The awakening was not what I expected.
I didn't open my eyes to the sight of a cracked adobe ceiling, nor to the dim light of an oil lamp, nor to the distant sound of Uruk's soldiers celebrating a victory I still hadn't fully processed. I didn't feel the suffocating heat of the Mesopotamian desert, nor the weight of fatigue accumulated in my muscles, nor the dull ache of my overloaded Magic Circuits. Instead, the first thing I perceived was a soft, distant melody, like the tinkling of crystal glasses at a faraway party. And a scent of velvet. And the sensation of sitting in a chair that wasn't mine.
I opened my eyes.
The Velvet Room.
The room was more restored than I remembered. The blue curtains, which in my previous visits had been tattered and torn, now hung with renewed elegance, their velvet shimmering with its own light. The carpet, once covered in dust and debris, was now a sea of deep blue stretching as far as the eye could see. The walls, which during the Singularities had shown cracks and signs of deterioration, were now immaculate, upholstered with a pattern of golden stars that twinkled softly. And in the center of the room, the round table where Igor and Selene awaited me gleamed with a luster I had never seen on it before.
It was as if the Velvet Room had been restored. As if the tide of destruction that had threatened to swallow everything had receded.
"Welcome, esteemed guest," said Igor, his voice resonating with that enigmatic warmth that characterized him. His long, bony fingers were interlaced on the table, and his smile was wider than usual. "We are pleased to see you again. And in such good circumstances."
"Circumstances?" I asked, my voice sounding strange in that space. It was the first time I had spoken in the Velvet Room, and the words seemed to float in the air before dissolving.
"The Seventh Singularity has been resolved," replied Selene, my personal guide, from her seat to Igor's left. Her silver hair fell over her shoulders like water illuminated by the moon, and her mercury-colored eyes shone with a happiness I hadn't seen in her since... well, since I'd known her. "Tiamat has been defeated. Uruk has survived. Human history has been restored at its most critical point." She paused, and a genuine smile curved her lips. "You have done something extraordinary, Leonel."
"It wasn't me," I replied, feeling a pang of guilt. "Gilgamesh was the one who delivered the final blow. If he hadn't intervened..."
"If you hadn't been there," Igor interrupted, "Gilgamesh would never have intervened. Your actions, your decisions, your summonings... all of that created the conditions for the king to be compelled to act. Do not downplay your role, esteemed guest. The victory is yours as much as his."
"But... we lost many. Serenity, Cursed Arm, Hundred Faces, Spartacus, Boudica, Shakespeare, Andersen... all fell. How can I call that victory?"
"Because their sacrifices were not in vain." Selene's voice was soft but firm. "They fought for you. They believed in you. And thanks to them, humanity still stands. That is what it means to be a hero, Leonel. It's not about winning without losses. It's about winning despite the losses."
I fell silent. Her words made sense, but the wound was still open. Perhaps it would never fully close. Perhaps it shouldn't close. Scars were reminders. And reminders, sometimes, were the only thing that kept us human.
"I have a question," I finally said, changing the subject. There was something that had been intriguing me since I opened my eyes. "How were you able to reach me in the Singularity? You never did this in the previous ones. Before, the Velvet Room only called me when I was in Chaldea. But now... as far as I know, I'm still in Babylonia. Yet I'm here."
Igor and Selene exchanged a glance. It was Igor who responded.
"You are right. In the previous Singularities, the Velvet Room could not contact you directly. Our influence was limited by the temporal distortion. Each Singularity was a knot in the fabric of reality, and we, as guardians of the Velvet Room, could not traverse those knots without risking further destabilizing the fabric of time."
"But now," Selene continued, "the Seventh Singularity has been resolved. The last great knot has been undone. Humanity is about to return. And with that, the Velvet Room has regained much of its original power. That is why we have been able to bring you here, even in the midst of the Singularity."
"I see," I murmured. "So, the restoration of the room...?"
"Is a reflection of the restoration of humanity," Igor explained. "Each of your victories, each Singularity resolved, has returned a fragment of light to this place. And now, with Babylonia completed, the Velvet Room shines as it hasn't in a long time." He paused, and his smile faded slightly. "But it is not enough."
"What do you mean?"
"The seven Singularities have come to an end," said Igor, his tone turning grave. "But the threat of Solomon remains. Goetia, the Beast of Pity, the King of Demons... is still there, in the Time Temple, waiting. And as long as he exists, humanity will not be safe."
"I know," I replied, swallowing hard. "What comes after Babylonia is the Time Temple. The final battle against Goetia."
"Exactly." Igor stared at me, his bulging eyes shining with an intensity he rarely showed. "And that battle, esteemed guest, will be the ultimate test of your destiny in this world. Goetia is not like the enemies you have faced so far. He is not a Beast like Tiamat, nor a god like the Lion King, nor a corrupted hero like Cu Chulainn Alter. He is an entity that has transcended mortality, that has accumulated power for three thousand years, that controls the seventy-two demons of Ars Goetia. He is, in many ways, the ultimate enemy."
"And what am I supposed to do against that?" I asked, my voice sounding more bitter than I intended. "I'm just a transmigrator. An error in the fabric of destiny. Fujimaru Ritsuka was the one who should be here, not me. He was the hero."
"Fujimaru Ritsuka was a hero," Igor conceded. "But you, Leonel Herrera, are another kind of hero. A hero who was not destined to exist, but who has chosen to exist. And that choice, that determination to keep going despite knowing you shouldn't be here... that is what makes you valuable."
"What makes me valuable..." I repeated, not quite believing it.
"Igor hasn't brought you here to overwhelm you," Selene interjected, her tone softer. "He brought you here to prepare you. To give you the opportunity to rest, to reflect, to gather your strength. Because what comes next... will be the hardest trial of your life. And we want to make sure you are ready."
Igor leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlaced. His gaze became distant, as if he were recalling something.
"You know, esteemed guest," he said, "I have had the honor of guiding several Wild Cards over the years. Young people who, like you, possessed the power of the Fool, the ability to summon multiple Personas. Each of them was special. Each of them faced a threat that could have destroyed the world. And each of them left a mark on my memory."
"What happened to them?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Some found victory. Others... found peace." Igor's eyes clouded for a moment. "I remember a young man with a deadpan expression and blue hair. He faced Tartarus, the tower that connected the human world with the realm of shadows. And in the end, he faced Nyx herself, the mother of death, the entity that threatened to grant death to all of humanity."
"And what happened?"
"He sealed her." Igor's voice was barely a whisper. "He used the power of the Universe, the ultimate card of the Wild Card, to become a living seal that kept Nyx away from humanity. But the cost... the cost was his own life. His soul became trapped in the seal, protecting the world from the other side." He paused. "He was the most tragic of my disciples. Even now, when I think of him, I feel a pang of sadness."
"Igor..." Selene murmured, gently touching the old man's arm.
"Do not worry, Selene. It is not pain I feel, but gratitude. That young man taught me the true meaning of sacrifice. And his memory reminds me why I do what I do." Igor took a deep breath and continued. "Then came a young man who delved into the mysteries of the midnight channel. He faced Izanami-no-Mikoto, the goddess who threatened to sink the world into a fog of illusions. That young man was different: more sociable, more charismatic. He formed bonds with everyone around him, and those bonds became his strength. In the end, he defeated the goddess with the power of Truth."
"And then came my Trickster," Igor added, and for the first time, a genuine smile crossed his face. "A young man who faced a man with delusions of grandeur, a man who wanted to 'improve' humanity by taking away their suffering. My Trickster, along with his friends, formed the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. And together, they stole the corrupt heart of that man and saved the world from distortion."
"Those are... incredible stories," I said, impressed.
"They are stories of heroes," Igor replied. "Heroes who, like you, did not ask to be heroes. Heroes who, like you, had to face the impossible. And heroes who, like you, found the strength to keep going despite the fear."
"But I'm not like them," I protested. "I'm not a legendary hero. I'm a transmigrator who has been improvising from day one. An impostor who has been lucky."
"It's not luck," said Igor. "It's determination. It's the will to fight for what you believe in. It's the ability to inspire loyalty in others. That is what makes you a Wild Card, Leonel. That is what makes you a hero."
"And what about Goetia?" I asked. "Do you think I can defeat him? Do you really believe that?"
Igor stared at me. His eyes, normally enigmatic, were now filled with a sincerity that left me breathless.
"I don't know," he admitted. "Goetia is an entity comparable to Nyx. A Beast that represents distorted compassion, the desire to end suffering by eliminating humanity itself. He is, in many ways, the most dangerous enemy I have seen." He paused. "But you, Leonel, have something the other Wild Cards did not."
"What?"
"The ability to summon heroes from the Throne of Heroes. Your bonds with your Servants are like silent arcana that grant you power. Each of them is a card in your deck, a piece on your board. And although Goetia is powerful, he cannot fight against an army of legends united by a common purpose."
"That sounds... hopeful."
"It's more than hope. It's a strategy." Igor leaned forward. "Leonel, I have brought you here for a reason. I want you to know that when the time comes, I will give you the power of the World. The ultimate card of the Wild Card. The same power my previous disciples used to face their final battles."
"The power of the World?"
"Yes. It is the ultimate manifestation of the bonds you have forged. Every friendship, every love, every alliance, every sacrifice... all of it will condense into a single card. A card that will give you the strength to face Goetia and emerge victorious." He paused. "But I can only give it to you when you are ready. And to be ready, you must believe in yourself."
"And if I can't?"
"You can." Selene's voice resonated with a warmth that comforted me. "We believe in you, Leonel. Philemon believes in you. Everyone around you believes in you. You just need to believe in yourself."
I fell silent. Igor and Selene's words echoed in my mind, mixing with my own thoughts. Could I really face Goetia? Could I truly save humanity? Could I really live up to the heroes who had come before me?
I didn't know. But I did know one thing: I wasn't going to give up. Not after everything we had been through. Not after all the sacrifices. Not after seeing Serenity smile, Bedivere fade away, Gilgamesh raise Ea against the sky.
"I don't know what awaits me in that Singularity, Igor," I finally said, my voice firm. "I don't know if I can defeat Goetia. I don't know if I will survive. But I can promise you one thing."
"And what is that?" asked Igor, with a smile.
I stepped forward. My eyes met his.
"I will defeat Goetia. No matter the cost."
The silence that followed was different from before. It wasn't a tense silence, laden with doubt. It was a silence filled with determination, acceptance, promise.
Igor smiled. It wasn't his usual enigmatic smile. It was a sincere, warm, almost paternal smile. And for a moment, I saw in his eyes the reflection of all the Wild Cards who had passed through the Velvet Room. Heroes who had fought. Heroes who had fallen. Heroes who had risen. And now, I was one of them.
"That is the answer I was hoping for," said Igor. "And it is the answer I needed to hear."
Selene, who had remained silent, rose from her seat and walked around the table. Her steps were soft, almost ethereal, as if she floated rather than walked. And before I could react, she wrapped me in an embrace.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for continuing to fight. Thank you for being... you."
"Selene..." I murmured, not knowing what to do with my arms.
"You don't have to say anything." She pulled back slightly, her mercury-colored eyes shining with an emotion I couldn't identify. "I just wanted to thank you. For everything."
"I haven't done anything worthy of thanks."
"You have saved humanity seven times. That's more than any mortal can say."
"Eight, actually. Fuyuki was the first."
Selene laughed, a soft, crystalline laugh. "Eight, then. Eight times. You are amazing, Leonel."
"I'm not amazing. I'm just... stubborn."
"Stubbornness is a form of heroism."
Igor cleared his throat, drawing our attention.
"I think it's time for you to return, esteemed guest. Your body is resting in Babylonia, and your Servants are worried about you." He paused. "But before you go, I want you to know something. Something important."
"What is it?"
"When you reach the Time Temple, you will not be alone. I will be with you. Selene will be with you. Philemon will be with you. And all the Wild Cards who have passed through the Velvet Room... they will also be with you. Their spirits, their legacies, their powers... all of them will accompany you in the final battle." He smiled. "Because you, Leonel Herrera, are the heir to their will. You are the final link in a chain of heroes that extends across time and space. And we will not let you fall."
I felt a lump in my throat. Igor's words were more than comfort. They were a promise. A promise that resonated with the same determination I had felt when facing Tiamat.
"Thank you, Igor," I said, my voice hoarse. "Thank you both."
"You are welcome, esteemed guest. Now, go. Your loved ones await you."
The Velvet Room began to fade. The colors diluted. The music faded. And the last thing I saw before waking up was Igor's smile, enigmatic and warm at the same time.
"Until soon, Leonel. We will see you at the Time Temple."
I opened my eyes.
This time, the view was familiar. But not entirely.
I wasn't in Chaldea. The ceiling above me wasn't the gray ceiling of my room, nor the adobe ceiling of the house Gilgamesh had assigned me. It was a fabric ceiling, a kind of improvised canopy raised over what seemed to be a camp bed. The walls, if they could be called that, were canvas stretched between wooden poles. And the air smelled of incense, medicinal herbs, and something more... cinnamon. Yes, it definitely smelled of cinnamon.
"Where...?" I murmured, trying to sit up.
A weight on my chest prevented it.
I looked down. And what I saw made me let out a sigh that was half exasperation, half tenderness.
Mash slept on my left, her head resting on my shoulder, her hand gripping mine with a firmness that belied her unconscious state. Her breathing was soft and rhythmic, and her face, relaxed in sleep, looked like an angel's.
On my right, Tamamo-no-Mae slept curled against my side. Her nine tails had spread across my body like a living blanket, and her face, normally full of mischief, was now a mask of absolute peace. Occasionally, her lips moved, murmuring something unintelligible. She was probably dreaming of cooking for me.
On my chest, spread out like a starfish, Jeanne d'Arc Alter slept with an expression that contradicted her usual scowl. Her lips, normally twisted in a sneer of disdain, were now softly curved into a smile. Her inner fire, which I normally felt as a distant warmth, was now a comfortable embrace that kept me warm.
And at the foot of the bed, sitting in a chair with her arms crossed and head tilted, Scáthach dozed. Even in sleep, her posture was that of a warrior ready to strike. But her breathing was slow and regular, and her expression was more relaxed than I had ever seen it.
My first reaction was panic. How the hell had they brought me to a tent? And why were all of them sleeping with me?
Then, memory returned. The battle against Tiamat. Gilgamesh's Enuma Elish. The explosion. My collapse. And then... the Velvet Room.
"So I passed out and they brought me here," I murmured to myself. "I suppose that was to be expected."
«That's right,» replied Tezcatlipoca, his voice echoing in my mind. «You passed out right after Tiamat was destroyed. Your Servants carried you to an improvised tent near the ziggurat. They didn't want to move you too much, so they decided to camp around you.»
«And why are they all sleeping with me?»
«Because they refused to leave you alone. Even after Gilgamesh offered them rooms in the ziggurat, they insisted on staying by your side. They said they wouldn't allow you to wake up without one of them there.»
«And why are they all here at the same time?»
«Because they couldn't agree on who should stay. So, in a rare moment of cooperation, they decided to take turns... but then they fell asleep waiting for their turn. In the end, they all stayed.»
«Hmm... I see.»
I couldn't help but smile. The idea that my girlfriends, with all their differences and rivalries, had fallen asleep together waiting to take care of me... was strangely touching.
"You are a disaster," I whispered, not addressing anyone in particular. "A beautiful disaster."
And then, as if my words had been an invocation, Jeanne Alter opened her eyes.
Her gaze, clouded by sleep, took a few seconds to focus. When it did, her pupils dilated.
"Leonel?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"Good morning, Jeanne."
"Are you awake? Really?"
"Yes, I'm awake."
"Idiot!" she exclaimed, sitting up abruptly and punching my chest with her fist. "Don't ever do that to me again! Don't ever pass out again! Don't ever leave me alone!"
"Jeanne, I was exhausted. I didn't do it on purpose."
"I don't care!" Her cheeks flushed red. "Do you know how long you've been unconscious? Almost two days! Two whole days! And we were here, worried, not knowing if you were going to wake up!"
"Two days?" I blinked. "I thought it had only been a few hours."
"No. Two days. Two damned, eternal days." Her eyes shone with a mixture of fury and relief. "If you hadn't woken up soon, I swear I would have... I would have..."
"You would have what?"
"I would have kissed you! On the mouth! Without permission!"
"That sounds more like a reward than a punishment."
"Shut up!"
The noise woke the others. Mash was the first to open her eyes, and upon seeing me conscious, her pupils filled with tears.
"Senpai!" she exclaimed, hugging me with a force that left me breathless. "You're awake! Thank God!"
"Hello, Mash. I'm glad to be awake."
Tamamo was next. Her tails twitched convulsively, and her eyes opened wide.
"Goshujin-sama!" she shouted, launching herself at me. "My Goshujin-sama! You're alive! You're alive!"
"Yes, Tamamo. I'm alive."
Scáthach, from her chair, opened one eye. Then the other. And a slow, dangerous smile curved her lips.
"Welcome back, husband," she said, her voice a purr. "You slept a long time. Too long."
"I'm sorry, Scáthach. I needed to rest."
"I know. And that's why I haven't punished you." She paused. "But next time you pass out without warning, I'll tie you to the bed until you've regained all your strength. And it won't be a metaphor."
"That sounds... extreme."
"It is. And I will do it."
Before I could respond, the tent flap was pushed aside and a familiar figure entered. It was Nero, followed closely by Nero Bride. Both stared at me with wide eyes, and upon seeing me awake, their faces lit up.
"My Caesar!" Nero shouted, running toward me.
"My Caesar!" repeated Nero Bride, following her.
The two launched themselves at me, and the combined weight of so many women made me groan.
"Girls... I can't breathe..."
"It doesn't matter!" exclaimed Nero. "You're alive! That's what matters!"
"And awake!" added Nero Bride. "Oh, my Caesar, we were so worried!"
"I can see that."
And so, little by little, the rest of my Servants arrived. Kiyohime materialized at the foot of the bed, her dragon eyes shining with relief. The Artorias entered in a group, all four of them, and observed me with expressions ranging from Saber's stoicism to Lancer's barely contained smile. Morgan arrived with her staff in hand, and for a moment, her blue eyes assessed me with an intensity that made me feel like an insect under a magnifying glass. And finally, Gilgamesh, followed by Merlin, entered the tent.
"So you've awakened," said the king, his tone neutral. "I thought you would sleep forever."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Your Majesty."
"You haven't disappointed me. Quite the opposite." A slight smile curved his lips. "You have fulfilled your part of the deal, Master of Chaldea. And I have fulfilled mine."
"The victory is yours, Your Majesty. You defeated Tiamat."
"With your help. Don't forget that." Gilgamesh stared at me. "And now, rest. The Singularity is repaired. The Rayshift back to Chaldea will be ready in a few hours. I suggest you prepare."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't thank me. I only do what I must as a king."
And with a dramatic swirl of his cape, he left. Merlin, who had stayed behind, gave me a mischievous smile.
"I suppose this is goodbye, Master of Chaldea."
"Yes. It has been an honor to fight by your side, Merlin."
"The honor has been mine." He paused. "But don't worry. We will see each other again. After all, I am a magus of flowers. And flowers always find a way to bloom."
"That sounds ominous."
"It's just the truth." He winked at me. "Until soon, Leonel Herrera."
And he disappeared, leaving behind a trail of cherry blossom petals.
I was left alone with my Servants. Well, not alone. I was never alone. And that, deep down, was what gave me strength.
"So..." said Jeanne Alter, breaking the silence. "Are you no longer in danger of death?"
"I don't think so. I'm tired, but stable."
"Good." She crossed her arms. "Because if you were in danger, I'd kill you myself."
"That doesn't make sense."
"I don't care."
Tamamo approached and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Goshujin-sama, we need to talk about what happened in the battle."
"About what?"
"About your lack of self-preservation. You threw yourself into fighting Tiamat with your magical reserves at their limit. That's madness."
"I know. But we had no other choice."
"There is always another choice." Her fox eyes shone with a dangerous light. "And next time, I'm going to make sure you take it. Even if I have to tie you to the bed too."
"Why does everyone want to tie me to the bed?"
"Because you're an idiot who doesn't know how to take care of yourself," Scáthach replied from her chair.
"And because we love you," Mash added, with a shy smile.
"And because if you die, we're left without a husband," Morgan concluded, with her usual coolness.
"And without a Caesar," the two Neros said in unison.
"And without Anchin-sama," Kiyohime murmured.
"And without a Master," added Artoria Saber, in her formal tone.
"And without an idiot to insult," Jeanne Alter finished, though her cheeks were red.
I looked at them all. At every single one of them. And I felt a strange warmth spread through my chest.
"Thank you," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Thank you all. For not giving up. For fighting by my side. For... for being here."
"You don't need to thank us," Tamamo replied. "It's our duty as your wives."
"And as your friends," Mash added.
"And as your allies," Artoria Saber concluded.
I smiled. And for the first time in a long time, the smile came naturally.
"This is my life now," I murmured, laughing softly. "A harem of legendary heroines, a war against the end of the world, and a magus who doesn't know when to stop." I looked at them again. "I wouldn't trade it for anything."
And then, I laughed. I laughed genuinely, with a laugh that came from the deepest part of my being. The others looked at me with surprise, then with relief, and finally, they joined in my laughter. Soon, the entire tent resounded with laughter. Laughter of relief. Of victory. Of hope.
Because we had won. We had defeated Tiamat. We had saved Babylonia. And now, only one battle remained.
Goetia.
The Time Temple.
The end of the Grand Order.
But that was for later. Now, at this moment, I just wanted to laugh. Laugh with the women I loved. Laugh with the heroines who had fought by my side. Laugh because, despite everything, we were still alive.
And as I laughed, I thought of Igor, of Selene, of the Velvet Room. I thought of their promise. Of the power of the World. Of the final battle that lay ahead.
«I'm ready,» I told myself. «I'm ready for whatever comes.»
And for the first time, I truly believed it.