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The voice wasn't aimed at him, of course.
A twin-tailed girl stepped forward, her figure tall and slim. She had a sharp, pale face, carrying an air of nobility and elegance. But Yuto's eyes were drawn elsewhere, to her legs. Wrapped in black stockings that hugged her long, toned thighs, they gleamed faintly under the dim streetlight, their shape almost too perfect.
'No wonder they call her legs a lifetime treasure,' Yuto thought, recognizing her at once. This was Rin Tohsaka.
In the dark, Rin didn't catch his stare. Her blue eyes locked onto the girl behind him, a mix of confusion and curiosity flickering across her face. "Artoria, is this your house?"
Artoria, the blonde girl, let out a small sigh of relief. "Yes, it is. Rin, what's happening here?" Her voice carried a hint of comfort, glad to see someone she knew.
Rin blinked, still piecing things together. Back in their normal lives, they were classmates at the same school. Artoria's beauty, grace, and top grades made her a bit of a school star, and while they weren't super close, they got along fine. What neither had guessed was that both hid a secret, they were magi. Artoria only knew the basics, picked up from her adoptive mother, Irisviel, while Rin came from a long line of skilled mages.
"I didn't expect you to be the seventh Master," Rin said, crossing her arms with a faint sigh. "But you look totally lost, like you have no idea what's going on."
Artoria nodded, her face clouded with confusion. "Yeah, I'm still in the dark."
After everything tonight, running into someone familiar felt like a lifeline. Artoria instinctively leaned on Rin for answers. "Rin, can you explain what's happening? Please?"
"Sure," Rin replied. It might help her rival, but she'd do it anyway; not out of kindness, but pride. Beating someone clueless wasn't her style. "I'll clue you in. Not because I'm soft, but because I want a fair fight. That's the Tohsaka way."
Just as Artoria perked up, eager for answers, sharp sirens pierced the night. Her face tightened, but Rin stayed cool. "Looks like your earlier fight got noticed," she said. "Don't worry, we'll steer clear of regular people. Let's head to the church, the supervisor there can handle this and fill you in."
"Church? Supervisor?" Artoria echoed, puzzled.
"Think of the Church as the referee for the Holy Grail War," Rin explained, her blue eyes steady. "They keep magi and Servants from messing up the normal world too much. The priest there will tell you everything."
Artoria glanced at Yuto for reassurance. He gave a firm nod. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe no matter where we go."
With that, Artoria's resolve hardened. "Okay, Rin, let's go to church."
....
The church loomed ahead, but as they stepped inside, Yuto's gut twisted. It didn't feel holy. It felt more like something dark hung in the air.
A tall, broad man turned to face them. He had short brown hair, brown eyes, and wore a priest's robe made of tough fabric, a cross dangling at his chest. He looked trustworthy, like a proper holy man, but Yuto knew better. Beneath that mask lurked a twisted soul who thrived on others' pain.
"Evening, everyone," the priest said with a smooth, practiced smile. "I'm Kotomine Kirei, the overseer of this Holy Grail War."
"Rin, it's been a while," he added, nodding at her.
Rin wrinkled her nose, not hiding her annoyance. "Let's skip the small talk. Artoria and her Servant are new to this, explain it to them."
Kotomine didn't flinch at her tone. He launched into a detailed rundown of the Holy Grail War: its rules and its history. When he mentioned the fire from ten years ago, Artoria froze.
"So… that fire that took my family… it was because of the Holy Grail War?" Her voice shook as the truth sank in. That blaze had stolen everything from her, and now she knew why.
In this world, her adoptive mother, Irisviel, had been a Master in the last war. After it ended in failure, she gave up her role, handed her magic crest to the Mage's Association, and settled in Fuyuki, adopting Artoria, a lone survivor of the disaster.
Even with the weight of her past, Artoria didn't waver. "I'll join the war," she said, her tone firm. "Not just for the Grail, but to stop anyone else from suffering like I did."
...….
After they left, Kotomine stood quiet for a moment, then opened his Bible and read a line aloud. "That Archer… he feels dangerous, like a king," he muttered.
A golden glow suddenly lit the church. A striking woman with golden hair appeared, dressed in sleek modern clothes but radiating pure royalty. "You're not the only one who feels it," she said, her voice icy and proud. "He's got a hint of my essence, and I don't like it."
Kotomine dipped his head slightly. "My King, should we unleash Berserker?"
The woman, Gilgamesh, in female form smirked, a glass of wine appearing in her hand. She took a sip. "You've got a dark streak, priest. Fine, let him loose."
Kotomine grinned, but then paused. "Wait… Berserker's already gone?"
Gilgamesh shrugged. "Let him run wild. He'll stir things up on his own."
...….
On the way back, Rin stopped and faced Artoria. "Listen up, next time we meet, we're enemies," she said, trying to sound stern.
Artoria nodded earnestly. "I get it, but you're still my classmate, right?"
Rin's cheeks turned pink, flustered by the innocence. Yuto chuckled to himself. It was a scene of classic tsundere meeting the pure-hearted type.
But then, the shadows moved. Two women stepped into the glow of a streetlamp, their figures sharp against the night.
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