[] A towering man built like a God. His body seemingly chiseled from stone as he looked over Hans with a regal aura, his crimson spear resembling a tree.
What appeared was a man. No, simply describing him as such would be a disservice to his grand appearance. He was a man whom towered over many of the mortal men Chiyome had seen so far. In the presence of Hans, he stood proudly with his back straight and his eyes settled upon his Master.
He was built like a God and every corner of his form seemingly chiseled from ancient stone. He had a regal aura, an imperial presence which held the depth of an ancient Hero. Such a man now stood before the young Magus.
"You have been a pleasant Host, Hans Derrinsmith. Defeating Archer and Assassin alongside Saber had been the right choice. It's only a matter of time until Caster knows of your victory," the man declared as he stepped forward.
"You grace me with such generous words," Hans replied with a nod, "I'm merely a participant and observer. This war is but another footnote to Rome's great legacy, Lancer."
"Spare me your words, Magus. I am more than pleased with our performance," Lancer said as he chuckled with his deep voice, "Truly we have come far. You've proven yourself well, Hans."
"I... Still don't know. I've only managed to get where I am thanks to your strength. Without it, I surely would have lost a long time ago," Hans replied as he shook his head.
"And yet you haven't given up. An exemplary display of Roman spirit!" Lancer laughed jovially before patting the shorter Magus on the back, "Tell me, boy. I've seen your dreams. Is it worth it all?"
"What is?" Hans asked as he coughed and glanced up at his Servant.
"This war of yours. The path you tread is no simple one. You've won two Wars and no doubt you have many more to follow," Lancer said as he gave Hans a serious look, "Would you be strong enough to finish them all?"
"Worth it or not, it's something I've decided on," Hans replied as with a small smile, "Even if it takes me years, even if my body falls apart, I just want to win. It's not an easy journey, I would kill many but that's my curse to bear."
Chiyome stared at the man before her and recalled. So he had been asked that question once before. No, it might have been thrice already. Just how many times had his servants questioned his Wish?
Had his answers changed then from when she asked him?
"Whether you accomplish it or not would depend on the fire blazing in your heart. No matter the storms or blizzards that you may find crashing against, so long as you persist, you will achieve it," Lancer said as he looked out the shining city, "But while your spirit would endure, your body could only handle so much."
"But if I allow such limitations to hinder me, then I'm not cut out for this path at all," Hans replied as he looked down his command seal, "Rome wasn't built in a day, Romulus. From the day you founded it, it took Emperor's and the Empire's people years to turn it into the shining legacy you left behind. As such, my dream, my journey for atonement will also take time and toll on my body."
The demigod looked down on him and chuckled heartily.
"Then may Mars grant you the strength and fortitude for such a task," Lancer laughed out loud as he crossed his arm, "A shame that we cannot visit ROMA but I have seen enough! Let us conclude this war, Master!"
Chiyome stared at her Master and his former Servant as they stood side by side. The memory began to shift and the scenery changed. Gone was the high rise room she was in as she stood at the ruins of a collapsed building.
Flames danced as she watched Lancer take a blow to his chest. Blood danced in the air as a white haired man wielding an executioner's sword thrust into him.
"Such persistence! That too is ROMA!" Lancer laughed through his bloody smile, "Run! Run Master! Take the Grail!"
Hans held up his hand and activated his command seal, "Lancer! Activate your Noble Phantasm!'
Lancer grinned as he grabbed on to the Servant before him, "We go together, Mr. Sanson! Be honoured for the Glory of ROME!"
Shoving back the Servant, Lancer summoned his Spear and thrust it into the ground.
"My road... Leads to glorious Rome. Let yours lead you to your Wish and may it free you from your guilt, Master!" Lancer laughed as trees surged from the ground and reached for the skies.
The figure of Lancer and his opponent vanished, leaving Hans all by himself. He stood before Lancer's noble phantasm and swallowed.
"Freedom, huh?" Hans breathed as he turned to find the Grail manifesting at last. He walked up to it and reached out, "Thanks, Romulus..."
And the dream began to end.
.....
....
...
You had a dream.
A dream of an old friend that gave his all in that final battle. It was... A pretty good dream. You sat up and felt for your left arm and grimaced. You blinked before you looked up to see Assassin standing nearby.
You blinked in surprise, "Good morning. Is something wrong?"
Assassin looked like she wanted to say something but found that her words wouldn't come out. Eventually, she managed to force her words out as she took off her ribbon concealing her serpent eye.
She looked at you with a determined look and said, "Heroes... Greater than I have paved the path for you towards this stage. Seeing your memories, I've come to realize the gravity of your journey... And yet despite my inadequacy, you've been nothing but generous, kind and understanding. Should I fail you, I would also fail the Heroic Spirits that came before me."
"Are you afraid?" You asked her as you moved your blanket aside and sat on the edge of your bed.
"We fight in a war where other Heroic Spirits are my betters. We're allied with a volatile Magus with command over blackened Servants. The God of Storms himself crossed Blades with me and made my cursed blood shudder. Of course I'm afraid, but not for myself... I am afraid that if I fail, you would continue your battles elsewhere should you not perish here," Assassin said as she walked up to you with her fists clenched, "You would fight and fight, I realize that you will never be free. Because it's only through your wish that you will find release. So how could you sit there all calm like when I am imperfect."
You stared at her as she glared at you with a harsh gaze. You studied her expression and recalled a lot of things.
"It's not the first time my Servants got angry with me. But it's certainly a first that I've been yelled at for that," you admitted as you shrugged.
"Hans!" Chiyome snapped.
You winced before looking up to meet her gaze. You then replied, "To be honest, I'm not calm at all. I think and think, I couldn't stop thinking. I find myself doubting every move, overanalyzing situations, having plans collapse and risk everything. I'm also afraid but I wouldn't have ever gotten this far by being scared. I made it because as you said, Heroes have paved the path for us. I can handle being calm because these Heroes from history reached out to me and helped me."
Chiyome blinked in surprise at that as you grabbed your cane and slowly stood up.
"They believed in my wish. They know the road I'm on isn't simple... I'm calm because we went so much together... And I'm calm because you're here, Chiyome," you replied as you turned to her, "Fate always sent me Heroes that would help me... But you're different."
You pulled a candy bar out of your drawer and bit off the wrapping. Taking a bite out of the caramel flavoured sweet, you savoured it's taste as you glanced at your Servant.
"But maybe this time, I suppose I can help you," you told her with a smile before biting on to your candy and offering her another.
Assassin stared at the candy bar before taking it. She unwrapped it and took a bite. Chewing, she had her eyes widen as the two of you stood in silence.
Eventually, you spoke up, "Good, isn't it?"
"Yes. It is... Sweet," Assassin murmured as she took another bite.
......
.....
....
"So you're taking Berserker out for a walk?" Manaka asked you as the two of you stood at your building's rooftop.
You leaned on your cane and nodded, "It's only for tonight. You have his Command Seals. You can pull him out as you please."
"That's not necessary," Manaka said as she held her hands behind her back, "I just hope you know what your getting into. Fighting such nasty people... And all for Miyu's sake?"
"I made a promise. I intend to keep it," you replied as you shook your head.
"You coat it as you not caring but you're surprisingly soft inside. You should be careful Hans, others may just use that as a weakness," Manaka warned you as she held her hands behind her back, "In any case, I'll be leaving Berserker to you."
"Going somewhere?" You asked with a frown.
Manaka looked up the sky with a wistful look and said, "Well... No. But I am looking into something. I
feel something in this world but, it seems far... And it reminds me of
Him."
"Your King?" You asked with a frown.
"Perhaps. In some form or the other," Manaka said with a serene smile.
Thorned Paths
[] Ask Manaka if she's been killing more than she should. Confront her about the disappearances you've been hearing about.
[] Offer her your aid. Keep to her good side and open an offer that you'll help her go wherever she wished once all is said and done.
[] You should leave. You need to finalize your attack on the Luctworth base tonight and find Miyu's mother.
[] "Hey Manaka... What do you think of futile dreams? Would you accept the meaninglessness of it all or would you keep struggling to the end?"
