"Yo," Shirou Kotomine waved at Jeanne, smiling casually as if greeting an old friend.
"You're... the Master of the Red Assassin? No... there's more to it than that," Jeanne narrowed her eyes, observing the young man before her. His presence was strange—something was off. "Are you even human?"
"You noticed, huh?" Shirou scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Not like hiding it would've done any good. I guess I might as well build a little trust for what I'm about to say."
"Trust?" Jeanne raised an eyebrow.
"My name's Shirou Kotomine now," he began, spreading his arms wide. "But before that, I was Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, the Ruler from the last Holy Grail War."
"No way!" Jeanne gasped, her eyes widening. "That war ended over sixty years ago. A Heroic Spirit can't remain in the world for that long."
"Ah, but I've been blessed," Shirou replied, scratching his face with a wry smile. "I've been given the opportunity to pursue my dream, and to be honest, sometimes it feels like a gift from the Lord Himself."
Jeanne's eyes narrowed further. "So that's why I couldn't be summoned normally. You're the irregularity in this war!"
"Irregularity?" Shirou chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I was granted Command Seals fair and square. That makes me a legitimate participant, doesn't it? I haven't broken any rules." He paused, tilting his head. "Though, if you really want to talk about irregularities, shouldn't you be looking at the one beside you?"
"What are you talking about?" Jeanne frowned.
"Why do you think Cyd's here?" Shirou's voice softened, his tone almost conspiratorial. "Do you believe someone like him would have no interest in the Grail?"
Jeanne shook her head immediately. "Rulers don't desire the Holy Grail."
"Don't they?" Shirou's eyes glinted with a hint of amusement. "Do you think he's the type to leave this world without any regrets?"
That struck a chord.
Jeanne bit her lip. She had heard the stories—Cyd, the hero who had completed the gods' trials, only to march into Tartarus to fight Kronos. He'd left behind so many people waiting for his return, people who believed in him until their dying breath. His wife, Atalanta, hadn't even accepted her own death, choosing instead to become a constellation, forever watching over the earth, waiting for him.
A hero like that... could he really have no regrets?
"He has a sense of duty," Jeanne murmured, her grip on her banner loosening.
"But...?" Shirou smirked, sensing her hesitation. "The Holy Grail's right in the next room. If you really want to know Cyd's intentions, maybe you should ask him directly."
Jeanne hesitated. Could Cyd wish for something more than fulfilling his duty as a Ruler? Would he want to use the Grail for himself?
Shirou, seeing her doubt, continued, "Cyd has a blessing—no one can lie to him. Not even himself. If his duty really outweighs his regrets, he'll be honest about it."
Jeanne's mind raced. She wanted to trust Cyd. She couldn't be sure whether it was her own thoughts or Leticia's influencing her. But the idea of Cyd using the Grail didn't feel wrong. If anyone could be trusted with it, surely it would be someone like him—a hero who had even saved Jack.
"You're wavering," Shirou sighed. "Cyd's only regret is that he never came back. That he left everyone waiting for him. If he gets the Grail, don't you think he'd wish to return? To close the chapter on his legend by finally defeating Kronos?"
"And what's wrong with that?" Jeanne's voice grew firm again, confidence returning. "Atalanta's been waiting for him all this time. Wouldn't she want him back, too?"
Shirou's smile faded slightly. "Is his return really a good thing?"
Jeanne frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Cyd represents hope for humanity, sure, but don't forget that he's also the gods' favorite. If Cyd returns, fully restored with the blessings he had in life, it wouldn't just be his return. The Greek gods... they might come back, too."
Jeanne's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't considered that.
"The gods left this world after the great battle with Kronos. But they didn't vanish, not entirely. If Cyd steps back into this world, what's to stop the Greek gods from following? They're not like the Lord—merciful and kind. Do you really think humanity could handle the return of gods like Zeus or Artemis?"
"The world would fall under divine rule again," Jeanne whispered, her expression darkening.
Not just that. The gods wouldn't just rule—they'd demand worship. Zeus spread his children across the land. Artemis, raging over her lost forests. And worst of all, the return of mystery, the loss of humanity's control over their own destiny.
"Cyd's not just a hero," Shirou continued. "He's a symbol of divine power. He never rebelled against the gods. He might only belong in myth, after all."
Turning, Shirou opened the door to the room behind him. "I'll be in here. There are still too many Servants alive for the Grail to grant any wishes. But the choice is yours—wait for Cyd, and ask him yourself."
With that, he disappeared into the room, leaving Jeanne alone with her thoughts.
[You're hesitating, aren't you?] Leticia's voice echoed in Jeanne's mind.
"He wasn't lying," Jeanne admitted, a bitter smile on her lips.
[That's just speculation. It would help if you trusted Cyd.]
"I can't gamble humanity's freedom on trust," Jeanne sighed, sitting down with her banner in hand.
In the room, Shakespeare twirled his book, chuckling as he circled the Holy Grail. "Oh-ho-ho, impressive, Master. You've got that saint second-guessing herself in just a few sentences. Oh! Not that I'm accusing you of being all talk."
"Shut it," Shirou muttered, rubbing his temples. "It's not a lie if she can sense it. Everything I said was true."
Shakespeare's grin faltered. "Wait, so… the gods really might come back?"
"Yeah," Shirou's gaze turned to the Grail. "If Cyd steps back into the world, the era of the Greek gods could begin again."