[On the next day after the event of last night]
...
Slowly my eyes starts opening. Weird... What time is it? ... 6:50 of the morning, I woke up faster than the alarm today.
Gabriela (sleepy)
— "Ghhh... I feel so eepy~..."
I close my eyes again. The memories of yesterday are still lively on my mind.The Berserker's Aura... Diana and Rider... Saber... Holy Grail War... Why grandpa didnt told me nothing... I mean...
...
I remember him, when I was a kid, telling me stories about Magis and Servants fighting among others, all just to get a wish that could change humanity... And with the wrong person, history would be changed, depending on the consequence of the individual's wish. But why he didnt tell me this was actually true? I was that ignorant... or simply... No. I was a child, such a thought would never cross a child's mind. Fantasies are meant to stimulate children's minds, not to lead them to the reality of the facts... I simply believed it was all fantasy so I could sleep and dream, of how impossible it would be to happen in reality.
Anyway... I just hope this is just a nightmare I haven't woken up from yet...
Saber (with soft warming voice)
— "Good morning, Master."
Gabriela (jumpscared)
— "AAAAAHHH!- SON OF BIT-"
NEVER MIND, THIS IS NOT A NIGHTMARE, IS REAL LIFE
Gabriela (angry)
— "WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY BEDROOM-?!"
Saber (calmly)
— "Well, my role as a Servant is to protect you, Master. It wouldn't be very responsible of me if I didn't do that."
Gabriela (fuming)
— "STILL! ITS MY BEDROOM AND A GIRL'S BEDROOM!"
Saber (suprised)
— "Oh- (looks around)... I thought Master was a boy... I mean- (panicking)"
Gabriela (now exploding)
— "WHAAAAAAT?!?!"
Saber (panicking)
— "S-Sorry-! I didnt mean to offend you-!"
But when I was ALMOST about to get my hands on Saber, my bedroom door opens.
Grandpa João (angry)
— "What the hell this screaming in the morning?!"
Gabriela (literally fuming at this point)
— "THIS TWAT SAID I LOOK LIKE A BOY!"
Saber (still panicking)
— "Im sorry, Master!"
Grandpa João
— (murmuring) he's not wrong- AH, AHEM, cmon don't start shouting at this hour. Also, Gabi, I belive you to talk with me, right?"
Gabriela (still fuming)
— "DAMN RIGHT I WANT!"
Grandpa João
— (sigh) "...This is going to be one of those days..."
After the get situation calm, grandpa and I went to the living room, Saber came with us too to listen to the conversation.
Grandpa João
— "So... (sigh) Alright, Im gonna straight to the point of why I didn't tell you anything. And the main reason is - I was scared."
Gabriela
— "Scared...? (skeptical) Scared of what?"
Granpda João
— "I was afraid that you would somehow end up like your mother."
Gabriela
— "My mom? What's wrong with her?"
Grandpa João
— (sigh)"... When was the last time you saw your mother?"
Gabriela
— "Well... (thinking) Its been since Christmas I saw her but we still talk and call each other..."
Grandpa João
— "Correct. And you why your mom always says she "will be out for some months"?"
Gabriela
— "Yeah, so what? She is working and she is historian-"
Grandpa João
— "No, she is not."
Gabriela
— "... Huh?"
What do you mean she's not a historian, what does grandpa mean by that?
Gabriela
— "... What do you mean?" (confused)
Grandpa João
— "Your mother is actually a magi."
Gabriela
— "... W-Wait... H-Huh... She is- Like the ones you always told when I was a child?" (shocked)
Grandpa João
— "Yes, that ones. But that's because I forbid her from revealing these things to you. I've been in a Holy Grail War before. Many years ago. Like you, I knew nothing—zero. But the Servant who answered the summons helped me a lot about how this world works. And trust me, is very cruel. Masters only see their Servants as weapons, not as people. After all, these Servants are historical figures from the past, whether you know them or not. They just want to win and just that."
...
Im shocked... I don't know what to think anymore. So mom is a Magus? So that's why I only see her every now and then?... This is too much for me to handle... I...
Saber
— (quiet but concern)...
Grandpa João
— (Sad) "Look, I know this is too much for you. I didn't want to put too much pressure on you. And also... You can always back out, you don't have to participate in this."
...
Why...
Why everything now.
Why not before?
This is a shit.
A tremendous shit.
But I can still give up... I still have time... And then I would pretend none of this ever happened
But... (looks at Saber before zooming out)...
If I wanted to give up, there would be no point in summoning Saber...
He is already here, it would be bad for him...
And also the promise I made to Diana...
(Flashback from yesterday)
Diana
— (thinking) "Well... I might have an idea for that."
Gabriela
— "Spill the beans then."
Diana
— "So, lets make on this way - Let's work as a team but at the same time separately."
Gabriela
— "Huh? Elaborate that."
Diana
— "Look, we'll work separately, okay? But at the same time, we'll pass on information to each other about other Servants and Masters."
Gabriela
— "Hmmm... Sounds a good deal..."
Diana
— "Heh, Im xo xmart bleh~"
Gabriela
— "And silly."
Diana
— "Oh I almost forgot - Under any circumstances, DO NOT REVEAL ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WAR. IT IS EXTRA CONFIDENTIAL, did your hear?"
Gabriela
— "S-Sure you dont need to talk loud, bitch."
(Coming back to the present)
No... I will not give up.
I will finish what I started and win this.
Gabriela (Determined)
— "No, I will continue on this. Saber and I gonna win this, no matter what."
Saber (happy)
— "I knew it..."
Grandpa João (suprised)
— "W-Well... if you say... (smiling) Then I wont stop you. Also two things."
Gabriela
— "What is it?"
Grandpa João
— "Your school closed, so you're going to have online classes or whatever."
Gabriela
— "WHAT?!"
Grandpa João
— "It appeared on news yesterday. The last one is - This Holy Grail War might have Rouge Servants. You better look around town as there might be some around, but also on other cities. I reccommend start recruiting."
Gabriela
— "Rogue Servants...?"
Saber
— "Ohhh thats even better! I can start looking right now if you want, Master!"
Grandpa João
— "Yes, it would be better for you."
Gabriela
— "What is a Rogue Servant?"
Grandpa João
— "A Rogue Servant are like... How can I put this. Its like stray animals. They get summoned without a Master but they are limited because they do not have an energy source, in this case, the Master to provide Magical Energy support, which is called Mana. So basically is like a cat without a owner... Althought this is was a weird way to describe it."
Gabriela
— "I see... Then Im going out with Saber."
Grandpa João
— "Good, but be careful out there. Its still danger."
Gabriela
— (pout) "I know."
(Looks at Saber)
Gabriela
— "You, wait for me on the door. I will dress up."
Saber (happy and determined)
— "Sure, Master."
With new determination, I go to my room and change into simple, comfortable clothes with the Académica shirt because I feel proud of my club. I return downstairs and before leaving, I say goodbye to my grandfather and leave the house. Im not doing this just for him, I want to show to mom what I am capable to do this, gladly with grandpa and Diana help.
I step outside, feeling a little breeze of the morning with with sun hitting me, which is weird because is still fog since last week. There is no school, no classes so I will be free all day, amen.
Saber
— "Master, I think is better go invisible and and so we attract less attention."
Gabriela (confused)
— "Huh? Invisible?"
Saber
— "Yes, Im a spirit after all and I also spend less mana."
Gabriela
— "Well... Sure."
Saber nods and in an instant, he turns invisible. I already forgoted, Saber is someone from the past and dead already. I still wonder who he is.
...
I start walking through the streets of my area, and the city center is still a bit far to walk, and I don't have the patience to go there today. My stomach starts to rumble; I even forgot to eat breakfast, but luckily there's a cafe nearby.
Gabriela
— "Hey, Saber."
Saber
— "Yes?"
Gabriela
— "Do you want to eat something for breakfast?"
Saber
— "Theres no need. We Servants dont need to eat or sleep, but I dont mind a little snack. Thanks, Master."
Gabriela
— "You dont need to call me of Master. Just call me Gabi, I dont like formalities."
Saber (smiling, even invisible)
— "Sure, Gabi."
I don't know why, but when he said my name like that, I blushed. I know he's more handsome than Ronaldo, but Jesus, I'm being super simp of him. Control yourself, you fool.
(sigh) Being a girl is hard...
...
After some minutes of walking, I reach the cafe - already seeing old guys drinking a cup of bear in the morning. I'm already used to it, so it's just a day to day for them. I ordered a mixed toast with Pastel de Nata and a very fresh juice. I also bought Pastel de Nata for Saber and it seems he liked it, no wonder portuguese food is the best... UMU.
After my tummy was satisfied, we went out to continue walking around to see if there were any Rouge Servants on the loose.
Saber (happy)
— "That Pastel de Nata when was so good. When they created that? Its so good!"
Gabriela
— "I dont remember exactly now but is really old."
Saber
— "I see, but still, I wish I could eat that everyday."
Gabriela
— "Ehhh... So you have a sweet tooth, huh. Looks like I found your weak point."
We both continue walking and nothing yet. We even looked to see if there was a Servant hiding in someone's backyard, but nothing. This is harder than I expected but then...
Saber
— "Master, wait."
Gabriela
— "Hm? Whats the matter?"
Saber
— "Check that corner there."
Gabriela
— "Huh?"
I do as Saber tells me and go over there. When I turn around, I see a female figure with a strong-looking appearance in... a war soldier's outfit? It looks like a World War soldier's outfit and as weapon behind her back? Weird... I don't remember women going to war.
But then she turns around, looking and walking directly at me with a big sister warm smile.
???
— "Hey, I can feel you are a Master, and you dont need to hide your Servant, I dont harm anyone except Im being attacked."
Saber (materializing)
— "Heh, you have a good eye. May I ask who you are?"
???
— "I am Archer, but I was summoned not long time ago so I was walking around."
Saber
— "I see, you are a Rogue Servant, and an Archer one. I can feel you are humble but also mature one. And I can feel you have always control and know what to do"
Rogue Archer (smiling)
— "Dont be silly. I don't need such praise either, but thanks. It seems the Throne of Heroes decided to give me this young lady because she practices archery. She has a strong personality, and I can feel her in here. Well, I guess thats what they call a Pseudo-Servant, heh. But what then? I don't mind at all, since we got along well, I'm already happy."
Wow. I wish she was my older sister, I like her already., but what the hell is Throne of Heroes and Pseudo-Servant?
Gabriela
— "Sorry for bothering but... What is Throne of Heroes and a Pseudo-Servant?"
Rogue Archer
— "Oh? Don't know what it is? I think you're a newbie at this, but I'll explain briefly - Throne of Heroes is where we basically wait to be "summoned." Basically, a library of all the legendary heroes who left their mark on humanity, mythological and even fictional, like Ulysses, the protagonist of Homer's Odyssey. And a Pseudo-Servant is basically a Servant summoned with someone else's body or identity, but still retains the memories/personality of the real hero."
Archer explained that with a pacient and a smile, like she doesnt mind at all to explain to, even if I was dumb.
She really knows her stuff, which makes me like her even more.
Saber (curious)
— "By the way, do you know the girl that you are using her body?"
Rogue Archer
— "Yes, I know her name. Althought is an asian name so sorry if I sound ignorant but is something Ayako but her last name is hard. Im sorry."
Saber
— "Its ok, it was just a silly curious question. Also, my Master and I we are trying to recruit some Rouge Servants for our team, I dont know if you want join but would be a pleasure us."
Rogue Archer
— "Ehh? I don't mind at all, several heads are better than one, right? So, I have no problem joining you."
Saber (happy)
— "Cool! Im glad you joined us. Cmon Master, start saying the spelling- Oh wait, you are newbie (but weirdly she so much mana, maybe because of her mom?)
Gabriela
— "HUH? What I am suppose to say?!"
Rogue Archer
— "Heh, dont worry. It can be a corny cliché formal spell."
Gabriela
— "Ok..." (deep breath)
Archer grabs my hand and I showing my Command Spell as it starts glowing and I can feel the heat on my hand.
— "I, your Master, offer you my mana and my purpose. Accept this bond and fight by my side, not as a shadow, but as a faithful ally, until our destiny is fulfilled."
Rogue Archer
— "I agree to fight with you until the end of this war."
The bond is confirmed, I feel the flow of mana, her trust, and the heavy, but comforting, responsibility of walking side by side with someone who chose me.
Rogue Archer (smiling)
— "Ahh~ So freshy~ I feel so alive now. Thank you, Master. My rifle will be loyal to you until the end."