Chapter 21
Staring out at the vast reaches of space filled with stars, black holes, planets and more, all twinkling in the distance, Illya couldn't help but feel a fervent desire to see this view just once in reality. Though it was nice to be able to see it in a dream as well.
Yes, once more, she was in a dream involving Berserker. She wondered if she was a special case, or if most Masters also had dream cycles involving their Servants when they fell unconscious. She couldn't deny that it was quite entertaining to see her Servant's past though, even if she didn't understand most of what she was seeing. This time, she had woken up in another spaceship, in a luxurious room with a dark and menacing interior.
It was a rather comfortable place, boasting padded velvet cushions on the sofas, optimal temperature regulation and soothing music playing from hidden speakers, while a magnificent view was displayed outside the sturdy glass walls. There was even an aroma of some sort of dessert wafting around the room, tickling Illya's nose and her taste buds.
There was no one in the room, the only recognizable thing she could see was the "kotatsu", as Berserker had called it, in the middle of the room, along with piles of books and several empty plates surrounding it.
"Might as well make myself comfortable as I wait."
She decided to see if she could slip into the kotatsu, walking over to it and opening the blanket.
Before she could fully open it, she caught a glimpse of some pale creature hiding in the depths of the kotatsu, luminous yellow eyes glowing in the dark.
"Hyah!"
Illya stumbled back, tripping over a book and falling on her bottom.
The creature made didn't come out of the kotatsu, remaining inside silently.
Illya mustered her courage and opened the blanket to take a closer look at the creature again.
The blanket flipped upwards, letting the light hit the creature as she finally got a good look at the mysterious creature. Wearing some sort of uniform T-shirt and knee-length black sport tights, a black choker around her neck and glasses, was Berserker. Her hair was tied back in an elaborate bun with a black ribbon, and she laid on her stomach as she read a book intently, flipping the pages every few moments. Illya also noticed two wires trailing from her ears to a mysterious square device lying on the ground next to her. Every so often, she would hum, or take a bun from the pyramid of buns next to her under the kotatsu.
Illya blinked. Where had the warrior that had literally blown up a ship with her sword gone? It was almost like looking at a completely different person, a completely mundane schoolgirl chilling out at home.
*swish*
The double doors opened, sliding aside as a man clad from head to toe in black stepped through. A gravelly voice called out to Berserker.
"It's time to make a decision Sir Pendragon. The fate of the Empire and the universe rests on your shoulders. Even with the reformation of the Dark Rounds and the voroid armies standing at our beck and call, many threats against stability and peace still exist. The Secret Organization is constantly a thorn in our sides, and several of the Last Masters have also taken a side against us, hampering our efforts in constructing the Saber Star. It is imperative that-"
"That sounds annoying. Pass. Oh, it's snack time."
Undeterred, Agravain changed tactics.
"Think about all the privileges you'd get as the Emperor. Unlimited sweets for as long as you reign, deluxe king-size DaVinci kotatsus, access to superweapons that could obliterate planets and much more. You'll get to have a reverse harem of hot guys around you, hordes of battle voroids at your command, and you can even spout chuuni lines whenever you like since you're the Emperor. There's even unlimited paid holidays, a secret onsen resort located in deep space and-"
"Where's my snacks? Please call K6 and have him deliver the new Kat Kat bars to my quarters asap. I've been dying to try them ever since they released the new flavours."
Not even batting an eye, Agravain changed tack once again like an experienced veteran.
"Alter, think of all the times we spent together. Remember the days when you were just a couple of cells gestating in an incubation pod? I used to visit you all the time back then, taking care of you and monitoring your vitals (instead of relying on that slacker K6-X4). Even though you never said a word, a strong bond was forged between the two of us, mutually understanding each other without needing words. Then the day came when you matured and came out of the pod, and oh what a day of happiness that was. To think that the future empress was right in front of my eyes, I'm ashamed to say but I was so moved back then that a single tear escaped my eye. And all those days spent training you, beating you black and blue over and over until you mastered the basics of combat, and then the image training that-"
*Vuon, ZSHIN*
He halted his words as a crimson bar of plasma appeared pointed straight at his throat. Berserker's eyes glimmered dangerously as she stared at Agravain.
"Shut. Up."
Agravain nodded as much as he could with the lightsaber pointed at his throat.
*Spsh*
The lightsaber deactivated, Berserker crawling back into the kotatsu to enjoy her books again.
Agravain sighed, but he had expected as much from her.
"By the way, you have a visitor."
Berserker turned to him quizzically. Who would willingly visit the hidden capital ship of the Dark Rounds, ask for an audience with her and get it?
"It's Space Oniisan Merlin."
Illya watched amused, as Berserker's face scrunched up into the very picture of disgust.
"Can you tell him I'm not here?"
"Ah, so there you are Ecchan!"
Berserker's request was too late, as a man dressed in white robes and holding a bizarre techno-staff walked through the door. He was flamboyant and possessed a whimsical air, soft white hair curling wildly as it cascaded down his back. In addition, a black creature stood on his shoulder, red eyes and fluffy ears twitching as it surveyed the room.
Berserker instantly dove into the kotatsu and closed the blanket, growling inside as she tried to hide from the monster.
"Awwww, don't be like that Ecchan. It's just friendly Oniisan who cares about you, right?"
Crimson lightning shot out of the kotatsu, only to be intercepted by a wall of pink petals that hid Merlin from view. Once the petals disappeared, he was gone as well.
Several bumps came from under the kotatsu, followed by an animal yowling.
"Gyah!"
Berserker burst out from the kotatsu, landing in a four point crouch as she hissed at the kotatsu, looking like a cat. A showed of petals appeared behind her unnoticed, and she jumped in shock as Merlin's voice sounded right next to her ear.
"Finally got you out! Oh well, I can tell you don't seem to want to see me, though I can't fathom why. So let's get straight to business, shall we?"
Saying so, Merlin glanced over to Agravain. He narrowed his eyes minutely, before nodding to Berserker.
"I'll excuse myself then."
Agravain walked away, ignoring the pleading eyes of Berserker for him to stay.
"Now then, I'm sure you want to know where MHX went, don't you?" He said with a grin.
Berserker instantly reverted back to normal, her face serious as she waited for Merlin to continue.
"I've been keeping watch over the OG Sabers while I wandered the galaxy, keeping the peace as a journeying oniisan. I've seen many Sabers over the course of my travels, the red Saber, the Sakura Saber, the Dragonslaying Saber tribe, the Devil Saber, the Lion Saber and many more. However, I soon started hearing rumors of a famed saber-hunter calling herself the Saber of Sabers. Of course, there could only be one person who fit that description, and so I set out to track down my beloved imouto MHX. It took a while, but I eventually traced her trail until it stopped at the frontier planet Texas Beyond. Knowing her, she's probably wondering around fighting people and pigging out on desserts somewhere around there." Merlin stopped and smiled, his lips stretching a tad too wide for Berserker's liking.
"So, what will you do?"
Berserker desperately wanted to release her Noble Phantasm on him and wipe that smirk off his smug mug, but he was unfortunately part of the Caster class, and potential "Grand" too, so she held it in.
"I'm leaving. You're welcome to stay as long as you want to on the "DARK HAND", so long as you don't cause too much trouble. I hope I never see your face again." With that warm farewell, she stalked out of the room, preparing to leave in search of the person that had awoken her heart.
It was around this time that Illya started waking up, the colors blending together as the walls and floor twisted and mixed. Yet, Merlin remained unchanged, and even stared straight at her to give her a mischievous wink. Surprised but unable to do anything, she could only wonder if he had somehow managed to detect her in a dream as she returned to the waking world.