Now, before we get started, I feel like I should answer some questions from the reviews focused on my most recent chapter. Now, for the person who was asking about Lancer turning out to be Achilles, it is possible for him to be summoned as a Lancer, Berserker, or Shielder according to the Type Moon wiki.
However, when a Servant is summoned in a different class, they usually have different traits from their legend, or are possibilities of what they could've been. We know this from the multiple versions of Artoria in FGO, along with some other cases such as Diarmuid and Li Shuwen. Achilles' design I took from Rick Riordan's interpretation from The Last Olympian, and mixed it up a bit with Achilles' third ascension from Fate Grand Order. As for why he acts so much like Diarmuid, I'll explain that later. But to put it clearly, his Rider form is his state of mind during the middle of his legend — the eager hero who wants to shine like a shooting star.
Now, as for what his Lancer class entails, it means Achilles doesn't have his chariot. However, according to my research, when he's Lancer his spear has anti-healing properties, and it has shown these properties in his myth, alongside the ability of curing said wounds. This would be because it did the same thing with Telephus, who was a king Achilles injured when the Greek forces visited his kingdom on the way to Troy. He would still have Akhilleus Kosmos and his armor from Hephaestus though. However, his parameters would remain the same aside from having the Magic Resistance skill. Furthermore, his divine heritage would be a bit more expressed in such an incarnation, which you'll see later.
As for how Leo treats Gilles De Rais and Ryuunosuke… yeah, the comical approach is not happening. Mainly because I feel that it would be extremely out of character for Leo to make jokes about their actions, and that he would be too disgusted to even do that. I would see him making jokes about Gilles' obsession with Jeanne.
Now then, let's get on with the show!
Assassin couldn't help but put a finger to his chin. It was quite fascinating, to say the least, how quickly this simple battle had gone so horribly wrong. Though his masters certainly had no hand in El-Melloi's plan, they all knew what to expect. However, as Assassin had learned in his first life, expectations were either exceeded or let down, and never met.
It should've been a quick fight, a small bit of guerilla warfare. The two Servants would fight to get a measure of their skills, then scatter to use what information they could learn. The same process was going to repeat itself a few times in the first week, according to Tohsaka. Then someone would try to go for the kill, and then things would go to hell.
Now, two Servants had used their noble phantasms, with one revealing their true name while the other had his own exposed. Then there was the appearance of a third Servant, who had decided to intervene out of nowhere. Overall, it looked like this night was certainly going to be interesting.
Assassin. Status report. His Master's mental command rang against his mind like a bell.
Things just got fun, Master. He sent what he hoped to be the mental equivalent of a chuckle. Not only is there a third Servant caught up in there, but two Servants have revealed their true names. Saber is King Arthur, while Lancer is Achilles.
So El-Melloi was still able to summon a strong Servant despite his relic being stolen… I'll have to tell my teacher about this. To have not only one, but two great heroes renown throughout most of human history is troubling. King Arthur is the strongest sword wielder in the world, while Achilles is a hero that is known throughout most of known history.
That's not all, Master. The third Servant seems to have parameters at least close to Achilles, if not equal. Use my eyes to analyze the new Servant, and perhaps you can glean something from him.
Kirei Kotomine did not ask for permission, compared to any decent person. The second he mentioned the idea, Assassin felt like his eyes were being turned around like how children played with a globe. If it weren't for the fact that they had practiced this before the War began, he certainly would've cut off his Master's hand with his sword.
Thankfully, this moment of temporary helplessness didn't last for long, and he had his eyes back. It didn't stop him from rubbing his temples at the feeling of vertigo though.
It seems you are correct, Assassin. The boy certainly has what it takes to keep up with Lancer, at least in terms speed. He has some form of divinity — It's labeled 'Blessing of the Forge God, though it doesn't fully describe his abilities.' However, there is another ability that worries me. The Servant has the God Slayer skill.
For a second, his mind froze before his blood ran cold like he had suddenly taken a dive into Fuyuki's waters. There's a skill like that?!
It seems so. It's not akin to your own sword, which is an anathema to the divine and demonic in nature. No, instead Rider has the ability and experience to kill a god, which has been engraved into his legend.
Well, now I know to avoid him. Sadly, his Master isn't in sight. He looked around, trying to see if there were any possible hiding spots. There was the car Rider had come in, but it was too obvious. The Master would have to be suicidal to even think about hiding in the middle of the battlefield. That meant he was probably hiding in one of the abandoned warehouses, and Assassin didn't exactly have time to search each one.
Then maintain your position for now. Archer himself has been attracted by Achilles' challenge. We both know that it would be futile to even think about stopping him.
I'll provide support for him then. Assassin offered. His arrogance is too likely to brush every servant in there the wrong way. If he angers everyone too much, there is the risk that everybody there would use their noble phantasms against him.
Agreed, but do so from the shadows. It wouldn't do for our death gambit to fail this early in the war.
Understood, Master.
He turned towards the Servants, which were still locked in their silent stare off. They both shared the same cocky smirk, but the glint in their eyes hinted at their differences. While Achilles reminded him of a predator ready to swoop in for their prey, Rider had the smile of a schemer with some clever plot up his sleeve.
"Rider, do not intervene. This is my fight, with my honor at stake." said Saber.
"Saber… while I know this, it's best we let him fight." The Einzbern homunculus interrupted, drawing a look of shock from the Servant. "I'm trying to heal your wound, but the magecraft is clearly not taking effect. Whatever spear Achilles has, it has a curse that doesn't allow any form of healing."
His mind quickly tried to guess who would win — except Lancer and Rider charged at each other, interrupting any chances to do so.
Compared to Achilles and Artoria's clash, Rider somersaulted above Lancer's thrust, throwing a knife at his opponent the second he landed. Achilles dodged as he pivoted back towards Rider and ran again towards the boy with the speed of a comet. Instead of somersaulting again, Rider stood his ground and ducked beneath a swing of the spear, moving past its length to slice at Lancer. Achilles blocked with his shield and pulled back to thrust at the demigod, only for Rider to backflip out of the way and dodge the attack, dashing to grab one of his knives before storing both into his tool belt.
Rider pulled out a large cape from his ground, and Assassin expected him to put it on, only for him to flick the cape mockingly. Lancer looked at it questioningly, before his eyes widened with realization. "So you think of me as a dirty beast. You wouldn't be the first person to do that."
Lancer vanished his spear and shield, hands tightening until they were fists. Then he charged once again, a punch flying at Rider's face. The boy dodged the blow and before Achilles knew it, the cape was wrapped around his arm like a sling. Then Rider pulled out a knife with one hand and stabbed Achilles in the knee with a knife before pulling back, the cape unwinding to let go of his arm.
"Hmm, that's quite interesting Rider. Even though those knives are clearly mundane, you were still somehow able to penetrate my armor's defenses." If anything, Lancer looked pleased at such a notion. "Either you are extremely strong… or you must have some form of blessing to nullify it."
"Close, but not quite. Pops owes me a few favors, and you owe him after he saved you from that river spirit. Anything he made, I know its weak spots, its true name, everything. Your fame is your downfall." Rider's knives appeared in his hands once again, and he subtly twirled one. "For example, I know the name of that shield of yours. Akhilleus Kosmos — the miniature world enclosed under the azure sky."
Assassin mentally noted that piece of information down. Though there was no way to truly know that shield's properties, it would certainly be useful for combat.
"Heh. So you're a son of Hephaestus. You know, if you weren't fighting me right now, I would've thought someone like you would be Caster." Lancer noted.
"What can I say? I'm a special boy." Rider leaped towards Lancer with a drop kick, and the impact made the shield vibrate.
Lancer pushed him away and tossed his own spear, and the weapon flew like a lightning bolt. However, Assassin knew there was a specific flaw when it came to spears. Though they were deadly when receiving any wounds, spears were hard to use in long range attacks like throwing them because it was either all or nothing. Either the wielder hit the person and dealt a deadly blow, or they missed and left themselves wide open for counterattack.
Lancer missed, but didn't let that stop him. He charged past Rider, and grabbed his spear midair, twisting around to stab at his opponent's heart. The boy parried the length of the spear, but was shoved back by Lancer's shield, his feet dragging across the ground.
Achilles threw his shield this time, except Rider stored his knives to pull out a set of hammers which he used to deflect the projectile. He tossed a hammer into the floor, which ricocheted off the concrete and hit Achilles in the groin, bouncing off the armor.
Assassin couldn't help but wince as Achilles stumbled back — even despite wearing armor, he knew that it wouldn't absorb all the blunt force hitting there. However, his eyes widened as Rider leaped towards the still flying hammer, grabbing it in midair before swinging both weapons straight into Achilles' chest.
The impact should've been negated. Achilles had both armor and far superior endurance compared to Rider's relatively meagre. Regardless, the great hero was sent flying through the air, bouncing off the floor like a skipping stone thrown across a lake. Lancer had the wisdom to throw his shield behind him, and used the momentum to turn a crash landing into a graceful backflip, landing into the shield like a surfer on his board. However, the chest armor was clearly bashed in where Rider had struck.
It must've been the God Slayer skill — if it truly enhanced Rider, then the parameters Kotomine had seen was before the ability was activated. Assassin looked at the Servant, trying to analyze what he was capable of. It was clear that he was ambidextrous, because dual wielding weapons without being so was tantamount to suicide. He also fought dirty, which meant he wasn't formally trained. Such training usually meant he had an unorthodox mentor, or he learned to fight in the streets.
Furthermore, he was inexperienced. It could clearly be seen in his posture that although he had the knowledge for fighting, he wasn't experienced like other warriors. No, this was a person smart enough to avoid fights when necessary, and only fought when it was to defend himself.
Rider dashed forward, somehow already switching his hammers for his knives, and lashed out in a storm of slices and stabs. One Lancer had extreme difficulty handling, several making their way past his defense. Some even got close to valuable parts — the joints, neck, heart, and eyes.
Perhaps that was a side-effect from his blessing, Assassin thought. Achilles was famous for his invulnerability, given to him after his mother bathed him by the River Styx. He was probably too used to such invulnerability acting as a permanent defense, and if not, the armor would cover for him. Then, he had his immense speed. To have an opponent that could counter every ability he had, especially in melee, was clearly not something he expected.
The fact that Achilles was currently standing on his shield probably didn't help matters. Rider kicked it out, and the sudden shift in made Achilles' entire stance collapse. He dropped into the floor face first, rolling to the side when the boy tried to plant a foot on his neck. However, such a motion meant he had to let go of the spear, which Rider took advantage of as he quickly reached his opponent.
Achilles pulled out his shield, blocking the first few stabs before pulling back to swing it straight into Rider's face. However, Rider quickly ducked under the swing and sliced at Rider's elbow before changing his grip on another knife to stab into his armpit.
Achilles quickly backed away, using his shield to block Rider's attacks while he summoned his spear back to his side. However, the boy quickly abandoned his knives and grabbed the shield with his bare hands. For a minute, Assassin was puzzled over what Rider was doing - he was completely leaving himself open - only for Achilles to shout in pain and drop the shield like it was dipped into lava.
Rider quickly got into his defense, punching Achilles straight in the face while his guard was broken, only for the warrior to grab his body and toss him like a rag doll towards the nearest storage container. He twisted his body so he landed feet first against the container, and then launched himself back towards Achilles, bouncing off the ground and towards him. Achilles dodged it just in time, but Rider did it again against another container, bouncing off every surface without losing momentum like a pinball.
Rider kept repeating the same attack pattern, and Achilles was forced to keep up, dodging and parrying every lunge from the demigod. However, it was clear that Rider had the advantage in speed, because he kept the same amount of grace despite forcing his body to move even faster. Meanwhile Achilles' defense was becoming sloppy as he tried to force himself to keep up.
One second - and that was all it took - Rider seized a gap in Achilles defense, slashing him across the face. The boy took a moment to pause, turning around to see the blood dripping from the man's face. Most warriors would be gleeful, even smug. However, Assassin didn't sense any of those emotions from Rider. There was just that persistent cheerfulness, one that almost creeped him out.
"You're fast. It's been a long time since I found anyone that can force me to keep up with them." If anything, Achilles seemed positively thrilled about this. "Master, permission to use my second Noble Phantasm."
"Permission granted. However, make it quick." The snobby voice of Lancer's Master replied. "I don't want to stress out Sola-Ui too much."
Why would he mention that? Though Assassin wasn't one to be aware of all the details regarding El-Melloi, why would such a name be important to Achilles?
"Very well then. Prepare yourself Rider." The Servant gave a look at his opponent, and smirk grew on his face. "Dromeus Kometes."
Assassin thought he had seen fast, with Rider's own speed. However, Achilles seemed to go faster, to the point that it seemed instant. However, it didn't seem to faze Rider, who dodged the spear and lashed out with his knives. They made their mark, though Achilles kept on going, turning around to meet Rider once again.
It seemed he was trying to repeat Rider's tactics and trying to get at an opening in his defense. It would've worked, if the boy wasn't somehow able to keep up. It was almost like a dance, with Rider dodging, sidestepping, and parrying any of his attacks while Lancer dashed back and forth, trying to breach his guard.
Achilles used his spear to vault over Rider's head, and the boy dodged the following slam, the spearhead meeting the ground and scattering debris across the air. Rider leaped and slammed into his foe while he was in midair, freeing the spear from Achilles grasp. They tumbled into the ground, but Lancer kept up the momentum so he was on top of Rider.
The warrior clasped his hands and lifted them above his head, (probably to cave in Rider's) except the boy beneath him spit in his face, his eyes getting covered in phlegm. It broke Achilles' concentration, and Rider quickly pulled out a knife, stabbing it into his armpit.
Lancer quickly moved out of the way, brushing aside the spit and grabbing Rider's armor. He tossed the boy into the nearest container, and he landed in a crumpled heap.
Lancer charged, and for a second Assassin thought he was going to decapitate his opponent with one swing. However, Rider still wore that smile, one which made Assassin feel as if something was up. Then he shouted, "Hey Reggy, you should be familiar with this. Once the number three..."
For a few seconds, Lancer's focus was broken as Rider started to say what sounded like a monologue, stopping his charge. He looked at Saber, expecting her to attack, but she shared a similar expression of puzzlement. Then his mind went back to the battle, and he charged towards his downed opponent, who was still crumpled against the container and continuing his chatter.
"... lob thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it." Rider covered his ears and turned away.
The oval-like object glowed, and AAH TOO BRIGHT!
The light from the sphere was the complete opposite of Excalibur's glow. Where the blade was divine and almost comforting, this light was harsh and glaring to the point that it made strobe lights would dim themselves in self-deprecation. Assassin nearly fell out of his position, while several screams told him that everyone also hadn't caught on to what was happening.
A flashbang grenade… Assassin thought as he recovered. And it was one that was made out of some special ingredients too. However, the entire concept was a complete paradox — they were Servants, most of them summoned from the ancient past. To have a heroic spirit that used these weapons with ease would imply that they were from modern times.
Yet part of Assassin felt that such an idea was not unlikely. Perhaps it was just instinct or intuition, but the concept of a modern Servant that had divinity wasn't too surprising.
When his eyes recovered, he saw Achilles stumbling back and forth, clutching his eyes like somebody had set them on fire. Artoria and the Einzbern homunculus were a bit less… disturbed. Rider, however, had the biggest smirk on his face, and leaped towards his foe.
What followed was a quick beatdown, in every sense of the word. Rider stabbed Lancer with both knives, pulling them out to slice at his face before kicking him in the chest. He dashed forward to keep close to Achilles, sheathing his weapons before clapping him in the ears and then kneeing him in the groin.
Rider reached into his tool belt and pulled out a massive sledgehammer, twirling it in his hands before swinging it straight into Lancer's chest. Achilles went flying into a storage container, almost as if Rider had decided to inflict the same amount of damage in exchange.
The boy seemed unfazed, and called out jokingly. "You okay dude? You decided to use your second noble phantasm, so I thought I should return the favor."
"What…" Lancer coughed, and Assassin noted there was blood spilling from his mouth. Rider's attacks must've been stronger than he expected. "What the Tartarus was that?!"
Rider patted the belt strapped to his waist. "Tool Belt of Hephaestus. Though it doesn't have all of his stuff, it also has every invention and baby that I made when I was alive."
Master, take note. Rider himself has unleashed one of his noble phantasms.
Interesting… I wonder how my Master will react to this. Though it's also a bit strange, honestly. From what I recall from Greek myth, there was never a son of Hephaestus who actually became famous. Most of his children, as I understand it, were more like their father. They shut themselves in their own workshops while other heroes got the glory.
I got a similar feeling too. Even Lancer thought that the guy is more likely to be a Caster than Rider.
"Now, I've got an entire miniature arsenal here. You can either back off, or I can unleash everything in here. Capeesh?" Rider asked.
Lancer didn't answer, instead staring at Rider. No, Assassin realized. He wasn't staring at Rider, he was staring at the coast beyond. The waves by the docks were completely still. While such a sight wouldn't be out of sight in a lake or pond, the sea was never still. Assassin didn't know what was going on, but all his nerves told him something was up.
His deduction was answered by the sea lashing out at Rider, three jets of water blasting him. Though part of Assassin knew Achilles was the son of a sea goddess, what he focused on was the clear shock. Servant or not, it was horrible seeing a teenager having all that force slammed into him with the strength of a thousand fire hoses.
Assassin expected the worst of the worst. Most human bodies would have been pummeled and battered into bits of blood, bone, and muscle. Even Saber seemed horrified, covering the homunculus' eyes with her gauntlet covered hand.
What followed was hissing, alongside the rattle of metal. Although the water had engulfed the Servant, it quickly evaporated into a thin mist that covered the docks. Lancer twirled his spear, and the mist scattered, revealing nothing where Rider once stood. At once, Assassin knew Rider was still alive — there was not a single shred of flesh, drop of blood, or even bits of organ matter in the concrete floor.
He scanned the surroundings, looking for any sign of Rider. Then he saw that a nearby grate had been opened. It was a perfect job that would hardly be detectable, except the boy had left a single screw loose. So that was what Rider was going for. An underground strike in such plain sight was almost absurd that it would work.
A second passed. Then five. Achilles looked around, his shoulders relaxing at the possibility of Rider leaving. Then the ground burst from under him, shrapnel flying as Rider uppercutted Achilles with one of his hammers, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him into the ground.
"My turn ~" The boy's hand was still, but then it started to ignite. Smoke poured from Lancer's skin, and the hero screamed out in pain before pushing Rider off. He soon glowed with green healing magic - probably coming from his Master, Assassin thought.
What was surprising is that Rider wielded fire. Very few beings in mythology actually wielded the element. Mostly because fire was a domain that was limited to the gods, or the children whose divine parentage had it as their domain. If Rider's skill was accurate, he was the son of a forge god, and there were various deities under that title.
Rider opened both palms, and two blasts of fire flew towards Achilles. The hero dodged them, but the blasts curved, doing a fast reversal before slamming him in the back. Lancer resisted by calling the sea once again, its water coating him in a suit of armor and a helmet. He lashed out at Rider with his spear, the sea water enhancing his strength to the point that when his opponent tried to deflect it, he winced.
The boy retaliated by covering himself in flames, the water being brought to a boiling point. If this were some sort of cartoon, then Achilles would've won, the fire put out by the liquid covering him. However, this reality was a bit different — the inferno covering Rider was hot to the point it evaporated any drop that would hit him. If it weren't for Achilles having a constant supply of water, his newest set of armor would've disappeared.
The boy reached into his tool belt and pulled out something like a flat circle, slamming it into Rider's armor before the demigod could react. It glowed a bright red before bolts of electricity flew out and hit Achilles, the metal armor and its watery protection just enhancing the pain he felt. Withstanding the pain, Lancer ripped it off, and lashed out with his spear, cutting the straps holding Rider's tool belt to his waist before changing back to his offensive.
Lancer kicked Rider's hand, and the boy dropped the hammer with gritted teeth, and a second kick launched him from his position. Rider used the momentum to backflip when he landed, pushing himself off the ground and into the sky. His fingertips glowed, and several blasts of fire shot out.
Lancer covered them with water, before smiling as the demigod landed into the ground, charging to meet his opponent. Rider threw one of his knives, and Achilles deflected it, readying himself for the next strike. It never came, with Rider using the distraction to grab his tool belt before pulling out three containers from it and tossing them towards his foe.
The containers were shattered with one swing, and most of their contents fell to the ground. However, one's cherry red liquid spilled out and into Achilles' eyes. Lancer tried to wipe down its contents, while Rider took the chance and pulled out his large sledgehammer, this time smashing it down into his chest.
Achilles hit the ground, the impact strong enough that he bounced off and did so three more times before he tossed his lance to the side. He rolled before picking himself up, though he did wince. The smile on his face was almost like he had just gone through a roller coaster ride.
"That… that was amazing, Rider. Seriously, who the hell are you? I'm one of the greatest demigods in all of myth, and not even Hector could keep up with me. Hell, you might even give Teach a run for his money!"
At this, almost as if in response, a smug, arrogant voice rang out across the arena. "Surely, you're joking, mongrel?"
Oh… Assassin nearly face palmed. Of course the King would respond to that. If there was anything learned over the few days their alliance was formed, it was that Archer was prideful to the point that he would place himself as the picture definition of pride and erase anybody else who tried to do so. He would always accept any challenge.
Archer solidified from a shower of gold dust, wearing his bright golden armor, while his blond hair was spiked upwards like an anime protagonist. He landed on top of a nearby light post, its lights flickering as if his very presence sent it haywire. He opened his eyes, their irises a dark red that was a shade between that of rubies and blood.
"You dare name yourself the apex of divine heritage, when I, the bridge between heaven and earth, stand before you?" His eyes had that same, quiet loathing, the same way one would look at an annoying ant or worm. "To do so, you would be asking for death."
Achilles didn't look impressed. "If you're such a great and glorious hero," the demigod's tone dripped with sarcasm, "Why don't you tell us your name?"
At this, Archer's sneer worsened. Assassin expected him to unlock the Gate of Babylon and unleash a shower of weaponry, only for Rider to quickly step in front of Achilles, bowing before the king. Compared to the clever smile and wicked plan in his eyes he had before, he now looked more like a servant in front of his master. And not in the Holy Grail War's definition of both terms.
"Please excuse him. While I admire your splendor and beauty, my king, the rules of the Holy Grail War limit our ability to recognize your true worth." The words Rider sent Archer's way were like honey, sincere to the point Assassin wondered just how good the boy was at talking to those above his station while still being deceitful. "Can you have mercy on us, and at least tell us the great name of your kingdom? Then we will be able to bow down and pay our respects."
Interesting. The complete switch of his personality was almost as if someone had pressed a button. He wondered if it was a skill of sorts, or that Rider really didn't have such levels of pride. Assassin felt like he once knew such people, those who were skilled in every way, but bowed down to others simply because they wore a crown.
As if to reinforce this idea, Archer's sneer replaced itself with a smug grin. "It is good that you know your place. Much like any action taken towards me, it deserves a reward. However, let me inquire further of your status. Who are you, Servant?"
"I am just a jester, wielding clever tricks and barbed words. Though I still seek my own pleasures, I'm quite willing to entertain a king that will give me an audience." Rider still didn't look Archer in the eye.
"Rider, do you lack any pride as a Heroic Spirit?" Saber asked.
"How bold of you to assume I have pride." Rider shrugged, "If living for another day means I have to bow to a king, then I'm willing to do so."
"An adequate response." Archer looked at Rider as if he was some sort of… well, it was hard to define how he was looking at the boy. "Very well then, Jester. You have answered my question properly, and I shall compensate you for such a task. I am the King of the once-glorious city of Uruk."
At this, Lancer's eyes widened, making the connection instantly. After all, there had only been one glorious king whose name was practically known in most legends from that region. Saber was still confused, looking at Gilgamesh curiously. Only Rider seemed unfazed, still keeping his obedient facade.
Archer's gaze shifted from Rider to Saber, his gaze shifting to a frown. "And what about you, mongrel? You dare claim to be a king, yet you face one who wore the crown much earlier, and with much more authority given by the heavens themselves. Will you not bow?"
"Of course not." Artoria's eyes were filled with unyielding conviction. "I have won my crown through my own will and determination, slaying Vortigern so that I could ensure my nation's prosperity. To even bow before another king would be the epitome of ridiculous."
At this, Gilgamesh gritted his teeth. "So you think yourself arrogant enough to believe that my garden is one to be shared. Very well then. You have thus forfeited your life."
At this, the Gate of Babylon opened, its several golden portals opening to reveal the arsenal hidden within. Compared to the show he put on for Assassin, it was relatively minute, with at least six weapons poking out of the treasury. Regardless, it was enough to make Saber tense, a sentiment Assassin agreed with. Those weapons could be shot faster than what one might think, and a Servant would need enough speed to avoid them, or both that parameter and strength to deflect them.
Archer pointed them towards Saber, and a sadistic smile spread across his face.
It was almost like Archer's presence had invoked an opposing force. Two arrows shot out of nowhere, both covered in dark purple mana. They deflected the weapons-turned-ammunition, shooting them out of the portals and into the ground.
Then the sound of flapping wings filled the air, and something descended from the sky, its wings almost too silent to be noticeable until the thing landed into the ground.
At first, Assassin mistook it for a creature. It was a mess of purple, black, and white and it wasn't until the former two colors reflected the moonlight that he realized the chaos was actually armor. The shoulder guards looked like the horns of some sort of animal in the way its spikes arced. The same could be said for the legs, each one having multiple of the same spikes. The rest looked like some sort of strapless dress with the same colors.
The creature lifted its face, and now he noticed the white was hair, long and thick to the point that it resembled a lion's mane. The ears were also the same color, and once again resembled the animal Assassin found it so similar to. Closer to it was pale purple hair, and extremely pale green eyes.
It was clear that she was a woman, but she reminded Assassin of an apex predator, a monstrous beast no hunter would ever shoot because fear would paralyze their heart and limbs. What enhanced this was the bow in her hand — it was also a similar color to her armor, but the feeling it radiated… it wasn't demonic, but corrupt.
"You would dare shoot her down for something she takes pride in, Archer?" The Servant's voice, although feminine, had a rough edge to it like a bear trap.
Master, use my eyes once again. See what kind of Servant she is.
Hmm… That can't be. For the first time, Assassin sensed surprise radiating from his Master, a rare indulgence coming from the man who came off like a stoic machine. From what I can see of her saint graph, she is Berserker.
But she's too logical, too clear-headed. He argued back. Aren't Berserkers the epitome of madness and bloodlust?
Yes, but she seems to be the exception to the rule. There was a pause once again before Kotomine responded. She doesn't have the Madness Enhancement skill that is characteristic of Berserker, however. Instead, she has a 'Beast Enhancement' skill, which is given to those who have mentalities similar to that of creatures. It allows her to maintain a clear train of thought, while still maintaining the enhancement to her parameters.
That's cheating. She gets to keep all of the benefits but without the downsides.
Who ever said the Holy Grail War was fair, Assassin? After all, my Master and I are willing to bend the rules. Out of any faction, we are the ones that should be complaining the least.
True. At that, Assassin mentally cut him off.
"Obviously, mongrel. The gods have struck inferior men for having less hubris, so why should I not do the same?" More portals opened, all of their contents aimed at the new interloper. "But compared to her, you have just signed your death warrant for interfering in my execution."
The woman chuckled, "Oh, I've met men like you. Though they boasted of their power, they would still not be able to match me."
"Hmph." More portals appeared behind Gilgamesh until it looked like a golden dawn was shining behind him. "Then let me show you what happens to those who defy me, mongrel."
The weapons rained down, and Berserker quickly leaped above them, avoiding each and every one of them with a single action. She twisted her body and aimed her bow at Archer, shooting three arrows in a few seconds. Archer batted the first two aside with a gauntlet covered hand, leaning to the left to avoid the last before retaliating with another arsenal of weapons.
In a change of action, Berserker batted the first three with a claw swipe before crouching down like a cat, rolling aside to pull out her bow and shoot down several more that were aimed at her. She jumped, rolled, dodged, making sure not a single one hit her. She then jumped on top of one before doing the same towards another, so fast that it looked like she was a ray of purple and black. She was zigzagging her way through the hail of weaponry until in one mad dash, she crashed into Gilgamesh head on, knocking him out of the lamp post and into the ground.
Gilgamesh crossed his hands over his head, blocking the first few claw swipes from his face before a portal opened above his stomach, the club-turned projectile slamming into Berserker's chest and launching her off and into the ground. She floundered before arranging her body so she landed like a cat.
Archer stood up, brushing off the dust covering his body before sending Berserker a glare that would have put her six feet under. "You dare knock me down into the depravity that you so cherish, mongrel? I will make sure that you die a slow and painful death!"
At this, even more portals covered the entire area, almost to the point that he knew anyone in the weapon's way would get hit. More weapons poked out of the portals, readying their aim towards Berserker. He was tempted to let Kotomine know that Archer was planning to open the Gate of Babylon even further, but decided not to. Gilgamesh had been arrogant, almost slothful during most of his time in the Tohsaka Estate. It would be interesting to see the man go all out.
However… Assassin's ears strained themselves as he tried to make out the sounds. The explosions and clash of steel made it difficult to distinguish what was going on in the rest of the area, but he felt as if something was going on elsewhere. He moved even further, and… yes, that was the sound of gunfire.
For a second, he was tempted to investigate, but decided not to. Just because Fuyuki City was the place of a magical ritual such as the Grail War did not mean that everything was connected to it. Magi usually only dealt in spells or familiars. Besides, if he remembered the information that the Grail provided for him, this city had its own branch of the Yakuza. It would not be unusual if this was a battle between its inner factions.
The weapons launched themselves out of the portal, only for Berserker to shoot even faster, managing to get rid of a good chunk of them before they fired. Gilgamesh quickly even opened more portals, and a series of chains flew out, trying to ensnare Berserker with their pointed edges.
It was rather ineffective, however. Berserker was too fast and flexible for the chains to even touch, dodging each and every one of them. Furthermore, the chains seemed to be more attracted to Achilles and Rider, rushing towards them like men in the desert looking for water. Achilles batted them away, but they came back no matter just how much he swung.
Rider didn't try to fight back however, letting one of the chains wrap around his wrist. He looked at the weapon inquisitively before a naughty smirk passed his face. "Why my king, I didn't know you were into such kinky stuff! Sadly, I prefer handcuffs or rope myself."
"Hmph. Trust me Jester, you will know when my affections are returned." At this, Gilgamesh stopped sending out the chains, the one holding Rider's hand reeling back into its portal and instead switched back to the multiple weapons in his Noble Phantasm.
Berserker lunged once again, only for a series of shields to emerge from the portals, blocking her way. The shields immediately removed themselves, revealing another barrage of weapons that shot themselves at the stumbling Berserker. She dodged them immediately, trying to find another weakness in his ultimate offense.
The Gate of Babylon, from what he learned from snooping on Tohsaka and Archer, was a treasury of every physical Noble Phantasm that existed. Whether it be sword, spear, staff, bow, potion or even some of the more esoteric types of weaponry, Archer had every right to own them as being the first hero in written history. It meant that if Gilgamesh had enough knowledge about his opponents, he could easily demolish them.
Archer has opened the Gate of Babylon repeatedly, Master. I believe that some of the Servants will catch up to what his Noble Phantasm really is. I don't know what Tohsaka told him, but he has ignored it and revealed the identity of his Kingdom. He might as well have told everyone his identity.
This… this is worrying. Most of our strategy focuses on secrecy, yet Archer seems willing to be to throw it away so easily. This puts at risk a good chunk of our plan.
You do remember that Archer is one of the greatest heroes that ever lived? If he took this seriously, he could easily wipe each and every Servant off the face of the earth.
That evaluation does have some merit. But what is your opinion? Do you think he's going all out?
He shifted his look back to Archer. He was getting creative with how he used his portals — rearranging them, feinting them by having several weapons poke out, using large weapons to parry or block Berserker's strikes. He even used shields as creative walls to full on-stop her assault, forcing her to leap above the shield wall only to avoid another barrage of weapons.
Also, despite supposedly being extremely furious, there wasn't any true anger making its way past Gilgamesh's face. He didn't see a threat to his second life, but more of an insect that he had to exterminate.
No, I do not.
Very well. I will tell my teacher of this. Hopefully, he will be able to restrain Gilgamesh, and stop him before more Servants decide to aid Berserker and try to eliminate him.
He looked at Gilgamesh, and waited for the attack to stop. As if in response to Kirei, Archer's eyes widened, his Gate of Babylon still sending out weapons at his opponent.
"You dare tell a King to back down, Tokiomi?" If anything, Archer looked pissed. "To let the mongrels before him not receive their due punishment, and live for another day? We will have words about this later, and how you can compensate or explain your meddling."
With a wave of his hand, the Gate of Babylon disappeared, the weapons scattered across the area disappearing in the same shower of gold dust.
Berserker was panting, though the look in her eyes remained confident. "Hehe. So it seems for such a great king, even you are on a leash."
"The same could be said for you, beast." Archer's eyes scanned the area.
"I hope that by the next time I appear, you have culled the unworthy from your numbers. Only the greatest heroes should bear witness to the apex of my strength." Gilgamesh's eyes turned towards Rider and… it must've been Assassin's imagination, but he could've sworn the king winked. "As for you, Jester, I do hope you manage to keep me entertained throughout this conflict."
"Oh, I promise to do my best, my King." Rider smiled. "Besides, I would like to give you a show to watch."
With a nod, Gilgamesh disappeared. For a second, Assassin wondered if he should follow, before deciding to stick around. There were still four Servants in one place, and they had been fighting just minutes earlier.
"Hmph." Without a single word, Berserker disappeared in a mix of black and purple dust.
Everything was quiet for a while, as if everybody was still registering what was happening. Then Lancer looked at Rider. "So, you up to continue our fight?"
"I'm afraid not. You see, my ally has been pulling quite a lot of strings while we were distracted." Rider gestured towards a vague direction. "Caster, you can bring him out now."
As if summoned by the motion, he saw several… things swarm out of the shadows. They looked like small models of the planets, except they were painted a mix of bronze and gold that seemed familiar. Pouring out of them was a mix of cables and wires, their copper brown contents reflecting the moonlight. It wasn't until they were higher in the sky that he saw their cargo. It was a tall blond man, his mouth covered by a thick sheet of aluminum foil rolled into a ball. He was hogtied to a bunch of cables, and his forehead, which dripped with sweat, was a telling sign that he had struggled against their capture.
You better see this. With that, he lent his eyes to Kotomine.
So I am. It's quite strange, to be honest. Most magi use organic familiars since it's easier to imbue their souls and wills into such beings. It means that Caster is probably an inventor of great renown.
"Master!" Achilles yelled out, before swerving towards Rider. "So that was your ploy, Rider? Distract me while Caster ambushed him from the shadows?"
"Yep. You see, I have just the Noble Phantasm to take you down, but that would just be a waste of mana." Rider clicked his tongue. "No, we believe that your Master as a ransom has much more value than your death."
Oh. Well, that definitely changed things. Most Servants were far too honorable to even think about attacking the Master. Rider's pragmatism would make him an extremely dangerous foe if he was willing to go that far. And if he had already formed an alliance with Caster, it meant that whoever his Master was had gone down the same train of thought as Tohsaka.
"So what is it you want then?" Lancer snarled.
"If I remember from the myths, your spear could repair the wounds that it made." The boy's eyes shifted to Saber. "Do so to Reggy, then Caster and I will let go of your Master. I will make sure that neither of us will do any harm to you."
"And how am I supposed to take your word for it? You have already descended to such dishonorable tactics. What's stopping you from doing the same again?"
Rider rolled his eyes. "Would an oath on the River Styx be enough to suffice? As Servants from Greece, we both know that's the equivalent of a geas. Should be enough."
"Rider, while I do not understand why you do so, I do not wish to have my wounds healed in this way." Saber protested.
"Yeah, but you and Irisviel offered me hospitality back at the restaurant. It's only fair that I return the favor." Rider looked at Lancer. "After all, it is Greek tradition that we both be good hosts and help those that acted as hosts for us. Wouldn't you agree, Achilles?"
Lancer nodded. "Yes. If it's because of such reasons, then I would have to agree."
"Very well. I, a hero of the Rider class, swear on the River Styx to not harm you or your Master for the rest of the night, so long as you heal Saber."
Saber, hold out your elbow."
Assassin almost smiled at how Saber clearly struggled to swallow a bitter pill before extending her elbow, revealing the wound. Lancer did the same with his spear, and sea-green energy poured out of it, covering the wound like a second skin before peeling back, revealing Saber's skin unblemished and unscarred.
"You can let him go, Caster." The spheres untangled their cables, letting go of the Master who fell face first to the floor. He looked like he was about to yell at Lancer, but the Servant quickly shook his head.
The blond man sent a death glare at Rider, but didn't say anything towards him. "Lancer. Bring me to the suite."
And the Servant did just that, picking up his Master and running with almost impossible speed, leaving a trail of green energy where he followed. At that, Assassin also decided to go. It didn't take Sherlock Holmes to see that Rider wanted to make an alliance with Saber, and he would report so to his Master.
He turned around, leaping in the general direction of the Tohsaka Estate. Tonight was eventful to say the least, and his Masters would need all the information they can get. It seemed that despite apparently having an ace in the hole, getting the Holy Grail was going to be tougher than they thought.
(Break)
Saber couldn't help but let go of her breath as she saw Achilles leave. Though their fight had been interrupted by Rider's arrival, followed then by Archer's and Berserker's, she could tell that the warrior was clearly the epitome of a hero. Or at least, what the Greeks considered to be one.
Yet still, she couldn't help but feel dread rising in her stomach at the thought of having to fight all of those heroes. Achilles with his spear, shield, and god-like speed. Archer, with his seemingly unlimited arsenal of weapons. The creature-like hunter with her bow and a beast-like drive that was able to keep up with him.
And then there was Rider. The boy who had deceived them, somehow managing to fake his identity as a mundane person. Such an action was practically impossible — Servants without the presence concealment skill gave off small amounts of mana, their ether bodies and spiritual nature allowing them to be detected by their own rivals in this Grail War. It just went to show that there was definitely more to the boy than meets the eye. The fact that he was able to keep up with Achilles — no, match him, was a sign of his strength.
Her gaze was completely focused on him. A smile was still on his face, though its intensity had lowered. He now had a far-away look to his eyes, as if he was looking over the horizon. Then he nodded, as if what he saw brought him satisfaction.
"It's safe to come out now, Master."
So his Master is nearby? That was certainly a surprise, though not exactly uncommon. Achilles' Master was satisfied with hiding in the shadows. To have another mage do so was just a trend. He looked to the warehouse roofs, waiting for Rider's Master to show himself.
When she heard the click of a door, she twisted her gaze to see the car Rider used to intervene. The door opened, and out stepped a boy. There was no other way to describe him, because he had a childish appearance. His face was pale, and his fingers were tight around what looked like a scroll.
He was either incredibly brave, or incredibly foolish. He had stayed inside a vehicle that was inside the middle of a combat zone, one that was miraculously unscratched. It was sheer luck that he had survived, yet he probably stayed in there to help Rider by acting as tactician. In a way, there was an audacity to staying there.
Either way, she was still angry because Master or not, he was a child. "You dare bring a child into this conflict, Rider?"
At this, the Master sputtered, his cheeks turning red with a blush. "I'm nineteen! Besides, you're one to talk, 'King Arthur!'"
She ignored the insult. She had done her best to hide her gender because nobody would follow a queen. Merlin hadn't cared for it, nor did Ector or Kay. Though part of her wondered if it was just because of the deception, she didn't have time to think about that at the moment.
Rider held up a hand. "Now, while I get that the whole age thing was a cheap shot, we do need to be polite. We do want to make an alliance, keep that in mind."
"So was that why you healed Saber? To have her join your alliance with Caster?" Irisviel asked.
Rider nodded. "Yes. You see, I noticed Lancer's spear wounded Saber's sword arm. Since Excalibur is your noble phantasm, an inability to use the arm would mean you couldn't use it. Am I right?"
"Yes." Artoria would admit that freely. "I owe you for such aid. And while I am grateful for that, it was only temporary. If you want this alliance to last longer, you will have to offer a lot more. Especially since your method of getting my wound healed consisted of threatening Lancer's Master."
In ordinary circumstances, she would be against such an alliance. However, she had seen the strength every Servant possessed. To make an alliance was the most pragmatic decision, and one she could stomach. She had made difficult choices in her war against Vortigern, this was just another one.
"On that I have to agree." She glanced towards Irisviel, and was surprised by the look on her eyes. The homunculus didn't have the same innocent look she wore while they toured Fuyuki. Instead, her gaze was sharp and attentive, almost cold in a way. "What makes you think we would accept your offer? The Einzberns have resources, while we have the strongest class of Servant. Tell us, what do you have to offer?"
"How about something more valuable than resources?" Rider's Master countered. He had lost some of that bluster in his voice, his gaze now calm and analyzing. "If I remember, information in this war has more influence than whatever gold your coffers have to offer."
"And how do you plan to give that?" Irisviel asked.
"This is where I come in." Rider smiled, though his voice was smug. "You see, my little tool belt has a bunch of mystic codes I made during my life. This includes a bunch of extremely useful familiars. You might've seen them earlier."
"The spheres." She pointed out.
"Yes." Rider's Master confirmed, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You see, the whole 'Caster alliance' was just a bit of a lie we improvised to throw off Lancer and his Master. Rider's spheres can act as an entire spy network, while we have plenty of resources. So tell us, what do you have to offer?"
She couldn't help but wince at the ironic echo. Irisviel seemed to notice it too, and she guessed Irisviel was also grasping for something. The only thing they would have to offer aside from Saber herself was the aid of Kiritsugu and his assistant, and that was supposed to be the finishing blow to their strategy.
She reached into the mental link between her and Kiritsugu. "Master, surely you see what is going on. However, the only thing that we can offer would be your aid. Should we reveal your presence?"
Nothing came back, and Artoria couldn't help but feel irritated. She knew her Master didn't like her, but to not even respond to her questions in such a vital phase of negotiations was petty. That left it up to Irisviel to decide. While Artoria trusted the homunculus, it was Kiritsugu who had designed the ruse.
"We... have hired someone that will fight the masters in the shadows while Saber distracts their Servants. If you join us, they will also help your efforts if you move into the offensive." said Irisviel.
Rider and his Master shared a knowing glance. Then they respectively whistled and scratched the back of their heads.
"Well, this is awkward. But no sense in delaying the inevitable." Rider shrugged. Then, like he did with El-Melloi, clapped his hands.
It didn't take long for her to notice what was going on. Compared to before, the number of spheres that appeared were like a swarm. It was almost as if they were a silent bronze swarm, like locusts except they didn't eat grain. They appeared from every roof, storage container, and door that had been left open in the warehouse district. If it wasn't for the fact that Rider was interested in making an alliance, she would've grabbed Irisviel and ran away.
Then she saw them. Much like El-Melloi, her Master and his assistant were restrained by cables. However, it was clear that they had put up a stronger fight. Some of the spheres carrying them were dented and scratched, while one even had its gem smashed. It was clear that her Master had come out the worse for it though, because his jacket was marked with burns, while one of his arms was held at an uncomfortable angle by the cables restraining it. He was conscious, which was a small mercy.
"You see, our by-chance meeting was rigged." Rider explained, and it took all of her willpower to not charge and impale him on Excalibur. The boy had hostages, and it would only take Kiritsugu's death for her mission to be over. "I had raided the airport earlier to see when the other Masters would arrive, and you were the earliest. After that, we discovered Emiya was working with you two because oh, I don't know, the two flights you took were booked under the Einzbern name."
So Rider and his Master knew about their own plan before they could even execute it. Saber couldn't help but feel her blood run cold at the realization. Out of all the positions in warfare possible, that was the one with the worst possible outcome, and it was playing out right in front of her eyes. To have an opponent who knew a possible plan would mean that they could plan around it, working it to their advantage.
"It was my decision to capture them before they caused any harm." Rider's Master interjected. "Your plan was good, but you just had some bad luck. Anyway, it means that you can't define the terms of our alliance."
"This isn't an alliance. It's a hostage exchange." Saber gritted her teeth.
"Yep. Your services are currently being drafted for our benefit, and it w take a lot more before we even consider letting go of Emiya." Rider had a confident smile on his face. "First, an exchange of force. That means you will help me fight the other Servants in the meantime, though we will do our best to coordinate with you.
"We will give you some degree of independence, but no one will know of our… agreement for now." Rider's Master said. "We will also remove any mystic codes that Emiya uses. He will only have them in extreme situations, and even then, Rider must be nearby. We know the expertise of the Mage Killer, and I will not be another one of his victims."
At that, Kiritusugu's eyes widened, and he frantically shook his head. He looked at Irisviel, only for her to shift away, not looking at him in the eyes. Artoria couldn't help but wince at the sight. "We are willing to fulfill such an agreement. However, how would you be able to ensure our safety?"
"We have our ways." Rider smiled mysteriously, sending off multiple alarms ringing in Saber's mind.
"In exchange, we will give you information from Rider's spheres about the movements of the other Masters. They can also assist you in combat in case you ever decide to engage another one of the Servants." Rider's Master gestured towards said familiars. "However, if you want Rider's help, you'll have to coordinate such an attack with us."
Those… those were fairer terms than she would've expected. Saber would've thought they would sap them dry from everything they had and offer anything in return. Though it certainly seemed to limit their strategy, it was a lot better by comparison to the worst-case scenario.
However, there was a glint of something in the eyes of Rider's Master… she didn't know what to call it. Greed, or ambition, perhaps. Artoria had seen it in the few times she actually interacted with Morgan. It was always there, alongside a cold analysis that reminded her of a phantasmal beast being dissected for its parts.
"Finally, you have to teach me the Einzbern alchemy." Rider's Master added.
"No." Irisviel said firmly. "I am not giving away the family secrets."
"Irisviel," She gritted her teeth. "I believe that this is one demand which we must fulfill. We can either give them knowledge, or we can lose this war. I recommend we take the former."
Artoria was familiar with mages and their craft. They hoarded it like farmers storing their harvest for the coming winter, never giving a centimeter, but wanting more than a kilometer in exchange. To them, their secrets were more valuable than their families or their lives. To even ask for such was a cardinal sin.
However, Artoria knew Irisviel cared for her and Kiritsugu's wish even more. She hoped that would be enough to make her budge and at least consider the option.
"You don't understand, Saber." Irisviel frowned. "My family has spent generations producing such information. To give it all up just to fulfill an upstart mage's demands -"
"You do know that 'upstart mage' is my Master, right? I mean come on, I know he's the one calling the shots, but what am I, chopped liver?" Rider gave them a self-deprecating smile.
Irisviel's head snapped towards him, and Saber noted that the homunculus now remembered that this wasn't exactly the place to show disdain towards their… allies. Especially when one of them could kill her husband with a snap of his fingers and a ball of fire. No, though the conditions were more merciful, Saber's faction was still at the mercy of Rider and his Master.
"Fine. I will teach you the magecraft, but I will require Saber's presence when this happens." Irisviel conceded.
"Then Rider will also be with me." Rider's Master stated.
"Very well."
Rider clapped his hands. "Now that it seems we're all satisfied with the conditions of our agreement, I believe that we still need to… give a token of our appreciation."
Rider and his Master shared a knowing look in their eyes, probably mentally debating as to what they should do. Then Rider's Master nodded, probably in deference.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Waver Velvet, Master of Rider." The boy offered a handshake, one which Irisviel reluctantly took.
"As for me, well, I already know your true name. Besides, it's unlikely that you know about my own identity, so I should I give my own." Rider gave a smile towards her. "My True Name is Leo Valdez."
Rider, no, Leo, was right. Artoria didn't know such a name. The closest thing she knew would be multiple popes that had gone under that name. And the family name was even more mysterious. Even Irisviel seemed confused, her eyes blank with confusion. She made a mental note that they would have to research this name later on, otherwise Rider would always be a wild card that they could never predict. If they wanted to get out of this alliance, that is.
Leo gave Waver a smile. "Told you there was no need to worry, Master."
"Now that things are settled, can you release Emiya?" Irisviel asked.
"Perhaps in a more… comfortable place." Rider above, as if someone was watching them from there. "I do not know where Caster is, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's using some sort of scrying technique to keep an eye on us."
"How about we go to your workshop?" Waver asked. "It probably has more defenses than my own."
Irisviel simply nodded. Perhaps it would be a smarter move to go over there, Artoria thought. They would be in their home territory, giving them a stronger advantage and possibly a way to turn the tables. "Very well. Should we go in your car, or ours?"
"Eh, preferably yours." Rider shrugged. "We borrowed our ride, so we'd have to eventually return it to the rental."
That was… understandable. Honestly, it was almost out of sheer luck that the car had not suffered a single scratch, especially due to all the conflict that had happened around it. "Let's go then."
It didn't take long for them to reach their car. Rider, rather than having Kiritsugu and his assistant sitting up, stuffed them into the trunk and still in their cocoon of cables. Although part of her wanted to put them into more comfortable positions, she felt that Rider wouldn't relent. Though she didn't know Kiritsugu's past as the Mage Killer, it was clear that Waver feared the man.
Leo and Waver took the backseats while Artoria and Irisviel took the front. In a way, his help was already paying off. If Artoria's arm was crippled due to the wound caused by Achilles' spear, then she would have to rely on Irisviel to drive. And although she trusted the homunculus, she doubted her driving skills.
When they entered the road, three police cars zoomed past them, all on the way to… Leo's car. She could barely hear Waver groaning and slapping the back of his head while his Servant started whistling. It only took a few seconds for the truth to hit her mind, and her eyes widened before she set her head against the steering wheel.
Just what had they gotten themselves into?
