forums talking about magecraft. I'm sure there's one discussing Magitek," Myrddin hands the paper to Da Vinci.
Forums?
"I'm sorry. Are you saying that there are magi discusting magecraft in public forums?" Goredolf asked, surprised.
"They aren't public. You either need to be invited or be given a password to access these forums," Myrddin said.
"There's a section of the internet that's exclusive to magi?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing to that extent. It's just some websites. But it is slowly growing in numbers, so maybe one day it will be like that. I'm not sure," Myrddin shrugs.
Okay, this isn't going how I was expecting at all. And I don't even know where to start with this whole Magitek thing.
Why are things so different?
"I'm going to check this out later," Da Vinci puts the paper in her pocket. "Now, the other organizations, please."
"There is the Hordweardens Guild. You want to buy or sell some magical reagents or have an artifact found; they are the ones you go to. They control the market. The Arcane Operations Division, AOD for short, is a group of fixers who deal with magi that are causing trouble and make sure nobody breaks the masquerade. Don't be surprised if they decided to show unannounced, they take their job very seriously," Myrddin said.
"They paid you a visit, huh," I asked.
"The AOD weren't happy with my violation of the masquerade," Myrddin said with air quotes.
"Seriously, how are you alive?" I asked.
"A lot of backroom deals, my friend. Honestly, I'm not sure how Alexandria pulled it off, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth," Myrddin said. "Parahumans also helped. Again, nobody believes me when I tell the truth."
What could she have offered?
"Is that all?" Goredolf asked.
"Yeah, in the British Isles, that's about it," Myrddin said.
"How many more organizations are there worldwide?" Goredolf asked.
"It would take a couple of hours to talk about all of them. Check the forums, you're going to find everything you want there," Myrddin said.
We certainly will do that.
I grab an onigiri.
"Is it good? I never had one before," Chevalier said, looking at the onigiris.
"I like it," I shrug.
Chevalier pressed a button on his mask, causing the lower part to retract and reveal his mouth. An old scar marked his left cheek, its once prominent lines now faded with time.
He grabs an onigiri and takes a bite.
"This's good," Chevalier said.
"Let me have one," Da Vinci grabs an onigiri.
"Leave one for me," Myrddin grabs an onigiri.
"How about a five-minute break?" Goredolf suggests.
"Sure," Myrddin said, taking a bite of the onigiri.
"I will be right back. Gonna grab a quick bite," Goredolf's image disappears from the projector.
"So, what do you think so far, Henry?" Da Vinci asked.
"The AOD is going to pay us a visit once they hear about Chaldea," I said.
"Most definitely. And besides that?" Da Vinci asked, taking a bite of the onigiri.
"Magitek is certainly something I wasn't expecting. Do you have any idea how something like that can be considered a new path to magecraft?" I asked, finishing the onigiri.
Blending mystics with technology isn't a new concept; Chaldea was already filled with devices like that. But it was never on the level of what Edmund has accomplished.
"I think I know why. It has to do with the Age of Gods," Da Vinci said, finishing the onigiri.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Just wait for my next question," Da Vinci said.
Goredolf's images return.
"I'm back," Goredolf said.
Back to business.
Chavalier mask returns to normal.
Chevalier choughs, "Right. Chaldea has taken over ABB territory, and now that the Empire is gone, I assume you will do the same. It's also clear that eventually the same will happen to Coil territory. So my question is a simple one: what does Chaldea plan to do with Brockton Bay?"
"Okay, first of all: we aren't trying to take over the city. We're taking over their territory to stop a Boston Games scenario," I said.
Chevalier nods.
"Second: we aren't going to kick the Protectorate/PRT out of the city. Neither forbidden them from going anywhere in it," I said. "We're planning to fix the city and clean the boat graveyard for starters. Besides that, we're still discussing," I said.
Let's not say anything about Medhall.
The PRT might try to stop us.
"There is something I have to warn you about," I rub my neck.
"Yes?" Chevalier asked.
"We like to celebrate the holidays by doing events, and they tend to be...big," I said.
"How big are we talking about?" Chevalier asked.
Singularity big.
"It depends on the holiday. Some are bigger than others," Goredolf said. "That said, they also tend to get rowdy and are a handful to deal with," he said tiredly.
"Is that normal to happen?" Chevalier asked.
"Oh yeah. They start normal, but sooner or later something goes haywire and, well, things get interesting," I said.
"Okay. Could you give me an example of these events?" Chevalier asked.
"This Christmas, there is going to be a brawl between the servants over who gets to be Santa this year," Goredolf said flatly.
"Come again?" Chevalier asked, surprised.
"They are already training for it?" I asked.
"Yes. This week alone, the training rooms had to be rebuilt six times," Goredolf shakes his head. "I understand their excitement, but they should hold back a little," he grumbles.
"Can I be there when it happens?" Myrddin asked.
"I'm pretty sure it's going to be a public event," I said.
There's no way Sheba won't try to use that to make some profit.
"Nice," Myrddin said with a smirk.
I raised my hand to stop Chevalier from speaking.
"Before you say anything. I want to be clear that this event is going to happen. Once the servants make up their minds, there's no stopping them," I said.
Da Vinci and Goredolf nod in agreement.
Chevalier looks at us for a few seconds.
"Can you at least give me a heads up when it's happening?" Chevalier sighs.
"Sure," I said.
"This is going to be a nightmare to explain," Chevalier mutters in dismay.
Myrddin pats Chevalier in solidarity.
Oh, if only you knew how tame this is compared to all the other events that have happened over the years.
"All right, who got the next question?" Myrddin asked.
"How did the Age of Gods come to an end?" Da Vinci asked.
"You should ask those Valkyries. They will probably have a better answer than I do," Myrddin said.
"I tried, but they never gave me a straight answer or just refused to talk about it," Da Vinci shrugs.
"I see," Myrddin rubs his beard. "Nobody knows the exact reason why the Age of Gods ended. The only clue we have is from a magus from India. His name was lost in history. Allegedly, he talked with a god, don't know which one, and asked why gods were leaving the world. And the god answered: Our time has come to an end."
What?
Da Vinci crosses her arms with a thoughtful expression.
"What about theories? Many magi must have tried to discover if such a statement is true or not," Da Vinci said.
"The most widely accepted theory is that, as humanity evolved over the ages, people gradually distanced themselves from the gods. Until eventually, we no longer needed them," Myrddin said. "There's still a lot of debate around this idea, so I advise you to take it with a grain of salt."
What's going on?
"Their departure has affected the magical energy of the world, yes?" Da Vinci asked suddenly.
Myrddin nods.
"Did anyone ever consider the possibility that the magical energy might deteriorate over time?" Da Vinci asked.
"There's no doubt that it has weakened with the absence of gods, but there isn't any sign of further degradation," Myrddin looks seriously at Da Vinci. "Anything you'd like to share?"
Da Vinci shakes her head, "Nothing, I swear. Just something I've been worried about for a while, I'm relieved to be wrong," she said with a sigh of relief.
"I knew it," Da Vinci said.
"Okay, I'm lost. Some explanation, please," I said.
"As I studied the ruby, I noticed the magical energy of the world was stable; there weren't any signs of degradation at all. I couldn't understand how that was possible...until now. That's how Magitek can be considered a new path. The mystics aren't fading. The magi here are thriving," Da Vinci said.
Wait, what about....
"Sefar never came to Earth," I said, stunned.
The end of the Age of Gods started with Sefar attacking the planet.
"I came to the same conclusion," Da Vinci said.
"What about Alaya? Sefar was one of the reasons why she separated from Gaia," I said.
"Given how the separation between humanity and gods seems to have been...let's say peaceful. I think they are still the same entity," Da Vinci said. "I'm still checking that."
"Keep me informed," I said.
It's one surprise after another.
I glanced at Goredolf.
He also got to be surprised by this, but we can't talk about it now.
I will talk with him later.
"How would you feel about a collaboration between Chaldea and the PRT?" Chevalier asked.
"What kind of collaboration?" Goredolf raised an eyebrow.
"Training exercises, joint operations, a workshop for Tinkers. I know that Kid Win received an offer from...I'm sorry, what's his name?" Chevalier asked.
"Tesla," I said.
"From Tesla to work together, and Myrddin told me how you want to go after S-Class threats. We can exchange information and share resources. We all want those monsters gone," Chevalier said.
"We will take that under consideration," Goredolf said.
Chevalier nods.
Except for the workshop, I don't see us agreeing to anything else. No doubt the PRT would try to use that to gain information on Chaldea.
Nice try though.
For anyone else, that offer would be a tempting one.
"Okay, next question," I said.
"I got a few more, but all of them are about the servants' abilities and how you summoned so many of them. Which I'm sure you don't want to talk about," Myrddin said. "Unless-"
"No," I said flatly.
"Fair enough. I'm good then," Myrddin shrugs.
"I'm also satisfied for now," Chevalier said.
I turn to Da Vinci and Goredolf.
"I asked what I wanted," Da Vinci said.
"We will give you a return about this collaboration as soon as possible," Goredolf said.
"Here's my card," Chevalier hands me a card. "You can also contact me through PHO."
"Until next time," I said.
Chevalier and Myrddin say their goodbyes and leave the place.
I recline in the chair, massaging my temples.
"Well, that was informative," Goredolf said.
I snort.
"Da Vinci, I want a report about these forums and any information that you can find about the other magical organization," Goredolf said.
"Got it," Da Vinci said.
"Now, if you excuse me, I have more paperwork to do," Goredolf said in dismay.
The projector turns off.
"Make sure to leave a tip for the family that runs this place. And make a big one," I get up with a groan.
"Already did that. Now, come on! I can't wait to check out these forums!" Da Vinci grabs the food that is left.
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Please leave a review. It helps me to stay motivated.
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I don't really have a reason on why the Age of Gods in Earth Bet.
Besides telling that the mystics aren't fading, it isn't important to the story.
Question:
If Sefar had never attack Earth in the Nasuverse, how would the Age of Gods have ended?
The only timelines I know is FGO and some of the Unlimited Blade Works.
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If you like my stories and wish to support me, you can find me over at pa-tre-on (slash) Regulareader.
Or at Ko-fi.com/regulareader.