Chapter 2: Servants

The following morning, Kuro found himself waking up in his sleeping bag a bit uncomfortable. The last thing he remembered was summoning his servant, and then feeling quite tired. It had been an exhausting day, even before the summoning. He found it hard to move, but he was able to move his arm out of the sleeping bag. It was completely bare, but it let him see his Command Spells. All five of them.

Hmm? Five? And wait, what is this weight I feel?

He finally looked as his consciousness became more aware, and he realized he was not the only one inside the sleeping bag. His servant, Shiro, was there too. And for some reason, the both of them were completely naked. This caused him to gget shocked and a bit embarrassed as he screamed in surprise, shuffling himself and waking up Shiro.

"Ah, good morning!"

"Wh...why are we naked!?"

"Because we are booth kidds and need to sleep comfortably, so I needed to use something to cushion the ground under this sleeping bag. Besides, this is far better way then wearingg the clothes you wore all day. And I am not ashamed of my body, and you shouldn't be either".

Kuro went redfaced, facepalming as he heard such reasoning. Shiro got out of the sleeping bag, and looked over at the washing machine.

"I wasn't sure what kind of clothes you liked, so while you were asleep, I went and bought out a bunch of identical clothes as well. All exactly the same. Oh, and I bought a washing machine and dryer!"

"With what money?"

"I wanted to use my own, but it might just end up fading away since I was summoned with it, so I decided to use some of yours as well. Ah, dont worry. I made sure to use some of your magecraft that I saw to obscure the location data. It will actually be quite funny when they try to track it".

"...why?"

"Cause it will lead them to the moon! Literally! Not talking about you or me right now".

"...where did you say those clothes were" Kuro asked while covering himself with his hands.

"Over in the new dresser over there".

"Thanks".

The two boys proceeded to get dressed. Shiro wore a white short sleeve hoodie, blue sleeveless shirt, green patterned cargo long shorts, and grey shoes with the same pattern. He didn't appear like a servant at first, but Kuro could feel their connection. He then looked back at his arm.

"Aren't we supposed to get three Command Spells normally?"

"Yes, but because you hacked into a system that was already hijacked, it caused a stir in the leylines. You got hit with some of that as you were getting Command Spells, which as a result gave you two extra. Just consider yourself a lucky protagonist, you got a great servant like me, and you got extra spells! You might just be the strongest contendor...is what I want to say, but your computer seems to have gotten details from the leylines on our competition. Some of them at least".

Kuro sat down on the floor, and looked at the files his Magecraft extracted.

"Looks like we have information on...three Servants? Thats it? Well, its not like im some prodigy".

"I dont know, hacking into the leylines and piggybacking off of another hack with this makeshift setup? Pretty cool. But, you should check out those names. Also, technically we got some information on the fourth, but its incomplete".

The only information at all they had on Saber was that they were strong, came from mythology around a famous sword, and featured three letters for them. Asi.

The other three were more clear though. Berserker Class was Egill Skallagrimsson, an Icelandic viking and Anti-Hero. Lancer Class was Lucious Longinus.

"...Lucious Longinus?"

"Lllllucious Lllllonginus, llllaaancer!"

"Lulila!"

"Lulila!"

"Thats a lot of Ls".

"Right. And as for the last one, its the most concerning".

Archer Class: Gilgamesh.

"You know him?"

"I know of him. Did some research. He has participated in multiple grail wars, including at least three notable ones in the last twenty or so years. Completely concieted and an asshole though. I swear, I will never grow up to be like that".

Shiro seemed to hold quite the resentment to him.

"...so your not going to tell me your true name then? I didn't actually learn it last night".

"Nah, too dangerous. You never know whose eyes might be on you".

"But wont it help us? Shouldn't I, the master, know your name and class?"

"In terms of names, id rather not use it right now. Its a personal thing. As for class...I dont actually know myself. I have ideas, but I was summoned outside of the normal seven. Sadly, as a result, I don't know, but I think I have high resistance skills and ranged attacks, but I can also fight close quarters. Oh, and I have the Riding Skill and high Magical ability".

"...is there any class you dont qualify for?"

"Berserker I think, and Assassin wouldn't be a good fit for me, despite having a Noble Phantasm that would let me conceal myself".

"So you could be Archer, Lancer..."

"No, I actually have Luck?"

"...how is Luck relevant to that?"

"Its a long story, don't mind it".

"Okay, so Archer, Saber, Rider, or Castor? That last one feels out of place with the others, but I suppose this is a good setup all the same".

"Yep! So whats the plan, Master?"

"Well for starters, we need to better understand the power balance. My sister seems to have been planning something for awhile, but someone beat her to it. Which means, the next question to ask is, who pulled the strings to get the Grail War here?"

"Whoever it is probably already has control of Avalon City".

"Maybe not all of it. There is some backchatter on my web sniffers. It seems that while they have some level of authority, someone swooped in and carved up plenty of power for themselves. As a result, their agents cant just go and act too openly, patrolling the areas and such so easily".

"So, Master. What is your wish?"

The boy asked that innocently and simply, but Kuro looked into Shiro's eyes. In this moment, he was being serious and analyzing him completely. This was no mere simple question.

"...its not so much my wish, but my goal. My sister intends to kill me, and with a Servant she can do so easily. I want to survive! I dont want to die! But also, I want to roll up my fists and clock her right in the face!"

"Mmmhmm, those are all very good goals, but what do you want from the Grail? Money? Power? A harem of beautiful girls?"

"No way! Especially that last one, gross!"

"Hmmm. Then what do you want from the Grail?"

"What I want...honestly, iv been so busy enduring my sister. In this grail war, if I survive, ill complete my objectives surely of being able to clock her good. But from the Grail itself?"

He had to think for a moment.

"Honestly, I dont know yet. Maybe I will just reach the Swirl of the Root, or maybe ill ask for something else. But otherwise, I just want to stop my sister from having her wish granted and killing me...and, I guess I want to enjoy life? I want to be able to have fun damnit!"

Hearing such an answer, it left Shiro stunned. He then burst into laughter, and clapped as he did.

"Perfect! Brilliant! That is the right answer!"

He gave Kuro a hug.

"I undderstand what your wish is".

"Eh, but I didn't say anything..."

"Yes, but your heart made it loud and clear. Very well, I know what I will wish for. I want to be able to enjoy the modern world to the fullest, and help kids like you! That is what I will do! That is the wish I will make to the Grail!"

Kuro nodded, smiling a bit. "Sounds good to me".

Shiro just smiled back at him.

And for as long as I am here, I will grant your wish...and be your friend.

"How did this even happen" Velvet muttered as he rubbed his temples, while he and Castor stood on a rooftop overlooking the city.

"I have never been a servant before? You think there is some sort of chain connected to an invisible collar around my neck, with your hand always on it? Or is it more likke our souls are forever connected, the ultimate master-apprentice bond?"

Right now, El Melloi was in some certifiable hell for him, as he would never be able to rid himself of Flat it seemed.

However, he decided to focus back on the matter at hand.

"Castor, prepare yourself. Remember".

"I know. Game Select!"

Suddenly, Flat and El Melloi disappeared as a lance was driven right into the roof of the abandoned building they had been on, shattering it. As for who was responsible, naturally it was Lancer.

Flat reappeared alone behind her, wearing a stereotypical mage's cloak and hat.

"How rude".

"You say that, and yet you hide in the form of a child. I see you made your Master disappear though".

"As the first full on fight of the Grail War, it would be bad if it ended early right?" Flat said, a boyish smile on his face as he snapped his fingers. Immediately, hundreds of lights appeared behind him and magical energy blasts shot out of them, bombarding lancer and reducing the remains of the building to rubble.

"Oi oi, aren't we supposed to keep things secret?"

"Dont worry, I set up like, twenty or so bounded fields. Feel free to give it your all!" he said, as even more lights appeared. Lancer dodged some of them and deflected others, her lance creating a shield to protect her as well. It was a powerful barrier too, Flat's attacks only were able to crack it. However, Lancer meanwhile was sweating bullets.

He cracked a barrier made by the Holy Lance? What the actual fuck?

As he stepped back, Castor was already behind him, causing him to dodge as he barely avoided being consumed by another attack.

"Just what sort of Castor can fight in close quarters like that? What the hell sort of monster are you?"

"Huh, funny enough, sometimes people refered to me as that in reality as well!"

Suddenly, several swords of light appeared around Lancer, and all began to attack her. In a battle between Lancer and Castor, somehow it was Lancer being cornered despite Castor not having even set up his territory yet.

"Very well. I suppose I will just have to make full use of my Noble Phantasm".

She said that, as she charged right towards Flat with far greater speed. Any barrier shattered as it pierced right through them, and then pierced through Flat...only to dissipate as an illusion, with Flat appearing right behind her with magical energy built up in his hands. A massive blast was done, but a swing of the lance caused to be completely wiped away. It even wiped out Flat again, only to be revealed as another illusion.

Flat then appeared well above her.

"I see I see, so that is the Holy Lance! Then you are Lucius Longinus! To think you were actually a girl!"

"Thats why I was worried about using it. It's like Excalibur, it makes my identity far too obvious".

"Well then, perhaps you want to try again? Just know, not a single one of your attacks will hit me now".

"Are you sure about that?"

Flat snappedd his fingers, and suddenly several spots on her armor exploded, the force knocking him into the wall behind him.

"Guess you were wrong!"

"What the hell is this...no wait, even is this?"

Lancer used her lance to create a holy light, and Flat disappeared again, as well as various other buildings. In fact, the entire terrain changed to the mountains.

"Impossible...when did we move..."

Suddenly, fire rained down from the sky, with Flat bombarding Lancer in such a way that was both overwhelming and brutal, to not give her the chance to use her lance. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't so simple. Lancer was able to swing the lancer, and eradicated everything around her, causing the area to fade and switch back to the cityscape, but without any of the damage inflicted by the battle.

That said, several beams of magical energy rained down upon Lancer. She swung her lance, but the beams redirected around the lance and struck him again, despite the barrier activating it wasn't fast enough.

However, from that exchange, suddenly Flat found himself with wounds all over his body as well. Mainly superficial, but it meant at some point, the Holy Lance had hit him with an attack.

"Now now, when did you do that mister?"

"You were supposed to be a Rider, makes me wonder who stole that position and allowed a monster like you to be summoned".

"Did someone call?!"

At those words, Rider appeared before them both, attacking them at the same time. Castor put up a barrier, and Lancer did the same.

"Hahahaha! Let the chaos commence!"

Rider attacked in full force, using his noble Phantasm with ease. Castor created many barriers, but several of them were shattered in an instant. El Melloi, who saw all this from a distance, focused in on Rider.

"Astolfo? Why is he here? Why is he filling in for Rider? Something seems off".

Meanwhile Kuro, who was watching the battle on his laptop, gasped with shock. "Thats just cheating! Someone has the Servant that won the Greater Grail war on their side!"

"For real?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay, Rider is officially on my radar now. But it shouldn't be much longer now..."

Kuro looked back at Shiro with a confused face.

At the battle meanwhile, Castor unleashed attacks on both servants at once. Lancer was reduced to being on the defense. Unlike Rider or Castor, her methods of attacking multiple opponents was limited.

What now master? At this rate, I am at a severe disadvantage against multiple opponents like this.

"Tsk. I wanted to grind them up and make them suffer, but no matter. Pull back...wait, watch out!"

Lancer just barely dodged in time as swords fell upon all three Servants, wiith them barely just dodging in time.

"Well now, it appears the mongrels have come out to play".

Archer, in other words Gilgamesh, had appeared over everyone, looking down on them. The Gates of Babylon opened, and unleashed a terrible bombardment upon them all. When he stopped, and the dust settled, everyone had vanished. Gilgamesh had a smug smile, but then a cut appeared on his cheek, and blood dripped down.

When did someone attack me? Lancer retreated first, then Rider I think...but I barely saw Castor. Could he have targeted me during all that?

Gilgamesh got annoyed when he realized this.

"A filthy mongrel thinks he can wound me. How annoying...hmm?"

For a moment, Gilgamesh thought he felt something off, but dismissed it.

"Well, that is four servants. Gilgamesh and Astolfo though...Astolfo could have gone after Gilgamesh but didn't, I wonder why?"

"Probably Rider went there to test things out. Honestly though, we do want Rider and Archer to fight. Rider seemed totally unphased by having to maintain that barrier, their master must be someone with insane magical reserves. And Castor...that was all magical power, I dont think I saw a single Noble Phantasm activate. And yet they could unleash such absurdity".

"Ahhh! And we dont even know Saber's specs yet! Saber is supposed to be the strongest, so that means we have to fight a monster stronger then those two?!"

"Yep! Well, it will mainly be me doing the fighting, unless you have a cool plan?"

"Well, there are some ways I can fight. But it means having to steal, since we in no way have the funds, or can even legally buy, what we need".

"Steal huh? Well, if its for a friend, I will do what I must!"

"F-friend?"

The term was clearly a bit unfamiliar to Kuro. Shiro had to suspect his sister was at fault.

"Honestly, for now, id prefer to stay at lower power if possible. I may be materialized, but I can suppress my magical output to appear like a normal human, or at least a mage. Let the other Heroic Spirits duke it out for now".

"Plus, it's dangerous when we don't even know who Assassin is".

"You should be especially careful Master, Assassins have been known to target Masters a lot".

"Right. Well, after that battle, I think Assassin will probably be hunting the ones who survived the assault, figuring them to be weakened...and I need some breakfast".

"Ah, lets go out to eat!"

"Didn't you just say to be cautious?"

"We are! They dont know who the 8th master is, even if they know it exists at all".

"Feels like your just letting your desires get the better of you, but fine. Lets go get some food".

The two headed outside, but right before leaving, Kuro entered another command into the computer witth magecraft and then tapped a parked car on the way out. As they left, Shiro insisted on holding hands for some reason, and they walked down the street.

Assassin watched the entire city, scanning every street, every individual.

"I cant find Castor or his master. Lancer also is hiding themselves somehow, although I have no idea how".

"Probably the Holy Lance" the automated voice said. "It still has many unknown powers. In terms of power, its might is believed to match even Excalibur, possibly even surpass it, as a weapon".

"Sounds powerful".

"If its power is fully unleashed, it could wipe out this entire city possibly".

"Right, so dont touch the Lance then".

"Speaking of which, I think I found a great target for you. Ayumi Kurogami. Cruel, merciless, and loves to make men and boys serve her. Well, she wants everyone to, but especially males it seems. Rumor has it she employs Magecraft to ensure obedience. She even beat and chased out, and has tried to kill, her own younger brother".

Assassin's eyes narrowed, and his face changed to one of rage.

"I thought someone like that would have you all riled up. She is Archer's Master, and getting rid of Gilgamesh would be incredibly helpful. So do make sure you can properly wipe out not just her, but any security that gets in your way".

"Consider it done".

"Be careful, with those two, you cant be certain what to expect".

The boy raised his hand from his cloak, and looked at a black heart he was holding. The type you would see from a heart emoji.

"Understood" he said, before disappearing from sight.