Fate Divergence
Chapter 12
Eye of the Storm C-S Exclusive
Narration
"Talk"
Monologue
*SFX*
Small summary
-Ilya with Caster's help look into Shirou's past.
-Rin and Co. proceed with their plan without Shirou.
-Saber and Archer face off against Gilgamesh.
*F/D*
Fear, right now that is the best description to their collective feelings.
After failing to stop Flauros and Arc in activating the grail, thick black rays erupted from the mouth of Mt. Fuji. According to Caster and Lancer, the grail connected to the leyline uses it as passage to the volcano for its discharge energy. It's one thing if it's just Mt. Fuji, but Kueishantao; Taiwan, Mayon; Philippines, Ambang; Indonesia, Bas Dong Nai; Vietnam, Popa; Myanmar, Whale Island; New Zealand, auna Launa; Hawaii, Etna; Italy and more also erupts a similar black light. 72 volcanoes in total.
"W-what should we do?" Olga stutters, in a panic. "Shirou, do something!"
Contrary to the young heiress, Shirou and by extension the queen of the clock tower remained stoic as they devised their next action.
"Oi! Ancestor," Lorelei called.
"Hmmm?" across the table where they gather, the busty blonde vampire tilted her head to her location after being called. Contrast to others, she remains calm and carefree. Rather she is more occupied in eating her meal than focusing on what is currently happening much to the embarrassment of her male companion.
"If the world ended, the deal is over,"
"Okay~"
"There you have it," Lorelei said as she look at Olga. "We'll clear the path so Shirou, you know the drill."
"I understand," Shirou replied flatly.
As one of the master in this grail war, Lorelei waive any responsibilities to Shirou's action. An action that puzzled the magus community as obtaining the grail is a form of prestige on itself I.E: His action, victory and defeat does not reflect the will of the Bartholomeloi. Lorelei's order right now pretty much says that he is one of them and effectively uplifting some limitation given to him during the duration of the war. The use of outside 'Battery' he accumulated since the 5th war to power his magecraft, Creations that are not allowed to be used outside of his reality marble and a more powerful variation of his mystic code. A white coat made from the same material with gold linings bearing the symbol of her brigade and family.
"I assume you foresee this and they are not the only back-up we have?"
To answer Shirou's follow up question, Lorelei glared at him followed by a calculating smile.
Outside of the tent they are using as temporary base, a limousine stops and three individuals get off it.
One is a woman in her thirties with brown hair wearing an expensive kimono over a red jacket, the other is a bespectacled woman of an unknown age with a grumpy expression as she grind the rear end of her cigarette and the other is a woman with long hair wearing plain white shirts and jeans.
"Just don't get it my way and we're fine," the woman with the cigarette said to the woman in white shirt.
"Right back at you," she replied with carefree attitude as she barge in to the tent. "Shiki we're here!"
At the same time,
As chaos ensues over the worldwide catastrophe, two individuals stood at top of Tokyo Tower. A tan man with firm builds, white hair and grey eyes, wearing black tights covered by a red long coat. Next to him is a young tan woman holding a katana with white hair, wears red and black clothes similar to a kimono. The two not minding the chaos below as their sight are focused on the pillar of darkness shooting to the skies.
In Egypt, a certain Pharaoh stood at top of the Sphinx's head looking at the darkness spreading over the horizon and below is his estranged brother that he haven't seen after he and his kind left Egypt.
In Rome, the red emperor stood at the center of the coliseum with smile that exude elegance and confidence and at the audience seat is the British Queen of victory.
"Is this a joke, Alaya?" the queen with long red hair and blue eyes said more to herself as she look at the joyful emperor below.
*F/D*
Fuyuki church
"What the hell was that?!"
It is past six in the morning, the day after their encounter with the servant of gold. The priest Kirei receives an unexpected visitor. Unexpected by the means that this certain twin tail with a temper tantrum and waking in the morning are two combinations that should not even exist. Yet here she is, the owner of the land and heir of the Tohsaka name. Right now, the time is five minutes past six and Rin's thunderous voice is loud enough to reach past the courtyard and make all the birds near the church to flee.
Contrary to the red twin tail, the fake priest as she calls him remained cool, calm and collected.
"Explain yourself!" Rin continues.
"Explain what exactly?"
"Shinji and that new servant of his."
"I see..."
The priest Kirei mumbles as he turns his back on Rin.
"He escapes the day after he was handed to us," Kirei answered.
"And why didn't you informed me about this?"
"Because it is not necessary. His case is under our jurisdiction." Kirei continued. "Also a former master joining up with a different servant is not uncommon," Kirei then takes a side glance at her straight to the eye while maintaining a deadpan expression before turning back to hide his smirk. "You should know better, Rin."
This action, however, made the already angry magus angrier.
"I understand that you fake priest!" Rin yelled, forcefully swinging her arms down and stomping her right foot. "What I don't understand is why an 8th servant exists. A servant having the same class as my own!"
"What?!" Kirei exclaim as he turned to the red magus. "... wait.. but that is..." before he trails off, waking two steps pass her and leaving a more than irritated Rin.
"What are you talking about?"
"Can you further explain the details, Rin," Kirei said as he gestures his hands towards a pew to his right.
After a few minutes of explanation, Rin finally calms down seeing the fake priest having a troubled expression.
"So? care to explain that?" Rin asked, resting her back to the pew as she crossed her feet with a facial expression that she is looking down at him.
"Base from the description of the servant," Kirei began. "It can only be the King of Heroes. The strongest possible Heroic spirit one can summon from the previous grail war."
"But how is it possible that he is still here?!"
"The only possible way I can think off is that the grail brings him back to life."
"And why are we hearing this now?" Rin asked with an eyebrow raised for obvious reason. "After ten years since the previous war."
"Because of how the fourth ended, the identity of the victor remains unknown and he remained quiet all these years." Kirei continued his explanation with a deadpan expression. "But leaving all matter aside, you need to know an important detail here, Rin"
"And what could be more important than knowing a living heroic spirit walk alongside us for ten freaking years?"
"The King of Heroes was originally the servant of your father,"
"Eh?!"
For the first time since their conversation start, Rin looks visibly shaken by his revelation.
"You need to be prepare in case you face them once more and this information is given to you. Now, it is possible that after your father's death, the King of Heroes manages to make a pact to a new master. The same master that saw the end of the previous war. And that same master that could have to lend Shinji Matou his servant to gain the grail once more."
"So what now? Are you calling back those enforcers here once again?"
"No,"
"... you are not planning to ignore this, are you?" Ron was almost speachless to Kirei's response.
"The order for his capture is still there," Kirei took a deep breath before standing. "But if he participates once more and as long as the previous actions were not made, I will not intervene. Not until the end of the war."
"Wha! But- damn it!" Rin stops her feet. "You coward! You just don't want to face that golden prick as well."
"I am just a mediator here for the war," Kirei replied. "Unless it turned into another caster situation of the previous war, my hands are tied."
Seeing the priest remain adamant to his decision, Rin storms out of the church with a foul mood.
Unknown location
While darkness and the stench of death looms over
Hate, grief, jealousy filled the void of its heart
It did not know how long it was since then
Yet all that matters most is not the humiliation of old
not the far goal once yearned
but destruction
all that filled it since then and is the soft whispers of the devil.
The temptation to give in
The temptation to destroy and fill the land with a mountain of corpses.
*clap clap clap*
"I never knew you can act Kirei," Ascending from the basement tombs, the king of heroes wearing modern expensive clothes walk ever so slowly while clapping.
"I am just fulfilling my role," Kirei replied in monotone. "It's not like I lied to her."
"True but leaving important details is called a lie of omission," Gilgamesh replied with a condescending smile.
"She didn't ask so I am not obliged to tell her," Kirei replied coldly.
Tohsaka Manson.
After meeting with the priest, Rin goes back to her own house. Now that the master of the house, Shirou, is temporarily staying with Illya, they decided to transfer all, including the unknown enforcer to her mansion after leaving a note for his legal guardian Taiga. A note informing her that Kiritsugu's biological child came so Shirou is staying with her for the time being.
"How was it?"
Upon entering the living room, she was asked by Marisbury who is seated near the window, casually drinking tea.
"I'd say that fake priest can win an Emmy's from his acting," Rin replied coldly. "Archer!"
"Yes Rin?"
Archer materialized behind her and asked.
"Brew me some tea as well," Rin ordered as she sat on the sofa.
"So how should we proceed then?" asked the English gentleman before looking at the back of his left hand. The hand that once held his command seal.
"There's an option of you and that nun going to the church for protection as a procedure," Marisbury raised an eyebrow to her suggestion. "But we all know that is more suicidal than staying here."
"Rho Aias!"
To save Mordred from her predicament, Archer jumped in front of her and produced a seven petal shield. Seven petals that were shredded to pieces after the end of the barrage.
"Hoh~ your efforts are commendable faker," Gilgamesh sneered high above the sky as he looks down at their battered images.
"Really?" Archer asks flatly. "Seeing that you have not yet used the sword of rupture tells me that you have yet to go all out."
"Mind your tongue mongrel," Gilgamesh replied darkly. "The both of you aren't even worth it for me to use that."
"Heh! We'll see about- what?" As Mordred slowly stood from the ground after being released from the chain of heaven, her master sends her a telepathic message. "Oi Red!"
"I assume you finally got a similar message?" Archer asked without removing his sight from the king of heroes.
"Yeah, which is why..." Mordred said as she grips the handle of her sword with both of her hands. "I don't need you to slow me down!"
"Very well, Rin, I am ready anytime now" Archer sigh while his body starts to glows. And in no time, Archer is no longer in sight.
"Are you sure you can take on me without that faker? Imitation?" Gilgamesh replied with a smirk.
"As if a bastard that is only good at throwing his toys have the right to mock me," Saber replied with a smug smile. "My father is more difficult to handle than you are, this will be a walk in the park for me. Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"
Mordred yelled as she released a huge amount of energy from her body. "Be prepared to have your ass handed to you!"
She then attacked him relentlessly with each blow more powerful than before.
"Fuahahahahahahaha!" Gilgamesh laughs while intercepting all of her assault using Gate of Babylon. "As her imitation, I expect you to do better than this!"
"Shut UP!"
After taking three back steps to avoid his projectiles, Saber positions her sword vertically to her waist before charging at the Golden servant at full speed. ignoring and or evading all of the weapons thrown at her. She continues to ignore it and continued charging to the man who is slowly rising from the ground. "I'll say this not as a King," Saber then started charging her noble phantasm.
"Fuahahahahahaha! Interesting!" Seeing the amount of mana on the red sword, Gilgamesh laughs out loud as he takes his most prized treasure. "Very well! Be glad inferior copy! For you will taste the might of your one true king!"
"But as a loyal knight. Anything to disturb the King's peace will be crushed!" Saber continues as she leaps higher to Gilgamesh, both hands holding her sword above her head.
"Clarent-"
"Enuma-"
"Blood-"
"Elish!"
"Arthur!"
"Did you regret it?" Rin asked grimly as Archer gave him a cup of tea. "Letting Archer face Lancer?"
"A bit," Marisbury replied calmly. "Though having your Archer deal with the King of Heroes is an option knowing he is his natural enemy but only Saber can compete with him in terms of raw power." He then paused for a bit while looking at his reflection from the tea.
"Strong enough to stall him from going after you." he added to answer her raised eye brow.
Upon landing in the garden, Rin and Caren quickly unmounted the magnificent Pegasus. Carrying an unconscious Sakura by their shoulders.
"Let's hurry and-" Rin said in a panic.
*zoom*
"Move!"
Upon getting an ill feeling, Rider called out as she pushed them near the house before intercepting a bloody red spear aimed at them.
Using her quick reflex, Rider does a back-flip, catches the red spear and returns it to its owner.
"Argh!" Rider yelled in pain as she felt her arm muscle tears from the sheer pressure of returning the red spear.
"Not bad for a Rider class," Landing at top of an electric pole, the child of light mused while looking at Rider with bloodied hands and a limped right arm.
"Lancer!" Rin cursed. "What are you doing here?!"
"C'mon now," Lancer replied with a grin. "Didn't you hear the saying strike while the iron's hot?" lancer then shot Rin a grin. "Besides, my coward of a master deemed the kid's servant and your collusion as a big problem so here I am.
*tap tap tap*
"Damn it! Just when Caster and Shirou are with Illya..."
"And send," Caren mutters beneath her breath.
"The more reason for me to weed the competition," Lancer replied with a mad grin, his spear resting at the back of his neck and both arm stretch side-wards holding the spear at both ends.
*beep*
"Rider, I order you to protect us and stall him until back up arrive."
Maintaining her cool, Caren activates her command seal before putting a flip phone to her robe.
"Understood,"
"Rin, stall for time for me, I already informed him of our situation. He will stall for time so call your servant asap," Caren announces as she removed her church robe to reveal her exoticism uniform before laying the unconscious Sakura to the wooden floor. "I'll assist you right after I am finished here.
"I understand,"
"Quite brave eh, Missy?" Lancer said coolly as the silver-haired nun who started to ignore him and proceed to operate on the unconscious blue-haired Sakura using a jagged ornamental knife. "Do you really think you have the time to finish what you are doing?"
"I never ask for your opinion dog," Caren said coldly. "You really have no manners. Barking even when you are not ordered to."
"Why you..." Lancer growls as he looked at the new master of Rider while having this feeling that she is familiar to someone he knew. Someone unpleasant yet not as unpleasant as a horny, vindictive Celtic queen with a penchant for whips.
"In the end, we lost two servants," Rin mumbled as Archer serves her tea. "Archer arrives after fending of Gilgamesh's barrage, With the two, they are able to fend off Lancer. Although Rider perishes from all the injuries she received right after Lancer retreated."
"I think it was after Ea lit the sky for the second time. "
"That's right..."
"On a bright side, the worm and the fragment were dealt with," Marisbury sigh as he leans on the chair and looks up to the ceiling before taking a quick glance to the servant of the future. "Though I am ashamed as a master that I was not alongside my servant when she fought to the very end."
"You already heard from Archer what HE did to Berserker in an alternative time," Rin said gloomily. "He targeted Illya just to score some free damage on Berseker. I experience it myself. If not for Archer's copy pissing him so much that he set his sight onto him more, I may have been one porcupine corpse by now. It is safe to say that Saber made the right call to put you in a relatively safe distance."
"I just hope all of our sacrifices won't end in vain" Marisbury sigh. "Assassin, Saber, and Rider. Two more servants and the grail can be prematurely activated."
"If only there's a way to have lancer switch side..." Rin mumbles.
Einzbern Mansion, 7:00 A.M
"Sella, what's with all the noise?" Walking out of her room in her pajama, Illya walks to the corridor and asked the slim maid dusting some furniture in a drowsy but irritated tone.
"That Bug-err Shiro-sama is training with his servant and Liz at the courtyard." Sella corrected herself after receiving a glare from her mistress.
"Hoh~ I want to see that,"
Knowing now of his past and what he is capable of doing using his possible future self as a reference, drowsiness was replaced by excitement as she tried to run towards the source of the noise this instant.
"Ojou-sama! Please tell me you are not going out in that outfit?" Sella nags, pointing a finger on Illya's pajama.
"Very well," Ilya scowls as she went back to take a bath and change.
A few minutes later, after getting dressed with the help of Sella, Illya quickly runs out to the courtyard where Shirou is. Sella is trailing behind her by four feet
"Haaaaah!"
*clang*
Shirou breathes out as he swings using both arms a replica of the Riesenarm halberd to the busty maid only for it to break after being parried by the original weapon.
"Seriously," Sella commented, arriving a few seconds late after Illya, the maid saw everything that had happened for the last seconds. How he replicate the halberd and how he moves similar to Leysritt. Not only weapons but even how the weapons are used can be copied. Though the copied weapon and his movements are cruder than the original. The weight of the weapon and his body's capabilities in handling it is more the reason as to why he is not able to land a clean hit on Liz and not just his subpar skills on using Liz's technique. It should be a one side massacre especially if Liz was allowed to move from her spot but his drawbacks were compensated by how fast he thinks and react. Right after the projection broke, Shirou projected a small crude-looking ax-sword to block the incoming kick delivered by Leysritt. The modified sword Heracles used "His entire being is truly absurd."
"Damn!" Shirou mumbles as the ax-sword he project to shield himself shatters. Though the force was not that strong, he lets himself be pushed back from the kick to lessen the damage he received and to give him ample time and distance to make his next move. "Trace on!"
"Sella,"
"I know, Ojou-sama," Sella replied calmly as her eyes are now glued to the red spear that formed on his hands "Though the spear is more inferior compared to what Archer did previously, this pretty much checks Archer's claim."
As someone who is well versed in magecraft as an Einzbern Hommonculus, Sella knows all too well how useless grandation air is. Seeing a heroic spirit do it is one thing but a human creating a replica of a noble phantasm, mysteries and all, without suffering severe damage is pretty unnerving.
*clang*
*clang*
*shatter*
Shirou charges at Leysritt once more but the projected weapon shattered on two hits. Knowing how heavy the halberd is and how she easily swat his trust with said haldberd tells Shirou that this silent busty maid is one you should not be messing with. In a way her strength is comparable to a servant.
*zazazazaza*
In response to his weapon breaking, Shirou runs around the maid while focusing his Od to produce a new set of weapons.
This might not be the proper time and place but I might as well try it.
"Trace on, load concept and merge"
Shirou mumbles as he imagines the three concepts of the halberd, ax-sword and cursed spear and tried to materialize it into a new form. A bloody red halberd with jagged ax-edge.
"That's new," Ilya commented, excited to what the new weapon can do only for it to sizzle and explode before it even made contact. The explosion caused Shirou to be thrown three feet away from his opponent and injuring his right arm that was holding the synthesized weapon.
Contrary to Illya's excitement, Caster who sat at the tallest tree in the courtyard sigh especially right after the weapon fizzles and exploded.
*clap clap*
Caster clapped her hands as soon as she saw Shirou landed in his butt, jumping near him to lend him a hand.
"Did you enjoy that little show?" Caster asked the two spectators.
"Though the noise woke me up, or was an interesting match." Illya replied before looking back to her onii-chan. "Shirou, breakfast will be served so you better clean up before than. And Sella, tend to his wounds."
"But ojou-sama, what about preparing the dinner table?"
"Liz can do it," Illya said with an impish smile.
A smile that pretty much said 'Since you dislike him that much, you'll spend time with him.'
"Liz, let's go." Illya finishes before leaving. The maid Leysritt followed suit, leaving the two master and servant combo and a speechless slim maid behind.
"Caster, I uhm..." Shirou replied meekly while scratching the back of his head. Considering his recent performance, how his projections were rushed and incomplete, he already expect a trashing but.
"We can discuss this later," Caster takes a side glance at him before replying in a monotonous tone. Soon afterward she adjusted her sight in front and at the same process flipping her hair before she starts walking back into the castle.
Passing by the slim maid, Caster smirks similar to Ilya at her prompting for her to earnestly glare to the clueless dung beetle of a master.
Tohsaka mansion, 8:30 AM
Over the dining table, Rin and Marisbury discuss to Caren, who was busy tending to the unknown enforcer and Sakura, their next course of action.
"What's your opinion over this?" Caren asked. Her sight is directed at the Servant Archer.
"Oi, you know I already consult with him beforehand right?" an irritated Rin glared at her while raising her empty plate to her side, signaling her servant to refill her plate.
"I know,"
"Why you..." little by little, Rin's anger is reaching its breaking point.
"I just want to know of his insight into things you might not consider."
"Rin," Archer called while filling her plate.
"Fine!" Rin fumed but argue no more.
"If we consider all things," Archer began as he circles to Marisbury's location to fill his glass. "Even if you stayed behind, I doubt he will target you as a possible vessel. Knowing you are his child and all."
"Eh?"
"I highly doubt it," Caren murmur.
"What?!" Rin exclaims as she banged the table and stood unconsciously.
"Miss Tohsaka," Marisbury called sternly as a means to reprimand crude attitude while giving a nostalgic look at the twin tail. Hoping for all hope that his daughter will not grow like her.
"And why are we hearing this now?" Rin asked as calmly as she can before sitting down.
"You didn't ask," Caren replied calmly. "And it's not important. I am just his biological daughter. Nothing more, nothing less."
Urg... they really are father and child!
Rin thought to herself as she compares how insufferable the two are.
At the same time, in the Einzbern Castle Dining hall, Illya is having breakfast outside of the ordinary.
Normally she would eat by herself while her servants stayed behind her but right now, said a servants are joining her in the dining table alongside her onii-chan and his servant. Something that won't happen if not for Shirou's insistence.
"So what was that, Shirou?" Illya asked.
"What?" Shirou asked.
"You know, that red thingy that goes boom,"
"Ah that... I was in a bind so I did a little experiment," Shirou replied nervously as the servant beside him is all too quiet over this specific blunder.
"How foolish of you," Sella commented. This all itself is her very first time joining the small conversation at the dinner table. "Experiment or not, it is easy to see that you rushed over the process in making that crude failure."
"Sella, you're being mean to Shirou!"
"On the contrary, she is right Illya," Caster answered in Sella's stead. A cold tone that he didn't miss "Shirou, I don't know how much I scold you of your reckless behavior but let that serve as a lesson on not skipping the proper procedure."
"I..."
"Seriously! ecluding those rushed projections, you proceed to Synthesis knowing you have yet fully mastered Alteration first," Caster added.
"Alteration? Synthesis?" Ilya asked, tilting her head. She looks at Leysritt with a clueless expression than to Sella who shakes her head before looking at Shirou who just moves his eyes towards Caster's location which pretty much tells Illya that it's better if Caster do the explanation.
"As you know, projection materializes objects base on the caster's imagination," Caster began explaining right after wiping her lips with the table napkin. "By all means, it is a useless magecraft due to the object quickly fading from existence. Shirou's version of projection that we call tracing is a step above normal projection. By utilizing structural analysis on an object first, he can copy or trace its shape, substance, and history. Giving the once hollow imagination a complete form. The end result of this is a sturdy projection that lasts longer unless the item broke. However, if the projection is a normal noble phantasm, his creation at best is always one rank below the original.
Alteration is a subset of tracing. By further using reinforcement on the traced object, it can be modified to suit a specific use without losing the essence of the traced object just like the smaller version of Heracles's ax-sword that Shirou used to block your Liz's kick or an arrow with rune carvings on it. Synthesis as the word suggest on the other hand is combining two or more plan into one projection. The best example here was Shirou's Cursed Riesenarm. Using the halberd as the base, he fused its properties to Gae Bolg and Heracles' ax-sword which result in one red halberd with a jagged blade."
"Then can Shirou copy any make noble phantasm then?" Upon hearing what this magecraft can do, Illya asked with sparkly eyes.
"With the exception of fully copying a divine construct, yes, any noble phantasms are up for grabs."
"Say, after lunch... it's the usual punishment right?" Shirou asked nervously as soon as Caster and Illya finish their conversation.
"Hue?" The sudden shift of topic lead to Illya voicing her confusion while a smirk is formed on the slim maid's face.
"Not for today," Caster answered much to Shirou's surprise. By normal means, it's spartan training everytime he did something reckless. Yet she is letting his action slide. Which means something not good is going to happen "We will be having guests later on so I need you in top shape." Her follow up pretty much say what Shirou is thinking and at the same time, Illya's grimace affirm it.
Fuyuki church courtyard
Due to the noise made by Gilgamesh in the underground tomb with his new toy, Kirei decides to stay on the surface where he call Lancer while he is at the courtyard.
"Lancer, can you handle Caster all by yourself?" Kirei asked.
"It'll be difficult but not impossible," Lancer answered with confidence.
"You can go now,"
"Sure...Oh by the way,"
Just as the servant is about to exit the yard, he pauses and takes a side glance to the malevolent priest. "You sure we'll let those two as is?"
For a very rare case ever since the start of the war, Lancer saw Kirei's shoulder twitch as the two in question are the master of Saber and Rider. The English gentleman no longer have a servant and Rider is either dead or heavily injured right after he left. An ample opportunity to strike if he is to consider the twisted personality of the priest.
"They won't be a problem as long as you are able to fulfill your role." Kirei replied. "Killing them might attract more attention to this ritual.
"Heh, if you say so,"
With the conversation over, Lancer left. Hiding a disgruntled face knowing he leaves an important detail. Detail about an extra individual that he accidentally saw. The unconscious short hair individual resting in the boy's house that he knows all too well.
Just exactly what are you doing here, Caren...
Kirei though at the back of his mind after recalls the information Lancer gave on his encounter on the new Master of Rider.
Tohsaka manor, 10 AM
After seeing Marisbury left with Caren, Rin ran to Sakura's old room where she is currently resting after the worm and the grail was removed.
"Nee-san," Sakura said weakly to a relieve Rin.
"Don't waste your breath, Sakura," Rin said as she walks to her side and held her right hand. "For the time being, you need to rest."
"Where's senpai? Does he know about this?"
"... Yes." Seeing her scared look, Rin still decides to answer honestly. Lying at this point won't do any good from her perspective. "He was supposed to be with us."
"Supposed?"
"Illya happened," Rin replied in an irritated tone. "Due to that, we experience heavy casualty when we came to your rescue."
"Is rider..." Sakura asked as she looks out of the window.
"Yes," Rin replied as she adjusted her hair near her right ear. "She fought valiantly even after all the injury she received from Lancer's sneak attack."
"I see... so what will happen now?"
"Normally, I suggest getting you to the church but that is no longer an option," Rin said with a tone of irritation and anger. "We can discuss that later so rest for the time being."
"... I understand..."
Rin then stayed beside Sakura till dusk while Archer remain vigilant for any signs of Gilgamesh.
"What do you think you're doing here?!"
The time is near noon. While waiting for the possible arrival of the king of heroes, life at the Einzbern castle continued as normal. Normal to Sella's standards. That, however, crumble as soon as she entered the kitchen a few minutes after watering the garden.
"Oh, this?" the perpetrator with a oblivious expression asked. "Since you're busy and Liz-"
"Leyritt," Sella corrected him.
"Err yeah, since she is also busy assisting Caster, I volunteered to prepare lunch. Illya finds it intriguing so she allowed me to."
"Grrrrr..." Sela growls on a low tone right after hearing her mistress gave him permission. The final seal to the coffin for her objection.
Meanwhile at the basement, Caster is kneeling on the ground writing runes while the expressionless maid stood behid her with halberd on hands.
"What are your true intentions?" she ask, looking for any signs of unnecessary movement from the servant.
"I need him to gain experience on fighting someone that is not me." Caster replied while maintaining a poker face.
"Ass long as it will not affect her then I don't mind..."
I really need to get rid of that dogs earlier comment...
She though as she continue in fortifying the defense of the castle while trying to bury her hidden desire. Desire that was seen through by her previous student during their encounter at the port.
Dining room, Illya placed one of the chairs next to the fireplace while she is enjoying her tea with a mischievous smile plastered on her face. Hearing an agitated Sella shrieking every now and then for an hour as she assists her onii-chan in making an eastern dish, something Sella is not accustomed in doing is quite entertaining. As entertaining whenever she is being teased by Liz for her lacking asset.
*creak*
"You're enjoying yourself," Entering the Living room, Caster said with a wave of her right hand. The maid Leyritt follows behind her.
"Since this might be my last, I might as well enjoy it to its fullest.
"Can I join you?" Caster asked as she herself chuckle to the noise coming from the kitchen.
"Sure, It's not like I can stop you if you really want to."
"Very well," Caster replied.
Illya look at the servant until she sat at a chair adjacent to the chair.
"I assume you're here to discuss something important,"
"In a way yes," Caster replied without beating around the bush as she casually rests her back to the chair, crossing her left leg to her right. "I fortified and rigged the castle if worst comes to worst. I also prepared some contingency in case you need to escape."
"Are you saying even for you it is difficult to defeat the king of heroes?" Ilya asked, skeptically with a matching left eyebrow raised. "You who killed Berserker more than once."
"Heracles' twelve lives does make him a formidable foe but the chain of heaven and the sword of rupture are more dangerous in more ways than one."
"Even with the two of you fighting against him?"
"If that is only the case," Caster sigh. "I expect my student will also enter the fray."
"Care to explain why?"
"With his existence known, I find it hard to believe that his true master would send him in a den with a servant that must be killed multiple times and another servant that is capable of killing the divine." The caster then shifted her gaze to the door of the room with an expression not of worry but of anticipation. An expression she saw once when they fought against her servant. "Considering Rin succeeds in their mission albeit losing 2 servants in the process, Sakura loses all it's use as a vessel which leaves you. In that case, It is more logical to bring the fight here in a secluded place than somewhere in Shinto. With the previous incident, any larger-scale destruction will surely attract the attention of the mage association and the church. Something the true master of Archer will probably want to avoid"
"Two? You might be-"
*creak*
Before Illya could finish, Sella and Shirou entered the room, bringing several foods along. Seeing her foul mood, Illya deduced that her onii-chan didn't fail and the food is delicious.
At the edge of the Einzbern forest, Shinji steps out from a cab.
"That'll be xxx yen, sir," the driver called. His irritation is clearly etched on his face as the young lad has yet paid the fair.
snap*
"Sir-" the driver called once more with a tone higher than previously but Before the driver could even finish his word, a sword came flying in, piercing him to his chair.
"You're next, Emiya," Shinji continues as he walks towards the forest. Ignoring the driver pleading for help while being fed by a certain gold individual. "Kehehehehe... Hahahahahaha!"
Aaaaaaaaaand Cut!
With this, the chapter came to a close. With the worm and the corrupted shard no longer an issue, they prevent Sakura from going all dark on them and While we get to see Saber's fight, Rider died off screen. Sella's behavior and interaction with Shiro in this story is a mixture of her Hollow and Prisma iteration.
On a side note, There's no longer a third story line since it already reaches full circle to the start of the revive war. Yehey for that.
Servant Profile:
Class: Caster
True Name: Scathach
Alignment: Neutral Good
Attribute: Star
Strength: C
Endurance: A
Agility: A+
Mana: C
Luck: D
Personal Skill:
Wisdom of the Haunted Ground A+
God Killer: B
Primordial Rune: A
Class Skill
Magic Resistance: A
Divinity: B
Double Class: C
Territory Creation: Ex
Noble Phantasm:
░░░░ ░░ ░░░░: Anti-Army A+
Gae Bolg Alternative : Anti-Unit B+
For the review, likes and follow, thanks!
