Aeaean Spring Breeze - Ch. 1: "Breathe Like it's Just Another Monday Morning"

[queenofnohr]

 [in My Room]

Circe: Ugh…… For some reason…… Motivation…… Dwindling…... 

Fou: Fo~u......

Mash: Once again, Circe is slacking off in Master’s bed…… Circe, every time you do this, senpai turns up with “perfect” timing. 

Circe: It’ll be fiiiiiiiine. This time I’ve set up detection magic, after all~.

Mash: I see. But isn’t that a violation of privacy?

Circe: Just be cool, be chill. I’m worried about Master, so it can’t be helped.

[you come in]

> No, it can be helped

Circe: Gah!!

*the sound of her falling off the bed*

*the sound of her shakily getting up*

Circe: H- Hey, Piglet! How did my detection magic get disabled?

…...Medea! This is SO getting old and that girl is getting downright vicious! Always butting in on other peoples’ love lives, this is why I’ll never find a new partner!

Fou: Fou, fo~u. (Translation: Like student, like teacher.)

Arjuna: ......Circe. We are of different classes and different places of origin, and as such thought it prudent to avoid conflict due to our different values. However—

I cannot overlook your actions. Go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done.

Circe: Eugh. Who appointed you head of the disciplinary committee?

Arjuna: Disciplinary committee……? Perhaps I am. After all, even Osakabehime said that I was like a “white-uniformed disciplinary committee member or student council president as a second pick”

Mash: Yeah! You really do have the good sense of a Japanese student!

Fou: Fou, fofo~u......! (Translation: Your good sense is a little off, Mash……!)

Arjuna: ......No, this is all beside the point. We confirmed the existence of a Micro-Singularity.

Circe: Huh.

Mash: !

Arjuna: The Chaldea staff are busy with the investigation and analysis of Lostbelts, so they want Mash to be in charge of monitoring it. 

Mash: Leave it to me. I’m happy to receive orders straight from the student council president himself!

Circe: So, where is this Singularity? 

Arjuna: Right— It’s at Aeaea Island.

Circe: ......

......

What did you just say?

> Aeaea Island	> Isn’t that the island where you lived, Circe?
Circe: Guh…… Mrr…… Ugh…...	Circe: ...... ...... ...... ......Yeah, it was.

 

Arjuna: Then I’ll make this briefing quick. The era seems to be the Age of Gods, if not, somewhere close to it.

Circe: Ehhhhh…… About that island…… I only have bad memories of it, so…...

> That bad, huh?	> Is that so……?
Circe: ……I feel like I had a bad dream about that island recently.	Circe: Uhm...... Errrr......

 

Jason: Ha. That’s not a reason, you just wanna skip out. And I wanna skip this mission too!

Orion: I- I- I also wanna skip out. I mean, Artemis isn’t even gonna be there. And if she’s not there, I’m useless.

Arjuna: Putting Jason aside, Orion…… What happened to that goddess?

Orion: It was something weird like a meetup for goddesses in a relationship or something. And thanks to that, I’m free.

Arjuna: Then that’s even more reason to take you along. After all, it’ll be easier to keep an eye on you if you’re with us.

Orion: Why do I get this kind of treatment!?

Jason: Sounds right to me.

Georgios: It’ll be good for both of you. Circe, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. I will be departing for the front.

Jason: What? That’s unusual for you, Georgios.

> I meant to ask Chiron, but—

[flashback]

Chiron: If I go, Jason might be nervous. When he tries to show me how much he’s grown, he ends up making mistakes…… that’s the impression I get. I’m terribly sorry to suggest a replacement, but how about Master Georgios? If you bring him along, he’ll surely help balance the party. 

[back in My Room]

Jason: Huh!? HUH!? What the hell is Chiron on about!? I don’t get nervous at all just because he’s around! I’m the man who journeyed across the sea on the Argo!

Orion: I don’t really know what he’s talking about, but you probably will have a lot of screw ups.

Arjuna: I agree. To be honest, I can picture it all in my mind.

Jason: Since when did you guys get to be such a bunch of know-it-alls!?

……Well, it’s fine. So, what are you gonna do, Circe? It doesn’t matter if you go. It’s a Micro-Singularity, so three Servants should be more than enough.

Orion: Including me?

Jason: Why would you think you’re included in that number? I’m not gonna rely on the skills of a stuffed animal.

> Orion is pretty calm

Orion: Oho, so you’ve finally zeroed in on my strengths, Master. That is, being able to pull back and look at everything from a bird’s eye view.

Fou: Fou......

Circe: Oh…… I— I’m sorry. It’s kinda…… Um…...

> You don’t need to force yourself.

Circe: Thanks.

No, wait a second…… Let me think…… 

Orion: (......Why is this “Great Witch” frozen and twitching on a corner of the bed)

Jason: ……We’ll be on our way now. I think we can manage without one or two Great Witches. 

Circe: Wha!? Jason, isn’t that super rude of you? If you don’t have a Great Witch, won’t you be in trouble?

Jason: ……Alright, let’s go!

Circe: Agh, wait. I said wait! Let me think on it a little more——

[we Reyshift]

> In the end, she just sorta went with the flow…… 

Jason: The result was gonna be the same either way. Let’s go, Great Witch.

Circe: I have a bad feeling about this. Guh…...

Georgios: Mm. Even so, it’s quite picturesque. The color of the Greek sea is beautiful. Then, I’ll take one…… 

[he snaps a photo]

Orion: I’ve been thinking this for a while, Master Georgios, but where’d you pick up that camera?

Georgios: Well, it became my hobby without me realizing it. Perhaps I used the Grail to wish for it in some Holy Grail War.

…...I’m joking, of course.

Orion: …………You got me! (I have no clue what to say when such a grave guy cracks a joke)

Mash: ……Ah, everyone, we’re getting a Servant reading immediately.

Jason: A stray Servant?

Mash: Yes. It seems to be an unknown Heroic Spirit whose Saint Graph has yet to be registered with Chaldea.

Arjuna: We don’t know if they’re friend or foe. Let’s approach with caution for the time being.

Orion: …………Not that it matters, but. Why “stray” Servant?

Jason: Because calling them “wild” Servants totally changes the meaning. Wild Servants are ones like Atalante, Penthesilea, and other meathead Servants.

Mash: Jason, Jason— Those two are currently in the control room, so……

Penthesilea: Hey, Jason. I’ll be sure to give you a “warm” welcome when you get back.

Atalante: I think I will as well. Tell me, captain, which do you prefer? Being a target or being a crash dummy?

Jason: Mash, tell me who’s in the room with you sooner!! It’s a matter of life and death for me!

Arjuna: ……Perhaps it’s better for you to keep your mouth shut?

Jason: Shut up, Mr. Logical Solutions! I’m the type of person who’s got something to say for everything!

Georgios: So you admit you talk too much.

Circe: *sighhhhhhh*...... This is a total bummer…...

> You okay?

Circe: Yeah, it’s just mental strain, I’m fine physically.

Mash: Are your memories of Aeaea Island that bad?

Circe: ……Overall, the memories I have of it are good ones. I have just one bad memory. But you know what they say, right? One rotten apple is all it takes to spoil the barrel……

Jason: Odysseus?

Circe: Has anyone else ever told you how insensitive you are!?

Jason: They have.

Circe: What’s with that attitude!?

Orion: I mean, sooner or later it was gonna come up, right? Your legend is super famous. Even you know it, right, Master?

Circe: !!

> Of course I know it.

> Not very well……

Circe: *grumbles* Well, at least there’s no need to explain. Right, moving on! Jason: Well, the gist of it is she was totally rejected by the guy she fell in love with. Circe: Can you be a little more tactful—!? Is this just what human royalty is like!?

Circe: Yeah, exactly. It’s nothing you need to know about, Piglet! Orion: Oh, then I’ll explain it. Circe: It’s. Fine. Just. Drop. It. Orion: It was after the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus got on a boat to return home…... Circe: You’re rea~lly doing this, huh. Orion: But he was set adrift. A bunch of other stuff happened, but long story short, he ends up washing up on Aeaea Island. Jason: But the witch who lived there didn’t trust humans, so they got turned into animals. Stuff like pigs and lions and wolves. Orion: Even though they were welcomed in, Odysseus’s men were also transformed into pigs. But she sure apologized quickly when Odysseus got angry and pulled a sword out. Circe: Agh- Geh- Guh…… (She’s writhing) Jason: And then, in exchange for turning his men back to normal, she got Odysseus to stay. ……Now that I think about it, you’re pretty good at doing business…… Circe: You think that’s what’s admirable!? Orion: But, ya’know, from the start Odysseus already had a wife, Penelope. After recuperating his strength on Aeaea Island, he decided to return home. Circe: (She’s starting to get into the depressed loner at PE pose) Jason: And that’s the story of how Circe got rejected! Circe: ーThank you all for your “courteous” explanation. I’m so gonna turn you guys into pigs!!

Orion: ......Huh? Hey, Master, do you think that guy way over there is the Servant? They’re collapsed on the beach.

Jason: Oh, maybe they smell bad and that’s why all those Phantasmal Beasts are gathering around.

> W- We have to help them!

Georgios: Indeed. Let’s move out!

Circe: Fine, but I’ve still got a number of complaints, so—

Jason: Forget about that and help!!

[battle]

Georgios: That should be it. Now then, everyone, if you would be so kind.

Everyone: ?

Georgios: Smile.

[he snaps a photo]

Jason: I smiled on instinct, but is there a reason why you had to take a picture?

Georgios: For the memories, of course.

Circe: Well, we should probably get to waking up this Servant, right? Good grief, we really are a bunch of insensitive heroes…… Hey, are you okay?

……

……

Hm? Hmmmmm?

> What is it?

Circe: I- It’s nothing. Super, totally not even a thing, ya’know?

Jason: I thought the back of their head looked strange, but it’s a helmet, huh? Oi, they might be drowning in there. Why don’t you take off his helmet?

Circe: ......

......

Orion: Georgios, teacherー please helpー.

Georgios: Right. And-a-one, and-a-twoー

???: Ug…… Ugh…… W- Where am I……?

Jason: Oh, he’s alive.

???: Who are...... you people......?

[Circe is constantly at the side of the frame while we’re talking]

> We’re from Chaldea

???: Chaldea......?

Jason: If you don’t know Chaldea, does Jason or Orion ring a bell?

???: ......Those are the names of legendary heroes…… Are you saying you are too?

Georgios: I am Georgios. The thing that looks like a bear at first glance is Orion. And the man who’s crossing his arms, slowly backing away, and thinking things like “When I get my chance I’ll turn tail and run”......

That one is Jason.

Jason: Why do I get roasted for my introduction!?

Georgios: Moving on—

Oh? What happened to Circe?

> Huh?

???: ......Circe?

Mash: Circe seems to have slipped away.

Orion: Just what does she think she’s doing……

Hey, you guys stay here. Master and I will find her.

Jason: So she ended up skipping out after all.

???: Circe……

Georgios: She’s the famed Great Witch of Aeaea Island. You’ll meet her in a bit.

Node 2

[at a waterfall]

ーAll at once, I ran away. I don’t understand what’s happening right now. All I knew was that I had to get away from that suffocating atmosphere.

Circe: *pant*…… *pant* *pant*…… So that bad feeling I had was right…… 

……I thought this day would come. Because he is a hero. A hero among heroes. Of course he would be summoned, the only question is when.

Circe: It probably wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t a chance meeting.

Why did it have to be this, of all things? I just had to find him summoned to Aeaea Island. Where it all began.

Circe: What’s gotten into me, running away like that!? I’m not usually this bad. Right now I am first and foremost—

Guda’s Servant.

……

……

……If I could just breathe and sort my feelings outー But even as I think this……

[there’s a noise]

Circe: Can everything just be quiet!

> Circe!

Circe: Guh, Master!!

[she starts shifting around]

Circe: *fiddles with her hair*

*pulls her own cheeks*

*checks her face in a hand mirror*

*turns away, then looks back with a smile*

Hey hi, what’s up, Piglet!

Orion: Stop looking in the mirror and help us fightー!!

Circe: You’re just a bear that doesn’t understand a maiden’s heart!!

> Preparing for combat!

[battle]

> Now then, what’s wrong?

Circe: ......

......Ugh.

It’s about that guy we found on the beach.

> Do you know him?

Circe: I do know him. I know him very well. That man’s name is—

......Odysseus. He’s one of the few heroes that survived the Trojan War. The man who devised the Trojan Horse and led the Achaean forces to victory.

……A man who was set adrift for a long, long time on his way back to his beloved wife.

……A man who spent a bit of time with me here, on Aeaea Island.