“Master.”

I hear Changer’s voice as he jumps down and lands right next to me.

It is past midnight; the first hour of the day. He was keeping watch for the night on the roof. I didn’t tell him beforehand that we’d be going out tonight.

“Come, Sten. I’m tired of this. We won’t be returning home before finishing of at least one enemy.”

He simply nods and turns to spirit form. Good. This is not a night for questions. It is time for answers. And for action.

“We’re going to the bridge.”

We don’t know the location of any other masters. We don’t even know the outcome of the fight between Lancer and Heracles. We know too little to plan any kind of attack. So, we won’t plan. We’ll just come into the open and let others find us. It should be far easier than finding them ourselves.

Lucky for us, we are not the only ones to think so. Ones we get to the bridge, I detect magical energy. There? Again?

“Master, the park near the bridge. Presence of two servants.”

“Yes. It seems someone put up a field too. At least one of the masters should also be there.”

I keep walking.

“I feel The Greek Warrior and Heracles.”

“Good.”

I keep walking.

“Do we-”

“Yes, we join in.”

I keep walking.

* * *

[Interlude]

“Greetings, Master Heracles.”

The Greek Warrior’s eyes are locked on the other servant as he bows before him. He already has his armour on. His shield and spear are in his hands as his sword is swinging from his hip. The other servant grins.

“What’s up, kid?”

The Greek Warrior’s hold on his spear tightens.

Heracles turns his head to the side.

“Now, Illya…”

There is a silver haired little girl sitting on his shoulder. She doesn’t look any older than a ten-year-old, and is covered from head to toe with the pelt on his shoulders.

“I’m not getting off.”

Heracles looks troubled. He opens his hands and speaks with his deep voice.

“Now, now. We talked about this before. I’m about to fight, so just get off and watch from the sides, okay?”

She closes her eyes and shakes her head, as she wraps the pelt around her even more.

“Your shoulder is comfortable, and his pelt is nice and warm.”

She smiles.

“Illya…”

Her eyes snap open.

“I’m not getting off!”

Heracles frowns and opens his mouth, but words don’t come out. He then sighs and smiles.

“As you wish.”

He turns toward The Greek Warrior, his smile still on his face. He sees that The Greek Warrior’s hands are shaking.

“Master Heracles, are you seriously going to fight me with that kid just sitting there?”

Heracles’s smile makes way for a grin.

“Don’t call my master a kid, kid. Or what? Do you think a kid will attract another kid and you’ll actually manage to reach her? Only in your dreams, kid.”

His whole body is now shaking. When he opens his mouth, even his voice shakes.

“Kid, kid, kid… Enough! I am a servant! Even the world itself recognizes me as a hero! I won’t have you treating me like this!”

Heracles is silent. His grin remains, while Illya, with a smile on her face, has her eyes closed in the warm embrace of the pelt. This sight is the last straw.

“Master, prepare your reserves for three! Heracles, I’ll wipe that grin off your face!”

The Greek Warrior pulls his spear back in a throwing position. Then he throws it at insane speed, right upwards to the sky.

“Drop anchor!”

The spear he threw suddenly stops close to a hundred meters up in the air. It spins by itself into a horizontal position, and from its behind, start appearing the hull and sails of a ship. In a short time, the whole of a mighty antique ship is visible, standing in the air. His spear now serves as the ship’s bowsprit.

Its anchor drops near The Greek Warrior with a thunderous crash, and causes a cloud of dust to rise.

Heracles is not impressed.

“So you called the ship. That means you are actually Rider. So? Will you make it crash into us?”

The Greek Warrior is calm now. He even smiles.

“No, no.”

He glares at Heracles. The determination and confidence in his eyes is apparent. Heracles raises a single brow.

“A ship is a tool, and even legendary tools become legendary because of their users.”

He draws his sword and points it upwards. His voice is loud and strong.

“Crew! Answer my call and come aid your captain! Come forth, friends! Come forth, mighty heroes!”

He points his sword forward, towards Heracles and Illya.

“Come forth…”

His voice echoes like thunder.

“…Argonauts!”

Heracles’s eyes widen as he sees the shadows of three figures jump down from the hovering ship.

Two of them land at the same time. One causes a dust of cloud with his landing, while the other one doesn’t even make a sound. The third figure comes behind them, slowly descends, and lightly lands right next to The Greek Warrior. A young woman in a robe, with pointy ears and blue hair.

“You are very insolent to call for me, Jason.”

“Medea.”

He has a lot more to say, a lot more he has to say, but not time.

The second one, the one that landed without any sound, speaks, her eyes locked on Heracles.

“You called us against a very interesting foe, captain.”

The one to answer her is Heracles, without even looking at her.

“Long time no see, Atalanta.”

The last one, the one Heracles has locked his eyes on ever since he landed, speaks in a deep voice.

“Seriously, kid? You called me against myself?”

[Interlude End]

* * *

[Interlude - Day 2]

Music spreads through the air. The men in an indigo suit plays his instrument with such skill that one would think he was born with it.

She had been a little girl once. A well-bred, fair little girl. Then she became a lady. Kind, beautiful, powerful and ambitious, too ambitious. And now, she is a servant, a servant to this cursed man.

“Aah, beautiful.”

She closes her eyes and loses herself in the music, all the while cursing his name. Because, she is a servant. She is here to fight, not to sit back and relax. Even as her master, he has no right to bring such peace to her mind. His music is dangerous. She has a duty to be vigilant, but listening to the enchanting tune, her vigilance vaporizes.

His music is simply magical. In fact, it must be really magical, for no bard she heard could play this beautifully. She wonders what suggestions he puts in, but she doesn’t worry. She is loyal if nothing else. She will obey her master anyway, suggestion or not.

The music ceases. She feels empty inside, like a child whose candy has just been taken. She opens her eyes to look at her master. He puts his instrument back in its case hanging from his belt.

“It is time, the summoning is done.” he says. “Let’s go see this Changer.”