Stop dreaming and start doing. For your dream could be achieved by your hands - Ripa Phantom
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Alexander kept dragging Izuku all over the place as the smaller boy let his servant do whatever he wanted. As they strolled through the hallways of Chaldea. Alexander broke the ice first as he ask,
"So Master? Since this is the first time that we have made a contract. I have to say that you are very young for a master." Izuku paused as Alexander continued, "That you are prepared to do what it takes to be a master. Am I right?"
"..." Alexander does have a point about his question. But it's not that he was prepared for the real fight in the singularity right away. He still is hesitant from the Gudaguda Honnouji sub-singularity aftermath. Even with the matchlock musket and the reason that the demon lord gave him. He has hesitated to kill people... even if they would threaten his life or anyone that he knew in Chaldea.
Taking a life is a scary thing to think about. However, his mentors said otherwise. People will kill each other for a reason. Safety. Protection. Resources. And so much more that Izuku could see why.
But the feeling felt wrong to him. As he learned that most masters were cold and ruthless to their servants and treated them as tools for their purposes which he remembers in his lessons. To take as a Master was... something that he will have to get used to.
Taking on Izuku's silence, Alexander decided to move on to another topic rather than push on. "So saving the world aren't we?"
"Yeah." However, Izuku's words weren't as confident as Izuku would like to say. As Alexander frowned at the monotone word. He asked,
"Not confident that you are saving the world. Aren't you?" Izuku shook his head. It was not that he was confident to save the world. It is just that he understands the weight of saving the world. It wasn't easy to carry something on your back. It was something that Dr. Romani and Da Vinci-chan told him when they were going to save the world. The feeling of ... expectations that he couldn't measure to... Ritsuka and Mashu had that expectation the whole time.
It wasn't easy for them when Izuku noticed at certain times that Ritsuka's confidence faltered at the slightest moment. For Izuku, saving and being a hero was a mere dream. But some say it's not while others told him to get it over with.
"It's not easy... to say that it would be fine." As he lifts his eyes to meet Alexander's. "I'm not sure that I could do it... But I'm trying."
Alexander smiles.
"Then let's start with nicknames!-" As he dragged Izuku by the hand. Izuku's vision blurs as Alex-kun insists that he was called. It wasn't until he dragged himself back to reality as he realized that he and Alex-kun were in the cafeteria. He must have zoned out as Alexander carried the conservation.
It wasn't until Red Archer served him the kid meal. While Alex-kun sat him down, saying that he should eat more. Izuku couldn't protest against him as he slowly chewed the food in silence. Alex-kun's energy was infectious and it was hard to say no.
After eating his food, Alex-kun became so defensive around Izuku that he was not used to having someone watching his back. While the Chaldea staff waved him as they passed by. They thought it was quite cute that Alexander looks like a knight in shining golden armor. However, Izuku didn't realize it and he remained quiet as he could not match Alex-kun's energy.
Regretting that he could have done better at entertaining Alex and holding him accountable as Ritsuka explained about the servants that she had summoned into Chaldea. Most servants that she summoned were very prideful and did things without a care. She even warned them that they could kill on sight if they are not held responsible by their master. Alexander insists on that nickname as they wander around the hallways. However, Izuku was not familiar with Chaldea's building structures so he did not go to places that he dared to cross.
Da Vinci-chan warned him that there were some people that he should not cross paths and there were reasons that he did not question. As he understood, curiosity kills the cat and he should not cross the line. Especially from Ritsuka's stories of summoning servants. Anything was possible.
Exhausted from the ever-so-happy Alex-kun, they finally arrive at the training room just before Izuku is about to open the doors.
The doors swung open. Ritsuka and Boudica came out of the room. As Boudica was smiling and chatting with Ritsuka behind her happily. Until her eyes laid on Alex-kun.
The mood turned cold in seconds as Izuku was confused by the ordeal as he stood behind Alex-kun who became defensive on standby. Izuku noticed that Ritsuka paled when she saw Alex-kun. She didn't know that Izuku would summon an enemy servant by chance as she knew that Boudica regained her memories when she was summoned. And it was likely that Alexander gained his memories as well. However, she knew that Izuku was not aware of the history between Alexander and Boudica.
As she knew this could end in a disaster. Before Ritsuka could diffuse the situation. Boudica lashed at the older boy.
"You!" As Boudica seethed at the younger servant. "What are you doing here?"
Unaware that there was a child in the middle of the conflict, Boudica ignored Izuku's presence as she drew out her heavy double-sided sword from her waist. She rested it on Alexander's neck. However, the younger servant remained calm and confident.
"I was summoned here by my master." But Boudica scoffed at his tone.
"I can see that." As Boudica briefly glanced at the cowering boy behind him. "But it doesn't explain why you chose him."
Ignoring her master shouting, "Boudica!"
She resumed her talk. "As you are an enemy of Chaldea and threaten the history of Rome and my home. It does not excuse your actions."
"True but I had reasons and orders that I cannot defy. Besides, I think you should wait and see the potential my master has in the future." Alex smiled widely. Pulling Izuku beside him.
Alexander excuses himself and Izuku as they go inside the training room without batting an eye at Boudica. Just as Izuku was far enough from the two ladies. Alex stood a couple of steps back as he turned his face to Boudica. "But please don't insult my master. It is very hurtful when he is a child."
Closing the doors, Alex-kun waited as he heard a crash behind it. Satisfied by his work, Alex continues to attend to his master's aid. After all, his master needs the help that he can get. Smiling at his confused master.
Izuku didn't press the topic further after that conversation went haywire. To Alex's relief, Izuku was a patient and kind person. Not to mention a hardworking child. He smiled to himself.
Unaware of Izuku's concern about that conversation. Alex-kun remains on his usual behavior as time goes by. He remained by Izuku's side as he trained Izuku with Sparta-style training that he suggested to try out some methods. Not even a moment of rest. Left and right, Izuku's arms and legs felt like they were going to fall off his body at the end of every session.
As Izuku lay on his bed alone. He was somewhat grateful that Alex-kun backed off today's schedule as he rested his body for the day. He still wonders about Boudica's relationship with Alex-kun. Whenever Alex-kun and Boudica cross paths, Boudica wants to tear him in half. Caster Lord El-Melloi, if Izuku remembers his new mentor, was also on the hit list for Boudica. As Boudica seems to dislike them a lot, judging from the constant frowns on her face.
But she was nice to him when he was alone without Alex-Kun by his side. She seems to be caring as she gave him a lot of food when she was cooking with Red Archer-san. And even apologizes when she found out that he was Alex-kun's master. Since she accidentally didn't realize it at that time.
Despite that, Izuku accepts her apology. Even though he wasn't sure about the incident after Boudica told him that it was a matter between the servants. Even Ritsuka was a bit nervous about that subject as he asked what was the bad blood between them.
From what he understood, Alex-kun had done something bad to Boudica in the past. A grudge Boudica mentioned. However, Alex-kun seems to atone for his wrongdoings as he failed to appease Boudica every time they met.
At least, it was a starting point. As Izuku focuses on his studies and training. He became prepared to fight for his life in the case. An enemy would target him. Even though he was weaker than everyone else. It was still better than standing still in one place.
However, he was starstruck when Ritsuka fought in hand-to-hand combat. She looks so cool! Before that one time, Red Archer gave him a knuckle down on his head, telling him that he shouldn't let his guard down so easily if he got distracted.
As he refused to let Izuku carry his gun around as he told him that he wasn't ready to carry weapons twice his size. Izuku was only able to fight with fists during that time. The wooden sword was too heavy for him as he didn't gain enough strength to carry it. Not to mention, Red Archer even bickered with Alter Saber over Izuku's training schedule. But after Da Vinci-chan showed the modified daggers and gear for the singularity. Red Archer finally approved in the end.
Even though Izuku was getting used to the daggers. He was also informed that he would be receiving along with Ritsuka of combat gloves of some sort. As he learned that Ritsuka was solely relying on command spells and mystic codes. Since Ritsuka had the most disadvantages compared to him as the servants told him that Ritsuka had little mana to support her servants despite being able to summon them through Chaldea's support.
But Izuku had enormous storage of mana on the other hand as he could handle a high-rank servant or more if he summoned more often. So it was not a problem for him. However, the other servants may not be kind or nice to him in the future.
As he was informed, other servants currently residing in Chaldea were very hostile as some of them were kept under wraps when they were summoned. While he read some of their background and unstable personality could jeopardize Chaldea if not carefully monitored.
To the point that Red Archer warned he should not pity them for their background and horrible past. Therefore, abandon all emotion once he is on the battlefield in order to survive. Both of them can not live at the same time. One of them must die or run as a coward.
Spare no sympathy.
His mentors say. But how can he do that? As he stared at the empty white ceiling. He doesn't know how. As he thought, everything is so complicated to process. Some people desire to destroy the world. Others wanted to rule the world and make others miserable. Some people destroy their homeland in the name of protecting it. Yet, they let their people die in the process of success.
Yet, they say it was necessary.
Is it correct to say that they were in the right? Or the wrong? He couldn't tell or decide the truth as his thoughts became a headache for him. As he turned his body to the side, he noticed the time on the clock. It was almost time for dinnertime.
Heaving a sigh, Izuku stood up. Maybe he shouldn't overcomplicate things. Then again, he had an appointment and a meeting coming up very soon. 'Urgh... maybe growing up is a bad idea.'
As he got ready to join everyone in the cafeteria. 'Too much work to do...'
As he strolled down the hallway. Everyone was almost ready to dine in. Watching everyone smacking their lips and drooling over the smell. Ritsuka was on standby as she waited for Izuku. She knew that everything was a mess from Boudica's conversation with Alexander.
Thankfully, Dr. Romani and Da Vinci-chan help her out as they manage to calm down Boudica. Explaining how Alexander was summoned to Izuku's answers. They have forgotten the incident back in the Septem Singularity, Boudica had slowly backed off as she realized that she shouted in front of a child.
Not to mention Izuku looked exhausted over the past couple of days as he let his servant drag him over the places. Not that Izuku knew how to say no to politely turning down a request. Ritsuka could read Izuku very easily as he was a very hard worker and kept up with his studies for someone his age.
However, much as Red Archer and the other servants insisted that Izuku must face challenges head-on. Dr. Romani flat-out refused and denied it all at once. As he reminds them that Izuku is in fact a child. Not a teenager like Ritsuka.
Constantly arguing that Izuku was not at the age where he could perfectly hold expectations and where he would be constantly under pressure where Ritsuka understood his point. She only accepted that she was old enough to understand where she was standing.
"Hi, Ritsuka-senpai." 'Ah.' He's finally here. Ritsuka turns around to see Izuku greet her politely as usual. Scaling up and down at Izuku's small figure. He wasn't doing too well even when Dr. Romani issued a break for him. As Izuku's eyebags sunken worse than before. She wondered how they were going to handle his health for two days before they had to prepare in time for the next singularity.
Especially the look on his face. Is 'done' an emotion? As she can feel that in her soul. She will have to teach Izuku how to say no when he understands he cannot handle everything and every time someone asks him.
For now, she will lend a hand. Because they are in the same boat together.
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Noted:
2,400 words completed. Sorry for the late update. I had some things. I hope that everyone enjoy their day. And Happy Fourth of July!