"…What the hell am I doing?"

It was a fair question to ask myself, I thought, as I dashed from shadow to shadow, staying out of sight from the patrolling authorities as I made my way towards Johnathan's house. Why did I even think in the first place that this would be a good idea? The odds of them accepting were stupid low, and it was likely the only person who wouldn't immediately kill me if I got caught was Johnathan himself. Maybe. A really hard maybe.

But there was no better way to also take Archer by surprise. This would be the best opportunity to knock him out of the war. Perhaps even the only opportunity. I hoped the kids would understand that, if nothing else.

Well, that, and it would be far harder to get Rider into position if I had to bait him there. No, far easier to have the kids do it. It also meant I'd be able to adjust the plan if Rider acted outside of my predictions, as I'd already be in position.

"…Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid…"

Yet, those who refused to put it all on the line had no right to take to the battlefield. I understood that. I'd always been the one to understand that. Hence my being… here. In front of the lion's den.

Slowly, I made my way to the front doors. As expected, they were locked. Thankfully, I'd came prepared for a slight break in. Been a while since I'd practiced with a lockpick, but it shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes…

And by a couple of minutes, I ended up meaning five minutes… Far longer than I'd have liked, but it didn't seem as though I'd been spotted by anyone yet. Which was good. Quick in, quick out. That was all I wanted.

"Now… here's to hoping Saber and Lancer are sleeping…" I muttered under my breath as I grabbed my bag from the ground and stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

Only thing now was to find a spot to leave behind what I wanted to leave behind. I couldn't go to the upper floor; all those rooms would be occupied if they were in the house. Which… I actually didn't even stop to consider that they could also be out on the hunt, huh…? An oversight, but one that would actually be to my benefit. I think…

"…Back to the office, I suppose."

…Not like there was really going to be a better spot. Moving as quickly as I could through the house while remaining silent, I got set up in my old office space. Thankfully, I already had the note written out earlier today. All I had to do on that front was leave it behind and have it be visible. As for the… other thing…

"Come on… I know you're old, but you could at least boot up faster than the hunk of junk beside you…" I muttered as I glared at the laptop I'd brought with me as it slowly came online.

Old being an understatement, really. At this point, it was… eleven years old? Maybe even twelve? It was old, old. From way back in my early high school days.

My first computer.

I hadn't used it in years; sentimentality was about it's only real use to me now. Or it was, but it was also, in some perverse way, perfect for this.

In fact, it was the only computer that I had that could do this.

It was the only computer I had, after all, that still had War of the Heavens installed.

"Finally… Now, to connect to the Wi-Fi… Tut, tut, tut… And… there we go. Why am I not surprised the password is 'Password'…?"

Horrific security aside, though, I suppose I couldn't deny that it was helpful in this specific case.

"Heh… years of updates to install, but that's fine; can still log in. Main screen is all I need…"

...Now, enter the username and password…

"…"

A conflicting mass of sentiments hit me as I watched the login screen disappear, and become replaced with the main screen of the client. All the old buttons, for profile, shop, challenges progress, match history… they were still there. Down in the bottom right corner, the chat button and the friend list… Empty. Cleared. Wiped, form all those years ago… Top left, the profile ID card… did it always look like that, displaying the user ID so prominently? I suppose it must have…

Though, as ever, the majority of the client window was taken up by the hero last used in a match. Staring back at me, looking just as I remembered…

"Daedalus… That was quite the game, once upon a time…"

…I'd never stopped following the game. Hell, I'd even played it within the past month, if only the one time. I still knew the game. Still knew how to play the game. But seeing this… Seeing this was the first time in a long, long time that seeing anything to do with WotH… hurt.

"…But it's fine…" I smirked slightly, suppressing the memories beginning to stir. "I've got a new performance to display."

A new game to play...

"Just to quickly plug it in so it doesn't die staying on overnight, and… that should do it."

The final deal.

Now all that was required was for the kids to-

I felt a sudden cold shiver rush down my spine, freezing both my body and mind in place. It was only the briefest of moments, but it was enough. For in that moment, a realization overcame me.

I was going to die.

"You're lucky it wasn't Lancer on watch tonight."

"…Saber. How long have you-"

"Since you first stepped into the house."

"Ah."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't cut you down, here and now."

"…"

"…"

"…There's a sword point at the back of my ne-"

"Answer. Now."

"…"

"…"

"I… can't…"

"…What do you mean you can't?"

"There's nothing I can say that would redeem myself in your eyes" I winced slightly as I felt the tip of a sword press against the back of my neck. "By all accounts, you have every right to kill me. Perhaps I even deserve it."

"…"

"But I didn't come here to do anything but present your master with a final deal."

"Quite the cowardly way to go about it, sneaking around in the dark."

"What can I say? Old habits die hard, I suppose. That, and I'm not suicidal. I come here during the day, and Lancer guts me. If his master doesn't beat him to it, I suppose."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Thoughts?"

"…I don't understand you."

"Funny. You're the one with Knowledge of the Deprived as a skill. If anyone should be able to get me, it should be you."

"It lets me grasp one's true nature, but your nature is a complete mystery even still."

"And that troubles you?"

"Very much so."

"…"

"…"

"…Do you trust me, Saber?"

"Not in the slightest."

"…Heh. Good."

"…"

"…Tell me, who else is still in the war?"

"…"

"…"

"…No change since Berserker, far as I'm aware."

"…I see. Then come tomorrow night, it will be a fight against Rider.

"That's why you came here tonight? To seek my master's help with Rider?"

"No. Caster and I will deal with Rider. But while we do, Archer will be isolated, without his ally. My idea was a joint attack: you and Lancer bring Rider to me, and in turn I pave the way for you two to take out Archer."

"And if I just kill you now?"

"Then I suppose I die. Though my death won't stop Caster, and if there really has been no change in the two weeks since, then I can't help but wonder if you and Lancer will ever be able to win? Honestly, Saber, do you really think the two of you will outlast Archer, Rider, Caster and Assassin?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…No. We're running out of time as is. Another week, and I'll fade away; the magical energy in the city has been depleting rapidly the past weeks. Lancer may last a bit longer, but… Caster's work, I take it?"

"…I suppose? Hard for me to say. I'm not a mage, and despite being of the caster class, neither is Caster, weirdly enough."

"…"

"We have been busy preparing our plan to take out Rider, though, so I wouldn't be surprised if we drew on a lot of magical energy from the leylines recently. We have control of five of them, after all; could afford to be a bit wasteful."

"…"

"…So, what say you, Saber? Will you let me go, and leave it to your master to decide?"

"…"

"…"

"…And if my master declines your offer?"

"…I'm still going after Rider tomorrow night. All that changes is that I'm far more likely to fail in taking him out."

"…"

"…"

"…I can't say I'm surprised you don't like the idea of forming another alliance with me, even if temporarily. You've been burned by supposed allies in the past, myself included, and I doubt you see me in as positive a light as even Sun Quan."

"You're right. I do think you're worse."

"…"

"…"

"…Well, I have nothing else to say. The choice is yours, Saber."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

From the silence, I heard the faint sound of magical shimmering. After a moment, I turned around. Slowly. Saber was gone; nowhere to be found, and no evidence of ever being present.

"…Thank you, Saber" I muttered to myself as I grabbed my bag and swiftly made my way out of the house.

Now, all that was left to do was wait. Wait and see, if the kids would make the call.


A/N

A swift post from the last one (literally a day later), but this one was short, and I had the vast majority of it all mapped out in my head already. Combine that with me having a lax day of school today, and yay! Finally back to more than one post a week xD

The next two posts (roughly) will be short as well, but they'll be fragments, not chapters, so it makes a bit more sense.

Overall, we're nearing the end of the story now. Knowing me, it'll end up taking longer than I'm thinking, but I'm hoping to have this wrapped up by the year anniversary of the first post, which is only a couple months away now.

As for the latest question...

It's certainly a part of modern culture, but it in of itself is not modern culture. The 'pop' in 'pop culture' is just short for popular, so when someone says 'pop culture', they're just saying 'popular culture'. So while popular culture would certainly be a part of modern culture, modern culture encompasses more than just pop culture (not all aspects of any culture is popular and widespread, after all).