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Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter One-

Point Zero

Water. Everywhere.

He tries to open his mouth. Air bubbles escape before his own eyes, like little translucent flashes of white. The taste of sea salt blisters his tongue, while the din of turbulent waves rolls over him. Vicious tentacles start to wrap around his neck and throttle. His own grip loosens, and a few flashes of pink are swept away. As the man struggles, he can only see the black expanse of the sea. It’s like ink.

He’s drowning.

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Let me tell you the tale of a certain man.
The tale of a man who, more than anyone else, believed in his ideals and was driven to despair by them.
The dream of that man was pure.
His wish was for everyone in the world to be happy.

That was all he asked for.

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The water disappears. Dust is now covering his body.

With a strained grunt, he heavily rolls on his back as soon as his limbs regain sensitivity, gulping air with his mouth like a dying animal, even as he keeps coughing to squeeze the non-existent liquid out of his lungs. When his breathing finally subsides, he slowly forces himself off the ground, ignoring the soaring pain in his body.

He takes one step. The rubble crunches under his foot.

His head hurts to the point of blurring his sight, but he still recognizes the place he’s standing in. Even with his eyes closed, even if he were to become blind, he would still recognize this place in an instant. He could never forget this smell. He could never forget this feel. He could never forget what this is no matter how hard he tries.

He opens his eyes to stare at the place he’s ended up to.

A world of steel and swords greets his vision once again.

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There was an ideal. An oath he had to protect.
He did not care what he lost to do so.
For even when he was betrayed, he still believed there would be a next time if he did not betray himself.
He did not show grief or pain.
He was like a cold-blooded machine.
He was a convenient existence, so he was conveniently used.
Just like a tool.

For that is all he was.

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The pain in his head is excruciating. And yet, he does not care. His body is already torn apart. His mind is already empty and twisted. The headache is nothing compared to the pain inside his heart. Each breath feels like a scorching fire inside his lungs. Each step feels like a thousand knives stabbing through his legs.

But he does not stop. He can never stop.

He has to persevere. Even if he doesn’t know why.

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But that machine had an ideal it wanted to protect, so it accepted its role as a convenient tool.
But it was not something to go around proclaiming.
For the more he killed, the more he was unable to save. And the more he was unable to save, the less he could talk about his ideal.
Until the only thing left for him was to obstinately protect his ideal until the very end.
And as a result… the ideal he dreamed of was never accomplished.

And he found out that it was just nonsense dreamed by a fool who was only a nuisance to others.

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No, he knows why. He does not remember who he is, he does not remember his own name. His mind is completely blank, his head filled only with the smell of smoke, and metal and blood. But all he knows is that there’s someone, somewhere, calling for him. Forcing him to move, compelling him to obey. And that could only mean one thing.

His “Lord” has found him yet another task. Another job is waiting for him in some faraway timeline and some faraway land. Even without memories, even without feelings, this excruciating sensation compelling him to obey is painfully familiar to him. There’s nothing he can do to stop it.

He’s got work to do.

Again.

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The ideals that he once thought were perfect now began to feel like childish hopes. Like illusions. Like a never-ending curse.
A foolish illusion will become a delusion.
It will only last for a little while, until it shatters and disappear, like his projections when they clash against the stone.
Yet, that was his result. That was his inevitable end.

Everything felt like a bad joke.

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Blinking, he suddenly comes to a stop. He can actually hear the blood roaring inside his veins. Hundreds, thousands, countless images flash across his eyes in but an instant, flooding his head with memories that he somehow knows are his, and yet aren’t. Fire and black. Screams and silence. Swords and blood. The memories are endless, painful, blurred. Too blurred and confused to grasp. His headache is only worsening as his hand reaches for his temple.

He feels like screaming. He wants to scream.

But his mouth only set into a sneer.

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Eventually, his mind gave in. He couldn’t feel compassion anymore.
What he believed in… he was shown that it was just a fantasy covered in lies.
There was no value in such a life.
There was no value in his own life.
He was a fake that should have never existed.

He was broken as a human being.

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Until, it stops. The memories and the pain; all of it. They halt, his eyes still blurred as images of fire and blood and sand and swords― too much. It’s too much. Too much for his mind to comprehend. It’s like being drowned beneath a tide of endless books: all the information in the world, but unable to make anything of it. He may as well have been left in the dark.

Who is he? What is his name?

Another image appears inside his mind. Three people flash before his eyes. Three faces. Three girls, all of them different from each other and yet all of them so painfully familiar to him for some reason.

His lips blurt out three names without even knowing how.

Tohsaka… Sakura… Sab ―

His world becomes pain once again.

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He wanted to become a Hero. No, he needed to become one.
Because that was his only emotion. An emotion he could neither betray nor deny.
Even if that wish was not born from within himself.
His ideal was borrowed, his existence just a fluke. Even his own weapons did not belong to him.

But he couldn’t realize that until it was too late.

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A headache.

An instant of a few milliseconds. But to him, it feels like an eternity.

A girl with golden air, dressed in silver armor.

He can see her. He does see her, probably not for the first time.

Because every fiber of his being is screaming that girl's name.

Saber. Saber. Saber.

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But even if it was borrowed, his ideal was not a fake.
For in his eyes, that ideal had a very specific shape.
The shape of a golden sword, wielded by a girl in armor.
The shape of a golden scabbard, lost by that girl in armor.
The shape of a girl he had met when he was just a broken boy.

The memory of a fateful meeting happening under the moon.

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His breathing stops. That memory remains glued into his mind.

Don’t, he begs. Don’t let me say it.

Don’t let me recall it.

If he calls that name out loud, he is surely going to break.

He collapses on his knees, his hands grasping one of the swords scattered throughout this land. The blade glows and the ground turns red just by having him fall on it. He already knows somehow, but it seems that his body is dead. Both inside and outside.

This empty land is his world. A world of metal and stone. A world of sadness and regret. A world of pain.

He is the Lord of Pain. And this is his kingdom.

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The wind was strong that day.
The clouds drifted and the moon appeared for a brief moment.
The silver light that shone into the shed lighted up the girl in knightly form.
And the boy was rendered speechless.

Not because of the sudden turn of events, but because of that girl’s overwhelming beauty.

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Why? Why are you showing me this?

The man wants to scream. He wants to stab himself and scream.

Because no matter how many times he has been deployed before, no matter how many times he has been rendered empty and numb, and no matter what kind of hell he has been forced to experience so far; every time he came back here… he would always see that scene. No matter how many times his memories were taken and washed away by his “Lord”… this one scene could never really leave his mind no matter what.

The scene of a girl in silver armor, staring down at him with jewel-like eyes.

The very same girl who embodied his ideals. Who represented everything he had once loved and strived for.

And the very same girl he had failed to save until the end.

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The boy and the girl faced a War together.
They fought and clashed against Heroes of old.
Eventually, they saw to the end of it.
They defeated their enemies, and stood victorious in front of their prize.
But they weren’t able to win.

Because the girl remained chained to her wish, and the boy was unable to free her.

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His pain is halted suddenly. The regret is washed away.

The Counter Guardian rises, his face a mask of steel; for his “Lord” has decided that he cannot waste time.

He stands up again, and resumes to walk with empty eyes.

This is his fate. This is his curse.

The broken and twisted end of a boy who should have never existed.

This is the result of his own foolishness.

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The girl disappeared from his life, but he was never able to forget her.
For her image would remain engraved into his soul.
Forever.
Even as he kept chasing that impossible dream.
Even as he got sent into the depths of hell.
He could never truly forget.

The beauty of the girl under the moonlight, and the depths of her jewel-like eyes.

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Slowly, he begins to recall.

He has no name. He doesn’t even care about that. Not anymore.

For he went through many names throughout his jobs. Counter Guardian. Heroic Spirit. Guardian Spirit. Ally of Justice. Archer. Faker.

Monster.

In the end, none of them mattered. None of them remained attached to him.

He is nothing but a slave now. A slave whose job is to clean up humanity’s mess. A Janitor, at best.

The man nearly scoffs in disdain.

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He was never the strongest, he was never the fastest.
Yet, he gathered just enough power to stand a chance.
Not once retreating, not once victorious.
In time, he grew
Stronger... faster... wiser...
And as he forged wisdom upon the hill of swords, he understood.
Filled with utter regret, this was his only path.
Because all that is left in his world…

…is endless blades.

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Perhaps that is why he likes to refer to himself as "Nameless" in his head. Nobody else can recall his real name, for he is no ordinary Hero. But perhaps that's part of the appeal. He hasn’t been "ordinary" in a long time, anyway.

Not that it matters, of course.

Suddenly, his body begins to disappear in a shower of dust, his heart feeling the call of someone from a faraway distance.

His next assignment is waiting for him.

The dog of Alaya resumes his walk, baring his teeth into an emotionless smile.

How "weird".

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So, at least this once… let me tell you about this weird story.
The tale of a man whose hands would never hold anything
And the girl he desperately wanted to save.
The tale of a blade reaching the unreachable king
And a scabbard reuniting with its rightful owner.
The tale of a broken man chasing a Light.

A Light he can’t reach anymore.

―or so he thought.

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Glastonbury (England)
Glastonbury Abbey

(======)

“…Alright. This should do."

The girl with golden hair stared at the newly done Magic Circle, her hands firmly placed on her hips and a satisfied expression on her face. The ring of purification and the four purging circles glowed under the moonlight, producing a soft, red glow of light on the grass that surrounded her. The light shone in the dark of night, creating a rather suggestive view, and the wind howled softly in the distance. The moon was at its peak in the sky above, and total silence echoed amid the ruins of the ancient Abbey.

She wiped a trickle of sweat from her brow, her emerald eyes glancing to the right. Three unconscious bodies greeted her vision. The three surveillance guards were asleep, their back leaned against the stone wall of the ruin, their breaths even and silent as they remained unconscious. The girl inwardly apologized to them with a silent bow of the head. A single and well-aimed blow on the neck with the hilt of her katana had been more than enough to send them into a deep, deep slumber; even if she wasn’t exactly proud of what she had done. Luckly for her there were no cameras in this place, or she would have been discovered in an instant. She wouldn’t hear the end of it if her Father and Kay found out.

However, she'd had no other choice. At this point it was too late to back down anyway. She had already resolved herself to this, and now she had to go through with it no matter the consequences.

She glanced around, swallowing her growing nervousness as her fists trembled. Glastonbury Abbey was truly a suggestive sight at night, almost too surreal to witness; with its towering, gigantic frame dimly lit by a few external lights and the moon shining above. The girl's eyes wandered to the burial site in front of the Magic Circle, and then to the red mark on her right hand.

Her Command Seals glowed softly in the dark of night.

The girl steeled her resolve with a shaky nod. She couldn’t hesitate. It was too late to back down.

All preparations were complete, the time was optimal, the wavelenght ideal. She had no catalyst with her, but that would not be an issue. This place itself would serve as a catalyst for the ritual. By performing the summoning in this place at midnight, when her mana was at its peak, she was surely going to bring forth the Servant of the Saber class without fail. His legend and history were bound to this place. He had to answer her call. She was going to summon that man, and damned be the consequences. Failure was not an option.

She would win this Holy Grail War, no matter what.

The Magic Circle glowed, along with her Command Seals. Midnight had struck.

It was time.

"..." she nodded slightly to herself. "A-Alright... here goes nothing."

Turning back to face the circle, her right hand was outstretched with its palm open. A deep breath was taken, before the girl swallowed her fears and began the incantation.

"S-Silver and steel for the e-essence.
Stone and the archduke of contracts for t-the foundation."

The incantation started rough and stilted, her inexperience in doing such a thing clearly showing. However, slowly but surely, her voice grew louder and her words more confident, the feeling of something unfathomable guiding her along.

"The ancestor is my great Master, the Pendragon.
The alighted wind shall become a wall."

As if on cue, a soft breeze began to pick up out of nowhere, ruffling her hair slightly. A subtle pressure slowly started to build, like the feeling of an incoming storm. In a place far away, beyond the reaches of time and space, a certain broken soul slowly began to stir.

"Let the four cardinal gates close.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching the Kingdom circulate."

Sitting chained upon the greatest of Thrones, a vague interest filled the man, in this War that should not be. Endlessly chasing a futile dream, the soul began to listen to the call, grasping a chance it had always thought impossible.

“Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill.

Repeat every five times.
But when each is filled, destroy it.”

The gust of wind became stronger and stronger. The grass around the circle was stirring, the air moaning all the more.

"Heed my words: my will creates your body and your sword creates my destiny.
Your self shall be under me, and my fate shall be in your sword."

Brought together by forces beyond mortal reckoning, the soul of the teenage girl and that of the man of iron met face-to-face, for the first time. A humble request was made, from a child of duty and honor to a man of tempered steel.

"If you heed the Grail’s call and obey my will and reason, then answer me.
An oath shall be sworn here."

The contract was immediately accepted. The World saw no denial.

"I hereby swear: I shall be all the good in this world;
I shall defeat all evil in this world."

Control was suddenly given. The soul began to answer the call.

"From the Seventh Heaven, clad in the three great words of power,
Come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!"

The chant ended, the incantation complete. A brief second of absolute quiet.

Then, a burst of infinite light, briefly bathing the night in a shower of brilliant gold.

Heroic Spirit Emiya kept his eyes closed, already feeling his summoning into the material world reaching its completion.

Then, slowly, he opened his eyes, and he could not remember who he was.

But when his gaze fell on the face of his new Master, he remained stunned, and everything snapped into place once again.

She looked just like her.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Her hair were a bit messier, but they were still tied in the exact same bun. Her eyes were more shapely and with slightly longer lashes, but they were wrought the same cold, hard jade. She looked a little less muscled, a little more feminine, and she held herself differently; wearing a dark blue school uniform and long black stockings on her legs. She even showed a long, eastern katana strapped to her back. But despite the obvious differences, he could almost imagine how she would have looked, bathed in the moonlight of that fateful night, and it wasn’t that different.

She was the spitting image of the girl in armor in his memories.

For a few seconds, he didn’t know what to say.

But he didn’t have to, for she was the one who broke the silence, just like that girl did during their fateful meeting under the moon.

“I ask of you, Servant…”

She made him feel like he was still that boy lost and paralyzed in the storeroom, all over again.

Even if their roles were now reversed.

Emiya stared with wide eyes.

As the girl in front of him stepped forward with an expectant face, her voice stuttering, her body trembling in excitement, and something akin to hope and admiration shining inside her emerald eyes.

“A-Are you… K-King Arthur?”

The wind howling above the Abbey was her only answer.

Emiya stared in cryptic silence.

Then, as he watched the girl’s face twitch with hesitation during that awkward pause... he finally allowed himself to react.

And the girl watched in plain confusion as her newly summoned Servant did the only thing he could.

He laughed.

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And thus begins this tale.
The tale of a Nameless Hero, and a girl with a sworn duty.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Two-

Count it from Zero

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: England (United Kingdom)
Bristol

(======)

Heroic Spirit Emiya observed his surroundings with a critical eye.

Outside, the rain was pouring with great force, the sky filled with heavy clouds; plunging the entire city of Bristol into a dark and lightless atmosphere. The man stared at the downpour from a window, his face betraying not even an ounce of emotion as rain and thunders raged outside the building. He supposed it wasn't a big deal. Weather in the United Kingdom was known to be usually bad or cloudy at best, and as a Servant, he would get used to any kind of environment with no problem. He did not care about something so trivial at all.

What he did care about, however, was his current situation. He was currently located inside a small flat owned by his new "Master": a young teenage girl and Magus named Artoria Pendragon. The same girl who had summoned him the night before through an improper ritual and – as if this whole situation wasn't messed up enough – who looked exactly like a certain girl from his memories.

This whole situation felt like a bad joke to him. Worse, it felt as if the entire world was mocking him for some reason.

The worst part: Emiya felt like he deserved it.

Speaking of memories: a lot of things had snapped into place during the hours following his summoning. And after having been located in this place for more than six hours now, Heroic Spirit Emiya, Servant of the Archer Class, had gained a lot of knowledge about the world, about his Master… and about himself. He knew he was meant to fight in a Holy Grail War, he knew where he was, and more importantly, he knew who he was.

Because, as absurd as it seemed, he had somehow regained the memories of his previous deployments a few minutes after the summoning. His mind and body couldn't lie to him, despite his own perplexity and disbelief on this matter. But even if he was still struggling to understand, this fact alone remained unchanged: he could clearly remember participating not just in one, but in two different Holy Grail Wars before this one.

And that made no sense to him. Because it wasn't supposed to happen.

As a Counter Guardian, his memories were constantly wiped out during his deployments, and even if he had been summoned as a Servant right now, this situation still didn't make any sense. On the contrary, it was widely known that Heroic Spirits could not keep their memories of previous summonings, the case of a certain girl in armor being the only exception to that rule... up until now.

Emiya didn't know how it was possible, but now, he could clearly remember too. He could still recall his name, his past, and his previous Wars similarly to the way that girl had always claimed she could. Those distant but indelible memories had literally flooded his mind for more than two hours straight after being summoned in this world, and that was something he couldn't deny no matter how little sense it made.

Memories of past experiences in two similar but separate Wars, and of a young Master with raven hair and aqua eyes.

Rin…

Emiya narrowed his eyes, staring at the downpour outside with his arms crossed and a small frown. He didn't know how it was possible. He didn't know how nor why. Either this was a fluke, a mistake, or Alaya had deliberately done something to him. Either way, he had no way to discover the truth in the current situation. Not yet, at least. All he knew was that he had been summoned here for a reason. That being: to win yet another Holy Grail War, and fulfill his new Master's wish.

So, as long as he knew that, he wouldn't ask questions. For now.

"What are you looking at, Archer?"

Speak of the devil.

On the other side of the room, his new Master had finally returned, carrying a small grocery bag and her katana in hand. And when his head turned to face her, the Heroic Spirit known as Emiya almost forgot how to breathe for a split second.

It was something he'd never thought he would have seen. Something he couldn't have comprehended in over a thousand years and his service to Humanity.

Because his Master was the spitting image of the girl in his memories. The girl who had been his Servant once, during a past he had long since forgotten. The same girl who embodied his ideal and dreams; and whose image, despite everything he's done and everything he's become, could never truly leave his mind no matter what.

The girl he had failed. The girl called Sab–

"Master," he greeted, turning to the teenage girl fully and forcing his voice to assume a neutral tone. "Do you need assistance?"

The girl shook her head, placing her katana on the wall as she moved towards the kitchen. "It's fine. I just went to grab a few things," she replied, placing the small grocery bag on the table and taking out a couple of cans with a casual movement. And while the girl was intent on arranging things in their proper place, the Servant couldn't help but stare at her in wonder.

…Gods above. She really looked like her.

Same bun, same eyes, same face. Even her feel was almost near identical. The only difference was her more feminine physique and the obvious different way of dressing. The girl wore a blue sailor-top school uniform secured with a red ribbon and a matching skirt that reached to her midthighs. Her eyes were of a deep teal while the contours of her face were framed by wheat-colored bangs and a tiny strand of blonde hair that dangled over her forehead.

Of all the alternate worlds he could've come to, it just had to be the one where Artoria was not a King but a simple human. Of all the memories he could've kept with him, it just had to be those where he had been forced to stand against her. Twice. This wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. How was he supposed to look at her in the eyes without crumbling? How was he supposed to act and talk as her Servant, when he couldn't even bear to gaze at her face?

They even had the same ahoge too. This didn't make sense.

Once she was done with her things, the girl – Artoria – came over to the window where her Servant stood and looked out. Seeing nothing but rain outside, she shot him a stare. "Don't tell me you seriously stood on guard until now. I thought I made myself abundantly clear yesterday," she said with a firm tone.

Emiya almost wanted to smirk. Even her tone was the same. Damn it, this was just too cruel to bear.

"I did offer to accompany you, but you refused. So, I just made myself useful in another way, Master," he tried to deflect.

It didn't work. "Archer, the Holy Grail War starts in two weeks! There's no need to be so wary yet. You could've just relaxed for a bit."

He turned his gaze away. "It never hurts to be careful."

She scoffed, walking away from the window with a scowl. "What are you, a dog?"

Sad as it was, that definition fit him more than he liked to admit.

Luckily for him, however, Artoria decided to drop the topic. She sat at the table of the small living room, exhaling a heavy breath. "More importantly, how is your condition now? Have you remembered who you are? " she asked him, glancing at his frame with a hopeful expression.

Archer stared at her for a while. Then, he closed his eyes.

Telling her that he had no recollection of his name and past had been a wise choice. Just like he had done with Rin during those past Wars, it was best to keep his identity secret from Artoria as well, at least for now. He certainly couldn't tell this girl that he was a Counter Guardian who was well-acquainted with her... twin? Alter ego? Counterpart? A man who used to admire and chase after the same ideals as her, only to be driven to despair because of that. He wasn't that stupid now.

He shook his head. "Unfortunately not. I still don't remember anything."

Artoria's shoulders fell, her expression turning into a frown. "…and are you really sure you're not King Arthur? Or one of his Knights?" she pressed further with an inquisitive stare.

Broad shoulders shrugged as Archer answered. "I hate to disappoint, but I possess no Excalibur. And I seriously doubt a mere bowman like me could ever be a Knight," he answered easily, his tone smug despite those words devoid of pride.

Him? King Arthur? What a joke.

He was almost tempted to laugh again.

The girl's head tilted to the side. "Why do you say that?" she asked curiously.

His eyes were literal steel as he turned to stare outside the window again. Because I have no pride nor honor, he wanted to say. "…just a hunch," he answered instead.

Artoria stared for a while. Then, she sighed again, her body slumping on the table with a loud whimper of displeasure. Archer watched her in silent wonder, eyes blank but still widened in stupor, thrilled by that scene. To think that he would have lived long enough to witness such a scene. An Artoria who lived and acted like a normal girl. Who would have ever thought… it felt like he was staring at a vivid dream, one where his Saber wasn't burdened by her duties and fate; one where she was just a girl, free to act and speak as she wished. Where she could just be who she was without being forced to cast away her humanity.

No, he realized. This girl was definitely not his Saber. She was too different from the Saber he knew. Extremely different.

It was both amusing and painful to witness for him. Too painful, to be honest. It was almost too much to bear.

Which is why he couldn't say anything as this Artoria began to openly whine and sulk right in front of him.

"Uuugh! Why? Why does it have to be this way?" she whined, mumbling weakly as she covered her face with her hands. "I had everything planned, I did everything perfectly... and I failed. I couldn't get Saber, and now I'm stuck with an Archer who doesn't even remember who he is!"

Emiya pitied her. Truly.

But he still couldn't help but close his eyes, feeling his brow twitch. "Well, pardon me for not being a Saber," he grunted with his arms crossed, sarcasm clearly present in his tone. Good grief, this felt like déjà vu.

After a few seconds of sulking, the girl shook her head. "No matter. It was a regrettable mistake, but I'm the one to blame," she finally relented with a sigh, though her voice still carried a little bit of disappointment and frustration. "But I still don't understand why you can't remember your identity. I can feel my connection with you even now, and I feel no discrepancy whatsoever. There's not an issue with our bond, is it?"

Archer nodded his head. That much he had to give her credit for. This Artoria could be different from the Saber he knew, but both her Magical Energy and Circuits where extremely developed for a fifteen-year-old girl. Not to mention her Mana reserves. Now that he was fully acclimated with his body, Emiya could clearly sense their bond through their pact, and it was outstanding. A Servant was anchored to the world by the mana supplied by his Master, and the girl in front of him had HUGE reserves of mana, even compared to Rin. She had no Dragon Core, of course, but still… they were more than satisfactory. With such an outstanding talent, she was definitely going to become a first-rate Magus in the future.

It seemed that she resembled Saber in far more than just the body, after all.

"I don't mean to insult you, Master, but it's the result of your imperfect summoning," he began to explain, mixing a bit of truth and lie to sound more believable. "My memories are a jumble, and my name and origin are hazy, as well." He then turned away from her with a sigh, ignoring Artoria's incredulous and irritated stare. "Admittedly, those aren't important details, so it's nothing to be concerned about."

Artoria fixed him with a stare. "Archer, are you perhaps messing with me? If I don't know what Heroic Spirit you are, I won't be able to measure your strength. And if I don't know how powerful my partner is, I can't formulate a strategy."

"Hm? What are you saying? That is a trivial matter."

She was incredulous. "I beg you pardon?"

Emiya smirked, turning again to stare into her emerald orbs. "I am a Servant who was summoned by you. Following that logic, I could be nothing but powerful." He stated with an amused smile. He could clearly see the way her ears and cheeks began to redden after his words, and it was extremely amusing to watch. "Don't you agree, Master?"

An utterly clueless Artoria stammering for a response was definitely a sight to behold.

Until, she was finally able to recollect herself.

"H-Humpf! No matter. I-I suppose I'll have to do with what I get," she finally acknowledged, trying – and failing – to quell her growing blush. "At least our enemies won't be able to discover your true identity. So for the time being, I'll overlook this issue. I assume you have no complaints about that, do you?"

Archer's smirk widened. He saw an opening from miles away. "Hm? What's wrong, Master? Your strange speech pattern has returned."

Silence set around them, before the girl's already rosy cheeks covered in a new shade of red within a blink of an eye. And the situation was plunged into the oblivious as she stuttered at him. "I-It's not my fault! Living in a family full of men would make anyone this way— Why are you giving me that unconvinced look?! I'm stating the truth!"

"Hoh? So you can be flustered as well, sometimes. I must admit that I'm glad… you always look so manly that I almost feel ashamed of myself."

"M-Manly?!" she repeated indignantly, her nostrils flaring in irritation. "I did NOT choose to grow up this way! It is because of the men of my family that I've become like this!"

"Is that so? My apologies, then. I didn't wish to make a lady such as yourself uncomfortable."

"W-Why, you…!"

Artoria blushed even more as she glowered at him, but when she saw him grinning wider at her face, the words remained stuck in her throat.

On his part, Emiya was aware that he was being mean, but he just couldn't help it. The girl looked like a ripe tomato, her face and neck glowing a deep crimson even as she fumed in embarrassment. To actually see Saber's face and discover that she could show these kinds of emotions… it was just too amusing to watch for him. Teasing Rin had been fun in the past, but the girl knew how to respond. But this Artoria? Teasing her was way more entertaining and satisfying.

For now, however, he decided that it was best to stop here. If this girl was anything like the Artoria Pendragon he knew, then her patience could not be infinite. Servant or not, it wasn't wise to play with fire.

And he didn't want to die here, despite his inner voice telling him otherwise.

"By the way, Master," he said, changing the subject and opting for the only thing that could save him from her wrath: food. "Shall I prepare you breakfast?"

Artoria paused, blinked a few times, and then fixed him with an odd stare. She looked slightly baffled by his offer. "Wait, what? Breakfast? Aren't you a Heroic Spirit?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes on him. "What sort of Servant knows how to cook anything decent?"

Much to her shock, Emiya looked stunned, perhaps even offended by her question.

In the end, however, he merely shook his head, his face assuming an unreadable expression as he headed towards the kitchen under her utterly confused stare.

"Just you wait," he spoke with a resolute tone. "I'll make you rue those words."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

"Archer..."

I can clearly hear the pain in her voice. My heart almost clenches in shame as she steps towards me.

How long has it been since I was able to rest? To stop and take a long look at the world I'd given my very existence to protect?

I'm sure that I've stood here, reminiscing countless times in the past, the present, and in the future, feeling the very same emotions running through my heart.

But is that so important right now?

I finally open my mouth to speak.

"It's unfortunate," I say, pausing momentarily as I place my hand upon a hip. "But that's how it is. Give up on the Grail this time, Rin."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Artoria Pendragon couldn't make heads or tails of him.

The Servant she had summoned was a complete mystery to her, and she didn't like that. She didn't like that at all. After all, she was Artoria Pendragon! Second child of the thirty-third Pendragon lineage and most promising member of her family. The kind of girl who had been raised to be the best of the best since birth. One who would never back down from a challenge and whose soft and admittedly beautiful demeanor instantly changed the moment she wielded her sword. She was an extremely serious person, and she tackled all hardships and challenges as if facing a sworn enemy. This was why she often clashed with Kay, as she could never get used to her older brother's antics.

She was known to be the best and most promising Magus in her family, and a sword master as well. There was nothing that couldn't be achieved by her. Nothing could best her. Nothing could stop her. She had always been able to overcome every challenge and solve every mystery she'd set her eyes on before. She was the 'perfect child' of the Pendragon family, after all.

And yet, for some reason she could not fathom, the Servant she had managed to summon the night before was something that eluded her comprehension completely.

Even his appearance alone was different from what she would have expected to see in a Servant. She had expected to summon a King with regal bearing and armor, or at least a Knight of some sort… but what she ended up summoning instead was a weird, muscular and tanned man with white hair and grey eyes, possessing a broad back and a robust frame. He was tall – extremely tall – and had a strange agelessness about him. He couldn't have been older than forty yet, but his hair was already shock-white. His face still seemed like he could be in his early twenties, but his eyes of steel appeared older, and Artoria just didn't know what to make of him yet.

He was constantly wearing a black body armor which consisted of a black tight and sleeveless shirt with silver accents which outlined his muscles and a metal plate on his collar; and his armor was covered by an elegant red coat similar to a Holy Shroud. The man also wore a pair of dark pants that had two black straps on his thighs and black metal plated shoes. She could count each individual muscle on his chest, and despite the cold and detached aura around him, Artoria couldn't help but find him… fascinating, for some reason. She couldn't help but be intrigued by him, even if she didn't understand why.

Maybe it was the muscles, she mused. He was so tall that her head barely reached his chest, and his muscles were extremely developed compared to that of an average man, even more developed than her Father's. She had never seen a man so peculiar before. A man so attractive. He was almost two feet taller than her, and she imagined that she'd certainly fit snuggly between his arms if she chose―

No! Nope! Bad thinking! Stop, Artoria, stop! This wasn't her. She wasn't the kind of girl who lusted after older men. She wasn't attracted by him. She definitely wasn't attracted by him… but those arms looked so strong and his face was so intriguing for some reason. Perhaps she could― Damn it, Artoria!

The girl shook her head frantically, trying to dismiss the growing blush as she grew inwardly indignant at her subconscious thoughts. She could clearly see some passersby looking at her strangely as she walked down the street, confused by her weird behavior. She nearly fumed in embarrassment at their stares. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Curses.

Now that the rain had passed, Artoria had decided to leave the apartment to go for a walk, walking through the streets of Bristol while her Servant followed her silently, concealed in spirit form in order not to arouse suspicions. The girl had deemed this choice necessary. The flat she was currently 'borrowing' from her family was rather small, and she needed a distraction. There was no way she could sit still and do nothing while she shared the same roof with a Servant. Especially when said Servant was apparently good at teasing her and getting on her nerves.

Even if his cooking was delicious. Artoria had to give him credit for that. Today's had been the best breakfast she'd ever had. Her mouth nearly began to water again at the memory.

Her brow twitched as she instantly composed herself and stopped her mouth from drooling. She could clearly feel her Servant's satisfied smirk even as he followed her in spirit form. Artoria muttered a silent curse with a frown, her cheeks tinged by pink. Curses.

After a few minutes, they stopped their walk when they arrived at the city park of Bristol. Artoria sat down on a quiet bench in the middle of a small lawn devoid of people, staring at the cloudy sky with a distant gaze.

"I know you said to relax a bit, but aren't you being a little bit too carefree, Master?"

The girl turned to her right, shooting a questioning glance to Archer as he materialized next to her, standing in front of the park bench with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

"What do you mean?" she questioned him with narrowed eyes.

Emiya shook his head, ignoring her irritated expression. "Walking around the city is dangerous, even with me around," Archer explained. "Even in spirit form, I'm a beacon of mana for Mages to hone in on. If someone were spying on you, they would surely notice my presence. Especially an enemy Master."

"There are no enemy Masters here, Archer. The Holy Grail War begins in two weeks, and we still haven't departed to Japan yet," she dismissed him casually, waving one hand in his direction. "No one's following me now; and there's no reason to be careful. You can lower your guard," she said for the umpteenth time, turning to stare at the sky again.

He narrowed his eyes on her. But in the end, he decided to relent. "Perhaps you're right. But still… aren't you forgetting something important?" he asked again.

She blinked up at him. "Huh? Something important?" she repeated.

He sighed. "Good grief. Are you seriously asking me this? We have yet to carry out the most important exchange of our pact," he said.

Artoria widened her eyes.

Emiya saw her face harden in an instant as soon as she realized what he was referring to. He inwardly paused as he glimpsed a small flash of pain and uncertainty inside her emerald eyes, but continued regardless. "I neglected to ask you this before, but… you said you left your family because you wanted to train to become a Master, right?"

The girl lowered her eyes. "…yes."

"Then, I expect that you know your goal. Unless I know your wish, I cannot entrust myself to you," Archer said with utmost seriousness, his grey eyes focused on the girl seated in front of him.

Her head lowered further under the Servant's gaze. Artoria pursed her lips.

Archer stared at her frame with an analytical look. Her silence only served to increase his growing concern. "Master, what is your wish?" he questioned. "Why do you want to fight in this War?"

Despite her best efforts, Artoria couldn't dare to meet his eyes. Her Servant didn't rush her though, opting to calmly wait in silence instead and allowing her to recollect her thoughts for as long as she needed. The girl inwardly thanked him for this gesture, even in spite of her irritation and conflicted feelings about him.

In the end, after what seemed to be an eternity, she finally found the strength to talk again.

"My family… is one of the most renowned and famous families of Mages in the world," she began to explain. "According to legends and tradition, we are the direct blood descendants of King Arthur, and for this reason my family and the Pendragon name are held in high regard in this Country, even by the Lords of the Clock Tower."

Well, well; would you look at that. It seemed that his suspicions were well-founded, after all. This world was extremely different from his. King Arthur didn't leave any legacy in his world. No bloodline, no descendants, ever. But here it seemed that history went differently, somehow. Interesting.

Emiya listened closely.

"Because of that, my family became… obsessed, with King Arthur and his legend over the course of history. They even went as far as to name all their members with Arthur's and his Knights' names for generations," Artoria continued to say, clenching a fist on her lap as she glared at the ground. "And this madness keeps going on even to this day. That's why I was named Artoria Pendragon at birth. My father's name is Gawain, my siblings are Kay, Lancelot and Bedivere… even my cousin is called Mordred. Everyone thinks of it as a blessing, as something to be proud of… but it's not. To me, my family and my lineage are not a blessing, but nothing more than a curse."

Archer stared at her with wide eyes, feeling both stunned and conflicted by that explanation. Okay, this was a bit extreme… and also disturbing in many ways. Extremely disturbing. Even he, in spite of his current situation and his usual detached attitude, couldn't help but feel bad for her.

"This is…" he tried to say, but couldn't find the words to end that sentence. There were no words to be found.

The girl shook her head. "It has given me nothing but misery, Archer. For fifteen years I've been treated like some sort of idol and holy figure, all because my blood is related to a man long dead who I've never known and who is revered like Britain's greatest Hero," she stated through gritted teeth. "I-I couldn't make friends because of that, you know? School, trips, academy, everything. Everywhere I go, people know who I am and my family's history. The Clock Tower keeps a close eye on us, and we are strictly forbidden from talking and making contact with people from outside the Association. It was… hard. Every day felt like I was suffocating inside my family's house."

Emiya sat next to her on the bench. He raised a hand, moved to grab her shoulder, and hesitated. In the end, he stopped himself with a silent curse.

Artoria didn't seem to notice. "I couldn't live like a normal girl, and experience life like all my peers," she lamented with a low tone. "All I was allowed to do was train, and study, and focus on my duty to keep the lineage from disappearing. I was even trained to use a sword, since all members of the Pendragon family must know how to use one. Even females."

"That explains the katana on your back," Emiya mused wryly, gazing at the horizon with a distant gaze.

She smiled, but not because she found it funny. "I was lucky, I guess, since swordsmanship was the only activity I've really enjoyed during the past few years," she admitted with a bitter smile. Then she pursed her lips again. "But everything else was just… hell. It felt like a prison, Archer."

Emiya stared at her in silence.

"But then, five days ago, these Command Seals suddenly appeared on my hand," she said, raising her right hand and staring at the red marks glowing above it. "Perhaps by luck, I've been chosen as a potential Master for the incoming Holy Grail War. I… I knew this was my chance. My chance to sever myself from this accursed legacy and be free. But my Father and my family wouldn't let me participate in the War. I cannot fault them, since I know they tried to stop me only because they're worried about me. B-But… but still… I couldn't just stay put and do nothing. I couldn't waste this chance. So I… I…"

"Escaped," Emiya finished for her. There was no judgment in his voice. He was only stating a fact.

She nodded, lowering her eyes again with a sad face. "I had to. I couldn't stand that life anymore. I… I just… want to break free. From all of it," she said, her voice quiet and low – extremely low – compared to the direct and straightforward behavior she used to show before.

Emiya nodded in cryptic silence. "And that explains why you wanted to summon King Arthur," he said.

The girl blushed and squirmed after his direct statement, but nodded all the same. "…I wanted to meet him. To summon the King himself and ask for his guidance," she admitted with no small amount of shame. "I thought that no one could help me on this quest more than him, so I went to his grave and prepared a summoning ritual." Her face fell once again. "I had everything planned, I did all the steps accordingly… and I failed."

Archer smiled wryly. "I'm sorry you didn't get your Knight in shining armor," he said. Perhaps the sincerest thing he'd said today.

She shook her head. "It's not your fault, Archer. I knew that failure was a possible eventuality," she reassured him. Artoria turned to him at that point, offering him a sad smile. "And I apologize for my previous disappointment as well. I… I guess I shouldn't have been so down just because I failed to summon King Arthur. I just needed time to get over it."

Emiya didn't say anything, for there was nothing for him to say on that matter. He understood now her motives and goals, and he could clearly see why she had been so disappointed after the summoning. After all, what happened the night before didn't make sense even for him. Despite using Arthur's very own grave as a catalyst, the Servant this girl had summoned was nothing like the King he knew or one of the Knights of the Round Table. And that was something that even he didn't know how to explain.

Well, not entirely. He knew why it had happened: because of Avalon. According to many legends and myths, in fact, people often used to associate Glastonbury and its hills to Avalon in the past, the mythical land where King Arthur was fated to rest until the world needed him again. And being Avalon the very same Scabbard that used to be into his body, and that over time it had become a part of him so deep that it had changed his Magecraft, his very origin, and his core… its connection to that place had allowed Artoria to summon him instead.

It was a stretched explanation, indeed, and one that still had many holes in it; but it was the only one he could think of at the moment. After all, even if Archer knew that Avalon should normally only summon King Arthur, or perhaps Morgan le Fay in some rare case, its connection with him was the only thing that could explain the current situation. It was the very same Scabbard that even now, long after he had given it up in life, he could recreate with a single thought and a snap of his fingers, after all.

Not that his Avalon Image would be any use, unfortunately. Without mana from the real King Arthur, its true owner, its healing properties were greatly reduced, even dangerous for him.

But still, no matter how long he mused, that question remained unanswered. And all of that was without taking into account the most important question of all:

If Artoria was a simple girl... then who was King Arthur in this world?

"There's no need to apologize," he finally said after a while, dismissing his thoughts and shaking his head with an unreadable expression as his Master kept staring at him with visible shame. "I'm just sorry the one you summoned had to be me."

Artoria's smile was strained at best. "Don't be, please. I hold no grudge or hostility against you."

Emiya snorted. "Of course you wouldn't."

The girl paused at that, watching him with a confused face. "Your cryptic words are vexing, Archer. You speak as if you know me, but I have no idea of who you are," she said with a frown.

A faint smile touched his features. "It's a bad habit of mine. I apologize."

Artoria decided to drop that subject. "Well, anyway… that's why I want the Grail," she explained slowly, staring at the cloudy sky of this Country with a resolute face. "Because I want to free myself and my family from this situation. I want to break free from King Arthur's curse."

…

Good grief. This hit way too close to home.

Emiya didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"It's a selfish dream," Archer spoke instead, shaking it off as best he could and offering a little smile at her expectant face. "But one that I can understand."

Artoria smiled in visible relief. Her shoulders relaxed slightly. Then, she blinked at him.

"What about you, Archer?" she asked him at that point. "Why do you want the Grail?"

Emiya scoffed at her question. "That malevolent treasure chest that can grant human wishes?" he mused, gaze wandering to the horizon with eyes of steel. He shook his head. "I have no interest in such a thing."

"N-No interest?" Artoria repeated, looking absolutely stunned by his statement. "Wait, wait, wait! Don't Servants fight in the War to have a wish fulfilled that they couldn't achieve in life?"

He scoffed again. "Hardly. We have no choice; we simply end up here. We Servants have no free will. There are probably only a handful of Heroes who would answer the call of their own free will."

Like a certain female King who looks exactly like you, he mused, not daring to voice those words out loud.

Seeing her disbelief, he nodded his head. "That's right, Master. Heroic Spirits are summoned by another's will. We're no more than disposable tools," he said in utmost seriousness.

"B-But still, why aren't you interested in the Grail? Do you really have no wish at all?"

"I don't. Because I had no dream that went unfulfilled."

She stared at him, long and hard.

"I don't remember my past, but I am certain of it," Archer said slowly – lying – his eyes still gazing at the world around him with no emotion. "I can feel it. I fulfilled my dream, died, and became a Heroic Spirit." He turned his head to her. "So I have no wish I want granted. That's all there is to it."

The girl lowered her eyes, still trying to process that answer.

"However," Emiya spoke all of a sudden, grabbing her attention again. Her head snapped up to stare at his amused smile. "Now that I've heard your story and your wish, one thing is clear: there can be no doubt that you are a perfect Master for me."

Artoria blinked again, her cheeks flushing a little. "W-What do you mean?" she asked, unable to understand.

Emiya stood up from the bench, placing himself right in front of the girl with golden hair. "You are my ideal Master," he said, pronouncing each word clearly and without hesitation. "You may be young in years, but you clearly possess great resolve and a strong heart. You had the strength to force yourself out of your hell and the will to fight for something different, and that is something I can respect."

The girl's blush flared. "S-So you're saying…"

"Yes, I admit that I miscalculated," Archer said without an ounce of hesitation. And for once, he wasn't lying with his statement. "I was mistaken in looking down on you as a child, so I apologize for both that and my poor manners," he declared seriously with a bow, keeping his eyes closed and one hand above his heart.

Artoria was speechless. "T-Then, you'll acknowledge me fully as your Master?"

"Of course," he confirmed again. "There's no one else whom I could hope to serve."

I couldn't free Saber from her past… but perhaps I can free you from yours.

This time, he didn't simply bow to her.

Maybe I can save the one person I failed.

He kneeled.

And as the girl watched him with wide eyes, Heroic Spirit Emiya made his oath with a steeled resolve.

"I am nothing but a nameless bowman without memories, but… if you'll allow me, I believe this should be done properly," he said, placing one knee on the wet ground and staring at the young girl with all the attention in the world. "Your Servant, Archer, has come forth in response of your summon. From this time forward, my bow shall be with you and your fate shall be with me. I swear it on my duty as a Servant."

Artoria's face became a deep crimson.

"I hereby swear, from this day on, that my blade shall slay your enemies and my bow shall clear a path for your victory," Archer swore again, offering her a smile with one hand placed above his heart. "Will you take this wandering vagrant as your Servant, Master?"

She turned away bashfully, but still regarded him with one eye. Then, she coughed in her hand, forcefully trying to recollect herself and remain calm and collected. "O-Of course," she stammered out a response, turning to face him directly, but instantly shying away from his smile.

Until, after a few seconds, she finally steeled her resolve and forced herself to return his stare in spite of the blush on her face.

"I-I am Artoria Pendragon, a Master fighting in the Holy Grail War," she managed to declare out loud, fixing her gaze on the man kneeling in front of her. "Are you to be my Servant, Archer?

"I am."

There was no trace of hesitation in his answer. This was his choice now.

"And do you hereby swear to fight for me and only me, and to bring me victory in this War?"

"On my honor," he swore.

The sun peeked over the cloudy sky, basking both Master and Servant under a warm ray of light.

A few moments of silence.

Until, Artoria's eyes softened, and her lips curved into a smile that was more hopeful and radiant than the sun.

"Then, even if we had a rough start… let's do our best from now on, Archer."

His eyes met hers, and even now he was shocked by the clarity of their green depths.

"Of course," he agreed with a smirk. "Our contract is now sealed."

Emiya stood up, reaching out to the girl with one hand and offering her a small grin. She hesitated, taken aback by the gesture, before relaxing herself and accepting it with a bashful smile and a blush on beautiful face.

Thus, the contract was sealed between the two of them. A new quest. A new War. A new promise.

A new oath.

Emiya and his Master shared a confident smile, their bodies enveloped by the fading light.

…

The walk was quiet as they slowly moved to return to the flat.

"By the way, Master," Archer spoke through their mental link, his body dissolving into spirit form as they walked. "You said that you ran away from your family five days ago, right?"

Artoria nodded. "That's right."

"If so, don't you believe you're being a little too careless here?" he questioned her, confused. "Your family members might send someone to find you. They might even come and search for you themselves, if they know your location. Aren't you concerned about that?"

The girl fixed the world with a challenging stare. "I don't think they will search for me," she replied easily, her lips parting into a confident smirk. "I fully expect them to do so."

Emiya widened his eyes as realization dawned upon him. "Do you perhaps intend to face them directly?" he asked, perplexed. "Why?"

"Why not?" she asked right back at him, glancing at his invisible frame following her closely. "I shall not hide and cower like a coward while my family is looking for me. I took my decision, and I will face the consequences of my actions. I've never planned to hide from the beginning," she explained. "And besides…"

She turned her head fully towards the invisible Archer, flashing him a confident smile that was familiar – extremely familiar – to him.

"I've got you to protect me now. What could they possibly do to stop me?"

For the second time after being summoned, Heroic Spirit Emiya allowed himself to laugh despite his better judgment.

"You're way more cunning than I thought, Master."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Her silence speaks to me more than words could.  A soft, disbelieving silence filled with sorrow and regret.  But even if I feel my incoming end, I can't help but laugh at this situation while my body fades away into the aether.

As always, Rin doesn't like it. "W-What's with that? This is hardly the time to be laughing!" she reprimands me with her waspish voice.

I choose to be truthful, for once. "My apologies. I just couldn't help it, given your state. I was amused that you and I cut such sorry figures."

She clenches her fists at my sarcastic tone, her hands grasping together above her heart.

Her sad and uncertain face wounds my empty heart.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Artoria was right. That very same evening, her family members came looking for her.

It was almost dinner time when they found them right in front of the door of Artoria's flat – which, apparently, was owned by the family – looking visibly annoyed and pissed off. Emiya had almost sighed at the sight. Honestly, his Master really should have seen that coming.

Or perhaps that had been her intent all along.

Hidden from view thanks to his spirit form, Archer watched in absolute quiet as Artoria and her 'family' glared at each other, seated around the table in the kitchen while a dead silence echoed throughout the small apartment. He could almost see the fire raging in their eyes as the young Master and her relatives kept staring at each other; and despite the tense situation, the scene was quite amusing to watch for him.

Now, however, he was too busy staring at said 'relatives' to care about everything else.

First, his eyes studied those who were – apparently – Artoria's brothers in this world: Lancelot and Kay.

The former looked exactly as Emiya had seen him in Saber's memories during his past Holy Grail War: a tall and robust young man whose eyes were a light purple and his hair of the same color. Said hair was incredibly spiky and parted over to the left, and he looked like he couldn't be older than twenty, a clear difference from the original Knight of the Round Table.

The latter, on the other hand, was one he had never seen before, not even in Saber's memories. Kay was a man who looked slightly older than Lancelot, his hair of light brown and his eyes narrow and calculating with an analytical glint in them. He had a stern expression on his face, along with a small scar on his right eye and cheek. If he had met him as a true Servant and Knight, Emiya was sure he would have looked extremely intimidating.

Lastly, Artoria's uncle. This man was another figure with whom Archer was familiar with thanks to his old glimpses of Saber's past and the weapons stored in his Reality Marble. Tristan, also known in his world as the Knight of Sorrow. Even if he was nothing but an ordinary man in this world, he still looked almost the same as the original Knight: a tall, handsome man with long crimson hair and narrow eyes with long eyelashes. He seemed to resemble Artoria a bit more in this world, his features looking gentler and older, but his good looks and poetic behavior were still there. He was almost as tall as Emiya was, even if he looked less muscled here. He supposed it wasn't a surprise, since very few humans could match a Servant's toned body.

But still, despite the tall and imposing frame of those three, Artoria stood her ground perfectly, matching all their glares combined without backing down in the slightest. She looked as regal and resolute as Saber did, in Archer's eyes, and despite all their differences, he couldn't help but admire her all the same.

It was Artoria's uncle – Tristan – who finally broke the silence after two full minutes of staring contest.

"Artoria… please, stop with this reckless behavior," even in spite of his frown, he spoke with a gentle tone in front of his niece and nephews. "You know how dangerous a Holy Grail War is. We won't allow you to put your life at risk just because of a selfish whim."

"A whim?" the girl repeated incredulously, her glare soaring even more as her uncle flinched. "This is my life we're talking about, uncle; not a whim. You and the rest of the family may be happy with the current situation, but I refuse to be tied to our family's customs anymore. That is not living to me," she stated through gritted teeth, deadly serious.

Lancelot scowled. "That still doesn't mean that you have to participate in the War!" he exclaimed vehemently. "If you're dissatisfied with our customs, then there are other options–"

"I've already made my decision, Lancelot, and I won't go back now. Even if I wanted to, it's too late anyway," Artoria replied strongly, closing her eyes with a resolute face.

Kay narrowed his gaze. "You can't be serious," he muttered with a snort. "What the hell do you mean? Surely you couldn't have summoned a Servant in such a short amount of time and without a catalyst. Stop joking around, Wart. I know you're better than that."

"I am stating the truth, Kay."

"As if. Did you grow fat in your brain or what? All the food you've been eating must have gone somewhere, and if it's not that flat chest of yours, then it must be the brain."

"W-W-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?" Artoria yelled in a fluster, her entire face glowing of a bright red color as she stood up from the table, ready to pounce on her older brother at any moment. Any other time, Kay's crude sense of humor would have been fine, but Artoria knew they weren't alone right now. She couldn't allow her brother to humiliate her in front of her own Servant. "Grab your sword, then! Let's see how this 'fat' girl can wipe the floor with your pretty face, shall we?"

"Don't get too cocky, Wart! You only beat me at training once!"

Yes, it was definitely amusing to watch. Emiya stifled a laugh as he observed from the shadows.

"Calm down, both of you," Tristan ordered sternly, shaking his head in disappointment as brother and sister glared at each other. "You're both so insufferable sometimes. Ahh, how sorrowful."

As the two of them reluctantly relented and tension began to dissolve, Lancelot took advantage of the moment. "I know that your relationship with him is strained at best but... Father is also worried about you, Artoria," he said with a low tone. "He's been throwing a fuss ever since you left the house."

"Indeed. You should be grateful that we're the ones who came looking for you. If Gawain was here instead, he would surely be mad beyond reason," her uncle nodded with his eyes closed. "I know that he can be a stubborn airhead sometimes, but he means well. He wa–"

"I know perfectly well how Father is, uncle," Artoria cut him off abruptly, her tone stern and rigid. "Just as I'm aware of the fact that he would never let me live as I wish if I choose to return. There's nothing more important to him than our lineage, and he would never allow his 'perfect' daughter to bring dishonor to the Pendragon name." Her emerald eyes narrowed as his relatives flinched and remained silent at that. "Go ahead and tell me the opposite. You know I'm stating the truth."

The others remained silent, exchanging a sad glance with each other. Emiya watched their reaction closely in his spirit form. Interesting. Even in this world, it seemed that there was some kind of fracture in Artoria's family. A real shame that one, truly.

It was sad to see how some things never change, no matter what.

"…Bedivere is worried as well, you know. He doesn't want his big sister to be hurt," Kay grunted with a low tone, and for a split second, Artoria's eyes seemed to hesitate at the mention of her little brother. "And Mordred too. Can't you understand that?"

"…I do understand that. But there's no need to be concerned about me. I will win the Holy Grail. You know I will," she replied with a serious tone, staring into his eyes with a resolute gaze. "I'm not doing this just for myself, you know. I took this decision out of duty too."

"Duty?" Lancelot repeated.

Artoria nodded with a solemn expression. "The Holy Grail War is a battle where seven Mages fight each other in order to win and obtain the Grail. Driven by their desires, Masters have always engaged in indiscriminate slaughter during the previous Wars. What do you think would happen if the one who won the Grail were an indiscriminate killer?" she questioned them, staring straight into their eyes with a challenging tone. "The Grail is said to be an omnipotent wish-granting chalice. I do not wish for it to fall into the wrong hands."

"And so you want to win it yourself!?" Kay demanded angrily, standing up from the table with a furious expression. Artoria met his furious frown with a calm and collected face. "Don't be ridiculous! There's no way we can just allow you to put yourself in danger! The only thing you'll accomplish is getting yourself recklessly killed!" he yelled.

"As I said, I've already made my choice. It's too late, anyway," she replied, calm and composed.

Kay, Lancelot and Tristan flinched. Their eyes widened as realization dawned upon their features.

"You don't mean…" her uncle whispered.

The girl nodded. She turned her head to the right. "Archer, show yourself," she ordered.

Emiya did as he was told.

He appeared in a shower of blue dust, his arms crossed and his eyes closed. He inwardly sighed as he felt the entire room falling into a stunned silence as everyone turned to him with wide eyes. He shook his head.

"Good grief, my Master sure is belligerent," he spoke with obvious sarcasm, ignoring the three men's incredulous stare. "The War hasn't even started yet, and she's already using me to defend herself. What's next? You're going to order me to kick them out?"

Artoria glared at him with a blush. "I am not using you to defend myself from my family!" she stressed with irritation. Then, she coughed in her hand and recollected herself once again. "I just want to prove my point, once and for all."

Lancelot and the others were absolutely speechless. "W-W-What!? Who's this?" Kay demanded, fixing the tanned Archer with a suspicious gaze.

His sister shot him a stare. "This is my Servant, Archer," she explained plainly, as if it were a foregone conclusion. "I summoned him last night. So, as you can see, there's nothing you can do to stop me. I've already summoned my Servant, and I cannot forfeit my right to participate in the War anymore. It's too late."

Emiya could clearly see Tristan and Lancelot's shoulders slump in defeat while their faces morphed in a resigned expression. The red Archer pitied them despite knowing little to nothing about them. Artoria had proved to be far more determined on this than they had expected, and now there was nothing they could do to persuade her to forfeit from the War. Not when her Servant was standing right next to her already. He knew they all understood that now.

But despite that, one of them didn't seem to care.

"Bullshit!" Kay spat with a frown. "I don't care if you summoned a Servant already. I'm not letting you participate in the War and wait for you to be killed!" he spat with a frantic wave of the hand. He rounded on the Servant and narrowed his eyes on him. "And who the hell are you, anyway? What kind of Servant could seriously answer the call of a little brat like her?"

Archer watched him with a disinterested expression. He shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe I'm just a nobody, or maybe I'm a famous Hero of renown." He exchanged a silent glance with his Master, and he couldn't help but smirk at her tense expression. "Indeed. Perhaps I was even a King in the past…"

Kay widened his eyes, and everyone stiffened visibly after his words. They all knew what he was implying with those sarcastic words. Even Artoria looked slightly baffled by his statement.

But still, Artoria's older brother didn't buy it. He was sharper than he looked. "Bullshit. You sound like an old man who's weary of life," his tone grew sharper. "If you have the time to joke around, then why don't you stop wasting our time and tell us your name already?"

Emiya's smirk widened. "Don't tell me you seriously believe a Servant would reveal his True Name so easily," he retorted casually, placing one hand on his hip as the man began to fume in rage. "Sorry to disappoint, but unless my Master orders me so, you will get nothing from me."

"Archer is right. There's no need for you to know his identity," Artoria stated calmly, turning her head to glare at her brother. Emiya almost snorted when he saw the way she omitted the tiny, little detail that not even she knew what his real name was; but he said nothing nonetheless. "All you need to know is that I've already summoned a Servant, as you can clearly see, and therefore: you will let me go. There's nothing to discuss anymore."

Hmph. As resolute and cold as ever. It seems that this girl really does have a lot of things in common with Saber, after all, he mused.

Tristan was at loss. "B-But your father–"

"My Father won't be able to stop me either," Artoria stated, firm and resolute. "Whether he likes it or not, I've made my decision, and that is final. He cannot stop me anymore. You can report this to him when you return to London, uncle: I'm going to participate in the War, and I'm going to win, no matter what. That's all there is to it."

Sheer silence greeted her declaration.

Lancelot was visibly panicking more and more as he realized the gravity of the situation. "J-Just wait a minute, Artoria. Let's talk about this… even if you have a Servant, that doesn't mean–"

"I'm sure you're all aware of this," Emiya said suddenly, cutting him off and grabbing everyone's attention. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he leaned on a wall while everyone stared at him. "The status of Master cannot be yielded to another, and once conferred, it's not a thing from which one can walk away easily. Whether you like it or not, Artoria has been chosen by the Grail to be a Master, and that is a trial she has to undergo."

He opened one eye, throwing an amused glance towards Artoria with a smirk. The girl narrowed her eyes on him as he stared. "Of course, if she were to use all her Command Seals right here, her right as a Master would be lost. I wouldn't stop her if that is her decision, but I'm afraid she has no intention of wasting this chance… am I right?"

Artoria nodded, shattering her family's hopes instantly. "Correct. I will not back down from this. I've decided to fight as a Master, and that is final. Archer has sworn to fight with me, and together, we shall win the Holy Grail." She flashed him a smile filled with confidence. "Am I right?"

Mistake. Archer saw another opening.

His smile was anything but reassuring. "Of course. My Master and I have already exchanged our vows. Our contract is sealed, and our bond is absolute. There's nothing that I won't do for her now," he stated with sarcasm, giving her a playful wink.

Artoria blushed fiercely at his statement. "Y-You don't have to phrase it like that, you idiot!"

Kay glared at the taller man. "So you consent to her being your Master?" he questioned him, suspicious.

He returned serious in an instant. "My consent is irrelevant. From the moment she summoned me, she has been my Master. So long as the Command Seals are on her hand, I will serve as her Servant," he replied back, his face as serious as it could be despite his Master's blush.

Tristan studied him with a long stare. "But are you willing to risk your life for her?" he inquired further.

Emiya nodded without the slightest hint of hesitation. There was no doubt about that in both his mind and body, and he knew that extremely well. "I swore that my body would be her blade. I will protect her with my life, and grant her victory to the best of my abilities. That much I can promise you," he reassured him.

Lancelot, Kay and Tristan stared at him, long and hard. The young Master and her Servant didn't back down from their gaze.

Until, after what seemed like an eternity, one of them sighed.

"…very well," Tristan conceded in the end, lowering his head as his shoulders slumped. "If that's how it is, there's nothing we can do anymore."

Kay and Lancelot turned to their uncle in disbelief. Artoria, on the other hand, visibly relaxed, but her face remained as serious as before. "Thank you, uncle. I'm glad you understand," she said with sincere gratitude.

Tristan scoffed. "It's not like we would be able to stop you when you have a Servant at your side," he replied with a severe tone, before sighing again. "But I can see your resolve. I know you can be as stubborn as your father, and just like him, you won't back down no matter what. I'm not the family head, and if you truly are dissatisfied with our family's customs… it's not up to me to force you back. I'm not exactly happy with the current situation either, after all. You should have the right to fight for your dream."

Her face became more resolute. "And I will," she swore.

Tristan nodded. Kay rose from his seat with an incredulous face while Lancelot remained silent with a resigned face. "Uncle, you can't be serious!" he exclaimed.

"You know better than me how stubborn she is, Kay. She's a Magus, the best one in our family, and we can't exactly deny the fact that the Grail has chosen her as a candidate Master. Besides, your sister and your father will never see things eye to eye. Give it up already," he ordered with a sigh.

Then, he turned towards his niece again. "But if you won't listen to us, then at least allow us to help you," he added at that point. "The Holy Grail War will take place in Fuyuki city in two weeks, right?"

Emiya and Artoria exchanged a silent glance. "Yes, that's correct," the girl confirmed.

"In that case, we'll arrange a place for you to stay there. Knowing how reckless you are, I'm sure you were planning to spend all your money on a plane ticket to Japan without even thinking about your future accommodations," he smiled knowingly when he saw the girl blush and lower her eyes in shame. He exhaled a weary breath. "I'll talk with your father, and we'll arrange something for you. Just... promise me that you'll be safe. Promise me that you'll come back no matter what."

Artoria bowed her head, her face a mask of sheer determination.

"I will come back, uncle," she swore with utmost decision. "I promise."

The rest of the conversation soon shifted towards more personal matters, and the air began to slowly lose the tension that had previously pervaded the small flat like a fog. Thus, seeing that the situation was now under control, Emiya decided to silently excuse himself and return in spirit form, leaving Artoria with her family and offering them the privacy they deserved to exchange their goodbyes and their parting words.

Until, after a few minutes, Kay appeared in the empty living room all of a sudden, scanning the room with his eyes while the others continued to talk in the kitchen.

"Oi. I know you're here, show yourself."

Emiya complied. He appeared in front of the window, keeping his back to the man.

He didn't even turn back to watch him, his eyes focused on the outside. "Have you come to threaten me?" he mused with sarcasm.

Kay snorted loudly. "Unlike that stubborn brat over there, I'm not stupid enough to go against a Servant or risk my life in a senseless war," he spat back with a sharp tone. His eyes did not waver as he kept glaring at his frame, however. "I just want to be sure. I expect you to do everything and more in order to protect my sister. I don't know who you are, but if something – anything – happens to her, I swear to God that I will summon you again in some way, and then I will kill you with my own hands. Are we clear?"

Emiya's lips parted into a sly grin as he turned. "So you did come to threaten me," he mused.

Kay scratched his head in frustration. His entire body oozed off tension and concern like a fog. "Whatever. Just… keep the brat safe for me, will you?" he said again, more quietly this time. "She's a reckless one, and gullible too. I-I just want you to promise me this."

Archer nodded without even thinking about it. He could clearly see the sincere concern of this man for his little sister. And having been a big brother in the past, Emiya could understand that feeling extremely well.

"No matter what happens, I will protect her with my life," he swore with a resolute tone. "You can trust me on this."

Kay snorted with a shaky nod. His gaze flickered towards Artoria one last time, and Archer could clearly see the emotions flashing inside his eyes. "Good. I'll take your word for it."

Emiya smirked as he shot him a stare. "You're softer thank you look," he said with a knowing gaze. "Admit it, all that drama was just because you're worried for her."

"Well, what can I say?" Kay's tone was wavering slightly, no doubt due to the weight of his sister's choice and the fact that he could do nothing to stop her anymore. "I always was one for drama. Ours might not be the most conventional of families – and it has its fair share of black sheep," he glanced pointedly in Artoria's direction, even if she couldn't see him. "But it's still family. Somehow."

Archer thought of Illya, and for once, he felt like he could relate to him.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Three-

Back to Zero

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Kurokizaka District – Semina Apartments

(======)

He was back in Fuyuki City.

Coming back to this place held no emotion for Heroic Spirit Emiya. He had been here too often, in too many summonings, and in too many Holy Grail Wars. Even without a clear recollection of them, it didn't feel like any sort of long-awaited homecoming. It was just the place where he had once lived, and that was all.

Nothing more, nothing less.

It was for this reason that since he had landed at the airport two hours earlier, Archer had completely ignored the city and had only focused on the task at hand: getting to the place where he and his young Master were supposed to stay for the duration of the War: the tall building known as Semina Apartments.

It was an apartment building located in the northern side of Shinto, in block four of the Kurokizaka district. An L-shaped building that contained two apartments per floor, occupying the entire horizontal part of the L and entire vertical part of the L respectively. The entrance to the building was located in the center of it, containing a door leading to an elevator and the emergency stairwell of the building. Each apartment featured a four-meter-long hallway between the living room and the front door, with an unusual design without any utility rooms for storage or a bathroom. Each apartment hallway had lights with the exception of room two of the eleventh floor due to a structural flaw allowing for no space for their installation.

Fortunately for him, however, their room seemed to have no such problems. The apartment that Artoria's family had rented for them was the number one on the fifteenth floor – the top floor of the building – and it was a four-bedroom residence which had been recently refurbished. And, much to Archer's shock, the apartment was nothing short of elegant. Hell, some people would have called it a very luxurious and grand suite. It boasted a suite with four rooms with king beds, a kitchen flanked by a small living room, a large bath with a rain shower, and even a small library for some light reading. There was also a private balcony with a breathtaking view of the city's plaza and Shinto district, a dining room that could accommodate at least seven people, and even a grand piano. The size of it was clearly more than enough for two people to live in, and it was extremely over the top for a headquarter or even a base of operations during a War.

Sure, it had no Workshop nor a Bounded Field to protect it like the Tohsaka residence, but that was a trivial matter for now. Not that Emiya cared that much either. He had never been one for luxury, and he would simply do with what he'd got. But he was certainly not one to complain about this kind of things.

Hm. So even in this world, Artoria comes from a rich family. It's no wonder, given who she is, Archer inwardly mused.

He couldn't help but smirk as soon as they set foot into the apartment. "A room fit for a King… don't you agree, Master?" he asked with a sly tone, glancing at his young Master.

Artoria shot him an annoyed stare, but then shrugged, completely unimpressed. Apparently, she was already used to this kind of lifestyle. Archer supposed it was no surprise. Her family was extremely famous and renowned in Britain, especially in the Association's eyes, and the Pendragon name was also extremely respected even by the other Magi families. Therefore, it was no wonder that her family could afford this kind of place. Yes, the flat they had used during the past few weeks in Bristol was small and rustic, but that had been a necessity due to Artoria's unscheduled escape from her house. This was definitely different. He really should have seen it coming.

"This lodging shall do," the blonde girl commented, placing her luggage inside one of the bedrooms. "But it will certainly be more useful after I've erected a Bounded Field to protect it. Will you assist me with that, Archer?"

"Of course."

Once they were finished marking the walls and erecting a detection barrier across the entire perimeter of the suite, Artoria made herself comfortable on the large couch situated in the living room while Emiya brewed tea, gathering the necessary supplies from their places in the cabinets with deft muscle memory. It was a small gesture he often used to do with Rin in the past, and during these recent weeks it had become a habit with Artoria as well. Emiya inwardly smiled as he returned to his young Master's side after five minutes, holding the tea and some biscuits on a silver tray.

"Thank you, Archer," she said. A moment of calm could make all the difference before a War. Emiya knew that better than most. Her smile widened as she began to sip the warm liquid. "It's delicious, as always."

He smirked. "I'm glad you like it."

Artoria's hands moved to rest calmly on her lap. Her eyes lit up and she looked at her Servant. She pressed her lips together. "I know I always tell you this, but I still can't get over the fact that a Servant like you can be so good at cooking," she said with a little pink on her cheeks, her smile becoming dreamy at the memory of the meals Emiya had started to prepare for her during the previous days. "Your culinary skills are something to be envied."

He turned his back to her as he took the tray and carried it back to the kitchen. "Well, things have changed quite a lot since the Dark Ages, and cooking technology is one of them," Emiya defended himself. Then, he snorted a little. "Not that I had much of a choice, actually. If I hadn't offered to prepare meals every day, you would have survived only with takeaway food and those cheap fish and chips of yours. That wouldn't have been healthy for a young lady such as yourself."

She blushed fiercely, her head lowering down in shame, but despite the inner embarrassment, she couldn't help but smile a little in glee. This was the first time that someone other than her family members had showed to care for her well-being, and she honestly hadn't expected that; especially from a Servant.

Artoria was used to being treated like a boy, and therefore like a person who could not be spoiled. She was the 'perfect' member of the Pendragon family, after all, and the most promising Magus of her bloodline. Everyone around her used to treat her like an idol... but this nameless red Archer had done the opposite ever since she had summoned him. Not only he was practically spoiling her every day with his culinary skills, but he was also the only one who – despite his constant teasing and occasional sly remarks – actually treated her as what she had never been even in her family's eyes: a simple girl. And that was something new for Artoria; something entirely new.

And despite her better judgment, the girl had soon discovered that… she liked that. She really like that, for some reason. Her Servant was a total mystery for her, but for some reason she couldn't quite fathom, she couldn't help but be happy to have him at her side. Sure, his personality was very contradicting, and he acted like a gruff jerk almost all the time… but it was blatantly obvious that he cared for her. Even Artoria had learned to read him after these two weeks, despite being no older than fifteen. Her Servant always tried to hide it behind his cynical behavior, but deep down he was devoted and protective, and even a little childish to the point that it made him hard to hate. The way he always indulged her in her childish whims and even cooked for her every day without complaining was just the ultimate proof of that.

Warmth swelled in her chest, only in part from the tea. "I imagine so," Artoria said in a soft voice as she fell quiet again. Her emerald eyes lowered on her hands as silence stretched for a while.

Emiya didn't miss the shift in her tone. He eyed her carefully. "What's wrong, Master? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I'm fine," she reassured him with a shake of the head. Her face fell a little. "It's just…"

Artoria Pendragon was very bad at lying, even by omission.

It didn't take long for Archer to guess what was troubling her. He sighed as he moved to stand closer to the girl. "Are you, perhaps, starting to feel anxious?" he questioned, already knowing the answer.

Her mouth opened and closed. She tried to answer several times. In the end, she settled for a tiny nod instead.

Emiya closed his eyes as he sat down on the couch next to her. He crossed his arms. "Good. As you should be," he grunted.

Her head snapped up, eyes wide and mouth agape. Artoria stared at him in complete shock. "W-What?! You think that's a good thing?!" she asked, incredulous. "Why?"

Because it proves that you're not that girl who tried to cast away her emotions, he wanted to say.

Instead, he opened one eye and fixed her with an impassive stare. "What kind of person would not be afraid of facing a War?" he asked back at her with sarcasm. "Your reaction is perfectly normal. There's no need to be ashamed because of it."

Artoria swallowed. Her eyes wavered a bit, then fixed on his face again. "But… Archer, you're not scared," she said. It was a statement, not a question.

He smirked. "I'm not. But I'm not someone― no, something you should compare yourself to. Servants are nothing but tools. Living weapons at best. We're already dead, and we don't technically exist anymore. Death is something we are already familiar with, so we wouldn't be scared of it," he explained, smiling in self-mockery.

And that goes especially for me, he thought with a rueful smile.

The girl's eyes hardened with a scowl. "You shouldn't think so badly about yourself, Archer."

Emiya said nothing, closing his eyes.

His parting words to Rin at the end of a certain Holy Grail War echoed inside his mind.

He scoffed, but a small smile curved his lips all the same.

"Perhaps you're right. I should try to be better," he admitted in a whisper, shaking his head in amusement. He opened his eyes again, and offered her a smirk. "But there's no need to be anxious, Master. As long as we stay focused, we should manage to face every eventuality. I may not show it, but I'm pretty confident in my abilities. Do you seriously think that I would allow my Master to suffer harm?"

Something sly flashed in her emerald eyes. She shot him a mischievous smile. "I wouldn't put it past you."

"Despite all I did for you? I'm wounded," Archer said with a shake of his head.

Artoria bit her lip to stop herself from smiling wider. Then, she nodded after a few seconds of hesitation. "You're right. This was my decision… and I won't back down after coming all this way. I will face this War no matter what. No, we will face it. Together," she stood up from the couch, offering a resolute expression to the Servant. "Are you with me, Archer?"

"Hmpf. You already know the answer to that," he replied with a slight smirk, standing up as well.

"Then get ready to go out," she ordered as she moved to grab her katana, staring at the world with a challenging glare. "The War won't begin until nightfall. We should take advantage of the day to take a tour and explore the city. I've already done my research about Japan and this city, but you must familiarize with the place if we are to make the most of your skills."

Archer suppressed an amused sigh. If only she knew exactly how familiar he was with this place...

"That won't be necessary," he reassured her, turning his back to the girl as she rounded on him in confusion. He moved towards the right, stepping on the private balcony of the suite and gazing upon the city below with eyes of steel. "I've already got a panoramic view of the city from here. But I admit that it would be better to find a higher place to get a better view. It never hurts to be careful."

Artoria stepped next to him, impressed. "Really? But we've barely started to explore this place. How were you able to see that far? It should be impossible to see the whole city just from here."

He remained focused. "That's not quite true. My Class isn't called 'Archer' for nothing. Without excellent eyesight, bowmen aren't much use," he turned his eyes to the west, pointing a finger in direction of a certain red bridge that could be barely seen in the distance. "Let's see. For example: I can make out how many tiles are on that bridge even from here."

Artoria widened her eyes in amazement. "R-Really? I'm amazed! As expected from an Archer!" she exclaimed in wonder.

Emiya's lips parted into a sly grin. "Of course. Could it be that you were underestimating me, Master?" he asked with sarcasm.

"O-Of course not!" she replied indignantly, her nostrils flaring as her face flushed a deep red. "I-I was just… I mean… we can't get a feel for how a city is laid out unless we go see places in person. A-And besides… this is the first time I've been out of my Country." Her head lowered a bit, her hands grasping together as she glued her gaze to the ground with an embarrassed face. "S-So, you know… I was l-looking forward to it a little…"

The red Archer stared at her flustered face with a veiled smile. He already knew that, of course. All that speech had been just to tease her a bit. Good grief, this girl never learned.

He exhaled a sigh. "In that case, we should head out," he spoke in the end, nearly snorting in amusement when his Master's face snapped up at him with glowing eyes. "After all, there's still one thing we need to do before the fight officially begins."

Artoria nodded, fixing her gaze towards the east side of the city and the wooded hill that towered in the distance.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Rin is walking, her pace becoming slower and slower. Behind her, I can see the boy and his Servant follow her closely. Every now and then, Saber glances in my direction. She knows I'm here in spirit form, and she's threatening me with her gaze alone. Good grief, as expected of the King of Knights.

After a while, Rin stops all of a sudden. "No offense, Emiya-kun, but can you go home on your own from here?"

The boy blinks in confusion. "Huh? Tohsaka?"

"I brought you here because you weren't officially my enemy yet. But now you're a fellow Master, Emiya-kun. That makes us enemies," she explains.

Somehow, I already know what he is about to say. My mind is whispering those words just as his mouth moves to say them.

"I have no intention of fighting you, Tohsaka."

After a small pause, Rin runs a hand over her face in exasperation. "I should have known," she sighs. "Jeez, why did I even bother bringing you here?"

"Rin."

I materialize once again, and everyone turns towards me. Saber is openly glaring. "If an easily slain enemy presents itself, then we ought to do what we must," I say with my arms crossed.

She narrows her eyes on me. "You don't have to tell me that."

"If you know that then act," I reply with a frown. "Or what? Will you take pity on that boy again? Don't tell me that you actually like―"

"O-OF COURSE NOT!"

Her blushing face is almost too amusing to watch.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Hilltop – Fuyuki Church

(======)

Artoria walked through the streets of Fuyuki city with a slow pace, looking around with curious and eager eyes as they slowly began to leave the Shinto District and head over the distant hill where their final destination was. Her smile never left her face as she watched the place around her. A place that looked so similar and yet so different compared to what she was used to see in Britain.

"Fascinating… everything here is so different compared to my homeland," she muttered in wonder. "Don't you agree, Archer?"

"Hmph. Of course. This city is a sleepy suburb compared to Bristol or even London," Archer admitted while he followed her in spirit form. "But don't lower your guard, Master. We don't know if an enemy is spying on us."

The girl pouted with a huff. Her right eyebrow twitched slightly. "You're even more pedantic than Kay, you know that?"

"One of us must remain focused."

"I am focused!"

As Emiya smirked and Artoria kept fuming in irritation, the two continued their walk. But it was only after twenty minutes that the two of them reached their destination: a certain church that Archer had seen so many times before. It was a church modestly standing not far from Shinto, at the east side of the Mion river, built atop a hill near the city. It had been built shortly before the World War II, and over time it became the main base and headquarter of the character with the role of supervisor of the Holy Grail War.

A character who – if things hadn't changed too much from the events of his world – Emiya knew well, extremely well. And for that reason, one that he didn't trust at all.

The girl observed the church with wary eyes. "…I don't know why, but this place is giving me the creeps," she whispered, watching the building with a serious frown as her fists clenched. "Archer, will you follow me inside? I have a bad feeling about this."

"Of course. I won't leave you."

There was no need to ponder that question. Emiya had already made his choice ever since he had learned that his Master needed to come here to officially register as a participant of the Holy Grail War. And there was absolutely no way in hell he could allow Artoria to meet that man without him. He was simply too dangerous and suspicious to be ignored. Hence, he would remain hidden, but he would follow her nonetheless. It was the best and safest move, and an inevitable choice for him seeing that he still needed more information about this world and the war he was about to face.

With a silent nod, Artoria stepped forward and opened the large, creaking church doors. The young Master and her invisible Servant entered the holy building and looked around the empty church, the room already one that was seared into Archer's memory. Their ears picked up a sound of movement and their attention turned to a doorway further back in the church. There, under the light of sun coming from a stained glass window, a figure appeared with a silent step; and Archer immediately felt his eyes narrow as he observed from the shadows.

It wasn't Kirei Kotomine.

To be fair, it wasn't a man at all, but a girl instead. A young girl who couldn't have been older than seventeen or eighteen with light grey hair and golden eyes. She was petite and short, her stature similar to Artoria's, and her skin was pale, much paler than normal. She was wearing church robes of dark blue fabric with a white pattern on the shoulders; brown boots on her feet and a blue hat on her head. She looked like a priestess, with a solemn and aloof air that swayed around her.

Artoria narrowed her eyes on her as soon as she saw her approaching. Emiya did the same, for he knew who this girl was. He had already met her briefly during his life, when he was nothing more than a boy chasing a misguided dream after the end of the Grail War.

"Welcome, visitors to the House of God," Caren Hortensia spoke. Her golden eyes fixed to stare at Artoria, but there was no doubt in Archer's mind that she had noticed his presence too. Her cold, lifeless eyes kept flickering towards his invisible frame as well, after all. And her following words didn't leave room for doubts. "Hoh? Interesting... you look no older than fifteen. Awfully young for a Master, aren't you?"

Artoria frowned at the sarcastic tone, but said nothing. The priestess didn't seem to care about her silence and continued. "I take it this means you are the seventh, aren't you? I was actually wondering if you'd ever show up today. Hmm… it seems that my assumptions were correct."

Swallowing, Artoria finally took a step forward. "Answer me: are you the one who is meant to oversee the conflict?" she demanded with a strong voice.

The girl didn't react to her tone; she just stared with her arms behind her back and an emotionless gaze. "My name is Caren Hortensia, and I am indeed the one who has been tasked to supervise the Holy Grail War," was her cold reply. "I've been assigned to this church ever since my father died in the previous War, ten years ago; but I've been in charge of it only for the last two years."

Emiya widened his eyes. Kirei was dead? Valuable information. He almost felt relieved at the news. And just like in his time, the previous War happened ten years prior in this world. This was also something that he wasn't expecting.

"Tell me, what is your name, seventh Master?" the priestess inquired further.

Artoria returned her stare with a resolute glare. "I am Artoria Pendragon."

"Pendragon?" Caren raised a brow, pronouncing that surname with an intrigued tone, as if she was familiar with it. Then, her lips curved into an imperceptible smile. And from his point of view, Emiya couldn't help but notice how that cold smile of hers was similar – extremely similar – to the one that Kirei used to show every now and then. "Then I assume that you are the Master of the Archer class, correct?"

She nodded. "I am," was her swift reply. "And I came here for the sole reason of being officially registered as a participant in the War."

The white-haired priestess nodded seriously. "Sure you did. It's going to be a pain, but it shall be done," she said with a slightly sarcastic tone. Then, her emotionless smile returned and Caren turned her back to them to stare at the ceiling. "Then with this, all the pieces have finally taken their place. I can officially declare, without a doubt… that the Fifth Holy Grail War begins now."

Fifth Holy Grail War, huh? Archer mused. Why is it always the Fifth?

Clad in his spirit form, Emiya turned to his Master and spoke through their mental bond. "Master. Ask the priestess about the previous War. There's something I want to know."

Artoria narrowed her eyes, glancing at his invisible frame. "What is it?"

"It's nothing major. I simply wish to know how it concluded," he answered – lying – his tone neutral in order not to let anything slip away. "It could be valuable information for the upcoming battles, and it's always better to be prepared for every eventuality. That is why I want to know what happened at the end of the previous conflict. Please indulge me on this whim, will you?"

The girl seemed to hesitate for a while with a questioning face. However, after a few moments of pondering, her shoulders squared and she steeled her resolve with a silent breath.

"Before I leave, there's something I want to ask," she stated at that point, staring at the weird priestess in all seriousness.

Caren turned to her once again, looking as disinterested and cold as ever. "By all means," was all she said.

Artoria glanced at her invisible Servant, then focused her eyes on the other girl. "The previous Holy Grail War… you said it took place here ten years ago, right?" Seeing that the only answer she received was a nod, she ventured to ask. "Then, please tell me everything about its end. I wish to know how it concluded."

For a few seconds, Caren Hortensia seemed taken aback by her question. However, her lips soon curved into a smile. "Now that's an interesting question," she mused as she took a few steps to the left, sounding slightly amused for some reason. "Is that something you want to know out of your own will? Or is it because of your 'peculiar' companion?" she asked, eying Emiya's invisible frame with a sly grin.

Artoria clenched her fists and frowned, and Archer narrowed his eyes.

The priestess walked amid the pews and laughed. A sound that didn't quite match her emotionless face. "Ufufufu~ I like that expression, Artoria Pendragon. You look like a little lamb starved for attention," she giggled, her golden eyes never leaving the young Master's face even as she kept walking on the opposite side of the church. Artoria visibly bristled but kept silent. "Very well, since it is my duty to propagate God's Love, I suppose I'll have to indulge you. However, I know very little about the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War, so be warned: I may not have the answers you seek."

She stopped in front of the main door, turning to face Artoria fully.

"Now, what is it that you want to know, exactly?" the priestess inquired, staring at her with intrigued eyes.

The blonde girl shared a silent glance with her Servant. Then, she asked the fateful question.

"Who won the War ten years ago?"

Caren's expression was devoid of emotions.

"I was told that, in the battle ten years ago, my father faced a man who kept standing before him," she began to explain. "Even after suffering fatal wounds and major injuries, he kept coming back, forcing my father to face him directly. That man was the last one whom my father fought before he died, and the man who became the winner of the previous Holy Grail War."

Emiya narrowed his eyes. Through their shared bond, Artoria could feel his interest. "Did he obtain the Grail?" she asked for him.

Caren nodded. "That man indeed managed to touch the Grail at the end of the conflict. I know not what he wished for, but the aftermath of his contact with the Grail was witnessed by many who stood there back then."

Artoria could feel the emotions of her Servant flowing through her mind like a river. His pain troubled her.

"W-What happened to him?" she demanded.

It troubled her greatly.

"He died."

Artoria physically flinched after hearing that answer, widening her eyes. She shot a quick glance at Emiya, but the man's invisible frame was as still as a statue. She couldn't even feel anything from him anymore.

The priestess didn't seem to care. "That man died right after touching the artifact. No one knows why, but many believe that the reason behind that event was because the Grail did not achieve completion," she explained, her eyes looking distant. "Simply causing the Grail to appear is trivial. Once the seven Masters are gathered, the Grail will appear in time. But unless all the Servants are dead, it will never be truly complete. That is why it only chooses the Master and Servant who manage to prevail against the others. Because only one can be worthy of its power. So, if that previous Master died after making contact with the Grail… perhaps he was not worthy of it."

Artoria's brow furrowed. "In other words… obtaining the Grail is meaningless without killing all the other Servants?" she questioned.

"Indeed, you're catching on pretty fast," Caren complimented with fake courtesy. "In the last War, the Master who was the first to get his hands on the Grail was weak. His Servant did not manage to kill the others. Thus, the Grail did not reach completion and killed the Master. We do not know if he died before or after making his wish… but that is all I have to say."

Emiya remained in a cryptic silence. He could see Artoria glancing at him from the side, but for once he paid her no mind. His mind was furiously running through every memory, every hypothesis, every scenario. Because what he had just heard right now was different compared to his timeline. Too different. And there was still something missing. An important detail that Caren hadn't mentioned at all. One that was intrinsically linked to the Fourth Holy Grail War… and Emiya's very own existence.

"Then, what happened when the Grail disappeared?" Artoria questioned for him, again.

Caren just tilted her head to the side.

"Nothing."

Heroic Spirit Emiya felt the blood turning to ice inside his veins.

His entire body pulsed. His bowels twisted as if he had to puke.

"The Fourth Holy Grail War ended without generating anything," Kirei's daughter concluded with her empty voice. "There was no real winner, and only one Master managed to survive and return to his life again. Apparently, there were a few causalities in the middle of the conflict due to a rogue Caster, but apart from that… everything went smoothly. Exactly as it should have."

Archer wanted to laugh and curse at the same time. A chill descended upon his spine as he stared at the world with disbelief.

He felt it in his body. In his bones. In his soul.

But his mind raced all the more. He went through every hypothesis. Every timeline he remembered, every reality he had witnessed. Every version of Artoria he knew. Her past, her views, her Wars. Each individual personality. Each battle he'd had with her and against her. Everything.

"So, as you can see, what happened after the previous War is: nothing."

"…Impossible."

One word. One, single word was uttered from Emiya's lips.

Impossible.

As impossible for him as breathing beneath the sea or walking upon the moon.

But at the same time, the answer was as clear as day.

Because, despite his Master's confusion, despite the odds, despite what his mind logically wanted to deny; there was one, single truth that he had completely overlooked until now.

This one truth, this one realization.

That is: as crazy and absurd as it seemed: he had finally found a world without him.

Yes, he had finally found it. The one world where the Great Fuyuki Fire didn't occur. The one world where Artoria wasn't a King. The one timeline in which Shirou Emiya did not exi—

Shirou Emiya did not exist in this world.

Shirou Emiya did not exist.

He  did not exist.

He didn't exist in this reality because the Great Fuyuki Fire didn't occur. A singular reality in which it did not happen. Somehow, someway, if Artoria was not King Arthur, there was no fire in Fuyuki city. And consequently, there was no Shirou Emiya. And even if he was alive somewhere, he never became Kiritsugu Emiya's adopted son. He never became a broken survivor. He never became an ally of justice.

He never became a Counter Guardian.

Because the fire didn't occur, and Shirou Emiya, son of Kiritsugu Emiya, did not exist as well.

Heroic Spirit Emiya felt like crying and laughing at the same time.

"A-Archer…?"

His Master's voice snapped him out of his inner turmoil.

Emiya blinked once. Twice. He blinked thrice and then turned towards the young girl. Artoria was glancing in his direction with a worried gaze, looking quite pale for some reason.

"Are you… ok?" she asked him, her emerald eyes wide and worried as she searched for his invisible frame. "I felt something… weird, coming from you just now. Is something wrong?"

The red Archer shook his head and forced his mind to steel.

"…everything's fine, Master," he reassured her eventually, trying to sound convincing despite the overwhelming emotions flowing through his mind. "I just have one last question for the priestess. Please."

Artoria hesitated for a while. Then, she turned towards Caren Hortensia again.

"The man who won the previous Holy Grail War, who was he?" she asked one last time.

Seconds passed, followed by silence.

Artoria stared with an expectant gaze.

Emiya waited with an unreadable face.

And the priestess of Fuyuki Church smiled an emotionless smile.

"His name was… Kiritsugu Emiya."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

"Emiya-kun, why don't we fight together?"

"Huh?"

The boy is dumbfounded by her proposal. Even I feel my brows furrow in irritation.

The smile on Rin's face is both sincere and mischievous as she explains her intentions. "It seems this time around, things are a lot different from what I'd heard from my father. The War is not supposed to be this way. So first, I want to make it clear as to what is going on. And I can't do it alone."

The boy nods slowly. "Fighting together for a limited time, huh."

"Yes, that's what it means."

I can't stand it anymore.

"Rin."

They both turn towards me as I reveal my presence. Despite my best attempts, I cannot fully contain the glare as I gaze upon the boy. "I feel that fighting together with a powerless Master is meaningless," I say in a serious tone.

As expected, the boy gets annoyed pretty easily. "What was that again?" he growls.

I merely smirk with a shrug. "Did I say something that was incorrect?"

He has no comeback. We both know that what I said is true. My smirk grows as the boy glares at me.

"Archer," Rin's tone is stern, her face as serious as it can be. "I'll have you follow your Master's morals. We have no time to waste debating. Are we clear?"

I close my eyes and cross my arms with a weary sigh.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

"Archer… what was that about?"

Emiya sighed. His Master had made that question as soon as they stepped foot outside the church's gates, rounding on him with a frown and an expression that was hungry for answers. Emiya sighed as she glared at him with her arms crossed, and he was almost tempted to just shrug it off and keep quiet as usual.

However, he knew he couldn't just remain silent and avoid that topic. And at the same time, even if he was already expecting this kind of outcome after what he had asked her to do before, he still didn't know exactly what to say to bring himself out of this situation. But one thing he knew: he couldn't keep quiet as he usually would. Not anymore. Artoria was not going to let him off the hook right now, and she also deserved an answer, in his opinion.

Therefore, after a weary sigh, he decided to answer with a half-truth. He was a master at telling half-truths, after all.

"I just wanted, no― I needed information, Master," he admitted in the end, materializing once more in front of her and staring straight into her eyes with a serious face. "Information wins war, and the more we have, the less will be the likelihood of being caught off guard in future battles. We needed to assess the situation and gather intel about the War before deciding what to do, and the Church was the only place we could receive that intel. That's all there is to it."

Still nothing he had said was a lie.

Artoria narrowed her eyes on him. "But why were you so interested about the previous winner of the Holy Grail War?" she pressed.

This time, Archer knew how to reply. And he didn't need to lie.

"As a neutral faction, the Church is forbidden from sharing any kind of information about the other Masters during the War," he explained in a pedantic tone, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. "If we can't get intel about our enemies, the best course of action to prepare ourselves is to gather information about the War itself. That's why I wanted to know how the previous conflict ended. Preparation is the key to every battle, and lacking a clear picture of what's going on is a recipe for disaster." His experiences during his countless deployments had taught him a thing or two, after all. "That's why we need to know more about the War, even the previous one. We are fighting to win, after all. Am I right?"

The blonde girl frowned, his words sinking in as she began to falter. "W-Well, yeah… I can't deny that," she agreed, lowering her head and looking lost in deep thought.

Emiya placed a hand on his hip. "At any rate, we've learned something useful from that chat," he spoke out loud again, shooting a glance at the Church behind them and at the sky nearing sunset above them. Artoria raised her head again to look at him. "The previous War ended without a real winner, and the Grail did not achieve completion."

"Yeah, and the man who obtained it – that so-called Kiritsugu Emiya – died upon making contact with it," his Master mused as well, missing the way Archer flinched slightly at his father's name and the news of his different demise. "What do you think this means?"

I have no idea. All of that wasn't supposed to happen. This is way too different compared to what I've experienced so far, he wanted to say. "Who knows. But if the Grail did not achieve completion last time… then we must be extremely careful during this conflict. Even more so than before," he answered instead, his face a mask of steel.

Artoria blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Emiya let out a shallow breath from between his teeth, considering every words carefully and trying to separate the foolish Shirou's emotions from the cold-blooded Archer's analysis.

In the end, his answer was direct and strong. "If the Grail did not achieve completion, we must consider the hypothesis that something was wrong with it," he said, turning to stare at his young Master straight into the eyes. "Perhaps something went wrong during the previous War, and somehow that fact ended up having some kind of consequence on the Grail itself. Why did the winner die upon making contact with it, otherwise? Unless he wished for his own death, that's not something that was supposed to happen. It just doesn't make sense."

The girl widened her eyes. Her breath caught as realization began to dawn upon her features. Artoria Pendragon had always been a little naïve and gullible, no matter what form, but she wasn't stupid. "You think… you think the Grail was corrupted?"

He nodded. That had always been true in his previous timelines, even the one he had faced as a boy. It wouldn't be surprising if the same thing happened in this world as well, even if the lack of fire made that hypothesis seem more unlikely. But Archer knew better than being optimistic during a conflict. He was a cynical and analytical person, and there was no place for foolish hopes and childish dreams in his mind. He may as well start to expect the worse from now on.

"I never trusted something so dubious as a wish-granting cup from the beginning, but it seems that my suspicions were well founded," he admitted with a sigh.

Artoria grew a little panicked after considering his words. "B-But then what about my wish?!" she exclaimed with a trembling voice. "Surely, the Grail cannot be―"

"We have no proof, so let's not jump to conclusions yet, Master," Archer cut her off gently, raising one hand to stop her rambling before it could escalate. "I'm not saying that your wish will be impossible to grant… but I think you should keep that possibility in mind from now on. Things are rarely as easy as they seem."

And – oh boy – he knew that extremely well.

Her lips quivered. "D-Do you truly think so?" she asked.

She sounded so little, so fragile, that Archer couldn't help but flinch inwardly at her wounded tone. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I don't know, Master," he admitted after a small pause. "But as an old saying goes… lower your expectations and you will never be disappointed. Do not lose hope yet; at least not entirely. But don't let your wish get over your head as well. Always expect the worse, and you'll be able to face everything in spite of the odds."

Unfortunate as it was, that was perhaps sincerest advice he could offer her right now. He didn't want to see this girl end up broken and twisted like Saber did. And he was going to make sure of it. That outcome was not going to happen here. Not again. Not on his watch.

That was a promise.

"A-Alright," she conceded after a long pause, nodding her head with a conflicted face. Emiya could clearly see that she was still bothered by that possible outcome, but he knew that she would need a lot of time to fully accept that possibility. Some things just weren't meant to be acknowledged immediately, and it had taken him a long time to understand that during his long existence. "I'll keep that in mind… but that doesn't mean that I won't give my all to win the Holy Grail War! I'm not going to give up just because of a plausibility!" she declared strongly, glaring at the world with her emerald eyes.

Emiya smirked. Her resolve was still the same. "Of course, I never said that," he agreed with a nod of approval. "We must discover the truth behind this conflict no matter what. Are we in agreement, Master?"

"You said it, Archer!" she beamed with a determined smile.

They shared a resolute nod without words.

Until, broad shoulders flexed as Archer began to stretch a little, fixing his gaze upon the city that was becoming more and more dark as the sun disappeared over the horizon. "Then, should we take a stroll around and search for enemy Servants?" he asked, shooting her a confident glance. "The night is near. The Holy Grail War has officially started."

Artoria Pendragon nodded with a serious face. "Yes, we shall."

With no further ado, Emiya returned to spirit form again, and the two of them moved and began their slow but resolute descent from the hill, leaving the Church behind and heading towards the Shinto District again. Master and Servant patrolled the city in silence, looking for any other Servants that could be roaming around, but since Archer was one of the three knight Servants, he could only sense others while in close proximity.

Fuyuki City could actually be considered to be two towns. Miyama Town, where older houses and more traditional buildings were located, and Shinto, where more modern development was progressing and where their current apartment was located on the northern side. Both towns were separated by the river Mion that ran through the center of the city.

The central area of downtown Shinto was a different story, however. Archer remembered it as a vast park – the very same park which was the aftermath of the Fourth Holy Grail War in his world. It was gray and filled with an oppressive feeling; one that was lingering with grief and fear, for the park was a memorial allowed to grow in the space that had once been occupied by the Citizens' Building. But here, however, the whole park and that oppressive feeling did not exist at all, since the Great Fire never happened during the previous conflict. Instead, a large residential neighborhood with modern houses and some small gardens along the streets stood proudly in its place, along with a few small streets teeming with grocery stores and various shops. Emiya watched it with wonder and a bit of sadness in his heart, since he had never had the chance to see this original part of the city before. And it was sad, truly.

If only someone could have averted that fate in his world as well…

Suddenly, he stopped.

They were in the middle of a wide, empty street amid an isolated neighborhood when it happened. Before he could even open his mouth and say something to Artoria, Emiya felt a sickening warning sensation in his stomach, along with a prickling of all the hairs up his back to his neck, like death looming behind him. It was unmistakable. There was no way he could mistake this feeling.

Archer reacted promptly. He quickly materialized again, dashing forward like a silent killer and grasping Artoria by the elbow, pulling her close to him. The girl widened her eyes and startled, confused, but there was no time for words.

He caught a faint flash in the dark sky above. Then, not even two seconds later, the tall, muscular Servant had picked her up in his arms, bridal style, leaping away from the street with a mighty dash as a sudden volley of arrows imbued with black and purple energy rained down from the sky. An impressive explosion of energy and prana shook the ground, and a shockwave was generated by the explosion.

Emiya landed above the rooftop of a tall building on the left, holding his Master in his arms as he stared in a specific direction: west. Below them, the ground shook for a few seconds, and some lights were turned on inside a few buildings, the tenants confused by the unexpected earthquake.

"A-Archer!" Artoria exclaimed, stunned and shocked as well. "What is happening?"

He clicked his tongue, narrowing his eyes as he kept the girl in his arms. "Tsk. It seems we have met our first enemy," he spoke with a sarcastic smirk. "Good grief, they sure are belligerent. The night has just started and they're already coming at us."

"How can this be?! The War barely began a few hours ago!" the girl protested.

"They must have been aware of our presence. Perhaps they were following us from afar this whole time," he deduced seriously. The fact that not even he had been able to notice that they were being watched spoke volumes about the enemy. Whoever it was, it had to be a formidable opponent. Maybe a Presence Concealment skill. An Assassin?

Then, he scoffed a little. "Honestly... I told you that you should have been more alert during our walks."

"You were with me the whole time!"

A second volley of arrows rained down from above. Emiya leaped away, avoiding the attack with a swift jump and taking cover behind a gigantic antenna placed atop a building. The next second, he had his black bow already in hand, placing the girl on the ground with a gentle movement as his eyes searched for the enemy.

Upon being freed, Artoria narrowed her eyes as another explosion echoed in the distance due to the previous attack. "Those were long-ranged attacks," she reasoned quickly, her mind now turned to steel and focused even in spite of the sudden ambush. "They looked like arrows… is this the work of another Archer?" she asked, confused.

"It could be a Hero who uses a bow despite being ranked with another Class," Emiya mused out loud. "Maybe an Assassin, or a Caster―Ah!"

She turned to him. "Archer, have you spotted our enemy?"

He nodded, his lips parted into a smirk. "I have," he confirmed. "Four kilometers to the west, on the Central Building's rooftop. The enemy is firing at us from there."

"How thoughtful. They wish to decide on the battlefield," Artoria said with no small amount of sarcasm. She turned towards him over her shoulder, wearing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, Archer? Shall we answer in kind to such a welcome gesture?"

Emiya's lips curled into a smirk in response. "It would be rude not to."

He aimed his bow, notching a few red arrow and taking aim in the enemy's direction. As soon as the third attack ended, he shot his arrows with disarming precision. The darts shot across the night sky like bolts of red light, reaching the distant target in less than a second and forcing them to stop the assault. The explosion far away could be heard even from this distance.

Taking advantage of the moment of respite, Archer dismissed his bow and kneeled.

"Be careful, Master. The enemy Servant is miles from here, and they won't hesitate to fire at us once we'll move to reach their location," he warned in a serious tone. He took the girl in his arms again, offering her a small grin. "Hold on tight and stick close to me. This won't be long."

Despite her blush, Artoria nodded and allowed her Servant to carry her again. "Archer," she said, sharing a resolute nod with him. "Grant me victory," she bid.

Heroic Spirit Emiya smirked.

"Of course."

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Hilltop – Fuyuki Church

(======)

"Many voices and many desires confound you."
"Talk is cheap. Lies are the sin of man."
"Oh merciful God, allow us―"

"There's a sneer on your lips, holy woman."

Caren Hortensia halted her sermon. There was no joy on her face upon hearing the familiar voice echoing behind her. However, her golden eyes snapped open all the same.

A tall and imposing man dressed in ancient clothing sat on one of the pews of the church.

"It's not a good look on you," the man said again, smiling a little with a cold expression.

The priestess closed the sacred book in her hands, her back still turned to the man. "Oh my… is that the way it looked to you?" she asked with a distinct note of sarcasm, pursing her lips a little.

"Indeed. It was a smile befitting a shameless woman like you," the other confirmed, giving a little scoff of disdain at her amused tone. "Did you have a pleasant encounter, perhaps?"

She made a wide smirk. "I did. At long last, the Holy Grail War has officially started. How could I not be happy?" she replied with her flat tone devoid of emotions. "As its overseer, I can only pray that the miracle will be fulfilled, and that the Holy Grail will materialize fully this time."

The mysterious man lowered his head with a smirk. Golden bangs shadowed his eyes. "You wish to succeed where your father has failed, huh?" he mused to himself, sounding distinctly amused by her answer.

Caren turned to him fully.

"Of course. My wish is to shower the world with God's Love. And in order to do that, a miracle is needed. Ufufu~"

The man stared at her twisted grin.

Then, he grinned as well and closed his eyes.

"You really do amuse me a lot… Caren."

The priestess of Fuyuki Church stared at the moon outside with a smile that was anything but reassuring.

"But first… we must wait," she said to her Servant with a devious smirk. Her golden eyes stared outside the window with an excited glint.

"Let's see what the outcome of this first clash will be."

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Four-

Down in the Zero

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Shinto District – Central Building

(======)

Heroic Spirit Emiya moved, fast as the wind and determined like the most unyielding steel.

Jumping from building to building and running across rooftops was a child's play, hardly a box jump for him as a Servant. He moved at heightened speed, oddly relaxed in the wind as he dashed and leaped incessantly to avoid the volley of arrows raining down on him. All the while, as he ran from rooftop to rooftop, more and more explosions and bursts of energy began to echo behind him, but Archer paid no mind to that; his gaze solely focused on his target: the enemy Servant firing upon them.

In his arms, Artoria was squirming and shaking while he kept running at frightening speed, grasping his neck with her arms as she kept her eyes shut due to tension and fear. She couldn't even bear to gaze below or shoot a glance at their enemy, since she seemed to be afraid of heights. Emiya did not fault her. Heights had bothered him too when he was young; at least when he still had that small bit of survival instinct intact. But now, there was no fear in Archer's mind, no trace of tension or worry. Fight, death and combat were constants to which he was already used to – more than anyone could ever understand – and there was very little that could truly surprise him after everything he had experienced in his life and the endless hell he had been through.

Thus, it was with a few portentous leaps and a feeling of absolute calm in his mind that he landed above the Central Building's rooftop, the highest building in the city, righting himself with a slow motion and a neutral expression. As he gently released the young Master from his arms, however, his eyes remained focused on his target and Archer did not stop to observe the enemy Servant placed a dozen feet away, on the other side of the roof. A tense silence fell as the two warriors began to stare down at each other, studying each other, neither of them willing to break eye-contact and show weakness in front of the enemy.

Heroic Spirit Emiya narrowed his eyes. The Servant facing them now was not one he was familiar with, and definitely not one of those who he had encountered in his previous Holy Grail Wars. On the contrary, it was extremely different from what he was expecting to see.

The enemy facing him right now was a woman – a huntress – with cold, sharp eyes of gold containing a beastly glint. Her hair was of silver color, stretched out long and unkempt, and completely lacking in the silkiness that would be found amongst those of noble birth. She wore a black dress which was both elegant and creased here and there, and she possessed white animal ears on her head along with a tail on her back, both of which seemed to be symbols or after-effects of a curse from the past. Though blackened and covered by a mangy-looking pelt that raged with purple flame, her face and body were elegant and refined, so much so that the girl could be called a beautiful beast in human form, since it befitted her appearance completely.

But it wasn't her beauty what caught Emiya's eye. On the contrary, his gaze immediately fell on the dark and menacing pelt of a wild boar placed on the enemy's shoulder, along with the jet black, Western-style bow larger than the woman's own height grasped in her clawed hands. It didn't take him long to Structurally Analyze that weapon with his eyes, and once his head was able to fully register the information on the inside, there were no doubts in Archer's mind about the identity of his opponent. And it wasn't good news.

The Chaste Huntress of the Argonauts, and the disowned princess of Arcadia: Atalanta the Huntress.

Emiya narrowed his eyes and stepped in front of Artoria, ready to defend her in case his opponent decided to attack.

Instead, the enemy Servant lowered her bow a little, fixing Archer with a cold gaze. Something wild and dark flashed inside her golden eyes, and her mouth twitched as she parted her lips to say something.

"You…" she spoke; her voice cold, emotionless, but still tinged with a bit of animal fury and rage. "Your scent is… peculiar."

Archer made no move. He just stared as the woman's entire body shook abruptly, as if a shiver went through her spine. Her expression twitched, her lips revealing sharp canines as her mouth set into a feral sneer. Behind him, Artoria grabbed her katana, assuming a defensive position just to stay safe.

"You smell like smoke, and iron, and blood," the huntress hissed again, fixing him with an expression mixed between sincere curiosity and wildest anger. Emiya's finger twitched slightly as he watched the enemy lean forward, taking a whiff with her nose. "I've never smelled a scent like this on a human before… interesting."

It was clear as day that the woman was not a normal Servant in Emiya's mind. Her empty and strained voice, her dark and menacing frame and even those golden eyes filled with fury and madness left no room for doubt about her current Class. All of that added with her feral complexion and behavior made it even more clear.

"The Berserker Class Servant," Artoria stated, reaching Archer's same conclusion.

Berserker Atalanta gave a snarl, but paid no mind to the girl's words. Her eyes remained fixed on Emiya all the while. "Indeed. But you… you don't strike me as a Saber or a Lancer. And your stance doesn't match that of a proper, single-combat type," she stated, smelling the air again and grinning in what could only be described as feral trepidation. "Then I assume I am to face a fellow Archer in this battle? Tell me, before I tear you apart and rip you to pieces!" she demanded with a hiss, like a feral cat spotting a luscious mouse.

Emiya said nothing, did nothing. He just stared at her, studying the enemy with narrowed eyes as his mind continued to process all the information about her appearance. More specifically, about the mangy-looking pelt that raged with purple flame above her right shoulder. Being it so clearly displayed on the Servant's body, it didn't take long for his eyes to understand what it was: Agrius Metamorphosis, the pelt of the Calydonian Boar itself. A cursed Noble Phantasm which caused Atalanta to become a Monstrous Human by wearing it on her body, giving her a condition almost equivalent to a Berserker A-Rank Mad Enhancement.

Yet, even despite that, it appeared that the huntress was still rendered able of speaking and thinking. In all likelihood, Atalanta was an existence who, while being Demon Beast-ified due to the Pelt of the Calydonian Boar and having her status elevated to equal an A-class Mad Enhancement, was still capable of composed thinking due to the fact that she already possessed a beast-like state and body. She was decidedly a different Servant compared to the Berserker Heracles he had faced so many times before. And this couldn't mean anything good. He did not like surprises, after all.

Archer steeled his resolve and readied himself.

Seeing his silence, Berserker Atalanta gave a snarl, twirling her entire body into a combat stance. "…I see. As you wish, then. It matters not whether you are an ally of the Human Order or not. Today I shall devour you!" she roared, dismissing her bow in a dust of prana and positioning herself on all fours, like a lioness ready to pounce.

Archer made no move in spite of the threat. He turned towards Artoria instead. "Be careful. The enemy Master could be miles from here, or they could be in this very same building," he warned her in utmost seriousness. Then, he tilted his head and gestured to the right side of the rooftop. "Take cover behind those ventilation ducts, but don't lower your guard. I'll deal with the Servant."

The girl increased her grip on the katana, nodding her head resolutely. "Very well. I'll leave the enemy to you," she said, moving to take cover before the battle. She flashed him one resolute stare. "Right here and now, show me what you've got, Archer!"

Emiya's only response was a smirk.

As soon as Artoria ran away from them and took cover, the two Servants turned again and focused on each other entirely. They stared down at each other in complete silence, a broken man of tempered steel and a feral huntress rendered a beast; neither of them willing to move and attack before the other. They simply observed and waited, with their bodies stiff and their muscles tense.

Seconds passed, followed by sheer silence.

Then, it broke.

Faster than a man could blink, the battle began when Atalanta suddenly dashed against Emiya with a feral roar, spinning into a lightning-fast kick aimed to his head. The man didn't move, however, waiting for the right moment to react. In fact, even though many Archers were well-versed in close quarters, Servants of all classes – themselves included – still routinely made the mistake of assuming that fighting in close range would put Archers on the back foot. And just like in this case, most of the time they were proved otherwise.

At the last second, in fact, Emiya dropped, bending backwards at the waist, calling one of his favorite twin shortswords to hand and spinning out to slash at the enemy Berserker. Kanshou appeared in his right hand with a flash of black energy, darting towards the target with frightening precision. However, just as it was expected from a huntress of her caliber, Atalanta managed to dodge it, leaping away at the right moment and re-engaging from the right. Then, she dodged a second swing and slashed out with razor talons, with all the speed expected of her and a howl that belonged to a beast more than the devotee of Artemis.

Emiya parried the attack with his short sword, noting with distaste that the pelt seemed to protect Atalanta's bare hands from Kanshou's sharp blade. Then, just as he was about to make another swing aimed at her exposed belly, Archer widened his eyes and ducked under a quick slash, leaping away from the opponent with a jump before she could slash him in the chest. Atalanta growled and hissed in rage, following him closely with a leap and a bestial roar.

Once again, the two of them engaged in combat. Archer traded a series of slashes and blows with Berserker, moving with great speed and precision that were due to countless experiences and deadly battles. Upon failing to hit the enemy with his blade again, he leaned back with his torso to avoid a clawed hand that almost threatened to tear his chest apart; and he suddenly spun on one heel, aiming at the opponent's left side with a swift but powerful kick. Atalanta blocked the kick with one arm, growling in pain and anger, but the power of the blow still knocked her off balance, throwing her away from Emiya with a wave of wind and energy.

However, not even two seconds later, she was on him again, attacking; like a feral beast unable to quell her frenzy. Emiya tried to leap away from her, but Atalanta met him halfway. With her razor talon alone, Berserker batted Kanshou's blade aside brutally in a fit of refound rage, and then she charged again, more furious and outraged than ever. In less than a blink of an eye, she had already ducked under another swing from Emiya's shortsword, attacking him furiously with her claws. The tanned Archer struggled to block and parry all the slashes, and nearly grunted in pain when Atalanta returned his former courtesy with a powerful kick that hit him straight in the chest, injuring him slightly under his black armor and forcing him to put some distance between them.

All the while, Artoria watched the battle with bated breath behind her cover. S-So this is a battle between Servants, she thought in awe, gulping with a tense expression.

Taking advantage of the distance and the sudden moment of respite, Archer took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. It was clear for him that he was at disadvantage here. The enemy was stronger than him, and much faster. Huntress or not, Atalanta was still a Berserker, and her parameters were elevated to match the standards of that Class. He could handle her current strength, but her speed was something else entirely, and he had no hope of matching it. Therefore, he needed to end this quickly, and he couldn't risk too much energy doing it.

Emiya smirked, straightening himself and taking a stance with his blade pointed at the enemy Servant, his face assuming a challenging expression while he relaxed his body. Atalanta snarled and roared at his blatant challenge, her golden eyes flashing in feral rage. "You dare to mock me!? I will tear you apart for that!" she roared, jumping on him with an impressive speed, like a cheetah pouncing on its prey.

Despite the enemy's attack, he did not move. Emiya always played a 'dangerous' game in combat. He was familiar with countless fighting styles, but that wasn't enough to bridge the gap between him and other, more gifted Heroic Spirits alone. He could never hope to match the other Heroes' strength, nor to close the gap between their stats. And he was also well aware of the fact that he could never truly beat Atalanta in an honest clash of strength. Therefore, if he wanted to win, he needed to fight smarter, not harder, using the enemy's maddened state to his advantage.

Thus, he prepared himself with a mind of steel.

Just as Atalanta was about to crash on him and tear him to shreds with her claws, he parried her razor talon with Kanshou and then stretched out his other hand. In a flash of white, Bakuya appeared in his waiting palm, and Emiya quickly swung its blade towards the opponent's exposed belly, ready to slash and cut. The huntress widened her eyes with a hiss, but still managed to react promptly. Since her body was still in the air and unable to dodge, she did the only thing she could: she blocked the white blade with her other hand, moving her arms close to defend her body and avoid damage.

But that was exactly what Emiya was aiming for. With a sudden twist of the hand, he twisted Kanshou in his hand and launched his free arm in a fast – extremely fast – horizontal lunge aimed at Atalanta's leg, opening a wide wound on her left tailor's muscle while barely avoiding a punch that threatened to smash his skull at the same time. The mad huntress hissed in pain, and then slashed at him with her clawed hands in a fit of rage. Archer managed to parry the attack with his twin blades, leaping away at the last moment to avoid a second punch aimed at his ribs. A burst of energy exploded as he jumped away from Berserker, and he twisted his body in the air to keep his eyes glued to Atalanta's frame.

"I'll kill you!" the huntress roared in fury, howling at the moon like a beast. "I'll have your blood!"

She wasted no time. In less than an instant, that long, dark bow from before appeared once again in Atalanta's hands, and the ferocious huntress took aim at Archer with an enraged face and a swift movement. Emiya barely had time to summon his own bow mid-air before a volley of black and purple arrows made entirely of mana rained down on him, all of them as fast as lightning and threatening to tear him apart like nothing.

With a grunt of effort, he aimed his own bow forward and fired even before he could land on solid ground again, and the arrows of black energy collided with the arrows of red energy in a blast of mana and wind that was absolutely blinding. For a couple of seconds, the night sky above Fuyuki City was illuminated by red and purple flashes for miles and miles away. The air shook and the wind moaned, enveloping the world in a flash of light and smoke that blurred everything for what seemed to be an eternity.

Archer dashed to the right, his eyes scanning through the smoke in direction of his Master. Artoria was still hidden behind the ventilation ducts, coughing and struggling to see amid all that smoke. On the other side, however, he could see Atalanta's frame running towards her, her face twisted into a feral expression of anger and blood-lust. Emiya widened his eyes as realization dawned upon him. She was going to attack her.

No way in hell. He couldn't let that happen.

With great effort and an explosion of wind and prana, he gathered as much energy as he could in his legs and leaped forward. Then, before Artoria could even turn around to see what was happening, Archer appeared right in front of the girl and shielded her with his body. Atalanta crashed on him with an explosion of wind, her razor talons slashing furiously against his bow while the huntress screamed and raged. Archer flinched and hissed in pain when the enemy managed to slash him on the arm, drawing blood with a deep wound. When a punch landed on his face, it didn't take long for Emiya to realize that Berserker had used Artoria as a bait to force him to fight on close range again. He mentally cursed with a hiss of pain. He had been careless.

"Raaaaaaaarrr!"

Atalanta continued to assault him relentlessly, fighting like an animal, her wound on the leg completely forgotten. There was no form in her attacks, nothing for Emiya to recognize or preempt. She was kicking, and slashing and roaring like a mad beast, even attempting to bite him on several occasions. Berserker was fighting on animal instinct, and the only defense was instinct.

Next thing he knew, Archer felt the air leave his lungs as a sudden but powerful kick hit him in the chest, sending him flying backwards at maximum speed like a living arrow.

"Archer!"

He could hear Artoria's worried cry, but he couldn't do anything. He crashed against a wall of concrete, cracking it with the collision as he struggled to regain control of his body. Then, with a great mental effort, he forced himself on his feet again and rolled out of the way just as Atalanta slammed on the spot he had been standing on just a few seconds prior, destroying the wall entirely with a crash of smoke and debris.

Emiya took a few steps back, summoning Kanshou and Bakuya again and using them to deflect and parry a few arrows darting towards him from her direction. The weapons cracked and exploded upon impact, unable to withstand such a massive blow of energy, but he quickly summoned them again, taking a defensive stance as he steeled his mind and regained focus. On the other side of the rooftop, Atalante reappeared amid the smoke, staring at him with wide, enraged eyes filled with hate and fury.

"You!" she hissed, her voice more feral than human. "Who are you? A bowman using twin swords! What nonsense is this?!"

Emiya focused again, and his lips parted into a wide, rude smirk as he opened his mouth to speak to her for the first time.

"Hmpf. Funny hearing that coming from you," he spat back at her, sarcasm clearly present in his voice. "A huntress using her body to attack, fighting like a beast more than a human. You are no longer the proud and charming Hero who sailed along the Argonauts. So spare me your words, Chaste Huntress. I have no need for your lectures."

Atalanta's face twisted into a snarl of pure outrage upon hearing those words and realizing that he had already figured out her identity. If looks could kill, Emiya would have dropped dead instantly.

"How dare you?" she hissed. "HOW DARE YOU?!"

Her whole body shaking in mad fury, Atalanta charged at him again, her speed too outstanding and unmatched to describe. And yet, despite the current danger he was facing, despite his Master's cries coming from the side… Archer kept his lips curved into a smile, his mind calm and focused even as his eyes struggled to follow the enemy Servant's movement. He just remained still on the spot, raising his twin blades in defense and using them to block the huntress' charge with a grunt of effort.

But then, his plan went in motion once again. Just like before, it was time to use his dangerous tactics a second time. Thus, as soon as Atalanta batted his blades away, he left his stance too wide, his recovery too slow, leaving the perfect opening for her – who, in addition to being a huntress, was also a noted Pankration champion. So, as soon as she saw the opening, Berserker lunged forward with a roar, aiming for his torso to take him off his feet, pin him down on the ground and finish him―

―or so she thought.

Reacting once again, Emiya dropped under her attack, kicking his feet up into her solar plexus and throwing her over him. Then, as soon as Atalanta was sent flying above, he replaced Kanshou and Bakuya with his bow and fired a massive volley of arrows at the stunned enemy, mirroring the attack she had used against him before. The maddened huntress hissed and trashed in the air, using her claws and razor talons to deflect and block the arrows, but she lacked control while her body was mid-air. Despite her best efforts, a few arrows managed to scratch her arms and face, and – exactly what Emiya was aiming for – one of them managed to stick itself right inside the wound on her legs, making Atalanta scream like a wounded animal.

But Archer was not done yet. Now that he had succeeded, he needed to keep going. The momentum he was aiming for was difficult to stop; and if he wanted to survive, it was absolutely necessary to take Atalanta down before the surprise wore off.

So, sparing one single smirk towards his Master, he suddenly dashed forward at maximum speed and leaped away from the rooftop, crashing against Atalanta's flying body with a shockwave of wind and prana.

And all the while, the girl with golden hair stared with disbelief as the two Servants clashed and struggled against each other, falling at a dangerously high speed from the rooftop of the Central Building.

Artoria Pendragon widened her eyes and cried in horror.

"Archer!"

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

I cross my arms as Rin glares at me. Slowly, my Master turns to the boy and Saber again.

"I just, well…" she is stuttering, her eyes looking distant as she tries to dismiss something. "I owe him, you know? By accident or not, he used a Command Seal to stop Saber, so I have to go easy on him, to balance the scales. And until I've repaid him, I can't fight him with a clear conscience."

Her statement is sincere. I can see the decision inside her aqua eyes. Good grief, she really is a stubborn person. But the blame is my own, I should have seen this coming.

Seeing her resolve, I close my eyes and exhale a sigh. "Complicating things again, huh?"

Her glare barely fazes me as I return into spirit form.

"In that case, call me when you have repaid that debt of yours."

Saber's emerald eyes do not leave me as my body disappears to dust.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

As they fell down from the building, the two Servants continued to fight relentlessly.

Emiya and Atalanta exchanged a series of failed grapples in the air, Atalanta slipping through his calves and Emiya twisting out of the crook of her elbow. He inwardly cursed when she managed to land a punch on his ribs, but he still kept his hold on her, unwilling to let go. Through the madness clouding her eyes, Archer could see that Berserker still registered the dangerous situation they were in, and that she certainly didn't want to let herself crash on the ground because of him.

Hence, she tried to disengage with a sudden jerking motion and a roar, but Emiya threw himself forward with a grunt, risking a few blows to his chest and belly as he slashed out to keep her in place, grabbing one of her legs as they continued to fall down from the giant building together.

Atalanta kicked him in the face, summoning her bow as the two of them kept falling towards the ground, facing the tanned Archer below her with a snarl. "Do you think you can win against a beast?" Atalanta roared with bestial fury, notching a massive arrow of dark energy on her weapon. "Rot!"

Emiya merely smirked. Good grief, these Berserkers… they just never learn. "Very well. I'll fight with all I've got," he said, fixing the enemy with a confident grin even as the ground became closer and closer.

The mad huntress roared, taking aim with her bow and chanting her incantation. "The burning shadow, the bow of the far side of the moon...take all of my hatred!" she roared as she activated her Noble Phantasm, her cry more beast than human. "Tauropolos Skia Thermokrasia!"

Just like that, her bow and arrow disappeared. Instead, the Tauropolos which she usually employed as an Archer class Servant was absorbed into her own body, which then was used to fire a single shot that was imbued with all her magical energy. Emiya widened his eyes as he watched Atalanta's body become blackened and loaded with magic, becoming the arrow itself, ready to explode upon contact. No, rather than an arrow, it was like she had become a living ballistic missile. There was no way he could leave unscathed from that.

Using Rho Aias was not an option, given the current situation and the lack of solid ground under his feet. Therefore, the only way to survive was to stop the attack before she could launch it completely. And luckily for him, he had just the way to do that.

Not quite true, but surprise attacks were one of Emiya's specialties, after all.

"I am the bone of my sword."

Emiya openly smirked as a sudden volley of "arrows" appeared all around him within a blink of the eye; said arrows made of swords and spears and halberds of different shapes and sizes, much to Berserker's inner shock.

Even without being fully deployed, in fact, his Reality Marble allowed for projection and reinforcement in the real world even during direct combat, greatly lowering the cost of reproducing them and allowing for numerous weapons to be prepared at once to be projected. These weapons could be summoned directly to his hands – like he had done before with Kanshou and Bakuya – or they could also be summoned to levitate within the air and fire upon the enemy as arrows. There was no way to stop this process once the incantation had begun, and it was something that only a certain Golden King and a few other Heroes could hope to match. At least in terms of speed and activation, of course.

And fortunately for him, Atalanta was not one of them.

Heroic Spirit Emiya grinned as his enemy widened her eyes in realization.

"Got you!"

All it took was a mental command. Then, as fast as lightning, his "arrows" darted forward like living missiles, directed at Berskerker's falling frame above them.

Deprived of her speed and bow and forced to fall through the air due to the current circumstances, the mad huntress had no way to defend herself and fully activate her Noble Phantasm in this situation. The only thing she could do was to raise her arms and try to defend herself with her own body as best as she could, using her razor talons to parry and deflect all the incoming weapons. And so she did.

Thus, Emiya's arrows and Atalanta's body collided mid-air with an explosion of energy and prana.

What happened next was a confused and loud succession of screams, roaring and explosions of mana. The air shook for miles and miles away, and the entire Central Building of the city shook and trembled due to the sudden explosion that happened near its walls, smashing a couple of windows along the way and shattering glass and concrete like nothing, making it rain down towards the ground and the streets below.

Archer grunted and hissed in pain as the shockwave slammed on him, making him crash against the Central Building. He summoned Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands again, sticking their blades along the wall of the building to stop himself from falling helplessly. He slid along the vertical side of the skyscraper with a hiss of effort, observing with narrowed eyes as the entire cloud of smoke and energy surrounding Atalanta's body continued to fall past him, unable to stop, crashing onto the ground with a second explosion that generated a small earthquake for a few seconds.

Until, as soon as he was close enough to the ground, he released the blades from the wall and jumped away, landing gracefully near the crash site with a sigh. He took a deep breath, assuming a serious expression even as he lowered the blades to his sides. He inwardly winced as his wounds on the arm and chest throbbed, but he paid them no mind right now. Then, he waited.

When the smoke cleared, he stared with an unreadable expression as his opponent stepped forward from the crater, hissing in pain and rage.

Despite his inner surprise, Atalanta had managed to block and deflect the majority of his weapons even during the fall, but that hadn't been enough to completely stop Archer's attack. The mad huntress's body was covered with cuts on her arms, face and abdomen, the wound on her leg bleeding and throbbing, and Emiya didn't let his guard down when he saw Atalanta step forward with a howl of rage, limping slightly on her injured leg and snarling at him with a mix of pain and outrage on her face. A sword was lodged in her right shoulder, cutting muscle and flesh apart, and the tip of a spear was still stuck and visible on her left arm. He inwardly sighed at the sight. It had been risky, but his previous attack had been a success. And that was all that mattered.

Atalanta coughed, spitting a bit of blood on the ground. "C-Curse you, Archer," she snarled, hissing like a wounded cat as she took another step forward. "Resorting to sneak attacks and fighting dirty... have you no honor?!"

"If it's a fair fight you want, you won't get one from me. I'm not one to hold back," Archer replied in a serious tone, unfazed. "Besides, you attacked us first. I'm not going to listen to your cheap words about honor."

Berserker growled, her teeth bared in rage. "I should have known you were more dangerous than you look. You scent is different than the others, and you fight like a man with a death wish," she said, her golden eyes shining with hatred.

Emiya didn't bother to reply to that. There was no need, for he knew it was all true. Instead, he shifted the topic to gather more information.

"Is your Master such a coward, then?" he asked with a sarcastic tone, sparing a glace to their surroundings. "I know that stooping to dirty tricks and avoid direct confrontation is a Mage's role, but honestly… did they send you here alone, or are they hiding somewhere close?"

The snarl on Atalanta's face was feral and filled with hatred. "Do NOT speak about my Master!" she barked furiously, strangely defensive on this particular subject. Emiya inwardly noted that but kept silent. "I won't allow you to bring us harm! If you only dare to come seeking for us, I will tear you apart!" she roared with possessiveness.

His smirk widened. "Hm? Is this a touchy subject? My apologies, Chaste Huntress."

"You bastard! I'LL KILL YOU!" Atalanta promised with feral fury, her whole body shaking in rage as she went on all fours, ready to pounce.

"By all means, then," was his immediate comeback. Archer readied his stance as well while the enemy Servant glowered at him, pointing his twin blades at her trembling frame. "If you want to keep going, I won't stop you. You are an enemy I must overcome eventually."

He said that, but both of them knew he held the advantage now. Atalanta was wounded, at least more than him, and she had already used a lot of mana upon activating her Noble Phantasm even if she had failed to use it against him. Not only that, but Emiya was aware of her True Name, and he had already outwitted her twice. If she wanted to continue, Atalanta was seriously going to need to be careful from now on, especially with her wounded leg which was surely going to compromise her speed, undoubtedly her greatest strength.

Despite all of that, however, Emiya was fully expecting her to jump on him again, but surprisingly enough… that didn't happen. Berserker was about to open her mouth and say something, when her head suddenly snapped to the left, gazing in a distant direction. Archer observed with narrowed eyes, without lowering his guard even as the enemy appeared to be distracted. It was clear to him that Atalanta was talking with someone thought the Master-Servant bond right now, and the best course of action was to wait and obtain more intel.

Until, the mad huntress relaxed her body and turned to him again, hissing in pain as her wounds throbbed suddenly when she straightened herself. "Mark my words: this isn't over," she stated through gritted teeth, her fangs bared in a growl. "I will face you another day… Archer."

With no further ado and a completely anticlimactic action, Atalanta retreated all of a sudden, her body disappearing in a dust of black energy in less than an instant. Emiya's sword fell to the ground with a metallic clang, and then dematerialized itself as well.

Archer waited a couple of seconds, keeping his guard up just in case. Then, feeling that the enemy had indeed escaped and that the danger was gone, he exhaled a sigh and dismissed his blades, relaxing his body while a dull and empty silence fell around him once again.

"Archer!"

He turned to the right, his lips curving into a smile as soon as he saw his young Master running in his direction, exiting from the towering building. When Artoria reached him, Emiya turned to her in full.

"Master, are you ok?"

"I'm alright," she panted, tired from having run several floors of the skyscraper on foot, probably. "What about you? You're wounded! And where's the enemy Servant?" she questioned.

Emiya examined himself, just to make sure. He had a few bruises on his face, and Atalanta's claws had made good on the promise in the glint of their edge, scoring more than a few marks into his breastplate and limbs. A few of them drew blood, and the wound on his arm hurt a little. Also, summoning his swords had been a bit draining, but that was nothing major. He had not fully activated his Reality Marble during the fight, and it would only take a little time and energy to recover from these injuries. Over all, despite the few cuts and bruises, he was in good shape.

"I can handle this much," he reassured her with a nod, before turning his head towards the eastern side of the city. "But I wasn't able to finish Berserker off. She was stronger than I expected."

Artoria exhaled in relief. Her face turned serious once again. "Did she retreat?"

"So it would seem," he confirmed. "I presume her Master ordered her to fall back. She wasn't in good shape, after all."

"…indeed. You managed to wound her twice despite her speed," the girl with golden hair mused out loud in amazement. She graced him with a wide smile filled with pride, and Emiya tried not to be too distracted by how familiar she looked with her hair mussed from running and falling into her eyes and her skin flushed. "I was really impressed by your abilities, Archer. I'm glad I haven't summoned a lazy warrior."

Emiya snorted. "Of course. What did I tell y―"

"But I still couldn't help but notice how reckless you were during the fight," she cut him off sternly, fixing him with a stare. Archer blinked, surprised by her firm tone, watching in silent stupor as the smaller girl glared at him with her arms placed on her hips. "You purposely left yourself open on several occasions and tried to sneak past Berserker's guard, using tricky and underhanded methods to deal blows. You didn't play fair, basically."

Archer paused for a second, momentarily taken aback by her insight, before scoffing a little and crossing his arms.

"It was the only way I could keep up," he defended himself with a sigh. "And besides, you can't afford to play fair against everyone out there, Master. We're facing a War. That kind of mentality will eventually bring our demise."

"…I know. I'm not criticizing you," she said, lowering her tone. Her face still betrayed a bit of displeasure, though. "I just… I don't want you to put yourself at risk. If you can't keep up with an enemy, then…"

"I won't run," he cut her off, dismissing her advice even before she could state it in full. Artoria's head snapped up to him in shock. "Master, whatever happens, I'm your Servant. Servants are tools used to fight for their Masters and defend them. Thus, my one and only priority is to safeguard you. In order to do that, I will do what I must. No matter what," he stated seriously, staring straight into her eyes with a resolute expression.

Artoria blushed a little, but she held his gaze firmly. "I don't want to be protected all the time," she countered back. "I can fight too. I will assist you in the next fight!"

"Not against a Servant, you won't," Emiya shook his head sternly. "I know you're strong despite your age, Master, but I won't allow you to fight a Servant directly. Your sword will be useless against them. If you want to assist me, then next time we face an enemy focus on the other Masters instead. We were lucky this time since they didn't show up, but things could be different from now on. You must always keep that in mind as long as this War continues."

The girl paused at that. She looked like she wanted to protest, but wisely decided to relent in the end. Artoria knew that Archer was right, after all. His argument was absolutely logical. There was no way for mere humans to compete against Servants, and the only way she could make herself useful during the fights was to focus her efforts on the enemy Masters. That was her role. A role that today she had failed in full.

She hadn't even tried to search for the other Master during the battle, after all. Actually, the thought of looking for them hadn't even crossed her mind. But next time, however… things were going to be different.

That, she swore.

Artoria clenched her fists, lowering her head after a small pause. "All right. Then from now on, I'll fight in my own way too," she stated with a serious voice, her face a mask of resolve. "I promise."

Emiya nodded in approval. "Good. I expect great things from you, then," he smirked with a sly tone. Then, upon noting the silent concern in her eyes, he sighed. "And you don't need to worry about me, Master. I am more than able to stand my ground against stronger opponents. What you saw today was just a test, a mere fraction of what a real fight is. Next time, I will make sure to be even more careful and precise."

The girl blinked in confusion. "A test?"

The tanned Archer nodded. "Correct. Berserker and I did not unleash our full potential. Berserker had more power and speed but less dexterity than me. She was extremely capable, but appeared to be hardly exerting as much effort. In other words, we were still testing each other out; pushing for an opportunity to make better use of the clash. What you saw before was only a fraction of what two Servants bring to the War."

Artoria had a hard time swallowing that particular pill. She almost could not believe her Servant's words. Archer and Berserker were so fast, so obviously powerful. They had almost damaged a great portion of the city's highest building… and yet, what she witnessed a few minutes prior had merely been a testing ground? A jab here? A poke there? Unbelievable.

It seemed that a battle between Servants could be way more frightening than what she had imagined.

Emiya patted her head, rousing the girl out of her stunned silence.

"At any rate, I'd appreciate if you could heal my injuries now, Master," Archer said to her with a sly smirk, pointing at the wounds on his chest and arms. "The night is not over yet, and we still can't lower our guard. We don't know what might happen from now on, don't you agree?"

"Y-Yes, of course. I know that," the girl stammered in a fluster, trying and failing to quell her embarrassed blush.

Emiya watched her with a smile, shaking his head in amusement.

"Let's keep moving," he suggested.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

"You know, you get hung on the weirdest things, Tohsaka."

Rin openly pouts. "I know that… but I have no choice. I hate to be indebted to someone."

I nearly scoff when Rin turns away from them. She clearly is blushing. Even the boy seems amused.

"You're a decent person, aren't you?"

"Smooth talk won't make me go easy on you!" she warns him, her waspish voice retuning again.

"I know. But I don't want us to be enemies If I can help it," he says with that annoying smirk of his. "I like people like you."

Her face flares a deep crimson as she stutters incoherently.

Hidden on my position above, I don a hand over my face in exasperation.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Mion River – Riverside park

(======)

A little over an hour had passed since the previous fight ended. Right now, Artoria walked through the quiet and isolated streets of the sleeping city with a careful and cautious step, closely followed by her Servant who had returned in spirit form in order to retain and preserve energy. The two of them continued to patrol the city in silence, walking towards the northern exit of the newer side of Fuyuki, leaving Shinto District behind and heading towards the river and the great red bridge that towered in the distance, connecting the two main areas of Fuyuki City.

Until, as soon as they reached the park nearing the Mion river, Artoria stopped.

"By the way, I forgot to mention something earlier," the girl said all of a sudden, stopping in her tracks.

Emiya raised a brow at her. "Hm?"

The girl broke from her reverie, a pink flush coming to her cheeks as she turned to his invisible frame with a scowl. "You know who Berserker is," she accused matter-of-factly, her emerald eyes shining with irritation. "You said that she sailed with the Argonauts during your fight."

Emiya reappeared again in a dust of blue. He closed his eyes and tried to keep his smirk to a minimum. "I did. So what?"

The glare she returned him was almost withering. "Do you not consider your Master worthy of sharing such an important information?" she demanded with clear irritation.

Mistake. Another opening. "Of course not. I merely thought that you would have figured it out already, just as I have. If I'm mistaken, then I apologize," he replied with absolute calm, his voice amused and his face smug in spite of her anger.

Artoria flushed, her eyebrow visibly twitching. "You're teasing me."

"And you're pouting," he returned, crossing his arms with a smirk as she huffed. Then, he sighed. "But I do apologize for not telling you. I sincerely thought you had realized her identity as well. There was only one woman in the Argonauts who could use a bow and move with such speed, after all."

The girl with blonde hair blushed, huffing again with a pout. "H-Humpf! No matter. Just tell me already. It could be useful information for the battles to come," she ordered, trying to keep a strong face in spite of the slight shame she was feeling inside. Artoria Pendragon knew a lot of things about legends and history, but she wasn't exactly the best at guessing this kind of things. Honestly, she felt like sulking in a corner right now.

Emiya flexed his shoulders, exhaling a silent breath as he stared at the river. "Her name is Atalanta, a huntress who was famous for her swift feet in Greek legends," he explained seriously, grabbing his young Master's attention once again. "She is a very skilled warrior with the bow, perhaps even more skilled than me, and her speed is almost unmatched. We were lucky tonight since she was forced to retreat, but I'm sure that woman is going to be hard to overcome in the future."

His Master mulled over the information with a nod and serious frown. "But how were you able to guess her name so quickly?" she asked, still unable to understand that.

He smiled. That was easy. "I recognized the Noble Phantasm on her shoulder," he answered with a half-truth. "It was the pelt of the Calydonian Boar, the Magical Beast of Calydon that was let loose upon the earth and brought down by Atalanta. That, coupled with the speed and bestial strength she has showed during the battle, left no room for doubt. That's how I was able to guess her identity, Master."

"I see," Artoria mused, deep in thought. "She's going to be a tough opponent, isn't she?"

"Undoubtedly. Servants of the Berserker Class are perhaps the hardest opponents to kill, and she's going to be no exception; especially since we still haven't learned her Master's identity."

"On that we agree," his Master said with a sigh, putting a hand to her chin as she pondered for a moment. "Maybe we should have followed―"

She stopped, her voice dropping instantly.

Both Master and Servant stiffened all of a sudden.

They felt it. They felt it at the exact, same time.

A magical source of energy.

A source of prana.

A signature of prana that was extremely close.

Emiya reacted promptly. With a movement fast enough to be invisible, he moved and quickly positioned himself in front of Artoria, his bow in hand and a black arrow already notched into it, aimed to the right side of the park. The girl behind him did the same, unsheathing her katana in a swift movement and taking a stance behind her Servant's tall frame, looking both tense and resolute at the same time.

Heroic Spirit Emiya and Artoria Pendragon narrowed their eyes, looking to the right, beyond a small mound in the middle of the park. Towards the direction of the approaching energy.

A man in his early thirties greeted their vision.

He was tall, slender, with long loose hair of black color and a face that bore a tremendously sour expression. He was wearing a dark blazer and a red scarf around his neck, and he was walking towards them with his hands raised in a non-hostile gesture, his body looking as stiff and tense as they were.

As soon as he was close enough, Archer narrowed his eyes. Just like what happened with Caren Hortensia before, he instantly recognized him with a single glance. He knew who this man was, since he had met him during his life… and that was something that left him baffled for a split-second. He wasn't expecting to see this man here, of all places.

"Would you please tell your Servant to relax, Miss Pendragon?" the man known as Waver Velvet broke the silence with a low voice, his tone firm and resolute but still tinged with a bit of nervousness as he eyed Archer with a wary expression. "I'm not here to fight. I swear."

Archer did not comply. He kept his bow and arrow aimed at the man, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion.

However, the tense silence was interrupted when Artoria finally took a step forward, fixing the approaching man with a cold stare. "Lord El-Melloi II," she greeted, both her voice and face tinged with slight confusion. "I wasn't expecting to see you here in Japan. I must admit that I'm surprised."

The man lowered his hands, a strained smile forming on his lips. "Some things happened," he admitted with a chagrin. "Let's just say it's a long story."

Emiya shot a glance at the girl with golden hair. "You know him, Master?"

Artoria nodded. "I do. He's one of the Lords of the Clock Tower, representative of the Mage's Association and current Lord of the Department of Modern Magecraft Theory. And also… a friend of the family," she explained, her emerald eyes still glued to the man who stopped about ten meters away from them. Her gaze narrowed on him with clear confusion. "He would often come to my house when I was little to teach me the fundamentals of Magecraft. We shared a somewhat friendly relationship despite the odds."

Lord El-Melloi II cracked a smile. "I'm glad you still remember our sporadic lessons, Miss Pendragon."

"And yet, now he's an enemy Master," Archer spoke coldly, his bow still aimed at the man's head. His eyes, however, were now fixed to an empty spot next to the Lord of the Clock Tower. "If you're here to talk, why don't you tell your invisible friend to show himself? And no tricks. One wrong move and I will pierce your head faster than you can blink."

The threat was direct and crude. Archer did not care one bit. Better to be safe than sorry, after all.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa! Sorry, my bad! I knew it was a stupid idea to remain hidden!"

Both Emiya and Artoria tensed upon hearing the new voice. However, before one of them could say something, a new figure suddenly appeared next to the Lord of the Clock Tower in a shower of white dust. Master and Servant narrowed their eyes, watching with clear suspicion and apprehension as the newly-appeared Servant offered them a sheepish grin with his arms raised, much to Waver Velvet's exasperation. The man was openly shaking his head right now.

However, Emiya's focus was glued only to the enemy Servant now, studying him with eyes of steel. He appeared to be a young man with black and white hair and blue eyes. His attire consisted mainly of a black and white tunic with blue accents, black pants, thigh-high armored boots, and a short white cape with a black edge. Aside from his boots, his left arm had a gauntlet, and he also wore a set of faulds at his waist. A sword scabbard hung at his left side, and red marks coated his right gloved arm. Archer watched him with clear suspicion. He had never seen this Servant before, and his previous memories showed no recollection of him either. Who was he?

Seeing their obvious wariness, the new Servant laughed nervously. "Ah-ahahah… relax, relax! We're not here to fight! My Master and I just want to talk, I promise!" he said with a youthful voice, sweat-dropping a little in front of their obvious distrust. Artoria looked more tense than ever, and Archer had his bow pointed at him even now.

Lord El-Melloi II sighed warily with a shake of the head. "He's right," he said all of a sudden. "I am a Master just like you, Miss Pendragon. However, we haven't approached you because we want to fight. On the contrary, we are here because we have something to discuss with you," he explained in utmost seriousness, placing one hand above the hip.

Artoria exchanged a silent glance with Emiya. The tanned Archer hesitated for a few seconds. Despite his better judgment, he lowered his bow a little, but still kept a close eye on the duo.

"Can you prove what you're saying?" Emiya demanded out loud, fixing the man and his Servant with a cynical stare. "How can you guarantee that you have no intention of hurting my Master? Give us proof, and then we'll hear what you have to say."

"Archer!" Artoria exclaimed.

He shot her a glance. "We cannot lower our guard, Master. I won't trust an enemy without proof," he explained seriously, ignoring her irritated stare.

"He's right," Lord El-Melloi II agreed, nodding with a solemn expression. Both Emiya and Artoria turned to stare at him, taken aback by his words. "Your Servant seems to be wary and vigilant, Miss Pendragon. It's a wise strategy. Certainly a better one compared to my Servant's carefreeness," he sighed, staring pointedly at said Servant with annoyance. Upon seeing his sheepish grin, he donned a hand over his face. "Good grief, why do I always end up summoning such exuberant Kings?"

"Now, now, Master! A Holy Grail War is like an adventure, and an adventure must be enjoyed to its fullest!" his companion declared with a cheerful tone, patting Waver on the shoulder (much to his growing exasperation). Then, he flashed a mighty grin at Emiya as well. "You should relax too, Archer! I give you my word that no harm shall come to you and your Master tonight. We just want to discuss peacefully. What do you say?"

Emiya narrowed his eyes, momentarily stunned by the Servant's bluntness. But still, after a long while of pondering, he lowered his bow with a smirk. "Hmpf. I'll take your word for it," he grunted, but he still did not move from his position in front of Artoria.

The girl seemed as stunned as he was. She coughed into her hand to regain her composure. "Can you really prove that?" she asked, perplexed.

"Of course! After all, we're here to offer an alliance!" the cheerful Servant declared with a grin. Then, he seemed to hesitate in confusion for a second, shooting a glance to Lord El-Melloi II. "Um, we are here to offer an alliance… right, Master?"

Waver Velvet sighed at his antics (again). "Yes, Rider. That is the plan," he admitted with a weary tone.

"Good, good! Then, as future companions, it is imperative for me to reveal my name to our possible allies! An alliance cannot begin without due introductions!" he stated confidently, the grin on his face both captivating and carefree.

The Lord from the Clock Tower widened his eyes in panic. "W-Wait! I never said―"

Too late.

The Rider class Servant grinned with a proud expression, placing his hands upon the hips. "Well then: my True Name is Charlemagne! My class is Rider!" he declared with confidence and without an ounce of hesitation. Thus, upon seeing the stunned silence that fell after his declaration, he scratched his neck a little with a sheepish smile. "Well, I have one more major name, but let's save that story for another time, shall we?"

Artoria and Archer stared at him in shock, the former with her mouth agape and the latter with wide eyes.

Emiya studied him with confusion for several seconds. This Servant must be either extremely powerful or incredibly stupid to casually reveal his True Name so easily, he thought with a sweat-drop.

However, Archer knew better. Even if that Servant's attitude led him to believe the second hypothesis, the confident look on his face as he stared right back at them made him believe otherwise. If he had to be honest, Emiya was ready to bet on the first one.

That man – Charlemagne – was an extremely powerful foe. He had no doubt about it.

Lord El-Melloi II donned a hand over his face with a silent mutter, while Artoria and Archer stared at Rider with obvious shock.

And the King of Franks shot them a stare filled with confidence and fun.

"Now then, did I persuade you enough to discuss with us, Archer?"

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Five-

Fate to Zero

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Miyama District – Mackenzie residence

(======)

Heroic Spirit Emiya was confused.

Ever since he and Artoria had agreed to follow Lord-El Melloi II into a safe place to discuss that so-called 'alliance' of his, he had prepared himself for the worst and steeled his mind to face every eventuality. He had expected many things, since this was a War, and no Servant could ever lower his guard during a War. However, he certainly hadn't expected to end up here, in such a place, and to witness such a strange scene.

Waver Velvet and his cheerful Rider had guided them inside a house built on the top of an isolated hill, located close to the Miyama District. Apparently, the house was owned by Glen and Martha Mackenzie, an elderly couple who had emigrated from Toronto to Fuyuki City over forty years before the Fourth Holy Grail War, and who – as Emiya and Artoria had just discovered – for some reason were quite close with Waver himself. In fact, they were so close with him that the couple was more than willing to let El-Melloi and his Servant stay at their house without complaining.

This had no sense, in Emiya's mind. It just had no sense whatsoever.

Archer sighed. He was still trying to wrap his mind around that fact, especially since the elderly couple had done nothing but pamper them as soon as they had set foot into their house. Even his young Master was overwhelmed by their excessive hospitality.

"Are you sure you don't want more tea, dear?" Martha Mackenzie asked to Artoria with a gentle smile, moving towards the table where the four of them were seated with a small coffeepot. "Or perhaps you prefer some coffee? You look so young, though."

"I-It's fine, madam. This tea is more than enough, thank you," she replied with an embarrassed smile, even as her hands were waving around in a fluster.

Martha giggled at her flushed face. "Ara ara~ how polite! What a well-mannered young lady!"

"Pardon me! Can I have more beer, Mr. Mackenzie?" Charlemagne declared in a cheerful tone, raising one arm like a child and flashing them a grin that was as radiant as the sun.

The 82-year-old elder man laughed and nodded with glee, despite his venerable age. "Hohoho, of course!" he complied, pouring more liquid in his giant mug with a smile. "It sure does an old man good to watch you drink, Charlie-chan!"

"Hahaha! You're too kind, Mr. Mackenzie!"

Emiya watched the interaction between the old man and Rider with silent bewilderment, seated at the table next to his young Master who looked as baffled as him. It was clear for both of them that the young man known as Charlemagne had already charmed both Glen and Martha with his compliments, earning their full trust and liking despite being a Servant. Heck, those two didn't even seem to mind Rider's armor. It just didn't make sense. Archer felt his eyebrow twitch a little as he fixed Waver's face with an inquisitive stare. The man remained completely unperturbed, though.

The older woman turned to the Lord as well. "Mouu, Waver. You and Charlie-chan should have told us you were going to bring some guests tonight," she said with a pedantic tone. "I would have cooked something for them!"

Artoria blushed even more. "N-No, no, don't trouble yourself, madam! It's our own fault for visiting… uninvited," she stated with a sweetly dangerous tone, fixing the Magus with a stare as well.

Waver Velvet merely smiled at them, unfazed. "I'm sorry for inconveniencing you again; Grandma, Grandpa."

"It's fine, it's fine. This sure brings back some memories, though," Glen dismissed his worries with a chuckle, patting Charlemagne's shoulder as he shared a toast with him. "It's just as it was back then with Alex. You always bring some interesting people from Britain, Waver. Our house feels more lively when you're around."

The Lord of the Clock Tower smiled. "I'm glad," was all he said, as if this whole situation was something he was already used to.

Glen and Martha remained with the group in the kitchen for a couple of minutes. Until, seeing that it was quite late already, they both realized that they needed to sleep given their old age and began to excuse themselves from the table.

Martha moved to take away the tea and coffee with her trembling hands. Emiya couldn't stand it.

"Allow me, ma'am," he said, standing up with a swift movement and taking a tray in her stead. "Please."

"What a gentleman," the elderly woman smiled at him, leading him towards the kitchen sink. "You can leave them here and I'll wash them tomorrow."

"Nonsense. I'll do it for you right away," he offered, cutting off her protests with a charming smile. He couldn't care less that he was a guest in the house, he just had to do it. "I insist. I wouldn't be able to call myself a man if I didn't repay a kind lady such as yourself for her hospitality. Think nothing of it."

"Oh my, you're such a flatterer!" she giggled.

After saying goodnight to Waver and their guests – and after sharing a playful wave with Charlemagne who waved back at them like a child – the elderly couple finally went to bed, leaving the group alone in the kitchen. As soon as they were gone, both Emiya and Artoria turned to Waver with an expectant expression.

The Lord sighed. He didn't even need to watch them to know what they were about to ask. "I met them during the previous Holy Grail War," he explained slowly, taking a sip from his cup. "Back then I was barely nineteen, and I needed to use a fake identity to cover myself. Therefore, I sought out the couple after learning they lived alone in order to avoid having to spend money on a hotel. Getting information on them through hypnosis, I used a form of Suggestion Magecraft to deceive them and make them believe I was their relative through transfiguring the impression of their grandson onto my own image."

Artoria narrowed her eyes. "They didn't appear to be under the influence of a Spell," she noted.

Waver nodded. "You're right: they're not," he admitted without batting an eye. "I was discovered at some point. My spell was lifted, but contrary to my expectations, Glen was not angry at me, even if he knew I had deceived them. On the contrary, he was appreciative of the fact that my presence had brought a smile back to his wife's face. So, ever since that day, I kept in touch with them out of gratitude, and even came to visit from time to time. And when I was chosen as a Master for this War, I contacted them again, asking for a place to stay for a few weeks. And as you can see, they were more than happy to oblige."

Emiya read between the lines. "They know you're a Magus now," he deduced.

Again, the man merely nodded. "Indeed. I decided to tell them the truth at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War. They didn't seem to mind, and as you can see, they never ask questions. You can trust them on this," he dismissed his worries with a shrug.

"Hehe! They're such a lovely couple, aren't they?" Charlemagne sighed with a wide smile, placing a hand under his chin.

Silence fell among the small group after that explanation.

Artoria exhaled a sigh after a minute. "And?" she demanded at that point, dropping the subject and crossing her arms with a solemn movement. "Now what? You said you have something to discuss with me."

Lord El-Melloi II returned serious in an instant. "I do," he spoke in all seriousness.

"We do!" Rider added with a pout. Waver ignored him.

Emiya and Artoria shared a glance. "We're listening," the girl said.

The young Lord exhaled a heavy breath.

"It's nothing too complicated," he began to say with a serious tone. "As I've mentioned before, I wish to form an alliance with you, Miss Pendragon. Your father contacted me a week ago, asking me to, I quote: 'keep an eye on that stubborn brat and make sure she comes back safe'," he stated, completely unfazed in front of Artoria's indignant blush. Next to him, Rider was openly snickering on the side. "As soon as I was informed of your status as a Master, I knew this was the best course of action. Thus, after a long while of pondering, I decided to approach you."

The girl with golden hair clenched her fists upon hearing that. Her emerald eyes glowered in rage. "I see," she stated though gritted teeth. Her arms and shoulders began to tremble slightly. "I should have known that my father would have kept messing with my life. He just can't leave me alone even during a War," she growled with irritation, glaring at the table.

None of the presents failed to see her obvious anger. However, before the situation could escalate, Emiya gently rested one hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Calm down, Master. Do not let your personal feelings cloud your mind," he spoke with a calm tone through their Master-Servant bond, his eyes still fixed on Waver and his Servant. Artoria glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Have you forgotten already? We're in this together. No matter what challenge awaits us, I will be with you to face them. You won't have to deal with this situation alone."

Artoria swallowed audibly, clenching her fists hard in order to quell her growing anger. After a couple of seconds, she nodded with a deep breath. "…thanks, Archer," she said sincerely.

Emiya just nodded his head. Then, he focused back on the duo. "You say that, but I'm sure that's not all there is to it." He kept his smirk to a minimum as the man with black hair turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Am I right, Lord El-Melloi?"

"The second," Waver added, sounding oddly stubborn about his title; almost fixated for some reason. Then, however, he exhaled a weary breath as he nodded. "But you're right. I didn't approach you because your father asked me to keep you safe, Miss Pendragon. On the contrary; if I have to be completely honest, that is not my intention at all."

The girl furrowed her brows in confusion. "Why do you wish to form an alliance with me, then?" she demanded, perplexed.

"It has to do with my personal goal, and my current objective," he explained with his serious voice. "In order to achieve them, I need your strength. The Pendragon lineage is one of the most powerful lineages of Mages in the world, and you're the most talented member of the family. I know this as a fact, since I've taught you myself when you were younger and I saw what you're capable of. Therefore, I wish to make use of your talents in order to accomplish my current mission."

Emiya narrowed his eyes. He just wanted to use her, in essence.

"Mission?" Artoria repeated, looking as suspicious as her Servant was.

Lord El-Melloi II nodded. "This may come to a shock to you, but I have been tasked with an arduous job," he stated with a strained smile, staring at the girl straight into the eyes. "The dismantlement of the Holy Grail."

Artoria stiffened visibly, widening her eyes out of human proportions. Next to her, Archer narrowed his gaze on the man but remained silent. On his part, instead, Charlemagne crossed his arms and closed his eyes, assuming a solemn face.

"D-Dismantlement?!" the young Master repeated, incredulous. "What do you mean? Explain yourself, Lord El-Melloi II!"

He remained unfazed under her shocked face. "It is just as I've said. After more than two years of discussion, the Mage's Association has finally reached a decision regarding the Holy Grail War's future advancement. Hence, in accordance to the Lords' wishes, I've been sent here to completely dismantle the Greater Grail," he stated, deadly serious. "I've been chosen due to my previous experience in the Fourth Holy Grail War, and due to the fact that I'm the only survivor who has witnessed that conflict."

Emiya roused himself from his inner stupor and glanced at his Master. Artoria looked completely stunned by the news. He did not fault her one bit.

"I-I cannot believe that," she stammered, unable to understand. "The Holy Grail War is a ritual that has been ongoing for two hundred years! It was established by the Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern families! T-To completely dismantle it… it's not something the Three Founding Families would agree with!"

"Correct," Waver nodded, already expecting that answer. His face remained impassive in front of Artoria's disbelief. "The decision was unanimous within the Association, but the Three Founding Families did object to it. They said that it was preposterous, since the ritual's true purpose is to reach Akasha – the Root – and that dismantling it would leave all Mages unable to find a path to reach it." The man closed his eyes, reaching his pocket to grab a cigar with habitual movement. "However, I disagree."

Artoria was speechless. "You disagree?"

Lord El-Melloi II nodded. He placed his cigar on his lips, but he didn't lit it. "As I've said, the Ritual's true purpose is to reach Akasha by coalescing the energy of the fallen Servants into an energy source powerful enough to burn a hole to the Root," he explained. "However, given the intended purpose, the system has a serious flaw: reaching Akasha would require the energy of all seven Servants. At the same time, only a Servant – not a Master – is capable of grasping the Grail and completing the ritual. As such, the final Master, instead of killing their Servant and reaching the Root, must keep their Servant alive to claim an energy source that is much weaker, but can still grant extremely far-reaching wishes to the final Master and Servant pair. Thus, its true goal – allowing humans to directly reach the Root – is nothing but a farce. A shallow pretext used by the Founding Families to continue to fight over it for power."

The man continued after taking another sip of tea. Emiya and Artoria listened to him closely. "While we can all agree that the Grail can indeed grant a wish that would usually be considered impossible, as if, for example, create a new path to Akasha… there has yet to be even one true winner who actually claimed the Grail in all four Wars," he stated with his eyes closed, sounding like a teacher lecturing an audience. "The closest chance we had was during the previous War, when a certain Master hired by the Einzbern family managed to touch the Grail at the end of the conflict. However, in the end, even he failed. Do you know why, Miss Pendragon?"

Artoria lowered her eyes. Archer clenched his fists under the table.

Both of them knew what the man was about to say.

"Because the Grail is corrupted."

Sheer silence greeted his declaration. Master and Servant shared a silent glance.

Charlemagne raised a brow at them. "Hm? You guys don't look surprised by the news," he noted, surprising them both. He was clearly smarter than he looked.

Archer stood up from the table, moving to place himself near the wall of the kitchen with his arms crossed. "We're not," he grunted with an emotionless tone, speaking also for his Master who looked torn between being angry and resigned. "Because we already suspected as much."

That caught the Lord's attention immediately. Even Rider seemed taken aback for a moment. "Is that so?" Waver Velvet asked, looking at Artoria with an intrigued expression.

The girl sighed. "Yes," she admitted after a while, masking her inner disappointment behind a resolute frown. "When me and Archer went to the Church to register as participants, we questioned the priestess about the previous War. She said that the man who won the Grail died upon touching it. That didn't make sense to us, and we began to question the Grail's true efficiency right after learning the news. That's why we suspected that there might be something wrong with it."

Lord El-Melloi II smirked. "Hm. As expected from Artoria Pendragon. You truly are something else," he said with a hint of amusement.

Emerald eyes flared in irritation as she glowered at the man. "I have no use for your flattery, Lord El-Melloi II. Besides, it was Archer the one who warned me to keep that possibility in mind, so please refrain from treating me like some kind of genius." She ordered with a solemn face. "That's why I can't stand you Lords. Always treating me like some sort of idol."

Waver just shrugged without a care. "Hm… noted. My apologies, then."

However, he returned serious immediately. "But that is correct. The Grail really did kill the previous Master upon contact, which proves my point: the Grail is no longer the wish-granting artifact it was supposed to be. No one knows why it has become corrupted, but as I suspect – along with many others within the Association – it may be due to the events of the Third Holy Grail War; when the Einzbern family summoned a corrupted Avenger class Servant called Angra Mainyu, also known as All the World's Evil. If what I suspect is true, the Grail, which is normally "colorless", was corrupted by the Avenger's soul, and turned into a manifestation of his will; ultimately becoming unable to grant wishes without causing great destruction."

Artoria looked stunned by the news, perhaps even shocked. On the contrary, instead, Emiya did not react at all, silently musing to himself with a cynical frown. He already knew all of that, of course, thanks to the memories of his previous Wars. And yet, after hearing all of this again and listening to the Lord's statement, the longer he thought about it, the more he became convinced. The fact that he had kept his memories in this particular deployment could not be a coincidence. It could not be a simple fluke.

Is this perhaps the reason why I've kept my memories this time? In order to prevent the Grail from reaching completion in this world? Is this Alaya's doing? he mused inside his mind, trying to make sense of the situation. It could be a possibility. But, if the Grail is corrupted even in this world… why didn't the fire occur, then? Why did it simply kill Kiritsugu without spreading more damage?

That, he didn't know. That, he couldn't tell. There was no way for him to be certain of the Grail's corruption, nor to learn why it didn't cause any damage to the city. But he was determined to find out as soon as possible. He couldn't allow things to end up as they did in his previous Wars, after all. It was simply out of question.

Back then he couldn't anything to help Sakura, Rin and Illya because he hadn't been fully aware of the situation. But this… this was extremely different compared to those two 'Routes'. It was different compared to what he had seen, given that Artoria was not a King in this world but a simple girl. It was different even compared to his own experience as a boy. It couldn't be a mere fluke. He refused to believe that.

He needed more information.

Archer harrumphed. "There's one thing I'd like to ask," he said all of a sudden, grabbing everyone's attention. His back remained glued to the wall, but his grey eyes shot a suspicious stare at Waver Velvet. "Let's say the Grail is really corrupted. Even if it's true, why did you decide to get involved in this case? Surely, after barely surviving the previous War, a man such as yourself would have wanted to stay away from this mess. That is what a sane person would have done, at least."

Heroic Spirit Emiya kept his expression neutral as Lord El-Melloi II's face twitched. "Isn't that the case?"

The man tried to answer, but someone beat him to the punch.

"Oh, that's an easy one," Charlemagne declared, flashing an amused grin as he patted his Master on the shoulder. "All first-class Mages are wealthy except for Master. If everything works out, he can expect a generous reward. He's being forced to participate in order to put a dent in his family's debt," he explained casually, as if he was talking about the weather.

Emiya and Artoria stared with a sweat-drop as Waver's face fell in a mixture of shame, weariness and irritation. His cheeks were completely flushed in embarrassment after his Servant's casual explanation.

In the end, faced with their incredulous stare, he relented.

"…it's a pain in the neck, but I won't deny it," he finally admitted with a weary sigh. "Right now, the El-Melloi family is suffering from a crushing debt. The amount is equivalent to the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster. And ever since I've been asked to take the mantle of Lord, I was forced to take over that debt in order to take responsibility of my former teacher's death, who died in the previous conflict because of my foolishness."

Archer's eyes narrowed. "So you mean…"

"Exactly," he confirmed with a nod. His smile was strained at best as he spoke that word. "As soon as the Command Seals appeared on my hand, the future head of the El-Melloi family asked me to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War and to destroy the Greater Grail as payment for the debt. They gave me a new catalyst, and I was forced to summon Rider under the other Lords' influence. The rest, as some say, it's history."

"So you went through all of that because you felt responsible for your previous mentor's death," Artoria realized with narrowed eyes. "But I don't understand. I thought you hated him."

The Lord of the Clock Tower smiled wryly. "Personally I'm not fond of him, even now. But I respected him as a Mage, and despite her annoying temperament, I've grown fond of his niece." He lowered his face at that point, his gaze growing distant as he stared at his clenched fists. "Whether I like it or not, I am a Lord of the Clock Tower, and a representative of the Mage's Association. As such, I've been tasked with the mission of dismantling the Grail, and I shall do so no matter how I loathe it," he declared with utmost resolve, deadly serious in his statement.

Artoria stared in wonder at the man's resolve, shocked by the sudden shift in his tone and face. Even Emiya couldn't help but inwardly respect the man for his determination.

Next to the Lord, Charlemagne was openly grinning with excitement. "As expected of my Master! You are a person who stands firm on his feet, no matter the situation!" he praised him with approval and a pat on the shoulder. "People who are able to look forward are cool just by that fact!"

Waver Velvet smiled a little. "Well, I've learned a lot from my previous experience. And most of all, as a survivor of the Fourth Holy Grail War, I feel like this is my responsibility, as well. I must put an end to this mad Ritual. Even more so because there is… someone I must pursue."

His expression twitched at that point, his eyes steeped in memories.

Yes, he would have done the same. I'm sure of it. He wouldn't have backed down from this challenge.

And just like him, I must keep fighting to move forward, until I'll be able to reach the last ocean.

He clenched his fist, biting the cigar in his lips with a resolute smile.

The farthest ocean he wanted to see.

Waver Velvet fell silent, and spoke no more.

Emiya stared at him in silence, long and hard. He could already tell that the Lord was dead set on his mission, and that he honestly believed in what he said. It didn't take his Mind's Eye ability to see that he wasn't lying. Even Artoria could tell that much. No matter how long they searched, there was no trace of deceit in his face, and his eyes were burning with fiery decision as he held their gaze without backing down in the slightest.

Archer decided to take action. "If you are so convinced, then tell us more about the previous War," he said, looking at the other Master with narrowed eyes. "We get the gist of it, but we still lack information. How did the previous War unfold, and how can you be so sure that the Grail is corrupted? Tell us."

But instead, Lord El-Melloi II shook his head. "No," he said, unfazed by Emiya's glare. "I believe that I've said enough for now. If you want to know more, then I'll share what I know with you only after you agree to our alliance. I won't say anything else until you've reached a decision."

Despite his inner frustration, Emiya couldn't help but smirk. Clever little bastard. Waver Velvet was no fool.

"As I've said, my task is arduous, and one I cannot achieve on my own," the Lord of the Clock Tower stated evenly, staring at Artoria with a calm expression. "Even with Rider at my side, the risks are high and the chance of success low. That's why I need your assistance, Miss Pendragon. Among the other six Masters who have been chosen for this conflict, you are the only one I know the most and who I can respect. Even without taking into account your father's request, I still would have approached you of my own will. With you and your Archer at my side, the chance of success will increase significantly."

The girl narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that you know who the other Masters are?" she asked him, suspicious.

The man merely smiled at her. "I know the identity of two other Masters, yes. But as I've said, I won't say more until I receive your answer. I can't fully trust you yet. Surely you can understand that."

Clearly, this was a standoff. Lord El-Melloi II had made his goal and intention clear, and he was determined to see this through no matter what. Archer could already tell that much. No amount of threats and words would have worked with him, especially since he had a powerful Servant at his side. There was no use in talking anymore.

Hence, he moved closer to his young Master, speaking to her through their shared bond. "Master, what do you intend to do?" he questioned her in all seriousness.

The girl didn't answer to him right away. Instead, she remained silent for a long while, with her head low and her eyes shadowed by her golden bangs.

Until, after a full minute, she finally opened her lips to speak. "Will you give me some time to think about it?" she asked, staring at the Lord with a serious gaze. "I must reflect and discuss with my Servant about this. An alliance between two Masters is a serious thing, and I cannot act brashly during a conflict."

Emiya inwardly approved her decision. At least she was smart enough to realize that it was best to reflect with a clear mind instead of jumping to rash conclusions. Well done, Master.

Waver Velvet nodded with a knowing smile. Apparently, he had expected no less from the 'perfect' Artoria Pendragon. Just like him, she was no fool. "Of course," he readily agreed. "How about this: I will give you a full day, and then we'll meet again tomorrow night, at the same park we've met today. I will hear your answer then."

Artoria Pendragon shared a glance with Archer, then nodded with sheer resolution. "That is reasonable."

"Then it's settled!" Charlemagne rose from the table with a grin, slamming a fist on his own hand in a resolute gesture of confidence. "Well, then! Let's make a toast as future allies! Let's strive together to conquer the peak of awesomeness!"

The others sweat-dropped after his bold and completely misplaced statement, unsure of how to react. To think that the legendary Holy Roman Emperor and founder of Western Europe was such a... carefree character. It was honestly shocking to witness. Even Lord El-Melloi II was openly fuming in irritation at his antics.

Archer raised a brow at Rider. "Are you an idiot?"

Charlemagne just blinked in confusion.

Waver sighed again. "Rider, they're not our allies yet," he said with a shake of the head, shooting him a stern glance. "And lower your voice. Do you want to wake up the entire district? Good grief…"

Charlemagne scratched his neck with a sheepish grin upon realizing his mistake. "Oops, my bad!" he exclaimed with a small laugh, ignoring the man's obvious annoyance and Artoria's bewilderment. Even Archer closed his eyes with a sigh.

"Honestly… why do I always end up summoning fools?" the Lord of the Clock Tower muttered, donning a hand over his face.

Charlemagne shrugged it off with a grin. "Come on, Master, there's no need to be so stiff and tense all the time! The least you can do is muster some enthusiasm for putting an end to this twisted ritual."

Lord El-Melloi II scoffed as he stood up. "I'm not an ally of justice. And I've never wanted to become one."

Archer crossed his arms, hiding a veiled smile.

And that's why you're smarter than you look.

. . .

A cold sunset lights this empty world. As far as my eyes can see, there's nothing around me.
Nothing but dust, and rocks, and blades.
Endless blades, embedded in the dirt.

"I am the bone of my Sword."

Only one frame can be seen amid this world of nothing.
A broken and twisted figure, walking in the distance.
A man.

"Steel is my body, and fire is my blood."

Yes, a man is walking on a hill of blades, his head low and his legs faltering with each step.
He walks forward, his red coat billowing behind him.
A dozen swords shred his body and limbs. They originate from inside him. Yet, he does not bleed.
For him, this result is expected.

"I have created over a thousand blades."

He stops above the hill, staring at the sky.
His face is devoid of feels. Not a single tear drips from his eyes.
But his mouth is set into a sneer.

"Unknown to death, nor known to life."

He raises one hand, stretching towards the above.
An arrow strikes him in the heart. A spear pierces his back. A sword stabs him in the chest.
But he does not care, he does not move.
There is no future for the man who betrayed himself, wishing for something out of his reach.

"Have withstood pain to create many weapons."

He falls to his knees. Blood pours under his feet.
The crimes he has accumulated are judging him. The verdict is already obvious.
Guilty.

His face is utter regret.

"Yet, these hands will never hold anything."

He does not scream. He does not cry.
But his face slowly perks up again, staring at the endless sky.
And with horror I realize that there's no emotion in his gaze.

"So, as I pray ― "

But the pain inside his eyes wounds my heart like a knife.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

I remain seated alone, staring at the world of dust and steel with an empty gaze.

A boy once said:
"I don't want to watch people die."
"If people can be saved, could it be possible to save every person that's suffering?"

I nearly scoff in disdain as my fists tremble in rage.

What the boy was trying to cut down was himself.
But even despite that, he kept going on and on, unable to stop.
Chasing a dream that was endless. Inexhaustible. Unending.

Unlimited.

He wielded his sword for what he came to believe in.
And so, he chased his misguided dream endlessly.

An infinitesimal part of me understands. Even after all this time, to pursue that dream, to chase that beautiful utopia…

There is no longer a path where his battle ends and he turns back.
Eventually, however, he did get his answer.
He has regrets.
And he doesn't know how many times he has wished to do it all over.

But this Fate is set in stone.
And he will always go on cursing it.

Slowly, I rise up from the rock, wind and dust billowing my hair and cape.

I clench a fist in rage.

"But even still…"

Utter regret shatters my heart of glass.

"…I was not wrong."

. . .

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Kurokizaka District – Semina Apartments

(======)

Artoria jolted upright in a pool of sweat. Her heart pounded madly inside her chest. Dazed, confused, her eyes shifted to and fro to ascertain her surroundings, and a familiar sight greeted her vision. A bed. A room. A window to the right. And complete silence. Her breathing became less hectic as soon as she realized where she was, her heartbeat slowing down gradually as she took a deep breath. This was her bed, her bedroom; she was back in her apartment. She was fine, she was safe. No more voices, no more dreams.

No, that wasn't a dream. A vision.

A vision of Archer, the Servant of which she had just dreamed.

"W-What was that?" she muttered, her shoulders slumping. "Was that… Archer's past?"

Birds chirped outside the window. The morning sun shone bright in the sky. Artoria sighed, and pulled the sheets back. Once she was dressed and her face properly washed, she sat in front of a mirror and, out of habit, began brushing and tying her hair into a familiar bun. But no matter how long she tried to distract herself by fixing her hair, her previous dream and vision remained glued in her mind, those images and glimpses still flashing before her emerald eyes.

It was a widely known fact that Masters could sometimes see their Servant's memories during sleep. They could dream of their past, their memories, and their feelings. It wasn't a rule set in stone, but it was a well-known possibility. The longer a Servant remained by his Master's side and the more the bond between them grew, the greater the chances of dreaming his life and past were. And after two whole weeks spent alongside her nameless Archer, Artoria was now beginning to experience this peculiar side-effect of the summoning as well. And what she had seen in those visions… she didn't like it. She didn't know why, but she didn't like it. She didn't like it at all.

For there was no color in those visions, only gray. There was no emotion in those dreams, only regret.

A gigantic, oppressive and heart-wrenching regret.

The girl gulped, a trickle of sweat running down her cheek. Words would be needed. Archer had some things to explain, and she was not going to settle for his half-truths and vague answers this time.

"Good morning, Master."

Her Servant greeted her as soon as she stepped inside the living room. He wore a small smile on his face, holding her breakfast on a silver tray: some tea, a few biscuits and a small pile of pancakes. His tall and muscular frame walked past her as he guided her towards the kitchen. "As requested, your breakfast is ready."

Artoria lowered her head as she followed him quietly. "Thank you," she muttered softly, scratching her arm a little due to nervousness.

She said nothing, did nothing, as she sat down at the table and began eating in silence. However, something must have betrayed her all the same, for Archer rounded on her with a swift motion out of the blue, immediately noticing her weird behavior and the shift in her tone. His eyes narrowed on her, concern clearly present inside those gray orbs of his.

"Master… is there something wrong?"

Despite her best efforts to hide it, a small blush of shame flared on her cheeks. Artoria mentally cursed her inability to hide her nervousness from him. She was used to hide her emotions in front of others, but for some reason that didn't seem to work with her Servant. No matter what, Archer always seemed to be able to read her completely like an open book, even with just a glance. It was both endearing and irritating at times.

But she supposed it didn't matter right now. Archer was not a simple man but a Servant, and an extremely attentive one at that. The girl was aware of the way he always kept his eyes on her to make sure she was safe. He was like a protective hawk, and she had grown quite fond of that peculiar side of his. Despite his gruff behavior, he was extremely protective in his own way, and she appreciated that in spite of everything.

Right now, however, it was just a tiny bit frustrating.

Artoria Pendragon swallowed, her food completely forgotten. She inhaled, and exhaled slowly. Then, she steeled herself. "I… had a dream," she admitted right off the bat, her gaze glued to the table.

She didn't miss the way her Servant tensed slightly at her words. She continued regardless.

"It was a dream about you. In my vision, you were walking on a hill made of swords. Blades and spears pierced your body completely; but you kept walking, unfazed. The world around you was empty, lashed by a wind of steel. It felt… like a lucid dream."

Her Servant stared at her. Artoria perked up at him. His face and stare betrayed nothing.

Once again, she lowered her eyes. "Archer… do you feel regret?" she asked in a quiet voice, after a long while of silence.

The red Archer just stared at her.

Good grief. What a loaded, uncomfortable question. Warranted, he supposed.

He waited for a few seconds, turning his head away from her even as he closed his eyes. "Why do you ask?"

Despite all her defects, Artoria Pedragon was not stupid, and her instinct was highly developed despite her young age. She knew what her Servant was doing right now. Answering an uncomfortable question with another question: a basic strategic move to take more time and formulate an answer. Clever, but useless against her. But even if she was aware of that, in the end she decided to play along. She knew that what she had seen in her dream couldn't be an easy subject for Archer, even if he had lost his memories.

"When I dreamt, I could feel what you were feeling," she said, joining her hands together on the table and intertwining her delicate fingers. She took a deep breath to steel herself as best as she could. "And the only thing I could feel was regret. No rage, no sorrow, no joy. Only regret."

Unbeknownst to her, Emiya clenched his fists slightly. Damn it all.

But Artoria said no more after that, remaining in a stubborn silence and waiting for an answer. Seeing the fire raging inside her emerald orbs, the tanned Servant sighed.

"I don't know what to say, Master," he finally spoke after a while. Artoria looked at him closely as he ran a hand through his white hair. "As you know, I still don't remember anything from my past. I have no idea of what you saw." He opened his eyes again, turning to stare outside the window with an unreadable face. "However…"

The girl with golden hair blinked. "However?" she pressed.

Archer kept his eyes towards the city outside, his gaze cold and distant for some unknown reason. "What you just described. It feels… strangely familiar," he admitted, unable to fully deny that image even in spite of his choice of keeping his identity a secret from her. And even if Artoria wasn't aware of his current facade, even if she didn't know that he was lying, she could feel that those words were perhaps the sincerest thing about himself he had said to her so far. They were true – more true than what she could possibly understand.

Thus, the effect was immediate. Artoria's shoulder visibly slumped in sadness after hearing his statement, and she mentally cursed herself with a flinch. Despite his best attempt to hide it, she could clearly see the glimmer of pain flashing inside her Servant's eyes as he pondered her question in silence. She could clearly see the frustration, and the pain, deep inside his gray orbs. And just like in the dream, she didn't like that sight. She didn't like it one bit.

Artoria cursed herself. She should have expected it. Even if Archer didn't remember his past, knowing that it was filled with regret must be painful for him all the same. She should have been more discreet about this subject. Curses.

"You… must have had a hard life, Archer," she said after an entire minute of tense silence, her voice dripping with sympathy. She pursed her lips in shame. "I-I'm sorry for bringing up sad memories. I… didn't wish to upset you."

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter," he replied immediately – lying – crossing his arms with a sigh and shaking his head. "Whatever you saw was just a dream, and even if it really happened to me, I don't remember it. Don't let it bother you, Master."

He turned away from her as soon as he said those words, hiding his face. But Artoria knew better. Despite his stern and detached tone, the emotions inside his eyes were unmistakably true. It was as clear as day that he was hurting right now. The girl pursed her lips upon realizing that, and she could do nothing but lower her head in shame for her desire to know more about this nameless man despite his unfortunate condition.

The rest of the meal was spent in a tense silence.

Once she finished her breakfast, Archer took the tray from the table, walking away from her and heading towards the other room. "Call me when you'll be ready to talk about our future strategy," he said with a distant voice. "I'll be waiting for you."

Artoria's chest tightened painfully after hearing his tone. She didn't know what to say, but she wanted to do something. But in the end, unable to find the words to express her feelings, she decided not to answer to her Servant's words.

Instead, she did something unexpected.

With a sudden sprint and swift movement, Artoria dashed forward and wrapped both her hands around his arm, squeezing him so hard it almost hurt.

Emiya jolted and stiffened, caught by surprise by her gesture, and he slowly widened his eyes as he felt his Master's grip on his limb; a grip that had a considerable force for her age and stature. He blinked a few times, staring at her, stopping himself mid-step and hesitating for a moment.

In the end, he exhaled a heavy breath. "…Master? What's wrong?" he questioned.

Artoria didn't answer. She just tightened her grip on his arm, her eyes shadowed by her bangs. Archer sweat-dropped with a sigh.

"Stop it," she said. "Stop it, Archer. Please, don't you dare do this in front of me ever again."

He appeared to be stunned and confused by her reaction. What was she talking about? "What are you saying, Master? What did I do?"

Artoria didn't release him. She could feel her Servant shifting uncomfortably at the contact. "Stop it," she said again, her words sharp as she spoke. "Stop pretending to be fine. I saw the pain in your eyes when I asked you about your regret. I saw the way you tensed at the mention of my dream. There's no need to be stubborn with me, Archer. I know you're suffering right now… and I'm sorry I asked you about your past."

For a moment, Archer's mind shut off. Unbeknownst to the girl, her Servant was completely baffled by her words.

But she didn't notice that, nor did she care. "I don't know what your past was like, but if it was anything like what I've dreamed today… I know that you must be aware of it somehow," she said, gritting her teeth at the way his entire body stiffened at her words. She knew she had it the mark right there. "I saw the way you tensed when I mentioned my dream. You know what I saw, I know you do."

Archer turned to her. "Master―"

"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine," she cut him off abruptly, squeezing his arm again and cutting off whatever excuse he had prepared in order to claw himself away from that situation. "I trust you. I know you must have a reason… but don't you dare to pretend you're fine, Archer. I won't stand for it."

Her Servant was floored. Artoria could already feel that much through their mental bond, even if she didn't know why. And it was true. Archer really was floored right now. Why?

Because, unbeknownst to her, where a certain girl in armor who looked a lot like her used her skills for avoidance and to distance herself from others… this Artoria in front of him was now using them for interception. She was using them to connect with him. She was aiming her best efforts in attempt to close the gap between them and grow closer to him.

And that was something Archer had not expected to see, not even after having spent two weeks with her. Something he had never even dared to dream of, actually. Even in his wildest dreams.

Yet, Artoria continued her rant, still clinging to his arm with an iron grip. "You think I didn't see your hints? The way you avoid my eyes at the first sign of trouble? The way your body tenses when I touch you?" her head lowered more and more as she spoke, her entire body trembling slightly. "It's all too familiar to me, Archer; because I've felt it. I've felt your regret in my dream! I saw the expression on your face as you collapsed on that empty hill! I won't allow you to deny it in my face! Not when I just dreamed your pain, not when I just felt it on my skin!"

Indeed. This Artoria Pendragon was nothing like the girl in armor he remembered. She was far too different, far too emotionally aware, and far too caring. Far too human to be King. They were nothing alike on that regard.

A wry smile curved his lips.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Artoria finally released him from her grip, but she still kept her head lowered to the ground, unable to meet his gaze. Her whole body tensed and she inhaled deeply as she felt her Servant turn to face her fully. She waited a couple of seconds. Then, with a deep breath, she raised her head and finally allowed herself to stare at his face.

Teary, emerald eyes met a gaze of tempered steel.

"I know you're hurting, Archer," she whispered, trying and failing to stop her quivering lips. "Please don't hide your pain from me."

Archer swallowed, using countless half-remembered years of practice to avoid freezing. Neither Artoria nor him attempted to speak further, falling into a tense silence.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Until, Artoria blinked, feeling her Servant's wide and rough hand pat her head. Her eyes perked up again, and her heart almost did a backflip when she saw him smiling at her.

"…thank you, Master," Archer said. For once, there was no trace of deceit in his voice, not even a hint of sarcasm or amusement. He was sincere, perhaps more than he had ever been in front of her, and that left her baffled. "As expected, I should have known that keeping it hidden from you would be useless. You're more attentive than I thought, and I was mistaken in looking down on you as a child."

Artoria's brow twitched. She didn't know if she was supposed to be flattered or irritated by his words. Her face still flared in a blush, though.

Her peculiar Servant exhaled a heavy breath, his hand still placed lazily on her head. "You are correct, I do feel regret," he said suddenly, before she could open her mouth to retort. "What you've dreamt feels familiar to me―" More than you could possibly know. "―and the feeling that you describe is one I'm very familiar with. But I'm not lying when I say that it doesn't matter now. Even if I remember a few things about my past, I'm still unable to recall the whole picture. The past doesn't affect me that much."

Sometimes, she could sound so small. "Truly?" she asked.

He sighed. "I do remember some bits and pieces, from time to time. Some small fragments, a few vivid images, but nothing too conspicuous to be defined as a real memory." He hadn't meant to admit anything; his mouth was moving without waiting for permission. "But that doesn't matter to me. Even without my name and memories, all I care about is focusing on my current task. And my current task is to be your Servant and fight at your side."

Artoria stared at him with sadness. She didn't know if he was lying or not – and he was, even if not entirely – but she could feel a bit of truth inside his words, much to her relief. Archer really did not remember everything about his past. Most of his memories had been washed away by countless years of slavery and deployments; completely wiped out by his personal hell and duty to clean up Humanity's mess, after all. But she didn't know that.

Yet.

"Whatever you saw, it doesn't change my duty and my oath to you. And I want to focus on that, instead of trying to remember who I was," Archer finished, moving his hand away from her and staring into her emerald eyes intently. "So don't let it bother you, Master. I am fine, I assure you."

The girl with golden hair held his gaze for a few seconds. There was something about the way he spoke those words that didn't really convince her. Something that made her question if he was being really honest or not. But despite all of that, she knew she couldn't force him to say more about this matter. Archer was her Servant, yes, but she still had no right to pry into someone else's past. She wasn't that petty. No matter what kind of past he had, if Archer didn't want to think about it, she had no right to meddle with his choice, no matter how hard she wanted to.

Despite her better judgment, however, she couldn't help but say something.

"Fine. I won't pry further, then. But in return, will you promise to be honest with me from now on? Completely honest?" she demanded, her eyes searching for his face.

Her Servant hesitated for a while, strangely unable to held her gaze. But in the end, after a few seconds, he nodded with a sigh. "Very well. I'll try to be more honest if that's what you wish."

She nodded as well after his statement, satisfied. "Then, from now on, please don't hesitate to talk to me if there's something bothering you. Even when you're suffering," she stated seriously, her gaze softening as she gently grabbed his arm again in a supportive gesture. "You're my Servant, Archer. I may know nothing about you, but I know pain when I see it. So, if you ever need it, please let me help you. I don't like to see you suffer, and I'll do my best to offer assistance, if I can. I want you to take care of yourself, is that clear?"

She made him feel like he was still that boy in the storeroom, in far over his head and paralyzed by the beauty in the moonlight. Every time.

His scowl turned to the faintest rueful smile.

...good grief, this is just too cruel, Emiya mused. This entire situation was all too familiar to him, but sickeningly reversed. It felt like a twisted déjà vu, where the girl was now the probing Master and he was the detached King instead. It was sickening; so much so that he honestly felt like punching himself in the face right now.

Instead, he opted for something more familiar in order to avoid this whole matter: his usual sarcasm.

"As you wish," he answered with a smirk. "Then, from now on, will you finally start to learn how to prepare a decent meal for yourself? It is quite tiring for me to cook for four all the time, and you just said that I need to take better care of myself…"

Her reaction was immediate, as well as predictable.

"F-F-Four?! I do NOT eat that much!" Artoria yelled in a fluster, her face now a deep crimson and her nostrils flaring in shame and embarrassment. She waved her hands frantically in front of her, both her face and tone completely overwhelmed by shame. "I-I just eat like an average person― okay, m-maybe a teensy bit more than average, but look at me! I'm fine!"

She made to grab at any loose belly fat to demonstrate that she didn't have any, but then realized what she was doing and immediately fell on her knees, her eyes swirling in shame and her ears steaming like a teapot.

All the while, Archer chuckled at her sorry state with mirth. As expected, his attempt to deflect had been successful. Then, when he realized that the poor girl was about to die from rapid blood flow, he decided to stop. "I was kidding, Master," he reassured her in the end, patting her head once again and meeting her teary eyes with an amused grin. "I won't stop cooking for you. So relax, will you? I'm glad that you enjoy my cooking so much, in all honesty."

He chuckled again, and Artoria only bristled further upon realizing that he had only been idly teasing her. Thus, once she was finally able to recollect herself from embarrassment, she let out a long breath and smoothed her dark blue uniform, placing her hands together. Then they dropped. They joined again. She took a quick glance at him, then looked away with a blush.

"…it is a vice of mine," she admitted.

"As vices go, it's not really a bad one," her Servant said as he turned away from her with a smile, heading towards the kitchen. "Besides, I enjoy cooking."

Artoria shook her head and pouted. "You are an enigma, Archer."

"I know. It's an annoying trait," he said with a sly smirk. "Now calm down. I still need to prepare your second serving. I'll make it double as an apology for making you worry, alright?"

The girl's pout grew at his nonchalant tone, but despite her inner irritation she couldn't help but drool a bit at the thought of his culinary skills. No matter what, his food always managed to brighten her mood somehow. Artoria simply couldn't understand it. Hmpf! Honestly, this man! It's a good thing he can cook! she inwardly fumed.

However, after a few seconds and an extremely long sigh, the girl shook her head and recollected herself, their previous discussion completely forgotten as she decided to relent and focus on the future (and her incoming meal).

She walked up to the tanned Archer, flashing him a smile in spite of her inner worries.

"I look forward to it… Archer."

The man stopped abruptly, widening his eyes.

I̴̢͆ ̴̪͗l̵̹̍o̸͖͝ȍ̸͍k̵̗̑ ̷̦͘f̵͔̚ọ̵́r̶̬̀w̵͉͋a̴̫͑r̸͎̾d̴̟̒ ̸̡̓ṱ̸͋o̵͖̿ ̵͙͆ị̸̆t̷̛̜…̶͊ͅ ̸̜̾S̵̺͒h̵̖͐ī̸̮r̸͜͝ǫ̴̈́u̷̲͘.̵̧̀

It happened in an instant.

For a moment, just for a split-moment, in front of Archer's eyes, Artoria's face and frame disappeared all of a sudden. He didn't know how it was possible; he didn't know why it happened; but it did. As soon as he heard that phrase, as soon as his head registered those words and that familiar – extremely familiar – smile, his Master's frame reappeared again. But this time, much to his shock, it was replaced by that of a certain girl from his memories, wearing a silver armor and a small grin on her face.

The tanned Servant gritted his teeth, shaking his head with a silent curse.

"Archer?"

Just like that, it disappeared. The girl in armor was gone, leaving once more his Master in front of him.

"Hm?"

Her green eyes drilled into him. "Are you ok?"

No. No, he really wasn't.

"Of course," he lied.

Heroic Spirit Emiya shrugged it off, resuming to walk with an empty smile.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Rin and I are scanning the city furiously as I jump from roof to roof at maximum speed. While I hold the girl in my arms, I cannot fully contain my disapproval about this whole situation. "Good grief. This isn't your burden to bear," I say with narrowed eyes.

Once again, she refuses to see reason. Stubborn little brat. "After what it cost me to save him, I refuse to let him die again!"

Another quick leap, and I land above a railing. Rin points me towards a specific direction.

"There! I can feel it! The Lancer class Servant!"

I mentally curse with irritation, but obey her will nonetheless. I know extremely well what's in that direction. I could recognize the building even from miles away. Gods damn it, I'm going to regret this.

As soon as I land on solid ground again, Rin dashes forward on her own. She hasn't yet passed the crossroad when I feel something that makes my skin crawl all of a sudden. My eyes instantly widen.

"Wait, Rin!" I try to stop her. "I'm sensing more than one Servant!"

Too late. She hasn't even the time to turn. My legs move on instinct.

Less than a blink of an eye, and I'm already next to her. I toss Rin behind me and block the first blow with Kanshou. The enemy Servant tries another lunge, but my arm is already moving to intercept it. Sparks fly over my vision, and I force the enemy to retreat with a horizontal slash. A single jump backwards creates five meters of distance between us.

No, I won't allow it. I must pursue and attack now, while the enemy is retreating. That's when I truly have a chance of killing it.

One step forward, and I cross the distance with a dash. I raise Kanshou at my side, the enemy's face already turning to me. She raises her invisible weapon, her face set in a familiar scowl―

In a second, my eyes widen and the breath leaves my lungs all of a sudden.

I barely have time to recollect myself, stopping my chase with an audible gasp.

For the first time in a long while, I cannot believe my eyes.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Miyama Town

(======)

Night had fallen once again. Archer walked through the streets of Miyama in spirit form, following his Master with an unreadable face.

Miyama Town was the suburban area of Fuyuki that contained the old houses and traditional buildings of the city. Even in this different world, it could be split into two main parts: the traditional Japanese houses district and the foreigners' houses district. It was a part of the city that Emiya knew extremely well despite his great distaste for it, because it was in this very same district that he had once lived when he was a boy.

Consequently, for this very same reason, it was a location that he sincerely wanted to avoid at all costs. After all, he could never forget the fact that the Matou and Tohsaka residences were located there, in the foreigners' district, while Fujimura's house and even his own house – the Emiya's residence – were in the traditional one. But no matter what, Heroic Spirit Emiya was determined not to set foot close to those locations unless it was strictly necessary. This place no longer held any emotions for him, but the Matou and Tohsaka residences could be extremely dangerous places to visit. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Fortunately for him, however, those locations were not their current destination right now.

"Are you sure about your decision, Master?" he asked for the second time, sparing a glance to the young girl walking next to him.

Artoria nodded resolutely. "I am. We've discussed it for a whole day, Archer. This is the best course of action," she whispered with a serious tone.

He couldn't help but agree with her. The two of them had spent the majority of the day inside their suite, talking about their previous encounter with Waver Velvet and Rider and pondering relentlessly about the so-called 'alliance' that the Lord of the Clock Tower had offered them. They had taken a lot of thoughts into consideration, and even tried to go through every scenario and hypothesis in order to be extremely certain of their choice. And after more than six hours of discussion, both of them had reached the conclusion that allying themselves with Lord El-Melloi II was the right choice. At least for now.

After all, both Master and Servant couldn't deny the fact that there was something fishy about this whole 'Holy Grail' situation. Regardless of whether it was corrupted or not, the fact that Emiya Kiritsugu, the previous winner of the Holy Grail War, had died upon making contact with the Grail was something they couldn't ignore no matter what. Hence, if they wanted to understand what was happening, they needed to get information and learn more about the previous conflict, and the only way to get those information was to play along with Waver Velvet, the only survivor of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

Not to mention, moreover, that this wasn't just about getting more intel. Both Emiya and Artoria were extremely familiar with Lord El-Melloi II thanks to their personal experiences, and they knew that it was best to keep such a renowned Magus at their side, even if only temporarily. Despite his frail body and weak Magic Circuits, that man was smart and cunning, and he had an extremely powerful Servant at his side. There was no doubt in Emiya's mind that the King of Franks was stronger than he seemed, even if his usual behavior would often make people believe otherwise. He was none other than the legendary Charlemagne, after all. Therefore, having a such a skilled Magus and a powerful Servant on their side could be a considerable advantage during the conflict. Joining forces with them was the best tactical option they had at the moment.

And besides… there was no rule that said an alliance should last long. Emiya hadn't said a word to Artoria about this, but he was familiar – extremely familiar – with the concept of betrayal, and he would not disregard the option of backstabbing his own allies for the sake of victory. He had already done it twice during a previous War (and he wasn't exactly proud of it) even if he had done it only for Rin's sake on the long run. But even now he would not hesitate to do it again if it meant that Artoria could achieve victory in the end. He could not and would not betray his new Master, obviously, but Lord El-Melloi II? That was another story entirely.

If that man proved himself to be useless and disloyal, Emiya wouldn't hesitate to do what was necessary, regardless of Rider's wrath.

Thus, it was with a resolute silence that the two of them walked through the silent streets of Fuyuki City, headed to the park built near the river where they had met the Lord and his Servant the night before.

But, alas, things weren't meant to go smoothly.

Just as Artoria and Archer were about to reach the end of the suburban area of the town and head towards the river, they stopped abruptly in the middle of an intersection leading towards the old district of Miyama. A chilling sensation descended upon them, and both Master and Servant remained completely still as soon as they realized that there was something wrong. Their bodies unmoving, they remained in an eerie silence as the air began to grow tense all around them for some reason.

Something was about to happen. There was no doubt about it.

"Master."

"Yeah. I can feel it too," Artoria swallowed with a nod, her eyes nervously glancing around in every direction, her hand already moving towards the sword strapped on her back. Emiya materialized in a dust of blue the very next moment, stepping next to the girl with a grim expression and narrowed eyes, his sharp senses already focused.

They waited. And waited. And waited.

Until, it happened.

There was no time for words. It happened in an instant.

A blurred silhouette wrapped in blue and silver suddenly descended from the heavens, crashing with a powerful explosion of wind behind the Master-Servant duo. The very next second, without a single warning, it was already moving forward with a lightning-fast leap, dashing directly towards Artoria's stunned and frightened frame, aiming to strike with a swing that was fast enough to be invisible. The poor girl barely had time to turn around and widen her eyes in shock, but the red Archer was not as slow. He reacted as swiftly as he could.

Faster than a man could blink, Emiya moved.

He took no chances. Grabbing the girl with one arm, he pulled her away from the attack and kicked the assailant away. Then, he lifted her up and leaped away as soon as she was safe in his grip, leaving the streets with a single but powerful jump. He didn't attack, he didn't retaliate. He didn't even try to defend himself from the assault. All that mattered right now was getting his Master to safety, moving away from the enemy at maximum speed. Next thing he knew, he was already leaping away a second time, jumping from building to building and running across rooftops, moving at breakneck speed.

Artoria squirmed in his arm, unable to move. Instead, her body hugged tightly her Servant's neck, clinging for dear life as Emiya accelerated like a bullet.

"A-Archer! Is that―?!"

"Yes, another Servant. Hold on tight!"

The surroundings became nothing more than an incomprehensible blur. Shockwaves of wind and prana slammed on Artoria's face with each leap taken by her Servant, battering her body already tense from fear. However, she steeled her heart and forced herself to look behind. Archer's arm didn't let her go no matter what.

Much to her horror, the enemy Servant was already giving chase behind them, his body nothing but a blur of speed as he jumped from building to building, unwilling to relent. He moved much faster than Archer – the girl realized it immediately – and he was already catching up to them. Next thing she knew, that blurred silhouette was barely a few meters behind them, running with an outstanding speed that was almost too frightening to believe. Her jewel-like eyes couldn't help but widen in fear.

But Emiya was not going to let his Master be hurt without a fight. Reacting on instinct once again, he swiftly turned around mid-air, Bakuya already grasped in his free hand and aiming a lightning-fast slash to intercept the enemy's blow. Sparks flew around his vision when his blade clashed against something that was too fast to be visible to the eye, and he grunted with a low growl as he was forced to jump away again in order to avoid a second invisible slash to his chest. As he leaped in the air, Artoria screamed in fear for her life.

Not even a second later, they were already on solid ground again, landing in the middle of an empty pitch close to the eastern border of Miyama Town. Archer tried to move, his mind set on reaching the meeting point with Lord El-Melloi II and Rider in order to use them to force the assailant Servant away and bring his Master to safety, but it was no use. Next thing next, the enemy was already on them again, unwilling to give them a moment of respite.

Emiya cursed with a silent hiss. Running away was useless, apparently.

Therefore, he had no choice but attack. He immediately released Artoria on the ground with inhuman speed, and then dashed against the enemy with his white shortsword already swung in a second slash, his face twisted into a scowl of rage and resolve. He slammed himself against the enemy with a shockwave of wind and energy, Bakuya clashing against something his eyes could not see, and Emiya hissed in frustration when he was forced to move his arm to parry a sudden blow aimed at his neck, fast enough to kill him with a single strike.

But Heroic Spirit Emiya wouldn't go down so easily. His strength was not impressive compared to the average Servants, but he was a master at defending himself. His countless experiences and battles had taught him a thing or two.

He managed to parry the invisible attack, but the sheer power behind the blow was overwhelming. Bakuya nearly broke under the opponent's slash, his entire arm trembling due to the enemy's superior strength. Archer grunted and snarled, deflecting yet another slash with a great effort and reciprocating the kindness with a fast side kick. The enemy Servant blocked it with an armored gauntlet, his body bending slightly under the blow, and moved his free arm to attack again.

Emiya saw the opening immediately. He twisted his body with a sudden jerk-like movement, barely dodging the invisible slash to the side, and then kicked the Servant again, slamming his foot on his armored chest with a considerable force. The enemy was forced to retreat, and Archer did the same accordingly, leaping away as well and placing himself in front of his Master to shield her, Bakuya still pointed at the opponent.

Then, perhaps for the first time ever since the summoning, Heroic Spirit Emiya gaped in absolute shock.

Taking advantage of the moment of respite, his gaze finally moved to study the other Servant, and he soon found himself widening his eyes in wonder. Behind him, Artoria was doing the same, her katana already in hand and her face morphed into a mask of tense nervousness.

A young man dressed in armor stood before them. He was tall, not nearly as tall as Emiya was, but with a solid frame and an imposing presence all the same. He wore the elegant armor of a knight, with the metal part made of silver steel and the tunic part made of royal blue fabric, adorned with golden trims. A dark hood attached to his armor covered his face, but Archer could clearly glimpse a handsome face under that hood, with eyes of emerald color and a few golden strands of hair. He possessed a beautiful form and appeared composed and solemn, like a holy warrior from ancient times, and in his hands he wielded something invisib―

Something invisible was grasped in his armored hands.

Emiya's entire body stiffened, unable to believe his own eyes. It cannot be…

He gulped in disbelief, his mind already moving to connect the dots inside his head despite his inner shock. Everything made sense now. It wasn't the enemy's attacks that were too fast to be seen… it was his very own weapon that was hidden from sight. It had been rendered invisible by some kind of Bounded Field similar to a spell, covering its frame entirely.

And no matter how hard Archer wished to deny what his eyes were seeing, the sight that stood in front of his gaze right now was as real as it could be.

And that could only mean one thing.

Emiya clenched his jaw shut, narrowing his eyes in silent disbelief as he glared at the enemy.

"Well done, Saber," a new voice spoke all of a sudden from the side. "You've cornered them just as promised."

Both Emiya and Artoria tensed immediately. Their heads snapped to the right when a second figure decided to make her presence known, stepping out of a small alley from the side and revealing herself without hesitation. A young girl with raven hair and aqua eyes entered the empty pitch with a firm step, placing herself next to the armored Servant with a confident smile on her beautiful face.

Archer's face twitched only for a second.

No matter how much he had prepared himself for this moment, upon seeing that face and hearing that familiar voice again, he felt his heart clenching in his chest all the same.

"Yes, my Master," the Servant of the Saber class spoke softly, removing the hood from his head and revealing the face of a young man in his twenties with green eyes and golden hair.

Tense and absolute silence fell amid the empty street of Fuyuki City.

Artoria Pendragon tightened the grip on her blade, moving closer to her Servant with a nervous expression.

And Heroic Spirit Emiya could do nothing but narrow his eyes and steel his resolve.

While Rin Tohsaka and the King of Knights himself stared down at them with a powerful glare.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

I stumble back with faltering step, my eyes not once leaving the girl's frame. Even now I can feel my mind going blank, my face twitching in sheer disbelief.

Despite my better judgment, I grit my teeth in front of the enemy. Behind me, Rin is watching with wide eyes.

And the King of Knights herself stares at me, challenging me with a powerful glare.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Six-

The Battle is to the Strong

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Miyama Town

(======)

Inner peace.

A state of mind in which every emotion and thought was wiped off, rendering the mind clean of everything unnecessary.

Yeah, Heroic Spirit Emiya couldn't pull that shit.

…this shit is NOT happening right now.

He didn't even bother to stop himself from swearing.

Perhaps for the first time ever, though, he did not blame himself for his inability to calm down. Today had been a long day, and not a good one either. First, he had to deal with his Master's dream about his accursed and peculiar past; and now, he was currently forced to face a male version of the King of Knights in combat, along with the very same girl who had been his Master during the previous two Grail Wars he had found himself in. This wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. This whole situation was a gigantic mess, not to mention just a tiny bit cruel for him. He could already feel a migraine coming.

Yep, this day was not Emiya's day.

Behind him, Artoria Pendragon was clenching her hands over the hilt of her sword with so much force that her arms were visibly shaking. Her whole body was tense and stiff, her face dripping with sweat. Archer had to give her credit, though. Despite her obvious nervousness, the girl wore a resolute and unyielding expression on her face, mentally preparing herself to face their enemies despite the inner fear. He could really respect her resolve in spite of the odds.

The silence around the empty street was deafening. Emiya narrowed his eyes, studying his opponents with a bland face. The Servant of the Saber class looked as regal and imposing as before, his emerald eyes focused solely on him with a cold and challenging glare. He stood proud and relaxed, confidence oozing off his whole frame like a fog, his face a mask devoid of emotions as he kept staring at him with unnerving intensity. Next to him, instead, the enemy Master was another story entirely. The girl with raven hair and aqua eyes couldn't be older than seventeen, and yet she wore a confident grin on her face, dressed in a red coat covering an elegant school uniform, and fixing Artoria with a haughty and solemn glare while she kept a hand above one hip in what seemed to be a confident stance.

"My, my, I can't believe you, honestly," Rin Tohsaka was the first to break the ice amid the tense silence, her eyes staring at Artoria's own with a narrowed stare. The girl with golden hair stared back at her in tense wariness while Emiya remained still in a resigned silence. "Casually walking around the streets, without a care in the world... to act so boldly in my city, you must be either overly confident or a complete novice. Only an idiot would patrol the city in search of enemies without concealing themselves first."

Much to her credit, Artoria answered in kind without hesitation. "I consider myself a rather straightforward person. I prefer to confront the enemy directly instead of hiding in the shadows," she replied with a cold voice. "Only a brute or a coward would cower and strike without a warning."

"Quite the contrary. A first-rate Mage stays hidden until they're ready to strike," was Rin's immediate comeback. The girl with raven hair crossed her arms, her face a mask of steeled resolve and duty. "I don't give a damn whether you are a novice or overly confident. Whoever was foolish enough to step inside my territory to fight in the Holy Grail War is an enemy, and as such, they must be taken out. I know you are a Mage despite your young age, so don't bother denying it."

...Haughty, resolute and competitive as always, I see, Archer mused with a narrowed stare. He forced a neutral expression on his face as he inwardly banished his sadness away. Yes, this Rin was definitely the same girl whom he had fought alongside with so many times before. The urge to run a hand over his face was immense right now. Good grief, what a cruel sight. This is a new low even for you, Alaya.

Artoria inwardly bristled at the other girl's words, but remained silent. She eyed the enemy Servant with wariness, taking her sweet time studying his handsome face, golden hair and emerald eyes. The armored Saber remained completely unfazed under her stare, however, his gaze still focused on Archer's frame.

Emiya took advantage of the two Masters' exchange to tear his eyes away from Saber and observe their surroundings. They were currently placed in the middle of an empty pitch close to the eastern border of Miyama Town, surrounded on four sides by a metal fence that enclosed the entire square completely. The only way out was the small alley on the right from which Rin had emerged from earlier, along with the main road currently blocked by Saber's imposing frame. Archer inwardly cursed their luck even as he fought hard to contain a smirk from his lips. This whole situation was a trap. Rin and the King of Knights had lured them here on purpose. If they wanted to get out, they had no choice but to fight them directly.

As expected of Tohsaka. She used Saber to lure us here, where we are at a disadvantage against them, he thought with a rueful smile. Well played, Rin. Well played.

As if she had been reading his mind, Rin moved her gaze on him this time, her lips curving into a smirk as she saw the realization in his emotionless face. "Hm? So he's already figured it out," she mused with sarcasm. "Your Servant's parameters are weak, but he has the gist of things. Saber, what do you make of him?"

The King of Knights stepped forward, his face a mask of serious resolve as he tightened his grip on the invisible blade. "I can deal with him with ease, Master," was his only reply.

Not for the first time, Emiya felt a sudden urge to kill himself. He restrained himself only for the sake of the small girl standing next to him. You won't be satisfied until you start a fight, huh? He pondered with amusement, ignoring Saber completely and fixing the girl who had been his previous Master with a narrowed stare. His lips twitched upwards ever so slightly. Very well. If you want to go that route again, Rin, then I will indulge you. Two can play that game, after all.

He turned his face away from the enemies – much to Saber and Rin's suspicion – and instead focused his gaze on Artoria. Emiya stared into her emerald eyes with an impassive face.

"Master, can I trust you to deal with the enemy Master for a while?" he asked her through their mental bond, his tone as serious as it could be.

Artoria gulped. Despite her young age, she was no fool. She had already realized the gravity of the situation they were currently in. "You think you can win against Saber?" she asked him back, a scowl visible on her face.

In all honesty, her question was legit. After all, the standard opinion among the Magi World was that the Saber Class was the best of the seven classes and the strongest of the Servants, said to have made it to the final battle in every previous Holy Grail War. Servants placed within this class were usually agile and powerful melee warriors adept at swordsmanship, boasting high ratings in all categories and the highest levels of attributes in all but Magic. Archer belonged to one of the Three Knight Classes, but both him and Artoria knew extremely well that facing a Saber directly would be impossible, at least in close range. And unfortunately for them, the option of using the bow had already been discarded, given the situation. Therefore, it was a huge risk.

However, for some reason, her Servant did not falter in his confidence. On the contrary, in response to Artoria's question, Emiya summoned Bakuya again in a flash of white, staring straight into his Master's eyes. Both Rin and her Servant tensed immediately on the other side of the pitch. But despite the tense situation and the disadvantage they were currently in, Artoria could see with crystal clarity the sheer resolve shining inside her Servant's gray eyes. And as soon as she realized his unbending decision, the young heir of the Pendragon lineage took her decision. No words were needed between the two of them right now. They both knew what they had to do if they wanted to live.

This was not a battle. This was War. And no one could afford to falter and hesitate during a War.

Emiya and Artoria shared a silent nod. "I'll keep the Master occupied for as long as I can," she promised him. "Show him hell, Archer!"

Once again, Emiya smirked with steeled resolve.

Rin stared at them with narrowed eyes as they both took a few steps forward, challenging them as well with a silent expression. "Unbelievable," she muttered. "Are you crazy, facing us directly? Do you seriously believe your weak Servant can fight against my Saber?"

"What choice do we have? You're not going to leave us be, are you?" Artoria asked right back, pointing her katana at the older girl with a solemn movement.

The heir of the Tohsaka family smirked as Saber took a step forward as well. "Very well. I was actually going to ask you to give up your Command Seals and leave the War… but this will be more interesting," she declared, moving a strand of black hair from her shoulder with a haughty movement. "A Master unable to admit defeat in front of a superior enemy may as well be holding a sign that reads 'Please kill me'. I won't show mercy, if you are prepared to die."

"Your overconfidence shall be your defeat," Artoria stated as well, unfazed.

Rin's smile was gone now, replaced by a neutral face. "Let's see about that," was all she said. "Saber, get rid of her Servant."

The King of Knights raised his invisible sword, fixing Archer with an emotionless gaze. "By your will," he vowed at her command.

Saber and Archer tensed immediately. They were perfectly still, facing each other in silence from a dozen meters apart while the moonlight covered them both. None of them spoke, none of them teared his gaze away. They kept staring into each other's eyes, both of them studying the enemy with unnerving intensity and an unreadable face.

Until, after what seemed to be an eternity, Masters and Servants moved at the same time.

And a powerful and ear-splitting clash echoed throughout the empty streets of Fuyuki City.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

The night sky is quiet. The air is tense around us.

While the sound of sirens and ambulances echoes from below, I watch the world from the roof of the skyscraper. I remain seated as I exhale a silent breath. "As we suspected, the situation is grim. Are you sure the flow is going towards Ryuudou Temple?" I ask, glancing at my Master.

Rin has her back to me while she stares below, the wind billowing her raven hair incessantly. "Yes. The stolen life force is all flowing towards the mountain," she explains with a blank tone. "The culprit behind the coma is probably Caster."

"A witch inhabiting Ryuudou Temple, huh?" I muse with sarcasm. "That means we made a mistake last night."

She turns to me slightly. "A mistake? You mean fighting Berserker to a draw? I think that was the optimal outcome."

"I'm not so sure. If Caster spread such a wide net, she must have observed last night's battle," I point out, ignoring her suspicious expression. "Nevertheless, we tipped our hand, while failing to defeat our opponents."

Rin narrows her eyes. She turns her face away again. "Perhaps," she admits with a serious tone. "Then there's only one thing we must do."

She turns to me fully, her face a mask of resolve.

"Archer, let's track Caster down. We must put an end to this before she can flee to Ryuudou Temple."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

As soon as the Servants clashed, the air was wounded by a roar of wind.

Artoria wasted no time, focusing all her prana in the legs and charging against the enemy Master with her katana ready to strike. She leaped forward, her dash followed by a small explosion of wind, aiming her weapon into a horizontal slash with a battle cry.

However, her opponent wasn't just going to stand there. Widening her eyes, the girl with raven hair broke off into a sprint as well, her legs glowing with a green light as she applied a Reinforcement spell on her limbs, her lips uttering a silent spell. "Es ist groß, es ist klein," she bent her whole body, narrowing her eyes as soon as Artoria appeared in front of her, ready to deliver a slash. "Vox, Gott Es Atlas!"

Her body lightened, even to the point of being light as a feather, and not even a second later, Rin dashed away from Artoria, avoiding the incoming attack like a gazelle darting away from a lioness. The girl with golden hair stopped abruptly upon realizing that her attack had missed, stunned by the enemy's sudden speed of reaction, and halted her assault. She stood there, her sword in hand and her eyes narrowed, her gaze focused on the other girl as she landed a few meters away with a smug grin on her face.

On the other side of the square, the clashing of metal against steel echoed all the more, sign of the relentless battle between their Servants.

"A Mage fighting with a sword, huh?" the older girl mused as she adjusted herself, her expression a mixture of contemplation and smugness. "I'd put that down if I were you. You won't have a chance at winning against me with that silly weapon."

Artoria remained still, unfazed. "I won't know until I try."

They stared at each other for a few seconds, ignoring the battle happening on the other side of the pinch. The girl with raven hair tossed a strand of hair over the shoulder. "You've got guts, I'll give you that," she spoke with a serious voice. "My name is Rin. As the heir of the Tohsaka family, I challenge you into a battle between Mages in order to win the Grail. Let's see how long your resolve can last."

Inhaling a little, Artoria readied her stance. "Then I answer as Artoria, heir of the Pendragon line. I accept your challenge," she stated in utmost seriousness.

Rin widened her eyes a little. "Pendragon?" she repeated, looking momentarily stunned for some reason by the revelation. Then, after a few seconds, her face twitched a little, and her expression returned blank and focused as she spared a glance in her Servant's direction. "I see. To think that you would be my first opponent in this War… honestly, that's kind of amusing," she said, speaking to herself more than the younger girl.

"What do you mean?" Artoria demanded.

The older girl merely shook her head. "No matter. My policy is not to miss an opportunity when it presents itself. For that reason, I will deal with you here and now," she declared, dismissing her previous thoughts and returning to focus once again.

Therefore, suddenly and without a warning, Rin pulled down her sleeve, revealing a green crest glowing on her left forearm.

Artoria narrowed her eyes at the sight. "A Magic Crest," she realized.

"Indeed. This is the incarnation of the Magic passed down in my family," Tohsaka explained smugly, raising her arm with a confident smirk. "Simply by passing mana through it, I can invoke any spell etched here. It is my greatest pride as a Mage."

That… didn't sound good. At all.

Artoria swallowed her nerves as Rin glared down at her with a haughty expression. "Our Servants will deal with each other, and I will deal with you," the older girl declared with utmost decision, sparing another glance to the other side of the square where Saber and Archer were still engaged in furious combat. It was blatantly obvious who held the advantage among the two. Rin's smile was both predatory and haughty. "My Gandr Shot will suffice against your sword."

"Gandr? Isn't that a simple Nordic curse?" Artoria asked in tense confusion.

Rin smiled mischievously. "That's right… just a perfectly simple curse."

It happened in an instant.

Not even a second later, the raven-haired girl pointed her arm forward, aiming her hand to Artoria while a small orb of Magical Energy began to concentrate into her forefinger. The younger Master could only widen her eyes and stiffen in tension, just before a hazy black orb of energy was subsequently fired like a bullet from the girl's fingers. However, thanks to her keen reflexes and the years she had spent training in swordsmanship with her family, she was able to react accordingly.

Moving purely on instinct, Artoria raised her arms with a swift movement. Her katana slashed the air, clashing against the 'bullet' made of red and black energy. The impact generated a small explosion, and the girl barely managed to keep her balance as her arms and bones groaned in pain, her body stumbling backwards due to the power behind the spell.

However, she regained her balance immediately. Artoria's head snapped up when she saw another bullet darting towards her, aimed at the legs, and she promptly rolled out of the way at the last second while the spell crashed against the floor with a small but loud explosion, cracking the ground and concrete. As soon as she readied her stance again, she stared at the enemy with narrowed eyes, stunned by what she had just witnessed.

That spell was dangerous. The young girl had no doubt about that. According to her knowledge on this matter, Gandr was supposed to be a simple curse originating from Scandinavia which decreased the physical health of the target. However, the spell used by the girl she was facing right now was filled with much, much more Magical Energy; so much so that the attack had changed drastically. That first shot had roughly possessed the destructive power of a pistol bullet, and while a single hit was not enough to kill someone, Artoria was sure that it could still be capable of knocking out a normal person. If her katana hadn't been covered with Reinforcement spells and protections thanks to her family's blessing, it would have shattered upon contact. She could not underestimate its power.

As expected of a member of the Three Founding Families; she is strong, Artoria thought while a trickle of sweat began running down her cheek. This Master is going to be a tough opponent. I mustn't be careless.

Rin lowered her arm a bit, her face betraying a small amount of impression. "Hoh? You're not half-bad. I guess the Pendragon family really knows how to use a sword," she commented with a hint of amusement. Her smirk soon returned on her face, filled with confidence and resolve. "But that won't be enough to save you."

The younger Master ignored her. Instead, she dashed forward as Rin leaped on the opposite direction. Sparks flew and the sound of metal grinding against magic rung throughout the air as Artoria moved at a surprisingly good speed for her age and demonstrated her mastery of the sword by slashing every Gandr Shot fired at her by the opponent, her arms moving at a level of speed which went beyond what humans would normally be able to achieve in their lives. Not that she was surprised by this, of course. Artoria Pendragon was not a 'normal' girl, by any means. She had been raised as a fighter, as a Knight, and trained in swordsmanship ever since she was a kid; so much so that her sword felt like an extension of her own arms. Not to mention, of course, that her body and her Magic Circuits had been purposely trained and developed by her family to increase her strength, agility reflex, and cognitive skill. Thanks to her lineage and her peculiar lifestyle, she was more of a super-human than a fifteen-year old girl by now, and she was completely aware of that.

Mages really did live in another world compared to average humans.

The exchange didn't last more than several seconds, but to Artoria it might have been minutes as she struggled to block and deflect all the bullets threatening to hit her. In the end, faced by Rin's incessant assault, she had no choice but to stop her charge and leap away, running to the side while desperately jumping and dashing in every direction to avoid the shots fired in her direction. The concrete on the ground cracked and shattered upon being hit by the spells fired by Tohsaka, and the girl with golden hair took a great deal of effort in order to not end up with a few holes in her body.

Artoria was about to ready her stance and charge again when her instincts screamed danger. She leapt to the side and there was a dull thud of something heavy penetrating the area over which she had been a second ago. It turned out that Tohasaka had uttered a spell, firing a rain of magical orbs from above. She had barely managed to avoid its range thanks to her instinct. She inwardly cursed as she deflected yet another Gandr Shot with her katana.

"You have a sharp instinct," Rin said in an impressed tone as he lowered her arms. "There is no doubt that you're not a regular Mage. I think you're either a warrior specialized in swordsmanship, or a complete novice. Which of the two is it?"

The girl ignored the jab and instead focused on debating about what to do. She was clearly at disadvantage here. Rin was an expert at firing spell after spell, as expected by a powerful Mage, but Artoria had been trained to fight on close rage. Compared to the average Magi, swordsmanship was her greatest strength, not spells and curses. That was her only flaw, her greatest weakness, and the world-known downside of the Pendragon Family in general. Living in a family obsessed with Knights and swords had its downsides, after all. However, that didn't mean that she hadn't picked up a thing or two to counter that weakness. She wasn't stupid, after all.

In fact, her body had huge reserves of mana. She had been made for this. Literally.

Time to change tactics.

"Mana Burst!" she cried.

This time, Artoria decided to attack. Gathering all the prana she could muster in her limbs, she infused her weapon and body with Magical Energy and instantly expelled it with a mental command, recreating the effect of a jet burst by expending her prana with all her might. Thus, in less than an instant, she dashed forward once again with unprecedented speed, aiming to slash the older girl a second time. Much to her shock, however, Rin reacted accordingly again even in spite of her speed, firing another series of shots while running away, headed to the western side of the square. But it was useless. The girl with golden hair parried and deflected all the bullets, ignoring the pain in her arms, and kept charging against the taller girl with a release of mana and wind following behind her.

Like a living bullet, Artoria finally reached the opponent despite her attempts to keep her at bay. She successfully managed to parry the incoming spells with her sword, and in less than two seconds she had already appeared in front of the retreating Master. However, just as she was about to deliver a vertical slash to her chest, the enemy smiled in victory, and Artoria widened her eyes as her mind screamed danger at her. By the time she realized what was happening, it was already too late.

"Fixierung, Eile Salve!" Tohsaka chanted with a powerful cry, tossing a red jewel in her face.

Artoria's eyes widened instantly. She immediately reacted thanks to her survival instinct screaming at her, and managed to move her arms accordingly. Next thing she knew, she had successfully managed to cut the jewel in half before it could have struck her face, but she failed to realize that her reaction was exactly the one her enemy had hoped to see. In fact, upon being cut in half, the red gem shattered into thousands of tiny pieces, emitting a paralyzing dust that struck the golden-haired girl off-guard.

The effect was immediate. Artoria tried to stop and leap away, but she soon realized with horror that she was no longer able to move. The dust around her had made her body as stiff as a statue, preventing her from acting as she wanted and rendering her basically motionless. The only thing she could do was bare her teeth in a hiss of frustration, staring at Rin with wide eyes while she pointed a hand at her face with a grin splitting her face.

"Got you!" Rin exclaimed in triumph, her hand already glowing with red energy as she began to chant an incantation to put an end to the struggle once and for all. She knew that her spell wouldn't last long, so she had to take advantage of the momentum while Artoria was paralyzed.

Her Magic Crest glowed in the dark of night. "Das Schließen Vogelkäfig… Echo!" she roared.

Artoria could do nothing but widen her eyes and stare in horror…

…while the heir of the Tohsaka family summoned a giant Magic Circle around her, trapping her inside a Bounded Field created to kill.

The air shifted, and the Servants moved.

At that instant, Archer surged mana into the circuits in his legs and lunged forward. In a flash, his crisp black armor was covered in prana while a gust of wind billowed his blood-red mantle, his white blade Bakuya still grasped in his left hand and ready to strike. He ducked low, seeking to slide beneath his opponent's guard, but the enemy Saber was well-prepared for something like that.

Steel crashed against steel in a shower of sparks. Saber met Archer's blade with the invisible one of his own, then swept the enemy away with a single push, aiming a second swing towards a gap in Archer's defense… one left there quite on purpose. Archer twisted nimbly to duck the blade, rotating into a spinning kick that caught Saber in the side of the head. But as a testament to the King of Knights' keen reflexes, he had already retracted his armored forearm to block. The two Servants disengaged from each other in the controlled stumble of practiced fighters, back into their ready stances.

Saber used one thumb to wipe a bit of grit from his cheek. His eyes, however, never left Archer's shortsword.

"Do my eyes deceive me?" Saber asked. His voice was soft, elegant, refined; and carried a certain ring to it that was painfully familiar to Emiya. "Or do I somehow have the pleasure of crossing blades with another swordsman? What Servant are you?"

Archer remained unfazed by his question. However, taking this opportunity, he took a deep breath and collected himself for the battle to come. He knew that Saber probably did not intend to grasp his combat abilities with that question. In all likelihood, in fact, he had already guessed his Class thanks to his instinct. But just like a certain girl in armor had done during his previous Wars, the King of Knights of this world was interested in his powers because he wasn't expecting to face a Servant wielding a sword like him. Archer didn't like to talk during a battle, but if that was what the other side intended to do, he had to reciprocate accordingly. It would be rude not to.

"Sorry, but you'll get nothing from me," he replied in a neutral tone.

The King's eyes narrowed, but Emiya could clearly see a smile forming on his lips.

"As you wish, Archer."

He gave him no more room for conjecture, closing the distance between them again. Emiya almost grunted in fatigue as their blades clashed again, sparks flying over his vision as he moved and slashed furiously in every direction in order to parry and deflect the enemy's attacks. As expected, the difference in their abilities and strength was as clear as day. No matter how much strength and speed Archer was putting in his assault, his attacks were constantly blocked and deflected with ease, and the enemy was still smiling as they clashed over and over again. He was literally toying with him.

But Archer was fine with that. As long as Saber kept his eyes on his blade and focused his efforts to parry his assault, he could use this clash to understand his abilities. He could not Structurally Analyze the enemy's blade with his eyes, being rendered invisible by that spell; but the more they clashed, the more information he was able to get. For example: the Excalibur that this Arthur wielded was NOT the one he was familiar with. Its length, width, weight and balance: all of it was different compared to the sword that the King he knew used. He could already tell that much thanks to his restless assault, even if the style used by the enemy was exactly the same.

Emiya could clearly see it. He was extremely familiar with the King of Knights― no, with Artoria's fighting style. Putting aside his visions about Caliburn and his inability to forget that girl, Heroic Spirit Emiya knew her sword and her style better than anyone. There were no flaws and no opening in her style, only power. A power that was due to a mixture of experience, Mana Burst, and elegance. This King Arthur was exactly the same. Every strike almost cleaved Archer's breath from his lungs, every blow was wide and loaded with a strength powerful enough to make his limbs tremble and his sword crack. And yet, despite his overwhelming superiority, Archer was able to read each and every one of his movements thanks to his previous experiences and knowledge. He could almost see the King's movements in the corner of his eyes, since he was extremely familiar with that kind of sword style.

Unfortunately, however, that was something that Saber himself was starting to realize.

Seeing that all his previous attacks had been blocked, the enemy Servant scowled. His invisible sword rebounded off Archer's shortsword. The King planted his armored foot and swung the weapon around, the momentum powering his next blow. And yet, once again, Emiya intercepted the attack before it could land fully on his shoulder. The collision's force cratered the earth, shook the trees and made the air itself moan in pain. Bakuya shattered in an instant, unable to withstand so much power, and Archer was rendered defenseless. But only for a split-second.

As soon as the male King of Knights lunged at his chest with a lightning-fast slash, the man of tempered steel took his chance.

He could no longer speak spells that were equal to his own flesh and blood. Just an image. Just a reflection. That was all he could do: visualize the image of his strongest self and make it real. An illusion. A fake. But even if it was a fake, even if it was an illusion, it was also real. As long as he believed it, it was real as it could be.

Right now, the enemy was not Saber. His opponent was not the King of Knights. He was the opponent. His only enemy was himself. The only one he had to overcome right now was himself alone.

And Emiya was quite used at overcoming himself.

"Trace On."

It was not blood that scattered, but sparks.

There was no fresh blood that should have spouted out, and only the empty-dull sound of iron resounded.

In a flash of white and black, Bakuya was summoned again, followed by its other half Kanshou. And together, the married blades parried the enemy sword with disarming swiftness, deflecting the invisible blade with a sudden jerk-like movement and leaving the King of Knights speechless for a second. Following his moment of advantage, Archer dashed forward and swung Kanshou at the enemy's head, only for said enemy to block it with ease; but that was also part of the plan. The attack was instantly followed by a powerful kick, and Emiya narrowed his eyes when his right foot slammed against the enemy's armored chest, forcing him to retreat with a leap.

Saber took a few steps backwards, studying the red Archer with stunned stupor.

"Two swords?" he pondered, caught by surprise despite his better judgment. "How?"

The King's frustration about the fact that the sword strike that was supposed to be a sure kill was repelled was immediately overwritten by that impossible sight. In the hands of the man standing in front of Saber, instead of a bow, he held a pair of white and black Chinese swords. And he could not fathom how it was possible. Moreover, despite Archer's clear physical inferiority, there was no gap in his calm, standing posture; and experienced intuition told the King that his was not a fake dual-sword style.

"A bowman fighting like a Saber," the King with jewel-like eyes realized.

Emiya lowered his arms a bit, the twin blades still pointed at the enemy. "Do I look like a Saber to you?"

"Not at all. But I wasn't expecting to be challenged in hand-to-hand combat from an Archer," he answered with a small smile on his lips and his soft tone of voice. Despite the fact that the two Servants were engaging in a mortal combat, Saber couldn't help but be thrilled by that unexpected turn of events. "Allow me to offer my regards for your skill. Never have I fought against a blade work so flexible… nor so risky."

…Well, well. Just as expected. To already be seeing the tactic in how he fought… he was sharper than what Emiya would have liked. Archer inwardly cursed a bit at the realization. Just like the Saber he knew from his previous experiences, the King of Knights' magical instinct was flawless. His unorthodox tactics and techniques were not going to be enough to best Britain's greatest ruler.

Saber grasped the hilt of his invisible sword and observed Archer vigilantly. "There are times when an Archer will wield a sword. But unfortunately, you are no match for me."

Emiya said nothing, for he knew he was right. There was no way he could best or even match Saber's strength and skills. It was simply impossible, sad as it was.

What happened next, it happened in an instant. The ground behind Saber was blown away as he leaped forward with a lightning-fast speed. Archer widened his eyes in shock as he recognized the attack. Explosive Acceleration: a Mana Release skill usually used to boost physical abilities. However, contrary to the King Arthur he knew, this Saber was able to jet out that surplus of mana like a rocket and put extraordinary destructive power on his sword. The raging torrent of magical power turned into yellow wind, and Saber, who became a flash of lightning, swung his sword down at Archer without stopping the momentum.

"Your struggles are in vain!" Saber roared as he swung the sword.

He slashed once, then twice. And then again, and again and again; relentless. His slashes exceeded the speed of sound, leaving only a trajectory that reflected the moonlight in the eyes of the golden-haired King. The invisible blade cut through the darkness of the night, and the air screamed as the atmosphere was cut into shreds by his incessant assault. But it didn't stop. Like the sea on a stormy night, the roaring and raging sword clad in restless wind increased in intensity over time. However, something was not right. The continuation of his violent and uninterrupted attack meant that the target was still alive.

King Arthur widened his eyes as he watched the enemy with stupor. Archer wielded his twin swords in all directions, catching Saber's sword strikes with skillful movements and dodging or deflecting them. His gray eyes, similar to the eyes of a hawk's, didn't even look worried as he continued to avoid his attacks and parry the slashes. Despite the dangerous situation he was in, he continued to ignore Saber's attacks with a cold expression, focusing all his efforts in attempt to block, avoid, and deflect.

And much to the King's surprise… it was working.

――――Who is this guy? Saber couldn't help but wonder.

The one pushing was certainly Saber. The advantage was surely his.

In the first place, the Saber's class boasted the strongest close combat, and had a track record of surviving to the end in all four of the Fuyuki Holy Grail Wars that took place before this one. There was also a strict condition that only Heroic Spirits whose stats were above a certain rank could be summoned, and no matter what many said or chose to believe, the Saber class truly was the best class with the flexibility to respond to almost every condition. That was an undeniable fact, and as his Master had repeatedly said to him, it was for this very same reason that most Mages believed that whoever managed to summon a Servant of the Saber class would end up winning the conflict in most cases.

And yet, as much as this realization shocked him, Saber was finding himself unable to defeat the Archer with his invisible sword's range.

It was impossible. It made no sense. It had no sense, whatsoever. He was King Arthur Pendragon, the King of Knights himself. The man believed to be the strongest Knight who had existed in the entirety of human history, and one of the greatest rulers of the planet. His story, his legend and his deeds were still remembered to this day by every man of the globe, and that fact alone was a testament to his strength, and his power. Compared to him, the Archer he was fighting against was nothing. Saber was not foolish enough to underestimate an enemy, nor he believed himself superior to anyone, but the clear difference in power, speed and skill between the two of them was as clear as day. Compared to Saber, Archer's strength and skills were undoubtedly inferior in every aspect.

But despite that… he was resisting. And Saber could not fathom how.

King Arthur Pendragon steeled himself and swung his sword against the enemy. Emiya met his charge head on, parrying his attacks with the twin blades and twisting his body incessantly to avoid a slash aimed at his torso. The more they clashed, the more Saber narrowed his eyes, studying the enemy's style and attacking him in every possible way. Sometimes he slashed at him directly, sometimes he mixed techniques, and sometimes he attempted feints as well; aiming for the neck, torso, arms, and legs. But none of them reached the red Archer. None of his attacks managed to end him.

Of course, on his part, Emiya was struggling as well. His body was now covered with cuts and bruises, even if all of them were superficial ones. He wasn't ashamed to admit his inferiority compared to other Servants, and especially compared to King of Knights. Even now his body was not strong enough to be exposed to such a severe assault and survive unscathed. It was solely due to his well-trained Mind's Eye that continued to lead him to the optimal solution to deal with Saber's assault that he was able to continue to fight, managing to deflect and avoid the attacks at the last second. It wasn't a matter of strength; it wasn't a matter of skill. Not entirely, at least. It was a matter of will, and experience.

Archer was used to deal with the feeling of incoming death. Being powerless and severely out-matched by the enemy was the norm for him. Consequently, no matter the danger he was facing, he was able to remain calm and focused, for he had dealt with this kind of situations countless times in his accursed life, even without taking into account his deployments. His mind was serene and focused, like a ship sailing out into the stormy sea. No matter how much and long the ship was tossed by the big waves, Emiya could always use the wisdom and skills forged on the hill of swords to find a way out for his survival in every moment.

He was a Counter Guardian. He had been through hell and death for the majority of his existence. That experience had rendered him a veteran warrior, despite his lack of talent and natural skill. And no one could take that away from him, unfortunately.

With a sudden jerk-like movement, Archer parried a lunge to the neck, slamming his twin blades against the invisible blade. He released as much mana as he could into his arms, struggling against the enemy's defense with an enraged scowl and a powerful roar of effort.

"Rraaah!"

Surprisingly, it worked. Saber widened his eyes when Emiya's black sword, Kanshou, unexpectedly managed to pass his guard and slashed him on the chest plate, leaving a long cut on his elegant silver armor. At the same time, Bakuya kept slamming itself against him repeatedly, hammering against the invisible sword and forcing the armored Servant to disengage. Not even a moment later, however, Saber had already recovered, and he dashed against Archer with a powerful leap followed by an explosion of wind and prana. The tanned Servant gritted his teeth as he barely managed to block the assault with his reflexes, inwardly cursing a bit as another cut was opened on his right cheek, drawing blood on his face.

The two opponents leaped away from each other after the exchange, pointing their weapons forward with narrowed eyes as they both stepped back. Emiya was panting slightly, his mind focused despite the sorry state of his body covered in cuts, and Saber was clearly irritated, unable to understand how his opponent had been able to read his movements so far despite his obvious superiority in both speed and power. But it was clear for both of them who held the advantage right now. Emiya was clearly outmatched and wounded, and unlike him, Saber was protected by the sturdy armor which had protected him for the previous slash.

However, being slashed in close combat by an Archer severely hurt Saber's pride.

Very well, the King steeled his resolve. I shall take this more seriously.

Emiya stared with narrowed eyes as a gust of wind began to run in all directions around the enemy's frame, surrounding his body entirely. Immediately, a huge amount of magical power was accompanied by a physical shock as soon as Saber took a step forward, and Archer wasted no time in trying to leap away and take some distance. However, that slight retreat was enough for Saber to cross the distance with a sudden charge that was fast enough to appear as a single step, and Emiya knew he had no chance of avoiding it. Hence: he reacted on instinct, flipping backwards his twin blades as he readied himself with a stance.

He knew it was a risk. In the first place, in terms of muscle strength, Archer and Saber were on a different level. The King of Knights he was facing right now was not a teenage girl powered by mana. His muscle power alone was way more dangerous for him. If the attack collided directly, Archer's defeat would be inevitable. So, the only way to survive was to successfully parry the charge and deviate its trajectory. However, this time, he was unable to deal with the slash that was strengthened by Saber's Mana Burst.

Not even a second later, in fact, the King's entire body had appeared in front of him like a flash of light, his sword raised over the head and ready to release its wrath on him with a bellowing battle cry.

Archer considered his options in a split-second. Kanshou and Bakuya had less range than Saber's two-handed sword. However, they had the advantage of being able to turn in a small radius, they possessed a high resistance, and also required little effort to be summoned again after being destroyed. For that reason, when they were wielded together they possessed a defensive power comparable to that of a castle wall, but if even one of the two swords was crushed, the defensive power would be less than half.

Hence: the best way to use them in this situation was to create a momentum.

It happened in less than two seconds. Relying purely on his well-trained instinct, Archer blocked Saber's sword with his twin blades, meeting the charge head on with a great deal of effort. The ground cracked and shattered under his feet and his arms visibly trembled in pain under the force of the blow. Consequently – as it was to be expected – in less than a second his posture crumbled and the swords shattered due to the impact. Saber widened his eyes and focused in full as Archer fell on a knee, aiming all his efforts in order to cut him down once and for a―

Nope. The moment Saber was convinced of victory, his intuition denied it.

"What―?!"

Saber's instinct reacted before his mind could fully process the movement, twisting his body ahead of sighting. Not even a second later, Emiya's white sword, which should have been destroyed completely, slashed through the air with a silent hiss, cutting the space where Saber's head had been not even a moment earlier. At the same time, Kanshou had appeared as well, darting through the air and aiming a slash at his right arm while Archer's body twisted to barely avoid the overwhelming swing of the invisible blade, which slammed against the stone and rubble of the ground with an explosion of dust. Unable to defend himself accordingly, the King of Knights cursed himself as the black shortsword slashed his right limb, opening a small wound on the forearm.

However, that did not stop him from immediately kicking the enemy Archer away as soon as he saw him lunge forward, slamming a foot against his side and sending him rolling on the ground with a powerful burst of wind. Emiya hissed in pain as he was forcefully sent flying on the other side of the square, crashing against the ground and forcing himself on his feet with a grunt of effort. When the smoke cleared, the two opponents stared down at each other with narrowed eyes. Archer did not react to Saber's astonished face, keeping a safe distance from him and gripping his newly summoned swords in his hands.

Saber recovered from his stupor immediately, his emerald eyes narrowed as he analyzed the enemy with a frown. How can this be? He pondered with confusion. I'm superior in both stats and swordsmanship. There's no reason for me to be overwhelmed by Archer's style. He must be using some kind of magic trick… but if I deal with him calmly, he's an opponent I can kill.

Emiya observed him as well. High endurance, monstrous reflexes and an armor that covers almost his whole body, he studied him with an analytical eye. A half-baked attack won't go through this time. Above all, that Mana Burst is dangerous. If I take a direct hit, it will crush both my swords and my bones. I can handle my body fine, but at this rate, I'll be overwhelmed.

Their thinking went on only for a few seconds. The standoff did not last long, and the rematch began without any warning.

Saber attacked, and Archer defended himself. The composition remained unchanged from the beginning. The battle was in a stalemate, despite Saber's disbelief. And while the Servants exchanged a long series of slashes and blows, both of them trying and failing to overcome the other, the King of Knights couldn't help but be in awe in front of his enemy's skills.

"What kind of Archer are you?" he asked, his invisible sword clashing against the twin blades with a rain of sparks. There was no rage in his voice, no hint of frustration or disbelief. Only wonder and respect. "I know of no man who can defend himself this much."

Emiya grunted in effort, struggling against the enemy's superior strength with both arms. "Who knows? I myself don't know much about it," he answered, focusing all his efforts in the clash in order to block and avoid the enemy's attacks.

Eventually, Saber's superior skills overwhelmed him. The invisible sword flipped away Archer's twin blades with a powerful and resolute swing, leaving him stunned for a moment. However, by the time Saber moved to attack him, Archer had already solidified his defense and summoned another pair of twin swords, deflecting the attack in spite of his battered body, just like before. Exactly like before.

King Arthur could not believe his eyes. How many swords does he have hidden? It's the same Noble Phantasm. Are those twin swords with the ability of split system? he pondered in suspicion as he disarmed the enemy a third time, only for him to summon the blades back with little to no effort.

But while Saber was thinking about Archer's skills, Archer was thinking about Saber as well.

After all, had he been fighting any other Heroic Spirit, the current stalemate would not have been possible. His ability to survive and fight was only because he had a familiarity with the sword the enemy wielded.

This King Arthur was not the same one he was familiar with. He was more powerful, more dangerous, and his sword had a longer range. Even his opposite gender was an obvious difference from the woman he once knew and respected. However, at the same time, he was remarkably similar to her. His movements, his face, his style… all of him, it was painfully familiar. No matter how much Emiya tried to focus on the differences, he couldn't help but notice how, in spite of everything, they were the same, albeit opposed.

His swings, his feints, his stance. Even the way he moved was exactly the same. Archer could not mistake it for any reason, especially in this occasion, when the memories of his previous Wars had remained with him. As he watched and fought against the male King of Knights of this world, he could almost glimpse the very same girl of his memories, fighting in the dojo with a wooden sword and glaring at him with that exact same stare. The movements were the same. The stance was the same. The footwork, the lunges, the swings; everything. It was all the same.

The Servant in front of him was King Arthur. Not the one he was familiar with, and yet the same in spite of everything. Male and female, man and woman… at their very core, they were the same. Those two irreconcilable sensibilities were rooted within this Knight in silver armor with an exquisite balance. Archer felt a sense of nostalgia in his very own roots with that realization. A feeling that he could not hold back no matter what, even after all this time and everything he'd been through.

Yes, this swordsmanship was hers― Artoria's.

For Emiya, fighting the Knight in front of him right now felt like looking in a twisted mirror. It felt familiar, like the feeling of memories of a distant past, when he was still a boy talking about naive ideals and chasing a misguided dream. The image of the girl he had met on that fateful night shone unfadingly in his memory, worn out by despair and madness. The memory of the girl training him in the dojo, slashing against him incessantly.

That was the only reason he was able to keep up.

A girl and a boy. A king and fool. Emiya and Artoria.

Those two who were born in different times and grew up in different environments, strangely looked up to the same dream. To the same goal. To the same teacher.

Artoria and Arthur were born as geniuses. They were born geniuses of swordsmanship, trained since young age, and reached greatness through their deeds and their choice to chase the ideal of peace and the dream of a just kingdom.

On the other hand, Emiya was born as an incompetent swordsman. He was born a simple boy. But even though he knew he couldn't reach the girl's heights, he had spent his entire life trying to reach the same dream.

The origin of those two was the same. It was this one point.

Two people who dreamed of the same goal, clashing against each other again and again.

However, the feast of those dreams could not last forever.

The sword fight that seemed to last forever came to a halt in less than an instant.

Emiya widened his eyes, staring with a growing sense of tension as Saber raised his sword above the head, aiming a slash infused with a powerful amount of mana to his chest. He barely had time to react on instinct, raising his arms to deflect the attack before his entire body could be cut in half. Kanshou and Bakuya clashed against the invisible blade with a shower of sparks, cracking and shattering under the unyielding power of the King of Knights with an explosion of metal and dust.

Archer could do nothing to defend himself when the shockwave slammed against him like a hammer of wind, sending him backwards for a few meters, his feet stumbling on the ground. He fought hard to keep his balance as he retreated from the opponent, his body covered in bruises and cuts, his chest rising and lowering as he panted in fatigue, and his face coated in sweat. He had lacerations all over his body, but they were all just scratches. On the other hand, instead, Saber was hardly breathing heavy even after their whole exchange, his face devoid of emotions and his emerald eyes narrowed in an unreadable expression. He was completely unharmed except for the small cut on his arm. However, he kept his distance from Archer all the same.

King Arthur stared at him. "Your skills are admirable. However, at this rate, you won't be able to resist much longer," he stated with a serious tone.

Emiya gulped air with his mouth as he tried to regain breath. This was just a preliminary skirmish, and he knew it extremely well. There was no need to rush to settle things against Saber, at least on Archer's side. He had never started this fight believing he could win, for that was not his objective.

"It's the only way I can keep up," Emiya shrugged. "I knew from the beginning that I'm no match against you, oh noblest of lieges."

Saber's eyes narrowed further. Archer did not miss the way his body stiffened at his little jab. "Are you perhaps familiar with me?" he demanded with a solemn tone. His emerald eyes were glaring daggers at him, and Emiya couldn't help but flinch at how familiar that stare was. "Forgive my suddenness, but the way you fought was… are you able to read my mind?"

As expected, his instinct was dangerous. Emiya was almost tempted to smile in amusement. The King of Knights had realized that Archer was able to read his sword style and movements even in such a short amount of time. However, he couldn't guess how it was possible, and that was something to be expected.

In fact, Saber's hypothesis was not far from the truth. Archer wasn't able to read his mind, obviously, but he was able to read him. His ability to predict Saber's movements was due to the fact that he had already witnessed his swordsmanship in the past. He had witnessed the way Artoria – and consequently, Arthur – fought countless times during his life, both with her and against her; over and over again. So, it was part Magecraft, and part familiarity. That was the reason why he had been able to fight against Saber at close range for so long.

Not that he would say that out loud, of course. He wasn't that stupid.

Instead, Emiya kept his expression neutral in front of the enemy's glare. "Who knows?" he answered with sarcasm, placing a hand on his hip.

Arthur did not relent. "Are you hiding something?" he pressed.

He wouldn't budge. "I wonder… too bad you'll never find out."

Saber glared at him with suspicion. However, his lips soon parted into a confident smile. "Very well. We've come this far, so I'll be with you until the end, Archer," he declared, raising his sword into a familiar position.

Emiya widened his eyes as something unexpected happened. With a sudden release of energy and prana, in fact, the wind surrounding Saber's invisible blade suddenly moaned and raged like a tornado. Then, after two seconds of absolute silence, the Invisible Air was released from the weapon, and Archer felt his gaze narrow in stupor as the legendary blade of the King of Britain finally appeared to life with a bellowing roar of wind.

Excalibur, the Holy Sword of Promised Victory, revealed itself with a golden flash.

Archer stared at the weapon with amazement, his eyes immediately moving to Structurally Analyze the Divine Construct wielded by the King of Knights. Just as he had predicted, this sword was different from Artoria's; and yet, at the same time, it was extremely similar. A refined and holy weapon of wondrous sight with an elegant handle and a golden pommel. A golden blade made of blinding light, able to repel any evil, built to defeat an outside enemy that threatened to destroy the planet. It was larger and slightly longer compared to Artoria's sword, but the style and the power was unmistakably the same.

It was the exact same power, and Archer could not mistake it for any reason. There was no way he could ever forget that light.

"In regards to your skills, I shall fight you with all I've got," Arthur Pendragon declared with utmost decision. "I have no need to conceal my blade against you, Archer. Now come! Let's face each other to the death!"

Faced by the sight of the Holy Sword, Archer was almost tempted to comply to his will. However, he did not scramble this time. His one and only priority was bringing victory to his Master, and the girl had given him the clear order of remaining alive at any cost. And above all, if he continued to fight with Saber in close range, at this rate he was probably going to be killed. If he wanted to win, he had to fight under the best conditions, and not indulge him in a battle of swords. Emiya was an Archer, after all. Thus: there was only one thing he had to do.

It was time to retreat and change tactics.

Emiya spared a glace in his Master's direction, and his eyes widened slightly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept that invitation," he said with cold tone of voice, his face betraying not even an ounce of emotion. "We'll have to finish this in another manner."

Before Saber could lash out at him and attack, Archer activated his Reality Marble with a mental command. He projected three daggers in the air and stabbed them at Saber's feet. The King of Knights stared at him in confusion and wonder, stunned by the sudden way he had projected those weapons, and he was caught unawares for a moment. But for Emiya, it was more than enough. A single second was all he needed. After all, according to Emiya's knowledge and experiences, there was one thing that the King of Knights always maintained in every 'route', no matter the world he or she lived and no matter what role he or she had, be it the King or a simple human.

Naivety.

Archer uttered a spell while staring at Saber's tense face, smiling in triumph as the King jumped back with a powerful leap.

"Broken Phantasm: Illusion."

Immediately, a violent flash of light covered the square. The daggers exploded all at once, creating an earthquake that shook both heaven and earth for what seemed to be an eternity. The ground, which had already been severely damaged during the battle between the two Servants and could no longer be used as battlefield, simply collapsed on itself, creating a wide and deep crater of nothing. And as soon as his jump ended, Saber could do nothing but fall along the debris when his feet landed on the crumbling ground.

"What the― You!"

Saber fell with the rubble and concrete, and Emiya dashed away in the opposite direction, ignoring his muffled cries of indignation.

But the King's cries were in vain, because Archer never returned.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

I watch my Master's face with a serious expression. Despite my better judgment, I cannot fully contain my sarcasm given the situation. "I thought your policy was to avoid things you know are beyond you," I point out with a straight face.

Rin smiles a little. "It is. But don't you think this is a special case?" she asks me back while walking towards the edge of the rooftop.

I sigh as I rise myself from my sitting position. "You won't be satisfied until you start a fight, huh?"

For once, she remains silent. We both know that she won't back down from this.

The glare I send her from behind is absolutely withering. "You're willingly ignoring an easily-defeated opponent to go after the most difficult one."

I didn't mean to, but I cannot contain the irritation from my statement. She knows that I'm right.

Rin ignores it all the same. "It's fine," she replies stoically. "We can take him out whenever we want. I'm just choosing to ignore him, as long as he stays hidden at home."

I stare at her, long and hard. My eyes narrow even further. "Then, what if Emiya Shirou comes to you, still choosing to ignore that he is a Master?" I demand in all seriousness.

For a long while, silence and wind are my only answer. Rin stares at the world below with an unreadable face.

"…I'll kill him," she answers after a while. "I owe nothing to someone who doesn't understand that."

Hearing her answer, I fight hard to contain my satisfied smirk.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Despite the tense situation, Artoria remained calm. Enclosed within the enemy's Bounded Filed, she glimpsed something happening on the other side of the square, and her lips twitched upwards, unfazed by the feeling of death looming over her.

Rin noticed her reaction all too well. She narrowed her eyes in confusion, but she had no time to react or fully unleash the attack.

On the contrary, the heir of the Tohsaka family visibly jumped in shock when a sudden flash of light blinded the entire square. "W-What the―?!"

She didn't have time to move or finish her spell. Not even a moment later, in fact, a powerful gust of air slammed against her face, and the girl with raven hair yelped in surprise when the wind roared all around her, blocking her sight for a few moments. However, thanks to a silent feeling in the back of her head, she still managed to faintly feel something fast and precise rush past her with unprecedented speed, clashing against the walls of her Bounded Field with a powerful shockwave and shattering the barrier with ease.

Overwhelmed by the wind, the girl fell to the ground on her butt, and she stared with wide eyes as the red Archer broke through the Magic walls of her Bounded Field with his entire body, rushing inside the circle with a speed that no human could ever possess. Before she could fully release her rain of Gandr Shots over Artoria, the enemy Servant had already picked her up with one arm, holding his Master by the legs like a parent carrying his child, and dashing away at maximum speed while keeping his eyes focused on her. The Bounded Field shattered, its Magic Circle disappearing completely, and Rin could not believe her eyes.

Archer's body shot out of the barrier like a living bullet, his rescue attempt having been successful, and then halted his escape abruptly; kneeling a little as his legs slid on the ground for a few meters. Artoria was now safely held in his arm, while the tall Servant kept Bakuya pointed at the enemy Master with his eyes narrowed on the target.

"Are you ok, Master?" he asked her with a serious tone, his eyes not once leaving the girl with raven hair placed on the ground a dozen of meters away from them.

The girl with golden hair nodded, her body held by the Servant's strong arm. "I'm fine," she reassured him. "Thank you for the rescue, Archer. She caught me unprepared this time, and I was careless for a moment. You saved me."

"Of course. That's my job," was all he said.

Rin fumbled back on her feet, inwardly cursing as she realized that her victory had been completely foiled, and she turned to glare and yell at the enemies with a waspish voice. "How is this possib―!?"

Before she could say more, the girl glimpsed something flashing before her eyes once more. Tohsaka openly yelped a second time when she saw Archer's second sword – Kanshou – suddenly rain down from the sky right in front of her face, sticking into the ground just a few inches from her. The girl jumped back in shock and fear, falling to the ground a second time. She openly trembled as she realized that the blade had been dangerously close to hit her. She was alive by miracle right now.

Rin stared at the dark shortsword in front of her with a pale expression.

Archer fixed her with a narrowed stare. "You know how easy it would be for me to skewer you right now, right?" he spoke with a blank tone. There was no need to mention that he had willingly chose to miss with his previous attack. He knew she was smart enough to figure it out herself. "You'd better behave if you care about your life. I won't allow you to kill my Master."

Rin openly glowered at him. Archer ignored the way that glare was so painfully familiar to him. "So that's how it is…" she hissed in frustration.

Emiya straightened himself, placing his Master to the ground with a gentle movement. "Correct. I could have killed you with disarming ease just now. I refrained myself only because I know my Master would not wish for this battle to be ended that way," he spoke with utmost seriousness. However, his voice betrayed a hint of sarcasm at this point. "You should really be grateful right now, young lady."

Artoria beamed at him with admiration, her cheeks visibly flushed by a little pink.

Tohsaka's cheeks were red as well, but for anger and embarrassment. "W-Why you-! You'll pay for this, just you wait!" she exclaimed with her loud, waspish voice. She spun her head to the left with so much speed that her neck seemed to crack, her eyes glowing with immeasurable outrage. "Saber!"

The reaction was immediate. From the crater created by Archer's Broken Phantasms, a gigantic burst of energy and wind suddenly exploded with force. Dozens of blocks of concrete and debris rained down from the sky, and a column of golden light shone in the middle of the night for a split-second. Artoria and Emiya watched in silence as a figure leaped out of the crater with a lightning-fast movement – the former with fear and the latter with focused calm – slamming itself on the ground and landing right in front of Rin with a shockwave.

The Servant of the Saber class had reappeared in less than an instant, looking completely unharmed and unfazed from the previous attack, except for the dirt and dust now covering his face and armor. His emerald eyes were openly glaring at Emiya with unrestrained irritation, his face morphed into a familiar scowl while he gripped the hilt of his now uncovered sword with a strong grip. Archer paid him no mind, focusing on the golden blade instead.

A few seconds of silence fell amid the ruined square of Fuyuki City.

Upon making sure that his Master was alright, Saber was the first to break the silent standoff. "…you really are something else," he spoke with a cold tone of voice. Emiya didn't need read between the lines to know that he was pissed at him right now. His voice was tinged by clear anger and frustration, and Artoria was visibly growing tense in front of his scowl. "To willingly use such unorthodox methods during a duel… perhaps I misjudged you, Archer. I will let it slide, but only because you did so in order to save your Master. I can respect that, despite my dislike for your actions."

Emiya did not react to his words. Even if he didn't show it, he was inwardly conflicted right now. Even if this Servant was not the one he was familiar with, earning the respect of the King of Knights was something he didn't know how to process. He simply couldn't help it. That girl's image was still engraved in his soul even after all this time, and he could clearly see that this King and the one he knew were the same. His respect still meant much to him, no matter how hard he tried to ignore that thought.

He shook his head. "Funny hearing you say that, after luring us here to a trap," he replied back with a shrug, sarcastic. "You and your Master should have stayed cowed in the shadows, or else learn some respect. Not all of us are so proud as you."

He expected Saber to only grow angrier at his words, but something in what he had said seemed to land home. Saber gritted his teeth in reluctant acceptance, while Rin openly bristled in outrage. "I see. Even if there was no honor in your fighting style, you still possess your own code," the King mused, glaring at him. "I could feel your resolve during our fight, along with a sense of… familiarity. Kinship. You didn't even hesitate to trick me in order to save the girl. Tell me, why did you spare my Master?"

Broad shoulders shrugged as Archer smirked. "What? You don't like to be indebted to someone?" he asked with sarcasm, his expression sly and knowing.

His taunt would have fallen on deaf ears if his enemy had been any other Master or Servant… but Archer knew both Rin and Saber well enough to say that they were extremely prideful people. As such, he knew that they now felt indebted to him, and he was more than willing to use that debt to his advantage. That was the reason why he had willingly chosen not to kill Tohsaka with his attack while Saber was momentarily stunned by his previous trick. This fact alone had greatly increased their chance of survival right now, and Emiya always acted in order to obtain the best possible outcome in every situation.

Apparently, both Saber and his Master had begun to realize that as well. "Are you that desperate to win the Grail?" the King of Knights demanded angrily, feeling clearly irritated by this sudden outcome.

Are we really that similar? He also mused to himself, unable to keep his curiosity in check. The Servant in front of him right now was just too intriguing for some reason.

Much to Saber and Rin's shock, however, Emiya shook his head after sparing a glance to Artoria. "Sorry to disappoint, but the Grail doesn't interest me," he replied, completely unimpressed.

Saber narrowed his eyes. "…then why do you fight?" he demanded again.

Archer snorted. That question gave him a headache every time. "I've never fought for some great cause. However, I'll play your ideology game. If I had to come up with a reason why I fight…" he took a quick glance at Artoria, smirking a little as he saw her eyes boring holes in his frame. "Then I wield my swords so that my Master has the right to choose a life that will make her happy," he answered.

For once, his answer was completely true. And the red blush spreading on the girl's face was definitely amusing to watch.

Saber fixed him with a long stare. "Servants are supposed to defend their Master's lives, not their wishes."

"You say that, and yet you fight a selfish battle yourself," Emiya countered, unfazed. "All you do is obey that young lady because you want to win as well. After hearing your previous question, I'm ready to guess – no, I willing to bet that you desire the Grail for some reason. Can't you see your selflessness is actually selfish, Saber?"

King Arthur narrowed his eyes. "I see… I disagree, but your answer seems correct in theory." He readied his stance all of a sudden, pointing his golden blade at the tanned Archer. "Now prove it on the battlefield."

"That's right! Show them who's boss, Saber!" Rin cheered with a resolute tone, glaring at Archer and his Master.

But Archer wouldn't budge. "No," he stated, firm and resolute. He didn't move an inch, didn't pay mind to the enemy's blade pointed at him. His resolve clearly surprised his previous Master and the male King of Knights. Even Artoria was looking at him in wonder. "I spared your Master's life, so you will spare me this fight. Leave us be, and I'll consider your debt paid. We'll settle this another time, but not today."

King Arthur tensed slightly. "…you're slyer than I thought. Do you not prefer to fight honorably as before? I swear we will let your Master live if―"

"Honorably?" Emiya repeated with sarcasm, narrowing his eyes. "If you can draw 'honor' from slaying a battered Servant who showed you mercy, then by all means," he mocked him, pointing to his wounded body filled with cuts.

Saber broke his stance, his face scrunching up in bitter submission. Archer inwardly laughed at his conflicted expression. This Arthur could be different, but he knew the King of Knights well enough to know that he had landed a low blow with that one. Saber – both male and female indiscriminately – would never do something that willingly went against their code. Especially in the current situation.

Minutes earlier, the honorable King of Knights had already attacked them without revealing himself, after all. He wouldn't – couldn't – do something so dishonorable and disgraceful again. Once? He could overlook that. But twice? Saber wasn't that kind of person, and Emiya knew that extremely well. That was why he didn't hesitate to use this fact against him. That was where he and Saber truly differed. Saber was a King of honor, but Archer was cunning monster. He cared not for honor and codes, but ensuring his Master's safety was his top priority. He wouldn't hesitate to make Saber suffer and struggle as long as he and Artoria could claw their way out of this situation alive.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Emiya could clearly see Saber's conflicted feelings as he pondered his words carefully over and over, his mind struggling to decide what to do. He didn't need to be able to read other people's mind to know that King Arthur was currently fighting with himself. One part of him – the one still attached to his Knightly Code – was bound to honor, to duty, and it was begging him to follow his moral code and leave them be because the enemy had showed mercy towards his Master. But on the other hand, another part of him – the more desperate, rational side of his character – also knew that missing this chance could be a severe mistake on his part. Archer was wounded, clearly tired, and definitely more fatigued compared to him; so to finish him off right now would be advantageous. It would be for the best, considering the battles to come. One less enemy from the chessboard was not something that could be easily overlooked, and both him and Archer knew it extremely well.

But that is fine, Emiya reasoned. All I needed to do was to buy some time. There's no need to rely on the enemy's choice.

His plan had already set in motion.

Unable to decide, Saber did the only thing he could: he turned towards his Master with a questioning glance. Just as expected, Rin shook her head. "Don't even think about it, Saber. We cannot miss this chance. Finish him," she ordered with a resolute voice.

And equally as expected, Saber seemed hesitant to obey her will. Emiya openly smirked while Artoria swallowed in nervousness.

"Master… he spared your life," Saber tried to say. "I hate to admit it, but we are in his debt. Please reconsider. My code―"

"Aaah, Mou! I don't care!" Tohsaka raged with an indecisive scowl. Her face was beet red in both anger and embarrassment. "If he chose to be foolish during a War, that's his problem! Now unleash your Noble Phantasm and finish this! If you won't do it, I'll use a Command Seal!"

He did not show it outwardly, but Archer was inwardly impressed by her reaction. Hm. It seems you've grown more resolute in this world. A real Master would not hesitate to go against their pride during a War, he mused with a smile. Good grief, I should have known. You always manage to surprise me in one way or another, Rin.

Saber looked clearly unhappy with her decision. However, he resigned himself with a sigh. "…as you wish, Master," he relented in the end, gritting his teeth in frustration.

The King in silver armor turned to them again, a glint of shame flashing in his eyes, and raised his golden blade into a familiar stance.

Artoria and Archer watched with tense bodies as Saber raised his luminous sword with both arms, holding it above his head. Excalibur's golden blade began to glow with energy, becoming brighter and brighter; more blinding and more dazzling. In less than two seconds, small bits of light began to appear around it. Little golden bits, like fireflies flying in the night; emerging out of the ground, from the trees around the square and even from the air itself. They glowed and glowed and glowed, accumulating and merging into the blade of the Holy Sword, making it become more and more majestic and dazzling as the seconds passed.

The more she stared, the more Artoria paled as she watched Saber and his golden blade. Her eyes visibly widened in a mixture of shock and awe in front of that sight. "A-Archer… what is that?" she exclaimed in stunned disbelief.

But Emiya remained calm and collected. His face did not show any kind of emotion in front of that majestic brilliance. "As expected from the King of Knights. Your blade is truly exceptional, oh noblest of lieges," he spoke with a blank tone, looking completely calm despite the tense situation.

Everyone – and I do mean everyone – tensed and stiffened in a very obvious way after hearing his words. Rin jumped and widened her eyes, Artoria startled and gaped. And Saber… Saber narrowed his eyes with a frown, momentarily stopping his focus to stare at Archer with disbelief.

"…so you really do know my True Name," he realized with a soft tone, lowering his arms and interrupting the attack.

Emiya didn't bother to reply. The stunned silence around him was deafening.

"What?! How can this be?!" Rin exclaimed in complete loss, unable to understand. However, the more she realized that Archer was indeed aware of her Servant's identity, the more panicked she grew. "Saber, what are you doing? Unleash your power now, before it's too late!"

"…it is already too late, Master," Saber replied with a serious tone. His sword snapped with a loud hiss, the golden light fading immediately as Invisible Air began to cover the blade once again. "I underestimated his cunning, and now we are paying the price. My apologies."

Emiya kept his rude smirk to a minimum. "There's no way a Servant would mistake that golden sword," he tried to deflect with a casual tone. "That's why you kept it hidden, isn't it? Unlike me, you're easily recognizable thanks to it."

The King of Knights clenched a fist at his answer, his face a mask of suspicion and growing tension. All the while, Artoria's eyes glanced between them in confusion, utterly unable to understand what was happening right now. "Archer, what is the meaning of this? Have you really figured out his True Name?" she asked, moving closer to the tall and muscular Servant. Her emerald eyes were drilling on him with sheer intensity as he remained still with his gaze glued to Saber's face.

Heroic Spirit Emiya answered with a sharp nod. "I have. There's no way I can be mistaken."

And unfortunately for us both, you won't like what you're about to hear, he thought with sadness.

He was about to speak again, but he found himself unable to do so.

Because right at that moment, just like Archer had hoped, something happened.

A powerful screech echoed all of a sudden.

Everyone snapped their heads up, and the girls widened their eyes in shock. A strange creature was flying above their heads, high in the night sky. A Phantasmal Beast that was essentially an "impossible" existence, recorded solely on legends from ancient times: a Hippogriff. It was an elegant beast with raven wings, an eagle's head and a horse's body, darting through the clouds with an impressive speed. Artoria, Emiya and their opponents stared at it with wide eyes, noticing with no small surprise that there were two people riding the winged beast as it descended towards the ground.

Suddenly, the hippogriff let out a sharp cry, flying through the air with disarming speed and landing in the middle of the ruined square, right between the two groups engaged in verbal combat. As its paws touched the ground, the beast generated a gust of wind that enveloped everything for tens of meters, leaving both Artoria and Rin breathless by the display. On the other hand, Archer and Saber stared at the newcomers with narrowed eyes.

"Aaaalright!" Charlemagne cried with a boisterous voice, dismounting from the Hippogriff with a single jump and spreading his arms wide. "Adventure! Adventure is calling! This excitement is as refreshing as a glass of water after an intense workout!"

Lord El-Melloi II stepped right behind him, donning a hand over his face. "Rider, you haven't done anything yet. Stop being so enthusiastic," he reprimanded him with an annoyed tone.

Everyone stared at them in confusion, especially Rin and Saber.

Archer exhaled a sigh despite his annoyance. He closed his eyes in a gesture of relief. "Good, you're here at last. I was starting to wonder if you'd ever decide to come," he spoke with sarcasm, his shoulders relaxing a bit as the previous tension began to slowly leave his body.

Confused and stunned, Artoria turned to him. "What do you mean? You were expecting them?" she asked him through their mental bond.

Emiya almost smirked at her face. "Of course. Why do you think I kept stalling those two for so long? Buying us time was my main strategy from the beginning," he explained.

"You two were taking so long to come to our agreed location that we grew worried," Waver Velvet stepped towards Artoria and her Servant at that moment, rousing them out of their silent discussion. "We thought something had happened, so we went looking for you."

The girl with golden hair exhaled a sigh of relief. Words could not express how relieved she was now that their allies were here. Her arms lowered a bit as she loosed her grip on the katana. "You have my thanks, Lord El-Melloi II. You just saved us from a very tense situation," she thanked him with a grateful nod. Despite her visible relief, however, her eyes did not leave her targets even once. Archer was pretty much the same.

Waver's narrowed stare glanced at Rin and Saber with a solemn expression, his expression growing grim. "Indeed. It seems we were right to worry," he mused with sarcasm.

"Hey! Are those Saber and his Master? They look pretty cool!" Charlemagne exclaimed upon seeing Rin and her Servant, smiling with a cheerful voice and a carefree behavior. The winged Hippogriff moved to stand closer to him as he grinned. "Is this the girl you mentioned to me yesterday, Master?"

The Magus from the Clock Tower nodded, placing himself next to Artoria and Emiya. "That is correct. Long time no see, Miss Tohsaka. You look well," he spoke with a cordial tone. A fake one, but it was cordial nonetheless. His face was completely stoic as he gazed at the girl with raven hair as if he was staring at troublesome child.

Rin's brow visibly twitched in annoyance. "Lord El-Melloi," she grunted with a dismissive voice. "I see that you've been chosen to participate in the War. Good grief… seriously? Using a Master from the previous War? The Clock Tower has no originality, really."

"The second," Waver stressed, looking no less annoyed than her before composing himself. "But on that I agree. I loathe the role I've been assigned to quite a lot. But unfortunately, I'm in no position to complain about it. I will do what I must."

His stoic eyes moved to stare at Rin's Servant, and his gaze narrowed even further. Emiya took notice of that immediately. "I knew you had been chosen as a Master, given your lineage, but I wasn't expecting you to summon Saber, of all Servants," he admitted with a slightly surprised tone. "Not to mention this one, of all Heroes."

Artoria and Emiya turned to him in visible confusion.

Saber stared back at the man with an unreadable face. The slightest furrowing of his brows was his only reaction. "You… you're the boy from that time," he realized after a moment of pondering, widening his eyes slightly.

Lord El-Melloi II smiled. "Indeed. I'm surprised you remember. Servants are not supposed to recall the events of their previous summonings… but I suppose you're an exception. As expected from the King of Knights," he mused with sarcasm (much to Rin's growing annoyance)

Artoria, however, jolted in surprise after hearing that title for the second time.

"T-The King… of Knights?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emiya glanced at her, keeping his expression neutral.

Waver Velvet nodded while Rider dismissed his Hippogriff and moved to stand next to them. "Indeed. That Servant over there is none other than King Arthur, Britain's greatest ruler, your very own ancestor… and the Saber class Servant I've met during the Fourth Holy Grail War," he revealed with a hushed voice, looking and sounding completely serious as he spoke.

Upon hearing that, the breath from Artoria's lungs disappeared all of a sudden. Her eyes widened out of human proportions.

Rin and Saber, instead, narrowed their eyes in clear irritation.

Archer crossed his arms, staring at Saber's furrowed face with a critical eye. So it's as I thought. Just like the Saber from my previous timelines, he was summoned twice too, he realized, digesting the information without exposing his doubts and suspicion. So far, that is the only similarity I've found with my previous experiences. It cannot be a coincidence.

Charlemagne whistled in amazement. "He does look like a King," he mused with interest, placing a hand under his chin as he studied the other Servant closely, like a child who had found himself in front of something extremely intriguing. His lips parted into a wide grin while his eyes gleamed. "He seems cool! Way cooler than what I've expected!"

Saber's only reaction to Rider was a blank stare.

Rin stomped a foot on the ground all of a sudden, grabbing everyone's attention. "Enough with the nonsense, Lord El-Melloi II. Why are you here?" she demanded, crossing her arms with a haughty movement. "Do you intend to interfere between our fight?"

Waver exchanged a silent glance with Emiya. Artoria was too busy staring at Saber with her mouth agape to notice. Seeing his subtle nod of confirmation, the black-haired Lord smirked.

"I'm sorry to break it to you, but this girl and I have formed an alliance," he stated with a causal tone, surprising both Master and Servant with his statement. Emiya and the others did not miss the way they two of them tensed at the revelation. "We've discussed it yesterday, and we've already agreed to it. Therefore, as it is expected during a partnership, me and my Rider cannot stand by and watch when our allies are in danger. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Tohsaka?"

The silence that fell amid the street of Fuyuki City was absolute and filled with tension. The not-so-subtle message was clear.

If you want to continue this, me and Rider will join the fight against you.

It wasn't a good prospect for Rin, even with King Arthur at her side. And she knew that extremely well.

Rin Tohsaka glared at Waver Velvet. Waver Velvet stared blankly at Rin Tohsaka.

Until, after a long while, the girl with raven hair finally clicked her tongue with irritation. "Tch. Just you wait, Lord El-Melloi," she stated with a peculiar tone of voice. Emiya instantly recognized it, for he was awfully familiar with it: it was haughty, resolute, and tinged with a distinct note of stubbornness. The exact same tone that 'his' Rin had used with him every time she was unable to hide her nervousness during the previous Wars. "It doesn't matter if you've made an alliance with them: this won't end well for you. I will never agree with the Clock Tower's decision. The Dismantlement of the Greater Grail is not for you to decide."

The man merely quirked his lips upwards. "We shall see," was all he said.

That only made her bristle further. However, no matter how competitive and stubborn she was, Rin was no fool. She knew when she was outmatched, and she had no problem to admit it in spite of her pride. Thus: she restrained her anger, and took a deep breath to compose herself.

"Saber," she called, turning around in a swift movement and starting to walk away with a casual pace. "We're leaving."

Upon hearing his Master's order, the King of Knights dismissed his invisible sword. He spared a silent glance between Rin and the others, not uttering a single word. However, his eyes darted between Artoria and Emiya more than once with furrowed brows, focusing his gaze on the Archer especially for a few seconds that – to him – felt like an eternity.

Then, he closed his eyes, and with no further ado, he moved to follow his Master at once, disappearing along with her amid the dark of the night.

Seconds passed, followed by silence.

Then, the tension in the air finally disappeared.

When their presence disappeared as well, Artoria and Emiya exhaled a weary breath.

Lord El-Melloi II took out a cigar from a pocket with a sigh. "You guys just barely avoided a certain death, you know that?" he asked them with obvious sarcasm.

For once, Emiya agreed with him. In full. "So it would seem," he admitted in self-mockery, closing his eyes and placing a hand over his hip. "You guys saved my life, actually."

"By the way, are you ok, Archer?" Rider asked him, looking at Emiya's battered body filled with cuts and bruises with a raised brow. His face deadpanned at his nonchalant expression. "You look, well… you know…"

Archer merely sighed. "I'll live. Don't worry about me, Rider," he dismissed his worries with a wave of the hand. Instead, he focused his attention on his Master, and he immediately noticed that something was wrong. The poor girl had an empty expression on her face, with her eyes lowered to the ground and her gaze devoid of focus. But her clenched fists and trembling arms were clearly obvious to see.

Emiya sighed. He really should have expected this kind of reaction from her. Therefore, he resigned himself to carry out his duty as a Servant once again. "Can you give us a moment?" he asked, glancing at Waver and Rider. "This won't take long, I promise. We'll talk more in a minute."

The two of them understood what he meant with a single glance. They nodded wordlessly, stepping away from the two and moving to check the surroundings instead.

When they were finally alone, Archer turned to his Master in full. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Master… are you alright?" he asked, softly and gently.

Artoria nodded once. Twice. She hesitated for a second, then nodded thrice. "Yes. Yes, I'm… I'm alright," she tried to reassure him with a low voice, sheathing her sword with a habitual movement.

It didn't work. "What's wrong?" he insisted.

She shook her head. "It's nothing. Think nothing of it," she stammered.

"Master…"

Her head lowered further. She hid her eyes from him.

"King Arthur," she stated after a ten seconds of silence, blinking unsteadily in order to quell her raging emotions. "You knew?"

Emiya stared at her in cryptic silence. "Yes," he admitted after a while. "I recognized the sword he wielded during our battle. There's no Servant who would mistake that radiance. Excalibur. Its legend is just too well-known."

She nodded. "I see… I suppose we know now why I wasn't able to summon him."

He nodded as well. "Now we know. And I'm sorry."

Her head snapped up, her eyes wide and stunned. "W-What?" she breathed.

"Saber is strong. Perhaps the strongest Servant summoned in this War," he explained with a serious tone. His eyes lowered with sincere regret, and he kneeled on the ground to reach her eye-level. "If you had managed to summon him, I'm sure that your victory would have been as good as granted. Instead, you're stuck with a worthless, nameless Archer like me… and I'm sorry for that."

Artoria shook her head. "N-No, no; it's not true! You're not worthless, Archer!" she denied immediately. Her hands grabbed his head all of a sudden, and Emiya's eyes rose to meet her teary gaze with silent stupor. Even now he remained stunned by the clarity of her green orbs. "The summoning's result was not your fault. I don't care about that anymore." She lowered her eyes a bit after those words, looking almost shy for some reason. "Actually, to be honest… I'm glad that I've summoned you."

Emiya blinked, confused. "You are?"

She nodded, her cheeks tinged with red. "When I realized who Saber was, I felt… empty," she admitted. "Angry. The more I looked at him, the more I realized that the help I desired from him was not out of admiration and hope, but out of anger and resentment. I… I was taken aback by my own anger. That's why I needed a moment to recollect myself, and also why I'm glad to have you at my side. I prefer to be with someone I admire instead of following someone I'm constantly angry at."

He raised a brow as an impossible thought entered inside his head.

"So you're saying that you admire me more than your ancestor?" Archer asked, perplexed.

Artoria wouldn't meet his eyes, but her face become even more flushed. It was honestly amusing to watch.

"I-I do," she admitted with a stutter. Her hands grew warmer on his cheeks, and Emiya instantly realized that she had started to infuse Mana on his body to heal his wounds through contact. "So far, King Arthur's legacy has brought nothing but misery to me, and he even attempted to kill me tonight. You, on the other hand… you've done nothing but help me in spite of my flaws, and you've never turned your back on me even during your fights. Actually, you saved my life today, so… yeah. Of course I admire you more than him."

Emiya just stared at her face blankly, unable to understand. He knew he did not deserve her admiration. All he had done was just what any other Servant would have done for their Master, including saving her life. It was his duty and his contract. She had no reason to prefer a fake and worthless monster like him to the proud and just King Arthur. She was simply selling Arthur's point of view short. He did not deserve―

Artoria's hands caressed him gently. Her smile was radiant as the sun.

"I may not know your name, Archer, but to me… you are a much greater Hero than King Arthur will ever be."

…

Ok, that wasn't fair. It was a low blow.

…

Emiya snorted a little, but the smile on his face grew despite his attempts to remain stoic. "Hmph. My stats and wounds say otherwise," he joked dryly.

"But you did manage to hold your own against him, didn't you?" she pried further with sly grin.

Damn it. She was more attentive than he thought. Archer cursed himself. "Perhaps. But I wouldn't have lasted much longer. He's way more powerful than me. Stalling him was the best I could do," he rebutted, almost stubbornly.

For some reason, his stubborn denial did not upset her. On the contrary, it seemed weirdly endearing to her. He really was childish at times. "And that is why I admire you. You fought with all your might to stand against a stronger opponent, and still managed to resist until the end," she praised him, a distinct note of pride entering her voice. "The way you must earn everything under your limited power alone… that is your greatness, Archer. That is your worth. And I admire you immensely for that."

Emiya fought hard to keep his face neutral. He was seriously risking to blush here. Instead, he rose from his kneeling position once his wounds were completely healed, shaking his head in mirth with a small chuckle while the young Master openly pouted at his dismissive behavior. But even if he did not show it on the outside, the gratitude he was feeling inside would forever be etched in the Nameless Hero's heart.

A heart he had thought long gone, and that only Rin and this girl with golden hair had managed to touch for the first time in a long while.

Thus, for the first time, Archer smiled a sincere smile. "Are you sure you don't regret the mix-up yet?"

Artoria giggled, then shook her head. "No, I don't; and I never will. My dream, my trust and my victory rest entirely in your hands, Archer."

Yet these hands will never hold anything.

Heroic Spirit Emiya paused, looking away in slight embarrassment, and ignored the silent but poisonous thought that entered inside his mind. In the end, however, he shook his head with a sigh and stared at his Master's smiling face in amusement.

Emiya donned a smile.

It didn't quite reach his eyes.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Seven-

Into the Battle

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Mion River – Riverside Park

(======)

A little over an hour had passed since the previous battle ended. Right now, Heroic Spirit Emiya and his young Master Artoria Pendragon were walking through the quiet and sleeping streets of Fuyuki City, following their new allies with a silent step: Lord El-Melloi II and his Servant Charlemagne. Along with those two, they finally managed to leave the Miyama District and return to the Mion River, reaching the very same park where the four of them had previously met the night before.

"So... I guess this makes our situation a little clearer, now," Artoria mused to herself, pondering about the words Waver Velvet had said to her during their walk through the park.

The Lord of the Clock Tower nodded. "Indeed. I wasn't expecting Miss Tohsaka to act this soon, but your previous battle against her has provided us with a lot of information," he acknowledged with a sharp nod of the head. "I knew she was bound to be one of the participants in this War, but I must admit that I was surprised when I saw her Servant's identity. His presence will undoubtedly make things harder for us."

Emiya stared in cryptic silence as the Magus and the young girl with golden hair sat down on an isolated bench amid the silent park, both of them exhaling a weary sigh. While the two Masters sat down and talked, their Servants remained close to them in spirit form, observing their surroundings with a careful stare to make sure there were no enemies in sight. Luckily for them, they found none.

Once more, Artoria shot a look to the older man. "So you've met King Arthur before," she said, her emerald eyes narrowed as she stared at Waver Velvet with unnerving intensity.

It was a statement, not a question.

He nodded, once again; his expression betraying nothing as he stared at the world with narrowed eyes. "I have," he admitted without missing a beat. "During the Fourth Holy Grail War, Saber was the Servant summoned by the Einzbern faction. He was one of the strongest opponents of the War, and perhaps one of the few who managed to reach the end of the conflict and see the Grail. Me and my previous Servant even faced him in combat directly back then, and we nearly lost our lives. He was extremely dangerous."

Hmph. Tell me about it, Emiya thought with a sarcastic snort.

In that moment, Charlemagne reappeared in a dust of white, placing himself in front of Waver and Artoria with his arms crossed and a confident grin on his face. "Well, hearing that makes me even more excited!" the King of Franks exclaimed with a cheerful tone, his face shining in trepidation at the thought of their previous encounter with Saber. "As expected of the King of Knights, his strength is top notch… it would have been disappointing otherwise. A battle against him would be extremely cool to witness!"

Honestly, Emiya had no idea whether Rider was simply a bit weird, or just a complete idiot. Perhaps both. And judging by Artoria and Waver's blank looks, they seemed to be following the same line of thought.

Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "No matter. At this point it's obvious that we'll have to face him eventually, but we'll do so together," he stated with utmost decision, turning his head as he grabbed another cigar from his pocket and stared at Artoria straight into the eyes. "King Arthur is not an enemy we should deal with so soon. The Saber Class is the strongest one among the seven classes, and targeting him right now would be foolish on our part. First, we need to assess the situation and gather more intel about the other participants. That's when we'll make our move."

Archer inwardly nodded at the Magus' words. His planning and reasoning were correct. Rather than plunging headlong into a dangerous situation and targeting a potentially deadly enemy, the better choice was to get information about the other Masters and Servants first, to see if there was a more advantageous option to grasp for them. It was the safest – and the smartest – move right now. Emiya was no longer the foolish boy of his youth. The one who would throw himself into danger without hesitation just to save someone or end the conflict in the shortest amount of time. He was a Counter Guardian now. His countless experiences had thought him a thing or two about the way a conflict unfolded; and Lord El-Melloi II's reasoning was something he could agree with.

In fact, he could already see where he was going with his plan.

But he wasn't the only one. As expected, even Artoria seemed to deduce his planning rather easily. "You wish to learn if we can make an alliance with other Masters?" she questioned him, narrowing her eyes as realization dawned upon her features.

Waver Velvet exhaled a cloud of smoke from the lips. "Correct," he admitted. "As I've already explained to you, Miss Pedragon, our task is not an easy one, and it is going to be extremely difficult to complete. The Dismantlement of the Holy Grail is not something that can be achieved without allies, especially during the conflict. The more allies we're able to gather, the better. Our chances of success would increase significantly."

Artoria pondered those words for a while, and despite her hesitation, she had to admit that the idea was reasonable. The Lord's way of thinking was legit, given the current situation.

"Given by what happened so far, we've learned quite a bit of information already," the black-haired Magus spoke with a serious tone, staring at the empty park with his narrowed eyes filled with a cold, calculating glint. "Miss Tohsaka and Saber are out of the picture, since they've admitted quite clearly to be against our goal. And according to what you've explained to us a while ago, except for Rider and Saber, the only Servant you've met so far is Berserker."

The heir of the Pendragon family nodded. "That's right. She was a troublesome opponent, and a fierce warrior. Her speed is her greatest weapon, undoubtedly, but her maddened state has made her sensitive to provocations and misleading tactics," she explained slowly. Then, she glanced towards her invisible Servant, and a small smile appeared on her lips as she recalled the events of the previous night. "Besides, Archer was able to lure her into using her Noble Phantasm, and he has already recognized her as the Chaste Huntress of the Argonauts: Atalanta," she added with obvious pride in her voice.

Waver hummed while Rider whistled in amazement. Emiya ignored them both. "That means you now hold a great advantage against her," the Lord summarized with a pleased expression. "Assessing a Servant's name and Noble Phantasm is a major advantage during a Holy Grail War. However, it seems that you weren't able to learn her Master's identity despite that… which makes it impossible for us to contact them directly. At least for now."

Artoria lowered her head a bit, nodding with a reluctant movement.

Emiya eyed Lord El-Melloi II warily. He decided to step in the discussion at that moment.

"I seem to recall you saying that you're aware of the identity of two other Masters, Lord El-Melloi II," Archer stated succinctly with a blank tone of voice. Everyone turned to him as he appeared out of thin air in a dust of blue prana, fixing the man with narrowed eyes and arms crossed. "Yesterday, you said you would reveal everything if we decided to ally with you. Well then: now we're allies. What is it that you know?" he asked, going straight to the point as always.

Hearing that, everyone turned to the Lord at the same time. Artoria narrowed her eyes on him along with Emiya, and Charlemagne stared at his Master with an unreadable expression.

Still, much to their surprise, the man remained completely impassive. "You're right, Archer. I did say that," he admitted without a care, taking another puff from his cigar while shooting a glance at him with a veiled smile. "However, you've already met one of them tonight."

Emiya's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. "Saber's Master was one of the two. That… Tohsaka girl," he realized with annoyance. On the inside, he fought hard in order not to say 'Rin' out loud. The urge to address his previous Master in the usual way still lingered inside him even now. He was simply too used to it.

Waver grunted. "That's right. Rin Tohsaka is one of the two Master with whom I am familiar. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to reveal this fact to you due to the previous unfortunate events, but I've always been aware of her involvement in this War. Given that she's the last member of the Tohsaka lineage, her participation was simply inevitable."

Silence fell among the small group for a few seconds. That made sense.

Artoria perked up as she realized something. "What about the other Founding Families, then?" she asked, turning to the Lord once more. "If the Tohsaka family was bound to be chosen as a participant in the War, surely this is true even for the other two as well, right?"

Charlemagne seemed to agree with her. "It makes sense… Master, are you perhaps aware of the Matou's and Einzbern's Masters as well?" he asked, raising an expectant brow at the man.

Unfortunately for them both, he shook his head.

"No, I am not," Waver Velvet sighed. "Unlike Miss Tohsaka who has… 'inherited' the jurisdiction of the city and the role of providing the use of her spiritual land to the ritual due to her lineage and its connection with the Clock Tower, the Matou and Einzbern families are much more secretive and independent from the Mage's Association. The Clock Tower is not aware of their plans, nor of their current heirs' identity. I'm afraid that we'll have to discover it ourselves; whether they've been chosen as Masters or not."

Rider and Artoria visibly deflated in disappointment after hearing his words, their previous hope disappearing completely. Archer, however, remained silent as usual, pondering the information to himself.

In fact, right now, Heroic Spirit Emiya was already going through several hypothesis and possibilities in his head; his mind running wild with ideas, conjectures, and possible eventualities. It was simply unavoidable for him. His previous experiences during the two Wars he had been through had showed him quite a lot, after all, but even despite that, it was still too early for him to grasp the current situation fully. There were still a lot of things he had to see and understand before he could come up with a concrete plan, and Emiya was not one to make baseless assumptions without seeing proof at least once.

During his previous summonings, just as Artoria and Rider were assuming, both the Einzbern and Matou families had been chosen to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War. In fact, Illyasviel von Einzbern and Shinji Matou (and Sakura) had both been his enemies during those peculiar and twisted deployments. Following that logic, if this world was meant to follow the same events, he could expect to face them here as well… but he needed to be sure of that. He couldn't just make such a bold assumption without having concrete proof.

Why? Because this word was extremely different from the one he was familiar with and those he had been summoned into before. Yes, some things were similar, of course ― the fact that Rin had been chosen as a Master being one of them. But even despite that, there were some clear differences that he could not – could never – overlook. In this world, in fact, Kirei was dead, and Caren Hortensia had taken his place. Artoria was a simple girl, and King Arthur was a man. Waver Velvet had returned, and Charlemagne was his Servant. All of these differences could not be overlooked easily. Not to mention, moreover, that the Fuyuki fire had never happened here. These differences alone could change the course of the War greatly; and perhaps they had already changed things in a drastic way. The fact that every Servant he had met so far was different from the ones he knew was another proof of that.

Therefore, before he could jump to conclusions and make assumptions about Illya, Shinji, Sakura, and even Souichirou Kuzuki… he had to learn more about this world and gather as much intel as possible. He had to make sure that his grasp of the situation was optimal before deciding what to do.

Emiya's grey eyes narrowed. His gaze fell on Lord El-Melloi II again. "Then who is the other one you know?" he demanded in all seriousness.

The man didn't answer him right away. Instead, he remained silent for a long while, with his head low and his eyes closed in what seemed to be a weary and irritated expression.

Until, after a full minute, he finally opened his lips to speak after exhaling a cloud of smoke. "The person I'm talking about is… a very peculiar subject," he admitted with a sigh. Artoria, Emiya and Charlemagne stared at him in silence. "A Magus from Ireland. More specifically, she is a descendant of an old family of Magi that had detached itself from the Mage's Association and lived in the shadows quietly. Her name is Bazett Fraga McRemitz."

Archer remained perfectly still. He didn't show it on the outside, but he was inwardly beginning to curse a little inside his head. He knew that name. He knew it extremely well, despite the fact that he had never been in contact with its owner in all of his previous experiences. After all, she was…

"Wishing to pursue a different path than that of her ancestors, she chose to join the Association when she was 15," Waver continued to explain, without caring about his inner turmoil. "Unfortunately, despite Bazett's rare lineage, her skills were not judged as being particularly useful and she was dismissed by the Clock Tower. For that reason, she decided to employ her abilities to become a hunter of those that had been given a Sealing Designation, and became a Magus who openly opposed the Association a few years ago."

Yes, there was no mistaking it. Emiya was sure of it. She had to be the one. The one and only person who had willingly chosen to summon that man during every single one of his previous experiences. The woman who summoned the annoying dog out of her own will, and who was consequently killed by Kirei Kotomine even before the War could start.

But Kirei was already dead in this world, and thus the woman remained.

Artoria's eyebrow rose. "So you're saying that she's an enemy of the Association?"

"…yes, that pretty much summarize it," Lord El-Melloi II admitted with a sigh. "After being dismissed by some Lords of the Clock Tower, Bazett held a grudge against the Association, and I believe that grudge is what forced her to act. The Clock Tower was notified of the fact that she's become a Master a week ago, when she stole a certain catalyst from a Lord's vault. It's one of the reasons why they decided to send me here: to deal with her and retrieve the catalyst she has stolen."

But perhaps things were different here. Yes, they had to be. They surely had to be. Emiya had seen it, after all. So far, every single Servant he'd met in this world was different from those he had met and fought in his previous deployments. Consequently, following that logic, there was no way this Bazett woman could have summoned that annoying dog here as well. It was simply logical… right?

Rider blinked in confusion. "What did she steal?" he asked with honest curiosity.

Emiya clenched his fists imperceptibly. No, there was no way. He was just overthinking things. Yes, he was surely overthinking it. That man was not going to haunt him here. It was impo―

"A pair of earrings that belonged to Cu Chulainn, the Child of Light and Hero from the Ulster Cycle," Waver answered.

――――Godsdammit.

Emiya inwardly groaned as he donned a hand over his face.

Artoria widened her eyes as she mulled the news inside her head. "I see." she mused out loud, bringing a hand under her chin as she remained immersed in deep thought, blissfully unaware of her Servant's inner frustration. "Then we can safely assume that she has summoned him."

"I'm certain of it. Bazett has summoned the Hero of Ulster, and as such she is the Master of the Lancer Class Servant," the Lord stated with utmost certainty.

"Hohoho! The Child of Light, huh? I cannot wait to face him!" Rider cheered as well, carefree and excited as always.

Each of their words felt like a blow on Heroic Spirit Emiya's patience.

No luck. Good old Lancer.

Archer swallowed a tired groan while the others mulled over that information in silence, closing his eyes with a weary breath. Good grief, this wasn't fair. He really couldn't escape this, huh? Even in this world, the Hound of Chulainn had found a way to come back and haunt him once more. Even in this different reality, that man was bound to appear and annoy him all over again. That was great. It was simply great. Between him and King Arthur, some things never changed. Emiya was honestly close to swear out loud in annoyance as that realization creeped in.

Of all the Heroes I am familiar with, the one who remained the same just had to be him.

However, jokes aside, this could also be an advantage for him. After all, despite the obvious animosity between the two of them, Archer was extremely familiar with Cu Chulainn. His story, his weapon, his combat style, everything… Emiya knew them all. Therefore: facing him in a duel was nothing new for him – no matter how much he loathed the idea – and he could use that knowledge to his advantage. He could use it to persuade him to join their side or, eventually, defeat him before he could become a bigger threat. Archer still needed to return the favor from last time, after all. It was definitely a better perspective than having to face an unknown enemy of whom he knew nothing.

So… yes, if he played his cards right, this could be a perfect opportunity for him. And Heroic Spirit Emiya would always grasp the best opportunity in order to win.

It was time to take action.

"So now we know the identity of another Master-Servant pair," he spoke out loud, completely ignoring his previous annoyance and steeling his face under a mask of blank impassiveness. The others turned to stare at him, and he was pleased to see that none of them, not even Artoria, had been able to notice his inner thoughts. "Then what do you plan to do knowing this information, Lord El-Melloi II?"

The black-haired Magus held his gaze for a few seconds, narrowing his eyes as he remained still.

In the end, however, he sighed. "From my point of view, we have two options," he began to say, grabbing Artoria's attention immediately. A tense and resolute silence fell among the group. "Miss Tohsaka and Saber are not going to mess with us again, at least for tonight. And if my previous experience in the Fourth War serves me right, I honestly do not believe that Berserker or any other Servant will try to attack us as long as we'll stay together. Hence: this situation will give us time to take action, but we must take a decision quickly before our advantage disappears."

Charlemagne and Artoria nodded at his words, like children listening to an important lesson.

Emiya, on the other hand, had already guessed what his intention was. "So you're saying that we can either go search for the Matou and Einzbern Families to try to discover their role in the War… or search for this Bazett woman's location to persuade her into joining our ranks," he deduced, placing a hand on his hip and glancing at the young Lord of the Clock Tower with one eye closed. "Am I right?"

Waver Velvet merely nodded at his deduction.

"Correct. But if I may, I believe the second option would be the most beneficial one for us in the long run," he stated with a serious tone.

Artoria blinked in confusion. "How so?"

Lord El-Melloi II finished his cigar with one last puff. "Heading towards the Matou and Einzbern territory would be dangerous, even for us. We don't know their strength – nor if they have a Servant at all – and following an uncertain path is rarely a good choice to take during a war," he answered with utmost seriousness, to which Emiya inwardly agreed with. "On the other hand, I know where Bazett is hiding right now, and it would be the safest option for us to head there as soon as possible. I don't claim to be in good terms with her, but I'm fairly familiar with Bazett's Magecraft and working style. With a bit of luck, I sincerely believe that we'll be able to reach an agreement with her, even if a full alliance would be out of the question."

Everyone mulled over his words for a few moments. Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Finally, Archer was the first to break the silence. "…and if we fail to reach an agreement with her?" he demanded, forcing Artoria and Rider out of their musing and making them turn towards the Lord once more.

Waver Velvet's face was a mask of steeled resolve under the others' inquisitive stare. His cynical expression grew colder as he stared at Emiya's impassive face.

"We are four against two," he answered seriously. "If a fight breaks out, we would still hold the advantage."

Once again, his words made sense.

Emiya hid a veiled smile under a tense frown. He had to give him credit for that. Lord El-Melloi II was a weird man – and also a bit annoying at times – but his reasoning and his way of thinking and strategizing were extremely logical and rational. He knew that their current advantage was not going to last long, and he was perfectly aware that their plan might not work even if they decided to act now. Emiya had to agree with him on that regard. This was a War, and there was no room for optimism and hope during a War. If their goal failed and the alliance was discarded, that man was more than determined to kill Bazett and Lancer by using their numerical superiority.

Just as Emiya would, and not only because he despised Lancer. It was simply the safest move.

During the silence that fell among the group, Artoria turned towards her Servant. "Archer… what do you think?" she asked him, having complete faith in his judgement. "I see the reasoning behind both options, but I want to follow the one you agree with the most."

This time, everyone's gaze fell on him. Heroic Spirit Emiya stared back at the girl's emerald eyes in silence, his face and gaze betraying nothing as he took his Master's question to heart and pondered their options for one, last time.

But there was no need to think too much. So far he had done nothing but mull over every possibility inside his head, and after a careful contemplation, his decision remained unchanged. There was only one option that would be the most favorable one in his opinion, no matter how much he loathed the idea of meeting that annoying dog for the umpteenth time. But for the sake of his Master and her victory, he was more than willing to play along and follow that route.

Archer took a deep breath.

"I believe that following the Lord's suggestion would be wise," he admitted in the end, crossing his arms and sharing a nod with Waver Velvet. "It's the most favorable one. If everything goes smoothly, we'll have gained a new ally – or, at least, a mutual understanding with another Master-Servant pair. And if everything goes wrong… me and Rider together should be able to overwhelm the enemy Lancer. It's the safest move we have right now except for retreating for the night. That is what I believe, Master."

Rider seemed to agree with him with an excited grin. "Archer's right. We should make hay while the sun shines," he declared with boisterous confidence.

The girl with golden hair kept her gaze focused on her Servant alone. "What about your condition?" she pressed.

Emiya shook his head in reassurance. "Worry not. Thanks to you, I have fully recovered from the previous fight. I feel as good as new right now," he assured her; and for once, he was being completely honest with his answer. Her gigantic reserves of mana could do wonders sometimes.

For a few seconds, Artoria said nothing, did nothing; staring straight into Emiya's eyes with a serious face and trying to grasp and feel his decision with their bond. But at the same time, unbeknownst to the others, her Servant could clearly see the emotions and thoughts running across her eyes as well, feeling her thoughts as if they were his own.

That's why he didn't hesitate to spur her into action.

"So far we've always been attacked or approached first," Archer thought with a hint of sarcasm, whispering his thoughts right into her mind. "It is time to turn things around for a change. What do you say?"

Artoria shared his exact same smirk.

She loved the way he was able to read her intentions with a single glance.

"Very well. I shall count on you, then."

Thus, after what seemed to be an eternity, she steeled her face and nodded solemnly.

"The decision is taken," she spoke to Lord El-Melloi II and his Servant, raising from the bench and grasping her sheathed katana in her hand. "Let's go meet this woman."

Emiya and Waver nodded with a determined smile. Charlemagne cheered with an excited grin.

"Good. Then follow me," the Lord of the Clock Tower declared all of a sudden, standing up as well and steeling his resolve with a deep breath. "My Familiars have discovered Bazett's hiding place a few hours ago. It's not that far from here, and I'm familiar with that place thanks to my previous War."

Artoria Pendragon fixed him with a solemn stare. "Where are we going?"

Lord El-Melloi II turned his back to her. He pointed a finger towards the North.

"To the harbor."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Rin is kneeling on the school rooftop. Her hand is glowing with red energy while she focuses to dispel the seal of the Magical Barrier erected inside the school. All the while, while she finishes her work, I remain hidden in spirit form, observing her with my arms crossed.

In the end, the seal is undone. Rin sighs as she straightens herself. "This makes seven," she muses to herself. "Anyway, this one seems to be the trigger point. I've never seen, or even heard of, a writing like this."

She exhales a heavy breath in frustration while I remain silent. "Darn it. This is way over my head. Archer, you can sense the barrier's nature, can't you? If this barrier is activated, it will cause every human inside it to literally dissolve. This is soul-eating. A fortress of blood that will dissolve any human body within the field, and harvest the souls oozing out," her expression hardens as she narrows her eyes. "And as for who, or what, might want souls… the obvious answer is a Servant."

She shoots a stare in my direction. "Archer, would your kind do such a thing?" she asks me with a serious tone.

I'm impressed by her way of reasoning. Her logic is flawless. "You surmise correctly. Fundamentally, we are non-corporeal beings. Just as your kind partakes of meat as nourishment, Servants partake of minds and souls," I explain with utmost seriousness. "In other words, the more ingested, the greater the mana stores."

"Meaning that they aren't satisfied with the mana their Master is supplying?" she demands, annoyed.

I shook my head. "It's not that they aren't satisfied, but the more is always the better. To absorb energy from nearby humans is a basic stratagem of a Master. In that sense, this barrier is highly effective," I explain to her.

The girl doesn't even try to hide her disgust. "I feel aggravated. Never say such a thing again, Archer," she spits out with a bitter tone.

I nod, even if she can't see me. "I agree. I would never do something like this."

A relieved smile blossoms on her face.

"Let's erase it, then," she declares with decision. "I may not completely undo it, but I can throw a wrench in the works―"

"What, you're going to erase it? What a waste!"

Both me and Rin turn at the exact same time. The direction of the voice is extremely close to us, and I mentally berate myself for my carelessness.

How come I wasn't able to detect this presence before?

A Servant dressed in blue armor stares down at us from the other side of the rooftop.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Fuyuki Port – Harbor

(======)

Once more, Archer and Rider followed their Masters in spirit form, keeping their eyes open and their senses alert in every moment.

According to Lord El-Melloi II's Familiars, the area Bazett and her Servant were dwelling in was the old warehouse district, the cargo port at the mouth of the Mion River, just off the public beach where Archer remembered having seen a lot of people coming and going during the summer season in his youth. As they transitioned from sparse sand grasses to cold concrete, Emiya observed their surrounding with a watchful eye, constantly seeking to calm down his beating heart. He simply couldn't help it. The more he advanced in this War, the more he was starting to realize that, for all his half-remembered instincts from nigh-infinite summonings across time and space as a Counter Guardian, he knew dangerously little about this peculiar Fifth Grail War.

And the more he realized that, the more nervous he became.

"This is the place," Waver Velvet stated with a serious tone, eyeing the surroundings with narrowed eyes. "Don't let your guard down, Miss Pendragon."

Artoria just nodded silently, her hand already grasping the hilt of her sword as she glanced around nervously.

Upon inspecting it closely, the small group realized that the warehouse district was larger than it seemed. As far as their eyes could see, the entire northern part of the harbor was made up of a long series of metal containers, usually used for the transport of supplies, goods and metals brought to Fuyuki City from the outside by ship; and it stretched for at least one mile directly on the sea shore. The air was filled with the smell of the ocean, accompanied by the sea breeze, but also by a stagnant feeling of tension and silence that hovered over the entire port.

Indeed. Archer could not mistake this feeling even if he wanted to. The air was tense, eerily quiet, and filled with a looming sensation of death and danger. A sensation he was extremely familiar with, no matter how much he hated himself for it. It was the feeling of danger that would usually hover around a Magus's Workshop, or the hideout of a particularly dangerous Servant. There was no room for doubt, judging by the unnatural stillness of the air. And that could only mean one thing.

Lord El-Melloi was right. This is definitely the place, Emiya mused to himself as he looked around in his invisible form, his mind calm and focused in spite of the tense feeling hovering around them. Despite their human nature, even Artoria and Waver could feel that there was something wrong with this place. They both wore a tense, wary expression as they walked around the harbor with a careful step. Archer and Rider kept close to them all the while.

Then, they felt it.

Suddenly and without a warning, the resounding echo of footsteps grabbed their full attention. Artoria, Archer and the others turned around towards the direction of the noise, and their eyes narrowed at the sight.

From the shadows between two shipping containers, a lithe figure emerged.

A woman appeared in front of them. She walked into the light of the overhead lamps and stood square to face the intruders with a solemn stare. She wore a black, two-piece business suit with a red-violet necktie, and judging by her face and appearance, she couldn't be older than 24 or 25 at most. She had short, magenta hair and a mole just below her left eye; and she also accompanied her attire with two ovaloid earrings on her ears. The very same earrings that were once worn by a certain Blue Lancer whom Emiya was extremely familiar with.

The two Masters and Servants stared at her carefully in a tense silence. There was no doubt about this woman's identity, in Archer's opinion. Although he had never met her during his previous experiences, the earrings that woman was wearing were unmistakable to him. Even Waver Velvet seemed to recognize them at first glance. His reaction did not leave room for doubts.

She was definitely the one they were looking for.

"Lord El-Melloi II," Bazett Fraga McRemitz broke the silence with a calm, collected voice; addressing the Lord of the Clock Tower with a blank tone and fixing him and Artoria with a serious stare. Her voice was low, resolute; and carried a distinctive note of annoyance as she spoke those words. "I should have known the Clock Tower would have sent you here. I was expecting someone from the Association to approach me sooner or later."

Upon being addressed directly, Waver Velvet stepped forward while Artoria kept still and vigilant. Rider and Archer remained hidden in spirit form.

"Long time no see, Bazett," the black-haired Lord greeted her as well. "I see you haven't changed at all."

The woman eyed him warily for a minute after hearing his neutral tone, taken aback by his unfazed expression. Her magenta eyes seemed to glow a little under the light of the lamp. "Why are you here, Waver?" she demanded solemnly, shooting a silent stare at the girl who remained still behind the Lord's frame. "I have no idea of who that young girl is, but to actually ally yourself with a teenager… I thought you were better than that. One of your students, I presume?"

Artoria stepped forward. "I am not. My name is Artoria Pendragon, second child of the thirty-third Pendragon lineage and future heir of the family," she stated with confidence and resolution, her hand firmly grasped over the hilt of the sword strapped to her back. "I am a Master participating in the Holy Grail War, just as you."

Bazett held her gaze for a moment, before focusing back on the Lord.

"Interesting… so I presume you've managed to persuade her to join your side," she summarized seriously, her face frowning a little. "What is it, then? Have you come to kill me, Lord El-Melloi?"

"The second," he added, his face twitching for a split-second before returning to his usual sour expression. "However, my answer depends on your intentions, Bazett. I have no need to kill you, but the Clock Tower has assigned me the task of retrieving what you stole from them. And unfortunately for us both, I cannot disobey their will." He stared pointedly at the earrings she was wearing, his brows furrowing a bit as he saw her face tense immediately. "Stealing a catalyst from a Lord's vault is a grave crime. If someone else had been tasked with my job, you would have been killed before the Holy Grail War could officially start."

"But you didn't," the woman pointed out, unfazed. "You've purposely waited until now to approach me. Why?"

"Because killing you would have been a waste of time and efforts. And also because I could make use of your talents for my current task," he answered easily, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

Despite herself and the feeling of tense nervousness that lingered on the air, Bazett allowed herself to smirk. "So you can be blunt when you want… as expected of the most famous Lord of the Clock Tower. You're more cunning than I thought," she said with a hint of amusement.

However, her smirk disappeared immediately. "But whatever you've planned to do with me, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse. I have no intention of collaborating with a member of the Association," she stated with a cold expression, ignoring the man's narrowed stare. "I bear no ill will against you, Lord El-Melloi II, but I cannot go back on my decision after coming this far. I'm not going to give up on the War, nor I will return the catalyst. As you know, I belong to the Fraga lineage. Even if we've lost most of our talents and powers, my Family has a history that extends back to the Age of Gods. My ancestors were the ones who found these earrings after the Hound of Culann's death. As such, they belong to me."

"You know it doesn't work like that," Waver replied, unfazed.

Bazett's expression flashed. "Why? Because I'm poor?" she demanded angrily, her impassive mask breaking and finally showing her inner frustration. "Although my family possess neither money nor fame and chose to live secretly, I still am a top-elite Magus from the Magi's standards! My bloodline and abilities should have been seen as high class!"

"That is not the reason and you know it," he cut her off sternly. His eyes narrowed even further as they glared at her. "Trust me, I know extremely well how frustrating it is to be looked down by the Association, Bazett. I was the same as you during my youth. Despite what you may believe, I understand how you feel."

Bazett laughed with a scornful expression. Her arms were trembling in a mixture of rage, sadness and frustration.

"Indeed. You do understand," she mocked him with a rueful smile, shaking her head. "And yet, now you pretend to lecture me? How dare you, Waver? You have no right to tell me what is right or wrong. After all, you did the same thing I did, ten years ago. You stole Iskandar's catalyst from your teacher's vault, and then you used it to participate in the Grail War. You did the same thing I did now!"

Waver clenched a fist after hearing her words. Artoria and the others eyed him in silence. They knew that it was true.

"You have no right to stop me, Lord El-Melloi," Bazett mocked him with an enraged face. "You did the same thing, and it was only thanks to that that you were able to get the Clock Tower's acknowledgment!"

The man stared at her in silence.

Bazett continued to mock him, her words becoming a full-fledged rant at this point. "And yet, now you pretend to lecture me? To stop me? Just because the Clock Tower has tasked you with this?" she spat with contempt, her face morphed into a scowl. "Don't make me laugh. If you could do it back then, then surely I can do it too. I have the right to prove my worth! I refuse to be looked down by the Association any longer! I will show them! I will prove to them and to the world that they were wrong about me!"

Again, more silence. The black-haired Magus remained completely still while the woman continued to rant, throwing all her sorrow and rage at him without a single bit of hesitation. It was so sudden and unexpected that event the others remained stunned for a moment. To hear so much rage and sorrow inside her words and to see all that pain in her elegant face… it was a stark contrast to her previous behavior. Artoria was looking at her in visible tension, and Emiya could clearly feel Rider's silent uneasiness even in spirit form. They clearly hadn't been prepared to face such an unexpected turn of events. And to be honest, even Archer himself couldn't help but be a bit wary right now.

This was not what they were expecting to witness upon confronting the woman.

In the end, however, Bazett stopped her ranting. She took a deep breath while she glared at the other Magus. "Therefore: I have no use for your words, Waver," she hissed with a frown. She spat his name with so much contempt and rage that it was honestly unnerving to watch. "Whatever you want from me, you won't have it. I will not back down from this―"

"You're right."

The woman startled and widened her eyes. Her speech was abruptly cut short upon hearing Waver's statement. "…what?" she hissed.

"I said you're right," the Lord repeated again, unfazed. He stared at her flabbergasted expression with an impassive face. "I have no right to lecture you about this. As you said, I did the same thing when I was younger. I did steal a catalyst from the former El-Melloi Lord, and I used it to summon my Servant and participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War. As such, I have no right to tell you to surrender and hand over the earrings. Your words are absolutely correct in theory," he admitted without batting an eye.

Bazett and the others listened to him in silence.

Lord El-Melloi II fixed the woman with a hard stare. "However, this is not about you, Bazett Fraga McRemitz," he spoke with a serious tone. "The Mage's Association has ordered the Dismantlement of the Greater Grail because this ritual is corrupted. The Grail is not the wish-granting artifact that people believed it to be. On the contrary, there's a high possibility that the Grail has been corrupted during the previous conflicts… and you know that, Bazett. There's no way you can't be aware of such an important news."

The woman remained silent, pursing her lips with a frown.

"Obtaining the Grail will not grant you any glory or fame," the older Lord stated with conviction. "I understand your desire to prove yourself. That is exactly why I chose to approach you now instead of sending someone to kill you before the War could officially begin. Because I know that this conflict won't give you the things that you're looking for. It didn't work for me back then… and it won't work for you now."

Everyone amid the group could hear and feel his certainty during that speech. It oozed off his body like a fog.

"And that is also why I decided to approach you," he continued, undaunted. His narrowed eyes were boring holes in the woman's hesitant face, fixing her with a stare that was both resolute and threatening. "What you seek is recognition. A chance to prove your worth to the Clock Tower and the Association. Then, as a senior who has walked through the same path, I shall offer it to you. A chance to prove your worth."

Bazett stared at him, long and hard.

Lord El-Melloi II returned her stare impassively, his body filled with resolve and sheer determination.

"Join us, Bazett. Help me put an end to this twisted Ritual. If you do, I will allow you to keep those earrings after the Grail will be dismantled, and I will also do my best to make sure that your theft will be overlooked by the Tower and the Lords," he declared with utmost decision, sounding completely honest with his words. "I know you're a skilled woman. I knew it from the beginning. You are a trained professional specializing in anti-magus battles; and you possess technique, experience, and battle power… I acknowledge all of them, and I recognized your talents from the first time I met you three years ago. That is why I want your strength. That is why I want― no, I need your help."

Sheer silence fell amid the harbor after the Lord's loud declaration. Everyone waited with bathed breath, unable to move a muscle or utter a single word.

"Aid me in my quest to end the Grail War, and the Mage's Association will recognize your worth," the man continued, calm and collected even in front of her stunned expression. "That's what you wanted, right? To be acknowledged by the Clock Tower and the other Families. If you help me, I'll do everything I can to help you in turn. I will make sure you reach your goal," he promised.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Lord El-Melloi II stared at her straight into the eyes. "So… what do you say?" he demanded, both his face and gaze as serious as they could be.

Bazett didn't answer for a long, long time. She stared at Waver, and Waver stared at her. The staring contest went on and on for what seemed to be an eternity.

Until, after an indefinite amount of time, the woman with magenta hair and eyes lowered her head and relaxed her shoulders.

"…I see," she whispered with a small voice, nodding to herself with her eyes shadowed. "Very well, then."

Hearing her answer, Artoria and Rider relaxed almost unconsciously. Along with them, Lord El-Melloi II smiled brightly in relief after a moment of tense hesitation. Even the air itself seemed to lose some of the previous tension as well.

But despite all of that, Heroic Spirit Emiya did not relax one bit. On the contrary, his eyes narrowed even further as he observed from the shadows…

…while the woman named Bazett raised her head all of a sudden, fixing the Lord and the young girl in front of her with a solemn stare.

"But I'm not the only one you must convince, Lord El-Melloi II," the woman declared all of a sudden, staring at the world with resolute expression. "I am not the only one who desires to participate in this battle. And if you want my help, then you will need to convince her as well."

Waver Velvet and Artoria stared at her in silent disbelief, confused by her unexpected declaration. At the same time, a sudden feeling of uneasiness began to grow inside their hearts inexplicably, and the two humans jumped slightly in shock as they felt a shiver running down their spines for some reason. Next to them, Rider and Archer tensed immediately, observing their surroundings with watchful eyes. All around them, the temperature dropped several degrees out of the blue.

"…what is happening?" Artoria hissed, unable to understand.

No one was able to answer. Bazett paid no mind to their confused and tense faces. All she did, all she had to do, was raise her right hand towards the sky, fixing the two Mages in front of her with a resolute stare.

"Come, Lancer."

Just like that, the previous relief disappeared completely.

It happened faster than a man could blink. Artoria, Waver, and even their Servants hidden in spirit form had no time to react. Before they could even grasp the full situation, in fact, something happened.

The entire warehouse district of the harbor fell into a cold, frightening silence.

Until, Emiya realized something. The red Archer watched his surroundings in cryptic silence as a shiver ran down his back. He had immediately noticed the shift in the surroundings: the air was growing still, and the smell of the sea began to be replaced by one filled with death. It was a feeling Archer knew well, having experienced it countless times in his accursed life. The looming feeling of death, imminent and overwhelming, such as when a Noble Phantasm was invoked ― and yet at the same time… quiet and peaceful like the night. It was an odd combination, one over which he had grown quite accustomed after his countless deployments.

His eyes found the source of this unpleasant feeling after a single second. A quiet, almost invisible figure had appeared out of nowhere from a metal container hidden behind Bazett's frame while everyone had been distracted, and it was now stepping close to the woman like a protective ghost, hidden by the shadows of the dark night. It was a Servant – Emiya had no doubt about it – but at the same time… it felt different. Extremely so. As if the concept of "Servant" could not describe that figure in its entirety… and that worried him quite a lot.

Slowly, the figure stepped out of the shadows. When it stepped right next to Bazett, Artoria and Lord El-Melloi II finally realized its presence, and both of them widened their eyes in shock and fear, observing the Servant with an incredulous gaze. At the same time, having realized that the newly appeared Servant was extremely different from the norm, Charlemagne stepped in front of them as well, reappearing in a dust of white in order to protect the two humans from that peculiar enemy.

And for the first time in his whole life, Heroic Spirit Emiya was NOT happy to learn that Cu Chulainn was not the Servant he was about to face.

Because instead of the Blue Lancer, a woman of exquisite beauty had appeared amid the harbor.

Sinuous and sensual body, elegant and regal features, and long purple hair cascading behind her back. She was wearing a full-body dark outfit that highlighted her curvaceous body, with metallic shoulder pads and a protective gear underneath the body suit. Crimson red eyes glowed in the dark, while her face was covered by a mask on the lower half, which conferred to her a look that was both elegant and mysterious at the same time. As soon as she appeared, the entire warehouse district seemed to grow silent and tense, and the air became filled with a cold, chilling sensation of death that made the humans shiver for a moment.

Lord El-Melloi II and Artoria observed her with wide, stunned eyes filled with wonder and concern. At the same time, Rider studied her with narrowed eyes, his usual cheerful and carefree aura completely gone in front of the overwhelming feeling of death oozing off from the Servant's body.

All the while, Emiya studied her with an analytical eye while he remained hidden in spirit form. His eyes narrowed in silent concern as the woman – the Servant of the Lancer class, apparently – stopped right next to Bazett with a silent step, scanning each and every one of them with her crimson eyes, including Archer's body clad in spirit form. The more he looked at her elegant and royal frame, the more the feeling of anxiety and concern was growing within his chest. Emiya was sure of it. He could not mistake it for any reason. He was growing scared of her.

Because that woman was powerful. Immensely powerful. Perhaps even more so than King Arthur and Cu Chulainn combined. Emiya's eyes and senses could already tell that much just by throwing a glance in her direction. His trained instinct was literally screaming at him to run and hide… and for once, Archer was almost tempted to follow his gut and do so. He restrained himself only thanks to his steeled mind and his duty to protect Artoria.

It had been a very long time since the last time he had felt fear in front of an enemy. He had almost forgotten the feeling, in all honesty.

While the tense, absolute silence continued to stretch amid the harbor, Bazett turned to her Servant with a predatory smile. "You say that you want to dismantle the Greater Grail, Lord El-Melloi II," she spoke with a solemn tone of voice. "But unfortunately for you, my Servant wishes to fight in this War. Just like me, she has a goal she needs to achieve; one that cannot be reached without the Grail and the War. We cannot back down from this without a fight."

The Lancer class Servant remained silent as she observed Artoria and the others, her crimson gaze focused on Rider the most while her Master kept talking with a confident smile.

"So how about this: let's settle our dispute with a duel," Bazett declared, challenging the Lord with her eyes. "Your Servants, against my Lancer. No killing, no bloodshed. Just an honest clash of skill and will. If you win, then I will indulge in your request and aid you in your task. If you lose, then you get lost and leave me be. What do you say?" she asked him, staring into his wide eyes.

Both the Lord and the young girl seemed taken aback by her words, caught off guard by such a sudden and peculiar offer. They both exchanged frantic glances with each other, and for once, they seemed to hesitate while considering every chance and possible outcome of this battle.

"This is an odd request. Why do you wish for our Servants to duel?" Artoria demanded, trying to remain focused.

The woman merely shrugged. "This is a Holy Grail War. It's only fair for us to settle things with a fight, don't you agree?" she rebutted with a casual tone, both her face and body language oozing confidence from every pore.

Although it seemed impossible, the temperature of the air dropped even further after her words. Artoria was visibly shaking right now as she stared at the resolute, silent expression of the Lancer class Servant; feeling something weird coming from her thanks to her instincts. Something unfathomable. Something that was making her both wary and scared of that woman for some reason she could not understand.

"Archer… I don't like this," she whispered to her Servant through their bond, searching for him with her eyes.

For once, Emiya agreed with her in full. "Me neither. But it appears we have no choice. Lancer won't let us escape from this. I can feel her resolve, and it's even greater than her Master's. Whether we like it or not, if we want to leave this situation, we'll have to fight," he spoke to her with a serious tone, his eyes still focused on the enemy Servant placed next to Bazett.

Finally, Lord El-Melloi II seemed to recover from his stunned silence.

"…two against one? Isn't that unfair to your Servant?" he asked back at the Magus with sarcasm, in attempt to appear strong and confident. It didn't work, for the sweat pouring from his cheeks and chin was clearly obvious to see.

It was inevitable. Everyone could clearly feel the power of the new Servant with just a single glance. Her appearance was elegant and beautiful like the moon, but her aura screamed of death and power and danger altogether. And the bloodlust she was emitting with her glare alone was something that would make any normal human being tremble and cry in fear. It was a rather odd combination to witness, honestly. A view both mesmerizing and appalling to the eyes. No one could remain unaffected by such a peculiar sight.

Bazett merely smirked at his words, completely confident about her Servant's abilities. "I like those odds," she commented with a sly grin. Then, she shared a nod with the female Lancer, and her face returned serious as before. "I don't know what Heroes of old you have summoned, but I'm extremely confident when I say this: your Servants won't be able to land a scratch on my partner. Not even a single one. I'm sure of it."

The Lancer seemed rather annoyed about her Master's words, but she stepped forward all the same, fixing Rider and the others with a blank, silent stare. Her elegant frame seemed to glow under the moonlight, emphasizing her black armor and elegant features and making the woman appear even more deadly and beautiful at the same time.

Artoria and Waver shared a silent glance. Concern and resolve flashed in their eyes.

Charlemagne grinned as he summoned his weapon: a blue and silver longsword with an elegant hilt and a white pommel. "Now, now… aren't you underestimating us a little too much?" he mused with his own share of confidence, his own armor sparkling under the moon while he stared at the enemy Lancer with a smirk. "If that's what you believe, then I'll have to show you a bit of my cool side! Isn't that right, Mast―"

"No. I fully believe in what she said too," was the Lord's immediate reply.

"So harsh?! Shouldn't you have more faith in me, Master?!"

Lord-El Melloi II and Artoria ignored Rider's childish complaints.

Instead, they both glanced at Emiya's invisible frame. "Archer, you should use your class' usual methods," Waver whispered in a hushed tone. "I'm sorry I dragged you two into this, but now we have no choice but to fight. Please support Rider from a distance, and help him during the fight. I don't know why, but that Lancer is making me worried."

"Yeah… that woman definitely doesn't look like Ireland's Child of Light," Artoria mused with sarcasm, shooting an annoyed stare at the black-haired Lord. The poor man had the decency to look ashamed on his part.

Archer bit back the temptation to berate him further as well. He had been a fool to fully believe this man's words about Lancer and his summoning. But now it was not the time for that. It had been his decision to follow Waver's suggestion, and now he had to pay the price of that decision. Therefore, the best thing to do in the current situation was to observe the enemy and try to discern her identity, her abilities, and her power.

And the best way to do that was to follow Waver's suggestion: attacking from afar. He was an Archer, after all. That was the true way he was supposed to fight.

Emiya shot a glance in Lancer's direction. "Hmm. She seems extremely powerful," he admitted as well, speaking in a low tone of voice so that only his allies could hear him. He turned to stare at Artoria while the enemies allowed them to ponder and speak to themselves. "I don't mind offering support, but what about your defense? If the enemy charges directly, I doubt you two will be able to stop her."

The Lord of the Clock Tower narrowed his eyes, but his resolve did not waver. "There are three of us here. At the very least, we should be able to hold her off," he stated.

Artoria nodded. "He's right. Don't worry about us, Archer. We'll find a way," she whispered to him with a resolute tone, nodding in his direction. "Go, and show her what you've got. I trust you."

Emiya nodded at his Master's will. "Understood."

Then, before moving to depart, he shot a stare in Charlemagne's direction, and the King of Franks turned to his invisible frame when he felt his gaze on him. "I leave my Master's safety to you, Rider. If Lancer tries something, make sure nothing happens to her," he ordered with a stern tone, completely uncaring of the fact that he was giving orders to a King (and, consequently, to someone who was supposed to be a higher existence compared to him).

On his part, however, Rider merely grinned in excitement. If he was offended by his words, he sure didn't show it. "You have my word," he swore with a thumbs up and a grin.

Archer wasted no time. Immediately after receiving his reassurance, he turned around and leaped away from the others while still hidden in spirit form, moving at maximum speed in order to reach an elevated point with a good view of the harbor from which he could take aim and attack the target with precision. While he disappeared, Artoria, Rider and the Lord of the Clock Tower focused on Bazett and Lancer once again, turning back to them only to discover that they had waited for them without moving a single inch from their previous position.

"Are you done chatting now?" Bazett asked with sarcasm, moving a strand of magenta hair from her forehead. "Then I suppose we can start."

Waver and Artoria nodded. "Of course. Apologies for making you wait," Lord El-Melloi replied back with a blank tone, narrowing his eyes while he watched the enemy Lancer step forward towards the empty space between them, her expression unreadable and her eyes as cold as death itself.

The two of them shared a nod with Rider, and they all steeled their resolve when the armored King stepped forward as well, raising his sword into a battle stance.

A moment of silence passed. The air grew tense and cold.

Bazett grinned with feral trepidation.

"Let's begin," she ordered.

And thus: chaos erupted.

The air shifted, and the two Servants tensed.

With a solemn and resolute gesture, the Lancer class Servant stepped forward and snapped her fingers. At her silent command, a weapon appeared to life in her right hand with a flash of crimson: a long, red spear with an ominous design and a sharp blade on its tip. A cursed, demonic weapon from ancient times, extremely similar to the spear wielded by another renowned Lancer. Then, next thing they knew, the woman disappeared, her body vanishing from sight completely, leaving Rider and the others stunned for a moment.

But that only lasted for a split-second.

Faster than a man could blink, in fact, she reappeared again; her body now placed behind Rider's body and moving with a speed that no human being should ever be allowed to possess. Charlemagne widened his eyes and gasped in shock at the enemy's incredible display of speed, but his keen reflexes allowed him to react just a moment before the red, demonic spear of his opponent could stab him in the neck and kill him, twisting his body at the last second and raising his sword with a fast movement. It happened so fast that neither Artoria nor Lord El-Melloi II saw it.

In less than a second, Lancer's spear and Rider's sword clashed with a bellowing metallic sound, a spray of sparks and energy enveloping the two weapons entirely. The air hissed and the ground cracked beneath their feet, generating a wave of wind and energy that enveloped the surroundings for several meters. The whole world seemed to scream and moan, the air shaking as if the clash could make it feel pain. In the distance, more than two hundred meters to the south, a flock of birds flew away from the port, frightened by the powerful clash.

Rider and Lancer glared at each other, making pressure with their weapons in a struggle of strength. A young King with white armor against a beautiful woman clad in death and bloodlust. The ground shattered further beneath their feet, and Charlemagne openly gritted his teeth in fatigue as his arms trembled while he struggled to resist under the oppressive strength of the enemy. Despite her slender figure and shorter frame, the woman with purple hair and masked face was strong. Unbelievably strong. The King of Franks had to give his all just to resist and struggle against her oppressive pressure. From their respective sides, Artoria and Waver observed the clash with wide eyes, while Bazett stared at the scene with a smile.

Lancer hummed as she kept pressuring Rider with her spear. "Hoh? It seems you have some skill, Knight," she stated, opening her lips behind her mask and speaking for the first time ever since she had revealed herself. Her voice was soft, elegant; and yet at the same time strong and powerful like the thunder. It carried a royal and commanding tone, despite the graceful and beautiful appearance of its owner. "I guess I should have expected that."

Charlemagne grunted as he batted her spear away, taking a small breath while the woman took her distance and leaped away from him. He raised his silver sword into a battle stance, and then charged at her with a focused expression. "Here we go!" he roared.

Both Servants moved at incredible speed, exchanged blows with each other with lightning-fast movements. Artoria, Waver and Bazett couldn't even see their weapons move as they clashed. All they were able to discern was a confused blur of white and red, their speed too outstanding for their eyes to follow. Charlemagne's sword clashed against Lancer's spear, creating sparks that lit up the darkness of the night with each blow and parry.

Despite Rider's skills and strength, the spear-woman held her ground perfectly, meeting the Rider blow for blow. Charlemagne gritted his teeth and packed even more energy behind his assault, hoping to break his opponent's guard. The King of Franks packed all the mana he could into a mighty swing of his blade, sending his sword crashing against the woman's crimson spear and generating a shockwave of wind. However, much to his shock, it didn't work. Now caught in a deadlock, Charlemagne stood stunned and shocked as Lancer pushed back against his blade, her expression remaining calm and composed.

Quickly, the young King decided to change tactics. He abruptly disengaged from the enemy, twisting his body to avoid a thrust of the spear at the last second, only to subsequently dash forward and spun around with his body, trying to get past the opponent's guard to hit Lancer in the side with a quick swipe, but the enemy didn't move an inch. She didn't even blink.

With one simple step to the right, in fact, the Lancer class Servant simply raised her arm and parried the Rider's blade with a quick movement. Then, she countered with a swift thrust, aiming to hit the young Servant on the shoulder. Charlemagne widened his eyes and yelped, leaping away at the last second and barely avoiding the attack with a stunned expression. Sheer shock and disbelief coated his features as he stared at the enemy woman with wide eyes, while she evaded from a second slash with disarming ease and unbelievable speed.

"Whoa, you dodged that?!" he exclaimed in disbelief, staring at the enemy with shock. "I thought I was going to knock you out!"

Lancer stared at him blankly in response. "You concealed your intentions, and read the distance between us well. But I can only say that you are still young," she stated with a stern tone, her expression hidden behind her mask. However, as she spoke, Rider could clearly discern a small smile beneath that veil of cloth. "I see… so you are the Rider class Servant."

The air grow tense and chilling around the warriors. Artoria and Lord El-Melloi II watched with bathed breath as the enemy Lancer moved to attack, only for her to stop abruptly. The woman's head suddenly snapped to the left with narrowed eyes. Then, not even a second later, a sudden volley of blood-red arrows rained down from the sky out of the blue, moving at an impressive speed and dashing through the air like bullets, aiming towards her body. The young heir of the Pendragon line smirked as she saw Lancer's body tense for a moment. It seemed that Archer had finally decided to offer fire support.

However, her excitement was short lived. In fact, with a calm and elegant movement similar to a dance, the masked woman with purple air twirled her spear with one hand, deflecting all the arrows as if they were nothing, her gaze remaining calm and bored all the while. She didn't even look fazed by the subsequent explosion of mana that enveloped her frame as the arrows exploded, making her frame disappear amid a smoke of dust and prana. All around her, small flames of blue energy began to burn the ground beneath her feet, but the woman didn't seem to care.

Lord El-Melloi II and Artoria paled at the sight, stunned by Lancer's display of strength and skills. On the other side of the harbor, Bazett smirked with a knowing expression.

But there was no time for words. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Charlemagne charged against the spear-woman again, leaping forward with a powerful dash. Lancer turned attentively as Rider charged at her with an impressive speed, but she remained unfazed. With disarming ease, she evaded his slash and stepped away with a movement that was both elegant and fast, only for Charlemagne to dash at her again for a follow-up attack. As they observed the fight intently from the sides, the rush of air caused the Masters to shield their eyes, but no matter how long they looked, it was clear for all of them who was holding the advantage in this duel. The difference in skill, speed and power between Rider and Lancer was as clear as day.

Lancer continued to evade Rider's attacks as their inhumanly-fast dance of death continued amid the warehouse district of the harbor. Every swing of Charlemagne's sword released a beam of white energy that slashed the metal containers and created small explosions upon contact, but they still failed to land on the opponent. The woman wasn't even attacking anymore, simply deciding to toy with him as she continued to avoid and evade each and every one of his swings and slashes. It was incredibly frustrating.

While she observed the fight, Artoria steeled herself. "Archer. Fire support!" she ordered through their mental bond.

Her Servant didn't waste time. Another volley of arrows descended from the sky, fired by a distant bridge away from the port. Beams of red and blue darted across the sky, fast as lightning itself, but the spear-woman merely eyed them with a cold gaze. Next thing they knew, her body disappeared out of the blue – again – and Rider stared with wide eyes while Archer's arrows crashed against the ground without being able to hit their target, missing it completely and generating an explosion that destroyed nothing.

However, the King of Franks didn't have time to curse. His instinct screamed at him at that very same moment, and Rider gasped in shock as he felt a cold, chilling sensation growing closer behind him. He spun around as fast as he could, and the young King barely managed to raise his arms and deflect a spear thrust that threatened to impale his heart with disarming speed, blocking it with his blade. Then, Rider followed the attack with a rapid succession of slashes and swings aimed to deflect and parry a flurry of lunges, his swords slashing incessantly in order to block and deflect each of the crimson spear's swings. Lancer appeared calm and collected as ever, keeping her assault with narrowed eyes.

Charlemagne gritted his teeth as he struggled against the enemy's spear. "D-Damn it, that's no good. You're real strong, lady," he hissed as his blade clashed against the enemy's weapon again and again. "You're like the dictionary definition of 'beautiful but deadly.'"

She scoffed, completely unfazed by his attacks and words. "You have much to learn. Putting your swordsmanship aside, you're still a fledgling," she commented with a bored tone. "There's no way you'll be able to scratch me with these useless efforts."

Rider inwardly cursed as the woman suddenly kicked him in the chest. Despite his reflexes, the attack caught him unawares, and the young King of Franks was sent backwards for several meters with a hiss of pain, his feet dragging against the concrete as he struggled to keep his balance. When he finally managed to stop and focus, Charlemagne exhaled a weary breath and winced as pain blossomed on his chest. His chest-plate had been completely bended and ruined on the spot hit by the enemy's kick, and Rider could feel a bit of blood begin to stain his abdomen under the armor.

"Damn it. I thought this was going to be a long, even fight… but now I think she's gonna kick my ass!" he mentally screamed with fear.

Lancer stepped forward slowly, her entire body oozing off bloodlust and death, and her spear twirling around her frame with grace and elegance. There wasn't a single emotion inside her glowing red eyes, her gaze cold as the night and her face hidden behind her mask. Artoria and Waver stared at her with wide eyes, and even Charlemagne couldn't help but feel intimidated by the dark aura surrounding her. Whoever she was, that woman was powerful. Extremely so. It was sad to admit it, but she was stronger than him. Rider had to admit it with no feelings of shame.

"Young… so young," the woman muttered with disappointment, her voice cold and bored and empty. "This is a waste of time. I won't be able to reach my goal at this rate. How disappointing."

Charlemagne visibly flinched as the woman suddenly raised her spear, slamming it with a powerful movement against an incoming arrow aimed at her head, coming out of nowhere from the left. The impact created a small explosion and shockwave, but the Lancer class Servant remained completely unharmed once again, keeping her eyes focused on Rider even as she deflected a second arrow with disarming ease. Artoria, Waver and Charlie all gaped at her with disbelief.

"It's no use," Bazett voice echoed from the other side of the warehouse district. "Your efforts won't be able to match my Servant's strength. You have no chance of winning," the woman with magenta hair declared out loud, staring at their stunned expressions with confidence.

Waver Velvet was visibly paling and widening his eyes. "No way… even Archer's arrows have no effect?" he exclaimed in disbelief.

Bazett grinned at him in mocking amusement. "I told you: it doesn't matter what Heroes you've summoned; they won't be able to scratch my partner. Your struggles are in vain."

Artoria gritted her teeth, clenching her fists so hard that her arms began to tremble.

Charlemagne began to sweat profusely, but he held his ground and readied his stance again even as Lancer continued to advance slowly towards him. "We'll see about that! My blood is boiling more than ever, and you're going to get burned!" he boasted with a loud voice, challenging the enemy directly.

Lancer's eyes flashed after hearing his foolish words, her whole body emitting a dark, oppressing aura of outrage. "…what did you just say?" she hissed, glaring at him with a powerful wrath.

Rider jumped in fear and shame as he immediately stuttered in a frantic voice. "I-I-I'm sorry, forget I said that. I was trying too hard to be cool…" he tried to deflect.

In response, the woman launched herself at him with an impossible speed. Rider widened his eyes and startled, raising his blade just in time as Lancer flew towards him and went on the offensive, attacking with a blurring and confused succession of thrusts and swings with her spear. Charlemagne inwardly cursed when a small cut was opened on his cheek, and he struggled to block and counterattack while the enemy attacked and parried all his swings effortlessly; using her skills and agility from different angles and keeping him on his toes. The young Rider was now becoming increasingly worried, and he started to swing his sword more wildly, throwing caution and form to the wind in a panicked attempt to resist her assault.

But his opponent remained undeterred. Rider swung his sword, but Lancer sidestepped each slash sent her way, not even bothering to raise her spear to block them all. Then, just as the enemy had predicted, the young Servant did a mistake amid his frenzied assault, and failed to recover in time when the opponent's spear parried away his blade with disarming ease. Artoria and Lord El-Melloi II stared with wide eyes while the Lancer class Servant disarmed Charlemagne with a swift and precise movement of the arm, batting his blade away with a brutal movement and throwing it in the air. The young Rider widened his eyes in disbelief.

Immediately after that, a second kick was slammed against Rider's side, and he was sent flying for a few meters while his vision was blinded by the enemy's speed. The impact shattered his chest-plate, but Charlemagne had no time to recover. He felt pain blossoming in his body as the Lancer's spear slashed him in the right arm all of a sudden, and his vision became blurry when the opposed tip of the weapon slammed itself against his cheeks, blinding his world in a flash of white.

The young King of Franks hissed in pain, the attack sending him off his feet. He landed on the ground with a thud, and his enemy calmly walked over to him with a silent step, raising her spear with a solemn movement and pointing its tip towards his heart―

Another arrow flew between them at that moment, darting just a few inches away from Lancer's face.

Once more, the woman tensed and stepped away, turning her body with disarming speed towards the incoming attack and raising her arms to twirl her spear in front of her. The incoming rain of arrows slammed against her rotating weapon with a shockwave of wind and prana, assaulting her relentlessly and with more power than before. For those who were watching the scene, it seemed like Lancer was defending herself against a volley of bullets rather than a rain of arrows, and Charlemagne quickly took advantage of the enemy's distraction to leap away and put some distance from her.

Still, Archer's assault did not stop. Lancer narrowed her eyes and leaped away as another set of red arrows darted towards her with blinding speed, jumping to the right and avoiding the lightning-fast darts while twisting her body in the air, deflecting a few of them with her spear as well. Once more, she managed to evade or parry them all with little to no effort, but something happened this time.

Much to everyone's shock – including Lancer's, apparently – while she was defending herself from the incessant assault, one of the arrows managed to slam itself against the crimson spear from a different angle, changing its trajectory mid-air and creating a powerful recoil on the weapon which consequently knocked the spear out of Lancer's hands despite her strong grip. The red lance was thrown in the air with a dull sound, and then hit by another arrow that made it spun and fly away from its owner, leaving her weaponless.

Artoria watched with amazement while the woman with purple hair widened her eyes slightly, stunned by the sudden change in the enemy's aim, and leaped away in order to avoid a third rain of 'bullets' that threatened to skewer her. The young girl inwardly cheered as her Servant's assault had successfully forced her to momentarily retreat, but her joy was tampered by her following words.

"How annoying."

With but a single mental command, Lancer stretched one hand forward and the spear instantly returned to her in less than a second, darting in the air like a living missile and reappearing in her right hand as if it had never been gone in the first place. However, before the woman could turn around and throw her weapon in Archer's direction, Rider suddenly roared and charged at her from behind, his sword back in his hands and his face morphed in a mask of resolute decision. The masked Servant turned to him in a swift motion, her eyes narrowed in silent frustration as she moved to defend herself.

Once more, Lancer and Rider clashed. When their clash was followed by a resounding shockwave, Artoria felt her Servant speak to her through their mental link.

"Master," Archer's words echoed inside her mind with a serious tone. "Take the Lord and Rider with you and get clear from there."

The girl with golden hair physically startled. "Huh? What do you mean by 'get clear,' Archer?" she hissed in a low tone.

"Run away and take cover behind the metal containers on the far end of the harbor," was her Servant's cryptic reply.

"But why―"

"Do it. Now."

Artoria Pendragon swallowed a curse.

Following Archer's advice, she grabbed Lord El-Melloi II by the arm, catching him by surprise, and then began to run away in the opposite direction, dragging him along thanks to her strength despite his muffled protests and the difference in height and weight. At the same time, she yelled her command towards the armored Rider, while she kept running and dragging his Master towards the far-off end of the harbor.

"Rider, to us! NOW!" she cried with a commanding tone.

Charlemagne's head snapped in their direction as he kept exchanging blows with Lancer, confused, but he didn't ask questions. Attempting a feint aimed at the enemy's legs, he instantly leaped away at the last second and dashed in the opposite direction instead, dissolving his body into spirit form while the enemy Lancer remained stunned and perplexed by his sudden change of direction, staring at their retreating forms with narrowed eyes and a tense stance.

At the same time, Bazett's eyes widened as she realized what their enemies were trying to do. "Cowards! You cannot run from a duel!" she exclaimed with anger, fuming in outraged fury. "Lancer! Stop them at once!"

Her masked Servant moved to obey, but before she could take a single step in the enemies' direction, she widened her eyes and leaped away with a jump. Suddenly and without a warning, in fact, a long, glittering metal object – a weird-looking arrow loaded with a great amount of mana – slammed on the ground above which she had been standing a moment ago, generating a thunderous explosion that shook the ground and shattered the concrete like nothing. As the world shook for a few seconds, Lancer stared at the damage caused by the arrow with narrowed eyes, her mind growing colder and worried as realization dawned upon her features.

"…a Broken Phantasm?" she hissed, widening her eyes as her head snapped towards the Archer's direction. "Master! Take cover right now!" she exclaimed, her mind growing colder and alarmed as she stared at the enemy's location with wide eyes.

In the distance, miles and miles away from her current position, a flash of red and blue gleamed amid the dark of night.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Mion River – Fuyuki Bridge

(======)

The Red Bridge.

The greatest and longest structure located at the center of Fuyuki. A point of connection for the city and an attraction for many people, bridging both Miyama Town and the Shinto District separated by the river. It was an excellent observation point, which offered an optimal view towards the port, the surrounding districts, and all the areas of the city bathed by the river.

And it was right here, above the high, red railings of the bridge, that Heroic Spirit Emiya had taken position with his bow in order to aid Rider in his battle against the female Lancer from a distance. And it was also from here that he had observed, carefully observed, the fight between the two of them with his hawk's eyes. And the more he had observed the fight, the more he had begun to understand their enemy' identity. It was simply unavoidable for him. There were certain things, certain experiences, that could never truly leave his mind even after all this time; allowing him to connect the dots and realize the truth about what he was witnessing long before others could. It was in his nature, unfortunately.

Now, having witnessed Lancer's fighting style and her crimson spear long enough, what had been nothing more than a simple conjecture until a moment ago had finally become an unshakable truth inside his mind. And no matter how much he loathed to admit it… he wasn't thrilled to acknowledge what his mind was telling him to accept. In fact, he wasn't happy about what he had discovered. He wasn't happy at all.

The enemy they were facing right now was not comparable to Cu Chulainn. Because she was even worse than him.

Archer didn't even need to Structurally Analyze the enemy's spear to know its connection to the one wielded by the Hound of Culann. For they were the same, albeit different. There was no mistake about it. Emiya had seen and fought against that spear long enough to be able to tell with just a single glance. The spear wielded by this female Lancer was incredibly similar to the legendary Gáe Bolg. Yet, at the same time, it was different. Although their shapes, sizes and weight were similar, the lance used by the spear-woman was a specialized weapon one-step older, but of the same model as Gáe Bolg. It was older, created by using the branches of Tonelico; and with the same destructive power of the original one wielded by the Blue Lancer. And that wasn't good. It wasn't good at all. Archer almost felt a migraine coming just by looking at that spear.

Even though he had been spared from the Hound of Culann's presence in this world, now he had to deal with the dog's very own mentor instead.

Good grief. What a troublesome situation.

There was no doubt in Emiya's mind. There was no way he could be mistaken on this. After all, he had glimpsed that woman's story and legend countless times in the past, every time his eyes had landed on the accursed spear wielded by Cu Chulainn; and he could also recognize the fighting style she used from time to time. It was extremely similar to the one used by the Blue Lancer as well, even if the woman's style was way more refined, way more effective, and lacking the bestial agility of the dog's peculiar style.

Yes, there was no doubt about it. The woman they were facing right now was none other than the warrior-queen from the famous Ulster Cycle. The queen and gatekeeper of the foreign territory/haunted ground called the "Land of Shadows". A prodigy of spearmanship and Rune Magecraft, who had been said to possess a power immense enough to obtain control over the gate of the Land of Shadows, which was always overflowing with countless ghosts, to ward off the dead.

A warrior powerful enough to put the majority of Heroic Spirits to shame, a reliable Queen and teacher who had trained countless warriors throughout her life, and a member of the ruling class from birth. A Hero who could no longer be considered "human" due to her role and legend, an expert in Magecraft and combat, and slayer of people, wraiths, and gods.

The Witch of Dún Scáith, Scathach.

In other words: an extremely dangerous opponent. Emiya could already tell that much. In fact, he wasn't surprised by the fact that the woman had been able to completely overwhelm Rider in close combat, despite the fact that he was a Knight and a very powerful King. If he had to be honest, he was willing to bet that this Lancer was even more dangerous than King Arthur. Archer could almost bet on it. An opponent of her caliber, possessing such stats and power could be considered the top of her Class. Indeed… she could be considered the Top Servant of the Lancer class. There was no doubt about it.

Heroic Spirit Emiya increased his grip on the black bow. His left hand was almost shaking in frustration as he observed the woman avoid his Broken Phantasm with ease, her crimson red eyes pointed in his direction with a cold, calculating glint that was powerful enough to make even an expert warrior like him shiver. Facing such an opponent directly was an extremely reckless move. Now he could understand why Bazett had been so confident of victory ever since the beginning. He had sensed a lot of things from that woman ever since the group had made contact with her, but fear had never been one of them. And with a Servant like that on her side… he could clearly see the reason behind her confidence. This was way worse than Cu Chulainn. Extremely so.

One thing was certain, though: if they wanted to win this War, they had to bring that woman to their side, no matter what. Archer was painfully aware of the fact that they already had some powerful enemies who were opposing them. Fighting a Holy Grail War against the cunning Rin Tohsaka and the mighty King Arthur was going to be difficult enough. In addition to that, if they were to face Lancer as enemies as well… things could go pretty badly in the future. This woman was surely going to be a huge obstacle to overcome if they failed to make an alliance with her Master. Rider was strong, indeed, but Archer could clearly see that they were outmatched right now. The two of them alone had no chance of victory against Lancer's skills and power.

So, in order to keep Artoria safe and advance in this quest, he had to win the duel. No matter the cost.

And the only way to do that was to unleash one of his most powerful attacks.

"She's less a Hero and more an embodiment of power, huh?" he mused to himself, staring at Lancer from his elevated position. "She may be skilled, but compared to the average Servants, her nature and power are on another level entirely. No wonder she doesn't seem human anymore."

Very well, then. There was no time to lose.

He reached out with his right hand, opening his palm. With an electric hiss and a flash of red energy, a large weapon appeared in his waiting hand: a sword. A long, spiral-shaped sword with an ominous size.

Wasting no time, Emiya moved the sword close to his black bow. As he did so, slowly but surely, the sword began to lengthen, becoming thinner and thinner by the second and assuming the shape of an arrow. He notched it on the bow, taking aim carefully. The blade coiled into a spiral that could penetrate any target by creating a twisting distortion in space when fired, and the Red Archer watched his target with complete focus, aiming with extreme care and precision while the air became dense with mana around him.

Prana coursed through his body. It swirled around him like a gust, billowing his cape and hair. He channeled it inside the blade, taking aim with careful precision while the entire arrow glowed with flaming red energy. More and more Magical energy flowed through his arms, entering inside the arrow. The wind around his body became more powerful and intense. And thus, upon making sure that his Master was distant enough, he prepared himself to release the attack.

He loosed the arrow with a hushed whisper.

"Caladbolg!"

The arrow shot across the sky, enveloped in blue energy.

It flew at supersonic speed, silent as the night, so fast and deadly that no normal human could ever be able to see it. Then, in less than a blink of an eye, it reached the target's position, and generated a gigantic explosion that shook both heaven and earth. After a couple of seconds, a column of energy and smoke rose skyward, obscuring the entire port of Fuyuki from view and enveloping an entire section of the river and seashore with a blinding light.

The explosion lasted for a whole minute, even if it felt like an hour for him. Then, after what seemed to be an eternity, the world quieted and stilled, and the city fell into his usual silence once again.

Emiya's lips parted into a smirk.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

The Servant grins while Rin and I observe him warily. His presence alone has made the air around us grow quiet and frigid. The temperature has dropped slightly, even if it would be hard to notice for normal humans.

Rin glares at him with a tense expression. "Is this your handiwork?" she demands, pointing at the magic seal at her feet.

The Servant – Lancer, judging by the long, crimson spear resting on his shoulders – shrugs.

"Nope. Stooping to dirty tricks is a Mage's role. My kind simply fights when and where we're told," he answers with a pedantic tone. Then, he closes his eyes, and shoots a stare in my direction with a sly smirk. "Isn't that right, my invisible buddy?"

As expected, my Master begins to panic. "So you can see Archer… You're a Servant!"

"And if you know that, little girl, can I assume you're my enemy?" he replies back with a sarcastic tone, straightening himself from his kneeled position.

Rin doesn't answer to his jab. Instead, she begins to glance around, studying our surroundings with a nervous face. Sweat is openly pouring from her chin as she gulps imperceptibly. I mentally approve her way of thinking. At least she knows the basics and she's trying to assess their surroundings in attempt to grasp the best way to fight before the battle begins. Despite her age, she's smarter than she looks.

Apparently, Lancer has noticed as well. "Hoh? Impressive. You seem ignorant, but you have the gist of things," he compliments her. Then, he closes his eyes, exhaling a breath with an expression filled with sarcasm. "Boy, I really blew it. I shouldn't have let curiosity get the better of me and spoken up."

He swivels his weapon in his hand, and the entire spear begins to glow with a red, flaming energy.

Rin and I tense as we prepare for our first battle.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

The earthquake lasted for an eternity.

The blast was massive, gigantic, overwhelming; sending everything near its blast radius flying and blinding everything with an oppressive shockwave of wind and mana that engulfed the warehouse district of the harbor for hundreds of meters. The rest was just a confused and blurred succession of wind and blinding lights, while the world trembled ad the air moaned as if in extreme pain.

Finally, everything stopped. When the chaos was over, the Lancer class Servant stepped out of the burned, melted metal container, her shocked and panicked Master held firmly within her arms. The woman with magenta hair was shaking and coughing, staring at the aftermath of the explosion with wide eyes.

"W-What was that?" she wheezed amid the smoke and flames, struggling to keep herself steady once her Servant released her from her grip.

An entire portion of the warehouse district was gone. A gigantic crater of concrete, rubbles and debris now stood in its place, while countless metal containers had been scattered throughout the port and the massive crater that expanded at its center. Some of them were burning, enveloped in blue flames; some were melted and destroyed, and some others were simply gone, returned to nothingness. Flames and smoke and debris surrounded them for as far as the eye could see, and the smell of ozone and smoke impregnated the air like an invisible curse.

Bazett could not believe her eyes. "T-That last attack… its destructive power was comparable to that of an A-Rank Noble Phantasm!" she exclaimed in disbelief.

Lancer nodded wordlessly. "Master, are you injured?" she asked instead.

"I'm fine," she reassured her with a shake of the head. "More importantly, what the hell was that?! That single blast has destroyed the warehouse district like nothing!"

Her Servant did not answer, her eyes scanning the ruined site with unnerving intensity. Her brows were furrowed in what seemed to be contemplative suspicion.

Seeing her silence, Bazett turned to her in confusion. However, as soon as her gaze fell on the masked Servant, the woman's eyes widened in shock and fear. "L-Lancer!" she exclaimed, crying out in alarm. "You're wounded!"

Indeed, the woman was right. A large, lacerated wound had been opened on the Lancer's right shoulder, just below her shoulder pad. Thick, crimson blood was now dripping from the wound, and small cuts and abrasions were also visible on the Servant's uncovered cheeks, unmistakable signs of the damage she had suffered in a frantic attempt to grab her Master and bring her to safety at the last split-second, just before the arrow could impact against them. And now, it seemed that her strong and impassive Servant had paid the price for saving her life.

Bazett clenched her fists and stuttered. "S-Sorry, Lancer. Because of me, you ..."

"It's fine, this is nothing," she cut her off with a dismissive tone, her eyes still focused on the attacker's direction and her face devoid of any emotion. The woman didn't even acknowledge the wound for a moment, the pain in her body completely ignored. Not even two seconds later, in fact, the wound on the shoulder had already disappeared, and the blood and abrasions had vanished from her face as well, as if they'd never existed.

Another silent reminder of her twisted, accursed existence.

But for once, Lancer paid no mind to her current condition. On the contrary, her eyes narrowed in silent wonder and shock as she kept staring in the Archer's direction.

"That arrow, the spiraling blade… Fergus?" she mused to herself, disbelief and suspicion coating her words. In the end, after a moment of pondering, she shook her head with a clenched fist. "No, it can't be," she dismissed her previous thoughts, her face morphed into a scowl and her eyes colder than the sharpest metal.

She did no waste time. Her mind had already taken the decision.

"Master… the duel is over. It appears that we have lost," she stated with a calm, collected tone. Feeling her Master's disbelief, she turned to look at her with a blank stare. "That last attack has managed to scratch me. Consequently, following your previous words, it's our loss. We have been careless."

Bazett's eyes fell to the ground after hearing her stern voice, while feelings of shame and irritation began to form inside her heart.

But no matter how much she wanted to deny it, she knew that her Servant was right.

They had lost the duel. Her overconfidence and carelessness had caused their defeat.

The heir of the Fraga line gritted her teeth in silent frustration.

Completely uncaring of her Master's frustration, Lancer straightened herself, dusting off her armor with a cold expression. "Go now. Rider and the others are not going to hurt you," she stated with a dismissive tone, straightening up on her legs and summoning her demonic spear once again. "I'll leave the rest to you."

Bazett widened her eyes upon hearing her words. It didn't take her long to realize that her Servant was about to leave. "Wait, what? Where are you going?" she demanded, stunned.

Lancer's only response was a powerful leap.

She leaped away from the harbor with a speed that could not be described by mere words. The woman dashed throughout the city like an invisible killer, faster than the wind and silent like the moon itself. Jumping from roof to roof was extremely easy for a warrior such as her, hardly a stroll walk thanks to her nature and powers. The Lancer with purple hair stared at the world with her gleaming red eyes, heading in the south direction and moving with a pace that would be impossible to reach for any human being, leaving her Master behind while she moved at frightening speed towards her next destination. Towards her next target.

It had been a very long time since she had felt like this. Since she had glimpsed something – or someone – who could pique her interest during a battle. It could seem as a trivial and useless thing for most warriors and Heroes, but for an existence such as herself, it was a very important thing. Even if it was foolish, even if it was completely useless, even if it was misguided, it was the one and only string of hope she could latch herself to, due to her peculiar existence. This was her only wish, after all. The one and only reason she had left to keep walking through this accursed path called "life".

Not that it mattered, of course. She hadn't been ordinary in a very long time.

How weird, indeed.

Reaching the target's position turned out to be extremely easy. Apparently, the Archer had been expecting her for a while. He hadn't even considered the option of retreat.

Her lips twitched upwards behind her mask, ever so slightly.

She landed over the rails of the gigantic bridge without a sound, silent as the moon itself. She straightened herself, twirling her spear with one hand as she gazed at her opponent with a mask of ice. The enemy Servant was already staring at her, his grey eyes fixed on her face as well. He held a long, black bow in his right hand, dressed in a dark armor wrapped in an elegant red cloth, and his ageless face was morphed into a calm, collected frown as he stared into her eyes, his lips pursed into a tight line.

Sheer silence greeted their meeting. Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Until, perhaps guided by her instinct and intrigued by that man's aura, she lowered her mask and revealed her face in front of an enemy for the first time in… a while. A long, long while.

Lancer smiled as the enemy widened his eyes slightly, revealing her beautiful face. "Hm. I like the expression on your face," she mused, breaking the silence with a soft tone and tapping the rails of the bridge beneath her feet with her crimson spear. "Shall we do this?"

From his part, Archer remained completely still after her words, unfazed, his expression betraying nothing but poised and steeled calm. His fingers seemed to twitch slightly, as if he was trying to grasp something he couldn't quite see yet, but his hawk eyes remained fixed on her face with a cold intensity. Lancer had to give him credit for that. Very few warriors had been able to remain unfazed in front of her as he did. At least he wasn't a brash, emotive warrior like Rider had been. Not that the Knight's brave charge from before hadn't been amusing to see… but it felt nice to experience a change, for once.

And more importantly, the more she observed him, the more Lancer felt the compelling urge to dash forward and duel with him in a battle to the death. It was a raging feeling that soared within her bosom no matter how hard she tried to quell it.

Yes, it was definitely weird. That relaxed poise, the calm and detached expression, the cold and unnerving aura around his body… everything about that odd-looking Archer was making her feel excitement for the battle to come. She didn't know why, but that didn't matter to her. This feeling was more than enough. It had been a very long time since she had felt like this. Since she had allowed herself to have some fun against a promising opponent.

Now, at long last, a chance had appeared after an eternity of dull, boring suffering. And she was going to grasp it no matter what.

Lancer pointed her spear at the enemy, fixing his face with a cold, resolute stare.

"Have you nothing to say, Archer?" she spoke with a commanding tone, attempting to at least exchange a formal greeting with him before she decided to attack.

Once again, the only answer she received was silence. However, the man's lips soon curved into a smile that was… rueful? Self-mocking? Lancer could not tell exactly, nor did she care, but she noticed the lack of pride in it all the same.

Finally, the man with white hair opened his mouth to speak. "To survive an A-Rank Noble Phantasm without a scratch… it seems that I'm about to face another monster," he spoke with a sarcastic tone, shaking his head in mirth. He shot her a small stare. "I suppose escaping is not an option, huh?"

Lancer smiled, her expression a mixture of predatory excitement and feral trepidation. Despite his sarcastic remark, she could detect the steeled resolve inside his tone. Her blood was beginning to roar inside her veins. "Don't worry, I won't get serious… that's for sure," she replied with an honest smirk. A predatory one, but honest all the same.

He didn't seem to be offended by her lack of optimism about his strength. On the contrary, his smile widened a bit. "I know. I'm not one to hold back… but I hope you won't get your hopes too high. You fight like an elegant beast, with a fury to match that of Cu Chulainn. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up with you."

The woman widened her eyes slightly. Archer had masked his reaction well, but the momentary spark in his eyes was all that Lancer needed to confirm that he recognized the name from his own experience. Whoever this Servant was, he knew about the man who had once been her favorite pupil, and not from the legends and stories alone. He knew the man from personal experience, even if she could not fathom how.

Despite her better judgment, she couldn't help but ask. "How?"

His smile disappeared. His bow as well, immediately replaced by a pair of twin blades of black and white color. Lancer felt her interest grow even more.

"Beat me, Witch of Dún Scáith, and maybe I'll tell you," he said with a sly smirk.

Her face twitched. Realization dawned upon her features. He knew her True Name as well…

Soon, even if she failed to understand why, she felt her lips part into a feral grin. She just couldn't help it. The more she stared at him, the more she could begin to hear the excited beating of her heart. For the first time in a long while, she was looking forward to something. She was looking forward to a fight. And that alone spoke volumes about this weird Archer in front of her.

The tip of her spear glowed with flaming red energy. "I've changed my mind about you, Archer. You seem more impressive than I thought," she stated with a solemn voice, readying her stance. "I care little about that Rider, but you have piqued my interest. Now show me what you've got, or your life will be mine."

Archer readied his stance as well, pointing his twin blades at her with a blank face.

The Servant of the Lancer Class raised her spear, fixing the man before her with a predatory grin.

"Show it to me, Archer. Show to me, to this Scathach, your strength!"

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Eight-

She Rules the Battlefield

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Mion River – Fuyuki Bridge

(======)

There was no pause this time. The battle began immediately.

The clash between Archer and Lancer began with a resounding shockwave.

Steel crashed against steel in a shower of sparks. The air hissed and moaned. Heroic Spirit Emiya widened his eyes while Lancer dashed forward, charging at him first with a speed that no living being should ever be allowed to possess. His mind quieted and stilled. His ears rang and twitched. His instinct was screaming at him to run away and hide, and he barely had time to raise his arms into a defensive stance to block the enemy's attack at the last split-second, his body tense and rigid with anxiety.

Kanshou and Bakuya clashed against the red demonic spear with an explosion of wind. The entire bridge beneath their feet seemed to moan and tremble due to the oppressive shockwave. And yet, the two Servant did not falter even for a second, continuing to push forward and trying to pressure the opponent with their strength alone. The man of tempered steel glared at the woman of darkness and shadows, gritting his teeth into a growl as he desperately pushed, and pushed, and pushed in attempt to force the enemy away.

But to no avail. In the end, Emiya could bear the oppressive pressure no longer. The spear-woman – Scathach – was simply too powerful for him. She didn't even move one inch. With a fast and almost invisible movement, in fact, the Lancer class Servant twisted her spear out of the blades' pressure, breaking Archer's stance with but a single push of the arms. Emiya could do nothing but widen his eyes while his defense was completely shattered, and he soon felt the air leave his lungs when a powerful kick suddenly slammed against his abdomen, sending him backwards for several meters.

Pure, unmistakable pain blossomed on his chest and body. Archer stumbled backwards with a grunt, his feet dragging against the rails of the bridge in order to maintain his balance and avoid the fall. As soon as he was able to react again, he immediately raised his blades again, only to glimpse Scathach's body dashing towards him again, fast as lightning itself and silent as the moon shining on the above. He barely had time to react this time, and he spun his body into the best position in order to deflect a sudden thrust of the enemy spear, aimed at his heart. Once again, sparks flew into his vision, while Kanshou and Bakuya's combined strength struggled to block and parry the enemy's weapon.

Until, the thrust was followed by another. And then another. And another. It became a full-fledged assault in less than a second, and Emiya narrowed his eyes and hissed in frustration as he moved and twisted and struggled to parry and deflect the attacks to the best of his abilities. The air had become a blur around him, and the movements of the spear were no longer visible to the eyes. If it weren't for his well-developed instinct and his Mind's Eye, he would have been hit countless times.

Still, Scathach's face was morphed into a mask of cold resolve. Not even a glimmer of emotion could be seen in her crimson eyes as she attacked him relentlessly. She moved with grace and elegance, and yet every single thrust of her spear was as fast and dangerous as the deadliest weapon. The more he fought and struggled against her, the more Archer realized that Rider had been right during his previous duel. This woman really was the combination of "beauty" and "danger". There was no way to deny it any longer. Just witnessing to her movements and attacks was something both mesmerizing and appalling to the eyes. Something that would inevitably catch the eye and leave those who saw her astonished, and yet at the same time, it terrified and destroyed any desire to get close to the woman.

Her movements and attacks were not a simple assault. They were a dance.

It was a dance of death, and she was its grim and beautiful dancer.

Once again, Emiya felt the familiar and nostalgic feeling of pain blossom inside his mind as Lancer hit him in the face out of the blue. The woman swung her hand in a horizontal fist while he was still struggling to deflect the spear thrusts, striking his cheek and stealing his sight with blinding pain. Next thing he knew, his instinct screamed at him and Archer recoiled just in time to glimpse the woman's spear whipping towards his side at lightning-fast speed. His eyes widened immediately, and he tried to move his arms to block the attack with his shortswords, but it was too late.

The spear slammed against Kanshou and Bakuya's blades with a powerful snap, shattering them in an instant, and Archer paid the blow in full. The impact with the lance took almost all the air away from his lungs, and he was promptly thrown away like a living missile, sending him flying at least for a hundred meters, hissing in pain all the while. Eventually, however, he recovered fast enough to twist his body in the air, taking advantage of the destruction of his favorite twin blades to summon his bow and fire a volley of red arrows mid-air.

Much to his frustration, Scathach did not move one inch when faced with the sudden counter-attack. She merely bent her legs a little and twirled the spear with her hands, blocking all the incoming darts with ease. The arrows shattered and exploded all around her body as she deflected them all, generating a long series of explosions of wind and prana that enveloped her frame completely. Crimson-red eyes seemed to glow in the dark while the smoke dissolved and the air moaned in pain, and the Witch of Dún Scáith stepped away from the clouds of smoke with a solemn step while Emiya landed on the rails on the opposite side of the bridge.

Silence and tension filled the air. The wind howled all around him as he stared at the enemy walking slowly on the rails to move closer to his position. The woman's face remained cold and expressionless while the wind billowed her purple hair, her red spear twirling in her hands and enveloping her frame in a swirl of red flashes all the while.

Even if he did not show it on the outside, Heroic Spirit Emiya was growing increasingly worried. This fight was clearly turning against him. He knew he was not a powerful Heroic Spirit compared to the average Servants, but he wasn't expecting to be completely overwhelmed so soon. As much as he hated to admit it, he was clearly out-matched against that woman. Fighting her head on in close range was undoubtedly going to be a hard feat. Nearly impossible for him. Even with his Mind's Eye he was struggling to defend himself from her attacks. His instinct could predict – more or less – the feeling of her incoming attacks during their previous clash, but even if it compelled him to move, her movements were too fast for him to deflect them all, even faster than Saber's. Emiya was simply too slow compared to her to be able to defend himself from a direct assault. He was severely out-matched in close combat, and there was no way to deny it.

And yet, that was his only option. He could not use his bow and arrows, for they had already been proved to be useless against her. Nor he could hope to Trace and fire another Broken Phantasm at her.

Emiya was not stupid: he knew that woman would not give him time to project a Noble Phantasm and take aim with accuracy during the battle. She was simply too smart, too fast, for that. The moment she realized what he was about to do, she would simply dash at him and force him to defend himself again. Retreat was not an option either. Therefore: if he wanted to win, he had to find a way to slip past her defense. No matter how hard it was going to be.

Archer took a deep breath and exhaled air from his lips, steeling himself as best as he could.

Yes, there was no way to deny it. This Lancer was extremely dangerous, even more so than Cu Chulainn. And just like the accursed Blue Lancer, an opponent of her caliber was extremely hard to deal with for him. Emiya could see some speck of resemblance with the Blue Lancer's attacks in the woman's movements, but her style, stance and footwork were completely different. Where Cu Chulainn possessed strength and agility, Scathach possessed grace and elegance. Where the dog was brash and brutal, the woman was refined and precise. Her speed was slightly lacking her student's bestial agility, and even the power behind her thrusts was inferior compared to the attacks Emiya had withstood while fighting against the Hound of Culann during his previous Grail Wars. And yet, despite all of that, her attacks were by no means inferior. On the contrary, they were even more dangerous compared to those.

Because for what she lacked in muscle strength and speed, she made up with mana, and efficiency. Her attacks were perfectly balanced, her movements frighteningly fast and precise, and there was not a single opening in her assault and stance. It was an odd combination. A mixture of power and refined skill that was difficult to grasp with the mind, even for an experienced warrior like him. Describing this woman's battle style was easier said than done, let alone understanding it completely. If it weren't for his peculiar existence and his countless experiences, Archer would have failed to understand it as well.

For Emiya, the best way to describe it was one word: paradoxical.

Yes, that was the term. Paradoxical. A style that was not perfect, and yet at the same time it was. A combination of movements and skills that was not hard to read, and yet at the same time almost impossible to match. It was a contrast – an impossible contrast – which would have left every warrior baffled and confused upon witnessing the woman's fighting style. A contrast of opposites and semblances. A union of shortcomings and perfection. Thus, a paradox.

Despite the lack of bestial agility, her attacks were faster than Cu Chulainn's. Although she lacked the muscle strength and stature of her student, her attacks were more powerful than his. She seemed in every way inferior compared to the Blue Lancer; and yet she was much, much stronger and dangerous than him in every aspect. Her speed and style and movements… all of her was superior and far more dangerous than the dog's. Because it wasn't a matter of strength. It wasn't a matter of speed. It wasn't even a matter of bestial agility and skill.

It was a matter of experience. A matter of mindset, and dedication. It was a matter of will.

Cu Chulainn was a direct and straightforward warrior… but Scathach was a cunning and experienced killer.

And that was why he was able to understand it. As much as he loathed to admit it, Heroic Spirit Emiya could not mistake a killer when he saw one. Especially one such as her, who oozed off experience, dedication and will from every pore. Because, sad as it was, he was intimately familiar with those concepts. Extremely so.

For it was thanks to those exact same concepts that he had been able to become what he was today. No matter how he wished that hadn't been the case.

Emiya steeled his mind, observing the spear-woman with a narrowed gaze. There was no way to deny it. Archer could recognize a kindred spirit when he saw one. Just like him, in fact, the woman standing in front of him right now possessed experience, and resolve, and an unbending will. Her power was something that did not come just from her strength and skills – which, on their own, were already indescribably outstanding – but from her mindset and experiences instead. She was a killing machine, literally. An existence entirely aimed and focused on one single concept: killing, and killing, and killing. Just like him. Exactly like him.

The only difference? Lancer was even deadlier than him. Because despite sharing the same mindset and will, Emiya still lacked in skill and talent compared to her. And that was something he could never – EVER – hope to match, no matter how hard he tried.

Upon realizing that, Heroic Spirit Emiya could not quite stop himself from shivering for a moment.

But even though he hesitated only for a split-second, Lancer saw through him all the same. In fact, her eyes literally gleamed in feral trepidation as she saw the glimmer of fear flash inside the grey eyes of her prey. Archer's fingers twitched, and he barely had time to summon his shortswords a second time before the woman leaped at him for the third time, fast as the wind and elegant like the moon. In less than a blink of an eye, she was already on him again, assaulting him once more.

Just like before, their struggle remained unchanged. Archer defended himself, desperately moving and twisting his body in order to deflect and parry the attacks, but Lancer quickly overwhelmed him. His Mind's Eye was useless when faced against the Queen of Shadows herself. Her attacks and movements were easy to predict, but her speed and power were impossible to withstand for too long. The roar of metal clashing against steel echoed for an entire minute.

Emiya inwardly cursed when the enemy's spear managed to open a cut on his right cheek, and then he openly hissed when he barely managed to block a kick with his arm, reacting at the last split-second. He could feel the muscles and bones bending and screaming in pain under the woman's oppressive strength, and he forced himself to counterattack despite the overwhelming bloodlust oozing off from her glare alone. He had never experienced such a full-forced assault before – even taking into account his deployments – and his previous battles against Cu Chulainn were not even comparable to this woman's strength. No matter how absurd it sounded, his experiences and knowledge were useless against her.

Still, he refused to give up. Scathach's eyes narrowed when Emiya roared and increased his own assault all of a sudden, moving her spear with elegant and yet precise movements to parry his sudden slashes with relative ease. She just stared at him as he desperately tried to counterattack to her assault, something cold and unreadable flashing in her expression while she observed her opponent glaring at her with cold, calculating fury.

A pair of grey eyes made of steel and will, against a pair of crimson orbs made of ice and death.

Faster than a mere human eye could follow, they clashed. Again, and again, and again. Sparks flew and the clatter of steel rang out across the bridge, and even though Emiya met each strike to the best of his abilities, he was clearly being pushed back. It was extremely hard for him to keep up against the enemy's spear. There were certain weapons that could keep him at a range unsuited to his smaller blades. Excalibur was one of them. Gáe Bolg and certainly this alternative version of the demonic spear, then, were matters of course. But every kind of defense had gaps. Cu Chulainn fought aggressively and left openings in his armor as tradeoffs, small as they were… but this woman was another story entirely. Her style and movements were refined, and there was no opening at all in her stance even as she attacked or moved to parry. Truly, each of her movements was perfectly balanced, extremely precise and well-aimed in effort in both offensive and defensive power. Combined with Lancer's masterful form and her enormous amount of mana, the current situation left few options indeed.

But there were always options.

After an entire minute of slashes and struggles, the twin blades and the demonic spear clashed against each other in a powerful thrust, generating a roar of metal and mana and creating a shockwave all around the two Servants. Once again, the entire bridge shook and trembled under the oppressive battle unfolding upon its railings, and the concrete itself seemed to crack a little on the street below.

Archer and Lancer glared at each other, both of them pushing forward with their weapons to make pressure on the enemy.

"I sense anxiety in you," Scathach spoke as they clashed a second time. This fact alone was surprising for her, for she wasn't usually one to talk during a battle. On the contrary, she firmly believed that it was useless to exchange words during a duel. However, for some reason she could not quite fathom, she found herself unable to resist her curiosity. "You knew you were out-matched from the beginning. Why did you not flee from me?"

The only answer she received was a glare, followed by a hiss of effort.

"You were baiting me," Lancer realized as she continued to attack. Her voice was cold and commanding at the same time, her face betraying nothing but an empty expression. "You've purposely waited for me here instead of retreating from my wrath. Why?"

Emiya struggled against her lance, his blades slashing in the air to deflect and block the incoming attacks. "There was no need to further endanger the Masters with our battle," he answered through gritted teeth.

Lancer blinked upon realizing what he meant. She could see it in his eyes; in the steeled resolve flashing inside them, and in the unbending will oozing from his body. The only reason behind his actions had been his Master's safety. He had willingly and purposely lured her here in order to keep her away from the girl with golden hair. No ulterior motives, no hidden reason. He just wanted to deal with her alone, in order to keep his Master safe from her wrath. Even if that meant putting himself in danger against a stronger opponent.

He felt anxiety, but he had no fear. He was struggling, and yet would not escape. He knew he had no chance of winning, but he chose not to retreat. He was sincerely and completely determined to fight with her to the death, even if he knew that he was out-matched from the start. All of this for the sake of a single individual. For the sake of a simple girl who could not be older than fifteen.

The woman's lips parted into a feral grin. "You possess courage," she complimented him. "But that won't save you from my spear."

With one powerful thrust, she batted away his blades and moved to slash his chest. Emiya widened his eyes, but he managed to react accordingly this time. Before she could kill him with her attack, in fact, the spear collided with another pair of shortswords summoned in but a single second, and Emiya took advantage of Lancer's moment of surprise to kick her away from him with a fast and well-aimed movement. His foot slammed against the spear's shaft, and he used her own weapon to leap away from her with a dash, escaping from the incessant assault. He knew it was useless to fight Scathach like that. To directly clash against her was suicide, so he needed to think of something different.

However, their previous clash had not been completely useless. Emiya hadn't simply forced himself to fight that woman on close range just because he was out of options. Not at all. On the contrary, he had done it simply because he needed to grasp more of her abilities and story… and there was no better way to learn about the enemy's strength than fighting them directly.

In fact, just like he'd hoped, the more he clashed against her, the more Emiya started to understand.

The woman he was fighting against was not a simple warrior. She was more than a skilled Hero and a figure from legends of old. She was a literal killing machine. A beast inside a human body. Something that could not be considered "human", for that very same notion and definition could no longer contain and describe the entirety of her being.

But it was only when Archer moved to Structurally Analyze Scathach's spear that everything finally snapped into place.

A cursed existence; an immortal body.

A warrior who transcended the laws of the world.

Through his eyes and her weapon, Archer saw it. He saw the woman's past, her legend, her history. Her condition. He saw it all, with a crystalline clarity and a deep sense of repulsion and understanding at the same time. Because the woman he was fighting against right now was someone – no, something would be a much fitting word – to which he could relate in spite of everything. Something that should not be allowed to exist. Something that had long since been cut off from the laws of the common world, becoming an existence that lived on another plane of existence entirely.

Indeed, he could see it. He could see it without a single trace of doubt. Scathach was a cursed existence. A being neither human, nor divine. A life turned halfway between a Divine Spirit and a mortal body, which in turn had caused her to become unaffected by death. A God-Slayer and Gatekeeper of the Land of the Dead, who after slaying those who had been blessed with immortality had become the very same thing that she despised. She had become immortal, for the concept of "life" and "death" could no longer rule her, because they belonged to the world which she had unconsciously left behind. She could not die. She will never die, for throughout her battles, Scathach eventually ceased being human and started to be closed off from the World, leaving her humanity behind and becoming something else entirely.

She was neither a woman, nor a wraith. She wasn't a ghost, and yet that description fit her more than the concept of "human". She could no longer die, forced to simply continue to exist, forever. Forever, and ever, and ever; until the time when the World, the Land of Shadows and its outside would finally disappear. A being who longed for death, desperately and helplessly, despite knowing full well that such a wish was nothing but a foolish delusion. A woman who could not die, no matter how much she desired and longed for it; and who was cursed to exist until the end of days.

The curse of never-ending life, embodied into a human body.

Truly, it was appalling and revolting to witness. Archer could not stand that knowledge upon realizing the truth behind her existence. She truly was a monster, in every sense of the word. Just looking at her was making his bowels twist and churn.

For loathe as he was to admit it, her existence and condition felt extremely familiar to him.

Emiya gritted his teeth, growling in frustration as the woman slammed her spear against his blades. He met her charge head on, parrying her attacks and twisting his body into impossible positions to avoid a slash aimed at his head. The more they clashed, the more he was able to understand her legend, while the red Archer struggled and fought incessantly to resist under the opponent's superior skill and speed. The strength behind her attacks was so powerful that his arms were shaking in attempt to resist and block her charge directly.

Now that he understood who – what – he was fighting against, what could he do? What hope did he possess? Faced with such an existence, with such immortality, what could he do to win?

He could run away, of course, but he doubted that Lancer would let him go after going this far. Moreover, if he chose to retreat, she could decide to target Artoria instead. He could not, could never, allow that. He had to keep his Master as far away as possible from such a dangerous Servant. Scathach was immensely powerful and deadly, after all. She would crush a human being like nothing. No, he had to keep her focus on him. Even if he was completely out-matched in every way, it was his only choice.

As long as he remained calm and focused, he could find a way. No matter the situation, there was always a chance. There was always a way.

Visualize the image of your best self, and make it real. As long as you believe it, nothing is impossible.

Your only enemy is yourself.

Archer emptied his mind. He slashed again, and again, and again; relentless. His attacks became nothing but a blur of wind and movement that was impossible to see with the eyes, but no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to scratch the enemy. He didn't even get close to it. Lancer's spear continued to parry and deflect all his attempts with little to no effort, twirling and slashing in the air while the woman remained unimpressed and cold as ever. Her demonic lance cut through the darkness of the night, and the air itself screamed and moaned as the atmosphere was cut into shreds by her incessant assault. Despite his best efforts, Emiya openly winced when another cut was opened on his right arm, followed by a second one on the armor on his left side.

Then, out of the blue, Lancer disappeared, vanishing from sight in less than a second. Archer tensed, narrowing his gaze in confusion and apprehension, but his instinct compelled him to move all of a sudden. He openly gasped and widened his eyes while his body twisted almost on its own, forcing him to move ahead of sighting, and Emiya threw himself to the right in a roll to avoid a spear thrust that came from his back. Scathach had appeared behind him without a single sound, looking as deadly and beautiful as before, and she had tried to impale him with a speed that was honestly frightening to witness.

Emiya turned and leaped away from her just a moment before the tip of the spear could impale him in the heart. Although his Mind's Eye allowed him to see and predict her attacks, he simply lacked the speed to defend himself accordingly. Fighting her this way was surely going to be detrimental on the long run. He had to change tactics. He had to find a way to end this quickly.

Possibly, with one single strike.

This is it, then, he mused to himself. He steeled his mind as best as he could, mentally preparing himself to begin his strategy. I guess it's time to put my plan into motion. I'll activate my Noble―

"You defend yourself admirably."

Archer widened his eyes, turning to the right with a swift movement.

Lancer had appeared in front of him again, silent as before, glaring at him with her crimson eyes devoid of feels. Emiya openly halted his dash on the rails and cursed, throwing his arms forward in order to block the incoming tip of the spear aimed at his neck. Sparks flew in the dark of the night as the weapons collided, and the man with white hair grunted and hissed as his blades started to crack slightly under the strength of the enemy. His arms and legs where trembling in fatigue under the oppressive pressure.

"But defense will only get you so far," she spoke without an ounce of emotion. She kept pressuring him with one arm alone, blocking his escape route without hesitation. "Allow me to demonstrate it."

Heroic Spirit Emiya felt the hair on his neck stand up. A feeling of overwhelming death and danger began to hover around him…

…while Scathach raised her left arm to the sky, summoning a second spear in her waiting palm with a flash of crimson.

Archer widened his eyes, but this time he had no time to react in full under the enemy's incessant pressure. The only thing he could do was try to disengage and leap away, bringing one arm close to his face in a defensive stance while the second spear slashed against him in a lightning-fast strike, slamming itself against his left forearm with an explosion of wind and prana that shook both heaven and earth.

Then, his world became pain, and Emiya was forcefully thrown away by the impact, flying through the air and leaving the bridge like an arrow shot by his bow. He could feel and see nothing but white as he crashed into the river, generating an explosion of water that could be seen in the distance for miles and miles away. Then, the world quieted, and silence returned to reign once again.

Scathach twirled her spears and stepped on the edge of the rails, staring in direction of his fall with a narrowed stare.

"…he blocked it again," she muttered, increasing her grip on the lances in frustration.

Still, her lips twitched upwards slightly, and her expression soon broke into a smirk of trepidation and amusement as she leaped away and moved to reach her prey a second time.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Lancer and I are staring at each other in silence. As expected, after his previous charge, the enemy Servant has decided to stop wasting his energy. Our eyes betray nothing as we glare at each other's frame with a cold intensity.

"Twenty-seven," he finally breaks the silence, lowering his spear with a scowl on his face. "To think I've disarmed you twenty-seven times, and yet you still have more."

I remain unfazed by his words.

"What's the matter? This wait-and-see approach isn't like you. Where did all your previous spirit go?" I ask back at him, my voice as blank as my face.

"Tch. Trying to provoke me, you sly old man?" he spits with a hiss, shaking his head. "Fine, I'll ask the question: what land's Heroic Spirit are you? I've never heard of a bowman who wields two swords."

"You, on the other hand, are easily identifiable," I answer back. "They say that only the swiftest Heroes are chosen to be spearmen, and you stand head-and-shoulder above them. There aren't even three spearmen of your skill in the world… add in a beast's agility, and that leaves but one."

Lancer grins, his face filled with feral trepidation.

"Oh? You flatter me, Archer!"

Suddenly, the air shifts around us. Lancer assumes a fighting stance, and his entire spear begins to glow with red, flaming energy. It's so bright and luminescent that even the air itself begins to glow around it.

"Then will you face my mightiest blow?" he demands, glaring at me with bestial excitement.

I prepare my own stance, glaring at him with a narrowed stare.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Fuyuki Port – Harbor

(======)

Artoria Pendragon could not believe her eyes.

Now that the previous blast and earthquake had stopped, she was staring at the aftermath of the explosion with her wide, emerald eyes filled with disbelief and slight apprehension. Next to her, Lord El-Melloi II was gaping in disbelief as well, and even the loud, cheerful Rider was wearing a serious scowl as he gazed around the destruction spreading all around them. The silence was deafening around the small group, interrupted only by the hiss of smoke and the crackling of fire and flames every now and then.

As impossible as it sounded, an entire portion of the warehouse district of the port had been destroyed. In its place, a wide, gigantic crater of rubbles and concrete now stood in the middle of the harbor, with countless metal containers scattered all around it, ruined by the explosion and flames. It was like staring at the aftermath of a terroristic attack, or at the devastation caused by a bomb. It was frightening, and sincerely unnerving… and yet, it was oddly impossible for the girl to tear her eyes away from the sight. There was a weird fascination in observing the ruined surroundings that was hard to describe, just like a human being always felt drawn to stare at a gruesome scene; like what happened while witnessing at an incident or a car crash. It was appalling, and yet fascinatingly impossible to stop looking.

Or perhaps, Artoria mused, this weird feeling inside of her was due to the fact that all the destruction around her had been caused by none other than her own Servant.

Because that had been a shock, indeed.

"W-What happened?" Lord El-Melloi II whispered next to her, still struggling to recover from the shock.

Next to the tall Magus from the Clock Tower, Rider eyed the surrounding warily. "It was Archer," he said. His tone was deadly serious for once. "He released a Noble Phantasm on Lancer. It looked like some kind of arrow, but I didn't have time to see it properly."

Archer. Archer had caused all of this. Such a display of power and strength, caused by a single arrow shot by her Servant. Artoria felt pride and fear swell inside her chest at the same time, along with a feeling of uneasiness that simply would not go away. She had always known deep down her heart that her Servant was by no means weak, but for him to unleash such a powerful attack so suddenly… it was unexpected.

Artoria may know little about her stern and mysterious Archer, but she knew that he wasn't usually one to show his strength so easily. He always preferred to stay safe and assess the situation and the enemy's strength before doing something drastic. And he had always been so obnoxious with keeping her safe and strategizing before taking action, after all. But now… he appeared to have changed approach a little. And she didn't know what to think because of it.

He must have had a reason for releasing such a powerful attack, the girl with golden hair thought, gulping. I did feel something weird coming from him while we were observing Lancer's fight.

"To think that Archer had such a powerful Noble Phantasm under his sleeve… your Servant really knows how to surprise me, Miss Pendragon," Waver mused, dusting himself off as he exited from the ruined metal container they had used as a shelter. "He looks weak, but he's definitely interesting."

Rider deadpanned. "You really like to praise other Servants except your own, huh, Master?" he muttered.

Artoria ignored them both. She steeled her mind as she turned towards her allies with her mind focused on another matter entirely. "What about Lancer?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes. "Is she gone?"

Charlemagne shook his head, much to hers and Waver's disbelief. "Uuuh, not exactly. I saw her leaving the harbor a few minutes ago, and she looked completely unharmed," he answered, his face morphing into an expression that was both confused and worried as he glanced in a distant direction. "To actually be able to withstand an A-Rank Noble Phantasm… that woman is scary. Absolutely scary," he added, shivering a little.

Artoria felt panic begin to form inside her chest. "Leave? Why would she―"

Before she could even finish, Rider had spurred into action. Both Waver and Artoria blinked and tensed when the armored King of Franks suddenly rushed forward, placing himself in front of them with his sword already drawn in his hands. The girl with golden hair and the Lord of the Clock Tower narrowed their eyes as they saw a figure walking slowly in the distance, stepping out of a column of smoke amid the ruined warehouse district of the port.

Bazett Fraga McRemitz revealed herself once more, looking completely unharmed just like them. Her suit and face were a bit ruined and covered in dust, but she looked fine all things considered. If it weren't for the annoyed scowl on her face, Artoria would have believed she was completely unfazed.

"It appears I've severely underestimated your Servant, Miss Pendragon," the woman spoke as she approached them. She was speaking through gritted teeth, looking quite annoyed and frustrated for some reason as she glared at her directly. "I thought that Rider would have been the most troublesome opponent for my Lancer, but it looks like I was mistaken."

Artoria remained silent. Lord El-Melloi II fixed Bazett with a narrowed stare. "You chose to approach us again? Without your Servant?" he questioned, unimpressed.

The woman clenched a fist, and then donned her other hand through her magenta hair. "Lancer has left… the duel is over," she conceded with an annoyed frown. "It's my loss."

Rider blinked while the humans exchanged a silent glance after her declaration.

"So… you're admitting defeat?" Charlemagne asked, perplexed.

Once again, the woman nodded with clear reluctance. The twitching of her eyebrow was really difficult to miss. "…I don't like to admit it, but I have no choice," she hissed, her lips twitching downwards. "That last attack has caught me unprepared, and Lancer was scratched by the blast in attempt to shield me. She has admitted defeat, and we've lost the bet, as well as the duel," she stated with a defeated tone.

That… was weird. They weren't expecting it.

A powerful warrior like Lancer had willingly admitted defeat so easily? Just by a single scratch? Definitely weird. It could not be, because it made no sense. Lancer was undoubtedly the strongest Servant they had met so far. She was even stronger than Rider and Saber, as well. There was no way she could simply admit defeat just because a Servant – Archer, of all Servants – had managed to wound her a bit. It was simply illogical. It made no sense.

Something was off here.

The heir of the Pendragon line felt restless for some reason. "…where is she?" she demanded, narrowing her gaze on the older woman.

Bazett, on her part, ran a hand over her temples.

"Lancer has an… obsession," was her sudden and cryptic reply. Waver and Artoria stared in confusion as the woman with magenta hair assumed a frustrated expression on her face. Even Rider was openly blinking at her weird statement. "She is fixated with her desire to clash against those who she considers strong opponents. Apparently, she has taken an interest in that Archer of yours, and she's left me here while she went off to meet him. I've even attempted to call her back, but she's ignoring our mental bond completely." She shook her head with a weary face, exhaling a very long sigh. "I really feel bad for your Servant, Miss Pendragon."

For some reason, Artoria did not like what she just heard. And the fact that she could no longer feel her mental link with Archer was only increasing her inner concern.

"What do you mean? What is she planning to do?" she demanded, growing increasingly worried by the moment.

Bazett's stare was both annoyed and sympathetic as she stared at the young girl. "When someone piques her interest, she won't stop no matter what. She will fight them to the death," she answered in all seriousness. "That's what she said to me, at least."

The world stopped in Artoria's mind.

Fight… to the death…?

Waver Velvet, apparently, reached the conclusion behind this matter before she could grasp the situation fully. "She's planning to kill him!" he exclaimed, widening his eyes in shock as he realized what that woman was planning to do.

Artoria felt the air leave her lungs all of a sudden. Faced with Bazett's silent stare of confirmation, sheer and absolute panic started to blossom inside her heart. She could not allow that to happen. She just could not allow it for any reason.

Rage and panic suddenly roared inside her mind.

"RIDER!" she bellowed, making both Waver and Charlemagne startle in surprise. "Summon your mount at once! We need to reach Archer's position right now!"

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Lancer is staring at me, his red eyes narrowed in what I assume is a displeased frown.

"I can't figure you out," he says, stopping his attack while I take a deep breath. This is only our second battle, and he's already so much harder to deal with. He really is an annoying dog. "You're this skilled, and yet you chose to side with Caster? Working with that little lady, you probably would have been a match for that witch."

Faced with his question, a rude smirk slowly begins to form on my face. "I was expecting you to mouth off, but you're still going on about that?" I mock him, sarcastic. "I simply chose the option with the higher chance of success, however slight."

Lancer places one hand on his hip. "Is that so? It was stupid of me to even ask," he spits back, sarcastic as well.

"No argument there," I reply, closing my eyes and shaking my head.

"But that isn't a certain path to victory," he continues again, and I open my eyes with a frown. The dog is openly pointing his spear at my chest as he glares at me. "You have a fatal lack of pride in your sword skills."

I smile at his direct statement. "Yes. Unfortunately, I am devoid of pride," I admit without missing a beat, shrugging my shoulders. "But why does that bother you? Does it dishonor all Heroes?"

Despite myself, I cannot stop my lips from scoffing in disdain. "Don't make me laugh, Lancer. Dishonor can be washed away with success. Feed your leftover pride to that dog of yours," I taunt him – her – with a smirk. A fake smirk, and one filled with regret, but the words leave my mouth even though I'm hurting myself as I speak.

Lancer stiffens at my words. His spear trembles as he lowers it. "Did you just call her a dog, Archer?" he asks, his voice lower than usual.

My fake smile doesn't disappear. "It's the truth, Cu Chulainn. If you have a Hero's pride, cast it aside while you still can."

His expression morphs into an enraged snarl.

"Well said… THEN YOU FIRST!"

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Mion River – Unnamed beach near Miyama Town

(======)

Despite her better judgment, Scathach felt her thoughts run wild as she moved to reach her target's location.

No matter how hard she attempted to suppress them, no matter how long she tried to ignore them and focus on the battle, it was simply impossible to quell the instinct that was raging and screaming within her bosom. She couldn't help it. She just couldn't help it. After all, she hadn't felt like this in a very long time. She hadn't felt this kind of excitement in… forever, to be honest. It had been an eternity ago since the last time she recalled going through the feeling she was experiencing right now, and she just couldn't stop herself from reveling in this sensation after all this time.

The red Archer she was currently facing was tickling her fighting instinct in every possible way… and that was something she hadn't felt in a long, long while.

I have experienced many things throughout this accursed existence.

But not even this feeling was enough to completely wash away the desolation and pain haunting her heart and mind. Not even this excited sensation was enough to quell the fire raging inside her body.

Truly, I robbed many lives. A man. A wraith. A god.

I've confronted many existences of a countless number, slaughtering all those near me.

The memories of her life would not stop coming back to haunt her. Those thoughts darted inside her head like poisonous whispers despite her focused mind and steeled resolve. They just could not stop plaguing her even here, in this impossible reality. In this one and only moment of respite she had been offered after an eternity of silence, and boredom, and death.

Fight. Fight. Fight. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. In the end, this body was wet with the blood of many victims, and became immortal. The territory under my rule, the "Land of Shadows", was ultimately forced out to the Outside of the World, and I ended up being promoted into an existence no different than that of a Divine Spirit.

The pain was relentless. The feeling of shame and despair was growing stronger with each passing day.

I will not grow old. I will not die.

I've changed into 'that' which is immortal.

Why couldn't it end? Why couldn't she just disappear?

Sure enough, I can no longer remember exactly how much time has passed since the first time I picked up a spear in my hand. It is different from something good. I, who stood on the haunted ground and guarded the "gate", have already since acquired the wisdom of the abyss, so I am able to measure the exact time.

However, I simply do not feel like doing it.

The feeling was growing stronger. It was roaring, and raging, and trashing inside of her like a caged beast, fighting to be released. It simply could not be ignored anymore. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't help it. There was no way to quench it. There was no way to quell it. It was simply impossible to contain its raging fury any longer. Not here, not anymore. Not when a chance had finally appeared after her countless years of despair and solitude. She could no longer contain it even if she so desired.

It is different from melancholy. It is also different from resignation.

Regret?

I do not understand. I can say that, but I am unable to affirm it.

Yes, that was the feeling. Regret.

Her old friend. Her lonely companion. The one and only constant which remained unchanged during the entirety of her accursed existence. Just like her curse.

I was simply impossible to get rid of it.

At least, during the interval where I slaughtered many things, there is certainly something that exists within the present me, something that did not exist within my feelings around the time where I was conducting my teachings towards the brave warriors of Ulster.

Ah, indeed. Guiding the many brave warriors considerably.

That was her only pride, her single source of joy and fondness amid this world of boredom and despair. The only income of relief amid this cursed existence which allowed no emotion other than pain and regret to exist.

The memories of her time as a teacher, and of the countless students she had taught and trained during her life.

Everything should have faded away at the end of the many passing months and years, but in the middle of my memories that are preserved in a condition that is intentionally kept obscure, one person... There is only one person, a man with his figure displayed clearly to me even up to now.

Red eyes…

His pair of eyes. Only in the time where that radiance passes by my mind, what's inside this chest calms down.

Even amid those memories, the image of a man kept wavering inside her mind. It kept coming and coming and coming, over and over again. No matter how many years passed or how hard and long she attempted to dismiss it, it would always come back to her. There was no way to banish that image from her mind. His eyes and face just kept coming back, over and over again, darting through her vision even when she closed her eyes and tried to force herself to sleep.

The eyes of her favorite pupil, and the man whom she had hoped would have been able to free her from the curse.

Warmth dwells within myself, which is immutable for eternity.

A heart wishing for reunion?

No. That is not the way it is. That I can affirm.

That was not love. It was not what she was feeling. That emotion could not be described by the concept of "love". It was something else. Something different. Something entirely different.

If then, what is it there? To say firmly, as thus, to that man—

—I want him to kill me.

The answer, eventually, had come. And once it did, she could no longer deny it.

I want death as a person.

She wished for death. She wanted to die.

That was her only dream. Her only aspiration. Her only hope.

Back then, she had hoped as well. She had hoped, so desperately hoped and begged the heavens for this wish. She had hoped that her favorite student could be able to kill her… but it had been in vain. Although still young and having arrived to the Land of Shadows by the shortest route, the man whom she had favored the most had been ultimately shown to be unable to fulfill her dream. For years she had lamented over her inability to be killed by him since she had already ceased being able to die by the time he came to her… but she just could not accept it. She could never accept it.

After all, what life could ever deserve such fate? Why had she been cursed while everyone she loved had been granted their end? Why was she the only one who had to keep on living and enduring?

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all.

Yet, it was her own fault. And she could not unleash her anger and frustration over the world. She could not let innocent people suffer just because of her selfish dream.

And yet…

Why? Why am I feeling like this? After all this time ― why?

...today, something had changed.

Why do you remind me of him, of all people?

Because, as soon as her eyes had landed on the red Archer's frame, a clear and blurred image had popped inside her head mysteriously.

An image that would forever be embedded in her mind, etched inside her soul until the end of days.

Why do I see his spear piercing my heart every time I gaze upon you?

The woman with purple hair and crimson eyes landed on the river shore with a silent step. Her eyes stared, dull and cold and with an empty gaze, as a powerful explosion suddenly shook the river and created a column of liquid that rose towards the sky for tens of meters, while a figure clad in black armor and red cloth leaped out of the water.

Scathach, Queen of the Land of Shadows and Master of Dún Scáith, observed her opponent landing in front of her on the shore, his body wet with water and blood but his stern expression unchanged from the beginning.

She didn't understand. She could not understand. The grip on her identical spears increased so much that her arms began to tremble slightly in frustration.

Her eyes wavered for only a split-second, and those thoughts returned to plague her in spite of her focused mind.

"Why do I feel like this when I'm being faced by you?"

Much to her slight surprise, the man seemed taken aback for some reason, as if he had been reading her thoughts. Scathach took in a sharp breath. It didn't take her long to realize that she had unconsciously whispered that question out loud. However, for some reason, it did not matter much to her. She merely shook her head, dismissed her emotions, and hardened her expression again. Then, she pointed both her spears to the enemy with a mask of ice on her face, glaring at him with bloodlust and a challenging expression.

She gave him no time to ponder and think. Such notions and thoughts meant nothing during a battle.

The Servant of the Lancer class launched herself at him with an impossible speed. Archer narrowed his eyes and moved to summon his blades again, and Scathach felt her interest in him grow more and more as she jumped on him like a lioness pouncing on its prey. In a flash of black and white, those identical shortswords of his appeared to life with a hiss of metal; and together they parried her attack with swiftness, deflecting her right spear with a jerk-like movement while Archer kicked the left one with a twisting movement.

But that wasn't nearly enough to stop her. With a movement that was both elegant and skillful, Scathach spun her body mid-air and stabbed her left spear on the ground. Then, in a split-second, she used the lance stabbed in the ground as a momentum to increase her balance and spun around a second time with her body, slamming the right spear against her opponent with a spinning movement.

An explosion of wind echoed for miles away. Her demonic spear clashed against the cross guard of the blades with a shockwave, while the power of the blow cracked the ground under Archer's feet. Scathach stared at him intently as the man forced himself to throw her away with a jerk-like movement of his arms, roaring in effort as he struggled to force her to take some distance from him with a lunge to her side. Just when she was already moving to deflect it, the man surprised her by stopping the attack mid-movement, leaping away instead and darting in the opposite direction.

Her eyes flared. She wouldn't allow him to escape.

She leaped forward, again, and in a heart-beat she was already on him. She thrust one spear forward with a movement loaded with mana, meeting the enemy's blades directly and shattering them as soon as the contact was made. However, just as she was about to use the other spear to finish this duel once and for all, Archer had already summoned another pair of blades again, deflecting the attack at the last moment even if he could not block the blow in full. For his effort, he obtained a wide gash on his shoulder instead of a full impalement, and the woman with purple hair remained inwardly fascinated by his ability to defend himself despite his desperate situation.

He tried to disengage again, but she gave him no time. She attacked him once more, relentlessly, her spears slashing and twirling in the air in a flash of red as the two of them continued to exchange blows for a few seconds. All the while, Scathach's gaze was focused on the tanned Archer's eyes while he wielded his swords in all directions, avoiding and parrying her assault with skillful movements and dodging with impressive reflexes. His grey eyes were narrowed and filled with a cold, calculating glint; and they didn't even look worried or scared as he continued to face her assault to the best of his abilities. Despite the dangerous situation he was currently in, Lancer could not see a single trace of fear or doubt inside his gaze. Not even a glimmer of hesitation or worry… and that realization was only making her grow more and more excited.

She could feel it. The more the duel continued, the more she could feel it with every fiber of her being. Her heart was beating madly within her chest. The blood was roaring inside her veins. Even her own mind was starting to forget the despair and regret she was used to constantly feel. Yes, she was truly starting to feel it more and more. And when she realized that, despite her better judgment, the Witch of Dún Scáith could not stop herself from grinning like a madwoman. She bared her teeth in front of Archer's assault, feeling the excitement grow blow after blow.

It was perfect. Simply perfect.

His style was brusque and unrefined, but the movements were skillful and precise. His attacks were powerful and direct, but he was not disdaining feints and tricks in attempt to lower her guard. And despite her thrusts being invisible to the eye, he was purposely leaving fatal openings in his movements, dodging her attacks at the last second and risking an instant death instead of slowly allowing himself to be cut up, which would surely ensure his loss as the fight dragged out. It was a far cry from the proper and disciplined combat style that a Knight like Rider or a renowned Hero of old would use… but it was weirdly fascinating all the same. It was a style developed from experience and calculated openings, which allowed him to match her frontal onslaught without being completely overwhelmed.

Yes, the more she observed him the more her trepidation was soaring within her heart. Whoever he was, Archer's ability to defend himself during a prolonged near-death situation was outstanding. His body and mind were completely devoid of fear, his movements and mindset were skillful and effective, and he was even summoning those blades again and again with little to no effort no matter how many times she had managed to destroy them. He lacked elegance and style, but each of his movement was imbued with purpose, and his survival ability was developed by experience.

In her opinion, even if unrefined, it was a breathtaking combat style. One that she had never – ever – witnessed and seen during her long, eternal life. A combat style made out not of talent and skill, but of necessity, and experience, and will. One that would not disregard putting its user in danger in order to resist and not be overwhelmed by a superior enemy. And much to her surprise… it was working. Although it was foolish and reckless, it was working. Archer was clearly unable to deflect and parry all her blows, but he was successfully managing to avoid the fatal ones. His body was covered by cuts and slashes, but they were all just scratches. He was definitely managing to avoid all the deadly attacks, allowing himself to sustain only the most superficial ones instead. He had managed to avoid death so many times during their battle that it was impressive. Scathach had directly aimed for his heart at least thirty-seven times by now, and yet he was still resisting while struggling. It was mind-blowingly effective… even if extremely reckless.

She could not fully contain her amused smirk as she slammed both of her spears on the ground, twisting her body mid-air and kicking the enemy Archer in the face. The man grunted and stumbled backwards, his feet dragging on the ground as he fought to keep his balance while blood began to drip from his broken nose. He was panting and wheezing like an animal, his entire body covered in cuts, abrasions and slashes. Some of them were drawing blood even now, and yet… he would not fall back. He was still standing on his legs, his blades still grasped in hand while he fixed her with a cold, calculating stare that made the blood roar inside her veins and her lips twitch upwards ever-so-slightly.

Truly, he was driving her mad. In the best way possible.

Just looking at his face was making her itch for a good fight. Staring into his hawk eyes was filling her with a sense of kinship, and familiarity, and sympathy; something that hadn't occurred to her in a long, long time. By the heavens, she hadn't felt like this in years. Hundreds of years. His style and movements were lacking in skill, but he had great potential despite his reckless attempts. He also possessed courage and resolve, so much so that he was willing to corner himself against a superior enemy in order to defend his Master from her. It was incredibly brave, almost foolishingly so.

An Archer fighting like a Saber; able to hold his own in close combat. A warrior who possessed experience, courage and resolve to share, fighting for survival and refusing to escape even if that meant using whatever tactics he could in order to survive.

In all honesty, Scathach could not lie to herself. She could already tell with just a single glance.

Had they met in the Land of Shadows during her life, she would have trained him right away. There was no doubt about it. After witnessing his potential and courage, along with the dedication oozing off from his attacks, she would have gladly taken him as a student during her past.

But now, unfortunately, it was useless to linger on those thoughts.

The woman watched, with distant interest, as yet another thrust of her spear was parried – barely – by the Archer in front of her. She ducked under his slash, and immediately leaped away when the man suddenly tossed his blades at her, using them as boomerangs which eventually returned to him upon missing their target and darting through the air. She straightened herself as the two of them stood a few meters away from each other, twirling one spear with her hand and placing the other one on her shoulder while she stared back at his emotionless gaze with a narrowed one of her own.

He was filled with wounds and cuts, panting in exhaustion and weariness, while she looked completely fine and unfazed by the battle… but his stern eyes had remained unchanged even despite the sorry state of his body. And that alone spoke volumes about him, in Scathach's opinion.

However, there was one, single flaw in Archer's combat style. A flaw that was dangerous. One that she could not overlook, for it was unbefitting of a warrior of his kind.

And as such, it needed immediate correction.

"I'm impressed," she spoke, breaking the silence again in spite of herself. She fixed the man in front of her with a cold stare, showing no emotion in front of his unreadable expression. "To think that a bowman would be able to resist against me for so long… your swordsmanship is quite brusque, but I find it intriguing. I commend you for it, Archer."

Initially, he had no reaction to her praise. Then, slowly, just as she was about to frown at his stubborn silence, the man scoffed and wiped away the blood from his face. "Resist? You think too highly of me, Lancer." His voice was low, and deep, and sarcastic. Completely devoid of the one thing that she was searching in him ever since the battle had begun. "I'm way too weak compared to you. Even now I'm barely able to hold my own against your attacks, and I know that you're still holding yourself back. I appreciate the compliment, but it is not deserved on my part."

Scathach frowned. She clenched her fists around the spears. "I see… then I was right. There really is a fatal flaw in you," she mused, scowling a little under his unimpressed stare. Her crimson eyes glowed with distaste and disappointment as she glared at him. "You have no pride in you."

He stared at her, long and hard, after her statement.

After a few moments, he smirked at her frowning face. "Indeed. You are correct, Lancer. I have no pride in me," he acknowledged with a sarcastic tone. His expression turned sly and amused as he remained completely unfazed by her glare. "I've been reprimanded several times by a certain student of yours because of that. Now I see where he got it from."

He snorted, shaking his head in amusement. "Good grief. Dogs really do take after their owner," he mused to himself, mockingly.

Lancer's eyes narrowed at his taunt. "You claim to have met one of my students?" she demanded, tapping the ground with her spear in warning. There was no way she could miss the meaning behind his words. There was only one person who could match that description, as insulting as it was.

"I wonder about that. You still haven't defeated me, so I'm not obliged to tell you," was his sly and immediate reply.

Normally, his answer would have enraged her. Instead, this time, she let it slide, and her lips openly parted into a smirk. "You lack pride, and yet you possess great confidence… it is not arrogance either. You truly are something else, Servant of the bow," she studied him out loud, her eyes discerning many things thanks to her experience and abilities. The beating of her heart was not slowing down even now that the battle had halted for a moment. "Hm, indeed. Your skills in battle are average, but I sense great potential in you. Your greatest asset is your courage."

"Yet I'm no match against you," he grunted in dismissal, increasing the grip on his twin blades.

"You think too little of yourself," the spear-woman said, appraising him again. "You obviously have great experience."

Emiya smirked. "Then let us see if your praise is deserved."

Scathach grinned, feral and predatory. "Yes, let's see about that!" she hissed, her entire frame oozing off bloodlust like a fog.

Their next clash happened differently than before.

Without a warning, Lancer raised her left spear, twirling it in her hand with an expression morphed into mad, feral trepidation. Then, she leaped in the air, and with a swift and elegant movement she threw the lance at the opponent while the entire spear glowed with a red, flaming energy. But it wasn't over with that. Just as the weapon darted into the air, fast as a missile, something unexpected happened.

In fact, in that exact same moment, the woman released one of the Runes sealed within the spear, and with a mental command, three more copies of the demonic spear immediately appeared around the original one with a flash of red, darting through the air along with the original and aiming at the target with a frighteningly gruesome speed.

Said target who, much to Scathach's interest, remained completely still. Archer did not move upon being targeted by her long-ranged attack. All he did, all he had to do, was utter two single words.

"Trace On."

Despite the odds, Lancer felt her eyes widen as she landed on the ground and stared at the red Servant. She could clearly feel something shifting in the air surrounding Archer's frame, something invisible to eye, and yet at the same time loaded with a great amount of mana and power. Then, before she could fully realize what it was, the woman watched in silent fascination while a sudden volley of "arrows" appeared to life around her enemy out of the blue; said arrows composed of swords made of different shapes and sizes.

Just like that, then, in less than a blink of an eye, the swords darted forward as well, and they crashed mid-air against her spear and its magical copies with an explosion of wind, prana and energy that shook the air and made the ground tremble as if an earthquake had begun all of a sudden. Even the water of the river began to agitate and shift, creating small waves that crashed against the shore with a loud crash. Water splashed and rained down on the shore for half of a minute, and Archer dashed out of the column of smoke like a living arrow, aiming his twin blades at her.

More swords, summoned during combat, Lancer felt her eyebrows rise in mild stupor. Projection Magecraft. Is he a Magus as well? she mused inside her head, but she had no time to recollect herself.

In fact, just as she readied her stance to meet Archer's charge head on, she suddenly widened her eyes and snapped her head up. There, in the air, another volley of swords had appeared out of nowhere with a flash of light and mana, and they were suddenly hurled at her with a silent hiss and a precise and careful aim. Next thing she knew, they had already reached her position, and she barely had a few split-seconds to react before she could be skewered from head to toe.

But a few split-seconds were more than enough for the immortal Queen of Shadows. In fact, taking advantage of her inhuman speed, she leaped away from the swords' range with a single but powerful jump, and then she twirled her remaining spear to deflect the second volley of projectiles that followed the previous one. The swords shattered and exploded upon making contact with her demonic lance, and the female Lancer side-stepped with an elegant movement when one of Archer's twin blades suddenly threatened to sever her head at the same time, spinning in the air like a boomerang while the man charged at her directly from the other side of the shore.

On his part, upon grabbing his flying blade again, Archer pounced on the enemy like a lion, attacking her relentlessly with slashes and swings aimed in every direction, forcing her to block and deflect his assault with her spear. He knew it was a useless attempt. There was no way he could ever hope to best Lancer in close range, at least not like this. His swordsmanship was in no way comparable to her abilities and skills, and with his mediocre stats he had no hope to match Scathach's strength and speed. It was simply impossible. Her bloodlust alone was so big that it would have made the majority of Servants falter and hesitate, and even a powerful Servant like Saber would have surely struggled against a Top Lancer like her. He knew it. He knew it extremely well.

And yet, if he wanted his plan to work, if he really wished to have a chance, he had to force himself to do it.

Despite what many – himself included – would have said, Archer was by no means reckless. He knew how to recognize a powerful enemy when he saw one. Consequently, he also knew when he had to admit of having no chances of winning against those kind of opponents. It was one of the first things he had come to realize thanks to his experience, and perhaps the most important lesson he had learned in his previous deployments and Grail Wars. To be completely honest, in fact, if he hadn't fought Cu Chulainn so many times before, he probably wouldn't have attempted this now. But now he had taken his lessons to heart thanks to his memories, and he knew that there was no choice. This was his ONE and ONLY chance of winning the duel, and he had to grasp it no matter what for the sake of his Master and his quest.

It was his instinct, after all. Archer always struck when he knew he had the greatest chance of success. He would attack ONLY when he knew he had a real chance of landing a blow. If there was no chance of doing so, or if it was too dangerous, he would avoid fighting completely. That was how he always fought, for his survival instinct and experience had taught him that lesson the hard way thanks to his countless battles and the hell he had been through for the majority of his existence.

And that was exactly why he was doing this right now. This was his one chance to win the duel. It was all according to his plan. He knew he was out-matched against Lancer. He knew he could never – not even in a thousand years – be able to land a direct blow on her, both on close and long range. Not a fatal one, at least.

So, he had to play his cards right. He had one chance, one opportunity. And the only way to make that chance appear was to put himself through this woman's wrath.

Misleading was one of his specialties, after all.

As expected, he had no chance of matching the enemy. Not even three seconds later, Scathach's superior skills overwhelmed him in full. The red demonic spear batted away Kanshou's blade with a powerful and resolute swing, and at the same time the woman landed a solid punch on his ribs, making him double over in excruciating pain and making him lose his grip on Bakuya's hilt. As the white sword fell from his hand, before he could recover, the shaft of the red spear suddenly slammed against his cheek with an invisible slash, opening a second wound on his already bloodied face. The attack was followed by a kick on the right side, which forced him to bend his body into a weird position before he was promptly thrown away like nothing, rolling on the ground for several meters and grunting in pain all the while.

He raised himself up from the ground, forcing the pain away with a hiss and focusing all his efforts on a mental command. Lancer was already dashing towards him, ready to strike and wound once more, but she was suddenly forced to momentarily retreat when a third volley of swords suddenly rained down on her from the above, darting in the air like arrows made of steel and silver. The woman parried a few of them with her spear, but eventually stopped wasting time and efforts and simply decided to step away from their range, making them crash on an empty spot thanks to her inhuman speed.

A roar of effort grabbed her attention all of a sudden. The spear-woman turned to the right, and promptly blocked Archer's assault with ease. Their weapons clashed yet another time, and Lancer was not surprised to see another pair of twin blades grasped into Emiya's hands once more, while the man glared at her with an expression morphed into effort; his face stained with hot, crimson blood and his body filled with abrasions and cuts.

Disappointment began to tamper her beating heart. "So this is your best?" she mused, staring at the sorry state of his body and face while she remained perfectly still even under his unyielding pressure. "You fought splendidly to last this long against me, Archer. But in the end, my hopes were in vain. It seems you are not capable of killing me either."

The only answer she received was a kick. The woman blocked it with her forearm, unfazed, and returned the favor with a lightning-fast punch on his jaw. Archer's head snapped up with a groan, blood splattering on the ground around him, and Scathach swiftly twirled her spear with her hands to slash at his arms and legs while he was still blinded by pain. The spear rotated and moved with a speed that was too fast to be described with words, and the attacks landed on the target in full.

Rendered unable to defend himself, Heroic Spirit Emiya could do nothing but raise his arms over his face to defend himself while the world around him become nothing but a blur of crimson-red slashed and pain, while the tip of the enemy's spear began slashing him incessantly. Cuts and wounds were opened on his forearms, legs, and chest; all of them drawing blood and pain, and the nameless Archer soon found himself covered in wounds from head to toe, completely unable to resist under this woman – no, this monster's overwhelming power. There was simply no way for him to defend himself in an efficient way against her assault. Not anymore.

The spear's shaft slammed itself on his chest, and Archer went flying in the air for a few meters, hissing in pain all the while. He rolled on the ground, pathetically, his armor and clothes completely ruined while the ground beneath his body became stained with a hot, red color. Scathach stared at him with narrowed eyes while he stopped rolling on the shore, observing him with frustration and disappointment while he coughed and spat blood from his mouth, wheezing like a wounded beast.

Her heart clenched in disillusion, her previous excitement slowly beginning to fade upon realizing that the battle was as good as over at this point.

"It appears you have reached your limit," she spoke. Her tone was cold, colder than before. A forced and cursed attempt to mask her frustration and dissatisfaction. "I thought you would be able to scratch me at least one more time… but perhaps I was wrong."

Emiya coughed and struggled to stand on trembling legs, his face dripping with blood as he slowly raised his eyes to meet her face.

And when their eyes met, despite all the odds, Scathach felt her heart stop for a split-second.

Because his face was bloodied and swollen, his body covered in wounds and abrasions… but his expression had remained unchanged.

Yes. His eyes were still cold, emotionless, empty; just like they had been when she'd first reached his position above the bridge before the battle. Nothing had changed about his spirit and will. He was still glaring at her with the same, exact stare as before; his grey eyes filled with an emotion she could not decipher and read completely… but one that felt familiar to her all the same. Oddly familiar. It felt unmistakingly close to her, as if she was staring into a twisted mirror. No matter the pain and the blood and the wounds, Archer's gaze had remained the same.

And Scathach could not miss it for any reason… for she wore the exact, same stare all the time.

"…why?" she hissed.

She stretched her free hand forward, and with a bellowing hiss, the second spear which had been previously tossed away by his swords returned into her palm as if it had a life of its own, flying in the air like an arrow. Lancer dismissed it with a twitch of her fingers upon grasping its shaft, and continued to glare at Archer's bloodied frame as he slowly and pathetically attempted to raise himself from the ground stained with his own blood.

"Surrender," she commanded, her voice cold and commanding. "You have no chance of victory. The duel is over, and it's your loss this time. There is no need to continue this further."

He ignored her words completely. Instead, Emiya stood up on shaky legs and summoned Bakuya in his right hand, his body swaying a little to the side due to the pain and exhaustion.

Lancer's glare soared. "If you won't give up, I'm not going to hold back anymore," she warned him, deadly serious. "I will have your heart with my next attack. You will die if you wish to continue this."

A low, rueful chuckle escaped the bloodied Archer's lips.

"…were it so easy," he whispered in self-mockery, shaking his head with a hopeless expression.

Scathach understood.

Despite the odds, despite the disappointment, despite the disbelief… she understood. She realized it, with crystal clear clarity and certainty, for the first time. No, perhaps she had always known, ever since her eyes had landed on his eyes and face. Maybe she had always felt it, ever since her heart had begun to beat in excitement when she'd met him earlier. She had always been aware of it, unconsciously, even if she could not fully understand how or why. Not even now.

But still, faced with this Archer's stare and resolve, she finally realized the truth with no shred of doubt. The same truth that Archer himself had realized long ago, upon witnessing her past and legend through her spear.

That being: the two of them were one and the same.

The same, and yet different. Completely opposite, and still equal. One and the same, albeit polar opposites.

A woman born from royalty and egocentric, and a man born humble and altruistic. A warrior overflowing with talent and skill, and a fake and talentless hack who could only really do one thing well. A Queen who was infinitely wise and a good judge of character, and a bowman who was born tragically naïve and helpless. And yet, in spite of all of that… in spite of all their opposite differences… they still were one and the same.

Because at the end of times, at the end of everything… they had both become the exact, same thing.

A cursed, twisted existence who could do nothing but kill.

A woman who could never die, and a man who could not stay dead.

Truly, a sight that was pathetic and depressing to behold. For both of them.

Scathach felt her eyes soften, her grip on the spear loosening slightly. "…you understand," she whispered with a hushed breath, fixing the bloodied man in front of her with a sad face. There was no need for further words. His face alone told her all she needed to know.

Emiya nodded, panting and wheezing like an animal. "…that is why, I cannot yield to you," he whispered, taking one, shaky step forward. His hand was trembling as he grasped the hilt of his shortsword with a desperate grip.

This wasn't a simple duel anymore. It wasn't a battle between Servants. This confrontation went even beyond the Holy Grail War and the duty of a Servant. It had never been just that, for both of them.

It was a matter of principle, and will. For neither of them could ever accept to lose against the other.

Because for these two warriors, staring into each other's eyes felt like staring into a mirror. And they could never accept it no matter what.

"Very well," Lancer steeled herself, raising her spear into a familiar stance. "I will make it quick."

Archer remained silent, parting his lips into a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

The Nameless Hero and the Queen of the Land of Shadows stared at each other one, last time.

Seconds passed, followed by silence.

Then, Scathach charged forward, faster than the wind and silent as the moon shining over their heads.

Emiya closed his eyes, and prepared himself with a mind of steel.

Just an image. Just a reflection. That was all he could do. Once again, just like he had done before during his previous fight against Saber, he visualized the image of his strongest self and made it real inside his mind. Just an image. Just a fake. But even if it was a fake, it was also real. As long as he believed it, it was as real as it could be.

Lancer appeared before him in a flash, aiming her spear at his uncovered, defenseless heart.

Overcome yourself. Your only enemy is yourself.

As long as you can see it, you can make it real in your mind.

Lancer thrust her spear. Emiya snapped his eyes open.

Now is the moment. This one chance, this one opportunity. The one and only chance I've been waiting for all this time, ever since the fight begun.

It was time to exploit it.

Archer twisted his blade up, clashing against the enemy's spear.

Mind's Eye. A danger-avoidance ability that calmly grasped the enemy's strength as well as his own situation during predicament and deduced the available means of survival on that situation. As long as there was even a 1% chance of comeback, it drew in the chance to put said strategy into motion, no matter how painful and unlikely it was. Although closely similar to the Skill Instinct, it was not a result of talent, but of an overwhelming amount of combat experience. A weapon wielded by none other than a mortal, a fake, gained through tenacious training and countless near-death experiences.

And thanks to that very same ability, he was able to deflect the spear's trajectory, even if just a little.

Lancer widened her eyes, but did not stop her attack, for there was no need to do so. In fact, thanks to her own skill, Wisdom of Dún Scáith, she already knew that the attack was going to land no matter what, and that much was enough for her. Even if its trajectory was changed, even if Archer struggled and tried to evade, she would still land the blow no matter what. There was nothing Archer could try to pull in order to evade it.

And so, just as both of them were expecting, the red demonic spear stabbed Archer in full, piercing his right side of the chest instead of the heart but still impaling him in full; sticking its tip out of his back with a heart-wrenching squelch and a rain of hot-red liquid.

Blood sprayed the grass and dirt. The wind quieted and stilled. The world stopped and listened.

Bakuya fell to the ground, disappearing into a dust of blue. And Heroic Spirit Emiya gasped and grunted, spitting blood from his mouth with a pained wheeze.

Scathach held the spear firmly with her hands, its shaft completely stuck inside the man's lower chest while the tip exited from his back. She stared at Archer's pained and bloodied face with a distant expression, her crimson eyes made of steel and decision.

"…it is over," she whispered in a soft voice. "You've fought well. Are you satisfied?"

Emiya lowered his head, blood dripping from his nose and lips. His entire body was shaking in pain and agony.

"…I am…"

A rough, powerful hand grasped Lancer's arm out of the blue, pulling the woman even closer to him.

Scathach blinked and paused at the sudden gesture, confused; before widening her eyes in sheer disbelief in front of the mad, victorious smirk that Emiya wore on his face.

"…the bone of my sword."

A flash of light. A glimpse of crimson.

And then, blood. Much, much blood.

SQUELCH!

The Witch of Dún Scáith widened her eyes, lowering her gaze with an incredulous stare.

For the first time ever since she had returned to the mortal world, she could not believe her eyes.

Because now, no matter how impossible it was, no matter how unlikely it seemed…

…a long, crimson spear similar to her own was piercing her chest, stabbing her right above the heart.

And hot, red blood was spewing from the wound.

Scathach gaped and paled, staring at the spear stuck in her heart with a dumbfounded expression.

"I-It cannot be…"

Blood gurgled and rose in her throat. The woman spat and coughed it on Archer's legs.

"G-G-Gáe… Bolg," she hissed in shock, staring at the spear while the feeling of pain and agony blossomed inside her mind. A feeling that she had honestly forgotten, since she hadn't experienced it in a long, long time.

And yet now, she was feeling it again. She was panting in pain and coughing blood from her lips, staring in disbelief as the spear of the Hound of Culann pierced her heart and body completely, leaving her both stunned and unable to understand. The very same spear that she herself had bestowed upon her best student, in a time that now felt like a lifetime ago.

The very same spear she had glimpsed upon landing her gaze on the Archer, piercing her heart just like it was doing right now.

Silence returned to reign once again.

While the woman remained still and stunned, Emiya grunted and exhaled a shaky breath. His left hand, the one with which he had summoned his own spear, suddenly left the newly-traced Noble Phantasm and moved to grab the enemy's lance instead. His whole body trembled and convulsed in pain, and he gritted his teeth and took a deep breath while his fingers curled over Lancer's spear, readying himself as best as he could.

Then, forcing himself to swallow a howl of pain, he tore the spear away from his body and stumbled backwards with a groan, falling on his knees a few meters away from Lancer's unmoving body and coughing blood from his lips. A pool of hot, steaming red had begun to form under the two Servants' feet, staining both their bodies and the ground with their mixed blood, filling the air with its metallic scent. Next to him, Lancer's spear disappeared in a cloud of crimson dust.

Seconds passed, followed by absolute silence.

Even still, Lancer did not move from her stunned position. Her face was morphed into a mask of disbelief and shock as she kept staring at the spear stabbed inside her chest, her face and body dripping wet with blood and sweat in equal measure.

Archer took a shaky breath, putting pressure on the wound on his chest with a hand.

Lancer had stabbed him right through the liver, creating a hole on the lower side of his chest instead of stabbing him straight into the heart like he had done to her. It was a dangerous wound, no doubt, but one from which he could survive compared to the one he had inflicted upon the spear-woman. Indeed, it was a much less serious injury compared to that; one that would not plague him compared to the damage inflicted from the original Gáe Bolg.

Unlike the Blue Lancer's spear which ruined the body of its victims from within with its thousand iron thorns and its curse, in fact, Scathach's spears were different. They were specialized weapons one-step older, and there were many copies of them which Scathach made using the "branches of Tonelico". Due to this peculiar fact and their older and – in a way – lower status, they had no curse on them compared to the younger, much more dangerous Gáe Bolg. Their strikes and stabs hurt and burned like hell, no doubt, but Archer would not suffer from any kind of side-effect and curse because of them. That had been the ONLY reason why he had allowed this fight to happen. He knew he was out-matched from the beginning, but Emiya would never fight a battle he could not survive. He was no longer the fool of his youth, and the only battles he allowed himself to go through were those where he knew he had a chance of winning despite the odds.

Even if he had to fool his opponent all the while.

"A-Archer… curse you!" Lancer's words snapped him out of his thoughts. Emiya's head rose to meet the spear-woman's pained and enraged face with a gaze of steel. "You… was this your plan from the beginning?" she demanded, her lips dripping with blood.

The Counter Guardian kept his expression neutral in spite of the pain. "I only use the means that give me the highest chance of victory," he replied back with a low tone, unfazed. The exact same words he had once said to another troublesome Lancer at the end of their battle. "The Witch of Dún Scáith was an elite warrior, an expert in Magecraft, and slayer of people, wraiths, and gods. As the result of being a human standing too close to the realm of the gods, she incurred the 'reward' of ascending to a plane that is neither part of the current World or the next, left behind in the Outside of the World. Faced against such a powerful opponent, there was no way I could ever hope to win in a direct clash," he merely explained with ease, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

She gritted her teeth, her body shaking in pain as she grasped the spear stabbed in her chest. "So you've been misleading me all the while? Was that your intent all along?" she spat.

Due to his battered state and the pain he was currently in, he forced back a rude smirk from his face. "I knew you would have lowered your guard eventually. Your obsession with fighting strong opponents was extremely easy to read. If I wanted to win, I had to exploit it."

"And so you've baited me until the very end… using your own defeat to avoid death at the last second to deliver a mortal blow on me instead," she finished for him, her face coated in sweat due to the pain she was feeling both on the inside and the outside. Much to Emiya's surprise, however, her lips soon parted into an amused smirk. "Splendid… absolutely splendid! I knew you were more dangerous than you look… but I wasn't expecting you to be a cunning monster, Archer," she praised him with a hiss, her voice both pained and amused as those words left her lips.

He really had no idea if she was taunting him or praising him. In all honesty, he didn't care.

"Stop spouting nonsense, Lancer. You know as well as I do that we're both monsters," he replied back, sarcastic. His grey eyes stared with a narrowed gaze at the woman's crimson orbs while he kept pressuring his wound. "There is no need for minced words anymore. I simply did what I had to do in order to win. Nothing more, nothing less."

He smirked at that point, fixing her with a sly expression. "And I know all too well that this wound won't be enough to kill you… am I right?"

The woman paused at his words, her smirk disappearing immediately. In an instant, her gaze turned cold again, and the woman steeled herself and teared the spear away from her chest with one, single yanking movement. Blood poured from the hole in her heart, but she did not utter a single sound. Her expression remained unchanged as well, no matter the blood and sweat on her face. Archer was inwardly impressed as he stared at her while she studied the spear now firmly grasped in her hand, swallowing a little. To actually remain unfazed while having a literal hole in her heart… good grief. She truly was a monster.

Scathach watched the lance closely for a few moments. "…a projection," she stated, narrowing her eyes. Her face twitched, and a scowl soon marred her beautiful features as she turned to him again. "Archer… who are you, to call upon Setanta's spear with one breath?" she demanded.

He closed his eyes, a rueful smile curving his lips. "Just a simple bowman," he answered.

"Do not think you can fool me. Your ability to trace and project weapons is outstanding. As well as extremely infuriating," she hissed, fixing the man with a powerful glare. If he hadn't been so focused on the pain in his body, he would have surely begun to sweat under the oppressive power of her bloodlust. "You've copied my student's weapon. A full-fledged Noble Phantasm, projected to near perfection… and you did so before as well, when you used your bow to lure me here."

He said nothing, for there was no need. He knew that she was right.

"I can even feel the spear's curse flowing inside my wound," she mused, touching the hole in her chest as if it was no longer painful at all. Despite her pierced heart, she was still able to speak and stand as if it was nothing. "I've never seen or heard of a copy so faithful and close to the original. Not even my Gáe Bolg Alternative possesses this curse."

Again, he remained completely silent under her oppressive, inquisitive stare.

Scathach lowered the spear, and with a mental command on Emiya's part, it dissolved into a dust of white. "I know of no bowman who can copy other Heroes' Noble Phantasms. Especially one who has eyes like yours," she finished, fixing his ageless face with a long stare. She was looking at him intently, her expression a mixture of intrigue and irritation while he kept his eyes closed and his lips shut. Her eyebrow twitched. "Tell me the truth, Archer. I wish to know the name of the man who's managed to best me."

He shook his head. Despite the inner surprise, the spear-woman realized that there still was no hint of pride or satisfaction on his face. He was empty, just like she was, completely unfazed by the fact that she, of all people, was admitting defeat right in front of him.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I have no name. And I have no Noble Phantasm either," he spoke with a mirthless tone, his face devoid of feels even as he kept his eyes closed. Then, he chuckled, and shook his head in self-mockery. "No, scratch that― I do have one, but it is not a weapon, and it is not a thing the Queen of Shadows should see."

Her eyes flashed. "Do not insult my honor, Archer," she warned him.

"You're mistaken, Lancer. It is an ugly thing, not fit for your royal presence. But be assured when I say this: I did use it during our battle, unseen. I may have misled you in order to win, but I would not insult such a powerful opponent by giving you less than my all," he swore. And for once, not a single word he had said to her was a lie.

He really had activated his Reality Marble during the battle, after all. He wouldn't have been able to project his swords or even the dog's spear without it.

She stared at him, long and hard. Her face and gaze were inflexible. "Why did you go that far?" she asked him after ten seconds of absolute silence.

He smirked, his face a mixture of sly cunning and subdued pain due to his own wound. "You already know that we wish to form an alliance with your Master. If we want to learn the truth behind this War, we need your strength. Both me and my Master know that all too well," he answered with ease. "And in order to do that, I needed to defeat you. You wouldn't have accepted otherwise… am I wrong?"

Despite her better judgment, her lips twitched a little. "…you really are smarter than you look," she said with a flat tone. He really had no idea if she was amused or annoyed with that statement.

In any case, he ignored it. "So, after witnessing your combat abilities during your clash with Rider, I chose to face you directly, and waited for the one chance I had. I simply chose the option with the higher chance of success, however slight," he explained, opening one eye to stare at her with a smirk.

The two Servants stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity. A Queen and a mentor cursed with life, and a slave and a fool cursed with death.

Silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of the flowing water in the river next to them.

While the two of them stared at each other in a cold, calculating silence, something happened.

Emiya openly narrowed his eyes as he saw the wound on the spear-woman's chest begin to close all of a sudden, healing on its own and disappearing in but a few seconds. Next thing he knew, the hole had completely disappeared, as if it had never existed, and even the blood on her body and face disappeared, leaving Lancer as perfect and stainless as she had been before.

But contrary to her appearance, however, her face morphed into a sad, twisted expression. "I see… so even that spear was useless against me," she whispered with a disheartened voice, staring at her body with a conflicted expression. It was the first – and only – display of simple humanity she had showed so far.

Archer eyed her warily. "Primordial Existence, a curse of never-ending life," he mused, observing the way her wound closed with a narrowed gaze. "No, it's more than a simple curse: it's a higher elevation of existence. Your body has reached another plane of reality; a higher status which allows you to heal even during combat. I doubt even the original Gáe Bolg would be effective against you. At this point, I don't even know if there is a weapon capable of killing you out there."

Scathach closed her eyes, a distant expression caressing her beautiful face. "It is my personal curse," she admitted, her tone filled with regret. "I shed too much blood in my life. I killed humans, ghosts and gods alike. And so, as punishment, death has denied me," she explained with a solemn voice, clenching her fists slightly.

…trust me, I know that feeling extremely well, Archer thought to himself, even if he wouldn't dare to say those words out loud. There was no need for it, anyway.

"I had a vision, when I first saw you," the woman continued all of a sudden, grabbing his attention. Emiya paused and narrowed his stare as he saw Lancer's crimson eyes fixed on his kneeled frame. "I saw Setanta's spear piercing my heart through the foresight granted to me by my Skills. I instantly knew you were an opponent I had to face… and it seems that you've proved me right. To think that a nameless warrior with no pride would have been the first one to scratch me… you really did surprise me tonight, Archer."

He smiled an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry it had to be me," he spoke with a sympathetic voice. "I'm sure you would have preferred… him, to be the one."

She looked at him for a long while after hearing his words, staring in silence.

Then, she shook her head and stepped forward. Emiya blinked in confusion when Scathach leaned towards him and placed a hand on his chest, without uttering a single word. Before he could open his mouth to speak, however, a glow of crimson light suddenly shone between her fingers, and the red Archer stared in silent fascination while an ancient and shining red symbol suddenly appeared on his chest, glowing in the dark.

This is… Runic Magecraft, he realized, widening his eyes in disbelief when he saw – and felt – the wound on his chest begin to heal and close on its own, along with a warm, relaxing feeling flowing through his whole body. In less than five seconds, the hole in his chest was completely healed, even if the cuts and abrasions remained on his arms, legs and face.

"I won't heal you in full, but at least I can do this much," Lancer said with blank tone, offering him a sharp nod of the head. "Consider it my thanks, in regards for your skills and the battle you've offered me. You are the first warrior who's managed to wound me twice in a long time. I commend you for it."

He snorted, but accepted the praise with a sigh. "I wouldn't ca―"

"However."

Emiya widened his eyes, but he didn't have time to react.

Before he could even blink, in fact, Scathach had grabbed him by collar of his armor, lifting him slightly from the ground and pulling him close with a jerk-like movement of her arm. Emiya stared with eyes slightly widened in confusion while the woman pulled his face close to hers, staring straight into his grey eyes with her crimson orbs filled with a solemn, commanding gaze. Their faces where so close to each other that he could feel her breath on his nose, and for a moment Archer's mind completely blanked in front of the intense stare of the Lancer class Servant.

Scathach glared at him, like a stern teacher dealing with a child. "You said you wanted an alliance with me? In that case, listen well and mark my words," she spoke, authoritative and commanding like never before. "From this moment henceforth, you are mine."

Heroic Spirit Emiya blinked, his face and gaze betraying nothing.

The woman kept glaring at him, unfazed. "I may not know your True Name, Archer, but I know what you are," she continued with her solemn voice, oppressive. "You're similar to me, and I can sense some potential in you. I don't know why, but I'm certain of it. You have the capability to kill me… and for that reason: you will now belong to me," she decided, without an ounce of hesitation.

The man with white hair narrowed his eyes in front of her gaze.

"As the Queen of the Land of Shadows, I bestow upon you the most important task you will ever receive: to bring an end to me and my cursed existence," she commanded, unbending like the most unyielding metal and absolutely certain of what she was saying. "I will not allow you to escape. I will not let you die. You will have no peace until you've found a way to bring an end to my life, and I swear it on my name, Scathach!"

Her grip on his collar tightened until it was almost suffocating. Emiya felt a trickle of sweat dripping from his temple.

"From this day forward, I shall abandon my desire for the Grail… and instead bestow my greatest wish upon your shoulders. And I won't let you go until you'll have fulfilled this task, no matter what will happen in the future. Is that clear?" she asked him, glaring straight into his eyes, deadly serious.

The man stared at her, long and hard. His brows furrowed together. "…that is a rather arduous task for a weak bowman like me," was all he said.

The woman's grip increased even more. Archer began to choke a little, but he did not react. "You will not fool me, Monster of Alaya. There is no Hero in the entirety of the Throne who could ever possess the same eyes as me," she spat with a solemn tone, making his face twitch in a sharp scowl. The air dropped several degrees around the Servants. "You've managed to best me today, so you will do it again. I don't care how long and hard it shall be for you to do so: You. Will. Make. It. Happen. Or I will trap you in the Land of Shadows, and curse you with the same fate as me."

Yep. It was official.

"I am the Queen of the Land of Shadows. Master of Dún Scáith, and Lord of the Spirits. I have no equal on this world, and I shall not be denied," she declared, deadly serious.

Be it Scottish, Irish, Welsh or English…

"Is that understood, Archer?"

…every Hero coming from Great Britain was nothing but a pain in the ass.

Heroic Spirit Emiya smirked, wide and sarcastic.

"No," was his immediate and swift reply. He didn't even blink under the woman's hardened, enraged stare. "Sorry to break it to you, but you're no lord of mine. I already have someone I serve, and I'm not going to break my oath."

Not anymore, he inwardly added, recalling his previous experiences with Rin.

His smirk widened under her expression frozen in stunned silence. "Besides, I think you're misunderstanding something, Lancer," he continued, grabbing the hand that was grasping his collar with his own and twisting it with all the strength he had left. Despite his best efforts, the woman didn't even flinch. "The duel is over, but you still haven't defeated me. I have no reason to answer your questions, nor to do as you say. You have no power over me."

The woman's glare soared. Emiya's smirk widened.

"My one and only priority is to bring victory to my Master. In order to do that, I will do what I must. No matter what," he stated, staring straight into her eyes with a resolute expression.

The will of the two monsters clashed against each other in a silent standoff that made the atmosphere grow dense with prana and the air itself turn as cold as ice.

Grey eyes of steel glared at crimson eyes of death.

Until, after what seemed to be an eternity, something happened.

Scathach smiled, and a soft chuckle escaped from her lips. Emiya stared in silent wonder.

"Your courage and loyalty are commendable," she released him from her grip, and Archer nearly grunted when he was finally able to breath freely again. The spear-woman was looking at him in approval while he donned a hand over his neck, massaging his aching muscles. "And I do favor those who are courageous. Very well, then. I have never considered allying myself with anyone before, but for this one instance I will make an exception. This duel was my loss, and thus I shall hold my selfish desires back for now," she relented.

Emiya scoffed. "It was a draw at best. I'm not nearly as strong as you are," he tried to deflect, shaking his head in amusement while he slowly – and sorely – moved to stand up again. "Besides, I―"

In that moment, something happened.

"ARCHEEER!"

Scathach and Emiya snapped their heads up, turning their eyes in direction of the voice. The sight of Rider's Hippogriff flying in the sky greeted their vision, while Artoria Pendragon's shrill cry echoed from an entire mile away. The two Servant did not take long to realize that the girl was steadily getting closer and closer to their position thanks to it. In fact, she was currently seated on the back of the Hippogriff along with Bazett, Lord El-Melloi II and his Servant Rider, flying through the sky with subdued speed due to the excessive weight on its back.

Not even ten seconds later, they had already reached their position. Artoria leaped away from the Hippogriff, dashing towards Archer with a speed enhanced by her enormous amount mana and drawing her katana at the same time while Rider and Waver hurried to follow her with a slower pace, escorting a wary-looking Bazett who wore an expression of silent defeat.

"Archer!" Artoria exclaimed, widening her eyes as soon as her gaze landed on him. "Thank goodness!"

The girl with golden hair wasted no time. She ran towards him at maximum speed, and Scathach took a step away from Archer as the small human almost threw herself on the taller Servant, her eyes taking in his bloodied body filled with cuts, abrasions and wounds with a horrified expression. "Oh my god, you're wounded!" she cried. "And bleeding! And exhausted! My god, you're covered in blood-are you ok? What happened? Did you―"

"Master, relax. I'm fine," he reassured her with a tired voice, smiling at her and raising a hand in a reassuring gesture while she grasped his other arm in worry. "I won't die just from this, don't worry. I'm ok, I promise."

She grabbed his hands, frantic, immediately starting to infuse mana in his body through contact. Her face looked so sad and scared that it was honestly surprising to see. "I-I was so worried," she blurted out, prompting Emiya to look at her with wide eyes. "I tried to reach out to you through our bond, but you wouldn't answer!"

"…my apologies. I was too focused on the battle to notice," he apologized, smiling with a regretful expression as he patted her head a little. He really did not like to see her sad. Emiya inwardly cursed himself.

She heard his words, but her horrified face did not relax at all. Instead, as soon as she finished healing him, the girl rounded on the female Lancer in a swift motion, pointing her katana at her with an enraged expression. Her emerald eyes were filled with so much hatred and rage that it was honestly surprising to see. Archer had never seen Artoria so angry before.

"Lancer, this is your doing, isn't it? What have you done to him?" she snarled, hissing like a kitten whose mother had just been wounded right in front of it.

Scathach eyed her, her eyes blank and emotionless, completely unimpressed by the fact that a human was openly threatening a Servant. Until, slowly, she smiled and shot an amused glance at Emiya. "She certainly has fire in her… I almost feel jealous, Archer. No wonder you like her so much," she mused with a sly tone.

The only answer she received from him was a narrowed stare.

"Um… why do I feel like we're interrupting something?"

Charlemagne stepped in between them with a confused face, unsure if he had to draw his sword or not at this point. Next to him, for once, even Lord El-Melloi II seemed to be as lost as he was.

A few seconds of silence passed.

Finally, Bazett stepped forward and walked towards her Servant with a solemn step. "Lancer, what happened? You left so suddenly before that I was starting to grow worried…" she asked her, uncertain.

Her Servant turned to her, exhaling a soft breath. "My apologies, Master. By leaving you in such a hurry, I put you in danger without meaning to," she apologized with a small dip of the head, closing her eyes for a moment. "As you know, strong enemies always attract me, and I was drawn by the enemy Archer out of my desire to face a powerful opponent in battle. Next time, do not hesitate to call me back with a Command Seal."

"Even though I doubt it shall happen again," she quickly added at that point, shooting an amused glance at Emiya.

"Y-You mean you've settled things with him?" the woman with magenta hair widened her eyes, feeling something weird happening with her Servant through their mental bond. "What happened?"

Scathach's following words surprised everyone.

"I lost," Lancer admitted without an ounce of shame or hesitation. She didn't even blink under her Master's stunned expression, and openly ignored the others who were looking at her with mouths agape.

Bazett, plus the others, could not believe what she had just heard. "W-What?!" she exclaimed, dumbfounded. "You've lost? You?!" she exclaimed, dumbfounded.

Everyone – and I do mean everyone – widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Whaaaat?! You mean that you've bested an opponent not even I could defeat?" Rider exclaimed in excitement, staring at Archer with wide eyes gleaming with admiration. From this day forward, he would forever look at Emiya in a new light. "That's amazing!"

Lord-El Melloi II donned a hand over his face. "I knew it… I've really summoned a frivolous Servant compared to the others," he muttered.

"M-Master, you don't have to go that far…"

Still, Bazett was having trouble digesting the news. "Lancer, are you serious? Have you really lost against him?" she asked again, unable to believe it.

But Scathach just closed her eyes, lowering her head a bit in confirmation. "I apologize."

The other woman sighed, running a hand through her hair. "…damn it. I knew that obsession of yours was going to become troublesome sooner or later!"

"One could call me obsessed, or perhaps high strung. But the truth is, the stronger the enemy, the more I focus, and everything else disappears. That is the only thing that gives me peace, Master," Lancer countered without batting an eye, her face showing not even a tiny bit of shame or remorse as she admitted how things worked for her. "I cannot change my own nature. And today, I've finally paid the price for that."

"Of course you have! MY Archer is the best Servant, after all!" Artoria proudly boasted, puffing her chest out while she smiled in glee, shooting a stare filled with admiration and elation to her Servant. She looked completely dazed as she stared at him. "I've trained him well!"

Lancer smirked. "Indeed, he is really… fascinating," she mused with a sly tone, her eyes still fixed on the man's impassive face while the blonde girl rounded on her with wide eyes, stunned by the gaze she was sending to her Servant.

"W-W-Wha…? What's this? Get away from him right now, Lancer!"

On his part, Heroic Spirit Emiya quelled his impulse to don a hand over his face. He did shy away from both Artoria and Lancer, though. "It was a draw at best, Master," he stressed with irritation, closing his eyes while his body started to feel more and more tired while his current exhaustion finally began to catch up with him. He blatantly ignored the girl who placed herself between him and Lancer with her sword aimed at the older woman's neck, and opted to explain the situation instead. "She had me bested for the entirety of the duel. I ended up turning the tables in the end just because she lowered her guard."

The female Lancer looked like she wanted to add something to that, but decided to remain silent in the end. Instead, the Lord of the Clock Tower stepped forward at that moment.

"Does that mean we can finally reach an agreement?" he demanded, fixing Bazett with a stern stare. "A peaceful agreement?" he stressed.

Faced with her Servant's silent nod, the woman with magenta hair clenched her fists and sighed. Her shoulders dropped in resignation. "Very well. A deal is a deal. We'll hear you out and listen to what you have to say," she agreed, nodding in turn to the black-haired Magus with a solemn stare.

Just like that, the previous tension slowly began to disappear from the air.

"Aaaalright! We've got ourselves a new pair of cool allies!" Charlemagne cheered out loud, pumping a fist in the air.

Slowly but surely, everyone exhaled a sigh of relief and allowed themselves to relax. Then, as the minutes passed and everything began to be sorted out, the three Master of the group slowly moved to join together, starting to discuss things among themselves and trying to reach an agreement that could be considered satisfying for everyone. Artoria and Waver explained their doubts about the Grail and the War to Bazett, and the woman listened in silence, occasionally interrupting them to ask some questions or express her own doubts.

And while the Masters discussed among each other, before Emiya could return in spirit form in order to rest and regain his energies, Lancer moved to stand next to him with a silent step, shooting him a side-long stare while everyone was too distracted to notice their discussion.

"Archer, are you seriously going to ignore a Queen's request?" she asked him, glancing at his stern face sideways.

Emiya knew she was serious with her question. Therefore, he decided to take it seriously as well.

He thought about it, long and hard. He really did. He pondered about it for two minutes straight. But in the end, no matter how long he thought, there was only one answer he could offer her.

"I mean no disrespect, but I honestly don't know if I could be able to fulfill it," he answered, crossing his arms with a sigh. "You already know what I am, Lancer. While I sympathize with you, I'm not exactly in the best condition myself. Both you and I know all too well that some things are nothing but foolish delusions, no matter how much we wish this was not the case."

That was perhaps the sincerest thing he could say to her. And she knew it as well. Words were not really necessary between them, since they both understood each other fairly enough now thanks to their previous battle and exchange. And that was the only truth that Heroic Spirit Emiya could share with the Queen of the Land of Shadows.

Monster to monster. Killing machine to killing machine. Undying man to immortal woman.

There were things that just weren't meant to be. No matter how sad and painful it was.

"…I see," was all she said, lowering her eyes in silent disappointment.

Emiya glanced at her sideways, studying the woman's emotionless face in silence for a few seconds. He didn't know what compelled him to do it, but despite himself, he decided not to drop that discussion for now. He mentally cursed as he realized what he was about to say. Maybe Rin's parting words to him had really started to rub off on him, somehow.

He really was slipping, wasn't he?

"I know it won't be easy… but perhaps it is time you start broaden your horizons," he spoke to her with a serious tone. Lancer glanced at him, surprised by his sudden words, but he refused to meet her gaze. He kept his tired eyes focused on Artoria's frame, and he inwardly smiled as he saw the pout his Master was sending him for standing too close to Lancer. "Even if it's just temporary, you don't need to be alone for now. The best way to improve yourself is learning to enjoy what is in front of you right now."

And – oh boy – how he wished he could have learned that lesson during his life.

"Alone, huh?" Scathach mused, mulling over his words in her head for a long while.

In the end, she sighed. "I've always been like that," the woman spoke, lowering her gaze to the ground with an empty, distant expression. "I walk the Land of Shadows alone, for none but I can brave it," she whispered, her voice soft yet cold at the same time.

"However…"

She turned to stare at him again, and this time, a small smile began to blossom on her beautiful face as he stared right back at her. "Perhaps… with that courage in your heart, you might be able to walk in this War with me," she said to him with a sincere tone, flashing an amused grin to the taller man.

Emiya snorted, but his lips curved into a rueful smile.

"It would be an honor."

NOTES
(I know it's long, but please read it)

…Is it me or there is something weird going on between Emiya and Scathach towards the end of the chapter? Something like, well. I don't know… tension? Yes, is it perhaps some sort of sexual ten―

No! Bad Gavius! BAD! Stop with this foolish thinking! Stop it! STOOOP!

By the way, I was sincerely overwhelmed by your reactions for Scathach's inclusion in the story. I had no idea she was such a beloved character, and I just wanted two cool and badass Servants to meet in my fic. I wasn't expecting such an uproar for it…

Oh, and let's be clear: do not expect to see some romance blossoming between them. It's not gonna happen, so be content to know that we'll see some light flirting and a bit of teasing in the future, but nothing beyond that. In the first place, a romance between those two is HIGHLY UNLIKELY. While their situation is quite similar, Emiya and Scathach don't exactly like themselves, you know. Loving another person and being loved back is NOT something that they would be able to do and enjoy easily. It would take a LOT of time for two broken and twisted warriors like them to start accepting and dealing with those kind of emotions due to their peculiar condition and lives, but many people tend to ignore that.

Emiya especially: loving someone and being loved back would be very hard for him, even with Artoria. It's gonna be a major story point in the future, and we'll see it sooner or later. In the canon works, if Saber Artoria Pendragon were to somehow confess her love for him (lol, as if) Emiya would flat out reject her (respectfully) and then curse his entire existence all over again. Just because that woman won't leave his mind, it doesn't mean that his feelings are the same of the boy he once was. Many people tend to forget about that. He is NOT Shirou. Not anymore.

Scathach is the same, in a way. Personally, I think there's a reason why she and Emiya avoid each other in FGO: they cannot stand each other. Not because they have something against the other, but simply because they would constantly be remembered of their own condition if they were to stay together for too long. They would be friendly with each other, yes, but that's that. Even in Fate/EXTELLA Link, the only thing that Emiya says about Scathach is "she's a troublesome opponent…" and nothing more. So, it wouldn't really work between them (sad as it is). Besides, Scathach is fond of Cu Chulainn; and Emiya would try to avoid everything related to that man at any cost XD.

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I honestly have no idea how you guys are going to react to this fight. I tried for so long – for months – to think and imagine how a battle between Emiya and Scathach would unfold in a realistic way. I even went as far as research everything about those two characters during the past four months while I was planning this moment. All their canon appearances, all their fighting scenes, their powers, mentality, dialogues, everything. In the end, this was the only scenario I could come up with while trying to stay "true" to canon.

Emiya could never win in close combat against her. Due to her immortal existence, Scathach has become much more powerful than Cu Chulainn, and unlike his fights against him, Archer would not be able to defend himself from her spear. Against Cu, he was out-matched but still managed to avoid being directly hit by Gae Bolg. That would not happen against Scathach. She's just too fast and strong for him to react accordingly. He probably would be able to have some chance if he were fighting against her in long range (I'll say more about this at the end of the notes, so please check it out) but I wanted to avoid that scenario since it would have been too much, and it's far too soon to see such a destructive power in this story. It will happen, but not now.

So let's face it, Archer had no chance of winning this fight fairly. No Servant can deal with Scathach except for those who are very, very powerful and mighty (and, maybe, for Cu Chulainn as well; but only because he's familiar with her style and because she would lower her guard and strength against him since she's fond of him.) In life, Cu Chulainn had reached Scathach's same level of strength and skills, but then he died, while she continued to exist and improve in everything. It is reasonable to believe she has become extremely more powerful than she already was in life because of that.

This is just my opinion – and remember: I'm NOT Nasu and I'm still a NEWBIE about Fate, so please go easy on me – but if Emiya were to be forced to fight Scathach in close range, the only way he could afford to "win" is to allow himself to be hit, avoid a fatal injury at the last split-second, and then strike back at her while he keeps her still. That was the only thing I could realistically come up with for this battle. Even with his Reality Marble, I don't believe he would stand a chance.

I already know that some of you won't agree with the unfolding of this fight. Some people are just so fixated with the canon works and their idea of how battles "should" be that it's scary (you have no idea of what I've been told in private about this story. And let's not even talk about Fate: Oppression) but I'm not. I'm not fixated with canon, even in this story where I'm actually trying to stay true to the characters and the original universe. This is a fanfiction, and I'm just trying to write something that I enjoy. I'm not a great author, I'm not even a native speaker, so I know I won't be able to satisfy everyone since it's impossible. I do appreciate hearing other people's opinions, of course, but please keep this in mind. This scenario is sincerely the best one I could come up with, and I can only hope that some of you can enjoy it as I did writing it.

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Now, I apologize for what I'm about to write here… but please allow me to rant a little. I really need to. What you're about to read is not directly aimed to all of you readers, but only to the small minority of people who wrote to me in private during the last week, assaulting me with insults for childish reasons or simply because they don't like what they've read in the story.

I'm tired – EXTREMELY TIRED – of people telling me on PMs or on the reviews things like "Archer should really start fighting like an Archer "; or "Emiya should begin to use Broken Phantasms more often"; or "Why don't you make him fire Noble Phantasms again and again like he did in Hollow/Ataraxia?"; and also "He should really stop fighting on close range since he can only get so far while using unorthodox methods."

I'm gonna be honest with you guys… it's tiring and frustrating. It's not that I don't appreciate your tips, suggestions and criticisms; far from it. But some people have been very insistent on this matter in private, and it's becoming quite frustrating for me. So, since many readers seem to have trouble understanding it, I want to make it extremely clear once and for all.

Do you seriously not get it? Archer's ability to use the bow and trace his Noble Phantasms depends on the CONTEXT of the fights! He will not – and he CANNOT – use them as he pleases! Not because he's limited or unable to do so, but because that option is NOT always the most optimal one for him! For example: if he's forced to fight a superior opponent in close range (like what happened with Arthur and Scathach) then he cannot use the bow, because he wouldn't have time to TAKE AIM correctly, TRACE his most powerful weapons according to the situation, and FIRE THEM accurately. Saber and Lancer would simply rush on him and cut him in half before he could even begin to take aim. We DID see him use the bow against Scathach, but if he had decided to rely on that alone, he would have lost the fight as soon as Lancer managed to reach him. That is EXACTLY how he lost against Artoria in Hollow Ataraxia. He did not have time to trace his swords because he chose to use the bow instead, and he was consequently unable to defend himself at the last second from Saber's attack.

According to the VN and the Wiki, Archer needs at least 10-15 seconds to fire Broken Phantasms consecutively. Do you not realize that this is impossible to do when he's forced to fight on close range? Both Saber and Lancer would have killed him in less than 5 seconds if he'd tried to do that in this story! It's not a matter of skill, it's a matter of speed of reaction and timing. Is it really so hard to understand?

Also, one thing that some of you tend to forget: Archer is doing his best to keep his identity SECRET from Artoria and the rest of the gang. He does NOT want to attract attention to himself (despite what fate has in store for him). What do you think would happen if he were to simply unleash all his powers during a fight, trace all the Phantasms he could against the enemy, and fire them at the same time? That's right: he would ATTRACT attention. He would bring suspicions and questions on himself, both from Artoria and the other factions' side. That is pretty much the OPPOSITE of what he's aiming for. It's one thing to trace a FEW Broken Phantasm and use them… but unleashing UBW fully and raining down hellfire? That is another thing entirely. Misleading is his best tactic, and he will ALWAYS use it unless he's forced to reveal his hand.

That is also why he did not activate his Reality Marble fully against Lancer: HE DOES NOT WANT TO ATTRACT ATTENTION AND SHOW HIS TRUE POWER UNLESS HE'S FORCED TO! Please try to understand that, even if some of you will find it unreasonable or forced.

I mean… it's pretty obvious. Why didn't we see Archer unleash his full strength from the beginning in the canon works, then? The majority of other Servants have no problem unleashing their might as soon as it is necessary, but he does NOT. He will only do so when it is absolutely unavoidable. Is it really so hard to understand? Even the Wiki clearly stated as much. The only times he activated UBW fully in the canon works is when he, eventually, was close to die or had nothing left to lose. Hence: at the end of the stories, where he was betting everything on the battle against Heracles and Shirou. It is clearly showed in the main Routes. Good grief…

Also, you may think: "But why does Emiya need to be so secretive and mysterious all the time?" or "Why doesn't he just tell the truth and reveal everything and get over with it? His behavior seems forced. " Well, the answer is found in the Wiki: THAT IS JUST THE WAY EMIYA IS. He does not lie, but he cannot easily be honest with himself and others unless he's forced to, or it is absolutely necessary, or it is more advantageous. This is also another reason why he unconsciously prefers to keep his abilities and weapons hidden until the very end. He did trace Gae Bolg in front of Scathach, and she WILL question him about it in the future; but that doesn't mean that he wants to reveal the truth about himself to the enemy… or even to his allies. That is NOT the way he is. Keeping secrets, answering with half-truths and trying to constantly create walls between himself and others is in Archer's NATURE. It's his character, because of his role and existence which has made him bitter, cynical and wary of everything. Therefore, he will ALWAYS try to put some distance from other people, unless he's forced to give up. The Wiki states as much as well, so please get over it. If you don't like it, you're free to write your own story and do better than me.

I hope it is clear now.

(======)

Sorry for the rant, but I really needed to get this out of my chest. Some people were really bothering me in private with these arguments and it was immensely frustrating. Everyone is free to have a personal opinion, preference, and idea of how things should and should not go according to canon (just complaining about this matter makes no sense to me since we're not the original authors and thus it is pointless to discuss what would and would not happen, but this is just my opinion)  but some people take it too far. That is no reason to foment hate and discord. It really makes them look like kids. Good grief.

As always, please forgive me for any eventual misspellings and grammar mistakes. If you point them out to me, I will gladly correct them as soon as I can.

See you next time.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Nine-

Ocean of Memories

[ Sometimes, life can be unfair. ]

Those words echo inside her head while the cruel whisper of the wind blows steadily around her body, golden-blonde hair fluttering in her face. Her eyes are red and dry due to witnessing such a scene, but her heart has been crying for much, much longer. Blue dress and silver armor cling to her body as her only source of comfort from the biting wind, but she barely even registers its howl as she stares at the crowd gathered in front of the gallows.

In the midst of that sea of tumults and exclamations, her eyes remain glued to the scene happening in front of the people. A man is being led before the gallows. He has tanned skin and white-stock hair covering his eyes, hiding his dirty, blood-soaked face from view. People are screaming and howling. Some of them are raging and ranting; throwing rocks and stones at the man while the guards keep leading him to his fate. Yet, he remains unfazed, with his head low and those white bangs shadowing his features. Faster than a man can blink, and he is already standing in front of the scaffold; while people of all ages and looks keep screaming and cursing his name all around.

A name that she is unable to hear and register.

Tears are already welling in the corner of her eyes. She could try and complain to the men in front of her, but they wouldn't listen. They wouldn't look at her. They wouldn't even glance in her direction, for they only care about the scene in front of them, their mind solely focused on what is about to happen and their hearts interested in riding the world of sin.

A sin that, unlike them all, the man who's about to die has never committed.

Just glancing in his direction is enough for her to understand the current situation. Looking at his bloodied face alone is filling her mind with a sense of sympathy and understanding. This isn't his fault. The man is innocent. He is about to die a meaningless death, for this isn't what he has signed up for. He wanted to actually save people, not to become a glorified exterminator. Unlike the lots of them, his only purpose is to save and make sure that no one would ever cry… but the people do not seem to realize his wish, for they keep screaming and cursing him with a never-ending roar.

Her eyes remain glued to his face; sadness and hopelessness haunting every single fiber of her being. The man isn't trying to talk. He isn't even trying to resist. He knows as well as she does that this situation is inevitable. There is nothing he can do.

Being hanged by the people he has saved after being branded as the mastermind behind the war he has so desperately tried to stop for years was by no means something he could have foreseen, after all.

Yet, one single look at his ageless face tells her more than what words could ever express. The man does not care about that. He is not afraid of dying. He is not attempting to resist. He has accepted his fate, and he's not blaming the people and his executioners despite being innocent.

[ And she understands… because she has felt the same. ]

One of the guards pushes him forward, closer to his eventual fate. She watches in sadness and horror as someone places a noose over his neck, getting him ready for his final demise. People are cheering and screaming at the sight, their words echoing with rage and fury and anticipation.

But the man does not react, keeping his head low as the noose begins to tighten around his neck.

Her heart clenches and weeps, and she almost falls on her knees in desperation.

The last thing she manages to glimpse amid the sobs is the man raising his gaze towards the above, staring at the sky with a helpless smile filled with acceptance and silent satisfaction.

He is satisfied with his life. He will not complain.

The last words whispered from his lips echo inside her head like a roar of thunder.

[ I have no regrets. This is my only path. ]

Then, the trap-door is opened, and the man falls into darkness.

He dies with a smile on his face.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

I still remember that day clearly, no matter how much I loathe it.

One step. Two steps. Three steps. Hands bound by rope by the stomach. Rough cloth on skin, the cheap garb of a dead man walking. A crowd assembled to watch. The hanging noose before him, looming. Fourth step, onto the pedestal that would be kicked beneath him as the sentence would be carried out.

No. I've tried to avoid thinking about it. I don't want to remember this. I don't want to remember—

―yet, the memory always returns, haunting me relentlessly.

Looking through the noose. Seeing those faces. Some familiar. Many strangers. They looked at him with distant eyes. Fear. Mistrust. Hope. Disgust. Hatred. Excitement. Accomplishment. Satisfaction. None would stand beside him; none would have spared him. He was a strange creature: a useful tool that had broken its leash and lashed out on its own. An 'indiscriminate demon of justice' as a certain friend had called him right before he set up a trap to turn him into those they had been fighting before.

Back then, I had accepted my death as a natural consequence.

I've killed and killed and killed. My hands are drenched in the blood of countless; guilty and innocent alike. I've grown drunk on my ideals and worked myself to the bone. I've disparaged the strong and defended the weak. I've cut down the corrupted and reached down to all those who had been trampled upon, as I continued to delude myself.

It was natural that people would grow to shun me. It was natural that they would rally against me, even as I represented the justice they all believed should have existed.

So, I accepted their judgment and did not fight back.

Now, however, all he could see was her. He could see her there, amid the crowd, staring at him with tears in her eyes and a frown on her face. A woman with golden-blonde hair, dressed in silver armor. The partner of his first Holy Grail War. The friend with whom he had won that ruinous battle. The goal he had so desperately tried to reach… looking just as beautiful and mesmerizing as she did that night, under the moonlight. She looked stunning, even as she mourned the loss of her foolish believer. Even as she watched her helpless follower meet his end to the gallows. He knew she would be saddened by his death, but he could not understand the feeling. Dying meant nothing to him. Betrayal meant nothing to him. He had been betrayed countless times, after all; both by others and himself. Yet… Yet, there had been a strange feeling in his chest. In those long hours of isolation — both in his cell and during the trial where everyone was too busy playing their roles to pay attention to him — he had thought strange thoughts.

Even now, I can still remember it.

That final moment; so painfully clear. It wasn't just the resolve to accept the sins cast upon me for killing all those I have. It wasn't just the understanding that I would still serve after my death for a greater cause, as a Counter Guardian. Those thoughts had come and gone long before I've been betrayed. Even before I've been dragged before a kangaroo court and made a patsy for political gains and convenience.

I can remember the moment clearly.

And yet that last thought remains...

He pushed his head through the loop of rope, feeling the coarse material tightening around his neck. He inhaled, feeling his throat pressed against the restrictive material. He looked at that sea of faces, all intently gazing at him. At his final moments.

And I remember a smile.

A thought. A realization. A resolve. An absolution. He accepted his death. He accepted their hatred and fear. He hated no one here; he thought no ill and wished no retribution upon any of them. Thus, he had to reflect that truth in his heart. He realized that this was his inevitable end, the one and only conclusion to his mortal life. He looked out at them, one more time, and he smiled. He closed his eyes and then the trap beneath him was opened. He fell. The rope went taught, the sensation strangely distant and slow. His neck broke instantly… and Emiya Shirou died.

I gasp for breath, even as there is nothing to inhale beyond dust and the scream that would not escape my throat.

I remember that smile, but I cannot understand it anymore. Why have I smiled in that last moment? What have I forgotten? Why have I smiled?

Grabbing for my head, I squeeze at my temples with a haunted face.

Kiritsugu's desperate sobbing hangs heavy in my heart.

Why?

The words escape my lips on their own, whispered through a broken hiss.

"I have no regrets."

But although I am unable to admit it…

"This is my only path."

…deep down I know that I'm just fooling myself.

. . .

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Kurokizaka District – Semina Apartments

(======)

Artoria Pendragon woke up with a scream.

Heart pounding, bowels churning, she fluttered her eyes open as a loud gasp escaped her lips. Panting, gasping; she rose from her bed and ran towards the bathroom. There, she threw herself on the toilet and emptied her stomach, crying and moaning all the while. Pain and tears stung her eyes, and the girl with golden-blonde hair found herself covered in sweat by the time she was finished. Her body felt like she had been stabbed in the guts multiple times, making her lungs twitch and gasp for air.

This dream was worse than the last one. Much, much worse.

But the tears wouldn't stop. The girl would have burst into a sobbing fit if it weren't for her Servant's presence. She didn't need to raise her head from the toilet to feel the quiet, familiar silhouette standing right behind her. His concerned and imposing gaze was simply too obvious to miss.

Archer kneeled next to her, placing a hand over her shoulder.

"I'm here. It's ok."

His voice kept her from hyperventilating.

The girl panted and coughed, sweat and tears coating her cheeks. "A-Archer," she sniffled through the panting. "I-I'm sorry. I―"

"There's no need. Breathe."

She did as she was told.

After a few minutes, her body began to feel better. Artoria struggled to catch her breath. Her mind was racing to connect the dots, images and sounds from her previous vision still flashing behind her eyes. The longer she kept thinking about it, the more depressed she was starting to feel. It was nauseating, in the literal sense of the word. Especially since it concerned Archer, the very same Servant she had grown so fondly accustomed to. This was a mess of not insignificant proportions, and she didn't like what she had seen. Not even one bit.

"What did you see this time?"

Her Servant's words pulled her out of her trance. The girl turned to him slowly, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her pajama. "…you don't know?"

Archer shook his head. "Servants do not sleep, nor dream. Only Masters can see their Servants' memories. The more they become used to each other, and the more the bond between them grows, the higher the chance becomes," he explained, helping her on her feet with one arm and offering her a glass of water with the other. The girl rinsed her mouth and took a deep breath to collect herself, but the man's eyes never left her frame, observing her intently with a mixture of concern and seriousness.

In the end, Artoria could bear his gaze no longer. She took a deep breath and steeled herself as best as she could.

"I… I saw your death," she revealed after a while, her voice so low it was barely above a whisper.

Emiya did not react, not offering his thoughts as he continued to stare at his Master.

Artoria felt her hands clench into fists. His lack of reaction was only making the pain inside her heart grow stronger. "W-When I dreamt of you yesterday, I saw things from your perspective," she continued. "But this time… I was there. I saw you walking towards the gallows, surrounded by a sea of people. It was… an execution?" she whispered, doing her best to keep her emotions in check.

It was a statement more than a question.

The only reaction her Servant showed was a slight furrowing of his brows, followed by dead silence. His impassiveness irked her to no end.

"You were innocent, and yet they sentenced you to death," she hissed, trying so very hard to keep her emotions in check. Just thinking back about those memories was enough to make her eyes sting. The bitterness on the inside was so strong that she had to turn away from his stare. "I-I don't understand… why did they do that? Why were you forced to die despite being innocent all the while? Why did you have to be sentenced when you had no guilt at all?"

Heroic Spirit Emiya offered no answer. He just stared in cryptic silence.

Despite his lack of reaction, the girl wouldn't allow him to remain silent. Whatever she had seen in that vision, she knew that Archer knew what it was. She knew that he was aware of it, even if he had lost a lot of his memories. She couldn't allow him to just shy away from this. Not when she had just dreamed of his pain. Not when she had just felt it on her skin. That dream had been filled with so much pain and regret that it was almost asphyxiating… she couldn't simply shrug it off and forget about it. She simply couldn't. It was too painful to bear.

"Why, Archer?" she asked him directly this time. "Why were you killed despite being innocent?"

She spat that question like something foul. Artoria wouldn't meet his gaze, her eyes shadowed by her golden bangs while her hands were clenched into trembling fists; but she still refused to accept a silent treatment on this matter. Her Servant always tried to escape her probing questions with sly remarks, but both of them knew that they wouldn't work this time. Not again. Not right now. This was simply too important – too painful – to be ignored.

Learning the death of a Hero of old was by no means a small thing, after all. On the contrary, it was one of the most important piece of information regarding a Hero's life. Every Heroic Spirit was bound to their past, to their legend. It was something that could never be truly severed from them, for it was thanks to legend that they could still be remembered in the modern days, after all. A Hero's legend would never die, for it was the embodiment of all the events they had been through in life. The recalling of all the deeds they had achieved when they were alive. And in most cases, among said deeds and events, the Hero's death was one of the most important ones. Every Hero had to meet their end eventually, even if said end would never be forgotten by the world; for the passing of a Hero would only serve to heighten and amplify their legend among the people. It would serve to boost their name and deeds even more throughout the lands, regardless of whether their death was a glorious one, a peaceful one… or a tragic one.

The death of a Hero was sad, but at the same time necessary. It was something that would be forever marked into history, bringing forth a new tale of heroism that would last and be remembered forever. Consequently, it was a sacred event. Something sad, and yet at the same time something that would bring forth a new heroic tale that could instill hope to those who were born later. A memory that could offer insight, and hope, and teachings to all those who came to learn it. Therefore, yes: it was a sacred event. An event that would bring forth admiration and teachings for the future generations, regardless of whether the tale and its end were good or bad. The Tale of King Arthur and his Knights was the primary example of that, after all. The tragic tale of a brave and righteous King who fought for justice but died by his son's hand because of a cruel betrayal. It was a tragedy, and yet it was still remembered and looked upon with admiration thanks to its legend.

So, it was safe to say that a Hero's death was never a meaningless one, for their legend and deeds would always be remembered in the future. They would always be recalled and admired by the people, and that fact alone was something that gave meaning to their life and death, regardless of the legend itself being tragic or glorious. Their existence would always find a meaning, because the people and the world were bound to give one to it. It was simply inevitable.

Or, at least, that was how it was supposed to be in theory.

Because Archer's death didn't seem to align to that concept. It didn't seem to feel right. It didn't seem to have meaning.

And that was what bothered her the most.

Indeed, Archer's death had no meaning. It had no sense, no purpose, no glory. It lacked the very same feeling of purpose that many legends of Heroes possessed; replaced by a helpless, dull acceptance instead… and Artoria was struggling to accept that reality. All she had been able to feel during that vision was sadness, and a feeling of hopelessness that was too heartbreaking to bear. She didn't know how it was possible. She didn't know how; she didn't know why. She had just dreamt of her Servant's death not even a few minutes earlier, and yet… all she had been able to feel inside that vision was sadness. No sense of glory, no lingering meaning, and no purpose whatsoever. Just sadness.

Sadness… and regret.

Yes: regret. A wide, gigantic feeling of regret had been drenching the vision she had just dreamt of. A feeling that was overwhelming… and yet at the same time familiar, for it was the very same feeling she had already experienced during her previous dream from the night before. The exact same one; and there was no doubt about it.

Regret. Regret. Regret.

"I have no regrets. This is my only path."

Her Servant's last words had stated the contrary, but the dream she had just felt on her skin was telling her otherwise.

That was why she could not accept it. That was why she could not stand it. Artoria had just dreamt of Archer's demise. She had just witnessed to his final moments, to the end of his legend and life. And according to her vision, her Servant had been fooling himself all along. He had been fooling himself until the very end, accepting his death as if it were inevitable. He had been sentenced to death despite being innocent, and yet he had accepted it with a smile on his face and regret in his heart.

Artoria could not stand it for any reason.

Because her Servant had met an exemplary end… but one that was filled with regret all the same.

In other words, he had died a meaningless death. He had been killed for nothing, but he had accepted it nonetheless. Her dream had just showed to her that the only thing left from Archer's life was regret. No glory. No purpose. No meaning.

He had died a meaningless death.

How could she ever accept that?

"Whatever you saw, don't let it bother you."

Archer's words roused her from her thoughts all of a sudden. The young heir of the Pendragon line blinked and startled, caught by surprise by the unexpected statement. Slowly and mutely, she turned her head towards the right, staring at her Servant's narrowed stare with wide, incredulous eyes.

She did not like the emptiness of his gaze. She did not like it one bit.

"We've been through this already. It doesn't matter what my life was like, all I care about right now is focusing on my duty to you," Emiya explained to her, grabbing her shoulder gently in a gesture of support. "Forget about the dream and my past. They are irrelevant for our mission."

…Irrelevant? she thought.

Emiya refused to elaborate further, but the young Master read between the lines all the same. Despite what many believed, Artoria was not a naive little girl… and it didn't take her long to understand what was happening right now. It was just too obvious – painfully obvious – that her Servant was openly ignoring his feelings right now. He was deliberately disregarding his own emotions and thoughts in order to calm her down; and Artoria couldn't miss this fact in spite of his best attempts to hide those efforts.

His emotionless eyes told her a different story, though.

"It's… It's not irrelevant, Archer," she shook her head with force, pursing her lips in attempt to stop herself from screaming. "This is your life we're talking about! How can you dismiss the past so easily?" she hissed, fixing the taller man with a stern, incredulous gaze.

Archer just sighed at her stubbornness. "I told you: the past doesn't affect me that much."

"You were unjustly killed! You were betrayed by those who had been saved by you! How can this not affect you?" she cut him off with a stern tone, growing more and more enraged by his lack of reaction.

This time, her Servant stunned her into silence with his following words.

"What makes you think that I was innocent?"

Artoria paused and startled, caught off guard by that sudden question. She stared at Archer with wide, incredulous eyes filled with disbelief.

"…what?" was all she managed to whisper.

Emiya looked at her with an unreadable expression. His stern, narrowed gaze was focused on her face with a cold intensity, and he stared unflinchingly into those anguished emerald eyes for what seemed to be an eternity.

"What happened back then was the result of my own decisions. The inevitable end of a foolish, screwed existence such as myself," he stated with an emotionless tone, smiling in self-mockery with an expression devoid of pride. Just seeing the empty smirk on his lips was making her feel physically sick. "I don't remember much, but those events happened because of my actions. It was a fitting end for me, all things considered."

Artoria's mind snapped. Something inside her broke upon hearing that.

She batted his hands away from her shoulders, rage and sorrow clouding her every thought.

"How can you say that?!" she yelled at him, her face a mask of cataclysmic rage and righteousness. "How dare you say that to yourself?!"

Her body rose up, a hand grasping the Servant's arm. Emiya watched, calm and collected, despite knowing full well what was to come. Artoria was staring at him – glaring – with emerald eyes filled with sadness and tears. The snarl on her face was honestly frightening to witness, and it reminded him of the anger that a certain Saber in silver armor had felt against him in a time long past, when he was nothing but a boy who had given his final order at the end of his first Holy Grail War. And it wasn't a pleasant memory. It wasn't pleasant at all.

Right now, this Artoria was wearing the exact same face. And Heroic Spirit Emiya had to fight hard in order not to flinch under her outraged expression.

"You… You're so… infuriating, Archer!" she all but shouted at him. "Hiding your pain from me! Trying to be cool all the time! Thinking you know what's best for others while you're still unable to be honest with yourself!" she raged. "You think I don't see through your half-truths? Archer, I know what I saw! I know that what you've been through was wrong! You were innocent, and you did not deserve to be killed by those you had saved! You were a Hero!"

He scoffed, tearing his eyes away. "I was no―"

"Don't try to deny it!" she screamed at him as her shoulders quivered with sobs. Archer stared at her for a long moment, stunned, as she looked up at him while crying. Her words and tears stabbed through him more painfully than any sword could have. "You didn't deserve that sentence! You've spent all your life trying to save people, and yet they betrayed you in the end, without even batting an eye! I've felt it in my dream, so stop denying it!"

He closed his lips shut, clenching his hands hard. Curse those dreams and the Master-Servant bond. He really would have preferred to avoid discussing that topic with his Master. This young girl didn't deserve to suffer because of him.

"Master, I…"

Artoria would have none of it. With a jerk-like movement, she grabbed his face with her hands all of a sudden, pulling him closer without hesitation.

Emiya stared into her jewel-like eyes, finding himself stunned by the clarity of her teary orbs.

"Stop pretending to be fine, Archer," the girl pleaded to him through gritted teeth. "I don't want you to hide your pain from me. You promised it. You promised you would be honest with me… remember that?"

He did. That was why he was feeling conflicted right now. Archer inwardly cursed himself.

Artoria kept his face in her hands, her fingers grasping his cheeks softly. "I don't like when you hide your emotions from me, Archer. In fact, I absolutely hate it," she said. "I want you to be honest with me. I want you to take care of yourself. This is the second time I've dreamt – I've felt – your regret. Running away from your past and trying to make me ignore your suffering won't work with me… not when I've felt what you've been through in my dreams. So, I will not allow you to put some distance from it. Not when your suffering was unjustified, even if you do not believe it. I cannot stand it for any reason."

Heroic Spirit Emiya paused at that, taken aback by her outburst. He was forced to use countless half-remembered years of practice to avoid freezing while he listened to her rant. The fact that this girl was being angry solely for his sake was both endearing and painful to him.

"So, please… stop lying to me," she said with utmost seriousness, her eyes staring straight into his own with deep intensity. "Stop pretending to be fine. I don't care about what kind of life you had… I just want you to be honest with me. I want to help you if you're suffering."

Good grief. This reversal of roles was simply too cruel to bear.

"Why do you care about something so trivial?" he asked her in the end, unable to understand.

It was a legitimate question. Perhaps the one and only question to which Archer had no answer despite all his experience and knowledge. After all, this matter was of no importance. His past and his regrets had nothing to do with Artoria (or, at least, with this Artoria). They were his to deal with, and this girl had no reason to feel so conflicted about them. Besides, they were inconsequential, and completely unrelated to the unfolding of the mission. So why was this girl so fixated on them? Why was she feeling so offended for his sake? It made no sense.

He did not understand. He could never understand.

Yet, her answer made him pause in spite of everything.

She stared at him, her lips quivering into a sad smile. "Because you're my Hero, Archer."

He blinked upon hearing that, utterly confused by her answer. The girl nearly smiled at his baffled face.

"Did you forget? You are my Hero, and the one I admire the most," she explained with a sad tone of voice, trying to make her point cross. "You're the only one I can truly rely on, and not just because you're my Servant. You chose to fight by my side despite knowing my selfish wish; you stood with me when my own family tried to stop me from participating in the War… you even saved me twice, both yesterday and the day before! Do you seriously believe I wouldn't care about all of that? Despite all you've done for me?"

"I was just carrying out my duty," he tried to deflect, unfazed. "Protecting their Master and fighting by their side is a Servant's role. Every Servant would have done the same."

She gave him a look that said: we both know that is not true. And she was right. Their initial distrust after the summoning was the very proof of that, after all.

Archer sighed under the unyielding stare of his Master. Her glare alone was so painfully familiar that he didn't find the strength to retort.

In the end, seeing that he wasn't refusing her reasoning, Artoria managed to calm down slightly. But her hands remained glued to his face all the same. "I know you've been alone for a very long time, Archer," she said, caressing his cheeks with a pained expression. "I just… don't want you to be like that now. I don't want you to keep pretending. If you don't like talking about your past, then I won't pry about it. But please, stop lying to me and to yourself. There's no need to keep hiding your emotions."

To actually hear something like this from that voice, coming out of those lips… gods damn it, this really felt like a twisted joke. Alaya must have really decided to screw with him this time. Archer had to fight really hard to quell the impulse to push the girl away out of instinct after hearing that statement. His lips nearly parted into an unamused sneer, in fact.

Fortunately, though, he stopped himself before he could do something he might regret. This girl was not King Arthur. She was not the one he knew from his life, nor one of the two Sabers he had met in his previous Holy Grail Wars. Therefore, he knew that she was just trying to help him in her own way without any ulterior motives. Her kindness and care for him were endearing, no doubt… but he just couldn't help but feel irked by the fact that she – Artoria Pendragon, of all people – was telling him to stop hiding his emotions. It was simply inevitable, given that her 'other self' had done the exact opposite for the entirety of her life. It just felt wrong, and sad, and bitter. This whole situation felt like being enclosed within a twisted nightmare.

If Saber Artoria Pendragon had been the one to say those words to him, Emiya would have snapped. Badly. He was sure of it.

But since she was just a simple girl in this world, Archer decided to relent. He forced himself to quell his annoyance, and instead focused on her words with a clearer mind. After all, he couldn't really deny the fact that she was right, deep down. There really was no need to hide his emotions this time around. He just kept doing it out of habit, and because he didn't want his Master to deal with his problems. But deep down, Archer knew that bottling everything inside and trying to shrug it off was not going to work in the long run. Not when his current Master seemed to be even more stubborn and fixated on this than his previous one.

It was undeniable. Rin had been a positive – albeit annoying – influence for him. Archer could not deny it. Regardless of all they had been through, that girl had showed him that his life had meaning in spite of everything, and that there was nothing wrong in trying to be happy after all he had done. 'I want to see you smile', she had said to him at the end of that War, after all. For that, Emiya would forever be grateful to Rin, and he still carried his final promise to her inside his heart.

However, his previous Master was not comparable to the current one. Because this Artoria was even more stubborn and resolute than Rin, at least on the matters regarding Archer and his personal life. Rin had never tried to pry too much about his past, mostly because she had other matters to deal with at the time, and because she had already formed her own suspicions by the end of the conflict; but Artoria Pendragon was another story entirely. Unlike Rin, in fact, she seemed extremely interested – almost fixated – on discovering Archer's identity whenever that matter was brought up, and even her dreams kept coming at an outstandingly fast rate for a Master. This fact alone showed that she had started to care for him deeply during the last few days of the War, and Archer was not blind to that. He knew what was happening right now.

Artoria was starting to care for him. She was growing attached, even if this fact was no surprise to Archer. Actually, if he had to be honest, he should have seen it coming from a while. After all, since she had been treated differently by both the people and her own family due to her bloodline, Artoria had become accustomed to acting cold and detached with everyone… at least until Emiya had appeared. And since he was the only one who actually treated her like a normal girl, going as far as spoiling her with his food and keeping her safe all the time, it was no wonder that she was growing attached. The fact that he had also saved her life twice in a row had been a huge factor as well. Just in the last two days alone, Artoria's opinion of him had boosted quite a bit because of that, and she had clearly admitted it herself after their clash against Rin and Saber.

So… yeah. Emiya knew that the current situation was inevitable. As loathe as he was to admit it, it was the result of his own actions, and as such he had to take responsibility for it in his own way.

Even if he did not deserve this girl's affection. Not even one bit.

"Fine, then," he relented with a sigh. He rose on his feet out of the blue, slipping away from his Master's hold and shaking his head with an amused expression while the girl blinked at his unexpected reaction. "If you have such a high opinion of me, I guess I'll have to be even more clear with you. Just don't blame me too much when you'll end up being disappointed."

Artoria blinked owlishly at him, surprised by his sudden change of mood, and quietly moved to stand up as well. "Huh? W-Why would I be disappointed by you?" she asked in confusion, unable to understand what he meant with those words.

Emiya eyed her sideways, his face and gaze unreadable.

"Master, I'm going to share a piece of advice with you," he said, looking at the girl in all seriousness and crossing his arms with a casual movement. The young heir of the Pendragon line stared back at him with a tense, expectant expression. "I know that you are interested in my story due to my condition. The War barely even started, but after everything we've been through in the last two days, it is only natural for you to feel that way. And believe me when I say that I feel honored to be held in such high regards by you. Trust me, I really do."

Artoria blushed and lowered eyes, trying to keep her face straight despite her embarrassment.

Seeing her flushed expression, Emiya turned his back to her, heading out of the bathroom. He motioned the girl to follow him with a nod of the head, and she did so without wasting a second.

"However, I would like to offer some advice," he said, entering the kitchen of the wide apartment and gesturing his Master to the table. Her breakfast was already waiting for her there, as usual. "Don't put too much thoughts on me. My past, my death, my problems… they're mine to deal with. There is no need to bother yourself with such inconsequential matters. You only need to focus on our mission, and nothing more. You already have your own burdens, and I do not wish to bother you further."

Artoria sat at the table, but ignored her breakfast completely. This fact alone spoke volumes about her inner turmoil. Emiya almost felt surprised.

"I-It's not a bother, Archer! I'm not forcing myself to do this! I want to help you, just like you did―"

"I know, and I'm grateful for that," he cut her off, quickly but gently. He stood on the opposite side of the room, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. "But there's something you've misunderstood, Master. I've sworn to be your Servant. I've sworn to fight by your side and protect you. But I never said I'd be your friend."

The girl's breath stopped upon hearing that, staring at him with wide eyes.

Sheer silence descended upon the entire apartment.

Emiya's face remained completely stoic. "I am your Servant, Master. Your safety and well-being are top priorities for me, because it's thanks to them that I can remain anchored to this world and fight alongside you. That is why I must ensure your well-being all the time," he explained, trying to make his point cross. "But you, on the other hand, have other matters to deal with. Dealing with the other Masters and strategize a way to win this War is your job, not mine. That is why you must focus on those matters instead of keeping your mind fixated on me and my problems. Just like my duty to you is to clear a path towards victory, your duty to me is to make sure I have a lead to follow. Servants are supposed to follow their Master's will, and fight together towards a common goal. That is the nature of the relationship we share."

Artoria's gaze fell more and more as she digested his words. Her shoulders dropped slightly, and her eyes became shadowed by her golden bangs.

"…so you're saying…"

"I'm saying that you must stop dwelling on needless matters and start focusing on your duty," he spoke with a stern tone, closing his eyes with a weary expression. "I understand your curiosity due to my memory loss, but I cannot ignore this matter any longer. Your interest about my past, my burdens, and my regrets is appreciated, but needless. Furthermore, it is distracting you from the objective. Our goal is not to deal with my problems, but to discover the truth behind this War and bring an end to the Ritual. Therefore, Master, I highly suggest you start focusing on your role instead of worrying about me and the life I've led in the past. Such matters are inconsequential, especially since I can still fight despite my memory loss. Dwelling on them is needless, and pointless."

His Master did not react. She remained completely still, with her gaze obscured and her head low.

Seeing her silence, Emiya sighed a weary sigh. "Do not misunderstand, Master. I honestly appreciate your concern, and I'm grateful for the interest and kindness you've shown towards me and my… peculiar situation. But the two of us are bound by a contract, not by a friendly relationship. As such, this matter is not relevant to our duty, and I cannot allow you to be distracted by it. As I said, I swore to be your Servant; but I am not your friend."

The silence that followed his statement was strangely deafening to his ears. Emiya knew he was being hypocritical with those words. He knew he was being hard on the girl, but he simply could not let this situation escalate further. He couldn't allow his Master to grow attached to him for any reason. Such a thing would only be a pointless, needless nuisance; as well as a weakness that could be exploited by the enemies. Servants were just tools, a means to an end, and nothing more. This fact had to remain unchanged, and it was time he reminded the girl of this truth once and for all.

No matter what the girl thought about it.

"…friend, huh?" Artoria mused after a long while of silence. Her voice was so low that it was barely above a whisper.

Archer fixed her with an unreadable stare.

She raised her head with a slow movement, staring into his eyes with a sad, knowing expression.

"Is that why you're keeping your past and your name hidden from me, Archer? Because we are not friends?"

Heroic Spirit Emiya froze, falling into a tense silence. He looked at his Master with narrowed eyes.

But Artoria didn't seem to be fazed by his glare. She returned his stare with a sad one of her own. "I had some suspicions for a while, but now I'm certain of it," she continued, looking and sounding completely certain about her words. "You don't really have memory loss, do you? You still remember your life, Archer, and you've deliberately chosen not to talk about it. Your current reaction has all but proved it to me… am I right?"

Emiya frowned, tearing his gaze away from the girl to stare at the window. His silence alone spoke more than words could.

The girl with golden hair smiled a sad smile. She knew she was right about that. "Why do you keep pushing everyone away, Archer?"

"…the same reason I'm hiding my name from you, I suppose."

Artoria's gaze dropped to the table, idly swirling a spoon in her tea. "You don't trust me?"

"That's not…" Archer paused, sighed, shook his own head. He donned a hand over his face in exasperation, trying his best to ignore the hurt inside her voice. "If it had been needed, I would have told you the truth. But in the current situation, knowing my name and my past won't change things, so it is pointless. That, and I just have a habit of… pushing people, as you've noticed. It is better that way."

The girl looked up at him. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Emiya exhaled another sigh, unsure of how to explain it. He wasn't quite sure why he was revealing this, in the first place. "I am not as good as you believe me to be, Master," he admitted with a cold tone of voice. He finally turned his head towards her again, and he almost flinched under Artoria's inquisitive stare. "Not only I am a secretive person by nature, but my 'past' is not the most exemplary one, as you've seen in those dreams. I do not enjoy talking about it, and I wanted to spare you from such a pathetic story. My life was not exactly a fairy tale."

The young Master observed her Servant for a long while, musing over his answer for a few seconds. Even if she didn't show it outwardly, Artoria was inwardly surprised by the current turn of events. After all, this wasn't what she had expected to hear from Archer. Upon being confronted by the truth, she had expected him to be more distant and secretive about this subject. She had expected him to lie and grow defensive. Heck, she had even expected him to deny her suspicions in some way… but instead, after being confronted with her honest words, he was just admitting the truth without batting an eye. He was admitting the fact that he had kept secrets all this time, without feeling ashamed or trying to escape the situation; and she could not understand the reasoning behind his actions.

She had to know. She just had to.

"So… why are you admitting it so easily now?" she asked him at that point, confused.

Much to her surprise, Emiya scoffed in self-mockery. "I don't enjoy lying, despite my attempts to fool myself," he answered with an empty voice. Then, faced by her unamused stare, his lips curved into a sarcastic smile. "That, and because Lancer already knows," he admitted, shocking her quite a bit with that statement. "Seeing how that woman has now become an ally, it's only a matter of time before she will say something. I guess I just wanted to admit this much before she spoils my fun," he shrugged.

Artoria widened her eyes. She felt something hot and vicious bubbling inside her chest upon hearing that answer.

"Y-You!" she stammered, outraged. "You've told the truth to Lancer… and not to ME?!" she yelled, standing up from the table with a full-fledged glare.

Emiya remained completely unfazed by her anger. "You're mistaken, Master. She figured it out on her own, just like I did with her," he answered, raising a hand in a placating gesture. "Besides, she still doesn't know who I am, so there's no need to be angry. Nobody knows my identity, and if there's one person I would like to reveal it first… that is you. Please do not doubt me about this."

His answer seemed to calm her down. Artoria relaxed slightly upon seeing the honesty in his grey eyes, taking a deep breath after a few seconds of blinding anger. She could see in her Servant's gaze that he was being honest with those words, so she decided to drop that matter and forget about the events of the previous night. Archer was finally being honest with her for once, so it was best to use this opportunity to learn more about him. That, and she didn't like thinking about Lancer. The way that woman had looked at her Servant the night before had greatly bothered her for some reason.

She shook her head, falling back on her seat with a weary sigh. "…good. I would have never forgiven you if you did," she stated in utmost seriousness.

Archer openly smirked at her words. "Hm? Is that jealousy I hear?"

Once again, her reaction did not disappoint.

Artoria blushed madly, her face becoming as red as it could be while her breath got stuck in her throat. Panic and shame flashed in her emerald eyes, her face began to sweat, and the poor girl barely even managed to stammer out a response amid her panicked rant. "O-O-Of course not!" she yelled, feeling deeply embarrassed by his words and – especially – by the implication behind them. "I-I was just e-expressing my disappointment! N-Not to be trusted by their own Servant would be an affront for every Master! Y-Yes, that's it! It would have been a great disgrace!"

Emiya just gave her an unimpressed stare, and Artoria felt like sulking in a corner. The fact that she had just resumed to talk in the male-speech pattern of her family was only aggravating the shame she was feeling inside.

Curses. He's teasing me again.

Nevertheless, she managed to recollect herself quickly due to the seriousness of the matter. "A-Anyway… is that why you're keeping your identity secret? Because you want to spare me?" she questioned him again, dismissing her embarrassment and replacing it with a frown.

Her Servant returned serious as well. He looked down at the girl again, feeling uncomfortable with the familiar look of sadness in her emerald eyes, and shifted the subject back. "You and I have our own duties to fulfill, and we must focus on those instead of dwelling on pointless matters," he stated again, trying to dismiss the slight feeling of shame he was feeling inside. "I'm a versatile tool, but in the wrong situation, one that can be easily broken. That is why I need to be certain that you'll be able to use me smartly."

"Stop saying such cruel things!" Artoria said, suddenly looking very determined. "You're not a tool to me!"

He smirked. "There's a balance to be struck, Master. The best kind of Masters need to be able to use all their allies like tools, but also protect all their tools as allies."

The girl looked like she wanted to keep disagreeing, and Emiya thought she was surely going to do so. But strangely enough, she stayed silent instead, chewing over the thought for a long, long while.

In the end, seeing her conflicted face, Emiya decided to elaborate. "I'm not saying that I don't trust you, but there are some things that take priority over others," he tried to explain, moving away from the wall and stepping closer to the girl. He stopped right next to the table, and Artoria looked up at him in seriousness. "Master, I swore an oath to you. I swore to be your ally, and to clear a path for your victory. That means that I care about you, make no mistake. And I also know extremely well how smart and capable you are. We already talked about this."

"However, I do sincerely believe that revealing my name to you would be a pointless move. No, it would be a distraction for us. And that is why I do not wish to talk about it… yet."

"But why?" Artoria pressed, unable to understand his reasoning behind this matter. "Why is it such a big deal for you?"

Her Servant closed his eyes. "I told you: I'm not as good as you believe me to be."

"That's not true! I've dreamt of your feelings, Archer. I've seen what you've been through. Ok, maybe I haven't seen the whole picture, but I know you are a Hero!" she declared seriously.

"I'm a killer," was his cold and immediate reply. Artoria scowled and rose on her feet upon hearing that, fixing her Servant with a challenging glare. The tanned man remained completely unfazed by it. "That's what it means to be a Hero," he stated with utmost certainty, his voice colder than steel. "If you care for the truth, you'd better not forget that, Master."

She stared him down, emerald eyes against steel, each one daring the other to keep arguing. He'd made his point. He could see that from the way her lips pressed into a thin, hard line.

It was the same look he remembered from the first morning after they'd met, chastising him inside the small flat of Bristol.

"But if you really wish to know the truth, then I'll tell you," Archer continued again, catching her by surprise with that statement. He parted his lips into a knowing smile, placing a hand over her head and ruffling her hair with a fond gesture. The girl blushed and sputtered at his actions. "One day."

Artoria grumbled and pouted when she finally managed to break free from his grasp. Regardless, she still shot him a doubtful stare. "You promise?"

He nodded, for once completely serious. "I promise."

"Will you give me a hint, then?" she pressed further, leaning towards him with a resolute frown. "Something to think and ponder about in the meantime?"

Much to her surprise, he decided to comply.

"…let's just say I was a sheath for a sword a lifetime ago," Emiya said as he closed his eyes.

Her brows furrowed at his cryptic words. Her eyebrow was visibly twitching. "I believe it would pain you to be straightforward for once, Archer."

"It's just not the right time to reveal myself to you, Master," he said with a slight grin that quickly vanished. His hawk eyes opened suddenly, flickering in a certain direction with an unreadable stare. "Besides, now it's not the time for that. We have company."

Artoria blinked, utterly confused his sudden statement. However, she didn't miss the way her Servant's attitude had shifted out of the blue, just like the way his eyes had suddenly moved to glance to the right, staring at something she couldn't quite see yet. When she turned around to follow his gaze, her eyes fell on the window facing the right side of the kitchen, and her lips parted in stupor all of a sudden.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Emiya furrowed his brows. "It appears we have a visitor," he mused with sarcasm.

Like many other times before, he was right… although the sight of said 'visitor' was extremely different compared to what one person would expect to see at the thought of receiving a visit. Even the way this so-called visitor had decided to reveal their presence was extremely unusual, in fact. Artoria nearly gaped in shock at the sight.

Just outside the window facing the kitchen, the intruder was there. It was none other than a large, odd-looking ball made of liquid, which possessed a slimy consistence and a silvery-white color. The ball appeared to be glued to the outer wall of the building in some way, stretching its gluey body slightly to the right and tapping over the window with a gentle movement, almost as if it had a life of its own. It was a literal sphere of liquid that moved and acted on its own initiative, waving and stretching itself with its liquid body in order to be noticed and grab their attention.

Artoria stared at the ball with wide eyes. Emiya remained calm and focused instead.

Faster than a man could blink, the visitor suddenly reacted. With a slow, almost animalistic movement similar to that of a snake, the sphere of liquid stretched forward all of a sudden, crawling along the outside wall of the building and slipping through the window's infix thanks to its liquid and shapeless body, entering the apartment with disarming ease. Not even five seconds later, the intruder was already inside, and the silvery liquid began to coagulate and pile up on the floor, agitating itself in an unpleasant way and assuming the shape of a sphere again.

The girl with golden hair took a step back out of instinct. "W-What is that?" she whispered, hiding herself a little behind Archer's frame.

Emiya fixed the odd-looking ball with narrowed eyes. "Remote control. The art of manipulating a liquid flow," he explained, looking completely calm in spite of the unexpected intrusion. His body remained relaxed as before, and he didn't even summon a weapon upon being faced by that so-called visitor. "What you see before you is liquid mercury filled with Magecraft. A shapeless cluster of energy that can be sculpted into any shape and controlled at will. It's a Mystic Code."

Artoria's eyed widened. "A unique Code created from mercury?" she breathed in shock, realization dawning upon her features. "It's the Supreme Mystic Code of the El-Melloi Family!"

Indeed, her Servant knew that she was right. Although he had never seen such a weird and peculiar Mystic Code during his lifetime, Emiya had heard a lot of things about the El-Melloi Family in the past… especially during his life, when he had gone to London in order to study at the Clock Tower for a short time under Ciel's suggestion. Thanks to that, he was aware of the fact that the El-Melloi Family excelled in the art of manipulating flows and liquids, and that it possessed this Mystic Code. It was said that Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald (the previous head of the El-Melloi Family) created it in his early twenties long before the Fourth Holy Grail War, and that the ability to control it was shared between the rare dual elemental attributes of his relatives.

However, Lord El-Melloi II was not a true member of the family… so that left only one explanation.

Before Emiya or Artoria could speculate, however, something happened. The ball of liquid mercury suddenly trembled on the floor, and with a recoiling movement and a hissing sound, it suddenly shifted form out of the blue. Gone was now the large and odd-looking ball of silvery color, replaced by the shape of a human being dressed in a maid outfit with long hair and skin completely unsuited to human beings: a shining silver.

It was a maid. A living, breathing maid made of liquid mercury. Artoria almost couldn't believe her eyes.

"Greeting, Miss Pendragon. I apologize for the unexpected visit," the maid spoke – it actually spoke – with a calm, emotionless tone. Her voice was soft, and it carried a strange metallic ring to it that was honestly odd to hear. "My name is Trimmau, and I am a multi-purpose maid golem currently serving under Reines El-Melloi Archisorte. It is a pleasure to meet you," she said with her eyes closed, making a curt bow with her – its? – body in a respectful gesture.

For a few moments, only silence followed the maid's words. Artoria stared at the Code with narrowed eyes, unsure of what to do, while Archer stepped slightly to the side, observing the scene in cryptic silence.

In the end, the heir of the Pendragon line managed to recollect herself from the stupor. "A golem," she mused to herself with a frown, returning to assume her usual stoic demeanor. "What is the meaning of this? Why is a golem belonging to Lady Reines here in my apartment?"

The golem maid, Trimmau, kept its eyes closed as it straightened itself. "My Master has temporarily assigned me to her older brother, and ordered me to aid him in his mission in order to ensure the unfolding of the Clock Tower's will. I was sent here under Lord El-Melloi II's request," she stated matter-of-factly, like a robot capable only of carrying out orders.

"I see… but what for?" she pressed.

This time, the maid didn't answer right away. Instead, she bowed again and took something from her pocket, offering it to the girl with one hand.

It was a letter.

Emiya and Artoria shared a silent glance. Then, slowly and tentatively, the girl made a few steps forward and took the small piece of paper from the golem's hand, looking both curious and wary all the while. Trimmau remained still and lowered her head in curtesy upon delivering the letter, waiting for their reaction in silence.

"What is it, Master?" Archer questioned, glancing at the young girl as she opened the letter and began reading its content.

Artoria's eyebrow rose slightly in stupor as she kept reading the words written on the paper. "It's from the Lord. I recognize the handwriting," she said in a serious tone. Her emerald orbs narrowed the more she kept reading the letter. "He's asking us to join him and lady Bazett for a meeting. He wants to discuss the current alliance with us."

Emiya digested the news in silence and without surprise, since he was already suspecting this kind of outcome. After all the events that had happened the previous night, it was understandable that Lord El-Melloi II wanted to re-discuss the matters regarding the current situation. Having both Bazett and Lancer on their side was surely going to change things in a lot of ways, after all, and the three Masters still hadn't talked much about their new alliance. Everyone had been too exhausted yesterday to be able to discuss that matter fully, so this outcome was in no way unexpected, in Archer's opinion.

He nodded in a silent acknowledgment, eyeing his Master with an unreadable stare. "I figured. So? What are you going to do?"

The girl with golden hair closed the letter with a resolute expression. "That is obvious, Archer," Artoria answered without the slightest hint of hesitation. She returned the piece of paper back to the golem, fixing the odd-looking maid with a narrowed gaze. "Lead the way. We will go to the Lord's meeting."

Trimmau nodded in satisfaction, keeping its eyes closed all the while. "Marvelous," it spoke, its emotionless tone unchanged from the beginning. "Then please follow me outside. I will guide you to the meeting point right away."

However, before the golem or the girl could speak further, Archer suddenly coughed loudly, grabbing everyone's attention.

The tanned man with white hair sighed when everyone's gaze turned to him. "Master, I approve your resolve… but I believe it would be wise for you to wait a moment before heading out to the meeting," he said in all seriousness, glancing at his young Master with one eye closed.

Artoria just stared, blinking owlishly at him without a clue. "Huh?"

Emiya nearly sighed at her clueless expression. "Good grief. Surely you wouldn't want to get out dressed like that… am I right?" he pressed, sarcasm clearly present in his tone.

The young Master froze at his words, blinked a second time, and then lowered her eyes slowly to stare at her body.

Until, upon finally realizing that she was still dressed in her pajamas, the girl let out a squeal of embarrassment and dashed towards her room at maximum speed, with a cloud of smoke following her head all the while.

Archer donned a hand on his face, while Trimmau stared at the scene in silence.

"…the Lord was right. She's indeed an unusual Mage for a Master," the golem maid commented with no emotion in her tone.

Emiya shook his head. "You have no idea," was his only answer as he headed for the door once again.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

The two of us are staring at the sight below. From the rooftop of the Central Building, the view of the city is quite the sight, especially during night. Even the soft and warm breeze caressing our skin is quite enjoyable for us.

However, that is not why we are here.

"I neglected to ask you something."

Rin turns towards me as I break the silence, tilting her head to the side. "What is it?" she asks.

My eyes narrow slightly as I stare at her frame from my seated position. "Rin… were you trained from an early age to be a Master, and did you go along with that?" I ask, catching her by surprise for a moment.

When she manages to recollect herself, she nods. "That's right. For generations, winning the Grail has been the Tohsaka's dream," she answers, her voice carrying a casual yet firm tone.

"In that case, I expect that you know your goal," I say, fixing the girl with a serious frown. "Unless I know your wish, I cannot entrust my blades to you."

I stand up from my seat, staring straight into the girl's eyes. "Rin, what is your wish?" I demand to her directly.

Her next answer is not the one I expect. "Wish? I don't really have one," she says, placing a hand on her hip.

I am baffled by her reply. "What? That isn't possible," I say. "The Grail is an omnipotent cup that can grant any wish. It has the power to conquer the world for you."

Of course, my reaction is a bit exaggerated, and the words I'm saying are not entirely true; but this a necessary test. I need to know what this girl is up to, and why she wants to fight in such a pointless battle.

Once again, her answer surprises me. "Well, conquering the world seems like a pain in the ass, and there's no point in wishing for dumb things like that," she shrugs, almost with a casual tone.

I close my eyes to hide my inner agreement. "I fail to understand. Why, then, are you fighting?"

She turns to me fully this time. The smile on her face is both confident and amused as she speaks. "Because there's a battle to be fought, Archer."

I widen my eyes as I begin to grasp the meaning behind her words. "So you're saying…"

"Yes. I'm fighting to win. That's all."

I stare at her for a few seconds. But in the end, I can't help but snort in amusement.

Honestly, this girl…

"Good grief," I sigh, shaking my head with helpless resignation. "You are indeed an ideal Master for me, Rin."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Shinto – Shopping District

(======)

The walk towards the meeting point was not long.

As Heroic Spirit Emiya and his Master followed Trimmau along the hidden alleys and pathways of Fuyuki, they soon realized that the location for the meeting with Lord El-Melloi II and the others was not far from Artoria's apartment. The maid golem led them to the shopping district of Shinto, which was not far from the area where the Semina Apartments were located. More specifically, Lord El-Melloi II's familiar guided them to the main attraction of the district: the towering and wide-spread shopping center of Fuyuki City, also known as "Verde".

Hidden from view thanks to his spirit form, Emiya narrowed his eyes as he followed his Master and the golem towards the entrance of the building. He was extremely familiar with this place thanks to his own experience, since he had been there countless times in his youth, even without taking into account his memories of the previous Holy Grail Wars. Verde was the biggest shopping center of Fuyuki City, after all, and it was also the very same building which housed a certain tea shop that Rin had been particularly fond of in Archer's past experiences. His previous Master had often been quite adamant about coming to this place because of that, and Emiya had had no choice but to follow her as well, back then.

Luckily for him, though, today's destination was not the tea shop which Rin used to adore in those past timelines. In fact, both Archer and Artoria remained quite surprised when they realized that the Lord's golem maid was not leading them towards a specific shop or store of the mall, but rather towards the building's very own rooftop. Once they had taken the elevator and slipped past the security guards without being seen, the three of them quickly found themselves on the vast, empty rooftop of the shopping center, gazing at the breathtaking view of Fuyuki that could be seen from the elevated position of the towering building. Sure, it wasn't as tall as the Center Building, but the view was still nice thanks to the sunny weather of the morning.

But now, that did not matter one bit. Their allies were already waiting from them, after all. Lord El-Melloi and Bazett Fraga McRemitz – along with their respective Servants hidden in spirit form – were already there, seated in front of each other on the concrete floor of the rooftop. As soon as they stepped closer to them, Archer could clearly feel Artoria tensing through their Master-Servant bond, preparing herself for the what was about to come.

Waver Velvet turned to her with a raised brow. "You're late," he noted, fixing the girl with golden hair with an amused stare while Bazett remained silent.

To her credit, Artoria took the jab like a champion. "Preparing myself took me longer than expected," she defended herself with a stoic tone, closing her eyes and taking a seat between the man and the woman. She placed her faithful katana on the floor next to her, joining her hands on her lap with a graceful movement. "I'm still getting used to Japan's time zone. My apologies."

Her convenient lie was accepted without complaints. Emiya was inwardly impressed.

Seeing the silence that followed the greeting, Trimmau decided to excuse itself. Its body trembled and swayed, and then the golem shape-shifted back into a sphere of mercury which immediately moved to hid itself inside a small suitcase for travel placed next to Waver, disappearing from sight entirely.

Bazett whistled a bit in amusement. "That's quite the familiar you have there, Waver. I didn't know you possessed such a complex Mystic Code," she mused, impressed.

Lord El-Melloi II merely shook his head. "It's not mine. Trimmau was formerly the Mystic Code of Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, which now belongs to his niece. People believe that it was made by me, but in truth the Code was reprogrammed as a multi-purpose maid golem by Reines herself. I only gave her a few advices here and there during the process, but in regards to that she has temporarily given the Code to me to aid our cause. She said she wouldn't feel worried that way," he explained slowly, patting the suitcase with one hand in a fond gesture.

Artoria and Bazett exchanged a glance. "And you've kept such a weapon hidden until now," the hair of the Fraga family commented with no small amount of sarcasm. "It seems you are full of surprises."

The man snorted in response.

Rider was the first to reveal his presence after that quick exchange. His armored body appeared out of the blue in a dust of prana, placing himself right next to the black-haired Magus with a cheerful grin on his face.

"Come on, Master. There's no need to be so stiff and dismissive all the time. We're here to talk and discuss as allies! You should be more accommodating with your comrades," the King of Franks – Charlemagne – teased him with a sly tone, taking a seat next to Waver. The poor man almost blushed in both shame and annoyance at his Servant's jab, and the armored Knight patted him on the shoulder with a laugh.

Bazett shot a quick glance to her left. Following Rider's example, the woman's Servant dismissed her own spirit form as well, revealing herself in a dust of purple and allowing her beautiful and sinuous body to be bathed by the light once more. Both Lord El-Melloi II and Rider tensed as the Servant of the Lancer class laid her crimson eyes on them, while Artoria watched the scene with a narrowed gaze.

"Do not jump to conclusions, Rider," the Witch of of Dún Scáith – Scathach – spoke with an empty tone. Her voice was cold, commanding; despite being soft and suave as well. Staring at her frame was like staring at the pale moon, making everyone feel as if the spear-woman's beauty was something both pleasing and dangerous to witness. Her imposing presence alone had made the air drop a few degrees around them. "Having formed a temporary alliance does not mean we have become comrades. You'd do better not to forget that," she mused, as both a statement and a warning.

Charlemagne and Waver gulped and stared at her with a tense face.

Sheer silence followed Lancer's dismissive words. The spear-woman took a seat next to her Master without saying anything else, and everyone soon found themselves seated on the floor in a circle, falling into a tense silence.

Well, almost everyone.

Bazett and Waver's eyes turned to Artoria with an expectant face, and the heir of the Pendragon line immediately realized what their gazes were saying.

The girl with golden hair glanced to her right. "It's fine, Archer," she spoke to her Servant, softly. "You can show yourself."

In all honesty, Emiya would have preferred to remain in spirit form and avoid a direct confrontation, but he knew that it would be rude to do so when both Rider and Lancer had clearly decided to openly participate in the discussion. And since he didn't want to bring shame or disgrace to his Master, he had no choice but to comply.

His body materialized in a dust of blue, and Heroic Spirit Emiya revealed himself with his eyes closed and arms crossed.

Lancer narrowed her eyes when Archer appeared without saying a single word of greeting to anyone, but her lips soon parted into a veiled smile as she watched him taking a seat next to the Pendragon girl despite his lack of enthusiasm. He really was loyal despite his looks.

"Greetings, Archer," she greeted him with a formal tone. "As expected, you are silent as usual."

Emiya shot her a flat stare, unfazed by the sarcasm. "Lancer," he grunted in response.

The spear-woman widened her smile. His lack of reaction was only making her amusement grow. "Have your wounds recovered from last night?" she asked him casually.

Once again, the only answer she received was another noncommittal grunt. Bazett, Waver and Rider openly sweat-dropped at the scene.

For some reason, Scathach seemed to enjoy it nonetheless. "Too bad… it seems I still have a long way to go before I can pierce through that empty heart of yours," she mused with a sly smirk, without even bothering to hide her sarcasm.

This time, the white-haired man shot her a full-fledged glare.

Artoria decided that that was enough. She raised an arm in front of her Servant, like a child who was trying to shield her favorite toy from a dangerous stranger. "Leave him alone, Lancer. I won't allow you to have your way with him as you did yesterday," she warned with a stern tone, sending an enraged glare to the older woman in spite of her inner nervousness. "Archer nearly died last night because of you. Do not think I have forgotten about that," she spat, unaware of the – quite substantial – amount of venom in her voice. The fact that she was openly threatening a Servant didn't even cross her mind, to be honest.

But she just couldn't help it. The blonde girl could not fathom why, but the way Lancer was looking and speaking to her Servant was irking her to no end.

She would not, could not, allow that dangerous woman to get close to her Archer ever again.

Her words made everyone tense all around the girl, Emiya included. The Nameless Hero watched in silent alarm as Scathach's gaze landed on his Master in slow motion, while something cold and unreadable flashed inside those crimson orbs. Something that made the woman scowl slightly, as if a flicker of annoyance had passed through her stoic expression after hearing Artoria's words. And Emiya didn't like that fact. He didn't like it at all.

Immediately, he leaned forward and opened his mouth to interject before Lancer could say something to the girl, but there was no need.

For another one broke the silence for him.

"That's enough, Lancer," Bazett suddenly cut in the discussion before it could escalate, sending a cold stare to her own Servant. "As Rider said, we are not here to foment hostility, but to discuss this so-called alliance that Lord El-Melloi II has offered to us," she said, grabbing everyone's attention. Especially Lancer's. "We may not be comrades yet, but there's no need for sly innuendos or futile provocations. You've already lost the duel yesterday, so I trust you'll be able to restrain yourself from now on; especially for today. Is that clear?"

Scathach stared at her Master with a cold stare, long and hard. Then, much to everyone's shock, she closed her eyes and nodded in acceptance without even an ounce of hesitation or shame.

"My apologies," the immortal Queen decided to relent in the end, shrugging a bit. "I was merely teasing him. I hope I haven't offended you because of that, Archer."

Emiya forced a neutral expression on his face. His well-developed instinct was still keeping him alert, however. "Of course not," was all he said.

Bazett nodded in satisfaction as the two Servants fell silent after those words. As if on cue, Lancer and Archer closed their eyes and crossed their arms at the same time, and their Masters stared at both of them with a stern expression for a few seconds.

All the while, the other Master-Servant duo exchanged a worried glance with each other.

"And I offer my apologies to you as well, Miss Pendragon," Bazett continued soon after that, catching Artoria by surprise and prompting her wide eyes to fall on her. "Lancer usually struggles to contain her obsession to fight, and as we know, last night she has caused a lot of trouble to your Servant because of that. I apologize for her actions, and I'll make sure something like that won't happen again… as long as this truce remains, of course."

Emiya and Artoria stared at the woman, the former with narrowed eyes and the latter with mouth agape. Next to Bazett, Lancer kept her eyes closed and her expression stoic all the while, like a Queen to whom words and accusations could not faze in the slightest.

Bezett kept staring at Artoria with a serious face. "Is this compromise acceptable for you, Miss Pendragon?" she pressed, looking as serious as before.

The girl with golden hair blinked in astonishment. "A-Ah, yes. Of course," she readily agreed after a while, nodding her head slowly in acceptance.

"Good. This is settled, then," she stated, putting an end to that feud once and for all.

That being said, the air finally began to lose the previous feeling of tension, and everyone relaxed slightly after that quick exchange.

Charlemagne narrowed his eyes, leaning to the right with his body and raising a hand over his lips to whisper to Archer in a not-so-subtle way. "Man, she sure is scary," he murmured in a hushed tone, glancing at Lancer's stoic face with a wary expression. "I've never said this, but I don't think it was wise to rouse that woman's interest. I feel sorry for you, bud."

Archer felt his left eyebrow twitch. "You don't say," he whispered back at Rider, annoyed. If that woman's aid wasn't strictly necessary for the sake of the mission, Emiya would have loved nothing more than have nothing to do with her.

However, just as Archer finished processing that thought, Scathach suddenly opened her eyes and flashed him a sly smirk from the other side of the circle, making him flinch slightly in nervousness; almost as if she had been reading his mind all along. The man dressed in red nearly sighed in defeat under her amused stare.

Good grief. He was really tired of dealing with troublesome Lancers.

Lord El-Melloi II coughed loudly, grabbing everyone's attention before the moment of peace could be broken again. "Now that this is settled… I believe it is time for us to begin our discussion," he began to say, looking at each and every one of them in the eyes. "I haven't called you guys here to foment discord or create a new dispute. On the contrary, as we've thoroughly discussed before, I have proposed this unusual alliance because our task at hand is quite troublesome. And an extremely hard one at that, too."

Artoria and Bazett turned to the man after hearing that, followed by their Servants. "You mean the Dismantlement of the Greater Grail?" the heir of the Fraga lineage demanded, narrowing her eyes as she recalled his words from the previous night.

The Lord of the Clock Tower nodded. "Correct. That is why we must set aside out previous hostility, Bazett. The legacy of the Holy Grail War has shaped our world for long enough. Whether the Grail is really corrupted or not, this Ritual has brought nothing but death in the past, without achieving completion even once in over two hundred years… and that much is undeniable. As such, it must be stopped for good, or it will only bring forth more death and destruction. If we want to succeed in this arduous job, then we must work together. There is no other choice."

Next to him, Rider agreed to his reasoning with a solemn nod of the head.

Lancer and Bazett seemed to ponder Waver's words for a while. "I failed to ask this yesterday, but what makes you think the Grail is corrupted?" the woman with magenta hair demanded, staring straight into Waver's eyes.

Heavy eyelids closed as Lord El-Melloi II crossed his arms.

"That is a question I would like to answer once our final guest joins us," was his resolute but cryptic reply.

Everyone tensed slightly at his words. Artoria and Bazett widened their eyes.

"Final guest?" Archer repeated, doing his very best to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. Since both Artoria and Bazett were already here, and since no one knew the identity of Berserker's Master, the likeliest other person he could possibly imagine Lord El-Melloi II inviting to such a meeting was…

"Hoh? It seems everyone is already here."

A familiar and nostalgic voice suddenly echoed from the side. Upon hearing that, everyone stiffened and turned towards the door leading to the rooftop on the right, staring at the newest arrival with narrowed eyes and a tense silence. Especially Artoria, whose hands instinctively moved towards the hilt of her sword.

But among those present, unbeknownst to everyone, Emiya closed his eyes, clenched his fists and gritted his teeth slightly in order to stop himself from reacting in any noticeable way.

He really should have seen this coming.

Just like he had feared, Rin Tohsaka stepped on the rooftop of the shopping center with a solemn step, followed closely by her Servant – King Arthur Pendragon himself. They were heralded by the clanking of Saber's armor and the prickling at the back of their necks from raw mana output as King of Knights made his way through the roof, escorting his young Master in stoic silence.

And as soon as those two moved close to the group seated in circle, the air grew tense and heavy once again.

Rin stared at all the Masters and Servants with an unreadable face. "So you really had the audacity to invite me to such a meeting," the girl with raven hair mused, serious, staring at Waver Velvet with a piercing gaze. A small piece of paper was grasped in her right hand, similar to the one Artoria had received as well. "When your familiar delivered this letter to my house, I thought it was a trap… but that isn't really your style, is it, Lord El-Melloi II?"

The sheer amount of sarcasm and distaste in her voice was just too obvious to miss.

Much to his credit, Waver didn't seem fazed but the girl's blatant disrespect. On the contrary, his lips parted into a knowing smile in spite of everything. "I'm glad to see you've decided to join us, Miss Tohsaka. Such courage is indeed impressive for your age. Not everyone would comply with an enemy Master's request," he replied back with ease, unfazed.

The young heir of the Tohsaka line didn't react to the praise. She merely moved a strand of raven hair from her shoulder with a casual movement.

"It is a known fact that fighting during the day is disadvantageous for both Masters and Servants," she stated, her aqua orbs scanning through each and every one of them with a cold intensity. Her eyes openly narrowed slightly when her gaze landed on Artoria's face, making the younger girl tense in nervousness. "And I know the Lords of the Clock Tower well enough to say that you wouldn't have called out to me if it wasn't important. The fact that you've invited me to this meeting proves that you're either more desperate than you seem, or a complete fool. I just came to satisfy my curiosity."

Waver took the not-so-subtle jab like a champion. This time, however, he couldn't quite stop the twitching of his brow. "I see… I appreciate the honesty," he replied through gritted teeth.

Rider and many others of the group sweat-dropped at the Lord's attempt to restrain his annoyance.

On their part, instead, Archer and Artoria could not tear their eyes from Saber, watching in silent wariness while the King of Knights and his Master took a seat on the floor to their right, looking both confident and resolute as they did so. They knew it was unwise to stare at their enemies directly, but they just couldn't help it. Emiya was extremely wary of Saber due to his past duel with him, and also because… well, because he was a male version of the King of Knights, who was supposed to be a woman. This fact alone was more than enough reason for him to be wary of him. Artoria, on the other hand, couldn't help but stare at the Servant since she was a Pendragon herself, and she still didn't know how to grasp the fact that she was standing right next to the founder of her own lineage. Everyone would have done the same, in her shoes.

But all of that didn't matter right now. As soon as they took a seat next to them, the Servant of the Saber class glanced in Emiya's direction, and his emerald eyes narrowed on him while Archer remained completely stoic, doing his best to ignore that piercing gaze thanks to his countless experiences. The two Servants stared at each other, cold and emotionless, but said nothing… and that was enough for them.

Rin, on the other hand, didn't seem willing to drop the formalities. As expected of her.

"So we meet again, Master of Archer," the girl spoke, offering a polite smile in Artoria's direction. Although the expression on her face seemed relaxed and polite, Emiya knew Rin well enough to realize that the smile on her lips was far from polite right now. It was the exact same smile she had often showed to him during his previous Wars, the one she would always wear when she was plotting something –– something bad, most of the times. "What an unexpected surprise, don't you agree?"

Poor Artoria looked extremely uncomfortable under Rin's stare. Her trained instinct was alerting her despite being nothing but a fifteen-years-old girl. "…indeed," was all she managed to say, trying to compose herself under Archer's reassuring gaze. "I must admit this is quite unexpected."

Emiya had had enough. He turned to Waver with narrowed eyes, his expression clearly showing his disapproval about the current situation. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, going straight to the point.

Waver didn't seem fazed by his reaction. "What?" he shrugged. "Miss Tohsaka, too, is a participant of the conflict. She has the right to know our goal."

"That's not what you said last night," he countered, deadly serious. "You said we needed to discuss, but you never mentioned inviting an enemy to our meetings."

"Enemies can become allies under the right circumstances," Lancer interjected at that point from the other side of the circle, grabbing his attention. The woman with purple hair shot him a sly smirk, placing a hand under her chin with an elegant gesture. "Isn't that right, Archer?" she asked with sarcasm, clearly amused.

Emiya fixed the spear-woman with a narrowed stare.

Rin turned her attention to Bazett. "You must be one of the Lord's acquaintances," she spoke to the older woman after an initial moment of tension, breaking the ice with a serious, but polite, tone. "My name is Rin, heir of the Tohsaka family and Master of the Servant of the Saber class. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier."

She shook her head. "It's fine, Waver already told me about you two," she acknowledged, eyeing both the girl and her Servant warily. "I am Bazett Fraga McRemitz, Lancer's Master. I hope we can get along… at least for the duration of this meeting."

"But of course," she agreed, albeit ironically.

While their Masters exchanged a formal greeting for the first time, Lancer and Saber stared at each other as well, both of them studying the other with the eyes and a narrowed frown. But apart from that, they said nothing, nor reacted in any noticeable way. And so, once everyone was finally done with their greetings and introductions, silence returned to reign amid the group of Masters and Servants for a long while.

That is, until Rider couldn't contain himself anymore.

"Come on, guys! What's with this tension?" he exclaimed out of the blue, looking around with confusion and a bored expression. "We're here to talk peacefully, aren't we? Why are you all glaring as if you're about to jump at each other's throat?"

Flat stares and cold shoulders was all he received in answer. The King of Franks flinched a little with a chagrined smile under the oppressive stares of the others.

"Ooook… this is awkward," he whispered to Archer, looking genuinely confused about the tense mood in the air.

Emiya nearly donned a hand over his face in exasperation.

Rin decided to get straight to the point, as always. "I must say, though, this situation seems to be quite unfavorable for me," she spoke, shooting a glance to all of those seated around her. "All of you already know about me and my Saber's identity, and although I'm aware of your names now―" he pointedly pointed at Artoria, Waver and Bazett. "―I still know nothing about your Servants. That's rather unfair, is it not? Especially if you wish to discuss with me in a peaceful manner, as you've mentioned in your letter."

Emiya, Scathach and their respective Masters fought back a rude smirk from their faces while Rin and Saber scowled in visible annoyance. Good. Tohsaka was competitive and stubborn by nature, no doubt, but at least she was aware of her place now. They were the ones who held the advantage in the current situation, and it had been only due to her own mistakes during her battle against Artoria – and also due to Emiya's cunning, to be fair – that Rin had fallen in an unfavorable position right now. This meant that she knew she couldn't act too brashly from this day on, since not one, not two, but three Servants were aware of Saber's strength and True Name. The King of Knights was an extremely powerful Servant, perhaps the strongest one amid the Saber class, but even he would surely have a hard time in a battle against three Servants combined.

In other words, it was Artoria and her allies that had the upper hand for now, and both Rin and Saber were aware of it. That was the true reason they'd decided to come to this meeting: because they didn't have a choice. They only thing they could have done was either come to the meeting and risk everything at their own expense – like they'd wisely chosen to do, given their current presence here – or choose to ignore the invitation written on the letter and face all the three of them in battle at a later moment.

This fact alone had brought a huge advantage for their faction. That much was undeniable, and Archer was finally starting to realize it now.

I'm sorry, Rin, but it seems you'll have to compromise now, he thought to himself with a sad smile.

Emiya struggled to keep his expression neutral at this point. Indeed, he had to give credit to Lord El-Melloi II now. That man had sent the letter to Rin knowing all of that. He had already foreseen this situation, and he'd promptly decided to act to the best of their interest ever since Bazett had agreed to join their cause. That man was clearly smarter than he looked.

"It feels so odd," Artoria's words echoed inside his mind all of a sudden, rousing the red Archer from his musing. The girl was speaking to him through their bond, and when Emiya turned to her slightly, he found himself captivated by her face morphed into a pensive expression. "This Tohsaka girl was always so confident during our battle, but now she seems more reticent. I can hardly understand her reasoning from coming here."

Heroic Spirit Emiya almost smiled at his Master's childish innocence. This girl really was different from the cold and emotionless King Arthur he knew. Seeing how innocent and naive she was – how human she was – compared to her alternate self or the Saber seated next them, it felt oddly reassuring for him. And despite these opposite differences, he soon realized that he much preferred seeing Artoria like this, uncorrupted and innocent, rather than the cold and rational one who had fought countless battles only to end up corrupted by her own pain and regrets.

However, no matter what he preferred, this was a War. And since one could never be truly "human" in a War, he decided to grasp this opportunity to teach his Master a bit about how things worked in the current situation. It was better to be safe than sorry, after all.

"It's not that hard to understand, Master," he explained curtly, albeit patiently. "Last night, that girl tipped her hand, while failing to defeat us in combat. By doing so, not only she has revealed her Servant's True Name to us, but also his overall strength and weakness, along with his Noble Phantasm. This fact alone has put them at disadvantage, because not only us, but also the Lord and Lancer's Master have gained a general grasp of Saber's stats and abilities now."

Artoria pondered his words for a moment. "So you're saying that they're treading on thin ice now?"

"Yes. Things are going to become harder for Saber and his Master from now on."

"And all of that happened because you were able to guess Saber's name!" Artoria realized, pride and excitement dripping from her voice. "I knew it! You really are the best, Archer!"

Warmth dwelled in his chest upon hearing the girl's praise, but Emiya dismissed it immediately. "Don't be too confident, Master; our advantage is only temporary," he said to her with a serious tone. "Having the upper hand doesn't mean that success is guaranteed, and the tide could change at every moment during a war. One can never be too careful."

Artoria knew he meant those words in full, but the way he had stubbornly tried to devalue his small success in order to make her wary of the dangers was still too endearing to her. No matter how gruff and distant he tried to appear, her Servant was really childish sometimes. His behavior was simply too contradictory not to notice.

Before she could fully realize it, her lips parted into a smile even in spite of herself.

Unfortunately, though, their enemy did not fail to notice her odd reaction. And they didn't like it.

"Oh my, did I say something funny?" Rin asked to the blonde girl with a sweet tone and a smile of her own. One that was anything but reassuring.

The heir of the Pendragon line tensed and kept quiet, pursing her lips immediately under the older girl's glare.

Seeing that scene, Archer did not waste time. He swiftly moved closer to his Master, tense and protective like a hawk ready to attack its prey, sending a stern glare to Rin and Saber with his steel-grey eyes while his fingers twitched slightly in a warning gesture. The silent threat was clear, and both the girl and her Servant didn't fail to realize it, since they openly tensed a bit under his warning look.

Of course, as it was due, Waver Velvet decided to take action before things could escalate. "You will forgive us, Miss Tohsaka, but the current situation is the result of your own choices," he readily intervened with a placid tone. "You were aware of my intentions from the beginning, and yet you decided to attack my allies all the same. Now you must face the consequences, whether you like it or not."

Rider nodded with a cheerful face next to him. "That's right! Besides, if you really want to know our True Names, I can share mine with no problem!" he declared without hesitation, light-hearted and carefree as ever.

Everyone widened their eyes upon hearing that. Literally everyone.

Don't you dare! was everyone's unanimous thought (except for Rin and Saber, of course).

"No, Rider!" Lord El-Melloi II denied sternly, fixing the King of Franks with a serious stare. "You will do no such thing."

The young King pouted. "Oh come on, Master… it's not a big deal," he tried to deflect, waving off his concern with a smile. "Knowing my name won't make a difference in the current situation. Besides, we could offer this gesture to them as a token of trust. An incentive, in order to encourage them to listen and ponder about our cause. We can't ask for an alliance without offering something first, and since you are the one who suggested this whole meeting in the first place, it is only right that I, your cool and faithful Servant, reveal myself as a token of goodwill. Don't you agree?"

That… actually made sense. Waver and his allies seemed to pause while they pondered Rider's words for a while.

It's not like knowing that will make things easier for them, Waver mused to himself, donning a hand over his temple. Besides, he would have done the same as well, regardless of my approval or not. There is no doubt about it.

After a long while of pondering, in the end, the Lord of the Clock Tower decided to appease him. He shared a nod with both Bazett and Artoria, before exhaling a long, weary sigh.

"Fine. You can introduce yourself, Rider," he relented in defeat.

The armored Knight grinned in exuberant satisfaction. His blue eyes shone with proudness as he patted his chest in a theatrical movement while he turned his focus back to Rin and Saber. "Well then! In that case, here I go: my True Name is Charlemagne, the class is Rider! I have a more major name, but I'd like you to leave that aside… anyway! It is a pleasure to meet you under better circumstances, King of Knights. I hope we can get along!"

Rin mulled over the information with a narrowed gaze, looking understandably stunned by the fact that Charlemagne – also known as Charles the Great, the renowned founder of Western Europe – appeared to be nothing more than a teenager like her. Next to the girl, Saber did the same with a serious frown.

"Charlemagne, huh?" the King of Knights mused out loud, speaking for the first time ever since he had joined the discussion. "I see… the Holy Roman Emperor. It was said that he was a particularly frivolous –– excuse me, I mean friendly King. I guess those rumors were right, after all," he spoke with a soft tone, studying the fellow monarch with an emotionless gaze.

For once, everyone agreed with him. In full.

On his part, however, Charlemagne shrugged off the jab with a laugh, scratching his neck in a sheepish way.

"Hahaha! Yeah, I guess the King of Britain would call me that. And here I thought I was frank!" he said, stressing on the last word with a strange emphasis.

…

Sheer silence descended after that statement. No one moved for a few seconds.

…

King Arthur seemed taken aback for a moment. Then, it finally dawned upon him.

"…Ah, I see. It's a pun on the kingdom of the Franks and the meaning of the word 'frank'," he realized after an initial moment of confusion, his serious and calm voice unchanged from the beginning.

…

Another moment of silence, which stretched for an eternity of awkwardness.

…

Archer massaged his temples, doing his best to ignore the feeling of cringe with a sigh. Next to him, Artoria's face had become a mask torn between pity and chagrin after hearing that lame joke, while Bazett and Rin were covering their respective sneer with one hand. Heck, even Lord El-Melloi II was blushing in shame right now, while Scathach's only reaction was a disappointed shake of the head.

The cringe. The cringe was too much to bear.

Even Rider was covering his face with his hands. The embarrassment oozing off his frame was almost too pitiful to witness. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" he cried in shame. "Now that I hear you explain my joke, it sounds horrible!"

Saber remained unfazed as before. "You shouldn't use your own people's name for such jokes, Rider," he scolded him with a stern tone, completely unimpressed by the embarrassment that was drenching the air.

Charlemagne pouted and sulked, lowering his head in shame with a whimper.

Luckily for the others, Rin decided to cut to the chase right away.

"Enough with the nonsense. What is this meeting about?" she demanded amid the silence, going straight to the point, just like Archer knew she would. He knew better than anyone here how impatient and direct his previous Master was. "I presume all of this has to do with this alleged 'alliance' of yours, right?"

Lord El-Melloi II returned serious as soon as everyone's eyes fell on him.

"That is correct," he acknowledged without missing a beat, taking a cigar out of his pocket and lighting it swiftly. "As you've surely guessed at this point, the three of us have formed an alliance and a momentary truce, since we share the same goal. And since our goal is not easy to reach, I have opted to put aside our previous animosity for a moment and invited you here to discuss our mission with you as well, Miss Tohsaka."

The girl shared a glance with Saber. She narrowed her aqua eyes. "You mean the Dismantlement of the Greater Grail," she sneered in a dismissive tone. It was more a statement than a question. "I thought I've been abundantly clear yesterday. The disbandment of the Holy Grail Ritual was decided by the Lords of the Clock Tower, but I – as the sole heir of my family and only rightful protector of this land – have never agreed to it; nor did the other two Founding Families either. Thus: there is nothing to discuss."

Many amid the group frowned upon hearing those haughty words, but not Archer. He knew better than anyone how resolute and competitive Rin was, and despite the obvious differences this version of her had compared to the girl he had met in the past, it appeared that this trait of hers had remained unchanged even in this peculiar timeline. In fact, even though his previous Master had diligently strived to act calm and composed on the outside in order to earn the admiration of her peers and divert the attention from her private life, in reality she was secretly stingy, tomboyish, and a perfectionist. And just like in the past, this highly-competitive trait of her personality was only accentuated when she faced a conflict. Therefore, Emiya knew this result was bound to happen. It was simply inevitable.

But he wasn't the only one who felt amused by the girl's behavior. On the contrary, Lancer seemed rather intrigued by the scene unfolding in front of them as well. The Scottish spear-woman was staring intently at Rin while her lips quirked upwards ever-so-slightly. "Hm? She's quite resolute for her age… I like her," she mused, feeling slightly amused by her behavior.

Saber shot her a warning glare, but Scathach ignored him. Rin, however, kept her eyes focused on Waver and the other Masters. "The Heaven's Feel is a Ritual established by the Tohsaka, the Matou and the Einzbern families in the 1800s," she kept saying, undeterred. "It is the greatest and most ancient Magi competition of the world; whose true purpose is to reach Akasha by coalescing the energy of the fallen Servants into an energy source powerful enough to burn a hole to the Root. As such, its fate and unfolding rely on the Three Founding Families' decision, not in that of the Mage's Association. The Clock Tower does not possess the right to decide its Dismantlement," she stated with utmost decision, stern and resolute.

"And yet the entirety of the Mage's Association has taken that decision. You can't just dismiss their judgment so easily, Miss Tohsaka," Lord El-Melloi II retorted, no less resolute than her.

Rin scoffed, narrowing her eyes. "And what about the Church, then?" she pressed, unconvinced. "Surely, since the Grail is considered a "Holy Relic", the Church would not remain silent on this matter."

Waver just shrugged. "The Holy Church is and will always be a neutral faction," he answered with ease, his voice laced with calm and reason. "And while I do admit that many Arbiters who were sent to Fuyuki City to oversee the previous Wars have often plotted to confiscate the Holy Grail at the first opportunity, I can assure you that this time, things will be different. Caren Hortensia is an acquaintance of mine, and she's made her intentions clear from the beginning."

"This still doesn't justify the Tower's decision. By dismantling the Greater Grail, you would deny us, and the whole Magi world, the most effective method to reach the Root," the young heir of the Tohsaka lineage objected, scowling in annoyance.

"You say that, but there has yet to be even one true winner who actually claimed the Grail in all four Wars," Lord El-Melloi II countered, impassive. "Besides, you know as well as I do that the Ritual is flawed. The Grail cannot reach full completion since only a Servant is able to touch it, and all of them must perish in order for it to achieve its true form."

Bazett, Waver and Artoria glared at Rin with a solemn nod, who remained unfazed despite being in numeral minority. At the same time, Archer, Lancer and Saber stared at each other in silence with unreadable faces.

Rider, instead, sweat-dropped with a shiver. "Huh… Master, you know it's not nice to speak of our required death in front of us, right?"

He ignored him. "Besides, there's another reason behind the Tower's decision," Waver continued, glancing at both Rin and Bazett as he took a drag from his cigar and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "In fact, there is a concrete likelihood that this Ritual has become even more dangerous than it already was."

Emiya and Artoria listened close. Rin and Saber narrowed their eyes. Lancer and Bazett looked intrigued as well.

"What do you mean?" the latter asked, moving a strand of her magenta hair.

The Lord steeled his expression, staring straight into the others' eyes. "Due to Angra Mainyu being summoned in the Third Holy Grail War, there's a chance that the Grail has become corrupted," he explained, looking and sounding as serious as he could ever be. "The Grail is supposed to be an Artifact created by an enormous amount of magical energy. A colorless, pure agglomeration of prana without will and form. However, since Angra Mainyu was trapped inside the wish-granting spiritual Grail during the Third War, the Artifact has become stained. It has become corrupted. It would impossible to restore it as it was, at this point."

Bazett looked baffled upon receiving the news. It took her a few moments to digest the info in full. "I did hear some strange rumors about the Ritual becoming weird… but I didn't imagine something like this," she whispered, shooting a lost glance in Lancer's direction. Her beautiful Servant just shook her head, unable to confirm or deny that hypothesis just like her Master. Emiya did not fault them one bit.

On her part, however, Rin looked completely unconvinced.

"That is just a speculation," she stated matter-of-factly, unimpressed. "We have no way to know if that really happened. The way I see it, you're just trying to justify your case without any concrete evidence, Lord El-Melloi."

The black-haired Magus narrowed his eyes. "Are you telling me that you would be willing to disregard this possibility just because of your family's role in the foundation of the Ritual?"

Rin scoffed, crossing her arms. "If you're so sure of what you say, show me proof. There is no evidence that proves that the Grail is truly corrupted as you claim. The Fourth Holy Grail War was concluded without problems, and there is no recollection of any major incidents or unexpected events. It ended just like the previous ones, and we all know it," she kept arguing, unwilling to relent.

That was the moment where Artoria decided to intervene. "That is not correct," she interjected, speaking up with all the resolve and decision that were expected of a member of the Pendragon family. "And we do have some evidence. The day we went to register as participants of the conflict, me and Archer questioned the priestess of Fuyuki Church about the unfolding of the previous War. She said that the man who managed to win the conflict died upon making contact with the Grail… and I hardly believe that was supposed to happen."

For a few seconds, Rin seemed taken aback by the news, almost as if she hadn't expected Artoria to talk until now.

But the detail that really caught everyone's eye was the way in which Saber – the proud and stoic King known as Arthur Pendragon – frowned and lowered his eyes abruptly upon hearing those words.

Emiya knew that face. He had seen it countless times in his previous experiences.

"Saber."

The King of Knights tensed. His head rose, and the blond Servant turned to meet Archer's unreadable stare with a narrowed one of his own.

"You were summoned back then as well, were you not?" Emiya demanded, stoic and direct as always. "We know you still possess your previous memories. If there's something that you know, this would be the moment to speak."

The male King of Knights frowned, glaring at the tanned Archer with a cold intensity.

Waver Velvet nodded as well. "Archer is right. Saber and I have met in the past, ten years ago. And he clearly remembered my face during our previous encounter last night, so there's no point in denying it," he pressed, quickly grabbing everyone's interest on the matter with those words. "Back then, me and my Rider were defeated before the War could properly reach its conclusion, but you… you must have seen the end of it, Saber. You know what happened that night. I know you do."

And this is precisely why I've decided to call Tohsaka to this meeting, he mused to himself.

King Arthur's face remained stoic and cold in spite of the others' suspicious gaze. Next to him, Rin was starting to grow tense.

"Answer us," Waver pressed, turning to Rin's Servant with a serious face.

No answer came from the male King of Britain.

Emiya would not allow him to remain quiet. "The man who won the previous War… his name was Kiritsugu Emiya," he spoke with an emotionless voice, still trying to use his own knowledge to their advantage. "He was your Master, am I right?"

Saber's head snapped in his direction. Emerald eyes widened as his lips parted. "…how do you know that?" he demanded, incredulous.

Archer did not care of his disbelief. Nor he would say that he knew the fact because that man was his adoptive father, and the very same person who had steered him towards his ruinous, accursed path. All that mattered to him was getting answers, and he could not relent until he would get some.

"If that man died upon making contact with the Grail, you must have been aware of it. You were there, after all," he kept pressing, deadly serious. "Tell us what you know. You can no longer deny the importance of this matter."

Saber remained silent for a long, long while after hearing his request. But in the end, seeing that all the Masters and Servants gathered around him were glaring at his face with an inquisitive expression, he swallowed his own pride and decided to relent. There was no point in trying to keep the truth hidden anymore. It was already too late for that, and Archer had made it abundantly clear.

With an imperceptible sigh, the King revealed the truth to the others. "…I will not deny it. Kiritsugu Emiya was my Master from the previous Holy Grail War," he admitted with a serious frown, sparing an apologetic glance towards Rin who merely closed her eyes. Apparently, she was already aware of that, and Emiya did not fail to realize it. Arthur must have told her about it, he summarized. "The two of us survived until the end of the conflict, and the Grail nearly fell into our hands that day."

Everyone widened their eyes as they listened to Saber's recalling of those events. Among them, Emiya narrowed his gaze, forcing his face into an unreadable expression in order not to let anything slip away. He could even feel Artoria's rapt interest thanks to their bond, and he didn't need to turn towards her to know that the girl was staring at her ancestor with all the attention in the world.

But the King of Knights did not notice the piercing gazes glued on his frame. He was too busy clenching one of his armored hands, glaring at his fist with a distasteful glare. "However, in the end, Kiritsugu betrayed me. As soon as we defeated the last remaining Servant, that man turned his back on me. We never really went along during the conflict, but in that fateful night, everything collapsed completely. He rejected my reasoning, my loyalty, and at the very end, just as we stood in front of our final prize… he denied me of my wish, and ordered me to commit suicide."

Sheer silence greeted his revelation. For what seemed to be an eternity, no one knew what to say.

Rider and Bazett were fidgeting. Waver and Lancer were pondering. Artoria was staring, and even Rin was listening with rapt attention in spite of her composed expression.

But Emiya… Emiya was panicking.

Because the tale he was hearing was different from the one he had experienced. This world, this War, this reality… it was all too different from what he had seen in his previous timelines. Too different to be accepted. In this world, there was no fire, no mud, no bloodshed. There was no Shirou Emiya. Instead, all of that had been avoided somehow, because that night, Kiritsugu Emiya hadn't ordered the destruction of the Grail… but the death of King Arthur in its stead.

All those deaths, all that destruction: avoided. Even his very own existence: erased. All of that did not exist here, just because of his father's different order to Saber.

This had no sense. It didn't make any sense.

Why would Kiritsugu give that order? Why would he wish for something like this? Emiya mused, unable to understand.

And more importantly… what happened to the corrupted Grail?

Unfortunately for him, those questions would remain unanswered.

"Suicide?" Lancer repeated, shooting a narrowed stare to the King of Knights.

The male version of King Arthur nodded in barely restrained rage. The sheer amount of indignation oozing off from his frame was simply impossible to contain. "I was ordered by him to kill myself. He used his last Command Seal to force me to commit suicide, just as we were about to reach the Grail and make our wish," he explained, closing his eyes in distaste and bitterness. "I must confess; I have never cursed the existence of Command Seals nor anyone who had betrayed me as much as I did that day."

Upon hearing that, Waver Velvet glanced at Rin with an inquisitive face. "You already knew this, didn't you?" he asked. He hadn't missed the way the girl had remained calm and poised through all that confession.

She nodded. "Saber already told me his previous experience in the Fourth Holy Grail War. And just like I said, this doesn't prove anything."

Rider fixed the fellow King with a raised brow. "So... in the end, you don't know what happened to your Master, after all?"

Saber shook his head. "I do not. I was forced to kill myself before I could even understand what was happening. And without an anchor to sustain themselves, Servants cannot remain in this world," he admitted. "I was unable to reach the Grail, nor to question Kiritsugu, who betrayed me. My memories end there."

"And this means that we don't have a true witness to the scene," Lord El-Melloi II sighed, donning a hand over his temple. "Damn it. This is not what I was expecting to hear."

Indeed, Emiya could relate to him. Just like in the Lord's case, this outcome was clearly not the one he had hoped for. According to his words, Saber had been forced to commit suicide back then – for whatever damned reason – and thus, he hadn't been able to see what happened to Kiritsugu when he touched the Grail. And because of that, there was no way for them to confirm or deny its alleged corruption. The only clue they had was Kiritsugu's very own death at the end of the War, and nothing more. There were no other witnesses, no other clues; nothing.

In other words, they were back to square one.

Again.

Emiya exhaled a sigh, following the Lord's example.

"B-But that man died upon touching the Grail!" Artoria tried to protest, unable to accept that outcome. "The priestess confirmed it, so there's no way it can't be true! This has to mean something!"

Rin turned towards her with a cold face. "This fact alone doesn't prove anything. The death of a single individual is not enough to make me believe in the supposed corruption of the Grail," she retorted, stern and resolute.

Even Bazett couldn't help but agree despite her doubts. "I hate to admit it… but she's right," she said, turning her head to stare at the Lord. "The death of this so-called Kiritsugu Emiya does not prove anything. For all we know, that man could have died for any reason. Perhaps he was killed by someone soon after reaching the Grail; or maybe even before that. We have no way of knowing if his demise was caused by the Ritual or not."

"Besides, if what Saber said is true, that man wouldn't have been able to make contact with the Grail in the first place," Lancer added at that point, crossing her arms in an unimpressed way. Her crimson orbs were fixed on Emiya's scowling face, her eyes studying his reaction with close attention. "Only a Servant can touch the Grail, not a human. Since all seven died at the end of the Fourth War, nobody could have achieved victory and made their wish. The Grail would have simply disappeared in that case."

Rin smirked, wide and confident.

"My point exactly!" she agreed, raising her chin under the Lord's annoyed gaze. "The Fourth Holy Grail War ended without a true victor. Therefore: your theory has no foundation. The Mage's Association has no way to prove the Grail's corruption, and we all know it. That hypothesis is baseless."

Sad as it was, she was right. There was no way for them to be sure of their previous conviction, and it was undeniable. Whether they liked or not, they all had to accept it.

Oddly enough, though, this fact did not feel too surprising for Emiya; not even one bit. It was unexpected, yes, but not mind-blowing… for he had kept his expectations low from the beginning. And besides, he had always been aware of his previous Master's ability to turn the tables in her favor in some way or another. In fact, if he had to be honest, Archer was ready to bet that that troublesome girl had come to this meeting already knowing all of this, and it was precisely for this reason that she had always looked so confident and unshakable so far. Though outnumbered at the moment, she knew extremely well that this alliance of theirs was not going to last unless Lord El-Melloi II managed to prove his cause. This outcome had been in her plans all along.

Not for the first time, Rin Tohsaka was proving herself to be smarter and more prepared than she looked at a first glance.

However, there was one thing that the Rin of this world hadn't taken into account.

That is: if there was one thing Heroic Spirit Emiya truly excelled at, that was making things more difficult for her.

It was time to take action once more.

"So in the end, it all comes down to us," Archer spoke with a slightly amused tone, closing his eyes and laying his arm across the knee. He nearly snorted in derision as everyone shifted their focus on him, shaking his head in a disappointed gesture. "Good grief, what a mess. I knew this was bound to happen sooner or later."

Many eyes narrowed on him as he spat those words, including those of Saber and his Master.

Artoria fixed him with a questioning stare. "Us? What do you mean, Archer?" she asked him, confused by his words.

He opened one eye, his lips curving into a smirk. "What I meant is that the only thing left for us to do is to question our own motives. Our personal resolve and drive to fight in the War," he explained, not even bothering to hide his amusement. "Why do we fight? What is the reason that forces us to participate in the conflict? Why do we need the Grail? In the end, that's all that matters. Since we are unable to prove the truth behind this conflict, the only thing we can do is to question our resolve. Our own personal reason to fight in the Holy Grail War."

Everyone tensed upon hearing that, both Servants and Masters indiscriminately. No one failed to realize the meaning behind the words spoken by Archer, for they all knew extremely well what he was implying, deep down.

Now that there was no way for them to know whether the Grail was truly corrupter or not – and, consequently, if this battle was worth fighting or not – the only logical and rational thing to do was to lay bare their truth in front of the enemy. To put aside all pretexts and masks and admit the true reason behind their fight, behind their cause; in order for them to see if it was really necessary to fight. To discover once and for all if this accursed Holy Grail War was worth the effort or not. In the end, despite of what many would have said, everything would always come down to this, no matter what kind of excuses they could come up with to cover this fact.

So, it was time to put aside all excuses, all pretexts, all preconceptions… and simply admit the truth once and for all: why did this War have to be fought?

No matter the world, the timeline, the differences… this one question would always remain the same no matter what.

At the end of the day, that was what really mattered, right?

Just as expected, Rin immediately opted for the most logical – the most rational – answer. "Hah, what a useless excuse. You're just trying to stall for time, Archer," the girl with raven hair snorted, not even bothering to hide her sarcastic smile. "We fight because all of us have a wish we want to see fulfilled. Even Servants are no exception."

Heroic Spirit Emiya smirked. Just as he had foreseen, this Rin was different from the one he knew. He knew that girl too well not to notice the difference.

Because that was not the answer his previous Master would have given.

"I hate to break it to you, young lady, but you're wrong," he retorted with obvious sarcasm, ignoring the girl's indignant glare. "To immediately assume a Servant would fight just to fulfill a personal whim is foolish, and childish. And here I thought you were smarter than that."

Her reaction was immediate, and exactly the one he was expecting from her.

Rin's eyes widened in silent incredulousness, her eyebrows shooting up as her face and cheeks flared in warning. "W-What did you just say?!" she hissed, offended. She sounded incredulous, to be honest.

Archer's smirk disappeared, replaced by a serious scowl. He teared his eyes away from the girl, and instead turned to stare at Saber's glaring expression with an unreadable face. "I already said this yesterday, but I have no wish for the Grail. That malevolent wish-granting cup doesn't interest me at all," he spoke, looking and sounding both casual and resolute with that statement. "So, as you can see, that assumption is wrong."

"As if! Just because you're weird it doesn't mean everyone is the same as you!" Rin spat back heatedly. Her aqua eyes glanced around all those gathered around them, waving a hand with a haughty movement. "My Saber told me he has a wish he must fulfill, and I'm ready to bet that you guys have one too."

Emiya's smirk returned. "Oh? Is that so?" he raised an inquisitive eyebrow, and Rin struggled to remain calm under the tanned man's gaze. His face didn't show the faintest hint of worry, despite her tone. In fact, the only emotion she could find was amusement, like an adult dealing with a child.

Argh, curse that Archer! He was really getting on her nerves!

The girl with raven hair was about to answer him in kind, when suddenly… someone spoke before she could.

"I believe Archer is right. I don't have a wish for the Grail either," Waver Velvet declared, fixing the heir of the Tohsaka line with a knowing expression. Rin looked downright baffled by his declaration. "What I want is to fulfill the task the Clock Tower has assigned to me, and then leave this accursed place at once. The wish-granting power of the Grail doesn't interest me anymore."

Charlemagne snickered next to him. "Yep! Me neither!" he exclaimed, raising a hand like a child who had no worries in the world.

Rin narrowed her eyes upon being faced by their declaration, and turned her face towards Bazett and her Servant. The two women just shrugged off her stare like nothing.

"While I do admit to have a wish I would like to see fulfilled, I'm not foolish enough to rely on the Grail alone. Especially during these… ambiguous circumstances," Bazett stated matter-of-factly. Her magenta eyes glanced in Waver's direction as she exhaled a sigh. "Regardless of that, I have lost my duel with Lord El-Melloi II, and he's promised me to aid me in my quest. So, I will prove myself in another way, without relying on the Grail. That is what I've decided," she stated resolutely, nodding her head.

"And what about you, Lancer?" Saber spoke in his Master's stead. The royal King of Knights stared at Scathach with a narrowed frown, studying her cold and beautiful face with a deep intensity. "Are you going to say that you don't have a reason to fight as well?"

The Queen of the Land of Shadows remained completely unfazed by his question, not even a flicker of emotion crossing her elegant features.

In the end, however, she closed her eyes and idly played with her hair. "I have several reasons to fight… but the Grail is not one of them," she stated with an emotionless tone.

Then, the woman opened her eyes suddenly, fixing the red Archer on the other side of the circle with a long, deep stare. "Besides, I believe I've found another way to fulfill my wish. One that is much more fun and intriguing, at that," she stated in a cryptic tone, staring at Emiya with a veiled smile. The man didn't back down from her stare, but the cold intensity of her gaze, coupled with the shiver running down his spine, was making him extremely uncomfortable. "I will have my wish fulfilled, regardless of the unfolding of this War. That much I can assure you."

To Emiya, the silent message was clear: he was in deep shit right now.

Archer narrowed his eyes, doing his best to resist the urge to sigh. The fact that Artoria was frantically glancing between him and Lancer with a massive scowl on her face was not helping his nerves either.

Yep, it was official. He was definitely not going to enjoy this War. Warranted, he supposed.

However, now it was not the time for this. Right now, Emiya had another matter to deal with, one that included an alternate version of his previous Master and a male version of the King of Knights; and as such, he couldn't afford to waste precious time at the moment. He had to strike while the iron was hot.

Thus, he dismissed Lancer's words and pressed his advantage right away.

"So, as you can see, among all of us present here, only your Saber is aiming for the Grail," he stated evenly, returning his focus back on Rin and her Servant and crossing his arms with a solemn movement. "I already suspected as much during our previous encounter, but your current reaction is making it even more clear. Saber there is the one who fights because he needs the Grail. I could even sense his desperation during our battle. There is no point in denying it."

King Arthur narrowed his eyes, clenching his hands into fists. Next to him, Rin was openly bristling in anger, unable to accept such an inconsequential reason to avoid the conflict.

However, much to Emiya's surprise, Saber recollected himself quickly, and eyed the tanned Archer with an analytical gaze for a few seconds. "I was right about you, Archer," he spoke with his elegant, soft tone of voice. "You are a cunning sort, and quite capable in both swordsmanship and words. The way you manage to turn things in your favor is quite admirable… albeit deeply irritating."

Emiya remained silent; his expression didn't change in the slightest.

The blond Servant was not willing to relent, however. "Do you really wish to destroy the Grail rather than win it fairly and make a wish? Does this chance mean nothing to you?" he pressed, narrowing his eyes.

Just like the previous times, Archer didn't back away from the challenge. There was simply no way he could ignore a question coming from the King of Knights himself. Whether it was Arthur, or Artoria, or any other different form those two could possess, their respect and words still meant much for him. That girl's image was still engraved in his soul even after all this time, after all. This fact alone was making it impossible for him to dismiss that question. To ignore this Servant was simply out of the question.

This time, however, his answer came after a few seconds of pondering. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Saber. I have no interest in the Grail. And even if I had a wish to fulfill, I don't trust a wish-granting cup filled with malice to do the job for me. That much remains unchanged," he replied, his lips curling up mysteriously.

King Arthur did not relent. "And what about your Master, then?" he pressed, turning his gaze towards Artoria. The poor girl physically startled upon being addressed directly by her ancestor, her complexion paling in an almost noticeable way. "Let's say the Grail is not corrupted. What if your Master has a wish that can only be granted by the Grail? What will you do in that case?"

Archer tilted his head sideways, laying his arm across his knee. "I'm a practical man. I'll go where my chances are best, regardless of my Master's wish for the Grail," he spoke, deadly serious.

Through their bond, Archer could feel Artoria stiffen with sudden worry next to him. Even the others were staring at him intently right now, especially Lancer.

"But I'm afraid that, even if I did want to break free from my Master, I'm only a Servant. I have no way to counter Command Spells," he admitted soon after that, unfazed. "And I know my Master well enough to say that she would never let the Grail's corruption threaten the world, no matter what her wish is. She has my complete trust on this," he said, glancing at her and smirking with a light-hearted expression.

Artoria's face brightened immediately with a wide blush. Relief flooded her body like a tide.

Emiya turned his focus back on Saber's narrowed eyes. "So as you can see, Saber… unfortunately for you, those half-baked attempts won't work with me. I fight with my Master, for my Master; not for the Grail. Rider and Lancer here will do the same."

Charlemagne nodded with a grin. Scathach smirked amusedly.

Rin and Saber deepened their scowl.

Emiya's smirk returned. And it was as sly and teasing as ever before.

"It's six against two," he spoke, shifting his weight from his seated position with a casual movement. "Now what will it be, young lady?"

Rin fell silent under that straight provocation, just like her Servant. This whole thing was new to her. She had never heard or seen a Servant being so direct with her before; and even if she didn't show it on the outside, the current situation was making her feel uncomfortable. Not even Saber had been so direct and straightforward to her during the entirety of their current pact. But this Archer was addressing her so casually and yet so boldly, just like the last time… whoever he was, that guy really was a man of extremes. One instance formal and distant, and the next so casual and direct it made her feel foreign.

It was an odd combination. One that was irking her even now, for some reason.

But she had no time to recollect herself and form a reply. Someone beat her to the punch.

"Wait… don't tell me you're still chasing that misguided dream, Saber?"

The words of Lord El-Melloi II echoed in the air for what seemed to be an eternity, catching everyone by surprise. In the sky, the morning sun was growing higher, starting to become covered by the clouds above.

Everyone turned to Waver Velvet with a questioning stare, unable to understand what he was referring to.

Everyone… except for Saber and Archer.

"What?" Rin frowned, looking just as confused as the others. "What are you talking about?"

Lord El-Melloi II kept his eyes glued to Saber alone. The armored King of Knights met his gaze unflinchingly, his emerald orbs devoid of hesitation and feels.

"Ten years ago, during the Fourth Holy Grail War, my Rider confronted Saber about his wish for the Grail," the Lord of the Clock Tower explained, his voice stern and solemn as he took another drag from his nearly finished cigar. "They talked for a long time, and during that discussion, we learned that the King of Knights wished to erase his legend. He wanted to change the past, and erase all his efforts as the King of Britain in order to put someone else on the throne."

Sheer silence greeted that revelation. The entire group quieted and stilled.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Then, slowly, the others began to react, each in their own different way. Rider gaped in stunned shock, flabbergasted by such a mind-blowing news. Bazett did pretty much the same, widening her eyes nearly out of human proportions due to the disbelief. Even Scathach, the cold, inflexible Queen of the Land of the Dead couldn't help but narrow her crimson eyes with a frown, taken aback by the revelation. It wasn't that they cared much about Saber and his wish, but they just couldn't help it. After all, why would the renowned and proud King Arthur wish to erase his own legend and deeds? What reason could there be behind such a drastic goal? It didn't make any sense for them, no matter how long they thought about it.

Emiya, however, did not react like the rest of them. Not only he was already expecting this outcome – since he already knew all about Arthur, thanks to his own experience with Artoria Pendragon – but right now, his major source of concern was not the King of Knights. In fact, his grey eyes were not focused on Saber and his stoic expression, but they were currently narrowed on the face of his young and inexperienced Master.

Said Master who, much to his growing concern, had her whole expression frozen into a mask of cold disbelief, with her eyes shadowed by her golden bangs.

This wasn't good. This couldn't mean anything good, and he knew it.

"Master," he spoke to her through their mental bond. "What is it? Are you ok?"

No answer came from Artoria, although his voice managed to reach her all the same. Her silence was honestly unnerving.

Archer did not like it one bit. "Master, answer me. What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" he pressed, his voice carrying more emphasis than before.

Still no replay came from her. The girl with golden hair did not react to his worried thoughts. Instead, she lowered her head further, and her fists clenched on her lap with so much force that her arms were visibly shaking. Emiya felt his concern grow exponentially upon seeing that.

He was about to reach out and grab her shoulder, when the others finally began to react all around.

"Change the past?" Charlemagne repeated with no small amount of astonishment. His blue eyes were as wide as they could be as he stared at the fellow King in what could only be described as wariness. Even one as open and carefree as he was struggling to digest his Master's words. "What does that mean, Saber? Do you really want to erase your deeds as King?"

Arthur Pendragon remained quiet as ever, his stern expression unchanged. His silence spoke more than words ever could.

"W-What do you mean?" Rin whispered in barely contained shock. The girl with raven hair startled right in front of the entire group, rounding on her Servant with a face filled with surprise and stunned disbelief. "Saber… is it true? Is this really what you wish?" she demanded, unable to believe it.

Apparently, Saber hadn't told her about his wish. As expected.

Some things never change, it seemed.

Lancer exhaled a sigh, her beautiful face morphed into a frown. "My, my… who would have thought that the renowned King Arthur possessed such a conflicting desire?" she mused, more sarcastic than anything. She didn't really care about that man's wish at all, to be honest, but she just couldn't help herself. This news was simply too unexpected to dismiss it so easily.

But Emiya heard nothing of that. All his senses were focused on Artoria and her trembling frame. Her silence was worrying him more and more by the second. "Ohi, Master. Talk to me!" he kept trying to call out to her, in vain. All his efforts were for nothing.

No one seemed to notice her inner turmoil, however. The news they had just received was just too mind-blowing for them.

The Lord of the Clock Tower was still staring straight into Saber's eyes. The sternness in his expression clearly showed his thoughts on the matter. "It's true, isn't it? Your wish for the Grail is the same as back then," he inquired, going further and further with the questioning. "You still haven't managed to wake up from that sad dream of yours. Ten years are nothing but a useless notion for a Servant, and your soul has remained anchored to that wish… am I right?"

This time, Saber's eyes narrowed at his words. A small glare began to form itself on his features. "Are you going to criticize my wish like the King of Conquerors did that night?" he asked right back at him, deadly serious.

Waver shrugged, but his expression did not change. "I am not my King," he replied. "But I'm still free to have my own opinion about it."

"Your opinion is irrelevant. You know nothing about me, just like your King knew nothing about my rule," he affirmed, stoic and adamant about his conviction. The proud King of Chivalry met everyone's stares with a gaze of ice, daring each and every one of them to go against his cause. "There's no one who can judge me, nor my wish. All that man did that day was imposing his view of kingship on me, while berating my choices and rule without even knowing what he was talking about. But I guess it was my fault, after all. I shouldn't have expected anything else from a monarch who only fought for his own greed, and whose rule immediately collapsed upon his death. His whole kingdom was on the verge of rebellion many times, and it had no unity whatsoever. It was a mistake to even entertain such a discussion with him in the first place."

To his credit, Waver listened to Saber's accusations about his King without flinching in the slightest. After all, despite his undying loyalty and admiration towards the King of Conquerors, he knew that the enemy was right. Alexander the Great had been a great many things during his life, including a twisted and morally questionable monarch from start to finish. That much was unquestionable, and there was no way to deny that King Arthur had been a better ruler in every aspect compared to him. It was just too obvious to deny that fact.

But, alas, that was not the point of the discussion. Even back then, despite his brash and excessive words, Iskandar hadn't meant to criticize Saber's rule. That had never been his intent at all. And now, as Iskandar's faithful – and only – subject left on the world, he needed to do his best to make that point cross to the King of Knights, once again.

"I think you are mistaken about one thing, Saber," Lord El-Melloi II cut the blond King off, impassive. Saber stared at him with narrowed eyes as soon as he was interrupted, surprised by the way this man had changed so much compared to the frail and cowardly boy he had once been in the past. "Back then, what my King berated you for was not the way in which you ruled your country. He berated you for regretting your own decisions. Your own deeds. Your own legend. It appears that you still haven't figured this out, despite being summoned a second time."

King Arthur clenched his armored fist, glaring at the black-haired Lord with a cold intensity.

Next to him, Rin was still struggling to digest the news in full. "So it's true. You really wish to undo your own rule, Saber?" she asked, her aqua eyes fixed on her Servant's face with an unreadable expression. Upon being faced by that fact, she had no idea of how to process the revelation.

Saber turned to his Master, stoic and unflinching as before, and nodded without the slightest hint of hesitation. "My dream only reflects what any King should wish for, Master," he answered evenly. "The salvation of my people. I have devoted my entire life for the sake of my land and subjects. I cannot stand the fact that I was unable to protect them in the end, as I should have done until my last breath."

"But why change the past? Why wish to erase your own legend?" the young Master pressed, unable to understand.

Everyone stared in stunned silence as King Arthur Pendragon steeled his face in what could only be described as utmost resolve.

"It is the duty of the King to protect his country. Due to my inevitable failure at the end of my rule, it is undeniable that I was not a good enough monarch. My powers were not enough, and I was not fit to be King," he admitted right in front of everyone, without any ounce of hesitation, or shame. "Therefore, the least I can do to remedy my mistakes is to ensure that another one, a proper King, is chosen instead of me. At least that way my country will have a chance at survival. My people would be spared of the suffering my failure has brought upon them. That is what I desire."

In that moment, amid the stunned silence echoing all around the rooftop, something happened.

"…how dare you?"

A question. A denial. A whimper, barely above a whisper. But the King of Britain heard it all the same, and he turned towards its direction with a royal eyebrow raised above his elegant features.

And all the while, Heroic Spirit Emiya stared with wide eyes as Artoria Pendragon raised herself from the floor, drawing her katana with one hand and pointing its tip towards the King of Knights.

"How dare you, Arthur Pendragon?" the girl with golden hair cried, fixing her own ancestor with an enraged scowl.

There was no way to describe the amount of rage and betrayal she was showing on her face right now. Her overwhelming outrage was so obviously displayed on her face and so uncharacteristically unexpected that everyone – literally everyone, including Emiya, Scathach and Rin – could do nothing but stare at the girl in wonder, falling into a silence filled with shock and intrigue in equal measure.

Even the King of Knights himself watched the young girl with a frown, taken aback by her sudden outburst.

"Change the past?! Erase your history?! I have never heard such a conceited blasphemy in my entire existence!" she roared, keeping her sword pointed to the Servant in a blatant gesture of outrage. "My life! My whole life has been cursed by the legacy of the Pendragon name! Your entire legacy has brought naught but pain and loneliness to me so far, and now you just want to throw all of it away? To erase our name, our struggles, without the slightest hint of shame?!"

Clearly, this fact did not sit well with Artoria. At all.

Saber stared at the sword pointed at him, long and hard. Then, his eyes fell on the girl who was wielding it, and Emiya saw a countless myriad of emotions flashing inside his emerald eyes as he stood up from his seated position.

But in the end, the King's face only settled into a frown.

"My Master told me about you," he spoke with his soft, elegant voice devoid of feels. "I see… so you really are Artoria, heiress of the Pendragon lineage, carrier of my very same bloodline. Morgan's descendant," he mused, fixing the young girl with a long, calculating stare that not even Archer could fully decipher. His frown deepened as the girl kept glaring at him. "Even in this distant future, my failures keep haunting me still. It appears that your lineage has brought you a lot of suffering because of my name. It must have been hard for you."

The glare Artoria sent him was absolutely withering.

Rin and the others tried to interject, but the King wouldn't let them. He raised one arm, silencing them immediately. Then, he fixed the heir of his bloodline with an unreadable expression. "I do not understand… why can't you see my reasoning? Do you fail to understand that when my wish is granted you will be freed of your fate? That you will no longer be bound by my name and curse?" he questioned her, deadly serious. "Your life will blossom anew, with your own identity, and you no longer will go through such a meaningless suffering."

"It is NOT meaningless!" Artoria yelled, outraged and furious as never before. Emiya was already standing next to her in worry, but the girl didn't even notice him. "It was because of that suffering that I became who I am today! It was due to my struggles that I've decided to break free from your curse!"

"If I can change the past, you won't have to go through all of that anymore―"

"You have NO RIGHT to change it! Who do you think you are, to erase all of that?! To erase everything I've been through in order to reach this point, to come this far?!" she all but screamed at him.

Saber narrowed his eyes, his face twisting into a scowl. "I am Arthur Pendragon. I have every right to fight for my people," he stated, unyielding and resolute.

This time, Emiya had had enough. He couldn't just stand by and do nothing anymore.

"You are a fool," Archer snapped on instinct. He placed himself next to his Master, shielding the girl from her ancestor with one arm while he glared scornfully to the King of Knights. Artoria took a step back in stunned confusion, but Arthur glared back at him in full. "Even if it were possible, seeking to undo your entire life for the sake of others isn't just betraying yourself, it's betraying all the people who cared for you, all the trust they put in you. It's betraying the very own lives that came after your sacrifice. Changing the past would erase their whole existences, and the people they became for good or for ill!"

King Arthur looked at him, wide-eyed. Even Bazett and Scathach seemed to agree with the Servant of the bow. "Stay out of this, Archer. This has nothing to do with you."

Emiya's glare flared. "Your misguided dream threatens to undo my Master's very own life. I'd say it has everything to do with me," he spat back, perhaps more fiercely than he intended.

"That's right!" Lord El-Melloi II stood up as well, followed by Rider and the others. "You can't just change the past because of your failures. That's not how it works."

Saber took a step back, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, but he quickly matched everyone's glares with his own. "The Grail is an omnipotent wish-granting chalice. Its power goes beyond what mortals and Servants could ever imagine. If I were to grasp it, not only I could avert Britain's fate of destruction, but I could also make sure that no one will end up suffering because of my mistakes," he tried to explain.

"You don't know that," Lancer interjected, stepping forward in a blocking gesture along with her Master. "What you are trying to accomplish could threaten the very stability of the planet, Saber. Only a fool would follow such a path."

"That's right. Your wish is nothing but a folly," Bazett asserted as well.

Behind the two women's frame, Emiya was struggling to keep Artoria still.

"Let me go, Archer! Let me go! I shan't let that nutter get away with it!"

"No, you fool. Calm yourself."

"Whoa-whoa-whoa! I wasn't expecting things to escalate so badly!" Rider exclaimed, unsure of what to do.

The situation had clearly gone awry, and it was impossible to revert it back to the previous discussion. Even Rin was starting to grow increasingly worried right now.

"S-Saber, maybe we should―"

"Master, please stay out of this."

But then, just when it appeared that chaos was bound to unfold, something unexpected happened.

Every Servant and every Master tensed out of the blue, their entire bodies going rigid upon hearing an unfamiliar and yet extremely distinct sound coming from an uncertain direction behind them.

Laughter.

"Well, well… this sure brings back some memories."

The effect was immediate. Artoria, Rin and Rider startled. Bazett and Lancer flinched. Emiya, Arthur and Waver widened their eyes.

"But that's quite enough nonsense, fools."

Immediately, Archer, Lancer, Rider and Saber tensed out of instinct. Their heads snapped to the right, stunned and alarmed by the fact that none of them – literally none of them – had been able to detect the new presence before hearing that voice. Then, as soon as their stupor was replaced by instinct, they all reacted at the same time, summoning their weapons and placing themselves right in front of their respective Masters, shielding them with their bodies. The humans of the group looked no less stunned than them.

From the opposite side of the rooftop, right below a ray of sunlight, a new Servant had decided to make his presence known. Revealing himself through a dust of gold, the intruder appeared near the edge of the rooftop, stepping on the concrete floor with golden sandals and a regal step. Every Servant and Master observed him warily, preparing themselves for a battle if such a need were to arise.

Crimson-blood eyes of royal lineage narrowed on the motley group, gazing upon each and every one of them with a distasteful glare.

And as soon as he met those eyes― no. As soon he registered that voice… Heroic Spirit Emiya felt his own stomach drop in spite of his efforts to remain focused. Unbeknownst to him, both Saber and Lord El-Melloi II were having his exact same reaction, but Archer did not notice it.

Because when he looked upon the new Servant, and as soon as he saw his perfect, golden-proportioned body covered with red tattoos and garbed in golden gauntlets, blood-red pants and a royal-blue vest which revealed his chest; along with the two-horned crown resting above his golden hair… the Counter Guardian who had faced countless battlefields and who had been through hell and worse felt like cursing his whole existence all over again.

Because no matter how different he looked, there was no doubt about that man's identity. He could recognize him anywhere, despite how much he loathed the man with a passion.

And the King of Heroes stepped into the realm of mortals once again, fixing the group of humans and Servants with an unimpressed sneer.

"I believe it's time for you lots to finally learn your place, mongrels."

NOTES
(I know it's long, but please read it)

Hi, guys. How are you? I hope you're all good and healthy, and I wish you all the best for this new year.

First and foremost, I deeply apologize for the wait I've put you through. It's been nearly 3 months since the last time I've updated my stories, and I'm sorry for making you guys wait for so long. I'm currently going through a very tough period – I can honestly say this is the toughest period I've ever faced in my life, so far – due to some personal issues with my job and some health problems regarding my family, which are making this a nerve-wracking time for me. I'm still trying to write when I can, but so far it's been very hard for me to relax and focus on that due to those issues.

I do not intend to drop my stories, make no mistake, but I honestly don't know when I'll be able to update next time. It could take weeks, months… I honestly have no idea. But please rest assured on this: I WILL keep writing, and I do NOT wish to drop my stories. That much I can assure you. I can only hope you guys will be patient, and bear with me in spite of my delays. Hopefully things will become easier for me with time, but as of today, I can't say for sure. I'll still do my best, though. I promise.

(======)

Now, onto the chapter itself… finally, we've learned the identity of another Servant: Caster Gilgamesh.

Surprised? You shouldn't be, since I had hinted his presence a long time ago, in Chapter 3. I was honestly surprised by the fact that almost no one managed to guess he was an actual Servant of the War and not the Gil who remained stuck in the present days. If you think about it, I revealed his presence in the exact same chapter in which it is clearly stated one thing: in this world, there was NO fire and NO mud… so how could Gilgamesh possibly be here? He had to be a new Servant, obviously. The mud couldn't have touched him… because there was NO MUD in this timeline! It was a hint I had deliberately left there for you to guess this truth. Some of you readers did, though, and I applaud all of those who have reached out to me to share their speculations. I'm glad you guys had fun with that little clue XD

But how is Gilgamesh a Caster in this world? it shouldn't be possible. Well, it'll be explained in due time, just like Charlie and Scathach's summoning.

With this, only Assassin is left to be revealed. If you manage to guess who's gonna be, you have my sincerest admiration. It's not very easy, but it's not impossible either.

For those wondering: " Ocean of Memories " is an OST from Unlimited Blade Works. I chose that soundtrack as the title because the concept of -Memory- is the main theme and leitmotif of this chapter. As you've noticed, many of the things that happened here are related to certain memories: the discovery of Archer's death; the Servants' meeting which is a callback to the banquet of Fate/Zero; Rin's attitude which is a contrast/reminder of Emiya's past wars; the fact that Gilgamesh comes back to haunt us once more; and especially Saber's questionable wish, which is the thread that remains unchanged even in this timeline, just like in the FSN routes. As you can see, everything in this chapter revolves around the character's memories, in some way.

On another note: some of you have complained to me in private about the unfolding of the story, since you are worried that the plot could go awry by having Archer, Lancer and Rider fighting together in the same faction. Well, I'm going to say just one thing: you guys have NO IDEA of what is going to happen in the story. As I've said, this Holy Grail War is DIFFERENT from the ones we see in the FSN routes (and that includes some characters like Rin, who are going to be slightly different due to the weird events that happened in this timeline), and it's also a battle of " Impossible Realities ". This means that the true plot twists are yet to be revealed, and trust me… things are going to become messy when that happens.

My story won't be extremely complex or hard to follow, though. There will be surprises, yes, but please lower your expectations, for I'm not able to write masterpieces. This ain't Fateless, people. But I have a very specific plot and conclusion in mind, and I ask you to trust me on this. At least, I ask this to those of you who are willing to read this weird fic of mine. I'm not a talented author like many others on this site, my English still sucks, and there's still A LOT for me to learn about Fate; but I'm trying to stay true to the vision I had when I came up with the idea for this fic, and I will continue to do so until the end. I hope you'll bear with me.

I repeat, once again, that I don't know when I'll be able to update my stories. I'll do my best to write when I can, but please have patience. This period is really tough for me, and real life issues take priority over fanfictions. So, if I disappear for a long period of time again, please do not worry too much. I thank all of you who have reached out to me during these months, and I'm extremely grateful for your support. I hope I won't disappoint you guys in the future.

As always, please forgive me for any eventual misspellings and grammar mistakes. If you point them out to me, I will gladly correct them as soon as I can.

See you next time.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Ten-

gilGAMEsh

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Shinto's Shopping District – "Verde" Shopping Center

(======)

One moment.

It took only one moment for Archer's composure to shatter completely.

Not through any fault of his own, mind you, but because of the current situation. After all, absurd as it was, in but a few seconds everything around him had started to slowly degenerate into chaos, prompting things to get out of hand in a way that he could never have foreseen. First, the discovery of Kiritsugu's betrayal at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Then, the matter regarding King Arthur's wish and its consequences for Artoria. Following that, his Master's unexpected outburst against her own ancestor. All these things had struck him quite a bit despite his usual collected behavior, and as it was obviously bound to happen because of that, tension amid the group had started to escalate beyond human levels.

But now… his mind was not focused on that. It wasn't focused on any of that. Because the real reason why he was feeling uneasy right now was not the tension that hovered above the whole group. It was not the news he had discovered just now. On the contrary, the reason behind his concern was none other than the person who had revealed himself just a few seconds before. A person he hadn't expected to see. A person with whom he was deeply familiar, and who he'd never wanted to see in spite of that. No matter how much he loathed him, no matter how much he despised him, there was no way he could ever forget that man. That Servant.

Yet, just like his previous experiences, now he was here again. He had found a way to haunt him once more. And he had to deal with this fact no matter how much he loathed it.

Thus, amid the stunned silence, Heroic Spirit Emiya narrowed his eyes, while Artoria and the rest of the group watched the scene in silent astonishment.

And the King of Heroes stepped into the realms of mortals once again, fixing the group of humans and Servants with an unamused sneer.

"I believe it's time for you lots to finally learn your place, mongrels."

The words were absolute and solemn, the tone behind them powerful and clear. Everyone – and I do mean everyone – widened their eyes in concern and shock as the ancient Servant stepped right in front of them, revealing his presence through a cloud of golden dust. As soon as he showed himself, the air dropped several degrees all around, and a chill descended upon Archer's back as he landed his gaze on the Servant's blood-red eyes, similar to the feeling he had felt while meeting Scathach for the first time.

One thing he noticed, however, was his current appearance. The King's appearance was unusual compared to what Emiya remembered from his previous timelines. Right now, in fact, he sported a purple tattoo on each shoulder shaped like a flower, wearing a dark-purple garment that stopped right below his chest. He also wore a pair of loose red pants which showed his legs from around the mid-thighs, along with vibrant purple shoes which also featured a bit of gold on them. Blue wrappings wrapped around his waist and hips, and similar wrappings could be found above his ankles and left wrist. Moreover, a beautiful gem was hanging off of a chain attached to a veil on his head, and he sported a golden gauntlet on his right hand and similar armory on his hips.

In other words: he was different. He was decidedly different from the King of Heroes with whom Archer had crossed paths so many times in the previous Holy Grail Wars. Emiya was absolutely sure of that, and not only because of his different appearance. The King of Heroes who stood before him now looked older – colder – than his younger Archer self, and he also had a different aura compared to him. A cold, powerful, and unreadable aura that hovered around his whole frame, wrapping the golden Servant into something unfathomable. Something that not even Emiya could grasp completely, despite his countless experiences and his knowledge about that man.

When he fully realized this fact, Archer felt his inner tension grow all the more, pursing his lips into a tight, hard line.

Yet, the King of Heroes cared not for the tension in the air. Actually, he seemed completely unfazed by the wary, hostile glares he was receiving from each and every member of the group. He just moved towards them with a solemn step, crossing his arms while his face displayed an unimpressed sneer on the lips. All around, the others were observing him with various degrees of concern, making the air grow even colder with each passing second as he kept staring back at them, his red eyes filled with cold apathy and solemn decision.

Until, finally, the others managed to react once more.

Bazett rose on her feet with a worried face, hiding herself behind Scathach's frame that kept shielding her. Even the cold, detached Lancer looked wary as she fixed her gaze upon the gold-wrapped man. Next to her, Waver Velvet was no better. The young Lord of the Clock Tower was visibly gaping at the sight of the new Servant, sweating and paling in disbelief while Charlemagne placed himself in front of him, looking both stunned and wary as he readied his sword. Rin was showing an expression of shock as well from the other side of the circle, similar to Saber who was staring at the King of Heroes with a stunned gaze. And even Artoria, still hidden behind Archer's tall frame, was openly growing worried for some reason, placing herself closer to her Servant as she grasped her katana with trembling hands.

Now, however, Emiya's focus was not aimed at his Master, for once. On the contrary, his grey eyes were glued to the faces of Saber and Waver Velvet. Because despite the tense situation, despite the unexpected turn of events, there was simply no way for an experienced killer like him to miss the tiny, little detail that united those two.

That is: both of them were having the exact, same reaction.

A reaction made of shock, mixed with sheer disbelief and – Emiya noticed it immediately – recognition.

Emiya narrowed his eyes, glancing at the two with a serious expression while he kept shielding his Master.

Eventually, the new Servant broke the silence once more. He was looking at them with clear disinterest as he stepped closer with an unreadable face. "…Hm," he mused, exhaling a sigh. "You were surely taking your time here, discussing such trivial matters during a War," he stated, almost with a hint of irony behind his tone.

The only reaction he received was dead silence, followed by narrowed stares.

He didn't care, apparently. "No matter," the King of Heroes continued, seeing their frozen expressions. Something cold and resolute flashed inside his crimson orbs as he took a few steps forward, moving towards the group with his arms crossed in a regal manner. "This farce has gone on long enough. I shall not stand such foolishness any longer."

Somehow, the power behind his words managed to rouse everyone out of their stupor. Finally, the group broke out from the stunned silence.

Bazett was the first to regain her composure. She eyed the new Servant suspiciously, narrowing her eyes in wariness while she remained shielded behind Lancer's protective frame. "Who… are you?" she demanded, fixing the man with a tense glare.

Emiya watched, with furrowed brows, as the golden-wrapped Servant turned to the woman with a cold face. There was no trace of emotion inside the blonde man's features, not a single glimmer of feels, and he didn't even look worried even though Archer, Lancer, Rider and Saber kept their weapons pointed at him in warning, ready to pounce on him at the first sign of trouble.

He simply sighed with a disappointed snort. "If you cannot discern my identity, even in front of my presence, then―"

"You are Gilgamesh," Lord El-Melloi II spoke.

Everyone turned to him with wide eyes. The Lord of the Clock Tower broke the silence with a nervous voice, interrupting the Servant with a tone of disbelief. He was looking at him with wide eyes, staring, with a paling complexion and a tense face. Similarly to him, Saber was having the same reaction, although he looked angry rather than worried.

"The ancient King of Uruk and Mesopotamia. King of Heroes, and oldest ruler of mankind," Waver Velvet continued, looking torn between shock, wariness, and disbelief.

The revelation was met with stunned silence. Those who were unaware of the man's real identity – such as Lancer and Rider along with Rin, Bazett and Artoria – stared at him with an expression of shock.

On his part, the Servant – the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh – just leaned forward with a veiled smile upon hearing those words. "Now that's more like it," he acknowledged, his lips twitching upwards ever-so-slightly. "So you are not entirely devoid of sense. To be recognized at first sight is how a King should truly be greeted. But again; I guess I should have expected as much coming from you."

His red eyes fell to Waver at that point, boring holes on his frame with an unnerving intensity. The poor man was visibly shivering in fear under that cold, powerful gaze. It was extremely intimidating, especially for a human being.

"…indeed. You've certainly grown from the frail boy you once were," the King of Heroes mused, almost to himself. His peculiar reaction made Archer, Saber and Rin tense with growing suspicion. "Hmph. You're still far from having become mature, but I can see you did man up a little compared to the past."

Lord El-Melloi II swallowed, nervous, offering a curt nod to the King's words. "…I'm honored that the great King of Uruk remembers my identity," he said.

"As you should be," the Golden King agreed, amiably. Then, he teared his gaze away, and his crimson eyes landed on another member of the group. "But you're not the only familiar face here. It seems that Fate has made our paths cross yet again, even in these different circumstances. This is a most amusing situation. Wouldn't you agree… Saber?"

Everyone's eyes fell on the King of Knights this time. The blonde Servant was shielding a visibly tense Rin with his armored frame, glaring at the King of Heroes with a cold, unforgiving intensity.

"…you," Arthur Pendragon spat, sounding both worried and angry at the new Servant's sight. He was clenching his fists so hard around the hilt of his invisible blade that his arms began to tremble a bit. "Archer. How is this possible? How can you possibly be here―?"

"Do not jump to such foolish conclusions, Saber. I am not the Archer you've met during the Fourth Holy Grail War," the ancient monarch interrupted him, bored, raising his gauntleted hand with a lazy movement.

That made Saber pause for a moment, caught by surprise, similarly to Waver as well. Emiya observed the interaction with rapt interest, while the rest of the group stared at the scene in shock and confusion.

"Y-You're not…?" Waver asked, perplexed.

The man nodded, closing his eyes with a solemn expression. "Indeed. I am not the Archer you two know. I am Caster," he spoke, as if his words were explanatory enough.

Heroic Spirit Emiya mulled over that info inside his head.

Caster, huh?

This was a significant difference from the timelines he had experienced so far. In Emiya's previous Wars, including his first one as a boy, Gilgamesh had been the Archer of the Fourth Holy Grail War, who had somehow survived into the Fifth after the destruction of the Holy Grail. He had been Kotomine Kirei's ally, an enemy who fought from the shadows in attempt to destroy the world, and a huge obstacle to overcome in two of his previous experiences. Yet, in this world, it seemed that things were different, again. For he was not an Archer here, but a Caster-class Servant instead.

Another silent, concerning reminder of the questionable nature of this conflict.

"H-How is this possible?" Artoria whispered behind Archer's frame. She broke the stunned silence once more, her previous anger towards her own ancestor completely forgotten at this point, replaced by sheer confusion. "Lord El-Melloi II… a-are you telling us that you've met this Servant in the previous War? Just like King Arthur?"

Her question echoed in the air, stunned and nervous, until Waver Velvet nodded in answer.

"There is no mistaking it. He looks different, but he's the same man I've met back then. The King of Heroes," the black-haired Magus confirmed, wary.

Even the proud Rin Tohsaka looked baffled beyond words right now. "U-Unbelievable! Is that true, Saber?" she demanded to her Servant, who could only nod in seething rage as he glared at the King of Heroes.

Gilgamesh snorted at those words, unfazed by the general shock around him. "Fools. Do not compare my current form to that lacking version of myself," he spat, visibly unamused by that statement for some reason. "The Archer of the Fourth Holy Grail War was a fool. A younger, inexperienced version of me who had yet to return from his journey to find immortality. Unlike him, I am not a Hero who personifies raging power, but the One True King above all Kings. The one who saw everything, and the wise King of Heroes."

His declaration was met with silence. Everyone watched him with narrowed eyes, without knowing how to react to that statement.

Seconds passed, which became a full minute.

Emiya, on his part, fought back an instinctive urge to sigh in exasperation. He just couldn't help it, even in spite of the tension and the distaste he felt towards that man. Different he might be, but it seemed that some things never changed no matter what.

He may be different somehow, but he's still as arrogant as ever, he thought with a weary breath. At this point, he struggled hard to forestall the feeling of an incoming headache. Alaya must have really decided to screw with him, at this point. He was ready to bet on this.

While he was lost in those thoughts, someone decided to intervene.

King Arthur stepped forward at once, staring at this 'odd' version of Gilgamesh with cold, emerald eyes filled with distrust. "If you truly are different from that version of you, how do you remember me? How do you know what happened during those events?" he demanded, unconvinced.

On his part, Gilgamesh just smiled in amusement at the question, like an adult faced with a child's demand. "Is that all you have to say, Saber? How boring. Have you not realized that I have already answered your question? I am the one who saw it all, and thus I know everything; for there's nothing that can elude my knowledge."

Rin narrowed her eyes at his reply. Her raven hair fluttered at the wind. "W-What do you mean by that?" she questioned, unable to understand.

This time, it was Archer who decided to answer the question. He was simply too accustomed to that man's legend not to know the truth, and it was best to make his allies – and this version of Rin too – understand who they were dealing with instead of keeping silent as usual. Doing such a thing would only become disadvantageous in the long run, and it could also put them all in danger. Gilgamesh was many things, but predictable he was not. It was best to warn the others about him, if he wanted to keep them safe.

It was simply the safest option.

"According to legends, during his journey in search of immortality, the King of Uruk was enlightened with the True Knowledge of the world," the Counter Guardian explained, cutting in the discussion with a serious tone. Everyone turned to him as he spoke for the first time after his previous dispute with Saber and Artoria, including those two as well, who looked at him in silent wonder. "He gained an absolute knowledge of all things, becoming a somewhat wiser King compared to the tyrant he was during his youth."

"The One Who Saw the Abyss," Lancer realized after Emiya's explanation, pensive. She narrowed her eyes on the golden Servant, feeling somehow familiar with that concept, for her very own powers were not too dissimilar to those of the King of Uruk. "Indeed. If he so wished, he could see many things."

Gilgamesh smiled upon hearing the recalling of his legend, mollified like a cat with cream, taking a great pleasure in being acknowledged with those words. "So you're not as clueless as you seem," he mused, fixing both Emiya and Scathach with a sarcastic grin; although he refused to look at Archer in the eyes as he spoke that praise.

―a fact that didn't go unnoticed to the white-haired Servant, but he decided to let it slide for now.

Still, the Golden King shrugged all of a sudden, raising the gauntlet on his right hand as he flexed his fingers. "However, that is true. I am Caster, the King of Heroes, and I know all that there is to know; without exceptions. That much remains unchanged, even in this rotten time, where mankind has become so unbearably unsightly."

Upon hearing his statement, the air grew more tense and colder than ever. That Servant's words were implying a very worrisome thing. That is: if this Gilgamesh was really an older, wiser version of the King of Heroes from the previous War, then he was surely bound to be powerful. He was surely bound to be dangerous. Immensely dangerous. Perhaps even more than his Archer version already was. That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all, especially for those who knew the man from their previous experiences, like Emiya, Arthur and Lord El-Melloi II. Fighting against that Archer had been hard enough in the past. Having to deal with an older, stronger version of the same man was not an attractive prospect for them. At all.

Therefore, once again, the group of Masters and Servants felt their nervousness escalate beyond human levels. Saber and Rin began to sweat in concern. Bazett and Lancer tensed in suspicion. Waver and Artoria shifted in wariness. Even the cold and detached Emiya couldn't help but freeze upon realizing this truth, unable to dismiss the feeling of uneasiness growing inside his mind.

The only one who didn't seem fazed by this realization was Rider. In fact, the King of Franks was staring at the golden Servant with wide eyes and a stupefied expression, looking absolutely amazed for some reason.

"T-The King of Heroes, Gilgamesh…" he muttered, disbelief written all over his features. His eyes were literally gleaming with admiration as he realized who he was staring at. "So cool! You're, like, super-super-old! So you're like a senior Servant, right?"

Gilgamesh rounded on him with a frown. "You fool. I am as young and ready for battle as I ever was. Can you not see my perfect skin, without a single scar?" he countered with a haughty tone, his face as solemn as it could ever be. Then, out of the blue, he focused his eyes on him, fixing Charlemagne with an unreadable stare; almost as if he had just noticed something about him. His eyes narrowed in realization for a split-second, in fact. "Hm? Mongrel, that thing you have there… I see. So that's how it is. The King of Franks, huh?"

The young Rider blinked in stupor at his sudden shift in mood. "Huh? You know who I am?" he asked.

Caster's right eyebrow twitched. Slightly. "I know everything. Did you not hear me before, mongrel?"

Charlemagne just scratched his neck and the jab, laughing sheepishly all the while. "My bad, my bad! But still, just look at how awesome you are! I mean, I totally get why you're called the King of Conceit, but… you're the first Hero of humanity, so all the other Heroes are beneath you. Of course you'd end up conceited, right? I mean, you gotta be, as King of them all!" he exclaimed, taking in every detail about his looks with his eyes, looking as amazed as before.

This time, every member of the group fought down the urge to sigh in weariness at such a shameful display. Honestly, that foolish Rider… they had no idea if he was bold, or innocent, or just plain stupid. No one in their right mind would ever flatter an enemy so much, no matter who they were. Heck, even Lord El-Melloi II was blushing in shame due to his Servant's words and actions, hiding his face with both hands while muttering something about: 'foolish, unreasonable Kings and their extrovert behavior'.

Oddly enough, however, Gilgamesh seemed to be quite pleased with those words. The cold, amused smile that blossomed on his lips made everyone pause, actually.

"…oh? I see. Even with your Core in that condition you still are 'Great,' indeed," he mused in a pleased voice, mollified again as he scratched his chin with a slow movement of the gauntlet. "That is correct. Everyone else who calls themselves a Heroic Spirit came after me, crawling the zenith I was born," he confirmed, crossing his arms with superiority.

Rider nodded with a huge smile on his face, like a child listening to his favorite teacher. "I see! Then, please accept my admiration, from one of the last Kings to the first. Your brilliance is truly mesmerizing; I wish I could shine like you some day!"

"Of course. I shine without effort. The rest of you can go on flittering around me like the pests you are."

Charlemagne chuckled again, deeply amused by his words for some reason. "Thanks, King of Heroes! Man, you're really awesome, you know?" he laughed, like a child filled with excitement.

Gilgamesh just snorted, unimpressed. "Your words lose weight every time you repeat them. But I shall indulge you this time. After all, it's only right for you to realize my greatness… unlike a certain someone who refused my aid many times in the past," he stressed with a weird tone, shooting a piercing, amused stare towards a certain blonde Servant who was standing to the right.

The King of Knights met his gaze unflinchingly, feeling deeply irritated by those words.

Emiya observed that interaction silently, along with Lancer, Bazett and Artoria. Perhaps the two of them had some kind of history, he inwardly realized. Probably related to the events of the previous conflict, he deduced. The same thing had happened with every version of Saber – the female one – he was familiar with, after all.

Rider noticed it too, apparently, for he blinked with a confused face as his gaze flickered between Caster and Saber. "Huh… so you're saying I should praise you when the guy you like is around?" he pondered out loud, confused. Just like every other time, though, he shrugged it off without giving it too much thoughts. "Well, fine, I guess. Awkward, but STILL kind of awesome!" he snarked.

This time, Gilgamesh rounded on him with an irked face. Even Saber shook his head with a distasteful expression.

"You fool! That's not it!" Caster yelled, annoyed.

Rin watched the scene with a stunned expression. "…what in the world is happening right now?" he muttered to herself, unable to understand what she was witnessing.

She wasn't the only one, for every single one of the others shared her exact same question.

Luckily for Rider, however, someone decided to cut the chase before things could grow restless.

"Enough of this," Heroic Spirit Emiya droned all of a sudden, taking a step forward amid the group with serious – almost suspicious – frown. The others immediately turned to him as he broke in the discussion, while Artoria watched her Servant in surprise when he grabbed her arm in a protective gesture, shielding her with his body while he kept glaring daggers towards Caster. "We're not here to waste our time with idle chatter. Tell us what you want, Caster. Why have you come here, now, revealing yourself to us in this way? What is it that you want?" he demanded, his grey eyes narrowed with a cold intensity towards the Golden King.

For the first time ever since he had revealed himself, Gilgamesh turned to stare at Archer after those words filled with apathy and disrespect. And when their eyes met, no one could fail to notice the emotion flickering between their gazes. An emotion that they weren't expecting to find, and yet that both Servants shared mutually; almost as if they were staring into a reflecting mirror.

Irritation. Distrust.

Anger.

Gilgamesh's crimson eyes looked over to Emiya, seeming to contemplate the red Archer's question. "Straightforward as always, aren't you… Faker?" he finally replied, keeping his gaze and face unchanged despite the distaste clearly displayed in his tone. "You'd do well to watch your tone with me. I am not as narrow-minded as my younger version, but my patience is not infinite. Remember that, if you care for your meaningless life."

Both a warning and a statement. Emiya narrowed his eyes after that hidden threat, while Artoria seemed to physically shiver for some reason. Her mind was racing as she noticed something odd during that tense interaction.

Faker…? she thought, confused by that weird epithet. What did he mean by that?

However, much to everyone's surprise, Gilgamesh seemed to relax slightly after his initial display of distaste. He actually exhaled a long, weary breath as he closed his eyes in a calming gesture. Almost as if he was trying to restrain himself – which was extremely odd to see, especially for those who were familiar with him like Saber, Lord El-Melloi II and Archer.

"Well, no matter. I agree that a King must not waste time in useless chatter, so I'll let your disrespect towards me slide for the moment. As I've said before, I came here because it's time for you lots to learn your place, in order to open the path for the true unfolding of the War."

The King's words filled the group's heads with confusion. No one knew what to think of his statement, including Emiya as well. They were all completely lost, for once.

Scathach lowered her crimson spear – slightly – and voiced the question in everyone's head. "The true unfolding of the War? What do you mean by that?" she inquired, deadly serious.

"I mean to say that this discussion is pointless. Your struggle, is pointless," Gilgamesh spoke, as serious and solemn as he could ever be. Even his gaze seemed to grow colder for some reason as the whole group stilled in wariness. "You mongrels sit and chat here, trying to glimpse the truth behind the conflict, as if you could comprehend something beyond your reach. That is nothing but a waste of time, and due to the precariousness of the situation, I cannot stand it any longer."

Everyone listened to his words with rapt attention.

Emiya and Scathach narrowed their eyes. Arthur and Waver frowned in displeasure. Bazett and Charlemagne blinked in astonishment. Artoria and Rin stared without comprehension.

But the Golden King cared not about any of that. "You seek the truth behind the Holy Grail War, in order to understand if this fight is worth the effort. You talk of alliances and joined forces, but all you do is fight and quarrel like a bunch of children. All these efforts will get you nowhere, and thus… since I am the one, true King, I have come to enlighten your minds and steer you all towards the right path," he explained, plain and simple.

Seconds passed, followed by an entire minute.

Bazett blinked a few times as she tried to decipher those words. "So… in other words, you're saying that you've come to… guide us?" she inquired, perplexed by what Caster was implying with his previous statement.

The ancient King of Uruk tilted his head at the question, placing a hand on the hip with a casual movement. "Your reasoning is lacking in many ways, woman," he stated, almost as if he was mulling over those words in order to agree with them or not. In the end he closed his right eye, glancing at the group with his left one while he wore an expression of boredom on his face. "But I suppose it's an acceptable explanation for now. There is no need for you to understand my motives. As long as you comply with my words, everything shall unfold as it is meant to be."

"W-What do you mean?" Rin asked, unable to understand.

"It means that if you mongrels truly wish to survive in the War and discover the truth, then you shall do what I say," he answered, direct and straightforward as never before. "That is what I am telling you."

That explanation was met with silence, and it left everyone baffled on a deep level. Even Heroic Spirit Emiya was struggling to understand the meaning behind Gilgamesh's words.

Because it was utterly absurd. Almost too absurd to believe. That man had just come out of nowhere, claiming to know the truth about the Holy Grail War and the reason behind this conflict. Moreover – as if this whole matter wasn't absurd enough – he was also saying that, if they wanted to survive and discover the truth as well, they had to follow his words and do as he said, obeying his will for some unknown reason.

It was too much. Way too much to believe. No one in their right mind would fall for such a ridiculous trick, regardless of whether they were humans or Servants.

Consequently, as it was due, this fact did not sit well with someone in the group. At all.

"And what makes you think that we will do what you say?" Saber demanded all of a sudden, breaking the silence with a resolute voice and grabbing everyone's attention. As he turned towards him, Archer noticed that the King of Knights was looking as weary and spiteful as he inwardly felt.

On his part, Caster merely glanced at him in poised calm. "I am the one true King. My word is law," he replied, as if that answer was obvious and satisfactory enough.

But Arthur refused his reasoning. "Nonsense!" he spat. The blonde Saber openly snorted as the ancient Caster turned to him fully, his emerald eyes filled with anger and distrust. "Do not think you can fool me, King of Heroes. I will never believe a single word that comes out of your lips. You may be different from the man I've faced in the previous War, but I would rather die and fail in my quest for the Grail than trust in anything you say."

As expected, Saber would have none of it. Even in this different timeline, the King of Knights loathed Gilgamesh with a great passion. Emiya felt like he should have expected this, since he didn't like that man either, given his past experiences with him in both his life and the previous War. He could relate to Arthur because of this, somehow.

And yet – much to Archer's growing suspicion – Gilgamesh seemed rather amused by those words instead of angry. Archer had expected him to grow haughty and offended, but Saber's words only seemed to make his amusement grow for some reason, prompting a cold smile to blossom on the Golden King's lips. This fact alone was making Emiya wary of him all the more, even if he couldn't understand why for now.

Whatever he was planning, it seemed that Gilgamesh had already foreseen this kind of reaction from him.

"Your struggles will never cease to amuse me, King of Knights," the blonde Servant mused, chuckling to himself. Then, he returned serious in a heartbeat. "Yet, this matter is not for you to decide. Whether you believe me or not, you won't have a choice. I am already aware of what is going to unfold from now on, and that is all you need to know." Then, he shook his head with an irked expression. "Tch, how annoying. The fact that I had to use my powers for something as trifling as this conflict is preposterous... but what is done is done, I suppose."

Saber's glare soared after hearing that statement. Behind his armored frame, Rin was visibly panicking at the sight. "You don't get to tell me what to do, King of Heroes," he warned him.

Gilgamesh looked at him with a sneer. "We are not here to discuss our hierarchy as Heroic Spirits, like in the past. Unlike that time, it won't be through force that this Holy Grail War will unfold, but through intellect and cunning instead. As such, you will listen to what I say, if you wish to learn the truth behind the Ritual."

Everyone widened their eyes after hearing those words, flabbergasted by Caster's direct statement. Even Emiya, Scathach and – incredibly – the cold and enraged Arthur looked baffled for a moment.

Lord El-Melloi II widened his eyes. He exchanged a glance with Bazett and Artoria, before voicing his doubts. "King of Heroes… are you saying that you know the truth behind this conflict? Are you already aware of what is going to happen from now on?" he asked, unable to understand.

"Indeed," the ancient ruler of Uruk answered easily, as if it were a foregone conclusion. He looked downright bored as he glanced at Waver with annoyance after that obvious statement. "Haven't I told you before? I know everything. How can you call yourself a Master if you can't even understand such a simple concept?" he reprimanded him, almost like a teacher dealing with a student.

Caster's mocking words seemed to make Waver grow even more worried than before. And ashamed too, since he was – technically – a teacher at the Clock Tower.

Gilgamesh crossed his arms and took a few steps to the right, staring at the horizon with a solemn expression. "I am capable of all things, and thus I possess all knowledge. I am already aware of what this Holy Grail War is about, as well as your foolish attempt to form an alliance," he spoke, making every Servant and every human flinch at the jab. Saber, Archer, Lancer and Rider openly bristled after hearing that, while their respective Masters did the same with a paling complexion. Lord El-Melloi II was openly sweating right now. "You lots are predictable, far too predictable. Almost unbearably so. I have no intention of wasting my time here by listening to such petulant rants."

"In that case, why won't you just get to the point, then?" Emiya cut him off. Everyone turned to the red Archer as he broke in the discussion, surprised by his words, while the ancient Caster just fixed him with an emotionless stare, irked by the blatant lack of respect behind his words.

Emiya didn't back down under the King's cold and powerful glare, however. On the contrary, he just kept talking once more. This matter was just too important to dismiss, after all.

"If you're already aware of everything, then enlighten us. Cut the chase and tell us what this War is about, so that we can stop wasting our time. Isn't that logical enough for you, Caster?" he asked back at Gilgamesh, sarcastic.

The Golden King stared into his grey eyes, long and hard, crossing his arms with a solemn movement. In the end, however, he just ignored his words with a snort. "Hmph. Do not assume I have time to spare for this, Faker," he dismissed his question with a wave of the hand. Archer narrowed his eyes under that unflinching gaze, similarly to Saber, Lancer and Rin who kept staring in wariness. The odd way Gilgamesh kept addressing Archer didn't go unnoticed by them. "I am busy. Far too busy to fully explain the truth to you lots. You are a naïve fool to believe that I will give you all the answers you seek."

Emiya just arched a brow after the insult, unfazed. "Is that so? Why should we believe in what you say, then?" he pressed, unwilling to relent.

"Archer is right, you're just trying to deceive us," Saber stepped in, for once agreeing with Emiya about this one thing.

Again, Gilgamesh just laughed at their skepticism, amused. "A true King does not need to lie, nor to explain everything to his subjects. Just the thought that I could be lying would have cost you your life during my reign."

Rider scratched his cheek in confusion. "Uuuh… we are not your subjects, you know?" he pointed out from the side, innocently.

"Nor this is your reign anymore," Lancer warned with a stern tone.

"Should I care?" Gilgamesh asked back at them, the amusement gone from his voice. Seeing the tension in the air, he took a breath and relaxed again. "Nonetheless, a great King knows when to negotiate. This Holy Grail War is not what it was supposed to be… so it's up to me to steer the events towards the proper path. Everything shall unfold as it is meant to be, regardless of what you believe or choose to do. The fact that I was summoned here is the very proof of that."

All Servants and humans amid the group stared at the King of Heroes with skepticism and distrust after his speech. Everyone – literally everyone – was feeling completely lost and confused right now, unable to understand the true meaning behind his words.

And how could they not be? This man had just come out of nowhere, catching them all by surprise and claiming to know not only the truth about the conflict – something about which they had all been discussing (and nearly fighting over for) not even a few minutes ago – but also the whole unfolding of the events, including those that had yet to happen. Such a thing was unconceivable; almost too absurd to believe.

It had to be a trap. It surely had to be.

And yet… this was Gilgamesh. The King of Heroes. The One who saw the Abyss. The King of Uruk who had returned from his journey in search of immortality, and who had gained great wisdom and judgment thanks to his travels, along with all the knowledge of the world.

What reason could he possibly have to lie? Did he even need to lie, in the first place? Gilgamesh was arrogant and contemptuous, no doubt, but everyone knew that when that man said something, he truly meant it in every single sense. Cruel and arrogant and twisted he could be… but a liar? Gilgamesh was many things, but he was not one to tell a lie.

Emiya knew that. He knew that better than anyone.

That was why he was seriously contemplating the King's words now, despite his hatred towards that man.

But unlike Heroic Spirit Emiya, the Artoria Pendragon of this world did not know. She had never met Caster before, she had never fought him, she had never seen him in her life. She was just a simple girl who didn't know Gilgamesh at all, and who consequently was feeling lost. She was feeling completely and utterly lost right now.

And as such, she couldn't help but voice her question in the end.

"T-Then… if you truly know the truth… what is it that you want to say?" she inquired, unable to remain quiet anymore. All the doubts, all the fears and all the questions inside her head needed an answer, and she could no longer bear the weight of her uncertainties after all she had witnessed so far. She had to get some answers. She just had to. "Answer me, Caster. If you won't tell us what you know, why have you come here?" she asked, her voice both serious and desperate as she posed that question.

For the first time ever since he had revealed himself, Gilgamesh turned towards the girl. He stared at her, long and hard, while the heir of the Pendragon lineage visibly squirmed under his cold, powerful gaze. Not even her Servant's presence and proximity could fully quell the tension she felt upon meeting the unreadable stare of the King of Heroes.

Then, after a few seconds of absolute quiet, Gilgamesh squared his shoulders and steeled his face, assuming a solemn expression under everyone's expectant gaze.

And at last, amid the tension and the silence, the King of Heroes raised his chin, making his statement to the world amid the unbreakable silence.

"I have come to tell you this," he spoke in a resolute voice. "If you believe that the purpose of this Ritual is for us to fight each other and reach the Grail, then you are severely mistaken."

…

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

For what seemed like an eternity, no one knew how to react.

…

Until, as expected, chaos erupted once more.

Artoria blinked a few times, looking absolutely floored by the statement.

"H-Huh…?"

But the young heir of the Pendragon lineage wasn't the only one who looked confused. Right now, in fact, everyone was reacting to that shocking news with various degree of concern, disbelief, or anger. Not one could remain unaffected by such an unexpected revelation.

"What?! What is the meaning of this?!" Rin bellowed with a waspish voice.

"This is absurd," Bazett objected as well, narrowing her magenta eyes in a frown. "I cannot believe it."

"Indeed. It doesn't make sense," Lancer concurred, agreeing with her Master in full.

Even Rider was scowling in doubt as he pondered Caster's words, his expression far from the cheerful one he used to wear all the time. "I agree. This is hard to believe, King of Heroes."

Clearly, the majority of them did not believe in what they'd just heard. It was warranted, in some way.

"That is why I warned you all," Saber interjected amid the confusion, stoic. The proud King of Knights met everyone's questioning stares with an emotionless face as he glared daggers at Gilgamesh's unflinching expression. The distrust in his voice and gaze was simply too obvious to dismiss. "This man is not to be trusted. Only a fool could seriously believe in his words."

His statement was both logical and resolute. And yet, someone amid the group was prone to disagree with that.

More specifically: Waver Velvet and Heroic Spirit Emiya.

Because unlike Saber who was blinded by his dream and his animosity against the King of Heroes, those two shared one, single thing: both of them were men of logic. Men of reason. They were practical and thoughtful individuals, who cared not about ideals and foolish illusions. They had no qualms about examining every hypothesis and reaching different conclusions in spite of the evidence pointing in other directions, especially because of their story, their jobs, and their upbringing.

And in this very same moment, the instinct of those two men was prompting them to keep that option in mind.

They shared a glance, speaking through their eyes.

All the while, the Golden King of Uruk chuckled amid the general disbelief, seemingly unfazed by the distrust the others were showing towards him and his previous statement.

"Hahahaha! As expected of such hard-headed fools. You pretend the truth, yet even in front of it you remain attached to such childish beliefs," he laughed, shaking his head in obvious amusement.

The others in the group glared at him in anger after hearing his laughter. The way he kept dismissing their words and thoughts was immensely frustrating to hear, especially for the prideful ones like Saber, Rin and Bazett. Whoever this Servant was, the way he remained undaunted in his own arrogance was simply too hard to ignore.

Only the childish Charlemagne looked at him in wonder while Caster kept laughing in their faces. "You don't seem surprised by our reaction," he noted.

Gilgamesh eyed him sternly. "Fool, who do you think I am? Of course I am not surprised," he rebutted, deadly serious. "I was expecting this outcome from the beginning. A King does not expect a bunch of brats to accept the truth right away."

Scathach seemed to take great offence by those words. "Careful with your words, King of Heroes," the Queen of Shadows spoke in an authoritative voice, taking a step forward as she raised her crimson spear in a warning gesture. "They might become your last."

Again, he dismissed the warning without a single care. "It is you who should watch your tone in my presence, Witch… if you don't want the one, true King to send you back to the Land of Shadows."

Scathach frowned in irritation but – oddly enough – said no more.

Artoria took a step forward. "S-So it is true, then?" she asked again with an uncertain voice. "Do you really think that we're not meant to fight each other in this War, Caster?"

Gilgamesh smiled at her, amused. "Indeed. Your uncertainty is detrimental, but it is amusing to see that one of you mongrels can think and speculate with their own head, at least. You have instructed her well in spite of her age, Faker. I have high hopes for the two of you," he said, shooting a cold, sarcastic glance towards Archer and his Master.

Emiya narrowed his eyes at the banter, but refused to speak in spite of himself.

Lord El-Melloi II took advantage of the silence to speak. "But then… what should we do, King of Heroes?" he asked to the Golden King, seriously. "You said that the purpose of this Ritual is not to fight each other and reach the Grail. What are we supposed to do, then?"

Once more, the answer they received was not an answer at all.

"That is for you lots to discover," Caster replied, as bored as before. "It matters not whether you believe me or not. No one can change what is bound to happen."

Emiya just arched a brow after hearing that statement. "Is that so? You seem awfully full of yourself. For all we know, you could be deceiving us with your words. What makes you think I believe in what you said?" he pressed.

"But you do," was Gilgamesh's instant reply, piercing his frame with a cold, unreadable stare. There was no accusation in his tone; no hint of egotism or arrogance. He was merely stating a fact. "You wish to know the truth. You want to discover the reason behind this War, the events which fueled this conflict, as if knowing the answers would give you the clarity that you seek. That is unbearably naïve of you, Faker."

Archer narrowed his eye under those words, while Artoria, Waver and the others listened to the King with rapt interest. As loathe as he was to admit it, he knew that Gilgamesh was right about that.

He really did want to learn the truth about the conflict, after all. That was his main objective right now.

Caster's gaze remained glued to Emiya all the while, as if he could read his very own thoughts. "Even if you were to discover the truth behind this War, it won't change anything. Knowing the reason behind the events won't give you the power to rewrite them. It won't give you the means to change them, nor prevent them from happening. That is not how it works, mongrel."

Heroic Spirit Emiya frowned upon hearing this, confused and conflicted by his words.

"Then what is the point of this?" Scathach interjected at that point. She stepped forward abruptly, placing herself next to Emiya and staring unflinchingly into the crimson eyes of the golden Servant. "Why are you telling us this now? Why did you come here, revealing your presence to us and speaking these words? What is it that you want, King of Uruk?" she inquired.

For a moment, Gilgamesh didn't answer right away. He seemed to pause somehow, as if in attempt to ascertain something with his powers. Archer, Artoria, Saber and the others just waited for his answer with a tense expression, while the King of Heroes closed his eyes and exhaled a breath.

In the end, he simply scoffed. "There is no choice," he answered.

His reply was met with dead silence.

Charlemagne frowned, tilting his head in obvious confusion. "Huh?"

"There is no choice," the King of Heroes repeated, seemingly annoyed by the admission. "If I were to leave you all in the dark, things would become… complicated, in the long run. That would be troublesome to handle, even for me. That's why I decided to approach you now, of all times. It was simply the most practical thing to do."

Everyone paused at that, falling deep in thoughts as they pondered those words for a few moments.

Everyone except for Saber. The armored King just stared at Caster with a powerful glare.

"You're lying," he said, unwilling to trust him.

Gilgamesh merely sighed at his stubbornness. As expected, Arthur would not relent with just words alone. "Humph. Your blindness shall become your―"

He was still finishing his statement when someone interrupted him mid-speech.

"Aaah Mou! I can't stand this!" Rin Tohsaka exploded, unable to hold her frustration any longer.

The others immediately turned to her in surprise after her unexpected outburst, caught unawares by the scene. Even Heroic Spirit Emiya remained stunned for a split-second, although he immediately realized that such a reaction was completely expected of Rin. There was simply no way he couldn't know, given his previous experiences in having that girl as his Master.

And if there was one thing Archer knew about Rin Tohsaka, it was that the girl was very – very – bad at dealing with stressful situations.

"It doesn't make sense! Nothing makes sense anymore!" the heir of the Tohsaka family continued her rambling, her face flushed in frustration and her cheeks beet red as she kept venting her anger. "This whole situation is messed up! That's not what the Ritual is supposed to be!"

Seeing the expression on her face, Lord El-Melloi decided to step in. "Miss Tohsaka, please calm down," he said, trying to placate the situation.

The girl ignored him. "This is preposterous. It's utterly absurd. Servants and Masters allying with each other?! Joining hands instead of fighting to the death?! That's not how it's supposed to be! That's not how the Ritual is supposed to be at all!" she kept saying, undaunted. Her voice lowered in a colder and more collected tone, but the scowl on her face remained completely unchanged. "Nothing about this situation is normal. There is absolutely no point in listening to any of this."

Everyone watched with narrowed eyes as the girl with raven hair stepped closer to her Servant in a resolute gesture, squaring her shoulders in decision and letting out all her frustrations and all the stress she had accumulated during this odd, eventful meeting. Her aqua eyes openly glared at each and every member of the group, including Caster, as she spoke her mind with a haughty and unwavering voice.

"What do you mean we're not meant to fight each other?! This is the Holy Grail War! The Holy. Grail. WAR. Fighting and killing each other in order to reach the Grail is why this whole Ritual was created. It's how it's supposed to be! The Ritual established by the Three Founding Families is meant to be a competition, and fighting is precisely what we're supposed to do in this situation."

Then, out of nowhere, she pointed a finger towards Gilgamesh, glaring at him with a mighty rage in spite of his identity and his previous words.

"And you! You just come here out of nowhere, claiming to know everything that there is to know, and yet you don't even deign to explain yourself! Do you seriously expect me to believe such jokes?! This is too messed up! I won't stand for this! You're all forgetting the true purpose of the Ritual, and I'm not going to lend a hear to such a nonsensical rubbish any longer," she declared right on his face, unwilling to back down even in front of such a powerful and mysterious Servant.

Emiya observed the girl with an unreadable gaze all the while, while the rest of the group was staring at the scene in silent concern and wariness. Even if he didn't show it on the outside, the Counter Guardian was inwardly smiling as he watched Rin stepping in the discussion with such an unwavering display of resolve. As expected of his previous Master, she wouldn't allow anyone to stand in her way, regardless of who they were. Once she set her mind on something, that girl would never back down without a fight. It was one of the traits Emiya respected the most in her.

Prideful, haughty and short-tempered as always, huh? he mused with a silent thought, suppressing a rueful smile from the lips as he crossed his arms instead. You always manage to surprise me in some way or another, Rin. I guess Saber won't be able to help you with your temper in this timeline, given the circumstances.

But then, just as Lord El-Melloi II was about to step in again and placate things before they could escalate beyond repair… something odd happened.

Under everyone's stunned and paralyzed stares, King Gilgamesh reacted once more. He did something unexpected. Something that he had never done so far, not even once, from the very first moment he had decided to reveal himself to the whole group. Something that everyone noticed immediately, especially Archer and Waver.

He parted his lips into a ferocious smile, grinning at Rin with a feral expression.

And upon seeing the grin on his face, upon seeing that cold, cruel smirk on his lips – one that was not too dissimilar from the one his Archer version used to wear most of the time – Heroic Spirit Emiya couldn't help but startle and widen his eyes, as a short but clear realization suddenly flashed inside of his head.

His mind connected the dots in but a few seconds.

Everything he had witnessed so far had not been for naught.
This was all part of Gilgamesh's plan.

Grey eyes narrowed in worry at the realization. Steeled mind flooded with suspicion and doubts.

This outcome… it was something Caster had already foreseen.
Angering Rin had been his plan from the beginning.

And as if on cue, Gilgamesh's following words only served to confirm Archer's suspicion in a very obvious and direct way.

"In that case: why don't you prove it, then?"

His voice was both amused and challenging. The smirk on his lips was both cold and solemn at the same time.

Rin faltered for a second, caught by surprise by his reaction. "…what?" she asked, frowning in suspicion under that wide, unreadable smile.

Caster just chuckled to himself, seemingly amused by the current turn of events. He ignored the girl with raven hair, turning his head to stare at the whole group instead, addressing them as a whole. "Boring as this is, there's no helping it. If I were to leave you lots in the dark, things would become difficult in the long run. That would be troublesome to handle, even for me. Thus, since both Saber and his Master are not willing to listen, I shall give you one more chance."

Everyone fell silent at the King's statement, feeling their wariness and confusion grow exponentially.

"W-What?" Rin asked, unable to understand. "What are you talking about?"

Even Saber took a step forward, shielding his Master with his face morphed into a hostile frown. "What are you planning, Caster?"

"That is obvious, Saber," Gilgamesh answered easily, almost with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "If you and your Master truly wish to fight, then I shall grant you a chance to do so. I will examine your resolve through your actions, in order to let you see who is right. You fools do not believe me… thus, I shall let your actions decide. You will see who is right with your own eyes, all in due time," he explained.

Heroic Spirit Emiya furrowed his brows, feeling his suspicion grow all the more.

Artoria couldn't believe her ears. "W-What is it that you're planning?" she stuttered, feeling – and sharing – her Servant's uneasiness through their bond.

King Gilgamesh turned his back to them, staring at the city of Fuyuki from the rooftop of the shopping center.

"Tonight, you mongrels shall settle your dispute," he stated in a mysterious way, as if his word was law. There was no command, no hint of suggestion or exhortation in his tone. He was just stating a fact, as if everything he was saying was bound to happen regardless of their choices and actions. "One fight. I shall grant you all one, more fight. A battle that will decide the fate of this conflict. I shall witness with my own eyes if you fools have a chance to improve and advance towards the truth... or if you'll lose your lives and fail miserably in your quest."

Archer and Artoria tensed in wariness. Rider and Waver gaped in disbelief. Lancer and Bazett frowned in suspicion.

Saber and Rin, however, scowled at him in anger instead. "I don't believe you," the King of Knights stated again, as if he could never trust in that man's words no matter what he could say.

The King of Heroes just shook his head with disinterest. He didn't even glance back in their direction. "A foolish illusion will become a delusion, Saber," he remarked, unfazed, shooting a cold stare to the world and the city below. Then, his lips curved into an unreadable smile. "But I'm aware that no amount of words is going to work with you. Your desperation comes from a visceral regret, after all. One that goes even beyond yourself and your story. Tonight, you shall come to understand that there is no undoing what is done."

"You're wrong!" Saber denied vehemently, unable to accept that horrible outcome. "I refuse to believe that!"

Gilgamesh grinned, wide and confident.

"Then prove it."

He rounded on them once again, crossing his arms and staring at the group with a commanding expression, while his whole body was bathed by the bright sunlight.

"Listen well and mark my words, mongrels: tonight, all of you shall face each other in battle!" he declared. "Your refuse to reach an agreement, stubbornly holding to your beliefs and persisting in rejecting the truth. Therefore, let your conviction unfold through your actions instead of words. Tonight, you will all fight and struggle to make your reasoning prevail… until only one truth shall remain untethered in the end."

Everyone listened to the King's words with a tense and wary face.

"…so you're saying that we should settle our dispute through a battle?" Lancer deduced, both serious and cold as she realized the meaning behind those words.

Gilgamesh nodded in response, calm and poised. "I shall allow you one more fight. Then, all your quarrels must be settled once and for all. After tonight, I will not allow this stalemate to continue any longer. Is that clear?" he ordered, this time with a clear hint of command in his tone.

All the members of the group shared a silent glance. None of them knew how to react to this unexpected outcome.

Until, Waver Velvet decided to voice his opinion. "I refuse to fight my own allies," he declared.

Artoria and Bazett nodded as well. "Indeed. The three of us have joined hands in alliance. We don't wish to fight each other anymore," the young heir of the Pendragon line stated with a serious tone, her words supported by Archer, Rider and Lancer, who all nodded their heads in agreement.

Gilgamesh merely shrugged. "Then you shall fight together. The result won't change," he replied.

As expected, Rin openly took offence to that. A great offence.

"Are you kidding me? Me and Saber are alone! How are we supposed to fight this battle when it's six against two?!" she exploded, clearly displeased by that unjust prospect.

For once, Emiya agreed with her. Even though their current alliance was the result of Tohsaka's foolish choices, the prospect that Caster was offering them was not a fair one for Rin and Saber. Fighting six against two wasn't fair; and it had been precisely because of this that Archer himself had tried to use their current numerical superiority to bring both Saber and his Master to their side before their previous dispute. Alliances and agreements between different factions were nothing new during a Holy Grail War – the alliance between Tohsaka and a certain idiotic boy being a clear example of this during all of his previous experiences – but as of now, Archer knew that agreeing to these terms was unjust for Saber and Rin. Those two were strong and skilled, no doubt, but even for them it would be impossible to face Archer, Rider and Lancer in battle at the same time.

King Arthur was powerful indeed, but even he had his limits. He could probably fight against two Servants combined and still have a high chance of winning… but fighting against three? One of which was also specialized in long-distance attacks? That was nearly impossible. There was no way for a Servant to leave a battle unscathed while facing three enemies at the same time, even if said Servant somehow managed to resist until the very end. Emiya knew that all too well, thanks to his countless experiences and all the battlefields he had experienced so far. Accepting such a deal was suicidal. It was simply a matter of logic.

Therefore, Rin's outraged protests were justified. Everyone would have done the same, in her place.

Yet, once again, Gilgamesh dismissed the girl's worries with a wave of the hand.

"You don't need to worry about that, mongrel. Saber and you shall not be alone in this fight," he readily countered, unfazed. He looked downright bored as he made that statement, gazing at the city with unreadable orbs.

Many eyes widened in but an instant after those sudden and unexpected words. Even the cold and calculating Emiya couldn't help but frown in suspicion after hearing them, while the rest of the group tensed and gasped in shock and confusion altogether.

"What do you mean by that?" the Counter Guardian demanded, suspicious.

Caster smirked at their stunned faces. "While I'm not going to take part in tonight's events, Saber and his Master shall not be alone in their fight," the golden Servant explained with ease, as if it were a foregone conclusion. He turned his back on the group again, stepping closer to the edge of the rooftop while he kept staring at the city and the streets below filled with life. "A King must always be fair in his decision, and it wouldn't be fair for them to fight against you all when there's only two of them. Wouldn't you agree, Saber?"

Oddly enough, the King of Knights couldn't retort to that.

"But then, who will fight with us?" Rin asked, unable to understand what he was implying.

Once again, the King of Heroes replied with more cryptic words. The smile on his lips was both serious and amused as he spoke his next statement. "All you need to know is that you won't be alone in tonight's battle," he solemnly declared. "That is… as long as you follow my instructions, of course."

Everyone physically startled after hearing that. Waver, Artoria and Bazett shared a concerned glance.

"Your instructions?" Saber repeated, unconvinced.

Caster smiled at him, almost innocently. "It's nothing major, really. I shall simply decide the location where the battle will unfold. If you agree to that, then I shall give you my word that you and your Master won't be alone in the fight, and that you will have a fair chance at winning in spite of the odds," he merely explained with ease, his tone both amused and serious as he made his point cross. "Does this sounds acceptable enough to you, King of Knights?"

For the first time ever, Saber seemed to seriously ponder and consider Gilgamesh's words. His young and proud Master was doing the same next to him, her face marred with a pensive expression.

Lord El-Melloi II couldn't just stand by and do nothing, arrived at this point. "And where, exactly, is this place?" he inquired immediately, unwilling to relent and be left in the dark.

Gilgamesh smiled as he glanced at him, wide and solemn.

"The Einzbern Forest," he replied.

As expected, the reactions were immediate.

Eyes widened out of humans proportions. Gasps and curses filled the air. Silence and tension fell on the rooftop of the shopping center after the King of Heroes made his latest statement, freezing the atmosphere for what seemed like an eternity.

Everyone stared at Caster with eyes filled with shock and suspicion mixed together.

And all the while, Heroic Spirit Emiya clenched a trembling fist, realizing the truth in but a few seconds.

Of course, he inwardly realized. I should have known. So that's what he's planning.

Obviously, he wasn't the only one who reached the same conclusion.

"Y-You want us to fight alongside the Einzberns?" Saber deduced, connecting the dots with wide eyes as realization dawned upon him. Next to him, Rin looked as baffled and stunned as never before. "No… you want us to join forces with them? Create another faction?"

Indeed. The King of Knights was right.

Just like Lord-Ell Melloi II had done with Bazett and Artoria. Now, given the circumstances, Gilgamesh was suggesting the exact same thing.

Three Masters and three Servants had already joined hands in alliance… so why couldn't the ones remaining do the same? With Lancer, Rider and Archer joining forces under the same goal, the other Masters and Servants pairs could be induced to do the same. They could create their own faction as well, in order to balance the scales and answer to the enemy faction in kind.

Everyone immediately understood that. It was so logical and immediate that none could fail to realize it.

On his part, King Gilgamesh merely shrugged with a serious face after Saber's unconvinced question. "Does it matter that much?" he asked back at him, the veil attached to his crown fluttering under the fresh autumn breeze. "Three Masters have already joined hands in alliance right in front of your face, Saber. Is it wrong for you and that girl to do the same with the ones who share your same view about the War?"

For the first time ever since she had come to the meeting, Rin's face shone with glimmer of hope after hearing that statement. Saber remained as expressionless as before, but even his emerald eyes seemed to grow pensive after a few moments. After all, he couldn't exactly deny that Caster's reasoning was legit, to an extent.

At the same time, however, Artoria's face and that of her own allies fell more and more after grasping that worrying realization.

"The Masters of Lancer, Rider and Archer have formed an alliance," Caster continued to say, unfazed by the reactions around him. "That only leaves the Masters of Assassin and Berserker to be found. If you manage to join forces with them, then you won't be at disadvantage anymore. Who knows… you may even manage to turn the tide of the conflict in your favor, isn't that right?"

It was. The King's reasoning was both logical and practical. Everyone could already understand that.

"And what about you, then?" Scathach demanded all of a sudden. She took a step forward amid the paralyzed silence, glaring at the King of Heroes with eyes of death while the rest of the group turned towards her. "What will you do if the rest of us will join a faction?"

"That's right. Are you telling us that you won't be threatened, even if every single Master and Servant out there will be joining a faction?" Waver added as well, unwilling to relent about this. "And what about your Master, then? Do they have nothing to say about this?"

Contrary to what they were expecting, Gilgamesh just closed his eyes at those questions, sighing a bit with a disappointed face. "Humpf. Mongrels will always be mongrels, no matter the age. You really do not understand, do you?" he mused, looking deeply displeased by their reactions and words.

Seeing the frowning, confused faces of the group, he shook his head and sighed again.

"…no matter. As I said, I shall not involve myself in tonight's events. You do not need to worry about my Master either. They're inconsequential," he merely explained, keeping his expression unreadable as he spoke those words to Saber and Rin, ignoring the rest of the group entirely. "This is the only option you have if you wish to fight fairly tonight. It's either that, or face the rest of these lots on your own. I trust you to take a decision seriously, Saber."

Archer watched in silent concern as King Arthur fell silent at Gilgamesh's words, observing him with a suspicious stare for a few seconds filled with tension and uneasiness. Then, the blonde Servant shared a glance with his Master – plausibly speaking to her through their bond, he inwardly realized – before steeling his face with an unreadable expression.

This time, it was Rin who decided to speak. "Let's say we agree to your terms. What should we do reach an agreement with them?" she asked, direct and straightforward as it was expected of a Magus of her lineage. "I know for a fact that the Einzbern Family has summoned the Berserker class Servant, but in our current state, I have no means to reach out to them. Even if I show up at their doorstep, I don't know if they'll agree to talk with me," she pointed out.

Even amid that tense situation, the tiny little detail revealed by Rin's words didn't go unnoticed by Archer and his allies.

Berserker belonged to the Einzberns. She had been summoned by the Einzbern family.

Emiya exhaled a breath.

Some things never change, indeed.

Once again, Gilgamesh dismissed Rin's worries with but a few words. "That won't be an issue. Tread into the homunculus' domain by night, and you shall have your alliance," he spoke, as if his prediction was bound to happen no matter what the future could hold.

Rin was still skeptical, however. "And what about… the other one?" she pressed, narrowing her aqua eyes on him.

Caster glanced at her, unflinchingly. "Do not ask for something you already know, mongrel. My patience is not infinite," was his cold and emotionless reply.

Seconds passed, followed by silence. For what seemed to be an eternity, no one dared to speak.

In the end, eventually, both Arthur and Tohsaka nodded their heads.

"…very well. We agree to this fight," Rin decided in a serious tone, fixing the group with a haughty stare.

Waver and Charlemagne frowned. Bazett and Scathach sighed. Artoria and Emiya tensed in resignation.

And King Gilgamesh grinned with a cold expression, flashing to the entire group a cold, strange smile.

"A wise choice indeed," he relented, mollified after hearing their final decision. His golden gauntlet openly creaked as he rested it on his hip with a lazy movement. "Only a fool would have refused the King's suggestion. I suppose you two will manage to avoid a premature demise, for now."

"Spare us your empty threats, Caster. Our decision is now made," Saber cut him off sternly, unfazed by the sarcasm. The distrust in his gaze was still present even now. "Fighting against them on our own was a self-defeating choice, and my Master and I know how to be practical. We will not give up without a fight."

Then, suddenly and without a warning, the King of Knights turned his eyes away from Caster, fixing his cold, emotionless gaze on another duo amid the group.

Heroic Spirit Emiya and Artoria Pendragon stared back at him in silence, the former with sheer apathy and the latter with visible distaste and rage.

Saber looked at them both – glaring – while something cold and unrelenting flashing inside his emerald orbs. "…we shall face them in battle, and settle our dispute once and for all," he stated, deadly serious. "We'll see which of our resolve shall prevail in the end. I shan't give up my goal, no matter what anyone says."

Archer narrowed his eyes, while Artoria clenched her fists.

Clearly, none of them was willing to relent on this. Their previous disagreement and dispute had been halted for the moment, but it was NOT over yet. Not by a long shot. And that could only mean one thing.

Once more, those three were bound to clash in the future. It had already been decided.

Gilgamesh merely smiled at the scene, unfazed by the display of animosity between Saber, Archer and Artoria. "That is acceptable. Thus, my part here is done. I shall take my leave at once," he declared out of the blue, seemingly satisfied with this outcome for some reason.

Having said that, the golden Servant turned away one last time, taking a few steps towards the opposite side of the rooftop without sparing the group a single glance. Everyone stared at him in confusion after his unexpected decision, feeling too stunned and paralyzed by the sudden turn of events to actually manage to call him back.

Only Waver Velvet remained focused with a narrowed frown as Caster moved to leave. "Tell me, King of Heroes, will this be our last meeting?" he asked, calling him back with a serious voice.

"I should hope not," Gilgamesh answered. "I still have much to see in this age. A King's work is never done, and this is just the beginning. There is much to be done, and we all shall do our part."

Caster trailed off, and Emiya could detect something left unsaid by the King of Heroes. Even with his countless experiences, however, he could not begin to fathom what it was.

Fast as a heartbeat, though, Gilgamesh's smile returned once more. Archer and Artoria narrowed their eyes as the King of Heroes glanced at them both, before staring at the group with a cold, unreadable face. "Do not fret," Gilgamesh called out, one last time. "Everything shall unfold as it is meant to be."

Then, he disappeared, dissolving his body in a cloud of golden dust.

"This Holy Grail War shall be interesting indeed."

With those final parting words, he was gone. Disappeared without a trace.

Silence returned once more, absolute and tense as never before.

"…we should leave as well," Rin Tohsaka suddenly declared. "There's nothing more to discuss."

Without waiting for the others' reply, the girl with raven hair suddenly moved as well, taking her leave with a haughty step and leaving the rooftop of Fuyuki's greatest shopping center. Saber followed her close, sparing one last glance at both Archer and Artoria before walking away. Emiya watched them leave with a narrowed frown, feeling deeply irked by the fact that his previous plan had been all but ruined by Gilgamesh's sudden intrusion. He had expected a lot of things from this meeting, but the appearance of the King of Heroes had not been one of them.

The white-haired man exhaled a sigh, donning a hand over his temples in frustration. Once again, he had been careless. He hadn't been able to anticipate this outcome. And now, because of this, the future was looking more uncertain than ever, and the previous advantage they had gained with the alliance had been compromised once more.

Their odds didn't look so good anymore.

"Well… that went well, right?" Charlemagne mused awkwardly, trying to lift the mood with a sheepish smile and a clap of his hands.

As usual, everyone ignored him.

Bazett glanced at the door leading to the staircase with a conflicted face. "Should we really let them go like this?" she asked, still trying to figure out a way to stop Saber and his Master from gaining an advantage on them. "If those two manage to reach the forest, they might actually form an alliance with the Einzberns."

"Leave them be, Master," Scathach stopped her, closing her eyes with an emotionless expression as she finally relaxed for the first time ever since Caster had appeared. "We cannot fight them during the day. Not here, not like this. The risk of involving civilians and being discovered is too high. We have no choice but to wait for the night."

The woman with magenta hair looked like she wanted to protest, but Lord-El Melloi II beat her to the punch.

"Lancer is right. There's nothing we can do," the Lord of the Clock Tower agreed, taking out a cigar from his pocket and lighting its tip with a weary expression. His face seemed to have aged several times after having met the King of Heroes for the second time in his life. "Moreover, if we really want to have a chance at winning this fight, it's best not to go against Caster's wishes for now. That man is dangerous. Extremely dangerous, trust me. I have seen it with my own eyes."

Everyone fell silent after those dejected words. They all knew that Waver was right, after all.

And thus, for the second time after barely ten minutes, no one knew what to do to in order to improve the current situation.

"Archer… what should we do now?" Artoria asked, turning to the tanned man with concern on her face.

Oddly enough, her Servant offered no answer, staring at the horizon with cold, distant eyes.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

"Heeeh… what a surprise, Tohsaka!"

Both me and Rin tense as we hear the sudden intrusion. I turn my gaze towards the entrance, staring at the figure walking down the stairs with an unreadable frown. From the other side of the room, Rin does the same, even as she remains tied on the chair. Even though she's faced with this unpleasant turn of events due to my previous betrayal, she remains strong and calm, unwilling to show weakness.

Shinji Matou walks in the basement. "I was skeptical, but you really are here. Hehehe!"

Rin seems surprised by his presence. "Shinji?"

I, on my part, am not. "…visitors, huh? I came here because I thought we wouldn't be disturbed," I muse in a monotone, my voice lacking any form of emotion and thought.

"Hey, now… no funny business, Archer. I'm not here for you," Shinji immediately says, raising his hands in a placating gesture as he keeps walking towards Rin with a smile on his lips. The twisted glint in his eyes is almost appalling to me. "In fact, I should warn you: you're outmatched right now."

I am not fazed by his words, nor surprised by the current outcome. My goal is close to grasp, and my mind is absolutely still.

For that reason alone, when a second figure steps inside the basement that I've chosen as Rin's containment room, my expression does not falter, nor my emotions stir one bit.

Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, glares at me coldly, his face morphed into an emotionless frown.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Kurokizaka District – Semina Apartments

(======)

"So you really want to go through with this?" Bazett asked, looking both wary and perplexed as she made that question.

Artoria eyed her sternly. "What choice do we have? Have you not heard the Lord's words just now? If Caster is truly as powerful as he says, then we must do this. It's not a matter of wants," she stressed.

"The King of Heroes defeated my Rider with incredible ease during the Fourth Holy Grail War," Waver Velvet confirmed, once more. His face looked both sad and weary as he recalled the events of his previous War, along with the defeat of his beloved King. Some things would always hurt no matter how much time passed. "We couldn't even touch him at all, back then. And somehow… I have a feeling that this Caster version of him is even more dangerous than the Archer I've faced ten years ago. I don't know how to explain it, but I'm certain of it."

Hearing that statement, Bazett fell silent with a frown on her face, while Artoria's lips pursed into a tight line out of worry.

Silence descended in the room, drenching the private suite with a heavy atmosphere. Right now, the three Masters who had joined in alliance were currently located inside the wide living room of Artoria's grand suite in the Semina Apartments, all of them seated around the round, wooden table placed on the right side of the room; with their Servants staring at the scene closely as the three humans kept talking and discussing among themselves. Lancer was standing with her arms crossed next to the window leading to balcony, while Rider was seated on the large couch in the middle of the room, looking as carefree and happy as he could ever be.

Not that such a scene was shocking, however. After the previous meeting with Rin and Saber had ended in failure – thanks to Gilgamesh's unexpected intrusion – the three young Masters and their respective Servants had opted to regroup and find a private location to talk, in order to discuss the previous events and decide what to do. Therefore, since Artoria's apartment was the biggest and widest location they could use at the moment, they'd decided to come here and share a productive talk, in order to formulate a strategy before the battle.

And as it was to be expected, tension ran high amid the group. Everyone was still trying to process everything they had witnessed a few hours ago.

Bazett's frown deepened, her shoulders dropping slightly as she exhaled a long breath. "I get that he's dangerous… but I still don't understand why we should comply to his will," she said in obvious frustration, voicing her doubts with a strong, resolute tone. "We can't just barge into the Einzbern Forest and pick a fight with them just because a Servant has ordered us to do so. This is just reckless. We should avoid the fight altogether, in my opinion. At least for tonight."

"Respectfully, I disagree," Artoria interjected, keeping her eyes closed and her body rigid in poised calm as she decided to intervene again. "If we were to remain hidden and avoid tonight's battle, the enemy will surely manage to make contact with the Einzbern family. In the worst case scenario, they might even be able to join forces with them. We should prevent that from happening, while we can."

"And while that is a valid point, we still don't know if that outcome is really going to happen or not," the heir of the Fraga line countered, moving a strand of magenta hair from her face. "In the first place, we don't even know if Caster was actually telling the truth. For all we know, this whole situation could be a trap. Maybe he is the one scheming with the Einzberns… haven't you thought about that?"

Artoria fell silent at the rebuke, scowling a bit as she thought about that plausibility. In all honesty, she hadn't considered that option.

Yet, again, Lord El-Melloi II seemed to disagree. He shook his head with a pensive expression. "I don't believe that's the case. Different he may be, but the King of Heroes doesn't seem the type to lie and use such unorthodox methods. When he wants something, he simply takes it. And when he says something, he means it, no matter how absurd it could be. That's how he was, even in the previous War."

Scathach spoke from the other side of the room. "I agree. That man struck me in a very bad way, but I could not detect any deceit in his words. His gaze and aura were odd too. He's extremely dangerous, even for a Servant's standards. We should not underestimate him," she said in utmost seriousness, as an advice for her Master.

The solemn words of the Queen of Shadows made Bazett reconsider her thoughts.

Charlemagne hummed in a pensive tone. "He did seem a little off to me too… maybe he's just too amazing for mortal minds to understand," he mused innocently, almost with a hint of admiration.

Everyone eyed the young Knight sternly after his dismissive – and childish – reasoning. Lord El-Melloi II openly sighed at his Servant's foolishness. "Rider, you should really take this matter more seriously. Also, next time, I would really appreciate it if you could stop acting friendly with an enemy and complementing them so much. Especially in front of your own allies," he ordered, with no small amount of annoyance in his tone.

The young Rider just laughed sheepishly at the jab, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Ahahah… I mean, he looks cool, right? I just couldn't help it."

In that moment, Archer returned. He stepped inside the living room from the door leading to the kitchen, carrying a silver tray with tea and biscuits in his hands. Once he reached the others, he gently placed the tray on the table with a casual movement, serving the tea to his Master and her guests in affable swiftness.

"Thank you, Archer," Artoria thanked him with a grateful smile, to which he answered with a simple nod.

Both Waver and Bazett looked confused by Emiya's odd gesture, even more so because Artoria seemed to be completely used to it. After all, it was not common for a Servant – a Heroic Spirit, hence: a deadly warrior who was supposed to be a Hero of old – to dabble in such mundane practices such as serving others and brewing tea. However, as soon as they took a sip from their cups, their eyes widened out of human proportions, stunned by the taste of the drink. They hadn't expected it to taste so good.

"…I had no idea a Servant could be so skilled in brewing drinks," Bazett admitted, staring at her tea in obvious shock. Even compared to her standards, the taste of the steaming liquid was exceptional. "This is very good, Archer."

"That's right. I'm impressed," the Lord of the Clock Tower concurred as well. And hearing such a statement from a man coming from Britain, of all places… it had to mean something.

Emiya just accepted their praise with closed eyes, placing a hand on his left hip. "I'm glad you guys like it," was all he said.

Scathach openly smirked at his poker face. "My, my, Archer. It seems you're full of surprises," she teased him.

He was not fazed. "Spare me the sarcasm. I'm not going to make it for you guys."

Charlemagne's face openly fell at that, his expression sulking in a very obvious way. "Huh?! But why?! I want to try it too!" he complained, like a child who had just been denied of his favorite toy.

"Servants don't need food. You're free to eat and drink when you're on your own outside, but I'm not going to waste time doing something unnecessary for you two," Emiya droned, completely serious in his explanation. As a practical man, that answer was due for him. Almost foregone, rude as it was.

"That's right! Archer's cooking skills are only for me to enjoy!" Artoria boasted with a solemn face, puffing her chest in obvious pride as she made that statement. The smile blossoming on her face looked both solemn and childish too, coupled with her rosy cheeks. She seriously felt incredibly lucky to have summoned such a skillful Servant. Her gluttonous side would forever treasure that gem for as long as she could.

Rider's jaw fell to the floor after hearing that. Even Lancer, Waver and Bazett looked stunned for a moment.

"Y-You can even cook?!" the King of Franks stammered, astonished by the revelation. His eyes began to literally gleam in admiration. "Man, that's cool! A Heroic Spirit and a chef… that's a whole new level of awesomeness!"

Archer just sighed in annoyance as everyone began staring at him, donning a hand over his face. He did not like the piercing look that Lancer was shooting at him from the other side of the room. He did not like it one bit. "Master, can you please stop it with these unnecessary comments? You're ruining my reputation," he grunted, feeling exasperated.

"S-Sorry, Archer…" she muttered.

Lord El-Melloi II just sighed at the whole scene. "Anyway, let's get back to the topic at hand," he spoke, bringing everyone back to focus. His black eyes glanced to every single person in the room. "We need to decide. What should we do about tonight's battle?"

Everyone shared a glance after hearing the Lord's question. Archer observed the scene with a calculating gaze and a neutral expression, placing himself to the left side of the room and leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

The silence stretched itself for a few moments of tension and uncertainty.

Until, Artoria was the first one to break it. "I think we should go," she spoke first, her face solemn and resolute as she made her intention known.

Rider nodded from the couch, raising his hand like a child. "Me too! Hiding is boring!" he pointed out.

"I agree with the young girl. We should do something while we can," Scathach concurred as well, closing her eyes as she took a seat at the table next to her Master. Her dark and regal composure made everyone pause as she spoke her words. "Regardless of what Caster's true intentions are, it is undeniable that both Saber and his Master are going to make contact with the Einzberns tonight. If we don't go there and stop them, things will become difficult."

"Indeed. That is something we shouldn't overlook," the black-haired Lord mused. Even he seemed to agree with their reasoning, staring at nothing as he rested his arms on the table, holding his cup of tea with both hands. "Arrived at this point, it is safe to say that Miss Tohsaka is clearly against the idea of dismantling the Greater Grail. We can no longer deny it, after everything we've seen today. Therefore, our biggest priority right now should be preventing her from making contact with the Einzbern family. No matter what happens from now on, we cannot allow another faction to be born. We would lose our current advantage, if that were to happen. For this reason alone, we must reach the Einzbern Castle located inside the forest, and make contact with their Master before Miss Tohsaka can. The Lords of the Clock Tower warned me about the Einzberns, and we must take this matter seriously."

Artoria nodded in obvious agreement while Bazett pondered those words for a bit.

All the while, Archer struggled hard to keep his expression neutral as he listened from the side.

Ah, yes… the Einzbern Castle . A place that held many unpleasant memories for him.

For several reasons.

"Besides, fighting against them should not be an issue for us," Artoria suddenly added, looking and sounding very determined. She shared a glance with Archer, who – much to her silent shock – remained unexpectedly silent and with his eyes closed throughout all that speech. "Archer and I have already faced both Saber and Berserker in battle. Since we've now learned that Berserker belongs to the Einzbern family, we should be prepared to face anything they could throw at us. If we managed to best them once, we can do it again. Especially now that we're together," she stressed.

Bazett seemed to be still a bit hesitant in spite of that. "…I do see your point. But what about the Bounded Field that surrounds the forest?" she pointed out, addressing the elephant in the room. "According to the intel I've gathered, the Einzbern Castle and its domain are surrounded by a powerful spell that allows them to detect anyone entering the forest. Once we step inside the woods, they'll know that we're coming. Are we really prepared to face them in spite of that? We're talking about one of the Three Founding Families here. And we still don't even know who the Einzbern Master is, moreover."

Artoria eyed the older woman with a hint of annoyance. "So what? Don't tell me that you're scared just because of that?" she asked, going straight to the point. "You seemed so confident and brave until yesterday, so what's changed now? Are you telling us that all that confidence was just an act?"

"That was before my Servant was defeated in battle by a certain someone," Bazett countered, shooting an annoyed glance towards Lancer. To her credit, the spearwoman remained completely unfazed by the jab, keeping her eyes closed and her face a mask of poised calm. "Since I've already lost my first fight against you two, I would like to make sure I'm prepared before heading into another battle again. Is that so wrong to you, Miss Pendragon?"

While the woman and the young girl glared at each other, someone decided to cut in the discussion.

"Archer."

Emiya opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of his interlocutor with a blank face.

The King of Franks looked at him with a serious expression. For once, his childish and carefree behavior seemed to be completely gone, replaced by an unreadable frown. "You've been unusually silent so far. Why is that?" the young Rider inquired to him, suddenly sounding more serious than usual.

Everyone turned to the tanned Servant at that point, intrigued by the scene and Rider's question. After all, they couldn't exactly deny that Archer had yet to say what he thought about this matter. That man was a mystery for all of them – Artoria included – but he had never hesitated to voice his opinion or make his decisions known during the previous discussions. Now, however, he seemed to be more silent than usual. More distracted, than usual. And they needed to know why.

On his part, Emiya just raised a brow. "I don't recall being a very talkative type in the first place," he countered.

Charlemagne faltered for a moment. He couldn't retort to that. "Even still, I would like to hear your opinion," he pressed, unwilling to relent.

"…and why is that?" Archer droned, calm and collected as ever.

Rider just tilted his head to the side, perplexed by his lack of reaction. "I mean… you're the strongest among us, right?" he asked, sounding genuinely confused by his behavior. "You're the one whose opinion should matter the most in this. Yet, you're not saying anything, and that's unusual. Why won't you say what you think?"

Emiya just stared at him blankly after that question. His face and expression were completely stoic.

Until, he answered with another question.

"…are you stupid?"

The King of Franks blinked, surprised by his reaction. "Huh?"

Seeing his perplexed face – along with those of the rest of the group – the tanned Servant exhaled a sigh. "Rider, I'm not the strongest of the group. Far from it. Actually, if we're talking about stats and skills alone, I am the weakest. Even you are probably stronger than me on that regard. By a long shot," he explained, calm and emotionless, as if he was merely stating a fact.

And sad as it was, it was true. In a certain way, Heroic Spirit Emiya was not a powerful Servant at all. His stats and abilities left a lot to be desired, his speed and reflexes were average at best compared to those of the most common Heroic Spirits, and even his legend was also non-existent at all. He was just a Nameless, foolish bowman who had become a Hero by chasing a misguided ideal for all his life, even going as far as selling away his soul and his afterlife in pursuit of a foolish dream. It was no wonder why he was so lacking compared to the rest of them, in so many ways.

The only strength he had was the knowledge he had accumulated throughout his eternity of working as a Counter Guardian, along with the weapons he had stored in his Reality Marble thanks to his deployments. If it weren't for those things, Archer was sure that he wouldn't even qualify as a Heroic Spirit at all. Just because he could defend himself against stronger opponents and remain alive longer than he had any right to, that didn't mean that he was powerful. Not even by a long shot.

He was just a one-trick-pony. Nothing more.

Still, even in spite of that, Charlemagne didn't seem to believe him in full. "Being powerful is not just a matter of strength, Archer," he insisted.

"Rider is right!" Artoria cut in the discussion, suddenly looking very determined. The admiration and resolve flashing inside her eyes as she gazed at him were just too obvious to be missed. "I mean; look at what you've done so far. You forced Berserker to retreat two days ago, right? You fought against Saber in close combat and stalled him until the end, did you not? And you even managed to win the duel against Lancer yesterday, an opponent not even Rider could defeat! How could you possibly think so low of yourself, Archer? You are a strong Servant. Your actions have all but proved it!"

Despite his Master's strong appraisal of him, Emiya did not share her enthusiasm one bit.

"You misunderstand, Master," he countered with a low tone, grunting. "Winning and achieving results during a War is not a testament of strength. As I said to you before, I am a versatile tool, but one that can be easily broken. There's only so much I can do on my own, and that remains an unavoidable fact. Just because I have a few tricks up my sleeve, it doesn't mean I am powerful."

"Having tricks up your sleeve is a form of strength too, Archer," Scathach interjected from the other side, deadly serious. Her crimson eyes were gazing at him sharply as she observed his face. "Stop being so stubborn and admit it. You may be lacking in physical strength and Mana, but your skills and cunning are a powerful weapon too. You should have more pride in yourself."

Emiya openly scoffed at her words, unimpressed. "Pride, you say? You can feed it to the dogs, for all I care. It served me nothing so far."

Lancer glowered at him in anger after his crude and sarcastic words – and especially after his mention of dogs, moreover – but Emiya ignored her completely, even in spite of her terrifying glare. That woman could think whatever she wanted about him and his condition, but he refused to play along with her schemes. He wasn't that stupid.

Before things could escalate, Lord El-Melloi II decided to intervene.

"Be as it may, it's an undisputable fact that you're the one who has done the most so far, Archer," the black-haired Lord spoke, trying to make his point cross. "We've come so far only thanks to your cunning and your strategies. Your mindset and the way you strategize are a valuable asset; one that I cannot let go to waste, especially under the current circumstances. There is no doubt that you're a great asset for our alliance. I'm sure everyone here agrees with me."

Emiya sighed, closing his eyes amid the nods of agreement. "You're overestimating my abilities," he tried to deflect.

"Maybe so. Even still, we have no choice now. You're our best bet," the Magus replied, adamant. Emiya had to give him credit for that. This man had a way with words. He was clearly used at acting as a diplomatic figure. "So, what do you say? I too wish to know your opinion about this matter."

The Counter Guardian exhaled a breath as he thought about it, long and hard.

In all honesty, he knew that they had a point. Even if he did not agree with them about his strength and greatness – he did not agree on that one single bit – he could not exactly deny that he was acting a bit weird right now, compared to his usual self. His current silence and hesitation were not due to his lack of self-esteem at all, but they were still there nonetheless. They were unconsciously hindering him, making him hesitate, and the others were starting to notice that.

But even in spite of that, he could not reveal the reason behind his silence to them. He absolutely could not do that for any reason.

For the matter that was making him hesitate… it was personal. Far too personal to be shared.

And delicate too.

The Einzberns…

Yet, in the end, Emiya silenced his doubts, banishing away his insecurities and dismissing his thoughts about a… certain someone. Then, he reopened his eyes with a long, weary breath. And since the whole room had fallen into an awkward silence all around him, the white-haired Servant who had seen hell and who had fought countless battles finally decided to relent a bit.

Very well, then, he thought. Since everyone here is suddenly so keen on learning my opinion on the matter, I will share it. There is no harm done.

He finally opened his lips, and shared his opinion with the others. "Personally, I agree with my Master," he declared, making Artoria smile a little in glee at his straightforward admission. The rest of them kept listening in with rapt attention "Whether we like it or not, we cannot ignore the possibility of our enemies joining forces against us. So far, we've managed to keep the conflict at bay by talking things out between us, peacefully. If another faction gets created, the current stalemate will shatter, and things will surely get bloody. That is an outcome I would like to avoid."

Lancer observed him closely. "Why is that?" she asked, curiously.

Emiya eyed her sideways. "Our goal is not to win the Grail, but to put an end to Ritual itself," he explained, adamantly. "In order to do that, we need to discover the truth; and in order to discover the truth, we need to stay together. If we truly wish to have a chance at this, then we need to make every Servant and every Master out there join our cause. Creating two factions and waging war against each other would be counterproductive."

That was the reasoning behind his choice. And as far as he was concerned, nothing he had said so far was neither a lie nor a half-truth.

After all, the goal he was striving to achieve in this War was one: discovering the truth. His current objective was not winning the Grail, nor playing along with Caster's untold schemes. On the contrary, his goal was to learn more about this peculiar Holy Grail War, and prevent the Grail from damaging the world in case it was already corrupted (like what had happened in all of his previous experiences). That outcome was something he had experienced many times before. Far too many. He had seen the deaths and the screams and the sufferings so many times that he had lost count of it. Therefore, if there was a chance to avoid that scenario here, in this odd and peculiar timeline, then he would do anything in order to grasp that chance.

It was simply a matter of logic. And unlike his younger self, Heroic Spirit Emiya was a man of logic. He was no longer the foolish boy of his youth.

Therefore, he decided to act. "In order to avoid that scenario, we must make sure that no alliance will be made tonight," he continued to say, emotionless. His face and gaze betrayed nothing as he stared at the group. "And I have a few suggestions, if you're all willing to listen."

"Of course! You know I trust you!" Artoria readily agreed, her lips curved into a huge smile.

Even Waver and Bazett nodded in encouragement, while Lancer and Rider stared at him intently. "Go on, Archer. We're listening," the Lord of the Clock Tower urged him.

The Nameless Hero steeled his mind. Here it goes, then.

"I believe the best strategy would be for us to split into groups," he began to explain, taking a few steps forward. He moved closer to the table, glancing at each and every member of the group. "Scouting the entire forest together would be disadvantageous for us. And while it is true that we would be treading into an unknown territory, we should be able to cover more ground if we split into smaller groups. The enemy forces would be forced to do the same, if they wish to stop us from reaching the Castle."

Everyone nodded in agreement. So far, Archer's reasoning was both logic and practical, and it made sense in a lot of ways. Trudging inside the Einzbern Forest was surely going to be dangerous – since there was no way the enemy would not possess some kind of defense – but even in spite of that, they would have more chances of success if they opted to go into different groups. Especially since Berserker – a Servant capable of using the bow and firing at long distance – was there. Therefore, it was best for them to divide into different groups and split the Huntress' attention rather than storm directly towards the manor as one and give Berserker a chance of firing at the whole group. This kind of reasoning was a common strategy during a War or a battle in general, and it was not an unwise one.

"Then we shall do so," Lord El-Melloi II decided, seeing that everyone in room was agreeing with that plan. "But how should we divide ourselves?"

Bazett raised a brow at him. "Can't we just go with our respective Servants? It would be more practical, since we're already used to each other," she suggested.

Emiya nodded in agreement. "That would certainly be wise," he acknowledged.

"Then it's settled," Artoria declared, resolute. "Lord El-Melloi II shall go with Rider; Miss Bazett with Lancer; and I shall go with Archer."

Charlemagne hummed in thoughts as he pondered that strategy. "I see… but what about Saber and his Master? What should we do about them?" he asked at that point, bringing the main problem back to the table.

Many eyes narrowed in silent concern. That was indeed a good question.

Luckily for them, Emiya had a solution for this. "If I may, I have a suggestion," he spoke, voicing his thoughts without hesitation this time. He couldn't afford to hesitate anymore, given the importance of this matter and the gravity of the situation.

Scathach glanced at him. "Go on."

The red Archer placed a hand on his hip, his face and expression betraying not an ounce of emotion as he spoke his next words. "In order to deal with our enemies, I believe it would be best for each group to focus on a different role," he explained, revealing his plan to all of them without mincing words or hiding any truths. "For example: Lancer. When we step inside the forest and split into different groups, rather than reaching the Castle and regroup with the others, you and your Master should focus your efforts in trying to locate Saber and stop him and his Master from reaching the manor. I would like for you two to deal with them, if you can."

His suggestion made the two women pause for a split-second. Bazett looked confused by that unexpected request, while Scathach wore an intrigued expression on her face. Even the others listened to this with rapt interest.

"What? Why should we do that?" the heir of the Fraga lineage demanded, confused.

Archer glanced at Waver before eyeing them both. "Because, according to the Lord's words, you are a Magus specialized in hunting other Magi," he answered, plain and simple. "That Tohsaka girl is strong, and talented to boot. If she were to make contact with the Einzberns, things could become troublesome. But with your skills as a hunter, stalling her for a bit shouldn't be too hard for you. Am I wrong?"

Bazett looked away, musing over his words for a while with a pensive face. "Well, you're not wrong…" she conceded.

Emiya pressed his advantage. He turned towards Scathach. "Is this option acceptable for you, Lancer?"

The Queen of Shadows merely scoffed a bit at the question. Her crimson eyes stared into his grey ones with unnerving intensity. "Are you sure about this? Aren't you making this suggestion just because you want to keep your Master away from Saber? Especially after… their latest disagreement?" she asked, sounding both serious and sarcastic with that inquiry.

Emiya did not miss the way his young Master bristled in anger at the not-so-subtle implication behind the woman's words, but despite his own annoyance and the irony behind her tone, he wouldn't fall for such a petty trick. His previous experiences had taught him a thing or two, and after fighting against Cu Chulainn so many times… he had grown accustomed at dealing with troublesome Lancers and their sarcastic remarks.

He closed his eyes, morphing his face into a neutral expression as he exhaled a disappointed breath. "Is that so? My apologies, then. I just thought that the great Queen of Shadows would have been fine with facing a powerful opponent," he swiftly deflected, keeping his tone blank and stoic in spite of her previous words. "Saber is the strongest Servant I've met so far. He could have been able to offer you some form of entertainment. Perhaps he's even stronger than y―"

"I'll do it."

Lancer cut him off while he was still finishing that sentence. The purple-haired Servant stated her decision suddenly and strongly, with her eyes closed and her arms crossed above the chest; and she refused to speak further upon making that statement. The others who observed the scene almost gaped in stunned disbelief, unable to understand what they had just witnessed and the reason behind her sudden change of mind – except for Bazett, who just shook her head with a resigned sigh.

On his part, Emiya fought hard to quell a sarcastic smirk from his lips. As expected, that woman was pretty predictable. As long as he managed to touch her right chords, she could be of use to him. At least for now, of course.

He just hoped that Saber would be able to forgive him, after tonight.

"…what about us, Archer?" Lord El-Melloi II asked at that point, grabbing his attention and making the white-haired man turn to him slightly. "Do you have some plan for me and Rider, too?"

Once more, Emiya nodded his head in confirmation. As expected of Waver, he was catching on pretty fast. The Magus knew that Archer had a plan, and that there was a specific reason behind his suggestion even if he didn't know what it was yet. Rider, on his part, looked as clueless and lost as before.

Eventually, Archer just sighed a bit. "Indeed. You two should focus on reaching the Castle. Dealing with the Einzbern family should be a task fit for a Lord of the Clock Tower; and Rider alone should be able to deal with Berserker too, if everything goes smoothly. There should be no issue."

The stoic Magus narrowed his eyes. "Do you really think so?" he pressed, trying to understand if he was certain of it.

Again, Emiya nodded with no hesitation. "We've already talked about this. As I've mentioned yesterday, Atalanta is a fierce opponent, and her speed is undoubtedly dangerous. However, if we're talking about skills alone, I believe that Rider should be able to stop her if he gets serious enough. Besides, she's sensitive to provocations, and his usual behavior should piss her off more than enough for him to take advantage of that."

"Hahaha! If you say so then it must be true!" the King of Franks laughed from the middle of the living room, keeping his hands behind his head as he leaned backwards on the couch, looking visibly excited at the prospect of facing the Chaste Huntress in battle. His carefree reaction made everyone sigh in exasperation, Waver and Emiya included.

In the end, after a full minute of pondering, Lord El-Melloi Ii decided to relent.

"…very well. Your strategies haven't let us down so far, so I will trust you and do as you say," he accepted in the end, smiling at Archer with a resolute face. He had no reason to doubt this plan, for everything Archer had suggested so far was both logical and advantageous for their goal. As such, he had no objections to it.

The tanned Servant nodded in gratitude, but he wasn't quite done yet. There was still one thing he needed them to do. An important thing.

"One more thing," he said, staring at the black-haired Lord straight in the eyes.

Waver instantly grew serious at his words. "What is it?"

Emiya took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was about to come. When he was ready, he spilled the beans with no hint of hesitation. "When we split before the battle… I would like for you and Rider to bring my Master with you," he said, completely serious.

A few seconds of silence.

Then, as it was bound to happen, a certain someone exploded.

"WHAT?!"

Artoria Pendragon rose from her seat, abruptly slamming her hands on the table as she rounded on her Servant with wide, emerald eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Archer! What are you talking about?" the young teenager demanded with a stern tone, unable to understand why he would ask for such a thing. "What is the meaning of this?"

"It's exactly as I said, Master," the Counter Guardian promptly replied, turning towards the blonde girl with a serious and collected face. "I want you to go with the Lord and Rider. It would be better that way."

She was incredulous. "B-But… that would mean―"

"Yes," he interrupted her, gently, already knowing what she was about to say. "I am going alone."

The girl's reaction was immediate.

She dashed away from the table, bringing herself right in front of her Servant with an enraged face.

"Archer, that's out of the question! I absolutely won't allow it!" she denied, sternly. With his countless years of experience and battles, Emiya could see the emotions inside her eyes as clearly as fish swimming under the water. He could read this girl like an open book by now. "I know what you're trying to do. You want to go alone again, in order to shoulder all the difficult tasks on your own, without telling me about them! If I leave you alone, who knows what could happen to you!"

Hearing those words, Heroic Spirit Emiya was almost tempted to snort in amusement, even in spite of himself. After all, he couldn't exactly deny that her suspicions were well-founded, in some way. In all the battles he had faced so far during the previous days, he had always tried to protect Artoria by luring the dangers to him and taking things in his own hands several times; keeping his true intentions hidden from the girl all the while. His latest duel against Lancer had been the perfect example of that, after all, and even Artoria had started to realize it after all this time. Therefore, Archer could not lie to himself. His Master's worries were justified, to an extent.

But not this time. Not entirely, at least.

Even Waver Velvet seemed skeptical about his request. "Archer, why are you asking me this? What is the reason behind this choice?"

"That's right! Why would you leave your Master with us?" Charlemagne asked as well, unable to understand his motives.

Despite the loud protests in the room, Archer remained undaunted. Righteous duty flooded his mind, steeling his resolve all the more.

"You all seem to be forgetting one important thing," he cut them off with a blank tone, suddenly. He took a few steps to the right, placing himself near the door leading to the kitchen and leaning his back on the wall. Artoria followed him close, unwilling to let him go, but he paid her no mind. "I am an Archer. I specialize in fighting at long distance. Keeping my distance and firing from a hidden spot is what my role is supposed to be. If I were to advance directly inside the forest, I would inevitably be forced to fight in close range, and that would be detrimental for both me and you guys. We're not going to deal with a single Master-Servant pair this time… but with two. Perhaps even more if things get out of hand. This fact alone is something we shouldn't underestimate."

"So what is it that you're going to do?" Scathach demanded, her mind already guessing what he was trying to say, somehow.

He simply shrugged at the inquisitive tone. "That is obvious: I'm going to keep a low profile and support both groups from afar with my bow," he explained with ease, trying to make them see his reasoning. "With my enhanced eyesight due to my class, I should be able to monitor the whole forest. Or, at least, a big portion of it. Doing that will grant me the chance to aid both Rider and Lancer with my arrows, and it would also allow me to see if something unexpected happens behind our backs."

"Something unexpected?" Waver repeated, narrowing his eyes.

Archer nodded, deadly serious. "Even if Caster is out of the picture for now, there's still an unknown factor that could sabotage our whole plan. That being: Assassin and their Master," he explained, making many eyes amid the group widen at that specific reminder. "If Caster truly meant what he said, then there's a possibility that those two will be making an appearance tonight, along with Saber and his Master. We cannot overlook that outcome."

Seeing that his young Master was about to protest, he continued immediately. "However, if that truly happens, I should be able to see them from afar, and warn you guys about it. That's why I need you to remain with them, Master," he said, speaking directly to Artoria at that point. The girl with golden hair listened to his words with a conflicted face. "You are strong, and very skilled in close combat. Staying with me would render those strengths of yours useless. Besides, not only could Lord El-Melloi II use your help in case a fight with the Einzberns should really unfold, but you can also warn them about Assassin or any other kind of threat once I reach out to you through our bond. Don't you agree?"

Her lips parted in protest, her lungs screamed in denial; but no words came out from the girl.

His explanation made sense. It made absolutely sense. Archer was right about everything, once again.

This fact alone only made the weight inside her heart increase further.

"…Archer is right. This would be for the best," Lord El-Melloi Ii concurred after a few moments of reflection, scratching his chin with his fingers. Even if he didn't like that option too much, after having thought about it for a few minutes he couldn't deny that the reasoning and motives behind this choice were legit. As a man of reason, he had no choice but to agree, for it was the best option they had.

"He would be aiding both groups at once, and warn us about any kind of threats at the same time," Bazett mused as well, nodding to herself as she pondered that suggestion in her head.

Lancer hummed in agreement too. "Indeed. However, the Assassin class is known for their concealment abilities. Archer, would you really be able to see them if they were hiding through a Presence Concealment skill?" she questioned him, direct and straightforward.

The tanned man teared his gaze away from Artoria to glance at the spearwoman instead. "I can't say for sure, but I'm positive about it," he answered, keeping both his voice and expression balanced. "My Hawkeye skill improves both my static visual acuity and kinetic vision. If the rank of the enemy's concealment isn't too high, I should be able to notice them. Even from afar."

The woman with purple hair mulled over his answer for a bit. Then, she closed her eyes and nodded.

"In that case, I agree with your choice. You truly are a practical man, through and through," she stated, both pleased and amused as she spoke those words.

Emiya ignored her sarcasm, settling only for a nod of acceptance.

Artoria kept staring at him with worry, however. "But… I don't want you to be alone, Archer. I need you to stay by my side," she said in a tiny little voice, her face filled with sadness and concern.

For a moment, Heroic Spirit Emiya had to fight very hard to quell the warm feeling of gratitude that was blossoming inside his chest. Good grief, this girl… the way she cared for him so deeply was both cruel and heartwarming for him. Archer had been alone for so long that he'd thought he had forgotten all about this kind of feels. Yet, it seemed that his young Master cared not for any of it, breaking through his walls in spite of everything and forcing those forgotten emotions to resurface once again. She cared for him for real, freely and unconditionally, and for that reason alone… he would forever be grateful to her.

But even if he felt grateful, that didn't mean he could let her lose focus because of it. Not when they were currently in danger. Not while facing a War. He wasn't that foolish.

"Being alone is an Archer's role, Master," he spoke to her, calmly, tearing himself away from the wall and placing a hand on her shoulder as he stared into her eyes. There was no sarcasm and no stubbornness inside his voice. He was simply stating the truth, and Artoria knew that. She could see it in his steeled eyes. "I am meant to fight from a distance, unseen. That is what my Class is about. I couldn't do it so far only because there hasn't really been an opportunity to do so. Now, things are different, and we must take advantage of that. Please try to accept it."

Again, the girl would not relent. Cold logic and impartial reasoning hardly worked against the stubborn mind of the human being known as 'Artoria Pendragon'. Or, at least, they didn't work against this Artoria. A certain female King who wore her exact same face would beg to differ.

"B-But… e-even if that's true, I―"

Emiya placed a hand on her head. The girl faltered in surprise under his unexpected gesture, perking up at him with a worried face while the man smiled down at her. He wore a gentle expression on his features, with his usual stoic frown morphed into a warm, more relaxed smile. "Don't worry," he said. "I haven't forgotten my promise to you. I will be safe, and I will come back to you. I promise," he swore.

The young heir of the Pendragon line bit her lips after hearing his words, unable to find anything to say to retort to him. Just the sight of his smile was making her feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, even in spite of the persistent uneasiness and concern. Archer rarely ever showed any emotions in front of her… so seeing him react like that was a low blow for her. She honestly didn't know how to process it, to be honest.

In the end, she decided to relent a bit. Her hands clenched into trembling fists as he struggled to get a hold of her emotions.

Her golden bangs shadowed her eyes as she tried to come to terms with her worries. "…what if something goes wrong? What should I do if I'll need your help, like what happened last time with Saber's Master?" she pressed.

Archer just smiled at her. "In that case, you can just use one of your Command Seals to summon me to your side," he answered, removing his hand from her head but keeping the smile on his lips. "Just say the words, and I'll be there in a heartbeat. Besides, there's no need to be so concerned, Master. I'll be sure to keep in touch with you through our bond, and you will always be able to reach out to me even from afar. You know that, right?"

She lowered her eyes, but managed to move her head in a small nod. She knew that her Servant was right, after all. But even if his reasoning was flawless, Emiya could see that the girl was not fully convinced yet. Her emotions were written all over her face, and her attachment to him was bound to make her worry no matter what he could do or say.

The tall Servant sighed at her crestfallen face. "I'm worried too, you know," he suddenly admitted to her, catching the girl by surprise with that unexpected statement. Artoria's head snapped up to him in stupor after hearing that, startled. "I know you can take care of yourself, but even I can't help but feel uneasy by leaving your side and sending you into enemy territory. Servants are supposed to fight directly for their Masters, not the other way around. However… this War is an exception. We can't deny it anymore."

"An exception…?" she repeated, staring at him intently.

Emiya nodded, keeping his face neutral. "Given the circumstances, it's undeniable that this conflict is taking a very odd direction. If there was one thing that Tohsaka girl was right about, that's the fact that nothing about this War is how it's supposed to be," he explained to her – and to the rest of the group – deadly serious. "If we want to win, we need to face this fact, and start dealing with our duties. Both of us will have no choice but to fight our own battles from now on, and we won't be able to stay together all the time. We must accept that, both you and I."

Artoria's head lowered in thought after hearing that, her Servant's words sinking in deep inside her heart.

"So, let's make a deal, Master," Heroic Spirit Emiya continued, grabbing her attention again. When the girl raised her face a second time, she was greeted by the sight of the wide, confident smirk on her Servant's face, along with his expression filled with resolve. "I'll put my trust in you, and you will do the same with me. I'll keep faith in your abilities, and allow you to fight even when I can't be there to protect you… and you will keep faith in me. Trust me to fight my own battles, even when we cannot be together. We must believe in each other, just like you told me this morning, otherwise we will fail in the end. Do you agree?" he asked, gazing at her intently.

Deep and absolute silence was the only answer he received.

For what felt like an eternity, the young girl didn't know how to react.

But then, faced by his confident gaze, coupled with his smirk and his resolute words… the young girl known as Artoria couldn't help but relent and smile a little in joy, even in spite of herself.

The grin on her face grew even in spite of her conflicting emotions. Soon enough, before she could even realize it, the blond girl found herself smiling and blushing, overwhelmed by emotions that she wasn't used to feel. Honestly, this weird Servant of hers… he truly knew how to play his cards right. No matter the hardship he faced, no matter what kind of challenge he was forced to overcome, he always managed to turn the odds in his favor in some way or another, even while dealing with Artoria herself. It was deeply frustrating sometimes; but as of now… in all honesty, the girl couldn't help but find it heartwarming. She couldn't help but find it reassuring. Having such a smart and adaptable Servant by her side was truly a blessing for her heart, and she was starting to realize it more and more with each passing day.

Because, once again, Archer was right. He had always been right, from the very beginning.

The two of them needed to believe in each other. They needed to have faith in each other, even when the circumstances forced them to go towards different paths. If she wanted him to trust her, if she wanted him to open up and reveal the truth about his past, his life and his name to her… then, Artoria Pendragon had to be prepared to do the same. She had to be prepared for this. She needed to believe in him, and allow her Servant to do his job no matter how worried and scared she could feel.

Just like he'd said: they had to fight their own battles, and keep trusting each other in order to win.

That was the only thing they could do, if they wished to discover the truth and keep moving forward. Together.

She needed to believe in him… just like he needed to believe in her.

Her cheek flushed under her Servant's confident smile.

"…very well," she decided in the end. She took a deep breath after a few moments of hesitation, her lips curling into a smirk that soon matched the tanned Archer's own. "I… I will trust you, Archer. You'll keep believing in me, and I'll keep believing in you. It's a promise."

Heroic Spirit Emiya smirked, nodding at her with a bit of pride.

"Good. You're finally starting to learn."

The two of them shared a smile, looking at each other in both amusement and complicity.

Until―

"Awww! That was adorable!"

A bright and peculiar voice suddenly brought them back to reality.

Emiya and Artoria blinked and turned to the right, only to immediately meet the wide, amused grin of the King of Franks, who was staring at their interaction with an expression mixed between glee, amusement and understanding. Seeing his peculiar expression, Archer steeled his features and stared back at him with a blank face, while Artoria immediately blushed and stuttered in shame, lowering her head with a growing sensation of heat on her cheeks.

The cheerful Rider didn't seem to mind their reactions. On the contrary, he kept staring at them with a huge grin on his face, leaning forward from the couch like a child and looking seemingly excited by the interaction he had just witnessed between the two. "That was great! Absolutely great! The most beautiful display of comradery between Master and Servant! Man, I'm so envious of your bond!" he declared with a wishful voice, looking deeply moved by the previous display.

Then, not even a second later, he snapped his head towards his Master. "Did you see that, Master? That's how true comrades should be! Why can't we share the same bond as they do?" he asked to the black-haired Magus, both resolute and hopeful as he made that question.

Lord El-Melloi II just eyed him sternly. "Don't even joke about it," he grunted, his right eyebrow twitching slightly for some reason.

"Uuugh… but why?!" he cried, looking crestfallen by the man's obvious disinterest.

Next to the annoyed Lord, Bazett looked rather amused as well. "I must admit that it was quite the scene. You're softer than you look, Archer. I didn't take you for the protective type," she joked, flashing a sly grin to the tanned man and his young Master, along with Lancer as well.

To his credit, Emiya took the jab like a champion, without even blinking under the two women's sarcastic smirk. Artoria, on the other hand, was openly blushing in shame, looking both annoyed and embarrassed for some reason. Emiya guessed he should have expected this from her. This girl was extremely different from the female King he knew, but she still wasn't used to deal with her feelings in front of so many people. Not yet, at least.

However, now the decision had been made. The small group of humans and Servants had a new challenge to face, and there was no turning back now.

However, thanks to Archer and Artoria's previous display of resolve – and trust – the entire group seemed to grow more relieved compared to earlier, even in spite of that worrisome prospect. Consequently, the mood began to shift all of a sudden, and soon everyone found themselves sharing a laugh for some reason, while each and every one of them started to feel more at ease as they made peace with their next task.

Eventually, the more time passed, the more Artoria, Waver and Bazett started to discuss about other things, leaving aside the thought of tonight's battle and allowing themselves a moment of respite. Archer guessed that it was normal, in a way. Even if a Holy Grail War was an extremely serious thing, Artoria and the other two Masters were still humans; and as such, they needed a moment to breathe. They couldn't always stress about those heavy matters all the time. A moment of calm could make all the difference before a battle. He knew that better than most.

Soon, even the Servants began to join the peaceful atmosphere. Everyone seemed to grow more relaxed and confident somehow, and because of that, the tension in the apartment began to slowly dissolve second by second, replaced by the sound of laughter and jokes as everyone allowed themselves a moment of peace, while the discussion began to shift towards more common and mundane matters.

Everyone… except for Archer.

Thus, seeing that the discussion was over and that the situation seemed to be under control, the white-haired Servant decided to silently excuse himself, slipping away from the living room without being seen and leaving the others while the rest of the group kept talking and chatting among themselves. He exited outside of the apartment with a silent step, stepping on the wide balcony of the suite that overlooked the city and staring at the horizon with an unreadable face.

While the sound of laughter echoed from the inside, Heroic Spirit Emiya felt his mind wander off on its own, filled with doubts and worries and questions as never before.

In a way, he knew that it was to be expected. This day wasn't even over yet, but somehow… for him, it felt like an eternity had passed since their previous meeting with Rin and Saber. A lot of things had happened during that short amount of time, most of them being events that not even Emiya, despite everything he had seen and experienced in his accursed life, would have ever expected to witness. As such, for once he forgave himself for not being able to foresee such a wild and unexpected turn of events.

Saber and Artoria confronting each other. Rin and Waver fighting on opposite factions. And now, even Gilgamesh's unexpected return; this time as a Caster class Servant, no less. A Caster with the ability to gaze into the future, and who claimed to know the mysteries behind this absurd conflict. The King's previous words and actions had all but proved this to him. Emiya was ready to bet on it, even if he still couldn't explain how such a thing was possible.

Only one thing was sure for him: this whole situation was a huge, gigantic anomaly; and it was extremely different from the Wars and the timelines that Emiya had experienced so far.

And now, as if this whole situation wasn't messed up enough, another matter had suddenly come to his attention. A matter that Archer had always known he would have to deal with sooner or later, but which he hadn't expected to face so soon. The very same matter which had been plaguing his mind for the last few hours, filling his head with hesitation and uncertainties.

The reason why he had been so distracted during the meeting, and the current cause of his growing headache.

The Einzbern family.

Or, more accurately, a certain person belonging to that faction.

Illya…

Emiya exhaled a sigh. As that name flashed inside of his head, he stared at the blue sky overlooking Fuyuki City, fixing that empty sight with a cold and distant gaze.

…

It seemed that he was going to meet that girl sooner that he'd thought.

…

"You seem distracted."

A calm and regal voice stated the obvious to him.

Archer closed his eyes, snapping out of his internal conflict. He didn't even need to turn around to know who that voice belonged to. He could feel the woman's overwhelming presence even with his back turned on her, and there was no way he could ever mistake it, arrived at this point. He had already grown accustomed to it.

His lips curved into an emotionless smile. "Not really. I just wanted to step out for a bit. Get a bit of fresh air," he defended himself.

Scathach stepped on the balcony with a silent movement, placing herself next to him and leaning her back against the rails. Charlemagne was following her as well, joining the two Servants on the balcony with a glass of water in his hand.

"…your lies won't work with me, Archer. You may be able to fool your Master with sweet words, but I am not that gullible. I can see through your half-truths with ease," Lancer intoned, clearly unamused by his attempt at deflection. She crossed her arms in a regal movement as she glanced at his face sideways.

Emiya was not impressed. He had already expected this much from her. "Is that so? My apologies, then," was all he said.

Judging by the frown on her face, the spearwoman was not pleased by his lack of reaction and his obvious dismissal of her opinion. Even Charlemagne seemed taken aback as he observed their interaction from the other side of the balcony. Clearly, the tension between those two was still as high as ever, even now.

"Come on, Archer… don't be like that. We're allies. If there's something on your mind, we can help you deal with it if you want," the young Rider offered with a cheerful tone, trying to lighten the mood.

Emiya shot him a stare, before exhaling a sigh. "Your concern is appreciated, but needless. I am fine, I assure you."

The King of Franks didn't look too convinced. Even Scathach exhaled a sigh at that point.

"Stubbornness can be useful during a battle, but it is vexing outside of it, Archer," the beautiful Lancer reprimanded him, coldly. Her crimson eyes closed as she stated those words, moving a strand of hair from her face with a slow gesture. "I think I can understand now why your Master was so worried when you made that suggestion before. You think that by shouldering some burdens all on your own, you can spare others from the same suffering… but that is just an illusion. I thought you were smarter than that."

The Servant of the bow smirked at the not-so-subtle jab. He knew that she was right, he knew he was being hypocritical, but he still couldn't back down from this. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, then."

His lack of shame and pride greatly bothered the immortal Queen. She snapped her eyes open with a distasteful frown. "Do you really wish to go that route, then? You know better than that, Archer. Rider's antics can be annoying, but even he is right with his assessment. Allies are supposed to help each other, even outside of the battlefield. You forced me to join this cause, so you will tell me what your problem is. My words shall not be denied."

Archer did not believe her. Even if her intentions were genuine, he knew better than place his trust in a woman who longed for death. Especially when said woman wanted him to find a way to fulfill said wish, of all people. He was not that stupid, nor he had any intention of indulging in her plans. He had enough on his plate already. He had no need for further hassles.

"And why, pray tell, would the great Queen of Shadows wish to know what troubles a simple bowman like me?" he asked, not even bothering to hide the sarcasm from his tone.

Contrary to what he had expected, the woman with purple hair just looked at him with a serious face after his umpteenth disinterested reply. Her head tilted slightly to the side, moving her hair a bit and revealing her beautiful features even more. "Is it really wrong for me to wish to know what ails one of my allies?" she countered, unperturbed.

Emiya would not be fooled. "Why do you care?" he stressed.

She shot him a stare, this time narrowing her eyes on him. "I'm merely trying to follow your advice. You told me that I should start focusing more on the things that are in front of me, did you not?" she asked back at him, unrelenting.

A rueful smile curved his lips. Emiya almost felt tempted to punch himself.

"I suppose I did," he admitted.

Lancer nodded with her eyes closed, her point now made. "Good. That said… for what I know, the best way to leave your worries behind is to enjoy a drink in company," she stated at that point, deadly serious. Then, she glanced at him sideways, her expression one of mirth and amusement mixed together. "What do you say? Care to join me for a few drinks? You can bring your Master too, if you'd like."

Emiya glanced at her in confusion, surprised and puzzled by that unexpected offer on her part; but then he remembered that she was Scottish. And that Cu Chulainn was Irish. And that both Lancers were from those accursed islands, similarly to Artoria as well. As soon as he put two and two together, his confusion dissolved completely.

Everything made sense now.

In the end, tempting as it was, he decided to turn down the offer. "Sorry, but I'll pass. I won't bring a minor in a place with alcohol. Maybe next time," he said, focusing his gaze back on the horizon.

Scathach simply shrugged at his refusal. "Too bad. I guess I shall let Rider accompany me, then."

On the other side of the balcony, Charlemagne almost choked on his water. "Wait, what? M-Me?!" he exclaimed.

The woman just looked at him with a blank face. "Yes, you. I have no complaints with you as my escort. Do guide me for a stroll around the city," she ordered, with a strong and regal tone that left no room for discussion.

Rider just eyed her warily, his face morphed into a tense, sweating complexion. Emiya almost glanced at him with an expression akin to pity. Almost.

"U-Um…" the King of Franks stuttered after a few seconds of uneasiness, looking visibly tense and scared by the prospect of accompanying that woman to a drink. "T-This is hard for me to say, but… an o-older woman would be a bit… y-you know…"

Scathach's frame stilled.

For a few seconds that stretched for an eternity, absolute quiet enveloped the balcony.

Then, suddenly and without a warning, a dark and dreadful aura began to hover around the woman's frame. The pressure in the air increased until it could be physically felt.

"You punk… are you calling me an old woman?" Lancer asked, her tone light in spite of the pressure in the air. The smile on her lips seemed a bit odd, too.

Her eyes, however… they looked absolutely scary. And they were shadowed by her purple bangs.

Charlemagne visibly shivered at the sight, taking a few steps back with a faltering movement.

"C-Calm down, please… t-that is NOT what I meant!" he tried to say. However, seeing how that woman kept walking closer and closer to him with that same smile on her face and her aura growing bigger and stronger, the young King's face exploded into full-blown panic. "A-A-Archer, gimme a hand! Help me, please! HELP ME!"

But Rider's cries were in vain, for Archer had already disappeared.

"ARCHEEEEER!"

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

The two of us keep glaring at each other, while Shinji's twisted laughter echoes inside the room.

"You're scared, aren't you, Archer? My Servant dispatched Berserker without breaking a sweat," the disgusting boy keeps saying in a haughty tone. He stretches a hand towards Rin's tied frame, with a truly revolting expression on his face that nearly makes me lunge for his neck. "I don't blame you for being scared of ― "

"You want Rin, Matou Shinji?"

The boy falters upon hearing my question, turning to me with a confused expression. "Huh? Of course I do," he answers.

I remain still, keeping my eyes and focus on the accursed blondie standing in front of me. "In that case, wait until my business is concluded," I order. I cannot allow him to lay a hand on that girl, but there is no need for me to intervene directly. "Once I've finished Emiya Shirou, she's all yours."

My eyes remain glued to Gilgamesh's face, unflinching and unthreatened by the pressure he's exerting.

"If you won't agree to those terms, I will eliminate both you and your Servant."

Gilgamesh sneers at me, his expression flashing with disgust for a moment. "Hoh?"

However, things get halted before they could escalate. As expected of Shinji, the fool takes the bait.

"Hold on, Gilgamesh. It's fine. He says he'll give her to us, so let's go along," the boy says, placating his Servant. "We'll keep Tohsaka safe until he's dealt with Emiya. Which means… she's already as good as mine! So I can do anything I want to her, right?" he asks, rounding on Rin again with that disgusting glint in his eyes.

I will not allow that. "My agreement with Emiya Shirou was that she'd remain unharmed, but that expires at dawn," I say, keeping my voice unchanged. "Once that deadline has passed, do as you will."

Shinji's smirk grows, until it explodes into a cruel, twisted laugh.

"Did you hear that, Tohsaka? Your own Servant is willing to sell out his Master!" he mocks her, laughing at her scowling face. Even in this dire situation, the girl remains unfazed.

But this is no longer my business. I've made my point. There is no need to keep witnessing this farce.

I walk away from my sin, heading for the staircase to leave the basement.

Gilgamesh glances at me coldly as I walk past his frame, parting his lips into a mocking smirk.

"…Faker," he spits.

I pay no mind to his taunt, ignoring his presence as I walk towards my goal.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Hilltop – Fuyuki Church

(======)

Quiet and emptiness enveloped her frame. The silence was so thick one could hear a pin drop.

Nothing but absolute stillness surrounded the girl. She sat on an empty pew in poised calm, reading her Book of Psalms with an absorbed expression, without moving a single muscle. All around, the empty church of Fuyuki was still and devoid of life, with a few rays of sunlight streaming inside from the stained glass windows on both sides of the building. The smell of incense and scented candles permeated the air, enveloping the young priestess absorbed in reading in an aura of peace, and focus, and holiness. It was rather suggestive, for those who believed in those things.

Until, out of nowhere, the air shifted all of a sudden, and a heavy pressure began to grow amid the absolute silence.

A cold but graceful smile graced the girl's lips. "I see you have returned," she spoke.

A dust of gold appeared out of the blue. The girl with ashen-grey air didn't bother to tear her eyes away from the book, but she did take notice of the mysterious figure suddenly appearing next to her, taking a seat on the opposite side of the pew. It was simply impossible for someone like her not to detect that imposing presence. The air had grown heavy and cold out of the blue, after all.

"And I see you're still being useless," Caster replied, keeping his eyes closed as he materialized into the mortal world.

Caren Hortensia glanced at him in amusement. "Someone is peachy today," she noted, hearing his rebuke. "I take it that you went to see them, then?"

The King of Heroes nodded, keeping his eyes closed and his arms crossed amid the quiet church.

The priestess's smile grew. She closed her book with her hands, turning her head towards the golden Servant as her church robes fizzled a bit. "How did it go?" she asked. Her tone was empty and monotone, without an ounce of emotion behind it. Almost as if she had made that question out of politeness rather than actual interest.

Gilgamesh noticed it. "Do you really care to know?" he asked back at her, opening one of his crimson eyes to glance at her in boredom.

The girl's golden eyes flashed with mischief. "Oh my, is that any way to talk to your Master?" she asked, sounding clearly amused by his tone.

But Caster was not amused, on his part. He teared his gaze away, staring at the presbyter and the altar placed in the middle of it with an unreadable gaze. "Do not misunderstand. Our contract is just a farce. This whole situation is nothing but a nuisance for me, and I intend to rectify that fact," he spoke, raising himself from the pew. "This world has become unbearably unsightly, but the King's duty remains unchanged. I will do what I must, even in this War that is not supposed to be," he contemplated, almost to himself.

Caren Hortensia eyed him sideways; a small, cold smile planted on her lips as she listened to his answer. "How serious. So you do know that your presence is an anomaly. You and the rest of your motley group are not supposed to be here."

"I am well aware," was Gilgamesh's stoic reply.

She pouted at his dismissive behavior, irked by the lack of reaction on his face and words. "You're no fun. That Clairvoyance of yours can be such a killjoy sometimes. The more I talk to you, the less I feel like this game is worth the candle."

The King of Heroes walked away, leaving the young priestess on her own inside the empty church.

"This isn't a game, fool."

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Eleven-

Roar of Heaven and Earth
(Tenchi Hou Take)

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Suburbs of Fuyuki City (Japan)
Einzbern Forest

(======)

When the car reached its destination, the atmosphere amid the group grew tense and uncertain out of the blue.

The young girl known as Artoria Pendragon was no exception to the feeling. She stepped out of the car with a resolute face, feeling her incoming concern grow with each passing moment in spite of her focused mind. Above her, the night sky was dark and quiet, and the moon shone bright above the thin veil of clouds.

Quietness drenched the air. Artoria nearly gulped in nervousness as soon as she stepped out of the car; but the wasn't the only one. Next to her, in fact, Bazett and Waver did the same, leaving the vehicle that Lord El-Melloi II had rented to reach this place on an empty parking spot on the side of the street and placing themselves next to her without saying a single word. Sheer and absolute silence reigned over this place, and the three Magi could feel something unnatural drenching the air.

On the left, just over the opposite side of the road, their eyes could see the reason and cause of their current concern.

The Einzbern Forest.

The group stared at the towering trees with a paling complexion. The Einzbern Forest was a wide expanse of forest located in the suburbs of Fuyuki City. It was a wide, deep and dangerous expanse of wild and untamed forest, which expanded for several kilometers in a southerly direction as far as the eye could see. Located around an hour away from Miyama Town by car, the area was more of an undeveloped mountain range than an actual natural park; and – as Artoria and the others knew extremely well – it was also the homeground established by the Einzbern family for the Holy Grail War.

In other words, it was an extremely dangerous place. One they were about to explore in but a few moments, moreover.

Their concern was greatly justified.

"Well, here we are," Bazett commented, breaking the silence with a resolute voice. "I guess this is it. No turning back now."

Artoria and Waver nodded in agreement. The Lord of the Clock Tower glanced to the right. "Are you guys ready?" he asked, deadly serious.

His eyes glanced to an empty spot as he made that question. Not even a second later, three figures suddenly appeared out of the blue, revealing themselves through a cloud of magical dust. Rider, Lancer and Archer dismissed their spirit forms at the same time, taking form in the material world once more as their respective Masters glanced at them in confirmation.

There was no need for them to answer the man's question. They could see the steeled resolve inside each Servant's eyes.

Lord El-Melloi II lighted the cigar on his lips with a grunt. "Good. Then let's get started. But we must be careful: this place is the Einzbern's dominion. Once we step inside the forest, the enemy will know of our presence. We cannot be careless about this," he warned.

"Yeah… this place doesn't look sketchy at all," Rider sarcastically agreed, staring at the trees with a narrowed gaze. His face was a mixture of wariness and concern, and for once he was absolutely serious.

Artoria turned to them with a stoic face. "We all have our roles. Let's just stick to the plan and focus on our duty. Our enemies will surely try to hinder our advance to the Castle. When they make their move, we must be prepared to face them."

Everyone agreed with that. They all knew that she was right.

This was a dangerous mission. Stepping inside the Einzbern's territory was surely going to be hard feat, due to the Bounded Field that enveloped the whole forest. All of them needed to be extremely careful tonight, especially since they were – most likely – bound to clash with Saber, Berserker and Assassin and their respective Masters once they moved to reach the manor. The battle they were about to face tonight was undoubtedly going to be a dangerous one. For all of them. As such, they needed to be careful, and wary. They needed to be prepared to face whatever offensive the enemy could throw at them, for the success of this mission was of paramount importance.

Failure was not an option for them. They had to be victorious no matter what.

Lord El-Melloi II turned to the Servant of the bow. "Archer, if something goes wrong, it'll be up to you to warn us with your arrows. Do not fail us," he said.

The red-clad bowman simply nodded his head, sharing a glance with his young but brave Master.

"Understood."

Bazett stepped closer to Lancer. "We will search for that Tohsaka girl while you guys reach for the Castle," she promised, shooting a stare to her purple-haired Servant. The Witch of Dún Scáith remained stoic and emotionless, raising her dark mask above her face and covering her features. "We'll hold Saber off for as long as we can."

"Good. We're counting on you," Waver smiled in appreciation.

That being said, the group shared a resolute nod with each other. The Lord of the Clock Tower moved next to his Rider, while Bazett and Lancer stepped further away towards the East. Artoria joined Waver as well with a resolute face, and Archer took a few steps to the right as everyone prepared themselves to split up and fulfill their roles.

Silence stretched for a few moments. Above the watchful trees, a crow cawed its shrill cry.

"Good luck to us all," Waver bid with a resolute voice.

Everyone nodded in agreement. As they stepped away from each other, the heir of the Pendragon line shot one last glance to her mysterious Servant. "Archer… be safe out there," she whispered to him in all seriousness, talking to the bowman through their shared mental bond. "I'll leave fire support to you. Good luck."

He nodded in her direction. "I'll be watching you from afar. Be careful, Master."

A few moments of silence. The group shared one last glance.

Then, they stepped inside the forest and took different routes, dividing themselves to fulfill their own duties.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Rin falls silent for some reason. The boy's previous words are still making her blush. However, he remains unaware of her reaction, and the fool keeps walking with that annoying smirk on his face. His foolish message has been delivered, and I almost exhale a sigh as I keep watching him from my invisible spirit form. Even if I'm hidden from sight, I cannot help but grit my teeth in frustration.

If only I could kill him right now, everything would be so much easier.

"See you around, Tohsaka."

Saber and her Master begin to walk away, only for them to stop as soon as they feel what I've already detected a few moments ago.

The suburbs are quiet and eerie. The church at the top of the hill and the silence of the foreigners' cemetery feel both warm and tense as never before. There is something odd permeating the air, and my eyes keep glancing around as I continue to observe in wariness with a tense expression.

"So… are you done chatting now?"

As if they've seen a ghost, the boy and his Servant stop dead in their tracks. Rin turns around as well, releasing a gasp with a stunned expression…

…while a cheerful and youthful voice suddenly echoes through the night.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Suburbs of Fuyuki City (Japan)
Einzbern Forest  ――  EASTERN SIDE

(======)

Rin had a bad feeling about this.

She halted abruptly, turning her head to the right when her instinct suddenly warned her to stop. Her aqua eyes narrowed in suspicion as they stared at the trees, trying to discern or glimpse anything amid those dark, eerie fronds. The silence that enveloped the forest was absolute, almost unnatural; as if the very same air of this place was drenched with something magical. Something twisted.

Something dangerous.

"What's wrong, Master?"

The voice of her Servant snapped her out of her musing.

The young heir of the Tohsaka lineage turned to the left. There, looking as stoic and resolute as ever, her tall and elegant Servant was looking at her with an emotionless face, his silver-blue armor gleaming a little under the moon rays that could be glimpsed through the leaves.

They had been walking through this forest for twenty minutes straight, by now. And still, there was no sign of the Einzbern's Castle yet. Rin was starting to grow apprehensive.

Clenching her fists, she relaxed her mind. "…it's nothing," she decided to relent, shaking her head. "Let's keep moving. There's still a long way to go to reach the manor. This forest is too damn deep."

Saber, her Servant, nodded resolutely. "I agree. We shouldn't linger too much. The Einzberns know of our presence, and our enemies will surely try to stop our advance before we can reach the Castle. I'm sure they're already on their way here as we speak," he stated, looking around the forest with his emerald-green eyes.

Rin eyed him sideways. "Can you detect their presence?" she asked.

The King of Knights remained still and unflinching. "Not within this forest, I cannot," he answered, frowning. "The Bounded Field that surrounds this place is tampering my detection skills. But I don't need my Dragon Core to know that our enemies will try to stop us somehow. I'm sure you're already aware of that."

She was, and Saber was right with his assessment. Even though they had agreed to follow Caster's instructions and come here in attempt to join forces with the Einzberns, Rin had no doubt that Lord El-Melloi II and his allies would try to prevent this second alliance from taking place. They would try to stop this meeting from happening in order to keep the tide of the conflict in their favor. It was a basic strategy, and the only logical move for them given the situation. Rin herself would have done the same, in their place.

Moreover, Caster had already foreseen this. He had openly said that all of them were fated to clash tonight. Therefore, if the annoying King of Heroes was telling the truth – unlikely as it was – a battle was surely going to break out somehow. There was no doubt about it. Diplomacy and peace were no longer an option. Only victory remained.

Victory… or defeat.

But, alas, defeat was something Rin couldn't afford anymore. Although she had summoned the Servant of the Saber class without fail – as it was expected of her, since she was a Tohsaka – contrary to what she'd expected before joining the War, the tide of this conflict had been anything but favorable for her so far. Quite the contrary, in fact. Ever since she had fought and clashed against that Pendragon girl and her annoying Archer in red clothes, the odds had been pretty low for her. In more ways than one. Therefore, if she wanted to change things, if she wanted to turn the tables and regain her advantage, she had no choice but to rely on the Einzberns through an alliance.

Somehow, the fact that she had been forced to admit this truth was ironic. Rin was a haughty and prideful girl, after all. A girl who had always relied on no one but herself ever since her family had died. One who had faced every hardship on her own, no matter how heavy it had been, and who had always come out on top of them in spite of the odds. She was also a talented Magus as well, one who would die and remain steadfast in her convictions rather than discard her pride and taint her honor by doing something as shameful as asking for help… but even she knew how to be practical. Her skills as a Magus were extraordinary, and her Servant was powerful indeed… but the two of them alone had no chance of victory against a faction of three Masters and Servants. It was an undisputable fact, and Rin was not so stubborn that she couldn't understand it.

As loathe as she – and Saber – were to admit it, Caster had been right with his offer. They had no other choice. Not anymore.

Drastic times call for drastic measures.

The two of them wasted no time. They resumed their sprint amid the dark trees, delving deeper inside the forest in order to reach the Einzbern Castle and meet the head of the family. As they ran and sprinted through the eerie vegetation that composed this forest, their focus was absolute, their silence was tense, and the goal ahead of them was as clear as it could possibly be.

Both of them were aware of the gravity of the situation. They knew that their current situation was not a favorable one. Consequently, the only way to escape this mess was to follow Caster's advice. They had to join forces with Berserker's Master no matter what, and they couldn't afford to fail. Even more so because the enemies were undoubtedly on their tail, as Saber had correctly assumed. Rin was ready to bet on it.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she kept running amid the skeletal trees. Steeled and haughty resolve flooded her mind. She would come out on top of this no matter what. As always.

It was a promise.

"Master, stop."

Once more, their race was halted out of the blue.

The heir of the Tohsaka line stopped her sprint as soon as she heard her Servant's command. The blond Saber had halted abruptly, placing himself right in front of her as if he were shielding her from something with his body. His eyes were narrowed and focused, staring at something straight ahead that she couldn't quite see yet, hidden behind the immovable trees. But the seriousness on his face and the wariness inside his eyes were more than enough for Rin to understand the truth, with just a single glance.

Concerning as it was, they weren't alone anymore. Someone had caught up with them.

Faster than she had expected.

Yet, even if she was worried, she didn't let it show on her face. The girl with raven hair steeled her features, keeping her expression resolute as she gazed in direction of the spot where Saber was staring at. As far as she was concerned, all she could see was darkness, but when Saber summoned his invisible blade, every doubt disappeared from her mind.

And the sound of a childish voice confirmed her theories in but a few seconds.

- My, my. I wasn't expecting you to come visit us tonight... Rin. -

Contrary to what she had expected, the figure who stepped out from the shadows was not the one she had thought. In fact, it wasn't the Lord of the Clock tower or one of his allies who appeared to greet them.

It was the Einzbern faction instead.

Rin narrowed her eyes, while the source of the voice suddenly appeared to life from the darkness which clouded the whole forest.

An Ibis bird made entirely of Magical energy. It was white and composed with filaments of shimmering light, flapping its wings like a real bird as it flew around in the air, circling Rin and Saber both as it eyed them from above, like a vulture ready to strike on its prey.

Just one quick look at the gleaming animal was enough for Rin to understand what it was. As a Magus, in fact, she had spent a great part of her life studying and reading the books her father had left to her in the Tohsaka library, including those that vaguely attempted to describe the abilities of the other Founding families and their secrets, in attempt to "steal" information about their Magecraft. The Magi world was a world of death and competition, after all. Such a thing was not uncommon amid rival families; and as the only heir of the Tohsaka lineage and the one who had inherited the jurisdiction of Fuyuki City, Rin had been no exception. Being knowledgeable about the other Magi families in her territory and their abilities was of paramount importance... especially here, in the land which hosted the Holy Grail War.

Which made the nature of the flying bird above them clear: a familiar. An artificial construct brought forth to life thanks to the prana and blood of a Magus – Rin suspected it was made with the owner's hair, due to the filamentous nature of the familiar – controlled and commanded by someone. Someone skilled enough to control it even from afar, it seemed. Rin could not see nor detect its owner in the near proximity even with Saber at her side, which was clearly another testament of the Einzberns' proficiency in Magecraft, in her opinion.

Yet, the voice that resounded from the familiar was one that Rin recognized very well. She had already met the owner of that voice years ago… and it wasn't one she could forget easily.

"Illyasviel von Einzbern," Rin broke the silence with a serious tone, greeting the person that was speaking to them through the construct. In front of her, the girl noticed her Servant narrowing his eyes in displeasure after hearing that name, but she decided to let it slide for now due to the dangerous situation. "I'd say it is a pleasure to see you again, but that wouldn't be true since you're not really here, are you?"

A light giggle echoed from the familiar. It was light and innocent like the voice of a young child. Rin knew that such appearance was extremely far from the truth.

The magical Ibis flapped its wings like a living being, circling above their heads as it continued to stare at them from the sky.

- Good evening. I'm happy you have come to see me, Rin. I would have loved to greet you personally… but I'm afraid I cannot leave my manor tonight. You're not the only visitor who's coming for me, it seems. -

Immediately those words grabbed her attention. Their suspicions had been proved to be true. Rin almost cursed in annoyance at the realization.

"That is precisely why we are here," the girl with raven hair took advantage of the moment. She placed herself next to her Servant, staring at the artificial bird with a resolute expression. "Those who are coming for you are the Masters of Lancer, Rider and Archer. They have formed an alliance in this Holy Grail War, guided by a Lord of the Clock Tower, and they wish to prevent us from meeting. They have joined hands in attempt to win the War, for their goal is the dismantling of the Greater Grail."

The bird turned its head towards her after hearing the girl's reply. The voice that resounded from its beak was both cold and amused as it spoke.

- Dismantling the Grail? Now that is a foolish ambition, – the owner of the voice commented with a giggle. – Such a thing is impossible to achieve, and it's an affront to the Three Founding Families. -

"My point exactly," Rin agreed with her arms crossed, almost snorting in annoyance at the thought. An expression of wariness caressed her features. "I have come here tonight because I cannot stand such a folly either, so let's just get straight to the point: I want to join forces with you."

Apparently, that wasn't what the owner of the voice was expecting.

- Hmmm? Join forces with me? -

The voice sounded clearly amused as she repeated those words.

Rin forced back her growing annoyance for the sake of her quest. "In order to prevail against those fools led by the Lord of Clock Tower, we must stand together. Saber and I are strong, but we cannot stop them on our own. We need your help. We need to work together if we want to stop their plan."

Sheer silence greeted her honest revelation. The bird controlled by the Einzbern continued to fly above their heads, without making a single sound for what seemed like an eternity.

All the while, Saber kept his eyes on the surroundings, shooting a few glances at the Ibis every now and then as he listened to the scene in silence.

Finally, the owner of the construct voiced her decision.

- Very well. I agree to talk with you. This situation is clearly an anomaly, and as such I will indulge you in your quest for now. -

Even if she would never admit it out loud, Rin felt her shoulders drop in relief after hearing the decision of the Einzbern faction. Even Saber's stoic face seemed to relax a bit from the side, but it was hard to tell, due to his emotionless gaze.

"Good. Then let's not waste time. The enemies are already coming for us. What should I do to reach the Castle before them?" she demanded.

- …Leysritt. -

Before she could understand what the voice meant, the sound of light footsteps suddenly echoed from the side. Rin saw Saber's head snap towards the right, while the Servant's hands readied his sword in a defensive stance. The heir of the Tohsaka line followed the King's gaze in a moment, and she was instantly surprised to see a woman of medium stature appearing out of nowhere from the trees, stepping out from the vegetation surrounding them.

The fact that they had both failed to notice her presence was greatly unnerving for Rin. The Bounded Field surrounding this place was powerful indeed, it seemed.

- Leysritt will guide you to my Castle, – the head of the Einzberns spoke through the familiar, as the woman named Leysritt stepped right in front of both Saber and Rin. – Follow her instructions, and we will see each other in a bit. -

Rin eyed the woman with narrowed stare. She was dressed in a white maid outfit, and wore a stoic expression on her face along with emotionless red eyes and a confident bearing. However, despite the odd appearance the woman possessed, the thing that caught Rin's eye was neither her face or the dress… but the odd and unusual weapon that the woman was wielding in her hands.

An elegant halberd shimmering with white and crimson color, long at least 2 meters in length and made entirely in Rhenium steel. It was an intimidating weapon, one which did not belong in the hands of a simple maid, for it looked way too large and heavy to be wielded by a human. This fact alone was enough for Rin to understand what the true nature of the woman who stood before her was.

A homunculus. One which was designed for combat, moreover. Which wasn't good news.

Even with Saber at her side, she had to be careful around this maid. That much was already obvious to her.

"Good evening. I'm Leysritt," the maid greeted them with a stoic voice. Her words were hollow, emotionless, and they were followed by a robotic bow. Rin looked at her with wariness as the woman kept her expression unchanged in spite of her obvious surprise. "I serve as a maid, bodyguard, and caregiver for Lady Illyasviel. In accordance to my Lady's command, I shall lead you to the manor at once."

Saber and Rin shared a glance. Amid the tense silence, they relaxed a bit and nodded their heads.

"Very well. Lead the way," Rin acknowledged.

Leysritt nodded wordlessly. Above the three people's heads, the glowing Ibis continued to fly.

- Then I'll be waiting for you, Rin. I can't wait to meet you face to face after all this time. Ufufufu -

Rin was about to spit back a sarcastic remark after hearing the irony behind those words, but she found herself unable to do it.

Because not even a moment later, something unexpected happened.

Saber's eyes widened abruptly.

"Master, watch out!" he cried.

Rin snapped her head to the right, and her breath was caught in surprise.

…

An arrow of bright red color was darting throughout the sky, aimed at her own head.

…

Faster than a man could blink, Saber was already in front of her; his sword already in hand and his body ready to defend her. However, before any of them could react or do something about it, both the girl and her Servant realized something.

Contrary to what it looked like, the arrow's trajectory had never been aimed towards Rin.

It had been aimed towards the familiar.

The artificial Ibis cawed and turned, caught unawares by the attack, but its fate had already been decided. The arrow changed trajectory mid-flight, snapping upwards out of the blue with an unnatural movement. It changed its trajectory just a few meters away from Saber and Rin, darting in the upward direction and piercing the gleaming bird in full before it could even begin to react.

An explosion of gust and prana flooded the forest as the construct was reduced to dust, and Rin was forced to shield her eyes for a moment. From the other side of the clearing, she glimpsed Leysritt leaping away, avoiding the blast of energy with a powerful jump. Then, when the dust was finally cleared, Rin's eyes snapped open, and a furious emotion begin to blossom inside her chest. It didn't take her long to grasp what had happened just now.

There was only one Servant who could have launched such an attack.

"It's him," the King of Knights stated for her, having reached her very same conclusion. His emerald eyes were narrowed in a frown, his body tense and ready to deflect any possible attack as he stared in a specific direction: North. "Archer. He's firing at us from a distance."

Of course he was. Curse that Servant and his annoying methods. Rin was seriously starting to resent him now.

"I should have expected this," she hissed, not even bothering to hide her furious snarl. "The enemy's assault has begun. Saber, we need to―"

No time to finish. She was still mid-speech when the second attack arrived.

All Rin managed to see was a flash of red, gleaming in the distance. Even amid the fronds of the trees, its brilliance was too bright to be missed. Then, the world quieted for a split-second, and the girl with raven hair widened her eyes.

Saber reacted immediately. With a flash of wind, he darted so fast that he seemed to teleport, shielding his Master and swinging his blade. The invisible sword clashed against the incoming projectile, generating a loud explosion that shook the forest for at least three miles straight. The trees moaned and cracked as a veritable wall of wind slammed against them, and a few of them were blown away, uprooted from the ground and teared from their own roots.

Yet, the King of Knights remained unfazed. He parried the second attack, seemingly unscathed. Then, he leaped in the air, raising his sword to the sky and pointing his gaze in the northern direction. A veritable volley of arrows rained down on him while he was still mid-air, threatening to skewer him, but the King of Britons remained focused. With a single slash of his invisible blade, all the arrows were deflected by a gust of tangible air, exploding in the distance even before they could manage to reach his position. The explosions that darted across the sky lit up the night for several of seconds, gleaming in the dark like fireworks during the holidays.

But Rin had no time to remain mesmerized by the sight. Saber landed right next to her again, his face and gaze still glued to North with a narrowed frown.

"He's not going to let us be," he realized, with a calm and serious tone that left no room for tension or concern. "We have to do something."

In that moment, Leysritt reappeared. She leaped away from the trees with a portentous jump, placing herself next to Rin as she glanced to the northern direction. "My Lady's command was to bring you both to the manor," she stated, her voice still sounding hollow and emotionless in spite of the tense situation. "If that Servant is planning to interfere, then he must be stopped."

As if in response to the maid's statement, another volley of arrows was shot at them from the sky.

Rin yelped in surprise, hiding herself behind the trunk of a tree. At the same time, Saber and Leysritt reacted at once. The King of Knights deflected the first wave with a horizontal swing, while the homunculus maid did the same on the other side of the clearing. She used her halberd like a rotating stick, making it spin with affable skill and deflecting a third assault thanks to her combat abilities. However, unlike King Arthur, she was no Servant in spite of her augmented body. The power of the blast managed to knock her out of balance, making her crash against the ground with a loud thud. The soil cracked with a painful moan as the maid crashed against it.

Seeing that scene, Rin couldn't afford to just watch anymore. She dashed away from the tree, reaching the homunculus and helping her back on her feet. All the while, Saber kept pushing and deflecting the incoming arrows aimed at them, using the wind that clouded his sword to make the projectiles explode before they could reach them too closely.

Rin was nearly seething with frustration at this point. "How do we stop him?" she asked, turning to the maid with a serious expression.

Leysritt remained calm and unfazed in spite of the pain. Her white uniform was stained with dirt. "Worry not. My Lady is launching her counteroffensive," was all she said.

The girl with raven hair was about to ask what she meant, but once again, she was interrupted.

Not even a moment later, in fact, something odd happened.

From the South, on the opposite side from where Archer was firing at them, the counteroffensive arrived. Rin raised her head towards the sky, and watched with wide eyes as another volley of arrows darted in the air, right above their heads, made of purple color. The arrows flew in the sky like silent projectiles, faster than even the swiftest missiles, and crashed against those shot by the Archer with a concussive explosion.

The sky that towered above the forest was shaken and filled with blasts. The purple arrows crashed against the red ones, generating a veritable rainfall of energy and Mana from the explosions detonating through the air. The night sky was being literally lit by the blasts, illuminating the forest as if it were day again.

Rin was speechless. "…what is this?" she demanded, turning to the homunculus along with a surprised Saber while the red and purple arrows continued to clash and explode on the sky above their heads.

Leysritt remained as stoic as ever. "Archer is not the only one who can fight at long distance," she explained with her monotone voice. "Berserker can do it too. The Servant my Lady has summoned is more versatile than you might think."

That… was actually good news. A Berserker capable of fighting like an Archer was a huge boost in the current situation. Rin was not aware of the identity of the Einzberns' Servant, but the fact that they could attack at long range was something extremely helpful for now. It would allow them to have a line of defense against Archer's arrows, and it could also be used to make the enemies' advance towards the Castle more difficult. The girl felt a bit of hope blossom in her chest as she pondered how to take advantage of that.

Apparently, Saber was considering some options as well.

"In that case, if Berserker keeps him occupied, the two of you can go reach the manor," the King of Knights declared amid the sounds of explosions. Rin turned to him with a serious expression, meeting his steeled gaze with an unreadable face. The resolve and decision in his emerald orbs were absolute. "I will try to get close to Archer and dispose of him while he's occupied against Berserker. He must be stopped at once before the others arrive."

"Sorry, but that's not going to happen."

Faster than a man could blink, Saber reacted.

A cold shiver ran down Rin's back. The girl snapped her head to the left, on the opposite side of the clearing, from where the voice had spoken. Her eyes widened inhumanly, but her aqua orbs only managed to see a blur of air before chaos ensued all around.

Next thing she knew, Leysritt had pushed her away by the shoulder, shielding her with the halberd. Then, a powerful and ear-splitting noise echoed in the air, similar to the sound of metal clashing against metal. The temperature all around them had dropped several degrees, and the heir of the Tohsaka line barely managed to raise herself from the ground with a grunt amid that unexpected situation, turning her gaze in direction of the noise.

Her eyes widened in shock and worry.

On the left, in the middle of the clearing, Saber was engaging in combat. He was running and dashing a few meters away from them, faster than what was humanly possible, swinging and parrying and clashing his blade against… something. Something dark and swift and fast. So much fast that her eyes could barely glimpse a lock of purple hair and a slim figure clad in black clothes amid that blur of wind, and movement, and steel.

Still, Rin watched, with stunned eyes, as Saber roared in effort, swinging his blade against a spear of crimson-blood color. The clash of the mighty weapons shook the ground and made the air itself moan in pain. Then, just as Saber was about to push the spear away and slash the enemy on the shoulder, a sudden and powerful kick forced him to retreat, making him stumble backwards for a few meters with a faltering movement. However, he regained his balance in but a few seconds, placing himself in front of Rin and Leysritt while he glared at the enemy with a thunderous frown.

Crimson eyes devoid of feels glowed amid the dark, meeting the frowning faces of Rin, Leysritt and Saber with an emotionless gaze.

And the girl with raven hair nearly swore in frustration as the Servant of the Lancer class appeared out of nowhere, looking as deadly and dangerous as all warriors of her class were famed to be.

"Archer's not the one you will face tonight," the Lancer with the masked face spoke, pointing her spear against the three of them. She revealed herself with an inaudible step, stepping out from the shadows of the forest as if she was commanding the darkness itself. Behind her beautiful frame, another person appeared out of nowhere: a woman with magenta hair; stepping out from the trees while the Servant glared coldly at them. "We are."

Rin forced herself to quell the growing anxiety, narrowing her eyes in anger as another one of her enemies revealed herself with a chuckle. A woman dressed in a black, two-piece business suit with a red-violet necktie, wearing a serious and confident expression on her face.

Bazett Fraga McRemitz.

"Miss Tohsaka," the heir of the Fraga lineage greeted her, breaking the silence with a sarcastic chuckle. Faced by the scowl on the young girl's face, her smile widened a bit more. "You seem surprised."

Rin glared at her coldly, unwilling to take the bait in spite of the anger. "…you reached us faster than I expected," she noted instead, trying to extrapolate information. This was way too sudden, after all. How did they manage to reach them so fast? Especially here, inside the Bounded Field that tampered every detection skill?

In response, the Magus with magenta hair merely smirked under their narrowed stare. "You think so? And yet, your location was extremely easy to find," was the older woman's immediate reply.

For a moment, Rin was confused by that answer, along with Saber as well. But then, finally, it hit them. Arthur narrowed his eyes as realization dawned upon him, reaching his conclusion faster than the girl thanks to his instinct and his sharp intuition.

I see, the King of Knights mused, immediately understanding how things stood at the moment. So that's how it is.

It appeared that, once again, they had been tricked. Archer's true goal had never been to attack them with his arrows. That hadn't been his intent at all. On the contrary, his previous assault had only been the instrument for a bigger plan. The bowman had simply used those arrows to lead Lancer and her Master in their direction. He had been using the arrows' trajectory as a signal all along, in order for his allies to locate their position and catch up with them before they could reach the Castle.

He'd never planned to fight them directly from the start. He had been tricking them all along.

―The fact that he was no longer firing at them was the very proof of that.

Despite the frustration he was feeling inside, the King's lips curled upwards ever-so-slightly.

Clever bastard.

As expected, Rin realized this truth a few moments after him. She was haughty and prideful, but no one could deny that she was extremely smart for a girl of her age. "So that was your plan," she muttered, frowning in displeasure as her eyebrow twitched in anger and annoyance. The amused smirk on Bazett's face was only making her frustration grow. "I swear, that Archer is a true pain in the neck. He looks weak as a fly, but he's just as annoying. He will pay for making a fool out of me again."

Bazett merely laughed at the statement, while Lancer stepped next to her with a solemn expression. "Get in line. You're not the only one who has a score to settle with him," she said, shooting a glance to her Servant. The spearwoman remained as stoic and silent as before, however.

In that moment, Leysritt stepped forward a bit, deciding to cut in the discussion before things could escalate. "Answer me: what is your purpose?" she demanded, pointing her halberd towards the duo.

Magenta eyes narrowed on the maid as Bazett stared at her face. The smallest of frowns caressed her features. "…a homunculus of the Einzberns, huh?" she mused, almost to herself, as if she was reminiscing something about her past. She shared a glance with Lancer, who remained as stoic as ever as she kept pointing her spear towards Rin and Saber. "I have no quarrel with you or your master, maid. My job is to stop these two from reaching the manor, but I have no need to fight with you. Angering the Einzberns is not my job tonight."

Leysritt's eyes narrowed a bit after the woman's reply. "My Lady's command was to bring them to her," she countered, emotionless. "If you intend to go against her will, then you are Illya's enemy."

"We are not your enemies," Bazett tried again. "Me and my allies wish to talk to your master too."

"Oh, please," Rin cut in the discussion abruptly, crossing her arms with a haughty movement as she glowered at the older woman. "Who are you trying to fool? It's clear as day that you're trying to stop me from reaching the Einzberns' Master. You're just trying to distract us, and make us lose time. In fact, I'm sure that that foolish Lord of yours is on his way to the Castle as we speak… isn't that right?"

Bazett did not reply, only narrowing her eyes. Her silence was more than enough confirmation for her.

Rin's lips curved into a grim smile. "As I thought. No need to waste time with talk, then."

"We don't need to do this," the other Magus spoke, one last time. She didn't look worried or scared, but her eyes did grow a little colder as she realized that neither Rin nor the homunculus were willing to back down from this. Even her Servant tensed up a bit as she readied her spear in anticipation. "If you give up now, we won't be forced to attack you."

The only answer she received was dead silence. The tension is the air was growing with each passing moment.

Saber took a step forward, pointing his invisible blade against Lancer. Leysritt's stance shifted as well, bending her legs a little as she leaned forward with her halberd aimed at the foreign Magus.

Rin's expression turned both sour and excited. "No, I don't think we will."

Everyone readied themselves. The temperature dropped even further.

"I'll deal with Lancer," Saber declared, serious and resolute. His whole body seemed to glow with prana as he inwardly readied his mind, preparing himself for the battle to come. "Master, be careful."

Rin nodded in acceptance. Leysritt flexed her neck.

Bazett exhaled a sigh as he saw their reaction. No turning back now, it seemed. "Very well. Lancer, I'll leave Saber to you," she ordered, cracking the bones in her hands.

The purple-haired Servant smirked behind the mask.

A few seconds of quiet.

Then, they all dashed forward, and the fated clash of opposing factions began with a resounding shockwave.

Saber and Lancer dashed against each other, their weapons colliding with a thunderous shockwave.

Invisible steel crashed against crimson metal in a shower of sparks. For a moment, when the two warriors clashed in combat, the entire world seemed to pause for a split-second, only to then cry out in pain as an ear-splitting and heart-wrenching noise echoed in the air. The atmosphere itself was shaken and torn to shreds by the power of the sudden collision, generating an explosion of wind and prana that shook the earth for miles and miles away.

Trees bended and moaned. The ground trembled and erupted. A great portion of the forest was shaken from its very foundations as the two Servants clashed against each other, destroying everything in their path as they swung and slashed at each other, their weapons moving so fast they impossible to see with the eyes. The air grew dense with prana with each passing second, growing more and more pressured as they continued to clash in attempt to prevail on the enemy and deal a fatal blow.

Yet, none of them was willing to relent. Both Arthur and Scathach refused to give up as they pushed and struggled against each other, without faltering even for a moment. They swung and slashed at each other, clashing in a shower of sparks only to then disengage for a second and then dash at each other again in the next one. Their entire bodies sprinted at a speed that was impossible – literally impossible – to describe, moving so fast that they seemed like a blur. Every time they clashed, the air was rippled by the collusion, and more and more ground was destroyed as the earth trembled as if shaken by earthquakes.

Soon, Saber realized that this situation could not stand. They needed to get out of here. They needed to delve deeper into the forest, to avoid getting their Masters involved in the fight.

He swung his invisible blade at the enemy in a horizontal slash, and Lancer was forced to retreat. Then, taking advantage of the moment of respite, the King of Knights leaped away, abandoning the clearing where Rin and the others were still facing each other and pushing himself even deeper within the vegetation, trying to find a safe location to fight. Luckily for him, Archer was no longer firing at them with his arrows… but his eyes could see the bursts of light detonating in the sky, miles and miles above his head, with the sound of blasts and explosions coming from the northeast direction.

It seemed that Archer and Berserker were still firing at each other from a distance, both of them trying to prevail in the firefight. Yet, something was different this time. They were firing at each other from a different direction, their arrows clashing on the opposite side of the forest, as if they were trying to achieve something with their latest scuffle.

Odd.

Still, he had no time to ponder on those things. With a speed that rivaled his own, the Servant of the Lancer class had appeared in front of him again, her body clouded by darkness and prana, twirling her crimson spear for a moment before thrusting it towards his heart, ready to pierce and cut at the first sign of weakness.

But Saber would not be fazed. He was the King of Knights. He had no weakness.

Twisting his body to the side, he threw his arms forward with an outstanding speed, deflecting the tip of the spear just a split-second before it could pierce his armor, and pushed his assailant away with a roar of resolve and effort. Lancer narrowed her eyes at his sudden display of skills, her crimson orbs glowing in the night like rubies gleaming in the dark of the forest, and retaliated again by rotating her body mid-air, aiming for a second slash powered by the motion.

King Arthur saw it coming. Stomping on the ground with a foot, he bent his legs a little and readied his balance, raising his sword in a vertical swing. The invisible blade and the crimson spear clashed against each other with an ear-splitting noise, generating a shockwave that shook the trees and forced them to bend for at least five hundred meters. The ground trembled and cracked beneath Saber's feet, cratering itself a little under the oppressive pressure exerted by the enemy Servant. In less than a blink of an eye, an explosion of dust and prana detonated around the two, and a veritable crater began to form on the ground. The landscape and the forest were being modified with each clash of their weapons, while dust clouded the world as the trees continued to shake.

Lancer disengaged as soon as Saber pushed her away. She landed gracefully on the opposite side of the small crater, twirling her spear with one hand as she stared at her opponent.

"As expected of the Saber class. Your strength is commendable, and your skills are to be envied," she studied him out loud, gazing at his face with an unreadable stare. Her expression remained as cold and unchanging as ever, even as she spoke those words, and the mask covering her features hid her emotions all too well. "Maybe you can offer me some sort of entertainment, after all."

Saber did not reply. He knew there was no need. Neither he nor Lancer were interested in small talks, especially under the current circumstances. All that mattered right now was defeating the enemy as soon as possible, in order to clear the path and reach the Castle to meet the Einzberns. Even if that prospect was not a pleasant one, even if meeting the Einzbern Master was surely going to be painful for him, Saber had no choice. It was the only option he had, and the only way to turn the tide of the conflict for good. There was no time for hesitation and worries.

Apparently, Lancer understood his wordless resolve. Her eyes narrowed and gleamed in what seemed to be twisted pleasure as Saber readied his stance. Then, with a smirk that could be glimpsed even beneath the mask covering her face, the woman with purple hair leaped forward at maximum speed, appearing in front of Arthur in less than a millisecond.

Emerald eyes widened as Saber reacted. His blade clashed against the lance with a metallic clang.

The King of Knights and the Queen of Shadows met each other in combat once more, crashing their own weapons in an explosion of wind. They pushed and pushed and pushed, trying to pressure the enemy and push each other away with their physical strength. The sheer power of the two opposing warriors was so high that even the ground itself began to split – it literally began to split apart – as the Servants continued to push and struggle against each other, unwilling to back down and falter from the physical contest. The earth moaned and cried as the ground was split in two, while the forest trembled once more as if shaken by a powerful earthquake.

Glaring at each other, Saber and Lancer kept pushing and pushing. If he had to be honest, however, the King of Knights was inwardly impressed. He knew that this woman was powerful and dangerous – all Servants were supposed to be strong, especially those belonging to the three knight classes – but even compared to standards, the force of this woman was beyond average. His trained instinct alone could feel this fact with crystal clear clarity, and there was no way to deny it. Not anymore, after witnessing it firsthand.

Lancer was a force of nature. A mixture of power and grace that Arthur had rarely seen in an opponent before. An elegant, but powerful, style of combat. In spite of her short stature and the lack of muscles in her limbs, each of the woman's attack was powerful and unrelenting like an avalanche, loaded by cunning, Mana, and experience. Her speed was unbelievable too, and the pressure she exerted with her body and strength was as imposing as a mountain. Rarely, if not very rarely, the young King of Britons had met an enemy of this caliber during his life. Not even his strongest Knights of the Round Table could compare to this woman's skills, and the fact that she was able to remain so calm and focused during the battle was a testament to her experience, her mindset… and her bloodlust.

He was facing a very dangerous opponent. One who was deadly and experienced like few others, and against whom he had to be extremely careful.

As if on cue to what he had just thought, the King of Knights almost grunted in pain when a kick caught him in the ribs out of the blue, hurling him backwards for several meters. He was up and moving again as the spearwoman crashed down on him a second time, attacking him relentlessly. Saber parried away one thrust of her spear, then two, then moved in close and slashed his blade with renewed effort. One swing, two, three and four― the woman was blocking them all. Their slashes moved so fast that they were impossible to see with the naked eye. The air itself was being torn to shreds with each swing and thrust of their weapons, rippling the atmosphere as if it were a liquid.

But still, the purple-haired enemy continued her assault, relentless. She came at him with an invisible thrust of her lance at blindingly fast speed, aiming for the left shoulder. Saber darted forward, ducked under it, and slammed his sword against the spear's shaft, making it snap upwards with an explosion of sparks. When the weapons collided, Lancer was hurled backwards by the power of his Mana Burst, rotating in the air a few times before she managed to stop her fall, her feet landing on the vertical trunk of a tree with unbelievable grace. Saber thundered forward while the woman was still attempting to regain her balance; but by the time he reached her, she was already leaping from the tree and ready for more.

The two of them clashed and fought amid the dark forest that surrounded them, rippling the air with each of their attacks. Some of the trees were cut in half by the wind that hurled from their swings. It was an eerie place to continue their dance. Time had little meaning during a clash of skills, and the world around them had completely disappeared for the two opponents immersed in battle. Their only focus was the fight, and their sheer determination to defeat the enemy no matter what.

Until, Lancer broke the silence again, taking some distance from him and speaking with an emotionless tone.

"Excalibur," she murmured, her crimson eyes narrowed in distaste as she gazed at the invisible weapon. "What a vexing blade. You conceal your sword in attempt to keep it secret, hiding its length and width so that the enemy cannot counter it in full. That is a cowardly strategy, and a useless one too. I expected more from someone of your caliber, King of Knights."

Contrary to what he would have usually done, Saber remained unfazed by the enemy's taunt. He had no longer the time to focus on other people's opinion, and he couldn't afford to do so either. His Knightly Code would not fall for such petty tricks.

"Fight me or release me, Lancer. But do not waste my time with talk," he spat, emotionless.

Scathach stared at him. Her expression remained unchanged. "Do you really think you can win this fight?" she asked, amused. "I admit that you're strong, but you have no chance against me. And even if you escape, my allies won't let you do as you please. You are fighting a pointless battle."

"Do not be so hasty to assume that joining in alliance against me will grant you an advantage, Lancer," the blond King countered with force. His emerald eyes narrowed with resolve as he glared at the woman. "If you have the numerical superiority, I only need to strike each of you down before it's too late."

Lancer grinned behind her mask, wide and amused like an adult listening to a child.

"I like that courage of yours."

Saber had had enough. With a burst of wind and prana, he gathered Magical energy within his body and allowed it to flow inside his system, releasing the Invisible Air covering his sword with nothing but a mental command. Then, faster than what humans were supposed to be, he dashed against the enemy once more. In a burst of energy and air, he pointed his blade against the spearwoman, releasing the attack with a roar of battle.

A veritable hurricane of air was generated by the attack, coming to life from the sheath of wind surrounding the Holy Sword. It trashed and roared and howled like a tornado of energy, unable to do anything but destroy all that stood in its path. The wind trashed towards the woman, rippling the air and tearing the ground into pieces as it continued its unstoppable advance, similar to a tornado capable of destroying everything in its path. Still, the Servant of the Lancer class remained unfazed by the incoming danger, narrowing her eyes on the attack as she readied her stance and prepared herself for something. Saber stared at her all the while… and his eyes widened in surprise as he watched what happened next.

Faster than he thought possible, the woman with purple hair raised a hand and pointed it at the hurricane, summoning a second spear in her waiting palm, identical to the one still grasped in her other hand. Then, not even a second later, a beam of crimson energy leapt between the new spear and the incoming wall of wind, almost as if the weapon had fired its own attack. Until, right before the wind could reach the woman and blow her away, the spear was thrown at the center of the hurricane with a fast and precise movement, piercing the eye of the storm with an explosion of red.

Then, everything became white, and the explosion occurred.

The successive blast of wind and energy slammed against Saber in full, who was unable to dodge it due to his previous attack. The wind unraveled into a concussive explosion of light and pressure, which enveloped Arthur in full and forced him to retreat. Despite his attempts to dodge it, the wall of pressured energy struck him from the side, sending him reeling backwards for several meters.

Wheezing and stunned, the King of Knights staggered on his legs as he fought to rose back on his feet after the previous blast, but he had no time to recollect himself in full. Before he could fully shake himself from the shock, in fact, Scathach had reappeared again once more, breaking through the blast of energy with her body and thrusting her spear at him with an impossible speed, aiming for the heart. Saber had no time to regain his balance and leap away to dodge, nor he could use the sword to block the assault due to his moment of weakness. Therefore, he was consequently forced to block the attack with his armored arm, parrying the tip of the spear to the side with a jerking motion of his arm.

Fortunately for him, he managed to deflect the attack, but with a price. The King of Britons swore he could feel his bones bending as he parried the lance, gritting his teeth in rage and frustration under the overwhelming pressure of the spear. All the while, the woman stared at him in wonder, impressed by his ability in combat. Very few warriors would have been able to react to such a fast and unexpected assault, especially when they were caught unawares. The fact that Saber had been able to defend himself in this dire situation spoke volumes about his skills, and his strength as a Servant.

However, that didn't stop her from kicking the blond monarch in the chest, making him crash against a tree with a loud, cracking sound.

Arthur growled in rage, ignoring the pain, and immediately rolled out of the way when Scathach slammed her spear on the spot he had occupied a moment before, piercing nothing but the empty wood. He readied himself in a blink of an eye, reassuming his fighting stance and glaring at the enemy with renewed passion. Once more, the Witch of Dún Scáith kept staring at him with an unreadable gaze, yanking her spear from the tree with a simple pull of the arm. Then, she summoned another spear in her free palm, making both lances spin and twirl around her beautiful frame.

Saber watched her with annoyance as she pointed both spears to him in a challenging gesture. "You summoned another one… just like Archer," he mused with a low hiss, almost to himself.

The Servant of the Lancer class eyed him unflinchingly. "Did you think he was the only one who can use multiple weapons?" she asked, sounding clearly unamused.

He shook his head. "No… but everywhere I go, I am reminded of him," he answered, almost with a hint of irony behind his tone. The King of Knights deepened his scowl. "That man and his faction are becoming a nuisance. I will put an end to this," he swore, shooting a silent glance towards the South, from where Archer and Berserker where still firing at each other, with the sound of the explosion resounding in the distance.

Scathach snorted, loud and clear. "Worry not, he will not interfere," she assured him with an empty tone. Unlike her voice, the gleam in her eyes was as feral and excited as it could ever be, and the smirk on her lips could be glimpsed even beneath the mask on her face. "This battle is between you and me alone."

King Arthur narrowed his eyes, reading his stance with a resolute face as the enemy charged at him once more.

With supersonic speed, the Servants moved against each other.

Rin Tohsaka paid no mind to that. While Saber and Lancer continued their bout deeper in the forest, the young Master and Magus ignored them both. On the contrary, the girl's gaze remained focused on the clearing, glued solely to the enemy standing right in front of her with unnerving intensity. She watched, with narrowed eyes, as the woman known as Bazett began walking towards her and Leysritt, cracking the bones in her hands with a cold and calculating expression on her face.

All around her, the world shook. There was an explosive, concussive blast of air that rocketed the battlefield. Beyond the clearing, amid the trees, Saber and Lancer continued their duel; disappearing inside the forest amid a blur of wind. They clashed, again and again and again, their weapons meeting each other in a roar of metal and sparks. They were little more than blurs of blue and red as they darted through the forest, rippling the air itself with each of their attacks. Each time they clashed, everyone took notice, and the forest itself was crying in alarm as the two warriors continued their battle.

But the heir of the Tohsaka line cared not for any of that. She would leave the enemy Servant to Saber, for she knew that he was strong enough to deal with her. Right now, instead, her instinct warned her to stay alert as soon as she saw Bazett take a single step forward, raising her right arm as it suddenly began to glow in the dark. Then, the woman disappeared, and the only thing Rin could see was a swift and sudden blur of movement rippling the air as it grew closer.

Rin widened her eyes, feeling her heart beat faster all of a sudden.

The sound of metal clashing against something hard echoed in the distance. The girl with raven hair blinked, confused for a moment, only to then gasp in surprise as soon as she realized that Bazett had appeared just a few meters in front of her, swinging a punch loaded with Mana against her chest. She had moved at an outstanding speed, too fast for her mind to comprehend, and she would have been struck by her punch in full if someone hadn't intervened.

Luckily for her, however, Rin wasn't alone in this fight.

In fact, it seemed that her new ally had moved just as quickly. The maid known as Leysritt glared at Bazett with an empty gaze as she blocked her path, the halberd's flat blade blocking the older woman's punch with a strong and resilient pressure. She was pushing Bazett behind in attempt to shrug her off and leave Rin alone.

Bazett glared at her coldly. "Step aside, homunculus. This battle is not between us," she ordered.

Leysritt remained unfazed. "You will not deny my Lady of her command. If you won't turn back, I will stop you," she retaliated, emotionless.

With a horizontal swing, the halberd cut through the air, aimed at the Magus' torso. Bazett reacted accordingly, however, parrying the weapon to the side with her bare hands. She deflected it with unbelievable ease, her entire arms glowing with a bright green energy as they batted the weapon aside. Then, when she was distracted, she kicked the maid in the chest, forcing her to retreat with a grunt of effort and pain.

Once more, Rin watched in stunned perplexity as the homunculus stumbled back on faltering legs, glaring at the woman coldly as she placed herself in front of the teenage girl in order to shield her from Bazett.

The woman with magenta hair narrowed her eyes. "This is the second time I'm forced to fight against an Einzbern homunculus," she stated out of the blue, cold and resolute and serious as never before. Rin could have sworn she saw a few bolts of lightning darting around her arms as she spoke, while the older Magus stared unflinchingly into the maid's red eyes. "I really hope it won't have to end the same way, this time."

Leysritt narrowed her eyes at her words. "…Fillia," she whispered, as if reminiscing something about their clan's past which Rin knew nothing about. "So you were the one who was dispatched to stop her."

"Correct. Things are different this time… but whatever the case, my job is still the same," the woman raised her hands, assuming a boxer stance as she glared at both Leysritt and Rin with a calculating stare. Magical Energy glowed in her arms, and electrical prana cracked around her clenched fists in the form of sparks of lightning. "Now let us begin."

Again, a few moments of silence. Then, Bazett disappeared once more.

Rin widened her eyes. For the second time, Bazett attacked first, dashing in the air towards the two of them with an impossible speed. In less than a second, she was already in front of the teenage girl, ready to swing at her with a fist glowing with green light. She had ignored the maid completely, brushing past her frame and going for the young Magus instead, intending to end this battle as fast as she could.

This time, however, the woman was going to be surprised, because Rin reacted accordingly. She was not foolish enough to let herself be caught unawares two times in a row, no matter what kind of enemy she faced. The heir of the Tohsaka family had trainer herself better than that.

Quickly, Rin began her incantation.

"Es ist groß."

In an instant, the spell activated. It lightened her body, making her as light as a feather, and adjusted the gravity around her, allowing her to move freely with inhuman speed. Thanks to its immediate effects and the shortened incantation, Rin was able to dodge the first punch in a split-second, ducking under the fist before she could be hit by it. Then, while Bazett was already moving the other arm to swing another punch at her, the younger girl applied Reinforcement to her legs, dashing away from the woman at maximum speed.

Bazett's punch hit nothing but air, and the girl with raven hair leaped away with a quick jump, distancing herself from the assailant and hiding her presence behind the trees surrounding the clearing. The woman snapped to the left, irked and surprised by the girl's speed of reaction, but immediately leaped away as soon as Leysritt dashed in her direction, swinging her giant halberd in a vertical slash and destroying the spot over which she had been standing not even a moment before.

Yet, Rin did not stop her strategy in spite of her successful escape. She couldn't afford to lose the momentum now. Bazett was engaging in combat against the homunculus maid. She had to take advantage of that.

She pointed her right hand towards the woman, taking aim at her behind the trunk of a tree. "Gandr!" she whispered.

Fast as a lightning, the Gandr shot was propelled from her hand. The black orb flew in the air like a silent bullet while Bazett was distracted by the maid, striking her back in full with a powerful blast of prana. The woman hissed in pain as soon as she was hit, narrowing her eyes in an expression of pain, but contrary to what Rin expected… she didn't react much. The blast did not stop at all. On the contrary, she began to attack with even more force than before, swinging and kicking against the homunculus like a woman possessed.

The maid of the Einzberns tried to swing at her chest once more in attempt to stop her assault, but the woman refused to back down. She evaded the halberd's swing with a step to the side, swinging another punch at the maid with an invisible movement. Leysritt barely had time to react under the oppressive assault of the Magus, blocking the incoming fist with her weapon and hissing in pain all the while when the strength of the attack forced her to fly backwards for a few meters.

Yet, she had no time to recollect herself. Not even a moment later, in fact, Leysritt widened her eyes, but it was too late. The breath was drove from her lungs as a fast, powerful fist connected with her ribs. The homunculus maid was bodily hurled into the air, crashing against a tree at the edge of the clearing due to the power of the attack. Rin could hear the wood crack as the maid struggled to get back up, coughing a bit as blood dribbled down her lips.

All the while, Bazett kept staring at her with a ruthless, calculating glint. She had moved fast; faster than what a human was supposed to be able to achieve, and she had overwhelmed the homunculus in but a few seconds. Her fists were glowing in the dark, surrounded and strengthened by green Mana and energy, and they seemed to leave a glowing trail behind them with each swing of the woman's punches.

All the while, Rin observed the enemy with narrowed eyes, still hiding her body behind a tree.

She was a monster. There was no doubt about it. The woman they were facing right now was a monster in combat abilities.

Portentous strength, incredible reflexes, and a speed of reaction that would have put to shame the majority of warriors in the world. Bazett Fraga McRemitz was a literal war machine when it came to physical strength, and the sheer ability she had demonstrated in close combat was outstanding even according to Rin's standards and researches. Moreover, the strengthening in her arms and legs was something else. An odd kind of incantation about which Rin had read something before, described in her father's books: Runic Magecraft. An ancient form of Magecraft that originated from Celtic culture in Ireland, and one that was extremely tricky to deal with in close range. Even more dangerous than common Reinforcement, it was a powerful form of strengthening that allowed the wielder to become as strong and sturdy as a stone. The chances of being able to dispel those Runes were pretty low, even with the use of Rin's gems and jewels; and being hit by one of those attacks directly was a mortal sentence for an average human being. If Leysritt hadn't been a homunculus specifically created and augmented for combat, Rin was sure that she would have been dead already. There was no doubt about it.

Therefore, considering all those clues, the girl with raven hair began to reach her conclusions: she was in a very dangerous situation right now.

In all likelihood, considering the ability she had demonstrated so far, the woman known as Bazett was a hunter specialized in hunting down other Magi, and a trained professional specializing in Anti-Magus battles. Technique, experience, battle power… she possessed all of them; and the fact that she specialized in close combat – the very same area in which Magi were notoriously at disadvantage – was proof enough of her nature as a hunter. Rin could realize this fact with just a single glance by now, and consequently, she knew that she was outmatched against her.

One thing was clear, however: that woman was dangerous. Extremely dangerous. She was fast, precise, ruthless, and more importantly: she was powerful. Rin was sure that a single, well-aimed punch would have been enough to kill her in one strike. If she had to be honest, at this point the girl didn't know if she could truly have a chance at winning this fight, given the odds.

Rin Tohsaka was no fool, after all. She was smart enough to realize when she was standing in front of a stronger opponent. But even if she was aware of that, it didn't mean that she could give up and surrender. Failure was not an option for her, unfortunately.

Not anymore.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. If she wanted to win, she had to think this through. She had to create a plan, formulate a strategy, and take advantage of every moment of respite during the battle. Saber was busy dealing with Lancer, so she had to deal with this woman on her own. She couldn't just throw herself at the enemy and hope to overwhelm her directly with spells. Not when the woman she was facing right now was a Magus specialized in physical combat; one who employed Runic Magecraft on her limbs, hands, and feet to increase her fighting potential. Doing such a thing would be as worse as fighting a Servant directly. It was suicide, and the girl knew it all too well.

No, she had to plan her move carefully, and take advantage of the homunculus maid to distract Bazett and strike her from behind. It was the only option she had.

"Are you done hiding?"

Aqua eyes snapped open in shock. The girl with raven hair turned to the right.

In a heartbeat, Bazett was on her. Again. She had appeared out of nowhere, using her inhuman speed to find her location amid the trees. Leysritt was nowhere to be found, and the situation looked as grim as never before. One moment had been more than enough for that woman to dash at her at supersonic speed, appearing next to the girl in spite of her hidden location.

Rin had no time to think anymore. She could already see the woman's right arm raised in a clenched fist, her whole limb surrounded by electric bolts, as she aimed the punch towards her face with meticulous precision and careful accuracy. If that punch connected to her face, she would be dead. Her inner instinct was screaming it at her. No shred of doubt about it.

Still, she wouldn't give up without a fight. Not even when faced by death.

Bazett cared not for her internal musing. She thrusted her fist forward in a formidable punch, aiming for the teenager's head. Rin scarcely had time to gasp under the unexpected attack. Even with her Reinforcement spell and her speed augmented by the previous incantation, she could barely see the fist's movement at all. However, she managed to react thanks to sheer instinct, barely managing to grab a few jewels from her pocket and tossing them at the enemy in a desperate attempt at survival.

"Licht: Verteidige mich!" she cried, tossing a few obsidian jewels right in front of Bazett's face.

The woman narrowed her eyes, momentarily halting her attack when instinct screamed at her.

In a second, a brilliant burst of powerful light erupted from the gems, exploding into a veritable flash of light that blinded everything within a ten-meter radius. The woman with magenta hair was caught by surprise by the flash, and she could do nothing but gasp in surprise as the light blinded her vision entirely, covering her eyes with her palms as she hissed in pain. Her eyes burned and watered as she struggled to regain her sight.

Yet, that was exactly what Tohsaka was hoping for. Having covered her own eyes before launching the gems, she leaped away from the woman in order to put some distance. Then, when she was far enough, she rotated her body mid-air, pointing her right hand towards the enemy and crushing a ruby within her fingers.

"Fixierung, Eile Salve!" she intoned.

A veritable volley of bullets was shot from the girl's forefingers. The Gandr Shot spell erupted from the broken gem, relentless and without pause, flying over a wide range like a machine gun and striking Bazett in the chest while she was still struggling to regain her sight. The volley of black orbs slammed against the woman with a powerful blast, and this time, it seemed to work. Bazett was thrown away for several meters, slamming her back against a rock and rolling on the ground as she moaned in pain.

But it wasn't enough. Less than two seconds, and she was back on her feet again. Rin almost cursed out loud when she realized that Bazett was still conscious, and looking way more pissed than before. The spell she had used against her was so powerful that it would have knocked out an elephant thanks to its blast, but it seemed that this woman was even more resilient than that. Of course.

Still, her momentary advantage was not over yet.

Once more, Bazett dashed towards her with her hands stretched forward, moving as fast as the wind itself as she attempted to restrain her and put an end to this clash.

This time, however, Rin was ready. The previous momentum had given her enough time to prepare.

When Bazett was in front of her again, with her right fist clenched in a punch aimed at the stomach, the girl made her move. She crushed another gem – an emerald – within the palm of her hand, summoning a wall of crystal energy out of nowhere and using it as a shield to defend herself from the incoming attack.

It worked… but not completely. Bazett's fist slammed against the shield of crystal with a loud cracking noise, shattering it with a powerful blast and an overwhelming brute strength in less than two seconds. The power behind the punch was so vast that the magical shield literally exploded with a blast, shattering itself like glass and generating a small burst of wind for several meters. Rin yelped in surprise as she was caught by the blast, her body flying in the air as the wall of wind slammed against her in full, making her mind go blank for a second.

But even under those grim circumstances, she did not falter. Not even one bit. Survival instinct coupled with her competitive nature compelled her to react, and the young heir of the Tohsaka lineage forced herself to react even while her body was flung into the air.

Not so fast, she thought; grabbing another pair of jewels from the pocket of her red coat: a ruby and a sapphire. Then, while she kept falling towards the ground, she waited for the perfect chance, and watched as the older woman dashed towards her once more, fast as lightening itself, aiming to strike now that she had no chance of evading due to her state.

When Bazett was close enough, the younger girl made her move.

She tossed the gems at the opponent, releasing the Mana that was stored within them with a mental command. Bazett saw it coming this time, and she evaded the gems' trajectory in order to avoid a second attack like the previous one… but that was exactly was Rin had foreseen. In fact, as soon as the jewels exploded, something unexpected happened, and the heir of the Fraga lineage widened her eyes in stunned stupor.

A veritable dust of prana drenched the air, expanding itself in every direction and fueling the atmosphere with a foreign Mana. Bazett tried to avoid it by darting to the side at the last split-second, but it was no use. Fast as she was, the speed of molecular expansion was even faster, and the invisible dust reached her location in spite of her attempts at evading it, fueled by her own movement. The air grew dense with prana in less than a blink of an eye, and when the woman realized it, it was already too late.

Rin fell to the ground, and a victorious smirk blossomed on her face.

Because Bazett had been trapped inside a cage of magical vines, while the air drenched with prana began to grow heavy and oppressive all around her, increasing the pressure of gravity and restraining the woman's movements for a bit.

The young girl grinned in satisfaction while Bazett widened her eyes.

"Now, Leysritt!" she cried.

The reaction was immediate and swift.

From the other side of the clearing, the maid of the Einzberns reappeared amid the trees. She flung herself forward with a portentous leap, covered in blood but still fighting and resisting, and slammed her halberd against Bazett who was struggling to break free from the cage. Still, although she was bound by the pressure and vines, the woman with magenta hair managed to react a little bit, raising her left arm in attempt to defend herself.

Consequently, under Tohsaka's victorious smirk and Leysritt's emotionless gaze, the woman was struck in full by the attack, and the cage of vines and magic was shattered with an explosion of dust.

Bazett rolled on the ground, hissing and moaning in pain as she was thrown away by the assault. She crashed against a nearby tree, coughing a bit of blood from her lips as she struggled to raise herself from the ground. When the dust began to disappear and the woman managed to recollect herself, Rin and Leysritt noticed that her left arm was bloodied and swollen after the previous attack, and that it was limping to the side while woman rose herself to her feet with a strained grunt, panting and wheezing in pain and frustration.

A wave of satisfaction and excitement began to blossom inside of Rin's mind. The plan had worked. She had finally managed to wound her opponent in spite of the odds.

"I will finish this at once."

Leysritt had no intention of wasting this golden chance. In fact, as soon as she spoke those words, she moved once again, attempting to rush against the wounded woman and intending to put an end to this battle once and for all… but unfortunately for her – and Rin – she had no time to do so.

Because from the dark and silent sky, a few flashes of red glowed in the distance. Then, widening her eyes in realization, the maid of the Einzbern family leaped away as soon as she could, forced to retreat when a few arrows pierced the ground, threatening to skewer her if she hadn't dodged the assault.

Once more, Rin watched with a growing sense of frustration as the barrage of arrows created a defensive line right in front of Bazett's body, shielding her recovering frame from the two assailants' attacks. They created a solid line of defense, dividing the battlefield in two as the far-away Servant refused to let the two of them get close to his ally, creating a moment for Bazett to regain her breath and recover from the previous attack.

For the umpteenth time in a row, the heir of the Tohsaka line felt like swearing and cursing in frustration. Damn it. Curse that damned Archer; he's really starting to get on my nerves, she inwardly hissed with her loud and waspish voice, glaring in direction of the hidden Servant.

Regardless, the damage was done. Their previous momentum had been lost, the opportunity was gone, and there was no use in crying over spilled milk.

When the dust began to disappear, Rin immediately knew that her suspicions were right. The woman named Bazett had already managed to recollect herself from the previous attack, returning back on her feet and preparing herself for another round. However, both Rin and Leysritt noticed something: her left arm was bloodied and swollen, and it was limping to the side due to the previous attack. Moreover, when the woman with magenta hair took a few steps forward, she couldn't help but wince a bit as she touched her wounded arm, panting a bit in pain and with a hint of frustration.

Realization followed suit in a moment. Rin's heart nearly skipped a beat.

It was working. Bazett was struggling.

They had a chance. They had a chance of winning this battle. Even if Archer had interfered in the fight, even if he had stopped them from delivering the final blow, that didn't change their current position one single bit.

For the first time ever since the battle had begun, they had an advantage against the enemy.

"Your plan was efficient," Leysritt commented with an empty voice. The girl with raven hair turned to the maid, and she didn't fail to notice the nod of approval the homunculus threw in her direction in spite of her blank face. "You did well. My Lady will surely be pleased to have such a capable ally at her side."

After hearing that statement, suddenly and without a warning, the words that Caster had spoken to her and Saber in the morning flashed inside of her head.

"If you agree to that, then I shall give you my word that you and your Master won't be alone in this fight, and that you will have a fair chance at winning in spite of the odds."

"Tread into the homunculus' domain by night, and you shall have your alliance."

And as soon as she recalled those memories, as soon as she realized that fact and remembered what her purpose was, Rin Tohsaka felt a twinge of pleasure flooding her heart in spite of her focused mind.

She had a chance.
She had a chance of winning this battle.
For the first time ever since the War had begun, Rin could achieve victory for herself.

She could win this fight.

Somehow, for some reason she couldn't understand, that realization brought her much more satisfaction and excitement than what she would have expected.

For the first time in a while, Rin actually felt a wave of trepidation blossom in her heart.

Bazett took a few steps forward, wincing a bit as she eyed her limping arm. "Don't get too full of yourself," she spoke with an angry tone, her voice strong but still tinged with pain due to her wounded limb. "The battle isn't over. You haven't won yet."

The smirk on Rin's lips grew in spite of those words.

"No… but it seems that Caster was right," the girl countered with a haughty tone. As the words of the King of Heroes darted across her mind, the resolve on her gaze grew all the more. "No matter what you thought before, no matter what you do or say, this time I can win as well."

The tide of the conflict had shifted for real.
The advantage the Lord and his group had had was no longer of use.

Just as Caster had told them in the morning.

Bazett narrowed her eyes, steeling her focus as best as she could.

While Rin and Leysritt readied their stance, preparing themselves for the second round of the clash.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

My vision is drawn to the top of the empty hill. There, from the shadow cast by a street lamp, my eyes can see the intruders with a clear and crystal certainty. The shadow is long and grotesque, like a devil drawn in a picture book, but my eyes cannot be deceived even as the moon begins to disappear in the clouded sky above.

In this gloomy town of darkness and silence, stands a figure that should not be there.

Next to me, Rin is watching the scene with wide eyes, and I can feel her realization through our silent mental bond.

"…Berserker."

Saber and her Master gasp as they halt their steps. Amid the silence, the giant and the girl with silver hair stare down at us with an unreadable gaze, while a cold and empty smirk slowly blossoms on Illya's face.

"Good evening, Onii-chan!"

That cheerful but empty voice slowly wounds my shattered heart.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Suburbs of Fuyuki City (Japan)
Einzbern Forest  ――  WESTERN SIDE

(======)

Tremors shook the earth.

Wind roared and cried as it raged in the distance.

The sound of wind running through the forest and shaking the trees echoed for miles away. The tremors grew more intense, their source probably on the opposite section of the forest, on the other side of the thicket. The more they kept advancing through that endless vegetation, the more the quakes intensified as well.

The battle against the strongest Servants was raging just behind those kilometers of dense trees.

"!"

Artoria's feet stopped. A second before she could burst into a small clearing, she skidded to a halt and turned her eyes to the right. A few meters behind her frame, Waver Velvet and his faithful Rider did the same, snapping their heads in the same direction, above the trees.

A blast of energy and wind roared in the distance. It shook the world for a few moments, making the trees moan and creak as if shaken by death throes.

The young heir of the Pendragon line narrowed her eyes. "…it has begun," she whispered.

Lord El-Melloi II nodded next to her, a grave expression blossoming on his face. "Indeed. Bazett must have found our enemies. Those blasts of concussive energy are surely caused by Servants," he confirmed, sharing a glance with Charlemagne, who was nodding in agreement as well.

Still, they had to be certain. Artoria turned her mind to her Servant. "Archer, has the battle truly started?" she asked, speaking to him through their mental bond.

The voice of the tanned bowman echoed in her head with a serious tone.

"Correct. Our allies have made contact with Saber and his Master. They are engaging in combat as we speak," he explained, direct and straightforward. Artoria knew not where he had hidden himself, but she knew that her Servant was watching everything unfold from a distance, using his enhanced eyesight to survey the whole forest and guide them on their path. "However, the enemies are not alone. They've teamed up with someone. A woman dressed in maid outfit, wielding a giant halberd. I suspect she has come from the Castle."

Such news worried her a bit. The blonde girl reported Archer's words to the Lord and his Servant.

Lord El-Melloi II's face was marred by a frown after hearing the news. "It's most likely a homunculus of the Einzberns," he mused, lowering his gaze as he assumed a pensive expression. "The Einzbern family possess a Thaumaturgical Attribute that allows them to specialize in Alchemy, and especially in coining homunculi. I've met one of them myself during the previous Holy Grail War."

Rider eyed him with a serious frown. "Humunculi, huh…"

"Artificial human beings born with bodies and minds optimized to perform different purposes," the black-haired Magus explained, sounding a bit worried. "Some of them are created to serve specific roles, like doing house chores, serving as bodyguards or maids… or being specialized in combat and defense."

Hearing that explanation left no doubt in Artoria's mind. She could already grasp the nature of the enemy they were about to face. "In that case, I suppose we already know what to expect, then. I hardly doubt the Einzbern Master is devoid of protection, even with Berserker at their side. They must have brought some homunculi designed for combat too, if Miss Bazett has already met one."

Waver nodded. "Most likely."

"Then we shan't waste time lingering. We must reach the manor before it's too late," Artoria stated, firm and resolute. She turned her mind to her far-away Servant again. "Archer, can you see the Castle? Which path should we take from here?"

The answer she received was not a spoken reply, but an arrow instead.

From the North, faster than what was humanly possible, a flash of light gleamed in the distance. Then, a bolt of red lightning darted across the night sky, searing the air with an inaudible hiss. Artoria raised her head, turning her gaze to the sky along with Rider and the Lord of the Clock Tower, and they saw a flash of red light darting above their heads, way beyond the trees and the darkness of the forest, headed in a specific direction.

South .

Rider grinned with an excited grin as he followed the arrow's direction with the eyes. "So cool! That's an amazing example of 'show, not tell'. Way to go, Archer!" he laughed, looking visibly amused by the way the bowman had chosen to show them the way.

On the other hand, however, Artoria and Waver were not laughing. They weren't laughing at all.

Because if Archer had shot an arrow out of the blue, risking a retaliation from the enemy thanks to his attack, then that could only mean―

"Master, take cover!"

Artoria Pendragon wasted no time. The seriousness in Archer's tone echoed in her head like an unyielding command.

She turned to her allies with a frantic expression. "Watch out! Something is about to happen!"

And something happened indeed.

The blast arrived as soon as she spoke those words. In the air, approximatively 1 kilometer from their position, an explosion occurred. It shook the earth and trees like a powerful earthquake, while the air itself quivered as if assaulted by a hurricane. The young heir of the Pendragon line nearly fell on her knees as the ground trembled and made her lose her balance; her ears ringing a bit while the roar of the explosion rumbled in the wind. The power of the blast, coupled with the earthquakes generated by the distant fight between Saber and Lancer, was wounding the earth itself like an unrelenting plague. It was so sudden and violent that no human being could hope to remain unfazed by it.

If things continued this way, Artoria was sure that the whole forest was bound to the be wiped out. She had no doubt about it.

But it wasn't over. Because the previous blast was followed by another. And then another. And then another again. It became a veritable succession of explosions, all of them detonating in air, in the night sky right above their heads. Amid that chaos of smoke and wind and prana, the only thing the girl could see was a long series of consecutive flash of red lights crashing against another series of purple lights, exploding again and again upon making contact with each other. The explosions that occurred in the air lit the night into day with their blinding brilliance, making the darkness of the forest shine with a red-golden color for a few moments.

Upon seeing those explosions, the young Master realized how things stood. She had already seen those lights before, and there was no way she could ever forget the memories of her first battle in this War.

Next to her, Lord El-Melloi II was struggling to stand on his feet as he held his balance by holding Rider's arm. His black eyes were wide and filled with tension as they stared at the blasts detonating in the sky. "Berserker," he said, his face paling a bit in cold realization. "She's firing at us from the Castle. Archer is trying to shield us from the attack with his own arrows!"

The Lord was right. From the South, the same direction Archer had pointed to them before, the opposite faction was firing their assault. Purple arrows darted across the sky, crashing against the red ones fired by Archer in a clash of unrelenting firefight. No… using the word "arrows" would have been an understatement. It was like a barrage from a machine gun, and each shot was big enough that it could pierce through a rock. The speed of the shots was so high that they seemed like projectiles, and Artoria wouldn't have been able to see them at all, if it hadn't been for their bright, magical glow. The only things that could be seen were the explosions, along with the flashes of light coming from the opposite sides of the forest.

Charlemagne spurred into action. He helped both Waver and Artoria back on their feet, his cheerful face morphed into a serious frown as he stared at the blasts. "Guess we need to hurry, then. Our soon-to-be allies have given away their location," he exclaimed, as if trying to look at the bright side of things, shooting a glance in the direction from where the purple lights kept coming.

Waver shared a nod with the girl with golden hair. "They were aware of our presence all along. It was only a matter of time before they welcomed us."

"Let's not keep them waiting, then," Artoria declared, serious and resolute.

Having said that, they wasted no time. The three of them started to run in the southern direction with a powerful sprint, heading towards the source of the purple lights at maximum speed. They delved deeper and deeper into the forest, ignoring the world around them as they focused their minds solely on reaching their objective: locate the manor and meet the Einzbern Master. All the while, the clash between the red and purple arrows continued to rage, and the air above the trees was shaken by more and more explosions. The whole forest moaned and trembled as the world shook, making the ground quiver and rendering their advance unsteady.

Yet, it was harder than they thought. Artoria was a skilled warrior, a swordswoman who had trained herself since young age to fight with a blade and keep her balance in spite of the odds, but even she was having trouble to run amid all those quakes. The ground was shaking so much that it was honestly dangerous to run… but the heir of the Pendragon line had trained herself for years, and she could face this kind of situation with relative ease. Waver Velvet, on the other hand, was another story entirely. The poor man was a teacher, one who didn't exactly excel in physical qualities, and he was struggling quite a bit to keep up with the pace of Artoria and his Servant. This situation was something he hadn't taken in consideration, it seemed.

Rider noticed the way his Master struggled to keep his balance as they kept running amid the trees. He groaned as another earthquake shook the forest. "Ugh… I still don't get why we can't use my Hippogriff to fly directly to the Castle," he complained, slowing down his pace to help the Lord by grabbing him by the waist. "Reaching the manor would be a child's play with my mount, Master. Why can't we just go there by flight?"

"Because doing so… (anf) …would put us directly… (pant) …under Berserker's firing line," Lord El-Melloi II explained with a panting voice, trying to keep up as best as he could even as he kept running with Rider's aid. "Your Hippogriff is fast… (gasp) …but it cannot evade or maneuver efficiently… (cough) …when it's carrying three people on its back."

Artoria nodded next to them. "He's right. Not even Archer's support could protect us from the enemy's assault if we were to fly between both lines of fire. If we want to reach the Castle, we have to do so by foot."

That was actually a valid point. "Ugh. Fine. What a bummer, though…" the King of Franks relented with a sigh, dragging his Master along with his arms.

Eventually, however, their efforts paid off.

Suddenly and without a warning, the explosions stopped. All the blasts detonating in the sky were halted abruptly, and the ground stopped shaking after five minutes of quakes. Calm and silence returned to reign within the forest out of the blue, and even the glow of the fired arrows disappeared at once, as if they had never existed in the first place. The world quieted and waited, remaining unmovable as if something was about to happen.

Immediately, Artoria and Waver took notice of that. They raised their heads, wondering why Archer and Berserker had stopped firing at each other, but they had no time to voice their doubts. In fact, all their questions were interrupted as soon as Rider raised his arm, pointing a finger in a specific direction.

"There! I see it!" he exclaimed.

Grabbing their attention, Charlemagne led them to a wide clearing. And as soon as they stepped out of the vegetation, Artoria and the Lord of the Clock Tower widened their eyes in silent stupor.

The Einzbern Castle stood in front of their eyes, looking tall and imposing as a manor of times past.

For a moment, the two Masters could not believe their eyes. They had reached their destination, but the sight that greeted their vision was a lot to take in. The Castle was enormous – gigantic, even – and it was both old and elegant at the same time. So elegant in fact that it seemed to resemble a villa of some sort rather than a true Castle of ancient times. It was entirely made of stone, equipped with four towers at each edge of the building, all of them covered by a peaked roof. Its size was so big that it was hard to believe the forest and its vegetation could hide it from view. There was no way they hadn't been able to notice it before. It simply impossible.

Both Masters knew what this meant, however. The fact that none of them except for Rider had been able to see the Castle during their advance in the forest was probably due to some kind of magical defense. They had only noticed its presence upon stumbling on it, so there was no way to deny it at this point. The Einzberns were known for being a secretive and secluded family of Magi, so it made sense that their Workshops would be invisible to the eyes. Probably due to some kind of spiritual defense, moreover. There was no other way to explain it.

I did hear some voices saying that the forest was infested with spirits, Lord El-Melloi II thought with gulp. But I didn't imagine that this was what they meant.

Unlike the Lord, however, Artoria cared not about the Castle's defensive mechanism, nor the Magecraft behind it. The only thing that mattered to her was moving on with the plan as soon as possible. "It seems we have found our destination," she spoke, breaking the tense silence that had fallen all around them. "What should we do now?"

That was indeed a good question. The three of them looked around, observing their surroundings with wary and careful glances.

Immediately they noticed something: the Castle was not standing on its own, facing the forest directly. In fact, it was surrounded by tall walls of stone that circled it completely, similar to a defensive shield that surrounded the entrance. From the main gate leading inside the walls, Artoria, Waver and Rider could glimpse an elegant flowerbed and some trees and plants poking here and there, with a small fountain of marble built in the middle. Probably a courtyard of some sort, they assumed.

Charlemagne kept his eyes on the entrance. "Master. Your orders," he spoke, for once sounding more serious than usual as he kept his hand on the hilt of his sheathed longsword.

Lord El-Melloi II steeled his resolve as he regained his breath. "No use in hesitating now. We have to get inside," he decided, sharing a glance with Artoria.

Seeing his silent gesture, the girl with golden hair turned her eyes to the forest at their back. "Archer, are you still watching us? What do you see?" she whispered with both her voice and mind, her thoughts going to her Servant hidden somewhere far away.

Once more, the voice of the bowman echoed in her head with a serious and stoic tone. "My apologies, but the Bounded Field surrounding the Castle is hindering my vision. I can see where you are, but our enemies elude me. Be careful when you cross the gates, Master."

Emerald eyes furrowed in worry. She didn't like the seriousness in his tone. "What do you mean?" she inquired further.

"I cannot see the enemies, but I can sense their presence even from afar. Someone is hiding inside the courtyard… most likely, they are waiting for you to step inside the walls. No matter what you do, I suggest you don't lower your guard."

She shared his words with Waver and Rider as well. The King of Franks glanced in every direction as he looked inside the gates. "Yeah, I kinda figured that something is wrong with this place. I have a bad feeling too…" he muttered.

Lord El-Melloi II narrowed his eyes. "What about Assassin? Has Archer noticed something?" he asked, turning to the Pendragon girl.

Archer's reply came through Artoria's voice as she repeated his words. "Nothing so far. Visibility is poor in the forest, but I can't sense any presence hiding in the shadows." Despite the certainty behind his tone, the girl with golden hair could feel her Servant's suspicion through their invisible bond. This fact alone was making her concern grow in spite of everything. "I'll move closer to your location and try to get a better view. If I see anything, I'll warn you right away."

Upon hearing that, Waver, Artoria and Rider shared one final glance. The three of them nodded with a resolute expression.

Just like that, the decision was made.

They opened the gates, and stepped inside the courtyard. Rider stood in front of the group, leading the way in a calm but wary stance while the two humans followed him close, intruding within the enemy's Workshop with a careful step and bathed breaths. As soon as they crossed the gates and stepped inside the walls, silence and emptiness drenched the world around them, and the three wary visitors could feel something odd permeating the air. An odd and indescribable feeling of danger that quieted down and dissolved every tremor and every noise that could be heard from the outside, including those coming from the blasts generated by Saber and Lancer's clash.

But it was true. The whole Castle and the courtyard that surrounded it were enveloped by an odd silence. A silence that felt absolute, for it was a sharp contrast to the quakes and the blasts they had witnessed in the forest. Yet, here inside the walls of the Einzbern Workshop, none of that mattered anymore. None of that existed. The only thing that they could hear was silence, along with a feeling of dread and anticipation that not even Rider could describe in full. It was as if time itself had stopped all of a sudden, making every danger and every noise coming from the outside disappear as if they'd never existed.

Still, it was unnatural. Way too unnatural to be dismissed. Both Artoria and Waver could feel it right away. The stillness that surrounded them was not something that could be ignored. On the contrary, it felt as if the manor was enveloped within a spell. A silent, invisible spell that quieted down every noise and every danger coming from beyond the walls, leaving only an odd and eternal feeling of stillness that made Artoria's skin shiver upon stepping inside the yard. There was no way this feeling of anticipation could be something born through natural means. It had to be the work of the Einzbern family; and all of them could understand that with just a single glance.

Until, just as Archer had warned them before, their suspicions became true when something unexpected happened.

"So… have you finished looking around?"

A youthful voice echoed through the night. A melodic tone that seemed to belong to a young girl.

Waver and the others reacted abruptly. Their vision was drawn to the middle of the courtyard. There, suddenly a without a warning, two figures appeared out of nowhere, their silhouettes stepping out from the shadow of the marble fountain built at the center of the yard.

The clouds parted in the air, and the moonlight shone in the sky―

―as the owner of the Castle stepped in front of the three guests, staring down at them in silence with a cold but cheerful smile.

"Good evening, visitors," a young girl with silver hair greeted them in a serious tone, lifting the sides of her purple skirt as she bowed at them in a way that felt out of place in that situation. "My name is Illya. Illyasviel von Einzbern. I welcome you in my Castle... even though you were not invited."

The girl laughed playfully as she spoke those simple words, her tone sounding both light and amused, like that of a child meeting a new group of friends. Both Waver and Artoria stared at her with stunned eyes, takin in her appearance with no small amount of silent shock.

Pale skin, crimson eyes, and long white hair. The girl who introduced herself as 'Illya' didn't look older than twelve. A young girl of short stature – even younger than Artoria – who looked like she had barely grown out of childhood due to her youthful face and short stature. She was wearing a collared, purple long-sleeved shirt with a light purple scarf to match, a long and white skirt on her legs and purple boots on her feet. But the thing that caught Artoria's eye was not her way of clothing… but her gaze. A cold, unreadable gaze filled with mischief and cruelty. A gaze that looked both innocent and twisted, and one that did not belong into the eyes of such a youth, in Artoria's opinion.

Yet, nor the Lord nor Artoria had time to respond to the girl's formal greeting. After all, they immediately noticed that the girl who was bowing to them wasn't alone as she greeted them in the courtyard. An older, taller woman stood right next to the young girl. A woman dressed in maid outfit, and whose features looked extremely similar to the girl's… almost as if she was a relative, or an older sibling of some sort. This fact alone was a silent, unmistakable proof of the nature those two beings shared: homunculi. Both of them were homunculi of the Einzbern family, with the younger and smaller one being – apparently – the owner of the Castle.

Odd as it was, Lord El-Melloi II and Artoria didn't find this situation amusing. It was not their place to judge, and they knew that doing so would be foolish as well. As people who belonged to the world of Magecraft, in fact, both Waver and Artoria knew that things were often different from what they seemed… especially when it came to Magi families and physical appearances. Old people could look younger thanks to the aid of Magecraft, and according to some, some people could even increase their lifespan by using unorthodox (and forbidden) rituals. So, it was pretty common for the Magi world not to judge on appearances alone. Looks could be deceiving, after all.

Still, there was something off about that Illya girl. Both Rider and the humans could tell that much with just a single glance.

After all, there was no way that the cold and cruel glint in her eyes could mean anything good. The three of them were ready to bet on it.

Finally, the Lord of the Clock Tower stepped forward. He couldn't remain silent forever.

"…I am sorry for breaking through your territory unannounced, Lady Illyasviel. Please, accept my sincerest apologies," the black-haired Magus broke the silence with a serious tone, offering a small bow of the head in response to the girl's previous display of (fake) courtesy. The smile blossoming on the young girl's lips seemed to be rather amused by his gesture. "My name is Lord El-Melloi II, and I am a Lord of the Clock Tower sent by the Mage's Association to participate in the War. Me and my companions have come here tonight because―"

"I know. I was aware of your presence all along," the small girl cut him off abruptly, her tone unwavering and unchanging. Waver, Artoria and Charlemagne tensed a bit as the owner of the manor giggled in what seemed to be an amused reaction. "Rin warned me of your arrival, and she told me what your goal is. A rather foolish ambition is fueling your actions, Lord of the Clock Tower."

Every single word the girl had spoken just now sent a shiver down Artoria's neck. Illya's tone was cheerful, amused… almost innocent in the way she voiced her thoughts. Yet, there was something off about it. A duality which couldn't go unnoticed by the heir of the Pendragon line, even in spite of her young age. It was simply impossible to miss it.

Because those words were not a statement. They were a threat.

The Master of the Einzbern faction was openly calling their cause a foolish ambition.

Obviously, Lord El-Melloi II understood this as well. The way his brows furrowed in cold resignation was very obvious to see. "I see… it seems we are a bit too late. We came here not to fight, but because we wish to reach a peaceful solution," he tried to bargain once more.

Illyasviel von Einzbern giggled again. The maid standing next to her watched the odd group sternly.

"After coming this far, is that all you have to say? How boring," the short girl hummed amusedly, leaning back and fro on her legs as she placed both arms behind her back. "You speak of peace and alliances, and yet this is a Holy Grail War. Such concepts are useless during a War, because nothing is meant to last at the end of a conflict. Except for victory, of course. Isn't that right, Sella?" she asked, turning to the maid next to her.

The woman – Sella – nodded her head. "Yes, Lady Illya," she answered without batting an eye.

Rider just blinked throughout that whole interaction. He turned to his Master as he pointed a finger towards the short girl, whispering to him with a low and confused voice. "Uuh… what's with that sassy child? Is she mad or something?" he asked.

Waver Velvet ignored him. He would not desist that easily. "You say that, yet it seems that even you agreed to talk with Miss Tohsaka. If she warned you about us, then she must have shared her intentions," he insisted, narrowing his eyes on the Einzbern Master.

"Yes. She was on her way to the Castle before one of your allies decided to interrupt her so rudely. I have no interest in that girl, but I feel quite sorry for her," the young homunculus answered with ease, her smile not changing one bit as she made that sarcastic remark.

Artoria stepped forward as well. After listening to all of that, she couldn't stand by and watch anymore. "Is that why you sent one of your minions to aid her against our ally?" she demanded, unwilling to be fooled by the young girl's half-truths. She wasn't that gullible, after all.

Crimson eyes narrowed in anger as the homunculus maid turned to Artoria. "Watch your words when you speak to the Lady," the woman named Sella warned her, sternly. "I will NOT let any disrespect against her go unpunished."

Yet, Illya silenced the maid with a raise of the hand. The short and young Master turned her gaze towards the girl.

"My, my. It seems we have a feisty one amid our guests," she said, looking clearly entertained by the glare Artoria was staring at her with. The smallest furrowing of her eyebrows was the only sign hinting the young girl's true emotions. "The Master of Archer. I remember you. I've seen your face through my Servant's eyes, two days ago."

The Pendragon girl did not reply to those words. She kept her face serious in spite of the smile blossoming on Illya's lips.

"Our Servants have a score to settle, if I recall," the small Master spoke to her with a cruel and sarcastic smirk. The air around her frame seemed to shift and blur a bit as she made that sudden statement. "Let's end that unfinished business right here and now, shall we?"

Artoria was about to answer in kind, but the enemy wouldn't allow it.

With a soft but twisted giggle, the small girl with silver hair raised her right arm, snapping her fingers as she stared at her wary guests in what seemed to be amused cruelty. For a moment, the quiet and still atmosphere surrounding the courtyard seemed to grow even more tense… before things began to grow hectic as soon as the homunculus' Servant responded to her call. Waver and Artoria had no time to react by the time it happened. It was faster than a man could blink.

A blur of invisible wind flickered into existence. Then, something crashed – literally crashed – on the floor of the courtyard with an audible crack, falling from somewhere above and landing right next to the Einzbern Master in less than a blink of an eye. The air moaned and hissed as wind was generated by the crash, and the three concerned guests watched in apprehension as another figure began to appear from a cloud of purple dust, revealing herself with a low and feral growl.

In the instant her eyes landed on the figure, the young heir of the Pendragon line immediately recognized the new enemy. Unkempt hair of silver color, black dress filled with cuts and creases, and a regal and beautiful face twisted into a snarl of feral condition… there was no mistake about it. She knew who that Servant was. The two of them had already met a few days ago, and Artoria could not forget that experience no matter how much she'd tired. Those golden eyes filled with bestiality had struck her mind quite a bit.

The Servant of the Berserker class: Atalanta the Huntress.

Illyasviel von Einzbern chuckled as her Servant rose from the ground. She stood by her side to the left, glaring at the three uninvited guests with a cold and solemn smile. "I have no interest in talking with you. Let's finish this at once, Berserker."

The huntress growled and snarled upon hearing that statement, like a lioness ready to pounce on its preys at the young Master's command.

"Wait, please!" Lord El-Melloi II cried abruptly. He raised both hands in a peaceful gesture, glaring at the girl named Illya with a tense but serious frown. "Miss Pendragon is my ally. She has agreed to join forces with me upon listening to my cause. If you could just lend an ear to me as well, I'm sure we can avoid any useless bloodshed. There is no need for―"

"I feel aggravated."

Waver paused and tensed. Artoria stiffened and watched. The world quieted all the more.

Black eyes widened in shock upon hearing those words. Behind the Lord's immovable frame, Artoria watched the scene unfold with a worried expression, while Rider took a few steps forward as well, as he inwardly prepared himself to shield his Master in case of need.

And all the while, the girl with the name of Illya glared at them with an emotionless face, her words echoing in the air with an empty and solemn tone.

The Master of the Einzbern faction spoke with a voice that was not her own.

"You who know so little… You who seek the destruction of the Grail… You understand nothing."

Hatred appeared in the girl's eyes.
Her grin widened still further.

A bottomless pit of darkness gleamed inside those small and crimson orbs.

"What would you know about the desire that fueled our research? What would you know about the wish that gave birth to our miracle?"

The Lord of the Clock Tower narrowed his eyes. Artoria and Charlemagne shared a worried glance.

And as the girl with silver hair continued her speech, as those words echoed amid the unnatural silence drenching the courtyard, both Waver and Artoria understood how thing were.

The girl who stood in front of them was no simple homunculus at all.
The girl who stood in front of them was the heir of the Einzbern's will.

A true and living descendant of Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern.

"The Dismantling of the Ritual is an affront to the Three Founding Families. As the vessel of the Lesser Grail, we will forever refute that outcome."

The words were stoic and firm. The voice behind them hollow but powerful. The one speaking to them right now was not just the girl known as Illyasviel von Einzbern, but the very same will of Justeaze herself. The will of the one who had offered herself as the very first vessel for the Holy Grail Ritual, imprinted upon each member of the family and carried out by all the heirs for hundreds of generations.

It was the will of the Einzberns themselves. The endless wish that fueled the pursuit of the Third Magic.

"Never shall we agree to such a blasphemous goal. Never shall we aid those who belittle our efforts. The search for the Grail was our last and greatest wish, and our pursuit of True Magic shall never be denied. The Dismantling of the Ritual is not for the likes of you to decide."

When he understood that complicated reality, the black-hared Magus could not fool himself any longer.

Talking with this girl had been useless from the start. Hoping to reach an agreement was a futile ambition.

Lord El-Melloi II exhaled a sigh. Resignation and understanding blossomed on his features. "…so that's how it is. The ways of your ancestors have been imprinted on you. As expected of a homunculus of the great Einzbern family. Reaching an agreement with you was impossible from the start," he mused, sounding both weary and disappointed as he spoke.

Illyasviel von Einzbern glared at him. Her expression and face had not changed one bit.

"I offer my apologies, Miss Pendragon," the Lord of the Clock Tower spoke to his own ally, at this point. The smile on his lips was both sad and embarrassed as he glanced in her direction. "Once more, I've made a fool out of myself. It seems that my plan to reach an agreement with them was impossible from the beginning."

The girl with golden hair narrowed her eyes. "Is this how you want it to be?" she demanded at that point. Her words were aimed directly at the girl who kept glaring at them from the other side of the yard, her emerald eyes boring holes in her small frame with unnerving intensity. "As the vessel of the Lesser Grail, your life will be lost at the end of the Holy Grail War. If we work together to dismantle it, your existence will be freed from such a sad and premature end. Wouldn't that be better for you? Wouldn't you wish to live longer and freely instead of being used as a tool?"

Illyasviel remained unfazed by those words, staring back at the older girl without saying anything. Her eyes were wide and unreadable, her features still and emotionless, and neither Artoria nor Waver were able to glimpse any trace of thought inside those crimson orbs. No matter how hard they searched, it was simply impossible to dispel the will of her ancestors from the soul of the small homunculus.

It was a lost cause. And both of them could already tell with just a single glance.

Until, the short girl broke the silence once again. "…I have no interest in useless talk," Illyasviel spoke with a cold and unbending voice. The girl with silver hair shot a glance to her feral Servant, curving her pale lips into a smile devoid of joy. "Kill them, Berserker."

The Chaste Huntress of the Argonauts roared to the heavens.

Then, suddenly and without a single warning, chaos erupted out of the blue.

Berserker dashed forward with a fast and impossible speed, roaring like a beast and crashing against Rider's frame, who had readily moved to block her assault. The two Servants met each other in an explosion of wind and prana as they clashed; and they soon disappeared with an ear-splitting hiss, leaping through the air so fast that their movements were impossible to see.

And all the while, as the two Servant battled and clashed against each other on the other side of the courtyard, Artoria and Waver steeled their mind as well, preparing themselves to fight against a new and formidable foe.

Illyasviel von Einzbern smiled with gleeful expression, sharing a nod with her maid as she laughed in a childish way.

"Now… let's all play together, shall we?"

Sparks flew, and the air was rippled by prana.

Charlemagne dashed at maximum speed, meeting the enemy with a powerful leap. He swung his mighty longsword – Joyeuse – in a horizontal swing, its blue and silver blade gleaming in the moonlight, but the attack missed the enemy before it could manage to hit it. Berserker dashed away, moving even faster than Rider was able to do, running away on four legs and putting some distance from him. The King of Franks chased her with a grin, feeling excited by the battle, and jumped away from the courtyard; following the mad Servant above the walls that surrounded the Castle.

There, the enemy was already waiting for him. The huntress with a feral body was moving with an indescribable speed, her whole frame nothing more than a blur as she dashed above the walls, clashing against him in a shower of sparks. Rider met her charge head-on, using his longsword to block her mighty assault with relative ease. Still, the sheer ferocity displayed by the woman left him stunned for a moment. The huntress was slashing and snarling against the blade of his weapon, grabbing on it like a feral cat in attempt to slash and bite him in full. Fighting her head on felt like fighting a frenzied beast, something the Holy Roman Emperor had never experienced in life.

With a grunt of surprise, Rider kicked the assailant away. Berserker made a backflip in the air, unfazed by the attack, landing gracefully on the opposite side of the wall on all fours as she growled and snarled at him. The young King of Franks smirked in front of her feral complexion. This was going to be entertaining for sure. He would finally have a chance of fighting a worthy opponent, so he would make sure to enjoy it to the fullest.

"You must be the Chaste Huntress," he decided to say, breaking the silence first in attempt to share a formal greeting with the opponent. "Archer told me about you. You look cooler than I thought. I'd share my name with you, but my Master would yell at me if I did, so please forgive me."

"I don't care," Atalanta dismissed his words without batting an eye, uncaring. "You will die tonight."

The poor Knight inwardly sighed at her dismissive tone. Oh boy. Another troublesome woman…

Then again, she was a Berserker. Maybe he should have expected this kind of reaction from her.

His carefree expression remained unchanged, however. "We'll see about that! I'll be the one who'll beat you down here… juuust kidding!" he chuckled at the end, scratching his head with a sheepish expression. "I'd rather avoid killing such a cool-looking opponent. I'd much prefer to reach a reasonable agreement―!"

No time to talk. Berserker wasn't interested in useless chatter.

With a leap and a portentous roar, the Chaste Huntress charged at him once more. Rider avoided her dash by side-stepping to the left, whistling in amazement all the while, surprised by her speed of reaction. Yet, he wasn't a renowned Hero for nothing. Despite the way he usually acted around others, Charlemagne was still the King of Franks and the leader of the Paladins, as well as the man who had basically founded Western Europe as it was known today. Consequently, his skills in battle were second to no one. He could face almost every opponent in battle with no problem – except a few monsters like Lancer – and hold his ground with relative ease even though he was more of a monarch rather than a Knight. Such were the skills he had accumulated, both as a Servant and in life.

And luckily for him, Atalanta was not on that level. Just as Archer had predicted, she was an opponent he could face as long as he remained focused.

As soon as he avoided her attack, the King of Franks reacted immediately. He swung his longsword to the right, aiming a direct blow to Berserker's left shoulder. As a testament of her speed, however, the woman was able to see it coming and react. She spun around faster than what was humanly possible, raising her arms in a defensive gesture and blocking the slash before it could wound her. The blade of Joyeuse met the sharp claws of the Greek huntress with a hollow noise, and the very same floor of the stone walls was cracked by the power of the impact. Rider observed with a hint of surprise as Berserker remained unfazed by his attack, growling and snarling at him with a feral expression.

Once more, the two of them engaged in combat. Atalanta traded a series of slashes with Charlemagne, using her claws in attempt to cut and tear him to shreds. Despite her speed, the young King of Franks managed to hold her off thanks to his trained instinct and skills, parrying or blocking all the attacks before they could land on his body and cut deeply in his flesh. He could manage to see through her movements a bit, but her speed was undoubtedly problematic. The more the woman assaulted him, the faster and deadlier she became. It felt as if she was gaining more energy instead of growing tired by keeping her assault unending.

Still, Rider managed to hold her off thanks to his skills, pushing her away a second time and closing in with a slash aimed for the torso. The huntress' golden eyes glowered at him in anger, but she was forced to retreat for a moment to evade the incoming attack. The sword crashed against the floor of the walls, creating a big hole on the floor and making the structure tremble a bit. All the while, the young King of Franks kept his gaze glued to the mad huntress' frame, following her movements with narrowed and focused eyes. In spite of her renowned speed, he was able to see her movements a bit, although barely. Which was a relief, since the enemy he was facing right now was by no means easy to deal with.

Quite the contrary, actually. Not only she was fast and precise, but the huntress was also extremely cunning. Rider had noticed it immediately, after a few minutes of clashing against her. In fact, despite her maddened state and her animalistic way of fighting, the Greek Hero was purposely aiming her attacks on his right arm and shoulder – the only parts of his body that weren't covered by the white armor – in attempt to slow him down and take advantage of her speed. Moreover, she was able of quick and precise thinking, which wasn't a given, due to her peculiar class. Most warriors of that kind usually became completely devoid of reason upon being summoned as Berserkers, after all.

Yet, it seemed that Atalanta was able to maintain a great modicum of reason and mental clarity, even in spite of her maddened state. Her gaze was sharp and filled with animal ferocity… but it also possessed clear human reasoning, which would not have been present if she had been corrupted. Her ability in combat was impressive as well, and she had proved to be skilled even in the usage of the bow before, firing those deadly shots throughout all their previous trudge in the forest. Perhaps her nature as half-beast had altered her status somehow, Charlemagne suspected, rendering her able of more cognitive actions despite having been corrupted by the Mad Enhancement typical of her class.

But now it was not the time to focus on those thoughts. Rider narrowed his eyes as his blade was once again batted away by Atalanta's bare hands, and he openly frowned when a second assault was blocked again by the claws of the deadly warrior, covered by fur and magical prana. The King of Franks observed that mangy-looking pelt a careful gaze. Now that he was staring at it directly, he had no doubts about it: this had to be the Pelt of the Calydonian Boar that Archer had warned him about. It was so thick that it completely protected Atalanta's hands from his sword, rendering his swings useless against her. The huntress had directly slashed at him for at least four minutes now, even blocking his own attacks with her bare hands several times, but the pelt covering her limbs had completely protected her skin from cuts and wounds. It was a bit frustrating, but Charlemagne had to admit that it was also extremely cool. That pelt was a useful Noble Phantasm, undoubtedly suited for a warrior who fought with her whole body just like her.

Which, of course, only served to excite him further. With a push of effort and prana, Rider batted the incoming attack away and moved to slash at the enemy a second time, only to then blink in surprised amazement and halt his attack. The huntress was still rotating her body mid-air when she did something unexpected. She summoned a dark and menacing bow in less than a second, grasping it with her clawed hands and firing a volley of purple arrows against him, aimed with careful precision. The projectiles were fast enough to beat the speed of sound, and they had been fired while the woman was literally flying in the air.

Yet, Charlemagne wouldn't let himself be bested that easily. He rolled out of the way just a second before the arrows crashed against the floor, destroying a great portion of the stone walls surrounding the manor. Then, while he was covered by the cloud of dust, he dashed away again at maximum speed, slicing another arrow that threatened to skewer him as soon as he exited from the cloud of smoke. On the opposite side of the walls, Atalanta kept firing at him with her bow, and the King of Franks was forced to run away and swerve in several directions, in order to avoid the volley of bullets.

Finally, the long-range assault was halted when he swung his weapon in a horizontal slash, firing a beam of light from the blade of his longsword. The beam of light crashed against the spot from where Berserker was still firing at him, forcing her to leap away and momentarily retreat. Another shockwave ran through the walls of stone, making the floor and the stone structure moan and shake with a loud, cracking noise.

Charlemagne smirked in amusement as the woman faced him once more. "Gotta say, your speed is impressive," he praised her as she growled in rage, keeping her bow aimed at his head. He just couldn't help it, for it didn't happen every day to face such a skilled warrior in battle. "I suppose the legends weren't kidding when they said you had swift feet. What, are you trying to outpace even Achilles? By the way, did you two meet in your life? 'Cause that would be so cool!"

"Shut up!" the woman hissed at him, baring her teeth into an animalistic growl. Her ears and tail twitched a bit. "You talk too much for a dead body!"

Rider chuckled with a sheepish tone. "Alright, sorry. My bad."

Golden eyes flashed with anger as Berserker growled in rage. Irked by his behavior and outraged by the way he kept talking during the duel, Atalanta allowed herself to be affected by emotions and began to grow more resentful. She howled to the sky like a beast about to explode, dismissing her menacing bow and falling on all fours like a beast about to pounce. A dark, twisted aura of prana danced around her feral frame, covering her body entirely as her tail wagged madly through the air. Rider observed her, wary and confused, as the woman sunk her claws inside the floor of the stone walls, while more and more Magical Energy began to flow inside her body.

Then, she did something unexpected. Acting more like a beast than a human hunter with noble blood, Atalanta howled once again to the moon, tearing an entire piece of the floor with her bare hands and lifting it above her head, like an athlete lifting a weight. Then, under the young Knight's stunned gaze, she hurled it at him in an incredible display of strength, launching the veritable piece of wall at him as if he was nothing but a bug to squash.

Charlemagne stood his ground, however, unwilling to back down form the challenge. He squared his shoulders and readied his stance. Then, when the boulder of rock and stone was close enough, he swung his longsword in a vertical slash, cutting it in half before it could crush him in full. The two halves of stone fell limply to his sides, crashing against the floor with a loud and empty thud. Yet, he had no time to cheer or lower his guard… because the enemy was not done yet, and he would soon face her second assault.

Atalanta charged at him, pouncing on him with a swift movement and aiming a kick to his defenseless neck. Rider widened his eyes, stunned by her speed, and barely managed to block the attack by bringing his sword close and parrying the blow. The kick connected against the longsword's blade with a loud and metal noise, and the strength behind the attack was so powerful that the armored Knight could feel his bone and muscles tremble in fatigue under the huntress' impressive strength. The poor guy almost grunted in pain as she struggled to resist against the pressure. As expected of a Berserker, her stats were no joke. Being struck by a physical attack was a hard blow to take, even for skilled Servant like him. A magical body had its limits against overwhelming strength.

However, he couldn't afford to lose now. He batted her away with a roar, only for Atalanta to dash at him again. She threw herself on him like a lioness pouncing on its prey, faster than what was humanly possible and with a bestial roar all the while. Charlemagne yelped in surprise when the woman crashed against him, making him fall on the ground as she continued to slash and attack, pushing against his blade and even attempting to bite him on the neck to kill him in one single strike.

Rider tried to push her off with his arms, but to his shock he realized that he wasn't able to do it. The woman's body was slim and short, and her figure was also thin due to her skills being based on agility… but she weighed much – much – more than expected. Her body had become was so heavy that his arms were literally trembling in attempt to push her off with his sword, probably due to the foul and dense prana flowing inside her body. There was no way such a fast and agile Servant could weight so much with such a slim body. It was simply impossible to comprehend.

Yet, the woman cared not of his visible struggle. On the contrary, she pushed and pressed against him all the more, slashing and roaring like a beast about to kill its struggling prey. "Die. Die! DIE!" she growled.

"N-No, thank you!" he roared right back at her, pushing her away with a kick on the navel and finally freeing himself from her heavy and oppressive pressure. The beast with silver hair hissed in frustration, landing on all fours and wagging her tail like a cat.

But it wasn't over yet. By the time he pulled himself back on his feet, Atalanta was about to attack him once more, summoning her bow in her hands with a speed that was impossible to match and firing another volley of purple arrows aimed in his direction. This time, the young and stunned Knight had no time to react accordingly. He had just recovered from the previous assault, his mind and body were still struggling to recollect themselves, and Berserker's speed of reaction was still faster than his own. There was no way he could manage to dodge the imminent assault with such little time left.

Thus, Rider knew he had no choice. He braced himself for the worst… but this time, luck was still on his side.

From the North, faster than a man could blink, a few darts of red energy soared across the sky. They darted in the air with a quick and impressive speed, crashing against the bolts of purple energy before they could manage to hit their target. The explosion of concussive wind that followed that event gave him enough time to recollect himself once more, and the King of Franks quickly moved away from there with a light and fastened step, shooting a thumbs up in the northern direction.

"Nice one, Archer!" he cheered with a grateful grin. "You've saved me from a tough situation! Thank you!"

He had no way of knowing, but Rider was sure the bowman was snorting unamusedly.

Atalanta shared none of his cheerfulness, however. "Curse you, Archer!" the feral huntress snarled to the heavens. Her teeth were bared in anger, and her eyes filled with hatred as she glowered in the Servant's direction. "Interfering with our battle and denying me of my victory! Have you no shame?!" she demanded in rage, growling all the while.

"Hey now, cut him some slack. He was simply aiding a friend!"

Atalanta snapped her head back to the right, widening her eyes. She had barely time to refocus on the fight when she saw the young Knight dressed in white armor dashing on her with his sword raised in a low swing, his face and gaze morphed in a resolute expression.

Powered by the blast of the previous explosion, in fact, Charlemagne had taken advantage of Archer's attack to launch a counter-offensive of his own, using the wind generated by the blast to propel himself forward at maximum speed. Then, he swung his longsword in a vertical slash, attempting to aim at the enemy's head… but that was merely a feint. As a matter of fact, as soon as the huntress blocked it with both hands, Rider took advantage of the moment and grabbed her by the arm with one hand, making her eyes go wide with shock in front of his confident grin.

"Got you!" he cried, as the opponent realized that she had fallen for a trap. Then, with a strong and well-loaded pull, Charlemagne bent his legs and spun his upper body in a twisting movement, pulling the enemy Servant by the arm and making her slam against the ground, lifting her on his back like a sack of potatoes and then slamming her on the floor with a jerk-like motion. The huntress growled and roared in pain as her back crashed against the hard stone, making the floor of the walls crack and crater a bit due to the power of the collision.

Quickly, Rider wasted no time. He leaped away as soon as the woman recovered from the blow, taking some distance from the stunned and enraged enemy. A wide grin made its way on his features as the enemy glowered at him.

"Not so aggressive now, huh? I've seen through your tactic this time," he said, sounding both serious and satisfied as he spoke. He pointed his blade at the woman, morphing his face in a cheerful expression. "You use your Mana to increase you muscle weight when you attack, trying to overwhelm the opponent with the augmented strength of your limbs. However, when you run or defend yourself, you're forced to return it back to normal, or your speed would decrease as a consequence. That's a nice trick to have up your sleeve, Berserker. And here I thought you were in need of a diet."

Golden eyes flashed with anger as Atalanta hissed like a beast. Fueled by her rage and by the sarcasm behind the taunt, the Chaste Huntress rose herself from the floor, snarling at the enemy Servant with a loud and feral growl. If looks could kill, the young Rider would have dropped dead instantly.

Charlemagne wiped off his grin, focusing once more as the enemy charged at him with a roar.

Artoria wasted no time. Her instinct was screaming at her to stay alert, and she couldn't dismiss it so easily.

In but a few seconds, as soon as Rider and Berserker began to clash against each other, the young heir of the Pendragon lineage knew what she had to do. She took out her sword from the sheath strapped to her back, and pointed its sharp blade towards the enemy. Illyasviel von Einzbern and the maid named Sella had not moved one inch ever since the battle between the two Servants had started, but the blonde girl refused to let down her guard in spite of their immovable frames. The time to talk was over, and the previous discussion had all but proved it to her.

Next to the girl, Lord El-Melloi II knew it as well. His expression grew tense, but even he refused to move in spite of his Servant having engaged in combat. Both parties stared at each other in silence for what seemed to be an eternity, without saying anything and with no intention of breaking the quietness that enveloped the courtyard. Only the noise of metal clashing against metal echoed in the air, while Berserker and Rider kept facing each other on the other side of the yard, running above the walls.

Finally, Waver decided to break the staring contest. "So this is how it's going to be?" he asked, serious but tense as he pondered that question.

Illya giggled upon hearing his conflicted tone, morphing her expression in a merciless grin. "I have no interest in the likes of you. Both of you will be crushed tonight."

Her words were more than a statement. They were a certainty, a promise. An unyielding and unrelenting will that the young girl with child-like appearance possessed due to her heritage. Reasoning and speaking with her was useless at this point. There was no need for any of them to waste their breath, for the two parties could never hope to see eye to eye. Not on this. Not anymore.

The battle began when Illya spread her arms.

"Now, dance for me!" she sang.

Artoria widened her eyes, while Lord El-Melloi II gasped in shock.

With a soft and childish giggle, the small homunculus girl pulled a few strands of hair from her head, using them as catalysts. Then, in less than a blink of an eye, each and every single strand of hair transformed itself out of nowhere, taking the appearance of flying birds. Four gleaming Ibises were created out of thin air, all of them moving and chirping like actual living beings. They circled around Illya's frame like defensive vultures, acting like familiars with their own free will and pointing their gazes towards the two enemies facing the girl.

Both Waver and Artoria could barely believe their eyes. To be able to summon familiars out of nowhere with such ease and by using something as small as a single strand of hair… the young homunculus they were facing right now was even more dangerous than she looked. She had to be extremely talented and proficient in Magecraft to be able to do that, with almost an unsurpassed potential. Very few people in the Magi world were able to do something like that so easily, and with such an immediate effect. Even those who ruled over the Clock Tower.

Lord El-Melloi II knew that extremely well. Although he was a Lord and an experienced teacher, his skills as a Magus were pathetically average. His poor lineage had given him a Magic Circuit count and a Magic Crest quality of the lowest standard, and as a consequence he could never hope to achieve something so powerful. The Velvet Crest was a "simple square", lacking any kind of history as a Magi family… so the poor man was feeling extremely irritated by that sight. Irritated, and envious. He had expected the Three Founding Families to be powerful, but this… this was simply too much. It was almost ridiculous.

A muttered whisper echoed in his head with heavy resignation. I hate this job…

Still, Illyasviel gave them no time to observe the familiars further. Without giving them any sort of command, the four Ibises suddenly began to move and fly on their own, chirping with a metallic noise and shooting a fire beam from their beaks. Waver and Artoria widened their eyes as soon as they noticed this, but they wasted no time in spite of their shock.

Quickly, they jumped away. Artoria dashed to the right, and the Lord moved to the left. The young heir of the Pendragon lineage dodged the first beams of Magical energy with a fast and portentous leap, using her katana to deflect a few incoming shots aimed at her head as well. Two shots were parried with a single horizontal swing, and another five were blocked with a rapid succession of slashes. Then, when she managed to deflect them all, she immediately noticed that two of the four familiars had started to chase her directly, while the other two had begun to move in the Lord's direction.

Cursing in anger, Artoria rolled to the side, avoiding another beam of light, and decided that it was time to move to the offensive. He gathered as much prana as she could in her legs, applying a bit of Reinforcement as well, and then broke into a sprint with her sword ready to strike. The first Ibis had no way to react. It was sliced in two, severed in half by a fast and vertical slash, but the second one saw the incoming attack and managed to dodge her assault by flying a bit higher, firing another beam of light towards the girl when she missed it with her attack.

Luckily for her, though, her skills allowed her to avoid it by skidding to a halt. The shot crashed against the ground with a small burst of prana, creating a hole into the stone floor for several centimeters. That realization almost made Artoria shiver. Those bullets of magical energy were dangerous. If they managed to hit her, they could pierce through her body as easily as a stone could break through a window glass. She was ready to bet on it.

Familiars that chase their targets automatically, and that produce Mana in spite of their small size… as expected of the Einzbern family, the enemy Master is formidable, the young girl mused as she dodged another shot. Her emerald eyes narrowed in worry. I must take them down before the situation becomes too hard to handle.

Her reasoning was legit, given the situation. However, even when she turned again and realized that she was being faced with a new barrage of shots, Artoria didn't lose her focus. She simply deflected them all by readying her stance and using her skills, guiding her blade through fast and precise movements of the arms with careful precision. A vertical swing, a slash to the right, a parry to the left… her arms moved with an incredible speed, using her instinct and intuition to block all the incoming beams with fast and precise swings of her sword. The blade of her katana glowed with light as it slashed against the shots, and thanks to its augmented properties, it was able to withstand the blows without breaking or cracking itself. For every shot she wasn't able to intercept, Artoria simply moved out of the way, avoiding the bullets by side-stepping with her legs.

Such a thing was to be expected of her. After all, the girl with golden hair had trained herself since young age, and thanks to the countless duels she had gone through with her family members throughout all her childhood, her kinetic vision was more advanced compared to normal humans. Not to mention, of course, the fact that her body and her Magic Circuits had been purposely developed by her family to increase her strength, agility reflex, and cognitive skills. Thanks to those factors and her rigorous training, she had become incredibly skilled in the arts of combat, almost similar to an augmented soldier. There was simply no way for her to be struck by a projectile of that caliber without having time to react. She was simply too fast for that.

Moreover, this wasn't just a matter of training and skills. It was a matter of experience.

In fact, her battle against Rin a few days ago had taught her a lesson. A very important lesson, to be honest. That is: when facing a stronger opponent, observation and waiting were the key to success. Artoria was a straightforward warrior, one who would usually charge at the enemy directly and with honor… but her previous defeat against the Tohsaka girl had made her realize that she couldn't always afford to charge blindly in a battle. Using that strategy would eventually put her at risk – especially while facing an experienced Magus – and it was best to carry it out only during specific openings in the enemy's defense.

Just as Archer had said to her once: they couldn't afford to play fair all the time. The tide of a conflict could change at any given moment, and she had to fight smarter if she wanted to prevail. Therefore, as long as she could defend herself and hold her ground, she had to observe the fight and wait for a chance to strike. That was her most optimal option.

And her chance, as expected, didn't take long to appear.

Seeing that all the shots had missed or had been blocked completely, the magical familiar above her realized that attacking that way was useless. It tried to fly higher and disengage from the girl… but that was a huge mistake. Doing so had given her enough time to prepare, and the girl with golden hair knew that extremely well.

"Mana Burst," she whispered.

Gathering all the prana she could muster in her limbs, she infused her weapon and body with Magical Energy and instantly expelled it with a mental command. The effect was immediate: the recreation of a jet burst propelled by a gust of prana, exploding with an impossible might. Therefore, in less than an instant, her legs were covered with energy, and the young Pendragon girl leaped upwards with a fast and portentous jump. She moved so fast she almost became invisible, dashing through the air like living bullet of flesh.

The enemy familiar had no time to see her move. Before it could even fire a second volley of shots, Artoria was already in front of it, cutting it in half with a fast and precise movement. The artificial bird exploded in a burst of gleaming Mana, dissolving itself to pieces in a dust of white sparks.

While she was still mid-air, Artoria turned her head, shooting a glance at the enemy Master and her maid. The older homunculus known as Sella was staring at her in wariness, keeping her in check with her cold and frosty gaze, but she had yet to move from her previous position… alongside the younger Master as well. As a matter of fact, the young and smiling Illya was ignoring Artoria altogether, her focus solely aimed at the black-haired Magus.

Feeling confused, Artoria's eyes followed that gaze. On the other side of the courtyard, near the gates of the stone walls, Lord El-Melloi II was busy defending himself. He had summoned his Mystic Code – the liquid sphere of mercury he had inherited from his sister, which she had previously seen in the form of the Golem maid Trimmau – using it as a shield to defend himself from the beams of light from every side. At the same time, he was firing a few bullets of prana from his hand, attempting to strike and kill the flying familiars that surrounded him. Unfortunately for him, though, all the shots were missing the targets, since the familiars were dodging them by changing their trajectory.

He clearly needed some help. Artoria dashed towards the man as soon as her feet landed on solid ground again, using her augmented speed and the Mana Burst from before to push herself at maximum speed. Less than a second and she was already in front of the first Ibis, slashing it in two before it could even turn in her direction. Then, she swung her sword to the side and deflected a beam of light, fired at her by the last familiar that was already moving to intercept her charge. With a fast and impressive precision, Waver Velvet destroyed it with his magical shots, firing at it directly while it was distracted.

When all the familiars had been dealt with, Artoria regrouped with the Lord, staring at the enemy in tense and wary silence. Illyasviel and Sella hadn't moved one single inch from the beginning of the battle… and this fact was unnerving her slightly. Why weren't they moving? What was their plan? And more importantly… why wasn't Illyasviel ordering her maid to attack?

What were they hiding?

Yet, the child-like Master of the Einzberns cared not for her internal musing. On the contrary, she openly mocked them all the while. "What a pathetic display. I was expecting more from a Lord of the Clock Tower," Illyasviel said, her voice sounding oddly innocent in spite of those cruel and harsh words.

Waver would not be fazed by the taunt. He rose himself from his kneeled position with a sigh, bringing his Mystic Code closer to him and Artoria with a mental command. "Unfortunately I'm just a third-rate Magus," the Lord of the Clock Tower retorted sarcastically, pursing his lips into a joyless smile. "I'm sure you'll be disappointed."

"Yes. I was expecting a challenge… but this will be easier than I thought," the short girl replied, clearly losing all her previous amusement.

Artoria narrowed her eyes. "We shall see about that."

Sharing a nod with Waver, the girl and the Lord began their offensive. This time, the black-haired Magus decided to attack first, and began to put a strategy into motion. He raised his right hand without any warning, and with a mental command the liquid sphere of mercury rose to life once again, slithering on the ground like a snake and ejecting a sharp blade from its tip, aimed at the Einzbern Master.

The small girl remained unfazed by it. She simply pulled a few strands of hair again, and summoned another series of familiars thanks to them. However, this time… she didn't summon any birds.

She summoned a sword.

A blade of gleaming light appeared in the air, longer than a spear and sharper than any metal. The girl simply used a mental command to hurl it forward, piercing the blade of mercury and blocking its assault. The liquid Mystic Code exploded upon contact with the blade, splashing all around like a jet of sticky water. Yet, that was merely a distraction. As soon as the liquid metal erupted into a pool of grey, the black-haired Magus fired another Mana shot towards the girl, who used another blade of light to parry it with ease.

Then, her crimson eyes narrowed slightly. Distracted by the previous attack, she had failed to notice one thing.

Artoria had disappeared without a trace, leaving only Lord El-Melloi II in the middle of the courtyard.

Before she could wonder what was happening, Sella touched her shoulder. The maid's voice brought her back to focus with a serious but worried tone. "My lady, to the left!" she urged her.

Illyasviel turned to that side, and immediately widened her eyes.

Faster than a bullet, the heir of the Pendragon line was dashing at her from the left. She had used another Mana Burst to propel herself forward, using her moment of distraction to charge at her from behind while she was distracted. Yet, even in spite of that, even as she moved at supersonic speed in attempt to slash at the enemy Master, Artoria noticed something. Something unexpected, and that made her mind pause in worry in spite of this perfect opportunity and the clear advantage of the momentum.

Illya didn't look scared or worried at all.

Because she was smiling with a cruel smirk instead.

Artoria widened her eyes. Yet, before she could understand what was happening, her instinct screamed at her to stop her assault and run… but by the time she moved to do so, it was already too late. Artoria felt her mind go awry in shock just a moment before her charge was halted out of the blue – not by her own initiative – and in spite of her previous speed, the girl found herself unable to move. Something hard and unyielding wrapped around her arms and legs, and the girl with golden hair felt her body go rigid and still.

Emerald eyes widened in confusion. A quick glance to her limbs revealed a truth that struck her to her core.

A veritable web of light was surrounding her body in full, entangling the girl in its filaments and rendering her unable to move. The web of magic and prana originated from somewhere behind Illya's frame, with some of its gleaming filaments having already wrapped themselves around her arms with a tight and unbelievable grip. No matter how much she struggled to break free, the young Magus was unable to cut and break them, and the filaments would not yield no matter how hard she tried, as if they were made of metal.

Realization and anger flooded her mind. Artoria understood now the reason behind her confidence. This was the reason why the enemy hadn't moved so far. This was the reason why the maid hadn't attacked them throughout all the previous clash: because there was no need for them to do so. The enemy had purposely waited for this chance, luring her closer to their position in order to trap her inside the invisible web and wait for a chance to kill. Artoria inwardly cursed herself for her naïve way of thinking. She had been waiting so carefully for a perfect chance to strike, only to fail to realize that the enemy had been doing the same all along. She had been foolish and naïve, and now… she was surely going to pay the consequence of that mistake.

"How predictable," Illyasviel giggled with a grin. Something dark and twisted gleamed inside her crimson-red orbs. "You guys are boring."

Artoria widened her eyes, watching in cold anticipation as the small girl raised one hand towards her chest.

Still, her concern was short-lived. Artoria knew that Illyasviel wasn't the only one with a hidden trick up her sleeve. In fact, despite the dangerous situation, she actually felt a wave of reassurance as soon as her mind was touched by a cold and familiar presence.

"My lady, watch out!" Sella cried out in alarm.

Illya widened her eyes, this time with genuine shock and annoyance…

…while a few darts of gleaming energy rained down from the sky, severing the web of lights surrounding the young Master all and freeing Artoria from her invisible prison.

The Pendragon girl grinned in relief, feeling her body being released from the web. As her Servant intervened once more, using his arrows to cut all her bondages, Artoria slashed at Illyasviel again as soon as her right arm was freed, but the enemy had luck on their side. The small and stunned homunculus was promptly pushed away by Sella before the sword swing could land on her body, and the maid grabbed her with both arms as she shielded her with her body. They were instantly forced to retreat in order to avoid a second attack.

But that was more than enough for Artoria. The goal had already been achieved. As soon as she was able to move again, she leaped away from the enemies as well, taking some distance as fast as she could, watching with a growing sense of uneasiness as the small homunculus' expression twitched with anger, while her crimson orbs darted in the hidden Archer's direction. For the first time ever since they had met her tonight, the girl known as Illya was finally showing some emotions.

"Thank you for the rescue, Archer," Artoria thanked her savior with gratitude, hiding a smile behind her focused frown. "I'm in your debt once again."

Her Servant did not reply, but she could feel his amusement through their shared mental bond.

"…and so the red Archer strikes again," Illyasviel commented with a low and cruel tone. Artoria observed her warily as the homunculus glared at the empty air with an expression of disdain. Her gaze was so intense that the girl didn't even notice as Lord El-Melloi II placed himself next to her, keeping her eyes glued on Illyasviel's face alone. "This is the second time he's messing up my plans. I will make him pay for this."

"Is that so? And how do you plan to do that?" Waver demanded amusedly, summoning back his shield of mercury and placing it between them both in case of a second attack.

Illyasviel von Einzbern turned back to them once more, staring at Artoria with a cold and twisted gaze.

"By killing his Master and ripping her heart apart."

Artoria Pendragon felt a shiver run down her back, but she steeled her resolve in spite of the enemy's threat.

Lord El-Melloi II remained unfazed as well. "You seem confident of victory… and yet, we are in a stalemate once more," he countered, deadly serious. "You and your maid have yet to defeat us, Berserker is occupied with Rider, and Miss Tohsaka and Saber are being withheld by our allies. With Archer on our side, it is you who have the disadvantage right now. You may be powerful as a Magus, Lady Illyasviel, but this fight is not going to end well for you."

Sella openly scowled at their words, but Illya silenced her with a glare.

Then, the short homunculus started to chuckle. She looked oddly amused after hearing that statement. "Is that so? I disagree," Illya giggled with a cold and sarcastic tone. "After all… the real battle hasn't even started yet."

Waver and Artoria widened their eyes.

And they watched in stunned silence as the enemy began to laugh all of a sudden, her light and childish giggling echoing in the air with a twisted tone.

The tide of the battle was about to shift once again.

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/+/+/+/+/+/+/

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The enemy is walking through the trees, headed towards the battlefield with a slow but constant pace.

Even if I'm far away, I watch as Rin begins her attack. She fires a few Gandr Shots while the enemy is distracted, aiming for the head as she reveals herself from behind. Unfortunately for her, however, the surprise attack fails; for the girl with silver hair is surrounded by a web of filaments, which immediately act as a shield for her and block the assault before it could even begin to get close to her body. With the element of surprise gone, Rin can do nothing but curse under her breath.

"My, my, how scary," the enemy's tone is sarcastic, and she turns her head slightly to glare in her direction. A pair of magical Ibis start to fly above her head, circling her frame completely as she glances back at Rin. "Attacking without warning? You're like an animal, Rin. Or is this the Tohsaka style of combat?"

My Master clicks her tongue in frustration, but a smirk quickly forms on her face. "Hah! You're the one who announced the start of the battle. Once a fight's begun, there are no sneak attacks," she spits back promptly, unfazed by the taunt. "Or what? Are you going to introduce yourself again?"

The girl with silver hair narrows her eyes at the comeback, turning her back to Rin without a care in the world.

"Introduce myself?" she muses, as if considering those words somehow. "Indeed… if you were that boy, I might consider it. But I don't feel like doing it with you. You don't interest me one bit. And besides…"

Rin narrows her eyes, staring back at the girl's mocking grin with a worried and wary face.

"…what use is there in talking to someone who's about to die?"

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/+/+/+/+/+/+/

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Location: Suburbs of Fuyuki City (Japan)
Einzbern Forest  ――  NORTHERN SIDE

(======)

Emiya took aim with his bow, and fired a volley of arrows with quick and meticulous precision.

Once the shots had been fired, he lowered his bow and exhaled a sigh, not even bothering to make sure if his attack would be successful or not.

Not that he had any real need for it, of course. Heroic Spirit Emiya had no need to make sure that his arrows struck true. In fact, as he knew better than anyone, his arrows had already hit the target even before they were released from the bow. Once an arrow had been shot, the target would be struck no matter what they could try to do. A true Archer would simply let go of the arrow by acting according to that image on their mind. If he thought that the arrow would hit, then it would hit; and if he did not, then the arrow would not. Simple as that.

Of course, the target could still block the blow or avoid it with their skills, and their death was not guaranteed by the shot alone, but there was no doubt that the arrow would reach them nonetheless. It was one of the eight stages of shooting – the one called 'follow through' – with which Emiya was deeply accustomed to. Especially after his countless years of slaughtering and fighting as a Counter Guardian.

However, right now, Archer was not focused on this. He had other matters to ponder at the moment, and a growing feeling of restlessness that he needed to deal with at once.

He hated to admit it, but he had a bad feeling about this.

Located on his position above, with his feet in perfect balance upon the highest branch of the tallest tree, he stared with narrowed eyes and an emotionless face as the vast expanse of the Einzbern Forest was being shaken by the earthquakes; affected by the battles unfolding at the vertices of its cardinal points. The air was tense and restless as it echoed with the noise of war, and the tree upon which he was standing trembled a bit as the quakes continued to rock the earth. Yet, he remained unfazed, perfectly balanced even as the tree trembled and shifted, with his eyes glued in direction of the different battlefields.

The sight that greeted his vision was one of chaos and struggle.

On the East, the fight between Saber and Lancer continued to unfold relentlessly. The two Servants were engaged in combat, and with his enhanced eyesight due to his class, Archer could see the trees shaking and bending the more the two warriors clashed, with a few of them falling down completely as the battle continued to rage. The bowman almost shivered for a moment as he glimpsed the Servants slashing at each other, glimpsing their frames amid the trees. He knew that there was no need to aid Lancer in that fight… but the sight of that mighty battle almost made his blood boil in tense excitement. Saber and Lancer were almost equally matched, and the battle between them was a true wonder to see. He had no reason to interfere in their duel.

Besides… Lancer would never forgive him if he tried to step in during her fight. He had no reason to provoke her anger, nor to shift Saber's attention to him at the moment. Therefore, he would leave things in Scathach's hands for now. The two monsters could happily deal with each other, for all he cared.

A little more to the West, however, another battle was happening as well. The current bout between Bazett and Rin seemed to be in a stalemate, but Archer knew that if things kept going at this pace… the scale of the fight would start to escalate once more. Rin had found the aid of the maid known as Leysritt, and despite knowing little about that homunculus, he knew that she was an enemy they could not underestimate. The maid had shown great ability in combat, which coupled with Rin's cunning, it had forced Archer himself to intervene in the battle. Bazett had been caught unawares by the enemy's previous strategy, and she had been wounded on the arm because of that. If he hadn't intervened, the woman would have probably been in a tough situation right now.

As expected of Tohsaka, her wits shine the most when she's facing a deadly threat, Emiya thought to himself with a fond shake of the head. A snort of sarcastic amusement almost escaped from his lips. Good grief. I'll have to be careful when I'll be my turn to face her wrath.

Still, the Nameless Hero knew that there was no need to worry too much. Bazett could handle the situation in spite of her wound. She was much stronger than she looked, and she was specialized in dealing against other Magi. Moreover, it was obvious to his eyes that the woman was restraining herself during the battle. Her goal was to stop Rin from advancing towards the Castle, not to kill and dispose of her. If Bazett were to go all out, both Rin and that maid would have no chance of victory. Of that, Emiya was absolutely sure.

Therefore, for the moment, he would leave Rin and the homunculus maid to her. There was no need to step in directly, and unless something unexpected happened, the situation was momentarily under control.

Instead, his main focus right now was aimed to the other battlefield. The one on the Southern part of the forest, and which was unfolding in the Einzbern Castle.

Heroic Spirit Emiya narrowed his eyes, feeling his fist clench around the grip of his faithful bow.

Just like I thought, the events may be different in this War… but some things never change, huh? he mused to himself with a grim and cryptic frown.

On the walls that surrounded the Castle, right above the defense of the manor, Rider and Berserker were fighting each other. Now that he had moved closer to their location, the cynical and silent Counter Guardian could see the battle unfold with a clear vision, and he was observing it very carefully. The Berserker class Servant had been summoned once more from the Einzbern faction, and thanks to her Master's limitless reserves of Mana, she was as deadly and dangerous as the most gruesome beast. Archer knew that Rider had to be careful – extremely careful – if he wanted to win that duel.

Which was not a given, due to the young Knight's cheerful disposition. Watching that fight unfold felt like taking a huge bet, at least from Archer's position. The young King of Franks was being needlessly talkative during the battle, and he had a bad habit of lowering his guard… but deep down, Archer could see that he was holding his ground in spite of the odds. Berserker's speed was undoubtedly dangerous, and she was a tricky and fearsome opponent to face in direct combat, but Rider was no less skilled than her. Archer knew that the cheerful Rider was hiding more than what other people saw.

Not that he couldn't understand it, though. Charlemagne was a skilled knight, a renowned and charismatic leader, and a powerful Hero to boot. Even without the aid of his mount, Emiya could see that he was holding his ground rather well. He was stronger than what he seemed at a first glance, and if his assessment was right, he could handle Atalanta's attacks with relative ease. He had no need to aid him further, considering those facts. He could leave Berserker to him, as long as he kept observing the battle.

Instead, his full attention right now was focused on the last battlefield. The one happening in the courtyard of the Castle.

The one involving his Master… and the girl named Illya.

Archer pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes as he stared at the enemy.

Even in this different timeline, the heir of the Einzberns was the same as he remembered.

She was just the same as the Illya of his memories. Short, cheerful, twisted and eccentric; looking exactly the same as every single version of her he had previously met. And contrary to the others, contrary to every Servant and every Master he had met so far… she didn't seem to have changed in any way. Not in an obvious way, at least. Rin looked the same as ever as well, but Archer knew that this version of Tohsaka was different from the ones he had met before. But this time, no matter how much he stared, no matter how much he tried to look for clues, he could not glimpse any difference between this Illya and the ones he had met before.

Not even his very first one.

Emiya gritted his teeth, clenching his hands so hard his arms began to shake.

Even now, in this different timeline, nothing had changed about her. Even without the Great Fire occurring, even without Emiya Shirou stealing her father, the girl who had once been his adoptive sister had remained the same. No matter how many Holy Grail Wars he faced, the fate of the homunculus would always remain the same. Illya would always end up like this.

A victim.

A lonely, sorrowful girl who hid herself behind cruelty and mischief.
A lonely, sorrowful child who had been left alone in the world.

Archer observed her warily, unable to talk as he stared at her features. Even in this place, just like it had always happened even in his previous Holy Grail Wars, watching her directly rendered him unable to speak and react. He could do nothing but stare at her in silence, observing her with wariness as she talked and spoke to his Master.

Even from afar, he could see it extremely clear.

Her voice was cheerful. Her face was innocent. Her gaze was both mischievous and carefree. Even her smile was the same. The same smile Archer remembered from his previous timelines. Innocent and merciless. Gleeful and cruel. The emotion on the young homunculus' face was the same as ever: an innocent yet twisted confidence, as if she could kill each and every one of them like insects. As if everything and everyone was nothing more than a bug in front of her eyes; a bug ready to be crushed by her boot in her twisted search for purpose.

It was as sad and depressing as it always had been; and even in this odd and peculiar word… Archer could feel nothing but the exact same emotion as he stared at his adoptive sister.

Regret.

A gigantic and heart wrenching feeling of regret.

After all, he couldn't exactly help it. Back when he was still a foolish boy, back when he was still a misguided fool chasing an impossible dream, Illyasviel von Einzbern had been the very first person he had failed to save. She had been the very first person he had been forced to lose. And no matter what he'd done, no matter how hard he'd tried to go rescue her, he had ultimately been forced to fail... making her name and her face become forever etched in his heart as a reminder of his failures.

She had been his very first failure… one that was followed by a long and endless list.

Gray eyes narrowed in silence as Archer shook his head. He could see the small homunculus glance in his direction, glaring and cursing his name with just her gaze alone. He had been forced to intervene in order to rescue his inexperienced Master, and the enemy had not appreciated the intrusion. And while he could feel nothing in his empty and shattered heart, the fact that even this version of Illya hated his guts – pretty much like all the other ones too – was something he would always regret.

For that was his fate, and his never-ending curse. His hands would never hold anything.

Never.

Archer steeled his face, dismissing those thoughts as he returned to focus.

Still, putting aside the matter regarding Illya… there was something weird about the current situation. Something odd. Something Emiya could not grasp completely, as if a piece of the puzzle was still missing from the picture. Something was off about this whole situation, and he just couldn't wrap his mind around this fact, no matter how hard he thought about it and no matter how long he tried to look for clues. But his instinct was warning him all the same, even if he couldn't understand it completely.

After all, there was one, single detail that was still missing from the puzzle.

That being: Assassin was nowhere to be found…

…and Emiya did not like it one bit.

No matter how long he had looked, no matter how deeply he had searched with his eyes and mind, he had found no trace of the last remaining Servant. He had found no clues, no short glimpses, no hidden presences… nothing. Just nothing at all, no matter how hard he had tried to look. And that could only mean one thing.

Nor Assassin, nor their Master, were located inside the forest. Archer had searched for them relentlessly for a whole hour at this point… but he had found no trace of them so far.

This fact was making him anxious. More than what he would have liked to admit.

Perhaps they possessed a high-ranking Presence Concealment skill, he mused. Maybe their presence was being concealed to his eyes somehow… but that was highly unlikely. Emiya was an Archer – and a Counter Guardian to boot – and he should have been able to notice if someone was trying to hide themselves within his rage of sight. Even if visibility was limited inside the forest, his detection abilities should have been able to feel their presence at the very least. They should have warned him if someone had been lurking in the shadows, trying to sneak past his sight. Yet, none of that had happened so far. And the fact that he couldn't find them here, no matter how hard he looked… it was worrying. It was extremely worrying. And it only left two possible options.

One: the enemies were incredibly skilled.

Two: somehow, they weren't even there.

Both options were worrying for the cynical Counter Guardian. For several different reasons.

In the end, however, Emiya decided to let this matter go, at least for the moment. There was no use in pondering and musing over something he couldn't know for sure. As long as he had no clues, there was no point in trying to speculate about something that had yet to happen.

For now, the only thing he could do was focus on his job. He would keep observing the forest, scanning it with his eyes and trying to detect any anomaly for as long as he was able to do so. The others had no need for his presence, they were dealing with the enemies pretty well, and the situation was under control― at least for the moment. Therefore, there was no need for him to intervene directly.

Everything was under control.

But then… one question remained unanswered, echoing inside his head like a cruel and mocking whisper.

Why was he feeling so restless?

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

From my position on the empty crane, I watch the battle unfold with narrowed eyes.

Rin is being cornered by the girl with silver hair. Her shield has been broken by the familiar's attack, and the enemy is now pointing that magical blade towards her heart. The smirk on Illya's lips is both twisted and cruel as she stares at the girl with raven hair.

"So you can fend off Zelle but not Degen, huh?" the small girl's tone is mocking, and she's shaking her head with a sarcastic expression. "And here I thought this was going to be fun. How disappointing."

Gulping in nervousness, Rin takes a step back. The enemy watches her with an empty and twisted grin.

"Well, this is the end for you, Rin. A disgraceful hind deserves to be skewered."

The girl gives a mental command, and her familiar darts towards my Master. Its speed is so fast that she has no way to avoid it.

I cannot allow that.

A single shot of my bow, and the arrows are ready to intercept it. The magical blade gets struck by the first one, only to then dissolve into nothingness when the second one destroys it completely. Rin takes advantage of the moment to run away amid the smoke, and the girl with silver hair exhales a gasp with a stunned expression. Even from my distant position, I can see her head snapping in my direction, glaring coldly at me with a frustrated and spiteful gaze.

Once my job is done, I lower my bow, staring back into those crimson eyes with a face devoid of feels.

Despite my best attempts, I cannot help but snort in self-mockery under that gaze filled with hatred.

How fitting…

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Hilltop – Fuyuki Church

(======)

It was late in the night, and the Church was completely empty.

Soft candlelight lighted the altar, and the smell of incense permeated the air. Silence and emptiness surrounded the presbytery, while the rest of the holy building was surrounded with darkness. The only form of life amid that empty sight was a small, petite figure immersed in prayer, kneeled in front of the altar with her hands joined together and her head lowered in thought. The young girl dressed in church robes recited her Psalm in a hushed voice, alone and immersed in silence, keeping her body still as she offered her prayers to the Lord who was watching the world from above.

Until, the air shifted around her, and she could hear a soft noise coming from the entrance.

Caren Hortensia exhaled a sigh, feeling the intrusion even with her eyes closed.

"Yo, priestess," a smug and sarcastic voice spoke all of a sudden. It echoed inside the Church with a chuckle and an empty snort, coupled with a hint of irony that would have been impossible to miss due to the sarcasm behind its tone. "Care to spare me a few moments of your time?"

The girl with silver hair turned and stared, observing the new arrival with a face devoid of feels.

"Oh my, what an unexpected guest," Caren greeted him with a dull voice. Her golden eyes stared at the visitor deeply, her face and gaze devoid of life. "I wasn't expecting to see you here… Shinji Matou."

The only answer he received was another snort, followed by a chuckle that was oddly dull and joyless.

Still, her eyes never left the intruder as he stepped inside the Church, walking inside this holy place and brining himself right in front of her. The person who had come to pay her a visit was none other than Shinji Matou, the current heir of the Matou family and a young boy who couldn't be older than seventeen. He had curly blue hair and gray blue eyes, with a young face currently morphed into a disdainful grin of mockery. He was dressed in a casual outfit, with a white and black jacket, a black shirt and blue jeans.

The boy known as Shinji brought himself in front of her frame, shooting a glance at the empty Church with a bored and disgusted frown. "This place is as disgusting as ever. It's almost giving me the creeps," he commented, clearly unamused by the sight that surrounded their meeting. "You know; you should really try to make it more lively. I still can't understand how someone would willingly choose to live in such―"

"I suppose you have a reason for your visit?" Caren cut straight to the point, already feeling fed up with this boy's annoying antics.

He eyed her as if she were nothing but a speck of dirt. "Huh? Of course I do. Why would I come to this stinking place otherwise?" he spat, clearly irritated by the way she had interrupted him earlier. Then, he closed his eyes, exhaling a sigh in attempt to calm himself a bit. "I just wanted to talk for a bit. I have a proposition to make."

Cared remained still as a statue, without even batting an eye. "I'm sorry to break it to you, but I am a girl of faith. I have no interest in any form of lecherous relationship… especially involving someone like you. Even if I weren't a priest, there would be absolutely no way in he―"

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! That is NOT what I was trying to say!" Shinji screamed at the tops of his lungs, looking both ashamed and disgusted by the words of the short priestess. He immediately recollected himself with a frown, spitting on the ground without a care in the world. "Don't put words in my mouth, wench. Who in their right mind would ever choose to pick a disgusting woman like you, anyway?"

The hint of a smile appeared on Caren's lips. It was both cold and unforgiving as it made its way on her face.

"Oh dear. So the dog has learned how to bark… how disgraceful."

The temperature inside the Church dropped several degrees.

Shinji took a step back, faltering for a moment, but he quickly narrowed his eyes. "Hey now, no funny business. I am here to offer you an accord, not to fight."

A raised brow was the only reaction he received. "An accord?" she repeated.

"My Servant has insisted on this. He told me to come here and ask for an alliance," the young boy spat, as if he saying those words was making him angry for some reason. "For whatever stupid reason, he believes that working with you would be most beneficial for us in the long run. I came here only because he wouldn't shut up about it."

Caren remained completely unfazed by those words. She stared at the blue-haired boy for what seemed to be an eternity, while silence and emptiness continued to reign inside the Church of Fuyuki City.

In the end, her reply was delivered without an ounce of emotion. "I'm afraid I am not interest in such a deal. I am the overseer of the Holy Grail War," she stated, cold but resolute. "As such, I am forbidden from participating in the conflict. Besides, I'm not a Master, and I don't even have a Servant with me. Your proposal is meaningless and foolish."

"Don't try to act all high and mighty now, priestess. I already know the truth, so there's no use in trying to fool me," he readily countered with a smug tone, smirking like a viper in front of its prey.

Caren's eyes narrowed slightly. Her expression didn't change in spite of his words. "Is that so?" she said.

Shinji chuckled with a twisted voice. "Yes, indeed. I know you're not as innocent as you claim to be," he pressed, taking a step forward and leaning with his torso in attempt to look more intimidating. To his silent annoyance, the girl remained unfazed. "You say you belong to a neutral faction, yet you have summoned a Servant of your own, and you're keeping it secret from all the other participants. I know you are one of the seven Masters, so don't bother denying it. There's no point in continuing this useless farce anymore."

Silence and tension drenched the air. The priestess with silver hair eyed him sternly.

"Who told you this?" she demanded.

Shinji Matou grinned at her frowning face, his expression morphing into a twisted and cruel smirk.

"Join me and I'll tell you," he offered, looking and sounding as confident as he could ever be. "So, what do you say?"

A few seconds of silence, which became a full minute.

Eventually, Caren Hortensia closed her eyes, turning her back to the sadistic and expectant boy.

"I refuse," she answered evenly. "There is no point in joining your cause. You are not worthy of being considered a Master."

Shinji's entire body stiffened at those words, his expression darkening all of a sudden.

Grey-blue eyes narrowed in anger. "…what did you just say?" he asked, his voice gaining a very dangerous edge.

Caren cared not for his display of rage and resentment. "Do you perhaps believe I'm a fool, Matou Shinji? I know who you are, and I know what you've done," she said, completely unfazed by his tone and glare. She kept her back to him, and only glanced in his direction with a cold and emotionless gaze. Her golden eyes were glowing in the dark, making her appear more intimidating and powerful than what Shinji could ever hope to be. "Your family's situation is well-known by the Holy Church. Due to the thinning of their bloodline, the Matou are no longer capable of producing heirs naturally capable of sorcery. You are no exception to this, for your Magic Circuits are completely non-existent."

The young boy gritted his teeth, clenching his fists so hard his arms began to tremble.

The priestess continued her speech, undaunted. "Regardless, you refused to give up. If there's something you've inherited from your family, that is the stubbornness to refuse what it is meant to be. Despite having no Magic Circuits, you begged your grandfather to let you participate in the War… and in order to do so, you took advantage of your sister, who has been adopted into the Matou family to carry on their fading bloodline."

She turned her head fully to him this time, looking at him with a gaze devoid of feels.

"Do you think I do not know what you've done to her, Shinji? Do you think I'm not aware that she was meant to be the real Master?" she questioned him, mercilessly.

The young heir of the Matou line lowered his head. Bluish bangs darkened his eyes.

"I see… so this is how you want it to be, huh?" he muttered, with a low and dangerous tone. The shaking of his arms was so intense his whole body seemed to tremble as well, as if he were afflicted by feverish tremors. "Is that your final answer, then? Do I take this as your last decision?"

Caren shrugged off his threat with ease, looking completely uncaring of his resentment. "What use is there in joining hands with a cruel and twisted beast? Your quest is fated to fail before it can even start," she spoke, as if she was talking about something as mundane as the weather. "Yet you cannot see it, no matter how obvious it is. Years of training have not done much for your powers of observation. If you weren't so filthily twisted, I'd recommend you to abandon this path and seek for the Lord's forgiveness… Oh, wait, my mistake. It seems you have already embarked upon that path. That is such a shame, indeed."

Shinji watched her with a disgusted frown. "You know… you should really stop talking right now, wench. Unless you want to start some problems," he spat, glaring at her with a mighty rage.

Caren remained completely undaunted, her face and expression not changing one bit. "Oh my, you foolish Matou, I disagree. You are the one causing problems and I am merely commenting on them, bringing them to light in the hope that God may grant you some of his mercy―"

The boy lost his patience at that point. He had had enough of her words.

The time for talk was over.

"Enough of this! Do it now, Assassin!" he ordered.

Caren widened her eyes, feeling something twist and saturate the air all of a sudden.

Then, out of nowhere, the assault began. Something gleamed from the entrance of the Church, but Caren had no way to react. She could only widen her eyes and try to defend herself, when suddenly and without a warning, a few metal blades gleaming with white and red lights darted across the air, aimed in her direction with a fast and precise movement. They looked like arrows – although it was hard to tell amid the confusion – and they had been tossed in her direction from both the right and left flanks of the Church.

For a second, just for a split-second, the young priestess with silver hair thought that she had found herself in danger… but then she realized that she had no need to defend herself at all.

Because, faster than a blink of an eye, her own Servant decided to intervene.

A few flashes of gold gleamed inside the building. Then, from the altar behind the young priestess' frame, two small blades wrapped in gold and jewels were fired out of nowhere, crashing against the arrows tossed in Caren's direction and deflecting them completely with a strong and disarming ease. The clangor of metal clashing against metal echoed in the empty Church, and the weapons fell to the floor, clattering all the while.

Shinji took a few steps back, clicking his tongue in a clearly annoyed tone.

Caren paid him no more mind. Instead, she examined the arrows, stunned and perplexed by the fact that she hadn't been able to sense the attack in spite of her skills. And upon inspecting the weapons, she realized that they were no arrows at all, and a hint of recognition flashed across her gaze.

Because what stood before her now was not a pair of arrows… but a pair of Black Keys instead. The very main weapons that she herself had often used, for they were usually employed by all the exorcists of the Holy Church.

"What a disgraceful performance," Gilgamesh's voice echoed inside the building. Caren didn't need to turn around to feel the King's incoming presence. The Servant of the Caster class revealed himself through a dust of gold, speaking to the Servant hiding in the shadows with a loud and ironic tone. "Striking from the shadows without even saying hello. Have you really fallen so low? I'm disappointed in you… Kirei."

Caren Hortensia widened her eyes, feeling a deep and amused chuckle echo throughout the Church.

"Well, well… it appears we always have the most amusing reunions," the Servant of the Assassin class admitted with an empty voice. He stepped out from the shadows without making a single noise, placing himself behind Shinji's frame while Gilgamesh did the same next to Caren, staring into the King's crimson eyes with a pair of brown orbs of his own. "I apologize for the unsubtle approach, King of Heroes. This meeting did not go in the way I had envisioned."

Gilgamesh snorted with a smile, apparently amused by his tone and choice of words. "You try to attack us first and then dare to spout such nonsense? You haven't changed one bit, I see."

Assassin closed his eyes, his expression morphing in defeated amusement.

But Caren heard nothing of that. Her mind was feeling restless, and her eyes could not detach themselves from the Assassin's smiling face. All her gaze could see was a stoic and hardened face, coupled with brown hair and a pair of emotionless eyes. The man standing behind Shinji's frame was tall – extremely tall – even compared to a Servant's standards, and he was dressed in black church robes with a blue stole dangling from his shoulders and a golden cross tied to his neck. He had a muscular and imposing complexion, and his face was devoid of feels… even in spite of the cold, amused smile that was curving his lips.

And as soon as she saw that face, as soon as she saw those eyes, the girl known as Caren felt the breath leave her lungs, experiencing the feeling of shock and disbelief for the first time ever since she was a child.

Because, impossible as it was and absurd as it seemed, she knew who that Servant was. She knew who he was. That face, those eyes, that smile… she knew all of them. Even though she had never seen him before, even though she had never met that man before this day, she already knew who he was. She had seen that expression before, portrayed and stored inside a ruined photo album that had belonged to her mother, who had died shortly after she was born.

And no matter how many years had passed, those empty eyes and that stoic face were a sight she could never forget.

No matter what, no matter how, she could never truly forget.

The face of the man who had given her birth.
The face of the man who she had been told was her father.

"Good evening, Master of Caster," the man standing before her spoke all of a sudden, keeping that empty smile on his lips and bowing his head in a gesture of greeting. "My name is Grigori Rasputin, Servant Assassin. I deeply apologize for ruining your night."

The girl stared at him with wide eyes, feeling her own Servant shift in wariness as he moved a bit closer to her.

While Assassin – Rasputin – kept smiling nonetheless, placing a hand above Shinji's right shoulder. All the while, the boy with blue hair kept glaring at them both with a cruel and twisted smirk.

"Rejoice, all of you… for the Holy Grail War is about to start right now."

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

When she finally gets to safety, Rin hides herself behind a tree, panting in weariness as she starts to regain her breath. Relief and solace are flooding her mind after her successful escape, and although if I'm miles away from her position, I can still feel the girl's emotions as if I'm standing there right next to her.

"Are you all right, Master?" I ask amusedly through our shared mental bond, not even bothering to hide the sarcasm from my voice. "Or was my assistance unwelcome?"

"No… you saved me, Archer. To be honest, my back was against the wall," she admits with a weary sigh. I am inwardly pleased by the words she sends in my direction. At least she's smart enough to admit when someone has defeated her in battle. Knowing her limits and learning from them was a great advantage during a War. "So? Where is Illyasviel?"

My voice is serious as I answer her question. "My apologies, but visibility is poor in your area. I can sense where you are, but I cannot track enemy Masters."

"Figures," she exhales a sigh, tearing herself away from the tree. "But seriously, that girl is a monster. How can she create familiars out of single hairs? That's simply absurd!" she grumbles with an annoyed tone. The frustration is her voice is obviously clear even if I cannot see her directly… but for once I can understand the anger that she's feeling. The ability of the enemy is incomparable to what she is used to. To Rin it must feel like they're on two different levels.

Which, in a way, is not entirely false.

"So it would seem. You were right in trying to defeat Berserker's Master first, but that seems no easy task. Which means…"

"…that we have no choice but to pin our hopes on Saber," she finishes for me, catching on to my reasoning immediately. "In that case, stay put and keep watching the battlefield from above. I'll meet up with Saber."

"Understood. Make sure you know when to retreat, Rin."

"Yeah, yeah."

With our plan set into motion, she begins to depart right away, heading towards the battlefield with a fast and hurried pace. At the same time, I keep watching the events unfold from my position above the roof, staring at the world while the wind billows my cape.

But when I see that foolish boy again, I just can't help but feel those emotions resurface; and I increase the grip on my bow until my hand begins to tremble.

.

/+/+/+/+/+/+/

.

Location: Suburbs of Fuyuki City (Japan)
Einzbern Castle

(======)

Artoria watched, with a growing sense of anxiety, as the enemy did something odd.

Illyasviel von Einzbern raised her hand to the sky, and her body began to glow all of a sudden. Bright, glowing marks of red started to appear all over her body, covering her neck, arms and face and making her appearance look more terrifying than ever. They glowed and glowed and glowed, enveloping her frame in a dark-red light and making her assume the semblance of a twisted being.

Artoria widened her eyes, while Waver Velvet sucked in a breath.

Despite the unexpected display, they both knew what those red markings were. There was no way they could be mistaken about this. They had seen them before this day, for each and every single Master participating in the War possessed three markings identical to those on their right hand… including the two of them as well.

Command Spells.

"Berserker! Return to me at once!"

The voice of Illyasviel resounded in the air like a powerful command, and the binding spell reacted quickly. None of the presents could even move a muscle.

A loud and ear-splitting roar echoed in the air all of a sudden.

Everyone watched the scene unfold with wide and stunned eyes.

Faster than a man could blink, with a speed of reaction that would have baffled even the majority of Servants, Atalanta the Huntress returned in front of Illya, reappearing out of nowhere with a powerful and mighty leap. She landed on all fours in front of the small homunculus, while the entirety of her feral body began to glow with a bright and enchanting light. She had been summoned back so fast that both Waver and Artoria felt stunned by the sight.

"S-She's using a Command Spell to empower her Servant during the fight!" Lord El-Melloi II realized with a growing sense of horror. His eyes widened out of human proportions as he realized how things stood. With Rider still on his way – unable to match Berserker's speed no matter how hard he tried – they had now found themselves against both Master and Servant… and they had no chance of winning while fighting against Berserker. "Damn it! I'll have to summon Rider back before it's too late!"

Artoria was already moving to stop that from happening. "No, that would be a waste of Command Spells! Archer, we leave it to you!" she cried, turning to her far-away Servant instead.

Hearing her command from afar, the bowman did not disappoint.

A barrage of red arrows rained down from the sky, all of them headed in Berserker's direction. They were so fast and precise that the girl and the Lord could barely see them with the naked eyes. However, much to Artoria's dismay, the arrows did not manage to reach their target in spite of their speed.

Because in that moment, Sella stepped forward all of a sudden, pointing her hands towards the incoming darts. "I won't let you!" she declared, stoic and resolute.

Fibrous filaments of gleaming light returned to life all around the enemies. They encircled Sella, Illya and Berserker completely, creating a veritable web of Magical Energy all around those three. Slithering in the air like vicious snakes, they moved and joined together to form a glowing shield, and the arrows were batted away with unbelievable ease, exploding upon contact with the shield of Mana encircling Atalanta completely. The huntress didn't need to move, or even summon her bow to defend herself. The power of the spell used by Sella was so strong that her Mana itself was enough to fend off any attack, acting like a shield of prana unable to be destroyed.

Waver Velvet tensed and gulped in front of that sight. Artoria gasped and stared in visible concern.

"By your order, Master," Berserker spoke as soon as the attack was dismissed. Her golden eyes were wide and ferocious, glaring with unnerving intensity towards the Lord and his ally.

And Illya was no different. The small homunculus kept staring at Waver and Artoria with a cruel and mad grin, spreading her arms towards the world and activating the spell linked to her Command Spells with a loud and resolute voice.

"By the power of my Command Seal, I order you!" she cried. "Berserker, remove your restraints and crush them all―"

However, contrary to what everyone expected, the girl with silver hair was not able to finish her sentence.

Because in that exact, same moment… something odd and unexpected happened.

…

BOOOOOOOM.

…

The world was shaken by a powerful explosion, and everything was engulfed by a veil of absolute darkness.

Artoria's world became black.

All her senses and all her thoughts disappeared without a trace. For an indefinite amount of time, all the girl could see was darkness. Nothing but pitch-black darkness, surrounding her whole. The world had become black and quiet, and everything had been silenced as the girl remained immersed in the dark. Silence kept stretching for what seemed like an eternity, nothingness and darkness surrounded her whole, and the girl with golden hair could not begin to fathom what was happening to her.

Then, her ears began to ring, and her sight slowly returned.

She blinked her eyes a few times, and she found herself in hell.

"―ster…! Master! Can you hear me? MASTER!"

The heir of the Pendragon line shook her head a few times, blinking away the tears as her sight began to return. She could faintly hear her Servant's voice echoing inside her head, but it sounded muffled and distant, as if their bond had suddenly been cut off.

She tried to form a coherent thought, trying to reach back to the worried Archer, but her head was spinning madly, and she could hardly tell what was going on. Even forming a coherent sentence in her mind felt like an impossible feat at the moment.

When she finally came to be in full, she found herself in Rider's arms, with her back pressed against his sturdy armor. "Ohi, Master! She's breathing again!"

The voice of the King of Franks brought her back to reality. It sounded tense and concerned, but she had no way of knowing. Her head was spinning still, her sight blurred and confused, but the headache was growing less painful.

"Miss Pendragon!" Lord El-Melloi II suddenly appeared in her line of vision. He looked pale and scared as never before. "Thank goodness! We thought we lost you."

The girl coughed and gasped, struggling to regain her lost sense of self. "W-What happened?" she managed to ask, even amid the never-ending headache.

Waver Velvet shook his head, looking as lost and confused as she felt. He just pointed one hand in a specific direction, with a few drops of sweat running down his paling neck.

Artoria followed his gaze, and she could not believe her eyes.

―Because a crater of gigantic proportions had been created in the middle of the field.

The young girl held her breath, feeling the air disappear from her lungs. They were still in front of the Castle, just like before. But the courtyard… it had disappeared. No, that was wrong. It would be more right to say that it had been destroyed. It had vanished, evaporated, dissolved into dust. All of it destroyed by an explosion detonated out of nowhere. All that remained right now was a big and gigantic crater of smoke, filled with debris and smoldering rocks. On the other side of the crater, divided by ten meters of debris, Illyasviel, Sella and Berserker were staring at the smoking hole as well, looking as lost and scared and confused as Artoria and her allies were.

Whatever had happened here, it had clearly surprised them all… because none of them had any idea of what was happening right now. The explosion had affected them all, and the chaos surrounding both factions was a sight impossible to believe.

"Master! Are you injured?"

Atalanta's voice echoed amid the rubbles and smoke, sounding worried and concerned for the first time ever since Artoria had met the Servant. The huntress was leaning in worry towards her Master, supporting her small body with her arms, looking absolutely concerned for her well-being. Illya was kneeling on the ground along with Sella, both of them looking pale and distraught by the sight that stood before them at the moment. The previous explosion had caught them unawares, and Artoria could see in their crimson eyes that they were feeling as lost and confused as she herself felt.

"W-What is this?" Illya whispered with a shocked and baffled tone. "What is the meaning of this?!"

Her outraged demand echoed in the air for several seconds. However, much to the girl's frustration, it would remain unanswered.

Because it wasn't over. In fact, in the middle of the newly born crater, amid a column of dust and smoke, Artoria and the others immediately noticed something.

Something was moving in the middle of the crater.

The reaction was immediate. None of the presents could tear their eyes away.

Everyone – and I do mean everyone – snapped their heads towards that exact same location… and all they could see was a cluster of darkness. A dark, twisted puddle of black Mana was rousing to life from the bowels of the crater, bubbling and stirring as it gushed out of the earth. It was leaking from the very soil itself, like a pool of hidden liquid resurfacing once again, having been trapped beneath the ground and now being freed for the first time ever. It was boiling and writhing like water above a stove, permeating the air itself with a foul and nauseating stench.

Yet, even if that sight seemed impossible, even if none of them had ever seen anything like that prior to this day… Artoria and the others had no doubt about it. They knew what that pool of black liquid was, for their instinct and mind were all screaming at them in the exact same way.

Mana.
A veritable pool of Mana had appeared out of nowhere.

Magical Energy of dark and unknown origin was rousing to life in front of their eyes.

"W-What… is that?" Lord El-Melloi II stuttered, pointing a finger towards that puddle of black liquid. He sounded lost and perplexed, as if he couldn't explain what he was witnessing in spite of his years of experience and knowledge. He had never seen anything like this before, not even during the events of the previous Holy Grail War.

Charlemagne stared at the swirling prana with a baffled expression as well. His blue eyes were widened, like a child staring at something unfathomable. "Magical Energy is gathering," he exclaimed, looking both tense and baffled by the event that was happening in front of them. "It's like… it's giving birth to something! There's something alive inside that Mana!"

For once, Artoria knew that he was right. Because as soon as Rider made that statement, something happened once again, and the girl with golden hair couldn't help but gasp in horror.

A black and muscular arm gushed out from the bubbling liquid, followed by a head, a torso and a big, gigantic chest.

Waver and Artoria watched the scene unfold with open mouths. Illyasviel and Sella observed the events with wide and stunned eyes. Rider and Berserker readied themselves with a worried expression.

In that moment, in that exact same moment… the tide of the conflict was shifted in an irreversible way.

And a tall and imposing figure came to life from the bubbling liquid, coming out from that pool of Mana like a monster summoned by the depths of hell.

Atalanta widened her eyes, staring at the intruder with an expression of disbelief.

"No… it cannot be…!"

Her voice echoed in the air, resounding amid the silence for several seconds. It was low and tense as it could ever be, tinged by the unmistakable hint of shock no matter how absurd it sounded.

Artoria felt her heartbeat begin to increase in worry. Illyasviel stared at the giant with a lost and worried gaze.

While the Chaste Huntress of the Argonauts glued her eyes on the imposing intruder, staring at that familiar frame with a lost and stunned face.

"Hera…cles?"

The only answer she received was a loud and beast-like growl, followed by a mighty roar that shook the heaven and the earth.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Soundtrack used for the title of this chapter: "Roar of Heaven and Earth ~ Tenchi Hou Take" composed by Kenji Kawai for the first Fate/Stay Night  anime.

(======)

I want to be honest with you guys… I'm scared.

As I write these notes and I'm about to publish this chapter, I feel a bit worried… ok, scratch that, I feel  very  worried. Worried about your reactions regarding the reveal of Assassin's identity. A lot of readers have been speculating about who could fill the role of the Assassin class Servant in my fic, something that made me feel very flattered, for I never imagined that my weird story could be appreciated by so many people. They've been speculating about it for a long time, and those speculations can be summarized into 3 options, mainly:

1- Emiya Kiritsugu;
2- EMIYA Alter;
3- Counter Guardian Artoria.

Well, guess what? All those options were wrong. Assassin was always meant to be none other than Grigori Rasputin , aka "Best Girl Kirei." To be completely honest, I was surprised that no one – LITERALLY NO ONE, either on Fanfic.net, AO3 or even Discord – managed to guess or even think about Kirei as a possible Servant in this fic. I did  mention in the notes of the third chapter that we were going to see him in the story… so that was already a clue. Yet, no one was able to guess it so far (none of those who reached out to me with reviews or DMs, at least). I guess some people will be surprised by this chapter, then… and this fact scares me a bit.

In case you don't know, I always – and I do mean always – take every review and every criticism in consideration when I write. One small proof I can offer you guys of this fact is that I answer to every review, in case you haven't noticed. Not only because I appreciate your support and words immensely, but also because I genuinely like to hear other people's opinion about my works. I always reply to every review, every DM and every person who reaches out to me privately on other sites as well. The only exception to this are anonymous reviews, because I have no way to directly reply to those who write them, but in any other instance I ALWAYS reply to those who reach out to me, even just to say a simple thank you. Thus, please believe me when I say that I put a lot of consideration into the readers' words and opinions… and I'm scared that some of you will end up being disappointed by this choice. A lot of people pretty much wanted Assassin to be someone else… but that is not going to happen, as you saw.

Regardless, I will remain faithful to the idea I had when I came up with the plot for this fic. This fact cannot be negotiated. The story has already been planned in its entirety, and I'm not willing to change the plot now (at least, not the main events and characters. Some small changes here and there are always bound to happen along the way, in every story, for it's necessary to make them better). So please, try to understand this.

All those 3 options regarding Assassin's identity made sense, in some way, and they were even pretty cool in theory… but I think you guys forgot 1 IMPORTANT thing while trying to guess who the last Servant of this odd War could be. This Holy Grail War does NOT revolve around Archer and his story. Not every Servant is meant to be connected to him and his past (at least, not emotionally connected , like those three are compared to Kirei). That wouldn't make sense in my opinion, and it would also feel forced when we already have characters deeply connected to his story like Artoria, ARTHUR, Rin, Illya and some others who we'll meet in the future. If even the main Servants except for Arthur and Gilgamesh were meant to be bound to his story somehow, it would have been too much. It wouldn't feel believable, in my opinion. This is an impossible Holy Grail War, not the EMIYA's Grail War.

The presence of Atalanta, Scathach and Charlemagne is the very proof of that, along with that of Waver, Bazett and Caren as well. Not everyone here is someone Archer knows or with whom he has a connection. There is a specific reason behind each Servant's presence (Emiya included) and it's gonna be revealed pretty soon. But some people just wanted to see Archer's reaction upon meeting those 3 possible Servants, or just to see him suffer thanks to their presence, and that is not what I've planned for this fic.  Not in the way you think , at least. To be Emiya is to suffer, and Archer's hands will never hold anything – that unspoken law will NOT change in this story – but we're not at that moment yet.

I'm sure I told you guys before that this fic is a story of Impossible Realities. In order for you to guess more things about the events of this story, you need to think about this info a bit more seriously. The word "IMPOSSIBLE " is the main clue. You want an example of this?

If you think about it, in all the 3 routes of Fate/Stay Night, there are 2 characters with whom Archer never – EVER – interacted. Those characters are Illyasviel and Kirei.

– Regarding Illya, the only moment Archer speaks to her is during his fight against Berserker in the Fate route anime (which is not shown in the novels and which Archer doesn't remember, in my fic), when he mutters to her with a defeated chuckle: "You're still as merciless as ever, Illya…" Apart from that small moment, he never addresses her or speaks to her directly, not even when she is speaking to him or when they are literally face to face (and no, Illya's Castle Special and Carnival Phantasm are not canon in this fic… sadly ToT). He just says to Shirou to never let go of her hand in the Heaven's Feel route during the escape from the forest (and she was there as well), but apart from that… nothing. In my personal opinion, the reason behind this choice is that Emiya feels a lot of regret towards his sister (this fact is hinted in the HF novel, during the escape from the forest. Before making their escape from the Shadow, Shirou notices that Archer shoots one last glance at Illya. A glance filled with regret). Consequently, it's pretty clear that he feels remorseful towards her. So much so that he doesn't feel comfortable (or worthy) to speak to her directly. According to some hints written on the Wiki (and also other authors' opinions) in Archer's original timeline, Illya was probably the very first person he failed to save. We don't know the details, but she was probably killed somehow during his Holy Grail War, and he was unable to save her. For him, her death must have been the first of a long series of failures, and also the very first demonstration of the fact that he couldn't save everyone… and that probably struck him deeper than it seems. That would explain why he feels so much regret towards her in all the 3 routes, and why he never talks with her as well. Another possible explanation that the fandom had considered in the past about this matter is that Archer's original war was meant to be Illya's route… but that is something I'd rather avoid thinking about. It wouldn't make sense, and it's just plain wrong in many ways.

– Instead, with Kirei… the situation is more mysterious than that. Archer actually NEVER talked to him in any of the 3 routes. He never speaks, or mentions, or even thinks about him in any of the 3 routes. The two of them never meet face to face in the main timelines, neither in the Novels nor the anime, not even once. Even when Rin and Shirou went to talk to Kirei in the UBW route, Archer refused to go inside the church – just like Saber – standing on the rooftop while listening in silence. In my opinion, this choice has probably several reasons behind it (some of which are already hinted in the meeting between Artoria and Caren, and also with Gilgamesh's presence), but I will not list them here because it's not relevant. Maybe I'll come back to this matter later in the story, if you're interested.

Anyway, the point is: Emiya never interacted with these 2 characters, no matter the timeline he was in. Those events are considered "impossible outcomes" within the current timelines of Fate, and in this odd War that is not supposed to be… those impossible outcomes will happen for the first time. It was part of the plan all along.

Therefore, for all those who wanted to see one of those 3 Servants in this story, I apologize. But I will tell you this: DO NOT LOSE HOPE YET. I MEAN IT, DO NOT LOSE IT. The true plot twists of the story are yet to happen. I have already planned this story from start to finish from the very same day I published the first chapter, and I can tell you: at a certain point, things will become pretty… odd, shall we say. This Holy Grail War will be interesting, according to Gilgamesh. So, who knows what is going to happen? The possibilities are quite vast, and some of you actually managed to guess a few things that will be shown in the future. So… I hope you'll stay tuned until that happens.

I will never say anything else about this until the revelations will arrive, however. You guys are free to speculate if you want. I've said too much already.

(======)

Now, having said that, let's move on. We finally know all the Servants and Masters of this Holy Grail War. There are some characters that are yet to be shown – some pretty important characters, to be honest (Sakura being a perfect example of this, among others) – but those we have met so far will have a main role in the story, even in ways you probably wouldn't expect.

As you can see, some of the main characters are familiar faces and others are unexpected to say the least. One thing I want to point out, however, is that the genders of the Servants and Masters of this fic are mirrored, but opposite. We have 5 female Masters (Artoria, Rin, Bazett, Illya, Caren) and 2 males (Waver and Shinji). As for the Servants, 5 of them are males (Archer, Saber, Rider, Caster, Assassin) and 2 are females (Lancer and Berserker). This was part of the plan all along.

I will not say anything about Heracles' sudden appearance and the reason behind his presence. All answers will arrive in due time.

One thing I can share with you guys is this: for those wondering why the hell is Heracles here and how is his presence possible, be assured: this story is not going to become something like:  "all Servants are here"  or  "somehow new Servants have arrived"  or even a new " war between factions".  This is not Fate/Apocrypha, nor Fate: Oppression. I assure you.

What's going to happen in this story is going to be pretty small in scale… but much, much WORSE than what it seems now. Again, the keyword is "Impossible Realities".  Other hints and clues are already scattered throughout the chapters, including Rasputin's presence. The fact that he was summoned – HIM, OF ALL PEOPLE – is a BIG clue itself. Have fun speculating, if you want.

Last thing: we saw little of Emiya in this chapter, and it was an intentional choice. I wanted to give the other characters a moment to shine, and I also wanted to put Archer away by making him do his job as a bowman. I hope I managed to convey the feeling of his absence/presence in a decent way. Like, he's not present in any of the fights, but he's still somehow there in spite of that. We did see him interfere in some of the duels, after all… but he never directly intervened too much. I hope I did a decent job with that, at the very least. Also, a father and a daughter are finally meeting each other for the first time ever. Isn't that nice…?

Next chapter:  "BITE DOWN".  Emiya (and Caren) are in for a very painful night. Oh boy.

As always, please forgive me for any eventual misspellings and grammar mistakes. If you point them out to me, I will gladly correct them as soon as I can.

See you next time.

Chapter Text

FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Twelve-

BITE DOWN

Planet: Earth
Timeline: [????]
Date: [????]
Location: Fuyuki City (Japan)
Hilltop – Fuyuki Church

(======)

The silence inside the empty Church of Fuyuki was absolute. One could hear a pin drop.

Agitation, tension and nervousness drenched the air like a thick fog. The two Master-Servant pairs stared at each other in complete silence amid the dark and empty Church, both sides observing and studying the other while the pressure that filled the air continued to grow more and more by the second. The feeling of dread and tension was growing so increasingly high that the atmosphere itself seemed to have become stale and lifeless around the four people standing in the middle of it.

Even still, Caren Hortensia cared not for any of that. Her golden eyes were wide and stunned. Her body was rigid and unmoving. Even her face – which would usually display a stoic, unreadable frown in every situation – was now morphed into an expression of shock and disbelief for the first time in months. No, for the first time in years. It had been a very long time since she had last experienced this kind of surprise. So long that she could barely even remember it, to be honest. There were simply no words to describe the sheer amount of shock that was clouding her mind, at the moment. It was simply too absurd to be real.

However, absurd as it was, she could not deny the reality in front of her. She could not dismiss the emotion raging inside of her. Because all her eyes could see right now was the face of the new Servant…

…the very same face she had seen portrayed in her family album when she was a child. The face of the man who she had been told was her father.

Kirei Kotomine.

No matter how much she stared, Caren Hortensia could not believe what she was seeing.

Not even as her father's words echoed inside the Church with a solemn and sacred tone.

"Rejoice, all of you… for the Holy Grail War is about to start right now."

The priestess of Fuyuki Church stared at him with wide eyes, unable to understand the reality of what she was witnessing.

Yet, next to her, Gilgamesh seemed to care not for her inner turmoil. The amused, loud chuckle that escaped the King's lips made it all too clear for her, echoing throughout the empty place with a powerful tone. Even Shinji, arrogant as he was, seemed visibly confused by that reaction.

"Bwahahaha! Oh, the irony of this!" the golden Servant laughed with a distinct note of amusement, shaking his head with an expression of mirth. He was openly ignoring Caren's outraged expression, his attention solely focused towards the Servant of the Assassin class as he stared back at him in silence. Until, when his hilarity slowly subsided, he shot a sarcastic stare towards the man dressed in Church robes. "No matter the circumstances, you never fail to amuse me. I guess you really can't help yourself, can you… Kirei?"

The tall, brown-haired Servant chuckled a bit as he heard that rebuke. "I'm glad the King of Heroes is still enjoying himself in my presence. I was afraid you had forgotten me, given the circumstances."

"Fool, who do you think I am? As if such a thing could ever happen," he immediately retorted with a snort, making the empty smile on the other Servant's face grow even more.

Hearing that strange interaction, both Caren and Shinji seemed taken aback for a few moments. Not that their reaction wasn't justified, however. After all, their respective Servants were bantering and talking to each other as if they were previous acquaintances. As if they knew each other. However, neither Shinji nor Caren had ever witnessed a meeting between the two prior to this night, so they didn't know how it was possible. They weren't expecting such a thing to happen.

This was weird. This was definitely weird, Caren mused.

It was Shinji the first who voiced his doubts, after a moment. The blue-haired boy turned to his Servant, his brows furrowed in suspicion as he addressed the elephant in the room. "So it's true… you really do know that guy, Assassin," he mused, shooting a narrowed stare between Caster and his Master.

The Servant of the Assassin class cocked his head slightly as he glanced at the boy. Apparently, he had already shared this piece of information with him, Caren realized. "Indeed. As I mentioned before, Gilgamesh and I are prior acquaintances," he explained, keeping the same empty smile planted on his lips. "Though how he remembers that, I know not."

Caster snorted at his words again. "That is a naïve question. I am the One True King, and thus I know all there is to know. Nothing can elude my powers," he countered, lazily, as if that answer were a foregone conclusion and the most obvious truth of the world. Shinji openly stared in confusion after that absolute claim, looking completely lost for a moment.

"Indeed," Assassin agreed on his part, chuckling a bit. "Ironic that you ended up using your powers for something so trifling. Have you finally decided to lower yourself to the commoners' level?"

"You dare to spout such nonsense after trying to strike us first? Giving up your body has not changed your rotten nature, Kirei," was the King's sarcastic reply.

Shinji just blinked in confusion at that rebuke. The way the King of Heroes was addressing his Servant was definitely unexpected for him.

"Wait… Kirei?" he repeated, his gaze flickering between Assassin and Caster with obvious perplexity. "Why is he calling you that? Didn't you tell me your True Name was Rasputin? A guy who was supposed to be a big deal in Russia during the late 1800s or something?"

An amused chuckle escaped the man's lips after hearing his Master's demand. The mysterious Assassin – Grigori Rasputin – merely closed his eyes with an expression of mirth, crossing his arms behind his back with a slow yet solemn movement. The blue stole on his shoulders moved a bit, along with the golden cross tied to his neck.

"That's right. My previous statement remains correct, Master. I am indeed the priest who once went by the name Rasputin in the past," he calmly explained with ease, keeping his expression unchanged. His voice was soft and deep at the same time, with a distinct note of emptiness that rendered it very hard for Caren to discern any emotion behind his words. "However, the body I currently possess is not my own. Not entirely, at least."

Caren Hortensia narrowed her eyes as Gilgamesh stared with an emotionless smirk.

While the Servant dressed in Church robes opened his eyes again, fixing the world and the people in it with a cold, unreadable smile. "I share my current form with the body of another person. A man who died in the previous Holy Grail War… and who went by the name of Kotomine Kirei."

Brown eyes filled with emptiness and amusement stared inquisitively at the priestess of Fuyuki Church. The girl with ashen-white hair stared back at him with a scowling frown.

"Does my appearance upset you, Master of Caster?" Assassin addressed her out of the blue, keeping his gaze glued to the face of the young girl.

Caren didn't bother to reply, keeping her expression unflinching as she maintained her stoic silence.

She could not admit it out loud, but the sight of that smile was making her bowels twist and churn.

"…no," she spoke after a long, long pause. Her golden eyes dismissed the previous shock in but an instant, replacing it with a dull, cold expression akin to disdain. "That man is long dead, and I never even met him before. Whoever he was, he never meant anything to me."

Rasputin closed his eyes as he listened to her answer, bowing his head a bit as he chuckled to himself. "How unfortunate. But I suppose it's for the best," he shrugged.

"Wait, wait, wait! How is this possible?" Shinji cut in the discussion again, pointing a finger towards his Servant with a very shocked gesture. The heir of the Matou family was obviously lost and unable to understand what was happening, judging by his stunned face. "How can a Servant possess a human's body?! That's not supposed to happen! It's impossible!"

Assassin was about to reply, but Gilgamesh cut him off abruptly.

"Soul-bonding. The merging of two souls into one," the King of Heroes interjected, sounding almost bored for some reason. His words were aimed more towards Caren rather than Shinji. After all, he was already aware of Assassin's true nature, since his powers and knowledge had already warned him about it, and he could feel that the girl was pondering that same question despite her emotionless frown thanks to their bond. "To think there was someone out there who shared your depraved nature so closely… how disgraceful. I thought you were one of a kind, but the world still manages to surprise me every now and then. Was the merging of your soul something you truly would have wished for, Kirei? I thought you were better than that."

Once more, Rasputin merely shrugged at the jab. "My current form is not something I have desired," he replied, monotone. "Unfortunately, the result of the summoning is not something over which Servants have control. Regardless, the Grail made this choice, and it deemed my presence worthy. The Heroic Spirit Grigori Rasputin lacked both the power and legend to manifest as a proper Servant… thus, the Grail supplied him with the body that was most suitable to complete the task."

…after a few moments of pondering, Caren finally understood the meaning behind those words. And when she did, she felt her eyes narrow in an expression of disgust.

Grigori Rasputin was a figure of legend who had lived in Russia between the end of the previous century and the beginning of the current one. A self-proclaimed 'holy man' who earned the trust of the Tsar by miraculously healing his son from a sickness. A twisted, deceptive and manipulative man who gained power and control by earning the trust of others through lies and unknown methods, and who was partially responsible for the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty due to his questionable acts and lust-filled scandals.

As such, being a figure who belonged to the modern era, he lacked both the legend and power to manifest as a proper Heroic Spirit. His legend was not well-known, his fame still very little compared to the Heroes of old or the figures who lived in ancient times. Therefore, he was not supposed to be here. He was not supposed to be summoned at all; for despite his little fame and deeds, he still lacked a true attribute that could anchor him to the Throne and record him as a concrete Heroic Spirit.

And yet, in an odd and twisted turn of events, the Grail had decided to bring him forth all the same; using the body of another individual and merging their souls together to give him the power and means to exist as a Servant. To give him the anchor he lacked on his own. As such, the Grail had summoned forth the soul of the man known as 'Rasputin', and then placed it inside the body of 'Kotomine'. It had fused the two men together, making them become one and the same. Perhaps thanks to their similarities – and, more importantly, thanks to the controversial and twisted nature that both men shared – they had become compatible enough to be merged into one, allowing the Grail to summon them as a proper Servant of the War.

An outrageous, disgusting twist of Fate that had allowed this meeting to happen.

For Caren, this whole situation was utterly unacceptable.

"That is absurd," the young girl objected abruptly. The expression on her face was a very – very – outraged look. "That man's body was destroyed during the previous War. Your summoning was not supposed to happen."

Assassin's smile grew all the more. "Many things about this War are not how they were meant to be," was the Servant's stoic reply. "I'm sure you're already aware of that, young girl. None of us are supposed to be here."

The priestess fell silent at that, clenching her hands into fists as she glared at Shinji and his Servant with a frosty and icy gaze. No matter how much she loathed it, she couldn't retort to that. And neither could Gilgamesh, on his part.

Because both of them knew that Assassin was right about that.

In the end, there was only one thing Caren could say as she struggled to accept the reality of this sudden twist. Words and phrases could never be enough to describe the complexity of the emotions she was struggling to quell within her soul at the moment… and thus, she could only settle for a single sentence.

"How disgusting."

Apparently, Rasputin seemed to enjoy her reaction all the same. "Is something the matter, young girl? Do you truly dislike my appearance so much?" he questioned her, curious, as if he were attempting to strike her nerves somehow. Next to the man, Shinji Matou was observing their interaction with obvious perplexity.

Caren would not be intimidated so easily. "My, my… you seem to be mistaken, Mr. Rasputin," she countered easily, making sure to curve her lips into a smile that was anything but reassuring. "I am a priestess of God. As such, there is nothing I dislike, for everything in this world shall go in accordance to His Will. The Lord in Heaven works in mysterious ways, after all."

Empty, lifeless eyes closed as Assassin chuckled. "As expected of a fellow Exorcist. You speak wisely for someone of your age. I wish my own Master could share that mindset, sometimes," he acknowledged, shooting a small, sideways glance towards the young boy next to him.

Shinji openly glared at him in scorn as he heard that rebuke. "Do not forget your place, Assassin," he warned him, outraged. His Servant did not seem fazed one single bit.

Caren smiled all the more. "Indeed. However, despite my lack of dislikes… there is someone I think would be better off dead, you see," she added at that point, grabbing the enemies' attention once again. The smile on her face was cold – colder than before – with a dangerous glint glowing inside her golden eyes as she stared pointedly towards the Servant dressed in Church robes. "A man. A man who, after abandoning his child, enjoyed life without a care and met a peaceful death in the previous Holy Grail War. A man who, coincidentally… seems to share your own face and name."

King Gilgamesh stared in silence.

Shinji Matou gaped in shock.

Grigori Rasputin smiled in amusement.

While the priestess with ashen-white hair took a single step forward, glaring at Assassin with a cold and twisted smile.

"Just who do you think you are, to show yourself in front of me like this?" she demanded, straight to the point; her voice laced with a graceful tone that did not match the disdain within her words. "Your presence in this War is absolutely unacceptable. Please get rid of your miserable life at once, Assassin. If you will not comply, I shall be forced to intervene directly on God's behalf. That would be most unfortunate, don't you agree?"

Her soft but solemn threat echoed within the walls of the Church for what seemed to be an eternity.

Seconds passed, followed by dead silence.

Until, the sound of Gilgamesh's laughter echoed around them once more.

"Pfffft―――BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Shinji and Assassin stared at the scene in wonder. Caren turned to him with a scowling frown.

But the Golden King did not care one single bit. "Oh, this is too much! My hips are hurting!" he exclaimed amid his fit of roaring laughter. He was cackling so much that his body was bending forward as he gasped between the amused chuckles, keeping one hand above his eyes and the other grasped on his abdomen. "To think the day would come where I'd be witness to such a ridiculous farce! Hahahaha! This Holy Grail War has truly become worthy of my undivided attention!"

The priestess of Fuyuki Church glared at him with a frosty expression. "Oh dear… did I say something funny to you, Caster?" she stressed, sounding clearly annoyed by his odd reaction.

Gilgamesh just waved a hand at her in dismissal. "Brat, please! You're only making it worse!" he guffawed, struggling to regain his composure.

Shinji Matou was staring at the whole scene with a lost face. This was clearly not the outcome he had expected to see upon coming to this place and asking for an alliance. "Oi… what the heck is happening right now?" he muttered, clenching his fists. Then, he exploded again. "What is the meaning of this, Assassin?! Don't tell me that you know her too? How is this possible?" he demanded, turning to his Servant with an incredulous expression.