"Why should I share my spoils with others?" Atalanta grumbled, clearly not in the mood to part with anything she'd hunted.
Cyd sighed, a mix of exasperation and resignation in his eyes. "You insisted on joining me, even though we agreed I'd handle the hunting. Now look where we are—you've taken everything and don't need to eat!"
Atalanta stubbornly glared at him, but Cyd wasn't about to back down. He grabbed her by the tail and gently pulled her away from the pile of food. "Come on, Atalanta. Let's not make this harder than it needs to be." He rubbed her ears to keep her from lashing out, which instantly calmed her. The once fierce huntress settled onto his lap, all tension gone.
Karna, busy with the cooking, shot Cyd a grateful look. "Thank you. I wasn't sure how I'd get anything out of her claws without your help."
"Glad I could help," Cyd replied, keeping Atalanta close.
Karna and Siegfried then took center stage, showcasing their extraordinary skills. With elegant precision, Karna's spear flayed the boar, leaving its hide intact, while Siegfried's swordwork deftly separated bone from flesh.
Once the boar was prepared, Karna easily started a fire, and Siegfried, with a stack of sharpened sticks, began skewering the meat. Their seamless cooperation was a stark contrast to their earlier deadly rivalry—before dawn, they had been ready to kill each other, yet now they were enjoying this rare moment of peace.
"Thud—"
Sieg, still weak from earlier, stumbled and fell. Siegfried, normally so composed, immediately rushed to his side. Astolfo, who had been playing with Achilles, turned on his heels and sprinted over, while Gordes, who had been barking orders at the homunculi, also hurried over—though he tripped on a rock and had to be helped up by the very homunculi he'd just warned to be careful.
But someone else was faster. A pale hand reached out, lifting Sieg by the collar before he could hit the ground. Another hand gently brushed the dirt from his clothes before setting him back on his feet.
"Watch your step next time," Vlad III said, patting Sieg's head before returning to his previous task of clearing rubble.
Danic, trailing behind Vlad, gave Sieg a quick, reassuring pat on the head before catching up.
"Is something wrong with that guy's head?" Astolfo whispered to Siegfried, pointing at his own head in a mock gesture.
Siegfried hesitated, unsure how to respond. Whether he nodded or shook his head, it seemed like the wrong move. In the end, he decided not to dignify it with a response—Astolfo would forget about it soon enough.
"Seriously, Sieg, why did you fall again?" Gordes huffed, his face still flushed from his earlier stumble, as he approached Sieg.
"I… I wanted to help with the food," Sieg replied, his voice small. "You've been working so hard, and I thought—since I promised to protect you like Saber—that I should at least try to help, even if I'm not very strong right now."
Gordes's expression softened. "You're a good kid, Sieg," he said quietly. "But if you really want to help me, you need to take care of yourself first. I can manage on my own."
"Well, you've certainly got enough energy stored up," Astolfo teased, poking Gordes in the stomach.
"Saber, shut him up!" Gordes snapped, leaping to his feet.
"Hey, we're all on the same side here—wait, why are you looking at me like that? And what's with the rope? No, hold on! I'll stop, I swear—"
Siegfried didn't wait for Astolfo to finish his plea. With speed and precision, the dragon slayer swiftly tied up Astolfo with the special rope and tape left by Selene, the Rider's Master. Then, without a word, he deposited the bound and gagged Astolfo next to Shakespeare, who had been similarly restrained.
Incidentally, it was Karna who had subdued Shakespeare. The playwright's relentless antics had been disrupting the other Servants, so Karna had been asked to take care of him.
Cyd and Jeanne chose to ignore the whole affair, deeming it an internal matter and nothing more.
As an aside, after the giant's rampage, Astolfo's Master, Selene, had suffered a head injury. Though healed with magic, she lost her memory and seemed like a completely different person. The once sadistic mage was now indifferent to her past actions, to the point where she didn't understand why she'd ever used her whip on Astolfo.
Fortunately, Selene assured them that she would still fight until the end of the Holy Grail War.
"It'd be nice if the Holy Grail War could end this peacefully," Jeanne remarked, taking a seat next to Cyd after finishing her meal.
"This is war, Jeanne. Wars never end peacefully, only in compromise," Cyd said, scratching Atalanta's ears. But when she bared her teeth, he quickly raised his hands in mock surrender. "The losers bow to the winners—you should know that better than anyone, Maid of Orleans."
"Why do you always see the dark side of things?" Jeanne asked, hugging her knees, her golden hair falling forward to hide her face.
"How else would I appreciate the light?" Cyd replied with a shrug. "People crave what they don't have. That's what drives us."
Jeanne's voice softened as she continued, "So… back then, when Lancer asked if you had a wish for the Holy Grail…"
"Hmm?" Cyd tilted his head, curious.
"Never mind… What do you think is unusual about this Holy Grail War?" Jeanne asked, brushing her hair aside as she looked up at him.
"Unusual?" Cyd blinked, then smirked. "You."
"I'm being serious!" Jeanne exclaimed, her frustration evident.
"Who knows? As long as the mystery remains, there's nothing unusual about it," Cyd replied, stifling a yawn. "Besides, this war might end tonight."
"I have a bad feeling about that priest," Jeanne muttered, rubbing her cheek thoughtfully. "The Lord's revelation suggests something's off."
"He's just a… pitiful man," Cyd said, tilting his head slightly. "Though, I can't deny something is unsettling about him."
"Then… what is your wish?" Jeanne asked, her voice trembling slightly as if she had gathered all her courage to ask. Her pure violet eyes met Cyd's dark gaze.
"As a Ruler, I have no wish," Cyd said, reaching out to pat her head. "Haven't you figured that out by now, Laeticia?"
Laeticia, the vessel for Jeanne's spirit, blushed and scratched her cheek. "You caught me," she admitted, looking a bit embarrassed.
"But why do you think I have a wish?" Cyd asked with a chuckle.
"Because you have a promise to keep…" Laeticia whispered, placing a hand over her heart. "Many people are waiting for your return."