"This place is larger than it seems; the internal structures have sufficient capacity to protect a 20 story building or perhaps more."
Morgan commented, looking inside one of the underground warehouses within the Shield Brotherhood's headquarters. It was so vast that simply trying to see the end of it would be impossible. She and Artoria decided to use this place to perform the Heroic Spirit invocation ceremony. Initially, Artoria had planned to do it in Avalos, as she had done with Morgan, but changed her mind, considering that Leonardo of Fate would be more interested, given the strangeness of the surroundings and the information provided by the Holy Grail.
Given Leonardo da Vinci's personality, he would be quite fascinated to see so much unknown technology.
"Will you still use those plans as a catalyst? I think we've already found several things here that would serve that role better."
Morgan commented as she watched Artoria pull out the blueprint they found in Poland during the war, which turned out to be something by Leonardo da Vinci. Artoria had intended to use it as a catalyst to summon the Leonardo of FGO, but during their tour of the Immortal City's facilities, they discovered several more of Leonardo da Vinci's personal objects that would better serve their purpose.
"Well, it's not really for nothing, but since I brought it with me, it wouldn't hurt to use it. If it doesn't work, we'd just have to take something from the storeroom and try again."
Artoria answered, holding the plans in one hand and the Holy Grail in the other.
To use the Holy Grail in an invocation, there are no requirements other than the catalyst or something related to the heroic spirit one wishes to summon. Everything else, aside from the power that fuels it, functions without impediment. It remains a vessel of the Third Magic and a wish granting machine that, while unable to alter reality or time, can fulfill very powerful wishes. The only reason Artoria doesn't use it often is that she doesn't yet have the need. It's very likely she will use its powers to construct Chaldea.
"Everything is ready, so let's begin."
The summoning circle had already appeared on the ground, and Artoria threw the scroll into the center, causing it to float. This time, she didn't plan to chant a mantra; the first time had been out of emotion, and now that she considered doing it, it felt quite embarrassing, so she decided to keep it simple. The reaction was almost immediate, and the circle's glow changed from a faint red to an intense blue, its light intensifying until it obscured everything and then disappeared.
"Hello! This is the most beautiful of all the genies! Your servant, da Vinci-chan!"
In the middle of the circle appeared a woman with a sweet but haughty voice, puffing out her chest with pride, proudly displaying her enchanting smile, so captivating that it was difficult not to get lost in it. Confirming what had already been said, she was also beautiful.
The heroic spirit's clothing combined the style of the old Baroque and the freshness of modernity with the characteristic colors of red and blue. A transparent reddish veil covered her head, and in her hand which seemed mechanical, she held a large staff made of unknown gears and devices, with a star that shone at the end of it.
This was Leonardo da Vinci.
"I apologize for the inconvenience… da Vinci, but I summoned you to request your help."
Artoria spoke first, careful with her words. She didn't know if he would recognize her or know about her, if the events of FGO were still present in his memory, or if she was summoning a blank da Vinci for the first time.
"If it's not Artoria-san, it's a surprise to find ourselves like this, although... you're not the Artoria I knew, at least not entirely, and she is... Morgan. Eeh, what an interesting combination! Oh well, whatever! I won't delve into their family interactions and identity complications. It sounds like an interesting topic, but this isn't the time for that. Why the call, 'My new master'?"
"…well, I suppose... there would be no point in giving unnecessary explanations, ma'am… you must already know the situation."
Artoria said, smiling bitterly. "I wanted to be more polite when I spoke, but da Vinci didn't seem to like it much. It wasn't as if she could do anything about it; her speech was very affected now that it was Artoria, forcing her to always speak formally."
Da Vinci was a very methodical person, yet also very relaxed the kind who would discover the cure for cancer and dismiss it as a failed attempt because he wanted to make soy sauce instead, not out of carelessness, but because he focused so much on perfection that it would end up becoming something different.
With her analytical abilities and almost godlike perception, she was probably able to arrive at a nearly accurate conclusion about Artoria and Morgan's situation and the background of this world using the information provided by the Holy Grail. This saved Artoria a lot of explaining. Also, although it was in jest, the fact that she called Artoria "Master" indicated her willingness to cooperate.
That was good news.
"Of course! And I must say I'm quite excited to be in such an interesting world with new mysteries. I can't wait to explore everything this world has to offer, and I have a feeling you'll be able to offer me that and much more, right?"
Da Vinci commented, approaching Artoria with an expectant smile, an unknown gleam reflected in her gaze.
"Of course you're happy to know that right now we're in one of the cities that houses the most advanced technology humanity has ever known, all at our disposal."
Artoria commented, smiling slightly and placing her bait on the table. If it weren't for the fact that her face didn't show many expressions, she would have been smiling from ear to ear. This step was necessary to secure da Vinci's help and generate a desire not to leave.
Despite how she acted, da Vinci always kept a cool head. Even if she considered Artoria an old friend, she wouldn't be guided solely by that feeling; at least there should be something to gain by staying by her side.
"Really? Interesting, but I have to see that with my own eyes! Okay, show me around!"
Da Vinci spoke, to which Artoria simply yielded the right of way, guiding her from behind while she remained with Morgan, who had not said a word during the entire conversation.
"You know this could be faster if you used that."
"There would be no need; that would only be used when absolutely necessary, when an uncontrollable and troublesome heroic spirit is unwilling to cooperate; it's for emergency situations."
"Hmm, how naive! Nothing is a risk if you have absolute control in your hands, but even I admit that something like that wouldn't end well, especially with the kind of heroic spirits that exist."
What Morgan was referring to is a restriction that functions as a command spell that appears when Artoria makes a contract with the heroic spirits she summons, either by mutual agreement or unilaterally. This is insurance provided by the Holy Grail in case one of the summons gets out of control and is unwilling to cooperate.
Artoria doesn't use this restriction because she prefers to build bonds through mutual trust and avoids forcing anything to create a suitable atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship. Although she once planned to use it with Morgan, she ultimately decided against it as everything turned out well between them. However, she will keep it in mind for when she has to summon someone she knows will cause trouble, like a certain bastard in golden armor.
They walked through several intricate corridors until they reached the central hall of the Brotherhood's headquarters. Once there, da Vinci rushed to the central control panel and began deciphering the controls faster than Morgan and Artoria could figure out how to turn it on or off.
With the controls now decrypted, da Vinci entered the files, or so it seemed, and read the contents faster than Artoria could imagine, only pausing occasionally to nod slightly and continue.
"You know, it's a bit rude to serve yourself first when the hosts haven't even touched their plate yet."
Morgan commented, somewhat annoyed by da Vinci's brazen attitude in taking what now "belonged" to her, ignoring her opinion and permission.
"Oh, of course, hehe, sorry about that, but I couldn't help getting a little too excited. I was curious about the technological progress of this world, and I have to say I'm very surprised. There are many theories I didn't know, totally new information, and concepts yet to be discovered. If possible, I'd like to stay and investigate for as long as I want, but... I imagine it won't be free."
Da Vinci commented, looking at Artoria as if she already knew what she wanted or expected from her.
"I need your help to rebuild Chaldea in this world with the same purpose and the same ideals with which our world was built."
Artoria told her without hiding anything, that she really wanted to recreate Chaldea, more for selfish reasons than anything else, but in the end, it was something that would benefit others. With all the possibilities this world offered and its lack of restrictions, it's very likely that Chaldea would be bigger and more powerful than it was in the Type Moon universe.
"Hmm, why does fate want me to work like this? How ironic life is! Fine! I'll work to build Chaldea! ...Well, to tell the truth, even with the conditions involved, even as a sectarian, I'll help you. After all, I love humanity and its history. As someone who is part of it, I have a responsibility to protect it, and I also love Chaldea. We fought many battles together there and had great times there too. They are memories I wouldn't trade for anything, so if you were to ask me if I would be willing to do it again, I would say yes without hesitation. So now I will be at your service, Master-san."
Da Vinci said, approaching Artoria and extending her hand, which Artoria gratefully accepted with a slight but warm smile on her lips.
She knew what da Vinci meant; perhaps she wasn't the original Artoria, but she possessed her memories, and those included memories of her experiences in Chaldea. That's why the current Artoria had a great attachment to Chaldea and wanted to recreate it.
After that, da Vinci separated her hand from Artoria's and turned toward the center console.
"Alright! If we're going to start laying the foundations of Chaldea, we have to do it right. I need to take note of the facilities available here, inventory supplies, make repairs in important areas, and modify the system to make it easier to use. This will take some time, but I'll have fun with it. All these things are new to me."
Da Vinci said, typing rapidly on the control panel, opening and closing different files, and apparently modifying the central system of the city's functions.
"I'll make a basic report of what we might need for the construction of Chaldea, and I'll present it in, mmm, a few weeks, maybe in two and a half months if I get distracted a bit by the wonders of the place."
She gave her estimate while looking at Artoria and Morgan, wearing a pair of glasses that God knows where she got them from.
"Morgan and I will be busy for a few days, so we won't be around for a while. If you need anything right now, you can ask, as we won't be nearby… I apologize for leaving things to you."
Artoria said this while apologizing, explaining that her delayed arrival in the Immortal City had clashed with an important appointment they had at Oxford University. She now felt guilty for leaving all the work to da Vinci without their presence.
"Well, I don't really mind organizing the place myself, since that way no one bothers me, but since you mention it, mmm, some sweets wouldn't be bad! After all, they're good for keeping the brain active and providing energy."
She made her request, displaying a blinding gleam that made Artoria narrow her eyes.
"Well, it's not difficult. I'll buy some local specialties and bring them to you. And if you're also interested in this…"
With that, Artoria handed her a new SHIELD communicator, designed to be worn near the ear and providing her with a direct line to Artoria. Whenever there were new advancements in SHIELD technology, she was always the first to receive the complete products, something that was much appreciated in these situations.
After their conversation, they stayed a while helping with some quick things inside the facility until they said goodbye to a happy da Vinci with her sweets and left the Immortal City.
The events that were about to happen were important, and Artoria didn't want to miss them.
In London, near Oxford University, a couple was leaving the main entrance. The girl was speaking excitedly to the man beside her as they left the building.
"Congratulations on obtaining your master's degree, Professor Charles Xavier."
The girl who said this was a rather beautiful young woman with a round face and flattering blonde hair the perfect combination of childlike cuteness and mature beauty. But unfortunately, this appearance was a facade. Beneath the tender white skin hid strong shades of blue, and the blonde hair was actually a reddish color, and her healthy honey colored eyes were entirely yellow. This was Raven, now taking the name Raven Xavier, as Charles's adoptive sister and future heroine or villain called Mystique.
"Well, in theory I won't really be a teacher until I practice my profession. I haven't taught anyone enough to be considered any kind of teacher; I don't have that kind of experience."
The man, now introduced as Charles Xavier, answered Raven with considerable humility. He was none other than the future Professor X, but currently still young, with hair and walking. A young mutant with the ambition to unite mutants and humans in a peaceful society, but unsure where to begin, limiting himself initially to achieving breakthroughs in the medical, biological, and other fields to build influence.
"Alright! Now let's celebrate that you got your headline tonight. While strolling through the neighborhood, I found a pretty good bar. Let's go and put your stamina to the test."
She offered, pushing Charles from behind, quite excited. He didn't refuse, as he also wanted to de-stress a little, perhaps by sharing a night or two with some charming English lady.
"Congratulations on your master's degree, Professor Charles."
In the midst of their jubilation, the couple was interrupted by the presence of two people known to them.
"That's Artoria!"
Like a child who meets their lifelong hero, Raven pushed Charles aside and ran toward Artoria, who was waiting for her with a smile. She hugged her, wrapping her arms around Artoria's waist, and Artoria responded with pats on her back.
"Congratulations, Mr. Xavier, I'm glad to know you passed the tests of higher education despite finding your teachers' legs more interesting than what they had to say."
Morgan commented sarcastically to Artoria, to which Charles just turned his gaze away in embarrassment, scratching the top of his head in an attempt to calm his growing anxiety.
Artoria and Morgan had already met Charles and Raven some years before when they arrived in London and Charles enrolled at Oxford.
Morgan was the first to interact with Charles when he was teaching at Oxford, noticing him staring at her frequently. This was because Charles couldn't read Morgan's thoughts; it wasn't that he couldn't enter them, he just couldn't understand them. Besides the magical barriers she erected to prevent mental intrusions since it's not difficult for magicians to probe and influence the minds of others, Morgan's own mind was also strange; it was a fusion of separate parts of herself: one human, one witch, and one fairy, creating a dark and fragmented fog in her memories and thoughts. This wasn't strange to Morgan, but to the telepath, it was an indecipherable chaos.
Morgan noticed Charles' attempts to read her mind, so she confronted him. It was a somewhat hilarious interaction, as Morgan was just toying with the boy while he panicked, unable to know what she was thinking or what her intentions were. In the end, their conversation concluded with Morgan promising to keep quiet about Charles' powers, even though he didn't entirely believe her. This encounter was reported to Artoria, and she realized almost immediately that he was the future Professor X.
Artoria wanted to form a relationship with the mutants and build bonds, so she created a situation to have an interaction with a young Raven who accompanied Charles during his studies at Oxford.
Making a good impression was easy for her since Raven seemed to admire her a lot, which was not surprising; Artoria was the quintessential heroine admired by many women around the world.
Their meeting happened by chance. Raven seemed a little lost in the streets of London; after all, it was her first time in the city. So Artoria approached her and offered to give her a tour of the city and guide her to her destination.
Raven quickly grew fond of Artoria, not only because she was a world renowned war hero, but also because of her kind nature and the tranquility one feels when by her side.
Raven quickly formed a friendship with Artoria, considering her like a sister she never had. During their periodic interactions, Raven also introduced her to Charles, who immediately associated her with Morgan, not only because of their striking resemblance but also because, like Morgan, she couldn't read thoughts, albeit for a different reason.
If Morgan's mind was a labyrinth with no entrance or exit, Artoria's mind was like a straight corridor; the further you went, the farther away the end seemed. That's why Charles couldn't read Artoria's mind; her thoughts were so distant that nothing could be gleaned from them.
With this encounter, Artoria and Morgan interacted more, with Artoria acting more as a guide and emotional support for Raven and Charles, and Morgan becoming, unfortunately, Charles' stress relief toy.
During the time the sisters interacted with the two, Raven developed enough trust with Artoria to impulsively reveal her true form. In Raven's young mind, Artoria was trustworthy enough to share her secret. This didn't surprise Artoria, as she had always known Raven's true nature, or rather, she had always seen her in her blue form. Her fairy eyes, beyond the physical, always revealed the truth, so Raven's transformations were useless to Artoria; she would always see her as she truly was. Initially, when they met, she was surprised, as the Raven she saw was very different from the one she remembered from the movies. Her skin was blue, but not scaly. Aside from the color, she was like any other. Her hair didn't look like she'd had a bottle of gel dumped on it; it was no different from the soft, wavy red she wore when she transformed. And her eyes had pupils, but upon closer inspection, they were entirely yellow and emitted a faint glow. This surprised Artoria, but then she dismissed it. This was better than the movie version, so she accepted it as it was.
Raven was surprised not to see any surprise in Artoria's expression or gaze. Artoria wasn't very expressive, after all, so it was difficult to say anything in response to Raven's confusion. Artoria simply smiled and explained her reason, which went something like this:
"To my eyes, you never looked different, Raven. You were always you, and you always will be to me as what you truly are, and that's what you look like."
This could have been love at first sight for Raven's young heart, as she became more attached to Artoria after that, something Morgan didn't like at all.
With a certain amount of trust already established, Artoria also acted as a guide for a young Charles, giving him clues to fulfill his ideals and dreams of coexistence between humans and mutants.
In one of their conversations, Charles revealed that he had already met Erik Lehnsherr, the future Magneto, and that he didn't know where he was now. This worried him because Erik was consumed by a burning desire for revenge, and he feared that his old friend would fall into a dark spiral from which he would not be able to escape.
The dynamic between the sisters and both mutants didn't change much during the time Charles was studying at Oxford, and that led to the current situation.
"Okay, girl, you've had enough, now separate."
Saying that, Morgan pulled Raven away from Artoria's waist, and in response, Artoria looked at Morgan with annoyance but quickly changed her attitude, standing next to Charles, who had approached and then extended an invitation to both of them.
"Let's go to a secluded bar to celebrate Charles's mastery. Do you want to come?"
Raven asked, looking at Artoria with undisguised anticipation.
"Of course, I'm glad to know that she was able to be included in their celebration."
Artoria answered in affirmation, making Raven jump for joy.
"It won't be a general inconvenience for Artoria if they have another project underway; we don't want to cause them any problems."
Charles argued, which consequently earned him a resentful look from Raven.
Unlike Raven, Charles still referred to Artoria formally, just as he did to Morgan, always calling her Dr. Morgan. He had great respect for them both, and if Artoria were neglecting some important matter just to indulge Raven's whim, he would feel terrible. Artoria and Morgan held high positions in society and the British military; there must be more important matters to attend to than accompanying two young civilians to a celebration.
"I'm a year away from retirement, so it doesn't really matter what I do now. I don't have a job at the moment, so going out and having a little fun wouldn't hurt."
Artoria said, forgetting that she left a da Vinci in the Immortal City doing almost all the work of managing the facilities. Regarding retirement, if it wasn't a lie, Artoria in her civilian life was already over 50 years old, old enough to retire from the military, although she would still retain her military rank for easy mobility among the high command and to avoid interference when carrying out SHIELD work.
"The same goes for me. My hospitals manage themselves efficiently thanks to my staff training. As long as there's no emergency, I don't have to show up. I'm not teaching right now, so I'm free. Besides… someone should keep an eye on this amoeba to make sure it doesn't jump out and try to bite my dear sister's face, using the excuse of being too drunk."
Morgan commented, looking at Raven suspiciously, to which she responded by making a rude gesture.
"Okay, it's decided, let's go."
With Artoria and Morgan's confirmation, Charles could do nothing but sigh and follow the others.
As the others left, a woman followed behind them. Morgan and Artoria noticed her but paid no attention.
The wheels of destiny were turning, and changes would become more noticeable later in this story, where the first heroes were born.