Ayaka Sajyou's POV
Time sure flies fast.
One moment you feel like you have the entire world in your hands, surrounded by your loving family, and then, in the blink of an eye, they're gone.
Everything just vanished right after the Holy Grail War ended.
Luckily, my father was still around. He was alive and kicking, but at the same time, he was drowning in depression because he couldn't find my brother and sister.
We had no clue where they'd disappeared to during these past three years.
I never went to the Clock Tower after graduating high school. Instead, I ended up enrolling in a regular university.
People there looked at me and my family name with suspicion. They didn't even bother hiding how unwelcome we were in their circles.
That's why I stayed away from the Clock Tower, the place every magus supposedly dreams of joining.
Atlas Academy was out of the question for me too.
They're obsessed with alchemy, and I don't know anything about alchemy.
Plus, they've got these strict rules: once you're admitted, you're forbidden to leave whenever you want without getting permission from some high-ranking there.
Even worse, joining Atlas means you're bound by a contract that ties you to them completely.
If I signed that, I'd basically have to say goodbye to my father and Tokyo forever.
It goes without saying that the most "suitable" path for me would've been the Clock Tower.
But unfortunately, my family and I ended up becoming the biggest suspects, the prime targets of suspicion for the murder of all the Masters during the Holy Grail War.
That left me with only one option: going to a normal university.
As for enrolling in some ordinary magic academy instead, that was impossible.
The Sajyou family might not be the biggest clan in the entire world, but around here, locally, we're like one of those powerful sects from cultivation novels, dominating the local area.
So there's pretty much nothing those schools could teach us, especially since our specialty is black magic, a branch of magecraft that's rare, practically extinct in modern times.
Besides, I don't have that anti-social personality that so many magi seem to wear.
I'm not built to spend my life hiding in dusty libraries, glaring at anyone who dares breathe near me.
So, I let out another sigh and sank deeper into this so-called "normal" life.
Though to be honest, maybe "normal" isn't even the right word. I don't have any real friends at university. It's painfully lonely without my brother and sister around.
Some days, it feels like I'm just drifting, waiting for something, anything to give my life purpose again.
When I went home as usual, the clashes of steel echoed through the air, sharp and violent.
I saw flashes of blue and purple light tearing through the street, destroying pavement and sending sparks flying everywhere.
I felt a jolt of recognition when I saw one of the figures in knightly armor, it was Artoria.
Who was she fighting for?
Had the Holy Grail War already started again?
Weren't they supposed to wait at least another five years before any of this began?
I didn't even get a moment to think. Out of nowhere, a fireball spell hurtled straight toward my face.
I froze, utterly stupefied, panic seizing me as the flames raced closer.
It was far too late to dodge.
But Artoria suddenly stepped in front of me, sword flashing as she effortlessly deflected the fireball with a single, powerful slash.
Sparks and embers scattered as she glared hard at the purple-haired woman wearing a mask.
"Lancer, if you want an honorable fight, I'll gladly accept it," Artoria said, her voice trembling with righteous fury. "But your Master has gone too far, she's targeting an innocent girl who has nothing to do with this battle."
The purple-haired woman didn't argue.
Instead, she turned a cold glare toward her own Master and spoke in an icy tone. "Master, if you wanted to assassinate the girl, you should have told me long ago."
The other girl, the Master shot me a look full of pure hatred. "Ayaka Sajyou, this isn't over. You and your father… I'll never forgive either of you. Murderers!"
"Let's call it quits for tonight, Saber," Lancer sighed, her expression shifting as she glanced at Artoria. "Unless you're willing to let my Master keep sneaking around trying to kill your little girl, we can always fight again another time."
She grinned beneath her mask.
As uncomfortable as she clearly was about being used to cover an attempted murder, it didn't mean she was going to refuse the chance for a good, brutal battle with Saber.
Obviously, Artoria had no desire to keep going.
Obviously, Saber had no interest in continuing. She lowered her sword slightly and said firmly, "In that case, let's call it the end for now."
Lancer gave a single nod before disappearing into the night along with the other girl, leaving only faint ripples of magical energy in the air.
Artoria turned back toward me, concern etched across her face. "Are you alright, Ayaka?"
"I'm fine," I said quickly, though my voice was trembling a little.
"How about my father, Artoria?" I asked, anxiety churning in my chest.
"He is inside," she replied calmly, though her hand remained tight around the hilt of her sword as if she expected another attack at any moment.
I nodded, feeling relief mixing with the confusion twisting in my gut. "Take me to him, Artoria."
She gave me a resolute nod and began leading me toward the house, her armored footsteps echoing on the broken pavement.
There were so many questions screaming in my head.
Why was Lancer attacking us?
And why did that girl look at me like she wanted me dead?
My thoughts were a tangled mess.
I couldn't understand what my father or I could have possibly done to deserve such hatred.
Maybe my father would have the answers I was so desperately wanted.