Sage of the Forest

What a shame, she thought, that the two of them had not been designated to stay in the same ward. She would have delighted in knowing she could bother the druid any time she liked, but, simply knowing where he resided would have to do for now.

“I’ve been, it’s quite beautiful… but, I suppose you’re right.”

Glancing back, she gave him a knowing smile; of course she understood what he referred to. In both their minds, few sights could possibly compare to their homeland and its myriad of scenery. Such a gesture was fleeting, however, as Medb quickly turned her head back forwards while continuing to walk. 

Still she listened, eager to explore each of the wards for herself.

“Archimedes ward, that’s where I’ve been staying.” A pause, a slight shrug of her shoulders. “For now, anyway.”

“Such small spaces hardly suit most Servants, especially not myself.”

Of course, the dwellings provided were hardly any different from those of Chaldea, but, Medb considered those circumstances to be different. Here in this strange city, she could do far better once given the opportunity, and that was one of many goals.

“Say, how many other Servants have you found here, hm?”

Medb understood, of course she knew, it had been sung in the legend they shared. The feeling of sharing that nostalgia, the idea that there was something in which they could agree and feel, was uncanny. Surprise was evident in his gaze for a brief moment as he continued to follow. 

Good thing she’d be busy trying to take over Archimedes. or probably worse, she could turn it into her very version of Connacht. The idea made him strangely shiver. He couldn’t allow it to happen, but then it would mean he’d have to keep an eye on her, and then that would mean he’d have to remain discretely close. 

“This is just like Chaldea, except for the fact we’re kinda free.” Ideas kept piling up one above the other, each one more dreadful than the previous. Ah, the irresistible sense of responsibility, he hated being a Caster.

The clicking of the staff stopped dryly as he stood, firm, still behind the Queen.

Funny that he’d be the first to wander into her shop. Except this isn’t the Lancer that she remembers. The face is the same, though their outfits are a very stark contrast. In fact, it’s kind of jarring seeing him wield a staff instead of the lance that she knew him to have. Regardless, whether he’s summoned as a Lancer of Caster, her opinion hardly changes. From the moment he walked in, she knew that he was going to be trouble. “Ugh…” But she must admit, he still had that smooth personality.

“Who’d have thought that you’d be summoned as a Caster and wander in here…it really is dumb luck.” She huffs, leaning against the counter, hand pressed to her head for a moment as she figures out just how to deal with him. “Let’s just say the other you and I…well, that’s not important.” And she’d rather not egg him on with what his last words were. “Your reliability is subjective until you prove your worth.”

“Magic tools I can provide. A map as well, but it’s going to take some time. I’m still mapping out exactly how far the ley lines around this city go. It’s big, you know. What do you need them for anyway? I’d have thought that you had the means to deal with whatever.”

There was something hiding behind those serious eyes, he could sense it. Intrigued, he leaned forward, resting an elbow on the counter as he looked at the mage across it.

“We share some experiences. But at times, things get blurry like a dream.” Or when wasted on honeymead. “Shame we can’t forget some things, like the asshole in red.” But it didn’t matter when or how, he’d always be there, standing in his path with that smug smile.

He then breathed deeply, eyes closed as if embracing the earnest duty of a druid.

“If we’ve been summoned here, there has to be a Grail, and the leylines will guide us there. Or at least, to whatever power brought us here.” His eyes opened again, strangely serious. 

Victory! Somebody to chat with during the dead periods at work! Sure, she’d be spending most that time trying to figure out whether or not he was a demon, but anything was worth preventing that boredom.

… not that she had convinced him into the job just to have someone to talk to, no. It was only a lucky byproduct of helpfully assisting him to finding a job with actual pride to its name. Definitely.

As for food?

“They pay biweekly, but I have enough Dust for a quick meal if you need.” As if she would allow someone to starve! Even if Servants didn’t technically need to eat, but that was beside the point. 

“Is that so?” Caster glanced away, pretending to be not as desperately interested as he truly was. He still had some sort of pride left..., right? Screw that.

And then he glanced back, his red eyes almost gleaming. “So you’re offering me your hospitality? Or is this a date? I’m up for all, y’know.”

Cú grinned. Couldn’t end bad, he’d get a meal and dinner with a cute, strong-willed girl. What could ever go wrong?

“I think I’m free this evenin’“. 

“Oh, hey Lan-chan.” Shirou was far too friendly a boy. For one it was wrong to go nicknaming somebody without permission. He walked up to the man he recognized as lancer, though his outfit was quite different. “You’re not going to stab me this time are you?” 

Of course, Lancer was an ally who saved Rin so Shirou held no grudge against him. In general he tended to forgive violence done to himself far too easily, he would help even a villain if they turned around and asked for it. This was just his morbid sense of humor. Even though Shirou recognized the other man, he saw no recognition in Lancer’s eyes.

Strange. Shirou was not yet aware of the fact that servants could be summoned in other classes. He tilted his head to the side, wondering why the man was not paying attention to him. He had stabbed him once, so they were friends right? “Hey, it’s me, Emiya. What’s with the sudden outfit change, did the skin tight leather get too cold for you?” Shirou leaned in close to inspect the other’s face. “You look hungry. What’s wrong? Did you eat some dog’s meat by mistake or something?” Shirou could be quite sassy when he wanted to be. He usually hid this side of himself, but Lancer did stab him in the rib cage, so he could take some ribbing. 

“Huh”, the voice forced one lazy red eye to open and stare at the young man standing next to the bench. He had never seen that boy but he remembered him somehow. The blood, the building, the moonlight, and the sour taste of an obligation. Killing outside the battlefield never satisfied him, yet that had ever stopped him from doing what needed to be done.

Caster’s head cocked to the side, earrings hanging loosely around his head as his eyes squinted, he tried to understand and fully recognize the boy. 

“Oi...” the gaze fell to a heavy-lidded stare, the answer was clear now. Perhaps the prick in his pride, perhaps the uncanny sensation Shirou sparked, a familiarly annoying ability that only one servant possessed.

“You’re confusin’ me with Lancer. Don’t blame me for his mistakes, I’m the smart one of us, eh?” He sat up, now facing the boy dangerously close.

“So you come ‘ere, wake me up and make a dumb dog joke? I should stab you this time again, for good. You’re lucky my spear is gone” He leaned back, his temper worsened by hunger. 

Then, his lips stretched devilishly. “Can’t believe you remember the blue leather, eh? It’s as good as fightin’ naked, and I’m sure your mistress liked it. Oh, I met her again.”

Caster was sitting on one of the benches in the park, the staff at his side, the cerulean hair messy, his whole appearance shabbier than usual, almost as if he had been trying to hunt or sleeping in the wilderness. But there was a certainty, his pockets were as empty as his stomach. 

For someone who knew no defeat, this was the closest thing to misery he had known in several years. Whatever he had, had gone for Medb’s ‘funds’ as he tried to show her around the city... somehow. And the rest had been smoked into nothing. Good ol’ cigarettes, he’d never get tired of his companions.

He’d have to wait until the next payday or beg at the zoo for an advance. Caster’s eyes were closed as his head hung backwards on the bench as he snored or tried to think what he’d do with his dinner. So far, mentally facepalming was the only idea lodged in his mind.

“That sounds like an easy excuse to get out of toil.” Because, you know, her own job was clearly quite demanding. Wrestling animals to safety to allow her a chance to get any pent up need for violence out, taking all of a moment to heal them, and then leading them back. Clearly an exhausting, demanding job that demanded the big dollars.

Honestly, if they would just let her use her spare time as she wished instead of needing to find pretend busy work, it would be an easy thing.

“But, if you would rather be a fish merchant and stink up the place, it is hardly my place to argue with you. You spoke that you are already used to being out of Dust, anyways.”

That kind of hurt. He’d blush with shame if he hadn’t convinced himself selling fish was an awesome and very heroic job suited for the Child of Light.

“Uh, listen.”

“I know I’m broke and I kinda need a job now. Huntin’ with this dress is not as easy as you may think. And I think hunting is kinda illegal in Cotes. Same with fishin’. I guess I can join you like a part-time stuff. At least I understand how animals are supposed to live in the wilderness.” 

Caster inhaled and sighed, his eyes closed.

♐ ] “No. You aren’t clearly.” Clicking tongue as the archer would side eye him, though he can’t fault the logic used. It would seem as if of all his variations he’s seen, this one took advantage of strategy most. “I’m surprised to be honest. To think you’d make a decent caster.” But, that was the closest to a compliment that company would receive from him. “Though unless you can sense something I can’t, we’re just back to square one.” Though if they were to follow his theory, he could think of somewhere to visit.

“In the center of this city, there is a massive hole where everything is formed around. But there’s no telling how deep it is, on the account it goes on practically till the eye can see.” Without his skill of hawkeye as well, senses were only further muddled in their comprehension of. “Surprisingly, you’re the first however. Most don’t question this new realm, and just choose to exist in it.” Maybe seeing it as a second chance, and becoming comfortable. Or maybe they just wanted to enjoy something they couldn’t before. “What if there isn’t a grail, hmm?”

“Huh! Decent! Complimentin’ me already? Y’know I’m the fastest Lancer out there too. Hnn” His posture changed, the staff crossing his arms over his shoulders in that casual fashion he’d usually keep Gáe Bolg.

“Yeah, my senses are keen, let’s say I can smell mana or something.” Too much like a hound would. Or at least, it felt better than employing a sagely word suiting a mage instead of a warrior like him.

But his expression had helplessly changed. It didn’t matter how he tried to pretend he was completely carefree and careless, the idea kept pricking his mind like a bothersome thorn.

“Probably the answer is down there. I just don’t wanna see what happened in one Singularity repeat itself. Each time I’m summoned some mess happens. That’s why I’m wary. But you..., you out of all the servants. Aren’t you wary?” 

Her cheeks momentarily flushed due to the agitation that she noted in his expression; it truly did delight her, to affect the other Servant as she did. In fact, she could have antagonized him all day should she get the opportunity; given his offer, she had intentions of doing just that.

“Wonderful. Let’s walk and talk, shall we?”

She set off as he began to speak, fully expecting him to walk beside her (or at least trail behind her, either worked for the Queen).

“Oh, yes, yes, I’ve noted that much. Tell me, which of these ‘wards’ is the one you live in? I’d be absolutely tickled if we happened to be neighbors.” She laughed again, as if she had just told quite the humorous joke.

He was right of course; she had been confined to such tawdry dwellings, and her own power had been weakened. She would not verbalize such facts, however, as her pride would not allow it.

“I see. How fascinating.” 

“If this isle is within a singularity, as you’ve put it, is there anything akin to a holy grail?” 

She was quite curious about Spirale, and found no fault in pestering the druid with questions about it; how else would she learn (and annoy him)?

One red eye peered at her from the darkness of the hood. He never knew when a blade poisoned with the moon-knows-what would come in the most unexpected way. 

He followed, the steps slow and followed by the clicking of the staff. There was a strange dignity that none of his incarnations possessed (not even him), regal, like the hero during his days alive. Perhaps, it was almost as if he once more trod the lands of Ulster when Medb had been captured. Even as a prisoner she had been regarded as a Queen.

“I’ll probably regret this..., but they sent me to a Ward called Cotes. Looks a lot like Fuyuki with their forests and cherry blossoms. Can’t complain though, but it’ll never be like home.” He nodded once, probably Medb would understand. The green hills of Ireland were engraved in the souls of those who once fought and bled for it.

She laughed, unable to hide the genuine glee that spread through her frame at the druid’s discomfort. It was all the more wonderful to know that she was the cause of it all; how lovely it was to see his face twist in annoyance, and how humorous it was to see how easily she could push his buttons. Why, she might have done it all day had he not spoken up.

‘Wit’, he said; the very idea only made her snicker, which lead to a further bout of laughter. It was momentary, fleeting, just as the false tear she wiped from her eye.

“Oh… ahaha… is that what you really think? Well, I must thank you for being honest with me, I do appreciate sincerity. It’s a quaint trait to have.”

“I’ll be honest with you then, too,” she leaned, pausing; “It doesn’t matter how many versions of ‘you’ there are, my feelings will stay the same.”

Leaning back just as quickly as she had approached, Medb clapped her hands together. She continued to smile brightly, as if the very idea of speaking so venomously could never occur to her. That was the side of her his suggestion brought forth– or, that was what she wanted him to think.

“Would you be so kind as to give me a tour? I’d appreciate it, too.”

That laughter of true, genuine and evil happiness made him shiver. And those words, honest like a thorn, Medb was beautiful, strong-willed and powerful, she had a kingdom at her feet, armies willing to die in her name. She possessed the heart and dreams of countless men, and perhaps that was the reason why he couldn’t correspond. His luck with women was cursed, the only one who truly loved him was a devilish soul. The rest of them just forgot about him. And probably Medb would too.

“Fine, so be it.” The druid looked down, pushing those thoughts aside. If there was someone who could bring shadow to the Child of Light’s face was the legendary Queen of Connacht. 

“To start with..., you probably have been given an address, keys to a sort of house. You’ll have ...something like companions livin’ there too. The device you were given will help you contact others. This Singularity, as some call it, is filled with different citizens and heroic spirits. You may notice your magic is sealed. But most of the other ones aren’t. So fighting is not something you wanna do.”

His eyes then closed, strangely solemn as he granted her the path back to her weapons.

Most days, she’s able to spend her time peacefully making sure the shop is in order all while taking care of the very few customers that trickled in. Today, however, is not one of those days. She’d been preparing herself for this inevitability, for a servant to be drawn into their shop. After all, with talk of being able to produce magic, it was only a matter of time before one of them decided to actually come to take a look for themselves. She’s just glad that it’s her working the front instead of Marisa.

What she doesn’t expect, however, is the voice that she hears. Instantly, she stands up and peers forward and over the counter. “Oh…oh no…” It’s definitely him, though he looks much different than his other counterpart. Rin can’t help but groan. “What are you even doing here!? You came here on purpose, didn’t you? This can’t be a coincidence!” She completely ignores his requests as she still leans over the counter, eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

“Seriously! What’s up with you?”

“Oh?” One red eye peeked out of the darkness as he slowly looked up. Now, that was a surprise. It was her after all. 

“What if I did, ojou-san?” Caster grinned, finally his face visible under the shadow of the hood. The long cerulean hair was disheveled and almost messy now free of the rattail, but that face was the same one.

“Nah, I guess you can call it luck. Though you’re advertising some interesting stuff in here.” both hands then met under his sleeves as the staff was trapped under his arm. 

“So, if you put two things together. A pretty face and magical articles, a druid can’t resist. You set the trap, eh?” His head cocked, the silver earring bounding against his cheek.

He stood before the counter, now looking at the girl intently with bright red eyes.

“I’m not sure what Lancer might have done in the past, but I’m the serious one. He uses his fists to think and his head to punch. Still, if you wanna gossip on my ‘other me’s’ adventures, I’m all ears.”

♐ ] Troublesome tendencies of his show up regardless of his form. Sass and attitude is comparable to a runt of memory, but beside the point. “This isn’t like some grail war anymore or a singularity like before. Not sure if you recall that memo when you got here, but it’s nothing like it used to be.” Admittedly he wasn’t sure how to feel about it yet himself, but face that question another time.

“If you’re looking for a grail, it’s no use. I’ve already searched these lands as in depth I can. Unless you can think of a way to get through the fog on the outside without passing out.” He had wasted too much time into that already, but suppose what did it matter when they had all the time to waste. Though it is amusing oddly enough. “What’s a druid doing smoking anyway.” If that’s how he wanted to label himself fine, servants as they were always have been an oddity.

“Hnn, I guess all the me’s are into it. I blame Lancer for starting it.” One eye closed mischievously and forced, hiding that darkened thought prodding at the corner of his mind. Berserker, why he always had to think about him. That monstrous shadow that sparked anxiety like a virulent disease. One of the few things that could actually bother him.

“You should try it, maybe it’d fix that bitter face you have. I should have guessed all the heroic spirits before I was summoned already tried to get out or find the Grail.., that leaves to the only answer. ” His expression changed, almost thoughtful, something Lancer would never rarely do. 

“The Grail will always manifest in a place of power, that’s where the Leylines converge into a magical matrix capable of sustaining it, such as the Ryuudo temple and the cavern beneath it. In other words, if a mage is capable of deciphering the leyline structure of this place, they might be able to find the answer. “ His eyes opened, the grin accentuated as he stared at Archer again. 

Wait. Wait wait wait. Was that not something he had wheedled out of her before during the last meeting? Martha hadn’t even hesitated in revealing Tarasque’s name just now, certain he had tricked it out of her just as he had her own True Name. But it would appear not!

Was the man a trickster demon in disguise, pulling the truth from her without even trying?

“I am a Saint. Mine is the way of peace. Wrestling animals is not part of that.” Just… not gonna mention the difficulty in getting an injured cub away from their mother to heal them or to take them to an actual vet for anything more serious than her abilities could handle. He didn’t need more info.

“Uh, I’m used to hearing Saints doing pretty interestin’ things. Like that guy, the infamous dragon slayer. But then there are the healers ..., oh and that Saint Patrick guy. If I ever meet his heroic spirit we’ll get wasted after I fight him.” Cú grinned.

“Tough? Oh, no, of course not!”

“Ahem. Mundane animals are not so hard to deal with when you’re used to dealing with dragons and demonic beasts. None of the creatures there can compare to the Tarasque. That aside, I’m employed as a veterinary technician, as they call it, which is to say I am paid a significant amount to handle and heal the wounded creatures.”

“Te-ras-que, huh?” The druid narrowed his eyes, thoughtful, he had heard of that legend among the foreign folk. “Oh right, so it was you the one who managed to charm the creature.  Hrm.” His arms folded, still holding the carved staff.

“I see, so you heal them. I guess they love you afterwards. Thought you were used to wrestling with beasts, just like me.” His eyes closed in a grin.

So there was this shop that had caught his interest. Small but intriguing, offering ‘magic’. For a Caster with weakened spells this felt almost like a temporal solution for his ‘situation’.

Finding out would do no harm. And so, with empty pockets, a staff, and a bright smile, Caster weaseled his way into the shop.

“Oi!” he called out at the keeper as he entered the store. The hood shadowed his face but his voice was unmistakable for those who knew him, just as the loose blue streaks peeking out of the hood.

The carved staff planted next to him as he attempted his best to embody the druid he was supposed to be.

“Do you have any runes for sale? Y’know, flat, inscribed squares. Oh, and a map of the leylines will help too.”