After the events at the Docks, as well as her encounter with the demented Caster, Saber stood still and at attention in one of the many dining rooms of the Einzbern manor.
The castle bellied impressive artwork, tapestries and was clearly the pinnacle of architecture in the area. It wasn't hard to see why; the magical lights in each room never burned out, and in an impressive display of magecraft grew slowly brighter as the night approached and dimmed as dawn came upon them.
She was currently standing in a dining room, while Kiritsugu, Maiya and Irisiviel discussed future tactics for the War. They were deciding which places would be the most likely to take over when it came time to claim the Grail; Kiritsugu had vouched for Ryuudou Temple, which was a sound plan as usual; it was practically situated over the ley lines of the land, and would lend them its power for the Grail's summoning.
Even as they discussed further issues, Saber was aware that she couldn't move her thumb, try as she might. She knew that Kiritsugu had destroyed the building that Lancer's Master had been situated in, and loathe she was to admit it Lancer had probably died as well. It left a bad taste in her mouth, as she had desired to battle him again as knights, and without the constraints of their Masters.
Kiritsugu had proven once again that he was a Master without honor or pride, and sought to achieve his goals through whatever means he could obtain, even though it led to civilian casulties or clashed with her own personality. The Holy Grail War was a battle meant to be fought between Servants, the highest historical Heroes of legend, and it should be kept that way.
Even after Kiritsugu spurning her, and taking up a coward's way of fighting, she had thought that he would have a little bit of decency, one shred of humanity left inside that dead body. Kiritsugu had not answered her inquiries, and the fact he had committed an act of terrorism put that opinion further into doubt. She gave him a reprieve, however as no one had been hurt, at least not seriously. A compliment she had to pay Kiritsugu; he planned everything to the letter.
She was brought out of her musings by Kiritsugu's next words, as it involved her most hated enemy as of this moment. "Caster will no doubt have followed Saber back to this manor, as he seems to be deluded into thinking that she's his 'Jeanne'. We can play that to our advantage; we can fight him by surprise here, and quite easily at that."
Saber felt some irritation at this; Caster had immensely disgusted her, even after watching the news reports of children going missing and bodies being left behind in grotesque shape. She couldn't let an abomination like him continue to exist in the world. It was a disgrace to the Servants, and it was ultimately a hatred she shared for one other person. One other spellcaster she had known in life to be as twisted as this one.
"We should move to eliminate Caster immediately." Saber said aloud, attention drawn to her. "Not only does his depravity and evil know no bounds, but through his actions he will expose the Holy Grail War before long."
The Holy Grail War had to be kept absolutely secret from the public, else every Master here would suffer the wrath of the Mage Association that Irisviel had told her about. The organization sought to keep magecraft and the existence of magi from the human populace. Something she could agree with, since she could only imagine what normal people would do with magecraft if they were taught it.
Kiritsugu ignored her. She silently vented her rage, clenching her fists. Kiritsugu then turned to Irisviel, completely ignoring her as he inquired about some detail she knew absolutely nothing about.
"Iri, have you managed to get control of the spells around the castle?" Kiritsugu inquired, and Irisviel responded in the positive. "Could you modify it to respond to Caster, and any other Servants that come to this place?"
"I can, but it will take a few minutes at the least." Irisviel admitted, before giving Saber's damaged hand an offhand glance. "Saber's arm hasn't healed though, even though hours have passed since you eliminated Lancer's Master."
The statement brought Saber's thoughts back to Lancer. The Irishman was a worthy opponent to her, one of the few to have dealt her a lasting wound and to have matched her so equally in combat.
She knew Lancer was alive; her blood and instinct didn't let her think so. Her arm hadn't healed yet and while she didn't know the length of time before Gae Buidhe's curse subsided, she knew it should have shown some measure of weakening by now, if Lancer was truly dead.
Irisviel seemed to realize that as well, given that she raised the point while Saber was trapped in her thoughts. "What about fighting Lancer? If we want Saber at full strength, Lancer should be the first priority right? Saber's Noble Phantasm can't be used otherwise."
"That's a moot point, since Caster will be coming right to us." Kiritsugu's tone was grim, and resembled a hunter looking for prey. "Since a Command Seal has been promised to the one who kills Caster, that will lead all of them here; they would provide easy targets."
Saber couldn't stand back anymore. The fact that Kiritsugu was so willing to let Caster go free without even an attempt to kill him made her blood boil in rage. "If that's your course of action Master, what if Rider decides to bring his own Master? Will you kill a defenseless boy so callously?"
Everything froze at that moment. Even Kiritsugu stopped what he was doing when Saber asked him that question. Irisviel kept looking between them, nervous due to the sudden tension in the air. Maiya herself was prepped to step forward, her trigger finger itching in case she had to defend Kiritsugu.
Saber just kept an eye on her Master. To her surprise, as well as relief, he seemed rather disturbed by the question. Saber was observing Kiritsugu to see what he would do next; that little unease in his face had told her a little of what his answer would be, but at the same time the cold blank face asserted itself over him once more. Kiritsugu continued on as if nothing had happened, and Saber gritted her teeth privately.
As soon as Kiritsugu ended the meeting, Saber proceeded out of the room, too wound up in her irritation at the actions and personality of her Master. She needed time to calm down and think. Unfortunately she doesn't have the chance to do so.
"Saber!" She was drawn out of her anger by Irisviel's worried voice. This, in turn, worried her. What was happening? She had a sneaking suspicion, but she needed to make sure. "Please, come here! We have a situation!"
Kariya groaned as his consciousness slowly came back to him. He felt uncomfortable, but that was probably due to the way he was sitting. He groggily righted himself as he sat up and leaned back against the makeshift bed he had been sitting on.
The man turned to look up and found himself in the warehouse he didn't recognized. How had he gotten here? The last thing he remembered was the pain from the Crest Worms in his body and then...
Kariya's eyes widened as the memories of last night rushed back to him. He brought his right hand up and confirmed that he had only two Command Seals left. Berserker's battle had taken too much of a toll on his body, and he had passed out shortly after using his Command Seal to kill the Servant Archer. Did Berserker take him here? Where was his Servant anyway…?
Kariya finally took notice of the smell of food being cooked. He blinked in confusion when he recognized the figure cooking the food.
"Berserker…?"
Yep, that was definitely his Servant cooking. Berserker is sitting cross-legged in a corner of the room, and he seemed to be cooking something, Berserker stand up when he noticed that his Master had finally woken up.
"Feeling better?"
"Ah… somewhat." Kariya said, a bit surprised by the concern his Servant seemed to be showing him all of a sudden.
"How…"
"You've been out for the whole time master" Berserker answering his unfinished question.
"What happened last night…?" Kariya asked unfazed by his situation.
Standing in front of his Master, Berserker began to recount the events of last night after Kariya had passed out. Apparently the Servant had carried him throughout the city all night trying to find a place for them to stay.
Berserker had remembered Kariya saying that he didn't want to stay in his house because of Zouken, and the man was grateful Berserker hadn't taken him back to the house despite everything. He was surprised the Servant had even remembered him mentioning it. After a search Berserker had come across the empty warehouse they're in.
Matou Kariya cackled wildly from where he was situated, he laughed long and hard.
It was nearly unbelievable. Berserker had not only defeated Archer but humiliated him utterly! It was like euphoria to him, knowing that his Servant was so much better than Tokiomi's; the fact Berserker almost killed him slipped his addled mind. He was just enjoying the fact that Tokiomi would be greatly displeasured by this spectacle
"How was that, Tokiomi!? How'd you like watching my Berserker take everything your Archer had and throw it right back?"
If only I could see the look on your face, then this would be perf–"
Kariya was forced out of his revelry when he felt a large lump quickly climb up his throat. He covered his mouth and coughed out a handful of blood, Berserker is silent while watching this.
Kariya cursed his father a dozen times over before forcing the worms down his throat again. He gagged reflexively as a few stray tears leaked out of his eyes. But he followed through and swallowed the worms whole. His stomach retched, screaming in agony like it was asking why Kariya had just fed it garbage.
He reeled, lying his back completely on the wall. His head slumped back to look helplessly at the night sky. Once upon a time, Kariya would puke every time he swallowed worms. But now, he could do it with little to no conscious resistance.
As horrible as the experience was, eating worms was the only reason Kariya could even stand on the same level as someone like Tohsaka Tokiomi.
But it was still worth it. Tonight's fight was proof of that. Kariya was willing to sacrifice everything if it meant he could fulfill the promise he made to Sakura and stick a middle finger up Tokiomi's stupid face.
Things had turned out well so far. The Berserker Kariya had summoned through his father's arrangements had managed to even killed Tokiomi's Archer.
With Berserker at his side, Kariya figured he stood a real chance of winning the Holy Grail War. But that was only provided that Kariya could last long enough to continue supplying his Servant enough magical energy before he died like a desiccated husk.
That being said though.
"Berserker" Kariya called.
"I'm sorry...I..." Kariya apologize, he remember that before he fall unconscious he had forced Berserker to fight Archer.
Berserker just sighed "For now Master, just rest and eat the food, I will go scouting again" Berserker said while Kariya just nod apologetically, he looked at the food losing his appetite completely, a pity the food smells nice, he thought.
"Here are your orders, Lancer; find and kill Caster through whatever means necessary. Fight Saber as well if you wish. Meanwhile, I will find and observe Saber's Master and then decide our next move. Understood?"
After Kayneth lost the Hyatt hotel suite he had obtained an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city as his temporary base, and hid Sola there. Obviously, his fiancée's mood couldn't be worse.
It was pure luck that Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald captured Caster's figure in his sight in Fuyuki. Kayneth began his chase when he saw Caster stopping a small truck that passed by, gave hypnotic suggestions at the driver, and then sat in it with the children as if it was a kindergarten trip.
Kayneth snickered as this suited his purpose perfectly, but began to hesitate when he realised their destination is the Einzbern forest. Kayneth quickly made up his mind, and stepped into the forest with Lancer.
He's already heard of the Einzbern territory near Fuyuki when he conducted investigations beforehand. Since it is a territory of magi, it would therefore have its matching bounded field, making it a location where others would find it hard to battle with an advantage.
"Very well, Master. I will assault Caster first then" Lancer bowed, and twirled his spears in his grip.
"But if you find yourself in trouble, do not hesitate to summon me with a Command Seal. It is not worth it to risk your pride if you will not live. To win the Holy Grail...that is my purpose for being summoned, after all."
Kayneth tutted to himself. Clearly, his Master wasn't listening his advice but he would oblige by it anyway.
"Very well, Lancer." Kayneth said as if he was drinking something sour.
"Saber's Master will be formidable; the Einzbern homunculi are very combat oriented most of the time. As loathe as I am to admit it, the incident with Berserker has taught me that caution maybe needed, despite my developed combat skills. Now, go Lancer. End that pathetic excuse for a magus Servant."
It was all the confirmation he needed. Lancer smiled, before nodding at his Master. "Your wish is mine to fulfill, Master. I shall bring you Caster's head."
He disappeared in a hurricane of green; to Kayneth's mortal eyes, it would seem as if dirt had been uprooted and green energy spiralling around where Lancer had previously been standing. In actuality, Lancer had simply used his title as the fastest Servant class to run off, full speed, towards where Caster was located.
Reminiscing, this is the first time she felt uneasy since Irisviel stepped onto the grounds of Fuyuki.
She realizes once again the importance of Saber, who remained by her side constantly. The quiet confidence and tolerance emanating from her lithe frame gave Irisviel much assurance.
It was not that Hisau Maiya, Saber's replacement to accompany her is untrustworthy as a guard; Kiritsugu also held Maiya's abilities in high regards, and she is not being suspicious of her. So what is the reason for this strange anxiousness?
Leaving the castle due to a strategic retreat, there was absolutely no dialogue between the two walking in the forest of the bounded field. True, Maiya didn't seem to be the type who enjoyed banter, but her complete silence seemed too heavy for Irisviel.
As she hung her head and sighed deeply, a warning flashed inside Irisviel's head. With a face full of surprise, Maiya looked at Irisviel, whose whole body suddenly stiffened.
"What's the matter, madam?"
"… Another intruder. It seems he is aware of our position. We'll meet if we continue onward."
The situation was only to be expected. Maiya nodded calmly.
"Then, let us slowly loop around. It will be very safe if we looped from here to..."
"Well well, what do we have here" a voice came from behind them. It came from a handsome man in his mid to late 30's with swift back light blond hair and bright green eyes. He wears a navy scholar coat with white gloves, black pants, and black shoes.
"You're...Kayneth" Irisveil nervously breath.
"It is an honor that the esteemed Einzbern family recognized me" Kayneth bow elegantly, meanwhile Maya is prepare to assault him if there is an opening.
"But, how?" Irisveil questioned, clearly they were still quite far from each other. Not only that, both woman didnt seem to realize a silver liquid crawling closer to them.
"Well madam Einzbern, what do you say we continue this night walk" Kayneth offered while smiling pleasantly, ignoring her question.
"Without your pet of course" Kayneth stated while looking in disdain at maiya.
"!!??" Maiya suddenly gasp, as she is pierced by a silver stake from the ground. Irisveil surprised is gaping at this scene.
"Well what do you say madame Einzbern?" Asked Kayneth with a smile to her.