Guinaifen: There's something I need to confirm about Archer.

Saber: What is your inquiry?

Guinaifen: There's a chance that Archer is also someone I knew from my home planet and I just wanted to make sure before I jump to any conclusion.

Saber: *Perhaps he was one of my knights in this world?* Very well, ask away.

Guinaifen: Does he have a preference for swords despite welding a bow?

Saber: Yes.

Guinaifen: Did he previously have red hair?

Saber: ...Yes.

Guinaifen: Is his surname Emiya?

Saber: How do you know that name?

Guinaifen: It was my mom's before she and my dad got married.

Saber:...

Guinaifen:... Hello?

Saber: This can't be happening

Guinaifen: Nothing is confirmed, I don't even have any pictures of my mom as proof.

Saber: Have you ever tasted your mother's cooking?

Guinaifen: Yeah, she was better than most chefs in the castle.

Saber: Come with me.

----------------------------------------------

Archer: As always you're first to the table whenever my food is ready.

Saber: But I won't be the first to eat today, here Guinaifen.

Guinaifen: Ok *take a bite*

*slowly looks at Archer with tears in her eyes* Mom?

Hmm Interesting 🤔

Fascinating talk between Archer and Emiya here 🧐

Poor baby girl 🥹

Emiya: Are you worried about me? Rin: 😳

It was that this moment Emiya was tempted to yeet Shinji off the top of the school 😠

Emiya: She's really close 💗

Saber know what's up 😉

There’s such a tragic but beautiful conclusion that Hakuno reaches at the end of Fate/Extra. They learn that they do have a body, that they are more than a string of code, more than an NPC turned Master.

Using the Moon Cell they set up all the tools necessary so that they can have a life in the real world, but are dying knowing that the real them won’t remember anything that happened during this war. It’s the fact that they take comfort knowing the real Hakuno will have new people to call friends and family, a new support system, to guide them in the new world they’ll find themself in.

Hakuno looks forward to the world they will get to experience when they wake up, but they know that they won’t get to have that experience. It’s a tad rambly, I’m sorry, but just a character setting up their life for success so that they can walk forward with confidence but won’t remember anything prior is really captivating to me.

Archer specifically was a great first choice because he and Hakuno relate so much to each other. The concept of, lost identity, a forgotten past, and striving for a brighter future all inter-splice with both of them. It just felt great to have someone like Archer to support and build up Hakuno, because he himself relates so much to the fact that at the begging they don’t know who they are, that they lacked a reason to keep fighting.

I could write more about other characters, like Julius and Leo and their relationship to the concept of “being human”. But the ending to this game really has stuck out to me and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m about to start a NG+ playthrough with Caster doing the Rani route, so here’s hoping I can solidify my thoughts and maybe come to some new conclusions.

I don't often post traditional art, but here goes. I recently bought two new sketchbooks after finishing my old one. As per my little art tradition, I would feature a specific favorite character of mine out of many (hurrah multifandom!) to "theme" the sketchbook's first page illustration around. And this time, Arjuna takes the spotlight!

I've got previews here, some color maps made in preparation...

Though, using only one character design for two sketchbooks might seem a little monotonous. BUT FRET NOT!