Reyven sat down at a table in a cafe while Garren got drinks for the two of them, taking a seat across from her a minute or two later. They sat in relative silence for a few minutes, Reyven waiting for her drink to cool a little while her Master let his coffee revitalize him a little. They'd just come from the church where they got another command seal to replace the one used the night before and had spent a while making sure they hadn't been followed.
Now that it was all said and done though, Garren studied the seals again, still finding the pattern intriguing in its simplicity. At last Reyven raised her cup to her lips and took a long drink before releasing a calm breath and focusing her gaze back on Garren.
He beat her to the first word, "So...you sure we weren't followed?"
"I cannot guarantee as they've no doubt begun to catch onto my methods but that is also why I brought us here rather than go straight to your home. Just in case."
Garren nodded in approval and sipped on his coffee, frowning a bit and adding a little more sugar to it. "Best we can hope for then. Worst comes to worst they figure out who I am and where we're set up but given everyone else already knows where everyone else already is I don't particularly think it'll be the end of days just yet. Might have to strengthen the Bounding Field a little though," he added with a grumble, knowing he wasn't the most well versed in the matter to the point he wasn't exactly sure how much someone of his skill could make but one step at a time.
"That leaves us with what we should do now then." Reyven glanced to the window, thinking she saw the large body of Rider walk by down the sidewalk out of the corner of her eye amidst the other passerby but she didn't see or detect anything when she looked so she brushed the thought off for now.
Garren nodded slowly and jaw worked back and forth in thought, thinking about possible targets they could go after or just what else they could do other than wait or go after the Einzbern woman. Sure it'd be the obvious choice but Reyven had mentioned that she healed quickly when Saber was nearby and since their castle was assaulted it was a shot in the dark whether they'd still be there or not. As for the others, it was either a toss up between having to locate them first or break through a strong defensive position and then deal with the Servant behind it. Truth be told it could be a combination of the two and that didn't particularly strike his fancy either.
Grumbling in defeat, he took a sip of his coffee again, "What are our options aside from waiting exactly? We seem a bit limited given while Saber's friend is our target we're a bit lost on whether they're still camping out in that castle or how we'll deal with them."
Reyven gave a small shrug, "Were we to go after them I could always simply try eliminating Saber's Master but I'd have to locate him first and hope he is not with her. Aside from that...it isn't a terrible idea to seek alliances."
Garren's brows raised a bit, having not really thought of that given their situation. "Are there really any we can ally with? Assassin and Archer are somewhat out of the picture, I can't see the latter willing to go with it and I have no idea what Tohsaka is like. Lancer is also a bit out of reach, given we don't exactly know where he is and since he wants to finish his duel with Saber I can't imagine he'd like us going after her or her friend. Rider seems friendly with Saber as well but I guess that could just be his character. He and Berserker seem to be the only real options we have open to us but we'd have to locate their master first."
Reyven reclined and shrugged, "With a few well placed words, you might be surprised. Though your points do still stand. Our best bet at the moment would no doubt be Rider. I can tell that he is a strong Servant and I have spoken with his Master before so convincing them into a small ceasefire likely would not be the most difficult task I'm sure."
Garren's eyes widened in dumbfound surprise at her speaking about meeting with Rider's Master but having not told him about it. "You spoke with Rider's Master?"
She tipped her head in acknowledgement, "Yesterday at the bookstore while you were asking around town for information. I'd have put him down were we not under a ceasefire and in a public place." At least for now she saw little reason to tell him of her true reasons for doing so, both to keep his trust and because it technically wasn't a lie.
His expression changed to an understanding one and he nodded, "Alright, well I won't complain, it gives us this opportunity. I'll admit I don't know where they are since it's rather difficult to track a flying chariot with the familiars I had available at the time, but given how you were able to track Caster out to those woods to begin with I doubt that'll be too much of an issue." She merely shrugged and he didn't know if that was in acceptance or a 'we'll see' kind of way. "And Berserker?"
"I wouldn't say it's entirely out of the question. The Servant certainly seemed hostile toward Saber so it'd likely benefit us but we'd have to locate its Master first and see if he can be reasoned with. If not, well, we could always put an end to them there and then possibly."
Garren was taken a tad off guard by the suggestion but he remembered she said she'd take any chance she had to eliminate the competition and realized it was likely the best course of action especially given Berserker's uncontrollable nature. She managed to surprise him once again with what she said next.
"Lancer also possibly wouldn't be too bad an option to consider as well if we can convince him or at least his Master to ally sides with us."
He raised a brow curiously, "How do you see that?"
"Think about it, he too is a Knight class Servant and is still a skilled fighter not to mention if we could at least agree to a ceasefire then we would not have to worry about contending with him and we'd be hunting Saber alongside him. If his conditions are that we not harm Saber, which they likely will be if it is possible to convince him at all, then it at least gives a chance to pick off the others without worrying about him whilst they finish their squabble. And should Saber win then we will simply have to act swiftly or shadow him and use their duel as a means of a distraction to capture Irisviel."
It didn't take long for the look of disapproval to appear on his face whilst he shifted in his seat. She knew he didn't approve of getting between the business of two knights, especially when it concerned their honor, but he knew the stakes. She knew for he did not voice his protest. "Alright, so who should we go after then? I can't imagine we can have an alliance with all of them without them eventually realizing something."
"It need not be all of them, only the ones that will listen and can make a difference should we get them to join our side."
"So who'll we pursue first then?"
"That is easy, the one we have best chances with, Rider. It will take time to locate them, but should we I think it best for you to be there given how highly Rider holds being up front and not hiding in the shadows."
Garren nodded and withheld a breath of relief. Sure he'd gotten into the scuffle with Caster's Master last night, but he'd been wanting a bit more action. To be present amongst other Servants whether to observe the battle in person or simply see the real thing with his own two eyes. Besides, he didn't entirely disagree with Rider's stance on the matter either so at least it'd be a change of pace if anything. The obvious question still stood though, "You don't think I'd prove a hinderance should a fight break out?"
Reyven shook her head, "I find it unlikely it'd happen simply given Rider's nature and if we choose our location correctly I doubt they'd be inclined to even give it thought, but we shall see, if anything you could blind them with that ball of light trick of yours."
He gave an acknowledging nod to that. She was certainly adept when it came to thinking out these matters he had to admit but what would one expect of a heroic spirit eh? "Alright, where do you think we should begin?"
The Hunter sat back in her seat and took another long sip of her drink, "We'll head home and there you can give me what information you have and then we shall see."
"And when we talk to them will we tell them our true intentions or…." he waved his hand in circles in front of him searching for the right words.
"Well that'll depend on how much convincing they will require."
Tracking targets had proven itself a rather tedious task, just as it had before. Fuyuki was a city laden with trails of mana, either from other mages or even the Servants no doubt wandering around the city and given that her enhanced tracking abilities as a Servant made it easier to pick up such trails, it did not do so when it came to distinguishing them. As it was, she simply had to rely on instinct, following the stronger trails which were no doubt Servants but even then they could become weak and meld with the natural mana hanging around the area.
Still, the trail she figured could be Rider's though, while stronger, was all over the place, no doubt be a very outdoorsy person as well as being accompanied his Master it didn't make tracking them around too difficult but when it started to leave the city to head in the direction of Saber's mansion he decided to pull back and let whatever may happen there happen. Perhaps she may yet be able to follow them back to their headquarters later but at the very least she could try to locate it on her own.
There was a bit of sun yet left in the sky when she'd finally stumbled across something that could prove itself a reasonable find. On the outskirts of the city was the remnants of an industrial site, with large smoke stacks and crumbling factory buildings. Whether the center was destroyed, abandoned, or a combination of the two Reyven knew not but she did know something must have been there when she sensed a strong amount of mana hanging about the area. The type of signature one might expect if a Servant and their Master was hanging about.
That, and she felt the Bounding Field when she crossed it, weak as it was.
Given its strength, Reyven deduced it was either someone lacking skill in establishing such a field such as her Master or was severely weakened and was having difficulties keeping it up. She wasn't certain if her masking hid her from being detected but still she paused and hid herself behind some cover, peeking around the corner of the structure and looking around the darkening ruins.
She pulled back into cover and thought over her options. It could be Waver and Rider, but she got the impression they'd choose a different locale since she didn't see Rider as being one to settle as sorry looking as this as a base of operations, but anything was possible. She'd have possibly thought it could be Berserker's Master holed up here but Garren had told her he was of the Matou family and was situated there, same with the Tohsaka family Master. Assassin's Master was still within the church so that left Lancer. Pieces fit together if that was the case.
Lancer's Master had gotten into a fight with Saber's the night before and had sustained injuries enough for the Servant to have to withdraw and no doubt it'd be difficult to maintain a field if that was the case. According to Garren as well their previous residence, which had been a large building in the middle of the city, had been blown up and torn to the ground, it'd make sense if they tried to lay low after that and a place such as this would not be out of the question necessarily.
Making the decision it was likely Lancer, Reyven chose to withdraw for now. She'd inform Garren, get a clearer plan together as to what he would like to do, and return without masking herself to make her presence and not let it appear like an assassination attempt of some sort or the like. Turning to study the sun's presence in the sky, the Hunter slunk away into the shadows, disappearing as though she was never there to begin with.
That look in her eyes...it was the same as Granya had. Lancer stood on the open roof of one of the abandoned buildings with the light of the moon upon his back, having just finished conversing with his Master's fiance about the state of the man. Whatever Saber's Master had done to him, the damage was severe, to the point the man had been unconscious for the entirety of the day and recovery almost seemed too far flung a concept.
Then Mistress Sola-Ui had approached him with the command seals, claiming Lord Kayneth had simply...given up. No...he did not entirely believe that, his Master was far too proud for such a thing, but she still had the command seals and he knew not how to explain that as they could only be transferred by consent. Still, she eventually claimed she would strive for the Grail for Kayneth and while there was a part of him that felt she merely went along to gain his approval, he couldn't help but feel at least there was something genuine about it.
Still, it all felt too uncomfortably familiar and he could not stop his mind from wandering to that of the past.
I do not hate them for what happened. However, fate was too cruel to allow it to happen any other way. He began walking, heading for where his Master lay recovering not too far away whilst Mistress Sola-Ui went to get more supplies as Keyneth would need a change of bandages soon.
He stepped up beside his Master, already able to tell he was in pain despite being asleep with the sweat upon his forehead and the struggle his features appeared to contain.
What I seek from this life is the loyalty denied me in my last. I wish to keep that sad fate from happening again. But…
His mind replayed the interaction with Sola-Ui. Was it abandonment by his Master? Was it trickery on the woman's part? Or had the act been genuine, the man knowing it'd be too difficult to go on in his state and though he still wished to participate he had lost some of his will and pride?
Kayneth's behavior at times reminded him of his old Lord's, on occasion perhaps a bit too uncannily so, at others the split almost seemed too grand to be so. It was a predicament he knew not how to tackle and it left him in a state of uncertainty. Whatever would happen though, he would be the knight he had been in life, true and loyal, protective of his Master and his Mistress to the end. How they treated him….he could only hope and pray.
Without warning, he detected something on the edges of his senses. A familiar presence he hadn't expected to meet again so soon and left him with some worry. Still, he looked to his Master one more time before stepping around the gurney.
Walking back outside, he summoned his spears and stepped out of the shadows into the open area between the buildings, his eyes falling upon the woman dressed in black as she approached, though he could see no weapons on her aside from her flintlock which she kept holstered on her thigh. She came unarmed for the moment, it did not put him any more at ease, but he still kept his weapons aimed down if her intention here was not to speak.
"Hunter," he greeted with a small smirk, resting his long red spear on his shoulder, "I hadn't expected to see you so soon."
She folded her hands at her waist and gave a bow before standing straight and returning her hands to her side, her posture remained relaxed despite how close she had gotten. Her eyes flicked to his charm mark but calmly returned to his own eyes. Interesting, perhaps she has some magic resistance of her own as well. "Lancer, I do not believe we had the chance for proper introductions."
His smirk rose some, "I suppose so, though there are few places that are better to meet on than a battlefield," she gave a tip of her head. "So why have you come here, Hunter? I don't suppose you are here to talk about the weather."
"Mm, not quite," she hummed quietly before clicking her tongue. "Though talk I did come here to do first and foremost." He gave a tip of his own head for her to continue, "I'll be upfront, I came here to talk, of a brief ceasefire if you will."
His smirk fell to a more thoughtful position while his brow raised curiously, "Oh? And for what reason would I accept this olive branch of yours? Not so much a personal vendetta than that I'm sure you know I'm aware of your 'duty', as you call it, to go after Saber's…" he rolled his other spear in the air searching for the right word since the woman wasn't actually Saber's Master. "Friend, let's call her."
Hunter gave a nod, "Indeed, and I know your desire to finish your duel with her."
"Yes, and you see it as wise to come to me with this offer because…?"
"Well, the purpose of meetings such as this are to work out terms, no? I will say it plainly, your business is your own, but my duty is important to me and just the same is my own as well. If finishing a duel with Saber is all you desire so that I might not worry about yet another a skilled warrior such as yourself, then you may have it, but this is all I ask."
Lancer frowned, he knew it was not flattery how she spoke and she was true to her word when she said she'd put it plainly. However, she still did not tell him what this duty was. What was it? Why was it so important that she was putting aside getting rid of other Servants lest this duty of hers called for it specifically? The oddest thing was that given the placid look upon her face, she likely knew it. So what game was she getting at here? A silence which grew more tense by the moment grew between them despite either party remaining unmoving in both posture and expression. At last he was the one that broke it.
"I decline," he stated simply and lowered his spear from his shoulder, raising it and leveling it with her face. The point was mere inches from her face and still she remained passive; she'd calculated even that it would seem. "Prove you're worth listening to and we'll continue this conversation. We're at our most passionate when fighting for our lives are we not? What say you?"
She merely closed her eyes and gave a bow, seemingly uncaring for the spear which nearly touched her forehead, "If that is your wish." He'd gotten glimpses of how she fought in the forest as well as remembering what she'd done to Caster. He didn't expect this to be an easy victory, but that made the anticipation all the greater.
He lowered his spear to his side and waited for her to draw her own weapons, watching as her left hand pulled out her flintlock where he caught a glimpse of silver behind where it rested. It was then she drew the oddly curved silver blade she'd used to finish Caster. It wasn't her cane like he'd seen her using in the forest and had expected; Interesting. It was a curious choice of weaponry too, given that he had both speed and reach on his side, but he knew not to underestimate an opponent.
Taking a ready stance, Hunter continued to stand passively where she was, posture unchanging from when they had still been talking. He furrowed his brow and after a second or two of silence built between then, he took off. One step, two, he thrust his spear forward toward her midsection with unmatched speed, but she did something he hadn't expected. She kicked off to the side and then was suddenly rushing toward him with her knife held in a reverse grip just as quickly as he had struck, the blade aiming for his neck. He stepped and twisted away, swinging his red spear in a wide arc in her direction only for her to roll under it and come up on a knee and snap off a shot from her flintlock.
He didn't have much time to react, bringing his yellow spear up to deflect it only to have himself thrown off balance by the sheer force behind the bullet, yet another thing he'd admit to not having expected. Correcting himself just in time though, he blocked a strike from her knife with the same spear only for her to take a swipe at his temple with butt of her flintlock.
Lancer leaned away from the attack and jumped back, Hunter already having closed the distance and was swinging and stabbing relentlessly. Even with speed usually unmatched by other classes, Lancer was just barely able to keep deflecting her attacks with his spears, the distance too close for him to properly use his red spear and his yellow too busy blocking to make a trike. Too close to thrust and if he tried to swing she could get under it again and she'd have free reign on his flank. Every time he tried to pull back to get distance back on his side she would already be in his face attacking again, no doubt knowing what it'd mean if he got the gap he required.
Of course he could simply ditch his yellow spear, but the idea didn't particularly suit his fancy. He could of course should she keep this up, but he'd stick to what advantage he had for as long as he could. Suddenly an idea struck him as he quickly swept an eye over their battleground. Swiftly, he dashed back and as expected she was already pushing her advance, one he met with a swift thrust and slash of his yellow spear, which she countered by dashing to the side and parrying, but it was enough. Lancer dashed forward and dug his red spear under a piece of concrete, using the leverage to vault himself into the air.
Spinning and landing gracefully facing her, he was quick to raise his weapons again and spot Hunter standing where she had been, posture easing up some before she nodded in acknowledgement of his turning of the tables. He smirked, "I'll admit, you're fast, but it'll take a lot more than speed to convince me of anything."
"To be expected," she responding swiftly in kind before he pressed his advantage.
He spoke while he kept her at a distance with the same heavy offense she had applied to him, to much better effect. "Why are you after Saber's friend?" he asked, carving a deep cut into the earth with his red spear before quickly using the momentum to crash it down with a heavy overhead. She was fast, that he truly could not deny, and so light on her feet he was surprised the sorts of maneuvers she was able to pull off, such as pushing off and almost floating back to land gracefully and perfectly balanced.
Flipping back and rolling to avoid the combo of attacks, Hunter gave her simple response, "Because it is necessary." She suddenly kicked off toward him and he made a thrust with his spear which he was quick to correct and thrust again, keeping on the move as she tried to close the distance. Atop her speed she was also a very flexible individual it seemed, angling her body with great agility to avoid his attacks while able to get close and attempt a strike, which he warded off and countered with his yellow spear. He was also thankfully able to deter her with another swipe from his red spear.
As it was, however, he couldn't help but get the impression she was almost allowing him to press how he was, hardly even trying to push an offense like how she had before. Almost like she was studying his attacks.
He'd come to that conclusion too late when she suddenly fired a shot into an opening in his attack as he struck out with his yellow spear. He was forced to avoid it only to be met with another shot heading his direction that he also had to dodge by leaning away. When did she reload?
Knowing she was no doubt closing the distance, Lancer spun his body and swung with his red spear only to be surprised as he watched her holster her pistol and split her knife with the sound of shearing metal. The weapon pivoted at its tip and she used it to clamp down on the end of his spear, sliding in the dirt a few inches before she stopped the weapon's momentum and used it to yank him forward, he was tore off balance and just as suddenly he felt boots hitting his chest, hard.
He held on tight to his spear though and because of it they both dropped hard to the dirt like sacks of bricks. Already she was rolling and straddled his waist and bringing her weapons to bear but he spun his yellow spear in his hand and stabbed it at her. Using the hook on the tip of her blade she caught and redirected it but it allowed him to shift his weight and throw her off.
It ended in her favor though as she kicked his wrist and twisted her boot, his yellow spear flying from his grasp where it slid over to the nearby wall. They both rolled away from one another and came up facing each other in ready stances, Lancer with his red spear held in both hands pointed toward her while she had her arms crossed with her blades at the ready.
The knight smirked, "Not bad, I'd almost go so far as to say I'm enjoying myself." She merely tipped her head and he withheld a chortle. A woman of few words; he could respect that. Still, there was the pressing matter he'd begun, "What is this duty you keep speaking of though? Last night it was Caster yet at the same time it is Saber's friend. In what way are those two related to anything?"
Her posture loosened just a tad but she kept her stance, "Saber's companion has always been my primary focus from the moment I laid eyes on her, however there was a ceasefire until Caster was eliminated and thus he stood in the way." The wicked twin blades she held were brought to bear again, "That, and I don't particularly enjoy the thought of letting someone who takes pleasure in the destruction of young life to live another instant."
She was the one who began the assault this time, her hands a flurry of blades as she swung and slashed and stabbed. The attack was relentless and were it not for his own speed he wasn't sure how well he'd be able to keep up with blocking and deflecting blows with the body of his spear, rarely getting a strike of own in such as a sudden spin he used to deflect and then attack with. Spinning around her and pushing her away with the pommel of his spear, he spun with a wide swing to see her do likewise and hook his weapon, controlling it again for a few seconds before he countered it by pulling and pushing whilst making circular motions with it, disrupting her balance at the same time.
He gave her credit for being able to hold onto her knife at the very least but the advantage was once more in his favor, striking out with quick thrusts she could do little to counter. She leapt back again and he sprinted forward when he suddenly saw her hold her hand up in the air, a mace-looking object in her hand before she slammed it into the ground without warning. His eyes widened and he had but a split second to react as a line of lightning was just as suddenly racing toward him.
He spun away, feeling the static on his back as he just barely avoided the wall of electricity only to be suddenly slammed in the chest with the same tentacles she used to tear the grimoire from Caster's hands with. He thought he felt a rib break with the sheer force behind all of them hitting him at once. The strength of the blow sent him flying and he felt the air leave his lungs when his back hit the hard ground. He rolled back and came up on his knee with a groan, using his spear as a means of support for but a moment. He could only blink at the sight of her gaining upon him in flashes of gold dust, appearing for only brief instances before she vanished again. Timing the flashes as he stood, he made a swift swing the second she appeared only for her to slide under the blow holding a glove lined with skulls which she crushed in her hands. Crimson, howling skulls rushed at and slammed into him before he could properly react.
The skulls felt like they crashed into his very soul, making him feel like his very essence was sapped and it left him briefly disoriented before he suddenly felt himself falling. He blinked and there was a pressure on his chest, a cold tingling tickling at his throat not a second after. Finally getting control of his senses again, Lancer's eyes found Hunter's olive ones, her expression ever passive.
She was straddling his chest, in a fashion; one foot pressed hard to his upper arm while she balanced the rest of her weight on her other knee, her blade held millimeters over his throat and the barrel of her flintlock the same distance from the middle of his forehead. A double assurance, she certainly didn't fool around. It was in this position he also realized the blade must have some sort of magical property to it based on the tingling sensation he felt. Perhaps that was what had allowed her to knives to withstand breaking despite the force of his blows but he'd never know the enchantment unless she told him.
Of course he also realized she could easily just kill him here and now, but she hadn't. No, there was no reason nor advantage to. Saber was standing in the way of whatever duty was involved with killing the Servant's friend and to kill him would break Gae Buidhe's curse and return her to full strength. She clearly couldn't have that. He chuckled and gave a knowing smirk, "I yield," he stated smoothly and she nodded.
Before much could be done, a deeply concerned shout bounced off the walls surrounding them, "Lancer!" Eyebrows raising, Lancer turned with Hunter doing likewise to see a familiar figure standing on the edge of their makeshift arena.
"Mistress Sola-Ui?" standing and holstering her weapons, Hunter offered a gloved hand to him. He didn't realize just how much he needed it till he took it and was pulled easily to his feet by her even though his legs weren't cooperating properly with him. Whatever magic those skulls were made of was certainly some dark stuff, it certainly left him drained if anything and that was with his natural resistance to magic being a knight class.
So just who are you, Hunter? He thought to himself, studying the woman's face and weapons but no name came to mind, not even their nature rang any possible bells. Alas, he was forced to suppress a sigh. Mayhap one day the truth would be gleaned, in the meantime though.
"Well fought. I will admit, did not expect so many sudden surprises up your sleeves."
"The honor is mine," she said giving a tip of her head. "You are no slouch yourself."
He chortled with a small grin, "Likewise, but I suppose neither of us would be here if that was the case," another tip. Lancer studied her features for a few seconds, noticing the small upturn on the corner of her lips that surprisingly changed the entire atmosphere of her character, the natural gloom seemingly nowhere to be found with the small smile. That in mind, the word tired was still an apt adjective to use to describe her, even the smile.
"Who is she? What was going on here?" Sola-Ui asked, approaching cautiously, circling around them to be closer to Lancer.
Lancer had a calm face as he lifted a brow to look to her, "This is Hunter, the eighth Servant and the one whom killed Caster last night," he stated simply and look to the Servant. "And we just had a friendly skirmish to settle a few things," he watched Hunter as the woman bowed to Sola-Ui and then looked back to him. "To the victor goes the spoils, you have my attention. It is an alliance you want is it not? What are your terms?"
"More a ceasefire. What are yours?"
Lancer had to consider that for several seconds. Truthfully the only thing still on his mind regarding this whole war was finishing his duel with the King of Knights and now possibly staying out of the way of this woman's 'duties' given what he'd seen this night and last.
"Alliance? What is she talking about Lancer?" Sola-Ui questioned quietly behind him but he put it aside for the moment.
The former was held at a higher importance to him though and thus, "Allow Saber and I to finish our duel, that would be my only request. However, you still have not said what this duty of yours is or for what reason it'd involve Saber's friend but...would you hurt her if you got your hands on her?"
What little smile there was upon her features slowly faded, "If I could easily explain what was at stake to all of you, I would, but it would be beyond comprehension without risking what you saw become of Caster last night." That achieved a frown on Lancer's face and he gave an offhanded glance to her gloved hand, thinking about how she had shattered to dust the already broken mind of the crazy Servant.
Is that what she did? Show the reason she needed to capture the woman, even inadvertently? He supposed it'd be best just to not question it for now, his will was his Master's and while he'd have preferred Kayneth to lend his thoughts on the matter he also didn't want to try to wake the man. Truth be told, nor did he want this woman near him. Sure he was giving her audience but given everything he'd heard her say and seen her do, he wasn't the most trusting of her. That was not to say he hadn't forgotten about Sola-Ui standing behind him, but he wasn't entirely certain he could trust her judgement with recent events either. It was certainly the predicament but he decided to simply keep Kayneth's best wishes at heart if possible.
"As for harming the Einzbern woman, I'd like to say I wouldn't have to, but…" she didn't need to finish. Lancer thought everything over and eventually sighed.
"And all you'd wish is for a is a ceasefire? No worry of a threat from myself? That's it?" he asked, shifting to lean a bit against his spear for support.
She gave a simple nod and returned her gaze to him, "Were it my choice, I wouldn't kill another person unless it absolutely necessary, but it is as I said, there is a great deal at stake here. More, in fact, than any supposed omnipotent wish. In fact, should you truly wish to gauge my intent in this war, know that while my Master and I seek the Grail, it is not to use it…"
Lancer studied the woman before him, looking into the tired eyes and just able to see the plea behind them, the emotions that her face did not show and made her words genuine. Her words were cryptic though and he didn't know why she continued to remain vague but was it so he would not call her crazy? Would leaving him in the dark truly be for the better so she could at least try to gain his trust? He'd admit to it having something of the adverse effect, but perhaps that was the reason for the plea, her no doubt knowing it was a risk to even glance the topic.
Again he sighed, "I will still have to decline, but you have my sympathies, Hunter," he stated simply and calmly, if with some pity. Hunter's shoulders visibly fell a touch but she was quick to recompose.
"I understand," she replied with an acknowledging bow, hands once more folded at her waist. He tensed as he saw one of her hands make a suggestive twitch to her holster but it grew lax after moment and he raised his eyes to hers, finding them pointed down to the ground and the shadow of a downturned expression hanging about her features. Her posture straightened once more and she focused on him again with her previous placidness, "Then best of luck in your endeavors, and may the best fighter win should next we or you and Saber meet, Lancer."
It was spoken softly and genuinely, but the message was clear, all bets were off on their next encounter. He nodded, "And to you, Hunter. I know what it means to hold duty so high in one's life and you have you at least have my regards. Perhaps we may yet come to a better understanding before the end of this war, but until then…"
Hunter tipped her head and bowed, and like that, she was gone. Lancer watched the purple dust fade and couldn't help his thoughts lingering on Hunter's words and what her intentions truly were. Seeking the Grail but not to use it? What could that mean?
"Lancer, would you care to explain what just happened?" Sola-Ui asked firmly, more of a command than a question.
The Servant sighed and turned to face her a bit more, "As you wish, Mistress Sola-Ui, but give me a moment to make sense of it and recover myself."
From there her tone changed to more of a caring one, her voice growing gentler as she asked if he was alright and tried to help him as he limped back to the shadows of the buildings, using his spear for support. He was somewhat ashamed to say he didn't pay her much mind, thinking more about his encounter with Hunter and what the next may be like.
Garren awoke with a start, breathing heavily with sweat on his brow. Allowing his senses to return to him and to simply calm down a little, he remained lying in bed for a few minutes, feeling his heart gradually slow before he could at last breathe calmly. Swallowing and staring up at the ceiling, he tried to make sense of what his dreams had been filled with that night, no doubt another vision of Hunter's past life.
For some reason though, as compared to the last time he experienced it, this one was difficult to remember. He remembered her and another man. She called out his name…"Arthur!" Yes, that was it. The man had paused what he was doing and had turned, but both him and the scenery he had trouble recalling, though he knew the latter was dark. He remembered a mask, not its features, but she was focused hard on his face only to see it obscured by it and he supposed that was why he remembered it.
Between them their tones were much different, Reyven's filled with anger, a rage he felt had been there for so long. However, while her tone did not convey it, there was a deep sorrow underneath it, a love she sometimes did not want to acknowledge but could not forget. Did not want to forget?
The man's tone was different though, smooth, friendly, calm, almost what he could describe as melancholy. A sad nostalgia perhaps? Their conversation was lost on him, but it went on for a while, Reyven's sorrow building before she drowned it with her anger, challenging him, calling him out on his misdeeds? There was a sad acceptance to what he'd said, but still he drew a weapon, a long curved blade which he slammed into something on his back and pulled out to reveal a large scythe. She prepared her Blade of Mercy and they fought.
So long did they clash, both of them fighting with skill and styles he'd never seen, every motion calculated, every action deadly and precise. They were two forces so equally matched that when a hit was scored by one it was always a trade. However Reyven hesitated several times, a reluctance she felt a sad anger toward in itself. She'd envisioned this moment for years, why now was she hesitating? Why couldn't she just make him pay for what he'd done to her and so many others.
They fought and fought, never seeming to grow tired outside of the injuries they sustained. And then it ended, just like that. So suddenly Reyven was taken by surprise and her emotions were going wild, sorrow and regret eventually filling her as she dropped to her knees with the man in her arms. He'd allowed himself to lose and every uncertain thought she had, every word she'd heard from people who spoke good of him, every memory of their times together slammed into her and with it had come the tears.
"I'm sorry" she said over and over, even as he spoke soft words to her: of forgiveness, of justification, of love. And just as suddenly as he had disappeared years ago, he slipped away in her arms. She thought he'd come back, but he didn't. He'd said it though, "No more dreams". Garren didn't know what it meant, but he knew she held him close and wept.
"Arthur, please!"
He blinked as her cry echoed in his mind and he took a deep breath, searching for his glasses on his nightstand before putting them on and swinging his feet out from under the covers. Hunching over and rubbing his eyes, Garren stretched a bit then sat with his chin in his hand, thinking it all over before turning to look out his open door down the hall, seeing the light was on at the end of it.
Sighing and standing, Garren got himself changed and looked at himself in the mirror, rubbing his jawline and grumbling about needing to shave soon. With that though he headed for the kitchen and ran a hand through his hair in the hall, remembering the news of Assassin's death last night as he turned the corner but didn't see Reyven anywhere save for a book on the table.
Unexpected, but not too much so. Turning, Garren looked out the window to see the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon. Remembering her words from the previous morning, he walked through his home until he found an open window, the one he'd seen her use once to climb up onto the roof using given its close access. He approached it and leaned out some, deciding on whether he should call out or climb up himself when he heard her.
She was singing, it was a slow and peaceful song he didn't immediately recognize, it almost sounded like a lullaby, humming when there were no words. Garren was looking at the edge of the roof, too focused on the sound of her voice singing so softly and gently. He eventually decided against doing anything to get her attention, instead sitting in the open window and listening to her. It sounded somewhat familiar to him, like something he'd heard when he was young, from his mother or in his dreams he could not recall, but there was just something about it that told him he knew what the next line would be, the next note.
Her voice was also simply soothing, he rested his head against the edge of the window and after a minute looked out to the rising sun, filled with an inner peace by it all. If he was honest with himself...it was beautiful. The voice that sung almost paralleled with the sight before him and it was hard not to picture her singing it while the song graced his ears, closing his eyes to listen to it. As she sang though, her voice faltered, as though she was struggling to keep it together.
He opened his eyes and looked up at the edge of the roof, hearing her singing slowly degrade into quiet crying. In the window he sat, conflicted. Should he go up and comfort her? Would she accept it? Perhaps it'd be better to leave her, she was so independent he couldn't see her as appreciating him seeing her in a moment of weakness. His gaze fell and he saw the sun almost halfway up on the horizon, just beginning to sting his eyes as it filled the world with its light.
Glancing up once more to the edge of the roof, he quietly slid off the window and made his way back to the kitchen, but decided to head back to his room. He passed the kitchen and looked at the book on the table, seeing it was still one of those Lovecraft books she had been getting into. He wondered what it was about them she was so interested in, but she seemed enamored about them enough and he chose not to question it too much since it was likely just a pastime that intrigued her.
He climbed into bed and pulled his covers back over himself, taking off and folding his glasses to set them back on the nightstand where they had been and simply sat staring at the ceiling silently. He couldn't quite find the ability to close his eyes but he supposed he wouldn't need to unless he heard her coming.
There was a part of him that questioned himself as to why he'd go to such lengths to ensure she didn't think he'd caught her at a weak moment and it took him what felt like a while to come up with an answer. Despite some of their disagreements, the things she had done, had said, and had said she'd done, he still respected her. And because of that, whether it was a facade or not, she always seemed to keep a placid and collected air to the point it could almost be called indifference at times. To find her expressing herself by singing and not long after be there when she fell to tears for a reason he still didn't know, especially while having these dreams she likely didn't know of…
Well, he supposed he just respected her enough to let her think she could have those moments in private as it was clear she didn't want the world to see what she looked like deep down. Maybe because he also knew what it felt like to always look strong to hide the fact that you feel the opposite. Whatever it was, he lay still in his bed for a long time, or at least it felt that way, while he waited.
He wasn't sure exactly what he was waiting for, but knew it'd be some sign that she back inside, and maybe even then he'd give it a minute or two. Time passed but eventually he heard and smelled something cooking and decided he'd get up for that, partly because it made his stomach begin to ache.
Taking his time getting out of bed, as well as getting dressed, Garren thought about how everything had went up this point, between them more than any of the events of the war. Despite all she'd said, all he'd seen in his dreams, she still felt like a mystery. Perhaps that was just his inner thirst for knowledge that had been a reason he pursued teaching. Or maybe it was that he'd been given all these clues, all this information, yet it still was vague and left him wanting more, to know the answers straight.
He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. If the time would come, then it would, he'd just have to hold out hope in the meantime. Otherwise, they had plans to make and other things to worry about.
Reyven sat on the roof of Garren's home once again, a book in her hand and her headphones in her ears while the sun sank below the horizon behind her. The day could be summed up in a single word: uneventful. Despite how well she had been able to track Rider and Waver the night prior, today she couldn't get quite as far. The trail was weaker than it had been on all the other occasions, still present, yes, but it was as if so much mana had been spent by one of them, likely Rider, that it made it considerably harder to trace. Given what Garren had told her about Assassin having been eliminated though, even if he didn't know the method, then it was reasonable to deduce Rider had been the cause.
It had been somewhat concerning news though, if Assassin was officially eliminated that meant that all the...copies had been killed as well and it took actively and intentionally putting them all into action for such a thing to happen. Truly the reason for doing so was lost on her but given how Assassin's Master so willingly tossed his Servant's life about it likely wasn't without thought and she couldn't help but be suspicious. Garren had put forth the idea it had been to draw out some sort of action from Rider since to their knowledge he'd been passive up to this point and even were that the case they didn't know what this power to eliminate all the Assassin's consisted of.
Reyven sighed and glanced back at the sun, seeing it didn't have much time left but it was still enough light for her to use. She did eventually locate where she thought the duo would be holed up but since they were still present there, she decided it best to simply leave a message as to a willingness to meet and how to contact her should they agree. It was the most she could hope for for the moment since they didn't have much of a plan aside from infiltrate the Einzbern castle directly to see if they were still present and see what could be done if so. And given how little there was to go off of, she figured perhaps waiting for Lancer and Saber to finish their duel would be the wisest option.
It'd mean waiting for another servant to be eliminated and she didn't entirely like that idea either, but their choices were limited and their time was running short, mistakes were not an option and so a careful approach was the best.
In their downtime though, Reyven was...intrigued, to say the least, about what she found when she read stories by this H.P. Lovecraft. While mostly consisting of thought provoking tales of horror, which were well written but she'd seen so many horrible things with her own two eyes, words on a page could do little to affect her. However it was several stories of his whose descriptions were too familiar for comfort, whose words brought about memories best left buried.
He even included words such as Eldritch and Old Ones which were exactly what were used in her time. He wrote that these Old One's way of speech was formless, without shape, much like the ways of the Great Ones of her time whose words were only formed into archaic runes by the runesmith Caryll and could be ingrained into one's mind to feel a bit of that power.
No, it was too similar to be a coincidence. Had his mind been touched by the Great Ones? But how? Did hunts go on longer than she had thought? Secret ones not even the most obscure of organizations knew of? She hoped that was not the case. It SHOULD not have been the case. Not once she-
Suddenly Reyven screamed in great piercing pain and clutched at her head, her book falling out of her hands to slide and get stopped by the gutter. She curled into a ball and bit at her knee to try and stifle her screams as best she could.
No!
She thought and pounded her fist on the tiles of the roof, almost breaking a hole through it while her other, still gauntleted one, carved lines in them as her hand clenched desperately.
I thought we had more time!
"Reyven!" she heard a familiar voice call out, "Reyven, what's wrong?"
The Hunter took deep breaths and when she opened her eyes and turned her head she saw a grey mass of bubbling, frothing liquid beside her hand. Pulling themselves out from the liquid came four grotesque, pale creatures all wearing various hats, one even an upside pot, and all of them put their small hands upon her arm, willing her to stand.
"Reyven?" Garren called, more concerned this time. Other messengers began to appear around her, some touching her hat or arms, all of them watching and waiting. It made her grow a sad smile, so see some familiar faces after all this time and see they were still there for her as much as they always had been.
Taking a deep breath she was able to sit back on her legs with closed eyes, calming her mind and body and preparing herself. When she opened her eyes once more, her features ever placid, she looked up at the blood red moon above, the sky around it beginning to change but not very far, as though trying to exercise what power it could but it was not enough.
"Prepare the car, Master, we have a long night ahead of us."
Garren sat in the passenger seat, clutching onto the handhold above his head with a white-knuckle grip as Reyven drove at high speeds through the empty streets. He'd never seen the city this quiet...though that wasn't quite the right term. No, it was far from quiet, on every corner he could hear wailing and screaming, as if everyone together was suffering some immeasurable pain.
She had told him to stay and then threatened him when he said he would not, but he had remained firm. He would not abandon her this time. He had seen her falter at those final words and her head had fallen.
"Please…" she had asked, her shoulders slumped and shaking, her voice almost inaudible but desperate. Something about it had been more than just for his own protection, or at least he saw it that way, like she would lose something if he did, but even then he'd still told her no. She'd climbed in wordlessly after that and he followed after her before she could start and go. She still hadn't looked at him or said a word since then even when he asked for her to tell him what was going on.
There was a look in her eyes though, not a tired one, not a still one, or even a contempt one. No, what she held in her eyes was a….determination is the best way he felt he could call it. Her gaze was hard and focused on the road ahead and there was a certain air to her that made him feel nothing could get in the way of her now, not even him if he truly tried. He looked back up to the sky above at the crimson moon hanging ominously close, brows furrowing as he saw the sky was now seemed consumed by the odd orange and purple he'd seen at a distance.
He wondered if that had happened when they crossed what had felt like a barrier, when the screaming had first reached his ears.
The car suddenly screeched to a halt and Garren had to brace himself back to stop his head from slamming into the dash. Having to catch his breath for a moment at that, Reyven spoke to him, looking intently out the window.
"Stay. In. The car," she told him and stepped out, closing the door behind her while he simply watched her walk forward in front of the car, not sure what to do.
The Hunter pulled out her flintlock and held her right hand open at her side, a cane rising from the ground out of a mass of bubbling grey liquid. It held itself straight and reached just the right height to be grabbed as she passed it, the mass bubbling away. She was staring with a clenched jaw up at the moon, stopping in the middle of the street, hands gripping her weapons tightly in anticipation.
Suddenly, a massive creature just appeared gripping a building just barely taller than it was. It had six lengthy arms each incredibly long and skinny, its torso wide at the top but quickly thinned toward the hips to proportionally small stubby legs. It dropped off the building and slammed to the ground, shaking the earth and raising its porous head, tentacles dangling at its base, inches from where Reyven stood.
*INHERITOR….*
AN: Sorry for the longer wait by comparison to the other chapters. I've been so busy you wouldn't believe. Was out of town two weekends in a row twice alone and given that's usually the time I have to type these...yeah. Will also admit, have been a bit perturbed too. Maybe I'm just late to the party and everyone who might have been interested are no longer, or the first chapter leaves a sour taste, or it's really just not a good story, but the seemingly small reaction compared to the others at times feels, if selfishly, troubling. Also recently realized that I had been sharing the title with another story that was here and I guess that might not have helped either. But really it comes down to depression and self-worth. I know it's not an excuse but, well I have worked hard for the story but while I'm passionate for it there also doesn't seem to be a lot of reception to it, especially last chapter, and it can cause me to falter a little. Think of it as, though the ideas flow, the inspiration and motivation does not.
But, those are my own issues and you guys deserve better than for me to go on about them, I just can't help but express them somehow to someone who'd understand what I'm talking about is all. I promise I still plan to try and finish this though, and with a bit more free time with winter break now that finals and everything is done, hopefully I'll be able to make some time and space to get down ideas and chapters. All that aside, I'd still like to give the mandatory thank you, for reading and coming this far and I hope that the chapter was to all of your liking. I appreciate you all sticking with me despite everything and as much as I tell myself I'm not as good as the others, writing for those that do care for this story is what matters and I'm glad to do so for every one of you.
Should you have any questions, recommendations, criticisms, or what have you, please feel free to leave a review or message me, the story can only improve with them but if not I still appreciate you coming this far and showing interest. I'd also like to take a moment to address Thaqif for their question as I don't have many means to reply, but: sadly I haven't seen Fairy Tale myself so I'm not entirely certain how well suited I'd be for such a thing, but I can always give it a watch to see how it all goes. Thank you for asking though, haven't ever really gotten questions such as that but I'm glad for the personal interest. Thank you all again and happy holidays for those that celebrate around these times should I not update in the coming week or so, otherwise I still wish for the best for those of you that might not and hope to see you all again.