One Day Later.
I sat in the captain's quarters, studying the map in my hands. The dim glow of the lantern in the room cast a quiet and focused atmosphere. Across the table, Fujimaru rested his chin on his hand, observing the map with clear curiosity in his eyes.
Outside, the faint sound of waves mixed with the light footsteps of the homunculus crew standing guard. Mash and Atalanta were patrolling the deck, ensuring no threats approached our ship. Meanwhile, David stood at the stern, seemingly lost in thought.
Fujimaru finally broke the silence.
"Caster, you said the yellow marks indicate a neutral Servant, while the red ones mark an enemy Servant with hostile intent, right?"
I nodded slowly, my eyes still focused on the map. "Yes, that's correct. Why do you ask?"
Fujimaru leaned back in his chair, pondering for a moment before speaking. "I mean… what if we try recruiting more Servants? Wouldn't having more allies make us stronger?"
I narrowed my eyes, considering his idea. "That is a reasonable strategy. The more trustworthy allies we have, the better our chances against Jason and his group."
Fujimaru smiled slightly. "So… how about we search for other Servants who might join us?"
I glanced back at the map, searching for the nearest yellow mark. It didn't take long before I found one—a yellow point close to our current location, on a small island not far from here.
"Coincidentally, there's a Servant near our position. They're on a small island nearby," I said, tapping the location on the map with my finger.
Fujimaru's excitement was evident. "Then let's go! Who knows, they might be a valuable ally."
I smirked slightly. "Alright. But first, we need to inform the others."
I carefully rolled up the map before securing it in my belt. Then, both Fujimaru and I stood up, heading out of the captain's quarters toward the main deck.
As the door opened, the fresh sea breeze greeted us. Mash and Atalanta, who were on guard, turned their heads toward us, curiosity evident on their faces.
Atalanta crossed her arms. "Is there something we should know?"
I nodded. "We have a new target. There's a Servant near our position. If we're lucky, we can recruit them into our team."
David, now standing near the ship's railing, grinned slightly. "Hmm… interesting. So, who is this Servant?"
I shook my head. "We don't know yet, but we'll find out once we reach the island."
Mash clenched her fist with determination. "Then let's get ready right away!"
I turned toward my small homunculus crew. "Set the course for this coordinate. We're heading to that island now."
The small homunculi quickly moved, adjusting the sails and steering the ship.
As the ship slowly changed direction, heading toward the island, I gazed at the horizon, feeling a sense of curiosity.
Who is the Servant waiting for us on that island?
.
.
.
The ship sailed smoothly toward the island visible in the distance. The sea breeze brushed against my face as I stood at the bow, watching the landmass grow clearer ahead of us. The island appeared silent, covered in dense forests, with towering cliffs surrounding most of its coastline.
From where I stood, I could see waves crashing against the rocks on the western side of the island, creating splashes of water that sparkled under the sunlight. Despite its tranquil appearance, something about this island felt… strange.
I glanced at Mash and Fujimaru standing beside me.
"So this is the island where the Servant is?" Fujimaru asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
I nodded, unrolling the updated map infused with my power. "The yellow marker indicating the Servant is still here, so we know they haven't left. But we don't know if they'll suddenly become hostile."
Atalanta, standing not far from us, crossed her arms. "If they pose a threat, I can shoot them from a distance before they get close."
David chuckled. "Relax, Atalanta. We don't even know who's on that island yet."
I took a deep breath. "Either way, we need a scouting team to go ashore and assess the situation. But we also need someone to guard the ship. If an enemy suddenly attacks, we can't leave this vessel unprotected."
I turned toward everyone. "So, who's going and who's staying?"
The discussion began.
Fujimaru was the first to raise his hand. "I'll go. I'm the only Master here, so I need to ensure we can negotiate with the Servant."
I nodded. "Alright, one person confirmed."
Mash stepped forward next. "I can't let Master go alone. I'll come too!"
Her response didn't surprise me. Mash was always by Fujimaru's side, protecting him in every battle.
I thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay, that makes sense."
Atalanta glanced at Fujimaru. "I can go as well. My hunting skills will be useful in that forest."
Before I could agree, David raised his hand. "Wait. Atalanta, if you go, who will guard the ship?"
Atalanta narrowed her eyes, then let out a quiet sigh. "You're right. I'm better suited to stand guard here."
David patted her shoulder with a grin. "I'll stay too. Someone has to keep an eye on things in case of a sudden attack."
I looked over at my small homunculus crew, who were already standing around us. They weren't fighters, but they could navigate the ship and assist if anything happened.
After a brief moment of thought, I nodded. "Alright. I, Fujimaru, and Mash will go to the island. Atalanta and David will guard the ship. If anything happens, signal us."
Everyone agreed with a nod. With the decision made, we prepared to go ashore.
We boarded a small boat to reach the beach, leaving the main ship in the distance. The once-calm waves now felt stronger as we approached land.
Mash rowed with steady strength, while Fujimaru sat silently, gazing at the towering forest ahead of us. I remained alert, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.
When we finally reached the shore, I jumped down first, feeling the soft sand beneath my feet. I quickly pulled the boat onto land to prevent it from being carried back by the waves.
Fujimaru followed next, with Mash right behind him. They immediately looked around, seemingly in awe of the wild beauty of this place.
"This island… feels different," Fujimaru murmured.
I nodded in agreement. "There's something strange about it. We need to be careful."
Mash readied her shield, her posture turning serious. "We don't know if this Servant will be friendly or not. Should we search for them right away?"
I thought for a moment before answering.
"First, we need to determine exactly where the Servant is. If they're deep in the forest, we should approach carefully."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the map I had modified. Studying it for a moment, I pointed north. "They're at the center of the island, probably about a kilometer from here."
Fujimaru let out a breath. "Alright then, let's start moving."
We began making our way into the forest, following a natural path between the towering trees.
We continued walking through the island's dense forest, stepping cautiously. Every crack of a twig beneath our feet sounded sharp amidst the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.
Fujimaru suddenly stopped. "I feel like we're being watched…" he whispered.
I felt it too. Unseen eyes were observing us from afar. I glanced at Mash, who immediately tightened her grip on her shield.
Then, before we could react any further—
"Stop right there! Don't come any closer!"
A child's voice echoed through the trees. I quickly turned toward the source of the voice, narrowing my eyes as I searched for the speaker.
From behind the bushes, a young boy with short light green hair with a two sheep horn emerged. His bright yellow eyes were filled with wariness, though his expression looked somewhat awkward. He wore a white dress that strangely fit him, and the most striking feature was the small sheep perched atop his head.
I could sense that he was a Servant, but before I could say anything—
"I see you! Don't try anything funny! I'm not afraid to fight, you know?!" he said in a slightly high-pitched voice, as if trying to hide his nervousness.
I held back a small laugh. His demeanor was far more childish than I had expected.
The sheep on his head shifted slightly, and then another voice spoke—this one calmer and wiser. "Paris, I told you to stay alert. But there's no need to challenge them right away."
Fujimaru blinked a few times, looking surprised. "The sheep… it talks?"
I nodded, realizing who the sheep truly was. "Apollo…" I murmured.
Paris' eyes widened in surprise. "Eh? You know about Apollo-sama in his disguise?! Are you a spy?!"
I raised my hands calmly. "Relax. I just know a few things about Greek mythology."
Paris pouted, then glanced up at Apollo on his head. "Hmph. Even so, I don't know you. Apollo-sama just told me that someone was approaching, so I came here to stand guard!"
Mash spoke gently, trying to ease his suspicion. "We mean no harm. We're just looking for allies."
Paris stared at us skeptically, lowering his crossbow slightly but not completely. "Allies? Why should I trust you just like that?"
Apollo sighed softly. "Paris, you're too tense. They haven't shown any signs of hostility."
Paris puffed his cheeks before fixing us with a stubborn glare, more like a defiant child than a warrior. "Hmph! I'll believe you if you can prove you're not bad people."
I glanced at Fujimaru, who gave a sheepish smile. It seemed like this negotiation would be more interesting than I had anticipated.
Paris continued watching us warily, puffing his cheeks slightly before hugging his crossbow tightly. The small sheep on his head—or rather, Apollo—sighed softly.
"Paris, you can't always suspect everyone you meet," Apollo said in a gentle yet firm tone.
"But Apollo-sama," Paris whined, "what if they're trying to trick me?! What if they're actually bad people who want to capture us?"
I exchanged glances with Fujimaru and Mash. It seemed we needed to convince him further.
Fujimaru stepped forward slightly, raising both hands in a peaceful gesture. "We really don't have any bad intentions, Paris. I'm Fujimaru Ritsuka, a Master from Chaldea. This is my Servant, Mash Kyrielight, and he is…"
Fujimaru turned to me, gesturing for me to introduce myself. I gave a small smile before speaking.
"My name... Well, you can call me by my class, Caster. I'm also a Servant, just like you."
Paris blinked a few times. "Eh? You're a Servant too? But you don't look like a famous hero..."
I chuckled. "Well, you don't exactly look like the famous prince of Troy, do you?"
Paris opened his mouth as if to argue, but then pursed his lips and looked away. "Hmph! Apollo-sama, are you sure they're not dangerous?"
Apollo seemed to think for a moment before finally speaking. "I don't sense any malicious intent from them. It might be a good idea to hear what they have to say."
Paris looked a little reluctant but finally sighed and lowered his crossbow. "Alright... But if you try anything suspicious, I won't hesitate to shoot my arrows."
Mash smiled in relief. "Thank you for listening to us, Paris."
Fujimaru looked even more curious. "By the way, Paris... are you really that Paris of Troy? The prince famous for the Trojan War?"
Paris looked a bit proud when he heard the question. "Of course. I am Paris, prince of Troy! I'm the one who took down the great hero Achilles with my arrow."
Mash looked surprised. "So the legend is true... You're the one who defeated Achilles?"
Paris nodded confidently and pointed to his crossbow. "Yes! All thanks to the power of this crossbow... and of course, the help of Apollo-sama!"
Fujimaru glanced at the small sheep on top of Paris' head. "So... that little sheep is really Apollo?"
Before Paris could answer, Apollo spoke himself. "Indeed. I am Apollo, the sun god and the one who watches over Paris."
Suddenly, static noise came from Fujimaru's communicator, followed by Dr. Roman's voice coming through the communication channel.
"Wait... Did you just say Paris? And Apollo?!"
Fujimaru pressed a button on his communicator. "Yes, Doctor. We met Paris of Troy, and he's accompanied by Apollo, who is currently in the form of a small sheep."
There was silence on the other end of the call before Roman's voice returned. "Okay... Hold on a second. So Apollo, one of the most powerful gods in Greek mythology, is currently a tiny sheep sitting on a kid's head?"
I held back a small laugh. "That's exactly what's happening, Doctor."
Roman let out a deep sigh. "Alright... This isn't the weirdest thing we've encountered, but it's still hard to believe..."
Paris looked annoyed. "Hey! Don't underestimate Apollo-sama! Even if he looks like this, he's still strong!"
Apollo chuckled. "Relax, Paris. I don't mind this form."
Fujimaru seemed even more curious. "But why would a god like Apollo choose to get involved in this Era?"
Paris looked like he wanted to answer, but Apollo spoke first. "I can't reveal everything... But I can sense that something is wrong in this world. That's why I instructed Paris to remain cautious."
Mash looked at Paris with concern. "So you don't even know why you're here?"
Paris shook his head. "All I know is that there's danger around here. Apollo-sama and I have been hiding on this island because we weren't sure who we could trust."
I nodded, then looked at Paris seriously. "In that case, how about joining us?"
Paris looked surprised. "Eh?"
Fujimaru spoke up as well. "We're trying to stop a dangerous plan that could threaten this Era... or maybe even the world itself. We need all the help we can get."
Paris looked a bit hesitant. He turned to Apollo as if seeking his opinion.
Apollo spoke in a gentle yet firm tone. "I believe they are being honest, Paris. The decision is yours to make."
Paris seemed deep in thought. After a few seconds, he finally nodded with determination. "Alright, I'll join you! But if you try anything suspicious, I'll shoot my arrows right away."
I gave a small smile. "Alright then... Welcome aboard, Paris."
Fujimaru and Mash looked happy. Paris, though still a bit wary, now seemed more at ease.
With a new ally by our side, we were finally ready to return to the ship and continue our journey.
***
Author note:
Um, okay I know that's Paris wasn't part of the singularity Canon story. But I want him to be present because Hector, well. I'm just thinking that if I'm writing this way this will be fun.
Oh btw, I'm making new fanfic. Well I'm said that in earlier chapter, I just want to promoting it this time, uh so why don't you're give it shot?
And I will be focused on writing the other fanfic so maybe I'll stopped update new chapter for a while.
Writing two fanfic Simultaneously very tiring so I will focus on one of them for a while.