[center][h3][sub]           Tohsaka Manor[/sub]
???, Abandoned House[/h3][/center]

After that lone arrow had pierced its target, concealed amidst the Bounded Fields layered around the manor, the Servant who had launched the attack could only let out a slight sigh, a wistful smile playing at the edge of his lips.

[color=fdc68a]"...he survived. I thought he looked like a strong one, but to survive my strongest arrow without even trying to strike it...Ha, it seems like this won't be as boring as I was worried it would be. I'll have to do things properly next time I see him."[/color]

From behind him, a brief set of footsteps rang out, that individual called the Servant's Master coming to a stop beside him. In contrast to the Archer, the magus's expression was tense, as though the encounter just now had been more worrying for them than it had been for the nearly-dead Servant.

"You're lucky that he was able to survive. I told you not to use those attacks just yet; we should leave the killing for Berserker for now. The fewer cards we play now, the better...all the more so when there's Ruler watching from a distance." The magus murmured, shaking their head with a touch of disdain. In response, though, the Archer could only laugh, a hand going behind his head as his wistful grin became bashful.

[color=fdc68a]"Ah, you'll have to forgive me. It just got my blood boiling, I couldn't help myself."[/color]

Shrugging, the Master raised their hands up helplessly. "Well, he lived, so it's fine in the end. We got some interesting information, too. Strength and Constitution at the peak, the capability to survive fatal wounds, mace-user, and some sort of defensive armament, likely a Noble Phantasm of some sort if it was able to mitigate that arrow of yours." They remarked, having gleaned all of the information displayed by Rostam just now via Master's Clairvoyance. In response though, the Archer could only puff up slightly out of pride.

[color=fdc68a]"Probably. I can't imagine anything less being able to slow down that attack. Even if I'm weaker than when I was alive, I'm still the one who ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■."[/color]

His Master seemed to mostly be thinking by now, though, setting Archer's comment aside. "A mace would make it more likely that they're not one of the Knight Classes, but those parameters are the sort you'd expect from something like a Saber. Mm, either he's a Saber or Lancer who's hiding his true weapon, or he's a Rider or a Berserker. He's almost certainly no Caster or Assassin, and given his weapon and para-"

The magus cut themselves off as they felt the flow of prana briefly distort, their eyes flitting back over to the Servant with a look of surprise as a horse of absurd stature appeared. "...a mount." He murmured under his breath, as if in disbelief that he had witnessed the release of a Noble Phantasm so soon. "Archer, did you hear him say a true name? I couldn't make it out over that...laughter."

Several seconds of silence reigned, the trio of Master, Servant, and horse departing the perimeter, before the Archer saw fit to speak back up. [color=fdc68a]"A bowman's senses are to always be keen. Rakhsh. He invoked the name, and then referred to it by that name a second time. I doubt that I misheard. Ha, it seems that I just attacked the chief hero of a culture sphere."[/color]

"...Rostam, then?" The magus murmured, their brows furrowing for a moment before they nodded to themselves. "If that's the case, then that defense of his must be that suit he was said to wear. Pity I didn't get a better look at him before he left, or we'd have gained that much more information. Well, at the least, I suppose there's no shame in having him survive your attack, then, but we shouldn't expect next time to go the same way. I'll send the information to our allies up at the temple."

[color=fdc68a]"Understood. I'll resume fortifications. This still isn't up to the standard I'd like it to be at."[/color] Archer commented, turning to set off deeper into the manor. [color=fdc68a]"Ah, I know we're aiming for our wishes, but still it's exciting. I hope some of the other Servants are strong ones as well. People finally able to match me, it's such a thrilling feeling."[/color]