-What lies straight ahead are more questions and fewer answers... Such odd riddles that no one can even take guess to think of an answer...-
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[-Section 3: Investigate the Bridge-]

-3rd's POV-

Then so the main team was currently heading to the next pinpoint of the Fuyuki singularity, eventually, they were now walking to the pinpoint. While they were walking down, Olga took a sudden stop which both Madeleine and Mash stopped as well.

"Stop. Before we start exploring the city, Madeleine, isn't there something you want to say to me?" Olga stated as she looked at her with a stern expression, eventually, Madeleine seemed to have guess what was about.

"Let me guess... It is about what happened in the command room. During the orientation? There's no need to remind me, I know." Madeleine spoke though her voice sounded quite serious, clearly surprising both Mash and the director at once.

"...Ah... Yes... That..." The director muttered, nearly surprised and stunned to hear that Madeleine remembered what had happened.

"Yes, Senpai. It's probably about when you dozed off in the Command Room. It'll come back to you if you focus. That was, you know—" Mash stated as Madeleine turned in her direction.

"Yeah, I know that too. I received a headache during the speech, I was barely even awake to keep my eyes open..." Madeleine mentioned as she slowly remembered it before blacking out...

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[*Before Entering the Fuyuki Singularity*]

"We made it in time. Senpai, your number is... A single digit, in the front row. Please take any available seat in the front row. Right in front of the Director, what a piece of bad luck" Mash stated as Madeleine noticed the seat was in front of the director, who was staying silent but looked a little angry.

Much to my own dismay for being late then... Can't seem to think of anything else but that option...

Without a word muttered, Madeleine went to the chosen seat and then sat down.

"Let's cut the chit-chat. It's about to start." Ley answered as he too sat down to watch the orientation.

"Not quite on time, but it looks like everybody's here. Welcome to Special Organization, Chaldea. I'm the director, Olga Marie Animusphere. You have been selected, or discovered by each nation for your rare talents. By talent, I mean your aptitude for Spiritrons. People with magical circuits are capable of becoming Masters. I'm sure you can't even imagine it, but be sure to keep this in mind. You are about to be reborn as cutting-edge mages, in an unprecedented fusion of mage-craft and science. That said, although all of you possess special talents, none of you are special. Understand that you're all inexperienced rookies, standing at the same starting point. In particular, the mages sent from the Association still seem to be acting like students. Fix that immediately. Chaldea is my domain. Family heritage and personal achievements have no meaning here. Always remember that my orders are absolute. My position is completely different from yours. I won't allow arguments. You're all mere tools to protect humanity, nothing more." Olga started, although her speech was somewhat putting a shock to the audience.

The director had seem to notice the audience's reaction to what she had said and became a little furious.

"...What's that commotion? Didn't I just tell you that I wouldn't allow any arguments? You there. The one who came in late. Do you have a problem with what I just said?" Olga stated as she then turned to Madeleine who lightly turned pale and was trying to stay awake.

".....ah...." 

"Uh... Am I seeing this right? Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me? Sleeping while standing... No way, right? Not in a million years..." Olga muttered though she seems to not have noticed Madeleine's pale expression and also not noticed that she was about to collapse.

"Hey, I didn't sign up for this! We're experts who were summoned here because of our skills! We came all this way on our insistence. Absolute obedience? That's ridiculous!" A female hire shouted, who then raised an objection at the director.

"She's right, you're way overstepping! Lineage is the most important aspect of a mage! How can you brush it off?" Another voice shouted, which was now a male hire who had also thought the same way in the same objection.

"Quiet! No talking! That's why I say you're still acting like students! I'm only telling you what's going on right now. If you don't like it, leave Chaldea at once! Not that there are flights to send you home. Though if you're ready to trek down a snowy mountain 6,000 meters above sea level, that would be commendable. Very good! Nobody's dropped out. Seriously, don't make me waste my time on such matters. I wish you'd realize that's how dire our, no, humanity's situation is now. Look. They are a good example. No argument, no opinion. Good and obedient." Olga stated and then he return to Madeleine.

"...Now, then, back to the topic. Are you listening? Today is—"

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"And that's about it from my perspective, am I wrong?" Madeleine answered as she crossed her arms, needless to say earning a surprised look from Mash and Olga as they both looked at her.

"... How... How did you remember all of that...?" Muttered Olga as she slowly pointed her index finger at Madeleine as the blond-haired girl crossed her arms.

"That's a natural sense, that isn't something new for someone to have, nonetheless a human," Madeleine replied while remaining her composure.

"Oh never mind about how! You weren't really listening after all, were you? Honestly! Sit yourself down! How could you come to a Singularity not knowing the situation or your mission? I'm going to have to explain it to you again." Olga sighed, which irked Madeleine a bit, although she isn't a bit impressed.

Is she even really a director...? She knows her way with information but her personality is a bit much to handle...

"Listen up! We at Chaldea—"

"Director, leave that for later. Enemies are incoming!" 

"Less explanation, more fighting. Let's go, Mash!"

"Hey, come back here! Listen to what I have to say!"

Can that important talk of yours wait?

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"...Phew. Good work, Mash Kyrielight. Now I can pick up where I left off." Olga stated after another battle has ended, then she returned to Madeleine's direction.

"Resume... You mean there's more, Director?" Mash asked, wondering what it was.

"Why, certainly! Madeleine! You may have remembered only half part of it, but I can tell you can't remember the rest! I'm only halfway through! In fact, it's the latter half that's important! Make yourself remember! Make..your...self...re...mem...ber!" Olga grunted and Madeleine's expression turned a bit sour.

"What other choice do it get from this then..." Madeleine muttered, which Roman had heard clearly.

"Now, now, don't be like that. Director's ramblings can be useful, Ritsuka. Why were you Master candidates summoned to Chaldea? This will explain that-"

"Don't state that I haven't fully forgotten."

"Huh-"

"Oh fine... Then shall I repeat what you were trying to say before?"

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[*Second Memory Before Entering the Fuyuki Singularity*]

"Listen up. Today of all days, we at Chaldea will achieve something that will be written in history. The science of learning. The invention of religion The acquisition of navigation. The focus of communication. The voyage into space. Our legacy will be on par with the "Pioneers of the Stars." No, it will surpass them. Rather than expanding civilization, we will be in the hands of God protecting it. By stabilizing human history, we will transform the future into a solid resolution. The principles of mankind— in other words, to ensure the continuation of humanity. That is Chaleda's, and now your only and absolute purpose. Chaldea has achieved many results to date. The development of observation cyber daemon, Laplace. The Global Environment Model, Chaldeas. Completion of the Near-Future Observation Lens, Sheba. The Heroic Spirit Summoning System, Fate, and the launch of the Spiritron Calculation Engine, Trismegistus. With these technologies, we at Chaldea have observed humanity's progress one hundred years into the future. We do not predict the future but observe it. Like many who observed celestial bodies, Chaldea has been observing the future. Whatever it sees, our job has been to ensure that humanity will survive 100 years into the future. Look up. That is Chaldea's proudest achievement— Created with advanced magical theories, the Global Environmental Model, our Chaldeas. Planets have been defined as beings with souls. We copied them into this miniature Earth. Because of the difference in scale, we are unable to read every single human mind. But whatever's on the surface, the city lights that can be seen on land can be observed through Sheba. Currently, it's been set to reflect the Earth one hundred years from now. Chaldeas may very well be the future of Earth itself. As long as the light of civilization shines within Chaldeas, we can guarantee humans will exist a century further. As long as there's light people will live in cities, and serve as proof of civilization's survival. But— Lev, could you normalize Sheba's polarization angle?" Olga stated for the orientation had continued Lev showed a virtual scene to the young master candidates.

"This is the current state. Starting six months ago, Chaldeas changed color, and it's become difficult to observe the future. The light of civilization, our beacon until now, has become largely unobservable to us. Hmph, the right response. Good to see you've got some sense. That's right. The lack of light means that civilization has become extinct. This was considered highly classified, but you have the right to know. Our observations indicate that the light of humanity is only visible up to the year 2018— In other words, we've observed, no, proved that humanity will become extinct in that year. Obviously, this future is not possible. It cannot happen, and physically speaking, is impossible. There's neither an economic collapse nor some sudden seismic event. We can't explain how humanity would suddenly just disappear. Over the past six months, we've found the cause of this strange phenomenon—the disappearance of the future. If the reason is not in the present, then it is in the past. Using Laplace and the Trismegistus, we've reviewed all data for the past 2000 years. We tried to find something that didn't exist in history or was on Earth until this point in time. As a result, we finally found something new. It's this— Spatial Singularity F, a city in the Japanese countryside in 2004. We discovered an 'unobservable zone' that did not exist in history up to the year 2017. Chaldea hypothesizes that this is the cause of humanity's extinction. We proposed the Rayshift experiment to the U.N. and received approval. The Ray shift process transforms a human into spiritrons, sending them into the past and allowing them to alter it. Simply put, it's time travel. But not everyone can do it. Only people with exceptional magical circuits, and the ability to become a Master, can be transformed." The female director explained.

"Now— I'm sure that cleared things up. Your task is the investigation of Singularity F. You'll travel 14 years into the past, find Singularity F, and destroy it. We are now entering unknown territory. There's no telling what you might find there. But you've been selected from among people all over the world. You can do this, and we have high expectations for you. The higher-ups want to know the cause of this immediately. We don't have time to waste. We'll be performing the first Rayshift experiment in an hour. I'm sure you've all had enough training. For the first experiment, we'll send Team A, the top 8 scorers, to Singularity F. I haven't told the later groups, but they're Master candidates who have been chosen from Chaldea. Team A has been active for a month now. You can call them trained warriors. Team A will go on ahead and establish a base camp at Singularity F, guaranteeing your safety. Teams B and below will monitor their situation and prepare for the next experiment. Let's register your information with the Klein Coffins, the arks that will send you to the past as spiritrons. There's one for each person, and there are no spares. Be very careful with them. Teams B through D will be on standby, in case of trouble with Team A." As the director explained, she then noticed the candidates' expressions one by one, which looked a bit sour due to her attitude from before.

"—What are you doing? I told you what you have to do. You were brought here as a potential Master. You're practically a soldier now. You will obey orders and be ready for a fight. Do not make me repeat myself. Or do you have more questions? Hey you, the one who was late! You look confused. I'll give you the chance to ask one question." Olga demanded as she then turned to Madeleine before her.

"Uh... Is it possible to change the past, then?" The blond-haired girl asked, which Olga's expression then turned a bit stern.

"... Does the word 'Singularity' mean nothing to you? The singularity we found doesn't exist in any of our observation records. It's like a hole that just appeared out of nowhere. The hole itself is cut off from the proper temporal axis. The 2004 singularity exists apart from the past and future. There's no need to connect it to our present. It's more stable than regular time travel, and whatever happens, the timeline can still repair itself. Singularity F is like a tiny stain on the dress that is human history. It ruins beauty just by its presence. Your job is to extract it. That's what will return humanity to its proper, observed course of history. ...What is the Association thinking, sending me someone who doesn't know basic spacetime theory? I told them this plan was a Grand Order, the highest possible duty in the world of magecraft... Well, it doesn't matter. What team are you with? ...Show me your ID." Olga explained to Madeleine now and then felt another unfamiliar nostalgia again while Olga checked her ID without her notice.

"What? You're in the wrong spot! A civilian, and with no combat or training experience? Chaldea is much too important to be wasting valuable slots on people like you! Lev! Lev Lainur!" Olga shrieked after seeing Madeleine's ID, which surely startled the blonde-haired girl.

"I'm right here, Director. Why the yelling? Is there a problem?" He asked after stepping forward.

"There're problems everywhere! Just get this amateur out of my sight!" Olga yelled, clearly not knowing that the other candidates were also watching from their seats.

"Oh...so that's it? Director, they are a chosen Master candidate. Sure they lack experience, but it's inappropriate to be that rude..." Lev stated, hoping her mood would drop a bit.

"Having an inexperienced amateur here is a problem! What if something happens to my Chaldeas? Let Romani handle this! At least get some basic training!" Olga shouted, which was loud enough for everyone to hear her, more expressions from the other candidates were created as they started whispering.

"...Hmm, I don't think she likes you. All right, orders are orders. Mash, please show Madeleine their room." Lev ordered as Mash stood up from her seat.

"All right, understood. I just need to take Senpai to their room, right?" Mash repeated.

"Yes, thanks. I'm busy with the Rayshift experiment and can't. Don't worry. This experiment will be over in 2 hours. I'll drop by your room then." Lev stated however Madeleine had stayed a bit quiet and avoided eye contact.

That smile... creepy.

"That's unusually kind of you, Dr. Lev. Do you know each other from somewhere?" Mash wondered.

"Not at all. I was just thinking things like eternal rivals and fated encounters are very important." Lev smiled as Mash and Madeleine left the command room.

"Come this way. I'll show you to your room." Mash replied as Madeleine followed her to her room.

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"And that was about it, am I right?" replied Madeleine, after reciting the prior events. Leaving everyone even more surprised that she remembered most of it.

"If there are any false errors from what I've known, then do please correct me if so," Madeleine stated as she finishes her memorizing.

"N-No... Actually, Senpai. That's about it..! Amazing!" Mash explained, which was rather unexpected for Madeleine to receive the minute she notices her eyes were now sparkling.

"I agree with Mash! How can you manage to remember all of that?!" Roman asked as well, and Madeleine blinked twice in addition to her sweatdropping at the two who were now looking at her.

"Ah-ah... It was just me guessing, that's all..." Madeleine stuttered.

"Y-You... but you've got some nerve, don't you? Anyway! Do you finally remember how much of a mess you made at that critical moment?" Olga spoke, in hopes of trying to get Madeleine to know her place, but to no avail. 

"And what would that be? You've just ignored my fatigue face during that issue." Madeleine repeated and was in fact defending herself.

"Um, Director Marie? I think that's going a little too far... Plus, Madeleine has a point too..." Roman spoke, hoping that a brawl wouldn't happen between them.

"Like hell it is! Thanks to the time I wasted on your question I didn't have time to change!" Olga shouted.

"Uh... You weren't planning to dive, so I'm not sure you needed your suit..." Mash stated, after seeing her attire which was the same old clothes from before.

"I did! I most certainly did! I had a special Mystic Code made for this mission. Jeez, I didn't even get to wear it once... Well, it doesn't matter. Anyway, you understand your responsibilities and duties as a Master candidate now, right? Very well, Madeleine. I'm ordering you to be my bodyguard. Work hard." Olga ordered, with a smirk which the director herself had now received Madeleine's expression... Which was an unimpressed expression and in addition to a stern mood.

"Wh-What's with that look you're giving me?!"

"...Are you trying to be someone you're not? You're just ordering me around."

"This is who I am! I was just in a hurry back there! Once we get back to Chaldea, you're in for it."

"I would doubt it."

"H-Hey!"

"...Good to see you two getting along... Somehow. Let's move before more enemies show up." Mash explained as the team got going.

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"By the way, the type of being we call Servants, you know what they are, don't you?" Olga asked the blond-haired girl and she received a look from her back.

"From before to this, I have the basic knowledge to know a bit about them," Madeleine replied back.

"Glad to hear it. Now I won't have to explain rudimentary things like what a Heroic Spirit is." Olga huffed, and Madeleine sighed, though it appears that Mash has noticed that the blonde-haired girl isn't used to her director's personality.

"Servants are heroes of the past made into familiars. Those who enter into a contract with them and use them are Masters. There are seven classes of Servants, which vary depending on a Servant's legends and abilities. It's incredibly difficult to copy a Heroic Spirit entirely. Human mages do not have enough resources or memory to achieve such a fear. That's why only one aspect of a Heroic Spirit is fixed in our world, resulting in the seven classes— Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Berserker, Assassin. Every Heroic Spirit will manifest as one of these classes. That's the true nature of Servants... It's also a way to hide their True Names, as well. They hide their names because they are famous. Take Achilles from Greek Mythology. Achilles is an invincible Heroic Spirit, but his weakness is extremely famous, right? When a Heroic Spirit returns, its weakness returns with them. That's why Servants hide their names behind their class names. If you don't know their identity, it's harder to figure out their past or weaknesses, right? That's not all. There's another reason for hiding one's True Name. A Servant has a secret weapon worthy of their legend. The crystallization of that Heroic Spirit's miracle and existence." Olga explained that Madeleine had seemed to be curious about the explanation...

That is till another group of monsters appeared before them.

"Director, sorry to interrupt you while you're having fun but we've detected hostiles. Entering combat." Mash stated as Madeleine stretches her arms she then notice the female director went into hiding.

"What! T-Take them out right now! I-I'll be hiding over here!" Olga shouted as she hid behind the rocks.

A director who is a scaredy cat? Oh just great.

"Alright, Mash. Hope you're ready." Madeleine spoke as she stepped forward.

"Ready to receive orders, Master!" Mash stated as the battle then begins once more.

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Once the battle was over, Madeleine then walked over to Mash.

"That was a tough battle, can you keep going?" Madeleine asked as Fou then stick itself out of her shoulder which was hiding in her hair.

"Yea, I'm still stable to keep going, Master." Mash replied as then she received a head pat, which Mash slightly blushed a bit from it.

"That's good to know, well let's get going then," Madeleine replied with a smile as they continued walking down to the pinpoint, with the director following them from behind after the battle was over.

"......."

"I can feel the tension across the screen... The Director is grumpy as usual." Roman sighed, knowing well from the director's mood.

"Then, she isn't always that mad like before and now, is it?" Madeleine asked.

"Well, I can feel some sympathy for the Director's ill temper. Excuse me, but Madeleine-senpai, there's too much about Chaldea you don't know." Mash stated.

"Fair point, I did come here slightly clueless. Can't blame that part too." The blonde-haired girl answered.

"I really don't know what to do with you. It's like you're a lost little kitty." Mash muttered.

"Like I am one right now." Madeleine sweatdrop.

"—Well, not that I'm any different. It's been about two years since I started here, and I still don't get it. I kind of sneaked in. Almost like an alligator." Mash stated, remembering her thoughts.

"True, alligators have no clues either," Madeleine answered.

" Yes, I've learned as much as I can from the database. But I'll share it with you. Chaldea Security Organization. Or more accurately, the Security Organization for the Preservation of Humanity, Fenis Chaldea. A research observatory with the purpose of continuing and strengthening human history, with researchers, scholars, and mages from all around the world. They watch a world that magecraft couldn't observe, and science couldn't measure. We're a special organization with national support, created to prevent humanity from reaching a 'bad end'." Mash explained.

"Figured that something would come up." The blonde-haired girl muttered.

"Anyway, that's pretty much it." Mash explained as Madeleine then nodded slowly.

"It's true that Chaldea receives financial support from across the globe, but the majority of that comes from the Mage's Association in London— From the Animusphere family. Director Olga Marie's family. Chaldea is a research organization, but due to its importance, it operates on a military level. There are extremely strict rules and punishments for everything, so the Director's attitude is actually reserved. The Director isn't a villain, but she is evil. She'll get rid of any staff member she doesn't like. Well, I'm not sure if it's okay to call someone who's got a bad attitude, evil. ...Sorry, I wanted to give you some encouragement, but I'm not used to cheery words." Mash stated.

"Right that too, though I still haven't gotten used to this... Master stuff yet. And also the commands for battles too." Madeleine mentioned as she felt that this was somewhat familiar.

"I'm sure you'll get used to it soon. I think you're doing a good job, Senpai." Mash stated with a smile.

"Kyu. Kyu, kyu!"

Welp, someone would have guessed that another group of monsters was now there before them.

" Whaaaaaaat? Hey! What are you guys doing? Behind you! Behind you! The e-enemy's found us! Prepare for battle!" Olga panicked.

"They're so close! Senpai, give me your orders!" Mash stated.

"I'm on it!" Madeleine shouted.

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What was more impressive is that Madeleine does have in fact good eye-sight, although she was faster to command Mash on dodging than attacking back. After the battle ended, Mash received a few injuries but thanks to Madeleine, she now has only a few.

"Sigh... Please keep an eye on your surroundings. Even if Romani is monitoring us, this is a Singularity. There's no telling what might happen. Come here, Kyrielight. You're hurt, aren't you? I can heal something like that." Olga stated as she went to Mash and then started healing her wounds.

"Oh... right. Thank you very much, Director Olga Marie." Mash stated, that it was somewhat unexpected for Madeleine to see this side of the director before.

Despite from before... But wow...

"Really, now. When the director is calm, she can be dependable... Madeleine, you should know... The director is in a complicated position as well. Initially, Marie was like you all, a Master candidate." Roman explained.

"Wait, really?" Madeleine asked.

"Three years ago, the previous director, her father, passed away and she had to take over Chaldea when she was just a student. Since then it's been one tense day after another. She had to take over as head of the Animusphere family. It was all she could do to keep Chaldea running. Around that time, an anomaly was found in Chaldeas. We could no longer see into the promised future of 100 years from now. There was huge criticism from the Association and our sponsors. She was ordered to get the situation back to normal as soon as possible. To make matters worse, they found that she had no aptitude to be a Master. The noble Animusphere family, one of the Twelve Lords, is the dominating faculty of Astronomy at the Mage's Association. Oh, the scandal that would occur if the head of such a family was found to be unfit to become a Master. You can imagine the level of gossip happening behind the scenes. I'm sure those rumors reached Marie too. She worked to be her absolute best as Director. This last half-year, she's just barely been hanging on. She's worked herself so hard, I'd like her to come for counseling, but with how things are... In any event, she's been emotionally stretched to the limit. She doesn't hate you, or anything like that." The orange-haired doctor explained, remembering what Olga had to handle and go through.

"I have thought of that despite what she did to me at the orientation... But thanks to what you told me, I knew she isn't a bad person." Madeleine replied back in a gentle tone.

"I'm glad you think so. But you know she is evil, right? She isn't cruel, nefarious, and dishonest, that I can promise you. She's just a rather serious person." Roman mentioned, which made Madeleine sweatdrop at his comment.

"I don't think serious is the right word to describe her..." Madeleine muttered.

"Anyhow, you're the only three I can trust right now. I want you to continue investigating without fighting." Roman ordered as Madeleine nodded.

"Right." She responded.

Then so, the task continued.