FGO Specter of Glass

China Ch3

"You wanted to talk?" Carmen asked Akko.

"I've been thinking a lot about the Kings," he said. He then had to cough and turned to the other side.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... I'm fine. Anyway, some rumors are going around about Amaterasu, they think she's still alive."

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know, but they're talking about a fox girl who looks just like her. They're calling her Tamamo no Mae..."

"Tamamo... Ritsuka summoned her once. She's a fragment of Amaterasu."

Akko leaned on the wall, "Amaterasu, Daji, Tamamo... whoever she is, I want you to be wary of her. We don't know what she wants. But... she can take the throne, so she might become an enemy."

Carmen left the ship deck to see Yu leaning on the rails. She was looking out as she thought about her past. She noticed Carmen then turned back to the sea; she had never been outside of China before. Her entire life was trapped in darkness and running from those who sought to hunt her down. She asked Carmen what it was like out there. Was the rest of the world just like China? Or was it bathed in sunlight with large towers that observed the capital as the rest of the country was either connected or cut off?

Carmen told her about Russia and Rome. Russia was a frozen land with only the capital being populated, while Rome was lush with many farms outside of the capital, but a tyrannical king ruled both. Yu sighed, she had the feeling the world was facing a similar problem to China, after all, Alexandra and Laverna were rumored to be just as bad as Guan Yin. The other Kings also had other problems, she only heard of them, but they were said to be tyrants. Egypt was in constant fear of war, Greece was conquering every land possible, and the others were in less than favorable areas.

Yu then took notice of Carmen's clothing. The white long-sleeved shirt with a black mini skirt, not only that but there was also the red symbol on Carmen's hand that her teammates lacked. It reminded Yu of an organization, it was based in the ninth realm and the only one known to have members with red symbols on their hands.

"What is that anyway?" Yu asked, pointing at the symbol on Carmen's left hand.

"It's called a command seal, it's a symbol of proof I'm Mitra's master." Carmen replied, "I can use one in special cases, such as healing, boosting power, or activating his Noble Phantasm. But once they're out they have a three-day cool down before they're back."

"Master? Is that some form of contract?" Yu wondered as she turned to face Carmen with her back leaning on the railing.

"It is... in a way."

"Should I start calling you that?" Nero asked with a bowl in her hand carrying dumplings. "Master Carmen... we didn't sign a contract, so, should we?"

"I'd prefer if you don't..." Carmen sighed. "We're all friends there's no need to be so formal. By the way, Yu, about those people with symbols on their hands, can you tell me more?"

"Unfortunately, I can't." Yu sighed, "all my knowledge comes from conversations I've heard when listening to the King and Ambassador. They talk about people with symbols who are accompanied by partners that look a lot like those in our history. It might be a coincidence, or maybe they found a way to bring those people back to life."

"The summoning ritual!"

"The... what?"

"It's a process where you get an artifact that belonged to a person in history and use it to summon them as a servant."

"Wait," Yu stopped her. "So, when you said 'contract' you meant like... bringing the dead back to life and making a pact with them?"

"I guess so..." Carmen thought as she rubbed the back of her head.