The Mist City Awaits

"—ibly irresponsible! You should at least have made some sort of contact! Do you have any idea how worried we were?!" Yes, that was his life now: listening to Da Vinci's rant after he conveniently forgot to update them on the situation. While he went Servant hunting, they were dealing with an invasion of Nobus that looked like spiderman with how much they walked on the walls.

Seth just spun on Romani's chair, not bothering to pay much heed to her rambling. The said doctor was sipping on his mug of coffee while watching everything play out from the sides with amusement all over his face.

"I am not human, Da Vinci. I know how to defend myself, so your worries, while appreciated, aren't needed. Besides, we already tested the new communication technology as well as the upgraded machine to withstand energy readings on the levels of Beasts, which proves my point: there was no need to contact you or show you the data of the fights I went through." His calm tone did nothing to alleviate the genius, but she figured she would be talking to a wall if she continued with the matter.

"It is strange, though. How did you know how to improve our technology? No offense, but your culture doesn't scream futuristic. Unless you confirm to me that the aliens were indeed the ones that built the pyramids." Da Vinci raised a quizzical eyebrow while Romani just chuckled lightly, knowing that she was more interested in the second thing than the first, and going by the eye roll of the inquired person, he knew it as well.

"There was an ancient civilization in Kemet — old Egypt — dozens of thousands of years ago. I learned some bits from one of them when he begged me for help. But I assure you, they were as 'earthlings' as you two." Time sure flew fast for him. It seemed it was yesterday he got killed and later put through all that stupid reincarnation ordeal.

"Help? Against what?" This time it was the orange-haired man who asked. He might have once chosen wisdom over everything else, including, knowledge, but that didn't mean he wasn't curious, and even more so considering his current job.

"They were advanced, extremely so. Today's era is not even a tenth of what it was back then. However, they grew conceited. They wanted to take destiny into their own hands; to reach the stars above and overthrow us." A valiant effort and one he applauded. Sadly, they went at it with the wrong mindset.

"...I imagine your kind didn't take too kindly to that." Da Vinci's voice was heavy. Although not with direct experience, she could imagine how it would have been just with the data they had from Servants of the Age of the Gods that Seth obtained during his totally-not-forced-by-her part-time job.

"No, they did not. They were dead set on destroying them for that blasphemy. Knowing there was no way out, I tried warning one of the most understanding and level-headed ones through his dreams. He did what he could, but in the end, he could not convince the majority to stop what would be their demise. That is how I learned some things from his memory, though." His tone conveyed more exasperation than regret for their end, and they could guess why. First of all, he was sure to be on that 'hit list'. Second of all, they knew how hard it was to persuade hard-headed people hell-bent on doing something.

"If they wanted to rebel, they must have had a way to defeat all of you, am I wrong?" Da Vinci asked, already going in inventor mode. She even put on her glasses to exemplify that fact.

"Not at all. I vaguely remember hearing something about a giant of steel with the power to kill us all, but if their end meant something, they couldn't make it come to their aid." A shame, really. It was their only ticket to survival, and he was sure his past self would have liked to fight that thing—not that it mattered to his current self's situation.

"Hm... Do you have any idea perchance of where that "giant of steel" would be now, right~?" Caster got too close for comfort, and the twinkle in his... her... whatever eyes was blinding him. She was dedicated to the subjects that interested her, that much he would give her.

"It has been a long time. By now, it should be buried somewhere in the northern desert. What? Ready to kill me when I am not useful?" His sarcastic tone and hand gestures told the other two he obviously wasn't speaking seriously.

"Don't joke like that. I just consider it as a challenge to triumph over what my predecessors could not. Speaking of which, how did they meet their end?" Da Vinci also spoke in a mock-offended tone, something that made the other two smile a bit.

"They were buried alive. The Sahara as you humans call it it's a consequence of that." Seth answered, this time a bit stiffly, something the other two caught on, but decided not to dwell on it, fearing the good atmosphere would vanish.

"Bummer. I hoped I could meet one of them one day. One that is at least open to an exchange of ideas, anyway." She complained while crossing her arms; a gesture Seth didn't understand where it came from.

"You can literally go to the past with your little toy. Why complain about not being able to talk to them? Just make sure to travel at least a hundred years earlier than their failed revolt."

"Nope! We can't Rayshift willy-nilly! There are regulations we have to follow and such. Even if we break them all the time..." The last part was said in a whisper, although the black-haired man clearly heard it.

"Too many rules will only tie you down and prevent you from doing what has to be done in some scenarios." He could only provide a helpless shrug. At the end of the day, they were different; they have the same morals and ideas, so there wasn't much he could say.

"Easy for you to say. You are like a free spirit with no one to a few above you." Romani said while going to the main computer near Seth. The Egyptian God stood up from his seat to let the doctor do his work, something he acknowledged with a nod.

'If only that were true...' Those were his thoughts as he went to rest in the near wall. Outwardly, though, he showed nothing but small amusement.

Dr. Roman gasped, earning the other two's attention. They raised their eyebrows at the rapid tapping of keys, making them wonder what was that had gotten him in a more professional mood. His next words answered their doubts.

"I just found the coordinates for the next Singularity. I need a few minutes to set everything up, and we you would be set to go." He then gave Seth a glance from the corner of his eyes, looking apologetic. "Sorry to ask you the day after you came back from resolving the previous issue but time is something we lack unfortunately."

"You don't need to apologize. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 what I came for, after all. Just make sure everything goes well, and I will take care of the rest." Romani gave a thankful nod before returning to his task.

It was at that moment where Fujimaru and Mash entered the Command Room. The former looked a little pale. He was also swaying a bit on his steps. Good sleep seemed to have eluded him.

"Is there something wrong? You look terrible." Although she said that while smiling, the concern on Da Vinci's voice was easily noticeable.

"Senpai said he had a strange dream. Despite not remembering exactly what it was about, he seems to be suffering from it." It was the Shielder Servant the one who answered for him, while the direct party merely affirmed it with his head. He probably didn't even have the strength to speak.

'A strange dream? Right at this time? And he conveninetly forgot about it? I don't believe in coincidences and I am not going to start doing it now.' Those signs had 'visions' written all over them. It wouldn't be a strech to say those were indications of the awakening of Clairvoyance. He might not be an expert in that subject since the current him didn't posses it, and when he did, he couldn't take advantage of it, but he knew people that did. Without going far, Stargazer and Romani were one of them, although the former might not have it anymore.

Speaking of the orange-haired man, he was observing Fujimaru with a little shock on his face. Seeing his reaction, Seth practically confirmed his suspicions. However, if Romani didn't want to say anything, he wouldn't do it either.

The Doctor qucikly recomposed himself before addressing the pair. "We have everything we need to go to the next Singularity, but waiting a few hours wouldn't be much of a problem if you are not feeling fine. Go and have breakfast and relax if possible. We will be all set for when you two come back."

Mash was surprised at the reveletion. "Already? Where is it?"

"It's in the 19th Century. The closest to the modern era we have had so far, and it will probably stay like that. As for the location; it is London. Even though I don't think you will face Heroic Spirits from the Age of the Gods like back in Okeanos, it wouldn't hurt to be careful." Seth perked up a little at the mention of London. Going by the small amount of research he had made, he was able to know of an entrance to the Reverse Side of the World in that particular city. Unfortunately, the details of its location where all grayed out.

"Do not worry, Doctor. We will do our best in this Singularity as well!" Her enthusiasm made Romani and Da Vinci smile, and even Fujimaru looked more energetic.

The two didn't take long to exit the room, and all of a sudden, their smiled turned to tired ones. "Sigh... I am now worried..."

"Are you speaking about his dream?" Seth asked, making the orange-haired man tense slightly before relaxing shortly after. It was useless hiding it at this point.

"Yes... I am afraid it can mean something bad is going to happen. There is a chance we will meet the mastermind behind all of this as well." The Egyptian God didn't know if those were his fears speaking, or it was something more. In any case, he wouldn't take his words lightly.

"The chance is there. However, going to a battlefied afraid of the outcome means you already lost. Mastermind or not, our job remains the same." Seth's words didn't alleviate his fears, but at least it reassured him if only a little bit.

"I don't know if I am asking for much, but please keep an eye on them. I am not saying you have to be their nanny 24/7. Just... don't let them face something they are not prepared to." It was Da Vinci who spoke this time. She was as worried as Romani. It wasn't a secret that she had taken a liking to them, and it was not easy to send them to a Singularity knowing the possible outcome of death was there.

The Kingslayer silently looked at her. He couldn't promise that knowing the almost-sure outcome that awaited him in London, so instead of making a false promise, he would do what he could. "You have my word. I will protect them as long as I can, but as you said, I can't watch over them all the time. Danger or not, they need to mature by themselves on a war-filled ambient if they want to stand a chance against the worst of enemies. Take it as an advice from someone who once was in a similar position."

Although she wanted to refute his words; internally, she knew he was right. Still, anything other than nothing was okay for her. "Thanks, we owe you for this."

Dr. Roman nodded as well, wanting to express the same feeling of gratitude. He, though, wanted to add something. "I know I might be overreacting, but you be careful as well. There is this nagging feeling on the back of my mind that tells me this Singularity will not be as easy as it might seem."

"I am aware of that. Call it a hunch, but I feel like I might not come back here with the other two after we are done IF we are done." Those omnious words did nothing more but make the atmosphere heavy. Romani and Da Vinci didn't know if that was for the best. That way they wouldn't send them away with false hopes...

A few hours passed like that. During them, the three didn't speak much, only focusing on their tasks at hand. Romani with the Rayshift, Da Vinci with the capsules, and Seth trying to achieve the perfect state of mind.

Mash and Fijumaru returned once again. This time, the Japanese youth looked better than ever. A good sign, at least. Once they arrived, Seth went to his capsule to wait for the process to start.

"Are you ready?" Just by the force of habit, Dr. Roman asked them, receiving a nod in return. They also entered the capsules to start their journey anew.

'Good luck...' With those finally words in his mind, Romani Rayshifted them.