Haruka & The Great Holy Grail War
One of the perks of being contracted under the same Master was being able to communicate telepathically with the other Servant. Arthur and Karna did such as they sped their way through Yggdmillenia forest.
Karna, what do you make of this entire situation? Arthur asked, his voice serious and void of all the playfulness he had around Mordred earlier.
What part of it, King of Knights? Is it this rescue mission or is it this Great Holy Grail War in general?
This entire Great Holy Grail War. I understand our Master's motives for this rescue mission but this entire war feels strange to me.
Is it due to the fourteen-Servant rule?
I suppose… but why would our Master be called to this particular war in the first place? The 1000 Saint Quartz would definitely be an incentive, but there are multiple other Holy Grail Wars Zelretch could have sent her to.
I do not know either, but we should ask Master Haruka later. We are close.
Karna and Arthur slowed down as they sensed two Servants up ahead. Still in spirit form, Arthur slowly made his way into the clearing, where he immediately noticed Astolfo and Siegfried locking weapons with each other, while the homunculus cowered beneath a fat blond man.
Were we too late?!
Arthur, reveal yourself. I will be your backup.
Trusting Karna's advice, Arthur materialized, his hood on and Excalibur hidden by Invisible Air. Siegfried and Astolfo turned as one to gape at him, and Gordes stumbled away from the homunculus, staring at Arthur in shock. "Servant?!"
"Step away from the homunculus, magus," Arthur ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.
"H-hey! What business do you have with him?!" Astolfo yelled. "He's innocent!"
"I am here to aid you, Rider of Black." Arthur stepped forward steadily, and Gordes quickly shrunk back behind Siegfried, who moved in front of his Master to protect him.
"Who are you affiliated with?" Siegfried asked.
"That information is not required for this conversation. My contractor's desire is to keep that homunculus away from the Black Faction, and I have sworn to complete that task."
"You're not Saber of Red! How is a rogue Servant even here in this Holy Grail War?! Enough of this madness! Saber, eliminate this Servant at once!" Gordes yelled.
Arthur readied his sword, tensing as he noted Siegfried take a ready position as well.
"I apologize for intruding, but I believe the Red Faction will be the ones taking this homunculus," Karna said coolly as he materialized, his spear pointing at Siegfried's neck. "We meet again, Saber of Black." Follow my lead, he mentally instructed Arthur. We must prevent your connection to Master Haruka from being revealed at all costs.
I will trust your judgement, Hero of Charity.
"Lancer of Red," Siegfried said in slight anticipation. "You did not choose a favourable time to appear."
"Yet I am here."
"W-why are you here?! Where's your Master?!" Gordes cried out.
"She ordered me to retrieve the homunculus solely to keep him from being returned to the Black Faction. I do not know of this rogue Servant's intentions, but we will be the ones taking the homunculus."
"Why are you so obsessed over one pathetic homunculus anyways?! He is the property of the Black Faction so this our problem! What is your Master plotting?!"
"I do not have any reason to inform you, Master of Saber of Black." Karna turned and leveled a stare at Astolfo, who was currently trying to escape the clearing with the homunculus trailing behind him. "Where do you think you are going, Rider of Black?"
"Obviously to get him away from you psychos!" The androgynous Servant yelled. "He asked me for help so I'm helping him get away from this place! He deserves to live a life free from this war!"
In one swift movement, Arthur dematerialized and reappeared right in front of Astolfo, giving Karna space to attack Siegfried if needed. "I told you earlier that I was here to aid you, Rider of Black," he said quietly, out of Gordes's earshot. "I know what fate will befall the homunculus if he is taken back to the Black Faction. You will not be able to complete this task on your own."
Astolfo scratched his head. "You're right, but I can't trust you right here right now. You appeared out of nowhere and you know about the entire situation."
"Rider," the homunculus said softly. "I think we can trust him. I don't know… but he has a good heart."
"Really? You think so?" Before Astolfo could say something else, he yelped and ducked as a chunk of rock flew past his head.
Siegfried and Karna had clashed, although both were holding back as not to harm Gordes, who was scrambling backwards as fast as he could.
"Ah, I guess I have no choice!" Astolfo grabbed Arthur's free hand and shoved it into the homunculus's. "If he trusts you, then you should be a good guy, right? Hurry up and get him out of here—and don't come back! I don't want you throwing away the life we gave you to come back to this bad place, okay?"
"Thanks… Rider."
"Thank you, Rider of Black," Arthur said gratefully. Before he could take his leave, though, a new voice came.
"What is going on here?!" Jeanne ran into the clearing, causing Karna and Siegfried to momentarily pause their battle. "No way… a rogue Servant was really summoned?!" She stared at Arthur, trying to discern his identity. Her purple eyes widened. "You are—"
Master Haruka! Call me back, right now!
E-eh? Okay, okay! By the power of my Command Seals, I order Arthur Pendragon to return to my side!
With a burst of mana, space folded around Arthur and the homunculus and they disappeared.
Karna smiled internally as his spear clanged against Balmung. Master, I should return by myself within the next 5 minutes. If I do not return by then, call me with a Command Seal.
Be careful!
"By the name of the Ruler-class Servant, I order you to cease your fight for now," Jeanne's clear voice cut through the area. "I must confirm some things."
"…" Siegfried could only sigh and lower his sword. Once again, his battle with Karna had to be interrupted.
"Ah, Ruler-san, do you have any idea who that was?" Gordes asked, apparently recovered after Arthur disappeared.
Before Jeanne could reply, the clip-clop of a horse's hooves could be heard, and Vlad, Darnic, Celenike, Fiore, Avicebron, Chiron, and Caules entered the scene.
"…"
"Well, this is awkward," Astolfo laughed uneasily.
"That's an understatement," Caules muttered under his breath.
"Lancer of Red, what business do you have here trespassing alone in enemy territory?" Vlad asked.
"Simply my master's orders," Karna replied.
"I sensed the summoning of a 15th Servant and rushed over here once I had a confirmation of his location, but I do not know the full details. I wish to know what happened. The Greater Grail should not have allowed this to happen." Jeanne glanced at Astolfo and Siegfried.
Astolfo giggled nervously. "Well, uh…"
"Rider!" Celenike snapped.
"Eep!" Astolfo flinched.
"I believe I can fill in the majority of the details," Darnic said smoothly. "Caster reported a missing homunculus who was seen with Rider, and I sent Saber and his Master to retrieve the homunculus unharmed. My guess is that Saber was able to intercept them but was interrupted by the rogue Servant and Lancer of Red. What happened next, I do not know."
"My Master gave me a location and ordered me to retrieve the homunculus for the Red Faction," Karna said. "However, the rogue Servant disappeared with the homunculus, presumably transported by a Command Seal."
"How would the rogue Servant get close enough to the homunculus in the first place?" Avicebron asked.
Celenike glared at her Servant.
Astolfo scratched his head. "I kinda let him go with the Servant?"
"Rider, do you believe your actions are a betrayal to the Black Faction?" Vlad asked dangerously.
"Hm… nope!"
"Caster, restrain him. We can decide on what to do with him later. As for you, Lancer of Red… you are on enemy territory. We have full authority under the Grail War to kill you right here with the combined power of all our Servants."
"I do not mind taking on all of you," Karna said coolly. "Will you mediate this battle, Ruler?"
"Actually, before you start, did you figure out the rogue Servant's identity?" Darnic asked. "We will need to make preparations to fight against a possible third party."
Jeanne nodded. "Saber-class, Arthur Pendragon."
Fiore drew in a sharp gasp. "A third Saber-class Servant and the famed King of Knights?!"
"Calm, Fiore. Despite his legend, he is only one Servant. We will discuss strategies later." Darnic raised his hand, and the Masters all retreated. The Black Servants readied their weapons
Karna closed one eye and raised his spear, but he could already sense Haruka calling him back.
Karna, by the power of my Command Seal, I order you to return to my side!
Space warped around him, and the last thing Karna could see were the surprised looks on Vlad's and Chiron's faces.