3149/At The Crossroads

At The Crossroads
Date of Scene:	04 October 2015
Location:	Dun Realtai
Synopsis:	Rin and Saber agree to fill each other on the details of their respective timelines and the Holy Grail Wars thereof. With the need for a safe and private haven to discuss matters, the King of Knights invites the Tohsaka heir to Dun Realtai.
Cast of Characters:	346, 821

---

Saber (346) has posed:
     The heat of summer had given way to autumn's cool breezes in Dun Realtai. Intermittent clouds fill the skies, blotting out the sun only to give way to it again, carried by the brisk winds. The trees, given life once more, signalled the coming of winter through leaves of red, orange, gold, and the remaining green, the grasses in the outlying untamed fields a similar dusty gold. The harvests had been gathered and the fields prepared for the changing season, especially the harvest festival to come.

     The air in the village itself was possessed of a calm sort of energy, the people grateful for the plentiful harvest, now able to enjoy the fruits of their labours. Visitors were met with a mild curiosity and warm welcome; it seemed the townspeople were quite used to offworld visitors. A few even pointed out the village bathhouse with its thermal mineral springs; apparently a popular attraction with many of those offworlders. Fortunately, there were helpful directions to where the caretakers of the land resided, pointing up at the keep overshadowing the village, completing the look of a proper medieval European castle town. The only signs that the lord and lady had come via the multiverse were subtle hints here and there; some of the 'wood' of the buildings was in fact composite, the lanterns lining the streets were LEDs. Thankfully, there seemed to be little else in the way of technology.

     The path leading up to the keep inclined up into the inner bailey past outbuildings for various purposes, though some were still in a state of gradual rebuilding, not unlike the walls surrounding the village. It was as if the village had been attacked by some great creature once, and had fallen into disrepair that was only now being restored. The heavy oak doors of the keep, however, had been carefully tended to.

     The inside of the great hall only added to the ambiance of a place out of time; torches lined the walls, and the LEDs in the iron chandeliers were cleverly hidden. A rusty broadsword adorns the large central mantle, though none seem to know what battle it commemorates. There are only two banners on each side: one of three crows or on an azure field, the traditional heraldry of King Arthur, in the honour position on the right. The other is less familiar; a stag argent on an azure field, holding the trappings of the king's marshal. For the knowledgeable, it shouldn't be difficult to figure out whose heraldry it was.

     As for the King of Knights herself?

Saber (346) has posed:
     Arturia Pendragon seemed for all the world as if she was one of the native peasants, dressed in a brown leather tunic, leggings, and boots, her flaxen hair bound in it its characteristic braid-encircled bun. The only sign that she was something else entirely was the practised regal grace with which she carried herself, more of a habit she could not undo. When the doors to the keep open, she was directing one of the castle's servants to bring rolls of towels up to the guest floor. Turning her head, she moved to greet the castle's latest guest.

     "I thank you for coming," she greeted Rin with a characteristic faint smile. "I welcome you as a guest to Dun Realtai."

     Though the magus might not understand the significance of being accepted as a guest, according to ancient law and chivalry alike, no one was permitted to attack her...or even Archer, should he make an appearance. The only condition was that they in turn abide by those laws.

Archer (821) has posed:
     Moving through the humble yet somehow welcoming village and fields, a woman in a red longcoat and a man in a matching red shroud - the most recent visitors to Dun Realtai - moves through the halls with perhaps the slightest hint of trepidation from the woman, her outward expression being one of contented fascination.

     He wasn't sure how often this place had a new arrival, but Archer was willing to bet that Tohsaka Rin wasn't quite so concerned with that as she took in every detail of the rustic world, the technophobe seeming almost in love with her surroundings. "Just look around you, Archer - this is proof that the world doesn't need even /half/ all that garbage it carries around. Magic and science can do fine enough on it's own."

     "You do realize technology stems from science as well, don't you Rin? Besides, the lights and some of the buildings are made from artificial materials."

    Rin in turn gave something of an off-handed shrug. "Everyone has imports from now and again - there's always a deficit somewhere that outside resources are needed for. The /point/ is that they don't drown themselves in redundant crap like the rest of the world has."

     ... That at least was actually something Archer couldn't refute entirely. Not with how often humankind nearly destroyed themselves. Still, he was never one to just hand over a victory - "Technology is just another method of adaptation, Rin. Lifestyle and choice determine how much one can function with or without it, and not because there is any overt flaw in the technology itself."

     "Yeah, right" Rin snorted. "Don't give me any of that 'it's the people and not the tool' crap - I've never met one single piece of technology that could give better results then hard work and skill. Most people just forget that."

     "Most people know the difference between the 'enter' button and the 'delete' button."

    Fuming, the mage gave a muted 'hump' and went back to looking at the landscape as they approached the keep. "The /point/ is that these people are a good example to follow after." A few moments of watching the scenery gradually restored her smile as she gazed appreciatively at the town on their way to the keep. "Our world could learn a lot from them."

     This time, Archer said nothing and simply shrugged... though that was as much of an agreement as he would ever give her openly.

Archer (821) has posed:
     As they entered the castle's Great Hall, Rin smiled at the sight of Saber, though Archer could again see the telltale hints of anxiety. Granted it was better controlled then their first meeting in Paragon City, but Archer knew that if he could see it that Saber certainly could.

    Even now, after having had time to prepare, Rin was still worried about how Saber was going to react.

    Archer himself, if he was honest, understood that all too well. He didn't know how much of the Grail War's functions Saber was aware of, though he managed to take his mind off that by seeking out any threats and scrying the area silently. He took special interest in what seemed to be post-battle damage strewn throughout some areas, the building in the middle of an ongoing restoration effort.

    Like he thought - this place wasn't exactly free from danger... though it was likely safer then most with Saber here. Still, he'd refused to let Rin just match off on her own, even to meet someone they might be inclined to trust.

    Or it could have just been that she didn't trust Archer enough to leave him in Paragon City where Emiya Shirou was still rooming, the boy seeming to have decided on keeping a vigil over the tormented city in case of more disasters.

    In fact, the only reason he wasn't in astral form right now was because Rin had insisted it would be 'rude' to Saber, opting to respect the Knight's code of chivalry as they were as of now guests in her house. Granted, Archer didn't think she was wrong in this instance - Saber's character as he remembered it made hard to believe she'd readily use such underhanded tactics.

    However, after the last Grail War, Archer had opted to not take chances on the idea that Saber was incorruptible... bitter a thought as it was to have.

    As they entered the main hall, Rin once again gazed up almost admiringly at the architecture, before giving a small bow to the flaxen-haired Servant of the Sword. "Thank you for having me, Saber" Rin replies, giving an appreciative smile. If there are any chairs present, Rin takes a seat while Archer lounges against the wall... though he seems to again give a half-smile and wave to her, outwardly-offhanded it may look. "I... hope you'll forgive me for bringing my Servant. Last I knew, Emiya-Kun was in Paragon City, and after what happened in the woods there I figured it best that he and Archer don't have much chance to have contact yet."

     Translation; I don't trust them not to kill each other.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Another of the castle's servants appeared at Saber's side, and the Servant turned to her, addressing her person to person. "Bring a tray of scones, a pot of green tea -- the blooming one -- and three cups, please." Yes, she was actually offering hospitality to Archer. If she had any particular dislike of the Servant, she hid it extremely well.

     Turning back to Rin, the jade-eyed knight shook her head. "No, it is not an unreasonable thing. I am not the only Servant who resides here on a permanent basis."

     Though there are long tables and benches throughout the hall likely used for feasting occasions, there were several large chairs of damask fabric next to the blazing hearth which Rin might find very much to her tastes, suggesting they were a gift from another multiversal version of the magus. A low table was placed in the centre, onto which the servant returned and deposited a tray laden with scones, a small tub of butter, and a clear pot with a dried flower appearing to 'bloom' inside the steaming water.

     Saber thanked the servant, then waited until Rin seated herself before claiming a chair in turn, pouring the tea for each of them and setting the cups and saucers on the table. "Shirou is learning," she observed. "It might be some time before he accepts everything, and I fear I have not informed him of everything. While I have not avoided such topics, he has committed himself to training and into putting that training to use."

     The Servant appeared to stifle a sigh. "Perhaps /too/ much, in fact. Yet, he is coming to understand what chivalry truly means, and it does not involve throwing oneself headlong into every situation."

Archer (821) has posed:
    Archer raised his brow slightly, tilting his head as he watched the servant scurried off to fetch them refreshments. For the most part, the bowman had been rather quiet, seeming rather contemplative, though after a moment he he seems to give a shrug and approaches the table, taking a seat and a cup of tea.

    Much of his surroundings - the fields, the town, even some of the castle - reminded Archer of things he had seen before. To be precise... much of it reminded him of images long forgotten through the ages. The glimpses he'd had of Arturia's past life, long ago in the Fifth Grail War.

    Yet... in spite of those phantom images of the world of Camelot, Archer couldn't help but notice the clear differences between then and now.... the foremost being how openly expressive she was compared to what Archer knew of her rule. She was less guarded, not seeming included to uphold the the mask of the emotionless king that the Saber of the Grail War had seemed to place such importance on.

    She seemed... happy. At peace.

    That in turn caused a small smile to slip across Archer's features, though it was quickly masked by one of complimentary acknowledgment as he sipped his tea. "This is a very good blend. Ill have to try this one sometime."

    Rin, for her part, seemed at ease as she graciously took one of the cups, noting that the scent reminded her of a Chinese flowering tea - Shirou's influence? Or just an amalgam of influences from the Multiverse in general? "I can understand" Rin replied, an undertone of sympathy in her voice as she speaks. "I did much of the same at first when I initially encountered Emiya-Kun in the Grail War. He was just... well, innocent would be the word I'd guess I'd use. And there was a lot that I would have rather he not known that he found out in quick order... though now I think I'm somewhat glad he did."

    She also gives something of a bemused look as she gazes down at her tea for a moment. "And... well, he's kind of hopeless to look at on his own. Or at least he was when first starting out. Not that it ever stopped that jerk over there from needling him every chance he had." At this last part, Rin shoots a rather pointed glare at Archer, who in turn disregards her expression entirely to sip his tea lightly.

    Sighing in exasperation, Rin shakes her head and, after a moment, a more serious expression crosses her features as she looks back at Saber, emerald-green eyes meeting cyan-blue. "Anyway... all things considered... I guess it best to start from the top." She takes a breath for what she believes may be a hard conversation. "Saber... exactly how much do you know about the Grail War? It's functions? The reason it exists or was created? And do you..." another pause, biting her lip for a second as she hesitates. "Do you know about... about the corruption inside it?"

Saber (346) has posed:
     Archer's suble compliment earned a smile from Saber in turn. "Thank you. I would like to believe that I have learned some things from my teacher's exacting standards when it comes to tea." Sea-green eyes flicked to Rin, a sign of just who her teacher had been.

     Though her expressions continued to be subtle, the Master and Servant pair would be familiar enough with her mannerisms -- and Archer with his glimpses into her past -- that she was indeed happy. If he had seen dreams other than her life in Camelot, perhaps the white-haired Servant might have seen her life under the tutelage of Sir Ector, and how this life was in many ways a mirror of it. The part of her mortal life when she had been truly happy. Yet, there was something else, some unknown element which had been missing even in her childhood that she now had. What that element was, however, remained unseen.

     "Ah...yes. He is rather raw. His training under Sir Bedivere has done much to instil discipline in him," Saber agreed on the subject of Shirou. "My marshal is truly ruthless where training is concerned. I do not believe that even I could be quite so relentless."

     Someone more brutal than /Saber/? The man must have been a miracle worker. With a tilt of her head which indicated a shrug, she continued. "At the very least, should he be able to return to his version of Fuyuki, his objective will be to properly end the Holy Grail War. He now knows little good can come of it...if any." It might have been surprising to hear such conviction from the King of Knights when it came to destroying the Grail, when she had been so driven to claim it to save her kingdom. But to see Dun Realtai, perhaps it was not such a confusing thing that she had finally accepted Camelot's fall...and possibly recreated something of her dream in this small village in the multiverse. What might be of greater surprise was that she seemed to know what was wrong with not merely the ritual, but the Grail itself.

     She followed Rin's glance, and perhaps what might amaze them both, a slight knowing smirk crossed her deceptively girlish face. "You should not be so hard on him," she quipped. "While I think that each side of Emiya Shirou cannot accept his other half completely, with time, each side might come to accept the other." So she /did/ know Archer's identity.

     She looked pointedly at the tall Servant. "You've come to resemble Emiya Kiritsugu in many ways," she mused cryptically.

     Turning back to Rin, the flaxen-haired knight nodded. "Indeed." Folding her hands in her lap, Saber began what she knew of the Fifth Holy Grail War.

Saber (346) has posed:
     "As you know, I came to the multiverse from the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War. My Master, Emiya Kiritsugu, killed Archer's Master -- Kotomine Kirei, who had been Assassin's Master previously -- and then ordered me to destroy the Holy Grail with his remaining Command Seals." That he had needed /two/ to issue that order was a testament to her overwhelming strength of will. "Yet, I did not disappear completely. Somehow, its destruction coincided with my timeline's Unification. I briefly returned to my own time, but when the Unification occurred, it had torn open the fabric of time and space, wherein I found myself on Njorn Station."

     "I was rescued by a knight of a land called Ivalice. I owe much to Lady Agrias Oaks...I would go so far as to say that she saved me. She warned me that the Archer from my own War -- the King of Heroes -- was hunting me and destroying many worlds in his wake." Her mild expression twisted into a look of undisguised revulsion. "Gilgamesh had become obsessed with me during our War for some reason. I sought him out to put an end to the threat he posed to the multiverse, challenging him to a single duel. That was when you -- or rather, other versions of you appeared."

     Saber seemed to stifle a sigh. "The Tohsaka Rin I eventually befriended convinced me not to bear that burden alone, and the Heroic Spirit Emiya who had contracted with her managed to force Gilgamesh into a temporary retreat."

     The Servant shook her head. "I did not speak with Archer a great deal -- he had pursued his own path in the multiverse -- but Rin brought me to her home, where she, Shirou, and Sakura explained the events they experienced in the Fifth War. I learned that Shirou summoned me through the artefact that Kiritsugu had used to rescue him from the fire that the Grail's destruction had inadvertently caused. It was the scabbard of Excalibur, Avalon. It is why he has the healing capacity he does, though only in my presence. The Shirou you met in Paragon City possesses it still. I have insisted that he retain it, though I cannot always be present and have instructed him to not become overly dependent upon it."

Saber (346) has posed:
     After a brief pause to sip her tea, Saber continued her recollection of events. "I learned why Kiritsugu had ordered the destruction of the Holy Grail. Somehow, he had learned the truth of it before the end of the War. I cannot fault him for doing so, though had he trusted in me, it might have been possible to avert the Great Fire. When I was told that we had succeeded in destroying it in the Fifth War, I cannot help but consider that the Fifth War could have been prevented entirely."

     The petite knight did nothing to stifle her sigh. "Nevertheless, what has been done cannot be undone without a cost greater than what was already paid. Rin, Shirou, and Sakura had made a comfortable life for themselves...Sakura abandoned the Matou family and rejoined Rin as her sister, though a great many problems remained."

     Blue-green eyes bored into sky blue ones. "I trust you know of the Matou family crest which Sakura carries. You -- the Rin I know -- has worked tirelessly to discover a method to remove it, though none of her efforts have produced acceptable results. Moreover, the threat of Gilgamesh remained, and so to effectively combat him, I accepted a contract with Sakura."

     The thought might chill Master and Servant to the bone; Saber had contracted with the younger Tohsaka willingly. Yet, she remained untainted, and therefore something must have been quite different in the multiversal events. "We were able to drive Gilgamesh away...where he wanders know, we have been unable to follow. But whatever he plans, he has not ravaged worlds to seek it. Perhaps he will emerge again, but we are now prepared."

     Saber took another sip of tea. "There have been some incidents where Sakura had nearly lost control, and it...affected me. I learned some time later that there had been yet another timeline where she had become tainted, tainting me in turn, and that another Rin and Shirou were forced to destroy this corrupted version of myself. Though I had given up the Grail itself upon Unification, we had since resolved to destroy what Grails prove to be corrupted."

Archer (821) has posed:
     To say that Saber's words were a surprise was a gross understatement, both to Master and Servant. For one, Rin took note of the fact that Saber was glancing at her when speaking of the tea, though she seemed not quite sure of the meaning.

    She then expressed surprise at the idea that someone out there could be a harsher trainer then Saber herself had been - of course she recognized the name of Bedivere; he was one of the few knights that survived Camelot's collapse and the last person to see Arturia alive if the legends held true. But to think he could be a teacher that even /Saber/ would call relentless was nothing to scoff at.

    Archer on the other hand gives something of a bemused smirk. "So even you required outside help in making the boy into a competent swordsman? Though I suppose that's to be expected - he can hardly be called anything but hopeless."

    The next surprise comes when Saber shows her resolution in denying the Holy Grail, though the Master and Servant both have more subdued reactions. Archer's brow raised slightly when listening, curious as to how she found out about the Grail's defect then if she never partook in the Fifth War... and wondering if it was because of this world - reminiscent of the idyllic kingdom she would have wanted - that she had apparently forsaken it for. Rin simply gave an affirming nod. "Yes... I believe you couldn't be more right on that count."

Archer (821) has posed:
    However... the biggest shock - the one that not even Archer can suppress - is when Saber comments on 'each side of Emiya Shirou.' Rin goes ridged, eyes wide as she casts a glance at Archer, eyes reflecting a long-unspoken suspicion.

    She'd known. The look in her eyes showed her that she's /known/ for a long time who her Servant was... but she'd always hesitated to ask. Always kept from making the connection openly, waiting to see if there were other ties to confirm it on it's own.

    Was it because she didn't want to be wrong when she eventually asked him... or was it because she didn't want to be right?

    Archer's reaction was even more noteworthy, if only because of how unflappable he seemed to usually be. When Saber made her notation, in turn looked as if he had been struck by lightning, staring in what can only be described as pure shock at Saber for barely a fraction of a second, his expression unreadable as something filtered into his gaze.

    After a moment though, it slipped back under the mask, eyes narrowing more when she brings up Emiya Kiritsugu... and, somewhere under that mask, a torrent of bile seems to pour in and fill his hollowed heart.

    Like Kiritsugu. Saber had compared him to Kiritsugu.

    The man he had inherited this broken, twisted dream from.

     ...

     ... "heh... I've known that for a while now."

    The mask changing abruptly, Archer brings a hand to the bridge of his nose and chuckles, what seems to be an almost eerily bitter, disparaging smile present on his face as he does so. Rin watches him in surprise and muted concern, having not expected such a reaction.... however, it is buried by a more open expression of anger. "Archer... why didn't you ever /tell/ me?"

     A few moments go by before Archer acknowledges her, his eyes seeming to hold an even more hollow expression then she'd seen him show before - a glimpse into the core of who he was. Finally, he shrugs somewhat, hiding it easily simply by closing his eyes. "It was unnecessary."

     "Like hell is is!" Rin almost spits this out, looking about to curse him out-

    But she is smoothly interrupted when he levels her with a long, hard stare and responds simply; "Does it matter? Can you honestly tell me that you never suspected - no... that you did not already know? After all... did you think it coincidence that the boy could endure having my arm if he did not share more then just a physical similarity?"

    Rin's teeth clamp shut, grinding silently. Finally... she takes a breath and looks him straight in the eyes. "You're not him. I don't care what comparison is made - you may have the same starting point, but you're /not/ him."

    Archer's smirk seems to somehow become darker, as if the self-loathing for that part of him is once again leaking out. "No. I am not him... nor is he me. And if things go well... he never will be."

    That statement - the admission behind them - is enough to crack Rin's composure fully as she stares at the Servant with more loathing then she ever had before, as though she was somehow betrayed by him...

    Or rather, that the betrayal is in who he is... and who he will be, so to speak.

Archer (821) has posed:
    As the pair listen to Saber's explanation - Rin using it as her distraction from Archer finally having admitted to her who he really was - they show different reactions at several points. Archer's brow furrows several times, eyes periodically narrowing - and with the mention of Sakura, widen slightly once - while Rin's breath hitches several times during the story's reiteration. However, one notable discrepancy comes from the mention of Gilgamesh... namely that there isn't any overt recognition of the name from Rin. She knows it to be the name of the King of Uruk in Babylonian myth, but she doesn't display any familiarity with Gilgamesh having been the Forth War's Archer.

    Archer however seems to know the name and the Servant behind it, giving the barest of slight smirks upon hearing that he - or the version of him Saber had met previously - was the one to drive Gilgamesh back... though he seems to become somewhat irritated at the notion that Shirou knows about the relic inside of him. Rin looks back in obvious shock, nearly tipping her teacup over - "Y-your scabbard's /inside/ of him?!" She blinks in amazement as the pieces come together, bringing a hand to her chin as her mind works feverishly. "Of course... /that's/ how he was always able to heal so quickly, even from Berserker's slash." Then... rather comically, her expression becomes one of annoyance. "And that's how he summoned you for the war...?" she groans, cupping her head in her hands as if having been spurned by fate. "He just got /lucky/ enough to have the perfect Catalyst??"

     "I wouldn't call being an orphan twice over the circumstances of a fortunate life, Rin" the bowman interjected.

    "Well, you'd apparently know, wouldn't you?" Rings rebuttal is rather curt, still obviously at odds with being forced to accept who her Servant actually is.

    While Archer hides it better, both Master and Servant are left concerned when the details behind the Sakura that Saber knows are revealed... and Rin in particular seems slightly crestfallen that after learning another version of her had succeeded in saving her that Sakura had still become victimized by the Matou's ambitions. "So... so she's alright then?" Rin finally asks, seeming tentative. "Sakura... she's aright in that world? I mean... I haven't seen or sensed any presence. Is she still your Master? Or did..." she hesitates, almost afraid but steeling her resolve after only a short moment. "Did something happen?"

Saber (346) has posed:
     It might have seemed similarly surprising that Saber seemed to take Archer's sarcasm in stride. "It was not so much that I required help as that Bedivere volunteered to teach him. In Camelot, he had refused to take a squire for several reasons. Here, he was free to do so, and we both saw his potential. It is a learning experience for the both of them."

     She had noted his sour expression, apparently used to the ways in which he hadn't changed from the boy he once was. "It may be somewhat ironic for me to say this, considering that I found it difficult to forgive him for a long time. However, do not be overly judgemental with Kiritsugu. His was the most noble wish of all the Masters of the Fourth War. I think, perhaps, his mistake was failing to see how you had looked up to him. He did not understand that you worshipped him as a hero."

     She paused slightly, because the next bit of information might change things even more drastically. "Moreover, Kiritsugu is here...though not the one who became my Master. We have warned him in advance of the truth of the Holy Grail, so he will not need to sacrifice his wife and daughter to set the world at peace. The Shirou you have met has met him, as well...he knows now that Kiritsugu was noble, in his own way...but flawed. And he is learning that he should seek his own dream."

     In other words, he was already on the path away from becoming a Counter Guardian. It also helped that Shirou had become, in essence, a superhero in Paragon City. He didn't need a distant dream; like Saber, he already had one. But maybe that was a part of Dun Realtai's mysterious magic.

     As for the observation of a 'wife and daughter... "His wife was a dear friend of mine," she explained, her expression turning into a smile tinged with sorrow and loss. "Irisviel von Einzbern. Kiritsugu had made an arrangement with the Einzbern family to act as my Master while Irisviel posed as a 'decoy' Master even as she was to become the vessel for the Grail. It might have been that Irisviel had somehow made contact with him as the Grail began to possess her. She might have been the one who informed him. And..."

     Her expression was undeniably sad. "They were forced to leave their daughter in the care of the Einzberns. I believe you have met her...Ilyasviel von Einzbern."

Saber (346) has posed:
     "I would not say that it was luck, precisely," Saber admitted. "Kiritsugu believed that the Holy Grail ritual had ended with its destruction. He had no way to know that it had only been partially-destroyed, nor that there would be a Fifth War after he passed away."

     She sighed softly at their bickering. Some things never seemed to change even across universes. "Suffice it to say that you should trust each other more," she chided. "Rin is not simply a magus without peer. For all her appearances, she is possessed of a rare nobility of spirit and, dare I say it, kindness. Yet, she understands what it means to harden oneself in order to achieve a necessary goal." As embarrassing as this revelation might be to the Tohsaka heiress, the way in which Saber spoke was clearly one of respect and loyalty.

     But then her smile became openly indulgent at the questions regarding Sakura. "She is fine," she reassured Rin. "She is somewhat busy due to her commitments to Mobile Six, though Sol ensures that she does not overwork herself too greatly. I have chided her on more than one occasion of her propensity to do so." The way she spoke of this mysterious 'Sol' suggests that they were more than simply friends. Then what about Shirou?

     As to the question of her Master, Saber shook her head. "No. We remain steadfast friends, but she had relinquished her Command Seals to Bedivere after we had been reunited." That fact might have most certainly given them pause; one of her own knights, her /Master/? That in turn would indicate another strange twist: Bedivere was not a Servant himself, but fully human, and a magus to boot. "Sakura is...well." she paused with a slight cough of...embarrassment? "As you know, she is a bit of a romantic."

Archer (821) has posed:
     Archer seems to take note of this, tilting his head in what seems to be a half-dismissal. "I suppose that explains his persistent sense of chivalry in the face of abiding by things such as common sense. Though it also explains the boy's power somewhat if he has been training under one of your knights."

     At Saber's request to not judge Kiritsugu so harshly... Archer's bitter smile seems to deepen, looking Saber in the eyes this time as steel-grey meet sea-green. "You need not worry about that, for it is not Emiya Kiritsugu who made the mistake of imparting a flawed ideal. No... the fault lies in Emiya Shirou's inability to recognize anything else but that one dream... and in incapable of ever letting go of that flawed misconceptions about the kind of man he idolized was unless forced to." This last bit might be seen as worrying... as it indicates that, somewhere down the line, Archer had in fact succeeded in seeing one incarnation of Shioru abandon the path of a hero entirely.

    Moreover... even now, he still refuses to acknowledge himself as Emiya Shirou. And listening to Saber talk seems to actually compound this somewhat. "When I first met him... I saw him fall into the same pattern as before. He rejected me instantly... and at every turn, he shows the same failings." His expression seems to turn into a more serious, eyes closing as he speaks almost generally to both Saber and Rin. "For the moment, he is living out his so-called 'dream', saving whatever lives he can... but at most the recent battle of the Shivan War, I saw the cracks in that armor. His inability to justify his ideals in the face of how killing the Shivan lord, seen as a hero by his own people, would doom those on the failing side to the very hopeless life that he is saving others from."

    Archer pauses for a moment, and when he speaks again how voice is somewhat lower - and it sounds almost like the resignation has been mixed by the very same resolution that had always fueled Emiya Shirou, twisted and inverted in the direction it originally began in; "He does not yet realize that no matter what he does, he will never be able to save everyone... and the more conflicts he sees, the more the path he walks will arc back onto the one I have walked. That is the inevitable conclusion of the Hero of Justice."

Archer (821) has posed:
     This time, neither Rin nor Archer are surprised to hear about the connection between Kiritsugu and Illya, both having become aware of it in their past - Archer's in life, and Rin shortly after her war ended. However, they do display surprise between them at the revelation that Illya's mother was the previous Einzbern Grail Vessel, though Archer controls his far better... even as the information eats at him inside.

    Illya's mother had not only died in the Grail War... but she had been part of Angra Mainyu's vessel. In other words... she had been part of the tainted chalice that spilled black mud across Fuyuki... and started the fire that sealed Archer's fate.

     Hearing Saber's recounting, she closes her eyes and sighs to herself sadly, knowing this was likely were Saber's knowledge of details was more scarce. "That wasn't all that survived, Saber. Kotomine Kirei lived through the war's end as well - or he did in my world at least. It seemed the Grail's mud linked him to it with an artificial heart, tying his life to the Grail... and basically ensuring he'd live a long, healthy life so long as the Grail remained intact." Rin's words hold undisguised scorn in them, the very thought of Kirei outliving all the people who died in Fourth War seeming to sicken her to he point of righteous fury... especially when she remembered what her world's Emiya had told her about Kirei's connection to the Fire from years ago. "In fact he was the one that took over as the Grail War's church-appointed moderator."

     "And as Gilgamesh's Master" Archer added in, noting how Rin glanced at him somewhat accusingly for apparently knowing details that she did not. "He also maimed and nearly murdered the Master of the Fifth War's Lancer after manipulating her into joining, taking her Servant as his scout."

    Archer pauses, seeming to take a moment to consider what he's about to say. "Also... it seems Kotomine Kirei was actually the one who caused the fire that destroyed Fuyuki. He touched the Holy Grail after Emiya Kiritsugu left him for dead, giving into his hate for humanity and wishing for them to end - a wish that manifested in the fire. However, Emiya Kiritsugu's actions are perhaps the only reason the fire was limited to Fuyuki instead of consuming the entirety of the world, only one part of a single city being destroyed. In that, Emiya Kiritsugu still made the correct choice in the end... and saved the maximum number of lives."

    Even as he says this though, Archer's words and expression are as embittered as ever, with Rin seeming to gaze at him in sympathy now that she knows who he is.

Archer (821) has posed:
     Of course, what lightens the mood is when Rin hears her sister is alright, a genuinely relieved smile crossing her features. Even Archer's brooding atmosphere seems to break slightly upon hearing that Sakura is still alright... though Rin tilts her head in half-curiosity hearing about a 'Sol.' "Who's 'Sol'? Is she a... friend?"

     "In all likelihood... 'Sol' might be the person she is closest to. Her current caretaker, perhaps" Archer quips offhandedly, with Rin blinking in surprise at the idea of someone else other then Shirou being Sakura's effective guardian. "It appears the Emiya Shirou of that world is even closer to my path if he has left Fuyuki for the world ahead."

    However, both recoil rather visibly in shock when hearing Saber's quip of Sakura being a romantic... as well as Saber's apparent embarrassment. This, combined with the comment about one of her Knights now being her Master, causes the two to stare at her as they work out the connection.

     Archer of course figures it out rather quickly... and he seems to have marked trouble at the idea, staring with a mix of half-confusion, half-disbelief in his eyes while his features only make him look lightly stunned.

    On the other hand, Rin's expression becomes more dubiously mischievous. "Ohh~" She eyes Saber almost like a cat about to pounce upon a canary. "And what possible reason could my sister have to encourage romance to a chaste knight such as yourself? Moreover, how does making one of your Knights your new Master figure into that?"

    At last, Archer's own expression seems to break, placing a hand to his forehead as he sighs in exasperation. "Well... I suppose can imagine worse outcomes."

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber suppressed her sigh this time. While she was not terribly surprised that Archer retained much of his bitterness, it was not something she could remedy. The multiverse might, in time...but for the moment, all that bitterness, resulting from having his eyes truly opened, remained. "He is learning," she reassured him...or rather, tried to. "Already, he has no need to become a Servant. And he understands now what Kiritsugu had sacrificed for the chance to achieve his own dream. He understands /true/ chivalry now, not the shell he had believed in. He has been consistently drilled in the Eight Virtues as much as his combat and magus training. Chivalry is not simply believing that everyone can be saved. It is a personal code of conduct that, heedless of the rest of the world's fleeting morality, is a rock upon which the people can look up to. It is understanding that while others may act without honour, a knight must conduct himself in a way befitting the Eight Virtues." Apparently, she believed in her ideals as strongly as ever, even if she had relinquished her Britain to the mists of the past.

     This time, she did nothing to repress her sigh. "He rejects you because of your methods," she insisted. "It is true that there are necessary sacrifices, but it must be a last resort. He will understand, in time." She stood then, her face carved from stone. "I indeed understand that there are occasions where such a sacrifice is necessary. Here is my proof of that."

     Silently, the Servant stood and turned her back to the pair. Before they could question what she was doing, Saber undid enough of the lacing of her tunic to shrug part of it off her shoulders, exposing the nape of her neck...and the stylised black sun poised above her back. It was at once beautiful and yet terrifying. "This is the mark of one who aided in the destruction of a being called a Yozi," she explained. "They are beings which are entire cities, sometimes an entire universe, in themselves. This was what the Confederate leader Viridian Sunrise had become. There had been entire nations within his body, many of the people within innocent. To protect the multiverse itself, we were forced to destroy him...and we were unable to evacuate everyone in time. This mark is for my hand in its destruction. Every life, every being....I hold all their memories. Should I die and return as another Servant, this mark will remain. It, and those memories, cannot be destroyed."

     Shrugging the tunic back over her shoulders and retying its laces, Saber returned to her seat. "So, there is a price to pay even for pragmatism. That is a lesson Shirou will learn quickly enough. The sacrifice of one's inner code is but one price to pay. There are many others."

     Saber nodded, apparently not surprised by the revelation that Kotomine had survived in their timeline, as well. "Yes, the Rin I know had told me as much. Though she was surprised to learn of what I knew; he had been a protege of your father, Archer's first Master. Irisviel, Maya, and I...ah, Maya was Kiritsugu's assistant...met with Tokiomi, Kotomine, and Archer after the defeat of Assassin and Caster. We agreed that Kotomine was to abandon the War and leave Japan...however, he had betrayed his mentor and became Archer's Master. As you are no doubt aware, it is likely that Kotomine was responsible for your father's death, claiming his Command Seals. As you note, the Grail's taint had apparently preserved him and Gilgamesh both.

     However, Saber's face at last registered shock at the revelation of the Fifth War's Lancer and his Master, as well as that he had caused the Fire. "I had not heard that, no" she admitted before her expression darkened. "It does not, however, surprise me that he would do such a thing, only that I had not heard of it previously. He is a dangerous man, it goes without saying."

Saber (346) has posed:
     Her expression softened. "I shall give this news to Kiritsugu, when next we meet," she replied. "we are cooperating to effectively destroy the Grail of his timeline without causing the Fire. This one, at least, is one we can save, without the need to sacrifice so many."

     The mood, thankfully, shifted to a lighter topic. "Sol is, essentially, her sweetheart. The term 'boyfriend' is the appropriate term, I believe?"

     Her eyes flicked to Archer. "For some time, yes," she commented. "But he and Rin have made a comfortable life together, helping the Union from time to time but for the most part ensuring the Clocktower maintains something of a soul...along with Lord El Melloi II. I was glad to learn that, even after the death of his Servant, he survived." Apparently, a much more deserving soul had also survived the Fourth War.

     It would seem that at least Rin's counterpart had been able to claim the red-haired magus for her own. And at the Clocktower, no less.

     As for Saber's own new romantic life?

     The jade-eyed knight coughed again. "Ah...well. There is something of a story to that...but it did not merely appear out of the ether." In other words, the two had probably shared unconfessed feelings all the way back in Camelot. That should put a decidedly more complex and interesting twist on her legend.

     But then, the multiverse itself seemed to bend and shudder as the seemingly impossible happened. The stoic, proud, and regal Once and Future King of Britain.../laughed/. A soft, even delicate laugh, but unmistakenably a laugh nonetheless. "She...Sakura...when I brought him back to your home...she thought he was Guinevere."

     And then Rin might see her sister in an entirely new light.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Archer's response seems somewhat delayed, his gaze directed to the teacup in his hands, looking at the reflection in the surface of the liquid... ever since Saber revealed Emiya Kiritsugu's existence.

     It wasn't enough that the boy was here? /He/ had to be here, too?

    However... after a long minute, Archer let out what sounded like a disgruntled scoff as he returned his attention to Saber's words, his smile now having a hint of reproach in addition to the original embitterment. "Chivalry means little if you do not have the strength to make it practical. After all, if you become the sole pillar that people rely on... it becomes far too easy to associate all failings with that sole pillar as well. You of all people should know that."

    His voice at the end of this prior sentence does not sound like an accusation, though. Rather... it sounds more like an ernest belief, underscored with a touch of sympathy. A notation to her fallen kingdom. Rin however instantly expresses her disapproval - "Archer...."

    But the bowman ignores her and presses on - "Furthermore, honor means little to the dead... and to those who have lost those they care about. If a hero's duty is to protect everyone... how is it that honor can be seen as more valuable. After all... what value does something as paltry as honor have compared to a human life?"

    It is a rhetorical question, as logically the only thing that could equal a human life is another life... but not all lives are truly equal, are they? There are some in more important positions then others... and Archer suspects that both he and Saber know that.

Archer (821) has posed:
    However... when Saber exposed the Mark on her neck... both Master and Servant freeze, twin hisses of shock escaping their mouths. Archer's however is even more notable, the Counter-Guardian wincing as he gazes at it.

    Wrong. It was... wrong. The entire existence of it, just viewed from here, was completely and utterly /wrong./ It was more then just a simple brand - it was as if it had been distilled from the souls of untold thousands... if not millions.

    And it would never leave her. What added to the horror of the aberrant marking - what made it all the more wrong - was that it was branded into her essence. It had burnt itself into her Akashic Record.

    Saber's words confirmed the meaning of this - what it meant to Saber... and for the first time in perhaps a long time, Archer had been truly rendered speechless.

    She'd been put through the same... no - what she had been put through... was possibly even worse. She would never forget what she had done - never escape the echoes... but Archer at the very least did not have to carry the memories of every soul he had ever slain.

    That simple fact - that single truth - cut Archer deeper even then the sight of Saber Alter had. The knowledge that she really /was/ so very much like him - in one world, she lost her beliefs... and in another, she was dammed by them. It twisted Archer's insides apart, his hands clenching and teeth gritting audibly at the sight.

     .... "Idiot."

    The bluntness of the words surprises Rin, the magus staring at her Servant as she is left shocked by the actual emotion she can see on Archer's face, his sympathy and sorrow and even what seemed to be admiration for her strength.... now intermixed with not just reproach but anger and pity, a stewing bile behind his eyes that. "You really haven't changed at all. You made the correct choice... you took the path that ensured the most lives were saved... and yet you still don't seem to think about your own safety at all. It's no different then the boy."

    Archer's facial expressions turn to steel... but his eyes seem to hold a deep-seated bitterness... and a pure sorrow that the woman he'd long regarded as a precious existence was now tainted by a curse similar, if not superior, to his own. "Do you really think taking on that curse makes it better? Do you really think your paying that price will change anything in the end? That living with an endless misery and eternal burden on your shoulders will make even one shred of difference the moment you are gone?" And then the line is crossed - "Wasn't that the same mistake that destroyed your kingdom in the first place-?"

     "ARCHER!"

    Rin's voice is like a sudden thunderclap, the magus standing up abruptly as she slams one hand down on the table, anger splayed across her features. "If you say one more word... I'll gag you with a Command Spell."

    Archer stayed stock-still for a moment... then he glanced back at her with what looked like skepticism. "You'd waste one so callously?"

    Rin in turn held her gaze with the Servant, staring him down as she almost threateningly raised her left hand up. "What do you think?"

    A tense moment passed between the two as they traded glares... but, after what could be mistaken as an eternity, Archer finally backed down, silently taking his seat once more. Rin in turn, looking somewhat more haggard then before to perceptive eyes, sighed and sat down as well. "I'm... I apologize for my Servant's actions. There's no excusing what he just said. Let's... let's get back to the topic at hand."

    All throughout, Rin casts periodic glares at Archer, though the Servant seems convinced he spoke the truth... and his glances to Saber now carry traces of more clear remorse.

Archer (821) has posed:
    As they returned to the matter of the Grail War, Rin knew what would come would likely be the explanation into the missing pieces that Saber did not have on the war. Her face also twists up in slight anger at the mention of her father and Kirei, both she and Archer seeming aware of this bit. "Yeah... I'd sort of figured by this point that that bastard fake-priest had something to do with my father's death. And it got even worse" Rin sighed, actually sounding more venomous then she had with Archer. "Kirei was responsible for a lot of how my war ended out. But... maybe I need to prefix it a bit. For starters... what do you know of the legends of Angra Mainyu? The Persian God of Evil?"

     Rin, for Saber's benefit, reaches into her coat and draws out a small book that she slides across the table to the golden-haired Servant - a record on the details of Angra Mainyu. "Whatever the legends say of him... the truth was that, in the end... he started out as a random human villager. Just a boy at that." She closes her eyes and sighs somewhat sadly, remembering Illya's recounting of it in her world. "One day, the village picked that boy at random and declared him the source of all the world's evils, just so that they could have something to blame. They carved every curse in existence into his skin and subjected him to every evil in history... then executed him as having been it's source."

     "The nature of heroes is to be ostracized" Archer continued, adding his own say in the matter. "They are rejected as inhuman, even as their existence preserves the world around them. The villagers who persecuted him at random believed that there is evil in all humans, existing from the moment they are born as an innate part of their base nature."

    Archer then crosses his arms and closes his eyes, his expression seeming to hold minute contempt - not just at the villagers but to humans in general, seeming to view the rest of humankind in the same light. "Believing it impossible to free themselves from malice simply by living righteously and cleanly, they concluded that the only way to ensure the 'good' of humans stayed prevalent was to force 'all the evils of the world' onto a single being as the sole cause of any and all human evils After all, if one person embodies all evil in the world, then, 'logically' speaking, then all other people cannot be evil no matter what." He gives a bitter, almost disappointed smile at the so-called 'logic' behind Angra Mainyu's creation. "That was the simplistic, child-theory they all invested in. An ordinary person with no unique talent, transformed into exactly what they wanted and needed... and in doing so, becoming qualified as a Heroic Spirit by losing all sense of self."

    For Saber, who has revealed she knows the truth of his identity... the comparison Archer seems to subtly be drawing between Angra Mainyu and Emiya Shirou is unspoken yet palpable in the tone of his words... as is the unspoken comparison to how Saber's brand might be seen as similar in a way.

     "To put it bluntly..." Rin continued. "... /that's/ what was in the Fuyuki Holy Grail. Angra Mainyu itself. The avatar of all the evils of the world... with the Grail as his vessel." She doesn't yet say how it got into the Grail though - Rin is giving Saber the chance to process this.

Archer (821) has posed:
When the conversation does reach it's more lighter phase... Rin is left floored by the news, gaping openly. "B... b-b-b-b-boyfriend?!?! S-Sakura went out with someone that wasn't Emiya-Kun?!"

    This shocked response also serves as the rather abrupt revelation of just how things ended up in her own timeline.

    But even that isn't as shocking as what Saber says next, with both Rin and Archer, as was becoming common in this meeting, reacting with pure surprise. Archer went ridged, momentarily seeming to have a thousand-yard stare forced upon him before he closed his eyes and clicked his tongue in what sounded almost like exasperated disgust. "You're kidding..." He places a hand to his temple as if soothing away a headache, the implications far too much for even him to take on.

    Sadly for Rin, the news comes right as she has taken a sip of her tea to try and regain her composure from hearing about Sakura... which in turn causes her to inhale half the cup and subsequently spit it back into the cup in a fit of sharp coughing. "L..life... t-togeth... WHAT?!?!" Her expression is pure, undiluted shock. "M-m-me... a-and Emiya-Kun?! TOGETHER?!?!"

     "Believe me, my sense of propriatorey outrage far outclasses yours, Master" the Red Knight deadpans, though his more subdued and dismayed-looking expression, eyes closed and arms crossed, is a stark contrast to Rin's headed, discomposed look of pure embarrassed shock, her cheeks and ears going scarlet-red.

     "MY ASS IT DOES!!" the Magus all but screams, bolting up and leaning toward the Servant with one hand on the table to push her forward at him more. "You think I'd like the idea of ending up with, at best an outright /IDIOT/ or at worst a twisted /JERK/ as my boyfriend?! There's thousands of guys out there in the world - why on earth would I end up with YOU?!"

    At this though, one of Archer's eyes opens up and he gives an amused, mock-questioning smirk. "Me? Don't you mean Emiya Shirou?"

    Rin rather comically chokes at this, blinking a few times before quickly backing away at him when the double-meaning in her words dawns on her. "O-of course I meant Emiya!! I just got so pissed off that I lopped you in with him for a moment - like I said, you may have the same source but you're not him! Besides, I think I /do/ have a right to blame you if you came from the same starting point as him since you are at least connected to this!" Much to her frustration though, Archer continues regarding her bemusedly as she spouts what sounds horribly like a nonsense argument, but Rin is so flustered by how badly she worded her prior tangent that she has been put on her back heel.

    Not that Archer had any intents to mirror what one of his alternate selves had apparently done. Close as he was to Rin... he didn't quite see her in that sort of romanticized light. Or at least he didn't any longer.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber frowned slightly, but rather than argue, she presented something of an agreement. Her ideals, it would seem, were tempered now with practicality and a faith in the people she now govered. "I do. Which is why Dun Realtai relies not merely upon its lord and lady, but the people to bear their own weight. They fought as best they could against the tainted ice hounds of the winter guardian which had been corrupted by their previous lord, but they could not hope to overcome them on their own. The Union forces simply levelled the battleground, and even after they had been driven off, the people refused to charity unless they were allowed to reclaim their lives with their own hands. All we did was to direct that effort, and to bring what we could of the current are to assist with that. They held no contempt of modern vaccines, but they refused to permit machines to rebuild their homes."

     It would seem that Saber had found a tough, independent, and self-reliant people who were more like her. Non-Elites to a man, but their spirit was beyond impressive.

     Her answer to the question might likewise surprise the two. Though her fire and pride were as present as they always had been, there was a strange sort of calm as she made her case, tempered by something...or some/one/. "Honour is for the living," she stated simply. "Living is more than merely surviving. To reach a dream such as utopia, the people require something to believe in, something to reach for. The code is intended as a symbol of hope, a reassurance that there are indeed those who would stand between them and the darkness, and even the corruption of the rst of the world. The nature of the world is to trample the weak and defenceless, and it is the Eight Virtues which serve to tell them that there are those who would stand against that. And perhaps, become the defenders of others just as they were defended. That is what it means to be a Knight of the Round Table."

     But not all lives were equal...or rather, some lives would take from others for their own gain. "There are times when those forces are other lives. That, too, is part of being a knight. To defend others means to put the sword to evil, no matter what form it may take. What we have created here is a land of peace...but we shall soon train knights from those willing to take up the sword to defend that peace. Dun Realtai is not a utopia, but it is nevertheless what I had dreamed for Britain, and more. I will not yield it to those who would destroy it."

     And there it was, the old determination of the Servant who defied fate itself to save her country. Only now, it was directed at a new home, a new people. Woe be unto the fool who harmed even a one of the villagers.

     "Hm." It was a mirthless, self-mocking hint of a laugh aven as Archer called her an idiot and Rin ranted at her. She understood, even sympathised. "Perhaps. But as you well know, Archer...it had to be done. One universe was set to collide with another, and to save one meant to destroy the other. One universe to save billions of others. I made that choice so Sakura would not be forced to." That might have chilled them even further; Saber had gone on that terrible expedition to save her Master from having to endure that same horrible brand? "I would make the same choice again, if it meant saving Sakura from the need to go. She has already endured more than enough for a lifetime." Perhaps ironic, given that Saber had endured more than one lifetime of sacrifice and showed little signs of slowing down. But her dedication to her previous Master remained steadfast.

     "It is all right, Rin," she reassured the magus with a sad smile. "I was hardly alone on that expedition. Psyber, Sarah, Sol, Arachnia...we all bear similar marks on our bodies. We all share that curse. Whatever beings placed that curse upon us, it permits Viridian Sunrise and the people of his inner universe to live on. It is terrible...yet, not."

Saber (346) has posed:
     Her sigh was, rather than resigned, actually relieved. "So you see, Archer...you need not worry. And I am not merely saying so to keep you from it. It is a greater burden than most, but truly, I am all right. Moreover..."

     Master and Servant were both observant, their attention to detail more than simply impressive. Therefore, they would easily have noticed when she lifted her hand to touch something on her right ear, a bright red jasper set in bronze at her earlobe. However, her left ear remained curiously unadorned, as if it was an incomplete part of a pair. Interesting. "I do not carry this burden alone."

     Her smile became a serious expression. "The point is that there is always a cost, be them ideals or pragmatism. One is for the living, the other for survival. I merely ask that you consider the difference between merely surviving and truly living."

     She was, however, more than happy to return to the Grail War, strangely enough. Her furrowed brow indicated some familiarity. "Little, I fear," she admitted. "I have, however, been informed of an 'Avenger' Servant wandering about. He challenged my marshal to a duel...wishing to test his blade against strong opponents, I was informed. But he bore markings...something to do with a tainted Grail, though the details are unclear, I am afraid."

     The petite blonde picked up the book with another frown, her disapproval of the actions of the villagers clear as day. "Their error was in choosing a human to bear that burden," she insisted. "There is only one capable of enduring that price, and it is not a mere half-divine such as Gilgamesh. Only God Himself can choose such a thing, and even then He calls us to follow Him and deny our sin." King Arthur was, after all, one of Britain's first Christians, beliefs that held fast as much as chivalry. Or perhaps /because/ of the code she had invented.

     Saber shook her head. "Regardless, that explains a great deal about Gilgamesh and his mad obsession. He had claimed he was able to endure it where a mere human could not...he was not tainted as another Servant would have been, but he was not entirely unaffected."

     This time, her sigh was weary as she considered what Rin had revealed. "It was a cursed thing from the start."

Saber (346) has posed:
     Once more, the conversation turned towards levity, which might have been something Master and Servant alike needed, in light of the terrors and hearkbreak they had faced. Saber covered a grin with her hand; she had seen similar reactions even in the Rin she had known when it came to their relationship.

     "You have been quite the positive influence on him," she assured. "He has been tempered both by trials and by wisdom which should come with age. Likewise, the Rin I am familiar with has reassured us that she will not permit him to become a Heroic Spirit. He has had to content himself with becoming a magus in service to the Union. I can assure you that your tutelage has been quite ruthless."

     Was that a grin she was attempting to hide? It couldn't be...this was Saber. Or could it? She had certainly changed a great deal over the past five years in the multiverse.

Archer (821) has posed:
    As Archer and Rin listen to Saber speak, the former seemed to regard her somewhat more passively, though he still seemed dissatisfied... or perhaps it was simply his nature to be the cynic. In that, it could be said that more of Kotomine Kirei had been imprinted upon the Red Knight then Emiya Kiritsugu. "In the end though... they still rely on you. Even now they look up to you, as your life holds value to them as one of their protectors. Do you really believe it will last forever?"

     "It doesn't have to" Rin finally speaks up. "Nothing lasts forever, anyways. But they'll be able to survive and endure without her. That's the difference - she's not just holding them up... she's showing them how to be the foundation for something else" she finishes, smiling somewhat as she recognizes the method. "It won't last forever... but it will last the test of time. That's more then can be said for a lot of cultures."

    Archer retains his cynicism though on the matter of honor - "As you said... honor is for the /living./ However... those that do not have their lives - those that give up their lives for others... honor holds no purpose for them."

     "There's a difference between having no honor and having no decency" Rin snorts, once again glaring at the Servant.

    However, even Archer found himself taken aback when Saber made her claim as to what Dun Realtai meant to her... and for a brief moment, he was reminded of why he had found her so beautiful the first time he'd met her. The way she had symbolized not just a cold determination... but a purity of heart that a broken person like him could never truly comprehend. This time he doesn't have a retort... and though his gaze still has the ever-present cynicism, there is now a somewhat softer edge to the normally-hard steel in his eyes.

Archer (821) has posed:
     The atmosphere only deepens - along with an audible gasp from Rin - when Saber reveals she had made the choice in order to spare Sakura... and suddenly, the antagonism Archer displayed seemed to have been largely smothered. For a brief moment, his shoulders tremble once as emotions he has not felt for ages past surface just for one split second.

    "Saber..." Rin's voice is almost crestfallen, sending apologetic and dismayed all at once. She looks down at her tea for a long moment, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. But, still... thank you for doing that. For saving my sister. You're right... she's been through enough."

    Then... at long last, Archer closed his eyes at this... let out a sigh... and then looked back at her, his expression holding exasperated amazement... and, perhaps if one looked hard enough... a feint trace of the admiration that a young boy had held for the knight in silver armor upon their first encounter. "I see" he finally replies. "If that was the case, I suppose you are not entirely at fault for it. In the end... perhaps there was nothing to do for it."

    However, the ever-present reproach - and, somewhere under it, concern and a sense of partial knowing - resurfaces far too quickly. "But at the same time... I wonder if you realize just how heavy that burden can become... when it is all you have left. Eventually, you must realize that you will leave Dun Realtai behind, as, like Rin said, nothing lasts forever." At least he was calling her Rin again, showing that he seemed to have put their prior clashing behind him. "When you have nothing but that single burden throughout an eternity... and must carry it alone when those around you no longer exist... I fear you might not be so steadfast in accepting the cost that was paid."

    Rin in turn looks at Archer not just with surprise but with solemn sympathy - it's the most ernest she has ever seen the Servant of the Bow... and the most empathetic. For the first time she knows of, he is actually being openly concerned for someone else. The conversation ends at that point, Archer's concern for Saber showing that, in spite of his dissatisfaction with her burden, he has at least seemed to accept it... and that is more then most have ever gotten from him.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Rin furrows her brow upon hearing of another Avenger in the world, making a note of it as being something to look into. "Markings... that sounds like Angra Mainyu's curse. He had the sins of the world carved into his skin, so maybe... maybe the Servant you met is tied to him somehow?"

     "Anyway... as to how he ties into the War. Well... you rememeber what Archer mentioned earlier? That the nature of his contradiction - the fact that he was effectively someone who gave up all he was for the sake of humanity, unwilling as it was - made him qualified to be counted as a Heroic Spirit?"

    Pausing a moment, Rin steadies herself for what she is about to tell Saber. "That in turn made him qualified to be summoned as a Servant... the /Einzbern's/ Servant, to be precise. You see... in the Third Hold Grail War, the Einzberns, embittered by their inability to claim the Grail in the last two Wars, stopped caring about the prize and just wanted the satisfaction of winning over the other two families - the Tohsaka and the Matou, known back then as the Makiri." Archer's brows narrowed at this, the mention of the Matou not sitting any better with him then it did with Rin, though his was, as always, more contained. "The Einzbern Family subverted the rules of the Heaven's Feel and summoned an irregular-class of Servant - the Avenger-Class, which replaced the Berserker-Class for the Third War" Rin continued. "That Servant was Angra Mainyu, the first and only true Anti-Hero to be summoned in the Grail Wars. The Einzberns summoned him believing that he - the figure bearing the six billion curses of humanity who was crowned 'king of demons' - would be the monster beyond even a Berserker, capable of slaughtering Master and Servant alike to win the Grail."

    Rin crosses her arms at this, closing her eyes as she continues to recount what Illya told her in the Grail War. "But, because he had no real fame nor legendary exploits, he did not have a powerful form nor overtly-powerful Noble Phantasms. Ultimately, the Einzbern's gambit collapsed humiliatingly fast as Avenger was slain within the first four days."

    At this... Rin's expression becomes more bitter and remorseful. "But... that ended up being the absolute worst outcome."

Archer (821) has posed:
    Having explained who summoned Angra Mainyu, Rin proceeds to explain what happened to the Grail. "Based on what you said about Illya's mother... I'm guessing you know how the Grail System works? That the 'Holy Grail' is actually just a repository of mana that is created from the distilled prana of the seven Servants, collected in the vessel as they die?"

    Upon hearing Saber's reply to this, Rin presses on - "When Angra Mainyu returned to the Grail... normally that should have been it. But instead... his innate nature cause what you could call a 'black miracle' to occur."

     "You see" Rin started, "Angra Mainyu's existence as the avatar of All the Worlds Evils - a being that had literally been born because his people 'wished' him to be such - was recognized by the Grail as being a 'wish.' "

    Taking the moment to give an expression reflecting how ironic she finds the situation, Rin continues after shaking her head and giving a bitter smile. "In simply being absorbed into the Grail, Avenger was the one who claimed it, with the 'wishes of humanity' for the existence of a singular evil for which to blame all their sins upon being acknowledged by the Holy Grail when his soul was taken into it. The Grail effectively declared Angra Mainyu the 'winner' as a result and it's entire function changed - it shifted toward serving as the womb to incarnate Angra Manyu into the world as the 'ultimate evil' humanity had 'wished' him to be... and subsequently, it's purpose became to gather up the prana needed to complete his birth."

    Sighing, Rin looked Saber in the eyes again at this point... with a somewhat apologetic look reflected in them. "That became the purpose of the Grail in the Fourth and Fifth Wars - to simply collect the prana needed to bring him to life. So... in truth, you were half-right, Saber. The Grail was corrupted from the start of the Forth War onward... but before that, the Grail might have actually been capable of the miracles it was supposedly able to bring to life. Maybe if you'd been the Saber for the First or Second War..."

     "Not that it could likely have actually changed the past" Archer interjected, much to Rin's annoyance. "If anything, the most the Grail could have likely done was send your consciousness to an alternate reality where you never made that choice, as opposed to actually turning back the hands of time."

Archer (821) has posed:
     As Archer and Rin recover in their own ways from Saber's revelation on how the Shirou and Rin of another timeline had become lovers - Archer's being to practically retreat behind his mask of unflappable sardonic calm, while Rin sat back down in her chair trying furiously to will the blush off her face.

     Listening to the influence she had on Shirou though, Rin's efforts collapse again as her ears once again go red, seeming to be on the verge of breaking into a nervous sweat. "W-w-well I'd sure as hell /better/ have been ruthless on him! T-that idiot needs someone strong enough to keep him in check. Especially if he's still running around trying to be a hero in that world!"

    Archer, arms crossed, glances between the two women as he takes note of Saber's smile, inwardly surprised but outwardly keeping his own sarcastic grin present.

    She really had softened in the time she'd been summoned here, hadn't she?

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber nodded to Rin. "That is precisely it," she agreed. "In truth, our leadership has provided predominantly stabilisation, organisation, and a vision for the future. Furthermore, my own role has been one of support and mentoring. Truly, it is Sir Bedivere who has shaped this land into what it is. I had simply appointed him stewardship after the winter guardian requested our aid to help her people, and mentored him in a lord's duties. Our prosperity is a combination of his guidance, the aid of our allies in the Union, and the hard work of all."

     The flaxen-haired knight's response might have been a little on the dry side."I would suppose that it depends on which of the dead you ask," she quipped, smiling slightly for a moment before her expression became neutral once more. "But to save lives themselves is not enough. Those who have been saved have a need for hope, some way to rebuild their lives and their civilisation. For Camelot, that meant setting ourselves apart from the rest of the world and its corruption. In some ways, we are anti-world; because others are greedy, we observe Generositas. Where other nations blaspheme, we hold fast to Pietas. We hold Ingenuitas sacred because others are arrogant."

     The fact that she had switched from her native medieval Welsh to Latin for each indicated that these were of special significance. But each were translated by the multiverse with multiple meanings. Generositas meant both generosity and charity; Pietas meant not only piety but also loyalty, responsibility, and a sense of duty; Ingenuitas meant nobility of character, candor, and modesty. There were, in truth, closer to twenty-six Virtues she had codified in chivalry, but the Latin allowed for Eight which embodied the spirit of what the Round Table had meant.

     "In truth, the campaign into Annu occurred before..." she hesitated, albeit briefly. "It was some years before the campaign to rescue Dun Realtai, before Bedivere had been found." She shook her head. "In truth, he would either accompany me or insist that I not go. And if I did not have my Left Hand at my side, I would not. I refuse to force him to endure such a thing again, even before the considerations of our friends and Dun Realtai." So it seemed she did have consideration for those she might leave behind...or at least one person in particular. And that person might have endured things terrible enough that he was now among the first of her considerations.

     She really /had/ changed, hadn't she?

Saber (346) has posed:
     The expression of the King of Knights was grim. "That may be so," she mused. "I have little but rumours and the report from Sir Bedivere, but these lead me to conclude there is some manner of a tainted Grail within him." She shook her head. "However, I cannot say for certain."

     What Rin told her of the Third War had the Servant honestly surprised, her eyes wide. "It would seem that the Einzberns in this era were as equally ignorant as we were," she mused. "I am certain Irisviel did not know..." Her eyes hooded as she came to a realisation, as if certain pieces of a puzzle had finally fit into place. "However, Jubstacheit von Einzbern must have known. When we rescued Irisviel and Ilyasviel from the castle, there was some indication..." A faint sigh escaped her lips. "I believe that I understand some of what he had said then."

     Then, her expression turned grim. "That Anti-Heroes could be summoned...that would likewise explain Caster's presence. Gilles de Rais, knight of the Holy Maid of Orleans. He was obsessed with Lady Jeanne, and he believed I was she. His methods were..." It should not have been possible for her expression to become more grave, yet somehow she managed. "He was a true monster, in a way that even Gilgamesh was not. A Servant such as Caster should never have been able to be summoned."

     The Avenger class. Saber had only heard of such a thing from the arrival of Sasaki Kojiro. How it came to be had remained beyond her understanding...that is, until Rin revealed its origins. Soberly, she nodded. "It would seem that they continued this 'strategy' into the Fourth War. It was curious had employed an assassin of magi to act as a Master. I suspect the patriarch assumed that Kiritsugu had abandoned his humanity completely rather than having buried it."

Saber (346) has posed:
     It might have been difficult to believe that things could have possibly become worse from that point, but Saber had seen first-hand just how badly a situation could spiral downward. The little blonde nodded. "Yes. Moreover, as the vessel becomes filled, that vessel's strength wanes as her personality is essentially 'overwritten' through that prana. Eventually, she is replaced in entirety by the will of the Grail itself."

     Though she had understood some of the aspects of it, what was suddenly made clear to her was just /how/ Kiritsugu had found out. "A 'black miracle'..." Her gaze appeared to turn inward, though her eyes widened in shock. "Kiritsugu. The Grail itself must have warned him of the cost of his wish. It had taken Irisviel's form and warned him."

     Sea-green eyes refocused, looking sharply at Rin, then Archer. "His wish had been to end all wars, all conflict. With the Grail being tainted by the World's Evil, even that wish would have been twisted. It would have come at the cost of nearly the world's population." She muttered under her breath -- a curse half for another, half for herself. "/That/ was what Gilgamesh had been seeking. He intended to allow that wish to destroy the world and recreate it to his liking."

     She seemed to deflate slightly, with equal parts weariness and relief. "That we were never able to realise the completion of the Grail has been an unexpected good...perhaps one of few to come of it. The waste of lives over the realisation a corrupted, tainted wish, however..."

     Her eyes first flicked to Rin, then to Archer as he interjected. "Though it was not corrupted, it was never intended as an artefact to grant a wish. This was one of the truths the King of Heroes 'graced' me with." Her distaste for the arrogant hero-king was palpable, yet she was forced to concede he had made some very good points. "It was intended as a way for the Master winning the War to open a doorway to the Root. The Master uses his remaining seal to command his Servant to commit suicide, filling the Grail and opening this doorway. The 'wish' aspect of it is from the belief that the Root is capable of granting a magus infinite knowledge. If there is a wish to alter reality, it is likely from being able to possibly re-write the Record."

Saber (346) has posed:
     As Rin flailed hopelessly and Archer reasserted his sarcastic mask, Saber merely smiled. "His wish and his dreams have been refined, somewhat. The elder Shirou understands his importance to his family and friends, and that to save others one must make difficult choices and possibly end lives. For now, he and Rin remain in London, studying and perfecting their magecraft. Shirou has not had the same sort of tutelage as you have, therefore, he has some ways to go."

     Her smile was sweet, yet contained an almost frightening sort of feeling to it. "Otherwise, he would have needed a knight to hammer a certain amount of common sense into him."

Archer (821) has posed:
     As their prior conversation on the merits of Saber's rule over Dun Realtai seems to have satisfied Rin... and somewhat mischievous. "You make it sound almost like being the king and queen of a storybook fantasy. Archer on the other hand remains contemplatively quiet, seeming to take particular note of the Servant of the Sword's complementary notations to Bedivere as he raises one brow somewhat questioningly.

    Contrary to before, Archer doesn't seem to really disagree with the idea that the world is a flawed place that people are better off living apart from. At the same time though, he does give his typical shrug and smirk, though this time there is a more nihilistic edge to it. "The 'dead', you say? Well, to put it bluntly... it would be people like you and I. Those who have sworn away their happiness for the sakes of others... though by the sound of it, you've come to realize how it hollows one out until nothing remains."

    He closes his eyes in thought for a moment at this point. "Unpleasant as it is to liken myself to him in any way, it is perhaps the one trait that the boy and I share - namely that, so long as he devotes his entire existence toward his path so zealously... he will never be able to strike the balance you seek. He has no-one to serve as the counterbalance... and so long as he walks that road as such, it will consume him... and ultimately, his path will fall in step with mine as a result. Even if he has deviated for the moment, his ideals are too firmly rooted in the same origins to truly change."

    Rin, gazing at her Servant, seems almost to pity him slightly as she catches on. "In other words... you're just saying Emiya-Kun needs someone to lean on?"

    Archer regards her impassively, one eye opening to look at her in a somewhat offhanded motion - but his expression has softened somewhat. "I suppose you could put it that way... though in all honesty he is better off not following such an easily-twisted path. He is too naive to survive his ideals being compromised, let alone breaking and betraying him entirely. He must learn what those he leaves behind experience to truly understand... for because he has no value on his own life, he cannot reciprocate the value others place on his."

    Thus, when Archer looks at Saber... he seems somewhat happy that she has found a form of oasis, though it is buried deep beneath the iron and steel. "After all... there was a time when the King of Knights would never have compromised her ideals for one person."

Archer (821) has posed:
    In regards to the Grail War, Rin bits her lip anxiously, bringing a hand to her chin. "It'll need watching, then - I've seen first hand what a vessel of Angra Mainyu can do and I..." she hesitates, the memory obviously unpleasant for her. "... and I don't want to see that unleashed on the world."

     "It's unlikely that Irisviel knew what had happened in the Grail, though Jubstacheit most certainly did know about Avenger - after all, he was the one who recounted the story to Illya. At the very least, he must have suspected... though his greed for the Grail likely overrode his sense of caution in trying to find out for sure." At this, Archer seems to slip slightly, his regarding the young homunculus as 'Illya' instead of 'Illyasviel' implying a familiarity with her.

    Both he and Rin also express relief at hearing that both the wife and child of Kiritsugu were rescued in at least one alternate timeline, Archer's expression being a faint smile while Rin's is a more open one with a sigh of relief. "That's good... at least in one timeline, they came out alright." Archer;s mood seemed to lighten even more, subtle as it was, when hearing about Kiritsugu, though it does harden again somewhat at the reminder of why the elder Emiya was in the Fourth War.

     "Yes... the Grail's corruption allowed a number of normally-impossible events to occur" Archer mused as they discussed the Fourth War, seeming to take interest in Saber's description of the previous Servants. "In my own war, there were a few irregularities - for one, Jubstacheit was able to subvert the Grail System in order to have Illya summon Heracles as the Berserker-Class Servant... and do so at least two months before the Grail War." His expression hardens slightly, the subject obviously not one he likes.

     Rin in turn seems to be repulsed just by the thought. "Even for a Grail Vessel... to be supporting such a Servant on her own with no aid from the Grail's prana supply or the Heaven's Feel system..." she clicks her tongue in disgust at Jubstacheit's actions, unable to comprehend what kind of physical pain Illya must have had to endure in the time between the summoning and the actual War... not to mention the strain of summoning such a powerful Servant as the prana-intensive Berserker without the Grail. After all, Rin herself had experienced not-insignificant pain just in summoning Archer.

     "Other irregularities surfaced quickly" Archer continued. "Medea of Colchis, a witch of betrayal, was recognized as a 'tragic Hero' by the Grail to be the Caster, and the gorgon Medusa, a monster of ancient Greece, was recognized as the same for having become a monster in defense of her sisters, becoming our war's Rider. Caster also bypassed the Grail system to summon a Servant of her own - a nameless spirit who assumed the identity of the Japanese hero Sasaki Kojirou, even though he himself was simply a placeholder. He was recognized only because of how his mastery of the blade enabled him to perfect a dimensional-refraction, making him close enough to the hero of legend to be summoned in his steed."

Archer (821) has posed:
     Rin nods, though she takes the time to continue with her own recounting. "Yes... though the circumstances ended up being different in my war. The Grail..." she pauses, seeming uncertain... then closes her eyes, looking as if she's not sure she wants to continue.

    Archer quickly interjects, though - "You aren't betraying Sakura with this, Rin. If anything, she would likely be glad you cared enough to try and help saver her in other timelines. Besides, the past is done." His voice is firm and somewhat inflexibly assured, but the words themselves are said to help her.

    Rin, after a moment, lets out a long sigh. "You don't have to remind me, Archer" - though there is a slight hint of gratitude in her voice. Finally... she pulls another docket - a more formal series of notes - from her coat and slides them across the table to Saber. "These are the notes Kotomine Kirei took when... when he examined Sakura. According to him... she'd actually been implanted with..." she hesitates, then pushes onward, "with the fragments of the Grail, or rather the transformed Grail Vessel. The fragments of Irisviel's corrupted magic circuits after she had been... reconfigured into the Grail." She sighs, knowing that what Saber reads will likely only increase Saber's hate for the priest.

    For contained is a record of not just Sakura's status as a forcibly-made artificial Grail Vessel... but of the exact nature of the crest worms that served as her Magic Crests and /how/ they were implanted... as well as the history of things she had suffered in her life, the fake-priest's account of every last sin and trauma she experienced being sadisticaly well-detailed, as was to be expected of someone like him.

    There is also, in the part detailing the Grail fragments... a notation of Kirei that is actually a private memoir Rin had discovered.

    The memoir itself being a recounting of how he had strangled Irisviel von Einzbern to death in the Fourth War, in order to force her body to transform into the Grail, having noted it ironic that 'in bringing death... I have indirectly blessed another with the capability to birth the sum of humanity's wishes.... and the answer to the question I have sought for so long.'

    This 'sum of humanity's wishes' is undoubtedly Angra Mainyu, based how Rin's notes described it, and it paints Kirei as the reason behind who Rin's own Grail War became an event she holds no found memory of... but it does not say what 'answer' to what 'question' he had that was apparently the motivator for his twisted actions.

Archer (821) has posed:
     As Rin desperately triest to reassert control over her emotional state, Archer listens with bemused, if not somewhat reluctant, interest in how Emiya Shirou turned out in another lifetime. Rin for her part seems somewhat flustered and surprised that she ended up being such an influence on Shirou, though she fidgets in place slightly - a sight that Archer again suppresses amusement at as it shows that the girl has not changed drastically from the girl who fought in the Grail War.

    Hearing of Shirou's tutelage, Rin shorts and crosses her arms, looking somewhat off-put - though anyone that knows her can see it is merely an act to ward off embarrassment. "Of course he has a ways to go. When I first met the idiot, he was using his own nerves as substitute magic circuits without even knowing! I don't know how on earth he even survived as long as he did like that."

    Hearing Saber's final notation, Rin and Archer both look at her for a moment, with Archer's bemusement once again surfacing at the sight of how some aspects of Saber were still completely unchanged. Rin for her point voices rather adamant agreement - "A certain amount? Try any at all! The first day of the Grail War, he walked right into a battle between Archer and Lancer! If I wasn't there, he'd be dead!"

     "Technically, he already was" Archer interjected, Rin seeming somewhat agitated that Archer is being so up-front about this. "The boy didn't even get more then ten steps before Lancer impaled his heart. Our war's Lancer, C� Chulainn, carried the cursed spear G�e Bolg, which, as I'm sure you know from the legends, leaves injuries that do not heal normally. So this impulsive girl-" he gestures to Rin, who is silently fuming at the remark "-actually went as far as to waste the most powerful gemstone in her collection, a keepsake from her father no less, just to regenerate his heart and save his life."

     "I-I did it for Sakura's sake!" Rin shot back, though she looks slightly more somber then she does embarrassed. "I mean... she was the one closest to Emiya-Kun - and the idiot going missing or dead like that would have drawn attention on her and probably me too! It would have drawn other Masters and Servants on us if it became some kind of public investigation into everyone he knew - what was I supposed to do?"

    Archer gives a shrug as an answer, not bothering to point out that, with how flustered a defense as it was, she inadvertently admitted in a roundabout way that it had been for /both/ her and Sakura's sakes that she saved him.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Possibly the the amusement of both, Saber's fine control over most of her reactions cracked. "I-I would not say that, precisely," she stammered, her face flushing. The latter alone might have been amusing enough on its own. It certainly didn't help that the people still thought of the two as a married noble couple, a misconception the two decided against correcting for the sake of keeping their spirits up. Now that the danger had passed, they were free to do so...but it never seemed to be the right time. More importantly, the villagers hadn't been entirely wrong.

     "I feel I must correct you on one point, however...at least as it pertains to our world. The multiverse itself boasts many of the dead other than Servants, they are as diverse in nature in death as they are in life. Be that as it may, I am not yet dead. I formed my contract as I lay dying. In essence, the time in my world appears to have stopped at the point of Camlann's end due to Unification."

     She paused to allow that point to sink in, lightly sipping her tea before setting the cup back down. "I am, in truth, alive."

     On Archer's second point, she sighed. "To become the ideal King Britain had need of, there was little other choice; all others were unacceptable. However, that kingdom has fallen even in my own time. Though I regret many things still, it is better that it remain as it was regardless of my own failures." Once, she could not bring herself to discuss such things openly; the wounds were too raw. After all she had been through in the multiverse and all the friends she had found in it, Arturia could finally speak about why it was she had sought the Holy Grail. Her voice was still coloured with a note of sorrow for the loss, but it was as someone moving beyond her grief.

     The Counter Guardian might find her subtle poke somewhat annoying, however. "I would also say stubbornness," she quipped, hiding a smirk behind her teacup. "Though perhaps that is a trait which is not so uncommon." Her eyes flicked to Rin. "It seems that he does best when he has someone to remind him of those he would leave behind, who can likewise scold him when he has need of scolding. Yet, now that he is in the multiverse, there are a great many people he has befriended, and so the effect has been considerably multiplied.

     But at Archer's next observation, she shook her head. "There is no longer a need to become something other than human, to give up everything for the sake of becoming a perfect king. The people here have little use for such things."

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber nodded, letting the matter of a possible container for Angra Mainyu go. She would need more information, and the guardians of Dun Realtai were already vigilant against his reappearance.

     Flaxen eyebrows raised slightly at the more familiar diminutive name for the young Einzbern homunculus, though she remained silent. In itself it was perhaps not so surprising, but Archer seemed to believe that keeping everyone at a distance was the best policy. It had been one she herself had believed, though not quite so much at this point in time. "Kiritsugu had discovered his designs for her. He had already begun his 'tutelage' by the time we were able to rescue them. Already she had started to believe that her sole purpose was to fight and win the War."

     Her expression appeared to change slightly for a fleeting moment at the mention of 'Berserker,' but the moment passed. "He will stop at nothing to obtain the Grail," Saber observed. "That much had been made clear when Kiritsugu led the assault on the castle. I do not know the extent of what was done to her, though their lives have been somewhat extended due to Avalon's presence."

     Right, there was that little detail. "My Master had given it to Irisviel before the War," she explained. "She possesses it still, but I have not sought to claim it as its effects likewise stave off what defects exist in homunculi which shorten their lives." One might get the impression that she values Ilya's mother a great deal. That would assuredly not make her regard Kirei with any less contempt once Rin revealed the full extent of his actions.

     After a curious glance at the blue-eyed magus, Saber picked up the notes. Looking them over, her expression darkened, though not surprised at first as she read and listened. "Yes...Gilgamesh had hinted that fragments of the Grail had somehow been implanted in Sakura. I had wondered how that had happened..." The Servant shook her head. "Sakura had wished to...explore the former laboratory of the Matou estate, though Rin and I refused to permit her to do so. She feared I would become corrupted should I accompany her, but neither Rin nor I would permit her to go there alone. Whatever answers we would find there would not have been worth the cost. Yet, she was certain that these fragments had been implanted there."

     The surprise came when she learned of Kirei's hand in it. Sure enough, it did nothing to lessen her hatred of the false priest, or of the Matous. "I see," she said after a long pause. "I...would like to show this to Sakura...my previous Master, that is. Perhaps it will bring her the closure she has sought for so long."

     Straightening in her chair, the petite knight-king sighed, more of a hint of one than an actual sound. "I have my suspicions," she admitted. "He seemed...empty, when I first encountered him. I believe that his corruption was in part Archer's doing. As you know, he was first summoned by Tohsaka Tokiomi, later to become Kirei's Servant. I am certain his hand was in the priest's fall. He was always corrupt, I believe...but I have no doubt that it was the King of Heroes who nudged him along his path."

Saber (346) has posed:
     At first, Saber's answer was a slight shake of her head. For a long moment, she was silent, her face retaining its classic stoic calm. She had seen Rin flustered before, certainly. On the other hand, this was a whole other level. Inwardly, the Servant was more than a little amused; she could only imagine Sakura's reaction to it. Then again, the Sakura she had known had given up on Shirou, wishing him and her sister happiness before moving on. Not, however, without gushing each time she had mistakenly believed that her Servant had 'found her own happiness.' At least the violet-eyed magus had hit the correct mark eventually.

     Not, however, without considerable embarrassment on both their parts.

     Eventually, she chuckled softly. "Of course, " she quipped. "However, it might be of some comfort that he will not be that way forever, regardless of which path he takes, whichever versions of him stumble into the multiverse."

Archer (821) has posed:
    Rin rather quickly picks up on Saber's flustered reaction, her smile becoming more and more playful. "Well, what /would/ you call it?"

     "It must be quite the... interesting partnership" Archer denoted. "You had said Sakura mistook him for Guneviere, correct?" However he then shrugged bemusedly - "I suppose though that it would not be impossible, seeing as two of Camelot's most famed historical figures were both female."

    While Rin blinks her eyes in surprise, Archer himself seems unsurprised. It seems he knew that detail - "In technicality, perhaps... but your physical form is still that of a Servant. And as a result of your split ties to the world of the living, you are an incomplete spirit that cannot dematerialize as a normal one can."

    Rin is rather quickly left cross - "Oh, come on! First there was an Assassin /before/ the one I saw, then it turns out there was a Servant from the Fourth War - my father's Servant at that - who I didn't know about, and now Saber was actually a projected spirit displaced from her time period?? Not to mention your little... tie to Emiya-Kun you never bothered to clear up. Just how many secrets are you going to keep from me?!" However, Archer seems to disregard her, instead taking another sip from his tea - much to the magus' irritation.

     "I am not denying that" Archer replied, closing his eyes as he listened to Saber's recounting of what Britain's King needed to be. "I am merely pointing out that there are indeed paths that require such actions... and the path the boy walks mirrors your own. He may depend on others more then you did, but he is no more capable of reciprocating any true affections they have then you had been in your past." He takes another sip from the teacup, before looking Saber in the eyes again. "I did not mean to say you made the wrong choice for the situation. Only that I do not believe you were prepared for the reality of all that came with it back then... and perhaps now you need not carry such a pointless burden."

     Archer seems to quirk his brow slightly at the comparison to both being stubborn people, with Rin sharing Saber's smirk as she likewise sips from her tea. Rin herself is ultimately the one to speak here -"He's better then when I met him in my world, at least. He's not quite so willing to just charge in with a sword, and he seems to have a lot of the basics for reinforcement down - he didn't even have that much when he and I first joined forces."

    "Perhaps" Archer half-conceded the final point, still seeming somehow weary in spite of appearing to agree with her belief - a contraction that would always stem from how he followed and yet hated his twisted, ingrained ideals to the end. "But sometimes the path of saving others - anyone - requires one to be anything but human. Not just to become a King... but to become the existence known as a 'hero' at all."

Archer (821) has posed:
     "Emiya-Kun mentioned that he knew what happened to Illya-san, and that he wanted to save her when he got back home" Rin remarked, seeming to let a smile form when hearing the rest. "I'm glad though that one timeline's version of her was rescued. She deserves to be with her family... though I hadn't thought that when I first met her." However... Rin's smile seems to hold a more bitter nostalgia - a hint as to what the fate of her world's Illya was. "Bossy, stuck-up, self-entitled, always clinging to Shirou and wining like she was his owner or something." As Rin speaks, Archer's smile widens slightly, mentally comparing Rin to her own description of Illya and wondering if she knew how many of those traits she actually shared in somewhat.

    Archer and Rin both take interest in the revelation of where the Avalon Kiritsugu had ended up, seeming relieved. Rin though sighs and takes another sip of her tea, while Archer in turn replies - "That's good. If it's your scabbard, it ought to extend both their lives a sizable period of time if they split the energy between it. In fact..." Archer glances at Saber meaningfully "... if you continue to visit them regularly, or at least make occasional contact with them, the scabbard's absorption of your prana may add to their lifespans for as long as you yourself continue to exist. And, should you leave this world, the energy within would be enough to grant them decades at least before it ran out, provided they avoided magecraft or fatal injuries." It is here that Archer shows how familiar he has become with the scabbard's abilities due to having had it's record within him longer then any other item in Unlimited Blade Works - the first Noble Phantasm his mind ever recorded into it.

Archer (821) has posed:
     When discussing Sakura's implantation with the Grail fragments, Rin's demeanor becomes far more solemn. "Yes... the actions her family forced on her were... beyond monstrous. Zouken - Sakura's adoptive grandfather and the Matou head of house - fused the fragments to the central crest-worm embedded in the nerves of her heart... which also contains Zouken's /soul/."

    Her expression becomes more serious and straightforward at this - "You saw in Kirei's notes how it spoke of a 'central' crest worm that was embedded near Sakura's heart? That's Zouken - that's his soul-container... living inside his own granddaughter like some miserable parasite." Rings voice is especially, almost dangerously venomous at this point, her disgust for Zouken perhaps matching her hate for Kirei. "That was how he always kept such a close eye on her, and how he could agitate her magic circuit and start opening the connection to the grail without her consent - the bastard used her..." she pauses, worried how Saber will take this next part - "... and in your case... may /still/ be using her... as the container for his spirit, while any bodies you see of his are just remote-controlled puppets created from merging corpses with his insect-familiars.

    Rin's expression becomes a touch more embittered at this point, fists clenched idly - "And so long as the core crest-worms - the same ones that both hold his soul and the Grail fragments - are embedded near Sakura's heart... he's /always/ going to have a way to try and force the change on her. The question is whether he'll be strong enough to do so. And if he isn't... if someone else finds the connection, like Kirei did when he examined her..." she trails off, leaving the implication here unspoken, sighing before looking back up at Saber. "Even the Grail in her world being dismantled might not be enough - if someone knew what she was, they could try to use it to connect her to the Grails of other worlds, or build a new one and use her as the vessel for it. They might not succeed, and it might not even be possible to do... but some people might be stupid or greedy enough to try anyway."

    At Saber's request, Rin becomes much more tender in her reply. "Of course. You can keep it or copy it - I have a transcript of it. For posterity's sake more then anything else." She looks somewhat more melancholic here, expression downcast. "Besides... I don't want to just forget what I left her to. For so long, I'd lived thinking that the Matou would treat her like she was a priceless treasure - how else would a magi family treat their sole heiress? I thought she was being respected... but instead..."

    She takes another deep, though somewhat anxious breath to expel the emotions welled up by the memory, once again taking up her tea. "Well, in any case, the past is past. I just care about giving Sakura the future she deserves... her and Shirou both. They deserve a happy life." Archer, conspicuously, is silent at this, though his eyes are closed in some form of remembrance - possibly recalling his own internal views on his world's Shirou and Sakura.

Archer (821) has posed:
    When Kirei is brought up, Rin's expression is once again venomous and filled with spite. "Empty doesn't even begin to cover it - that bastard fake-priest had no soul or heart anywhere in him... and to think he was my Guardian and teacher for a decade of my life. I really do hope he's rotting in-" she pauses, thinking on her words and then scoffing as she reviews them. "On second thought, no - Hell's too good for him. Not even Purgatory would want him, and even the angles would want to personally toss him in the bed of thorns outside the damn gates and let him tangle himself in them like the eunuch that the is. God himself would want to watch him bleed out and see the birds feast on his dammed eyes and I swear that if he even comes within a hundred kilometers of Heaven's periphery then there is /no/ justice in either the afterlife or the world!"

    Archer for his part regarded Rin's bile-filled speech with silent agreement... though he did bother to remind Rin of one important thing - "Very astute, Rin... though I doubt many who share a faith would be quite so descriptive."

    Rin, for her part, does blink in confusion... then rather quickly freezes up when she remembers, rather abruptly, just what the faith in Camelot had been. She looks mortified, then quickly becomes concerned - "Saber, I... um..." she bowes her head in a gesture of apology. "I didn't mean any offense. I just... ah... sorry." She seemed to be rather apologetic - a gesture not unlike the kind Emiya Shirou would have offered. Archer, watching her, wondered how much of that Rin was aware of.

Archer (821) has posed:
    After regaining her calm through some short breaths, Rin regarded Saber with a more thankful air at her description of the alternate Shirou, though still seeming somewhat reluctant, having not quite wrapped her head around the idea of her and Shirou actually being together. "Well... I guess... I guess that much is good. I mean he's still a hopeless idiot, but at least there's someone I can trust to look after him... I hope" she mutters. "I mean... is that Rin any different from me? What the heck happened to make her fall in love with Emiya-Kun of all people?"

     "You already care for him quite a lot, Rin" Archer pointed out, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "In fact, last I checked, you were practically regarding him as a brother-in-law."

     "There's a difference between being family and being lovers, you idiot" the magus bit back, though she once again had a faint hew of red splashed across her face. Taking a moment to recompose herself - again - Rin looked back at Saber with a more relaxed, if not slightly informal look, the repeated shocks having frayed her senses somewhat. "Anyway... as I'm sure you gathered, my world's history is somewhat different. In my Grail War, Emiya-Kun fell in love with Sakura. He and her are still together, living with Taiga and Rider - Sakura's Servant... Medusa." She pauses between the last bits, unsure of whether or not Saber was familiar with the tall, sultry and silent Servant that Sakura was contracted to in the Grail War. Archer had mentioned Medusa as being the Fifth War's Rider, but he hadn't specified the Master... and now Rin was waiting to see the reaction.

Saber (346) has posed:
     With another embarrassed cough and a persistent blush, Saber attempted to explain. "One of the duties of a king is to delegate the responsibility of governing the land to competent lords. At the very least, such as it was in Britain. I felt that by entrusting Sir Bedivere with governing Dun Realtai, the land would recover far more quickly than had I assumed direct control. Mine has always been a task of oversight, and while Bedivere's skills had applied to matters of my army, its tactics, and its logistics, I had full confidence he would be able to apply those skills in a civilian fashion. I was not wrong."

     For the first time since she had first invited them to the keep, Saber held something back. Her purpose in appointing the Marshal of Camelot had been twofold: she not only had absolute faith in his abilities, but also the hope that in committing himself to its revival that he would be able to move past Camlann.

     By the time she had managed to get her composure replaced, it crumbled once more. "Ah, well...you see..." she stammered, her blush heating up again. "That is, he is...rather fine of features. Once one takes a second look, it become impossible to mistake him for anything other than a man, but his face is..and hair..." In other works, he's as properly hunky as any of the other knights, he simply has an uncommonly pretty face and long, beautiful hair. 'Bedwyr of the Perfect Sinews,' indeed.

     "It is true," she admitted. "I retain both the strengths and weaknesses of a Servant. Yet, as you note, materialisation is a feat I am incapable of as a still-living spirit." she paused, her eyes flicking to Rin. "I believe that we have likely divulged what we know," she replied. "And...knowing what I do now, I trust that it was in part to protect you, as misguided as it was."

     "It is so," Saber might surprise Archer by agreeing with him. "I am not certain as I have been however, that it is necessary in the current era, nor especially beneficial." As for not being prepared...well. It was true: she had not been. "Nothing can truly prepare one for such a such a life of sacrifice," she admitted. "It had been necessary then, for Britain. But no longer."

     The knight-king offered Rin another one of her headtilt-shrugs. "It has been equally beaten and scolded out of him, for the most part, she replied. "It has at once been Bedivere's uncompromising training as well as consistent reminders over the Union's radio. Lady Riva in particular has been most helpful in pointing out such errors, chiding him when he has plunged himself headlong into a given dangerous situation."

     What remained unsaid was that some of those same people likewise scolded Bedivere for an almost equal level of neglect over himself. It might amuse or disturb them to see the similarities between the knight and his 'squire.'

Saber (346) has posed:
     The jade-eyed knight nodded, her mien as calm as ever. In spite of her usually-tight control over her reactions, a flicker of conflict crossed her face. "That may be," she admitted. "Yet, I have learned that 'hero' is not so narrowly defined as is is in our world. Just as being a knight demands sacrifice, so too does becoming a 'hero'. But I have come to see that it is possible to remain human while following those ideals. The greater multiverse, it seems, favours those who retain their humanity.

     "Hm." A slight smile graced Saber's face once again. "Admittedly, such things do give one hope. Though we cannot change what has happened in our respective pasts -- not without terrible cost -- the possibilities remain of changing other timelines. It would seem that we are capable, at the very least, of averting tragedies yet to come. Kiritsugu, Irisviel and Ilyasviel have the chance, at the very least, to become simply a contented family. Though it has yet to be determined, their future is not doomed before it even begins."

     To hear her speak now was a sharp contrast to what she would have said during the Fourth or Fifth Wars, constantly fighting fate. It was as if she had learned that, rather than fighting fate head-on, shaping it and nudging it in subtle ways made changing it truly possible. If not for herself, than for others. The King of Knights could not save /every/ Irisviel, every Ilya, every Sakura. But she /could/ try to save those she was able, and she would not hold back when such opportunities presented themselves.

     "I need not travel far to visit them," she informed the pair with a smile, though a slightly more knowing one at Archer. As with all the versions of Shirou -- Servant or human -- he had harboured Avalon within him for nearly all his life. "They have taken refuge in Dun Realtai...the Church in the village, to be precise. Irisviel and Ilyasviel are in nearly constant range of my prana field. Should they remain here, then yes, they could live as long as any human being." It was why Kiritsugu had brought them to Dun Realtai, and not simply due to its status as a known refuge and neutral territory. They would be in Saber's presence almost daily. Not that she minded in the least...and that too, she suspected Kiritsugu knew as well.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Under any other circumstances, either Archer or Rin might be able to find some satisfaction at the utterly shocked and horrified face Saber now wore, her calm demeanour falling away entirely. Considering this was Sakura they were currently discussing, any such potential gloating was vastly eclipsed by the seriousness of the situation. Zouken might have been a lucky man; between a handful of magi and Servants, perhaps the only thing which prevented them from ripping his very soul to pieces was that the proximity of his vessel risked Sakura's life if they attempted to remove it. There were not many people Saber hated with such ferocity that she would slay them on the spot, but Zouken was one of them...and not only for what he had done to Sakura, either.

     "I have yet to encounter him directly," she confessed grimly. "It is possible that he is in hibernation, or simply waiting for an opportunity to present itself."

     "That 'someone' would be Gilgamesh," she told Rin gravely. "The King of Heroes knew who she was...or rather, what she carried within her. She told me that he had made certain threats, that he intended to use her to rebuild the Grail with one of those still existing in the multiverse."

     Her face twisted into a look of utter revulsion. "Even if it was not possible, it would greatly amuse him to try."

     The Servant nodded, tidying the notes before setting them back down on the table. "Your counterpart might have a better chance of removing it once she obtains these," she reassured the magus, pausing for a moment before a slight smile graced her features once more. Though warm, it contained a determined steel to it. "We have more than even the Clocktower at our disposal. There are many in the Union who are experienced in such matters. We shall find a way to save her. That I promise you."

     She considered something for a moment before another smile alighted the girlish face. "I shall have to introduce you to Captain Harlaown, then," she quipped. "She has been responsible in large part for bringing her out of her 'shell', as it were."

     Rin could find out about the mothering and hairbrushing parts later. /Much/ later.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber's expression during Rin's tirade was neither impassive nor reproving, rather, it was surprisingly sympathetic. "What you had endured far surpasses what I had," she admitted, though her face hardened at her next words. "I cannot bring myself to forgive him for what he had done to Maiya and Irisviel." The two women had been the closest things she had to friends until Unification.

     The Servant shook her head slightly. "It is all right," she reassured her. "It is a failing of Pietas, on my part...but I fear cannot bring myself to forgive him. He had done too much, destroyed too much...no. Though I would feel naught but relief for his passing and I leave his judgement up to God, I do not think there is room in my heart to forgive a man such as him."

     Nor could she forgive Matou Zouken or Caster, for that matter. A part of her was concerned at how she had condemned such men, but the righteous part of her demanded justice and an end to their evil. After all, good and evil could not coexist.

     As Master and Servant began bickering again, the petite knight his her smile behind her cup again. Not for very long, but just long enough to conceal her smile before pouring more tea. "I would say there are only the most superficial differences between the two of you," she observed. "It is uncertain how our respective timelines diverged as they did...what might have seemed as an insignificant decision at the time altered its flow irrevocably. But whatever the case might be, there has always been one common thread. At the end, you all become family in one way or another." Were the Tohsaka sisters and Shirou tied to each other in some way through vastly divergent fates? Even the Servant was unable to say.

     The petite blonde frowned slightly in thought. "I believe Sakura had mentioned that she had been the Master of a Rider in the Fifth War..." She sighed softly. "She continued to blame herself for her Servant's death for some time. I, however, have never met her, not even in the multiverse."

Archer (821) has posed:
    Rin seems to visibly enjoy seeing Saber squirm, though she seems to understand why Saber trusts Bedivere as a comrade, their ties as Knights of the Round Table being only one thing to connect them. When hearing Saber's description of Bedivere though, Archer closes his eyes and actually shakes his head - he has figured out all too quickly what the case might be between the two. Rin has as well, but she is more intent on getting Saber to slip up and admit it, a more openly teasing smirk on her face now. "Fine of features, huh? That's rather big praise coming from the King of Knights. Now you've got me curious." She gives a mock-inquisitive look, a hand cupping her chin as if debating something. "Maybe I ought to meet him sometime? See for myself?" Her undertone rather heavily suggests mischief, though Archer doesn't stop her because he knows she won't go through. One of the things Rin always got a kick from was teasing others.

    In that, she might sadly have been more like her mentor Kirei then she'd admit, though nowhere near as depraved.

    Rin gives a simple, gracious nod at Saber's words, affirming that they have shared the more important details of the Fourth War and the Grail's Nature... though she gives a more thankful, yet slightly uncertain smile at the idea that Archer was simply trying to protect her. The Servant gives a simple shrug... and perhaps surprising, confirms it in his own roundabout way - "She is my Master. Protecting her is my duty so long as I am bound to her... besides, I feel I could not leave her in such a pitiful state, entering adulthood in the modern world when she can barely even master a mobile phone."

     Rin's face quickly turns beat read at this - "Easy for you to say!" she all but explodes, face twisted in righteous fury. "You must have had decades to master the satanic things, and you've lived through the next few years so you probably know what they'll do before I ever can, so of course you'd have an easier time of it, you jerk!"

    And so as that phase of the conversation ends, Archer can't help but take amusement - inwardly at least - in the situation, shaking his head and giving a final word on the matter - one that leaves Rin spluttering in anger; "Geez... I have such foresight as you say and yet you react like that? You really are a troublesome girl, aren't you Master?"

Archer (821) has posed:
     Archer in particular seems more sympathetic to Saber's words as he listens, though somewhat surprised inwardly, that she agreed with him. "Little can prepare one for the contrition of a faulted dream... and some still will cling to it even when it is beyond saving. Others have no choice but to do so. However, your choice was not at fault" his gaze hardens a bit, the nihilism visible again in his eyes for a moment before they close again and he crosses his arms. "Heroes are an existence that are ostracized from normal humans by the very nature of their existence. It may not be necessary in the now... but it may be in the future." He sighs though, shrugging again as he returns to his tea, now almost gone, ending his side of the conversation on a final note - "Still, I suppose that is the past... and it is not an event that can be changed. At the very least, you seem to have made peace with it. For the time being."

    Rin seems to relax somewhat hearing that Shirou is in relatively safe hands thus far, as well as that there were people willing to hold him back. Archer though remains skeptical. "It has not stopped him from being rash at times. In the most recent battle of the Shivan War, I watched him charge up into the enemy's fortifications in a mad rush - wielding a replication of one of your knight's blades; Excalibur Galantine, I believe?" He crosses his arms and scoffs - "The fool had a hole punched through his torso from their final attack. If not for your scabbard it would have been mutual destruction... but again, what does that matter for one who holds no value on his own life if it saves just a single other person?" His retort serves as an answer to both Saber's comment about Shirou and on the merits of a hero being nothing more then a dead-man walking. Rin for her part stares at Archer in shock and concern for Shirou... but it quickly melts into barely-suppress agitation that Archer apparently watched this happened and didn't try to help him.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Rin seems to agree rather openly with Saber's stated belief - "Yeah... I know we can't save all of them, but..." she gives a somber, yet more hopeful smile, "But I'd like to think that I can be there for my sister at least a few times where I couldn't before." On the other hand though, Archer, while he agreed with the idea in concept, seemed somewhat disgruntled by Saber's acceptance of being unable to change a set event even though it had been what he was earlier pushing her to acknowledge.

    Was that because she didn't see it his exact way? Or... was it because it meant he was now the only one who still focused on escaping his own? Granted, because of how different the current Emiya Shirou in the Union was from his own timeline, there was far too much of a difference between their identities for Archer's long-desired double-paradox to take place if he were to kill the boy... but at the very least, if there was one thing he wished to do, it would be to ensure the boy /never/ took his path.

    This time, both Archer and Rin react with surprise to hear that the Emiya family not only lived nearby but almost practically on their doorstep... and that the pair had to have passed this homestead on the way to the castle. Archer for once does seem rather visibly stunned that he could have walked right by where Kiristugu was residing... then his gaze narrows as he seems to contemplate this even further.

    Emiya Kiritsugu... the progenitor of his fate. The man who had given him this twisted, unachievable dream.

    Archer would be lying if he said black thoughts didn't form in his mind - that he ought to confront Kiristugu now that he had a chance to... though he truthfully doubted there was much point, as it seemed the elder Emiya had become just as consumed with regret and disillusioned as he had.

    Still... even then, he might at least be able to take some validation in the belief that he was not wrong in his conclusions that this dream of theirs was twisted.

    So he does not speak. Instead, he simply keeps his thoughts to himself while Rin spends a few seconds with a surprised expression, then gives a more pleased smile. "That's good to hear. I'm sure Emiya-Kun is happy too - if anyone needed a family to look out for them... it's him."

Archer (821) has posed:
    As the matter of Zouken comes up, Rin's expression becomes more deadly serious. "If he was on the edge, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's gone into hibernation in order to sustain himself. He was nothing if not hard to kill." Rin's words however reveal that, in her timeline at least, Matou Zouken did in fact die and could be killed.

    Both Rin and Archer's expressions become as grave as Saber's when hearing of Gilgamesh's threat, Rin in particular becoming almost dangerously aggravated. "If this 'Gilgamesh' is still out there and so much as /tries/ it, I'll kill him myself - to hell if it's not my timeline."

     "It certainly would suit his ambitions" Archer mused, showing he'd been somewhat aware of Gilgamesh's intents for the Grail. "And he is likely arrogant enough to believe he can succeed. I would ask why he has not been hunted down, but I suppose it's because you don't wish to antagonize the sleeping giant as it were."

    Rin, hearing Saber's suggestion, nods in agreement. "Yeah, of course. That's probably for the best. I mean, we - my world's Clocktower - never really had much reason to study it further since Sakura..." at this, Rin once again hesitates, the memory of what her own sister had become still unpleasant even now. "Well, suffice to say that she managed to remove the worms in our timeline during the Grail War's final day, but... the circumstances weren't exactly ideal." She doesn't mention how, yet - they've already gone over so much... and in all honesty, Rin herself needed time to acclimatize to everything she'd heard. Saber might be better off then her visibly, but even the flaxen-haired Servant would need at least some time to assimilate some of what Rin had told her.

    Archer, having taken a mostly observatory stance on the conversation, seemed more contemplative at this point

    Still, when Saber makes her promise to save the Sakura she'd met... Rin gives a deeply thankful smile, nodding in affirmation.

    Already... she may have saved one timeline's Sakura and was one the way to ensuring another's would be saved.

    Granted... it would never truly erase the fact of what her own sister had become... but it was a start, and better then she could have hoped for.

    The mention of a 'Captain Harlaown' makes the magus quirk her head, while the Servant raises one brow in an inquisitive gesture. Clearly the pair seemed curious at the very least... though Archer inwardly couldn't help but feel that Saber was hiding something.

    Once again, the Servant of the Bow feared the Servant of the Sword had perhaps picked up a bit of Rin's mischievousness.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Nodding in a somewhat more subdued but grateful gesture, Rin took a deep breath to expel what remained of her revulsion at the, in her world at least, long-dead priest. "If it makes a difference, I personally wouldn't begrudge anyone for it. Heck, I'd consider it a duty of the faithful to think of him as the scum that he is."

     When Saber describes the bond between the alternate Rin and Shirou, it is Archer who comments first, seeming amused. "In other words, it is the eternal fate of my Master to suffer through meeting Emiya Shirou across all of time." He glances at Rin, smiling as though having heard a wonderful joke. "And here I had thought you were overreacting when you complained about your family's hereditary curse."

    Rin's brow twitches rather visibly at this, the multiple revelations she had been given alongside the Servant's quips having progressively worn her patience thin. She half-looked, half-glared at Archer, before forcing the most courteous smile she could muster. "Yes... though it appears I was wrong about the cause." Archer's brow rises inquiringly, to which Rin closes her eyes and tilts her head as if talking about the weather.

    "It appears my curse in life is being burdened with Emiya Shirou... in /all/ shapes and forms. So now that I know that... maybe I should go straight for the jugular in fixing it, then?"

     ... Staring at his master in subdued concern, whether she serious, is lumping him into that statistic... and deep down, resists the urge to sarcastically quip where /this/ Tohsaka Rin was when the Servant had been planning to kill Emiya Shioru, feeling that setting her of would be a bad move on his part.

    Regardless, after she is satisfied that she has crowed Archer back into submission - the Servant having returned to his observatory silence, more out of ease of connivence then anything else - Rin returns her gaze to Saber, seeming to smile a bit, if not more awkwardly then before, at the idea of them being destined to be a family... though she expresses sadness over how that Sakura blamed herself for her Rider's death.

     However, when Saber admits to having never seen Rider, Rin gives a small exclamation and reaches into her coat for something, quickly withdrawing what looks to be a booklet of some form.

    More proof that this Rin was more sentimental, Archer noted to himself - the Rin he remembered hardly ever bothered to carry something like a pocket-album.

    When Rin finds the photo she is looking for, she passes it over to Saber, revealing it to be a picture of Sakura in her school-uniform's blouse and skirt hanging over the shoulders of a tall, fair-skinned bespectacled woman in a sleeveless black blouse and jeans with seemingly ankle-length mauve hair, the most catching feature being her eyes - an ether-like grey with square pupils. Sakura looks surprisingly happy while the other woman seems more surprised, anxious and somewhat embarrassed by what appears to be a surprise photo.

    Another oddity worth noting is the absence of Command Spells on Sakura's hand in spite of what Rin says next - "The woman in this photo with my Sister would be Rider" Rin explained.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber let the matters of Bedivere and Shirou go for the time being. The pair already knew what this version of Shirou was up to and Bedivere they would likely meet soon enough, possibly marvelling either that some legends were true -- at least as far as his appearance was concerned -- or else that a mere mortal could possess such incredible martial prowess...or else worry that he was not unlike an older and wiser Shirou. "Yes...perhaps," she replied with a soft cough. It was a suitable reply for everything.

     Rather than being reminded of Kirei, the knight was reminded of Fate. That might be more troublesome; the fallen priest she could handle. It was the Midchildan mage and her dreaded hairbrush which had felled many a dignified personage. Saber had not been the first and would be far from the last subject of Fate's mothering tendencies.

     In another timeline, it might have been that Saber would have grudgingly come to accept Iskander's insistence that the past should not be changed, and that a king must never regret. Yet inwardly, she doubted that a single Holy Grail War would have been enough time to accept at least half of what Rider had insisted was truth. In the multiverse, it had taken her five years to truly accept the past as it was an move on. It had been a combination of friends, love, and something to actually move on /to/ which had made her realise that. And while she would always regret -- she would never completely agree with the King of Conquerors on that point -- she accepted Camelot was no more. But she now had that choice to return to ashes or build anew and fight evil. Ultimately, she had chosen to remain.

     "I will speak with Kiritsugu," she replied after a thought-filled pause. "His network of information is impressive, so I am certain he has information on the Matou family. If the Sakura of his timeline has not yet been given to them, then perhaps it is possible to prevent her from being given to them. In not, then little need hold us back from taking her from them forcibly." The fire in her eyes returned; though saving this alternate version would not affect the life of her previous Master, at least one would not know the terrors that the ancient and corrupt magus family would inflict upon her.

     Perhaps it was a point of semantics, if events had not yet happened, if they did not yet belong to the past, Saber saw no need to refrain from working to prevent them. If Archer had been able to read her thoughts, would he be amused or worried that the stubborn and prideful King of Knights had come around to his way of thinking, at least in part?

Saber (346) has posed:
     The knight-king had certainly been full of surprises today. She answered their initial shock with a nod. "He knew we would harbour mother and daughter, regardless of the outcome," she replied. "I am likewise certain he chose this place rather than one of his safehouses partly due to my presence. But...I do not mind. Similarly, his goal has changed, and he now has more at his disposal if we are to destroy the Holy Grail completely and efficiently in his world without destroying the city in the process. Though I cannot condone his methods in their entirety, I will nevertheless support him in his new wish."

     It was indeed a long way she had come from the bitterness and anger over his final command at the end of the Fourth War, before she had learned what the magus killer had tried to do.

     As if she heard Archer's thoughts, perhaps knowing Shirou as she did and what might have led him to seek the path to becoming a Counter-Guardian, Saber added a point. "His dream was not wrong. It was not unlike my own, in its way...though what I dreamed only for Britain, his encompassed the world and all of humanity. However...in this world, such a wish is impossible. The darker aspect of humanity prevents it...but the lighter aspect is what allows places such as Dun Realtai to exist. The world and even the multiverse will never know a lasting, all-encompassing peace, but there are places of peace where those who seek it are free to gather. As such, there will always be a need for knights and for heroes to stand between them and the hungry darkness."

     She extended her arm in a sweeping gesture, indicating her new home. "Search this village. It is not the ungrateful you defend, Archer. It is people such as these, those who would fight back against that corruption, who would make their world into the utopia we would both wish for them. And perhaps this land will not last, whether from invasion we cannot turn away or corruption and complacency from within, but it will leave its mark not just on the world, but on the multiverse. It will become what others desire for their homes, inspiring them to create their own."

Saber (346) has posed:
     Regardless of whether or not her effort at an inspiring speech had an affect or not, there was still the matter of that darkness of which she spoke. In this moment, that evil took the form of Matou Zouken. "If the opportunity presents itself, I will not stay my hand. To prevent the suffering of others, he must die."

     The Archer of the Fourth War was similarly someone who could be afforded no mercy, for he would afford none. "The King of Heroes was the fifth King of Uruk and the first hero-king of mankind," Saber explained. "He was the first hero to become a Heroic Spirit acknowledged by the Akashic Record, and his treasury contains the progenitor of every Noble Phantasm ever created. However, the most dangerous of Noble Phantasms in his possession is an unnamed sword which he calls 'Ea'. Its power...were I to describe it, I would have to say that it destroys worlds, be they Reality Marbles or this one."

     She sighed, a clearly weary one as she recalled each of her battles with the savage hero-king. "Fortunately, his power is only matched by his arrogance. He rarely uses such power, only on those occasions he believes his opponent is unworthy."

     The flicker of unhappiness on her face reflect that she would have very much liked to end his threat permanently. "We have searched...I could not permit a threat to my Master to exist. However..." Another sigh escaped the Servant. "Sakura pleaded with me not to pursue him further." Rin and Archer had doubtless encountered the violet-haired magus's 'puppy dog eyes' enough to knoe Saber hadn't stood a chance. "She feared my search would become an obsession. Perhaps she was correct. Wherever he roams now, it is well beyond my current reach."

     Yet, the expression of the King of Knights was determined. "When we are able to remove this tainted crest from her, much of the danger will have been averted," she mused. /When/, not /if/. Determined as always. "Some will remain, though the worst of it will have passed."

Saber (346) has posed:
     When the discussion turned once more to Emiya Shirou and Rin's pseudo-complaint, Saber merely smiled. It may or may not have held a certain mischievousness of its own. "It would appear so," she quipped. "It is, however, a necessity. As you have so eloquently stated earlier, he is in need of someone to look after him in each reality."

     The photo draws her eye, an expression of curiosity crossing her face until she notices the lack of Command Seals. The curiosity then turned to surprise. "If she is no longer a Master, then who would be Rider's now?"

     Unsaid was that this Rider unknown to her seemed alive and well, which had meant that at least one version of Sakura had been able to save her. Perhaps the Sakura she knew could find some solace in that.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Rin seemed to take Saber's reply as a sign of her choking, which made her smile almost victoriously, if not playfully. Archer though saw it as more a strategic retreat - after all, even the King of Knights had to admit that some battles were just not worth the pains of winning them... Rin's teasings being one of many things this category encompassed.

    The pair watch as Saber quietly contemplates much of what has been said, both letting her have her time to think. When she comes around to the matter of informing Kiristugu, Rin decides to add to it - "I remember Sakura told me her uncle, Kariya, died around the time my father did in the Grail War... and that he'd promised to save her from the Matou." Rin gives a somewhat solemn sigh. "He sounds like the only member of the family who was decent... and if so, he'd probably entered the Fourth Grail War as the Master for the Matou Servant in that war... and died trying to free her." Her face twists in disgust though at the end - "Not that Zouken would have likely upheld any deal like that if he'd really invested so much in Sakura."

    Archer witnessed Saber's response, seeming to contemplate on how willing she was to interfere in other timelines if it meant saving those she cared for... or averting tragic choices. As he did, he gave something of a small, inward smirk.

    Their beliefs on /what/ needed to be changed were at odds... but their methodologies weren't vastly different. Then again, they never had been, had they? After all, Saber's original wish had been to change a choice she regretted in her past... a wish Archer could sympathize with all too well.

    He likewise seemed to be more passive to the idea of Kiritsugu having changed... though deep down, some part of him writhed for a reason he himself almost could not discern in hearing just how much the pair had apparently synchronized in their mindsets over time.

    Rin however had one final word to say on the matter - this time crossing her arms and looking somewhat serious... if not a bit amusingly so, given what she says; "When you say hi, tell him I'd like to have words with him at some point about the mess of a pupil he left me. I don't care if this one didn't get that far in his life - nothing excuses the absolute pathetic excuse for teachings I had to suffer through correcting in his steed." She pauses, before adding one last line - "Oh... and tell him his son's doing alright on my end of the world - or... universe - as well."

    Archer in turn pressed a hand to his temple, though his small smile showed how amused he was, regardless of whether Saber even replies - even now, Rin was nothing if not persistent in her grudges.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Upon hearing Saber's words, Archer again crossed his arms as he closed his eyes, this time seeming to be visualizing something... and as before, he seemed impassive but the cynical undercurrent remained. "You mistake my intent, Saber. It is not the dream - not truly. Rather... it is the reality behind it.There is nothing wrong with wishing to save others... but there is fault in placing it above all else. In having nothing for yourself at the end of it all. To truly take the ideal to such an extreme... you must have no selfishness of your own... and have no reward for what is done. Not even happiness or satisfaction. Even in an isolated world separate from the parallels, a dream such as this is impossible to make /reality/, no matter the power given to you."

    Returning to his tea, Archer takes another sip, rendering it almost empty at this point - just a final sip's worth at the bottom of the cup. "In reality, being a 'hero' need not mean you be the hero of everyone. Being the hero of at least one person is enough... but those that do not believe such will be dragged down by their ideals and down in them the more they try to save. Save others endlessly without reward, and you will instead foster distrust as to what the motivation is... and they will brand you as inhuman and turn on you all the same. Emotionless... and ostracized." He gives a mirthless chuckle, as if having heard an ironic joke at some point. "The Emiya Shirou of my Master's world came to accept that as truth... and in doing so, he turned away from my path completely."

     Opening his eyes, Archer looks at the Servant of the Sword with something of a contemplative, though still resolved gaze. "In short, it is not Emiya Shirou's dream that I fault. It is the pointless desire to try and make such a dream reality. As you yourself said, it will never be possible to create a peace that is either lasting or all-encompassing, and certainly never will be accomplished together." He then gives a mock-sarcastic smile as he shrugs. "But, in spite of being aware of this contradiction between wishful desire and really, I myself can never escape the cycle. I myself am locked upon this path... and if any wish to try and pursue that same endless road, I see no reason to be merciful in showing them exactly where that path will lead." He tilts his head in a slightly more knowing gesture - "Surely you of all people can understand the desire to prevent a mistake before it is made? Even if it does not erase the ones you yourself have caused... the error is at least prevented in at least one timeline."

Archer (821) has posed:
     "Don't even wait for an opportunity" Rin mutters coldly. "If need be, just make the opportunity yourself - so long as that bastard dies."

    Hearing Gilgamesh's description, Rin blinks as she compares the abilities to Archer's somewhat, though she considered Archer to arguably be more versatile. The tale of Ea seems to chill her, especially when Archer interjects - "Yes... the sword that could split Heaven and Earth according to legend - a blade that rends space-time with it's attack. However, I know for a fact that if need be, Avalon should be able to defend against even that weapon. Perhaps if you'd had it on you at the time of a possible encounter, you could overcome him." He gives a mock-sympathetic, partly-patronizing smirk at this - "Though that sadly means you would endure having to look after the boy so long as he carries the scabbard within him."

    In spite of scowling at the news that Gilgamesh apparently couldn't be tracked, Rin sighed as she expelled the tension - "At least we know what to look for, just in case. Don't worry though - if we do meet him... I don't intend on letting him walk away cleanly."

    Afterword though, she couldn't help but smile herself though when Saber expressed Sakura's concern - "My sister's pretty hard to say no to, huh? Especially when she's concerned about someone. Still... it's nice to know she's at a point where she can be cared for herself. So... thanks." She then fidgets in place for a bit before awkwardly making a final request on the matter "And... if you get the chance... tell her I said hi. Or rather... one of me did." After that was said though, she ran a hand through her hair in light exasperation. "Geez, I still can't get over this whole 'multiple me's' thing - I know the theory, but it's still really strange to go through."

     "How do you think I feel, Master" Archer quipped from the side. "Dealing with /one/ of you is enough to warrant a lifetime's worth of worry."

     "You think I'm any happier learning there's more of /you/ out there to give every other me a headache?!" the Magus's temper once again flared, leading Archer to simply diffuse it with a shrug.

     Returning to the discussion of Shirou, Rin sighs tiredly while Archer makes his reply - "I could not have said it better myself."

    However... this brings up something Rin had not yet asked, and she looks at Saber cautiously before she says it - "Speaking of Emiya-Kun... exactly how much of all of this does he know?"

Archer (821) has posed:
    When Saber brings up the matter of Sakura's missing Command Spells, Rin hesitates for a moment - only a brief one. Unlike the Rin that Saber knew, she had not known the Knight-King in her world for long before the Shadow had tainted her, though they had gotten along well enough. Archer instead has to speak up briefly first; "You lose nothing by telling her, Rin If anything, given the circumstances, she would assist more readily if she knew."

     "I know that" Rin replied curtly, glaring half-heartedly at the bowman." It's just..." she sighed, knowing she couldn't dance around her periodic anxiety with Saber forever - this wasn't the black warrior that nearly killed Shirou.

    This was the Servant he trusted with his life - and still did to a good degree. And Saber in turn was being honest with her... so she ought to return that trust.

     "Truthfully... this photo was taken by Emiya-Kun some time after the Grail War ended" Rin explained. "Sakura expended all her Command Seals in the War... but her pact to Rider still exists - strongly enough to continue fueling her with prana. That in turn..." Rin takes another breath... and a moment to reassure herself she could trust Saber with the secret she'd kept from everyone, the Clocktower especially, for the past four years.

     "That in turn is because, due to the fact that she so directed to the Grail in the War, her circuits, now akin to 'scar tissue' created by the Grail to replace the Crest Worms, have basically mutated into a connection with Akasha itself." Rin closed her eyes, letting out a breath. "My sister's no longer just a Grail Vessel - she is, quite literally... a living, breathing Holy Grail; a human prana collector and prana battery that rivals, if not surpasses even the Grail Vessels like Illya."

    ... she still held back.

    She still held back the details of how it happened.

    Archer furrowed his brow at this, noting that even now Rin seemed unwilling to consider Saber 'family' the way she did Shirou, as opposed to a 'trusted friend.' It would probably take time before that changed as well. After all... first meetings could only do so much. Rin did however fix Saber with a look that was almost pleading - "You can understand what that means, right? What it would mean if anyone on my world from the Association knew there was an existence like hers out there? What they would do to make her into another lab experiment like her Grandfather did?" She then gives a more disparaging sigh, her unspoken plea of confidentiality on this matter all-too-clear. "Your Clocktower may have changed, but... well, mine's still the same as ever. In addition, if you remove the crest worm from the Sakura you know... you have to be sure it's /before/ she is activated as a full Grail Vessel - after that... she might never be able to disconnect. She could live a normal life, but she would always carry the risk of being found out... and used."

Saber (346) has posed:
     At the mention of the magus who had attempted to flee the claws of the Matous, an earlier flicker of sorrow returned to Saber's face, yet it fled just as quickly. It would seem she knew something of that Master, but whatever her connection to Matou Kariya had been, it would seem that the Servant was not yet ready to discuss that point with them just yet.

     As for Emiya Kiritsugu, Saber merely nodded as the matter of her first Master was settled for the time being. Though her face remained impassive, one might get the feeling that the idea of Rin reading Kiritsugu the riot act was an amusing mental image. "I shall...make your displeasure known."

     It was a dream Saber had known all too well, having believed that there could be nothing of the human being behind the purpose of the King. It had been necessary to become an empty vessel into which the people had poured all their hopes and expectations into it. She had known that from the beginning, casting aside both femininity and humanity to become that symbol. In the end, she had cursed her own weakness, the subtle cracks in the vessel that were the remaining parts of her that were human. It had been ironic; she had been accused of being inhuman, but it was her human weakness which had led to the downfall of Britain.

     Or so she had believed, and it was not until she and Sir Bedivere had led the expedition to fend off a pack of giant corrupted ice hounds from a tiny village that she had learned that there were places with no need of such a king. When a people had the determination to carry their own dreams, to forge their reality with their own hands, there was no need to become that vessel. It had been incredible, really. The people of Dun Realtai had been plagued with afflictions just as those of Britain had been, but they had refused to give into to despair. The Union had fought off that which they could not on their own and provided succour, but they had done the rest. That was when the last piece had fallen into place for her; the dream of utopia was one which could only be achieved -- or close to it -- when all constantly sought it.

Saber (346) has posed:
     A 'hero' however, was another matter entirely. Whereas she only acknowledged one true path of the king, Saber believed there was more than one path of the hero. Although, perhaps it was not so different; grand dreams demanded a burden for more than one person to carry. "There is more than one of 'hero'," she answered. "Already, you are familiar with the 'super-heroes' of Paragon City. It is not the responsibility of a single person to save all, but that of all the city's 'super-heroes'. A lone hero cannot save everyone even in one city...but many can save that much more."

     Setting her teacup down, Saber continued. "What I am saying is that such a burden must be shared. It was my mistake that I did not as the King...though I did not believe that it would have been permitted, as there could be but one King. However, there can be more than a single Hero. Not only in individual places such as Paragon City or Dun Realtai, but across the expanse of the multiverse; the Union fights together and shares that burden. One can, at least, try to save as many as he can, so long as he does not do so alone."

     With a barely audible sigh, the knight-king retrieved her cup. "That is the other lesson we attempt to drill into Emiya Shirou, the reason we give for disciplining him when he, as you said, 'runs off to get himself killed.' To do so displays a lack of faith in one's allies, a breach of the Fides which makes a true Knight."

     It was an answer Archer might not be entirely satisfied with, especially since that drive to 'go solo' remained in the Servant, but becoming a Knight instead of a Hero was another path away from that of the Counter-Guardian.

     Rin's belief that her Archer was more flexible wasn't wrong. Gilgamesh was not particularly skilled even with his overwhelming power; if a battle came down to skill alone, even the still-mortal Sir Bedivere could easily best him. Then again, Saber was rather biased on that particular matter.

     She was, however, briefly surprised that Avalon was capable of withstanding it. "I see..." she mused before she considered it. "Hm. Perhaps that is not so surprising...the nature of Avalon itself is otherworldly. It would simply refuse to acknowledge such an attack, even if it could otherwise destroy a world."

     As for looking after Shirou, the knight offered one of her headtilt-shrugs. "He remains a squire...when he has completed his training, then he should have less of a need for it. Moreover, the training of squires is but one of a knight's duties."

Saber (346) has posed:
     The comment on Sakura's nigh-irresistibleability was met with a barely audible sigh. "I quickly learned that if I did not wish to distress her, I could not act merely as her protector," she admitted. "Captain Harlaown initiated the two of us into Mobile Six to train us in how to work properly as a team...at times she scolded me for acting in my capacity as a Servant as opposed to a partner. It was...difficult, but Sakura was the happier for it."

     The little blonde remained quiet through the argument resulting from alternate versions, having already been through that when she had first Unified. To discover that there were other versions of the King of Knights had been disconcerting at the very least. It was only when talk had turned to how much Shirou knew that a slight grimace flickered across her face. "Not a great deal, in truth," Saber admitted ruefully. "He knows the truth of the Grail War -- at least that there is a chance that the Grail of his reality is corrupted -- and will seek to end it should it begin in earnest. I have told him of the Fourth War, though what I know of the Fifth is second-hand. I do not know how much of it is applicable to his situation."

     Saber paused for a moment before she continued. "I believe that, as someone who has participated in at least one version of it, you are the best person to do so. Nevertheless, I regret the wounds discussing it shall reopen. Forgive me."

Saber (346) has posed:
     The one true shock of the day for Saber came at the revelation of the true extent of Sakura's abilities, sea-green eyes snapping wide. When she had first contracted with the younger Tohsaka, she had been astonished at the incredible, almost limitless pool of prana she could draw upon. Though the Servant had remained cautious about her use of Excalibur, she found that she had the potential ability to call on the extend of its full power however much she wished. Yet, it had come at the cost of the terrible crest within her, tainted with a darkness that could manifest when Sakura was in enough distress and despair. Saber had experienced that taint temporarily during their battle against the Witch Charlotte. The prana from Excalibur had not been its characteristic blinding light, but an engulfing red-tinged black of anti-light. More disturbing was the change within her; the all-consuming need to /destroy/. The moment passed when the Witch had been defeated, but it left Master and Servant on an almost paranoid level of caution.

     Yet even that level of power was eclipsed by a direct link to the Root itself.

     "You were right to exercise such caution," she reassured Rin after a lengthy pause. "The Clocktower they are with now is...it remains a somewhat dangerous place. Lord El Melloi II is a good man," she had to admit Rider had been a positive influence on him, "But there are many magi who are as ruthless as ever. I have accompanied them to London many times, but I remain away from the Association itself. Were it discovered that a Servant remained after what was supposedly the final War -- even one from another reality entirely -- it would cause Rin a great deal of trouble."

     The Servant shook her head. "I thank you for informing me of this. I will need to warn them of those potential consequences...though they are not in the danger they once were, I cannot permit further potential harm to them."

Archer (821) has posed:
    Archer saw the flickering of emotion on Saber's expression, but he didn't push it - with everything that had already been discussed and revealed, it was unlikely they could ever cover every topic in a single day. They all needed the time to absorb all they had learned today.

    Rin in turn seemed satisfied by Saber's reply, both to the war and to Saber's promise to inform Kiritsugu.
     At the mention of Paragon City's 'heroes', Archer seems to scoff - "And how exactly do the Crey figure into that belief?" It is a rhetorical remark, but not exactly an unfounded one - "Do they not stand as a testament to what happens when those ideals are diluted and distilled for the 'benefit' of others?" He closes his eyes and sighs again. "Perhaps you can find it possible to share your burdens with others... but even you must know that it is not the case for everything."

    After all... sooner or later, Saber and Archer both would likely return to the Throne of Heroes... and after that, they would both have to carry their burdens alone.

    Archer had seen a world where the King of Knights, without anyone to support her, fell so deep into her despair that everything about her was tainted and defiled. And with that image in mind, it was so very much harder to fathom that anyone's beliefs could ever be unbreakable.

     On the matter of Shirou, Rin simply crosses her arms and gives a shrug - "Well, I guess he'd need Avalon more then anyone else if that's the case - I admit he's come far, but he's hardly on the level of any 'knight' yet, much less a Heroic Spirit." Archer gave a simple nod of consent as he crossed his arms, his lack of confidence in the boy all too evident even now.

    Rin smiles though hearing about Sakura's tendencies, giving a smile in response - "Yeah... Sakura's always been happier with a partner then with a familiar or anything more formal. She works better with an ernest friend at horsed then as the Master of a dutiful warrior." She gives a more thankful expression at this - "So... well, thanks for being that for her. I can bet it might have been hard at times... but it really is what she needed."

    Rin seems to express full agreement at the idea of being the one to inform Shirou of the Grail War's particulars... though she inwardly felt somewhat guilty, knowing fill well that she may very well tell Shirou more detail about the war then she had told Saber. Namely the particulars of their battles and how the war ended, smiling sympathetically in response to the flaxen-haired Servant's apology. "No - I think that's the best path, too. Because it involves Sakura and she's Emiya-Kun's friend, it's only natural that I be the one to tell him the full details."

    Rin nods in affirmation, letting out a tired-sounding sigh at the remembrance of the Clocktower's politics - time with a family had only made the magus more and more exasperated with the policies of the Association, and worrying about Sakura only made it harder. "Exactly... and here I have to work under them closely while maintaining that secret".

    She didn't mention Shioru, though - bringing up that he was the only working example close to the Third Magic in existence in her world would have brought up the uncomfortable topic of /how/ Shirou had ended up in an artificial body.

     Archer in turn seems to regard the matter more candidly - "It may also be for the best that you find some way to keep Sakura in protection until you know the circumstances of the Crest Worms. Stable or not, it may be best to exercise caution on all fronts."

Saber (346) has posed:
     "Crey would be the evil we stand against," Saber evenly pointed out. "Darkness takes many forms, some more blatant than others. Evil does not require endless treasuries nor tainted crests, nor does it have need to flaunt its power. Some is far more insidious, masking itself with a veneer of 'good' while committing its atrocities behind it." Though she had begun mildly, by the time she had finished speaking of Crey as a metaphor, the scorn was evident in her voice, anly dissipating when she spoke of the heroes again. "More importantly, there are many heroes who stand against them. Crey will not last forever...perhaps that is at least one benefit of the transient nature of the multiverse."

     "And perhaps there are times when we must be alone," she continued. "That, too, shall pass. When we are summoned, we require an anchor, a Master. Our solitude ends with each summoning." Her eyes flicked to Rin; even if he preferred to act alone, he was not /truly/ alone, the glance seemed to indicate.

     The matter of how to handle Shirou settled for the moment, the Servant turned towards that of Sakura...or rather, how the Clocktower figured into matters. "It may be necessary that your Sakura join the Union, at least as a provisional ally. It will afford her some protection should they discover the nature of her abilities...the Association is well-aware that the Union possibly knows even more than they regarding the War and the nature of Servants in particular from exposure to so many differing timelines. It is a matter of policy that while it will not interfere with such Wars as an organisation, neither will it tolerate actions against its members. Any attempt at retaining a member would be considered an act of war."

     That led her train of thought to consider another point, especially when Archer mentioned placing Sakura under their protection. "On that note, as I have extended hospitality to you, that protection is likewise granted by Dun Realtai for as long as you are a guest. While under normal circumstances that would simply indicate protection under our roof, the Law has...changed somewhat due to how Dun Realtai has evolved. Not only will you have the protection of the Union once you leave this place, but the protection of those who are likewise guests."

     She paused; Archer might have a difficult time grasping with this particular point, and perhaps Rin would, as well. But theirs was an ancient culture which sometimes defied some modern ideas of alliances. "That similarly means you are afforded some protection from various members of the Confederacy, as well. It would depend upon the situation, naturally -- some of Dun Realtai's members find ourselves on opposite sides of the battlefield -- but there are situations when we fight at each other's side." For all intents and purposes, it almost sounded as if Saber had managed to recreate the Round Table.

Archer (821) has posed:
    Archer appears to smile bitterly at the term 'transient', seeming to interpret the phrase in a different light - "That in turn begs the question; how much of what is done will truly last before all is said and done? As I said before, /nothing/ will last forever, be it good or evil... and by that very same certainty, nothing will ever leave a lasting mark." Rin seems to glare at him for this, though Archer eventually shrugs and gives a dismissal of the matter at last - "Well... not like I in particular have any choice on the matter but to follow that road regardless. Master or not, that will never change. You need not worry about my efforts to uphold this 'Union's' standards... though I ask you not be surprised if I take a harder line in doing what is necessary to keep what little peace exists."

     "And me too" Rin states, though she says it to the Servant of the Bow as much as she does to the Servant of the Sword - "Saber's right; so long as you're summoned as a Servant, you won't be doing anything alone." Then... her smile becomes somewhat mocking - "After all, you can't expect me to let some twisted-up jerk like you go running around with free rein, right?"

    For a brief moment, Archer stares at her in surprise, though it is quickly subdued and hidden as he gives a bemused, and perhaps slightly amazed smirk as he runs a hand through his hair in mock-exasperation - "Geez... I could say the same for you. You really are a stubborn, troublesome woman, Master." Rin however takes the quip more in stride, seeming to recognize it for what it is this time - a gesture of acknowledgement.

    However, while Saber's offer seems to catch her attention, the matter of Sakura makes Rin far more hesitant, seeming to flinch before finally shaking her head determinedly. "I'm sorry... but I can't do that - have Sakura join, I mean. I understand your reasoning, but... she's been through enough. I don't want her getting caught up in whatever I get into out here." While her voice reflects that she knows why Saber is making the offer and appreciates the gesture, it also contains a rather firm resolution. "My own circumstances are another matter, but... having her involved isn't something I want to let happen. She's got a normal life now - or somewhat normal, at least."

    However, taking a final sip from her teacup, Rin sets the glass down, stands up and approaches Saber, her mouth pulling upwards into a small smile. "However... if the protection you're offering as part of Dun Realtai extends to them as a matter of course... then I'd be honored to take you up on it on my own behalf. Besides... this place is far less noisy then London is this time of year, and the gateway station is easier to access from here then it is back home. Plus I can keep a closer eye on things. So with your permission"

    Archer shrugs offhandedly, though his response shows his support - "Well, it makes tactical sense I suppose, having an ally that neither faction can touch if things become tense somehow. It's a fairly straightforward choice, and rather easy at that given the benefits."

Saber (346) has posed:
     "That in turn raises the question of whether to take the trouble of living if one is only to die eventually," Saber countered evenly. It seemed she had gotten quite good at not rising to his bait and being able to debate her points calmly rather than becoming insulted. Though that, perhaps, had more to do with who was saying it rather that what was being said. "Just as one continues to live even if he is to die eventually, if it is to be a cycle which merely repeats, then there must be times of peace and prosperity for humanity to continue. Otherwise, what purpose is there to civilisation?"

     She tilted her head slightly, meeting his smirk with a bland expression she seemed to have picked up from her marshal. Bedivere had worked wonders for her sense of calm. "But it is not a cycle, is it? Not truly. Mankind was never able to cure certain diseases until the previous century, and even Gilgamesh does not possess lights which could be lit for decades yet require no magic to do so. No, even when a great deal is lost, there is still much that is gained. Perhaps from a certain perspective it might seem that merely one step is taken forward while two are in reverse, but from another, the opposite would be true." In other words, Archer's pessimism was colouring his perspective. Not that he hadn't had more than ample cause for it, but Saber had opted for the stance of a realist, one who did not deny the awful sides of it but was neither blind to the good as well. Yet, it might have been that she had always been that way, the current state of affairs allowing that trait of hers to become apparent. She was, after all, rather practical in spite of the loftiness of her ideas.

     Hiding a smile behind her teacup and closing her eyes, the Servant pretended not to notice the back-and-forth between the two. After all, dignity was important, and a smug 'told you so' would ruin the moment. However, she sighed with some resignation as Rin remained firm on keeping Sakura out of the Union. "Then, the indirect protection of Dun Realtai shall have to do, if you so choose."

     She had almost expected Rin to refuse that, as well; though a recognised safe haven and neutral refuge, Dun Realtai was still a part of the multiverse, and a mediaeval fortress at that. She couldn't fault Rin in the least, but Saber was uncertain that they could effectively protect this alternate Sakura if she didn't have some form of connection, a casus belli if the Association was determined to turn her into a prized laboratory rat. Yet, she was in for a pleasant surprise.

     Setting her teacup down and standing with a smile that matched Rin's, Saber nodded. "Of course. The hospitality of Dun Realtai extends to her, and to her Servant."

     Though her posture never seemed to lose its regal bearing, Arturia seemed to straighten even further, as if she was about to issue a decree. Which was precisely what she was about to do. No matter what the Association or even the multiverse threw their way, the Tohsakas and their extended family would have protection that no Clocktower magus could hope to comprehend, or to match. "Then, by the power vested in me as the Lady of Dun Realtai, I formally extend the hospitality and protection of Dun Realtai."