*/*/*
"Well Master it's time to decide if you're going to give that Rani person the items we collected from the Arena," Lancer greeted from his hammock as Hakuno stretched and sat up in her bed. "Assuming you're awake enough to process thoughts, that is."
"I will never understand morning people" Hakuno grumbled but forced herself into gear as best she could. "I don't see the harm. The worst that'll happen is we lose the items, and she tells us nothing." They didn't need the things from the Arena anymore as far as Hakuno could tell, so she wouldn't lose anything besides time already spent.
"True enough boss lady. And best case we get even more advantage on that green bastard. I'm going to enjoy having him realize his arrows can't even touch me" Lancer took a moment for what Hakuno could only assume were self-indulgent violent fantasies. She let him have his moment as she got herself ready for the day.
"You coming with, Lancer?" Hakuno looked over as she headed for the door. She already knew his answer, but she wanted to at least start treating her Servant more like a person and offer a choice.
"I already have a black mark on my guard duty as is Master. You're not getting out of my sight now." He vanished, following after her.
Up a flight of stairs, and a turn down the hallway found Rani standing by a window, looking out on the computerized sky. "Good day" Rani greeted as Hakuno approached, "I see you have to come to accept my offer." She turned slightly, as if reading the binary sky. "You've brought it at the right time too, as Sir Blackmore's star is in position."
I wonder how you read stars in a false sky Hakuno mused. Deciding Rani was unlikely to share that information, Hakuno just handed over the broken bits of arrows from the arena. There was a small sense of doubt in the back of her mind. Rani was a rival Master after all. Could anything a rival in a deathmatch said be trusted as truth?
"I follow my professor's instructions to learn more about humans. You do not need to worry about my motives." Rani must have read Hakuno's expression. Hakuno made a mental note to see about making her expression less open to interpretation. "Learning about Sir Blackmore's Servant will help your cause as well, correct?" Rani's almost mechanical way of speaking brought Hakuno's wandering mind back to the situation at hand. Rani then examined the mostly intact arrow brushing her fingers along it as she mumbled a spell softly. "The star that governs this Servant is indeed bright today."
I'm just going to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that Rani can read some form of fortune from her Astrology magic.
The stars can tell a lot of information to those that know how to read them Master. She doesn't seem to be lying at the moment either, so we might as well see what happens.
"I… am in a forest" Rani spoke slowly as she gripped the arrow with her eyes closed. "Deep and dark woods. I can be a harbinger of infamy, spending my life in this darkness. Others meet me with admiration and trepidation as I walk a solitary path. My green cloak blends into the forest and I snipe my enemies from the shadows.
Explains how he was able to stalk us before. A Noble Phantasm that can conceal his presence. Lancer was a hound on the hunt.
Two snipers. That's why he was partnered with Blackmore. It wasn't much information, but understanding even this aspect of their opponent would be a step forward.
Rani opened her eyes. "I am not sure this one is what I am searching for. However, I sense him deep in the second floor of your shared Arena. Perhaps you could speak with him directly. Thank you though for attempting to aid me in my search" Rani offered a small bow.
"Thank you" Hakuno dipped her head in returned gratitude.
Must we go chat with the green bastard? Those two aren't just going to give up their secrets because we asked nicely. Lancer's tone was closed off, conveying his crossed arms and disapproving frown.
We'll visit the Chapel first. Then we'll go see what we can learn. A chance not taken was a chance missed after all.
I'm beginning to think you're a worse adrenaline junkie than I am Master.
*/*/*
We've made good progress Lancer observed his stats. Strength – D Endurance – D Agility – D Mana – E Luck – E. Should probably start working on Mana and continue with my Agility some more this time. They'd been attuning Hakuno's slowly growing power as they'd felt best. Mostly following Lancer's instincts. It seemed to be working so far. Most of the effort to Mana and anything you've got left toward Agility.
Hakuno once sent her mana flowing into him, the connection just as jarring and just as intimate as it always was whenever they did this. She sensed that great lupine beast's fur rustle with the slightest movement again.
Magic – D. This took most of what Hakuno had in her to do. It was exhausting. But Lancer had been drilling that his whole become exhausted and then keep going mantra into her head for over week now. She kept pushing. Agility – C. She was so dizzy the screen was spinning in front of her, but she'd done it.
COMBAT MANUEVER REAQUIRED. SPEAR CRAFT: CLAWS OF SKY. LEAPING SLAM ATTACK. INFLICTS TEMPORARY STUN STATUS TO ENEMY.
You've gone and overworked yourself lass. You're so dizzy I can feel it. Maybe we shouldn't be going to see our opponents after this? Lancer liked to fight, but he would rather be doing it when his Master was so drained his own senses were spinning.
We can't miss the chance we might learn something. Hakuno refused to be the reason they lost out on an opportunity. Besides, we still need the trigger.
And tenacious as a dog with a bone. Honestly, we're too alike sometimes Master. Lancer decided he couldn't really call Hakuno a stubborn fool considering his own story.
*/*/*
The entrance of the Arena was quiet as it always was. "The stargazer was right, Master. I can smell 'em on this floor" Lancer leaned his spear over one shoulder as he considered the path ahead of them.
"Means Archer doesn't know we're here then. Otherwise, you'd only be able to sense Blackmore," Hakuno nodded then winced slightly as it made the world spin again. The less their enemy knew the better in this case. They worked their way through the paths, defeating programs and looting as they went. TRIGGER OBTAINED- TRIGGER CODE DELTA Hakuno registered the key. And picked up the lost glasses Taiga had been after while she was at it.
"Mystic Eye Killers? Who loses something like that?" Lancer was judging the unknown girl.
"Accidents happen?" Hakuno couldn't really argue in defense with no other knowledge than Taiga wanted these retrieved. Lancer just scoffed and got back to work removing programs from their path. In the room right before the exit, they spotted their quarry.
"Honestly, you should have seen his face, Master! That guy was growling like a dog at me showing his Master some Sherwood Forest hospitality" Archer was snickering.
"So you have said many times now. Must you repeat this conversation again?" Blackmore looked unimpressed with his Servant. "It's almost like you wish for me to use a second command seal on you to get you to cease."
"One was more than enough" the green Archer shook his head. "I already said sorry for attacking without permission. I mean how else am supposed to take them by surprise if I can only wait on orders? What's left if you take that all away? My handsome face perhaps? But that only ever worked on simple village lasses!"
"You're complaining? Are you such an inept hunter that you cannot take down your prey without the Faceless King?" Blackmore's flat look was that of a superior officer not impressed with his subordinate.
"Ouch. Right in the ego lord bossman. You fight dirty. But I should've expected that from a fellow hunter!" Archer gave a boisterous laugh.
The conversation faded as the enemy pair disappeared down the final hallway and out of the Arena exit.
MATRIX LEVEL 3 UNLOCKED. Hakuno did not even need to check it to know what had been added this time.
"For a hunter, that Archer likes to babble" Lancer muttered "And they either didn't notice us or didn't care that we overheard that. They underestimate us whichever the case."
"They did all but hand over Archer's True Name." Hakuno was amazed at how much ego her competitors had had so far. Perhaps being a subpar Magus had tilted things in her favor by not being taken seriously?
Lancer chuckled. "All that reading you do coming in handy again lass, I think I've got him pegged too."
The name was uttered in unison. "Robin Hood." The terminal beeped once more. MATRIX LEVEL E UNLOCKED.
"Well, that was the fastest level up we've gotten Master. We should get ourselves a prize," Lancer grinned at her.
"Like what?" Hakuno tilted her head.
"If you weren't still wobbling on your feet, I'd say celebratory drinks." Lancer put his hand out and onto Hakuno's shoulder to stop the teetering she hadn't noticed she was doing. "As is, booze would do you more harm than good. We'll have to settle for one of those tooth rotting sweets of yours."
"They're not that bad!"
"Just know that I'm holding you to celebratory drinks at another date Master. They're a tradition dammit!"
"I never said they weren't!"
*/*/*
Lancer grunted as he adjusted Taiga's latest prize into a good position. "Where did that woman even find an apple tree?" Said apple tree was small, only a couple of feet tall. But an apple tree it remained.
"I think trying to understand Taiga will only lead to you gaining a Madness Enhancement" Hakuno observed his work. With the chandelier and now plant, the homey feeling was growing. Maybe a few more prizes would allow them to forget this was a classroom.
"Yeah, I'd rather not change into a Berserker. I'm content as a Lancer thank you very much." Lancer wisely stopped the attempts to understand Taiga Fujimura. Hakuno was fairly sure Heroic Spirits didn't just change Classes like that but also hadn't really looked into the details of Heroic Spirits. Add that to her mental list of research. Hakuno saw a strange expression pass over his face. He was plotting something.
"Lancer. Do I want to know what you're thinking?" Hakuno was not sure she really wanted to know. But her curiosity wouldn't let her not ask.
"The apple tree has many meanings to my people. Want to know one?" His smile was too wide. Like a predator, waiting on prey. This was a trap.
Hakuno decided to spring it. "Sure. What's it mean?"
"Fertility." Lancer's grin was of the hound who caught the fox. It honestly took Hakuno a beat to process. Then she launched one of her pillows at his face in flustered embarrassment. Lancer let it hit him, cackling all the while. "You're red as a berry lass!"
Hakuno groaned burying her face into her remaining pillows. Her Servant was the worst! Curse her curiosity! Why did she ask?!
"Poor lass, you're not used to being flirted with, are ya?" Lancer's tone remained playful with a strong note of smugness. "I've been remarkably well behaved you know! I should be praised for not teasing you sooner. Especially if you're going to keep giving me reactions like that."
This caused Hakuno to sit up sharply and gape at his audacity. He's going to keep doing this?!
"Of course, lassie. Why wouldn't I flirt with a beautiful lady? You don't need to worry about any jealous past loves either. While I was married in life, we were very open and accepting of each other's passions. Jealous stalkers however, I can make no promises about." Lancer gently tossed Hakuno's pillow back to her. Almost daring her to toss it at him again.
The. Worst. Servant. Hakuno just roughly shoved the returned pillow back into its place which only elicited more chuckles from the side of the room she was now studiously ignoring. "Good night!" she said to the room in general and certainly not towards a certain blue asshole.
"Good night, Master. And don't you worry about the elimination battle tomorrow. No arrow's gonna get near you this time. That Archer won't be able to see straight by the time I'm done with him."
Lancer's antics had actually managed to make Hakuno briefly forget what tomorrow was. She was grateful for the respite. He was still the Worst though.
