Slow and Steady is What is Called for Here...

Kiritsugu Emiya

. . .

"What is this?" the fairy woman we later learn is named Orlagh. "I don't suppose that you're able to speak in something besides chimes and faint bell sounds?

"Do you speak Human at least?" the young-sounding fairy woman sighs, glancing back at the other fey folks which I recognize (with more than a bit of dread) native to my plane of existence or whatever you'd call it in this situation.

Had NOT thought to have to qualify such things when I'd . . .closed my eyes for the last time.

That qualifier seems necessary, considering that THE GHOSTLY SABER JUST WENT RIGHT BY HER WITHOUT BAITING AN EYE AND MERGED WITH THAT EMPTY BUT LIVING HUSK.

Oh, and by the way, the only reason why I and my group don't act surprised by this was that was what was SUPPOSED to happen when we finally tracked Saber's empty body down.

. . .

What? I'm too calm? Out of character?

You do remember that before I found myself in this insane and stressful situation with these Champions, I had been cursed by the Grail to a slow and painful death.

That I am alive and whole again, is confusing, to say the least. Not going to say I find my WIFE being back again is anything bad either, but it is . . .awkward.

And she not only knew about me . . . . having a "relation" with Maya behind her back, but she had actually ENCOURAGED Maya to have this "secret relation" behind her back with me?!

What the ever-living FUCK?!

My wife! She said that she wanted Maya to be there besides Ilya to keep me . . .invested in living after her (until NOW) inevitable death when the Grail War . . . .The FOURTH one! Was over.

Honestly, I had THOUGHT that when my wife had first mentioned my . . .er . . .relationship with Maya had been Rei's fault, having taken their knowledge of other worlds through their various movies and other forms of entertainment and blabbing about it.

No! No, not at all! Oh, it was VERY unexpected and disquieting finding myself being sky hooked and dragged bodily over from the docks there by her group. That was true. And I think I could be FORGIVEN for being out of sorts because of that.

No, as it turns out in my wife's own words when I asked (like an idiot) about how'd she'd known. She'd blinked and said something along the lines that she might have been decanted from the alchemical batch at night, but not Last night. That and she'd been in on it with Maya behind MY back all along and . . .

I don't know what to think or feel exactly right now but I do know one thing.

I need a drink!!

So while I'm not totally OUT of it, I'm finding I am somewhat on the back foot here and do NOT like that at all. Almost feel like I am in the same boat as Rin, but not totally.

I mean on the back foot or not, I at least know damn well enough why Rei and her older sisters are a bit frosty with her (though not all the details). She insulted them all, and this hurt the youngest sisters. Especially the youngest sister. I have sat with Shiro (my Shiro, the one who's still a child and not a teenager or a red-clad Heroic Spirit who is of the Archer Class) with him when he watched all that damnable shonen anime.

If that young girl is NOT a Moe, I'll eat my own Origin Bullet! Lacking in self-confidence and shy, Of course hurting her feelings is going to cause all sorts of strife. What is with this Rin girl?

I just wish I knew MORE about Rei and her crew. Something about them is ringing a bell, but it has been YEARS since I have seen any of that Young Adults fiction that is rumored to have been created by some high member of the Clock Tower. Didn't follow it out of what I had thought was some kind of garbage about it having a key to the Root if played right. I followed it because it happened to be interesting (at times).

They had mentioned something about an anime called Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the winged girls having come from a world reflected within the show. But if so, the Magic Girl anime of the same name which Rei's group hales from has little to NOTHING in common with the Gaint Robot deconstruction that Archer told me about.

Gods, which is a damn good thing considering how twisted and messed up that world must have been. I do NOT want to have to deal with anything of that place, thank you. Especially the part about the First Child: Yui Ichijo! A half-human/half-alien entity of a race which is called an Angel and the basis for the Judeo Christian angel (or at least the "Fear Not" abominations you'd find in the darker parts of that religion. Emotionless robot in human form at best, or a Kuudere (a person who has difficulty expressing emotions or is cool/aloof) at worst and who has trouble with human interactions? And mental/emotional problems with powers that eventually wiped out almost all life on Earth in that story? No thank YOU!!

Still, there is something about both Rei and Fred Takahashi here that is making the hair on my neck stand up on end. That and I know that there is SOMETHING that they are not telling us. Either because they do not want to bother. Or they just feel there isn't anything we "mere mortals" can do to help.

And for the record, it isn't like I and the rest of the group here who are non-Champions CAN do much to help! I have my weapons, but even upgraded as they have been by us having been "converted" by "axion wash" into "Terra Prime" human, they're at best very WEAK Noble Phantasms against what we're likely to face.

OH, and you're protesting about us Maguses having magic at our fingertips? Oh, it . . .converted into something . . .useless don't you know! Until (and unless) we get to visit the Dark Tower/Root, the best we can cast are illusion spells. Illusions of magical attacks. Illusions of me being able to use Double or Triple Accel...

Not saying that Rei has been rude or condescending. Been very polite and considerate. Just been too BUSY for much chit chat, even mentally. Just saying it's a feeling that she'd not sharing something important we're facing. Even IF we're facing enough as it stands!

. . .

Fred Takahashi, where have I heard that name before in those Champion stories?

"Yes, I actually do speak 'Human'," Rei says after a small pause, glancing over at the spectacle of all the fairies buzzing and fretting about the slowly reviving Sa. . . .King Arturia Pendragon

. . .

Am I seeing things here, or has . . . the Once and Future King suddenly gotten sharp/pointed ears just like the small girl who is the spitting image of Hannah we have in OUR group? And why do the other Fey folk here seem happy about this?

"So . . .what is exactly going on here?" the small fairy woman asks, glancing first at her wide-eyed charge, then back at Arturia who's just waking and stretching as if awaking from a short nap (and not like waking up just before dying permanently like in her Legend) and then at OUR Hannah.

"Did that bearded man in black send you here as well to save my daughter?" with a little challenge in her voice as if daring us to cross her.

1. "Calls himself the Master, I should add even IF that is a bit pretentious!"

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