Remaining Days: 4

I have no idea how long I was staying up last night to try and work out a Code Cast that didn't compile, no matter what I tried. It sounded so easy in the afternoon classes yesterday, but turns out it's a lot harder when you want them to do a very specific thing and aren't just trying to understand the very basic concept.

Sure, I should've figured as much. Pretty sure other Masters, like Shinji, knew how to write Code Casts even before the Holy Grail War started… or at least something similar enough that helps them by just having to adapt their prior knowledge and skill to a new environment.

Much, much easier than to start learning the skill from scratch, having a pretty rough time limit on top of that. Maybe I have no talent for this to begin with, that… wouldn't be all that surprising, I suppose?

My morning is more of a rushed mess than yesterday's thanks to the lack of sleep that I have no result to speak of to show for in the end. It sucks. It's only day two — for me, anyway — and even I find myself cursing this school system.

A day only has 24 hours as it is. Being forced to use seven of them to attend a school life that, ultimately, at best, has any value for a single person, who isn't determined by anything related to the school… Honestly, that's just ridiculous. Who came up with that?

On top of that is training in the Arena to get myself as much up to speed as possible to be in any shape to have at least something of a competition rather than a one-sided slaughter with another Master, then trying to work out Code Casts and I still have to sleep, too. It helps that the Cafeteria sells food and snacks, and that defeating Enemy Programs transfers money directly to a digital account, accessed via the terminal.

If I'd have to cook or even generally do chores on top of the already packed schedule, I might just feel like giving up. Well, that's exaggerating. I wouldn't give up even then, but I'd sure despair a bit.

Arriving at my desk in the classroom, I briefly wonder if I could maybe ask someone to help me with Code Casts. Though, what are my options?

Shinji surely wouldn't help me. If I wasn't his opponent, then maybe… Though, honestly, probably not even then.

Rin Tohsaka… I'd be surprised. She told me not to expect other Masters to help me, so she must firmly believe that one shouldn't help other Masters. Out of the question, for sure.

That girl I met on the stairs the day before yesterday… well, I don't even know her name. There's no way I could try to find her and ask her about that.

Leo… maybe? He did say he'd want to help me with my memories, so maybe he'd be up for helping me with Code Casts as well.

Though, when I ask him…

"Code Casts, huh? I'd like to help, really, but I feel like that's going a little bit too far in terms of giving an opponent a hand."

Even Leo turns me down, leaving me hopeless. Not that I really had too high hopes to begin with.

"I'm sure Gawain wouldn't be a fan of that either."

"…Gawain? Who's that?"

Leo nods to the space next to him and in answer to the gesture, a tall man in practically shining armor materializes.

"Gawain is my Servant," Leo explains. "Introduce yourself please."

"As my Master says, my name is Gawain. Pleased to meet you," Gawain says with a bow.

He… certainly has manners. Though is this all right!? A Servant just giving their identity away? I thought Shinji's Servant was a troublemaker for wanting to reveal it in an introduction if not for Shinji making sure she knows to not do that. But apparently it's a little more common…?

"Should you really be telling me the name of your Servant?" I ask out loud, in disbelief.

For some reason, even though this is pretty crucial information, no one else even glances our way, and Gawain disappears again.

"Oh, that much is fine. Even if his name is known, I have no reason to believe that it would lead to my loss. I'm sure that at this point there was no other Master left who doesn't know my Servant."

"I see…"

He really is pretty carefree about this, huh? The odds of facing one particular Master are quite low with this many participants, so for most this information will be useless. But really… Even I can tell that such a move is either stupid — though Leo doesn't seem like the foolish type — or a sign of immeasurable strength.

If he's to be believed and knowing his Servant's identity won't be too much of a help against him in battle anyway, then that Servant must be someone whose weakness can't be exploited even if you learn of it. Like how you can't make an omelet without eggs just by knowing eggs are the main ingredient.

Well, either way, I note down the name of Leo's Servant anyway. Never know when that might come in handy, better to have something you'll never need than not have something you turn out to require.

The morning classes are a bit of a drag, though I chalk that up mostly to my lack of sleep. I doze off in the middle, awakened by the bell and Saber's voice following up on it.

"Master," she says sternly. "Do you want to sleep through lunch break as well?"

Her voice carries a slight edge. I get it. I let her down yesterday, and now I must seem like I'm slacking off.

"Sorry," I mutter and get up.

A bit of moving around hopefully helps me get some more energy and keep awake, so I leave the classroom… where I unknowingly run into what seems to be a quickly escalating argument between Shinji and none other than Rin Tohsaka. It seems to have gone on for a moment already, judging by the number of students surrounding them, clearly interested to see this unfold.

It feels like a moment in which you wish you had some popcorn to truly enjoy the show.

"Heard your Servant is going around introducing herself with her true name, Matou," Rin says in a slightly mocking tone. "Pretty bold strategy you have there."

"Tch! That only happened once. It's not like that piss-poor loser of a Master would have a chance even with that knowledge anyway!"

"Oh? Is that what you think?" Rin chuckles to herself. "Word can travel quite fast, though. I know your Servant's true name, too."

Shinji's face loses all its color in a flash. He must realize just how big of a blunder it really is. If you let information leak to just a single person, you can't ever track where else it goes. No matter where you are, if there's people who meet, they will talk.

"Besides," Rin continues. "You yourself all too proudly claimed how you lucked out by getting a Rider, didn't you? Something about your opponents never being able to see what's coming, with your Noble Phantasm being some kind of steed."

Shinji is rendered speechless.

Honestly, that's so much information to have, it'd be game over if Rin was his opponent. He's unbelievably lucky she's not. Rin is a scary opponent; her skills at intel gathering are nothing short of impressive, especially given the time frame and the fact that surely she's not especially looking into Shinji too much as he's not even her opponent.

"Hey, you!" Shinji's Servant appears, angrier than one would expect to ever see her from how she normally carries herself. "Stop bullying my Master!"

If Rin is surprised at his Servant's sudden appearance, she's not showing it at all.

"Let's go, Rider," Shinji says, taking his leave. "It's not like she can use any of that against us anyway. Probably gonna drop out this round like the bitch she is."

His Servant — Rider, apparently — follows him, not without giving Rin a last glare.

Shinji tried to keep up his cool and unbothered act, but failed horribly at it. His storming off just seemed like a dog that lost a battle for territory, fleeing with the tail between its legs.

The nearby Masters disperse as well, probably writing off Shinji as no threat, or someone they won't see anymore after this round.

"Such an idiot." Rin sighs, before turning her attention towards me.

I want to disagree with her for some reason. Maybe I'm feeling some sympathy for Shinji. If my Servant wasn't Saber but someone like his Rider, I might've made the exact same mistakes, after all.

"Don't expect me to give you the name of his Servant."

Naturally Rin Tohsaka knows that Shinji Matou is my opponent for this round. Is there anything this girl doesn't know?

"I don't," I tell her. True to her words, I don't expect her to help me. "But thanks to you I know her class, so… Thanks for that."

Did I just see a slight hint of color on Rin's cheeks? No, I must have imagined it.

"That wasn't my intention. Geez, you're hopeless," Rin says, harsh as usual.

"I'm thankful anyway." I give her a smile.

Whether she meant to or not, only thanks to her I just gained valuable information. After yesterday's battle, I considered Shinji's Servant might be a Saber, as she's using a sword, but this confirms that I've been wrong. Though I already knew that the weapon won't necessarily tell you a Servant's class.

"Don't be so grateful for what was just a coincidence, you idiot! If anything, that shouldn't have been news to you. If you keep going on as carelessly as this, there's no way you'll get through this round!"

With that, Rin turns to stomp off.

I take out my terminal to note down that Shinji's Servant is a Rider. With that, I can expect her to have some kind of steed to ride on, but it's awfully hard to prepare for that without knowing what exactly it is. It could be as simple as a horse, or as fantastical as an unimaginably strong chimera, made up of the most lethal parts of the strongest animals imaginable.

… though I can't imagine Shinji's Rider of all people with such a beast.

With my stomach grumbling, I spend the lunch break in the cafeteria.

"Master," Saber speaks up from behind me. "I want some of that, too. Rather, I want my own lunch."

Yeah, I expected as much, given the situation.

"I didn't know Servants have to eat… though it makes sense."

What am I supposed to do here? Won't she have to turn visible to have a meal with me? I don't necessarily mind, but… Ah, whatever. Looking at Saber, you can't even tell she's a Saber in the first place, much less her true name. And watching someone eat while you go hungry is way too cruel.

I'll let Saber join me for lunch and show herself, consequences be damned.

"Sure, I can get you lunch. What do you want?"

Saber materializes and I decide to simply hand her my terminal to let her go buy herself whatever she feels like eating. That would probably simplify things.

"Buy what you like," I tell her.

Technically she's the one earning our money, so if anything, she's got more of a right to spend it than I do anyway.

I wait for her to return with a tablet carrying a plate with a really big, stacked cheeseburger and some fries on the side. That seems… anything but healthy if I'm being honest. Especially compared to the sandwich I went for.

Do Servants even need proper nutrients? …do I, being in cyberspace? Maybe I shouldn't question such details too much. Unless any class ever brings up proper nutrition and those things, I should assume that eating whatever one feels like is all right. Probably can't gain weight here either.

"So it's a Rider," Saber speaks up. Obviously she overheard the same conversation I did.

"Seems so," I agree. "Though I have no clue as to who exactly Rider is."

"I don't think it matters," Saber says.

She takes a bite of her cheeseburger and her eyes seem to almost sparkle in bliss. It's that good, huh? Maybe I should give it a try tomorrow.

"How so?"

Rin said information is the most important thing, and it's logical, no? How wouldn't an opponent's identity matter?

"Because what decides a battle's outcome boils down to who's stronger. Dirty tricks are something the weak need. We don't need to waste time snooping around. Improving our own strength prepares us for every encounter, not just the one in front of us."

That seems highly simplified, but at the same time, not entirely off either. It's more or less the same approach Leo takes, isn't it? He's giving out the identity of his Servant without a care in the world. It's not that he's careless, it's that he is fully confident that he and his Servant are strong enough that it doesn't matter.

Leo and Saber may be more alike than they seem on first glance.

"I'd still like to find out more," I tell her. "There's not that much I can do from my side, so I want to do what I can."

I might be weak, a hopeless case of a Master, and can't even keep up with the pace of a battle, but if there's something I can do, then I'm definitely going to do it. Even if it's mostly limited to information gathering and coming up with strategies, even if my Servant wouldn't take this approach to battles herself in the first place.

"I don't mind."

That's probably the most approval I'll get from Saber.

"What were you doing last night?"

Ah… Yeah, naturally she saw me staying up at my desk. I didn't tell her what I'm doing, did I?

"I was trying to work on a Code Cast. Shinji used one yesterday, and I thought if I had any at my disposal, I'd be able to support you better."

"Ah. How did it go?"

"No success…"

It feels a little weird to have such an on-going conversation with Saber. So far we just stuck to the basic necessary communication — and well, this is mostly in that category as well… But still. Though Saber is still an enigma, nearly impossible to read. Her face stays neutral, unemotional at practically all times, except when she's mad.

Her eyes a striking gold, a naturally intimidating gaze.

"I see."

I don't really want the conversation to die just yet. So I'll ask her something that I probably should've asked yesterday.

"What kind of Code Casts would you prefer me to use?"

Saber looks at me, seeming to wait for further information.

"Well… They can do more or less anything. Heal, reinforce, damage, hinder… So I've been wondering what would be the most helpful for you if I'd use it."

I'm pretty sure she wouldn't want me to rely on any Code Cast of the type that stuns or poisons an enemy, she'd probably consider them 'dirty tricks' and relying on them would mean we're weak. I've gathered that she rejects weakness entirely, though that begs the question why she answered a Master as weak as me.

"Trying to damage a Servant with a Code Cast seems like a waste of energy for a Master as weak as you," Saber says as a matter of fact. "I believe that good healing would be the best use."

I see. Yeah, it makes sense.

"Got it. I'll work on healing Code Casts then."

If I'm being honest, that feels the most right in terms of priority for me anyway.

Once we're done with lunch, Saber dematerializes again and I return for afternoon class. Shinji, surprisingly, isn't present. I kind of get why he's absent. After the abuse Rin dropped at him earlier, in front of a crowd on top of that, it's pretty normal to not want to show your face.

But does that mean he doesn't care about the penalty for skipping class? I know he doesn't take me seriously as an opponent, and I can't fault him for that, but is that really all right?

Rather than spend too much time worrying about Shinji, knowing I shouldn't worry about him at all in the first place, I focus on class, the new teacher whose name I didn't quite catch going into more detail over how to create Code Casts, and what basics are important. She brings up that the library has a few books on Code Cast creation as well.

Other students seem bored of this class, probably already aware of all these basics, just stuck here on the whim of SERAPH. But I'm taking in the information, taking notes in my terminal and especially make sure to remember going to the library later.

After class, Saber and I head for the Arena again.

"Aren't you going to pick up some books?" Saber asks as we walk through the Arena. She must have noticed my interest in the last class, especially knowing I'm trying to work on Code Casts.

"I'm planning to after this," I tell her. "Training in the Arena is a higher priority, I think."

Saber nods.

"Correct."

We make our way through the hallways I've already become quite familiar with. Saber never had any problem cutting through Enemy Programs to begin with, but I'm starting to get a little bit into my Master role day by day, battle by battle.

I'm noticing small hints in the Enemy Program's stance or the way it moves that I surely would've missed just a day ago. The fact that I'm making progress gives me hope that I can somewhat manage to hold my own here, even if, all things considered, I'm still way behind.

Checking the time on my terminal, it's already pretty late. The fact that the Enemy Programs respawn as if this was a game means that you can spend an awful lot of time in the Arena, just mowing them down and getting yourself as much money as you want, training every single technique you'd want to try.

"Let's call it a day," I suggest.

"Okay, Master."

Though something's still on my mind.

"It's weird we didn't see Shinji today."

"That peasant must be up to something," Saber concludes.

That's worrisome, but yeah. Or he really thinks us such a non-threat that he doesn't feel the need to train, slacking off. I don't exactly hope that's the case, but that might just give us the edge we'd need. Though if I said that out loud, Saber would berate me for it.

We leave the Arena and head straight for the library, the school's hallway deadly silent, illuminated by nothing but the moonlight. Upon grabbing the handle of the library's door, I quickly find out it's closed.

"…really?"

I notice a paper sign stuck to the door, stating that the library can only accessed between 8:00 and 18:00 every day.

This isn't even a real school! Why are their opening times for the library!? And why the heck does most of that time fall into the same time as classes, meaning they don't count?

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Fine. All right. Getting books will have to wait for tomorrow after class.

"That's a shame," Saber comments, though at least she doesn't seem to mock me.

Time to just end this day and go to sleep. Or rather, Saber can go to sleep, I'll try to work a bit more on my Code Cast. At the latest, I want it to be ready for use by the time we face Shinji and Rider again.