The rest of the evening passed under the motto—how to suck up to Rin. Shirou complimented how beautiful, wise, and magically strong she is. And told info I already knew: Command Seals are "highest Magic" and she can make a Servant do anything and how stupid to waste one. I wasn't fully agreeing—relatively controllable Shirou in her situation clearly better than independent, but as good Assassin kept opinion to self.
Next day brought no revelations, all Sunday Rin wandered the city and climbed roofs till evening, hoping to find another Master? Yeah, in a city with high-rises and 1.5 million people just like that found one. Though ironic, but she's onto something—making some moves toward the goal.
Hm, pondered—what would I do in her place? Without anime-granted knowledge? Probably wouldn't even get involved, cause didn't know. As Rin? Hide and leave it to Servant. For finding opponent—hm, sooner or later other Servants clash and follow battle sounds? So in musings what/how I'd do as plain Master in this war, day passed.
Monday came, and what should a good proper magical girl who got into bloody destructive magical war do? Right! Go to school! Who said hole up and cry? Probably hearing things.
And dunno how, though why not? Guessing. Khm, so now Rin noticed the magical dome over school, suspect due to having Servant now. What would wise person do? Not enter unknown magical barrier, but not Rin Tohsaka's path and she entered.
I didn't approach school or enter barrier, so kept watching from distance. Till evening nothing happened, till Rin decided stay at school—apparently wants challenge the dome-setter that way.
And company gathered interesting—in school proper Rin with her Servant, somewhere in bushes Sakura's brother hides with his Servant. Unclear why/what schoolkid Shirou doing in school now—real mystery, view from my spot not great, distance decent.
Oh, Lancer approaching school in Intangibility too—what honey pot is this? Question on Lancer's appearance too—clothes sans iron pauldrons like normal modern tracksuit, blue and tight. More questions on this world's history and heroes.
Interesting moment, Lancer first entered guard post and killed watchman. And I look at Rin on roof with Archer-Shirou in Intangibility, waiting something. Lancer in Intangibility climbs wall and now waits too. One thing bugs me—how haven't they noticed him yet? Ah right, her Servant is Shirou, question lifted.
And apparently waited, no reactions to self—Lancer materialized, waited realized not spotted again, so drew attention himself and they talked which I didn't hear. Then farce—Rin deciding something runs to roof edge, Lancer attacks her.
And I watch, calculating mentally—not so fast Servants, Rin under magical boost manages evade and dodge—no all fast indisputably, but not silhouette-blur insane. Wasted worry clones can't handle if needed.
By the way, why her Archer-Shirou not protecting? Rin jumps off roof—here pondered boost boost, but seems Rin Tohsaka's story ends, but Archer-Shirou catches her. And here's why I called earlier events farce and shook my self-confidence.
On landing Archer-Shirou released Rin and chatted bit with landed Lancer, then short fight where I discerned only silhouettes and weapon clashes.
Made me realize Lancer had no intent kill Rin, just playing and I can't keep up in speed/strength. Though battle lasted 15 seconds then stopped looking tired. Gives hope it was Overdrive mode type—super strong but temporary stat burst. Can work with that.
And they talk to catch breath, complaints from Lancer side: who you I don't know you and what Archer with swords? Replies with praises?
Really zoned out here—wtf "recognized you at once great spearman with agility and..." and Shirou never named Lancer. Doubt it'd help me, but fuck these intrigues from nothing? Say name if recognized, or bluff? But Shirou—doesn't know word. Brain stalled couple times digesting.
By release from absurdity, new battle round—opponents tense and... Shirou. No not Servant—need nickname for him, getting confused. So schoolkid Shirou hearing totally unsuspicious weapon clash sounds in schoolyard, nothing better than exit building and look—what happening?
Of course spotted immediately, schoolkid Shirou no stealth just burst street. While Archer-Shirou and Rin chat socially—what pupil doing here night. And schoolkid Shirou... dunno what woke self-preservation from coma, but decided run back school.
Lancer Overdrive-sprinted after schoolkid Shirou. While Rin-Shirou duo noticed Lancer gone, chatted more, realized Lancer went eliminate witness, while Rin ran school floors searching our Shirou-weakling.
Listed not vainly, to convey schoolkid Shirou lay with pierced heart already 3 minutes and damn thing won't die—lost consciousness recently! Where such tenacity?! Get OYASH not quite human but eldritch magical beast, still!
Itched hands go finish him, stopped by entering barrier whose properties unknown. Seriously, got plan ready! And though grimaced, need ultimate weapon as OYASH to solve issues. Though later solve that problem myself, mda.
Amid gloomy thoughts, Rin finally found our OYASH, hm call him that for simplicity. Found him and for some reason spent family heirloom—Gem pendant as heart on Chain, to save him. Dunno what/how, but returned his heart. And left Magic-less relic by him on floor—why? After fled.
Somehow Cinderella moment popped—Cinderella left prince glass slipper fleeing, mysteriously not turning plain shoe like her clothes post-magic expiration—I suspect fairy godmother bush-sat shamanning. "Here's slipper, find her!" Brain drew parallel to now and output maybe magical girls' mating games?
Eh, won't understand female logic and actions. Funny all forgot dead watchman, though Rin didn't know and maybe didn't think night school guarded. And somehow feels wouldn't spend relic on poor guy.
But time marched on, I waited next plot point and prepped appearance. So followed OYASH home, literally 10 minutes later Lancer came—epic yard fight where OYASH heroically fended with iron pipe vs Lancer's magical Spear.
No, did boost pipe with Magic, but only sane reason alive—Lancer curious what this? How still alive? Entomologist-like prods carefully with Spear studying.
Lasted another minute, but Shed burst light, door flew too raising dust cloud fall. Appeared figure couple blows drove off Lancer, who, em. They teleport to Masters? Tactical retreat skill? Didn't know could, wonder if my clones can? Check later.
But distracted, Lancer fled, dust clears—blond girl in knight plate armor from some Chinese MMORPG stands before Shirou to appraise her grandeur. Fairness, her battle outfit more historical/practical. Yes with caveats, but still. Though she was Britain King and girl, could afford extravagant armor.
Exactly then Rin with Archer-Shirou appear, my entrance moment! Specially allocated mage-clone for this. While they silently eye each other, I have time—in mage-clone body jump sit on fence, drop Intangibility and almost immediately over Invisibility layer Glamour.
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Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan