Artoria remained half-kneeling, her breathing steady, sustained by the power emanating from Damian.
But the other Heroic Spirits did not share her fortune.
In the sky, countless golden points began to shimmer, appearing like fireflies in a moonless night, yet carrying a melancholy that heralded the end.
They rose from every corner of Fuyuki, ascending as threads of light spiraling toward the heavens.
They were the spiritual particles of the remaining Servants—their souls, released after the destruction of the Holy Grail system, bound by the laws of the world to return to the Throne of Heroes beyond time and space.
Shirō looked up, watching the golden sky in awe, but his gaze soon shifted to the figure before Damian—still kneeling, solid, and above all… real. Saber.
Astonishment gave way to a blend of loss and anger.
He had witnessed how his Servant—the one he had fought beside, the one who had shared every battle with him—was effortlessly taken away by a man who had appeared out of nowhere.
"You…!"
The words escaped between his teeth, trembling with fury. Shirō took a step forward, ready to hurl himself at him—
Pa
But a firm hand stopped him by the shoulder.
He turned his head and saw Rin. Her expression was tense, her lips pressed together, but her eyes were not on him—they were fixed on the sky.
Among the rising golden lights, a faint reddish spark flickered weakly.
It was Archer.
Rin's lips trembled. A deep sadness reflected in her eyes. Even so, she said nothing, nor did she plead.
She knew that Damian hadn't allowed Saber to remain out of compassion or respect for the rules of the Grail.
He had done it because, twelve years ago, there had been a faint bond between them—something that even Saber herself didn't fully understand.
Archer, however, had no such bond. And Damian had no reason to retain a spirit he deemed "irrelevant."
When the last trace of Archer vanished into the air, Rin lowered her gaze and gently squeezed Shirō's shoulder.
"For him to have allowed Saber to stay…" Her voice was hoarse. "Shirō, this is already… the best ending we could hope for."
Damian waved his hand, and Artoria stood up immediately. The metallic sound of her armor echoed clearly as she stepped back, standing respectfully at his side.
"Miss Tōsaka."
Damian turned toward Rin. "Everything I promised you has been fulfilled."
He pointed to the scorched ground beneath his feet. "Fuyuki has become a wasteland devoid of magic."
Rin's pupils contracted. 'A mana wasteland…' That meant the magical foundation had completely collapsed, and the traces of the Holy Grail War would vanish forever.
"That's why," Damian continued, his voice softer, "...you're free."
Free…
That word struck her like a revelation. She no longer had to bear the weight of her family name, nor the responsibility of upholding the Tōsaka legacy, nor the coldness imposed by circumstance.
For the first time in years, she could simply be… "Rin."
Damian watched her silently for a moment, then smiled calmly. "Go find your sister."
He paused. "I've already removed the filth inside her body."
That sentence hit her like lightning.
Sakura!
Her sister, taken by the Matō family, tortured for years in that hell. Could she really return to her now?
Rin's throat tightened, and she quickly lowered her head, letting her hair hide her tearful eyes.
!
Then she felt warmth on her shoulder. She looked up, and through the haze of tears, she saw Damian's face close to hers—serene, human.
"Rin." His voice was calm, but his tone carried undeniable warmth. "Go find Sakura."
That simple phrase shattered the dam holding back her emotions.
Tears flowed freely as, behind Damian, she saw Saber standing among the ruins, bathed in the golden sunlight filtering through the clouds.
"Marin and I will be waiting for you both."
'Yes… I wasn't alone.' She had a sister, and she also had Marin…
A radiant smile bloomed on her face, dispelling all the darkness that had followed her until then.
Her eyes curved softly, and she nodded firmly.
"Mm!"
Damian's smile grew more genuine, and he gently ran his hand through her silky hair, as a big brother would.
"I'll prepare a room for you and Sakura. Don't make your cousin wait."
Then he looked toward Shirō, who still stood with clenched fists and a face tight with frustration. Damian let out a brief laugh.
"Heh… kid, live your life in peace."
It was more than advice—it was a farewell.
For Shirō, the ordinary life of a common man would be the path he was meant to walk.
Without another word, Damian turned and unsheathed Yamato.
Shlaa
The blue blade traced a cross in the air, slicing through space as if it were paper. Before him, a portal in the shape of a cross opened, where flashes of shifting light intertwined in an indescribable glow.
"Let's go."
Those were his only words to Artoria. Without looking back, he stepped through the portal, disappearing into the blue radiance.
Artoria watched him leave, then turned to Shirō. In her green eyes blended apology, serenity, and resolve.
Without saying a word, she bowed her head to her former Master, offering him a solemn farewell. Then she straightened her back and followed him, stepping firmly into the portal.
As she entered, the blue light slowly folded in on itself until it became a thin line that vanished completely, leaving behind only silence.
"..."
The air within the ruins of Fuyuki was heavy. The mana had disappeared, leaving behind only a clean chill that smelled of dust and smoke.
Rin lifted the back of her hand and forcefully wiped away the tears that still clung to her cheeks. Her skin felt cold to the touch.
She took a deep breath.
Turning her head, she saw Shirō still dejected, his gaze lost and his fists clenched.
"...Shirō." Her voice came out much clearer and steadier. "He's right. This nightmare is over… completely."
He raised his head, frustration and confusion still burning in his eyes.
"Both you," Rin continued, looking straight at him, "and I, and also my sister Sakura, who will soon be with me… From now on, a peaceful life will be our new path. That's what's truly worth holding onto."
"I know…" murmured Shirō, his voice rough. He closed his eyes, trying to hold back his anger. "But… I can't accept it! I can't accept that he just took Saber like that… that he took her from me!"
His shout echoed through the ruins, filled with youthful helplessness.
"..."
Rin watched him silently. His stubborn expression stirred a mix of tenderness and sadness in her. She stepped closer and gave him a firm slap on the shoulder.
!
But the impact was strong enough to make him stagger, nearly losing his balance.
Shirō looked at her, bewildered.
"Enough already!"
Rin's sharp voice rang out, trying to wake him from a dream. "The Holy Grail War is over! Magic is gone! Look around you!"
She raised her hand, pointing to the scorched ground and the ruins surrounding them. "Do you think that even if Saber had stayed with you, she could have done anything? With your pitiful amount of mana, could you keep her alive in a world that's already lost its mystical foundation? What would you sustain the contract with? Your stubbornness!?"
Each word struck directly at Shirō's heart.
"If she had stayed with you, she would have wandered like a ghost… until she faded right before your eyes. But with a Master capable of keeping her alive, she has a real chance to continue. This ending—for her and for us—is the best release."
Her tone was clear and unwavering.
He tried to reply, but no words came out. He knew she was right, and that helplessness suffocated him even more than the loss itself.
She looked at him for a few more seconds, then her expression softened, and a faint smile curved her lips. She said nothing more. She simply turned around and began to walk away.
"Hey, Rin!" Shirō called out desperately. "Where are you going?"
The red figure stopped and turned slowly.
The sun filtered through the clouds, bathing her in its light. Her twin tails swayed in the wind, tracing a golden arc through the air.
"Me?"
She smiled. Her expression was as radiant as the first ray breaking through the darkness.
"I'm going to find my sister, Sakura. And then…"
She paused briefly, her eyes shining with determination.
"To embrace the new life that belongs to us!"
Without looking back, Rin continued walking with confident steps. Her red silhouette stood out against the scorched earth, moving lightly, as if she had finally been freed from an immense weight.
"..."
Shirō remained still, watching her until she disappeared into the horizon. Then he lowered his gaze to his hand, where the crimson seal had once glowed.
The wind blew across his face, lifting the dust and carrying with it the echo of Rin's last words—"new life"—until it faded into silence.
________
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