"So…let me get this straight. If you die, we're doomed?" I asked a nonchalant Chulainn. I can feel a vein starting to throb violently on my forehead as he nodded in response. I want to scream my lungs off, demanding to know why the hell that my life expectancy today can be summed up in those last five words.

After finishing introductions, Cú Chulainn had led us to what appears to have once been the local school building. Surprisingly, aside from blown-out doors and broken windows, the building itself was in a rather decent condition, especially when one compared its status to that of the rest of the area.

We were currently seated in a circle of sorts, having moved the required number of desks and seats around to do so. To the right of me, Mordred was leaning back in her chair, resting her head against her hands. She hadn't removed her helmet yet, and I hadn't pressed her to do so. Much like my own baseball cap, it could possibly be a source of comfort for her, for all I know.

Which, for that matter, was extremely little. I'm going to have to fix that, if I can. It doesn't sit well with me to have summoned someone, man or woman, to fight alongside me (I refuse to accept the director's demands that I focus on letting my Servant do the fighting for me), and not doing anything to know them better, or form any kind of bond. Maybe…just maybe, Mordred and I could be friends?

Focus, Jacob. Save humanity first, then focus on relationship stuff.

Chulainn had told us about how Saber had defeated six out of the seven other Servants that had been summoned for the Grail war. About how afterwards, each of them had arisen as corrupted, altered versions of who they were. More importantly, he had told us about how to correct Singularity F.

Saber must be defeated before someone or something gets lucky enough to defeat our Caster ally.

Director Animusphere had excused herself briefly to contact Doctor Romani, saying that she wanted to have him log the events that the Irish Servant had just told us about, and to also check to see, as she said, if there were more capable Masters or something to takeover. The bulging vein on her forehead indicates her displeasure before she even speaks.

"We're on our own. We can either take out this Saber, or we can dig in and hide." In other words, fight or flight. Ritsuka speaks up, but I ignore him, my brain weighing out the pros and cons of each idea.

To fight would be proactive, and potentially (if successful) allow for us to return to Chaldea as soon as possible. On the other hand, it would mean fighting with a disadvantage in a cave, and having an ally that could absolutely not be allowed to die.

On the other hand, hiding would allow for our group to be able to force the enemy to come to us, and theoretically give us the initiative of being able to run. However, we lack the advantage of knowing the local area regardless of its present condition, while the surviving corrupted Servants appear to not have that problem.

Unfortunately, my internal musings have caused me to apparently miss something rather important as half of our party are now on their feet.

"Sorry, I spaced out. What's going on now?" I am immediately rewarded with a scoff and eyeroll from Director Animusphere. My face flushed slightly in response.

"Chulainn is going to help Mash with finding out how to unlock and use her Noble Phantasm before we do anything else. I'm going along as moral support." And to keep the Caster from perving on Mash, no doubt. I nod my head in response to Ritsuka.

"Ah ok. Thanks for that. Good luck."

"Hopefully, we will have a plan for fixing this mess too, when you return."

I wonder if this was similar to what my grandfather saw during his deployment in Europe? A burning, devastated city, devoid of joy, dreams, and life.

Before he died, he always refused to talk about what he saw upon marching past the beaches of Normandy, being vague about his service in France, and tight-lipped about Germany. From what my father told me when I asked him about that, he replied that my grandfather had been the same way whenever my dad asked similar questions. Young as I was, however, I didn't miss the appearance of a haunted expression on my grandfather's face. Having never bothered to ask him aloud, I had always wondered what he had seen that had impacted him that heavily.

Now?

Now, I think I have an idea why.

I've lost track of how long I had been staring at the fire. There had been nothing for me to do while the Hound of Ireland tried to teach Mash how to unlock and use her Noble Phantasm in the remains of what must have been a forest surrounding part of the abandoned school. My Servant had volunteered to patrol the perimeter of our temporary base in the meantime. That had left me alone with a muttering, brooding Olga Marie Animusphere.

I had lasted at best five minutes. After the fifth minute had finished being dragged past us, I had moved towards my feet. "I'm going to the roof," I had informed my boss, who nodded absentmindedly in response. I had shaken my head, worried that the Magus was cracking under the stress. Hell, it was honestly a massive surprise that neither her, Ritsuka, or I had cracked. I needed some time to think and process.

I had gotten to do much of it. One of the biggest things was on the topic of the events immediately before we had been Rayshifted here.

There was no way that explosion had been an accident, experimental technology or not. The fact that the computer program, SHEBA, if memory served me correctly, had detected the absence of humanity's existence after the next hundred years was the first clue, at least to me. If someone or something wanted that to happen, what better way then to ensure it by blowing up the only organization with the capabilities and resources to undo whatever it was that caused Singularity F? The question then became one of who.

It was almost without a doubt not Ritsuka, Mash, or Director Animusphere. Ritsuka, bless his apparent denseness, did not strike me. Mash seemed to be a bit…directionless when it came to herself. The director, for all her words and manners, really did seem to have humanity's survival as a personal goal, though whether this was due to familial legacy or personal desire was unknown to me.

The fact that the explosion had happened when it did may narrow down the list. For an outside group to not only find the location of Chaldea, but the exact moment when the entirety of the senior staff and all the candidates were assembled in one area? Possible, but it would be one hell of a coincidence. More likely, the saboteur or saboteurs were back in Chaldea. Maybe that Romani guy?

No, I shouldn't focus on that just yet. There's already enough danger surrounding my comrades and me. If I continue to focus intently on this, at least for the present moment, I run the risk of slipping up, possibly getting one or all of us killed. We can't fail, especially not now.

And then there is my Servant…

"So, this is where you've been," Mordred Pendragon asked. Ah, speak of the devil. Without turning around, I nod my head, eyes still fixed on the burning buildings surrounding us. If we fail, is this what we will return to when Animusphere sends Ritsuka and I back? I scowl slightly, chasing away the gathering negative thoughts. Gotta keep my head in the game.

"Yeah. Sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring you, Mordred. I just needed to find somewhere quiet. It's been a long day. I feel like I've aged five years in as many hours. With that Caster guy away with Mash and Ritsuka, I needed to think. Did you find anything?"

"Not even some more of those pathetic skeletons," Mordred replied casually, shaking her head. "So, you doing ok then?" She asked, though it may have been less of a caring question and more of a wanting to know basis. I grunt, before changing the topic, my gaze flirting over to the ruined forest.

"I wonder how Mash is doing. Since Ritsuka's with her, I doubt that Chulainn would try to make any more…'advances'…on her like earlier." Mordred snorted, clearly amused by the incident in question.

"That guy's so much like Merlin…are all Casters perverts?" Mordred groaned in frustration. I can imagine her rolling her green eyes in annoyance behind her helmet. I shoot a questioning look to my Servant, turning around and leaning backwards slightly, my attention focused on her.

"Wait, so one of the most famous magicians of all-time was a womanizer?" I asked, a bit incredulously. The knight nods her head, retracting her helmet. She walks over to me and leans against the remaining chain-link fence I am resting against.

"Yeah. I mean, I didn't know him all that well, but there were plenty of rumors. The few times I saw him at court did little to convince me they were false." Still staring in disbelief, I started laughing softly. As my laughter dies down, I lick my lips a bit nervously.

"Hey, Mordred. Since we have a few minutes, do you mind if I ask a few questions?" She didn't answer at first, as she cocked her head slightly, a confused expression on her face.

"Why?"

"Well, it's just that if we are going to be partners, it would probably be a good idea to get to know about each other some?" I offered, turning my ballcap around in my hands once again. Mordred said nothing for the next few seconds, pondering about this before shrugging casually.

"Ask away."

"What's the name of your sword?"

"Clarent."

"What were the other Knights of the Roundtable like?"

"Lancelot was a womanizer, in addition to being skilled with the sword. Tristan a melodramatic crybaby with a ridiculous-looking weapon. Agravain was just broody and stern, acting like he was a voice of reason. Gawain, he was a prick. Then there was Bedivere." I perked up. Huh. Mordred wasn't so dismissive of that name. That's a good sign, I hope.

"What was he like? The stories about that time don't really say much about him, other than how he returned Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake…" I trailed off as my brain realized that maybe, just maybe, it isn't all too good of an idea to discuss the events that happened immediately after her father had slain her. Fortunately, Mordred doesn't react.

"He was one of King Arthur's most loyalist of knights, even among the Roundtable.

"Alright. Final question for now. Do you only wear your armor? Or do you have clothing or outfits that you can change into?" Mordred didn't answer with words, but rather with actions.

Her silvery-red armor glowed a faint red for a few seconds before suddenly disappearing to reveal a rather revealing outfit that left most of her upper body exposed. For the few seconds before I look away, I notice her toned arms and exposed stomach, and hints of the bottom of her breasts. While I am glad that she isn't nude, it's not like it's much better than if that were the case. A soft flash of red filled the room when I turned my reddening face away.

A few seconds later, I feel a firm slap to my back. "Hey, you ok?" Mordred asked, having either apparently not realized I found her body attractive or realizing that and not caring. If I had to bet, in all honesty, it would be on the former. Though, it does confuse me a bit. She doesn't like being referred to as a woman, and yet she is fine with clothing that would show that she is one?

"When we get back to Chaldea, would you like me to buy some clothes for you? Actual clothes, so you don't have to go around wearing that armor constantly?" 'And maybe also not cause every single remaining guy with hormones to go crazy with lust?'

"You offering to pay for that?" Mordred asked, a slightly confused expression on her face. I give her a soft smile.

"Of course. I just figured that you would like to have the chance to go out in the world when we're not on missions, and that if so, having a pair of everyday clothes would be useful. Hell, it might be nice even if you want to just stay in Chaldea," I explained with a shrug at the last part. Mordred's green eyes stare into my brown ones, her brow crinkled slightly in thought. I remain silent, waiting to hear from my Servant.

Finally, a wide, toothy grin erupts from the blonde as she slapped my back, gentler this time, like a pat on the back almost. "Well, thanks Master! You might not always be good with words, but at least you're not a useless Master." I chuckled softly at the backhanded praise.

"You should see me when I have a proper sword in my hands," I sighed forlornly, thinking back about my crude and temporary weapon. Maybe Chaldea has an armory to allow Master Candidates to defend themselves? Mordred shoots me a suspicious look.

"You know how to use a sword?" She asked. I opened my mouth to reply when a new, but familiar, voice interrupts.

"Aronson." Ah, the lord of brooding has deigned to visit us, I see. The director gazes at my Servant and I with a rather calm, composed expression.

"Director," I responded, curious. "Is everything ok?"

"Tentatively, I would say yes. Mash and Fujimaru contacted Romani and I a few minutes ago. Apparently, the Caster has made a breakthrough in our efforts to discover her Noble Phantasm. They're now on their way back. Once they do, we're going to come up with a plan for how to proceed with the information Chulainn has provided us with." I nodded in understanding.

"It'll be nice to finally have something. I don't know about Mordred or any of the others, but I am getting sick of seeing only burning buildings." Director Animusphere gives me an unamused look. I raise my hands in apology. "Sorry. I guess we should start heading downstairs then?"

"Yes," the white-haired Magus responded, turning back to the stairwell. I was about to push myself off of the fence to follow her when I noticed that my Servant hasn't moved, but seems to eb staring off into the distance.

"Mordred?" The blonde knight doesn't respond. I straighten my back, placing my hat back onto my head as Director Animusphere swiveled her head rapidly, eyes darting between my Servant and I. Bothered by the silence, and the building tension, I speak up, a little louder with my question this time. "Mordred. What's wrong?" I notice her eyes widening suddenly, just before her helmet slams back into place.

"Hold on!" She shouted as she grabbed the director and I. The next second, I am experiencing the exhilaratingly terrifying experience of free-falling from the roof of the building. Next to me, the director screams loudly and incoherently, a sentiment I would be sharing. The ground draws closer and closer. I start to close my eyes, my lips moving in a silent prayer that my Servant didn't just get me killed.

The next second, the air is forced out of my lungs as the building we had been staying in explodes. My vision is obscured as

"Master? Are you ok?!" If it wasn't for the fact that I was coughing out dust and grit from my lungs, I might have grinned at the level of concern. It's probably only because I am essentially her life-energy battery pack, but maybe, just maybe, there was a hint of personal concern for me in her voice. Lying nearby after being knocked off my head is my precious cap, covered in a fine layer of pulverized concrete. I reach forward, grabbing it by the brim, then I shake it to rid it of the mess as best I can, coughing a bit more as I did so.

"I'm f-fine, Mordred. If you hadn't reacted like you did, the director and I would've been goners," I reply as the sounds of both coughing and more footsteps fills the cloudy air.

"Jacob! Director! Are you guys ok?"

"No, we are dead," I attempt to joke, only for my Servant to give reproachful scowl, clearly unamused by my antics. "Yeah, we're ok. Just shaken somewhat. Didn't realized we had a bomber in this town."

"Master, I think we just had our first encounter with an Archer-class Servant." Note to self, if we survive this, ask Mordred to call me by my name. Being called 'Master' is rather unnerving.

"That damn bastard," our Caster-class ally muttered. Of course, the ranged Servant that had been summoned and apparently corrupted in this God-forsaken Singularity would have the power of a mini-WMD. Fan-frickin-tastic! "We need to come up with a new plan. As in, now."

"After we find somewhere to hide," Mash chimed in by stating the obvious once again.

"Follow me," Chulainn gestured. Putting our trust in our unexpected ally once more, we do so, Mordred taking up the rear. 'Well, this complicates things.'

"Well, since we are now being targeted by a Servant with long-range abilities, it's obvious we have to abandon the 'exploring only' aspect from our earlier plan. We have to go on the offensive, as much as I hate the idea considering who we have available," the director of Chaldea grumbled. Chulainn stands next to her, and I could have almost sworn I heard the Caster muttering something about how we wouldn't be having a problem if he had been summoned as a Lancer. I shake my head slightly as I notice that no one seems to be suggesting anything.

"What if we split into two groups?" The silence in the abandoned building we had ran into was so thick, a dropped pin hitting the ground may as well have sounded like an explosion. Everyone turns their eyes towards me.

"What do you mean, Aronson?" Director Animusphere looked at me, eyes narrowed with suspicion. I swallow softly, feeling my anxiety levels starting to rise. Well, too late now. I push forward.

"If we can't afford to wait, we also can't afford to be pinned down in one group. Otherwise, that Archer Servant can eliminate you, me, and Ritsuka with a single shot. The other remaining shadow Servants Chulainn mentioned could also join in on the fight, and leave us weakened. Therefore, Mordred and I will take on the Archer guarding the cave you," I said, gesturing at the Irish Caster, "told us about earlier. In the meantime, Director Animusphere, you, Mash, Ritsuka, and Chulainn can try to slip past the fighting to enter the cave in order to defeat this Saber Servant and retrieve the Grail, fixing the Singularity."

Ritsuka and Mash exchanged nervous looks while Director Animusphere holds her chin in one hand as she weights the risks and benefits of the plan. Chulainn focuses his red eyes on me, being the first one to break the silence and voicing his concern over what I had just suggested.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I know the young lady," I rest my hand on Mordred's shoulder as I can feel her tense as her gender is mentioned, "is a strong Servant. But I'm worried that Archer will prove to be too much."

"I believe in my Servant. We will defeat, or at the very least, distract your Archer pal. If we defeat him before the rest of you finish off this Saber Servant, we'll hop in as soon as we can. If the opposite happens, then the Archer is finished. Maybe it is not the best plan, but damn it," I growled, thumping my free hand against the wall softly, "it's the only plan we can use."

"Jacob Senpai is correct. We shouldn't keep standing around in one area, or else Archer will continue to use his superior range to bombard us. He only needs to be lucky once or twice," Mash chimed in. I nod my head thankfully at the Demi-Servant, before turning to the still-silent Director Animusphere, one hand cupping her chin as she contemplated my proposal. Finally letting out a long sigh, she clasps her hands behind her back.

"Very well. Seeing as the plan could work, we will do it. Aronson, you and your Servant should leave soon. We will follow in about ten minutes. Hopefully, the two of you will have him preoccupied by then. Just…don't do anything stupid, like trying to fight. Got it?"

"Crystal. Good luck," I said, nodding towards Mordred. Returning the nod, we turn around and begin to head out when my boss speaks up.

"Good luck, Aronson. Don't die," She said as we begin the trek to the cave housing the Grail.