CHAPTER TEXT

The sun dawned over the horizon, lighting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The few clouds in the sky gleamed as the rays of light shone on them, providing a stark relief to the infinite expanse above. Below, the wounds of the battlefield were thrown into greater relief, yet they were already scarring over – many of the bonfires were nothing more than smoldering ashes while scaffolding had been erected at the gates and walls for impromptu repairs. Incredibly rough, but it was better than nothing, nevertheless.

Ritsu stretched and yawned as she blinked sleep blearily from her eyes. She had never been a morning person and frankly, sleeping here didn’t make it any better in the slightest. Roman beds were absolutely no match for modern bedding but compared to sleeping in bedrolls on the hard ground like she had been during the entire Gaul expedition, it was practically like sleeping on a cloud. Frankly, she felt like she could stay in bed forever.

Still, it wouldn’t do to stay in bed, as much as she wanted to. She was a Master of Chaldea, after all, with her own responsibilities. Plus, she was now apparently a broad-stripe tribune, which meant she was more or less second-in-command compared to Ren (it was more complicated than that, but it was the closest idea she had). That meant she had to keep up appearances one way or another.

Still a complete pain in the ass, though.

‘Morning, guys, ’ she mentally contacted the Servants, barely keeping a yawn out of her mental communications. ‘ Any world-ending threats or disastrous invasions hit us overnight?’

‘If there were, they have been rather considerate of our current state of affairs,’ Archer replied. She could practically hear the smirk in his tone. ‘ There has been no sign of any follow-up armies or invasions, nor anything out of the ordinary, either within or without. Seems to be all clear so far.’

‘And none of my talismans have been tripped either, Master,’ Tamamo added. ‘ There have been no signs of magecraft or any other sort of mystery working. We were left alone for the evening.’

The redheaded Master wearily nodded. ‘ Neat, ’ she shortly replied. ‘You guys aren’t too tired, are you? We’ve been driving you guys pretty hard throughout the campaign.’

‘We do not exhaust ourselves like humans do,’ came Rider’s quiet answer. ‘ So long as we have a steady supply of mana, we are able to maintain ourselves at full capacity. Your concern is unwarranted.’

‘ So you say, but if you guys need a break, let us know immediately,’ Ritsu replied without hesitation. ‘ Mental exhaustion is still a thing that exists, even for Servants, and I’d rather have you guys well-rested than not. We got a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it, after all.’

‘What an odd Master we have,’ Archer commented to the amusement of the other Servants. ‘ We won’t find it necessary, but the thought is appreciated. We’ll keep maintaining a lookout in case something happens.’

Ritsu sighed, knowing that was the best she was going to get out of these supernatural beings. ‘ Keep us posted,’ she acknowledged before cutting the mental link off. With that, she slowly got out of bed, wincing slightly at her protesting, tired muscles, and slowly stood up. Taking her Master jacket off the nearby chair, she slid it on, yawning all the while. She had been tempted to take off her pants for comfort as well but decided against it in case something happened overnight.

Gods, she had become paranoid.

After that, it had been a matter of dealing with her usual morning grooming, such as brushing her teeth and trying to comb her hair. The toiletries they had been given lasted a good while at least, but what she wouldn’t give for a hot shower at this point. The most she could do was towel herself off any sweat and grime with water. Meanwhile, Ren had gotten a full Roman bath, a fact that had her burning with jealousy. Not that it wasn’t deserved, oh no – he was awesome enough to warrant that much, at least. But she wanted a Roman bath too, damn it!

With a sigh, she shoved the thought out of her mind. She couldn’t get everything in life – a fact she was all too aware of at this point. She’d have to settle for an extra-long, extra-hot shower once they get back to Chaldea. Even that much sounded glorious right now. In fact, after all this, she was never going to take any facet of modern life for granted ever again, be it food, plumbing, or bedding.

A gentle knock on the door caught her attention. “It’s open!” she called out as she started tying up her boots. Their new residence was a larger two-story building, which had a shop on the first floor and a connected living quarters on the second. It had belonged to a wealthier merchant, judging by the nicer furniture and amenities, though it still was short on supplies like every other building. It had more than enough bedrooms for everyone: Ren and Morgana shared one room, Mash, Ritsu, and Joan. It certainly had been a while since they all slept in close quarters together.

Mash quietly stepped in with a small smile. “Good morning, Ritsu-senpai,” she greeted. “Have you rested well?”

Ritsu beamed at her favorite shielder. “Wish it was longer but eh, beggars can’t be choosers!” she replied cheerfully. “What about you, Mash? You look fit as a fiddle!”

The shielder blinked in surprise and nodded. “I slept quite well, thank you,” she replied. Demi-Servants apparently didn’t need quite as much sleep or food compared to regular people, which was handy for stretching supplies if necessary. Nevertheless, she ate and slept both for a sense of normality and to keep herself in optimal condition. “We do not have any pressing matters to attend to today. I was about to ask Ren-senpai if he wishes to get some breakfast with us, and perhaps we may talk about our experiences?”

The redhead grinned. “A chance to laze around and chat?” she asked rhetorically. “Sounds like a dream to me! Let’s get going!”

Mash could only blink as her senpai popped up and almost scurried out, grabbing her wrist while she was at it and pulling her along. It was definitely a stark contrast compared to the rather serious, contemplative Ritsu-senpai she had seen throughout Gaul as she tried to outwit Caesar. Rather, this was the Ritsu-senpai she saw when they first started the singularity and when they were back in Chaldea.

Now that she thought about it, she did see Ritsu-senpai from time to time back in Chaldea before everything happened. She mostly hung out with the members of Team A barring Beryl, but they still talked and exchanged pleasantries. She always thought of Ritsu-senpai as a rather radiant person, able to get along with almost anyone. It was something Mash had always been curious about, enough that she considered Ritsu her senpai to life. And then Ren-senpai and Morgana-senpai came along. Between them, she was witnessing similar yet different people who had lived life beyond Chaldea. They knew the outside world, something she couldn’t ever know.

She could only hold the highest of respect for them.

Prancing down the corridor, they came to a stop at Ren’s bedroom, where Ritsu happily knocked. “It’s open!” Ren called out.

Suddenly, Mash had the strangest sense of déjà vu. Now that she thought about it, this exact same scenario happened back in Chaldea after Orleans. As the memories surfaced, a sense of alarm started rearing within her mind. “Erm, R-Ritsu-senpai, perhaps-!” she stammered out.

Too late. Ritsu opened the door enthusiastically – to a shirtless Ren doing one-handed pushups on the floor as Morgana sat on the desk nearby in his cat form, licking his paw. The catlike being glanced casually over at the two of them who were staring with eyes as wide as saucers. “Huh,” he commented. “I’m getting déjà vu here. What about you, Joker?”

“Probably just you, Mona,” Ren grunted, though the telltale lightness of his tone suggested heavily otherwise. Switching hands, he continued his pushups. “Morning guys,” he panted out as he continued his workout. “Slept well?”

Ritsu blinked as she tried to regain her bearings. “Dwuh?” she intelligently answered.

“We did, senpai,” Mash quickly said, her face turning a crimson shade as she struggled not to stare, focusing more on Morgana instead. “But, erm, if you wish, we can come back later after you’re done! Y-you seem busy right now.”

“Come on, Mash, I’m sure Ren doesn’t mind-“ Ritsu began saying before being dragged away by the wrist. “W-we’ll be waiting downstairs!” she squawked out before being yanked away from the door.

The two quietly stared at the doorway, then Morgana turned back toward Ren as the Phantom Thief stood back up. “You gonna join them?” he asked.

“Still gotta do pull-ups,” Ren simply replied before jumping up for a rafter.

After a couple minutes, the two went downstairs after Ren had toweled off the sweat from his workout. Ritsu and Mash were on the first floor, eating next to a large, open window. The former glanced up with a mouth full of bread and waved them over, making cheerful muffled sounds. Mash noticed and turned around, smiling at them. “Hello, Ren-senpai! Morgana-senpai! We only just started!”

Ren grinned as he sat down – and blinked at the spread. Softer, modern bread with jam, combined with some instant coffee with a small battery-powered kettle, coupled with the usual fare from the Romans. “We managed to find a leyline and summoned more supplies from Chaldea!” Mash explained happily. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have the capability to summon more Servants, so this is the best we can do. I hope this will work, senpai.”

The Phantom Thief grinned. “This is more than enough,” he replied gratefully. “Thanks, guys. I missed this.”

Ritsu finally swallowed her bread. “We also got some canned tuna for Morgana,” she added, taking out a can from a small knapsack on the ground and passing it over to him with a small spoon. “Chaldea doesn’t have any cat food for obvious reasons and fresh fish doesn’t exactly work well as field rations, so this is the closest we got.”

“Heh, it’s no fatty tuna but it’s still greatly appreciated,” he replied with a grin. With a flash, he transformed back into his Metaverse form. With his now-dexterous paws, he easily opened the can and grabbed the spoon before digging in with relish.

Ren sat down in turn and grabbed a piece of bread. “Imagine if you could’ve done that when you had to fix the minivan back in Tokyo,” he commented as he began spreading some blueberry jam on it.

Morgana scoffed. “It would’ve been so much easier,” he grumbled. “Using a screwdriver with just your mouth isn’t exactly fun, you know. Do you guys have any idea how hard it is to take spark plugs out and put a new one in with just paws and teeth?”

Mash blinked in surprise. “Did you repair a car in cat form, Morgana-senpai?” she inquired. “I thought vehicles were designed with human anatomy in mind. That is very impressive.”

Ren smirked. “My friends had rented out a minivan that was the same model as the bus Morgana can transform into in the Metaverse,” he replied as both girls turned to him. “We did try to help him – multiple times – but, and I quote, ‘You guys just sit down and relax. No one knows this kind of van better than myself!’ So we sat there for about… twenty minutes or so, waiting for him to fix it?”

“Well look, there’s advantages in being a cat,” Morgana shot back defensively. “Including getting more easily into the crawlspaces and stealing a spark plug someone obviously didn’t need!”

“True enough,” Ren admitted defeat easily before biting into his bread.

Ritsu raised an eyebrow. “Stealing a spark plug?” she asked.

“We had some SIU agents tailing us for a while-“ Ren began.

“SIU?” Mash inquired.

“The Special Investigative Unit,” Morgana explained. “Basically Japan’s top security force when things get really bad.”

“Oh, so kind of like America’s CIA,” Ritsu replied, clapping a fist into her palm in realization.

Ren nodded. “Something like that,” he agreed. “Anyway, while they legally had nothing on us, we were still being watched for a while. They even had someone in a car tailing us. Morgana ‘borrowed’ a spark plug from their car and used it on the bus. We made a nice getaway while they were stuck in a lurch. We’re rather lucky they’re so generous.”

Ritsu’s jaw dropped open before she started laughing uproariously while Mash could only blink owlishly. “Oh my god!” the former gasped through giggles. “That was nice! Good going, Morgana!”

Morgana chuckled. “All in a day’s work for a Phantom Thief,” he purred before he continued to eat.

Ren put some instant coffee into his cup and poured the hot water in. As he did, he breathed in the aroma of the liquid – and immediately frowned. The aroma just didn’t have the same richness he was used to from his brews. Taking a sip, his frown only grew deeper. Sojiro would dismiss this as crap, and frankly Ren would agree. If it wasn’t all they had right now, he would make his own batch out of principle.

Ritsu groaned as she set down her own mug. “I’d kill for some of your coffee right about now, Ren,” she muttered. “Like, I know it’s not practical to have it out on the field, but still, it’s like going from absolutely gourmet food to… well, mud. Seasoned mud.”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh, Ritsu-senpai?” Mash admonished before sighing herself, staring forlornly into her own. “Although I will agree, the instant coffee is… disappointing in comparison,” she admitted.

The Phantom Thief chuckled. “I’ll make a huge pot for everyone and Chaldea once we get back,” he reassured them. “If only to get the taste of this out of my mouth. No one should be subjected to this mess for extended periods of time.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you, Ren?” the redhead immediately asked. “Mash appreciates you mostly for the coffee, by the way.”

“S-Senpai!! I do not appreciate Ren-senpai just for the coffee!” Mash spluttered, once more his face turning a crimson mess as everyone laughed heartily at the joke.

A calm soon settled as they all peacefully ate breakfast. “When are we moving out?” Ritsu asked casually.

Ren swallowed a bite of porridge. “Once supplies and further reinforcements show up,” he answered. “Not sure when that is though. Still, it’ll be a straight shot to the URE afterward, assuming they don’t toss more armies at us.”

“And they have a Grail, so we know damn well they can if they want to.”

All four turned to see Joan leaning against a doorframe with her arms crossed. “Oh, we didn’t see you, Joan!” Mash greeted her cordially. “Would you like to join us for breakfast?”

Joan frowned before quietly shaking her head. “Already ate,” she replied shortly. “I take it Avenger is still behaving, at least?”

“For now,” Morgana replied. After everything had been settled, they had explained everything to Joan and their conditions for Loki. It was clear that, like the other Servants, she hadn’t been happy with the decision but otherwise didn’t say anything in protest. “You managed to learn when we’re moving out yet? I don’t think we can sit here for too long.”

“From what I hear from the officers, we’re moving out as soon as supplies and further reinforcements get here,” she reported. “The soonest will be coming by sea, thanks to the route you secured. The expected time of arrival, assuming there aren’t any complications like weather, will be tomorrow or so.”

Ren nodded. As impatient as he was to get moving, especially with the threat of another possible invasion looming over them, he knew at this point that moving out without having the manpower or supplies would be the death knell of the Roman army. What was the old saying? ‘An army marches on its stomach.’ “Tomorrow it is,” he accepted. “Should be enough time to recoup and recover. You guys got any plans?”

“Honestly, I wanna meet with the Servants Morgana brought in,” Ritsu immediately said. “They seem like pretty fun sorts. Especially Astolfo – I wanna pet her hippogriff.”

“He,” Morgana corrected.

Ritsu blinked. Then blinked again. “But… He’s prettier than me, ” she could only respond in a deadpan tone tinged with despair and horror.

“Astolfo is a guy,” Morgana repeated, almost sounding like he was on autopilot at this point as he sipped his own coffee – and winced at the atrocious flavor. “I’ll probably patrol, keep my eyes and ears out for anything going on throughout the Roman army. Maybe even lend them a hand with some logistics planning if need be – I can at least let them know what Evander’s up to.”

Mash frowned slightly in consideration, then turned to Joan. “Excuse me, Joan,” she asked, snagging the Lancer’s attention. “Would you honor me with a spar? I would like to further hone my skills against more varied opponents, especially against those who are more suited for frontline combat.”

Joan blinked in surprise at the request. It was obvious that whatever it was, she hadn’t been expecting that. She opened her mouth to suggest someone else, but then thought it through. Most of the other Servants weren’t frontline combatants. Boudica was better for holding a front than attacking, and as for Lu Bu and Spartacus…

She suppressed a small shudder. It was difficult trusting Berserkers to not go overboard in the heat of combat, even if it was just a sparring session. That really left only one decision left, and with the way Mash was looking up at her with such an innocent, inquiring gaze, it really had only one answer. “Just so you know,” she sighed resignedly. “I have no intention of going easy on you. Whatever happens will be on you.”

Mash’s eyes widened in surprise, then she nodded enthusiastically. “Of course!” she accepted eagerly. “I await your guidance, Joan!”

The Lancer rubbed the back of her neck abashedly. “It’s just a spar, not guidance,” she muttered. Then she noticed Ren, Morgana, and Ritsu all staring at her with knowing smiles and her mood immediately soured. “Enough,” she growled. “Do what you lot are gonna do. Mash, I’ll be waiting outside the gates whenever you want that spar. Otherwise, knock yourselves out with… whatever you usually do.” With that, she stomped out of the building.

All four watched her as she stalked past their window, soon disappearing from view. “I can’t tell if she hates us or is getting to like us,” Ritsu commented casually, sipping her coffee again.

Ren chuckled. “There’s a lot she’s going through right now,” he explained. “Just leave her be for now. She’ll be alright. I’m glad she’s happy to spar with you, Mash.”

The shielder nodded. “I was surprised,” she admitted. “I expected her to decline. But now I will be able to see how to properly fight on an offensive front line.”

“Our battles have been more defensive still, but she’ll probably be able to teach you some things,” Ren agreed. “So, if that’s all settled, we should get through the day. Comms up just in case, of course, but otherwise, we’ll meet back here for dinner.”

“And no running off, Ren,” Ritsu added sternly, to Morgana’s amusement and Mash’s mild confusion.

Ren grinned. “No promises,” he replied simply.

They all finished up and cleaned up after themselves, with Ritsu and Morgana heading out first. Ren was also about to walk out as well when he heard Mash behind him. “Ren-senpai?” she called. “May I speak to you for a second?”

Blinking, he turned around before easily nodding. “Yeah, of course,” he replied. He stepped back into the house and sat with Mash back at the table. “Is something the matter, Mash?”

Mash hesitated, thinking of the best way to phrase it. Ren simply sat and waited patiently. There was no need to rush her – she would tell him when she knew how to. The fact she approached him to speak about it was already out of the norm. Still, whatever she had to say, he would listen. It honestly reminded him of those times he listened to his companions back when in Tokyo. They were certainly nostalgic times.

“I had a dream, senpai,” she murmured as Ren quietly listened. “I was in the dark, but it wasn’t… uncomfortable. Then in the distance, I saw jail cell doors made of blue light. I couldn’t see past them – only a red light emanating from the other side.”

While outwardly remaining impassive, Ren immediately focused far more closely on Mash’s words. A jail cell door? While he wouldn’t consider it ‘emblematic’, that’s what the door to the Velvet Room always appeared as. But a red light as opposed to the Room’s usual blue…? What could it-

“And Arsene appeared.”

Ren’s focus doubled at the mention of his persona. This was certainly unprecedented. Arsene only appeared by his own will to him only. Otherwise, he usually only came when Ren summoned him. It made sense – it was his inner self, after all, and while he didn’t mind showing it, his persona wasn’t something he blatantly waved around everywhere like a flag.

“He told me that an arcana has been formed,” Mash continued, seemingly unaware of Ren’s renewed attention on her as she recollected the event. “And that it was one of your sources of power. He also said that… that the jail cell doors led into your inner realm, where you kept your greatest treasures. And… he said I had permission to enter.”

She seemed more hesitant to finish her speech, and Ren couldn’t blame her – it felt incredibly hard to believe. He had never heard something like this happening among any of his confidants back in Tokyo, not even among the other Thieves or even with either Justine and Caroline or Lavenza. Was this because of the Master-Servant bond they shared? There was still a lot he didn’t know, either about personas and the Velvet Room, or magecraft and Servants.

“So, what did you find?” Ren asked out of curiosity. If she could enter the Thieves Den, he was genuinely curious as to what she thought of it. He might have told her much of his story, but words could only convey so much. The Den, with its exhibits and information, would be worth a million words. She would most likely be filled to the brim with questions – or perhaps, she wouldn’t even know where to start asking. Either way, he was curious as to what she would tell him.

To his surprise, Mash shook her head. “I didn’t enter, senpai,” she answered. “Arsene asked me why, since he, as your inner self, gave permission. I told him that I would only do so once I had permission directly from you.”

Ren could only blink. Frankly, he didn’t quite expect that answer, especially if Arsene gave her permission. After all, the creed of personas – ‘I am thou, thou art I’ - wasn’t exchanged lightly. The meaning was quite literal, and with his inner self like Arsene, even more so. “And why do you need my permission?” he prodded. “Arsene is me, after all. His permission to enter would be the same as mine.”

“I know, senpai,” the Shielder acknowledged. “However, it’s where your greatest treasures and secrets are held, right? I… well, I didn’t believe that it would be prudent of me to intrude on something so personal without direct permission from you. So even when Arsene said it was alright, I declined and told him I would ask for your permission first before entering.

The Phantom Thief blinked yet again. Mash didn’t enter out of consideration for his knowledge and secrets. Right, he remembered when everything began here: Him and Morgana held countless secrets from Chaldea, secrets that could be abused by any unscrupulous person. And with the capabilities of magi, who knows what they could do with such knowledge?

Since then, they have since shared no small amount about their powers, the Metaverse, and their past adventures, but it was still far from everything. If the Thieves Den were accessed, anyone visiting would quickly glean far more than anything they have currently told them. There was no proof, but it would certainly put a lot of pieces together for people who could piece it out. Mash undoubtedly knew all of this and still didn’t enter out of sheer consideration.

He was pleasantly surprised, to put it mildly. She could’ve simply entered, told him after, and he would most likely be fine with it. But she hadn’t, instead choosing to talk to him about it and asking directly for permission first. Considering how many had tried to plumb him for information, this was quite the change. “I see,” he mused. “Well, this is unexpected. First thing I can say right now is… thanks, Mash. For coming to ask me directly for permission about it. It really means a lot to me.”

Mash blinked in surprise, then flushed red once more without knowing why. She could feel her heart… skip a beat? Did she need to contact Roman after this? “O-of course, senpai,” she stammered. “It’s only right.”

Ren nodded. “Of course,” he agreed. “But right now, I suppose the better question is: do you want to enter?”

“P-pardon me?” Mash stammered.

“I’ve given you permission to enter,” he said. “So you’re free to head in if you want. But I understand entering someone’s… inner realm isn’t exactly the most comfortable thing to do. Mine isn’t as bad as Jeanne Alter’s, but still.” Frankly, Ren didn’t think anybody so far could compare to the literal Hell that was her Palace. If his inner realm ever became something that resembled Jeanne Alter’s, then a trip to both the Velvet Room and a trained psychiatrist would be needed.

Mash looked hesitant and unsure, prompting Ren to smile reassuringly. “You don’t have to answer me now, Mash,” he said. “Take your time and think it through. If you don’t wanna enter, then that’s fine by me and thank you for respecting my privacy and boundaries. But if you do, well…” He gave a cheerful grin. “I’ll give you the grand tour myself.”

The Shielder again blinked in surprise, then matched Ren’s smile with one of her own. “Alright,” she replied. “In that case, I will be in your care, Ren-senpai.”

Ren grinned. “Alright, you better meet up with Joan,” he said. “I don’t know how long she’ll wait for you for that spar. Let me know how it goes.”

Mash nodded as she stood back up with Ren and bowed. “Thank you so much for your time and patience, Ren-senpai!” she chirped.

The Phantom Thief chuckled. “Trust me, Mash, the honor was mine.”

For a second, Mash could only blink – those were the same words Arsene had used for her as well after they had parted ways. Then she giggled. They weren’t kidding; Ren and Arsene were certainly the same person. “What’s so funny?” Ren asked out of curiosity.

She opened her mouth to tell him, then she shook her head. “It is nothing of importance, Ren-senpai,” Mash replied. He had countless secrets to him, after all. Perhaps one small harmless secret of her own was no problem. “Please have a good day!” With that, she left the house and began walking toward the gates, her mood far brighter and lighter than before.

It was only a bit, but she had made progress. And that was good enough for now.

----------------------------------------

The day had quietly passed without incident. The sun began setting over the horizon, bathing the land in orange rays. Work slowed as everyone’s energy waned. They had made a good amount of progress – scouting parties managed to forage for further supplies as engineers scavenged wood and rubble, drafting plans for siege engines that could be implemented as quickly as necessary. Armor and weapons were repaired or redistributed after adjustments from the URE troops. Lookouts had found absolutely no sign of an oncoming invasion, which was a load off everyone’s minds for at least one more day.

The Chaldean legion had been of great help – boosting morale, helping with their work, coordinating, and more. Frankly, the only thing they were waiting on was the caravan and reinforcements. Everything else was situated and ready to go. Once they had the cargo sorted, they would be able to leave and march immediately – a boon as time was not an ally of theirs.

As such thoughts dwelled in her mind, Nero stood on a tower, watching the distant sea. The sunlight glimmered off the water like a jewel with infinite facets. A cool breeze blew in, gently ruffling her red dress as she scanned the horizon for any sign of a ship’s mast. Though she had long received news that they would come tomorrow, she still could not help but look for herself in a vain hope to at least reassure herself. Besides, the cleaner air was refreshing, and she could behold a magnificent landscape – there were no downsides to such an idea.

And more importantly, it was well away from everyone else.

“Has the matter been settled among the Chaldeans?” Nero asked.

Jing Ke leaned up against the battlements like she had always been there with a smirk. “Seems like,” she replied casually as she swirled a jug of liquor around. “As the reports stated, it was about Loki, but matters seem to be well in hand.”

Nero nodded. “And what of the details?” she asked. “Is there anything to be wary of?”

The Assassin paused for a bit before turning more towards Nero – and away from Archer, who had been watching them from a building some distance away so he couldn’t read their lips. “There is,” she replied seriously. “Apparently Loki has an ability to drive people psychotic, from what I could tell. This isn’t an ability I know of, nor would I know how to properly counteract it.”

The emperor forced her expression to remain neutral, despite her displeasure pulling down at the corners of her lips. “Concerning news indeed,” she murmured. “And what measures have the Chaldeans taken?”

“Apparently, threatening to send Loki back to where they came from,” Jing Ke answered. “With threats of further disciplinary measures.” She took a swig of her wine to wet her parched throat. Gaining such information wasn’t easy – navigating blind spots in the Archer’s surveillance while trying to find a weakness in the Caster’s bounded fields. And of course, the instinctual sense of Ren. She was honestly surprised she hadn’t been caught.

Unless…

At this point, Nero couldn’t help but frown. “Oddly lax,” she murmured. “Was it because that woman was able to secure a victory that should’ve been impossible? Or is there some other factor…?” Her eyes flicked over at Jing Ke as she brought herself out of her ruminations. “You did well bringing me this information, and without getting caught,” she told the Assassin. “My thanks, Jing Ke.”

Jing Ke frowned as she stared down into her jug. “I’m not so sure about that, Imperator,” she muttered. “They’re obviously extremely careful, and with a Caster and an Archer, as well as Ren himself? I don’t know, it seems a bit too easy.”

At this point, Nero couldn’t help herself and turned to the Assassin in surprise. “Are you saying that this was deliberate?” she asked.

The Assassin swirled her wine pensively. “This isn’t the kind of thing they could invite you over or easily explain to you,” Jing Ke reasoned. “And between everyone they had there, they could easily have it airtight – I wouldn’t be able to catch a single word, no matter what I did. So, the fact I could probably means they were relying on me to listen in and relay all of this to you.”

Nero blinked in surprise. “A rather… obtuse way of apprising me of the situation,” she muttered as she turned back towards the sea. “But this method I suppose means they trust me with this information that they could not tell me by normal means. Well, if that is the case, then I must have faith in them, then.”

“Seems like we have to,” Jing Ke agreed. “After all, if you ask me, it also means they know I’m spying on them. My methods of info gathering aren’t gonna work with them – at least, not easily.”

“That is to be expected,” Nero admitted. “They have shown themselves far more capable at each and every turn than even our greatest expectations. Nevertheless, they have shown themselves to be stalwart and loyal allies no matter the circumstance or situation. I believe they have earned themselves the benefit of the doubt. Would you not agree, Jing Ke?”

The Assassin smirked and raised a jug. “I’ll drink to that,” she replied cheerfully before taking another swig of her wine.

They stood in silence for a bit, admiring the horizon as the sun set, the sky slowly darkening as the shadows became longer and longer. “Have you seen Boudica and Spartacus?” Nero asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Is there anything that is worth concerning about them?”

Jing Ke studied the emperor’s expression carefully, then shrugged. “So far as I can tell, they’re not planning on any coups or sabotages. They’re just as committed to your campaign as any other officer under your command. You want me to keep a closer eye on them, just in case?”

Nero considered for a moment, then shook her head. “That… will not be necessary,” she murmured. “Focus no more attention on them than you usually do. Other than that, good work. I’ll ration more liquor for you when supplies arrive.”

The Assassin nodded. “Alright then,” she accepted as she got up. “In that case, I’ll return to my regular duties. By your leave, Imperator.” With that, she stepped away, and vanished into thin air, leaving Nero in silence. With a sigh, Nero turned to descend from the tower. Personal concerns aside, she had no small amount of work to take care of herself.

And so, night descended as another day passed on the campaign.