The girl glances over at the man who as always, was busying himself with his own work. She had to applaud for his astounding level of concentration, but honestly...she sometimes feels a little out of place staying here in this room with not much to do.
Sighing to herself, she slowly closes the book she had finished reading a while ago, standing to place it back on the shelf when something chances her eye. There...on one of the wooden tables...stood an old golden pocket watch.
For some reason, the girl's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the pocket watch. It seemed fairly old...with minor small scratches lacing the exterior...but it still looked like a valuable timepiece and possession nonetheless, almost as if it were a priceless heirloom.
The watch itself had an intricate design as well, with an attractive white face and copper hands. Amidst the silence, she could hear the low hum and groaning of the gears turning as it ticked and continued to move. She continues to stare, almost as if the clock were some sort of rare specimen.
It was then that the girl realized just how much more disconnected she felt with the outside world in that moment. Here...in this room...her sense of time and awareness almost felt nonexistent. She bites on her bottom lip, not sure whether to feel glad and relieved or worried and bothered instead at the revelation. Was she feeling too relaxed and getting overly comfortable...?
"Oh? Are you interested in that pocket watch, Hakuno?" A voice snaps her out of her thoughts as she glances at the man who was now smiling at her in amusement. She assumed that to him, she appeared to act like a kid who had discovered a new favourite toy...though she would be lying if she said that she wasn't fascinated by the item.
"This watch...is it yours?" Perhaps she was asking something obvious, but the girl continued to look at the watch even while raising the question. At the corner of her eye, she could see the man set the stack of papers in his hand down, resting his chin against his hand that was propped up against his desk.
"Hmm...I guess you could say that." A vague answer...and yet she was more or less expecting him to respond as such. Turning her head, she watches as the man has a faraway look...as if recalling something from his past. "Hakuno...are you aware of how many days have passed already?"
Truthfully...if she were to answer that, no...not really. Her awareness of what was going on in the outside world was being tested...and yet Hakuno couldn't find a concrete reply to give him. It bothered her...how ignorant and naive she must've appeared.
Her silence served as her response, and the man chuckles out loud to no one in particular. "Time is a fickle thing indeed. It waits for no man. Often we feel like we have so much time on our hands...and yet...Little did we know...that it slips by so fast, in the blink of an eye."
He massages the bridge of his nose, his shoulder slumping slightly in frustration despite the smile he was trying to keep on his tired face. "Yes...there is still much to do...so much more...to do..."
She still has nothing to say. Nothing to add on to his statement...nor anything to refute it. Instead, she continues to watch his silhouette from afar as he begins to tirelessly work once again, his figure soon fading into the dark as static clouded her sight.
0101010101010101010101010101010101
The brown-haired master slowly cracks an eye open. A groan rumbles against her throat as she blinks tiredly against the ceiling. Another odd dream. She shouldn't be surprised at the occurrence of such fuzzy dreams anymore...and yet...Hakuno still couldn't pinpoint the reason why she was having them in the first place.
On another note, her body feels...oddly heavy and exhausted. Despite having just woken up from her sleep, the woman feels tempted to return back to her slumber once again. Why does she feel so tired anyway...?
Oh right, poisoned arrow...my arm. Her mind thoughtfully supplies a moment later, remembering the events of last night as she now shifts uncomfortably in her bed, trying to get into a sitting position without awakening the sharp pain in her left arm. Several attempts later and...yeah, she isn't going to be able to get up this easily. What a great way to start the day.
Frustration already begins souring her mood first thing in the morning as the woman using her right hand to remove the towel on her forehead. She pauses. Odd...this towel...it still felt sort of cold and damp.
It was then that the woman manages to register her servant's presence beside her bed, apparently still asleep. Although a frown was evident on his face, the man kept his eyes closed, arms firmly crossed over his chest and one long leg over the other. All in all...he appeared to be sleeping in a rather...strange and uncomfortable...position.
Right...her servant took care of her last night. Hakuno wanted to cringe in embarassment at how she behaved the night before. It was a moment of utter vulnerability and weakness, and she behaved like some damsel in distress.
As much as she could continue to lie in bed and mentally kick herself over her actions, her mind was more focused on the towel she held in her hand. Did this meant...Archer actually stayed up to look after her? If that were the case, he probably didn't get much rest...at least compared to her. Oh man...she was already beginning to feel guilty.
The woman bit down on her bottom lip as she watches his servant continue to sleep from his spot. She wasn't expecting him to be serious and actually remain by her side for the entire night...and yet there he was. She supposed she should let him rest a bit more...only...how on earth was she going to get up and head to the bathroom?
Hakuno didn't want to wake him up just yet but...she needed to get to the bathroom somehow and prepare for the day ahead. That...and she should probably head over to the nurse's office as soon as possible to get her arm treated.
She hated to admit it...but even with a night's worth of sleep and rest...the numb pain from her arm hasn't really subsided. She also felt incredibly tired on top of that, her body not quite responding to her mind as well as she hoped.
She didn't need to think about waking him up however, as her servant twitches, before soon opening his eyes. The two stare at each other in silence for a good minute or so, before Hakuno cracks a sheepish laugh. "Ah...um...good morning...Archer." What an odd way to start the day.
Archer's eyebrows crease together, trying to rid the sleepiness from his system before he eventually nods his head in reply, now fully awake and alert. "Good morning Master. How's your arm? Are you feeling any better compared to last night?" Hakuno looks away at that, finding it difficult to look at him in the eye and answer. She didn't want to trouble him more than she already had.
Archer sighs, standing from his chair. "I'll take your silence as a no then." Without another word, he helps her up into a sitting position before slowly lifting up her sleeve to examine her arm. Unfortunately, it remained to be in the same state as it was last night, causing his frown to deepen as he clicks his tongue.
"Looks like your arm hasn't recovered. I guess the only option now is for us to visit Sakura and try to get it treated. Hopefully she has some sort of cure for the poison." Well yeah...otherwise both of them were doomed. Hakuno didn't know if she could go on tolerating the poison for the whole day much less the rest of the preparation period if even Sakura couldn't do anything.
Now then...how should she go about this? It would certainly be extremely awkward for both of them if she were to just outright ask him to help carry her to the bathroom...right? Though...he probably wouldn't mind, and there didn't seem to be an alternative solution either...unless...she were to crawl on the floor instead.
...Screw it, she'll try to get up herself. She could do this. The bathroom wasn't too far, anyway. Heading there may take a while...but it shouldn't be too bad getting there by herself, right? Archer had already done a lot for her last night anyway...so she should be able to manage this much.
Yeah...fate decided to laugh in her face at that very moment as Hakuno finally got into a sitting position and tried standing up after a minute or so of struggling. As soon as she did so, her knees wobbled unsteadily and almost immediately gave away. The master felt the world turning as she gave out a yelp, almost crashing head first onto the hard floor if not for her servant's fast reflexes, the man moving quickly to grab her and cushion her fall.
The two of them lied still there on the floor awkwardly, with her servant supporting most of her weight and securely holding onto her. Hakuno's heartbeat was already beginning to accelerate as her breathing stilled under her servant's grasp. "That was dangerous. You need to be more careful, Master."
Maybe it was because it was still quite early in the morning and she had just woken up...or it could also be her current condition affecting her and driving her mad, but Hakuno suddenly felt her throat go dry, unable to respond. She could hear his voice loud and clear despite the hammering in her chest. Close...he was too close.
Sure...it wasn't the first time he's caught her like this since she tended to be kinda clumsy at times herself, but the brown-haired master was still super conscious after the events of last night. Hold on...why did she need to be conscious of him like this anyway?? This was unlike her...and he was just looking out for her like usual, yet why did was she getting bothered over this?! Damn it...of course the strength in her legs chose the perfect timing to give away!
She didn't know what expression she was making, but she hoped that she wasn't some weird face or something to her servant, avoiding direct eye contact with him. "Sorry...my uh...legs...they just...," she stammers a moment later. Almost as if sensing her distress, Archer sighs once again. "Pardon me for this, Master."
Without warning, the servant takes matters into his own hands and scoops the master up into his arms. This causes her to let out a gasp of surprise as her legs flailed in the air, her body tensing against his. Even with how tired she may be, the brown-haired female couldn't help the blush that was already beginning to tint her cheeks. "A-Archer...?! What are you...?!"
"Don't struggle. You're just going to make the pain in your arm worse. Relax, I'm just helping you get to the bathroom. Or would you prefer it if I drop you down now instead?" Well...of course not...but did he have to pick her up like this?? Rather than complain, the master decides to shut up and allow her servant to take her to the bathroom, her eyes downcast in shame and embarassment.
She knew that even if she were to voice her concerns, her servant would just stubbornly ignore her like before. She appreciated the help and gesture, but still felt self-conscious. Great...and she was just thinking about how pathetic she was last night too.
The man soon gently deposits her as she felt her feet touch the floor. With her eyes on the tiles, she slowly backs away, muttering a soft thanks. "You sure you'll be alright? Need any help?"
Yes...yes she's very sure she doesn't need Archer's help in bathing and getting ready. She wasn't a toddler for pete's sake. How much more was he going to embarass her?? It was times like this that she wondered if her servant had literally forgotten that the two of them were of the opposite gender. She knew that he was just looking out for her and being thoughtful but even so...!
Gently shooing and ushering her servant out of the bathroom, Hakuno immediately shuts the door behind her, groaning to herself. Seriously...her servant worried for her too much. While she was grateful...it was incredibly strange with how delicately he was currently treating her.
'Get ahold of yourself...just take a quick shower, get dressed, and then we can go see Sakura and hopefully get the poison removed,' she inwardly chants to herself. Right...she needed to be more rational and focused.
Archer had certainly surprised her and caught her off guard back there, but there were other things that were more important and required her attention, such as resolving the issue with her left arm. Yeah...everything was fine...she just needed to calm down.
It was then that she noticed the blazer hanging by the hook on the door. Wait...this blazer...it was the one she wore yesterday?Taking a look at the sleeve, she notices the lack of blood on it...and that the tear had miraculously vanished too.
Did Archer wash and sew it for her? He did a fantastic job if that were the case...and was a little too good at it too given that Hakuno could barely see the stitches. It was almost as if the blazer was brand new! ...Maybe her servant really was good with housework too. She should thank him later.
Slowly peeling off her clothes and the bandages around her arm, the female master steps into the shower and turns on the water, adjusting the temperature accordingly. However...as soon as the hot water made contact with her left arm, Hakuno felt a familiar sharp pain surge through it.
The master immediately let's out a hiss of pain, backing away from the shower as her back and head painfully banged against the shower door, with Hakuno knocking over the shampoo bottles as well. She kneels over, cursing aloud as she rubbed the back of her head. Ok...she was not expecting her arm to have that much of an adverse reaction to hot water. Just terrific, she was being even more of a klutz than she was earlier! Dang this stupid poison...!
It was then that the master heard a knock on the door. "Master...are you ok in there?" Her heart drops at the voice. "I heard a loud noise. Did you hurt yourself?" Well...she kinda did but there was no way she was going to admit that under these circumstances. It wasn't as if she suffered massive injuries anyway.
Stiffening, Hakuno covers herself by reflex and practically yells back at him, face going red. "I-I'm ok...! I just...stubbed my toe and uh...knocked over the shampoo bottles by accident! I'm really fine!" She wasn't really lying...technically. At any rate, there was absolutely no way she wanted or was going to let Archer barge in just because she accidentally bumped her head.
Hakuno resisted the urge to curse once again at how weird her voice sounded, hoping that the sound of the shower would somehow mask the panic in her voice as there was nothing but a brief moment of silence on the other end. "...Alright. But do be more careful. I wouldn't want you to suffer anymore injuries that could hinder us later on."
A few seconds pass...and she finally hears footsteps that were gradually getting softer, indicating that Archer had left. That was a close one. Thank goodness he didn't insist on coming in. Letting out a sigh of relief, Hakuno stands and begins adjusting the temperature once again. As unsatisfying as it was...she'll probably need to settle with a lukewarm shower for today.
Finally finished with her shower, the master quickly gets herself dressed as the two head out to the nurse's office. Luckily, it was still super early in the morning, and so there weren't any masters lingering around to see her rather questionable sickly state just yet. Provided...the journey there is a little slow given that Hakuno couldn't exactly brisk walk or run, but they eventually reach their destination as the master knocks on the door before tugging it open.
She is greeted by the sight of Sakura Matou, carefully sorting through some healing supplies on the table. Upon seeing her, the nurse gives her a bright smile. "Ah, Kishinami-san. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Hakuno hadn't really noticed before, but aside from the occasional odd mannerisms which reminded her that Sakura Matou was an NPC and AI, Sakura mostly behaved like a regular student, cheerful and bright and brimming with positivity. The master could already feel her mood improve just a slight bit with that smile and greeting of hers, but soon focuses on the matter at hand.
"Hi Sakura...um...about that...I was hoping if you could help me out..." The sooner she recovered, the better. That way the two of them could finally worry less and focus more on Dan and his servant. Sakura seems to understand the gist of the situation, immediately turning serious as she quickly gestures for Hakuno to come inside.
"Hmm...this poison...I see. Kishinami-san...I'm going to need to perform a more thorough inspection of your arm. As uncomfortable as it may be for you, I'll need you to take off your blazer and sweater to determine the extent of the threat." She says all this with a completely straight face as if she didn't just propose for her to remove her clothes. Not that she couldn't...only...
"No need to be embarassed. If it helps...you may ask your servant to wait outside until the check up is done. It'll only take a while." Sakura must've caught on to her reason for being hesitant, staring at the spot where Archer was standing, almost as if the nurse could sense him herself.
A few seconds passed before Hakuno could hear the man give out a sigh, walking out of the nurse's office without a word and standing outside in the hallway in astral form. She felt bad for kicking him out but...it had to be done. She had to thank Sakura for being thoughtful of her too.
"...Your servant seems to be quite worried. How caring of them." Sakura comments a moment later, grinning at her. Hakuno pauses, wondering what she meant by that as she stares at the nurse who gave her an all knowing smile. Wait...could she actually sense and see Archer? ...Nah, that shouldn't be the case, maybe just an odd coincidence.
"Um...you could say that," she replies a moment later, not sure how else to respond. She supposed all servants cared for their master to some extent at least. She was curious as to why the purple-haired NPC suddenly brought it up though. Sakura chuckles at that, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm just cracking a joke, no need to get all tense." ...Why did it feel like the AI was being serious though?
Without wasting any more time, Sakura helps Hakuno out of her blazer and top (and it was a good thing she was wearing a camisole on today too). Upon examining Hakuno's arm, Sakura frowns, a worried expression on her features.
"This is...taxine, a toxin from the Yew Tree. It is quite a terrifying natural poison." Quite the good observation and analysis she had there...but what Hakuno was more concerned about was how to get rid of the poison and whether her arm could be healed.
"To be honest, with what there is to work with, I'm not sure how much of it I can treat with my abilities. I can probably extract half of the poison that's in your system, but for the remaining poison...I'm afraid the most I can do is administer some painkillers to cope with the discomfort and pain, and maybe some medicine to slow down and reduce the spread of the poison whenever you're in the Arena."
Well...that was both reassuring and disheartening to hear. While she was glad that Sakura could somewhat help her, a part of Hakuno felt dejected knowing that even an AI tasked with healing masters couldn't even fully remove the poison. That...and the poison would undoubtedly continue to spread and become a nuisance while she was in the Arena.
Not that she would blame her of course. Sakura was already being very helpful. At the very least, the nurse was able to provide some sort of solution, even if it wasn't the best one. She'll just have to take what she can get and toughen it out for the rest of the preparation period then.
Sakura must've noticed Hakuno's sullen expression, because she tries to console her. "Ah, don't be too worried Kishinami-san. I'll still try my best and do what I can. But do look out for yourself better in the future alright? As much as possible...you can't let this happen to you again. You only have one body, okay? So treat it well."
She says this in a soft yet stern tone, and Hakuno couldn't help but smile at her attempt of cheering her up. Even as an AI, she could sense the genuinity of her words, as if she truthfully cared for her wellbeing.
"That's the spirit. Now then...you can rest on one of the beds for now while I try to concoct a temporary cure. You must be tired dealing with the poison in your body since yesterday." Gesturing towards the beds, Sakura guides Hakuno towards one of them, plopping her down.
"Just stay here and don't move around too much. It's a good thing that the poison didn't spread past your arm...otherwise any form of treatment would almost be impossible." Yikes...she didn't want to imagine that possibility then. Deciding to heed her advice, Hakuno lies down onto the bed, watching as Sakura began rummaging through some shelves and taking out a few bottles of medicine, her back turned to her.
The master could already feel the exhaustion creep up her bones. Toughening through the poison was indeed extremely tiring and annoying, but there wasn't much she could do anyway. Hopefully she'll feel a lot better after Sakura was done with the detox treatment.
She almost drifts off to sleep when the master feels a presence looming over her, paralyzing her in place. "Still alive and kicking huh, ojou-chan?" Hakuno's eyes widened as she sees what appears to be a sharp dagger coming at her head, narrowly dodging it by shifting her body to the side at the very last second.
The dagger embedded itself into the pillow just as the master backs away, staggering. Chocolate orbs come in contact with familiar dull green ones, her expression hardening into a glare. "You...!" What was he doing here?! And how did he manage to get in?! Was he here to finish the job since the poison didn't take her out?
The green Archer let's out a chuckle, yanking the dagger out as he twirls the weapon in his hand. "Oh wow, even with all that poison in your body, you're still able to react and get away. You managed to survive three of my assassination attempts now. I really have to commend you for that, ojou-chan."
Beads of sweat had already begun to form on her forehead as she backs away from him a few more steps, clenching her hands into fists. By then, his surprise appearance had drawn Sakura's attention as she let's out a gasp of shock.
"What are you doing?! Aren't you aware that masters and servants are strictly prohibited from engaging in combat on school grounds?! What you're trying to commit is clearly against the rules!" Hakuno was glad that Sakura was trying to deescalate the situation but...she doubted that it was working.
The servant's smirk only widens at that as he shrugs his shoulders in indifference. "As if I care about the rules. What matters is that my master wins, and to do that...you need to die, ojou-chan." Of course he didn't care about the rules or the penalty. If he did, he wouldn't even try and ambush her like this. To him, as long as he got the job done, the gains would be much greater than the losses.
He points the dagger at her threateningly, the sharp tip glinting under the light. "It would've been better if you perished by the poisoned arrow but...seems you're more stubborn than I initially thought. As such...looks like I'll have to kill you the old fashioned way." Can't say Hakuno preferred either of the two methods to die from. Knowing him, that dagger was probably coated in poison too. She would want to remain alive if anything, thank you very much.
"Stop this! I won't allow you to lay a hand on her so long as you're within the school! Especially inside the nurse's office! This isn't a place to fight!" The whole moment felt comical with the way Sakura was scolding a man that was probably older than her. The master herself would've laughed if not for the fact that Archer was standing in close proximity and wielding a dagger.
Ok...Hakuno appreciated Sakura for trying to stand up for her and protect her...but she doesn't think she could do much given that the enemy doesn't care either way. The hooded man turns to look at the nurse, eyes narrowing. "Oh? So you're going to stop me? I'd like to see you try."
It seems that Sakura had managed to temporarily steer his attention away from Hakuno, but as a result...worsened his mood considerably. "Come to think of it...you were about to make her a cure for the poison, weren't you? You're quite a meddlesome NPC. Maybe I should get rid of you first?" Wait a second...he was going to target Sakura now too?! He had to be kidding!
Without warning, the man lunges at the AI, about to stab her with the weapon in his hand. Hakuno was practically moving by instinct, thinking quick and relying solely on the adrenaline rush.
Grabbing her blazer, she rushes over and pushes the nurse away while tackling her to the ground, using the piece of clothing as a decoy by throwing it into the air just as the servant was about to nail the dagger into the purple-haired NPC's chest. A flair of pain surges through her arm, but she ignores it and immediately helps Sakura back to her feet.
The man stabs through the blazer without remorse, tearing a large hole through the article of clothing like it was wet paper. His wild swing, most likely meant to kill and finish the deed in one blow, hits and causes a massive dent on the large table in the middle of the room, the table forming a noticeable crack at the impact and spilling all the supplies onto the floor.
Hakuno had to silently apologize to Archer after all the trouble he went through to fix her sleeve. She eyes the torn blazer now on the floor with regret for a brief moment...but that wasn't what she should be worrying about now, her head snapping back up to meet Archer's gaze.
The two of them quickly retreat to the edge of the nurse's office by the exit, with Hakuno standing in front of the now startled and shaken Sakura. "You...you were seriously about to kill her just like that, weren't you? You're insane! She has nothing to do with this!" The servant raises an eyebrow at that, scoffing. "Well...she had it coming for provoking me. Should've just shut up and let me finish you off while she had the chance."
Hakuno's hands were already clinging onto the door handle, trying to tug it open and escape. Her eyes widened when she realized that the door wouldn't budge at all, even with how hard she was trying to pull it open. Damn it...did this man manage to jam the door or something?! Whatever method he used, it was effective enough to keep them locked inside. And her servant was outside too...!
"Not so fast. Did you honestly think I'll allow you to escape so easily like that?" Readying his dagger once again, the duo find to their dismay that they have nowhere to run to, being trapped in a corner. The man's eyes were trained onto her, almost like a crazed murderer.
"Can't run away anymore now, can you? Playtime's over. Time to put you out of your misery, ojou-chan. It was fun while it lasted." The man dashes towards her, dagger raised high into the air and about to plunge the dagger into her heart, with the master bracing herself for the attack.
Everything appeared to be moving in slow motion as she barely manages to register the loud sound of the door being forcefully thrown open. In the blink of an eye, she sees a red blur pass by as a familiar set of blades intercepted the dagger.
Her mouth drops open in both astonishment and relief, looking at the broad back of the man who now stood in front of her protectively. "Archer...!" Thank goodness...and he arrived right on time too!
Meanwhile, the enemy servant was anything but pleased at being interrupted, clicking his tongue. "Tch...you again...! Always getting in my way...!" The tanned servant effectively pushes him back, the two glaring at each other.
"I thought I sensed something odd was going on in here. To think that you would try to assasinate my master here within the school...you really have no ounce of shame, do you?" Archer taunts, gripping onto his blades tightly.
"Hah, I could say the same for you. Showing your face again after being unable to save that girl from my arrow...what does that make you then? A failure of a servant?" Archer's glare hardens at that, trying to remain composed even in this tense situation. "I admit that was a mistake. But don't think I'll let you kill her off just like that."
He gets into a stance, the two staring each other down. "On that topic, I'm still rather pissed at the stunt you pulled. I've yet to return the favour for yesterday, so this is the perfect opportunity. If you want to continue and come at me, I will respond accordingly and cut you down without hesitation." He doesn't seem to be joking in the slightest, Archer's threat sounding both deadly and gravely serious.
"Hoh~? Cut me down you say? Hahaha, and you would actually fight me here if I wanted to?" The enemy servant seems oddly thrilled at the prospect, or maybe he was just overly consumed by the urge to kill at that point.
"As unideal of a location this may be, you are still an enemy I will have to face eventually. It's simply a matter of whether or not to postpone the inevitable," Archer responds without missing a beat, eyes narrowing.
"...Ahahaha...and do you seriously think that you can defeat me? I don't think you're even aware of what else I'm capable of doing to you and that precious master of yours." The tanned man smirks at that, cocking his head to the side.
Archer doesn't seem afraid...no, far from that. If anything, he looks fairly confident. "...Is that so? I had a lot of thinking to do last night...and now that I'm recalling the incidents over the past few days...it seems that you aren't doing a great job at hiding your real identity."
Archer must've struck a nerve there, because Hakuno could see the hooded man visibly falter for a brief second, before he snarls at him. "You...are you saying that you know of my True Name?" Even Hakuno was surprised at that. Archer had managed to discover the enemy servant's True Name all by himself?!
"Well...nothing is certain just yet, but I can surely take a gamble on who you truly are. Based on what you've showed us the past few days...my guess will probably be fairly accurate too. How about that?"
Archer doesn't seem the least bit fazed, instead continuing to taunt and poke at Dan's servant, crumbling his composure bit by bit. Was he actually being serious when he said that...or just trying to pull out a convincing lie so that the enemy could back off? Whatever the case, he was doing a pretty good job.
"So then...what will it be, Archer? Do you still want to resume this farce? I'm no hooligan, but if you wish to fight us now, then we can just settle this once and for all before the Elimination Battle. I'm giving you a choice." His voice is calm yet firm, and Hakuno could only watch the heated exchange between the two servants, not daring to say a word.
All this forward and backward banter between the two servants did nothing to ease the anxiety she was feeling. She might have to prepare for the worse in case Dan's servant truly lost it and decided to attack them right now. The master didn't know if she had the strength to support Archer if a full on fight was coming-
Right before anything else could happen, she sees yet another figure in the corner of her eye standing outside the infirmary, admitting a surprise visitor. By then, Sakura had draped her white coat over Hakuno to cover herself as she diverts her attention to the person at the door.
"Dan...Blackmore?!" The unexpected person is none other than the enemy master, and Hakuno is once again caught in another dilemma. This was bad. If Dan allowed his servant to engage with Archer here...!
The old man looks at the odd spectacle going on in the nurse's office, before he directs his gaze towards his servant, frowning. "I thought it was suspicious when you suddenly disappeared on your own. What is going on here?"
He gives a quick glance at the scene of the crime before sighing. "Just what is the meaning of this? I hope you have a good explanation, Archer." He places his hands behind his back, stroding in calmly before closing the door.
The hooded servant curses under his breath, immediately keeping the dagger he was holding as he tries to justify his actions. "Master...I was...this is-"
The man however, is cut off as Dan holds a hand up, looking over at Hakuno and her servant as well as the frightened Sakura. "...Spare me the excuses. I roughly have an idea of what took place in here. What I wish to know is...did you initiate this act, Archer?"
The green Archer falters, trying to explain. "Well I mean...yes but...this was all for your benefit, Master! The sooner we get rid of that girl, the sooner we can get this round over with and advance to the next one!" His argument doesn't seem to satisfy Dan nor put him at ease, because he let's out another sigh in response.
"I did not tell nor permit you to do such a thing. I believe I warned you before not to commit such foul deeds on your own like this, Archer." So just as she had suspected initially.
Dan's servant had snuck himself in here to try and kill her himself, by his own volition. The fact that Dan was completely unaware of this though, surprised her. It appeared that he was mostly kept in the dark about the details...and perhaps didn't even know about the assassination attempt that took place yesterday too.
He must've noticed the state of Hakuno's left arm, because he shakes his head. "...So you've even went as far as to use your Yew Bow to try and poison the young lady. I am disappointed in you and your use of underhanded tactics- loosed without my permission. To break the sovereign rules of the battlefield is to sunder the fabric of your character."
He taps his foot on the ground, continuing to lecture his servant. "This war is between individuals, not countries. There is no longer any need to resort to savagery." A quiet confession it was...and there's something unshakeable about the conviction underlying those solemn words. Even with the currently strained atmosphere, Hakuno couldn't help but express respect for Dan's words.
"Contriving such an evil plan and choosing to use your Noble Phantasm on her without even so much as consulting me...this is going beyond just disobeying my orders. Archer, cleanse her of the Yew Bow's effects and relieve her of her suffering now." Hakuno's eyes widened at that. Wait...so he wasn't just going to nag him for his actions, but was also going to make Archer remove the effects of the poison?!
The hooded man crosses his arms over his chest, looking away. "...And what if I refuse? I told you before...but I don't appreciate you bossing me around like this, Master." At that, Dan's mood sours, looking at his servant distastefully. "...So even now...you will still choose to disobey my orders?" The servant doesn't respond, obviously not compliant with following through Dan's instructions.
"...Then so be it. I think I have well enough exhausted my patience dealing with your antics." Raising his hand, Dan removes his glove to reveal his three command seals that were etched onto the back of his hand, just like Hakuno.
"Archer, your master, Dan Blackmore, orders you with the force of a command seal." His words bellowed through the nurse's office as everyone watched in disbelief and shock. Wait...he couldn't be...!
The enemy servant appears to be panicking himself, watching on in horror as his master went on. "I hereby order you to destroy the Noble Phantasm and free Hakuno Kishinami from the restraints of the Yew Bow's poison." Hakuno's jaw drops open in mute surprise as the command seal burned away from his hand as soon as the order was uttered.
"Master, are you crazy?! Why are you wasting a command seal to help out the enemy?! Aren't I doing you a favour by killing her off early?!" The enemy servant practically looks livid, pissed off that his master gave him such an order that he couldn't go against, not when the command seal was in effect. There was no way to take back the order or recover the command seal once it was used too.
Dan doesn't look the least bit bothered, apparently unfinished with whatever brazen act he was going through. "And with a second command seal...I order you once again. Archer...you are hereby prohibited from attacking enemy masters with your Yew Bow on campus...for eternity."
At this point, Hakuno's eyes were practically bulging out of her sockets, unable to contain her astonishment at what had just occurred, watching in the distance as yet another command seal was used for the second order. Dan Blackmore...he really...had just used not one...but two of his command seals on the spot...!
"What?! Huuuuuh?! You're out of your mind! You have to be kidding me, boss! I thought you wanted this to be an easy win!" The man looked like he was ready to tear out his hair in frustration at that moment. Well...any servant probably would to see their master use off two command seals for an order that seemed...pretty ridiculous even if it was for a fair and chivalrous cause.
Dan places the glove back onto his hand, still seeming unbothered, his expression remaining stoic. "Of course, and I will not lose. My victory is the natural outcome of this situation. However, Archer, I speak only to my own resolve. My fight and yours are separate." To think that he would still be so optimistic even after giving out such disadvantageous orders using his command seals, Hakuno was in awe of his charisma.
He emphasises that point as he speaks. "There are circumstances in which we may not win. My victory is not the same as yours. That being said, I hope you now understand...the consequences of disobeying my orders."
This seems to grind the servant to a halt, and eventually, he deflates in defeat, still looking angry. "...Fine, fine. I got you, read you loud and clear boss. I'll act in accordance to your order."
He says this as if he doesn't have a choice, rather than willingly. Holding out his weapon, Hakuno notices its unique yet peculiar structure. It resembled that of a crossbow, the weapon sporting a green colour that matched his cape with purple streaks.
That weapon...he must be using it to shoot those poisoned arrows. It certainly didn't look like any typical, regular crossbow, with the sturdy device small enough to fit and be attached to his right arm. And the way he held it...Hakuno could tell right away that he was an expert in wielding the weapon too. Perhaps that crossbow was also made with the wood of the Yew Tree?
The man fiddles with it a bit, grumbling to himself and after a few clicks, Hakuno hears a small shattering noise, before she feels the pain from her left arm disappear along with the exhaustion that was weighing on her body.
Looking over at her arm, the brown-haired master is rendered speechless to see that her arm was now perfectly fine, with the colour of her skin back to normal and looking to be in tip top condition like it wasn't poisoned at all.
Moving her arm, she confirms that her arm is now alright and no longer in pain just as Dan turns to meet her eyes. "You should be alright now, yes? After the Noble Phantasm has been destroyed, the source of the poisoned arrows, its effects should dissipate. Please...accept this as a token of my apology, if only to humour me."
By disabling the Noble Phantasm...he meant...that she wouldn't need to worry about the poison now, right? Hakuno could only numbly nod in response, not too sure how to express her gratitude with the confusion plaguing her mind.
She must be dreaming. Dan was actually...helping her out? She didn't think of him to be a particularly evil man...at least not compared to Shinji...but to think that he would go this far just to cure her of the poison...this was definitely overkill and way beyond her expectations!
Command seals...three absolute commands that a Master may give their servant. Those participating in the Holy Grail each get three of these seals to use at their discretion. And as hard as it is to believe, Hakuno has just witnessed this old knight use not just one...but two of his command seals to force his own servant to fight fairly.
"Damn it...all my plans have been thrown out the window." She shrinks slightly at the pissed enemy servant who was still grumbling and cursing to himself, most likely dissatisfied that his plans were foiled on top of his master wasting two command seals to stop him. "Whatever. It doesn't matter now that the command seals have been used. Look, I cancelled it, so I hope you're happy now, boss."
Hakuno could tell that he was obviously holding in his rage, trying his best to not to take out his anger and swear at his master as the man disappears into astral form without saying anything else, shooting her own servant another glare before he did so. He must be doing so to try and cope with his anger on his own. Not that Hakuno could really sympathise with him...seeing that he literally tried to kill her multiple times.
"...A young man that he is...and yet he still acts more like a child." Shaking his head disapprovingly to himself, Dan now focuses on the master at the other end of the room. "Please understand that my servant acted improperly and against my deepest wishes." Well yes...she could clearly see that. Even after the enemy servant had disappeared, the tension between the enemy duo was still present in the air.
"I intend to grasp victory only on the battlefield...fairly. As difficult as it may be...I hope you can pardon his actions and forgive this incident." She's not too sure if she can really 'pardon his actions' after what the enemy servant did to her, but she's just glad that the incident is resolved and over.
Dan now addresses Sakura, bowing his head. "I apologise for the damage and ruckus my servant has caused, Miss Sakura. I am embarassed with how he behaved...and it was not my intention for him to attack both of you." Sakura accepts his apology with a quick nod of the head, apparently still slightly shaken over the whole experience.
"Now then, I shall take my leave. I do hope that you can resume operating as usual, Miss Sakura. As for you...may we meet again on the battlefield, and fight earnestly." With nothing more to be said, he straightens his posture and begins walking out the door, the three of them dumbfounded. ...That was certainly eventful.
Dematerializing his swords, Archer puts a hand on his hip, sighing. "...Didn't see that one coming. How bold of him to sacrifice two command seals and the Noble Phantasm's name." Yeah...and now they were one step closer to learning about that servant's True Name. As dangerous as it was...she was glad that they got some information out of the exchange.
The master hears a sound from her terminal, confirming that her servant matrix had been updated with more information on the enemy servant. "We can safely confirm that the Yew Bow is that man's Noble Phantasm...or at least one or them. And because he attacked you, he'll still suffer a stat decrease and a penalty too." Huh...so that was why Archer was trying to avoid fighting him earlier, instead choosing to taunt him until Dan showed up.
"...With that out of the way, are you alright, Master?" The master nods at that, mustering a smile. "Yeah...I'm alright. Thanks for the save earlier." One more second and that hooded stranger might've penetrated her heart or severed her head off her neck with that dagger of his. Whatever the case, she had managed to barely avoid death...yet again.
What she was more concerned however, was the nurse that had came to her aid earlier. The poor girl looked like she was ready to faint. "You ok Sakura? Sorry...because of him you were put in harm's way earlier..." She did feel apologetic, especially after Sakura had tried to defend her. She may be an NPC, but she supposed that anyone would be frightened over what happened.
Sakura manages a strained smile, trying to laugh it off. "Oh...um...I'm fine. I was just...a little scared over what happened earlier. That man...he pounced onto me like a deadly predator that was about to slaughter its prey."
She takes Hakuno's hands in her own, looking grateful nonetheless. "But thankfully, you came to my rescue, Kishinami-san. Truth be told, I wasn't expecting you to push me away like that. You were pretty heroic yourself just now, so thank you."
A more lighthearted giggle escapes her lips now that the purple-haired AI had recovered from the initial shock. Hakuno on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a tad bit bashful at the compliment, scratching the back of her head. "Ah...er...it was no problem. You tried to defend me earlier too...so..."
Sakura chuckles at her embarassed demeanour. "Still...good deeds should be returned with gratitude. It's because of you that I'm perfectly fine and walking." Heading over to the beds, she frowns at the damaged pillow, white fluff sticking and spilling out of the spot where the man had pierced through.
Her eyes go over the table next, seeing the various supplies littering the floor. Whatever the case, both the pillow and table were probably unusable now. As for the partially broken door...well...it could probably still be opened and closed if they handled and did it carefully...? Now that she took a better look, especially from an outsider's point of view, the scene before them certainly looked like some sort of chaotic and violent brawl ensued in here.
" *sigh* That man...he certainly came in here looking for trouble. Though...I guess I should be glad he didn't destroy the shelves containing the supplies...otherwise I wouldn't even be able to run this place properly." Taking note that she needed to get a replacements for the items later, the nurse gestures the female master to come over to examine her arm once again.
"Wow...your arm really has healed thanks to Sir Dan's intervention. With this, you should be alright now, though you can always drop by if any other issues arise. Ah yes...and before you leave...here's your healing item for the week. Might as well give it to you since you're here." Hakuno nods at that, accepting the item and happy that Sakura was so willing to help her out with any health-related problems. She really was a nice gal, that's for sure.
After properly getting dressed and helping Sakura to clean up the supplies on the floor, the master finally emerges from the infirmary dressed in her turtleneck sweater and a brand new blazer she had stored in her terminal beforehand. By then, several masters were already occupying the hallway, chatting amongst themselves.
From the atmosphere around her...it didn't seem like any one of them witnessed or saw what happened back inside the nurse's office...much to her relief. She didn't need any attention or unnecessary gossip spreading after all. The master slowly walks down the hallway, only to see her servant waiting for her outside in astral form.
With all the mayhem that had occurred this morning, she was certain that she was already late and missing out on the first lecture of the day, much to her disappointment. Well...at least she could probably make it for the next lecture after this. In the meantime, there was something else that needed to be addressed first.
She let's out an awkward cough, grabbing Archer's attention. "Uh...Archer...about the blazer..." She fiddles with her fingers, finding it difficult to look at him directly in the eye. Would he be mad? Perhaps...given that his hard work went to waste and was torn to shreds. The master should probably brace herself for the eventual nagging from him...
Archer didn't take long to catch on however, as he shakes his head indifferently. "Don't worry about it. I already know." Ah...right...he probably saw the remains of her blazer earlier when he barged into the nurse's office to protect her anyway...
Archer tilts his head to the side, giving her a quick but reassuring pat to the head to tell her that he wasn't mad. "I'm not angry. I'm actually more impressed that you managed to think and act quickly and rationally in that situation. That was smart of you to do so. So really...you don't need to feel bad over a blazer."
This was...unexpected. She thought that he would be a teensy bit upset, but no...the man remains calm and stoic as ever. Still...she couldn't help but feel guilty. Archer may not care as much...but she certainly did. It was his handiwork and efforts that went down the drain.
As usual, almost as if he could read her mind, the man sighs and waves a hand dismissively. "It's really nothing to be concerned over. You did what you had to do to protect yourself and Sakura, so that counts a lot more. You could simply let Sakura be injured...but you didn't. If anything, you should be proud of yourself for standing up against the enemy servant." Ok...when he puts it that way...
"By the way, what you said earlier...have you really figured out the enemy servant's identity, Archer?" She was hopeful, insanely so. In fact, the master was very eager to know, curiosity present in those large chocolate eyes of hers. If Archer actually did discover the servant's True Name, then that would assist them greatly in their Elimination Battle later on, or if they encountered Dan and that orange-haired guy in the Arena.
Archer crosses his hands over his chest, sweatdropping at her question. "Hmm...I might have an inkling of who he really is..." He watched as his master held her breath in anticipation, before shrugging his shoulders.
"However...as I mentioned earlier...I am not 100% certain. Of course, I could just tell you, but I feel that it would be more beneficial for you to figure it out on your own when you approach that astrologist tomorrow. I can provide my insight...but just not in this moment. Whatever I may disclose to you now is simply speculation after all."
Hakuno's expression falls as that, and she soon begins pouting at him. Oh great, there he goes being all mysterious and stingy with his information again. So what if he had a point and it was speculation?!
If he was fairly confident in his predictions, then as his master, she should have a right to know! Why was he keeping her in the dark unfairly like this?! And to tell her to be patient and wait until tomorrow...he couldn't be serious now, could he?!
The master doesn't get to question him about it however, as she soon hears a voice calling out to her. "Kishinami-saaaaaaan!" Her body immediately goes rigid in response as Hakuno let's out a yelp, feeling someone collide into her.
She almost falls over if not for the suspect in question yanking her back up, almost breaking off her arm with the amount of force she used. After taking a while to steady herself, Hakuno finds herself standing in front of none other than the beast herself, Taiga Fujimura. While this was the third errand she was running for her, Hakuno still couldn't quite get used to Taiga's abrupt and sudden appearances.
"Hello there Kishinami-san! Do you have any good news to share to me regarding the persimmons?? I did ask around, but apparently the other students couldn't find them..." Ah yes...the persimmons. Quickly whipping out and scrolling through the items stored in her terminal, Hakuno soon materialises the box of persimmons, promptly handing it over to the teacher who squeals in delight.
"Yay! My persimmons! So it was in your Arena after all! Thank you so much for getting them back for me! Hehe...I can finally share these delicious fruit with the other teachers!" At least finding it wasn't too much trouble. Now then...with the errand out of the way, Taiga would surely leave and she could go back to questioning her servant about-
"Oh, I just remembered something." Hakuno freezes in place, gritting her teeth and holding back a groan of frustration. That tone...it couldn't be yet another favour, could it? C'mon...give her a break here! Was she seriously going to have to run errands for this person every round now?! Was she dubbed the official errand girl or something?! She had other things to deal with and take care of!
"Kishinami-san, a student asked me for help...but honestly...thinking of it now...you'd probably do a better job. So could you help her out instead?" At this rate, Hakuno's starting to suspect that Taiga may very well just be extremely lazy, otherwise she couldn't be going around completing all these strange tasks of hers to begin with. Why her anyway? She would be grateful if Taiga could just approach some other student to help. What happened to taking turns for things like this?!
Taiga doesn't seem to register the irritation that was radiating off the brown-haired female, as she simply goes on to state her next request. "It seems that one of the girls dropped their glasses in the Arena. She said that she dropped them somewhere at the bottom of the Arena's second floor, but she isn't too sure." Well...it sure isn't her fault that the girl lost her glasses, and it ain't her responsibility to go and find them...not that Hakuno was willing to admit that out loud and risk igniting the temper of her teacher.
"It'll be great if you could poke around the second floor your Arena and see if you could locate this missing item. Ah...but she obviously needs them back before the second Elimination Battle, so if you manage to find it, do pass it to me by the end of this preparation period. The poor girl can't see a thing beyond two feet without them after all."
So...? She doesn't want to sound cruel, but she has better things to focus on...and even if the girl couldn't see...couldn't she just ask her servant to go around and look for her glasses instead? Why make an enemy master do it? She probably didn't even know of this girl that lost her glasses anyway. It didn't really make sense, but Hakuno knows that she's already roped into doing this little mission of Taiga's, numbly nodding her head in response.
This puts the teacher at ease as she beams brightly at her student, patting her back hard like she always did. "As always, you're so reliable! I know I can count on you for this, Kishinami-san! Well then...adios! I have some persimmons I need to give out!" The master stares at the retreating teacher with raised eyebrows, shaking her head.
"Oh, if it isn't Hakuno. We meet again. Busy running errands for Fujimura-sensei?" Turning around, her eyes meet ocean blue ones, and Hakuno is soon staring at none other than Rin Tohsaka. What coincidental timing. "Ah...hi Rin." How long had she been standing there anyway?
Tossing her hair over her shoulder, the woman strodes over with a pleasant smile on her lips. "How have you been? You seem to be well...despite dealing with that troublesome enemy servant." That tone of voice...did Rin find out about the whole poisoning incident then? With how knowledgeable she was, Hakuno wouldn't be surprised if she did.
Rin nods, tapping her chin in thought. "Indeed, I did hear from a passing bird that enemy servant tried to kill you...three times in fact. It's hilarious how he managed to fail, especially seeing you standing here now all fine and healthy." Hakuno raises an eyebrow at that. A passing bird she says...and just whose side was she on when she mentions that last sentence?
Rin chuckles at that, seeming ever so relaxed and confident as she always was. "I'm not particularly siding with anyone here. Just that I find the whole situation amusing. It's pretty amazing that you're still alive after what he put you through...especially with the poisoning part." Hakuno isn't too sure how to respond. Was Rin poking fun at her misery or...?
"Anyway, I just came to see how you're faring. Your opponent this round seems to be a lot tougher than Shinji...since he possesses a servant that's constantly out for your head. I heard that he even tried to attack Sakura earlier...what a lunatic." Had word already spread out so soon? Or did Rin somehow find out on her own? Whatever the case...she definitely heard of the news extremely fast...and probably knows about what Dan did earlier.
"Yeah...I was informed that he used up two of his command seals. While foolish...I won't question too much on his motives for doing so." She points at Hakuno sternly in response, frowning. "You on the other hand...need to keep up your guard. It's bad enough that you nearly died these past few days, but you're forgetting just how strong Dan Blackmore and his servant really are."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Rin goes on. "You may be safe on school grounds for now...but Dan has no intention of losing to you on the battlefield. That...and now his servant's only opportunity to finish you off is either in the Arena or during the Elimination Battle, and something tells me that he doesn't intend to pull his punches when the time comes...so you best be prepared to face them."
Hakuno nods, taking note of Rin's advice. While seeming indifferent at first...she now wonders if Rin had visited her for the reason to warn her instead, especially after hearing about the incident that took place earlier this morning. ...Or could it be...did she dare to think that Rin was perhaps worried for her after finding out what had happened?Whatever it may be, she appreciates the thought.
Rin blushes at that, frowning at her. "Worried for you? Don't get the wrong idea. I was just pointing out the obvious, seeing how dense and absent-minded you can be. I've told you many times...and I'll say it again in case you've forgotten: we're still enemies. As long as we're both masters in this war, we can't ever be allies or 'friends', got that?"
Yeah...but Hakuno still would want to talk to Rin like this. Rin was a good person to confide in...and sometimes gave some excellent advice too. That being said...was it really that bad to want to know her better and continue chatting with her?
Her bluntness only served to darken the blush on the twin-tailed master's face, as she quickly turns, sputtering. "Y-You...really have no sense of awareness sometimes. Do whatever you want...just don't say I didn't warn you." With that...she walks away, with Hakuno left hanging on her words and staring at her back. That was a weird conversation.
"She does have a point. I hate to sound like a broken record, but you'll still lose if your resolve doesn't match his." The mood immediately darkens and becomes bleak with Archer voicing out his thoughts. There he was...trying to sound all intelligent and yet he chooses to hold back his findings on the enemy servant's True Name. Haha...very funny.
Hakuno doesn't get to pipe up and retort when her terminal beeps an electronic chiming sound. It's a familiar sound, and just as she had anticipated, the master eyes the notice displayed on the screen with a serious gaze. "The secondary cipher key has been generated."
So it's begun. Half of the preparation period was over...and now the two of them needed to find and get the second cipher key to obtain access for the second Elimination Battle. This would probably mean that the second floor in the Arena has opened up for them to explore and train in too...what perfect timing.
But first, she needs to get to class and deal with the rest of the lectures for the day. The master could only hope that they wouldn't run into the enemy duo by the time they got to the Arena later in the afternoon, at least not for today. She was certain that the hooded man was probably still pissed off from earlier, and frankly...she doesn't want to deal with him a second time today.
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Fortunately, the rest of the day had concluded rather peacefully. Hakuno hadn't encountered Dan or his servant in the Arena this afternoon...which was probably for the best. The enemy servant would probably come at them with extreme killer intent if they were to meet today after all.
Everything went by quite smoothly as well, and the two located and grabbed the cipher key after thoroughly looking through and exploring the Arena. Well...almost everything went by smoothly. On the downside, Hakuno had been ambushed by surprise by an enemy program right after she managed to find the glasses that Taiga mentioned about.
As a result, the master ended up spraining her ankle. While it wasn't anything too serious, especially after the poisoned arrow incident, with the sprain being a mild one too, it would still take a night of rest for it to fully recover even after treating it by the healing fountain.
"The level of clumsiness you can exude sometimes surprises me. Did Rin's warning of keeping your guard up at all times fly over your head?" Hakuno's eyebrows twitch at Archer's question as he helps support her into getting to the bed after wrapping up her foot in some bandages.
Really now...could she not have a single day without having to deal with his sarcasm? She knew that it was already built in and engraved as a part of his personality, but...it wasn't like she was doing it on purpose.
Actually...after witnessing Dan use his command seals today...she now has a better idea of how powerful these command seals truly are. Staring at the red marks on her left hand...a sudden question comes to mind.
Since the orders given had to be obeyed by the servant...did that mean that she could technically use a command seal to make Archer swear absolute obedience then? Sure...the thought of that sounded cruel...but the more curious part of her wondered if it was actually possible.
Archer is taken aback by her question, massaging his temples and muttering something along the lines of 'How ironic' and 'I can't believe I have to explain this' before he begins elaborating. "I would advise you not to be so impulsive and naive Master. What you're suggesting there is too broad of an order." Too broad of an order? What did he mean by that?
Sighing, Archer crosses his arms over his chest. "You do realize just how previous command seals are, don't you?" Well...yeah...each master was only limited to three for one thing. That, and they were 'non-renewable' in a sense. Once all three of them were used up...the master automatically forfeits their participation in the war and is disqualified. At least...that's the gist of what she knows for now.
The man nods at her answer. "Command seals compel a servant to perform an action. For example, let's say I am incapable of teleporting far away from here. However, if you were to were to use a command seal to order me to do so, it would use both of our mana to make it possible." Huh...so command seals could even be used for travelling purposes then? How strange yet convenient...especially for emergencies.
"Yes, the three command seals you possess are the crystallisation of High Magic and can overcome the limits of flesh and blood. These marks on your hand hold much more power than just symbolizing the pact between servant and master." Wow...she wasn't exactly expecting such a detailed explanation. But when he puts it that way...they certainly are a lot more valuable than she initially expected.
"There is something you should take note of too. When vaguely worded, command seals are less effective. If I were to be blunt, even a hundred command seals could not cause true and absolute obedience in all words and actions of a servant."
Hakuno sweat drops at that, jaw opening in shock. Wait...so even if she were to use a command seal...such an order wouldn't work because it was too broad and vague? Well...that probably made sense too...unless she were to be more specific, just like how Dan had used his command seals solely to force Archer not to attack anyone with his Yew Bow inside the school. If such a tall order could even follow through, then servants would probably act more like machines or robots with no will or opinions of their own.
"If anything, forcing such an unclear order upon a servant would prove to be futile and simply a waste of a command seal. Even if you were a talented magus with extraordinary skills and have large mana reserves, the most you would be able to do is prove your worth as a master and theoretically carry a powerful compulsion towards your servant with your words."
That casual insult didn't go by unnoticed as Hakuno frowns at him. Geh...so that meant...such an order would be utterly useless for the likes of someone like her to begin with.
"Now that you understand...I hope that you are wise enough not to spend your command seals on something like that," Archer finishes, raising an eyebrow at her.
...Why did it feel like he was speaking from past experience? And why was he giving her that look of suspicion too?? Oh c'mon...even with how tempting that may sound, she wasn't going to be that irrtational and just waste all her command seals right off the bat!
It almost felt like this wasn't the first time he was explaining this concept to someone, and even trying to prevent her from committing such a deed too. When he puts it that way...she surely has no other alternative but to comply and accept her fate. Not that she was going to anyway...but she should've known better...things don't come by as easily as she hoped after all.
"It is vital to conserve your command seals, but do remember that these seals can even save your life in a moment of peril." Archer's eyes are dead serious as he says this, urging Hakuno to keep this in mind.
"Should anything happen to you...and for some reason I am not by your side at that point in time...do not hesitate to use a command seal to summon me. It was a good thing I was still within a close range to respond in time...but there's no telling what can happen in the future. It's no use trying to play a hero if you're just going to wind up wounded and dead."
Hakuno gulps, slowly nodding. The way he phrased it was...sort of brutal, but he was right. There were many masters and servants present in this war that were very much willing to kill, and Dan's servant further proved that to her today. If Archer really wasn't waiting outside, then she wouldn't even be here and breathing anymore. Such a possibility was enough to chill her to the bone.
"Then...Archer...like with Rin, did you also think that Dan was being foolish for using two command seals?" she slowly asks a moment later. Archer stares at her in silence for a moment, most likely pondering on her question.
"...It's hard to say. Like you...I'm still sort of questioning the man's mindset for doing something so extreme...and while it would be considered foolish to the eyes of bystanders, Dan may think otherwise. The man did say so himself...that he was still confident in winning."
A fair answer. In fact, Dan's actions have made her to assume that he believes he can confront his war without utilising his command seals in battle whatsoever. A very confident and righteous man...and yet compared to Shinji, he didn't seem arrogant in doing so. If anything, the man appeared to be rather noble, not a single shred of trickery or deceit in those eyes of his.
Lying down on her bed, Hakuno remembers something. Right...she had to visit Rani tomorrow. Oddly enough, she hadn't encountered the astrologist anywhere for the past two days.
With how keen she was to learning more about her and her star or whatever as she claimed the other day...Hakuno thought that Rani would at least stop by to maybe check on her progress or something. ...Or maybe...she was gazing at her through her vision of the stars or something.
Rani had told them to locate and find a suitable relic that would aide them in discovering more about the enemy servant's identity...but to be honest...she was skeptical. Rani hadn't mentioned a thing about how her 'powers' actually worked, and with the bare minimum piece of physical evidence they had to provide her, would she really be able to unravel the mystery behind that man's True Name just like that?
"As much as I agree with your skepticism, we can't determine much for now. Rani is basically an enigma to us, and there is much we do not understand or know of her or her abilities. For now, I say we just follow along with that girl's plan and tread around carefully while we're at it."
Says the same guy who might already be aware of the hooded stranger's identity...though Hakuno decides not to bring it up. Archer seems stubbornly determined to stay quiet on the matter...at least for now...under the pretext of not 'misleading her with misinformation' or something...so pushing the topic wouldn't help either.
The master decides not to think too much about the odd girl for now. However her power works...she guesses that she'll probably find out or get a glimpse of it when she meets her tomorrow. Seeing that her servant was dead set on keeping his findings to himself for now (the nerve of him...why did he have to be so secretive anyway?), she has no option but to be patient, wait and take the harder route.
On a more unrelated note, she hasn't gotten the chance to properly thank Archer for taking care of her the night before. With all the crazy things that's happened today, now's probably a better time than never to express her gratitude. He did also stay up to look after her too after all...so it would be rude for her to not thank him.
"Archer...about last night.." The man looks up at her from his throne of chairs, having already settled into a comfortable position. She bites down on her lower lip, suddenly feeling a bit bashful herself as she chooses to look down at her hands instead before continuing. "That is...thanks a lot...for looking out and taking care of me. It was...really nice and thoughtful of you to do so. And even today, you shielded me from the enemy's attacks as always...so...thanks for that too."
She didn't know how sincere she sounded by conveying her gratitude with simple words and in a vague sense, but she hopes that her servant gets what she's trying to say. Knowing him, he'd tell her that she didn't need to be so straightforward and go to the extent of thanking him...and yet she still feels the need to. She doesn't want to take her servant's help for granted and just be selfish after all. And her servant's deeds deserved more recognition too.
Archer pauses at that, once again probably unsure of how to respond. After a while of collecting his thoughts, he speaks, straightening slightly in his spot. "...I did say that you didn't need to always thank for me things like these. While I appreciate your gratitude, it's my duty to ensure that my master is in good condition before the Elimination Battle." He says that...and yet the man goes above and beyond to assist her at times too.
The man clasps his hands together, sighing. "Well...seeing that you're so eager to thank me, I guess I should just accept it and be thankful as well. I do hope you weren't thinking and trying to get off easy just by continuously thanking me like this, are you? The road to preparing for the Elimination Battle is a rocky one after all."
Hakuno chuckles sheepishly at his snarky remark. Even with this cheesy moment, he still manages to sneak in some sort of sassy comment, huh? Once again, he does bring out a valid point though. There were only two days left to the preparation period after tonight. Two days...and then they would have to fight in the Coliseum.
The master wonders if she can hold her ground against the duo. Naturally, she'll do her best, and while Archer claims that she's improved, the master can't help but be worried about the gap in abilities. A servant that was skilled in the use of poison...she wonders what exactly could she do to counter that.
The more she thought about it, the more hopeless and frustrated she got. Nothing comes to mind at the moment, and she can't really think up of anything as a countermeasure against poison of all things. Archer may have some immunity to poison, but she certainly didn't, and even he probably had his limits too. If the enemy servant decided to go all out and hold nothing back, she might literally fall over and die from the poison before the two of them could do anything.
She groans, tugging at her hair. So what then? What plan could they come up with? Just like with Shinji and Rider...they needed some plan of action before the second Elimination Battle...and dealing with the poison would probably be the centre of attention and cause for concern. If they could somehow survive and bypass that...then perhaps she and Archer had a fighting chance at surviving the second round.
The master halts, suddenly recalling the unpleasant memories of the first round. Surviving the second round...that meant sacrificing the life of Dan Blackmore. Even if she didn't directly kill him, the SE.RA.PH certainly will...as demonstrated during end the first Elimination Battle.
Going through the same procedure and watching a similar scene like that unfold before her eyes...Hakuno didn't want to witness it again. And yet she knows she doesn't have much of a choice. She wants to survive...she needs to survive. She needed to live on, for her own sake...and also to fulfill the promise she made with Nagisa too.
Dan used to be a soldier...and up until now still behaved like one even after he had retired. Rin had mentioned that soldiers were prepared to give up their lives willingly on the battlefield for the chance to win, but she wonders...is that really the case with Dan? She still has no idea what his wish for the grail is. Maybe Dan was a different man now that he was old and retired? Perhaps Dan had his own ideals and dreams beyond that of serving the country? She still didn't know.
Scratch that...she was still wondering what her own wish is. Perhaps it was selfish of her to think about her wish for the holy grail...when others have died in return. Truthfully, she doesn't know where to stands...or how she should go forth from here. All she mostly cares about for now is still her survival, a pathetic desire when compared to the desires of some of the other masters.
"Are you worried?" There comes the same question. Archer had asked her that several times back in the first round, and each and every time...her answer appears to be yes. And yet...she couldn't bring herself to lie to him either. Yes...she was worried. She was worried about many problems...problems that she had no concrete solutions for...and it was making her incredibly anxious as time went by.
How much longer would she need to worry like this? For the entire war if she somehow manages to survive for that long? Was it cocky of her to want to survive and live on for that long despite not having a wish for the grail yet?
Would she even be able to find the answers to some of these doubts and questions she had by the end of this journey? So many worries...and not enough answers to soothe her and put her at ease. The master finds herself worrying more if anything, and would probably continue to worry so long as she lives and breathes here in this2war.
These worries would find a way into her soul whether she liked it or not, slowly corroding and crushing it as each day went by. But else could she do but fight and struggle to live on? This was the life she was living now...the harsh reality that was her everyday routine...a nightmare she will never truly wake up from. This was no righteous war for her. No...far from it. It was just a senseless bloodshed with a purpose that Hakuno couldn't understand.
"...Whatever it is that you may be doubtful of...I'm sure you'll find the answer to it as time goes by." Archer answers her this. He doesn't say when specifically that she'll discover the answers to her questions, but rather, to wait and slowly discover the solutions for her worries. Would be she able to find them in time though? That was a variable to consider.
And yet...this answer somehow manages to simmer down the anxiety that was bubbling at the surface of her heart. Like a flickering, violent flame being put out by a bucket of water, the thumping of her heart slowly ceases. Just like how dwelling in the past wasn't going to bring back the dead...the master is thus reminded again...that senselessly worrying too much like this isn't going to get her anywhere.
That's right...she had to focus on the present. She may have many doubts about what's to happen in the near and far future, but what she should be prioritising now is preparing for the second Elimination Battle...as well as dealing with her second round opponents.
And so she thanks her servant, like always, almost as if it were a habit by now. As mysterious and satirical his behavior may be, Hakuno had to thank him for the numerous times he's already saved her and looked after her wellbeing too.
A lingering exhaustion was affecting her ability to think as the master begins yawning. She should probably turn in earlier for today...since she had just recovered from the poison. Rest was indeed needed, and she also wanted to make sure that she didn't feel sleepy tomorrow when she eventually goes to see Rani.
Closing her eyes, Hakuno barely manages to greet her servant good night, her ears faintly registering the calm ticking of the clock in a distance before her consciousness fades away, the master falling asleep fast.
Two more days remained...just two more days left to gear up and get ready for the dreaded second Elimination Battle.
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All nighters were not foreign to Archer. In fact, the man was used to staying up. Servants had more robust bodies and for the most part were equipped to at least last for a few days without any sleep. That...coupled in with the habit that was practically ingrained into him from his past made all nighters seem more like a walk in the park for him.
Besides, the man found himself being unable to sleep in the first place. As tedious as it may be, he had already decided to watch over his master in case anything else were to happen as she slept. It would be bad if she ended up having some sort of panic attack or something similar like earlier. And so...in the silence of the night, the man decides to put his time to good use and think about their current enemy.
In the heat of the moment, the man admitted that he was more worried about his master's deteriorating health and condition than dealing with the enemy. Now though...with nothing much to do...he supposed he could focus a bit more on recalling and analysing their current opponent.
Now that he thought about it...there were several signs pointing towards the enemy servant's possible identity. For one thing...they managed to determine his class during that brief encounter. The man also wielded poisoned arrows that were made from Yew wood.
The Yew Tree they discovered on the first day...along with those Yew arrows...and a man who prefers to hide and eliminate their targets using poison. The man blinks. Wait a second...it couldn't be...that the enemy servant was actually...?
He pauses, now deep in thought. Sure, there was a possibility that the enemy servant's identity could be him, but Archer didn't want to rush to conclusions. The evidence did somewhat point towards the direction of the enemy's possible True Name, and even the attire could match the relevant time period, but nothing was certain just yet. For all he knew, it could also be someone else who utilised such methods during that era...
And then there was Dan. Frustratingly enough, they hadn't witnessed what exactly the old man could do...though he supposed he could guess some of his abilities just from the fact that he was a retired soldier...and a skilled sniper at that. Given his ties to the Harways and the queen too...he must be a pretty adept soldier on the battlefield. An expert sniper who had a servant who snipes from the shadows...how coincidental.
Now then...as a plan to tackle the two of them...that was a different story. He didn't object to the idea of coming up with a plan beforehand, but truth be told, there was little they could do...at least for now. For one thing...the enemy servant this time had a mastery in poison. Even with his poison immunity, the tanned servant didn't know how much of it he could endure before he too would reach his limits and succumb to the poison.
Especially during the Elimination Battle, the man was already prepared to fight a relatively long battle. The enemy servant was sneaky and resorted to traps to try and defeat his enemies, and they were no exception to that. The hooded man probably still had some tricks up his sleeve.
Archer could try to keep reduce the gap between him and the enemy through close range melee combat so that it would be harder for the servant to snipe at him or try anything suspicious...but he was also aware that it wouldn't be as easy as that. The enemy servant would most likely find a way to get some distance and attack him. And that Yew Tree...could it be a Noble Phantasm?
The man spends his time thinking to himself, occasionally getting some rest in between and repeating the process, all while checking on his master every now and then. Surprisingly, time went by faster than he expected, and soon enough, he could see the sun beginning to rise through the gaps in the curtains. Seeing that his master was still asleep, the man finally decides to take a quick power nap before she woke up.
Sadly, even with a night's worth of rest, his master's arm didn't show any signs of improvement or recovery. The man internally sighs. Guess that means the only option left is to turn to Sakura. Hopefully the infirmary had some medicine stored for dealing with poison.
Fighting against the poison must've unknowingly sapped all the energy in her, because he notices her struggle to get up, before soon falling over. The servant's eyes widened, quickly grabbing ahold of her and breaking her fall.
The man, now still holding onto her awkwardly but carefully, watched as his master stiffened within his grasp. He couldn't help but stare at his master's interesting reaction. Was she still embarassed over last night?
Archer oddly found himself feeling amused at his master's embarassment as he carried her to the bathroom. It wasn't that he necessarily wanted to tease her, but more so was just lending a helping hand so she could prepare for the day faster.
Placing her back onto the floor, he decides just then to joke around with her by inquiring if she needed assistance. It was...satisfying, seeing his master's face turn into the shade of a ripe tomato, though he obviously wouldn't admit that out loud.
Finally getting shooed outside, he decides to try and get some more rest while waiting for her. With her arm in that state, she would probably take slightly longer than usual too. His peaceful nap was quickly interrupted though, when he hears a crash in the bathroom, immediately standing and brisk walking over. So much for getting some rest...he was already beginning to worry about her getting ready.
Knocking on the door, he briefly asks if she was alright. Even with how concerned he may be, he knew better than to enter the bathroom while she was in the middle of showering. He could hear Hakuno answer hastily through the door, clearly not wanting him to take even a step inside the bathroom, the sound of the shower running. Could it be that she slipped and fell down in there or something...?
Although kinda unconvinced, he decides to leave her alone and head back to his throne of chairs, only hoping that she was alright and didn't injure herself. God knows what would happen if he were to be irrational and barge in to check on her. As timid as she may be, he didn't want to be mistaken as a pervert and get slapped first thing in the morning. She was already flustered enough as it is with him carrying her earlier.
Finally exiting the bathroom, he confirms that she wasn't bleeding or bruised anywhere as the two of them headed directly to the infirmary. It didn't take long for him to get promptly kicked out however, as the man exits the nurse's office with a grumble. Then again, he wasn't going to argue with his master on the decision either.
The man pauses for a brief few seconds at the door, hearing Sakura's teasing comments which caused him to grimace. Did he appear overly worried even to an NPC? He admitted that he might've overreacted a bit last night and had an outburst...but the man had calmed dowm a lot by now.
What else was he supposed to do anyway? Ignore his master who was practically writhing in pain and even fainted at some point? Yeah...he was just doing his part as her servant...and maybe being a tad bit more considerate for her circumstances. That aside, Archer was certain that he kept a neutral expression, and it couldn't be that Sakura could see and sense him in astral form, right? ...Or could she?
He had assumed that the treatment Sakura was going to perform would at least take while, but it wasn't long before he felt a sudden spike in his master's mana signature, indicating that something was indeed wrong. The man was quick to react, dashing towards the direction of the nurse's office and hearing a crash followed by some other loud noises, like there was some sort of confrontation or struggle going on inside.
The tanned servant already had a hunch of what was going in there. Darn it...he should've known that the enemy servant would try something since he knew that Hakuno was still alive! The man in red could only hope that he got there in time.
Archer races to the door, finding it jammed shut. Without hesitation, he practically busts it open, possible damages be damned and swords in hand to defend against the dagger that was aimed at his master. Glaring at the enemy servant, the two had a staredown, sizing each other up and throwing insults one after the other.
He had intended to force the hooded man to back off, and perhaps get his composure to break a little so that maybe...he would unconsciously leak out some information in his state of rage. It did work on Shinji before...so there was no harm in trying a similar tactic. However, Dan's appearance was not within his estimations. Whether him intervening was a good thing or not...he wasn't sure.
What came next was an utter surprise to even him. For Dan to use two command seals to get his servant to yield was an action he couldn't have predicted himself. The act served to confuse the tanned servant, but he was nonetheless glad that he and his master wouldn't need to worry about Dan's servant using his Yew arrows on her again...at least on campus.
This sacrifice of Dan also gave him more insight on just how uncooperative the enemy servant was...and how much the two of them were unwilling to work together as a master-servant pair. On the other hand, this also just meant that Dan wasn't planning to use his command seals to aid them during the Elimination Battles from the start, if he could use them for such absurd orders instead.
He exuded confidence...but it wasn't foolish arrogance unlike with Shinji. No...Archer had a feeling that Dan knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to remove his glove and use up those command seals there and then. He was prepared to settle the match on the battlefield during the Elimination Battle with a proper fight.
On a more unrelated note, Archer found himself also feeling surprised when his master touched on the blazer which he had fixed the night before. She didn't need to explain what had happened to it...since he had already witnessed its sad state back in the infirmary. For his master to be that bothered over a blazer though...that was...slightly unexpected.
Was he mad? No...not really. He roughly knew what had happened for the blazer to turn into a pile of shredded and torn up fabric after all. If anything, he should be directing any form of anger towards the enemy servant instead.
All in all...he had to applaud his master for being smart enough to defend herself and Sakura at least. Again...it was that trait of hers which cared for others that shined through, bring very evident in the strategy even if it was in the heat of the moment.
Then again...there was another trait of hers that he was beginning to take notice of: her gratitude. Hakuno was certainly a humble person for the most part, not taking anyone's kindness for granted, even if the kindness came from a fellow enemy master like Rin.
She would wholeheartedly appreciate it and even go out of her way to constantly thank them for it too. He couldn't say for certain if such a trait would be remotely useful or welcomed in a harsh, unforgiving and ruthless war such as this one though.
As for the enemy's True Name, as suspicious and confusing as it may appear especially to Hakuno, Archer had decided to keep his speculations and findings to himself for now. He wasn't really lying when he said that they were mere predictions, but there was also another reason for not outright telling her.
Archer knew better than to just open his mouth and casually leak whatever he knew about the enemy servant just like that. The man was dangerous, and had already gone through such lengths to try and kill her. If that hooded bastard found out that she possibly knew about his identity, there was no doubt that he would try something else to get rid of her at all costs during the remaining preparation period.
He needed to be more tight lipped if he wanted to prevent a similar incident to yesterday from occuring again...at least for now. It would probably be best and a lot safer if he revealed it later on...perhaps during the day of the Elimination Battle itself. For now though...he supposed he should tag along and continue to carefully watch over his master.
Then came the odd question she raised about the usage of command seals once they were back in their private room. What a terribly odd coincidence and irony that of all things...she would link the topic of command seals to the matter of absolute obedience. In fact, Archer was struck by a sense of deja vu as she brought the subject up. Well...it was a good thing that she bothered to ask rather than outright do it to test her theory out.
So...with the natural flow of the conversation, he proceeds to elaborate to her, and finds the explanation all the more nostalgic. To think that he would be talking about this kinda thing twice...what were the chances? It did serve as a good warning for his current master to not waste any command seals irrationally though.
And again, yet again, she starts pulling that worried expression on her face. He's seen it before, quite a number of times in fact, that the expression itself is already something he's familiar with. To this day...he's still not entirely sure how to deal with it or to cheer her up when she acts like this, but he still tries to offer a bit of reassurance...to at least help in quelling some if not all the doubts that covered her mind.
Archer, now looking over at his sleeping master, comes to a realization that more than half of the preparation period was over...and it would soon end, signifying that it had been two weeks since he answered her summons and became this strange person's servant. Oddly enough...he feels that he's...gradually getting used to having her as a master.
Provided...she still has many weaknesses to make up for, but the changes were noticeable and deserved some recognition. She too was beginning to seem more like a magus than a plain, powerless student that didn't know what to do whatsoever. He wanted to cringe upon recalling their first proper meeting and introduction in the nurse's office when the first round started back then. She really seemed totally clueless and blur about what was going on.
To him too...this was a fresh new experience, having a master who started from rock bottom...or even lower than that and slowly working her way up the ladder. Would her growth and determination be enough to surpass Dan though? That was another question.
Like with Shinji, her second opponent was completely different than her...possessing knowledge, skills and confidence that she lacked. Her resolve would undoubtedly be tested during the second Elimination Battle, and whether it could stand against and defeat that of Dan's.
...Ah yes. On a side note, he would have to play his part too...and make sure to satisfyingly kick that orange haired scoundrel's ass when the time finally came.