Fate: Opression

11

Planet: Earth
Date: May 18 2020
Location: Arthur's Seat – Holyrood Park (Edinburgh - Scotland)
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Arthur's Seat.
One of Edinburgh's most popular tourist attractions, with thousands of locals and tourists alike tackling the peak every year whatever the weather.
The site itself wasn't so much a seat as an impressive rock formation. Arthur's Seat was actually part of a volcano, which overlooked the city of Edinburgh. Thankfully, the volcano was extinct, having first erupted around 350 million years ago and since eroded and glaciated to its current size. Despite the fact that the whole range of volcanic hills was often referred to as Arthur's Seat, it was actually just the largest peak that was originally given this name.
Some people also referred to the landmark as the Lion's Head, due to the fact that from certain angles the range resembled a crouching lion ready to pounce.
The site was situated in the south-east of the city, to the east of the Royal Mile and overlooking Holyrood Park. However, everyone could feel its awe-inspiring presence from anywhere in the city due to its huge 823 feet high peak. This allowed Arthur's Seat to boast some of the most amazing 360-degree views for miles round. This, combined with its conveniently central location, made Arthur's Seat one of Scotland's most popular hiking trails among tourists. For people visiting Edinburgh for the first time, there was no better way to get your bearings than to gaze down at Edinburgh's streets and landmarks from this picturesque peak.
But that, of course, always held true except for this moment.
The top of the rock formation was currently empty, lifeless, with no soul around it. And despite the fact that the red sunset on the horizon was breathtaking to see, the view it offered from up there wasn't actually the best. Not anymore. Edinburgh, usually visible in all its glory and magnificence, was now a ravaged city plagued by flames and smoke. The immensity of the destruction was visible to the naked eye. Whole sections and neighborhoods destroyed, buildings collapsed or heavily damaged, countless monuments ruined... it was a horrible, terrible sight. A painful reminder of its former glory. And to think that all this chaos could have been prevented only twenty-four hours ago... it was a depressing thought.
But as depressing as it was, that was the one and only thought of the occupants currently seated on Arthur's Seat.
Mordred and Iskandar remained seated on the ground close to a small bonfire lit on the peak of the rock formation, surrounded by their interlocutors. It was an interesting sight; one you didn't see very often. Rin and Gray glanced nervously at them across the small bonfire, sitting side by side, while Gawain and a still wounded and battle-worn Bedivere glared at the two Servants from the other side. Mordred was beautifully ignoring them both, her green eyes filled with angry frustration as they watched solely the impassive and statuesque face of Artoria sitting next to Waver Velvet.
When the battle that had devastated the city ended after the defeat of Caster – and especially after the unexpected appearance of a certain Ruler who had prevented another clash from breaking out – Lord El-Melloi II had miraculously managed to calm them all, and convinced them to have a small talk. A chance to discuss peacefully among them. And what better place to talk than a barren, desolate top of a lonely hill, where no one would ever think of coming to disturb them given the current state of the city and the chaos that still lingered in the capital?
The tension was palpable in the air.
Shirou sighed. It was the third time he had done so in three minutes. With a shake of his head, he concentrated on his current task: making dinner. He was cooking a small broth of meat and vegetables over the bonfire, mixing together some of the food supplies he and his companions had previously bought in America and adding a little spice to improve the flavour. While it wasn't an incredible dish, it still was a decent meal. A meal that would restore them all and make them recover their energy. Gray, Rin, and Waver needed food, being simple humans and tired after all the shit they've been through; and Mordred and the Knights, especially, were the most exhausted after the 'fighting' they had faced. Bedivere above them all, thanks to a certain someone.
Hence, the God of War served him first. "There you go, sir Bedivere," he said, handing him a bowl of soup.
The Knight accepted it with an uncertain smile. "T-Thank you, Mr. Emiya," he said with a strained face, still struggling to hide the shame he was feeling inside.
Shirou smiled at him. Unlike Cu Chulainn, he had managed to heal Bedivere thanks to his regenerative abilities, allowing him to regain consciousness before dinner. The blue Lancer, on the other hand, was still unconscious, and although his body was in stable condition and out of danger, it was impossible to know when he would be able to awaken again. The possession from Caster must have had a heavy effect on his body. Therefore, the group had had no choice but to hide him in the private jet the Clock Tower had offered to Lord El-Melloi II in order to get to the capital, keeping the Lancer safe while the others faced this 'discussion'.
"Just Shirou is fine," the red-haired man assured the Knight, casting a cold glance at Mordred. The girl stiffened and looked to the ground with a flinch under at his cold, powerful gaze. Even Iskandar gave her a judgmental look. "Now that we've cleared that what happened between you and Mordred was a misunderstanding, there is no reason to continue this hostility," Shirou continued, addressing not only him, but everyone present with his statement. "All of this could have been avoided if a certain someonehad deigned to explain her mission when she first met you."
Mordred flinched further. Then, she let out a low growl as she glared at Bedivere. "I had no reason to explain anything to an enemy Servant," she spat.
Everyone tensed as they heard her angry, ferocious tone. Artoria above them all. Gawain was ready to say something, but someone beat him to the punch.
Shirou rounded on his friend, his face a mask of solemn and cold fury. Even the bold, foul-mouthed Knight of Treachery couldn't hold back the terror on her expression when she saw the threat hidden in those amber eyes.
"Kid, for your own sake, you'd better shut up right now. I've already dealt with enough nuisances for a single day. My patience has a limit."
She glared at him. "He started it!"
"Yeah, but you didn't need to continue it," he retorted seriously. "You could have ignored him, or simply explained to him that you had another goal."
"Or, you could have warned us," Iskandar added seriously. For once, his cheerful and boastful demeanour was completely gone, replaced by a serious and purposeful expression. "We agreed that we would have contacted the others as soon as we'd found something. Remember that, Saber?"
"We also agreed that we had to destroy everything that stood in our way," she hissed in response, crossing her arms with a scowl. If it wasn't for the contrite expression on her face, she almost would have seemed resolute in her statement. Almost.
Bedivere lowered his eyes to the ground. "...No, I'm the one at fault here," he spoke in the end, getting everyone's attention. "I... I should have been more careful. More judicious. I shouldn't have assumed that sir Mordred had negative intentions simply because of our past. I-I acted brashly, and in doing so I stained both my reputation and my King's honor. This time... it's me you guys should blame for what happened. I apologize," he admitted through gritted teeth, clenching his fists in frustration and shame under his King's stare.
Pure silence followed his confession. Waver Velvet and the girls said nothing, but Artoria and Gawain looked at their friend with distressed looks, unable to reply or say something to reassure him. After all, even if to a lesser extent, they too had made the exact same mistake as him when they first saw Mordred, jumping to conclusions and acting in a hostile way towards their former ally. This had stained their honor too. And because of this, they had no right to judge or reprimand him.
And so, silence ruled for a long while among the peak of Arthur's Seat.
Mordred grunted with a pleased face, her expression growing smug by the second.
Shirou ended her enjoyment with a sudden glare, making her pout promptly. Then, he sighed with another shake of the head. He simply chose to ignore this matter for the moment and move on. They couldn't keep arguing about the same thing again and again. There were a lot of answers he needed, and he'd be damned if he chose to waste time for something like this.
When he had given everyone a bowl of soup, he sat down next to his companions and they began to eat in a tense, cold silence under the waning sunset.
Then, when everyone took the first bite, their eyes widened all of a sudden.
"T-This is..." Lord El-Melloi II muttered with a stunned face, amazed beyond words.
Rin and Gray gasped at the same time, staring at the soup with stunned, impressed eyes. Gawain and Bedivere paused on their left, and even Artoria raised her eyebrows in stupor, her expression softer and more relaxed than before.
Iskandar grinned after taking a bite. "By the gods... you should really cook more often, boy," he commented with a sly grin, nodding to himself. He began to stare at his companion as if he was a treasure.
The God merely raised a brow at him. "You think so?"
"Are you kidding me? T-This is good! Way too good compared to the other meals!" Mordred exclaimed as well, staring incredulously at the bowl in her hands. She too seemed as if she was looking at a newly discovered treasure. Her emerald eyes were shining in pleasure as she stared inquisitively at him. "Since when can you cook so well? You never told us before!"
He shrugged. "It's just a hobby that I picked up in life. But it's not worthy of such reactions. I'm not that good."
"N-Not true. It's really good, Shirou. Really," Gray commented with a bashful smile under her hood, taking another sip.
"I agree, this is a really great dish, Ruler. To think a Servant could be so skilled in cooking... I'm impressed, truly," Lord El-Melloi II admitted as well, giving a nod to the red-haired Servant with a careful expression.
Shirou scratched the back of his neck, growing a bit embarrassed. "Come on… it's not that great," he tried to say again.
"Ruler."
Everyone's eyes fell on Artoria. The King of Knights took a sip of the soup, then squared her shoulders, regal and composed as ever. She raised her head, quickly adjusting her expression as it twitched for a second in... enjoyment? Pleasure? It was hard to tell. In the end, she offered the red-hared man a determined look. "It's good," was all she said.
No one dared to go against the blonde King's declaration. Shirou coughed in embarrassment. When he regained his composure, he smiled at the other's astonished expressions. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it," he simply said to them all, accepting their compliments with a knowing smile. Of course, he didn't really think he was good at cooking, but he was used to it. After all, after thousands of years spent alone and with the need to hunt food and cook for your own survival... you pick up a thing or two. All the more with the current knowledge Gaia had given him after being sent here. It was simply inevitable.
Not that he would ever say that out loud, though.
Silence descended into the air oce again. While everyone kept eating in peace and quiet, Iskandar looked at Artoria with an unreadable expression. His red eyes studied her for several seconds before anyone noticed. And when they did, the following question was inevitable.
"Is something the matter, King of Conquerors?" Gawain asked, glancing at him with narrowed eyes. "Why are you staring so much at our King?"
That question made both Bedivere and Gray jump in surprise. Even Mordred shot a confused glance at the giant Rider, along with Rin. Shirou and Waver remained calm instead, silently watching the scene unfold with a calculating gaze and unreadable faces. Artoria, for her part, remained impassible as ever, even under the taller man's powerful gaze.
Iskandar merely smiled with his trademark grin. "Heh. I was just curious. This is the first time I've met a King. A true King like me. Not to mention that our young Saber here has told us a lot about 'him'," he explained, patting Mordred on the shoulder. The girl rolled her eyes in annoyance at his antics, but she remained silent. The Rider looked again at Artoria, straight in her eyes. "It's not often that I get to meet a famous and world-renowned ruler like King Arthur. I'm just observing her out of curiosity, that's all."
Artoria closed her eyes with regal and collected grace. "I'm honored that the King of Conquerors knows about me and my legend," she replied cooly, making Iskandar grin at her reply.
Mordred scoffed under her breath. "Tch. Yeah. Works every time," she sarcastically grumbled out-loud.
Gawain shot her a poisonous look. "Watch your tone and manners, sir Mordred."
She glared at him, ready to argue, but someone reacted faster.
Shirou didn't say anything. He didn't even do anything. He simply, slowly, raised one arm above Mordred's head, clenched a fist, and fixed her with a sharp, emotionless stare.
For some reason, this was enough. The female Knight paled in an instant, and immediately covered her head with her hands, sweating profusely. Then, like a child ready to be scolded by her parents, she fell silent, lowering her gaze and grumbling with an angry pout. Her previous irritation disappeared completely under the red-head's menacing face, much to everyone's surprise except Iskandar and Gray (the latter sweat-dropped with a giggle).
Seeing that the kid had decided to behave herself, Shirou relaxed and pulled his arm back, shaking his head with yet another weary sigh. He was really tired of dealing with overly-sized kids.
Many of the present were amazed by this strange interaction between Ruler and Saber, especially Artoria and her Knights. They had to resist the urge to gape in shock at that scene. Who on earth was this Ruler, to be able to silence and control even a strong and fearless warrior like Mordred? A Knight renowned for her foul mouth and temper? A warrior famous for rebelling and ignoring everyone and everything? It was unexpected. Illogical. Simply impossible to believe, actually. To say they were shocked was an understatement.
Artoria, more than the others, stared at the red-haired man with renewed interest under her stoic mask.
Shirou wasted no time changing the subject. "By the way, is it true that this peak is called Arthur's Seat?" he casually asked, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. "I heard it on the news on our way here. Did it get this name from you, King of Knights?"
Artoria blinked in confusion.
"That's true," Lord El-Melloi II confirmed, setting his now empty bowl on the ground. Everyone's eyes fell on him. "This rock formation is linked to several legends related to the story of King Arthur. However, nobody really knows why. Some say it's simply a baseless legend."
Iskandar grinned widely, his interest piqued by that news. Even Mordred was staring at her 'father' with a narrowed gaze after that revelation. "Hoho? Truly? How interesting. To have an entire hill named after you... it must be quite the pleasant news. Isn't it, King of Knights?" he asked emphatically, folding his arms with raised eyebrows.
Artoria didn't answer. She fell silent, her mind empty and cold, her emerald eyes pointed to the horizon and the sunset with a dull gaze. Her silence lasted for several seconds, much to everyone's confusion.
Shirou studied her reaction carefully. "If I may... this place, is it linked to your legend?" he asked her slowly, trying to be discreet with his question.
The female King nodded after a while.
"It is."
Bedivere looked at her with a small smile. "Can you tell us about it, my liege?" she asked respectfully, with a small bow of the head.
Artoria said nothing, pondering to herself for a while. She didn't really like to talk about her past, if she had to be honest, but she assumed there was nothing wrong with revealing a little about herself. Just a little bit, though. She still wasn't sure if she could fully trust those people. So, she waited a couple of seconds. And waited. And waited. And waited.
Eventually, she relented to her Knight's request.
"It happened when I was still young. A few months after I pulled the sword from the stone," she began to say, both her face and gaze focused, lost in memories of a distant past. Shirou, Iskandar and all the others listened to her words with bated breath. "Merlin brought me here, telling me about the plague that afflicted these lands."
Mordred stared at her with all the attention in the world.
"Back then, the city was nothing but a small village. The land surrounding Edinburgh was plagued by a huge, ferocious dragon. When Merlin explained it to me, I insisted on doing something to help the people. So, he brought me here, and I saw it with my very own eyes. It was a huge, revolting beast; with gray scales and bat wings. It would usually circle the skies, terrify the locals, breath fire, steal precious livestock and generally getting up to the dragon-ly mischief. The people...they didn't know what to do. They were petrified of the beast and could see no way to satisfy its greed. Eventually however, this greed would become the reason for the dragon's downfall."
Shirou put a hand on his mouth, hiding a little smile.
Artoria continued her story.
"Over weeks and months and years, the dragon ate and ate and ate, taking whatever supplies and animals it wanted from the people of this land without a second thought. By the time I came here, the beast had become so greedy that it grew fat and slow. No longer the fierce monster it had once been, the dragon's constant fullness had made it increasingly lazy. Until... one day, it rested on top of this very same peak, just outside the city, for a sleep. And while the beast was asleep, I stabbed it in the heart with Caliburn, piercing its scales and flesh with a single blow."
Gray swallowed nervously. "D-Did it die right away?" she asked, almost trembling at the very thought of a beast as terrible as a dragon.
The blonde woman shook her head, but a small smile curled her lips. "Unfortunately, it didn't. But despite that, it had no way to escape or cause any more damage. As soon as the dragon woke up, I severed its head and put an end to its reign of terror and cruelty. After the beast's death, the village celebrated for two weeks and recounted my deeds for months. It was the first of many exploits I did before I officially became King and began my mission to unify the country," she explained slowly, her mind lost in memories.
The others remained silent after that story, immersed in their thoughts.
"I see. I had never heard of this story, my King," Bedivere said at last, curious and confused.
Artoria smiled. "It was long before I met you and the Knights, Bedivere. My name wasn't famous at the time. Many of my exploits before and after I drew Caliburn are still unknown, even to this day," she explained without batting an eye.
Mordred merely raised an eyebrow after the explanation, unimpressed. "...that's it? That wasn't as epic as I was expecting," she commented casually, arching an eyebrow.
Artoria and the Knights glared at her.
Iskandar laughed a bit. "Hush, Saber. Defeating a dragon was not an easy feat. Even in my own time very few were those who got lucky enough to see and defeat one," he said, stroking his beard with a pensive expression.
Indeed, Shirou inwardly agreed. Dragons were exceptionally rare and dangerous creatures, even during the Age of Gods. When the world was divided at the end of the Gods' rule, some of them were so powerful that they even managed to resist and continue to exist in the Real Side of the World despite the new rule dictated by human logic. Therefore, their power was immense. Killing an adult specimen was already extremely dangerous for several races in the Other Side, let alone for the human race. Elves were struggling to deal with them even now in that other realm, and even Shirou himself had to deal with some of them during his past. So, he knew pretty well how hard it was to defeat one.
Although, in reality, Shirou suspected something. What the female King just said, her story about the dragon... there was something wrong with the way she said it. Something that Artoria had left unfinished. He was sure of it. And how could he not be? That woman had narrated that event as if it was something trivial, something that should not cause much sensation and shock. But that was not the case. Killing a dragon was far from easy for a human being. Almost impossible, actually. The fact that she had succeeded in that feat showed her great strength and abilities even from a young age.
And besides... a lazy dragon? Killing it during sleep? Stabbing it in the heart? Bullshit. It was impossible. Dragons were able to smell humans from kilometres, miles away. It was impossible to take them by surprise without a heavy magical intervention.
Shirou's smile widened as he stared silently at Artoria. That woman was lying. She was deliberately downplaying her past feat, making it appear small and fuss-free to cover up her strenght and abilities. She was being modest, maybe; or she didn't want to be the center of attention, probably. Or, as Shirou suspected the most, she didn't want to reveal her full strenght to the enemies. A smart move, indeed. He had to give that to her. Therefore, he would hold back his curiosity and questions. For now.
But if that woman thought she could fool an old God like him... she was deeply mistaken.
Especially considering the 'invisible sword' she wielded during the battle.
Shirou's eyes narrowed. He would get his answers about that, sooner or later.
"Enough. As interesting as this story is, we're digressing too much."
Waver Velvet's voice brought everyone back to attention. The eyes of the Servants fell on the teacher of the Clock Tower again. Rin and Gray focused on him as well, confused and tense.
The black-haired Magus had crossed his arms and his legs, seated on a small, plastic chair. He was watching Shirou, Mordred, and Iskandar with a calculating, cold stare as he pondered to himself in silence.
Iskandar looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What are you referring to, young man?" he asked him with confusion.
He remained serious. "What we were discussing earlier," he replied promptly.
"Cut the crap, doc. We've already told you everything," Mordred retorted, her face not even trying to mask her current irritation. She promptly ignored Artoria's disapproving stare. "We told you what happened to us and why we came here. We told you about our quest, our goal, and even our real identities. What more do you want from us?"
"And you expect me to believe it so easily?" he asked right back at her. "Listen to yourselves: the King of Conquerors, the Knight of Treachery, and an unknown Ruler have put aside their desire to fight, joined forces, and incredibly teamed up together in order to stop the Holy Grail War and save the world? That's pretty hard to believe, sir Knight. Trust me."
"Not harder to believe than King Arthur and his Knights joining the Clock Tower," she spat with venom, glaring at them and pointing a finger to Gray. "We even saved that girl's ass for you!"
"...sir Mordred," Gawain warned her with a growl, enraged by her tone and words, but he was completely ignored.
Shirou ended the argument before it could escalate. "So what do you suggest, Lord El-Melloi II?"
"The sec-" the man broke off. Then he coughed nervously. "That's correct. But to answer your question... what I want is proof. Guarantees that you three are sincere and have no intention of causing harm to my country and the world," he stated, deadly serious.
"...are you accusing us of lying, young man?" Iskandar asked him slowly, his gaze hard as steel after realizing the truth hidden in his previous words.
The Lord visibly paled before the Macedonian Emperor's glare. Still, he didn't flinch nor back down for a moment. Shirou had to give him credit for that. This man was pretty brave and resolute, even in front of an imposing Servant like Iskandar. "No. I am merely acknowledging my doubts, King of Conquerors. The security of the world is in danger. Edinburgh, the very same capital of Scotland, has been stormed and almost completely destroyed a few hours ago," he declared forcefully, pointing a finger at the devastated city to the foot of the rock formation. "So, as you can see, I have all the reasons to be distrustful of Servants. My suspicion is well founded, unfortunately."
"And we understand that," Shirou said promptly, nodding with a calm expression. "But I assure you, Mr. Waver, we didn't lie to you. Me and my companions... we are an unusual group, I admit... but our goal and our mission coincide with yours. If you don't believe me, you can easily contact Olga Marie Animusphere, the head of the branch of the Clock Tower in America, to ask for confirmation of our situation. As we've already discussed before, we ran into her and the Atlas Institute shortly before we arrived here in Great Britain. If you can't believe us, then she'll be able to confirm whether we are lying or not," he stated knowingly, crossing his arms with an indifferent movement.
The young Lord hesitated a couple of seconds before Shirou's certainty. Then he let out a defeated sigh.
"Then, if you really are here to help as you say... would you truly consider joining us and our cause?" he asked them seriously, trying to ignore Gawain and Bedivere's dubious looks as he spoke those words.
Mordred's response, of course, was swift and direct.
"No."
The man blinked in confusion. "Pardon?"
She glared at him with a snarl, much to Shirou's and Iskandar's exasperation. "Did I stutter? Read my lips: No... Way... In... HELL!" she hissed fiercely, her face a mask of anger. "We'll never join your pathetic, little gang. We'll do things on our own, and in our own way," she stressed, completely determined on her decision. There was simply no way she would ever join forces with her father again. It was impossible. Out of question. Period.
Mordred and Artoria glared at each other under everyone's exasperated and tense expressions.
Rin narrowed her eyes in irritation. "This is ridiculous. Your logic is flawed. Three Servants alone have no hope of stopping a war on a global scale," she said with superiority. Her tone of voice was both pedantic and scornful as she glared at the Knight who nearly killed her.
Mordred was about to retort, but Shirou put a hand on her shoulder and silenced her with a single stare. Then he turned to the others.
"As much as my partner's words are... questionable, her decision is not," he said seriously, shocking everyone present quite a bit. Even Artoria turned to him with wide eyes. "We've already had this kind of discussion with Olga Marie before. Our answer is the same as then. The three of us are not going to join the Mage's Association. Why? Because as a Ruler class Servant, I am a neutral entity, and I cannot act on behalf of others. My job, my role, is to act freely and rule the battlefield as I see fit in order to guarantee humanity's safety. I cannot submit my will and my decisions to the will of men. Especially if said men are Mages. We don't trust them, for reasons that you surely can understand. My friends have agreed on this as well. So, unfortunately, our answer to that question is still: no."
Bedivere looked at them with disbelief. "But... but this is..."
"What if they're lying?" Gawain asked, narrowing his eyes. He voiced his doubts without a second of hesitation. "What if their goal isn't what they say?"
Iskandar let out a tired sigh. "If that's what you believe, my fellow warrior, then the only solution we have left is to fight," he said in all seriousness. The tall, muscular Rider remained completely solemn and impassive while the others visibly stiffened at his words. "Is this really how it has to end? Do you really want to go that far just because you don't trust us?"
Sheer silence greeted the King's words.
Lord El-Melloi II remained still and silent for a long, long time. His eyes flickered between Shirou's impassive face, Iskandar's solemn one, and Mordred's smug, grinning one; studying them for several minutes of absolute silence. The others next to him did the same, although the Knights were busier glaring at Mordred than doing anything else. The girls remained stunned and tense as well.
Eventually, however, someone broke the silence once again.
"Enough."
Waver turned to Artoria in confusion, similarly to all the others. The three opposing Servants watched her closely after that word.
Bedivere looked at her with a serious face. "My liege?"
"Bedivere, Gawain, stand down," she spoke with absolute seriousness. Her emerald eyes glanced at the Lord and the girls too. "You guys as well. We've already made a mistake and treated them in a hostile way before. Look what happened because of this. We cannot make the same mistake. Attacking and declaring war on them is not a wise move. Trust me."
"...why are you saying that?" Waver asked.
Artoria didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stated the obvious in another way.
She pointed her gaze at Shirou.
"That man," she said. "That man is more powerful than me."
Seconds passed, followed by silence.
Then, just as expected, chaos erupted. The others remained completely shocked – flabbergasted, even – staring at her with wide eyes and mouths agape. They were floored by her words and admission, and especially by the implications of them. The Knights, especially, were more stunned than the others. They looked completely floored and uncertain now.
Artoria remained calm, gazing at the red-haired man with narrowed eyes. "I saw what he's capable of. If we attack them now... all of us will die. There is no hope against him. No chance of victory. I know."
Gawain and Bedivere stammered, recoiling as if they had been physically struck. Their King had never admitted her inferiority to an enemy before. She had never admitted defeat before a battle, nor yield without trying to resist until the bitter end. To simply admit the enemy's superiority with such calm and ease, without even batting an eye... it was surprising. Shocking. This, this was impossible. It had never happened before.
"M-My King... w-what are you saying?" they both asked, unable to understand her words and intentions.
Once again, Artoria did not answer them. She paid no mind to their shock. She didn't even care about Waver, Gray, and Rin's stunned gaze; nor did she notice Mordred's hostile expression or Iskandar's suspicious one. All that mattered to her right now was that man – Shirou – and his golden brown eyes silently focused on her.
She couldn't hold back any longer.
"Emiya Shirou... who are you really?"
The man stared at her, his face unreadable and his eyes cold. "Even if I tell you, you wouldn't believe me," he answered.
"Try me," she insisted. "If you really are a Ruler, if you really are a neutral entity, there shouldn't be any reason for you to hide your identity."
He merely chuckled, shaking his head with a mirthful expression. "Said the one who hid her greatness after defeating a dragon at fifteen years of age," he joked sarcastically, making her stiffen instantly with those words. The woman understood perfectly well what he was referring to. "You won't be able to win me through this, King of Knights."
She stilled, mentally hesitating under his knowing face. She could see that this strategy wasn't working on him, much to her confusion and frustration. However, even despite this, there was still a doubt that tormented her. A question she desperately needed to have answered, at any cost.
She didn't hesitate.
"During the previous fight... you saved my life," she said again, speaking to him, and him alone.
Shirou relaxed a bit, nodding with a careful expression. "I did."
"Why?" she questioned. "Why did you save me?"
The red-haired God blinked. Then, much to her shock, he smiled innocently, making her heart flutter and her cheeks heat for some reason. Artoria widened her eyes as she saw him put a hand on Mordred's head, ruffling her hair with a sheppish grin, much to her son's protests and embarrassment.
"Because you're my friend's father," he replied, as if it was obvious. "And I didn't want to see her sad."
The King of Knights stared at him for several seconds. Then, the seconds became minutes. The minutes remained filled with silence.
And then, she made her decision.
Artoria smiled.
"I believe you."
The Ruler grinned cheerfully. "Glad to hear that. You're much more reasonable than what Mordred told us before," he commented, shooting a confused gaze to the female Knight.
Mordred glared at him, her face a mixture of irritation, disbelief and embarrassment at the same time. She was furiously trying to get Shirou's hand off her head, failing miserably in her attempt. Iskandar openly laughed at the scene with his loud chuckle.
A small smile formed on Artoria's lips.
"My liege, are you really sure of this?"
The woman didn't even turn to Gawain. She simply nodded without batting an eye, answering the unspoken question of her friends and allies with utmost seriousness and calm. "I am. I saw Ruler's powers during our first encounter. I'm no match against him. If he truly wanted to hurt us, he could have killed us right away. He didn't. So, he's telling the truth. I see no reason why a powerful Servant like him should lie about something like this. And besides..."
She trailed off, confused by her own silence. As if there was something about that man she still couldn't fully understand.
"...besides?" Lord El-Melloi II pressed.
Artoria stared at Shirou with a face without emotions. "Something inside me is telling me that we can trust him," she finished in the end, nodding towards the man.
Shirou closed his eyes, hiding a little smile.
Waver studied her, long and hard. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Very well. I suppose I have no choice but to trust your words, then," he finally admitted.
The tension in the air was abruptly subsided. Rin and Gray visibly relaxed when the Servants stopped glaring at each other.
Iskandar grinned with a bellowing laugh. "Glad to hear that, young man!"
"...I guess that's true. Seeing that both lady Gray and our King voiced for them... we shan't comply about this matter anymore. We will refrain from any hostility towards them, for now," Bedivere decided as well, taking his King's decision to heart, as always. Even Gawain accepted that outcome silently without adding anything.
Shirou smiled with satisfaction. "Then we're grateful for your cooperation. I promise you we won't get in the way of your mission and your battles. For now, of course," he added, glancing at Mordred's irritated face still pointed at her father.
Iskandar blinked. Then, he suddenly turned serious, as if he had unexpectedly remembered something. "By the way, what about Lancer?" he asked out of the blue. "Isn't he one of your comrades? Shouldn't you check on his condition?"
Lord El-Melloi II let out a weary sigh. "I guess you're right, Rider." The man rose from his chair, preparing to leave after this unspoken agreement. "Lancer is still unconscious on our plane, but we'd better check the situation in the city and then see if he's stable. We'll need to get him to London as soon as possible, given what happened to him."
Everyone stood up after his words, preparing to leave as well.
Artoria looked at Mordred, then fixed her stare on Shirou. "What will you do now?"
"None of your bu-"
The Ruler gave Mordred a small punch on the head, silencing her in an instant. The girl began massaging her head with a squeak of pain and a silent whimper, glaring at him with a betrayed expression. He merely shrugged it off. "We must continue our quest," Shirou replied. "What happened here today... we can't let it happen again. There's someone behind this War, someone who has been playing an intricate game and has made pawn of us. I need to shed some light on this matter as soon as possible. That is my mission," he said in all seriousness.
Lord El-Melloi II looked at him. "You think you can find out what's coming?"
Shirou nodded. "I do. Besides this one," he patted Iskandar's chest, making the gigantic Servant blink in confusion, much to everyone's amusement. "There's nothing that can't be explained."
Waver Velvet glanced at them. "So, how about you guys join us for a while? I know you want to keep your distance, but we can give you a ride to London. Let you visit the Clock Tower, if you're interested..." he casually suggested.
Shirou blinked, considering the offer. Then, he glanced at Iskandar and Mordred. The first one grinned without a care in the world, the second shrugged with an annoyed scowl. She crossed her arms in a resolute gesture. "As long as they don't try anything again," she hissed under her breath, glaring at Bedivere and Gawain. But aside from their mutual contempt, no one wanted to object or answer her.
The decision was made in silence. But just as he was about to relax, Shirou noticed that Artoria locked eyes with him all of a sudden, her expression determined and her eyes burning with a strong, strange gaze similar to a glare. It disappeared in less than an instant, and Artoria turned back to her Knights and Gray, ignoring him completely. But his eyes were not wrong. He had seen it clearly. That woman definitely glared at him for some reason.
Shirou forze. He knew that look. It was the same one that Mordred made when she demanded answers or had something to say to him. And he didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit.
The God of War let out a tired breath.
This was going to be a looong day.