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Lily slowly opened their eyes to a darkened room. They had already closed the curtains the night before, not wanting to see any light upon waking.
It was becoming clear to them what was happening, Lily just wasn’t sure how to feel about it. If they truly gave into this artificial anger (which could easily turn into real anger), they wouldn’t let up on revenge until the whole world truly was eroded.
Hmm…
They slowly rose from the bed and looked again into the mirror. Their ‘reflection’ stares back at them with a smile.
“Why don’t you kill them? They would never spare you, so you shouldn’t spare them. Raze them into oblivion, burn them to ashes. Erase all-“
“Morning.”
Lily turns to the intruding voice from their thoughts. Standing only a few feet away, with his hood over his head, is Hassan of the Shining Star.
“Morning…” Lily replies in a dead tone, looking nearly through the Assassin.
“Are you alright? I know you’re going through something but…” He trails off, not really knowing what to say.
“It’s more complicated than that, but to be clear: It’s not about those false people built from my memories.”
He tilts his head in surprise, “Really? Then what is this about?”
“You’re operating on the false assumption that I am human. And I am not. I know those place is just a reality marble meant to prey on my thoughts. But I am not so weak as to let this bother me. I will always crush all opposition regardless of what they use against me.”
He listens without interrupting; he only knew that he was called here by humanity. And all Hassan knew about Lily was that they were the Last Master of Humanity, that shouldered the weight of saving the world through countless trials on a seemingly never-ending journey. A journey that would crush any ‘human’ mentally, yet Lily shrugged off the title of human when Hassan first assumed it, they were one.
They did have an unnatural power to them. Not just the shadows of Servants they called to fight, but through how they single handedly fought off the first Trial before that Dragon Witch and Musician could come to help them. It was curious to the Assassin, so they watched Lily both to gauge their worth and just to get to know them.
It was definitely the most interesting spying Hassan had done. He had never seen someone switch their gender depending on how they felt. And he was being literal, Lily genuinely looked like a young man now, but had looked entirely look a woman yesterday.
“Yet you look unsure of yourself.” He points out.
They stare blankly for a moment before saying, “If you had the power to erase all threats, would you take it?”
His eyebrows raise slightly at the question, “What do you mean?”
“I mean if you were given the option to destroy everything that you ever sought death for, would you take it? Regardless of the consequences? Because that is the question being asked to me right now.”
The Assassin closed his eyes and thought about it for a moment.
“If you are talking about this…Avenger based Singularity. I was trained and raised to fulfill a role of killing. It was never based on emotion; it was on faith. And though I will not lie and say I haven’t killed out of anger or revenge, I simply prefer to be efficient.”
They listened intently to the response, not even blinking until he was finished with his words.
“That is a mindset I can agree with. Though faith is not something I can understand, killing out of duty is the most applicable thing to me. And yet…”
They raise a hand close to their face, and it suddenly morphs into a black tentacle. With a strange alien-like pattern running along the tendril. Hassan freezes at it’s appearance but doesn’t draw his weapons.
“This is what I truly am. You may see me as a human most of the time. But I have become something beyond imagining. If I truly desired it, I could destroy this world. Or at least the bleached remnants of it.”
They wave it to the side, and it changes back to a normal arm again.
“Yet I could never simply do it out of revenge. It would be akin to forsaking my duty of saving this world, and who else is going to do that?”
Hassan remained silent, knowing the answer was nobody. He might have been called here to fulfill the goal of stopping the threat of this Singularity, but he has been provided with the surface knowledge of what has happened up to this point. Servants themselves cannot function with a mana source; they are like ghosts that can normally only affect the world if they have a Master. Without Lily going through this journey, none of them would be here.
The world either have been burned to ash by Goetia, replaced by one of the false histories of the Lostbelts, or simply eroded from when ever other Servants decided their desires were more worthy than humanity existing. Regardless of the Counter Force or Humanity trying to stop these things, it wouldn’t have been possible if Lily hadn’t been there to snuff them out.
“But I cannot deny this…allure of vengeance. My path is already engulfed in the blood of many, so why would drowning it in fire be that different? That is what’s distracting me.”
They finish speaking, sitting back on the bed. Their black Mystic Code robes flapping around them on the sheets. The Assassin couldn’t help but be impressed with how they said all of that without any real anger. If he was in their position, even he would be lost in an inconsolable amount of rage.
He walks over to them and sits next to them on the bed. They stare at him curiously, probably already knowing that him of all people doing this was odd.
“I might not know or truly understand how you feel about all of…this. But know that whatever path you choose to walk, I will follow you from the shadows. You might not perceive yourself as human, but the fact you are even taking time to think about all of this proves otherwise.”
He tentatively reaches and holds on to that same arm that had shifted to a tentacle merely moments ago.
“An animal would lash out in a frenzy, a god might hastily make judgement; but you think, you are considering your options. And that proves—at least to me—that you are human. Even if biologically, you may not be.”
His words seem to finally reach somewhere as they turn to him, a surprised expression gracing their features.
“Really? You are showing such kindness to a being who just admitted they could easily destroy humanity as much as they have saved it?”
Hassan nods, “Yes. Words are one thing, actions are another. And if you really wanted such a thing, I wouldn’t even be here talking to you, would I?”
“Hm. Good point. You are really something special, aren’t you?” Their tone turning teasing.
The Assassin immediately blushed, having not expected this change.
“I-I just stated facts! You are humanity’s savior, aren’t you?!”
They look down again, where he still holds their hand.
“Yet you sound rather…attached, considering we have only spent a few days together in this Singularity.”
He quickly snatches his hand and looks away embarrassed.
“W-What do you expect?! You have effectively spent years bonding to other Servants. Why should…” He pauses hesitantly before admitting. “I be any different?”
The Assassin suddenly feels a cool hand tilt his head back to theirs.
“I’m not disapproving of this. If anything, I’m impressed at your intelligence and compassion. And thank you, truly, I needed to hear that.”
Their gaze is intense yet kind. Blue eyes that hold an ancient wisdom and weariness that Hassan couldn’t imagine, beheld him in that instant. He can’t help but slowly lean into their grasp, and their face follows his movement until they are barely inches from each other. They softly lean in and kiss him softly, and he can’t stop himself from grasping their shoulders and drowning in the pleasure.
In life, the Assassin had never been able to experience such a simple desire. Yet here he was, getting lost in it. This must be like one of those modern sayings: Getting drunk on love.
They finally pull away, leaving Hassan out of breath, even though Servants didn’t even need to breathe. It would have been his expected reflex in life.
“I can’t wait to have you in Chaldea. Then we could do so much more. We don’t exactly have that much time now.” They say with actual regret on their face.
Ok, maybe I was wrong. Considering a normal person wouldn’t easily switch from thoughtful depression to flirting and kissing me. Would they?
Hassan thought it was weird, but then again, he was never a social person. They slowly get up from the bed, letting go of him finally. Though the Assassin can’t help but miss the touch.
“Well, shall we go? We’ve already cleared two Trials, only 5 left. And that means we have to go through more ‘thrilling’ days at school.”
“Do you plan to just wear your robes to class?” He asks, his eyebrows raised as they stand by the door.
“Does it matter? It’s not like any of them are real in the first place. And if they try giving me trouble, I’ll just mess with their brains.”
“…Right.”
He got up and followed them out the door. Quickly changing his spiritron dress to his uniform.
Regardless of what happens here, Hassan would continue to follow them. The Assassin would ensure this Singularity would be resolved, and follow Lily wherever they go.
He will be the star that burns Their enemies to ash.