Welp, here it is, and well, as they say, better late than never. I don't really have much to say except that I'm sorry for being... very... very late for posting this chapter. So I'm just going to go to reviews and onto the actual chapter.
Also, any reviews that involve the Illya spin-off/side story or will be saved for when I post that.
Now for the reviews.
angelvan105: Thanks!
Evowizard25: Of course it runs in the family, I mean sure we haven't seen Illya drive like that. But then again, we've never seen her drive before at all.
Just a laser: Well, Rias's power is pretty strong. Ai was just expecting more. Really, she just set herself up for disappointment.
facepalm: Could be the reason, could not be. Not that it won anyway. Just saying that I didn't expect it.
Disturbed: More like the mind of a really big pervert. And I can't blame you for thinking that. DxD does get pretty close to being hentai at times.
DT3: Only time will tell friend, only time will tell.
shirou13: I blame fanfics that do a poor job of portraying him.
Wow: People like Harems? That's my assumption.
Azhure Raven: I'm trying man, I'm seriously starting to think that I need a beta just for these grammar problems.
Jackejsh: I refuse to let this story die after all
UA1991: Yea, things were rough for a bit, but now, for the most part, they've smooth out.
Velzon: Pretty much have all major events planned out. Which includes how it will end. Also thanks for the correction! I'll make sure to fix it later today!
sondowth: Thank you, Hopefully, I won't disappoint you later on.
Now with that out of the way, on to the story!
"Speaking."
"Thinking/flashback."
"Servant Speaking."
Sofia sighs, opening the door to her apartment and going on, she was shifting threw a ton of letters, in fact, it was so many letters, it was kinda hard to believe she could even hold all of them...
She threw these on a nearby table that was covered in similar mail and went down to lie on her bed. This was normal for her sadly, unpaired bills and debt constantly pile on that small, wooden table. Something she thought she could handle, but it turned out that wasn't the case.
It was... stressful, to say the least. Poor girl thought she could try living by herself for once, but just a couple of months in, and she could barely keep up with her payments. She was sure that the lights would go out in a day or two, and she hasn't even paid her rent. Also, some of those debts were with some more... unsavory people.
Not that she was worried about getting her legs broken in or anything. She doubts any debt collectors could force any money out of her. At least through physical violence.
"So, like, are we going to go fight something or...?" The voice of Mordred echos in her head.
"This isn't a problem that can be solved by beating up a few people." Sofia retorts. Unamused by her's Saber more brutish methods.
"Technically you could," Mordred told her.
... Now that Sofia thinks about it. She isn't wrong per-say... But that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.
And here she thought that summoning something as powerful as a Servant could at least solve some of her problems. But if anything, it only added more to the pile of bullshit she has to deal with now.
Even so, she refuses to go back to that place. The magi are some of the worst pieces of trash to ever exist on this planet. And that's also considering the fact that things like Devils, Vampires, and Fallen angels also exist.
She does, however, wonder how they would react to the news of her summoning a Servant. Maybe shocked? It would be funny to see. No one would expect someone like her to have a wish.
Admittedly, her wish wasn't anything grand so she wouldn't blame them for being shocked.
"I rather not," Sofia told her Servant. "And stop asking. There no point."
"Well, it's not my fault I have such a boring Master." Saber snaps back. Sofia just rolls her eyes, very annoying, this Servant is. She decided to just ignore her for the time being.
She wished that she got the King of Knights instead, He... or She, in this case, would have been a far better catch and far more respectable.
Though she won't lie. From what she can gather about her stats and skills, Mordred is really strong. But that only makes her wonder how strong King Arthur is.
Of course, as she lied on her bed, her mind wandering, she was suddenly brought back to reality as she heard something, or well, a pile of something hit the floor.
She looks to see the letters that she had on her table fell off and scattered everywhere on the floor.
She sighs as she forces herself to get out of bed. Walking over to pick them up.
As she gathers that letter and places them back on the table, she suddenly quirks her eyebrow. Noticing something rather... odd.
There is a Red envelope among all the papers. But she knew she never bought in any mail like that, nor seen it before her mail dropped. Picking it up, she inspects it. It... doesn't seem to be that special. Aside from that fact that it's red, and it as a cute little dog sticker as a seal. It also feels slightly heavier than her usual mail.
Sofia narrows her eyes in suspicion. Where did it come from? Who sent her this? And how? Her wards and bounded field should be working. So how could someone trespass without her knowing...? And why just give her a letter...?
"Oi, was that here before? I don't remember seeing it." Saber's voice echos in her head.
"... No, no it wasn't." Sofia answers, pretty concerned about it.
"Best to check around the place then. Don't want any bastards leaving any nasty surprises." Mordred suggests
For once, Sofia agrees with her Servant. so she starts to look around her apartment. After finding nothing, she makes sure her wards and bounded field are still active, to which they are.
"Everything seems to be normal..." Sofia admits. She was both confuse and a bit fearful.
... It could have been an Assassin. Her traps would mean nothing to them... But in that case, why didn't they go straight for the kill...? They could have taken her out before she noticed that letter, and would have been taken off guard.
"Just open the damn letter, will you? You're wasting my time otherwise." Saber insists to her Master.
...
She pulls off the sticker and opens the envelope.
And inside that envelope was... money. Like, a lot of money. Sofia's eyes couldn't help but widen as she saw it. How many pouches were in here? That was what she was thinking when she saw it.
She then noticed that other thing. Which is a letter...?
And of course, she pulls it out of the letter to read it.
"Dear Sofia,
You've probably noticed the money before the letter. You don't have to worry about paying it off, it's 100% yours. I place roughly around 5000 pounds or so in it. I wasn't paying attention to how much. But I assume it's somewhere around that amount.
Now, who am I and why would I do this? For who I am, I shall answer that at a later point. As for why, Simple, think of it as... an incentive. I know that currently, you have quite a bit of a money problem. I have things that need to be done, and I have more than enough money to spare.
Do you understand what I mean? If you do and are interested, then meet me in the coordinates listed on the other side of this page 2 days from when you read this. We can talk more about it there.
I do hope that you come by.
Sincerely, Lucinda"
"Seems pretty suspicious if you ask me," Saber comments. She seems a bit on guard for once. "I don't trust this Lucinda woman."
Sofia stares at the letter for a long while, not fully sure whether or not to take it seriously or not.
It seems to be too good to be true to her honestly... And she knew that if it seems like that, then chances are it wasn't. form the looks of things, this Lucinda knows awfully a lot about Sofia, and that made the girl worry.
Of course... Her eyes quickly drift back towards the money.
...
She clears the small table, sits down and pours out the money that was in the envelope. and she swears that the amount of money that came out was more then what a normal envelope could ever carry.
Right, With this, she was sure that Lucinda has to be a magi or a 'mage'. Before anything, she needs to make sure that this was real money.
She takes a couple of the bills and feels it a bit. Money is usually printed on special paper. So you could tell if the right paper was used just by feeling it.
The bills she picks up has a cloth-like feel to it, which was a good sign, as fake money tends to feel more like thin paper.
"The hell are you doing?" Her saber questionable asks. Her tone is as blunt as ever.
"I'm making sure it's real." She simply answers. "No point in bothering to contact her if it's fake."
Then she slides her thumb on some other prints, the letters on the bills were definitely raised, another good sign.
After that, she does a couple more thing on random bills to see if they were real, like putting it to a light, checking the watermark, the print quality, even using a magnifying glass
None of it was fake. She didn't check all of it. But she was sure all of it was real, It was the reason why she randomly picked the bills as she was checking them.
Afterward, she counted it up.
Lucinda counted it wrong thought. it's wasn't around 5000 pounds, it was around 7000.
Thought Sofia wasn't going to complain about this miscount. More than enough to pay her bills for the month... and some of her loans.
It was also an incredible offer. She was very tempted to take it
"Are you seriously thinking of going?" Saber asks her Master."This just screams a trap."
"Maybe..." Sofia said. "But considering I have you now. I should be able to deal with whatever she throws at me... I think. Plus, aren't you constantly complaining about being bored? And just a moment ago you were."
"I know," Mordred said."There nothing I can't take on after all. But something about her rubs me the wrong way."
"You've never even met her before." Sofia couldn't help but point out.
"You don't think I know that?" Mordred says. "It just..."
Mordred was a bit hesitant,
"Tell me, have you ever heard of a person named Lucinda before?" Mordred asks her Master.
No, Sofia could only draw blanks about these women.
"...No?" Sofia questionably said, not fully sure where she's going with this.
"Are you sure about that? Think a bit harder." Mordred insists.
... She doesn't understand what her Servant is trying to do. But for the shake of getting her to shut up about it. She decides to humor her.
"Fine," Sofia said, putting her knee on the table, and resting her head on her palm.
She thinks about the name, trying to dig deep into the depths on her mind. And for a while, she couldn't come up with anything... Nothing.
For a bit, Sofia couldn't help but wonder why her Servant would make her focus on such a pointless thing.
but then... something comes up, something familiar about the name...!
... But then she just suddenly forgets what she remembered.
"...Oh... oh!" Sofia realizes. Standing up as she finally understands what her Servant is saying
"See?! It's not just me! Something weird is going on with this person." Mordred said.
Sofia had to agree, it seems that they do know something about her. But they just forget about it whenever they start to remember it...
"So are we still going or not?" Mordred asks Sofia.
Sofia was silent. She was... unsure now, a bit scared even... If this woman could do this... then what else could she do... Would it be worth it?
Her eyes glance towards the money.
"..."
Sofia quietly enters what she at first thought was a small wooden house, but when she came into, it turns out that the building was a lot larger then it looked.
Also, this was clearly a library, not some house in the middle of nowhere.
"A magi or mage lives here." Her Servant says.
"..." Sofia eyes the place. And carefully starts to walk forward. The place was quiet.
"My my, I'm a bit shocked that you came." An unknown voice echo in the building. "I thought you would have been too cautious to come, but it seems that your greed is far too strong."
Sofia quickly looked around the place trying to spot wherever that voice came from.
Luckily it didn't take long to find it.
Said women are sitting at a round and White table which had two seats, one of course being used by the women. She looked stunning... Too stunning, too the point where it was unnatural. As if she was a doll...
Sofia was also sure that there were some bookshelves there. You know, the large one that is impossible to miss?
"What? Cat's got your tongue? Scared stiff?" She said with a giggle. Her face shows no emotion, thought the tone of her voice and the way she speaks indicates the opposite "Come now, no need to be scared, sit with me. I've even prepared some drinks. I do hope you like lemonade."
The woman gestures at the free chair.
Sofia eyes the women.
"Who are you?" Sofia questionably asks.
"I'm more than sure you read the letter." She answers without a second of thought. But she didn't sound very happy about the question. "Do not take me for a fool."
That was a sudden shift of personality if anything. Almost caught Sofia by surprise.
"I'm not." Sofia quickly defends herself. "I just wanted to make sure."
Lucinda just stares at her for a moment.
"...Very well." She quietly said. "Now, I know why we're here, but before that, let's get to know each other for a bit, shall we?"
"I don't trust her," Mordred said. It was something that Sofia could agree on. Though she wasn't fully sure why. Sure, she a bit weird, but so far she hasn't done anything bad.
"I guess?" Sofia questionably agrees. Deciding to give Lucinda the befit of the doubt.
"Great! so let's start small, how's your day been?" She asks.
Sofia was going to say something. But before she could, Lucinda kept going.
"Wait no, let me guess. Pretty good right? Especially since you don't have to worry about money for a bit." Lucinda said.
"...Yes." Sofia said, slightly annoyed by that.
"Good. Good, it would be a shame if you were still in the gutter. I would have lost all hope for you if that was the case." She told her.
"..."
"Something wrong?" Lucinda asks. Taking a sip from her drink. "You haven't had any of your lemonade."
Sofia looks at the drink, having forgotten about it till now. It looks like a perfectly good glass of lemonade too. Though Sofia wasn't the biggest fan of lemonade, she wouldn't say no to anything free.
She picks up the glass and without a second thought, she took a drink.
She immediately regrets that decision. Spiting in the contents after a brief second of tasting it.
"What the fuck is this?!" Sofia almost Shouts.
"I really liked this table you know," Lucinda comments to herself. Sounding more worried about the table then with Sofia.
"That wasn't lemonade at all!" Sofia protests. "It tastes like... like... UGH! What kind of sick joke is this?!"
"Was it not?" Lucinda asks, acting as if she didn't know. even tilting her head slightly. "That's strange. I was sure that it's lemonade. I mean, Both of ours came from the same container after all."
"She fucking messing with us..." Mordred growls out.
"I know she is," I answer.
"Then do something about it," Mordred replies. "I refuse to work with a Master who lets herself get walked all over like this."
...
"Look here you-"
"You know, if you wanted to get straight to it, you only had to ask," Lucinda told her.
"..."
"..."
"I have no words." Was all Sofia could come up with.
"Is that so?" Lucinda said.
"You know I can just up and leave right?" Sofia told her. Standing up form her seat. "In fact, I think I might just do that."
"You could, but then where would that leave you? You have no job as of right now, and you certainly not qualified for a good paying one. I'm also more than sure most of the money went to paying bills and debt." Lucinda told her.
"I could just use a bit of magecraft to trick someone in hiring me or just giving me money." Sofia countered.
"You would stoop as low as the magi?" Lucinda questionably asks. "That something I would see them do. Besides, if you really wanted to do that, you would have done it by now."
"..." Sofia hates it when she right. But luckily for her. Lucinda does sigh after a second.
"But I do suppose I have been messing with you for far too long," Lucinda admits. "I apologize for my actions. I tend to get bored being stuck in here. You see, boredom is like a poison for me. And I rarely get to have time to entertain myself like this. So I couldn't resist."
"... Then why don't you leave? I'm sure there plenty of fun and interesting things to do outside." Sofia suggests.
"I'd rather stay alive thank you very much," Lucinda said with a wave, dismissing her suggestion. Sofia raises an eyebrow at this.
"What do you mean?" Sofia asks her.
"But enough about that," Lucinda said, ignoring Sofia's question. "Let's discuss why you're here."
... Sofia decides to let this one slide.
"You have a Servant do you not? And before you act surprised and try to kill me. Let it be known I have no Servants myself, and I will not tell anyone else about this." Lucinda said.
"...Really making me want to kill you right now." Sofia told her.
"I do not blame you for that. Regardless, The very reason I'm willing to hire you." She told the master. "You see there are some... unsavory things that exist in this world. Things that you and your Servant should be more than capable of dealing with."
"...Ok, now she's speaking my language." Mordred said, suddenly more excited about this deal. "Sure I don't fully trust her. But Kicking ass and getting paid to do it? Sign me up!"
Of course, Mordred would be up for that kind of work.
"You want us to be your hitman," Sofia confirms.
"That's one way to put it," Lucinda said a bit too honest. "But I don't intend for you to kill anyone Innocent. Just people who need to be put down. Really, you're going to making the world a better place by getting rid of them. And as you know, you will be rewarded for your efforts... As long as you bring proof that you did your job."
That doesn't seem... too bad of a deal. At least that's what Sofia thought.
"Plus, I'll only give you jobs if you ask for them, I won't come out of nowhere and just give you something to do." She adds.
"...What the catch?" Sofia asks, mulling over the details. She won't let, she likes what she's hearing.
But as you know, somethings are too good to be true.
"Well, it's pretty deadly for one. Even with a Servant at hand," Sofia said. "I can't guarantee that you will survive any of the harder jobs I have in mind."
Sofia just rolls her eyes, that was a given.
"So what's the actual catch?" Ash asks again, crossing her arms and giving Sofia a rather annoyed look.
Lucinda laughs slightly.
"That's really it... Oh!" She suddenly exclaims, as if she just remembered. "You'll be more than just a hitman. There'll be times where I'll have you find stuff or go to certain places. Some that you and your Servant will no doubt find rather..."
She takes a second to think of the right word.
"... Let's go with unpleasant. That's a rather fitting word." She finishes.
... Sofia wishes that Lucinda was more specific. But she gets the feeling that won't happen.
"Hey, aren't you going to ask for my opinion?" Mordred ask
Right...
"Then what is your opinion?" Sofia reluctantly asks her Servant.
"So, I've been thinking, and while I am unsure about her. I think we should go for it. Not only do we need the money to get by, but that money also means more resources to use in the grail war. Especially since you pretty much cut ties with those magi. Not only that, but it will also give us much-needed experience out on the field, which I know you lack. That experience will make us stronger as a team, and that could give us a big advantage when fighting other Servants. We need every upper hand that we can get when it comes to fighting my father. And these jobs are just what we need to do such a thing." Mordred explains.
Ignoring the Father part. Sofia couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised by Mordred's reasoning. She expected Mordred to say 'don't do it', nor did you expect any viable reason too... Or at least a good one.
So for once, Sofia smirks a bit.
"Well, I didn't expect someone like you to say things like that. Unusually you're just complaining about being bored or wanting to fight your Father." Sofia admits.
"I AM one of my Father knights after all. Father has high standards, and just being a good fighter isn't enough. Hell if that was all it took. I would kill the old man myself." Mordred told her.
"Didn't you already do that?" Sofia asks.
"Don't be a smartass," Mordred bitterly warns her.
"Well... whatever the matter, I get the feeling that we just might get along after all," Sofia told her Servant before turning her attention back to Lucinda.
"I accept." She told her. Lucinda nods.
"Good Good! I was hoping you wouldn't disappoint me." Lucinda said, sounding very pleased and happy. She then extends her hand out to her. "Shall we shake on it?"
Sofia grabs Lucinda. Only to feel herself getting shocked, with something that felt like an electric shock.
Sofia meeps and shoots her hand back to her, holding it with her other hand. It wasn't really painful. But the suddenness of it shook and surprise her.
Lucinda when show her palm to her, revealing that she hand buzzer in it.
"Heh, a hand buzzer is one of the classics you know?" Lucinda said as she took it off and put it in her dress. "It times like this where-"
And that she was interrupted with a chop on the head. Causing Lucinda to let out a small shrill of pain.
"Oi, that wasn't very-"
Another clop on her head. Sofia couldn't help but find this rather satisfying.
"Stop it!" She protests
Another chop on her head.
"S-stop it!" Lucinda said, who already has tears in her eyes. "It really-"
Another chop.
"I SAID STOP IT!" She yelled.
And then Sofia found herself in the middle of the forest.
Or to be more precise, this was the place when Sofia found Lucinda's place. Only the house wasn't there anymore
"...what?" Sofia could only let out.
"The fuck just happened?" Mordred expresses, being just as confused as her Master.
"I... don't know." Sofia honestly said.
"... Well, now what? And how are we going to find her if she's can... teleport her house or something." Mordred asks her Master.
"... I guess we head home. I'm sure she can contact us threw another letter or something." Sofia said turning around and then takes a step.
Only to hear the sound of her foot stepping on a piece of paper.
"Eh?" She let out, looking down at it. She knew this wasn't here before.
Picking it up, she realizes it was another letter.
"Dear Sofia.
I am willing to forgive you for your transactions towards me. So instead of just punishing you. I have decided to boot you out of my home for now. But understand that I will not allow this a second time.
I have listed coordinates to my new location, and have also had its appearance change to that of a warehouse to match the area it is in. But I do not suggest coming back for at least a week, as my building doesn't like to let people I've kicked out back in for a bit.
Sincerely, Lucinda"
"... Well, that could have ended a lot worst I suppose." Sofia admits.
"... We forgot to ask her about the memory thing." Mordred said.
Sofia was silent for a moment. She forgot about that...
"Well... fuck." Was what she let out.
Jeanne was busy doing the dishes after a rather heaty dinner then she and Raynare had. Both of them have been working pretty hard since Ai has left for her training trip. And Jeanne felt they both should be rewarded for there efforts. Or well, she thinks Raynare at least deserves more.
Granted she understands why the fallen angel is treated so poorly by Ai, but she feels that she's still being a bit too harsh, even after hearing the whole story.
So Jeanne made a bit more food then she would unusually make. And even though her food isn't as good as Ai's cooking, she's sure that the Raynare appreciates it, even if she doesn't show it.
"Hey! You bitchy wannabe saint! Is this where you are?" speak of the Devil, Raynare comes walking in the kitchen, shouting.
"I would prefer Jeanne," Jeanne said. "And I did say I would be doing the dishes."
"Oh, right. I think she said something along the lines." The fallen angel said, not caring one way or the other. "You got a love letter or something."
Jeanne quirks her eyebrows. "A love letter?"
"Yea, not sure who sent it," Raynare said, looking at the letter that was clearly already opened. Jeanne assumes that was Raynare's fault. "It's so fucking slappy by the way. It makes me sick to my stomach."
"You shouldn't be reading anyone else mail," Jeanne told her. Slightly upset at her, though she doesn't show it. "At least not without their consent."
Raynare just waves her off with the letter.
"Details. Details... Some of this crap is bad by the way. 'My fairest maiden. I couldn't help but notice your spectacular aura as you passed by one day, it gave off the feeling of one most holy, and I couldn't help but fall in love at first sight.'" Raynare read part of the letter in a mocking tone. Even making some exaggerating gestures as she spoke. "Seriously, this belongs in the trash."
"Now now, let's not insult this young man for being in love," Jeanne said and she places some dishes on the drying rack. Though honestly, Jeanne herself would have been rather embarrassed and wouldn't know what if she read it herself. she never really dealt with 'love' before.
In a way, it makes her thankful that Raynare read it first.
"Pff, for all we know, it could be some elderly woman." Raynare spat.
"Eh?" Jeanne let out, stopping the task at hand for a second to look at Raynare, confused. "Does it not say who it's from?"
"It says it's from a secret admirer," Raynare told her. "Judging from what written this also won't be the last letter."
"May I see it?" Jeanne said, taking off her gloves and setting them to the side, approaching the fallen angel. Who in turn hands her the letter.
"Don't be surprised if it sickens you as well. Then again, being the goody-two-shoes you are I can see you buying into it." Raynare said as she made a face.
Jeanne takes a looks at the letter, quickly scanning it. she was thankful that the grail gave her the ability to read. Otherwise, all she would are just randoms curves and lines.
"Dear fair maiden.
I cannot contain it any longer, I must express my love and desire for you. You do not know me, and hopefully, with time, that will change. But for now, I must remain hidden, for reasons I could not possibly tell, for risk of endangering you.
You were like a spark of light in this dark, damp world. My fairest maiden. I couldn't help but notice your spectacular aura as you passed by one day, it gave off the feeling of one most holy, and I couldn't help but fall in love at first sight.
It was as if I was looking at the holiest of saints. One that I could barely contain myself from approaching, but alas, for now, we must stay apart. As there are things I must do before I can finally meet you face to face.
Until then, letters like this are the best I can do, I am sorry.
Form your Secret Admirer,"
Jeanne's face was almost red on reading it. In which Raynare could only roll her eyes.
"Seriously? you're going to buy into this mushy mushy crap?" The fallen angel asks, eyeing the Ruler Servant.
"I-i mean, it is flattering," Jeanne admits once she gains her composure. "But I'm not really sure what to make of it. And I doubt I could feel the same way as this man does towards me."
"I don't buy it," Raynare said. "There no such thing as 'love at first sight.' And if they truly did love you, as they say, they wouldn't hesitate to reveal themselves, plus no one in their right minds would make something as sappy as this. I bet whoever wrote this has other motives."
"Is it that hard to believe?" Jeanne ask. "Maybe this person means everything he says."
"Pff as if," Raynare said, dismissing the thought entirely. "You're being too optimistic."
Jeanne just shakes her head,
"Well, either way. I don't have time for love. I have a w- house to take care of." Jeanne catches herself form accidentally saying something she didn't want to say.
If Raynare noticed, she sure didn't show it.
"Well whatever, just don't be a moron," Raynare said, shrugging before leaving Jeanne to do what she was doing.
Jeanne looks at the letter again before folding it and setting on the table as she didn't feel right with throwing it away. Besides, even if Raynare was right. Jeanne was a Servant, and not just any Servant, A Ruler. She should be able to handle anything that comes her way.
Nodding to herself, she goes back to the dishes, places the gloves back on, and finish what she intended to do.
Saber was pretty impressed overall. They were so young and yet so skilled.
As for who she is thinking about. She and her Master are currently watching both Kiba and Ai spar it out. Though they opted to used Kendo Stick instead of there normal equipment.
Saber has heard of praise for Ai's Skill with a blade from Isai and Asia. But she preferred to wait and see for herself.
And for what they said, she can understand why. Ai is indeed pretty good at handling a sword. Just from looking at her posture for the first time, she could already tell she was leagues above her own Master.
The way she moved felt more like she was dancing instead of fighting. Never standing still and constantly moving around her opponent. Meanwhile, Kiba held his ground and stayed on the defensive, deciding his best option was to hold on and wait for Ai to make a mistake.
But as good as Ai was, in Saber's opinion, she wasn't nearly as skilled as Kiba. Not only that, but he was also slightly faster than the Master of Archer. Admittedly, Ai is only just using a kendo stick. And the King of Knights has heard that her preferred way of fighting is with two blades.
Normally, Saber would believe that Kiba would end up as the victor. But Ai's way of fighting was... strange to say the least. At the start of this spar, she used Kendo, and she was surprisingly decent at it, though certainly not better then Kiba. But just as the young man was getting used to her style, she suddenly switched it up, taking a far more brutish style of fighting. Adding unexpected kicks, ramming him with her shoulder, or headbutting him. Saber wasn't very... Let's just say she didn't approve of it. But she can't deny the effectiveness of it at times.
Ai also didn't just throw them out without thought, Saber could tell that she carefully thought it out as she fought. Only actually employing these techniques when she thought they had the biggest effect.
It reminded her of how Mordred fought, thought Mordred was far better then Ai could ever be when it came to that.
And then, before Kiba could even get used to it she started this 'dance' that she was doing right now.
She knew she wasn't as skilled as Kiba, and she made up that difference in skill with unpredictability. Sure she wasn't the best at any of these styles. But constantly switching up how she fought made it where Kiba could never truly adapt to her. Not only that, but Ai had also planted the seeds of uncertainty in the Knight of Gregory. He didn't know just when Ai was going to switch it up again. And that made him far too Weary.
This is why Kiba opted to stay on the defensive. He played it safe. Which isn't a bad thing mind you, it was a smart move all things considered.
But just because it was a smart move doesn't mean it was the right one. He was playing right into Ai's hands. She now has complete control over the flow of the battle, which was just what she wanted. If Kiba didn't change things now this spar was pretty much hers.
Saber correctly assumes that Archer had some sort of hand in this. Which was a bit unfair, as it pretty much made this a 2v1. But in the end, Archer was her Servant, a tool for her to use as she pleased. Saber had no say in how she should fight, no matter how distasteful it was to her.
Thought regardless of her distaste for it, Ai was still a good fighter. It made the Knight wonder just how good she would be if she was fighting with the weapons she was actually comfortable with.
Kiba was equally impressive, however, as any normal Knight would have fell to Ai sometime ago. As said before, he is more skilled than her, but also, there was no doubt that he was more experienced than the young redhead, so the possibility of him realizing his mistake and turning this around still very much exists. And Personally, Saber was rooting for Kiba.
"... I feel kind of ashamed." Saber hears her master says "It kind of feels like I don't belong when I watch them fight."
"Because you are not nearly as skilled?" Saber asks her Master, who only nods. "Unlike these two, you have spent most of your life like a normal girl. It is expected."
"Ai isn't much different... I think." Isai told her, though she couldn't deny the fact that she didn't sound too sure.
"Than what about Keiichi? He is pretty much in the same situation as you." She said. She knew her master couldn't really deny that.
"Yet he could bring out his Noble phantasm right after getting his Servant." Isai points out. "Sure he can't use whatever it's ability is just yet. But the fact he can even do that must mean he has really high Affinity with Lancer"
"You should not degrade yourself so much." Saber said.
"I'm just telling the truth," Isai said. "Besides, I'm not depressed over it. A bit envious yes, but I'm just trying to think of what I can do to overcome that."
"Well, that's why you're here right?" Saber and Isai could hear Issei say.
Saber forgot that Issei was sitting by them. Then again, he was unusually quiet, he was probably more focused on the spar then.
He actually spared Ai before the match between her and Kiba. And well... Let's just say it wasn't very surprising who won.
Ai at least made sure it was quick, however. Saber guessed that was one of her ways of 'thanking' Issei for protecting her Master.
Issei's shoulders were still sore, but he just ignores it.
"Well yea, but the more I think about it. The more I realize that I need more than just learning how to swing a blade." Saber could hear her Master say.
"It is not just a mere Blade Master." Saber said, correcting her.
"I know I know, but you understand what I mean right?" Isai insists. Saber did know, but that's beside the point.
"Ok, now I have no idea what you two talking about," Issei admits.
Isai pause for a second, then turn her head towards Issei, inspecting him a bit.
"Hmm..." She let out, thinking about... something.
"... What did your power do again?" Isai asks him... Saber wasn't fully sure where her Master was going with this.
"Uh, it doubles my power for a short time." He answers.
"And you can use it on other people right?" Isai questions. Rubbing her chin in thought.
"...Yes...?" Issei hesitantly said.
Isai thought about a for a bit more... Then smiles.
"Tonight, meet me outside of the forest," Isai said.
"Eh? Why?" Issei then asks, confused.
Then it clicks for Saber.
"Master... If what I am thinking of is true... You can not be serious right? Do you know how Dangerous that is?" Saber warn her Master.
"Eh, no pain no game," Isai said, shrugging a bit.
"This is not something that you should be shrugging off! You can hurt or even kill yourself!" Saber warns her again, her tone harsher now.
"Uhh..." Issei interrupts, "If Saber thinks it's that bad, maybe you shouldn't."
"Oh?" Isai narrows her eyes at the young Devil. "What if that stray Devil comes back, or some Servant comes out of nowhere and attacks me? I might as well be dead in that case."
That was some... interesting reasoning, to say the least.
"I've only been getting lucky with my fights." She said. "In all of them so far, I would have died if I wasn't so lucky. But that luck is bound to run out eventually. What will I do then? Helplessly and foolishly swing my sword around with little to no skill? And before you say anything, there only so much you can do Saber."
Both Saber and Issei were quiet.
"Besides, If you know what I intend to do, you can help me control it." She reasons.
"It is not that simple Master," Saber told her.
"It never is." Her master replies. "But you can't deny that if I could at least use your Noble Phantasm. I would be able to defend myself against people who should normally be way above my level."
Isai wasn't wrong, and admittedly, it's not a problem of not having enough magical energy. In fact, Isai has so much magical energy, she could spam Excalibur for hours if she wanted too.
The problem is Isai's body wouldn't be able to take the forces that Excalibur amits when it's true name is unleashed. Sure, she would kill whoever she aimed for, but she would also kill herself.
Thought Saber doubts she can convince her Master from backing down... And her reasoning for wanting to use it in the first place isn't without merit.
...Perhaps an alternative then?
"I understand your concerns, but even so, I cannot permit such a thing, Your life is too precious just to be thrown away," Saber told ber.
But as Isai would about to respond, Saber keeps going, not giving her a chance to speak.
"But I cannot deny the fact that we are severely underpowered at the moment. Even with proper training, if a Servant would attack us now, the chances of us surviving are slim at best." Saber said. "In that case, I would like to suggest another idea. Though we would need Issei to help with such a matter."
"...Why my help?" Issei couldn't help but ask, confusing written all over his face.
"Because of boost?" Isai said.
"Partly," She answers. "But lately, I have been thinking of just why Issei could hear me even though he should not be able to. And I have come up with a theory of sorts."
"What Theory?" Issei asks, becoming far more interested then he was before... Not that he wasn't interested, to begin with.
Of course, before Saber could answer him, the 3 of them suddenly hearing the wind pass by them as Ai suddenly strikes out at Yuuto with enough force to send him back a couple of feet. Luckily though he looks fine form whatever Ai just did.
"... We shall talk more about this later, for now, we should focus on the battle before us." Saber "It would be rude of us to cut our focus of it for any longer."
"Right Right." Isai agrees, nodding. "... By the way, have any of you seen Keiichi-kun? I haven't seen him all day."
"He and lancer went somewhere quiet to train," Issei said, shrugging a bit. "He said that Lancer said it would be for the best."
"Eh? Why?" Isai said, perking up slightly. Issei just shrugs again.
"He said that Lancer felt annoyed by Ai's Archer for some reason." Issei answers. "Thought Lancer himself isn't even sure why."
Meanwhile, sitting on a small boat in the lake that exists in the forest, sat Keiichi, Quietly holding out a fishing rod. Waiting for some sort of bite.
"You see, fishing not only tests and improves your patience, but it also trains your mind and spirit, focuses it, letting it you think with far more clarity," Lancer said.
"And you also get to eat what you catch," Keiichi adds. If Lancer could grin, he would be now.
"I like the way you think!" Lancer agrees. "Make sure to reel in something big. That's if you can that is!"
Keiichi only scoffs.
"Please, as if you should expect any less." He told her Servant.
And as if the gods themselves have overheard him, Keiichi felt a tug at his fishing rod.
"Oh!" Keiichi said, suddenly excited. "It looks like I got one!"
And with it, he's starting to pull a bit. Feeling the weight of the fish he got.
"Oh, this one feels heavy! It looks like we'll be eating well tonight!" Keiichi shouts and he stands up.
"You dam right we are! come on reel him up, we don't want to lose it!" Lance insists.
It was at this point Keiichi starts to struggle a bit, with the constantly pushes back with a force that seems a bit unnatural...
"I'm trying, but god, this thing is putting up a good fight. I even think my finger is starting to slip." He said. "I'm not sure how long the rod will last like this!"
Lancer seems a bit unamused,
"Dude it's just a fish, it can't be that bad," Lancer said.
"Looks can be deceiving!" Keiichi rebuttals.
"Fine fine, I'll help ya." lancer said.
With those words, Keiichi suddenly felt power surge into her body. With this newfound strength. He gives one big pull and...!
Something soars out of the Water. and into the air... So far up and so fast into the air, Keiichi... couldn't really see it.
"Eh...?" Keiichi could only say, as he starts to look around. "Where's the fish?"
"...That's pretty strange." Lancer amits. "Than again, maybe it just rock? That or a small fish that we somehow miss."
"What? No! That had to be..."
Keiichi stops speaking mid-sentence and he noticed a shadow looming over the boat.
He then looks up.
"What..." Keiichi could only say.
"...The fuck?" Lancer finished for him.
And then a giant bluefish that was at least triple the size of the boat crashed on top of the two poor fishermen.
"Perhaps you should focus on the fight," Saber told him.
"Oh! Sorry sorry!" Isai said, quickly apologizes
Speaking of said battle, Ai could help but smirk somewhat... It seems Archer is rubbing off her.
"Pushed back like that? I didn't put that much force in it." Ai told him. Before quickly approaching him again.
"I just didn't expect it," Yuuto admits, dusting himself off. Only to duck one of Ai's roundhouse kicks. "I wasn't planning of going all out for just a spar. But if you wanna play like that, then by all means!" Taking advantage of Ai's mistake of trying to kick him, he then shifts his stick into the right position and swings upwards.
Ai already expected something like this, however. and moved her stick to block it. It was a shame however that her stance was way off due to the roundhouse kick she just did before.
So she blocked it, yes, but in the process was sent flying.
This didn't deter the young redhead, however. As she, much to the confusion of Yuuto Threw her Kendo stick at the Devil.
But even if he was confused he still easily defecated that now abandoned stick... Only to look back at Ai to see her holding a black bow. To which Ai suddenly and gladly fired quite a lot of 'arrows' form.
The 'arrows' in question were pretty harmless all things considering. At worse, all they could leave were a burse... If they could hit him at least. For someone like Yuuto, defecting them is child's play.
Whether they hit him or not didn't really matter. They were already serving their purpose. Which was to keep Yuuto from approaching her.
Ai wasn't dumb, she knew if she gave him the chance, then by the time she lands, Yuuto would already be on her, and would quickly take the win from there.
And she didn't intend for that to happen, at least, not that easily.
As she lands, she immediately discards the bow and traces a Kendo Stick.
And she traced it just in time, as Yuuto was still able to push forward even with a barrage of 'arrows' raining towards him.
And so the kendo sticks clash once again. Thought Ai seems to give far too quickly.
What happened afterward happened so fast, you could have blinked and missed it.
Ai did, in fact, give up the power struggle without trying. But unlike Isai, who would have lost at this point, she had a plan.
And that plan was to do a backroll.
She bends her knees down as soon and she was being pushed back as if she sitting and starts to roll. Yuuto, who was moving forward at the time, couldn't really do much of anything due to momentum, having to move along with Ai.
Ai catches him with her feet. and with a heavy heave, throws Yuuto over her with her legs. Stopping. the roll.
Now helplessly flung into the and with Ai on her back, she summons Archer's black bow, quickly traces an 'arrow'. like the other arrows before it, it was relatively harmless to Yuuto, but this time she did put enough power into it so it could easily break threw his Kendo stick.
So she fires it at Yuuto's chest. Ensuring her victory.
Or well, she though her victory was ensured. Because she did not expect Yuuto to summon a sword in his hand, nor for the sword to be engulfed by flames. Flames that completely turned her Arrow to ash.
"... The fuck?" was what Ai said, quickly getting back to her feet.
"You were using your powers, it's only fair that I use mine right?" Yuuto told her. Ai was about to raise a protest, but she quickly stops as she realizes she would only sound like a complete idiot.
So she just smiles.
"Alright then, but if you just happen to get hurt, don't blame me," Ai told him, discard bow her bow and the kendo stick, in favor of Kanshou and Bakuya. Though she made sure to make the blades were dull.
Yuuto in response Held out his sword, preparing to attack. The flames thought have seemed to have died out.
"Don't you two think your both getting a bit too into it?" Yuuto and Ai could hear Rias say, as she walks on by, finishing up whatever she and Akeno were doing today.
The two in question look at the Devil.
Funny enough, the two were so into there little spar, that even Isai and Issei were able to notice Rias before they did.
"Hello," Isai said, waving at Rias. Who waves back.
"Buchou! When we will start training? I want to get stronger fast!" Issei asks.
"Soon Ise, very soon," Rias said as she quickly addresses him. "But for now, I think it's back time to end this little fight. Prefer not to have any of the surrounding area possibly ruined in the crossfire.
the two stood in silence for a moment before looking at each other.
"...Draw?" Ai asks.
"Draw." Yuuto agrees. with both of their weapons disappear.
"That was a bit intense at the end there." Isai couldn't help but say. "I honestly thought Ai was going to win."
"Until he bought out a freaking flame sword... thing," Ai mutters.
"Lets us return to this at a later time, alright?" Yuuto suggests, with Ai nodding in agreement.
Rias meanwhile was looking around, as if she was expecting to see someone that wasn't there.
"... By the way, I thought Keiichi was with you guys," she said.
"He went to train by himself," Ai told her. "Do you need him or anything?"
Rias just shakes her head.
"No, not really, just wondering where he went," Rias said.
... and funny enough, just as Rias said that. The corpse or a giant bluefish that had, suddenly slams down into the area, making everyone else around jump.
The fish in question had a red spear impaled in its chest.
No one was expecting a giant fish to come out of nowhere...
And it was none other then Keeichi that bought the fish. Completely wet and looking like he went threw a waterly battle zone. Breathing heavily and completely tired. Using the dead fish as support.
"Dinner's... here... " Keeichi barely let out, much too exhausted to say much more.
"...Keiichi-kun, are you alright?" Isai questions as she approaches him, but Keiichi just raises her hand,
"Fine... Fine... just tired..." He breaths out. "Going to... turn in early."
And so Keiichi limps back to the building, with everyone looking at him in disbelief.
"... I feel like we all just missed something epic." Issei said. Everyone had to agree.
That's it for now, and quite a bit happened, We get to see when Sofia and Lucinda meet. Though from the looks of things, this wasn't actually the first time they met, she even forgot to ask Lucinda about it. Strange isn't it?
That being said, I feel like I could have done Mordred better...
Also, Jeanne has a crush. Isn't that nice? I wonder who sent her that letter...
Finally, we get to see a spar between Yuuto and Ai, and a hint towards what will happen next chapter!. Also poor Keiichi and lancer. They already seem to be really unlucky.
So as always, thank you to anyone who points out any errors, I'll make sure to fix them as soon as possible.
So next up is the Illya chapter special chapter! This will be coming in about 2-3 days! So you won't have to wait long! See you all then!