Chapter 62. The Other Side
"Alter-Servants."
With these two words, Ritsuka Fujimaru began his new lesson in the Save-Room. For Harry, this was his first lesson during the sixth course, taught by Ritsuka. Harry's heart, sensitive to restless tension, burned with mixed feelings of anticipation and anxiety, as he anticipated that Fujimaru could leave him completely defenseless in his thoughts. With deep conviction, cutting through the doubts that covered his being, Harry understood that not having a summoned Servant in the upcoming complex matter meant losing an undeniable advantage.
"Usually, with rare exceptions, Alter-Servants represent the other side of a regular Servant's personality. But for Servants who are recognized as holy figures after death, no alternative version can appear. The same goes for Servants who have achieved a balance between good and evil, for whom alternative means nothing, as they say themselves."
"Is it possible to summon both the original Servant and their Alter version at the same time?" Neville asked.
"It can be, and it can't be. Alter-Servants often consider themselves as the original Servants. Each pair has one soul."
"But, sir... if we look at how the genuinely noble original personality immediately appears with the Alter-Servant, how can we understand this?" Hermione asked.
For a moment, Ritsuka glanced at Jeanne. She diligently pretended as if she had nothing to do with it and tried not to stand out. Only a few people in this room know who she really is. Only Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ritsuka, Mash, and Dudley understand that she is the true Alter-Servant - the alternative Jeanne d'Arc. Ritsuka had no intention of revealing her secret, so he carefully concealed his emotions and lowered his gaze for a moment.
"Sometimes, Alter-Servants create the Grail. There can be many reasons for this, including the request of their new owner or the will of the Grail itself. It wouldn't hurt for you to know about the existence of a phenomenon called the Dark Grail. Distorted by someone's evil will, it also seeks to distort the Servants who come into contact with it."
"The Dark Grail?" everyone gasped.
Confusion mixed with fear and horror was written on the faces of the students.
"Once, during the next Holy Grail War in the city of Fuyuki, which does not exist and will never exist, an alternative Servant was created. Her name was Artoria Pendragon Alter, class Saber. Ironically, that was my first mission as a Master."
In Ritsuka's mind, a forgotten dungeon appeared, dormant in darkness, like a hidden treasure trove in an ancient tomb. There, it seemed, Artoria Alter stood frozen, majestic and irresistible, with armor framing crimson cracks that flared and faded like fiery gaps in the black primordial darkness. Carefully, as if facing an enraged beast, Ritsuka again felt her amber gaze, so cold-blooded and menacing, penetrate his very being, awakening a primal fear akin to a trembling bison trying to escape from a primitive tribe armed with multiple torches.
"But you defeated Artoria Alter, didn't you?" Hermione asked.
Fragments of fate shattered reality, confidence dissolved in Ritsuka's palms, as it burned his skin - the same hand that vigorously resisted Artoria Alter, fighting alongside him under Sir Galahad's shield. Fragility merged with power as his eyes stared at this spectacle - that fragile girl with sakura-colored eyes, standing like a formidable fortress against the onslaught of Artoria Alter. A premonition of death trembled in his mind, for in a moment, the Heavenly Phantasm raging from Artoria Alter's dungeon would reduce him to ashes. However, regardless of everything, determination ignited within him. With a swift leap, Fujimaru crossed the Infernal Plains rushing through the cave, while the darkness of death melted behind him. That is what he did for her, he plunged into the abyss of hell, to save Mash, hoping that his madness would give her the power to summon a powerful phantasm and create an impregnable fortress that would separate them from the furious Artoria Alter.
"We defeated her. But to my great sorrow, this mission turned out to be the last in the fate of my superior, Olga-Maria Animusphere. I must admit, she was not killed by Saber Alter, but by a Servant she trusted too much - Professor Lev Lionell."
Everyone gasped in shock.
"A Servant killed their own Master?" they exclaimed.
"She didn't know he was a Servant and always saw him as an ordinary wizard working in Chaldea," he said, his expression suddenly changing. "But can you recognize a true Servant among those around you?"
The students exchanged confused glances. They understood that Olga-Maria had more experience working with Servants, but even she couldn't avoid making a mistake. Harry didn't need to look around - he knew who the genuine Servants were among the present students. Jeanne and Hermione remained unfazed, but Ron and Mash looked around with puzzlement.
"Well then," Fujimaru said with a hint of condescension. "Distinguishing a true Servant from an ordinary mortal can even challenge experienced wizards unless the Servant reveals their abilities themselves. Now, all those who have attempted to summon their Servants during the summer, please raise your hands."
Harry didn't look around. He didn't want to know how many people in Dumbledore's Army had performed Summons during the summer. It was clear to him that he was in the minority.
"Harry..." Ritsuka addressed him.
"Not only Harry!" Neville interrupted. "But also Jeanne and Mash..."
"Thank you, Neville," Fujimaru calmly replied. "I have no questions for them."
"Sir..." Harry hesitated, addressing Ritsuka. "I don't want to summon great heroes from the past to fight and die for me. It feels... low and cowardly, in my opinion."
Fujimaru approached Harry and looked directly into his eyes with understanding. But Harry sadly lowered his head.
"You are a good person, Harry, and your nobility knows no bounds. But without a Servant..."
"...I simply won't be able to, that's a fact," Harry replied in despair. "But how can I presume to command someone whose boots I'm not even worthy of cleaning? And how... how can I dare to call them by that word - 'Servant'?"
Ritsuka kindly smiled at him and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"A Servant also has a head on their shoulders and a magnificent heart beating in their chest. Just trust the Servant."
Harry didn't lift his gaze. He feared judgmental glances from the other students in Dumbledore's Army. In an instant, Jeanne lightly touched his back and gestured for him to look around. No one was condemning him. Some even looked at him with admiration and inspiration.
"Sir," Ron addressed Ritsuka. "I'm having issues with my Servant."
"What kind?" Fujimaru asked.
"He doesn't listen and refuses to obey my commands in any way."
"Have you tried discussing your Servant's behavior with them? Or threatening to use a command spell?"
Ron shook his head in puzzlement.
"Understood. But don't use command spells thoughtlessly. No matter what behavior your Servant exhibits... Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Sir, have you heard anything about Servants that can ignore command spells?" Hermione asked. "I read..."
"Yes, such Servants exist," Fujimaru nodded confidently. "Sometimes this unique immunity can be helpful, and other times it can cause harm."
Fujimaru looked satisfied as he surveyed the students.
"So... we all have to endure difficult times ahead. The Holy Grail War is not a leisurely stroll, as sacrifices always accompany it. Don't indulge in illusions and remember that the Dark Lord will show you no mercy, just as his Servants are not obliged to show you any. Always be vigilant and keep your Servant by your side. And yet... if an enemy Servant wants to collaborate with you - agree."
Before Fujimaru could finish, the door to the Room of Requirement opened. Draco Malfoy appeared in the gaping doorway, his figure drawing attention like a magnet. Walking to the center of the room, he glanced at everyone present, his gaze filled with an indescribable sadness and uncertainty.
With a gloomy look and heavy breath, Malfoy stood in the room, enveloped in a mystical atmosphere. The corners of his lips trembled, and his gaze pierced the soul, permeating every dust particle in the air. Despair permeated each wrinkle of his face, as within him raged a deadly internal battle, where he fought against his demons of doubt and suffered one crushing defeat after another.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Malfoy?" Fujimaru inquired with a friendly curiosity on his face. He immediately silenced any exclamations from the students behind him with a gesture. But even without his help, silence hung in the air as if nature itself hesitated to breathe under the pressure of the internal struggle that had engulfed Malfoy.
"I..." Malfoy began.
Malfoy parted his lips to speak, but then suddenly stopped, as if sensing an irresistible fate descending upon him with its iron claws. The battle within him was evident on his pale face, as he desperately fought and helplessly suffered from each devastating blow. And finally, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.
"Professor Fujimaru," his voice filled with pleading and despair. "I need your help."
"I'm all ears," Ritsuka kindly replied.
Malfoy looked up and noticed the inscription on the board.
"Death Eaters also undergo such a course," he said somberly. "They have long realized that our 'wonderful new king' is a Servant!"
His words reverberated in the air with the force of a hurricane, like thunderclaps making every atom tremble, piercing ears and troubling hearts. He floundered like a sea fish thrown into the enchanting cradle of the tide. Draco's face twisted, like cave seaweeds of doubt wrapping around his mind. And in the silence, still trembling from the volleys of his own thoughts, he whispered the words of the air, delivered in the solemn mourning chamber of human existence.
"And I, too, am among them as punishment for my father."
Tears glistened in the corners of his eyes. Ritsuka calmly looked at Draco and walked towards him without haste.
"What does he want from you?"
Draco looked up for just a second and then replied,
"You won't forgive me for this."
"Who knows..." Ritsuka murmured thoughtfully.
"You see..." Harry interjected. "When you confess honestly, it's always easier to understand everything."
"Especially if you haven't achieved your intended goal yet," Jeanne supported him.
Draco's shoulders stopped trembling. He looked away.
"I have to bring the Death Eaters to Hogwarts and kill Professor Dumbledore."