Remaining Days: 1
At last, Saber and I are on our way to the Arena to get the second Cipher Key for this round. We cannot procrastinate this any longer as this is the last day of this Preparation Period and thus tomorrow would be the Elimination Battle—if getting the remaining Trigger qualifies us for it, that is.
My worries became rather more than less, but I will put my whole focus on Saber, to support her in the way a Master should. I need to learn to push such worries aside for the moment in a situation like this to still be able to do my duties as a Master.
"We don't have any clue who's our opponent, do we?" Saber asks along the way, in frustration. She blames herself as half the reason this round isn't going well by any means as being poisoned took her pretty badly.
I shrug my shoulders. "Well, Lancer… Rin's Servant suggested it may be Robin Hood?"
Saber ponders for a while. "They are really similar, aren't they…"
Though I am already sure we feel the same, I ask anyway, "So, do we assume it's Robin and base our strategy on that?"
Saber looks down, then back at me. "It's our best shot. He's at least similar enough and it's better than going in blind. But you do the reading."
"Of course," I chuckle. It is almost as if we are not in such a bad situation with big disadvantages.
In the Arena, Saber cuts through most of the Enemy Programs with ease, though for some stronger and bigger ones she actually needs me to heal her or slightly raise her strength. It is most likely the best kind of training we could possibly get the day before the big battle. But, it is not the only thing we can do in preparation.
"Saber," I ask her as she charges at another opponent, there's hardly more than five seconds between defeating one and attacking the next with her, "Are we going to… do the same as last Round? Kiss, so you can access more of your strength?"
At the word 'kiss' she blushes and almost trips over her own feet. "The hell? C-Couldn't you have asked that later ?!"
Her cute, flustered expression puts a smile on my face instantly. "Sorry," I half-lie. I am sorry that she almost tripped, but I feel like her overall reaction makes up for that—for me, at least.
"But, yes," she mumbles, turning her attention towards fighting through the halls full of Enemy Programs again. After quite a long while, and I am sure her kill count is over 100 at this point, we finally find the last Cipher Key—Trigger Code Delta .
"We made it," I embrace Saber cheerfully. There is a faint smile on her face. I know she does not have the heart to tell me that the Elimination Battle is not won yet, but at least we will make it another day. As we are done here in the Arena, we make our way back into the school.
In the hallway, we are stopped by an older man—Dan Blackmore. I am unsure on how to talk to him, now that I know I will be facing him along with his Servant, the person who poisoned my Servant, aiming actually for me.
"Good evening, Ritsuka," he says, not a hint of hostility in his voice.
"Y-Yes, good evening."
He notices Saber's glare and my insecurity of being near him. "Archer is in spirit form with me. But do not worry, I forbade him from any traps and poisonings outside of the Elimination Battle. I hope we can still have a fair match," he reaches out his hand.
I shake it. "Yes, I would prefer that as well."
Seemingly not sure if he should bring it up or not, he asks anyway. "Is there something bothering you? You seem not focused, like your mind and heart are both elsewhere."
I unconsciously look at Saber. I do know where my mind is at least.
"Shinji was a child in reality." It takes Dan a few seconds to realise what I am trying to say.
"I understand," he says calmly, putting his hand on my shoulder, "But do not fret. His life may have ended now, but that is no bad thing. Everyone has to leave the world of living."
That… doesn't exactly make me feel better about it.
"I should have lost instead of him. I don't even belong here, I'm a mere amateur," I voice my thoughts on this for the probably first time completely genuine. "I doubt that. Your Servant seems to deeply care about you, going as far as to take the poison meant for you… it would have killed neither of you, after all."
I only realise this now. Saber could have used Clarent to defend against the arrow, but instead she just jumped in front of me. With her reflexes, any reaction with her sword should have been easily possible. Why did she rather risk her own health?
"Listen, young girl. There are people caring about you and your life, just because you are such a kind and genuine soul. That boy did not care about these bonds. Had he grown old, there would have been nothing but regret. For you, there is a future you can aim for. A future in which you have others by your side, for just being yourself."
I nod at him.
"I need to excuse myself now—Archer would like to practise his aim for tomorrow. Rest well," Dan says, as he walks past us. I hear a "sorry" said under one's breath, the voice almost sounding like Archer, though that couldn't possibly have been him.
For now, Saber and I will go to our room. There's one thing left to do before the battle, after all.