"So then—"
Tohsaka Sakura looked at her teacher Vivian, and it seemed she understood something. A realization dawned on her face.
"In the fire ten years ago," she began, her voice thoughtful.
"Did not only the Caster pair die, but also the Berserker pair?" she asked for confirmation.
"Yes," Vivian nodded, confirming her understanding.
"According to the records from the Church, that is indeed what happened," she stated, the information stark and final.
"..."
After receiving confirmation from her teacher, Tohsaka Sakura's expression became somewhat heavy. A somberness settled upon her features.
And Vivian vaguely guessed what she was thinking. The weight of the Holy Grail War's reality pressed down.
This was the most cruel moment in the Holy Grail War—when a Servant is defeated, their Master naturally doesn't fare well either. Their fates were intertwined.
Especially for the Masters of Caster and Berserker, as mentioned earlier.
In such extreme circumstances, there was basically only death awaiting them. Trapped in the inferno, their chances of survival were minimal.
After understanding this cruel outcome, participants of the Holy Grail War would naturally feel some fear; this was to be expected.
However—
Vivian absolutely could not allow Tohsaka Sakura to harbor thoughts of giving up. The plan she had was too important.
She absolutely had to make her student participate in the Holy Grail War.
After all, the contract that Tohsaka Sakura and Ian had formed would only appear at the moment of the summoning. It was the crucial moment.
At that time, that would be her chance to kill her and form a new contract with Ian. Her resolve was cold and absolute.
Absolutely no one would be able to take Ian away from her side! He belonged to her alone.
Never! The thought was a fierce vow in her mind.
Thinking of this, Vivian took a deep breath, forced herself to adjust her emotions, and then began to "comfort" Tohsaka Sakura. She put on a reassuring facade.
"Sakura, you don't need to worry," she said gently.
"Although it sounds truly cruel," she acknowledged the harshness of the reality.
"In reality, many problems arise because they weren't prepared before participating in the Holy Grail War," she explained, painting a picture of avoidable mistakes.
"But you are different—"
"You have worked hard for this for ten years, haven't you?" she reminded her student of her dedication.
"I believe that these ten years of magecraft study will absolutely not be in vain—victory in the Holy Grail War will surely belong to you," she declared with feigned confidence.
"Furthermore, I will also do my utmost to assist you during this process," she added, cementing her offer of support.
"So, Sakura, you have absolutely no need to be afraid," she concluded, her voice smooth and encouraging.
However—
Facing her teacher's "comfort," Tohsaka Sakura seemed a little confused. A puzzled look crossed her face.
She realized that her reaction just now seemed to have caused Vivian a serious misunderstanding.
Having grown into a beautiful young woman, she immediately took remedial action. Her voice was quick to clarify.
"Ah, Teacher, that's not what I meant," she said, correcting the assumption.
"I... will absolutely not give up participating in the Holy Grail War, please be assured of that," she stated firmly, dispelling any doubt.
"..."
Although she heard the answer she wanted, a new question also arose in Vivian's mind.
"Then what was your reaction just now about?" she asked, her brow furrowed slightly in curiosity.
"Um..."
Tohsaka Sakura looked left and right, confirming that no one was looking at her and her teacher Vivian. Then, she began to explain in a low voice:
"Teacher... I was actually thinking about something." She hesitated slightly.
"Something?" Vivian prompted her.
"Yes," Tohsaka Sakura nodded.
"I was thinking... the Caster class excels in strategic planning, while the Berserker class excels in brute strength," she mused aloud.
"But these two were the first two pairs eliminated in that previous Holy Grail War," she pointed out the surprising fact.
"So then—"
"Where exactly is the balance point for winning?" she questioned, seeking to understand the core of victory.
"..."
Looking at Tohsaka Sakura's serious expression as she pondered, Vivian realized that she had underestimated her student's determination to participate in the Holy Grail War.
No.
It wasn't just about participating; it was more than that.
Tohsaka Sakura, she wanted to win this Holy Grail War. Her ambition was clear.
In a sense, this aligned with her own pursuit. A twisted harmony in their goals.
This is great.
This is truly great, Vivian thought with hidden delight.
Vivian inwardly rejoiced—she had been worried that her student would give up participating in the Holy Grail War out of fear.
Now, it seemed this worry was completely unnecessary. Sakura's resolve was stronger than she thought.
"Sakura, you don't need to consider the so-called balance point," she said dismissively.
"Only those lacking in strength would think about such problems—and you are not one of them," she stated, her voice confident.
"Your magical talent is among the very best of anyone I have ever seen," she praised sincerely.
"If you participate in the Holy Grail War with this level, you will surely achieve victory easily," she asserted with conviction.
"Really?" Tohsaka Sakura asked, her voice tinged with hope.
She had a natural trust in her teacher Vivian.
However, this wasn't difficult to understand.
After all... she had taught her magecraft for nearly ten years, and in the end, was even willing to accompany her back to Japan. Her teacher had shown her great dedication.
But this time—
Before Vivian could answer Tohsaka Sakura's question, Waver spoke first.
He was holding a crumpled paper cup in his hand, but his expression was much better than before. A change had come over him.
"Fake!" he declared loudly.
"It's all fake!" he repeated, his voice filled with emotion.
"The Holy Grail War is not a ritual where victory can be achieved solely with magical talent; don't underestimate it!" he exclaimed, his voice passionate.
"..."
"..."
Waver's sudden outburst of passion made Tohsaka Sakura and Vivian both look at him. Their eyes widened slightly in surprise.
It was clear that the teacher and student did not understand why the man before them was so emotional.
And Waver himself seemed to realize this. He cleared his throat.
"Ahem," he coughed lightly. "Sorry, I got a little worked up," he apologized, a sheepish look on his face.
"Not at all," Tohsaka Sakura quickly shook her head—she was very polite to any teacher from the Clock Tower.
"I should be the one apologizing," she said sincerely.
"Before... I shouldn't have brought up something Teacher Waver didn't want to remember," she added, feeling remorseful.
"I'm truly sorry," she said, a heartfelt apology.
"..."
Waver gripped the paper cup in his hand a little tighter.
But soon, as if he had figured something out, he sighed. A heavy breath escaped his lips.
"Actually... it's really nothing," he said softly.
"After all, it was indeed because of my limited personal ability that Iskandar was defeated," he admitted the painful truth.
"Thinking back now, I really did let him down," he said, a deep sense of regret in his voice.
"Iskandar?" Tohsaka Sakura questioned, the name unfamiliar.
"Oh... you don't know yet," Waver realized.
Waver reached into his clothes pocket and pulled out a well-wrapped notebook. He quickly flipped to a certain page.
On it, words were written in a messy, difficult-to-read handwriting.
Waver, like someone showing off a precious treasure, began to introduce the item in his hands to Tohsaka Sakura and Vivian before him. His eyes shone with pride.
"Iskandar—that's the Rider I summoned in the Fourth Holy Grail War," he explained, a fondness in his voice.
"Everything on here is what I collected, details about his legends—it's not something copied from an encyclopedia or anything; it's a summary I obtained after actually following the path of his previous expeditions!" he declared, his voice filled with enthusiasm and pride in his work.
"Eh—?!"
Tohsaka Sakura looked at Waver before her in disbelief. Her eyes were wide with surprise.
"Teacher Waver, were you doing this when you left the Clock Tower before?" she asked, understanding dawning on her.
"Yes!"
Waver nodded, a hint of guilt in his eyes.
"I wanted to understand him more—that way, if we ever meet again in the future, we can have more to talk about," he said, a wistful hope in his voice.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura recalled what her teacher Vivian had said not long ago.
Some people were not suitable to be Masters—because they would invest emotion in their Servants.
This would lead to them being influenced by various factors when making judgments, often preventing them from making the most correct choices. Their emotions would cloud their decisions.
And Waver, she realized, was one of them. His bond with his Servant was deep.
"Teacher Waver, you and Iskandar had a really good relationship..." she commented softly.
"That's only natural!" Waver became more and more excited as he spoke.
Although he usually kept a stern face in front of his students, whenever he mentioned his friend who crossed time and space, Iskandar, he would revert to his student-like state. His passion was evident.
"He and I were friends who went through life and death together!" he declared proudly.
"Furthermore—" he added, a new depth to his expression.
"Furthermore?" Tohsaka Sakura sensed that there seemed to be a deeper reason.
"Furthermore, he also said some things to me," he revealed.
Waver's mind gradually recalled the great fire from ten years ago. The heat and chaos of that night returned to him.
"Some very important things," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
[This was Waver's experience from many years ago.]
[It was the first shift in his attitude towards life.]
"Kid,"
Iskandar looked at the scene before him, his expression somewhat solemn. The air was tense.
Before him stood a woman holding a dark red spear. Her presence was powerful.
That was Scáthach, the Lancer of this Holy Grail War. Her eyes were sharp.
"It seems our luck isn't very good today," Iskandar commented with a wry smile.
"..."
Waver looked at the Lancer before him, realizing that the situation was indeed as bad as Iskandar had said. A sense of dread settled in his stomach.
"Rider, what should we do?" he asked, his voice uncertain.
"You take them aside first," Iskandar said, gripping the reins of the divine bulls. His gaze was fixed on Scáthach.
"Alright, alright," Waver agreed quickly.
Following Iskandar's instructions, Waver wanted to help the old couple they had just rescued off the Gordias Wheel.
They were in a semi-conscious state; although there was no immediate danger to their lives, the situation would be very serious if they weren't sent to a hospital promptly. Their breathing was shallow.
However, just at this moment—
He heard an unexpectedly familiar voice. A voice that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Waver, where do you think you're going?"
"..."
Waver turned his head, and then saw a figure he feared and also resented.
That was Kayneth.
At this moment, he was dressed in casual clothes, but he had not lost the usual authoritative air of a teacher. His presence was imposing.
Waver realized that he had also participated in the Holy Grail War. The thought was jarring.
"What's wrong?"
Kayneth looked at Waver with cold eyes.
"Didn't expect me to chase you here?" he questioned, a hint of cruelty in his voice.
"Or are you already afraid to face me?" he challenged him directly.
"..."
Waver did not answer Kayneth—after all, in a sense, he did feel a little guilty, like a thief caught in the act. His gaze flickered away.
But Iskandar spoke at this moment:
"Watch your tone," the King of Conquerors warned, his voice deep and resonant.
The King of Conquerors pointed his sword at Kayneth. Its tip glinted menacingly.
"Otherwise, I will definitely make you regret it," he threatened, his voice carrying immense power.
Hearing these intimidating words, Kayneth looked at Iskandar, his eyes filled with regret.
That was the legendary hero, the King of Conquerors, who should have been summoned by him. A Servant of immense power stood before him, bonded to his former student.
"Rider, do you know that Waver summoned you after stealing this from me?" he asked, his voice laced with bitterness.
"Huh?"
Iskandar looked at Waver beside him, his eyes showing surprise. He turned his gaze to his Master.
The latter's gaze was evasive, which in turn proved the correctness of Kayneth's words. Waver couldn't meet his Servant's eyes.
However, Iskandar burst into laughter at this moment. His mirth was unexpected.
"Hahahaha!" he boomed.
"And so what—!" he exclaimed, dismissing the accusation.
"Since fate arranged for the kid and I to meet like this, then it is naturally perfectly reasonable," he declared, accepting their connection.
"Furthermore—"
Iskandar slapped Waver's shoulder, then spoke to Kayneth in a very serious tone:
"He is an honest, brave, strong-willed, and kind-hearted person." He listed Waver's supposed virtues.
"I am proud to have been summoned by someone like him!" he declared proudly, his voice ringing with sincerity.
Iskandar's words of praise made Waver want to find a hole to crawl into—because he knew he was absolutely not such a person. His face flushed with embarrassment.
He wasn't honest, nor brave; he wasn't strong-willed, and he didn't understand what independence meant. His own self-assessment was much harsher.
The only thing that could barely be associated with him was kindness.
But the King of Conquerors completely disregarded these nuances. His perception of Waver was different.
He simply pointed his sword at Scáthach, his eyes showing no fear whatsoever. His stance was one of defiance.
"Come, Lancer!" he challenged.
"I will definitely crush you with my divine bulls!" he declared, ready for battle.
Hearing the challenge from Iskandar, Scáthach, holding her Gae Bolg Alternative, wanted to step forward and meet the challenge. Her instincts as a warrior stirred.
She never refused any challenge.
But at this moment, Scáthach heard Kayneth's "command."
"Let them go, Lancer," Kayneth said, his voice surprisingly calm.
"..."
Scáthach naturally hadn't expected Kayneth to say this. Her spear remained lowered for a moment.
However, after a moment of hesitation, she still complied with his wishes.
After the Caster incident tonight, Scáthach indeed had no strong desire for combat at this moment. Her focus had shifted.
Seeing the opponent yield the path, Iskandar hesitated for a moment, and finally also withdrew his sword.
The condition of the old couple was not ideal. Their lives were precarious.
So now was not a good time for a battle. Their rescue was the priority.
As the Gordias Wheel departed, Scáthach, uncharacteristically, asked Kayneth a question.
"Why did you let them go?" she inquired, her voice questioning.
"The opponent was clearly very weak," she pointed out the missed opportunity.
"..."
Kayneth looked in the direction where the Gordias Wheel was departing, his expression becoming quite complex. A mixture of emotions crossed his face.
"Waver is my student," he said softly.
"I couldn't... really kill him, could I?" he mused aloud, a hint of paternal feeling in his voice.
"Student, huh?"
Scáthach seemed to think of something, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly upwards. A rare smile touched her lips.
"I see."
On the Gordias Wheel, Waver hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke to Iskandar.
"Rider, I... I'm not as good as you say," he confessed, his voice filled with humility.
"I know," Iskandar said, holding his reins, responding to Waver. His gaze was steady.
"But not having it now doesn't mean you won't have it in the future," he stated, his belief unwavering.
"Someone who can summon me definitely won't be a mediocre talent!" he declared, his voice ringing with conviction.
"I believe that you will surely become an incredible person in the future!" he asserted, his faith in Waver absolute.
"..."
Iskandar, focused on driving the divine bulls, did not notice the tears that rolled down the young man's face. Waver's eyes glistened.
This was the first time in Waver's life that he had heard validation from another person. Words of genuine belief.
That's right.
He absolutely had to become a more excellent person! A resolve solidified within him.
[The night of the great fire completely changed Waver's lazy habits.]
[It also made him intensely miss his dear friend in the years that followed.]
[Regardless, Waver deeply wished to see the King of Conquerors again.]
"Um—"
Waver no longer cared about maintaining his teacher's status.
He directly confessed the reason he had approached Tohsaka Sakura again. His voice was earnest.
She was one of the representatives chosen by the Clock Tower to participate in the Holy Grail War. A potential path back to his friend.
"I remember you're going to participate in the Holy Grail War, right!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with hope.
"If possible, could you summon Iskandar again?!" he pleaded.
"Don't worry, I've prepared the Holy Relics and everything! There will definitely be no problem!" he assured her, his voice eager.
"..."
Vivian did not stop Waver's actions. She watched with interest.
After all, all she needed was for Tohsaka Sakura perform the summoning.
As for who was summoned, that wasn't important.
If there was a Holy Relic prepared in advance, it would naturally be more convenient. Her plan was coming together.
However—
Facing Waver's request, Tohsaka Sakura refused without almost any hesitation, shaking her head directly.
"No, Teacher," she said, her voice firm.
"I cannot use your Holy Relic to summon him," she stated her decision.
"Because I've already thought about what I should do," she added, her plan already formed.
"Thought about it?" Waver felt his head buzzing. "Have you already prepared a Holy Relic?" he asked, surprised.
"You could say that..."
"I—"
"Want to use the scabbard that Father left behind for the summoning."