Chapter 6: Unlimited Blade Works

Archer, this is your last chance to be honest with me. I really WANT to trust you, but if you insist on avoiding strict answers, you'll be operating only on Command Seals from now. And I assure you that father Kotomine will provide me enough spells to keep you obedient till the end of War.

"Oh, so you came back... Was your enthusiastic walk around the city worth the effort?"

Tokiomi was sitting at the armchair, staff in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, staring at the window. It was almost next evening, too late to call it a little delay.

"My deepest apologies, Master. I couldn't answer your calling immediately, I was… stopped."

He bowed with deep respect. He was truly sorry about his insubordination, but did not regret his decision to ignore orders.

"Forget it, Archer. Assassin was watching you, I know everything about you, chasing some random children..."

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Yes, at least to a moment when you attacked Berserker. It was when all Assassins were called to corner Rider."

"I see." Archer seemed not surprised at all. "And you know his Noble Phantasm now, Master?"

"Yes, it's a Reality Marble. With a whole army within."

"Good."

Tokiomi sighed.

What a strange reaction! No sign of surprise, nor fear. What does it mean? He knows about greatest taboo of magi? Or is capable to defeat this army of Rider with ease?

"Archer, what are you?"

Heavy silence filled up the room. After few minutes it became hard to bear.

"Archer, this is your last chance to be honest with me. I really WANT to trust you, but if you insist on avoiding strict answers, you'll be operating only on Command Seals from now. And I assure you that father Kotomine will provide me enough spells to keep you obedient till the end of War."

Bowman could not read well Tokiomi's mood just from observing his motionless back in the armchair, but he at least felt some emotions in Master's voice. There was an anger within, but not enough to make him out of control.

Yet. And he's not bluffing this time.

"I cannot ignore such straight forwarded demand. So be it." He took a deep breath. "I am a Counter Guardian, Master. Summoned in a form of a Servant."

Tokiomi turned his chair. He did not look shocked at all, like he had already figured it out without any help. But he was somehow pleased about this answer.

"Finally we have some progress? So maybe you can give me your true name at last? Or your Noble Phantasm?"

Silence again. Archer was hesitating for a moment.

"Do you want me to show you my Noble Phantasm, Master? It will be easier than explaining."

For a very short while, Tokiomi seemed really amazed. Then he smiled.

"What kind of Phantasm is it? It won't ruin my house, I suppose?"

"No, Master. But it will take a lot of mana, though. I think it can't be classified in a conventional manner."

"Nothing about you is conventional, Archer." His blue eyes were shining. Archer knew this kind of passion. Rin always gave this look when a matter of great magical experiment appeared, when there were secrets to explore. Tohsakas really are hopeless. "Please, go on."

And then Unlimited Blade Works appeared.

To let someone see your Reality Marble is to expose your soul to the public view. It's frightening, no matter what kind of reality you hide within.

Tokiomi stood steadily at the endless field of swords, his staff touched the ground, putting a little dust in the air. Magus was acting, like he'd already been there. He only glanced at this infinitive collection of weapons; he found the giant gears filling the sky much more interesting.

"A Reality Marble? I suppose you can use all these swords here?"

Archer projected some weapons and make them fly. Others just picked up from the ground and flied to his master like obedient pets.

"Here and everywhere. I only need to project them outside. This is my armory."

This is your internal world, Archer, Tokiomi thought. Your wastelands. He wondered what a pathetic life this heroic soul must have had to end within such an empty, hopeless landscape.

Well, it was not his problem, right? Servants are tools. A swords in their Masters' hands.

A nameless sword in humanity's service.

Why then he felt pity for him?

"So this is how you use broken phantasms? Just taking copies from there?"

"Exactly, Master."

Archer stood at the hill, a complete ruler of this environment, with enough swords to defeat an army, but… But he looked somehow like a lost child there. Like it was not what he wanted, Tokiomi thought.

Tohsaka had to make some things clear before a Grail War will come into its critical stage. There was no time to waste anymore.

"Dispel the magic, Archer. I've seen enough."

Archer obeyed, but remained alerted. Should he expect a Command Seal now, making him a vulnerable slave or killing him?

"Tell me, Archer…" Tokiomi's calm voice broke the silence. "Why the Counter Force is interfering in this War?"

Archer have never thought this way. It might have some sense, though. But to prevent a catastrophe to happen, he would have been sent there anyway, not as a participant, but much stronger force. And, as he could remember, no such thing appeared when he was a kid caught in the great fire.

"So you must have a strong wish. That's why you're a Servant, am I right?"

Actually, yes. Now he wanted something, with all his heart, but it was impossible to achieve anyway. Not even Grail could give him that. A fool's dream, nothing more.

"I want to protect, Master." And it was not a lie. "It is also my job as a Guardian, so both theories may be correct, partially."

Tokiomi looked at mark on his hand, coldly and on purpose. It was a silent threat.

"Tell me all you know."

Now or never, then, Archer thought.

"As a Counter Guardian I travelled through space and time, Master. I know of a timeline when this War ended with a catastrophe, a great fire destroying part of the city. There is a danger that this Grail is corrupted and shouldn't be used at any circumstances."

"And you are here to stop a winner before using it?"

"I don't know, Master." For a moment Archer looked lost and vulnerable. "This matter needs further evidence. And we have to defeat other Masters first, then will be the time to think about it."

Tokiomi was considering his words for a while, looking not at his Servant but into a glass of an ideal red wine in his hand.

"So you're telling me that you'll be loyal to me unless I touch the Grail? Because at the end you may even turn against me?"

Archer thought he has no pride at all, but he felt some sort of anger. He considered treachery, of course, but as an absolutely last option. He just didn't want it.

He couldn't do this to Rin's father.

"As I said, I don't know for sure if Grail is corrupted. It needs examination. I'm now following your orders, not Alaya's. And I trust your wisdom, Master." Strange grin appeared on his face. "Actually, you are the only Master around to be trusted with this issue."

"Flattery, again?", asked Tokiomi, a little disgusted.

"Honesty, Master. We are both guardians, after all."

A heavy sigh.

"What a difficult person you are, Archer..."

Red warrior was about to answer, but someone was trying to contact Tohsaka through his magical communicator. It was father Kotomine.

"We have an emergency, Tokiomi. Caster is breaking the rules, summoning a giant creature at the river. We're gathering all the Servants to stop him."

Strange and dangerous fire appeared in Tohsaka's eyes.

"You heard him, Archer. We're going."

So he followed his Master. They have a battle to win.