2 days before the Holy Grail War starts
It's been a few days since I summoned my Servant, Cu Chulainn. At first, I didn't quite know how to act around him, every interaction felt stiff, like I was constantly aware of the invisible contract binding us together. He wasn't just someone I could casually talk to. He was a Heroic Spirit, a warrior from legend… and now, somehow, my partner in a war that hadn't even begun yet.
But as the days passed, that tension slowly faded.
Right now, he's sprawled across the couch like he owns the place, one arm hanging off the side, legs stretched out, completely at ease. If someone walked in, they'd never guess he was a Servant preparing for a battle to the death.
"You always this quiet, Master?" he muttered, not even bothering to sit up. "Or are you just nervous?"
"I'm thinking." I replied, not looking up.
"Yeah, that's what I said. Nervous."
I shot him a glance, but he just grinned like he found my reaction amusing. He's more laid-back than I expected—almost too relaxed for someone like him. There's this easy confidence about him, like he doesn't feel the need to prove anything. Still, you can sense it if you look closer; something sharper underneath the surface. Like he could be joking one second and in the middle of a fight the next, completely without hesitation.
"Relax a little," he added, stretching his arms over his head. "War hasn't even started yet. No point burning yourself out before the fun begins."
Fun. Right.
Before I could respond, my stomach betrayed me with a low, embarrassing growl.
There was a short pause.
Then—
"...You serious?" Cu let out a laugh, sitting up slightly now. "You've been sitting there stressing yourself out and you forgot to eat?"
"I didn't forget," I muttered. "I just—had other things to focus on."
"Yeah, like overthinking." he said, already standing up. "C'mon. Let's go."
I blinked. "Go where?"
"To get food. What else?" He grabbed his jacket like this was the most normal thing in the world. "Can't have my Master collapsing before the war even starts."
"That's not really necessary—"
"Too late." he cut in, already heading for the door. "Besides, I'm curious. Haven't walked around in this era much yet."
I hesitated for a moment… then let out a quiet sigh and stood up.
I guess… a short break wouldn't hurt.
...
The plastic bag in my hand rustled softly as we walked back, the sound mixing with the quiet of the street. It was one of those calm afternoons where everything looks normal on the surface, even though you know it probably isn't. People were still going about their day, cars passing by in the distance, nothing out of place if you didn't know what was really going on underneath all of it.
Cu was walking beside me like it was just another regular day. Hands in his pockets, looking around with mild interest, sometimes pointing out small things or commenting on stuff like food or how different everything looked compared to his time. It was honestly hard to believe he was a Heroic Spirit sometimes. If anything, he looked like someone I just randomly met and ended up walking home with.
"You're not even listening, are you?" he said suddenly.
"I am." I replied quickly.
"Then what did I just say?"
I hesitated. "…Something about food?"
He let out a short laugh. "Close enough."
I rolled my eyes a little, but before I could say anything else, I noticed the shift.
He stopped talking mid-sentence.
When I looked over, Cu had stopped walking completely. A few steps behind me now, just standing there in the middle of the sidewalk. His head was tilted slightly upward, eyes fixed somewhere above us—toward the rooftops, the empty spaces between buildings.
At first, I didn't understand what had changed, but the feeling in the air did.
"…Cu?" I called out.
He didn't respond right away. His expression wasn't relaxed anymore, but it also wasn't fully serious in a dramatic way. It was more like… he was simply paying attention now. Like something had caught his focus that wasn't there a second ago.
"Keep walking." he finally said.
I frowned. "What?"
"Just do it." he repeated, still not looking at me. "Don't stop. Don't look around either. Act normal."
That alone made something in my chest tighten.
I didn't move right away. "There's someone here, isn't there?"
A short pause followed.
"Yeah." he said. "There was."
That didn't sound reassuring at all.
Still, I forced myself to keep walking like he said. It felt unnatural, like I was pretending nothing was wrong when everything suddenly felt wrong. The street was still the same, but it didn't feel the same anymore. Even the sounds around us felt a bit distant, like they weren't really reaching us properly.
Then, faintly, there was a sound above us.
And then something dropped down in front of us.
No loud impact. No announcement. Just a figure landing silently on the road ahead.
I stopped walking without thinking.
The person or Servant stood there completely still. Dark clothing, face hidden, posture calm. Too calm.
"A Servant?" I muttered under my breath.
"Yeah." Cu replied, stepping slightly forward without making a big deal out of it. But I could tell it wasn't random—he was putting himself between me and them without making it obvious.
The figure tilted their head slightly, like they were observing us now that they were close.
Cu looked at them for a moment, then said, almost casually. "Assassin."
The Assassin didn't move. Didn't react immediately. Just stood there, he was assessing the situation. The air between them felt heavier now, but neither of them rushed. It was like both sides were just measuring the other.
Cu let out a small breath through his nose, finding the situation annoying.
"So what is this?" he asked. "Just scouting? Or are you actually planning to do something?"
The silence hung for a moment after that. Cu and the Assassin just stood there, neither of them moving. It felt like something was going to happen next, but nothing did. The tension didn't spike, it just… stayed there, quiet and steady, both sides were waiting for the other to make a decision that never came.
Then, just as suddenly as they appeared, the Assassin took a step back.
Another step followed, and then their form started to blur slightly, like the space around them wasn't holding them properly anymore.
And just like that, the Assassin was gone.
"What a weird guy." Cu said.
I glanced at the empty spot, then shrugged a little. "It was probably the smart move. Assassin isn't really known for direct combat anyway. No point sticking around if they already got what they wanted."
He turned to me with a grin. "So how was it?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Your first Servant encounter." he said, clearly amused. "Did you piss your pants or are you holding it together pretty well?"
I stared at him. "That's not funny."
"It kinda is." he said, shrugging. "Relax, I'm just asking. Most Masters don't get their first 'hello' that calm."
I clicked my tongue and looked away for a second before answering. "I've been in a real fight before. This isn't my first time dealing with something dangerous."
That made him pause just slightly.
Then his grin came back, a bit sharper this time. "Oh?"
"Yeah." I continued, a little more confident now. "So don't act like I've never seen anything like that before."
Cu gave a low hum, like he was thinking about that, then stuffed his hands back into his pockets.
"Fair enough." he said, still sounding amused. "But Servants aren't exactly 'normal danger,' you know."
God, he's annoying.
I clicked my tongue and looked away. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
Cu just let out a small laugh, he was enjoying this way too much, stuffing his hands back into his pockets as he started walking again.
...
Inside the Tohsaka estate, everything was as it always was clean, quiet, and controlled. Tokiomi stood near his desk with a glass of wine in hand, though he wasn't really drinking it at this point. Across from him, Kirei Kotomine stood in his usual spot, a few steps back, hands folded, expression as unreadable as ever.
"My Assassin has confirmed a Servant in the city." Kirei said.
Tokiomi stopped for a moment before lowering his glass slightly. "Already?"
"Yes." Kirei replied simply. "A Caster-class Servant. Seen moving around the city with his Master."
That made Tokiomi look up slightly. "And the Master?"
Kirei didn't answer immediately. It was a small pause, but noticeable enough to feel intentional.
"A young male." he said. "He has been seen before."
That made Tokiomi pause. "Before?"
"Yes." Kirei said. "With Touko Aozaki."
Tokiomi slowly set his glass down this time. "So it's him."
Kirei nodded slightly. "The boy she brought with her previously."
Tokiomi exhaled through his nose, thinking.
"I remember." he said after a moment. "A stray she picked up out of curiosity… I didn't think she would leave him in a position like this."
Kirei's gaze didn't change. "Then there's a possiblity that he was not originally intended to become a Master."
"Probably." Tokiomi replied. His tone stayed controlled, but there was a slight edge to it now. "Which means his involvement in this war is an accident… or something worse."
That last part lingered a bit longer than he intended.
Touko Aozaki didn't do things without reason. That was the problem. Nothing about her was ever truly random, even when it looked like it was. If she had brought that boy into contact with magecraft before, even briefly, then there was already intent somewhere in the background.
Tokiomi's fingers tapped lightly against the rim of his glass as he thought.
"…Or," he said more quietly, almost to himself, "maybe the boy is not the real concern."
Kirei's eyes shifted slightly.
"If she's truly involved… then it's possible she placed him there deliberately."
A pause.
"…And the actual Master is someone else entirely."
The room went quiet again.
Tokiomi set his glass down a little more firmly this time, as if confirming the thought in his own mind.
"Yes." he said after a moment. "That would make more sense. Touko Aozaki does not move without purpose."
In reality, the situation was far simpler.
A boy named Eiji had just been walking around the city with his Servant, buying food and complaining about being teased, completely unaware that his casual stroll was now being analyzed as a multi-layer strategic maneuver involving hidden intentions, possible decoys, and Touko Aozaki's supposed long-term planning.
He had, in fact, done nothing more complicated than step outside at the wrong time.
...
1 day before the Holy Grail War starts
Far away from Fuyuki, beyond cities and people, deep in the snowy forests of Germany, the Einzbern estate stood completely isolated.
The trees were tall and bare in places, their branches dusted with fresh snow. Everything around the mansion felt quiet in a way that wasn't peaceful so much as untouched—like the world simply didn't continue past this point. No roads nearby, no signs of life, just endless white and cold stretching through the forest.
Kiritsugu Emiya walked through it slowly, boots pressing into the snow with each step. Beside him, Illyasviel von Einzbern moved a little quicker, her small footsteps light as she looked around with focused energy.
"There!" she suddenly called out, pointing at a nearby tree.
Kiritsugu followed her finger. "Chestnut buds."
Illya nodded immediately, as if confirming something important. "That's one point."
He paused slightly. "Point?"
She turned back to him with a serious expression that didn't really match the game she was clearly playing. "We're playing a game. Whoever finds the most wins."
Kiritsugu looked at her for a moment, then at the surrounding trees. "I see."
There was no real reaction beyond that. If anything, he accepted it too easily, like it wasn't strange enough to question.
Illya was already moving again, scanning the branches carefully now. "Don't cheat." she added without looking back.
"I wasn't planning to."
"That's what cheaters say."
He didn't respond to that.
The forest was quiet again, broken only by the soft crunch of snow as they walked. Chestnut buds were scattered across the trees, small, easy-to-miss things that only stood out if you were actually paying attention. It made the game feel strangely serious for something so simple.
A brief silence followed, then Kiritsugu simply continued walking, scanning the trees more carefully this time. Not because he was invested in the game, but because she was.
For a moment, the cold forest didn't feel as empty as it usually did. Just the sound of footsteps in snow, quiet competition over something meaningless, and a small girl treating it like it mattered more than anything else.
...
Inside the castle, behind thick glass windows that separated warmth from the freezing outside, two figures watched them in silence.
Irisviel von Einzbern stood closest to the window, her expression soft as she observed the scene below. Beside her, Saber stood straight and still, arms folded, eyes following Kiritsugu and Illya through the falling snow.
"They look… peaceful." Irisviel said quietly.
Saber didn't answer immediately. Her gaze remained fixed outside, watching Kiritsugu's steady movements and Illya's energetic searching.
"I was under the impression that my Master was colder than that." Saber said.
"I can see why you'd think that." Irisviel replied gently.
"If that is Kiritsugu's true self… then I must have gravely offended him."
Irisviel let out a small laugh at that.
"Irisviel! There's no need to laugh." Saber said, sounding slightly flustered.
"I'm sorry," Irisviel said, still smiling faintly. "I was just thinking… are you still bothered by what happened during your summoning?"
"Somewhat." Saber admitted. "It is true I disguised myself as a man in life, but surely there was no need for both of you to be so surprised."
"Well… you know," Irisviel replied, "your legend. King Arthur's legend… it's a bit too famous. It's hard not to have expectations."
Saber frowned slightly. "Do you think Kiritsugu might be underestimating my abilities because I am a woman?"
"Never." Irisviel said quickly. Then she hesitated slightly. "But… if he is troubled, it's probably not that."
"Then what is it?"
Irisviel looked back out the window, watching Kiritsugu and Illya for a moment before answering. "He was probably upset about the people who surrounded you."
"The people…?"
"The ones who forced the role of a king onto a child." she said softly, beginning to pour tea as she spoke.
"It was inevitable." Saber replied firmly. "I accepted that fate when I drew the sword from the stone."
"That's exactly what bothers him." Irisviel said quietly. "That you accepted it so easily."
Saber went silent for a moment.
"Then he does not understand his place." she said at last. "He has no right to question the decisions made in my time… including my own."
"That's why he says nothing." Irisviel replied. "Kiritsugu Emiya and the Heroic Spirit Artoria will likely never see the world the same way. I think he already understands that."
A brief silence followed as Saber looked out the window again.
"He wants to use the Grail to save the world" Saber said softly. "That is his wish. And yours as well, correct?"
"Yes." Irisviel replied. "But I inherited my ideals from him."
Saber paused for a moment, she spoke, more quietly, "My wish is the same. I want to save Britain. The one I failed to protect it in life."
Then, after a short silence, Saber continued, "I believe what you and Kiritsugu are trying to do is right. It is something you can be proud of."
Irisviel stared at her for a moment… then smiled softly.
...
Outside, the snow continued to fall quietly over the Einzbern estate grounds.
Kiritsugu stood with Illya for a moment longer, the game forgotten now. The chestnut buds didn't matter anymore, nor the count she had been keeping so seriously just a while ago. The wind was colder now, or maybe it just felt that way.
He bent slightly and picked her up, holding her for a brief moment before setting her back down gently in the snow so she was standing properly in front of him.
"Illya." he said after a pause, his voice lower than usual. "I and your mother… we'll be gone for a while."
Illya blinked at him, then tilted her head slightly. "I already know."
Kiritsugu paused.
She looked up at him, completely calm, as if she had already thought about it a long time ago. "Mama said she'll be gone for a long time too." she said. "But I'm not worried."
Her small hands clenched slightly in front of her coat.
"She said that no matter how long we're apart, she'll always be by my side." Illya continued, then smiled faintly. "So I'll be with Mommy forever."
For a moment, Kiritsugu didn't respond.
The snow kept falling around them, soft and steady, but everything else felt quieter than before.
Slowly, he crouched down and pulled her into a hug.
His expression wasn't easy to read, but there was something in it that stayed longer than usual.
"Illya," he said quietly, "no matter how long it takes… can you wait for me?"
Illya didn't hesitate.
She nodded immediately, smiling like it was the simplest promise in the world. "Yes."
Kiritsugu closed his eyes for a moment, holding her just a little tighter before letting out a quiet breath.
"Then I promise you…"
................................
I'm back. I just finished rewatching Fate/Zero, and it took longer than I expected.
It actually helped me get back into the mood and tone I want for the next parts of the story, so I'll be using that energy going forward.
The next chapter is going to be a long one—around 9K to 12K words at least. I'll try to make it worth the wait.