บท 27: Request

( 3rd POV )

Inside the newly built office of Olga Marie Animusphere, a delicate blend of modern elegance and historical grandeur unfolded around them. The room boasted tall windows, allowing the last rays of the setting sun to filter through, casting a warm amber glow over the polished wooden floors. The ornate bookshelves lining the walls, the sleek technology scattered across the large mahogany desk at the center. Papers, hologram projectors, and trinkets of personal significance were strewn about, evidence of Olga's constant balancing act between the duties of a Director and a Magus.

Da Vinci-chan, with her characteristic charm and confidence, stood near the desk, her eyes glimmering with curiosity and amusement. The light seemed to dance off her eyes as she observed the others in the room. Her lips curled into a soft, playful smile as she glanced at Waver Velvet, who stood leaning against a nearby bookshelf. His tired, half-lidded eyes spoke of his poor state, adjusting his glasses with a weary sigh, Waver seemed lost in his thoughts.

While the two newcomers, Daisy Johnson and Anna Marie, still reeling from the day's revelations, sat on a plush sofa, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Director Olga is seated behind her desk, finished telling the two of them about the general info of their organization, which is also confirming that everything happen to them is real and not a dream.

Mash stood beside them, occasionally added a little detail while also telling them about the other member who are not in the room.

Olga finally shifted her attention toward Da Vinci and Waver, her sharp eyes flicking between them. "So," she asked, her tone all business, "tell me about your mission. How did it go?"

Da Vinci's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "Well, as you can see," she began, gesturing subtly toward Daisy, "we successfully recruited her. Though, as you can imagine, she's still processing everything. Can't blame her for that." She paused for a moment.

"But," Da Vinci added, her expression growing more serious, "you don't have to worry about being exposed. We used the forged IDs and, of course we use that spell to clean up everything. No loose ends." She winked at Olga while mentioning the spell part while Waver nodded, though his expression remained serious.

It's a common spell for magus that has been discovered by normal people is expected to at least cast this on his witnesses. Waver cast this spell just before they left the orphanage, wiping out the dean memory about them. Even though no one know that they are from the Chaldea, it's better to be safe.

Olga immediately understood her gesture simply nod. "Alright then, for the both of you," she paused before glancing back at the two newcomers. "For now, you could stay with us and learn the rest of complicated things with Mash later." She said while appointing Mash as their guide.

Mash acknowledges the appointment by the Director. "Leave it to me, Director Olga. But," she hesitated for a moment before continuing, "may I request your permission to use SHEBA to help Anna search for her mother's current condition?" Mash's violet eyes softened as they briefly met Anna's, recalling the promise she had made.

Anna, feeling the sincerity in Mash's gesture, couldn't hold back any longer. Her heart raced, the fear and uncertainty gnawing at her every thought. She rose from her seat, before pleading toward the director by herself.

"Yes, I'm very worried about my mom's situation now. I understand I'm not in the position to ask for more after you guys rescued me and even help me sealed my cursed power temporarily. I also understand joining Chaldea is the best path for me, where I also can tame my power," Anna paused for a moment, her voice is cracking a bit because how anxious she is. "But please, I'm begging you, please help me find my mom..."

Even though she tried to hold of her emotion, Anna eventually failed. Her hands trembled as she spoke, but despite her vulnerability, her eyes remained locked on Olga, filled with a steely determination. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but Anna didn't flinch, didn't look away.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Da Vinci's usual playful demeanor softened, and even Waver's tired gaze held a flicker of sympathy. Mash, standing beside Anna, could feel the weight of her request, and her heart ached for her.

Olga exhaled a deep, exasperated sigh, breaking the silence. "Fine," she muttered, leaning back in her chair. Her voice, though firm, had a trace of understanding. "I'll permit it. Go and find Sion in her workshop. She'll help you with your problem."

Mash and Anna both sighed in relief, gratitude filling their hearts. But before they could thank the director, another voice interrupted the quiet tension.

"Director Olga, I would also appreciate if you can help me to search about my real parent information." Daisy said, while requesting almost the same thing.

Olga's eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned forward, clasping her hands on the desk. "Since I've been an orphan from the beginning, I never knew about my real parent at all... I've been searching their information for a long time, but I found nothing."

"Even with my effort to hack the government server, there is still no result..." As she spoke, Daisy's fists clenched at her sides, the knuckles turning white. The frustration that had long been simmering beneath the surface now boiled over, evident in the way her shoulders trembled ever so slightly.

The air in the room grew thick as everyone listened. Even Da Vinci's usual glimmer of amusement was gone, replaced by a solemn understanding. But it was broken by the only man in the room. "I understand Anna request for help, but how about you?" Waver Velvet stared at their 'adopted' daughter with scrutiny, "You've been an orphan your entire life. Why now? What's your purpose in finding them? And more importantly, what will you do after you find them? Will you still remain with us?"

The sharpness of Waver's words hung in the air. He wasn't being cruel, but he was pragmatic, always calculating the consequences. Even Olga, who could be as cold and logical as any leader should be, didn't stop him. She too was curious about Daisy's motivations. After all, it was her job to ensure the organization's integrity came first.

Daisy could feel the weight of their stares, her heart racing as uncertainty gripped her. Her lip quivered, and she bit down on it to stop the shaking. What was her reason? Did she even want to find her parents out of love, or was it something else—resentment, perhaps? The questions clawed at her mind. What if they don't care about me? What if finding them changes nothing? The thoughts swirled in her young mind, overwhelming her with possibilities she wasn't sure she wanted to face.

"I..." Daisy began, her voice faltering as she searched for the right words. She felt like a small ship being tossed in the middle of a storm. The uncertainty of her motives gnawed at her. After a long pause, she finally met their gaze again. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice quiet but clear.

"I'm not like that chic over there who are worried about her parent, heck honestly I don't even care about them..." She paused for a moment, the room remained still, everyone hanging onto her words. She took a deep breath and continued, "But if I ever find them... I want to ask them a question."

"What am I to them...? Was there ever a meaning to my life? Did I ever matter at all?" Daisy's gaze drifted downward, her voice dropping into a hollow whisper as she forced a smile, but it was empty.

Her words hung in the air, each one feeling like a stone dropped into a bottomless well. The forced smile she gave afterward did nothing to hide the pain beneath her hollow expression. Waver's critical gaze softened slightly, though he remained quiet. Olga, on the other hand, sighed, her fingers gently rubbing her temples. Even she, as stoic as she was, couldn't remain indifferent.

For as long as Daisy could remember, she had always been different from the other children in the orphanage. While they played and formed friendships, she spent her days tinkering with machines, scavenging old electronics, and building computers from scrap. She didn't care about forming bonds—at least, that's what she told herself.

Despite the dean's efforts to care for her, Daisy always felt an isolating sense of loneliness. She buried herself in part time work, taking odd jobs just to keep busy and avoid thinking about the void that constantly gnawed at her.

She had no grand dreams, no lofty aspirations. She just simply wants to know the meaning of her existence. Why did her parent throw her away? Why they never look for her? All she wanted was an answer...

Now that she knows that the one who adopted or more like recruiting her is a mysterious and powerful organization like Chaldea, she finally saw hope. She saw the hope for the answer she has been looking for.

For the first time, she saw hope in Chaldea. The figures that had stood in the middle of chaos, repelling darkness and despair—they were her light in a world full of shadows. Daisy had always admired them from a distance, watching videos of their missions, the way they fought for others. Perhaps, by joining them, she could finally find her own purpose, her own meaning.

That's why she didn't hesitated and directly told them all of her feeling right now. Olga and the others also listening quietly to her. Even Da Vinci feels sympathy. "Daisy..." She murmured.

Her voice steadied as she faced Olga and the others. "That's why I'm asking for your help. As long as you help me find the truth, I'm willing to join Chaldea. I'll do whatever you ask." She hesitated before adding with a sheepish smile, "Besides, I'm kind of a fan of yours. So, it's not like I'm just here for my own reasons. ahaha"

The rooms that were just filled with heavy vibe immediately changed back to normal after seeing Daisy shy expression. Olga sighed while massaging her temples. "Sigh, I don't know how many times I sigh today." She murmured. "Fine, fine, you've got the permission. Both want to find their mommy and daddy, then go find it! There is no different with one or two anyway. It's all the same." She said nonchalantly.

Daisy's eyes widened at the permission given by Olga, her heart pounding in her chest. "You… you'll help me find them?"

Olga nodded while leaning back on her chair. "Yes. It's important for you to know your origins. And besides, your request is simple enough." She turned to Mash, who had been silently watching the conversation unfold. "Take them to Sion. And introduce them to Ken later on." She waves her hand signaling them that they could leave.

Mash smiled warmly, her usual gentle aura comforting in the tense environment. "Understood, Director." She then turned to Daisy and Anna, gesturing for them to follow. "Come on, let's go."

The two girls exchanged a glance before rising from their seats, relief washing over them. "Thank you, Director Olga," they said in unison before following Mash toward the exit.

However, before they could fully step out, Da Vinci's energetic voice rang out from behind them. "Wait for me! I'll accompany you too!" She sounded excited, not wanting to be left out of the action.

Olga immediately shot a stern look her way, halting Da Vinci's hopeful charge. "Da Vinci, you stay here. I need your help with all of these documents." Her voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Da Vinci's expression shifted from enthusiasm to disappointment. She tried to reason her way out. "Eh, but I wanted to see my master and continue my research! I'm sure Sion could use my help…"

Her voice trailed off as she glanced at Olga's unyielding gaze. The director's no-nonsense expression was terrifying. It was clear that no argument would sway her this time.

With a resigned sigh, Da Vinci threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine..." she muttered, sulking as she took a seat back at the desk. Olga satisfied with her choice, nodded approvingly before shifting her attention to the only other person left in the room.

"Um, Waver-san," she said, her tone shifting to something more businesslike, "could you also stay? I need to talk to you and Da Vinci about the company's progress and our next plans."

Waver, who had been on the verge of drifting off into a nap, straightened up with a groggy expression. Despite his weariness, he gave a small nod. "Fine by me. It'll help keep me preoccupied and away from my nightmarish memories for a bit." He glanced at the stack of documents on Olga's desk with a sigh.

Da Vinci's eyes narrowed at his words, clearly irked by the way Waver nonchalantly mentioned his "nightmares" and glanced her way. "Hey! What nightmarish nonsense are you talking about?" she snapped, pouting in irritation.

Waver ignored her, while Olga calmly began explaining their company's progress. "As you can see from these papers, I've identified several plots suited for our company building…"

As the two of them delved into the conversation, Da Vinci dropped her playful demeanor, recognizing the seriousness of the moment. The room fell into a focused, professional atmosphere as the three of them discussed their future.

.....

Meanwhile, Mash led Daisy and Anna through the grand corridors of the Chaldea mansion. The air was filled with a slight chill, the three girls walked in silence for a while, until someone finally break the silence.

Daisy glanced at Mash, her voice hesitant. "Is it always like this? So… intense?"

Understanding her meaning, Mash chuckled softly. "It can be. But you'll get used to it. Director Olga could be tough and uncompromising sometimes, but she is a kind and soft person once you get to know her enough."

Anna who has been listening, nodded in understanding. "I hope so..." But Daisy as a big fan of Chaldea found another new topic to ask. "By the way… is she really Leonardo Da Vinci? The one from the history books?" There was disbelief in her voice, as if she still couldn't fully grasp the idea.

Mash could only smile wryly, she felt that it'll be a common question from now on whenever there is a newcomer. "Yes, she is, history has its quirks, doesn't it? You'll find a lot of error in history if you ever meet the other person."

Anna shaking her head, feeling deceive by those thick ancient books on her school library. "I can't still believe it. She's a woman... and a playful one at that."

Daisy latched onto Mash's words. "Wait, the others? You mean like Mordred?" She caught the detail quickly, her eyes shining with curiosity as she pestered Mash for more answers.

"This..." Even Mash who had meet enough a lot of servants in the past is still dumbstruck by how wrong their true gender is. "You could say that, ahaha." She sheepishly laughs. If only they know truth...

The three continued walking down the winding corridors, Sion's workshop was located in the depths of the mansion, an underground area that had been newly constructed.

As they descended a staircase that led into the subterranean levels, the atmosphere grew cooler and darker, lit only by occasional magical lamps embedded in the walls. The Chaldea specifically design it for the magus to build their safe house away for toying with whatever things they got in their hands.

.....

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A/N: Please donate your power stones and leave more reviews for my story, I appreciate it and thank you for your support!