AN: Kuro's age. Imo, Raphtalia and Kuro are similar in the way that their age is not reflected in their mental or physical maturity. Functionally, both of them are at least in their mid-teens or older.
On one hand, Kuro is just a few months old because that's how much time has passed since she started existing as an individual. On another hand, she was implanted from birth with Justeaze von Einzbern's memories to be able to enact Heaven's Feel, so you can also say that Kuro is much older than 11.
The end result however, is that she acts like a ruthless, smartass teenager that sometimes acts like an older sibling, which is exactly what I'm going to portray her as and the changes to her appearance will reflect that. She is basically a watered-down version of the sociopathic murder tyrant that is FSN Illya.
~~o0o~~
It hadn't really dawned on Kuro how different this world was from Earth until she had to stick arrows into rabid carnivore bunnies trying to bite her.
She cupped another handful of water in her hands from the stream and splashed it against her face, cleaning it of the monster blood splattered on her.
Drying her hands on her waistcoat, the Servant looked back to the lightly rippling water, examining her face in the reflection.
It wasn't just her, when she noticed she was having Raphtalia the other day tilt her head up to look at her face. She was actually so much taller than she used to be, just a little below her Master's height, who she eyeballed to be around 170 cm. Not only that, but she also had more muscle than she used to (abs, hell yeah!). If Kuro had to guess, she looked about 16 years old right now.
Which was actually great! Now her claim of being Illya's older sister checked out, albeit at the cost of the "little girl" act she frequently used to get her way. Worth it, though.
Her armor changed, too. She now sported a pair of steel-toed, thigh-high boots and shorts, though there was little change to her top. Those, alongside her nearly white hair were the hints she built her hypothesis on about why she barely noticed these changes.
Her current theory was that there was a bleedover effect from Archer Class Card, likely having to do with the fact that Darius had torn it out of her before she died back in Miyu's world.
Kuro probably didn't notice the change because this was actually closer to what Heroic Spirit EMIYA looked like. She was relying on his abilities and muscle memory after all, so it made sense that this felt more natural.
Kuro also really, really hoped that this was it because she didn't want to become a man. Just, ew.
As the Servant shook herself out of that line of thought, she noticed another reflection in the water, the tanuki-eared owner of it thinking she was being subtle with sneaking a look at Kuro. She winked at the reflection, causing Raphtalia to look away and blush.
The brunette has been having trouble looking the Archer in the eye since she was given "the talk" and her first kiss yesterday night. Of course, Kuro made sure the girl's first kiss was a good one.
Satisfied, the Servant picked up her bow and jogged to catch up with her Master and Raphtalia walking back to the village. She got some stares from the occasional villager for having several sword handles sticking out of her quiver, but for now, this was the most sensible method. Rather than emptying her Master out when they were fighting, she would dip in his reserves when he was sleeping or travelling to stock up on weapons and arrows. It's not like they were showing any signs of deterioration, anyways. As far as Kuro could tell, this world was still in a pseudo-Age of Gods.
They went out to the plains to hunt today. After she explained her skillset to the rest of the group, Naofumi had Kuro set up at the back of the group to get used to their formation and support them with ranged attacks. The Servant, on the other hand, saw that they were handling themselves quite well. She only had to take care of some stragglers and monsters in blind spots every now and then, so she went ahead and took aim at some targets of her own much farther away, letting loose arrow after arrow above the main group's heads and leveled up on her own, outpacing even Firo's 12 levels in the previous day.
[Naofumi: Lv. 26]
[Raphtalia: Lv. 29]
[Filo: Lv. 16]
[Kuro: Lv.14]
Kuro already had stats several times higher than theirs was at level 1, but that wasn't really what was impressive - it was the high quality weapons she could trace that enabled her to fight monsters way above her level. It didn't really matter what her base attack stat was when she could just pick up the slack and rise beyond it by using projectiles that looked like they belonged in the Level 50 range.
~~o0o~~
That evening, they nested up in the stables with Firo, who had grown taller than Kuro before her very eyes, now capable of carrying a person on its back faster than a racing horse, but apparently wasn't yet emotionally ready to spend the night alone. Naofumi sympathized with the Archer who was still baffled by the bird's growth.
The Servant traced her ammunition with half a mind as she paid attention to Raphtalia trying to teach them what was apparently known as the Melromarcian alphabet.
The tanuki girl finally looked up from the characters drawn in the dirt when it was apparent that Naofumi wouldn't be making any more progress for the night, gazing at the arrow materializing out of magical energy.
At first, Raphtalia was skeptical about the summoning ritual. Make no mistake, Naofumi was one of the most capable people she had ever known, overcoming insurmountable adversity and still fully intended on playing his role as the Shield Hero, but the hero summoning ritual was something she fully believed was the purview of mages, researchers and priests, and Naofumi was none of those. And when it actually worked, the first impression of the Archer raised her hackles; they didn't need another girl to cause trouble for them like the one that accused him of rape!
What else was she supposed to think when she saw how the Servant acted and dressed? Then there was the whiplash Raphtalia was still feeling from when the white-haired girl flirted with her instead of Naofumi.
And the kiss? That's a can of worms she's not willing to open up right now.
But now, she was slowly coming to see why the Shield Hero was so adamant on at least making an attempt at the summoning. Back in the field, the Archer moved like an experienced veteran, immediately falling into a position that meshed well with their current setup. Not only could she fight on their level at level 1, but as far as Raphtalia could tell, Kuro hadn't missed a single shot. After she was bailed out a couple times by the archer when she was overextending, she started to check on the dark-skinned girl in return to see if she needed any help with monsters attacking up close, but the one time Raphtalia thought she would be in trouble Kuro just swiped a sword from her quiver and skewered the monster without even looking at it.
The tanuki girl frowned at the thought, but she found herself trusting Kuro in the same way she trusted Naofumi to keep her safe.
"That is some impressive magic, Archer-san. It really doesn't make any sense that the Status Magic says you have no magic abilities," commented Raphtalia as Kuro projected another sword.
"Eh, you can just call me Kuro like everyone else does. No point in calling me by my class name when I'm not a real Heroic Spirit. It's not like it would matter even if I was," she admitted. Her Master probably already knew quite a bit, as his reaction to her abilities was awe, but not surprise.
"You're not a...what was it, Counter Guardian either, are you?" Naofumi asked, finally broaching the subject of her identity.
The Servant smiled ruefully. "What gave it away?"
"I don't think your personality would survive being one, if what little I know about it is right. Being made to fight for eternity with no free will of your own..." the Shield Hero trailed off.
"Yeah..." Kuro ageed, the topic making her wonder what the alternate version of her brother could have wanted to pay such a price. Perhaps he had a "Miyu" of his own to save? Then again, it was because he paid that price that she could even be here and now.
"Counter Guardian?" Raphtalia asked uneasily.
"You didn't tell Raphtalia anything?" The Servant raised an eyebrow at Naofumi. "What a negligent Master I have."
The man in question gave an exasperated sigh. "Give me a break, I wasn't even sure if the summoning would work at all at the time."
"Counter Guardians are..." The Archer began, addressing Raphtalia, "They're kind of like the Holy Heroes of this world, summoned to stop what could be a world-ending threat."
The tanuki girl tilted her head cutely. "Are there Holy Heroes in your world too? Naofumi-sama didn't tell me much about his world."
"Nah, nothing like that. Counter Guardians are contracted to Alaya, the Will of Humanity in exchange for a wish. In return, they are taken outside the normal flow of time and deployed whenever and wherever they are needed, unable to die properly and fighting for eternity. I'm surprised this world doesn't have that instead of the four Holy Heroes who can't even be relied on. No offense to Master," Kuro noted.
"None taken," Naofumi grunted.
"I think I'd rather keep the four Holy Heroes instead if damning people to fight for eternity is the other option…" the tanuki confessed with a queasy expression.
Kuro looked at her and smiled a small smile, standing up from the floor to give the brunette headpats to the receiver's indignation. "You're a kind girl, Raphtalia."
"Isn't she?" Naofumi agreed with a grin, also blessing his pseudo-daughter with headpats of his own.
Under the assault on her dignity, Raphtalia came to the realization that Kuro and Naofumi were - in the worst ways possible - actually a bit similar.
~~o0o~~
Honestly, the entire situation just made Kuro facepalm.
Naofumi made sure she would not have any expectations of the Spear Hero, but boy was she disappointed. Kuro should've known better than to try, but even the Holy Spear he carried around was prone to give her a headache, just like its wielder.
The Archer had been barely taught yesterday how the currency worked in this world, but even she could tell that the 1 gold toll would be a surefire way to destroy any future the village could hope to have.
On top of it, the smug, self-satisfied expression of the redheaded woman doing the declarations beside the spear-wielding fop seemed to rouse some kind of instinctive loathing that caused Kuro to barely be able to stop her upper lip stiffening into a sneer.
The history of the decorative sword on Malty's hip only made her easier to hate. For some reason, she found herself thinking that the only thing that was missing was blue hair and she would barely be able to stop herself from throttling the woman on the spot.
Judging by the emotional feedback she was feeling through their connection, Naofumi was in the same mindset.
So here she was, flitting through the forest surrounding Ryute village, stopping on a branch occasionally to fire off a Black Key or two into the shadows of the knights trying to rig the race for the governorship of the village in Motoyasu's favor. Sadly, she couldn't really do anything about the knights mingling with the villagers without appearing suspicious.
But even with some interference, it was clear that the drake the Spear Hero was riding (she refused to call it a dragon - that title is only reserved for beings like Fafnir) was subpar in comparison to Naofumi's personally raised Filolial.
'You're welcome,' she sent through their connection, sure that her Master would understand without further elaboration.
During the last lap, Kuro set a little distance away from the finishing line, supervising the knights alongside the villagers who had also caught on that something fishy was going on.
When the knights drew their swords and scattered the civilians, she tensed, watching for signs of escalation, but it turned out that she needn't have bothered.
"As the source of your power, hear my words and understand them! I command a hole to appear before me: Earth Hole!" Incanted one of the knights.
Wow.
Kuro was curious about what sort of "magic" the people in this world had, but that was quite possibly the most pedestrian use of magical energy she had ever witnessed. A four verse spell to create a hole in the ground? Really? And what was up with the incantation itself? Like, she knew chants were just mnemonics for activating thaumaturgy so you could theoretically use any phrase, but that just wasn't how a spell is supposed to sound like! At least try to use some dead language or make it rhyme!
Naofumi smoothly countered the obstacle with an Air Strike Shield and Firo promptly kicked the caster into unconsciousness, then sped past the finishing line.
"I..I lost..." stuttered the blonde fop as he rode in his exhausted drake, as though in disbelief.
And that should've been the end of the stupid affair.
Alas, the Archer would have her hopes thwarted.
The Servant walked up to Firo as her Master dismounted, intending to reward the bird's effort with some cheek scritches when the shouting started.
"He must've cheated! We demand a rematch!"
Naofumi ignored it, instead joining Kuro in petting the big bird.
"Don't you dare ignore me!" Malty closed in, shouting indignantly in her Master's ear.
Naofumi blinked in faux confusion at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were talking about this guy over here," he pointed at the knight sprawled on the ground, "Since he was the one casting spells during the race."
"Was he?" Spear Fop, as Kuro had decided to call him in her mind, asked dumbly.
"And what does that have anything to do with us? We demand justice!"
The sheer hypocrisy was too much for Kuro to take anymore and she snorted, bringing attention upon herself.
"And you are?" Malty practically snarled.
Kuro didn't really have a chance to let this side of her out much with Illya and Miyu around, but here…
A sharp, unpleasant smile made itself known on her face. "Oh, I'm just some archer. I joined the Shield Hero's party recently."
"I didn't see you during the race! You must've helped the Shield Hero cheat!" the redhead now pointed, accusing.
"Me? I left earlier because this entire affair is the dumbest thing I've ever seen and I didn't want to be involved. I really must applaud your family's wisdom to have you use an alias while you're out of the castle."
"What are you implying?"
The Archer hummed thoughtfully. "Ah, so you're not just an honorless fool, but a simpleton as well. If you do not understand this much, I can't say I'm surprised your mother and father wouldn't want to be associated with your public identity's reputation, First Princess."
"You dare..." the redhead muttered with gritted teeth.
"Really, wasn't it enough that the Royal Family had to deal with covering up your whoring around by denouncing the Shield Hero?" Kuro paused, sighing dramatically, "Now you throw a tantrum because you couldn't win a race established by yourself even with cheating, so they have to run damage control for the Spear Hero's reputation even though it was none of his fault. I pity your parents. They truly must have their hands full with you," she finished, shaking her head in disappointment.
By now, Malty's countenance had become positively apoplectic.
"You know, you'll give yourself wrinkles like that. You should take better care of yourself to preserve your looks, else your one good trait won't survive wearing yourself out on blondie's "spear" every nigh-"
Kuro didn't get to finish her sentence as she was yanked by Naofumi out of the fireball's way that was about to hit her.
"You little bitch, there will be nothing but ashes left when I am going to be done with you!" was as far as she got before a battalion of ninjas surrounded her.
"Please come with us, Ms. Myne. You are clearly no longer in control of yourself and our employer would be most displeased if they heard you attacked a Hero unprovoked."
Though seething and digging her heels in, she was led out from the village.
This was when Naofumi lost his hold on the glee that started bubbling the minute Kuro took control of the conversation, laughing uproariously for all to see.
"Ahahahahahah! That. Was. Awesome!" He grinned for the first time since the Servant met Naofumi. "The look on her face was even better than when Filo kicked Motoyasu in the nuts! Hahahahah!" he went on, still in stitches.
Kuro only smirked smugly as Raphtalia looked between the pair in horror, muttering "There's two of them..."
"Sorry about Myne. She's a nice girl, but even I have to admit that she has a bit of a temper."
Kuro turned to the voice with surprise on her face. What was Spear Fop still doing here?
"Hey, I know you didn't mean those things. Naofumi made you say it, didn't he? I don't know what he has over you but I can help," he said with concern in his voice. "And after we deal with it we can go and get to know each other over a drink," Spear Fop proposed with a wink. "A cool girl like you is wasted on the likes of Naofumi," He finished, not-so-subtly checking her out.
The Archer turned slowly to Naofumi with an expression on her face that screamed 'Is this guy for real?' as she pointed to the person in question.
The Shield Hero only nodded, still recovering from his laughing convulsions.
Kuro faced the Spear Fop with a sigh. "Look, not only are you assuming things, but I'm batting for the same team as you. And even if you were a cute girl, I would pick Raphtalia over an airheaded cretin like you on any day. "
The blonde recoiled as though slapped, and started backing away hurriedly with alarm in his eyes.
"I won't let you take Myne from me!"
"Why would I want to take Myne from you? I have better standards than that," Kuro responded in confusion, unaware that more than a quarter of the girlfriends Motoyasu has had left him for another woman.
Naofumi, who has mostly regained his bearings by now, helplessly fell into another fit of laughter.
