"Atalanta? Is that you? Are you crying?" blinked the teen in shock as he walked over to her, making the huntress freeze before wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"I do not cry boy!" she lied, her eyes still red and puffy.
Issei smiled at this blatant lie as he sat down next to her, "of course you don't, you're the indomitable Chaste Huntress."
"Am I?" muttered the cat girl softly.
The pair were silent for a couple of minutes, even as more tears began rolling down the huntress' face and she started sobbing again, Atalanta then felt Issei embrace her tightly. "Unhand me at once, or thou shalt lose thy hand," she warned, but even Atalanta could tell that her voice didn't have any bite to it.
"Shh…it's okay Atalanta, just let it all out," he encouraged and the huntress stopped struggling as she cried into his chest, the teen gently stroking her head as she did so.
If anyone asked her later then she would deny it vehemently, but at that moment the huntress felt…happy as he stroked her head, causing her tears to finally come to an end. "There, feeling better now?" he asked, removing his hand from her head, much to her secret disappointment.
Seeing her nod Issei let her out of his embrace as the pair split apart from each other, 'I would if thou had kept petting me.' The huntress shook her head as she tried to banish the traitorous thoughts from her mind, 'it would seem my new features have a greater impact on my form then I thought.'
"So…" started Issei, snapping her out of her daze. "What's got you so upset?"
The cat girl was silent as she held a hand out to the full moon above them, "does thou know how the summoning of Servants through the Throne of Heroes functions?"
"Not really, Zelretch mostly glossed over that part," admitted Issei.
"My own Goddess…the one who saved me…who I worshipped…called me a fake…said that I was insulting the real Atalanta…and she was right," frowned the huntress as she lowered her hand.
"I am a fake, nothing more than a copy created by the Grail and based off the real Chaste Huntress trapped in the Throne of Heroes. I'm no more Atalanta then you are, I'm not real," stated Atalanta sadly.
Issei just grabbed one of her hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "of course you are. So what if you're a copy, a fake. You're still as real as I am, your tears are proof of that."
"You can feel sadness, happiness, pride, these emotions are proof that you're a real person and not just some mindless drone. So you're not the Chaste Huntress, so what? Does that belittle you in some way? No!" he cried, the huntress hanging on his every word.
"That just means you're your own person, you're Atalanta, a member of my family, and the best archer I've ever seen. Be proud of that, after all I fought Artemis," smirked Issei, while Atalanta was silently staring at him.
"Thou's words art kind…thou hast my gratitude Issei, I…I shalt take a quick rest to ponder on what thou hast said," she replied with a blush and yawned before feeling her eyelids grow heavy and exhaustion claimed her.
"Meleager?" yawned Atalanta as she felt herself snuggled on the lap of another before she froze as her eyes snapped open.
The sight that greeted her was none other than a smiling Issei, "afternoon sleepy head."
Atalanta just blinked in confusion before she stared up at the afternoon sun in the sky, "I slept in? But I haven't done that in…I can't remember how long…"
"Well you should do it more often, you're cute when you sleep," laughed Issei, getting a soft blush from Atalanta.
'If I'm not really Atalanta, am I really bound by her oath? Artemis practically disowned me anyway and besides didn't she break her own oath with Orion?' thought the huntress as her eyes widened and a cat like grin spread across her face.
"Umm Atalanta…if you could please get off my lap I'd greatly appreciate it, my legs have fallen asleep," requested Issei.
"I refuse," answered Atalanta as she glanced up at him. "But if thou truly wishes it, a head massage is a good starting point for negotiations."
Issei blinked in surprise before he began rubbing her ears and soon found himself with a loudly purring Atalanta now once again asleep on his lap. "I hope Tamamo doesn't find out about this," sighed Issei.
"Caster what's wrong?" asked Lancer.
The fox spirit just looked towards the Archer doorway with a dark, murderous look on her face, "a new challenger approaches."
Saber Include state:
STR: C+
CON: B
AGI: C
MGI: C
LCK: E
Magic Resistance: C
Riding: C
Instinct: C
The power to 'feel' instinctively how to bring about the best outcome for the user. Due to it's reduced ranking it has lost the ability to function against multiple opponents.
Mana Burst: B
The process in which magical energy is infused into one's weapon and body before being expelled instantly, creating the effect similar to a jet engine through use of large amounts of magical power.
Battle Continuation: C
Charisma: -C
Usually at a –D ranking, after Clarent accepted its wielder the sword provided an increased ranking to this skill when not in its demonic form. The natural talent to command an army it increases the ability of allies during group battles and allows the user to persuade others of their opinion more easily, it also indicates how well liked or 'charismatic' an individual can be.
Clarent: C
The Radiant and Brilliant Royal Sword that denotes the right of succession of the throne, it is a sword that's worth equals or exceeds Caliburn's. Originally stolen by Mordred when she rebelled, it's true power was locked due to refusing to accept Mordred as it's wielder.
Secret of Pedigree: D
Type: Anti-unit (self)
Maximum number of targets: 1
The helm that Mordred was given by her mother Morgan with the words, 'You must not remove,' and told to wear at all times. Because of this, this Noble Phantasm conceals it's wielder's identity, preventing others from linking any weapons, skills or techniques to the user's real identity. However, it doesn't prevent incorrect guessing the users identity.
The Helm also prevents others from gauging the user's strength, hiding the parameters of the wielder from all but trial and error methods of analysis. The effect of this Noble Phantasm is still in effect when the Helm is not on, but in order to use any other Noble Phantasm it's effects must be removed.
Assassin Include State:
STR: E
CON: E
AGI: D
MGI: E
LCK: B
Presence Concealment: D
Executioner: A+
A skill that increases the user's effectiveness against and ability to execute evil beings.
Medical Techniques: A
A near genius level of understanding of medicine and other medical techniques, this skill passively increases the healing of allies nearby and allows medical procedures performed by the user to be nearly always successful.
Human Anatomy Study: C
A deep understanding of the human body and biology in general, this skill allows the user to have a higher likelihood of hitting a vital spot against a humanoid opponent.
La Mort Espoir: B
Type: Anti-Unit
Maximum number of targets: 1
The embodiment of true execution tools, the guillotine. As the executioner during the times of the French Revolution, Charles-Henri Sanson's name became synonymous with the image of this executioner's tool. Once this Noble Phantasm is activated, the opponent's fate is rewritten so that they are now fated for death at the guillotine's blade. The likelihood of this Noble Phantasm's success is not decided
not by powers of resistance against curses or good fortune, but by the victim's strength of heart and ability to defy fate itself.