[3rd person POV]
Tokyo was alive. And she loved it.
Bright neon signs flickered overhead, casting hues of blues, reds, and yellows onto the wet pavement below. The hum of chatter, the distant sound of engines, and the rhythmic beat of nightlife blended into a chaotic harmony. Amidst this urban jungle, a certain eccentric girl strolled down the streets with an excited glint in her eyes… or eye as the other was bandaged by a star like eyepatch.
Standing out with her unusual attire and energetic behavior, she moved with the confidence of someone who belonged, no, someone who had claimed the entire space as her own. Passersby stole glances, puzzled by the foreigner's strange attire as she twirled on her heel, gazing at every shop window, every blinking advertisement, every minute detail that made up the cityscape.
"Aha! This place is wonderful!" She clapped her hands together, giggling to herself.
Her wandering led her through alleyways and main streets alike, exploring every curiosity that crossed her path. Vending machines? Fascinating, they look a bit different than the ones in London. Pachinko parlors? Wow, they are like slot machines but funnier. Is that a local street food stand? Oh, she'd definitely have to try some later.
After an hour of aimless exploration (and a few side quests of poking at Tokyo's attractions), she realized she hadn't actually decided on a proper workshop yet. That was an oversight, as much as she enjoyed her impromptu city tour, she had businesses to attend to. With a hum, she began looking for a suitable place.
'Hotels are too crowded, rental spaces have too many rules, and abandoned buildings, while atmospheric, are too unstable.'
Eventually after asking around for information on the places around, her search led her to an unusual find, an underground jazz bar that had closed down recently due to the owner's scarce health and his son refused to take over and instead opted to join this yakuza mafia or something, but still it had an intact lease.
With a mix of persuasion, through magecraft she convinced the owner to sublet it to her (she used a fake name)under the pretense of using it as a private space. It had everything she needed: a secretive underground location, a solid infrastructure and a fantastic aesthetic.
"Now this is what I call style." she said, spinning in place as she admired the dim lighting, the elegant furniture and the thick curtains. "I'm gonna have a blast here."
The former bar had an eccentric charm as it was spacious, hidden from prying eyes, and possessing just the right mix of secrecy and bizarre appeal. Certainly it suited her rather eccentric personality.
First, she reinforced the walls with bounded fields. It wouldn't do to have any unwanted interruptions. Setting up a few other pieces of equipment she finally went for the main piece of this course.
Among her belongings, she had brought a peculiar relic, a bronze piece of armor, dented but still emanating an air of old mysteries. She ran her fingers over it, her mind whirling.
"What kind of Servant will I get?" she mused aloud. "A mighty warrior? A cunning tactician? Ooh, maybe someone with a dramatic presence? Or… maybe one with a perpetual frown on his face like Teacher?"
Then, she meticulously drew the summoning circle, its intricate patterns glowing faintly under the dim lighting. Everything was prepared.
She exhaled, stretching her arms before stepping to the edge of the circle. "Alright, time to see what FATE has in store for me."
With a deep breath, she began the incantation.
"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill."
"Repeat five times, but destroy each when filled."
"Let silver and steel be the essence."
"Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation."
"Let my great master be the ancestor."
"Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall."
"Let the four cardinal gates close."
"Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."
The air crackled. Magical energy surged through the workshop, causing dust to dance in the air.
"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,Come forth from the circle of binding."
"Guardian of the Scales!"
FLASH
A brilliant silver light engulfed the room.
THUD
As the light faded, a figure stood in the center of the summoning circle. Tall, muscular, with a rugged and lazy posture. A man with unkempt brown hair with a goatee, a large spear resting against his shoulder.
"Ahh… well, this is a surprise." The man scratched the back of his head, yawning mid-sentence. "Didn't expect to get dragged into a mess like this again after dying."
"So I take it you must be my Master, right?"
Meanwhile the girl's single eye was gleaming. "Woah… Oh I mean, YES! I totally AM your Master."
"I see you are, well, quite energetic. Well with this our contract is signed. I have been summoned under the Lancer class my name is Hector"
The girl clapped, practically bouncing in place. "Hector! As in that Hector? The Hector that took part in the Trojan War and fought Achilles? Hector of the shining helm!?"
Lancer blinked. "Er, well, yeah. The one and only. Not sure about the 'shining' part though, kind of lost the shine after the first decade of war…and my helm as well."
She momentarily stopped having the impression she had seen a similar attitude once before but quickly got back to her energetic banter. "This is so cool. You're like, really famous. You were able to fight against Achilles and many more heroes for years before Achilles killed you and tied you to his chariot and ran around Troy after you died."
Lancer raised an eyebrow at that a bit ticked off."You know… you could have left the last part out. You didn't have to remind me…"
"Anyway, my name is Yvette L. Lehrman, a student magus of the Clock Tower from the department of modern magecraft, oh wait, you wouldn't know what that is. Anyway my family specializes in the use of gemcraft to create artificial mystic eyes. "
"Well nice to meet you Master. I hope you won't overwork my old bones. I'm not really that young anymore. Anyway, do you mind if I take a seat?" Said Lancer as he pointed to one of the chairs.
"..." Yvette could just stare at him in silence until she realized. 'His tired old man like attitude is kind of like Professor but he just gives the impression of being lazy instead of tired…'
"That's, uh, all good, right?" He scratched his cheek, peering around the dimly lit jazz bar before seating on one of the chairs. "I like the place. Real cozy. But a bit dusty."
Quickly regaining her carefree behavior Yvette responded without skipping a beat. "I know, right? It's the ambiance! You're lucky, by the way. Not every Servant gets summoned in such style."
"Sure, sure," Hector nodded slowly. "Better than a cold castle or a sewer. You get points for taste. And not summoning me into a volcano."
"I know, right? Anyway, Lancer before we start I really want something to ask you."
"Mhh? What is it, Master?"
"So, what's the wish you want to express to the grail?"
"Oh, that. Well I… I just want to meet my little brother again. I need to scold him really good for what he did last time. This way we can make peace with each other again afterward. What about you Master?"
"My wish?" she echoed, suddenly twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. "Oh, you know. It's, uh, complicated. Really deep. Super mysterious. One of those 'if I told you, I'd have to kill you' kinda things."
Hector gave her a flat look. "Right... But Master… you just asked me mine…"
"Oh, Lancer… you must understand, my wish is not merely a desire. No, no, no, it is a manifestation of my very soul! A crystallization of everything I am and strive to be! And my wish…" She exhaled, as though the weight of it were almost too immense to bear. "Ah, my wish is something simply that beautiful."
Hector raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And that means…?"
She waved a hand, as if dismissing his need for such petty details. "It is not something that can be explained so simply, Lancer. No, it is grand! It is elegant! It is a dream woven from devotion and longing, built upon years of unyielding persistence! A tale of patience! Of admiration! Of steadfast determination in the face of impossible odds!"
Standing up and pumping her fist on her chest she declared. "It's a wish about that feeling which every magus like me, No, a woman like me can't absolutely give up for her life."
'Maybe I'm just overthinking it but I'm starting to feel a strange sense of dejavu out of this conversation.' Thought Hector furrowing his brows, deep in thought until suddenly an image flashed in his mind.
************************
'Hey Big Brother you know…..'
************************
And suddenly he recalled a certain extremely handsome boy. A boy who came to him bragging about how he got the most beautiful woman among mortals as his woman. 'Oh no! Not this shit again. Please Master, tell me I'm just overthinking this. Please.'
"Say Master… could this be about a guy or something?"
Yvette gasped, clutching at her chest like he had just shot her through the heart. "How dare you reduce it to something so common!"
Hector sighed. "Master, I'm a war veteran. I've seen men charge headfirst into certain death with more subtlety than you're showing right now."
"You wound me, Lancer! To suggest that my wish is something so shallow, it is not about mere love! It is about finding one's rightful place in the world, against all odds!"
"…Still sounds like it's about a guy."
She huffed, turning away with a flick of her hair. "Hmph! You simply lack the vision to understand!"
"Oh, I understand perfectly. I fought a war and died in it after a certain someone wished for something pretty similar to this, you know."
"Hmph. I'm nothing like your brother! But the thought of starting a war over looks mighty fun. But wish is nothing like that. Not at all. I don't wish to solely possess someone."
She lifted her chin, her eye gleaming with pride, and declared. "My wish after all is to become… My Professor's concubine!!!"
Silence.
Complete, utter silence.
Hector blinked. Once. Twice.
Then, very slowly, he pressed his fingers to his temples. "Master."
"Yes, Lancer?"
"…You want to become a concubine?"
She nodded, entirely unashamed. "Umu. My Professor's concubine!"
"Not his wife? Don't all of you people have monogamous marriages in this era?"
"Ugh, boring! Where's the drama? The forbidden allure? The thrill of the student and teacher debaucherous love? The subtle power struggle between the wives? Monogamous marriage is rigid, Lancer! But a concubine? A concubine is perfect."
Hector let out the longest sigh of his life. "...I can't believe it… even after dying I'm fighting in a war for this kind of thing?... Again."
He slumped further in his chair mumbling to himself in self commiseration. "I'm so tired already and I've just been summoned. Can't an old man like me get a break?"
Looking at the scene Yvette couldn't help but stare at him with a deadpan expression. "Oh come on Lancer you barely look like you're in your thirties. Don't act like an old man."
"Trust me, I feel like I'm getting older just after having this conversation. I mean Master not to be rude but you do realise what kind of wish you are joining this war for, right?"
Yvette huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Excuse you, Lancer! I am a woman of sophistication, ambition, and most importantly, I have the most important driving force a woman could have!"
"…Which is the desire to become your teacher's concubine?"
"Exactly!"
Hector groaned. "You're unbelievable…" He rubbed the bridge of his nose before looking at her with a tired gaze. "Alright, fine. You got your reasons. I got mine. You're my Master, so I'll fight for you."
Yvette smirked. "You'll get used to it! Now then, Lancer, we need a plan! We need–"
"We need a nap."
She blinked. "…What?"
"I just got summoned," Hector groaned, got up and stretched his back. "My old bones aren't ready for war just yet."
Yvette huffed, crossing her arms. "Come on Lancer we cannot stay holes up here, at least come take a look outside and scout the surroundings with me. You can just give a quick look at Tokyo as I try out those pachinko parlors again."
Hector let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Haa… Fine, fine." He stood and stretched, already regretting his life choices, or afterlife choices, rather.
'I guess I don't have much of a choice. She's obviously inexperienced when it comes to war… If I let her wander off alone, she might do something reckless and get herself killed. That wouldn't sit right with me.'
"Alright." he finally said. "But just for a little while. After that I really need a nap."
Yvette's brow twitched at his halfhearted agreement, but she grinned, satisfied nonetheless. "Hmph! Whatever. You can sleep later. Now come on Lancer, LET'S GO GAMBLING!"
Hector pinched the bridge of his nose as he followed her toward the exit.
'Haa I can't believe it…'
'Haa I can't believe it…'
'I have been summoned by an absolute lunatic Master.'
'I have summoned a Super Lazy Servant.
"Also one last thing." Hector said, stopping just before they left.
Yvette tilted her head. "Hm? What is it?"
Without a word, Hector raised the hand holding his spear. Then–
SHRINK
In an instant, the spear's shaft shrinked and it became a sword.
"Call me Saber when we are outside." He said smoothly. "This way we'll be able to catch our opponents off guard. Don't worry I'm extremely skilled with the sword as well so unless we meet the actual Saber the enemy would believe they are most likely fighting the servant of the sword."
Yvette's single eye sparkled with admiration. "Ohhh, that's so cool! Smart thinking La–mmm Saber." She clapped her hands together. "Alright, let's get going!"
***
As Yvette and Hector stepped out into the Tokyo night, but this time a little difference was there. Namely Hector got a change of clothes.
Yvette had insisted on a wardrobe change, and despite his grumbling, Hector found himself standing in front of a car window looking at his reflection, adjusting the crisp black suit she had thrown at him. The black jacket fit surprisingly well over his broad frame, the loosened tie adding a casual touch to the otherwise formal ensemble.
Hector adjusted the cuffs of his suit, eyeing his reflection another few times before turning to Yvette. "Are you sure you don't want me to just dematerialize? I'll be draining your magical energy like this." His tone was casual, but there was a hint of concern in his voice.
Yvette, however, waved off his worries with a huff. "Oh, please! What's the point of having a Servant if I can't even have fun with him?" She clasped her hands behind her back and grinned. "Besides, we're supposed to be partners, right? It'd be boring if I just walked around alone."
Hector sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I suppose that makes sense." He gave her a tired smirk. "Just don't complain if you start feeling a little lightheaded."
"I'll be fine," she said confidently, grabbing his wrist and pulling him along. "Now come on! We've got a city to explore."
Yvette's one visible eye darted across the busy streets, brimming with excitement. "Ooooh! Look at this!" She sprinted to a vending machine, pressing her face against the glass. "Look Saber, they have drinks with jelly inside! I have to try this!"
Hector trailed behind her, his usual lazy expression in place. "Didn't take you for the type to get excited over a drink."
She fumbled with some coins, feeding them into the machine.
CLINCK CLUNCK
THUD
The bottle rattled down the chute, and she eagerly pulled it out. Giving it a shake, she popped the cap and took a deep sip.
Her entire face scrunched up. "Bleh! It's so weird! Why is it chewy!?"
Hector smirked. "You just said it had jelly inside, of course it is."
"I know! But I wasn't expecting it to feel like that!" She gagged but downed the rest anyway, wiping her mouth dramatically. "Alright, next thing, the pachinko!"
Grabbing Hector's wrist, she practically dragged him toward the nearest parlor. The moment they stepped inside, they were assaulted by an avalanche of sound.
RATTLE CLATTER
DING DING DING
The air was thick with cigarette smoke, flashing lights, and the relentless clatter of tiny steel balls bouncing through machines.
Yvette slid into an empty seat, cracked her knuckles, and grinned. "Alright, let's see how lucky I am!"
Five minutes later.
"This is rigged!" She grumbled, slumping in defeat.
"You lost all your tokens already, didn't you?" Hector said, arms crossed standing behind her.
She huffed. "That's beside the point."
He shook his head with a tired smile, but then.
SHIVER
A chill crawled up his spine. His posture shifted just slightly and he sharpened his senses. Someone was watching them.
He glanced toward the entrance and caught a shadow of a figure a little distance away. Too far to make out his appearance but enough to feel his gaze on him.
"Master." He said quietly.
Yvette, still grumbling about her losses, barely noticed. "Yeah?"
"Finish up. We should get moving."
"Huh?" She blinked up at him. "What, are you tired already or–"
His eyes flicked toward the exit.
Yvette turned just in time to see a figure disappear around the corner.
Her lips curled into a grin. "Ohhh, are we being tailed?"
She instantly got up to her feet and slipped out of the parlor from the backdoor with Hector right behind her. The moment they stepped onto the alley, the air changed. The usual city noise, chatter, distant car horns, the hum of neon lights, faded into a suffocating silence.
Then.
FWISH
Hector's body moved on instinct.
CLANG
He yanked Yvette backward just as something whizzed past, embedding itself into a wall.
"What the…?" Yvette yelped.
CLANG
He twisted just in time, metal clashing against metal as his sword intercepted a long, gleaming spear. Sparks scattered into the air, the force of the impact sending a sharp vibration through his arms.
"Tch!" Hector gritted his teeth, pushing back against the weapon.
A few feet away, the attacker stepped forward from the shadows, revealing himself under the glow of streetlights.
Golden eyes, tanned skin and spiky silver hair. Bronze and silver armor. A regal yet wild presence. The man before him wielded a longspear, its blade gleaming dangerously, a heavy round shield strapped to his left arm.
"You noticed me faster than I expected." The man mused, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Good reflexes."
Hector didn't respond, he didn't need to. Instead, he shifted his weight, stepping forward as his armor materialized and swung his sword in a sharp arc.
SWISH–CLANG
The enemy met the attack head on, his shield bashing to deflect the strike. The instant their weapons clashed, his spear shot forward.
BANG SCRREEEECCHH
Quickly, Hector's right arm let go of the sword, and he used his armored forearm to angle the speartip, redirecting it just enough to slide over the surface of his armored arm. Crouching down and letting the spear pass over his head he used his left arm to launch a stab to his opponent's open flank.
SHING
The man expertly shifted his weight and used his shield to parry the strike, the heavy bronze parrying Hector's blade with a swift, practiced motion. The force of Hector's thrust only pushed the man back slightly, creating just enough distance for him to regain his stance.
However.
CRACK
The shield did not make it out of the confrontation unscratched as a small crack was visible in the middle of it.
Silence hung in the air for a moment as the man gave a quick once over at his shield.
"You're no amateur," he admitted, his voice tinged with respect. "Judging by your skill and the strength of that sword… Could you be Saber?"
He rolled his shoulder, the weight of his shield resting comfortably against his arm, readjusting his stance he readied himself to charge once at Saber.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lancer."
***
AUTHOR NOTE: Here Hector's outfit inspiration.