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Is Medusa really that weak?
Of course not
The current Medusa stood among the top-tier Saber class servants, armed with three Noble Phantasms of her own. Her master, Sakura, wasn't some powerless novice either. Yet, despite all that, she'd been thoroughly crushed. The reason? Harpe countered her too perfectly.
Servants carried stories from their myths, etched into their spirit origins, shaping both their Noble Phantasms and their flaws. Take Achilles for example, anyone with a bit of myth knowledge knew his heel was his downfall. Medusa was no different. Perseus had sliced off her head with that very blade, a tale that became her strength and her fatal weakness.
As the old saying went, strike a snake at its vital point. Yuto did just that, hitting the gorgon's core and leaving the striking woman badly wounded.
"Um… Archer," a voice hesitated.
Sure, watching the smug little sister get humbled felt good. But Sakura was still family. Rin couldn't just stand by and let Yuto finish her off. The black-haired girl stepped forward, her long legs clad in dark stockings, planting herself in his path.
"Can you let her off this time?"
"Is this a request?" Yuto raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I guess. If you agree, we'll owe you one," Rin said with a sigh.
"What do you think, Master?" Yuto turned to Artoria.
"I… okay, Archer, let them go for now," the blonde girl replied. Her green eyes flickered with a hint of pity as she glanced at the defeated pair. She'd only been a master for less than a day, expecting her to turn cold and ruthless that fast was asking too much.
"Since my master says so, I'll spare you this time." Instead of leaving, though, he stepped over to Sakura, looking down at her. "Before you go, you owe my master an apology."
"I-I'm sorry… classmate, I shouldn't have called you useless," Sakura mumbled, lifting her head. She bit her lip, clearly reluctant.
"Hmm, I forgive you," Artoria said.
Victory!
Seeing her servant win so smoothly, taking down the pair who'd mocked her in a flash, Artoria's face lit up with a bright, joyful smile.
"Archer, you're amazing!"
"Haha," Yuto chuckled, reaching out to pat her soft head. Her golden ahoge bobbed under his hand before drooping back down. It felt oddly nice.
"Uh…!" Artoria flinched back, her eyes misty with shyness, though she seemed to linger on the warmth of his touch.
…..
Sakura finally left, dragging her unconscious Saber along.
As Yuto and Artoria prepared to head out, a tall figure in purple approached, her long legs moving with purpose.
"Need something, Lancer?" Yuto asked, his brow creasing slightly.
Scathach wasn't like Medusa, with her glaring weaknesses. Her mastery of combat and the unerring Gae Bolg made her a headache to face, even for him.
"Archer, you're quite the mystery," she said, her blood-red eyes glinting with interest. "Wielding the Harpe from Greek myths and Rune magic too. Just who are you?"
"Me? Just a regular archer," Yuto replied, catching the spark of battle lust in her gaze. His head started to ache. 'Is Shishou itching for a fight?'
It wasn't out of the question. After watching two fights that didn't involve her, the queen of the Land of Shadows seemed restless.
In the Nasuverse, Scathach ruled the Land of Shadows, a Celtic realm for the dead. Her skills bordered on divine, paired with ancient Rune magic. She'd slain countless spirits, humans, and even gods. This god-slaying warrior had trained warriors and mages alike, but her immortality, a curse from her deeds haunted her. She craved someone strong enough to end her endless life.
"You're making me curious, Archer. Grab your weapon, I want to fight you," she said.
As expected, she threw down the challenge.
"Someone like you might just be able to kill me," she added, her eyes flashing with battle lust. The spear in her hand hummed, its tip glowing faintly red with intent.
A fight was seconds away. But Rin, tired of the day's battles, stepped in.
"Lancer, it's late. Save it for next time," she called.
"Rin, don't forget my wish: to find a warrior who can kill me. Archer's perfect. It's been ages since I've seen someone this skilled," Scathach shot back, frowning at her master.
"But you're my servant now." Rin lifted her wrist, showing the red Command Seals. "At least see me through the Holy Grail War first, yeah?"
"Fine, I'll listen this once," Scathach relented. Turning to Yuto, she stepped close, her tight outfit hugging her frame, and leaned toward his ear. A soft scent and warm breath brushed him, turning his ears pink.
"Boy, I'll wait for you… wait for you to challenge me," she murmured. "I've waited for this for so long…a day or two more won't hurt. Don't let me down."
Her words carried a teasing edge, but they promised a brutal end. As she walked away, her figure swaying, Yuto's eyes lingered on her curves.
'Shishou's got a killer body,' he thought.
"Archer!" A sharp, jealous voice cut in. He turned to see Artoria pouting.
"What are you staring at? Is Lancer's figure that nice?"
Yuto looked sideways and whistled, dodging the question.
"Let's go, Master. It's late, you must be tired, right?"
"Yawn… yeah," Artoria agreed. The night's chaos hit her all at once, her eyelids growing heavy. "Let's get home. I'm exhausted."
While Yuto and Artoria headed home to rest, Scathach's mood soured on the way back to the mansion. For a warrior like her, spotting a worthy foe and not fighting left her restless.
"Lancer…" Rin started, glancing at the striking queen of shadows. She paused mid-sentence as they passed a park. Scathach tensed, her spear appearing in a flash.
"Tch, that's some bold killing intent," Rin said, peering into the shadows. "Why bother hiding?"
"Rin, watch out," Scáthach warned, her red eyes blazing with excitement. "This one's trouble."
"Hm?" A tall knight in black armor stepped out, his movements grinding with an eerie noise. Under the streetlight, they saw his twisted red sword and the dark mist cloaking him. He radiated danger.
Rin didn't recognize him, but his aura screamed threat, like she was his sworn enemy.
"Are you… Berserker?" she asked, frowning.
It made sense. Berserkers traded sanity for raw power through Mad Enhancement. They hit hard and took hits well, but their luck, speed, and defense suffered. Strongest in attack, weakest in precision.
His mindless state confirmed it; he ignored her completely.
"Arthur… Arthur… different Arthur… doesn't matter, all Arthur… kill, I'll kill him!" he rambled, voice rough and broken.
"What?" Rin blinked, lost.
His words were more mad muttering than talking. With a roar, his magic surged, black flames dancing around his sword. He vanished in a blur.
"Arthur… haaa!"
"Huh?" Rin stood confused as Scathach shoved her back, twin red spears in hand, charging towards the crazed knight.
"Not bad. Finally, a fight tonight," Scathach said.
"Arthur!!"
Boom!
It was going to be a long night.
...….
Ding ling ling~
Another morning dawned. Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains, warming a bed decked out in girly charm.
"Ahh… yawn." A pale hand fumbled from the covers, silencing the noisy alarm after a few tries. The girl lingered in a daze before waking fully.
Even on weekends, Artoria stuck to her routine; up on time, washing up, dressing. Before breakfast, she'd hit the dojo for sword practice.
...
She slid the dojo door open and glanced inside. Morning light streamed through the windows, brightening the dim space. In the center, Yuto sat cross-legged in casual clothes, deep in meditation.
The gentle glow sharpened his handsome features, giving them a crisp, striking edge.
"Archer," she said. Last night's events replayed in her mind, prompting a few deep breaths.
"Sigh, it wasn't a dream." It all felt too real: the Holy Grail War, servants, masters.
Speaking of which, Rin's claim that 'the church would handle it' held up. Her house had been wrecked by battle fallout, yet no one came knocking. That priest must've worked hard to clean up.
Noticing her curious stare, Yuto opened his eyes and looked back.
"Morning, Master."
"Good morning, Yu—no, Archer," Artoria corrected, slipping off her shoes. She padded into the dojo barefoot, eyeing him. "Why didn't you sleep in the guest room?"
"I don't get tired. My body can go ten days without rest, no problem," he said.
"That's handy," she said, genuinely impressed.
"Since you're up, let's eat. Servants don't need food, but masters need energy. Three meals a day are a must."
"Oh, uh… I just woke up. I haven't made breakfast yet," Artoria said, scratching her hair awkwardly. "Can you wait?"
"No need." Yuto surprised her. "I already made it."
"Huh?"
…..
Five minutes later, they sat across from each other in the dining room.
"Mmm! So good… this is amazing!" Artoria exclaimed, digging in.
"Archer, how are you this good at cooking? Were you a chef at some fancy hotel?"
"I just threw it together," Yuto said. Watching her devour everything. Seeing her cheeks puffed like a squirrel, he couldn't help but smile. Her delight gave him a quiet sense of pride.
It'd been ages since Artoria had eaten anything this tasty. Her adoptive mom couldn't cook, and her new guardian loved eating more than making food. For a foodie like her, this meal was a wake-up call for her taste buds.
When she finally swallowed the last bite, the table was covered in empty bowls.
"I'm so full," she said, patting her round belly with a happy grin. Life had never felt this good.
"Master, do you live alone now?" Yuto asked, seeing she'd finished.
"The house looks too clean for just one person."
"Sort of. Fuji-nee's my guardian and she comes to stay over sometimes," Artoria explained. She went on about Taiga Fujimura, her homeroom teacher and English instructor at Homurahara Academy. Apparently, Taiga was close with Artoria's mom, maybe even her student back in the day.
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