Fate Chapter 38-39: Doubts

At the end of the stairs leading into the Ryuudou Temple, Artoria stood, her face carrying a solemn expression. The wind blew past her cheeks, gently brushing her hair. The choice she made moments ago still lingered in her mind. Caster had ordered her to retreat in desperation. Of course, she wanted to retreat and help her Master against Rider. But she had already sensed Berserker quickly approaching the temple. Caster’s magical energy was low, so Artoria stayed back to let Caster retreat.

‘Master might get angry.’

He had shown her respect, even returning her Avalon. She felt like she made the right decision this time. Without anyone in the area, she could go all out against Heracles with her Excalibur. The exceptional regeneration provided by Avalon will allow her to show her true power and slowly chip away at his twelve lives. Unless Heracles could destroy her brain in one strike, she will be victorious. In fact, the feeling of Avalon and her boosted parameters gave her a sense of invincibility.

‘A dragon’s magical energy.’

It was then the Greek Hero, whose fame was on par with her, landed on the stairs. A web of cracks spread under his bare feet. His colossal figure wore a single gladiator skirt. Each muscle on his body was covered in lead, bulging with monstrous strength.

Even Artoria was put off by the madness emanating from his bloodshot eyes. He was a caged beast.

‘It’ll be a hard fight.’

Artoria narrowed at the white-haired girl sitting on Berserker’s shoulder. She could sense Illyasviel’s magical energy, which was above Haruki.

‘Einzbern’s homunculus.’

The girl looked similar to the daughter of her old friend, Irisviel Von Einzbern. But she met the kid a decade ago. The little girl would have become a young woman by now, or so she imagined. The advanced homunculus of the Einzbern appeared close to humans, yet none of them possessed emotions. Irisviel was an exception since Einzbern prepared her as a Lesser Grail.

‘Kiritsugu never told his daughter’s name.’

Artoria summoned her Noble Phantasm Excalibur. An invisible sword appeared in her hand, sheathed by a barrier of super-high pressure air. Invisible Air, the Magecraft Merlin taught her. After all, Excalibur was known to all servants in the Throne of Heroes and modern mages.

Illyasviel hopped down Heracles’ shoulder and tilted her head. “Are you Saber? Where are Assassin and her master?”

Saber’s dignified aura, her posture, and her ancient armor reminded Illyasviel of the knights from fairy tales. A servant from Assassin-class will never opt for a duel against someone of Berserker’s level. His aura alone could crush a weaker servant’s fighting spirit, let alone an Assassin’s.

“Assassin?” Saber questioned. “There is no Assassin here.”

“You’re alone here then?”

Saber nodded since her words carried no lies. She was curious about the reason for these two hunting down her Master, but she didn’t let it show on her face.

“I’m not here to fight you,” Illyasviel said as she cheerfully climbed the stairs. “You can return to whoever your Master is.”

Artoria could swing her sword and murder Illyasviel, but such tactics weren’t chivalrous. More importantly, she sensed no fighting intent from either of them as though their goal was simply finding Haruki.

Artoria gripped her sword. “You won’t find anyone inside.”

“I must check,” Illyasviel replied, her voice determined. “They can’t escape what’s coming for them. Berserker, with me!”

As Heracles strode past her, Artoria turned around. Heracles’s back was wide open, but Artoria knew better. The moment she makes any movement, Heracles will strike back.

“What did Assassin do?” Artoria asked.

“He poisoned Shirou,” Illyasviel said as she prepared her magical bird familiars and sent them to scout the place.

She put away Excalibur, grim at the discoveru. She didn’t completely believe Berserker as it could be a lie to plant seeds between her and Haruku. There was one thing that irked her.

‘Did he poison other masters and force them to surrender their servants?’

A single doubt slipped into her heart. She still hated her previous master for destroying her chance of fulfilling her wish. To stop herself from pulling out the Caliburn. If only some more worthy of the kingship led the kingdom, Merlin’s prophecy would never come true. After all, the rebellion started because of one rejection.

‘Mordred.’

The memories of her “son” were fresh in her mind.

With a frown, she descended the stairs to the temple her master ordered her to protect, and wandered in search of her master.

***

Haruki’s house.

Sakura’s gentle hums filled the kitchen. The dulcet tones created a wordless melody. Rin found her feet moving to the rhythm of her sister’s humming. The happiness radiating from her sister’s expression infected her with delight.

‘Is she happy that we’re back to being sisters?’

Rin felt a smile tugging at her lips. It was worth breaking the agreement between Matou and Tohsaka regarding Sakura’s lineage.

‘Isn’t it because of this war and Hayashi-kun?’

The Holy Grail War was known to be brutal and inhumane, where taking someone’s life was considered a victory. She never thought it would become the thread that tied them together. Haruki deserved praise for sticking with Sakura despite knowing her magus lineage. It also reminded her of the half conversation she had with Haruki about Sakura and her relationship with Lesser Grail. She fidgeted, wondering how to bring it up.

“Master, you can do it,” Archer cheered Rin. “This house looks like it hasn’t been cleaned… geez, that kid has lost his mind.”

‘How about you sweep it with your powers? It’s the least we can do for intruding.’

“Dammit. The Command Spell you used to control me is enforcing my thoughts… I have to clean up now.”

Rin chuckled, breaking Sakura’s concentration.

“Nee-san?”

“I was just talking with Archer,” Rin replied with a smile.

“Servant…” Sakura muttered, recalling the woman whose face failed to display a single emotion.

The youngest of the three earth goddesses worshipped for their beauty. That same beauty attracted the jealousy of Poseidon’s wife and Athena. The goddess of war Athena cursed Medusa, turning her into the Gorgon monster of nightmares and legends. Her cold demeanor reflected the hardships she went through during her life.

‘We might get along…’

As someone whose childhood was nothing but tragedy, Sakura greatly empathized with Medusa. She reduced the stove fire and sighed.

‘Senpai, where did you go?’

“Ne, Sakura. I was wondering if you and Hayashi-kun are dating?”

“We are not,” Sakura replied in a flat voice. “We’re just close friends.”

“Huh?”

Rin couldn’t believe her ears. They had been together for as long as Rin could remember. She could see Haruki’s care for Sakura, or he won’t go out of his way to bring them together.

‘What kind of man treats a close friend like a princess!’

This was too much. Even she wasn’t this slow when it came to romance. She wanted to shout at their faces, curse them for being just friends for over a decade.

“Actually… Senpai might have feelings for… his mother,” Sakura muttered, only to feel a wind caressing her face. Surprised, she looked around to find nothing.

“What?” Rin raised her voice. “What did you say?!”

“Senpai’s eyes when he looked at Obaa-san… It might have been my imagination. I don’t know,” Sakura said and revealed a wry smile. “This might be why he is trying to bring her back.”

“That’s… It could just be the love normal parents share,” Rin said. “I mean who likes their mother ‘that’ way.”

“It could be,” Sakura said. “We will only know if Senpai obtains the Grail.”

“Yeah.”

Sakura turned to Rin and clasped her shoulders. “Nee-san, can you give up on the Grail for me?”

Sakura knew she was asking for too much. Yes, they were sisters by blood, but they hadn’t acknowledged each other for over a decade. Rin had trained to become an outstanding magus. What if her purpose was just to hold the Greater Grail in her hands? Sakura wasn’t aware of her sister’s reason for participating in the war.

‘I never want to see Senpai and Nee-san going at each other.’

“Sakura, I…” Rin said, a hint of hesitation in her voice. It was her father’s lifelong wish to achieve the Holy Grail. Whatever his purpose was, he died fighting for the Grail. Should she give it up without even trying?

“I’m sorry.” Sakura loosened her hold. “Nee-san.”

She turned back to the stove and put a lid on the steaming dish. Without saying a word, she walked out of the kitchen.

At least she tried to.

But Rin grabbed her hand. She could swear she saw a painful look flash in Sakura’s eyes. It wasn’t her imagination.

‘What are you doing! She is your sister. Four wars happened in the past, who says a sixth won’t happen in the future?’

Rin wanted to slap herself for hesitating. As long as the Einzbern family craved the Third Magic, there will always be a Holy Grail War. She will get a chance in the future.

“Sakura, I will help Hayashi-kun.” Rin flashed the widest smile possible. “Let’s get his mother back. Having a single relative in your wedding will feel odd.”

“Nee-san…”

Sakura felt a lump in her throat. Instead of saying anything, she threw herself at Rin. Tears gushing out of her eyes. If it weren’t for Haruki telling her about Rin’s hardships, she might have developed a hatred for Rin. Even then, she held grudges for her. Rin was living a normal life, being adored by everyone around her while she had to deal with torture day in and day out. The tears gushing out of her eyes washed away every bit of her resentment with Rin.

“I love you, Nee-san.”

Rin awkwardly raised her arms, only to put them down. Archer appeared outside the kitchen with a broom in his hands. His brow sank into a deep frown.

“Master, stop hesitating,” he said with telepathy.

Rin groaned inwardly and patted Sakura’s back. “Sakura, Hayashi-kun told me you were suffering. What did Matous do?”

“What did Senpai say?” Sakura said in a soft voice. “Please tell me, Nee-san.”

“Nothing. He told me to ask you instead.”

Sakura turned the gears of her brain, trying to find an excuse. She couldn’t tell Rin about the things she went through. It would disgust her, break their relationship.

Just when Rin was about to press her even more, the door opened.

Haruki entered to find Rin and Sakura hugging each other. Emiya stood there with a broom in his hand, taking his servant role to the extreme. It seemed like a scene out of some parody of Fate anime.

Before Haruki raised a question, Sakura released Rin and gave him a frowning stare.

“What happened to your school shirt, Senpai?”

Haruki had tossed the torn shirt on his way. It was the sure way of worrying Sakura, so he bought a shirt from a store.

“Some idiot spilled water on it. Caster has the shirt with her,” he said, receiving an unconvinced look from both sisters. “Is dinner ready?”

“Ready to serve!”

Sakura cheerfully returned to the kitchen. Haruki took a breath of relief and tried to return to him, only to be stopped by Rin. She took his hand and pulled him upstairs. Archer headed outside

‘What pissed her now?’

Rin dragged him all the way to his room, where Semiramis slept last night. A soft fragrance lingered in the air. Rin frowned, thinking who it belonged to. She sat on the bed and crossed her legs.

“Who did you fight?”

Haruki frowned at her voice filled with authority. He didn’t like being ordered even if it came from his ally or the sister of the woman he liked.

“You said something?” he asked and rubbed his ears. “My brain didn’t register your order.”

“Ugh…” Rin groaned. “I’m your ally. No…” she put her right hand on her chest. “I, Rin Tohsaka, will guide you to victory. For Sakura’s happiness, I will give up on this Grail.”

Kirei would call her unfair for helping someone until the end, but she didn’t care a bit about him. Sakura’s happiness meant more to her than her half-assed relationship with Kirei.

Haruki was a little surprised at her decision.

‘What happened when I wasn’t here?’

“Ahem.” Rin coughed as she stood and extended her hand with a tiny smile. “It is best that we exchange important information with each other.”

“It is,” he agreed. “Only if you ask me more nicely. I’m not your servant.”

Rin’s brow twitched, but she managed to give a nod. Haruki took her hand with a satisfied smile. Rin stared at his hand which encompassed her tiny hand. Despite training in martial arts for years, she didn’t develop over-the-top muscles as if she wasn’t made for this.

“I’m counting on you, Rin Tohsaka.”

He gave a smile that made Rin blush.