(Was it a nightmare... just a nightmare?)
(But... it felt so real...)
She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart, and subconsciously looked toward the other bed beside her.
Tohsaka Rin was still fast asleep.
Moonlight spilled through a gap in the heavy curtains, illuminating her peaceful sleeping face.
Her black twin-tails were slightly messy, and the face that usually carried pride and vitality now looked like that of a defenseless child.
Sakura looked at her older sister with an extremely complex gaze.
There was a sense of closeness and longing for their shared bloodline.
This was her sister, the person she once admired most and wanted to be closest to.
There was also the pain of being abandoned and sent into the depths of the worm pit to undergo countless tortures.
Why was it 'me'?
Why could her sister stay in the sunlit Tohsaka household while she... there was also a protective instinct that she herself might not have been fully aware of.
She couldn't let her sister know the truth about the Matou Family; she couldn't let her be dragged into that hell.
That sister named Long Night Moon said she would protect us... it seems safe here.
Sakura gently lifted the quilt, stepped onto the soft carpet with bare feet, walked to the window, and pulled back a corner of the curtain.
Outside the window were the silent forest and the cold moonlight.
Lights were still on in the direction of the castle's main tower; Sister Long Night Moon and Sister March 7th seemed to still be talking with the master of this place.
She hugged her thin shoulders tightly and pressed her forehead against the cold glass.
That nightmarish sensation from the basement must have just been an illusion, right? That Grandpa Zouken... wouldn't hurt her anymore.
Now, she had new'sisters' and a... temporary 'home' of sorts.
Meanwhile, in the small meeting room of the castle's main tower, the atmosphere was much more formal.
Long Night Moon and March 7th sat on one side, facing Emiya Kiritsugu, Irisviel, and Artoria, who stood nearby.
Under the soft lighting, Long Night Moon still held her black umbrella by her side, a flawless, gentle smile on her face.
"...In summary, we have reached a preliminary intent for cooperation with the Caster group—that is, Ms. Herta and her master."
Long Night Moon concluded the brief description of their side's situation. "Both our parties believe that when dealing with certain participants who do not play by the rules and may cause large-scale harm to Fuyuki City, it is necessary to consolidate our forces."
Irisviel was somewhat surprised: "Is it with that... Ms. Herta who appeared at the port and had a very unique aura?"
She had a very deep impression of that Caster who had directly used a Magic Mirror Array to trade blows with Archer.
"Precisely."
Long Night Moon nodded. "Ms. Herta is knowledgeable and powerful; she is a reliable ally."
She added in her heart: Though right now she's probably thinking about how to take you Heroic Spirits apart.
Emiya Kiritsugu held an unlit cigarette between his fingers and asked in a low voice, "Then, as a gesture of sincerity for this alliance, what valuable intelligence can you provide?"
His gaze was sharp, trying to find any flaw beneath Long Night Moon's perfect smile.
"Of course."
Long Night Moon was calm and composed. "First, regarding the situation at the Tohsaka residence. Besides the Archer you already know of, there is a second Servant beside his master, Tohsaka Tokiomi—a female Servant who descended in the Assassin class, but whose power is fundamentally different from the known Hassan line. She looks like a fox, possesses treacherous abilities, and excels at glamour and mental influence. We suspect she is related to 'Tamamo-no-Mae,' but caution is required."
"A second Assassin?"
Saber's brow furrowed. "Does the Holy Grail system allow such a thing?"
"An anomaly."
Emiya Kiritsugu spat out two words, his expression turning even more solemn.
The Tohsaka family had Archer, Kirei Kotomine had Assassin, and now there was this suddenly appearing 'Fox Assassin,' plus other possible collaborators... The strength of the Tohsaka-Kotomine alliance far exceeded estimates.
"Furthermore,"
Long Night Moon continued, "When we visited the Tohsaka residence, we noticed another anomaly—there seems to be some kind of... connection between that Fox Assassin and Tohsaka Tokiomi's disciple, Kirei Kotomine, that goes beyond the normal master-Servant link. Of course, this is just an observation based on their auras, for your reference."
Everything she said was the truth, she merely omitted Phantylia's true identity and the manner in which they had visited.
This intelligence was already extremely valuable to the Kiritsugu and Saber camp.
Emiya Kiritsugu fell into deep thought.
Irisviel looked at Long Night Moon. "Thank you very much for sharing this intelligence, Ms. Long Night Moon. This is indeed important information. Now, regarding the specific details of the alliance..."
The two sides conducted a brief consultation on basic terms such as intelligence sharing, coordination of actions, and non-aggression.
Long Night Moon appeared honest and pragmatic, and the conditions she proposed were all within the range acceptable to Saber and Irisviel. She even took the initiative to make some concessions, which increased Irisviel's favorable impression of her considerably.
"Then, one last question,"
Emiya Kiritsugu suddenly looked up, his gaze like a torch as he looked at Long Night Moon, then swept over March 7th, who was quietly counting how many flower patterns were on the meeting room carpet. "Ms. Long Night Moon, you have always presented yourself as a master. Who exactly is your Servant, Berserker? And where are they now?"
The meeting room fell silent for a moment.
The smile on Long Night Moon's face seemed to soften even more.
She slowly raised her hand and pointed at March 7th, who was startled by being called out.
"Her."
"Eh? Me?" March 7th pointed at herself, looking bewildered.
"???"
The trio opposite them was stunned.
Irisviel looked at March 7th's face, which bore some resemblance to Long Night Moon's but was more lively, then looked back at Long Night Moon, saying hesitantly, "She... this Ms. March 7th, isn't she your younger sister? You said before..."
"She is indeed my sister."
Long Night Moon's tone was steady. "At the same time, she is also the Berserker who answered my summons and manifested in this Holy Grail War."
This answer exceeded everyone's expectations.
Emiya Kiritsugu immediately activated a detection magecraft, his magical perception reaching toward March 7th.
The feedback made his pupils contract—although her aura was a bit strange and unlike a traditional Heroic Spirit, that condensed Spiritual Foundation and surging magical energy... she was undoubtedly a Heroic Spirit!
Saber also felt the Spiritual Status on March 7th that set her apart from mortals, her emerald eyes filled with confusion.
Such a... seemingly airheaded girl was actually a Berserker?
Moreover, sisters becoming master and Servant at the same time?
Irisviel covered her mouth, her red eyes instantly filling with sympathy.
She understood everything in an instant: these sisters must have had an extremely tragic past. The younger sister died prematurely but, because of her deep bond with her older sister and some kind of obsession, returned in the Berserker class to continue guarding her sister's side... What a touching, yet tragic story!
"So... that's how it is..."
Irisviel's voice was somewhat choked, and her gaze toward March 7th was full of maternal pity. "Ms. March 7th, it must have been very hard for you..."
March 7th: "???"
(I don't understand at all, but she seems really sad?)
Long Night Moon took in Irisviel's reaction and understood perfectly.
She didn't correct this beautiful misunderstanding; instead, she lowered her eyes and sighed softly, tacitly accepting the other's interpretation.
This misunderstanding would only make their position in this camp more stable, gaining more sympathy and trust—after all, who would deliberately doubt or give a hard time to a pair of sisters with a "tragic fate who depend on each other"?
"Let us not speak of past events."
Long Night Moon changed the subject at the right time, her tone returning to calm. "The important thing is the present. Our sincerity has been shown; I wonder what you all think?"
Emiya Kiritsugu was still processing this bizarre information, but his reason told him that while these sisters' combat power was unknown, their potential was likely immense. Currently, their attitude was cooperative and their intelligence was valuable.
Allying with them brought more benefits than risks.
Irisviel had already nodded vigorously, looking at Emiya. "Kiritsugu, I believe Ms. Long Night Moon and Ms. March 7th are trustworthy allies."
Saber thought the sister combination was a bit strange, but she didn't object either.
Protecting women and children was a knight's code; these "sisters" seemed to need shelter, and they possessed power.
"...Very well."
Emiya Kiritsugu finally made a decision. "The alliance is official. Intelligence will be shared in real-time, and we will act together when dealing with Tohsaka and other clear threats to Fuyuki."
"A pleasure working with you." Long Night Moon smiled and extended her hand.
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