Chapter 102: Parting on bad terms, summons from the temple!
The rolling heat dissipated from everyone's faces, and the cool night breeze once again swept through the Einzbern Castle courtyard, carrying the crisp floral scent of the garden.
Iskandar had already dismissed his Reality Marble, and everyone except Hundred-Faced Hassan had returned to the courtyard.
Compared to Waver, who was too stunned to speak, and Irisviel, who for some reason seemed inexplicably pained.
Gilgamesh, with his arms crossed, maintained his usual arrogance throughout.
Artoria seemed to have received a great shock, and a complex mix of bitterness and reminiscence flickered in her eyes.
Arthur glanced at Iskandar, who was going back to retrieve his golden goblet, and teased him with a relaxed tone.
"Hey, hey, hey, you were the one who asked the last question at the banquet. Is it really appropriate for you to sneak off to drink now?"
"Ah, this..."
Iskandar's expression stiffened slightly, and he quickly tilted his head back, downing the divine wine, then chuckled, trying to gloss over it.
"Has everyone said what they wanted to say? Is that all for tonight?"
"Hmph!"
Gilgamesh stood up proudly, scoffing at Iskandar, who had just displayed such power, with undisguised killing intent.
"Tonight, I've witnessed quite a show, Conqueror."
"Next time, I will personally put an end to your nonsensical dream."
"Hmm, it's a deal. I will also do my best to claim the treasures you cherish, Hero King."
Iskandar's face held a fearless and bold smile as he swung his sword, and with the surge of lightning, his Chariot of the Gods appeared.
He raised a hand to beckon Waver forward, and the two of them stepped onto the vehicle together, waving goodbye.
"Well then, farewell, everyone."
Rumble!
A muffled thunder echoed over the castle, and the Conqueror's duo was the first to depart.
Gilgamesh withdrew his gaze from the sky, glancing at Arthur, who showed no intention of leaving, a hint of pleasure in his eyes.
"It seems you still have some private matters to attend to. After I deal with that traitorous rebel, Conqueror, you'll be next, Lionheart King!"
"Suit yourself." Arthur nodded indifferently. "Right now, I want to punch the King of Knights. I'll come find trouble with you later."
Gilgamesh's eyebrows raised slightly, his smile growing more pleased, then he turned into golden dust and vanished, the second to leave.
As the number of attendees at the banquet steadily decreased, the atmosphere on site grew increasingly tense.
Artoria stood firmly in front of the pained Irisviel, holding her Holy Sword, wary of Arthur's every move.
"Why so nervous?"
Arthur stood up, unhurriedly dusting off the indigo hem of his robe, a mocking curve forming on his lips beneath his hood.
"Not to mention your full strength, with only one arm left, you're no match for me."
"You can try!"
Artoria retorted defiantly, and the wind pressure, which had been continuously consuming her magical energy, dispersed, revealing the true form of her Holy Sword.
Arthur glanced at the similarly shaped Holy Sword in her hand; its light still shone brightly, and the light of the stars still favored her?
"How many of the Holy Sword's Thirteen Restraints can you still open?"
"What!?"
Arthur's change of topic was abrupt, and Artoria was momentarily stunned, her thoughts racing.
The legends left behind by later generations were so detailed?
He even knew about the Holy Sword being empowered by thirteen restraints?
Could it be that behind the rumors of his imitation of the Holy Sword, he had indeed obtained some forbidden knowledge?
Arthur first observed Artoria's fluctuating expression, then his gaze moved past her to Irisviel, whose condition was clearly not right.
According to the data collected by Chaldea, the Three Founding Families that constructed the Holy Grail ritual each had their responsibilities.
Among them, the Tohsaka Family provided the land's spiritual pulse, the Matou Family developed the Command Seal system, and the Einzbern Family was responsible for creating the Holy Grail.
The Holy Grail mentioned here was not the greater grail array hidden deep within Enzou Mountain, but an artifact with the abilities of a Holy Relic, namely the lesser grail.
Its purpose was to preserve the souls of deceased Servants, and once a sufficient number was accumulated, it could transform into a key to stabilize the greater grail and the path to the Root.
Undoubtedly, Irisviel was the lesser grail prepared by the Einzbern Family for this Holy Grail War.
Though their positions differed, the fate of this woman before him was remarkably similar to his own past.
With this thought, the nameless anger that had risen in Arthur towards Artoria slightly receded, and he turned to leave, waving his hand listlessly.
"Even that arrogant Gilgamesh didn't choose tonight to fight, and I too disdain it."
"Artoria, carefully consider your wish, otherwise, you and I are destined for a battle."
The strong wind howled past, and Arthur's figure vanished into the distance as an afterimage.
Artoria then lowered her Holy Sword, murmuring with a complex expression.
"Is a destined future of destruction not worth changing?"
... ...
The night passed without incident, and the sky cleared in an instant.
Still on his weekend, Liya, holding a practice wooden sword, jogged all the way to Arthur's door, vigorously knocking on it.
Bang, bang, bang!
"Wake up! Wake up! The sun's going to be shining on your butt!"
Whoosh--!
The wooden door suddenly opened, and Liya instinctively raised her hand to pat Arthur's hard chest, which made her palm tingle and brought tears to her eyes.
"Hiss--Is your body made of iron, you? So hard!"
Arthur seemed not to hear her complaints, only yawning lazily and grumbling at the overly energetic Liya early in the morning.
"Don't normal students, when they don't have class, sleep until noon? Why are you getting up even earlier than usual?"
Liya smiled proudly, hands on her hips, and said.
"Don't underestimate me! Even on my days off, I won't stop training!"
"Training?"
Arthur's gaze swept over the wooden sword in her left hand, his eyes subtly moving, understanding.
"You're going to a club activity? But what does that have to do with me?"
A wild glint flashed in Liya's eyes, her tone incredibly certain.
"Don't think you can hide it from me. You're definitely a good swordsman too. Take this chance to spar with me!"
Arthur chuckled, raising a hand to ruffle Liya's soft, flaxen short hair, and comforted her.
"You've really picked the wrong opponent, I..."
Thump, thump!
Suddenly, a subtle and prolonged magical energy fluctuation rippled out from deep within the leylines!
It rapidly spread throughout Fuyuki City in continuous wave-like patterns.
This fluctuation had no effect on ordinary humans; only a Magus could keenly perceive the changes occurring in the leylines.
'Is the Holy Church issuing a summons via the leylines?'
Arthur's eyes flickered, and he turned his head to gaze towards the southern suburbs, a smile playing on his lips.
'Heh, those judges who only know how to talk are finally unable to sit still and are getting involved personally?'
"You what? I hate it when people only say half of what they mean!"
Liya kicked Arthur's calf, her face puffed up with an indignant, pouting expression.
Arthur raised his hands in surrender, then subtly cast a suggestion spell, soothing her softly.
[Don't worry about it. You go to your club activity. Remember to come home early for dinner tonight.]
Liya, having received the suggestion, blinked in confusion and was still muttering something after turning around.
"I know, I know, I'm going now."
"Tonight I want Kobe beef and red bean rice, to avoid getting anemia for no reason like those people in the club."
Upon hearing this, Arthur's heart suddenly tightened.
He watched Liya's figure disappear around the corner, his eyes darkening.
Anemia?
This common word, at this moment, made him detect an unusual aura.
Could the Holy Church's summons be related to this?