The sword felt light as a feather in Shirō's grip, yet its presence radiated an undeniable grandeur. It wasn't just a weapon; it was a statement, something that demanded reverence and awe. Rin and Archer, standing nearby, watched with a mix of curiosity and caution. Neither of them made a move to touch it, and Shirō had a feeling they couldn't, even if they tried.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but admit—reluctantly, of course—that she looked like the very image of a knight. Her armour gleamed in the light, her blue dress flowing with a regal elegance she never thought she could pull off. It was a far cry from the jeans and t-shirt she usually wore. She struck a pose, turning her head slightly and holding the sword aloft.
"Not bad, right?" she said, smirking.
Rin rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You're insufferable."
Archer let out a low chuckle, his arms folded. "A knight playing dress-up. How fitting."
Ignoring their sarcasm, Shirō flexed the sword experimentally, letting its weight shift in her hand. The blade moved as if it were an extension of her own arm. She gave it a swing, aiming at a training puppet in the corner of the dojo.
The air itself seemed to split with a sharp whistle, and before she even realised it, the puppet was cleaved in half. The blade hadn't even touched it.
Rin's jaw dropped. "What the—?!"
"That's not just sharpness," Archer said, his tone unusually serious. "That's beyond anything we've seen before."
Shirō stared at the puppet, then back at the sword. "This thing is insane," she muttered. She turned to Rin and Archer, pointing the sword at them—lightly, of course. "What's this called, anyway? You two seem to know more about all this Holy Grail War stuff than I do."
Rin glanced at Archer, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to recognise it. Care to enlighten us?"
Archer hesitated, his usual confidence giving way to a moment of unease. "Promise you won't freak out."
Shirō frowned. "Why would I freak out? Just tell me."
"It's called... Excalibur."
The room went silent.
"Wait, what?!" Shirō's voice cracked.
"Excalibur," Archer repeated, his tone firm. "The sword of King Arthur."
Rin blinked, her eyes darting between the sword and Shirō. "King Arthur's sword?! Are you telling me that the body Shirō's inhabiting is—"
"King Arthur's?" Shirō finished, her voice rising in pitch. "That can't be right! King Arthur was a man! How the hell does that make sense?"
Archer shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I don't know the details, but the sword doesn't lie. That's Excalibur, and by extension... you're tied to it,"