With a gentle, barely contained smile, Da Vinci leaned back in her workshop's newest, comfy chair. Her mechanical bird swung on a nearby bird stands like a metronome, and her staff rested neatly beside it. Like the smile she wore, the white halter dress with blue flower prints complimented her cheery mood. Her lips even gently hummed to the classic music playing from a nearby phonograph.

Her hands carefully held the sheet of parchment with delicately written handwriting. Its partner rested atop her workshop's second newest addition: A pristine wooden table, crafted herself and made to the standard of a high-class executive. These were the first two messages received in her new Director's Office, and already it felt much more… proper.

An unused, identical rotary phone rested atop her desk, and the magus transcriber on a nearby table; She'd never need to return to the former Director's Office for official business again. As Roman wished, it would be left as a museum in tribute to the Animuspheres, and she didn't mind in the least. Her workshop was a much more ideal workspace for the ever-developing and thinking genius. The only real issue would be keeping her focused mind from jumping to nearby fun arts or design projects, but that was a trivial issue… if you asked her, at least.

Currently, the message in her hand absorbed every inch of her mind. Aoko's friendly thank you for more travel funds had been a wonderful first letter received from the transcriber, but this one only set the mood further. Her lips were tickled into a bigger smile as she read the quick letter again and the promise it held. The official paperwork and documents would be arriving with the Clock Tower's investigation team tomorrow, but she was definitely going to copy and frame this message too…

…Both as a trophy and for archival purposes should it ever be brought into question.

While she gently hummed, she placed the document carefully to the side and glanced around her workshop. She'd only just rearranged furniture and cleaned this morning, but by the afternoon, it was as her work always left it: Covered with countless papers and random scribbles. She was almost positive her new concept sketches were buried atop the rearranged tables, but she gave little care. It's not like she was going to entertain formal guests today.

With a soothed exhale, and only the tiniest grains of worry in her bones, she glanced to her desk toy playfully. The tiny model of the ornithopter was balanced perfectly on its little stand. She blew a small puff of air its way, but it didn't teeter. It held perfect balance and simply twirled in place like a ballerina to the wafting classical music. As it slowly spun, Da Vinci reached for a clipboard with checklist at the edge of the desk, where Edison had left it with David's cup of tea.

She glanced over the report quickly and nodded with approval. Even after their emergency deployment, the priority work done on the leyshift system would be completed by tomorrow. That went for the Fate system too. With that, Chaldea would be back on its operational feet, which meant full focus could be given to the recreational necessities. Yet, she could already see the growing enthusiasm for what surprises she wished to discuss with everyone.

Someone knocked at the door, and she looked up as the person simply entered; She would never lock a door again… until maybe Roman returned to them, for one personal reason or another. She smiled at El-Melloi as he peered inside. It was good seeing him in relaxed, black slacks and a red dress shirt; The cheery atmosphere didn't return just for her. Far from it. "Da Vinci? We've got the scans ready in the control room."

She blinked. "You came all this way to tell me?"

To answer her, he smirked and raised a large bag of chips. "I had an errand to run."

She giggled and nodded. It had taken two more days after a trying week, but Da Vinci could finally say she felt perfectly comfortable as Chaldea's Director.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ φ ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

Epilogue

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ φ ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

"We've run the additional sweeps, but there's been nothing conclusive." She silently nodded to the concerned archer beside her, but only hummed lightly.

David sat at the primary console with arms folded over his Chaldean uniform, while Lord El-Melloi II merely stood to the opposite side like Da Vinci. Edison stood to the back of the room in his favorite blue three-piece suit, while Tesla stood at the opposite side in his own black set. There was no tension among them, but a slither uncertainty crawled actively beneath the surface. Only the gentle hover of the three present robots and their quiet beeps rippled through the momentary silence.

Her remaining hints of worry were left unacknowledged as she stared at Chaldeas' readings. Outside the repaired windows of the Control Room, the mystical device turned carefully with just as many red markers as it had just two days before. It was both worrying and reassuring; Things weren't getting worse, but issues persisted in the timeline. Many would likely resolve themselves, but some malignant growths remained blinking.

Nevertheless, they were only a possible hint to the real concern. She shook her head slowly. "We've found nothing, but we can't ignore the possibility more may be out there. They could be hiding and waiting for a chance to strike."

"It could be any one of these… or maybe one not even acknowledged yet," El-Melloi grumbled with narrowed eyes.

"At least they're not working together if what Flauros said was any valid answer," Tesla offered, and Edison nodded slowly. "If only they were just as impatient…"

Flauros had been killed outside of the singularity, so its botched revival made perfect sense for its state. If it couldn't revive properly before Goetia's hold on Solomon's powers was stripped, then that was only to be expected. That'd also be the reason why its hasty plan to destroy the world didn't take into consideration so many other factors like the Counter Force; Carmilla's testimonies helped validate that idea. It couldn't perceive any of it with its insanity, nor did it care. Unfortunately, they likely wouldn't get as lucky with other pillars if they did escape.

If Flauros' miraculous revivals was any indication, it remained an unfortunate possibility that some would have escaped in all the chaos.

The only good news to come out of that revelation was Mashu's own newfound state. Unless the checkups were terribly wrong, she had the life expectancy of a regular human. Lancelot, Mashu, Gudao, and many others had been overwhelmed with happiness at the news. The only cost was the loss of her demi-servant abilities. It may be a mixed blessing, but a chance for a full life gave Mashu the happiest tears Da Vinci had ever seen.

Now they just needed to keep things smooth and comfortable, for her and all of Chaldea. There was much to get done, and much to keep aware for. Their task was clearly not over as Chaldeas blinked and registered yet another potential singularity. Many servants would have stayed anyway, but now they had more reason to.

"So we've got nothing more to tell the others this meeting," El-Melloi grumbled lightly with a scowl. "We'll just have to keep a constant lookout."

"At least we're all aware they're out there," Edison pointed out with a small smirk. "Whatever they're scheming, they've lost their connection! Without Goetia, it'll be a walk in the park for us!"

"Don't get too cocky… Reckless or not, a single pillar nearly started Armageddon," Tesla warned, and Edison merely growled in frustration.

"But sooner or later, one of them is going to make a mistake and reveal themselves," Da Vinci calmly reassured with a renewed smile. David quickly perked up at the sight as she nodded to the others. "We won't be surprised again. In the meantime, let's continue peeking at ways to develop Chaldeas and Mount Meru's unique properties to our advantage… along with all our usual business, of course~!"

Every smile, smirk, and nod that greeted her made her heart sing. Tesla chuckled, "Right. Marie needs her Salon in working order or she can't fight at her cheeriest."

The chuckles grew, and she hummed, "It's been too long since we had the kitchen's cooking… but the barbeque isn't too bad~…"

And just like that, even as the robots started a new scan, the lingering uncertainty was gently pushed aside. They fell into quiet banter, and Da Vinci couldn't help but smile. With the tension gone, it finally felt right again. Chaldea would fight on, but they would continue to do it their way from here on.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ III ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

The meeting wouldn't be until after dinner, but Da Vinci was content with just some simple fruits as she rested against the boardwalk railing. The smell of fresh barbeque drifted over with the streams of smoke, but she wouldn't be tempted. She was already far too enticed with the scenes around her.

Fantasia Resort had lost any hint that it had seen conflict. The only lingering reminders were tiny patches of quieter groups that still felt the heaviest impact of recent events. As she chewed on a grape, her eyes gazed sympathetically towards a small cluster of beach loungers where three servants talked quietly; The empty fourth was a terrible reminder of a tragic possibility for Chaldea's most beloved Supervisor.

Yet, she remained hopeful, for the sad sights were overwhelmed by the blossoming fields of renewed tranquility.

The Celts held a friendly dinner game of beachball against the Romans on the beach. On the pier, Hundred Face, Rena, and Serenity balanced plates of snacks for Chaldea's child servants as they played in the water. She could hear laughter of some sort from the club, likely caused by Ishtar and Quetzalcoatl's boisterous taunts as their rivalry ignited over something else. Even a small glance to the tropical flower garden showed Asterios and the gorgon sisters enjoying a quiet picnic.

"Gale, no! Bad Gale! It's not blood! Calm down!" a blurry Beowulf yelled as he zipped past. The swimsuit-clad Nightingale wasn't too far behind as Dantes' laughter echoed through the air. Beowulf growled as he ran. "It's just ketchup! Ketchup! Do you really think Angra's stupid broken plate was going to cut me!?"

"Sit still, Beowulf! Treatment must be applied correctly to the afflicted area! Unnecessary exertion will only further agitate potential glass cuts! Do not make me sedate you by force!"

Da Vinci popped another grape into her mouth and smiled. It had only been two days, yet the flowers already flourished with nostalgic color. It wasn't quite there yet, but the strides were getting bigger with every day. Her ever-calculating mind had already come up with viable solutions to the lingering problems, but she acknowledged she couldn't do it herself, so to speak. But there were others who certainly could, and plenty of space for future residency.

Now that their home was where it should be, it was time to push Chaldea in a grand direction.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ IV ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

For the past several days, meetings in the Roman Theater were usually coupled with anxious overtones. For such an elegant room, the atmosphere never felt as regal as before. It didn't help some held recent, traumatic memories from this room, but that's not how it should be. These meeting were necessary, and would likely remain a staple from here on. Despite that, Da Vinci wanted to make sure as many meetings as possible were casual and friendly.

To ensure that, there was no question the Clock Tower message would be the best way to help set that new precedent. Da Vinci let her eyes twinkle under the spotlight of the dimly lit theater before she finally recited the last line. "The formal declaration will arrive tomorrow with the investigation team, but henceforth, after receiving this letter, the Mage's Association officially recognizes and respects Chaldea as an independent organization."

"They let us go!?" "No shit, they were too scared to stop us!" "We're free!" "NO MORE OPPRESSORS!" "YATTA!" "Does this mean we can make our own flag!?"

Da Vinci glanced to a smirking Lord El-Melloi II and giggled beside a laughing David. With every passing second, the eruption of cheers echoed around the Roman Theater. Many of the casually dressed servants were up and about as their excitement took the reins. It was a beautiful symphony that echoed with the heartfelt cries of victory over a week ago. This was what all of them hoped for after arrival, and they've achieved it.

Even the many present employees looked ecstatic by the news; Any binding limitations that kept them cemented here were gone. Any traumatized individuals, who wished to leave, would be able to do so with less hardships and obstacles. Those who wanted to stay had an open sky of potential and possibility now that Chaldea could conduct itself as it pleased. That's how they did it during the singularities, but now it would be officially and legally acknowledged.

And to think, this decision was made even before the investigation team arrived tomorrow.

The Mage's Association, in its crippled state, and acknowledging Chaldea's prowess, had yielded to the push for independence. There would be no retaliation. There would be no attempt to take them back into the fold by underhanded means. Chaldea would claim its independence, but with some terms that she'd agreed to. If anything, they seemed like hopeful requests rather than true, non-negotiable demands from the crippled Clock Tower.

"What are the terms? You said you agreed to fair terms?" Helena asked quickly, with lingering concern in her eyes.

To her relief, El-Melloi, David, and Da Vinci glanced to each other with calm smiles. The inventor turned back as the crowd slowly settled to hear her answer. "The terms were minor enough to accept during the call. The only difficult one was the financial compensation for Chaldea's release, paid in lump sum when the investigation team arrives tomorrow."

"Don't worry, we're not starting a collection drive," David quickly added as some whispers erupted. He smiled, and bowed courteously to a section of the audience. "Gilgamesh has already paid the deposit in full."

The outright gasps of disbelief that ran through the audience made the King of Heroes chuckle. Enkidu smiled beside his friend, who merely lounged calmly in his leopard print suit and drank from a golden goblet of wine. Ozymandias eyed the friendly king curiously with hands crossed over his own golden suit, but Gilgamesh returned the look with a small smirk. "Make no mistake… It was a simple offer."

"How much did he have to pay!?" Ishtar quickly shot up from her seat with the purest distrust on her face. She floated a few meters off the floor in her red sundress, not even caring Angra Mainyu was leaning to the side slowly to try and find a possible peek. As the act moved his head closer to Joan's lap, he was quickly and loudly slapped by the angry alter.

El-Melloi's expression remained flat, but he spoke loudly. "Fifty billion US dollars worth of gems divided for the Animuspheres and Astronomy Faculty."

Ishtar's jaw nearly hit the floor as she turned to Gilgamesh incredulously. "That much to mongrels!? You'd never do that!"

"You're right for once, Ishtar. I, the King, would never do that," Gilgamesh easily responded as his eyes landed on the floating goddess a few seats over. His smirk only grew as she stared with bewilderment. "But, it just so happens that was roughly fifteen percent my treasury accumulates over a year."

"That's a large amount for you to give, Gilgamesh. Even I, the most radiant and generous of Pharaohs, would demand compensation for such an amount… should one even deserve to be blessed with that gift," Ozymandias pointed out with concern.

"Ah, but I did take it into heavy consideration," the King of Heroes reassured as he turned to the goddess. "Ishtar and I had a little talk about generosity and benevolence. Her attempts to guilt me into helping so Da Vinci wouldn't have to empty too much of Chaldea's own coffers… How very daring of you, Ishtar, but that's not all you said. 'If I had the riches, I would gladly pay to show Chaldea how superior I am'… Was that not your words?"

Ishtar could only knit her eyebrows with confusion as Gilgamesh let his smirk turn sinister. "How convenient for you that you did have such wealth in your possession. Twenty percent of all gem related treasures from my Gate… Was that not our previous agreement?"

Well, that explained the sudden generosity. Gilgamesh was paying in full, but it was coming at Ishtar's expense. He quickly laughed, followed by Ozymandias and Enkidu. Soon, several more joined in as it finally registered for Ishtar. The blood quickly drained from Ishtar's face as she cupped her head in horror. She slowly sank back to her seat as Gugalanna leapt from the hysterical Ereshkigal's lap onto the arm divider.

She could barely mouth anything. "You..! My…! How…!? YOU…!?"

"Rejoice, Goddess Ishtar! You have proven your newfound benevolence and kindness by buying Chaldea's freedom with your gems!" Gilgamesh laughed as the shrunken bull of heaven clambered into the defeated woman's lap. "Five percent for the next year will be more than enough for the generous Patron Goddess of Uruk!"

"You never did know how to phrase things properly…" Ereshkigal snickered beside her, and Ishtar glared at her furiously in her despair. "Oh don't give me that look! You've been a spoiled brat all your life! This should be nothing!"

Gugalanna only squeaked in her lap happily. "Wow! That's kind of you! Really kind! I didn't think you were that kind to give up gems!"

As the embarrassed goddess squabbled loudly with her sister, Da Vinci giggled and motioned for the crowd to settle. "Quiet please, everyone! I'd like to get this meeting over quickly so everyone can return to their own little activities~! Now, the other request was simple enough. The Mage's Association will be picking a handful of advisers to observe our Leyshift operations. They may or may not be some members of the investigation team, but they will be staying amongst us in the future."

The groans were expected, but there weren't that many. The concern and disappointment remained, but it was certainly far better than being scrutinized for every little thing. At best, the Mage's Association would likely pick members that wouldn't irritate Chaldea. The last thing they wanted was provoking a newly independent organization while they were in a ruined state. As the new Director, though, she'll make sure it stayed this simple.

"I'll place it in our new morning newsletter too, but the Clock Tower investigation team will be arriving tomorrow at noon courtesy of our Vigil allies," Da Vinci noted to make her smooth segway. "You should be happier to hear we've also made a more formalized arrangement with them~! And part of it involves their fancy, super-fast aircraft~!"

"YOU BOUGHT SOME FOR US!?" Iskandar quickly yelled out as he shot up from his seat. El-Melloi quickly slammed a hand over his face, even though he smirked and chuckled with the mostly amused audience.

"Um… not quite. But we've made an arrangement to solve some future logistics issues." Da Vinci shook her head with a bright smile. "The Vigil will be making a dedicated supply route to Chaldea! This includes taking passengers on vacation, bringing servant leave, and delivering goods from the mainland that we order~! I know many of you are interested in all the curious things we can buy once we have full internet service~!"

"AMAZON AND NETFLIX!" Gabrielle and Medb cheered together as they leapt out of their seats. It was Scathach's turn to slide a hand over her face.

Before the chorus of excitement continued, Da Vinci quickly raised her hand. "Wait please, everyone~! There's still another potential agreement to be made with the Vigil. As many of you are aware, the Vigil are looking for new bases to improve their world coverage. They have no bases in Antarctica yet, so I'm sure you're seeing what Pritchard was wondering."

Already, there was a mix of reactions, but Da Vinci cleared her throat, and motioned to the side for Edison to start the slideshow. "Please, everyone! I know we have some concerns, but it's still under consideration! However, there's was no better time with what I've got planned as your new Director~!"

The slideshow flared on to show a virtual depiction of Chaldea on Mount Meru. Even with its massive resort and the giant Deployment Room at the very bottom level, Chaldea only took up a fraction of the entire mountain. As the screen zoomed in to better view Chaldea's distinct area, some undeveloped parts of the mountain flashed with different colored markers. With an eager smile, Da Vinci let the tags sink in as excitement quickly built.

"If you haven't guessed quite yet, now that Chaldea is getting its independence, we'll be free to develop and construct as we please~! I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought the fortified facility could use some little improvements~!" she quickly hummed, then used a vibrant blue laser pointer to draw attention to a spot by the arcade. "All our utilities are scattered about in random rooms, so I thought we could have a commercial area here…? Maybe leave any industrial storage and stuff towards the bottom levels…"

She let her thoughts trail off as she glanced back to the lively audience. Just as she suspected, she had ignited a wildfire of inspiration and hope. She winked, "Those are just some ideas, but we'll discuss our expansion program together! This is our home, so it should start feeling like a proper one instead of a boring facility~! Since we won't need to keep things secret within the Axid Mundi's concealing boundary, we can expand build too~! What do you think, everyone~?"

"SKI RESORT!" "Commercial row!? How about our own mall!" "Let's make a colosseum!" "Hey! The Roman's already got a theater! Give others a chance!"

Da Vinci and David could only laugh at the vibrant reactions. El-Melloi held his small smirk, but his eyebrow twitched lightly as Elizabeth and Carmilla got into another physical catfight in the back over… something. It could have been anything knowing how they are, but Robin, Dantes, and Hijikata were already trying to pry them away from their usual catfight. Despite the obvious hatred for Elizabeth, Carmilla had decided this place was 'interesting' enough to stay.

'I wonder if she'll actually suggest anything…' Da Vinci thought calmly, then turned to Arturia as she raised her hand. It was an amusingly polite sight amongst all the eager talking and rabbling. "Yes, Arturia? You have a question?"

She nodded. "Is this why you offered Commander Pritchard a small garrison? They would have their own spot in Chaldea?"

"That's partially correct," Da Vinci replied as she waved to Edison. He quickly flipped the slides to show a very well-done hand-sketch of what appeared to be a large hanger. It was rough and crude, and even used an ornithopter for scaling. "As you all know, the Training Ground used to be where the UN would land for deliveries. Since we use it for sparring now, the Vigil would need a safer landing spot. Because of that, this… Port, we'll call, is the only room that I wish to build immediately. It will allow Vigil Angels to land and unload their cargo at their convenience~!"

"And the size of it is dependent on whether or not we will be allowing a Vigil garrison," El-Melloi added in quickly, and the room quickly turned to each other with whispers.

"Do we know what the garrison would be?" Iskandar quickly piped up. Gilgamesh and Ozymandias snickered at the giant rider's attempt to subdue his overflowing interest in Vigil weaponry. Da Vinci couldn't help giggle at the contrast of his serious face, but practically beaming eyes.

"I'm glad you asked, because Pritchard and I came up with a wonderful idea~!" Da Vinci beamed, and she could already see Mordred overflowing with growing anticipation. She motioned for Edison again and called out silently, "Please find the slides with the Vigil assets~!"

The screen turned off so he could do so, but Da Vinci turned back to Iskandar with a smile. "The Vigil will be handling all worldly affairs they can, but anything out of their league would require Chaldean assistance. Their Edison also wishes to collaborate with ours to keep Vigil technology advancing rapidly. With all that in mind~… it was only obvious that the best garrison would be one of the Vigil's four Servant Platoons! Complete with their included Angel transporter, Halo Gunship, and escort Aurora Interceptors~!"

The slide finally came up to display the aircraft and their approximate sizes. It also included the size of the unit and their robot attachments, but the number was as low as El-Melloi stated before. Most of the space would just be because of the aircraft, but they didn't need runways. Whispers raced amongst the audience once more, but Da Vinci knew the deal was likely to be decided with the cherry on top.

"Of course, of the four platoons, it was easy to narrow down who would be the best pick~!" she quickly hummed as Mordred practically shook with anticipation. Arturia, Bedivere, and Jekyll looked at her with outright concern and amusement… and then the screen switched. The second it showcased the chosen platoon, Mordred leapt out of her seat with a deafening cheer. Da Vinci only laughed as the audience erupted with more enthusiasm. "That's right~! We'd be getting Sergei's Platoon! Vanguard!"

The screen depicted every face that would be coming, including the transport and gunship crew, and even the five members of Mobius squadron. She could see the uncertain and worried glances from the rest of the Camelot group as their eyes remained at the side, where the alter's portrait was shown; Mordred didn't care just because Kairi's was right below it in the mage's detachment. Even Cu and Angra seemed genuinely excited as they yelled at each other across the seats.

In fact, the vast majority seemed pleased, while the rest looked unworried, rather than dismissive.

"I'll take it that we'll be getting a Vigil detachment when the Port is ready~…" Da Vinci hummed as she glanced around at all the vibrant reac- That's when she spotted Gudao. He'd sat beside Mashu with the concerned Camelot group, so she quickly discarded his surprised stare as concern; It wasn't. He was standing now as those around glanced to the casually dressed master. Da Vinci's confusion only grew when Gabrielle leapt from her seat to gaze back at him.

She pointed frantically at the screen the surprise. "Gudao! Arturia Alter's master!"

"I know, I know!" Gudao practically stammered out as the audience quickly fell into bewilderment. Da Vinci blinked, then quickly glanced towards the portrait beside the alter: Sergeant First Class Skyler Albanese, callsign Cloud. Black hair cut to typical military standard coupled with blue eyes was far from an unusual look. There was nothing really curious, but combined with the recent reaction, maybe…

She glanced back to the two masters as Medb quickly pulled on her best friend's sweater sleeve. "Well? What's so great about him?"

"That's my cousin…" Gudao murmured loudly in disbelief, but it quickly reignited the growing interest and enthusiasm. Da Vinci couldn't help but smile as Gudao's expression swiftly swirled with booming amusement. "…That's… My cousin was with the Vigil!?"

Da Vinci shared a glance with the smirking El-Melloi and surprised David. At this rate, she'd be more surprised if Vanguard Platoon wouldn't be coming. This meeting was full of surprises, but for very pleasant reasons. There was still more to be talked about, but judging by the tune and symphony that wafted through the room, perhaps no one minded it dragged on a bit longer. Da Vinci allowed the current pause with a small, content smile.

The days ahead were looking brighter with every moment.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ V ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

Da Vinci walked down the hallway in the early morning hours. An early head start meant that much more could get done, but now it was done out of pure, natural will than unsteady tension. With a gentle smile on her face, she held a clipboard in her hand and walked towards Club Cove for a nice cup of wakeup tea. It'd be just what she needed to get her mind firing on extra cylinders and churning through ideas like a crop harvester.

She glanced out the darkened panes of the windowed hallway, and noticed there wasn't even a single flurry lit by the glow of the halls. It caused her to blink, but ultimately served as a minor distraction. Knowing the blizzard, it was at least going to throw down a continuous dusting in an hour… at best. The Vigil was making their first delivery today, so that meant it was going to hail and throw thunderbolts like Zeus, or so Murphy's law went.

'Those poor mages…' Da Vinci giggled at the thought of a rough arrival, even if she didn't actually wish for it. That meant Chaldea would have to deal with their moods.

Brushing the thought aside diligently, she glanced at her clipboard with a hum, and only gave a small, instinctual wave to Shiki in the distance. As she turned the hallway, she didn't even notice the serene smile like glistening due on a spring morning. She floated gently and silently further down the hallway, while Da Vinci went her own way while lost in management thoughts. There was quite a bit to get done today, but the current task had her beaming with glee.

She could already see the masters' and Okita's faces when she informed them of her new protocols with handling paperwork. Now that they were free from the Mage's Association's grasp, they could fill and archive all paperwork digitally. Days of constant copied paper print outs were gone, and now they could type away on computers instead! Of course, that meant they had to get new computers first. Those weren't exactly easy to come by in singularities.

That was just the first thing on her checklist, but it felt different this time. Even with a full board of things to do, it felt… right. It wasn't a list of duties forced upon her by necessity, but of items chosen herself. It was like just another daily schedule she'd made in her past life, and offered plenty of free time to enjoy herself. It would clear up more as the days of renovation and expansion came to a close. With the hiring of new staff, it'd become even clearer still!

As she strolled through the Club Cove doors, she smiled for the future possibilities, but simultaneously planned a checklist for Chaldea's new, unique staff positions.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ VI ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

It was an unusual morning on Mount Meru. The wind was a scant breath rather than a wintery wrath, and not a single speck of snow fell from the blanket of clouds. They were as light and feathery as one of the handful of days she'd seen since her arrival. It was these kinds of times that made her believe they just might see the sun… an unusual occurrence, in an unorthodox part of the world.

Mount Meru… a mythical place situated on the Axis Mundi. It was one of the few mysterious places left on earth, and a remnant of an age long gone. Its very presence was more akin to an anchored, faded texture atop the world, where it could only be found if one knew where to look. It was a place nestled among the rest of this world's layer, and though it didn't truly belong, it was more of a dormant gate long rusted shut.

Yet still, its influence from mystery remained. Here, some of the rules of the world were bent with the legacy of an older age, and influenced this pseudo-realm in unique ways. The Axis Mundi, the center of the world, still turned with some mysticism of the Reverse Side of the World. It's the primary reason Chaldeas was able to monitor so flawlessly, and likely played an additional role in why Chaldea was saved from mankind's incineration.

It's why the rest of Antarctica remained cloaked in winter's darkness while they, atop the Axis Mundi, beheld a consistent sunrise and sunset at exact times.

Yet, as one glanced around the mountainous, misty peaks of the surrounding mountains, one may have never guessed it. Da Vinci stood beside David in her battle attire, though her staff and gauntlet were nowhere in sight. He joined her in equal readiness, but there was no tension to be found; They were simply enjoying the unusually calm day on Mount Meru's Training Grounds. A few dozen servants joined them on the metal walkway, while some others stood along the snow mountain in anticipation.

She glanced over to approaching crunches of snow, and smiled as El-Melloi and Iskandar made their way over. The caster's red robe flickered gently behind him to mirror his king's, who still had excitement etched into his expression. Her attention was only snapped away when her wrist-mounted intercom flared to life. "Hermes Two to Chaldea. We're crossing into the Axis Mundi. Hermes One is two minutes behind."

"Loud and clear~! Take it slow so your eyes adjust properly~!" Da Vinci greeted with a hum. It was an almost forgotten routine, but one that had been directed in the years before their disappearance. It was going to be a staple once more, but she wouldn't be handling it much longer. Chaldea was going to start feeling more like a town, and new resident staff would be hired for communications control… or just delegated to a robot.

As El-Melloi and Iskandar stopped at the railing beside her, their eyes scanned the skies curiously. Barely a moment later, one of the Vigil's Angels dipped beneath the clouds. It flew on perfect course towards them. Some gasps of shock rippled through many nearby as it was temporarily wreathed by a sudden cloud of mist and voltage that lasted a second. The Vigil aircraft wobbled for a moment after, then slowed to a hover.

Passing through the unseen Axis Mundi's boundary was never a simple feat, and often very jarring. It was worse than crossing a bounded field, but its presence deterred any regular people from ever approaching. It kept them hidden, and preserved this unusual location with its shrouded mystery. It was something the pilot would have to get used to, but she giggled as the intercom flared on again. "Hermes Two to Chaldea. We're fine. Just didn't expect such a nice speed bump."

A few servants laughed around her as she suppressed her own giggles. "Sorry~… It's been a while since we had guests~! It slipped my mind~!"

"Solid copy, Chaldea. If you let Hermes One get the full experience, we'll forgive ya."

Now she giggled cheerfully with the growing laughter of others. "Sounds good~! Feel free to land anywhere in the markers~!"

While the Angel's crew recovered from the small shock, Da Vinci's staff glowed with a rainbow aura. Her staff was a volcano that erupted with gentle orbs, which soared to the outskirts of the training grounds. They hovered in the air, and shined vibrantly with ever changing light to guide the Vigil. After a minute of waiting, the pilots finally seemed to adjusted to their new conditions. "Hermes Four, coming in."

Da Vinci hummed lightly as she took a few steps to the railing. The lander swooped low with worrying speed, but slowed with perfect control as reached the training grounds. The hulking machine maneuvered and turned with unbelievable finesse for something of its size as its unique engines hummed and whirred. Landing gear extended, and the nimble aircraft quickly chose a suitable parking spot near the railing.

Da Vinci began guiding in the last incoming Angel through her intercom as the first one kicked up a small whirlwind of snow. The dust sprinkled the air like a snow globe as the Vigil lander touched down. Barely a few seconds after it landed, the engines slowly winded down as the rear ramp began to lower. El-Melloi had to quietly restrain Iskandar from quickly leaping to the aircraft as the second lander passed through the Axis Mundi's border. It too stuttered to a visually violent halt as the first crew member exited the landed Angel.

The beret-wearing officer in a black multicam parka stood in awe of the surrounding servants, then quickly waved to her as she approached. "Director Da Vinci?"

"That's me~!" she hummed contently. "Are you Major Townsend of Vigil Logistics?"

"That'd be me, ma'am," he responded kindly as he waved to some crewmen and robots in the lander's rear. Da Vinci peered into the supply lander eagerly as other servants approached. The first crates were slowly moved off by use of hovering metal palettes that made Da Vinci's eyes widen with interest. "As promised, we've got the comms equipment so Chaldea can hook into the Vigil's network."

It was just the first step, but information was key. It also meant they would have unlimited internet access, which was the far more important part if you asked most Chaldeans. All that needed to be done was for the other inventors to install the components, and then hook up the rest of Chaldea. Finally, after years of going without the 'unneeded luxury,' Chaldea was going to have top of the line and absolutely secure internet service.

They'll hold a meeting about proper internet conduct in the near future, but for now, the baby steps were enough to get her excited. "Wonderful~!"

"I'll lead you to the entrance!" David offered towards the first little convoy of robots and palettes. They floated away just as the second lander kicked up another storm of snowflakes nearby.

"Hopefully they're not too grumpy from the ride over!" the major called out as he disappeared into the back to help unload more palettes.

Da Vinci turned to El-Melloi, but he already nodded and walked over to the other aircraft. Iskandar followed close behind. She'd double check the equipment manifest, and the former lord would ensure the mages were initially welcomed. Nothing like being efficient and-

The second aircraft's rear door barely lowered before a blur barreled out of the rear. The servants and some Vigil crew glanced over as the orange blur disappeared into a deep snowbank. El-Melloi froze in disbelief, and DA Vinci blinked in surprise. It was only when Vernier appeared in the doorway with a black parka and dress pants did her smile return. The Pride magus shook his head at the sight, then turned to the nearby caster with open surprise. "…Lord El-Melloi II. So you really are a servant now."

"Indeed. We've never been acquainted before, but that's going to change today," he responded with a small smirk, but then turned to look at the magus that flailed their way out of the snow. With every second, the orange parka-clad magus was making some progress. "Who's this?"

"One of the magi that will be staying to supervise Chaldea. I'm another, but others will come another time," Vernier quickly added with a slightly exasperated tone. A few more recognizable mages from the North Korean operation appeared beside him, but they all just watched with disbelief as the orange-clad magus finally burst from the snow. The parka's hood fell back, and a flock of blonde hair shimmered with speckled snowflakes.

"Ohhhh! I'm finally here! Antarctica! The place where the Iron Giant is!" Da Vinci blinked at this mage's first unusual comment, but El-Melloi suddenly made an unrefined, surprised noise upon hearing the outlandish comment. Vernier glanced to El-Melloi with the barest hints of sympathy and guile, but it only confused Da Vinci more. She stared with as much curiosity as Iskandar and many other servants as the blonde finally whipped around.

The blue-eyed magus's smiling face filled with wonder when they stared directly at Lord El-Melloi II. He let out a loud gasp, and the male caster winced. "Mister Big Ben London Star! It really is you! You're here! You're alive! How'd you do it!?"

"…Hello, Flat. It's good to see you too…" El-Melloi practically droned out with disbelief and… exasperation? Da Vinci was confused, but this blonde magus seemed to be very well versed with the lord. She couldn't help hide the small smile as the blonde quickly began talking excitedly to him, and even dared to try and hug him. The other mages merely laughed at the scene, as did Iskandar.

If she was worried things would be uncomfortably difficult with the Clock Tower's arrival, much of that concern had just been swept away by the wind.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ VII ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

Da Vinci wasn't too sure which reaction from the mages was more amusing: Their disbelief at Chaldea's special rooms, or the horror at the ungodly amount of paperwork they needed to sift through. They only had their protocol to blame, since the Clock Tower wanted extensive, detailed reports at all times. The only one who seemed delighted the whole time was Flat, but he was a special case, or so she'd come to learn. Amusingly enough, he'd make a better fit than most other mages.

They were left to handle the first of the paperwork with Lord El-Melloi II, which would no doubt keep them busy. In the meantime, she had a new task to handle. Edison had just completed repairs of the Fate System, and it was time to do the trial run; New upgrades could be designed and discussed later. The masters and David were already waiting to make the simple, random pull of a lever. She honestly wasn't expecting much, but she wanted it to at least work.

"Excuse us~!" She was about to turn the final corner, but stopped herself short and smiled. Nursery Rhyme skipped past with two baskets full of cloth swinging at the sides of her frilly black dress. Jack was not too far behind as she pulled a large cart full of assorted crates and material. She wore jeans and black skull t-shirt along with a slightly annoyed pout. It quickly vanished when the battle-clad Paul quickly ran down the hallway to help pull.

"Thanks, Paula!" Jack exclaimed, then stuck her tongue out a bit at her adopted sister when she turned around to look. "At least she helps me!"

"I'm not getting my dress dirty!" Nursery Rhyme huffed back as she skipped ahead.

With a hum in her step, she slipped past the large construction cart and smiled. Yesterday's meeting had ignited a frenzy of inspiration and design. Already, many servants were brainstorming new possibilities and even drawing plans, while others assisted with any final reconstruction efforts. Judging by the quality of material on the cart, there was no doubt the girls were going to help the salon in some way; Moving material counted.

She happily waved to a passing robot as it drifted by, then another to King Hassan as he stood guard at the vault. Humming quietly, she came up to the doors of the Summoning Chamber as they slid open. The three masters, clad in their uniforms, turned to greet her, but Edison's enthusiastic roar boomed through the room first. "Ah! Just in time, Director!"

The blue-suit wearing caster placed the last saint quartz onto its pedestal and walked over to the console. There was a little pride and enthusiasm with each step, and it was likely at the thought of getting Chaldea a facility-wide connection with the outside world. He no doubt wanted to have some friendly chatter with… well, himself. All that stood between him and the narcissistic echo chamber was one test fire.

She stepped over to the console, and David glanced to her curiously from behind it. "You think we should try tomorrow?"

"Possibly~…" she murmured back, and he merely nodded. They'd discussed it between themselves often over the past two days. With everything mostly settled, they could take the chance to soothe their mutual heartache. For the trial run though? Definitely not worth risking one of the few catalysts.

"Why's Edison humming the A-Team theme…?" she heard Gabrielle whisper from the side. She glanced over as Gudao just shrugged and Anishka giggled.

The humming servant merely stepped onto the platform, placed his arms akimbo, and stared at the five of them. "Well? Who gets the honors?"

"Da Vinci!" the masters quickly chimed together, surprising the servants in turn.

The inventor quickly recovered, glanced to the other two servants, and received their quick nods of approval. Edison roared, "A fine idea! The new Director should get the first pull!"

With leaking enthusiasm, Da Vinci stepped to the console and stared at the shiny new control board. Staring at it was like a trip down memory lane, when she first saw it shimmer after her arrival. There was just something about inventions and trial runs that just excited her to no end, like painting or sculpting beauty into an immortal representation. It was intoxicating, and she savored the moment that both birthed geniuses and raised prestige alike.

There was no worry in the world as she grasped the biometric handle, which then flashed with quick acknowledgement. With a swift tug, she activated the system, and watched as the familiar process, watched countless times, swung into motion again. Humming at resonating frequencies, the saint quartz were absorbed into the pedestals, and the process accelerated. Like clockwork, the system went through its blinding motions as Da Vinci smiled forward.

There was no rainbow glow of a new servant, but a simple, singular twirl of a ring. Gabrielle sighed, "Awww… No new face."

"As long as it's not one of those weird dolls…" Anishka shuddered as the spinning orbs reached their deafening crescendo. Gudao often got black keys, and Gabrielle got the unusual bowls of mapo tofu, but the dolls only started appearing for poor Anishka. Maybe Da Vinci would get something better than their usual.

The blinding light enveloped the room with its embrace, then quickly began to dissipate into the soft glow of falling, manifested prana. The gentle orbs rained like snowflakes as Da Vinci stepped around the console and strolled towards the coin in the center. Gabrielle skipped towards it as Edison roared with triumph. "We're back in business! Faster too without Tesla's hand in it!"

David chuckled. "So it works fine then? Nothing strange in the system performance?"

Edison raised an attached diagnostic tablet, shook his head, and- Gabrielle gasped audibly. The others quickly turned to her as Da Vinci's approach slowed in confusion. The master stood at the center of the room over the craft coin, then slowly reached down. She plucked it off the floor like a figurine made of the thinnest glass. Gently, she held it in her hands and glanced back at them with disbelief and welling sadness.

The inventor found her feet moving automatically, then finally came to a stop as Gabrielle met her part way. Da Vinci's eyes widened fast, and her heart skipped a beat as a mix of emotions roiled through her. She remained composed, but shook within, while the others quickly came up to see. The happiness from before was momentarily shaken as she stared at the faces on the coin.

It was her, Mashu, Fou… and Roman. They looked so cheerful on such a casual day. She recognized it as the first time they celebrated Mashu's birthday… when Olga decided Chaldea was going to be pursuing a different means as opposed to its darker, original experiments. It was the first time she smiled so brightly, and the inventor couldn't help but smile as they nestled closely for the photo. Roman's smile was extra bright, likely because he dared to actually grab her butt in that moment…

…She made a show of reprimanding him for it. But really? That was just the first glimpse between them.

Her heart filled with uncertainty and yearning. A craft coin arrived, but did that mean he… Was it possible that he wouldn't- No. Her optimism stopped the train of thought instantly with a wild swing. Maybe it was being too hopeful, but she knew… She knew in her heart it wasn't the last time they'd see them. This was just a glimpse into the past, and a possible window of what may be once more. With her unbelievable mental resolve, she quickly cast the grim thoughts aside.

'Your dopey, cheesy grin will be another daily greeting again.'

Gabrielle sniffled as Gudao rubbed her shoulder, but Da Vinci smiled and stared at the craft coin that now rested in her hand. It felt warm… the warmth of days long gone, forged from a cherish person they all dearly missed. Even though this was the first craft coin they ever received from current memory, none openly questioned it. They only stared at the coin in wonder.

"…Do you think he'll…" Gabrielle trailed off, but Da Vinci giggled lightly in response. Even the suddenly sullen David looked to her in surprise.

"Someday, he'll come back to us. I have no doubt about that," she calmly reassured as she glanced to David. His mirrored words strung on tightened chords, and swiftly resonated into a renewed tiny smile from the archer. "Maybe not today or tomorrow… but there's no rush. I want to see him again too, buuut I also want to enjoy this title just a bit longer~… but until then, we've got some work to do~!"

"Work…?" Gudao asked quietly. She turned to him, and nearly giggled at the distant, familiar foreboding in his eyes. They spoke of terrible times… A dark age when he was the only master to do all the paperwork. Gabrielle let out a giggle at the sight, but Gudao remained a little frozen.

Da Vinci playfully presented a tiny smirk at him, then nodded gently. "Chaldea's Expansion? Remember? We had a meeting about it yesterday~?"

"…Ah. Right, yea," Gudao sheepishly scratched the back of his head. Gabrielle ribbed him, they started bickering, and Da Vinci took the moment to appreciate how much better they were looking already. There were still wounds that needed to heal, but they were progressing. That little vacation with Mashu to visit their families would do them some real good.

"Then… Let's make Chaldea unrecognizably beautiful before he returns," David affirmed with a vibrant smile as he placed his hand gently over the craft coin.

Da Vinci smiled at him and winked. "Let's hope he comes before we decide to use a catalyst. There's only so many, and I don't think him appearing and crying over one of his few possessions would be a good hero's welcome~!"

"But it would be a genuine Roman Archaman entrance," David chuckled back, and the group was quickly consumed by laughter. "…Alright. If we start to miss him too much, we can risk his tears later. We've got some remodeling to do until then!"

"Let's work hard to make Chaldea awesome!" Gabrielle agreed as she slid her hand atop David's. It was soon followed by Edison, then a smiling Gudao.

"Come on Abis- Annie! You too!" The Indian master, who had been reaching over to do so, didn't miss the slip. She only stared at David with exasperation with Da Vinci as he smiled sheepishly. She then giggled and happily slipped her hand onto the pile. "…Just you wait, Roman! You're going to be in for a surprise when you-"

"Everyone! Oh goodness~! Everyone!" Marie's voice echoed loudly and cheerily into her head. She sounded so enthralled and barely contained that it made them glance at each other. "Get outside~! Get out of Chaldea~! You have to see this~! It's so beautiful~! So picturesque~!"

Any concern over the announcement was brushed away by a flood of curiosity at the vague message. It was only when several other telepathic agreements started pouring over each other like a stock exchange did they swiftly hustle out of the room. As she slipped the coin into her pocket, Da Vinci quickly stopped herself before the door, then ran back to the console. Excitement or not, they needed to power the Fate System down properly. Thankfully, David had noticed and followed to expedite the process.

Whatever everyone was so excited about made them feverishly rush through the process, but they couldn't help but chuckle and smile.

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ VIII ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

Da Vinci and David turned down the hallway to the Training Grounds exit. Their sprint slowed to a slow jog when they saw the gathered Clock Tower mages by the doorway. Lord El-Melloi II was with them, along with several others clustered around the entrance. The two servants shared a look of confusion, but her wonder grew gently as her eyes picked out a peculiarity. It wasn't as apparent on the mages by the door, but as she moved past them, her smile inched wider.

There was more than enough room to walk past the bewildered but calm mages. El-Melloi turned to her with a small smile, and a smirk brighter than the bud on his cigar. Vernier stood beside him with crossed arms, but a forcefully composed expression as he turned to the inventor. Her smile grew as she stared to the blinding snow outside, acknowledged their lit form… and then felt the light warmth caress her face.

David let out a gasp, just as loudly as she did as she squinted for the first time upon leaving Chaldea's interior. El-Melloi chuckled, "It's no illusion."

"As ordinary as we could get on the Axis Mundi…?" Da Vinci muttered as she let her eyes slowly adjust. With her hand acting as a shade, she walked further onto the catwalks. As her vision cleared, she saw the silhouettes on the dividing saddle ahead and smiled. She could hear the cheeriness in the air even from the distance, and her feet urged her forward to join them. She glanced back briefly as David followed. "You're not coming?"

"Keeping them protected from Nightingale. Altitude adjustment," El-Melloi informed, and Vernier lightly nodded as another nearby magus placed a hand on her stomach. The symptoms were finally starting to show for some, but she wasn't too worried. They'd feel better with time; They'd only need to worry if Nightingale did see them. That clearly didn't seem to stop them from wanting to see the view, and she couldn't blame them.

"This is nothing…" Vernier tried to pass off, but then nearly placed his hand to his mouth with growing Nausea. El-Melloi merely shared an amused look with them that the mages couldn't see, but quietly urged them forward with a nod.

"At least you got to see this~! It's the first time ever~!" Da Vinci happily reassured, then swiftly raced down the long, plowed walkways towards the saddle. David chuckled and kept up easily, but she could have sworn every stride grew wider as she charged down the path. Half a kilometer went by like a blink with the sun's warmth urging her forward, and soon she reached the enthusiastic servants atop the saddle.

Nightingale, Beowulf, and the avengers stood by the railing, and she waved to them as she hurried past. She suddenly took a moment to pause and gasp at the sight before her. Servants and employees were scattered amongst the training field, but the biggest cluster stood daringly close to the edge. The mountain range in the distance was clear of any possible mist, and only a scant smattering of clouds remained in the skies above.

The crystal blue skies greeted them, and with it, the golden glow of a warm sun. Its bright embrace blanketed the surrounding snow, and lit the wind-blown wisps of snowflakes like tiny waves of sand. The warmth of its long-lost presence breathed extra life into the Chaldeans below. With a simple gaze around, Da Vinci couldn't spot a single frown. At the very least, even the tiniest smirk and smile greeted that coming star.

It was a moment worthy of a postcard, and the snap of George's camera nearby destroyed the only concern she held.

"Let's go, Leona! I'll bet the view is incredible!" David insisted as he gently ushered her down the remaining walkway.

She giggled, and they quickly ran down its length and onto the field. The Vigil aircraft had long since departed, but their impressions left in the snow made a fun battleground for the children. As they passed, Yedda turned to her with a cheery smile while Babe squeaked cheerily between her and Paul. She waved in her puffy, red wool coat, only to get slammed in the face by a devious snowball, courtesy of Kuro. Jack, Alice, and a smattering of Chibi Nobus quickly fired upon the archer for the cheap shot, but only giggles and laughter made up their war cries.

They were even joined by Flat as he appeared for but a moment as he dove into a new snow trench. 'At least he's feeling well.'

Their parents waved to her, and she tossed a quick wave back before the two of them finally reached the biggest crowd. It was easy enough finding a spot at the edge since everyone was relatively spaced, but she approached one spot by instinct. It hadn't taken long to find the specific Chaldean uniform, especially when it was nestled between the masters and their closest servants. It helped Fou was happily sitting in the hood of her jacket.

Mashu's bright smile and unbelievably ecstatic voice drew her like a mother bear to honey. As she held Gudao's hand tightly, she turned back and smiled to her. "Da Vinci! Come look! It's… It's our sun! And sky!"

Da Vinci couldn't help but giggle at the stated obvious, and smile in warmth at the wonderful sight. Mashu's cheeks were stained with the dried trails of some tears, but her eyes still sparkled with depthless wonder. The former shielder stared forward again as Gabrielle giggled and nudged her playfully. Da Vinci and David came to a stop just behind them, and let out their own breaths at the majesty.

The Mount Meru valley had never looked quite as spectacular. The mountains surrounding it like a blockade formed a perfect circle, yet beyond laid the glistening white plains of Antarctica's true landscape. The endless snow that blanketed the landscape in sight shimmered and sparkled under the heavenly gaze. A gentle wind blew, and the tossed snow danced like beautiful ghosts in the air before them.

Yet most of all was the cerulean blue of the skies above. Da Vinci finally marveled at the sun, whose might had finally managed to burn the impenetrable blizzard. With only the dancing flakes to mar the sight, their wonderland had chosen the rarest of outfits this day. The smile on her lips couldn't have been painted more beautifully by her own heart as the sight rocked her into weightless bliss.

"You've finally seen it, Mashu," Da Vinci whispered gently. So did she, for that matter.

"...Doctor. Doctor said it before…" Mashu murmured quietly, and Gudao squeezed her hand tightly. "Even though a blizzard is almost always present outside Chaldea, on rare cases the sky is sunny and beautiful stars can be seen… That the day would come when I could see it for myself… and even without any proof of the sort, he would laugh."

"That was but another of his dreams… for you to see this," Da Vinci offered back as she gently reached into her pocket and pulled out the craft coin. With her other, she gently rubbed Mashu's shoulder. "He always knew you'd be smiling like this. We'll have to take a picture together, with everyone~…"

"If only he…" she began again, but her smile remained. Fou gently rubbed its head against the back of hers and cooed. She recomposed herself with a breath, and stared at the sky again. "…I feel grateful that I have been able to live until now. I was saved by a lot of people, encouraged by a lot of people, and that is why I can look up at this sky right now…! It's been a difficult year, but it's been filled with so many things to be grateful for!"

Da Vinci glanced at the coin in her hand, and David looked over with a somber, yet warm smile. Her thumb rubbed gently over the coin's surface as Mashu looked to Gudao happily, "…We did it, Senpai… Gabby… Annie… Everyone! This is the sky we took back for ourselves!"

Cheers erupted from those nearby as she giggled. Though Da Vinci glanced around happily with David, the vibrant conversations had all mixed into a single melody. If happiness had a sound, it would have been defined in this moment by everything around her. Her smile grew impossibly divine.

She couldn't help but stare back at the overflowing happiness which radiated from the girl before her. She'd been born to such a terrible fate, yet she had been granted far more than she expected. There was still plenty for her to learn and experience, but just seeing her smiling so unbelievably bright at the first sight of their world's sun… A sight that she'd get to experience many times in her now full regular life… That alone made staying worth it to Da Vinci.

'We did it, Roman… Mashu got her first glimpse of what you always believed would come...'

The caster breathed out gently, clutched her fingers around the coin, and glanced to the glowing horizon. If anxiety and grief about the future are the opposites of hope, then they've finally flipped the coin. There was no telling what awaited Chaldea in the future, but they'd advance down that road together. With much to accomplish, and plenty more dangers lurking in the shadows, their task was far from over… Her duties as Director were only just beginning.

Yet, as the sun shined above them for the first time, hope and overwhelming confidence boomed in her heart; It no doubt did for all of Chaldea. They'd finally cleared the storm, and sailed through the darkest moments before the coming dawn. The sun had finally arrived, and illuminated the many hopeful days to come, forged within newly earned equilibrium.

The future was ripe for paving, and filled with the steadily building potential that would become their reality. By the time Roman returned to them, Chaldea would be unrecognizable by sight, but nostalgic by feel; It would be the embodiment of a beautiful concept she'd see granted. She smiled and grasped the coin to her heart, and vowed to make that outlandishly ambitious dream happen... If anyone could help Chaldea grasp it, there was no better choice than the universal caster.

Da Vinci was a genius, after all.

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«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ φ ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

The End

«•••=[ΞΞΞ[ φ ]ΞΞΞ]=•••»

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Final Words

You've completed the fourth supplement of the Fragments Series!
It was a longer deviation than usual, but both III and IV were necessary to set the stage:
FGO 1.5 Epic of Remnants.

This means you can proceed to Fragment 76 with full understanding and comprehension of all new developments!
Or, if you didn't read Fragments (yet somehow read III and IV), you can just be glad it's all over.

To the readers who took the time and gave it a shot, thanks for sticking with it!
I'm going to give a special thanks to SKYS for all the help you've given! Thanks much!

I hope you've left this feeling content.
To the series fans, see you back in typical, crazy Chaldea!