Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Fate/stay night is owned by Type-Moon, and Kamen Rider Wizard is owned by Toei and Ishimori Productions


Chapter 5: Magical Lessons for Wizard

Donut Shop

"How are you doing Master? Is your body feeling better?"

Haruto nodded, but it's clear from the look on his face that his body is still feeling pain and exhaustion not only from yesterday's battle, but from sparring with Okita and Rider to test his strength. As it turns out, their assault against Berserker has unintended drawbacks. Having used most of his Mana, Haruto now has a harder time maintaining his transformation. He also can't use his Magic Rings as freely as he used to, since it will quickly deplete the little magic energy that he has left. While he can slowly regain Mana by eating and sleeping, it would still take a week for Haruto to fully recover, which means he needs to rest and stay out of fights for now.

Eating is why they're here in a local donut shop, to help Haruto regain strength, eating as much donuts as he can. He ordered plain sugar donuts, at least 10 of them, with Caster requesting the same having no preference, alongside a bottle of Loca-Caca. Caster had to wonder how Haruto can eat all of this while maintaining his somewhat average build.

There is another reason why they're here. Haruto noticed that Caster doesn't really go out unless buying food, so he thought to treat the Servant to a "date", just like he did with Koyomi when she was alive.

As he ate, Haruto saw that Caster was just watching him. Caster realized this and immediately looks away, her cheeks red. They haven't said much to each other, now that Haruto thinks about it, so he decided to take initiative and be the first to engage in conversation.

"So, are you enjoying this?" Haruto asked.

"Y-Yes," Caster nodded. "Modern food is really amazing." As she takes another bite from her donut ("she's kinda cute when she's eating," thought Haruto), she snarked, "but I won't be able to enjoy it as much if you end up finishing them all."

Haruto gave a small smile. "I have to if I want to be able to fight again as soon as possible."

"Master," said Caster softly. "You don't have to. We have Rider now. She's stronger than you are in your base form. And Okita will do fine on her own as well once the first half of her punishment is finished." She had to smile at that.

"Still, it doesn't feel right though. I'm the Mage of Hope. I'm supposed to be the one helping people." He absentmindedly added, "to help you."

Haruto realized what he said and his face turned red. Caster as well, and both took a while before they can look at each other again.

"And I've been thinking," Haruto continued. "I have to stop relying on my driver all the time. If I ever lose it (and in a way, he had before), I'll be powerless, unlike someone like the Tohsaka girl or Ilya. They have their own power, and to be honest, I'm kinda jealous."

Caster sighed. Haruto really likes helping people, doesn't he? Well, he helped her, and she will forever be grateful, and knowing that he would've done the same for anyone doesn't change that. But perhaps, to make that moment more meaningful, she should give something in return.

"What if I teach you Magecraft?"

"W-What?" asked Haruto, surprised at what she suggested.

"You have the potential, and as we've seen, your current methods of Magic, while effective, is very costly. If you learn Magecraft, not only will you be able to do limited, but possibly still powerful Thaumaturgy internally, but you will be able to continue what you usually do even if you ever lose your current powers. "

Haruto is stunned. While the thought entered his mind before, he never thought about asking Caster, as he didn't want to burden her and make her feel like she's being used again. Caster however, doesn't mind. Haruto is a good man who will use whatever he learns from her for good, and after almost a month since meeting him, she knows that he'll never betray her.

Caster stood up from her chair, pointed at Haruto, and announced, "Soma Haruto, I ask of you, would you like to become my apprentice?"


Ryuudouji Temple

As Ilya read the latest issue of Pink Dark Boy, she briefly glanced at Assassin, sitting in seiza at the corner of the room as punishment for bringing her and Rider here. The other Servant in question is nowhere to be seen, having left for personal errands, so Ilya is left to guard Assassin, though she's sure it goes both ways.

This is really strange for Ilya. She's in enemy territory. Technically, she's been captured, as she already lost the War. She wouldn't be surprised if her grandfather, the head of the Einzberns, will now leave her for dead. But since her time with the family has been nothing but hurt, she doesn't mind.

Berserker is gone. She still can't believe it. Most of his lives were taken by a mere human, though she has now discovered that he was pretty much cheating with a strange Mystic Code. Two of them in fact. However, she can take solace at the fact that the guy wasn't even able to use all that he has before exhausting himself, and Berserker is only killed when a stray Servant appeared taking advantage of the situation. So in her mind, Berserker is still the strongest, if they can't even win against him fairly.

Caster, the leader of the group, is rightfully wary of her, but Assassin and the Master, Haruto is somewhat nice to her for the most part, despite being their former enemy. That's probably because they still think she's a child. Rider is distant, though willing to do things such as sparring to make herself stronger, as she has apparently spent a good portion of the War with a fake and weak Master who can't even provide Mana, so she's still not used with the strength that Caster's contract is giving her. While she has her own priorities, Rider is willing to offer assistance to her new Master, as long as her former true Master is safe.

Ilya, however, only has one goal now. To confront Emiya Shirou, and demand from him, why? Why did he steal Kiritsugu away from them? Why did Kiritsugu choose him over her? What's so special about him that Kiritsugu betrayed and abandoned his family? Ilya wondered if maybe they could get to help her? Since Haruto and Assassin are being so nice to her, maybe they won't mind doing her a favor.

She will get her answers, and if she doesn't like them, then she'll make sure that Emiya Shirou would regret ever having entered Kiritsugu's life.


Student Council Office, Homurahara Academy

Despite Shirou's friendly nature, there's only few people that can be called his close friends. Matou Shinji (he thinks. He's not entirely sure what their relationship is now), his sister Sakura, and the student council president, Ryuudou Issei. That is why Shirou will occasionally eat with him at the student council office. Issei seems to enjoy the company, while Shirou doesn't mind hanging out with him. Though today, he seems to be a bit stressed out.

"Is there something wrong?" Shirou asked Issei.

Issei shook his head. "Not really. It's just, yesterday we got more people staying at the temple."

"More people?" the red head asked in curiosity.

"You see, a month ago we had two people ask for a place to stay at the temple. A man and a woman. Then a pink haired Samurai girl showed up later on. Apparently, she's with them as well."

Shirou's eyes widened. That description sounded familiar. "Samurai?"

Issei shrugged. "She has a Katana with her, and I see her sparring with the other guy from time to time. Though his sword does look weird."

"Oh? How so?" Admittedly, Shirou is mainly interested at the sword this time.

"It has a weird hand on it. Now that I think about it, he also has a similar looking hand on his belt. Must be his logo or something."

Shirou is now sure that these people are the same ones that Saber has fought with a while back. He has seen that sword before and was rather interested in it, mainly due to it also doubling as a gun. He's not fond of guns, but it is an interesting concept nonetheless.

Deciding to pry in further, he asked "and what about those other people that you were talking about?"

"A white-haired little girl and a rather tall woman in a blindfold," Issei answered.

Shirou felt his heart skip a beat. He's not familiar with the latter, but the former, it has to be Ilyasveil. Why is she staying with Assassin and her Master? Have they teamed up?

"Apparently, the man, I think his name is Soma, passed out while he and Sakura-San ("that's the Samurai by the way," he clarified after seeing Shirou's confusion) were away, and the two helped bring him back to the temple," Issei continued. "Once he got better, I guess they offered them a place to stay, and they've been living at the temple ever since," he sighed.

Shirou pondered this. The only reason he could think of as to why the Wizard-Assassin duo were even together with Ilyasveil is because they decided to attack Berserker. Did that mean Berserker lose, if Ilya is now with them? Otherwise, he's sure she would have killed them off, not help them get back home. And who's the other woman? And the other woman with the Assassin duo, for that matter. Are they also Servants?

Shirou finished his lunch, and stood up. "I'll be going now. Thanks, Issei." The boy in question looked a little disappointed, but he didn't say anything.

Shirou might be overreacting, but he feels like this isn't a coincidence. Either way, since he's new at this whole Holy Grail War thing, he'll have to talk to Tohsaka about this.


Caster's Room

Haruto sat at the middle of the room, his jacket removed and his shirt pulled up slightly. Caster and Ilya are both behind Haruto, their hand on his back. While Okita is also in the room, she is only half watching as she also watches Caster's crystal ball for potential intruders.

As promised, Caster will begin teaching Haruto Magecraft, with Ilya acting as a 'teaching assistant' of sorts. Before they can teach Haruto anything, they need to know a few things first. The number of his magic circuits and his element, though the latter is quite obvious.

As Caster and Ilya tried to count the number of circuits in his body, there's something strange. While circuits are not physical concepts, and while theoretically, Haruto should have circuits, even if they're somewhat dormant due to relying on his driver all this time, there's something built different about him. Ilya herself isn't entirely sure what it is, but Caster, who lived in the Age of Gods, having encountered various Phantasmal Beasts, especially a particular one that is the reason why she is summoned in the first place, is familiar with this feeling, no matter how impossible it is.

When Caster suddenly removed her hand from Haruto, he turned to see in his Servant a shocked expression.

"What's wrong?" Haruto asked, fearing that something went wrong somehow.

"You don't have Magic Circuits," Ilya said bluntly. "But you do have something different, and it seems like Caster knows what it is." The two Masters turned to the Servant in question, who asked Haruto, "The thing that you call a Phantom, that provides you your magic. You said it takes the form of a dragon, correct?"

Haruto nodded in confirmation, and Caster continued, "You see, especially back in the Age of Gods, Magic Circuits aren't the only way a person can do Magecraft. One in particular is having Dragon blood."

Ilya and Haruto's eyes widened at this assertion. "Are you saying…?"

"Yes," Caster nodded. "You are descended from a Dragon. When the man that you referred to as the White Wizard performed the ritual that you were kidnapped for, it awakened the dragon blood within you that allows you to do Magic. That is why your Phantom takes the form of a dragon, as it is the personification of your Magic."

"So he has a Magic Core instead of Circuits," mused Ilya, causing Haruto to look at Caster for an explanation.

"A Magic Core is something only those with dragon blood has. It has way more Magical Energy than the body of an average Magus. If their body can be considered a machine that produce Magical Energy, then yours is a factory. It's also the reason you can easily regain your Magical Energy through means besides…" Caster trailed off, and Haruto realized that both her and and Ilya are blushing for some reason.

"I believe Saber also has Dragon blood," added Ilya, which is a surprise to Caster. "It's the reason for her high Magic Resistance."

"Is it's possible that I can go toe to toe with her?" asked Haruto.

"You almost defeated Berserker. I don't see why not, especially since she's weaker than normal."

"How so?" Asked Caster. "And why do you know so much about Saber."

Ilya stammered, wanting to dodge the question, before realizing that she has nothing to lose anyway, and these guys are pretty much the only way Saber can be defeated. "She was summoned at the 4th War as my family's Servant. So I've done my research, if I ever decided to summon her instead." Of course, that's a lie. Knowing that Kiritsugu has Avalon, it was all but assured that Shirou will summon her, but she's not just about to reveal to these people the reason for her hatred at the boy, even if they're her allies now.

"And Saber is weak because…?" Haruto asked for Caster again.

"I noticed it in our first fight at the church. For some reason, her connection to her Master is weak, and he can't provide her with Mana properly."

"So I'll be able to fight her to a standstill?"

"If you use your stronger Wizard forms, yes."

"Even if without them, I could make it possible with reinforcement," Caster interjected. "But still, Saber is a formidable opponent, even with a limited supply of Mana. Even you are currently handicapped with a similar problem."

Haruto nodded in understanding, before he asked, "So, apparently I have Dragon blood. Does that have any effect on my Magecraft?"

It was Ilyasveil who answered. "It mainly means that you have more energy to spare than the average Magus, but considering how heavily Dragon-themed all your Styles and other abilities are, it's possible that your ancestry has a greater connection to your power." She turned to Caster. "Do you think it has something to do with his Origin?"

"Origin, what's that?"

As Caster and Ilya explained to Haruto what an Origin is, none of them noticed Okita leaving the room.


Meanwhile, outside the temple

Unbeknownst to the group, A blue haired man in blue armor is watching from afar, sent by his Master. As he had observed, it seems like they have defeated Berserker and acquired new allies in the form of the Einzbern kid and Rider.

'This is so boring,' Lancer thought to himself. It's been ages since he got a good fight, and each time, he's been rudely interrupted. But right now, his "Master" is only using him as a watch dog, spying on the team that is living in the temple. But seriously, he's hoping that maybe there's someone watching him, so he'll have an excuse to go ahead and battle.

As if the world decided to give him a bone, he sensed and deflected daggers connected to spikes coming her way spikes coming his way.

Lancer saw who his attacker is, a pink haired woman, wearing a blindfold covering her eyes. One of the Servants living in the temple, Rider.

"Finally, I've been waiting to get a piece of the action," Lancer exclaimed, holding his spear and pointing it towards his opponent, who remained silent.

"I guess you don't talk much. Fine, I'll start. Servant Lancer," he said. He was answered with another attack from the Servant's daggers, which he deflected with Gae Bolg.

"Not the honorable type by the looks of it." Finally, Lancer stopped being on the defensive, and charged for an attack.

If there's something similar about the two of them, it's that the two are really fast. The pink-haired Servant is very agile, and can dodge and bring out attacks with quick succession, while Lancer is equally quick in deflecting them. Eventually, they have left the temple and have taken their battle at the city. Rider's daggers clash with Lancer's spear. They have yet to hit the other, and their stamina has yet to run out. Lancer is very much enjoying this. It's not the same as when he fought Archer or Saber, but it has his merits. This is not a battle of strength, but of speed and who will be exhausted first. But Lancer is a Demi-God, and he's certain that Rider has a little divinity as well. This fight might take a while.

And then Rider suddenly stopped. Lancer was confused, but he stopped as well, as he doesn't want to take her out when she's not fighting with her full strength. The he realized why she stopped, as he sensed another presence watching them.

He looked for the disturbance, and he saw on top of a building, a woman in black armor, with a sword by her side and a flag on her hand.

Wait a second. He's already fought Archer, Saber, and Rider, he knows Berserker is dead, and this woman is definitely not Heracles, and he knows that it's Assassin and Caster who lives in the temple. Then who is this? She's undoubtedly a Servant, but all seven Servants have been summoned already. Is there an eighth Servant or something?

Lancer can see that Rider is thinking the same thing. He was the first to speak, "hey! Who the hell are you?"

The woman smirked. "Servant Avenger, Jeanne d'Arc! I must say, you two provide quite the entertainment."

Avenger? What the heck is that? And Jeanne d'Arc? Thanks to his connection to the Grail, he knows who Jeanne d'Arc is, even if he predicated her by centuries. And he knows for a fact that this woman cannot be the Maiden of Orleans. Jeanne d'Arc is a pure soul, France's symbol of hope who was supposedly chosen by the Christian God himself. But he can sense that this woman is pure evil. Not like that bitch Medb, but probably just as bad. How could a literal saint be summoned as this dark being?

"Now then, would you mind if I join your little game?" Avenger said, pulling out her sword. Lancer for his part, doesn't mind. As shady as her existence is, as long as she gives him a good fight, he will gladly accept.

"Lancer, that's enough. Return to the church immedietly."

'Goddamnit!' Lancer sighed, and he resigned himself. "Sorry, but my Master is calling me," he said with disdain in his tone.

"Oh? The Priest sure is a cautious one, isn't he?"

Lancer raised an eyebrow with the implication that she knows his Master, while Rider tilted her head at this revelation. Nonetheless, Lancer returned to spirit form, leaving behind Avenger and Rider.

"So," Avenger began, turning to the other Servant. "You were that purple girl's Servant, right? Master told me you disappeared, but looks like that ain't the case." Rider's eyes widened, but no one can see it. How did she…?

"Whatever," Avenger shrugged. "I'm pretty sure Master doesn't need you anymore, so I'll just end you here, okay?"

Rider readied her daggers once again, as she prepared for another battle. This woman knows who Sakura is. Since she's no longer a Master, maybe she won't target her, but she can't take her chances. She has to protect Sakura no matter what.


While all of this unfolds, someone else has arrived at the temple. Saber, who learned that Assassin, her Master, Berserker's Master, and two other potential opponents are living there thanks to the information that Shirou got, has decided to launch a sneak attack by herself, as both Shirou and Rin decided not to attack the temple for now due to lack of information. Saber disagrees with this, believing that they won't achieve anything if they just wait around and will just allow more time for their enemies to gain the upper hand against them.

As she has climbed the temple gate, the only area where Servants can enter, she saw someone approach from the inside.

"I thought I sensed someone coming here, but I didn't expect it to be you," said Assassin who has drawn her blade. "You didn't seem like the type who would pick up fights."

Saber manifests her own invisible sword, an announced, "since you have told me your true name earlier, I shall tell you mine as well. I am Arthur Pendragon, King of Knights."

Assassin raised an eyebrow. "Eh? W-Why are you telling me that?"

Saber looked at her confused. "You did the same thing, Assassin, or should I say, Okita Souji?"

"I-I did?" Assassin said sheepishly, and she shakes her head. "At least we both don't have an advantage against each other. L-Let's duel then!"

Assassin charged forward and the two clashed blades. Despite their different styles, with Saber being a medieval knight and Assassin being a Samurai, Saber can say that she respects Assassin's skills. Despite her somewhat bubbly disposition, she is a serious warrior, and she can sense within her the will of a bloodthirsty killer. Of course, this means that Saber won't get a fully honorable duel from her, but perhaps that's for the best, considering the last time…

Assassin's strikes became more powerful than Saber's, and she finds that she's having trouble keeping up. Had she had a proper connection to Mana, Saber would definitely be the more powerful, and this is not the case, and each swing from Assassin's katana becomes stronger than the last.

As Assassin continues dealing her attacks, Saber realizes, since Assassin knows her true name, she has no reason to hide her blade, which means…

"Invisible Air!" Saber announced, and the wind that is concealing Excalibur is released, causing an explosion that pushed Assassin away from Saber.

Assassin is able to soften her landing, but at the time, Saber has begun unleashing her Noble Phantasm. Assassin briefly showed a look of fear, knowing that Excalibur is a powerful weapon, but she went ahead and invoked her own pseudo-Noble Phantasm.

"EEEXX…"

"MUMYOU…"

"Saber!"

The two turned to see who disturbed them, and saw that it was Saber's Master.

"Shirou? What are you—?" Saber said before she dropped to the floor.

Okita's eyes widened. What's happening? Then she remembered that this is also what happened to Haruto yesterday. Saber has exhausted her Mana.

This is her chance. Okita prepared to swing her sword, only to stop when Saber's Master appeared to shield his Servant.

Okita was about to continue, but she remembered a conversation that she had with Haruto a few days ago.


Haruto and Assassin are eating together in the place where they normally spar. The two are having Haruto's favorite, plain sugar donuts.

"I just don't understand. Why would that kid save me?" Asked Haruto, rhetorically.

"Is it really that weird for you?" Okita asked as she munched on her donut. Though admittedly, she finds his actions strange and confusing as well.

"He's not like other Mages I encountered before. Sure, they would die for their research, but him? I don't know what his end goal is."

"Perhaps for some bizarre reason, he just wanted to save you," Okita suggested. Haruto looked disturbed with that suggestion.

"Either way, I don't think I can kill him."

"Eh? Why?"

"Because he's different, and I want to know why he save me, and if you're right, then why does he think the way that he does?" Haruto answered.

"What do you mean by that, and, why does it matter to you that much anyway?"

Haruto looked thoughtful before answering, "because if I were in his situation, I would've done the same thing."


'He's doing it again,' Thought Okita. What is wrong this kid? He does realize that Saber will also die if he dies, right?

This boy is not normal at all, and she can understand Haruto's curiosity with him.

"Leave," she said, looking at the boy with a darkened expression.

The boy just stared at her, so she added, "I'm feeling ill right now, so you can go. I won't ask you twice."

The boy looked taken aback before hesitatingly nodding as he struggled to carry his Servant. Okita simply watched them leave the temple as she sighed and thought to herself, 'Caster would not let me hear the end of this, would she?'.

Hopefully she can pin the blame on Haruto this time.


A/N: Huh. This is the first chapter that I wrote with focus on all the major factions. This is also Lancer's first appearance, surprisingly

I have nothing else to say. Ciao!