"Ah! What an exciting day." Waver dragged out his voice, sighing as he came to the dining table after washing up. The great battle yesterday was still fresh in his memory. It was the first time he had intervened so closely. Although he just sat in the Knightmare, he experienced the confrontation of Heroic Spirits personally.
It was even more exciting than he imagined... The combat power of Servants was far more powerful than what magi expected. If he were in that environment, he was afraid he really "couldn't live for a second."
"A female corpse was found in Fuyuki Square today, shot several times. The specific identity of the deceased is still being confirmed."
"At the same time, a gas explosion incident occurred nearby..."
"Please, citizens..." The TV was broadcasting news. Waver looked at the bloodstains on the screen and fell silent. He knew what this news represented.
A Master was killed yesterday... And it was someone he knew. It wasn't as simple as broadcast in the news... there was only one deceased at the scene. Kayneth, his instructor, was also one of the victims.
That teacher, praised for his erudition and prestigious family background, also died yesterday. The woman discovered was just the teacher's fiancée.
Thinking back now, Waver still felt trembling and fear. It was fine when no one was sacrificed before, but when the facts were placed in front of him, especially acquaintance, he realized for the first time that death was so close to him. This war pursuing wishes was so real. A slight negligence, and he would become a resident of another world.
"You look preoccupied..."
"Are you afraid?" Sitting on the sofa opposite, his Servant asked. The posture of crossing legs, combined with the elegant posture of holding tea, really made it easy for Waver to feel an inexplicable sense of hierarchy.
"I just wonder what exactly I came for now that things have come to this." Without hiding his attitude, Waver sighed and answered.
He initially came with a gambling-like idea after being selected, just because his thesis was severely criticized and "humiliated" by his instructor Kayneth, and after learning that Kayneth would assist his fiancée in participating in the Dragon Ball War.
Similar to that young impetuousness of "You look down on me? Then I'll prove it to you!" If he won against Kayneth in this war, wouldn't it prove he was right? Such a thought was the reason that initially drove him here. He didn't consider the causes and consequences at all...
Therefore, he would fall into the "trouble" of realizing it later.
"Speaking of which, what exactly is your wish? You seem to haven't told me yet." Speaking of this matter, Lelouch glanced at the report on the TV, then spoke.
"Wish... to be honest, I can't figure it out myself." With a long face, Waver really didn't know how to answer for a moment. Becoming the strongest "Magus"? Or becoming the "King" of the world? Or obtaining so-called "Wealth"? These unrealistic things were too far away for him.
"Proving your own talents?"
"Gaining others' recognition?"
"Becoming a reliable adult?" But the words Lelouch suddenly interjected made him almost spit out the tea he just drank.
"This..." His face flushing red, he even wanted to refute subconsciously, but opening his mouth, he couldn't say anything for a long time.
"Why do you understand so well?"
"Is this also the Emperor's art of mind?" After a long time, sorting out his agitated emotions, Waver said helplessly.
"Well, although I've been in contact with you for a short time, your nature is still very easy to understand."
"This is also the reason I feel reassured about you." Putting down the cup, crossing his hands under his chin, Lelouch chuckled and responded.
"You always wanted to prove it to that Magus named Kayneth, didn't you?"
"But now the teacher who is more powerful than yourself had an accident, yet the inferior self is still alive, producing self-doubt."
"Hearing the news of his death, you feel the gambling self looks like a fool; the passion mixed in before vanished in an instant." Regarding the Masters participating in this war, Servants would also learn about them through different channels.
Compared to the initial incomprehension, the current clarity was, in a way, a step towards a more open relationship between both parties.
"You are right."
"Thinking carefully, there were problems with the thesis I submitted back then. I shouldn't have said it so bluntly."
"Perhaps he was also protecting me by 'making things difficult'." This is the "dullness" people often have; they will only realize it once they lose it. Leaning back on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling, Waver even felt a bit discouraged for a moment.
"Losing the goal is so confusing and frustrating." For young people in adolescence, this is a blow they will experience sooner or later.
"On the contrary, Rider, you are much more amazing than me."
"Becoming an Emperor at a young age."
"Your wish is really too huge compared to mine." Summoning the "Emperor" of Britannia was truly a great honor for Waver.
"Even though I am an Emperor, I am also a human."
"If one is human, there will be worries. In this point, I am no different from you."
"Once upon a time, I was also just an ordinary student." Knowing the other party lost the goal to chase, Lelouch educated him subsequently.
"If you feel that the current you has nothing to pursue, why not stop and look around first."
"Observe from others, and finally ask what your dream is."
"At least during the period of this war, I still have the power to protect you." Feeling something profound, Waver was inexplicably moved. The mood that fell to the bottom suddenly improved.
...
"Ugh..." Walking on the street, Kariya Matou glanced at an intersection cordoned off somewhere. That was exactly the area where Servants fought in a melee yesterday. The Church had already made a blockade and was dealing with the aftermath.
"Berserker's power is very strong, but Sakura..." Able to understand yesterday's situation through news, Kariya was instead more worried about the little girl at home. The sacrifice of a Master... That wasn't a joke.
Even if Berserker had sky-high abilities, he couldn't bolster Sakura herself being too "fragile." Once discovered by other Masters and Servants, she would inevitably fall into danger. The best way was to hide all the time or for the war to end early.
The former definitely wouldn't work; the latter was possible. "The golden Servant whom Berserker couldn't take down in a short time."
"His Master is Tokiomi Tohsaka."
"As long as Tokiomi is killed, then Berserker can definitely win easily." A bold plan gradually formed in his heart. Kariya Matou walked numbly on the street. Even not being a Master himself, he had uses to help the other party.
To protect Sakura, it didn't matter even if he dirtied his hands. Even if it attracted others' hatred, that wasn't a big deal.