EDIT: My body and my mind are both ready for this next chapter. Despite not knowing as much about Fate/Zero as I do Fate/stay night, this was still one of my favourite chapters to edit due to the fact that we're almost done with Zero.

Very late addition compared to my earlier posts. This is a combination of school, writer's block, no free time and stress. But it's here now! I've got some news about the story and its progress which will be in the post section. Enjoy!


Maiya would live, that was the important takeaway. Avalon was an incredible relic. Healing cuts and mortal wounds almost as if rewinding time. As with all things, such great power had great drawbacks. The primary downside was that it wouldn't actualize its effect without mana supplied directly from Saber. Another fault was that Avalon wouldn't regenerate lost limbs or heal what Kiritsugu liked to call: Trauma wounds. Bruises, sore muscles, arthritis, disfigurement, mental afflictions and concussions were all looked over by the healing effect. Maiya had three of these injuries but the concussion was most pressing. It was almost as if she was hit by a truck - repeatedly. She would be out of the fight for a day at least before she tried to jump back into combat out of sheer stubbornness.

She would heal. She just needed time, there was nothing else anyone could do. While Avalon couldn't heal simple bruises, Irisviel could. Maiya would be without pain at the very least. Caster and his master had become the primary threat. The Magus Killer threw on his trench coat and verified everything was in place. He counted while sliding the Origin Rounds into slots sewn in his jacket. He had eight rounds remaining on hand. One had been lost at Ryuudou Temple, two had been used by Maiya and another had been used by himself last night.

Before he returned to find Maiya, quite the scenario had taken place at the Einzbern Castle. Kiritsugu's mind moved to the events of last night but he was distracted upon finding a pack of cigarettes in a lesser used pocket of his coat. He looked the box over, fingers twitching as they flipped the top open to reveal eight cancer sticks. His eyes flickered over each filtered end. With mind and body screaming at him to indulge, his fingers flickered over the butt of a cigarette.

Illya filled his mind, her bright face and beautiful hair. Her coughing while entering his office. The poor girl he had left thousands of miles away, alone, with a monster in the form of a human. His hand clenched around the cigarette packet and with a growl of anger he sent it flying in a random direction. Running a hand through his dishevelled hair, he tried to control his emotions through controlled breathing. Every time he tried to refocus, his mind flickered back to the innocent little girl he had abandoned. Anger clouded his eyes, anger directed solely at himself. He had abandoned his own daughter, the Grail was a sham and it was inevitable that Irisviel would die creating a vessel of pure corruption. He couldn't even save the world or save his daughter anymore. What kind of man was he?

Kiritsugu paced around the backyard with hands on his hips, lips twitching from the thought of failure bouncing around his head. Both eyes were shut tight and his breathing was laboured with rage. When he neared the stone storehouse in his aimless pacing, he shouted and violently slammed a gloved fist into the solid wall. Rather than break his own hand, cracks splintered and spread throughout the entire surface of the stone wall from the bottom to the top.

Everything he had done, everything he had sacrificed, had been in vain. Everything he would do would accomplish nothing in the end. He couldn't save innocent people, he couldn't save his wife, he couldn't save Illya. He was a miserable failure. The dull throbbing in his fist detracted from the ache within his chest and head. He felt nauseous and cornered.

So what was he to do now? There was no way he could go back to Germany and retrieve Illya from Acht. Continuing to fight in the war would grant him a curse. Was this precisely what Caster's master had intended? Had this been a subtle plot to destroy him from the inside out using his own mind as a weapon? Kiritsugu wanted to puke, but willpower allowed him to force the feeling down. Caster had revealed himself to be a wise man as well as someone who knew more than he led on. Perhaps he would hold answers to the questions floating through his mind. Caster had seemingly been an honest man, would seeking him out be a wise decision? This Grail war had been a wake-up call for Kiritsugu from the very start. First, he had been shown through a dream that his skills weren't enough. He was forced to seek outside help for training. Now, he was forced to seek answers from someone who… Kiritsugu's mind ground to a halt.

From someone who knew him better than he knew himself. Not that psychopath Limes, but Caster. The two worked hand-in-hand but it was easy to see that Caster was supplying his master with information. Kiritsugu turned to carry out the still brewing plan but stopped upon seeing Irisviel right behind him.

"Kiritsugu, your hand." She whispered softly, skin paler than usual. Not actually noticing until now, Kiritsugu peered down to where his wife's eyes were examining. Blood trickled from the sleeve of his glove. From experience, he could tell that three knuckles were shattered. Irisviel took his hand and covered it with her own pair. She closed her eyes and a green light flashed between her hands. With some discomfort, the bones shifted and rebonded in their correct positions all while the cuts in his flesh knit together. "What has gotten you so upset?" She asked in a hushed tone, peering into his eyes with a weak smirk.

"Nothing..." He passed off, looking away from her eyes. He was ashamed at his outburst. "How are you feeling?" He asked, trying to avoid the subject altogether.

"The Grail's call to me is much stronger now. With each servant, I can feel my strength and energy fading." She paused, looking down at their covered hands. Irisviel ran her fingers along the back of Kiritsugu's, tracing the bones. "Two more and I may lose my ability to function." She chuckled sadly, surprised when she was embraced by her husband.

"I'm sorry." Was all he said, squeezing her tight before moving away. He didn't dare look back as he left. Such was for both their sakes. They were teetering on the emotional edge and another weight on their mind would be the proverbial straw upon the camel's back.

Saber was leaning against an open door of one of the smaller rooms in the entrance hall. She watched her master walk by and put on his shoes. "One more servant down, master. Lady Irisviel and I will await your orders." She stated with closed eyes. He nodded towards her in acknowledgement, exiting the mansion and reflecting on the banquet last night.

… … …

… … …

… … …

Kiritsugu had almost fallen asleep. Irisviel and Waver actually had. Rider and Saber emptied both vessels of alcohol and were chatting like old friends. They had spoken of their lives, their goals, their regrets. Spoke at length of what it meant to be king which sparked insults and a fight. Saber had won easily and to save face - Rider challenged the petite girl to an arm wrestling competition. Saber gleefully accepted and proceeded to roll the servant over himself - three times. Size did not dictate strength as it would seem. Saber's fighting prowess hardly seemed dulled by the alcohol. It was as if she were still sober.

Kiritsugu himself was nodding off, but a new voice shook the sleepiness away. "How infuriating! Saber, your master attempts at my life twice through underhanded means and you simply drink and parlay in celebration?" Came an echoing voice. It was easily recognizable as Kayneth El-Melloi. The servants casually looked up to the roof of the castle surrounding the courtyard. It would seem they wouldn't need to bother, as Lancer leapt from the roof to land within the courtyard some distance away from Saber and Rider.

"Saber." Lancer greeted, scowling. By the look on his face and the positioning of his body, he did not agree with his master's order to interrupt a banquet of kings. What Lancer was doing at that moment was equivalent to interrupting a royal ball and denouncing the residing king. It went against his very nature as an honor-bound knight.

"Lancer." Saber returned the greeting with a nod, glancing towards Rider who was watching curiously with a smile. If Saber were to make a guess, she would say it was near two in the morning. Lancer's master had most likely waited so long to try and catch them while they were sleeping.

"My master has instructed me to engage in battle tonight. I wish to resume our duel, but with another servant present I may find my wishes denied." Lancer's hands clenched tight around his twin spears.

Rider only laughed with red cheeks. "If you wish to fight Lancer then by all means. I will not intervene in a duel between two knights. I understand the importance of knightly code, even if your master does not." The redhead giant shuffled while sitting along the ground to distance himself from the fight.

Lancer's face and body seemed to relax. "You have my thanks…" He led on, waiting for the other servant to fill in the blank. Rider obliged with enthusiasm. ".. King of Conquerors." The spearman repeated, nodding gratefully towards Rider.

Saber stood, albeit shakily due to the drink and the long period of sitting on her knees. "Lancer, you are an honourable knight. Had you been alive during my time without a liege, I would have invited you to my court. As circumstances are..." She bashed a gauntlet against her chest to make a clang, moving to grasp her sword tightly. The two duelists strode forwards with weapons primed. With two paces between them, they raised their weapons to touch together halfway. "...A duel will have to suffice." The clang of steel on steel acted as a starting bell. In an instant, weapons were swung, deflected, parried and ground against each other. Sparks, weapons and bodies - along with their attached limbs - moved across the courtyard in a beautiful dance of death.

Kiritsugu could barely understand what was happening. Lancer and Saber were conducting attacks and moving around one another at a speed his eyes could hardly register. Servants were truly amazing to observe. It was a shame he couldn't stay and watch any longer.

Both he and Saber had a job to do, his was just more convoluted. An explosion down the hall in the direction he was already moving informed him that it would be easier than expected. "Einzbern!" Came a shout. Kiristugu moved to hide behind a corner. Through natural reaction, the Magus Killer reached to his left ribs, hand grasping air. He realized unfortunately that he had given most of his supplies to Maiya. This assassination would have to be done the old fashioned way - if it could even be pulled off at all.

Kiritsugu reached behind himself to pull the sling on his shoulder around to his front. Mounted on the sling was his Calico. Kiritsugu took a second to remove clasps holding the leather to the gun. He would probably need all the mobility he could muster. El-Melloi was an incredibly skilled mage and if he was smart, that autonomous metal blob would be alongside him. If it could render .300 Win mag less than fatal, no other bullet in his arsenal could deal a killing blow. It would seem that he would have to simply hold out and try to survive while letting Saber deal with Lancer. Then she could deal with Kayneth.

There was a noise, a light creaking, and it saved Kiritsugu's life. He rolled to the side just before an explosion of stone and splinters showered the interior of the hall right where he was standing. Looking back from the ground, he found tendrils of metal had shot directly through the wall. He could have sworn the tips of them were pointed directly at him.

In his movement away, the tablecloth he had used to hide from the other servants had been discarded and destroyed by the scatter of debris. He could no longer hide from anyone.

"Of course you would be hiding. Unfortunately for you, you can't run or hide from Volumen Hydrargyrum, Einzbern." Came the pompous voice of Kayneth. The metal tendrils retracted while Kiritsugu stood up. In a couple of seconds, Kayneth and his construct slid around the corner.

"You must be the one who gave me such a nice scar." He commented, patting the side of his chest gently. "It takes more than mere bullets to kill a mage as grand as myself." He scoffed, glaring at the man as he lifted up the Calico. A volley of bullets flew out, intercepted by the ball of metal which shapeshifted into a thin wall. This ball of metal was how he had survived the night at the docks. It hadn't fully blocked the round but it defended well enough to turn a killing blow into a wounding strike. Kiritsugu had to think fast. Backstepping down the hall while maintaining a suppressive burst, his mind stewed. He had a limited number of bullets on him - whatever was left in this mag specifically - and had no way to actually fire the Origin Rounds he had on him. He hadn't given Maiya his supplies of course. She had four, he had seven. Even if Maiya perished and Limes took his Contender, anything that could chamber 30-06 Springfield would work. Come to think of it, did the bullet even need to be fired to actualize its concept?

He slipped into a room, slamming the door shut and barricading it with a tipped over bookshelf. The furniture wouldn't stop that damned automaton but it would delay the mage by a second. If his plan were to work, mere seconds would be the difference between success and defeat.

Turning, he spotted two other exits. One lead further into the castle, the obvious choice and the other lead towards where Kiritsugu had been watching the banquet from. Rather than take the expected way, he pushed the door open and moved through the other exit. As he silently closed the door behind him, he could hear the sound of splintering wood from around the corner. Rather than try and ambush the mage with a strike from behind, the Magus Killer took off running the opposite direction. Why hadn't he inscribed runes in his shoes to make him run faster? Still, he had ways to move at greater speeds. Delving back to his initial endeavours into magecraft, he reinforced the muscles of his legs and doubled his sprinting speed.

When he reached the other side of the castle and believed he was reasonably safe, he carefully took out an Origin Round from his pants and moved with it towards a night table. He carelessly swiped away all the clutter on top and delicately placed the bullet horizontally on the table. From another pocket of his pants, he withdrew a small instrument. It was similar to a dentists pick, a simple metal rod with a ninety-degree bend at one end sharpened to a point. The difference was in that point specifically. Rather than just plain metal, the tip was glowing blue.

All his time in runic training he had taken longer than normal to scribe. This time would have to be different. It couldn't be anything less than perfect and had to be done in half the time he expected it to take. The blue tip settled onto the surface of the brass casing. The magic within the instrument and the innate magic of the round conflicted, sparking bright blue as if he were welding. This would be the time where his knowledge of anti runes came in. Anti runes were normal runes only drawn opposite to the typical inscribing. Doing this reversed the usual benefit of each letter. Gain became loss, life became death, protection became flaw. Sometimes, runes gained other meanings when turned into anti runes. Raido, which typically stood for travel or relocation became crisis or death. It was something he would use right now.

On the casing of the bullet, Kiritsugu skillfully wrote two separate strings of runes, binding them to one another to generate a stronger effect. As he applied the last finishing touches, a string of metal drooped down into his vision. Spotted, his time was up. Picking up and gripping the bullet tightly, he turned towards the door and waited for it to explode open. In a few brief seconds, it did just that. Stepping over the pile of rubble, Kayneth entered the room looking angrier than usual.

"Have you decided to finish this game of cat and mouse?" He had entered the room scowling and with shut eyes. Upon realizing a new magical presence, his eyes shot open and his face cut into confusion. "What is that in your hand there? Where have you found an artifact of such power?" There was venom in his tone.

Kiritsugu had supplied mana to the bullet, both the inscribed runes and the round itself were near the point of exploding violently with mana. Thankfully his handiwork had paid off. Kayneth would be under the impression that what Kiritsugu held in his grasp was of a power never before seen. The aura would fill the room and be as thick as mud, carrying with it a feeling of pure evil.

"I doubt you have heard of a tool of mine called The Heart of Darkness." Kiritsugu began, uncharacteristically speaking to an enemy in combat. "It's a device I've used in my career to end every mage I've ever faced. Its power is so great, that the unsuspecting fools fell time and time again. They were all unable to stop it, as they hadn't even acknowledged its true power. How will you react to such a force?" Kiritsugu asked as a bead of sweat dripped down his back. Every word he spoke was being pulled directly from his ass. He was half praying and half hoping that Kayneth would be too dull and arrogant to see his weaknesses being played so blatantly. If Kiritsugu could only make him put all his effort into defending from the "relic" this fight would be simple. Even half his full effort would be enough.

"I've looked into your history, Magus Killer. There was never any mention of this Heart of Darkness." Kayneth pointed out. He was obviously skeptical of his own information if the lack of attack was anything to go off of. Unfortunately, it seemed that Kayneth was marginally smarter than expected. So instead of being on the level of mud, he was on par with an average potted house plant.

"Something cannot be written down if it is never seen before death." Kiritsugu countered. The two stared through one another intensely for a moment, before the more magically inclined of the two made a noise of contempt.

"Fair enough. Do your worst, I have no doubts Volumen Hydrargyrum will repel any attack a third-rate mage like you can manage." The mage pompously huffed. The surface of the metal ball seemed to bristle in response.

"Then prepare, as this shall be something even your servant fears." Kiritsugu menaced, throwing the bullet like a softball while applying even more mana to its construction. Any bump or jarring - even physical contact - would make the round explode violently. The blob of metal moved to intercept, making lattices and complex impact dampening designs as it curled around the projectile. It was all over from there.

Unfortunately for both master and servant, Saber had concluded her duel in the same moment. A slight upper hand in combat coupled with the brief hesitation after receiving the distress call of his master put Lancer at the mercy of Saber's blade. With a cry and a quick thrust, it found home in Lancer's stomach, running him through to the hilt.

The surprise from his master's defeat and the fall of his own defeat clouded his mind. He could no longer speak. When the final surprise - his master's death - struck him, he could only smile and thank Saber for the fight. Smoke from the barrel of the Calico steamed into the air, much like Lancer's body began to do when their contract was severed.

… … ...

… … …

… … …

Of course, the parts regarding Lancer were relayed to him through Saber so the specifics on what was said or what truly happened was uncertain. He had reflected on the encounter multiple times in his head. It almost seemed too easy, perhaps it was because Kiritsugu's skills had become so versatile with runes. Thinking back, if he hadn't gotten Maeve to train him, if he had leapt into the Grail War without any new skills, he would have surely died to El-Melloi - if he had even survived against Limes that is.

The steps to Ryuudou Temple were the same as they were yesterday. This was far from unexpected, however. Just like yesterday, the main grounds were deathly still and seemed unnaturally void of life. Standing awkwardly in the center of the path, Kiritsugu awaited the appearance of his supposed rival.

It took a minute, but the man appeared from the main temple, striding down the path confidently. Something was different. He wasn't wearing the cloak which had caused him such trouble during their first encounter. To replace it, he wore form-fitting body armour of a design Kiritsugu had never seen. Caster had most likely been the creator. "Already you've decided to try your hand again? Is it because I hurt your little girly-friend?" He asked, clasping his hands behind his back and teetering on his heels. "They usually advise a man to keep his wife and mistress apart you know. Apparently, things can get nasty if they know of one another."

"I've come to see Caster." Kiritsugu interrupted, managing to catch Limes off guard.

"I don't think you get to make demands here. Whether you want to or not, you've come to fight me." While speaking, Caster materialized behind his master and calmly moved to stand beside him. Caster and his master could no longer be called twins. A thin crimson cloak draped the servant now. Unlike the black cloak from before, this article did not produce any magical signature and seemed rather plain.

"You wish to speak to me? I had thought you would have found all your answers watching our banquet last night." Caster seemed just as confused as his master, who was staring at their servant like they had grown a second head. "Since you're here, I might as well see what sort of questions you're asking. If I will answer them is to be determined." Caster nodded.

"Alone." The two masked men shared a glance. The one in body armour gently spread his arms.

"Come on man, even you're going to make me leave?" Limes asked, getting silence from his servant. "Fine, I'll let you two have a tea party." He grumbled, sulking off to the main temple building.

"I've done as you've asked and shown you respect, I hope you will respect me if I decide I am unable to answer your questions." Caster stated when they were alone, crossing his arms beneath the crimson cloak.

"You know more about this War than anyone else, why is that?" Kiritsugu snapped out, eyes cold as steel.

"I refuse to answer the question as it may lead to unsavoury circumstances." Caster shot back just as quick.

"How much of this War do you know?"

"From beginning to end, albeit from a single perspective - more or less." He shrugged.

"Who claims the Grail?"

"Next." Caster looked off to the side.

"What is the identity of your master?"

"Ah - That one is locked under command seal. I would have told you were it not." Caster nodded with a chuckle.

"Your master has claimed to know me more than I know myself, where does this knowledge originate?"

"My master has extensive knowledge of you gathered on his own time before the war. I simply elaborated and provided extended details from my own knowledge."

"How am I to defeat Archer?"

Caster chuckled. "You don't. If he's stupid enough to try coming after me, I will. There is no certifiable way to defeat the King of Heroes, nothing is for sure. His death comes from sheer luck and circumstance. Unfortunately for you, you're rather lacking in luck."

"What are your true intentions?"

"Dismantle the Grail and halt all future Wars. Although I won't be able to accomplish that in this war, unfortunately. So I'll settle for... " He paused, considering how to word his thoughts. "Setting up the dominoes for the next person." He settled on.

"Why are you answering my questions so readily?" The question came as a surprise, as the servant made a curious noise while tilting his head.

"Quite a loaded question. I'd have to say…" He hummed, lifting a hand from beneath his cloak to perch against the chin of his mask. "I'm interested in the results of this war should the scales be weighted. You and Kirei Kotomine are undeniably the most formidable and powerful masters to fight in the Grail War. As you've already taken the latter out of the picture I'm left with no choice but to assist you. So - in essence - I'm helping you as best I can without making things too easy."

"You would have aided Kirei Kotomine in his quest for the Grail were he still alive?"

"Would? I had. That explosion of yours caught more than Assassin and their master. Unlike the servant of shadows, however, my master did not perish in the blast. At the time, Kirei was planning on finding and killing you first. Ironic don't you think? I told him where you were and was going to sit back and watch. But then…" Caster casually commented, using his hands to mimic an explosion. "And now Risei wants your hide."

Kiritsugu grit his teeth. There was no point getting angry at the servant for what had been done. He was helping now, that was all that mattered. "Did you learn anything from Kirei?" He decided on asking, slipping further into a rabbit hole.

Caster nodded. "Extensive knowledge. Kirei was working alongside Tokiomi Tohsaka and more importantly - their servant. You must be familiar with Archer, the King of Kings? Apparently, the servant had taken an interest in the man and wished to make him indulge the emptiness within him. If I were to hypothesis the result, Kirei would become a psychopath played like a puppet by Archer. Tokiomi would be backstabbed, Kariya would be manipulated somehow into suicide and you would perish in a duel to the death against someone significantly better than you in ways of combat." Caster summarised, confirming Kiritsugu's initial dream. This servant was leaving something out, the Magus Killer took a

second to think out his next question.

"In your life, were you a competitor in this War?" He asked, and silence was his answer.

"I refuse." Caster settled on.

"So you were?"

"I have neither confirmed nor denied."

"Your hesitation can be taken as a confirmation, you had to think of the answer." Kiritsugu pointed out.

"Untrue, I merely had to think of the exact meaning behind your question and respond accordingly." Caster clarified.

More silence as the Magus Killer glared accusingly at the servant. "Moving on then. As a Caster, what realm of magecraft are you most proficient in?"

"I refuse."

"Does your Noble Phantasm manipulate or utilize dreams in any way?"

Caster paused again. "No. If you're having bad dreams, blame Saber for that."

"Saber wouldn't have affected my dreams four years ago."

"That is a good point. Perhaps you are a dormant seer and your power has finally been realized." There was silence, neither of them were believing that lie. "To be fair I don't have a justifiable answer to that one."

"Then we carry on, what is your true name?"

"The answer would cause a terrible chain reaction of events, I refuse."

"Do you plan on killing me or the other masters?"

Caster snorted. "Someone like you asking a question like that?" He shook his head. "Believe it or not, I do not have any explicit plans on killing you. If I had, you'd most likely be dead - but you already knew that. The only reason I have for killing is if someone gets in the way of my goal."

"Explain the corruption of the Grail." Kiritsugu popped.

"Angra Mainyu, the Einzbern Avenger from the last war, has rooted himself to the very core of the Grail and is using it as a womb. With the Grail's appearance, his appearance is actualized. With the Grail's completion via supplementation of a wish, he will be born. He comes from a Zoroastrian religious ritual which randomly chooses an individual to bear all the sins of a tribe. This person is sacrificed and hailed as the god of darkness, someone to be despised and blamed for all hardship. This individual is forced to take on the name Angra Mainyu during their public execution. Angra Mainyu can be loosely translated to mean All the World's Evil."

Kiritsugu paused, taking a large breath before continuing. "Why should I continue to fight if the Grail cannot grant my wish?"

Caster tilted his head, slightly stunned by the question. "Your entire life has been hopeless, one more hopeless scenario is enough to render the mighty Magus Killer an indecisive mess?"

Kiritsugu couldn't even respond. His throat closed up. He was right, about the hopeless scenario bit. After all the sacrifice, all the heartache, the sheer bad luck, this was how he would be repaid: With an inability to save a single soul.

"It's alright, you don't have to respond. Believe it or not, I understand precisely how you feel." Caster nodded, dropping his head slightly. "The world never was fair. I've learned through experience as you have." They had a moment of silence, respecting their individual losses. "You understand what you must do, don't you?"

"Continue fighting in the War so I can destroy the Grail and prevent Angra Mainyu from being born," Kiritsugu responded without hesitation. "If I can't save anyone with a wish, I'll prevent casualties."

Caster was silent for another few moments. "Do what you believe to be the correct course of action." The servant seemed to speak with a tone of resignation. "Understand that your actions will have consequences." Caster turned and began to walk slowly towards the main temple building.

"You know, don't you? You know what happens if the Grail is destroyed." Kiritsugu realized, growing angry as the servant continued walking.

"You, too, already know what happens, Kiritsugu. You need only realize this to understand." Caster replied over his shoulder, body dematerializing into smoke.

Kiritsugu stood with clenched hands for a good while, eventually, he turned and walked towards the stairs with a 'tsk'. This mysticism thing was irritating to no end. The more subtle and vague Caster became, the greater Kiritsugu's level of anger rose. He already knew? Clearly he didn't, otherwise, he wouldn't be asking a servant from the future for answers. Caster was clearly from the future, he even admitted as much. There was no other explanation for the amount of knowledge he possessed of events that hadn't even happened.

Halfway down the stairs, he paused. A sudden feeling squirmed from the neck, along his back and down to his feet. He was being watched. The Magus Killer ensured the area was clear before proceeding to the street below.

He had plans for tonight. He made a quick tally. Rider and Caster were accounted for in their own ways. Lancer and Assassin had fallen, Berserker was hiding and Archer was a dormant volcano. It was not a question of if the golden servant would attack, but when. Five servants to go.

Berserker need only be found to be eliminated. Rider and Caster were just loose ends he'd need to clean up. Archer would require delicate handling to defeat. One misstep and Kiritsugu's path would end quickly and miserably. That end would most likely be met with him resembling swiss cheese.

Since Archer would require additional preparation he couldn't be attacked tonight. That would require a day at least for Saber to prepare. Unlike the other servants, killing the master wouldn't make Archer expire. Archers were naturally known to hold the skill of Independent Action. This simultaneously allowed them to act of their own accord without a skill penalty, as well as survive for extended periods without a source of mana. Kiritsugu could do nothing to assist his servant in combat beyond giving her Avalon. If she had the Fae scabbard, she'd be unkillable.

It left only one option for a target to scout this night: Berserker.

… … …

… … …

The Magus Killer stood some distance away from the Matou house. A single light was shining out a window on the second floor. Kiritsugu put away the scope he had been watching through and moved towards the iron gate. Rather than trying to open it or unlock it, Kiritsugu elected to do the simpler action of leaping overtop. Hours ago he had attuned his signature to the Matou bounded field. It wasn't anything on a level of Assassin, but his presence wouldn't be detected for a few seconds.

It only lasted until the doorway. He could sense the bounded field suddenly react like an immune system to a disease. While it didn't have any countermeasures to attack him with, the field went into an alerted stage. A simple kick blew the door open and allowed the Magus Killer entry. Stepping in, he secured the entranceway before moving through and clearing the rooms. To the right was a curved room with a stairwell to the second floor. The left took a turn to lead into the rest of the building. It was L shaped and incredibly dark within. Trees and foliage covered the outside of the windows, not even allowing moonlight through.

An almost overwhelming cloud of depression, darkness and hopelessness wafted through the halls. It reminded Kiritsugu of that dream he had some time ago - the dream of hellfire in Fuyuki.

A laugh echoed through the house, Kiritsugu responded by drawing a gun and looking around the room. The laugh individualized each 'heh' and seemed to be simultaneously forced and genuine. "Come for Kariya, have you? Unfortunately, you will not find him here. I suggest you leave and search elsewhere - Magus Killer." The evidently old man spoke. Kiritsugu didn't bother responding.

Why would he leave simply because he was told? Nobody hiding another from danger would admit their guilt. Kiritsugu double checked his surroundings before kicking open doors and clearing rooms. On the third room, the old man's voice returned.

"I warn you, Magus Killer, carry on and you may find something you would rather leave unseen. Kariya has never remained in this building longer than he was required, he despises me - as do I, he." The man continued trying to convince Kiritsugu but the stubborn assassin would not hear of it. He cleared the first floor and carried on up the stairs, gun moving around to keep the area secured.

"Fools write their own destinies as it were. I'll provide flowers for your funeral." The man laughed. Kiritsugu's examination of the rest of the house proved unfruitful. Even the room with the light on was found to be empty, even though it was completely different to the other rooms. There must have been another area he hadn't checked yet. There was a creaking behind him and a gunshot followed. In a spin, Kiritsugu had fired upon the source. The bullet struck a small rectangular hole lead into a sort of duct. Where the bullet had impacted, a splash of jet black liquid coated the immediate area. Peering through the darkness in the duct, Kiritsugu could have sworn that something slithered away. He went over the rooms on the first floor again, finding himself in a study of some sort with books on the shelves and the floor. Looking them over, he noticed some were specified towards magecraft. This was a study, the start of a workshop. Hearing another noise, Kiritsugu turned and spotted something slimy falling off the edge of a desk.

The door he entered through slammed shut, echoing through the room. After ensuring the room wasn't rigged to explode now that he was trapped in here, he took the time to examine every possible nook and cranny. He pulled out abnormal books and rooted through the drawers of the desk. He looked underneath furniture for buttons or magic symbols and even tried to cast a room scanning spell. Just as he started to lose hope, he walked into a cold draft. He stood within it for a moment, trying to find the source. A small part in the floorboards betrayed the origin. Moving away some furniture and rolling up a rug revealed a trap door.

With his gun primed in one hand, the Magus Killer flung the door open and peered inside. A cold stone staircase led downwards into a basement. Darkness and a strange crackling sound spewed from deep within. It was almost like a fire raged below, a fire which produced no light evidently. The Magus Killer found himself reflecting on the old Matou's words. But his feet continued down the stone staircase anyway.

It was dark, much too dark to see even inches ahead. His eyes were acclimating, but they would take some time in this pitch blackness. He focused on making sure his feet contacted stone. About two dozen steps down, the trap door above slammed itself closed and the level of light fell even further.

"Great." Kiritsugu huffed, sparing some mana to reinforce his eyes. While it wouldn't make the night appear day, it would amplify the amount of light his eyes received.

To his direct right was a sheer drop of nearly forty feet. All four walls contained a countless number of man-sized passageways. It was difficult to tell how far they receded into the surrounding stone. It reminded Kiritsugu of a morgue. The bottom held an inky blackness which seemed to be the source of the persistent crackling. Closer to the source now, the crackling sounded more like a pile of beetles crawling over one another.

The Magus Killer reached a landing set against a corner and a powerful stench clogged his nostrils. Decaying flesh, insect guts and stale blood. Even he, a man who had brutally slaughtered and witnessed true evils, nearly wretched.

The air down here was cold and wet. Moisture began to settle on his bare skin, similar to the feeling of hopelessness which actually pressed on his shoulders and gripped his neck. He peered down the hole to try and find the bottom once more. Nothing, but he could have sworn the darkness below was shifting.

The Magus Killer decided to press onwards, returning to his trek down the stairs. Halfway down this next flight, his foot slipped from under him due to slime coating the stone. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest in fright. Thankfully he didn't go careening towards the bottom of the pit.

The darkness along the floor below had given way now. The sight chilled him to the core and instilled an unending sense of anger within. Thousands, tens of thousands of worms. Disgusting things which scrambled over one another, their slimy exoskeletons chittering as the collided with one another. They had been the sound Kiritsugu heard upon first opening the trap door. Examining the mass of worms closer, he spotted something purple and squinted to see precisely what it was.

He wished he hadn't.

It was a girl.

A little girl with dead crimson eyes and snow white hair. It was undeniably Illya, his sweet little girl, his reason for living. She stared coldly towards the roof as worms weaved and invaded her body. Kiritsugu couldn't think, his mind had died upon sight. He couldn't even breath, but he could and did blink. When he did, the girl no longer had white hair or crimson eyes. Purple replaced both and her face changed considerably from Illya's. He hadn't even noticed that his breath had returned to him. He shut his eyes and tried to force the past sight from his mind, trying to control himself.

She wasn't his daughter, she was just some unfortunate girl. She held no meaning to him, she was just the plaything of whoever had spoken to him earlier.

"Have you found something to your interest?" Speak of the devil… "Has your digging finally revealed treasure?" …And he shall come. "Your meddling has bought your eyes more than they bargained for and has apparently tied your tongue." The man laughed, and it sickened Kiritsugu.

The Magus Killer hadn't brought any explosives or useful grenades. There was no way to deal with this number of insects with his current equipment. Kiritsugu continued walking down, reaching a point where the worms had started to absently spill onto the stone stairs. His eyes fell on the girl again. She hadn't even acknowledged his presence. He hardly thought she was alive until he saw the worms on her chest rise and fall.

Magecraft taught plenty of useful tricks, one of the more common spells taught to even beginner magi was a spell which summoned a jar. Jars were used in all schools of magecraft. Preserving specimens, holding potions or supplies, even blood could be retained in a jar. A benefit of making jars with mana was that they could be created wherever the caster desired just by looking.

That was how Kiritsugu managed to jar a worm without even getting near the disgusting thing. He did have to retrieve it, which meant waiting until the area around the worm-filled jar was clear before snatching it away.

"What do you think you're doing, Magus Killer? Aren't you more focused on saving the child?" The elderly voice asked, curious anger in his voice. "What are you waiting for? Can you not see she is in need of rescuing?"

There was no point, she was a lost cause in this sea of insects. Each worm contained a fragment of magical energy. He was certain that if he were to try and rescue that girl, the worms would swarm and devour him. Rather than test his theory, he began climbing the stairs to try and leave but the worms grew angry. The chittering of exoskeletons doubled in intensity. Kiritsugu ran up the stairs, glancing back to see the worms spewing upstairs like a crashing wave.

"It's too late, you cannot escape. My worms will devour your body, but leave your command seals intact. I'll take that Saber of yours and use her as my own personal puppet." Kiritsugu didn't want to ask how the old man knew he was Saber's master. He had done his best to use runic to conceal the command seals but evidently, it was all for naught. "I wonder how long it will take to break her once I force worms into her body using your own command seals." A laugh echoed through the basement, bouncing off the stone walls several times to make it seem as if there were dozens of the same man laughing. The Magus Killer's footfalls followed the echoes of laughter, climbing the stairs haphazardly as the worms steadily gained on him. For insignificant things, they were fast. Perhaps it was because they could see and he couldn't. A few misplaced steps sent him scrambling on the slime soaked stone. He had to keep moving, breathing through the mouth to keep the stench from overwhelming him. He reached the second landing, only one more before the trapdoor. Every ounce of focus he had was devoted to making his steps hit something solid.

A splat ahead of him caused a flinch. Somehow a worm had been flung towards him but missed by inches. Halfway up the next staircase, he spared a glance back to find the worms were a comfortable distance away now. When his head returned to face forwards, a hunchback old man stood in his path.

"Nyeh-heh-heh, for a mage who wanders directly into the workshop of other mages, you're rather smart. You can see the danger of the worms but not the danger surrounding you at all times." He taunted. Kiritsugu hardly heard his words. This man was a monster and obviously a master at manipulation. He hardly deserved the time of day. Kiritsugu needed to leave and as much as he wanted to kill this old geezer, something was telling him that he couldn't.

"Come now, you're going to run away without saving that poor girl?" Kiritsugu tried to block out the words but found he couldn't. So he used something which always drowned out words: His Calico.

All rounds fired struck the crippled man, rather than blood, black goo splattered outwards. It was the same goo that originated from the thrown worm earlier. The bullets didn't kill, but they stunned and distracted. It seemed there was a healing period where the old man couldn't move and had to allow his body to regenerate.

Kiritsugu leapt up three stairs at a time to close the distance, taking hold of the old man's shoulder and tossing him off the side of the stairway. The Magus Killer didn't even look to see if he hit the ground. Sprinting up the stairs, unlocking the rune seals and reinforcing his coat he slammed into the closed trap door and flung himself out into the study. He was ejected from the door-maw like a torpedo. The door fell shut behind him and silenced the noise of bugs. Lying on the ground, Kiritsugu caught his breath. It was infinitely easier to breathe without decaying flesh in his nose. Every now and then he caught a whiff of the scent which made him realize it had embedded itself in the fibres of his clothes.

He eventually picked himself up and backed toward the study door. All the while he stared at the trap door as if it would burst open at any second.

It didn't, but a faint laughing followed him out of the house.

… … …

… … …

It was just after sundown when he returned to his own mansion. The first thing he did upon arriving was bathe. The smell left his skin but a faint odour of dread still trickled from his clothes. Saber and Irisviel were waiting in the kitchen for him to enter. They had collectively tidied up the home and made it somewhat liveable. Kiritsugu had hypnotized a stranger to deliver food to the house when he had initially verified its status. Hypnotizing someone else gave him some spare time and reduced the risk of being followed.

Stepping into the Kitchen, the two women turned their heads to watch him. He sat down on his knees in silence, running a hand casually through his damp hair to correct its shape to his liking.

"Master, has your reconnaissance uncovered something?" She glowered at him with cold eyes.

"You looked rather distressed when you walked in." Irisviel commented, eyes much softer than the King of Knights.

"The head of the Matou house is torturing a little girl in a pit full of worms." He spoke bluntly, watching the two others flinch visibly. "For what reasoning I don't know. I believe we should seek out Berserker, he resides elsewhere outside the Matou home. If possible, we could draw out Archer with Berserker and let the two servants fight one another. They seem at odds with each other, we can use that to our advantage."

"Master, are you just going to disregard the fact that a girl is in peril?" Saber asked, surprised anger in her throat.

"I'm not disregarding her. I can still see her dead eyes in my mind. She was laying in a bed of magical worms, crest worms if my research on the Matou is correct. They're vicious things which devour carelessly. Had I tried to save the girl, I wouldn't have escaped. Not even you could survive such an onslaught. Your abilities are better suited to single targets, hordes and swarms exceed your combat abilities." Kiritsugu pointed out.

"You believe mere worms can outmatch me?" She growled as both hands clenched into fists on her lap.

"Even the strongest can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. While not powerful, they have enough mana and coherency to cause real damage to servants. Caster might be able to destroy them, should he have any large area affecting spells. It doesn't matter anyway because the girl isn't an objective of ours." Kiritsugu stated coldly.

"How can you say such a thing!?" Saber burst out, baring her teeth and glowering at her master. "She's an innocent girl in the clutches of a foul man. Our priority should be rescuing her." She argued. Irisviel watched her servant with an agape mouth.

"We have greater threats than an old man and his torture subjects. It's hard to deal with, I understand, but if we succeed in this war we can save her easily."

"And how do you suppose we do that? Caster has revealed that the Grail is incapable of granting wishes properly. Even if we are to succeed, you will be unable to save everyone."

"I know," Kiritsugu spoke quietly, Saber hadn't even heard him.

"If you cast your wish for them to be saved, they will all die."

"I know." He spoke a bit louder this time but Saber carried on.

"That includes your daughter-"

"I know!" He shouted, banging his hands on the table. Silence descended over the room. Kiritsugu was never known for emotional outbursts. He was always cold and heartless. "I know that better than anyone." He growled, gritting his teeth while his hands slid off the table. "Even if we win and kill the other servants, our wish would cause more pain than it's worth." He shook his head sourly. "But we have no other choice. We continue fighting or we die. If we fight and win, at least we have a chance at stopping the Grail War permanently and preventing any more unnecessary death." All three present stared down towards the table, quietly resigning to their fate.

"More importantly, it will prevent other servants from using it to cause suffering." Irisviel pointed out quietly.

Saber nodded sheepishly. "I apologize for my criticisms, masters. I had neglected to consider the stress you are both going through and the reasoning to your decisions. I never realized…" She droned on, voice fading as she cursed herself for disregarding the emotions of others, again.

"Berserker should be out next target." Kiritsugu reigned the conversation back on track with a sigh. "If we do attempt to use him as bait for Archer, it could take a bad turn. Our initial plan with Rider has a higher chance of success." He paused to look at the King of Knights expectantly but she was stared at her knees distantly. Saying her name caught her attention.

Her head bolted upright and her face snapped into its typical serious shape. "Yes, Berserker is too wild and unpredictable to utilize efficiently. I'm confident Rider and I can defeat Archer should we be prepared."

"I would hope so. Do not hesitate in using your noble phantasms against Archer. The key to his downfall is striking while he is calm when his guard is down. Put everything you have into the initial strike. If that doesn't succeed then the War is over from the start." Kiritsugu ordered, getting a stern nod from the servant. "With Maiya injured and Irisviel recovering their energy we aren't in a position to fight. Besides that, dawn is only an hour away. We'll all get some rest and mobilize tomorrow night. Watch over the house, Saber." He commanded, pushing himself up with a hand on the table. Saber nodded in acknowledgement, standing herself and moving to follow Irisviel. She was having the most difficulty standing. She looked as if she might collapse at any moment, paler than usual skin and drowsy eyes. When Saber moved to assist her in standing, the German woman actually did collapse into the King of Knights. Saber opened her mouth to call for her master but Irisviel spoke before she could. "Don't tell Kiritsugu, it will only worry him." Irisviel's voice was a whisper, faint and fleeting.

Saber wouldn't question her master's reasoning. The homunculus had evidently passed out after speaking, so Saber carried her bridal style to her bedroom. She tucked the girl under the covers and moved to watch over the residence.

As much as he hated to admit it, Kiritsugu was human which meant he was required to do simple human things like sleep and eat. Personally, he felt these requirements were weaknesses. The man clambered onto the futon within his study and found himself falling asleep almost instantly.

… … …

… … …

… … …

"Kerry." The voice was sweet, energetic and filled with joy. It clung to his ears and made his face feel hot. He never forgot the voice, the feelings it gave him or the woman it all came from.

"Shirley?" He asked, the sound of his own voice surprising him. He was young again, not that he was very old, to begin with, but he was younger than normal. He was a child, wearing shorts, a peach singlet and sandals. He couldn't see Shirley, he couldn't see anything at all besides himself in fact. He was floating in a void. There was no concept of up or down, left and right or forwards and back. Still, the voice was coming from somewhere so he had to look.

"Yes, Kerry, when did you get so clueless?" She giggled and the boy's heart melted. His only wish now was to see and listen to her talk - and if he could; hug her. The world around him filled itself in, like a computer program that could only generate sections of the environment at a time. The ground flew up under his feet and all at once his own weight became rapidly apparent. He hadn't noticed how much effort it took to support himself in the weightlessness of the void.

The horizon came into view next. An expansive seascape of cool blue waters languidly lapping against a white sand beach. The only unnatural element to the vista was a shabby wooden dock which led some forty feet out into the water. The wood just above the water line was whitened, salt deposits from the evaporating ocean water. Above, the sky and sun settled into place. Immediately the world became bathed in orange and a sea breeze sprung up. The scent of fresh sea air and a slight fishy smell pressed against his face. With this breeze, the heat of a tropical sun washed over him. He closed his eyes to savour these basic senses. The sand below radiated this heat and warmed his skin. It had been some time since he had been to a warm country. Germany was always cold and his trips to Japan were always during the winter months.

"Are you feeling alright, Kerry?" Shirley asked. His eyes opened and she was there, just as breathtaking as he remembered. Long soft brown hair tied into a ponytail, loosely made to allow 'tails' to hang off the sides of her head. Bangs from above almost covered amber eyes. There was such sparkling wisdom in them, along with unbridled happiness. He was jealous. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find any words. She only laughed and that served to fluster him more. She wore the white sundress and black waist belt he remembered so well.

"It's like you haven't seen me in years! Come on Kerry, let's go see if Ms. Reyes is looking for someone to sample her baking." She started running down the beach and Kiritsugu was compelled to chase after.

He was smiling as he ran, running behind her across the beach, down the dirt path, through the trees towards the village. He cast a glance behind him to watch the beachside through the trees, only when he returned his gaze forwards the village wasn't as he expected. Fire raged and tore apart nipa and bamboo homes. Screams echoed over the crackle of roaring flame. The scent of smouldering flesh and fresh blood hung heavy in the air. The air was so hot and laden with smoke that breathing was near impossible. Each breath felt like he was breathing flaming embers.

Only shambling corpses could brave the true heat of the flame. Bloodied, half burnt people with an intelligence around the single digits. They were all ghouls, Kiritsugu learned of that term later, made by the evilest man Kiritsugu had ever killed; his father.

Kiritsugu realized that this had all been a dream upon seeing the flames. It reminded him of the other dream of flames, another one of his failures. A failure still to come, but a failure nonetheless. Even though he held the appearance of a child in this dream, he had the mind of an experienced adult. The sight was less intimidating now that he understood the world had occurrences like this daily - hourly even. Kiritsugu was prepared to brave the inferno to reach whatever 'end' this dream had.

Then Shirley reappeared and the worst nightmare he had ever experienced began. Glowing crimson replaced the soft amber eyes, blood-spattered her clothes, hair and face, fangs glowed in the moonlight but the emotion in her face was the most disturbing. It was the face of someone being forced into something they despised. Her body was moving autonomously and her mind was sickened by what it was doing. It was the most disgusting torture that broke the strongest of wills. She was watching her own body kill a loved one.

Kiritsugu's hand wrapped around Shirley's neck. He had returned to his normal adult body at some point. She was stronger than her thin body would lead him to believe. She tried to continue moving through him and almost toppled him. Kiritsugu tightened his grip positioned his feet while lifting the vampire off her feet. Both her clawed hands wrapped around his forearm. Sheer brute strength cut through the magically enhanced coat and sliced into his flesh.

"Ke-ry-" she gasped through his grip. "Kill-me." She pleaded with him, eyes boiling with anger - betraying her words. Tears streamed down her blood-splattered face.

Kiritsugu was gritting his teeth, tears running down his own face. The Contender was in his hand, shaking as it was drawn under her chin. The cold steel barrel pressed against her jaw and forced her head back. Try as he might, he couldn't pull the trigger. He blinked to clear the tears from his eyes, giving his head a shake. "I can't." He growled, Contender rattling as it shook in his grasp. "I can't kill you again." He admitted, shutting his eyes tightly.

She growled like a wild beast, and Kiritsugu opened his eyes. His hold on her throat was waning, and the glint of her teeth neared with each second. "F-" She began, closing one eye in strain while a hand gently caressed the side of his face. "Fool."

In a snap, that same hand grasped the back of his neck and yanked him forward. His arm collapsed under the force and Shirley's teeth planted themselves in his neck. His strength faltered while his first love held him tight in a vampiric embrace. He would die, but he couldn't have wished to die any other way.

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The world was born again with his death. Contrary to how the world built itself in the first segment of his dream, this one was pre-established. It was just fuzzy and required blinking to clarify as if it were out of focus. He was… Where was he?

It was sundown, most likely spring if the blooming flowers indicated anything. He was standing a slight distance away from a simple stone pedestal in the midst of a maintained meadow. Beyond the pedestal, was a cliff face which led to a rocky shore. Pointing upwards on the pedestal, were twenty-six white tipped bullets. It was easy to recognize them, they were his Origin Rounds. Twenty-six was the number of rounds he had left to use. He moved towards the rounds, noticing that his steps didn't make any noise in this strange new environment. He stood over the pedestal, reaching out and picking up a round to examine it. Engraved on the bullet was a name, but it was blurred and entirely unreadable. He tried wiping away the blurriness with a gloved finger but found it wouldn't budge. Frowning, he set the round back beside the others.

"You probably have a lot of questions." Came a familiar voice from behind him. Turning quickly, he spotted Caster. He was wearing a robe of some sort that draped off his shoulders and concealed the rest of his figure from the neck down. His head and face were bare now, no longer concealed by the crimson mask. His skin was i̸̪͍̯̜4̸̮̭m̷̧̯̯̊ and his eyes $͋̄̽1̲͊̿̾̈́̕ͅ3ͥ҉̺̙̘̫r̷̬̙̋ with a sort of kind honesty behind them. He was quite handsome, with an angular jaw and defined features.

"Who are you?"

The man chuckled. "You already know the answer to that question." He smiled, genuinely.

"I thought you said you couldn't manipulate dreams." Kiritsugu frowned, clenching his fists nervously. Had he been lied to again?

"I can't. The Caster you believe me to be and myself are different, much like you and your copies are different." He nodded forwards, inciting Kiritsugu to turn around. Rather than a pedestal with Origin Rounds, a copy of himself stood smoking a cigarette in a light drizzle. Naturally, he was more focused on the cigarette. It had been so long since he last had one he almost forgot the taste. The area around them was no longer a peaceful cliffside, but a concrete and steel jungle wetted by rain. Kiritsugu easily recognized it as an industrial area of Fuyuki, near the docks. There were other people here besides his own copy. Saber was walking slowly towards the copy and in the distance, Irisviel held her hands over her mouth.

There were blurred figures here as well. Two body-shaped figures laid on the ground to the Kiritsugu copy's direct right. One of them was crawling towards the copy with an outstretched arm. Behind Saber, was a hunched over figure who was grasping at their chest. With a quick slash, one of the prone blurry shapes fell limp and blood splattered onto Saber's face. Kiritsugu was startled, not by Saber's action although it was a little out of character, but by a hand landing on his shoulder.

It was gloved and squeezed gently. "That you doesn't exist anymore. It hasn't existed for a long time now. Four years I believe."

"What do you mean that me?" Kiritsugu asked absently, watching himself, his servant and his wife move their mouths without making a sound.

"There are a couple different versions of you floating around time. This is one of them, you are another. This one never got to see the dreams you have, the kinds of dream you're in right now." Caster explained. Kiritsugu knew it was the servant of magic from his voice, the appearance hadn't even mattered.. "You're actually a new Magus Killer."

"New?" Kiritsugu repeated, unclear on the meaning. "I'm the first that's had these dreams?" He asked, looking back at the servant who merely nodded.

"Yes, although new doesn't really work when speaking to a spirit that cannot comprehend the prospect of time.. I'm surprised at your lack of surprise. Doesn't the thought of multiple copies of yourself all doing slightly different things shock you?" Caster asked, raising one eyebrow.

Kiritsugu shook his head. "I've always believed in the theory of multiple realities and timelines." He paused to swallow, sorting through questions in his mind. "Why are you here?" He decided on, directing the flow of conversation.

"As I've said, I'm not the Caster you know in your waking hours. I cannot harm you as I'm only a spiritual manifestation. The Caster you know has only connected me to you, given shape to the spirit as it were." Caster judged the look in Kiritsugu's eyes as an urging to go on. "You will understand my significance in time, around the end of your War. Just know that your dream scrying has altered the future and demolished the scales of balance. You know of things you shouldn't, you have started the motion of things you would have been better to leave alone. Perhaps it may all turn out better this way, I can only hope." Caster consoled, smiling and giving the Magus Killer's shoulder a pat. The dream copy, Saber and Irisviel all left the scene, and the area around them faded away again. "If I show you the future, misfortune strikes everyone you love. I can answer your questions, but cannot show you any proof. Because these sorts of timelines are limited, my memories of the true events are hazy. I can help you save everyone, but sacrifices will need to be made." Caster mumbled, looking ahead blankly as if browsing files in his mind.

"What sort of sacrifices?" Kiritsugu asked simply.

"Your wife always dies." Caster snapped back, making him flinch. "Other copies of me who have been summoned to your War have tried several times to save the poor girl but the world has decided her fate permanently." He paused, breathing heavily. "But the choice can still be made." He growled with sudden anger.

"What sort of choice?" Kiritsugu asked with neutrality, staring forwards while unsure what to do.

"A choice of lives. If your wife dies in this War, Illyasviel lives. If you choose to save Irisviel..." Kiritsugu didn't like where this was going already, and he turned to glare at the servant. "Believe me, I dislike the idea as much as you do." He paused a beat and just as Kiritsugu was going to speak, Caster continued. "Ah - here we are." He smiled, and the world began to build itself.

"Are you going to explain how you can do all of this?" Kiritsugu asked while their surroundings loaded.

"Through Saber. Avalon is Saber's scabbard, nothing can change that. However, the scabbard links to other servants and individuals as well. Think of the summoning ritual like dropping a rubber ball. Usually, it bounces straight up and everything works accordingly. But when someone or something affects the scales, a chunk is removed from the ball. Now every bounce has a chance of flying off in a random direction. You should have been seeing Saber's life as a dream but instead, you're stuck with me." His voice was calm and monotone as if explaining this was boring.

The world finished generating. It was hell in Fuyuki again, the same scene in his dream years ago that was interrupted by Illya. Piles of rubble, screams and eternally burning corpses afflicted with cursed flame. "Why have you brought me here?"

"This is the place of my birth, in order for the circle to be completed this must occur." Caster stated, voice rather hollow. He pointed suddenly towards a man which looked exactly like him. The difference was that this copy wasn't wearing a cloak. Black armour with silver accents protected his torso while leaving his arms bare. "Even though it's been so long since I was here, the memory still clings to me. It will do the same for you, Kiritsugu."

The Magus Killer watched Caster's other self stride along the rubble carelessly. He clambered on top of a pile of rubble and halted, staring down at something. "Hey, you know that's hell you're walking into." Moving his head, Kiritsugu could see a teenager below Caster's other self. They looked the same, only one had bright red hair. This younger man was staring forward, looking at an even younger version of himself, a small child. This was rapidly becoming a convoluted Russian nesting doll of the same person speaking to their younger selves… Or were they each warning one another? Warning their foolish immature selves that the path they would follow would only lead to suffering?

"You know that's hell you're walking into, right?" The teenaged Caster repeated, voice entirely different compared to his older self. The child looked back blankly, before continuing to trudge through the rubble away from his older selves.

Kiritsugu was blatantly confused, but Caster seemed to be smiling warmly. "What do you mean it must occur? How can I…" He broke off, watching the two older versions disappear in smoke to leave the child alone. The child took two more steps forward and collapsed, Kiritsugu suddenly noticed the familiarity of the area. This was where the dream had ended when Illya woke him up. "You-!"

"I am. You saved me that day, and you'll save me again after you kill me. Almost ironic, isn't it?" Caster spoke autonomously, watching the child lift his hand to the sky. "If you have any questions about the War you should ask them now." Caster waved his hand and forced the world away. They returned to an only black void only this time, the ground below actually supported him.

"Can we… Can I understand some things first?" Kiritsugu asked, mind trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Sure. We should have plenty of time unless someone wakes you." Caster moved to stand a few steps ahead of him.

"How can you do this? Simply because you have a connection to Avalon means nothing." Kiritsugu pointed out.

"My connection to you goes deeper than just Avalon, it also goes with Saber herself. You know of the shared dream effect between servants and masters, correct?" Caster didn't even pause long enough for Kiritsugu to answer. "The connection is so great, that the dream effect has a chance to extend into my mind. Since I don't actually exist as your servant, I have a much greater degree of control than a normal servant. In my current form within your head, I'm almost like a wraith." Caster explained.

The Magus Killer seemed to accept that answer. "What questions can you answer? The real Caster told me he couldn't answer much."

Caster nodded deeply. "That sounds right. I can answer any question ask, but I won't jeopardize the future to sate your curious appetite. The real Caster won't have the extensive memories that I do."

"Can I trust the real Caster?" Kiritsugu asked, narrowing his eyes.

"That depends. Tell me about the War in its current state."

Kiritsugu hardly knew where to begin. "Assassin and Kirei Kotomine are dead, Lancer and Kayneth El-Melloi have also been killed. Berserker is hiding, Rider is waiting and Archer is… I don't know what Archer is doing. I've gone to Caster personally and asked him questions. I needed answers and he gave a few." He admitted, trying to figure out where this was going.

"Has Maiya survived or not? Was Risei Kotomine killed in the explosion?" Caster asked, placing his hand on his chin.

"Maiya is still alive, Risei survived and essentially put a bounty on my head. Two command seals go to anyone who has information."

Caster shook his head, humming. "While I wouldn't be afraid of Caster doing anything to harm you, I'd be cautious around - his master." He had paused in his speech, twitching as if what he had tried to say had hurt him. "What sort of question did you ask the real Caster?"

Kiritsugu told him as many as he could remember, and each time he did, Caster nodded.

"I understand what he will do now. It's what I would do anyway. Whether you know it or not, you've made an ally and a good one at that. From how you describe his actions, I doubt his memories are all there. The catalyst in his summoning must have been his weapons of choice rather than the true catalyst he originates from. You'll understand the irony of that in the next War." Caster waved off, chuckling to himself.

"There's another War?" Kiritsugu interjected, getting nothing more than a nod from the servant.

"Yes, in ten years from the end of your War." Caster smirked at the grimace Kiritsugu held. "You will live to see it take place. You will be a great participant, but not a master. Unlike your war, the Grail can survive without sacrifice."

"What does any of that mean? How can another Grail War begin in ten years?" Kiritsugu grew upset, voice raising a tad.

"I can't answer that, you must put the pieces together yourself when the time comes."

There was a period of silence while Kiritsugu shut his eyes tight. "How can I protect Irisviel and Maiya?" Kiritsugu finally asked.

"Irisviel will die regardless of what you do, remember? You can make her passing easier by giving her rest and free time with Saber. When you kill the third servant, her motor functions will rapidly deteriorate. She will be unable to even move, but she'll be conscious. The fourth will send her into a coma as the Grail prepares her body. At that point, it would be hard to consider her alive." He paused, watching Kiritsugu digest the information. "Just be with her when she passes, there's nothing else you can do." The servant could see the turmoil behind the Magus Killer's eyes so he decided to move onto the next subject. "Maiya should live out the War. She is heavily concussed is she not?"

Kiritsugu blinked back to reality, nodding hesitantly. "How did you know?"

Caster only chuckled. "I've been there before, remember? Just leave her be and she'll survive, this time." He mumbled the last part, Kiritsugu hadn't caught it.

"You haven't lied to me yet." Kiritsugu resigned, huffing angrily. "Can you tell me how you can be defeated?" Kirtusug asked, getting a warm smile from Caster.

"A fair question. You shouldn't need to kill my real self, but if you do - use a couple of names."

"Names?" Kiritsugu asked, scrunching his face in confusion.

Caster nodded. "Sakura Matou and Rin Tohsaka. Tell him to remember them."

A bright flash came from Caster suddenly, and the world tore apart as if it were made of strings.

… … …

Kiritsugu's eyes snapped open to the roof of his bedroom. That was enough sleep for tonight. He sat up and looked towards the clock. six in the morning, he had gotten two hours of sleep. The Magus Killer kicked the blankets off his legs and stood from the Futon. Shakily, he moved to the desk and settled into a chair. Blindly, he turned on the desk lamp and withdrew a thick black journal. It was hard cover, with elaborate engravings on the front and back.

Methodically, he withdrew a pen from the bindings, flipped the book open to the desired page and began scrawling on the paper. He had started recording important events and his dreams when the first premonition hit in 1991. If this carried on much longer, he would need another book.

… … ...

… … ..

"Yo Caster?"

"Yes, Master?" The servant responded without pausing. He was meditating in the center of one of the buildings within Ryuudou Temple, something he did whenever he wasn't occupied.

"Do you think you could make a-"

"Here it is." The servant interrupted, holding up a small black device.

"How did you - You know what, nevermind." Limes shook his head, gently taking the item and pocketing it within his vest.

"Your mind is like gunfire. Loud, brutally simplistic and easy to decipher." Caster commented, voice a distant calm as he returned to his meditation.

Limes exited, mumbling curses under his breath at his own servant. While walking down the steps of the temple, he brought out the device and looked it over in his hands. "This is perfect… How the hell did Caster know I wanted this?" Within gloved hands, was a slightly burnt pager. Oddly enough the device still functioned. Pushing a button illuminated the screen with text. It was incoherent as the components making up the display were fused together.

"I imagine the priest will want to see this. I can replace the two command seals I've used with the ones he gives me. Maybe then I can pry more from that tightwad Caster." He mumbled to himself, walking down the street towards the church. He laughed, walk gaining a happy jaunt. "You've shown yourself somewhat capable Kiritsugu, now lets see how you perform as the main target!" The laugh turned into a psychotic cackle as the masked man almost bounced along the pathway towards the rising sun.

… … ...

In a mansion, a man wrote within his journal. A shiver coursed through his body and he instinctively glanced around. Something was making him nauseous. He felt as if everything he had worked for would soon come crumbling down around him and there was nothing he could do about it. Twirling the pen in his hand idly, he contemplated what it could mean. Closing the journal, he slithered out of the room to check on his wife. Leaning on the doorway, he simply observed her sleeping form.

"Saber." He whispered, moving from the doorway and silently closing the door. From deep within his mind, she spoke to him.

"Master, what is it you will have of me?" Her voice was cold, not as cold as it had been during their argument at the docks but heartless in comparison to how she spoke towards Irisviel.

"Move Maiya to Irisviel's room and watch over them both." He ordered, moving towards the shed in the backyard. "I have a bad feeling. It's most likely nothing, but I'll be living apart for some time. Should I need you, I will call for you. Look under the large tarp in the backyard, it will aid in your journey."

"Yes, Master."

The Magus Killer flung the heavy door of the shed open and stepped through. The magic circle inscribed in the floor illuminated the room with a pleasing blue. In the far corner laid a safe. Locked tight and magically enchanted, it took the man little more than seconds to open it. Laden within were basic weapons, bullets, grenades and stacks of currency from various nations. American and Canadian dollars, Japanese yen and Great British Pounds. Kiritsugu retrieved several items from within. Grenades inscribed with runic for increased efficiency, spare bullets for his on-hand weaponry and a pager receiver. He placed all these items into his jacket and returned the safe to its original state.

He turned to leave but stopped upon seeing Saber in the doorway. "I told you to keep watch over Irisviel." He scowled.

Saber nodded. "Master, may I ask why you are leaving?"

Kiritsugu stood motionless for quite a while. "You may not be familiar with such techniques, King of Knights, but the easiest way to break a man is through their loved ones." He paused, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat. "Distancing myself protects those dear to me." He strode forwards, moving within arms reach of his servant.

"You are mistaken. I understand your motives entirely." She glared up at him with cool eyes, stepping back from the door and turning mid-step to return to her assigned post. "I shall receive my orders from Lady Irisviel until you return." She parted.

He watched her return to the main building. Following her lead, he moved across the backyard and into the main building, leaving through the front door without another word. He did spare a glance behind himself, however, silently saying his goodbyes.


The large break between these last two chapters was due to Thanksgiving weekend. I went home and forgot about writing for a while. When I came back, I couldn't find it in me to write and had trouble developing the story. (Hopefully, that hasn't become apparent in the writing) To counter this, I'm contemplating writing another fanfiction of Fate, with a story completely different to Fate: Unbalanced Scales. If that's a good idea, if you like the idea or would simply like to see different writing from me - WRITE A REVIEW!

Finals for this semester are in a week and for the Christmas break, I'll be heading home. I wouldn't expect a chapter until sometime after I return to school next semester as then I'll have free time and all that.

So favourite if you did, follow for updates, write reviews to encourage me(We could really use some more, haven't gotten any in a long while) and enjoy Unbalanced Scales. (In moderation, anything over 0.08 is considered impaired.)