CHAPTER TEXT

Night quietly set on the landscape. Torches and braziers had been lit up and down the camp, illuminating the area. The tents cast long, odd shadows, not helped by their damaged conditions and holes, playing at the senses and paranoia of even the most stalwart soldiers. The rank and file took their usual shifts, trained, or did what they could to relax, typically by gambling or drinking – albeit under strict supervision. The fortress across the field had also lit torches. Whether the facsimiles actually required light or it was merely an elaborate act, nobody knew for certain.

Boudica sighed. She was in the command tent, sitting down on a stool as she stared at the map of the area. She had been doing this for months: figuring out paths and tactics for war, how to lead her men, brushing up on Roman tactics, and more. It had been difficult to get them to trust her and Spartacus, and she really couldn’t blame them – her last living memories had been in a mad rage against the empire for despoiling her home and her daughters, and Spartacus was one bad phrase away from labeling them all ‘oppressors’ and destroying them.

And just when things seemed to be looking up and they were finally a more cohesive unit, then came Gaul and Caesar. Circumstances at the emperor had slowly but sure dismantled both their forces and their morale. Competent as both she and Spartacus were, it simply wasn’t a battle they could easily win, not with so much stacked against them. The two simply could charge in and deal with Caesar and his forces themselves, but what message would that send to their men? War was far more than just a victory on the field – which was why this was ultimately so difficult.

Over and over, the Rider had to ponder the sheer irony of the situation. Here she was fighting against false Roman forces with genuine Romans. And the one who led the Roman empire was the very emperor who oversaw the greatest tragedies of her life. When she first saw who she was to aid, both words and thoughts utterly failed her. It was like some god had decided to play perhaps the cruelest conceivable prank on her.

She was prepared for many things: to be marked as an enemy and mark them as an enemy in turn, to be an object of scorn and ridicule, perhaps even to be executed immediately. What she hadn’t expected after she had revealed herself to Nero was for the emperor’s face to immediately pale in horror and shock. Not in fear of her own life – Boudica knew what such an expression looked like all too well – but out of… guilt? Dread? Something else?

There in the face of the one responsible for so much of her pain and suffering, the cause of her legend and her death, was nothing she could fully understand.

They spoke no words to each other. The emperor had dismissed the Rider from her presence but hadn’t ordered anything else – no execution, confinement, torture, not even additional soldiers to keep watch on her. A couple days later, she and Spartacus were dispatched to deal with the URE forces encroaching to the north of the empire. Nero hadn’t approached to speak with her again. As to why, the Iceni queen could only speculate. The emperor didn’t particularly strike her as a coward nor callous, but to not speak to her once more… Well, there could be a lot of reasons behind it.

Still, she was summoned to do what needed to be done here. The sooner it was done, the sooner she could get away from this outright farce of a war.

Then there were these foreign reinforcements. She was told there would be three auxiliaries coming that would help turn the tide of battle if it was necessary. The fact that there were only three auxiliaries sent could only mean they were Servants. There was no other way three people could turn the tide of battle so well otherwise.

But then, she was confronted with three girls. The Caster seemed to be alright, but then there was Mash Kyrielight, the demi-Servant, and her Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru. Those two were very green, obviously unused to combat. Her heart practically sank into her stomach as she saw the two fresh faces, obviously trying to stay brave in the face of war.

They reminded her far too much of her daughters.

If she had her way, she would’ve shielded them from this whole conflict, maybe had them do something more peaceful yet productive. But Ritsu had a fire in her eyes born from both the willingness and desperation to do something about their situation, anything, and Mash would follow her into the depths of hell if need be. How could she deny those two spirits – at least, without them charging off to do something stupid anyway and getting themselves hurt? And at any rate, they were still out of options.

Through the front entrance of her tent, she stared out at the unmoving fortress, the dots of the URE soldiers’ torches moving to and fro steadily and unceasingly. There had been no odd movements or indications the three had been caught, but given what those soldiers were like, that meant nothing. Enough time passed for her to start being increasingly worried. She could only hope they were safe and sound-

Suddenly, the entrance flaps of the tent moved despite there being no wind. A moment later, Ritsu, Mash, and Tamamo appeared out of thin air, causing the Rider to jump slightly in surprise before breaking out into a relieved smile. “Welcome back, you three,” she greeted warmly.

Ritsu grinned. “We’re back!” she chirped. “Sorry we’re late - Caesar had us over for dinner. We couldn’t bring you any leftovers, but I think we got something almost as good: Information and preparations. Will that do?”

Despite herself, Boudica chuckled. “I think I can tide myself over with that,” she replied. “What do you have?”

With the return of the three, the discussion began in earnest. Tamamo had once more set up talismans as they had come in to prevent them from being eavesdropped or spied on. Caesar figured out the true identity of the Caster and probably could make reasonable guesses towards what Mash could do. There was nothing they could do about that – the emperor was a perceptive, formidable foe, and the three had engaged him on his home territory in terms of diplomacy. They could only proceed forward.

On the other hand, Ritsu elaborated on what they had learned from Caesar in turn. That the emperor really wasn’t trying in the war and in fact was probably trying to lose was something Boudica knew a long time ago. After all, right now it would be child’s play for him and his army to simply sally out and route them then and there. Still, hearing that confirmation didn’t do wonders for Boudica’s mood. Everything was simply far too lopsided in Caesar’s favor.

However, the phrase that his sword would cut the way… Boudica racked her brain and came to the same conclusion as the others: assuming he wasn’t lying, he was most likely a Saber class. Normally, such news would be troubling as Saber classes were known to be powerful, but none of them knew of any legends or records of him using a sword. As a Saber, he would most likely be relatively weak.

“Still, it’s a double-edged sword,” Boudica mused. “We don’t know his Noble Phantasm or how good his swordsmanship is. It’s probably a good idea if we remain wary of his capabilities.” The others nodded in agreement. Just because Caesar was theoretically in a weaker class for him didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. Far from it. Most likely they would have to figure it out on the fly.

Then there was the matter of Caster’s preparations. “I was able to do more than I expected,” she reported. “We didn’t need to use any of our contingencies either. I’m surprised myself.” Before the Chaldeans had departed for the fortress, they had discussed various strategies and tactics for escaping, worst came to worst. Both Boudica and Spartacus were ready to charge in solo if it had been necessary. Yet all those plans ended up unneeded in the end.

“Do you think Caesar didn’t notice?” Mash inquired.

Tamamo huffed. “That man was able to figure out my true identity almost immediately,” she grumbled. “I don’t doubt he noticed immediately. Despite that, he turned a blind eye to whatever I had been doing.”

The shielder’s eyes widened. “Then…” she whispered. “Could this be a trap…?”

A heavy silence followed Mash’s obvious question. Ritsu huffed and ran a hand through her hair. “Welp, even if it is, we gotta spring it or we’re getting nowhere,” she declared. “But I don’t think it is one. Not with Caesar anyway.”

The Caster raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And how are you so sure of this, Master?” she asked.

That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? Everything they learned about Caesar, every preparation they made could simply be a trail of breadcrumbs right into a trap. The emperor was certainly cunning enough for it. And yet, Ritsu thought of how wistful Caesar seemed to be when talking about life and death, as well as the smile he had when she had noticed his ‘slip up’. That brushed away her doubts. “Call it a hunch,” the Master replied confidently with a cheeky smile.

Boudica frowned as Tamamo sighed in sheer exasperation before giving a tired smile. “Well, we don’t have anything else at this point,” she resignedly said. “Very well. We’ll trust your judgement for now, Ritsu. All three of you have worked incredibly hard, and I thank you. Is there anything else that needs to be addressed before we proceed?”

The three looked at each other, then shook their heads. With that, everything proceeded apace. Boudica would brief Spartacus on the whole situation – the Berserker had been patrolling outside of the fortress as part of their contingencies – and the two would organize the Roman forces. Everything would happen before dawn, when it would have the most effect. Every detail was discussed and handled as thoroughly as possible.

After all, this oncoming battle would decide everything. The Roman forces were simply too exhausted in terms of supplies, manpower, and spirit to continue their current course any further. Either they won and captured Gaul, or they lost and were utterly routed. Normally not an ideal situation at all, but that was all they had.

Once all was said and done, everyone went their separate ways. Ritsu went to bed early, given the early hour of the operation. Tamamo went to make sure all her preparations were still in place, and then some. Spartacus hadn’t returned yet, but it would just be a matter of time. Boudica would fill him in on the plan – he was to be the vanguard, after all. There was much to be done tonight.

Boudica had been on her way to rally the troops when she glanced over and saw Mash up on the palisade, staring at the fortress. The surrounding soldiers occasionally shot her paranoid glances as they always did, but otherwise gave her a wide berth. The shielder looked almost… forlorn in her eyes.

The Rider shook her head, smiling to herself. Mash wasn’t her daughter, but she reminded her too much of them. Still, perhaps there was a little something she could do. She quietly stepped up to the palisade and casually approached Mash. “See anything in particular?” she remarked casually.

Mash almost jumped in surprise at the approaching Rider. “Ah, sorry, Miss Boudica,” she apologized. “I didn’t notice you.”

Boudica raised her hands. “No, no need to apologize,” she replied. “I did kind of sneak up on you, after all.” The Rider leaned over the palisade, staring in the same direction Mash had been. “It’s a quiet evening, isn’t it?” she gently asked.

The shielder nodded a bit absentmindedly. “Yes, it is,” she murmured. She seemed to be contemplating something and though Boudica was curious, she wasn’t about to intrude. They simply stood in companionable silence. “Erm, Ms. Boudica?” Mash finally spoke up.

“Hm?”

“How are you able to keep going?” she asked quietly. “The situation is dire, and your men don’t trust you. And… and you’re fighting for the Roman empire. Most people would give up or leave, but… you and the people I’ve met have almost never given up. So… how are you able to continue?” The girl paused, then flinched. “I apologize,” she added. “That was a very strange question and I don’t mean to doubt you or-“

“No, no, it’s quite fine,” Boudica quickly reassured her. “It’s a good question, after all.” The Rider was quiet as she thought about how to answer her. The shielder had a point - she could have simply left and watched as the empire that took her family away from her burned. The fact that it was from another Roman empire was simply irony on top of that. Frankly, everyone expected her to just abandon the war. Even she had expected herself to do so.

Yet here she stayed, fighting for a war she didn’t believe in, for a side she by all rights despised, against forces not dissimilar to the ones she butchered in her rage in life, with men who would love nothing more than to get rid of her one way another, and alongside the legendary rebel gladiator who was in a similar situation.

“There’s really no easy answer, Mash,” she replied softly. “Many people fight and persist for their own reasons. For me…” Boudica paused for a second, wondering how to put this, then softly chuckled. “I guess the long and short of it is that it’s the right thing to do,” she murmured with a sad smile. “Even if it’s for those I hate, it’ll at least help and preserve more lives than if I did nothing. It will guide everything back into a proper future, for better or worse. That’s why I fight.”

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The shielder blinked, pondering her words with a frown. “Is… is that really it?” Mash ventured to ask. The lilac-haired girl flinched inwardly at such a bold question, but she had a feeling there was more to it, and Ren-senpai probably would push to get to the bottom of things. It was just a gut feeling, but perhaps it was better to listen to it rather than simply her mind. But if she offended Boudica, then she would need to apologize-

Her ruminations were interrupted as Boudica chuckled quietly. “You’re bolder than I give you credit for, Mash,” she commented with an amused smile. She turned back to the fortress, her smile slowly fading away. “You’re aware of my legend, yes?” she whispered. “I was the queen of the Iceni. I had no grudges against the Roman empire then. If anything, I desired peace with them and was open to any and all diplomatic talks. It may have been our way to future prosperity.”

The Rider sighed, ages of bitterness and grief in the sound. “But then, my husband passed away,” she continued. “And the former emperor was succeeded by Nero. With her came new magistrates who levied heavy taxes, seized our territories, and enslaved our people. We struggled bitterly against them and were only met with scorn and disdain. And…” Her voice trailed off. Her daughters. They were innocent and kind, yet they only found cruelty in the hands of the Romans.

“I’ve done much, Mash,” she whispered. “Much of it I’m not proud of. Was I justified? Many say I was, and many say I wasn’t. But no matter what the answer was, there’s no denying that I spilled a lot of innocent blood, even that of mothers like me and their children. I was no better, honestly, than the Romans. Right now, I’m just pointing my sword in a direction that hopefully ensures a better future for everyone. Or rather, ensures a future, period. Even… even if I have to fight for those that have once ruined my people and my family.”

Mash listened with a mix of curiosity and horror. Admittedly, she hadn’t been able to look into the history of Boudica all that much, but even she knew that the queen had gone through and caused much tragedy. Her words failed her, and all she could feel was guilt for asking such a personal question of Boudica. But it at least did give her an answer to why Boudica continued to fight when she could’ve left, despite everything. It wasn’t the answer she was looking for herself, but it was an answer, nevertheless. One she would have to contemplate and think about once everything has settled.

Boudica smiled sadly. “Sorry, that was a pretty heavy story,” she noted apologetically. “What about you, Mash? What keeps you going despite everything?”

The shielder blinked in surprise at the sudden question. “Um…” she stammered. That was a fair and simple yet complicated question. What could she tell her? How could she tell her? And more importantly, what answer did she even have?

She thought back to the bombing. Chaldea was in flames, the alarm klaxons loud yet muffled in her ears. A gigantic chunk of cement had crushed her lower body. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt much – or rather, she couldn’t feel anything from the waist down. She felt faint and weak, probably from blood loss and shock. Screams and shouts filled her ears, but none of them directed at her. Well, that was to be expected - she was made to be expendable, after all. It was a fate she had long since accepted.

Then suddenly, Ren-senpai showed up. Despite the hell around him, he did all he could to save her. She remembered his grey eyes etched with worry and calculation, trying to figure out how to get her out. She also remembered the soft fur of Mr. Morgana, believing it was one of the last sensations she would ever feel. And she even jeopardized her senpai’s safety, selfishly asking to hold his hand… and he agreed without hesitation.

She believed in him, and she knew he believed in her in turn. But was that enough? Had it ever been?

“I fight for… for my Masters,” she hesitatingly replied. “My senpais. They’re risking themselves for the world, after all. And they have shown and taught me many things. I wish to protect them and stand by them, no matter what.”

Boudica didn’t say anything, instead staring straight at Mash. The shielder couldn’t help but fidget a bit under the Rider’s piercing stare. She was reminded of the disappointed expression from Nero when she told her the same thing. Was there something wrong with her answer? “That’s a good goal and reason,” she commented. “But something tells me there’s more to it than that.”

“There… is?” Mash asked hesitatingly, caught off guard. That, she didn’t expect.

The Rider smiled sympathetically. “Maybe you don’t notice it yet, but there’s a spirit burning within you,” she explained. “I don’t doubt you wish to protect and stand by them, but there’s more than that, I think. Perhaps it’s something else? Maybe it’s to prove yourself equal or greater? Maybe it’s to take your own steps into a future you don’t know?”

She stopped, then chuckled. “Or maybe I’m just being presumptuous,” she finished ruefully. “Whatever the case, I think there’s more to you, Mash, than you think. You’re definitely going to grow up to be an amazing woman, I just know it.”

Mash gaped a bit. “How are you so sure?” she asked in surprise.

Boudica chuckled. “Call it a mother’s intuition,” she replied with a cheeky grin. Then she paused, pondering. “Or I guess more of an older sister’s intuition,” she mused. “It’s hard to say. But either way, that’s something I know for sure, Mash. Never worry about that.”

The shielder was left blinking in surprise at the smile of the Rider, then forced one of her own. “Thank you for your confidence in me, Boudica,” she murmured with a small bow. “And thank you for the conversation. It was enlightening.”

The Rider smiled warmly. “Anytime,” she accepted. “Now, you should probably get some sleep as well. We’ve an early day tomorrow. But first…” Mash looked over in askance as Boudica trailed off and blinked with surprise as she saw the Rider standing there, arms outstretched. “I think perhaps you need something to soothe the mind,” she stated. “Come here, Mash.”

The shielder blinked again, then hesitantly stepped forward. Before she knew it, Boudica had wrapped her arms around the girl, gently patting her head. A moment later, Mash’s arms slowly wrapped tightly around Boudica in turn. For some reason, the hug felt even warmer in her arms than the hug with Ritsu-senpai and Ren-senpai.

Before she knew it, she relaxed herself in the Rider’s embrace. Yet despite everything, the warmth didn’t soothe all her thoughts. Boudica said she would grow up to be an amazing woman. As much as she wanted to believe the Rider, she couldn’t possibly conceive of that happening.

She didn’t have the time.

----------

The camp was abuzz. It was still dark, but soldiers were rapidly moving through, marching and running. Very few had torches, remaining in the darkness so they would not be seen or witnessed by the fortress. A few more keen-eyed soldiers kept a lookout within the camp, watching for any changes in the patrols of the URE soldiers. The tension in the air was palpable, yet they continued, officers whispering their orders as everyone got ready.

Ritsu watched from a corner with fascination as everyone moved. She had seen the Romans act professionally and with discipline countless times while she was with the others, but it never stopped being amazing. The sheer amount of rigorous training and discipline to be able to work like a well-oiled machine was nothing short of admirable.

She had to fight back a yawn. Getting up this early wasn’t a forte of hers in the slightest and she was still blinking away sleep. It certainly didn’t help that, knowing what was about to happen, her sleep had been particularly restless. Despite the tension and adrenaline in her system, she would easily nod off again if she wasn’t paying attention. If getting up early or staying awake to this degree was common, then like hell could she ever be a soldier.

“Here you go, senpai.”

The Master blinked as Mash showed up with a cup of coffee, holding a thermos in her other hand. She could only grin in wonder as she gratefully took it. “God, Mash, have I ever told you how much I freaking love you?” she asked. The girl always seemed prepared for anything, and it never stopped being amazing. “Where’d you even get this, anyway?

The shielder smiled shyly as she stood beside Ritsu. “I thought with how Ren-senpai always makes coffee for us, we might need some,” she explained. “I didn’t take too much – we shouldn’t overly rely on it, after all – but for this kind of situation, I think we might need it.”

“All too right about that, Mash,” Ritsu agreed with a grin before taking a sip of the dark liquid – and immediately blanching at the taste. “Blech – instant stuff,” she grumbled. “I think Ren permanently spoiled coffee for me. What about you, Mash?”

Mash had a similar expression of disgust, trying to mask it with a smile. “It seems… a bit inadequate compared to Ren-senpai’s, yes,” she reluctantly agreed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get his brew. I was worried that if I kept it all this time, it would go bad before we would have a chance to properly drink it when we needed to.”

Ritsu blinked, then chuckled. “Don’t apologize, Mashumallow,” she replied. “I’d rather at least have some caffeine – if gross as heck - than be sick.” She reached over and gently hugged her around her waist, being careful not to spill each other’s coffee. “I’m glad and happy you thought of everything. Thanks so much.”

The shielder blinked in surprise, then nodded. “Y-you’re welcome, Ritsu-senpai,” she murmured quietly in response.

Before the two could enjoy further time by themselves together, Tamamo walked up. “Good morning, you two,” she greeted. “I hope you’re both well rested? We’ve much to do today.”

The Master shrugged, fighting off another yawn. “About as much as one could get in this situation,” she replied honestly. In the meantime, she offered her cup of coffee – there wasn’t any more, after all. “Want some?” she asked.

The Caster sniffed the aroma, her ears twitching as her tail swished, before she frowned in distaste. “I thank you for the offer, but I shall pass,” she declined. “By scent alone, I can tell it pales in comparison to Ren’s. I shall withhold from having any until I can taste his brew once more. I will be gladly obliged if we have any tea, however.”

Ritsu shrugged. Couldn’t fault her for that – Ren’s coffee was damn good by any standard. Mash, however, winced. “Oh, um,” she stammered. “I brought along some green tea packets as well, but I didn’t have an opportunity to warm it up. If you could perhaps give me a minute-“

Tamamo smiled kindly as she held up a hand to stop her. “You are a sweet girl, Mash Kyrielight,” she replied. “But that won’t be necessary. We are, after all, about to commence our battle. Instead, perhaps we shall have some tea together after we are finished here. It will be a good way to relax and collect ourselves.”

The Master grinned in response. “Heh, sounds like fun,” she agreed cheerfully. “Alright then, it’s a date!” The Caster simply smiled in response, as well as Mash. It was always nice having something to look forward to once all was said and done.

That was when Boudica showed up. She glanced between the three of them and nodded. “Good, you’re all together,” she noted. “That will save us some time. The soldiers are mobilized and ready. Spartacus is in position. We’re ready whenever.”

“Are the URE doing anything?” Ritsu asked, trying to glance over the palisade at the fortress and failing.

The Rider nodded. “It seems they’re catching wind of what we’re doing and starting to organize their defenses,” she answered. “There’s no sign of Caesar but it’s only a matter of time before he shows up with another speech and halts any momentum of the attack. Honestly, there’s no better time than now to strike.”

Ritsu nodded in response. Exactly what she wanted to hear. She threw her head back and drained every last drop of the coffee. It scalded her throat and tongue but at this point, there wasn’t any time to spare. “Thanks Mash,” she said quickly, handing the empty cup back to her. The shielder stowed the cup away and finished her own drink as the Master turned to Tamamo. “Caster, you’re up.”

Tamamo ears twitched at the mention of her class name as she nodded. A moment later, a large, round mirror appeared, floating around her as she began concentrating her prana. The area around her began darkening as a feeling of power began emanating – not from Tamamo herself, but the mirror itself, and all around them too.

“ God who resides in Izumo,

Aesthetically certain, breath of the soul.

Residing in the mountains and watery heavens, Amaterasu.”

As the Caster began chanting, the mirror floated high in the air as it glowed with a mystical light. Around them, countless spectral torii gates began appearing to the shock of the Roman soldiers. With a movement, Tamamo tossed out talismans that began glowing and multiplying, whirling all around her. Ritsu couldn’t help but take a step back from the amount of power she was feeling.

“ Let us freely become the proof of purification.

Thy name is Weighted Stong of Tamamo.

Become the sacred treasure, Mirror of Uka!”

The talismans flew out, each one ‘embedding’ itself in the center of each torii gate before turning into a burst of energy, the torii gate dissolving as it did so. The energy whirled and entered the mirror, becoming a great orb of energy, almost as bright as the sun. Jumping up, Tamamo began levitating as the orb raced to the ground, dissolving on impact and turning the entire ground around them into a font of power.

“ Eightfold Blessing of Amaterasu! ”

Boudica blinked in surprise before glancing toward the fortress. “Well, if we didn’t get their attention before, we certainly have now,” she commented.

Ritsu grinned. “Exactly what we need,” she replied. She turned to look back up at Tamamo. “Caster?” she called. “Do the thing!”

Tamamo smirked. While they were having their talks with Caesar, the fox miko had seeded shikigami throughout the entire fortress. As they were essentially small paper fixtures, even regular humans would barely pay them any mind, let alone the facsimile Roman soldiers in the fortress. A surprisingly large number were currently scattered throughout the fortress, each with a connection to Tamamo. With the regular amount of prana she had and the distance, however, the Caster wouldn’t be able to do much with them except maneuver them remotely. However, she would be able to do much more if she had a far greater supply of prana.

Something her Noble Phantasm just provided.

With a mental command, each and every shikigami was overloaded with prana and erupted with magical power. The entire fortress lit up with flashes as thunderous explosions tore through the stone walls, blasting out great chunks and pieces. URE soldiers were flung helplessly into the air, many of them in pieces from the sheer force. Their compatriots only just started moving as their panicked human officers started bellowing confused orders with barely any organization.

Before they could rally, Tamamo created gigantic balls of flame and ice that orbited around her. With a shout, each of them darted at the fortress, their respective elements exploding and causing even more chaos. Above the entire din, there came a roar that echoed throughout the entire land.

“DEATH TO THE OPPRESSORS!!!”

Another (albeit considerably less mystical) explosion issued from the side gate. Between the bombardment of Tamamo and the wrath of Spartacus, the URE forces were in dire straits. Boudica immediately turned to the flabbergasted Roman soldiers and took command. “Form ranks!” she barked. “We’re not gonna have a better opportunity than this! We’re taking back Gaul today! For the homeland!”

The Roman soldiers blinked in surprise, then roared in return, “For Rome!” With that, they quickly organized then marched out of the camp. The fortress, which had always daunted them in how impenetrable it seemed, was crumbling into fiery ruins, giving heart to the soldiers. They began marching with renewed vigor.

Ritsu quickly fell into step nearby, with Mash following close by. She was terrified and worried, especially with the sheer madness of the battle. By all rights, she should be running the opposite direction, with only escape on her mind. She wasn’t a soldier or a warrior. There was still much that could go wrong. And yet, despite everything, the only expression on Ritsu’s face was a wide grin of glee.

“Curtains rise.”