章 1042: 56
056 - War Council
Rin isn't very happy that my plan amounts to 'hope for the best and prepare for the worst', but after learning more about Gilgamesh, I get her to reluctantly admit my point. We have the pieces, of course, tactics and strategies, tools and tricks that we can wield against him and methods we can employ if he does this and that. It would be the height of foolishness not to be aware of what we can do.
But making a definite plan with them is pretty much the same as handing our enemy the win button. We'll need to piece things together on the fly. In the end, the only big decision we could make was deciding between seizing the initiative and shoring our defenses.
Medea is, of course, all up for playing defense. She's wasted a lot of time and effort turning Ryuudou Temple into an impregnable fortress that would give pause to even the most powerful warriors and phantasmal species. It's an accepted fact that the defenses alone won't stop Gilgamesh, but they should bog him down and give us openings to exploit we would never get in an open fight.
Her exposition is impassioned, her points objectively true, our opponent fucking scary and nobody wants to go against the obviously emotionally invested Caster from the Age of Gods with something of a reputation for instability. So, while not everyone is enthusiastic about the idea, the defensive strategy ends up earning consensus.
Surprisingly, the most upset about our decision was… Altera. She leaves Atalanta's side to stand on the table, stoic expression twisted into a(n adorable pout) mighty frown as her red eyes glare down at me.
"I am Destruction, I'm not afraid of fighting head on." She declares from there, getting the maximum mileage from the three inches she has on me from there to loom into me. "No armor can protect from my strikes, no might can match my own."
Thinking about it, maybe it shouldn't have been that surprising. Altera's mere presence in this War has been a surprise for sure, since there's no obvious reason for a Servant from a different branch of the timeline to have answered Rin's summon. Except maybe the fact that Servant EMIYA was already from a different timeline branch anyway, so breaching through alternate timelines wasn't so much something I caused as it was something Rin had already done in the original setting.
Only… you know. No EMIYA in this War, because no Shirou. Even if that's at best a flimsy excuse.
I digress. Case is, I am familiar with Moon Cell Altera's combat potential and I remain unimpressed. Mighty as she is no matter her form, there's no way her Larva version can measure up to Gilgamesh in a straight up fight. And there's no way she doesn't know it. She's just acting petulant.
Which is admittedly adorable, but this really isn't the time.
"Not even Ea?" I ask with an arched eyebrow, making her flinch minutely.
"I… Maybe?"
"You are far from being at your best, Archer. And Gilgamesh is…" I shake my head, recalling that one fight between Altera's Warrior Persona and Gilgamesh, back in the Moon Cell. The result was… inconclusive at best. "I'm not sure you'd ever stand a chance against him without going full Sefar."
There's something heart-wrenching in watching the eyes of a child, especially one as stoic as Altera Larva, widening in sudden terror. And I can only kick myself for not realizing how she would react before opening my big mouth. If there's a secret Altera is afraid of, it's the one surrounding her origin. The relentless destruction machine, chained by a will not her own into a purpose she neither wishes for nor can escape from. A reminder of bad times, before the events that gave birth to Altera Larva took place.
There was no need for me to bring it up. She was already hesitating and I'm more than good enough with words to get her to concede the point without bringing up hurtful memories that can be interpreted as threats. But noooo! I have to be smarter than anyone! Open my big mouth and drag up painful memories that serve no purpose beyond helping me make a point. A point I had already made. I'm a fucking idiot.
"Ah... My apologies, it appears I've said too much." I hurry to apologize. "Nevermind me, think of it as nothing but the ramblings of a fool."
It's only once I've said it that I realize I sound exactly like a villain trying to be vaguely threatening. Damnit. Should I keep trying to salvage this or just shut up before I make things worse?
"At least you got the fool part right." Rin interjects dismissively, throwing a sharp glare my way before forcibly changing the topic. "Anyway, about Rider's Mystic Eyes…"
I give her a grateful look -that she dismisses with a very tsundere-like huff and head turn- and the conversation veers away from that particular minefield without further incident. We talk for some time yet, not wasting our time, but certainly not getting into any groundbreaking epiphany either.
All the while, when she thinks I'm too distracted to notice, Rin keeps sending me thoughtful looks. Which makes me wonder… How much does she know about Altera? Enough to know what I meant? Or just enough to know it would upset her Servant?
Evening and the dinner that follows were… involved affairs.
Illya was a brat and tried to monopolize my attention. Altera and Jackie became fast friends and spent the whole time sitting on Atalanta's lap and talking her ear off about something or another. Medea decided that taking a cute and easily flustered tsundere apprentice was the best idea ever and has been teasing Rin with hints of forbidden knowledge for god knows how long.
Ecchan and Ayako have claimed a quiet corner to read together and are ignoring everyone else. Though 'Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World' is a bit of a step up in randiness from Ecchan's usual choices of reading materials.
Sella tried to claim the kitchens and found stiff resistance from Haku and Sakura, necessitating me to intervene and force them to share, which somehow ended up with the kitchen clearly divided in two sides and a cold war between Team Maid and Team Waifu.
… Don't ask.
By the time dinner finally comes around, it feels like we've known each other for years, instead of being a more or less forced gathering of two different groups, including plenty of recently acquaintanced individuals and allies of convenience.
Honestly, I very much doubt things would've been this relaxed if not for my various social perks smoothing things over, but I have a hard time feeling bothered by that. I grew up way too mature for my age, with a single parent that left us way too soon and a sister that, regardless of how well she turned out with time- came into my life completely empty.
In spite of Taiga -That clumsy, nagging, loud, irritating, caring, loyal and loving big sister of mine- always giving it her best effort, never in my life has a family affair felt so crowded and full of life.
I love it.
…
…
I'm not usually this sappy. And I can count with the fingers of a single hand how often my thoughts have been this charitable towards Taiga in particular. I mean, it's not like I dislike her or anything and I would break my fist on the face of anyone stupid enough to insult her in my presence, but… I've always felt that her whole personality is a bit too much.
Something to enjoy exclusively in small doses.
…
…
Frowning in suspicion, I bring my cup closer to my nose to take a small whiff. It's not that hard to catch traces of ethanol now that I'm actually paying attention. That makes me look up with narrowed eyes to study everyone else at the table. It doesn't look like anyone else is getting drunk, so this is obviously a targeted strike.
I'm… I'm in too much of a good mood to let some harmless drink spiking ruin my day, but I'd rather figure out who I need to pay back for this.
Neither Medea nor Jackie seem to react to my scanning gaze with anything beyond confusion, though they can probably fool me without even trying. Atalanta doesn't seem concerned about me at all, which stings a bit but is hardly unexpected. Altera's póker face seems to break the moment she actually has anything to hide in her Larva form, so I can tentatively discard her too.
Sakura seems to have all her attention on whatever Haku is saying and Haku herself looks just as absorbed. She immediately notices my eyes on her, of course, but that's an uncanny skill she's always had, so I'm not surprised when she looks up and—
And smirks cheekily.
Damnit Haku, what if I had been too distracted? What if I ended up drunk for real? I have plans for tonigh—
Haku's smirk widens.
Oh, you cheeky brat… Just wait till we have some time alone, you and me. I'll be spanking those bubbly asscheks of yours until they glow in the dark. I might call in Medusa to help.
Instead of looking properly chastised like a good little sister should do when their big brother is rightfully miffed at her, Haku simply waggles her eyebrows, letting me know what she thinks of being threatened with a good time before directing her attention back to Sakura.
… I think she's drunk too.
Damnit Haku, I'm just planning to have sex with Rin, not to abandon you in the desert and flee the country to marry into foreign money! There's no need to be so melodramatic!
It's about then that Rin catches my eye and gestures to me for some privacy. Which surprises me a bit because I wasn't expecting her to make a move herself, but fair enough. It's not like what's coming isn't obvious and once she's made her mind… Rin can be a bit of an overachiever.
That thought is only reinforced when she makes Archer stay behind and leaves towards the main bedroom. I toy with the idea of making her wait, let her stew in her own anticipation and enjoy her reaction once I finally join her. A bit of a jerk move, but ultimately harmless.
In the end I decide against it, getting up from my seat at the first chance to follow after her. Not particularly subtle, but I doubt anyone will fail to reach the right conclusion come morning, so why delay the inevitable?
Tohsaka Rin
There's a lot on my mind as I leave the racket of the dining room behind. Surprisingly, it's not Gilgamesh and Emiya-kun's lack of a plan to deal with him that bothers me the most. It might be petty of me, but hearing him admit that he doesn't have a perfect answer to every problem has been… Vindicating.
It sucks for sure, but that's what us regular folks have to deal with everyday. Imperfect plans and unknown variables. We'll survive. Or not, but there's very little we can do about it besides trying our best. To be a magus is to walk with Death, after all.
No, the harshest blow has been to learn of the state the Grail is in and to know I've been fighting for a lie from the very start. That Father died for a lie. I hope Caster takes the damn thing and turns it into a pretzel.
And that son of a bitch Kirei has known for years. I'd say Gilgamesh turning on him was just desserts, but a whimsical manchild turning on you without apparent rhyme or reason is hardly the same as learning the man who raised you after you became an orphan is a traitorous piece of shit.
Good riddance, I say. It'll be too soon if I never have to think about him again.
That's not what I want to talk about with Emiya-kun right now, anyway. No, there's something more pressing that–
It isn't until I get into the room and see the extra-sized four-poster bed clearly intended for more than one person -and more than two- that I realize where, exactly, I'm leading Emiya-kun to and what it looks like. I feel my cheeks heat up as I quickly consider the possibility of a retreat. Surely, Emiya-kun will take his time to meet me, either for the sake of subtlety or just because he's an utter jerk who enjoys making me squirm, but this one time it could work in my favor!
Yes! I can leave this room and find somewhere else to wait for him! I mean, he'll have to look for me, but there's only five doors in this wing… And one is the kitchen, which is hardly suitable for a private talk. And another is the bathroom, which has the same problem. And another one is the living room, where everyone is. And another one is this one, which… no.
Which leaves only one other door to try. B– But! It can't be worse like this one, right?
Yeah! I'll just turn back, get there and—
Right as I'm thinking that, the door slides open behind me, giving me the scare of my life. I, of course, am too proud and elegant to let out a yelp of surprise. Or jump away from the door. Or trip on the carpet as I'm trying to turn around and fall on my ass into the bed.
Of course, the one who opened the door behind me was Emiya-kun, because of course he had to pick this one time to actually be timely. And the expression on his face tells me all I need to know about his thoughts on my current predicament.
I just want to ask him about Archer, damnit!
"Why… Tohsaka-sensei…"
I debate whether throwing a pillow -or a vase- at his smug face would help or hurt my case. In the end, I give up with a long-drawn sigh. It's just… not worth agonizing over.
"The more you call me that, the more it sounds like mockery." I complain tiredly. "Just call me by my name and be done with it."
His (dumb) handsome face lights up as if he's just been told Christmas is coming early this year. "As you wish… Rin."
"Wha–! You idiot!" Why does he have to do everything more difficult!? No, my heart didn't skip a beat! Shut up! No! You shut up! "Use honorifics at least!"
"Rin-chan?"
"That's not what I meant either!" I try for my voice to sound firm and imposing instead of a pitiful whine, but I'm afraid I'm a lost cause. "Nevermind that, I wanted to ask you about… Archer."
"That adorable servant you managed to summon?" He asks lightly, making my eyes narrow in suspicion. The (handsome) bastard knows what I mean and he's being cagey about it. "I must say, it beats some jaded alternate future version of myself. Or Haku's."
"That's… an oddly specific worry." I trail off slowly, a shiver going down my spine as my mind conjures some unpleasant imaginery of those possibilities. "But you won't distract me so easily. You know about Archer."
"I… do." He answers reluctantly, sounding frustrated by where the conversation is going. "Knowing things is what I do."
"How?" The incredulous question leaves my lips unbidden. I cannot help it. Not even I know much about Archer and I'm her Master, how the heck did he learn anything at all?
"I know wonderful and terrible things–"
"Yeah, sure, you already gave me that spiel." I cut him off before he can start, he's trying to distract me again. But it won't work again. I've seen through his tricks. It's only taken me three years and numerous humiliating defeats. "Are you going to be more specific?"
"I don't think I will, no." He crosses his arms defensively, answering my question with a frown.
"You are infuriating sometimes." I sit up with a frustrated hiss, crossing my own arms to match. "Weren't you talking about how we need to share vital intel to be effective? I'd say knowing more about my own Servant is pretty damn vital."
"Vital enough to talk about it behind her back?" He asks pointedly, making me wince.
"She was obviously upset by whatever you knew." I answer with a glare once I recover. Low blow, Emiya-kun, low blow. "If you think I'd be better off asking her myself, I will do that instead."
"..."
"Emiya-kun?"
"No, I guess you're right." He finally answers with a sigh before his expression softens a bit. His lips curl back into that infuriatingly alluring smirk of his as he relaxes again. "But you will believe me without proof? Without knowing where my knowledge comes from?"
"I think we're past that by now." I huff, feeling more relieved about the improving mood in the room that I'd care to admit. "I'll at least act under the assumption you're right until I can find proof otherwise."
"Your trust flatters and humbles me." He deadpans, almost getting a chuckle out of me. "What do you know about her?"
"Just… what I get from the Dream Cycle. Vague scenes. Sights and fights. Sometimes words, but not too often. Grassy plains and horse-riding armies, the gates of Rome under siege, a winged figure with a flaming sword barring the way." I sigh. "For a while I thought she was Attila the Hun, but…"
There's something in what I said that surprises him, making his eyes widen minutely. But I wasn't paying enough attention to pinpoint what tidbit, exactly, it was that surprised him. He seems to have been expecting the rest, though.
"The scenes changed, didn't they?"
"How do you–?" I cut myself with a sigh as I see his mouth open for another no doubt witty retort. Great and terrible things, yada yada. I know. "Yes. Impossible sights seemingly made out of different places and times pieced together. Armies of vaguely humanoid constructs. A gentle person carrying a glowing green ring. Combat against other Heroic Spirits. A gigantic white figure, lumbering through a scorched Earth. An invader from outer space, a comet heralding the end of times."
"Velber, the Umbral Star." He says softly, somehow making it all sound more ominous than it has any right to be.
"You know what that was?"
"The end of civilization, a comet that comes close to Earth every fourteen thousand years and sends us back to the Stone Age." He explains. Okay, maybe it was as ominous as he made it sound. "Last time it happened, it kicked the collective asses of the Atlantean pantheon and sank the Mu continent."
Definitely as ominous as he made it sound. "What does that have to do with Archer?"
"Nothing, everything." He shrugs unhelpfully. "What does a parent have to do with their children?"
I feel my whole body stiffen as his answer makes me feel like death itself ran a finger down my spine. "You don't mean–?"
"A comet doesn't just… magically make things collapse, you know?" He explains with a lightness that belies the fact he's just talking about a god-killing civilization-ending wandering apocalyptic scenario. "It sent an agent to Earth's surface to act in its name. A white titan that devoured civilization and could not be harmed by the fruits of civilization. Sefar."
"You said that name before." I point out. "Archer didn't like it one bit."
"Sefar was a mere automaton. Frighteningly powerful and ruthlessly efficient, but ultimately a machine, lacking the required awareness to be called a person." He explains leadingly. "But many, many years later, from the last remnants of Sefar, a new entity was born. The people who discovered her called her the King of Combat, the Scourge of God."
"Attila the Hun."
"Attila wroke havok through Europe, a bit more sentient, a bit more aware than Sefar ever was, but still pushed forward by the same prime directive to destroy civilization. Until she was stopped at the gates of Rome. She didn't live long after that, maybe just coincidence, maybe a wound inflicted by Archangel Gabriel."
He nods along and it's proof of how saturated of absurd facts I'm feeling that the mention of a fucking Seraph materializing on the human world at such a modern age doesn't even get a raised eyebrow from me.
"In any case, that was that. Attila died and the last remnant of Sefar left the world for good. At least… in our world."
I'm not stupid enough to miss the implication when it's spelled out like that right in front of me. "Archer comes from an alternate reality?"
"Starting to see why I was reluctant to talk about this?" He smiles softly, and it's a sad and melancholic thing. It somehow gives me the urge to punch him in the face, but I resist it. I still have more to hear.
So I listen as he explains about the Moon Cell, about the fragment of Velber that crash-landed there and tried to devour it. About the being sealed away in the reverse side but never destroyed and its connection with the remnants still on Earth. Of how it lived Attila's life as a dream and how it awoke its own self-awareness.
Of the trick of a corrupt Servant. Of Hakuno Kishinami, the winner of a Grail War that so little has to do with our own. Of Goddess Altera, trapped alone in the cave for so long. Of Warrior Altera, fighting a war she no longer believed in. Of Maiden Altera, so innocent and earnest, and so deprived of hope.
Of plots and schemes, of earnest words and feelings, of hopes for a better ending slipping through timelines. Of the resurrection of Sefar and its prompt defeat, of the destruction of the Velber fragment, of Altera's death… and her return.
Of Altera Larva, The King of Destruction born from love and hope.
"It still makes more sense than 'Evil clone of King Arthur from outer space'." I let out a hollow chuckle mutter once he's done with his story, my attempt at humor feeling flat even to myself. "Damn… that was heavier than I expected."
"Heroes don't live easy lives." He smiles without any cheer. "You didn't really think a sweet young girl like Altera entered the Throne of Heroes without some extraordinary circumstances, didn't you?"
That's how I learn about Archer's life, sitting on Emiya-kun's bed, face to face with someone who has always felt so strong and free, so full of joy and energy, looking depressed due to facts that didn't even happen in (this) reality. It makes me feel… small and petty. And I don't really like that feeling. So I punch him in the face.
Or at least I try to, because he still has the damn reflexes of a snake and leans out of the way, grabbing my wrist as it sails right through where his infuriatingly sad face was a second ago and pulling me up from the bed in the same motion. I find myself standing in front of him, his lips so close to mine that I can feel their warmth.
If that's not enough to remind me where we are and the intended use of the large bed behind me, the burning passion lurking behind his blue eyes does a more than sufficient job at it. It's at this point, of course, that a loud bang sounds on the other side of the door, followed by a yelp of pain and a muttered curse.
The moment lost, we trade a confused look and are about to reach for the door to investigate when it slides out of the way to reveal Illya's presence. Who limps into the room with uneven steps, glaring at us as if daring us to comment on it in a way that almost makes me miss the very…revealing piece she's wearing.
She would've been more decent wearing nothing. I should know, I've seen her wearing nothing!
"Illya? What–?"
"Stupid sliding doors can't be kicked open unless you're Berserker." She grumbles for an explanation, making her way to the bed. "Obvious in hindsight. I'll remember for the next time."
There's a long silence in the room as she sits down and gingerly massages her bare foot, the pained expression in her face slowly fading until she releases it with a satisfied groan. Finally, Emiya-kun clears his throat and takes a step towards the bed.
"Anything we can help you with, Little Big Sis?"
"Why, yes~" Illya exploits the opening with enviable swiftness, regaining the seductive demeanor she was no doubt going for before her silly miscalculation and sending us a mischievous smile that sends butterflies fluttering in my belly. "I'm fairly sure you two can help me with something~"
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