Chapter 13: Contemplation
-90:56:26
He rode across the sands, his beloved steed Bucephalus carrying him without fail ever towards his dream. He didn't need to look behind him to know his comrades were right behind him, these fine men who had sworn loyalty to him and his dream.
Together, they had defeated armies of the greatest numbers, knocked down walls claimed to be impregnable, and marched up to thrones where the occupants trembled before them.
King Gordius and his unsolvable knot and very fine bulls, gifts from Zeus himself! Darius III and the immortal, indestructible Athanaton Ten Thousand, a fearsome enemy unlike any other he could hope to face. Yet still he challenged him and ultimately prevailed! Thus, Persia was absorbed into his ever-growing empire. Even with Darius returning to face him again and again, much to his delight.
But the thrones or the battles and conquests that had delivered them to him were not what he wanted. Not in his heart. No, for that, he would keep heading east. Even the kingdoms he conquered he left behind, to be ruled by others in his stead. He simply couldn't find it in him to be tied down by governing and endless politics, not when his dream continued to beckon in the distance.
Was this irresponsible? Perhaps. But he had been open with his treasured followers from the start. They knew what his innermost desire was, the destination he sought to reach. He had told them so, and anyone else who had questioned his decisions.
These men who had ridden or walked alongside him through battles with brigands, enemy nations, the elements themselves… whom he'd shared massive banquets with, spanning entire days sometimes, for those were in celebration of the greatest victories… He'd shared bread, wine, women, sweat, wounds, and tears for those who had fallen… and still they'd all chosen to march on with him on this great adventure. He was a King and a blessed man.
Now they all slowly came to a unified stop before the crashing waves, a symphony of the only sounds present. The sands, originally steady and untouched, were shaped by their steps. The scent of salt was carried by the winds into his waiting nostrils. The morning mists curled about each other, obstructing the horizon for now. But the water was still visible. So mighty, so beautiful… it was everything he could have conceived in his fantasies. And getting the chance to witness it with his own eyes, to share this experience with these magnificent men who'd chosen to stand with him through all the battles up to this single point in their lives…
He drew in a deep breath, his mouth shifting in an eased, almost thankful smile. Then he uttered the name of the place he and his friends had reached. His dream.
"Oceanus…"
He slumped on top of a rock, taking a short breather. He'd get up in a minute and head on soon enough. Where he was going, he had no fucking idea, but hey, better than sitting around. The seventy-ninth district Kusajishi wasn't all that exciting…
Then his ears picked up something he wouldn't expected from this forest: A happy little giggle.
His eyes glanced around in search of the source and found it right in front of him. "How'd you get here, little one?" He rumbled a little softer than his usual growl.
The tiny girl with hair pinker than her robes only made more happy sounds as she crawled closer to him. No, not specifically to him, but what rested on his shoulder. "Why are you interested in my sword?" Something weird flickered inside him as she lifted her hand towards its blade. "It's not a toy," he warned her, "it's something used for killing." The many corpses scattered about in these woods and their broken weapons proof of his words.
But she wasn't scared of them. Or of their blood splattered across his body and his sword. Instead, the giggling tyke actually touched the blade. He frowned, this time realizing the worry inside him for her, but her giggles only got louder as she waved her bloodstained hand at him.
For some reason, he felt more relaxed now than he had in a good long while. "What's your name, kid?"
The twerp only made a confused sound before pawing for his sword again. "Don't have one, huh?" he muttered, his thoughts drifting to those times he'd be walking through crowds in one district or another. Everybody chatting with each other… Nobody with him. Like he was invisible. "…Me neither." No wonder he preferred fighting over talking, but even that wasn't much fun nowadays. He just didn't feel challenged, like if his life were ever on the line.
Not since that one battle. The one that made the scar over his eye tingle with excitement even now-
And just like that, he had an idea. A fuckin' crazy one, but it sounded like fun. "Here, kid," he scraped the tip of his sword, the nameless thing he'd carried with him all this time, through the dirt. Slowly, he spelled out certain letters that sent a shiver through his body even now. "This is how you write 'Yachiru.' The name of the one person I ever admired. It's yours now."
"Ya…" the little one said as though to test it, "chi… ru…"
Hearing her say that name struck a new spark in his spirit, invigorating him to what he had in mind. "And from now on, I shall carry the name 'Kenpachi.' The title belonging to the strongest Soul Reaper." The title she had carried.
He vowed then and there he'd grow stronger. Strong enough to fight her again. Strong enough to feel that elation once more…
Thwack! "Ow!" He rubbed the bandaged spot on his arm. "What was that for, sis?!"
"You're not supposed to poke at it, dummy!" Crimson eyes glared at him beneath a mane of long, unkempt black hair. She huffed in aggravation. "I don't care how much it itches, let your Aura heal it."
A snicker next to them in the elevator drew both twins' attention. "Oh, like you're a model of super-calm when you need patching up, Rae?" The blond shot her a teasing smile. "Like, say, that time after the Alpha Beowolf-"
She snagged the hem of his tan shirt and reeled him in with a steely glare. "Finish that sentence, Xiaolong, and I will launch you into the Emerald Forest head-first." The young man, no longer a student, pantomimed pulling a zipper closed over his still-smirking mouth, making the young Huntress' eyebrow twitch.
He in turn sighed loudly into the car. "Really, you two? I'm not saying this spot isn't perfect, but can't you save the lovey dovey stuff for when you're alone?"
Tai's smirk crumbling into a sputtering mess? Awesome. Raven, his dear twin sister, lifelong partner and the only member of their cutthroat tribe who hadn't condemned him as just a jinx, rounding on him with cheeks redder than her blazing eyes? Priceless.
Then his leader, the best Huntress he would ever know and an even better friend, stepped between them all with a giggle on her lips. "C'mon, guys, we're about to see Professor Ozpin for the first time after our graduation!" She said while pulling her designated BFF into a one-armed hug. The other one pumped high before her red-haired head. "Let's show him that Team STRQ's still going strong!"
And just like always, that weird enthusiasm of hers washed over them, cooling down tempers and making them just want to hug this little silver-eyed ball of sunshine. He exchanged an easygoing smile and a fistbump with Taiyang while Raven actually relaxed into the embrace.
Not that it stopped her from flashing the boys one last "You know I'm gonna get you for this" look.
Summer for her part stayed her usual perky self even while watching the numbers pass. Just before they hit the top floor, she turned to him with that sweet smile that would always warm his heart and said, "Thanks for the save."
He smiled back, the pain in his arm fading even quicker now. "Anytime, fearless leader."
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened for the quartet to step into the office of a smiling Professor Ozpin. The man who had seen past his Semblance and given him a life. A life where he could be more than just another bandit. A life he could spend together with these three quirky, amazing people and not always wonder if he might be the death of them.
For that, he owed Oz everything.
Their old headmaster traded small talk for some time, then came the moment where he made to explain why he'd called Team STRQ in. The moment that would change his whole world.
And it all started with a weird question: "Tell me… what is your favorite fairy tale?"
"-Wheeeeeeeeeee!" The car rounded a corner, tires squealing in protest, as it tried to stay ahead of the man chasing them.
"Come on, come on!" The robber in the passenger seat yelled at the driver. "Step on it, the crazy bastard's gaining on us!"
Sure enough, their pursuer charged relentlessly after the vehicle, his powerful legs showing no sign of needing to stop anytime soon. His arms hung loosely to the side, and a smile broad as that of a crocodile was stretched across his face.
It was only slightly bigger than the one his passenger carried. "Get them, Kenny!" The teenaged girl cheered with a sunny laugh, one hand holding onto his leather-coated shoulder, the other snapping her shinai forward again and again to urge her steed. Ponytailed brown hair flapped about in the winds-
Waver Velvet jolted awake into a sitting position with a yelp of shock. He sucked in mouthfuls of air as quickly as he could, cold sweat pouring down his face. Just when he'd gotten used to seeing three separate lives full of adventure and violence every time he went to sleep, now there were new memories to haunt his dreams: his own.
How could running into a middle-school girl late at night turn into something so crazy?
Then he saw the three snoring men sprawled out in the room and thought sardonically, Oh yeah. That's how. It was only thanks to a low-level Bounded Field cast over the room (A real magus could've made it better, a part of Waver noted out of reflex) that the chorus of their sleeping noises hadn't kept the entire house awake.
As for Waver himself, he'd been too tired to let said chorus stopping him from sleeping through what was left of the night and -he glanced at the alarm clock- half the day. The boy sighed while pulling himself free of his blanket with more effort than usual. Every single one of his Magic Circuits was practically groaning throughout his body, the cost of fueling three Heroic Spirits. Two of which were particularly mana-exorbitant, but even one as efficient as Saber X, slumped against the wall with an empty sake bottle, needed to be sustained.
Waver's left foot got stuck in a knot from his blanket, causing him to almost faceplant on the floor before he caught himself. It said something about the level of his exhaustion that he didn't even bother casting a stink-eye at the (possible) perpetrator for his lousy luck.
But the fatigue wasn't merely physical or spiritual. Ever since Saber had told them of Lord El-Melloi's death, Waver had felt… well, he wasn't sure what he felt.
The magus in him, the one that had convinced him to join this crazy Holy Grail War in the first place, said he should be proud. That arrogant bastard was the first Master to die in this conflict, putting Waver Velvet, the student he'd mocked, ahead of him. And Waver hadn't been betrayed by his own Servants, either.
But the student in him was disappointed. The Grail War was supposed to have been his chance to prove himself against Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, his teacher who had dismissed him and his ideas. And their first meeting on the battlefield had been one of Waver's own Servants standing up for him when he should've himself. And now Lord El-Melloi was dead, making any second chance for Waver to prove himself to the man impossible.
And a tiny human part of him… felt sorry for his teacher's fate. He'd wanted to show up the pompous jerk, sure, bruise his ego the same way that had happened to him. But killing him? Would he really have gone that far?
…The Waver Velvet who'd jumped recklessly into this whole mess would've given an affirmative answer full of bluster to that question. Now though, after seeing with his own eyes the horrors of true battle and war… of the depravities others could sink to… the boy couldn't say for sure.
…But at the very least, he was certain he wouldn't have gunned down Lord El-Melloi like a helpless dog. After all, I don't know the first thing about guns. A smirk crawled onto Waver's face before he could catch himself. This time, he did glare at a groaning Qrow Branwen who was starting to wake up. Great, I really have picked up his sarcasm. If I end up with Misfortune too, I swear to God…
Speak of the devil, the Servant began to awaken with a grumble, followed by his companions. Though Rider accidentally kicked Berserker X, causing the Soul Reaper to deck him and knock the larger Servant onto Saber X. "Hey, watch it, ya meatheads!" As the situation devolved into a lighthearted brawl, one participant cackling like the maniac he was, Waver just sighed and made for the bathroom. Idiots…
But something deep inside the young Master looked back on the lives he had witnessed through his dreams and pondered just what it was that drew him in.
Lancer stood in spirit form atop the Hyatt Hotel, eyes slowly trailing from one direction to the next. He and his Master had returned half an hour ago from another tracking mission earlier that day, but Sola-Ui had shown little enthusiasm throughout that time. In fact, she'd kept leading them towards clothing stores, restaurants and other places of entertainment. He had almost needed to plead with her not to turn the expedition into a shopping run. All the good that had done, not a trace of Archer X or her possible conspirators.
To be honest, though, the knight's thoughts hadn't been quite as on-point as usual. Here he was, supposedly keeping a lookout for the potential sighting of his former partner, someone clearly well-versed in cloak-and-dagger. Lancer himself knew it was a completely stupid idea, and in hindsight, standing out here was just an excuse for him to be alone for a while.
His mind just wouldn't rest after the banquet. So many different things others had said kept echoing inside him, washing over each other.
First, there was, "Your adherence to your honor is commendable. But do not it let hinder your ability to think. Or to learn." Caster X had urged him to stay instead of chasing after Archer X, and Lancer certainly didn't doubt the foreigner's wisdom or kindness, but now he had so many questions. Think about what? What precisely was he supposed to learn? That his honor shouldn't be restored?
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne had initially been elated in the first moments of his summoning. Sure, he wasn't blind to the… confidence his Master had exhibited, and Archer X's presence had been a surprise, but he had thought it good news at the time. A new lord to serve, a fellow warrior standing side-by-side with him… A chance to undo so much shame he had done.
And then came the first battle in the dockyards. The excitement at crossing blades with a rival knight, revealed to be the King of Knights herself! The achievement of injuring her with his Gáe Buidhe, the vow of a righteous, noble duel between them; Lancer's spirit had soared.
And then he had met Saber's partner, an Assassin unlike any warrior he had encountered before; clever, sneaky, full of surprises, yet honorable and loyal as well. Rider, another King, and his Saber appeared to interrupt their duel, followed by that counterpart, a metallic monster he knew at first sight needed to be stopped. More Servants had made their presences known afterwards, the Berserkers in particular having potential as challenging opponents. His hopes had never been higher; this was everything he could've hoped for in a second chance.
Then Lord Kayneth ordered him via Command Seal to finish off Berserker X. Looking back, Lancer wondered if that might've been the moment everything began to go so wrong.
Archer X… he didn't even know her True Name, she always avoided telling it to him. It may've been simple caution, but Diarmuid could've tried asking harder. He could've kept a closer eye on his partner, but he'd decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. He could've, he could've, he could've…
But he'd done nothing. And now, Lord Kayneth was dead, Lady Sola-Ui was his Master solely out of affection, and Archer X had joined forces with the evilest Servants in this War.
His blood boiled within his veins. Why?! Lancer had trusted her! Wasn't that enough? How could she prefer siding with a vile madman like Caster or a tyrannical monster like Rider X?
Well. Archer X had said so herself. "I'm in this Grail War because I've got a wish, a real one, and if it means I gotta get my hands dirty to win that damn cup, then I'm fine with that." And apparently, her wish was so important to her that siding with literal devils fell within "getting her hands dirty." And if it tarnished her partner's pride in the process? An acceptable loss. His fists clenched so tightly blood began to trickle from them.
Before this Holy Grail War is finished, Lancer vowed, I will make you regret not killing me when you had the chance, Archer X.
Then he suddenly heard the voice of that wise old wizard. One single word:
Think.
It didn't wash away the fury that blazed within the Heroic Spirit of the Spear, but something did stir within him. He closed his eyes, drew in a breath, released it, and tried to think.
And almost instantly, he paused at the latest renewal of his vow. Why didn't Archer X try to kill me? He replayed that scene two nights ago: they stood opposing one another, Lancer having both spears at the ready, Archer X training a rifle at his head.
But… her index finger hadn't touched the trigger.
She was quick on the draw, Lancer had seen her proficiency with all those firearms plenty of times by now. And that close to one another, it would've been tricky even for him to evade or block her scattershot. But her hand had been shaking, too. And instead of pulling the trigger, Archer X had decided to blind him and escape. Even the bomb she'd left in her wake had been aimed at Lady Sola-Ui, not him.
Had victory seemed too far out of reach for her? No, it wasn't in her character to back away from a fight even when the odds were uncertain. Lancer had learned that much upon witnessing Archer X's temper so many times. But… she had ceded in arguments to him, even if it was just a "whatever" or the like. Like she didn't… want… to fight… with… him…
Lancer's right hand unclenched, the fingers slowly reaching up. To that little black spot beneath his right eye. Don't tell me… But his mind kept traveling back to all their interactions on and off the battlefield. How she was always so aggressive, so outspoken, yet there was always this strange… gentleness when she conversed with him. Not unlike that of… Sola-Ui. Archer X is female, yes… but neither Saber nor Lancer X show any hint of attraction towards me. Of course, they both likely have strong Magic Resistance, and Lord Kayneth once complained about Archer X not having that Skill at all despite being a knight class…
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne cast his gaze up towards the blue sky with a mirthless chuckle. So… even a foulmouthed, short-tempered "soldier" from another world isn't immune to this blasted face of mine. I don't know why I'm surprised, it's just my luck.
Luck… that last word triggered a new memory to pierce through his musings. This one from a different foreigner, one who carried a power more a curse than a blessing. "…I don't expect you chivalrous types to understand what it's like to wonder every second of every day if. Every. Single. Bad thing happening around you was your damn fault."
He scoffed to himself. You'd be surprised, Qrow Branwen.Gráinne may've been displeased with her arranged marriage to Fionn, but would she have developed such love for Diarmuid if it hadn't been for the enchanted Love Spothe bore? She hadn't been the first woman to "love" him, either. Nor, it seemed, the last.
Others call me a romantic, but I've honestly lost any hope of romance for me. Could it be that my curse affected Archer X's judgement? Did I somehow make her decide to betray Lord Kayneth and myself? …No. She bears the responsibility for her own decisions.
…But this accursed spot on my face likely hasn't helped the situation. Saber X appeared in Lancer's mind again, a gruff, sardonic warrior who had mastered that interesting hybrid weapon of his. In fact, he'd needed to master it; this "Semblance" everyone of his world carried brought him and everyone around him only bad luck. Qrow Branwen had no doubt been forced to fight tooth and claw his whole life with that perpetual disadvantage. The results spoke for themselves, yet the man still sought to be released from Misfortune.
Can I really judge him for that? The first knight of Fianna asked himself. He'd never blamed the woman he'd loved or the king who'd sought his head in jealous revenge. But that didn't mean he couldn't wonder. What would my life have been like without the Love Spot? Would Gráinne still have fallen for me? Or would she have sought a different man? Would my friendship with Fionn have remained intact? Could I have retained my honor as a knight?
There was a way to find out. The Holy Grail could surely give him a second chance to live his life, only this time without the Love Spot. All he needed to do… was wish for it. But can I do that? Lancer frowned. The victorious Master and their Servants each may only make one wish upon the Grail. And I must restore Lord Kayneth to life, my honor demands it!
Then his female counterpart's words echoed within his mind. "…do not confuse obedience for loyalty." Obedience… was not loyalty? What did that mean? Was she encouraging him to consider another option? Archer X herself had said similar things to him. "If you want to keep kissing his pompous shoes and call it loyalty, then be my guest, pretty boy..." Was that what they thought of him? That he was just a fool blindly following the will of another?
…Wasn't that exactly what he had been doing with Lord Kayneth?
Lancer then felt a telepathic call for him, a beckoning from Lady Sola-Ui to join her. And his legs were already carrying him towards the door to the inside. Obedient. Stop thinking like that, you fool. It is simply proper chivalry for a knight to answer a lady's call. And regardless of the circumstances, Archer X was your partner. Whatever her reasons were for her betrayal, they do not justify her actions. She is my responsibility. I have to stop her.
And what came afterward… should he win his duel with Saber… should he be the last Servant standing… well, that remained to be seen.
The Shadow Clone of Assassin X scanned the collection of photos he'd received before slowly lowering them. "…You're sure about this?" he finally asked, wincing at his skeptical tone. The last thing he wanted to do was question an ally's competence.
Thankfully, Maiya wasn't insulted. "I'm positive," she answered in her usual dutiful manner. "After we narrowed the search down to her time, I checked as many books revolving around those legends as possible and made copies of what I thought was relevant." She frowned briefly in memory of that weird feeling she'd gotten in the library, then brushed it aside to continue. "This," she pointed at a particular picture she'd taken, "is almost the same as what you showed me." Her finger travelled to the sketch the Servant had made two nights ago. "It's him, I'd stake my life on it."
"No need for that," the Servant's clone sighed while shifting at his leaning spot by the wall. This motel room was even smaller than the one they'd first met in, but it sufficed as a temporary base of operations. It had only been a little while the two had presented Saber and Irisviel the residence in Miyama Town that would be their new home field, and they had just about packed everything up here. But whatever happiness Assassin X had felt upon watching Irisviel's excitement of the place was gone now. "I believe you, Maiya, it's just a bit much to process." He glanced towards the covered window. "Rather not think about how Saber's going to react…" Even if she might already have a hunch…
The woman watched him with just a trace of concern before Assassin X shook his head and said, "Can't be helped, though. We should tell her and Kiritsugu right away." Hearing a silent crunch managed to make him smile a little. "Enjoying the cookies?"
Maiya cleared her throat to swallow with a bit more color in her cheeks. "…As you can probably tell," she murmured while setting aside the chocolate chip cookie. "Where did you find them? How did you know I prefer Western sweets to Eastern ones, for that matter?"
He scratched his silver head. "I happened to see a sweets shop in Miyama Town while scouting yesterday and, seeing as I noticed you having a slight fondness for sweet food, I figured I could bring some along today." He shrugged. "As for the preference, that was luck, in all honesty. The shop was American themed, and I swiped what looked good but wouldn't be missed."
Maiya processed the words before accepting it with a (mostly) professional nod; she made a mental note to inspect that shop later given a chance. "You didn't have to do that, Assassin X." She then noted with rare humor two unopened bags like the one next to her. "And you definitely didn't have to take three bags, I'm not that voracious with cookies."
"Oh, the other two are meant for Irisviel and Saber. Well, mostly Saber, I figure she won't be satisfied with just one."
"She does have an appetite," Maiya recalled the female Servant being the first to finish her ramen bowl long before others (even with needing to learn how to use chopsticks!). "Hopefully, Saber will remember to let Ma'am have a taste." She briefly noted how pleasant the masked man's laugh sounded before focusing again. "Still, it wasn't necessary in my case. I have plenty of supplies for sustenance stocked at our bases."
"I know," Assassin X conceded with another shrug. "Just spur of the moment, I guess."
As always, the Heroic Spirit's hidden face made it difficult to discern his moods, but Maiya Hisau had been watching him long enough over the last few days to recognize when he was being sincere. It puzzled her a bit, to be honest, this level of familiarity she'd developed with him. Like how he'd noticed her tastes; it wasn't like she snacked all the time, especially not in front of just anybody. The only other person she could read and be read by so easily was Kiritsugu. She gave a mental shrug. Well, he's proven to be reliable. No trouble, I suppose.
So, the assassin settled for thanking her colleague. Then she noticed his shoulders tensing ever so slightly. "I can meet up with Saber while you notify Kiritsugu."
Assassin X was silently impressed with her observational skill but shook his head. "It's fine. I was going to deliver these anyway." He picked up the two cookie bags with one hand and collected his copies of the pictures with the other. "Maybe they can soften the blow a little…" he murmured to himself.
Besides, a real friend didn't shirk on telling bad news or pass the burden to someone else.
But as he made for the door, his old defense mechanism, humor, surfaced for just a moment again, making him spontaneously give Maiya a teasing look as she reached for another cookie. "I hope you don't slack off on your Substitution Jutsu training while I'm away."
The woman shot him an obviously fake glare. "Get a move on before I hurt you, Kakashi." She only allowed herself to smirk after he left the building chuckling. Sneaky slavedriver…
But it was only after she finished her cookie and made to dial Kiritsugu's number that Maiya wondered why she had called him by his True Name.
"Why exactly are we out here again?" Saber X grumbled while adjusting the sunglasses Glenn had lent him. "After all the fun last night, I figured you'd want to take it easy."
"A fair question." Hands behind his head, Rider peered down at his Master. "Why do you wish to go into the city?" The quartet was walking through Miyama at a relaxed pace, Shinto's buildings growing more visible with step.
Waver simply kept walking, not looking at either. "What does it matter? I just changed my mind, I guess." He shifted just a bit to glance back. "Besides, you've been pestering me for days to let you walk around."
"True." The King of Conquerors had indeed been the most vocal for taking in the sights among the three Heroic Spirits; only Saber X had the boy's approval to leave regularly as he was best suited for reconnaissance. But for once, this excursion hadn't been Rider's idea. Not that he was complaining. "Surveying foreign markets are just as exciting as the heat of battle."
Berserker X clicked his tongue while trudging next to him. "For you, maybe." He shrugged. "But what the hell, I don't mind a chance to stretch my legs, and if I'm lucky, we'll run into someone to fight."
"No fighting between Servants until nightfall," Waver reminded him. "Those are the rules." He ignored the grumble from the jingling man while continuing to walk and talk. "And I pity those countries that are overrun for no other reason than for bloodlust and curiosity."
That remark earned him strange looks from all of the Servants, even Saber X in his hungover state. "…Pretty deep thoughts there, pipsqueak. Finally starting to see just what you signed up for?"
Waver paused in mid-step and turned around to stare at the three for the longest time. Then he continued to lead the way towards the city. "It's nothing. Forget I said anything."
The Servants exchanged confused glances but chose to follow him all the same. Kenpachi shrugged again. "Least he's not moping so much anymore…" Iskandar nodded in agreement.
Truth be told, Qrow's inquiry had hit a little too close to what had been going through his Master's mind that morning. These last few days had been a never-ending series of adrenaline-filled moments and terrifying scenes. Waver Velvet was finally beginning to understand what the Holy Grail War truly was and how incredible the supernatural beings participating in it were. He thought about the banquet last night, where nine Heroic Spirits of different lands and times had laid themselves bare to judge and be judged. From simple goals like honor for Lancer and battle for Berserker X… or different circumstances for Saber X… to massive dreams like the Riders. The clash of Kings' ideals, tempered by the wisdom of a man who was probably a million times the magic-wielder Waver could ever hope to be…
And an ever-growing sense of dread from one Servant so similar and yet completely different to the one he had summoned.
Add that to the adventurous lives he would have a front-row seat to every time he went to sleep… and Waver realized he just wanted a quiet afternoon. A few hours of normality before Rider would lead Saber X and Berserker X back into the insanity of the Holy Grail and he'd be dragged along right behind them.
Right behind them… that thought rankled him for some reason.
Either way, the team continued on their stroll, Rider leading the other two Servants in some small talk that Waver barely registered, caught up in his own musing as he was. Questions about these men rattled about in his head, but he could learn more about at least one of them. They then headed through the Shinto district until coming across a shopping mall of decent size. People old and young were ambulating through its stores, but it wasn't too crowded to discourage Waver. He checked to confirm it held a certain store, then led his Servants in.
Once in the main square, the magus student addressed his familiars. "I've got to take care of something in the bookstore."
"Uh huh," was the collective answer he received.
"You can all look around here in the meantime but stick together and don't leave the mall." At another chorus of affirming grunts, he continued. "It might be day, but just in case I get attacked, return to my side immediately." For the third time, all Waver received were grunts as answers. He eyed dully the two big Servants glancing about and the shorter one drawing out his flask yet again and added deadpan, "No conquering, plundering, fighting or drinking in public."
Three now very attentive Heroic Spirits turned to him with one collective, "Huh?"
"Don't 'Huh' me!" Waver could've sworn something snapped in the back of his head, but he shoved it aside to pull his wallet from his pocket and slam it into a blinking Rider's palm. "I don't want you morons to steal or dine-and-dash or any other nonsense! If you see something you like, then you bloody pay for it!" He then snapped his finger at a grumpier Huntsman. "And I don't care if it's technically okay for you to guzzle your brain away in this country, I need all of you to stay sharp! Or do I have to drill these restrictions into your heads with Command Seals?"
"…Nice to see you're not so stingy about money or Seals anymore," Qrow muttered but put away his flask all the same.
Iskandar on the other hand just laughed off his Master's concerns, wallet in hand. "Who do you take me for? Macedonian etiquette is equal to that of any country." Though he did cast a gimlet eye alongside two others at the final member of their group.
Berserker X just snorted back at them. "Relax, there's probably not a single soul in this whole block besides Kandy and Qrow who could entertain me. I'm not some bully who likes to beat up those weaker than me."
His fellow Servants nodded in concession to that fact, but Waver still eyed the lot warily. "Saber X, you're in charge of these two. Don't let them do anything too stupid."
As he'd expected, Rider grew affronted at this. "Now hold on, aren't I, the King of Conquerors, the leader of our group?"
"You can be leader of all the Servants in this Grail War for all I care, but Qrow's the most likely to keep the three of you out of trouble." Inwardly, the teenager mused how sad it was when in a trio with a legendary monarch and the captain of a martial division, a sarcastic, periodically womanizing souse was the most responsible- well, least irresponsible one.
Not that said souse seemed happy with his new obligations, sliding down his sunglasses to give his Master a stink-eye. "Who do you take me for, their nanny?"
"More of a chaperone, I'd say," Waver replied as he turned his back to them and began to walk towards the bookstore. Then on a whim, he peered back with a smirk and some parting words. "But if you want to wash their nappies and tuck them in for bedtime too, that's your business."
And the Master sauntered off with his hands in his pockets and a strange sense of accomplishment at the stares the Heroic Spirits were giving him.
Iskandar was the first to start laughing, followed by Kenpachi and Qrow. Normal people paused in their shopping to stare befuddled at the guffawing men, then just shrugged and went on with their own lives. Just a couple of drunks, they thought. "Little twerp's picked up a mouth while we weren't looking," the Soul Reaper finally cackled out.
Finally gaining himself under control (good thing, too, any longer and security would've shown up), the Macedonian tyrant King wrapped his broad arms around his comrades and led them down one route. "Come, let's celebrate the growth of our Master. I'm not sure which newfound quality of his impresses me more, his cheek or his spine."
"The better question is where the hell did he pick those up…" Qrow Branwen gave one last chuckle, no longer trying to wriggle free of his partner's iron grip. It was a waste of effort, and…
Ever since last night, since his confession about Misfortuneand these muttonheads accepting him despite the new knowledge, he found himself a bit more at ease. Heck, not even the pipsqueak had grilled him about keeping it under wraps. The Servant wouldn't have begrudged any of them for ostracizing him, he was used to that. But that didn't happen once. No matter how many streetlamps blew out or car tires spontaneously deflated while they walked by or even whenever the kid would stumble over a can or the like.
It felt… refreshing. And kinda nostalgic for the former member of Team STRQ.
-90:01:40
Just as Assassin X's clone had expected, Saber was verypleased with the cookies he'd brought. She had already downed half a bag in three seconds before coughing into her fist and going at a slower pace with slightly red cheeks. Her copy comrade chose not to voice how adorable the King of Knights looked right now, though. He wasn't suicidal.
The duo sat on the veranda in front of the main garden. An unkempt mess, but the sun was shining, and a cool breeze was blowing, providing them a nice spot to have a bite while keeping an eye open. A pot of freshly brewed tea and two cups stood behind them, steam wafting amidst stray air currents.
"Thank you, my friend," Artoria said with equal grace and pleasure. The benefits of slower bites meant could savor the sweetness even more. But she couldn't remember the last time she could enjoy a meal in company without needing to maintain decorum befitting her title. She wasn't devouring the cookies like an animal, of course; Saber remembered her manners.
She had even shown enough grace to offer him some of her treat, but Assassin X had declined politely. "Never had much of a sweet tooth," he'd said. Still, taking a moment to snack next to a friend and equal was… relaxing.
Besides… "I needed this," she finally admitted quietly.
That drew Assassin X's attention. He paused in watching the perimeter of their new base (he found the house's theme pleasingly nostalgic) to turn to her. "Is something the matter?" he asked tentatively. "If you're still conflicted about the argument with Rider last night, you can talk to me."
"No, it's," Saber paused while retrieving a new cookie before sighing, "…nothing as simple as that." She nodded towards the storehouse, a bit of a sore thumb in their Japanese-style surroundings. "Irisviel isn't doing quite so well right now." Assassin X's attention focused ever more on his comrade as she continued. "Remember when you and Maiya led us to this residence? I was the one driving, not Irisviel."
Assassin X nodded but with some confusion. "I remember, but I thought you just wanted to try driving an automobile yourself." Honestly, he was slightly curious about what that might be like. That level of technology hadn't existed in his time, and he didn't exactly have a Riding Skill like Saber. Expert of Many Specializations might not be enough, but given a chance, the shinobi wouldn't mind trying.
Then again, Pakkun and Guruko had grown strangely anxious about cars ever since they'd escorted the women to the Einzbern castle. Even Saber had seemed shaken.
Her speaking again pulled him back to the present. "I did find the experience exhilarating," the positive kind, not the one where she drives, the Servant of the Sword added to herself, "but it was Irisviel who said I should drive this morning. And she asked me to take the keys when Maiya handed them over." Assassin X nodded slowly, prompting her to go on. "She even asked me to aid her in drawing a Magic Circle in the storehouse."
Sure enough, that made him pause. Both Servants knew that Saber only had a basic knowledge of the magical arts, and Irisviel was more learned in the magecraft of this period than any other member of their team. Her asking for help in performing a spell was like Saber requesting aid to swing her sword.
With that in mind, Kakashi's clone lifted his forehead protector up to let his Sharingan see unobstructed. He trained it towards the large shed and immediately grew concerned.
Irisviel was lying in roughly the middle of the room, a circle of Magical Energy surrounding her. The supernatural flow could clearly be made out despite the structure's thick walls. But the troubling thing was the woman's own energy was… flickering. Even with her seemingly doing nothing but lie on the stone floor, the level of od she emanated ebbed and flowed erratically. The circle's energy helped to stabilize, but it didn't look like a permanent fix. Assassin X could tell; Irisviel was slowly, perhaps at a snail's pace, but steadily growing weaker. "Did she give you any explanation, Saber?"
"Only after I asked her." The knight was only nibbling on her cookie, now, her appetite ebbing as well. "Irisviel said that she was experiencing some sort of… sickness unique to homunculi. That ruled out calling a regular doctor for help. She told me she'd shut down her sense of touch to mitigate this spiritual condition, hence her having me drive and carry things for her." Saber gave him a concerned look. "She took my hand and said she'd be squeezing it as hard as possible, Kakashi, and I didn't feel a whisper of pressure from her fingers."
"What about Avalon? From what you told me, it can heal any wounds aside from brain damage so long as it receives your mana."
"When I asked her about that, Irisviel told me this weakness isn't from some injury she'd sustained. She assured me Avalon is helping her, but it can't stop her sickness." She paused to take a sip from her tea, steady her nerves, then continued. "Lying in the Magic Circle would help… stabilize her so we can head out tonight."
Assassin X re-covered his Sharingan and closed his other eye upon picking up the sub-meaning in that last sentence. "And she insists on heading out with you, doesn't she? Irisviel doesn't want us to think of her as a burden." Saber only sighed to confirm it. He drank some tea himself before asking, "Have you told Kiritsugu about this?"
"Not yet. I don't fully understand how to work a cell phone," the corner of her mouth twitched slightly before it fell into a sad frown, "and… I'm not sure if Irisviel wants him to know."
Truth be told, Saber didn't know how he would react to this news. The cold-blooded killer Kiritsugu Emiya presented himself as, the dishonorable man she first considered him to be, wouldn't bat an eye. But the man Assassin X had shown her that night, the one who'd confessed to his wife and her alone how frightened he was of failing…
She sighed to herself. Saber could be considered an accomplished expert on the subject of inflicting injuries, but she only knew the bare minimum of treating them, and most of her knowledge was outdated for a thousand years. And this metaphysical fatigue of Irisviel's… The King of Knights didn't like not being able to help.
A loud sip made her look to see the clone of her friend put down his empty mug. "Sorry, but Irisviel's condition is a bit heavy to process. And unfortunately," he pulled out a small folder before passing it to her, "I'm afraid the reason I visited wasn't just to see how you ladies were doing." Saber accepted the folder and opened it, her eyes widening at its contents. "As you most likely noticed, I've been working with Maiya to uncover the identities of this world's Servants yet unknown to us." The ninja kept a level and soft tone throughout his explanation. "We're still working on Archer, but… we have a theory on who Berserker could be."
His shoulders slumped upon noticing her hands trembling. "…And it's probably the same theory you have, Saber."
She couldn't answer him. Her eyes were glued to the pictures before her. One a copy of Assassin X's drawing she had seen that night, others legible excerpts of a version of the Arthurian tale -her tale…
And finally, an image likely taken from an old book. It depicted a man in a splendid suit of armor, helmet removed and held in the left hand while the right rested on the pommel of a magnificent sword planted in the ground. A handsome face with long hair plain as day.
The armor looked nearly exactly like the one her friend had drawn. Like the one in her memories. That outfit inspiring and elegant in its simplicity, those tassels hanging from his back like slender wings, that sleek helmet like the face of a predatory avian, that sword that was the counterpart to the one she wielded, that face that had captivated many women…
"Sir… Lancelot…"
The pictures before her blurred- no, they simply appeared to blur because her hands kept shaking. And because of the moisture gathering within her eyes.
That black knight… can't be him, she tried to tell herself. It just can't be… But the pictures, the fixation on her, the sheer brilliance he displayed in wielding anything he touched as a deadly weapon… that snarl he always directed at her… "Ar… Ur…"
Saber then registered something on her left shoulder. A squeezing, firm but gentle, pulling her back to reality. She blinked away her tears to see a hand wearing a fingerless glove on her shoulder, then lifted her head to find Kakashi leaning over, a sad look in his single eye. "…I'm sorry," was all he said.
Saber gently slipped her shoulder free of his grip and flicked away the water from her eyes. Then she cleared her throat before replying. "Please don't apologize when you're right, Kakashi. I suspected who Berserker could be the moment I took a glimpse of your drawing." She took another look at the folder on her lap, then closed it and pushed it to the side along with the cookie bags. "Maybe the signs were already there. Since the moment we first encountered him at the docks. But I simply chose not to see them." Shame crept into her heart. "Nor did I choose to tell you or Kiritsugu. I let my personal feelings cloud my judgement and complicate our mission." She hung her head in guilt at the lies she had told. "I'm the one who should be saying sorry."
But all he did was shake his head. "All I had was a drawing, and I could have been mistaken. I still might be. Like I said, this is only a theory. Berserker could just be another knight from a later period, wearing an imitation of your friend's armor-"
"Don't." Artoria cut him off while looking him in the eye. "Don't deny the truth when it grows more apparent with each passing second. And don't downplay or rationalize my deception." Megatron would probably laughing his head off if he saw me now.
No matter how much pain she was feeling right now, she didn't waver or flee. She made the effort to acknowledge her own culpability, or at least what she thought was culpability. Truly a valiant King, the shinobi thought. "Artoria-"
"How can you be so calm, Kakashi?!" The sudden anger in her voice surprised him. Artoria slammed her fist against the wooden floor, splintering part of it. The teapot would've spilled over hadn't he caught it. "I kept vital information from our Master, from you! I lied to you! Berserker is targeting me, why, I'm not sure, but I've seen the way he glares at me, the way he growls my name in such hatred! His hounding me could've jeopardized our mission! He attacked you merely for standing in his way! He could have killedyou!"
He took in her shaking form, the fresh tears gathering, and understood. This state of raw emotion was likely the culmination of her beliefs being put into question during last night's banquet, her own feeling of uselessness at Irisviel's weakening health, and the revelation he'd just slapped in her face. One or two old mental wounds had likely also been opened. Everyone had a breaking point, even the King of Knights, and she had reached it.
"You have every reason to be angry!" That single eye of Kakashi Hatake shined with such an emotion that her last restraints as a "perfect King" were worn away. "So, after everything I've failed to do, why would you show me any sympathy?!" She all but yelled at him.
"Because I probably wouldn't have acted any better in your position."
That blunt statement pierced through the cloud of anger before her thoughts, and she stared crying in shock at the man before her. "It's easy to talk about suppressing emotions to get the job done," He continued softly, "but when the obstacles in your path, the sacrifices you have to perform, have such… personal connections to you… it turns out to be harder than you thought. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way." It may've been a Shadow Clone, but he was every bit a copy of her partner, so she knew that she was hearing Kakashi Hatake's sincerity now. "So, how can I condemn you, Artoria, without sounding like a hypocrite?
"Facing an unknown enemy on the battlefield, only to discover he was a former comrade, a dear friend of yours… I can't imagine what that's like."
She continued to gaze at him, slowly processing what he had said, as the tension in her body began to subside. She breathed slowly to expedite the process and wiped away her tears, hoping they wouldn't return so quickly. "…And I hope you never have to find out, my friend," Saber finally replied in a significantly calmer tone. She hesitated before casting a glance. "I still find it hard to believe … I can see the evidence, but I don't want to believe Berserker is… him." She hung her head, shame still clutching her core. "I'm a fool, I know."
"Maybe you are," Assassin X replied. "Or maybe you're not as inhuman as you strove to be. Foolishness tends to be a prominent trait of humanity." That made a tiny smile crack across her face. "As for Berserker…" It slipped away, much to his own shame. "If it really is Lancelot of the Lake, well…" he winced before continuing, "knowing Kiritsugu, he'll advocate for letting Kariya Matou continue to throw Berserker and Caster X at Tokiomi Tohsaka. Assuming he survives more run-ins with Archer, we'll still have some time to strategize. And from a logical standpoint, you probably know Lancelot better than anyone else in this War. Could you think of anything that might help us?"
Saber knew he was deliberately dancing around the obvious: former friend or not, Berserker was an enemy combatant in this Grail War. That meant she would likely have to face him sooner or later. And she was no longer sure she knew Lancelot. How could the man who had been praised by many as the perfect knight, a man she had trusted, fought beside on battlefields, and even forgiven when he had betrayed her, now stand as a madman on the opposite side of the Holy Grail War? Is this my fault as well? Did I drive him to madness?
The Heroic Spirit of the Sword gave herself a mental shake and returned to the current matter. "Do not underestimate him, Assassin X." Her warning was spoken gently. "Though you did well in matching him the first time, and your Lightning Blade severing his arm is all the more impressive now in hindsight, you have yet to see his full strength."
Assassin X's clone nodded at the words. "I believe you." He gestured to the copies of the Arthurian tale he had brought. "From what I've read, Sir Lancelot was hailed as the strongest Knight of the Round Table. Did he really defeat his enemy with just a tree branch after being disarmed of his sword?" He then tilted his head in thought; was that maybe the secret behind his Noble Phantasm?
"Those tales are no exaggeration," the King of Britain confirmed his worries. She remained certain (and proud) of her knights' prowess if nothing else. "If he truly is Berserker, Lancelot's physical might will only have increased, and he seems to retain his peerless martial mastery. A devastating combination, moreso with having someone like Caster X to temper his rage." Her gaze travelled to the book picture of the Knight of the Lake. Specifically, the sword depicted. "And I'm not sure because of his current class, but… he may carry a weapon equal in rank to mine." Saber paused; in her anguish, she had overlooked another concern. "Does… Kiritsugu know, Assassin X?" she asked tentatively.
The Copy Ninja's copy picked up on her unspoken question and answered truthfully, "Maiya is likely bringing him up to date on what she and I have hypothesized right now." He noticed her relaxing just a tad; she'd picked up on his choice in words. "We can postpone this discussion until the next time we meet up with him, if you're alright with that."
Saber eyed him carefully before nodding. "That's for the best." Her distaste in their Master's tactics aside, he had to be kept within the loop about these plans. Kiritsugu had shown her trust in telling her about his intentions for Avalon, it was only fair she returned the favor. Not to mention Kakashi's presence would help keep them from being at each other's throats.
Not unlike a certain wizard who served as Berserker's partner. Perhaps…
"For the record, though," she returned her attention to the Shadow Clone seated next to her, "you needn't be so pessimistic about our chances, I think. There have been a few close calls, but we're still here and going strong. And I have a few more tricks up my sleeve." The shinobi closed his visible eye in that smiling way and tapped the plate over his other. "This War hasn't been decided yet, let alone whether I'd survive another fight with Berserker."
He also had a hunch that said Servant's own partner had something helpful in mind. Gandalf the Gray wasn't just reining him like a leashed animal, he appeared to be on genuinely good terms with Berserker. He certainly wouldn't leave the knight in his maddened state; it just wasn't in that man's character.
Saber surprised herself by returning her friend's smile. The tension within her core was easing again, slowly but surely. It wouldn't fade, it couldn't fade with the knowledge of what opponents awaited her, but at least now she could think clearly. Because Kakashi Hatake was right; the Holy Grail War was far from over, and aside from her out-of-commission left thumb, the two were still in tiptop shape. Even the injury could be remedied, either by destroying Lancer's spear or with Saber's own Noble Phantasm.
Still… she couldn't shake the unease around who thatServant almost certainly was. Nor could she escape the feeling that sooner or later, she would have to face him. The Gray Wizard had delayed it so far (something she felt ashamed to be grateful for), and Kakashi would most likely try stepping in to spare her any pain, but she vowed then and there not to let that happen.
No matter how these thoughts of him plagued her, the King of Knights would face her greatest champion and learn how he'd succumbed to this insanity.
Besides, a real friend didn't force her comrade to fight her battles for her.
Saber noticed Assassin X's clone eyeing the sun's position in the sky: only a couple hours of daylight left. He was probably considering leaving. "You can head back to Kiritsugu and Maiya, Assassin X," she assured him. "Irisviel and I will head out when the sun goes-"
Her ears picked up a rustling from him. The knight glanced down on instinct… and saw the ninja's arm pulling that infernal filth out of his pouch.