A reviewer ask why EMIYA? And why not Shirou? Well… aside from his sad fate as cleaner of the world, it's also because of revelation from Fate Hollow Ataraxia about what Archer felt about Saber. Archer, when defeated by Saber...reveals that, no matter what he went through...he never forgot her. He never stopped loving her. You imagine, Archer whose memory is so jumbled after everything he went through cling to memory of Saber, if you still ask me WHY him not Shirou…
At least to me he is what Fate!Shirou could become.
Chapter 09: Truth Shrouded in Mist and Flame
Tonight Kiritsugu won against Kayneth but he was utterly defeated by Kotomine Kirei without either of them spilling blood to each other, just words exchanged and ideals broken and remade.
Irisviel and Maiya arrived not long after, only to find catatonic Kiritsugu and Saber who was equally at a lost of what to do to Kiritsugu. And for the rest of the night Irisviel locked themselves in their room. Hoping somehow when the morning come Kiritsugu would be back on his feet.
Dream Sequence
It was a strange memory, of a boy sitting on a dining chair, hands on the table with his palms in cupping motion. Everything was dark and blurry except the boy, as if something was missing and only a piece remain. The boy had auburn hair and golden eyes, and for a moment Irisviel didn't recognize him. The hair color was different, complexion didn't even match and his eyes while close was less vivid than familiar amber she knew.
A small tongue of flame appeared on his palm, the boy's eyes widened with glee and gasp of delight escaped his lips. "Waah…"
That golden flame, the proof of Vongola line, the flame of sky.
"▅▅!" Cried someone, the voice was incorrigible as if something interfered.
The boy was startled, his concentration wavered and the flame burst, and jumping out of his hand. The woman whose face was half-shadowed grabbed the boy, "▅▅! Calm down! Will it away!"
The boy nodded but it took him a long while for the flame to slowly flickered out of the dining table, leaving star like charred mark on the wooden surface. The boy sighed in relief as the woman Irisviel presumed was his mother set him down, but his relief didn't last long as the mother turned him around by his shoulders and shouted at him. She was hysterical as she told him to never repeat it again.
The scene shifted and the boy was standing outside of a door, everything was black except the characters of this memory. The boy was eavesdropping on his parents.
"We should do something to seal his flame! How could our boy live as a normal human with that?" She spat the last part of her sentence like a curse.
The father had his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm down his wife without success. "But the only one with authority to do that is Nonno or heir who has passed the trial…"
"He did it for Iemitsu's boy, he should be able to help our son too!"
"We can't come out from our cover now! It would be for nothing… Nonno told me before we left that it's likely the next heir would be Tsu-kun."
The wife gasped, "The poor boy! Why?"
"Nonno sealed the boy's flame but it was still prominent and messing with his daily life… his motorik coordination is a mess, so is his cognitive ability." The father swallowed. "A sign he is much more powerful than Nonno, at this rate… Nonno's sons would be passed in favor of Iemitsu's son..."
"I don't see how this means we can go looking for help for our own son! I feel sorry for Nana but if that spot is filled, our son is safe…" Irisviel could see how the mother hated herself for taking comfort from another's misery.
He shook his head, "And risked to be spare heir if upper echelon found out that our boy also have massive potential?! Iemitsu's boy is already doomed with his half-failed seal, we just have to bear with it!"
"But-"
"If our divine ancestor catch us once we left this city, it would be even worse, dear! For us, our boy and the whole family!"
Suddenly the boy hiding behind the door tensed, his blank face who didn't understand what his parents were talking about morphed to one filled with terror. "Mother! Father! We have to leave!"
"▅▅!" The true name of her servant was just static again. "Since when you-"
The boy clung to his mother's dress and shouted. "We have to leave! Let's go! Everything is going… to DIE!"
The parents exchanged glance before their expression too, matched the terror filled one of their son. "Let's go!"
"Our house? Money and clothes?" The mother asked as she lifted the boy up and followed her husband downstair, part of the house they passed faded in and out of the darkness.
"NO TIME FOR THAT! Whatever is going to happen forced our boy's Hyper Intuition to be active! Last time that happened-" He grabbed his car key on top of shoe cupboard. "There's an earthquake that almost buried me and Iemitsu if he suddenly didn't scream his head off and dragged me to open area!"
They were out of the house and inside their car in no time. Irisviel found herself sitting on the backseat while the family occupied the front seat, her future servant was sitting on his mother's lap. "What could happen?" The wife hugged her son tighter. "Does this have something to do with the other side occupying this city?"
The car was already on the road and rushed in maximum speed out of town. "▅▅, is this the right way?!"
The boy nodded numbly, "We have to run, run, run… Evil is upon us." He chanted in trance, "The sky… the sky is so far away…" He was crying now, clinging tightly on his mother. "Uuh…"
"Those damned MAGI!" The husband cursed as he drove off in almost blind panic. "What did they do this time?! Destroying the world again with their stupid quest for Akasha?!"
"Living near them is a foolish mistake." The wife cried softly.
Irisviel flinched guiltily.
Then suddenly the boy gasped, and the words escape his lips like a prayer. "The sky is being tainted."
Then the world was colored by cruel flame, unlike kind and gentle one her servant controlled. For a moment Irisviel thought she was about to die, forgetting she was just a watcher not part of this world. Everything was burning, and the young boy dragged himself out of wreckage and never once looking back.
His golden eyes were devoid of life. He walked with wobbling steps, but not even once he stopped. Peoples around him were crying and begging for their life, and that was when Irisviel realized the memory now was vivid and yet… so dead.
'That's hell you're heading to.' Said someone behind her, and much to her shock an older version of the boy was standing behind her and walking towards the boy.
'That's the path to hell.' Same sentiment was echoed and this time by her servant, the one with dark skin and vivid golden eyes.
The boy fell, laying on his back as his hand weakly reached to the sky. "It's… so far."
Then before her very eyes, Ruler walked towards the older boy and the child, each version phased out as he walked through them. Then everything became dark once again, she felt herself was laying on something soft.
"Wake up." Someone told her gently.
She opened her eyes and found Ruler's cousin standing beside her head, bending down so his grinning face was right over her. "Tsu…" Her lips moved weakly.
"The procedure is rough on you I see… but I'd prefer you to be on bed instead of well- sleeping in the garden. It's summer, this is Italy… it's worse than in Japan."
Ah, she was seeing this dream through his eyes again now. "Close…"
"Hm."
"The sky… is so close now." He breathed out, his eyes were getting misty as he said this.
The sky just smiled and nodded, "Yes… welcome back."
END of DREAM SEQUENCE
Fuyuki
Ruler found Lancer easily, as he was no assassin and not in astral form. Strangely though, he was out in the open with red haired woman who was on callinside a telephone booth. Ruler recognized her as Sola-ui Nuada-re Sophia-ri and fiancee of deceased Lord El-Melloi. He reinforced his eyes and frowned at the woman who had a handkerchief out, wiping nonexistent tear from her eyes and sniffing.
She definitely won't be winning any award for her acting skill. As for Lancer… he looked gloomy but in overall fine, and not dispersing to mana particles yet.
He landed near Lancer, and the knight inclined his head in greeting. "Lancer… I see you have found a new Master?"
Lancer looked like he was holding back a grimace, "Not quite… you see, my Master- he…"
Ruler sighed, cracking one eye open at the bright red command seal on Sola-Ui's hand. "I suspected a foul play when I sensed your deceased Master have way too much mana for someone who has to supply his servant."
"I am ashamed to admit." Lancer dipped low in a western bow. "But indeed my Master used his talent to tweak our contract so Lady Sola become my pseudo master who supplied me with mana."
He guessed it correctly then, "I see… which is why when Lord El-Melloi fell in battle, this lady over here automatically inherit his command seal." He crossed his arms, "Who is the lady talking to?"
"Milord's family… she is arranging for his body to be transported back to London. She is staying to… avenge him." Lancer didn't sound like he believed Sola-ui at all. "Which I approve as… the war is not ended yet for us. It also would be unfair if I left my promise to finish my duel with Saber unfinished."
Ruler turned his attention back to the lady of Sophia-ri family, "She doesn't seem particularly sad about his passing." Judging from Lancer's agonized face… "Ah- does the lady fancy you?"
Lancer looked like he wanted to dig a hole and hide. "I…"
Ruler was quick to add, "She is a Magus, by right she should have more resistance if not completely immune to your charm." Ruler pointed out, and from what he felt from this distance she didn't seem to be under Lancer's charm. "I see your problem, however… who knows maybe this situation is not so bad for you." At least now he had a Master who liked him.
Lancer had one yard stare as he dipped his head once again and declared, "Please, I have had enough of Grainne."
Huh? "Lancer, this lady is not Princess Grainne."
"...Is it so wrong if I don't feel like repeating history, Ruler? My wish is simple enough… to fight, to life and die as a loyal knight. Even if my former lord has passed away… Is that priest right? I am selfish thinking this war is my chance to compensate my failure in the past?"
Indeed, this war aside from Kayneth's early death sounded like Diarmuid was retracing his steps in his legend. "Lancer, it's in human nature to wish undoing their failure is some way."
He and Saber certainly wanted that for themselves. Lancer's wish was much tamer than theirs, he accepted his past and what he wanted was not correction but compensation. "Well, my offer from first night still stand."
Lancer shook his head, "Betraying my current Master just because of my reservation for my luck with women is out of option, killing myself now would be preferable but there's my upstanding promise with Saber and Rider to fight them..."
"Well-"
Sola-ui stepped out the phone booth at that very moment, eyes widened when he noticed Ruler's presence. "Ah! Good night to you, servant Ruler." She curtseyed like a proper lady she was before she brandished her new command seal. "As you can see, I hereby took over Kayneth's duty as Lancer's Master and will compete to win the Holy Grail! Please acknowledge my place as one of seven Masters."
She didn't even bother acting like a widowed woman. "...Well Lady Sola-ui, possession of the command seals mark your right as a Master already. You do not need my approval." He intoned, "However… I'd like to warn you that, your fiancee fell in a duel with other Master when I and Mediator has declared ceasefire until Caster is defeated." He wanted to laugh inside because he made it sounded like a karma Kayneth got his just dessert for disobeying their rule. "So I urge you to not confront Einzbern Master to avenge your fiance, perhaps this is unfair to you and Lancer but your revenge would just have to wait."
Sola-ui nodded, a bright smile on her lips. "Of course, servant Ruler… but you're mistaken. If my fiance fell honorably in battle, I will dishonor him if I take revenge for him. I will battle Einzbern's master on my own term as Master of Lancer."
Neither servants were fooled, 'You mean you don't care about your fiance.'
Sola-ui latched on Lancer's arm like a limpet, "I swear in my honor as a daughter of Sophia-ri clan to surpass my deceased fiance, please look forward for my performance in this war. Servant Ruler, I will prove myself worthy as Lancer's Master and win the grail, ho ho ho!"
Ruler felt really sorry for Lancer, and decided either to ask Saber or drop by Rider to pull Lancer out of his misery. Or he could just pull Gae Bolg and assisted Lancer to kill himself, the guy looked like he was considering it. And he thought Cu Chulain's luck was already shitty enough… Were these irish lancers cursed or something?
Einzbern Castle
Ruler went missing the whole night, and returned at dawn. Saber waited for him and let the servant of balance to start breakfast. "Can we talk with food on the table first?" He pleaded.
Early breakfast between Saber and Ruler was a tense affair with human and homunculus in the castle still recuperating in their room. Saber was unsure what to feel about Kiritsugu's confrontation with Kirei, which ended with Kiritsugu looked even more broken than when they saw him with Irisviel yesterday. Why Kirei was so focused on Kiritsugu in the first place? Saber wondered because from what she knew, last night was their first meeting and yet-
"What kind of man Kotomine Kirei is?" Saber asked before she could stop herself.
Ruler sighed, "Then tell me what happened last night?" Saber had refused to talk about it to him.
"Fine."
The servant of balance poured himself a cup of tea before he started, "A one kind of man I have never seen before, he was born with twisted nature… if he had been a normal human he would live in contentment, with a loving wife, a daughter and work he is very good at." Ruler listed on. "However he doesn't or rather he can't derive pleasure or happiness from those because by nature he can only feel happiness from suffering of others."
Saber's eyes widened in shock, "And he is a priest?"
Unbelieveable indeed, but there was a good reason why Rin called Kirei a fake priest. Magus and priest or not. "For no other reason it's a family trade and he is good at what he does I suppose." Ruler offered. "And he is that way not because of what he experienced in life, he was born that way."
She grimaced, "A monster." Saber concluded.
"He could be." Ruler corrected, "Perhaps not the strongest or most terrifying, but the greatest who would make Caster pale in comparison because every tragedy wrought by his hand would just for his own happiness and pleasure."
She gritted her teeth, "And you let that kind of monster to live?"
"He could be one… but I believe he made a choice to defy his nature, he is not a mindless beast driven by base instinct. He is a human, he has free will and sense of self to defy even his nature…" Ruler elaborated, swirling the brown liquid in his cup absentmindedly.
Saber inhaled softly, "I still don't get what brought up last night argument… he came just to ask about Kiritsugu's wish and proceed to tear it down in cruelest way possible in words after he got the answer he seek. Calling Kiritsugu was being a weakling and a delusional fool… and now he intend to re-enter the war with renewed vigor after claiming the world need saving from KIritsugu's ideal. Then there's Lancer that he-"
Saber told him that for no reason whatsoever Kirei cut Lancer's self image to pieces, calling the knight selfish for wishing Kayneth to live and suffer just so the knight of Fianna gain his own satisfaction as a loyal knight he couldn't fulfill when he was alive.
Alright, while Ruler plotted for Kirei to see Kiritsugu it was more for the latter's good so he could stop imaginary terror he felt. It seemed to backfire for Kiritsugu but for Kirei… it seemed he derived pleasure from misery still but he also somewhat tamer, cruel and also kind in the most twisted way about it. Ruler himself didn't get his own conclusion of Kirei's newfound purpose in life.
"So, what are you going to do about Kiritsugu?" Saber demanded, crossing her arms in annoyed gesture. "From what I see my Master certainly didn't feel better after he met Kotomine Kirei." More like going through hell and back.
Ruler sighed, "I never said he will feel better, but at least that excessive paranoia over Kirei would calm down somewhat. You know, and I know… Kiritsugu fret too much about Kirei."
To the point he broke down just with the 'thought' that Kirei was hunting him and 'imagining' Kirei was baiting him to attack Kayneth's hotel suite and that was why Kirei was in Maiya's standby point. That was after that absurd assumption, he decided extreme measure was needed. Kirei only thought about self-searching when Kiritsugu was concerned, and his presence at that empty building was because Assassin was spying on their group. All this time, Kirei had zero intention to kill anyone if he could help it and even less to win this war.
Ironically enough while Kiritsugu's assumption he was the most dangerous Master was correct, Kirei was also the most harmless.
"Does the man from last night looks like a monster Kiritsugu should lose his head over?"
Saber stopped at that question, while he was indeed a dangerous man with cruel tongue... Kotomine Kirei in Saber's own opinion didn't appear to be someone who Kiritsugu should fear to the point he wanted to run away. "I am sure he is still a dangerous Master, but he is not an opponent we should avoid at all cost at least."
"Right." Ruler agreed, "Beside… his scathing critiques are not all correct actually." He placed more cups on the table."So!"
The door to dining room open, revealing Kiritsugu with bloodshot eyes and equally tired Irisviel. "Eat a lot and get well soon! Master! Kiritsugu! Good morning!"
Kiritsugu didn't think he would hate someone as much as he does now. "You!"
"Today we have Japanese style breakfast, rice, tamagoyaki, miso and grilled salmon! We also have Western style, with egg benedict and salad." Ruler ignored Kiritsugu glaring dagger at him as he gestured towards breakfast spread on the table.
The Magus Killer was not amused, "YOU! You sent that-"
"Sent what?" Ruler quirked an eyebrow at him.
Kiritsugu stopped himself from finishing, because while he had a hunch that Ruler had a hand in Kirei's appearance last night in the end… it was just a wild guess and paranoia. "Never mind, I don't need breakfa-"
"Master, take a seat beside your husband." Ruler pulled a chair for Irisviel. "And Kiritsugu if you want breakfast in bed you should have told me."
Kiritsugu placed a hand on the table, as he tried to calm his erratic temper down. While Irisviel looked back and forth between her husband and servant before she come to a conclusion. She moved towards her servant and pulled his cheeks.
"Aww!" Ruler yelped, "Master, that hurts!"
Irisviel proceeded to pound her fist repeatedly on his chest plate, cheek puffed in annoyance. "You're being so mean to my husband since yesterday! Bad Ruler!"
"Whooaa! Master, I didn't mean to… ah- being mean to your husband." Kiritsugu looked like a deer caught by headlights that her wife was openly defending him from her own servant. "I am not bullying him, honest!" She at a glance seemed the same as always but there was something strange with his Master. Was that guilt he saw in her eyes?
"Hmph!"
Ruler sighed, a sheepish smile painted on his lips. "Maiya-san shouldn't be moving around yet so Tealiz has brought her portion to her room." Tealiz was one of homunculus maid Irisviel brought along with her.
Irisviel sat down and half-drag her husband to the chair beside hers. "Aww… I tried my best to heal her but she is not recovered fully yet?"
"Well, she is badly injured…" Ruler took his own seat beside Saber, across the pair. "I am glad you're unhurt Master…"
Irisviel hummed as she sipped her miso soup. "Hm…" her expression turned serious, "Well! I am not so sure myself but Assassin is scared of you so last night she spent most of our fight dodging and pleading me to stay still, while another assassin… beat Maiya-san. Nothing lethal but painful blows."
"Why is that?"
"They're scared of you." Irisviel answered, eyes narrowed skeptically at her servant who was buttering his toast.
Ruler blinked at that, "Hm? I don't remember doing anything to guarantee such fear." But it was a good thing if the sneakiest servant Ruler was sure not above going behind Kirei's back feared him. "Maa, that aside… would you like to know what become of Lancer after last night?" Ruler asked instead.
Kiritsugu sighed, "Since you're still talking about him I suppose he is still in this world?"
"He is, and I suggest we put him out of his misery soon." Ruler said blithely.
Saber almost choked on her toast, "Ruler!"
"Listen first what I saw last night when I checked on him."
So he began to tell how apparently Kayneth's passing didn't help Lancer to be less miserable as a servant, out of frying pan to the fire. Out of service to a pompous noble that step all over his honor and pride, now Lancer's master was a lady so madly in love with him and seemed to be more interested in keeping him around than winning the war. The lady was also more vicious than Kayneth, and not to be underestimated because she was a smart young lady with better oversight than Kayneth. In fact, in his opinion aside from her obsession Sola-ui was more suitable Master for war than Kayneth could ever be.
Irisviel's jaw was hanging open, "And you're staying late outside because…" She trailed off.
Ruler's expression was completely flat, "Master, do you have to ask?"
"Ruler." Kiritsugu warned. "We have all the right to be concerned that you're staying out too long without Iri's permission."
Gee, these husband and wife could be so oblivious… Saber didn't seem to get it either, then again she was alway completely impervious to sexual or even romantic innuendo unless it's pointed out to her. She was such an easy target for Rin, some of her joke just went over Saber's head. Well, he was also guilty about that.
"Ruler, why are you hesitating?"
It was their fault to be insensitive. So Ruler gave them the honest truth they shouldn't ask. "Well, I was staying with Lancer as he stand guard outside of Lady Sola's room. Just so the lady didn't take advantage of him with her newfound status as his master, as sad as it sounds… yes, I was protecting Lancer's chastity."
Silence was wonderfully welcomed. His Master was resolutely not meeting his eyes and toying with her food restlessly. Kiritsugu looked like Ruler had told him that he was secretly going to adopt him sometime in the future and Saber… for the first time since this war began she looked terrified.
Saber finished swallowing her food and concluded, "So- we exorcised the demon first and help Lancer?" Never imagined killing someone was equal helping them.
"If you mean put the poor guy out of his misery, yes." He didn't mind Lancer dead, but no one deserved what Sola-ui intended to do to him.
"Uhm, and if you're here… Lancer now-"
"I told him to ask his Master for civilian clothes so they could scout the city freely, and stay in public as long as possible." Ruler was shaking his head now. "And speaking of civilian clothes… Waver-kun at last give in to buy Rider an XL-pants, so no one is going to have their head taken for it."
Kiritsugu face-palmed, "What's with all these nonsense informations you collected?"
Saber's expression was dark at the reminder of what she witnessed in front of Mackenzie's house. "Good for him." She muttered curtly.
Ruler pushed himself up, "Well then, if that's-" The servant of balance stopped, head snapped up in surprise. "Ah…"
Irisviel's eyes widened as she recognized the trance on her servant's expression, "Ruler? Is there a danger?"
Her words snapped him out of his trance, "Not quite." He answered with difficulty as he wrinkled his nose. "Why now?" He wondered to himself as shaking his head. "I am sorry… but I have an invited guest who most likely come to check up on me from that side." Kiritsugu and Irisviel froze. "Stay here, don't come out until I come to get you…" He listed on with no nonsense tone, all jovialness and sarcasm gone from his voice.
"Where?" Kiritsugu breathed out.
Ruler sighed, "He is already downstair."
Irisviel shook her head from side to side, "I can't feel anything… nothing at all! Even when assassin come I still feel them even though I can't pinpoint them so how?"
Her servant was already by the door as he said, "It's in Mist's nature, they come from nothing to come and become nothing…"
CLICK
Einzbern's Hall
Shirou felt nervous because the first time around he had Tsuna with him to confront this entity. It was not fear he felt as much as hesitating to deal with unpredictable nature of this uninvited guest of his. "My apologies to make you waiting."
A scoff followed by a chuckle in response of his greeting. "Tsunayoshi would have noticed me the moment I stepped inside the edge of pathetic bounded field of this castle, maa… because of your nature even your blood trait is heavily compromised."
Shirou inhaled deeply, "Why are you here? Divine Ancestor…"
"Just call me uncle Kawahira."
"Please don't even joke about it, Divine Ancestor." Shirou returned in deadpan. "And please answer my question."
Kawahira shrugged, "Maa… Vongola, you guys never take your time to get me to spill. Unlike Mare… or Arcobaleno."
"That's unfair assessment considering our sense of time, unlike you we don't have eternity."
"Fuu… fine." The man made a show of shrugging as if he gave in to Shirou's demand with extreme unwillingness. "You can already guess I am checking up on you, and also to remind you that while there are things you can change.. The turning point of history can't be altered. It's set in stone, so if you have thought to entertain foolish idea such as changing them- I remind you that."
He gritted out, "I am here as a Sky guardian, the one who protect Vertical-space and time axis. I am not here as a hero to save people." Shirou finished himself before Kawahira could. "I am aware of that with every fiber of my being, and I will endeavor to finish my mission without complication as asked of me."
Kawahira crossed his arms, "I have every right to be worried, with your adoptive father as the key character of this history's turning point."
He didn't hesitate as he responded, "I owe no loyalty to this Kiritsugu." Shirou told him in even tone, "The same goes to the rest of my adoptive family." Irisviel and Ilyasviel.
"Then there's… the dragon you love."
Shirou tensed, "She has nothing to do with this… her fate is connected to next war, then condition of her role in this war is simple." She just had to fail, how that happen didn't matter much.
Kawahira's dark eyes narrowed at him, "I have every right to be concerned… especially with how to you Vongola, love in this nature is usually transient."
Because of their fate in afterlife was to be bound to the throne of Sky. Vongola valued love for family -their guardians- above all and viewed romantic love for their spouse lukewarmly in comparison. It was not something they choose for themselves, it was just in their nature to be unable to love strongly in that sense. All Vongola boss in throne of sky most likely have faint recollection of their spouse, especially with how askew the sense of time in their throne that was outside boundary of space and time.
"Leave it." Shirou hissed.
Which was why Shirou once again became an outlier, while he had only entered the Throne of Sky recently… he was under Alaya's employment for so long his feeling towards Saber should be nothing more than faint memory. And yet he clung to her memory so fiercely.
Kawahira was wary that a sky, tainted or not to be so attached to someone who wasn't his guardians. Even more so that his guardians were replaced by mere swords.
"Then again, perhaps it's because she is a dragon in human form. The nature of your relationship with her doesn't follow the usual norm in the first place." Kawahira adjusted his glasses. "How troubling… that child leave such a loose end."
Shirou gritted his teeth, "Child… you mean Merlin."
Kawahira's expression changed, "Oh, you found out… that child is a failure in the first place."
A failure, he said?
Back with Saber…
Ruler had been gone for too long so Saber volunteered to check up on him, Irisviel wanted to come too but Kiritsugu forbid her. Saber herself was nervous, she didn't feel anything inside the room but once she stepped out to corridor she could feel it. Cold aura that clung to every corner of the room, with a tint of chill that reminded Saber strangely of Merlin.
Or rather it felt like her old mentor but not quite, there was no kindness or warmth in this presence at all. It scared her.
?
She was scared? She had never felt this way when enemy wasn't even on sight yet. Enemy? Did she already determine this entity as an enemy already? Saber felt unsettled by her chaotic emotion but steeled herself to move forward. Then she heard Ruler raising his voice as she reached the front hallway, and soon he saw two figures with white hair. Ruler and- who was that?
"You are being unreasonable!"
Her breath hitched when she saw the man Ruler was arguing with, that pale complexion, dark eyes and white hair with eerie sheen under the light could be no other than...
"Our contract is absolute, you don't have to-" Ruler froze, and spun to face her. "Saber?"
She made her way down, her eyes widened in shock as she looked at Ruler's guest closely. The King of knight uttered a name of her mentor. "Merlin?"
The face was splitting resemblance but then the man made a cold expression Saber would never imagine Merlin was capable of. "I'd rather not be mistaken with that failure of a child."
Did he just call Merlin, a failure? "You… are Merlin's father." She said, looking at the mirror image in shock.
The entity crossed his arms, "And you're his… so called Masterpiece, an heir bearing the "essence of a dragon" for Kingdom that destined to fall."
"Kawahira!" Ruler said in warning.
"It's the truth…" Kawahira inclined his head towards Ruler, eyes as dark as onyx narrowed. "That child, Merlin knows… what would become of that country. Yet he meddled with fate, even going as far as asking for favor from other ancestors… especially Sephira. And my colleague indulge that fool of a child to make two swords and a scabbard. Going as far as imbuing her space-time miracle in them..."
Her mind went blank at what Merlin's father said, her heart throbbed against her ribcage and her mouth felt dry.
"In the end it's all a waste of effort… aside from putting an absolute end to Age of Mystery." Kawahira shrugged, shaking his head exasperatedly. "Maa… I suppose other failures aside, eliminating that pest of white dragon Vortigern is not so bad."
Saber gritted her teeth and interrupted Ruler who was about to retort. "What do you mean failure? My kingdom is not a failure!"
His smiled was bland of emotion, as it didn't reach his dark eyes. "I am sorry if I offend you." He didn't sound apologetic at all as he said this. "Merlin seemed to think somehow after his masterpiece is done with Vortigern we view as a threat to the fated change of era... He could have given you a kinder fate…" Kawahira exhaled as he adjusted his glasses. "Breaking several rules in the process and there's no way I can overlook his folly any longer."
Suddenly Merlin's frivolous excuse that a woman had been trying to murder him sounded like the worst lie her mentor ever gave to her. Why did she even believe him in the first place?! "What did you do to Merlin?!"
"Saber!" Ruler stepped in front of her. "Don't ask anymore! Go back to our Masters!"
She snapped, the nerve of her comrade to tell her to go away after this! "I have every right to know what become of Merlin! He is my mentor! A second father to me! If this man is responsible for him missing from my court he is as good as the one destroying my kingdom!"
Kawahira's lips quirked up to a cold smile, "But you're the one who put the final nail on his fate… Arthuria Pendragon."
Ruler froze before materializing his twin falchion. "That's ENOUGH! Shut your mouth Divine Ancestor, or I will-"
Saber stepped forward, her eyes wide in confusion and horror. "What do you mean I am the one who sealed his fate?" She was in mainland when Merlin vanished, how could she play a hand in his fate?
"You see- URK!"
Sound of flesh being cut and blood dripping on marble floor snapped Saber back to reality, where Ruler had his back on her and his falchion dyed red with blood. On the floor, the body was torn from the limbs, head separated and stomach was slashed in two.
"I warned you…" Ruler hissed. "Divine ancestor or not, I can't stomach your idea of fun…"
She was no stranger to gore but she didn't know Ruler was capable to be so vicious. He killed… Before she finished her thought, the body parts released tendril of indigo mist and reached out to each other. The severed head spoke. "My-my… so violent, I have to say butchered is a new experience to me…"
Ruler scowled as the mist mended Kawahira's body, "Get out before I severed your illusionary body even more…" He threatened, "I know it's indestructible, but you're also defenseless and you still can feel the pain."
Kawahira snorted, the head was held by his hastily mended hands. "Pain doesn't mean anything to me…" He informed them as he put his head back on.
"I don't care, just get out of our sight!"
He shrugged and locked eyes for the last time with Saber who went rigid at the attention. "I can see my presence is no longer wanted, but as a father I will do that fool a favor for the first and last time… that child was desperate for this message to reach you…" His voice changed and she recognized it as Merlin's.
"Arthuria… that path has no salvation, stop."
"He wants me to… stop?" But she had to save her country, wasn't that what Merlin would have wanted?
Kawahira vanished from their view, leaving a trail of indigo mist. His last words echoed through Ruler's mind. "Don't you dare to fail… tainted sky of Vongola…"
Meanwhile…
Rider held out the 'loot' of the day which his Master took with a rather unsatisfied expression. Waver inspected the contents of water Rider gathered the whole night, which consist of sealed twenty-four test tubes. All of them had handwritten alphabetical labels, accordingly to map Waver had marked for Rider. If there was anything delicate he could trust his servant with, it was reading and navigate with modern map right. So far that was the only useful thing Waver could get from his servant's glorious title, if he was good at conquering, he was also good at reading map.
Other Masters would laugh if they knew this was what amount to Rider's title he could exploit.
His servant of course had different concern, "Finally, I can wear trousers. I had wanted to take a stroll down some lightened up areas―But for me, the King of Conquerors, why did you want me to go to a country-like riverside to draw water?"
"That's much more meaningful than munching senbei and watching the television, that's why… Beside, did you forget Ruler asked us to look for Caster's lair? That's what I am trying to do this." Waver pulled his set of experiment tools, one of the few valuable items he brought from his school dormitory in London. He then prepared the operation.
"What is this? So you plan to start off with some make-believe alchemy?"
"It's the real thing, not make-believe. Idiot." He was a budding alchemist, third rate or not. Then he shot back a retort at his servant. "Just to be sure, but you're sure that you did not make any mistake with the places drawn on the map?"
"Are you looking down on me, boy? What could possibly go wrong with something of such standard?"
He rolled his eyes. " Right..." Then he looked down at reagents he was preparing. "What am I doing?" He wondered to himself. He had joined the Holy Grail war and he was repeating basic exercise of alchemy from school, why is he repeating such plain and boring work again?
Then again as amateur he had to try the basic he mastered rather than using high level method that could blow up on his face. So he began dropping reagent on test tube with dropper. "...Uwahh." Exceeding his expectation, the reaction was instantaneous. The water which was supposed to be colorless and transparent, suddenly turned into rust red color.
"What on earth is this?"Rider who was watching over his shoulder asked.
"Traces of the remains of Thaumaturgy… indicating there's Magecraft performed in the area." Waver explained patiently, "Now, I am looking for murkiest reaction… in which magical residue is the way we could grasp the location." Started from label A, which located on the mouth of river.
"...Boy, since the start, did you realize that the water of that river is mixed with such a thing?"
"It's just logic… considering the landscape of this city has such a big river flowing to the heart. It is natural to start investigating from the water." He purposely left out that he had gotten lucky to Rider, because this method would only work if the workshop was near body of water.
If other contestant knew what he was doing now- making progress by carrying out underground investigations like a police forensic- he would get mocked for sure. Though he had already grasped the positive results in his hands, what was left in Waver's heart was the bad aftertaste of humiliation.
The reaction of Label P made him gasped, it was already as black as ink. If it becomes any murkier than this, such a simple method like this could no longer be used for the analysis. With the expectation of what would happen, he dropped the reagent into test tube Q.
"..."
The water remained transparent. No matter how vigorously he shook it, there was no response.
Waver opened up the map again, and pointed at the P and Q label. "Rider, here, and here, what's in between them? Draining trench? Mouth of an irrigation channel?"
"Oh? There was something remarkably big there..."
BINGO! He couldn't believe his luck! "That's it! If we track back this thing, Caster's workshop is probably there."
Rider had solemn look as he gave his Master contemplating look. "Oi, boy. Could it be that you are some great excellent magus?"
Was that a joke? Waver turned his nose and huffed, "This is not something great magi would do. The method is the worst among the worst. YOU, you're making fun of me huh."
"What are you talking about? If you achieve good results using a poor method, isn't that a much greater achievement than starting from better methods? You should be proud of yourself! As a Servant, I am proud as well!" Rider let out a roaring laugh as he gave a good- natured slap on Waver's back.
Waver fell down, his servant still didn't know how to control his strength.
"All right! After grasping the location, it is now my turn! Hey boy, do you plan to strike at once?"
"Hey wait! The enemy is Caster. Attacking immediately may be a little stupid! Also, remember! We have to contact Ruler!"
Rider frowned at that, and nodding. "Ah yes… servant of sorcery, a tricky opponent. I suppose we need Ruler, that guy certainly have way to deal with your kin."
"Invading a Magus' workshop is akin to suicide if done without preparation." Waver warned his servant. "This is different from attacking a city in war."
"Of course! That's why I will contact that Ruler guy to be my advisor in this conquest! We have to succeed slaying that monster!"
Waver frowned, "Why are you so fired up today?"
"My Master has finally shown some achievement which is likely to get us some results. If that's the case, bringing back the head of the enemy and repay my master, that is my spirit as a Servant."
"..." Did Rider just compliment him?
"So, let's make a call and see what the guy said?" Rider held up his phone.
"..." The former soldiers under the King of Conquerors, were they dragged about in this way until the extreme east end of Asia as well? Thinking that, Waver could not suppress his sympathy towards the ancient warriors.
Back in EInzbern Castle
CLANK!
Kiritsugu and Irisviel were watching from balcony, looking down below at unbelievable sight of their servants crossing sword. Saber with her Excalibur and Ruler with his twin yin-yang blade. Saber escaped their watch to check on Ruler and the next thing they knew, they felt slight tug on their link by their servant. A sign they were fighting, but the Masters didn't expect they were fighting each other.
"Iri, get inside… If they want to act stupid and waste their mana I could be careless."
"But."
"Let them sort this out." Kiritsugu cut her protest off as he gently led his wife back inside. "They're just sparing and leave it at that."
Saber and Ruler didn't take mana from their Master at all for this, using their own reserve which was why Kiritsugu didn't stop them yet. Beside, he was sure they won't kill each other and as petty as it sounds he didn't mind Saber smacking Ruler around a little for every insanity he inflicted to Kiritsugu since his summoning.
Oblivious that for once her Master approving her action Saber went on fighting Ruler. "Why did you stop me?!" Saber shouted at him, her sword held by crossed Kanshou and Byakuya.
Ruler deftly pushed back, countering all the incoming blows "Asking for truth from Divine Ancestor of Mist is foolishness of highest order! He is the oldest liar in history!"
"Even if he gives me lies, I still want to hear it!" At least there should be semblance of truth in it. He passed on Merlin's message, one that sounded so Merlin, she couldn't doubt it!
Ruler growled, "That's the dumbest-" Uh-oh
Saber's grip on her sword was trembling, "Dumb am I?" How dare he…
Ruler went flying as Hammer of the Wind King set him aloft. Saber was in the air right behind him, and in instance she had him pinned down. "I don't want you to protect me, I don't! NEED! IT!" She gritted out, her sword was stabbed right beside his head as she pinned him with one knee over his stomach.
Ruler let out a melancholic sigh, then much to Saber's shock his hand rose to touch her cheek in feather like brush. "You are stubborn and a sore loser… I should have known." He was smiling sadly at her, "I am so sorry Saber…" There's no trace of tears in his eyes, but to her, he looked like he was about to cry and she was the one who made him.
"I…" What did she want from him again?
"Four and half centuries…"
"Huh?"
He sat up slowly and suddenly she found her straddling him by his waist, but the compromising situation didn't cross her mind as he spoke again. So gentle that if she was not so close she won't be able to hear him. "That's how long my family exist… in your era the one in charge are all Divine Ancestors, their way of working, in guiding the world is radically different from ours."
She bit her lower lip in frustration, "Are you telling me, you don't know?"
"...Not for sure, but Kawahira's words gives me some hint of what was this is about." He answered honestly, "And if I delve to Akashic record, I would know…"
She didn't know how but her hands found their way to his red shroud, gripping it tightly. "Why can't you just tell me…?
He was quiet for a moment before a sigh escaped his parted lips and he leaned closer that their nose almost touched. "I can't tell you now… the truth would just hinder you. Don't you have a war to win, Saber?"
Saber frowned at him, "Then… you will tell me when I won?"
"No, I will tell you when the war is over." Ruler told her in sincerest tone he could muster, "I swear."
What was that suppose to mean? Did he mean she was not going to win?! The nerve of him!
RING! RING! RING!
Ruler checked his phone and picked up. "Hello, Rider? Yes, it's me."
RIDER?! Saber thought in shock, unmoving from her spot in his lap and listening in. "Ruler, rejoice… my most excellent Master has made a breakthrough in our quest to vanquish Caster! Ha ha ha!"
Absentmindedly Saber leaned in closer to the phone pressed to Ruler's ear, so her head was half-lying on his shoulder. "This early in the morning and you're already singing praise for Waver-kun, how rare. So, what did your Master find?"
They could almost hear his grin from another end, "We find the entrance to Caster's workshop."
"That's great! How did he find it?"
Saber listened Rider explaining Waver's alchemist experiment, which require Rider spending hours collecting river water. The king of conquerors also complained about what a pain that chore was, but immensely proud his Master contributed to this war. According to Rider, there was a big opening for irrigation channel in location they suspected to be Caster's lair.
Ruler frowned, "And you didn't sense anything?"
"My magic resistance is crappy, and I barely decent at sensing spiritual presence." Rider admitted sheepishly, "But you're right… I was standing at the mouth of his lair and with how foul his Magecraft is I didn't even get any chill. So there must be a barrier or sort…"
"Did you keep watch on that irrigation channel?" Saber asked, unable to hold back.
"No… my Master just finished his detective alchemy thingie so I-" Rider stopped, "Ruler, is that Saber? Why did Saber sound so close?"
Saber got impatient, and Ruler groaned as he pressed the speaker button. "That's not important! When do you plan to attack his workshop?"
"We're waiting for our referee guy… I have plenty of experience in invading country and fort, not workshop. My Master said it would be foolishness of highest degree to storm a Magus' workshop without a proper planning."
Ruler agreed, "Indeed… Caster is inept but his territory creation class skill shouldn't be underestimated." Then he decided. "Caster should be recovering from the beating we gave him last night, so we should take advantage of his recovery period… I will consult to our Masters first. As if possible I'd rather to have a Master to handle Caster's."
"I see… I'd like to see my Master to try but he has done enough for now." Rider hummed to himself, "By the way, good job Ruler!"
"Huh?" Saber and Ruler chorused.
Rider cleared his throat, "You see… it's the mark of a great warrior in my era, for we all lived a life of battle. Battling while drinking and eating, battling even while sleeping, embracing women while battling!"
"Sound like a foolish way to get killed." Ruler deadpanned.
"I agree… mind shouldn't be divided when one is in battle." Saber concurred, "And what's with the last vulgar part? I would have chop the head of knight who dare-"
"Aren't you and Ruler in the middle of something, King of Knights?"
Silence…
It was then they remembered their compromising position and froze. However before their brain could reboot Irisviel and Kiritsugu who heard the sound of battle had ceased, decided to check on their servants.
"Ruler! Saber! Have you two make up yet- oh my!"
He had been orphaned when he went through puberty and the experienced galore of teenage hormone. So he had never imagined he would ever get caught in the act by his parents, the irony was exquisite because they actually didn't do anything and the parents didn't even know his not-adopted yet status. Kiritsugu looked like he wanted to shoot them, because their servants making out was not what he wanted to deal with for the rest of the war. As for Irisviel… she was looking at them as if they were her favourite soap opera.
Saber jumped off of his lap, smacking him across his face in the process. "We didn't do anything! I swear on my honor as a knight! I don't know how… we- we- got to… that posi-tion!"
That's hurt, Ruler thought with a huff. "Are you still there, Ruler? Did the lady ditch you?"
"How do you know?" Ruler retorted back asarcastically.
Einzbern's meeting room
Of all thing to ask, Kiritsugu asked why Rider could use a cellphone. "It seems aside from mail order he learned how to type on cellphone… and making a call would be a piece of cake." Which was a feat considering the size of Iskandar's fingers.
"Why did he has your number?!" How bizarre these servants were getting comfortable with technology aside. "No, how did he get a cellphone in the first place?!
Ruler wondered if he pushed Kiritsugu too much, "I mail order one for him."
"WHAT?!'
"I also gave a one for Lancer… it's amazing how servant from mythological age is more apt in technology than their Master." Sola-ui was especially confused, since she was still using telephone booth.
"Where did you get money to buy them those phones in the first place?!"
Ruler rolled his eyes, "A mercenary asking a Vongola where he got his money."
Suddenly it clicked on Kiritsugu more or less how his wife's servant got his money, a Vongola would know underground market like the back of their hand. A stupid question indeed.
"Anyway, Rider says his Master found something… Caster seems to be using Fuyuki's underground sewer as his workshop. He found trace of magic residue in the water. So Rider ask me to accompany them to check it out later."
Irisviel gasped, "Magical residue in water… Waver-kun found Caster's base using such a basic method?!"
He snorted, "He is a Magus in training, of course he can't use fancy method yet… but I don't see other Master including us getting any progress in that front."
The homunculus Master giggled softly, "Oh my… we have been beaten by a child, how embarrassing. Using alchemy no less, as daughter of Einzbern family I am humbled."
Kiritsugu was silent, contemplating what this development meant for this war and what he should do to respond to it. Ruler after a moment of silence spoke up. "Master… if you allow me to make a suggestion?" Irisviel nodded. "I'd like to join Rider to assault Caster's lair, I will also ask Lancer to join me. Unwise perhaps, since this mean we have to share reward from Mediator, but at this point giving a decisive blow to Caster is more important."
"Does this have something to do with your near desperation to end him quickly last night?" Kiritsugu asked.
Ruler sighed, as if he would admit the real reason why. "From my assessment of Caster's ability. Magic-wise, he's an Inept Magus at best. He relies on the bottomless mana and automatic monster-summoning of his spellbook… and as he showed last night, we can't win in contest of prana. Brute force with our superior number and ability is pointless… if we're too focused on after we defeat him, we won't get anywhere."
"I see…" Kiritsugu cupped his chin, Ruler was right that Caster was a threat too big to be second fiddle.
Saber protested, "Wait! Why am I not included?" She didn't miss that Ruler had excluded her.
Ruler sighed, "Saber… we're going to fight in a sewer, which mean any of your large scale attack could accidentally collapse the structure. It's a crude strategy, but we're most likely will just hitch a ride on Rider's chariot to get to the lair and run over his summons. Lancer would be there to deal with his Noble Phantasm." Also to get Lancer away from his new enthusiastic Master. "Beside, you will just rile Caster up too much."
"Rile him up? Me?" She hissed indignantly.
"It also works the other way around." Ruler pointed out in even tone. "Look, using you as bait to reel him in ended terribly last night. As strange as this sound, we want to confront him when he was as sane as he could be…" Which meant less unpredictable. "So we can't have you on his sight. I also need you to protect my Master when I am not around."
Saber turned to apologetic looking Irisviel and melted. "I understand."
Kiritsugu sighed, "Do as you please, then." After they were done with Caster, Kiritsugu would confront this unpredictable servant of Iri himself. "As for Iri, it would be safer if you and Saber patrolled the city in daylight… I am going to look for location of new base to prepare second half of war."
In the reverse side of the world…
Kawahira didn't have much regret in the course of his immortal life, aside perhaps that he should convince his foolish colleagues harder to not abandon their divinity just so he won't alone dealing with all the crap their human descendants created in their pathetically short life. Especially Giotto, an even bigger fool than his human loving older sister, Sephira. Which was why Kawahira was more than happy to let Sephira foist the 'Vongola ring' to his incarnation, just so he had a fair share of pain. Then again… with Tsunayoshi.
He wondered why Giotto bothered to throw his divinity at all if the idiot was going to reincarnate again and again. Beside if Tsuna's slow growth that almost unnoticeable now was any indication…
"Good morning, well… there's no night and day here so does it matter?" Chirped the eternal prisoner who didn't act like he was being imprisoned.
This one was his bigger regret, truly a grave error in the past made one cringe. His sense of time was askew because of he was immortal. A being out of boundary of space and time but he was still feeling it. From the point of current him, this stupid boy was a dark past he wants to forget ever happened. The boy's ignorant immaturity that sucked in another ancestors, especially gullible Sephira to help him was enough to cause Kawahira stomach pain.
"Ah! It's Father… did you come to visit me again?" Merlin, the child he foolishly conceived beamed at him. He was peering down the lone window of his tower at the boy. "How strange, when I lived in mortal world you left as soon as I can walk on my own two feet… and now you're my only visitor. Aside from this cute familiar of mine."
"Kyuuu!" Cath Palug cracked one eye open from his nap and promptly ignore his master again.
"By the way… what's the name you use in this century? I lost track already… was it Yukihira? Or Uncle long legs? Or stripped face?"
Kawahira felt a growing irritation from the pit of his stomach, "It's Kawahira and Checkerface." Why did he even bother telling this idiot? "And boy… what did I tell you about using your illusion to decorate your prison?! It's a prison for a reason, and filling it with flower made it a nauseating sight."
"Eeh… it's too gloomy here." Merlin, whose face was exact copy of Kawahira aside from his brighter shade of eyes and much longer hair said. "And also… I am over one and half millennium already, I think I pass the phase of a boy by now. Then again to you who live since genesis of the world, I am perhaps just a boy, a baby even."
"..."
Merlin smiled benignly, "Thank you for passing the message to Arthuria, father…"
Kawahira harrumphed, "Of everything you could beg from me… it's to pass your dragon child a useless advice she won't follow."
"What else I could beg?" Merlin grinned.
"Releasing you from this prison for one."
The Magus of flower shook his head, "No… I don't deserve to be free, not as long as Arthuria is still bound in her prison. This is a fitting punishment for a foolish man, who playfully meddled with the fate of a single girl."
It was so late to acknowledge Arthuria as a girl instead of ideal king he groomed her to be.
"By the way, it's so funny to see them so surprised that I am your son! They're also mean, saying I am happier if I didn't know you."
"..."
"And you're not so scary!"
Kawahira sighed, "You're indeed the biggest regret in my immortal life… I wish you have never been born." There was no malice in how he said this, and it pained Merlin even more because his father said it as a matter of fact. Then again he already know unlike Sephira with her warm personality, his father was like ice in comparison. "And yet you're a necessary existence to bring the end of Age of Mystery."
Merlin smiled wanly at disappearing figure that had dissolved to mist. Every time Merlin heard those words from his father he couldn't help but feel disgusted of himself. He knew better than anyone how it felt to be born not out of love, but as necessity because fate dictated he had to exist. Yet, he went and subject Arthuria to the same fate. Worse… he misunderstood Arthuria, and set the girl on the path of ruin.
He was indeed the biggest fool as his father said.
AN: There's MORE reveal in conversation between Saber, Ruler and Kawahira BUT I decide to cut them off because too much emotional baggage! I am already accused filling this fic with characters that would be therapist's wet dream. It's not my fault, It's Gen Urobuchi's!