Fate/Twin Roses Chapter 6: Everyone thinks as they want
By Bluestar076
Hello everyone! Bluestar here with a new chapter! This is the second chapter of the two that won't have a fight, while the next one it will have a lot of action for obvious reasons! But this won't mean that chapters of this type won't come back in this story. Plus, with this chapter we finally end the introductive chapters since this one will focus on the remaining four pairs of Masters and Servants that are still undiscovered, which means that we technically finished the prologue and we'll dig deeper in the war from the next one, and I have a lot of things in mind for this story!
With this said, we can start! Enjoy the episode!
Note: I do not own Fate. All rights go to Kinoko Nasu and TYPE-MOON.
Chapter 6: Everyone thinks as they want
Tokyo – Near the bay – 13th April 2021 – 23.45 P.M
Thanks to the various light that illuminated the city, even the sea of Tokyo could have some illumination, even if it was covered in darkness for the most part. But some people…could find some sort of comfort in that darkness. It helped them feel peace…and calm…much like one of the Masters of the Holy Grail War.
Cynthia Rosi of the White Rose…was laying down at the bottom of the ocean with the help of a sub-mask and a breathing tube. She simply…stood there…looking at the moonlight that was reflecting on the waves of the surface. Someone would have thought of it as a weird and bizarre thing to do…but it was actually really relaxing. Being there on their own, laying down on the deep water, hearing the sounds of the ocean like bubbles rising up or fishes moving around. Some of them even came closer, intrigued by the mage's presence. While she knew that, she didn't move a muscle…and kept on staying down…and feeling one with the sea.
It was…something beautiful…and relaxing…even Cynthia was surprised to see that an experience like this would have been surprisingly pleasant. Her body stood still…while the water gently moved her hair down, making them look like seaweed…
She stood there for at least one hour…until she decided it was time to come back. So she stood up, leaving dust under her and started to swim towards the surface.
Near her, there was a speedboat that was floating in the middle of the ocean. It was standing not so far from the Tokyo Bay. Sitting outside of it there was Archer of White, who was sitting down on a portable chair while reading a book. The place and moment was perfect even for a chill reading.
The Servant raised his head up when he could hear something coming. It was his Master, who took off the mask and the tub and then climbed to the speedboat. "Oh, you came back. So, how was it to be in the depths of the ocean?" He asked. "It…was…strangely nice. I wanted to know a good way to meditate and relax, and then this idea popped out of my mind. But I never thought it would have been this wonderful…perhaps I should do it again in the future…" Cynthia answered.
"Heh. Glad you liked it. Sometimes, geniuses can bring out great things from simple thoughts or hazards. And…I too, think that this idea was not bad. Standing here in the sea, hearing the sweet sound of the waves while reading and enjoying the panorama…is really good!" Archer of White said.
"What book were you reading?" Cynthia then asked. "A Midsummer's Night Dream, by my fellow countryman William Shakespeare. It was surprising to see that the man who created tragedies such as Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet would also have been able to create a comedy. I'm sure he was an interesting man…I wish I would have been able to meet him." The Servant explained. "Well…who knows? Maybe he would have been considered a Heroic Spirit in another reality?" Her Master tried to guess.
"I know that he's in the Throne of Heroes as well, so there can be the possibility of summoning him in a Holy Grail War. But knowing what kind of person he was, he would have probably been put down like a slave by his Master." Archer of White commented with a chuckle.
"I didn't know you had a sense of humor!" Cynthia noticed. "Eheheh! But of course! If I would focus only on hurting people, it would be boring and bidimensional." Archer of White answered.
"True…true. Well, I'll go dry off now." His Master said before going inside the motorboat, leaving the Servant alone, who looked at the city with awe. "Aaaaah…Tokyo…such a marvelous city…I wonder what it would be…if it was surrounded by a great fire…ehehe! It would be priceless! But maybe…it would also lose its charm. Incredible...only a city like this would bring me this indecision." He thought. As always, his thoughts were addressed to something chaotic.
After a couple of minutes, Cynthia came back with her usual clothes and a towel around her head. "You seem to enjoy this calm…which is strange, considering the type of person you are." She noticed. "Yes…I'm not gonna lie…while I do prefer more troubled situation…I can find these calm moments…wonderful. Order and Chaos are so different one to another…but it's incredible to see that they can be two sides of the same coin. You can get used to one side, but you can find beauty also in the other one. It's like paintings. You can get used to the disorder of a surrealistic painting, but at the same time you can't help but be enchanted by a Renaissance painting. I would go on like this for hour, but maybe it's too late for that, and I wouldn't make you fall asleep before reaching the castle." Archer of White jokingly explained.
"Perhaps one day we can continue this discussion. You were starting to make me curious." Cynthia said with a smirk. "Why not, after all! Perhaps with a toast for our victory over this Holy Grail War. Not to brag, but I do think we have high possibilities to get the Holy Grail and get our wishes. Even though…I'm sure gonna miss this sight after that." Archer of White replied. "And what is your opinion? Do you feel confident enough to be the worthy winner of this war? Or perhaps…there's some inner demon that scares you?" He then asked.
Cynthia didn't answer immediately. In fact…that question made her think a while of something, as she took something from her pocket. It was…some sort of pendant with a green globe on it. By looking at it…Cynthia thought of all the words she heard from her family…and from other people…words that annoyed her…
"Perhaps you should stop having all these megalomaniac ideals, Cynthia. The world is not like what you think." "Darling…one day you'll learn that there are things that go beyond even our grasp…"
Cynthia sighed. Those words were something that blocked her several times in the past. But she never liked them. She just didn't want to believe what she was told.
"…No. There's no such thing that can block me. I'm well known of what I'm doing…I'm sure…I can hold the future in my hand." She answered before making a smile and turning on our Servant. "The future is on our side, Archer. And I agree with you. We can be victorious."
This made Archer of White satisfied, as he smirked. "Glad to have a convinced Master like you, Cynthia. I believe this will be the beginning of a great alliance. With this said, I'll start the motorboat since we are done here." He said before going inside the motorboat.
As the vehicle started to move towards the city…Cynthia looked at it with a neutral stare that, at first, didn't suggest nothing, but someone would have felt the resolution inside her heart.
"Η ζωή είναι ωραία. In Greek…it means life is wonderful. I must face seven enemies with their Servants…but…I won't let anything scare me. This time…I'll have my chance to make my life wonderful."
[Katekyo Hitman Reborn – Boys and Girls]
*Seven Cards that represent the seven classes of Servants appear one by one before splitting in two different decks, each one having the seven cards*
[Boys and Girls be ambitious, Boys and Girls keep it real, Boys and Girls be ambitious, Boys and Girls keep it real]
*Kazuto and Archer of Red open their eyes, and then Kazuto with flames on his hands and on his head starts to perform various melee attacks while Archer of Red attacks with the katana, the naginata and her bow. After that, the two start to fly in the sky*
[Following the manual, jumping out of everyday, you are a boy…]
*Kazuto wakes up and quickly prepares himself to leave the house with Archer of Red while having a croissant in his mouth. The two of them leave while Hinobu looks at them with a smile from a window.*
[Not able to become an adult, but not able to stay as a child, times like that will come…]
*Kazuto and Archer of Red are reached by the remaining members of the Red Rose Faction. With Gordon give some punch to the air, Saber of Red give his Master a pat on his shoulder with a big smile, Calem walking with a smile and his guitar on his back, Lancer of Red walking with her eyes closed, Alvis looking at the phone while Rider of Red tries to get his attentions by licking her lips, Marcus giving tips to the group, Astrea joining the chat by talking alongside Caster of Red, Cahya who looks at the group with a light smile and Assassin of Red that walks happy with her hands on the back of her head*
[Where everyone is in a hurry, in the world that we live in…]
*Meanwhile from the top of a roof, Seram, Isak, Cynthia, Tygo, Adewale, Oeneus and Maximilian along with their Servant are watching the Red Rose Faction, with Cynthia giving a quite serious stare at Kazuto*
[We stopped upon a shooting star!]
*Suddenly Kazuto and the other members of the Red Rose Faction stop and turn around, noticing the constellation of a rose in the sky. Then, the camera zooms at Kazuto's eyes before the screen becomes white*
[One thing that I cannot give up, with just one, I can become strong!]
*Saber of Red and Saber of White clash their swords and make a battle cry, while Rider of Red runs on her carriage to reach Rider of White, who summons her giant to attack her. Meanwhile, Assassin of Red and Assassin of White both make a fight pose before attacking each other with melee attack. Then Assassin of Red releases some golden stardust with a determined face while Assassin of White throws plates with a grin on her face.*
[You were scared and I pulled your hand, we keep walking!]
*Lancer of Red gets surrounded in purple flames before creating purple dragons that are cut in half by Vlad III with his lance, who jumps towards her with an excited face.*
[Our breath increasing in the head wind!]
*Caster of White attacks Astrea with magical beams, but the girl is saved by Caster of Red, who cuts the beams with her staff and is ready to fight, while Berserker of White dives with anger to attack Berserker of Red, who is furious as well and he's ready to attack her.*
[Boys and Girls be ambitious!]
*Then, Kanashimi holding the Black Keys with a worried face, Hinobu making a smile with a thumb up and a shadowy figure that turns around are seen.*
[ Boys and Girls keep it real! Boys and Girls be ambitious! Boys and Girls keep it real!]
*Archer of Red is preparing a flaming arrow while Archer of White is ready to shoot with his gun. The two Servants throw their blasts which clash against each other and form an explosion. Then the screen turns white and in the end, all the Masters and their Servants are seen striking a pose while a rose stands on the center. The opening ends*
Tokyo – A hotel in Ikebukuro – 14th April 2021 – 8.30 A.M
Much like most of the Masters that participated in this Holy Grail War, Alvis Walker had to transfer temporally from his nation to Tokyo. He had arrived in the capital of Japan with an airplane and rented a room in a hotel situated on the street of Ikebukuro. Despite being in a stranger country, he was fine being in there…if it wasn't for a single problem that he had every day.
Even this time, He was sleeping on the room's bed until he had heard the alarm clock and turned it off. That was the moment his daily routine usually started. "Yaaawn…it's already daytime, huh? Well, there's nothing much to say. Hey Rider, wake-"He was going to wake his Servant up as he looked on the couch, noticing that…she wasn't there.
"…Rider?" He wondered. He then noticed that there was something big under the sheets of the bed. "What the hell…?" When he raised the sheets…he found something unpleasant. "AAAH!"
Rider of Red was standing near him with a smile. The most embarrassing part for him was that she was only wearing a bra and a panty, both colored in white. "Good morning, Master…you're finally awake…" She said before licking her lips.
"Rider, for fuck's sake! What are you doing in my bed!?" Alvis asked, feeling in panic. It surely wasn't the first time that Rider of Red tried to make a sexual advance on him, but every time, it was always a surprise. "Isn't that obvious, darling? I'm being to you as closest as possible. In order to recharge my magical energy, I need to sleep next to you. Remember? Although…there's actually…another way…" The Servant replied. She then tried to kiss him, but Alvis promptly put two fingers in her lips. "NO. THANKS."
"Aw come on, Master! Sometimes you should act more freely! Look at me! You have a magnificent queen as a Servant, and you don't take advantage of it?" Rider asked, feeling bored.
"Absolutely not! Every day you do something like this! It's literally sexual harassment! Are you telling me that you've acted like this with every man you've encountered?" Alvis answered. And her Servant's answer left him astonished. "But of course! Ever since I was born, I was a queen destined to have the whole world at my feet! I'm the carnal desire of every superb and handsome man! They all belong to me!"
"Oh, dear lord…" Alvis commented before making a facepalm. "Why did he have that catalyst…"
"But seriously…you do surprise me. None had ever tried to resist me! Except for that man…" Rider of Red then mentioned someone. "Of course, I resist you! It's not that I like to be some sort of slave! Plus, it should be the opposite. You are the Servant, and I am the Master. And…who's that someone?" Alvis replied.
"Uhm…nothing. Something that I don't want to remember." Rider of Red quickly said. "…If you say so. Ok…we need to get ready as soon as possible. They're probably waiting back at the headquarters." Alvis told him. The woman Servant sighed, resigned to the fact that her Master didn't want to be 'enslaved'.
After a quick shower and a quick breakfast, Alvis and his Servant soon reached the entrance of the hotel, where they met someone unexpected.
Gordon Fragarthach was waiting near the entrance while laying his back against a wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. Near him, there was his Servant, Saber of Red, who waved a hand at the other pair. "Good morning, my friend! And to you, my beauty…have you slept well?" He asked. Rider of Red didn't hesitate and jumped on him. "Ooooh, Saber! My precious man! I still can't believe that we are on the same team! Just like the old times…" She spoke. Saber of Red felt quite delighted by that. "Oooooh yes! I can still score!" He spoke.
"Tch." Gordon simply commented. "Gordon, I never expected to see you here. Is there a reason for that?" Alvis asked to his comrade. "Yes. I've simply came to bring you to work. As you know, we made a change of program last night. Remember?" The other Master of the Red Rose replied.
"Oh, right. We have to…inspect the city even in daytime to see if we can find something useful." Alvis remembered. "Correct. Marcus seemed annoyed by the fact that we didn't find nothing in the last three days. And if I have to be honest…" Gordon answered before making his knuckles clash. He was even able to move some leaves around him by that impact. "I'm starting to get annoyed, too. There are some of us that got the chance to take a match, and I'm not one of them. I'm tired of waiting! I didn't spend years of training for just sitting on a chair!" He added, showing his frustration.
"Ahahah! I can feel it as well, Master! I also can't wait to use this sword of mine and show my glorious strength that I've accumulated back when I was alive! And who knows? Maybe I could conquer some cute chick. To think that most of the Servants in our faction are female…and one of them was my lover! It's truly wonderful!" Saber of Red added. This made his Master have a sceptic face. "I couldn't ask for a better Servant, but when he shows that pervert side he can be quite annoying…" He thought.
"Or, you could have some fun with the one girl that is standing next to you…" Rider of Red even took the chance to flirt with the other Servant (Not that he didn't like it). "Rider don't start again!" Alvis stopped her before turning to Gordon. "So…where are we searching?"
"The others are searching throughout the city. And I've decided to go on the north sector of Tokyo. Feel ready to go?" Gordon replied.
"Sure do! Let's go!" Alvis said. "Ah! Did you hear that, Saber? A romantic date! Just like the old times!" Rider of Red exclaimed. "Then I'll make sure to make it as memorable as possible!" Saber of Red added with a loud laugh.
"This will be a very long day…" Both Gordon and Alvis thought.
Tokyo – Asakusa – 14th April 2021 – 9.00 A.M
Asakusa was a well-known street in the city of Tokyo, represented by its famous entrance known as Kaminarimon, a gate with a giant red lantern (Chochin). The fulcrum of this place was the temple dedicated to Kannon Sama, the goddess of mercy in the Buddhist religion. Unlike other famous places of Tokyo, this one is mostly attached to the ancient side of Japan, where even the people wear more traditional clothes and many products that resembled the passed decades of the country could be seen.
Among the many people that were passing through that street, there were two Masters of the White Rose Faction that, like the others, had a mission of inspection.
"I'm surprised that you wanted to come with me, Cynthia. Judging from your usual stare, I thought you wanted to work alone." Adewale said to his comrade while walking. "Oh, I assure you it's the exact opposite, my dear Ade. I quite enjoy go around with some friends, especially in beautiful places such as this. Plus, I've decided to come with you since we have similar ideals and thoughts, so cooperation can be at the highest level." Cynthia answered.
"Hmmm, you're right after all. I don't mind working with you, as long as we work correctly. But I guess I can expect that coming from a prestigious student of the Clock Tower." Adewale commented. "Oh? So, you've heard of me in the past? Well, that just makes things easier. Glad to see that I'm 'famous', eheh! If I'm not wrong, you also come from a prestigious family of mages." Cynthia spoke.
"Yeah. The Nwadike. There aren't many magecraft practitioners in South Africa, we were able to put our family on the top. Even if…things didn't go well though time…" Adewale answered, remembering an unpleasant memory of the past.
"At least you were known…" Cynthia said before she snorted. It seemed that hearing the other Master's line made her feel…somehow annoyed. "Hm? Is there something wrong?" Adewale asked, noticing the face she was making. "Uh? Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine." Cynthia replied, trying to hide something.
"And what about you, Berserker? Happy to stay with me for today?" Archer of White's voice asked. He and Adewale's Servant were obviously on their spiritual form. "Not really. It's not that I hate you but…you talk too much." Berserker of White answered with her usual tone. "Ahah! Glad to hear it! Sometimes I think I'm too taciturn!" The other Servant replied.
"So…how do we intend to proceed then?" Adewale then asked. "We just need to do what we have been told. We're going to wander through this part of the city and see if we can find Masters belonging to the enemy faction or if we can sense signs of magecraft. Maximilian may have made one misstep last time, but this time he came up with a good idea." Cynthia replied.
"Yes. It's glad to see that despite the lecture we gave him, he still thought clearly about on what to do. But…despite being an important asset, I still don't like him." Adewale commented. "I don't think that's a problem. A person can not be liked at all" Archer of White said. "And let me guess, in case we meet an enemy Master, we should try to communicate and negotiate with them. Right?" Adewale then asked.
"It's incredible how we've met each other a couple of weeks ago, yet you know me so well, Ade! Yes, that was exactly my intention. While I'm well known of my powers and possibilities, I prefer negotiations and truces. Back at the times of the ancient Greece, the art of rhetoric was considered a great gift. While many philosophers of the past didn't like it, I consider it to be something extremely useful, especially in a war like this." Cynthia explained.
"I agree. The more you communicate with the other, the more you know them better, so I'm fine with every way you're going to use. To be fair, I wouldn't have minded if you used some disloyal way either, since it wouldn't have been the first time in a Holy Grail War. If I'm not wrong…during the third one, the mage Darnic Prestone Yggdmillenia tried to steal the Grail, but he failed. Anyways…In case they decide to refuse our offers, we'll fight them, right?" Adewale asked.
"Correct. It's kinda funny to think that you mentioned an Yggdmillenia mage when the leader of the enemy's faction is one of them. And judging by Isak's words, his Servant was quite dangerous, right?" Cynthia replied.
"Yes. The Berserker of Red. I didn't expect to have the leader of the other faction as my signature opponent, to be honest. While there are seven Servants we have to face, I think that there are classes that take priority and should be defeated as soon as possible." Adewale commented.
"Oh really? And what are they?" Cynthia asked curious. "First, the Saber, since it's usually the strongest class among the seven ones. Our Saber surely is powerful, but I think we should think about the enemy one, especially since we still don't know them. The second one is the Berserker that we mentioned. Berserkers have high stats when it comes to physical strength, thanks also to the skill known as 'Madness Enhancement'. As the Master of our Berserker, I know them quite well. And the third one is the Caster. The Caster Servants can usually be unpredictable and can have some resorts that can turn the situation to their advantage. Plus, according to what Rider of White said, the Caster of Red also is an expert on direct brawls, which can be dangerous for us." Adewale replied, saying his opinion.
"My my! He really is prepared!" Archer of White commented. "Yeah! I'm so happy to have an ally like you! I think we could make a great pair together. We both possess great strength and great intelligence. In case of a battle, I think we could handle it pretty well! All of this gave me more excitement about what will happen! So, I think it's time to go back to investigation, shall we?" Cynthia added before starting to walk.
"You do know how to make others like yourself, Master…" Berserker of White commented. "I'm surprised by that. Well…it's better this way…right?" Adewale asked. If Berserker of White would have been in her physical form, she would have smiled. "Yeah, it's better this way." She said.
The two Masters continued to walk through Akasusa, searching for something useful while trying some specialties of the place, like the yakisoba and the yakitori. Even Berserker of White got curious of those types of food, so she asked his Master to see if they could find a spot where she couldn't have seen.
"This is…delicious!" Berserker of White said after eating a yakitori. "Glad to see that you like them! But…it seems that we still can't find anything. Now that I think of it…you could use your magecraft skill for this case, Cynthia." Adewale then said, suggesting a way to find something.
"Oh, you mean that ability? I've wanted to spare it for another time, but yeah…I think it's time to use it. Very well then." Cynthia answered. She then turned around and widened her eyes. In that moment, her pupils started to change and form some sort of golden spirals. This was because of the effect of her magecraft. Then…her point of view started to change, showing the people she was looking at doing different things or movements. She could even see more people coming. This effect lasted for at least 5 minutes before she returned to a normal sight.
"So, did you see anything?" Adewale asked. "My my…it seems that this time, we hit the jackpot. In five minutes, two guys will come nearby, one is tall and muscular, while the other is thinner. And…I've spotted Command Spells on their hands." The other Master replied. "Oh…I see. We were indeed lucky this time." Adewale continued. "Very well then. This will be our first approach to Masters of the other faction in this war…let's make sure that everything goes well. A good impression is always good in situations of this kind."
"And I'm just the person for this job! All we need to do then is wait." Cynthia said with a smirk on her face. "Master…in case they decide to hurt you, I won't hesitate." Berserker of White advised her Master. "I know…just make sure that you don't cause too much attention. You know how the rules work." Adewale replied.
Tokyo – Uguisudani – 14th April 2021 – 9.00 A.M
Much like Cynthia saw in her vision, Gordon and Alvis were going in the direction of Asakusa in order to search for Masters of the enemy faction, not knowing that there were two of them nearby.
The Master of Saber of Red kept on walking while eating a big slice of meat. "Hmm. Nice slice. The meat is cooked on the right point and is easily thorn from the teeth. The cook is one that knows his job!" He spoke.
"You're eating a steak in the morning? Don't you think it's…too much?" Alvis asked. "Why should it? The meat of cattle is the ideal breakfast for people like me. It's good for the muscles, and as you can see, it's something that I care a lot about." Gordon replied, pointing at his muscles.
"We should see if we can find some proteins to drink, Master!" Saber of Red suggested. "Muscled man are my favorite types of man…they can be so comfy and capable in bed…our Saber here is the proof!" Rider of Red added.
"Yeah but…usually breakfast should be something light…are you sure something like a croissant isn't enough for you?" Rider of Red's Master asked. "Maybe from where you belong. But in the Fragarthach family, ever since we are children, we are educated to take good care of our body, since it's the best weapon we can have for our body. As such, my meals are mostly made of meat and vegetables. It's rare for me to eat sweet food." Gordon replied, staying still on his ways.
"You sure go proud of what you are. Hmmm…Gordon…if it's not a problem…can I ask you a personal question?" Alvis then demanded. "It depends on what kind of question. Not that I am someone that has many skeletons in the closet, but still, there's something I wouldn't answer." The other Master simply replied.
With that, Alvis thought for some seconds before giving his question. Since he always did his best to be a good friend, so he didn't want to be too invasive about something. He wouldn't want to see Gordon annoyed, not only for education, but also because he was afraid to see his reaction. But…maybe what he wanted to ask wasn't that much of a deal. Plus, he wanted to know the other Master better. It's true that this would have assured more cooperation, but also because Alvis was typical to get as many friends as possible. He just…liked to spend time with others. So, in the end, he took some courage and asked the question. "Why do you…fight in this war?"
Gordon's expression didn't change, showing that he didn't seem particularly offended by what Alvis asked. He just looked straight and gave his answer. "I don't have a particular reason to be here, if I have to be honest. I'm just sticking with my role."
"Really? So, you're saying that you don't have any type of ambition? I thought that everyone that would have participated here had at least something to reach." Alvis said, surprised. "What you say it's not false. Many that usually participate in the Holy Grail War usually have a wish to ask, whether it's for themselves or for someone else. I'm simply not that case. I'm just a mage that had been chosen by the Grail to participate in this conflict. Plus, I think it's a good thing that I don't have a particular wish to ask. This can help me to focus more on the battles. All that I care is just to be practical in my job in my own way and bring it to accomplishment. That's all." Gordon replied.
"Hmmm…a very interesting individual indeed. It's not the first time that someone participated during the Holy Grail War without having something to aim for. And those individuals were often the more interesting ones." Rider of Red said. "So, in short, you just live your life without too many thoughts. Eheh! I think that could be a quality of yours! Much like you said, it can be useful in battle. Glad to see that my Master knows his stuff! Though I think you could use it to get something useful…like a girlfriend!" Saber of Red added.
"Oh God, here we go again…" Gordon commented. "I'm saying this for your own good! A woman that stays on your side is one of the greatest things a man can be proud of! Much like me! I'm content with the situation I've been put in! Not only I've been reunited with a lovable queen like Rider, but there are also a lot of beautiful women in our faction as Servants! Think about it! We could have the perfect harem!" Saber of Red insisted.
"Saber! Does that mean that you would go with other women when you have me?" Rider of Red said, feeling offended.
Gordon and Alvis just stood in silence while their Servants continued their discussion. "…To think that we would have two Servants that were related…talk about a coincidence, right?" Alvis said, visibly annoyed. "Yes. Yes indeed…" Gordon replied, having the same humor.
"…But…Saber isn't entirely wrong if I have to be honest. Knowing that the Grail would help you find someone that will make you happy…does seem kinda nice." Alvis then said.
"Hm? You think so?" Gordon asked, starting to get curious. "Well…yes." Alvis simply replied.
"Hmm. If you say so. I won't go any further." Gordon concluded. "Now that I think of it…I'm probably sure the Grail won't accept a mute answer. In case you would win…what would you say?" The other Master then asked one last question.
"…In that case, there is something I would ask. But…that is something I don't want to talk about." Gordon replied, having a more grim face. "Oh…don't worry, I won't go any further as well, but…may I ask why you don't want to talk about it?" Alvis said. In that moment…Gordon looked at his chest and touched it with his large palm. "Well...there's actually something. But that...is something i don't want to talk about…tt's something that the only thought…makes me uncomfortable." He said.
"Oh right. You talked me about it. I can understand that as well…" Saber of Red added. Alvis looked at him, feeling a little bit worried. It was the first time that he saw Gordon with an expression for that. Seeing a man full of muscles that always had a rigid stare having an expression that resembled pain…was surprising for him. But this also reminded him that everyone can at least feel sad or hurt. He didn't know what he was talking about, but he could understand his mood.
"But let's not talk about it for now. The war had barely started. And speaking of which, it seemed that we have reached, Asakusa!" Gordon then noticed. "Really? Then we've arrived!" Alvis said.
"Oh yes! Maybe we can finally go in action! I've been waiting this occasion for a while by now!" Saber of Red said, starting to get excited. "Ready to smash down some head, Master?" He then asked. In that moment, Gordon made his knuckles clash again, making a cold stare. "I do. It's finally party time." He answered before starting to accelerate the pace.
"H-Hey, wait!" Alvis tried to call him back, but the other Master was already too far. "Man…I understand that he's excited, but if he goes on his own it could get troublesome…"
"What can I say…warriors are hard to hold, even with a leash" Rider of Red said, making Alvis have a sceptic face again. "You know…this phrase you just said can be easily misunderstood." He spoke.
Tokyo – Asakusa – 14th April 2021 – 9.05 A.M
Cynthia and Adewale were sitting on a bench while waiting for the girl's vision to become true. Now that the five minutes were passed, they had to be extra careful to see if they came. Cynthia in particular had a cold stare, while looking at the people passing by. Even a little girl with a stick of cotton candy on her hand got scared when she crossed her eyes with the mage.
"Man, you surely know how to give goosebumps to others, huh?" Archer of White jokingly said. "I'm just cautious. I don't want this operation to be an utter failure. Therefore, I need all the caution possible to see if they come." Cynthia simply replied.
"Yeah but…perhaps you should take it less seriously…you're starting to look creepy." Adewale suggested. "Well, I'm actually glad to hear it! It means that my presence gives some sort of influence towards others." The mage girl answered with a smirk.
"She's enjoying this somehow…" Berserker of White commented. After that, Cynthia widened her eyes and made a delighted smile on her face. "There they are!" She said, sounding like a little girl that saw a fountain of chocolate. When Adewale looked at the direction she pointed at, he got surprised to see that Gordon was coming closer, followed by Alvis, who tried to reach him. "You were right! They came!" He spoke.
"Of course, my dear Ade. Time is something you can't manipulate." Cynthia replied, feeling proud of what just happened. "Ok. Now it's just time to go in action. And the fact that the big one decided to separate from his friends is only of benefit for us." She then added.
"So how do you intend to proceed?" Adewale asked. "I'll go for the big one. You focus on the other guy. See if they intend to make a deal." Archer of White's Master replied. "Good luck!" She then left in order to follow Gordon, trying to be sneaky and not be seen from the Master of The Red Rose.
"Master, shall we proceed?" Berserker of White asked. "Yes. Let's go." Adewale simply replied before going towards Alvis.
Gordon, in the meantime, was already between regular people. Due to his size, he was much taller than the others that were passing by, almost making him look like a shepherd that was looking to his pasture. "Now comes the difficult part…sensing someone with magical energy in a place like this will be hard…" He spoke.
"You don't have some magecraft that can help you?" Saber of Red asked. "Unfortunately, not. Ah dammit, if Cahya was here, he would have used his vision to help us. Guess I'll just have to go in the classic way: walk around and sense the magecraft directly nearby…if there is a mage." Gordon said. But it was then that another problem occurred.
In that moment, there were too many people passing by and all of them were crowded in the spot where Gordon was standing, making him feel tight. "This is bullshit! I can't move at this point! And I surely cannot regret to not have been born with a smaller body!" The Master of the Red Rose thought.
"Calm down, Master! If you let the frustration get over you, a huge mess would break out. Try find some sneaky way to get pass this crowd of people." Saber of Red could see that his Master was starting to get annoyed by that, so he tried to give him some advice to make him feel at ease.
"Sneaky way? I…I can try…" Gordon thought while looking around. He then could notice some spots where the people passing by were not attached to each other. "Oh, thank God…" The Fragarthach mage immediately used those spots to pass on. Finally, he could have a moment to breathe. Now he was able to freely move in the street while searching for magical energy nearby.
But sadly…this was not the case. "There's nothing here…so I fear that we've came for nothing. But i guess it's ok, I can't expect too much. Tokyo is a large city, after all. Guess I'll just head on the temple and then I'll reach Alvis. Then we'll search somewhere else." He thought.
The search continued for a couple of minutes…and in the end, Gordon reached the end of the road…where he widened his eyes at the sight of the Sensō-ji, the temple of the street. It was a large construction built in a Japanese traditional way where the prevalent color was the red. Near the temple there was also a tall tower of the same color.
"Woah…so we're here…the Sensō-ji temple…" Gordon said. "It's…majestic…I've never seen something like that. Not even back when I was alive." Saber of Red added. The Master of the Red Rose then noticed something else that made him curious. "Hmm…It seems that we're the only ones here…how strange…as far as I know, this temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions here in Tokyo. So seeing all this desolation is…suspicious."
"Maybe it's for the fact that it's early in the morning?" Saber of Red tried to guess. "Well, since we are here, how about we search inside the temple? Maybe there's someone there, praying for the goddess." He added.
Gordon looked around one last time before doing so. For him, all this loneliness wasn't reassuring at all, as if he expected an assault from someone. But…everything remained silent. The mage still didn't trust what he was seeing…but…for now, there weren't any problems. So he decided to follow the advice of his Servant…and entered inside the temple.
The inside was immense, and the first thing Gordon could notice was the altar dedicated to the goddess Kannon, which was entirely made of a golden color. The floor was black, while on the ceiling, many drawings that represented various mythological events could be seen. There were a lot of pillars, and each of them had two lanterns attached on them. Since there wasn't anyone, Saber of Red could materialize himself and observe the temple with his own eyes.
"So…this is Kannon…the goddess of mercy." Gordon said, looking at the altar. "I've heard that in other countries she is known with other names like Guanyin, Pinyin and others." Saber of Red added.
"Yes. I've heard something of her legend. A princess that refuted a royal life in order to become a bonza. Despite everything her father did to her in order to make her change her mind and make her get married…she continued to follow her ideals until her death. She was a person that could even convince the greater deities and the Buddha himself." Gordon explained.
"In other words, she was a goddess that always stood still on what she wanted to do in her life. Impressive. It's something I admire! The people that keep on are the ones I like the most! If I would have tried to flirt with her, she would have probably punched me in the face, eheh!" Saber of Red commented before making a loud laugh. "But still…it's a nice story…there weren't many deities like her back from where I belong."
"…A woman that stood still and decided her fate all on her own…" The Fragarthach mage said while looking at the altar. "It makes me think that she can be considered some sort of…opposite to you, Master. Like her, you were designed for becoming a mage, which is a thing that you've accepted. While she decided to deny the path her father had chosen for her." His Servant then noticed.
"Yes…but the thing is that…I've just decided to stick on that role they've given to me. Ever since I was a child, I didn't have any ambitions or dreams. Any future for me would have been fine. So, I've decided to become a mage, like the others of my family. And honestly…I don't have any regrets. For me…all that matters is to implement what I've learned through the years." Gordon explained. He looked at his hand…and by just doing so…he could see his whole life in his mind. All the trainings, all the teachings…everything he saw and learned. He just didn't mind. He was fine with it. "Yes…I'm personally fine with the life I've been given."
"I see…still…I think it's a shame that you don't have any particular goals to achieve. Even I had an overall good life. I've had good friends, two women to love, and fought great battles that I still remember. But the desire to know and learn more still lives in me. I could imagine all the things I could do in this new era after winning the Holy Grail War! Eating new foods...drinking new beverages…fighting strong opponents...sleeping with beautiful women! HELL, FIGHTING WITH BEAUTIFUL WOMEN! I don't want to force you to change your life. I am your Servant after all. But…if I were you…I would think about something to do in my life. For what I've seen, I'm happy to have a Master like you." Saber of Red then said his opinion with a large smile.
This made Gordon smirk. Despite being an old pervert, he was still a respectable person that wanted to follow his guts and a notable warrior. And that was what Gordon cared about. "You're incredible. But that's what I like about you, Saber." He spoke. "Ahah! Glad to hear it!" His Servant replied.
In that moment…someone started to walk slowly behind Gordon, making sure to not make a single noise. They kept on doing so, until they were right behind the Master of The Red Rose. They then slowly raised their hands with the attempt to stabbing him at the neck.
Suddenly, Gordon widened his eyes. He understood what was happening, so he gritted his teeth, quickly turned around and tried to punch his assailant, who jumped back. "Phew…I saw that coming. If I didn't jump, you would have probably smashed my face and killed me." They spoke.
"Master! Are you alright?" Saber of Red asked. "Yes." Gordon simply replied before turning around. "Much like what happened with Kazuto, it seems that you of the White Rose really like surprise attack…am I right?" He spoke.
"Oh, absolutely not. That move I just did was only to get your attention. It may not sound like it, but I actually come with good intentions." The assailant turned out to be Cynthia, who followed him all this time.
"Get my attention? I don't follow your reasoning. Could you explain better?" Gordon said while crossing his arms. "Let's be careful…we don't know what she's planning to do…" Saber of Red added. "But still…Her curves are perfect, she has an amazing body! I'm feeling all itchy! This girl is just…perfect!" He thought.
"Oh, you don't have to worry. Cynthia here is a respectable person. She won't do anything disloyal towards you or your Servant. And if it's her butler saying it, then there's nothing to worry about it!" Archer of White said after appearing.
"He appeared out of nowhere…he must be a Servant. But…an old man? Really?" Gordon thought, looking at the man who just appeared.
"Perhaps it's better if I introduce myself. I am Cynthia Rosi, and as you suggested I come from the White Rose faction." The girl continued.
"Did you just reveal your name so easily? You're more naïve than I thought. Perhaps it won't take that much to take down both you and your Servant." The Master of the Red Rose spoke.
"Hmmm…at first sight, he looks like the kind of guy that doesn't want to talk too much. Maybe trying to persuade him will be harder…but I still need to try." Cynthia thought, trying to have an impression of him. She then looked at Gordon's Servant. "His Servant is pretty big…so he must be one of the main classes…if I'm able to get them on our side, they could be of a great use…"
"You said that it won't take that much to take us down. Judging by how you said it, it seems that you are underestimating us. You should never judge a book by its cover, am I right? But like I said, I'm not here to fight." She then spoke. "Also, because I can't…" She thought. "I'm actually here…to make an offer to you." She continued.
"An offer? What are you, some sort of saleswoman? I already have my internet connection, I don't need to pass on another one." Gordon said with a mocking tone. He didn't like how this girl was talking, but for now, he kept on playing it cool in order to not lose patience immediately.
"I see we're funny here. But yes, perhaps saleswoman is the perfect term for her. Since what we offer is something that could be of a great use for both us and you!" Archer of White replied. "What we're offering…is an alliance with us, Master of the Red Rose." Cynthia added, surprising the other mage.
"An…alliance?" Gordon asked. "What do you mean? Shouldn't we be your enemies? I thought you would focus on taking us down." Saber of Red added.
"Indeed…the rules would technically be those, since we're from different factions. But this doesn't mean that a truce can't be done, right? It's not the first time that two mages make an alliance during a Holy Grail War. And usually, they've brought a lot of advantages." Cynthia replied. "It's true that we are destined to fight against each other…but to be honest…I've never liked this classic way of dealing things. I'm more of a…pacifist way, as long as someone doesn't make me angry. Why fight against everyone when you can try to have all of them on their side?" Cynthia continued.
"…Look, I still don't know if you're trying to deceive me or if you are serious. The sole idea that you want to make an alliance is something I cannot comprehend." Gordon said. In that moment, the Rosi mage made a colder stare. That stare was all that needed to make Gordon stay on guard.
"I am deadly serious, mage. I make a lot of jokes sometimes, but this is a think I would never lie about. From what I can see, you are a strong man. I don't know what your magecraft can do…but I'm sure that you're one that do not mess around. I can see it clearly from your stare…from the defensive position you're in right now. A warrior with good reflexes that is ready to attack. Even that counter move that you made before was impressive, not anyone would have been able to answer to a surprise attack like that. Yes…you clearly have some potential. Think about it. Maybe in the Red Rose faction you don't have the praises you would deserve, and perhaps there's some people you would find annoying or…even better…you could have less possibilities to win the Holy Grail in the end. Don't you want an easier way to win? Is what everyone want in this war, after all, right? To win…and get their wishes. I don't want to brag or scare you, but among the White Rose, we have a powerful Servants, so taking us down is quite hard. Even my butler here is no exception. But right now…I'm giving you the chance to change the outcome of your role in this war. I'll promise to make good use of your talents, and I'll promise to share the Grail with you once everything is over. How about it? Would you like to become…a dear comrade?" The girl asked.
Gordon looked at her in silence. At first, he thought that she was just messing around with him, but now, judging from her tone and her way of speaking, he could clearly see that she was telling the truth. He thought about it while looking at her. Maybe…it was true. Maybe if he joined her ranks, he would have had more chances to survive and even win. What to do…at this point?
"Hmmm…she does have a charisma…what…do you want to do, Master? Do you…accept her offer?" Saber of Red asked. "…In case I would accept…what would you do, Saber?" Gordon asked.
"…Well…I wouldn't mind at all…even though it would mean to lose Rider again…I would follow you. Like I said before, before being my Master, you are a person that I respect with all my heart. Therefore…I shall trust your decision." He said before making a giggle. "Funny to think that now you're making a choice after the discussion we just had!"
In that moment…Gordon turned around. And started to come closer to Cynthia, who kept on looking at him. Once he was close enough…he slowly opened his mouth. "So…you've made your decision, then? I'm glad to hear that-"Cynthia was going to say something with a smile, but that expression soon turned into one of bewilderment and disgust after seeing what Gordon did next.
He…spit on her face.
Both Saber of Red and Archer of White widened their eyes after seeing that gesture, but…Cynthia didn't get angry. She just took a tissue and cleaned her face. "What is the meaning of this, mage?" She asked, while trying to maintain the calm.
"That spit represents how much I don't give a shit about your speeches." Gordon simply answered. "What? What…did you say?" Cynthia asked. In that moment, she was starting to have an eye twitch.
"I don't think you are deaf. You've heard my answer. You know…maybe it's true that if I come with you, perhaps I would have more chances to get away with it. And I'm usually a person that gets fine with everything. But…there's a little problem for you. I stick with my role…but I do it in MY WAY!" Gordon then exclaimed. "And personally, I don't want to be used as a dog for someone else."
"What? Did you just hear yourself? You don't want to be used, but have you ever thought that the leader of your faction would do the same just to have his wish!?" Cynthia asked.
"So, you're trying to install some doubts in my mind? Perhaps your leader is doing the same, I don't know. What I know is that Gordon Fragarthach does his things in his own way. Plus…let me tell you something…if you think you can get away with things such as negotiations in a war like this…you're terribly wrong. Or…to be more honest…You're pathetic." Gordon continued.
In that moment…Cynthia's heart stopped for a second. The last thing Gordon said…it seemed that it touched her deeply. Even Archer of White noticed it and turned on her worried. "Master…are you ok?" He asked.
"Using an easy and cheap way like that won't get you anywhere. Having allies is a good thing, too. But you also need to rely on your own strength. Plus…I think you've dialogued with the wrong person. I don't give a shit about alliances and negotiations. For me…the only think that matters in this war…IS TO FIGHT!" Gordon continued.
Cynthia couldn't think anymore at this point. Not only this man had spit on her and on her offer…but he also insulted her. For her…this was just another denial.
"Perhaps you should stop having all these megalomaniac ideals, Cynthia. The world is not like what you think."
Her arm started to tremble. Not with fear, but with anger, as she closed her hand to a fist. Even her breath started to get heavier. Maybe she would have freaked out from one moment to another. But instead…she made a deep breath…and turned to the calm expression she had before. "…Ok. Have it your way. I can't force you to come with us. Everyone has their opinion after all. I guess there's nothing more to add. Perhaps I'll show you that I wasn't kidding when I said that we have a certain strength." She spoke.
"Is this a war declaration?" Gordon asked before making a small laugh. "Interesting…now THAT is what I wanted to hear."
"Let's meet in front of the temple tonight. That will be the moment when I'll show that I'm not who you think I am." Cynthia continued. "It seems that you are offended. That's fine by me. Maybe that frustration will turn into power, and that's what I want to see from you. Perhaps what you can't do in words, you'll do it better with your fists." The Master of the Red Rose replied.
"…Then it's settled. And trust me…I'll make sure you'll regret the choice you made." Cynthia concluded before heading towards the exit of the temple. Before following her, Archer of White turned on Saber of Red and smiled. "I wonder how you will surprise me tonight." He said before leaving.
"Oh, trust me. I won't disappoint you!" Saber of Red replied. "Man…he didn't say anything, but that old geezer is creepy…maybe he's scarier than his Master." He added. "But wow, Gordon…you really went wild on her! I didn't expect that!"
"It's just that I found her pretty annoying. Tsk. Thinking that she could tame me that easily. RIDICOLOUS! But…to be honest…we can say that for once…I've decided to follow your advice…and choose for myself." Gordon replied.
"…Pfff…AHAHAAHAHAHAH! You really are incredible, Master! You never cease to surprise me!" Saber of Red exclaimed. "Now I really can't wait for tonight! Now that I have the chance to live a second life, I surely won't waste this chance of a good fight! Even though it's with a creepy old man…" Saber of Red said.
"Yes. I can say the same. We'll see if she can really be considered dangerous. For now…she didn't scare me at all." The mage added.
Meanwhile, Cynthia was standing in in an alley not so far from the temple, breathing heavily. "…Why…? Why am I breathing like this? I…I don't understand…i…should be used to situations like this…it's something…completely unusual…" She spoke.
"Hmmm…are you sure, Master? Could it be that…the answer that mage gave to you…is the thing that makes you so agitated?" Archer of White wondered.
"Anf…what do you mean?" The girl asked. "It seems that you've expected things to go on a certain way without considering other outcomes. What I think is that…the attitude that guy showed to you…is actually making furious. Not so much for the answer, but for how he answered to you. And I can understand that. I wouldn't want someone spitting in my face." The Servant explained. "Maybe…you don't like when the others are able to refute you. And that's why you're so frustrated at the point."
"…You…you think so?" Cynthia asked. "Indeed. But…this may be of some help for us. That frustration…can turn into a great power, which if combined with your brain…it can become unique. Yes…use that frustration he gave you…against him. This will surely teach him a lesson." Archer of White replied with an innocent smile.
Cynthia didn't understand what he meant. But…she couldn't deny that he was telling the truth. She was angry for how Gordon answered to her. She was used to negotiate with other people rather than fight them, so…when the others refused…she couldn't know what to do most of the time…except for now. She didn't have that much of a choice. If he didn't want to join her…she could only fight against him.
"There's nothing to worry about…my dear Master. You surely remember what we said last night, don't you? We are a great couple, and we can easily stand up against them. If he reacts in a brutal way…you just need to answer like that." Her Servant continued. He sounded a little bit creepy, but now, thanks to him, Cynthia felt more at ease. "Yes. If I continue like this, I will probably get hit too many times, eheh…thanks Archer. I'll do it." She said before sighing. "Well…guess our first attempt to negotiate was a failure…but at least I'll be able to know better one of our enemies. I guess that at this point, it's better for us to move." She added.
"After you, madame." Archer of White jokingly said. Before leaving, Cynthia turned on the temple one last time. "…No. This time things will go different…" She thought.
Tokyo – Asakusa – 14th April 2021 – 9.45 A.M
Alvis was sitting on a bench while holding his head with his head. He wasn't in panic, but he was surely worried. "Oh man…"
In that moment, Rider of Red materialized in her physical form and came closer to him. "What's wrong, Master? You're looking pale on his face." She spoke.
"Oh, Rider…it's just that I don't know what to do at this point…it's already been a while since I lost sight of Gordon. And at this point I don't even know where he could be…" Alvis replied.
"Oh, you shouldn't worry about that. He and Saber are strong and muscular man, I'm sure they can handle every sort of trouble!" The Servant said, confident in Saber of Red.
"Yeah…You're probably right. God…now I also have a terrible headache…" Her Master said. "Oh really? Then perhaps you should prove this paracetamol." A voice said behind him. It was Adewale, who seemed to be behind him for a while by now. "U-Uh!? Who are you?" Alvis asked, surprised to see him.
"Don't worry. I don't have bad intentions. As an expert in pharmacy, you can trust me. This paracetamol can be used even without water and can heal headaches in a few seconds. You should try it." Adewale replied.
"Hmmm…if you say so." Alvis said. It took little to convince him taking the product. He grabbed a pill and swallowed it. And…it turned out that man was right. "You're right…I'm feeling better!" The Master of The Red Rose said.
"Glad to hear it. Usually, your parents tell you to not accept things from strangers, but when it comes to medicine, I never play tricks or scams to other people." The other Master said. "My name is Adewale Nkwadike. Nice to meet you." He then presented himself.
"I'm Alvis…Alvis Walker. You're not from here, I suppose…" Alvis presented himself in its turn. "That's right. I come from South Africa, but my activity is in the United States." Adewale replied before giving a look at Rider of Red. "So…I suppose that girl is your Servant, she has a certain charm, don't you think?" He added with a smile.
In that moment, Alvis could feel his blood get frozen. What…what did he just said? Servant? He…he knew that Rider of Red was a Servant? The young mage gulped. He…still needed to realize what was happening in that moment.
"No way…are you?" He asked. Adewale simply nodded. "Yes. It's just as you think. I'm a Master of the White Rose." He replied before Berserker of White appeared. "And this is my Servant. I know what you're thinking. Introducing me as a Master of your opposite faction so deliberately might be weird and impulsive. But I do have my opinions to do so."
Alvis's head was soaked with sweat, and his breath was starting to get heavier. "Shit…what to do in occasions like this? Gordon is not here…and I don't know how to deal with enemies…it's the first time I meet one, after all…" He thought. Rider of Red could see that her Master was clearly in a state of anxiety, so she put herself in front of him and summoned a whip. "What do you intend to do with my precious Master? You better not do something you could regre-"She was going to threat them, but Berserker of White immediately pointed the her hand on the other Servant's throat. "Gh!"
"You better watch your tone, little princess. Next time you should let someone talk." Berserker of White simply spoke. Her tone was calm but cold and threatening at the same time. The Servant of the Red Rose faction felt under pressure, but not as Alvis, as she still got some guts. "H-How dare you point your hand to me like that? Don't you know that-"She was going to protest, but Berserker of White reached down, touching Rider of Red's throat with the nail of her middle finger, making a single drop of blood go down on Rider of Red's neck. "Maybe I didn't explain myself…" She spoke.
"H-Hey! Enough! We can't fight in daytime, have you forgot!? Alvis exclaimed. "He's right. Berserker, I know you're doing your job, but I ask you to put your hand down. You're scaring the boy." Adewale added while pointing at the other Master, who continued to breathe heavily. Berserker of White glared both at him and Rider of Red, before doing what her Master told. "As you can see, he's kind. Don't try to take advantage of that." She spoke.
Rider of Red looked at her with disgust, as she couldn't stand the fact that cat woman was able to block her. But after that, she didn't do nothing. "Perhaps we've started with the wrong foot. And I'm sorry about that. I can assure you that I'm not here to fight." Adewale then said.
"What? Then…why?" Alvis asked. "To talk to you. Again, it may be weird, but I actually like to talk a lot with someone when I get the chance. Even if it's about an enemy. Since I've been able to find you, why don't give a try?" The other mage answered.
"Is he…really serious? He's an enemy but…he's showing a kind attitude towards me…" Alvis thought. He couldn't really know what to say. Why was he acting like that? He wanted to think that this was nothing more than a façade of Adewale to trick him but…this didn't seem to be the case. For what he could hear, his words seemed sincere.
"Master…what do you think?" Rider of Red asked, waiting for directions. "What should I think? Of course, I can't trust them!" Alvis replied before turning to Adewale. "Listen, maybe what you say is right but…for me is just too suspicious. And it's a shame…because you seem so nice. But…I just can't follow you." He added.
"I see…I can understand your point. But I hope you can trust me when I say that I wouldn't have done anything. I'm fine with every mean used to win a battle, but I'd rather spare the enemy rather than finish it. Therefore, when it comes to defeat, I try to be polite." Adewale answered.
"Wait…you…don't kill your enemies?" Alvis asked surprised. "Yes. In a Holy Grail War, it's not obligatory to kill the other Masters. The war ends if all the enemy Servants are defeated, so I think there's no need to kill other humans who can still save their lives. That's why I said I'm more of a pacifist. So, if were to aim for someone, that would be your Servant, while when it comes to you, I would rather knock you out." The Master of The White Rose explained.
"I…I think the same…the others in my faction consider me crazy for that…but I would never kill another Master. I mean…they're humans too, right? They have life just like me. The sole idea to finish off another human…just makes me shiver." Alvis said.
"Really? Man…I have to say, that is a surprise for me too. I didn't know there could actually be someone who thinks like me. This makes me…happy!" Berserker of White's Master said, feeling strangely happy.
"Yeah…I feel the same too. I kinda feel bad that…we are destined to face each other." Alvis replied. "Wait…but why are you so convinced in your words? If you spare an enemy Servant, there still can be the chance that they could form a new contract with another Servant. You know that, don't you?" Rider of Red asked.
"In that case, I'll just face then again. It just goes against my policy to take someone else's life, unless it's someone who cannot be reasoned with at all." Adewale replied. "But…in that case…why won't you form an alliance with me? We seem to agree a lot, if we cooperate, we could do a pretty good job!" He then proposed.
"…I would lie if I said that I don't like the idea but…I'm…someone that sticks with his companions. I'm sorry but…I cannot accept your offer, even if you're a nice person. That's why I said that I felt sorry. Maybe…if you would have been chosen by the Grail to be in the Red Rose, we could have been good allies. But…things have gone this way…" The Master of the Red Rose answered.
"I see. Well…that's a shame. But I can't force you, after all. Which means that, at this point…the only thing we can do is to fight." Adewale said.
"Yeah…but…at least I'll promise to not kill you in case of victory." The other mage said. With that, both Rider of Red and Berserker of White made a sceptic face while looking at their respective Masters. "You know, hearing that when we're the ones who have to kill each other isn't that nice, you know?" Rider of Red commented.
"Uhm…sorry. Anyways…let's meet up in front of thetemple tonight." Adewale then decided the place where the battle would have taken place. "Don't think I'll go easy on you, little princess." Berserker of White added. "Oh, don't worry…I'll make sure to put you on your place, cat." The other Servant replied.
"And with this we're done. I hope you'll have a good day. Oh right! Before i forgot...if you ever change your mind...all you need to do is find me and tell me so." And then, Adewale left with a smile, followed by his Servant, who glared at the other pair one last time before following her Master. "This war is a lot different than I expected. To think that I would have met a Master from the opposite faction that has similar opinions to mine…is rather bizarre! Don't you think, Rider?" Alvis then turned on his Servant…and noticed that she was trembling and gritting her teeth. "Uhm…Rider?"
"That stupid pussycat…how dare she treating me like that!? No one had ever pointed something in my throat with such nonchalance! I'M THE GREATEST QUEEN! I CAN'T BE PUT DOWN LIKE THAT! SHE MAKES ME REMEMBER OF THAT MISERABLE MAN THAT DARED TO DEFY ME!" Rider of Red shouted, feeling extremely annoyed by Berserker of White's attitude. She then slammed the whip to the ground, making a strong noise that even made someone nearby run away. "I'LL MAKE SURE TO PUNISH HER IN THE WORST WAY I COULD EVER THINK! AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WILL STOP ME!"
Alvis was a little bit scared of her attitude as he made some step backwards. "Hey, when you said,'that guy', are you referring to my boy? Cause…that's not cute to hear, Rider…" A familiar voice then said. When Alvis and his Servant turned around, they could see Gordon and Saber of Red.
"Sabeeeeer! I'm sorry! But there was this cat that made me angry!" Rider of Red spoke. Alvis and Gordon could see her sudden mood swing when she saw Saber. "Cat? What does she mean?" Gordon asked.
"I'll tell you later…but seriously, Gordon! Where have you been!? I couldn't see you anymore! You should have waited for me!" Alvis replied, complaining about his comrade's attitude.
"Come on, I didn't go that far. I've just went to the temple, where something interesting finally happened! I've met a Master from the opposite faction and challenged her! At long last, me and Saber are going into action!" Gordon replied.
"You did? Well…that's great I guess…I've actually done the same." Alvis said, making the other Master curious. "Oh really? So, we've been able to make a double meeting today. Surely this is an improvement!" He spoke. "And where do you meet?" Saber of Red then asked.
"At the Sensō-ji temple, where you met the other pair." Rider of Red replied. "Woah! Talk about coincidences, right?" The other Servant said.
"So…we'll have a four against four match. It may be weird coming from me, but I'll counting on your help as well, Alvis. I want to make sure that will be a battle worth of these muscles." Gordon added. He expected an answer from Alvis…but he didn't speak. The Fragarthach mage turned around, and noticed that his comrade was looking down, thoughtful. "Hey. Is there something wrong?" He asked.
"…Gordon…do you think it's normal that…the Master I've met…thinks in a similar way as me?" Alvis then asked. "He turned out to be pretty similar to me and…it makes me a little bit sad to fight him."
"Hmm…well…I don't think it's something unusual. I'm sure that something like that happened in the previous Holy Grail Wars. But…if you want a tip…it's better for you to put that feeling of empathy aside. It could be fatal for you in the future." Gordon replied.
Alvis just looked at him in silence. Now he knew that Gordon was a man that loved the art of fighting and that he focused more on the battle itself rather than on the emotions. Alvis didn't say anything but…he wanted to refute what Gordon just said, but he didn't do that in order to not annoy him. Even though…he didn't want to act like him. Much like he said to Adewale, even if enemies, the people he would have fought with were other living beings, and he didn't want to take their lives. But…in the end…everyone thinks as they want.
"Hmm…if you say so. Well…now we have some free time to use. Is there something you want to do?" He then asked. "Not in particularly." Gordon simply replied.
"I just need to do something that will help me relax from that meeting with that STUPID PUSSYCAT! How about we go to some arcades? There are a lot of them in Japan?" Rider of Red suggested, still frustrated. "I don't mind! Games are still something competitive, and I adore competition! Especially when it comes to compete with beautiful women!" Saber of Red answered.
"I'm really curious to hear their connection one day…" Alvis commented. "Yeah, me too…I still wonder how she got so angry…I've seen her acting like that only with our Assassin…" Gordon added. "Well…let's just say…she got pushed back by that guy's Servant. And it seems that she doesn't like to be pushed back by others." Alvis replied.
"I can confirm that!" Saber of Red added.
In the meantime, Adewale was standing behind a tree alongside Berserker of White, waiting for Cynthia to return. "…Hey…Master." The Servant then spoke. "What is it?" Adewale asked.
"You said that you'd rather spare the enemies. Why's that?" Berserker of White simply asked. With that, Adewale's expression became grimmer…as he started to think about something that tormented him until that moment. "Well…let's just say that…because of my ego, I've encountered too much sorrow in my life…and even today, I still wish I could've noticed all the errors I've made before. I just don't want that…more people suffer because of me." He explained. This made Berserker of White think about the discussion they had three days ago. It turned out that he…had some similarities with her as well. The Master could feel Berserker of White's arm leaning on his shoulder. When he turned around, he could see that she was making a sweet smile. "I…I understand you. I…don't want that either…" She spoke.
"Eheh…the more I see you the more you make me remember of the Beauty and the Beast. Despite having an animal look…you can still have a tender heart." The mage commented, making the Servant blush a little. "…That joke was inappropriate." She spoke. When Adewale turned around, he could see Cynthia approaching him. With that…he and Berserker of White went over her and told her the deal.
That night would have been a lot intense for the Holy Grail War, since four battles would have taken place…in various zone of the city. Servants of various types would have battled against each other, but no one could know what the outcome would have been.
And with this we're done! To be honest, I've had some troubles writing this chapter, since I've got the author's block various times during these days. There were times that I couldn't know how to handle a scene, despite having the idea clear in my mind, but I'm glad that I was able to end up this chapter somehow. Perhaps this difficulty came up with the fact that I still have to get used to write these chapters where there are no fights at all, and I hope this will change with time. I think the character I've enjoyed writing the most was Gordon. Due to the personality his creator gave to him, it was fun to write his reactions and thoughts, and I really can't wait to put him in action! And that will happen soon with the next chapter!
And of course, now it's time for your opinion. Did you like this chapter? What are your thoughts on the protagonists of this episode? As always, let me know in your reviews!
And with this, we're done with the two dialogue chapters. The next one will be full of actions as we shall see the battles between these characters!
Till next time then! From Bluestar here, Arrivederci!