Fragments of the Lost [Fate/Grand Order] [Abandoned]

Chapter 9

Archer calmly looked at the three who were all looking at him.

The truth finally comes out... Oh boy. Things couldn't be worse but they're already horrible enough.

He doesn't even know what to say. At all. This outcome was something he was hoping to never happen, yet it happened... Of course, it'll happen.

"Archer? You know them?" Ritsuka asked.

"..." Archer remained quiet and he looks at Ritsuka and nods. "Correct. We were acquaintances before. We all were participants of the Holy Grail War when I was alive..." Archer said.

"That's what you have to say after all this time?!" Ishtar yelled at Archer who looked away from her as he adjusts his glasses.

"Things aren't looking good hehe..." Sitonai nervously said. "Sorry, Onii-Chan..."

"It's alright Illya... You're not at fault here." Archer said. "Rin, Sakura, Saber. It's been a while..." Archer said towards the three.

"Senpai!"

Archer found himself get suddenly pushed into a hug. He was surprised at first but he can only look on as the Goddess Parvati hugged him... Or Sakura...

"Hm..." Archer can only wince a bit. Seems like the hugs he always receives get more and more violent each time they happen.

"Shirou." Artoria said towards Archer as she approached him.

"..." Archer looked away from Artoria. A small frown on his face as the name of his got brought up again. "Please refrain from calling me that..." Archer said.

"Huh?" Artoria looked at Archer who looked at her.

"I'm not the person who you think I am..." Archer said. "That goes to the both of you as well." Archer said who took a step back from Parvati and Ishtar. Coughing to his hand.

"It's been a while since we've all seen each other. But to me, it's been way longer since I've seen you all." Archer said.

"What do you mean?"

"Time works differently through many ways." Sitonai says. "Onii-Chan is a Counter Guardian. Therefore he differs differently from a normal Heroic Spirit." Sitonai says.

"You didn't..." Ishtar says towards Archer.

"..."

"You're a fool..." Ishtar says with a sigh.

"A Counter Guardian. Essentially they're one's who differ from normal Heroic Spirits. Unlike them, they're irregular spirits with no legends or are not worshipped. They're summoned to take care and make sure mankind does not get destroyed." Artoria says. She looked at Shirou. "And that's what your role is a Spirit..." Artoria said.

"So that means you knew Artoria?" Ritsuka asked.

"Indeed... That one time I saw Shirou... Or the first time here. I didn't know who he was. But I knew he was someone who was destined to fight forever." Artoria says.

"You're not wrong." Archer says with closed eyes. "But you're also incorrect about the true nature of a Counter Guardian." Archer says.

"?"

"You see. While we're all part of the mindless Counter Force. We, as a whole, have no free will." Kiritsugu was the one to speak out. "We are normal humans who have been empowered by the world while also forming a contract." Kiritsugu says.

"This contract allows us to be able to become Guardians after we die." Archer says. "We don't go towards the afterlife but instead are destined to protect the world for all that is known." Archer says.