[h2]Saber[/h2]

It was her path. The path she'd sought for years afterwards. This girl, Mira Grace, was that path. And that was why, no matter how much pain raged inside her, protesting at every step she took as she sprinted back towards her Master's mansion, she would not stop. She would never stop. This girl was her chance.

Her lone chance.

Saber's movements were hardly helping her internal injuries, blood continuing to trickle from the corner of her mouth. But she could bare it. For the sake of her duties. Her duty to her Master. Above all else, that was most important. Even if she fell apart, her muscles bleeding and ripping to pieces, that would be in her mind above all else. It had been the truth in her heart the second she had summoned. She was summoned to serve a Master, and that was what she would do.

This pain was nothing. Not even as she left a trail of blood behind her, it was nothing. Not even as she felt her internal organs wracked with pain, wind whistling by her as she made her way through the forest, to the grounds of her Master's home. It was nothing. As long as it was for this girl, it was nothing.

It was nothing at all.

Not even as she came up the steps, still gripping Mira tightly in her arms, clutching her close to her body as if to protect her from any attack. Not even as she approached the door.

Not even as---

Something blazed hot with agony in Saber's insides, and when she coughed, blood splattered onto the stone steps. She fell to her knees, holding Mira tightly against herself and shuddering. No... she wouldn't fail at anything, not even if it was simply carrying her Master through the door...!

Struggling back to her feet, shaking as she walked, the black-haired swordswoman used her body to push the doors open... And fell forward, losing consciousness as she held her Master close.

It was unlikely that Saber would die here, but even as the girl felt herself slip into the blackness of unconsciousness she cursed herself for failing to remain awake.

[hr]

[h2]Ciel, the Church Overseer[/h2]

It wasn't as if she couldn't hear the fighting outside. Was this what the Holy Grail War would be like? Regardless, the blue-haired girl's eyes traveled upwards...

... A raven...?

[@Feyblue]