The spell that transported Shiomi and Lancer's Master was Morgan's "Mirror."
The three of them reappeared in an alley seven or eight blocks away from the seaside park near the Mion River.
"You really saved us," Shiomi said, leaning against a wall and thanking Morgan.
Morgan gave a small wave of her hand. "It was nothing. From the moment Caster appeared to when I activated the water mirror for the transfer, the timing was incredibly tight. If you two hadn't drawn his attention, the mirror would've been disrupted."
"That was already amazing," Shiomi replied with a wry smile.
She'd managed to transfer three people across nearly a hundred meters in just a few heartbeats. Even Shiomi, no stranger to magecraft, found himself impressed all over again by Morgan's genius.
"More importantly—" Morgan reached out to touch Shiomi's bloodied, sleeve-torn arm, "let's treat your injuries first."
Shiomi glanced down, lifting his arm. "They're not a big deal."
As he spoke, the wounds began to heal right before their eyes. There was no need for further treatment.
Morgan smiled faintly, then turned her gaze to Lancer.
The blue spearman was currently half-kneeling on the ground, cradling Bazett in his arms, carefully checking her condition.
"Looks like Bazett took quite a hit… To rush in like that, should I call it courage, or just recklessness?" Shiomi muttered, scratching his head.
Logically, someone with her years as a Sealing Designation Executor should've known better on a battlefield…
Shiomi figured it was probably because Bazett had Lancer by her side, and she thought she could help since he was there too.
"Yeah," Lancer said as he stood, still holding Bazett. "Anyway, that's it for today. We didn't get to settle things between us, but if you're looking for another round, I'm not turning it down."
Shiomi shrugged. "Up to you. This was supposed to be business, but I didn't expect you to be this war's Lancer. Guess I got carried away."
"That's what I like to hear!" Lancer grinned. "That's exactly how a disciple of the Land of Shadows should be."
"...Maybe." Shiomi pressed his lips together, finding no real argument.
After all, Scáthach herself—always calm and precise—had a surprisingly battle-hungry nature. There wasn't much entertainment in the Land of Shadows, and once Shiomi had grown strong enough to spar evenly with her, he became her favorite pastime.
With a master like that, the disciples were bound to turn out similar.
"So," Lancer sidled up beside Shiomi, throwing a half-playful, half-wary glance at Morgan, "aren't you gonna introduce me? Who's the lady here? Your Servant?"
"No... my wife," Shiomi said, one hand on his hip as he introduced her openly. "She is still technically a Servant, yes—but she's not participating in this Holy Grail War."
Lancer blinked, stunned. "Seriously? Damn, I guess even as your senior, I've got to bow my head this time."
Then he leaned close to Shiomi's ear and muttered, "But just a word of advice—watch out with this kind of woman. She doesn't look easy to handle."
"Cut the chatter, Cú Chulainn." Morgan had heard him, but her tone remained cool as she looked at him. "In this era, there's a saying: 'You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want.'"
Shiomi raised a brow. "I know you meant no harm. But I don't want to hear that again, Lancer."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Lancer replied, one eye closed in mock surrender. "I mean, I did die because I got tangled up with a malicious goddess, remember?"
The implication was clear—Cú Chulainn had sensed something about Morgan that reminded him of Morrígan, and that was why he'd warned his junior.
"What does that have to do with me?" Morgan replied with a wicked smile. "If it were me, I'd just curse the man who dumped me and cling to him until he died."
"See? Told you so!" Lancer sighed, almost too tired to joke. He gave Shiomi a pat on the back. "Good luck, man. I've got an injured Master to look after, so I'll leave the chatting to you two."
He turned with Bazett in his arms, preparing to leap onto the rooftops. But just before taking off, something seemed to occur to him. He looked back at Shiomi with an unusually serious expression.
"Looks like there's a real monster in this Holy Grail War. No matter how it ends, I'll come back for a proper rematch."
"I'll hold you to that," Shiomi nodded.
Lancer leapt up, and with a few agile bounds, vanished into the night skyline of Fuyuki.
Shiomi pushed himself off the wall, rubbing his arms against the chill, ready to return home and recover.
"Cú Chulainn says what he wants. I'm not bothered," he muttered.
"Even if he curses you to death?" Morgan asked.
"...I mean, it's not like I'd—" Shiomi flinched, cautiously glancing at her.
Morgan met his eyes. "Just kidding. Even if you've got other women on your mind, so long as you don't forget who comes first, it's fine."
"Uh..." Shiomi gave a sheepish grin.
"No matter what, your first woman will always be your teacher." Morgan tilted his chin up with a fingertip. Though she was technically looking up at him, the smile on her lips held an unexpectedly intense pressure. "That's an unchangeable fact—and honestly, I'm too tired to keep making a fuss over it."
"How do you even know about that?!" Shiomi grimaced. He was sure he'd cut the Master-Servant memory link that allowed dream-sharing.
But Morgan's face turned solemn. "I even know the true name of the Caster who appeared today. Just like you."
"You already...?" Shiomi was taken aback.
"His true name is Solomon—the King of Magecraft," she said. "Actually, I shouldn't even be saying that aloud. Just speaking it can invoke a curse."
Despite her warning, Morgan showed no fear of the so-called curse.
All traces of levity had vanished. Shiomi's expression mirrored her seriousness.
"I only clashed with him to buy time for retreat." Shiomi looked up at the moon through the narrow gap between buildings. "But I didn't expect even my magecraft would fail against him. The title 'King of Magecraft' is no exaggeration. There's no way I can let Sakura face someone like that—not a matter of whether she should be protected..."
...she would die for certain.
The King of Magecraft wasn't an enemy mortal Magi or standard Servants could handle.
"To protect Sakura, I'll have to break the rules and interfere in this Holy Grail War." Shiomi took Morgan's hand, locking eyes with her. "If you're willing, lend me your strength."
"If our enemy is the King of Magecraft," Morgan nodded gently, "even if you hadn't asked, I would've stepped in."