Night 26

The ride through Fuyuki City just made Rin more anxious than before. She tried to engage with Sakura about everyday topics so that the cab driver didn't think anything of two "college" students going to a church in the middle of the day, but her mind was unfocussed, falling to Saber every chance it was given. Rin felt more empty than ever before. Empty and alone. She hated lying to Sakura, but there was no point in complicating matters more. Not only that, but she held Shirou at arm's length just like everyone else in her life. Saber was the only individual that had somewhat closed the gap Rin projected around herself, and now that very woman was in danger because of a prideful and foolish split-second decision.

'We're here.' The cab driver huffed, pushing his hand into the back for his pay. He was certainly one of the ruder drivers Rin had encountered, but she let it slide considering he wasn't very nosey either.

'Thank-you very much, sir.' Rin beamed, tipping the man handsomely regardless.

'Oh. Er…Thanks. Take it easy out there.'

Rin had given herself the last laugh at least. A petty victory, but it had been a while. Once the cab was gone, Rin and Sakura approached the church and, instantly, Rin knew she was on to something. This barrier hadn't been here before, and there was a completely different air about the place.

'What was that?' Sakura commented, holding her chest as though it were hard to breathe.

'A mana wall erected by someone who wanted to be notified the moment we entered a certain area. It could be just the priest being paranoid, but this isn't his style. Kirei Kotomine embraces any and all; it's his job.'

'So…?'

'We'll find out soon enough.' Rin took another step forward, but Rider's chain flung from beside her, the servant suddenly manifesting and attacking someone Rin hadn't sensed whatsoever. It was the Lancer servant she had seen what felt like so long ago. He easily deflected the death strike, his red spear handled with the utmost of precision.

'Whoa now! That's no way to greet someone who comes in peace.' He sneered, the arrogance in his voice irritating instantly.

'Why would a competing servant come in peace?' Rin asked, one hand in her packet of jewels and preparing for any kind of assault. Lancer was among the fastest of the servants while being quite deadly in close quarters combat. This sudden presence wasn't any sort of slouch, from what Rin had seen of his skills.

'I was ordered to, why else? My master isn't too keen on the idea of Caster holding all the marbles. Chicky there is obviously pretty inexperienced, and Rider isn't known to be super powerful. You're basically taking on two servant-level enemies, and to do that, having two servants makes the most sense, yeah?'

Sakura made a small sound with her voice, but otherwise, she stayed behind Rider, who appeared to be more than willing to fight, if necessary.

'How do we know we can trust you?' Rin was cautious, but had a feeling this man wasn't one to lie despite his appearance and mannerisms. His fighting style was too well honed, and he seemed to carry himself with the same kind of pride as Saber. Archer and Rider would lie without breaking a sweat, but this servant was in the leagues of heroes like Saber and even Assassin.

'You'll just have to believe me. Caster and her playthings are in a secret chamber deep in the church. They assaulted the place and maybe even killed the priest. Shitty luck for him.'

Rin was thrown by this piece of news. She didn't like Kirei Kotomine; perhaps even loathed him, but she didn't want him dead. He had been a friend of her father's, and his existence as her guardian maintained the idea that Rin's father had lived and fought in a Grail War. Now, Tokiomi Tohsaka's mark on the earth had diminished further.

'They'll…send a new member of the church to facilitate the rest of the war.' Rin stuttered.

'Hell if I care. Either way, I've already done the leg work, so now that we have the manpower, we should head on in and be done with the annoying witch.'

Rin had to catch her breath. Saber was near. Saber was so close and could be saved. It had barely been a night yet Rin's heart raced so hard in her chest that she thought it might erupt.

'So,' Lancer approached the two masters, Rider's chains jingling in protest. 'Do we have a truce until Caster and her master are out of the picture?' The man extended his hand to Rin, knowing she was the leader of the little operation.

Rin weighed the pros and cons of the union in her mind within seconds, knowing she didn't have much of a choice. She would save Saber, and this companionship with Lancer would only increase her chances of success. The fact Lancer's master wasn't showing himself was a minor annoyance, but Rin would have to take this risk in order to have Saber at her side once again.

'Fine. I'll trust you, Lancer.' She took his hand, and the servant gripped tightly.

'Impressive. You have guts; I like that.'

Rin wretched her hand free, giving Lancer a scornful look.

'Do not mock me.'

'I wasn't. Honest.' Lancer turned to Sakura and Rider, bowing slightly, although everything he did seemed like sarcasm to a degree. 'My ladies, do not fret, for I shall wield my spear to the best of my abilities to ensure your safety.'

Rider only widened her stance, but Sakura gave Lancer a slight nod.

'T-thank-you.'

'Well, good. That's that! Follow my lead then, people. Caster won't know what hit her soon enough.' Lancer walked in front, his swagger undeniable as he pushed the front doors of the church open, the sunlight from outside completely locked out the moment the last person in the group had made it in. Benches were overturned, and there were still remnants of magic where destruction had been left in its wake. Pieces of the walls were missing, tapestry had been burned, and smudges of darkness rested on the ground as though shadows of the fallen.

'Caster knows we're here, so there could be some grunts on the way, but I doubt she'll waste too much mana on that kind of thing. Those skeletons might be trouble for humans, but they're nothing to us servants, right, Rider?'

There was no response, and Sakura laughed nervously in her servant's place.

'Keep it down, eh? A guy can't get a word in edge-wise with a chatter box like you around. Jeez…' Lancer shrugged, going to the back of the church and pushing open the somewhat hidden door. The group found a closed off area of the church grounds, the new extension being something like a courtyard. Rin had no idea it existed. This section too was demolished. Kirei was her father's apprentice, after all, so it was a small wonder that he went down with quite the fight. Rin had her doubts that the man had even been defeated. There was always the very real possibility that Kirei had simply retreated until he could return to the church.

'Caster is breaking every rule possible…' Rin muttered under her breath.

'Those rules are just guidelines, missy. For the grail, any real contender would do just about anything, you know? It's basically a second chance at life if you win. Why else would us heroic spirits willingly join in such a stupid ritual?'

'And you were who again, Lancer?'

'Hahah! Nice one, my lady. I ain't falling for something that obvious.'

'Oh, it was worth a try.' Rin glanced to her sister, attempting to ease her into the threatening situation with a little more confidence. Sakura smiled back, but her eyes were distant; almost disconnected from the reality around her.

'You're a funny one.' Lancer grinned back, manifesting his blood-red spear and shouldering it as though it were the most innocent piece of equipment rather than a legendary weapon capable of striking down hundreds in a single go. 'Here it is. After this door, we got ourselves into Caster's little haunt. Best be ready with a plan, yeah?'

'I will contend with Caster. I have an idea as to how to best her.' Rin knew she sounded decently sure, but her inner dialogue certainly made her wonder.

'You serious? You wanna mess around with that crazy bitch?' Lancer sounded impressed, his red eyes examining Rin to the point of making her a little uncomfortable.

'Yes. It only makes sense. I have the best magic out of all of us. Additionally, you and Rider will be holding Kuzuki-sensei and Saber down for me.'

'That so?' Lancer raised a brow, seeming more excited than before. 'Who's my playmate?'

'Saber. Your range makes it simpler for you to keep her at bay until I reclaim her as my own.'

'What makes you think I won't kill her once Caster and her master are done and dead?'

'I think you'll be too concerned with keeping yourself alive against Saber, to be honest.'

Lancer whistled loudly, amusement in his whole demeanor.

'We'll have to see about that, won't we?'

'So be it.'

'Then Rider will be fighting Kuzuki-sensei?' Sakura asked, her voice much smaller than her companions'.

'That's correct. Are you okay with that, Rider?' Rin directed her attention to the quiet servant. Rider nodded, ever hiding her true thoughts; if she had any.

'D-don't kill him though.' Sakura added.

'Yes. Once Caster is defeated, then Kuzuki-sensei will also likely submit. If not, then bind him long enough for us to determine his threat level.'

Rider nodded again.

'Are we done?' Lancer gripped at the door, his focus shifting to what may lay beyond the hidden passageway and chamber. 'And behind door number one we have…!'

Rin could hear the sounds of thousands of bones grinding against bone before she could actually see anything beyond Lancer.

'Ah-ha! Clever girl! I can't even see the stairs!' Lancer laughed, drawing his spear and charging forward, puncturing and then tossing aside multiple bodies of animated monstrous skeletons. Rider also dove in, leaping over Lancer and causing chaos where she landed, spinning and slashing all around herself as though dancing.

'Oh, my gosh!' Sakura gasped, a couple of skeletons breaking free through the corridor and stumble-running toward the sisters.

'These things are nothing.' Rin pointed her finger and fired off four rounds of her gandr spell, connecting with three and halting any further progress by her attackers. Sounds of blade against bone and groaning undead beings filled the air, Sakura and Rin cautiously moving into the doorway and following the destruction left in the servants' wake.

'This is…pretty crazy…' Sakura spoke in a low voice, holding Rin's sleeve and staying very close.

'Just keep out of the way and you'll be fine. Rider is drawing mana from you with every move she makes, and the closer you are, the quicker that mana gets transferred.'

'I-I see. What about Lancer, then?'

'His master may have sent him in with a surplus of mana, or he might even be following us. It's hard to say. Either way, Lancer is fine. Don't worry about him.'

Sakura shrieked, pressing up against Rin and flailing her leg. Rin didn't even hesitate before firing off another round of gandr at a partially destroyed skeleton that had enough life and pieces of its limbs to take hold of the first thing that came by.

'Thank-you…'

'Come on. We have to keep up.'

Moving through the corridors was torturous. The sounds of combat and death echoed over and over, ricocheting off the walls in a seemingly endless cycle before finally fading only to be replaced by more of the same pain. Rin and Sakura covered their ears, relieved when they finally made it to the bottom to find both Lancer and Rider waiting for them. Lancer's spear was perched atop his shoulders, both arms hooked over it, while Rider had knives in either hand, a long chain keeping them connected.

'That's it for the warm up, ladies.' Lancer's smile was wide and slightly crazed. 'Ready for the main event?'

Rin eyed the door that she presumed led to the chamber where Caster, Souichirou, and Saber hopefully waited. She had made her move quickly, not allowing Caster too much time to break Saber. This was the best she could do. She had two servants with her and was a competent mage in her own right. She could win this. She could save Saber. She could win the Grail War still.

'Right. Let's defeat Caster.'