Stuffing the vial into her pocket, Hakuno continues her initial objective of heading her planned destination, soon turning the doorknob and stepping out onto the rooftop. A gentle breeze greets her cheeks as she looks around, soon locating the person she was looking for.
With her crimson turtleneck sweater and twintails, there in front of Hakuno stood none other than Rin Tohsaka, who currently appears to be gazing down at and observing some of the other masters below, her features sporting a look of silent concentration.
This scene...it reminds her of the first time they met after the war had commenced. While it did lead to a rather...embarrassing moment of Rin mistaking her as an NPC, something she'd rather not recall, it was odd how often they'd run into each other, and how Rin always decides to entertain her with small talks or conversations, even offering advice from time to time.
Now that she thought about it, Rin always did prefer to keep to herself. As a genius student during the preliminaries, Hakuno didn't exactly remember her to particularly be the social butterfly type that flocked around others either.
She mostly talked to people only when required, or when students were to approach her...probably just to keep up the pretense of appearances. With a mysterious air around her, even now during the war, Rin prefers to spend time alone. It doesn't seem like she minds or is bothered by that fact either, looking relatively calm and relaxed every time they'd coincidentally meet.
Or perhaps, this was the actual Rin all along beneath the cool exterior of indifference? It does seem like the more Hakuno interacts with her, the more of a different perception she forms of her as compared to during the preliminaries. Though it can be a little hard to tell sometimes, from what she's observed, it seems that maybe beneath it all, Rin actually appears to be more...approachable, and dare she say sometimes kind even.
Rin perks up upon noticing Hakuno walking closer, her face wrinkling to form a frown. "Oh, it's just you. You almost surprised me for a moment there, walking up here so silently." As with how a lot of their meetings go, Rin's tongue is almost equally as sharp as her servant's...if not more scathing. Mustering a smile, Hakuno slowly approaches the woman. "Hi...again."
The twin-tailed master places a hand to her hip, raising an eyebrow. "And why hello to you too. You've finally made it here, huh? Sure took a while." Eh? Um...she could be overthinking things, but with Rin's tone of voice...was it just her or did she seem sorta...well...slightly on edge?
"...I'm not angry, not particularly at you that is. It was partially because of that astrologist, coupled with some other stuff that soured my mood. I had an eventful run in with my opponent yesterday at the Arena you see. Like the sneaky bastard they are, they tried to pull a few tricks on me." Ah, just like her too then.
"Sadly for them, I had it all figured out in advance and knew what was coming at me, but they were still pretty annoying to deal with. Just remembering the incident has me fuming." So even someone as strong and mature as Rin Tohsaka still had some bad days. That was...somewhat reassuring to know.
Leaning against the handrail, Rin cocks her head to the side, her wavy hair swaying at the motion as her expression relaxes into a more neutral one. "So? Enough about me...did you have a nice chat with Rani back there? Were her answers of any help to you after your little consultation session?" Hakuno paused at that, her shoulders going rigid at the sudden confrontation. Hold on a second, how did she-?
At the sight of Hakuno's mildly surprised expression, Rin facepalms. "*sigh* Did you think I wouldn't know? I have a knack for these kinds of things y'know, and like I mentioned, you can be pretty easy to read." Sure, at this point she doesn't really doubt that either.
In fact, does Hakuno even want to guess where and how Rin gets her intel around campus so quickly? Even so, her perceptive abilities are nothing short of impressive...terrifying even. It's almost as if Rin possessed some sort of sixth sense. And here she was debating on whether to bring it up with her given her foul mood earlier...
"So then, to begin, how did things go with her yesterday? Did you manage to find out what you needed?" Hakuno bites down on her lower lip, choosing carefully on how to respond. She knows that Rin and Rani aren't on good terms, so she should probably proceed with caution. Sure, she did want to find her to clear a few doubts and ask her about a couple of things...however...
A frown appears, indicating suspicion and doubt that was laced in between growing curiosity from the blue-eyed magus. Though what comes next is..."...Relax, I won't bite. Sure, I don't particularly like that alchemist, but I won't take my frustration out on you because of it. I...kinda understood your reasons for approaching her to begin with."
...a rather...unexpected response? Certainly not what Hakuno was initially envisioning at least. A head tilt, followed by the subtle raise of an eyebrow. Wait, did she misunderstand and was Rin actually not mad and curious or...?
With Rin's arms crossed over her chest, Hakuno could've sworn she saw the mage's cheeks redden for a brief moment as she clears her throat. "So...what I'm basically saying is that..."
A pause, almost as if she was carefully thinking through her words. "...You...don't have to warm up to me obviously, but there's also no need be all stiff or overly considerate. I can comprehend your circumstances. Even if I don't see eye to eye with her, that's just between me and Rani."
Her frown deepens as she tilts her head to glance at the lingering masters down below. "...And as I said yesterday, it isn't my business to go around and randomly interfere with the conversations or dealings you have with others, especially since we're still enemies after all."
Scratching the back of her head, Rin halts for a brief few seconds, before letting out a cough, almost as if embarrassed to continue. "So really, you don't have to be worried about that kinda stuff. I won't force you to tell me anything if you don't want to either. It isn't like I have any right to do so to begin with anyway. Though if you do wanna tell me something then well...I guess I'll listen at the very least. Just...be careful around people like her."
Hakuno finds herself staring at Rin in silence, slowly processing her words. Ironically, that was...unexpectedly considerate and nice of her to say so, and it takes a bit of willpower not to break out into a grin. So instead, she slowly nods, a small smile on her features. "Ok. Thanks Rin."
...That aside, while she does feel kinda flattered in a way of Rin's offer of a listening ear, she doesn't exactly know how that may...for lack of a better word, particularly...help in her current predicament that clouds her mind; namely, how to deal with Dan and his servant tomorrow. As far as she knows, Dan is an experienced war veteran while his servant appears to be a skilled hunter.
She still hasn't exactly figured out a way to counter the effects of the servant's deadly poison, and as much as she needs it, she doubts she can just straight up ask Rin for advice on how to handle her enemy's noble phantasm. She can already imagine Rin's look of disbelief (which may likely evolve into irritation) if she ever chose to pop the question anyway.
She's already had a first hand experience of how the poison had affected her, and in the heat of the battle, it would be dangerous to not have a plan to mitigate it. She doesn't doubt that the green Archer will likely still target her and try to take her out with his noble phantasm, given how many times he's tried to do so over the week, but heading to the Elimination Battle tomorrow while not having a strategy to fight against it is...admittedly dumb at best, and life-threatening at worse.
That being said, she wasn't some medical expert who knew her way around the subject of poison, let alone had a surefire method to withstand the poison in case she got attacked or hit by it. It feels like once again, she's come to a standstill, as if running into a large roadblock, one that she can't simply circumvent around so easily. The brown-haired master could almost feel a headache come about because of it...
Rin squints, as if observing something on Hakuno's face before she purses her lips. "There you go, giving that expression again." ? Expression? Was she pulling on some sort of funny face or something? Rather, just a minute ago she was trying to at least appreciate Rin's considerate gesture.
Rin points at the region between her eyebrows, and for a moment, Hakuno could've sworn the familiar action gave her a mild sense of deja vu. "Your eyebrows I mean. You're looking like the world is about to end any minute now. What? You worried about your fight with Dan and his servant tomorrow?"
Ah, and she manages to hit the target dead right in the centre once again. Why does it feel like everyone around her was some sort of mind reader today? She knew she tended to be obvious but she didn't think her expression would give it away that easily.
Hakuno couldn't help but briefly look away sheepishly in return, nothing much to say to refute the undeniable truth. To be honest, it's hard to deny that it's probably in her nature to be negative. After all, it felt important for her to foresee all possible bad outcomes, and try to plan for them if possible...except now she still doesn't have one against her opponent...
Worried? Of course she was. How could she not be? In fact, perhaps it wouldn't be much of an understatement to say that the world may be ending, at least in her eyes. She knew the importance of not comparing herself to others, especially when it would do her little to no good, but it's very difficult to not do so everytime she remembers who her opponent was.
An amateur magus against a soldier with years of experience on various warzones, with an enemy servant who could likely take out with a single poisoned arrow to boot...how could she not feel anxious and incredibly stressed? Where should she even start in terms of analysing her foe, and how could she even hope to compete? It would be the equivalent of a chick facing against a rooster, or a deer against a tiger.
The odds were already stacked heavily against her, but given Dan's nature as a person (and not to mention that he also sacrificed two command seals the other day too) she can't exactly say it's unfair or his fault either. The battle hasn't even begun and she's already getting a case of cold feet just imagining all sorts of catastrophically bad scenarios unfolding during the eventual fight.
Rin tilts her head to the side, before letting out a sigh. "Y'know, I kinda get that you're probably the type who's pretty dense yet somehow overthinks a lot, but for once...maybe take your own advice?" This causes Hakuno to pause, blinking rapidly in confusion. Wait...her own advice...? Was there anything noteworthy within the messy spiral of her thought process so far?
Rin places a hand on her hip, sweatdropping at Hakuno's cluelessness. "Ok, this just confirms that your negativity is likely ingrained deep into your bones at this point, and while it's good to stay realistic, it could be better to try a different approach."
At Hakuno's still blank expression, the blue-eyed magus chooses to elaborate. "...I know it's tough not to do it, but you could at least make some conscious effort to not dwell on things you know you can't control. Instead, if you've already got a lot to think about, focus more on yourself and the stuff that you do have some degree of control over."
Rin carries on, a stern look adorning her features. "It can get nerve-wrecking and confusing and likely very frustrating for you, especially when pitted against an enemy that's miles ahead of you in terms of battle experience, but how is that gonna help you form a coherent battle plan?"
She...she's not wrong there. Admittedly, while it comes to no surprise that she was being rather pessimistic, being told that directly to her face and forced to confront it managed to slap some sense into her. Pondering about all the what ifs and worse-case situations...how exactly would that benefit her in terms of gaining an upper hand against Dan?
She knows Dan is the stronger one between the two of them, and maybe that's why she couldn't help but constantly feel hopeless, but even so, Rin makes a valid point. How exactly would that improve her current situation? How exactly would that aid in her progress?
"...You said you wanted to live. Then stick to focusing on that as your main goal. If that's your desire, if that's what you really want, then give it your all and concentrate on achieving it." Rin's eyes drift back briefly towards the masters that were lingering outside the school entrance below. "As long as you're still alive, you should focus on the present and do your best to fight till the bitter end. It may not look like it, but there are plenty of masters around her who are probably trying to do the same too. What matters at the end of the day before the Elimination Battle is how you choose to spend your time prepping for your fight, and what you focus on."
"If you know you can't win against Dan in terms of experience, find other ways to bridge that gap. Don't try to circle around a problem you know you can't fix or solve with the amount of time you have. And don't get dragged down or let whatever you've done so far during the preparation period get swept away by the ifs or buts. Otherwise, you won't ever stand a chance at surviving even before the fight has started."
Rin sounds rather strict and threatening as she words this, but Hakuno feels like it's her way of telling her to start prioritising on what actually matters, rather than staying stuck on the things she knows can't be changed.
Call it odd timing, but she was thankful for the pep talk nonetheless. ...Yea, she should just...prioritise on what's more important. Focus on the current moment, and what she could change or take charge of. Keep her eyes fixed on her original goal, rather than half-assing or second guessing herself at every opportunity while she's awake. So long as she's still alive and the battle was not over yet, what matters in the end is for her to do her very best.
Live in the present.
That was the statement Rin was trying to get into her apparently thick skull while scolding her earlier. She didn't think much of it previously until Rin had decided to directly confront her with the topic.
Suddenly, Dan's words from their conversation in the chapel made more sense too. Even as her opponent, he was subtly trying to make her understand...to make her focus on what was truly important at the current stage of the war. To concentrate on what was vital and really mattered to her.
Everyone else was also fighting in this war. They all had their own desires, dreams and aspirations, all of which Hakuno doesn't dare to compete with. To say that she is worthy to go against all these other masters would be a lie, but that doesn't alter the wish she possessed...since before...and even now...
That she wanted to live.
It was a simple, honest wish, maybe appearing insignificant as opposed to the other masters, but it was a wish she still had to this day, ever since she stepped foot into this war. She still wanted to live, wanted to breathe, wanted to go on. That alone was her fuel for going on, for still wanting to persevere. She doesn't know how far her drive is going to get her, but she wants to try anyway.
During last conversation with Nagisa...Nagisa too expressed her desire to live, and urged Hakuno not to give her wish up so easily. Back then, and even now, her reason for existing this round still stands. It was selfish of her...but at the root of it all, even with all the obstacles she's encountered, she wanted to fulfill that wish, to see it through. She wanted to survive, to eventually leave and make it out of this place alive.
And Archer...he stood by her side all this time, likely wanting her to realise it too. That she deserved a chance to fight, to struggle to the bitter end. Not to gain recognition and prove herself to anyone...but to try and pull through. To justify that her will to live was strong enough to earn her that right to carry on and keep existing.
She remembers when he appeared before her during the preliminaries, the words he spoke of during that first encounter. "You were shouting 'why?' a moment ago. Very few people know the answer to that question. Well, it's not a bad wish per se. I now pledge to fight by your side until your wish ceases to be."
The quiet yet absolute vow he gave to her when she miraculously managed to summon him, the firmness in his gaze and the steady hold he had as he grasped her hand to seal the contract. He was always there from that point onwards, ready to aid her at any given moment. From then on and until now, that wish still remains unchanged.
And Rani...she mentioned of her weaknesses. She knew she was weak, but that didn't disqualify her of her right to fight and live.
She doesn't know who will emerge victorious from the battle tomorrow, but she knows she still has to try. Even if others may doubt her, or even if she doubts herself, she still has to make an effort and give it her all, so long as she still stands and is able to.
Despite having all these mentally unresolved issues to figure out, and quite a number of things to ponder on or consider, perhaps Rin's suggestion was what she needed. Rin hadn't offered her a direct solution nor did she provide a surefire strategy against Dan, but she certainly gave Hakuno a more practical method to approach her problems.
...Here she was, stuck in place and getting all irritated and confused on what to do, but now getting advice from someone who's technically a foe in this war. As for why Rin is lecturing an enemy master and what she stands to gain from doing so, she's not entirely sure. The comedic scenario almost seems ridiculous and laughable if not for the fact that Hakuno now had a somewhat better perspective of things.
"Yeah...you're right about that. I...really...thank you Rin." Despite it coming out in a slightly clumsy manner, Hakuno wishes to thank her for the advice nonetheless, even if they were both enemies. Man, things could be a lot less complicated if she were more level-headed and less nervous...
"Less nervous...huh? I don't know about that. For me at least, rather than nervousness, it feels more like...indifference...of which comes with experience. And frankly, I'm not sure if that's something I should brag or be proud about." Rin goes silent, lifting her eyes momentarily towards the sky, her expression softening slightly.
...Right, even though they've interacted a number of times, like with a lot of masters in this holy grail war, Hakuno still doesn't know much about Rin or what she had previously gone through before entering this war. Rin strikes her as a...somewhat peculiar and mysterious person to say the least, especially with her interactions and involvement with Leo which she still doesn't have much of a clue about.
"But death...what would you make of it then?" Hakuno decides to slowly and quietly ask a moment later. Rin could only frown at that, her eyes still on the virtual sky. "You can ask some pretty odd questions at times. But death...huh? everyone has a different interpretation of what it means to them."
"The concept of death can be complex and vastly different depending on the individual. For some it can mean sadness and mourning for those have passed on, for others it can mean being overcome with anger and frustration for a tragedy to take away their loved ones, and even some feel relieved where they people they care about can finally rest in peace."
"It's hard to properly and strictly define what the concept of death truly means to me. But I guess...no matter how it is, death brings a feeling of absence and loneliness...of missing someone who was once alive." She closes her eyes briefly, feeling the gentle breeze against her face before opening them again.
"Rather than feeling empty and being fixated on death however, I think it's important to be in the moment and appreciate what life has to offer." She says this while turning to face Hakuno, her deep blue irises silently conveying understanding.
"Well, I hope this answer satisfies you. Even with me saying all this, death will come to everyone eventually, including me, and so it's good to cherish what you now have." Death...no living person could truly run from it. And from what Rin was just mentioned, it makes sense.
...She wonders...if there would come a time where they might fight on opposite ends of the battlefield, as opponents matched up against each other. While she doesn't want to picture such a scenario, the unfortunate possibility still presents itself nonetheless. But...as long as it hasn't happened...she wants to at least appreciate these rare moments of normalcy while she still can.
Rin had always insisted that they were enemies, and while that statement remains true, Hakuno still feels...grateful...at Rin's occasional gestures of kindness.
It was times like these that made her almost forgot she was in a war to begin with. Even back during the first round, Rin appeared to be offering her bits and pieces of info and advice despite her otherwise frosty and reserved nature, and even gave her those gemstones which aided her greatly against Rider's Noble Phantasm.
She would never admit out loud of course, but perhaps this was Rin's shy and awkward but somewhat selfless way of showing empathy to others. Yeah, maybe that was it. Rin was just going about it in a more roundabout way of helping others, even if she herself denied it a number of times.
It was oddly funny yet kind of flattering now that Hakuno thought about it, being more aware of Rin's personality as time went by. She wished there was something she could do in return to better express her gratitude, though she doubts that Rin would wanna accept it...
"...Hmph, don't need to make me say all of this kinda stuff out loud. But enough about me. From the looks of it, your encounter with Rani yesterday turned out alright." Well, for the most part yes. Though...there was that incident that occurred afterwards that she still couldn't quite wrap her head around...
Perhaps wanting to touch on another subject, Rin was quick to switch gears, perking up once again at the mention of Rani and looking intrigued. "Hmm...I will say, her alchemist abilities yield quite the utility. To be able to see fragments of a servant's past with the mere use of a catalyst is a pretty convenient ability to possess, especially when matched against an opponent like Dan Blackmore for this round. That man will be a tough foe to compete against." Yeah, even Rani had warned her too of that fact.
"That being said...that ability being so useful is probably also the reason why it's rarely used, even by Rani herself. She probably mentioned this, but it does put some strain and fatigue on those affected by the ability, and prolonged usage could probably lead to even more detrimental side effects in the long run. Even experts in alchemy are no exception to them it seems."
Ah, yes, she did experience the fatigue herself afterwards. Also, how Rin managed to have a decent grasp on Rani's unique ability with her barely giving her any noteworthy information is also a mystery in itself...though perhaps to be entertained for another time. Maybe it could be related to how she's able to quickly get word of all the incidents happening around campus?
"It's probably for the best that the ability's a double edged sword. I can only imagine how large of a trump card Rani would have for the entire duration of war if she could constantly use the ability herself without having to worry about any downsides to utilizing it."
Rin's voice brings her back to the topic at hand. Oh right, she did have a point. Rani alone would be super overpowered and have a huge upper hand over most if not all the masters in this war if that were the case.
Tapping her chin in thought, Rin has a distant, faraway look in her eyes, as if she's trying to process something. "...Interesting. It seems that there are quite a number of rather peculiar opponents that have made their way into this Holy Grail War. It makes me wonder what's Rani's reasons for participating though. All that help she gave you and not much of a hint of her motives for wanting the grail is odd to say the least..."
Rani's reasons...she did say that she wanted to study human behaviour but...Hakuno doubts that it's the only purpose she has for joining the war. And by 'peculiar opponents', could Rin also be referring to Leo or Dan?
"You could say that. Though if anything, you came out of that encounter with quite the advantage on your hands." Well, she couldn't really deny that; Rani's offer for help came at an unexpectedly good opportunity after all. That aside...on the matter of discussions and whatnot...
"By the way, Rin, did you have something you wanted to discuss with me earlier?" Rin blinks, pursing her lips at that. It looks like she has something to say, but more so was choosing her words carefully, as if she was about to approach some sort of sensitive topic. "Ah...right, that. Actually, yeah, there was something on my mind that I wanted to bring up. However..."
Rin narrows her eyes, her posture suddenly going tense. "It seems that we have quite the unwanted visitor here, and I don't exactly appreciate them listening in on our conversation." This revelation causes Hakuno's expression to fall. Wait...what?!
As soon as those words left the blue-eyed mage's mouth, Hakuno could sense a dramatic shift in the atmosphere. This tension...she's right; something was fundamentally wrong here. Clenching her hands into fists, Hakuno quickly scans the area.
"Oof, my cover's been blown. Didn't think you'd discover me this early." Whipping around, Hakuno watches as a cloaked man emerges from a corner. That cloak...and that voice...Dan's servant?! When...and how long had he been there?! Why was he even here to begin with?! Dang it, can't she even catch a break from him?!
"Yo, ojou-chan, and hello to you too, onee-san. What a good day to be sitting around, relaxing and chatting over a cup of tea, no?" he begins, a wide grin plastered on his face as he gives a wave. Rin doesn't look the least bit bothered or fazed by his entrance, instead maintaining a perfectly calm demeanor.
"Why yes it is. Though I can't say I enjoy it when outsiders decide to butt in and snoop on us. Tell me, is eavesdropping on a conversation between women a hobby of yours? If so, that's a bit distasteful of you, wouldn't you say?" A raised eyebrow feigning surprise, almost as if mocking him.
Not even a flinch, or any indication of shock and fear, Rin merely observing him calmly from afar. "That said...I was wondering how long you'd remain standing in that corner there hiding, but it sure didn't take long for you expose yourself either, huh?" So he had already been here for quite a while too?! Since when?!
"No need to get all defensive. It's called observation, sweetheart. I'm merely here out of interest." The man takes a few steps closer, though was still at a considerable distance from the two of them. By then, Hakuno's eyes were darting towards the exit. However, the servant must've prepared for such a possibility, intentionally blocking their way of escape.
"...So you're Rin Tohsaka, eh? The one responsible for meddling into and disrupting the Harway's state affairs? Interesting." Although lighthearted, Hakuno could sense the subtle bloodlust radiating off him, his presence more so intimidating if anything.
The man appears relaxed, a little too relaxed even, outwardly showing no signs of hostility. However, Hakuno was no stranger to his behaviour, and knew better than to let her guard down for even a second. "It's no wonder both my master and that Leo kid are being cautious. To think that a chick like you would garner the attention of the Harway heir and his troops...that's impressive. My master's also had an eye out on you since the start of the war."
She doesn't know if Rin is as distressed as she is currently, but if she is, she's doing a good job at masking it. "Oh? Has Sir Dan been talking about me? My, how flattering." "Haha, I guess. Though, appearance-wise, you don't really seem like a big-shot magus. Makes me wonder how did you manage to pull it off."
The servant clad in green proceeds to casually cross his arms over his chest, leaning against the wall. "The fact that you managed to foil several of the Harway's operations and their ongoing plans...sheesh, that's still some determination and skill you have there. Care to share your secret to success?"
Now this piece of information admittedly has Hakuno both intrigued and shocked. Whoa, did she hear him right? While she didn't know much of the Harways herself, they seemed to be some sort of large, influential family or organization with branches extending across the world, right? Or...that's the impression she's given so far over the course of the war.
To think that Rin had a hand in going against such a strong organization is an amazing and noteworthy achievement to say the least. Hakuno's aware of how about powerful, intelligent and resourceful Rin can be, even if she isn't actively showing off her prowess all the time, but if the enemy servant's claims are true, then the blue-eyed magus may be more deadlier and calculating than she initially assumed, even outside the Holy Grail War itself.
"How kind of your master to tell you, and thanks for all the compliments, but is this the only reason you're here? To chat with me?" Rin doesn't exactly let her get a word in much less allow her to raise questions, all while looking anything but pleased.
"I didn't think a servant would approach me with the intention of starting an interview. Surely there's a more productive motive for being here? I'd recommend you drop the terrible act. You won't get very far in fooling anyone by trying to appear harmless."
"Dang, you're colder than you look. And here I thought we may had something in common that we could discuss about. Still, at least I tried." His seemingly innocent smile is now replaced with a smirk, the man dropping his facade.
"A wolf in sheep's clothing, huh? I must say, you really are the polar opposite of Dan Blackmore, since he's at least a noble gentleman. Have you not heard of etiquette, or were you simply not taught basic manners until now?" Wow, if there's one thing Hakuno admires, it's Rin's ability to be able to confidently roast someone in the heat of the moment just like that.
"Yeesh, a bit feisty yourself, aren't ya? Though I do have to give you credit for finding out so early, I am curious. How did you manage to sense my presence so soon, onee-san?" A chuckle came out of Rin's lips in response, placing a hand to her lips. Hakuno didn't even think she had it in her to laugh in such a situation.
"Ah, I apologize, but in retrospect, you were terrible at concealing your presence that it's simply laughable. For a moment, I almost thought it was intentional, but was that actually not the case?" Whoa, Rin doesn't pull any punches with the insults; what a way to clap back at him indeed.
"Hah, what bold words, coming from a mere master like you," green Archer replies, now snarling at her. "Oh, but is it not true? I could sense you from miles away, and even before Hakuno had even showed up. Any decent master would be able to. In fact, It's quite obvious that your stealth skills need some polishing."
...Ignoring the indirect insult thrown her way for now, can someone please remind Hakuno how Rin is able to stand there talking while looking so...unbothered? The mostly silent master doesn't know whether she should be in awe or feel threatened by Rin's sassy attitude. Suddenly, it seems odd standing by and witnessing their conversation, almost as if she was the one third wheeling.
Rin scoffs, once again crossing her arms over her chest nonchalantly. "What? Does it damage your pride knowing that you got found out so quickly, and by a master no less? Sorry to put a dent in your confidence, but you're not doing a good job, since you reek of bloodlust." Goodness, this was starting to turn into a whole roasting session, with Rin firing off insult after insult without missing a beat.
"Getting a little cocky with that potty mouth of yours, eh?" By now, Hakuno could tell that Dan's servant was starting to lose his cool. Even for a servant, Rin spares no mercy with the sharp remarks, or perhaps that's her aim with this situation. Either way, Hakuno dares not utter a word to interrupt, not with all the tension in the air.
Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Rin continues to stare at the green Archer, unflinching. "Hardly. I'm just stating facts. That said, you finally decided to show yourself. I knew something was off with all the chaos going around in campus grounds, but then again, you don't seem to match the characteristics, given how sloppy you are."
She glances up and down, as if examining his appearance before sighing. "Nonetheless, I take it that you're here because of Hakuno? Gonna kill her off and finally complete the job?"
That blunt question has Hakuno's eyes widening in shock. Hey, technically she was still standing here next to her! The fact that Rin had casually asked such a thing with zero hesitance was simply mind boggling, and she still looks so relaxed too...!
The man shrugs, trying to remain calm and collected despite all the loads of insults hurled at him. "Wow, how perceptive of you. You're smarter than you look, I'll give you that." This makes Rin smile back in response, a rather nonchalant smile that look...pretty unnerving actually, almost like the expression of a villainess if she were to describe it.
"Ah, so I was right. How impatient; couldn't wait until tomorrow, huh? However, I thought you knew that the fundamentals of assassinating someone were that there shouldn't be any witnesses nearby." She pauses (which was probably intentional), before smirking. Rin...does have a point about her statements though, something that Hakuno herself couldn't refute even if she tried.
"Oh, silly me, I almost forgot. You failed her kill her before, didn't you? More than three times no less. You weren't exactly stealthy during your previous attempts to get rid of her either, so it didn't take long for me to find out." At this rate, Hakuno could see the green Archer's expression visibly darken.
Ok, maybe she was going a bit too far. Uh...Rin? Yeah, she was in no place to tell Rin what to do or not do but yeah...perhaps Rin should start...toning down on the insults a tad bit?
Rin was clearly ignoring Hakuno's small gestures and silent attempts to give her cues, because she continues on...merrily. "Can't kill off a feeble master even with several opportunities, and you think you'll be successful this time? Tell me, are you truly Dan Blackmore's servant?"
At this point, Hakuno's just watching by the sidelines, wondering what on earth was going through Rin's mind. Just what was she trying to achieve by rigorously insulting him like this?
"Because you seem a little too weak to be holding onto the proclaimed title of the Hunter of the Forest if you couldn't finish her off after so many tries. I bet your master could do a better job if only he didn't hold onto his sense of chivalry so much." Ok, insults aside, that was...shocking to hear and discover. Wait a minute, did Rin just-?!
"You'll regret saying that, you brat." Hakuno had no time to question the other female master, as she suddenly sees the enemy servant flashing several daggers in hand, a scowl on his face. "It appears this might be my lucky day. I'll get to eliminate two masters at once."
"Dropping the phony act at last...so you've finally decided to show your true colors, huh? Took you long enough," she could hear Rin briefly mutter, still standing idly by the side. There's obviously no chance for Hakuno to clarify on what exactly Rin meant however, not in these circumstances. That aside, shouldn't they be doing something to stop him or something??
"Master, stay behind me." A prompt request that needed no further explanation. By then, Archer was standing in front of Hakuno warily, ready to de-astralize and draw out his weapon at any second if needed. Of course, in any given situation, as a servant, his first priority was to naturally guard and protect his master. However, the gesture doesn't exactly ease much of the anxiety and tension she was feeling in that moment, glancing over at Rin worriedly. Damn, she was careless!
Because of Dan's orders in the infirmary the other day, and while using his command seals too, Hakuno thought that at the very least she was in the clear up until the day of the Elimination Battle. However, she had forgotten the very minor yet important detail that the green Archer could very much still attack her and anyone else on campus with other means, so long as he didn't use his Yew Bow to achieve his purpose.
She should've known better that the command Dan gave still had an loophole. She was too busy trying to uncover his identity that she had let her guard down. And to make matters worse, Rin had been dragged into her mess too. That look on his face...he isn't joking. Forget trying to reason with him, she had to prioritize evading his attacks now! "No, wait-"
"Heh, too late!" Dan's servant makes use of the initial shock to strike first before she could utter even a word to Archer, throwing the daggers at insane speed which were precisely aimed towards Rin. Tensing, she does the first thing that comes to mind, her instincts screaming at her as she rushes towards Rin. "Rin, look out!"
The sharp sound of steel meeting steel momentarily ripples through the air. Almost blindingly, the series of events all happened in an instant that Hakuno nearly missed it. Her eyes widened as a flash of red and blue passes by.
Just before the attack made contact with Rin's head, Hakuno sees an invisible force deflect it, the daggers narrowly missing the magus's forehead and clattering to the ground. A flicker of light then comes into vision. Astonished, Hakuno watches as something...or rather, someone, had materialized in front of Rin right before the attack had landed. What on earth-
"...Ah man, I was planning to stay hidden for a while longer, but guess that ain't happening," a deep voice calls out. The amnesiac master's eyes widened, taking a moment to process what had just happened...as well as the unknown person who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Hakuno's mouth unknowingly drops open at the surprise visitor's entrance. The person who was now standing in front of Rin was a tall man wearing a deep ultramarine bodysuit with grey metallic pauldrons.
His long dark blue hair which reached his mid back was tied into a rattail, with peculiar silver earrings dangling from each ear. There were also those strange blue lines that decorated his outfit. The patterns on those lines seemed familiar...runes?
Despite his slightly leaner form compared to Archer, the man was still impressively well built with toned muscles, and Hakuno could also tell that this person was no ordinary being judging from the prana circling around him. This man...who is he...?
"*sigh* Always the show off, aren't you? I could've handled that attack perfectly fine. There was no need for you to interfere and reveal yourself," Rin muttered, crossing her arms over her chest with a dissatisfied expression now plastered on her face. The man in return offers an incredulous look, raising an eyebrow. "Interfere? And here I thought I was doing you a favor?"
Rin's frown deepens, totally unfazed at the man's sudden entrance. In fact, she seems more disappointed than surprised. "A favor? If I really needed assistance I would've called out to you much earlier."
"Aww, don't say that. Sure, I know that you're capable and all but what is there left for me to do if you handle all the conflict? You stay safe and take care of the support while I go out and do all the dirty fighting. That's what our roles originally dictate in the first place, isn't it?"
The twin-tailed master lets out another long sigh at that, massaging the bridge of her nose. Hakuno can somewhat tell that she's trying to remain as calm as possible even with her increasing frustration.
"Perhaps, but in times like these, it's different. You're missing the point. Besides, did you really have to step in like that? Like I said...that wasn't necessary. The situation didn't require you to show up to begin with. Thanks for the save, but I didn't really need it."
The man shakes his head, shrugging his shoulders. "Cheh, overly serious as usual. No need to get all strict and uptight. Shouldn't you just be grateful and happy that I saved you the hassle to begin with?"
This response however, doesn't serve to appease Rin, the mage groaning. "You still don't get it? You- urgh...never mind. Seriously, your flamboyant attitude is sometimes just..."
Uh...Hakuno didn't want to interrupt but...were the two of them seriously going to start bickering under these circumstances? Though...she doesn't look nearly as angry as she would be with other people like Shinji or Leo.
If she didn't know any better, in any other regular situation, she might've mistaken this individual as some sort of hitman or something. Despite the lightheartedness in his tone of voice, Hakuno couldn't help but almost shrink at the bestial aura he was emitting, his sharp blood red eyes looking like that of a predator's.
This man...he's strong.
Somehow, even without knowing a thing about him, she can already tell that he was a powerful individual, and someone not to be messed with. Being in his presence alone had her feeling intimidated, and the brown-haired master found herself going quiet. She figured that it would be smart to hold her tongue and avoid saying anything that might redirect his attention to her.
Her eyes couldn't help but fix themselves onto the long red spear the man was holding, most likely the weapon he used to deflect the daggers from earlier. Although it was faint, she could also sense an aura of prana radiating from the weapon, the spear having a similar shade of red to the man's eyes. One wrong word, and that weapon of his might very well be aimed at her throat.
This person...where did he even come from? She hadn't noticed anyone else standing around near the vicinity while Rin was talking earlier, and yet this man somehow managed to swoop in and intercept the attack with ease, and was now even conversing with Rin with such...familiarity. Unless...hang on...could he be...?
"Tch, whadda ya know? Another troublesome one has decided to join in." A familiar voice draws Hakuno's attention back to the green Archer, who obviously seemed anything but pleased, practically seething with rage even. Well...perhaps it's a given that he'd seem extremely upset at his failure.
"Oh...right, I almost forgot. I guess there are more pressing matters to settle first before we can continue chatting." Resting the tip of his spear against the floor, the red-eyed man turns to face Dan's servant with a bored expression. "Didn't think you'd still stick around pal. Or what? Do you plan to fight right here and now? Not to rub more salt onto your wounds...but things aren't looking so pretty for you right now as we speak."
A low growl escapes from the green Archer's lips, his hands curling into fists. With his hood on, it's harder to make out his entire expression especially when he's standing a distance away, however, Hakuno could most definitely sense the anger radiating off him. It almost seems like it's taking him a good amount of willpower not to retaliate irrationally.
The blue haired man continues to speak, not seeming the the least bit fazed while idly drumming his fingers across his weapon. "Ah...are ya disappointed? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but you can't possibly expect me to just stand around idly while you attempt to commit murder in broad daylight. Thought you knew that there's certain protocols to follow when it comes to this war."
"Wow, good at following rules, aren't ya? Quite the overprotective one too from the looks of it." Reaching under his cape, Hakuno could see him easily produce a few more daggers out of thin air, twirling one of them in his hand. "But let's see how well you can maintain that relaxed facade of yours."
"Welp, guess negotiations are off the table. Doesn't seem like the type who's gonna listen. Ok, what shall we do now?" the blue-haired man lazily asks, looking back at Rin.
"What else? We intercept any of his attacks obviously. But don't go crazy. I don't want to take responsibility for wrecking school grounds, neither do I want the SE.RA.PH coming in to intervene later (That's what she was more worried about?? In this current situation??)," Rin casually responds, still observing the opposing servant calmly from afar. "Roger that. Though, I don't think I'll need to anyway," the man remarks, twirling his weapon expertly with one hand.
"Heh, think you can still rest easy? I wouldn't show my back to my opponent so defenselessly like that if I were you. Now then, try to entertain me!" Not giving the man time to say anything else, the green Archer attacks, throwing a bunch of daggers towards them randomly in all directions at an insane speed.
Barely a second had gone by before Hakuno's ears registered a loud clattering sound. Blinking rapidly, she realized that the daggers had magically fallen onto the ground. Wait...how did he-?
It took a while for Hakuno to process and comprehend what she had just seen. If her eyes hadn't betrayed her, as soon as the daggers were in close proximity, a huge influx of energy poured around the man standing in front of Rin. All it took afterwards was a single mere swing of his lance, the daggers practically bouncing off of him before hitting the ground seconds later like before.
Her mouth was now agape again in awe, both surprised and impressed. Wh-what casual display of both power and precision in that one move alone. He reacted as if he had just swatted away a couple of flies instead. Wow...with those reflexes and speed...and the man barely even budged or moved a muscle too...!
The hooded servant looks taken aback, eyebrows wrinkling together in disbelief. "Wh-?!" The blue-haired man on the other hand, throws a tired look his way, suppressing a yawn.
"That all you got? Surely you have more impressive attacks than just throwing a few daggers our way, don't ya? It'll take more than just a few puny projectiles to scratch me." The man still appears relaxed, looking incredibly bored even, and yet continues to taunt the green Archer effortlessly just like Rin, as if trying to get a reaction out of him.
"...Kh...looks like this one's yet another bastard too. Damn it, of course someone has to get in the way. Nothing's going according to plan lately." It seems more like Dan's servant was muttering to himself, swearing under his breath in irritation. "To be able to deflect my daggers effortlessly without so much as a scratch on you...don't tell me..."
As if encountering a realization, his eyes widened momentarily. "...I see how it is. Protection from arrows, huh? That's gonna complicate things." ? What was he going on about now? Could he referring to some sort of ability this blue-haired man possessed?
After what appeared to be a brief moment of contemplation, the man clad in green sighs, raising both his hands up in defeat. "...How inconvenient. As vexing as it is, I ain't crazy enough to challenge both you and that white-haired prick at the same time. Guess that leaves me no choice but to fall back now, huh?"
The blue-haired man however, merely raises an eyebrow, posture perfectly relaxed and looking laid back. "Leaving so soon? And here I thought you'd be eager to stick around and fight a little more, given how impatient you appear. Giving up on your prey already?"
The orange-haired man scoffs in reply, waving a hand dismissively. "Hah, I wish. I'm just backing off for now. Persistent as I may be, even I know how to pick my battles. We'll meet again very shortly anyway."
He proceeds to look over at Hakuno, a light smirk on his features. "Aren't you a fortunate one, ojou-chan? You managed to avoid death so many times. Oh well, guess that means I'll see ya during the Elimination Battle then...as well as that bodyguard of yours."
The brown-haired master watches as his dull green eyes narrow ever so slightly as if in warning. "I hope you don't think you can get away so easily again the next time we cross paths. After all, unlike today, I don't intend to throw in the towel that easily for the battle tomorrow." He shoots Rin and the blue-haired man one final glare before promptly disappearing, vanishing as silent as he appeared.
Silence filled the air for a brief moment after he had left, with the four individuals awkwardly standing in place. "Um...is he finally gone?" Hakuno whispers quietly to her servant, worried that the enemy servant may actually still be lurking in wait somewhere nearby.
Her servant nods, straightening his posture. "That seems to be the case. I'm not sensing his presence anymore, so we should be fine." She could see his frown gradually disappear as Archer crosses his arms over his chest.
...Now hold on a minute. 'I'm not sensing his presence anymore'? Now surely...surely that didn't mean what she thinks it might mean...right?
"Don't tell me...you already knew and noticed his presence too this whole time??" Hakuno asks, gritting her teeth whilst trying to keep her voice as low and calm as possible. She was determined to, at the bare minimum, not 'overreact' or speak in a raised volume despite this sudden realization.
Archer could only blink back at her, before slowly shrugging his shoulders. "Of course. That man may be experienced and capable with stealth, but as Rin had already mentioned, it's difficult to mask that lingering bloodlust of his. I'd say that you're the unfortunate one to not notice until it was brought up."
He says it so bluntly as if it's something obvious that she should already be well aware of. Hakuno had nothing to give as a counter argument for his insult. Ok well yes, maybe she didn't have some innate magus ability for immediately sensing other servants just yet.
However, that doesn't change the fact that he knew...but chose to keep silent, for whatever reason, and let Rin confront him until it escalated to this point?? She wasn't being oblivious on purpose, as there was a lot to Archer's abilities that she needed and was still trying to learn.
Meanwhile, she could instead point out that he didn't tell her or show any signs until now, that's for sure. She wasn't trying to be mean or unreasonable but c'mon now, any form of a heads up would've better than none at all. This man...he might unknowingly put them in danger with his unusual silence and strange tactics in moments like these...
"Also, it appears that the man has chosen to willingly retreat for today, a wise decision on his part. Given the circumstances, and with how many penalties he's probably already been slapped with, it's highly unlikely that he'll be trying anything else until the actual battle tomorrow, just as he claimed earlier."
And of course Archer chooses to pipe up and change the topic before she can get another word in. Hakuno opted to quietly let out a huff in favor of confronting him. She hadn't completely pardoned him per se, but that was kind of a relief to hear...for now at least.
"On another note...I think you might wanna draw your attention elsewhere, Master," Archer mutters, subtly gesturing to the duo standing a few feet away from them. Right...she still needed answers from Rin on that mysterious blue-haired stranger that showed up.
"...So he decides to leave anyway, huh? Thought he would've been more eager to stay after attempting such a stunt. That guy never learns, huh?" Hakuno blinks, turning to face Rin who was now clicking her tongue and shaking her head. "I thought we had him. Could've almost witnessed Dan's servant in action for myself too..." the blue-haired man chimes in, sighing deeply.
"If anything, your appearance only served to drive him away. Although the outcome was disappointing, it's also a good thing for us not to get into unnecessary scuffles here on campus. Plus, I doubt you'd be able to witness much with Dan's command seals still in effect." Uh well, she did have a point, but that matter aside, now that the fiasco was over...there was probably another different elephant to address in the room...
While hesitant, Hakuno eventually decides to pipe up. "Rin...this is..." She could immediately see Rin's eyebrows scrunch together , awkwardly rubbing a hand behind her head. "Ahh...this is why I didn't want you to come out. I had the situation completely under control too."
The blue-haired man rolls his eyes in return. "Under control? You were taunting the guy and hailing insult after insult. Of course the man would snap sooner or later. Poor guy...almost felt sorry for him. Not that it wasn't entertaining to see, but I doubt that you 'had it completely under control' by escalating the situation instead." Rin purses her lips together at that, obviously offended. "Excuse me? You-"
Before she could say anything more or lecture him however, the man holds up a hand and sighs, momentarily stopping her. "Now hold that thought. I understand your intentions, but no offense...hiding behind you all the time and doing nothing while on campus gets boring really quickly. I think a direct attack from an enemy servant would at least warrant a good enough excuse for my appearance."
With the red spear dematerializing from his hand, the tall man takes a few steps closer, his focus now diverting towards the other brown-haired master. "Heh~ so you're the rumored amnesiac master. You're the one that fought Shinji and won too, eh? Good job. I'd say that's not bad for a novice magus."
The man before her was now being so casual and relaxed and it almost seemed like they weren't being targeted and attacked by an enemy servant a few minutes ago, the tension from earlier quickly diffusing from the atmosphere. Hakuno could only stare back at him, both confused and dumbstruck. Hold on a second... 'rumoured'? Wait, did he also already know her too? Had she...met him somewhere else prior to today?
"Ok, knock it off. That's enough with the roundabout teasing. You're just going to confuse her even more," Rin lightly scolds, a hand on her hip. This only serves to raise several more questions in Hakuno's head.
A rather playful, knowing expression was now painted on his features, a toothy smirk showing on his lips. "Haha, I'm just messing with her. Wanted to see her reaction at least. Of course I'd know about the little lady. A pleasure to meet you Hakuno. I believe it's the first time we've met face to face? And by that I mean...it's probably your first time seeing me in person that is."
Hakuno blinks back rapidly in response, taking a moment to process his greeting. "Uhhhh...yes...hello to you too...?" she awkwardly greets back after a long pause, astonished at his rather chirpy than hostile behaviour.
He mentioned about hiding behind Rin all the time while on campus...the timing of his entrance...and that he presumably knew her already in advance...it was all starting to make sense now. Wait...then...if her hunch was right...
"...Hang on...so that means...Rin...this man is your..." she starts slowly, alternating between staring at him and the woman next to him. She could sense Rin's mood souring as she briefly facepalms, now looking more tired than annoyed. "Looks like I can't play dumb anymore. Guess there's way to keep hiding it, huh? Yes, if you're still wondering, this mildly infuriating person here is in fact my servant."