I'm back and on time! ... kind of! Things have.. been weird. You know, with what's been happening in the world lately. So it's been... screwy to say the least.
But hey, that's not going to stop me from updating! If anything, it just gives me more reasons to do so.
I will note that this chapter is... short. But hopefully, what happens in it more than makes up for it.
Not really much else to say otherwise, so let's get to the reviews.
Ronin nexus: Sad to see you go, but I've already said before that the poll =/= actual pairing. But hey, if that how you feel, that's fine. More power to you.
Maxim7: I'm not going to give an exact point of time. But I will say that It will start to diverge post-Excalibur Arc.
TheAzureKnight: I will not confirm nor deny this.
DT3: Ok seriously, I'm just going to go check now.
...
Huh, I really thought I had it in chapter one... I guess not. Alright, I'll make sure to edit it in later. I can also use this as an excuse to stop being lazy and go fix up the previous chapters. Thanks to everyone who pointed this out.
As for your opinion on the poll, if you want you can give it. I would actually love to hear your opinion in fact. Just do it threw PM, please.
angelvan105: Really like the Dream cycles huh? Well don't worry, we'll be seeing one of those in a chapter or two.
.mas86: ... You know, as much as I'm getting tired of pointing it out, I know this is my fault. I feel I should have more clear about it, I'm sorry that I couldn't explain that in a fashion that everyone could understand.
The poll was not a vote on who I would pair Isai with. I just wanted to see everyone's opinion on the matter since I wasn't fully sure if I even wanted to pair Isai with anyone. I wasn't planning to make it the official pairing.
So I'm just going to say this now. Isai is not going to a part of Issei's harem. That was never the intention. If anything, It just gave me more ideas for other non-cannon side-stories to do at a later point.
And Lastly, I'm sorry for those who actually wanted that sort of pairing. I did not mean to put your hopes up like that. I hope you guys will have the heart to forgive me and my inability to properly explain.
Alright... now with that hopefully done with. Let get onto the Chapter!
Well, that's all for the reviews! Let's waste no more time.
I shiver a bit as the cool night air pass by me. You know, I expected it to be a bit warmer. Or well, I was hoping it would be warmer.
"Cold Master?" Saber asks me. If this wasn't Saber that was asking, I would have thought she was trying to be a smartass or something.
"Just slightly chilly. Nothing big." I answer and I slump down on a tree by a small clearing. "How long do you think Issei going to make us wait?"
"If he does come," Saber told her. "He never gave us an answer after all."
"Well if he doesn't, I'm going to kick his butt hard tomorrow," I grumble. Issei would be the only person I would be able to beat after all. I mean, all he has is boost, right?
"I suppose that would be a suitable punishment for having us waste our time." Saber agrees. "Thought I do personality believe he will come."
"... Yea, probably." I say. After all, Saber did reframe from telling us her theory. No doubt she did so just to give Issei a reason to come here.
... I also do wonder what Saber has planned for us. I was the one who first thought of coming here tonight to train, but she took control after she figured out what I was planning to do, at least when she realized I wouldn't back down.
I'm not going to say that I fully planned this out because I didn't. But I will admit that I wasn't going to try to use Excalibur's true name. Just like, I don't know. Maybe Shoot a small beam or something?
Honestly, I just wanted to be able to use Excalibur in any possible way to give me some sort of advantage. It was also why I opted to bring our Excalibur instead of Rapidly.
Then again, maybe I'm not even ready for that... Even with it in my hand right now, I can only make it glow as if it was a dying ember. It's kind of dream I had with that black dragon...
You know, I'm just going to stop thinking about it. I'm making myself feel bad.
"So what am I going to learn?" I ask.
"I would prefer to wait until Issei comes so I do not have to explain myself twice." She told me.
"You sure?" I ask again.
"Yes, I am sure." Saber said in a way that basically told me 'You will wait.'
Its times like this where I wonder who the actual master is in this relationship. Cause it certainly doesn't feel like I am.
"Ok," I said. "Then what do we do to pass the time?"
"We wait." Saber simply replies.
"Eh? Really? You sure that's all we can do?" I question her.
"If you have any ideas, then you are free to suggest them." Saber just said. I can't tell if she's starting to get annoyed or not.
Ideas huh...
"Why not warn up? Get myself prepared and such." I offer. With Saber taking a short moment to think.
"Very well. We can at least do that." Saber finally says,
"Cool! So that what will we do?" I ask excitedly.
"You will continuously invoke invisible air. Making it constantly cloak and decloak our blade." Saber said.
Eh?
"..Why?" I ask.
"You will need to get used to Invisible air. I was planning to have you do that as I explain what we were going to do." Saber said. "But since we seem so eager, we will start that now."
Ah, well, Something is better then nothing I guess. So I grab Excalibur's handle with both of my hands and mentally called out to my Noble Phantasm.
As expected, it came as I called, seamlessly covering the blade before nothing can be seen of it. It's still amazing to see by the way.
Of course, it didn't last very long, as I made it disappear just a few moments after.
"Yes, good, just keep going like that." And so I keep on with this pattern.
It was well... pretty boring, and the splendor of watching the blade disappear quickly wore off. But still, it passed the time, and it kept my mind occupied.
This whole affair went a half hour or so. With me getting slightly annoyed every time I felt I took too much time.
Saber didn't say anything, but that just what she usually does, She probably just collecting her thoughts.
Finally, it took a bit, but Issei came over... with... Akeno tagging along with him? The heck?
"Yea, sorry I took so long," Issei said as he approaches me. "I wanted a take a nap first. And I guess I overslept."
"You guess?" I said with a plain stare.
"And why did you bring Akeno? She has no reason to be here," Saber said, clearly not happy about this.
"Ok ok sorry!" Issei aid as he raises his hands in defeat. "Akeno kept insisting to come with me, and I couldn't say no."
"Hi~," Akeno said cheerfully. "I couldn't leave my kouhais by themselves alone at night. I mean, who knows what could happen~?"
I couldn't help but gag slightly at the thought of what Akeno meant by those words.
"What?! no No! that isn't why we're here!" I quickly denied it.
"Relax relax~. I'm just playing around." Akeno mention. A mental fume at her for a second.
Ugh... whatever! Issei's here so we can start now!
"Alright let's start now," I told Saber.
"While I do not approve of Akeno of being here, I rather not delay this anymore then it has to be. So she is welcomed to watch." Saber told me.
I nod at her words.
"Saber says you can watch," I told her.
"Hmhm~ Well I guess it's nice to have her permission," Akeno said.
"So what are we doing?" Issei asks.
"We are going to have Isaiviel learn how to use Invisible Air differently than simply cloaking the blade." Saber said.
Eh? Really?
"What am I going to do?" I ask.
"Create a tornado," Saber told me.
What.
"What," Issei said, sounding even more confused then what I would have sounded like.
Akeno also looks confused, though that was because she wasn't sure why she was confused.
"I can't blame you for being so confused, but I ensure you that using Invisible Air in such ways is very possible." She ensured us. "I personality don't use it like that, but Master, you are one who would very much need this and other winds base abilities that you will over the next couple of months."
Well, now I know why she bought me to a clearing instead of going a bit deeper into the forest. She didn't want to cause too much damage to the place. It did belong to Rias after all.
"...What what does that have to do with me?" Issei asks.
"Your boost will help ensure that Isai can pull it off," Saber told him.
"Oh... Hey! That's actually pretty cool in a way." Issei said, nodding to himself. "I'm kind of like the person who unlocks Isai-chan's awesome power!"
"I doubt that's what she means, but uh, good for you?" I said,
"... I don't know what's going on." Akeno admits.
"Yea, this was why I was not so keen on her being here, she cannot hear me." Saber said.
"... She wants me to create a tornado." I just told her.
"Oh! With magic? I could help with that!" Akeno let out. I just shook my head.
"With my Noble Phantasm." I correct her. With Akeno just pouting a bit, looking disappointed. "So how do I do it?"
"In a way not too different in how you used Airstrike," Saber told me. Right, I used that when I fought Raynare and Assassin. "Just instead of a projectile, think of spinning motion instead."
"Uhh... Ok." U]I said and I bring up my cloak blade
"Hold on, Before we go forward. Issei, your power only works for 15 seconds right?" Saber asks. With me lower Excalibur.
"Uh, yea, is that bad?" The person in question asks.
"No, not at all," Saber told him. "I just wanted to make sure. Does it have any unintended side effects?"
"Not that I know of," Issei admits.
"Good," Saber said. And then it was as if something inside has clicked for Issei.
"But wait! Remember? You said you had a theory on why I can hear you!" Issei said.
"She does?" Akeno asks. I just nod.
"Yea, but Ai and Yuuto were sparring then and she rather had us focus on that," I told her.
"Yes I did, and this will help confirm if my theory is true," Saber told him. At this point, I was pretty much just telling Akeno everything Saber was saying, just to make sure she wasn't out of the loop.
"... I don't understand, how or even why would it even do that?" Issei asks. Starting to get slightly annoyed at my Servant. "Don't you think you should be clear and explain?"
"I rather not disappoint you two if it turns out not to be the case. So I will hold on to my thoughts until they are proven true or false." Saber told us.
Oh...
"So you never intended to tell us beforehand?" I ask her.
"Not at that moment, no," Saber admits. Well, that sucks...
"...So does that mean you want me to boost Isai-chan?" Issei asks.
"Soon, for now, I want to see if Isai can do it with any help. If she can not, then we will boost her to see if it can help." Saber says.
"And if she can?" Akeno asks.
"Then we'll see if Boost can make it easier for her." Saber clarifies.
Right... so the spotlight is back on me then...
"You were able to use Airstrike. So this should not be too hard. But just like with the Airstrike, make sure to brace yourself." Saber told me as an encouragement.
"...What's Air Strike?" Issei couldn't help but ask.
"It a projectile made of air," Akeno said sweetly. "It's a slight to see.~"
Oh, right, I almost forgot she was there when I fought Assassin. God, that feels like it was so long ago...
Ok, focus... focus... how to do this.
I grip my sword and look towards the clearing...
Tornados are known for their spinning... and destructive force.
So imagine spinning... yea, spinning. Spinning the sword.
Wait do I spin myself too? Will that work? I'm not fully sure... Well, no use in not trying!
So with placing the tip of the blade on the ground. I turn my body, and spin, with the motion, I unleash invisible Air.
And then the wind goes wild! Rushing away in a circular fashio-.
GAH?! The hell?! What the heck's going on?! One second I had my feet firmly planted on my feet, the next I was hurling around in the air!
OK OK doing the spin was NOT a good idea at all! It was in fact, a very very bad one!
Luckily. Akeno was quick on her feet... or I guess wings would be better said here.
As she bought me out of whatever god-forsaken thing I just caused.
"Holy crap! how did you do that?!" I could barely hear Issei say threw the torrert of wind around my ears. Desperately holding onto a tree that was still planted in the ground.
"Master... You should have kept your feet firmly placed on the ground. You spinning around for 'style' only made things hard for you." I could hear Saber say. "Thought the moment of power was admittedly... unexpected."
Funny enough Akeno seems to be braving whatever storm this was with ease. Maybe she's used to it? She can use all sorts of elemental magic, I think.
I took a look back to see what just is happened as we get out. Only to see A giant swirling vortex of wind wildly rushing forward. Like, it was the size of a house! The winds were so powerful, it was even pulling the trees out from the ground!
It was a very good thing that it didn't last long, however. dissipating Rather quickly
...Oh, I get the feeling that going to catch some attention... I really hope I didn't just piss off Rias.
"You need to learn to control your magical energy a bit more," Akeno admits. "You went a bit overboard there."
"Yea... I can tell." I said, looking over the clearing that was now twice as big as before, and also very much lacking any green.
"I don't think boost would be a good idea," I told Saber.
"Perhaps, but admittedly, I should have tried to control the input of magical energy." Saber said. "You have far too much for your own good master."
It's not like I asked for so much magic or mana or whatever.
"You definitely should have!" Issei quickly butts in. "Man Buchou going to be mad when she hears this."
"Partially mad, Partially excited," Akeno said. "You shouldn't give her any more reasons to want you more.~"
... Why does she keep doing that? Stop making it sound so suggestive!
"Should we still try Boost?" Issei asks. "As cool as it would look, I'm not sure we want something like that at double power."
"Do not worry, I will ensure it does not happen again." Saber said. "We will try that again, but do not try to be fancy with it Master."
"I wasn't trying to be fancy, I just thought a spinning motion would help," I told my Servant.
"I see, well it is still best to avoid that, better to have your feet firmly on the ground, lest you wish to be toss into the air like last time." She honestly told me.
"Wait, you saw how it uprooted those trees! How would that help me if it can do that?" I ask her, I mean seriously. did she not see what happened?
"Even if weaken, we are still Servants, withstanding something like that isn't troublesome if properly prepared." Saber explains.
Ooook sure, I'll believe that.
So don't do the spin huh? Alright, I think I can still do it.
I close my eyes to think...
...
...
Ok, I've got this. With these thoughts, Invisible air starts to roar in my hands, But I don't let it loose, not yet at least.
So, in a circular motion, I drag my blade and let the wind loose. and just as I had hoped, the wind spins around, creating a small Tornado moving forward. It was nothing compared to the last one. But the winds were still strong, so I had to brace myself for it.
Issei and Akeno easily took it, at least it appears they have.
"Far more manageable." I could hear Saber say. "Of course, eventually you'll have to learn to control your power yourself. But for now, we just have to make do with this."
"So do we try Boost now?" I ask Saber.
"Uh... are we sure that is a good idea?" Issei said.
"No, we should, besides, as I said before. there another reason to do so." Saber confirms.
"Right... The Theory..." Issei said, mostly to himself. "Uh, alright. I guess I'm ready whenever you are."
He summons his gauntlet.
...
"This won't hurt right?" I ask.
"I mean it doesn't hurt me, and it didn't hurt Ai when I use it on her." Issei confirms, "So I doubt It would hurt you.
... I take a deep breath.
"Ok," I said. "Besides, I have Saber with me, she'll make sure nothing goes wrong."
"I'm here too~," Akeo said.
Y-yea! she also here too, Honestly, thinking about it, I don't see a reason to be scared.
I look At Issei and nod at him.
"Just don't grab anywhere inappropriate," I told Issei, eyeing him.
"What? What makes you think I'd do that?" Issai asks, looking a bit offended.
". . ." I just stare at him.
And stare.
And stare.
Issei then raised his hands in defeat.
"F-fine! I won't do anything alright?!" Issei quickly said.
"Good!" I said, giggling slightly.
"... what so funny?" Issei asks, raising an eyebrow.
"... I'm starting to get why Archer likes messing with Ai." I said as the giggles die down.
"What does Ai have to do with thi-" Issei was saying before he realized what she meant. "H-Hey! Don't mess with me like that!"
"Right right, sorry." I slightly "I know you wouldn't try anything. But I just wanted to lighten my mood a bit."
"Are you sure you're an angel?" Akeno asks. "Seem more like a Devil right now~"
"Pfff, as if," I said, dismissing her. "I'm too cute to be a Devil."
"Is that so?" Akeno said with a small smile.
"100% positive," I confirm.
"Can we please just get this over with?" Saber interrupts our little moment.
Oh, yea, Saber.
"Right... Saber wants us to do this now." I told her.
"Ok~," Akeno said.
Issei then places his gauntlet hand on my shoulder.
"Just say whenever," Issei told me.
... Right... Ok...! No time for regrets!
"Do it," I said.
[BOOS-
Suddenly, the world went Dark.
...Where am I?
I look to my left, I see black. I look to my right, I see black. I look behind me, I see black.
All I see is black.
... What is...?
I look at my hands, and I can see them as clear as day.
Ok, so I can see myself fine... so that means it isn't dark. Just... black.
...
...
This wasn't a good idea after all.
... Can I walk?
I took a step forward... and then another step. And another.
...Strange. I can see my legs move, but It doesn't feel like I'm moving.
I try running. I can see my body run, but I don't feel like I'm running.
And the weirdest part? I don't feel scared at all. Normally I would be sobbing or crying for daddy...
But I feel fine. There no fear. If anything, It feels... comfortable.
Then, without question, the area in front of me become red.
Of course. I skim to a halt. or at least. That what it looks like I'm doing. But I'm not moving...
I look around again.
Ok, so everything else is still black. Expect what's in front of me.
Feeling compelled to do so, I slowly reach out towards the red...
... But you know what the funny thing. The more I look at it. The more it looks like a...
An eyelid.
And then It open, revealing one... huge green eye.
At this point, it no longer feels comfortable.
And all I could do is scream.
She opens her eyes, blinking a bit...
She quickly comes to realize that she is lying down on a bed. She doesn't know why she here. She remembers Issei's boost. But that's all.
She sits and quickly hears someone shout.
"Isai!" She heard Ai worryingly shout. "You're finally awa-"
Ai stops speaking mid-sentence.
She just stares back.
"... Isai...? W-What happened to your eyes?" Ai could only ask.
Oh... Oh... This... This wasn't good.
"... I am sorry to say this, but this is not Isaiviel that is speaking." Artoira's voice echos in the room. Her green eyes staring back at Ai.
... Well, that was a thing.
Well, I guess Saber going to be in the driver's seat in the meantime. Hopefully, it won't take too long for Isai to come back.
Oh, also about the tornado thing. Saber actually has done that before. In Fate/extella link. It's a fun game by the way. And if you like Fate and dynasty warriors type games,
then you'll really love it.
Anyways, that's it for now! A lot of scary things are happening in the world right now, so I hope that you all are trying your best to ensure your safety.
I'll see you all in the next chapter!