Buried scabbard deep in remote forest away from me, laid Mirage, left clone there—wouldn't find otherwise. Now standing on big iron bridge over River, cars pass behind, my clone at bridge edge with outstretched blanket holding Japanese MC trope's bones—scattering in forest deemed too time/effort, not worth.
Plus forester finding human bones would trigger search—no. River perfect. So here I stand, all in Invisibility—looks weird otherwise.
Stood bit, decided give farewell speech—always dreamed. "Shirou, you were, mmm, naive idiot. When I killed you, I heard thousands, maybe millions of souls scream in joy! Nah, didn't really hear, but many hated you. I think. Ahem, sorry digress—your death saved millions! Nothing more horrific than uneducated fanatic; in your case uneducated idealist, or idiot if prefer. Anyway, nothing worse than uneducated idealist accessing Holy Grail and wishing dumb wish! Seriously. Even forgetting demon twists it—what'd you wish? No pain/misery? World peace? Possible, but only if no life on planet! Pain/suffering part of natural… short: part of life, makes us feel joy! Not life's breaks; born in pain! Die often in pain. Your wish dumb at core! So death saved millions from genocide! And… makes me hero? Wow. Ahem, dunno if hear, but hope never meet, your eternity in nowhere endless suffering. Amen."
Speech brought tears; released blanket, watched sink—added stones. Fuck, tears won't stop—one happiest days life! Gotta celebrate.
*An hour later.*
Slightly buzzed from wine bottle—tasted meh. But occasion, drank on principle! What? Suddenly remembered didn't check Rin/Artoria meet vs Sakura/Rider. Overcame urge fuck it all, lay on blanket, achieved feat! Not sleep. Shift consciousness to clone at Shirou's house.
Head clears, pry eyes—half Shirou's house gone. Fire eating other half—busy firefighters, gawkers barely interest. Looks like missed epic clash. Not expert, but hole not Artoria's—that's sure.
Switching clones, checked Rin's usual spots—found at school, gawkers/police cordon. Warehouse fire out—or remnants—firefighters been. Spotted two notable white heads in crowd—Illya's maids.
Saw Rin question old lady on events, now thoughtful with Artoria leave school. Followed; overheard snippets—assumed unknown girl's bones there they took for Illya, now discuss next/Sakura hunt.
Decide check Rider ID at Matou house—picture off: my words vampire, phantasm Pegasus light/fire. Detail made my brain struggle.
Greece first—myths such horsies, subconscious says England too, Vikings maybe. Options galore; hard mesh Pegasus myths/vampire.
Till evening Rin/Artoria comb Matou library; I sit hidden corner quiet. No Rider ID, but night—decide hunt Sakura/Rider fight; undecided on Sakura fate. Yeah, Ted summons for advice/help—I silent.
Search basic—district, park, Shirou house; school check lucky. I stunned—school?! Ten-min drive high-rises thousands people, you hide school!? Still Sakura on playground.
While talk, climbed old tree spot—ignored chat much, but "I'll stop you"/"I'll get Shirou back" gave vector.
"Finish it, time start." Insects form hunched old man.
"Yes… Grandfather." Sakura shrinks; barrier over school.
"Impossible! We killed you!" Rin drops knees.
"Heh heh he… not so simple, child." Insects swarm from old man.
"Saber!" Rin yells, hurls stones at Sakura.
"Excalibur!" Artoria yells, unleashes ground-parallel energy wave.
Fuck, I think—watching Artoria's attack; Rider grabs Sakura, jumps up saves her, but no one saves school first floor. Vaporized, plus land beyond. School floors crash raise dust cloud, huge roar.
Rest fight "Excalibur" style—energy beam slices dust, raises new, huge ground gashes. Rin "Gandr" cries/explosions somewhere.
Barrier falls; I dodge—tree gone, ground/trees behind—battle out school.
*Two minutes later.*
"Don't look her eyes!" Artoria cry, another energy wave.
Tenses me; her ability sound unnerves—not kid stuff. Kinda Neo Matrix—dodge side/up. Add flying tree/spell/rock/car size—not nearing battlefield!
"Command Spell - Saber! Kill Sakura!" Rin voice afar.
"No!" Sync Rider/old man cry.
"Excalibur!" Energy wave slices space.
Rider summons light Pegasus, dashes intercept—nope; Sakura vanishes in wave. Pegasus disperses, Rider falls/rolls aside. Old man swarms Rin—insect cloud explodes; battle ends.
Wounded, heaving, hands knees, Rin squeezes order. "Saber, finish Rider."
Artoria no better—armor parts gone, multiple cuts. Silently limps to prone Rider, sometimes leaning sword—no longer air-mirage hidden.
End near; grab trusted Axe, hidden head to Rin, jumping gashes from Artoria attacks. Reach Rin before Artoria Rider; we swing together—she beheads sword; next instant boost rips Intangibility, my Axe takes Rin's head.
See Artoria flinch/turn, but I grab Rin body, summon to Illya's Coffin.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan