Fate: Edmund

Kiritsugu exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the situation on his shoulders. He observed the dock, now shrouded in an ominous silence, with traces of blood on the ground and the echo of Saber's scream resonating in his mind. He allowed himself a brief thought.

"We barely made it."

He had managed to shoot with lethal precision, piercing Kayneth's shoulder and leaving him gravely wounded. But just when it seemed like he had control, Lancer demonstrated why he was a legendary hero. In a single instant, with a cold and calculated decision, he had mutilated Saber, severing her arm with his spear before escaping with his master.

Kiritsugu realized he had been on the brink of death. If he had fired one more shot, killing Kayneth, Lancer would have taken out Saber and Irisviel in revenge. And with the situation spiraling out of control, he himself would have been trapped with no way out, doomed to certain death.

"It was a game of milliseconds," he thought, gazing at the spot where Kayneth had been moments before. "That Lancer... is dangerous."

.................

From another part of the city, Hector ran with a carefree demeanor, though his mind was far from at ease. He carried Kayneth on his back, feeling the weight of the unconscious man, his blood seeping into his clothes. His thoughts, however, were preoccupied with something else: the decisive fight he had left behind.

"I had no other choice," he told himself. "If I had killed Saber and the woman, my master would already be dead. And if I had stayed any longer, I would have ended up dead too."

Though he didn't show it, the situation had deeply unsettled him. He had acted to the best of his ability in those few seconds, but the chaos of the battle, with Rider, Archer, and even Berserker making their appearances, had forced him to change plans quickly. He had barely survived by keeping a low profile.

He sighed heavily.

"I owe that Rider one... If it weren't for him drawing the attention of Archer and Saber, maybe this fight would have turned out differently," he admitted, though with a hint of annoyance in his tone.

The war had been more chaotic than he had expected. It wasn't that he minded the action, but his master had been far too reckless. In a conflict like this, Kayneth wanted to win every single confrontation, without thinking about the long-term consequences.

"That damn professor... He's given me way too much work, and on top of that, deadly work," he muttered under his breath as he quickened his pace, feeling Kayneth's weak breathing on his back.

As he approached the Hyatt Hotel, their base of operations for the war, he knew he would soon face another problem: his master, despite his severe injury, would undoubtedly vent his frustration on him. And frankly, Hector wasn't in the mood for that.

With a resigned huff, he turned a corner and spotted the lights of the hotel in the distance.

"I better get ready for a long night."

...............

Edmund couldn't hide his wide grin. The battle he had witnessed was simply spectacular. From the fierce confrontation between Saber and Lancer, to Rider's skill, which had shifted the pace of the fight with precise movements, and even the brutal appearance of Archer and Berserker, which had raised the tension to its peak. Every detail of the fight had fascinated him.

"This... was beautiful," he murmured to himself, raising his glass of wine in an almost ceremonial gesture before taking the last sip.

The excitement still coursed through his body. Though the night had been long, he felt his heart pounding with the euphoria of having witnessed a unique spectacle. He couldn't stay still in his room, not after everything he had seen.

Even with the night reigning over Fuyuki, Edmund grabbed his coat and left the hotel. The night air was cool and humid, but he didn't mind. He headed to one of the city's most luxurious casinos, determined to celebrate in his own way.

The place glittered with dazzling lights, the sound of chips clinking on the tables and the laughter of gamblers filled the air. He sat at one of the betting tables, a carefree expression on his face, enjoying the luxury and distraction the place offered. After all, what better way to relish his victory as a spectator than by betting a little more on chaos?

........................

The dawn arrived in Fuyuki, and with it, a new day in the Holy Grail War. Deep in the forest, near the cabin where they were hiding, Waver Velvet couldn't contain his fury upon seeing Rider return after his daring escape from the battle.

Rider hadn't returned immediately after fleeing the battle; he hadn't come back until dawn because he had been exploring the city.

"IDIOT! MORON! IDIOT!" Waver shouted, running toward him with clenched fists and a face red with anger. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! Everyone was watching you, everyone was ready to attack you, and you just stood there like it was some damn show! You almost died, Rider!"

Perseus, far from looking concerned, gave him a calm smile. With his arms crossed, he patiently listened to his master's tantrum before replying in a composed voice.

"It was necessary, Waver," he said in a patient tone, as if explaining something to a stubborn child. "I couldn't stay in the shadows without knowing who we're up against. I needed to see, measure, and adapt."

Waver stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend how his servant could be so carefree after putting their lives at risk.

"You could have died! I could have died! What the hell would I have done then?"

Perseus let out a soft chuckle before responding.

"Come on, Master. Wasn't it spectacular?" he said with a playful glint in his eyes.

"With relatively low parameters, I faced some of the most legendary heroes. And yet, here I am, alive and with valuable information."

Waver, though still upset, felt a slight doubt creeping into his mind. It was true that Rider had managed to come out alive, but was all of that really just a game to him?

Perseus continued, crossing his arms as he gazed at the morning sky.

"Now I'm clear that every servant in this war is exceptional. We won't have any easy enemies. And you, Master, have had very bad luck with them," he remarked in a relaxed tone.

Waver frowned. "Of course we've had bad luck! We're surrounded by monsters."

Rider let out a hearty laugh before nodding. "Yes, monsters, but also legends. And among all of them, there's one who could have ended this war if he wanted to."

Waver's expression turned serious. "Archer..."

Perseus nodded in agreement. "Gilgamesh could have put an end to all of this if he had fought seriously. But he didn't. That means his ego holds him back, which gives us time to grow stronger."

He turned to his master and gave him a confident smile.

"Thanks for all the information beforehand, Master. Without those documents you gave me earlier, I wouldn't have had the confidence to jump into the battle. Now, at least, we know what we're up against."

Waver sighed, crossing his arms. He was still annoyed, but he couldn't deny that, at the end of the day, his servant had gained something valuable. And though he didn't want to admit it, his heart raced with excitement for what was to come.

....................

Edmund returned to the hotel as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the horizon. The night had been long, but also entertaining. After several rounds of poker, glasses of fine liquor, and the company of beautiful women, he finally felt it was time to rest.

He crossed the luxurious hotel lobby with a calm expression, his demeanor unchanged despite the accumulated fatigue. Upon reaching his suite, he removed his jacket and casually tossed it over a chair. He shed the rest of his attire with the same nonchalance and collapsed onto the bed, allowing himself a few hours of restorative sleep.

When he woke, the sun was already descending, painting the sky in golden and orange hues. There were still about two hours left until nightfall. He stretched leisurely and, with a lazy yawn, headed to the bathroom. With hot water and steam filling the air, he allowed himself a few moments of relaxation under the shower. As the water ran over his skin, his mind was already focusing on what was to come.

"Well, if there's a confrontation tonight..." he murmured to himself.

After drying off and dressing in fresh clothes, Edmund ordered room service. He opted for a luxurious brunch, considering it would be his first meal of the day despite the late hour.

While he waited, he decided to review the cameras and familiars he had scattered throughout the city.

He settled in front of his monitor and began examining the recordings. He spent several minutes checking various points in the city, hoping to find something interesting following the battle between Saber, Lancer, Rider, Archer, and Berserker. However, the result was disappointing.

There was no trace of new confrontations or suspicious movements. But just as he was about to turn off the screens, one of the recordings caught his attention.

Caster and his master were wandering calmly through the streets, surrounded by children. They moved without a care, guiding the little ones toward their hideout on the outskirts of the city.

Edmund frowned with a mix of mild disgust and weariness. He watched the scene for a few seconds and then, with a sigh, muttered to himself,

"Pedophiles..." His tone was mocking but also disapproving.

He continued reviewing the other recordings but found nothing noteworthy. Just Caster and his master taking children to their lair. He left the feed open as he leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms.

He couldn't decide whether to intervene or not. It was annoying that that fanatic and his master were doing as they pleased, but at the same time, it wasn't his problem. He thought about it for a moment and, with a dismissive gesture, turned off the screen.

"I'll think about it later."

Right at that moment, there was a knock at the door. It was room service with his order. He stood up calmly, opened the door, and received the food with a slight smile. He took a wallet from his pocket and, with generosity, left a considerable tip for the employee before dismissing him with a simple wave of his hand.

He sat at the suite's table, observing the impeccably presented meal. Calmly, he began to eat, savoring every bite. However, his mind continued to wander.

"The cameras and familiars have been useful, but... it would definitely be much more exciting if I were participating as a proper Master."

The thought left him silent for a few moments. The possibility of being directly involved in the war, with a Servant by his side, was tempting. If he had decided to fight, he would be on the battlefield, feeling the adrenaline and danger firsthand.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"No. It was the right decision."

He knew well what lay behind the Grail. It wasn't worth risking everything for something so corrupt. Better to enjoy the war from his privileged position. He took a sip of his drink, letting out a sigh of resignation and satisfaction at the same time.

For now, his role would remain that of an observer. And that was enough... at least for now.

.......................

I have everything to keep going hahaha