Encounter

Lancer looked in horror at the Servant who could just withstand Gae Bolg's attack through his heart as if he was pricked by a needle, not a demon weapon. 

Don't die on me, Lancer! His Master's words rang inside his ears and he scoffed. He couldn't do anything when his spear was obviously in the hands of the opponent. He was in obvious disadvantage here, however, his fiery heroic pride refused to back down. He gritted his teeth. He was not reckless enough to die on the first day of the war.

"Who are you?" he squinted his eyes. No one has been able to manage to sneak up on him like that. 

"....." 

Again, No answer or words for his opponent as his eyes only glowed more brightly. He grabbed the spear in his chest and pulled it out. 

Still staring at his disabled foe, his azure eye glowed inside his skull mask. Shortly, he twirled the spear in one hand and threw it right to his opponent in quick move. 

Lancer caught the spear thrown to him easily, still staring at his opponent with narrowed eyes. 

"Are you looking down on me?" 

Yumi ran with all her might as she bursted out from the forest, clapping a hand to her face to mask her coughing, quickly taking out a handkerchief to prevent the blood from dripping.

The night had fallen by the time she reached the streets, people milling around aimlessly. The stars adorned the sky like glittering jewels as the crescent moon hung. 

The brown haired girl walked still on her guard, careful if there would be the Servant's Master among the people trotting back and forth. 

----

"..." Didn't bother to reply to the question directed towards him, He began to raise his great sword and pointed its tip towards the spearman. 

"...." 

There's no sound that was being spoken, but his action already conveyed anything that words have to offer. In a heartbeat, he disappeared and was transported behind his opponent as he swung his sword at him. 

Lancer raised his spear to block the sword that has been swung at him. He jumped back, casting a quick healing rune on his lump then twirled his spear before he began to jab his spear at the man.  

"HAH," he shouted with his jab. Without his other arm, his power has considerably weakened yet his blinding speed remained.

**** 

Frustrated, Kingkaid spent most of his time retelling his tales. Acting them all out, while changing his facial expressions and stiff hand movements. 

"Never in my life did I tasted a defeat," he then pounds his chest with confidence.

Rodrick found himself lost in such a bombastic tale."It's like one of those story books i used to read when I was little." 

"Some of those tales are true my boy, I wonder why mine isn't being told today."

"Well at least now you know who heard of yours first." he chuckled and gulped down the remains of his food

He couldn't believe the boy's cheerful nature and it surely caught him off guard. Kingkaid scoffed and laughed, patting his knee again and again. "You entertain me boy, now cheers." 

Both master and servant raised their glass high to make a clink sound with one another, and together chugged their drink in one go. They continued to laugh and share each other's stories together. 

"So there was this one time where this drunken sailor tried to flirt with the barmaid." he stopped, trying to contain his laughter.

"Go on then," Kingkaid urged Rodrick to continue by punching him lightly on the shoulder.

"She-" He bursted out laughing and wasn't able to finish the story.

This went on for quite some time until one question came out from Rider's mouth, "I sense someone." 

"No, please don't." Before Rodrick could say anything more, Rider stood and turned towards him. His eyes glittered with anger and excitement. 

"Why are you so afraid of battles ey?" 

Then the harrowing silence came, Rodrick dropped his head low, letting his scarlet hair cover his sodemn eyes, the silence sank deeper and deeper.

"I'm going outside, if you don't want to come then stay here."

"But-" Rider stormed outside of the tavern. 

"Damn it, Rider!" Rodrick soon followed after.

Kingkaid glanced outside the tavern, seeking the energy he had sensed earlier. He looked from left to right and eventually he noticed a young girl covered in blood who almost walked past him. 

He approached the girl with concern and knelt to match the girl's height.

"Who did this to you?"

Yumi looked up at the humongous man in front of him, quickly taking a step back cautiously, her paper talisman whipped out between her index finger and middle finger. 

"Are yo-" the girl didn't have the chance to finish her question when another coughing fit attacked her, forcing her to clamp her bloody handkerchief back to her mouth. 

"Shh quiet, you better not speak." Rider carried her under his thick, burly shoulders and brought her inside. Upon stepping within the vicinity of the tavern, everyone looked at the young girl with curiosity, Rider coughed out loud and all their eyes dispersed back on to what they were doing.

Then came Rodrick who stood nervous, trying to hold up a fake smile, "ehem, who's that?"

"Hush boy, now back to our table." 

Rodrick sighed and rushed out to open the door of the tavern. Once inside, Rider dropped her and wiped off some of the blood that was on her lips.

"Now eat. You need to regain your strength." he points towards some food on the table. 

"But I ain't done."

"Are you the one who's all bloodied up?" Rodrick puffed his face and gave one of the untouched dishes to the girl.

"Here," he then crossed his arms and looked away from her. 

Yumi didn't even have the time to grasp what was happening when she was suddenly whisked away by the man into a tavern. 

She didn't even have the time to say a word when the boy, seemingly the Master slid her a plate after bickering lightly with the Servants. 

"Oh no please, I can't take this." She pushed the plate back, turning away for a bit to cough to her handkerchief before looking at the both of them with a pleading look on her face. 

"Please help me."