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Ritsuka was kind. Something foreign, something unintelligible, inscrutable.
He wasn’t a mage.
Ok, he literally was a mage, but not in the traditional sense. Not like them . Team A, the Crypters. There was always a palpable coldness to them, no matter how warm Pepe tried to be.
It’s the coldness that stems from finding out you have some jurisdiction over human life.
Kirschtaria’s plan to make humanity into gods, Beryl taking lives on a whim, Akuta risking the human race to reunite with the one she loves, Daybit’s ambition to destroy the planet, all of it comes from the gaul those mages have to judge the value of humanity.
Peperichino and Ophelia weren’t as overt with it but they turned a blind eye when it mattered too. Hell even team A seems like Marisbury’s throw bodies at the problem style solution to whatever grand mission he had. Every part of Chaldea’s foundation is riddled with mage sociopathy. This was something Kadoc was used to, and it’s not like he’s any better. He actively tried expanding his Lostbelt. Says how much he cares in the grand scheme.
But Ritsuka is better than them without even trying. He has so much genuine compassion for every living thing it’s almost insufferable. No wonder he’s a third rate mage. His magical circuits may make an outstanding battery but he clearly wasn’t raised with the pragmatism anyone above rank Cause would have.
Is that a good thing? Kadoc can’t tell. Krischtaria likely would have done better with the incineration of humanity but…
Would his touch have been human enough?
It’s clear Ritsuka sees himself among the regular denizens of humanity rather than a world saving hero like actually he is. It’s mildly irritating how little pride he takes in his role. Mages usually like to feel superior and those less intelligent have a tendency to brag.
The only reason Ritsuka should even count as a mage is his ability to do magic. Even then he only knows basic enhancement and has a general lack of education on most helpful spells.
So in a way he’s fighting for humanity as a human. Something Kadoc or the other Crypters could never do.
But he’s too damn trusting.
After reading several reports of the Lostbelts, The Incineration of Humanity and the other minor incidents between, he’s noticed that Ritsuka often doesn’t do a few things. He doesn’t make necessary sacrifices, say no to helping others, or compromise on anything. And it’s gotten him into an entire host of perfectly avoidable situations.
For example, getting rid of Corday as soon as she revealed herself to be a threat in Atlantis. It would have saved them some time and some lives. Even if it all worked out later it wasn’t efficient.
Ritsuka won’t make these decisions himself, Kadoc knows that because clearly he’s had at least an entire year of these dumbass judgement calls under his belt.
…there’s this thought that’s been nagging him ever since Traum. Could this be what I can do? Now that he and Ritsuka are officially a team- wow that feels weird to think, then maybe he can look out for Ritsuka in that way. Point out clearly shady characters or just watch his back when they have to trust one. Be a more reasonable voice to someone with an overly idealistic outlook.
Look out for him huh…
“Hey Kadoc! You look gloomier than usual. Anything got you down?” Kadoc’s head snapped to Ritsuka, who leaned over to where he sat nestled in the records room.
Anastasia told him he tended to look dower when he was lost in thought.
“Nothing, I was just catching up on your adventures.” Kadoc tried to sound nonchalant.
“Oh you are? Which ones?” Ritsuka snapped up rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
I guess Kadoc could see how it’d be kind of awkward, catching someone reading about your life. Not like he was going to stop. Most of them were interesting stories, plus it might help them out later.
“Reading about Atlantis. Hell of a thing you pulled off. To think I was just stirring up some petty shit whilst you were tackling the nightmare task of bringing down gods.” Kadoc smiled wryly.
“Hey you helped a little there too on Olympus.” Ritsuka frowned.
Kadoc shrugged “I mean sure . But-“
“But nothing. We weren’t even on the same side then and you helped. That’s bonus points.” Ritsuka nods affirmatively.
Kadoc squinted. Annoyingly positive at worst. It’s a little bit infectious. It’s a weird conundrum not regretting his time in Russia but somehow also wishing he’d helped Novum Chaldea more. Without Anastasia there was no real reason to be against Chaldea other than the loyalty and pride that came with being a Crypter. It’s not like he was the only one reluctant to discard that, but its repercussions sting more now that his foes are his colleagues.
Ritsuka makes him feel weirdly good about not being such a terrible enemy. Whatever that’s even supposed to mean. He gets pats on the back for the bare minimum and he wants to say higher your standards! But being commended for actually contributing hits a place deeper than he’d like to admit.
It’s nice. Despite his desire to contextualize it properly, to say that it was a drop in the pond. But Ritsuka seems to value even a speck of goodwill.
“Whatever.” Kadoc sighs. “It’s interesting stuff. Ever think about getting one of your writer servants to pen it?”
“Maybe after it’s over? I’m more focused on making sure there’ll be an audience for it period.” Ritsuka moved to sit on the desk Kadoc was next to.
Kadoc gave a slight nod, “fair point.”
Ritsuka swings his legs, “so I had an idea.”
“Had?” Kadoc raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve had it for a bit.” Ritsuka smiled lightly. “I was wondering if you’d be cool with helping me combat train?”
“Hah? Wouldn’t your servants be more apt for that?” Kadoc’s got less combat ability than…yeah all of the other Crypters. Not to mention a servant. He actually doesn’t have that much magical energy at all. Why the hell is he asking Kadoc about fighting?
“You went to Clocktower, right? Trained formally in magecraft?” Ritsuka asked.
“Yeah, that doesn’t mean I’m g-“ Ritsuka frowned at him. Kadoc can already hear it, no talking down to yourself .
“-ahem, it doesn’t mean that I can help.” Ritsuka perked up again.
“Well I just need formal training at all. If I ask one of my casters they always skip the basics assuming I’ll get them intuitively or scold me for not knowing. Plus you know servants can be eccentric. Casters in particular can be a lot.” Both fondness and amusement seeps into his voice. It always happens when he talks about servants. They’re all very special to him, Kadoc doesn’t need to be good at reading people to tell. It’s a very human reaction to what most mages just consider familiars.
Well, Anastasia is special to him, he gets it.
It’s true. With no servants, if both Kadoc and Ritsuka were thrown into the woods, discounting Ritsuka’s EX luck of running into people who love him, Kadoc would survive easier.
One of the only things his family crest is good for is wilderness survival and endurance. It wouldn’t be so bad to pass that on to someone… wait that sounds like -
“What about Goredolf?” Kadoc doesn’t like that train of thought. Interrupted, in a box to the left. No need to unpack that! He meant pass the skills on to someone. The SKILLS.
There’s a mental image of Anastasia frowning at him right now. He frowns in turn.
“He tends to ramble, but more importantly, this is my excuse to hangout with you.” Ritsuka is staring into his soul right now, very kindly but mildly intimidating.
“Oh.” Friends. Kadoc hasn’t had friends in a long time. Since before Team A became the Crypters. Even then those friendships were weird.
Ritsuka begins to squirm. “I mean only if you want to-”
“No no, yeah. It sounds like a good idea.” Kadoc nods stiffly. He’s just out of practice with people wanting him around.
“And since we’re both kind of mediocre we could probably learn stuff together or something.” He taps his hands on his knees. He wished Anastasia or Pepe were here to make him feel normal. They didn’t get anxious at normal friendly gestures.
“Awesome! Is now a good time or?” Ritsuka tilts his head to the side.
“Yeah,” Kadoc closes the report in his hands. He can do his research later.
“Sweet, let's go!” Ritsuka smiled and pushed himself off the desk.
“Oh there’s something I wanted to ask you.” Kadoc gets up from the corner he was sitting in. By the way his limbs strain he’s been there a good while.
“Yeah?” Ritsuka turns to face Kadoc.
“Did you know Oberon was shady in the sixth Lostbelt?” Kadoc wanted to start out easy, a field test to understand the work that’s cut out for him.
“Yeah I did. The whole time actually.” Ritsuka’s face fell.
Kadoc furrowed his brow, “then why did you trust him?”
“Well there’s a number of reasons. One, it’s not like we had a lot of help to start with. The more the merrier and despite everything he did help us. Two, it’s not like I knew what exactly he was up to the whole time. The sixth Lostbelt was a very dense mystery with a lot of complex political workings. I couldn’t accuse him of doing something bad with no evidence. And three, is a bit sillier I’ll admit.”
Ritsuka ran a hand through his hair, “I really hoped he wasn’t an enemy. That my hunch was wrong. I wanted to believe that maybe he was telling the truth, that he was good and there was some shred of humanity sent to help us.”
“That…makes a lot more sense than I expected.” Kadoc put a hand to his chin. “You shouldn’t have to do that in the future.”
“Well it’s not like I’ve got a lot of choice,” Ritsuka sighs.
“Sometimes you do, I’ll make sure of it.” Kadoc felt a little nervous when he said it.
“What do you mean?” Ritsuka prompted.
“Come on, let's get to the simulator.” Kadoc began walking.
“Kadoc, don't be so cryptic! It’s not fair.” Ritsuka trailed after him.
“You suck at making hard decisions but I don’t. So I’ll help.” Kadoc isn’t getting his point across the best and he knows it. But being blunt and vulnerable isn’t his strong suit. So he’s trying.
“I don’t think that’s true at all! Where’d you get that idea?” Ritsuka caught up to Kadoc and kept pace.
“From reading the mission archives. I can’t count how many times your bleeding heart leads you into some sticky shit. I don’t have that affliction.” Could Kadoc just get to the point? No! He doesn’t want to! He felt like his heart was going to explode if he said it.
Ritsuka’s face went through a myriad of emotions but settled on curiosity, “so again, what do you mean?”
Kadoc stops in his tracks, “I’ll help you deal with them. The sketchy people and the tough choices.”
“I can’t promise I’ll change the way we run things, and Mash will surely have something to say.” Ritsuka’s eyes noticeably brightened. He stops a few paces in front of Kadoc, facing him still.
“But I can at least watch your back right?” Damn Ritsuka is pushy. Making him say this shit.
At this Ritsuka smiles warm and gooey. “Thanks Kadoc. I’ll be counting on you.”
He feels his face warm. God it’s just a bit of praise, don’t let it get to you this much!
“Are you ready to keep heading over?” Ritsuka asks, he holds out his hand to Kadoc.
Kadoc scoffs at the gesture. “We’re not primary school kids.”
“Y’know friends hold hands Kadoc.” Ritsuka puts his hands on his hips.
He felt himself smile, “who said we were friends?”
“I did,” Ritsuka said matter of factly.
“And I say we’re over eighteen so we can walk to the simulator like adults. ” Kadoc began walking ahead of Ritsuka.
“Booooo. You’re no fun.” He swore he heard Ritsuka laugh a little.
Would Anastasia be proud of him? She might be a little jealous if she was here. But now that she can’t be with him, he thinks she would.