FATE/LAOCH GAN FINSCEAL

"Hero Without Legend"

Chapter 8: Desolation of Multiple Kinds

The next morning came, with the sun gradually turning the dim skies from navy blue to the pleasant sky color, mixed in with the yellows and oranges associated with the dawn hours. After shaking off the grogginess from the intense dream she had, Connla unleashed a large yawn and stretched her arms above her head. She was ready to take on the new day, but she wasn't sure where to go from here. Leonidas and Spartacus were nowhere in sight, and she didn't want to take off anywhere and force them to waste energy looking for her. She gazed at the brightening sky, feeling pangs of nostalgia hit her heart.

It was like this too… when I died…

Connla remained silent for a good while, feeling the light breeze brush against her hair and clothes. She tightly held Leonidas' cape against her chest to fight against the anxiety. Before she could get too lost in her thoughts however, she heard heavy footsteps approaching her. Spartacus hurried over and exclaimed, "You're finally awake, little miss! Perfect! The Spartan told me to come retrieve you posthaste!"

"What's going on? Did you find out anything about the alien mob?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I didn't get much from beating more of them up, although I noticed that they kept fleeing northward to escape my boundless wrath!"

"North?" Connla wondered. "Maybe their base of operations is in that direction."

"If the madam butcher who was controlling them is out of the picture, then they'd have to return to their hideout where the real boss is waiting to give them new orders."

"I agree. Their intelligence is limited, but they must have been ingrained with a mindset to obey someone's orders, not to just do whatever they wish. We should follow them and see where they take us."

"Indeed! Leonidas had the same idea!"

"Where is he anyway?"

Spartacus pointed north up the Strip and said, "He's trying to figure out how to commandeer these unusual steel chariots that have been left for us."

He guided her down the road until they reached Trump International Hotel. To her surprise, she noticed that a lot of abandoned vehicles had sustained copious amounts of external damage such as the hoods being crushed in or tires being blown out from overuse. The damage looked very similar from car to car, so she wasn't really sure what was going on. That was until she heard the distinct squealing of rubber scraping against pavement, and a nearby SUV suddenly barreled straight for the duo!

"Wha-!?" Connla gasped as she and Spartacus leapt out of the way. The vehicle careened out of control and slammed against the wall of the resort hotel, releasing plumes of smoke from the destroyed engine. The door flew open, and Leonidas stumbled out.

"Damn, this is no good as well!" he barked furiously. "Why must these metal chariots be so convoluted to commandeer!?"

Oh, I get it now, Connla thought. He was the one who totaled all of these strange wagons.

"Hey, I got the little miss!" Spartacus exclaimed. "Have you figured out how to ride these things yet!?"

"Have patience, Thracian!" Leonidas bellowed. "I am getting the hang of it, but I'm still trying to find a chariot that can help us follow those creatures with impeccable speed!"

"You better do it quick, or else we will lose our only lead."

"Hm?" Connla looked over at a large bag near Spartacus' feet. "What do you have there?"

"Provisions, of course!" he declared and showed her a large number of food items he stole from the nearby hotels such as meat, bread, and plenty of wine.

"But we're Heroic Spirits. All we need is mana to sustain ourselves."

"Yeah, but why not live a little while we're here? Nothing goes great with a rebellion like good food and drink!"

"I don't mind the food, but I'm too young for the drink."

"Aw, who cares about that?"

"I do!" she retorted and put her hands on her hips. "Mother told me I couldn't drink until I was 18!"

"Even though she is nowhere near us, she still restrains your natural human desires with such oppressive commands! Strict parents are quite the dictators indeed!"

"You shouldn't say that about her! Sure, she was overbearing at times, but I still respect her!"

"What a problem. I do not take kindly to those who stifle others, yet I cannot deny how much esteem you have for your primary birth giver. Well, I suppose it is something that cannot be rebelled against, no matter how much I wish it so. Very well – I won't force you to drink if you do not want to."

"…"

Connla suddenly became quiet as their nonsensical conversation made her think about Aife. It was true that she missed her mother, but at the same time, a strange discord strummed in her soul that made her feel nauseous. She could sort of understand where it was coming from, but it wasn't entirely clear to her just yet.

They heard another set of wheels screech to a stop nearby, and Leonidas called out to them from a pickup truck, "I think this chariot will do the job for us nicely."

"Splendid!" Spartacus exclaimed, then hoisted his bag of rations into the cargo area before getting on and lying back. "Do not mind me. I will remain here and feast to my heart's content. Rebellions cannot be fought on an empty stomach, after all! Heh hah hah hah!"

Connla didn't say anything as she got in the passenger seat. Leonidas managed to get a handle on his new vehicle and drove them out of the Strip and northwest onto Route 95. This was the general direction which Spartacus claimed the remaining aliens fled toward as he chased them down. Although they had no idea where they really were going, at least it was a decent start for the unlikely trio.


"Hmmngh… Ghh…" Xerxes groaned and pressed his hand upon his forehead. He had been trying to keep up with everything that the monitors were showing him, but an unusual headache made his eyes blurry.

"What is the matter?" Caster asked him, gingerly placing her hand on his shoulder.

"I do not know… For some reason, I have not been feeling well," he murmured and took another sip of arak that she had brought him earlier.

"Perhaps you're just tired. You should take the time to rest. I will handle things until you are well enough again."

"Indeed. I must excuse myself now."

The Persian king got up and left the command room to return to his quarters. Caster watched him leave, then glanced over at the glass of alcohol he just drank out of. She smiled a little, knowing that the poison she slipped in the beverage was doing its work on him. It wasn't just now either; during the entirety of Xerxes' conquest, Caster had been slowly poisoning him the same way she had done to her own emperor daughter. It was only now that the effects were beginning to be apparent. She wanted to laugh at how clueless Xerxes was for not noticing such duplicity.

At least he is a better puppet king than Nero was. How thrilling it is, having the power to dominate both the masses and the royalty.

Treachery aside, Caster had to focus on what was going on right now. Cuchulainn was busy dealing with the other group of Servants coming from Carson City, but she grew troubled when she saw the lone pickup truck driving along the freeway. The mana signature readings showed that the three new Heroic Spirits were in that car and were on their way to confront whoever was responsible for the carnage in Las Vegas.

This could be a problem. Xerxes is ill and Cuchulainn is away. I could probably have Archer deal with them, but that man is sharp. He would know right away what I am doing to Xerxes. He could even use it as leverage against me…

As Caster pondered what to do, she heard the door open again. Arash entered and said, "Madam Caster, I saw Lord Xerxes just now. Is he doing all right?"

"Worry not. He's just fatigued from concentrating all of his efforts into expanding his desired West Persian Empire," Caster said with an even tone. "By the way, he told me to give you your next assignment. It's a one-man job, but he's willing to lend you some of the gunner aliens in reserve."

"What does he want me to do?"

"See this?" she pointed to the monitor with the pickup. "They are coming this way from the southeast. Lord Xerxes wants you to shoot them down before they can get any further."

"Does he now?" Arash wondered. "I don't mind, but I would prefer to hear such orders from him directly."

"I am his proxy. My words are just as good as his."

The archer sighed, but didn't argue with her. Although he didn't know her True Name, he could tell that she was nothing but trouble. He almost felt like he would get sick at any moment if he remained near her any longer, like she was that poisonous friend who pretended to be nice but was eager to stab others' backs on a whim.

Lord Xerxes orders the destruction of a city just to test run some monsters, Cuchulainn only seeks to kill, and Caster is obviously scheming something. I cannot image the horrors that a black-hearted man like Archer is capable of either, given that he betrayed this nation's government to secure this facility.

Arash left Caster be and prepared to head out to his next assignment. Despite the task he was given, he had mixed feelings about actually fulfilling it for his crooked superiors. He had pondered about leaving Xerxes' faction and siding with the rebels, but he figured it wouldn't be wise to reach out to them when Cuchulainn's attention was focused on defeating them. Seeing the three stray Servants on the other hand started to give him some ideas.

Perhaps I could resort to asking for their assistance…


As Leonidas continued driving along Route 95, Spartacus feasted on a hearty meal of bread, meat and wine, practically finishing off all of the food before collapsing onto his back in a drunken stupor and falling asleep. Leonidas glared back at the sleeping Thracian and barked, "Honestly! That deadweight is completely plastered!"

"It can't be helped," Connla shook her head. "He must've been restraining himself this whole time."

"Hmph. Well, at least it'll keep him quiet for a little while."

They continued driving along the Nevada desert for the next few hours. Spartacus snored the whole way, completely lost in an entertaining dream. Leonidas kept his focus on the road, while Connla blankly gazed through the window at the miles upon miles of bleak brown landscape dotted with rocks, cacti, and sparse vegetation. Both her eyes and heart felt heavy. Ever since winding up in this strange timeline, she hadn't had a chance to sit down and think about what happened in her previous life.

Father…

Connla's last memory was seeing Cuchulainn's pained expression right before he cut her throat to end her misery. After her passing, she felt like she was in some kind of limbo state, wanting to wake up, yet also refusing to awaken at the same time. Her duel with him was so intense that it drained virtually all of her energy, and that it would take a long time for her to recover, if at all. She wasn't a hero who had power on par with Gilgamesh, Heracles, Medea, or similar who had famous legends backing them up. She was only a small child with a short vignette to be remembered by. Perhaps she had a matured mind, but her body wasn't capable of keeping up with real Heroic Spirits should she get involved in a true one-on-one battle. She believed her victory over Carmilla was just a fluke thanks to the woman's inexperience with fighting.

Why am I here?

That question kept running through Connla's mind. An answer never came to her, which only served to exponentially fester her lingering doubts. She thought she would sink into an inescapable depression at any moment.

"… Little One."

"Hmm?" she looked over at Leonidas.

"You look troubled. Or rather, I've noticed that you've appeared distressed ever since we met. If you'd like, you may express your concerns to me."

"I don't know how much that will help."

"Come now. Even if there is no immediate solution to be found, just the simple act of listening may just be what is needed. A real warrior trains not only the muscles on his body, but also the muscles inside his head. A sharp mind is just a vital as a sharp blade."

"If you say so," Connla murmured, then said, "I'm just wondering why I'm involved in this fight."

"Meaning?"

"You and Spartacus are famous historical figures, and a lot of Servants summoned to such crises like this are so revered and powerful. In contrast, I only appeared briefly in my father's legend. Don't such side characters usually just get ignored? If I didn't accomplish much during my life, then what am I expected to do now as a Servant?"

Leonidas raised an eyebrow, and his mouth furrowed into a deep frown. "I'm not sure I understand exactly where you're coming from. If you are forbidden from speaking your name, could you at least tell me what happened to you?"

"Oh, that's right. I guess I should cover that."

Connla spent some time explaining her story in detail to him, from the moment she left her home in Scotland to when Cuchulainn mercy killed her. She wasn't specific about the names of everyone involved though, for it would likewise break her vow to the geas. Even so, Leonidas understood the gist of her tale enough to see why she was so upset.

"What a waste of potential," he grumbled. "Why in the world would your own mother place such harsh restrictions on you before sending you on your way to find your father?"

The girl sighed. Back when she was about to leave Scotland for Ireland, Aife had summoned her to place the three geasa upon her. Connla didn't question her mother's motive, for Aife claimed that the sigils would give her greater power in a battle so long as she upheld her vows. But when she thought about the nature of the geasa and the whole point of using those specific restrictions, she could only come to one conclusion.

"Back before I was born, Father defeated Mother in a battle. She demanded that he kill her to preserve her honor, but he spared her life. Before he returned home, he left her pregnant with me and gave her two instructions; to give me the name of his choosing, and for me to go to his side as a fellow warrior when I was old enough to wear this ring that he left behind."

She took off the glove on her right hand and looked at the golden ring on her thumb. "It was the one thing binding Father and I together. I always looked to it whenever I thought of him, wondering just what kind of man he was like. I couldn't wait to grow up enough to fulfill the promise. But when I think about Mother's behavior as she raised me, I can't forget the signs of her bitterness towards Father. She must have hated him so much for besmirching her honor."

"Ah… Then those strange spells she placed on you were-"

"Her way of tormenting him."

Connla sullenly closed her eyes. "In a way, I was like Mother's personal Holy Grail; a tool granting her wish for revenge against Father. It makes me wonder that for all the time Mother doted on me and trained me in the art of war, did she actually never love me? Did I remind her too much of Father for her to let go of her grudge? It was her machinations that wound up denying me my future, and yet I still love Mother."

"Little One…"

"Is it wrong for me to love someone who was so wicked enough to do this to me? Should I actually hate her for cutting my story short just to inflict suffering upon Father?"

Leonidas audibly scoffed and retorted, "Nonsense. It is a child's duty to love and respect their parents unconditionally. Although your parents' feelings for each other are misguided, your feelings for them are not. The blame rests with them for not resolving their issues, instead pushing their strife upon your small shoulders."

"Hmm…"

"To answer about why you are here… To be honest, it's too broad of a question for me to respond to. Maybe it's too much for anyone asking themselves that to figure out. Hell, I'm wondering what my own purpose is in this battle. And what does it matter if you're a famous Heroic Spirit or not? You're here to protect the world from whatever evil plagues it. What else would you want to know beyond that? Why don't you see this as an opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a new battlefield?"

"In other words, 'don't think about it too much'?"

"Precisely! It's fine not to know all of the answers. All you need is information about what is immediately in front of you, and then deal with it in a way that you emerge victorious."

Leonidas chuckled at himself and muttered, "That sounds like such a meatheaded answer, doesn't it?"

Connla sighed and smiled lightly. "No, it's perfectly reasonable. I guess philosophy wasn't my strongest point either."

"I suppose it isn't for any of us three. We're the types to leave the serious thinking to the eggheads and worry about defeating the enemy."

"Except we don't have any 'eggheads' to rely upon."

"Indeed. While it is imperative that we put the enemy down, we must also think about finding other Servants who are willing to assist us. There is much we do not know at this point."


In the desolate community of Amargosa Valley, Arash and a small group of gun-wielding aliens arrived by using a one-way teleporter stationed in Area 51. Even in normal conditions, the town was only populated by around 1500 people, but the recent crises in Las Vegas and Carson City immediately drove the citizens of local rural villages like this out, effectively turning such places into temporary ghost towns. He figured this would be the perfect spot for his showdown since no one would get hurt and it was along the same highway the trio were driving along.

They should be here soon.

Arash leapt atop the well-known Rocket Diner billboard next to the Area 51 Alien Travel Center and gazed westward at the huge stretch of road reaching into the barren distance. The moment he saw any vehicles coming, he would be poised and ready with his bow and arrow.


Connla yawned and rubbed her eyes, moaning, "Goodness, this road seems to go on forever…"

"Honestly," Leonidas grumbled in similar frustration. "There still have been no signs of the enemy. I sincerely hope my calculations are not wrong."

The girl noticed a road sign up ahead and read aloud, "Amargosa Valley? This must be a town."

"Let us stop here and see if we can get more information."

As they came closer and closer to the town however, their plans would take a drastic change. Once Arash saw the truck, he fired his arrow straight for one of the wheels, bursting it into pieces with a deafening popping sound.

"Uwah!?" Connla yelped as the truck suddenly veered off the road and tumbled onto its side violently. Leonidas growled and tried to regain control of the vehicle, but it was no use.

"Whoa ho ho ho!" Spartacus cried out with an unusually elated tone. He had been rudely awakened after being thrown out of the pickup's cargo area and crashing upon the dirt. Although he sustained some scratches and open wounds, it was nothing that would deter him in the long run.

Leonidas grunted in pain, pressing his dislocated shoulder against his seat to pop the joint back into place. Connla had passed out for a second, but was otherwise unhurt. He grabbed her waist and hoisted her through the upturned door window while asking, "Are you all right?"

"I think so."

An arrow suddenly pierced the crashed pickup inches away from Connla's feet, and the duo scrambled to get out before they could be sniped. They ducked on the opposite side and hid behind the truck so it could function as a shield.

"Ho hoh! It seems fortune smiles upon us once again!" Leonidas grinned and put his helmet back on.

"I would rather be blessed by a fortune that doesn't involve sharp projectiles!" Connla retorted just as several more arrows peppered the area.

"Hah hah! They're not as sharp as your wit!"

"Geez! What are we going to do!?"

"Fear not! Stay behind me, and I shall advance with my shield!"

"What about Spartacus?"

"Oh yes. I almost forgot about him. Where is he anyway?"

"Hmm…" the young spearman looked around, then pointed at the distance. "He's charging straight in while laughing like a maniac."

"Should I be surprised at this point?" the Spartan grumbled. "Regardless, he shall serve as an effective distraction. Come, Little One! To arms!"

The duo emerged from behind the truck and ran straight for their next battle.