Note: Chapter Nine has gotten a revision as of 01/01/2019 due to the way I rushed writing it during exams, so please read that chapter first before this one.
Shirou was traveling back to the location of the attacked village, his feet a blur over the ground. Without having to guard Kirchof and the others, the time it would take for him to travel had reduced considerably.
The only thing that caught him by surprise was the presence of another quickly zeroing in on him.
He glanced behind him, only to see a pair of steady teal-coloured eyes that locked with his own.
"A-Arturia?" He called back with a stutter, slowing his speed to a halt.
Arturia appeared beside him in seconds, her regal blue mantle discarded in favour of her regular battle skirt and plate armour. Upon her arrival, she nodded her head to him and presented the words she had been rehearsing in her mind. Unknowingly, the lines she thought up of would only bring up more memories of the Saber Shirou knew.
"Please forgive my intrusion," Arturia said. "I didn't believe it would be safe for you to travel alone."
It was the same. The thought sprung up in Shirou's mind. The expression Arturia was subconsciously making. The look on her face that revealed to Shirou just how much Arturia cared for him. In the Holy Grail War, Saber herself had even gone as far as insisting that the two sleep in the same room to protect him at all times.
The memory was a fond one, but it made it even harder to face Arturia as she was now.
Shirou shook his head, ridding himself of his self doubts.
Saber had once protected him, and the way he viewed Arturia right now was with a desire to protect and cherish her as Saber done for him. Everything about the current Arturia before him was the same as Saber, therefore, what more could he have asked for?
It was with this realization that the dark clouds that had loomed over Shirou ever since the surprise of seeing the NPCs he created come to life, promptly lifted.
He laughed, long and drawn out, causing Arturia to stare at him in wonder before a fond smile came over her lips without her knowing.
There was just something about being near Shirou that comforted Arturia in a way she couldn't describe.
As Shirou finished laughing, Arturia put on a sincere expression.
"I was serious," she said curtly. "I want to protect you and as long as you feel that my presence doesn't hinder you, I…I want to stay by your side."
Shirou turned his head to stare at Arturia, mixed emotions in his gaze, but in the end, he relented.
"Then make it a promise," He said strongly. "Don't leave my side," Not again.
There was a depth in Shirou's words that although Arturia was uncertain of, she responded to.
"My sword is your sword," the words left Arturia's mouth so naturally that it surprised her. "And you are my sheath. Inseparable."
Shirou for his part visibly stilled, turning his gaze away from Arturia before she noticed the change in his expression.
He shook his head, no longer thinking about how Arturia knew such words. After all, he no longer wanted to harbour anymore false hopes.
Striding forward, he continued on his way to his destination, Arturia following right behind him.
The sight of the burned village was enough to distract Shirou from his thoughts and he actively began searching within the wreckage for clues about what Florance had said about her brother being taken.
Unfortunately, ash and soot were all that was left, making it difficult to find anything.
Shirou stood up from where he was inspecting a pile of burnt debris and considered if his lack of a trail to follow meant that he'd have to give up his endeavor and return to the mountainside.
Sighing, he was moments away from calling to Arturia to leave when he suddenly detected movement a short distance in front of him.
He pulled Arturia to the side and hid alongside her behind a wall of blackened wood.
Peering through the small gaps in the wood of the wall, Shirou sighted a small unit of Knights that dressed differently from the Knights he had previously encountered doing patrols in the area. They weren't fully wearing plate armour, and a different symbol was marked on their chests, making it evident that they were part of a different faction.
He gestured to Arturia and she nodded her head to convey that she understood.
As the unit of Knights passed by, Shirou and Arturia decided to follow them secretly.
Stealth was never Arturia's forte and she was constantly having trouble keeping herself out of sight, but because of her level, she was somehow able to bypass the senses of the Knights by staying far enough away.
Shirou on the other hand, with both his Archer-Class skill set and personal experience was much closer than Arturia, able to hear snippets of conversation.
"This entire campaign is sickening," one the Knights in the unit complained.
"I didn't sign up to be a Knight to kill those who can't even defend themselves."
"There's no honour to be found in this battlefield."
Every word Shirou heard was fraught with complaints.
As it would turn out, most of the Knights ordered to start a massacre in the Berferd Dutchy were heavily against the idea. Not only did it feel morally wrong to them, but it made them question the very foundations of what it meant to be a Knight.
Either to help the weak and uphold integrity.
Or to obey the whims of heartless tyrants.
It was a decision that all Knights stationed in the Berferd Dutchy were struggling to cope with.
Shirou's impression of the current group of Knights was favourable. It was even more so when he noticed them sneak passed another regiment of Knights to procure food which they brought to an abandoned looking house.
"Open up, we have some food for you!" One of the Knights called while knocking on the house's front door.
Slowly, the hinges creaked as the door opened, revealing several haggard looking faces. The unit of Knights immediately handed over the bags of food they carried with sympathetic expressions.
"It's not much, but it's the most our group can grab without being noticed by our superiors," the knights said in shame before hastily making a retreat so that their absence from the main army didn't draw any attention.
It was only when the Knights were no longer in the area that Shirou emerged from hiding along with Arturia.
Unused to the methods of an Assassin, Arturia had numerous sticks and brambled that clung to her after she forced herself to hide within a dense thicket of bushes. Now out in the open, she was frowning while attempting to clean herself.
Meanwhile, Shirou had already moved towards the entrance of the abandoned house and slowly opened the door to enter.
He and Arturia promptly walked inside.
Their sudden intrusion instantly startled the people within who scattered in every direction. However, the interior of the house wasn't spacious to begin with, leaving little room for anyone to maneuver properly.
"W-Who are you?!" One of the people yelled out in fear.
Looking at the way the people were dressed, lightly and in torn rags, Shirou became certain of one thing.
These people were all villagers.
Rather than answer the question left hanging in the air, Shirou posed his own.
"Does anyone here know the name, Florance Loclander?" He asked.
Instantly there was a commotion in the crowd as a teenager roughly sixteen years old pushed his way through, his mouth set into a scowl. Bruises and lacerations spanned across his tanned skin, but he didn't seem to care, his expression feral with his eyes bloodshot.
"T-That's my sister's name! You bastards what did you do to her!" The sixteen-year-old yelled and made to charge before being held back by an old man.
"That's enough Holbert, don't act recklessly," the old man admonished, pushing Holbert behind him.
Thereafter, the old man bowed lowly to Shirou and Arturia, taking note of the clothes they wore of the highest quality.
"My esteemed nobles, surely you'd find it in your hearts not to murder us," the old man spoke solemnly. "We are but children and the elderly. We pose no threat to whatever plans the other Lords have set in play."
Arturia frowned, stepping forward even before Shirou.
Arturia's sense of righteousness had long since been triggered after being informed of what had transpired. She could hardly accept the behaviour of the Nobles presiding over the area, treating villagers as dispensable cattle.
"We mean you no harm," she spoke kindly, placing a hand to her chest. "In fact, we've come here to save you on the request of Florance Loclander," she explained much to Holbert's surprise.
"Y-You came to save us?" The old man asked in stupefaction.
Shirou nodded. Assuming that the level of the Knights was the same as those he had encountered at the mountainside, then with both he and Arturia present, it didn't matter how many Knights the enemy sent. They would still be able to recue everyone.
As if sensing their confidence and power, the old man actually bowed his head lower to make a request.
"You have out eternal gratitude for coming to save us, but will you listen to this old man's words?" The old man waited for a response and continued to maintain a lowered head.
Shirou who was generally unused to the custom of medieval traditions had no idea why the old man would continue to bow his head lowly just to express an opinion.
Arturia though was different.
"Acknowledged, please lift your head. We'll hear you out," Arturia spoke without pause, staring directly at the old man.
There was a regality and caring in Arturia's gaze that somehow earned the respect and recognition of everyone present.
The Power of Charisma.
"Then I thank you milady for your benevolence," the old man released a small smile. "The matter I wish to discuss is actually about the Knights you saw earlier and many others in the Knight's camp. Assuming you plan to break out of here, the two of you must be powerful warriors with a skill-level and profession far above our peasant class."
Arturia didn't disagree with the old man's words.
As far as she was concerned, the current adversaries she was about to face, though numerous in the camp nearby, weren't too much of a threat. More so with Shirou by her side.
Arturia gestured for the old man to go on.
The old man cleared his throat and stared sincerely at both Arturia and Shirou.
"Most of those Knights aren't bad people. Rather than kill us, they chose to disobey their superiors and housed us here instead, even going as far as pilfering food from military provisions," the old man cleared his throat. "I only ask that when you face them, you don't deal a lethal hand."
Arturia and Shirou looked at each other uncertainly before eventually agreeing to the old man's request.
Knights who would disobey direct orders to uphold their integrity weren't just standard Knights, but Knights that Arutira recognized and respected.
The fact that the old man even pleaded on the Knight's behalf conveyed enough to Arturia and Shirou of the integrity of their enemies.
With matters settled, it wasn't long before Shirou and Arturia gathered everybody in a group and made plans to leave. Of course, not everyone trusted Shirou and Arturia, but the majority of the people were won over by the fact that Shirou was acquainted with one of their own, Florance Loclander.
When everyone was set to leave, Arturia and Shirou simply led them out of the abandoned house and on the path to the mountainside. Unlike Shirou and Arturia who possessed the capability to leave in stealth, the same coudln't be said for the children and elderly thy were leading.
It was guaranteed that the army of Knights camped nearby would notice their movements and label them as enemies, but neither Arturia or Shirou were too worried at this point.
The main army of Knights that had initially raided the Berferd Dutchy had long since moved inwards towards the heart of the Dutchy, leaving behind only minor regiments of Knights. This was the case for the current situation with the number of camped Knights merely reaching five-hundred strong.
It was a number that was too small to cause either Shirou or Arturia any trouble.
As expected, the emergence of a large group led by Shrou and Arturia did not go unnoticed for long. Soon the entire area was surrounded by armed Knights.
They stood in neat and orderly rows, kite-shields on their arms and hands gripped over the pommel of their swords. Each of them looked hesitant to act; indecision evident in their gazes as no one wanted the blood of innocents to stain their conscience. Many considered overlooking Shirou and the others, but to so blatantly do so while the commanding officer was nearby was a military death sentence.
However, no Knight wanted to be the first to attack.
Observing the character of the Knights, Arturia was both heartened and outraged, her title as the King of Knights allowing her to judge a Knight for what they were really worth.
Eventually though, a dozen or so Knights stepped forward in resolution, their eyes tinged with heavy layers of remorse and guilt for what they had consigned themselves to do.
Shirou's expression darkened, but faster than Shirou, Arturia acted first.
The ideal image Arturia had of Knights took a heavy blow in her mind at that moment. The resolve the Knights were showing to her severely misplaced.
She couldn't stand it.
"Do none of you know any shame, the principle of a Knight is to uphold justice!" Arturia erupted, an invisible pressure and disposition spreading outwards and weighing down directly on the hearts of every Knight present. "What justice is there in hardening yourselves to kill children and the elderly?!"
Arturia stepped forward before the entire encirclement of Knights without even considering her actions, spurned on by her outrage.
If one knew that what they were doing was wrong, and yet still did so anyway despite their morals, then they were worth less than animals in Arturia's eyes.
From what she could see, the Knights before her were not yet passed the point of no redemption.
The fact that they refused to kill the innocent and sheltered them instead spoke volumes of their characters.
What they needed now though was guidance.
Guidance to realize that there were times when one's moral value superseded the ironclad rules of orders.
She pointed a finger forward, eyes narrowing.
"Listen here, and listen close!"
Her aura was domineering, her regality unquestionable as she imparted her decree.
The code of Knights.
The Laws of Chivalry.
Kieth Brendle was not certain of what exactly was going on with the division of Knights he was in charge of leading. They had reported the emergence of an enemy within their ranks, yet rather than attack or show any tension, the Knights under his command were oddly still.
It was inconceivable, causing Kieth to personally mount his horse and move to the source of all the commotion. A gathering point where all the Knights in the camp were converging to as if moths to a flame, bewitched and enraptured.
Kieth was a tall and burly man with short and cropped blond hair and numerous scars running across his body too deep to ever fade. He was a man of principle and rationality that had survived numerous conflicts as the subordinate of the Merdings Family of Roble. He upheld his personal honour and believed in the integrity of a just cause and a fair fight.
This was why Kieth himself had overlooked the actions of a few of his men when they chose to shelter the very civilians Lord Merdings had tasked all his Knights to kill. The reason for such ruthlessness on his Lord's part was not lost on Kieth as he understood the detriment it would be to any dutchy to lose its harvesters mere months before the cold seasons.
A prolonged tactic, starvation would weaken the Berferd Dutchy long before Lord Merdings and the other aristocracy suffered any heavy casualties.
Although Kieth knew the practicality of the maneuver, he and his Knights who had histories as fellow lower-class citizens were not too keen on the despicable tactic.
However, orders were orders, no matter how much one disliked them.
His horse carrying him forward, Kieth soon ended up seeing a bewildering sight.
Rows upon rows of his knights which he distinctly recalled ordering to apprehend or kill the enemy all seemed to be visibly flinching without any sign of a weapon being used.
What in the hell?
Kieth had never seen such a thing before. Hundreds of men he fought alongside as brothers visibly flinching in droves as if being berated by an angry father or mother.
He could see a head of bobbed blond hair at the forefront of the encirclement his Knights had established, an ahoge swaying back and forth before an ocean of burly and rough looking Knights.
A finger was pointed forward and waved up and down as if carrying a weight to it that visibly struck the Knights wherever it pointed.
Kieth blinked. Hard. Going as far as to profusely wipe his eyes.
By Roble's Holy Valkyrie, what exactly was he seeing here?
"You!" Kieth pointed towards the nearest Knight and beckoned her over for questioning.
The Knight in question blanked when Kieth called out to her, but she quickly composed herself due to her years of training.
"Why do the Knights stop? Why do they not raise their arms and attack?" The question left Kieth's mouth before he even knew it.
The Knight stood rooted after hearing Kieth's question, not knowing how exactly she should word everything but finally deciding that telling the truth was probably for the best.
"Well Sir, the enemy is, uhm," the Knight scratched her head at a loss for words, a hint of admiration flashing across her eyes as an authoritative and piercing voice cut through the air.
The Knight nodded before promptly ignoring Kieth and saying two words that were incomprehensible to Kieth's ears.
"She's lecturing," the Knight said.
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