Remaining Days: 4
For once this week, I'm attending classes. The teachers scold me; after all, they're NPCs. They exist so this 'school setting' seems and feels real. So, of course they would scold someone who ditches classes, though there would be no repercussions either way. I wish this made me not feel bad for ditching.
There is quite a bit to catch up on, keeping my mind occupied. Just what I need right now. Having no time or capacity to overthink, worry and remember. Though the time goes by fast, as it always does when you're busy and don't exactly track the time. The last school bell signals the beginning of lunch break, so I go to my private room and check if Saber has woken up yet.
As I step into my room, I see Saber hugging the big pillow we usually share, nibbling on its corner. I chuckle softly to myself, this looks just adorable. With my terminal, and a new screen(); Code Cast I wrote in today's class, I take a picture. Saber should never find out about this, but I doubt I'd see her exactly like this another time. So, I'll need to cherish it.
After taking the picture and checking if I'm content with the result, I step closer to my still sleeping Servant and softly push her shoulder. "Saber, it's lunch time. Would you like to go with me?" Immediately she shoots up, fully awake. This is enough of an answer. Before she can dash out of the door, heading for the cafeteria, I hold her wrist to stop her, from which she trips and falls over, pulling me with her on the floor.
"What the hell, Master?" She pouts at me. I did not exactly plan for this to happen, but it doesn't seem like any of us is really injured. We didn't fall down from height, and we didn't land any disadvantageous. "I told you last time, you can't just go into the cafeteria like this." Trying hard despite her morning confusion to make sense of what I said, this doesn't seem to get her anywhere.
"Your clothes," I hint. Saber groans in frustration, she seems to remember the last time I told her she would have to wear a spare school uniform of mine for another trip to the cafeteria. "I refuse. I don't need to eat," Saber states stubbornly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Technically she's right, I know that much. But I also know that she would still love to have a nice meal right now. The chewing in her sleep just made this obvious.
"Fine. I'll go by myself then." Saber bites her bottom lip, like a child who tried to get her will but, in the end, was still denied. I move slowly to the door, waiting for a reaction of her, for her to change her mind. Nothing of that sort happens, and I don't think I should go back on my word. Also, I feel like this might be a nice trip anyways, though I'd miss the company.
In the school's cafeteria, I happen to have a table to myself. I'm having a foreign meal, for once, not a Japanese one. I think the dish was called Jägerschnitzel, but I'm not completely sure. Either way, it tastes really good, albeit I'm sure it would be better if Saber was with me. She'd love to try it; after all, it's meat.
Suddenly, the Masters's attention is focused on the entrance. I took a look as well and almost spit out the water I just drank. There stands Saber, her hair still down just as she wears it only when she sleeps, wearing a school uniform that's probably a bit too big for her. After all, it's mine.
That, however, isn't very obvious, as she wears a white blouse with the blue ribbon lazily tied, the blazer open. The skirt looks longer on her than it does on me, covering about half of her thighs. Although this look is very unfamiliar, it suits her well. It makes me wonder what life would be like, being in a normal world, going to school with Saber.
As soon as she spots me, she walks over to my table and sits down, facing me. "You owe me," she says, her voice slightly cracking from feeling embarrassingly uncomfortable. "Lunch," she adds. I push my plate towards her. I didn't eat more than a third of my meal, if at all, but I don't feel like I have much of an appetite anyways.
Saber raises an eyebrow, suspicious of me, the one who asked her to eat lunch together, just giving most of my dish to her. But there was no complaint from her side, and it didn't take her long to clean the plate. "It was good, wasn't it?" She nods approvingly. "Now, do you feel like hitting the Arena today? But don't dare to push yourself."
Saber glares at me. I'm not sure, does she just want to prevent herself from more needless injuries? Or does she worry ? About me ? I contemplate the idea for a while. I'm not completely fine, of course. And while I managed to focus on classes today, somewhat, I'm not sure the Arena wouldn't be too much for me to handle now. Yet…
I'm not even decent as a Master, I'm holding Saber's potential back a lot. We need this kind of training badly . And we also need to figure out Dan's Servant's identity, we never even met him, we don't even know their class. This round starts out in the worst possible way, days passed and I did nothing to fix this.
I get up from the table without a warning. "Let's go. If we take it slow, I'm sure I'll manage." I answer Saber's doubtful frown with a smile. "I promise we'll retreat should I notice I can't do it," I add, taking the last remainder of any concern out of the way.
Saber gets up as well, and we head up the stairs. The outside catches her attention. "I didn't realise there was such a big field in front of the school." It's not that I knew it, but it's one of those things every student would know, being in the Moon Cell, so it doesn't feel like anything new to me.
"Do you want to go out?"
"Hmm, sure."
Being outside of the school is a nice change, I know it from the times I went up to the rooftop. The air feels much cleaner, it's really overall nice. I think it would be good for Saber to enjoy the outdoors. It may improve her fighting capabilities—or so I hope.
Outside, on the field, we walk around almost aimlessly. There are flowers, though none I could name. There are bushes, a few trees, some beautiful looking gardening. Saber seems to enjoy the look, maybe even the whole idea of being in a bigger place than closed rooms, or a closed building for that matter, though she doesn't openly show it.
"Master, watch out!" Suddenly, Saber jumps at me and pushes me out of the way hard, so I end up falling on the ground. Mere milliseconds later, if at all, there is a green arrow with a purple glow sticking out from her hip, colouring the skin slightly purplish around the small wound, despite the fact that she pulls the arrow out and crushes it in her hand.
"Saber!" I walk towards her, follow her glare up the school building where a man stands, clad in a green cloak with orange hair.
"Is that…?" It must be a Servant. But this arrow was meant for me. Who would use such unfair tactics? Within a second, he is gone and appears right in front of us.
"Too bad, I missed the target," his eyes wander to Saber's wound. "Happens rarely, but at least I didn't miss completely." A smirk decorates his face upon noticing his attack's effect.
Saber tries to materialise her sword, but pain pulls her down on her knees, paralysing her. This is it. We're done for. That races through my mind, but I step between them. I know I cannot hope to compete with a Servant, but I can't leave my Servant alone. If I paid more attention, maybe there wouldn't have been a need for her to step in to begin with.
Suddenly, a figure in green armour emerges from the school building—Dan Blackmore. "Archer. I told you to refrain from such actions." So, this is Dan's Servant after all. And his class is Archer, which makes sense, considering his ambush was shooting an arrow.
"Who cares about the how ? We need to fight them, and win. This is how I fight, since always, and you knew that," Archer barks back lowly. He doesn't seem mad at his Master, though irritated at his high expectations.
"And you know I cannot accept this." Dan raises his right hand, his red Command Seal facing Archer and lighting up.
"You can't be—"
"Archer. I, Dan Blackmore, your Master, order you by the might of the Moon Cell's omniscience and the Command Seal given to me: Any and all attacks on Masters and Servants out of the Final Arena are forbidden." His Command Seal's light turns blinding, a third of it disappears and envelops Archer in a red light.
"Damnit," he mumbles, disappearing immediately.
Dan steps towards me and lowers his head in apology. "I formally apologise for Archer's actions and I hope the usage of a Command Seal makes us even." I know he is sincere, and thus I accept his admission of guilt. I shake his hand and see him off as he takes his leave.
Saber is surely not ready for a battle in this condition. It's farfetched, but she seems to be poisoned. I carry her up to our private room to have her rest. She seemed to have lost consciousness mostly, but not completely. "Sorry, Master… You were just ready… for the Arena," she breathes weakly.
I hold her hand with both of mine. "No, it's okay. It's fine! You saved me. Thanks, Saber. If not for you, I'd be dead already." Flashbacks of Shinji's last moment go through my head again, but I push them away. Not now. Saber is more important.
But, I don't know what exactly to do now. Out of no better possibilities, I take my terminal and text Rin. She is my last hope to help Saber.
Hello, Rin! It's me, Ritsuka. Do you have any idea how to cure poison?
Ritsuka!?… you or Saber?
Saber. She protected me.
Sounds like her… I will come see you tomorrow, okay?
Yes, sure.
Do you think you can heal her?
I should be able to.