Fate: Opression

3

Planet: Earth
Date: May 12 2020
Location: Chugach National Forest (Alaska - U.S.A.)
(======)
The silence was definitely disturbing.
Shirou clenched his teeth, throwing a few twigs over a fire he had previously lit in the middle of the silent woods once the sun had set and the air had grown colder. Contrary to what he had expected after being summoned to the Real Side, his body was reacting rather well to the cold weather of this place. And, as he had learned a couple of hours ago, Alaska was definitely not the hottest place in the world. He assumed this was thanks to his Divine Nature. Being an immortal warrior had some advantages, even if he still loathed his origins wholeheartedly.
Along with him, the other two Servants he had met earlier in the day were also silent like him. Iskandar and Mordred sat around the bonfire, one on the left and the other to the right, staring at the crackling flames with an unreadable gaze. Mordred was sulky and irritated – Shirou assumed it was due to the fact she was still injured and tired, and that she didn't really like the fact that she had lost a battle against a 'weak' opponent – while Iskandar remained silent with a thoughtful expression, his arms folded and his gaze lost in thought as he mulled to himself.
Their previous conversation had been... peculiar, to say the least.
"So, let me get this straight," Shirou sighed once again, immediately drawing the attention of the others to himself. "The first thing you two remember once you were summoned here is that someone took you from the Throne, with no reason and no clear goal whatsoever. And then, before you noticed, you found yourself in this place without a choice. Is that right?"
Iskandar nodded at his recalling of their previous explanation. Mordred just made a sound similar to a 'tch' while she crossed her arms and glared at the trees. Nobody blamed her for her irritation. This was the third time they had been talking about this during the last hour.
"Correct," Iskandar nodded.
Shirou stared at the fire. "Once you became familiar with your new spiritual body, you heard a mysterious voice start speaking inside your mind. A female voice. She told you that you were currently summoned into a battle whose scale would soon cover the entire surface of the planet... a battle called: Holy Grail War," he repeated.
"Exactly," the King of Conquerors confirmed.
"The voice then explained that not only the two of you, but ALL the other Heroes of the Throne were also summoned to the war as Servants, scattered throughout the planet; and that your goal is to find, fight and defeat as many Servants as possible in order to maintain your presence in the world and be considered 'worthy'..."
"Pretty much," Iskandar agreed.
"…and those who are considered worthy, they get the privilege of using a Magical Artifact called... Holy Grail?" he asked again, sounding more and more cold and filled with understanding as he spoke. His face was a mix of realization and decision right now. Not that the others could blame him, despite the peculiar situation they were facing.
"That's the gist of it, yes," Mordred grumbled, eyeing him with an angry frown. "Now stop asking the same questions over and over again. We've already told you all we know."
Shirou sighed, running a hand through his red hair. "...I see. So that's how it is," he muttered.
Iskandar shrugged. "As confusing as it may sound, that's the truth, boy. The fact that Servants like us are able to meet and talk like this right now is the very proof of that," he argued, smirking a little in the end.
"I'm not wondering if it's true or not. I'm complaining about this whole mess," he retorted, glaring a little under the amused grin of the gigantic man. He shook his head with clear irritation and stress. "This situation... I get the gist of it, but it doesn't make any sense. Why would something like this happen? How did it happen? It just... it has no sense whatsoever. This literally sounds like some fairy tale shit… forgive my language."
Mordred smirked. "So you can curse," she mused with a sly grin. "What a surprise."
Iskandar slammed a fist into the ground in a decisive motion. The ground cracked a little under the force of the blow. "Stop your grumbling, boy. There is no point in asking how and why a war starts. The right thing to do is to make a decision and face it with pride and your head held high," he declared loudly, grinning like a child excited to fight.
Shirou stared at him in obvious confusion. Even Mordred gave the taller man a blank stare.
In the end, the God of War sighed defeatedly. "By the way... what in the world is this 'Holy Grail'?" he asked them again, shaking his head in defeat. "I've never heard of such an Artifact before."
Mordred crossed her arms. "We don't know either. The voice didn't bother explaining what it is. She just said one thing," she answered, narrowing her eyes.
"Which is?" he pressed.
Mordred turned her head towards him, staring into his golden-brown eyes. "That those who obtain the Grail... will be granted their most important wish; no matter how great, impossible or unreacheable it may be. The Grail will grant it true. That's what she said."
Iskandar nodded in confirmation with a pensive face.
Shirou hesitated, looking both suspicious and conflicted after that revelation. "...really, now? That sounds convenient," his gaze narrowed without any true emotion under the others' stare. "And dubious."
"What is there to mull about? Our purpose is clear, our goal already ahead of us," Iskandar declared again, crossing his arms with a decisive nod. "What's making you uncomfortable, boy?"
The retired God looked at him as if he was stupid. "...really? Are you serious?" he asked, looking both incredulous and stunned under the confused gaze of the mighty Macedonian Emperor. "An Artifact capable of granting any wish? A power capable of making any dream come true? Who could possibly believe such nonsense?"
"We do," they both retorted in unison.
"Then you're both more gullible than I thought," he promptly told them, blatantly ignoring Mordred's irritated scowl and Iskandar's confused gaze. "There's no such thing as a wish-granting machine. Such a thing is impossible. Only a fool would seriously chase after something so dubious."
Iskandar grinned. "You say that... and yet, we're here," he retorted again, waving his arms to point at himself, Mordred and Shirou. His grin widened, finding a strange pleasure when he saw the red-haired warrior's expression become more hesitant and uncertain after his retort. "We have been summoned into this world, once again, after all this time. We're all here, for real. This fact alone proves that there is a mighty power behind this. A power beyond what mere humans like us can imagine. If it has brought us back, then it can certainly grant a wish or two. Don't you think?"
"And you would be willing to fight and kill other people just to chase such a dubious Artifact?" Shirou asked him back, nearly glaring at his amused face. He almost scoffed in disappointment. "I expected more from the famous Alexander the Great. I thought you were smarter than this."
Despite the slight insult, the tall King openly laughed.
"Do not rush to conclusions, boy. I never said I truly believe in this Grail," he reassured him with a loud laugh, waving his hand with a casual movement. His face quickly became more serious after that. "But this IS real. Both me and Saber heard that voice and confirmed on what she said. We can't deny this fact. I don't know if what you're saying is true, I don't know if you're as clueless as you sound or if there's more behind this battle... but it's my intention to learn and conquer the truth behind all of that. And if there's really a chance to be granted a wish during this... I'd like to bet on it."
Shirou remained silent, studying the tall, muscular man with a narrowed gaze. This man... he was obviously different from what he was expecting. His mannerism, his direct and straightforward way of thinking, his confidence... they were traits he could respect in a man. Even more so in a King. Despite his strange behaviour, he couldn't deny that he really looked like a legendary figure right now. His presence exuded that of 'greatness' and 'leadership' altogether.
He smirked a little. "You're quite the greedy King, aren't you?"
Iskandar grinned. "A King without greed is a dead one, boy," he replied, without noticing the slight glare Mordred was sending him from the left. "We may be Heroes, but we're still humans. And humans are and will always be greedy. That's why I'm not surprised if we and many other Servants are willing to fight for this Holy Grail. If there's a chance that it could truly grant our deepest, strongest wish… we will always be drawn by it, no matter what."
Shirou nodded. "I don't have any interest in this Grail whatsoever… but I agree. I can see why a lot of people would fight and kill for something like this. Especially great Heroes who have accomplished many deeds and victories in life," he conceded with a sigh. His face become a mask of cold decision after that statement. "But despite this, I will not allow this war to cause destruction and death over the planet. Whether there really is someone behind this 'Grail' or not, the world is falling to danger because of this situation. I can't just stand by and do nothing. I must put an end to this."
Iskandar nodded. "I agree. A war of conquest should not be smoothed out by death and destruction. To conquer, but not destroy! To win, but never humilate! No innocent lives should be lost because of a battle between Servants. That's something I can agree with."
The God smiled faintly. "That's a relief."
The Macedonian Emperor nodded again, before glancing at the female Knight on the left. "What about you, sir Mordred?" he asked her, smiling at her slightly frowning face. "You're a Knight, right? I assume that even you would not wish for innocent lives to be involved and killed in this fight."
The girl shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "I don't really care about it. But... I suppose that's fair. Servants must kill each other to win, but that doesn't mean we should destroy and ruin the lives of innocent people. It's best to keep this war between us, in my opinion," she merely said.
Then, her eyes turned to glare at Shirou with fervent animosity. "But enough of that! What I really want to know now is who the hell are you," she declared suddenly, looking at the calm, impassive face of the ancient God. "I've never seen or heard of a Servant like you. A Servant who uses swords, spears and a freaking bow at the same time. That's not supposed to be possible, and we know it!"
Shirou mentally sighed, ignoring Mordred's accusing gaze and Iskandar's intrigued and suspicious one. He had expected that question, after all. He was expecting it since the very beginning, actually. It was inevitable. Not after having shown some of his abilities during the previous fight. His identity and his purpose had to remain secret, but it was simply impossible to escape this situation without offering at least a modicum of explanation. Not anymore, at least.
Again, he had been careless. And now he had to pay the price for it.
"That's interesting indeed, boy," Iskandar agreed after a few tense moments of silence. "To be able to beat a famous Servant like the Knight of Treachery without dealing damage and with such ease... that's quite a feat. Even more so if you truly can use different weapons."
"That's right! Servants shouldn't be able to do that! We're restricted to one class only! Even I know that!" she added, pointing a finger at him with a suspicious gaze. "And you even said that you're not a Servant after the fight... so, who are you? What are you? No mere human should possess all that power. It's simply impossible!"
Shirou sighed with a small smile. Luckily for him, he knew how to get out of this situation without revealing too much.
"It's not impossible," he replied, smiling under her incredulous face. "And I didn't lie to you. I'm not a Servant, but I'm not exactly human either."
Iskandar blinked. "Hmm? Then what are you, boy?" he questioned him, clearly intrigued by his explanation. "I know we've discussed this before, but I have to agree with Saber here. I have never heard the legend about a man called Shirou Emiya either. Are you really saying the truth? I can see that your body is alive, unlike our spiritual body, but you still give off the presence and aura of a Servant. A very powerful one, moreover… how is that possible? Who are you, really?"
His answer was immediate.
"I didn't lie. My name is Shirou Emiya. But my legend is not important right now," he replied, smiling covertly at their stunned and confused expression. They almost looked like fishes that came out of water with their eyes wide and mouth agape. "As for your other question, it's simple: I'm a Pseudo-Servant. A human body filled with the soul of an ancient Hero. That's what I am."
Well, it was a lie, obviously… but they didn't know that. And he had no choice but to use this cover. Gaia had given him only one alibi, after all.
And now it was time to use it.
Mordred stared at him. "…a Pseudo-Servant, huh…" she mused, studying him from head to toe with interest. "And what class are you?"
Shirou smiled, closing his eyes. That was easy.
"I am…"
. . .
"What can you tell me about the Servants?"
The woman looked towards the small window of his wooden house, glancing outside with an unreadable expression. "Similarly as to how Demons require a form invented by humans in order to take shape, Heroic Spirits need a form to exist in the world. This form is created by dividing them into different categuries. Classes, to be exact."
Shirou narrowed his eyes. "So they're divided into groups?"
Gaia nodded. "They act as their temporary name and method of existing. Acting like a 'passport to the present', the Class prepares them for their role as a Familiar in advance, allowing them to take on that role to help them take form, and bringing them forth into the world. Each Class identifies only the core skills of the Heroic Spirit because – as you know – a complete replication of all their previous abilities is impossible. Their main traits align with the class they are given form, matching the principal nature of the Class. Only heroes matching the attributes of the Classes are brought forth, allowing them to be summoned into any of them, reflecting on their abilities," she explained.
"And what are these Classes?"
Gaia smiled in amusement. "There are seven main Classes among the Servants: Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker. I'm sure you've heard of them before, isn't that right?"
"I did. It was a long time ago, however," he nodded.
The woman nodded as well. "Each Class has its own advantages and weaknesses, and even without the Throne, the Heroes released to Earth are still subject to this subdivision. Recreating their full powers and legends is impossible, after all. Not even a God could possess that much power. For this, once you'll come in contact with a Servant or will be forced to fight it, you will need an alibi, a cover to justify your strenght and your powers."
"My mission and your intervention must remain unknown," he sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "Then what? How will I justify my powers and abilities? Should I pretend to be a Servant and use only the abilities of a certain Class?"
"Not exactly," she corrected him. "Restraining your abilities might be too dangerus, given the current situation. But obviously, at the same time, revealing your true identity would be disadvantageous as well. Some enemies could be observing you once you'll be summoned there, after all. Maybe even those responsible for this whole mess. So, I will grant upon you a special blessing that will mask you, and that will make you assume the role of a Servant from an entirely different Class in the eyes of the World and the Planet."
"...an entirely different Class?" he repeated, visibly confused.
"Oh, it's a very special one. A non-standard Servant Class that has never been summoned before in the current history, but that still exists and is recorded in the World in spite of everything. The Counter Force and my sister created it in case the Counter Guardian program should ever fail or malfunction during a global threat… just like it happened today. That's why I can still use it to cover your identity. The Servants of this Class were supposed to be special in the eyes of the Planet, and because of this, it will allow you to maintain your current powers and abilities."
Shirou narrowed his eyes. "What is it, then?"
Gaia smiled. "Why, that's simple, Shirou. You shall be..."
. . .
"…a Ruler."
Mordred and Iskandar watched him in silence for a long, long time after he said that, their expressions unreadable. Nobody said anything for several seconds filled with tension and confusion. Only the distant cry of a hunting hawk echoed in the air after that revelation.
"A Servant... Ruler?" Iskandar let out a breath, eyeing the red-haired warrior as if he was some giant, unsolved mystery. His brows frowned in suspicion as he stroked his red beard with one hand. "I've never heard of such a class, boy. And yet, at the same time, it feels... it feels…"
"It feels strangely familiar," Mordred concluded for him, nodding with a calculating gaze as she studied the impassive face of the unknown God. "I don't know why, but my current knowledge as a Servant is making me remember something. Something about a Ruler that oversees the Holy Grail War."
Shirou nodded. He was expecting this. "That's right. My class is pretty special, as far as I know. That's why I didn't hear that 'voice' after being summoned. That's why I wasn't aware of the situation and the Grail. That's why I had no idea of what is happening here. Because my role is completely different from the role of a normal Servant."
"It's because you are an external being to the war," Iskandar realized, widening his eyes. "You're not here to win the Grail, but to oversee something else entirely. Is that the reason you've been summoned?"
Shirou nodded. It wasn't a complete lie, actually. He HAD been summoned in order to oversee the situation and save the planet, after all. That's the main reason he had been sent here. And the Grail system DID register him as a Ruler thanks to the intervention of the Planet. His new 'role' and his original mission matched the system perfectly. That's why he was able to act, talk and fight so freely even despite the current detachment between the Planet and Humanity. This was the most credible lie ever. Nice one, Gaia.
Mordred snorted in amusement. "But still, a Ruler who doesn't know about the Grail and the war? That's weird. Even I could see a lie there," she questioned, smirking at him.
Oh, he was expecting this as well. "That's because of my role, actually," he argued, immediately grabbing their attention. "From my understanding, Ruler-class Servants are brought forth for the purpose of presiding over a battle. We do not care about the Holy Grail War or the Grail itself, but our duty is to ensure the safety and the correct unfolding of the fights. We're simply sent to make sure everything goes smoothly, without major problems."
Iskandar slapped his knee in understanding. "Hoh? So you're kind of an Arbiter. A judge. A neutral entity whose goal is not about getting the Grail or partecipate in the war, but making sure Servants fight without breaking the rules and the laws of the world."
Shirou nodded. The King of Conquerors was smart. He was catching on this matter pretty fast. "Exactly. But I'm not a simple judge either. A Ruler is meant to rule among the war. My duties include the task of preserving the laws of Heroic Spirits to ensure they won't be violated, and to maintain human history by preserving its safety so that people may survive the war and do not discover the truth behind it. The role of a Ruler is to arbitrate the truth and adjudicate all things in order to maintain human history. I do not care about the war at all. My one and only duty is to ensure that humanity is safe," he stated, like it was a fact.
His golden-brown eyes stared at the two other Servants with absolute seriousness. "That's why I still possess my full powers, sir Mordred. That's why I had no idea of the situation, King of Conquerors. I am not meant to fight in the War, but to ensure that mankind is safe. This gives me a higher duty, a higher ranking among all Servants. Basically, in order to ensure mankind's safety, I rule the Battlefield, I rule over any War, and I rule over every other Servant; despite their origin, their status, and their alignment. Therefore, a Ruler. That's why I'm here," he stated, smiling at them with a calm, impassive gaze.
The sheer, absolute silence that followed his explanation was enough to make him realize that his little lie had worked. Mordred and Iskandar were watching him intently, utterly amazed and shocked by what they had learned about him. They clearly weren't expecting this turn of events, at all.
"I-I see," Mordred said, nodding to herself with a gulp and a nervous grin. "Damn. That's... a lot to take in."
The King of Conquerors laughed loudly. "I'll be damned, that's the last thing I was expecting!" he admitted with a mighty laughter while slapping his leg in attempt to hold back his amusement. He even shook his head in acceptance. "To hear someone declare himself above a King for the sake of humanity... boy, you're pretty special, aren't you? I'll let it slide, since I suppose I won't be able to change this fact given your duty."
Shirou merely smiled. "I can't help it. That's my role."
'And my mission,' he mentally added.
Besides, he was a God. He was the First Hero. That description fit him more than he liked to admit. Even Gaia had almost laughed at his irritated face when she first explained this to him. Shirou didn't really care about being considered 'important' or 'above' others… but he simply couldn't escape what he was. Even if he didn't like it. He was the First among the Heroes, after all.
"But you seem pretty confident about this whole 'the world is in danger' stuff," the Knight noted, raising an eyebrow. "Are you really sure of that? Aren't you just being paranoid?"
Shirou clenched a fist, his face a mask of steel. He knew he couldn't say the truth to answer that question, but he had to warn them all the same. The world was in danger, after all. "Trust me, kid... there's something wrong with this Holy Grail War. I know it. I can feel it. The very same fact that I was summoned here despite my lack of interest on the Grail is proof enough."
Iskandar and Mordred didn't say anything, simply choosing to stare at him with an unreadable gaze for a minute.
Once that matter was cleared, the King of Conquerors glanced at Mordred, who chose to remain silent and stare at the red-haired Ruler with a narrowed gaze while she sat near the fire. "So, what now?" he asked again, addressing both of them. "We agreed to talk, but we never made a suggestion to move on with the current situation. What are we going to do now?"
Shirou remained silent, pondering to himself. Mordred looked at him with indifference. "Do you have some 'suggestion', King of Conquerors?" she asked him back, crossing her arms.
"I do, actually," he replied, surprising her a little. Iskandar glanced at both of them, his lips curling into a wide smile. "Since the boy here, Shirou, has no interest over the Grail and the war, there's no need for me to fight him. And seeing how you're still recovering after your duel with him, I will refrain from fighting you as well," he ignored the blonde's angry and annoyed look after those words, along with Shirou's amused smile. "So, how about working together for now? Joining arms and forces under my command, as faithful companions?"
Sheer silence greeted his declaration. The crackling of fire was the only sound that could be heard in the middle of the forest for several minutes.
Shirou was the first to break the silence.
"...that's actually a good idea," he agreed, smiling a little under the King's grinning face. "Joining forces might be a good opportunity to learn more information about this war and find other Servants at the same time. And my one and only purpose is to learn humanity's condition in order to decide what to do to ensure its safety. I could second this suggestion, given the benefits," he said with a nod towards the taller man.
'Not to mention that I could make good use of Iskandar's chariot to get to a city quickly and get intel on the world's situation,' he inwardly mused.
His golden-brown eyes flickered to the only Knight of the group. "What about you, sir Mordred?" he asked her directly. "What do you say about this?"
The girl clenched her fists and schooled her features. "...I refuse."
Shirou stared. Iskandar looked at her with a confused gaze. "Can I ask why?" the Macedonian Emperor questioned.
"Tch. That's obvious. I will never join another King. Whether it is for convenience or necessity, I'm still a Knight and I have a code of honor to uphold. I refuse to acknowledge another King declaring himself above me," she stated, both her face and body a mask of steeled resolution. She was a literal statue of decision and rage as she spoke. "Now and forever, the only one who can name himself King in front of me... is our King of Knights! Even if you call yourself King, I'll refute that. The only King I acknowledge is King Arthur, and the only one who can oppose the King…" she smirked, glaring at Iskandar with a narrowed gaze. "…is ME!"
Shirou sighed when he saw Iskandar narrow his eyes in irritation under Mordred's glare. Great. That was simply great. A homunculus with gender and daddy issues? That female Knight was proving herself to be more and more strange by the second. And yet, despite this, even if he didn't really care about what her decision could be, there was something inside him that didn't want to push that girl away. A weird sense of tension, a feeling of unease that was suggesting him to keep her close, to keep her in sight, for some reason. Even though he had no idea why.
That's why he took the initiative.
"Are you really sure, sir Mordred?" he asked her, prompting her to turn at him with confusion and irritation evident on her face. "I mean, you're free to do whatever you want... but surely to remain here, alone, in the middle of nowhere is not a great choice. Don't you agree?"
She blinked. "Huh?"
Iskandar nodded with a sly grin as he realized what the other was trying to do with his question. "Hmm! That's right. When me and the boy here will fly away on my chariot to reach our next destination, you'll be left alone. Alone, tired, and wounded. After all, you did lose a fight against him, didn't you? You will be at disadvantage here, if some enemy catch up to you," he reminded her, feigning confusion and innocence on his face.
Mordred gritted her teeth. She clearly hadn't thought about that prospect. But it didn't mean she would back down from this. "I can still survive on my own. I don't need others to keep me safe even if I'm injured," she hissed, clenching a fist in rage and growling with wounded pride.
Shirou sighed. "Listen, kid, don't be like that. We went through so much right after being summoned... it would be wise to stick together right now. At least for a while. Nobody is forcing you to stay with us forever."
"No. I told you. I won't ally myself with another King. Never," she declared again.
"Then how about doing this for me, instead?" he asked her promptly, smiling with a sincere expression. Mordred looked at him in confusion after that question, and even Iskandar arched a brow in his direction. "You don't have to make an alliance with us. You don't have to swear loyalty or anything like that. Think of it as a simple request from me. After all, you owe it to me. You did lose the duel. Remember that?"
She blushed with shame, stuttering in rage as her body trembled with barely contained fury. "Y-You..."
"But that goes for you too, King of Conquerors," Shirou added soon after that, immediately cutting off the female Knight before she could complain more. Iskandar narrowed his eyes when the God turned towards him and stared at him with his cold, firm gaze. "I also would like to cooperate with you. But asking other people to become your subjects or allies without first proving your worth is foolish. I am a Ruler. Right now, my role makes me a higher existence than you. My one and only purpose is to safeguard humanity's future. That's the only thing I care about. I cannot and will not swear loyalty to anyone, as long as the war continues. And that goes to sir Mordred too. She's free to do as she pleases, as long as I am with her. You cannot rule over me, nor her."
The gigantic man frowned. "So you're saying that, because of your role to safeguard humanity, I have to obey you instead?" he questioned with a deep, strong voice.
"That's right. I'm literally your boss right now," he casually stated, as if it was obvious. He failed to notice Mordred's shocked expression after his statement, and blatantly ignored the taller man's sudden glare. He didn't even care, actually. "There's nothing more important than the safety of the planet. No King, no kingdom and no ruler will have a future if the planet falls to danger. Surely you can understand that. Therefore, by my role and duty, I'll have to ask you to refrain yourself from using such notions as subject and loyalty with us. We are Servants. We obey no one, but we can still work together and form a deal, as long as our goal is clear."
Iskandar was silent for a long, long time after those words. The crackle of the fire was the only thing that was heard in the forest for a full minute after that cold, tense exchange. Mordred watched the two men glare at each other with a stunned face, both of them fighting for dominance and asserting their resolve through their eyes.
In the end, however, Shirou's blessing from the planet took effect once again.
Iskandar let out a long, weary sigh. "Alright," he conceded, shaking his head and scratching his beard in acceptance. "If that's what your role is, I suppose there's nothing I can do about it. A good King must always set the example and do the right thing. Even following the rules, sometimes. I can't conquer the world if there's no one to ensure its safety," he grumbled, almost sounding defeated. Almost.
Shirou smiled with a cheerful expression, his previous cold and menancing aura completely forgotten. "Wonderful. That settles it, then." He turned his head towards Mordred, who was gaping at him with wide eyes while he looked at her with a smile. "Then I suppose the problem's solved. There's nothing stopping you from joining us now. Right, sir Mordred?"
She gulped. "B-But-"
"Right?"
"A-Alright, alright! Geez! Stop with that creepy smile," she relented in the end, flinching and waving a hand in irritation. She sighed as well, stretching her arms with an uncertain expression. "I'll follow you guys until we reach a town or something and find something more fun to do," she conceded slowly.
Shirou nodded, getting up from the ground as he put out the fire with some dirt and stones. The first step was done.
Now, to the next one.
"Very well, then. Now that we're all in agreement, we must hurry until the night is young. We should take advantage of the dark to travel unseen. Our presence in the world must remain secret, after all."
Iskandar and Mordred nodded in acceptance. "We will use my chariot, Gordius Wheel, to fly into the sky and reach a city as soon as possible. We should gather information and learn about the lands before we decide our next move," Iskandar agreed with a wide grin, drawing his sword and using it to summon his Divine Chariot. Mordred followed them with a frown without saying anything.
And then, once they climbed on top of Iskandar's chariot, the three warriors set off towards the sky. Towards the beginning of their adventure. An adventure that, unbeknownst to them, with time and patience, it would lead them to form a strange, unexpected bond. A bond that in the future would prove to be essential to bear the weight of the world…
…and the threat that loomed over it.