Fate Apocrypha Volume 3

Chapter 2.2

Despite the softness of Chiron's voice, his words hit Caules with explosive force.

"What...?"

Caules's mind spun into chaos at the impossibility of what Chiron just said. Of all people, did the sage just voice doubts of his Master's competence?

"H-Hold on, Archer. Just now, what did you...?"

Flustered, Caules looked at the shut door to Fiore's room. Chiron spoke again, as though to calm him.

"There is no need to worry... my Master is fast asleep. If you do not feel at ease, shall we perhaps move elsewhere?"

"You know, I'm pretty tired too..."

He had also had a rough day – letting his own Servant perish, and getting caught in Spartacus' fierce strike. However, Chiron smiled.

"My eyes do tell me that you are full of vigor yet. Might I trouble you with a brief talk?"

Despite his tone, it was clearly not a request in this case. Caules scratched his head and sighed. In truth, Chiron was correct; he still had some strength left.

"All right, fine... come on, Archer. Let's go up to the watch-tower. We can talk about whatever we want there. It's almost light, anyway. Geez... why do we have to do this now..."

Despite grumbling all the way, Caules did not show any sign of fatigue as he and Chiron strode down the hall together.

* * *

The tottering piles of books stood like a mountain of information material. He had hardly taken a step out of his study, his pen racing across paper as he worked. That was one thing that authors like himself would agree on; the convenience of becoming a Heroic Spirit was that you no longer needed to deal with food or drink or bowel movements. It was quite fortunate to be summoned like this once in a while – even though it was also quite rare for an author to be involved in such an interesting situation.

He stood up, taking a short break from his writing. His Master, Shirou, should be soon finished speaking with the others. Of course, there was the possibility that the other Servants would rebel against him, but that was not likely to occur. As expected, when he went out to the garden, he saw the three of them doing nothing in particular and simply watched the scenery pass by.

"Greetings to all!"

Shakespeare called out to them cheerily, causing Achilles and Atalanta to frown, while Karna merely nodded without any change in expression.

"Did you know about this...?"

Achilles said, disgruntled. Shakespeare threw his arms wide open and declared loudly.

"Oh, we are such stuff as dreams made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep... so yes, I knew."

"Is he sane?"

"I wonder. Sanity and madness, are they not but passing frivolities? You beheld the answer reached by Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, at the ends of agony and despair. Why, I can only do all in my power to see his desire granted."

"Aware as I am of your unsound mind, Caster, I dare to ask regardless... why did you choose to ally yourself with Shirou?"

Shakespeare shouted, practically foaming at the mouth as he answered Atalanta's question.

"But is he not just so very interesting?! His is not the mean aspiration of reaching to one or few, but the salvation of any and all... the six billion souls upon this earth! And yet he is no saint, unlike those humdrum dullards with their deeds and good-doings and prayers. He warred, he fell, and everything was taken from him! Oh, how he must despise them... those men who stood for order as they unleashed carnage upon his folk, and them who had only watched from the wayside and lent no aid! Ah, and yet he does not... for they too shall receive his ultimate deliverance! Yes, he understands full well, that is the meaning of his goal. What suffocating pain, what mental anguish, what tragedy! Aye, our Master is terribly interesting... so you see, it stood to reason that I would rid myself of my stale former Master. For William Shakespeare serves no lord, only the story!"