"Well... this is awkward."
I shifted uncomfortably, sat across from the ever-serious Saber. Her gaze was yet to falter, transfixed on mine. When it was not, she was checking on her Master, Shirou Emiya. The ginger youth lay on a futon, all cleaned up and fully healed thanks to Rin Tohsaka.
The easy rise and fall of his chest brought relief. His breathing, no longer laboured, made me feel a little less guilty about what I'd done. Still, I was half a mind to just run back home. Saber's continued scrutiny helped little. But, even I admitted she had the right to be wary of me... despite how bleak it made the air.
Outside, a light drizzle wetted the yard. Droplets readily trickled off the sloped roof of the Emiya residence, pooling within the craters left by our earlier conflict. The wind was cold, but I no longer felt its bite.
"The weather's nice?"
Saber offered no words, only held my gaze.
With another sigh, I looked about the room. The only word that came to mind was 'minimalistic' followed by a quick 'boring'. Tatami mats covered the floor, and there was only a simple low table sitting under the only window, with a cushion instead of the chairs I was used to. A single bulb hung from the wooden ceiling.
A depressing place.
Yet, compared to Rin's mansion, it felt a lot more lived in.
I ran my thumb across the floor.
Someone took great care in maintenance and cleaning. I spotted not a single speck of dust.
When it came to defense, the place inspired little confidence though. The inner walls were thin, possibly the same paper as the door. I wasn't interested in checking. Rather, I was certain Saber would not take kindly to me attempting to punch through one.
In the end, I relented and began eying Saber.
Her face became more and more familiar the longer I stared. Tilting my head several times, I studied it at every single angle I could. What made it click however, was the strange singular bang of gold hair standing abruptly.
That thin frame definitely unsuited to be of a warrior's. That cute face.
I'd seen it before, beyond a doubt.
This hero of legend sat across from me was in fact, the spitting image of a friend of mine, from the El-Melloi Classroom. Her characteristic shyness and withdrawn nature was nowhere to be found here and still, I wanted to chide myself for not making the connection sooner.
She looked exactly like Gray, down to the minute detail. Rather, Gray looked exactly like her considering my peer's nature.
It seemed I'd disregarded much in my excitement.
Putting a hand to my chin, I raised a brow.
"Are you sure you won't tell me your name, Saber?"
Her expression never faltered. "My name is not mine to give. And though I am thankful for your aid, I do not forget that it was you who made that aid necessary."
I raised my hands in surrender. "True. True. Then, do you mind if I throw a few guesses on the wall? See what sticks?"
Her armour was still bent from where I'd hit her. One of her gauntlets was shattered, and her dress burnt. She wasn't bothered. No, she was able to sit easier than I was. After a moment of calm, she nodded faintly.
"I have a friend, you see. She comes from this quaint little village back in my homeland. England. Great Britain."
Her eyes faltered ever so slightly.
That was enough.
I had her.
"And the purpose of that village was to bring back a certain hero of ours. A hero that, by all means, is famous all over the world. She was molded to that end. Without her consent, mind you."
She leaned in, just a bit, but she did lean in, unable to fully contain her curiosity.
"You look exactly like her... Mordred."
Upon hearing the name of her traitor 'son', Saber physically recoiled. I cackled. She quickly restrained herself, breathing deep as she sat down politely.
"So, I guess you're King Arthur." I put a hand over my chest, and bowed my head in respect. "An honour to meet the greatest legend of my land."
There were none alive that did not know of the legendary King who pulled the sword from the stone and built the city of Camelot with the venerated Round Table of Knights. Any respect I gave her was owed and due. The chance to face her in combat was an incredible one, enough to get me giddy with excitement.
She tried to keep her face measured, but I saw the way her chest swelled the tiniest bit. Then, there was a sudden lament. I looked up, and there was a certain sorrow in her gaze.
"Then, my land thrives?" King Arthur questioned, calm and stoic.
"The Brits conquered half the world at one point, so I guess yeah. Though, these days we're a bit into getting drunk and eating shitty food. Still, your land is considered to be among the greatest in the world."
I felt her pride. I shared it somewhat.
"I also promised Gray I'd punch you in the face if I ever came across you."
Her reaction was immediate. Her hand was over her sword before I finished my words. Her eyes no longer held the wistfulness from a moment ago.
"But..." I raised my hands in surrender for the second time, "I've already done more than that, you'd agree?"
"Yes. I suppose you have." She lowered herself.
Dammit, why was King Arthur so cute?
"Gray's better." I bit out, raising a clenched fist.
Arthur tilted her head in confusion.
Before she could voice it however, her Master broke his slumber. The first thing Shirou did was rub his eyes, as if he'd just woken up from the nicest sleep. Then, he noticed me. The defiance and fear in his eyes made me wince, and raise a hand to reassure him... but, he backed away instead, gripping at his chest, where the wound had been, with one hand.
Saber held his shoulder from beside him. "Master, I am here. He will not harm you."
"I-"
The words got caught in my throat.
Despite my brashness and general lack of forethought, this was a first. I didn't understand how to talk to him.
Clenching the hand I'd held out, I took a deep breath.
"Hey... uh, kid, how're you feeling?"
He regarded me with caution. "It was real?"
"It was," I sat back down, "And, well, it's not enough, but I'm sorry for hurting you. I thought you were one of us. You weren't."
"One of you." He slowly repeated my words, "A magus?"
"Yes, a magus. The typical kind. Nothing matters and all that. So you do know."
That was odd.
"I'll try to make it up to you."
My words hung in the air. He offered little, his body language offered less. Saber stood by him, prepared to attack me at the slightest provocation. Finally, after one awkward pause, he answered me with more resolve than I'd expected.
"Teach me."
I raised a confused brow.
"Teach me magecraft. I want to be able to do what you did."
That was... an odd request. The kind of request I myself might have made faced with a similar situation, for different reasons than this youth, of course. By rights, I should have agreed. Yet, I didn't even consider the request. I couldn't.
"Why?"
"So that I can be a hero of justice."
I waited for him to follow his words up with some kind of joke. When I realised there was no joke to be found, it took all my strength to not burst out laughing at his reasons. That'd be a bit too mean, right now. I'd laugh later.
Chuckling, I shook my head. "Sorry, Shirou Emiya. That can't happen."
"Why not?" His face betrayed nothing.
"Because my way of casting only works when it's me doing it."
I skipped steps for spell-casting. I added steps of my own. The code I saw our craft as was seen only to me and no one else. I'd discussed this with my Professor. Fundamentally, being able to truly break magecraft into basic components that could be re-assembled was meant to be impossible.
He opened his mouth again, but I interrupted him before he spoke by holding up a hand.
"Even if I wanted to teach you, you don't have the time right now. Look at her. That's a servant. Your servant. You summoned her, so you'll be fighting this war whether you like it or not. You're the fifth Master I've come across. That leaves two more for me to find, and six others for you to compete against."
Shirou looked to Saber. She nodded.
Only Rider and Assassin were left. I suspected I'd find them soon enough.
"With you, the Holy Grail War I've been waiting for has finally begun."
"...Holy Grail War?"
Right, he was completely out-of-touch with our world. That explained why he faced me with only the most basic spell, and confusion over all that had occurred thus far. I was not about to be the one to explain all this however. I was not going to become a glorified babysitter.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair.
"Rin will be back soon enough. You can ask her. And, because I've hurt you wrongly, I'll owe you one, Shirou Emiya."
I held up a finger, "One favour, no matter what it is. All you need to do is ask me."
"Then teach me-"
"I believe that would be unwise, Master. A fellow master can prove invaluable in battle as an ally." Saber spoke up. "And that is, the more pressing and immediate issue."
I nodded gratefully at King Arthur.
"Lastly, again, I'm sorry for hurting you, kid. Believe me. I never meant to."
Silence descended upon the already depressing room once more. The young Master stared at me long and hard, with his face as plain as before. Just when I thought that what I'd done wouldn't cut it, which it shouldn't have, Shirou Emiya smiled faintly.
"I forgive you."
...
"That easily?"
"That easily."
-
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