Fate/Stay Royal

The act of standing made Bazett feel sick. That was enough to inform her that the bloodloss had started to get to her. Her breath came in deep, ragged and sharp gasps. Each one was deeper, harder. It was getting more and more difficult to keep going.

A plan. She needed a plan. Which direction could she even go? Lancer stood in the way of the exit...

Whatever was between Caster and Lancer passed within a brief moment. Perhaps it was a drop of water they had mutually agreed would be the start of their battle. Maybe it was a look in the eyes. Maybe it was even the flash of the intent to kill. Whatever it was, the two Servants moved like two rockets, exploding forward and swinging their respective weapons to kill.

The clash of wood against what looked like red bone rang out like a scream in the night. It was the beginning of a clash of two legends in many ways. The two Servants shifted, swung and flowed like a pair of lightning bolts, jumping about each other and smashing into each other with a roar in the night. Water sprayed everywhere, and the air was no longer still.

Bazett felt her lips twist into a frown, as she used her hand to help herself stumble back towards the window. She knew how to escape now. This was the best way to escape. After all, she could see the sun beginning to peak over the horizon. She knew where to flee to. She knew how to recover. She knew how to survive.

To live, she had to tend to her body. Food. Rest. She needed these two things most of all. The rage and adrenaline could only last so long, and she had reached the end of the tether that would allow her to continue acting. Within the confines of the Holy Grail War, there was only one golden rule.

Do not fight in a way that will bring the existence of magecraft to light.

Glancing at the war smashing through walls and bouncing about the room, Bazett could already see the problem of fighting a Lancer as a Caster. No matter how strong Caster's magic was, she needed the opportunity to cast it. Maybe she just didn't like magic, and the broom was far more comfortable for her, yet the absurdity of choosing a broomstick as ones weapon struck to Bazett's core. Did Caster not take this seriously, or-

The two Servants bounced apart, Lancer's spear spinning. Bazett knew the motion. He was drawing Runes.

"Caster, fire!"

She knew the Rune for Ansuz. It was amazing that Lancer could use such a basic rune, even if it was considered the cornerstone Rune that could be called both basic and primeordial, to do so much. Caster blinked for only a moment, before taking a step back, the broomstick whipping back, and-

Wait. Where was the rune?

Bazett didn't have time to contemplate the answer as her ribs exploded in pain. Caster, it seemed, had made a decision for her. The wall smashed out from behind Bazett as the broomstick smashed into her chest. Time seemed to slow, as she realised she had left the building entirely, air whipping around her and the bitter, dark tang of betrayal in her throat.

Why? Why had Cas-

The walls, or what was left of them, exploded in a great ball of fire.

How? Was Lancer truly that skilled with Runes? It seemed to be beyond belief.

Bazett wasn't able to give the idea much more thought, as she tumbled through the air and towards the ground. Everything was moving entirely too fast. She was sure that she was going to die from the ground.

Indeed, the ground cracked apart as something collided with it, but it was not Bazett's body, but rather, Caster's foot.

"Forgive me, Master, but I hate that Lancer with a passion." She declared dryly, looking down at Bazett's crumpled form with her mouth set in a thin line. "You alright there?"

Bazett did not answer. Instead, her face turned to the ground, and what little was left in her stomach left her body. Caster's face softened, as she let out a deep breath. The crash on the ground nearby indicated that Lancer had followed them. This could only end poorly.

Then everything became entirely too hot, as something large burned into existence in Caster's hand.

"I suggest you respect the rule of daylight, Lancer. There will not be another warning." Her voice was low and dangerous. Bazett could hear a whistle, as Lancer started pacing from barely ten metres away.

"That's... well, I wasn't expecting to see that."

"Then you know what I'll do if you take another step."

"Geez. That dedicated, huh." Lancer paused, steps stopping. Bazett could vaguely see what it was Caster had summoned. It was some sort of giant sword, a hilt more like a staff then a handle. Something was inside it, but she couldn't make out what. Whatever it was, the perfect clairvoyance of Master's simply could not properly comprehend it. The world felt like it was turning to magma, as if the sun itself was descending.

What the hell did Mordred have? What had history failed to record?

The two Servants were locked in a stalemate. Lancer of Black's lips steadily pursed, as he settled deeper and deeper into a crouch, as if ready to hurl his spear. One, two, three-

The number of runes lighting the air around him was more then Bazett's fading vision could count. He intended to do something excessive. Was this the fabled Ochd Deug Odin? The final word at worlds end? Could Cu Chulainn even deploy that?

Then the runes were gone, the rapidly rising heat faded, and both Servants let out a sigh.

"What a killjoy."

"God damn prick."

Why both Servants were upset, Bazett wasn't sure, but their weapons and armaments had already melted away, Lancer shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Well, guess that's it." Lancer grumbled. "Tch. Well, one tonight was good enough." With that, he started to march away. Caster did not even raise her voice against him, simply standing still as if spellbound. After nearly a minute, it occured to Bazett that she actually was.

"Ruler. I am going to hang you by your entrails." She grumbled at last, letting out a explosive breath as she shifted Bazett onto her back. It was certainly more comfortable, at least.

"You were spellbound?"

"Obviously. Bastard blew a Command Spell." Caster answered dryly. After a long moment, her face softened. "He was probably right to. My temper might have gotten the better of me."

"What was that?"

"Something I shouldn't have drawn." Caster's voice indicated she did not intend to discuss it further. "Where to, Master? Tell me you have another safe house."

"Of a sort." Bazett answered cryptically, almost cheekily, letting ehr eyes begin to droop. "Just start walking that way. I'll tell you when to stop." If Caster wished to keep her Noble Phantasm a secret, then for the moment, Bazett would honour that secret. There was no need to pry.


"Here."

"Here? Its a bench by a park."

"Exactly. No one can attack here." Bazett answered dryly. "Nevermind the grudges, the shear number of people here means that no one would dare attack while its day."

The location that Bazett had pointed out was a small park in the middle of a shopping mall. It was already becoming crowded, with markets opening their stalls and the early birds already shopping for the best deals. Japan's market culture was one that was almost alien to Bazett, who couldn't claim to be a particularly early riser. After all, most of her best work was done at night.

"Wait, you're going to sleep right there?"

"Yep. Here's some change. Get us food." Bazett's lips twisted into a small grin. "Please hurry, I'm not going to last long."

Caster just stared, before blowing a stray bang out of her face with a huff and snatching up the coinage.

"Master, you are crazy."

"Sure. Just hurry." Caster stared for only a moment longer, before striding off and making her way to what looked like something selling fried food. Bazett didn't mind, beyond noting to herself that Caster apparently had a taste for junk food. "Man I messed up."

She shouldn't have hesitated. She should have been ready at any moment to deploy the Answerer. That hesitation, that feeling of existential wonder and mystery as she observed that incredible Runecraft, had almost cost her life.

How had Lancer done that? Runes needed to be inscribed in what they were effecting. That was the golden rule. Yet the Ansuz rune had been inscribed inside the walls. If she hadn't seen Lancer create them, she would have had no hope of knowing they were there. Was this the difference between herself and one of the rune magi of old? That was a gap that no one could hope to contend with.

"Here."

Caster drew Bazett out of her reverie with a cup of karrage. The smell was heavenly, yet Bazett struggled to swallow her first piece. The second piece was far easier.

"Thank you." She muttered. "For the food. And for saving me."

"Think nothing of it. I'm going to skewer him on a pike before the end of this." Caster muttered under her breath, settling down beside Bazett. "What that imposter got off on, I don't know."

"Imposter?" Bazett blinked, glancing at Caster. "What do you mean?"

"That spear. It's not made of bone at all. He's not any of Ulster's greats." She retorted. "Why the hell is he pretending he's a warrior of Ulainn then?"

Bazett blinked. Her muddled mind twisted the words for a long moment.

"It wasn't Gae Bolg?"

"I've seen Gae Bolg. That wasn't Gae Bolg." Caster answered. "At least, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Human perception says Gae Bolg has two forms." Caster muttered. "If it's not a spear, then its-"

"A magic spell." Bazett finished. Whether that truly meant anything, Bazett wasn't sure. There was only one man who could use Gae Bolg. If it was a spell, then Lancer was still that one man. "So nothing really has changed..."

Caster bit her lip, as if holding her tongue. She did not, ultimately, answer.

"Sleep, Master. You look dead."

"I will..."

Caster made entirely too nice a pillow, anyway.

"...don't...ser."

"...expe...ou..."

"...ings...al..."

Bazett's sleep was long. At some point, she was sure she had some vague recollection of Caster speaking to another person, yet the discussion, no matter the venom hidden beneath their lips, did not break vague whispers. The need for true rest was too great, and even Bazett's sense to avoid danger could not keep her awake long in the face of utter danger.

It was mid-afternoon. That was the first thing she realised as her eyes opened. Caster, it seemed, had not moved at all from her spot, green eyes absently scanning the world around them.

"How long?" Bazett asked, sitting up and stretching like a cat. Caster raised an eyebrow, leaning back a little in the seat.

"About ten hours, give or take." She answered. "You look a bit better." A bit better was one way to put it. Rest was one of the few ways to regenerate the magical energy in the blood. Bazett no longer felt like death warmed up anymore.

"Who found us?" She asked. Caster blinked, before shrugging, her gaze returning to the crowds.

"A Saber, an Assassin and an Archer." She answered. "The Assassin was with his Master. Some silver haired man and a girl with dark brown hair. He looked too comfortable with this place. The Archer was a man with gold locks. He was dragging his Master around. Someone with blue hair, looked almost like seaweed."

"And the Saber?"

"... It's for the best you don't know about blondie." The venom she said the words with made Bazett think it was someone that Mordred had known in life. Given what Bazett knew of geneology, there was a reasonable guess at who it might have been. Perhaps it was best to leave it at that.

In a Holy Grail War, it was a given the strongest Servants would be summoned, within reason. The relics of the Knights of the Round Table were some that the Clock Tower had the easiest access to. The line was easy to draw.

"Right." Bazett muttered. "Are you rested?"

"Shouldn't you ask yourself that?" Caster asked, standing. "Well, what next?"

"What next?"

"We have no safe house." Caster noted. "Those who fight alone usually die alone."

"You think we should seek out other Servants?"

"We need to do something. The White Faction only has one Servant, and that's me. If we want to win, we need to play the long game."

The long game. Well, in some ways, it was not such a long game. The Holy Grail needed seven Servants to activate. With fifteen Servants present, that meant that just under half the Servants had to die.

It would be easiest if they joined one faction and killed the other, but that would leave the surviving faction in a mad dash for the Grail. It also assumed that neither faction had turncoats. It was inevitable that some Servants would decide that their faction was not working and betray the others.

"Maybe." Bazett pursed her lips as she started to walk.

"Maybe?"

"There is more nuance to th-" Whatever was on Bazett's lips died almost immediately as a man bumped into her, stumbling on in a daze. "Huh?"

"Oi! Bastard, what ar-" Bazett just held up her hand. After a moment, and a blush, she held up the other one, realising she'd tried to hold up her non-existent hand.

"It's fine."

"What do you mean fine?"

"He's not real." As predicted, he melted away not long after he entered the crowd. Caster let out a whistle at the display of magecraft finess.

"That was a neat trick."

"Yeah." Bazett's hand reached into her pocket as she started pondering. Why did Caster not know that was magic? Was her knowledge limited, or was it something else? Fake bodies were a illusion that wasn't that uncommon, though it did take a certain level of extreme talent to produce them. They were a favourite of some of the more cranky instructors at the Clock Tower. It made for a excellent introduction, at least.

Within her pocket, was something very real. Bazett could feel the groan escaping her throat as she read the letter and crushed it.

"Bad news?"

"Potentially very. I didn't know there were three of us."

"Three of who?"

"Association Magi. I killed one and took his place. Another has been dead for at least two weeks. I just don't know if he summoned first."

"And the third?"

"Wants to meet."

"Do you?"

That was a good question.

[ ] Meet the Magus at Mion South Shrine.
[ ] Stay within Shinto and find a base of Operations.
[ ] Invade the Tohsaka residence.
[ ] Head to Ryudou Temple.
[ ] Seek the Assistance of the Einzberns.
[ ] Strike while the iron is hot. Where is the church?