Fate's Wild Card

Prologue: One Last Moment of Peace (Reload)

I stare blankly at the ceiling as moonlight softly illuminates the room, my mind playing back what happened a while ago.

'Mash Kyrielight... to think she would be summoned here by Illya of all people.' It was quite the bizarre turn of events, especially when you consider that Shielder-class Servants are a non-standard class and have a very unorthodox method of summoning.

'If she's here, then that means she reached the final Singularity, took the full blast of Goetia's Noble Phantasm... and died.' I grimaced at the memory of that monstrosity. Goetia was a god in all but name. It was powerful, immortal, and had Clairvoyance(1). He was using the energy from the 7 Singularities in order to travel back in time to the formation of the world, allowing him to change its fundamental laws in a way that would remove the concept of death from existence. He then converged all of that energy and fired it at Ritsuka only for Mash to stand between her Master and the blast, protecting the person she loved at the cost of her own life.

That devotion and self-sacrifice would move just about anyone; it even made me cry.

'She has definitely earned her place in the Throne of Heroes(2).' It only made sense. After the things she's seen, the struggles she's endured, the adventures she's had, there is no way this wonderful person wasn't already seen as a true hero.

... and it has nothing to do with the fact that she's cute and sexy. I swear!

I turn to my right to the seemingly still Illya whose back was turned. "Hey Illya, are you asleep?"

Instead of a verbal reply, Illya's head snaps to face me, a wide smile plastered on her face as her ruby eyes glow with excitement.

"Nope!" She says, making the p pop. "I'm so excited I don't even feel-" But before she can finish, she immediately falls asleep.

I smile as I gently stroke her hair. Illya is so cute, so innocent. And this war will take it all away. First, her parents, then her body, and finally her soul. Jubstacheit will turn her into the ultimate Master at the cost of her humanity, making her resent her father for adopting another kid and then binding her to a powerful Servant that will cause her unimaginable pain whenever he moves.

She doesn't deserve that fate; nobody does.

I slowly and gently wrap my arms around Illya's small form and pull her closer to me.

"I'll keep you safe. No matter what happens, I'll be there for you." I swore under my breath.

Your [Kindness] has increased!

I feel Illya gripping tightly to my back, hugging me like a lifeline.

'I won't let them have you. As long as I'm here, you'll live the life you deserve.' I swore before drowsiness finally set in and I finally fell asleep.

Meanwhile

In another part of the Einzbern Castle is a room with a long conference table. The room itself is dimly lit, with only the moonlight and the crackling sounds of the fireplace as constant company.

On the conference table sits Jubstacheit at the end with Kiritsugu and Irisviel sitting on opposite sides. Saber stands on one side with her Master while Mashu stands with Irisviel.

Saber's eyes are locked solely at the only other Servant in the room, sensing the familiar power of one of her knights inside her. 'She has Galahad within her, but at the same time she isn't him. Just who is this girl?'

"This is... problematic." Kiritsugu states the obvious. "With two Servants on our side we have a great advantage over the other Masters. But Illya is too young to participate. The risk is too great."