Jeanne D'Arc. A holy maiden whose name is known not just in her homeland of France, but throughout the world. She left her home at the age of 17 on a journey of salvation and ended up as a hero who saved France. However, she was burned at the stake at the age of 19 by the British.
It's crazy to think that the very same person is walking right next to me. I suppose that's just the nature of a Holy Grail War.
Her stats are very good. The Saber class isn't regarded as the strongest of the seven for nothing.
STR: B
AGL: A
LUK: C
END: B
MP: A
NP: A++
I'm well rested but that's because I woke up a little later than I wanted to. Thankfully, I have also been spared the nightmares this time around.
A little breeze blows by as we walk through the center of Fuyuki. It's noon now, so the city is bustling with people going about their business. We've been out for a few hours to get acquainted with Fuyuki and taking note of places of interest where one could set up a fight beforehand. Well, me more so than Jeanne.
She is rather fascinated with the modern-day world. The way her eyes light up and her lips part at all the marvelous inventions of modern technology or the skyscrapers and other lofty buildings that would have been impossible back in her day is reminiscent of a child on a field trip. I can't say I blame her though, I might probably do the same if I were in her position.
I glance over to her as we walk down the street. She insisted to accompany me in physical form instead of being in spirit form. So, we had to get her normal clothes as she can't just walk around in her battle dress in public for obvious reasons.
She's wearing a blue blazer with a white blouse underneath, a matching blue tie, short pants and thigh high stockings. She is walking while her braided ponytail swings behind her.
It was kind of funny to see the shop clerk's confused face when one person walked into the store but two walked out. I assured him that he must have just missed her walking in.
"Have you adjusted?" I ask.
"Yes. Although, I must admit: the first few hours after my summoning were strange," she says, her amethyst-colored eyes peering into mine. "It is quite surprising to be summoned as a Saber."
"In which class did you expect to be summoned, then?" I say. She looks down on her feet.
"A special class called Ruler," she responds. "It is one that-"
"Acts as an arbitrator during a Holy Grail War?" I interject.
"You have heard of it?" she says surprised.
"Yes, I've read about it a little when I was looking up the Avenger class during my research," I explain.
"Why were you researching the Avenger class? It is not a type of Servant that normally takes part in a Holy Grail War," she says.
"Looking it up while reading on the past Holy Grail War," I shrug. "Anyways, you've got a sword - why shouldn't you be a Saber?"
"I have no wish for the Grail," she tells me.
"You what?" I blurt out.
I thought only Servants that have some desire or wish for the Grail can be summoned in the first place. This might be a problem. I have no guarantee that she will give one-hundred percent to a Holy Grail War she has no stake in.
Jeanne, as if she read my mind, continues: "Don't worry, Master. Even if I do not have a wish, I will do everything to the best of my ability to help you. Remember that I made a vow to protect you and lead you to the right path."
"Right..." I respond.
If only words were enough to convince me. I am aware of who she is and what she stands for. Still, a part of me refuses to trust anyone that easily, and for good reason. Your worst enemies are the ones you never see coming.
We stop and wait for the traffic light to turn green to cross the road.
"Oh, that reminds me," she says as she turns to me again. "What is your wish for the Holy Grail?"
"Does it matter?" I answer.
"Of course, I need to know what we are fighting for!" she exclaims.
"It's something I'd prefer not to talk about-" is the best answer I can come up with as the traffic light turns green and we continue walking.
I glance over to her and see an unreadable expression on her face. She's raising an eyebrow and looking at me as if she is searching for something. I'm not sure what to make of it.
"I can assure you that it's nothing evil," I add. "You have my word."
She narrows her eyes and looks wordlessly at me for a moment. Then, she nods, seemingly satisfied.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" I ask.
"No," she shakes her head and smiles at me. "I will trust in your words."
Just like that? She can't see through me or something, can she?
After a couple more minutes, a certain smell catches my attention. The aroma of molten cheese. I look to the left and see a pizzeria there. My stomach growls as if on cue. I haven't noticed how much time has passed and how hungry I've gotten until now.
"Let's take a break, shall we?" I suggest as I point at the nearby pizzeria.
"Yes." She smiles.
I'd say this day has been fairly productive. We've managed to get around most parts of Fuyuki and have a pretty good image of the city now. Knowing the battlefield is an important part of a war. This will be the foundation upon which my strategy will be built for the coming weeks.
It's getting dark and we're already on the way home. I think I've got a decent picture of the Heroic Spirit I am working with now as well. She's kind, curious, and polite. The only thing I have yet to see is her in action against another Servant which brings me to my next point.
Information against the other Masters and Servants in this Holy Grail War is vital. At the very least, I am confident that the three local mage families are participating again just as they did in the previous wars. That leaves three other Masters unaccounted for. The Servants will be a much more difficult matter. Observation will be key to figure out their identity. Everything from how they are dressed, their weapons, their fighting style, and their manner of speech.
This almost feels like another mission. Scouting, gathering intelligence, making a plan of attack, and finally eliminating the targets.
"Hey, Master," Jeanne says as she skips ahead and stops in front of me.
"Hm?" I mutter.
"Would you try smiling?" she asks as she leans a bit forward and smiles herself as if to show me how it's done.
"Where'd that come from?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"You're always so doom and gloom - as if god himself has forsaken you," she says. "You should definitely smile more."
I don't know how to respond to that, so I just play along and force a smile. A smile that I've built up over time to pretend that I'm alright while I'm hanging out at the Clock Tower. I don't need anyone's pity or advice over what happened a year ago.
"That is not a real smile at all!" Jeanne says.
She leans in a little closer now. What is she doing? I just stand there, looking at her amethyst colored eyes as she moves her hands up to my face and moves the corners of my mouth a little upwards to form a smile herself. She lets go a few moments later, seemingly unsatisfied with the result.
"What was that for?" I ask her once my higher brain functions have resumed working again.
She saw right through me.
"That was-" she begins but suddenly turns around, knitting her eyebrows and narrowing her eyes on something up ahead.
My eyes quickly snap towards the same direction and we both see it. Standing about 30 meters ahead of us is a three-meter tall black brute. He has his upper body exposed, covered in weird drawings or tattoos of some kind and wears a torn purple cloak around his waist. He wields 2 massive gold and black axes in each hand that look like torches with a blade attached to the side. The small fire burning on the tops glows in an ominous green.
Next to the obvious Servant stands a man wearing a black cloak with a hood to cover up his face. He's also wearing gloves to cover up his Command Seals just like I do.
Not bad.
I focus my gaze back on the Servant to check out his stats.
STR: A
AGL: B
LUK: D
END: A+
MP: E
NP: A
Judging from those stats and his appearance, it's safe to assume that this is Berserker. Jeanne's battle dress materializes and she draws her sword, waiting for the enemy to make a move.
"Saber, this is your chance to show me what you can do," I whisper to her. "I'll take Berserker's Master."
"Leave it to me," she responds. "And please be careful, Master."
"Go, Berserker!" the Master says.
With that, Berserker charges straight towards us and raises his axes as he does so. Jeanne takes a few steps forward and readies her sword, almost as if she is going to take the hit head-on.
Berserker closes in on her and goes for an overhead swing with both axes. As they come down, Jeanne jumps through the small gap between both axes over Berserker, readying her sword now for a wide swing at Berserker.
The axes come crashing down on the street, embedding themselves into it making several small bits fly all over the place. He won't be able to get them back out in time to parry Jeanne's attack.
Berserker lets go of his axes and holds his arms protectively in front of him in a cross, blocking Jeanne's sword with his bracelets.
So much for Berserkers being madmen who lost their ability to think.
Jeanne lands a few meters away from Berserker as they separate. Berserker rips his axes out of the street before letting out a thunderous roar as he charges at her again. The green fire on his axes burns brighter as he does so and sets the blades of each on fire not long after.
He pushes her back into the nearby forest where they soon disappear from my view. I trust that she can handle herself. I've got my own problem to deal with now.
I look at Berserker's Master again who is still standing where he was before. He isn't saying anything or moving at all. Is he waiting for me to take the initiative? Whoever this guy is, he must be pretty confident in his abilities. Let's put it to the test.
I draw my revolver underneath my trench coat in the blink of an eye and fire the first shot.
My shot fails as I see the bullet bounce on the ground moments later. The man is now holding three Black Keys in his right hand, one each between his fingers.
Only members of the Holy Church or people associated with them have access to these weapons. Is this one of their executors? Turns out this priest from the church I met before can't be trusted, go figure.
Great, now what do I do? He can deflect my bullets with ease and if he really is an executor, he'll outmatch me in close quarters combat. I had hoped not to reveal my trump card this early in the war but it looks like I won't have a choice at this rate.
The man brings out another three Black Keys in his left hand and runs towards me now at incredible speed. I barely manage to dodge to the side as he stabs right where my head has been mere moments ago. He quickly follows it up with a kick to my abdomen at an almost inhuman speed, kicking me a few meters backward. I feel like I got the air kicked out of me as I gasp mid-flight.
I roll a little on the ground and immediately get up before firing more shots at him. Of course, he deflects them. His advantage at close range is enormous. I have to keep him at a distance. I quickly reload as he begins to run at me again.
One. Two. Three. All deflected.
I reach into my trench coat with my free hand while I fire the remaining three shots at him.
I pull the pin on a flashbang...
Berserker slams both his axes into the ground, creating a forward-moving shockwave. Jeanne jumps over the wave which takes down several trees in its wake before parrying two more swings of Berserker's axes.
Berserker attempts wide swings that almost looks as if he is spinning. Jeanne can't parry sheer force like that and opts to dodge to the side. This proves to be a mistake, however, as Berserker uses that to kick her with his leg. She barely manages to hold her sword defensively in front of her but is sent flying backward into a tree.
Berserker uses the momentum and quickly closes the gap before jumping into the air and attempting to deliver one great overhead swing. Jeanne comes to her senses quickly enough and tumbles to the side. The tree she was leaning against a moment ago is now completely shattered by both axes and replaced by a crater as chunks of wood scatter around the battlefield.
Berserker continues his relentless assault, wildly swinging both axes in front of him as he rushes in yet again like a train.
Despite his appearance and supposed lack of intelligence, Jeanne can see a pattern in his swings. Diagonal cut with the right, horizontal with the left, horizontal with the right, diagonal with the left, and repeat. Paired with her tactical awareness, she can predict his exact movements and begins to run at him to meet him halfway.
Just as they are about to collide, Jeanne slides underneath Berserker and strikes at his left heel with her sword as she passes by. Berserker roars from the pain as his charge slows down while Jeanne gets back up.
They are now 20 meters apart from each other. Berserker looks down on his left foot as if to ascertain the damage done to him. He then points one of his axes towards his adversary and mumbles something incoherent.
Out of the ground in front of the brute, four human skeletons rise from the ground, all wearing matching golden armor with purple cloaks as him. Two are armed with swords while the others are wielding halberds. Raising the dead from their slumber is something Jeanne can't forgive. No matter who it is, their souls deserve to rest in peace.
He says something incoherent again.
The undead soldiers charge at that command at Jeanne. She parries the strikes of the swordsmen with ease as they pass by her before the remaining two attempt to use the range of their halberds with several quick jabs. Jeanne eludes their attacks by sidestepping every single blow. The skeletons begin to circle her after their initial attack failed.
Following that, they try to attack her all at once but Jeanne swiftly ducks out of the way and cuts down two of them with one strike each in a twirling motion.
The remaining two soldiers fall shortly after their brethren once their numbers are reduced. Jeanne looks around and, her eyes wide in shock as she notices that Berserker is missing.
I got the timing just right and blinded this guy momentarily. I have to capitalize on this moment while I can.
I pay the favor back and deliver a roundhouse kick to his stomach while pulling out a knife. I try to finish this here and now by stabbing him in the heart but he blocks my arm even though he is unable to see at the moment. I try again and again but he blocks it every damn time.
The blinding effect is going to wear off any moment now. Shit, I am out of time and almost out of options.
I've got no choice. I build some distance between us and reload my revolver. Then-
Loud stomping interrupts my train of thought, I turn to the left and see Berserker charging out of the forest... directly towards me?!
He prepares his axes as he draws closer. There is no way I can take such a hit with my body remaining in one piece.
Time Alter: Double Accel!
Time slows down as I jump out of the way. The blade of one of the axes grazes the tip of my hair as it passes by. I could even see my own reflection in the blade of the axe. That was way too close for comfort.
Berserker barely misses and comes to a halt not long after that while I stumble backward and land on the cold and rock hard ground. A sense of terror washes over me as I stare down this behemoth before me. My mind is racing, trying to come up with something to get me out of this situation.
I can't outrun or outmaneuver Berserker at this point. By the time I could issue an order via Command Seal to summon Saber to me I'll be dead. This is it. Looks like I'll be the first to go out in this war.
As Berserker attempts to end my life with one final strike, a flash of blue appears between us.
Berserker's axes clash with Jeanne's sword.
"Are you alright, Master?" she asks me in a strained tone.
"I'm still alive, thanks to you," I reply as I quickly get up.
Berserker's Master isn't doing anything by the looks of it. He is just standing in the back, observing the scene in front of him. He could end me if he'd press the attack, so why isn't he?
Their blade lock ends and they separate with about 15 meters between them now. Berserker swings one of his axes from left to right into the air and six undead soldiers rise from the ground in front of him. Armed with spears and long shields, they form a line in front of Berserker.
I see Jeanne gripping her sword with both hands, drawing her right foot slightly back and ask her, "Do you think we can win this fight? I wouldn't mind retreating."
She turns her head towards me and says with a determined and unyielding look in her eyes, "Trust in me, Master!"
"Alright," I reply. "Do what you think is best."
With that, Jeanne raises her sword into the air and exclaims, "O Lord, lend me your strength!"
A pillar of fire comes down from the sky right above her which is soaked up by her sword. It gives off a radiant glow like the rising sun in the dawn. Then, she swings it downwards until it points towards Berserker and a beam of fire shoots out of it.
The undead soldiers thrust their shields forward to protect their summoner but their defensive wall gets obliterated by the fire as if it were made of paper. Berserker's eyes widen as his last defense falls shortly before the fire hits him directly. He lets out a guttural roar like a wounded beast.
Once the fire subsides, I get a look at what happened with Berserker. His complete front side is charred but he is still standing and there is a lingering stench of burnt flesh that reaches my nostrils. I have to admit, it's pretty impressive and dreadful at the same time that he took an attack of such magnitude and survives.
"Berserker, retreat!" his Master says.
The Servant immediately turns on his heel and runs towards his Master, picks him up, sets him on his shoulders, and makes a giant leap away from here. Once they are out of sight, Jeanne lets out a heavy sigh and her body slackens as her battle dress dematerializes into fine blue glowing particles.
"Phew, I managed to make it, somehow," she comments.
"Are you alright, Saber?" I approach her.
"I am. Thank you for your concern, Master," she smiles before seemingly examining me. "And you?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry about it," I shrug it off.
Well, except for that kick to the gut but let's not talk about that even though I can still feel the pain from that. Berserker's Master is a dangerous man though. I could get glimpses of his face underneath the hood but I won't be able to recognize him if I see him. More importantly, the church can not be trusted to be as neutral as they claim. That man was clearly one of their executors, which means that he is getting information from the church directly. In other words, he didn't just happen to stumble upon Jeanne and me here. No, this was planned. I'll have to repay the favor later.
"Let's go home, Master," Jeanne suggests, bringing me back to the here and now.
"Agreed. We can discuss what we learned about Berserker and his Master later," I conclude before we go our way.
This evening has been an experience in and of its own. Seeing the sheer destructive force during the fight between Jeanne and Berserker makes me self-conscious about just how powerful Servants are. An entire section of this road is completely shattered or molten while at least a dozen trees have been felled in the nearby forest.
And not just the Servants, the Masters aren't to be underestimated either. This was just one out of six and I got my ass handed to me. If anything, this was a wakeup call for me to be even more careful and thorough in my planning if I intend to live through this. That reminds me...
"Saber, I apologize," I begin. "It was wrong of me to doubt you earlier. I would be dead now if it weren't for you."
She looks at me in surprise for a moment before it is replaced by a sweet smile, "Ah, I was just doing my duty. To be honest, I should have arrived there sooner. I was careless, and because of that, you were needlessly in danger."
"I guess it doesn't matter as long as it works out in the end," I comment before silence settles in.
Should I also answer her other question? I don't know. Ah, whatever. I guess there's no harm in telling her.
"My parents," I mumble.
"Hm?" she utters with a puzzled look.
"My wish for the Grail," I elaborate while avoiding to look at her. "I want to know who and where my parents are. It's nothing as grand or ambitious as world conquest or unlimited power. Laugh at me if you want but that's all I'm going to say on the matter."
I peek to the side to gauge her reaction. Surprisingly, she has just a content smile on her lips and doesn't say anything either. When I look at her like this it's… kind of adorable.
"What's with that look?" I question her.
"Nothing, it is just that your wish shows great humanity," she replies.
"Whatever you say," I conclude.
