Chapter 8

He was doing the boy a favour. James Wolfred was mulling over the bargain he had settled days earlier once again. Not only was he choosing to keep the boy's identity secret, he had decided to watch out for the boy in case of unnecessary aggression from the Ashton's enemies. Then again, he would have done so anyway without the boy having offered his skills as a favour to the late Ashtons. Be that as it may, he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. All for the betterment of Bristol.

James stood up from his desk and walked over to the lone window of the room. Small rays of sun filtered through the glass panel, signaling the start of the day, or was it mid-morning? It was always hard to tell with the amount of light that the window had to offer, but then again, he had wax candles along his walls.

He closed his eyes, and sighed before beginning to ponder once more, thankful for the small breeze he could feel from the window. It calmed him in a way that the glowing vermilion jewel fastened onto the head of a wolf plack, certainly did not.

Be wary James, the jewel- it knows.

That I know father. James quelled the sudden terror that paralyzed his body. That I know.

For as long as James had lived, he had always looked up to his father for guidance. For education, morals, decisions, and politics, his father played a heavy influence for him. Likewise, his father had learned from his grandfather who received many gifts from his friendship with Sir Ashton the Third. And one of those things was the gem his grand father had received.

It is a symbol of The Old Pact.

He had taken the words to heart as it came from Sir Ashton, but only on his father's death bed did he truly understand. The Old Pact of Ashton blood. The fabled blood of beasts and beast slayers.

The gem of the Hunt.

It glew a dull amber before fading out completely.

The Beasts were once again on the move.

It would only be a matter of time, but for now-

He turned his gaze on the map before him, the barbarians were growing in numbers, fortifying and moving enmass. Trouble would be brewing in the coming years. His eyes drifted to the long sword stabbed hilt deep in his study.

Sorry dear friend, James' eyes hardened. I won't be able to keep your blood away from this war.

After all, he would protect Bristol no matter the cost.

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Shirou waited patiently outside on the porch as Arturia got ready to leave her home and go training, sharing a nod with Kay to take care of her. It had been almost a week since the encounter with the beast, and Shirou was thankful that Sir Ector did not pry too deeply into the issue of his magic. Although admittedly, even he truly didn't know. The effects of his reinforcement should not have been able to transfer to a wielder, let alone linger in the weapon for so long. Could his magic have gotten so potent as to bleed into individuals? Unlikely, but not improbable based on the current age where technology had yet to replicate the mysteries of flight and advanced weaponry. Which brought him back to another issue, namely the deal with James Wolfred.

What was there to gain by offering technology and education? The answer was obvious, recognition.

He had seen firsthand in his shared memories with Saber about what had happened in the battle of Camelot. About how many once loyal Knights revolted in favour of Mordred.

The King with no emotion, and his rightful heir.

He could feel the way it had crushed her inside, striking those she had once called friend. It wouldn't happen this time, that Shirou swore. After all, who would wish to draw the ire of the 'Beast Hunter?' He shook his head in mortification, definitely not happening. He needed a better moniker.

Still though, although the plan sounded simple, simple was best in these times where titles carried weight. A King to rule a country. A father to teach his kids. It was the way the world worked, and he'd have to find a way into the mix. The town of Bristol was simply his first step.

"Thinking deeply I see," Kay mused as he sat down next to Shirou, armour discarded in favour of light leathers. "Well after that night, I can't fault you."

Shirou kept silent as Kay pulled back an arm and pulled out Arturia's wooden sword. "This is amazing," he replied curtly, silently relishing in the feel of his heightened senses. More importantly, he knew this sword would help keep the little blond safe. "I thank you, if it weren't for this..." Kay closed his eyes, picturing what would have happened to Arturia when she snuck up on the beast. He grimaced.

Shirou understood the message.

"Thank you," Kay repeated with a firm nod.

Shirou shook his head. "There's no need for thanks." Wouldn't you have done the same?

Kay smiled wryly before placing Arturia's sword in Shirou's lap. "You take care of her, you hear me," he spoke mirthfully. "She's a reckless one, and gullible at that- too trusting in the words of others." What child would believe in fairies and goblins?

"Of course," Shirou said evenly as he noticed the approaching ahoge seen through the mirror of the house.

Kay whistled, good friends were hard to come by, and Arturia had struck gold. "Still though, I'll have you know that she's a lot of work. Fighting pigs? Tasting anything that resembles food? Her curiosity? Pretty dangerous habits if you ask me. She nearly gave the old man a heart attack one time when she came back dangling a snake from its tail." God knows her blood of dragon's probably saved her from the snake's aggression. "There was also-"

"KAY," Arturia spoke in warning, her brow twitching as she stepped past the door of her house. She noticed her sword in Shirou's lap, and the request went unasked as Shirou handed it over. Kay always embarrassing her. Always tarnishing her honour in front of Shirou... Her gaze hardened.

"Alright alright," Kay said as he raised his hands up in surrender. "No more of the little lady's secrets."

"Squire," Arturia corrected, but went unheard. She wasn't a lady like some noble, she was an aspiring Knight.

"Uhm hmm," Kay hummed thoughtfully as he stood up and ruffled Arturia's hair. He turned to Shirou and shared a quiet nod before departing, leaving Arturia scrambling to fix her hair.

"Jerk," Arturia muttered before turning to Shirou. "Well, lets go."

Shirou meanwhile sweat dropped as he was staring somewhere else. Namely Kay freezing upon meeting mortal enemy. He shook his head before turning away.

"You god damned horse!"

"Let's go," Shirou repeated as he turned around, ignoring whatever was happening behind him.

They walked slowly, enjoying the feel of the sun on their skin. It was something that was quite rare in the last week, too many questions and rumours to really get a break. Well, at least for Shirou, Arturia was relatively uneffected as Sir Ector advised her to stay by the house, or the woods. She was away from all the questioning of the populace, if just a bit miffed by the temporary confiscation of her sword.

"How's Efret?" Arturia asked.

"Spending a lot of its time in the manor, healing its wounds." Not only that though, but Shirou knew that Efret seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

"He hasn't healed yet?" Granted it had only been roughly a week, but she noticed how fast Efret was healing. "I still have to thank him." If it wasn't for Efret distracting the beast, it might have come back to attack sooner while she was carrying Shirou back to her home.

"He's almost done, just a few more cuts to heal." Shirou supplied.

Arturia smiled, glad to hear the news. Still though, her mind wandered to the day's events. "I say we work on our sword forms in the afternoon," she spoke eagerly.

Shirou scratched at the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, about that." Arturia turned to face him as she walked, confusion evident on her face. "I'm going to be working at the forge."

Arturia faltered in her steps.

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Shirou stared carefully at Arturia as he prepared the day's meal. She had been quiet ever since his announcement to spend his time at the forge. It didn't sit right with him.

He turned his attention back on the eggs he was whisking in a bowl before adding oil he extracted from seeds and vinegar into the mix, turning it a creamy white. Satisfied, he stood up with the bowl, and sat next to Arturia. She turned his way and opened her mouth to speak just before he shoved a dab of the mix into her mouth. Her eyes widened, but that didn't stop her from tasting the odd mix as Shirou pulled his hand away. "It's called mayonnaise," he said as she continued tasting the odd tangy and sour mix.

"Here," Shirou said as Arturia swallowed. "Try it with bread and meat."

Arturia raised a hand, she wasn't feeling hungry. She turned her gaze on Shirou. "Have you thought about what you're doing?" Did he not take his training as a knight seriously? By spending his time at the smithy's wouldn't he be neglecting his training? Wouldn't he be neglecting her-

She shook her head. That wasn't a reason. Not at all.

Shirou blinked before he gently grasped Arturia's hand. "What do you mean?" He asked confused. He didn't plan to change anything in his life style, opting to use some of his free time to offer advice at the forge. It wasn't like he was going to be there everyday to explain how to build things like kitchen ware, and to better purify ore. No, the deal he had with James Wolfred was to give out technology, but not the instructions to build them. This would make his brand of weapons all the more rare, and likely result in an increased reputation.

"I mean spending your time at the smithy's? Surely there are better things you can do like training." With me. She emphasized her point by holding out her wooden sword.

Shirou scratched at the bacck of his head. "I know, but this is something I've decided to do," he said. It may not seem like much to Arturia now, but Shirou was sure she would understand in the future.

Arturia frowned, lips thinning. "But what about becoming a Knight?!" The words burst out from her mouth with all the force of her pent up frustration before she could stop herself. Sure he may have lost his Knight mentor, but Sir Ector had mentioned alternatives. He honestly shouldn't be wasting his time at the smithy's. Still though, she berated herself for acting out of hand, but outworldy, she showed no signs of her inner turmoil.

"A Knight? I see," Shirou said thoughtfully. He didn't know him being a knight meant so much to Arturia. He could tell now, despite her calm demeanor, that the issue really was something she was concerned with. Therefore, it was obvious what he would do next. "Then I'll be your Knight," he said with all seriousness.

Arturia blinked before gaping as Shirou knelt before her. Tentatively, he placed her wooden sword in her right hand before letting it rest on his shoulder. "Well? Will you take this wandering vagrant as your own?"

She turned away bashfully, but still regarded Shirou with one eye. What was he doing? She had never heard of a method quite like this to become a Knight.

Then I'll be your Knight.

Her Knight. Her face became flushed as she understood Shirou's meaning. 'Even if others don't see me as a Knight, I will always be one for you.'

She coughed into her free hand. She had to stay calm and collected. "O-Of course," she stammered out a response, turning to face him directly, but instantly shying away from his earnest gaze.

"Then by your decree, please Knight this unworthy vagrant."

"T-Then by my graces, I-I Knight you," Arturia stumbled with her words, but still managed to move her sword from shoulder to shoulder.

Shirou smiled. "Then I am yours to have."

Arturia could feel the heat rising from her face, and god she could definitely feel it in her ears. She turned her back to Shirou, lest he see her blush. What kind of game were they playing? Just because one proclaims themselves a Knight doesn't mean they were one. Still though, she smiled awkwardly. Her Knight. It didn't matter if he spent his time at the blacksmith's because no matter what, he was her Knight.

However, Shirou took Arturia's action of turning away as a sign that she was still angry. "I won't be at the smithy's any longer than I have to be," he persisted a moment before sighing. "So can you stop being mad and look me in the face?"

"M-Mad?" Arturia sputtered, turning around in her confusion. She noticed the way Shirou's face blanked before he quickly turned away, a red tint to his cheeks.

He saw! He saw! Oh god she was mortified. She turned around and fiddled with the hem of her shirt. Surely he wouldn't hold anything against her, but surely she had just lowered her standing in his eyes. Breath, keep calm, fight it down.

A moment passed, and her ears perked up to the sound of movement behind her. She felt a tap on her shoulder, prompting her to once again turn around.

Shirou waved the freshly made sandwich beneath Arturia's mouth, watching as her eyes tracked the movement. He smiled, somethings just don't change. "Here," he said as he gave it to Arturia, chuckling at the way she fumbled with it in her hands. "Finish up, then we can start training again."

"Y-Yeah," Arturia said after she took a bite and swallowed, grateful that Shirou didn't bring up what happened earlier. Finishing her sandwich, she smiled at him, thankful to have met him all those months ago. Her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed a frown on Shirou's face.

Shirou just shook his head before drawing closer to a flustered Arturia. "You have mayo on your mouth."