17 Teasing and Revelation (1/2)

”Morning, Rafi. It is time for breakfast.”

”...”

Seeing that Rafi was still looking sleeping soundly, Sakura came beside him, softly whispering to his ear, ”Mou, you are actually a heavy sleeper aren't you. If you are not waking up quick, I will wake up your little brother down there, Ra..fi..”.

Hearing her words, Rafi wake up suddenly, smiling wryly at her. ” You're looking so energetic in the morning, Sakura.”

”He he, said who was so full of energy last night.” Sakura smiled mischievously at him.

”Cough..cough..” Rafi blushed hearing her words.

”Now, let's have breakfast first. Everyone is back, we are having breakfast now.” Sakura said as she left first.

”Mn.”

After washing up briefly, Rafi then came to the dining room. There he found everyone was still having breakfast, including Tohsaka.

”Saber...Eh, Tohsaka-san, you're here?” Rafi first spotted Saber and found Tohsaka sitting beside her unexpectedly.

”What do you mean? Am I not welcome here?” Tohsaka replied with her usual sharp tone.

”No. It is my mistake. In my guess, Archer should try to kidnap you last night, did it not happen?”

”Hmph, Archer really did try to kidnap me, but your Berserker saved me before he succeeded. I guess I owe you one.”

”Hmm, it is different...Berserker, please tell me what happened last night.” Rafi said to her as she nodded gently at him. Then Minamoto no Yorimitsu told Rafi all what happened the night before.

After she joined Emiya and Tohsaka as ally, Lancer decided to back off, as his master ordered. Thus the job to face Tohsaka's Archer fell on her. She fought Archer heatedly, though both didn't even used their Noble Phantasm. At the end of their fight, Archer retreated to the church, saying that his plan had succeeded and leaving her somewhat at lost.

As she wanted to pursue Archer, Lancer suddenly sneak attacked her. As he fought her, he explained that his master ordered him to probe her, a mysterious Servant that appeared abruptly. They only had a brief clashes, as she and him can sense each other rough capabilities only from that instant. Lancer thus departed after he finished his own goal confirming her fighting capabilities, which was above him, with a rational thought unbefitting a Berserker class.

Minamoto no Yorimitsu then entered the church, finding Archer was still attempting to kidnap Tohsaka, and prevented him as Rafi told her to assist Tohsaka and Emiya in that mission. Archer then withdrew as his attempt failed. He then invited Emiya Shirou to Einzbern castle for a duel next day.

”That is roughly what happened last night, Master. Lancer is a skillful spear master. I admit his skills is even above my previous subordinate, Usui Sadamitsu. The current you isn't his match, Master. You are better be careful when fighting him. As for Archer, his skills are strange considering his summoned class. His swordsmanship is quite skillful for his class, though I feel it lacks something inside.”

”Hmm, so it is like that. Then I can give you some informations related to next battle, Tohsaka-san, Emiya-san.”

”Hmm?”, Emiya, Tohsaka and Saber were looking at each other, pondering.

”Mm, are you still doubting me? it is fine. Even if I have some motives for telling you, but, basically I will not harm you all, especially Saber and Tohsaka.” Rafi said as he looked at Tohsaka and Saber jokingly.

”Hey..hey, Tohsaka isn't..”

”Don't be jealous, Emiya-san. Good women is appreciated everywhere, if you don't quickly do something, maybe I will.” Rafi said, looked seriously at Emiya.

”Though now I really do hope seeing you and Tohsaka being together.” Rafi said as he looked at Sakura, smiled gently at her. Seeing his smile, Sakura also revealed a lovely smile to him.

”Cough, cough, I wonder what's your informations, Rafi-san.” Tohsaka said hurriedly after sensing a strange atmosphere between Rafi and her sister.

”Tohsaka-san, Emiya-san, you should have guessed who Archer is. He is Heroic Spirit EMIYA, materialized by Emiya Shirou's ideals to become a hero.” Tohsaka, Emiya and Saber were shocked hearing it. Although Tohsaka and Emiya have guessed it before, his words confirmed their suspicion.

”How can it be...” Saber exclaimed.

”There is no rule that stated Heroic Spirit can't be summoned from the future, Saber. In another timeline, Emiya-san and you were still a Master and Servant. As the war kept going on, both of you encountering many life-and-death situations as you couldn't maximize your potential because Emiya-san was lacking magic circuits. Your bond was getting closer until you two share your ideals to each other.

After knowing your wish, Emiya-san understood that your wish was distorted and he wanted to let you understood it. As he kept wanting to save you from your distorted wish, you were disappointed at him for not understanding your wish. Both of you fought together until the end of war, though your relationship were back to a normal Master-Servant only bound by a contract. In the end, you still did destroy the Grail like the previous war, but on your own volition.

After the war, Emiya-san followed Tohsaka-san to Clock Tower in London. There he became a proper magus, while he still couldn't forgot his dream of being a hero of justice. Thus he joined the army, trying to became a hero by saving everyone. As he was in near death situation, he made a contract with Alaya, becoming a Counter Guardian. As it was a way that allowed him to get more power and chances to save everyone, everytimes.

But, as times goes on, he understood more about the world and the human he wish to save. Now he has already lost his previous drive of being a Hero of Justice. He is regretting his choice of becoming a Hero. His wish now is only to erase his existence from Throne of Heroes. He thought that by killing Emiya-san of this time by himself, he could produced great enough time paradoxes, thus freed him from his current fate.”

”Is that my future...?” Emiya was murmuring slightly.

”That is another possible future of you, Emiya-san. As you became a Heroic Spirit, your Heroic Spirit self is thus separated from space-time and cycle of reincarnation by Gaia and Alaya, stored in Throne of Heroes. That's why, although you and Archer came from same source, the you right now is different existence with him, Emiya-san.” Rafi consoled Emiya, as he seemed downcast knowing his future self regretting became a Hero.

”That's enough talking about Emiya, Rafi-san. Don't tell me you're only knowing about him. How about Assasin and a Servant that defeated Berserker.” Emiya interrupted as she wanted Emiya and Rafi to focus on current problem, pulling Emiya out from his thoughts.

”Assassin is a Servant of Caster. Although Caster has died, but Assassin gets his mana supply from the Ryuudou Temple, thus he is still existing now. His name is Sasaki Kojirou, while he doesn't have Noble Phantasm due to his summoming nature, but he has a sword technique comparable to an anti-unit Noble Phantasm. You better be careful, as only with great luck you can avoid a death blow from it.

While I believe you know about who Lancer is, but Lancer's Master is Kotomine Kirei. Kirei robbed him from Bazett Fraga McRemitz by severing her arm and take control of her Command Spell. I trust you know about Bazett as she should be famous in Mage Association. For Lancer and Kirei, you can leave them to me, as I have a battle promise with them.

While that another Servant is Gilgamesh, Archer class from previous war, the fourth Holy Grail War. Saber should know about him as she did fought him before.” Rafi explained to them, he turned to Saber at the end.

”That damn fake priest. He plays us all along.” Tohsaka gritted her teeth in anger knowing Kirei is one of participating Master.

”As for Saber, should I call your true name now?”

”You..!! Stop it. We need to talk now, Rafi-san. I am sorry Rin, Shirou, I need to talk privately with him now.” Saber stood up as she invited Rafi outside.

”Good, as I also have some things to talk with you alone.” Rafi nodded, followed her outside. Minamoto no Yorimitsu, seeing that Saber was looking rather dangerously at her Master, wanted to follow him but stopped after Rafi hinted at her.

”What is it you want to talk with me, Artoria Pendragon?”, after a brief silence, Rafi asked her calmly as she trembled lightly hearing him called her true name.

”You..really know about me aren't you. Even my wish in this Holy Grail War that you call distorted is your thought on it. It isn't Emiya's in another timeline. I can feel it when you were saying before.” Saber said, looking at him thoughtfully.

”You are really sharp on it, Saber. Yes, I did conceal some details from them as I don't want them to think much about it, it is only possibilites after all. There is a saying that sometimes ignorant is a blessing while knowing too much brings calamity, Saber. Thus I only revealed some informations, not all I know.” Rafi smiled at her.