DAY 1 - CONVALESCENCE

The Holy Grail War is pretty straightforward: seven Magi have a battle royale and use seven Servants as weapons. Said Servants are heroic spirits, people that became legends during their lifetime. Their summoning is made possible by the Holy Grail itself but they need Masters as anchors to remain in this world, which is why they accept obeying weaker beings.

The seven classes are Saber, Lancer, Archer, Assassin, Berserker, Caster and Rider. I know the identities and Masters of the ones involved in this war, which should help me greatly if I play well. Basically, one sustains their Servant by supplying them with one's own prana but other means exist, such as eating souls or... physical sharing. I made sure to have enough energy to feed my target, Saber, but I didn't think I would have to loosen my seal on the first day.

As my consciousness comes back to reality, I wonder where we ended up after that fight.

-.-.-.-

I don't find the energy to open my eyes immediately after waking up. For now, my mind is focused on the intense pain in my right leg and a left shoulder that's full of needles. Add a nasty headache to the list and I'm positive this won't be a good day. I try to relax and take deep breaths. I don't know where I am, though I can guess. We made it. Saber got wounded, beat Berserker and carried me. She's-

"Master?"

A timid voice echoes and my eyes burst open in surprise. She is right next to me!

It seems that I'm lying in a futon and Saber kneeling at its side. She's still in her armor and her expression shows concern. I don't see any visible wound on her.

"S-S-Saber?!"

I panic, feeling blood rush to my cheeks.

"Mas... Ben, how are you feeling?"

She extends her hand and reaches for my forehead.

"I'm fine!"

I roll to my left side to avoid her touch, stupidly aggravating my pain. She stays dumbfounded for a couple of seconds before sighing.

"If you can play around like that, you are definitely feeling better."

Her voice shows clear relief. I ignore my loud heartbeat and manage to speak.

"Did you watch over me the whole night? What time is it anyway?"

"It is my duty as a Servant, Ben. The sun has yet to rise fully, but Rin is awake."

Rin? I try to collect my thoughts. From what I can understand, we ran back to Emiya's house and all spent the night there. That's reassuring on many levels. This place could make a good base and that means Rin won't attack us for a while. I roll back to my original position so I can see my Servant again.

"Saber, you should have taken some rest. You've earned it, given how much you did last night."

The fact she's still in her armor in such an intimate situation makes the whole thing absurd. She frowns.

"You cannot ask me to ignore your condition. I will not draw my attention from you when you are in a worse state than me."

"We will both rest today, then. After all, we haven't had an actual discussion yet."

Her face softens. "I agree with that plan. Besides, there are some topics we should broach as soon as possible."

The slide door opens.

"I knew I heard you! Get up, we have to talk now."

Rin stands here, in her school uniform. She doesn't seem hurt at all, but she's definitely exhausted, no matter how energetic she tries to behave.

"Good morning, Rin..."

I answer her command with a flat greeting. There's no way I'll get up so early.

"Saber, can you make him stand up? There's an urgent matter or two we've got to cover in the next hour."

Saber nods. "I understand. Ben, please use me as support."

She reaches for me again. No no no no. I know I won't escape her a second time, and she deftly puts an arm around my waist.

"Wait-!"

Nevermind the pain, this is too much.

As we slowly stand up, I notice my right leg has been wrapped in a sort of brace. Walking around will indeed prove itself difficult without my Servant, but that doesn't cast my embarassment away.

Rin makes a devilish smile. "You are blushing."

I try to avoid the curious green eyes and bark at the vexing girl.

"Let's just go to the living room!"

She leads the way while the knight supports me well through the bedroom and corridor. She is putting so much care in that gesture that her armor isn't even a bother. The blood stain was apparently cleaned up, an empty tea cup sits on the table and the TV is on. I guess Rin made herself at home in no time. Archer is nowhere to be seen. We all sit down around the table like yesterday night, though it feels like a week has passed since then. Rin adopts a serious face and gets straight to the point.

"There are two things we need to discuss right now, otherwise I wouldn't have made you wake up in your state."

My leg and shoulder still hurt, but the headache is killing me faster. I just nod slowly to push her to go on, which she does.

"All right. I'll put this bluntly, since I have little time. Do you want us to cooperate until Berserker is dealt with?"

Saber's head perks up as they wait for me to answer. I don't have to think about it much.

"Yes. Let's cooperate until we kill that monster. We can cover more ground that way. I'll shake your hand later, I'd rather limit my gestures at the moment."

She gives me a gentle smile for the very first time. It feels oddly heartwarming.

"Good. I don't know why you guys came to my rescue, but I can't ignore the fact that you saved me and risked your own lives."

I can't read Saber's poker face. Does she approve? Rin interrupts me before I can say anything.

"I'll hear your explanation later, since there is a more urgent matter. I think we should use this place as our base. My mansion isn't safe anymore since Ilyasviel knows its location. Plus, it's comfy and there is room for everyone."

I raise an eyebrow. "A mansion? Damn. Should I start calling you m'lady?"

That draws the intended effect. I'm starting to find that glare cute, to be honest.

"Hey now... You know about my family so you shouldn't be surprised."

I realize there is something she said I should wonder about.

"I'm just teasing. Who is Ilyasv... sf... Ilwhatever?"

She clicks. "Ah, you weren't there when she introduced herself. Ilyasviel von Einzbern. I don't think I need to add more details to that name."

"... No, you don't. As for this place, I agree. It will be perfect with a few boundary fields. I'll set them up when I'm able to."

Rin seems content. "Good. You know some useful magic. Anyway, the biggest problem right now is that Sakura and Fujimura are coming here, like they do every morning."

"Who are they? I think you mentioned Sakura yesterday."

I've got to play dumb there.

"Emiya's friends. They help... helped him out around the house."

It's a problem I thought about before but I honestly have no plans.

"What lie do you suggest to chase them away?"

She crosses her arms. "My few ideas are barely practical, neither ethical. I like them both and I don't want them to get hurt or involved."

I ponder for a moment. "Hmm, you could say he went away to help a relative."

She shakes her head. "The main thing I'd need is an excuse to be here in the first place. I was only an acquaintance to him so they wouldn't really buy such a reason."

"Non-violent magical ways exist. I could put them to sleep for a while, or use a confusion spell."

Is it me or she briefly glared at me?

"Sleep is out of the question, since the school would notice their absences. A messed up confusion spell could backfire badly too."

"Damn, this is hard..."

We stay silent for a while. The clock is ticking and anxiety is starting to take over me. Fortunately Rin speaks up soon, bashfully.

"Well... technically... I could modify their memories to make them forget this house. Even if they miss Emiya, they wouldn't be able to find the place."

She obviously doesn't like the idea.

"Why not erasing their memories of him?"

"First, it's harder and second, he meant the world to Sakura. I can't do that to her."

Is she forgetting that he's dead? I ignore the pang of guilt hitting me and focus on the plan.

"Then... why don't we have Saber knock them out, and you use your spell?"

The Servant frowns but doesn't object.

"It would be safer, indeed. Fujimura is a kendo expert."

I nod. "Settled, then. Saber, are you okay with that?"

"I do not approve wholeheartedly, but I shall obey for the sake of our hold on this place."

With a near perfect timing, the doorbell rings. A soft voice echoes from the entrance as the visitor enters. She must have the keys and do that only out of politeness.

"I'm home!"

Sakura. Saber starts getting up, but Rin shakes her head.

"Let me handle this."

She quickly takes off and walks to the entrance. I lay down on the ground, away from the table. I definitely need some rest. Saber looks at me but I can tell her attention is focused on the girls. We don't hear much, saved from a shocked gasp coming from Sakura.

"Let me see him, Tohsaka senpai!"

The sound of footsteps is interrupted by a muffled shout and a weird noise. Rin's head appears at the wall corner.

"Saber, help me carrying her outside."

I nod to my Servant and she follows. Going outside in her armor shouldn't cause a problem at six in the morning. Napping right here and now is appealing but they come back soon. I open one lazy eye to see a flustered Rin.

"What's with that face?"

She clenches her fists and answers angrily.

"What we just did is totally forbidden! If anyone finds out, my family will lose its honor."

"What did you do?"

Saber interrupts us. "Rin, someone else is coming."

"Damn, it's Fujimura!"

She goes to the door and motions Saber to do the same. I close my eyes again and listen to a very cheerful and loud voice.

"Good morning- WHY IS TOHSAKA HERE?!"

Ugh, that doesn't help my headache. They mess around for a bit before a distinct "thump" indicates me that Saber had enough.

"Wow... you didn't kill her, right?"

"Of course not, Rin. She only should be unconscious for a moment."

The same weird noise echoes as the spell is cast. They leave the house again while I decide to give in to the nap idea.

-.-.-.-

When I open my eyes, Saber and Rin are back around the table and two full teacups were brought in front of the knight and me. I come back to a seated position with reluctance while our new ally speaks.

"I must go grab my stuff at home. Ben, drink your tea and return to bed for today."

She stands up but I stop her. "Wait, what did you do to them?"

Her unhappy face makes her remorse clear.

"They shouldn't look for Emiya for a while, and even so, they forgot this house's existence. There's still the danger that someone else tells them, but that's the best I could do without damaging their minds."

"Perfect. Are you going to school?"

"Yes, but before that, I'll move my stuff here. Sleep and heal that leg up if you can, we will talk more tonight. Saber, I'll have something for you when I return."

She smiles mysteriously and gives us a wave before leaving. I'm exhausted. The pain and fatigue slow down my gestures and thoughts, so I finish my tea without a word. It's pretty good. Saber imitates me calmly.

"Do Servants need to drink or eat, Saber?"

How is that a good conversation starter? I should talk about the weather next.

"We do not need to, but food is a decent secondary energy supply."

"I see. We will have to go groceries shopping, then."

She looks at me with concern. "For now, Ben, I believe that Rin is right. Let me help you go back to bed."

That was my intention so I let her help me walk again. She speaks softly while we are in the corridor.

"I shall wait for Rin and guard the house. Archer went with her in spirit form, so no one should disturb you while you rest."

I want to apologize for yesterday, to tell her that I'm happy to have her, but that won't come out. Something else comes to my mind.

"Did you pick Avalon up?"

She nods and extends her free hand. The golden sheath appears.

"As soon as you were safe, I took it. Archer and Rin could not notice me in their states."

"Good. We will put it in my body now."

A pause. She doesn't seem surprised, actually.

"That is a good idea, Ben, though I hope it can handle it."

I snort. "Don't underestimate me. Plus, it'll prevent me from this kind of injury."

I point at my broken leg while she ponders.

"We should have the time before Rin comes back... but we need to go to the summoning circle."

"Then please take us there."

Instead of turning right, we head to the courtyard. Avalon should regenerate non-fatal wounds thanks to my bond with its owner, so I should do this as soon as possible. We enter the shed. I'm sweating from the pain, even if it's pretty cold here. Saber looks worried as she helps me lie down on the magic circle, on my back. Then, she kneels next to me.

"So... how do we do this?"

"Channel magical energy into your body and our bond to accept this. You should be able to keep it as long as I remain in this world, though I would suggest extracting it as soon as I am gone."

She takes my hand.

"Woah, wait-"

I blush and she gives me an impatient look. Whoops.

"We cannot do this without a physical contact, Master. Now focus!"

How could I? Even wrapped in a gauntlet of steel, her hand linked to mine is too much... Geez, Ben, grow up. I mind-slap myself and take a deep breath before channeling prana into my abdomen and to Saber's hand. I'll definitely need sleep after such an effort. She closes her eyes and Avalon shines. A golden light fills the room and her beautiful face. Holding it above me, parallel to my body, she makes it descend slowly. It should stop when touching my skin, but it sinks into it. I feel an incredible warmth flowing into me. The sensation is overwhelming but I try to keep my energy active for as long as I can.

I notice that Saber is sweating too. She smiles at me, whispering "You did it", then my consciousness fades.

-.-.-.-

I dream about her. Only flashes, but recurrent images. Her sword in its sheath. A king standing on a hill before another battle. A young girl taking a sword from a rock.

Arturia.

When she pulled it out, she stopped aging and became the king of Britain, regardless of her gender. She threw away her humanity to be the greatest leader, and people followed her. She was majestic, but also alone. So alone it hurts.

I wake up with a strange feeling. My body feels hot. It's not a fever, but a warmth that spreads from my abdomen. Oh, right, we inserted Avalon into me. I will have to get used to that sensation, but I thought it'd be worse. Saber apparently brought me back to the futon after I passed out. What surprises me the most is that the pain is mostly gone. The seal still hurts but it's more than bearable. As of my leg... I get up, slowly. It's not as flexible as usual, but I can definitely walk now. It should be perfectly fine tomorrow. I stretch and yawn loudly. I must look for her, and I have a good idea of where she might be. The now useless brace is removed easily. Walking with caution, I head to the courtyard bathing in the sun. I'd say the time is around two or three in the afternoon. I almost had an extra night but it was definitely worth it. I reach the dojo and open the wooden door.

The first thing that strikes me is her outfit. I understand what Rin meant when she said she'd bring back something to her. The blue skirt and white shirt have a traditional aura that suits her, especially when she is sitting Japanese-style like this. I need a moment to take my eyes off her beautiful, almost holy figure. I can't tell if she is meditating or asleep, so I silently walk to her, feeling like an intruder.

"Saber?"

Two emerald eyes open and look straight into my own.

"Ben. How are you feeling?"

"Much better. My leg should work fine soon, and my shoulder is all right."

She tilts her head. "What about Avalon?"

I put a hand on my belly.

"The feeling is weird but I'm sure it'll get better eventually."

She sighs in relief. "That is reassuring. You had me worried since yesterday night."

I scratch the back of my head, embarrassed. "Sorry."

"There is no reason to be so. It is part of my duty as a Servant. Now, there are a few subjects I feel we need to discuss."

She looks at the ground, inviting me to sit down in front of her. I do so, leaving my right leg extended. A weird position it is.

"So, this is actually the first time we can sit down and talk normally."

"It is. Is there anything on your mind, Ben?"

"There are a lot of things, but I'll let you start."

A bit surprised, she answers after a second.

"Ah... well, I thought a formal introduction would be appropriate."

Her face becomes dead serious and her tone solemn.

"My name is Arturia Pendragon, king of Britain. I was summoned as the Saber class, and my Noble Phantasm is a holy sword."

Her majesty makes me speechless for a moment. How can she radiate such a regal aura while being that cute? That's a complete mystery.

"Ah, Excalibur, right?"

That seems to please her.

"Indeed, Ben. However, I must warn you that the price is high. I do not question your magical energy level, but we should use it with caution. Moreover, it would devastate the town if used in the wrong place."

That's true. Her final attack is basically a giant ray of light. I cross my arms and add my thoughts.

"Plus, it would reveal your identity. That's why you conceal it... clever. I saw you using wind too?"

"Yes. The sword is made invisible by a barrier of wind that I can unleash if needed, would an enemy be a serious threat."

"And as a Saber, you have first class magical resistance."

She seems happy to hear me saying it.

"You seem to know Servants well. No magic of this age can hurt me. Caster should not pose any problem either."

How confident. I do know that we need to watch out for Caster, but we'll deal with that when the time comes.

"I studied Holy Grail Wars a lot, so I know my stuff."

She nods and gives me an expectant look.

"Master, if you allow me, may I ask you what your magic focuses on? I saw you had a hidden weapon when you summoned me, but what surprised me more was this."

She points at the piece of cloth wrapped around my left shoulder. It's only natural for me to tell her everything, since she did the same.

"I don't mind, obviously. If we're going to be partners in this war, we need to know each other's abilities perfectly."

She gives me a gentle smile. I guess she liked what I said.

"I'm a French Magus that enrolled into the Association a few years ago."

I rub my shoulder while she listens with attention. I think my slight blush is never going away.

"My better magics are boundary fields, self-enhancement and healing. I can cast fire too, but I suck at offensive magic in general."

"I see. That is how you could help Archer and I with our wounds last night."

"Yeah. Although it costs me a lot of magical energy. Now, about this..."

I look at the seal and she follows my gaze. Given the face she's making, I bet this is the answer she's been awaiting the most.

"The Magic Crest of my family is powerful, so we conceal the extra prana in a seal that we can loosen easily. It hurts like hell though, as I discovered yesterday. It was the first time I did it."

She frowns. "That is why my energy bursted. It did save us, but isn't it dangerous for your body? What would happen if you took it off?"

I shrug. "I would die, probably. But since I drew the strongest Servant, I won't need to go that far."

Her stare pierces me. "Do not praise me to dodge the issue."

She got me. "Heh, well..."

She quickly softens up though.

"Then I shall make sure you never have to do that."

Her gentle expression takes me completely off guard.

"That's, uh... good to hear."

Damn, that surprise attack was unfair and I feel dumb, stuttering like that. Quick, change the topic... I raise my right hand.

"Yamato."

The katana in its black sheath materialises. Saber looks at it with interest.

"A Japanese sword? But you are from Europe..."

"Gift from my father. It has nothing special save for a good blade."

She smiles as I show her the blade.

"It does look sharp. Are you good with it?"

"Not really. I'm decent, I think? It's been a while since I used it."

Except for killing the love of her life, but let's leave that aside. An idea comes to my mind.

"Hey, Saber, how about you train me here, starting tomorrow?"

She's surprised. "You mean... sword training? I could, but..."

I point at the wall in the opposite corner.

"There are shinais we could use. It'd dust me off and allow me to take on a Master easily."

She sighs. "I am not a good teacher, though I guess we can try. As long as you do not talk about taking Servants on..."

"Hey, that's your job!"

My cheerful statement is met with a glare as sharp as sudden.

"Uh, Saber...?"

"You picked your words perfectly, Master. The last topic we need to address is your suicidal tendency to jump to the front line."

Is it me or does she call me Master when she's mad?

"Suicidal? You're exaggerating, I just-"

"You ran at Lancer, the fastest Servant, avoided Berserker's charge only because Archer saved you, and tried to block him with a spell instead of running away as I, your Servant, told you to."

I can see she has been ruing this since yesterday. I find her opinion a bit unfair, given the results.

"I saw opportunities and it worked out in the end, right?"

That does not calm her down.

"The last time did not 'work out' at all! You are lucky both of you survived! Facing Servants is my role, not yours. It is never yours!"

My defenses are shattering but I refuse to give up.

"If I hadn't healed Archer up, he couldn't have saved me and helped you, and we might be all dead."

She makes a displeased sound, then quickly gets back on track.

"That is true, Ben, but we cannot advance if you do not realize that it was sheer luck. If you count on such coincidences to win this war, we will fall sooner than you can hope."

That's logical. I cast my stubbornness away and bow my head.

"I... You are right on this. I know that I could have been killed ten times in that last fight. I should be more careful."

She relaxes slightly. "I prefer this. Even Avalon cannot heal you if you die. Can we agree on the fact that you won't take such decisions in the future?"

I'm about to accept but I prefer to be honest with her.

"I can't promise you that. Frankly, I acted on pure instinct. There was no way I'd run away when you were protecting me and putting your life on the line."

This time she is genuinely surprised. "What...?"

"You heard me. We are partners. If you fall, I fall too."

There is an awkward silence before she explodes. I can't help but notice that her cheeks have slightly reddened.

"That is absolute nonsense, Master! My life as a spirit has no value here, and protecting me should not even be something you would consider. You must save your life at all costs! You said you had studied Holy Grail Wars, but you do not seem to grasp the very essence of our pact!"

I'm mad. She has zero consideration for herself. I don't care if she's a spirit, she is a woman that is alive right now. I raise my voice without intending it.

"I told you when we met! We fight together. That's how it's gonna be, and if you don't accept that, then I'll just have to use a Command Spell!"

Her eyes widen out of shock.

"You cannot use it to solve arguments... That is unfair, Master."

Damn, I don't want us angry at each other. I take a deep breath.

"Look, I don't see you as a mere tool. You are a still person with a wish to fulfill, aren't you? You wouldn't fight for the cup if that wasn't the case."

She makes a difficult expression.

"I have one, indeed. If you order me to tell you, then..."

I raise my index in front of her face. "I'm not giving you an order."

"Ben?"

"If you ever tell me, that will be because you want to. What kind of person would I be if I forced you to spill out your secrets? I'm sure you have excellent reasons."

Actually, her wish is largely debatable since she wants to cancel her whole reign, but now is not the time to talk about this. I want us to trust each other fully.

"Also, Saber, I do realize that if I die, you vanish. But I see us as a team, not me using a powerful weapon."

She's speechless, but I feel she's coming back at me soon, so I raise my hands in apology.

"I've been reckless with the previous Servants, and I'll try to stay out of range from now. I will focus more on our defense and taking out Masters."

A bit afraid of her reaction to my rant, I barely look at her in the eye. After a moment, she speaks up calmly.

"Ben, if you can only try, then try your best. I am reassured you seem to at least consider my opinion."

She's smiling... Well, that's better.

"I approve of your idea of trying to take out the Master, and being here as a support. That is what you are supposed to do. Given your energy level, I am sure you can be a match for most Magi we will face."

Her praise makes me feel guilty about all this.

"Uh, thank you. Pardon me for raising my voice. I'm not used to all this, and I guess my emotions took over."

She sighs. "I must apologize for also losing my composure. I am sure that we will eventually come to an optimal use of our powers."

Her next stare leaves no room for counterarguments.

"Though please, care about your own life more than my existence."

Knowing that I can't win, I give her a blatant lie. "I'll try."

I stand up with difficulty and she does the same. Our stares cross and I ask her one last thing.

"Are you satisfied with me being your Master, Arturia?"

She looks at me with confidence.

"As I was summoned as your sword, I have no right to complain about my Master."

With a smile, she adds something to alleviate my visible disappointment.

"I am satisfied, Ben. After our talk, and your actions from last night, I understood that you were a good person. Your ability as a Magus is also outstanding for your age, and I feel like I will be able to fight at my best in this war."

Oh damn. I turn away.

"What is it?"

My cheeks are on fire now, so I talk without looking at her.

"Thank you. I couldn't have drawn a better card."

I exit the dojo without looking at her face. The sound of footsteps tells me that she's following me.

-.-.-.-

It's a nice day. A timid sun is shining and the temperature is warm, considering it's winter. My body still feels hot because of Avalon and Saber's last words. I start channeling my prana. It's weaker than usual, but I can still do what I plan to. We walk around the whole house, stopping at key points so that I can mutter a few words. Saber doesn't say anything but stays near me, understanding that I don't want any distraction. After about an hour, I cast the final formula.

"Protège et repousse les énergies négatives."

There's a pink flash, and a translucid cube grows around us. Its center is where we're standing now, in the courtyard. It stops at the borders of the house and covers its whole perimeter. Saber looks at it in awe while I sit on the ground, catching my breath. That was tiring.

"A boundary field?"

"Yes. It should push back any Master unless they have their Servant's support or strong powers, and at least slow down a heroic spirit. Even Berserker would have to blink when crossing this."

I chuckle at my own joke. Of course that monster would crash through it like a dog in a porcelain shop.

"It also should make our own prana harder to detect from the outside, unless a Servant has very good senses."

Saber looks down to me with a content expression.

"That is perfect, Ben, but how do we enter this place?"

"Through the front door. I'll just extend it whenever we leave it."

Her smile proves itself contagious, even in my state.

"Sorry, but I still feel completely drained. How about we crash in the living room, eat something and wait for Rin?"

She extends her hand and helps me up.

"Do not feel sorry. We did say that today would be focused on resting. Tomorrow shall see us all fresh and ready to strike."

"That's what I call motivation."

We enter the silent living room and look for some food. After catching some edible bread, butter and eggs, I decide to make a very late breakfast.

"Saber, can you cut the bread? I'll fry us some eggs."

She grabs a knife, places the bread on the cutting board, and... focuses. Then she slices it ten times in about as many seconds.

"Is this good?"

It's so regularly sliced it hurts. I laugh nervously. "Perfect."

... I think I'll handle the cooking from now on. Giving a knife to this girl is way too dangerous. I fry four eggs and we eat peacefully. Saber takes quick and small bites, nodding at each. She seems to like it. As I finish, I realize there's one big topic we haven't talked about.

"By the way, Saber, I was wondering... What do you think of our alliance with Rin? I'm sorry I didn't consult you about that."

She adopts her usual serious face.

"I was against sparing such a dangerous Magus, but I realized that she would be useful as an ally after last night. She is smart and apparently loyal."

"So you approve of her?"

"For now, yes. I still cannot begin to comprehend why you decided not to kill her, but it turned out to be a good call in the end. I believe that you made a bad but lucky decision."

She gives me a piercing stare. "Which seems to be a questionable habit that I will need to correct eventually, Master."

I laugh. "You're right. I had a feeling she would be useful though."

"Still, we will need keep an eye on her. I do not believe she would break our pact, but this is a war. Besides, we have not seen Archer's actual abilities. I hope we will do so before they become enemies again."

That's a perfect summary.

"Agreed."

After a while, she speaks again.

"Do you plan on doing the same thing with other Masters?"

Given her hesitating voice, I can tell that's not something she would like.I shake my head.

"Of course not. This is a war, and from now on I will kill any of them without mercy."

She smiles. "I was hoping you would answer that."

It's five so Rin should be here soon. I lay down on my back and look at the ceiling. I still feel Avalon in me. It's weird but comforting in a way.

Saber doesn't add anything, and soon sleep catches up to me.

-.-.-.-

I'm woken up by Rin's voice echoing from the entrance.

"I'm back! Bought food!"

I open an eye and get back to a sitting position. Saber is still facing me. Apparently she cleaned the table while I was asleep. She gives me a small smile. Rin enters the room noisily, holding four bags from a grocery store. I yawn loudly before greeting her.

"Welcome back."

She puts the bags on the table before crashing unceremeniously between us and resting her head next to them. To no one's surprise, she looks beyond exhausted.

"That was a long day..."

Saber is eyeing the bags with a bit too much interest.

"What's up? Found something?"

She rolls her head towards me lazily and snorts.

"No. This was an ordinary day, and to be honest I didn't feel like running around after barely three hours of sleep."

My Servant finally opens her mouth.

"Is the boundary field still around the school?"

Rin gets back to a normal position and stretches while answering.

"It is, but as I said, it's not an immediate danger. Speaking of that, I saw a nice one around our base. Your doing, Ben?"

I nod. "Took me a while, but it should keep Masters and civilians away, and slow down weaker Servants."

She smiles. "Good. Nothing else?"

I won't mention Avalon to her.

"Nope. I pretty much spent the day resting and healing myself."

"Ah, then I guess your leg is doing better?"

"Surely. Still a bit stiff, but I should walk and run normally tomorrow."

She looks surprised. "Wow, that's good. It's useful to have access to healing spells and defensive magic. A support Magus like you will be useful to our team."

Before I can process that she just complimented me, Saber feels the need to interject.

"A support Magus that is not much aware of how dangerous a fight between Servants can be."

That's a low blow! Rin ponders.

"It's true that he ran around too much and caught the enemy's attention. Plus, that escape with Archer was way too reckless."

I sulk. "Hey now, you two..."

Rin interrupts me. "This is serious, though, Ben. Since we're cooperating, I want you to be more careful."

If they start teaming up on me, I will never hear the end of it.

"I already talked with Saber about this and said I'd try. I thought you would support me there!"

Saber's stare is painful.

"You did say it, but if we can engrave it in your stubborn mind, it is for the best."

Rin laughs. I glare at her, feeling my patience dwindling more and more.

"What's so funny now?"

She waves her hand.

"It's just that you two seem more at ease with each other now."

Uh... I guess? It's true that I feel more comfortable with Saber now that we took the time to talk. Our stares cross as we hear Rin's words and my Servant blushes slightly.

"There is nothing to laugh at, Rin. It is normal for a Servant and their Master to know each other well."

She could've worded it better. I cough loudly to cover Rin's mockeries before trying to change the subject.

"Anyway, Rin, what are your plans?"

She looks at me and comes back to serious fast.

"Before that, I have a couple of questions about last night."

I was expecting that. I can see that Saber is listening with attention now. I bet she wants to hear me out as much as our companion.

"Shoot."

"First, why did you spare me? In your place, I wouldn't have hesitated to let Saber cut off your head."

Her tone remains calm, with a sincere curiosity.

"Geez, you are rough. Given how worried you were about the boy who lived here, I thought you'd value human lives more."

I smirk. She blushes and raises her voice.

"He has no connection to this! Don't dodge the question."

Enough playing around, I guess.

"Fine. I had just arrived in town, and I wanted to gather information. Attacking everything in my way without knowledge wouldn't have ended well. Plus, my instinct told me that killing you would not help my case."

She crosses her arms. "So it wasn't out of good will... That actually reassures me."

I raise an eyebrow. "Really?"

"It means you aren't that stupid. But why not killing me as soon as I gave you info, then?"

"I made Saber swear on her knight's honor, and there is no way I would bring shame to her. If I don't respect her nobility, I don't deserve to have her as a partner."

I throw a quick glance at said partner after hearing a contained gasp. She doesn't say anything, so I resume.

"Besides, the Tohsakas are a family worthy of respect. Even without taking that into account, I like your personality. I felt that we could get along."

Now it's Rin's turn to be surprised.

"What kind of nonsense is that!? We are enemies! If you fight this war with that mentality, you will die quickly!"

Why would she care if she really thinks that, though?

"Don't worry, I've already promised Saber that I'd kill other Masters without hesitating, starting from now. If you had not seemed like a good person, I would just have acted as you were expecting of me."

There's a silence after my words. I was pretty cold there, but I got my point across. Rin runs a hand through her hair and answers calmly.

"That sounds more like a Master to me. Now why did you run to save me against Berserker?"

That one is easier to answer.

"For two reasons. If there's a fight, I fight. Also, I knew that you would be killed since Saber had slashed Archer, and I wouldn't have been able to look at myself in a mirror if I had just ignored that."

She gives me a smug smile.

"Heh, so there is some good will involved in the end. That's what I thought."

I blush a bit. Of course there is, but it's embarrassing to admit.

"Maybe. In any case, since Saber is the strongest Servant, I was confident about our chances and it was an opportunity to slay an enemy that I couldn't pass on."

I grit my teeth. "I couldn't guess that we'd stumble on a mad Hercules. That's just unfair."

The atmosphere tenses up as I mention Berserker. We all know that we're lucky to be alive right now. The guessing part is technically a lie, but I thought that encounter would have better results.

Saber speaks up. "He is surprisingly sane for a Berserker."

I raise an eyebrow. "He didn't look sane at all to me."

She answers patiently.

"What I mean is that his agility and skill are of the highest level, regardless of his class. He was definitely an unmatched warrior during his lifetime."

Rin crosses her arms. "The worst part is that regeneration Archer told me about..."

The Servant shakes her head.

"My last blow was fatal. He was dead for a small moment but came back to life."

"Wow... that is definitely a high rank ability."

I decide to interrupt. They know enough about Berserker so I can say some of what I know without raising any suspicions.

"There is no sword related to Hercules, so I'm pretty sure the blade isn't his Noble Phantasm. It doesn't look very refined either."

Saber nods. "I agree, Ben. It must be related to his ability."

Boosted by her approval (and Rin's silence), I continue.

"I think that his Noble Phantasm is his body itself - that reviving curse proved it. Hercules made it to Olympus and became a God through sheer force. No wonder his abilities are above most heroes'."

Rin raises a finger. "The Berserker class doesn't have high magical resistance, but only my highest level spells were able to harm him. Even Archer's arrow did nothing. He was certainly weakened, but a direct hit from a Servant should have an effect unless the enemy has some kind of special resistance. His fame doesn't help us either. Who hasn't heard from him?"

She sighs. "It's definitely the body. Some kind of immortality."

I look at her while laying a lazy hand on my cheek.

"No one is immortal, though. I think we just need to kill him as many times as needed. Saber, do you think you could defeat him if you went all out?"

"I believe our sword skills can match, even if he is stronger in most aspects. I am lighter and my instinct allowed me to find opportunities. I would have killed him sooner if I had not been hurt by Lancer the same day."

She makes a downcast face right after.

"However, if that beast must be slain multiple times, I am certain that I could not keep up without using my Noble Phantasm. And even so, it would have to be a certain kill."

I try to sound as uncertain as I can.

"Maybe he has to be killed twelve times... you know, the labors."

Both girls look at me with surprise before Saber's answer.

"That is a believable guess, but we cannot be sure that it is true. However, if Berserker must be slain twelve times, I will definitely need help."

She glances at Rin who turns cheerful, for some reason.

"Then our alliance is a good idea. If my Archer heals up and my spells can harm Berserker, we will take him out. Let's hope that he doesn't find us before that."

I sigh. "True. My boundary field can't stop him, but it should make us hard to detect by Ilyasviel."

Rin stands up.

"Now that all is settled, I'm going to rest for a bit. Dig into the food if you want, otherwise I will cook dinner if you're patient."

I raise an eyebrow. "Hold on, don't you plan on sleeping until tomorrow given your state?"

"Of course not. I am patrolling tonight!"

She leaves before I can object, and I'm left alone with Saber again.

"How are you feeling, Ben?"

I yawn. "Still tired. We won't patrol tonight, Saber. I'd rather rest in order to get used to Avalon and heal myself up for sure."

She doesn't seem disappointed.

"That is what we had planned in the first place. I would disapprove of following Rin's recklessness tonight. Patrolling at night without a Servant that can properly fight is a bad decision."

"You wanna join her?"

I grin as it draws the expected reaction. She makes a dumbfounded face.

"That's... I cannot protect her over you, unless you order me to do so. I understand that I could be helpful but you staying alone here is-"

I raise my hands. "I was joking, relax."

She immediately does. "Then forgive me for losing my composure, Master."

I will need to teach her humor at some point. I sigh and let out colder words that I thought I would.

"Alliance or not, our lives are more important than hers."

There is a hint of surprise in her eyes before she nods fiercely.

"That is a good mindset, Ben. Please keep it until we win this war."

A tranquil silence falls on us. We talked a lot today, and I think we've got every important topic covered. My Servant must feel the same since she asks me something surprising.

"Since we have no business left for today, may I rest for now? Since I cannot turn into spirit form, sleeping helps me saving my energy and should lighten your burden."

"Of course, Saber. I will wake you up when Rin emerges, if you wish so."

"That will be unnecessary. I should try to rest as much as possible to not tire you too much while you are recovering. Please do not disturb me unless there is an emergency."

While we're walking to the room I was in this morning, she looks at me.

"Do not worry, Master. I will wake up immediately if there is a danger nearby, and your boundary field should warn us if it is a stealthy enemy."

I scratch my cheek. "Come on, just call me Ben."

"Ah... pardon me, Ben."

"By the way, these clothes suit you. Did Rin give them to you?"

She blushes, finally showing a bit of emotion.

"She did. I hope they are not a problem? They are practical and comfortable at the same time."

I open the bedroom slide door, feeling embarrassed too. She's cute when taken off guard.

"Told you, they look great on you. Feel free to wear them whenever we aren't battling."

"Thank you."

We enter and I go to the side of the room to reveal a decently sized space right next to it. It should be comfy enough and she'll have some privacy. She follows me and stares at it silently.

"I can put your bed here, if you want to stay nearby. It looks fine, doesn't it?"

She doesn't look very happy.

"Behind that slide door...?"

"Uh, you can have a bigger room if-"

She interrupts me with a sheepish expression.

"I cannot sleep in a separate room! What if we are attacked?"

My heartbeat accelerates. I was expecting this but still, I'm not sure I would be able to sleep next to her.

"You just said that you'd wake up instantly and that my field would prevent surprise attacks..."

"That is only hypothetical, Ben. We are unaware of what the other three Servants are capable of, thus we should take every safety measure that we can."

Her stare is scary. "That is why I cannot let you sleep alone."

She has good arguments but... if we sleep together... Gah, calm down, Ben.

"All right, all right! I'll grab a futon and put it next to mine, a meter away. How does that sound?"

Her expression doesn't waver a bit. "Please do so, Ben."

-.-.-.-

And here I am, looking for a spare futon while she waits. I open a door at random and... Wow, I guess Rin made herself at home fast enough. The room she took possession of really is an organised mess. Fortunately the asleep figure doesn't seem to wake up, so I quickly leave the bedroom, muttering an apology. I eventually find what I was looking for in an empty guest room and bring it back. Saber watches me installing the futon a good meter away from mine. I stand up and look at both of them, satisfied. I catch her smiling and can't help wondering why.

"What's up?"

"Nothing major, Ben. I was simply amused by the way you made sure the futons were perfectly parallel, not only to each other but to the walls as well."

That's an unconscious habit of mine. She seems to find it funny, at least.

"You got me. I guess I like ordered things."

She keeps on smiling. It's sweet, even if it's for an embarrassing reason.

"I see. Then, I shall sleep now. Wake me up if something happens. The burden of my wound should be much lighter by tomorrow morning."

"All right. Sleep well."

I give her a small wave before leaving and go back to the living room, wondering if I'll be able to sleep tonight.

-.-.-.-

I washed the dishes and looked for a distraction of some sort, but it seems that Emiya Shirou lived a very boring life. I ended up watching silly shows on TV while waiting for Rin to wake up. My leg is less stiff now, and my body feels better overall, even with that internal heat. I gather my thoughts, now that I can think in peace for the first time. There are actually six Masters in this Holy Grail war, and eight heroic spirits.

Saber is the strongest in theory. As for me. I place myself around Rin's level, and I'd say that only Kirei and Caster's Master can beat us in a Masters fight. Her Noble Phantasm can kill any enemy on the spot, though Berserker and the eighth one have ways to survive it.

Rin's Servant, Archer, is as versatile as dangerous. Rin herself is a first class Magus, but she has a tendency of screwing up at important moments. Still, I'm glad that they're allies now. My biggest concern is that that guy is actually Emiya Shirou's future self, which means that he must be very suspicious about me. He was supposed to be Saber's Master, after all. I'm actually starting to question if sparing them was a good idea. We'll roll with it for now, but I should be particularly cautious around him.

Rider's Masters are from the Matous, descendants of one the three great Magi families. Sakura is the one with magic circuits, but Shinji uses the Servant for himself with a book in which they transferred the Command Spells. Rider is a joke compared to Saber, but she's also the one that set up the boundary field at school. She's Medusa, the legendary beast. Her agility is amazing, but she's one of the weakest Servants in this war. Sakura is a special case. She's a Holy Grail vessel and also Rin's sister. Her grandfather shouldn't use her in this war but anything can happen. She isn't a threat I will ignore. Shinji is a roach without any magical power that should be killed without mercy as soon as we prove that he's a Master.

Berserker and Ilyasviel are obvious threats. That guy must be killed twelve times, and the control she has over him is beyond ridiculous. However, I believe that if we go all out and have Rin's help, we should be able to defeat him. They live in a faraway castle in the woods, so we should be safe most of the time. Who knows how she'll react to Shirou's death, though? One of her objectives was to meet him and avenge her family because of Emiya Kiritsugu's betrayal in the past war. Now that her goal is gone, she might go... berserk.

Depending on how we handle the witch Medea, as known as Caster, she can be a huge threat or an easy fight. The problem is about her location more than her actual powers. She's the one draining life from people in the city without killing them. She currently lives in Ryudou temple, where she built her workshop. It sits on a leyline, so it's a perfect place for her and the reason why she can operate from that far away. As for battles, her Noble Phantasm is the only worrisome thing. Saber's magical resistance should protect her from most of Caster's spells, but her Rule Breaker cancels any magic it stabs, including the contract between a Servant and his Master. If Saber is hit, I will lose her. I don't want that. Her Master is a teacher from Rin's school named Kuzuki Souichirou. He has no magical powers and wasn't her official Master to begin with, but he saved her life after she killed hers. The problem is that he used to be a killer and with Caster's buffs, he's very dangerous in close combat. Honestly, I would rather not face this guy myself. There are two other issues about her. The temple has a protection against spirits, thus Servants cannot enter it except via the main gate. Plus, she broke the rule and, being a Magus herself, summoned a Servant to use for her own benefit.

Said Servant is Assassin. He has no Noble Phantasm and he isn't even a real hero. As he was summoned by a Servant, he was linked to the temple gate. He's a sentinel and nothing else, although I'm sure he could fight in the courtyard if needed. Should we fear him? Yes, still. His sword technique is disturbing and fatal, thus he shouldn't be taken lightly. He also has a move similar to Lancer's Gae Bolg that must be avoided at all costs. Saber can defeat him but she will need to use a lot of energy and be very careful. He poses an even bigger problem since he's allied with Caster, obviously. Whatever strategy we think of, we will have to act wisely. On the plus side, Caster should be passive until she's gathered more energy, so she's less of a priority than Rider and her boundary field.

We've seen most of Lancer's abilities, and he is definitely a threat. His Noble Phantasm might be the best Servant killer of this war. His Master is none other than that priest, Kotomine Kirei. He stole the Command Spells from his original owner, like I did with Emiya Shirou. Kirei is very cautious and sent Lancer sparring with all the other Servants without defeating them. That probably pisses him off but as a knight, he won't rebel against his Master. A Master who is pretty much untouchable since he lives in the only neutral ground of this war. Cheater... I believe that Saber would defeat the spearman without much trouble, but using Excalibur might be a good call, just in case. This guy is dangerous. As for Kirei in combat, well, he trained with the church Executors. He has mastered various forms of combat, including chinese martial arts. No Masters in this war are a match for him, even Kuzuki. Add a twisted personality and an insidious intelligence to that, and I'm sure that he will be my greatest obstacle to victory. Especially since he has two Servants.

Which brings me to the worst of them all. Gilgamesh. Where do I begin? He is the most overpowered Servant ever, and he's Kirei's trump card, although he has a very indepedent personality. He was Rin's father's Servant as an Archer class in the previous war ten years ago, but Kirei killed the guy and made a contract with him, with his approval. Gilgamesh was bored with his Master and much more interested in Kirei's twisted mind. He bathed in the Holy Grail contents against his will at the end of the war and was incarnated. That doesn't change anything about his strength but he technically isn't a full Servant anymore. He's the oldest king, ruler of Mesopotomia. He owns a seemingly infinite treasury that he can access at all times thanks to his Noble Phantasm, Gates of Babylon. The key lies in his arrogance. Since he thinks he rules everything and that everyone is below him, he has a tendency of not going all out with his valued treasures. That's where our chance is. One last thing that could be of importance is that he likes Saber. More like a valuable than an actual romantic interest, but still, I have no idea how it will impact our fight. I sigh. That's a huge threat. We can only hope that we'll be able to face them in convenient circumstances. If he goes serious, Gilgamesh is pretty much impossible to defeat.

That's it for the recap. Even if I know a lot about them all, this war will still be very difficult.

-.-.-.-

Rin comes back around nine. My dizziness vanishes while I watch her stretch her arms.

"Feeling better?"

She waves a hand. "I don't like naps at all. Falling back asleep tonight will be hard, but yes. Where is Saber?"

"She went to rest, since she can't turn into spirit form. What about Archer?"

"I told him to be a sentinel while he heals his wounds. Your boundary field is very good, but his eyes see further than you can imagine."

"I see, it's a perfect combination then."

Yes, with all that, I doubt we'll face any surprise attack. Rin looks at the untouched food she bought.

"We'll take turns for dinners, all right?"

I cross my arms. "Sounds fair, but I warn you. I can only cook Western food, and I'm not that good."

She smiles mischievously. "No excuses. You'll buy food and cook tomorrow night to make my superiority known to all."

"Hey now..."

I turn back to the TV, grumbling. Surely I can cook basic things, but I'm far from good when it comes to more complex dishes. She grabs the bag and heads to the kitchen corner.

"Should I make some for Saber?"

"Nope, she said she'd sleep the whole night. She seems to like eating though, so we'll have to count her in whenever she's awake."

"All right then, just the two of us."

That makes me realize how odd the situation is. The girl that will eventually be my enemy is cooking dinner for us. The amazing smell that starts filling the room makes me wonder why we're even fighting. Let's just enjoy things as they are now. I set the table and it's soon filled with Chinese food. I dig in with gusto but she doesn't follow, staring at me with attention.

"Whaffup?"

She answers my quizzical expression with a chuckle.

"Nothing, Ben. Your face is enough to tell me what you think."

I swallow and sigh. "Must admit this is very good, Rin. You'll make a good wife someday."

She gasps. I'm not the only one easy to tease.

"Don't say stupid things!"

We eat silently after that. I'm too busy enjoying the food to talk anyway. Rin gets on making tea while I clean up the table after that. I call out to her.

"So, you're still willing to patrol tonight?"

"Yes. What are your plans?"

"I'll pass. Saber and I need to heal our respective wounds so we decided to take a day off. But Rin, are you sure that you want to go out now? Archer can't have recovered much."

"I can take care of myself. You two rest and hold the fort."

I smirk. "And you ask me to stop being reckless..."

She sulks. "That's not the same thing. I'm not stupid enough to attack a Servant in my current situation, and I know when to run away."

"Fine, do as you wish."

She heads to the entrance after we're done with the tea.

"I'm going, Ben. If I don't see you again tonight, please wake up before I go to school tomorrow so we can plan our next move."

"All right. Be careful."

She groans and leaves the house, probably along with Archer. I watch TV for a bit but fatigue quickly catches up. Hell, I summoned a Servant, broke my leg and put an artifact in me in the last twenty-four hours, so it's not a surprise.

I turn off the lights and go to my room. A room where Saber is sleeping... Agh.

My heartbeat rises. Damn, Ben, are you twelve? I open the slide door as silently as I can and risk a glance at her. Sleeping on her side under the blanket, she seems at peace. I can't really see the fierce warrior in her when she looks so peaceful, not bothered by the undone bangs covering her face. She looks like the most normal girl on Earth right now and it's only with reluctance that I manage to advert my gaze. I sneak to my own futon and keep my shirt and underwear before lying down.

I hear her soft breath nearby. Taking part in this war and meeting her was what I wanted. That feeling of satisfaction doesn't override the fact that I'm an intruder, though. That's a pointless worry, and I'm sure it will vanish over time. What matters now is winning at her side. Sleep takes over me once my heart finally calms down.

-.-.-.-

I wake up in the middle of the night. It's unsurprising, given how much I slept during the day. I sigh and look at Saber. She hasn't moved a muscle, apparently. My gaze lingers on her hair shining in the moonlight, then I decide to stand up and take a walk after putting my trousers back on. At least my leg moves normally now. I won't run a marathon tomorrow, but it should be fine. After drinking a glass of water and checking the safety of the front door, I go to the courtyard to get some fresh air. The wintry night is a nice contrast to the warmth of the blankets and Avalon heating up in my abdomen. I start practicing basic spells, more out of boredom than anything. That doesn't last long as I sense a presence behind me.

"... Who's there?"

The following silence makes me tense up. I have a guess and I don't like it much.

"Answer."

Still not a word. I turn back and as I thought, he's standing here. Archer isn't showing clear enmity, but his piercing stare isn't much reassuring either.

"Why're you sneaking up on me like that, Archer?"

He stays silent for a moment and crosses his arms, looking bored.

"I was just wondering why someone would show up that late. Be careful, Saber's Master. I could confuse you for an enemy in the dark."

His tone is full of sarcasm but the implied threat is clear. The fact that he's taller than me makes him even more intimidating.

"Really? I thought you had an eyesight like I could never imagine."

"I see that Rin is still being too talkative for her own sake."

I shrug. "We're cooperating. I guess you disagree with that?"

He looks at me and smirks. "Of course. I will end this ridiculous alliance as soon as I'm healed."

"Fine. You convince Rin about that and try not to kill me until then."

I'm not interested in arguing with a guy that hates me at two in the morning, so I walk away, suddenly very eager to get back to my bed.

"Wait."

I turn back to him with clear reluctance.

"What now?"

"We weren't allies when you came to help us, yet you healed me and saved my Master. Why?"

I groan. I wasn't expecting any gratitude but his behavior is annoying.

"I'm tired of justifying myself. Ask Rin directly if it bothers you that much."

He goes on, much calmer than me.

"Then, let me ask you this: are you sure it was Lancer who killed this house owner?"

Damn. I take my best liar tone.

"It was. I thought I made that clear."

A heavy silence follows as we glare at each other. I was fearing that kind of questions but not after only a day.

"Aren't you supposed to be watching out for enemies?"

He snorts and turns his back to me. For some reason, I feel the need to ask him something.

"You don't trust me, do you?"

"Of course not. You don't belong here."

Then he vanishes into the night.

I quickly walk back to my bedroom and lie down without looking at Saber. Before falling back asleep, I realize that my sweat is cold as ice.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

To be continued in Day 2 - A New World

"What wish do you want to be granted?"

"You are walking around without your Servant?"

"What kind of magic would even do that?"