Chapter Three: Hollow Animus

Even if life had taken a sudden turn for the dangerous, that wasn't any excuse to stop training.

Routine kept me grounded. In the Holy Grail War, being complacent was a death sentence.

Kiritsugu was relying on me. I couldn't afford to die.

My exercises had changed little in the past year—stretching, footwork, the whole works. Deliberate, controlled, efficient. Kiritsugu had drilled that into me early on: never waste energy, never push yourself beyond what you can recover from. A magus had to be methodical in everything they did, even training.

I worked through my movements in silence, each motion flowing into the next.

A quiet presence near the dojo entrance reminded me I wasn't alone.

Saver sat on the wooden steps, her long golden hair tousled from a night spent awake. She had been tinkering with something earlier, though she hadn't explained what. Now, she watched me, her staff resting against her shoulder, as she absently traced patterns on the wood with her fingertip.

She was thinking about something hard enough that I could almost feel it from here.

I finished a strike and exhaled, rolling my shoulders. "Something on your mind?"

Saver blinked, as if pulled from a daydream. "Ah. No, I was just watching."

She gave me a small, sheepish smile, as if I had caught her staring at something she shouldn't have.

I raised an eyebrow. "Am I doing something wrong?"

Her eyes widened, and she blushed, flustered. "No! No, not at all. I was just…" She hesitated, trying to find the right words. "You train very carefully."

I nodded, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my wrist. "That's the point. If I push too hard and tear something, I'll be out of commission when it matters."

Saver tilted her head, mulling over my words. "…I never thought about it that way."

That surprised me a little. Hadn't she trained before?

I sat down on the edge of the dojo steps beside her, taking a sip of water. "What about you?"

She blinked. "What about me?"

"You've been watching me this whole time, but I've never seen you train. Have you ever done anything like this?"

Saver shifted, looking down at her hands. "…Yes. But it was different."

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke.

"Someone called Merlin taught me magic."

I raised an eyebrow. "The Merlin?" I was surprised by her readily giving away such a big clue about her identity. But then, I'd never asked before.

Saver hesitated, her gaze growing distant. "…I think so. I only met him once. At the very end of my journey."

That caught me off guard. "Once?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes. I heard his voice long before that, even though I never saw him."

I frowned. "His voice?"

Saver's hand brushed against the staff resting at her side. Her fingers traced the dark metal base, lingering where the wood met the gleaming claw-shaped headpiece.

"He taught me through this," she said. "The staff. I don't know how he did it—if it was some kind of projection or something else—but he could speak to me through it."

It was certainly beautiful. I'd seen nothing like it in my life, although it looked unwieldy.

"How long did that go on?" I asked.

Saver's expression turned thoughtful. "Only when I was younger. I... lost hold of my staff and couldn't get it back for a long time. But I got it back!" She smiles ruefully. "Otherwise, Merlin taught me anything I asked."

"Anything?" I pressed.

Saver smiled. "Anything."

I leaned back. "…That's rare."

"What is?" Saver tilted her head.

"A teacher that open," I said. "Most magi hoard knowledge like it's their lifeblood. My old man—" I cut myself off. "…Kiritsugu taught me a lot, but he was never like most magus. Magecraft is usually only passed down between family."

Saver watched me, her green eyes calm but focused. "Was he a good teacher?"

"…Yeah." I sighed. "Strict, but patient. He wanted me to understand what I was doing, not just copy him."

Saver's expression softened. "That sounds nice. Learning magecraft was always fun when I was younger."

"Sounds like you had it good," I said. I'd never thought of magecraft as fun before. I'd only wanted to learn it to be more like Kiritsugu.

Saver doesn't meet my eyes for a moment before her lips curled into a small smile. "I think so. We almost always had something to talk about while I trained. It always seemed to me he was watching over me."

Saver's gaze lowered. Her hand tightened slightly around the staff. "I didn't know what he looked like until the very end. When I finally saw him in person… it felt strange. He wasn't quite what I expected."

I frowned. "And you never questioned why he was helping you?"

"There was just never the right time." Saver's smile faded, her gaze turning introspective. "But I wish I did."

That sounded about right.

Saver shook her head, her hair catching the light. "But… he was always there when I needed him."

"Yeah," I murmured. "That's what matters."

Saver's eyes softened. "It sounds like Kiritsugu was the same for you."

I hesitated, then nodded. "…Yeah. In his own way."

A quiet moment passed between us.

Saver's smile returned, lighter this time. "He always said I was stubborn," she admitted. "But he never seemed upset about it."

I shook my head. "Still… it's strange that Merlin would choose to teach someone directly."

Saver's smile grew faint. "Maybe it was just luck."

"Maybe."

I remained unconvinced.

Saver's gaze lingered on the staff for a moment longer before she set it aside. A small smile touched her lips as she looked up.

"Well," she said. "If you ever want to compare training notes, let me know."

I smirked. "I'll think about it."

We paused; unsure how to proceed.

Then, to fill the silence, she asked, "What does training mean to you, Shirou?"

I thought about it for a second before answering.

"It's preparation," I said. "It's a way to make sure I don't die when it matters."

Saver's gaze lingered on me. "That's all?"

I exhaled. "What else should it be?"

She tapped a finger against her staff, thoughtful. "For me… I think training was always about proving something."

I glanced at her. "Proving what?"

"That I could be the person others wanted me to be." She laughs, sheepish. "I tried my best, though! I wouldn't have got anywhere near that far if it wasn't for some others I knew."

I knew little about her past, but I knew enough to recognize what she wasn't saying.

For a while, we just sat there, the sound of morning birds filling the quiet.

Eventually, I broke the silence. "If you ever want to train with me, you can."

Saver blinked, turning to face me in surprise. "Really?"

I smirked. "Yeah. Just watching doesn't do much good, right?"

She hesitated, then gave a small, genuine smile—one that looked almost relieved.

"…Alright. I'd like that."

She didn't say when.

But somehow, I knew she meant it.

Cooking had always been a way for me to clear my head.

Even now, with a Holy Grail War underway and a Servant sitting in my home, the simple motions of chopping, seasoning, and preparing breakfast grounded me. I moved through the kitchen, my mind half-focused on the sizzle of eggs in the pan and the rhythmic sound of my knife against the cutting board.

Across from me, Saver sat at the table, watching with open interest.

She had offered to help, but I'd insisted on handling it myself. It was second nature to me. Besides, if I was going to house a Servant, I might as well make sure she got a decent meal.

Still, Saver wasn't idle.

She held a pair of chopsticks between her fingers, absently twirling them in thought. A faint smile played on her lips, her green eyes distant, as if she were remembering something from a long time ago.

"Something on your mind?" I asked, flipping the eggs in the pan.

She blinked, snapping out of it. "Oh—no, not really. Just… nostalgic."

I raised an eyebrow. "Nostalgic?"

Saver hesitated, then gave a small, sheepish laugh. "I've used these before," she admitted, gesturing with the chopsticks. "It's been a while, though."

She made a show of picking up a small bit of rice from the bowl in front of her, her motions careful but not clumsy. Definitely out of practice, but not unfamiliar.

I smirked. "Could've fooled me."

Saver pouted. "I'm sure I can do better! I just… need a little time to adjust."

I shook my head in amusement and turned back to the stove. "Well, you'll have plenty of chances."

Before Saver could respond, a knock sounded at the front door.

She straightened, her expression perking with curiosity.

I wiped my hands on a towel and made my way to the entrance. There weren't many people who would visit this early, and I suspected who it was since the alarm hadn't sounded.

Sure enough, when I opened the door, Shinji and Sakura stood outside.

Neither looked happy.

Sakura gave me a polite smile, but I noticed the way she gripped her sleeve, fingers curling against the fabric. Shinji, meanwhile, crossed his arms and scowled, his entire posture tense.

"…Something wrong?" I asked.

Shinji exhaled through his nose. "You have a Servant here, don't you?"

I blinked. "You can tell?"

Sakura shifted. "Not us. Ruler did."

My eyes flickered between them. Ruler?

So they really had summoned a Servant.

"…That explains why you're both so on edge," I muttered.

Shinji scoffed. "You could've warned us, y'know. Walking into a house with an unknown Servant isn't exactly a *calming* experience."

I rolled my eyes. "If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't have made it to the door." My smirk takes out any of the heat such a statement could have given. We both knew I didn't mean it.

Sakura stifled a laugh. Shinji glared.

"Just let us in, idiot."

Saver greeted Shinji and Sakura with a smile. "Good morning," she said. "It's nice to meet you properly."

Shinji stiffened, eyes darting toward me, then back to Saver. Even though Ruler had already informed them about another Servant being here, standing in front of one was a different matter.

Sakura, for her part, inclined her head, offering a polite nod. But I could see the same careful calculation in her gaze.

Saver didn't seem to mind. If she noticed their tension, she didn't acknowledge it.

"It's nice to meet you as well." Sakura said. She nudges Shinji, getting him to follow her in greeting. "Same." He said.

I sighed, closing the door behind them. "You two hungry?"

Shinji frowned. "You're seriously just… making breakfast?"

"What else would I be doing?" I shot back.

Without waiting for an answer, I stepped into the kitchen and grabbed extra plates. Saver, moving with quiet efficiency, helped me set them on the table.

The moment Shinji sat down, his eyes flickered toward the food. I could already see the wheels in his head turning—calculating whether it was safe.

Paranoia wasn't unwarranted in a war like this.

Sakura accepted the tea I placed in front of her without hesitation. "Thank you, Senpai."

Shinji, still wary, leaned back. "You made this, right?"

I gave him a flat look. "Yes."

"Good." He finally picked up his chopsticks. The moment he took a bite, his expression eased.

Confused, I stare at him for a moment longer before ignoring it. He's just being Shinji again, I guess.

Sakura sipped her tea, exhaling softly. She seemed calmer than Shinji, but she was still watching. Not just me—Saver, in particular.

The atmosphere was still tense, but something about it felt less suffocating.

Let's eat before anything else.

We can then discuss what happened next.

Despite their earlier tension, neither of the Matous showed any outright hostility toward her, though I noticed Shinji occasionally glancing in her direction with mild suspicion.

"So," I started, taking a sip of tea, "I take it you're officially in the war?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes. Nii-san and I agreed to work together."

That wasn't surprising. Even outside of the Grail War, those two were close.

"And who's the Master?" I asked.

Shinji smirked. "Me."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Sakura. She held up her hand, showing a single Command Seal on the back.

"Nii-san has two," she explained. "We altered the summoning to split them between us. That way, we share the burden."

Clever. That was a step beyond what most magi could manage. But considering their family helped make the war itself possible, it didn't surprise me.

"So," Saver spoke up, her voice light, "where is your Servant now?"

Sakura glanced at Shinji.

For a moment, the air felt *heavier*.

Then the space behind them shifted.

A woman stepped forward.

She was tall, elegant, and imposing—a presence that demanded attention.

Cascading down her back in silken waves, her long violet hair framed a regal and serene face. Her amethyst eyes were otherworldly, with square pupils I'd never heard of before. Her stare was piercing yet calm, carrying an unshakable authority.

A flowing, deep black gown interwoven with gold and emerald embroidery adorned her; the fabric depicted the forms of lions, their watchful eyes seeming almost alive in the flickering light.

A golden diadem rested upon her brow, while golden bracers adorned her wrists, etched with patterns of vines and wildflowers.

Even as she stood still, a faint, shimmering aura followed her, like a hazy mirage.

I felt a shiver crawl down my spine.

It wasn't just her appearance—it was the way the world itself seemed to acknowledge her presence.

This was a goddess.

I forced myself to exhale slowly. Of course, Ruler being like this was something I'd already accounted for.

Ruler-class servants often contained Divine Spirits. It wasn't a surprise. But knowing that and standing in front of a goddess were two very different things.

I forced down the lingering awe. I didn't have time to get caught up in the significance of it.

"…Ruler," Sakura introduced.

Shinji smirked. "We won't be explaining who she is, by the way. Hope that doesn't bother you."

I nodded in understanding. "That makes sense."

Ruler studied me for a long moment. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something curious, assessing, almost… knowing in her gaze.

Then, after a pause, she turned her attention to Saver.

Saver, for her part, tilted her head, watching Ruler with open curiosity.

For a moment, something unspoken passed between them. Then Saver smiled brightly. "It's nice to meet you, Ruler! You sure seem pretty amazing."

Ruler blinked, surprised by the warmth of the greeting.

Then, slowly, she smiled back.

"…Likewise, Saver."

I observed the exchange.

There was something about it that felt… significant.

But I had bigger things to think about.

I exhaled and gestured toward the table. "Lets finish our food and then figure out what we are going to do about this mess."

Breakfast wasn't as tense as it could have been.

It helped that I was the one who cooked.

There was a small sense of pride in knowing that Shinji wasn't nitpicking. Shinji had a bad habit of critiquing meals when he thought he could do better—an excuse for him to take over my kitchen. But this time, he just ate, the faintest look of approval on his face.

Victory.

Once we had settled, I set my cup of tea down and spoke.

"We're all in the war now. We need to figure out our next steps. Whether we should consider each other as enemies… or something else."

Sakura frowned, stirring her tea. "I don't think there's any need for that, Senpai. We're still your friends."

She glanced at Shinji before continuing. "At the very least, I think we can both agree that we won't be trying to fighting each other first. There's no reason for tricks when there are still unknown enemies."

Shinji smirked. "Not like you'd have it in you to do something underhanded anyway, Emiya." His expression hardened. "You've always been straightforward like that, which suits me just fine. I hate bullshit like that."

Considering everything the old man had taught me, I wasn't sure I agreed.

So I kept silent.

"…That doesn't mean we'll work together."

Sakura nodded. "A non-aggression pact, then. Until we know more."

I leaned back, considering it. A truce made sense. Working together was one thing, but I had reasons on why I couldn't afford to lose.

"Agreed," I said after a pause. "We won't go after each other until the other masters are dealt with. And we'll share information as needed."

Sakura seemed relieved at that. Shinji tensed for a moment before scoffing. "Fine. It's not like I need your help, anyway."

I resisted the urge to sigh. This was already better than what I had expected.

I tapped my fingers against the table. "That just leaves who else is in this war."

Sakura's brow furrowed, troubled. "Rin is almost certainly a master. But besides that and the Einzbern…"

"I don't know if I ran into one or two masters," I admitted, observing their reactions. "I ran into two white-haired girls the other night at different times. One of them, in hindsight, could fit the appearance of an Einzbern."

Both Shinji and Sakura stiffened.

"…Two?" Shinji repeated.

I nodded. "One was a young girl. Silver hair, red eyes. She spoke like she knew something." My fingers curled against the wood of the table. "She told me I would die if I didn't summon a Servant soon."

Sakura's smile faded, her brow creasing with quiet concern. Her gaze flicked toward Shinji, who frowned, his usual smirk slipping into something more serious.

"She knew about the Grail War?" Sakura asked quietly.

"Seemed like it." I rubbed the back of my neck. "She wasn't just guessing. She knew I had command seals."

"And the other?" Ruler's voice was calm.

I hesitated. "She carried herself like a noble. Perfect posture, composed—like she'd been trained for it since birth. She didn't introduce herself, but I saw her at the church. She was there to register as a master."

"Appearance?" Shinji asked, his tone sharper now.

"Orange eyes. A black dress with orange highlights. And…" I frowned, searching my memory for the detail that had nagged at me. "There was a symbol on her shoulder. It looked like… an English eight. Two triangles connected by a horizontal line running through the top half of the eight."

Shinji's eyes narrowed. He sat forward, his hands resting on the kotatsu as he considered my words.

"That's… familiar," he murmured. His brow furrowed deeper. "Wait."

"What?" Sakura asked, looking between us.

Shinji's expression brightened, a confident edge creeping into his voice. "That's the crest of the Animusphere family."

My brow rose. "Animusphere?"

Shinji nodded, looking pleased with himself. "Yeah. They're one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower—the head of the Astrology Department." He crossed his arms, leaning back with a self-satisfied smirk. "You wouldn't know about them, but I've been studying to get into the Clock Tower."

"Wait," I frowned. "You're saying this girl is part of a Lord family?"

"If that's the case, we're dealing with someone powerful," Sakura added, her voice even. "Someone with that level of backing… she will not be easy to deal with."

"Exactly," Shinji said. He ran a hand through his hair. "The Animusphere family is obsessed with fate and celestial alignments. It fits, honestly, if they're getting involved with the Grail War." He scoffed. "They probably think they've got some divine right to win." Shinji sounded a lot more bitter than I expected.

I glanced toward Ruler, whose expression hadn't changed. She was listening, her gaze sharp and focused.

"Has the Animusphere ever been involved with the Grail War before?" I asked.

Shinji scowls. "Last war there was one. I heard about it later from my uncle about what happened to my father."

Not wanting to linger on whatever sore subject that was for now, I change the subject.

I sat back, thoughtful. "The young girl knew about my command seals before I even summoned Saver. And now someone from the Animusphere family shows up in Fuyuki?"

Sakura frowned. "The war should start soon, then."

"Looks like it." I agreed.

Shinji grinned. "Good. The sooner I can win, the better."

My brows furrow in irritation at his words, but don't let any of it show. A fight to the death like this didn't sit well with me at all. Killing others for the ability to grant a wish...

It wasn't right.

I tapped my fingers against the table. "If she's from the Animusphere, then she's already established a base. And if she's serious about winning, she'll change her strategies based on her servant. We can at least rule out two of the servants. But Pretender is still a wild card." Thinking back on it...

"Considering I already saw her, she'll go for me first." I scowl. This was already a problem I didn't need right at the start of the war. It would have been better for me to lie low since killing the masters first wasn't unheard of.

"You don't know that," Sakura said, her voice gentle but firm. "We don't know her goals yet."

"Still," Shinji said, his eyes flashing, "if she's from the Animusphere family, she's a threat. We can't ignore her."

"And the red-eyed girl?" Ruler asked.

I hesitated. "I don't know. If she was a master, she could have tried killing me right then. But she just warned me." I scratch my head, lost.

"Didn't try killing you yet, you mean," Shinji muttered.

Saver, who had been listening, spoke. "Did she seem… familiar to you?"

I shook my head. "No. But she felt… like she knew me." I frowned. "Like she was waiting for me."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Great. Just what I needed. More unknowns."

Shinji leaned back with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Welcome to the Grail War."

"I didn't see a Servant when I spoke with the Animusphere." I turned to Saver. "Did you?"

She shook her head. "No, I didn't feel any." Saver seemed embarrassed to admit it.

I nodded. While unusual, they could have had some skill to stay hidden or be far enough away while being effective.

Sakura tapped a finger against her cup. "If the Einzbern have summoned, they'll be moving soon. They wouldn't waste time."

Shinji exhaled. "It doesn't matter. I'll win this thing, anyway."

I stilled.

Something about the way he talked about the war kept grating against me. To treat the lives of the people in this war as a game wasn't right at all. But instead of arguing, I kept silent to not make more trouble.

The old man had left me to win, I wasn't going to mess it up.

"You sound confident," I murmured.

He grinned. "Of course I am. I'm not about to lose to you, Emiya."

I held his gaze, feeling something inside me tighten.

I couldn't afford to lose, either.

I needed the Grail.

Shinji saw the look in my eyes and his expression flickered—just for a second. Then he scoffed. "Don't tell me you're actually serious about winning."

I met his gaze. "I have to be."

The tension in the air thickened.

For all our banter, for all the familiarity… we both knew what this meant.

Neither of us could back down.

And when the time came, neither of us would.

I exhaled, forcing the tension aside. "For now, the plan is to keep our heads down."

Sakura nodded. "Yes. We need more information before we act. Ruler and I will secure a territory."

I glanced at Saver. She had been quiet for most of the planning, but I could feel her watching.

'You alright?'

I sent the thought toward her without speaking aloud.

Saver's voice responded telepathically, her tone rushed. 'I'm fine! I just didn't want to interrupt your talk with your friends. You seemed to know a lot more about this than me, anyway.' I watch her out of the corner of my eye look down before seeming to cheer up. 'But I will be more helpful next time!'

I hesitated. Then nodded.

Aloud, she spoke. "If things go badly, we should have an emergency meeting spot, right? Fights like this always have things go wrong."

I blinked. That was a good point.

Shinji scowled. "Like we'd need one."

Sakura shot him a pointed look.

"Just in case," I said, nodding toward Saver. "We'll need to pick a neutral location."

After a moment, we agreed on a designated fallback point—a neutral area that wouldn't attract attention.

The Harbor would work.

As breakfast wrapped up, I glanced between Shinji and Sakura.

We weren't allies.

We weren't enemies.

Not yet.

I sighed. "Well. We should get ready for school."

Shinji groaned. "Even in a death match, we still have to go to class. It's so dumb."

I couldn't help but agree.

Saver hummed, tilting her head. "School... it sounds nice." She smiled, the mood upbeat. "I can't wait to see what it's like. I've only heard about it before."

I raised an eyebrow. Nice?

Shinji scoffed. "Yeah, if you think listening to idiots rambling about useless subjects is interesting."

Sakura sighed. "It's not that bad, Nii-san."

"It's boring," Shinji shot back. "Not my fault the teachers can't have challenging work."

Saver's eyes lingered on Shinji for a moment before glancing toward me. I could feel her thoughts brushing up against my mind.

'You're all so… comfortable with each other,' she said, telepathically. Her voice carried a note of curiosity and worry. 'Are you going to be okay fighting them?'

'We've known each other for years,' I answered. 'most magus are ruthless, but I trust them. Shinji will tell if he's going to fight me. His pride wouldn't allow anything less.'

Saver gives me a nod. 'That's good. Let's do our best then!'

Shinji stretched his arms behind his head. "Well, whatever. Just another day of pretending."

I stood and started collecting the empty dishes. Saver rose to help me, her movements quiet and deliberate.

"You don't have to," I told her.

"I want to," she replied simply.

I hesitated before handing her a plate. She accepted it with a smile, following me toward the sink.

'Do you really want to come to school?' I asked privately.

Saver's expression brightened. 'Of course. I'd like to see how it works. And it's not like anyone will notice me in spirit form.'

'It's not exactly exciting,' I warned her.

'I'll be the judge of that.' Her mental tone was light, almost playful.

Shinji watched us from the corner of his eye as Saver helped wash the dishes. He leaned toward me and lowered his voice. "So… how strong is she, anyway?"

Saver had her back turned, but I noticed the subtle shift in her shoulders.

I shrugged. "She's my Servant. That's enough for now."

Shinji narrowed his eyes. "Hmph. Keeping secrets already, Emiya?"

I gave him a flat look. "You're not sharing everything about Ruler, either."

Shinji smirked. "Fair."

Saver glanced toward me, her expression amused as she dried one plate.

'You're good at this,' she said telepathically.

'What, washing dishes?'

'Deflecting.'

I didn't have an answer for that.

They held Kyudo practice in a wide, open building on the edge of campus. The smell of cedar and polished bamboo mixed with the crispness of the early morning air. Sunlight filtered through the wide windows, casting long beams of light over the polished wooden floors.

Although it didn't matter all that much with practice cancelled.

Shinji leaned toward me as we approached. "Did you hear? Part of the building was damaged last night."

I frowned. "Damaged?"

Saver trailed behind us, her presence barely noticeable to the others as she followed in her spirit form.

"Yeah," Shinji said. "Someone blew out part of the target wall. The club's saying it was vandalism, but…"

I didn't need him to finish. The splintered wood in part of the wall looked like something had crashed through it.

"That's not good," I muttered.

Shinji nodded. "It was big. Too big for a normal accident."

"Apparently," Sakura said. "some of the nearby rooms had smashed windows too. Broken class was all in the corridors."

Saver's voice brushed against my mind.

'It's recent. Only half a day at most. So probably around when we were at the church?' Saver didn't sound exactly sure.

I glanced toward where I felt her. She was somewhere near the wall, at the splintered edge of the wood.

'How can you tell?'

'I guess I've just got used to seeing the aftermath of fights' Saver replied, sounding resigned. 'Some marks look like cuts from a blade, even outside shows similar marks.'

Saver appeared back into view of us and straightened from where she had been crouched near the wall, brushing off her hands. "It's not structural damage. Someone caused this."

Shinji's expression darkened. "Think it was a Servant?"

"Probably," I said. "If it isn't, some crazy person is carrying weapons into school."

Saver's gaze flicked toward me. 'Whoever did this wasn't aiming to damage just the school. If they were… the damage would've been worse. This looks like a fight.'

Sakura glanced toward the wall, frowning. "We should be careful."

Shinji leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. His gaze flicked toward the damage on the far side of the building. "It was a Servant. That kind of impact? There's no way a person could've done that. Not unless we have a magus around with some serious strength."

I frowned, stepping closer to the damaged wall. The splintered wood near the target area had deep cuts—clean, precise. Whatever had done this was strong and accurate.

Saver's voice brushed against my mind again.

'It's too controlled for a stray attack.'

I knelt, running my fingers over the jagged edges. 'You think they were aiming for something else?'

'For someone else.' Saver's tone was light, but beneath it, I could feel her quiet focus. 'This level of power… if they wanted to collapse the wall, they could have. This was a miss, or a deflected attack.'

Shinji scowled. "If it was servants, hopefully they at least did us a favor and got rid of each other after wrecking my club."

Saver materialized near me, tilting her head as she studied the damage. "That, or someone interrupted them," she mused aloud.

I glanced at her. "Interrupted?"

Saver nodded. "If they wanted to keep going, they could have. They left this school only damaged in some places. It must have been a small fight."

Shinji narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Saver's eyes blinked owlishly, confused by his reaction. "It means… they were holding back?"

Shinji looked unimpressed. "Well, at least they had the grace to not completely turn the school into rubble."

Sakura sighed, smoothing down her skirt. "It doesn't matter why it happened. What matters is that it happened here. At school. It leaves us with a lot of questions."

Saver's gaze drifted toward the range. I could feel her curiosity pressing gently against my mind.

'So… Kyudo.' Her voice sounded eager.

'Yeah?'

'Can I try?'

'You've never used a bow before, right?'

'Not exactly.'

My eyebrows raised in surprise. 'Oh, why are you interested?'

'I just never had the time or chance for it.' Her voice softened. 'I've seen people use it. Although some of them were hard to really call a bow...' She trails off. 'I'd like to try it if I can.' I can practically feel her silent plea.

I barely considered it, then shrugged. "Sure. If you're interested." I said out loud, giving me strange looks from Sakura and Shinji.

Saver's eyes lit up, the faintest trace of excitement in her expression.

Shinji squinted his eyes at us in confusion. "What is it?"

"Saver wanted to try Kyudo. I was just going to let her have a couple of shots before we go to class."

Perking up at the question, Sakura clasped her hands together in front of her. "That could be fun. Don't worry if you don't do well, Saver, I was bad at Kyudo when I first started."

"You know the club is closed right now because of the damage, right?" Shinji asked dryly.

"Did you have something better to do?" I asked.

Shinji rolled his eyes. "Fine. But don't expect me to sit around and watch." He pointedly did not leave, despite his words.

Saver smiled brightly, much too pleased to be brought down. "That's alright. I won't take long at all!"

I crossed the room to the storage rack and pulled down a training bow. Although use had slightly worn the polished wood, it was well-maintained. I handed it to Saver.

She took it carefully, running her hand along the wood's curve. "It's lighter than I thought."

"Try not to overthink it," I said. "Lets focus on your stance first."

Saver nodded, stepping onto the shooting line as I directed her towards it. Her feet adjusted naturally, her body aligning into a smooth, balanced position. Her fingers curled around the bowstring, testing the tension. She was, however, using the wrong technique for Kyudo.

Her form was… a complete mess.

But that was perfectly fine for a beginner.

"Kyudo is about reaching a state of mind, rather than any competition or trying for the best shot possible." I said.

At my words, Savers bow droops and goes slack as she looks at me perplexed.

"What I'll get you to practice before shooting is your form, and the movements needed for shooting. The goal is for when you take your shot, you are completely in the moment. No thoughts on success or failure, or worries about anything else besides the motion of drawing your bow, taking your shot and letting it land where it may."

Shinji smirked. "Hey, since when were you able to teach?"

I let out a slightly amused scoff before focusing back on Saver. We practiced her form for a couple of minutes, with the occasional advice from Sakura and Shinji before we were ready.

I handed her an arrow. "Just pull back to your cheek and aim for the target."

Saver's gaze sharpened, the lightness in her expression giving way to quiet focus. She drew back the bowstring, her posture steady. Her green eyes narrowed as she measured the distance.

For a moment, the air seemed to still.

Then she released.

The arrow shot across the range and struck the edge of the target with a clean thunk.

Saver lowered the bow, blinking in surprise. "Ah."

Shinji snorted. "Not bad. For a first try."

Saver's lips curved into a wide smile as she bounced on her feet. "Did you see that Mu- Shirou?!" Stumbling over her words, she looks mortified for a moment and then sad before returning to being happy.

"Good job." I said. Although she hadn't done proper Kyudo, since she was much too focused on trying to hit the target more than anything.

The bow clutched to her chest, a fire seems to be lit in her eyes. "Can I try again? This time I know I'll hit the target!"

Oh dear. It seems she's got competitive with herself.

I shrugged, smiling despite myself at her own enthusiasm. "We have time. But focus more on the form than hitting."

Saver's smile widened, undeterred. "Awesome."

Shinji's eyes narrowed. "Okay, no. Now I'm curious." He stood and crossed his arms. "Try aiming higher this time. And focus on the follow-through."

Saver turns her head to look at Shinji is mild surprise. "Oh, thank you? I thought you didn't want to stay?"

Shinji smirked. "It's no fun watching someone struggle."

Saver's face got determined. She adjusted her stance, lifted the bow, and drew the string back with fluid ease. This time, the arrow hit closer to the center.

Shinji's smirk faded.

Saver smiled. "Better?"

Shinji huffed. "Beginner's luck."

Sakura laughed. "Nii-san, you could try being supportive."

"I am being supportive," Shinji muttered. "I don't want her getting cocky and have her hopes dashed by messing up."

I shook my head. Some things never change.

Saver stepped back, returning the bow. Her gaze lingered on the target for a moment longer. Then she turned toward me, her eyes gleaming with quiet resolve.

"Next time, I'll hit the center."

"Lets try to get your footwork and mindset correct first." I answered, amused by her competitiveness that Shinji had sparked.

As we left the range, I felt Saver next to me in spirit form fell into step beside me. Even If I couldn't see her, I could feel the gloom she had radiated at failing to hit the target after those first two shots.

'You did well for your first try,' I told her through our link. 'Nobody is perfect for doing anything for the first time. Many people I know struggled with it at first.'

I didn't mention the fact of how Kyudo had come naturally to me.

'It felt… different,' she admitted. 'I'm not sure I'm any good at that state of mind. I just couldn't seem to stop thinking at all.' She sheepishly transmitted.

'It's not like you have to get it right immediately.' I said. 'It was just for fun, right?'

Saver's voice softened in wonder. 'That's true. I guess I can do things for fun.' She said it as if she had never thought of the idea before. Briefly I turn my head to where I knew she was in concern before realizing I couldn't see her, anyway.

We walked in silence for a moment, the late morning sun casting long shadows across the school grounds. Moving toward the school building, the pleasant silence hanging between us.

The Grail War was just beginning.

But for now, we still had a normal day ahead of us.

End of Chapter Three:

Been a hot minute and a half. Life calmed down enough to start writing again. Hope y'all enjoy the newest chapter.