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[@Angry Hungarian]

Christians.

They suffered under Roma, flourished under Roma, grew strong through the adversity of Roma. The church with a name holding the meaning of universal was born during the time of the Empire that encompassed all. Perhaps, in retrospect it was natural for Christianity to spread and grow where Roma faded. The relation between the empire and that religion was a mixed one, and indeed, it was the Romans who executed the son of god as taught in their doctrine. Saber found the blame turned towards the Judaiac folk amusing in a sense, but he was no learned scholar or priest. In the end if asked his opinions on the teachings that spread across the globe he would simply comment that he respected the convictions of its many martyrs. Ironic because of, or perhaps especially because of the fact that he took the form of a Lion, the executioner of Christians back in the Empire. Respect and love, hate and scorn. It did not matter, if the Fourth were to stand against him and become an obstacle he had to protect his master from then he would execute him as though a beast of the past.

He had arrived too late. One minute at his maximum speed. Fifty seconds too late. What was the point of a patrol if they could not reach each other even when not shackled by the limits of the modern world? There was only one he could protect simply by virtue of existing, and he felt the life of Rider slip through his fingers. A strange man, a man who did not talk with at length. An ally, a man he was meant to protect and save.

He did not know failure in his life. He had lost battles, he had suffered wound and troubles. He did not fail for Roma stood, his master still stood. This was merely the loss of a battle. He did not succeed, but he felt a failure in the sense of not being able to protect the well-being of the goal of his master. 

Arriving to the scene that held a lamenting man who buried his grief he swiftly realized the fact that the battlefield, the manor was abandoned. Saber materialized as he watched Emmerich work for a few moments, approaching only when he had opened up the manor with his own tools.

Without a sound Emmerich was pulled back with a large hand before he charged into the manor. He had no doubts that even in such a moment that the soldier noticed his presence, especially considering Saber had no intention of hiding it. There was merit in letting one vent out their grief, but a soldier especially should not be coddled no matter the circumstance. 

“Let us go in together.”

The home was surprisingly bereft of anything that seemed relevant to the war, save for gold that tried to stain those around it with its influence. Yet the splendor of gold was outshined by the glow of a hero, and with the help of his own abilities the soldier was able to avoid exposure as well.

Something dangerous, and something to take with them in case the enemy had plans for it, as he agreed with his master after consulting her opinion.

It was a normal home in comparison to the ragtag workshop and military base of the Church. He wondered if Rider found it disappointing he died fighting at ground that seemed so divorced from the nature of conflict. To Saber it was a worthy place to protect, one’s home, one’s ancestral land as he understood it with the position of these Tohsakas in relation to this city.

From the earlier reports he knew that there was no contact with the enemy, yet the presence of the enemy was confirmed, both servant and master. The man of the church did not fight or even observe the enemy. The enemy had run and abandoned their ground and home.

…

This was their Roma, and they had left it without a fight. How shameless, how unsightly. Cowardly, cowardly to the greatest degree! To watch Rider fight and perish, then decide that their Roma was not even worth the effort of protecting. No, in the first place they did not even see if they would even need to defend it. So fearful of the man of the church, so fearful of fighting, so fearful for their lives that they abandon everything but the next breath that they take.

Mighty Porsena, mighty Porsena with the large armies of the Etruscans cowed his fellow men at the bridge. Yet the Romans still fought, only breaking into chaos with their leaders struck down. Their mistake was the fear that they had failed, that the time for their victory had past.

So long as one lived there was always a path. So long as he was alive he could hold off the bridge for the sake of Roma. Against an army he fought and against an army he would fight once more without hesitation. It was never over, never truly over. 

Saber made one promise to himself that day and it was to never despair. No matter what if something is precious one had to fight for it. No matter the cost one had to protect it.

What did these Japanese protect then? He had thought them those who banded together to protect their land from their foes and invaders, protecting their wish and homes.

What value did these magi hold? What convictions did they have? He found himself disgruntled, annoyed.

As Emmerich prepared to say his goodbyes to the Manor of the Tohsakas, what little of value taken out to be brought back by the two he found himself hoping that the Matou would show themselves to be more worthy of respect.

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He later found it that it would not be the case. The manor felt empty in a sense, the sense that there was no great presence that he knew to be their equal, a peer as a spirit or hero. It was possible that Assassin was around, but… This time the master was not even present then.

[@Shioban]

"With a man such as you a man such as me would have never been needed, Archer.” 

A hero was only needed when the army and general could not overcome their foes. While Archer was no less a ‘hero’ the kind of hero they were happened to be very different. The hero who made up for the lack of virtue of the army. The hero who commanded and honed the power of the army.

Yes, indeed. When it came to the matters and powers of man they had no lack.
But if only if it could be said that men were all that fought in this war.

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[@Angry Hungarian]
I've been quite useful, quite useful all this time thank you very much. I've been talking to our beneficiaries after all. Would you honestly believe we could win on our own against the creators of this ritual in their hometurf, especially when they have the support of their nation? If you sensibly disagree with such a notion then badger me not. As it is the greatest danger to us is our dear own Schutzstaffel that you yourself belong to, so I’d rather not you have any attitude. It was your lost of Rider that’s causing that issue in the first place!" He was more harsh with Emmerich than Jancika in retrospect. The lack of involvement in this incident, and the build up of a long day causing his tongue to hold his ground quite sternly and unkindly. 

Nipping thoughts of anxiety plagued him, but he suppressed them with ease. A magus was one who remade themselves for different needs, for they themselves were the means to achieve the ends they enacted upon the world. He was calm, he was proud. Continuing to carry himself in his grandiose way he lifted his right hand, a massive ruby that caught the lights of the church, and reflected them like a kaleidoscope that revealed all the possibilities of red, of war. “I’ve been at thought, and I have figured out a way to make my talents relevant for our war. Fraulein Frederica’s aid is something I’ll be reliant on for it… but it is a elegant enough solution to the matter of my contribution.”

Without skipping a beat he let his hand fall to his side and spoke with redoubled energy. The ruby disappeared from sight as he moved the conversation along before the question of what he’d be contributing was raised beyond the vague details he had shared with the soldier before. The Ruby was stowed away and his hand rose back up to this time invite Emmerich. 

“It has been a long day, a very long day for all of us. But it is not over yet. I expect and hope the two women to perform well enough to make up for what blunders we have made as a whole, or rather I can only plan around that. Further failure cannot be accepted, for further failure simply brings the end of our lives, as Germans, Magi and of course, as actual lifeforms.”

He shook his head. “We cannot slack, so let us get to work. You can eat after we’ve searched. Of course I’ll have Harriegilta help us. If anything she might recall something. I’m sure it is here in the church. Where else can we look after all?”

Turning away from Emmerich he retreated to begin his search somewhere secluded, somewhere alone... somewhere he could simply be without any eyes upon him.

Menial. This task could only be called menial. Yet it was vital to their success, it was vital to their survival. In the face of that to be stubborn was even more disgraceful. Annoyingly he felt as though he could hear the questioning thoughts of his allies. Why was he here other than to simply supply Archer with an anchor and energy? Why was he chosen as the one who came, why is he the user of the tool? 

Perhaps they would only see his current use as one who could do such a rudimentary search. How annoying, if he had know that the future had a battle in it for him then he should have learned a few more basic tricks. He pursued simply what was important, simply what would further his family’s efforts and bring salvation. Even if he would be seen as harmless or useless because of that he felt no regrets.

But that didn’t mean he felt nothing about it either way.

[@Shioban]
"Archer, while the tale of the results of Rider against the Burial Agent proves that a delay in the usage of a Command Spell is fatal, and our current situation adds to such, it is best you still keep me updated. If I see fit I shall pull you out or support you with a spell as necessary."

He let out a sigh before taking a breath, preparing as though he were speaking out loud before calling out to Archer with his mind. "You will be given relative freedom for this venture. Try not to create a crater, but prioritize survival and success over the Manor. Sieg Heil Viktoria, Archer."

With Archer not so close to the enemy, moving with an ally, and not cooped up in a church he felt much more confident about the chances of his Servant in combat. But still to not be there was admittedly both a relief and a source of worry, all the more so with every word he heard of the tale of Rider's end.

With a bad day that only got worse and worse, he felt himself feeling an odd mix of discontentment, anticipation, hope and dread. Frankly if he wasn’t in his own position he’d be feeling a lot of schadenfreudian for whoever was in his shoes.

Now where could it all be...