Chapter 33: Ritsuka and Ophelia
Ophelia was shown infront of Ritsuka door, as she was talking deep breath, as was ready to knock on it but stopped and spinned around
Ophelia spoke to her self. "You can do Ophelia, you can do Ophelia, just rember the advices Pepe gave can do to".
"You can do what"
She turned her her head her faces turned read she she saw her crush Ritsuka standing with Morgan confused. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
Ritsuka looked at Ophelia, startled by her reaction. "Whoa, Ophelia, are you okay?"
Morgan raised an eyebrow, glancing between them. "That was quite the scream. You seem... tense."
Ophelia's face turned even redder, and she tried to gather herself, her voice shaky. "I-I wasn't expecting you to be right there! I... I was just... um..."
Ritsuka smiled gently. "You were going to knock on my door, right? Is there something you needed?"
Ophelia fumbled her words, still flustered. "Y-Yes, I mean, no! I mean, yes, I wanted to talk to you about... something important."
Morgan crossed her arms, watching with mild amusement. "Important enough to cause this much anxiety?"
Ophelia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "It's just... I wanted to ask... if you could maybe... spend some time together? Just the two of us."
Ritsuka blinked, a bit surprised by her directness. "Oh, you want to hang out? Sure, we can do that."
Morgan shot him a sideways glance. "I assume you'll be back in time for dinner?"
Ophelia nodded quickly, a mix of relief and excitement on her face. "Yes! I won't take too much of your time, I promise!"
Ritsuka chuckled softly. "No rush, Ophelia. Let's go. Morgan, I'll be back later."
Morgan gave Ritsuka a knowing smile. "Of course. Don't keep her waiting too long."
Ophelia's heart raced as Ritsuka walked beside her. She had finally gathered the courage to ask him out. This was her chance.
As Ritsuka and Ophelia walked through the halls of Chaldea, Ophelia's mind raced. She had spent so long admiring him from a distance, but now that they were alone together, the pressure of the moment was hitting her harder than she expected. She tried to steady her breathing, reminding herself of Pepe's advice: Just be yourself, let things happen naturally.
Ritsuka, on the other hand, seemed as relaxed as ever. He turned to her with a warm smile. "So, where do you want to go? The training grounds? Maybe the garden?"
Ophelia hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I was thinking the garden. It's peaceful there."
Ritsuka nodded. "Good choice. The garden it is."
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, Ophelia occasionally stealing glances at him, her thoughts swirling with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. How can he be so calm? she thought. Does he have any idea how I feel?
Once they reached the garden, the soft sound of the wind rustling through the leaves set a serene atmosphere. They found a quiet spot near a small fountain, the sound of water trickling adding to the tranquility. Ritsuka sat on the edge of the fountain and motioned for Ophelia to join him.
"You know," Ritsuka began, looking up at the sky, "I've always liked this place. It helps me clear my mind. With everything going on—missions, fights, responsibilities—it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But here, it's quiet."
Ophelia sat beside him, nodding. "I... I feel the same way. There's so much to worry about, especially for us Crypters. Sometimes it feels like we're walking on the edge of a knife, with all the pressure of saving or... destroying the world."
Ritsuka glanced at her, his expression softening. "I understand. You've all been through so much. But remember, you're not alone. We're all in this together."
Ophelia looked at him, her heart pounding. She wanted to say something—something meaningful—but the words were stuck in her throat. Instead, she found herself blurting out, "Ritsuka, you're really kind, you know that?"
He blinked, a bit surprised by her sudden compliment. "Kind? I don't know about that. I'm just trying my best, like everyone else."
Ophelia shook her head. "No, I mean it. You've always been kind. Even when you had no reason to be, even when we first met, and you learn that we were hand picked. You could've hated us—hated me—but you didn't."
Ritsuka smiled softly, his gaze meeting hers. "There was never any reason to hate you, Ophelia. You were doing what you thought was right. And... maybe that's why we're able to sit here together now."
Ophelia's chest tightened. This was her moment. She had to say it. She had to tell him how she felt, how long she had admired him, how she—
But before she could speak, a familiar voice called out from behind them. "Ritsuka, there you are!"
Ophelia turned to see Mash running toward them, her expression a mixture of relief and excitement. "Sorry to interrupt, but Da Vinci wants to see you about something urgent. She said it's important."
Ritsuka stood up, giving Ophelia an apologetic look. "I guess duty calls. I'm sorry, Ophelia. We'll continue this later, okay?"
Ophelia forced a smile, though her heart sank. "Of course. Don't worry about it."
As Ritsuka and Mash left the garden, Ophelia watched them go, feeling the weight of her unspoken words. She sighed, standing up slowly and walking back toward the main building. Maybe next time, she thought. Maybe next time, I'll have the courage to say it.
"So didn't go as you plan"
Ophelia turned her head to see Akuta. "Yeah it didn't, also you are here I thought you only stay in the library"
Akuta just looked at her other friend. "I go other places, also I think you notice while you were spending time with Ritsuka, the other master Candidate were giving you death glares"
Ophelia sighed and looked at her. "Yeah he is Chaldea Prince as the nickname given to by his fan club".
Akuta stopped her readya s she looked at her. "Fanclub?"
Ophelia just looked at Akuta. "Yes his fan club, his Scheiße Fan club, his".
As she started to curse in German, before she looks at Akuta. "Wie lange schon wieder in Chaldäa"
Akuta just looked at Akuta. "You do relished I don't understand when you start speaking in your natural langues, I am Chinese your German".
Ophelia sighed, realizing she had slipped into her native tongue in frustration. "Sorry, Akuta. It's just... it's hard to get time alone with him. And when I finally do, something always gets in the way. Whether it's duty, missions, or..." She clenched her fists. "His fan club."
Akuta gave her a rare sympathetic look. "You're not the only one feeling this. Ritsuka is... special to many. But you're strong too. You'll have your moment."
Ophelia let out a breath, calming down a little. "I hope so. I just... I don't know if I'll ever have the courage to actually say it. Pepe told me to be brave, but it's harder than it sounds."
Akuta placed a hand on her shoulder. "Bravery comes in different forms. You'll find your way. In the meantime, you should prepare. Da Vinci's 'urgent' usually means something big is happening."
Ophelia nodded, trying to push her emotions aside. "You're right. I need to stay focused. This isn't just about me... it's about the mission, about everything we've been through."
Akuta gave her a small nod before walking off, leaving Ophelia alone to gather her thoughts.
As she watched Akuta walk away, Ophelia couldn't help but feel the weight of her unspoken words and unsent emotions. But she knew one thing for certain—no matter how difficult it was, she wouldn't give up.
Ophelia then looked at Akuta. "Hey you are into him as well".
Akuta face just turn discussed, as if the though of dating Ritsuka makes her sick. "Ew no I had one love and one only I never fall in love again, especially not with him"
Ophelia blinked in surprise at Akuta's reaction. "Oh, I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought…"
Akuta shook her head, her expression softening slightly. "No, it's just that... my past is complicated. Love, for me, was a painful experience. I've chosen not to pursue it again. Ritsuka is a great person, but my feelings are... different."
Ophelia nodded, understanding dawning on her. "I see. I'm sorry if I brought up something you'd rather not talk about."
Akuta gave her a faint smile. "It's alright. Just... don't let your own feelings hold you back. You deserve happiness too."
Ophelia managed a grateful smile. "Thanks, Akuta. I'll keep that in mind."
As they both turned towards their respective tasks, Ophelia felt a renewed sense of determination. Despite the challenges ahead, she would find a way to express her feelings and contribute to their mission.
As then Ritsuka arrived to Da Vinci office as he did he saw Kadoc and his shadow servant.
Da Vinci looked at Ritsuka. "Did you bring Morgan like we told you".
Ritsuka looked at Mash. "No why?".
Kadoc then jester to his shadow servent. "Show him"
Anastasia looked at Ritsuka before she trye to speak. "He..ll..ow...Rit..suka".
Ritsuka just blinked and looked Kadoc Shadow and then Da Vinci. "Holy shit your theory's was correct".
Da Vinci smiled, clearly pleased with the confirmation of her theory. "Yes, it seems that Kadoc's shadow servant is indeed developing more human traits. It's quite remarkable."
Ritsuka walked closer to Anastasia, his curiosity evident. "So, she can speak now? This is incredible. How long has this been happening?"
Kadoc scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "It started a few weeks ago. At first, it was just minor changes—she started showing more emotions and reacting to things. But now, she can actually speak, though it's still a bit broken."
Anastasia looked at Ritsuka, her eyes filled with a mix of apprehension and hope. "I… I'm… learning. Trying… to be… more like… real person."
Ritsuka gave her an encouraging smile. "You're doing great, Anastasia. It's amazing to see how much progress you've made."
Da Vinci clapped her hands together, excited. "This opens up so many possibilities! If shadow servants can evolve like this, we might be able to learn more about their origins and their potential to become fully-fledged heroic spirits."
Ritsuka nodded, his mind racing with implications. "What kind of tests or observations do you need to conduct?"
Da Vinci began outlining a plan. "First, we need to continue monitoring her development closely. We'll track her progress in terms of speech and emotional responses. Additionally, it would be beneficial to test her interaction with various magical and psychological stimuli to gauge her adaptability."
Kadoc looked at Ritsuka, his expression a mix of relief and anxiety. "I hope this doesn't cause too much trouble. I just want to understand her better and see if there's a way to help her fully integrate."
Ritsuka placed a reassuring hand on Kadoc's shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. This is a significant breakthrough for all of us."
Da Vinci's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Absolutely. And who knows? This might even lead us to new insights about the nature of shadow servants and their potential to become more than just reflections of their masters."
As the discussion continued, Ritsuka took a moment to observe Anastasia. Despite her broken speech, there was a spark of determination in her eyes. He couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at how something that started as a mere theory was turning into a profound discovery.
Kadoc, noticing Ritsuka's contemplation, decided to speak up. "Ritsuka, I've been meaning to ask—how do you handle all the different personalities and emotions around you? With everyone having their own struggles and challenges, it must be overwhelming at times."
Ritsuka looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "It definitely can be overwhelming. But I try to focus on understanding each person's perspective and providing support where I can. It's about balancing empathy with action, and sometimes it's a matter of just being there for others."
Kadoc nodded, appreciating Ritsuka's insight. "That makes sense. I guess we all have our own ways of coping with the pressures we face."
Da Vinci, now deep in thought, began preparing a series of tests and observations for Anastasia. "Alright, let's get started. I want to make sure we cover all aspects of her development."
As Ritsuka, Kadoc, and Da Vinci worked together to set up the tests, Anastasia observed them with a mix of curiosity and hope. The journey ahead was filled with uncertainty, but with each step forward, they were unlocking new possibilities and deepening their understanding of the world around them.
Ritsuka then looked at her. "If get the theory's correctly, she will become a full servent connecting to her self from the throne of hero's, so she will become a proper servant with all memorys, but why did you want me to bring Morgan"
Ritsuka then looked at her. "If get the theory's correctly, she will become a full servent connecting to her self from the throne of hero's, so she will become a proper servant with all memorys, but why did you want me to bring Morgan"
Da Vinci nodded, acknowledging Ritsuka's question. "Exactly. If Anastasia continues to develop and stabilize, she could indeed become a full-fledged servant, fully connected to her self from the Throne of Heroes. This would mean she'd retain all the memories and abilities of her heroic counterpart."
She paused for a moment, adjusting her glasses. "As for why I asked you to bring Morgan, it's related to the nature of Anastasia's transformation. Morgan Le Fay's presence might be crucial in understanding the process of shadow servants evolving into full servants."
Ritsuka raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
Da Vinci continued, "Morgan's weapon and abilities are deeply tied to the concept of magic and transformation. By observing how Morgan's attributes interact with Anastasia, we might gain insights into the magical and psychological factors involved in the evolution of shadow servants. Additionally, Morgan's unique perspective and knowledge could help us address any complications that arise during Anastasia's development."
Morgan, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "I see. If my presence and abilities can assist in this process, I'm more than willing to help. The potential for shadow servants to become true heroic spirits is significant, and it's worth exploring."
Kadoc looked at Morgan with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude. "That makes sense. I appreciate your willingness to be involved. I just want to make sure we're doing everything we can to support Anastasia."
Da Vinci nodded approvingly. "Great. Let's proceed with the tests and observations. Morgan, if you could assist in providing magical support and analysis, that would be invaluable. Ritsuka, you can help with any interactions or tasks that require a personal touch."
Ritsuka agreed. "Understood. Let's get started."
As the team began their work, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of purpose and excitement. The potential transformation of Anastasia from a shadow servant to a full servant was a groundbreaking development, and everyone involved was eager to contribute to this extraordinary process.
To be continued
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