"Any sign of Rider" I asked Saber through our mental link.

"No, but it would surprise me if he came anywhere near without being in spirit form himself."

"And we've never been able to detect his assassins unless they reveal themselves…"

"In this case, we just have to… trust… that Nathan knows what he's doing."

"Isn't that a disturbing thought" I couldn't help but laugh slightly.

"Very much so…"

According to Nathan, Rider would be watching as I walked through the mostly empty streets. Even knowing Saber was beside me in spirit form, the thought that I was being watched by Rider himself was a bit… unnerving.

Nathan believed we'd actually been watched by Rider for the past two weeks we've gone out; just never acted because he didn't need to. Archer watching went without saying; from the skyscrapers, he could see the whole city easily. Of course he was watching. But with so much outside attention from law enforcement, Archer couldn't do anything unless he came down to fight us in person; the magical energy from his shots, the red streaks of light, would be too dangerous to the secrecy of magecraft to be allowed to be seen. As such, it fell on Rider to intervene, or so Nathan claimed.

All Saber and I had to do, then, was follow the directions he'd sent over text to the letter, and Rider would be forced to appear. From there…. Nathan would handle the rest, and Saber and I would head to confront Archer.

"He seemed annoyed that Sortiara and Lancer wouldn't be helping though" I recalled from the brief phone conversation.

"Surely that didn't surprise him."

"Surprise him, no. But he made quite clear just how stupid he thought Sortiara and Lancer were being, refusing to play optimally over personal grudges."

""

"Yeah, I didn't say anything to that either" I laughed.

"Hey, wait up!"

Hearing a voice other than mine or Saber's brought me to an immediate stop. My first thought was that law enforcement was stopping me; questioning why I was out alone so late at night all on my own, especially since I looked very much like the teenager I was.

But after a moment, it hit me who the owner of the voice was.

"Sortiara! What are you doing" I spoke in a hushed voice as she came to a stop beside me. "I thought-"

"Yeah, well, you thought wrong" Sortiara grumbled. "I can't talk you out of this now, can I?"

"What? Um, no, but-"

"Then I'm stuck with this, aren't I? Much as I hate the idea of turning to him again, we're allies in this, until the end. I wouldn't be able to live with myself I just sat back while you went after Archer alone and got yourself killed."

"…Sounds to me like you just don't trust me" I couldn't help but feel a grin growing on my face.

"A good way to put it" Sortiara growled, but the softer look on her face belied her true feelings.

"Well, this is a good develop- Wait… Where's Lancer?"

"Lancer… isn't coming."

"What?! Sortiara, you can't go out without-"

"I can do whatever I want! Was it reckless to leave the house at night without Lancer? Yes. But so is what you're doing, trusting Nathan of all people, so I don't want to hear it!"

"…I'm surprised you didn't order him to come along."

"With what command spells" Sortiara glared at me.

"…Right…"

"…Not that I would have ordered him to anyways…" Sortiara sighed. "I… I couldn't do that to Lancer. Not after all this…"

It was at that moment my phone made a buzzing sound in my pocket from its vibration function. Pulling it out to take a look, I spotted a message from an unknown number on the display.

Tic-Tok, we're on a schedule here! Get moving!

"…That from Nathan, I take it" Sortiara asked, looking over my shoulder at my phone.

"Knowing him, and the fact it's not the same number he gave me, it's probably automated" I sighed. "He said he was going to be busy, and he drilled it into me how important it was that I used the same phone all night."

"Sounds annoying to deal with, but whatever. You lead, I'll follow. At least until you fill me in on the plan."

"Not much to say about it" I spoke in a whisper as I pocketed my phone and continued my walk. "Effectively… we're bait. Nathan gave me a precise route to take, for some reason or another, and all we're to do is follow it."

"So, we're his bait. Again. I really hate how he does that… Anyways, where does this end at?"

"Some place called Glenwood Park."

"Glenwood Park? That's on the other side of the city."

"It is. It's also massive, compared to the other parks in the city. Easily in the top three in size. Even has a manmade lake."

"I've been there before, Johnathan."

"Just making sure" I teased.

Then she punched me in the arm. Hard.

"Ow!"

"Less talking, more walking" Sortiara growled. "Big baby… it wasn't that hard."

"…Yes, ma'am" I dared slight sarcasm before allowing the sounds of the night to take over for our voices.

That is, until I heard Saber laughing through the link.

"What? What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing. Just… thinking how it's nice to see I'm not the only one."

"And what's that supposed to mean?!"

Unfortunately, all I got in response was more laughter from Saber through the link.

At least the walk wasn't too bad. The night wasn't unbearably cold. While eerie, the roads being emptier than usual did allow us to save some time at crosswalks. The twitchy eyes from bored cops every time we crossed while the lights were red though did give me some pause, but Sortiara repeatedly insisted that I was overreacting and that they had more important things to do than hassle two teenagers over jaywalking while the roads were essentially deserted. The first couple of times I tried to protest against her, she simply continued on marching, forcing me to break and eventually scramble after her. The laughter from Saber every time that happened eventually clued me in to the fact this wasn't a winnable battle…

In the end, we reached the main gate of Glenwood Park after nearly two hours. Why we couldn't take public transport I had no idea; wasn't like the busses weren't running at this time of night. Hell, it wasn't even midnight yet! But Nathan had been so insistent that I walk the entire way. Not that he ever explained why though…

"Well, now what" Sortiara asked as we passed through the gate and stepped onto park grounds.

"Now…" I hesitated, thinking back on the instructions Nathan had given me. "Now, we need to make a scene. Force Rider to reveal himself and face us."

"And how do you suppose we go about doing that without alerting outsiders" Sortiara grumbled.

"…I think that's the point: create a scene that would attract the attention of outsiders. Otherwise, Rider isn't going to show himself."

"Lovely… And if Archer just decides to shoot us instead?"

"Archer can't risk that; too many eyes on the sky. At least, according to Nathan…"

"…"

"We also have Saber here, so it's not like a shot would get through in the first place" I quickly added. "But Nathan did say that if it's Archer that shows himself instead of Rider, then we just take the free win against Archer, and then he'll march against Rider himself."

"He'll march against Rider? You realize that implies-"

"That he knows the location of Rider's base? Yeah, I do" I sighed. "Don't know how long he's known; didn't bother trying to ask."

"Doubt he would have told you even if you did."

"…Yep…"

"Back on track" Sortiara shook her head. "What's the plan to create a scene?"

"Well…"

"I believe this is where I come in" Saber spoke up as he materialized beside us. "A lightning bolt or two striking the lake should be enough of a scene, yes?"

"I think-" I wanted to agree with Saber, but Sortiara spoke up before I could finish.

"Not necessarily. Looking at the sky, it looks like a storm could kick off any second. A lightning bolt coming down, if seen, isn't going to look out of place."

"…True. The rainstorm must be our cover for when we face Archer… Nathan really does cover every detail…"

"Yeah, yeah, fanboy over your idol later."

"Hey!"

"Besides" Sortiara turned to face Saber. "You're the only way we can stand up to Archer, and you're running low on magical energy as is. Best you keep what you have for dealing with other servants."

"So then what's your idea" I asked. "I don't really have anything that I can use to create a big scene with."

"No, you don't. But I do" Sortiara sighed. "Consider this my contribution, seeing as I don't have a servant with me."

On that note, Sortiara began walking over to the edge of the lake. Silently, Saber and I followed.

What was she plan-

"Oh, but prepare to get wet" Sortiara smirked a devilish smirk as she turned back to face us, hand raised in the air. "You are standing in the splash zone."

Splash zo- Oh, shit!

"On the winds comes our change."

"Let this tempest carry our dreams; wisdom of generations sharpened by the eternal breeze."

"Oh most nobless of elements, I beckon thee! Twist to my desires; shred mine enemies!"

"Force all to acknowledge the might of the gale; scatter everything as the leaves!"

"Scindite Inlacrimat: Panta Rhei!"

I watched in silent awe as the two dark green blades to form over the course of the chant. It didn't matter how many times I saw it, or who I saw casting it. The pinnacle of magecraft by house Levesque was a sight to behold every time.

Yes, this was definitely going to cause a scene. If the growing winds didn't to it… if even the twin, giant green blades clearly visible in the sky didn't do it… then the monstrous wave of water shooting high into the sky as the blades came crashing down into the center of the lake definitely would.