[center] [img] https://i.imgur.com/K9dXELV.png [/img] [/center] [h3][center] Construction Project: ‘Tarantasio’ “Temporary room”, Foreigner’s Lowlands [/center][/h3] “I think I might have to thank that boy next time I see him,” Benita said to herself, seemingly to no one in particular. All night had the “manpower” she had borrowed from a that “other” man in the bar during her stroll towards Ground Zero, where the center of the World in which Achilles had inhabited been dropped on the city, been working. Slaving themselves with the knowledge of the city’s destruction. The beginnings of Benita’s new base of operations was beginning its foundation. A large foundation that seemed to take up a rather sizable amount of the land, fenced off to the outside world as a lord’s manor might be. But there was only what could be considered the beginnings of a proper building and infrastructure forming from this foundation. Various individuals had contributed in some way for this to occur. Funding from every which way was allocated towards the construction, mysterious benefactors or otherwise. What mattered was the creation of “‘Tarantasio”. And while Benita was technically the foreman for these workers, it was more so that she simply told them to build as so they did. The sawing of wood, the hustle of men. This was a true construction site. Though Benita did offer her assistance, the totally not criminals gave her candy and told her that she could be the foreman. And it was not as if they needed supervision all the time, as they told her. But as it stood now, Tarantasio was merely a fenced-off foundation with a few temporary rooms that were sparsely furnished, only containing the necessities that one might require to live in the area temporary, as well as a simple desk that bisected the room to those who would enter through the door. After all, if this was going to be “Benita’s” base, then she would need to exploit the land to its fullest. But what was there to exploit in a flattened region, muddied by storm? “You performed most excellently, Lancer. While a victory against a blaze might not be the most glorious victory, I will claim it anyway,” Benita said, complimenting her Servant in a rather simple, prim and proper manner. She had no complaints about the Servant she had summoned. The greatest Hero of the Trojan War was her chip on the board, and while there might exist other great Heroic Spirits of old, summoning a Heroic Spirit like Achilles was drawing the Ace out of the deck of cards. “Still, summoning Achilles without a catalyst or any sort of plan must just be some beginners luck. I suppose that out of all my “siblings” I had the highest aptitude for magecraft. Perhaps that had an impact on my selection for both this mission and the allocated Servant I was granted by the Grail?” While a great Heroic Spirit might make a great Servant, it is also a curse to have someone so famous within one’s peerage. After all, having such an iconic Servant, both powerful and one whose weakness is well known, might not always be a boon. But to Benita, whom of which wished to win the Grail War for someone else, it would grant her the power to obtain victory if such tides would continue to flow her way. [quote] [color=7FFFD4][i]"Destroy the culprit who caused yesterday's tragedy, and receive [b]two command seals[/b]."[/i][/color] [/quote] Benita could not harbor the same kind of greatness that the voice of the ruler might have been able to provide, but she could echo his decree to her Servant easily. “You think that applies to us?” The destruction of the region was because of her own Servant and her own command, the missing wing of her eagle-like command mantras missing from the markings on her hand’s reverse side. It would remind her of her seemingly, at the time, frivolous order. But the death of many still would hang on the shoulders of Benita’s mind. She could not regret her choices. After all, that regret would do nothing but spit in the face of those who had died. While unfortunate their lives would be snuffed out without recourse of their own, the whole situation could have lost even more lives had immediate action not been taken. Even if Benita was impaired during this whole endeavor she cannot say that her choice was the wrong one. Had this choice really been something awful? Amputate the arm to save the body would always be better than losing the body. With the city, it could rebuild itself even greater than before. While the loss of life was terrible, the cursed fire would have done them in so easily. Therefore, one could say that while it was a hard choice to make, the combination of the divine storm and the world-shield might have prevented the entire city from being destroyed. However, a “victory” for something that should have never gotten to the extent in which it had gotten should really have been solved earlier without having to wipe the slate clean. Who were these reckless idiots in this Grail War?! . . . Oh right, she was one of those reckless idiots with a reckless idiot Servant. “Any suggestions, Lancer? We made a target of our back … or I guess heel in your case. What do you think would be the best choice of action?” [@Breo] ------------------------------------------------------- [center] [img] https://i.imgur.com/6TAqaQS.png [/img] [/center] [h3][center]Western Farms, Caldwell Plantation.[/center][/h3] Had someone discovered her Master’s presence already? Gudrun supposed that it was not as if he was trying his best to hide, but for a Servant to do skulk the location near her Master’s property, she would have to at the very least do the bare minimum to protect the manner, no? “I’ll make sure to get a good look at the enemy for you, Master,” Gudrun told Martin Caldwell via the connection they shared. After all, it was likely that if they could figure out which Servant was near, they could create appropriate defensive measures. And so, cloak on her person, she left to go either confront the Servant, or gather intel on his person. How many times had she wished to the gods themselves to bring back her husband? How many times had she asked for assistance to realize his vengeance? … How many times were her cries met with deaf ears? … But she wanted to see him. Even if she would have to continue on forever. Even if she would never see him ever again. Even if she accepted the call of the throne of heroes into each war only to find no respite from her loneliness, she would continue to do so, Why wouldn’t she just continue on? It would be so much easier if she would just forget about him. It was easier to forget than it was to hold onto the thin hope of impossibility for as long as one could be incarnated once more. It would take a miracle to bring about such a reunion; that stupid man and his doting wife were separated by leagues of impossibilities. Gudrun did not believe that she would be compensated for her pains. Gudrun did not believe that she would be forgiven for her crimes. But she would continue to wait for him forever, even if he were to hate her for what she had become; a monster. She couldn’t help but do so. Because she loved him with all of her heart. And while he might not hold her in the same regard, and that was regrettable, Sigurd was the center of Gudrun’s entire universe. All five horizons revolved around his soul as the earth to the sun She wanted to be held in his strong arms, protecting and cradling her as his princess. To hear his voice call out her name once more as he did so many times and as she took for granted so many times. Perhaps, then, this was repentance for what she had done? Her footsteps were light as her heart began aflutter. Gudrun, who had prided herself on her ability, could not move, yet her body was would not stop quivering. She had taken off her noble phantasm, allowing the person before her to see her in earnest. “S-Sigurd … Is it really you?” She tried her best to choke back the tears welling at the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had always planned on what she would do at this moment, running into her husband’s arms and holding him so tightly he couldn’t ever let go of her ever again as he lifted her up and spun her around in his arms. But she couldn’t move. Was this even real? Had her desire to see her husband finally caused her to see visions that weren’t there? … Even if that was the case. she hoped in earnest that this moment would continue forever. [@CorpusMundum] [@Crusader Lord]