[X] Ask Caster about herself. Maybe not about immortality, but you're interested in what sort of Heroic Spirit she was when she was alive. And, maybe about that comment...?
Fairly sure it's Iri here, but still, I'm kinda curious as to how she landed here. Also, we are not a saberface. At least I hope so.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
Maintaining a good relationship with our subordinates is a must. We don't need saber pulling a Gilgamesh on us.
[X] Study up on the Magus Killer. His abilities, his tactics - anything that might come in handy. Know thy enemy.
No amount of last minute training will help against a Kiritsugu who sisn't spend years with Irisviel, and I'm not sure waver could be of any use here, so instead I suppose it's the best option by virtue of heightening our paranoia, causing us to notice stuff we wouldn't usually.
So Johanna is a saberface? A saberface Einzbern if the conversation at the end is to be believed. Maybe even a dormant lesser grail.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
Asking about Kerry, getting along with Saber and getting gud at defensive magecraft. We will never get to a level to be a threat to any halfway decent magus within such a short time but we should be able to at least defend ourselves from getting shanked by them long enough for either Saber or Assassin to remove the problem.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
I like this vote. Also, saberface homunculus? That's surprising. Not the homunculus part, seeing as we all managed to guess it, but the saberface bit.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Study up on the Magus Killer. His abilities, his tactics - anything that might come in handy. Know thy enemy.
We're trying to talk him over, and our combat skills...well if not for our two Servants we're really not a match
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
[X] Question Caster about her calling her "Saber"
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
So.. we still have that sealed, unknown EX rank skill lying about, and considering that this servant shouldn't know what Saberface looks like...
Caster is definitely a version of Irisviel who entered the Throne some time after, or even during, the fourth grail war in which her Servant would have been Artoria so she would know how she looks.
The skill has probably something to do with our connection to the Grail.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
I mean, it's by this point it's gotta be Iri, but the only thing that shakes me up is that in her interlude she was described with blonde hair, not silver. Of course, this is just one version of Iri, so maybe she's from a world where the Einzberns all gave their homunculi blonde hair instead of silver, or maybe I'm just a stupid nitpick, but I can't help but feel that distinction is important somehow.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
Hmm. Well, I guess I'll say this now.
Johanna's not a Saberface. Caster accidentally called her "Saber" because she's blonde... and the Master of Saber... and oh god if I've accidentally created a Saberface I am so sorry. But - yeah. Being a Saberface won't be crucial for the plot, though.
Actually, in terms of body type and most characteristics, Artoria has much more in common with Saber. Which makes sense, as Yamato is a "King Arthur"-type character. Sorry about the confusion!
Next chapter should be up in two-three days. Either that, or an omake to break it up.
Canon Omake: A Day In The Life Of Tokiomi Tohsaka (Part One)
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Another mundane action concealed by fate's vanity. (Or, does a Tohsaka dream of electric sheep?)
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You wake up cold. Five o'clock in the morning, like clockwork. You had a dream of the world burning as a beast roars to the heavens, screaming out against the god-king in an act of defiance - and yet, the fact that you're cold is so much worse. You've grown (complacent, lazy, foolish), grown used to the reassuring weight and warmth of your wife besides you when you wake up in the morning. Aoi liked to sleep in late; you had your duty as a magus to continue your research almost every waking hour. The precious moments that you could steal together are some of the best. You remind yourself that she's simply gone on a vacation, a business trip with your daughters and (you can't help but frown, brows furrowed together) Kariya. He better behave himself around your wife. You'll have to make sure of that, next time you meet.
Other than that, your daily routine hasn't changed at all. Wake up, take a cold shower, trim and shave. Another few minutes spent changing from sleepwear to your custom-trim suit (red, a deep velvet, rich in color and expense). Walk into the kitchen prepared to make eggs and bacon. Take in the ensuing scene with dignity and poise.
"..."
Lancer looks back at you guiltily, cheeks bulging, an open (and empty) carton of eggs next to him. The carton of eggs you were going to cook, by the looks of it. You raise an eyebrow at him; Lancer makes a visible effort to swallow the egg in his mouth before giving you a guilty smile.
"Uh... you wanted this?" He holds up the carton, before realizing that it's empty. "Oh."
Note to self, you think as you patiently ignore Lancer, pulling out a bowl of granola and yogurt from the refrigerator, your go-to backup plan. Buy more eggs. It's amazing how much Lancer eats; even with you supplying him with copious amounts of prana, his prana drain is incredible. You'll need to find alternative prana sources if you want to continue research while under contract with him. Still, this is what you expected from such a Heroic Spirit, so you shouldn't be too surprised.
"Oh! Master, your kids called." Lancer tosses the spent carton over his head, dropping it into the garbage bin. "I took the call for you, as you were still asleep." Of course, a Heroic Spirit would know how to use a cell phone - but, for now, you're more interested in what they said.
"Did anything happen to them, or Aoi?" You ask, cautiously. If something happened to them, and you weren't there to protect them - no. You have faith in your children. They were more than capable of taking out simple thugs and the like.
They were Tohsakas, through and through, and above such scum. But if another rival magus decided to target them...
Lancer smiles. "Nah. They're all fine. Rin warned me of what would happen if I didn't protect you, Sakura said basically the same thing, and I had a nice chat with Aoi. You have a lovely family, by the way." You don't notice Lancer's face scrunch up in an odd mixture of amusement and fear.
"Hm." You smile, feeling more than a little bit pleased at his comment. Idle flattery wasn't Lancer's style. "And progress on the surveillance of the king?"
He shrugged. "As much as I hate to admit it, the pharaoh's defenses are solid. Still, the pharaoh does enjoy watching the doves at sunset, so I was able to gleam a bit of information on him from my little friends. But as far as I can tell he doesn't have a Master."
You pause in your consumption of breakfast.
"Independent Action?" It was unusual for a Rider to have a large rank in that, but-
"No, as far as I can tell he has Self-Materialization." Lancer shrugged. "Not too uncommon back then, but certainly noteworthy strategy-wise. He doesn't have any Master to rely on, so we'll have to take him head-on."
Maybe not head-on, you think. You smile, rubbing your goatee thoughtfully. "Lancer. Did Sakura give you the required information?"
Lancer nodded, stretching back, his green hair shifting over from one shoulder to the next.
"Yep. She did, however, ask that you try to keep them alive. Any idea of what she might mean by that?"
You carefully avoid the question, reclining back into your Victorian-style chair at the head of the table. Perhaps it was a bit lax to rest this easily, but - you had drawn the strongest Servant, and the pharaoh was the only unknown within this war. Thankfully, with a bit of luck, you may be able to take care of a few birds with one stone.
"I wonder if an alliance may be in order. We have the ability to contact one of the other competitors, and they are indebted to us. With our combined power, we may be able to storm the fortress, so to speak."
Lancer finally stops stretching, returning back to his usual relaxed posture. "Right. And... what about the pharaoh's words? He mentioned something about corruption residing within the Grail, correct?"
"A non-problem." You dismiss his concern, valid as it may be. "As a Tohsaka, I strive for excellence above all, and this contest is simply a way to show that. The Grail, corrupted or not, should not play any part in our calculations. Should the pharaoh's words ring true, however-" you glance back at Lancer. "-I would expect that you could purge the filth completely."
He dips his head down in acknowledgement. "Of course; I am a necessary tool in that regard. Then, what are we doing? I'm a little bored, now that the fighting's over. Should we not head out, Master?"
"I have no need to, but I suppose it shall be allowed. Should you meet an enemy, however, you must report back to me before engaging." You reply magnanimously. "I shall be doing some research into the inner workings of the Grail, then."
Lancer disappears after a second, fading into a golden mist, and you feel the strain on your circuits lessen slightly as he heads out. You still don't have enough circuits to do any intensive research, but you weren't lying when you said you were doing some research on the Grail. It's just that the type of research is... different, than what you normally studied. The blueprints are already on your workshop table when you arrive, already prepared for research.
By conventional means, accessing the core of the Grail was completely impossible. After the Third War, in which the Grail was damaged, Zeltrech put up protection around the Greater Grail to prevent further instances of this happening. Bypassing a barrier recreated within multiple levels of existence and hiding all sorts of nasty traps was something only Zeltrech could do.
Unless, however, you had this. You unfurl the blueprints, revealing a intricately confusing mess of lines and labels that seemed completely incoherent. To think that this was the blueprint for a sword was even more unbelievable.
The most important item in your possession, the blueprints for Zeltrech's primary Magic Code containing nigh-unlimited amounts of energy, the Jeweled Sword. Even when not in the Magician's hands, the Jeweled Sword was terrifyingly strong. Theoretically, you could use the Sword to brute-force your way within the Grail, by matching the Sword's frequency to the defenses.
Assembling the parts would take time, but more importantly, you would need the help of one of the Einzbern. And, after the Grail got dismantled, they disappeared into the mountains of Switzerland, most likely entering some sort of hibernation until they were able to continue their research. Impossible to reach.
But, what if... You pick up one of the dossiers of information provided to you by your local contacts, paging through it briefly before stopping at the image of the white-haired woman. What if there were an Einzbern homunculus within this war?
It would make sense for Old Man Acht to make a final attempt at the war, but...
Well, no matter. You'll have to figure something out, but for now- hm?
Your gaze lands on a medium-sized white package placed on your desk. Plain, unassuming - except for the fact you didn't place it there - that someone else must have, while you were away. A bomb, of some sort? You curse the fact that Lancer isn't here; his magic immunity would allow him to easily investigate without fear.
But that's fine; as a mage of the Tohsaka family, you are trained for situations like this. Cautiously, you poke the container with the end of your staff, your body reinforced to the maximum as you prepare to take evasive manuvers. No response.
With a single one-line aria, a blast of fire whips around the package, draining the oxygen from the area in seconds. If it was just a normal package, it would have been incinerated within seconds - but no, when the fire drains away the package is still there. You "tch" in disappointment. Water - no, if they prepared for fire, they would've prepared for water. A threat, then? The package's edges are sealed loosely, but you can't see what's in it. Only one way to find out, then.
You touch the edge of the package, and nearly jump out of your skin as the package splits open, revealing...
A pillow. Blankets. And, as you reach down to pick up a single piece of paper, a message.
To My Beloved Tokiomi,
You always seem to stay up and work on your research rather than sleep whenever I'm not there to persuade you to go to bed. Is your research really that important that you should forego sleep for it? Even if you think it is, I know that you need to get a good night's rest in order to do your best. So, being the loving wife that I am, I put together some spare blankets and a pillow for you. Whenever you feel tired, you can use it to go to sleep wherever you are. Just - try to spend some nights with your wife, all right?
Your wonderful, amazing, caring wife,
Aoi Tohsaka
P.S. - Rin and Sakura helped me fireproof the package. Aren't our kids so talented?
...Maybe you're a bit more tired than you thought. Jumping to conclusions like that isn't your normal attitude. And to think, you almost destroyed a gift that your wife so carefully made for you. You sigh, the tension of the situation fading away as you sit back down, placing the pillow and blankets up onto your workshop table. Maybe you should take a vacation, once all of this is over. Spend some time with Rin and Sakura. Work on obtaining a sufficient prana source for Lancer, a small project like that. Maybe you could teach Rin how to do this; she would have to learn it at somepoint, and it was her birthright after all.
Master, I've detected something. Lancer's melodious voice snaps you out of your musings. It seems to be a Servant.
Seems to be one? You ask back. Lancer's presence detection was unbelievable, so to think that he was confused about something spoke volumes. Yes. A pause. It's faint, but... a new presence. Not a Servant I have met before.
And with all of the Servants counted for... the Servant must be Ruler.
Of course. You can't resist the smile that grows on your face. Entirely too soon to be celebrating, but - Lancer, bring them in.
Holding the Ruler would be the ultimate trump card, the trump card to end all trump cards. A single Command Seal from them could stop any of the other Servants from foul play. Not even Ozymandias could fight the power of a Ruler-empowered Command Seal, and Ruler had dozens of them at their disposal. With Ruler, Lancer, and possibly even the Jeweled Sword - your victory was all but assured.
This called for some wine, you decide. A bit of red, to mark the occasion. Perhaps Ruler and Lancer would like some as well?
To be continued?
So, some bad news. There's a lot of IRL stuff going on soon, so I will soon be forced to put this Quest on the backburner, so to speak. Updates will take longer than the usual two-three days, though how much longer will be based on my workload.
I'm telling this to y'all in advance, however. I should be able to get out the next one-to-two updates out at my usual speed. After that - well, we'll see how it all works out. I really hope to keep this Quest going, even if it takes a bit longer than usual. I just need time to get quality chapters out.
That being said, the next chapter should be out in two-three days! I hope that y'all are having a wonderful day, wherever you are, and thank you for continuing this Quest.
The precious moments that you could steal together are some of the best. You remind yourself that she's simply gone on a vacation, a business trip with your daughters and (you can't help but frown, brows furrowed together) Kariya. He better behave himself around his wife.
Man, Tohsaka families are complicated.
Tokiomi probably meant his wife, though, which makes 'your' the correct pronoun to use when narrating in 2nd person.
Man, Tohsaka families are complicated.
Tokiomi probably meant his wife, though, which makes 'your' the correct pronoun to use when narrating in 2nd person.
Day 20
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Everything's shaping up towards the future. Try not to fall behind.
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[X] Ask some more about Kiritsugu Emiya. You've never seen the famed Magus Killer before and you are morbidly curious of what his methods entail.
[X] Apologize to Saber. It's something you need to do, and you don't want to go into negotiations with a bad relationship with Saber.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
-[X] Defensive Magecraft, mostly using your polarity to deflect objects away from yourself.
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You shuffle slightly, realize that fidgeting wouldn't do you any good, before glancing up at Caster. She's not paying you any attention, staring off in the distance. "So, um..."
"Oh!" Caster exclaimed, "Ah, my apologies. Was there something you wanted to ask?" She tilts her head inquisitively at you, her red eyes blinking owlishly.
"Sorry, I just- well, were you busy? I apologize-" You apologize, you don't know what the proper boundaries are between allies or business partners.
"No, not at all." Caster replies, smiling hesitantly. "If it's about the mission, then it can wait till tomorrow-"
"It's not about the mission. Well, sort of. I was wondering if you could..." you pause, "tell me more about Kiritsugu Emiya?"
Caster's eyes widen slightly at your words, and you can tell she's re-appraising you, her gaze intrusive and questioning. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, um- we're going to meet him, right? And I don't know his strategies, or his tactics, or how his mind works. And, I want to know what you think of him." You reply as honestly as you can. "I want to know what sort of person would leave a Servant like you so... conflicted." Saber had taken your orders unquestioningly; under Ryuunosuke Uryuu, Assassin had done the same. Berserker you could understand rebelling, but Caster? If anything, Caster seemed the most loyal, and the most well-mannered. It could be a deception, but you don't think so. She just seemed... motherly. Not that you had much experience with that, your parents being downright neglectful at best, but that was the general impression you got from her.
"Conflicted..." Caster lets out a small sigh, shoulders slumping. "Yes, I suppose you could describe it as such. Tell me, what do you know about Kiritsugu Emiya?"
"Not much." You respond. You remember bits and pieces, mostly from the newer history books you ordered online. Books that described him as a terrorist, and a killer, a heretic - with origin theories that ranged from him being a bloodthirsty murderer to an insane cultist. Whatever he was, his history was clouded, marked only by his impressive kill count. "He was... fourteen, I think? That was the first recorded instance of his appearance. He was an assistant, working for a freelancer. After that freelancer died, he..." you swallow the lump that suddenly appeared in your throat. "became involved in several terrorist strikes, usually against rogue magus. That's how he earned his nickname, the, um..."
"Magus Killer." Caster finishes, her tone weary. "Remarkably efficient, a killing machine. The perfect killer." She looks at you with tired- no, resigned - eyes. "They were right. I've seen him in action, in life, and it was terrifying. He used every weapon to the best of his disposal, not hesitating to do anything within his power. Sneak attacks, ambushes, long-range assassinations. A pistol, a flamethrower, a Thompson, and a few knives were all he needed to stand up against some of the strongest beings I have seen." She paused, thinking about something, before continuing. "He could very likely kill me by himself. He would have no qualms about using me as bait, or..." her voice trails off.
"He sounds... cruel." Maybe not cruel. But cold. Cold, and a killer to the core. You could tell that much just from Caster's description. But if that were true, why did Caster sound so... confused? Not confused, but... one glance at Caster's face tells a much different story.
Caster's face is hardened, her graceful mask of elegance cracking slightly as she glares at the ground, as if daring it to move. Her face is a mixture of emotions, battling for supremacy - anger, surprise, sadness, and... something else, her emotions molding together and shifting. You're about to ask whether she's okay when Caster says something herself.
"He's not... what I mean is, he's..." Another sigh. "I don't even know. I don't even care at this point, I just want to figure this out as much as you do. I want to learn who Kiritsugu Emiya is. What is our relationship? I was summoned by him; why? Is he a killer, is he human, is he a machine - I don't know."
"There's one thing I do know, though." She turns to you, her gaze hard and piercing. "My voice can't reach him. Not yet, anyways. It's like we're fated to fight, to die, to kill each other without understanding. And..." She would be willing to make that sacrifice for him. You're not stupid, you understand, in a detached way, that she has that resolve.
"You won't die."
You don't know why you said that. Caster turns to you in surprise, but you press on. Clumsily, slowly, but gradually making some sense of your words. "I... think that whatever this is, it's... um, something that needs to be resolved. It's a part of this war, as much as you and I. And, to make sure that you get whatever that is, Saber and I will protect you. That's a promise." Something that was planned, expected of you, but saying it out loud was liberating. The silence that follows it is tenser than you expected.
"...You know, a Servant's job is to protect their Master, right? Not the other way around." Still, Caster smiles, a genuine smile now on her face. "I guess I can't object to a knight in shining armor. Thank you, Johanna." You flush, cheeks burning with embarrassment; it's - well - overwhelming that anyone would give you such heartfelt thanks. You aren't used to doing anything worth complimenting.
Still, when you say goodbye to Caster, your ears and cheeks still burning with embarrassment- there's a certain spring in your step that wasn't there before.
...
"I'm sorry." You bow, deeply, facing the ground.
Saber pauses, giving you a sidelong look as she leans back against the house. You can't see her face, but she seems annoyed.
"For what?"
"For being a complete jerk to you, and not listening to you. I'm sorry-" you say, before Saber cuts you off.
"No, no, no." Saber sighs, picking herself up off of the side of the house, giving you a disappointed look. You aren't sure what you're doing wrong, but it stings. Saber's never treated you with this sort of disrespect, so she must be more annoyed than you thought.
"I'm sorry for all of-" you try again, bowing down further.
"Oh, for god's sake... Master!" Saber squats down to eye level, grabbing your chin and forcing you to meet her gaze, before knocking you over with a quick flick to your forehead. Ow!
"Master, I'm not that mad at you. I'm just- ugh. Okay, fine."
"So you are mad at me!" You exclaim, propping yourself back up with your arms.
"Yes, if only because you're being stupid, Master!" Saber delivers another flick to your forehead, just as you were about to get up, knocking you back down to the ground. "Are you really this dense?"
You frown. "...Is this a love confession? I mean, I'm single, but-"
"NO!"
Well, it was worth a shot.
Saber sighs, plopping herself back down onto the grass besides you. "Sit down, Master." You oblige, sitting back down. She waits a second, letting you get settled, before saying anything. "Tell me, what did you do wrong?"
Well, that's obvious. "I started my apology too late, I should have-"
"Nope." She cuts you off. "Try again."
"I... should have gotten you a present, first?" You're only half-joking. Saber gives you a blank look, and you shut up.
"Look, you were well within your rights as a Master to punish me. I wouldn't have minded; you asked for my help, and I refused you. But when you refused to stand up for yourself, apologizing to me - that's the thing that bothers me. Johanna, you're my Master- I am your Servant. Not the other way around." Saber explains.
"...and?" You aren't sure what she's getting at, here.
"For you to be a good Master, you need to be in control. To take charge when things go wrong. You can't go and grovel, beg for me to help you. You shouldn't beg; back then, you should have ordered me or used a command seal. Insubordination shouldn't be tolerated."
From Saber's tone, this is a lecture a long time in the making. You shrink back, unconsciously, the outside feeling even colder than before. "And you need to use us to the best of your ability. You need to be a leader." She finishes.
"...Is there any chance I could resign? Elect you as leader?" You manage to ask. "Isn't this a democracy?"
"Nope, sorry Master." Saber shrugs, looking entirely unsympathetic to your plight. "Look, if it's any assurance, I believe you can do it. No wimp could summon Yamato Takeru. So just... promise me that you'll be the leader, okay? At least try to keep it to" She does a little fist pump.
Two promises in the same day. "Fine. I'll try to be more of a leader, I guess. Don't expect too much from me, though."
Before you can say anything else, however, Saber grabs you into a headlock. Ow, ow! - she rubs her knuckle over your head aggressively, only letting go once you tap her arm to concede. "Have more faith in yourself, Master. You're better at this stuff than I am, and you'll figure it out with less mistakes than me. I'd rather you be un-confident than overconfident."
Well, it's enough for you to know that Saber's back to normal, and that she isn't insulted by what you said. It's only a few hours later, when you're practicing magecraft, that you realize you never asked about her past, or even about the dream you had.
Meh, it can wait until later. You're sure it isn't that important.
...
It's not working. No matter how hard you practice, it isn't working. You fall back onto the cool grass, knocked onto your ass again as your magecraft sputters and fails.
Of course it isn't working, this isn't a comic or something, where new powers can be mastered in the blink of an eye.
And, for the umpteenth time, you wish that your ancestors had a guide for mastery over polarity. Scratch that, you wish that you had anything - a map, a teacher, even a scribbled note in the margins - anything that could help you figure something out. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you wish, it won't change a thing.
Well, time for attempt - one hundred thirty three? You aren't keeping track or anything, but... you pick yourself up, your knees groaning with strain as you focus. Up until now, you've been coasting off of Saber and Assassin's powers, staying inconspicuous like a good Master should.
Unfortunately, given Kiritsugu Emiya's preference for targeting the magus, you can't afford to stay idle any longer. You need some defensive techniques to protect yourself.
...and that's about how far you got while thinking about this problem.
Well, first things first, you need a trigger. Something that scares you, uncontrollably. Fear is the greatest motivator in a combat situation, and you need to tap into it on demand. Anything that can terrify you. Something like that. Think, think, think. What scares you?
The first thing that comes into mind is helplessness. Being strapped down, unable to do anything. Unable to blink, move your arms, legs, eyes, like when you were captured by Ryuunosuke except a thousand times worse. The fear churns in your gut; your magic circuits hum, glowing, burning a hole in your side... before finally dying down. Not good enough, huh?
Then - choking. Being unable to breathe, screaming for air as you're pulled under, whether it be by grasping hands or the elements themselves. Water, mud, and quicksand are all cruel mistresses, unwilling to let you leave their loving embrace. The fear grips you, and you feel your circuits power themselves on for a second. But again, it isn't visceral enough. These fears are too... known. You have to remember that the greatest fear is that of the unknown, of things best left forgotten. The Midnight World's terrors are far beyond human comprehension.
So.
Sinking. Yes, that's it. You close your eyes as you imagine it.
Sinking into the water, oily-black water that rises to your chest. You thrash about, trying to stay afloat, but the longer you do the more you realize that you aren't escaping this pit. What lies below the surface is beyond you, eldritch horrors of times past. And when the water rises up, engulfs you completely - you suppress a shiver. You've seen drowning victims before, and they terrify you. Thrashing, falling, watching the sun get swallowed up by the murky water. Plunged into darkness.
Your magic circuits hum in agreement, finally opening fully, and you feel the prana wash over you. It's like there's a giant AA battery hooked up to your system, flooding your muscles with a welcome buzz.
Even with the trigger, you still have the question of practicality and usage. Honestly, the main problem is that polarity isn't inherently useful. It needs metal to work, and (unfortunantly) you can't lug a giant metal sheet around whenever you need protection. And trying to block a bullet this way? A sure way to commit suicide. You simply don't have the material to do anything useful with polarity - and if you did have metal, it's not a gurantee that you'd be able to do something useful with it. Should you start carrying around metal objects, keep them on your person for emergencies?... no, not useful enough, though the image of Kiritsugu Emiya getting clocked in the face with a goddamn spoon is amusing. Metals? Too heavy. Think, Johanna. Keep it simple, stupid.
Wait. Maybe not carry metal around, but... hm. You remember hearing about another Mystic Code, one of pure silver. Liquid, portable, and small. That was the key. Admittedly, you can't even start to afford that - but maybe, you could make a budget version of that. Whispering a silent "sorry!" to Sakura and Kariya, you run into the garage. Printer fluid - toner, you grab that. Iron filings - you pause, before grabbing that as well. Vegetable Oil is in the kitchen cabinet. There's a plastic bucket in the garage; you flip it over, dumping as much printer fluid as you can into it. A two-to-three ratio; Vegetable Oil goes in next, and you can't resist a cackle of glee. You should've thought of this beforehand.
Magnetic fluid, also known as ferrofluid. Lightweight, magnetic, and indestructible. A budget Mystic Code. And while normally it isn't strong enough to do anything, you have iron filings. Shaking the bag of iron filings into the bucket, you swirl the contents around. It's heavier than you thought - but you've seen how it reacts to magnets.
With more than a little bit of trepidation, you let your magnetism grab hold of it-
And it explodes.
Not literally, but... you're thankful you were standing away from it, because the magnetic fluid ballooned outwards, the liquid solidifying and sharpening into spikes that hang in the air viciously. Like a giant, black pufferfish. You aren't sure how much of it is liquid and how much of it is metal, but you don't want to find out. Carefully, very carefully, you release your hold on it, letting the liquid seep back into the bucket where it sits, menacingly.
Well, at least it works, right? You'll probably have to move it into another container, maybe a bottle or something... but right now you're feeling the strain of one hundred and thirty-four failed attempts tugging at your eyelids, calling you to sleep. It's done; time to go to sleep.
You suppress a yawn, stretching and wincing as your back lets out an audible ache. That fluid won't go anywhere, you need your sleep, so it's an easy decision. Stumbling into bed, you fall asleep the instance your face touches your pillow.
...
Unfortunantly, your rest is not as quiet as you expected. Drip. Drip.
The ceiling is leaking. You can hear it, from where you sit. Your room wasn't leaking when you went to sleep. Drip. Drip.
Except you're not in your room anymore. Your back still aches, you're still tired, but you aren't in your room anymore. You're in the study, the floor still ruined, the bookcase still propped up against the door. It's like you didn't move an inch, from when you last were here. Drip. Drip.
"Really?" You groan, quietly, breaking the silence with your mutter. "Of course. Of course it would be leaking. This dream-place keeps on getting worse and worse. Well, I don't care." You're too tired to say anything more than that. And too scared to not say anything. Drip. Drip.
"I don't! Really, I don't." You keep talking, the silence of this room somewhat unerring. "I'm just going to sit here. Away from the creepy bloodspot, away from the door, and just... sit here. Maybe read a book." You pick yourself up, grabbing one of the books still lying on the shelf, only to find that the ink has run all over the pages, marking the pristine white with massive black splotches and making the entire book illegible.
You didn't want to read, anyways. Drip. Drip.
"Fine. I'll just sit here, then." Back to the corner it is, then. You sit down, back against the wall, staring defiantly at the door. "I am not coming out. You hear me!" You shout the last part. "I am not coming out. If you want something, come and get me." That can be arranged. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. DripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDripDrip-
The drops become a constant patter, a torrential torrent that you can't help but hear. A sound that permeates your mind, ringing, a constant drumbeat - you have just enough time to recognize that something's wrong, that this isn't right, before the walls tear themselves apart, the room filling to capacity in an single terrifying second. Mud that claws its way down your throat, burning violently like acid, even as you struggle to keep your head above the muck. Nothing but pure panic is keeping you afloat, and not for long.
You should've listened to me. A man's voice. You remember this - him, the man and the pool of blood around him, why, why now - It would have been easier for all of us. Now, you die alone, without ever fully comprehending what you are. His voice fades, disappearing. You struggle, pull yourself up, and-
"Quick! We don't have much time." The priest is infront of you - you can barely see his outline, your gaze clouded and unfocused. He shakes you, none too roughly - you realize with a shock that you can't see your body, can't move your body. "Dammit, what happened? What happened to Joan?... no, no. You need to get the other Servants, get them together- focus. FOCUS! You're fading away!" But his words are so... soft. Fluffy. You can't help but yawn-
-and the mud rushes in, consuming you in seconds, choking your life away. Something is being born, something so terrifying that you can't fully comprehend, there's nothing, nothing you can do except look at the horror of the void and silently scream. You have nothing, you can do nothing, nothing but-
die.
No. You can't let that happen. Focus, focus. He told you to focus, but focus on what? There's nothing around you, the very room swallowed up by the encroaching darkness, the mud covering your eyes, face - you can feel your heart beating, but that's about it. You're panicking - you can't, you can't panic or you'll sink further, faster. You have one shot; make it count.
[X] Think about what you need to do. You can't fall; not here, not now-!
[X] Think of the people who are counting on you. Saber, Caster, Assassin; you need to be there for them.
[X] Think of who you were. How you were, back then. Let the past give you strength, to fight for your survival. [X] Let the mud consume you. You're wanted here; this is where you belong, Johanna.
Adhoc vote count started by DoBetterLettuce on Aug 18, 2018 at 1:44 PM, finished with 16 posts and 14 votes.
[X] Think of the people who are counting on you. Saber, Caster, Assassin; you need to be there for them.
[X] Practice some actual attacks with your Magecraft. Studying research isn't enough to use your magecraft effectively; some basic ways of using Magecraft might be helpful. As for the type of Magecraft, you want to focus on
[X] Think of the people who are counting on you. Saber, Caster, Assassin; you need to be there for them.
I've always considered bonds with friends and family to be the most powerful motivator. Let's see if it works here.
