Chapter 5: Magus
EMIYA wouldn't say he liked it here. Being the chef, he would be pushed around by Shirou and Illya. The older of the two would demand food while the younger one would try to force him out of the kitchen to cook for himself and everyone else. At least Sakura had the good sense to ask nicely.
He looked at the kids and sighed. The girls were taking turns pushing Shirou around and Shirou, the fool he is, obeyed every command Illya made and every request Sakura had.
He really is a pushover, Acher thought to himself with a scoff.
"Mister Archer!" Illya's voice snapped Archer out of his stupor.
"What is it?" Archer crossed his arms and looked down at Illya.
"Make me some food!" Illya commanded.
"Illya, that's not how you ask someone," Irisviel chided Illya while looking at Archer with sad eyes.
"Fine," Illya pouted before blinking a couple times and looking up at Archer with her Puppy Dog Eyes (EX). "Mister Archer, can you make me some food? Pretty please?"
"Alright," Archer sighed. Even now he couldn't resist those eyes.
"Yay!" Illya cheered before running off.
"You don't have to look at me like that, you know?" Archer turned his attention to Irisviel, who was still looking at him. "What's done is done. There was nothing you could have done."
"I know… it's just…" Irisviel looked down. "I still feel responsible in a way. I should have been there for you."
"You're being unrealistic," EMIYA scoffed. "Stop wallowing in the past and take care of the fool. He'll need you."
"I knew you cared," Irisviel smiled before walking off.
"Insufferable woman," Archer muttered to himself before opening the fridge. As he did, he felt his connection to Atalanta surge, like she was using a command seal.
"Ah sh—" Was all the Nameless Archer could say before being whisked away to an unknown dimension.
EMIYA scowled as he opened his eyes. Of course he would be here. He sighed as he tried to formulate a plan.
Such an unruly master I have, Archer thought with a smirk before he knocked on the door. Might as well be blunt.
Atalanta sighed as she clicked the servant button and closed her eyes.
"Master…" she whispered as memories flooded through her head. Guilt welled up in her chest as she remembered her final moments. Even Saber seemed sad when he struck her down at the beginning of their confrontation.
She remembered all the time she spent with her master. Her impatient, but kind master. She watched her study, sleep, and fight, but in the end, she failed. She failed to protect her.
A knock on the door snapped Atalanta from her stupor. She stood up and walked over to the door, opening it to see Jeanne.
"What do thy need, Jeanne?" Atalanta asked.
"Archer's missing," Jeanne said quickly. "Illya went to the kitchen saying that Archer promised her food, but he was nowhere to be seen."
Atalanta turned to look at the screen and sighed as she saw a familiar figure standing in front of a large manor. "He'll be back."
"Damn it!" Rin slammed her Intermediate Jewel Magecraft shut. The Fake Priest wasn't helping her at all when it came to her specialization and frankly, she was starting to get sick of him, so when she heard a knock on the door, she decided enough was enough.
Rin angrily threw the book aside and stomped over to the door, swinging it open. "I swear, if you—"
She stopped when she realized the man in front of her was not Kotomine. He was an imposing figure with white hair and bronze skin. He wore some sort of body armor that was covered by a red coat.
"Who are you?" Rin gulped, but put her hands on her hips and glared at the man.
"I'm just a Nameless Archer," The man said with an indifferent expression.
Archer? As in… Rin's face paled. What was a servant doing outside a grail war? How had a servant been summoned outside a grail war?
"Relax, I'm not here to kill you," The Archer said just as Rin was about to turn and run.
"What do you want, then?" Rin narrowed her eyes. Her legs were shaking due to the revelation, but she had to uphold the Tohsaka elegance.
"My master wants you to move in with her," Archer said bluntly. "Kotomine Kirei is a dangerous man and staying with him will only bring you harm."
"So just because he's a dangerous person, you decided to pop in and take me, even though it's been seven years since he adopted me?" Rin got angrier and angrier as she said that sentence. "You have the nerve to take me away from my home when it's convenient for you?"
The man shook his head. "Honestly, our establishment is quite new. We came for you as soon as we could."
"Tch," Rin scoffed and crossed her arms. "Well, there's no way I'm going with you."
"We have a tutor," Archer's words caused Rin to freeze. "I'm not the only servant that was summoned. Would you rather learn with that Fake Priest or would you rather have a Caster class servant teach you magecraft?"
"How is that even possible?" Rin gawked at the Archer. "You aren't even supposed to be here!"
"How else?" Archer smirked in response. "My master won the war."
Atalanta was seething. Why did Archer reveal so much information to a young girl? She knew her master was smart and mature (when she wanted to be), but Archer didn't even ask permission.
Atalanta stormed out of the room, not even bothering to see the results of the interaction. She knew her master couldn't resist the pursuit of knowledge, and even if it didn't work, Archer somehow knew what made Rin tick too. He was probably offering a multitude of other things as well.
"Miss Atalanta?" Atalanta stopped when she saw Sakura looking up at her with a worried expression. "What's wrong? You look very angry."
"Archer did a bad thing," Atalanta forced a smile as she looked down at the young girl. "It is nothing thy need to worry about."
"Alright…" Sakura shrunk a little.
"He's picking up Rin, isn't he?" Medusa asked, walking into the room.
"How did thee know?" Atalanta tilted her head at Medusa's deduction.
"The grail has provided us with some memories from previous wars since some of us are linked to the children, like how I'm linked with the little one here," Medusa rubbed Sakura's head gently. "Archer's always had a soft spot for Rin, so I'm not surprised if he would bend over backwards to accommodate her."
"What was Rin's connection with Archer?" Atalanta asked.
"I'll let you find out," Medusa said with a knowing smile.
"Thou art starting to sound him, Medusa," Atalanta grimaced at the woman, who could only laugh.
"Well, it won't be long now," Medusa said as a bright light flashed from one of the doorways. "That's probably them."
"Good," Atalanta sighed and clenched her fist. "I have some choice words for him."
Archer was greeted with a slap to the face. "Jeez, no welcome back?"
"Thou knows what thy did," Atalanta glared at him. "What possessed thee to say that?!"
"She's old enough to know," Archer argued. "It's not like she's unfamiliar with the grail."
"Still!" Atalanta insisted. "What if someone was listening in? That could spell disaster!"
"Relax, no one was listening," Archer held his hands up. "You should know more than anyone that Zouken's worms weren't anywhere to be seen."
"Worms…?" The two turned to Rin, who was looking up at them with a confused expression. Archer was so peeved at Atalanta's arbitrary rules that he forgot Rin was standing there.
"Nothing thee needs to worry about ma- Rin," Atalanta hastily corrected herself. "My name is Atalanta. I am the owner of this establishment. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"My name is Tohsaka Rin," The young girl curtsied before looking up at her. "Now, where are my gems?"
"Thy what?" Atalanta tilted her head and Archer snickered.
"I may have promised to give Rin a hefty sum of gems to come here," Archer was barely containing his laughter.
"I… think I need to make a call," Atalanta turned red and briskly walked away. Archer couldn't help it anymore. He fell over laughing.
Zelretch expected the call before it even came. He picked up the cell phone he had in his pocket and put it to his ear.
"Wizard Marshall Zelretch speaking. Who is this?" Zelretch's greeting changed from person to person, but this was his customary greeting for magi.
"I'm going to need thine assistance," Atalanta's voice was tired and shaking.
"Ah, Atalanta! What a surprise!" Zelretch smiled, thankful he wasn't dealing with that mess. "What do you need?"
"Is there any way to get some… jewels?" Atalanta asked. This only made Zelretch's smile widen.
"Ah, so you finally picked her up," Zelretch said as he stood up from his chair. "I'll be there in a few seconds. Don't worry about it. There are a couple things I need to explain about the residence too."
"Thank you," Atalanta breathed a sigh of relief before the line went dead. Zelretch chuckled before opening a portal. He had some work to do.
"Someone will be getting thy gems soon," Atalanta assured Rin. "I don't know when he will arrive, though."
"I don't mind, as long as I get them," Rin shook her head. "I honestly didn't expect you to give them to me."
"I would never lie to a child," Atalanta said, smiling at the child. Rin hadn't changed one bit.
"What's your fascination with kids?" Rin stepped back. " Are you some sort of—"
"Now, now, be gentle with Atalanta. She's a pure maiden, after all," A familiar voice said. Everyone spun around to an old man walking up to the group.
"Thank you for coming, Zelretch," Atalanta gave the man a grateful nod.
"Z-Z-Z-Zelretch?" Rin stammered out, her eyes widening with shock as she took several steps back. "Like… the W-wizard Marshall Zelretch?"
"The one and only. I guess you can say I'm one of the sponsors of this orphanage," Zelretch smiled at Rin. "I'll be expecting great things from you."
He then turned to Archer. "Rin's jewels will be in her room. Can you lead her there? You'll know which one."
"Fine," The Nameless Archer motioned at Rin. "This way."
"Alright!" Rin instantly went from scared to excited as she followed Archer out of the room with a skip in her step.
"Now, something I need to explain to you about the house," Zelretch started to walk, motioning for Atalanta to follow. "The grail will make rooms for the house as needed."
"As needed?" Atalanta echoed, her ears twitching as she tilted her head.
"Rin is a very studious child, and thus, she will need a place to study," Zelretch stopped at a door, which Atalanta noted that she had not seen before. Zelretch opened the door and Atalanta widened her eyes as she saw a treasure trove of books. "As such, the grail has provided the house with a library where she can study to her heart's content."
"Many thanks, Zelretch," Atalanta bowed at the waist. "Thou hast done so much to help me with my cause."
"You're doing a good thing, Atalanta," Zelretch's aged features wrinkled as he smiled. "I want to see it flourish, so I will do what I can to help."
Atalanta smiled back. With this new information, she was more determined than ever to carry out her wish.