erbe | Eins

[ Ever since that terrible end to her experience in the fourth grail war, Saber waited outside the bounded realm of time. She stewed in her despair, cursing the name of Kiritsugu Emiya for forcing her to destroy her one hope of salvation. In the moments that followed she drowned in the black mud that festered inside, the deluge spreading out like an ocean and consuming all it touched. The agony that she suffered in those few moments overwhelmed her mind, and as she thought that her end had finally arrived, she found herself thrust back onto that desolate hill.

Something changed inside her. That much she knew for certain. She felt the corruption festering her soul, tearing away at her mind and forcing her to feel despair greater than anything she knew before. She wished for nothing more than death, yet when she felt the tugging of the grail drawing her back to Fyukui how could she refuse? She of all people knew that second chances were rare, and the possibility of reverting everything that had gone wrong in her life seemed too enticing to pass up.

The tumultuous sound of a thunderclap heralded her arrival as she materialized in the Tohsaka living room. Raw magical energy cackled forth, sundering the room and scattering books, furniture, and knickknacks as the room tried to contain the summoning energy. After a few moments it dissipated, forcing itself outward as it blew out the windows. Rin would have a fun time trying to explain that one to the neighbors in the morning.

For the moment though Saber paused as she gazed around the room, surveying the chaos of her entrance. Inside that time freeze on the hill, she felt trapped inside her own mind. Here in the more permanent world she could feel how heavy her new armor felt on her frame, yet at the same time she felt stronger than ever before. She paused, extending her hand to examine her dark purple gauntlet, but only for a moment. She pushed her thoughts to the side. More pressing matters demanded her attention.

Where was her Master? Had something gone wrong with the summoning ritual? ]

[No. Something is wrong. Rin knows it immediately when her servant isn't before her after the summoning, and her heart sinks to her stomach when she hears the loud crash from another room. The new master darts her way through the house to come upon a trashed room. Curtains awry, wood splintered and furniture crushed, she stares in absolute dismay at the mess before her. At least, for Rin's benefit, her neighbors live far enough away. Living up on the hill away from the other houses has some benefit after all.

Barreling in, Rin throws open the door to the room. She's prepare for anything, or at least she thinks she is, but all that self assurance dies away upon seeing the form of her servant.

Not shock, but awe takes hold of her. The way the moonlight filters in and glints off the armor, how it reflects in her hair and illuminates the pale skin of the foreign woman in the room... The stunning image takes her breath away, and prevents her from turning on the light in favor of staring. There's an underlying tone of something wrong here, but that nagging feeling is so small that she ignores how it makes the room feel heavy.

The fingers on the hand that holds her command seals twitch. She takes a half step forward, but she's at a loss for words.]

[ She's young. That's the first thing that Saber thinks of as Rin enters the room. Saber doesn't have much room to talk with how Merlin's magic kept her eternally young, aging suppressed and even standing a few inches shorter than the magus who summoned her. By all accounts it's hard to tell whether she's male or female with that heavy armor, her complexion of relative androgyny only complicating matters. The softness of her face belies her femininity, but her posture carries the harshness of the King of Knights who led the warriors of Britain into battle.

An aura of nobility surrounds her, barely able to suffocate the miasma of corruption that lurks underneath. For the moment it remains understated, but if Rin were to focus enough she would be able to notice it. Saber feels it as well festering in her soul, but she brushes the thought to the side. She needs to focus on other things.

Such as introductions. ]

I assume that you are the one who has summoned me to take part in the Holy Grail War?

[ Her tone his cold and emotionless, hinting just a tinge of harshness. The question doesn't demand an answer, but none the less it shows Saber's no nonsense attitude. ]

Edited (Spelling and grammar mistakes) 2017-10-25 03:25 (UTC)

[It takes time for Rin to recover. Not from the heavy blow to her mana supply (instead her fatigue will hit her while she sleeps) but from holding her breath. When she finally breathes and can form words she steps forward to answer.]

—Yes.

[Like thunder her heart pounds in her chest as her pulse throbs in her ears. She did it. She summoned a Servant, and now she's cemented her place among the seven to fight in the War. Another step forward. Rin swallows and gathers her courage. Slowly her hand raises to put on display the command seals that mark her as a Master.]

And what land's Heroic Spirit are you?

[ Saber notices Rin's almost hesitant posture. The fact that Rin pauses to summon her courage as she presents those command seals is worrisome. Everything about her shows that she's still young and untested, never having once come close to experiencing anything like the hellish nature that the war will create. Saber had hoped for someone more experienced, and she almost scoffs at the question. ]

You wish to know my origin? Did you not use a catalyst? I suppose that would explain why I was not summoned at your side. Who instructed you on how to perform the summoning ritual?

[ Clearly inexperienced, but Saber will pass over that for now. Who knows? It might end up being a boon having to deal with someone younger after suffering through the past war with Kiritsugu.

Still Rin asked a question, and as her master she deserved an answer. ]

I hail from England.

[Her hesitancy doesn't come from fear or uncertainty, but more from being struck by wonder from Saber's appearance. Despite the corruption that bubbles and festers inside her, like a rotting wound, she still holds that notable air of dignity about her. And yet that awestruck feeling is quick to burn away when Saber questions her, and implies her technique was imperfect — which is... true, but it still gets her blood boiling!

With the flick of a wrist she hits the light switch as she passes it. Warm, ambient light fills the room with all the lamps turning on. A contrast to the cold air that filters through the blown out windows.]

I did not have access to a catalyst [the one that father left in his will was all but destroyed, from the looks of it] and I'm mostly self-taught.

[Sure, Kirei instructed her in some things, but she much preferred learning from a dusty book than even hear his voice. Giving him credit for anything is out of the question.]

I see.

[ There's no strict condemnation in Saber's tone, but merely simply accepting Rin's words. The self-taught might be able to grasp the basic concepts, but the underlying subtleties and techniques remain unlearned. Most likely Rin copied the summoning ritual from a book, messed up on a word in the mantra or a line on the summoning circle, and the end result was Saber appearing with a burst of mana that destroyed the living room.

Saber puts off questioning her master's ability further as she turns on the lights. Rin would be able to see just how pale Saber's skin is in the proper light, and that combined with her yellow eyes gave her a deathly appearance. Even her hair is a silvery blonde, and red marks run up her cheek. Combined with the red streaks that almost resemble blood that run across her armor, Saber barely looks like anything that one could call a Heroic Spirit. ]

How many other servants have been summoned? Have you been able to determine anything about the other masters?

[The appearance is a little alarming. Her Servant looks sickly, and jaundiced. Rin's eyes narrow, but at least the woman before her doesn't show any sign of weakness from her... condition.

The young magus stands before Saber with her arms loosely crossed under her chest. She tries focusing to read the parameters of the 'card' she drew, though with such a large burst of energy released at arrival she must be strong. Right? Rin decides not to derail the conversation with more of her own questions.]

You are the sixth, and I have not. The Holy Grail War has yet to begin.

So there is still time to prepare. Excellent. The grail has given me a basic understanding of the world as it is today, but I will require more. In the morning I would like a tour of the city.

[ It's not that she particularly needs it. Her memories of Fuyuki should serve her well, but still it would be nice to get a refresher and see what has changed in the years that she's been gone. It would also give them time to potentially identify the usual suspects when it came to the Grail Wars. In her mind the three easy targets are the Matou, Eiznbern, and Tohsaka clans. Because surely such an inexperienced magus who botched the summoning ritual could not hail from those families. Right? Right??

Saber hasn't had a chance to look in the mirror since the end of the fourth grail war, so she simply chalks up Rin's narrow eyes to the dark color of her armor. Saber's 'Card' is fairly standard for her class. High strength and endurance, mediocre luck, and relatively low agility. However what's particularly noticeable is her store of mana. Most knight classes have a middling mana store that's supplemented by their master's supply, but Saber's is absolutely massive, seemingly endless. It seems on par with what one would expect from a caster class servant, but rather than a pristine supply it's festering at the edges and oozing with darkness and corruption. It would lend one to think that she's a beserker, but her rational talk and lack of the madness enhancement speak otherwise. She's a complete enigma, but without a doubt extraordinarily powerful. ]

[She was planning on going to school, but considering the time and the absolute drain summoning is going to be on her mana supply... Skipping school for the day is probably best. Rin nods in acknowledgment as the soft drift of the room's curtains in the breeze catches her eyes. Honestly she'd want the person responsible for the mess to clean it up (UH EXCUSE YOU RIN YOU ARE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE IT WAS YOUR FAULTY SUMMONS) but since Saber is so... Well it's hard to explain, but she feels a little swayed by her. A sort of admiration that's difficult to put to quantify or put to words.

Beginning to use what's left of her mana supply, Rin starts cleaning up at least the glass so that the winter air doesn't fill the house. Fuyuki has warm winters, but it's still cold enough to warrant some complaints.]

We can go tomorrow after I rest and have breakfast. I'll show you some of the more important points of the city. Oh — and what's your Noble Phantasm? So I'll know how to strategically use it.

My Phantasm is an anti-fortress type. Due to its nature, collateral damage is all but expected. If you wish to avoid unnecessary destruction, I will need an open area to utilize it.

[ A cryptic answer, but Rin didn't ask for anything more than that. Throughout the whole conversation Saber had not moved, but as she sees Rin using her mana to undo the damage to the glass, she takes a step forward. ]

Master, you should sleep. I understand it is late, and you will need to be well rested for tomorrow. If something were to happen while we are out, I will need you at full strength. I understand that there are 'rules' that we are expected to follow for this war, but when the prize is so great we should not expect others to follow them. We will need to be alert from now on. Leave the clean up to me.

[ It's a tactical decision. Nothing more. Nothing less. ]

[Open area... the now 'park' where the Fuyuki Fire took place at the end of the fourth Grail War should suffice for that. They could always try to lure Master and Servant pairs over that way. Though when her Saber calls out to her Rin gives pause.]

Alright... That sounds like a good idea.

[She is tired. She doesn't feel it now, but soon the fatigue will catch up with her and she'll feel like microwaved death. The magus steps away from the mess, smooths out her clothes.]

Good night, ah — what should I call you again?

[The look on her face is clear that she knows, but she also knows this Servant is hiding things from her. Rin wants to hear her say it.]

[ The park is by all accounts an excellent place for Saber to utilize her Noble Phantasm. The only downside is the fact that going back there ranks very, very low on places Saber wants to visit.

Then comes the question of her true name. It's not that Saber is ashamed of who she is (who is she kidding she has all the self confidence issues), but rather after the end of the last grail war maguses are some of the people she trusts the least. Saber doesn't dislike Rin, but rather that she'll have to work on earning her trust before she starts opening up. ]

For now you may refer to me as Saber. It is proper for a Master to refer to their Servant by their title, no?

[A smile spreads across her lips. Just as she expected. She wanted a true name, but her class and Noble Phantasm is really all she truly needs for strategy, so that's what she expected.]

Of course. Good night, Saber. I will see you in the morning.

[Saber might not like it, but Rin will sleep until the later morning. She needs the rest, and even when she wakes up she'll still feel exhausted. Rin wills herself out of the warmth of her bed and downstairs. She has breakfast, showers to try and refresh herself, and they'll be out of the house around lunch time. It leaves the whole afternoon for them to explore the city on foot by day, and check out better vantage points from rooftops at night.

What Rin doesn't expect is Saber's appetite when they pass by a restaurant whose smells waft to their noses from across the street.]

[ Saber will let Rin rest as much as she pleases. Later on when the war starts proper, they won't have idle moments like this to enjoy. There's the issue of Saber being unable to dematerialize, but luckily for her she's almost the exact same size as Rin and dons some of her clothes. It provides a much needed excuse for her presence. As far as anyone knows they're just two students enjoying an idle day off in the city.

As far as Saber can tell very little has changed, and everything goes as planned as Rin gives her the lay of the land. However as midday approaches, Saber suddenly stops in her tracks as that luxurious, decadent smell assaults her nose. Her head immediately jerks in the direction of the restaurant, a greasy western burger chain located smackdab in the middle of Fuyuki's downtown area. Rin's Servant pauses as if frozen in time, and she swallows before she speaks, her tone deathly serious. ]

Master.

[Rin ended up letting her Saber have the outfit Kirei had given her as a gift. She was never going to wear it, so might as well put it to use. The two contrast each other — Saber in blue, and Rin in red.

As they go about their day there's nothing really of note to say. That is until Saber speaks up. Her tone of voice sends chills down Rin's spine, and immediately her eyes scan the area as her muscles tense up. When she speaks, her voice is hushed.]

Yes, Saber?

[Maybe she can sense something Rin hasn't yet been trained to pick up on.]

[ Saber simply stands there for a few moments before speaking again, her mind trying to process that smell. As a Servant she didn't require physical sustenance, but at the same time the delicious smell simply couldn't be denied. She needed whatever food that shop was selling, and she needed it now. ]

We should eat. It is well past lunch time, and I am sure you are exhausted after last night and having to walk around all day. That restaurant over there will suffice.

[ Saber's tone is urgent and deathly serious. This clearly isn't a request or a suggestion. This is a demand. ]

[Despite Saber's demeanor, Rin tries brushing it off. Her hand waves in a dismissive gesture and she starts to move forward.]

I am feeling hungry, but we've got food at home. I don't need to be spending money eating out. We can turn in and come back at night.

[ As Rin turns to leave, Saber simply reaches out and grips Rin by the shoulder. Her grasp is firm enough to keep her from yanking away if she tries but not hard enough to actually hurt. ]

I insist. Besides, I find myself growing hungry as well. [ Not necessarily true, but it's the best way to describe how she's feeling. ] We should stop here before continuing with the tour of the city. Returning to your house would simply serve as a diversion from our mission.

[The grip that causes her to halt catches Rin by surprise. Rin frowns, and it's clear she's not happy that Saber insists on stopping to eat.]

Fine, I'll allow it. But I don't have the funds to keep doing this.

[And it's not like some guy can be charmed into buying the meal for two girls without expecting something in return. She can't keep getting freebies off of others if she has a companion.]

[ Something in the back of Saber's head registers the fact that Rin isn't happy, but at this point that delicious scent seems to override her normal thoughts. Tasting that food currently takes precedent over all else.

So they make their way over to the restaurant, and Saber's face looks akin to a child in a candy shop. She unconsciously licks her lips as she looks over the menu board, her hunger growing by the second. However while the grail has given her a basic knowledge of the modern world, ordering food unfortunately isn't one of those things, so she'll look to Rin expectantly for guidance. ]

[Rin notices the way Saber licks her lips and stares hungrily at the menu board. She has a defensive urge to pretend she lost her wallet, but she thinks Saber would know she's lying. Tohsaka isn't about to sour her relationship so early in the game with her Servant. Or, at least, not in this case. At least Saber actually asked. When they finally get to ordering Rin sounds defeated, and orders the cheapest meal on the menu. She tries to urge Saber to do the same, but...

It might not be a successful endeavor.]

[ Saber watches Rin place her order intently, and noting how the process takes place. Once she finishes, Saber steps forward and after proceeding to stare at the menu for a few more seconds she begins to place her order. ]

I’ll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 5s, one with cheese, and a large drink.

[ Saber's tone and face are deathly serious, indicating that yes she really did just order all of that food. The cashier just looks baffled, staring at Saber as if to confirm that he heard her right. ]

[Oh, no. No. No, no, no, no. She can't do that. She can't handle all that! That's too much! That's way more than she should be getting! Hell, even if her servant can eat that stuff, Rin's mana supply should be enough that she doesn't have to. What a waste of cash!]

No. If I'm paying for your food you're only getting one meal.

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