Smile in the darkness

"Then, King of Knights, we shall set out on our ways now. The next time we meet, I will incite all my boiling blood to fight with you... little Master, do you have anything to add to this order?"

However, the young man lying on the driving platform at Rider's feet did not respond. Rider held the collar of his jacket and shook it, but the little Master's eyes were turned back; he was already unconscious. It seemed that Rider's power had been too much as he suddenly attacked Berserker.

"...This boy needs to learn to be unbreakable."

Rider sighed and put his Master in his arms, then adjusted the two divine bulls' reins. The bulls brayed, emitted thunder, and transmitted lightning from their hooves as they soared into the sky.

"Farewell!"

Accompanied by the roaring thunder, the chariot galloped into the southern sky.

Irisviel finally let go of the tension and let out the air she was holding in. When she looked around, it was a scene of utter devastation. It was to be expected. Five Servants were gathered in one place, with some of them uninhibitedly releasing their Noble Phantasms, destroying at will.

"The first battle was conducted with such intensity. Has there been a Holy Grail War like this before?"

Irisviel wasn't worried about the traces of destruction. The Holy Church's overseer is responsible for the secrecy of the war. This place looks as if it has been pierced by an earthquake. The overseer must organize those employed by the Church and carefully repair the area.

Saber remained absorbed, staring at the sky through which Rider flew past. Her delicate silhouette bore no signs of emotion or weariness pending the savage battle, but simply stood firmly and quietly on the battlefield. That figure of the armor-clad girl was like a painting, an image of beauty that gave no room for desecration.

"...Thank you, Saber. My life is safe because of you."

Irisviel said with her head bowed. Saber replied with a smile.

"I fight on the front line only to protect you behind my back, Irisviel."

Irisviel once again felt her in a pang; Saber's strength, courage, and gentleness.

More than a dozen years younger than her, with the stature of a girl who will yet be a woman - Such a delicate figure, such fine wrists, but she is a true knight, a hero.

"The war has only begun, Irisviel. Tonight's battle was only the first night of the beginning of a war."

"...Yes."

"They are all strong enemies of equal greatness. Guest heroes from different eras... none of them can be eliminated easily."

There was no anxiety or fear in Saber's voice. Before the coming of the storm, a warrior's heart is both excited and calm. The soaring spirit and boiling blood would not change in any age or world. That is the true testimony of a hero's soul.

The girl planted her gaze on the southern sky and proclaimed serenely.

"This is... the Holy Grail War."

.........…

A black curtain was drawn across this space.

Not empty blackness, but viscous and condensed. Like fetid decaying matter, this blackness surpassed the boundary of black.

The dense and nauseating stench of blood emanated from it. Faint groans and shrieks that could be heard everywhere made one feel the terrifying atmosphere. At that moment, the curtain of darkness that hid all sight could instead be a screen full of pity.

In such darkness, a sphere emitted a white light like a full moon reflecting on the water's surface.

It was a crystal sphere the size of a ball of wool. The faint, translucent light came from the images floating in it.

Rubble piled up like mountains—a lonely night view. And yet, this scenario was not present from the beginning. The present image of complete destruction was not present twenty minutes ago and was a mere vast emptiness. Behind his back, the crystal ball projected and recorded every detail.

So did the VIPs who watched the entire fight. The faint light of the crystal ball illuminated the pair of faces as the countenance of both expressed an unusual joy at the sight of destruction.

"Awesome! Truly awesome!!!!"

A happy murderous demon who intervened this world with an astronomical rarity - Uryū Ryūnosuke. His slanted eyes twinkled with an innocent childish smile, and he began to cheer.

"Mr. Bluebeard, everything that happened was real, right? Unbelievable! This isn't just a video game platform! "

Due to the random chance of signing a contract with Servant Caster, Ryūnosuke has since set aside his daily routine and become an even stranger person. He greedily sought excitement and pleasing entertainment, and saw the battle that had just occurred as a supreme feast of entertainment.

"So what, this is the Touch of Heaven? Sir, will you participate in this battle too? Will you, sir, just like the people we just saw fly in the air and shine?"

"..."

Caster did not reply, but passionately kept his gaze on the crystal ball. Within the night place projected on the crystal stood a small figure. As if a ghost had possessed him, Caster stared dazedly at its silhouette.

Since the beginning of the monitoring of the battle in the warehouse street, Caster had been immersed in this intense state. He did not pay attention to his Master Ryūnosuke's enthusiasm nor did he care about the other Heroic Spirits. He was only gazing at one person.

Fine silver armor covered his fine white body; beautiful blond hair floated like golden sand—the young woman, a Heroic Spirit of the Saber-class, invited among the seven Servants.

Her body is small, and yet she is the most courageous and majestic. No matter what trouble she was forced into, she showed no fear and firmly confronted her opponents. Caster could not take his eyes off Saber; he couldn't do so. Because the distant reminiscent figure and the diffused aura of the nobility of her profile was precisely the illusion that had plagued Caster through the ages.

"... Sir?"

Ryūnosuke saw Caster's face, who had been silent since the beginning, and relapsed into silence.

That was when he noticed that the faded, pale face was dyed in tears of pure joy.

"...it has come true."

Caster, overcome with agitation, whispered gently.

"... It has all come true. I once thought ... it was impossible. And even the Grail the almighty..."

"Has come true? What, what?"

What? It was a question Ryūnosuke had to ask. Caster's cheerful expression meant that something extraordinary had happened, but what that could be had him confused even after careful thought.

"The Grail chose me!"

It was as if Caster could not see the doubt in his Master's eyes. He raised Ryūnosuke's hand and shook it fervently, wishing to share his happiness with him.

"We do not need to go through a battle, for we have already gained the victory. Yes. The Grail is already in our hands."

"But still... I have not seen it, nor have I touched the supposed 'Grail'!"

"That is out of the case."

Caster stated as his eyes widened, and he pointed to the young woman reflected in the crystal ball.

"You see that? She said to me. That solemn expression, her divine figure... that must be 'her', the one destined to change my fate!"

Ryūnosuke furrowed his brows, repeatedly studying the figure in the crystal ball. The young man or woman, clad in medieval-era style armor, whether male or female, possessed a rare beauty enough to rival Caster in modern Japan.

"... Do you know her?"

"I know her. She is my light. She led me forward. She gave me life. She is the purpose of my very existence..."

Caster, choked with emotion, put his head in his hands and continued.

"She was once abandoned by God, annihilated in disgrace. But now, she has been resurrected. It's a miracle! It's thanks to my faithful wishes that allowed her to be reborn!"

Ryūnosuke had no idea what was going on. Still, he could understand the present delusional state of the man he admired, Bluebeard. Besides, even though he and Bluebeard haven't been together for long, Bluebeard can always reveal impressive ideas even in times of danger. A new challenger of the world, a killer - the strange man Ryūnosuke praised was a sadistic artist.

Thus, for Ryūnosuke, Bluebeard Caster's happiness - whatever happened to him was a good thing, and certainly to be anticipated.

"For some strange reason, I'm starting to get excited too, Mister Bluebeard."

"Yes! Yes!"

Caster shook his hair loose as he sobbed and cried simultaneously. He hugged the crystal tightly with both hands as he pressed his forehead against its icy surface, his frantic eyes planted on the young woman's face.

"Oh... maiden, my holy chaste virgin... I'll be with you soon. No matter what, please wait for me..."

The moist snake-like smile remained in the darkness.