Before she knew it, classes had ended for that morning, and Hakuno is seen hanging around the school gardens by the chapel. Time really does fly faster when she's deep in thought.
Sipping on the strawberry milk she bought from the vending machine, she let's out a quiet sigh. For obvious reasons, she didn't feel like lingering inside the classroom for too long, and so figured that she could take a breather in the gardens to sort out her thoughts.
It appears that crying it out last night and spending a good few minutes calming herself down in the bathroom this morning managed to help after all...somewhat. Honestly, she still feels torn over the whole ordeal that happened during the first round, but she knows that she can't reverse the consequences either.
The two deaths still weighed heavily on her mind, but she forces herself to focus on something else...anything that can get her mind off yesterday's events. She knows how ruthless and unforgiving this war was...and that she needs to move on, to move forward, and yet her judgement and rationality was still clouded over by fear and doubt.
She feels...lost and uncertain of herself. What was her plan of action for now? Provided, she doesn't know her second round opponent yet, but she should at the very least give more thought towards her wish for the Holy Grail.
However, nothing comes to mind though, only adding to her increasing anxiety and frustration. Fiddling with her straw, she knits her eyebrows together; this was harder than she realised.
...Now that she thought about it, her wish for the grail was still undecided. A Holy Grail that can grant any wish...but what exactly should she wish for? She didn't need riches or fame, nor did she want any power to take over the world. Power to end world hunger maybe? Stop poverty and crime forever? With her amnesia, she wasn't even aware of what was going on back in the real world anyway.
...Come to think of it, did her servant have any desire of his own? She hasn't brought the matter up, but she wondered if he had any wish that he wanted the grail to grant. Maybe something he wasn't able to fulfill while he was still alive? Surely he must have something he desired at least.
Who knows...perhaps hearing his opinion might give her more of an idea on her own wish too. She should probably ask him at some point, but such personal questions were best done in their private room.
Throwing her empty drink carton into a nearby trashcan, she stands with the intention to return to the school building. She could probably head to the commissary to stock up on supplies, and maybe head to the library afterwards to kill some time before classes began. She was expecting the second round announcement to arrive any minute anyway.
Just as she was about to walk towards the door, she pauses, feeling someone's presence behind her that wasn't her servant's. The air suddenly became strangely tense, with Hakuno slowly turning around, now on high alert.
Upon doing so, the brown-haired master comes in contact with a hooded figure dressed in green. From the looks of it, it seemed like the figure was a relatively young man, but a powerful one at that. Was he...a servant? What was he doing here...and when did he even appear? What did this person want with her anyway?
The brown-haired master continues to stare back at him cautiously. She knew Archer was also on guard in astral form...but even so...this figure seemed highly suspicious and dangerous for some reason. At any rate, the two of them should be prepared to engage with him if he decides to attack them without warning.
The hooded man continues to stare at her, looking her up and down as if scanning and judging her appearance. After a while, he smirks, and while his face was somewhat covered by his hood, Hakuno could more or less make out his chiseled facial features. "Yo, ojou-chan. Fine weather we're having today, don't you think so?" he greets, voice chirpy and playful.
Hakuno raises an eyebrow back at him. Was he trying to start up a conversation with her? "Yes...um...hello. Who...are...you?" she could only ask back slowly, still uneasy around the stranger. The man let's out a chuckle at her, seeming all too relaxed. "Relax, I won't bite. Though...I can see why you're wary of me. It's our first meeting after all."
Taking a few steps towards her, he let's out a whistle. "I must say, you are quite the cute one. I was wondering who was the master who managed to defeat that blue-haired brat during the first round but...you seem pretty harmless yourself."
This comment obviously threw Hakuno off guard, because she is now blinking at the stranger in confusion. Was that...a compliment or something? How she should she even respond to that? And...the blue-haired brat...was he referring to Shinji?
In an instant, the stranger somehow manages to close the distance, now standing in front of her as he places a finger under her chin, lifting her head up to see wide doe eyes staring back at him. Hakuno flinches at the sudden contact; how did he even...?! Her hands were immediately balled into fists, but she doesn't pull away, instead gulping as she continued to stare at him. "Hmm...not gonna back away are ya? Interesting..."
This prompts the female master to narrow her eyes at him, now glaring defiantly at the stranger. "Who are you...and what do you want with me?" she demands, her voice low. This man was suspicious and had some sort of ulterior motives for seeing her, that was for sure.
The man doesn't seem the least bit threatened or worried, instead laughing in response and leaning closer towards her face. "Ah, so even a little innocent girl like you has a feisty side. I must've struck gold this time, being paired against a pretty master like you."
His fingers now go from her chin to her cheek, tucking away a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The close contact obviously makes her uncomfortable, but she tries not to show it on her face, with his words not making any sense to her. Is this his weird attempt of getting her to drop her guard? What did he even want with her?
Noticing her confusion, his smirk widens. "Hey ojou-chan, I have a neat proposal for ya. What do you think about changing servants?" His question causes her to stiffen in place; so he was a servant like she had suspected! But...what was a servant doing here by himself? It didn't seem like his master was anywhere near the area.
Nonetheless, the question he asked made her even more confused. Changing servants? What sort of suggestion was that? "You see...my master's a bit of an overbearing pushover himself. It's super boring and tedious fighting for him. I'd much rather have a master like you."
His face is so close to a point where Hakuno wants to shove him away to regain her personal space. Was he proposing to form a contract with her? Was changing servants even possible to begin with, especially after the first round had already ended?
Why would he even want to propose such a thing to her in the first place? Was he being serious...or merely trying to gauge some sort of reaction out of her? Either way, she felt that she still couldn't trust him.
The stranger must've seen the distrust in her irises, because he tries to negotatiate with the female master. "C'mon, I'm pretty strong and confident in my abilities myself. I'm sure we'll make a fantastic duo, and I'll enjoy fighting under a good-looking master like you rather my current one." He flashes her what appears to be a puppy-eyed look, seemingly trying to get her to agree.
His cold fingers slide up her cheek as he continues. "I bet that I'm way better than your servant. I can easily finish off your opponents with no problem, and you'll have a servant that can take care of all the dirty work for you with no complaints. I'm pretty flexible with my terms and conditions, so they'll be no issues with our contract as well. Both of our lives will become much easier, and it's a win-win situation; you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. So what do you say, hmmm? Sounds tempting doesn't it?"
Focusing on his face, she takes note of the tuffs of orange hair that poked out of his hood, along with the dull green eyes that stared back at her, crinkling into half moons with the slightest twinkle of mischief in them. Now that he was standing in such close proximity, Hakuno could better examine his features, and notices that he indeed seemed to be on the younger side in terms of his looks...probably not as old as El Draque...but perhaps maybe around the same age as Archer?
Not that she would know Archer's actual age, but if she had to give an estimate, he was probably in his prime, roughly in the same age group as her servant. That aside, did he seriously think that she would agree? If anything, Hakuno wants to know what was his goal to approaching her like this.
Surely he must have something to gain if he thinks he can walk over and suggest something so preposterous. He was definitely plotting something, and Hakuno wanted no part in it. Opening her mouth, she was about to politely decline when she hears a familiar voice behind her, before a hand grabs onto her arm and pulls her away. "Nice try pal. I'd appreciate it if you'd stop flirting with my master, or is approaching and taking advantage of women a sick habit of yours?"
The servant's eyes go wide, immediately backing away from Hakuno just as Archer materializes in front of her. It seems that he had initially intended to stay in astral form and observe this stranger's moves, but even he must've gotten fed up and decided to actively cut in instead...which was a relief on her part because the whole exchange with this hooded man was honestly starting to creep her out.
The hooded servant now looks very much displeased at her servant's sudden intervention, clicking his tongue. "Tch, seems that you have a very protective bodyguard as your servant ojou-chan. And from the looks of it, it seems that my little negotiation has failed."
He let's out a groan, placing his hands on his hips in disappointment. "Aww, and we were just getting to the good part. Here I thought you would agree. Guess my plan didn't turn out well, you're a tough nut to crack girlie. But I guess that makes you all the more interesting."
"Get real. You're delusional if you think you can whisk away my master just like that. Go find another female master to hit on. Since it's just the second round, I'm sure there are still a number of options for you to choose from." Hakuno shrinks slightly at her servant's irritated tone. She could almost sense the killer intent radiating off him.
Well...anyone probably would if they saw the exchange that happened. From the looks of it, Archer seemed more than ready to fight the other servant, but was clearly holding back for her sake as he knew the consequences of the penalty if he did so. Glancing over towards the other servant, she could also tell that he was probably quite annoyed with Archer's remarks.
"Hah, talking big aren't ya? Bold words coming from a weak servant like you. From what I can see, you don't seem all that impressive. Continue talking like that and you'll die sooner." Raising his arms in defeat, he finally gives in, stepping away from the duo. "Alright alright, I get it. No need to get all angry, Mr. Knight. Sheesh, your servant's got quite the temper eh, ojou-chan? Seems pretty sensitive too. I bet dealing with him must be a massive pain in the ass. I sympathise with you."
Throwing a wink towards her way, he waves at her. "See ya ojou-chan. It was fun chatting with ya." With that, the servant vanishes before their eyes, leaving her standing in the gardens, bewildered. ...Well that was weird. In fact, she was still trying to process the whole series of events.
The servant frowns, shaking his head. "What a weird guy. He definitely has no tact or etiquette whatsoever. I have no idea what was his plan was all about, approaching you like that, but that servant's definitely up to no good." He didn't have to say it twice. Even Hakuno was super confused over the whole conversation that took place.
"Was...was it alright for you to appear like that? I mean...weren't you...y'know...?" Outside of the Arena, she knew that Archer was trying not to show his appearance towards other masters or servants on school grounds, for the purpose of concealing his True Name and class as much as possible.
The tanned man sighs in response. "I know...but I'll leave this as an exception for now. I had to step in like that, before he decided to try anything else." Hopefully the guy doesn't try the same thing again though; she didn't need him coming up to her and feeling her face up like that a second time.
Archer massages the bridge of his nose before he soon directs a look of warning at his master. "And you. You were pretty quiet the whole time he was talking and touching your face just now. Were you actually considering that playboy's suggestion?"
Sure, Archer had gotten mad at her over several reasons the past week, but she hasn't seen him this irritated. Hakuno could already sense the situation escalating from zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye.
She wrinkles her eyebrows at him, obviously offended. "What? Excuse me??" Did he seriously think that she was about to accept the proposal just like that?! Just how gullible and dumb did he think she was to stoop that low?! It wasn't as if she was treating their contract lightly to begin with!
Crossing his hands over his chest, he scoffs at her. Why did he seem so bothered over it?! "Am I wrong? You seem to be having a wonderful time examining his face too. Was he that attractive that you almost gave in? After all, it didn't look like you found his unsophisticated advances to be repulsive." This was silly! She usually wasn't one to judge, but she still couldn't believe that her servant was acting so...unnecessarily childish right now!
Was he intentionally trying to pick a fight with her? Or was it some sort of stupid joke or test he was putting her up against? Did he find it funny to joke around and insult her like this? Because her mood was getting sour by the second.
It definitely wasn't like him to get so riled up, and it wasn't as if she said anything that implied that she wanted to accept the hooded stranger's suggestion anyway! This was unfair, why was she getting scolded by him over this?! Oh no, she was not going to let him bully her and get the upper hand!
"Do you take me for a fool?! I can't believe this, you really think I'm that kind of person?! You don't trust me that much to think that I would just go with the flow and accept?! I wasn't going to anyway! I was about to decline when you butted in!" Archer's eyes widened at her sudden frustrated outburst as she begins glaring at him.
Normally she'd just tell him that he was wrong instead of overreacting, and while she was grateful for his intervention, he still went overboard with his snarky comments this time. She had every right to retaliate, and of course she'd be upset at how lowly he thought of her, even if she wasn't a capable master or magus.
This was a disaster. What good would it do for the two of them to be fighting like this? The second week was already off to a chaotic start. At any rate, Hakuno was glad that they were the only ones in the garden right now.
Such an argument would surely cause a ruckus and garner the attention of other masters if anyone else was around to listen. The master takes in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She knew Archer had no bad intentions, but even so, his choice of words still stung.
The servant himself turns quiet, before soon scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "...I don't trust you nearly enough it seems." Ok, that statement literally struck a hard blow. The angry master was about to retort when he cuts in. "Sorry, that was...I'll admit that it was quite immature of me. I don't know what came over me and...*sigh*... "
He pauses, as if trying to formulate a better response before he properly looks at her, now serious and looking apologetic. "I apologize, Master. What I said was indeed out of line. It's just...I know that it may seem like I'm making excuses, but my sarcasm can definitely get out of hand sometimes, and I know that you tend to vulnerable to your enemies so...I jumped to a wrong conclusion too soon. It's just the selfish, unreasonable part of me that got worried. So for that, I'm sorry that I offended you. It was a moment of rashness and..."
He places a hand to his face, obviously embarassed and not used to apologising. "It's not that I don't trust you at all...rather, it's to do with my lousy personality as a servant. If you're aware, I'm not...well...it's something I know I need to work on...and well...in my own way, I'm learning to work with you better as your servant going forward from here...you get the idea..."
He trails off, as if continuing to ramble on would only make him more bashful. Well, even Hakuno admitted that some of the things he said was embarrassing to hear even for her.
It was now the master's turn to go quiet, looking at him thoughtfully. Sure, it wasn't exactly great, but for some reason, she knew that he was trying to express his sincere apology in his own awkward way, and didn't really mean all the things he said.
Cocking her head at him, her shoulders begin to relax. "Ok, I get it. I am...still kinda mad at what you said earlier...but...I'm glad you apologised, and I'll accept it. And I'm...sorry as well, for lashing out like that. Even with how pissed I was, I probably shouldn't have raised my voice that much."
The two began staring at each other in silence, when Hakuno soon cracks up. "Man, we were both getting mad over a small matter huh?" she laughs. Archer follows up with a quiet chuckle of his own. "I won't disagree with you on that, Master." The two were indeed an odd and messy master-servant pair, but Hakuno was glad that the misunderstanding was resolved quickly.
Placing her hands behind her back, she gives him an unamused expression. "And...you know that I wouldn't betray you like that and change servants? I mean...I'm not that reliable or anything but even so...I'd like to think that I'm at least a decently respectable master in that aspect." Archer sweatdrops in reply, coughing a moment later. "Yes...I'm aware of that, Master."
Changing the topic before the atmosphere got even weirder, Hakuno scans around the gardens, making sure that no one was around to eavesdrop on them before she continues. "Who was that guy earlier by the way? He popped out of nowhere."
Archer frowns, shaking his head. "As infuriating as it is, I'm just as clueless as you are on this. We both still don't know his intentions...but something tells me that this isn't the last time we'll see that man." And the fact that he approached her without his master around...he must definitely be a more dangerous servant that she assumed him to be.
Before she could ponder any more about the matter however, she hears a familiar electronic beeping noise from her terminal. Taking it out of her pocket, she eyes the notice displayed on it, fingers gripping on the device tightly. "The next combatants will be announced on the second floor bulletin board."
Biting down on her lower lip, she places the terminal back inside her pocket. Her servant seems to already understand the gist of the situation, because he looks at her with a knowing expression. "Was that the announcement for the second round match-ups? We should get going then."
Slowly nodding her head, Hakuno watches as her servant dematerializes before directing her eyes back towards the door to the school building. So her opponent had already been decided. The master thought that after the first round, her mind would be more clear about her goals but...
In reality, Her thoughts were all still a jumbled mess, and while she is still hesitant and unsure about what to do, she knows that she has to face this obstacle again. Taking a deep breath, Hakuno approaches the door and turns the doorknob. There was no use delaying the inevitable anyway, so she should probably hurry up and get to the second floor.
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The brown-haired master eventually reaches the second floor, noticing that quite a few masters had already gathered around it. Unlike the first round however, she notices that there were a smaller number of them. She had fought and stayed alive...but out of curiosity, she wonders how many of these masters regret taking part in this war, and how many were prepared for it?
Taking a glance at their faces, she sees various expressions; ones of anxiety and fear, ones that were calm and collected, and even ones that were serious and determined. Most of the masters in general, regardless of how they were feeling, still wanted to participate in this twisted game for a chance to win the Holy Grail.
Worriedly looking at the white bulletin board, she soon locates her name amongst the rows and columns of others. Just like before, her name is written next to another on the sheet posted on the bulletin board. Her name was listed first...and then she sees her opponent's.
Master: Dan Blackmore
Battlefield: The Second Chimeric Lunar Sea
...Dan...Blackmore? That was certainly an unusual name. The female master squints, taking a better look at the name when she feels a shadow looming over her. "...Hmph, so you are the one who will be my next opponent."
Jerking her head, she swiftly turns around only to meet with an elderly gentleman who was standing behind her. His hair that had been neatly combed back is pure white, and his face weathered with the marks of aging. But, though he's aged, he doesn't seem the least bit frail.
If she had to describe how this old man probably wore his years, she would say that it was like a tree's rings. His scars have become a solid core and tough bark that it is impossible to see his age as a weakness.
Upon longer inspection, Hakuno realises that the old man she had been staring at...he was the same person who kicked Shinji out of the chapel and lectured him during the first round! To think that he ended up becoming her second round opponent...and that she would have to fight him is...
Dan doesn't seem the least bit fazed, his face neutrally serious as a stone. "It appears that we meet again, young one. I wasn't expecting our next encounter to be so soon, but fate can indeed be surprising." The man purses his lips together, somewhat uncontented as he looks at her. "...You're green. Whatever you may think, you lack experience."
He continues looming over her like a huge, towering boulder. "The fact that you let your opponent's appearance shake your resolve is proof enough of inexperience. ...And your eyes...they are wavering and lost." He brings up a hand and points at her eyes as he says this, as if emphasising his point.
"I had some expectations for my opponent but...it appears that you are hopeless. Entering the battlefield in that state will prove...disastrous." And with nothing else to be said, the man turns and walks away, vanishing down the hallway.
Hakuno doesn't feel insulted, rather, she knows that he speaks the truth. The man wasn't trying to provoke her, he was plainly stating facts. So this was the next opponent she was going to deal with. It appears that the stakes for this first round are equally if not higher than the last round. Another opponent...another life she'll have to...
She shakes her head at that. Not good, she was starting to get depressed all of a sudden. The round had just begun, and she needed to get her act together instead of mulling over or entertaining these morbid thoughts.
"...So he strikes where it hurts. Years of combat experience built up that intense insight and confidence." Her servant chooses to speak up, but Hakuno doesn't look at him. "Your opponent this round is very different from Shinji. Unlike that idiot, Dan Blackmore seems to be more experienced on the battlefield. With him, we will lose unless you cease to be lost."
...Archer is saying that she needs to believe in herself first. He's right. She needs to fight and win, because the alternative is not an option. But...that also means taking another life...and she still couldn't justify that. She's aware that she's hesitating, but under other circumstances, she probably wouldn't be thinking so hard about the consequences if there were less at stake. A life in exchange for another life...that was just...
Her terminal buzzes and rings in her pocket, signalling that classes were once again about to commence in a few minutes. She silently walks back, a lot now weighing on her mind. She had to do this, she has to win the fight against Dan Blackmore. But...can she really pull it off and do it again like the first round? Would she be able to tolerate it a second time?
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The bell rings, with Hakuno quickly going through and reviewing her notes. The number of masters that attended Taiga's classes had also decreased after the first round, but Hakuno made it a point to continue attending them. There wasn't much else she could do while being stuck inside a school of all places 24/7 amidst a war to begin with, and at the very least...for a novice master like her, they were useful.
Leaning back in her chair, Hakuno gives out a frustrated groan, her head softly hitting the desk. She had hoped that the classes would help to take her mind off some things, but frankly, she's just gone back to worrying all over again, especially now that her second round opponent was revealed.
Unlike Shinji whom she already knew about before the first round, she barely knew a thing about Dan or his background, apart from the fact that he appeared to be an incredibly focused and serious fellow. Dan Blackmore...she wondered who his servant could be and what they were like. If she were following the same method as the first round, she would need to gather information on them...and possibly also fight them if they ever met in the Arena.
If Dan really was as experienced as he looks and says...then she would definitely need to prep a lot and be ready. Hakuno could only hope that Dan's servant wasn't too bloodthirsty or crazy like El Draque, though she doubts that the second round would be any easier than the first.
Her mind drifts back to her friend...Nagisa. If she were still alive...she would most likely still be in this classroom, immediately approaching Hakuno to talk to her. And yet...now she was...
The girl shakes her head moment later. No...she had to get these intrusive thoughts out of her head. There was no time to get depressed. As much as she enjoyed and missed those times, Nagisa was gone for good whether she liked it or not...and that was a fact she had to live with going forward into the second round.
A thought comes to mind as Hakuno stands from her seat. With her second round opponent now determined, she recalls and thinks of a particular girl who gave her advice when she didn't know left from right: Rin Tohsaka. Hakuno still hasn't gotten the opportunity to thank her for the gemstones she gave.
Maybe she could take the initiative and find her? But where would Rin be? Rin hasn't attended any of Taiga's classes...of course, since she was strong enough and more than capable of handling herself in any situation or battle. With how mysterious and unpredictable Rin was, there were a few possibilities of where she could be right now, but Hakuno thinks of the rooftop.
Perhaps she could be there? She should probably head over to check in a while. Would it be selfish and foolish of Hakuno to talk about her own second round opponent though? Rin did offer some good advice back during the first round, but there was obviously no guarantee that she might continue doing it again. Would Rin even want to hear her out? She doesn't know...but figured she had to give it a shot anyway.
Either way, she was definitely going to find her to thank her for the gemstones to begin with, and so she might as well try her luck and see if Rin would be willing to lend a listening ear and possibly offer some words of wisdom on her situation. It wasn't as if she had anyone else to consult about it apart from her servant anyway.
Exiting the classroom, her feet carry her towards the third floor, before she eventually stumbles onto the rooftop. Scanning the area, she quickly spots the person she was looking for, the woman sticking out like a sore thumb with the crimson sweater she was wearing.
The fellow master seems to have also noticed her presence almost immediately, eyes looking pleasantly surprised as Hakuno walked over. "Oh, hey Hakuno. Didn't think you'd come and find me...did you already miss me that much?" Rin teases, her lips turned upward in a small smirk.
Hakuno chuckles sheepishly, not denying her question. "I guess you could say that." This response throws her off and causes Rin's cheeks to turn a rosy hue, as she sputters before letting out a cough. "Jeez, you are way too honest sometimes. But anyway...what did you come here for?"
Hakuno takes out the remaining two gemstones in response, showing it to her. "This...I figured what these jewels could do. And I...just wanted to thank you for giving me these, they really helped me out during the first Elimination Battle. So...thanks a lot Rin."
Rin's eyes widened as her blush darkened considerably. "H-Hang on...you...you actually managed to figure out the stones' functions?! But how?! I...I never told you how they worked, or that they even had a purpose to begin with!"
Hakuno laughs bashfully at that, scratching the back of her head. "Um...well yeah...it was more like my servant managed to figure it out. After that, I just decided to make use of one of them to tackle Rider's Noble Phantasm."
Rin takes a moment to calm herself down, before she clears her throat. "I...I see. So your servant knows about these stones, huh? Truth be told, I mostly gave you these stones on a whim...but to think that you managed to crack the code anyway..." Hakuno doesn't know if Rin is impressed or frustrated, a combination of both maybe. That doesn't change the fact that she's very grateful for the item though.
"Uh yeah...it was all thanks to you that we survived Rider's Noble Phantasm. I should probably return these back to you though...since I'd feel bad for holding onto them." She holds out the gemstones in her palm, extending it with the intention to let Rin take they away.
The twin-tailed girl however, merely eyes the gems with raised eyebrows before she waves a hand dismissively at Hakuno. "No need. They may be on the pricier end, but I still have plenty of those jewels anyway. Consider these two as a keepsake."
Wait...was Rin being serious?! She was happy but- no, she felt bad for holding onto a possession of Rin's, and not to mention that the object was lethally destructive and quite powerful too...was Rin really willing to give away such an item to her?
Rin shakes her head, apparently insistent on the matter. "You don't need to feel bad about it or anything. I gave you those gemstones as a little present, and so obviously I won't be taking back what I already gifted."
Seeing Hakuno's unconvinced expression prompts Rin to sigh as she facepalms. "Like I said, treat them as a lucky charm. Whether you choose to keep it or throw it away wouldn't matter to me. You probably need them way more than I do anyway." From that tone, Rin probably knew already then.
Crossing her arms over her chest, the girl turns serious. "Yep, I heard about your opponent in the second round. He's a decorated soldier, though I believe that he's already retired now." So Archer's guess was right. Even as a retired soldier, Hakuno could somewhat tell that Dan hasn't lost his skills and experience. Fighting him and his servant would definitely not be easy then.
"He's a sniper from a kingdom that is allied, whether they want to or not, with the Harway plutocracy. He quickly climbed through the ranks, and has taken out numerous enemies like it was a walk in the park. So things are crawling over a mile or sniping an enemy commander are par for the course for him."
Well that was a new piece of information she wasn't expecting. Dan used to fight for the Harways then? To think that her current opponent had a connection to someone like Leo made it all the more worrying. And he was a trained sniper dedicated to his duty...probably a top gun in his army too.
That aside, Hakuno was once again surprised by all the information Rin possessed. It was almost as if she did some sort of background check on Dan Blackmore in advance...or she was literally just a treasure trove of knowledge at this point. From the looks of it, Rin didn't seem like she was lying, and if she did possess any sources, they were indeed incredibly reliable and accurate.
Just how much did this woman actually know? Hakuno had assumed that she had used her insane expert hacking skills to gain the information...but a part of her also feels like it isn't so simple. But...to give away such information to her so easily without batting an eye...Rin must definitely be confident about her abilities as a magus.
Rin frowns at Hakuno, suddenly looking stern. "...I don't think you've grasped the gravity of the situation. Don't you get it? He's of a completely different caliber than your first round opponent."
Noticing Hakuno's blank stare in response, Rin facepalms once again. "Sheesh, you really are pathetic. Your memories haven't returned, have they? And you're still weak on top of that. I don't wanna preach, but without memories- without your reason to fight- you're dead in the water."
The ratio of put-down to advice is kinda wonky there. Hakuno obviously is aware when Rin tells her that she has a handicap. After all, the Holy Grail is won by individual motivation. To lack that motivation is a problem.
Rin nods, grasping onto the railings of the balcony as she stares down onto the school's entrance, glancing at the few masters down below. "That's right. Only soldiers fight solely out of obligation. For the rest of us, we need to keep our eyes on the prize. But you're not a strong-willed person nor a soldier, so you should know that's a weakness by now."
She turns back to look at the brown-haired master, her hair flowing around her back at the action. "Even if you've got the strongest Noble Phantasm out there, he'll still make quick work out of you." This statement causes Hakuno to stiffen, as Rin slowly raises an eyebrow in return.
"...What's with that reaction? I'm talking about Noble Phantasms. It's like King Arthur's Excalibur. A Noble Phantasm is a power that makes your servant a servant, a trump card if you will. Don't tell me you don't know about them." Nonono, she definitely knew about them more or less especially after her battle with Shinji! The only thing is...
Rin is rendered speechless by Hakuno's explanation as her jaw drops in disbelief. "...Your servant doesn't have a Noble Phantasm? That can't be, all servants should possess one. It's their absolute ability that links to their identity as a Legendary Soul."
Not that Archer doesn't have a Noble Phantasm...rather...she's still unable to use it...and she doubts she'll be able to anytime soon. "...I can't believe it. You're not even making full use of your servant's powers, and yet you managed to defeat El Draque?!"
...Was it that surprising? Granted, she knew El Draque was indeed a powerful foe, but Archer's abilities were mostly still locked under her inexperience as a magus. She didn't even know if her servant could activate his Noble Phantasm, so it wasn't as if she could demand for Archer to just whip it out. Nonetheless, Hakuno still winces as Rin practically yells at her. Nevermind, it must be that bad, huh?
The blue-eyed master tries to calm down, groaning. "And here I thought you relied on a really potent Noble Phantasm to defeat El Draque. I've heard of brute force, but you and your servant are taking it to the next level in this case. Either way, it seems like the one who possessed true strength won in the end, huh?" Was that a compliment, or an insult? She couldn't tell.
...On an unrelated note, now that she thought about it, she noticed that so far throughout the war, Rin was mostly by herself, and barely associating with others. Sure, they had chatted a number of times during the first round, but Hakuno hasn't seen her talking to anyone else whatsoever. Rin looks at Hakuno as if she had a second head, her left eye twitching. "Wh...?! You- are you implying that I'm lonely?! Please, I'm not so pitiful that I need company all the time!"
Huffing, a light blush once again appears on her cheeks. "I just don't feel the need to associate with any of the other masters or NPCs. Sure, I'll talk to them if it means I'll get more information from them, but that's about it. I don't go around becoming buddies with potential enemies." Right...she figured that was the case.
Almost as if she were assessing her, she stares at Hakuno calculatively, trying to figure her out like some puzzle. "You really are an odd anomaly in this war. I might have to rethink my opinion on you. But more and more, I'm also getting the feeling that something's very off about you." Well, she wasn't going to disagree with her on that. For one thing, she had amnesia.
Rin nods, cocking her head at her. "Your memories haven't returned, and you can't use your servant's Noble Phantasm, either. You're a troublesome individual, you know that?" Biting down on her lower lip, Rin's eyes are now on the virtual sky.
"I can't say for certain, but maybe a bug damaged your personal data when you exited the prelims. Possibly your magic circuits aren't functioning properly. In any case, you have to fix the issue." If even a genius like Rin couldn't pinpoint the exact cause of her amnesia, then the problem must be far more troublesome than it appears.
She flips her hair over her shoulder before pointing at Hakuno sternly. "Meanwhile, you better do more Alterations of the Soul. Who knows, you may be able to use your servant's Noble Phantasm if you strengthen your bond with them...which means no slacking off, especially when you're put at such a disadvantage. The SE.RA.PH is supposed to treat all masters equally...but perhaps there may be limitations to that, seeing that you're here in this war. But anyway, I'm sure the system will do something about it."
Seeing Hakuno's visible confusion, Rin elaborates. "If the SE.RA.PH sees that your servant can't use their Noble Phantasm, it will take corrective action at some point. I can't say when, but that's certain." Rin pauses, as if choosing whether to continue with what she's about to say before sighing. "...And one more thing. Defeating an enemy isn't an invitation to forget that the enemy never existed."
Hakuno could tell right away that she was referring to none other than her first round opponent, Shinji Matou. "In a way, it's helpful to know who you once fought...even if their deaths can indeed be painful to recall. Let their deaths be a source of determination for you to push on, whether than pull you down...otherwise you'll just end up like them at the end of the day." A source of determination...she wonders if that's as easy as she claims.
"...Hey, don't get all depressed in front of me again. You know I don't like that." Bringing a hand up, she lightly flicks the spot between Hakuno's knitted eyebrows. "Instead of wallowing in the past, focus on the present. You have a new foe that's probably more powerful than Shinji...so you should worry more about that." Hakuno supposed she was right...and while yesterday's events were still stuck in her head, Hakuno knew that there were more pressing matters to attend to now the second round had begun.
Rin now goes silent, putting an end to the conversation between the two. It was times like these that Hakuno almost forgot that they were enemies whenever Rin gave her solid advice. Giving a small bow in thanks, Hakuno exits without another word, shutting the door to the rooftop behind her, with Rin's words now weighing on her mind.
Walking down towards the first floor, she stops a few feet by the shoe lockers, noticing that the strange elevator that was there to take her to the Coliseum had vanished. Maybe it was just present during the day of the Elimination Battle?
If she were to survive past this preparation period, she'll probably see it again by the end of the week. At any rate, her conversation with Rin Tohsaka still gave her more insight, and she's glad that she approached her. But...the topic about Archer's Noble Phantasm earlier...
As if on cue, her servant finally speaks. "What's wrong? Are you thinking of what that girl said?" Hakuno couldn't help but nod. That's right, this strange man before her was a servant, capable of displaying incredible power.
She's seen him in action already, but since she was a master, she couldn't avoid her curiosity about his own Noble Phantasm. They haven't brought it up during the first round, and while Hakuno had then assumed that they would still be alright without it, the same can't be said for this round.
Archer crosses his arms over his chest. "My Noble Phantasm? So you're curious about that? It's no better or worse than any other servant's." Well, she's thankful for his blunt honesty, but that wasn't what she wanted to know. "It's yours to call upon whenever you deem necessary. I have a duty to protect you after all."
He says it as if the matter of his Noble Phantasm wasn't important at all, but this was also his identity as a Legendary Soul that she's concerned with here. Archer had mentioned during the first round that there was no need to reveal his True Name for now...and while she doesn't know when he intends to do so, she doesn't intend to force him to reveal it much less use his Noble Phantasm against his will. She trusts Archer when he says that he'll tell her in due time, so she doesn't think it's right for her to keep questioning about it anyway.
She understands how a great warrior's tactics and tools could telegraph their identity to a wise master. With that being said, it would probably be a better and more advantageous move if they wait a little longer...or even as long as possible to use the Noble Phantasm. For now, she should just continue to trust in Archer's own abilities and continue to stay diligent in her training to carry them through the second round.
The terminal beeps, snapping her out of her thoughts process as she takes it out, eyeing the notice on it carefully. "The primary cipher key has been generated." There it was. Once again, she had to obtain two triggers in the Arena before the preparation period ended, or she wouldn't be able to enter the Coliseum. "We have a task. Let's go, Master. This trial is more pressing than Noble Phantasms at the moment."
Agreeing with her servant, Hakuno quickly goes to the commissary to purchase some supplies before she heads down the first floor hallway. However, before she turns the corner where the Arena entrance was, she feels a presence nearby, and immediately hides while crouching down instinctively.
Slowly peeking out, she sees her opponent for this round, Dan Blackmore, along with most likely his servant standing by his side. From her hiding spot, she couldn't exactly see the servant's face though, but decides to listen in on the conversation.
"I've just learned the identity of our next opponent. Though young, they did survive the first round. So be on your guard always, and I will not tolerate you acting solely on your 'gut feelings'." Though his voice is low, Dan speaks in a stern and commanding tone, almost as if he was scolding his servant.
"Yeah, yeah...I get it. I don't care who our opponent is, my only goal is their death." Unlike his master, the servant seems way more relaxed, shrugging his shoulders. "And anyway, they've already killed once, have they not? Anyone who made it past the first round is at least worthy of a little respect, or is that just me...? Plus, the opposing master this round seems to be a cutie herself, pity that we'll have to kill her."
Hakuno stiffens upon hearing that statement. Cutie?? Was he referring to her??Hold on...that green cape and orange hair...and that voice too...Dan's servant was that weird guy they met in the gardens that tried to form a contract with her?! Although surprised at the discovery, Hakuno continues to stay silent, clamping her mouth shut.
Dan doesn't even the slightest bit amused at his servant's behaviour, shaking his head in distaste. "So you've already met her without even informing me? Your arrogance will be the death of us. I need you to obey my commands if we are to survive."
Crossing his arms over his chest, Dan narrows his eyes at him in warning. "No more acting on your own like the first round. Winning battles is meaningless if we lose the war. Do you understand me? I will not tolerate your insubordination a second time."
The servant merely waves a hand dismissively at him before placing his arms behind his head. "I got it, I got it. Jeez old man, you can be a real pain in the ass sometimes." Dan Blackmore doesn't seem all too convinced, but his servant's response seems to be satisfactory for now as the two soon enter the Arena. Hakuno heaves a sigh of relief as she comes out from her hiding place; it didn't seem like Dan had noticed her.
"Hmph, so that flirtateous skinny-looking bastard is the next servant we'll have to deal with, I see." Hakuno sweatdrops at Archer's foul mood. It doesn't seem like he's happy at all to be matched up against the hooded stranger of all servants.
"Appearance wise, he may look weak, but don't judge a book by its cover. Letting our guard down could prove fatal." Archer indeed had a point, especially with how that man had approached her with no hesitation earlier.
"This servant's Master looks very capable and level-headed; unlike poor El Draque whose master was a jackass." Archer's eyebrows furrow together as he places a hand on his hip.
"In any case, I think this duo will prove to be a challenge. Do not stint in your preparations." He didn't need to remind her. Hakuno already knew that this second preparation period wouldn't go as smoothly as she hoped, and their foe this time had a personality that was drastically different from Shinji's, calm and collected.
At any rate, it would be best for them to enter the Arena to train and grab that trigger. Although it seems that they may run into Dan and his servant inside the Arena, the two of them had no time to waste.
She was indeed afraid of what may happen if Dan's servant decided to fight them, but time was ticking, and she needed information on that hooded man if they were going to survive the second Elimination Battle.
Standing in front of the door, she turns the doorknob as the duo entered the training grounds. It's okay...her servant was by her side. Just like before, he would protect her if anything were to happen. And yet...why couldn't she shake the sinking feeling that something bad was about to occur?