บท 33: You are a dragon

Almost out of top 10. Tomorrow's chapter depends on you and your stones!

***

Shirou didn't know what was happening to him. His mind was a blurry mess through and through. He couldn't control any part of his body as though he was struck with severe paralysis.

'What happened? Where… am I?'

He faintly recalled finishing classes. What could have happened after that led to this situation? His mind was too out of focus to speculate anything.

While Shirou was growing more confused by the situation, Haruki entered the room with Medea and Semiramis. Medea wasted no time as she pulled out her Rule Breaker and stabbed Shirou's chest. The dagger sank into his soul and severed the link between him and Avalon in an instant. Pieces of metal covered in golden aura drifted out of Shirou and floated above Medea's hand.

Shirou felt like he lost something. A thing so precious it couldn't be put into words. But he could do nothing.

"Avalon, the ever-distant utopia yearned by King Arthur," Medea murmured and assembled Avalon. "It is as beautiful as the legends describe it."

Haruki couldn't help but nod at her words. Medea turned to Haruki and presented Avalon in her hands. The golden sheath was decorated with enamel blue. A luxury that could only be afforded by kings—such was the grace and nobility of Avalon.

Semiramis pressed her hand on her cheeks. "I have to agree on this. How did this boy obtain this treasure?"

"That's a long story," Haruki said and took the sheath.

"I love stories, my master," Semiramis said with a wink. "Ancient tales go hand in hand with fine tea."

Haruki ignored her seductive invite and looked at Shirou. "Semi, can you send him home without making anything suspicious?"

The only reason he tried to be sneaky was for Taiga-sensei. She had always looked after him in the school even when he didn't want her to. Any harm to Shirou will leave her devastated.

"It'll be a child's play," Semiramis said.

"Please do."

Haruki left the room with Medea and headed to a different room. He once again asked Medea for the summoning circle. Medea sensed the urgency in his voice and pushed back the idea of replenishing her magical energy.

'Later, when I teach him.'

She planned a different approach and squatted down to carve the summoning circle. Haruki watched her since he had nothing else to do. He will never know his attentive gaze made Medea sloppy. She took twice the time, fumbling a few times.

"Finished."

"Well done," Haruki said and gave her a hand. She grabbed it without hesitation and pulled herself up.

"We can start now," Medea said, swallowing her urges.

"Sure."

While holding Avalon, Haruki channeled his magical energy into the circle. The Od flowed out of him like a tide and discharged into the magic circle. Medea had to check twice if he was the same person who made a contract with her. The difference in Od quality and quantity was like heaven and earth.

'What happened earlier changed Master.'

His growth was only a good thing. Seeing him grow stronger filled her with pride and a little worry. If he kept growing at this rate, he will attract the attention of pesky mages. It'll become harder to deal with them once the greater grail stopped supplying her with magical energy.

'I'll have to do something.'

Nobody was going to ruin her or her master's life. Those who tried will pay the price with their blood.

A blinding light signaled the arrival of a new comrade.

As the light faded, Haruki found himself standing face to face with his new servant.

Artoria Pendragon.

A young woman whose blonde hair seemed to emit a light glow. She donned shining armor over a vivid blue dress. Her armor and old-fashioned dress melded seamlessly with her dignified air. She might have intimidated Haruki if it weren't for a strand of blonde hair sticking out of her head.

'Ahoge.'

Artoria's lips parted. "I ask of you. Are you—"

Artoria paused and shock flashed in her emerald eyes. Not because she sensed a Servant. The young man before her gave her a sense of deja vu. His magical energy carried a familiar signature.

'Vortigern.'

The white dragon who stood against the Age of Man in Britain.

"Why did you stop?"

Artoria stared at Haruki emotionlessly. "You're a dragon."

It was Haruki's turn to be surprised.

'Other dragons can sense me.'

Artoria was half dragon and half human. A human with a dragon core to be precise.

Haruki turned to Medea, who gazed at him with inquisitive eyes.

"Yes."

There was no use lying now since Artoria already knew his race. Medea revealed a smile, realizing he trusted her with the truth. She already had an idea about his race. His agreement only confirmed her theory.

"Then are you master?" she said, her voice valiant like her appearance.

Her question brought a hot feeling in Haruki's left hand. The pain made him flinch.

'Now both hands. Great.'

Artoria spotted the glow of the Command Spell and nodded her head. "I, Servant Saber, have come forth in response to your summons. From this time forth, my sword shall be with you and your fate shall be with me."

It didn't matter whether he was a dragon or a human. As long as he summoned her in the Holy Grail War, her sword was his to command.

This concluded their contract.

Artoria finally paid attention to Medea. "You are?"

"Master's first servant," Medea said in a polite tone. "There is another servant beside me. Let's get along and win."

"Another?"

Artoria blinked her eyes. "…Three servants?"

How was this possible? She wanted to ask. The war that happened ten years ago had seven servants, each belonging to one master. Yet, her master had taken control of three servants and had six command spells in his possession.

'This will become too easy.'

It was a dishonorable thought, unfitting of the King of Knights. Yet, it was her honest thought. Her master had enough magical energy to withstand three contracts at once. It seemed endless due to his magic core.

'I nearly won last time.'

With two more servants and a powerful master, she will not lose.

Haruki commended Artoria's composure. Any other person would have lost their shit after knowing he had three servants. But she remained composed throughout.

[Artoria Pendragon is added to the 'Potential Partners' list.]

'Another one...'

Seeing her flustered would be a delight, yet he chose to no think with his lower body. Even though fucking Artoria could bring him a lot of benefits, he would need to work a lot to bring down her defenses. He might have tried it if he wasn't working his ass off to revive his beloved mother.

"My master, I'm sorry… I screwed up."

Semiramis's voice reached his ears.