[X] Front-row seats!
- [X] Bring Ilya.
You watch the two Servants skirmish for a few moments, Rider dodging and deflecting Archer's sporadic arrows and striking back with her dagger, reeling it in by a chain when she misses. Then you sigh exaggeratedly and Ilya frowns at you. "Oh, just a little bored. I think I'll go watch the fight in person. Want to come with me?" Deis puts a hand over her eyes as Sella and Leysritt glower and step closer to Ilya protectively.
"Could you actually get there before the fight ends?" You grin at the curiosity in Ilya's voice and nod.
"Of course I …." You trail off and tilt your head as you consider the distance involved. "Well, I probably can. I suppose it depends on how long they keep fighting, but -" you glance at the scrying ball "- they don't seem to be in a hurry." Sella stiffens and glares at you.
"Lady Illyasviel, I cannot allow you to do this! It is far too dangerous!" Ilya nods absently.
"Can we leave immediately?" Sella's face, starting to redden with anger, goes ash-white as Ilya casually ignores her.
"We can, although you should probably put a coat on, and maybe something to cover your head as well." You glance at Deis as Ilya hurries out of the room, pursued by Leysritt. "You don't mind staying here, do you?" She shakes her head and smiles wryly at you.
"Have fun on your date." You stick your tongue out at her. To be honest, you could use Ershin - not only would it add another layer of protection to Ilya, but you would be able to go at your top speed instead of having to slow down. Of course, you aren't about to let anything harm Ilya if you can help it …. "Besides, I might be able to do some good here." She tilts her head in the direction of the shocked, dead-eyed servant. Well, if she wants to, she's welcome to it.
"Alright; Ilya and I will be back some time. You'll probably be able to see what's going on through that. I'll be back later." You hug around Deis, the best you can do, and give Ershin a hug as well, then head down to the entrance. Ilya doesn't make you wait long, and while you aren't sure that her hat is going to help much, she is wearing a thick velvet coat. "Are you ready?" She nods giddily and you step up to her. How to carry her …? You slip your arms under hers and clasp your hands behind her back, then put your wings over her shoulders, crossing them behind her back as well. She latches her arms around your neck as you lift off, and you peck her cheek, surprising her. "Don't worry." She returns your grin and you start moving in earnest. You have to keep your acceleration down as well, but it's still only a few seconds before you're climbing ever higher and soaring toward the hospital. Ilya seems to be getting more afraid, or at least nervous, and when her hat flies off as you level out and one hand darts up to catch it, her fingers dig into your shoulders and her heart rate jumps. You're travelling rather sedately, only a little faster than your cruising speed, and flying on your back to give Ilya the most secure ride possible. You blink and turn your head to look at Ilya. Did she really say …?
"Faster!" She still seems afraid, still clutches you, and glowing red sigils erupt across her face … but maybe she just wants to get there sooner. You nod and she digs her face into your shoulder, shivering a little. You zoom toward your destination, quickly doubling your speed as Ilya's power pulses against you in time with her rapid heartbeat. It's only a couple minutes until you're close enough to the hospital that you need to slow down, and then you land on a building away from the ongoing fight and wait for Ilya to calm down before brushing her hair back and setting her hat on her head.
"A slower pace back?" Ilya nods, smiling, before turning to the fight. You take the opportunity to take your clones out and turn them invisible, then you pick Ilya back up and move closer to the fight. The battle's tempo has increased since you last saw it - instead of letting Archer pluck his bow carelessly at her, Rider has gone on the offensive, and Archer is using his swords to fend her off. Ilya frowns and shakes her head, leaning forward to get a better look at the dueling Servants. You tilt your head and study them as well; the red knight's blocks are last-second affairs, incomplete deflections that occasionally lead to scratches and grazing hits, and Rider is pushing him across the rooftop, but it almost seems like he's controlling the fight. Certainly, he doesn't seem as worried as he should be …. Perhaps Rider sense it as well, because she leaps back, disengaging and letting Archer regain his composure. He smirks as Rider stiffens and starts to look back at the hospital, and then he goes on the attack. Rider immediately removes her blindfold, but a pair of azure lights begin shining on Archer's shoulders, and he seems unaffected. At this range, you and Ilya should be safe enough, since even at point-blank you weren't petrified immediately, but you place a clone directly in front of her, staring at Rider, just in case. Archer begins pushing Rider back, driving her at an angle toward the side of the building, out of line with her defensive position, and Rider, either disoriented or not understanding his purpose, lets him. You shake your head as Archer's swords lash out against Rider; her weapon isn't suited for defense, while his are effective in both roles, and by the time she realizes what he's doing and tries to turn against him to put herself between him and the hospital, she's bleeding from several shallow injuries. Ilya sighs unhappily - and a figure in blue and silver bursts over the edge of the roof and charges for the two combatants.
Archer and Rider disengage just in time to avoid Saber's assault, but she turns her back to Rider and focuses entirely on Archer. The dynamic altered in her favor, Rider's blindfold returns and she leaps for the roof-edge, then hurls herself toward the hospital. Archer shakes his head and shifts his stance to a more defensive one. Saber charges again and Archer receives the assault without retreating, his swords whipping back and forth to parry her strikes and launch ripostes. Your eyes narrow as the two Servants break off after several seconds of inconclusive combat - Archer wasn't putting this much effort into his fight against Rider, even when he attacked her toward the end. Why wouldn't he be trying to kill her? He darts forward, perhaps seeking to overwhelm Saber by putting her on the defensive, but between her blade and her armor, she repels him and chases after him. You growl softly as the Servants clash once more - you've fought multiple Servants and seen them fight. You aren't going to be able to get by simply by overpowering them and breaking through their guards. You could, perhaps, rely on your resilience and regeneration, but … that nearly ruined you against Lancer. Fortunately, your clones are keeping an eye out, so if the spearman seeks retribution against you or Ilya, you should be able to deal with him. You're definitely going to have to put real effort into any fights with Servants ….
"Oh? I would have thought you would do better against a mere faker, Saber." Having just disengaged from another meaningless combat with Archer, Saber leaps back toward the hospital and stares toward the new voice. You and Ilya look as well as a blond man walks out of a small structure at the top of the roof - the same one you saw in the parking lot before.
"Archer? But …." You frown at the appellation - there's already an Archer, isn't there? - then your eyes widen as a spear erupts from a golden light and hurtles toward the red knight. He deflects it with his swords and is already diving over the edge of the roof when a spinning axe buries itself in the side of the building you and Ilya are on. The blond man laughs.
"You thought I died? Come now, I am not so weak. Or do you need a reminder of my might?" Saber takes a step back and raises her invisible blade defensively, but the man ignores her and turns to you and Ilya. His eyes settle briefly on Ilya and harden slightly, although is confident smile doesn't waver. "Filthy homunculus. I should destroy you for daring to meddle with one of my treasures." Your eyes narrow at the disdain in his voice, and your clones scatter forward as Berserker appears at Ilya's side. He looks at you. "You will have a visitor tomorrow night. Entertain me, and I may allow you to reside in my garden for a while longer. Do not bore me, vampire." He casually sweeps his right arm out, and a wall of golden lights appears above and around him - fifty-two weapons peek out at you, swords, spears, axes, and more.
What do you do?
[ ] Thank him for the warning.
- [ ] And withdraw with Ilya back to her castle.
- [ ] And withdraw, taking Ilya back to her castle then taking Deis and Ershin back to the temple.
- [ ] Engage in defensive maneuvers with Ilya while your clones attack 'Archer.'
- [ ] Ask him who he is, since there already is an Archer, but Saber called him that.
- [ ] Have a danmaku fight with him.
- - [ ] First touch, no Spell Cards.
- - [ ] One Spell Card, use Taboo "Laevateinn."
[ ] Tell him to hire better gardeners.
- [ ] Full assault, let Berserker protect Ilya.
- [ ] Engage in defensive maneuvers with Ilya while your clones attack 'Archer.'
[ ] Other?
DM NOTE: There is a possibility that the next update will be delayed until Thursday.
