Octo

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Though the fireballs weren't doing as much as Gertrude had hoped, they at least weren't killing anybody, and they were forcing the knights to stay in place and block. It wasn't a bad outcome, but still really annoying. By the time Rolan had caught up to her, Gertrude was in between seething at how heavily-armored the knights were and seething that the dunderheaded boor from the other day had any capacity to perform magic whatsoever (it was stupid people magic, but magic nonetheless).

Gertrude growled as Rolan had the gall to suggest literally any course of action to her, but softened a little at what small reverence he placed upon her abilities. It was the first bit of praise she'd gotten thus far from these fools, even though she'd deserved far more.

"Notice how that pompous popinjay seems to have brought twice as many troops as he'd intended to use?" Gertrude responded, sneering, "my guess is that if I go too hard and kill everyone in the middle, the awaiting flanks will swoop in while the initial crew revive and rotate out. Big waste of mana. The trick is finding a way to maim them just enough, or at least get them out of the way."

She needed something a bit more impactful than fireballs, so the next step up would be...

Ah, there it was. Straight from the Captain's mouth. Adoration. At least, a little.

"Surely you can praise me more, mistress," Gertrude responded, smirking as she got on her broomstick sidesaddle, "we'll see if this gets you any headway. If not, I may just have to start killing the minimal amount."

Gertrude lifted off into the air as Gretchen finished chanting. The other knights had summarily gotten out of the way for her, so the entire area ahead of them was open for the fully-charged spell she had been working on.

"...Shooting Stars!"

It wasn't a high-level spell, but the more you put into it, the more you got. It would be perfect for disruption, maiming, and knocking unconscious any number of the knights directly ahead of her own allies-

Her own tools.

Though it was a bit novel, not having everyone be your enemy.

A countless number of magical bullets rained down on the Talderian knights from above. Those that were quick might raise their shield to the sky, which would leave them open from the front. Those that were not quick might find themselves unconscious or dead from the sheer number and force of the stars. Either way, it was on the Roses to capitalize.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude frowned. She understood the safety precautions, and was rightfully at least a little impressed that Gisela developed these insanely complex and accurate circles (she had enough damn time to tinker with the things, so it wasn't that impressive), but it still felt like she was being treated like a child.

And Gertrude hated being looked down on.

"I get it, I get it, but I'm not some idiot kid, OK?" Gertrude growled as she quickly memorized each circle, "I'm a damn prodigy. Didn't get any formal education, but I've learned from the best, and I've humiliated plenty of the losers at the Mage's College who paid their way into relevance with daddy's money."

Gertrude stood to her full height, and towered over Gisela, looking down at her.

"I'm no one's apprentice, and no one's colleague, but I don't mind showing you how a real mage does things. I know your circles, Gisela, and I'm not only going to modify them perfectly in the future, but I'll make them even better," Gertrude announced smugly.

Then blushed a little.

"T-that said... I mean, not that I'd even need it, because I'm ridiculously beautiful, but... well, you understand. Knowledge is power, and all. What kind of idiot would relinquish yet another option? You never know when you'll need something. So, y'know..."

Gertrude reached out her hand.

"Uh... there's really no harm in learning to summon a succubus, yeah? Obviously, you understand what I'm talking about. You developed it."

---

Gertrude had an overwhelming desire to glass the entire road ahead of her. To call down a Meteor Fall and just kill everyone indiscriminately. The knights were all bunched together in that pleasing way people get when they wish to protect something precious.

She wanted to shatter that unity.

However, that was not the mission, and Gertrude had no faith whatsoever in their opposition not to revive from point-blank annihilation and say 'but you didn't get within striking range'.

And Gertrude was not about to have to do this test again.

The Captain (her name was Fanny or something) had told her to stay in back and disrupt. Gertrude didn't want to follow orders, but she also didn't want to get too close to the pointy sticks and was more than eager to let the others do that. Well, as basic as it was, the role the Captain gave her suited Gertrude just fine. When Fanilly gave the order to advance, Gertrude poured mana into her broomstick. The catalyst, which carried a portion of her soul, was able to immediately read her intent to cast a fireball, and just as quickly as the mana was supplied, a fireball shot out. And then another. And then another.

Gertrude's aim was to completely bombard the opposing force with terrifying, rapidly-fired explosions, which would likely be made even more disruptive with the smoke that was now descending over the formation. As Gertrude enjoyed the chaos, Gretchen began reciting an incantation behind her.

No one else mattered, because Gertrude was in perfect concert with herself, and she could never let her down.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude had thought she understood the Demon, but she wasn't getting it at all. Without stakes, a fight wasn't really a fight. Who could try their best if they knew there were no lasting consequences? How could you prove you're better than other people if they weren't giving it their all? No, Gertrude didn't understand it. Even with legends to fight, could it ever be more than a friendly spar?

Gertrude frowned as Gisela rushed in with a bunch of paper and charcoal, and began feverishly drawing a circle. Though Gertrude recognized the contents, the arrangement was utterly baffling. She assumed it had to do with a formula she wasn't familiar with, since summoning was one field in which she had very little experience. Gertrude sighed, and knelt down.

It was easy enough for her to copy the circle perfectly just by sight, but without knowing the underlying formulas of this school of magic, she was unable to make modifications like she liked.

"Mind explaining what I'm looking at? I'm pretty good at copying spells, even if I don't understand everything about them, but I can't do my own thing unless I understand the underlying theories."

Gertrude dropped the piece of charcoal, having quickly and easily completed the circle. A perfect copy.

"Copying is easy. Adding is the fun part."

Fate/Illuminate Histoire

Lucia looked down at where she and Nero's hands connected, frowning slightly. Nero's thumb ran gently across the back of Lucia's hand. Was she nervous? Anxious? Excited? Maybe all of them, but she was definitely uneasy. Lucia knew that Nero would much rather be forward about their involvement, but staying silent and gathering information was their best bet until later. Lucia worried about her own inexperience, but had faith that God had chosen her for a task she could complete.

Surely, the location of her command seals was a sign. Divine providence, communicating to her that she should remain hidden until absolutely necessary. Stay the course, and be rewarded.

But with what? Lucia had no wishes in particular to give the grail. Perhaps her purpose was to find a suitable Master with a wish that would not disturb God's Earth? To find such a person among Magi seemed... difficult.

Not to mention, Nero would likely not accept second place, even if that was Lucia's own desire.

Well, it was no use thinking about such things now. With her unoccupied hand, she gently prodded Nero's forehead.

"No cook wants to hear 'it's no concern to me'. Good food, good wine, good company... all things meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. I want to offer you wonderful, delicious things to make you giddy," Lucia scolded lightly, "but... I understand your concern. We can go easy on the bread, if you like. I'm also preparing a delicious side salad in a light vinaigrette."

Lucia gently let go of Nero's hand.

"Also... thank you for sticking with me. I understand the current leg of our journey is difficult, but I am certain that something wonderful awaits us at the end."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"Huh... no preparation or bargaining? Is your arrangement a set rate? You're definitely getting something out of it."

Gertrude lazily swung her legs over and got up from the chair, approaching the Demon to better appreciate her height. She tilted her head and frowned as she looked up at the woman from her full stature.

"Or do you just know that when she summons you, there's a worthwhile fight to be had?"

Gertrude crossed her arms under her chest, her frown becoming a smug smile.

"I know that crazy-ass grin of yours. You like a good brawl? I get it. Crushing people is fun, but I honestly can't imagine there being anything enjoyable in a world where no one really dies. All games with no stakes. Does that really get your blood boiling?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

By this point, Gertrude was pretty used to getting yanked around by old ladies with more magic than sense.

But it didn't piss her off any less.

The teleportation went off with a surprising speed, likely due to the Hundi's insane mana stores. Gertrude could practically smell the magic leaking off the woman, and it was enough to make her insecurities flare up a bit. Her eye twitched as Gisela summoned a Demon and ran off, as if Gertrude needed a babysitter. She stretched out on the chair like a cat just getting up from a nap, and looked the Demon up and down.

It wasn't often that Gertrude met a woman taller than she was. This one was a Demon, and by definition something of an outlier, but still it was odd.

Gertrude was, surprisingly, not made to feel insecure by being shorter than this Demon. In fact, it was somewhat comforting. Though she used her height to lord over others, Gertrude was, in fact, a bit self-conscious about it. It was almost nice to not be the tallest woman in the room for the first time in years.

"My former employer had a maid fetish," she answered candidly, "I suppose I just got used to it. Besides, if you dress like people expect a mage to dress, they're probably going to go after you. No group unilaterally decides to murk the maid."

Gertrude raised an eyebrow.

"What's your deal? Did Gisela just cast 'conjure babysitter' or what?"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude frowned. An interrogation already? Damn old bat. She didn't want to play this game just to pursue a new avenue of study, but she was at least willing to do the bare minimum to alleviate the boredom. She crashed unceremoniously into the chair and slung her legs over the armrest, turning her head sideways in order to engage with the Hundi.

"I don't think I have the answer you want. I'm bored, and I want to learn something useful and new. I think it would be fun to summon up creatures to do things for me that I don't want to do."

Gertrude crossed one leg over the other, and rested her cheek on her palm, never breaking eye contact.

"Anyways, if it's risky, what better place to pick it up than in Merilia's deathless wonderland? Who knows, the risk might even prove exciting enough to kick this ennui."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

After getting the information she needed from Lilette, Gertrude knocked on a few doors at the Mage's College and through rudeness and audacity found her mark hiding in an office. Lilette had warned that the woman had no affiliation with the Roses and was under no obligation to assist her, but if she refused, so what? Gertrude was mostly killing time anyways, and the appeal of summoning creatures to do stuff you don't want to do was at least a little enticing.

It wasn't in her normal wheelhouse of killing and self-preservation spells, but she had spells to make life easier as well. The methodology was a bit different, but she assumed the result would be favorable. It would be easy enough to pick up if the woman showed her how it was done.

Gertrude roughly knocked on the door.

"Hey, lady, I'm bored," she announced as if this was Gisela's problem, "teach me what you know about summoning. It would be any mage's pleasure to provide value to a beautiful young genius like me."

---

Meanwhile, Gretchen occupied herself with any tome that seemed rare or interesting. She was mostly concerned with magic, but knowledge was power too, and she had a feeling that a lot of the books in this Candaeln weren't exactly widely available back home. She figured she might as well partake while she was able. Normally she'd check out the library in the Mage's College, but that would put her at risk of being found out. Nosy bastards.

Well, she wanted to keep an eye on Florian from afar anyways, so it was no huge loss. Gretchen often read outside so that she wouldn't miss any of the training sessions he was conducting. He seemed mostly occupied with Fleuri, who Gretchen wasn't well-acquainted with.

She wanted to pick up the styles that Florian was keen on using so that she could confidently murder him if she got the chance.

As she watched, she added a myriad of techniques that she would never use to her knowledge base just so she'd be ready for any number of things. She doubted she was even really scratching the surface, given it was just training. However, even in the choices he made while sparring, she might be able to put together an accurate idea of what he could do.

So she could shut him down and humiliate him.

Fate/Illuminate Histoire

Lucia watched Beatrice with some interest. All of her teasing scarcely seemed to phase the woman, which wasn't as fun as it could have been, but she had some interesting reactions nonetheless. At the very least, the woman was capable of biting back. There was something beneath that prim and proper shell, and Lucia wanted to see it.

This was not some strategic mind-game to give Lucia an edge, however. It was genuine curiosity and interest in their new guest. Aside from Nero, Beatrice was the first magus Lucia had ever met. An Association magus, at that, if the woman was truthful. Lucia knew the basics of their organization, but the old men at the Vatican didn't exactly have glowing praise for the Mage's Association. She was eager to discover a few things on her own, but that would have to wait.

When Beatrice mentioned the Tohsakas, Lucia visibly tilted her head. She'd heard the name, of course, and knew that they were one of the three founding families of the Grail Wars, but she wasn't privy to any sort of arrangement. Did they work together in the past? That seemed odd, but given Lucia's own involvement, she didn't exactly doubt the Church's eagerness to guide things where able. She frowned slightly before Nero showed up.

And my, what an outfit she showed up in. Of course, Lucia was already used to Nero dressing up in all sorts of outrageous things. She probably would have told Nero to dress as a nun or something, but she already had the woman on a leash. If someone else were her Master, she'd probably be strutting proudly about the city. Lucia certainly didn't want to step on Nero's spirit more than was required.

No, even Lucia didn't entirely understand why she cared about Nero's feelings so much. Why it felt nice to hang around with her. Why it had been fun to explore Rome together. She was the Antichrist, after all. Maybe it was all a trick...

Is what someone decidedly less trusting than Lucia would think.

"We're colleagues," Lucia answered Beatrice as the woman headed off to speak with the overseer, "hope you two have fun~"

Lucia regarded Nero with an odd fondness, gently taking the woman's hand in hers.

"Oh, your Leah impression is really good! I'm impressed," Lucia complimented with a short giggle, "how are you feeling tonight? Any special requests as far as food? Anything you'd like to do?"

---

Ludwig regarded the food she was splitting with her Master intently, before stabbing at it with a single chopstick. Truly, it was an interesting utensil! Like fighting one's food with a fang-sharp rapier to claim victory. Arthur did not, to her dismay, offer to take her shopping for something nice. Maybe he needed a more straightforward shove! That was Ludwig's specialty, after all.

Ludwig gave Arthur the smile that captured the hearts of her people, and placed her hand on her chest as if about to deliver a grand speech.

"Arthur, is it? A suitably heroic name, as expected of my Mast- of... you! As I explained, I am Ludwig II of Bavaria. Though perhaps you mean to ask my class name... which would be Saber, of course! Only the most heroic class would be suitable for the most heroic Servant, wouldn't you agree? You may call me Saber or Ludwig or even Ludie, if you'd like! After all, we are already friends."

Ludwig gazed upon her Master brightly. Somehow, the young man didn't seem completely impressed, but Ludwig's positive spirit was unassailable.

"Would you, perhaps, like to get kimonos together? I understand that my current garb, while gorgeous and jaw-dropping, may not fit with the eastern setting. Presentation is an important part of any adventure, so we should wear clothing suitable for the tale! If money is a concern, I will surely make enough on the way to cover our expenses and then some."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Gertrude was feeling somewhat comfortable about her position. Amy didn't really have anything on her except vague suspicion, and as long as Gertrude didn't say anything, nothing could be confirmed. Sure the little Devil could spread rumors and tell everyone how untrustworthy Gertrude seemed, and the others were likely to believe her, but it was hardly actionable.

And as far as anyone was concerned, Merilia herself told the group of bozos to take good care of her.

But that relative certainty crumbled the moment Lilette stepped in and basically outed her whole schtick. She didn't say anything for certain, but it was enough for someone as reasonably intelligent as Amy to piece together. Maybe not the whole thing, but enough to know that it had to do with souls and was likely capital-w-Witchcraft. Gertrude's cheeks reddened ferociously as she was double-teamed by the two women, and not in the way she might have liked.

Of course Gertrude knew that plenty of people might be able to tell that Gretchen was off, which is why Gretchen generally stayed in one place and studied while Gertrude conducted business. She obviously had to come up with something when Merilia dumped them both here, however, and it was reasonable to think that the sister lie would go over easily enough that no one would look too close.

How was she to know that the Roses had a Demonic empath? Fuck.

And it hadn't really occurred to her that everyone here would probably be interested in newcomers. The mages were probably champing at the bit to examine every last one of them. Double fuck.

Logically, she knew she should be thankful to Lilette for giving her a warning, but screw that. Amy didn't have to know all of this.

And yet, in spite of having everything she needed, Amy still told Gertrude about her abilities. Gertrude would normally think that she was just lying, but everything fit neatly into place. How she knew about Gertrude's oddity, how she could make things appear and disappear, and how Gertrude couldn't parse her magic.

Gertrude obviously couldn't copy magic that came from a Demonic bloodline, which she'd imagined was the case, though she did not know the nature of it.

All of this, given willingly.

Was she stupid?

When Amy appeared behind her and touched her shoulders and adjusted her wreath, Gertrude's immediate response was anger. She didn't like being touched, and these morons kept doing it. Kept touching her and yanking her around and it reminded her of that asshole. She was furious, until she realized how gentle Amy's hand was. What was this girl? Amy was obviously trying to get Gertrude to like her so she could use her and then throw her away. Just pretending to be kind. Of course, no one could legitimately care for her. Gertrude brushed her shoulder off as Amy backed away, like the woman's touch carried some sort of disease.

"Let me be blunt. I don't trust anyone, and I don't have friends. I've been around long enough, and no one's gonna fool me again," Gertrude said flatly, oddly less angry than she thought she'd be, "I'll work with the Iron Roses for my own reasons, but I'm not interested in your stupid friendship and togetherness spiel. People use each other, and that's all. I have something you all need, and the Iron Roses... might have something I want. Do you think anyone would be friends with someone weak and useless? Love them? Care about them? They'll throw that person out with the rest of the garbage. Conversely, I'm strong. I'm a prodigy as far as magic is concerned, so even if you all hate my guts, you'll have to play along because you won't get better than me. That's the reality."

As Gertrude laid out her grim worldview, she closed in on Amy, her neutral expression becoming a frown.

"But if you're being real about this, or you think you are, then prove it by not telling anyone what you learned here. If you can do that, then maybe, just maybe you'll be able to trick me into trusting you."

It was about all Gertrude could do to keep the word from getting out. Normally, she'd just kill whoever got in her way, but she happened to be in one of few situations in which that was strictly not an option. Then, she rounded on Lilette.

"And I don't want you saying anything either, though I doubt you will. That said... know any mages around here good at summoning magic? I obviously don't need any training, but if I'm stuck here anyways, I might as well steal a few magic tricks. Preferably someone who won't care about my... situation."

Gertrude was tempted to call Lilette 'grandma' just out of habit, but the old lady really was keeping it together. Not hard for an Elf, but still.