A shallow sigh escaped Arturia's lips while staring out into the distant Mediterranean Sea. The ground was rumbling from what the news was claiming to be a small magnitude earthquake. In truth, she understood the minute shaking was unlikely to stem from natural means, and it caused her to stress to no end.

The futility of her own capabilities in contrast to those she wanted to help but couldn't help, was a weight that heavily pressed over her shoulders.

Frowning, she pried her gaze away from the sea, and glanced around to make sure Ms. Zola wasn't nearby before carefully placing her hands on the latch of her room's window.

She licked her lips in concentration, her eyes squinting as a dull click echoed in her ears.

The window creaked open, a salty seaside breeze blowing onto her.

She blinked owlishly, almost embarrassed at her own caution.

The window had been easier than she'd thought. Shirou told her that Ms. Zola was some sort of mage, and given that Arturia was staying in Ms. Zola's accommodations, she'd assumed that she was under house arrest in the guise of 'protection.'

Outside the window, a spell matrix woven on the outer glass of the window shattered and dissipated, the materials used as a medium, misaligning. As it was damaged from the inside rather than the outside, the structural integrity of the spell was met with catastrophic failure. All while the person at fault was clapping her cheeks in a bid to hype her resolve.

Arturia peeked her head through the window, and judged that the distance to the ground wouldn't be too much for her knees to handle.

Now all she needed to do was crawl out and escape.

Hesitation had already long since been taken out of consideration, replaced with an inexplicable agitation.

She was on the second floor, and although she was athletic, a fall this high wasn't for the faint of heart.

And Arturia had a lot of heart.

She was as stubborn as a lion when her mind was set on something, or rather, Kay described it more as a donkey, but what did he know?

She wore a tank-top that exposed her navel, and blue track shorts she'd brought from home. Sardinia was hot and she'd dressed for a seaside vacation. She had no shoes, so she was wearing sandals. Overtop her upper garments was a light hoodie half way zipped, and secured over that was Caliburn strapped on her back.

Sticking her head out of the window one more time, Arturia quickly disappeared back into the room before a tied rope of blankets, bedsheets, and pillow cases was tossed out.

Inside the room, Arturia fastened the make-shift rope to the side of the bedpost, and then tugged to make sure it was secure enough to hold her weight.

Crawling through the window, she twisted over and braced herself along the taut line. All that was left was to shimmy down, and then she was free.

Things didn't quite go as planned.

The knots she tied on the bed sheets began to gradually unwind before her eyes, but at least she was near enough to the ground to let go.

Her landing was shaky, but only her knees felt a little stiff rather than painful. Dusting herself off, she quickly started running, only to bump into someone that caught her by the scruff of her neck.

Choked and flustered at her failed escape, Arturia glanced up at her apprehender and quickly lowered her gaze in trepidation when met with steely gray pupils.

"Athena?" Arturia squeaked.

"Arthenia," Athena greeted in turn, glancing behind Arturia and straight at her shoddy escape attempt, blankets and pillow cases billowing in the breeze. "Caught up in another mess I see."

Arturia's lip twitched, the vain urge to speak out in protest barely restrained.

"Ugh, okay fine it's true, but how about you? Where have you been?" Arturia fired back.

Something in Athena's eyes flickered, but like a true Goddess of Wisdom, she maintained her composure, and gingerly released Arturia in front of her.

Arturia landed on her feet and apprehensively avoided Athena's gaze. Despite Athena's recent shortcomings, Athena's wisdom made it difficult for Arturia to hide any intention from her. Athena would sooner infer the intention on her own and play you for a fool than let you think you got something over her.

"There was a matter I had to deal with." Athena muttered slowly. "A matter I have yet to finish when suddenly I find the young Praetor cluelessly escaping on her own."

Arturia didn't have a response. It was true.

What was she even trying to do? No, what could she do even after she escaped?

The answer was nothing.

She could neither fight, nor reach Shirou and the others on her own.

Staying out of the way was all she was good for.

Neither Athena or Shirou had ever factored her in with regards to any conflict. It was always to protect her, keep her hidden, or have one be her bodyguard- there was never a 'let's fight together,' or 'I'm relying on you,' even with the Authority Shirou had given her.

Moral support, that's all she was.

Arturia fell quiet, her lips pursing. Unknowingly, her focus gravitated towards an item she carried in the pocket of her hoodie.

Still waiting for a response, Athena ended up humming in thought at the traces of divinity lingering around Arturia.

Mental contamination? More importantly, the divinity was all too familiar.

Athena's jaw clenched.

Caught up in her dark thoughts, Arturia fiddled with a seashell she kept in her pocket. She palmed the item, took it out of her pocket, and then lowered her gaze.

She stared at the seashell with mixed feelings, hardly noticing she was even doing so. Whispers clouded her ears, incessantly lulling her into a sense of wanting. Her pupils grew clouded, her breathing tightening as her blood raced within her.

The feelings of doubt and insecurity that made her feel small were growing bigger and bigger. Rather than doubt, it was a more acute emotion.

Jealousy.

Jealousy for a woman Merlin had clearly based off of her, and yet held an unshakable position.

…If Arturia broke this shell, would everything change?

Perhaps, Arturia could get Shirou to look at her, and not be looking at the image of someone else…?

Every time he did so was unbearable.

She began breathing heavier and heavier.

Her fingers were gradually pressing down on the shell, as emotion spurred from desire began to make her blind to her own actions.

Staring at Arturia, Athena shook her head as it was evident that Arturia was unable to resist- no it was closer to say she was choosing not to. Even when Caliburn began to exude its Authority, Athena helped restrain it.

Keeping Arturia in a glass castle would never let her mature, no matter how well intentioned her protectors were.

Arturia began panting.

Affection was a compelling emotion beyond all else.

Cracks began to form on the seashell, spreading out like fragile webs that would soon produce a complete cave in of the structure.

Yet before that point,

Slap!

Suddenly, Athena grabbed Arturia by the wrist with the iciest expression Arturia had ever seen on her face, and plunged her with a pulse of wisdom that spread through her mind.

Arturia's clouded eyes grew clear. "W-What's wrong? Let go of me." She protested.

"Where did you get this?" Athena demanded, immediately taking the seashell out of Arturia's grasp.

As if Athena was prying away something precious from her, Arturia grew flustered and uneasy.

"Hey wait a minute that's-"

Athena glared, Divinity flickering in her eyes that quickly dissuaded Arturia's outburst.

"Okay- okay, I get it!" Arturia relented. She pursed her lips and bowed her head in concession, but still grumbled under her breath. "It's just a seashell."

Athena shook her head, obviously hearing Arturia mouthing at her. It wasn't just any seashell; it was a symbol that represented that, Goddess.

"This is my lead. Hmm," Athena hummed in thought, staring at Arturia who fidgeted under her gaze.

For all Shirou's intentions, Athena could see that he wasn't adept in regards to consideration. His intent to shield Arturia was conflicting with what Arturia wanted. Worse, he lacked the insight to comprehend the nature of his own actions because he was never really looking at 'Arturia,' when he looked at her.

Even Athena could see that, let alone Arturia who was subject to it.

Honestly, such a sinful man.

No woman should bear the image of someone else superimposed on herself…unless that image was Athena's. That, Athena could grudgingly allow.

But in short, that man's wisdom was lacking, and Athena would not let that disparage her young protege's self esteem.

"You're going to help me," Athena decided.

"Huh?"

Surprise coloured Arturia's features at the sudden offer, unsure if Athena was pulling her leg or not. She became even less certain when she heard Athena's following words and intonation.

"What do you say we hunt a Bitch?" The inflection of Athena's voice sounded warped, like a demon hissing to gift death.

Arturia winced and backed away. "I think I need an adult."

"Silly child." Athena trapped Arturia by placing her hands on Arturia's shoulders. "Why an adult when you have a Goddess?"

For all Athena's growth, a part of Arturia's mind still flashed back to her petite form.

Arturia shook her head and focused on what mattered to her.

"What can I even do?" Arturia stared up at Athena, and then gradually lowered her gaze to focus on her clasped hands. "I'm not strong enough to help even if I wanted to. Shirou would-"

Athena hushed Arturia, wrapping her right arm around Arturia's shoulders, and gesturing with her left hand.

"Trust me." Athena said, clicking her tongue. "For a God of Steel, Shirou baby's you, willfully blind to the potential within."

Potential? No.

"Willfully?" Arturia was gradually being taken in by Athena's words. "What do you mean?"

Athena narrowed her eyes, but refrained from speaking on the subject lest a swan grow a pig's head. No normal person would be the recipient of a magic that tied Heretic Gods in a system of Servant and Master. There was something there, something Shirou continued to gloss over.

"I'll take responsibility," Athena affirmed, directly changing the subject.

"No, but why?"

"I've a feeling that she's involved in this mess. It's always her. The sooner she's dealt with, the easier it will be for everyone including Shirou. Sound good enough for you?"

"…"

What was this, a sale's pitch?

Arturia darted her eyes left and right, noticing that a rattled Ms. Zola had noticed her escape and was now staring at her and Athena.

Ms. Zola's agitation subsided when she noticed Arturia with Athena, rather than some assailant that got through her wards and abducted the eight Campione under her watch.

Arturia signalled an SOS, but Ms. Zola pretended not to see it.

Meanwhile-

"I am Athena." Athena continued as if her name was the surest guarantee.

It wasn't.

Arturia refrained from voicing her doubts, but Athena took the silence as acknowledgment.

"Who am I, if not a hero maker?" Athena insisted.

Mentally, Arturia plugged off from the narcissism.

"I'll do it. I'll make a limp noodle into a deliciously erect and meaty-"

Athena's eyes rapidly widened in alarm, nearly choking as she forcibly bit down on her tongue, immediately misting her eyes over from the acute pain.

Athena's expression frosted over mid-speech, veins popping over her temples. She paused, suddenly realizing that suppressing Ishtar's curse would be far more difficult than she thought.

She'd never have spoken such crass words consciously.

Athena now had even more reason to stay away from Shirou before this curse was solved.

Ishtar needs to die.

This will not be forgiven. This will not be forgotten.

'That slut. Damn her. Damn her to Tartarus.'

Your hubris will be your undoing.

The unshattered shell would lead the way.

Athena's cheeks were reddening in sheer mortification, but subconsciously, she licked her lips, her throat unnaturally dry.

Fortunately, Arturia didn't notice anything and spoke as soon as Athena's pause gave her the chance.

"You'll really make me stronger?" Arturia asked.

"…Of course." Athena tried to hurriedly brush things along.

Athena coughed awkwardly before raising a hand out in front of her. In the same way she could summon her scythe at a mere thought for battle, other items were no different.

"Let's start then."

Focusing, a set of armour appeared in Athena's hands that Arturia would never be able to mistake.

"C-Cosplay?" Arturia murmured in a daze.

It was the armour that Arturia had commissioned from Japan's History Compilation Committee:

Saber's blue armour, lined with golden colouring and an inner dress.

"Wear it." Athena shoved the armour into Arturia's hands, as if expecting her to strip in public and equip it.

Obviously, Arturia had her reservations, but faced with Athena's stern expression, and her own desire to change the status quo, she hardened her heart.

Shyly, Arturia began taking off her hoodie, but made no motion of removing her tank top or shorts. However, Athena shook her head and snapped her fingers.

The process was taking too long.

Athena had forgotten that Arturia knew no magic, and righted her wrong.

Upon snapping her fingers, the armour vanished into motes of gold light, and then naturally materialized over Arturia's form.

A soft glow emanated from Caliburn, its Authority as a weapon spreading across the armour and altering it to its 'original' form. The fabric shone with a regal luster, the steel plates, pauldrons, and greaves shining with a radiant silver hue.

Like a flickering torch, blue magic energy wrapped around Arturia in a blazing aura, as if welcoming an old friend.

"Woah," Arturia gasped, staring at the stark change in herself and feeling it.

Was this how magic felt like? It was as if she could crush boulders with her fist or cleave cars in two with her sword…

Athena hummed to herself while observing the changes. It was just like she'd thought.

Shirou wasn't the only one wrapped in mysteries.

"Good enough."

Athena would dwell over the mystery later.

There was no more time to waste.

Athena could not afford it.

She walked with a strange gait in her legs.

That damn Ishtar.

Sorry for smaller update. I got a headache while working on this with how hot it's been lately. Worse, my AC broke, and my house is a heat death trap.

Anyway, here come's the main character of this arc, at least if Enkidu doesn't end up swiping the hype away at any point.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to my newest patrons: Shem, Ricardo, and Nur Selem!

Next update: Huntsman V2

P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious

Book links:

Fatedlegacydark. ca

The Lonely Peak

New Book: Out on Amazon (Remove dash on link)

Survivor's Log Reflection: Amazon.c-om/dp/B08VDDGN7Z?