Another update.
Chapter 7: 100 Years Dragon War
Their wrist communicators beeped, prompting him to sit and reach for it without disturbing Rin and Saber. Alter observed him silently on the other bed, smiling at her in return hoping her rest wasn't disturbed.
"Shirou here."
In the darkness where only a bedside table lamp lit up, Romani's face glowed blue giving the room and the active bustle of the control room where the crew worked tirelessly in the back.
"We found it, the first singularity in France." Romani looked deadly serious, heavy bags under his eyes. "Director Olga is ordering all Masters and Servants to the coffin."
He sat straight, Saber woke up armor ready appearing at the same time Alter did, making them stand next to each other. Against her very nature, but a skill she had more than mastered, Rin sat faster than he expected already awake. "Where." With urgency in her voice, she demanded without a moment's hesitation
"France 1431," the doctor said without missing a beat.
"We'll be there in five." Her dark long hair swayed when she stood to go straight for the shower nightgown already off. She turned to him, and he followed her silently with nothing but plans for anything that could happen while he urged both Arturia to heat the food.
Knocking on a door next to them, he urged the others ahead to heat the food. "Mash," he called both literally and through their bond. "The First Singula—"
"Master," Mash greeted, already in her uniform, with a curt nod. "I hope you rested well."
"I should ask you that." She really didn't have time to set in as it was only last night they decided she stay with them as not only Shirou's new Servant— practically an "honorary member" by Saber's words— and a part of their group but because he thought it prudent for Mash to have someone near her age and someone who could relate to her to interact with. "It's not as fancy as the Chaldea rooms but—"
"I like it," she said smiling making him wonder if she said that to make him feel better. "Thank you very much."
The white creature that was Fu jumped on his head and landed on Mash's arms much to his amusement. He didn't even question at the fact how it got in considering the house had a Bounded Field letting them know who's knocking, inside, and what they're doing. The creature that wasn't there last night was now simply inside the house and in her arms looking at him, them, with those pearly crystal gazes of it.
Chuckling, he then said, "Thank Rin. But knowing that, her ego is probably gonna get bigger so," he leaned a eyes looking everywhere before setting on Mash in a whisper, "just lay it thinly."
"I heard that, Shirou."
"Where's the lie, Rin." His and Mash's eyes met and they both laughed before going down.
Breakfast was a quick affair after heating the leftovers and making tea and coffee. They hurried to the locker room and to the Rayshift chamber where CHALDEAS was also placed. Mid-way, Cú met and joined up with them with obvious anticipation.
Dr. Romani, Da Vinci, and Olga were already there, all looking grim. Above them, on the Earth replica were four glowing lights with names in them; London, France, Rome, and North America. Five if he counted Fuyuki.
Various places in different times had been yet to be identified made the unknown areas glowed red.
Nodding to herself, she seemed to be impressed or approved of something. "Good, you're all on time. Romani?"
Clearing his throat, the doctor began. "As of 4 am, we discovered the Singularities. Four for now, and only fully discovering one; France 1431. The rest is still being investigated due to strong interference and lack of fully repaired systems. We detected a strong magical presence north of France. Any other question?"
"Should we expect anything, doctor?"
Romani sighed. "'fraid we don't know, Mash. We only know the time and place. Everything else you'll have to investigate by yourself. But don't worry, if you need anything we can rayshift you some supplies once you find a leyline."
"So we're going back to the Hundred Years War," Shirou muttered. Most of what he knew in any era came from the weapons in his Reality Marble and some from his World History classes. What could have gone wrong in that era?
The inventor stepped forward, projecting a suit diagram. "This is the Chaldea Combat Uniform mk. II specifically tailored to you two since most masters are in stasis. While we designed it to focus on eliminating enemies quickly at the cost of long-term survivability, due to supply problems and your style I modified it to maintain your temperature to keep you warm or cold based on the environment making it a suit that increases your survival chances."
With a slow shake of her head, she continued, "But make no mistake, while it maintains homeostasis, anything extreme can and will destroy you. It's lightly armored with flexible reinforced steel making it durable enough to survive a few hits from mundane melee weapons and one or two hits against magical ones. The suit is also reinforced to increase a magi's speed slightly."
The projection changed to digitized footage of a mannequin standing, stance wide ready to cast spells. "Not only that, thanks to Shirou I also added some defensive abilities to it aside from the reinforced suit. First is Gandr," he chuckled when the inventor said that. "It can stun a servant for a few seconds at the cost of nothing from the user but internal power it had since the Combat Suit has an internal mystic code that powers it that can be recharged in-field by the user's od or a leyline. The last one is a miniaturized Rho Aias capable of covering the entire body by facing one direction for a stronger defense or a weaker but equally protecting shield all around the body. It could also be adjusted to be a precise size if you want to. Obviously, this can't stand against strong attacks, but it can give you a precious second of reprieve."
He silently gaped at how fast the inventor grasped the concept of Rho Aias fast enough to implement it in their suit overnight. Seconds in battle meant life or death, he knew it since then, and he knew it now more than ever so this would help them in the long run. This would give them the advantage they need.
"Not bad," Cú said with a whistle. "If you want, I can enhance that with a few runes."
The inventor cupped her chin in thought. "I know you could, but putting more to it could compromise the mystic code. We'd be better to start from scratch if we do that to better integrate any spells that go in it."
"Plus, we don't have the time," Romani interjected between the two. "Maybe in between the operations, but we need da Vinci to control room with us this time."
"All Masters, good luck. Make Chaldea proud," Olga ordered, hands on her waist pointing at their group. In her eyes, Shirou saw passion and deep desire. "And bring Lev Lainur Flauros to justice!"
In front of their coffins, he turned to Rin, a small smile on his lips. He knew the stakes, he knew the risks, but there was no one he'd rather do it with than her. He only wished Sakura, Illya, Luvia, and Rider were with them. More than a bit selfish of him to wish that they'd survive the erasure of the world, but still something he'd wished for.
Pushing the thoughts out, they got to their coffins.
"We're getting a strong magical interference," Dr. Romani said frowning. "We can't rayshift you closer to the origin. Hang on."
The world darkened, turning to a swirl of white and blue that spun indefinitely until he landed on his knees in a grassy forest. The ambient mana in the air was much stronger than the one they had in their time. Choking him from the sheer density of it. Looking above, the same dark void loomed in the sky bigger than the sun and much clearer this time stared back at them from above.
"Rin, Saber, Mash," he called but perked up when voices groaned around him to see they were all okay. He got up and made sure everyone was okay before nodding to himself when he made sure they were okay.
"We're fine." A groaning Rin came a few meters away from him.
"I'm okay, master."
Rin pressed her wrist and a map of France projected itself alongside Dr. Romani. "Why are we far from the north, Romani." She glared at the blue hologram of the man who smiled awkwardly.
"The magical influence was so strong that we had no choice but to rayshift you all at the edge of its influence, Toulouse," the doctor said. "It's on the edge of the interference."
"South of France," Alter clicked her tongue. "It'll take long for us to know there it is."
"Shirou, Rin! I sense enemy."
Alter glared ahead, sensing something he and Rin couldn't. "Be careful, these are no mere beasts we will face." The sword in her hand glowed with dark magic, pulsing and ready for it.
"Hold on, let me try to assess the threat." The doctor typed away in his console with a now silent Olga looking at something in deep focus.
Reinforced eyes saw further ahead, even from their distance he couldn't see everything unlike EMIYA could, but what he could see were figures in the sky spewing something on a defenseless smoking town. Dark smoke rose to the clouds darkening the skies. "Something's attacking the town, I can't see what. We gotta move."
"Hold on there, kid." Caster held his shoulder stronger than his grip implied. "We're not going out there without a plan."
That's smart coming from Cú, but he sighed and relented. Still, this was not an assault, defense was all they needed to do.
"Wyverns," Alter said. "Weaker cousins of dragons, but no less dangerous to mere mortals. I feel my blood resonate with theirs."
Saber stood next to Alter weapon in hand, a shadow behind the light. Almost poetic he would have mused if they weren't pressed for time.
Dusting herself, Rin assessed everything around them with careful eyes. "Shirou, how many anti-dragon Noble Phantasm can you make?"
"Enough to turn the tide if I don't use their abilities," he replied. Few at least on a B+ ranked scale. Most were of lower quality.
"That's good. Save your energy when we need it," Rin said. "Aside from Saber and Alter, you're going to be crucial in the defense."
"My mainland brethren grew weak if weaker dragon cousins can trample on their homeland. The Romans never dared set foot on our land and they should do the same with these beasts," Caster said as he cast runes on himself.
"Caster-san, humans have grown accustomed to lands without gods and beasts' presence for a long time. We're not as strong as your people were." Mash countered. "Professor Lev is trying to burn not just France, one of the most important turning points of history, of the revival of the republic."
"Young lady, the most important element in the turning points in history is humans themselves," the Irishman said back. "it's up to us to fight for that, Singularity or not. If not, it'll be cut off."
"Lev did it all simultaneously that the world can't fix it on its own." Olga interrupted.
"We'll catch Lev here," resolute was Shirou's words. "We'll ask him why he hates humanity to erase everyone and history itself."
"It's gonna take us almost an hour if you two run even with reinforcement." Caster moved to him grabbing him with one hand and putting him on his back. "Come on, Saber you carry master, and Alter carry Mash."
Rin blushed but slowly got on Saber's back when she kneeled. Alter did not hesitate to carry the younger servant, something which she welcomed. Cú carried him on his back, somehow awkward at the start considering he barely knew the guy, but he got used to it.
At one moment they were standing, the next the world blurred all around. Despite being a Caster, Cú caught up to the two Saber-class with no problem as if he was a Lancer and not a Caster in the first place.
The closer they got, the grimmer the situation became, because he could see the broken walls, in shambles either burning or stepped upon by these Phantasmal beasts that became extinct or disappeared at the start of Anno Domini allowing hordes of warriors to rush in without mercy. The residence all burned before the power of the wyverns and the opposing army making Shirou wish they could hurry in, but he knew the limits of a Servant.
Saber, he said the the two Arturia. Can you deal with the wyverns? Saber, tell Rin to have Caster support you.
Both Sabers protested but Arturia stopped. Rin must've said something, sending a nodding thanks at her. Alter protested still, but it wasn't Mash's presence or logic that won him, but instead, his pleading that broke her resistance, something that caused her to look away.
He'd have to apologize to her later, he promised.
When they neared the wall, they jumped off and broke into teams one two, and three. Shirou launched swords at the now-revealed skeleton army in medieval armor against town guards and soldiers pushing them back. Metals clanged and shields cracked with every second of their defiant push.
Rin's Gandr broke through them easily as folding a paper.
"Push them back!" he heard one of them say.
"Don't give up!" Pikemen cut and stabbed followed by shielded units.
"Mash!" He threw her Durandal, as he wielded the twin swords.
The young servant jumped, dropping in the middle of an enemy army sending numerous flying. Her shield and sword plowed through as he and Rin cut them off from behind. Swords and elements culled their numbers until the combined force of them three together with the defensive French garrison cleared away the enemy.
"Our thanks, stranger." A man in full armor and a shield painted with three fleur-de-lis of France's flag banner as its Coat of arms. He approached them sword still in hand and alone with the remaining men ready to strike. "Jehan Nouvelle."
When something exploded far away, the man turned and winced.
"Wish we could welcome you to the most marvelous city of the south; Toulouse. But you'll forgive my wariness if I ask for proof of your innocence and your intentions, travelers." The man raised his arm stopping his men from closing in further. "Especially after we've seen you do witchcraft."
He blinked, just realizing that he could understand his French. While he did learn languages in his travels and French among them, he did know how different the language would be in this era.
"We're here to help. We're finding a fugitive," Rin said smoothly. "One that could have caused all of this."
The man tensed going to a battle stance. "You know the Dragon Witch!"
"No!" he got in between Rin and the French Captain before Rin lost her patience with the man. "We're after the man that may have caused this Dragon Witch."
The man loosened his hold, but never sheathed his arm. "I see. In this case, tell me of your tale after we expunged these devil beasts out of the City of Toulouse." The man turned and raised his sword. "Men! To your stations! We will drive out the Witch's unholy army from France! "
"Hoozah!" they roared.
"Geoffroi, take thirty with you and reinforce the east wall. Vauquelin, take twenty-five and clear out the west of stragglers. Archers, defend this breach and send a runner to me if any more appear. Remaining men, to me! We'll clear out the town center." The men moved on his order like a well-oiled machine. "Do what you want, strangers, but we would appreciate any assistance from you three," he said before he led the men.
A simple reinforced jump to the wall shocked the Archers, they viewed the city carefully. In the distance, cannons thundered firing at the wyverns followed by an energy blast of gold and dark from Arturias and lightning from Caster. The smoke was clearer up close, but still a detriment to see what was happening in it.
"Tell us what's—"
Before Rin could ask, a red wyvern from the sky roared and dived at them with its swept-back wings.
But years of experience made him jump forward towards her with a tall gleaming silver sword with a simple crossguard and black hilt that spun until it was a drill-like arrow than a sword. Thrice he launched projectiles at it just as the mana doubled and released a mountain of fire. Rin threw an emerald followed by Mash's shield activating.
Wind exploded spreading the fire against the invisible wind barrier.
He shivered from its power alone, making sweat dripped from his forehead despite the temperature control of the suit itself. The projectile cut through the fire boring a hole through it ending in a screech and thunderous thud and crash of rocks.
The archers released their sighs with one muttering, "What power."
"We have to split up." Immediately, Rin glowered, but nevertheless, she understood him. "Where is the fighting thickest and where are the breaches."
The breathless soldier pointed northwest, north, and east. "The western gate is besieged by the undead army, that's where Captain Vauquelin is, north beyond the town center where Lord Jehan is, at the noble district is where most of the dragons are thickest, and on the east is a lesser contingent of the undead."
"I'll go north." No one contested his declaration.
Rin didn't say anything more, and he knew about her worry so he smiled at her, for whatever it was worth as an assurance. "I'll head west and you head east, if that's okay with you Mash."
"That's okay, Rin-san, I know I'm not that experienced to be in that kind of battle. I'll defend the east gate. Be careful, Shirou-senpai, Rin-san."
"You too." Dragons in the 15th century, whoever unleashed them needed to be stopped.
Rin grabbed him close and pecked his cheek, before jumping away to her target. He dared not say anything in case she could hear him. "Stay safe, Mash."
He jumped forward cutting any skeleton in his way with a rain of swords and slicing them with Kanshou and Bakuya leaving nothing in his wake. A wyvern dived, flames spewing from its maw, houses burned and men unable to stand against its raw power, the very mana it released ran to dive for any cover.
He slid to a stop in the middle of the road screaming an order, "Get behind me, now!"
His magical energy thrummed in his hands, both lighting with great power. "Protect them, Rho Aias!"
Clammering armored men dashed behind him with no care for him just standing.
Two pink energy shields appeared on both hands, covering both sides when flames wracked it, two petals－three, disappearing from the flames' force and him sliding back with gritted teeth. Yellow flame faded fast when the wyvern flew past making him turn sword and bow in hand.
"Prepare yourself!" Sword glowing with awesome power, the wyvern roared an ear-screeching roar when he let loose the glowing Balmung. True was his aim, piercing the chest and the sword burrowing deep within and the creature falling into a house somewhere.
"All injured hide somewhere safe. Soldiers, protect them, you're the only one who can," he ordered before continuing his offensive at the center of Toulouse. Skeletons barred his way but he made short work of them with but a single cut of the paired swords stopping them from ending more lives and burning homes.
He jumped to the bridge, protected by numerous skeleton warriors and outnumbered French pushed back to no avail. Swords launched all around him, the crushing of bones and wooden shields silencing the battlefield, but he passed by them continuing his run. Stopping at the middle of the bridge, while the other side had less residence than the other, nevertheless, it burned more because of phantasmal beast strikes.
Swords of the same copy landed beside him, morphing into an arrow.
The steps of Kyudo innate in him as breathing as he set his sights on the fast-flying creatures distracted by Saber, Alter, and Caster as gold, black, and sudden purple fired at the sky taking them out one by one. If not the piercing golden beams, dark chaotic flames, then the thunder that was fast as it was piercing.
The nocked swords flew by one by one, each glowing with unnatural power hitting the stragglers missed by their attacks straight. When the French passed by, he ignored them and continued pelting the beasts until none were left.
'Saber, Alter,' he said with concern. 'You guys okay?'
'I am fine, Shirou,' to his surprise the two said at the same time.
Caster guarded the northern gate while the two Sabers moved to assist Rin and Mash when he checked for any survivors. His heart raced, his vision turning red, bricks and wood became cement and metal steel beams, the cries of French became Japanese and everything slowed. His breath stopped, becoming tighter when the house that was no longer there became real again. An image long since buried in the recesses of his mind of the same crumbling home as the ones before him.
'Master! Ma－' came the worried voice of a young woman.
'Shirou, are you alright? Rin, Shirou's...'
'Shirou! I'm comi—'
'Shirou, live, please,' the pleading copper eyes of a woman said.
"I can't. I can't run." He would never run. Never. They died so he would live!
"Yo," electricity coursed through him jolting him awake and the darkness faded. "Are you all right? Master was worried for you."
"Caster… I—yeah, I'm fine," he said wiping his clammy hands before trying to continue to dig through the debris with careful eye unless he wanted it to fall apart more. "Shouldn't you be guarding the northern gate."
He shrugged. "Some French guy took over for me. I set up a Bounded Field that'll tell me if there's any more beasts coming. Now don't change the subject, are you all right? My master is adamant in knowing until now."
"I just…," he sighed. "Just tell Rin I'll tell her later."
"Heh, you smooth talker," Cú said smirking much to his chagrin that made him blush. "There's no one trapped there by the way. Everyone got out before the buildings crashed. Only a few didn't make it and are in that and that." Easily pointed by the man with Gäe Bolg to houses still not checked by the rescuing French soldiers.
"Thanks," he muttered. "It's the least I could do for them."
The two of them made short work of the recovery of people injured by being stuck under the debris, looking at them with a brave face after seeing so many in his line of work. By the time they were finished and waiting for them, it was already late afternoon.
He projected tents, sleeping bags, and blankets distributing them through the soldiers who ran back and forth pulling carts.
Alter and Mash were the first to arrive causing the people to shriek in panic.
"It's her!" a civilian pointed, running away to only he knew where.
"You witch!"
Alter's face showed nothing, but he felt the anger bubbling in her. "Wait," stepping between her and the now soldiers pointing their spears at her. "She's not a witch. We're travelers."
"Shirou, what is the problem?" Arturia landed behind him together with Rin readying a spell.
Eyes widening, sword pointed ready to strike when they saw the two Arturia behind him. "Witch! And two of them! Nay, all of you! Only something equally evil could fight something like dragons of old."
"Speak another word, you'll know thy blade."
"This is a misunderstanding," Saber said stepping in between him and the man. "We are but simple travelers."
"Count yourself lucky," one muttered bitterly. "The city of Toulouse is in your debt."
The man didn't let his guard down. "A likely excuse before you betray us again."
Alter growled, losing her patience. "Your town burns yet you have time for accusation." Excalibur Morgan glowed, its dark flames making the man stop, but not enough to stand down.
"Alter! Do not let this misunderstanding go further." Saber turned to her alter, glaring, before Alter stopped with a scoff.
"Forgive my… twin sister," she said. "The same face we may have, but our temperament is of opposite. Tell me of this resemblance we bear to this witch you speak of."
"Any idea who he could be referring, Rin, Mash?"
"It could be anyone from a rogue magi to another person not from this time considering phantasmal beasts were already extinct by this time," she said. He could see her mind whirring with thoughts when he looked at her.
"Rin-san is right," Mash said. "The strongest magic we've seen lies in the north, if we wanted Toulouse destroyed we already would have. Not that we would!"
The man relented, but his eyes remained narrowed at the two. "If you say so, but any funny business—"
"Yeah, yeah," Rin said waving his concern away. "If we wanted you dead each of us could have killed you by now. Even Mash."
Mash looked alarmed, but he put a hand on her shoulder. "I understand being wary, but trust us that any resemblance is coincidental and we're really here in search of fugitive."
"What's going on here," Captain Jehan from behind them called. "Why—"
"Sir, they claim that—"
The man closed his eyes and loosened his hand and the grip on the sword before looking at them again. "Soldier, suspicion is the last thing these strangers want after saving our grateful city of Toulouse. Even now, I see this man helping us with his creation magic as I walk here. I'll handle them, get back to your stations."
The man gestured for them to follow, passing by the people going to and fro in search operations and relief missions with the things he projected for them then through the bridge connecting the separated parts of the town.
Along the way, Caster helped in lifting the debris the people couldn't lift. Under the now dimming twilight, the smoke made a depressing image over the lovely town and with the still thickening smoke over the still burning section.
Caster moved to that area with a mental command from Rin, he knew.
Stopping before a mansion that towered over all and the entire third floor burned while everything below was saved.
Jehan led them to a study near the living room before the dining room and gestured for them to take a seat on the comfortable chairs with red padding. After a quick introduction, he said behind his desk, "I'll house you and be your host for the night on condition you tell me what you know. And don't lie, I can sense deception after dealing with it so many times."
They all glanced at each other. Mash pressed her wrist mystic code and both the Director and Romani appeared to the fright of the man.
"I knew you lot were magicians and witches, but to think you can summon the souls of the dead!" the man wiped his forehead. "How are you doing this."
"We're not dead!" Olga said in annoyance then huffing. "We're contacting you from a faraway place. We are Chaldea, I'm Director Olga Marie Animusphere, and Dr. Romani Archaman, my subordinate."
"To think you can send a message from afar, amazing," he muttered but everyone heard it. "Your subordinate speaks of knowing the cause of the Dragon Witch. What do you know about it."
Olga frowned but kept her cool. "Nothing about the Dragon Witch, that's for you to tell us, but what we do know who's behind it."
"Lev Lainur Flauros," Romani said. "A man who betrayed our organization and nearly brought ruin to another city if we didn't stop him in time. Whatever his goal is, we can't let him run free or he'll destroy humanity itself."
A bit of an understatement but that summed it up pretty well.
The Captain paled. "Truly? Is this true?" he said turning to Arturia and Alter Arturia. "This Lev truly wants to destroy Europe?"
Well, not just Europe. But they were not going to explain that to the man when Europe was the world for them during this time was enough of an explanation.
"Yes," Alter said beside him smoothly without hesitation. "Not just Europe, but all known worlds, even the eastern Empires."
"He will use anyone and anything to achieve his goal," Saber Added.
"Then—"
"That's not all," Rin said, crossing her arms as she leaned back on her chair with the same grace as Jehan himself. "They burned our city, the very one we live in, in the far east."
"You have my condolences, young Lady, and Sir." Jehan was quick to school his expression, but one who saw many people on his journey could see his grimness as if it was open just as he can't lie that well. "I see, I must inform Marshal Gilles de Rais about this and send him an urgent missive later in the night. I suppose you want to know about the Dragon Witch before that."
The impatience in Olga was telling with the way she sat in silence all tense just as Alter did in her annoyance of being called a witch. He saw the memories in his Excalibur Morgan, and he knew of the things she did. A tyrant but never a witch in the way people think of her. Everything she did, she did for a reason, regardless of the consequences.
"This started in 1431 January of the Lord's Year. Her trial, trial," the man glared, seething from something, "under English hands. This is one mistake I can't forgive the king for. I hear of heinous torture, humiliation, and hatred from people. The very same hero who helped us throughout the war. Nearly two weeks ago, I heard, that she was to be executed, and the English did just that. In the din of fire on a cross, the murderous savage from that island burned her, our hero; Jeanne."
The man shivered next when he released a deep breath, the shadows of the lamp darkening his features. "From the fires of purgatory, came a being, they said, in there our hero became the very evil itself. Of course, I thought it ridiculous. Three days later, news of Orleans burning spread followed by northern territories held by the English. At first, I thought it came as providence from God to punish the English and the King for their sins through some brave souls revolting against this travesty," he said scoffing.
"Not until I saw my very city itself burning from the flames conjured from their maws and our armies helpless against what was reported as "Flying monsters" by the peasantry who survived did I regret not believing it after so many people said it." A deep sigh came from him when he moved to the liquor cabinet, his hands moved to the drawer where a slinking noise of liquid came from. Shaking his head, the man returned and leaned on his chair. "Dragons and undead warriors besieged the land of France, and to think I was foolish in my pride to not believe it."
"It's not the most believable string of events," Dr. Romani said, assuring the man.
"Right you are, physician. I thought this was all English tricks to lull us into lax. Even so, I returned home with the blessings of the Marshall. And to think," his eyes turned downcast as he turned to the view of the decimated city lit by whatever street lamp was left. "To think they all reached all the way here, here in Occitania of all places."
The man physically aged when he returned his gaze at them. Even as he smiled and thanked when a servant came in with a tray of wine glasses, the tension never left him.
"Toulouse suffered from your ignorance." Glaring at Alter, she simply scoffed and met his sharp gaze without words. "Be angry all you want, but you know I say the truth."
"Alter," Saber warned. "Do not antagonize our host. He has the right to doubt such rumors, at the very least he safeguarded his domain."
"So Jeanne d'Arc got resurrected," Rin said, breaking the building tension between the two before it started.
"By the Holy Grail no less," Shirou added. "Any ideas who it could be."
"Holy Grail!" The Frenchman said standing up. "It really exists? For what reason does one use it for evil!?"
"Not that grail!" Olga replied, huffing in annoyance. "This one is just a mana battery used in brute forcing its way into the root to make the wishes. Not the one you know of."
"Think of it as a storage of power to cast miracles. It's just something we… er magicians, use to classify it for simplicity's sake," he said scratching his cheek. It may not be true, it was just something he came up with on the spot to satisfy the Frenchman.
"To think even God's symbols reach the pagans," Jehan muttered. "Can you save her? Save France from the monsters burning it to the ground. I also have no idea who would hate France to desecrate a hero like Jeanne, except maybe the English, but I heard they retreated back to their island."
"We need to know what's going on," Saber said. "There's too much magic interference to know what's really going on."
"Pierre!" the man called, a young man entered after knocking. "Get me the map and quills." The boy came back with a roll of map and two quills putting it on the table after the man set things aside. "Seeing the dragons, I believe some of the things I heard can be true, I'm sure of it."
He pointed and encircled some places west. "Three days ago, some people arrived here coming from these places. I assume they are no more. To get to Bordeaux, I'll recommend you go through the Auch and Mont-de-Marsan instead of Agen and Marmande since I heard no news of it from the merchants."
"Why Bordeaux," Mash asked.
"Because," he said, looking a bit hopeful, "young lady, there is rumored to be a saint there. If anyone can exorcise the demon out of Lady Jeanne and help you, it'd be another saint, non? Now to Lyon, despite its destruction, there was a rumor that a knight protected it from the dragons—"
"Wyverns," Olga said.
"Wyverns." Nodded the man. "The road there is perilous from what I heard, so I'd advise going there from the south roads instead of the direct route of going north and east." Here the man lined the route from Albi, Rodez, Mende, Le puy, and Saint-Étienne. "I've not heard anything, so I hope these towns are still standing. Knowing the evilness that spreads its flames across France, it's only a matter of time if I had to guess."
"What about Jeanne?" he asked. "Any idea where she is now."
Jehan shook his head, sighing. "I've not heard, but if I know anything from the heroic maiden herself, it's Orleans, the only place of significance to her. Maybe even Paris or Rouen, the place of her execution."
He glanced at them, now they had a goal. But first, they must first recruit the possible servants Jehan spoke of. A saint and a knight, if luck was on their side, maybe even more.
"So we have three goals," Olga said, looking at them now. "Head to Orleans, recruit the Saint and the Knight."
"The magical interference is strong, so I can't send you supplies after you pass a certain threshold. I advise finding a leyline sooner than later."
"Mash, come on," Rin said standing and his servant followed after her.
Mash looked at him, at which he nodded before following her.
"Young miss, dinner will soon be served," Jehan said.
"We'll be back by half an hour." With that Rin left, but not before bidding them good luck.
'Mash, be careful you two.'
'Yes, master, I'll look out for Rin-san.'
He admired her dedication to being a servant, but there was one thing she forgot. 'That includes you, Mash.'
"Anything else we should know about," Saber asked, looking at the map in thought. "I'm assuming most of northern France is all but burnt by the Witch's forces."
"Not all, hope still exists." A small smile graced the man's lips even if it was filled with jaded hope. "Last I heard before the attack is that Marshal Rais successfully defended the Duchy of Brittany." The man drew a long line from Brittany to Orleans. "Word is, he's marching with sufficient force and slowly freeing each town. Of course, the veracity of this news now is uncertain since this was almost a week ago."
"How?" Saber asked, and judging by her eyes, she was more than questioning that. "How can one stand against the might of Dragon-kin and undead? Unless—"
"He has a servant," Alter concluded. "A powerful one at that."
"Servant?"
"It's someone who transcended humanity's limits including the saint that you pray to. Much more than what Shirou and Rin can do," Alter said. "We, Saber, Caster, young Mash, and I are Servants."
"Thank God someone like you is on our side," he said sighing in relief. "Do you think… that whoever defiled Jeanne also has these… servants?"
"More than likely," he replied not able to keep the grimness in his voice, dark as the room only lit by the table lamp. "But we're more than equipped to fight them once we know who they are." Glancing at both Sabers their eyes lit with the same determination.
Or so he hoped. Whatever Lev did with the grail, he'd surely be defending it with greedy hands.
"I trust you would be, if not, I pray for Europe." The man made a sign of the cross.
Later that night, he stared at nothing. Remembering the fires that filled his dreams—nightmare—now just as it had earlier during the rescue.
"Shirou," Rin said almost a whisper.
"Get back to sleep, Rin."
She sighed, rough callused hands gripping his. On the edge of his consciousness, he felt Saber and Alter, listening in silence even without saying anything. Something he found comfort in. "Tell me," she said, almost a whisper but still a demand.
Seeing no choice, his larger hands caressed hers in trying to keep his heart steady. "I keep seeing the Fuyuki fire. In dreams, in my waking moments. It's been long, but..."
Breathing deeply, almost a sigh he continued, accepting the warmth that was Rin Tohsaka. He wished Sakura and Rider were here with them though. "I thought I had moved on from that, but… when we entered Fuyuki and now Toulouse, every time I blink I see the images in my mind. I feel the clinging fire, the burning flesh, and the corruption of the grail."
Mash's silent mental support like the shield she wielded lifted away part of the dark veil in his heart. Arturia and Alter lit the embers in his heart with just their silent listening. Lastly, Rin could have said anything, anything at all, but the small action of her hand over his was more than enough to calm the fiery images that plagued his mind and heart.
In the shared room that was the second largest in the house since the other rooms were full by the huddled servants. Shirou woke up, thankfully without worrying Rin or Saber. A single glance at the clock told him it was two hours before six, he decided to get up while looking at the asleep Rin hugging Saber and then to Alter on the other bed.
"Shirou," both Sabers called their voice nearly a whisper one glaring at the other much to his amusement.
"I'm just going to cook breakfast." That silenced the two, but on the last bed was Mash already awake staring at him, silencing her with a gesture at Rin.
When he opened the door, it creaked making him inwardly cringe and glance at the still-sleeping Rin. Glad to see her rest undisturbed, he got out and nearly jumped when he turned to see Mash already standing behind him.
"Mash, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to help you, senpai." The girl looked at him before looking away.
Such attitude only served to remind him of Sakura making him frown before banishing the thought out of his mind. With no choice, he nodded at her.
"Come on," he said, watching his step for the creaky floors, a projected flashlight lighting their way.
On the way, passing the rooms, he thought of what to cook.
The kitchen was bigger than his living room, smooth stone floor with a large table at the center, and various-sized pots on the shelf and pans hung on the wall with the heating area where food was cooked at the end of the room.
A single glance with his trained eye and he knew where things were.
"Let's get started," he said turning to Mash.
They spent the better part of the morning cooking, at the same time teaching Mash slowly from the simple ones and having her observe him then helping him with the hard ones with his guidance.
Time went fast and by the time they were nearly finished, the servants gasped at them cooking and apologizing much to his chagrin.
The morning, breakfast was a quick affair with them already freshened up before breakfast, their meal a tense affair because once more, like in Fuyuki, they were about to separate the group again.
"So…," Mash said slowly, and awkwardly.
"This is quite good," said the nobleman, calm and composed but his slight expression his only tell he was genuine about it. "Were it not for the situation at hand I might've enjoyed this better. Still, you have my thanks, Sir Emiya, and Lady Mash."
"I wish we could eat more of Emiya's food," Romani wilted at his grumbling when Olga glared at him.
He knew how much Rin hated worrying him and he hated worrying her, but in this case, they had no choice. "While we're deep in enemy lines, we're not gonna be able to contact each other." Separating was the wise choice, otherwise, they'd take a long time. "Romani, any magical anomalies around the target destination?"
"None so far from what we could see, but I wouldn't trust it," he said in disappointment. "Whatever Lev did, it hid a wide part of France from us."
"This is magecraft beyond what anyone can do," Rin said. "You'd have to have a power source or magic circuit more than any magus has now."
"Rin, are you sure about this?" She could handle herself, he knew that more than anyone aside from Saber, but this was something else entirely than their jobs or the Grail War from 2004. Who knows how many servants Lev may send against them? A magical war without rules, without limits, and a race against time for humanity itself.
"I'm sure. Saber, Caster, and I will find this saint, and once we're done, we'll find and coordinate with Gilles de Rais. We'll meet up in wherever the witch is hiding."
Saber nodded along, lips firm, eyes sure, and her voice without doubt. "We will also make sure to defend them from any attacks while gathering their forces."
Mash's innocent eyes saw through him even from a glance. "You're worried, senpai."
He hid his frown, but he knew they all noticed it. "I know this is the only plan, doesn't mean I can't worry about you guys."
"Relax," Cú said, eating the meat fast. "I'll be protecting the young lady here. I may not be a Lancer, but I can protect her all the same. Trust Saber and your lady."
"Jehan," Alter turned to the man eating at the head of the table in silence in observation. "Is there anything we should know before we depart."
The man looked deep in thought when he drank his wine. "I've said all I knew last night. Something like this is beyond me and all I can do is trust you can help us all. I'll remain here to fortify the defenses in case more comes back." Pulling an envelope with his seal on it, he passed it on to Rin. "When you do see the Marshall, give him this letter. It'll make it easier for him to trust you."
"We'll point the people we encounter here if that's okay with you."
"Not at all, Sir Emiya. I would prefer if you do." He sighed, the weight on his eyes open for all to see. "France needs hope more than ever."
"And we'll give them one," he muttered.
After breakfast and a short escorted trek to the gate where the people cheered for them as the heroes who helped, they stood there, but he turned his focus on Rin and Saber.
Rin narrowed her eyes in suspicion, and said, "You better not be hurt, Shirou. No suicidal heroics."
He raised his arm in surrender. "Yes, yes."
Saber wasn't satisfied and whispered to Mash, and to his surprise, even Alter! The usually opposing Saber and Saber Alter spoke huddled and hushed words that he could not hear nor would he attempt to listen with reinforced hearing or use Mash to find out.
Rin pecked his cheek much to the whistling and howling of the gate guards. "Be careful, you dummy." She looked away glaring at the guards.
Dr. Romani cleared his throat, avoiding his gaze. "We'll be unable to communicate with you while you're deep in enemy lines. I wish we could do more here, but..."
"It's okay, doctor," Mash said returning to his side. "You did all you could."
"You guys helped enough," he said. "We'll end this quickly." Or at least that was the plan." Romani cut off the communication and they started the journey.
On an intersection of the road, without words, all said in the silence of actions, they went their own ways ready to stop the flames from swallowing the fate of the world and of humanity itself.
Edited it as best as I can, and may possibly re-edit it in the future.
Thanks to all those who followed and favorited this story, and most importantly, enjoyed this little story of mine that started as a private musing turned to words.