Review Answers:-
Teen Shallot, Gilgamesh50, Badgerfrog, Steve1945, Guest(s), Phantom0408:- Oof, yeah, some of your words are a little harsh but honestly I get it. Merlin's section really did turn out to be a little more longwinded and exposition heavy than I had originally planned for. I am certainly going to try and not make the same error in the future, and keep an eye on my characters to make sure they don't end up derailing the story quite as much going forward. Hope you enjoy Protag-kun finally getting the main plot underway!
FateBurn, FatedWait , Kolt999, The Black Kraven, Sirchase461, kynan99:- Thank you people a lot for your kind words and support, it means a lot to me!
Pannenkoekenrage:- Thanks a bunch for the spell check, I genuinely appreiciate it a lot. And I agree with you, Septem really had a lot of potential that honestly got wasted... but trust me, I have complete hope to not be doing the same thing that Grand Order did. I will give that singularity the justice it deserves, just you watch!
ShotaBoi22, Iplay37, NameEntry25, TheMist33:- Music truly does elevate the experience of a story when used well. Honestly most of my ideas when writing comes from listening to Fate OSTs and themes and stuff to get into the headspace of the world and characters and the scene I want to create. And Artoria and Merlin's beautiful story/tragedy has certainly touched many a hearts and moved many a people who watched/read the story of Fate - is it any wonder why the fandom is still going strong and the series is getting new fans even now, almost two decades after original first VN was first released?
DoctorWhotaku, Zet4:- Thank you for your kind words, and as for Shirou/EMIYA and Artoria... well, let's just say I have plans for them. This chapter might answer some of of question, and might possibly lead to a rise of more - And the other routes indeed do not happen in this timeline. Remember, this is the Grand Order timeline where Marisbury won the Holy Grail War and Lev awakened as the Demon God Pillar and the whole Incineration of Humanity plan of Goetia comes into play. In the FSN timeline, Lev realizes that he is being possessed and takes his own life to stop it from happening and hence no apocalypse happens in any of the timelines where Shirou gets a (relatively) happy ending with one of the waifus and destroys the Grail.
GodOfDeathAndUndeath:- You know a review is going to be memorable when literally the first line makes you laugh, lol. I wasn't even thinking about the fetish angle when I wrote that part, I literally just noticed that a lot of monster fodder in Fate, specially Gilles summons and stuff, really went in on the tentacle angle and so I decided to try and give a reason for it, while simultaneously giving Merlin a little development on the side. And MC meeting free-spirited Servants is certainly going to be fun- I already have dialogues/scenes with Drake and Blackbeard that I'm really happy about and want to share, but I'm afraid we all have to be patient until we reach that part of the story!
Artoria and Merlin's dynamic is certainly an interesting one, and its going to be quite fun to explore it eventually- especially with the number of Artoria-Saber faces there are, you can expect many of them have many opinions about our favorite dick-wizard and his shenanigans! And don't worry, our MC remembers his promises... *wink*wink*. And for the OP powers of some Servants, I am not planning on de-buffing them- where's the fun in that? But in response, you can certainly expect more tough challenges for our main cast moving forwards... *cue ominous laughter*
Temsen:- System-kun is the true OG that needs to get more credit and screen-time, truly.
DivineBahamutXZ:- Fate Apocrypha had so much potential to be so great, but it honestly got the Septem treatment. Yes, I enjoyed it quite a bit, but all the while I couldn't help but think that it could have been done a lot better. Who knows... maybe in the future I might dabble a bit in that particular War for funsies... and hehehehehehehehehehehehe Jeanne Alter is going to be someone I am going to have fun writing, trust me, I have plans for both her and Jeanne- The French Singularity is going to be a wild ride to go through after I... add a few extra stuff to make the story extra spicy. A little hint for now- The English is going to be a lot more active in my version, and the French monarchy is not going to just sit and wait for the dragons to overwhelm them.
theeelder5:- I hope your hangover is better now!
dickmoney:- Glad to see you liked Merlin, and as for the happy ending- Weeeeeeeeellllllllll, I suppose we will have to wait and see!:D
Anthima Nix:- You give me high praise that I graciously accept, I am glad you are enjoying my story to the extent of writing such a lengthy and well-meaning review. And while your english is not perfect, it is hardly bad by any means, and the fact that you are actively trying to improve it and subsequently yourself is a great thing! I wish you luck on that, I believe in you!
I commend you for catching the similarities between my Ritsuka and Subaru, honestly because I had not even realized that fact! It was only after reading your comment that I re-read through my works and noticed how similar the two protags are! I may have subconsciously done that, specially since I had originally been writing a Re:Zero fanfic before starting on this one, even my profile pic is the fanart I made of him which I had been planning to use as that story's cover! But I put the fic on hiatus, and I choose to work on it later after season 3 gets released and I re-watch the whole show. Still, nice catch, and I am glad to see you like Protag-kun! Don't worry, he will be as traumatized as Subaru soon enough ;D Then there will be even more similarities between the two!
Glad to see you enjoyed Mashu and Olga's character as well, I hope you like them in this chapter as well! I can see that you are worried about one and are sure about the other one's safety... hope you picked the right ones to get attached to. This world in not ranked SSS on the difficulty scale for no reason, you know! Also, Marie (the French Queen, not our resident tsundere) is going to be playing a major role in the French Singularity, maybe even more so than in canon, so you can be sure that I will be having fun writing her interactions! And incorporating her really sad and tragic backstory into the plot... Oops! Ignore that, just a slip of the tongue, we are only going to be having chill and funny moments with her, of course XD!
It honestly makes me really happy to read that rant of Merlin's character, I am happy that you were happy with how I characterized her and the way the interactions went! Merlin certainly is an underrated character and I am glad you think I did them justice! And as for bashing on Archer's character... well, I love EMIYA a lot, but even I admit that he can definitely be a bit of a jerk at times. An occasional thrashing of his character and ideals is justified I think, especially from the surrogate parent of the girl who's heart he broke, but believe me when I say, I have full intentions of delving into his character in future chapters. And also show off his sheer bad-assery... which is actually kind of bad for Protag-kun now that I think about it, since he's currently the enemy. Oh well, guess he better have a few tricks up his sleeve when the time comes for him to face the Wrought-Iron Hero! Again, thanks a lot for taking the time to write such a lengthy and nice reviews, I really appreciate it!
And now, without further ado— Please read on and enjoy!
[Congratulations! Gained Memory Shard:- Replay of Life and Legend]
[Congratulations! You have gained a temporary 20 to all Stats due to Merlin's use of the Skill "Hero Creation", along with other benefits that you are sure to notice by yourself! Great job on getting her to like you, keep up the good work!]
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The first indication of me returning to the Waking World is the familiar sensation of pain also returning to my body.
As I awaken, I feel my whole body ache terribly—my chest constricts with agony with each breath I take, my left ankle throbs painfully even with no pressure put on top of it in my slumped position, and my left shoulder hangs limp, still broken and still hurting awfully.
But then I feel a soft warmth envelop me, the feeling originating from something placed lightly on top of my head... And in the next moment, I felt lighter. I felt fully energized, as if I had just awoken from a deep sleep.
Which is pretty accurate to what actually happened, now that I think about it.
It feels like my body is floating, and the pain leaves as suddenly as it had arrived. I feel the bruises on my body and ribs fade, the swelling in my ankle subsides, and my shoulder shifts on its own and *clicks* back where it originally belonged with no feeling of additional discomfort on my part—And a grin of joy and satisfaction forms on my face as I catch the familiar smell of freshly bloomed flowers upon the wind as a gentle breeze caresses my skin.
After all, why shouldn't I smile? I know exactly whom the magic belongs to and who to thank for my magic circuits feeling warm and positively bursting with magical energy without feeling like every nerve in my body was on fire. I could feel the... Od, I believe that's how Olga referred to internally produced mana, circulating within my flesh and bones. A constant humming of pure energy is coursing throughout my body as my circuits act as a secondary nervous system – A conduit for my physical body to use the power bestowed upon my soul by a certain mischievous half-succubus mage.
And use it well, I certainly shall - I think to myself as I finally open my eyes.
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Everything seems to be moving in slow-motion—whether it is a part of Merlin's magecraft or simply adrenaline heightening my senses, I am unable to tell. But I won't be looking the gift-horse in the mouth and instead choose to take the opportunity given and observe. And from what I see, no time seems to have passed in the real world while I had been conversing with the Magus of Flowers in my dream.
The black giant and my pink-haired kouhai are still rushing towards each other, and I take notice of the almost painful grip Olga Marie has on my arms, and I don't need to turn back to know what kind of a terrified face she must be making. And I can honestly not blame her without being a complete hypocrite, having passed out from his sheer bloodlust twice already. With a clear view of Heracles's terrifying enraged face, and feeling his killing-intent heavy in the air almost as if it were an actual physical pressure on one's psyche, the Director's reaction is understandable. Hell, the single fact that she hasn't passed out like Merlin predicted would be true for most humans just shows how iron-willed Olga truly is - Her resolve really is something to be commended.
From what I can tell, Berserker's axe-sword is raised high, and is about to be brought down upon Mashu's head with lethal intention. At the same time, I can see that she is readying her shield to block the blow, and even though I cannot see her expression, just by looking at her stance, I can feel her resolve. She had no intention of falling from a single blow—She is ready to fight to the bitter, painful end. There is no hope for victory, and Mashu knows that better than anyone else as someone that has already been half-killed by the giant once before.
And yet she is still willing to fight while showing no fear – For her end goal is in sight. No, not winning. For Mashu does not care in the slightest about defeating Berserker right now— All she cares about is buying time for the slim chance of reinforcements arriving in time and saving Olga and me. With her still-damaged body, she chooses to fight, using the strength I bestowed upon her with my Command Seal to fight for her Master and superior until the bitter end. For that is the duty of a Servant, the greatest honor of a hero.
A noble self-sacrifice. A choice made not just out of impulse and emotion, but mostly based on cold hard logic and facts.
One life for the price two.
A single artificial human for the sake of two real ones.
After all, discarding one fake is acceptable, as long as the two real and more important assets survive.
That is the basis of her reasoning. So similar to the girl I saw only recently in my dreams, so willing to give up her own life for the sake of others. So easily calling her own happiness and feelings meaningless, so willing to sacrifice her own smile for the greater good.
A picture-perfect hero in all senses of the word—
And that...
Pisses
Me
The fuck
Off.
Mashu is no hero! Artoria was no hero! They are both just simple, ordinary, young girls on whom fate decided to play a cruel, unfunny joke and force upon them the duty of carrying the weight of the world. And apparently it's completely acceptable to condemn them to such a tragic life for the sake of others without once thinking about how it might affect them? It would be poetic if it wasn't so damn sad, and terrifying at the same time. Death seems heroic in tales, but not so much when the neck on the line is yours, or someone you care about.
It is unfair beyond imagining... But if fate has decided to sacrifice the life of one for the survival of the many, then I say fuck that. Fuck fate, because as long as I live, I refuse to accept something like that. Even if it is selfish beyond belief, I will not let my Mashu throw her life away. I will to not let history repeat itself. Not for her, and not for anyone else!
I will save my Kouhai from her own kind nature. Her own selfless and truly compassionate heart—and teach her the value of her own life!
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I recommend for you, the reader to play ( Silver Moon- Fate/Zero OST ) while reading through the following section until the POV switch.
... And who better to help me with this task than someone who went through the same ordeals as Mashu herself? If the pull in the back of my right hand and the connection I feel in my soul that is calling out to me are indeed the real deal, all I need to do now is call her back. After all, I also have a certain long-eared prankster's final wish to fulfill.
You really are a liar, Merlin. You call yourself a heartless bastard, and yet with your final words, you ask me to take care of your essentially surrogate daughter. Heh, what a truly great liar you are - To have even fooled your own self.
I chuckle a little to myself as time seems to slowly resume its proper course... but I am no longer scared. For I know perfectly well whom to call. On which person I can rely on right now. My mind is calm now, and the markings on the back of my right hand burn red and then gold, as the connection solidifies and I roar out the words mere milliseconds before the clash between Berserker and Mashu can truly begin. The words I know will change fate forever. Both mine and hers, connecting two souls in a bond so strong that it breaks the very rules that govern the World, to summon forth a savior, a fiery dragon, a brilliant golden sun, to shine its brilliant light upon this dark and cursed city of Fuyuki, and remind everyone that hope is not lost!
"Why should I settle for a degraded version of the crusty ol' sword, when I can have something, or rather, someone much better instead?! Hear me and come forth, like a blooming lily that signals the arrival of the shining light of the hope-filled dawn, and protect us all—
"SABER!"
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A blinding flash of LIGHT!
It comes so suddenly and with such intensity that I instinctively close my eyes. But in the next moment, I feel a surge of heat and a smaller, yet equally intestine, flash of light and hear a loud BOOM, as if a small explosion had occurred a few meters in front of me—followed by the sound of something heavy being flung across the shed and the sound of the expected CRASH of said heavy object coming to a sudden stop by presumably hitting the wall.
Finally opening my eyes, I find myself observing once again. But this time, the situation that lies before my eyes is decidedly different than what I had previously seen mere moments ago. Mashu is standing dumbfounded and uninjured, her eyes and mouth equally wide open as she glances in quick succession from the freshly summoned blonde girl with a golden blade in her hands to the new hole in the shed in which lies the black giant. And while I really want to check on the swordswoman as well, I force myself to focus on our immediate threat first.
The black giant lies motionless and on his back. With the left part of his face blackened, smoking, and completely eviscerated. And while I see no blood, I'm pretty sure that is because the heat of whatever attack he suffered either immediately cauterized his wounds or evaporated all fluids that may have been present in his head. Even with just this short glance, I can tell with full certainty. There is no question about it - The stillness of his body, the lack of bloodlust in the air, and my now silent [Danger Sense] can only mean one single thing.
The seemingly invincible and unstoppable Berserker, has been killed by the Servant that I just summoned.
I then turn to the girl in knightly form. And if the small whiffs of smoke trailing her armored shoes are any indication, I can make a pretty good guess as to what had just occurred. In a flash of light, she appeared - Came flying straight for Berserker and instead of using the sword in her hands, she kicked him straight in the head, and sent the giant flying and with half of his head missing—all of which occurred in less than five seconds after I called out to her.
And then finally our eyes meet, and I feel like the world itself has stopped.
An especially attractive woman can make you lose your breath, but the one in front of me makes me briefly forget how to breathe. I'm rendered speechless. Not because I am confused by the sudden turn of events... no, I am at a loss for words because of this girl's overwhelming beauty.
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Legend tells us that when the Lady of the Lake imparted the strongest Holy Sword, the pinnacle of Divine Constructs—forged by the earth itself as the crystallization of the wishes of mankind stored and tempered within the planet—onto the maiden who carried the Pendragon name, the world was lit with brilliance.
Not by the glow of the golden blade, the Last Phantasm and the Strongest Illusion—but by the brilliance of she, who would later be revered as the King of Knights.
Neither stars nor sunrises did justice to describe the look in her eyes, or the stoic but gentle smile that graced her lips at that moment.
Truly, at that moment, the lily wilted and the princess died.
From her ashes, a King rose.
The Savior of Britannia had been born.
But the one who stands before me now—
—She is not her.
... Not yet at least.
She is not the brightly shining morning sun, but rather the softly rising dawn. She is the young flower that is still in the process of blossoming. No longer a bud, but yet not fully bloomed. Beautiful and delicate like the songbird, but fierce and strong like the dragon... Not the one who carries the [Sword of Promised Victory: Excalibur].
But rather, she carries the [Golden Sword of the Victorious: Caliburn] in her hands, the original Sword of Selection that declared her the one true king of Britain; The act of pulling the sword free, being what set her on her journey of becoming the perfect ruler and building an ever-lasting utopia for her subjects.
The journey, which has yet to conclude for the one that stands before me right now, bathed in the soft golden glow emitted by her sword that lit up the interior of the dark shed and all present within with its holy light.
This girl in front of me is simply the young maiden who pulled out the Sword of the Stone, not a King and not yet burdened by the weight of Kingship... Indeed, she was incomparable to the Arthur of history—the tragically beautiful regal figure, whom I saw in my dreams.
Or perhaps it is more apt to say that she was what Arthur must have wished for, in the depths of the heart she had buried away.
This close, I can smell her too. Sweet and breezy, like spring flowers blooming in the sunshine. Wearing a bellowing skirt that looks like a white lily in bloom, with a glowing golden sword gripped in her gauntlet-clad hands. Lovely blonde hair, jewel-like emerald green eyes, and a wide smile on her face—the longer I look at her gentle and joyful smile, I feel a sensation rising within me.
A feeling of hope.
A savior has arrived.
Possessing unparalleled strength, as seen by her immediate victory over Berserker as soon as she showed up, she is a brave soul and someone who possesses a kind heart—possibly one of the most famous and legendary heroes in the modern day.
... And she was currently kneeling regally in front of me while keeping eye contact and smiling, looking like the picture-perfect mix of both:- A fairytale princess and a noble knight—as she proclaimed in a tone of voice that was somehow simultaneously that of a proud knight, and that of a gleeful young girl who had just been gifted a puppy for her birthday:-
"Greetings, and well wishes to you all~! From this time forth, my sword shall be with you, and your fate shall be with me, as our separate journeys have now intertwined and becomes one~! So leave it to me—for with my Sword of Selection, I will cleave the wicked in your name, Master!"
And this ethereal and heroic Knight Princess, who embodies hopes and dreams, is named—
"I, Artoria Pendragon, have come forth in response to your summons! Though I am still a novice with the sword, so please call me Saber Lily. I am most pleased to meet you, and I look forward to our adventure together, Master~!"
The first thing I ever truly wished for—was the sky.
Next came my wish for Senpai to hold my hand as I lay dying, crushed underneath the rubble of the Chaldea Control Room after the explosion.
And now, my presumably final wish is to have the strength to fight. Not to win, but to stall. To engage the Shadow Servant in combat, and last long enough for reinforcement in the form of Caster of this Holy Grail War to arrive, and escape with Senpai and Director Animusphere to safety.
Personal safety is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is to ensure protection for Director Animusphere, the head of the Chaldea Organization, and Sen– Fujimaru Ritsuka, a Master Candidate. Both of them are invaluable resources for the protection of the Human Order, and losing them will strike a great blow to the fulfillment of that end goal. Chaldeas had turned red... Which meant that the survival of humanity as a species for the next century was no longer a confirmed fact. And to face whatever threat the World is going to face, Chaldea will need strong Masters, and a reliable Director to lead them.
Discarding the life of a half-baked Servant like myself is therefore more than acceptable, as long as I can protect the actual important personnel. Sacrificing a single pawn to protect the prime pieces is really the only logical move in this situation.
... And yet I cannot help but feel a twinge of regret in my heart, at the sorrow in Senpai's voice as he called out to me—begged me to turn back. And even though I know better to let emotion influence my actions in a deadly combat encounter, I couldn't help but feel relieved at the fact that I was finally doing something meaningful—I felt genuinely happy at the prospect that my fake life would be used up in protecting the life of a genuine and good human like Senpai.
... Or rather that was what my feelings were, before they turned into confusion, as my final wish became null and void before I could even register what had just happened. After all, it does not make much sense to fight, or for them to flee, from a dead enemy.
One moment Berserker and I had been rushing towards each other—in the next moment I heard Senpai yell out something that I missed because of the blood pumping in my ears from the adrenaline, and a bright flash of light momentarily lit up the whole shed. And from a glowing Summoning Circle carved on the ground hidden beneath dust and boxes in the far corner of the shed that I had missed until that moment, suddenly came flying out a girl who drop-kicked Berserker in the face with the force of a small rocket, and sent his corpse flying almost out of the shed.
I now find myself standing next to a Servant claiming to be King Arthur Pendragon—arguably one of the most famous figures in all of mythology—who just killed the immensely strong enemy Servant in a single hit and was now pledging her sword to Senpai. I'm pretty sure my mouth is currently hanging as wide open as Director Animusphere's!
King Arth– well, Artoria I suppose is her true identity, and hence the name with which I should refer to her—has the appearance of a young girl around my own age with a slender physique, soft skin, and green eyes. She's pretty, in a soft way that reminds me of a flower's beauty, and her finely textured blonde hair, which seems as if sprinkled with gold dust, is tied back in a ponytail with a black ribbon. Her face shows open friendliness and displays elegance at the same time, and her voice is unlike anything I've ever heard before—lively and melodious, as if the personification of music itself. Her gray armor as well looked refined and majestic on her, even though it should have clashed with her aesthetic—the White Saber is beautiful enough to make the steel clanking of her armor seem like the chiming of a bell.
She looked... undoubtedly feminine and girlish, which are traits that I would have never associated with a King before, but the paradox was right before my eyes, and I have no choice but to accept the reality presented to me. But since she called herself inexperienced—is she maybe a young King Arthur before she became a proper King? With her eyes brimming with shining hope and I can't help but immediately associate her with a knight with a romantic, idyllic nature who practices daily in order to become the ideal king.
My thoughts, however, get interrupted by none other than the Director herself, as she finally breaks free from her state of shock and yells out, "H-H-How did you summon a Servant without a catalyst or a Summoning Circle?! How do you even have enough mana to sustain more than a single Servant with your spotty magic circuits?! A-And how come your file never mentioned ANYTHING about you specializing in flower-based or healing magecraft! So just—just... JUST HOW!? "
Calling her current state hysterical will not be an understatement, but her shock is understandable. Only moments ago I felt the connection between me and Senpai being weaker than ever – A clear sign of his exhaustion and depleted mana reserves. But now he stands tall and proud, with his magic circuits surging with power and all his previous injuries nowhere in sight, a newly summoned powerful Servant by his side, and flowers blooming everywhere around him—along with a circlet of interwoven flowers upon his head, and brilliant smile adorning his handsome face.
... W-w-wh-wait WHAT!? What am I even thinking! N-now is hardly a time to be admiring Senpai... even though he looks more stunning than ever before as he seems to be bursting with energy... his fit and muscled torso somewhat visible through a large tear in his shirt... his strong arms flexing as he stretched them and making his biceps and triceps pop out—No! Bad Mashu! T-These kind of thoughts are hardly appropriate! Especially towards my appointed Master and in the current situation... No-not like it would be any better in a different situation of course—!
A-Ahem, mo-moving on...!
The blossoms that make up his flower crown are numerous—dahlias, white and red carnations, hydrangea, and pink roses are only some of the few flowers I recognize. And in addition to that, white lilies seem to have erupted from beneath Senpai's feet and now cover every inch of the ground—and I can't help but watch them all in fascination.
I have never actually seen real flowers before in my life. None of the staff had any interest in botany, and the harsh climate around the base was hardly suitable for such delicate plants to grow. The closest I have gotten to seeing them is in the picture books Dr. Roman used to bring me and the flower-shaped contraptions Da Vinci built to humor me when I brought up the topic to her.
But here they are, blooming all around me in their beautiful glory, in the absolutely last place I would expect to see them. And for a moment, I cannot help but forget about the situation we are all in as I get pulled into the sheer novelty and wonder of the sight around me—another wish that I didn't even realize I had, granted by Senpai even in this bleak hour. He truly is one of a kind.
"Oh, these flowers are not mine. They were conjured by an adorable trickster with too much free time in her hands, and too much sadness hidden in the depths of her heart." Senpai cryptically answers the Director's questions calmly and in an almost casual manner as he finishes his stretching, and dusts off a few stray flower petals stuck to his clothing, before turning to the kneeling knight still waiting for his answer, and offering her his hand.
"Just so you know, accepting your... fealty is the right word, I think, cause you are a Knight and stuff? Just because I accept it, does not make me your Lord, or your superior in any way. I don't want you to be literal servant, I want us to be equals. Partners. Friends, and someone who refer to each other by our names, if it's not too presumptuous of me to ask that of you. I hope that's okay, Lily...?"
Judging by the way she perked up at Senpai's words and the delighted smile she sends his way, as she takes a hold of his hand and stands up, the Saber Servant clearly had no issues with the arrangement Senpai proposed. "Yes~! I would certainly love to be your friend and call you by your name... once I know it! And as for the questions posed by your white-haired companion, I am happy to announce that I have answers that I can offer! These flowers are a staple of a certain mentor of mine, and with Master's description, I can be certain that none other than Merlin himself has a hand in arranging our meeting!"
"Oh, Merlin's actually taken a female form this time round," As both mine and the Director's jaws drop once again at the piece of information being presented by Saber Lily, Senpai once again casually drops another bombshell. Then he brings his free hand to rest upon the hand of Artoria that he is still gripping, and tighten his hold on her. And as I watch this display, I feel something in my chest tighten similarly.
"Also, she kind of entrusted you and your happiness to me, so I hope you don't mind if I also pledge myself to you as well. I, Fujimaru Ritsuka, promise to stay by your side from now, until the day I manage to give you the most fun and fulfilling adventure you could ever have imagined going on! And hopefully, a little while longer after that as well."
"Eh?!" Artoria jumped at Senpai's words, startled by his sudden intensity, before a flush comes over her fair face as she frees her arms from his grasp as if they were suddenly too hot to touch. "E-e-e-entrusted me to you—? Changing her gender to fool around and play pranks is hardly anything new, but the second part is rather out of character... Y-you almost make it sound like a parent giving away their daughter f-for ma—"
I too find myself blushing lightly at what Lily was insinuating, but she never gets to finish speaking her thought, as once again the Director interrupts. And for some strange reason, I feel both a sense of relief and disappointment at not getting to hear Senpai clarify what exactly he meant by his words. "FORGET ABOUT THAT, Y-y-y-y-you met with MERLIN!? And conversed with him–her—whatever, and you just state that as if it is an everyday occurrence that you meet with an immortal being of such immense mystery! HOW?! H—She should be imprisoned on the Reverse Side of the World in Avalon - Do you know how many theories and how much research and absurd amounts of money and resources have been spent, along with years upon years of studies that have been conducted by so many prestigious Magus families to reach the Mage of Flower—AND YOU ARE TELLING ME A NOBODY OF A CIVILIAN MAGUS LIKE YOU JUST STUMBLED UPON HER BY CHANCE!? Preposterous! Inconceivable! That is—"
"—A matter to discus at a later time, boss."
In a single, swift bold move Senpai silences the raging Director by placing a finger upon her lips. Her eyes widen to sizes I have trouble believing should be possible for a human body to achieve, and her face is as red as a tomato, from equal doses of rage and embarrassment from the nonchalant way Senpai was treating her. I was half tempted to step in and pull him back and protect his poor finger from the wrath of an exploding Director's teeth, but Senpai seemingly realizing the danger his index finger was in and swiftly pulled it back, and raised his hands as if trying to calm a raging animal as he began speaking again. "I think we both realize that we are not out of danger just yet. My scolding can wait until we are completely in the clear, right?"
"Indeed, I believe that will be the best course of action to take at this moment!" Saber chimes in cheerfully, and even the Director can't help herself but mellow out when faced with the innocent looking girl. Who will one day be the king of Britain, I have to remind myself, even though her current appearance hardly suggest such a thing at the moment. "And I am happy to say that I can actually answer one of your queries, boss of Ritsuka! I have come forth, summoned by none other than the Round Table itself, to answer my Master's call for help!"
"There is a Round Table fragment here?! They are some of the rarest and most well guarded mystic codes, and even the smallest of shards are worth a fortune!" I exclaim in sudden surprise. "It there really such a rare artifact present here?"
The Director facepalms.
"A-ah...! D-did I say so-something weird?" I worriedly turns to Senpai and his new Servant, who are also looking at me strangely. "S-senpai?"
He only answers with a shrug. "Perhaps the Round Table was all the friends that you made along the way?"
Lily-san giggles sweetly at his words, but I'm afraid I cannot find the humor in his words with the glare that the Director is leveling at me.
"I am surrounded by stupidity and idiotic subordinates..." The Director finally mumbles as she rubs the bridge of her nose. Then she yells, making me jump and let out an embarrassing squeak that I hope Senpai didn't catch. "MASHU! YOU ARE LITERALLY HOLDING UP THE ROUND TABLE AND WIELDING IT AS A SHIELD! HOW DO YOU JUST FORGET ABOUT THAT?!"
But judging by Senpai's teasing grin being sent my way, and Lily-san's sympathetic smile, they both noticed my squeak. Aaaaaaaaaah...! I-it's so embarrassing that I could die...! It's not my fault that Senpai's misleading words and him suddenly looking like... like—that, all confident and dashing and handsome all of a sudden, caused all the thoughts in my head to jumble together! S-stupid unfair Senpai! And stupid me, for getting distracted by such a thing in the first place!
The Director then turned and glared at Senpai for quite a few moments, but I finally relax as I feel the hostility drain from her as she takes in and releases a deep breath. "Haaah, fine, I will relent for now. You make a good point, we have more pressing matters to focus on right now. Like immediately escaping or find a way to permanently dispose of Berserker."
"Huh?! But didn't Lily-san just... defeat him..."
The words get stuck in my throat as I turn to check on the fallen Servant—only to find him fallen no longer. It was impossible, but what I was seeing was certainly no lie, and the grim reality makes me invariably take a step back. I watch on with horror, as he stands hunched and unsteady on his feet as he breaths heavily in a manner that I somehow had not caught until I had turned to focus on him. But the most concerning thing to look at was most certainly his face—which was no longer in it's half-destroyed state. His head was still smoking and eyes were pure white and unfocused, and I was certain that Berserker had yet to gain consciousness. Yet the Servant who was certainly dead only moments ago was now standing, and the part of his head that had been blown apart by Saber was in the process of healing from the mortal wound!
"I have heard perhaps a hundred tales from father about his experiences in the Fifth Holy Grail War and I can say with certainty that the one we are facing is none other than a twisted version of Greece's greatest hero, Heracles." The Director continues in a solemn tone as she also stares at the giant's face growing back before our eyes. His brain, his skull, the muscles and skin surrounding it—all growing rapidly like a grotesque plant right before our eyes.
"And if my hypothesis formed from hearing his stories of his fights against him is correct, killing him once will not be enough to stop him. It is certainly tied to his Noble Phantasm, [God Hand], which is not a weapon or an attack, but rather his body itself—his legends depict him completing twelve impossible labors, and in return the Olympian gods granted him immortality as a reward. Thus he possesses a body that knows no death, and hence the only way to completely destroy his Spirit Origin is to kill him twelve times over. I judge that we have just more than a minute-and-half left at most, before he completely revives himself and starts his rampage all over again."
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"Huh." Senpai is somehow completely calm at this bleak news as he watches Berserker's regeneration, before he turns and addresses the Director with genuine surprise in his voice. "So you are actually quite competent when you are calm!"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY, YOU INSOLENT LITTLE—"
"Calm down, please; we really should not be fighting amongst ourselves at a moment like this." Lily steps in between the two before the Director's anger can take over and calms her, before turning to Senpai with a small disapproving frown on her face. "And Master, that was mean of you to say, so please apologize!"
Senpai's grin turns sheepish at Lily-san's admonishment, as he lowers his head and apologizes. "Sorry Director, it was an ill-timed joke that I hoped would break the tension. I didn't mean to imply anything bad with my words, and honestly, your intel is quite useful in this situation! I am glad to have you here, boss."
"A whole lot of good my presence is doing us right now," The Director mutters bitterly, in a tone of voice low enough that I would have missed it without my enhanced Servant senses. "I will deal with your impudent attitude at a later point in time; but right at this moment we need to focus on dealing with Berserker. Servant Saber, are you capable of slaying him!"
"... I am afraid not." For the first time since her arrival, the smile on the White Saber's face slips.
She continues with her head lowered and in a quiet and forlorn voice, as if ashamed of the words that she is saying. "I am afraid that in my current form, I am much too weak to strike him down. The moment I laid eyes on him my combat instincts warned me—Your sword shall put nary a scratch on his bare flesh. That was why I hit him directly with my mana blast, but against a warrior as esteemed as the mighty Hercules, such a trick will not work twice. Forgive me, Master—maybe things would have been different if I had been summoned as my older self while wielding the Sword of Promised Victory... but in my current novice state, I am afraid that I cannot defeat Berserker in single combat."
"But—!" Lily-san's melancholy is short-lived however, as she almost immediately chimes in a voice filled with resolve, and her eyes shining with determination. "Hope is not lost! For I am certain of this—if I release my esteemed blade's true name and use the full strength of the Sword in the Stone in a single attack, I can overcome our opponent's impenetrable defence and defeat him once and for all! Just give me the order, Master, I promise to do my utmost to bring you victory, Fujimaru Ritsuka!"
"Overruled!" The Director's voice cuts through Lily-san's enthusiasm like a blade.
"That is indeed good to know, but it is not a viable course of action at the moment. Releasing a Noble Phantasm's true name and powering it up to its maximum output is not an instant phenomenon—it will take a dozen seconds at the least. And I am afraid gambling on whether Saber pulls off her greatest attack or Berserker reviving and attacking us is not a sound enough plan for me to approve."
"Then we should stick to our original course of action," I voice my thoughts as I ready my shield in the Berserker's direction. It is the most logical course of action, after all. "Now with Senpai fully healed and Lily-san to protect you two from outside threats, it is a perfect time to escape while I hold him off—"
"No."
Senpai finally turns to me, the words catch in my throat with how intensely he gazes into my eyes—like is is staring right at my naked soul. The single word he uttered was not loud, yet even the Director stopped herself from speaking upon hearing his voice. Such power and authority emanated from within Senpai's command. With his miss-matched eyes looking so dreamy and striking in the golden light cast by the White Saber's blade, catching his gaze makes my heart skip a beat, as I feel my cheeks heat up involuntarily.
"Lily, I want you to cross swords with Berserker and keep him engaged and away from us for the time being. Buy us time, as Mashu gathers her strength. Olga, keep an eye of the fight and provide assistance and aid as you deem necessary. Then, on my signal, you two will switch and Mashu will hold Heracles off while Lily charge up Caliburn to end Heracles's career once and for all! Can you do that for me, Olga, Lily?"
"H-hey, who do you think you are, to order me—/—It will be done, Master~! I will neither let you, nor the noble maiden who carries Gally's shield, down!"
The Director's protests get cut short by Lily-san's enthusiastic acceptance of Senpai's plan, and she immediately leaps into combat to fulfill her Master's bidding. Even after admitting to be outclassed by Berserker, without a shred of hesitation, she kicks him once again just as his wound finally closes—which results in the both of them escaping out of the boundaries of the dark shed, and the sound of roaring, followed by the CLANG of steel against stone, is a clear indicator that battle has already begun. The Director briefly hesitates, looking conflicted on what to focus on, the ensuing fight between Servants, or Senpai. Until a second larger roar shakes the very foundation of the shed, which finally makes up her mind for her, as she curses and runs outside with her magic crest burning brightly on her forehead.
But all of this I notice through my peripheral senses—for throughout all this, the main thing I can focus on is none other than Senpai himself, as he slowly approaches me without once breaking eye-contact. I have a lot I want to say right now... but with Senpai's intense gaze locked onto my own, it feels like my brain has turned into mush. The space between my ears is filled to the brim with sound. Mad, loud sound that I cannot escape, cannot seek refuge from. Because outside, silence reigns—while inside, the overpowering sound of my pounding heart overrides all logical thought.
"Don't tell me you already forgot the words I said to Lily just moments ago? They apply for you as well, my adorable Kouhai." A shiver runs up my spine at his words, and as he gets slowly ever-closer.
"We are friends, Mashu—we established that back in that hallway of Chaldea itself. And Fujimaru Ritsuka does not abandon his friends. Servant's are not tools. You are not a tool! You are just an ordinary girl thrust into this hell-scape and are trying your best to protect us, and I refuse to leave you behind you no matter what!"
"... You are being unfair, Senpai."
That was all I could say, with him standing so close to me now. All I can mutter as my voice fails me when he takes my hand, and I feel Senpai's warmth... and suddenly I feel all my resolve shatter as I look upon his beautiful face. And I can do nothing but stare blankly as my breath catches in my throat as Senpai gently cups my face with his strong yet gentle hands—
—and pinches my cheeks together and pulls.
"Awaawhaaawahaaaa—! Seeempaiii iiiwt hwwurttts—!"
"Nobody gets to sacrifice my adorable Kouhai, this precious and sacred treasure that is Mashu, and gets away with it on my watch. Not even Mashu herself! I possess a burning desire to protect cute things. And so it would go against my principles to not protect and cherish you! Now suffer your punishment and contemplate on your stupid and inconsiderate actions!"
And with that Senpai finally lets go of my cheeks. And before I can even properly process what just went down, Senpai immediately takes another step forward—and pulls me into a hug.
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Foolish.
I press my lips together, and my nails dig into the handle of the shield. Foolish, stupid, wrong. It is bound to bring me headaches, to cause problems. I can not afford to be reckless, to be distracted. Chaldea, and the World itself depends on me… and yet. My body relaxes, as I simply cannot bear to let go of this sheer foolishness that plagues my heart.
It is foolish, this heavy beating of my heart. Senseless, this rush in my veins. Silly, the flush still on my cheeks. It is foolish and dangerous how my heart leaps as he gently strokes my hair, and how my stomach churns as Senpai's warm breath caresses my ear. How right it feels, to be engulfed completely in his warmth, feeling his heartbeat even through my armour.
Ah, this is my first proper hug.
—Lucky me. How truly wonderful... that I can share it with Senpai.
I cannot not escape this warmth, not in a million years. No, that is an incorrect phrasing of my feelings. I simply don't want to separate from Senpai's arms, from the comfort his embrace gives me at this moment. My mind protests as it knows that such a choice is not logical—not something a fake like me deserves, nor has the right to wish for. I should be out there fighting. But here I am, being comforted by the Master I am supposed to be protecting. Senpai's warmth is wasted on me... And yet I selfishly cling onto him, my body and heart refusing to let go.
... I truly am a terribly half-assed Servant. Senpai deserves better.
"No, you are not. You are the best Servant I could ever have hoped for, and I am going to continue reminding you of this fact, until you believe it yourself."
Senpai's voice cuts though the silence like a blade, and with a start I realize that I must have unconsciously spoken my thoughts out loud. Embarrassment makes me try to disengage from him, but he simply tightens his hold on me as he continues speaking directly into my ear, causing me to shiver lightly again, as his soft words wash over me.
"Did you forget what my wish was, Mashu, when I used my Command Seal to heal you? I wanted for you to smile—and I have yet to see one on your face in all this time I have been awake. So I'm afraid I cannot let you go and fight until this wish of mine is fulfilled."
Senpai pulls back then, and I immediately miss the feeling of his body against mine. And while I feel immediate guilt for thinking such a thought, those feelings fade quickly as Senpai peers into my eyes with such intensity that for a few moments I forget where I am—as I get completely pulled into his mesmerizing eyes. Then he poses me a question, that I miss the first time and he has to repeat once again.
"I said, tell me Mashu—if two objects, one real and one an indistinguishable fake, are placed side by side, which one is more valuable?"
It is strange question asked at a strange time, but I do not hesitate to give an answer. Senpai is the one who asked it after all, and I don't have to ponder long on how to reply. After all, the logical answer is quite clear.
"The real one, of course. The original object is the one that was created first, and the fake is a mere replica of it. So no matter how good of a copy it is, even if it is hypothetically indistinguishable from the original—it will at most be of equal value. At its core, it is a copy of the original. And by the virtue of being a fake, it will forever be the inferior product."
Senpai doesn't look surprised by my answer... but he looks almost saddened by my words, as if I just confirmed some kind of terrible news. I don't like this expression on his face or the frown on the lips that I am already so used to seeing smile. What did I say to make him look like this, and what should I do to fix it—?!
"... Is that how you see yourself, Mashu?"
—Ah, I see. I understand now, why Senpai is looking at me with that forlorn expression on his face. Of course someone as clever as him would connect the dots so quickly—of course someone as kind as him would even be able to empathize with a failure like me.
Fujimura Ritsuka is the most human Master of them all. That is why I call him Senpai, after all.
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"Hmmmm, your perspective is definitely one way of answering that question. But you know what I think, Mashu?" And just as sudden it had disappeared, the grin reappears on Senpai's face as he grips my shoulders with purpose, as if trying to make sure I absorb the words he is about to say. "I think it is the fake, which is infinitely more valuable than the original can ever hope to be."
"After all, who is to say that a fake cannot surpass the real deal?!"
"W-what...?" It is not just Senpai's words that shock me—it is what I see in his eyes. Conviction. Pure and utter conviction in his words, there was not a hint of doubt in those mismatched eyes, nor an ounce of uncertainty. Senpai holds complete and utter belief in the words that he was speaking.
He holds complete and utter belief... in me.
"In my eyes the fake is, and always will be, of far greater value than the original. For in it's deliberate attempt to be real, it has become more real than the real thing. In it's pursuit to coming as close to the real deal as possible, the value of the fake becomes insurmountably more than that of the original. If I had to choose between the Spirit that resides within you and has fused with your soul, and you—I will choose you every single time without fail, Mashu."
Senpai's eyes remain intense as ever, as he steps even closer, his shoulders closing me in against the shield. And I stand rooted to the same spot, unable to break his gaze. With each breath I take, the only think I can smell is him. And when he's near enough, so near I can almost feel his heat upon my skin once again, Senpai finally breaks eye contact as he bends head down and presses his lips against my forehead.
The kiss is gentle and soft and over in less than a second, but I am certain that I will surely relieve this moment countless times in my dreams.
Senpai's smell, Senpai's voice, Senpai's touch—I make sure to try my hardest to memorize the feeling of it all before he backs away, and smiles his gentle and lovely smile once again.
"If you can't believe in yourself, Mashu, believe in me. Believe in your Senpai, who believes in you."
Senpai's smile remains, even as he gently wipes away tears that I didn't even realise were rolling down my cheeks—one that I can't help but hold dear. One that makes my heart feel like it's racing every time I catch a glimpse of it. A smile that I can't help but return with one of my own, without even realizing it. A smile that I can't help but wish to see more of. A smile that I can't help... but wish to protect.
"Even if it is a sham, even if it is borrowed. You yearned for the power to protect, and your prayers were answered. Your wish was granted because even the Heroic Spirit who rejected Chaldea couldn't help but respond to such a heartfelt plea. So don't loose faith in yourself, and don't fight to win. Fight to protect. To protect yourself. To protect Chaldea. To protect humanity. To protect... me. Can you do that for me, Mashu?"
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"What is strength to you?"
The memory of a voice, one I have only ever heard in my dreams and then forgotten completely when I woke up. An illusion of a faded image. An echo of the past which now reverberates in the present. Am I truly hearing his voice, or is it just my mind playing trick on me? I cannot be sure, but it doesn't matter. Even if it is a fake—As long as my resolve is real, I can hold my head up high and make Senpai proud.
Strength to me is great magical power. A great power, a thing of wonder and awe. A weapon to make up for my weakness and a shield that helps me stand my ground.
"Why do you wish for my strength?"
Magic is typically awakened by some kind of self-realization. Who or what one cares about, accepts, hates, adores, grieves, reveres, impresses or craves for—such internal conditions can trigger it's awakening. And at this moment, there is one thing and one thing only that I want.
I wish for the strength to protect Senpai.
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The first thing I wished for was the sky.
However, that was merely a dream where I simply waited at the windowsill during a blizzard. But things are different now. I have felt the warmth of a human smile. I have felt the beating of a human heart. And I have felt what it feels like to have someone believing in you.
Indeed! That's right, I feel it. I am being pulled into a shape. My true desire... The shape of my heart will be created on this journey. And now, to ensure that the dream of this journey will indeed come true, it is my turn to return this answer back onto Senpai! To prove that the trust that Senpai has put upon me is not misplaced!
My whole body is screaming out in pain as the Heroic Spirit's power courses throughout my every being, my soul itself... but that's okay. I concentrate all the strength left over. All of my flesh. All of my brain. All of my blood. All of my cells, everything from them. My personal vitality, stamina, magical power, potential, I muster all that I have ― And for an instant, I know I can do it. I can break past my limits and show Senpai just what I can do! As long as I can feel the pain I can be awake. As long as I can feel the pain I can move. And as long as I can feel the pain — I can... No.
I will protect Senpai.
And alone it might be impossible. But luckily, this time around I have the King of Knights herself watching my back. And if I am afraid of being left behind or forgotten by Senpai... well, I will just have to prove myself to be just as useful as Artoria Pendragon herself!
It feels like a lifetime ago now... yet the memory of his promise is vivid in my mind. And as I pick up my shield and turn towards the sound of battle raging outside, I now make a promise of my own.
I will watch the clear blue sky — But not without Senpai by my side!
"Unlike the first time we met, I feel like I can do a great self-introduction now, Senpai. No... my Master! Mashu Kyrielight, class Shielder, reporting for duty! I promise to wield this Shield with all my might for you Senpai, as your first Servant! Please watch me, Master, as I ensure that victory comes to you!"
Huh, turns out Merlin's last minute analogies about the nature of striving to be good or evil actually did turn out helpful for Protag-kun. Who would have thought!
So finally we meet out first Saber-face! And as many of you had surely guessed, it's none other than Fate/Stay Night's poster-girl Artoria herself—Though I wonder if any of you had correctly guessed on which version I was planning on introducing first! Give your thoughts on Lily, and also give me your feedback on Mashu's POV! Like it, hated it, anything you'd wish to see from her perspective in the future—tell me in the reviews please! Also, who is your favourite heroine and why (including Rider and Caster if you want) in the original Fate/Stay Night story? Excluding Kirei, cause he's obviously best girl.
By the way, does anyone know how Artoria acquired Rhongominiad in the Fate-verse? It is said to be one of the three holy items, along with her dagger and shield, that was gifted to King Arthur by God—but seeing as the spear is a shadow of the Tower at the End of the World in the Fate canon, has it ever been explained how exactly she got a hold of it in the first place?
Please leave a review sharing your thoughts, it would mean the world to me; It's what motivates us writers to write more! Thanks for reading si far and hope you enjoyed it! Hope to see you in the next chapter — Adios!