We reached the mountain peak a few hours later, the trees were sparse, and the distance between the trees was suitable to make a campfire and sleep for the night.

The physically weakest of us, Caren, after looking around for a bit decided to turn for the night first due to her fatigue. Inside the makeshift tent made out of leaves and sticks, Caren shows some discomfort towards the uncomfortable shelter but soon her rational parts win and she falls into a deep sleep. Bazett followed along and left the first shift of the night duty to me and Saber, a welcome arrangement since I had something to talk about with Saber.

0o0o0

Currently, I am at the top of the tallest tree overlooking a fortified city in the distance. From what I see, their advancement was quite modern compared to Earth but that is what was weird with it. What is a walled city doing in the modern age? But remembering the werewolves that attacked us a few hours ago, I can somehow understand the need for a wall, if the threat can be stopped with only a wall, of course, they will build a wall. Even for that reason, the height of the wall was so ginormous that I added a chance of a gigantic land threat to the list of enemies we probably will face in the future.

With how modern the civilization I saw in the city, I doubt a simple deceit could allow us to enter the city, I'm sure they'll already have the needed countermeasure to an unknown identity, and also, we are currently know next to nothing about to current world we were in to make a believable lie.

With that in mind, I descended from the tree top and went back to the campfire where Saber was waiting.

"How is it, Shirou?"

"So far I know, this world is technologically modern compared to Earth, which means we have no chance to enter the city easily as it was also a walled city."

"…that is difficult, anything else?"

"Before I went down, I saw a multiple speck of light far to the south, not a city, probably a village. Let's hope the lost traveller excuse worked there, heh."

After I told Saber what I saw, I made a note about it so I could relay it to Bazett later when our shift switched.

After that, it was quite comfortable and silent as I watched Saber seemingly deep in thought while looking at the campfire. The hardtack in my hand was half-eaten, it was the last thick piece of hardtack from my previous commission, I wanted to share it with Saber, but as she was now, I didn't want to disturb her.

"Shirou."

Saber called to me, her green reflecting the bonfire in front of her… but also reflecting myself. Her face was stoic, but I knew she had a question. So I fixed my posture as I gestured her to throw anything she wanted to know from me and I will try my best to satisfy her inquiry.

"Shirou… what Bazett said, you were sent here by the grail to grant your wish, isn't it? Your wish was…"

Her words trailed to silence as her stoic face changed into worry and apprehension, I know what she thought about. I'm aware of her disproval of my dream because she knows the end of such an ideal, I also know about, even shown the example of what I will become in the form of Archer, the red one, my future self. But, I must say… she shouldn't be worried, because I wouldn't become like him, I will make sure of it.

In that event, I was made aware of many things I had never experienced, this me never experienced. I forgot most of the things that happened, but I remembered some small core memories that related to myself and my beliefs. Even though what I knew about how "myself" ended was infinitesimal it was enough for me not to repeat what "he" did. With that, she shouldn't worry, I wanted to tell her not to worry about me, but it would be hypocritical of me when I still worry a lot about her when she was stronger than me, wiser than me, and is my most trusted companion. Also, I learned telling a woman not to worry would reward me with a harsh scolding, Sakura, Rin, Taiga, Ayako, Neko-san, Illya, and even Issei would scold me when I told him not to worry about me.

"That is my wish… Saber."

"So you still chase after that dream."

"Sorry, but I promise I won't go too far this time."

"This time?... Well, Shirou, since we are already here. I'll accompany and protect you again, as always. Shirou-no, Master, your servant, Artoria Pendragon, your sword and shield, once again want to fight for you and protect you from any harm. Do you accept?"

I was a bit surprised by what she does, I don't know if it was just theatrics, a form of her humour or it was an actual custom, but I don't care right now. This reminds me of the first night of the holy grail war when I first met her.

She stood in front of me inside the shed, whereas now she stood in front of me beside the bonfire.

Both times she was wearing her battle armour.

The first time she was asking me as a stranger who might be her master, whereas now she holds out her hand to me to accept her again as my servant who will fight for me and protect me.

But both answers will be the same, with the only difference being that I wasn't sure and confused back then, now I can answer her with the same intensity and confidence that she presented to me.

"I accept. Please take care of me again… Saber."

I took her hand with mine, her hand was firm, strong, and reliable, even more than before. It might be because I have come to know her more and trust her more… in summary, the bond between us was closer than when we were during the fifth holy grail war.

0o0o0

A/N: This shorty of a chapter contains an element of "Screw canon, I'm too dumb to understand anyway!" and "Damn it First person point of view but writing monologues in the third person point of view is also too annoying!" and "pee pee poo poo this ain't a dead fic yet, it's only on comatose!" and "Dang, this character depth is beyond what my brain can process."

I kind of forgot about this fic because I lost interest in the RWBY franchise a while back and the four main peeps' synergy is pretty difficult to write and my understanding about them was pretty shallow, it's not like I gained some more depth in understanding them right now, but I kinda gave up after replaying the VN a few times and still dumb brained the whole context into the void. Most of the things that latched to my brain about the characters were the memes (Broke Woman, S-nun, Bone of My Sword, Baeber. Hehe)

So the power hierarchy between the four.

Saber – Giga Strong

Bazett – Mega Strong

Shirou – Super Strong

Caren – Strong against Shirou

Also, the four peeps class (just for fun)

Saber – Fighter and Paladin (Full Offensive only)

Bazett – Fighter and monk

Shirou – Fighter and artificer nuking specialist

Caren – Non-healing Cleric and Bard (vicious mockery only)

Yeah, That's about it for now, lol