**The Chaldea Return**
The whirlwind of light enveloping Mash and Leonel faded as soon as their feet touched the cold metallic floor of the Rayshift return system. The laboratory lights blinked softly, and Romani's voice burst from the speakers with contained enthusiasm.
"Welcome back! Great work, you two! You did it!"
Da Vinci, always elegant even with safety goggles on, appeared with a tablet in hand and a radiant smile.
"No explosions or disasters this time. I'm impressed. And I mean it, this time the Grail's energy stabilized as soon as Mash absorbed it. Good job, guys."
Mash took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing as she slowly lowered the shield from her back.
"Thank you... Da Vinci... Doctor... I feel a bit exhausted."
Leonel gave her a light pat on the shoulder and smiled.
"You did great, Mash. As always."
Mash blushed a little, but her expression remained tired.
Romani cleared his throat, his tone understanding:
"You both deserve a rest. Go on, eat something, sleep, take the day off. Tomorrow we'll discuss the singularity report and analyze what happened with the Pillar and the Grail."
"Really?" Leonel tilted his head, incredulous.
"Want me to put it in writing and sign it in blood?" replied Da Vinci, crossing her arms with a half-smile.
Mash sighed with relief and nodded. "Thank you... I'd like a hot shower and to sleep for eight hours straight, for once."
Leonel raised an eyebrow. "Only eight?"
She laughed softly. "I don't want to abuse the privilege."
Both of them left the Rayshift laboratory walking side by side. The hallway lights were dim, as if Chaldea also knew it was time to rest. The silence of the place was comforting, with only the hum of magical machinery in the background.
"Mash..." Leonel said as they walked.
"Yes?"
"About Kiyohime and Jeanne... it was hard. But in the end... I'm glad I could be there. With you all."
Mash looked at him and nodded softly. "Me too. As long as I'm with you, Leonel-senpai... no matter how difficult the battle."
Leonel smiled. And for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel the weight of the world on his shoulders.
As the doors to their respective rooms closed behind them, calm settled over Chaldea like a warm blanket. Tomorrow would be another day. One full of answers, reports, and perhaps new missions. But for today...
Today they could simply rest.
**The Velvet Room**
Leonel's room in Chaldea was simple, functional: a bed, a desk, a closet, and a small reading lamp. Nothing more.
He closed the door with a soft click, tossed his jacket onto a chair, removed his gloves reluctantly... and before he could even settle in properly, he collapsed onto the bed.
As soon as his head touched the pillow, the world turned blue.
The Velvet Room appeared before him once more, still wrapped in an atmosphere of contained chaos. Torn curtains, splintered stained glass, clocks spinning erratically... but at least the night sky stretching beyond the windows seemed calmer. As if the universe itself were breathing with less anguish.
Leonel found himself seated in the same armchair as always, facing Igor, whose smile was as enigmatic as ever.
"Welcome back... to the Velvet Room, Leonel."
Selene, sitting elegantly beside Igor, looked more serene. Her dress was partly mended, and her hair, once disheveled and dull, now shone faintly. Her eyes, once shadowed, now showed a spark of life.
"You did it! The distortion was contained... and the Grail did not fall into dark hands. I am... truly happy about that, Leonel," she said with a genuine smile.
Leonel nodded, still a bit dazed by the change of scenery. "It was a hard fight. I didn't think the Pillar would hold out so long..."
Igor interlaced his fingers.
"Your determination has been admirable. Thanks to your efforts, the Persona Compendium has begun to reactivate. Many of the names lost in the fog of Chaos have returned to their places... though still weak, they are echoes of their former glory."
Selene stood up and extended a small leather-bound notebook towards Leonel. On the cover shone an ancient symbol: the seal of the Compendium.
"With this, you will be able to summon some basic Personas from here. Pixie, Apsaras, Angel, Silky, Mandrake... none of overwhelming power, but if used well, they can save your life in an emergency."
Leonel took it reverently, as if holding something alive. He felt a small warmth in his chest, as if the bond with these entities was being woven just by touching it.
"And Tezcatlipoca?" he asked suddenly, looking at Igor.
The old man gave a slight bow with his long nose protruding.
"Your original Persona, Tezcatlipoca, is... special. He cannot be fused, nor will he be replaced. He is your most intimate reflection... your darkest and brightest truth. However..."
Selene intervened:
"Like the legendary Wild Cards, you too can use multiple Personas. You can alternate between them when the situation requires it. Although Tezcatlipoca will not leave; he will always be within you."
Leonel nodded slowly. "So... I can form my own arsenal. In my own way."
Igor let out a nasal chuckle.
"That is the essence of this contract. Walk your path, and let your decisions shape destiny."
The Velvet Room began to fade little by little. Selene gave him one last look, warmer this time.
"Rest, Leonel. Your battles have only just begun... but for now, you can sleep in peace."
**Morning After**
Leonel woke up to a soft blinking of the ceiling lights. The pillow under his head was warm. Outside, Chaldea was still silent.
And in his chest, a new bond vibrated with possibilities.
The soft light of the sun filtered through the blinds, tracing golden lines on Leonel's disheveled sheets. He opened his eyes slowly, as if his eyelids weighed a ton. His muscles still felt the echo of the battle, and his mind drifted between the blue dream of the Velvet Room and reality.
"Ugh..." he groaned in a hoarse voice as he sat up in bed and rubbed his face. There was something comforting in knowing that the distortion in Orleans had been contained... but he also knew more would come.
A clear, punctual sound interrupted his thoughts.
*Knock. Knock. Knock.*
Leonel blinked, confused, and shuffled to the door.
Opening it, he found Mash, impeccable as always, though with a slight drowsiness visible in her expression. Her shield rested on her back, and her hands were clasped in front of her, with her typical, almost robotic politeness.
"Good morning, Senpai. Dr. Romani and Da Vinci are waiting for us in the command room to review the Orleans singularity report."
Leonel nodded with a lazy smile.
"Thanks, Mash. Give me ten minutes... or five if I skip the coffee."
She nodded, with a slight smile before turning and walking away with calm steps down the hallway.
Leonel closed the door and stretched, letting out a monumental yawn.
"Time to get back to work..." he murmured.
*Meanwhile, in another room...*
A soft snore could be heard from a bed where the red satin sheets were a mess. Nero Claudius slept deeply, hugging a pillow as if it were a stuffed animal.
"Zzz... my dear Master... fufu, you won't be able to resist forever..." she murmured in her sleep, with a confident little smile on her lips. A drool bubble formed comically at the corner of her mouth.
Suddenly, she turned over and hugged the pillow tighter.
"...You will be mine by imperial decree! Ufufu~!"
And she kept sleeping, completely unaware of the world and the report about to begin.
**Command Center – Singularity Debrief**
The doors to Chaldea's command center slid open with a soft hum, allowing Leonel and Mash to enter. The room, full of holographic screens, floating magical graphs, and mana sensors, was illuminated with a faint blue light, as if the place never knew the concept of rest.
Romani Archaman, with his coffee cup in hand and near-permanent dark circles under his eyes, smiled at them with relief.
"Ah, guys! Welcome. Have a seat, please." He gestured toward the chairs in front of the central console.
Beside him, Da Vinci, with her characteristic air of carefree genius, already had several panels floating around her, collecting data in real time. She held an enchanted pen that wrote by itself to the rhythm of the conversation.
"Great work in Orleans! The temporal flow alteration has ceased, and magical particle readings have returned to normal levels. Quite an achievement for your first incursion," she said in an animated tone, but with eyes gleaming with interest. "Now, why don't you tell us the details?"
Mash nodded, upright and formal as always.
"The singularity was centered on a distorted version of medieval France, overrun by Black Dragons and controlled by an altered Jeanne d'Arc, known as Jeanne Alter. We gathered Servant allies like Mozart, Kiyohime, Elizabeth Bathory, and the real Jeanne d'Arc, and proceeded to eliminate the corrupt core, the Demon Pillar."
"The Grail?" asked Romani.
"Recovered," replied Leonel, crossing his arms. "It was sealed by Mash, which caused the distortion to begin to fade."
Da Vinci nodded as her floating pen wrote at full speed.
"Fascinating. The way space-time reacted was more stable than we expected. And the magical links with your Servants were... intense."
Romani sipped his coffee, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Leonel... you still haven't told us everything about your Persona. Only that it allows you to fight with enhanced magic and resistance, but we don't know its origin... or why it seems to operate outside the normal parameters of a Servant, or even a magus."
Leonel was silent for a few seconds. His gaze met Mash's, who, though neutral, conveyed a certain support.
"It's not that I'm hiding something," he said calmly. "It's just that I still don't have all the information clear. My Persona... is different from any entity you have recorded. It's not a heroic spirit, nor a deity like the ones Chaldea has cataloged. Its name is Tezcatlipoca."
Da Vinci narrowed her eyes, clearly intrigued.
"Tezcatlipoca... as in the Mexica god of the smoking mirror?"
Leonel nodded.
"Exactly. But it's not a summoning in the style of Servants. My bond with him is not a simple contract invocation. He... is a part of me. He chose me, or perhaps I dragged him from somewhere else. I'm not sure yet."
Romani noted something on his console with a pensive expression.
"That would explain the unstable magical resonance we felt the first time you activated your Persona. It doesn't respond to the normal summoning system."
Da Vinci brought a hand to her chin, observing him as if he were a living painting.
"And it's not a Noble Phantasm either. Hmm... this is unprecedented. A real Persona user, with access to a divine being that can materialize at will and fight on equal terms with Servants. Fascinating."
Leonel smiled slightly to the side, a bit uncomfortable with the intensity of her gaze.
"For now, I can only tell you that I'm here to help. And if my Persona serves to protect the world, I have no intention of stopping."
Mash bowed her head slightly in a sign of respect and affirmation.
"I trust Senpai."
Romani smiled more relaxedly.
"It's fine, that's enough for now. But if at any point you feel ready to share more... we'll be here."
Da Vinci swiveled her chair towards him, smiling mischievously.
"And if you ever let me analyze that magical connection... I could work wonders with that smoking mirror. I imagine some very fun theories."
Leonel raised an eyebrow but only laughed softly.
"One day, Da Vinci. One day."
**Command Center – After the Debrief**
The doors closed behind Mash and Leonel, and the command center fell into a brief but dense silence. Romani set his coffee cup down on the console and sighed.
"He's a good kid. Sincere... in what he says."
Da Vinci, without taking her eyes off the floating screen, crossed her arms with a serious expression, rare for her.
"Yes, but the problem is what he doesn't say."
Romani leaned back in his chair, interlacing his fingers.
"We know he has a bond with a powerful entity, something beyond the Servant system. And even though he explained it as a 'Persona,' the term has no records in the Foundation."
Da Vinci nodded, thoughtful.
"And that it's a 'Mexica god,' yet it can't be fused or function like a traditional Servant... hmm. Even the FATE system resists classifying it. That's not normal."
"Also, the way he directed the Servants... was too natural, even for someone with Master aptitudes."
Da Vinci smiled with a touch of mischief.
"Are you saying that as a scientist or as a woman jealous of his charisma?"
Romani let out a tired laugh.
"As a scientist, Da Vinci... though yes, I can't deny the charisma. But there's something else. Something deep that he himself either doesn't want to see or isn't ready to tell. I don't think he's lying... but he's not telling us the whole truth either."
Da Vinci lowered her gaze for a moment, serious.
"We'll have to watch him closely. Because if what he carries is beyond our understanding... it could be our salvation or our doom."
**Chaldea Hallways – On the Way to the Cafeteria**
Leonel walked at a leisurely pace through Chaldea's white hallways. Though still somewhat tired from the journey to Orleans and his nighttime visit to the Velvet Room, the fresh air of the facility helped keep him awake. Beside him, Mash walked in silence, reading something on her holopad.
"Do you think we did well?" she asked suddenly.
Leonel nodded with a small smile.
"Yes. It was difficult, but we managed to stay together. That's worth more than any easy victory."
Mash nodded with a shy smile. Turning a corner, they arrived at Chaldea's main cafeteria, where several staff members and some Servants were having lunch.
At one of the tables near the window, Nero Claudius sat with elegance, though she was devouring a large portion of pasta with almost disproportionate enthusiasm. Her melodious laughter mixed with the clatter of cutlery.
Seeing Leonel and Mash, she raised a hand and smiled broadly.
"Ohh, Praetor! Mash! Come! Join me in this humble feast! Nothing honors the Emperor more than sharing the table with her bravest generals!"
Mash blinked, surprised by Nero's effusiveness, while Leonel simply laughed softly.
"Shall we humor the empress?"
"I don't think we have a choice," replied Mash, somewhat embarrassed.
Both headed towards the table as Nero moved plates aside with a triumphant smile, ready to enjoy not only the food... but also the company of her Praetor.
**Lunchtime Confusion**
The trio settled at the table with their trays ready. Mash, always polite, sat across from Nero, while Leonel took a seat beside her. At first, everything proceeded normally: knives cutting food softly, the murmur of other diners filling the background.
Until Nero began her move.
"Hmm... Praetor, have you not noticed something special today?"
Leonel, mid-bite of rice, blinked confused.
"Huh? Something special?"
Nero leaned subtly towards him, her green eyes gleaming with mischief, and lowered her voice slightly.
"Yes... that I am more radiant than ever. Do you notice? Or have the efforts of an empress to conquer her beloved's heart been in vain?"
Mash nearly choked on her soup, her cheeks turning bright red.
"N-Nero-san! That is very inappropriate in public!"
"Oh, come now, dear Mash! Should love hide like a shadow? No! It must bloom like roses in the Roman Colosseum!"
Leonel, already a bit sweaty, tried to maintain composure.
"Nero, I don't know if this is the best for—"
She didn't let him finish. She slid a little closer, with a coquettish shrug, and placed a hand over his.
"Praetor, do you not feel the destiny between us? You are strong, brave, handsome! And I am a glorious empress, endowed with unparalleled beauty! Together, we would conquer not only lands, but hearts!"
Mash couldn't take it anymore. She stood up abruptly, her face flushed like a tomato.
"I-I have to... go! I have things to do!! I'm sorry!"
And she left the cafeteria almost at a run, stumbling slightly on the threshold. Leonel watched her go, both amused and sorry.
"Poor Mash..."
"Hehe, her youth makes her shy! But you... you are different." Nero looked at him with shining eyes, her voice laden with intensity. "A simple life is not enough for you. I know it. You were born to be great, and I shall be your queen!"
Leonel sighed, scratching the back of his neck with one hand while the other remained trapped between Nero's fingers.
"Look, Nero... I'm not going to lie to you. You are beautiful. Strong. Inspiring. And yes, I'm attracted to you... very much. But right now we are in the middle of a war for humanity's existence. I can't focus on romance right now."
For a moment, silence fell. Then, Nero smiled with dazzling intensity.
"So... you desire me, but not now?"
Leonel opened his mouth to respond, but she got ahead of him.
"Perfect! That is more than enough! Praetor, I declare you my husband from this moment on! There is no need for a long ceremony, the heart has spoken!"
"...H-Husband?" Leonel blinked, frozen.
"Yes! My imperial husband! From now on, you shall share the same fate as I. Glory, passion, and a bed of roses at the end of each battle. I will not accept a 'no'! The will of Rome is absolute!"
Leonel looked up at the ceiling, unsure whether to laugh or scream. Finally, he sighed and slumped his shoulders, murmuring to himself:
"...I'm doomed."
Nero laughed joyfully as she ate another bite of pasta with a victorious smile, as if she had just won a war.
**Chaldea Hallways – After Lunch**
Their footsteps echoed softly on the marble floor as Leonel walked beside Nero, who held onto his arm as if it were the most valuable of treasures. Her head rested lightly on his shoulder, her long golden curls swaying gracefully as they walked.
"Ugh... how did I end up like this?" Leonel thought, glancing sideways at the empress smiling with absolute satisfaction.
"Ah~! The air here is not as refined as in Rome, but walking beside you, my Praetor, makes it so pleasant~" she murmured, snuggling a bit more against his arm.
Leonel tried to maintain a neutral smile, though his mind was a whirlwind.
"Nero... are you sure this is okay? We've barely... gotten to know each other."
"Ha! You don't need a whole lifetime to recognize a glorious destiny!" she replied, letting out a small laugh before looking up at him. "Besides, we are already husband and wife. Did I not tell you? Rome didn't need unnecessary formalities when the heart decided. I, as empress, decreed it. And that's that!"
"...Is that how things work in Rome?"
"It is! And as part of that sacred bond... there is something else I must explain to you," she added with a more mischievous smile than before, guiding him towards a less traveled corner of the hallway. "You see, as my husband, and by imperial right... you must begin forming your own harem."
Leonel stopped dead in his tracks.
"My *what*??"
Nero looked at him with all the naturalness in the world, as if she had told him he needed to buy bread.
"Your harem, of course. An emperor must be surrounded by beauties worthy of his status! It is an ancient Roman tradition. Great men are not made to love in solitude, but to inspire many. And you, Praetor, are no less!"
"And you... wouldn't be jealous?" asked Leonel, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
Nero looked at him with an enchanting little laugh, then stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Of course I would, but that will only make me strive harder to be your favorite. See? Healthy competition stimulates the spirit! Besides, I already saw how that girl named Mash looks at you. Hehehe, perhaps unknowingly, you already have two!"
Leonel didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or run away.
"This... this is moving way too fast..."
"That's Rome! Swift, glorious, passionate!" she exclaimed with pride as she hugged his arm again, as if nothing had happened. "But fear not, my Praetor. I will guide you. To each victory, to each conquest... and to each lover, if need be."
Leonel sighed with a resigned smile, knowing that resisting further would be futile.
"Alright... we'll do this your way. But please, no trumpets announcing it."
"Hmph! Then I shall limit myself to sending a message through the internal system!" she replied in a playful tone.
"Nero!"
"Joke, joke!" she laughed. "More or less."
Both continued walking down the hallways, with Nero radiating imperial energy and Leonel already mentally preparing a list of explanations to give... starting with Mash.
**Outside Leonel's Room**
"This is where you sleep, right, my Praetor?" asked Nero with a raised eyebrow and a suggestive tone.
"Yes... thank you for walking me... and for not issuing any more decrees," murmured Leonel, somewhat nervous.
"Oh, I'm saving a few for later~" she laughed before standing on her tiptoes again. Without hesitation, she kissed Leonel's cheek softly.
"W-well! I-I'll see you later!!" he stammered, completely red.
Nero winked at him and walked away with a sing-song laugh, walking with imperial bearing.
"By the gods... what did I just live through?" Leonel thought, leaning his forehead against the door.
At that moment...
"L-Leonel-kun!" a voice was heard right behind him.
Leonel jumped in fright, turning around abruptly.
"Mash! I didn't hear you coming!"
She looked down, somewhat nervous.
"I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to scare you... just... I saw you were with Nero-sama, and... well... I wanted to know what was going on..."
"Oh... that..." Leonel scratched the back of his neck, averting his gaze. "You see, Nero is... intense. Very intense. She declared that I am her husband. According to her, as a Roman empress, she has that right. I suppose it's... symbolic, right?"
Mash pursed her lips, visibly uncomfortable.
"So... you accepted?"
"Not exactly. It was more like... impossible to refuse. You know her, she's like a storm in the shape of a woman," Leonel joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Mash lowered her head a little, a sad tone in her voice.
"I understand... it's just that... it surprised me. I didn't know she... wanted something so serious with you."
Leonel sighed and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Mash, I swear I didn't plan any of this. I barely know her. She is... spontaneous, passionate. And well, I'm flattered, of course, but that doesn't mean that..." he stopped, the memory of what Nero had said about "competition and his harem" still floating in his head. "Anyway, the important thing is that, for now, we have more important missions and duties. Don't worry, okay?"
Mash looked up. Her eyes reflected a mix of relief and something harder to decipher.
"Alright, Leonel-kun. Just... don't leave me out."
"Huh?"
"I mean... as a comrade. As a shield. And... as a friend." She forced a shy smile. "I'll be with you while all this... sorts itself out."
Leonel smiled at her, more relaxed.
"Thanks, Mash. Really."
She nodded, and after a brief pause, turned on her heel and walked away at a brisk pace, hiding the slight blush that still stained her cheeks.
Leonel watched her until she disappeared down the hallway and then sighed, leaning against the door again.
"First an empress, now a jealous kouhai... This is just the beginning, isn't it?"