The gallop of the bulls resounded as the war chariot entered the great castle gate. Iskandar, Servant of Rider Class, appeared with a smile, wearing a tight white shirt with the map of the world emblazoned across the chest and jeans that looked very tight. Passing through the door as if he was the owner of the castle, he waved with a raised hand.
Saber and Irisviel looked confused by this, no one knew what this barbarian planned to do with his sudden visit to Einzbern Castle.
"I wanted to see your castle. It's a bit gloomy for my taste."
"Rider..."
"Hm? What's wrong? Why are you wearing armour? You should be wearing your best clothes for tonight."
At that, he lifted up a large barrel containing wine bought from the market.
"Come on. You should have a big garden in this castle to celebrate. Let's go there, because this castle is a bit dirty for the feast."
***
And as if reality was distorted, Saber and Rider were sitting across from each other on the stone floor in the middle of the Einzbern Castle's garden. That man broke the lid of the barrel with his fist and with a long bamboo spoon took out some of the wine. He drank the wine to make sure Saber didn't think there was poison in it, and then offered some to the girl.
She took the spoon and swallowed all the wine in a second, which surprised Rider.
Then Rider began.
"It is said that those who deserve it most are destined to obtain the Holy Grail. That is what this war is for, to decide who is worthy of this omnipotent object. However, that is only one form of decision. We could decide our rank as Heroic Spirits and thus determine who deserves to win. Then there will be no bloodshed."
Saber replied earnestly.
"Then you plan to compare ranks with me?"
"Exactly... One could say that, instead of the Holy Grail War, this could be called the Holy Grail Dialogue. The question of which of us will get what we want is at the bottom of this barrel. As we drink and celebrate this feast, the answer will be revealed..."
Saber understood this. Leaving the conflict to get the winner through dialogue was a good option. However, it was obvious that not all the Heroic Spirits of this war would agree. She immediately thought of Assassin, who seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to win. It doesn't matter if he has to kill them all, with bloody hands, he wants to hold the Grail in his hands.
"Hm... enough of your nonsense, you filthy dogs."
Enveloped in golden flashing particles, Archer, Gilgamesh appeared, who only glared disdainfully at Saber and Rider.
"Archer? Why are you here?"
Saber frowned in annoyance the moment she saw Archer. Searching for an answer, she was about to stand up, but the calm Rider made sure to defuse the situation.
"Well. I saw you on the road and decided to invite you. You're late though, golden boy. But it's understandable, since, unlike me, you made it all the way here on foot. So it's not all your fault."
Gilgamesh, arrogant and with his superior look, snorted at the words of these two Spirits.
"Choosing such a depressing place for a banquet suits you two, it was to be expected. But who will pay for the audacity in making me come all this way?"
"Don't be so cruel. Come here and drink some wine."
Everyone might have expected a refusal from Archer, but he took the bamboo spoon in his hand and poured the liquid into his mouth. However, after drinking all the wine, he made a displeased face and handed the spoon back to Rider.
"What kind of rubbish did you just give me, you mongrel? Who would think of using a cheap and depressing wine for a feast among heroes?"
Rider cocked his head in confusion.
"Is it bad? But the market told me it was the best wine they had."
"Hm! Only someone who doesn't know about wine would believe such nonsense! Watch and learn, you barbaric mongrel!"
Light waves of wind danced over Archer's shoulder. Irisviel and Waver, who had sat side by side, shivered at the strange fluctuation of mana in the air. Following that, a golden light appeared beside Archer and a luxurious bottle made of gold adorned with precious stones appeared along with three chalices.
Both Rider and Saber looked at this, and then Archer himself handed the wine and chalices to Rider.
The latter poured some of the drink into the three chalices and handed them out to the heroes present.
When Rider and Saber tasted the wine, their eyes widened in surprise at the glorious quality of the drink. Saber had never tasted anything like this in her life, and Rider simply expressed the goodness of the wine in simple words.
"Be it swords or wine, all the best this world has been able to give is guarded in my treasure vault."
Rider nodded his head in acceptance of Archer's words. He took another sip of the wine and calmly said:
"Surely this wine you have here is the best of the best. It deserves to be served only in the most precious of all cups. However, Archer, the Holy Grail is not made for wine. That is why we are here, in this Holy Grail Dialogue, to determine who is worthy of the omnipotent container. So, then, you should tell us what you want the Holy Grail for. Try to convince us why you and you alone deserve to win."
Archer sighed resignedly.
"I'm fine with what you're saying, scumbag. But there's something you're wrong about. I don't need to convince anyone. The Holy Grail belongs to me. All the treasures of the world originated from my collection. And anyone who claims to be the owner of my property is nothing but a damned and filthy thief."
"So, you say the Grail belongs to you? Do you even know what it looks like?"
"No"
Archer immediately denied.
"This is not something your little dog brain can understand. The totality of my wealth long ago exceeded the limit of my imagination. If it is treasure, it is mine and no one else's."
Saber listened silently, holding back the urge to tell the guy in gold that what he says is nothing more than a rant of his poor selfish mind.
Rider then came to a conclusion quickly.
"So, Archer, you don't care whether or not you have the Grail. It's not like you're competing for desire, after all."
"Sure. Still, I can't let thieves get away with it. I enforce the law, and I punish those who break the law."
Rider understood this as well and nodded his head. After that, they both started talking about themselves and how they will kill each other for the right to the Holy Grail.
...
Saber, up until this moment, had remained silent. She listened earnestly to the wishes of both heroes, but neither was what she considered a king. Rider, attached to the selfish desire of a tyrannical king. And Archer was far worse than that. While Archer only wants the Grail because it is a treasure, Rider wants to be reincarnated to conquer the world once more.
Like Assassin, they represent everything Saber is against. A King who is guided by the path of pride and incorruptibility is the enemy of Rider and Archer's thoughts.
This is made clearer when Saber has no way to enter the conversation between these two, as they only talk about themselves, regardless of the rest.
Rider noticed this, so he asked.
"And you, Saber, what is your wish?"
She took a pause before answering.
"I want to save my nation. I will change the fate that England had."
***
On the roof of the mansion, Toru appeared hidden by his cloak and hood. His scarf fluttered to the rhythm of the cold night wind, while his daggers glimpsed the moonlight. With the Shigan glowing faintly on his face, he tried to resist the urge to leap into battle.
However...
'I have yet to think how to weaken him.
If his body does not obey, he will force his body to pause for even a few moments to think of a strategy.
***
After Saber dramatically finished her prayer, Rider and Archer stood in complete silence with serious expressions on their faces. They both looked at each other, confused by the desire of the Heroic Spirit of the King of Knights, Saber.
The silence was extremely uncomfortable for everyone. Until Rider decided to speak.
"Maybe I heard wrong, but... Saber, do you want to change fate? I mean, do you want to change history?"
"Right. Even if what I want can't happen with a miracle, then the Holy Grail maybe..."
Rider sighed in confusion.
"Ehhh... Know... I want to confirm something. The destruction of your nation was in your time, wasn't it, during your reign?"
"Yes, and that is something I cannot forgive myself for. The destruction of my nation was my fault and I want to reverse that fact."
A deep silence, followed by vigorous laughter that disconcerted Saber.
Laughing loudly, Archer shook his hand to his forehead.
At this, Saber frowned and felt anger welling up inside her. Her goal, which she perceives as something noble and pure, was trampled by Archer's loud laughter.
"What's so funny!"
She said. Archer, while laughing, replied:
"Hahahaha. a king regrets his reign? I thought Assassin was an interesting buffoon, but you're so much better!"
"Assassin...?"
Saber ducked her gaze in confusion. At that, Rider, with a somewhat worried expression, tried to inquire more about this.
"Wait a moment, King of Knights - you want to change the history you yourself created?"
Saber nodded.
"Indeed. Why don't you believe me? Why are you laughing? The nation I sacrificed so much for perished. Is there something wrong with my repentance?"
Archer's laughter intensified.
"Hey, hey, Rider, did you hear that? This girl who calls herself the King of Knights is talking about sacrificing herself for her nation or something. I can't take this! Hahahahaha!"
"I don't understand why they make fun of that. It's normal for a king to sacrifice himself for the betterment of his nation."
Saber tried to explain her stance, but at that, Rider adopted a seriousness unbecoming of him. Then, he said:
"It is not the king who sacrifices himself, but his people and his nation. They sacrifice themselves for the king.
"What are you saying, isn't that the rule of a tyrant, that's not what a king should be! If you two think that way, you can't be Heroic Spirits!"
Rider frowned.
"We became heroes because we were tyrants. Therefore, Saber, if a king regrets his reign, he is nothing but an idiot! Having such a ruler is worse than being ruled by a tyrant!"
This time, unlike Archer, who laughed at Saber's words, Rider took this too seriously. His expression, his tone of voice, everything about him was the seriousness of an indignant king.
"But... your nation... everything you ruled was buried in the sands of time... Don't you regret how everything you built ended?"
Rider shook his head.
"I will never regret something I brought about myself. I may cry... I may scream as loud as my lungs will let me, but I will never regret my story."
"No, but..."
"Don't you dare tell me a foolish thing like changing history, child. It would be an insult to all those who lived and sacrificed in my time..."
...
"What you say is nothing but the old glory of a warrior. The people need the salvation of their king. Someone who can give them peace and order."
"The king's salvation... what a stupid thing to say."
Rider said. Saber stood up and looked at Rider sternly.
"That is what a true king should be! Someone who walks the path of righteousness and justice. The subjects would probably want that..."
"So you're a slave to that righteousness and justice, are you? Is that what you mean?"
"You could understand it that way. Someone worthy of ruling must be able to give himself completely to an ideal. Through the king the people can understand law and order. With this, his actions will not only be recorded after his death, but will forever remain precious."
Rider sighed.
"This is not how a person should live..."
"That's the point. When we are kings, we stop being people. We give ourselves to our nation and live and suffer for it. Someone like you could not understand that, for you are only a man who is guided by his miserable greed."
"A king without greed is the same as a grain of sand in the desert!"
Rider interrupted. He took another sip of the wine and continued.
"Saber... you say you sacrifice yourself for your ideals. Surely when you were alive you were some sort of saint praised by all; a saint so pure that no one ever dared approach you. But who would wish to die for their empty beliefs?"
Looking down at the ground, Rider shook his head. This girl sure had a head full of stupid ideals that only led her to hell.
"A king must laugh louder than anyone else. A king must be angrier than anyone else. A king must be someone who, when seen, everyone recognises his greatness. A king instills respect in the hearts of his subjects, giving them the hope of reaching the king one day. That's what a king must be..."
"But that... where does that leave justice then?"
"That does not exist. Justice is unnecessary in the principles of a king. So, King of the Knights, your ideals may have saved your people for a time, but despite the lives you saved... you yourself know what happened next, don't you?"
"What... what did you say...?"
What she knows. What she saw...
...
...
That hill shrouded in the light of the sunset. With the rivers of blood of her countrymen flowing around her. With sharp weapons sticking in the lifeless bodies. That nightmare began to rumble in her mind again as Rider spoke to her.
"You wanted to save your people, and you did, but you never guided them. You never let them know the king's wishes. You ignored them when they were lost and needed you most. You continued to pretend to be a saint immersed in their fanciful ideals..."
"I... I..."
Saber slowly lowered her gaze. She wanted to say something to deny what Rider told her, but she couldn't, for in that moment that event where everything exploded was projected in her mind.
...
When she stabbed that person in the end...
When she saw everything that her decisions caused.
She realised then that she never ruled anything...
She never led anyone...
She walked alone down that steep hill full of blood...
All alone...
Without any of her minions to accompany her.
But that was a choice of her own making, a mistake she herself made...
She kept her ideals to the end, even when she felt that everyone was far away from her, Artoria Pendragon thought this was part of her ideals. Artoria decided that this was part of her sacrifice.
When all were lost...
When her ideals...
Led everyone...
...
...
"I... what should I say?"
...
She could say nothing. Not now, not on that hill.
However, before Rider could continue, both Archer and Saber immediately looked up because they felt something watching them all.
Irisviel and Waver felt chills because even they could sense someone else's bloodlust.
"He's not even trying to hide..."
Crossing his arms, Archer smiled because at last the jester returned to the stage. The jester who looked at everyone with those precious eyes.
"Why did you come back, Assassin!"
Artoria left the thoughts for later and faced Assassin, but he said nothing. He stood silently looking at someone specific, with the two daggers in his hands, ready to fight.
"My boy. It's good to see you again. Come here and have a drink. It will calm you down. This wine will be your blood in this Dialogue."
Said Rider holding the spoon with the wine.
"..."
But there was no response.
Instead, a sharp object shot out and broke the wooden spoon, spraying the wine on Rider's shirt.
Waver saw that the thrown object was a kunai. A typical weapon of ninjas.
After seeing this, Rider smiled calmly and stood up.
"So you wish to spill your blood..."
Toru landed in front after what Rider said and looked up. His eyes glowed dangerously, which started this confrontation.
To be continued...