DISCLAIMER: I do not take credit from the Fate universe and its characters. The rights and credits go to the original authors.
Read the notes in the first chapter if you haven't done it already.
English is not my native language, so please bear with me. I'm confident in my grammar, but if there are any mistakes, then let me know and I'll try to figure out how to fix them as soon as I have time.
Hope you enjoy.
FATE/Break Dawn
-Chapter Two-
Count it from Zero
Planet: Earth
Timeline: [?]
Date: [?]
Location: England (United Kingdom)
Bristol
(======)
Heroic Spirit Emiya observed his surroundings with a critical eye.
Outside, the rain was pouring with great force, the sky filled with heavy clouds; plunging the entire city of Bristol into a dark and lightless atmosphere. The man stared at the downpour from a window, his face betraying not even an ounce of emotion as rain and thunders raged outside the building. He supposed it wasn't a big deal. Weather in the United Kingdom was known to be usually bad or cloudy at best, and as a Servant, he would get used to any kind of environment with no problem. He did not care about something so trivial at all.
What he did care about, however, was his current situation. He was currently located inside a small flat owned by his new "Master": a young teenage girl and Magus named Artoria Pendragon. The same girl who had summoned him the night before through an improper ritual and – as if this whole situation wasn't messed up enough – who looked exactly like a certain girl from his memories.
This whole situation felt like a bad joke to him. Worse, it felt as if the entire world was mocking him for some reason.
The worst part: Emiya felt like he deserved it.
Speaking of memories: a lot of things had snapped into place during the hours following his summoning. And after having been located in this place for more than six hours now, Heroic Spirit Emiya, Servant of the Archer Class, had gained a lot of knowledge about the world, about his Master… and about himself. He knew he was meant to fight in a Holy Grail War, he knew where he was, and more importantly, he knew who he was.
Because, as absurd as it seemed, he had somehow regained the memories of his previous deployments a few minutes after the summoning. His mind and body couldn't lie to him, despite his own perplexity and disbelief on this matter. But even if he was still struggling to understand, this fact alone remained unchanged: he could clearly remember participating not just in one, but in two different Holy Grail Wars before this one.
And that made no sense to him. Because it wasn't supposed to happen.
As a Counter Guardian, his memories were constantly wiped out during his deployments, and even if he had been summoned as a Servant right now, this situation still didn't make any sense. On the contrary, it was widely known that Heroic Spirits could not keep their memories of previous summonings, the case of a certain girl in armor being the only exception to that rule... up until now.
Emiya didn't know how it was possible, but now, he could clearly remember too. He could still recall his name, his past, and his previous Wars similarly to the way that girl had always claimed she could. Those distant but indelible memories had literally flooded his mind for more than two hours straight after being summoned in this world, and that was something he couldn't deny no matter how little sense it made.
Memories of past experiences in two similar but separate Wars, and of a young Master with raven hair and aqua eyes.
Rin…
Emiya narrowed his eyes, staring at the downpour outside with his arms crossed and a small frown. He didn't know how it was possible. He didn't know how nor why. Either this was a fluke, a mistake, or Alaya had deliberately done something to him. Either way, he had no way to discover the truth in the current situation. Not yet, at least. All he knew was that he had been summoned here for a reason. That being: to win yet another Holy Grail War, and fulfill his new Master's wish.
So, as long as he knew that, he wouldn't ask questions. For now.
"What are you looking at, Archer?"
Speak of the devil.
On the other side of the room, his new Master had finally returned, carrying a small grocery bag and her katana in hand. And when his head turned to face her, the Heroic Spirit known as Emiya almost forgot how to breathe for a split second.
It was something he'd never thought he would have seen. Something he couldn't have comprehended in over a thousand years and his service to Humanity.
Because his Master was the spitting image of the girl in his memories. The girl who had been his Servant once, during a past he had long since forgotten. The same girl who embodied his ideal and dreams; and whose image, despite everything he's done and everything he's become, could never truly leave his mind no matter what.
The girl he had failed. The girl called Sab–
"Master," he greeted, turning to the teenage girl fully and forcing his voice to assume a neutral tone. "Do you need assistance?"
The girl shook her head, placing her katana on the wall as she moved towards the kitchen. "It's fine. I just went to grab a few things," she replied, placing the small grocery bag on the table and taking out a couple of cans with a casual movement. And while the girl was intent on arranging things in their proper place, the Servant couldn't help but stare at her in wonder.
…Gods above. She really looked like her.
Same bun, same eyes, same face. Even her feel was almost near identical. The only difference was her more feminine physique and the obvious different way of dressing. The girl wore a blue sailor-top school uniform secured with a red ribbon and a matching skirt that reached to her midthighs. Her eyes were of a deep teal while the contours of her face were framed by wheat-colored bangs and a tiny strand of blonde hair that dangled over her forehead.
Of all the alternate worlds he could've come to, it just had to be the one where Artoria was not a King but a simple human. Of all the memories he could've kept with him, it just had to be those where he had been forced to stand against her. Twice. This wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. How was he supposed to look at her in the eyes without crumbling? How was he supposed to act and talk as her Servant, when he couldn't even bear to gaze at her face?
They even had the same ahoge too. This didn't make sense.
Once she was done with her things, the girl – Artoria – came over to the window where her Servant stood and looked out. Seeing nothing but rain outside, she shot him a stare. "Don't tell me you seriously stood on guard until now. I thought I made myself abundantly clear yesterday," she said with a firm tone.
Emiya almost wanted to smirk. Even her tone was the same. Damn it, this was just too cruel to bear.
"I did offer to accompany you, but you refused. So, I just made myself useful in another way, Master," he tried to deflect.
It didn't work. "Archer, the Holy Grail War starts in two weeks! There's no need to be so wary yet. You could've just relaxed for a bit."
He turned his gaze away. "It never hurts to be careful."
She scoffed, walking away from the window with a scowl. "What are you, a dog?"
Sad as it was, that definition fit him more than he liked to admit.
Luckily for him, however, Artoria decided to drop the topic. She sat at the table of the small living room, exhaling a heavy breath. "More importantly, how is your condition now? Have you remembered who you are? " she asked him, glancing at his frame with a hopeful expression.
Archer stared at her for a while. Then, he closed his eyes.
Telling her that he had no recollection of his name and past had been a wise choice. Just like he had done with Rin during those past Wars, it was best to keep his identity secret from Artoria as well, at least for now. He certainly couldn't tell this girl that he was a Counter Guardian who was well-acquainted with her... twin? Alter ego? Counterpart? A man who used to admire and chase after the same ideals as her, only to be driven to despair because of that. He wasn't that stupid now.
He shook his head. "Unfortunately not. I still don't remember anything."
Artoria's shoulders fell, her expression turning into a frown. "…and are you really sure you're not King Arthur? Or one of his Knights?" she pressed further with an inquisitive stare.
Broad shoulders shrugged as Archer answered. "I hate to disappoint, but I possess no Excalibur. And I seriously doubt a mere bowman like me could ever be a Knight," he answered easily, his tone smug despite those words devoid of pride.
Him? King Arthur? What a joke.
He was almost tempted to laugh again.
The girl's head tilted to the side. "Why do you say that?" she asked curiously.
His eyes were literal steel as he turned to stare outside the window again. Because I have no pride nor honor, he wanted to say. "…just a hunch," he answered instead.
Artoria stared for a while. Then, she sighed again, her body slumping on the table with a loud whimper of displeasure. Archer watched her in silent wonder, eyes blank but still widened in stupor, thrilled by that scene. To think that he would have lived long enough to witness such a scene. An Artoria who lived and acted like a normal girl. Who would have ever thought… it felt like he was staring at a vivid dream, one where his Saber wasn't burdened by her duties and fate; one where she was just a girl, free to act and speak as she wished. Where she could just be who she was without being forced to cast away her humanity.
No, he realized. This girl was definitely not his Saber. She was too different from the Saber he knew. Extremely different.
It was both amusing and painful to witness for him. Too painful, to be honest. It was almost too much to bear.
Which is why he couldn't say anything as this Artoria began to openly whine and sulk right in front of him.
"Uuugh! Why? Why does it have to be this way?" she whined, mumbling weakly as she covered her face with her hands. "I had everything planned, I did everything perfectly... and I failed. I couldn't get Saber, and now I'm stuck with an Archer who doesn't even remember who he is!"
Emiya pitied her. Truly.
But he still couldn't help but close his eyes, feeling his brow twitch. "Well, pardon me for not being a Saber," he grunted with his arms crossed, sarcasm clearly present in his tone. Good grief, this felt like déjà vu.
After a few seconds of sulking, the girl shook her head. "No matter. It was a regrettable mistake, but I'm the one to blame," she finally relented with a sigh, though her voice still carried a little bit of disappointment and frustration. "But I still don't understand why you can't remember your identity. I can feel my connection you with even now, and I feel no discrepancy whatsoever. There's not an issue with our bond, is it?"
Archer nodded his head. That much he had to give her credit for. This Artoria could be different from the Saber he knew, but both her Magical Energy and Circuits where extremely developed for a fifteen-year-old girl. Not to mention her Mana reserves. Now that he was fully acclimated with his body, Emiya could clearly sense their bond through their pact, and it was outstanding. A Servant was anchored to the world by the mana supplied by his Master, and the girl in front of him had HUGE reserves of mana, even compared to Rin. She had no Dragon Core, of course, but still… they were more than satisfactory. With such an outstanding talent, she was definitely going to become a first-rate Magus in the future.
It seemed that she resembled Saber in far more than just the body, after all.
"I don't mean to insult you, Master, but it's the result of your imperfect summoning," he began to explain, mixing a bit of truth and lie to sound more believable. "My memories are a jumble, and my name and origin are hazy, as well." He then turned away from her with a sigh, ignoring Artoria's incredulous and irritated stare. "Admittedly, those aren't important details, so it's nothing to be concerned about."
Artoria fixed him with a stare. "Archer, are you perhaps messing with me? If I don't know what Heroic Spirit you are, I won't be able to measure your strength. And if I don't know how powerful my partner is, I can't formulate a strategy."
"Hm? What are you saying? That is a trivial matter."
She was incredulous. "I beg you pardon?"
Emiya smirked, turning again to stare into her emerald orbs. "I am a Servant who was summoned by you. Following that logic, I could be nothing but powerful." He stated with an amused smile. He could clearly see the way her ears and cheeks began to redden after his words, and it was extremely amusing to watch. "Don't you agree, Master?"
An utterly clueless Artoria stammering for a response was definitely a sight to behold.
Until, she was finally able to recollect herself.
"H-Humpf! No matter. I-I suppose I'll have to do with what I get," she finally acknowledged, trying – and failing – to quell her growing blush. "At least our enemies won't be able to discover your true identity. So for the time being, I'll overlook this issue. I assume you have no complaints about that, do you?"
Archer's smirk widened. He saw an opening from miles away. "Hm? What's wrong, Master? Your strange speech pattern has returned."
Silence set around them, before the girl's already rosy cheeks covered in a new shade of red within a blink of an eye. And the situation was plunged into the oblivious as she stuttered at him. "I-It's not my fault! Living in a family full of men would make anyone this way— Why are you giving me that unconvinced look?! I'm stating the truth!"
"Hoh? So you can be flustered as well, sometimes. I must admit that I'm glad… you always look so manly that I almost feel ashamed of myself."
"M-Manly!?" she repeated indignantly, her nostrils flaring in irritation. "I did NOT choose to grow up this way! It is because of the men of my family that I've become like this!"
"Is that so? My apologies, then. I didn't wish to make a lady such as yourself uncomfortable."
"W-Why, you…!"
Artoria blushed even more as she glowered at him, but when she saw him grinning wider at her face, the words remained stuck in her throat.
On his part, Emiya was aware he was being mean, but he just couldn't help it. The girl looked like a ripe tomato, her face and neck glowing a deep crimson even as she fumed in embarrassment. To actually see Saber's face and discover that she could show these kinds of emotions… it was just too amusing to watch for him. Teasing Rin had been fun in the past, but the girl knew how to respond. But this Artoria? Teasing her was way more entertaining and satisfying.
For now, however, he decided that it was best to stop here. If this girl was anything like the Artoria Pendragon he knew, then her patience could not be infinite. Servant or not, it wasn't wise to play with fire.
And he didn't want to die here, despite his inner voice telling him otherwise.
"By the way, Master," he said, changing the subject and opting for the only thing that could save him from her wrath: food. "Shall I prepare you breakfast?"
Artoria paused, blinked a few times, and then fixed him with an odd stare. She looked slightly baffled by his offer. "Wait, what? Breakfast? Aren't you a Heroic Spirit?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes on him. "What sort of Servant knows how to cook anything decent?"
Much to her shock, Emiya looked stunned, perhaps even offended by her question.
In the end, however, he merely shook his head, his face assuming an unreadable expression as he headed towards the kitchen under her utterly confused stare.
"Just you wait," he spoke with a resolute tone. "I'll make you rue those words."
.
/+/+/+/+/+/+/
.
"Archer..."
I can clearly hear the pain in her voice. My heart almost clenches in shame as she steps towards me.
How long has it been since I was able to rest? To stop and take a long look at the world I'd given my very existence to protect?
I'm sure that I've stood here, reminiscing countless times in the past, the present, and in the future, feeling the very same emotions running through my heart.
But is that so important right now?
I finally open my mouth to speak.
"It's unfortunate," I say, pausing momentarily as I place my hand upon a hip. "But that's how it is. Give up on the Grail this time, Rin."
.
/+/+/+/+/+/+/
.
Artoria Pendragon couldn't make heads or tails of him.
The Servant she had summoned was a complete mystery to her, and she didn't like that. She didn't like that at all. After all, she was Artoria Pendragon! Second child of the thirty-third Pendragon lineage and most promising member of her family. The kind of girl who had been raised to be the best of the best since birth. One who would never back down from a challenge and whose soft and admittedly beautiful demeanor instantly changed the moment she wielded her sword. She was an extremely serious person, and she tackled all hardships and challenges as if facing a sworn enemy. This was why she often clashed with Kay, as she could never get used to her older brother's antics.
She was known to be the best and most promising Magus in her family, and a sword master as well. There was nothing that couldn't be achieved by her. Nothing could best her. Nothing could stop her. She had always been able to overcome every challenge and solve every mystery she'd set her eyes on before. She was the 'perfect child' of the Pendragon family, after all.
And yet, for some reason she could not fathom, the Servant she had managed to summon the night before was something that eluded her comprehension completely.
Even his appearance alone was different from what she would have expected to see in a Servant. She had expected to summon a King with regal bearing and armor, or at least a Knight of some sort… but what she ended up summoning instead was a weird, muscular and tanned man with white hair and grey eyes, possessing a broad back and a robust frame. He was tall – extremely tall – and had a strange agelessness about him. He couldn't have been older than forty yet, but his hair was already shock-white. His face still seemed like he could be in his early twenties, but his eyes of steel appeared older, and Artoria just didn't know what to make of him yet.
He was constantly wearing a black body armor which consisted of a black tight and sleeveless shirt with silver accents which outlined his muscles and a metal plate on his collar; and his armor was covered by an elegant red coat similar to a Holy Shroud. The man also wore a pair of dark pants that had two black straps on his thighs and black metal plated shoes. She could count each individual muscle on his chest, and despite the cold and detached aura around him, Artoria couldn't help but finding him… fascinating, for some reason. She couldn't help but being intrigued by him, even if she didn't understand why.
Maybe it was the muscles, she mused. He was so tall that her head barely reached his chest, and his muscles were extremely developed compared to that of an average man, even more developed than her Father's. She had never seen a man so peculiar before. A man so attractive. He was at least two feet taller than her, and she imagined that she'd certainly fit snuggly between his arms if she chose―
No! Nope! Bad thinking! Stop, Artoria, stop! This wasn't her. She wasn't the kind of girl who lusted after older men. She wasn't attracted by him. She definitely wasn't attracted by him… but those arms looked so strong and his face was so intriguing for some reason. Perhaps she could― Damn it, Artoria!
The girl shook her head frantically, trying to dismiss the growing blush as she grew inwardly indignant at her subconscious thoughts. He could clearly see some passersby looking at her strangely as she walked down the street, confused by her weird behavior. She nearly fumed in embarrassment at their stares. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Curses.
Now that the rain had passed, Artoria had decided to leave the apartment to go for a walk, walking through the streets of Bristol as her Servant followed her silently, concealed in spirit form in order not to arouse suspicious. The girl had deemed this choice necessary. The flat she was currently 'borrowing' from her family was rather small, and she needed a distraction. There was no way she could sit still and do nothing while she shared the same roof with a Servant. Especially when said Servant was apparently good at teasing her and getting on her nerves.
Even if his cooking was delicious. Artoria had to give him credit for that. Today's had been the best breakfast she'd ever had. Her mouth nearly began to water again at the memory.
Her brow twitched as she instantly composed herself and stopped her mouth from drooling. She could clearly feel her Servant's satisfied smirk even as he followed her in spirit form. Artoria muttered a silent curse with a frown, her cheeks tinged by pink. Curses.
After a few minutes, they stopped their walk when they arrived at the city park of Bristol. Artoria sat down on a quiet bench in the middle of a small lawn devoid of people, staring at the cloudy sky with a distant gaze.
"I know you said to relax a bit, but aren't you being a little bit too carefree, Master?"
The girl turned to her right, shooting a questioning glance to Archer as he materialized next to her, standing in front of the park bench with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
"What do you mean?" she questioned him with narrowed eyes.
Emiya shook his head, ignoring her irritated expression. "Walking around the city is dangerous, even with me around," Archer explained. "Even in spirit form, I'm a beacon of mana for Mages to hone in on. If someone were spying on you, they would surely notice my presence. Especially an enemy Master."
"There are no enemy Masters here, Archer. The Holy Grail War begins in two weeks, and we still haven't departed to Japan yet," she dismissed him casually, waving one hand in his direction. "No one's following me now; and there's no reason to be careful. You can lower your guard," she said for the umpteenth time, turning to stare at the sky again.
He narrowed his eyes on her. But in the end, he decided to relent. "Perhaps you're right. But still… aren't you forgetting something important?" he asked again.
She blinked up at him. "Huh? Something important?" she repeated.
He sighed. "Good grief. Are you seriously asking me this? We have yet to carry out the most important exchange of our pact," he said.
Artoria widened her eyes.
Emiya saw her face harden in an instant as soon as she realized what he was referring to. He inwardly paused as he glimpsed a small flash of pain and uncertainty inside her emerald eyes, but continued regardless. "I neglected to ask you this before, but… you said you left your family because you wanted to train to become a Master, right?"
The girl lowered her eyes. "…yes."
"Then, I expect that you know your goal. Unless I know your wish, I cannot entrust myself to you," Archer said with utmost seriousness, his grey eyes focused on the girl seated in front of him.
Her head lowered further under the Servant's gaze. Artoria pursed her lips.
Archer stared at her frame with an analytical look. Her silence only served to increase his growing concern. "Master, what is your wish?" he questioned. "Why do you want to fight in this War?"
Despite her best efforts, Artoria couldn't dare to meet his eyes. Her Servant didn't rush her though, opting to calmly wait in silence instead and allowing her to recollect her thoughts for as long as she needed. The girl inwardly thanked him for this gesture, even in spite of her irritation and conflicted feelings about him.
In the end, after what seemed to be an eternity, she finally found the strength to talk again.
"My family… is one of the most renowned and famous families of Mages in the world," she began to explain. "According to legends and tradition, we are the direct blood descendants of King Arthur, and for this reason my family and the Pendragon name are held in high regard in this Country, even by the Lords of the Clock Tower."
Well, well; would you look at that. It seemed that his suspicions were well-founded, after all. This world was extremely different from his. King Arthur didn't leave any legacy in his world. No bloodline, no descendants, ever. But here it seemed that history went differently, somehow. Interesting.
Emiya listened closely.
"Because of that, my family became… obsessed, with King Arthur and his legend over the course of history. They even went as far as to name all their members with Arthur's and his Knights' names for generations," Artoria continued to say, clenching a fist on her lap as she glared at the ground. "And this madness keeps going even to this day. That's why I was named Artoria Pendragon at birth. My father's name is Gawain, my siblings are Kay, Lancelot and Bedivere… even my cousin is called Mordred. Everyone thinks of it as a blessing, as something to be proud of… but it's not. To me, my family and my lineage are not a blessing, but nothing more than a curse."
Archer stared at her with wide eyes, feeling both stunned and conflicted by that explanation. Okay, this was a bit extreme… and also disturbing in many ways. Extremely disturbing. Even he, in spite of his current situation and his usual detached attitude, couldn't help but feel bad for her.
"This is…" he tried to say, but couldn't find the words to end that sentence. There were no words to be found.
The girl shook her head. "It has given me nothing but misery, Archer. For fifteen years I've been treated like some sort of idol and holy figure, all because my blood is related to a man long dead who I've never known and who is revered like Britain's greatest Hero," she stated through gritted teeth. "I-I couldn't make friends because of that, you know? School, trips, academy, everything. Everywhere I go, people know who I am and my family's history. The Clock Tower keeps a close eye on us, and we are strictly forbidden from talking and making contact with people from outside the Association. It was… hard. Every day felt like I was suffocating inside my family's house."
Emiya sat next to her on the bench. He raised a hand, moved to grab her shoulder, and hesitated. In the end, he stopped himself with a silent curse.
Artoria didn't seem to notice. "I couldn't live like a normal girl, and experience life like all my peers," she lamented with a low tone. "All I was allowed to do was train, and study, and focus on my duty to keep the lineage from disappearing. I was even trained to use a sword, since all members of the Pendragon family must know how to use one. Even females."
"That explains the katana on your back," Emiya mused wryly, gazing at the horizon with a distant gaze.
She smiled, but not because she found it funny. "I was lucky, I guess, since swordsmanship was the only activity I've really enjoyed during the past few years," she admitted with a bitter smile. Then she pursed her lips again. "But everything else was just… hell. It felt like a prison, Archer."
Emiya stared at her in silence.
"But then, five days ago, these Command Seals suddenly appeared on my hand," she said, raising her right hand and staring at the red marks glowing above it. "Perhaps by luck, I've been chosen as a potential Master for the incoming Holy Grail War. I… I knew this was my chance. My chance to sever myself from this accursed legacy and be free. But my Father and my family wouldn't let me participate in the War. I cannot fault them, since I know they tried to stop me only because they're worried about me. B-But… but still… I couldn't just stay put and do nothing. I couldn't waste this chance. So I… I…"
"Escaped," Emiya finished for her. There was no judgment in his voice. He was only stating a fact.
She nodded, lowering her eyes again with a sad face. "I had to. I couldn't stand that life anymore. I… I just… want to break free. From all of it," she said, her voice quiet and low – extremely low – compared to the direct and straightforward behavior she used to show before.
Emiya nodded in cryptic silence. "And that explains why you wanted to summon King Arthur," he said.
The girl blushed and squirmed after his direct statement, but nodded all the same. "…I wanted to meet him. To summon the King himself and ask for his guidance," she admitted with no small amount of shame. "I thought that no one could help me on this quest more than him, so I went to his grave and prepared a summoning ritual." Her face fell once again. "I had everything planned, I did all the steps accordingly… and I failed."
Archer smiled wryly. "I'm sorry you didn't get your Knight in shining armor," he said. Perhaps the sincerest thing he'd said today.
She shook her head. "It's not your fault, Archer. I knew that failure was a possible eventuality," she reassured him. Artoria turned to him at that point, offering him a sad smile. "And I apologize for my previous disappointment as well. I… I guess I shouldn't have been so down just because I failed to summon King Arthur. I just needed time to get over it."
Emiya didn't say anything, for there was nothing from him to say on that matter. He understood now her motives and goals, and he could clearly see why she had been so disappointed after the summoning. After all, what happened the night before didn't make sense even for him. Despite using Arthur's very own grave as a catalyst, the Servant this girl had summoned was nothing like the King he knew or one of the Knights of the Round Table. And that was something that even he didn't know how to explain.
Well, not entirely. He knew why it had happened: because of Avalon. According to many legends and myths, in fact, people often used to associate Glastonbury and its hills to Avalon in the past, the mythical land where King Arthur was fated to rest until the world needs him again. And being Avalon the very same Scabbard that used to be into his body, and that over time it had become a part of him so deep that it had changed his Magecraft, his very origin, and his core… its connection to that place had allowed Artoria to summon him instead.
It was a stretched explanation, indeed, and one that still had many holes in it; but it was the only one he could think of at the moment. After all, even if Archer knew that Avalon should normally only summon King Arthur, or perhaps Morgan le Fay in some rare case, its connection with him was the only thing that could explain the current situation. It was the very same Scabbard that even now, long after he had given it up in life, he could recreate with a single thought and a snap of his fingers, after all.
Not that his Avalon Image would be any use, unfortunately. Without mana from the real King Arthur, its true owner, its healing properties were greatly reduced, even dangerous for him.
But still, no matter how long he mused, that question remained unanswered. And all of that was without taking into account the most important question of all:
If Artoria was a simple girl... then who was King Arthur in this world?
"There's no need to apologize," he finally said after a while, dismissing his thoughts and shaking his head with an unreadable expression as his Master kept staring at him with visible shame. "I'm just sorry the one you summoned had to be me."
Artoria's smile was strained at best. "Don't be, please. I hold no grudge or hostility against you."
Emiya snorted. "Of course you wouldn't."
The girl paused at that, watching him with a confused face. "Your cryptic words are vexing, Archer. You speak as if you know me, but I have no idea of who you are," she said with a frown.
A faint smile touched his features. "It's a bad habit of mine. I apologize."
Artoria decided to drop that subject. "Well, anyway… that's why I want the Grail," she explained slowly, staring at the cloudy sky of this Country with a resolute face. "Because I want to free myself and my family from this situation. I want to break free from King Arthur's curse."
…
Good grief. This hit way too close to home.
Emiya didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"It's a selfish dream," Archer spoke instead, shaking it off as best he could and offering a little smile at her expectant face. "But one that I can understand."
Artoria smiled in visible relief. Her shoulders relaxed slightly. Then, she blinked at him.
"What about you, Archer?" she asked him at this point. "Why do you want the Grail?"
Emiya scoffed at her question. "That malevolent treasure chest that can grant human wishes?" he mused, gaze wandering to the horizon with eyes of steel. He shook his head. "I have no interest in such a thing."
"N-No interest?" Artoria repeated, looking absolutely stunned by his statement. "Wait, wait, wait! Don't Servants fight in the War to have a wish fulfilled that they couldn't achieve in life?"
He scoffed again. "Hardly. We have no choice; we simply end up here. We Servants have no free will. There are probably only a handful of Heroes who would answer the call of their own free will."
Like a certain female King who looks exactly like you, he mused, not daring to voice those words out loud.
Seeing her disbelief, he nodded his head. "That's right, Master. Heroic Spirits are summoned by another's will. We're no more than disposable tools," he said in utmost seriousness.
"B-But still, why aren't you interested in the Grail? Do you really have no wish at all?"
"I don't. Because I had no dream that went unfulfilled."
She stared at him, long and hard.
"I don't remember my past, but I am certain of it," Archer said slowly – lying – his eyes still gazing at the world around him with no emotion. "I can feel it. I fulfilled my dream, died, and became a Heroic Spirit." He turned his head to her. "So I have no wish I want granted. That's all there is to it."
The girl lowered her eyes, still trying to process that answer.
"However," Emiya spoke all of a sudden, grabbing her attention again. Her head snapped up to stare at his amused smile. "Now that I've heard your story and your wish, one thing is clear: there can be no doubt that you are a perfect Master for me."
Artoria blinked again, her cheeks flushing a little. "W-What do you mean?" she asked, unable to understand.
Emiya stood up from the bench, placing himself right in front of the girl with golden hair. "You are my ideal Master," he said, pronouncing each word clearly and without hesitation. "You may be young in years, but you clearly possess great resolve and a strong heart. You had the strength to force yourself out of your hell and the will to fight for something different, and that is something I can respect."
The girl's blush flared. "S-So you're saying…"
"Yes, I admit that I miscalculated," Archer said without an ounce of hesitation. And for once, he wasn't lying with his statement. "I was mistaken in looking down on you as a child, so I apologize for both that and my poor manners," he declared seriously with a bow, keeping his eyes closed and one hand above his heart.
Artoria was speechless. "T-Then, you'll acknowledge me fully as your Master?"
"Of course," he confirmed again. "There's no one else whom I could hope to serve."
I couldn't free Saber from her past… but perhaps I can free you from yours.
This time, he didn't simply bow to her.
Maybe I can save the one person I failed.
He kneeled.
And as the girl watched him with wide eyes, Heroic Spirit Emiya made his oath with a steeled resolve.
"I am nothing but a nameless bowman without memories, but… if you'll allow me, I believe this should be done properly," he said, placing one knee on the wet ground and staring at the young girl with all the attention in the world. "Your Servant, Archer, has come forth in response of your summon. From this time forward, my bow shall be with you and your fate shall be with me. I swear it on my duty as a Servant."
Artoria's face became a deep crimson.
"I hereby swear, from this day on, that my blade shall slay your enemies and my bow shall clear a path for your victory," Archer swore again, offering her a smile with one hand placed above his heart. "Will you take this wandering vagrant as your Servant, Master?"
She turned away bashfully, but still regarded him with one eye. Then, she coughed in her hand, forcefully trying to recollect herself and remain calm and collected. "O-Of course," she stammered out a response, turning to face him directly, but instantly shying away from his smile.
Until, after a few seconds, she finally steeled her resolve and forced herself to return his stare in spite of the blush on her face.
"I-I am Artoria Pendragon, a Master fighting in the Holy Grail War," she managed to declare out loud, fixing her gaze on the man kneeling in front of her. "Are you to be my Servant, Archer?
"I am."
There was no trace of hesitation in his answer. This was his choice now.
"And do you hereby swear to fight for me and only me, and to bring me victory in this War?"
"On my honor," he swore.
The sun peeked over the cloudy sky, basking both Master and Servant under a warm ray of light.
A few moments of silence.
Until, Artoria's eyes softened, and her lips curved into a smile that was more hopeful and radiant than the sun.
"Then, even if we had a rough start… let's do our best from now on, Archer."
His eyes met hers, and even now he was shocked at the clarity of their green depths.
"Of course," he agreed with a smirk. "Our contract is now sealed."
Emiya stood up, reaching out to the girl with one hand and offering her a small grin. She hesitated, taken aback by the gesture, before relaxing herself and accepting it with a bashful smile and a blush on beautiful face.
Thus, the contract was sealed between the two of them. A new quest. A new War. A new promise.
A new oath.
Emiya and his Master shared a confident smile, their bodies enveloped by the fading light.
…
The walk was quiet as they slowly moved to return to the flat.
"By the way, Master," Archer spoke through their mental link, his body dissolving into spirit form as they walked. "You said that you ran away from your family five days ago, right?"
Artoria nodded. "That's right."
"If so, don't you believe you're being a little too careless here?" he questioned her, confused. "Your family members might send someone to find you. They might even come and search for you themselves, if they know your location. Aren't you concerned about that?"
The girl fixed the world with a challenging stare. "I don't think they will search for me," she replied easily, her lips parting into a confident smirk. "I fully expect them to do so."
Emiya widened his eyes as realization dawned upon him. "Do you perhaps intend to face them directly?" he asked, perplexed. "Why?"
"Why not?" she asked right back at him, glancing at his invisible frame following her closely. "I shall not hide and cower like a coward while my family is looking for me. I took my decision, and I will face the consequences of my actions. I've never planned to hide from the beginning," she explained. "And besides…"
She turned her head fully towards the invisible Archer, flashing him a confident smile that was familiar – extremely familiar – to him.
"I've got you to protect me now. What could they possibly do to stop me?"
For the second time after being summoned, Heroic Spirit Emiya allowed himself to laugh despite his better judgment.
"You're way more cunning than I thought, Master."
.
/+/+/+/+/+/+/
.
Her silence speaks to me more than words could. A soft, disbelieving silence filled with sorrow and regret. But even if I feel my incoming end, I can't help but laugh at this situation while my body fades away into the aether.
As always, Rin doesn't like it. "W-What's with that? This is hardly the time to be laughing!" she reprimands me with her waspish voice.
I choose to be truthful, for once. "My apologies. I just couldn't help it, given your state. I was amused that you and I cut such sorry figures."
She clenches her fists at my sarcastic tone, her hands grasping together above her heart.
Her sad and uncertain face wounds my empty heart.
.
/+/+/+/+/+/+/
.
Artoria was right. That very same evening, her family members came looking for her.
It was almost dinner time when they found them right in front of the door of Artoria's flat – which, apparently, was owned by the family – looking visibly annoyed and pissed off. Emiya had almost sighed at the sight. Honestly, his Master really should have seen that coming.
Or perhaps that had been her intent all along.
Hidden from view thanks to his spirit form, Archer watched in absolute quiet as Artoria and her 'family' glared at each other, seated around the table in the kitchen while a dead silence echoed throughout the small apartment. He could almost see the fire raging in their eyes as the young Master and her relatives kept staring at each other; and despite the tense situation, the scene was quite amusing to watch for him.
Now, however, he was too busy staring at said 'relatives' to care about everything else.
First, his eyes studied those who were – apparently – Artoria's brothers in this world: Lancelot and Kay.
The former looked exactly as Emiya had seen him in Saber's memories during his past Holy Grail War: a tall and robust young man whose eyes were a light purple and his hair of the same color. Said hair was incredibly spiky and parted over to the left, and he looked like he couldn't be older than twenty, a clear difference from the original Knight of the Round Table.
The latter, on the other hand, was one he had never seen before, not even in Saber's memories. Kay was a man who looked slightly older than Lancelot, his hair of light brown and his eyes narrow and calculating with an analytical glint in them. He had a stern expression on his face, along with a small scar on his right eye and cheek. If he had met him as a true Servant and Knight, Emiya was sure he would have looked extremely intimidating.
Lastly, Artoria's uncle. This man was another figure with whom Archer was familiar with thanks to his old glimpses of Saber's past and the weapons stored in his Reality Marble. Tristan, also known in his world as the Knight of Sorrow. Even if he was nothing but an ordinary man in this world, he still looked almost the same as the original Knight: a tall, handsome man with long crimson hair and narrow eyes with long eyelashes. He seemed to resemble Artoria a bit more in this world, his features looking gentler and older, but his good looks and poetic behavior were still there. He was almost as tall as Emiya was, even if he looked less muscled here. He supposed it wasn't a surprise, since very few humans could match a Servant's toned body.
But still, despite the tall and imposing frame of those three, Artoria stood her ground perfectly, matching all their glares combined without backing down in the slightest. She looked as regal and resolute as Saber did, in Archer's eyes, and despite all their differences, he couldn't help but admire her all the same.
It was Artoria's uncle – Tristan – who finally broke the silence after two full minutes of staring contest.
"Artoria… please, stop with this reckless behavior," even in spite of his frown, he spoke with a gentle tone in front of his nephew. "You know how dangerous a Holy Grail War is. We won't allow you to put your life at risk just because of a selfish whim."
"A whim?" the girl repeated incredulously, her glare soaring even more as her uncle flinched. "This is my life we're talking about, uncle; not a whim. You and the rest of the family may be happy with the current situation, but I refuse to be tied to our family's customs anymore. That is not living to me," she stated through gritted teeth, deadly serious.
Lancelot scowled. "That still doesn't mean that you have to participate in the War!" he exclaimed vehemently. "If you're dissatisfied with our customs, then there are other options–"
"I've already made my decision, Lancelot, and I won't go back now. Even if I wanted to, it's too late anyway," Artoria replied strongly, closing her eyes with a resolute face.
Kay narrowed his gaze. "You can't be serious," he muttered with a snort. "What the hell do you mean? Surely you couldn't have summoned a Servant in such a short amount of time and without a catalyst. Stop joking around, Wart. I know you're better than that."
"I am stating the truth, Kay."
"As if. Did you grow fat in your brain or what? All the food you've been eating must have gone somewhere, and if it's not that flat chest of yours, then it must be the brain."
"W-W-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?" Artoria yelled in a fluster, her entire face glowing of a bright red color as she stood up from the table, ready to pounce on her older brother at any moment. Any other time, Kay's crude sense of humor would have been fine, but Artoria knew they weren't alone right now. She couldn't allow her brother to humiliate her in front of her own Servant. "Grab your sword, then! Let's see how this 'fat' girl can wipe the floor with your pretty face, shall we?"
"Don't get too cocky, Wart! You only beat me at training once!"
Yes, it was definitely amusing to watch. Emiya stifled a laugh as he observed from the shadows.
"Calm down, both of you," Tristan ordered sternly, shaking his head in disappointment as brother and sister glared at each other. "You're both so insufferable sometimes. Ahh, how sorrowful."
As the two of them reluctantly relented and tension began to dissolve, Lancelot took advantage of the moment. "I know that your relationship with him is strained at best but... Father is also worried about you, Artoria," he said with a low tone. "He's been throwing a fuss ever since you left the house."
"Indeed. You should be grateful that we were the ones who came looking for you. If Gawain was here instead, he would surely be mad beyond reason," her uncle nodded with his eyes closed. "I know that he can be a stubborn airhead sometimes, but he means well. He wa–"
"I know perfectly well how Father is, uncle," Artoria cut him off abruptly, her tone stern and rigid. "Just as I'm aware of the fact that he would never let me live as I wish if I choose to return. There's nothing more important to him than our lineage, and he would never allow his 'perfect' daughter to bring dishonor to the Pendragon name." Her emerald eyes narrowed as his relatives flinched and remained silent at that. "Go ahead and tell me the opposite. You know I'm stating the truth."
The others remained silent, exchanging a sad glance with each other. Emiya watched their reaction closely in his spirit form. Interesting. Even in this world, it seemed that there was some kind of fracture in Artoria's family. A real shame that one, truly.
It was sad to see how some things never change, no matter what.
"…Bedivere is worried as well, you know. He doesn't want his big sister to be hurt," Kay grunted with a low tone, and for a split second, Artoria's eyes seemed to hesitate at the mention of her little brother. "And Mordred too. Can't you understand that?"
"…I do understand that. But there's no need to be concerned about me. I will win the Holy Grail. You know I will," she replied with a serious tone, staring into his eyes with a resolute gaze. "I'm not doing this just for myself, you know. I took this decision out of duty too."
"Duty?" Lancelot repeated.
Artoria nodded with a solemn expression. "The Holy Grail War is a battle where seven Mages fight each other in order to win and obtain the Grail. Driven by their desires, Masters have always engaged in indiscriminate slaughter during the previous Wars. What do you think would happen if the one who won the Grail were an indiscriminate killer?" she questioned them, staring straight into their eyes with a challenging tone. "The Grail is said to be an omnipotent wish-granting chalice. I do not wish for it to fall into the wrong hands."
"And so you want to win it yourself!?" Kay demanded angrily, standing up from the table with a furious expression. Artoria met his furious frown with a calm and collected face. "Don't be ridiculous! There's no way we can just allow you to put yourself in danger! The only thing you'll accomplish is getting yourself recklessly killed!" he yelled.
"As I said, I've already made my choice. It's too late, anyway," she replied, calm and composed.
Kay, Lancelot and Tristan flinched. Their eyes widened as realization dawned upon their features.
"You don't mean…" her uncle whispered.
The girl nodded. She turned her head to the right. "Archer, show yourself," she ordered.
Emiya did as he was told.
He appeared in a shower of blue dust, his arms crossed and his eyes closed. He inwardly sighed as he felt the entire room falling into a stunned silence as everyone turned to him with wide eyes. He shook his head.
"Good grief, my Master sure is belligerent," he spoke with obvious sarcasm, ignoring the three men's incredulous stare. "The War hasn't even started yet, and she's already using me to defend herself. What's next? You're going to order me to kick them out?"
Artoria glared at him with a blush. "I am not using you to defend myself from my family!" she stressed with irritation. Then, she coughed in her hand and recollected herself once again. "I just want to prove my point, once and for all."
Lancelot and the others were absolutely speechless. "W-W-What!? Who's this?" Kay demanded, fixing the tanned Archer with a suspicious gaze.
His sister shot him a stare. "This is my Servant, Archer," she explained plainly, as if it were a foregone conclusion. "I summoned him last night. So, as you can see, there's nothing you can do to stop me. I've already summoned my Servant, and I cannot forfeit my right to participate in the War anymore. It's too late."
Emiya could clearly see Tristan and Lancelot's shoulders slump in defeat while their faces morphed in a resigned expression. The red Archer pitied them despite knowing little to nothing about them. Artoria had proved to be far more determined on this than they had expected, and now there was nothing they could do to persuade her to forfeit from the War. Not when her Servant was standing right next to her already. He knew they all understood that now.
But despite that, one of them didn't seem to care.
"Bullshit!" Kay spat with a frown. "I don't care if you summoned a Servant already. I'm not letting you participate in the War and wait for you to be killed!" he spat with a frantic wave of the hand. He rounded on the Servant and narrowed his eyes on him. "And who the hell are you, anyway? What kind of Servant could seriously answer the call of a little brat like her?"
Archer watched him with a disinterested expression. He shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe I'm just a nobody, or maybe I'm a famous Hero of renown." He exchanged a silent glance with his Master, and he couldn't help but smirk at her tense expression. "Indeed. Perhaps I was even a King in the past…"
Kay widened his eyes, and everyone stiffened visibly after his words. They all knew what he was implying with those sarcastic words. Even Artoria looked slightly baffled by his statement.
But still, Artoria's older brother didn't buy it. He was sharper than he looked. "Bullshit. You sound like an old man who's weary of life," his tone grew sharper. "If you have the time to joke around, then why don't you stop wasting our time and tell us your name already?"
Emiya's smirk widened. "Don't tell me you seriously believe a Servant would reveal his True Name so easily," he retorted casually, placing one hand on his hip as the man began to fume in rage. "Sorry to disappoint, but unless my Master orders me so, you will get nothing from me."
"Archer is right. There's no need for you to know his identity," Artoria stated calmly, turning her head to glare at her brother. Emiya almost snorted when he saw the way she omitted the tiny, little detail that not even she knew what his real name was; but he said nothing nonetheless. "All you need to know is that I've already summoned a Servant, as you can clearly see, and therefore: you will let me go. There's nothing to discuss anymore."
Hmph. As resolute and cold as ever. It seems that this girl really does have a lot of things in common with Saber, after all, he mused.
Tristan was at loss. "B-But your father–"
"My Father won't be able to stop me either," Artoria stated, firm and resolute. "Whether he likes it or not, I've made my decision, and that is final. He cannot stop me anymore. You can report this to him when you return to London, uncle: I'm going to participate in the War, and I'm going to win, no matter what. That's all there is to it."
Sheer silence greeted her declaration.
Lancelot was visibly panicking more and more as he realized the gravity of the situation. "J-Just wait a minute, Artoria. Let's talk about this… even if you have a Servant, that doesn't mean–"
"I'm sure you're all aware of this," Emiya said suddenly, cutting him off and grabbing everyone's attention. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he leaned on a wall while everyone stared at him. "The status of Master cannot be yielded to another, and once conferred, it's not a thing from which one can walk away easily. Whether you like it or not, Artoria has been chosen by the Grail to be a Master, and that is a trial she has to undergo."
He opened one eye, throwing an amused glance towards Artoria with a smirk. The girl narrowed his eyes on him as he stared. "Of course, if she were to use all her Command Seals right here, her right as a Master would be lost. I wouldn't stop her if that is her decision, but I'm afraid she has no intention of wasting this chance… am I right?"
Artoria nodded, shattering her family's hopes instantly. "Correct. I will not back down from this. I've decided to fight as a Master, and that is final. Archer has sworn to fight with me, and together, we shall win the Holy Grail." She flashed him a smile filled with confidence. "Am I right?"
Mistake. Archer saw another opening.
His smile was anything but reassuring. "Of course. My Master and I have already exchanged our vows. Our contract is sealed, and our bond is absolute. There's nothing that I won't do for her now," he stated with sarcasm, giving her a playful wink.
Artoria blushed fiercely at his statement. "Y-You don't have to phrase it like that, you idiot!"
Kay glared at the taller man. "So you consent to her being your Master?" he questioned him, suspicious.
He returned serious in an instant. "My consent is irrelevant. From the moment she summoned me, she has been my Master. So long as the Command Seals are on her hand, I will serve as her Servant," he replied back, his face as serious as it could be despite his Master's blush.
Tristan studied him with a long stare. "But are you willing to risk your life for her?" he inquired further.
Emiya nodded without the slightest hint of hesitation. There was no doubt about that in both his mind and body, and he knew that extremely well. "I swore that my body would be her blade. I will protect her with my life, and grant her victory to the best of my abilities. That much I can promise you," he reassured him.
Lancelot, Kay and Tristan stared at him, long and hard. The young Master and her Servant didn't back down from their gaze.
Until, after what seemed like an eternity, one of them sighed.
"…very well," Tristan conceded in the end, lowering his head as his shoulders slumped. "If that's how it is, there's nothing we can do anymore."
Kay and Lancelot turned to their uncle in disbelief. Artoria, on the other hand, visibly relaxed, but her face remained as serious as before. "Thank you, uncle. I'm glad you understand," she said with sincere gratitude.
Tristan scoffed. "It's not like we would be able to stop you when you have a Servant at your side," he replied with a severe tone, before sighing again. "But I can see your resolve. I know you can be as stubborn as your father, and just like him, you won't back down no matter what. I'm not the family head, and if you truly are dissatisfied with our family's customs… it's not up to me to force you back. I'm not exactly happy with the current situation either, after all. You should have the right to fight for your dream."
Her face became more resolute. "And I will," she swore.
Tristan nodded. Kay rose from his seat with an incredulous face while Lancelot remained silent with a resigned face. "Uncle, you can't be serious!" he exclaimed.
"You know better than me how stubborn she is, Kay. She's a Magus, the best one in our family, and we can't exactly deny the fact that the Grail has chosen her as a candidate Master. Besides, your sister and your father will never see things eye to eye. Give it up already," he ordered with a sigh.
Then, he turned towards his nephew again. "But if you won't listen to us, then at least allow us to help you," he added at that point. "The Holy Grail War will take place in Fuyuki city in two weeks, right?"
Emiya and Artoria exchanged a silent glance. "Yes, that's correct," the girl confirmed.
"In that case, we'll arrange a place for you to stay there. Knowing how reckless you are, I'm sure you were planning to spend all your money on a plane ticket to Japan without even thinking about your future accommodations," he smiled knowingly when he saw the girl blush and lower her eyes in shame. He exhaled a weary breath. "I'll talk with your father, and we'll arrange something for you. Just... promise me that you'll be safe. Promise me that you'll come back no matter what."
Artoria bowed her head, her face a mask of sheer determination.
"I will come back, uncle," she swore with utmost decision. "I promise."
The rest of the conversation soon shifted towards more personal matters, and the air began to slowly lose the tension that had previously pervaded the small flat like a fog. Thus, seeing that the situation was now under control, Emiya decided to silently excuse himself and return in spirit form, leaving Artoria with her family and offering them the privacy they deserved to exchange their goodbyes and their parting words.
Until, after a few minutes, Kay appeared in the empty living room all of a sudden, scanning the room with his eyes while the others continued to talk in the kitchen.
"Oi. I know you're here, show yourself."
Emiya complied. He appeared in front of the window, keeping his back to the man.
He didn't even turn back to watch him, his eyes focused on the outside. "Have you come to threaten me?" he mused with sarcasm.
Kay snorted loudly. "Unlike that stubborn brat over there, I'm not stupid enough to go against a Servant or risk my life in a senseless war," he spat back with a sharp tone. His eyes did not waver as he kept glaring at his frame, however. "I just want to be sure. I expect you to do everything and more in order to protect my sister. I don't know who you are, but if something – anything – happens to her, I swear to God that I will summon you again in some way, and then I will kill you with my own hands. Are we clear?"
Emiya's lips parted into a sly grin as he turned. "So you did come to threaten me," he mused.
Kay scratched his head in frustration. His entire body oozed off tension and concern like a fog. "Whatever. Just… keep the brat safe for me, will you?" he said again, more quietly this time. "She's a reckless one, and gullible too. I-I just want you to promise me this."
Archer nodded without even thinking about it. He could clearly see the sincere concern of this man for his little sister. And having been a big brother in the past, Emiya could understand that feeling extremely well.
"No matter what happens, I will protect her with my life," he swore with a resolute tone. "You can trust me on this."
Kay snorted with a shaky nod. His gaze flickered towards Artoria one last time, and Archer could clearly see the emotions flashing inside his eyes. "Good. I'll take your word for it."
Emiya smirked as he shot him a stare. "You're softer thank you look," he said with a knowing gaze. "Admit it, all that drama was just because you're worried for her."
"Well, what can I say?" Kay's tone was wavering slightly, no doubt due to the weight of his sister's choice and the fact that he could do nothing to stop her anymore. "I always was one for drama. Ours might not be the most conventional of families – and it has its fair share of black sheep," he glanced pointedly in Artoria's direction, even if she couldn't see him. "But it's still family. Somehow."
Archer thought of Illya, and for once, he felt like he could relate to him.
NOTES
The memories that Archer has kept with him in this story are those from the Unlimited Blade Works route and those from the Heaven's Feel route. He does NOT remember the Fate route, nor his experiences as Emiya Shirou in the three routes. He just remembers his own life and his personal War, along with his previous deployments in those two specific routes.
In case you were wondering: yes, the titles used for each chapter of this fic have a meaning behind them, and this will stay true even throughout the course of the story. For example: "Point Zero" is the OST used in Fate/Zero during the summoning of the Servants, and in the first chapter we saw Archer's summoning. "Count it from Zero" is the OST used in UBW when Archer and Rin make their alliance with each other, and in this chapter we saw Emiya and Artoria doing the exact same thing. It's gonna be like this for every chapter from now on, but it's up to you to notice the similarities, if you're interested. You have been warned.
I freaking love Kay. I wish we could see more of him in some canon work in order to know more about his character, but he's definitely my favorite Knight of the Round Table.
As always, please forgive me for any eventual misspellings and grammar mistakes. If you point them out to me, I will gladly correct them as soon as I can.
See you next time.