Kuoh.
I looked out the window, slowly savoring the taste of my drink.
The weather outside was beautiful. Through the open windows, the chirping of birds and the pleasant cool breeze flowed in, and the rustling of leaves inspired a natural calmness. Children full of joy were playing with each other, while the parents watching them nearby were smiling and chatting away. In short, a complete idyll, Heaven on earth, a new Eden, and....
And definitely not what was happening at my desk at the moment.
I don't even want to turn my head to see what's going on at the table. But out of the corner of my eye, I was watching what was going on. Who brought me coffee and is now sitting next to me? Akeno, of course. What's she doing here? And why here? I have no idea. I mean, I do, but to be so direct? Heh, very unexpected.
Akeno sat next to me, practically pressed against my body, and stared intently at Morgan. The fairy queen, for her part, found her behavior extremely amusing, judging by the cheerful grin on her face.
- I take it you're on a date, fairy-san? - Pulling on a smile, Akeno asked.
- Why ask a question that has an obvious answer? - Morgan said and propped her head up with her hand - Does this make you uncomfortable, child?
- Yes," came the direct answer, to which I raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Sensei definitely doesn't take me seriously as a woman, and that frankly makes me uncomfortable. And the romantic atmosphere that was there before I came here makes me very jealous.
- Oh? Why are you saying all this?
- So that sensei can hear it," Akeno said and looked at me, "I know you are courting two women already, and there are those who intend to join them. So why not add me to the ranks of the first?
I turned in her direction and tilted my head to the side.
Has Akeno always been so straightforward? And I don't mean flirting or teasing, but actually trying to build a relationship.
Wait a minute, though. In the anime, she, and not just her, fell in love with Issei just because, matter-of-factly, didn't she? "Saved" Rias from an imposed wedding, to be more precise. Of course, you could say that if Issei hadn't done that, Raiser would have gone off on Rias's entourage, but, is that so?
Any way you look at it, Raiser's entourage actually cares about him and he cares about them. No insults or violence, just blatant acting out in public. Even Ravel, who is a god dandelion, took care of him and Riser never laid a finger on her. Sexually, I mean.
Plus, I doubt even canon Riser didn't understand the underbelly, at least partially. Would Sirzechs have left him and his family alone? Well yeah, well yeah, Heaven would burn before that would happen.
To summarize, the relationship plotting in works like this is utter crap with an appropriate odor.
- Let me start with the fact that I'm thirty and you're seventeen," I started, but was interrupted.
- Are you really trying to use that excuse? In the supernatural world, age doesn't matter. Besides, in Japan, it's allowed to be consensual, even under the age of majority.
- Your father will be pro-
- I can convince him.
- Then-
- Stop making up reasons not to do it. It won't work," she said firmly, "Don't you realize that I intend to see this through?
In response, I sighed tiredly and snapped my fingers. Seconds later, Akeno was teleported to the occult research club, and Morgan's gaze was now directed at me.
- Oh? I didn't realize you were such a coward, husband," she chuckled, "But you do realize she won't back down, right? Her words were firm and confident, as was her gaze.
At her words, I chose to remain silent and stare out the window.
- That girl really loves you. I can see it with my own eyes, both as a woman and as a fairy," Morgan continued, and took a sip of the wine that had appeared in her hand, "But you don't accept her. And it really intrigues me why. She has a gifted body, a beautiful face and a mature mind, and the question of strength will easily be resolved in time. But why won't you accept her? Or... can't you?
I looked at her with a detached look.
- It's rather strange to hear about love from a person like you, Morgan le Fay. What is the reason for such interest in the matter?
- I like mysteries. Especially those involving human interaction. And what I have in front of me right now falls under both. In fact, I've been interested in this question for a long time. The only woman you're not afraid to open up to is Beast II. At first I found it unremarkable, but now... Why are you afraid of betrayal, Romani Archaman?
I've gone silent again.
- The level of affection you show me and Beast II is very different. Sure, it can be blamed on the circumstances surrounding me, but is it limited to them? You don't view me as your mate, not even remotely. As it is, you cannot lie to me. Not with your words, not with your actions," she placed her glass on the table and looked at me, "I'll repeat the question, why do you fear betrayal, Romani Archaman?
The wall clock of the makduck ticked loudly, diluting the silence. Apart from it, I heard nothing: not the rustling of leaves, not the chirping of birds, not the voices of people.
Her question I could not answer. Being a Romani Archaman, I remember nothing that could even remotely be the cause of this. Of my past life... my memory retained only the rough outlines of it. No names, no faces, and no feelings. But when I try to remember, a headache immediately pierces my head. Neither I, who possesses 3rd magic, nor Goetia, the Beast, can figure out the cause. It's as if something is blocking that section of memory. But, even after trying to explore my soul, I couldn't detect at least something.
Of course, I could just forcibly try to "cleanse" my soul with True Magic, but then this world would collapse. And I'm not willing to take that sin upon myself.
Sighing tiredly, I lowered my gaze to my gloved hands.
- I don't know. Unfortunately, or fortunately, that's the only answer I can give.
Silence hung between us for a few moments. Morgan looked thoughtful and intrigued, her hand rubbing her chin.
- 'How interesting...' she said, and then, grinning, stood up from the table, 'Come on, husband.
- Hmm?
- This date wasn't bad, but next time I expect something mesmerizing. Remember that.
If it happens, uh-huh-uh.
-0-
After the Magician and Fairy couple left, the three Servants were still sitting at the table, pondering what had happened. Emiya sat silently with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. Artoria was biting into her burger, but without much enthusiasm, and Merlin was rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
- That was interesting. - After a while, the Flower Mage said.
- The Master is a Pseudo-Servant. And usually, when merging with a Servant, the memory is not damaged, isn't it? - Archer asked.
- Indeed," Merlin nodded, "And considering who the Master merged with, the chance of something like that happening should be zero.
- Then why couldn't he answer Morgan's question? - Artoria asked.
- 'I don't know,' Merlin shrugged, 'I can't get inside his head, you know. But it's really intriguing. I tried to get him to talk about his life before I came to this world once, but.....
- But? - Archer raised an eyebrow.
- It didn't work. He couldn't even remember his name or his parents' names. As Master had explained, everything was like a blur, even under the influence of 3rd magic.
- Root? - Artoria suggested.
- Quite possibly. To get True magic, you have to get inside the Root, and only Aoko Aozaki and Zelretch managed to do that. - Merlin replied.
- And the Einzberns? Didn't they possess 3rd magic? - Artoria continued.
- Yes, but no. I would call it a demo. The one the Einzberns possessed could only resurrect, but not affect the soul itself. - Merlin explained.
- So we don't know anything either, huh? - Archer sighed tiredly.
- Uh-huh. My Clairvoyance can't answer that either. Neither can the Masters, most likely. - Merlin summarized and fell silent.
But there was a suggestion in Merlin's mind. A crazy one, but quite possible. Alaya, who had thrown Romany into this world, couldn't affect memory on a level where even True Magic couldn't help.
However, if someone more powerful than the Unconscious Will of Mankind itself had influenced the Master and had already then passed it on to Alaia? She had mentioned that she had made a plot-related mistake already after she had thrown Romani in here.
But she never said why she moved him to this world.
Was it a call from Alaya personally, or had someone asked her to?
Merlin frowned.
"It doesn't seem to be that simple, eh?"
-0-
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