After the first investigation team from the Clock Tower left, Chaldea returned to its original rhythm. Olga Marie led everyone in preparing for the next investigation by the Mage's Association. Shiomi continued his routine rehabilitation work.
However, unlike at the beginning when Morgan and the others would stay and monitor him closely, they had now returned to a shift schedule.
"Are you sure we should do this?" Artoria asked, a little uneasy.
"I have to try everything, or my body will forget," Shiomi replied, letting go of his cane.
His rehabilitation was progressing smoothly. He could already walk without using the balance bars, though he still relied on a specially crafted cane Mystic Code to help with stability. It wasn't ideal, but it wasn't terrible either.
"Then... ten meters at most." Artoria stood ten meters away from him.
"That's enough."
Shiomi stretched out his arms to keep his balance and took step after step toward Artoria. His legs felt like they were sinking into the ground. Each time he lifted one, it took his full concentration and strength.
Walking without a cane—something that should come naturally—now felt so foreign, as if he had to relearn it from scratch.
"...Five... four... three..."
Artoria softly counted the distance between them. She watched closely as Shiomi's steps grew less steady the closer he got. Even a slight breeze might have thrown him off.
When he was less than two meters away, Shiomi's face twisted with strain. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep moving, but his next step threw him off balance.
"Tenkei!"
He didn't fall. Artoria caught him just in time, holding him upright with her body.
"I couldn't even manage ten meters today. This is terrible," Shiomi muttered with a heavy sigh.
"That's good enough. It's only been half a month since you regained physical sensation," Artoria said gently. "Pushing too hard won't help your recovery."
"But if things stay like this, I won't be able to hold you like I used to," Shiomi joked, masking his frustration.
"Tenkei..."
Even knowing it was just a joke, hearing those intimate words whispered so close to her ear made Artoria's ears burn. Her body reacted before her reason could catch up.
That instinctual response was the same reason she had unconsciously reached out to him when she was still the Lion King.
"Ah—no, no. I've got something else today. Someone's coming over." Shiomi patted Artoria on the back, signaling her to let go.
"I think... it's a meeting with Ritsuka, right?" Artoria released him, supporting his weight as she looked up at him. "Do you need me to leave?"
"It's nothing private. You might even have some useful input." Shiomi shook his head and explained.
Just then, the video intercom at the door rang. Ritsuka Fujimaru had arrived.
Shiomi sat down, and Ritsuka entered the room, taking the seat across from him.
"Um, did Shiomi-sensei ask for me?" Ritsuka said.
"My future..." Ritsuka paused for a moment.
Shiomi gave an apologetic smile.
"You're a member of Chaldea, brought in after they discovered your aptitude for Rayshifting—under rather coincidental circumstances, I'd say. To be honest, knowing what I do about the situation, I think the whole process was full of deception."
"No, I don't think it was that bad..." Ritsuka replied, unsure.
Everyone in Chaldea had been kind. Over the past year or so, it was only because of everyone supporting each other that they had made it through the Human Order Incineration crisis.
"But Da Vinci should've told you already—despite not having any magical background, you've been exposed to secrets that many Magi never get to see in their entire lives. Chaldea's existence alone violates the secrecy rules that protect the Mystery," Shiomi explained gently. "Now, Chaldea finds itself in direct confrontation with the heart of the Magecraft world. As a non-Magus, you have every right to stay out of it."
"Are you asking me to leave Chaldea?" Ritsuka asked quickly.
"No, that's not what I mean," Shiomi said, shaking his head and motioning for her to hear him out.
"I just want to lay out your options. First, you could choose to return to your hometown—but not yet. At the very least, wait until Chaldea has weathered the current storm and we have the resources to protect you from the Mage's Association's notice. Only then would it be safe for you to go back."
"I understand..." Ritsuka nodded.
"Another option is to try entering the world of Magecraft. You've already awakened your Magic Circuits. While your aptitude may be average, many of the Magus Families that emerged during the Industrial Revolution in the Clock Tower started from nothing and built up over generations," Shiomi said carefully.
"Of course, stepping into that world doesn't mean cutting ties with your old life. But it does mean that your life will always be bound to Magecraft. You'll need to approach many things the way a Magus would, and that won't be easy."
"But I don't even know how to use proper Magecraft. Without Chaldea's Mystic Code, I can't even fight," Ritsuka said shyly.
"That's why it's only one suggestion. In the end, whatever path you choose is something to consider for the future. I'm telling you this now so you'll have time to think and come to your own decision," Shiomi said.
"More importantly, you've already carried burdens no ordinary person should've been asked to bear."
"No, I've just followed the Director, my seniors, and my teachers into battle... I've only done what I could," the girl said, waving her hands, honestly denying the weight of the claim.
"No, what I mean is..." Shiomi paused, pressing his lips together.
"I just want you to take it easy while you're in Chaldea. Try not to—"
Suddenly, the alarm blared, cutting him off.
He immediately opened a connection to the control room.
"What happened?"
"SHEBA has detected a new Singularity reaction! We can't pinpoint the exact location—it appears to be confined to a very small area. Similarity with Singularity F is at 74%... Ah, confirmation just came in! It's Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The year is... 1999?!"
"1999?"
Shiomi hadn't left Japan yet in that year, and he couldn't recall anything significant happening then.
Ritsuka was already on her feet, preparing to head to the control room.
"Wait, Ritsuka!" Shiomi called out. "Let Sakura and the others handle the Singularity. You don't need to—"
"But I'm still a Master! Even if I can only help a little, I can't just sit in Chaldea and do nothing!"
"You..." Shiomi let out a helpless sigh.
Artoria tugged at his sleeve.
"She's made her choice. We should respect her will. The desire to fight for what's right—that's everyone's freedom."
"...Then go," Shiomi said with a sigh.
He understood her feelings better than anyone else, and he knew better than anyone that he couldn't stop her.
"Thank you, Mr. Shiomi, Miss Artoria!"
Ritsuka gave a deep, respectful bow and ran out.