trans_9 | Winnowing the Doubt [Open]

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Winnowing the Doubt [Open]

If there was one thing that Saber needed to do no matter what her circumstances were, it was to keep busy. But if there was one thing about her that remained a constant, it was her caution and reserve. Perhaps she should have volunteered for one of these missions on the various worlds, but the Servant remained suspicious of the whole matter... not to mention that she needed to find a long-term solution to her prana problem before she threw herself into anything like a serious battle. Her transient body hadn't dissipated, which meant she was anchored to the material plane somehow; it might have been that Stacy herself was Saber's temporary 'Master', as bizarre as the concept was. But she had no way of knowing what might happen if she pushed herself beyond her reserves.

She had kept her activities to a minimum as a precaution -- spending much of her time sleeping to conserve her pool of mana and searching out better meals than the unidentifiable (and inadequate, by the King of Knights's standards) mass Stacy provided for nourishment. However, she could not afford to let her skills deteriorate. She needed to practise. Fortunately, the Sensoriums were up to the task.

The plant-suit she had accepted as this reality's 'civilian attire' was replaced by the raiment of a Heroic Spirit: gold-trimmed blue dress and blue-etched silver cuirass, gauntlets, tassets, and sabatons. Yet, to the naked eye, she appeared unarmed; Excalibur remained hidden within Invisible Air: the Bounded Field of the Wind King. With her unseen sword in hand, Saber moved through training patterns with the natural ease of a veteran warrior who had known little but war her entire life... and even after her death. Out of all the mysteries surrounding her, at least she knew this. Perhaps things would become clearer with a little workout.

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Ronnae moved back a little, feeling as if she had maybe brought up unpleasant memories. That was far from what she wanted to do however, she wanted to help her friend feel more at ease, and yet it all seemed to be bringing up things that would make her feel upset.

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to pry. R-regardless of what may or may not have happened, you're here. With a new purpose, a new goal to save all of those that the Ohm have destroyed and will continue destroying until they are stopped."

She looked up at her innocently, "And I feel better knowing that you are here, and that I trust you. And i hope you can feel the same about me Lady Saber."

Once again, Saber blamed herself; her intent had been not to burden Ronnae with her problems, only to end up making her worry.

"I apologise. I have carried my problems on my own shoulders to become a king my people could rely upon. I did not intend to make you worry."

It was more than she would have admitted to anyone other than Irisviel, but though their outward appearances were radically different, Ronnae's kindness reminded her very much of that of the Einzbern homunculus.

"But you are right... though it is also my hope that some way to undo this might be found. I cannot give up on saving my homeland, whether by war or by these Ohm." It might have been naive of her, but it was a similar wish that made her into a Servant in the first place. And if Rider had been unable to sway her decision, an alien race was even less likely to.

She was, however, unable to suppress the astonished expression which crossed her face briefly. Iri had trusted her, certainly... but it had seemed the exception rather than the rule, and Kiritsugu hadn't seemed to trust her much at all.

"Yes, I do... I cannot express how comforting it has been to find others of noble nature. I had feared that chivalry had been forgotten and discarded. In some ways, I prefer being here to fighting in the war on my own world."

Feeling a renewed comfort, Ronnae moved forward and held the King of Knight's hand gently. She looked up to her with a comforting smile.

"Even the greatest of kings cannot shoulder the whole burden... It leads to a solitary life, even breaking down. There's people willing to assist with such burdens, people who will be at your side. I'd be.... I'd be honored if you could see me as such Lady Saber."

She blushed lightly, it was hard not to admire Saber's dedication and resolve. It was definitely inspiring, specially so one such as Ronnae, who had self image and esteem problems, yet here next to her she felt at ease. "I... I'm sure that together we can defeat the Ohm and save not only our worlds, but every other world that has fallen. And save the agony of loss to the ones untouched by them yet."

Surprise flickered across the knight's face for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by a faint, and rather rare, smile.

"During my reign, I could not afford to burden others... it was my duty to bear them alone, and it was a duty I willingly accepted."

But she was right, and Saber nodded in agreement. "But to defeat this enemy and to set things right, I will gladly entrust my sword and my fate to you and anyone else who has accepted the code of chivalry."

Ronnae smiled happily and nodded. "Good then, you can call on me whenever you wish, and I'll come to your side Lady Saber. If you ever need anything as well, jus' let me know. I work in the engineering department, you can find me there as well as at my house in the city. The locations should be on your omnicomm."

"So what will you be doing?" She asked curiously, remembering that she had been training before she entered.

Fortunately, the technology wasn't something beyond her grasp; in Fuyuki City she had been introduced to many things which had not even been dreamed of in her own era. The omnicomm was not entirely different from other devices she had seen.

"I had simply been practising a few exercises I had learned during my squire's training," she explained. "Perhaps it is more of a simple comfort than anything to hone my skills."

"Sometimes going back to basics helps you relax and feel more at ease with a predicament that might be making you feel uneasy. I know it works for me most times." She nodded with a smile.

For some reason, Saber felt fairly at ease speaking to Ronnae, not unlike how she had felt with Irisviel. It was difficult for her to open up to others -- having lived at a distance from people in general for so long -- but now...

And did she really have a reason to any longer? Her kingdom was gone, and now with her only hope for restoring it called into question, it might all very well be moot. Saber may have been secretive by nature as much as need, but surely being more open couldn't hurt.

"So it would seem. Truthfully, I know little more than battle."

Ronnae could relate, even if her life hadn't been only combat.

"Back home, there was always a war happening... The texts say that there was at least one war every year to three years, for over ten thousand years now. So me and most denizens of my world were taught how to fight since we were old enough to hold a weapon."

She paused for a moment and smiled. "Tho I didn't mind, my parents always made sure we also got time for fun and enjoyment. Took us out to the places devoid of war, while still training us everything they knew so we could defend ourselves and be useful in the wars. Tho they didn't force us, we all mostly joined out of desire to help, to save our world from the threat looming over it at the time..."

Her expression dropped slightly, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "There were those who were bred for war tho... and those who were forced. And then there were the nobles... Who didn't have to participate in the wars, or send their children to get killed." She sighed and did a small shrug.

Saber nodded slightly. "Yes, it had been quite the same in my own country. My kingdom suffered almost constant invasions from tribes across the sea, as well as rebellious factions within."

A slight smile broke through her usual mask again. "But it is good to hear that it was not always so violent. I too enjoyed the occasional respite, albeit they seemed all too brief."

Perhaps there had been some good to come of the Round Table after all, she thought. "That had been the way of things for many kingdoms, though I held my knights to a higher standard. What good would they be if not leading our battles?"

She nodded with a smile, "My parents were some of the few nobles who led the frontlines. They were always ready to mobilize at anytime that a fight broke out, specially if there was a village in danger, or civilians involved. That's why I, and my siblings, were all happy and honored to join the battles."

"They were noble people, indeed," Saber replied with an approving nod. "I would have been honoured had your family been nobles in my kingdom."

And certainly, it would have been far easier to rule had more been like them. Her rule might have inspired future generations and imprinted chivalry in their hearts, but it had hardly been the universal ideal she and her knights had aspired to.

"As I'm sure we would have stood by your side Lady Saber, fighting for a righteous cause." She smiled back at her.

She knew her father would have followed someone like her, she was strong, and wise, and had this elegance and confidence about her that couldn't be described as anything but inspiring. She reminded her of great Knights and Paladins such as Lord Tyrion, Lord Uther and King Lothar.

On the one hand, knowing others shared her absolute vision and commitment was inspiring and buoyed her spirits; Saber felt she could have truly brought the utopia to Britain that she had committed herself to when she had pulled Caliburn from its ceremonial slab. But on the other hand, if she had only been strong enough, if she had been the king she had needed to be, she would have saved Britain through her own strength without sacrificing anyone else. After all, she had Lancelot, Bedivere, Gawain, Kay... and she had still failed.

But she could hardly burden good Ronnae with that. All she could do was try again... and again, and again until she finally saved Camelot. She fought against fate itself... the Ohm were hardly as strong. If she couldn't prevail against them, how could she fight her fate?

"We will have that chance," she said with determination. "I do not believe that fate is something that cannot be changed. I will change it for my county's sake."

Ronnae gave her a thumbs up and a confident grin. "And I'll be there right besides you, we'll change all of this. And we'll get everything back and get things back in order!"

If there was somethign she was sure about with Saber, it was that she felt confident and inspired to follow her. She had the strength, determination, drive and values that her parents had instilled into Ronnae. And that is something that she values highly, chivalry and righteousness, justice and honor.

Deep down, Saber questioned every decision she made; every move she made led to the suffering of someone. She had tried to bear the entire weight of her people on her little shoulders, which had led Rider to pity her (and seek to defeat her to end her suffering) and Archer to lust after her (as she represented humanity at its finest point). But as far as she was concerned, she lacked the strength to realise her dreams. She refused to yield, but if she could not move the mountains she needed to, she was unworthy as king. Could she be the king she needed to be here aboard Stacy?

"I do not know if another Holy Grail exists that can grant any wiush, but... surely there must be some other thing that can."

Ronnae looked up in thought before placing her fist on her palm as she remembered something.

"Well, Zetta says that the book he's confined to has the power to grant any wish written in it as long as it's supplied enough mana power. He can get said mana power if we can defeat the Ohm. It supposedly has the power to grant everyone's wishes."

Saber did nothing to suppress her naked surprise. "It sounds very much like the Holy Grail I fought for. It too could grant any wish, so long as there was a single Master and Servant to claim it after defeating all the other Servants in the War to obtain it."

Her closed fist lifted to her chin in her habitual gesture of thought. "I should meet with this Zetta... he must be a formidable magus."

Ronnae snickered, "Well, he claims to be the most powerful Overlord in the whole cosmos. Somehow I don't doubt him... During a private sparring session in the sensoriums he pushed me past my limits, and yet he seemed fairly unphased by it all. And I won't say that I'm not up to par, I've beaten creatures of enourmous size and strength, Archmages of immense power and death knights of vile unholy strength." She shrugged.

"So there's at least some verity to his claim."

Unfortunately, the description brought up some very unpleasant memories of the final battle she fought before awakening to a blanket of alien goo. Or rather, the specific Servant she fought. "I have heard similar claims from another," she recalled, a scowl briefly breaking through her otherwise placid mask. "But though it is unfortunate, his bragging was not without merit."

However, so long as none of them insulted her chivalry or demanded that she throw away her sword and become his bride, Saber had little cause to complain.

Ronnae tilted her head curiously, wondering who Saber meant as the cause for her sudden change in demeanor.

"Must have been an unpleasant opponent then? Or maybe a comrade?" She asked in a timid voice.

"An enemy," she said flatly, and she struggled somewhat with keeping her hatred of her nemesis hidden. "He was not the only Servant to insult my pride as a knight, but at least the other I could speak to as a civilised person. But him..."

She shook her head. "I can only pray that, had he been preserved as I, that he may never awaken from his slumber. He would cause the ship no small amount of trouble."

Ronnae nodded as she listened to Saber before sighing. "The ship needs less troublemakers and more people willing to do what is needed... Or someone who can materialize real food." She quipped, trying to cheer up the mood with an awkward smile as her cheeks pinked at her joke.

It was Saber's turn to sigh. "Food... fortunately there appear to be some who have secured proper provisions, but it would be most fortuitous if there were even more."

Her expression turned faintly wistful. "At the very least, it is possible to find skilled chefs here. The same cannot be said of my kingdom."

She smiled happily, "I'm a fairly good cook thanks to my parents. And I plan on stocking up heavily on stuff that will last me long until the shore leave after next. You can always pass by my house if you ever desire a meal Lady Saber."

Winnowing the Doubt [Open]

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