Caster's PoV

After all that happened, I still can't feel this is all real.

The Grail War is really going to happen. I'm a little scared but can't feel the situation too well yet.

Since the battle between Assassin and...Tohsaka's Servant happened, almost two days have gone by, and since then, it's been quiet, without much going on.

Still, I can't help but think I recognize that name. Tohsaka... But from where?

...Well, it probably doesn't matter too much. Tonight, Waver decided we should try scouting for other Masters. He seemed a little restless, but I can't really blame him, can I?

Anyways, after discussing a little how to go about this, it happened. I felt an aura of sorts somewhere else in the city. It felt like a Servant, and it seems he was trying to show every other Servant exactly where he was at. A challenge, maybe?

It feels sort of overwhelming, but I'm fine because I'm still far away. Either way, I decided it was better to let Waver know about that - he might be a better judge of how safe this is. After all, I only know about THAT Grail War, and it was very different than this one.

For one, it had Class Cards, and I think I would know if any of the Cards had a mind of their own. Besides Gil, they all looked like mindless monsters. In this Grail War it looks like they aren't. As I was summoned myself, it becomes easier to notice those differences.

Anyways, I decided this was as good a time as any to speak up, so I told Waver about that. He quickly replied.

"Well, that seems like a chance - but we need to be careful about this, okay? Can you manage to watch the battle without actually being close enough to be noticed?"

I thought about it, and figured if I don't actually use Ruby, it should probably be fine. I didn't think they would notice me, so I told Waver about that idea. He nodded in agreement.

He tried to ask to stay behind, for some reason, so I told him that no matter how strong I am, if I can't protect him, it's meaningless.

Because of that, my idea was that we should approach every battle together and never be too far away from each other. He agreed, but he looked scared of fighting. I can't really blame him, can I?

After that short strategy meeting, we left the house, trying to get to the aura's source as quickly as possible without being noticed. It didn't take long while we were on the way to notice another presence arriving. It could mean that another Servant accepted that Servant's challenge, but I'm not sure yet.

Not too long after that, we were almost there. It seems the other Servants were on the shipping yard, probably already fighting each other.

We arrived around midnight, and there are many spots with shadows next to the containers. I can think of a few places where people could be hidden, like that crane, but I'm not sure yet. I'll be careful of these places, though.

The moonlight is making the center of the area bright, and I can easily see the two Servants and a woman. I'm still approaching slowly, while trying to stay hidden, so I can't see them in too much detail yet, though.

Waver is following me as I walk towards the other Servants. He looks scared, so I smile at him, trying to reassure him. He seems to relax a little after that.

I feel a little worried about how this fight will turn out. But if every other Servant is like me - not a mindless beast, like the Class Cards seemed to be for the most part - I should probably be alright.

But, to think that, of all things, when I finally managed to see the battle, I'd see someone that looked like Mom, in snow-white winter clothing behind a Servant I'd have recognized anywhere... Saber. She looked exactly like the Class Card that appeared right after we fought Caster.

Though, I guess I can't think of her the same way as I thought of the Class Card back then. For one, she doesn't have that overwhelming, tainted aura.

And she definitely seems to be protecting the snow-clad woman. I assume she just looks exactly like Mom for some reason, at least, because I can't even think about what would happen if it really was her.

I wasn't expecting anything like that, that's for sure. While I was thinking that, I looked at Saber's opponent.

He is the Servant which had that rather overwhelming aura earlier. He looks a little flamboyant to be honest...And is wielding two spears, moving like he's dancing during the fight. Because of that, I decided to think of him as Lancer for now.

After talking a little, it seems he dropped one of his spears on the ground. What could he be planning?

I was a little worried about that, but it seems like Saber didn't notice. Once Saber's armor was pierced by the first spear, Lancer said the spear was able to cut through magic, and as a result, she removed her armor. But that's probably what Lancer was hoping for.

Since I was expecting something like that, I didn't feel too surprised when Lancer kicked the spear he had dropped off the ground and into his hands, and with a quick movement, stabbed Saber sideways.

She was wounded because of Lancer's move, and seemed to ask Mom's lookalike to do something...?

I think Saber asked for healing, because of how she moved, but I'm not sure. I did understand that for some reason the wound wasn't healing, though.

When Saber asked about it, Lancer confirmed that the spear he used prevents healing. It seems to be dangerous, but as long as I protect myself or dodge somehow, I should do fine if I fight him, as long as I do my best...Right?

Looks like Saber will lose if this doesn't stop. I don't know why, but I really don't want this battle to finish yet. I get a really bad feeling that if it does, things will go wrong quickly. So, even though this was completely different than what Waver told me to do, I decided to stop the fight, before it was too late.

I think he'll be angry later. Still, I decided to call Ruby over, because I had a feeling this would work, for some reason.

It looks like it did, because Ruby is now looking at me, as if she is about to cry...How do I even know what her expressions are like again?

Now I feel like some kind of Ruby specialist...I mean, she IS, in a way, a wand, but wands are not supposed to have expressions like that!

Looks like Ruby realized I wasn't going to say anything, because she started speaking a bit too loudly…

"How horrible of you, Illya-san! I was really sad that you weren't around anymore, and you suddenly call me over like this…"

I can't help but feel Ruby is not saying that seriously...But, feeling like this wasn't really the place or time for being so loud, I pointed at Saber and Lancer, as quickly as I could, and whispered…

"Ruby, don't you think we should leave this for later? You're being a bit too loud…"

I was worried that Ruby would have simply ignored me when I said that, but for some reason, it seems like Ruby agreed, because she stopped talking so loudly. She whispered back, after a little bit.

"Illya-san, it looks like you've been involved in quite a mess again, huh?"

I nodded, remembering how often it seemed like I was having peaceful days then suddenly being part of something like this...I feel a tiny bit nostalgic about that, though. After all, I still had Miyu and Kuro-

...It's no good to think about that right now. If I get to make a wish, I'll think about it then, and that's assuming the Grail is really going to grant that wish, or if it's even an object. I don't want to think about what-ifs, but what if this situation is like Miyu's?

Sigh, I can't help but think about Miyu and Kuro, and that makes me sad, but this is not exactly a good time for that. So, thinking that, I decided to ask Ruby if she could help me separate Saber and Lancer, and she agreed, looking a bit too eager.

Holding back a sigh at Ruby's eagerness, I prepared for battle with her help, switching to the Magical Girl outfit in the blink of an eye. To think I used to be so embarrassed about this outfit... It's frilly and pink, but it isn't that bad, I hope.

After thinking that, I tried to focus on the battle, which was about to start again. Trying to stop them, I sent a beam of magic towards them as they were charging at each other, and my spell pierced the ground with force, making a deep hole in the ground between them.

They both stopped what they were doing and looked at me in shock. I guess it's weird that I suddenly got in the way for them. And Waver being easy to spot because he's near me doesn't help. I mean, it's rather obvious he's my Master. But, before they could understand what was going on, I decided to speak up, summoning all the courage I could.

"Hey, Lancer. I suggest you leave this fight for later. I don't know why exactly, but I can't just let this end like this. It doesn't feel right."

There was a brief silence after I said that, and Saber and Lancer were looking at me warily. Deep in thought, I was trying to decide what to say next-

Suddenly, Ruby warned me about something - a bullet? It seems someone is trying to kill Waver. I can't let that happen!

So, I quickly asked Ruby to form a defensive barrier between the Bullet and Waver, not too far from him. Waver seemed shocked, trying to understand what was going on, I guess?

Anyways, the barrier managed to protect Waver by blocking the bullet and making it fall down without even a scratch to it. I'm glad that worked out... If Ruby wasn't able to form barriers from a distance, or the barrier was too weak, this could've been really bad… After all, the bullet looked weird.

Come to think of it, it's really good that Ruby is so versatile...I never thought about this before but she can do a lot of things, barriers that can protect from magical and physical attacks, magical blasts, and even making a blade suddenly appear, becoming a spear.

Shaking off those thoughts for the time being, I decided to complain out loud, because that was a very dirty and annoying move.

"Hey! What's the big idea, trying to aim for my Master right as I show up?"

Saber's eyes narrowed for some reason, after looking shocked at what happened for a bit. Right after that, someone who was apparently hidden nearby said...

"It seems we have more than one rat in our midst...Isn't that right, Waver Velvet-kun? And of course, the Magus Killer. I wouldn't think of any other so-called magus that would resort to that kind of unsightly method. And Waver-kun, it seems you stole my relic, and still didn't get the Servant it was meant to summon. It is truly deplorable that you would resort to stealing it, but this shows how third-rate magi will always be third-rate."

I was getting angrier at every word he said, and that comment about being a third-rate mage was the boiling point for me. Waver was rather nice to me those last few days, and he seemed to be cowering in fear of that person's voice, so, as a way to defend him, I began shouting.

"Hey, I don't get this about a relic too well, but there's no way I'd ever want to be summoned by you - and I think any Servant would think the same. You're too rude and arrogant. Waver is much better as a Master for me than you would ever be!"

There was a brief moment of silence after I shouted that. I was waiting for a reply-

At that moment, someone suddenly appeared, and I couldn't see who it was clearly. Still, whoever it was gave me a feeling that seemed to scream 'bad news'.

Author's Notes: So, that was the new chapter - it's slow, and mostly setup for what's to come, but I hope it was good overall.

Things will heat up next chapter, and I wanted to set things up really well before that!

I haven't touched yet a few things I've done foreshadowing for in the previous chapter, in case people noticed. I didn't forget about that - I just want to address it later, as I felt it didn't fit for this chapter yet.

Also, if Illya feels a bit OOC in this chapter, let me know. I tried to make her rather sure of things unlike in the previous chapters because of the knowledge she received and the time she had to prepare, but let me know if it didn't work.

Anyways, comments, reviews and criticism, I still welcome it all! And, as always, a reminder that I'm doing this with no buffer, and that means it may take a few days before the next chapter is around. Thanks for reading!