"I will admit," Winter said. "Father took it a lot better than I had expected."
Jekyll's eyes never once left the television. It showed the victory Robyn Hill had over Jacques Schnee in the election cycle. While Jacques, predictably, was frustrated; it showed no more frustration than anyone else. No arguments and no contesting of results.
"I still expect he would be fuming once he reaches home," Jekyll replied. "I only hope Whitley would do fine."
"He will." There was a hint of pride in her voice. "Whitley has been having a bit of a spine himself. He does what father wants still but always within reason. Weiss is still heiress and father still intends to take that position away but at least Whitley is willing to push back. Both of them actually."
"Oh?" Jekyll asked. "He's pushing back against Weiss?"
"Weiss' time as a huntress meant less time in handling the company. Whitley raised the important question of how she's going to reform the SDC if she's out there fighting Grimm. It is one thing to redeem the Schnee name. It is another to rebuild the company."
Jekyll couldn't help himself but feel proud. His relationship with the Schnee family in his time was remarkably different compared to here. But it was good to know that some things could still stay the same had he done similar things. Whitley, more than anyone, needed someone by his side. Jacques had been the only one there and so Whitley did what he could to keep that, becoming dependent.
"I suppose I have you to thank for that," Winter said.
"I don't think I did that much." Jekyll waved his hand dismissively. "If anything else, Jack has all the rights to that. I only observed what those two had done in my time and committed it to memory."
"You gave Whitley what me and Weiss should have given him a long time ago: support. He clung to you almost immediately when you weren't as harsh on him as father was."
Jekyll chose to stay silent. He expected that one as well but that had more to do with the memories of his self from that other Remnant.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Winter." He placed an arm around her. She was still wearing his jacket. "You and Weiss have done the rest and I say that it was the most excellent thing I've ever seen. Besides, I wasn't the one who got through your mother."
She looked away. "Someone had to. Even I forget that we're supposed to be family."
"And Klein has never been happier," Jekyll completed. "What? I saw the way he looked at all of you. All seven of his personalities had become Happy there."
Winter and he chuckled. The Schnee manor was so large than they might as well have it to themselves, here in what is essentially a common room. On some days, there would be more employees around here for some kind of event. Nowadays, it was mostly empty and there were no expected events.
Jekyll still wasn't quite welcome in the Schnee manor, courtesy of Jacques Schnee. But he was tolerated at least. That was no different as far as he's concerned.
News done, the two set out towards Atlas Academy. Outside, the streets were full of celebration. Jacques Schnee had never been a popular character in Atlas' public. He carried himself as someone just like those of the higher class, a position that he deliberately put himself, and the Schnee name, into. In that aspect, he could be respected. But beyond that, he was but a businessman more concerned with profits.
Mantle below were especially joyous with few who weren't a fan. Robyn's proposal of expanding the aid into Mantle had been her attempts at bridging the gaps between Atlas and Mantle. Only those who looked down on Mantle thought otherwise.
While that had been true, the truth was that it hid another secret: The Grail War. Passing by the now completed structure, the massive cannon had been set and ready to fire. An advanced piece of weaponry disguised as two towers of an odd shape, that of a barrel.
Ironwood didn't like the suggestion, always trying to find some other way. But Atlas' time was limited this time. Jekyll was much the same. Damn Archer. Without the Grail, they needed something massive and set things just right: Atlas would become the bullet. The calculation proved it possible and there was no Ambrosius needed to create it.
"It won't make it in time, you know." Winter guessed his thoughts correctly. "Even if we forcibly evacuate, there won't be enough time. Lives will be lost and we couldn't come up with a legitimate, public reason to evacuate before that."
"We would be fortunate if Light doesn't come here at all," Jekyll replied. "But thus far, this is our only shot of doing so. Chiron had begun to prepare his own but that might not be built in time."
"Are you certain that Watts isn't trying to think ahead?"
"I have no doubts about it. But Archer is an intellectual, greater than myself. The greatest criminal mastermind only bested by the only consulting detective, and even that was barely. We are pulled by his strings and we have no means of cutting them off before then."
Conceptually, James Moriarty is a man who could only be bested by Sherlock Holmes. One would need a great detective power to best that man and Jekyll wasn't quite confident in taking up that challenge.
"If we wish to act," Winter said. "We would have to act in ways that would be outside of his terrifyingly accurate observations and assumptions."
Jekyll nodded. "If it helps, I will not let any of that mean harm for you."
"You know he knows that, right?"
"Doesn't make it any less true."
The two walking down the streets still garnered some attention though that had more to do with the recent election cycle than anything else.
Jekyll felt a hand on his.
"I'm here too, you know?" Winter said. Her eyes burned the fires of the Maiden. "You're not the only one with the weight of the world on their shoulders."
"I suppose not." He returned with a smile.
For professional reasons, the two had to part hands once they arrived in Atlas Academy. Jekyll had worn his jacket again by this point and his presence was pretty much expected.
Atlas Academy was simultaneously busy yet mostly empty. Students and professionals came back and forth as they took their missions, restocked on supplies and took another. With Robyn's victory and an expansion of Mantle, the northern kingdom has been aggressive in their expansion for however few meters that they could gather.
No one knew with that much certainty but different infrastructures failed to keep up and they were beginning to slow down. Grimm activity had been recorded but that wasn't enough to justify such drastic actions. It is only through Robyn's own efforts that they were able to do so, under the guise of aiding Mantle's people.
"Winter!" Weiss called out. She herself had just gotten back from a mission judging from the grime and sweat on her person. She had a bit of blue now on her usually white combat dress. "And doctor Jekyll."
"Weiss." Winter nodded. "How's the mission."
"Well enough." Weiss returned to that poise of grace and elegance. A difficult task given her current aesthetical state and her obvious exhaustion. The mission's completion must have been recent. "Penny has proven herself an excellent partner for the time being."
That one took Jekyll's attention. But he kept quiet. With the Vytal Tournament, most could recognize Penny on sight and knew her to be a machine remade. Only Atlas weren't bothered by it; the less people are thrown to the Grimm meant lesser risks taken. Mantle had partial problems with it but Penny earned her way into being Mantle's protector; she was pretty much the reason the expansion was only slowed and not halted.
"Her upgrades have been proven excellent," Weiss added. "I don't even recognize the way she fights though. Especially with those new weapons of hers."
"To be fair," Jekyll explained. "That fight program was meant for human opponents. Nothing ulterior or dangerous, just that it was available."
"How about her energy reserves?" Winter asked.
"I…" Weiss looked away. "I actually can't answer that. I really don't know."
"That's alright, Weiss." Winter patted Weiss on the shoulder. "I'm not mad or frustrated, just thought that you might have observed something."
Jekyll knew what she had intended. He gave Weiss an out anyway. "Only Pietro would know that with any certainty, Winter."
"Of course, of course." Winter straightened herself up. "Keep up the good work, Weiss. Let's spend some time together later, as sisters."
"No Whitley this time?" she asked.
"Try stealing him from Klein," Winter replied, chuckling. She turned to Jekyll. "Let's go."
"Good luck, Winter!" Weiss waved them. She didn't move to leave, only to find some rest.
Soldiers saluted Winter as she passed. As courtesy, Winter returned with her own as part of the greeting. Even the huntsmen and huntresses did the same. Only Weiss never did but she had schooled in Beacon; she was ignorant of these customs around here.
Elevator doors dinged and the two stepped inside. The lights peeking through the gaps droned and they stood still in silence. Winter maintained her usual stance with her hands behind her back, chin upward and heels together.
Jekyll was less soldier but no less formal. Time spent around military just meant that he adapted part of their usual postures as part of his own. He caught a smirk coming from Winter. She was used to this and looked relaxed. Him not quite.
Dinging to signal their arrival, the general's office at the end had their lights on. General Ironwood wasn't a man to waste resources. He was in there.
Winter did her usual greetings and announcement and Ironwood let them in.
Behind the desk, Ironwood relaxed into his chair. The screen displayed the news and the subsequent interviews in regards to Robyn's victory. It mostly contained the people's reactions, those who are pleased and the unsurprising few who weren't. Jacques just wasn't a popular character at all.
"Diplomatically speaking," said Ironwood. "I should give my apologies for your father's loss, Specialist. I'm certain that you must quite distraught at the result."
"Diplomatically speaking," replied Winter. "What's done is done. The people have spoken and they have chosen miss Hill, general."
"Realistically speaking," Jekyll said, one eyebrow raised. "Not a single soul in this room is even remotely saddened nor surprised at Jacques Schnee's loss."
There was no one else in the room who could be listening, surely not. If they did, they had to have picked up that tell at least.
Ironwood chuckled. "It is still surprising to see Jacques Schnee take it all without much protest."
"Father is aware of his infamy," Winter said. "He couldn't hope to rile up the people no matter how much the SDC is needed for our Dust needs."
"Mantle has been doing well for itself," Ironwood said, knowing their purpose here. "Miss Hill has been leading the charge herself and with Penny around, we have the time to squeeze most the civilians there."
Civilians. Not soldiers nor huntsmen. Civilians only. Soldiers, especially huntsmen-soldiers, are intimately aware of the risks given in the job.
"I could draw the Grimm away if needed," Jekyll offered. "I don't think it would be much help though but perhaps it could be of use."
"But can you handle the incoming horde?" Ironwood asked.
"Without question." Jekyll puffed out his chest.
"It isn't a good idea to boast, Jekyll," Ironwood retorted. "Many heroes, great or otherwise, lost their lives due to their hubris."
"It is fortunate, then. I never once nor will I ever call myself a hero." Heroic Spirit? Yes. But a hero? A genuine and honest hero? There were far too many that deserve that position than him. Jekyll may stand alongside them but he would hardly call himself among their numbers.
"I will have Penny be your partner," Ironwood replied. Jekyll opened his mouth. "That is not negotiable, doctor Jekyll. I will not throw away lives when I could save them. If I have to be callous, it is a waste of resources and manpower that could have been used elsewhere."
Jekyll shut his mouth. He felt a literal cold shoulder from Winter. His own got a little damp almost immediately when he felt a little bit of heat after the frost. Not his fault, most Servants were just accustomed to having their lives thrown away. It's just part of the parcel.
"Understood," Jekyll said. The two soldiers in the room waited. "Sir."
Topics moved to other places. Atlas' state of affairs had their protests with others seeing opportunity of expanding their influences into Mantle. Those who already had influence sought to deepen it.
Only problem was, they would have to compete with one mister Hyde, the mysterious and anonymous philanthropist that brought about alternatives to Dust as a potential resource given the prices are still quite high.
It isn't much yet and there was hardly any dent on Dust's hold on Remnant's economies. Barely worth any. But there were those who noticed the potential and have made their bets. As Jekyll, he made his own bet already. If it worked out, great. If it didn't, it wouldn't be the first time he would throw Hyde's name under that gutter.
The only difference was that Hyde was more respected than Jekyll. Ironic. An irony that he made for himself but still ironic.
News of Grimm activity were treated as though they were weather reports. More Grimm were condensing towards particular locations and the experts among them said that it wasn't much to worry about, just another part of Grimm's more social behavior.
For the three of them in room, it wasn't quite the case.
"Salem plans to take the Relic of creation," Ironwood said. "But there isn't any sign of her pieces moving."
"She's gathering her pieces," Jekyll replied. "Vale is currently in a weakened state and Mistral has been compromised."
"What about Menagerie?" Winter asked.
"Fiona gave me a message." Jekyll shook his head. "Menagerie is gone. Has been for a while now. They're in Vale though I've heard that there were a few scattered in Mistral."
"General?" Winter turned to Ironwood.
He had his elbows on his desk. The news reporting resumed as background noise. His eyes closed and his finger was tapping the metal prosthetic. A monotonous rhythm more machine than human.
Then, he sighed. "With the way this is going, Atlas really will be the last line of defense against… well, all the threats of Remnant, I suppose."
Jekyll chuckled bitterly. "I'm truly sorry. It's horrible enough that you people have to deal with the Grimm."
"Implying that the Brother gods won't become antagonistic if we couldn't live up to their standards."
"The Brother gods wouldn't be involved to this extent had the Grail War was never brought here."
"I know for a fact that if others heard about this, they would find it to be a worthy exchange." Ironwood shrugged and shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised at this knowing what I know but still. Another planet? Outside Remnant's atmosphere? Actual life just beyond Remnant's skies."
"Skies that we couldn't overcome due to the limitations of Dust," Winter added. "So much for free will I suppose."
"If memory serves," Jekyll said. "The Brothers only created this humanity with the capacity to choose between creation and destruction."
"And you don't think that creating our own path counts?" Winter raised an eyebrow.
"Point taken."
Ironwood stood up. His hands were behind him. His chest out and shoulders back. On instinct, Winter stood stiff and awaited orders.
"No matter what happens," Ironwood ordered. "Atlas' people will not fall. The kingdom might but its people won't. Even if the very gods themselves were to descend against us, we will welcome them as we would the Grimm: as threats to our very being and fight with extreme prejudice if need be."
As Ironwood went on, even Jekyll felt himself standing stiff, in a poor imitation of a soldier.
"Schnee, master and experiment with Maiden powers. Your priority is to protect the people. Support Polendina whenever possible in the coming days."
"Sir, yes sir." Winter saluted.
He then turned to Jekyll. Jekyll stood stiffer. "Inform Hill and Hyde of our cause. Bring them both to me. We have much to discuss and plan for the coming days."
"Yes, general." Jekyll nodded. "I mean, sir, yes sir."
Ironwood walked back and forth in front of them. "The populace is ignorant of it. But the battle—no—the war to end this age is coming. And I intend to make sure that Atlas—all of Remnant gets to survive past its ending. This Holy Grail War is a war that determines the future of Remnant itself. For better or for worse, it falls to us soldiers, huntsmen, Servants, and Masters to secure that better outcome. Dismissed."
Winter, on trained instinct, turned around with Jekyll following close behind. He won't deny that that had been the first time he had ever been commanded by the general in that manner. It was quite the experience and Jekyll just followed along like a Command Spell had been issued.
"Would you have trusted him?" Winter asked. "If he had been a Master and you the Servant?"
"I already do even without that arrangement, Winter," Jekyll replied.
/-/
Weiss waited for them to return. She won't deny that part of that had been because she wanted to spend some of that time with Winter. With these missions going on and with what she knew, she really needed someone to talk to. Penny had been great in that regard but her duties didn't allow for much small talk.
She sat by in one of the waiting areas. Exhausted and poor of dress, she did the best she could to fix herself. But dust, grime, and sweat didn't exactly cooperate. There was that sticky feeling too from all that sweat. Weiss at least managed to get those hands washed.
Next time, she'll bring a handkerchief or something. Her weapon was still in good shape and her Dust supplies have been restocked. Since she was here, she might as well restock.
The clocks ticked on and Weiss' breath and bodily rhythms returned to normal. She'll need a quick shower when she gets back.
Winter and Jekyll's conversation were heard and grew louder. Weiss powerwalked her way back and made it as natural as she could.
"Winter!" she called out. "Doctor Jekyll! How was the meeting with the general?"
"Jekyll over here actually felt like a soldier for once." Winter eyed Jekyll's reddening cheeks.
"There was no need to tell that." He looked away. "Anyway, I have to contact with miss Hill about her duties."
Jekyll excused himself and hastily walked his way out.
"What was that?" Weiss asked.
She was already aware of their closeness but that one had been off.
"Just a joke between us during the elevator ride down. Typical of any new soldier learning their postures. You've been waiting too long?"
"Not at all. I even took time to restock on Dust," Weiss said.
Winter nodded. "Good. We'll need it in the coming days. More than ever perhaps."
"Is this…?"
She nodded again. Before speaking, Winter looked around her for any listeners. She leaned closer and whispered. "The Grail War is only going to intensify. Atlas and Mantle are still safe for now but the general is worried that it only means that we'll be the final frontier."
Weiss gulped. Atlas and Mantle had been moving quite fast with its expansion and reinforcement. The Grimm threat and Robyn's electoral victory had been the excuse but that wasn't going to last forever.
No words yet of anything strange or mysterious had reached them yet. But they knew the Grail War was still ongoing.
By comparison, Weiss was in worse shape than Winter. The latter never having gone on any mission yet. Winter's focus had been on her scroll. Graphs, lines, and photos scrolled from one side of the screen to the other in quick succession. The general's orders, that's for sure.
"How was the mission in Arrowfell?" Winter asked. "Did you and Penny do well?"
"I feel like I was holding Penny back, Winter," Weiss replied. Her head was down. A Schnee always excelled after all.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Weiss." Winter may not be looking at her but she could tell just by Weiss' voice. "Penny is your current partner and she had been upgraded to compete even against Servants."
"I know." Weiss nodded. "It's just hard to see that since I still see her as Penny."
"You're referring to her…" Winter paused, trying to find the right words. "Previous body?"
"Yes." Weiss nodded. "I wasn't there in person but I remember seeing it on the screen. There's also this other person, Jaune Arc. A classmate of mine."
"Jaune Arc? Have you not been told yet?"
"Told what? From Jekyll's connections?"
Weiss had never heard of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen before this Grail War business. She never thought about them at all.
Winter nodded. "We were given a list on the Masters and Servants. Jaune Arc is one of them."
"But that's impossible! Jaune Arc is dead. How could he be a Master if he's dead."
"You misunderstand." Winter shook her head. "Jaune Arc has been summoned as Pyrrha Nikos' Servant. Or rather, he had been summoned into the Rider-class, the Rusted Knight."
"I'm sorry, what?" Weiss jaw dropped. "You're kidding, right?"
When Winter failed to chuckle, Weiss continued.
"That… huh?" Weiss' eyebrows creased. Her mind moving many miles a minute. "Wait… but…hang on… huh?"
"I see that it would affect you by that much," Winter said. "He is a companion of yours."
"He's my partner's best friend." She remembered that lifeless form of his.
By the Brothers, she remembered how weak and pathetic he had been when Beacon started. He improved as time went on sure, but how did he go from tall, blonde, and scraggly, to being a huntsman's first hero? To being her first hero?
She finally managed to string words together coherently. "There has to be an explanation for that."
"More than magic, immortal witches, and gods?"
"About the same level but sure."
"I'm afraid you'll have to ask Jekyll for that. I've never known the man so it was easier for me to accept the strange things about it."
Weiss made a mental note about it. She'll corner doctor Jekyll if she had to.
"But back to Penny," Winter took her out of her thoughts. "What about her energy outputs?"
"Efficient, I think." Weiss followed. A distraction was nice. "Turns out there is aura—however that works—that could be found in the atmosphere. Not enough to entirely rely on, though."
"Aura is the manifestation of all living things, remnants of magic. It only makes sense that there would be a few lingering in the air."
Weiss didn't know how that works but Pietro was a smart man. It was something that she couldn't understand, she's sure. Maybe Ruby might understand it. That sounded like something that was up her alley with all that techno talk.
"Efficient might not be the right word, actually," Weiss added. "There is so little in the air, it's actually impressive Penny could get any at all."
"That is fine," Winter said. "Combining Penny's schematics with this… Frankenstein's Monster is a difficult task I'm sure. Even with Jekyll's help."
"You really think highly of Jekyll's intelligence," Weiss commented.
"Do I?" Winter sounded genuinely surprised. "I never noticed."
Arriving at the Schnee manor, Klein had been there to greet them.
"Why Weiss, Winter," Klein said. "Why didn't you call me? I would have driven there to pick you up myself!"
"It's alright, Klein," Weiss said. "We were thinking of having a moment between sisters anyway."
"Ah, I see. And should I prepare the bath for you, Weiss?"
Weiss took a sniff and nearly reeled back. She never noticed. "That would be appreciated, Klein. Thank you."
"And for miss Winter?"
"No, thank you, Klein. I have my mission to go to. I've only come to gather my other supplies." She then turned to Weiss. "Farewell Weiss."
"Talk to you next time, Winter."
"Of course."
Klein had Weiss' clothes all ready by the time she finished. Those aching muscles were soothed away. Her hair now clean and pristine. She was still tired and couldn't go to another so soon but she wasn't about to laze about in the Schnee manor. She had plans to attend to.
"Should I expect you to be back by dinner?" Klein asked.
"Probably not," Weiss replied. "I may know where doctor Jekyll is, but I am uncertain on how long it would take to get all the answers out of him."
She needed to know. Heroic Spirits. Servants. Grail Wars. Salem. Brother gods. So many things. Where would she even begin? Getting them slowly as she had right now was frankly too slow.
Unsurprisingly, the flight down to Mantle had been delayed for her. She could have used one of the SDC privately used bullheads but that would draw attention. With her father's loss, she wasn't about to draw that attention to the SDC. Not so soon.
I still couldn't believe that father actually took it graciously. Weiss knew her father. She knew how he was and how we would mask himself for the public. This hadn't been either side of him.
With Atlas floating above it, though far above, the geographical center of Mantle was in perpetual shade. Good during the hotter months, for what little that's worth here in the north. Terrible during the colder seasons like right now.
Many of the lights in Mantle were from the buildings and streets. People used to gather around burning bins for warmth and the heat from different machines using Dust. Weiss readied her scarf already; she was used to the cold though she had to readjust herself when she first returned to Atlas.
Above her, Penny was flying from one direction to another.
Weiss tried to call out to her but it didn't seem like she heard her. That speed was far too great and Weiss wondered how much energy had been used there. Did Penny even use Dust?
Finding Jekyll was as easy as finding the Happy Huntresses, Robyn's group. Finding them was as easy as looking for the edges of Mantle. Finding which group had Robyn with them was nearly impossible. Mantle was still a large city after all.
Abandoned buildings were repurposed or torn down for parts and materials. Homelessness were erratic in their numbers. Some areas had many. Others had none at all. Those buildings that haven't been torn down were lived in by them, for however long it would last.
Weiss followed Penny's trail. She grasped the general direction at least. Better to ask for a favor. She didn't have the number of either Robyn nor Jekyll.
"I knew I should have asked sooner." She rubbed her hands together. Foggy mists left her mouth with every exhale.
Penny wasn't quite on the spot. She already moved to a different spot, eastward from that initial straight trail Weiss saw earlier. Penny was clearing out the Grimm.
Rather than those swords she used to have, Penny used a hammer though not as large as Nora's. Slamming hard against the stray Grimm that would come their way, Penny made quick work of them.
If it wasn't the hammer, Penny used a sword of Mistralian origin. Single-edged and curved, her holding of it was textbook. Given that Penny was programed with it, fair. Yet, there was something human about it. Penny was already making adjustments to adapt on the fly.
Weiss neared Penny and called out again. "Penny!" She waved one arm wildly.
"Weiss!" Penny replied. She dropped the constant use of friend before their names now. "Salutations! What brings you here down to Mantle?"
"I was actually hoping to ask a favor," Weiss said. "Have you seen doctor Jekyll?"
Penny's fingers were on her own temples. Something was happening to her eyes.
"Doctor Jekyll is currently in the company of councilwoman Robyn Hill," Penny said. "They are about…" Penny adjusted her position physically. She put her arm out. "That way. Estimated time of arrival is three hours and forty-five minutes, not accounting for any obstruction, traffic, or change of pace when moving at top speed you normally achieve."
That long? Well she could at least close the gap with her Glyphs. Might save her a few minutes.
"Alternatively." Penny had her back to Weiss. "I could get you there in fifty minutes."
"Fifty? I'm assuming you're flying over all the buildings."
"I could go faster but that would put too much strain on you."
"I couldn't possibly ask too much."
"Nonsense!" Penny insisted. "I have already fulfilled my objectives here and helping friends is always a good thing to do! Hop on! And keep your mouth closed tight."
Weiss wanted to say no. But that does save time.
/-/
He sighed, blade impaled deep into his opponent.
"No hard feelings," he said. "You didn't make fun of me so it's only right that I end you with one of my own techniques." Not like he could copy anyone else's in this Grail War.
His free hand went underneath the blade, touching the blunt part.
"So be proud!" He forced the blade upwards. "You fell by the sword of Izo Okada!"
His opponent fell to her knees. Wiping the blood off of his blade, Assassin turned around and left. But he committed the grave mistake of turning his back on his enemy.
With her free arm, she clung herself to his back. Her mace generating massive amounts of electricity.
"The hell?" he exclaimed. "What are you—"
Lightning surged. She already left behind the schematics for her own creation, however crude. If he was going to leave something behind to be remembered, so did she.
She coughed but held on tight. "Blasted Tree!"
AN: Before "Fate: Upon a Time," the title that I had in mind had been "Fate: of Remnant." Personally, I'm reserving that for future use.
Anyway, there we have it, the final two Servants of the previous Grail War. Just as a recap, we have the following roster of that previous GW:
Saber: Jason (winner)
Lancer: Enkidu
Archer: Gilgamesh
Berserker: Frankenstein's Monster
Rider: Edward "Blackbeard" Teach
Assassin: Izo Okada
Caster: Gilles de Rais (transformed to a Saber because reasons)
With the exception to Gilles, each one was chosen in pairs. They were also chosen as I went along while outlining the general timeline of events. Counting this, the main roster, and the Companions, I feel ill looking at the fact that it's 21 Servants in one fic (22 if we count Voyager).
Self-reminder not to make a roster this big again.