Aftermath
After the Elimination Battle is won, we make our way to our room. I am not sure I have calmed down yet, such a near death experience really is something, but I could not stay in the Arena for forever. Besides, Saber is supporting my stance, so I have no trouble walking. Weirdly, we spot an open door.
"Where does that room lead to?" I ask. I have never really paid attention to that room, but I am sure that is because it was always locked. What point is there, caring about a room I could not step into anyways?
"Let's check it," decides Saber. I am glad she is more the curious kind of person, though even if she would not care, I am sure if I asked her to we would go check it out. As soon as we are in front of the door, Saber opens it fully and we step inside, closing the door behind ourselves.
Saber looks around, seemingly on edge. "Something wrong?" She seems to take her whole surrounding in, waging a response but finally making one.
"Not… really. Someone was here, not too long ago. Their presence is gone, though." Saber seems to calm down, and so do I. I trust her instincts and guts more than my logical thoughts in moments like this one. Suddenly, a kind of projector starts running and the wall in front of us shows a film—though, as I look closer, it is not a film.
There is Rin, fighting a girl with lilac hair. She does seem familiar, but I cannot exactly remember why. What worries me, however, is that Rin seems to be in distress. Is she really having trouble with an opponent? Lancer does not seem much better.
Their opponent is a big warrior, clad in red. He utters not a single word, only inhumane shouting would come from him. "Berserker," I notice. It does not look good for either of them, they seem to be equal in strength and skill. However, a sinister smile forms on the other girl's lips.
"The battle's result does not matter. He told me to get rid of an obstacle like you, so either way would be fulfilling my mission." She activates a Code Cast which's effects I cannot make out from the mere glow. "I will just take you with me."
Rin's eyes widen in shock, so do Lancer's. "Y-You're going to let yourself explode?!" I wonder how Rin knew, but maybe if you saw it directly and not over a cheap projector, it was obvious. Wait. Explode?! This would take both of them down, there would be no winner. Why would a Master do this?
The barrier should be able to hold the explosion of, but for that Rin would have to beat that girl first. Lancer would have to kill Berserker within just mere seconds, but that seems unlikely. Rin is doomed either way. My heart suddenly feels like it weighs a ton. I do not want Rin to die.
"Can't we do something?" I ask Saber, though I am afraid there is nothing we could do. I am not even sure interfering would be allowed. We may face punishment, though, we have been all this time and neither of us did anything wrong, so I do not worry as much.
"Not really," Saber pouts slightly, averting her gaze from the projection. Not really is not a no. I cannot believe Saber would hate Rin enough to keep anything I could do now from me. Well, I can, she is supposed to be our opponent. But still!
"Saber, you need to tell me. There's no time!" Saber groans in response. This girl…! Then, she takes my left hand and pulls my uniform's sleeve slightly down, revealing the red symbol engraved into the back of my hand.
"The Command Seals you got can make it. Just gimme a command with them, and I'll have no choice but to do it. Even something impossible like this should work." Saber grits her teeth. It is obvious that she is not too fond of this idea. I can understand, but still.
"Risks? Downsides?" I do not feel like I have the time for full sentences, or this conversation will be meaningless because there will be no one to save anymore. Saber shrugs in response.
"If I don't make it fast, I'll be blown to bits as well." I would be risking Saber's life to save Rin's. This is a hard choice to make. I cannot ask Saber to make this choice for me, she would be against it.
"Would you?" I want to know how high the risk is. I need to know to make this decision.
"I'd never die, I promised you," Saber states sternly, without facing me. We both know what will be my decision. Both of us knew all along, if there is a chance to save Rin, I would take it. I would do the same and more for Saber.
I think back on when Dan used a Command Seal on Archer and repeat the words.
"Saber. I, Fujimaru Ritsuka, your Master, order you by the might of the Moon Cell's omniscience and the Command Seal given to me: Save Rin, without dying."
A part of the red symbol on my left hand disappears in a blinding light, engulfing Saber. Before I open my eyes again, she is gone. Looking at the projection, Saber now appeared next to Rin, taking her in her arms. "S-Saber? What—" Rin is surprised, shocked even, but there is close to no time. Saber is engulfed in a reddish light, that shines stronger every moment. She will soon be teleporting back, hopefully in time.
Knowingly, Lancer grins. "Thanks, girl. I owe you, for saving my Master." Then, he charges at the enemy Servant to distract him from Saber and Rin just enough so they can teleport back. Suddenly, the power is out.
No noise.
No light.
Nothing.
I am worried for Saber's life. Maybe my decision was wrong.
Then, the light comes back, and Saber appears in front of me with the unconscious Rin in her arms. This whole thing must have put a strain on her, so she passed out. Maybe she will not even wake up, and if she does, she will be a worse anomaly than me. What have I done?
But for now, I am just glad that Saber is—more or less—all right. Now it is my turn to support her, and first we take Rin to the infirmary. I trust the NPC nurse Sakura to take good care of Rin, and I will check on her regularly. I really hope she wakes up soon.
On the way to our room, I want to support Saber, but she brushes me off.
"That was dumb," is all she says.
"I'm sorry. But I had to do that."
"I know."
There is still a sharp, barely ignorable pain on the back of my hand. I wasted one of the three Command Seals that I could have used for harsher situations, endangering me or Saber.
Of course, she would be angry.