"So you finally listened to my advice." Saber said as she watched her master snap and blunt arrow heads one by one at the dinner table. On his side is a spare Yumi bow.
Currently, the two are discussing how to approach whatever was placed in the school. Upon return, Shirou immediately informed Saber of the sudden appearance of what he suspects as a magical phenomenon in the school. With his rather limited education in Magecraft, he can't identify what spell is currently subjecting the school. Alarmed and cautious, Saber smelled it's a trap on the get go. Unfortunately, it's a trap in a heavily populated area. If sprung on civilians, the results may be catastrophic with students and school personnel at risk.
Especially when amongst them is Taiga.
So it was already decided.
If the enemy wants them to walk into a trap, they will but on their own terms.
"Are you sure you are ready for this? Walking into a trap, especially one of magic, is never a good idea." Years upon years of experience had made Saber rather weary of magic.
Especially when she died of said phenomenon.
A very painful one.
"Sadly, we don't have a choice. Either we do this or wait for the enemy master. The latter is far more riskier for my classmates and Taiga-nee. I can't simply let that happen." Shirou looked up from his work, resolve etched on to his eyes.
In them, Saber stared at her reflection.
"Then you shall listen to me. The possibility of a real fight is great, a fight to the death. You will listen to my orders if so." Saber said, narrowing her eyes at him in emphasis.
"I will. I trust you." Shirou replied immediately.
As much as he wants to run into danger, heedless of the risk in order to stop the enemy master, he simply can't.
Sakura is waiting for him, worrying for his health. His conversation with the old Magus, the Matou patriarch, was enlightening. To think Sakura deeply cared for him in such a way, so much that she would have her household name protect him if he possibly lost in the war. With this discovery, Shirou had made a silent promise to himself.
To return safe and well for the girl.
"Good." Saber nodded in approval.
Tonight, they hunt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rin, someone's entering the school grounds." Rin's attention was jolted away from the glyph she's studying, one of the many Nexus of the Bounded Field covering the school.
"Who is it, Archer?"
Up on the highest building, Archer gazes at Saber and Shirou jumping over the school walls to enter the premises, with the female servant carrying the boy. The master and servant pair of the bow have split up in investigating the bounded field in the school grounds with Rin locating and dissolving any glyph she finds all the while studying their possible effects upon activation. Meanwhile, Archer will take a sniper's nest to guard her and lookout for enemy masters.
"It's Emiya." Archer told her in their link.
A long pause ensued as Archer's gaze followed Emiya and his servant walk towards the main entrance of the building.
Where Rin is.
"They're about to enter, Rin. Orders?" Archer finally asked her, now worried for her long pause.
Rin… she is anxious.
He can feel it.
"Take out his servant, I'll take care of Emiya."
"Rin-"
"It's rather rude of you to stalk us without introducing yourself."
Archer immediately leapt away from the ledge he was perched, twin blades materializing immediately to cross blades with Saber. He underestimated her speed, he didn't even notice her come up, too distracted in Rin's inner dilemma. Gripping his blades, he prepared himself for a long battle. Compared to what she did to Lancer, she can probably manhandle him with ease by her strength and regeneration alone. It's something he can't counter except for using a Noble Phantasm but at this close range, he needs an opening to effectively use said Noble Phantasm at its maximum to either force her to retreat or outright kill her.
Unfortunately, whatever plans and contingencies his mind are coming up with were halted by a pair of soft hands cupping his face and forcing him to look at a pair of soft green eyes filled with guilt and worry.
Almost immediately, his body moved. Twin blades poised to stab at both sides of her body, aimed at her lungs.
Yet his body froze at her next words.
"Shirou, what happened to you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shirou watched as Saber left, citing that she needed to go as a lookout for the enemy master or any possible masters entering the school. If he needed help, all he needed was to relay it between their link and she would immediately come. Not like he would be at risk.
The plan they come up with tonight is rather simple.
Once inside the school, Shirou and Saber will try to locate and note whatever they can find. A simple in and out scenario is the best scenario. Once he noted what he could gather, he would immediately leave and try to get in contact with either Rin or Illya.
Why Illya? Saber wondered that too but Shirou simply noted that the girl is trustworthy despite the circumstances. She might be even willing to help if at the off chance to eliminate another master.
Of course, Shirou would try to negotiate with the girl to make it non-lethal to the master and possibly to the servant. A confusing notion to Saber as to why her master would try to safeguard a Servant's life until he said his words;
"You're still a person, Saber. You all deserve it."
How innocent and naive, still it's something Saber can support with her whole heart. Despite her position as a King and a Warrior, fighting and killing is something she never takes pleasure in. She would rather be a lover than a fighter in another world and another time.
Back to Shirou, the boy himself has entered the school and immediately zeroed on the scent of rotting flesh and blood. His face crunched in disgust but followed the smell, letting his nose guide him to the source.
Meanwhile on the other side of the school, Rin Tohsaka ran in the empty hallways. Her heels echoing across the empty expanse of the hallway as she ran towards the main entrance to intercept Emiya. Teeth grinding, her emotions are boiling in turmoil. Torn between duty and love, the girl is simply running with no direction but to find the boy.
Tonight, maybe she will find a decision.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We should stop them."
"No."
"Rin will kill him."
"She won't."
You don't know Rin."
"I do but I trust Shirou."
"So much trust on a naive kid. He's gonna get himself killed or worse, someone else."
"Are you speaking in experience, Archer?"
Archer looked away to hide the redness of his cheek at the snide retort from Saber, past memories emerging at the back of his head in embarrassment at the statement.
Currently, the two servants are on top of the same building and watching over the inevitable meeting of two masters. A few moments ago after Archer's identity was literally thrown back at his face, the two had an impasse.
No fighting.
To Saber, she had no intention in harming Shirou, current or future version. A loyal knight to the end, it would be shameful for her. As for Archer, it was simply out of survival.
He can't take on Saber.
She might say she won't fight him but doesn't mean she hasn't the capability to and based on how she easily took him off guard, she's way out of his depth in close range. His only route to defeat Saber is through long range combat.
The other reason is Rin.
He's been trying to contact the girl but she is simply ignoring him or his thoughts were muted by her inner turmoil. Either of the two options sounded good for him. He already has half a mind to get the girl herself and lock her up in her own house with tons of comfort food until she gets her mind together to re-enter the war.
Unfortunately, Saber had other ideas.
"Are you even sure this will be good for the two of them?" He asks the female servant.
Staring at the female servant, he can't help but compare this Saber to his own Saber back in the day.
Comparing her to Artoria is like night and day. Where Artoria displays the silent edge of a king, this Saber is oozing with grace and experience despite her relaxed stance. It shows maturity against Artoria's experience.
Maturity over experience.
Wisdom over knowledge.
If she is Artoria's older version, he wouldn't be surprised if that's the case at this point.
"Yes." Saber replied smoothly.
"You want Rin to reach closure? Rather thoughtful for an enemy master." Archer commented.
"No, it's for Shirou." Archer raised an eyebrow at the answer.
"Just like your master, Shirou is also burdened by his parents, his father's ideals implanted deep within him." Saber said, turning her head to look at him.
The message is clear.
It was an accusation.
Those same burdens he too harbors.
"If Shirou wants to walk into a path to save everyone without losing himself, to stay true and never stray from what is in front of him, he must learn how and what must be done to follow those same ideals."
"And unlike you, Archer. This boy will succeed. I will make sure of it."
Archer chuckled, head shaking in disbelief.
"Lucky bastard." He said before returning to watch.
Saber smiled, taking it as her win. Returning to her watch, her smile turned into a frown.
The moment she saw Archer, she immediately recognized the man. What kind of king would she be if she doesn't recognize one of her subjects, especially if he is her master. The moment she laid eyes on Archer, she truly realized the depths of Shirou's ideals and how destructive it is to not just himself but to others.
She can already tell.
Archer is dissatisfied with his fate. Not out of sadness or regret but of indifference of what he has become. She can see the burden on his shoulders weighing him down, turning him to a cynical man he is right now.
It almost threw her off.
Where was the sweet boy that she called master?
It was there she saw the truth.
Emiya Shirou will always be burdened to be a Hero.
It is his nature.
Kindness out of the simple motive of simply doing it.
That is the essence of Emiya Shirou.
But with his father's ideals, that kindness was poisoned by an ideal and a sense of duty.
She can't let that happen.
She won't let that happen.
She only met that boy but he had wormed his way into her heart already. He reminded her of her dear knights, the ever loyal friends they are. She already sees the boy as a friend, teasing him was rather enjoyable.
She can't simply watch by and do nothing as the boy descends to the worst mindset possible.
A Martyr.
"She found him." Archer broke the silence.
"So she did."
"What now?" Archer asks her.
"Simple. We watch and let these children sort each other's problems. It's the only way." Saber said with a smile, her green eyes glowing.
For she saw a vision.
Of a boy fighting on the moon.