The spar grew sharper. Jeanne was no longer just dodging—her blocks and counters carried the weight of a Servant now. Every strike Ritsuka threw met something harder, faster, more precise.
He darted forward, chaining Muay Thai knees into Kung Fu strikes, slipping low into a Jiu-Jitsu grab. His Reinforced body blurred, faster than any human could normally follow. For a split second, Jeanne's guard slipped—he slipped inside her range and tagged her shoulder with a palm strike.
"Ha!" Ritsuka gasped, grinning despite himself. "Got you—"
Thud.
Before he could finish, Jeanne's hand snapped forward, her strength humming like a bowstring. A gentle push—but amplified by Servant speed—sent him flying onto his back, the air leaving his lungs in a hard whuff.
He blinked up at the ceiling, chest heaving, then laughed despite the pain. "Okay… okay, I think I get it now."
Jeanne stepped over him, her hair swaying as she looked down with an approving smile. "Oh?"
Ritsuka sat up slowly, rubbing his ribs, eyes sharp despite his grin. "Servants aren't just strong—they're faster than humans can react. Even with reinforcement, I can't close the gap unless I push further."
He clenched his fist, muttering to himself as if taking mental notes. "I need to refine Time Alter. Shave off every wasted motion. And maybe…" He smirked. "…pick up another style. Something that emphasizes speed—like Taekwondo."
Jeanne chuckled softly, crouching so her face was level with his. "You're remarkable, Master. Most would despair after such a gap… but you look at it and see opportunity."
Her words lingered. She was close again—too close—and Ritsuka had to look away to keep from turning red. "…Well, if I don't keep improving, I'll just hold you back, right?"
Jeanne's expression softened, her hand resting briefly on his shoulder. "You could never hold me back. Not with that heart."
The warmth of her touch lasted longer than it should have before she stood, offering him a hand again. "Come. You've earned rest—for now."
Ritsuka took her hand, smiling faintly despite the soreness. Next time, he promised himself, I'll land more than one hit.
Jeanne looked at Ritsuka as she spoke. "Master"
Ritsuka looked at Jeanne as he spoke. "Just call me Ritsuka from now on".
Jeanne smiled as she spoke. "Very well, but as I was saying, the way you spoke of improving Time Alter and adding Taekwondo, it sounded like you had done it before"
Ritsuka looked at her as he spoke. "Because it wasn't the first time"
Jeanne tilted her head, curiosity lighting her eyes. "So each step of your style… was born out of defeat?"
Ritsuka gave a small laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah. When I first started, it was just Muay Thai. Elbows, knees, hard strikes—straightforward power. But then I ran into someone who knew how to use my aggression against me. He flowed with every hit and pinned me before I knew what happened. That's when I realised—if I couldn't grapple, I'd always lose up close. So I learned Jiu-jitsu."
He flexed his hand as if remembering the pain. "But then another guy came along—light on his feet, fast, using his palms like whips. Kung Fu. He slipped through every guard I had and dropped me before I could blink. So I swallowed my pride and learned that too. Not to mimic them, but… to make sure I'd never be taken down the same way again."
His voice softened at the end, the weight of experience hanging behind his words.
Jeanne studied him quietly, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she smiled, faint and warm. "So you don't just fight—you adapt. You turn your losses into strength. That is… very much like a warrior's heart. And…" She hesitated, almost whispering, "…it's also very much like a leader's."
Ritsuka blinked, caught off guard. "Leader? Me? No, I'm just—"
She cut him off with a gentle shake of her head. "No. You refuse to accept limits. That kind of spirit… people will follow it, whether you realise it or not."
There was silence for a moment, her words hanging heavy. Jeanne looked away before her cheeks betrayed the faint pink rising there. "…But forgive me. That was perhaps too personal."
Ritsuka chuckled softly, though his own chest felt warmer than before. "No. It… means a lot, hearing that from you."
Their eyes met for just a second too long before Jeanne turned, composing herself with a practised smile. "In any case, Ritsuka, I'll help you polish what you've already built. And if you truly wish to add Taekwondo… then I'll be your first opponent to test it against."
Ritsuka smirked, finally getting to his feet. "Then I'll hold you to that."
Meanwhile, in the Church was Rin, she was in a prayer pose, Gilgamesh was in the side seating on one of the Church seats, he raised an eyebrow at his master
Gilgamesh chuckled a bit. "Not many managers, follow in the lord".
"That's correct".
Gilgamesh look at where the Voice came as it was Amakusa.
Amakusa walked up to him as he sat down. "Do it might be my influence".
Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow as he spoke. "Right, you're her Guardian Correct".
Amakusa looked at the King of Hero as he spoke. "Correct Caster, I made a promise to her father, before his death, to protect his children, so I did, I took care of her, do bringing her to church every day, to teach her self-control and patience may have been a bit too much, seeing the side effects".
Gilgamesh smirked faintly, leaning back in his seat, golden eyes glinting with amusement.
"Self-control and patience… hardly qualities suited for a proper magus. You've been molding her into a saint when she should be sharpening herself into a blade."
Amakusa's calm smile never faltered. "And yet, would you prefer another Tohsaka driven by greed and arrogance? No, what she requires is balance. To wield both magecraft and conviction without falling to either extreme."
Rin's fingers twitched in her prayer clasp, her brow furrowing just slightly at their words. Still, she kept silent.
Gilgamesh gave a low chuckle, the kind that echoed with mockery.
"Balance is nothing but hesitation disguised as virtue. Hesitate in this war, and you die."
Amakusa turned his gaze to him, serene but unwavering. "Perhaps. But hesitation is not what I see in her. What I see is a will being forged. One that, when tested, will not break."
Gilgamesh's grin widened, sharp and dangerous.
"Hmph. Then I look forward to seeing if your precious 'forging' produces steel—or brittle glass."
Rin finally opened her eyes, exhaling softly before turning to glance at both of them.
"You know I can hear both of you, right?"
Rin sighed, rolling her shoulders before fixing Gilgamesh with a steady gaze.
"Say all you want. Him raising me actually gave me the mindset to deal with you, kingy."
Gilgamesh arched a brow at the nickname, lips curving into a smirk.
"'Kingy'? Hah. Insolence clothed in affection. How very… human of you."
Without flinching, Rin slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a slender, gleaming blade — a Black Key, its edge faintly shimmering with consecrated light. She spun it once in her fingers with surprising familiarity.
"Besides, I've learned to think beyond the family library. If every magus is obsessed with crests and jewels, then I'll use something they'd never expect. Weapons mages laugh at — but assassins and Executors swear by."
Gilgamesh leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes narrowing, but not with anger — with curiosity.
"You would sully yourself with the tools of the Church? Hmph… amusing. A gem, wrapped in common iron. Perhaps you will prove more interesting than your bloodline would suggest."
Amakusa's lips curved into the faintest smile, his tone calm but carrying pride.
"It seems she has taken more from my teachings than either of you realize. To her, faith and pragmatism are not contradictions. They are survival."
Rin rested the Black Key across her lap, meeting both men's gazes with quiet fire.
"I don't care if it's magecraft, holy sacraments, or even tricks stolen from street fighters. If it helps me win… I'll use it."
Rin and Gilgamesh left the Church together, her Black Key still hidden at her side. Their footsteps faded into the evening, leaving only silence within the great hall.
Amakusa closed his eyes, breathing deeply, his hands resting loosely at his sides. The air stirred, heavy with perfume and poison.
A woman's form shimmered into existence, as if the shadows themselves were giving birth.
She was beautiful, dangerously so — long, floor-length dark hair flowed like liquid ink, pointed ears peeking through. A gown the shade of midnight clung to her slender frame, trimmed with regal patterns, while dove-shaped ornaments glimmered faintly in her hair. Pale skin glowed like porcelain under the flickering candlelight, and her dark golden eyes sparkled with a cruel sort of amusement.
Semiramis.
[Insert image of Semiramis]
She tilted her head, lips curving in a knowing smile.
"I have to say," she purred, her voice smooth as velvet, "the irony of the Grail choosing both you and your little dove to participate in this war… is almost too amusing to bear."
Amakusa opened his eyes slowly, gaze meeting hers without flinching.
"Fate's sense of humor has always been cruel."
Semiramis let out a soft, lilting laugh, covering her lips with delicate fingers.
"Cruel? Or perhaps… poetic. The Saint who once betrayed Heaven, now guiding his adopted lamb. Tell me, Amakusa—" she drifted closer, circling him like a serpent, "—are you her shepherd… or her executioner?"
Amakusa's expression didn't shift. "That depends on whether the wolf reaches her first."
Semiramis' smile widened, her golden eyes flashing. "Ah… how cold. And yet, I can almost taste the pride in your words. Perhaps you truly do see her as a daughter."
The walk back to the Tohsaka household was quiet, their footsteps crunching softly against the pavement.
Rin suddenly slowed, her instincts prickling. She narrowed her eyes, scanning the empty street. "...Something's off."
Gilgamesh, still in spirit form, scoffed from her side. "You magi and your paranoia. Every shadow is a blade in your mind."
But Rin didn't answer him. Her gaze had lifted upward, locking onto a bird perched on a nearby wire. At first glance, it was ordinary — no crystal sheen, no mechanical hum. Just a crow, feathers ruffling in the morning breeze.
Yet its head tilted… slowly. Unblinking eyes stared directly at her.
Gilgamesh materialized with a ripple of golden light, arms crossed, looking up with clear disdain.
"Hmph. A crow? If this is the enemy's best attempt at reconnaissance, they are insulting my presence."
Rin frowned, tightening her grip on her Black Key still hidden in her sleeve. "...It's not one of Illya's, and it's not familiar magecraft either. But it's watching us. I can feel it."
The crow cawed once — sharp, echoing. Almost deliberate.
Gilgamesh smirked. "Shall I erase it, then? Or will you cling to the hope that it is merely... ordinary?"
The bird's gaze didn't falter.
Rin exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. "To be safe… take it out."
A golden ripple opened behind the crow, the tip of a gleaming spear aimed to erase it in a flash. But before it could strike, the bird flapped away, swooping down to perch neatly on an outstretched hand.
"Tch. Tohsaka, do you always have to be so paranoid?"
Rin whipped around, her breath catching. From the shadows of the alley stepped Kadoc Zemlupus, silver hair catching the morning light like cold steel. The crow nestled on his finger as if it belonged there.
Rin's voice dropped sharp as a knife. "Kadoc… You said your family doesn't participate in the Grail War. Don't tell me—" her tone tightened, "—you're actually a Master."
Kadoc clicked his tongue, shoulders slouching in irritation. "No. Like I said on the school rooftop — my family doesn't care about the Grail. We just like to keep an eye on where Servant chaos is happening."
Gilgamesh stepped forward, crimson eyes narrowing, his tone laced with contempt. "So your cowardly little clan can swoop in and claim the prize when the true kings are weary from battle. Hmph. How pitiful."
Kadoc looked at him blankly, expression unreadable for a beat. Then he added flatly:
"...No. So we don't get attacked by Grail chaos. Or mugged."
The silence that followed could've been sliced with a Black Key.
Rin blinked. Gilgamesh froze, mid-smirk, his words catching in his throat. For the first time in centuries, the King of Heroes found himself utterly—
wrong.
Rin's lips twitched as she muttered under her breath. "...I'm writing this one down."
Rin folded her arms, eyeing the crow perched so smugly on Kadoc's finger. "Then what's the crow for, huh?"
Kadoc's lips curved into the faintest smirk as he scratched the bird's neck. "He's my pet. My eyes in this chaos." He paused, almost casually. "…That's the wolf."
Rin blinked. Her composure cracked. "The what?!"
The crow cawed as if mocking her disbelief, fluttering its wings proudly.
Kadoc, utterly deadpan, added, "His name's Fenrir. Don't worry—he's friendly, unless you piss me off."
Gilgamesh's eye twitched, arms crossing as a golden ripple stirred behind him. "How insolent. To name a lowly bird after the wolf fated to devour the gods…" His tone grew sharp, venom laced between each word. "You court death, mongrel."
Kadoc didn't flinch. He just tilted his head, crow still perched calmly. "You're overthinking it. A name's just a name." Then he smirked, leaning slightly forward. "Besides, isn't it better than calling him 'Fluffy'?"
The air grew so thick with tension, Rin half-expected the church bells to ring on their own.
Rin stepped closer, her sharp eyes narrowing on the bird. She remembered how easily it had slipped past Gilgamesh's portal without so much as a scratch. The thought gnawed at her. "It's not a normal crow… is it?"
Kadoc exhaled through his nose, almost bored. "Yeah. If the snow-white feather on its wing didn't give it away, the prana should have. This bird's no ordinary familiar."
He raised his hand slightly, and the crow puffed its chest out like it understood the praise.
"It's been alive for three generations of my family. Passed down from heir to heir. Not something you'll find in a textbook or a bestiary."
Rin's eyes widened a fraction. "Three generations? That's… impossible for a familiar."
Gilgamesh's voice cut in, low and edged with curiosity instead of his usual derision. "Impossible for common rabble, perhaps. But not unheard of for certain divine beasts." His crimson eyes locked on Kadoc, sharp as blades. "So tell me, boy—what exactly have you bound?"
Kadoc's smirk thinned, but he didn't look away. "Wouldn't you like to know."
The crow gave another caw, and for a split second, Rin swore she felt something in that sound—like a wolf's growl hiding inside a bird's throat.
Kadoc finally tore his gaze from the crow and looked at Rin. His voice softened, just slightly. "Anyway… I've been keeping an eye on you. But I'll admit, I wasn't expecting him to be a Master."
Rin's brows furrowed. "So what's it to you?"
Kadoc clicked his tongue, shoulders tense as if weighing whether to say more. "I was hoping my friend wouldn't get dragged into this mess. The Grail War… it eats people alive."
He stopped, meeting Rin's eyes directly. The sharpness in his voice faded into something almost earnest. "Your his allies, right? Then make sure you protect him."
Rin froze at the weight of his words, not sure whether to be irritated or moved.
Before she could answer, Kadoc turned his back and walked away, his crow circling once overhead before following him into the alley's shadows.
Gilgamesh chuckled under his breath, amused. "Hmph. The coward shows his fangs only when it suits him."
But Rin didn't reply. Her thoughts lingered on what Kadoc had said—protect him.
To be continue
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