Steel Eyed Faker Chapter 6: First Meeting (Patreon)

Beta read by Shigiya and Paragon of Awesomeness

12k words... Sheesh.

Next update is Fake Familiar Reborn

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-Night Raid Hideout-


"Is he still in his room?" Leone asked while sitting at the dining table, where the members of Night Raid had gathered for their dinner — a decision Najenda decided to enforce after Emiya claimed dominion over the kitchen. Despite the somber topic brought up by the blonde concerning the young boy, the atmosphere as a whole was surprisingly upbeat for the most part. Bulat, Najenda, Mine, Sheele, Akame, and Leone herself were all in the middle of enjoying their meals. The black-haired assassin, in particular, was her usual ravenous self, devouring multiple servings in record time, fast enough that Emiya almost had trouble keeping up.


At the moment, Emiya was busy stir-frying a Chinese dish he recalled making from his past world, but one notable difference was that this one utilized meat from a Danger Beast that Akame hunted down for him just that morning. However he did not mind it in the least, as the meat was similar to that of chicken.


"How long is he going to mope in there? I get that he's worried about his friends and blames himself for what happened, but they aren't dead!" Mine cried out in frustration, her hands hitting the table and inadvertently making her food nearly fall to the ground before quickly grabbing it. She didn’t want the best food she had in her entire life to go to waste. "He should be thanking his lucky stars that they are still breathing, especially after what happened to them. With how you found them, they should be six feet under by now! With all the messed up things that were done to them by those sick fucks of a family, what else would you call this other than a miracle?"


"A miracle, huh?" A bold statement if the former Counter Guardian had anything to say about it, but not one he could dismiss so easily, as he himself saw it as something of a minor miracle if he was honest. 


Truth be told, he didn’t really expect those two to survive even when he had decided to save them. It was a belief that contradicted his own actions, something he was more than aware of than he was willing to admit. Recalling that particular moment of the past once again, it dawned on him that he would have most likely taken the same course of action as well… Tch, he could practically feel the smugness of Emiya Shirou from an entire reality away. 


He didn't know how to feel about what happened; his actions were far too in line with what an entity like Emiya Shirou would do rather than himself. In the end, it was better to let it go and just chalk it up to a spur-of-the-moment whim where he got lucky, and his actions actually led to those people surviving. He didn't have any plans of continuing to act on such impulses any time soon.


"Don't say that, Mine!” Leone spoke up, pointing her fork at her, “Those two have survived so far, so let's not jinx ourselves now. I can't say if our docs are on the same level as those in the Emperor's staff or that Dr. Stylish guy, but they’re no slouches either. Look at those two, still kicking after all this time. I don’t know about you, but I see this as a major victory on our part and we should celebrate,” and then she was suddenly holding a mug full of ale. “Cheers!”


“Oi, don't drink too much! You’re a bigger pain in the ass when you get drunk, you fat cow!“ The pink-haired assassin shouted, not wanting to deal with a drunk Leone once again. The woman would get very chaotic if she had too much alcohol, and it didn't help that in many cases she ended up being the one having to reign her in somehow. The twin-tailed archer recalled one time when the blonde — out of nowhere — activated her Teigu and decided to have a spar with Bulat in the middle of the base! 


Thankfully she didn't have to step in at that time, as her teammate soon fell on the floor unconscious, Leone having drank a bit too much that not even her Teigu was able to help.


It was the first time that Mine was amazed that Leone’s drinking was able to surpass a Teigu.


Najenda chose that moment to speak. “Let’s put this to the side, we are getting distracted from the main subject. As unbelievable as it is to say it, Leone is right. That boy is spending too much time in the room we’ve provided him, which will not bode well if he continues to wallow in his emotions and doesn’t take care of himself. We’ve all lost comrades in the past, but we’re not a mental health facility where he can just mope for as long as he wants, so we need to figure out what to do with him.”


"We can always send him back to the Capital?" Sheele proposed innocently, stopping the conversation for a brief moment and making everyone stare at her in bewilderment, prompting her to look around in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"


Najenda sighed, her frown relaxing into a more neutral expression. "I think you forgot the part about him still being a wanted criminal by the Empire. With him having escaped prison on the same night Ogre and the merchant were killed, I’d be surprised if the Empire doesn’t suspect him of being a spy for the Revolutionary Army just as he was framed for the merchant’s actions. If he went back now, he’d definitely be caught, and that would pose an unacceptable risk to us since he’s already seen our base and knows our faces, and it’s not that far fetched that he might sell us out in exchange for a pardon, assuming the information wouldn’t just be tortured out of him or killed right after he tells them. I’m not willing to put this team in danger for a complete stranger," she calmly explained, sitting in her chair while enjoying a sweet cold treat her brother made, which he called ice cream. 


The woman had no idea how he managed to create the miraculous dessert without any appropriate appliances available in their hideout, but did not question him on it and told her subordinates to do the same. She had long grown used to his weird and seemingly supernatural abilities to create basically anything out of seemingly nothing, including a plethora of wondrous meals.


"The important thing to remember is that the boy is not in a good mental space, and would be too much of a liability if he were to be left to his own devices. He even declined a small team of Revolutionary scouts accompanying him back to his village to keep him safe and sound. It’s clear that as long as those two friends of his are here in medical care, he won't budge. And despite them being in somewhat stable condition, moving them to another location right now will likely kill them," she continued her explanation while eating another spoon of ice cream, with everyone else at the table frowning in contemplation or nodding in agreement.


Emiya in particular felt Najenda's gaze fall upon him, which he met, and an understanding passed between them.


Finally, Bulat decided to propose an idea that had been swimming inside his mind for a while. "Well, if he’s going to stick around, why don't we just recruit him? I mean, his background is clean, and even his brief stint in the Capital’s military police almost immediately ended with him being used as a scapegoat. And let’s be frank here; most of us were far closer to the higher-ups and had stronger connections with the Empire than he ever did, so it's not like we have any reason to suspect him to be a traitor. And the kid seems loyal to a fault if the way he worries about his friends is any indication, so I honestly don’t see him divulging information about us when we’re the ones caring for his friends. And if he’s not up to fight alongside us just yet, we can have him help around the base with chores or something along those lines."


This conversation on what to do with regards to Tatsumi continued for a bit longer, with each member contributing to the discussion aside from Akame, who was too focused on her food once Emiya came to the table and served her the last of what he had to make for supper, eventually earning herself a smack to the head from the vigilant chef when she tried to steal additional portions from the others plates, causing her to sulk.


It wasn't until everyone finished their meal and went to their rooms that the bowman found himself standing in front of the small building near the hideout where Tatsumi, Iyeasu, and Sayo were. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside the dimly lit room, where, adjacent to the two beds upon which the people he’d saved were resting. Next to them sat a brown-haired boy, looking to be in even worse condition than when he was trapped in the jail cell. His face was covered in grease, dirt, and grime from not having showered or taken a bath for days. His hair was oily, his clothes disheveled, and his eyes red. He even looked to be slightly emaciated from a lack of food, and at this rate, a third bed would soon need to be prepared for him.


"…" 

 

The boy did not react to his arrival, continuing to shut out the world as he only focused on the two people in front of him. Sayo and Ieyasu continued to sleep, their recovery still slow but slowly getting better, if the slow rhythmic breathing was any indication. Emiya did not bother trying to speak with him, as he knew any such attempt would be fruitless — no different than talking to a corpse. Just a few days ago, the boy was ready to unleash his wrath on those that had hurt his friends, but with the one that responsible already being dead, along with the other night remember convincing him to stay in place for his friends sakes, had led the green-eyed brunette to this sorry state. The fact that Emiya's words about how he was going to waste his friends' effort to keep him safe would be ruined by him running straight into the lion's den, while likely saving his life, had left Tatsumi not knowing what to do with himself.


"You know, while I did say that you shouldn't waste your friends' efforts, as going to the capital would be a death sentence, it doesn't mean that you should be wallowing in here like a depressed hermit. "


Swiftly approaching the prone boy, he forcefully grabbed him by the back of his collar with enough strength to easily lift him from the ground and left the room while still holding Tatsumi in the air like some kind of dirty cat, while the boy continued to struggle to break free with little success. "Huh? W-Wait, stop! What are you doing!? Let me go! What the hell are you doing, you bastard? You can't leave my friends in there all alone! What if they need help?"


"Need I remind you that there is a team of nurses here seeing to their care? While on the other hand, I’d be surprised if you even know basic first aid. And with you trying to act like a mother hen, you failed to keep an eye on your own health, becoming more of a liability in the process. You’re lucky those nurses were considerate enough to let you stay despite smelling like horse shit and hadn't asked one of us to drag your sorry ass out of there." He said dryly before winding his arm and throwing Tatsumi a considerable distance into the air. A scream of panic spread throughout the forest, followed by a loud splash of water.


"Gurgh… c-cold! It’s t-too cold!" Having been thrown into the freezing water with no warning, Tatsumi felt shivers run all across his body as he quickly swam to the shore, where a tanned hand was waiting to grab him and pull him out. He instinctively wrapped his arms around himself while glaring at the white-haired man, who moved to sit on a rock, grabbing a small pebble and nonchalantly throwing it at him with enough force to sting. 


"Ouch! That hurt you asshole! Why’d you even do that!"


"Well color me impressed, here I thought I’d have to dive in and fish you out of the river. And you’ve still got at least a little energy in you to mouth off at me. As for why I tossed you into the river, that was to snap you out of your pity party and get you to take bath in one go. I thought those poor nurses could stand your smell any longer. So, since our repeated and, might I say, polite offers of hospitality failed to get through your thick skull, you forced me to take more drastic measures. And would you look at that, it worked."


"It’s not funny!"


"You think this is a joke!?" Emiya snapped, having had enough of the boy's whining and gave him a cold dead glare that shut him up. He watched Tatsumi shivering in his huddled-up position from the cold and from his glare. At least the boy had been brought back to his senses and looked to be marginally cleaner, though a proper bath would still be in order after this. 


Throwing a Traced towel at him, Tatsumi quickly wrapped it around himself while Emiya quickly got a small campfire going, as the brunette took a seat in front of  the warm fire. As Tatsumi warmed himself, Emiya went off to another part of the river for a moment and soon came back with two sticks with fish skewered on them which he quickly set about cooking. 


Tatsumi couldn’t help but be surprised at how quickly he caught those fish. Did he even have any equipment before he left or had he already had them caught before he was dragged out of the tent? He was brought out of his musing when Emiya opened his mouth.


"I'll be direct with you, so pay attention cause I’m not saying it again; you can't just keep lounging here doing nothing while waiting for your friends to wake up. We already have enough on our plates with the Empire without having to put up with some freeloader. So I need you to decide what you’re going to do next, right here and right now," Emiya said, but Tatsumi didn’t know how to respond.


"I…” he averted his gaze, shameful at his own indecisiveness. “…I don't know. I… I just want my friends to get better and wake up. But even if they do, I just can't go back home after what happened. I need to make those people pay."


"Pay how?" Emiya asked, to which Tatsumi went silent. "I would like to remind you that the Kalrenns are dead, with everything they owned having been burnt to rubble and ashes. The closest thing I can think of would be heading to the ruins of their mansion to piss on their remains if you can find whatever is left of them, but if that’s what it takes to make you feel better, then have at it."


"I'm not just talking about the Kalrenns! I'm talking about everyone in the Capital who allows for such despicable things to happen! People like Gamal, who was illegally trading in slaves, and Ogre who helped him cover it up by blaming innocent people! With people like that having their positions, there’s no way there aren’t others who do things just as bad, if not worse! And I wanna take ‘em down!”

 

“So, is that what you wanna do? Go around the capitol in a crusade of justice and get rid of every corrupt person that catches your attention? Because if it is, then that might be the dumbest plan I heard so far, boarding onto suicidal. You might be fairly decent with a sword, but that isn’t nearly enough if you want to start hunting down the wicked and corrupt within the Capital. Even Night Raid can’t just go on a rampage; they stay hidden, plan their next move and carefully decide where to apply the scalpel. Because, believe me when I say this, there are some monsters behind those walls that make Ogre look like a regular thug, some of which you don’t want to get their attention. Another reason why that is a bad idea — you don’t have a Teigu. You need one if you want to even the playing field, and boost your combat prowers or at least give you more time to run away with your life.."


Especially when one of those monsters held the ability to alter the very weather, and freeze time itself. He’d heard some worrying pieces of information recently, reports to Najenda saying that she had been spotted inside the Capital, but her other sources still insisted that the woman remained present in the northern regions.


Nevertheless, under no circumstances were any members of Night Raid allowed to face her — especially Najenda. 


"Didn't you just get another one of those special weapon things from that wanted criminal, Zank? The one with the big creepy eye that you gave to your boss when I was brought here? If I join you guys, can't I just use that and have an awesome weapon like all of you?"


To that, Emiya shook his head. "It's not so simple; Teigus don't just work with anyone who picks them up. There is a certain affinity one must have to wield such a weapon, and it varies from one person or Teigu to the next. Let's, for example, take Leone's Teigu. It transforms the user into a beast, granting them increased strength, speed, and a few other abilities. Well, if you were given that Teigu, there is no guarantee it would even accept you. A rejection could mean anything from a small headache to flat-out killing you right on the spot if you tried forcing the issue. The same goes for Spectator; that Teigu functions by directly interfacing with your mind, allowing you to peer into the minds of others and read their thoughts as well as other enhancements to your vision. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by Zank himself, despite him being someone who held a great affinity for this Teigu, he still ended up going insane. Granted, factors such as his job as an executioner contributed heavily to his deteriorating mindset, but still, a large portion of it was also the Teigu. Having no control over a weapon that links to your mind, constantly hearing the thoughts of those around you without any control, will lead you to a path of madness with the kind of deranged sadists you’ll be facing. So tell me again, if I were to place that Teigu before you and give you permission to use it, would you still take it? And perhaps I should mention that Spectator itself probably won’t like the fact that you referred to it as ‘creepy’ and is more or less guaranteed to reject you as its wielder."


Again, the boy did not give him any answer. Emiya was more than aware that he was exaggerating some of the downsides of owning a Teigu, but he frankly preferred doing so than letting this kid think anyone could just pick up a legendary weapon. The Teigu varied greatly from one weapon to another in both abilities and power. Some of them were quite simple, like Lubbock's Cross Tail and Shelle’s Extase, if used correctly of course. But if pushed to their limits, they wouldn’t, in any way, shape, or form, cause detrimental effects to the user, though there were plenty of other Teigu where that was not the case.


Another part of why he was trying to deter the boy or slow him down was that he didn't want him to make a hasty decision driven by his emotions. He wasn't going to hold him by the hand and be his guardian by telling him which course of action he should take. That was not his job; if Tatsumi wanted to go against the Empire the very next day and march right up to the Capital’s gates, declaring a suicidal one-man war, then that was his decision to make. Emiya would make no effort to stop him if he ignored his warnings and made that decision, and the boy’s death would be his own fault. The only reason he was even making any effort to dissuade him from that was because such brazen stupidity frustrated him like few other things could. 


Unbeknownst to Tatsumi, the nurses who were treating his friends had reported to Najenda that their state was improving by the day, and they could wake up any day now. He hoped that once they did, all three of them would return to their village and no longer cause any trouble for Night Raid. Of course, that was the best-case scenario, and life, through many instances,  had taught him to never expect things to be that easy.


"Oh, I suppose I should also mention that Spectator already has a new wielder."


"Eh, what?" Tatsumi said with surprise, looking at Emiya, waiting for more answers. "Who? Is it you?"


A smirk appeared on the former Counter Guardian's face. "This may be shocking for you to hear, but I don't use a Teigu, nor do I want one. That eyeball was taken by another member of Night Raid to test out how well it works. Of course, one cannot use two Teigu at the same time, so the one she had before is being put to the side for the time being. If she's more compatible with Spectator, then you might have a chance of getting a Teigu of your own that is more compatible with in the future.”


Confused by his answer but feeling a bit more hopeful, Tatsumi decided to drop the subject for now. “I know this is gonna sound stupid and reckless, but I want to help you guys in any way I can right now. Also, there is… there is someone I met during my time as a station guard. I want to prove my innocence to her. She was the only one who believed in me, and even genuinely wanted to help me achieve my goal of earning money to support my village. I would have ended up on the streets hungry and mugged if she hadn't found me.” 


“Someone like that exists? Either they are an amazing actor, or you were actually lucky enough to come across a member of the military police who actually cares about the populous.” Emiya replied, hearing the boy out as the latter chuckled at his words, lacking any real joy in his voice.


“I want to believe it was the latter. I don't want to abandon the Capital and just confirm her beliefs of my so-called conviction. At the very least, I want to save her so she doesn't end up like another scapegoat, like I did.” 


Save someone huh? 


Emiya held no real opinion of Tatsumi's desire. Having long since gotten a basic understanding of his personality and the decision he would have taken in the end, despite his best attempts to dissuade him. 


“And joining up with Night Raid will help you clear your name? You'll only incriminate yourself further… it's not worth it.” Whoever this person was, at the end of the day, it was impossible to save everyone. 


“I'm willing to risk it, I also owe you all a debt. And until I've repaid it, my conscience won't let me leave this place.” 


“Humph, you'll probably be here for a long while, then.” 


The brown haired boy smiled, “Well in that case, please take care of me, I'll do my be— hm!” Before he could even finish his phrase, Emiya covered Tatsumi's mouth with a hand and held a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. 


Emiya concentrated his senses, as right in the middle of Tatsumi's phrase, for a split second, he heard the sound of Lubbock's strings snapping. “We got company.” 


“—!?” 


“Get back to Sayo and Ieyasu, you’re in no shape to fight, and one of the others should be on their way there already. I'll see what is going on here.” Tatsumi didn't even have any opportunity to speak, as Emiya vanished from his sight.


…


Atop the hideout, Emiya jumped up to find another figure already present there. Her frilly pink dress was waving against the wind while she was in full concentration, with a giant eye affixed to the middle of her forehead that was indicative of the Teigu of the Almighty Five Sights: Spectator. 


“Lubbock already confirmed that a couple of dozen men somehow managed to find us here. They’re not heavily armed and look to just be scouts of some kind, so they probably stumbled into this location by sheer luck.” Mine spoke, concentrating for a few more seconds before she had enough and took the Teigu off. “Urgh, using this thing is already giving me a headache!”


“Have you found their location?” Emiya asked, to which Mine shrugged. 


“Some of them, yeah. But they’re pretty scattered, and there were too many of them for me to see where they were all headed before the strain became too much. I’m not used to all the different kinds of sight with this thing, and sometimes I don’t get the magnification I want.” With an angry huff, the girl glared at the Teigu she now held in her hand. “You’d better be worth the trouble.”


Emiya shrugged his shoulders, having somewhat suspected that Mine might be having some difficulties with the new Teigu. The device offered a great boon to a long-range weapon user like her, so long as she had the patience required to master it. Najenda had already declined taking it, so when Mine stepped up to take it, he’d expected her to be more in tune with the device.


“In any event,” he commented, “it's not unthinkable that someone would eventually stumble upon this location, even if only by sheer luck. Honest and his cronies have to know that Night Raid is hiding somewhere close to the Capital, and with how successful you lot have been, it’s natural that the Empire would offer a generous reward for any information about us. These scouts won’t try to fight us unless they’re pushed into a corner. They’re more likely to flee this place as fast as they can to reveal our location and get their reward. We can’t let a single one of them escape.” 


“Is that so… then let's not waste any time and take them all out as soon as possible!” 


Emiya grew interested as Mine took out a bow, standard size and made with material from an old and powerful Danger Beast. Now that he thought about it, the ability of L'Arc Qui Ne Faut worked as essentially firing homing missiles whenever its user spoke the name of the target prior to shooting.


“Hey white hair! Think that I don't know what’s going through your head right now!?” The pink-dressed girl exclaimed in anger, pointing an accusing finger at him. “I know that look, and let me inform you that I'm an excellent archer, and can hit any target in my range without needing this thing’s special ability.” She paused, “You called yourself Archer when you first arrived, but where’s your bow?” 


Strangely enough, Emiya kept getting a feeling of deja vu around this person. That hairstyle of hers certainly contributed a lot as well.


“Don’t worry about it, I’ll use my bow once I need it. It may not be a Teigu or have any special properties, but it’s always served me well.” 


An interesting gleam flashed in Mine’s eyes. “I have an idea. Why don't we have a little competition and see which one of us can shoot down the most hostiles? Winner will hold the title of being the best archer in Night Raid!” 


He struggled to not chuckle at that comment. While it was true he no longer retained his powers as a Servant, that didn't mean his skills had degraded in the slightest. 


Mine wasn't done though, “I know you may be intimidated to face someone like me, but I promise I'll go easy on you cause you’re Najenda's baby brother.” 


As to not ruin her… enthusiasm, Emiya rolled his eyes and summoned his bow. The girl next to him nearly fell flat on her face as a weapon longer than she was tall just appeared out of nowhere. Her mouth was hanging open as it took a few seconds for her to process the presence of this black longbow that looked to be made from metal. 


“Hmm, you asked for it. I accept on the condition you don’t make any excuses or complaints later on no matter the outcome. For now, though, let's just focus on getting rid of them all as soon as possible and not risk them relaying this location back to the Empire.” 


“What the hell!? Can you even pull the string of that thing in the first place!?” Mine shouted, completely ignoring his previous phrase.


“Would be idiotic if I owned a weapon I couldn't use.” 


Without wasting any time, he pulled the string back as an arrow manifested within his grasp, already nocked. Releasing the projectile, he watched it travel through the air and pierce through one of the assassins nearest to their base. The arrow continued its path, striking an unfortunate second assassin's head and pinning his body to a tree trunk. 


The sight made Mine's jaw drop before she began shouting in frustration. “How the hell is that thing not a Teigu!?” 


{Break}


-Imperial Palace-


Within the very heart of the Empire, rows of soldiers stood stiffly, not daring to move an inch as they all did their best to avoid coming under the attention of the figure walking through the hall. Beads of sweat streamed down their faces behind the metal masks as they all tried to merely be part of the scenery, hoping that not a single one of them would be so unfortunate as to catch even the fleeting notice of the monster that prowled amongst them. The only sound within that whole section of the palace was that of her heels clicking with each step, as the terrifying woman soon reached the end of the hallway where a large door faced her. 


Not a word left her lips as two guards respectfully bowed at her and held them open for her in perfect unison, unveiling to her a large and ornate throne room, within which only two people awaited her.


"It's lovely to see you again so soon, General," The first one to address her was the young child sitting on the Imperial Throne, an innocent and calm smile on his face as he spoke to what many people within the Empire would consider a humanoid Super Class Danger Beast. Hair as blue as the sky flowed all the way down the back of her uniform and reached her heels, a tight militaristic outfit that hugged her curvaceous figure that was the desire and envy of many who saw her, and ice-cold eyes that stared back at the one who many knew as the Emperor. 


"I thank you for your sentiment, Your Majesty. I have returned from my campaign in the north with good news. And if you are willing, a small request." The Emperor raised his eyebrows in surprise, finding those words a bit strange as this was the first time he’d heard this woman ask for a request of all things.


A third voice spoke, “There is little His Majesty cannot accomplish, so fear not, General. The Empire always rewards those who serve it well, and since I can only assume your latest campaign came out as well as your previous ones, then I assure you that His Majesty will be more than happy to help you with anything.” Right beside the child Emperor, a rotund man of advanced age stood. His face showed many wrinkles with a large white beard and white-gray hair covering his features. Enough jewels adorned his body that it could be the envy of even members of the nobility. His hand grasped a large chicken leg, devouring the meat within the throne room with little consideration to the others, but a behavior Esdeath and the Emperor paid no attention to.


“I hope the Northern tribes weren’t too much of a nuisance to your forces while they were pacifying the region. The most recent reports we received stated that you were still at the forefront of the Northern Territories. Guess they were wrong.”


"It did go quite smoothly in the beginning," The two people before her froze at the way she worded her statement, unable to believe that anything could have gone wrong with her at the helm. "We have exterminated any and all resistance along the way to our target, composed of both Northern Tribes and the Revolutionary Army. But it was nothing my men couldn't handle. Unfortunately, I was unable to kill or capture the leader of the Northern tribes, their prince." Both the Emperor and Honest felt their eyes widen in shock. It couldn't be possible…


The mere possibility that the Empire's best not only lost against a bunch of tribesmen was one thing, but hearing that Esdeath, of all people, had failed to kill Numa Seika was a thought they could not comprehend. Seeing their reactions, the blue-haired woman showed no changes on her face and continued her explanation. "Do not misunderstand my words, my emperor. My force never lost a single battle."


"Hm? Now I'm confused. What do you mean by that?” Honest asked, taking another bite of the chicken drumstick to calm his beating heart.


A small yet bone chilling smile appeared on her face, "We were misled from the beginning. The Revolutionary Army and small groups of tribesmen that we met along the way were not fighting as fiercely as in the beginning, but I noticed that it continued this the closer we approached our target. In the end, they were just buying time, as soon as we reached what should have been the most heavily defended fortress in the North, there was only a token force, yet another delaying tactic. After that, every village we came across was empty – not a single soul in sight."


"That… that can't be possible," exclaimed Honest, disbelief evident in his eyes as well as the Emperor's. “All of our spies have reported back on numerous occasions how the Northern Tribes were in the middle of fortifying their defenses, gathering their troops for months prior before you left the capital. There was never any mention of a retreat, and our intelligence on Suika Neima says he isn't one to fold so easily and is more likely to stand his ground than run.”


The same person who was hailed as the northerners’ greatest hero, Numa Seika was to have fought numerous high-class Danger Beasts on his own with no fear, and one to have voiced out his goal to triumph over any general the Empire would send against him. This very same person had seemingly tucked his tail and ran away when they knocked on his door? 


Both the Prime Minister and the Emperor were having a hard time believing it.


"I understand your shock and confusion, but that is the truth. Before I left however, I ordered my troops to secure the region while scouting for any traces of the northerners’ whereabouts. It’s unknown whether they remained together or split into smaller groups, but I assure you that my trackers will find them in time, one way or another, while the rest of my army secures the region in His Majesty’s name." She assured with a calm tone, causing the Emperor to release a sigh of relief while the Prime Minister huffed.


"It is still rather worrying that Numa Seika got away, but since he chose to run rather than fight despite everything we knew of him stating the opposite, then clearly we have nothing to fear from him so long as we have you, General Esdeath. Perhaps the Empire’s enemies are finally starting to learn that attempting to stand against our supremacy is futile." Said the child Emperor, while looking at the elderly man at the back and waiting for his opinion. The latter hummed while stroking his beard, not noticing or caring of the grease he was smearing in it. While he was quite taken aback by the northerners choosing to retreat out of the blue, it did not change the outcome. The Empire now had indisputed dominance over the northern territories. 


Still, it did not suit his taste to leave these people roaming around for long as they still presented a threat to his power. But for now, this was a matter for another time. Despite this victory being a bit less total than he would’ve preferred, it was still a boon for the Empire, and for that he was more than willing to look past the strangeness of how exactly it came about.


So with a smile on his face, Honest opened his arms wide open, "You are indeed very much correct, Your Majesty. We, the Empire, have accumulated plenty of brave soldiers and wondrous artifacts thanks to the efforts of your father and your ancestors who came before him. We wouldn't have reached this zenith without their careful guiding hands for this great nation, and now thanks to that same blood flowing through your veins. With the Empire's overwhelming influence over the continent, there are very few that can challenge us.. So let's not worry about small details and celebrate this victory!”


"You are right, Prime Minister. We should celebrate! With that said, you should rest a bit as well, General Esdeath. You have done much for the Empire, and it's been a while since the Capital has last enjoyed your presence. Oh, I almost forgot, what was your request? If it is within my power, I will endeavor to fulfill it."


As soon as he said, a meaty hand came to rest upon the boy's shoulders. “Ah, I believe such small matters are better left to me, Your Majesty. You should head to your classes.” 


“Honest?” The child Emperor called, confused at why he couldn't participate in fulfilling the request. He wanted to show his gratitude to those who had served him, especially when they accomplished a major victory. But at the same time, he understood that Honest had a habit of shouldering many of the burdens and responsibilities that should have been his duties, were he a more capable Emperor. His Prime Minister worked tirelessly every day for weeks or even months on end, while he still struggled to properly fill the seat of his forefather due to his inexperience. 


The last thing he wanted was to cause the man who had been more helpful to him than anyone more unnecessary stress and trouble by trying to get involved when he was evidently not ready to take on such tasks. “All right, I'll leave this up to you.”

 

Honest bowed, throwing the now clear bone away. “Thank you for your generosity and understanding, Your Majesty. Now please, General, let's find somewhere more private to discuss this request of yours.“


 .


.


.


While the child Emperor retired from the throne room, both the Prime Minister and general went over to the former’s personal wing of the palace, where they had a seat in a room with a large dining table stocked with rich delicacies from every corner of the Empire, many of which which included ingredients that were rare and dangerous to obtain some of which included parts of Danger Beasts. And yet despite this lavish feast easily being enough to feed at least twenty people, the enormous table had only two chairs, one of which saw far less use than the other.


All this food was for the consumption of only one man, and he orders for the food to always maintain a certain level of freshness, with torture and execution awaiting the kitchen and serving staff if he were to bite into something he found dissatisfying. Without hesitation Honest sat on the chair and started feasting upon several of his everyday favorites without reservation. 


“Please, join me for lunch, Esdeath. I always make sure the chefs bring nothing less than the best meals the Empire has to offer!” 


Esdeath sat on the other end, having not touched any of the food in front of her. Crossingher legs and arms, accentuating her ample bust as her bountiful cleavage popped out, showing off a black tattoo at the center. Her eyes glanced at each of the foodstuffs that filled  the table, the various scents filling her nostrils before she scoffed. “Mediocre at best. I would prefer not to lose my appetite gorging myself on tasteless cuts of meat soaked in a tub of boiling grease.” 


Honest blinked, then shrugged. “Oh well, more for me.” 


“If you keep stuffing your mouth like a pig then it's only a matter of days before your heart eventually gives out, you fat bastard. You’re already sweating enough to fill a washbasin just from a short stroll… Even I am starting to believe that calling you a pig is an insult to the animal itself. Though I suppose with all those layers of fat, you'd be an enjoyable snack for my little pets for a couple of days.”


“I didn't know you raised Danger Beasts.” Honest chuckled.


Out of everyone within the Empire’s ranks, she was the only one he allowed to insult him so brazenly without having her head chopped off, or even a verbal reprimand. Not out of any sense of camaraderie, nor because of her status as the Empire’s most decorated general… Rather it was because even someone as self-centered and power hungry as Honest understood that there was no way he could arrest her in the first place. The Prime Minister had learned a long time ago to swallow his pride when it came to this woman and simply get used to her barbed way of speaking.


“I don't,” she answered, a thin smirk appearing on her face as the fat elderly man on the other end of the table briefly stopped chewing. A chill crept down his spine as he realized the meaning of her words.


“Hahahaha… should have known. I'll pretend that I didn't hear that or else risk losing my appetite. Also, there is nothing wrong with indulging oneself in the things one enjoys. Rest assured, I am still in top condition and in perfect health. If by some misfortune my condition were to worsen, I have teams of doctors waiting all over the palace to come to my aid at any moment. And just to set the record straight, I wouldn't really call myself fat but rather big boned. You should see some of the people in the Imperial Palace’s court, they make me look like a stick by comparison.“ 

 

“You mean people you've been fattening up to follow your will without question so they can continue enjoying their hedonist lifestyles of gorging themselves all day?” 

 

“Oh certainly not, General Esdeath, my my… Do you really take me for such a despicable person? I am merely… helping His Majesty by building connections with his subjects by any means necessary. I'll do whatever I can to make sure that those in the Emperor's court are completely loyal to the crown and the empire's goals. I will help lessen the burden of the crown off the poor young Emperor's shoulders and extinguish any threat to his safety.“ His smile grew almost twisted as the blue haired woman on the other end shook her head in disgust, and decided to leave the matter be so long as the over-bloated pig didn’t try to involve her in his frivolity.


At the end of the day, as long as the Empire’s goals still aligned with her ideals and ambitions, she would remain a loyal soldier regardless of who sat on that throne. Even if was a naive brat who’d believe whatever nonsense that was spouted at him, or a self-centered pig of a man.


“So tell me General, what's this request of yours?” Honest asked, finally getting to the matter at hand. 


“Before I tell you, I trust you remember the situation involving my Beasts?”


Her response made the man raise an eyebrow at the sudden question, and he raised a hand to his chin as he thought for a second before nodding. “I believe I do; they make for a truly fearsome duo, holding one of the highest offensive capabilities within the ranks of our military. Both of them have excelled in many fields of war, whether it be strategic planning, spying, assassination, and of course, nearly unmatched combative power in the field. It wouldn't be wrong to say that either of them would make for highly capable generals. Ah, but one could argue that their most defining trait is their fierce loyalty to you.”


She hummed at his explanation, “I don't have to explain to you what my concern is with this group.”


“You wish to restore the group to being the Three Beasts, then?” 


“It has always been the Three Beasts, that has never changed. For almost two years however, the unit has been incomplete, and I intend to correct this while I am in the Capital.” Her fingers tapped against the table, a thin layer of frost forming around where she touched. Her eyes darkened slightly as memories of the past resurfaced. 


“Ah, that was a most unfortunate incident. That young man’s name was Nyau, correct? He held such potential and had already distinguished himself in your service even prior to his untimely demise. His sudden passing truly was a tragedy, the likes of which I pray shall never have to occur again.” While he spoke casually and seemingly without any care, fully focused on his meal — Honest truly meant every single one of those words. 


‘Taking down a Teigu user without wielding one himself, and at such a young age… just what kind of monster did Nagumo raise!?’ The events of that day were shrouded in mystery to him, but one thing was an absolute certainty in his mind: a clash between those two monsters was one that no one else would survive if they were unfortunate enough to be caught in the middle, not even the Empire’s best soldiers would likely make it out alive. ‘Multiple battalions wiped out in their entirety, a mountain that has been permanently turned into a frozen wasteland, and another one of our precious Teigus destroyed.’


He didn't know what happened in that battle, but Honest knew the fight’s only true participants were the woman in front of him and that freak of a boy. Esdeath refused to tell anyone the details, not even her two surviving Beasts. The last person to raise the subject within earshot of her had been turned into an ice sculpture and then shattered on the spot, and on the one occasion where Honest tried asking Esdeath in person, a dangerous look had formed on her face with pure disdain and bloodlust in her eyes, causing him to abandon the question mid-sentence and quickly redirect the conversation before he became her next victim. 


Perhaps she didn't find him or anyone else worthy enough of knowing? Not that he truly cared; as long as she continued to massacre his enemies and was able to kill that boy, he didn't care about anything else she did. 


“How will you select the next member for the third Beast? I have a few recommendations if you’re interested. My son, Syura, would be an ideal candida—”


“—Nyau was a fool for challenging an opponent that was far above him, it was only natural that he died in the process. That is what happens when the weak forget their place.. I’ll be creating a separate group of Teigu wielders who serve the Empire. An ensemble of warriors I've already chosen who all hold the potential to become the next Beast. I have yet to decide on a name for this group, but they will answer directly to me and will be tasked toward smaller operations that can only be entrusted to the most elite units. Here are the people I’ve chosen.” With a flick of her fingers, a sheet of paper encased in ice was thrown and pierced the frame of Honest’s chair right next to the man’s head. A small squeal of shock and fear escaped from his mouth at that action, one which Esdeath paid no mind to, and proceeded to leave the room — but she stopped when she was about to step out of the room. 


“Y-Yes, General?” The Prime Minister cursed himself for stuttering, but he hadn’t been able to hold it in. He was not used to brazen acts of defiance toward him, even from Esdeath, and having such a dangerous woman suddenly do so with no warning was a frightening experience, no matter who you were. 


“On my way to the palace, I happened to hear some interesting rumors. It concerns the family of an earl who helped oversee the health department here in the Capital… They were killed?” 


Due to the recent happenings, it didn't take long for the man to realize what she referred to. “Ah yes, the Kalrenns! A wonderful bunch, a peaceful and loving family that have given me their support long before I even became the Prime Minister. Earl Kalrenn also worked with Dr. Stylish on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, several days ago, their estate was attacked by those Night Raid assassins!” Honest struck his fists onto the table like a hammer, frustration evident on his face. “They apparently planted bombs all around the place and detonated it when the family was gathered inside. Nothing remains of that place anymore, nothing but ashes long gone by now. Tch, those pesky thorns in my side have been getting more rowdy and daring lately. I have Imperial scouts, tribal mercenaries, and assassins combing the slums and the surrounding forests for any sign of them, but so far I’ve heard nothing.” He exclaimed, not noticing the subtle change in Esdeath as she heard the story. 


Not that she was shocked by any of it, having actually taken a look at the burned estate before the arrived at the palace. Her fists clenched, teeth gnashing against one another as it became harder and harder to keep from letting the edge of her mouth twitch upwards. “You…You really think those were bombs, huh?” 


“Hm? Am I missing something by ch—!?” 


The last part of his phrase got stuck in his throat as for a brief moment he caught a glimpse of Esdeath's face. Hair raised all across his body as the temperature of the room shot down by several dozens of degrees, with another layer of frost forming beneath her feet. This time the frost spread all across the floor, and covered the walls and windows, forcing Honest to stand on his seat. “G-General Esdeath!?” 


No answer came, for she no longer cared about Honest and completely disregarded his presence. The expression that showed on her face was that of pure anger yet excitement shining at the very depth. 


“So you came back after all, Emiya.” She whispered quietly, countless flashes of images from the past went through her mind. “This time… this time I won't let you slip away.”


Whether it be at the capital, in the wilderness, out in the most remote scrap of land on the continent, she would always find him. There existed no place where he could hide from her forever, Esdeath knew that the brat understood this as well, and that he’d be ready when she found him. 


At the peak of the food chain, there was only room for one apex predator. One who stood tall over all the prey, relishing the vulnerability of the weak as they cowered at her shadow. This was the image everyone portrayed her with, yet Esdeath herself rejected this bestowed title, as much as it frustrated her. 


She refused to align herself with what amounted to a lie. For the truth was that there was another apex predator who lurked among the weak. One who wielded the strength to challenge her.


Even now, rumors of what merely had the possibility of being acts performed by him made a mockery of her goals and philosophy. He always did seem to enjoy doing that, yet also being ever so casual about it. It was a unique talent he alone possessed, and unfortunately one he excelled at, as he did in so many areas.


Just as he had from the first time she met him.


That boy hadn't changed a bit.


{Break}


-Imperial Military Academy-


(Nine years ago)


The sound of shouts and grunts of physical exertion filled the air as rows of the Academy’s students swung their training weapons against wooden pole targets. The impacts caused the wood on both the weapons and targets to chip, as the trainees repeated the same set of drilled movements again and again. An instructor at the back commenting on their forms and loudly correcting any mistakes he spotted. 


At least, that was what should have been happening in Esdeath's opinion. 


"Wonderful! Excellent posture you have there, Cadet Greensville! With talent like yours, it's only a matter of time before you earn the rank of lieutenant straight after graduation! Take notes, all of you! This is what true talent looks like!" he shouted at one of the many students of the Academy while writing down notes in a book.


The Empire's finest establishment, the most prestigious and basically the only academy directly managed by the top ranking officials in theImperial Palace — said to have produced countless heroes across the Empire's history. Valiant knights and brave soldiers who won many wars in the name of the previous monarchs, fighting for the people, land and whatnot. Truthfully, Esdeath just rolled her eyes at all of it and took a nap during class as soon as the teachers started rambling. None of them had anything to teach her anyway, as she was already a better fighter than any of them.


She knew the truth. Enrolling in the Royal Academy required a tremendous amount of funds, something only those born into wealthy families could afford.


As for herself, sitting alone on top of a bench belonged to the secondary category — a recommendation from the Prime Minister himself. The teenage girl had proven her worth after hunting down a high-class Danger Beast with nothing but traps and forged tools. A brutal hunt that resonated with Honest, and one she didn't mind taking advantage of.


"Pathetic," the girl commented, judging these people's forms in her free time and finding them all lacking. Far too rigid in almost all cases. Though better than the average bandit or soldier, that hardly meant anything to her. Each of those moves followed a textbook regimen, down to the smallest detail. They held no actual talent behind any of them, these silver-spoon brats were not tempered through years of spilling blood, and had never endured freezing nights while hunting Danger Beasts in order to not starve. If thrown into a real battle, they'd most likely panic and haphazardly swing their weapons around without considering their surroundings, terrain, type of opponents, and a whole host of other factors that influenced the course of a fight.


Weren't they supposed to be the cream of the crop? The best soldiers and future military leaders the Empire had to offer. She expected too much and, in the end, had only herself to blame for this feeling of disappointment. They all looked at her with fear, admiration, and even wonder — a sentiment she understood. After all, prey like them could only do so much in their lives, let alone when they met a true predator for the first time.


"I am wasting my time here. Now, where did Najenda run off to?" 


Out of everyone in the academy, there existed only one person she genuinely looked forward to sparring with every day. One that gave her the sensation of excitement whenever their blades clashed against each other — the increased heartbeat, adrenaline flowing through her mind, a grin that could not be hidden or suppressed, along with the realization that to achieve victory, she actually needed to put in some effort. 


Only when facing her did Esdeath manage to derive any enjoyment from this place — even if she still had to hold herself back from going all out. Though it was a bit disappointing that the latter did not share her opinion. Najenda's sole reason for being at the Academy was that she saw it as a step toward her goal of rising to the rank of general, true to her family's legacy. A rather boring mindset, but Esdeath decided to make an exception just for her.


Making her way through the halls, plenty of other cadets and Academy staff greeted her with gestures of respect. Not that she ever bothered to return any of them, though most of the students and teachers had grown used to her personality by now. Those who had initially looked down upon her due to her being younger than most other cadets and her origin as a hunter from a tribe in the North had all been crushed under her heel, with their pride shattered in the most amusing and humiliating ways she could get away with. 


It didn't take long for the young blue-haired woman to reach the grounds of the private dormitories, a section completely separated from the rest of the establishment and reserved for only the very best. Foremost spacious, secure yet empty at the same time. The fountain outside the entrance was made with the finest marble while hundreds of different flowers were planted all over the place, a stark contrast to the decrepit slums visible just from the ledge when gazing downwards into the rest of the Capital.


"Najenda, let's spar!" she shouted, pushing the door open and walking inside the silent building. A few seconds passed with no answer coming from the silver-haired woman. "Strange, did she leave to train or go back to her family’s estate again?”


That girl certainly liked going back to her family home more than any other cadet. Taking any opportunity granted to her as an excuse to leave and return at the very last moment with a giant smile on her face and fully revitalized. Esdeath had noticed how the latter would get visibly more tired and cranky the longer she stayed at the Academy. One time she’d been glaring bloody murder at the instructor as the fool tried to make her stay longer to help out with some of the other students who were struggling.


Whenever she tried asking what was so good about going back to her house when not even father was present due to her his duties, Najenda always looked at her with sharp eyes and became strangely defensive. Always trying to change the topic of the conversation, or flat out denying her an answer. 


Normally, this would have not affected Esdeath at all, as she cared very little for what others did in their spare time or with their lives in general. But as the closest thing she had to a rival, and the only person she found here to be worthy of her respect, Najenda was different.


The last survivor of the Partas tribe often found herself wondering what could possibly make someone like Najenda so eager to go back to an environment that was counterproductive to her goal, and yet always return with so much energy and even progression in her skills with the sword. An aspect she noticed after it continued to occur more than a handful of times.


“Hah, how boring… she's not here.” 


Pa!


Pa!


Pa!

 

As she was about to leave the building, her ears twitched at the faint noise of someone using the training ground's wooden post. Periodic sounds of wood clashing against one another, but unlike those trainees she had just seen before entering, this one was faster, louder and sharper. "Huh, so she's here after all." Rarely did that woman use the training yard, but Esdeath did not find this to be an unwelcome surprise.


Thus, Esdeath grabbed her rapier and jovially headed over, only for the grin on her face to vanish the second she saw who was actually using the training field. 


"Huh?" 


It was not Najenda. 


Her excitement crashed into a brick wall, as she found herself looking at a young boy swinging a wooden sword against a training dummy.


Shirtless and surprisingly well toned for someone his age. A bit on the smaller side though, his height only reaching her chest. Probably ten years old at most. 


"Who is this little brat? Did he get lost or something?" The boy was too young to have even applied for the Academy yet, and he couldn’t possibly be a resident of the private dormitories. Barely in his pre-adolescent years, and even though she rarely bothered to remember random faces, Esdeath was certain that on the odd occasion that she did spot a redhead, it belonged to a woman who was older than she was. 


The one aspect that truly caught her attention though, was the way he held his blade. 


His moves were unlike anything that was taught at the Academy and were virtually a carbon copy of the style Najenda used whenever they fought. ‘Hn, he looks surprisingly comfortable with the way he holds and swings his blade…’


Impressive. Especially for one so young.


His stance was firm, with no rigidity in his posture. Each strike was made smoothly without any traces of hesitation or overextension. Already, the training dummy was coming apart, with much of the wood being thoroughly splintered, while the wooden blade within his grasp remained undamaged. This boy understood his weapon as well as the appropriate place to strike the target, an insight Esdeath couldn’t recall witnessing from anyone in the Academy.


Before the girl even realized it, she found herself absentmindedly staring at him as the seconds turned into minutes, and before she knew it half an hour passed while she remained rooted to the spot, watching the boy practice. Her previous amusement turned into curiosity, then flabbergast, and slowly it transformed into utter disbelief and shock as it became painfully obvious that this brat didn't just use the same techniques as Najenda…


His use of the style was superior to hers in every way! 


The grasp she had on her blade tightened further, a familiar sensation hummed through her blood as the desire to cross blades with this boy emerged in her mind. Yet she kept her composure, approaching the redhead as he seemed to have taken a break when she noticed something else off to the side. 


‘Arrows?’ 


At the adjoining target range was another strange sight: a cluster of arrows were tightly compacted within the very center of one of the targets. While Esdeath knew Najenda to be an excellent shot, she was certain that Najenda was not responsible for that impressive display of marksmanship, preferring firearms instead. And she knew with certainty that no one on the Academy – staff or student – had ever displayed such outstanding talent either.


Her lips twitched upwards as she shifted her attention back to the boy as he also turned to meet her gaze, golden brown eyes gazing directly at ice cold blue. He raised his eyebrow inquisitively, not flustered or even the slightest bit afraid of her as so many tended to react around her. 


“Hmm, ice-blue hair and eyes, the pale skin of a northerner, armed with a rapier, and a demeanor that just screams ‘I’m better than you and I can damn well prove it.’ You must be Esdeath.” 


Ah, he knew her. Of course he would, she had been developing quite the reputation since the first day she arrived at the Capital, with her meteoric rise surpassing even Najenda's. Yet despite knowing who she was, the boy still did not show any signs of fear, still maintaining that calm expression of his when numerous veterans who taught at this Academy had failed to do the same. This made Esdeath even more curious about this boy.


“What is a small brat like you doing here? This area is off-limits to everyone but residents and top-level instructors of the Academy.” Deciding to see where this conversation would lead, Esdeath buried the lust of battle singing within her, and adopted an unintentional smirk. 


It seemed that her words had an impact on the boy, the latter’s left eye twitching as the frown on his face grew more pronounced. Cute but ultimately the truth. What else would someone his age be other than a brat? She conveniently ignored the fact that she was also considered a brat to the rest of her peers for her young age.


“Same question I'll ask you, creep. I’m not the one that was staring at a complete stranger for an hour while they are training like some kind of stalker. You do that to everyone, or just little kids? Judging by that unnerving smile you have on your face, I feel inclined to go with the latter. You like them young or something?” 


Esdeath couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her. For such a young boy he had an impressive set of fangs and an equally sharp tongue. “Oh my, quite the mouth you have on you, boy. That just won't do, you need to be taught some manners.” She bent forward, having her face be on the same level as his. Her hand moved in a flash as she tried to grab onto his cheeks to teach the little one a lesson. Yet he continued to surprise her, moving away just in time to dodge her, and did so rather easily. He’d read her movement and reacted far quicker than she expected for someone his age. “Interesting… very interesting.” 


Ahh… the weight of the rapier on her holster was starting to feel heavier the more she learned of this young boy. 


“I’d rather you keep your hands to yourself,” he answered with a dry tone, a reaction that only made Esdeath want to try it again. But she pushed it down and decided it would be better to get at the bottom of this matter as soon as possible. 


“You haven't answered my question. What’s a young boy like you doing here in the first place?” 


He turned his back on her, grabbing onto a shirt and putting it on — taking his time as she patiently waited for him to speak. Normally she would have demanded an answer on the spot, but Esdeath was far too interested in her conversation with this boy to rush things along.


“Don't mind me, I was just taking the chance to check something about… my body. Aside from that, do you happen to know where Najenda is? I have something for her that she forgot at home, and classes should be done right about now according to her schedule.” 


So he was here for Najenda? Not all that surprising given how closely their swordsmanship resembled one another’s, but he looked far too different from her to be a direct relative. And he couldn’t be some house servant or the child of one, as that wouldn't explain the sword skills or the way he behaved himself. A relative then, albeit distant, seemed like the best explanation. It explained him using the same style of swordsmanship as Najenda if it was some family technique, yet his prodigal mastery over it was still something that plagued her mind. 


No way that woman taught him anything about how to use a sword. Najenda’s bladework, while certainly skilled, lacked an aspect that could only be gained through real combat. Najenda was a genius, but even she had her limits. Limits that this boy didn’t seem to share.


“I'm as clueless as you are on that one, boy. I actually came here looking for her as well, only to find you.” 


He scratched his chin at her answer, mulling her answer over in his head until his eyes widened. “That idiot! I told her to rest a bit more after the last spar! That imbecile will just hurt herself more in the long run if she doesn’t rest!” 


A bit taken aback by his little outburst, the blue haired girl couldn't help but continue to look him over from head to toe. She took notice of the calluses on his palm, a strand or two of white hair, and the way he spoke made her feel like she was not talking to a kid at all. She watched him pick up an enclosed basket, from which an aroma of blended spices wafted into her nose, and instantly caused her mouth to begin salivating. 


Esdeath shook her head, she couldn’t get distracted by food of all things right now. 


“Boy, from what I saw, you're quite good with a sword, aren't you?” She asked, wishing to get back on track. “And judging from all the arrows clustered in the bullseye of that target over there, it seems the same can be said with the bow.


“Hm? I guess. It's nothing special.” His answer turned out to be more lackluster than she would have liked. “Damn it, this will start to spoil if it’s left out any longer…” he went back to muttering under his breath, more preoccupied by the contents of the basket than their conversation. 


That just wouldn't do. 


“Hey,” her rapier left its sheath, its edge resting against the redhead’s neck as she could no longer contain her desire to see what he was truly capable of. “I saw you practicing with my own eyes, and I’d even go so far as saying that your swordsmanship was quite amazing, which is something that I don’t say often… Why don't we exchange some pointers? I can teach you a thing or two myself, while you spar with me every now and then.” 


“…”


He turned his full attention back to her, eyes narrowed with his wooden sword slowly pushing the blade away from his neck. Esdeath’s smirk grew, sensing the amoral strength within those arms of his. “Rather impolite of you to hold a sword to someone’s neck while asking them to train with you.”


“This will just be some light sparring, you'll enjoy it. But before we begin, I never did ask you your name.” 


“Then let's keep it that way, I suddenly feel uncomfortable with the idea of you having that information.” He bit back with snark, which she found more funny than anything else. 


She applied more strength to her grip, “Ara, now who is the impolite one here? It seems I'll just have to keep calling you brat and twerp from now on.” 


“Tch,” the boy clicked his tongue, obviously displeased by her words before sighing. “You only look to be a few years older than me. But you’re proving yourself to be quite the brat as well, you know. Fine, call me Emiya.” 


Esdeath had heard far worse when she started out from instructors and cadets alike before she put them all in their place. They had underestimated her for several reasons, but the most prominent had been that she was a fair bit younger than most cadets. They had been unable to recognize that she was here all the same simply because she was simply that good until they witnessed her superiority with their own eyes. The plight of prodigies.


“You already know my name, but allow me to introduce myself all the same. I am Esdeath.” 


“Yes, my… ‘sister’ Najenda talks about you quite a bit. Though she failed to mention how much of a pain in the ass you are.” 


“Eh?” The majority of his response did not register in her mind, as one word in particular found itself buzzing around within her brain. 


“Sister?”