Deep within the swirling blizzards of the Einzbern's own creation laid the Einzbern Castle. In the hidden fortress of the ancient magi family, the gears for the summoning of a Heroic Spirit turned ever closer to their finality. Avalon, the Noble Phantasm and Conceptual Weapon of Arthur Pendragon laid in wait as Emiya Kiritsugu finished his examination of the summoning circle.
His wife, Irisviel von Einzbern, asked why this part of the grandest ritual ever conceived by humanity was so plain, and he answered with the utmost honesty. Yes, this part was plain, for the ritual was complex yet simple. Seven pairs of Masters and Servants, all in a bid for a wish from the omnipotent wish granter known to them as the Holy Grail. The complex part would be the fight, not the preparations.
Kiritsugu's thoughts were on the Servant he was about to summon. It was guaranteed that this Servant would be in the Saber class container, but the other guarantee brought upon by Avalon was that this Heroic Spirit would be King Arthur, the King of Knights. It was said that a Servant was supposed to be much like the Master, but Kiritsugu found it difficult to see it in such a way. A knight was nothing like him. When he sought to eliminate his enemies in the most efficient way possible, they would allow their opponent an honorable duel. While King Arthur had resigned himself to his duty, Kiritsugu Emiya fought with every fiber of his being to eliminate the status quo. The desires of Kiritsugu Emiya and King Arthur Pendragon could never align, he was sure of it. So it was decided that Irisviel would stand by Saber's side in battle. Kiritsugu was sure that if there was anything he could trust Saber with, it would be protecting his wife until that inevitable sacrifice that would bring the Holy Grail to them.
It was time. The ritual was to begin.
With one hand raised, he began. "Set, set, set-"
As the ritual began, and the pain increased steadily as the Holy Grail asked more from his body and Magic Circuits, the idea never occurred to Kiritsugu Emiya that Saber might be a woman.
"I ask thee, art thou my Master?"
Kiritsugu was confused for the briefest of moments. The legends all said that King Arthur was a man, after all, but in the end, who else would Avalon call to be Saber in this Holy Grail War? He gave a nod to his wife and disappeared from the prayer room.
Saber did not understand this man. After being offered a place in the Grail War by the Holy Grail as she laid dying on that hill in the Battle of Camlann, her Master would not even speak to her. Irisviel was kind, explaining to her all the necessary details of Kiritsugu's plan for this Grail War. She accepted the plan immediately, not because she understood or agreed with the principles of it, but because it was the plan of her Master. So, Artoria Pendragon would protect Irisviel von Einzbern as Kiritsugu Emiya worked from the shadows to ensure their victory. She did not agree with fighting a Grail War like this, but that was not her decision to make. That was the relationship between Master and Servant, was it not? And she was a faithful knight.
Kiritsugu only continued to confound her more as she watched from the window of the Einzbern castle. The young homunculus, Illyasviel von Einzbern, was an adorable child and this cold hearted man was completely disarmed in the face of the child he seemed to love.
As Kiritsugu and Illyasviel continued to count winter buds, Irisviel watched Saber with a keen eye. This was King Arthur in the flesh, considering the special nature of her summoning. "Are you surprised to see Kiritsugu like that, Saber?"
"To be honest, yes. If this is the true face of my Master, I must have done something to displease him."
Irisviel laughed a pained laugh and instantly Saber knew there was something Irisviel was hiding. "No, Saber. You've done nothing wrong. Do you feel slighted from Kiritsugu's reaction to your summoning?"
"A little… My appearance is different from how my legend was told, but surely…" She could not say so for sure. "Is my womanhood the cause for his anger, Irisviel? Does he not believe me worthy of the sword?" Saber could feel herself tense, but kept her gaze outside.
Irisviel tilted her head gently to the side, the slightest bit perplexed by Saber's question. "No, if he is angry it is because of something else." She knew, of course, but to let Saber herself come to the truth herself was the better option. "Perhaps his anger comes from the people of your era? He sees them as cruel to force the duty of kingship upon you."
"I was prepared when I pulled the sword from the stone." This was the surest sentence she had spoken since meeting Irisviel.
Irisviel continued to watch. She expected nothing else from the King of Knights. "Perhaps that you accepted it all so readily is why he is angry."
Saber faltered for a moment, considering Irisviel's words. A moment later, she tightened her grip on her resolve. "If that is true, that is far too emotional a response to my duty. None would complain to those who made the decision in my era."
Irisviel nodded. "And so he remains silent."
Saber understood now. It was not some sort of hatred for her gender. "Emiya Kiritsugu and the Heroic Spirit Artoria Pendragon are incompatible then." For the sake of the Holy Grail War, this was the best means for Kiritsugu and Artoria to work together. She calmed her pride for a moment. "Thank you, Irisviel."
Irisviel smiled in response. "Saber, please claim the Grail, for yourself and your Master. The thousand year wish of the Einzberns will be granted, and my daughter and I will be freed from our destinies. We can rely only on you, Artoria."
Even as Saber thought about the true nature of the ritual called the Holy Grail War and Irisviel's words, she made her pledge. "You will survive, Irisviel, for I will protect you until the very end. I pledge it upon the pride of my sword."
Hassan-i-Sabbah, the only set of Heroic Spirits capable of filling the class container of Assassin in the Fuyuki Holy Grail War system, watched over Kirei Kotomine. While it would be more appropriate to refer to this Assassin as 'they', this individual part of the Hassan of the Hundred Personas was a man.
So, he watched, as Kirei Kotomine prepared with all his mind, body and soul for a war he seemed to care none for. The Command Seals had manifested so long ago, so it was certain that the Grail desired something from Kirei Kotomine, but what was it? He simply did not know why a man could fight for nothing. The Order of the Assassins had fought against those who invaded the Holy Land, and this cause was supremely righteous in the eyes of Hassan-i-Sabbah. Even if Kirei Kotomine had connections to that part of the world they had fought against, Hassan-i-Sabbah could not stand that this man fought for nothing.
"Master, there are no spells or familiars watching the home of Tokiomi Tohsaka."
"Very well, you may continue to keep watch, Assassin."
As Assassin, he would take this opportunity. "Master, I and the rest of myself have been curious." Kirei said nothing else, so Assassin continued. "What is it that you will ask of the Grail for your wish?"
Kirei's answer was casual, at least as casual as a hardened Executor or Inquisitor for the Holy Church could be. "The securement of the Grail is my wish. That is all I am here for." Assassin did not believe this in the slightest.
Yet, Assassin continued to keep watch as Kirei entered the basement of the Tohsaka mansion and went to speak with Tokiomi Tohsaka. Kirei's wish could not simply be to acquire the Holy Grail for the sake of acquiring it. Neither could the wish be for something vile, for Assassin saw the way Kirei condemned the Magus Killer, Kiritsugu Emiya, who seemed to kill for the cause of monetary gain. He saw also, how he doted on Tokiomi Tohsaka's daughter, Rin Tohsaka. Assassin could not say this man was evil, watching the face of Kirei Kotomine closely as he saw Aoi and Rin Tohsaka off to the safety of outside the mansion.
As Kirei Kotomine sat in the living room of the Tohsaka mansion, Assassin watched as he wondered what Kiritsugu Emiya sought in the Holy Grail War.
The entity that seemed to be at the core of Hassan of the Hundred Personas appeared before Kirei Kotomine. She stood respectfully, her purple hair, darkened skin and skull mask all a part of her symbol as Hassan-i-Sabbah. "Master."
Kirei roused himself from his thoughts. "What is it, Assassin?"
"Would you prefer if we did not ask questions of you? We do not seek to make you uncomfortable."
He shook his head lightly. "No, I do not mind."
She bowed politely. "Then might I ask another question, Master? I recall in several of my lives I had children. Do you have any of your own?"
Assassin noticed the near imperceptible shimmer in the normally dead abyss of Kirei Kotomine's eyes. "Yes," he said. Assassin did not ask more of him.
As Assassin watched their Master, someone else watched upon the entirety of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Irisviel von Einzbern, summoned in the class container of Caster as the Dress of Heaven. She had no memory of coming to the place she found herself in, this endless field of flowers, but she had found a way of viewing this Holy Grail War as an outside observer. This war was different than the one she had fought and died in as the container for the Holy Grail. The beginning was almost as she remembered it, but she found the smaller details to be utterly different.
Yet, she knew she watched for a reason. She knew she had to ask something of someone. Irisviel had considered for a long time who it was she had to ask this great favor, but as time passed, she became sure in her convictions.
Maiya Hisau watched the city of Fuyuki from the hotel room Kiritsugu and her were to operate from. With a cloth, she wiped dust from the side of her 9mm Glock sidearm. Soon, the Holy Grail War would begin and she, Kiritsugu, Irisviel and the Servant Saber would fight to attain the Holy Grail for Kiritsugu's wish.
She heard footsteps behind herself and instantly turned to take on this sudden intruder. To her surprise, stood a shining woman, clad in a white, red and gold dress. Her smile was brighter than anything Maiya had ever seen. "Madame Irisviel?" Maiya had never met her, only heard of her from Kiritsugu, but for some reason she instantly knew who she was.
When Irisviel spoke, her voice was more beautiful than anything Maiya had ever heard in her entire life. "Maiya, the Grail is corrupted. The Einzberns summoned the Heroic Spirit Angra Mainyuu into the class container of Avenger during the Third Holy Grail War. In the fourth, Kiritsugu will discover this and will command Saber to destroy the Holy Grail. Please, with all my heart, I ask you to ensure that this holds true."
Maiya knew that this was not a trick, because she herself had ensured that no one would find this hideout. Additionally, if this was some sort of mirage brought on by some sort of suggestion, Kiritsugu had taught her how they operated. If this was not an imposter in the flesh pretending to be Irisviel von Einzbern, and it was not a long range spell telling her Irisviel von Einzbern was here, then this had to be Irisviel von Einzbern. "But Kiritsugu's wish, we can't give up on that. This corruption… Can't we fight it?"
"Unfortunately, the Grail's corruption will ensure this Holy Grail War will not grant Kiritsugu's wish in the way he desires." Irisviel's smile turned sombre. "The battle for the Grail has already begun, Maiya. The Servants have already been summoned. Please, I know I ask of you the world itself, but you are the one person who I can ask."
Maiya kept her gaze met with Irisviel's. She said nothing, but Irisviel only waited patiently for her answer. Maiya thought Irisviel seemed prepared to wait for an eternity for her answer. "You can trust me with this, Madame Irisviel." She smiled to reassure the woman in front of her.
In that dark hotel room, the Dress of Heaven began to fade away. "Thank you, Maiya." And then she was gone. As soon as Maiya was sure that Irisviel had departed, she left the room and began her work.
In the basement of the Tohsaka mansion, Kirei and Risei Kotomine watched as Tokiomi Tohsaka called on the Heroic Spirit Gilgamesh to answer his call. Unbeknownst to all, Gilgamesh had already been summoned elsewhere.
In the darkness of the womb of the Holy Grail, Gilgamesh found himself. He took only the most minor of glances of his surroundings of pitch black nothingness before he spoke. "Reveal yourself to me, mongrel. These cheap theatrics are not fit to entertain a king."
So appeared Angra Mainyu, formless at first but steadily gaining the shape he did in a different world, that of an odd reflection of Shirou Emiya. He smirked. "So, this is the mighty King of Heroes? What a joke."
Gilgamesh opened his mouth to cast judgement on Avenger, but before he could, he felt an indescribable pain in his chest. He brought his gauntleted hand to his heart. "What-" He felt his heart - his Spirit Core- twist and turn, convulsing in agony. "Ack…" Gilgamesh held on, halting any sounds of pain from escaping his lips.
But eventually they did. This unspeakable pain brought his screams. The visions of humanity's suffering that entered his senses did not phase him, but what did was what should have been impossible. Gilgamesh thought, foolishly, that his Divinity should have protected him from the Curse of Angra Mainyu. In a different class, or as a separate type of Servant, this would have been true. As a Servant of the Archer class, with his hatred of the gods for taking his dearest friend, Enkidu, he was susceptible to the curse for the only time. Angra Mainyuu capitalized on the depths of Gilgamesh's sorrow for the death of Enkidu and placed his curse upon the King of Heroes.
Still, it was impossible for Gilgamesh to become a Blackened Servant, that with the designation of Alter. So, as the screams turned to mad laughter, Gilgamesh's Spirit Origin was not corrupted, but rather covered by the Curse of Angra Mainyuu. This Servant would be what Risei Kotomine would claim to have saved them, this Servant would be what Tokiomi and Kirei hinged their plan on. They would never come to know of the curse. The only one who would ever have been able to tell would be Enkidu.
But they were not here.
Shinji Matou had always hated his bloodline. The Matous were a thinning line of magi, and he was the living embodiment of that fact. Without the capacity for magic, he was less than worthless in the eyes of his father and the old rotten corpse, Zouken Matou. He thought, against all rationality, that he should be the successor of the Matou line. Shinji thought that he should be able to claim what his birth had denied him, because that was the way of people without things. Those without... want what they have been denied.
His father eventually introduced him to a new girl, someone who would become his new sister, Sakura. While he was weary at first, he gradually came to love this girl like the sister she was supposed to be. Unfortunately, he was only a child, and he found this love being expressed when he picked on her.
All of this changed when he found the worm pit with Sakura still inside.
His father grew more distant from him after this point and Shinji felt a loneliness he had never felt before. Depression turned to anger with time. At first, his rage was directed at himself for finding this secret of Zouken's, but the rage gradually became directed toward Sakura for being involved. He hurled abuse at this girl whom he should have protected, but for some reason he could never bring himself to strike her, even when his mind told him he had all the right to do so.
As the Fourth Holy Grail War neared ever closer, he only became more frustrated and angry, but then Kariya Matou came back. His uncle who had ran away from the madness of the Matous had returned. Shinji felt anger at this person as well, but in that extremely brief moment before Zouken began the implantation of the Crest Worms into Kariya Matou, Shinji met Kariya in the hallway.
"Uncle Kariya," he said in an unaffectionate tone, trying his hardest to show this man that he did not care for him.
But Kariya was a kind man. "Hello, Shinji." His smile was gentle, and Shinji found his rage melt away. "You're going away to study, aren't you? Can I ask you to promise me something?"
"I'll consider it, if you say it." That was the best the arrogant boy could manage.
Kariya was still gentle, and knelt down in front of Shinji. "I'm going to be doing something very dangerous, and… if it doesn't turn out the way I want it to… Can you protect Sakura?"
"That girl? Pff…fff…" Shinji trailed off as he opened his eyes to look at his uncle. Kariya was sad in that way he had rarely seen adults be, where they were showing their weakness in front of a child. Shinji swallowed his arrogance, his pride, and his anger. "Okay, Uncle Kariya. I will."
Kariya looked pleased, ruffled Shinji's hair, and then disappeared into the room where the worm pit laid. Shinji understood then what Kariya had decided to do.
Kariya Matou had ran from the horrors of the Matous, and when he was assured in his own safety, he had come back. Shinji was utterly baffled. Kariya had decided to face this supreme evil for the sake of others and… what had Shinji done. Shinji had only become enraged at someone who was not at fault. For once in Shinji's life, he thought about what he, an insignificant boy, could do.
As Byakuya came to collect him, Shinji instead went to Sakura. Her eyes were still the dead pools that reflected his own failings, but he swallowed those feelings. He hugged his sister tightly, perhaps for the first time in his entire life. "I'll be back, Sakura. You can- Encourage Uncle Kariya for us while I'm gone, you can manage that much, right?" He could only frame his words in a relatively rude manner.
Sakura's small hands gripped at the back of his vest, bunching the fabric in tiny fists. Tears pooled in her lifeless eyes, and he felt droplets fall upon his neck and shoulder. "I will, Nii-san, I will."
Shinji Matou could do nothing else but leave, hoping his small actions would help Kariya and Sakura see the Fourth Holy Grail War end in their favour.
Kariya could not have been more proud of Shinji. He had originally written the boy off as selfish, but when he saw a small smile upon Sakura's lips as he met her in the hallway, his heart swelled with newfound confidence in his mission.
"Nii-san said what you're doing is right, Uncle Kariya." Her eyes were still a void, but that smile helped Kariya.
He tried to smile back, but half his face refused to listen to his brain. Kariya could only manage to keep the kindness in his still functioning eye. "Let's keep fighting together, Sakura."
Kariya gave encouragement to Sakura, and Sakura gave him encouragement in turn. Their tortured minds hoped that their feelings would reach the other, but they both knew that the other's feelings had reached themself. If Shinji could find the strength to begin to love his sister again, then Sakura knew Kariya's endeavour had hope. If Shinji could find the courage to put a smile on Sakura's face, then Kariya knew Sakura believed in him.
Shinji, for once in his life, had given people hope.
Assassin had been given the order. Kill Tokiomi Tohsaka.
But Assassin knew what the actual plan was, to die to the King of Heroes so that the rest of himself would lurk in the shadows without fear. This part of Hassan of the Hundred Personas held no fear, for he knew his Master was a good man, and he knew that the power of the Holy Grail would restore him once Kirei Kotomine had won.
So, Assassin marched to his death with full belief in his Master.
Maiya Hisau sat far in the hills of Fuyuki, watching Assassin's infiltration of the Tohsaka mansion through the magnification of the scope on Kiritsugu's sniper rifle. She thought logically and simply. As Kirei Kotomine had been Tokiomi Tohsaka's apprentice, it made sense that this attack was being orchestrated by Kotomine and that Assassin was the Servant of Kotomine.
When Archer emerged from the balcony, Maiya saw him before Assassin did. Those holes in space with weapons of untold power impaled Assassin where he stood before raining down on him in endless fury. Archer was not a Servant to be trifled with, but had Kirei Kotomine really underestimated Tokiomi Tohsaka's Servant? That didn't make sense to her.
Kiritsugu had called ahead and informed her that he saw Kirei Kotomine as a massive threat, and for him to be defeated so soon in the Holy Grail War… No, she trusted Kiritsugu's intuition.
When nothing else seemed to happen, she took the sniper rifle and left.
The core of Hassan of the Hundred Personas spoke simply. "Only three familiars were present for our forgery."
Kirei hummed a quiet note in thought. "All of the seven Servants have arrived, haven't they, father?"
"Yes. However, the last to be summoned, Caster, only arrived two days ago." Caster's Master was likely one of the fill in candidates chosen by the Holy Grail. "That does not explain why one other was missing…"
Kirei only became more lost in thought. Had Kiritsugu Emiya arrived yet, or if not, had he been there in person…? Or maybe another Master had a means of viewing their deceit without need of a familiar. He pushed these thoughts aside for a moment to refocus on his Servant. "Your perimeter of focus…"
"We sought to look upon the area in which a familiar would be able to view the scene. No Master could possibly be foolish enough to come in person." Kirei thought the same, then what was the answer?
Risei spoke up. "In any case, this will mark the beginning of the Heaven's Feel. It seems I will witness a miracle this time."
Kirei did not share the enthusiasm of his father, but it was not only just born out of how he was. His mind stayed on this question, as it felt immensely important. Why had there only been three familiars?
Kiritsugu knocked on the door in the manner they had agreed upon. Maiya opened it and stood to the side to let him in before she checked the hallway and closed the door silently. They looked at each other for a moment - Maiya at the cigarette in Kiritsugu's mouth, and Kiritsugu at the cold eyes of the girl he had raised.
"I thought you had given up smoking for Madame Irisviel and Illya."
"I thought that was a secret."
A smile flashed upon Maiya's face. "I remember a younger Illya stealing the phone from you and telling me all about her father." That was a year ago.
The glow of the cigarette dulled as Kiritsugu took a breath in. "Heh."
Maiya embraced the man, and he set a hand on the back of her head to bring her in closer. No smile crossed his face, but he made no action to dismiss her. "It's been too long since I've seen you, Maiya."
"You as well, Kiritsugu."
They untangled and Maiya began her report. "Assassin was defeated by Tokiomi Tohsaka's Servant." She explained every minute detail to Kiritsugu.
He paused, about to take another drag. He had expected her to show him footage. "You didn't use your familiars?" Maiya was an expert in the management and use of normal familiars, it seemed odd that she wouldn't use one.
"I withdrew mine from the Tohsaka mansion as soon as Assassin appeared. In the brief moments that Assassin began their infiltration, I moved to see for myself."
"You thought it was a trap?" He finally took that drag.
"Kirei Kotomine was brought under the church's protection."
Kiritsugu paused. "Send a familiar to the church-"
"I have. This has to be a ploy by Kotomine and Tohsaka."
Kiritsugu nodded. She was right. "Has there been anything from the church yet?"
"No. Kotomine has kept himself hidden so far."
Kiritsugu felt some pride at Maiya's actions. She had seen the deception before it had even begun and evaded the detection of the enemy Masters. "You've done well, Maiya."
She nodded once. "Should I send word to Madame Irisviel?"
He considered this for a moment. "No, we're separated for now. Saber will protect her from this Servant, no matter how powerful they are. We will deal with Kotomine."
"Understood." She shifted gears. "All the gear has arrived…"
He suspected it all was as he specified to her, but he wanted to see one in specific to renew his memory. "The Contender, Maiya."
Maiya took the rosewood case containing Kiritsugu Emiya's Mystic Code and set it on a side table with a unique gentleness. He opened it mechanically, sliding the single-shot pistol into his hands as he refamiliarized himself with its weight, the movements to aim, fire, reload. He set it back into the case.
"I've gotten rusty…"
"Yes, you have." She said it matter-of-factly.
He moved to the other item he was interested in and lightly lifted the case of the Walther WA2000 sniper rifle. "Illya is much lighter than this, and she's already eight years old." He set the case back onto the bed.
Maiya set a hand on Kiritsugu's shoulder. "Don't think about Illya or Madame Irisviel right now, Kiritsugu. We're fighting for their sake, but we shouldn't let our love for them distract us from what we have to do."
He stood there, his eyes still on the Walther's case. Maiya was there for him, this girl he had raised. A long time ago, he had considered regarding this young girl as a mere tool for the war he had been fighting all his life. That would have been the greatest disrespect he could have given Maiya.
She was the woman into whom Kiritsugu himself had raised from the girl he had once found on a battlefield. A daughter in everything but blood and title, she who stopped the machine called Kiritsugu Emiya from losing those final vestiges of his humanity. An indispensable ally to help Kiritsugu win this battle… That was none other than this woman.
The flight chartered by the Einzberns for the purposes of bringing Irisviel and Saber to Fuyuki city touched down and slid into position. Even by merely looking at the weather around her, its stark comparison to the weather of the eternal winter of the Einzbern castle lifted her heart out of her chest. If this was the land her husband had been born into, he must have been a child with a heart filled with joy. How much he had changed…
The Einzbern maids followed Irisviel and Saber into the airport. The entire procession was instantly the centre of attention, with the stunning beauty that both Irisviel and Saber exuded. Both of them looked as if they were of noble birth, with Saber in her dark suit and Irisviel in her white coat.
Irisviel walked a few steps ahead. "How was the plane, Saber?" she turned around, interlocking her fingers behind her back as she smiled. "It was interesting for someone such as yourself, wasn't it?"
"It was slightly more taxing on my mental energy than I thought it would be." Saber slowed beside Irisviel to ensure she would keep pace with the rest of the group. "I don't mean to disappoint, but I have received information even on the topic of air travel. I even possess the Riding skill as is afforded to a Saber class Servant."
Irisviel was disappointed at first, but she was quickly enthralled with the rest of Saber's speech. "Riding… You could 'ride' the plane?"
Saber could not help but try to impress the easily excitable Irisviel. Her smile was simply too bright to not. "With a B rank on the standard scale, I can easily operate any vehicle or mount." She ended with both a fact and a joke as she gave Irisviel a smile. "However, I am incapable of riding anything more exotic than that."
Irisviel felt heat in her cheeks and softly pressed a hand against the side of her face closest to Saber and laughed softly. "W-well, in any fashion… I'm still a little bit disappointed. I don't think any other Servant has ever even been inside a plane while materialized."
Saber gave a soft bow of her head. "I believe I should apologize to my fellow Heroic Spirits for that. I am not a good reference for the rest of them."
"Oh, it's fine. I didn't mean it like that."
Yes, because Saber was incapable of entering spirit form, this sort of costume was the best match for her while she was with Irisviel. To the common observer, they were royalty, but to a magus they were Servant and Master. Kiritsugu could not hope for better bait to lure in their prey. For Irisviel, however… Well, she could not hope for a better partner to accompany her in a foreign place.
"I'm happy I have the chance to travel with you, Saber." She felt herself smiling. "I can't get tired of looking at you."
Saber quirked an eyebrow. "How do you mean?"
Irisviel would not answer and only turned away. Saber thought she should press, but decided against it. How could Irisviel be this carefree in enemy territory? They had not had any time to reconvene with Kiritsugu and Maiya so they were without any of the knowledge that Maiya's reconnaissance had gathered. They were mice thrust into a den of cats.
She was pulled out of her thoughts sharply as Irisviel grabbed her hand and pulled her along. "Let's go, Saber! We should enjoy ourselves as much as we can in this small window we have."
"Irisviel-" Saber held her tongue when she saw how radiant Irisviel looked. She understood now. How could Kiritsugu not have fallen in love with her?
The sun continued to descend in the sky and soon the moon would be upon them. Irisviel peered through the windshield to the city of Fuyuki beyond, interested in the things she had never seen except for in videos and pictures. Saber, instead, eyed the city itself. No magus or sane Servant would attack them here, so they were safe for the most part. She could feel some soft traces of the other Servants in the city, but nothing that would guide her to their location. Did Kiritsugu know where they were yet?
"Kiritsugu is already within the city, correct?"
"Yes, he's been here since the early morning."
Saber eyed Irisviel in the reflection of the rear door window. "Shouldn't we regroup?"
"I think he will come to us, Saber. Hopefully Maiya as well."
Maiya… Saber had heard that name several times before. "Is Maiya working with Kiritsugu?"
"Kiritsugu would trust her with his life, and she would hers." Irisviel sensed Saber's precaution at a stranger. "We can trust her as well."
"Very well. What is the plan then?"
"Right, we do need a plan of action. For now… we shall observe the changes in Fuyuki city and prepare ourselves for the arrival of the other Servants."
The car stopped as the traffic slowed to a halt. This traffic jam would take some time to clear up. "I don't think it's safe to move around too much, Irisviel. We could put ourselves into a dangerous situation, depending on the Servant or magi."
Irisviel smiled and looked to Saber. "How did you know I was proposing that we look around ourselves?"
Saber didn't let the slipup show on her face. Normally, showing that she knew exactly what her partner was thinking would be no cause for nervousness, but Irisviel was crafty and Saber thought that she should be careful not to let her get the upper hand. She didn't quite know why she thought that… "Simply a guess." Saber didn't want to push Irisviel too much though.
Saber nodded. "Driver, stop the car. I shall lead Irisviel."
"Saber…?" Irisviel asked as Saber exited the car and came around, offering Irisviel her hand as she opened the door.
"This is my first time as well in this age, but I feel that it is my duty as a knight to escort you, lest I damage the smile that I promised to protect."
Irisviel pressed one hand to her chest and carefully set her hand in Saber's.
Everywhere where Saber and Irisviel went, it was difficult for anyone to keep their gaze off of them. To anyone, this looked like a date. However, their trip was not one to experience the sights but rather to see them. Irisviel enjoyed seeing the setting sun and Saber enjoyed the look on her face when she did. That was enough for Saber.
The sun eventually set behind the horizon and the moon peeked out to replace it. The light of the moon was also unbelievably beautiful. To Irisviel, who had lived her entire life in the castle of the Einzberns, this was the most unbelievably beautiful environment she could ask for. She was still nervous, but with her hands on Saber's elbow, she could calm her exterior to be able to enjoy these new sights. To ensure that, Saber had all her senses on high alert. If anyone would underestimate her and attack, she would guarantee Irisviel's safety.
Their journey took them to the seaside park on the shore of the Mion River. The wind was soft, lifting up Irisviel's hair behind her. It was cold, but Irisviel did not care. The Einzbern castle was almost like a landlocked country, and the sight of the sea was dazzling. To Saber, the image of Irisviel with the moon behind her was infinitely more dazzling. However...
"I think it would have been a more beautiful sight with the sunlight, my apologies, Irisviel." Saber bowed her head gently in apology.
"No, this is beautiful too, Saber." She stepped out onto the beach, her eyes on the glistening image of the moon on the sea. "I enjoyed our walk. I couldn't have thought that a walk with a knight would be so nice."
"You honor me, princess." Saber smiled. She had done her job then. "Perhaps you could do the same with your husband sometime." Saber saw Irisviel's shoulders tense.
"No… To go to war right after would pain him."
Saber moved delicately. "Surely, he would find more joy in recalling the memory while on the battlefield."
"For him, the joy of happiness weighs too much on his heart. The pain would make him lose focus on his goals."
Saber thought, wondering how her master could both love but be crippled with pain in love. How could he fight if he did not understand what would lie for him at the end of his battles? "Is this why he does not wish to fight by my side?"
"That could be part of it. This dream of his, he can fight for it only through discarding his love for the world." Irisviel never lifted her gaze from the view, leaving Saber in thought.
Saber did not wish to end the day on such a poor note. She had not intended for her initial comment to lead here, but it had. She felt embarrassment for having done so, but she would not show it and further degrade the quality of the night.
Her gaze snapped to the distance and she stepped up beside Irisviel, laying a gentle grip on Irisviel's arm. "A Servant."
"Close?"
"Not within a distance that our engagement would be immediate." She could feel the impatient tap of the Servant's foot, waiting for someone to answer their summons. "They are calling for us."
"A trap?" Irisviel asked, nervous.
"No, I can sense a different intent."
Irisviel nodded and turned to where Saber looked to. "We should meet them on their battlefield then, Saber. It would be rude to ignore them."
Saber had thought that Irisviel would not be so confident, but this forced her to add an additional note to her impressions of Irisviel. "Allow me to lead the way once more."
They began to follow the Servant's call, and Irisviel sent the signal to Kiritsugu. Irisviel hoped this would not be necessary. If Saber defeated this Servant quickly, then perhaps Kiritsugu would see Saber like she did.