Eleven Tensei: Reunion


"Don't think there's anybody here." X said as we sneaked through the airport terminal, "Do you know how to get on the runway?"

Probably some stairs somewhere.

"You sound real confident in that."

Why are you eating your bento already?

"Hey, if we end up in the deep end, I want to have a last meal!"


The airport was completely dark except for the various exit signs and guiding tape that guided passengers to the exit in cases of emergency. Together they enlightened enough of the darkness to avoid running into any of the myriads of stores.

"Airports are surprisingly creepy in the night." X shuddered, "I mean...when there's nobody else is around and the entire thing is shut down..."

Something rattled.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" X cried, nearly throwing away her bento in fright, "Dammit, why don't we have a flashlight?!"

Agi.

I lit a fire in my hand with fire magecraft.

"Why didn't you do that earlier?!" X sobbed as she began to shake me back and forth.

"Meow."

The new light revealed a small gray cat.

"Oh gosh, it's a kitty!" X grinned, "Commere. Commere kitty."

"Mrow?" The cat walked up to X and licked her hand.

"Oh, you're so precious!" X squealed.

The cat stood up with it's paws on X's leg and poked it's head into her bento.

"No! Bad kitty! This is my bento!" X cried, pulling the bento away.

How horrible.

You have two bentos.

"Ooooh...alright, you can have one piece of meat." X frowned as she picked out the smallest slice of meat from her bento and held it towards the cat who gobbled it up.

"You're not getting anything else okay?" X pouted.

The cat finished eating and walked away from X, sitting down in front of Alice.

"Meow."

Alice didn't respond.

"Oh come on Alice, it's a kitty cat. Here." X handed me her bento and went to go pick up the cat, "Come on. Look."

X held the cat in front of Alice and poked her with it's paws. Alice looked up and stared at the cat.

"...Cat." Alice said quietly.

"That's right, Alice. This is a cat. Here."

Alice took hold of the cat as X shoved it into her arms.

"Go on. You can pet it. Like this." X coaxed Alice, demonstrating how to pet the cat.

Alice watched for a bit and looked down at the cat in her arms. Finally she began to pet the cat who purred loudly in approval.

"Aww, you're so precious." X grinned, "Maybe we should keep it."

I don't think Nimue would approve.

What about the figure?

"AAAAAHHHH!" X cried, "Why are you eating my bento, Master?! I trusted you too!"


The three of us made our way through the terminal with Alice holding onto the cat, until we reached the gate that was closest to the fire.

"Don't let them see you." X said, crawling on her stomach and peering over the edge.

The figure stood by the fire while reading a book, deeply immersed in the text. His form seemed to shift constantly, making him hard to identify. The fire burned right beside him, carefully contained to not cause an outbreak.

"Look at those." X whispered.

There was a line of formless Shadows that made their way to and from the fire, carrying books and papers and throwing them into the fire.

"Are...they working with that Servant?" X frowned, "I didn't know you could do that with Shadows."

Another figure, plainly lit by the fire walked up to the one in shadows.

"Whoa. That's definitely another Servant." X bit her lip, "This is definitely the work of a faction."

We need to get down there.

What are they talking about?

"Alright, let's take the elevator-ah wait, there isn't any electricity. The stairs it is!"

The stairs eventually guided us towards the baggage claim and eventually to the runway. Making our way around the edge of the building, we spotted the fire from a distance and stealthily drew closer, coming to see where the Shadows were moving to and from. They seemed to be retrieving their books and papers from the back of a truck moving it from there to the fire.

"So how are we going to play this?"

Get closer.

Prepare for combat.

"Okay, Alice, I think it's time you let that cat go." X whispered.

Alice put down the cat who quickly darted off.


The three of us made our way closer to the truck until their conversation drifted back to us.

"How's your search?"

"Nothing. It appears nobody truly remembers me."

"Isn't that fine? It is the dream of any thief to be unknowable."

"That was before this. Being reborn as...this...vexing existence. No being can live as such."

"You are a weapon. Just like me. Just like all Servants. That is all."

"Being a weapon is not the problem. This mass-less, nameless form. My existence is much too close to these wretched Shadows."

"Perhaps that's why they're so fond of you."

"Cease with your tasteless jokes before I cease it for you."

"Well if you're not up for a bit of conversation perhaps you'd like to help with our little rat problem."

"DUCK!"


The truck exploded as all of dove down onto the ground.

"Spies huh?" The shadowy figure closed the book and tossed it into the fire, "Are they enemies?"

"This is a Holy Grail War. They're all enemies."

"This is bad..." X winced as she got up, "That's a ridiculously strong Archer."

"Oh? I'm honored."

"Who are you?" X called, "What are you doing here?!"

"All questions we would like to ask you." The shadow figure said as he drew a knife, "Will we have blood first or answers?"

Only if you answer first.

We'll just have to beat the answers from you!

"Now now." The Archer said, stepping in front of his comrade, "Introductions are customary. I am the Archer of Volkisch."

"Tch. Berserker of Volkisch." The shadowy figure said, "Now explain yourselves."

"Berserker? Archer? Of Volkisch?" X repeated, "They have got to be part of a faction."

We are investigating a series of disappearance.

Berserker and Assassin.

"Wh-hey!" X cried, "Why'd you go and tell them that?!"

"I see." Archer smirked, "You're here for the disappearances? The answer to that is simple."

"Really?"

"Archer." Berserker warned cautiously.

"Does it matter?" Archer laughed, "Nobody will know once we erase them."

"So you are the culprit!" X shouted, "What have you done?"

"Our jobs." Archer sneered, "We collect any information regarding magic and destroy it."

"Destroying information about magic?" X frowned, "Why?"

"Oh? Is that not the ideal of your own Mage's Association?"

"The Mage's Association is a group dedicated to the study of magic!" X said, "They wouldn't order something as ridiculous as destroying research notes for the sake of their secrecy!"

"Quite." Archer laughed, "But...perhaps the Mage's Association and magic itself shouldn't exist."

"What?"

"Enough, Archer." Berserker said, pulling Archer back, "There's no point in telling them."

"Indeed."

"Here they come." X gulped.

I stepped forward.

I know you.

What's your name?

"Hm?" Archer blinked, "You're talking to me?"

That attack…

You're the one that attacked me.

"Ah, I recognize you." Archer nodded, "Yes...yes...Ha...haha! To think that you survived and became a Master! What, is it all for revenge?"

I will find out the truth of this city.

I will put an end to the Holy Grail War.

"I see." Archer smirked, "Well then, if you will be opposing me, you're going to need a name. I am Archer of Volkisch. True Name: James Moriarty."

"Moriarty?!" X cried, pulling out her tablet, "That's the name of the great rival to the legendary Sherlock Holmes!"

"Ah, what a nostalgic name." Moriarty laughed, "But that information will not be of any help."

"You said too much, Moriarty." Berserker scowled.

"Come, there is an order to all things."

Let's go, Alice.

"Order recognized." Alice said as she drew her knife.

"Alice?" Moriarty raised an eyebrow, "I see. Returning the favor?"