Fate/stay Night: Across time
Chapter 35: Betrayal
"That was quite impulsive, Rin." Guinevere sat down on the couch together with Lancelot. "From what I understand, you just wasted a valuable asset."
Rin sat down on the opposite side. "I know." Tohsaka felt embarrassed. She chided herself for allowing her anger to take control.
"That said, I know have a good understanding of your disposition now, Master." Archer said as he examined the room. "Guinevere is right, though. So, just to be sure. You do understand how precious the Command Spells are?"
"Of course I do. What's with his attitude? 'Absolute obedience' my butt." She grumbled under her breath. "They symbolize our power to compel our Servant to perform Sorcery three times."
"Listen carefully. They do allow you to compel a Servant to perform an action three times." Archer pointed at her hand. "For example, I can not teleport far from here. But if you would use a Command Spell that would become possible. A Command Spell is best used to perform a single action. Like deliver the next blow with all your strength. To use it on such a broad an order is basically wasting it. Even a hundred Command Spell wouldn't grant you absolute obedience."
"In other words, she wasted a Spell. Normally." Lancelot deduced from Archer's tone that this not the case here.
"Huh? What are you saying?" Tohsaka stood up.
"I take back what I said. Your skills as a magus are extraordinary. You really are a first class Magus." His smug attitude from before had completely vanished.
"Extraordinary? Really?" Tohsaka felt her hart rate increasing.
"Yes. I miscalculated." Archer admitted. "Your words now carry a powerful compulsion for me." He smiled. "So young in years, but so outstanding. I looked down on you as a child and wanted to keep you away from fighting. That was a mistake."
"So you really acknowledge me as your Master?" Tohsaka felt the happiness swell in her chest. "Even without me using the Command Spells?"
"Yes. And I apologize for looking down on you and my poor manners." Archer laid his hand on his heart and bowed. "Having just being summoned, I wasn't fully acclimated yet. But now we are fully connected. You should feel it too."
He was right. Tohsaka felt the connection clearly as she focused on it. The bond between them from the pact. "Our Pact... Yes. I can feel it."
"Looks like it is a success. Allow us to congratulate you, lady Tohsaka." Lancelot congratulated her. "I feel that that this man will be able to obtain victory for you."
Archer and Tohsaka looked at him. "On what do you base that statement?" Tohsaka posed the question.
"Call it a warrior's intuition." Guinevere gave her a nod. "Ahum. Having said that. We still have to apologize for intruding upon your estate uninvited. I hope you are willing to accept our apology."
"Uhm? Ah... Sure thing. I had already to given you permission to stay here. Even though you're a day earlier." Tohsaka accepted.
"We are grateful." Guinevere bowed gracefully. "May I pose a question?"
"Sure. Go ahead." Tohsaka agreed.
"I have heard a thing or two about magecraft in the past. I wonder... Is a Servant a familiar?" She looked at Archer.
"Well, they are a kind of familiar. They are Heroic Spirits of heroes from ages past." Tohsaka began to clarify. "They are the highest form of familiars and summoning them is basically a miraculous occurrence."
"Which is only possible because of the Holy Grail." Guinevere finished. "Nice to make your acquaintance Archer."
"If you want to see it like that." Archer responded rather rudely, drawing indignant looks from Guinevere and Lancelot. "While we are summoned here by the Grail, we need the Prana supply from our Masters to keep us here. Rin, you are without a doubt a first-rate Master."
"Hmmm." Tohsaka blushed and turned away. Guinevere found that a cute expression. "It's too late to score points through flattery. Ah, boy. I really blew it. I spent all those gems and still didn't manage to get Saber."
"Well sorry for not being saber." Archer grumbled.
"You have high standards, lady Tohsaka." Lancelot chuckled. "But I don't believe you drew a bad card. He looks capable enough."
"I'm the one to blame though. It was all my mistake." Tohsaka contemplated.
"If that is how you see it, Master. I'll make you rue those words." Archer would make sure she does. "When that time comes, you can apologize all you want, but I will not forgive you."
Tohsaka was happy to hear that. Putting her arms in her sides she looked Archer in the eyes. "Well then. Make sure to make me regret them. I'll force you to forgive me." Archer smiled confidently.
Lancelot looked at Guinevere. The two of them understood that a bond of trust had been established.
"Oh, that reminds me. Archer. What is your identity?" The most important for Rin to know, if she was to create a viable strategy.
"I was wondering about that too;" Lancelot was curious. Archer had definitely recognized him and Mordred. And Guinevere probably too. "We have given our name, so it's only polite to give us yours."
"Hey. Wait a minute, Mr Perfect Knight." Tohsaka cut in. Lancelot was taken by surprise by the sudden sharpness of her words. "You won't tell his name to anyone else, I hope. Once a Servant's name is revealed, so too are all his strengths and weaknesses." She shot a glare at Guinevere too. "That goes for you too."
"You're worried that we would tell anyone and hamper your chances for winning?" Lancelot asked rhetorically. "I assure you, lady Tohsaka. You have my word of honor that I will not reveal his identity to anyone. Unless I come to deem him an enemy. Either to me or anyone I care about." He added emphatically. "Luckily, the King's objective is to prevent Mordred and Morgan le Fay from obtaining it and not seize it for herself."
"We are pretty sure about this. Don't worry, dear Tohsaka." Guinevere leaned closer. "We shall not reveal his name."
"It's alright master. These two won't spill the beans." Archer was sure of this.
"Fine. I'll trust you guys on this." She sat down again. "So...What is your name?"
Archer became silent for a moment. Everybody waited full of anticipation. "Unfortunately, I can't give you my name."
Everybody went wide eyed. "Huh!? What do you mean "You can't tell us."?" Tohsaka shouted.
"I don't want to insult you, Master, but this is the result of your imperfect summoning." Archer informed her. "Because of it my memories are completely jumbled. My name and origin are hazy. Luckily these details aren't of any importance."
"Not important?" Guinevere and Lancelot were perturbed by his choice of words. How is that unimportant?
"What do you mean 'not important"? How am I to formulate a strategy if I don't know your capabilities?" Tohsaka felt agitated. "I need to know how powerful you are if I'm to do that. This isn't trivial."
"What are you talking about? I'm the Servant you summoned." Archer looked at her confidently. "I cannot be anything but the most powerful Servant." Tohsaka turned around, blushing. Guinevere suppressed a chuckle.
"Quite the smooth-talker." Lancelot murmured.
"Uhm, well. It doesn't change the fact that nobody knows your identity." Tohsaka decided. "We'll discuss this matter another time."
"Maybe we should get going." Guinevere looked through the window. "It's far into the night and our host might wonder where we've gone."
"That is very likely." Lancelot and Guinevere stood up. "It has been an interesting night, but we will take our leave now."
Tohsaka looked at the clock. It was almost three o'clock in the morning. "I shall see you out."
"O, yeah. Archer." Rin stopped in the middle of the stairs, near a closet. Guinevere and Lancelot looked back from the bottom of the stairs. "I have a job for you."
"Oh? Getting started already, Master? Very well. What do you..." He caught a broom and dustpan, which Rin had procured from the closet.
"Archer. Please clean up the mess in the living room." Tohsaka's serious face made it all the more comical.
"Hold on. What do you think Servants are?" Archer protested.
"Familiars of course. Ones that can talk back and be unruly, but still familiars." Rin grinned.
"Understood. And you can go to hell, Master." Archer grumbled.
"You are one of a kind, Tohsaka Rin." Guinevere commented. Tohsaka wondered if it was a complement or a joke. "You're in for quite the ride, Ser Archer."
"No need to call me Ser. I am not a knight." Archer responded.
"At first glance I would say that you do seem to have the right qualities to be one." Lancelot looked at him from head to toe. "Even if your not knighted, one can still have the chivalry of a knight."
"Chivalry?" Archer's tone suddenly sounded more mocking. "Sorry. But I consider chivalry to be a burden during battle." Lancelot's expression darkened. "Following chivalry only limits your options during combat. I aim to achieve victory by any means necessary."
"You would achieve victory through dishonorable means?" Lancelot became more hostile. "Does honor mean nothing to you then?"
"Chivalry is overrated. One can wash away dishonor with success." Archer shot back. "That said. Whether or not I fight honorable or not, is none of your concern."
"Lancelot..." Guinevere laid her hand on his shoulder to stop him. Lancelot was anger built up rapidly. Enough for Guinevere to worry that he might seriously consider fighting Archer.
"Hey, hey. Break it up." Rin intervened. "Don't you two dare to start a fight. Archer, show some consideration for Lancelot. And Lancelot. I understand that you have misgivings about what he just said, but that is no reason to get into a fight."
"As you wish." Archer conceded. Thought he kept glaring at Lancelot. The next moment he jumped over to the railing to the ground floor and walked off to the living room. Before disappeared into the room, he added: "I don't feel like talking to him anyhow."
Lancelot shot a last glare in the direction Archer disappeared to, before apologizing to Tohsaka. "I'm sorry for my behavior. It was unkempt."
"It's fine." Tohsaka forgave him. "I was rather surprised at how the mood between you two soured so quickly."
"It would seem that he isn't the kind of person I initially took him for." Lancelot felt disappointed. "With this I will bid you good night, milady Tohsaka. Until tomorrow."
"Have a good night, dear." Guinevere and Lancelot bowed courteously and left the house.
"Are you alright, my dear?" Guinevere asked as they strolled through the streets. "It's surprisingly rare for you to get so agitated like that."
"I'm surprised myself." Lancelot admitted. "The man treated chivalry like a joke. It is not the first time someone mocked the virtues of chivalry in my presence, but for some reason it felt more insulting,... Insulting is not the right word. Archer uttering those words just felt wrong, because it was him."
Guinevere looked at him wondering. "What do you mean?"
"When we first saw each other, that man recognized us. I'm certain that we have met before, but I just can't place it." It vexed him. Where did he met him?
"Calm now. I'm certain you'll find the answer in due time." Guinevere assured him with a smile. "I'm certain of it." Lancelot smiled back and the two continued their way.
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Bazett looked outside the window. Upon her return to the mansion, she found the couple to be gone. It's not that she worried about them that much, but she ordered Lancer to look for them. She would wait here, should they return. Her eye caught movement. A single man walked up to the house. For a moment the moonlight illuminated his face. Her heart jumped when she recognized him. Kotominei Kirei. She had worked with him before. During that time she had developed some feelings for him. She hurried downstairs to let him in.
"Good morning, Bazett." Kirei greeted her when she opened the door.
"Kotomine. What are you doing here?" Bazett asked, though she couldn't completely mask her excitement. "I don't think it's good that the referee of the Holy Grail War comes to pay a personal visit to one of the participants."
"Perhaps. I just wanted to greet a fellow colleague. For old times sake." Kotomine knew Bazett had feelings for him and planned to use those to the fullest. "It won't take long."
"If you say so." Bazett led him towards the dining room.
"How is the War going?" Kotomine engaged in idle chatter.
"So far I haven't fought anyone yet. That is to say, not any of the other contestants." Bazett looked over her shoulder at him for a moment. "I encountered Morgan le Fay."
"Morgan le Fay?" Kotomine mused. "That is most troublesome."
"Agravain and a couple of tugs accompanied her. Fortunately, I was assisted by Lancelot." She continued.
"Seriously?" Of course he knew that already.
She stopped at the door to the dining room. "I will explain later. Why don't we first have a talk about the old days?" She smiled as she laid her left hand on the doorknob.
Suddenly the loud ringing of metal against metal resounded through the hall. Bazett turned around, completely startled. There stood Lancelot, his sword drawn standing between her and Kotomine. She could hear Guinevere approaching her from behind. "Lancelot!? What are you doing? Kotomine, what is..." She looked shocked at Kotomine. He held a Black Key in his hand. It's edge was bloody. A familiar, stinging feeling reached her, along with the feeling of something moist traveling past her left arm. Looking at her left arm, she saw the deep cut on her upper arm. It as if time froze. Kotomine had effectively tried to cut off her left arm. The arm which held the Command Spells. "Why?"
"I have my reasons." Kotomine replied calmly. "Don't look at me that way. You may felt something towards me, but that feeling was certainly not mutual." His eyes bored into Lancelot's. "How unfortunate. I should have struck sooner. What is it going to be, Lancelot?"
Lancelot lunged at him. In an instant Kirei had his hands full of Black Keys. It took him a lot of effort to redirect Lancelot's thrust. Lancelot quickly followed up his lunging attack with a series of swift strikes. Kirei managed to avoid them by the skin of his teeth. Lancelot felt impressed. Kirei countered by throwing a handful of Keys at him. Lancelot deftly knocked them out of the air. Kirei used this close the gap and aimed at his chest. Lancelot countered in a flash. Kirei had to use all his might to avoid the counterattack. Twisting his body, he also threw another Key at him. Lancelot was forced to evade. The Key clipped a piece of his hair. After this exchange they took some distance from each other.
"You're good." Lancelot was impressed. This era does seem to have it's own skillful warriors. "Though, I do think that I have the upper hand." He looked at Kirei's side. In the last exchange, Arondight had cut his flesh.
"Hmm. I will retreat here. We will meet again." Kirei turned and ran towards end of the hall.
"I won't let you get away." Lancelot went in pursuit. Expecting this, Kirei threw some Black Key's at him. No, not him, Lancelot realized. "He was aiming for something else. Lancelot moved sideways in order to block them. Which he did successfully. He looked behind him. Kirei had aimed for Guinevere who was know busy treating Bazett, who was still shocked by this development. She had trusted Kirei. Lancelot heard Kirei crash through the window at the end of the hall. He had gotten away. Lancelot grumbled and sheathed his sword. There will be other opportunities to settle this.
The next moment, they sat at the table in the dining room. "Thank you Guinevere." Bazett clenched her arm. She had recovered from the initial shock. "You're quite good at this."
"It is one of the few things I'm good at." Guinevere couldn't help but puff a bit with pride. "How are you holding up?"
"Better now."
"Did you know him well?" Lancelot asked.
"I had worked with him on a several occasions when he was still an executor of the Church." Bazett explained. "I came to trust him and I felt elated when he invited me to participate in the Holy Grail War. I saw him as a friend." She bit her lip.
"Unfortunately it seems that the feeling is not mutual." Lancelot sighed. "But these things do happen. Personally I think that you are too good a woman for such a man." This made Bazett blush a little.
Lancer returned. "Hey, hey. You two. I've been looking all over for you, only to find that you've already returned." Guinevere and Lancelot looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Well whatever. It was expected."
"Lancer. You're back." Bazett noted.
"Ah, Master. It looks like... Hey? What happened?" He noticed the injury on her arm. "Who attacked you?" Lancer's anger flared up.
"It was the priest from the Church, the Overseer." Bazett looked at her arm again. "He tried to cut off my arm to acquire my Command Spells."
"That guy? Never felt good about him." Lancer examined her arm. "It's surprising, though. He must be pretty good to land a hit on you." Bazett averted her eyes.
"He attacked her from behind." Lancelot had read the conversation right. Lancer looked at him. "Lady Bazett trusted him, I could tell. Otherwise she wouldn't have let her guard down."
"So, it was a sneak attack. That bastard. How are you holding up, Master?"
"I'm fine." Bazett stood up. "But now I would like to get some sleep."
"No, you're not." He walked up to her.
"Hey, what are you...?" He suddenly picked her up. "Hey? Lancer! What are you doing?" Her face was bright red.
"Don't worry. I'll just bring you to your bed." He felt like teasing her. "Let's go, Master." And he walked of with Bazett in his arms.
"I can walk by myself. Just... Just put me down." She protested. Lancer ignored her complains and carried on, all the while smirking rudely.
"She likes him." Guinevere spoke as if she was discussing the weather.
"Yep. She likes him." Lancelot agreed.
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Gilgamesh was laying on the sofa, enjoying a glass of wine when Kirei stumbled in. "Oh, Kotomine. Things didn't work out as planned, I see."
"I nearly had her. Unfortunately, Lancelot intervened." Kirei admitted. He took off his coat and shirt. He found the wound to be deep, but not fatal. He sat down and began using his spiritual healing. His fingers disappeared into his flesh around the wound. Focusing his energy on the wound it slowly began to close.
"I don't believe I have told you this before, but you are quite skilled at spiritual healing. A person who enjoys the suffering of others, possesses a gift for healing." Gilgamesh had to laugh. "How ironic."
"Very much so." Kirei grimaced as he finished up healing himself. He pulled his hand back out, sweat dripping from his face. "Anyway, I failed to acquire her Command Spells. I won't be getting close to her like that again."
"Most certainly. But tell me... Is she really that formidable?" Gigamesh felt curious enough to ask.
"In terms of pure power she has me beat. We had worked together on many occasions when I was still an executor. During this time, she came to trust me. This allowed me to take her by surprise. If I was younger, I would be able to beat her, but now..." Kirei smiled aloof.
"Interesting. What will you do now?" Gilgamesh rose to an upright postion. "Will you try to seize one from the other Masters?" It was a rhetorical question of course.
"No. If I do that I will have to get past their Servants first. Besides that, there is the fact that Tohsaka is acquainted with Arthur and her knights. Concerning Rider's Master there is still Zouken as well. I don't know who Assassin's Master is and Caster has build herself a stronghold in the Temple. Or would you like to fight someone? Lancelot, maybe?" He was referring to the fourth War.
"No. Back then he was summoned as a Servant and enhanced because he was summoned as Beserker." Gilgamesh let the wine swirl in his glass. "As a human he will not be able to provide me any amusement."
"Naturally." Kirei smirked. "For now I will lay low and try to decide what I will do next. Though after tonight, there I might come an occasion that I will need your assistance."
"Of course, I will aid you. It would be boring if the game master would die before it was over." Gilgamesh agreed. Both men laughed.
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Shirou woke up in the shed as usual. After stretching, he looked at his hand. The bruise was still there. He shrugged and went inside to prepare breakfast. Entering the living room, he found Bedivere, to his surprise, standing in the kitchen, slicing up vegetables.
"Good morning, Shirou." Bedivere greeted him. He explained upon seeing his puzzled face. "I rarely cook anything, even during my travels. And more times that not, it was just a piece of roasted meat or a simple soup. Since coming here, I've cooked a couple of times, but nothing really noteworthy."
"What brought that about?" Shirou wondered.
"It's because of the War has started." Bedivere sighed. "Our stay here is coming to a close, so I would still like to try some things while we're still here."
"Understandable. How are you going to explain things to Fuji-nee?" Shirou had been a little worried about that. It is obvious that they have grown close to each other.
"I'm not sure. I'm a bit... nervous about that myself." Bedivere admitted. But he didn't regret his time with her. Not in the least.
"Good morning." Arturia walsed in. "Bedivere? Are you cooking?" She had to blink a few times when she saw him standing there.
"Indeed I do." He chuckled upon seeing her expression. "Though, I might require a little help from Shirou." As he was wondering on what ingredients he should use.
"OK. I'll help." Shirou put on his apron and stepped inside the kitchen. Considering what Bedivere just told him about his cooking skills, Shirou thought his cooking to be fairly good. Nobody had to say anything bad about it during breakfast. They all very much enjoyed it. Shirou wondered how much longer this feeling of relative peace would last.
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Shirou and Arturia arrived at school. As so often they were greeted by the presence of the ever diligent Issei-san. Arturia was the first to speak. "Good morning, Issei. How are you today?"
"Very well. Thank you for asking, Arturia-san." He responded with his usual politeness.
"Very well, until Tohsaka arrives." Shirou remarked. "Your mood always plummets when she arrives."
Issei raised an eyebrow. "True. But not today. I don't think you've heard it, but Tohsaka won't be coming today. She called in sick a short while a ago. I heard it from Kuzuki-sensei."
"Tohsaka is sick?" Shirou was surprised. "That's unusual. I don't recall her ever being sick."
"It surprised me, too. But there is a first time for everything." Issei looked down the street, as if half-expecting Tohsaka to still show up.
"We all get sick from time to time, Issei." Arturia recollected the time she once was sick and Kay was watching over her.
"You're brother is a good man and a good brother." Issei adjusted his glasses. "He is also a good accountant. I'm thinking of visiting him again sometime for some more advice."
"I'll be sure to pass that on." Arturia promised. "See you later, Issei." And she walked off.
"I'll be off, too. Catch you later."
"Sure. Oh, and Shirou. When we have some time, I would like to talk to you about some broken equipment, as usual." Issei told him, before Shirou walked off.
"I understand. See you later." And he rushed off.
When it was lunch break, Shirou and Arturia were sitting together enjoying their meal. "Should we pay her a visit?" Arturia had pretty much made up her mind about it, but she was curious what Shirou would go.
"If she remains sick longer then two days, maybe. But I think she'll be back tomorrow." Shirou's interaction with her had risen notably since Arturia came here. But not to the point that Shirou considered her to be a friend. Although, she did wanted to teach him Magecraft. Maybe he should pay her a visit. "I think I'll visit her tomorrow if she hasn't come to school then. I don't think I could make it tonight. I still have some stuff to do here."
"About that, Shirou. Please make sure that you return before dark." Arturia looked him straight in the eye. "I mean it. With the War accelerating and Morgan around, it would be very dangerous to venture out after dark."
"She is right, Emiya." Ayako showed up. "Things are getting hot out there."
"Mitsuzuri?" Shirou looked at her. "Is Mordred not with you?"
"Not today. She wanted to eat alone for a change." Ayako sat down in front of him. "Tohsaka isn't here today."
"I know. It's because she is sick." Emiya informed her. Or thought he did.
"No. That's not the reason." Ayako sighed.
"What do you mean?" Arturia felt something was up.
"Tohsaka summoned a Servant last night." Ayako sighed heavily. "Mordred said that magic rituals can take up a lot of energy. She thinks that's the real reason for her absence."
"How do you know she summoned a Servant?" Shirou leaned in closer.
"Because we were there." She slurped up some of her noodles. "Last night, we were walking home. We being Mordred, me and the trio. We went to see a movie, after which we decided to have a drink before going home. We had lost track of time afterwards." She looked at Arturia. "You might want to brace yourself, Arturia. During our walk home, we ran into Lancelot and Guinevere."
"Is that so?" Arturia wasn't really surprised. This surprised Ayako though. "Tohsaka had told me yesterday." She quickly explained.
"Oh. Well, I don't know where they are now, but I last saw them at Tohsaka's house." She continued. "During our encountered, Makidera noticed Tohsaka running home. And followed her. Tohsaka had forgotten to close the door behind her and so we entered her house. The summoning was rather abrupt, as the guy arrived with a bang, ruining Tohsaka's living room."
"That sounds like Tohsaka. So now we know why she left in such a hurry." Shirou remembered how quickly Tohsaka left.
"She was at your home? Can I ask why?"
"Yeah. We were discussing how we would deal with Morgan." Shirou divulged. "After that she rushed off to summon a Servant."
"About that. Do you know which Servant she summoned?" Arturia finished her meal as she asked that.
"Before we left, he revealed his class to be Archer." Arturia and Shirou looked at each other. "Perhaps I shouldn't have told you that last part." Ayako chided herself mentally.
"Don't worry, we won't tell anyone" Arturia assured her. Ayako smiled relieved. She thanked them before moving on.
The rest of the day went by unremarkable. Shirou was busy repairing a projector, when Arturia entered. "I'm returning home, Shirou. Please don't take to long."
"I promise. I don't think it will take much longer, though." Shirou reassured her.
"Ok. Later then." Arturia felt anxious. She knew how Shirou could get absorbed by his work and lose track of time. Despite this, she returned home.
Not five minutes later, Shinji entered the room. Along with a group of girls. "I thought it was you when I caught you in the corner of my eye. Still here Shirou?" He spoke in his usual smug tone. "So like you."
"Shinji? I'm glad that I could still see you. There is something I would like to ask you." Shinji lifted an eyebrow. "It's about Sakura."
"What about her?" Shinji became a bit more hostile.
"Whenever I see her I get the impression that she is rather depressed as of late. Did something happen at your home?" Shirou didn't know what was wrong with her, but he was determined to resolve it. "You didn't do anything to her, did you?"
"Are you accusing me of hurting her? You know, you really shouldn't interfere in other people's private affairs, Shirou." Shinji got more angry. Shirou flared at him. "Or did she tell you that I hurt her?"
"No, it's nothing like that." Shirou had to admit.
"You really shouldn't make such reckless accusations." Shinji pointed out.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Shirou apologized.
"Since you obviously feel bad about it, could you do me favor for compensation?" Shinji had this idea for when he ran into Shirou in the first place. "The dojo is a bit messy, so could you clean it up for me?"
"Senpai. Fujimura-sensei asked you to do that." One of the girls reminded him.
"Ah, I know. But if I do that, the shop will be closed before I'm done." Shinji didn't really care about it that much, he just didn't want the clean the dojo. "So, Shirou. Can I count on you?"
"Very well. I'll do it." Shirou agreed to it. Arturia would most likely scold him for it. And so he ended up cleaning the dojo.
Time flew by and it was night when he finished. Shirou checked his watch. It read 10:12 p.m. "It took that long." He took his stuff and prepared to leave. He stopped when he heard a metallic sound reverberating through the air. It came from the other side of the school. Shirou rushed around the school towards the source of the sound. The moment he ran around the corner, he encountered someone unexpected. Agravain.
"What are you doing here?" Shirou tensed up. He could still hear sound of fighting, but right now he felt Agravain a more pressing issue. What was he up to? Agravain, suddenly ran towards the side door of the school and rammed through it. "Wait!" Shirou followed him.
Agravain disappeared towards the first floor. Shirou rushed up the stairs, but Agravain had vanished from sight. Shirou cautiously walked through the hall. His guts told him, Agravain was still here. And his gut was correct. Agravain suddenly was behind him, his sword going straight for Shirou's neck. Shirou managed to dodge at the last moment. Where had Agravain hid himself?
"Well done." Agravain's calm voice felt out of place in this, to Shirou, precarious situation. "You dying would be a serious blow to the King."
"It won't be so easy. Trace ON!" Shirou projected a sword and shield.
"That won't help you." Agravain attacked viciously. Shirou managed to block some of his attacks, but he knew he was in over his head. "Your skills have improved. But not enough. Farewell." Shirou prepared for Agravain's onslaught and raised his shield.
Judging from Agravain's pose, Shirou expected an attack on his torso. He couldn't have been more wrong. Suddenly, Agravain ducked and slided past him, kicking him behind the knees, sending him down to the ground. As Shirou fell to his knees, Agravain got back upright behind him, in a fluid motion. And then his sword sliced through his side, upwards to his heart. "Farewell, Shirou." Agravain's cruel voice was the last thing he heard as darkness overcame him.