Fate/Before Zero: Fragments of Light and Darkness
Chapter 2
There was light in his heart.
Once, a candle lit, and was and ever still, burning.
Yet, the shadow was greater than the light, as it could not brighten no more.
Thus, it was engulfed by the blackness of the void.
Soon, the candle lost its shine, and the burning flare it lit, turned into a black inferno.
No matter how bright a light was, as long as the darkness overtook its radiance, nothing would remain.
It was a common thought.
No light could escape the dark.
But, one could go the other way, as no darkness could save itself from the luminosity of the light.
Hence, both counter each other in a spectacular fashion.
Imagine what and how would it happen if it would occur inside a 'heart'?
Insanity.
I know this feeling as I had felt it as he had.
It was a mutual understanding for the both of us:
That 'humans' were born to love and hate, praise and curse and live and die.
So, there was no more reason for him to despise them, they who had sinned against him.
All what had remained for him was to fulfill a wish: My desire.
The Happiness of Everyone around him whom was important.
Sad to say, those 'important' people had long vanished from reality.
Such truth was supposed to be devastating . . .was I thought to be, but felt no more than a prick in the heart.
Then, he asked me, who was quietly watching him from behind,
"What does my existence mean, if I cannot accomplish such a wish?"
Then, without any thought, my heart answered as if in instinct,
"No one's important in my life. No one's important in your life. We are nothing."
He nodded and accepted my reply.
That was all we were, nothing.
A simple existence that grew exponentially due to the passing ages.
And, we still exist, until today.
Nothing was important to us. Nothing called 'happiness' was worth our sacrifice.
That time of us wishing for love and joy had long passed.
Humans had brought us a new face, a new reality: "We were evil. We were scorned. We were the devil."
As to grant the wish of the humans that had forcefully brought upon us, thinking that it would make them happy as to have a proof that a 'GOD' truly had existed,
WE HAD BECOME THE DEVIL.
June 24, 1945
Kotomine Church, Fuyuki City, Japan
It was passed midnight of June 24, 1945.
Father Kotomine awoke from a burning sensation he felt on his arm.
Gleaming red light burned his flesh as he groaned in pain. It was third time he had felt it and was even greater than the preceding experiences.
He took out his vest that was wrapped around his body and held on his glowing arm.
Several red tattoos of unnatural patterns lit on the body part.
These were command seals of previous masters from the last Holy Grail War given to him when he took the responsibility of being the judge for this conflict.
There were 8 seals on his arm which was appointed to him by the head of the Tohsakas and the head of the Matous, who was the one who established the system, before official start of the War.
It was a privilege for him and was a means to ensure that a disaster like the previous Holy Grail War would not happen again.
Zouken Matou, the head of the Matous, was initially hesitant on giving Risei these privileges, although he himself would not be able to use them. However, with much though, and probably desperation, he gave up and had given him what was needed to supervise the war.
He thought the man was shrewd and full of greed, at the same time, forsakes him as he thought that man had long gave up his humanity.
He looked at the spirit board, which could sense the presence of the Heroic Spirits, the Servants, in this Holy Grail War.
"Five. . .? no, Six?!"
Risei Kotomine was shocked.
He recalled the information about the Holy Grail War.
Seven Masters will be chosen by the Holy Grail.
Seven Servants will be summoned by the Seven Masters.
And then all what's left is a battle royale to the death.
But, how come there were six?
Caster was the first Servant summoned which were five days ago and the spirit board told him it had happened on Germany.
Assassin was the second Servant summoned which were just two days ago and had been called forth from France.
One extra Servant was summoned.
How? There were only Seven Masters?
"No. . ."
Risei calmed his thoughts and composed himself.
He remembered the Edelfelt family sensing the twins in Fuyuki to participate in the Holy Grail War.
His first impression was one of the two will act as Master and the other one will try and support the former. But it seemed the Edelfelts had another thing in mind.
It was cunning and surprising, something no one from the current list of participants would be able to discern.
"Eight Masters and Eight Servants. . ."
He whispered as he sat on the mattress behind him.
He was uninformed of this but the Edelfelts did not violate any rules and regulations set up by the Church.
When he first entered this Church, he believed that managing 14 participants was already something beyond him.
Add another pair, Risei could only pray.
"Soon, familiars will flock the Church."
Risei had yet to formally start the conflict, however, as long as all participants had assembled, then the War can begin without him.
However, Caster and his or her Master had yet to arrive in Fuyuki, which Kotomine had estimated for them to arrive this evening.
It seems the ongoing World War II was holding them back.
He glanced to the newspaper beside him which he had read yesterday.
It stated that Japan need to fortify itself against the ongoing onslaught of the Allies.
"World War II was about to reach its climax . . .and in sync, the Holy Grail War will begin."
It might be a truly catastrophic summer in Fuyuki.
Somewhere in Fuyuki
Although it was dark, the stars brightened the sky while the full moon illuminated the rugged concrete roads.
The leaves of the trees on the hill sway slightly with the night breeze and howls of wolves and chirps of owls can be heard. From the middle up to the foot of the hill, a thick fog embraced the hill.
Out of the fog, two shadows appeared from.
Two women fancily dressed in robes and body wrapped by thick fur.
One was wearing a scarlet red gown and covered with a tiger's fur while the other wore an aqua blue and covered with a white tiger's fur to contrast the former. They were wearing high heels which were very difficult to maneuver to in climbing a slope.
The woman in red, with a drilled blonde hair and fierce blue eyes, who held her head proud erasing from her face the irritation and pain on her legs, rubbed her palms on each other. She had a thin cotton gloves commonly worn by lady of nobility in Europe.
The woman in blue, with chestnut brown hair and sincere blue eyes, who held her head low and humble, showed on her face the fatigue of climbing a slope while she wrapped her body with her arms. Like her sister, she wore nearly the same garment except from a pair of sleeves she covered her arms with.
Suddenly, a voice echoed behind the ear of the woman in blue.
"Milady, perhaps you want me to carry you?"
The woman in blue shook her head as she walked.
"No, it's okay. Besides, you should be more worried of my elder sister Penuvia than me."
Having heard of the conversation, the woman in red joined in and remarked,
"I am perfectly fine. No such hill will be able to prevent me from climbing our objective."
Like always, her elder sister would negate any hardship with her overflowing confidence.
It was her greatest point.
Regardless of how much weight she would carry and how tough the opponent gets, she would stand strong with her feet, with eyes like that of a lion, and had never known the words surrender and forfeit.
"What's he doing? He should be assisting his Master."
The voice asked the woman in blue with a slight anger in his tone.
"Don't be angry with him. He seems a bit stubborn but there are men who are insecure with women after all."
"No such knight exists."
"He may not be a knight but he had sworn to protect me with his life, so, I don't think. . ."
As the woman in blue tried to defend the subject of the conversation, Penuvia gestured at the former, "Shhh! Quiet for a moment."
They were in an intersection, one heading for the Kotomine Church where the judge resides, and one leading to a divided section of the residential area.
"Sister, aren't we heading for the Church?"
The woman in blue asked as somehow, she had a strange feeling that her sister was planning to change course, and seems to have sensed something.
"Something is watching us, Juvia, and I don't like it."
The older sister warned sister while Juvia swallowed her throat and felt shivers on her spine.
"Do you sense something?"
Penuvia asked, however, the question was not directed at Juvia but to the voice which had echoed a while ago.
"Yes, Milady. On the left passage, there seemed to be a strong surge of prana, something that of—. ."
"A Servant?"
"Yes. And the eyes that had been observing us a while ago seemed to have gone to that direction."
Juvia, feeling tensed, nervously spoke to her sister and had persuaded her to go back.
"Elder sister, I think we should go back. . .the judge had yet to announce the beginning of the War. . .so we should—. ."
Before she could finish, Penuvia stopped her, "No sister, this is the perfect opportunity. Also, our ace in this War is our coordination. We can't let them know we have two swords than one without benefitting with a surprise attack. It is a common military tactic to launch a blitz attack with a second army from the rear before spies could sense their existence."
"I agree with Lady Penuvia," The voice remarked, "it would be the best course of action to take."
"But aren't we going to say 'Hi' to the priest?"
Juvia asked them, trying to revert back to their original goal.
"Change of plans."
Penuvia quickly answered and went to the other direction.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Juvia whispered to herself.
After 15 minutes of walking, they had come about a red mansion in the middle of the forest.
It was defenseless in terms of gate or walls and was seemingly open for attacks.
Penuvia had heard from one of the maids that at the same time of the construction of their mansion, there was another mansion being built on the opposite area.
The powerful aura of prana that they sensed a while ago was traced to here.
Currently, the twins have no idea on who the participants for the Holy Grail War were, except for the fact that the Three Founding Families were expected to have one participant each.
"Juvia, be ready."
Her little nodded. She too felt the sensation that there would be conflict.
"Saber, can you hear me? Are you ready?"
"Yes, milady. I am prepared."
The voice which came from Saber replied to the question of his Master.
The three of them understood that this place, although physically unguarded, was filled with magical traps and spiritual barriers.
"Juvia, let's attack."
"Are you sure about this, older sister?"
"Too sure to not go back. I will break down the magical barrier and you handle the spiritual one."
"After that?"
"We charge onward."
It was a bold and risky plot. Moreover, the owner of this mansion would not just let them have their way.
Nonetheless, this was too much of a chance to miss for Penuvia.
She was after all the type to attack before the storm comes.
She took out a couple of jewels from her purse and had uttered a spell in German.
"Brechen . ..Brechen . . .Brechen . . .Umfallen!"
While Juvia traced three runic letters on the earth as her right hand glowed.
There was a sound of glass breaking.
Both the spiritual and magical barrier was penetrated and then shattered.
"That was easy."
Penuvia boasted but she was then alerted by a voice which had called on them.
"As expected of the Sisters of the Edelfelt, it was quite an amusement to watch the two of you."
It was a noble and vigorous voice and with a tone of commandment, like a king, had spoken to the sisters.
The voice was familiar, was what the two sisters were thinking about and felt like they know the man behind it.
"So you watched us from the start, and had done nothing to prevent our intrustion?"
Penuvia boldly asked with a sharp voice while her sister hid behind her.
"Quite a careless and confident magus you are, Master of this Mansion."
She heard a chuckle, as if it was the sarcastic answer she was waiting for.
"Come out, magus!"
On the roof, which was approximately a 100 meters from the sisters, emerged a man in white clothing.
He has dark aquamarine hair and wielded a staff which length was nearly half of his leg as if to support his body.
He has eyes as sharp as Penuvia and an air of intimidation emerged from him as he smiled at the intruders. The twins knew this man.
He was once their instructor in Clock Tower who was proud of his knowledge about politics and had consumed most hours of lecture on governance and legal managements rather than elemental conversion, his topic of lecture.
He was—
"Lord Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia."
Penuvia glared at him.
"Who knew you would enter this War? Perhaps, the reward was too great for you to pass up, I assume? Or was the assistance of the Clock Tower to less than what you had thought?"
She fired poisonous questions to the man before her.
"Elder sister. . .that's too. . ."
Juvia tried to quell Penuvia's insulting remarks but Darnic simply received them as if used to such.
"It has been four years, kin of the Old Roark. I am also quite surprised to see the both of you in this Holy Grail War, more so together. I was expecting Penuvia to be in but," he glanced at Juvia with a mocking smile appearing on his face, "it surprised me more to have seen Juvia had joined as well."
"Don't mock my little sister, you eight-forked tongue."
Penuvia retaliated on Darnic's statements but Juvia simply pulled Penuiva's gown and told her it was okay.
"Now then," Darnic mumbled, "as a gentleman and your former instructor, I shall forgive you for your grave offenses in intruding my property. The war had yet to formally begin as I was told. So, as kindness, I shall allow the two of you to flee of from which way you came."
Penuva did not took the reply too well.
To her, it was more of words of underestimation and insult than an act of kindness.
"Don't act high and supreme just because this place is your territory. Saber, attack!"
Penuvia roared a command as she fixed her eyes on Darnic.
In sync with the command, a blonde haired, blue and silver armored knight manifested and charged forth towards his Master's foe. A blue cape waved as he leaped and his silver blade dazzled as it was unsheathed.
Darnic eyes widened, although Penuvia had expected him to have a shocking face of fear, what transpired was more of an expression of surprise.
Far from Penuvia's expectation, Darnic simply smiled Saber's charge and as the blade would take his head off, it was parried in an instant.
Saber quickly leaped off, almost twenty meters from Darnic and readied his silver sword in front of him.
"What was that?!"
Penuiva and Juvia both were shocked that Saber's quick draw and slash was repelled that easily.
He had launched himself for about a hundred meters yet it took only a couple of seconds for him to arrive to Darnic's location.
He was nearly as fast, or even faster than a bullet, but something matched or probably had surpassed that speed.
"I shan't let you harm my Master, Argyros."
A voice spoke from nothingness.
The swordsman, Penuvia's Saber, received the warning and replied, "As I expect you would, Heroic Spirit."
A man materialized from out of nowhere, like how Saber did, in front of Darnic.
He wore a bronze and golden armor, but not as elegant compared to Saber's, but there was a transcendent aura that emerged from it, and black leggings and sleeves in conjunction with it.
He was nearly as tall as Saber, with only being a few centimeters taller, around 185 cm tall and had dark brown hair where a bangs of hair laid on his left eyes, nearly hiding it from sight.
On his hands were two short-javelins and were probably the weapons he used to parry Saber's slash.
"Lancer?"
Juvia muttered to herself. It was the Heroic Spirit of the Lance.
In the Holy Grail War, there was a strict set of vessels, class, where Heroic Spirits will be summoned. Due to their powerful existence, it was nearly impossible to summon a Heroic Spirit from the Throne of Heroes. So, by putting them into vessels, it became possible to call them.
The classes were:
Saber, the swordsman.
Lancer, the spearman.
Archer, the bowman.
Rider, the horseman.
Caster, the magus.
Assassin, the assailant.
Berserekr, the mad warrior.
Penuvia's Servant was that of the Saber-class and was a Hero from the past that was known for wielding a sword. From all of the seven classes, the Saber class was boasted to possess the best parameters.
"So you also got yourself one of the knight classes, Lord Darnic?"
Penuvia, while infuriated by Lancer's interference, asked Darnic.
"I used my family's resources for this. That's why you could see that I am more than simply serious in this endeavor. I am planning to bet everything."
The two sisters were quite shocked.
They hardly knew Darnic's serious side.
He seldom displayed his abilities as a Grand Magus so his classes would usually mock his skills in magecraft to be inferior than the other Grand Magi.
But, the Darnic before them had just claimed to be ready to risk everything for this Holy Grail War.
"Even if you were my former students, I will not hold back in killing the two of you."
He was beyond serious.
"Very well then," Penuvia replied, "we, too, have no interest in letting you live, Lord Darnic. Saber, this is your first battle. Show me what you can do as a Servant and finish Lancer with all your might!"
Penuvia commanded Saber with fierceness while not letting her noble elegance from dissipating.
"I, Saber, acknowledge that command!"
Lancer smiled while receiving Saber's booming confidence.
Darnic, as if had loss his interest, turned his back from his audience.
"Where are you going?!"
Penuvia shouted at him while Juvia simply stood behind her.
"I have no interest in fighting little girls."
This remarked heightened Penuvia's temper.
He continued, "Lancer, be sure to finish this, cleanly," giving emphasis on the last word as he walked off slowly.
Lancer replied without turning back, "Rest assured Master, that I, Lancer, shall protect this fort with all my strength."
Penuvia angrily exclaimed, "Saber finish this quickly! Let's show that arrogant old man who's the strongest Servant!"
Saber nodded after receiving the command. He simply stared at Lancer and did not utter another word to him other than simply pointing his blade and dashed forth with a decision to cut off his neck.
In the face of such brazen attack, Lancer calmly raised his arms, and crossed his javelins to block the silver sword.
"Let's dance, Saber. Tonight's symposio is ours to enjoy."
Lancer smirked as he kicked Saber and, using the opening, launched himself to him with a spear thrusting towards his collar bone.
Matou Household, Fuyuki City, Japan
A day had passed since the summoning ritual.
It was a hectic night for Matou Kaguya.
As she lay her body on the pool of water on the open bath at the back of the mansion, she recalled that fateful evening.
She managed to successfully summon the Servant she hoped to get.
What surprised her was what had happened afterwards.
Straight after his materialization, he unsheathed one of his blades, and struck his grandfather in the shoulder.
It was obvious that it was intended.
Luckily, Grandfather had managed to survive that.
"Foul demon."
Those were the words her Servant uttered upon cutting Matou Zouken.
Kaguya knew her grandafather had long been inhumane in nature.
But, he could still not forgive him for disrespecting her guardian.
"I, Matou Kaguya, order you by my command seal, on your feet and listen to everything I say."
It was a disaster.
No matter what Kaguya yelled, her Servant kept on berating to kill her Grandfather.
She had no choice but to discipline him. Of course, her Grandfather wasn't quite pleased with the Servant's action, but forgave him for being powerful.
"You got yourself a powerful card, Kaguya. Make sure to control it, properly"
There was a point of emphasis on the last sentence.
She knew her Servant's true identity as she had personally chosen the catalyst to call for him.
Still, it bewildered her that he would have such extreme dislike against inhumane creatures. . .or was it isolated on demons alone?
As she kept on thinking, she looked at the back of her hand.
A red tattoo was engraved, however, the left part of it was somewhat erased.
It was shaped like a butterfly with thorns on its wings and horns in its head.
These were her command seals, the authority given to Masters to control the Servants.
It was a strict rule to not use the command seals on meaningless commands.
And, she broke it a minute after she had summoned her Servant.
She had no excuse for it but it was needed in the situation.
She sighed as she splashed the water around her.
It was cold, like the breeze, yet she didn't feel bothered by it.
After feeling hot all week, it was a needed relief for her.
Suddenly, a voice called out to her.
"Are you unwell, Master?"
It was a voice of concern with a tone of sympathy.
"Are you being sarcastic, Rider? After what you did last night, do you think I'll be okay?"
Her Servant, Rider, did not answer.
Rider, the class summoned who benefited with a mount in his life and was known for it.
Unlike the Saber and Lancer classes that boast in close range strength due to their weapons, the Rider class would boast its strength with its mount as its primary weapon.
"How was the reconnaissance I asked you to do?"
Rider groaned a bit, and then answered, "Unexciting. I surveyed the city and all I saw was people packing their bags and leaving for the ferry. It was beyond from what I expected in the modern era. I was disappointed."
"I did not ask you on what you felt when you did it. I asked you what you have gotten from it."
"You said, 'how', Master. I assumed."
"Read between the lines."
There was a brief silence afterwards and a sound of Summer crickets from fireflies echoed on the household.
"Well, that's that."
And then, Rider chuckled as he materialized on the pool of water, naked and bathing on the opposite side where Kaguya was bathing.
He has a white hair and hawk-like eyes but they're quite cheerful as of the moment. He has a brownish skin, and a refined body, not too muscular but not too skinny. He has the vibe of nobility in him with his composure seen from it.
Surprisingly, Kaguya was not embarrassed or ashamed of it, nor was angered by Rider's action. She merely showed an irritated face and sighed.
"Boring. Why won't you say, 'GET OFF PERVERT!' or 'GO TO HEL!'?"
Rider seemed to want his Master to be embarrassed about the situation.
He was quite the teaser, but, his teasing did not produce the result he wanted.
"You haven't answered my question."
"Oh. Right. About that."
Returning to the topic, Rider placed his finger on the side of his head and closed his eyes as if in deep thought. As a reaction to this, Kaguya simply raised an eyebrow.
"You see, it was foggy and cold."
Rider was reciting his report like a jester telling a tale.
"And?"
"People were all asleep."
"And? What else?"
"And it was dark!"
"Rider, I was asking for VALUABLE INFORMATION!"
Kaguya splashed the water with her hands and stood. She was pissed off.
Rider simply laughed at this situation. With a triumphant face, he whispered to himself, "YES!," and then coughed.
"Ah, Master. If that's what you want," he said, "I saw a couple of fancily dressed women walking up the slope near the Church."
Kaguya was about to leave but stopped on her tracks when she heard Rider's report.
Rider continued, "Of course, there are not ordinary women as no woman would walk under the night where ghosts and evil strives. And surprisingly, there was someone with them . . .a Servant."
"Where were they headed?"
"I believed they planned to head to the Church but I managed to misdirect them to the other way, apparently, to that strange mansion with an ominous feeling about it. It was an intended prank, however, I did not knew they was also a Master residing there. In short—. . ."
Kaguya broke off Rider's story and continued it on her own, "A fighting should be happening right now."
Rider nodded and crossed his arms afterwards, "And means someone might die tonight, but that thought disappoints me. I wish to fight them before they fall."
Kaguya took a folded white cloth that was lying on the floor and wrapped it around her body.
"So, Master, I assume you will go back to that dreaded place again?"
The tone in Rider's voice changed from being free-spirited to a serious one. His eyes sharpened and were locked on Kaguya as if telling her to stop.
"No, but you won't be able to stop me if I were. I am going to get dressed. We are headed to that place you have spoken of."
Rider did not reply and he simply nodded to Kaguya's plan.
As Kaguya left the open bath, and went inside the household, Rider looked up in the sky, and stared at the full moon.
"It will be one heck of a night, won't it?"
Kotomine Church, Fuyuki City
It was a disaster.
Risei was panicking as he was nervously trying to work out the situation.
Two servants were currently locked in combat in a place not so far from the Church.
Masters had engaged each other knowing the War had yet to officially start.
Although it wasn't much of a breach of rules, as a new supervisor of this conflict, he was keen to be as strict as possible, especially in this time of chaos.
"They are fighting in spite of the knowledge not all the Masters and Servants have yet gathered in Fuyuki."
Risei thought as he stared at the Spirit Board.
He could use his privilege as a supervisor to stop the fight. Of course, if it was possible he would have had done that already.
This was the first time a supervisor was put in this conflict.
Furthermore, it was a member of the Church who was assigned and the Magus Association and the Church have always been at each other's neck.
Glancing at the Spirit Board once again, he saw something that shook his body even further.
Another servant was headed for the fight. . .no. It wasn't just only one. . .
"I have no choice."
Risei said to himself.
If the Masters would not respect his position, he must make them respect him by force.
He took out a black robe and covered it around his body. He put a black bull cap on his head and held a bible on his hand.
He was leaving the Church to seek help.
And, he only knew one person he could count on.
He ran out as soon as he got out of the Church.
He glanced to his right, the direction of the fighting from the Church. If he were facing North, then he would have faced to his left.
He understood that going there alone would lead to death. . .that was the worst case scenario.
"There's only one way to solve this."
He needed someone else to force the other Servants to stop the conflict.
"Tohsaka. . ."
If another participant intervened in the fight under the jurisdiction of the supervisor, it could come to understanding that anyone that sides and goes against the supervisor would benefit and suffer respectively.
Although that was his first idea, he threw it out as if it would present more trouble long term and a problem for Tohsaka. He needed to think of another way.
As he thought of this, he had arrived at the Tohsaka Mansion.
It was as big and wide as he remembered when he last came here.
There was no time to knock on the gate, so Risei jumped off the wall, and hurried to the front door and banged in with all his might.
"Tohsaka! Tohsaka!"
He shouted from his lungs.
He repeated the manner multiple times. There was no way Tohsaka would be fast asleep at this hour would he, especially in this conflict where fighting would often be done when the moon is out?
Knowing him, Risei sighed.
He probably would be.
Suddenly, he felt a chill from behind and voice called out to him.
"What do you need from my Master?"
Risei turned around.
It was Tohsaka's Servant.
Yggdmillennia Mansion, Fuyuki City
Sixty-seven times.
That was the number of times Saber and Lancer exchanged blows.
And, it all happened in just a few minutes.
Saber's superior strength and endurance proved to be more tenacious than what Lancer had thought
However, Lancer's skill and agility was far superior.
Saber would brandish his sword, to slash Lancer's torso.
Lancer would twist his body, turn it like a wheel while leaping from the ground, and then kick Saber to the head.
Saber would raise an arm to block the kick but would then be followed by the other foot of Lancer.
He would be pushed back by the swift kick, and Lancer would take the opening to charge forward and slash and thrust his short javelins to his enemy.
Saber would parry them with his superior weapon, yet, the strikes were as fast as lightning, as far as he observed, and would not be able to parry most of them.
Luckily, his armor was thick, and was able to shield himself from getting a wound.
It was a fierce fight that the Edelfelt sisters would not be able to react from, and Darnic, who was proud and noble, could only watch in awe.
Saber glanced at both javelins and the Sisters noticed Saber doing this numerous times in the engagement.
"Saber's trying to figure out what is Lancer's Noble Phantasm."
Penuvia whispered to her sister.
"This is a tough fight. Saber is already using his sword. . .but if Lancer has yet to use his personal weapon. . ." Juvia thought to herself as she observed the duel.
Lancer's two short javelins were sturdy and well-built for close-range combat. Designed to slash the flesh of his foes, and pierce the heart of his enemies, it was a weapon he loved to use during his life. Looking at its construction, the weapon could also be—
Lancer smiled at Saber. It was an expression of delight.
"I had never faced a swordsman in my life with skills such as yourself, this is proving quite to be an experience."
Saber did not know if it was a compliment or an insult but he felt Lancer's heart was too pure for that.
He noticed it during the time they had spoken and engaged blows.
Lancer was kind, too kind. He had yet to release his true nature as a spearman and that scared Saber.
"If you are not going to be serious, you will die, spearman."
Saber said to Lancer as he held his grip to his sword tighter.
Lancer grinned as if agreeing to the remark.
"Or your Master dying because of it."
Darnic and Lancer let out a shock expression while Penuvia smiled in satisfaction as if portraying victory on her face.
Darnic turned around as quickly as possible and saw a dark bluish-silver armored knight, with a facial features similar to the servant Lancer was facing with only a different color scheme.
The darker knight unsheathed his sword and swung it at Darnic, and wore a mocking expression.
"MASTER!"
Lancer exclaimed but Saber went and attacked him.
So this was their ploy? Was what Lancer had thought.
But, they would not be outdone with this.
Lancer charged at Saber, who swung his blade in a horizontal motion.
He leaped the moment the sword neared his torso, and landed his two feet on his chest, using it as a propeller to leap on the air.
He turned and twisted his body, and threw his javelin at the darker knight that resembled Saber. As he finished this, in just a millisecond, he twisted his body again, and threw the other javelin at the Saber who was pushed back.
It was like a bullet.
No, it was probably even faster.
The short javelin flew faster than the speed of sound, but what was more surprising was how Lancer had done it the moment the darker knight was attacking his Master.
As if he had sensed it before hand, he had already devised a solution, and proceeded as the moment came. Else, Lancer simply had the gift of a sharp sixth sense that far surpass that of what Saber possessed.
The darker knight was given a choice.
Proceed with his attack, not halting it, but receiving the thrown javelin aimed at his head.
It will be a double kill. And it was beyond doubt that the Edelfelts would be at an advantage if he would take that route.
However, his mind was made when he glanced at the eyes of Juvia Edelfelt, his Master.
It showed eyes of concern and sincerity, something he had hated and forsakened in his life.
As those eyes reminded him of the scorn and madness he had experienced from loving a maiden whose eyes would swallow you like a wave.
The dark knight, as if out of instinct, pulled his sword back, and blocked the javelin in the nick of time with its thick blade.
It was heavy. He thought it was heavier than ramparts that pushed through the castle walls during a siege.
Being pushed back a couple of meters, this had gave Darnic the chance to leap off from the building, and take considerable distance away from the dark knight.
"Another Saber?"
He yelled out looking at the new arrival.
Lancer was also bewildered by the situation, "What's going on here?"
He asked glancing at Saber on his side.
"Ah, I understand," Darnic mumbled, "it was due to that Sorcery trait."
He chuckled. How could he forget. He was the teacher of this twins after all.
Penuvia bit her lip. She knew this would happen but not this fast, for someone to discern the cunning plan of the Edelfelts.
"Using the Sorcery Trait of the Edelfelts, it was possible to have two Masters and summon a single servant divided into two personalities."
He glanced at Penuvia with a triumphant look.
"This is the plan you thought will lead you to victory, Edelfelt? I admit. It has shocked me and this will definitely be a nuisance in the War. However—. . ."
He simply smiled and turned his eyes to Juvia.
"There is a chink in this armor."
He mumbled and Juvia knew it was directed to her.
"Sounding cocky aren't you, Eight forked-tongue? You do know you are outnumbered at this point."
Penuvia will not look away at this situation.
They have him. He was surrounded by two servants of the sword, the Saber class.
One Saber will face Lancer, and one Saber will strike at Darnic.
It was the best and most suitable plan in this scenario.
But, Juvia's Saber, Saber Omega, the counterpart of her Saber, Saber Alpha, shook out this method.
"Master of the other Saber, please do not make me do such an unsightly and sick order again."
He glared at her, "Even my own Master would not dare such a thing. I still do have my own honor and chivalry, while my loyalty will not waver to my own Master. . .and you are not her."
"What."
Penuvia was speechless and Juvia only sighed.
She knew this was coming. Her Saber was stubborn and stuck up to himself while her sister's Saber was the opposite in spite of possessing the same level of chivalry and loyalty.
"You are saying you prefer to fight me than take my Master's head, Saber?"
Lancer glanced at him with an angered face but it reverted to a satisfied smile.
"It would be foul to my mouth to play cheap tricks against a pure hearted foe."
He remarked as Saber Alpha was calmly watching the situation without interrupting.
"Now then," Lancer murmured, as two short javelins manifested on each hand, "Shall we resume the dance?"
It was two against one.
The twin swords of the Edelfelts rushed at Lancer who was also calm throughout the engagement.
Saber Omega brandished his silver sword to cleave his neck, and Saber Alpha swung his' to slash apart his feet.
Lancer smiled. This was the first time since his duel to the death with one of the greatest heroes he had ever met that he had felt the sensation of excitement.
He raised his hand and blocked the first blade that swung to his neck, and without a pause, he leaped his legs to the air. It was a millisecond of interval yet Lancer was able to use it as an opening to save his legs.
Both Sabers were surprised.
Lancer turned around and slashed at Saber Alpha whom had jumped away to evade it.
Saber Omega held his ground after being parried and swung his sword to slice Lancer's skull.
The spearman used both javelins to parry the sword to the right and as if in sync with his body, he crouched right after doing it, dodging Saber Alpha horizontal slash to his upper body, leading it to Saber Omega's neck.
With Saber Omega's instinct, he was able to evade the misdirected attack of his ally, leaping away from the sword's blade.
Lancer twisted his legs, and swept the earth with it, kicking Saber Alpha and knocking him off balance. Right after doing this, Lancer charged at Saber Omega, and released a fury of thrusts and slashes from his javelin.
He was like dynamite that exploded in the battlefield.
He was like a madman who was thirst of blood.
He was far from the pure hearted man that both Sabers felt a while ago.
Saber Omega hardly kept up with the speed of the onslaught.
As if to finish the exchange, Lancer kicked Saber Omega's chest with his right foot so powerful that it knocked him off several meters.
It had only happened for a few seconds.
Saber Alpha was composing himself, regaining ground while Saber Omega buried his sword to the ground to anchor and prevent himself from being pushed back even further.
All the Masters were struck awe by the display of skill in arms competency that Lancer had shown.
Against two Sabers, whom were regarded as the best Servant, he was able to fend them off fiercely but gracefully.
He was like dancing on the battlefield and did not regard the killing intent directed to him while fighting with a poker faced expression.
He then let out a smile, erasing the monster-like display a while ago, and said, "Your sword skills were amazing. Truly, that's not only what you could show to me, Sabers?"
He had only one meaning with his statement: Be serious and use your sword as a Noble Phantasm.
Throughout the fight, the two Sabers were using their sword but had yet to truly unsheathe them.
Penuvia whispered, "How did he—. . ."
She was surprised. How could Lancer have discerned the secret behind the swords of the Sabers?
"I have seen that sword before. . .or probably something similar to it as I had wielded the same sword in my life," he narrated as he rested on javelin to his shoulder. He simultaneously watching both Sabers.
He continued, "I know not if that sword was the same as what I held in my life or it was something that your swords would have been based upon," he paused and glanced Saber Alpha, "All I know is that, both of you will die if you do not fully use it against me."
He was not being arrogant or cocky, he was merely being frank and both Sabers knew that.
Even so, the Masters of the twin swords were shocked to hear this, and Saber Omega was booming in rage.
"So be it, Lancer!"
As he roared, prana was filled on his sword and Saber Alpha whispered, "Cher Epée", and his sword was also filled with prana.
"Master," Lancer directed to Darnic, "this might get wild," and winked at Saber Omega who was glaring at him with eyes that could kill a man.
Chapter END~