Interlude 23: I give up.

'BZZT! BZZT! BZZT!' I was awakened by an intense buzzing sound. This isn't a mosquito, but the alarm system that my father made in case there were any intruders. Which means…

…Someone is by my house.

No. They might already be inside. If this was only a few days ago I would be fighting them with Saber. But that's impossible now. I can't stand up or move in the slightest. I can't even speak. The only parts of my body that are still working are my eyes and my ears.

But soon those are going to be gone too. So, there's nothing I can do. I lost the one person who has fought by my side up until now. And it's all my fault. If only I thought about it a bit, I would have realized that Saber murdering someone for his own benefit was an impossibility.

I even asked if he would ever betray me, and his response was-

'Of course not! My goal is to ensure that you survive this no matter what!'

However, I didn't believe him after I saw Onee-chan die by his sword. Even though it should have been obvious that he would have only killed her if he had to in order to save someone else or the world itself, I was too blind to see the truth.

'Step. Step. Step.' I heard footsteps that are closing in on my room.

I really liked Saber. No. I'm pretty sure I was in love with him. And I still accused him of killing Onee-chan because of my stupid delusions. My selfish accusation is going to be the last thing I ever say to him. And there's nothing that's going to change that.

'Creak.' Suddenly, the door to my room was opened revealing a certain someone that I haven't seen in a while-

"Hello! It's been a while, Ayaka Sajyou!" A man spoke as he walked inside my room without my permission. Not like I could actually give it to him in this situation. The man has short white hair and wore a black priest's uniform. This was the fake priest. His name is Sancraid Phahn.

"Eh? No hello? Are you ok? Hello?! Anyone there?!" Sancraid asked as he waved his hand over and over in front of my face to see if I was still alive. But all I could do is blink at him.

"Oh good! You're alive! If you weren't alive then I was going to lose my brand spanking new Saber-class Servant! And if that were to happen…I would be quite mad." Sancraid admitted. Wait! H-He has Saber?!

"Well, to be exact, my Berserker-class Servant has captured him. He didn't even put up a fight because he had the tar beaten out of him! If ya catch my drift." Sancraid explained.

"But Saber would be useless to me without a certain someone's command spells? Do you know where I'm going with this? I'm talking about you!" Sancraid spoke as he didn't even allow me a chance to respond. Again, not like I could or would if I had the chance.

"So, I'm just going to take these from ya…" Sancraid spoke as he unbuttoned the top half of my pajamas just enough to reveal my single remaining link to Saber. No! Please! Anything but that! Just don't take this away from m-

'FLASH!' My command spell flashed bright red and before I knew it, it was now on his neck. It now belongs to him. I was too late. Not like I would have been able to defend myself from him. I'm completely and utterly powerless.

"Gee thanks! Now…I have not one, but TWO servants at my disposal! Man being a Master is the greatest high! Hahaha!" Sancraid laughed hysterically.

"You know I could do anything I want to you right now. And you can't do a thing or much less scream. Hahaha…" Sancraid laughed as he was about to touch me until-

"But I won't! Later!" Sancraid finished. Then he was about to leave my room when-

"Oh. I almost forgot. I'm a man of the cloth so I'm all about generosity. Here, drink this." Sancraid spoke as he walked back over to my bed and showed me a blue-looking vial. W-Where did he get that? Wait! Is that?!

"Open wide! And down the hatch!" Sancraid spoke as he grasped open my mouth with his right hand and with his left, he poured the blue liquid down my throat. I had no choice but to swallow it.

But there was a good chance this was the cure. I mean, I was already poisoned. So, if it wasn't then this would be pointless, right? I could feel the blue liquid move down into my stomach and the next thing I knew I could-

"…I…I can speak again." I muttered to myself.

"Yes, yes. You can. Your welcome." Sancraid replied. I never said thank you.

"…"

"…"

"…"

And before I knew it thirty seconds passed. What gives? Why is he still he-

"So, are you going to fight me?" Sancraid asked.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Don't 'huh' me! I'm itching for a fight! Come on! COME ON! FIGHT ME!" Sancraid demanded as he screamed in my face to the point that his saliva was on it. I would have said 'ew that's gross!' Before, but I could care less now.

"No." I replied.

"Huh?" Sancraid asked as he tilted his head in confusion.

"I give up. I'm not Saber's Master anymore. So, there's no way I'm going to be able to beat you. Just kill me and get it over with already." I replied as I wasn't even looking at him now. I'm so done with being alive that I just want to d-

"No. I'm bored. You bore me. I'm going home." Sancraid spoke as he was already walking out of my room. Huh? Seriously?

"Y-You aren't going to kill me? Why?!" I demanded.

"I have no interest in killing someone who has lost the will to fight. In fact, killing you now would be super unsatisfying. It would just leave a bad taste in my mouth. After all…" Sancraid spoke but paused for a second as he stuck only his head back into my room.

"Your eyes are black as a doll's eyes. They're lifeless. So, your boring and I'm bored. Later!" Sancraid finished as he left my house. Well, if he won't kill me then I guess I'll do it myself.

"Ah!" I gasped as my arms or legs still wouldn't listen to my commands. I-I still can't move?! Why?! Why can't I even do something as simple as slit my throat with a knife or something?!

'What's my problem?! You attempted to commit suicide over something as stupid as 'I'm depressed?!' And then you have the audacity to say, 'what's your problem?!'

I-I'm so…

'I'm happy for you. I believe that it's ok for people to have a few regrets. But when their lives end, they should have come to terms with them. Thus, having no regrets left to speak of. At least that's what I believe in.'

…Pathetic.

"…" I wordlessly gnashed my teeth against each other. Here I was begging someone else to kill me when I've just been given another chance at fixing things! But what the hell am I supposed to do?! I can't fight without Saber! Without him by my side, I'm utterly powerless!

There's nothing I can do. Nothing I can do but stare at the roof above me. I stared at the roof for what felt like an eternity until-

"Yo! It's been a while hasn't it, Ayaka?" A man with blue hair and battle armor spoke as he revealed himself to me. I-Is that-

"…L-Lancer?!" I replied as my jaw dropped out of surprise. Why? Why is he here?!

"Now…how about you get your ass out of bed already." Lancer demanded with a serious expression.