Chapter 12
Back at the Hotel
The gang were quite exhausted from the encounter they had with the Angra Mainyu and her servants.
After closing the door, they immediately went to their room to get a goodnight sleep.
Shirou and Rin stood in front of the door to their room, thinking about what Angra Mainyu said to him, "A third party is participating in this war as well." halts from opening the door for a little while.
He wanted to discuss this with the others and find out more but sadly, the others had already gone to their room and he was just too tired to be investigating on the matter at hand.
"Something on your mind?" Shirou turn to the voice which Rin as she looks at him.
Shirou just smiled at her "No, it's nothing really…" he said.
Rin just look at him for a while "Is that so…well I won't bother you with questions for the time being…it's been a long day and I just want to have a break from all this."
he couldn't agree more with her as he turn the doorknob open and move into their room.
His not the only one who was thinking this thoroughly, El-Meilloi lay on his chair in his room, he planted his head on the headrest and immediately close his eyes. After what he witnesses, it was clear to him that they have quite a disadvantage against them "Seven to two servants, with a powerful master to command them…" He thought while sighing, worried about the future before them.
Apart from them, a new party is joining in on the war and this cannot mean well for them.
He shifted his head sideways while tapping his finger on the table, racking up ideas to help them to be on the same playing field or on higher level than them.
After a while he thought of an idea that might help and proceeded out of his room.
Looking at the spare room they have, he went and open the room to see that was spotlessly clean and not a speck of dust was left behind. Though he must move the furniture out of the way, this was the perfectly place for him to setup a summoning circle.
With the place as what he wanted, he pulls out a chalk "Let's get to work then…" and immediately went to draw the magic circle.
He seamlessly draws the magic circle, based on the books he read on the summoning system, there is one parts he really need to have and that requires him to modify the circle quite a bit.
"Summoning circle has been established!" El-Meilloi wipe the illusion sweat off his face and look please with him at the masterpiece he has work on "All that's left is to get him to this room and we can start the ritual." El-Meilloi ll yawn and glimpse at his watch "7:00am already huh…" he closes the door on the spare room and went back to his room and jump on his bed knock out from his fatigue.
2:00pm in the afternoon
Sieg drowse in exasperation and sat on his bed, he looks around the room only to see Gray still in her slumber "Morgan has gone to Shirou room huh…" He gave a sighed and got dressed before he quietly moves to the entrance and turn the doorknob to not disturb her and move out of the room.
He softly closes the door and walked to the sofa only to find a letter that was place on the middle of the table "A Letter?" he went to pick the letter and examined the content, he saw on the left corner had some wording that spell out "U.A High School" and a sigils embed in the middle with a symbol of U.A.
He takes a good long look at the letter before placing it down on the table. He heard a sound creak from the direction of his room and Gray had gotten out of the room wearing her usually hood "Ah Good Morning, Sieg!"
"Good Morning."
Gray went and sat on the opposite side of Sieg. She then saw the letter as well "What's that?" she asked.
"A Letter from U.A High school." He replied and Gray gave a face of discern "Ah, I see…"
The living room was silence with both look at each other for a while as they did not know each other quite as well as they thought.
Gray had been looking down, while Sieg was looking straight at her "This is awkward…" they both thought to themselves in unison.
Sieg decided to break the tension between them and spoke to her "Come to think of it, we didn't really really get to know one another, right?"
Gray look up at him "Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Well, We two haven't right introduce ourselves at that time…" and Gray nod her head in agreement "That's true…so how do we go about doing it?" she asked, "Should I start first?"
Sieg fold his arms and Gray could see him mesmerizing in his thoughts "A good question…" he whispers. He kept moving his head, not knowing what to do, that is until an idea pop up in his head. With his hand forming a fist, he stamps his hand like rock on to paper and his face lighten up to look at her "Change of plans, why don't we head down to town for a while?"
Gray look at the room around her, it was completely silent and even more peaceful.
With everyone sleeping in their rooms, guess a chance for them to explore more of this world, starting with the nearest town "I guess we can go out…"
"It's decided then…" Sieg and Gray got out from their sits and with Gray writing a note for the others to see when they wake up, telling them that they heading to town and will be coming back in a few hours.
They went the out of the hotel and saw contrasting kinds of people walking past them. They still hadn't gotten used to the fact that people had peculiar stuff merge with their body, so in this case, they just neglected it completely.
"Shall we go…?" Sieg asked and Gray nod her head.
Shirou went out of the room and following him was Rin glaring at Morgan. As He went and sat on the sofa, something caught his eyes "What is this…?" he picks up a letter and note which were side by side on the table.
"A letter? And a note?" he first browses through the note as the words had inscribed on it already. The two look over his shoulder and to read through what Shirou was holding first.
"Dear everyone,
Me and Sieg will be heading to town to gather more information about this world,
so, you don't have to worry about us,
we will be back in a few hours…
by Gray."
"Ps, if you don't wake Shisou up by the time we come back, I will be very angry!"
"Huh? Why do we have to wake him up? Can't we just let him sleep through the night? I'm sure he will be happy." Rin fold her arm while grumble about. It was bad enough that Morgan had intrude in when Rin was in a bliss laying down on Shirou and having some alone time with him, now they must make sure that when Sieg and Gray got back from city, El-Meilloi was awake in time.
"You're just upset that I just intrude on your precious one to one time with him." Morgan whisper to Shirou, just enough for her to hear as she wants to tease Rin. it worked successfully as she instantly upswing her body, redness filled her face.
"Wha.."
Shirou understand what Morgan was trying to say, "Oh is that it? you can just ask me if you want to."
As if seeing her younger self all over again, Shirou could see her shaking her hands uncontrollably "No, It's not like that!"
Morgan happen to find this funny; she leans forward muffle her laughter with her hands, she heard turns her face to Morgan "And you…can you keep your mouth shut for one minute!?"
"Nah, I don't think so…harassing you is part of my skill as a witch."
Rin was fuming with anger, ready to blow up at any second.
"Rin…" Shirou call out to her and she turn back to him, with her voice as "What is it Shirou…!? If you have come to laugh, then…"
Shirou sigh "I'm not going to laugh at you or anything of sort." just a few words and Rin could see him being serious about it "If I laugh at you, you would get angry and that's not what I want to do it."
"It would go against my nature."
Shirou stare at her for a long time, with his face smiling at her making sure she does not do anything that will provoke Morgan and get them into a fight.
Rin quickly move her head away from his gaze "Hmm, this does not mean I'm happy at all."
Shirou nod his head "I know…"and place the note on the table.
Next is the letter, he looked at it and saw the signature of U.A High school and the sigil of U.A as well. He tore open the letter cover and pull out the content paper from inside.
With Morgan and Rin at each side, they read through the paper.
Five minutes later…
"I see…so that's how they want to play it…" Rin replied.
"Ho…To think they would go so far as this…" Morgan replied.
Shirou placed the letter back on the table "For now, we should discuss with El-Meilloi ll, Sieg and Gray, then we can proceed from there."
"I agree with you."
Sieg and Gray was exploring the shops that was lined up in straight line beside them. With the ice-cream they first bought with Sieg allowance from El-Meilloi ll. Gray was looking straight and licking her ice-cream while Sieg was looking around them.
Each person he sees might look weird, but, they are no different than normal humans, doing daily routine like going to work or hanging out friends, it's matters not to them, at least there isn't any danger going on around.
They went into the shopping mall and when they passed through the clothes store, Sieg saw Gray had suddenly stop as she was staring at the pinkish dress in the display.
Sieg walk to her and saw the dress she was staring at "Do you want it?" he asked.
Gray got startled by his sudden intrusion and he could see her face flustered "Eh…no, I shouldn't trouble you with such things."
Sieg smiled at her "Don't worry, I have enough for the dress, just tell me if you want it and I will go buy it for you."
Staring at the dress for a while, Gray turn back and nod her head.
"Alright, now that's decided, then let us go inside."
After they had finish eating their ice-cream, they went into the store and a store assistant had come up to them "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Ah there is…"
Sieg illustrate to her about the lovely attire outside. Once finish explaining, the assistant nods her head "Then please wait a moment…I will go get the dress right now." She went back to the storage to pick up what he asked for.
Sieg and Gray went to the fitting and wait there until the retailer came back with the dress at hand. She passes the dress over to Gray "Sir, here's the pink dress that you asked for."
"Ah, thank you." Sieg took the dress and pass it to Gray, she went inside the changing room and close the curtains. After a while, the curtain was open and from inside appear a well dress girl.
With a rose pin on her hair and non-shoulder covering dress, she really looks like a princess in disguise from Sieg point of view.
The store assistant got in a enchant position with both her hands on her cheeks "Wow!"
Gray was fidgeting all the way, eyes moving all around and gathering her courage just to asked "H-how do I look?"
Sieg smiled "Hmmh, you look pretty."
"Oh really!?" Sieg nod his head. Gray was so happy when Sieg compliment her, her face enlivens with delight "Then Shisou might like it as well…" she thought.
Griping on her dress, she makes her decision's" T-then I will take this!"
After paying for dress, Sieg and Gray head out of the store. Gray was happily hugging the plastic bag with the dress inside. "Hehehehehe…"
Being happy for her, Sieg look at her secretly smiling.
With his eyes looking forward, they were walking aimlessly through the shopping mall, they had very much enjoyed each other company and now it was time to asked, "So, where do you want to go next?"
Gray deliberated while looking around the shopping mall, the store's around her were not to her interest and she don't think there is any place to have fun in.
While waiting for her reply, Sieg saw something that could intrigue her "Then about that!?"
Gray look at where Sieg point his finger to and immediately nod her in excitement "Yes, let's go to that place…I've always wanted to experience it at first hand!"
Upon arriving to the Arcade, she was captivated by the loud lively sound of the machine they had and the people that play in it "T-this is amazing…!" she blushed when she notices that Sieg was still beside her.
She panicked "Uh no, it's not what you think…!" and Sieg just walk to the counter and discuss with the cashier something she couldn't hear, exchange with the cashier money with a card before going back to her side.
Gray was dumbfounded until Sieg gave her the card "And this is for?" she asked.
"For the machine inside."
Gray stare at card he gave to her, not knowing how to use it. Sieg happen to catch on her oblivious and judging from her first reaction of when she looks at the Arcade just now, it was clear to him that she did not know about modern entertainment at all.
"Did you not take part in any fun and games?" He asked.
Gray shake her head "No…as a disciple of Shisou, it's my duty to accompany him to every job he takes and protect when he needs it. So, I have no time for that sort of pleasure."
"I see…" Sieg did not expect her to be so devoted to her job, El-Meilloi ll really should take her to have fun more often. In any case, now is a good time to let her experience what she had miss out during her duty as an assistant, he took her hand "Eh? Where are we going?" She asked.
"Inside the Arcade, don't you want to experience what typical girls do in their free time?"
Yes, it was true she didn't have kind of leisure to absorb her in as she was busy taking class of magic and helping her teacher out. "I-I want to…"
"Hmm?"
"I want to have what a normal girl has, to have fun and not care about the worries of life!" she raises her voice and Sieg nod his head "Then it's decided…" he pull her into the Arcade and showed her on how to use the retro machine.
it was hard for her as it was her first time playing the retro machine. But as time passes by, she had gotten used to it and was engrossed. They also switch from the classic to the more hands on movement like the dance machine.
Gray lost and was in kneeling down in defeat and with his victory in set, Sieg raise his hand.
Next thing they tried is the claw machine, Sieg had help Gray since she a beginner on this and won a plush toy for her.
One hour later…
They came out of the Arcade and Gray never felt more alive, she stretches her hands out while smiling to herself "Ah, that hit the spot!"
"I'm see that you are enjoying yourself."
"Yes I am."
"I'm glad…it wouldn't be a get to know one another without first having fun." he implied on it.
Gray was feeling please with herself "Yes, it wouldn't be…"
As they were walking out of the shopping mall, a group of four people ran past them, three was running in front while the fourth, being a huge minotaur carried a bulky item on his shoulder.
Chasing after them was pink long hair androgynous-looking boy which Sieg recognize but with an attire of a bunny suit and welding a whip sword "You aren't getting away!" she call out to them as the sword she weld had extended into a whip sword and she flung the whip towards them.
The whip sword entangles the minotaur and with his full vigor, he yanks the minotaur to her side and slam him onto the ground. The minotaur was knock out cold and the whip had withdrawn back into a sword.
"One down, three more to go!" The boy got in his stance as the three looks back, gritting their teeth with anger now that their tank had been one shot by him.
"Damn it, kill her!" The three activates their quirks.
One enlarges his hands and slam the ground to create a shockwave, the other shot out laser from his fingertips and the last blow out fire.
The simultaneous blow had created an explosion which Sieg and Gray had to shield their eyes from.
"Yahoo, that will teach you to mess with us!"
Fearing it was the end for him, Gray look away but Sieg look forward and glared his eyes "No…it's not over yet!" A shadow had cast over the pathway and Gray look up to find that the boy had not been burn to a crisp as she was in the air, with her hands stretch out to the side, all the bystander had seen her in a figure of a T.
"What!?" The thief's grasp in horror as she landed on the ground and with his whip sword extended, she swings her hilt and the whips swung in an arc around the three, three circle and the whip had wrap them in a gift.
"And that's that!" The boy bows down as if he's an entertainer and all the bystander immediately clap their hands in unison and the girl flabbergasted.
All the bystander had gathered around her to congratulated her "Wow, that was cool!"
"I've never seen such acrobatics being use like this!"
"I've seen a lot of hero vs villains in my lifetime, but this takes the cake!"
The girl laughed quietly and scratches her head, embarrassed from all the compliment she receives.
Sieg and Gray move past the crowd and make to through to the center where they can see the girl.
He clenches his fist, not knowing if he would remember him, but decide to try.
"Rider!" He calls out and hearing Sieg familiar voice, the boy turns to look at him and was immediately surprised "Eh, Sieg?"
He ran over to Sieg and plunge his hand on Sieg shoulder. "Is that really you, Sieg!?" he asked griping his shoulder tightly and Sieg grimace in pain "Y-yeah, it's me…can you move your hand, you're crushing me."
"Ah sorry." He removed his hand from his shoulder and Sieg felt relieve. Astolfo notice a hooded figure beside him and went to asked, "Err master, who is this person?"
"Oh, let me introduce…this is Gray, and Gray, this is rider."
Gray extend her hand "Pleasure to meet you, Rider."
Astolfo took it and both shake hands "The pleasure is mine, Gray. And instead of rider, call me Saber! I recently got a class change due to the holy grail influence." she nods her head, feeling proud of her achievement.
"Alright, then I will call you Saber then."
With all the bystander still crowding them, it was time to move. With mana flooding their circuits, they jump up to the height of the building.
They had move to the rooftop of the city building where no one would even dare to make it up here.
"Oh yeah, I haven't asked, how did you get summoned into this world?"
Astolfo tilted his head "Hmm, I don't know."
Gray was shocked to hear his reason "What do you mean by don't know!?"
"All I know is that when I came to it, I was already in this world."
"I see…" As Sieg was immerse in his thoughts on he was summon, Astolfo was fiddling with his finger and decided to ask, "Hey master, can I make a contract with you again?"
Sieg look at him and saw his expression was bitter as if he would be sad if he rejected his proposal. "Saber…" Astolfo look at him when he called out his name "I'm a servant like you right now and have a master named Shirou…so if you still want to be my servant then…" he raised his hand with the command seals of a dragon "Then, I will make a pact with you!"
"Eh? Is that even possible?" Gray was shocked to hear that coming from his mouth.
"I have command seals, so I'm a half servant half master." Sieg explained to her.
Astolfo immediately nod her head in excitement "Yes, I will gladly make a pact with you again!"
"Shouldn't you asked Shirou and Shisou if they would agree to this?" Gray asked.
"That's true…then Saber, can you come with us?"
"Alright, I will come with you." Sieg, Gray and Astolfo jump off the building and head back to the hotel where Shirou, Rin, Morgan and El-Meilloi ll resides.
Back to the Hotel…
Shirou, Morgan and Rin were surprise to see an extra with them when they came back "Err Sieg, who is this person?" Shirou asked.
"This is my acquaintances, Astolfo."
He went and introduce himself "Hello everyone, my name is Astolfo, one of the twelve paladins of Charlemagne"
Rin was surprise to hear his true name "Astolfo? As in the weakest knight of the twelve paladins?"
That had hit right in her heart, but that does stop her from being proud "Yes, that's me!" he gave pat on his chest.
Morgan went and scan his appearance "So, this is the famed adventurer who had conquer all the dungeon across the world …I thought he would be a boy, never knew he was a crossdresser."
Astolfo laugh sarcastically and look at Shirou "Master, is he the one you speak of?"
"Yes, his name is Shirou, Emiya Shirou…he's the one who summon me."
As Astolfo walked to him, Gray shouted "Ah, I told you to waked Shisou up!" and immediately run to knock on El-Meilloi ll door "Shisou, Shisou it's already afternoon! It's time to wake up!"
The door open and out came El-Meilloi ll wearing his usual suit. He scratches his head and yawns in tiredness "What's all the noise about?" he look around the room and saw Astolfo "And also, who is that person?"
Sieg got a headache and gestured them to sit in the sofa. With Astolfo sitting beside him, he explained the story from the beginning to the end.
Finishing the story, he got serious as he went to talk about his next point "Master, El-Meilloi ll…would you allow me to form a contract with Saber?"
Both Shirou and El-Meilloi ll were discussing with each other and Sieg and Astolfo stare at them, waiting for their answer, he had butterfly in his stomach as this was turning point of whether they would allow it or not.
Shirou scratch his head and answer because his the master of Sieg "To be honest, I don't really know if this is the right thing…but, El-Meilloi said he will allow it because he said we will need all the help we can get to fight Angra Mainyu servants and the secret third factions in the upcoming holy grail war. "
Astolfo was so happy that he hugs Sieg right away.
Sieg couldn't breathe "Okay, okay I get that you're happy, so can you please get off me?"
"Oh, sorry." He let go and to get ready for the ritual at hand, Sieg stood up and Astolfo kneel.
Sieg close his eyes while holding up his hands to say the same incantation from his old's days.
"Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny."
A light glowed on his hand and radiant around them.
"If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me!"
"Obey me and answer my call! Will you share your destiny with me or not?"
It Astolfo turn to say his vows to him. He opens his eyes and determined to answer his calls.
"In the name of Saber, I shall answer your pledge!"
"You shall be my master,"
"And I shall be your servant!"
The light had enveloped the room until it was gone with Astolfo and Sieg was facing towards each other "And now I'm in your command!" then she walk to Shirou and extend her hand "If you are my master master, then that's makes you my master as well…so I will be in your care, Master!"
"What that supposed to mean?" Shirou took her hand "But yeah, glad to be working with you as well. And call me Shirou, I don't like to be call a master, it doesn't fit me."
"Alright, then Shirou it is!"
While they are having a chit chat with each other, El-Meilloi ll gave a cough to direct their attention to him "If you guys are done then, I have another thing I will need to address."
"And that is…?"
"We might have gained a new servant," he had eyes on Astolfo" but to have an equal ground or more, we still need to more servant on our side."
"And how are we gonna do that?" Rin asked, "It's not like a summoning circle can poofs… appeared at our doorstep!"
El-Meilloi grin evily "That's where you are wrong, Tohsaka Rin." Gesturing them to follow him, he let them to the spare room.
"Ah, this is…"
End of Chapter. I got the idea of Astolfo saber when the fgo jp server had released in their YouTube, so I include it in my writing. And the one of the next few chapters I was thinking of including four servants on Shirou side. Shirou, Sieg and Rin are going to summon their servants.
Servant I want to include the story:
Servant Ruler Artoria (Shirou servant)
Servant Ruler Jeanne d'arc (Sieg servant)
Servant Alter ego Sitonai (Rin Servant)
Servant lancer Karna (Sieg servant)
Servant saber Sigurd (Sieg servant)
Servant lancer Brynhildr (Rin servant)
Servant caster gilgamesh (Shirou servant)
Servant Archer Emiya (Rin servant)
I'm four out of eight I have listed to add to the story but leave in your review of which servant you want to me to include, and I will make changes to it.