The moon glittered through the shattered shards on the red-colored asphalt. The street remained empty. It surprised Kayneth; he had long been waiting for the blade in his chest, but nothing happened except the occasional rustle of small mice and the claws of dense fog. The stars shimmered faintly behind a dark sea. Sometimes, however, in the distant fog behind walls and houses that flowed peacefully through the streets.
It was a brief flash. But perhaps it also resembled a blinking dot. Red, not white like in the night sky. He shared the uneasy feeling of pulling at his skin, yet his servant felt nothing.
"And all three of them were here; are you sure?" Sola-Ui asked.
"They should have been," Kayneth replied. "Would you check," he continued, watching Sola roll up a sleeve. Her skin paled under the bites of frosty air. But he wasn't sure. The measurements had been taken in the morning. After that, everything just disappeared.
"For once." Sola didn't seem pleased. After briefly closing her eyes, she shook her head. Nothing? he asked himself. And so he turned to Lancer. "What do you think?"
The servant grumbled but didn't answer. Annoyed, Kayneth straightened. A few hours ago, he had been in contact. Three arcanists couldn't just disappear. Sola pulled the fabric over her arm and slipped into a jacket.
"Dearest," she whispered, approaching him. Her delicate fingers stroked his chin. "What's all this nonsense? I know your duty as a clock tower professor, but do you have to?"
She looked to Lancer for help, hoping he would agree with her. But he remained indifferent, leaning against a wall. "Something's strange here. Can't you feel it? Maybe I should notify the clock tower..."
"And miss out on the glory of battle? You already grasp it with your hands. The first victorious Magus of the Holy War! You want to give that up? Because of three mere... scouts?"
"They were Arcane Clock Tower Hunters. Treat them with more respect."
"What's the difference?" Sola-Ui replied, shrugging and smiling at Lancer. "And here I thought you were the great Magus. Instead, you prefer to look for copper coins in the alleys."
Tugging his nose briefly, Kayneth bit his lip. What should he be afraid of? The cold jumped under his coat. Again, he thought of the reports. How often had he read them and found not one sign of disturbance? Should he keep searching? Lancer seemed to understand the question as he replied immediately.
"I'm just following orders."
Sola-Ui blushed and hid her head, but Kayneth overlooked it. The Clock Tower examiners are dead... He found it hard to believe that a magus would act so aggressively. Especially before the Grail War officially begins. Or was there something to hide?
Almost a whole day went by. Lancer brought him news that a Master-Servant duo had fled the hotel. Yet he found nothing. Perhaps it was time to meet this father at the church. At least he wouldn't get blamed if the war escalated unexpectedly.
"Agreed. I expect full commitment."
Lancer nodded. Suddenly, he pushed himself off the wall, looking south towards the open sea. His sight flew through winds and fog. The air whirred as a lance leaped into his hand and kissed the ground.
"A servant is nearby. Do you wish to challenge him, my lord?"
The wonder shone clear and bright. The sea glistening in the moonlight reflected peacefully in youthful eyes. The air rushed through the hair. Dressed in white, Irisviel sat on the stone edge, holding her cloak. Her boots dangled over the foamy waves. The splashes bounced like snowflakes, and sometimes Irisviel caught the frozen flakes with her gloves or felt them on her cheek. White as her daughter's hair, but not as warm and comforting... She would never see her again.
"We have a visitor."
Irisviel wiped the tears from her eyes. It was time. Her ruby-like pupils shimmered. Saber had turned to face the industrial area and was no longer attentive to the sea breeze gently brushing through her blonde hair.
"An enemy Servant?"
"Apparently, they dare to challenge us."
Irisviel stood up. One last time, her gaze swept across the open sea as if she would never see it again. Furtively, she plucked the glove and stared at her trembling fingers. It felt surreal. Had the war begun? Everything happened so fast.
"How honorable," she replied, taking a deep breath but not believing these words. "A frontal battle against you... Who would agree to that? Even if he belongs to the Lancer, Rider, or Berserk class."
"Do you want to accept the invitation?"
Irisviel clenched a fist and quickly slipped on the glove before Saber turned her head. For the first time, she saw curiosity and determination in those green eyes. An aura like Kiritsugu possessed. Irisviel swallowed. She couldn't show any weakness in front of this knight-king. Never, for the sake of her daughter's future. She had to fight!
In the distance, natural mana flamed. The light splintered as a barrier rose, resembling a faint silver sphere reaching inexorably for the sky. Unnoticed, Irisviel nodded and chewed on a strand of white hair. Her eyes lit up, and she glanced around, searching for other mana constructs. But apart from the barrier, she found nothing. And Saber didn't seem to notice another Servant either.
"Impressive. But we'd better suggest somewhere untouched," Irisviel demanded with a smile. She wasn't comfortable entering a foreign barrier. "The harbor, perhaps?"
Saber glanced briefly at the swaying ships. They rocked like dragons in the darkness. "... As you wish," she replied, flaring her aura several times. It had to be a form of communication, Irisviel realized and continued to watch Saber. Perhaps it only worked because Servants could sense each other.
Suddenly, the sea foamed. A strange, fog-like stench crept from the black water. A gross feeling climbed up the skin. The wind roared, and Irisviel had to hold her hood.
'Don't worry, Illyasviel, you will grow up in a beautiful, safe world.
Stealthily, her fingers slipped into her coat pocket and pressed a button. The device buzzed once, and she breathed relief. Kiritsugu would come, for sure. But deep down, she wished Saber would win first.
The tension did not leave her body. Slowly, they walked past the unrecognizable ships in the dark sea and under the creaking crane. The raging mana seethed as the barrier grew around the harbor, flickering on the thin membrane like silver translucent flames.
"Don't worry," Saber whispered, reassuring her with a hand on the shoulder. "Stay behind me."
Cloaked by the night, hasty footsteps trampled over the asphalt. A few minutes ago, Irisviel had sent a signal. Black halls already towered before them while the sea screamed heartlessly like a wild storm.
"It has already begun..." they realized. Invisible Mana burned on the barrier, warping the thin membrane. "Quickly! The battle has already begun!"
They reached the boundary. While Kiritsugu was still putting together his heavy sniper rifle, he wondered who had created the barrier. Was it Irisviel? The slightest touch could inform the enemy master, so he didn't dare take another step and instead thought of a plan to best deal with the situation.
They didn't have much time. And even though the Saber class was considered the most powerful summon, the horror would not leave his mind. He longed for Irisviel's reassuring embrace or the little games with Illyasviel in search of nuts in the snow. The voice cheered him up like silver bells... when would he see her again?
Next to him, Maiya had assembled her equipment. She gazed at the starry sky and let two shimmering drops fall into her eyes. Faint runes glittered on the pupils, then she tucked the bottle away and slung the bag over her shoulder.
"We should position ourselves up there," she remarked, pointing to one of many distant cranes swaying lonely above the barrier. The cabin was an estimated 30 meters above the water and offered a view of the entire harbor. Kiritsugu pulled himself out of his thoughts and shook his head; no more daydreaming.
"You probably won't be the only one with that idea. Find a vantage point that can watch the battle and several cranes. I'll take the west."
"Understood," Maiya replied, disappearing into the shadows. Kiritsugu checked the transmitter one last time before running in the opposite direction.
The wind grew colder and burned harder the closer he got to the western shore, hearing the sloshing waves against ships and shore. Sparks followed the Servant's blades as the barrier vibrated under the mana pressure. The whistling wind almost dropped a container on Kiritsugu. A loaded ship creaked in the harbor. Long, heavy chains tied the hull to the shore. Superstructures jutted high from the upper deck, offering a good view of the barrier.
Hastily, Kiritsugu activated reinforcements as he hurried over the chains. Fingers gripped the edge, and he pulled himself effortlessly onto the deck despite blocking equipment. Irisviel glowed red through the thermal visor as the clash between Lancer and Saber gained speed and blurred before the naked eye.
But where was Lancer's Master? Did he find a way to use illusion magecraft against heat signature? Kiritsugu wondered. Then he wouldn't even see an attack on Irisviel, he noted anxiously, keeping an eye on all surroundings.
"Maiya, the master might be off behind the factory building. Do you have a clear view?"
"Negative. Should I move?"
"Too risky." Annoyed, Kiritsugu clicked his tongue. Hastily, he checked the cranes. Now, of all times, the clouds had to be obscuring the moonlight! Nothing, or was he mistaken? Perhaps he had only seen the reflection in the frozen red paint, he told himself, shaking his head. Don't get distracted!
Meanwhile, Irisviel rubbed her hands. The sea was still sloshing; it couldn't be cold enough. Her first time outside the castle and her first dangerous situation as well. But there was more to it than trying to hide her fear from Saber. Again and again, she bit her lip so hard that Kiritsugu could almost taste a kiss. And suddenly, he felt trapped. He smelled the wondrous winter scent of her hair as he longed to embrace and soothe Irisviel.
The idea of sleepless nights. What if he failed? What if he watched her die today? The night carried a certain sharpness that cut his tongue. No matter what happened, he couldn't show his face. Not with more enemies lurking in the area. Something was waiting in the darkness, something that wanted more than to hurt him.
"On the crane!" Maiya shouted through the line. The visor wavered again over the flickering barrier. He couldn't be afraid now. Fear killed the mind! Had he just seen something red again? His eye reached the nearest crane. Black outlines darkened parts of the starry sky. The blackness fluttered like a cloak. "He is indeed still alive."
The church was supposed to be a stronghold before the Stormy Grail War, to seek refuge and protection. God never barred his doors to anyone, but that no longer mattered.
"Then Assassin will have a cloning ability... He may be monitoring the whole city right now. Is Kirei around?"
"He didn't leave the church." The sound rippled, and some words were even lost entirely. A sudden mana concussion warped the barrier. Storms burst through the Magic Membrane and shifted containers on the ship. Protectively, he held his sleeve in front and squinted back at the battlefield.
Saber, meanwhile, moved backwards. She tried with all her might to escape the Red Blade, parrying only the inevitable stabs. On impact, gold glittered from her invisible blade, and a storm nearly knocked Irisviel off her feet.
Immediately, Saber took advantage of an opening. Her armor would deflect the attack as her sword aimed for Lancer's head. But against all expectations, the blade slipped through Saber's armor, and her sword merely cut his hair.
Startled, Saber glanced at her hip. Irisviel immediately used healing Magecraft. Then they stopped and talked, but there was still no sign of the master. The fight would not last any longer. Without her Noble Phantasm, Saber didn't seem to be able to win.
Assassin's eyes watched the scene and probably many more. To reveal Saber's identity now was too high a price to pay. Light shimmered around him. First, he thought the moon looked past the clouds, but it was too bright for that; Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes in wonder. Tonight wasn't supposed to be a full moon. Howling, the sea answered. White light flickered off the water and colored the containers in the darkness. The dome rumbled as everything in the vicinity shook.
"What the?" stammered Maiya's startled voice. Like him, she must have noticed. His skin burned uncomfortably. Then he saw it, and his voice froze in his lungs. Fog covered the wild sea. Bright, seemingly alive, it rolled like a tsunami through waves onto the shore.
Clear footsteps splashed across the water, and he heard them despite the storm. For one, he thought he saw red eyes. Or was that his imagination? What had he seen? The wind changed. A foul stench spread. Instinctively, he knew to avoid the fog and shouted into the microphone before shielding the light with his thick coat.
Dismantled, he stowed the rifle in the case. By now, the fog seemed like an unstoppable wall in front of the barrier. The case fell muffled onto the upper deck. Kiritsugu tumbled after it and rolled on the ground. Chains rattled; the upper deck swayed. The fog had almost reached the ship!
He looked at the battlefield one last time. Saber had sworn to protect his wife at all costs. It tasted bitter to admit, but now everything was in her hands. 'I trust you, Saber...'
"Hurry!" Urged, Maiya and Kiritsugu sat down in occupancy.
"Give me your position."
The order was spoken, and Maiya obeyed. When he reached the solid shore, he felt the white light eating away at the protective cloak. In the distance, howling roars drowned out the thunderous flashes. Maiya decided to have the sounds investigated. Sprinting, he followed the signal and disappeared behind the containers.
'Now it's in your hands, Saber... Please protect Irisviel...'