On the ramparts of the German castle. The wind howled around them.
Artoria, guided by Irisviel, had come here with her. The cold bit at their exposed skin.
The cold wind blew past the two of them, displaying the harshness of the northern land without any reservation. It was a stark reminder of their location.
"Are you cold?" Irisviel turned her head to look at Artoria behind her. "Should I go back and get some clothes for you?" Irisviel was concerned for her Servant's well-being.
"No." Artoria shook her head. Her expression was stoic.
"I do not feel the cold. Please rest assured." Artoria stated firmly, her knightly bearing evident.
"Is that so~" Irisviel smiled sweetly, her worries easing. "Then I'm relieved."
"Come, tell me—who exactly is the person you are waiting for?" Irisviel asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I've been so bored here that I'm practically growing mold." Irisviel added playfully, eager for some engaging conversation.
"..."
Artoria's lips trembled slightly. She seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
It was clear that Irisviel's easygoing nature was quite to her liking. Artoria found her approachable.
However—Artoria also seemed to be considering something, and therefore didn't respond to Irisviel immediately. She hesitated, lost in thought.
Seeing this, the proxy Master spoke once more, her patience wearing thin.
"What's wrong?" Irisviel inquired, her tone gentle but persistent.
"Before we came up here, didn't you say you would tell me everything? Why are you silent now?" Irisviel reminded her of their earlier agreement.
"Could it be…"
Irisviel leaned forward a little, coming closer to Artoria. She wanted to understand the reason for her silence.
"Do you actually dislike me, your proxy Master… is that why you're like this?" Irisviel asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"That is not the case."
Artoria quickly denied the possibility that Irisviel had suggested. She wanted to reassure her Master.
"Since the true Master has designated you as the proxy—then I shall certainly acknowledge you." Artoria stated with conviction.
"Then why aren't you saying anything?" Irisviel put her hands on her hips, looking quite unhappy. "I finally encountered something interesting!" Her boredom was evident.
"Because—"
Artoria looked at Irisviel in front of her, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. She was unsure how her words would be received.
"I'm afraid that after I say it, it might make you angry." Artoria confessed her apprehension.
"Eh?!"
Irisviel let out a soft puff of warm air. She was surprised by Artoria's concern.
"Why would you think that? Do I seem like an easily angered proxy Master in your eyes?" Irisviel asked, her tone incredulous.
"No, that is not the case." Artoria replied respectfully, maintaining her composure. "I simply know that now is not the right time to speak my true feelings." Artoria explained her reasoning.
"..."
Hearing this, Irisviel narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly scrutinizing Artoria in front of her. She was trying to understand her Servant's hesitation.
Suddenly, she reached out her hand and pointed at the Servant in front of her. Her expression was decisive.
"I've decided!" Irisviel declared.
"No matter what you say, I won't get angry!" Irisviel promised, wanting to earn Artoria's trust.
"Under these conditions, you should be able to tell me what's on your mind, right?" Irisviel pressed gently.
"..."
Her proxy Master had already said so much. Artoria knew that if she continued to be stubborn, it would be slightly disrespectful to the other party. She valued their budding relationship.
She took a deep breath of the northern air, then formally responded to Irisviel's question. The cold air filled her lungs.
"Iris." Artoria began, her voice clear and steady.
"I… actually did not wish to be summoned by your husband, Kiritsugu Emiya. That is all." Artoria finally revealed her true feelings.
After saying these words, Artoria secretly observed Irisviel in front of her. She watched for any sign of anger or displeasure.
She knew that what she had just said was actually very inappropriate. The success of the Holy Grail War depended on the Master and Servant working together with sincerity.
After all, the Holy Grail War required the Master and Servant to cooperate sincerely. Trust was paramount.
And this statement was tantamount to expressing one meaning—that was, "I dislike the current Master." Her words were a direct expression of her feelings.
To some extent, this was actually very unfavorable behavior. It could create unnecessary friction.
This was also why Artoria felt she shouldn't have been so frank—although she didn't wish to be summoned by Kiritsugu Emiya, that didn't mean she wouldn't fulfill her duties. Her sense of responsibility was strong.
After all, if the Master and Servant were to start distrusting each other, it would sooner or later escalate into irreconcilable conflict. She wanted to avoid such a situation.
She didn't want things to turn out that way. Her desire for a harmonious partnership was genuine.
But whether Irisviel could accept her words was an unknown. She waited anxiously for her response.
However, the result wasn't as bad as she had imagined. To Artoria's surprise, Irisviel didn't seem angry at all.
What she saw was that after hearing Artoria's words, Irisviel not only didn't get angry, but actually looked a little depressed. She seemed to be pondering something deeply.
She tilted her head slightly, looking like a scientist who had encountered an unsolved mystery. Her curiosity was piqued.
"You and Kiritsugu are really in sync in some sense." Irisviel mused, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"One doesn't want to summon the other." Irisviel pointed out the irony.
"And the other doesn't want to be summoned by the other." She continued, highlighting their mutual reluctance.
"Do you two… really dislike each other that much?" Irisviel asked, her tone filled with curiosity and a hint of amusement.
"This…" Artoria shook her head and forced a wry smile. "I'm not sure either." She admitted her own confusion.
"However, please rest assured, Iris." Artoria added, wanting to reassure her proxy Master.
"Although I do not like being summoned by him, I will absolutely not slack off because of it—I will do my best to secure victory for you." Artoria vowed, her knightly honor shining through.
"I know~"
Irisviel replied with a smile. She seemed to trust Artoria's sincerity.
"After all, Saber, you seem like a very serious person~" Irisviel commented on Artoria's earnest demeanor.
"But speaking of which—"
Irisviel's gaze fell on the weapon that Artoria was holding in her hand. She noticed the rather worn-out appearance of the sword.
It was a cruciform longsword that looked like it had seen better days. Its age was evident.
Its surface was covered in reddish-brown rust, as if it might break at any moment. The sword looked fragile.
But Artoria cherished it greatly, always holding it tightly in her hand, showing no intention of letting go. Her grip was firm.
"Your weapon… looks like it's about to break?" Irisviel asked, her concern evident.
"Eh?"
Hearing Irisviel's words, Artoria lowered her head to look at the weapon in her hand. She examined it carefully.
In that instant, a hint of deep, affectionate memories of the past flickered in her emerald green eyes, as vast as a sea of trees. The sword held significant sentimental value.
Irisviel keenly noticed this. Her intuition was sharp.
"Oh… seeing how you are, this weapon seems very important to you?" Irisviel observed, her voice gentle.
Perhaps feeling that there was no need to hide it from Irisviel, or perhaps because she had indeed hit upon her inner feelings. Artoria decided to be honest.
Artoria hesitated for a moment, then directly replied to the question. She made her decision.
"Yes." Artoria confirmed.
"This weapon is indeed very important to me—it is a gift given to me by the person I love most." Artoria confessed, her voice filled with emotion.
"Ehehe?"
A few blushes appeared on Irisviel's cheeks. She seemed quite interested in this romantic love story. Her curiosity was piqued.
"Saber, tell me more!" Irisviel urged, her eyes sparkling with interest.
"Let me learn more about this." She wanted to hear the details of Artoria's romance.
"..."
Facing the proxy Master's "order," Artoria looked a little embarrassed. She wasn't used to discussing such personal matters.
After all, the her who had been summoned this time was not the king on her throne, but a maiden still harboring beautiful fantasies. Her youthful innocence was still present.
In the end, Artoria still nodded, choosing to share her story with Irisviel. She decided to open up to her proxy Master.
Artoria gently wiped the rather ordinary longsword in her hand, then spoke of the past in a very nostalgic tone. Her voice softened with remembrance.
"Iris, it was like this…" Artoria began, ready to share her cherished memories.
A dozen or so minutes later. The time passed quickly as Artoria recounted her story.
Irisviel learned from Artoria's mouth how she and Ian had met, and she also understood the true origin of this sword. She listened intently to every word.
"Heavens…"
The lady who had lived in the ancient castle for many years covered her mouth, her expression looking very moved. She was deeply touched by Artoria's tale.
"So this is actually your token of love?" Irisviel exclaimed, her eyes wide with emotion.
"How romantic~" She found their story incredibly heartwarming.
"Perhaps…" Artoria's expression looked a little happy and a little shy. She blushed slightly at the romantic notion.
The maiden actually quite liked it when others praised her and Ian like this, but propriety told her that it was a little too frivolous. She tried to maintain her composure.
"In any case, Iris, can you now understand the significance of this sword to me?" Artoria asked, hoping Irisviel understood its importance.
"I understand, I understand~"
Irisviel didn't hide her inner thoughts at all. She was completely engrossed in Artoria's story.
"But—if you fight with a weapon like that, won't it affect your combat ability?" Irisviel asked, voicing a very reasonable doubt.
This was a very reasonable doubt. The sword didn't look reliable for battle.
After all, that sword didn't look very dependable. Its fragile appearance was concerning.
"Please rest assured." Artoria replied to Irisviel. "Because of the special nature of this weapon… I will absolutely not use it for combat." Artoria clarified her intentions.
"As a substitute—"
The old sword in Artoria's hand began to transform into blue particles and dissipate. The rusted metal faded away.
Immediately afterwards, golden light rapidly gathered in her hand, finally forming the shape of a longsword. A new weapon manifested.
Artoria reached out and grasped it, allowing it to finally solidify its shape. The golden light intensified.
It was a gleaming golden blade, with an appearance somewhat similar to the previous weapon, but with a completely different texture. The quality was clearly superior.
Irisviel had naturally never seen this thing before, and her brow was furrowed with confusion. She looked at the new sword with curiosity.
And Artoria also realized this, so she quickly explained. She understood Irisviel's confusion.
"This is the Sword of Assured Victory (Caliburn)." Artoria declared, revealing the sword's name.
"Compared to the previous blade, it has better combat capabilities—I will use this weapon to fight for you." Artoria stated her resolve.
"I see~" Irisviel nodded thoughtfully. "So you're a knight with two blades?" She mused on Artoria's choice of weapons.
"You're really meticulous… as expected of King Arthur!" Irisviel praised her Servant's attention to detail.
"It's just a small habit." Artoria politely responded to the proxy Master's praise. She downplayed her actions.
"No, no, no, small habits are the most likely to reveal a person's true nature!" Irisviel countered, her tone playful.
Irisviel said this.
"But let's stop here for today." Irisviel announced, signaling the end of their conversation for now.
"I'm a little tired, I need to go and rest first." She admitted her fatigue.
"Next time—"
Irisviel looked at Artoria in front of her, her eyes full of smiles. The Servant's story had resonated with her.
The experiences of this Servant seemed to have reminded her of many happy moments from the past. She felt a connection to Artoria.
"Let me tell you the story of me and Kiritsugu~" Irisviel offered to share her own experiences.
"Understood, I will look forward to that day very much." Artoria replied politely, showing her anticipation.
[This was happening thousands of miles away from the Clock Tower.]
[You were completely unaware of this.]
[However, at the moment Artoria was summoned, you found yourself feeling a certain stirring.] A faint resonance seemed to pass through you.
[But you didn't pay too much attention to this feeling.] You dismissed it as insignificant.
[After all, ever since Sakura Tohsaka opened her magic circuits, you found yourself having similar feelings from time to time.] You had grown accustomed to these subtle sensations.
[Everything was proceeding as usual.] Life continued its normal course.
Clock Tower, at the Edelfelt "branch family" residence.
Luvia was listening intently to her adopted sister's story, then exclaimed in surprise. She was taken aback by what she heard.
"What?" Luvia asked, her eyes widening.
"Vivian told us not to send any more things over?" She sought confirmation.
"Yes, ma'am!" Sakura Tohsaka nodded. "Vivian-Sensei also said, 'If you send any more, they will definitely end up being wasted.'" Sakura repeated Vivian's words.
"This…"
Luvia bit her lip, looking quite troubled. She hadn't expected this outcome.
She never thought that the superpower that her family had always been so proud of would stumble at this time. Her pride was slightly wounded.
However, now didn't seem like the time to dwell on such things. She had more pressing matters to consider.
"Alright, I understand." Luvia conceded, accepting Vivian's decision.
"In that case, don't bring any more over in the future." Luvia instructed her adopted sister.
"Okay, ma'am!" Sakura Tohsaka nodded obediently. She would follow her sister's instructions.
"Then—Luvia-san, I'm going to Vivian-Sensei's place now to learn magecraft!" Sakura announced her plans for the day.
"Okay." Luvia replied, her thoughts elsewhere.
Watching her sister turn and leave, Luvia sighed. A wave of concern washed over her.
She wasn't jealous of Sakura Tohsaka's magical talent, but she was worried that Vivian wouldn't do her best to teach her adopted sister. Her protectiveness over Sakura was strong.
She hoped that this powerful magus would keep her word. Luvia's trust in Vivian was not absolute.
Just as Luvia was worried, a servant leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words softly. The news was unexpected.
The Finnish heiress immediately exclaimed. Her surprise was evident.
"What?!" Luvia's voice rose in shock.
"You said Kenneth's things were stolen?" The news was alarming.
[You were unaware of the theft at the Clock Tower.]
[As usual, you followed Sakura Tohsaka to Vivian's office.]
[And this powerful magus of the Clock Tower was also earnestly teaching her only student, just like any other day.] Vivian continued her lessons diligently.
[However, you could clearly feel that there was some subtle tendency in Vivian's words.] You sensed a shift in her approach.
[She seemed to be guiding Sakura Tohsaka down a path that was a little different from before.] A new direction seemed to be emerging.
[This made you a little worried—what exactly was Vivian doing?] A sense of unease settled upon you.
Inside the Clock Tower's magic workshop.
Sakura Tohsaka opened her eyes. The lesson had concluded.
Under Vivian's guidance, she, despite her young age, had already gained an extremely deep understanding of her magic circuits. Her progress was remarkable.
This was something that even magi several times her age had never achieved. Sakura's talent was exceptional.
The Tohsaka family's magical talent had found an excellent opportunity to manifest in a foreign land. Her potential was being realized.
"Vivian-Sensei~" Sakura called out happily.
"How was it this time? Did I do well?" She eagerly awaited her teacher's feedback.
"..."
Vivian smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sakura, you did very well… you've already learned everything I had planned for you in advance." Vivian praised her student's quick progress.
"Really? That's great~" Sakura Tohsaka became extremely happy because of Vivian's praise. Her face lit up with joy.
"Then Vivian-Sensei, what should I do next…"
"..."
Vivian looked at the magic array that had been prepared in advance to the side, her throat moving slightly. She hesitated for a moment.
She seemed to be hesitating about something, but in the end, she still spoke. Her inner conflict was evident.
"Next, just sit over there and further maintain the flow of your magic circuits." Vivian instructed, her tone seemingly casual.
"Okay~"
The extremely obedient Sakura Tohsaka didn't realize that Vivian had ulterior motives. She trusted her teacher implicitly.
Vivian, whose real name was Morgan, knew that she had to endure until a suitable Holy Grail War appeared before she could take action against her student. Her patience was wearing thin.
But—she really couldn't stand this torment any longer. Her desire was overwhelming.
Since he was right by her side, she had to see him a few more times, no matter what. Her longing was intense.
And that magic array was the way for Vivian to realize this thought—by having Sakura Tohsaka release
her magical power, thereby allowing him by her side to manifest. Her plan was set in motion.
See him! Her desire was all-consuming.
She wanted to see him! Her longing intensified.
She absolutely had to see him! Her resolve was unwavering.
Thinking this, Vivian immediately activated the magic array after Sakura Tohsaka entered it! The ritual began.