Einzbern Castle's Central Courtyard, Night 3

"My wish is quite simple." Scáthach said with her eyes closed. "I wish for someone who can kill me to appear."

Scáthach is the warrior-queen and gatekeeper of the haunted ground called the "Land of Shadows", she is a prodigy of spearmanship and Rune magecraft. She possesses a power immense enough to obtain control over and close the gate of the "Land of Shadows", which is overflowing with countless ghosts, to ward off the dead.

Having turned halfway into a Divine Spirit at the end of a long time, she became an immortal existence. She can no longer die as a person. Neither a beautiful death, nor even a hideous death. She must simply continue to exist, until the end of times. If something like the Holy Grail is truly almighty, then she hoped someone who is capable of killing her to appear.

The mood turned solemn at her words. To many, immortality might be the ultimate dream they chased after. But it was also a curse to many as well. The experience of watching everyone you knew die while was torturous.

'Though I no longer felt the torment of eternal life after meeting Master.' Her Master, a man who also possessed immortality, had a life that she couldn't think of. Her experience couldn't compare to the pain and sorrow her Master has gone through. 'Is this what it felt like when you meet someone who is similar to you? Perhaps, perhaps he can be the one to give me hope...'

"I can not understand you, Queen of the Land of Shadows. I believe eternity is a beautiful and magnificent thing." Semiramis looked at Scáthach questioningly. "Wouldn't it be marvelous to live forever? My wish is to have an eternal rule. I desire an eternal life and an eternal authority over the masses."

The Wise Queen of Assyria ascended to the throne and reigned as a regent over Assyria for a few decades by assassinating the king with poison, this is the oldest case of murder by poisoning in legends.

She was a very enthusiastic person who indulged in luxury and pleasure. Since her childhood, she has studied a wide range of disciplines such as cosmetics, hairdressing, dancing, clothing, music and astronomy, and her beautiful face has captivated many men.

Her passion has led her to start a war to possess a single man, and to poison her husband, the king, for politics, but her abilities as a queen are indisputable, proven by the many expeditions she has led.

She believed it necessary for one to be superior to others and have more desires than regular people as a ruler, thinking that those who uphold frugality are only playing a sport privileged to those who have gained the most important possession of all, authority.

Semiramis wanted to live forever in an empire where her words are absolute, to live luxuriously without any worries for all eternity!

Scáthach didn't refute her words. Everyone have their own wish and she didn't have the right to interfere, she just hope that Semiramis' wish wouldn't backfire on herself.

Semiramis huffed and turned to Nero after seeing Scáthach' silence. "Your turn, Roman Emperor. "

Although she wanted to ask why the Irish woman detested immortality so greatly, the other party clearly didn't want to answer.

"Umu. My wish is to let all the world witness my art!" Nero said with a flamboyant gesture.

Nero believes that she is an artist before an emperor, truly thinking that she is an artist who rivals the god of arts, Apollo.

"Though rebuilding Domus Aurea is good too..." Nero seemed to be in a deep contemplation. Yet in actuality, not even ten seconds passed.

"Umu, I've decided! Although rebuilding my Domus Aurea is great, but won't it be better to just build a new theater that will be even grander than the old one?! My new theater will surpass all my previous creations and become the ultimate art!"

'Umu. I am indeed wise!' That's right! She would have a new theater and she will show it off to the world! Both her wishes would be fulfilled.

"A splendid dream, Emperor of Rome!" Rider clapped at Nero's passionate statement.

"The pinnacle of arts, huh?" Nobunaga rubbed her chin and widened her eyes. 'So that's it! Why haven't I realized it sooner? Explosions are the pinnacle of arts! I have been an aspiring artist this whole time!'

Looks like the relationship between Nero and Nobunaga got closer even when they didn't notice it themselves.

Of course, if Nobunaga's inner monologue was known to someone like Artoria, she would summon her Excalibur and blast the young girl to smithereens immediately.

The Demon King of the Sixth Heaven was known as an evil and merciless warlord in history. She ordered brutal massacres which ended the lives of countless people, women and children included.

So how could a lawful knight like Artoria allow Nobunaga's interest in weapons of massive destruction to blossom further?

"I don't have a wish for the Holy Grail because Master has already granted it." Tamamo downed a cup of wine while Circe and Kiyohime had the 'as expected' expression on their faces.

The three Servants who weren't included in the conversation between the seven other Servants were drinking as well.

Circe has taken out a wine bottle and the other two sniggered when she told them that she stole it from Semiramis' stash.

"Caster, what is your wish for the Holy Grail?" Tamamo asked with a curious face.

Her and Kiyohime's wishes were pretty obvious. She wished to find true love with Titus, to marry him and spend their life together eternally. Kiyohime's wish should be similar to hers.

"I'd wish for everyone in the world to understand the greatness of kykeon." Circe replied while nodding at the thoughts of her favorite food.

"Kykeon?" Kiyohime raised her eyebrows.

"This oat porridge, is kykeon!" A bowl of violet porridge appeared on Circe's hand. "It can be both a medicine as well as a poison, it's a food of the gods!"

Kykeon was an Ancient Greek drink of various descriptions. Some were made mainly of water, barley and naturally occurring substances. Others were made with wine and grated cheese. It is widely believed that kykeon usually refers to a psychoactive compounded brew. Basically, it was a drug.

In the Odyssey, Circe added honey and magic potions into her kykeon. So was it a magical drug?

"Try it!" Circe summoned a spoon and smiled.

Tamamo and Kiyohime refused. They wanted to know what the bowl of porridge will do, but they weren't willing to be its 'victim'. Not to mention that the bowl of violet 'sludge' was giving them an ominous feeling.

"Tsk, tsk. You just don't understand its greatness." Circe shook her head while pointing the spoon at the two pale Servants.

"Well, at least Master ate it happily when I fed him." Circe said with love in her voice.

Tamamo and Kiyohime turned fierce at the mention of Titus. A woman's jealousy shouldn't be underestimated.

How could they forget it? Despite the young girl's innocent looking face, she was known as the Witch of Temptation and Depravity in mythology.

Circe was an eternal maiden with a tendency to fall in love and become deeply jealous. She is also the aunt and tutor of Medea, the Witch of Betrayal!

"Y-You fed master?" Tamamo had a forced smile.

"Uh huh. He finished a large serving of kykeon and even complimented my cooking." Circe nodded at Tamamo with a cheerful smile.

'I can't let Master near this woman!' The two rivals of love looked at each other and made a temporary alliance. How could they allow Titus near the witch that turned men into lions, wolves, and pigs upon growing bored of them?

"Why do you ask?" Circe tilted her head. "Well, whatever... Hey. Tell me your wish, Kiyohime."

"I..." Kiyohime put down her cup and paused for a few seconds. "I... I wish for a world without black lies."

Kiyohime answer surprised both Tamamo and Circe.

They expected her wish to be related to Titus and definitely not something like this.

"Will you not wish to be together with Master?" Circe asked and Tamamo nodded vigorously. Shouldn't she be happy at the possible lost of a love rival?

"Of course I want to be with Master." Kiyohime was gloomy. "He has been honest and gentle to me since my summoning. But..."

"But what?" Tamamo shook the dragon girl.

"I don't like lies! I wish those swindling pigs to disappear forever so that no one would have to suffer from untruthfulness anymore!"

Kiyohime loathed dishonesty.

In her legend, She fell in love at first sight with the handsome monk Anchin, who requested for a single night's lodgings while on his way to a temple in Kumano. However, upon visiting Anchin late at night, Kiyohime was bluntly rejected. Nevertheless, Anchin promised to meet her again while on his way back from the temple in Kumano.

In the end, Anchin broke his promise out of fear for Kiyohime and ended up running away without meeting her. Noticing that, Kiyohime felt into despair, grief, and resentment over being betrayed, turned into a Dragon and began to pursue him. Finally catching up at a temple, she burned Anchin to death while he was hiding inside a bell.

She is a self-styled girl that lived for love. Due to her madness, she believed her Master was the reincarnation of Anchin. Only after Titus removed her insanity with a Command Seal did she realized that he wasn't her love.

But even knowing her Master wasn't the reincarnation of Anchin, she still fell in love with him. To be more precise, she fell in love with his honesty. It was the first time someone has been this sincere to her.

Titus taught her about the world she has never seen before and she came to know that not all lies were harmful. In fact, eternal honesty would end up destroying the concept of trust between humans. Humans are creatures whom possessed ever-changing morality. Their actions and thoughts reflected on the situation they were in and small lies helped humans trust each other.

That is why a world without lies would bring out every human's ugliest selves. However, it wasn't wrong to wish for the removal of all harmful lies! Those men who cheated others with lies should all just disappear!

"I-I get it. I don't like lies either." Tamamo bit her lips and muttered.

Tamamo, who also originated from Japan, knew the dragon girl's legend. She hated those treacherous people since her own downfall was similarly caused by a single lie.

"Ah, look! Saber of Blue is going to reveal her wish!" Circe tried to change the topic after seeing the depressing atmosphere.

With Nero's dream told, the only one remained was Artoria.

"Those wishes... that's not how a king should be."

Everyone looked at the young girl's solemn face.

"Hmm?" Semiramis leered. "Let us hear what you wish for then."

The Assyrian Queen was clearly displeased at the insult. While others were more interested in the young King of Knights' answer than her disparagement.

"I wish for my homeland's salvation. With the omnipotent wish-granting device, I shall avert Britain's fate of destruction." As Saber dramatically finished her sentence, everyone lapsed into silence.

"Hey King of Knights." Rider finally broke the silence. "Did you just say that you would change fate? Does that mean you wish to change the past?"

"That's right. Even if it is a wish that a miracle can not fulfill, if the Holy Grail truly is omnipotent, I'm sure..." Saber answered haughtily, misunderstanding others' silence as confusion.

Semiramis snickered, but Rider spoke up before Saber can rebuke the dark-haired queen.

"Uh, Saber... just making sure, but the country known as Britain fell during your time, during your reign, right?"

"That's right. That's why I can't accept it. That's why I lament it." Saber motioned her hand to her chest in a gesture. "I want to change how it all ended, because it's none other than my responsibility-"

Suddenly, Semiramis laughed out loud. The laughter was full of mockery and amusement.

Saber was enraged by the grave insults, the thing most precious to her was ridiculed by Semiramis. She hasn't noticed the concerned looks the other Servants were giving her because of her anger.

"...Queen of Assyria. What's so funny?"

"She calls herself a king and is praised by everyone as such... yet she says that she laments it?" Semiramis ignored Saber as she chuckled. "How can I possibly keep a straight face?!"

"Saber." Rider creased his brow as he stared at Saber with worry in his eyes. "Surely you aren't denying the history in which you've created?"

"I am! Why are you bewildered? Why do you laugh?" Saber was stubborn as she had never doubted her own ideals. "The country that gave me my blade, the country that I sacrificed my life to, was destroyed. Is there something wrong with my grieving?

"Did you hear that, King Alexander?" Semiramis giggled with ridicule. "This young girl who calls herself the King of Knights is speaking about sacrificing for her country!"

"How is that funny at all?!" Saber stood up and glared at Semiramis. "A king should make any sacrifice to ensure his country's prosperity."

"No. You're wrong." Rider objected in a deep and firmed voice. "The king does not sacrifice anything. It is the country and the people that sacrifice themselves for the king. Absolutely not the other way around."

"What?!" Saber shouted. "Those are the words of a tyrant!" Saber could no longer suppress her own anger.

"Exactly. We are heroes because we are tyrants." Rider face remained gloomy. "However, Saber. If a king regrets his rule or its conclusion, that king is nothing but a fool. Being a fool is worse than being a tyrant!"

"Iskandar... your reign ended with your heirs slained, and your empire dissolved into three parts." Saber retorted sharply. "Do you have no regrets at how it ended?"

"No, I do not." Rider answered calmly. "If the end was brought by my decisions, then I will accept it for what it is."

"...What?"

"Yes, I will grieve. Yes, I will weep. But I shall never regret!" Rider stood up and glared at Saber. "Let alone undo it! Such a foolish act is an insult to all who fought alongside me during my reign!"

"Only brutes find glory in destruction!" Saber shook her head. "Of what worth is a king who fails to protect the powerless?"

The other Servants stared at Saber pitifully.

"A correct governance and a lawful society. Those are the true duties of a king!" Saber proclaimed firmly. "The only one fit to rule is someone who would willingly give themselves up for an ideal."

"That's not how a person should live." Rider sat down and let out a deep sigh.

"Saber. You said you would die for your ideals. In life, you must have been a pure and honest saint. A noble and inviolable figure, certainly." Rider stared into Saber's eyes. "But who on Earth admires the martyr's thorny path? Who dreams of such a life?"

Rider downed his cup and continued.

"You see... As king, you must be greedier. You must laugh louder, and you must be more furious than everyone else! A king must exemplify the extreme of all things, including good and evil. That is exactly why his subjects envy and adore him. And why the flame of wanting to be like the king can burn in the hearts of every civilian."

"Proud King of Knights. The righteousness and ideals you bore may have saved your country once. However... I'm sure you know what happened to those who were constantly and only saved."

"What... did you say?" Saber eyes wavered.

The bloodstained sunset hill.

That sight she wanted to forget so greatly reappeared in her mind.

"You saved your subjects, yet you've never led them. You never showed them what a king should be. You abandoned your men when they lost their way. Alone and unperturbed, you followed your own little pretty ideals."

"I..."

There were many things she wanted to say in retort. Yet, every time she opened her mouth, she could only see the site she witnessed at Camlann.

Bodies everywhere. The blood ran like a river. There lied her subjects, friends, and loved ones.

"Thus, you are no true king. You are but a little girl, bound by the false idol of king who served others but not himself."

"I..."

As she pulled out that sword in the stone she knew about the prophecy. She knew that she was destined to fail, and she already understood.

But... why...

"Artoria Pendragon." Saber was brought back to reality by Semiramis' words.

"You are just a flower vase pretending to be king." Semiramis was no longer amused. She was instead disgusted at Saber's naivety.

"Pathetic." Scáthach shook her head. She has lived a long life and seen many things, the position of king shouldn't have landed in the hands of someone like Saber. In the end, she was only a little girl who chased after an impossible dream.

Nobunaga also recognized Saber's fault. Despite being known as an infamous warlord, you can't deny her achievement in the unification of Japan. She was able to accomplished that because she was both a wise leader and a military genius.

Nero too, was a great ruler. She loved her citizens and showered them with love. She was able to reform the corrupted government and improved diplomatic relationships. If not for being poisoned and pushed around by her mother and the senate, Rome would have prospered considerably during her reign.

"You do not understand the feelings of your subjects." Medb sighed. She herself wasn't the best of rulers, but at least she understood her citizens and was admired by them during her reign as queen. "You are just blindly leading them to your so called salvation...!"

"That is enough." Semiramis stood up. "I have had enough of you and your derision of kingship."

A dark portal appeared and she step in. "I'll see you at our final confrontation, little girl." The other Servants of White also disappeared.

The Assyrian Queen's laughter was the last thing they heard before the portal disappeared.

Author's Note:

Seibahhh!