A/N: Yep, this happened...
I'm thankful to God and to all who reads this series.
This story will get darker from here by the way.
And Valentines rolls too, with Jeanne and a new character in the same rate - up designed to troll my rolls starting at 00:00 JST today. -sigh-
Ah, well. might as well live with those rates.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Credits go to Gen Urobuchi, Nitro+ and TYPE – MOON for Fate/Zero, and Hiroshi Shiibashi for Nurarihyon no Mago.
Chapter 26: Discarded and Broken Principles
For all of what Kejoro and Caster had done, Emiya Kiritsugu is still not impressed.
But they had anticipated it, for he still sees this war as a glorified bloodbath, as they also see it. Heroes from every known Western legend are summoned as sacrifices for the Grail, but it is too much a price for a single wish.
They might agree with him on that one, but in their opinion, his methods of attaining the Holy Grail are too extreme for their standards.
And thanks to their anticipation, they now know where he will move next.
Caster's ears can overhear his conversation from a distance. And from there, she heard this line.
"If you have Sola, bring her to me after you have gotten rid of her Command Seals."
He then dropped the call, then he proceeded to his location by hailing a taxi. With him leaving the location, Caster now relayed the events to Kejoro.
Kejoro can only sigh at his blunt exit, but there is no time for her to be frowning about it by now, since his principles are that of the assassin's.
Even so, she still wishes that one day, they can be able to play a part in Kiritsugu's life for once.
Sadly, that wish will come true for both of them in a brutal and sadistic manner.
He still holds the revolver in his hands.
He succeeded in killing the judge of the Holy Grail War.
Now all he has to do is to leave the evidence that Emiya Kiritsugu actually did the deed.
He hates to have his hands dirty, but the Holy Grail War is such an event that can cover up every misdeed including the elimination of the mediator of the Holy Grail War. Not even one of the officials of the Clock Tower will know about the events that transpired in this minor competition.
After receiving his Command Seal, he eliminated the mediator in order to not let anyone receive more Command Seals, since this is what the Masters of the Holy Grail War are after.
He can't let such precious commodities fall in the wrong hands.
He can only disregard all of those lessons that he has learned in the Clock Tower after Emiya Kiritsugu showed him that pride of the Magi with regards to their lineage will get him nowhere.
It crossed his mind that experience is the best teacher, but he did not expect to receive that experience in such a humiliating manner to the point that he disrespected the rules of the Holy Grail War.
And so, he slowly left the church, his wheelchair aiding him in his eventual escape. He is confident that the Clock Tower will sort this out once he won the Holy Grail War.
But the one thing that he will not expect is that the mediator of the Holy Grail War has a son.
This is her only chance. This is her only way out. Surely the Nuada clan will understand her.
But knowing their clan, they are not prone to emotions. They serve themselves on a platter as living experiments in order to find a suitable breed for the heir of their name, as any other Magi would. Their marriage can also be considered as one.
For her, this minor event can serve as experience. She did not know that Servants are unlike most familiars as dismissed by the El – Melloi. She found out that even students with Servants can trump their Masters with Servants both in school and outside grounds provided that they have the right conditions for them to do so.
The fact that the Servant has certain abilities that her fiancé did not research on further only lets her exploit the origins of the Irish legend to the fullest extent in terms of story and not of power.
This is the very reason she has summoned him. It only occurred to her after summoning him in Ireland.
The moment that their eyes met, she felt something in her heart lit alive. That small flame gradually warms her up every time that she sees his face.
She knows that that feeling is a curse brought to him by the witch. Yet she indulged in it, and soon, she resisted that feeling, and genuine love took place.
After all these years, her purpose of being here is to enlighten herself with that fact. She is happy that she finds out this fact. This is one of the things that Clock Tower never brings up from their own confines. These are the things that most Magi in perpetual reclusion never learned about.
Barring the one who dons the color never meant to be spoken about in the Clock Tower and the destructive witch who dons the color of blue, as well as the Kaleidoscope and the other Magi who distinguished themselves by mingling with people even though they have such amazing power, Magi do not really share secrets.
She also knows what the Einzberns can do in their desperation. If they can bypass the Holy Grail War rules and summon Avenger, then it is not a far cry for them to summon a Saber class Servant and hire the infamous Magus Killer to win the Holy Grail War and ensure absolute victory.
Combining that with her extensive knowledge of her own origins, she knows that she has technically won. With her Command Seals, she can avert his fate.
But there is one thing that is bothering her.
Two Command Seals.
Even if she has three, it will not be enough for her to let Diarmuid love her. Her thought processes are now at a loss on what to do next. This is a blood bath. She only has the ability of healing Magecraft at a mediocre level.
But then, who cares what will happen to her? She never felt such bliss ever since she broke away from her fiance's political and influential clutches. She never felt such freedom at the thought of breaking away from the norms of the Magus family.
As long as Diarmuid is with her, this is a case of wish already granted for her.
But one act of dismemberment will destroy that wish in a glance.
"My…hand…"
Her beautiful face is now smeared with blood as the crimson liquid splashed all over the place.
MyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandmyhandMYHAND!
This is the only thought that occupied her mind as she saw her hand with two Command Seals separating from her body.
"MY HAND!"
She frantically looked around to see who did it, only to find out that she is looking at the face of death.
No, it will not be right to say that she has the face of death. She is Death personified. She knows that one wrong step and she will die by her hands.
So this is…the Holy Grail War…
She is too careless. She has become too careless. Her mind is only preoccupied on one thing, where other factors that can kick in had already kicked in in a split second.
But then again, it makes sense for her to see her Servant having a Luck stat of E, which she has overlooked as she tries to come up with a plan of elopement.
Combining that with her knowing of the story that Grainne loved him because of his Love Spot; wherever she goes, it can have a guarantee that she may well be looking at a potential disaster of massive proportions.
She saw her pointing her 45 millimeter handgun at the hand with the Command Seals and casually obliterating it in seven shots.
"I just want…to be with him." She softly mumbled as she falls in the darkest pits of unconsciousness, trying to reach her obliterated hand that is filled with Command Seals. "Is my wish…that bad?"
She wishes that her whispers will not be heard by anyone. But that wish is already denied as her killer – to – be has heard of her and mutters as she cleans the knife and the place.
"You only have yourself to blame, Sola – Ui." She replied, to which the fiancé of El – Melloi can swear she heard her voice with a hint of regret. "But rest assured. You will be with El – Melloi soon."
As she finished the sentence, Sola – Ui now blacked out.
"Is there a way that we can go to that place faster?" Kejoro asked as they ran on the bustling streets of Fuyuki. Caster can only reply with uncertainty as they navigate the place.
"I'm afraid it's the only shortest route I can find." Caster replied. "If only this is the forest instead of a city, we can reach the place faster."
Ever since Kejoro saw Caster had that magic, it occurred to her mind that she can do almost everything. But then, it is limited by Caster's mindset. And from there, Kejoro saw that her Servant did not make the most of the powers that she have at her disposal. She saw that Caster is currently limiting herself to what she can actually do.
But then again, they work to destroy the Holy Grail, so those powers will not matter unless it is deliberately necessary for her to do so. As much as possible, they want Saber to do it, now that they saw the extent of Excalibur's powers.
But for now, they have to reach the location immediately, and only Caster's powers can do that.
"You do have that magic, correct?" Kejoro stopped her in her tracks as she now said it. Thankfully, they are in a back alley when she said it. Caster can only frown at her own incompetence and at Kejoro mentioning about that kind of power.
"I'm not even sure if that magic can even work, Goshujin – sama." Caster admitted in exasperation. "That kind of magic that I have only works out of my determination or desperation most of the time."
"We are desperate." Kejoro retorted. "I think now is the best time."
"I think we are kind of desperate." Caster replied with a half – smile on her face. "Just don't punt me in the head if we end up in a different part of Nippon."
"What do you think is worse than Hokkaido?" She laughed as she tried to ease their tiredness. "I'm sure I have enough belief in you to at least reach that part."
Caster laughed in an undignified manner as she tries to catch her breath at Kejoro's joke, before she calmed down. Kejoro smiled at her, knowing that Caster can do it if she tried.
"Okay, Kejoro – san. Hold my hand." Caster closed her eyes as Kejoro now held hers. "But I can't guarantee that you will breathe easily after this."
"You broke my bones last time." Kejoro replied. "I'm sure that one is not worse than that."
She now concentrated on where they will go. At that point, they now glowed…
And nothing happened.
As they opened their eyes, they are only entreated to the bitter truth that Caster is talking about. Her powers really are as fickle as the caster.
They saw that they have not gone anywhere, not even a single meter away from the place that they are on.
"Guess we should run again." Kejoro patted Caster on the head as she walked. "I'm sure you have exhausted yourself from that stunt of filling Saber's Noble Phantasm. It may take a while, but for the meantime, I think you should conserve that energy for the next fights that will come our way."
"I'm sorry, Kejoro – san…" Caster formally apologized. "I'll try to be more of use to you."
"Don't be in such a sorry state." Kejoro replied happily, to Caster's surprise. "You should blame me for that."
"You're right." Caster smiled as they are about to run again. "Try to keep up with my speed."
"I will." Kejoro replied.
But there is one thing that they did not expect.
He appeared before their eyes.
They have met again with the youkai bartender that they have met earlier. His deep stare is meant to unnerve both Kejoro and Caster, but then again, he knows that they will not budge even a single inch from the place that they are on just to run away from this war like cowards.
"So you have decided on your path, youkai Master of the Holy Grail War." He said as he still stands among the hustle and bustle of people. They can only stare at him with deep determination reflecting in their golden eyes.
The youkai bartender can only sigh as he saw their eventual demise in that war. But he knows that they will persevere against those odds. Knowing that fact alone serves as salvation to the entire human and youkai race.
And so he can smile on that small spark of hope.
"Take this marble ball." He presented them a glass marble, to which Kejoro and Caster wondered what it is for. The bartender explained as though he anticipated their questions.
"This one will only work one time. Close your eyes. As long as you think of that place together, you will be there."
They closed their eyes as instructed. But the bartender let slip one line that they could have sworn it is from their wildest dreams.
"You have really grown the last time that we have met, Mizukume – san…"
At that point, Caster tried to open her eyes, but all is for naught.
For as she opened her eyes, they are now on the place where they estimated Kiritsugu will go to. Thanks to numerous connections with the youkai community, they have pinpointed the exact place where Emiya Kiritsugu will most likely to strike next.
But for the first time in her life as a Servant, Caster shed a single tear.
"Caster…" Kejoro can only sadly mumble out the one word that she can say while they are on that place. Caster is too stunned to say anything, since she remembers that one man who saved her from her demise as the killing stone, Sesshouseki.
Genno Shinsho, the legendary priest who broke the Sesshouseki and scattered the broken stones in three places. The one the maiden placed her trust to at the time that her spirit is confined in that stone.
"I can't believe…he is here…this whole time…" Caster stared at the nothingness of the place, filling her vision with blurring watery scenery of abandoned and destroyed buildings. "My only friend…who has helped me. He is here…"
Before she can ever say anything else, Kejoro hugged her tight, and Caster can only meekly sob in her arms and soft chest.
"You don't have to worry about a thing." Kejoro replied. "We may not recognize him as that same man from your legends, but be glad that you have met your friend again."
"Such…sweet sorrow…" Caster can only mumble these words as she quieted down. "Genno – san…"
Kejoro then rubbed her head gently with her hand.
"Now we can watch this battle and see what Emiya Kiritsugu is up to. We'll try to see this until the end." She said as she saw Caster wiping every tear from her eyes and nodding in agreement.
"Don't you mean stop the Magi from resorting to underhanded tricks?" Caster joked, to which Kejoro can only let out a small laugh as they sneak in the Bounded Field of the most esteemed Magi of the Clock Tower.
But little do they know that they will witness a gruesome event that will taint their eyes and minds forever. And it will make them realize that the one that they will stop from using underhanded tricks are not the Magi.
"You really make for a convincing youkai, Genno – san." One old man quipped as he still observed the vibrant lights of Fuyuki City.
The bartender can only clean the glasses as the youkai cowered in fear at their bartender that has been here this whole time, and the legend that came to them casually as though he is just an ordinary person dropping by.
It is understandable, for one of the legends is the leader of the Hyakki Yakou, and the other one that has been among them all this time is the legendary priest that performed the rite for removing Tamamo – no – Mae's curse. However, how he has been actually living all this time is out of their comprehension.
Nurarihyon is not supposed to be here in the first place, but upon hearing the news from the youkai of Fuyuki City that their bartender remembered everything, and that their bartender is actually a priest, he immediately packed his bags to see what is going on.
And from there, he saw someone that he has met long ago, and although he has aged, the fact remains that he is aging at a very slow rate.
"I think that is my purpose for being here, Nurarihyon." The bartender replied as he looked up the night sky. "The city may change, the people may change, and the whole country may change. But what will stay constant is the belief of good will."
"And you have learned by being in both worlds." He quipped, amused at the event that one of the legendary people still survive. "How did you become immortal anyway?"
"I think the word 'immortal' is not an appropriate word for a man such as me." He replied in a disappointed manner. "I may live long, but the fact remains that I am human."
Nurarihyon is surprised at first at what he revealed, but then, he just smiled at that point upon realizing the purpose for his existence.
"You have been blessed by the gods and goddesses, Genno Shinsho – san." He quipped in an interested manner, looking at all the youkai who are scared by them. "Your existence is itself monstrous by human standards, yet they have given you the gift of ignorance."
"That's impossible." He smiled. "I'm still human. If I'm not, my appearance would not be like this."
"My friend, if you think of it like that, then I might say that they had played a cruel joke on you for exorcising her from the stone." He revealed, to the man's utter surprise. "I'm surprised that you have not realized it yet. The moment that you did that, they have blessed you with something that you can live without."
The man is utterly speechless about what Nurarihyon said. All these years, yet he did not realize it. He then asked him a question.
"If I'm not supposed to exist that long in the first place, then why did I live that long?" He asked, as he is lost. Nurarihyon can only give him a short but concise reply.
"I might say something as clichéd as 'the red strings of fate tied us together in this' but I prefer the term 'contrived circumstance'." Nurarihyon smiled as he saw him fading away in specks of bright light. "There is a purpose for every existence, after all."
The man can only smile at his presumed existence. He is not supposed to exist in this period after all.
"Ah, and I have accomplished it the moment I met you." He replied in contentment as he fades away. "I don't know the reason why at first, but it seems that this is the case."
He then bids farewell to all the youkai that he has saved from the conflagration that is the setting up of major leyline points by Magi.
"I'm glad that I have actually met her." He replied as he fades away. "If ever Mizukume – san drops by here, please tell her that with this, I am now at peace."
"Will do, Genno – san. Will do." Nurarihyon replied as he tipped off his weaved hat to the legend.
One crunch is all it takes.
He still remembered these words that he said to Saber before the inevitable event happened.
Saber, I am glad that you understand my feelings about this. At first I have my doubts, but now, it is clear that what you have shown me is proof that honor and chivalry in battle still lives.
A sickening crunch echoes throughout the Bounded Field as Saber and Irisviel are forced to watch Lancer commit something that he is against all along.
I am glad that I have met you, Saber. Only you have made me happy. This is the greatest battle that you have given me.
His spear stabbed him cleanly through the sternum and the spinal vertebrae as he did this to himself.
No, he did not do this to himself. Someone forced him to.
With the contract of the Self – Geas Scroll, I, Emiya Kiritsugu, holds on to my oath that I shall never harm Kayneth El – Melloi Archibald, professor of the Clock Tower, and Sola – Ui Nuada – Re Sophia – Ri, fiancé of Kayneth El – Melloi Archibald, for the rest of his life. In exchange for those terms, there is one condition.
There is no mistaking it. This is Emiya Kiritsugu's own handwriting. This is Emiya Kiritsugu's own blood written in a parchment of Magecraft that forces the user to comply to absolute terms. If the user of the scroll will not abide to those terms, he will suffer under a severe curse that is not removable by any means unless he will comply with conditions that he inscribed in his own being.
With those personal words holding out hope to the esteemed professor, Kayneth El – Melloi Archibald committed what no Master would have ever done to his Servant.
Kayneth El – Melloi Archibald, Master of Lancer, will use his Command Seal to order his Servant to commit suicide.
Signed,
Kiritsugu Emiya.
His only thoughts went to his fiancé, who is still alive and breathing. Emiya Kiritsugu abiding by the Self – Geas conditions means that he is a man of his word. Surely he will spare them from the messy bloodbath that is the Holy Grail War.
Although this is a minor event, it surely gave him a lesson to never underestimate his opponents, and trust them if they abide by the conditions of the Self – Geas Scroll.
It is not unheard of for the Lancer class to not succeed because of their E – Rank Luck stat in the war. Lancer can only lash out at them in his anger, crimson liquid bathing his eyes and body.
"Does your Master…desire the Holy Grail…that he would even force my Master to kill me?"
Saber has no words to say for the one who only desired respect and chivalry. Unfortunately, the Holy Grail War is not a place for such sentiments as these.
"Do you…desire the Holy Grail this much, Saber…that you would go even to great lengths…to stab me from behind?"
She knows of all people that his plan worked, but she did not expect for the plan to work too well.
She realized that she has perverted her principles in battle the moment her Master stepped up his game. He will do anything and everything just to attain his goal.
"THEREFORE, LET THIS WORLD BE CURSED! LET THE HOLY GRAIL BE CURSED!" He shouted skyward as to let them hear of their betrayal. "LET THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL GET IT BE CURSED!"
He then walked three steps, before he disintegrated slowly, leading him to kneel before the land that he is on.
"AND AS THEY FALL IN DESPAIR, LET THEM REMEMBER…"
His blood red eyes stared menacingly at them all, implanting horror in their hearts, making them remember what they have done to the one knight who only wanted an honest and fair battle.
"THE TASTE OF RAGE OF DIARMUID UA DUIBHNE!"
As they had confirmed the cessation of existence of the Servant, Kayneth is now outside of the building, holding Sola – Ui's body. He hugs her body, relieved at the sight of her being safe and alive. He can only thank the Master of Saber for sparing their lives.
The man in a black trench coat lights up his cigarette as he now states the completion of the contract.
"The condition for fulfilling the contract is now finished." He stated in a formal tone. "Taking effect immediately, I am now unable to harm you or Sola – Ui."
A burden is now lifted from Kayneth's being as he savors the freedom that the Master of Saber gave him. They can return to the Clock Tower safe and sound. He can be together with his fiancé, marry her, and live a peaceful life…
"For me, that is."
That single line should have warned him. But he is still in a state of bliss, that his hopes are quickly dashed as he felt multiple gunshots in his body, which made him drop Sola – Ui's body, and letting her be obliterated by the bullets.
The events are too fast for even him to process. He should have realized that Self – Geas contracts are not absolute guarantees for others, such as the associates of the Magus Killer, to not take his life. Before he knew it, a single sniper shot made its way into his chest. He fell together with his wheelchair.
He then gasps for breath, trying to clutch the shoes of the Magus Killer. The Master of Saber savored the flavor of the cigarette, before dropping it to where the El – Melloi's hand is.
"Please…kill me…" He pleaded in his hoarse voice as the Magus Killer ignored his pleas. Instead, he reiterated the conditions of the contract.
"Like I said, I am unable to harm you or Sola – Ui once the conditions are fulfilled." He lighted up another cigarette as he explains the terms. "I am only following what is stated on the Self – Geas Contract."
Saber draws her blade, walking towards the helpless professor. She can only pray for his soul and give him a merciful execution. The least she can do is avert her eyes as she completes the slash on his neck.
Her drawn blade, filled with the light of the sun, is drenched with the blood of the helpless man. She knows that no matter how many times she washes this blade in springs of water, it will still leave an imprint upon her soul that she killed a man in a merciless manner.
Kejoro and Caster are forced to watch this scene while they are in their own Bounded Field. But as it stands, it is Emiya Kiritsugu's plan all along, to which they are locked outside a loop anyway.
For Kejoro, this is cruel, a horror that must be expunged from their sight as soon as possible. For Caster, it is a necessity, yet she is still against the way that Saber's Master has done it. For that, the scene earned her burning anger. It is hypocritical for her to do so, but at the same time, she feels that it is right for her to be angry about it.
"I can't stand…this man's existence." Caster murmured as she sees that scene. "He is an abomination to humanity and the reason why the gods and goddesses are not pleased with humans doing whatever they wish! Please don't stop me, Kejoro – san. I'm going to kill this man so hard that he will not even remember that he existed in this world!"
"By all means, go."
Wait, has she heard her Master right?
She is giving her permission to kill Emiya Kiritsugu, the man that they will pledge their alliance to?
Kejoro of all people should know of them protecting the balance of existence of both youkai and humans. But as of right now, what she heard from her right now violates those principles. She has to take a look at her Master to see if she is the same Kejoro that she has talked to before.
It is then that she sees a state of her Master that she has never seen before.
For one thing, Kejoro's Command Seals are burning brightly hot within her leather gloves so much that the light permeates the gloves. She only remembers that humans with Command Seals have their Command Seals glowing if they sense danger or if determination comes from the Master.
But she did not remember Command Seals that almost burn the leather with its light.
For the other one, her Master's eyes are glowing as Kejoro tries to stop her own fist from doing something disastrous. Her Magic Circuits are glowing with a translucent crystal gold color as she emanates prana.
This should alert all of the Magi who are nearby their place, but two things come in play that prevents others from detecting the prana signatures.
First is the Bounded Field of Kayneth El – Melloi Archibald, designed to block sound from outside and prevents people from seeing or even feeling anything. But then, it begins to falter as the Bounded Field sensed that the one controlling the Bounded Field is dead, which brings them to the second thing.
Kejoro's Osore levels.
At this point, her Osore levels are high enough to be on par with Gyuuki's or Karasu – Tengu's, maybe even slightly higher as her prana levels begin to mix in very well with her own Osore, to the point where she can manipulate the levels too well to know the difference.
"This uncouth beast will really taste the power of my fist as soon as I kill his assistant." Kejoro muttered as she clenches her fist even tighter. "I may be a monster, but this man proved to me that he is not worth living!"
"Just to remind you, Kejoro – san…" Caster reiterated, leveling her voice and intonation to put reason in her words. "I'm not a literal moral compass, and we still need him. He may be a monster, but I can guarantee you that I have encountered way more worse humans than he is to tell you that he is still human."
"How can you be so sure about it?" Kejoro asked, to which her Servant can only answer honestly.
"If he is really not worth living in this world, then why is he still alive?" Caster put out a question that lets Kejoro stop her body for a moment. "Think about it for a moment. Let's say that there are the puzzle pieces that can come together, and think of him as an odd puzzle piece that can complete the picture. I still don't understand him, but for some reason, his existence makes sense."
"And how do any of his activities make sense?" She raised an eyebrow. But as if answering the question that she has, Emiya Kiritsugu gave a declamation that will answer all their questions.
"I thought you and I have the same goal…" Saber's voice is low as she tries to cleanse her blade of blood with a slash in the air. "But now I can say that you are the lowest of existences that I have ever met. Killing a person like that is not an act of mercy. It is an act that only barbarians will do."
"Iri, what do you think of all of what she is saying right now?" Kiritsugu asked her wife, still not facing Saber.
"It is best for you to talk to her, not to me." Irisviel replied in an exasperated manner as she tries to get them to talk. But her husband will not listen to her wish. Saber continues as she tries to understand the man who got her to do such things.
"Kiritsugu, honor and conduct in battle is established for a reason." She began as her blade disappears in her Noble Phantasm of Invisible Air. "If these two principles are not employed in battles, we will be reduced to being mere beasts killing indiscriminately. There is a difference between assassination and battle. There is a difference in battles with honor and killing out of spite. You of all people know that."
"See Iri, she thinks that this war should be conducted in a proper manner." Kiritsugu began as he let out a mocking small laugh. "What a joke. Since the world began its existence, the act of war is already a veritable hell."
As they are listening to what he says, Kejoro stood up slowly from where they are hiding. She knows that she will be targeted for it, and yet, she feels that she must listen to what he says before she will die on that spot.
Little did she know that Hisau Maiya has already left the spot the moment that she stood up to make her presence known to them.
Meanwhile, Emiya Kiritsugu continues his discourse, much to the horror of Saber. In her life as a king, she has never encountered a man such as him. Sure, there may be traitors in her kingdom, but no one dared to stoop as low as him.
"In every war, men tell of famous stories of warriors winning in battle. They try to justify their actions by saying that what they have done is out of justice. But the bitter truth still remains in that men who are being glorified by the legends are actual savages. Unless they admit that their actions are evil on its own right, then they are no better than the men who are living in the Stone Age!"
Caster knows this. She could have known about this, yet something is off of her memory.
World…
Balance…
Counter…
But she can only conclude one thing about what he said.
"The principles of the world are really driving me crazy!" She exasperated in a hushed voice, being careful not to make their presence known yet. "He made me think about the things how the world is supposed to work!"
"I guess he is right about it, then." Kejoro concluded as she walked away. "He is supposed to be one, after all."
"What do you mean by that?" Caster asked, but as if answering the question, Saber now retorted as Emiya Kiritsugu is about to go to his car that Maiya has prepared for him.
He must have a reason for all of this.
He must have a reason why he became like this.
There is no way she can accept that he is just a merciless killing machine designed to purge people.
And so, drawing from her experiences, she can only conclude one thing about this man.
"I really don't understand you at this point…" Saber retorted as she dispelled her armor made of magic. "But judging from your actions, it seems that you have wanted at first to be an ally of justice. But then, certain bad circumstances have happened for you to become disillusioned with the ideal that you have."
Emiya Kiritsugu stopped in his tracks, seemingly convinced by his Servant. But then, he lets out one scathing determination that made even Saber wince at it.
"I can assure the Einzberns that I will still win, and attain the Holy Grail." He said in a resolute voice, his back still facing them. "I don't care if I have to taint my hands with every kind of evil possible in this world to attain that single goal."
He then went inside the car and closed the door. The car now left Iri and Saber standing among the building's ruins.
"So, he has really abandoned us…" Irisviel mumbled in disappointment as Saber is about to put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. But then, she sees that Irisviel is about to faint.
"Irisviel!" Saber can only say this as the calm morning sun is about to rise. She caught her body in her arms just in time.
"Irisviel, hold on!" Her eyes widened in shock, Saber held on to her tightly as she frantically looked around. But one person will shake her senseless from where she is on.
"It will only look worse if you panic like that."
She turned her head to see Caster casually walking towards them, as if she ignores the fact that death will still come to her if she gets any nearer. Or even worse, Emiya Kiritsugu will come back to finish the business as familiars of Kiritsugu are still around even though the Bounded Field of Kayneth is now gone.
But then, she is Caster, so any familiar of Emiya Kiritsugu that dares to inform of their whereabouts is being killed swiftly by her redirecting the wind's direction and turning the same wind into a sharp weapon designed for decapitating familiars.
Saber can only be cautious of her, as she still sees her as her enemy, but for this one time, she will let Caster do what she wishes.
"Symbols of the north, east, west and south, arise!" She announced as she placed her four talismans in the air at the designated directions that the magnetic compass will point at. With her hands, she sat down in a way that Japanese royalty would sit and touched Irisviel's shoulder and examined every network flow of her body.
She then stood up, the four talismans rendering itself in flames, opened the car's door, and placed Irisviel's body there. She then closed the door, and gave Saber an assessment that causes Saber to swear that she is talking to a doctor.
"One thing I can tell you, she is severely messed up." Caster flatly concluded as Saber still has her cold stoic eyes staring at her. "If you remember of the circle, you should take her there now."
"Wait, how do you know about…" Saber stopped right there as she realizes who is she talking to as of now. She can only glance aside at her inadequacy.
"Just go there." Caster beckoned as she tries to push Saber to the car's front seat. "With all due respect, my king, I really can't stand your miserable expression."
"Is it because your Master might be in the back seat?" Saber asked, to which Caster retained her prim form as a reply.
"We protect humans." Caster replied off – handedly. "We don't do atrocious things such as what you have suggested, my king. And as a reminder, Irisviel is not human, not by a long shot."
Saber narrowed her eyes, but then softened at the fact that for all of what she has done, there is an undeniable fact that she helped her two times. It is wrong for her to feel indebted to the enemy, but at the same time, it felt right for her to feel so. She then went inside the car's driver's seat.
"Thank you…very much." Saber replied with hesitation as she closed the door of the Mercedes SL – 300, and drove away from the location, leaving Caster in the process.
"What is our next move now, Kejoro – san?" Caster asked as Kejoro appears from the shadows. "Only four Servants and Masters remain, five including us."
"We do what we do best." Kejoro replied, her face as stern as ever as she faces the seemingly optimistic morning sun.
A/N: Chapter finished at last.
Although there are some things I'd like to add and some words that I might subtract due to grammatical technicalities. -.-
Please rate and review. :)