Chapter 191: Fated to Part
The moment the corrupted Stellaron was contained within your device, the entire underground cavern seemed to exhale. The suffocating, malevolent pressure that had choked the air for so long vanished, instantly and completely.
The grotesque black mud, the physical manifestation of 'All the World's Evil' that had churned in the pit, suddenly went still. It solidified, cracked like drying clay, and then, with a sound like a billion whispers sighing at once, it began to disintegrate into fine, black ash.
The golden, ornate chalice that had tried to form within the corruption flickered, lost its unholy luster, and shattered into motes of harmless, golden data.
"The Holy Grail..." Rin Tohsaka murmured, her voice trembling with a profound, generational relief. "It's… gone."
Archer, standing on a higher ledge, looked up at the moonless sky, his arms crossed. His body, which had been solid, began to turn transparent, shimmering with faint, golden particles.
"Tch. It seems the source maintaining our existence has disappeared," he said, his voice laced with its usual cynicism, yet underpinned by a note of finality. "The mana path from the Grail is cut. The show's over."
Golden particles of light also began to emanate from Saber's body, rising from her armor like steam. The farewell, now that it was here, had come far too quickly.
"It's truly… fast," Saber sighed softly, her voice filled with a strange, unexpected peace. She looked at her own hands, watching them become ethereal. She had come here with a single, burning, impossible wish: to redo her life, to change her kingdom's fate. She had believed her rule was a failure that needed to be erased.
But watching Shirou's reckless, foolish idealism, and Orion's cold, absolute, yet protective power, she had finally understood. Her wish was the real mistake. To change the past was to erase the lives, the choices, and the will of all the people she had sworn to protect.
Her path, her history, was fixed. And at last, she was no longer at war with it.
She, King Arthur, a Heroic Spirit fixed by history, could finally rest.
Saber first walked to Shirou, who was staring blankly at the spot where Archer was fading.
"Shirou," she said, her voice clear and firm.
He looked up, his eyes wide with a dawning, painful realization of what was happening.
"Thank you." She offered him a small, genuine smile. "This Holy Grail War, and your... stubborn foolishness... it made me understand many things. You taught me that an ideal, even if it leads to pain, is not a mistake as long as one walks the path without regret. My path... is done."
Then, she turned and walked towards you. "Orion."
She stopped in front of you. Saber, the King of Knights, lowered her head and gave you a full, formal bow, her armor clanking softly.
"Your swordsmanship is a heresy," she said, straightening up, her golden-green eyes filled with a warrior's pure, analytical respect. "But that one strike that killed Berserker... that was not swordsmanship. It was something else. An authority I cannot comprehend."
"These days of fighting side by side have been the most unique and enjoyable experience I've had as a Servant. Your power is strange, but your character is admirable. I'm very glad to have met you."
Golden particles were now streaming from her, her form flickering like a candle in the wind.
"If..." she suddenly reached out and offered you her gloved hand, not as a Servant, but as Artoria Pendragon. "If, by some miracle of the stars, we can meet again in the future... in another time, another world... then, let us practice swords together again."
She showed her most brilliant, pure maiden's smile, a smile free from the crushing weight of a crown. "Next time, I will definitely defeat you."
You felt the warmth from her palm, a fleeting, real touch. You grasped it firmly for a moment. "Okay... I'll wait for that day."
Hearing your reply, Saber's smile became even brighter. She reluctantly released your hand. "Goodbye, Orion. Goodbye, Firefly."
Her gaze lingered on you both for a moment. "May your journey be safe, and may your sword always be sharp."
The golden light completely enveloped her, and King Arthur, Saber, disappeared into the night wind, finally returning to the Throne she had at last accepted.
On the other side of the cavern, Archer was also preparing to leave. His outline was faint, almost gone.
"Rin," he said, his voice softer now.
"I know, I know! You don't have to say anything," Rin turned her head away, her pigtails swishing, her voice trembling slightly. "You're just a Servant, a familiar. It was just a contract. I get it. So just... just go!"
Archer was silent for a moment. He looked at her, at this proud, brilliant, clumsy girl who had been his Master. A rare, almost invisible smile touched his lips. "Take care of yourself, Tohsaka."
He then turned to look at Shirou. The boy was staring at him, his expression one of profound confusion and sorrow.
"Emiya Shirou," Archer said, his voice flat. "Your ideal is foolish. It's a path of thorns that will only lead to pain, betrayal, and a lifetime of regret. You will be used, and you will be discarded, and in the end, you will be left with nothing but the corpses you failed to save."
Shirou met his gaze, his eyes just as stubborn as the Servant's. "Even so... I will not be wrong."
Archer looked at his past self, at that unbreakable, idiotic conviction. His cynical armor finally cracked. "Hmph. Stubborn to the end..."
His form began to dissolve. "...Then stick to it. Do it to the point where you won't regret it. And whatever you do... don't become like me."
After speaking, the Heroic Spirit EMIYA, Archer, completely dissipated.
For a long moment, only the four of you remained. The living. Standing in the cold, silent cavern, the sound of dripping water the only noise.
"Well then..." you said, breaking the quiet as you sheathed your sword. You looked at Rin and Shirou. "The Stellaron is contained. It's time for us to say goodbye."
"What? Leaving so soon?" Rin quickly wiped her eyes, her tsundere defenses snapping back into place. "It's almost dawn! After all that, you won't even stay for breakfast? How rude!"
"Sorry, we have other things to do," Firefly answered for you, her voice polite but firm. "Our ship is waiting."
Rin bit her lip. "Hmph! Whatever you want! Just go, then!"
She turned her back on you both, her arms crossed. But just as you and Firefly began to walk away, she couldn't help but look back.
"Um... Orion!"
You stopped.
Rin's face was uncharacteristically hesitant. "You... you're really from space, right? From that... 'Xianzhou' place you mentioned?"
You nodded.
A longing, a magus's pure, unadulterated curiosity, flashed in her eyes. "This city... this whole war... it's all so small," she murmured.
She then took a deep breath, her face flushing crimson. "I... I'm just asking! For research! If... I mean if... if one day I find a way to leave this planet... to travel the stars like you... Can I... can I come find you then?"
She quickly waved her hands, her blush deepening. "N-no, that's not what I meant! Don't misunderstand! I just mean, as a... as a fellow practitioner of esoteric arts, it would be an academic exchange!"
Seeing her flustered, desperate explanation, you smiled. "It's a very big universe out there, Tohsaka. But... of course, you can."
You met her hopeful gaze. "If it's fated, we'll definitely meet again."
Rin was stunned for a second, then an awkward, pleased smile broke through her embarrassment. "Fate? Don't be ridiculous! It's a matter of probability and calculation!"
She struck a triumphant pose. "Then... then it's a deal! By the time we meet again, I'll definitely be the greatest magus in the galaxy, and then... then we'll see who's stronger! We can fight side by side again."
The maiden under the moonlight, with her reluctant yet feigned strong expression, was deeply imprinted in your memory.
"Yes," you said. "It's a promise."
You and Firefly eventually turned and left. Rin and Shirou stood at the top of the ruined church steps, watching your figures disappear into the pale, predawn light, two travelers heading back to the stars.