Author's Note:
I was happy with the last chapter, not going to lie. It kind of helped me to tie up some loose ends and to get the ball rolling. I find that sometimes my ideas run beautifully in my own mind but when they get put before an audience, the ideas become confusing. So I'm going to try very hard not to confuse you by giving you some indicators of sense of time as this chapter runs.
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(Present – Archer's POV)
I suddenly have a barrier between myself and assassin, trapping me in the process, yet keeping him out of striking range as he would have dealt me a severe blow. I turn and start to yell.
"Rin, what are you doing?" I watch as she falls to her knees, panting heavily, her hands supporting her weight on the ground, her hair shielding the sides of her face while trying to concentrate on the spell holding the barrier.
Somewhere on the other side of the barrier are Saber and her idiot of a master; this battle has taken a great deal from Rin and I fear that her spiritual energy may be tapped, but she won't stop.
"Rin, stop! You have to stop!"
Assassin is taxing the barrier and my master for all he's worth. Rin's eyes meet mine and I see a determined look as she holds out her hand toward me.
Please…
I hear her voice in my mind calling out to me.
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(Earlier—Rin's POV)
I felt the sudden change in spiritual pressure as Shiro and I watched in alarm at the people falling to their knees before losing consciousness.
I knelt down beside a woman and my eyes widened, "…She's…"
Shiro looked repulsed; he didn't need me to finish the statement.
"Shiro, I hate to say it, but if we don't face them head on, we're probably dead."
I stood up upon hearing Saber's voice.
"Shiro!" Saber came running to meet us fully changed into her servant attire with Archer at her side.
While Saber and Shiro were conversing, I took the opportunity to address Archer.
Archer…our enemy was collecting the mana of these people all day. The ones who arrived early are dead, while the rest are still housing mana to pull from. We need a strategy now.
Saber should be fully recovered; we'll need her to—
Our conversation was cut short as Archer grabbed me around the waist and leapt backwards out of the sword range of a servant. We landed, Archer shielding me and his twin blades materializing. I looked out across the way to find Shiro standing with his back to us, Saber with her sword drawn; facing what looked to be another servant and master.
"Rin," I heard Saber calling to me, her back to us, "he's the Assassin Class servant I encountered!"
The master must be on the premise somewhere, Archer.
I was picking up on a strong spiritual pressure coming from the woman, "She's a Caster class servant!" I exclaimed, grasping the concept as Saber must have for she responded.
"Rin, our enemies have done their planning! We're at a disadvantage!"
Shiro was turning to say that we needed to regroup when he noticed the barrier between them and us. We were completely cut off from Saber and Shiro, pitted against enemies better suited for a Saber Class servant.
Tell me what to do, Rin. It's your call.
But I never got to answer his question for Assassin was tired of waiting or had been instructed by an unknown master to advance.
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(Archer's POV)
Hand to hand combat is not an Archer's specialty and I'm forced to use every skill I have to hold this opponent at bay or to buy Rin some time to cast a spell. I counter, trapping Assassin's blade in between my own; I can feel my feet sliding backwards from the force of his attack.
"Your master sends you to fight, yet waits in the shadows?" I question, trying to gain the upper hand and distract him.
"My master's whereabouts should be of no concern to you," he replies with a smirk, "It's your master that should concern you. For my master has use of her and once I've defeated you, I'll take her to my master."
My eyes widen and it is I who is caught unaware; he regains control of his sword and sends me backwards off balance, I stagger.
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"This isn't good!" informs Saber, unable to get close enough to the Caster Class servant, parrying magical blows and worried about protecting Shiro from Caster's master (who has received a magical enhancement in his body).
If Shiro were a magus like Rin he would easily be able to counter Caster's spells, but at the moment all I can ask of him is to keep her master at bay while I attempt to find an opening; the Saber Class is better suited for close combat.
"Defeating you will secure my placement in this war," informs Caster with a smile, "On the other hand you have the option of joining me as my servant."
Saber's eyes widened a fraction, "The Caster Class is the only class that can act as both servant and master because they were once magi themselves. That's it!"
She quickly turned to Shiro as he dodged yet another blow; using a reinforced piece of metal he had found from one of the nearby vending carts.
"Shiro! Caster is Assassin's master!"
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(Rin's POV)
"Archer!" I send the blast of my spell at Assassin; it works long enough to send him staggering. I finger the jewels in the pocket of my kimono as Archer leaps backward to put some distance between him and Assassin.
Shiro's voice is barely heard over the noise of my spell, but the idea registers in my mind, "Caster is Assassin's master," I murmur.
Ordering Saber and Shiro to find a way to break the barrier between us is too much to ask; Shiro is barely holding his own against Caster's master as he dodges yet is caught off guard and sent to the ground and Saber is deflecting spells. I grit my teeth; I have to focus all of my energy on this attempt.
Archer I need you to be my shield. Unless we can reverse roles in this duel all of us are going to lose.
Understood, just go quickly.
Thank you.
I take off running toward the barrier and no sooner do I make the first hundred yards does Assassin flash step in front of me. I gasp involuntarily yet my eyes widen as Archer pushes him back and off my course buying me time.
Hurry, Rin!
I know he's outmatched. We all are at the moment. My plan is to trace the weakest point of the barrier and to create a reversal spell…at least that's what I hope to accomplish. I start to draw power from the jewels in my hand and start to chant the words to the spell.
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"Shiro!" cries Saber as her master falls to the ground with a gasp for air.
Caster's master Souichirou is relentless as is his master. Saber's attempt to show her concern for her master has cost her opponent an opening; Saber learns of this too late and flies backwards, her armor shielding her back from the impact of the ground, yet she comes to rest close by to were Shiro has fallen.
"You do still have the option of joining me," teases Caster with a smirk appearing on her features, "Saber you could be a valuable asset to me if you so choose it."
Saber doesn't get a chance to throw Caster's offer back in her face as the spiritual pressure from another enters.
"Rin?" questions Saber, looking out across the grounds to find the girl casting what appears to be strong spell.
"What is she—
Caster doesn't get to finish her thought as she grips her head; Souichirou calls out to her.
"Caster, what's wrong?"
"That girl…she's using my own power against me to destroy the barrier." She falls to her knees, still gripping her head, "…Clever...but I won't let you…"
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(Rin's POV)
It's taking all of my focus to cast this spell. I gasp in pain, falling to my knees and clutching my head as Caster's spiritual pressure strikes back at me with a vengeance. I realized that I didn't possess enough spiritual pressure to take down this barrier so I would use a spell to draw another magus's powers and use it as my own. Caster looked like the perfect target, but she wasn't chosen to be a servant in the hall of heroes for looks alone. She's much stronger than I could have imagined. I can feel the barrier starting to cripple if only by a little, I only need a small fissure in order to perform my task.
Hurry, Rin!
Archer's stressed voice is resonating through my mind; mixed with Caster's taunting, Shiro and Saber's words of confusion and the sounds of metal deflecting. One of the jewels in my hands shatters (its magic spent) the glass splintering in my hand, I wince at the pain but hold my grip on the remaining gems; I need their power to last.
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(Archer's POV)
Assassin's gotten a good amount of blows in, I can feel them now and the streams of blood trailing down my arm are a reminder that I am up against a superior opponent in the art of swordsmanship; however, I made a promise to my master. Her spiritual pressure hasn't gone unnoticed, I suppose I just don't recognize to what extent she is taxing herself until Assassin's crude remark.
"Your master won't be of any use if she dies trying to dismantle the barrier."
Emotions are a weakness on the battlefield; I've given my opponent the perfect opportunity to end this duel here and now. I brace myself for the impact yet Assassin's attempt is blocked.
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(Present – Archer's POV)
I don't have a clue how Rin is managing to hold a barrier between myself and Assassin, as well as, concentrate on dismantling the barrier between Caster and us, but she is. I spare a quick glance at Caster although her figure is small at first glance my enhanced vision allows me to see that she is on her knees gripping her head, fighting an unseen force. Saber and Shiro aren't too far away, Saber pulling herself to kneel, using her sword as a crutch; the kid is worse off, probably has a few broken ribs but still struggling.
None of that matters though, everything is ruined. Any hope of betraying Rin was gone the moment I heard her plea; killing my former self is set on the back burner and all I can focus on is saving her. She was never supposed to die, not saving me, especially not saving him.
My swords dematerialize as I start toward her, hoping to close the hundreds of yards between us. Assassin's broken through, he's coming at a lightning pace, but I have to reach Rin—I quickly take hold of her hand; the edge of sound of Assassin's sword as it thrusts toward my back is heard, but she smiles weakly and I cannot help but think that perhaps this is my redemption for all that I have done.
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(Archer's POV)
When I come to I am kneeling, Rin is in my arms, Shiro and Saber are next to us; I'm afraid I must appear as bewildered as they are. The surroundings are unfamiliar but if I didn't know any better I would say that we were in a parking garage.
"Shiro!" questions Saber, crawling over to her master and assessing that he does indeed have a few broken ribs, but he will live. She looks toward us, "Archer, how's Rin?"
I look down at the sleeping girl in my arms, note the trickle of blood escaping her hand—never did she loosen her grip on the gems until now as I slowly pry open her fingers, the gems fall with a ting as they hit the pavement.
"She's overdone it," I announce, wishing I could share some of my mana with her, but her stable breathing is a good indicator that rest is all she requires.
Saber has a serious look, "She used a great deal of mana to transport us out of the grounds. We owe her a lot."
Shiro sits up with help from Saber and looks toward us, "All of the people we left behind…"
"Don't be so sure," I interject, "It would draw too much attention if half of the city were found dead."
"I agree," informs Saber, "Caster will release the remaining people. She will probably use a spell to erase their memories and the incident will be covered up. We did learn the identity of two masters today and need to formulate a plan."
"Assassin already informed me of Caster's plan," I state with a hard look, "she wants Rin for something."
"Tohsaka? Why?" questions Shiro, now on the defensive.
"I didn't get a chance to ask," I respond sarcastically, "But I don't believe that today's episode has deterred Caster from her original plan."
I notice the serious expression as my companions glance at the sleeping girl in my arms. I can't kill my former self yet…when Rin is recovered…I tell myself…
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Thanks for reading!