The promising afternoon already fared far better than the tense morning. Thanks to Cursed Arm and Serenity's arrival in the village, negotiations with Hundred Face went smoothly. The other two Hassans had agreed, after an hour of deliberation, to formally join the budding alliance with Chaldea. There was still much left to discuss regarding their overall strategy and goals, but that could be achieved later that day.
Tomorrow, Serenity would relieve Arash of his voluntary task of guarding her approaching villagers with Atalanta. It would take roughly two days for them to reach the safety of Cursed Arm's village by foot, but the escorting servants and Saracens ensured a safe journey. The two would manage just fine, especially after Serenity's emergency healing. Like her, most of the servants who participated in the rescue mission had received minor injuries, but two were serious enough to warrant a medevac ticket to Chaldea when the Leyshift system was repaired.
Arturia stood outside of the building Medea had set up the workshop. It was one of the larger abandoned mud shacks, which allowed their leyline connection to remain hidden from the public eye. It enabled the ancient magus and the masters to tap into the vast mana stores of the area for their benefit. Though she didn't understand the tiny specifics, the overall purpose was obvious; This was Chaldea's operational lifeline.
Besides being energy efficient for leyshifts, the biggest boon was to provide replenishing mana for the servants in the field so Chaldea's prana generation system wasn't being overtaxed. The system was originally made to support over fifty masters and servants in the field, but it was far from perfect. The more prana diverted to support the combat group, the slower the servants in Chaldea healed. It was a balancing act, but it meant minor injuries like hers would be healed by other means.
The saber was dead silent as her eyes looked towards the distant valley walls while clouded in thought. Her negotiations with Sir Tristan had failed. Any hope she had of being able to influence the opposing knights had vanished with it; They followed the Lion King now, without regret or remorse for their orders. Her hesitation had nearly gotten Gawain, Bedivere, and herself killed... She had placed other lives in danger because of that lingering hope they would listen.
Yet all of these were mere whispers against the roar that was Sir Tristan's faded words… Familiar words spoken once more after so many centuries.
"The king does not understand the human heart."
Was she still so blind? After everything she's been through to help open her eyes to others… After her experiences through multiple grail wars and living for months within Chaldea, did she still not understand how people felt? If that was the case, why wasn't anyone telling her? Why didn't her knights say anything…?
"Something happened when fighting Sir Tristan, didn't it, Arty?" Caught in her downward spiral, she looked into the concerned eyes of her friend as she approached. Jeanne kept her hands folded before her, but smiled with almost maternal worry. "If you want, we can talk about it while you're healing."
To her surprise, Arturia gently nodded her head a few seconds later. "We haven't gotten to talk much this singularity, have we? …I think I'd like that."
o==(=======-
Chapter VIII: Renewing Hope
-=======)==o
After enjoying a quick lunch with Mashu and Gudao, Serenity had asked about Gabrielle's absence. The two simply pointed her in the direction of their shack after explaining she wanted to take a nap. The two suggested they give her some time before approaching; In her eagerness to thank the female master once more for saving her village, she had hastily made her way to the shack against that recommendation. Now, instead of happily thanking the master, she was trying her utmost to dam her misery.
"Gabby, don't cry, please!" It had been like this for several minutes.
"I-I messed up! I can't believe I screwed up th-this badly after everything they've t-taught me!"
"You saved my peopl-!"
Gabrielle was secretly having an emotional breakdown, and she'd just stumbled into it. "I thought I-I was better than this!"
The assassin was shocked, since she was so friendly and composed barely an hour earlier during negotiations. Yet… the turmoil in her eyes suddenly made sense, as did Gudao's occasional glances her way. Had he known so well? This poor girl… she'd been secretly hurting behind that smile.
In her effort to stop her from crying, Serenity had brought the master into a comforting embrace; Shamefully, she relished the warmth in her arms she rarely got to cherish. Serenity had only ever done this to her targets to kill them, and she mentally reprimanded herself for even an ounce of pleasure when her new friend was in distress. She tried to rub her back, and felt her rack with sobs as she did.
"Gabby."
The pair slowly broke apart to look towards the shack's entrance where Gudao was quietly closing the door. Gabrielle's sobs grew louder. "I messed up s-so bad, Gudao! I'm s-sorry! I'm so sorry! it's my f-fault!"
"Gabby. Stop," he demanded firmly as he quickly walked over. Her best friend knelt beside her and Serenity before putting a comforting hand on his best friend's shoulders. "Some of them were injured, but everything worked out… No one died… You're a hero!"
"I-I didn't pay enough attention to the f-fight! I didn't p-properly support them with spells! They could have died! I c-could have gotten our precious friends killed!"
"But you didn't," Gudao replied with a comforting smile. "You were making sure Serenity was alright. I doubt they'd blame you for that... That's hardly a mistake. I'd know… I've made plenty, but they still respect my requests and decisions."
"…B-But…!" He pulled her into a gentle guy as she sniffled and tried to wipe her tears.
"You're being hard on yourself again… We'll never grow out of doing that, huh…?" he joked lightly, and to Serenity's growing, astonished glee, Gabrielle cracked a tiny smile and nodded. "No one blames you for doing what you can. We're just two dopey mages, not servants... Don't forget that."
"You're dopier…" she chuckled through her sniffles. He gently rubbed her back as Serenity awkwardly watched. Gudao looked towards her and mouthed a small thanks with a smile, which made the assassin blush lightly before nodding. Gabrielle pulled away from the hug, wiped a few more tears that slipped, and glanced to her best friend with fading grief; His damp shoulder should dry quickly under the hot sun.
"Feeling better?"
"A little…" She whispered as she turned her watery eyes to Serenity. "Thanks for… trying to- comfort me. You m-must think I'm weak…"
Between the two masters, Gabrielle was the most emotional; That blade was sharp at both ends. On one hand, she could relate to others and understand their feelings better than Gudao ever could. On the other, she was prone to heavy self-criticism when no one was looking or letting her anger cloud all judgement.
Bottling up her emotions for later didn't help in the least. It was part of the reason Gudao was the superior strategist and diplomat, but she was the better overall friend and magus. Her highly critical outlook of herself was one of her biggest secrets, so much so that only Scathach and Mashu knew about it besides her best friend… and now Serenity. As an allied servant, the last thing she wanted to do was let her believe she was incapable.
"You're not weak, Gabby. No master who would willingly throw themselves before a powerful enemy servant to heal a stranger is weak." The assassin smiled at her. Upon receiving an uncertain expression in return, she gently reached for her hand and held it. "...I promise I'm not lying. You're wonderful."
Her breath hitched again as she sniffled, though she was finally calming down. "...T-Thanks…"
"After everything you've done for me, we're far from even," Serenity replied before happily hugging the female master once more. To her delight, Gabrielle giggled, and Serenity gladly sank into this embrace without hesitation. The warmth was a bliss she'd only truly dreamed of, and now she could savor it with someone.
"Quite the- affectionate one… aren't you?" Serenity only lost herself further in the embrace, but blushed with satisfaction as she did.
Gudao simply sat back and watched the pair with a fond smile. He recalled the first time he screwed up in a primary singularity while Serenity quietly talked with Gabrielle. If it hadn't been for Caster Cu's well-timed arrival, he and Olga would have met a much quicker demise, even if she was technically already dead. As with all mistakes he made, he let it brood in his mind silently in contrast to how Gabrielle did… but it let him learn and grow, as it would for her.
However, Gudao was far from expecting her to suddenly gain control of her emotions; He expected more breakdowns in the future. He'd just be there to support her as she always did him.
o==(=======- -III- -=======)==o
Jeanne and Arturia had spent nearly an hour together after Medea temporarily forged a Leyline connection for the saber. They sat at the top of their shared shack, talking about everything that happened as the King of Knights let her thoughts out to the saint. To her surprise, Jeanne had asked many questions at points; They ranged from how she felt, to the problem involving her knights, and more. Expecting only friendly advice and words of encouragement, the saber found herself even more surprised when her friend did a bit less of that than she usually would, and instead dragged her once more through the settlement.
Arturia was free to move about the village since the leyline encompassed the area. If she moved out of it, the fragile link would collapse; Half a day was the slated time for her minor injuries to heal properly. It is with this in mind that Jeanne brought Arturia with her once more when the children had started gathering to play with Mashu and Jack.
They arrived at the site of excited chatting and laughter, with Takisha and Rashid standing in front of the tiny assassin while gently petting Fou. Mashu stood further behind the white-haired servant to snap pictures of the scene with a camera. By their comfort with the device's flashes, the children had obviously grown accustomed to a photographer. The furry familiar, held in Jack's arms, had recently woken from its nap indoors, and was more than content with vast attention it received.
"Kyuuuuu~" "It's so cute!" "Is it a rabbit?" "Its name is Fou?" "Can I pet it too?" "It looks funny!"
"Just be gentle, please," Mashu requested happily as Rashid and Takisha moved themselves next to the shielder so others could pet Fou.
"Thanks for gathering everyone, Mashu," Jeanne greeted as she came up to the demi-servant. Arturia stood behind her, and quickly noticed the children seemed much more interested in the blonde knight than before. Dare she say, they even looked a bit excited she was here.
"Miss Jeanne!" "Are you going to teach us how to play football now?" "What is football?" "I have the ball Da Vinci made!"
Arturia blinked while Mashu giggled. "Football?"
"I'm not as good with storytelling as Atalanta, so I thought why not teach them a sport they can all enjoy?" she replied with a smile as she was handed the simple rubber ball from one of the children.
"Jeanne," Arturia lowered her voice so the children wouldn't hear. She looked troubled. "When the singularity is repaired, their memories will disappear… So in the end, would this mean anything to them?"
"Of course! And for us as well! Are you going to forget these pleasant memories?" Jeanne suggested with a smile. "I can't help but feel… even if the memories are gone, the feelings will remain. But even if they forget, they remember now, so the least we can do is give them happy memories to see them through these tough days!"
Arturia fell silent as she repeated the words in her head. She recalled a past memory on top of the walls of Camelot… A moment when Bedivere had questioned his position in the table, which she quickly corrected. It was quickly followed by him shifting to talking about the lives of some of the townsfolk. She had been happy hearing him retell the simple things in their lives that made them smile. It was one of the few times she had been involved in that kind of conversation.
Many times, she had overheard the merry conversations of her knights as they recalled their own stories and tales, whether in the past or simple affairs of the present. Even in the war with Vortigern, or repelling the Saxons, those memories had made them merry in troubled times. But they were always amongst themselves, and never with their king... With her, it was always straight to business and figuring solutions for the kingdom's many, growing problems.
Arturia didn't know how much time had passed, but as Jeanne waved a hand in front of her face in worry, she had her first realization. She never exited her castle except to go to war, forever content with being isolated within the hallowed walls. She never understood the human heart because she sealed it away like she did physically… to become the perfect king with no emotion.
But if the king couldn't understand the people's emotions, how could they properly rule and understand them? One could not rule properly over something they could no longer understand... She now had an opportunity to change that, but some nervousness remained. She saw the light ahead, but her current first step was…
"I... I don't know how to play football..." Arturia whispered. It was only played in Chaldea in the past month, and she hadn't been present those few times. She literally had no idea what she was about to do. Jeanne blinked but soon giggled. Apparently, it wasn't soft enough for Jack to miss either.
"But you're team captain!" The assassin's claim was quickly supported by Fou's happy chirps. At the mention of the other captain, the children grew excited with their chatter.
"Arturia is the other captain!" "Knight captains!" "I want to be on Artoree's team!" "Mashu will win!" "No, Aria will!"
Arturia was stunned. Jeanne simply giggled at her friend's expression; She, Atalanta, and Jack were secretly responsible for changing the children's impression of her. There was a tug on the king's sleeve, making her look down into the ever admiring, vibrant green eyes of her number one fan in the village. Takisha's smile only grew with her bashful expression upon being noticed by her idol. "Can Jackie and I be on your team, Arturia?"
She found herself speechless. Jeanne smiled fondly. The shielder dared to tease.
"What's the matter, Arturia? Afraid you're going to lose?" Mashu winked. To her and Jeanne's surprise, the saber's eyes widened before swiftly narrowing into a light glare with a matching smirk. The two glanced at each other then back to the King of Knights. She unknowingly ignited Arturia's competitive side.
"Takisha, Jackie… I would be honored to have you on my team."
Though different than what she intended, Jeanne's new plan had also worked.
o==(=======- -IV- -=======)==o
Lancelot and Emiya watched from their mountain top perch. Every so often, the keen-eyed archer would get a glimpse of Atalanta and Arash's convoy on the distance paths. They were a long way off, though the occasional waves from the two servants showed everything was fine. While they were currently out of sight behind a distant mountain, he continued his overwatch of the canyon in case of curious monsters or worse.
He turned to look at one of the town's spacious openings, and took small delight in seeing Arturia so actively playing with the children. She and Mashu were both goalies, playfully letting select balls through their guarded posts so the children cheered; This wasn't the world cup. He quietly milked the smile that graced her face as she played, much like Lancelot did beside him. For the moment, at least, she wasn't being suffocated by Sir Tristan's words and was instead fending off aggressive goal attempts by Rashid.
"Takisha practically worships her majesty," Lancelot pointed out to Emiya. They watched as the small girl's smile lit like fireworks as Arturia patted her head. He could practically hear her giggles from the distance. "I heard she wanted to be a knight like her someday."
"Obviously it's her charisma at work," the archer joked, making Lancelot chuckle. "It's good to see she's getting along well with the villagers now… I hope it's the same case for you?"
"I've noticed their doubt has vanished, though they don't go out of their way to make conversation. It's still better than being greeted by rocks," the berserker replied. "I think the successful rescue of most of the southern village and its guardian Hassan did that. Cursed Arm's belief in us too."
"Roughly four days from being hated to accepted... Not too bad," Emiya summarized with a small smirk. He began another sweep of the local area, then spotted Mordred and Scathach's returning hunting group. Lancelot followed Emiya's stare. He blinked in surprise as the first cart rolled into view.
"…That's a lot of meat."
'Good grief... Mordred sure is like her father...' Emiya mused with an amused sigh. "Guess I'm helping make steak tonight... Hopefully Nobunaga isn't late in changing shifts."
o==(=======- -V- -=======)==o
Scathach chuckled as another of Mordred's self-inflated tales ended. She had been telling the accompanying hunters her tales from Camelot, earning both laughs and praise as she recalled the adventures of Chaldea's greatest saber. As Mordred gave a wide grin while continuing to drag the overloaded cart by herself, the saber thoroughly enjoyed the praise the hunters gave the boastful servant.
"I heard that the Lion King's Sir Mordred isn't as energetic as you are."
"Yea, well that's what to expect from a useless fake," Mordred haughtily confirmed. A few bow wielding Saracens chuckled as her toothy grin grew.
But Scathach could tell that grin was faked. Mordred was concerned, as with many of the other servants. Under the same effects of the sun, the enemy Gawain had proved significantly more powerful than Chaldea's. If it was the same case with the others, the enemy Knight of Treachery would be more than a handful to take down. Her grin was reassurance to stay confident and hopeful, aimed both to herself and the surrounding Saracens. Thankfully, it was working for the latter. Scathach offered a tiny smile.
She had only spent part of a day with Mordred, but Scathach could tell she had successfully gotten the hunters to believe in her.
o==(=======- -VI- -=======)==o
"This is another one of your terrible ideas, Xuanzang. I do not suggest we approach that fortress."
The two individuals walked down the dusty mountain trail. In the distance, with a commanding view on a small hill overlooking the vast desert, a fortification stood in silent sentinel over the surrounding area. The blue banners flying from the structure marked its allegiance, making the archer of the pair concerned.
"It is not a bad idea, my dear disciple! Buddha insists we can go there!"
"Buddha had also guided you onto a sheer cliff where you were screaming in terror as your sight flickered… I had to hold your arm the entire way down as you complained relentlessly."
"That was only for a moment!" the black-haired caster complained. She had her arms crossed in discontent as she stared at her chosen companion. Tota's bright red and blue outfit shined in the sun with vivid saturation, much like his flowing lime ponytail. Usually his muscular frame would be chuckling with mirth, but he currently had his arms crossed with exasperation. A large bag of wrapped rice lay on the ground at his feet thanks to their little pause.
"You also complain the desert is too hot… You complain underground. I can't think of anything you haven't complained about besides me!"
"Enough of your talk, Tota, we have friendly knight enforcers to greet, see?"
The caster made a happy wave of her hand towards the approaching contingent of enforcers, led by a purple armored knight. Tota became concerned upon feeling the magical energy signature of the one leading the group… and became even more nervous when several of them drew their weapons in a show of outright aggression. Several archers on the flanks drew their bows as they marched, making the servant summon his own as Xuanzang's expression grew nervous and confused.
Tota narrowed his eyes and gripped his bow as he stared warily at the approaching Sir Lancelot. His expression was stern, and he did not look happy in the least bit. In truth, the knight was not. He had been shamed by the Chaldean Team and was not pleased with the gossip running rampant through Camelot because of it. He approached with the intent to help clear his name, and the orders by the Lion King were very clear.
"Apprehend all stray servants encountered, no exceptions. The next time you mess up will be your execution."
o==(=======- -VII- -=======)==o
"How are your injuries, Gawain?" Bedivere asked as he approached the gate. The Chaldean knight glanced towards his slightly limping friend. Though visually fine on the outside, Bedivere's injuries would need some extra time to heal. His were on a greater severity altogether.
"Painful still, but Medea's connection is helping numb it." Slowly, Gawain turned back to look southward.
Gawain had been keeping his post at the village's southern approach ever since he returned. The surrounding Saracens had gotten word of the knight's deeds and had congratulated his success on taking down one of the dreaded knights; There would certainly be a lively celebration tonight. Though he took their compliments in humble stride, his attitude remained… somber. It had perplexed the surrounding warriors, though they did not question his mood.
Bedivere knew better. After confirming the concerned Saracens were not eavesdropping, he whispered. "Are you putting yourself down for being bested by Sir Tristan?"
"I let my temper get the best of me… again. And it nearly cost me my life," Gawain muttered, his gaze still staring where the convoy may possibly be. "I vowed to be a stalwart and virtuous knight, yet here I am letting my grudges and emotions get the better of me at every corner… I have not learned…"
Bedivere was silent as the words repeated in his head, and barely hid his shock. Gawain was yet another of the king's gallant knights who exuded confidence, yet here he was second guessing himself. Though he was not wrong in his judgement, it was simply unusual for Gawain to admit his reservations. There was no doubt the blonde saber now knew how antagonistic he was being after the scolding, but he was only following his heart.
"I understand the situation is troubling, especially when you end up fighting yourself… But you've only been trying to make amends when possible. That's why you continue to stare towards the south, isn't it? You want to be out there protecting those refugees."
"It is true…" Gawain admitted quietly. Bedivere noted several Saracens were now trying to discreetly listen in. He would not stop their eavesdropping. "But the masters have ordered I shall return to Chaldea… so I won't be. I understand it was equally my fault for being so abrasive to Mordred... But if I may, can you promise me something, Bedivere?"
"I'm listening."
Gawain turned to face him fully. "Promise you'll make things right in the end. That you'll see her majesty through this safely to end the Lion King's atrocities."
There was a pause as Bedivere lingered on his words, secretly shamed for the final secret he held from all of them. He nodded. "On my honor."
o==(=======- -VIII- -=======)==o
Basked in the orange hues of an Arabian sunset, Cursed Arm made his rounds around the village and soaked in the cheerful planning and conversations that surrounded his people. There was going to be a large feast in celebration, and he had no intention of stopping them. He would simply keep silent watch over the area with the servants who had volunteered to help do so. They could not afford to let their guard down, but he would not stop them from making memories either.
As he turned a corner, his heart welled with lost emotion when he spotted Rashid waving goodbye to some other children as they parted ways. Their play time had ended only as the sun dipped low for its routine slumber. The young boy turned around and looked up at the dark-skinned servant. He smiled at the assassin with cheerful admiration of the town's guardian Hassan. Beneath the mask, the servant smiled back warmly.
"Did you have fun playing their games, Rashid?"
"It was fun! I wish mom could have been here to see it, Mister Sabbah!"
"Yes… I wish your mother could have as well. But I'm glad you're happy," Cursed Arm replied quietly as he patted the young boy atop his turban to draw out a laugh. For that moment, he was allowed to pretend Rashid truly was his son. He still remembered it like it was yesterday… remembered her like she was still there before his decision. Would Rashid have been his son instead? It no longer mattered... all that did was that he was all he had left of Selia, so he would forever treat Rashid as his own.
Cursed Arm watched as Takisha ran over to them with a bright smile. She politely bowed to Cursed Arm with a smile. "Good evening!"
"To you as well, young lady."
"Rashid! Arturia is going to read us a story from Atalanta's book! Do you want to come?"
"Okay! Bye bye, Mister Sabbah!" The pair quickly began running towards the gathering of children in the distance, but not before cheerfully waving goodbye. The Hassan waved back with a sense of warm fulfillment welling within.
They protected his people, regardless of village or circumstance. They had unknowingly protected his beloved's son, even if his living self was gone from the era. These were servants and masters who could truly be called heroes for bringing light to his family and friends. For the many months he had watched over this place, he had never seen them so happy and hopeful for the future. Even with the threat of the Lion King's shadow encroaching ever further into the mountains, his people laughed and smiled like they had when he was alive.
Final reservations removed, Cursed Arm burned with resolve to do whatever he could to help Chaldea keep it that way.
o==(=======- -IX- -=======)==o
Sir Mordred rode alone through the wasteland on her dark steed. The red tapestries that adorned the horse flapped in the wind like warning flags to any who dared approach the speeding knight. The horses of the Round were significantly faster than the enforcers' horses, and with her unit currently stationed in the eastern fortress, she was free to gallop at full speed. The prana-built horses had endurance like no other, and would not be winded by a simple trek that would outpace highway drivers.
She would be at her destination before dawn the next morning, and there she would begin her search for the prized master.
A glint in the distance caught her attention, and she stared forward as a knight hunter came into view. It was not unusual for scouts to be sent out, but they moved in groups of three to deter the beasts of the wasteland. Even if a scout's mount was second only in speed to a Round member's steed, travelling alone was unwise without urgent reason. Judging by the flowing black banner from the horse's back, it was one of Agravain's many scouts, and she would gladly sate her curiosity with conversation.
The scout saluted as he brought his steed to a halt. "Sir Mordred."
"What are you doing riding alone, hunter?"
"Sir Agravain had requested the report directly. I ride with information regarding Sir Tristan's failed attack on the newly revealed village."
"…Failed attack?" She mused out loud. He would never fail a simple raid. "Is he at the fortress?"
"Sir Tristan has been felled in battle."
Within the confines of her helm, the knight could not see her shocked expression. She looked calm and controlled on the outside, but her mind was racing with thoughts. Seconds passed in dead silence as her mind slowly knit the web. With it, her emotions grew like a hungry flame.
Sir Tristan was dead. She was surprised, but it quickly turned into eagerness at the fresh opportunity since there was now a vacant keep within the hallowed walls… But she had to confirm the truth. She cleared her throat and raised a front, "Tis' unbelievable! Surely you jest, and I'm not in the mood for jokes... How is this possible?"
"It appeared Sir Tristan could not unleash his full power against the many servants. The drop in his magical energy signature occurred after he was struck by the silver arm of a servant."
'The cloaked servant from the gates.' Sir Mordred nodded in confirmation. "Did you get a good look at the servant who dealt the blow?"
"It appeared to be a silver-haired knight wearing the same armor as one of the Round. He also carrying an ornate silver dress sword. He was accompanied by the Chaldean Gawain and what appeared to be another, younger blonde Knight of the Round with a golden sword. There were also flyin-"
The gifted knight froze. "…Hold it. Knight with a golden sword?"
"Yes, Sir Mordred."
She remained unusually calm and quiet. Seconds passed, and the scout once more grew uncomfortable. "If you do not wish to hear my full report, shall I ride and inform Sir Agravain of the developments, or mayhaps I give the rest of my report to inform him yourself?"
"Neither, hunter."
"Sir Mord-?" The hunter cleaved vertically as Clarent practically glided through his body. His mount's cries were silenced as she swiftly thrust the blade through its skull. As the two began to dissolve into azure dust, Sir Mordred smirked to herself under her helm. She would gladly tell Sir Agravain all he needed to know... except what she needed to claim her glory.
Two masters. Bedivere. A weaker version of her father… What fitting war trophies to finally earn her own keep within the Holy City. Father will be proud!
o==(=======- -X- -=======)==o
"What did you and Gudao talk about?"
"Concerns I had for what's to come, that's all." Arturia nodded quietly at his answer as they walked through the village towards the dinner area. Emiya chuckled. "Jeanne and her master plan keeping you distracted?"
She smiled. "It's difficult to think of anything else when you're surrounded by playful children."
The archer smiled. He knew eventually she would soon think about her encounter with Sir Tristan; It was likely it would happen again tonight. At least there was comfort in knowing she wasn't as depressed and lost compared to their arrival in the village. She would handle this alright so long as she had the company she needed, and he has been doing everything to influence that.
The saber's smile disappeared as an individual walked out of an alleyway ahead. A few villagers stared in curiosity at the new servant, whose clothes blended with the dim night. The assassin turned to face the two who kept walking in his general direction. The moving shadow's form was slowly illuminated by torchlight to unveil the silent reaper. Pulling down the hood of his red shroud, the tall, white-haired servant looked towards Emiya and smirked with a small nod. It was returned with a signature smirk of his own.
"Good grief… You're a bit late. Getting rusty, Jii-san?"
The older Emiya laughed. "Don't get smart with me, Shirou."
"Why would I ever do that?" The father lightly punched his adopted son in the arm.
Arturia watched the interaction fondly, though her expression remained blank. The assassin turned to her and nodded as his smirk faded significantly. "Evening, Arturia."
"Kiritsugu." Her response was just as stiff.
The archer watched the small exchange in slight disappointment. He was used to it being like this, and he couldn't fault either. He merely sighed and pushed them along. "Jii-san, how was the reconnaissance?"
The assassin reached into a pocket in his outfit and produced an electronic mapping device created in Chaldea. It looked like a tablet version of the wrist-mounted comms device. "I've marked the patrol routes their scouts have been using. I believe I've also located their base of operations in the western range… Do you know where the masters are? I'd like to show them the intel before it gets too late."
"They're in the long house in the town's center with Bedivere and Mashu. Their strategy meeting has been going on for an hour already."
o==(=======- -XI- -=======)==o
"If I gather from the many more villages to the west, we may have a few thousand warriors… Camelot has nearly ten thousand enforcers, and they are much stronger," Hundred Face sighed from her side of the table. "…That doesn't include any of the Knights of the Round, or the Lion King."
The long house only contained the long wooden table and several chairs to sit. The few windows were covered with makeshift cloth blinds while scattered candles providing the only light. The three Hassans sat on one side with Gabrielle, while Mashu, Gudao, and Bedivere sat opposite of them. On the table, a comms device project the translucent screen to show Lord El-Melloi II and Roman. They, like the male master, were not looking too pleased with the numbers.
He breathed slowly. "We managed to take down one with the help of Bedivere's noble phantasm and several servants. Though some received serious injuries, if we bring more in we should be capable of attacking Camelot."
"Gudao, I would not advise that," El-Melloi interjected. The caster shook his head as Doctor Roman listened next to him. "We've never had more than twenty servants deployed at any given time."
"But we have Gabrielle. The fate system can handle the combat prana dispersion through both of us, so we can theoretically field more."
"While I understand your insistence to have overwhelming firepower, we're just simply not going to get that number when most of the servants in Chaldea are still healing from the last singularity," he insisted. "With the amount of fighting that's been done prior to the leyline, the generators have slowed to a crawl."
"Um… There is someone powerful enough to help even the odds," Serenity began in a hopeful tone. She quickly fell silent when the other Hassans snapped their heads to face her.
"Serenity, as a Hassan, you do know what you're implying," Cursed Arm spoke slowly. Gudao was surprised at how… unnerved he was.
"You know very well what asking the founder entails for Cursed Arm! He may be a servant, but this is the time he lived!" Hundred Face reprimanded harshly. The smaller assassin winced with guilt and glanced to Gabrielle for hopeful support. "To ask for his aid would mean…"
"I-I'm sorry, I was only looking for our best options…! With him on our side, we would be sure to win," Serenity stuttered, though Gabrielle put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The touch was practically magic as her worries were replaced by the warmth of a human touch. She blushed, "…Gabby?"
"No need to be upset," Gudao smiled at her. Serenity turned to him with a bright blush as he looked to the older Hassans curiously… but missed the jealous gaze from Mashu. "I don't mean to intrude on personal matters, but if one person can turn the tide that greatly, may we at least know who this… individual is?"
Cursed Arm and Hundred Face looked to each other in silence as they seemed to study each other's thoughts through their eyes. Their decision was considered in silence before Bedivere cleared his throat. "If I may… this village resides in the same valley as the Temple of Azrael, which means perhaps… would this person be the First Hassan?"
Cursed Arm looked towards Bedivere with growing suspicion. The knight felt the discerning eyes behind the mask, mentally flinched, and chastised himself for possibly crossing a line of knowledge. The Hassan cemented his gaze, joined by an equally concerned Hundred Face and a confused Serenity. He questioned slowly. "…How do you know this, Bedivere? Of the founder?"
"The magician who sent me here informed me of what I needed to know," Bedivere replied quickly. Almost too quickly for Cursed Arm's liking. "I was told he would be an ally of great importance who could help me defeat the Lion King… Merlin said I'd need all the help I could get."
Gudao and Gabrielle leaned into the table in interest then to the older Hassan in confirmation. The silence was thick. Finally, Cursed Arm sighed, though he glued his scrutiny on Bedivere. "He is indeed correct… If the first were to help us, we would have no need to fear of the Lion King's best men."
"Even if they were a servant, would that really be enough?" Doctor Roman chimed in as El-Melloi rubbed his chin in thought. It looked like he could really use a cigarette.
"The protector of our cult is a special existence," Serenity chimed in. "He is revered greatly, so no locals approach the temple out of respect. To the founder, all lives are equal."
"Whether they're strong or weak, it doesn't matter. I was told that rather than killing his enemies, they simply met their own fate," Bedivere added, making a surprised Serenity nod in agreement. "He is an angel of death who can cut down anything his eyes land upon."
"As if he had Mystic Eyes of Death Perception…?" The blue tinted El-Melloi pondered.
Cursed Arm scrutinizing stare remained drawn to Bedivere and visibly made the knight uncomfortable. Gudao took note but ignored it. "If this is the case… then I would like for him to aid us if possible. We can definitely use all the help we can get to minimize casualties."
The Hassans turned to each other in silent deliberation. To the masters surprise, not a word was uttered as they simply glanced in each other's eyes to determine their stance. The seconds passed in dead silence. The gentle flapping of the makeshift blinds echoed like the ticks of a clock. At once, they suddenly turned towards Gudao, followed slowly by a nod of agreement from Cursed Arm.
"Very well, Gudao… I shall lead you to the Temple of Azrael tomorrow."
Hundred Face nodded solemnly as she glanced at Cursed Arm. "And I will leave in the morning to gather more warriors."
o==(=======- -XII- -=======)==o
Jekyll and Mordred walked in silence towards the leyshift shack. It was adjacent to Medea's temporary workshop and kept it out of the public eye, though was much smaller in size. Instead of telepathy, Jekyll had recently been sent to fetch Mordred, and he believed Jeanne was rounding up the other two with the help of Jack. He took a small glance towards his painfully quiet friend before returning his eyes forward. The silence persisted like a plague, in contrast to the growing festivities as the timed celebratory feast and party drew near.
Mordred finally sighed as the building came into sight. "I guess I'll see you in Chaldea when this is all over…"
"Of course… I'll treat you to a sundae to make up for it." Jekyll slowed his pace.
The knight began walking away but soon found herself stop too. As she came to a halt, Jekyll tossed a curious glance her way. She turned around slowly, uncertainty in her eyes. "Do you really believe my father could do something like this? …Without being controlled by something evil?"
Jekyll braced for the worst, knowing full well how much of a tightrope he had to walk when referring to her father. He dared anyway. "You know how I feel about good and evil, Mordred. You should know my answer."
She scowled and looked to the ground in discontent. "I just… don't believe father can do such…"
Her eyes widened when she felt, rather than saw, Jekyll place a comforting arm on one of her pauldrons. She turned and looked into his sympathetic eyes. "I've long since believed there's a bit of evil in everyone, and no potion or cleansing can ever take that away… Duality is constant balance. Good cannot exist without evil, but in the end every person chooses who they become."
"So father can always be good?" She asked with a tinge of hope. It was a stupid question; She knew the answers, but she still wished to hear the one she wanted.
He chuckled at Mordred's simplicity and hidden adoration for her father, which made her scowl once more. "Yes... She can remain always true to her lawful and just ideals, or outside influence can turn her into that monstrosity you fought in London."
Mordred internally cringed at the memory, though remained silent so he could continue. "Then… what about the Lion King? Does that mean… they might be good too?"
"I…" Jekyll stuttered, turning unsure. It was a simplistic inquiry, yet raised a hundred questions. Truthfully, that was something he'd rather not think about too hard. Good people were often drawn down dark alleys to achieve a beautiful goal. "It's not impossible… Perhaps it's evil masquerading as good. Perhaps she's just misguided and we can make her see her wrongs… But it's not likely. I can't see any justification for the innocents being massacred."
"So… even without being tainted… father can be-"
"Stop worrying. We don't know what happened to make her turn out like… this... Regardless, the one with us is not the Lion King."
Mordred actually looked troubled. "But in the future, what if-"
"Quit overthinking things again. That's my quirk," he chastised lightly as he playfully flicked her on the forehead. She growled menacingly as he smiled. "Anything is possible. As I said, she can turn out like that or stay the King of Knights you grew up admiring. There's always the chance, but I learned to stop worrying about what could happen to enjoy what is... After all, I'd say you turned out right in the end, haven't you, Knight of Treachery?"
"…I-I let you get away with too much," she grumbled with embarrassment as she began walking away. "Make it back without getting yourself injured… And don't you dare die, Jekyll!"
He gladly nodded and watched the feisty girl who gave true meaning to the idea of a second chance disappear behind a wooden door.
o==(=======- -XIII- -=======)==o
"You heard me correctly. I have been convinced that both of you may stay under the condition you continue to act civil. If you desire a reason, a few servants, who I will not name, have vouched for both of you to remain in the field."
The two knights stood in shock at hearing the repeated decision as they stared blankly towards Mashu and Gudao. Dantes simply watched in the corner with crossed arms. The knights glanced towards each other before quickly looking back at their master. Gudao simply continued. "Gawain, you are to report to Medea immediately after celebrations tonight so she may properly handle your injuries. While I don't like the idea of keeping vulnerable servants in the field, I will make an exception this time. You will not medevac."
After a brief pause, Gawain held a hand to his chest and bowed. "I understand, Master. I will do all in my power to ensure you do not regret your decision."
"Good. You're both dismissed, so enjoy the celebrations and have a nice evening!"
Silently, the two servants left the building as Mashu began setting up her shield. A leyline node provided an accurate spot for leyshifting, but it still wasn't precise enough; Gudao wasn't keen on having a servant accidentally appear in someone's bedroom upon transfer. That'd just be plain rude.
Since the beginning, Mashu's shield acted as an additional homing beacon, and, when stacked with the mythical node, made leyshifting absolutely precise. As her shield began to glow from its spot on the ground, Gudao turned to Dantes with a nod. They could keep him here to heal in the same manner, but the damage to his spiritual core was significantly worse thanks to the deep, full body lacerations he ran into.
"I apologize for being careless, Gudao," the count admitted. His calmness had grown considerably over the many weeks, though his apologies were still rare but genuine. "Thanks for letting me avenge the fallen."
"Of course! Thanks for doing your part and saving Arturia!"
Dantes nodded and smirked. "I look forward to the ending of this play... Good luck."
o==(=======- -XIV- -=======)==o
"Did her majesty request this?" Gawain whispered his thoughts out loud. Mordred's ears did not fail to catch the question.
The female knight scoffed as she continued walking towards the celebrations. "As if father would want me here anyway…"
Gawain would have glared at Mordred had he not been more surprised at the tone she took. The frustration was clear, yet inferred something different from hatred. Had he not paid attention to his king so much with worry, he would have not recognized the dull glint in Mordred's torch lit eyes... The same hint of sadness that had been so apparent in their mirror pair since they arrived; The same self-depreciation and helplessness over a current situation.
Thankfully, she was not looking at him as he briefly gazed at her.
The tall knight slowed his pace, though Mordred didn't care. While Gawain trailed behind her without a parting farewell, his mind fumbled with the growing possibility. Could it be that there was far more to the Knight of Treachery than simple, petty anger for being rejected for the throne? The idea that he has been misjudging her did not elude him, especially after her recent actions and the deep reservations over his own. The thought seemed absurd to him after all she's done…
…but it was still possible.
o==(=======- -XV- -=======)==o
The celebrations had lasted long into the night. Toasts and cheers came on after the other like Christmas gifts, all for the Chaldean servants and the Guardian Hassans; Perhaps the greatest toast was that the happy villagers once more believed in a coming dawn. Though following morning was quiet business as usual, though many townsfolk had slept in, the cheers still echoed from now empty tables. For the children, the celebrations only continued as their sparkling eyes witnessed Arash's return atop the majestic Pegasus.
"Arash is back!" "Are you hurt, Arash?" "Welcome back!" "We missed you so much!" "Tell us stories!"
The archer laughed heartily as the children swarmed him like bees. Medusa hopped off her mount as it slowly disappeared but silently enjoyed the sight before her. The olive-skinned man had fallen onto his butt as he excitedly interacted with the children with a bright grin. With exaggerated gestures and varied facial expression, he brought the kids to even greater laughter with flawless ease. It was a perfect mirror to how Arash would treat Illya and her friends in Chaldea's halls; Being great with children was a severe understatement.
"I pray you found no trouble on the way over?" Bedivere inquired as he passed by and silently enjoyed the vibrant cluster with a smile.
"Almost too quiet," Medusa replied quietly with a nod. She soon left to report back to the masters while Bedivere continued his stroll.
As he turned a corner nearby, still in his search for his king, he came face to face with Cursed Arm. Slightly taken back by his firm stance, Bedivere held his ground and nodded towards the assassin. He figured it was only a matter of time before the Hassan confronted him after making scrutinizing glances during the meeting. The saber simply sighed and held his ground.
"This is about my knowledge of the temple, am I correct?"
"You're a terrible liar, Bedivere."
The saber swallowed hard but stood firm. "…I did not lie entirely, as I'm sure you know."
"No. You did not," Cursed Arm replied firmly in confirmation.
"I learned of the first Hassan from a magician in France. Like the masters of Chaldea, I too have seen my fair share of travels and learned a lot in doing so… If I may request, there are some things I dare not reveal, not of malice or ill intent… but-"
"But because you carry a burden and shame that you don't want troubling your comrades," the Hassan finished for him as the saber fell into silent shock. "We Hassans can tell a lot. Your eyes have told me everything in this conversation, Bedivere. I will lift my suspicions… and accept your request."
As Cursed Arm began walking away, Bedivere held his hand out. "Why so easily?"
The Hassan stopped, but did not turn around. The seconds ticked by before he spoke.
"Because you've helped give my people what I could not, and will continue to do so. And for that, we are now even."
o==(=======- -XVI- -=======)==o
"I'm sorry I have to drag you two out again so soon, but I'd rather not have anyone away from the village for too long even with our numbers."
"It's fine! Right?" Astolfo looked towards his mount with a grin. His mount's response was to swat the rider on the head with its wing. Astolfo hissed and rubbed his head while the noble beast practically huffed. The Hippogriff was as displeased as ever, it seemed.
Medusa chuckled from atop the Pegasus. Her current injuries had vanished thanks to Medea, in stark contrast to Gawain's current predicament. The knight was completely immobilized within the shack as both the Princess of Colchis and Hans oversaw his leyline healing. Speeding up significant damage was not something difficult, but if the knight were to move around, it would take significantly longer than the minimum twenty-four hours. It also required a constant channel from two casters.
Arturia glanced to her side at Lancelot, who both stood ready for the journey. Mashu was gently petting the Hippogriff, who looked more pleased with the demi-servant's attention than its owner. Astolfo pouted at the outright betrayal as Gudao made a final, quiet inquiry to Cursed Arm. With that complete, he turned to the rest and snapped his fingers twice.
"Arturia and Lancelot will ride with Medusa. The rest with Astolfo." Immediately, the team began taking their places.
The assassin sighed and silently braced himself for what he was about to go through. The pilgrimage was always done by land, and with far less people than present. He was unsure how the founder would react to all the predicaments, but knew his fate in the end would not change. Steeled yet truthfully nervous, but for the good of his people, he turned to get on the… wait a second.
"Gudao… there does not appear to be room for me on the Hippogriff. Shall I ride with Medusa so I may properly lead the way?"
Astolfo simply grinned, and it made the assassin nervous. "Don't worry, I got one last seat! Isn't that right?"
The sudden glint in the Hippogriff's eyes could make a chimera sweat.
