Inside the Einzbern Castle.
"Rin, Sakura, you're back."
Her figure was so voluptuous it defied the norm for most women, yet on her, it seemed perfectly logical.
Golden hair cascaded down to her waist, flowing behind her. Her entire being radiated an incredibly captivating aura.
After twenty years of growth, the now fully matured Saber was no longer the flat-chested figure from before.
She bore a remarkable resemblance to Ryuya's disciple, the other 'perfect' Artoria. If the two were to stand together now, they would be indistinguishable sisters.
Standing in the center of the Einzbern castle's first-floor hall, 'Blue' Artoria greeted Rin and Sakura as they returned.
"Aunt Artoria." x2
They respected 'Blue' Artoria deeply, after all, the woman before them had also watched them grow up, like another mother.
Looking around the room, Rin noticed Irisviel and Illya were missing and asked, puzzled, "Aunt Artoria, where are Mom and Illya?"
"Iris took Illya to visit Sola. She just called and said they'd be back later for dinner."
"Rin, Sakura, come help me cook."
Exchanging a glance, Rin and Sakura smiled, "Okay~~"
Inside the kitchen.
"Aunt Artoria, did you know? Sakura got confessed to by thirty-two people again today."
"Really, it's a good thing I'm always by Sakura's side, otherwise, such a cute little sister could easily get pestered by bugs."
"Nee-san, please don't say that." Sakura felt somewhat helpless and embarrassed by Rin's words.
"Ah, what are you talking about, Sakura?"
"Your big sister here absolutely dreads to imagine what would happen if a peerless beauty like you were thrown among that pack of wolves."
Gripping the kitchen knife tighter, Rin put on a 'ferocious' expression.
"That's not true, Nee-sa is cuter."
"No, Sakura is cuter."
Watching the two sisters banter incessantly, a glint of envy flashed in Artoria's eyes, 'If I had chosen a different path back then, would she and Nee-san have been like Rin and Sakura are now?'
Shaking her head slightly as she looked at Rin and Sakura, Artoria noticed the two girls were pressed close together, their cheeks slightly flushed, their fingers intertwined. Their intimate posture even made her feel something was a bit off.
"Ouch...!"
"Sakura? Rin? What's wrong?"
The sudden cry broke Artoria's reverie. Seeing the two sisters squatting on the floor, she thought they might have been splashed by hot cooking oil.
"It's nothing, Aunt Artoria, it's just my hand... the back of my hand hurts so much."
Clutching the back of her hand, the stinging pain finally began to subside for Rin. She moved her left hand away from her right hand, revealing a strange crimson pattern.
"What's this? A sticker?"
Due to the Einzbern Family's excellent protection, Rin and Sakura hadn't specifically studied Servants like in the original story. Their magical studies followed a set routine. Both sisters simultaneously discovered the strange sigils on the backs of their hands, formations they found both familiar and unfamiliar.
"Nee-san, this looks like a curse formation. I can feel magical energy."
Holding up her hand for a closer look, Sakura also found the pattern familiar, but what was it?
"Sakura, Rin, don't move. This is..."
Her face slightly changed. Looking at the all-too-familiar Command Spells, Artoria's first reaction was actually joy.
Taking a close look at the Command Spells on Sakura and Rin's hands, she finally confirmed they were indeed Command Spells, the heralds of the Fifth Holy Grail War.
In other words, Snowfield City was no longer the peaceful place it once was.
The Root and the Counter Force known as the Holy Grail War had struck again.
'Sakura and Rin were the Masters this time?'
As she pondered, a massive surge of magical energy suddenly erupted. Following the exclamations of the homunculus maids outside the kitchen, Rin, Sakura, and Artoria simultaneously looked up, as if sensing something.
"A Servant? But this feeling... doesn't seem right."
Accompanied by Rin and Sakura, Artoria arrived in the main hall.
Looking at the shattered roof, illuminated by the moonlight, two women looked down upon the maids, Artoria, and the others.
"Crimson Moon-sama, these two should be our Masters."
The two women stood one behind the other. The one in front wore a black and white maid outfit.
Unlike the Einzbern's homunculus maids, although this one wore maid attire, just looking at her face, one would think she was some resolute goddess. Her unbearably stunning beauty and peerless aura were breathtaking.
Her voice was mechanical, like an emotionless machine. Scanning the Einzbern Castle beneath her feet, the Machine God Maid known as Hope had descended.
"Hmm, so you are the Masters? Good, they are female, so we don't need to kill them."
Golden hair, red eyes, an elegant and noble demeanor that was suffocating. Her cold gaze swept over Artoria, Rin, and Sakura, finally resting on Rin.
The corner of her mouth lifted slightly into a somewhat satisfied smile. Crimson Moon Brunestud had descended.
…
Meanwhile, on the road to the Einzbern Castle.
Thud...
With a sudden dull sound from the engine, the homunculus maid driving slammed on the brakes and stopped.
"Irisviel-sama, Illya-sama, Sola-sama, are you alright?"
Amidst the screech of tires, the spinning minivan finally came to a stop. The homunculus maid, worried, checked on Irisviel, Illya, and Sola, finding them unharmed.
"We're fine, Firth, it's just the back of my hand..."
A strange, familiar burning sensation spread from the back of her hand to Irisviel's heart. Before she could recover, her daughter Illya's cry sounded from her embrace.
"Mommy, it hurts."
"Illya, are you okay?"
Worriedly looking at Illya, what appeared in Irisviel's sight was the gleaming golden Command Spell on Illyasviel's hand.