Chapter 3: Fuyuki incident: Gates open

After a long journey, the trio finally arrives in Japan. - "This is the country where Kiritsugu was born? It's beautiful." - Said Irisviel. - "We're finally here!" - Says Itadori raising his arms in joy at returning to his home country.

"How do you feel, Itadori? Do you think much has changed?" - Says Irisviel. - "Well, I didn't go to Fuyuki very often, but it's not that different from what I remember." - Says Itadori.

"What did you think of the trip, Saber?" - Says Irisviel, turning to Saber who just got off the plane. - "Nothing much, much less interesting than I expected." - Saber said. - "Think of it this way, we are the first servants to fly by plane." - Itadori said smiling at Saber.

Irisviel couldn't contain herself as she laughed at Itadori's comment. Saber just sighs without understanding the reason for laughing. - "Saber, didn't you think it was weird to ride a plane?" - Itadori asked.

Saber turned to Itadori and said. - "When the servants are invoked, we are given all the knowledge regarding the era in which we appeared, if something went wrong, I believe I could even fly that plane." "Could you fly a plane?" - Irisviel asked. - "One of my main skills is dexterity, I can ride any beast, whether mortal or divine, after getting into the saddle and having the reins under my control, it's as if I feel what I should do."

'That must be because Arturia was a king, she probably already rode a horse, damn! I wanted to have this skill so much, I can be a servant, but I didn't feel like I could fly that plane... The disadvantages of being a 15 year old teenager...' - Itadori thought. - "Climb into the saddle and hold the reins...?" - Irisviel couldn't contain herself from laughing again.

Knowing without understanding anything question. - "Did I say something funny?" - Said Saber. - "No...I just like watching you two." - said Irisviel.

Meanwhile, the trio walked around the airport. - "What does that mean?" - Saber asked while the airport guy was checking her tickets. - "Is nothing." Irisviel said as they left the airport.

After taking a private car, the white-haired girl was thrilled to see those huge buildings, it was as if she had never seen them in her life. - "This place feels so alive." - says Irisviel.

"Kiritsugu probably arrived before us, right?" - Said Saber. - "Yes, about 20 hours ago. But he will meet us, so it's okay. We should act cautiously until he tells us otherwise, paying attention to the situation. After this long trip from Japan, maybe we should have some fun just before fights start." - replied Irisviel.

Saber retorts. - "I don't think so, it would be reckless." - Itadori without saying anything just agrees with Saber. - 'If we're going to participate in a war, we can't just sit around.' - thought Itadori.

"You're right..." - Irisviel says, feeling a little sad. - "But it's a shame, isn't it?" -she says looking at the car window. The pink-haired boy notices and asks. - "Something happen?".

Irisviel looks at Itadori. - "We came from so far to a distant country... It's just that... It's the first time I've traveled." -she says embarrassed to both of them.

"Huh?" - Both servants have the same reaction. -"Until today, I had never seen the outside world on my own..."-Irisviel spoke as she looked down still embarrassed. - 'This seems like a fairytale story...' - Itadori thought. - "Did you live in that castle your whole life?" - said the same boy.

Irisviel looks a little sad at the two and speaks. - "You guys didn't know, but I was just a puppet created to fight in the Holy Grail War." -The girl in white spoke as she tightened her hat. - "But it wasn't like I didn't know anything about the outside world. Kiritsugu showed me books, movies and various photos. He taught me a lot of things about different places, cultures and their festivals. But this is the first time I've seen this with my own eyes, you know...That's why...I think I got too carried away, I'm sorry!"

Itadori had a soft heart, after about two seconds of silence, Itadori and Saber looked at each other and without saying a word, they already had an idea of how to please the girl who was seeing the world for the first time, at least just for the sake of it. today, before the war actually started. - "Please, stop the car!" - said Saber.

"I said I came to Fuyuki once, but it was a long time ago, however, I don't remember soooo well, so I think it would be cool to hang around a little more, don't you think?" - Said Itadori. "Just like you, Irisviel, this will also be my first time visiting this city." Saber said.

The two get out of the car and go to the other side of the car door to open it for the girl with snow-white hair. - "It is a knight's duty to escort their princess." Itadori said. "I think it's better to use the word 'escort'." - Saber replied.

Irisviel just looked at the two and started laughing. - "You guys are funny." - Said Irisviel. - "I still don't understand your sense of humor, but it's the least we can do for you right now." - Said Saber while making a gentle gesture and taking off her glove. - "Come on, give me your hand." - Said Saber, Irisviel just smiled accepting the request of the two knights.

The trio ventured around the city, having fun until nightfall, the silver-haired girl really wanted to see the sea, despite it being night.

Irisviel was looking at the sea, Itadori was next to her, and Saber was observing the surroundings. As the wind whipped over Irisviel, she turned around and said. - "I had a dream today, about you." - Irisviel said to Itadori.

The boy was confused. - "About me?" - Itadori said. - "Yes, I saw a little about you, I think this has to do with us having a bond between servant and master." Irisviel said. - "That's why you asked me about Sukuna, isn't it? So you saw..." - Itadori said seriously.

Irisviel turned to the sea and began to speak. - "There is a very interesting story that came to my mind, it was a similar story to Sukuna, the story told about an emperor named Chuai, the fourteenth emperor of Japan. The emperor married a princess from the Soga clan, but Chuai fell in love with one of his concubines and thus abandoned the princess of the Soga clan and her children. The two children were called Oosu no Mikoto and Ousu no Mikoto, two twins, their mother took them to the priest of Isi, so that they could live in security, they were children of reincarnations of Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun and were raised by the Priest. One day they discovered the whereabouts of their father and swore revenge for what he did, but the father found out and ordered him to kill his own childrens. The funny thing is that the two sons had supernatural abilities and were known to be total opposites to each other, only having a similarity, the revenge sworn by their father and of course, their appearance, Oosu no Mikoto for example, was the son of evil, he was known for being a top-notch Shaman, specialized in magic, while his brother, Ousu no Mikoto, the son of good, was known for being an excellent hunter and a monster when it comes to combat, an extremely powerful body warrior. One was associated with the power of the Moon, of darkness and the other was associated with the power of the Sun, of light, interesting, isn't it?" - Irisviel said. - "It's very interesting, but why did you remember this story now?" - said Itadori .

"I wonder, which of the two brothers were you, Itadori." - Irisviel says looking at Itadori, already knowing the answer.

"It's beautiful, it's like a giant mirror." -Irisviel says, still looking at the sea, after gaining courage, the same girl moves towards the sea and puts her feet at the edge of the sea and then starts playing as if she were a child.

the boy looked at the sea and once again remembered his friends, a time when they didn't need to worry, Itadori watches her and realizes how innocent that woman was. - "She was trapped in that place her whole life... just to participate in this crazy war... It's scary to think that before I became a sorcerer, I had so much freedom and didn't even know how to really take advantage of it, imagine Irisviel, who was born with this purpose." -Itadori said thoughtfully. Saber arrived at your side hearing your murmurs. "I understand, before I pulled out that sword, I could say I was free from any royal responsibility, despite being destined to be king, I still considered myself free, she said something about 'accepting our destinies without question', but I bet who did the same thing as us..." - "Saber said thoughtfully.

The two looked at Irisviel. - "Walking around a different city with my new friends is a wonderful feeling." - Said Irisviel. - "I hope you enjoyed today." - Itadori said. - "You two were absolutely perfect, like true knights in shining armor." Irisviel said.

"I'm honored, Princess." Said Saber with a joking tone. - "Saber, do you like the ocean?" - asked Irisviel. - "In my era, in my kingdom, the ocean was nothing more than a path, infested with enemies, I never saw them with good eyes..." - Saber cursed.

Itadori turned to Saber and said. - "Your life as king never gave you the freedom to visit for fun, did it?" - Said Itadori. - "Yes..." - Saber replied.

Saber looked at Irisviel and said. - "And you? Instead of us, you'd rather be walking around the city with Kiritsugu, wouldn't you?" - Irisviel was saddened. - "I would not like." - This answer left the two servants confused. - "That memory would be too painful."

"Kiritsugu doesn't like spending time with you?" - Saber asked. - "Happiness seems to cause him pain..." The trio remain silent, until the two servants feel a strange presence and both grab Irisviel's arm. - "An enemy servant?" - asked Irisviel.

"Yes, it seems like they are challenging us." - Saber said. - "Such chivalry. He wants us to decide the battlefield, should we accept their invitation?" - asked Irisviel. - "As you wish." - Saber replied.

Meanwhile elsewhere

A large and small figure stood on top of a red bridge. - "Rider... Hurry, let's get down." The boy said, scared to death. - "What's the matter? This is the ideal place to observe the enemy." - said the brute.

"Get me out of here....NOW!" - The boy shivered. - "Things are finally about to begin!" -He said with a laugh. - "It's getting really interesting!"

Arriving at an empty lot, the trio come across someone calling them. - "Glad you're here, while they were showing off around town today, everyone else was strengthening their defenses." - said the unknown man who arrived with two spears in each hand.

'This guy watching us the whole time?' - Itadori thought. - "Only you guys had the courage to respond to my challenge. With such a pure heroic fighting spirit...I assume you are Saber, correct?" - asked the mysterious man. - "Correct, you must be Lancer." - said Saber.

"Exactly, and you boy, I feel a strange energy emanating from you..." - said Lancer. - "Well, I should probably be a Caster, but you can call me Yuji, it's much more inviting to me." - he says a little excitedly.

"Apparently he's not afraid to reveal his name, what a brave boy...here we are, about to fight to the death, unlike the boy here, we can't even say our names in a traditional way. It's kind of discouraging for me. " -says Lancer as he prepares to fight.

Itadori already poses to fight, but something starts to shine, his suit from before changes to his usual traditional outfit. When looking at Saber, his body also begins to glow and his armor appears.

The pink-haired boy is amazed. - 'How beautiful...and very cool too!' - Itadori says.

"Saber and Itadori, be careful! I can help you both with my healing magic, but I don't know if it will be enough. - Irisviel said. - "We can take care of Lancer, but I'm unhappy that my master hasn't shown up yet. . Irisviel, we entrust our rearguard to you!" - Saber speaks. - "Osu!" - Itadori responds.

"So let's start!"

End of chapter 3