Next morning,
"Trace On…
"Tracing component materials…
"Fundamental structure altering…
"Now, Strengthening component material…"
In the courtyard of Tohsaka Mansion, Shirou struggled to keep strengthening the wooden sword in his hands.
Then, with a glitching, cyan burst of magic, the entire wooden sword exploded, splinters flying in all directions.
"… Sigh…" Shirou let out a breath and collapsed, beads of sweat dancing on his forehead.
"Shirou," Saber, wielding another wooden sword, approached him. "I admire your will to contribute on the battlefield, but… we don't have time to work on your Strengthening Magic."
Shirou looked up at Saber and knew what she was trying to say.
The stakes of the battle had risen sharply last night.
He had seen Saber Alter… That corrupted Servant alone was enough to wreak havoc against all Servants combined. Even Berserker, whom Shirou had considered the strongest, had been utterly annihilated by it.
Yet, Shirou didn't want to give up.
Sakura was still in Black's hands. Who knew how he was manipulating her, using her and her Servant for his twisted goals?! Not to mention, The Shadow was after Sakura as well.
Shirou couldn't stand still as the people around him fought for his cause.
That's why, after arriving at the Tohsaka Mansion last night, he had asked Saber to teach him swordsmanship.
However, not long after beginning the training, Shirou had realized a bitter truth.
No matter how much he trained in the ways of the sword, it wouldn't make a difference if he couldn't match a Servant or other Mages' strengths.
One — Just one blow from Black would be enough to shatter the sword, killing him on the spot, and turning him into a joke.
Shirou didn't want to compare himself to others. But the more he thought about Sakura's words last night, the more he found himself aiming to contend against Black one day and come out as the winner.
It wasn't something that would ever come true if he didn't rely on his Mana, though, Shirou knew.
That's where the Strengthening Magic he had learned from his father, Kiritsugu Emiya, came into the picture.
It was the only magic Shirou could use.
"Strengthening isn't just about the toughness," Shirou said, looking at the strewn splinters. "It's also about effectiveness. Like the light of a bulb, the hardness of a rock, fluidity of air… If I can't even learn the easiest one, how will I ever learn the complex forms?!"
Looking at him ranting about it, Saber smiled. She went away and came back a few moments later, holding another wooden sword.
"Shirou…" she said, handing the practice sword to him. "… Obsession is not the way forward. I don't know about the Strengthening Magic you practice, but… I know familiarity had always remained a great part of all types of magical skills. How about you start with learning the swordsmanship before proceeding to the next level? Perhaps, then, it would come easier to you?"
Shirou grabbed the sword's handle, his shoulders relaxing as he heard Saber's words.
"You are right…" he said, getting up. "Let's do this, then, Saber. Don't go easy on me."
Saber grinned. "I am not known to go easy on my opponents, Shirou."
Then, both Master and Servant took their stances — and charged.
…
Through the window, Archer looked down at Shirou and Saber practicing swordplay.
Slowly, he moved away, carrying an annoyance on his face. As he turned around, his eyes landed on the huge bed.
Coiled under the white sheets, Rin was snoring, saliva dripping from her open mouth.
Seeing the difference between the boy and his Master's attitude, Archer couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Still, he couldn't blame the girl.
Powering two Noble Phantasms… No ordinary Mage could attain such a feat with traditional methods.
Fainting and then sleeping for twelve straight hours was the cheapest price Rin could pay for this logic-defying feat.
Regardless of Archer's admiration for his Master, there was a limit to everything.
He lifted the glass of water from the tray of food and threw the water on Rin's face.
With a terrified shriek, Rin threw herself up, her eyes opened wide.
"… Sorry, Rin," Archer said, smiling smugly. "My hand slipped."
Rin's brows twitch in abundant annoyance, feeling the wetness on her face. "… I like Assassin more than you…"
Archer's mouth twitched. "That was a low blow," he said. Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his pockets and took out a locket. "Here, don't drop it again…"
Rin's wide eyes suddenly gained liveliness.
It was the same red, heart-shaped pendant that she had used to summon Archer and Assassin. It was also something her father had left behind her.
Last night, at the Homurahara Academy, she had used it to save her and Shirou's lives.
"… Can't sense any magic within it, now," Rin observed, holding a smile. "Still, thank you… Archer."
Archer shook his head and went away.
"Freshen up and have breakfast," he said, going out of the room. "We need to plan our next steps. Let's hope Old Man returns with something useful this time…"
…
"Hahahaha!"
The laugh echoed in the makeshift Church as Kirei Kotomine remembered Lancer's last night's report.
No. It wasn't related to the Berserker.
It was related to the Assassin.
"What's so amusing?" Lancer asked, leaning against a wall. "We have a serious situation at our hands, Master. You may be cowardly, but do not presume me one, too."
Kirei couldn't wipe the grin off his face, though.
"I just remembered an old, interesting friend," he said. "Severing and Binding… I couldn't have imagined that this Holy Grail War would become even more interesting… Hmm… Anyway, regarding Berserker. I don't think he can replicate the same phenomenon again. All we have to do is to wait…"
"It wouldn't work."
Kirei Kotomine's black heart thumped.
Even Lancer's red pupils widened, hearing the sudden words.
A buzzzzzzzzz clicked in the entire church, as if it was coming out of the walls themselves.
Then, thousands upon thousands of insects came buzzing at the church's entrance, gathering at a spot.
"If you want to take down Berserker," the words echoed, the insects taking the shape of a black-suited man, holding a Video Camera on his shoulder. "… then —
"— I am more than willing to share its weakness — at the right price, of course."
*****************
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