"Haa… Haa… Haa… Ahh, now that's what I call a fight… It's been forever since I'm felt the rush like this…"
Despite being covered in wounds and spitting up blood, Archer still managed to smile as he fell to his knees.
Not that Lancer was in much better of shape. The number of wounds suffered may have been less, but only slightly. The heavy breathing was shared by the both of them.
"Is that… all you were after… Archer" Lancer huffed, his lance dissipating as Archer's weapons dissipated themselves. "A good fight…?"
"Hahahaha… No… No, I was after the grail, same as the rest of you. But that said, if I can't get my hands on it, well… I see this as an acceptable consolation prize."
"That so…? Any… regrets?"
"About what…? The war? Nah… Nah, I'd already figured winning the damn thing was a long shot anyways."
"I'm not talking about the war."
A part of me was tempted at this point to tell Lancer to just end it. Longer we were here, after all, the greater the risk of… of countless things now, really. None of which were good things, either. But Lancer surely understood all of that. So, if he felt the need to prolong this… these final words with Archer, then it must have been important to him to hear whatever he was looking for Archer to say. After all he'd done for me, this was the least I could do.
It wasn't like I could command him to either, not that I'd have done it even if I could.
"You're not- Oh… I see. Sure, I have a regret; why I'm fighting for the grail, after all. To have some alias that others hide behind outshine my name, and even confuse me as one of them… That would be my big regret. That's what I wanted the grail to change."
"That's it? That's you're only regret?"
"Oh? And what's you're regret then, Lancer" Archer gave a sly smirk.
"That's-"
"Don't tell me you're actually looking to me for validation of your own wish! I'm not like you, Lancer. Sure, the one thing some people might know me for ended with my failure, but I have no desire to change it. I lived a good life and fought a good fight, alongside good men. I don't regret a single bit of all that."
"…Is my own wish that… obvious?"
"The moment you said you weren't talking about the war, yeah. But… I suppose there is one thing I have to ask about your wish."
"And what would that be?"
"Why?"
"…"
"…"
"…What? What do you mean, why?"
"Look around you, Lancer. Take a good look at… all of this. Say you win, get your wish… What then? Is all of this disappearing the price of your wish?"
"Of course not!"
"Hahaha… and you can guarantee that how?"
"…"
"Granted, I have the advantage here on this. You were summoned here, in America. I was summoned in our homeland; got to see just what's become of it since my time. It was different, for sure. But I didn't hate it. In fact, I rather liked what's become of the place."
Archer turned his head back towards the other tower. Towards the lone figure standing against the edge of the roof, undoubtedly watching intensely.
"Heh, including the people, even though dealing with nobility hasn't become any less tiring. But what has become of our homeland, and the progress it's made… are you willing to risk all of that, erase all of that, for your wish?"
"…"
"I come after you, Lancer. If you get your wish, what becomes of me? Hell, do I even exist after your wish is made? Let alone as a Heroic Spirit, minor though I may be… but as a person?"
"I-"
"I ask this because, if you get your wish, Lancer, and you succeed… It could very well change nothing but exactly what you want changed. But… but it's significant enough to potentially change everything, you know?"
"…Yes, I know."
"And see, so long as I'm in control of my name, my history, my stories and legends… I'm fine with leaving everything else as it is. The question you need to answer, though, is what are you willing to risk losing in exchange. Trust me on this, Lancer: every treasure has its price. Make sure you don't get robbed blind."
"I'll be careful" Lancer nodded, materializing his lance and stepping forward towards Archer.
"Though, if you really want my opinion on your wish, Lancer…"
"Yes…?"
"Well… the fact you even felt the need to seek outside validation for it tells me you're not ready to make such a wish."
"…I understand."
With a single, simple thrust of his spear, Lancer stabbed Archer through the chest, dealing the final blow.
"It was an… honor… to face one of you fabled knights" Archer let slip a final grin before fading away into a golden shower of light.
Silence filled the void left behind by Archer's voice. Lancer simply stood there, looking down at the end of his lance. Looking across to the other tower, I could see Archer's master walking away, back inside.
"…Likewise, Sir Hereward" Lancer eventually sighed, his lance dissipating for a final time. "Likewise."
"Lancer…" I called out with slight hesitation, unsure of what to say, or how he was feeling. "Are you-"
"I'm fine, master" Lancer turned to face me with a smile, thought I couldn't help but feel it was forced on his part. "Can't say it's what I wanted to hear, but… I think it was something I needed to hear."
"If you're sure… Well, at any rate, good work in defeating Archer."
"What, did you ever doubt me, master?"
"O-Of course not!"
"Glad I still have your utmost confidence."
"Yes, yes, whatever! Come on, let's get out of here already!"
"As you wish" Lancer laughed slightly as he followed me back into the tower.
