[First Day: Skirmish]
[Day 1, Night] [Tohsaka Manor, Fuyuki]
She feels restless, as if there's something wrong that should have happened. Pacing her Workshop, she pointedly ignores her Servant's curious gaze. Stupid Avenger.
"Ugh. Let's take stock of the situation, Avenger. What did you see from that roof, playing Archer?"
The man sighs lightly. "Nothing that you would not know, my Master. I merely was familiarising myself with the area's geography."
"So nothing, then."
"Well, there are two confirmed masters other than yourself, right? I could pick up the presence of two Servant's, or rather two areas with large concentration of mana."
"Oh?" Frankly, it wasn't that surprising. The War did begin today, officially. "Well, yes. Myself, Luvia- the Matou too, but they probably hired a representative- Avenger?"
"...coul- protect..."
"Avenger? Is there-"
"...Mmm? I-it's nothing." His fists unclench and he exhales; sound of steel.
"Is it… part of this 'Avenge' thing?"
"Maybe. It's not important."
"Avenger-"
"Really. It's… nothing you would see as important."
She opens her mouth to interject again, but… those eyes reminded of jagged shards of glass and metal. If she pressed…
No. It wasn't worth it, especially for a thing like this. Better to keep those in case.
She nods reluctantly, watches the man relax slightly, tension fading. "Alright. Keep watch, Avenger. Wake me up if anything unusual happens."
"Yes, Master. Good night."
Up till now, he was still avoiding answering her question. Why couldn't Avenger tell her what he was looking for? And he hadn't answered her earlier question, either… She didn't know why that annoyed her, and that annoyed her.
And earlier… when she could feel the gears grinding within him…
What had she Summoned?
[?, Fuyuki]
"Who.. brings me here?"
It's... Not really what he hoped for-
"You. Magus. What have you dragged me into?"
He'll settle, though. There's a... mystery, about this one.
"By my Command Seal-"
"-at are you doing?"
"-you shall not be able to harbor malicious intent towards me, your Master."
"Wha- G-guh..."
Yes, it's all going according to plan.
[?, Fuyuki]
"Rider."
"Yes, mistress?"
"Feed."
"At your command. Ufufu..."
{Day 2, Morning}
[Fuyuki Church, Fuyuki]
"Answer me; are you my Master?"
"That I am. You are?"
"My name matters not. I am the Lancer of this War, and I shall pierce through all in His way."
"... Great. Somehow I reckon even the Hound would have made better conversation..."
{Night}
[Homurahara Academy, Fuyuki]
"Tohsaka."
The first rule of the Association: no innocents. No exposure of magecraft.
"Edelfelt."
The first unofficial rule of the Tohsaka: Be elegant. Rin Tohsaka's pride as a Magus demanded so, and she would never back down from a challenge. She had counted on that.
It was given, then, that they would meet here at night. After the sun had set, after the people had left, and Fuyuki became a unwitting battleground. Before Tohsaka could retrieve any trump cards she might have left in her manor, away from any fortifications she could have made. This fight was on her grounds, and she knew Rin knew it. Her Magic Circuit grows warm.
"Where is your Servant, Tohsaka? I would hate to kill an unarmed opponent, even if she is leagues below me."
"Shut up."
"What? No Saber, Tohsaka? After all that boasting?"
She smirks and Rin grits her teeth, flexing her hand irritably.
"Master? Shall I?" Disembodied, disconcerting metal, unlike anything she's ever heard, and she controls her flinch.
"Yes, do so. Stay on guard."
"Of course."
As expected, her Servant materialises at her side as she looks on disinterestedly. Probably a weak Servant, just like his Master. Surely the Tohsaka couldn't afford a catalyst- she had done some research- with their finances, so this Servant would be linked by compatability, which would make this even easier.
But just to be safe, she should probably Analyse him-
[Avenger Class Servant. Str- Bla-limited limited limite- D- Cannot can't no-]
"A-ah-"
Almost immediately she moves to capitalise on the opportunity, on the stricken Mage as she clutches her head; a step-
"Master!"
A brilliant light forms and she winces, eyes closing instinctively-
A knight, clad in dull armor. A broadsword with a one handed grip by his side and a kite shaped shield fixed to his arm.
- She cannot pass, not without facing him; he declares this silently with his stance.
Avenger takes one look at him and snorts, and she coughs, irritated.
That there, is a Saber, as sure as its… unassuming sword.
"The Saber class... It chose you, Luvia?" She can't believe-
"Rin!"
Her breath is forced out of her as something- Avenger- tackles her just as a shadow flits and- The ringing of steel on steel; flash of light and gleaming blades.
The sound hurts her ears, a cacophony in the night.
"What-"
"Not Lancer- Assassin...?"
Avenger seems just as shocked as she.
Ahead's an odd sight, she thinks; a Assassin clashing with a Saber head on-
"He's strong..."
The thought barely leaves her mind before the next clash and a grunt of surprise from the Knight.
"Ggh-?"
She's lost track of the number of times their blades have clashed. Her eyes can't keep up.
"Impressive, boy-knight. Perhaps this will be worth it after all, wahaha!"
The Assassin spins, unnatural grace and speed, and Saber barely moves to parry-
"Nngh!"
Where in Akasha's name did that other blade come from?
Another blade had managed to- managed to scratch Saber's armour.
"Tch-"
"He-He... Managed to hurt Saber?" Luvia's gotten up without her noticing- Sloppy of hers- "An Assassin... This strong? What-"
"That is not... strength."
Dry, rasping voice. She shudders even as she glances at her Servant. "Ah?"
"Nothing... Compared to her. Compared to… that Saber."
"What-" She's got a feeling that her Servant isn't-
Another ring, harsh and resounding, and Saber skids backwards, the Assassin... Laughing?
"Oy, boy, how did you even make it into that class of yours anyway? What kind of Saber are you, to lose to the likes of me?"
"You..." The Knight tightens his grip on his broadsword. But all he can do is raise his shield to prepare himself for another attack from Assassin.
"This guy is way too fast, almost as fast as a member of the Lancer class…"
Then, he speaks, voice slicing through the battle.
"You aren't strong."
She can barely see the semblance of a bow condense into his hands before a silver flash rends the air, as quick as a breath-!
"Hmm? What's this, an Archer...?"
Assassin carelessly bats the projectile away, nimbly dodging the next, moving to rush the Saber-
Avenger simply raises his hand in the air.
"I see through the myth." Avenger intones.
The Assassin's head whips towards him.
"I pierce through the lies." She- She couldn't help but wonder what in the name of Gaia her servant was doing; did her Servant have a death wish, simply rushing towards a servant of that caliber- No way that was just an Assassin-
"Aven-"
"Mirror of Truth, Shannara."
Her voice fails as a sword forms in Avenger's hand; she can tell, no, she knows it used to shimmer with radiance, before it was cracked and chipped and-
Avenger lunges forward, closing the distance, and Assassin stumbles as it impacts his blade; grating, shriek of steel. She chances a glance at Luvia, who seems just as confused as her-
A white light emanates from Avenger's hands, bright and pure. Assassin just… stares at the blade, transfixed, but then he leaps backwards with ridiculous agility-
"Geez. What the hell are you, boy?"
A broken second and Avenger rushes towards the Servant, blade slicing the air and-
"-There."
He… drew blood. From the Servant that almost beat down Saber.
"All right, all right."
The Servant's grace even when retreating is… incredible.
"That's enough from me from one night. The Knight, I have pegged down, but you? You're an odd one. Alas, till we meet again, ladies and gentlemen."
It's her first proper look at the Servant; middle aged, scarred, cocky smirk on his face. He hadn't even been wearing a shroud, he just... Moved too fast before this. There was a small cut on his cheek, the recent addition from Avenger's blade.
She shivers even as the Assassin fades back into Spirit Form.
"Assassin..."
"My apologies, Master. I wasn't skilled enough." Saber, she remembers, is still there. Odd, that he was so inconsequential...
"It's... fine. That Assassin was... unusual."
The sword in Avenger's hand breaks down into... dust. "He was a legend. Only a legend."
"Luvia."
"W-Mmm?"
"Ceasefire. For tonight."
"Eh? Why?"
"It doesn't seem like your Saber can stand up to much more. If we are to fight, it should be on equal terms. Besides, I… have a bone to pick with my Servant."
She swears she heard Avenger gulp.
[?, ?]
"That was interesting, wasn't it?"
"Indeed, Master. They do not seem particularly formidable, however."
"They couldn't even detect the Assassin's Presence Concealment, they can't be a threat. It was sheer luck that won them their lives."
He nods subserviently, maintaining his facade.
"Yes, yes. It's the Assassin we'll have to watch out for from this trio. 1 day in and three Servants have been exposed- Truly, this is favor, haha!"
"That it must be, Master."
"Of course it is. Come, let's head back to work. The best, like me, cannot rest."
… He really was that much of a idiot.
That Saber… there was something about him, something odd. He would keep that in mind.
{Day 3}
[Edelfelt Base, Fuyuki]
"That Assassin was really something, if he could match you..."
"You put too much faith in me, milady. I am but a simple knight."
"One who made it to the most powerful class. I have to have faith in that, at least."
His Master sits down for the first time this morning. Probably all that pacing wearing her out.
"And we're nowhere closer to victory after last night..."
"If I may; what happened when you analysed the other Servant?"
"Oh. He... There was something wrong about him. Almost as if he was warped, distorted- all I could make out was his Class."
"That does not bode well."
"Mmm. He was... an Avenger."
That… was a first. "What is that, milady?"
She frowns, rocking her legs back and forth. "Based on the theory of the Throne of Heroes…
they're anti-Heroic Spirits. Not true heroes. Apparently, the Einzberns had almost chosen to summon one in the Third Holy Grail War. However, they decided against it in the end. They claimed that it was not suited as a servant class and had no place in the war."
"How did one get summoned here, then? And what do you mean 'no place in the war' master?"
"I… I don't know the answers to both of these questions. Perhaps a member of the Einzberns would know what dangers an Avenger represent. Whoever he is, that Avenger is a dangerous servant. We need to be in top form in order to face him. And he said something about you..."
Leaving his master alone in her thoughts, Saber shifted into his spirit form.
A deviancy… he would need to work harder to achieve his dream.
No matter.
Not a minute before she had closed her eyes- briefly, only briefly- she'd been interupted.
"What is this, some kind of familiar?" Luvia muttered.
A flame had erupted on her desk before quickly extinguishing itself. In its place was a letter, sealed by the Church's seal; the Overseer of the Holy Grail War:
[Attention all Masters, an eighth servant by the name of Avenger has been summoned into this war. As such, there shall be a total of eight servants in this Fifth Holy Grail War. This is not an anomaly, and defeat of this Servant is acceptable.]
"So, Avenger's place in this war has been accepted by the overseer…"
She rests against the chair again, placing the letter back onto the table.
Twisted. Twisted, broken Servant, let into the war, at the reins of the Tohsaka.
She'd need to be careful.
Have read the reviews, don't worry.
Maybe there's Lancer Arthuria, maybe there isn't; maybe there's this Servant and that Servant, maybe there isn't. I'm handicapping this thing by not revealing the Servants off the bat, but that's part of the fun, isn't it? Only going to include character tags for revealed characters.
Not particularly at writing action. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free.
Thanks for reading.