Chapter Text
Inside Chaldea’s Training Simulator, the prosperous fields of France seemed to spread endlessly. A blue and yellow picnic blanket had been spread on the hill, under a tree. Sandwiches, cookies, sausage rolls, tarts and thermoses of soup placed in the centre.
Saber is kneeling on the blanket, happily munching on a sandwich. Her other selves are also eating. Saber Alter on her left, Saber Lily on her right. She hums contentment. Archer’s food is perfect, no matter what he makes. Such bliss.
Saber Lily clenches her fists, her smile wide. “It is so great to spend time with everyone. I feel like I’m learning a lot!” Saber Lily said.
Saber nods with a smile as she chews. Really, she is probably learning more from Saber Lily. It is so helpful to see what she once liked and disliked. Trying to remember hadn’t worked well, but she doesn’t need to try with Saber Lily here to show her.
Lancer leans over, offering Saber Lily a tart. She accepts with another, meeker smile. “Gaining experience is crucial, for Knights and Kings. There are several examples of both in Chaldea. Each one approaches their duties differently.” Lancer said.
Saber nods again. Trust my alternative self to understand. Growing her body through using Rhongomyniad had unintentionally helped Lancer keep more of her humanity, despite the fact she was closer to becoming a Divine Spirit. Saber is sure it was from others treating her as a human more because she aged. I refuse to think Lancer matured more than me just because Lancer grew taller.
“You will not find your answer just be watching others. We are in a unique position. Being a Knight and a King is difficult, and their duties are often contradictory.” Saber said. She takes a moment to take another bite. She had struggled with that conflict often. “It is important to find moments for yourself.”
Saber Lily and Lancer tilt their heads. “Take time for yourself? That… is not what Merlin says.” Saber Lily said.
“You… are very relaxed about the conflict between our duties. We are not acting in our role as King. Taking time to yourself is simple here in Chaldea.” Lancer said.
Saber laughs, bringing a hand to her mouth. She is glad she caught herself before her other selves could see her spitting out crumbs. “I learned how important it is to relax in quiet moments. I was desperate to perform a final duty for Camelot when I was summoned for my first Holy Grail War. It was a very sad, miserable battlefield. I would have done anything to win my second.” Saber said.
“And you got shouted at for being pigheaded until you decided not to follow through with Gaia’s contract.” Saber Alter said.
Saber looks up at the blue sky, wind throwing hair into her face. She can still hear that sweet voice telling her off, picture every angry line of his face. Her smile softens.
“I am glad I chose a different path. Being able to fulfil my oath to be his sword was so much more fulfilling.” Saber said. She pushes her hair out of her face. “Protecting the one you love is a very noble thing. You should take note of how Sir Lancelot does so. He is the epitome of knighthood.”
A hacking cough and crash. Saber Lily is staring at her with wide eyes, hands covering her mouth. Her teacup broken beside her. Saber blinks. Nothing I said was wrong. What has Saber Lily so shocked?
Saber looks to her other selves. Arthur, her male self, is bent over coughing and facing away from her, tea splattered on his lap. Lancer is staring, a tart held to her open mouth. The others are just as stiff, eyes wide. Well, except for Berserker, AKA Mysterious Heroine X Alter; she’s still eating cookies.
Saber looks to Saber Alter. Her dark half raises an eyebrow back. “You shouldn’t have said that. None of them have taken a lover.” Saber Alter said.
Assassin, AKA Mysterious Heroine X, throws out an arm. “A lover?! I refuse! I’m not sharing the spotlight with a romantic interest!” Assassin said.
Saber Lily’s face turns red. She looks away. “I-I do not think courting has anything to do with being King.” Saber Lily said.
Lancer puts down her tart. She clears her throat. “It is not… unrelated. I admit that a political marriage did not end well for any of us.” Lancer said. She brings her hand to her temple. “Some Kings have married their lover without issue, so I cannot say it would cause issues if the other party has an appropriate background. Still, I never considered it.”
Lancer turns to Lancer Alter. Lancer Alter raises an eyebrow. “Do not look at me. I have been approached by other Servants here, but I have no interest in them outside the battlefield.” Lancer Alter said.
Berserker glances at Assassin, who is grinding her teeth. She snatches a cookie from Assassin’s plate. “It’s none of my business if you had a lover. It’s not like you ate a limited edition sweet without us.” Berserker said. She frowns at a plate with nothing but cookie crumbs. “Unless he had made you sweets? Were they good?”
Saber grips her dress tightly. Her eyebrows furrow, her ahoge standing on end. “Had? He might be more reserved as a Servant, but Sh-!” Saber said.
Saber Alter’s gloved hand slaps across Saber’s mouth, gripping her face tightly. Arthur brings an arm up, eyes wide. Saber felt her stomach drop. She definitely said too much that time. “Your lover is here?! You had an affair with an enemy Servant?” Arthur said.
“You really did it now. He’ll be furious if this gets out.” Saber Alter said. She selects a sandwich, not meeting the stares of the others. “Rest assured, our lover wasn’t a Servant at that time. We would never betray our Master.”
Arthur looks away, unable to relax his tense shoulders. “Not a Servant…? But still…” Arthur said.
Berserker stands up. She dusts the crumbs off her clothes. “This conversation has nothing to do with me. I’m going to get more sweets before my blood sugar drops.” Berserker said.
Assassin stands next, raising her fist high. She doesn’t seem to notice that she just stepped on Lancer Alter’s plate.
Saber frowned at Archer’s precious sandwich being stepped on. Should I hit her? Saber Alter’s grip on her face tightened. Saber’s frown deepened. No? But punishment is very well-deserved! One should not waste such delicious food! Archer’s food is the best!
“I’m not staying for this lovey-dovey talk either! When I find that man, I’ll cut him and that cliché off at the neck!” Assassin said.
Saber and Saber Alter watch as Assassin storms off. Berserker follows several steps behind Assassin with a bored look.
Saber Alter turns to face Saber, then let go of her face. “He’s going to be so mad at you when he gets found out.” Saber Alter said.
Saber flinches, her ahoge trembling. Then she slams her fist against her leg. “Why just me? You are the one who admitted he’s here, Alter!” Saber said.
“No, you definitely outed him first. I said he was not a Servant when we became lovers.” Saber Alter said.
Saber rises to one knee, Excalibur appearing in her right hand. “Semantics! I will not take such slander from my dark half!” Saber said.
Saber Alter narrows her pale-yellow eyes. She gets on one knee, Excalibur Morgan appearing beside her. Both equip their armour. “Very well. Come at me, you simpleton.” Saber Alter said.
Lancer holds up her hands. Her smile belied her twitching eye. “Now, I do not think that fighting will make this better. I am sure you can discuss this with your lover peacefully.” Lancer said.
Saber and Saber Alter share a look. Saber imagines his face when he hears of this. Looking down his nose at her with narrowed eyes. If I’m lucky, he’ll just turn away, hold his head and sigh… But he’s going to be so mad, isn’t he? If I’m very unlucky, his eyes will regain their golden-brown hue right before letting loose his full strength that he’s kept from Master. If he hears we have been fighting too-!
Saber slumps. Her finger tracing lines up and down Excalibur. “C-certainly, I do not think fighting will make this better. Do we truly need to bring him into this?” Saber.
Excalibur Morgan vanishes in Saber Alter’s hand. She huffs and turns away. “I was only defending myself. I am not sharing the blame with you when he finds out. And he will. You know he will. He could not avoid half the trouble at Chaldea if he was not keeping his ear to the ground.” Saber Alter said.
Saber stares at the ground, still tracing lines on Excalibur as Lancer convinces everyone to end the picnic for today. She needs to find a way to tell him without him getting mad. She scrunches up her face. It is probably possible… Maybe?