Strange Fate: A new beginning. Vol.1 Book 1

Chapter X. Welcome home, Heroes of Chaldea

Do not think about other things, there is one thing you can do. So master that one thing. Do not forget. What you must imagine is always that you, yourself, are the strongest. You do not need outside enemies. For you, the one you have to fight is none other than your image.

- Archer (Fate/stay night)

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"Welcome back and good job you two. You retrieved the grail." Dr. Romani greets them as they arrive on the rayshift. As Ritsuka checked for any injuries on her person before she discovered that the grail in her hands vanished. She asked, "Where is-"

"That I'll explain. The grail is the law that decides how magical energies in a dimension are used. Think of it as a world's rules. It normally doesn't have a form, but Lev crystallized it into one. We can't analyze its workings, but we can seal it away. I fiddled with mash's shield a little and created a space for the grail." As Da Vinci appears aside Dr. Romani. Waving all the details as Mash stared at her shield.

"My shield can do that?" Da Vinci nodded.

"Yes. The best place for relief is in a relic, I figure. It can only hold one at a time, so I yank it out after each retrieval, got it?"

"Ahh!" Mash squealed in shock as Da Vinci dragged her into the center of attention. Plucked the grail from the shield without effort. As if the shield was infused with the Holy grail inside of it. Filled Ritsuka's mind as she reminded herself to ask Dr. Romani.

"Ok. grail's retrieval is confirmed~𝅘𝅥𝅮 try your best to search for the next one!" Da Vinci purred in satisfaction. Nodding to her words. Dr. Romani agreed with her.

"This is our second grail and we've also achieved our original goal of finding Lev."

"But Lev is..." Dead.

"...That's right. Altera killed him, and we never found out what his plans were." Dr. Romani ruffled his hair. Nodding in frustration at Ritsuka's words as she trailed off. They still didn't understand his motives. Leading them to a dead end once more to square one.

"...You mean why he betrayed mankind and tried to... destroy it?" Mash asked.

"That's right. We still don't know anything, but still have five singularities left. Lev spoke of 'God.' In other words, there are other enemies out there just like him. What that means at this point, we don't know. All we can do is recover the grails one by one. And restore the singularities." This means the singularities will be unpredictable every time they compete one more time. Dr. Romani means.

"Then we've got a long way to go..." Ritsuka mumbled. It has only two singularities. Yet, their obstacles are getting more difficult. And she didn't know how many deaths she could stomach in her sleep...

"Good answer. I'm counting on you, Ritsuka. We don't have that much time, but for tonight try and rest well. You walked a long way. You'll want a good massage, I'm sure... That I and Da Vinci can at least arrange something for you to ease your mind." 'Thank goodness for Dr. Romani's kind heart.' Ritsuka mentally praised him. At least, the staff members in Chaldea are not the black company that squeezed their employees dry until they're husks and worthless to work for them.

It was comforting that everyone was in the same boat. Even though the staff members aren't at the front. They had been grateful for Ritsuka's effort to save the world. Despite not having the ability to join her fighting aside. They gave her things and tips to relax while she and Mash were in Chaldea for a break.

After being dismissed by Da Vinci-chan and Dr. Romani. As everyone left the rayshift room and headed to their respective duties. Until Da Vinci and Dr. Romani told her that there would be a surprise with the rest of the Chaldea to see as well, a meeting after it. And the surprise would be tomorrow at the Strategy center on the main floor.