Artoria POV: During Berserkers Attack
I was shocked when William had leapt into battle carrying me away from Berserker's attack with speed that could barely match a servant.
The next moment we were high up into the air my master had recklessly changed our positions making it so that he would take most of the damage from the impact of landing much to my displeasure.
He needed to get himself out of danger lest he not only dies but I lose of the connections holding me here to this plane.
When we landed it was with me on top of him "t-that was reckless of you master you should have retreated back instead of throwing yourself headfirst into danger," I lectured in a tone of half anger mixed with pain.
William snapped "tch! Looks who's talking why did you save me back then I could have easily dodged Berserker's attack just fine!" he exclaimed I lean down a bit glaring down into his eyes "that was different I am a servant your protector during battle it is my duty to do so," I bit back in a stern tone.
He sighed "look we don't have any time to be discussing this we can talk about it later but right now we need to first escape from this battle alive...not to mention the fact that you need medical aid which I can't provide for a major wound like this," he replied.
I winced when I felt the pain in my abdomen return William wraps me into his arm carrying me, I could not help but be embarrassed by this position it was humiliating to my knightly pride "m-must you carry me like this?" I couldn't help but question.
William makes a certain face that I could not describe when I asked this "would perhaps prefer I toss you over my shoulder like a sack of potato's?" he asked no that would be twice as humiliating swallowing heavily I reply "n-no I suppose not."
"Alright then now hold on tight," he said as we run through the battlefield, I could faintly make out the sight of both Rin and Shirou attempting fight off Berserker.
Willam halted when we made it toward the trees "stay here and don't move Saber," he warns I try to retort back but he disappeared before I could do so I sigh at this.
The sounds of various explosions rang out through the field, but I could not see what was going on from my current position silently I cursed my master for just leaving me here while running back against something that he does not stand a chance against.
After a few minutes William quickly came back running like a man possessed by madness "what's-" I try to ask but William lifts me once more "no time to explain!" he shouted.
The next thing I was aware of was of a sudden explosion that could have probably been a noble phantasm.
I could feel myself slipping out from William's grasps during our fall back down the next thing I am aware of is of something hot pressing against my lips the spots from my eyes clear and now I see that my lips were planted against Williams.
My eyes widen both from shock and embarrassment I was no stranger to kissing as I had done so with Gwenevere on a few occasions, but I had never really kissed a man before.
I swiftly pulled away jumping away to the side unaware of the redness that covered my face "...err sorry," my master muttered.
I lifted my head up only to see William staring at the devastation caused by whatever the explosion was he suddenly bent over releasing the contents of his stomach causing me to flinch back a bit in disgust which was soon replaced with concern when he passed out.
Shakily I stood up with Rin's assistance while Shirou tended to William together we returned back to the Emiya household.
My wounds were attended to by Shirou while William was bandaged up by a very reluctant Rin who know doubt was still quite angry with Willaim's earlier actions.
"This is quite surprising I've never seen anyone heal from wounds like these so quickly," Rin muttered as the three of us saw some of William's wounds slowly heal.
Leaving William alone the three of us went back to the main part of the household where Shirou quickly prepared some tea for us there was only silence for a moment until Rin cleared her throat.
"L-look I know that I may have threatened you guys earlier, but I was thinking we should probably enter an alliance to take down Berserker that monster is just way too strong even when he was struck right in the face with a large explosion of that caliber he still tanked it and survived," she proposed.
Shirou glances at me for a moment searching for an answer of some sort I could see no other choice since going at Berserker by ourselves was practically suicide not even the partial release of my Excalibur affected him.
I nodded toward my other master causing him to sigh "man William is not going to like this but...yeah I agree that we should enter into an alliance," he said extending a handout for a shake.
Rin smiled grasping his hand back "yeah well it's only temporary after that we go back to fighting as enemies so don't get any other idea's Emiya," she retorted.
She then paused "ah right I should probably tell you about something your brother's been keep from you Shirou," she said with a sudden devious smile that reminded me of Merlin's whenever he was up to something chaotic.
With that she began explaining everything about the things Williams been doing under the alias of Taskmaster a rather strange name I admit but hearing the things he done causes me to frown.
He really is a lot like my previous master I thought as his mental image was replaced with the ghostly figure of Kiritsugu right beside him I shake my head to banish that thought I did not wish to think of that bastard ever again.
"Excuse me Shirou, Rin but I must be recovering from both my wound and mana expense," I said snapping Shirou out from his shock "ah right sure Saber," he replied in a distracted tone still trying to process the information.
With that I bowed and left to one of the many rooms in the household sliding one of the doors I open I stepped inside heading towards the center of the empty room where I then slipped into a meditative state.
I remained like this unaware of how much time has passed the sound of someone clearing their throat causes me to exit from my meditative state I open my eyes facing the person.
"I see that you've finally awaken William," I commented in return he gave a nod "yeah I just woke up a few minutes ago," he replied and then there was a sudden silence.
"listen...about last night I wanted to apologize i-it was an accident it wasn't my intention for that to happen,"he finally said causing my calm demeanor to disappear replaced with a slight red hue of embarrassment I coughed to recompose myself "it's fine mast- no William I know it was an accident I do not blame you for it that part of my ire is directed at Archer," I replied with a slight edge to my voice.
"Oh well that's good..." he replied trailing off not knowing what else to say "how are you though? You sustained numerous amounts of damage from the battle compared to your brother if you're not feeling well, you should still be resting," I asked getting closer to his face in order to better inspect it "I'm fine just some minor amounts of aches here and there that's it," he grunted out.
"Very well then although I must say I am impressed with your performance in battle last night, but I must insist that you do not do so again it's troublesome for a master much less two of them to take such actions," I complimented yet admonished at the same time.
"Combat is my main role of expertise and you must carry out your own role there is no necessity for a master to protect his servant neither is there any reason to do so," I continued to lecture.
"Your wrong Saber you see I have many reasons to keep you alive mainly in order to win this war and achieve my wish this world that we currently live in it's to cruel to dark and if I can make a wish upon the grail then I can ask it to purge the world of all evil.
Make it a world of peace where no one has to suffer or die needlessly....not to mention that we agreed to work together in this war when we shook hands remember," he replied which made me frown a bit but also feel touched.
"...I see I will admit that your wish is a noble one much like your fathers who summoned me as his servant in the previous war.
Yet the methods that I've seen so far last night have suggested otherwise they are too much like your father's dishonorable," I said with a small hint of contempt when I remembered the things Kiritsugu Emiya had done when I was his servant.
"I don't know about you Saber but if someone I know is being a threatened, I make it my business to fix it by any means necessary even if it means the sacrifice of the many.
Your time has long since passed things like honor and chivalry are dead here if that's what you expect from me then you should just wish to go back to your own time using the grail," William coldly replied with his hands clenched tightly.
I felt angered by his words and wanted to say something back for a moment, but halted when I realized I had just directly insulted his father right in front him.
My gaze falls away from him for a moment as he turns to leave "wait!" I shouted, "great now what do you want?" he asked with irritation.
"I apologize for my uncalled for words I do not wish for us to have any problems, and secondly there is something I wish to know of?" I said in the sincerest tone I could muster he turns back with his gaze shifting to a much softer one.
"Alright what do you want to know about?" he questioned crossing his arms together "I noticed when you blocked my blade from landing on Archer it was a perfect copy of my own technique not to mention your speed it resembled that of Lancer's greatly how is that possible?" I asked with my brows pinched together.
"In order to answer that were going to have to go back to the beginning of what I can only remember of this life of mine," he replied sitting down on the dojo mat with a distant look.
"You might be wondering by what I mean by that well ten years ago a great fire engulfed Fuyuki supposedly caused by the last winner of the war long story short it left me without any of my memories," he continued causing me to flinch back I couldn't help but wonder for a moment did if that fire happened because of me.
"...It was hell on earth I remember just walking through it trying to live to survive but then I had collapsed and had no energy to get back.
That is until I saw another boy Shirou somehow, he was still able to walk through that hell with no problem seeing him was what had rejuvenated my will to live once again.
So, I stood up catching up to him but what we didn't see was a pile of rumble ready to crush us dead I thought it was over until we were saved by Kiritsugu who clutched our hands with happiness while his face was one of joy at having found us alive.
We were both in critical condition at that time because of the amount of smoke we had inhaled but then the next thing I knew Kiritsugu had saved us pulling out something that shined golden with a vague outline of a sheath.
He placed it in Shirou while sacrificing his crest to save me the last thing I could remember seeing was a vague image of...well you before I was knocked out," he said pointing a finger at me "could it be...Avalon," I muttered.
"After that I started having dreams to which I can finally confirm were connected to you I saw many of your battles and when I started learning magecraft from the old man we had learned that something changed about the way my mind worked.
The average human could only use 10 percent of their brain but me I could use the full 100 percent which granted me an intense photographic like memory reflex that allowed me to perfectly replicate any physical like movements without any practice," he explained allowing me to fully process the information. (A/N yes I know this isn't true but for the sake of the story it is)
I remained still for a moment "I-I see so you've seen most of my life then?" I finally asked he shook his head "not all of it just some of it," he replied.
I should have paid more attention when Merlin was explaining the mechanisms of Avalon "I can only assume that what happened to you was a side effect from being exposed to the energy of Avalon the sheath to my blade...Excalibur," I said giving a possible explanation.
"Then that makes you King Arthur...or?," he asked wondering if that was my true name since it was that of a males but none of the less, I nodded "yes my real name is Artoria Pendragon but I must insist that you still call me Saber when in front of others should someone find out my real identity then they will know both my strengths and weaknesses," I explained in a grave tone.
"Right, that makes sense," he agreed, "Saber, Rider, Assassin, Caster, Lancer, Archer, and Berserker all class names that match with the skills that a heroic spirit is most attuned towards for me it's swords which makes me a Saber for Archer it would be a bow, but he's sort of an anomaly for I know of no Archer that fights with swords," I explained with a slight confused tone when it came to the red knight serving under Rin.
The rest of that day was spent with me discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each servant lass along with what Noble Phantasms were.
-end of interlude one-
The next two chapters will be Saber interludes
Lost Path will still be updated today as well and I will also post the fourth new chapter for Fate/Survivor instead of the interludes as I have finished writing those up.