The rain struck coldly against Leo's extended palm, and also against Medea Lily's silent heart.
She did not respond immediately.
Those beautiful purple eyes reflected the absurd and eerie silhouette of the V3 helmet, her gaze as complex as the whirlpools of the deep sea.
As a witch of the Age of Gods, she had witnessed countless lies and schemes.
Jason's honeyed words still echoed in her ears, and her previous Master's betrayal had occurred mere moments ago.
Trust was something she had long abandoned.
"Allies..." she repeated softly, her voice carrying a faint mockery, "What do you have to offer me as an ally? A coward who doesn't even dare show his face? Master, you should understand that Servants need magical energy to maintain their presence, and even more to fight... What can you possibly provide me?"
Her question was sharp and direct, striking at the very core of the Master-Servant relationship—the supply of magical energy.
Yet faced with this question that was almost a death sentence, Leo's response was eerily calm.
He did not withdraw his hand, nor did he waver in the slightest, only continuing to state an even crueler truth through his dull voice modulator.
"I have no magical energy whatsoever."
The words were light, yet more shocking than any hammer blow.
Medea Lily's pupils contracted once more.
A normal person with no magical energy attempting to participate in the Holy Grail War?
This was the most absurd joke she had ever heard. This was not boldness, but pure ignorance and madness.
"Besides this face that could seduce even Heroic Spirits, and some knowledge I possess about the future of this Holy Grail War, I have nothing."
Leo's tone was so candid it bordered on self-destruction, "I cannot provide you with any support from an ordinary magus Master."
"Therefore, by choosing me, you will receive no magical energy replenishment. Every battle will consume your own reserves, and you might even disappear due to magical depletion."
He laid bare all his disadvantages before her without reservation, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.
Medea Lily was completely stunned.
She had imagined countless possible responses—perhaps boasting of his family's heritage, perhaps threatening with Command Spells—but she had never anticipated this kind of... suicidal confession.
As she was engulfed in shock, Leo's words suddenly shifted direction, and beneath his calm tone surged an irrepressible, burning emotion.
"But even so, I must participate in this war! I must obtain the Holy Grail!"
"Because I don't want... I don't want to see innocent girls fall into madness simply because they caught a glimpse of me!"
His voice trembled with pain, as if a specific figure—someone who had fallen into misfortune because of him—materialized before his eyes, "They will abandon their own lives, discard their families and friends, with nothing left in their minds but a pathological love for me!"
"But that is not love, that is a curse! A malignant tumor that needs to be eradicated, just like the curse upon me!"
"I yearn to eliminate this power, not only for myself, but so that those victims I have bewitched can be freed from that maddening fire of love and reclaim their normal lives!"
This heartfelt cry, like a warm current, instantly dispersed the chill of the rainy night.
It struck the softest place in Medea Lily's heart.
She... had once been an innocent and kind girl, in the temple of Colchis, cradling the most beautiful dreams for the world.
Had it not been for divine malice, she might have become a great witch who saved lives, rather than the "Witch of Betrayal" with blood-stained hands.
She understood the pain of being "powerless" better than anyone, and yearned for "salvation" more than anyone.
And this man before her—his wish was not only for himself, but also included the salvation of "victims."
This... this was simply...
"You..."
Medea Lily opened her mouth, but found her throat too dry to produce any sound.
Her mind was in chaos. Reason told her that this man was a burden, the worst possible choice for a Master in the Holy Grail War; but emotionally, she was thrown into turmoil by this foolish kindness and sincerity.
Leo seemed to see through her hesitation and struggle.
He sighed softly and slowly withdrew his extended hand.
"I know this is an unfair deal for you... It's only natural that you would refuse because of your psychological trauma from your past life."
His voice returned to calm, carrying a warmth that put one at ease, "If you're unwilling, I won't force you. I can even point you toward a better path."
Medea Lily looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.
"In this city, there is a man named Kuzuki Souichiro, a schoolteacher. Though he is also an ordinary person, he has a steadfast character and upright nature—a more suitable vessel than me."
"Or perhaps on the other side of the city, there is a young man named Shirou Emiya. Though he is only a half-baked magus, he harbors the naive ideal of being an 'ally of justice.' He would surely be happy to help you."
"I will give you their information, and you can choose for yourself."
"At least, it would prevent you from being left alone, your magical energy exhausted, disappearing into this cold rainy night."
When Leo spoke these words, time seemed to freeze.
The sound of rain, the sound of wind, everything vanished.
Medea Lily's mind was filled with nothing but a ringing silence.
She stared at him, and for the first time, an emotion called "shock" appeared in those purple eyes.
Betrayal... schemes... exploitation... abandonment...
Her entire life had been accompanied by these words.
She had long grown accustomed to the ugliness and selfishness of human nature, and had even become part of it herself, using deeper betrayals and schemes to protect herself.
Yet now, this man in the ridiculous helmet, this "Master" who could barely save himself, was willingly paving a way out for her in the face of possible rejection? Even going so far as to introduce her to other "more reliable" Master candidates?
What kind of spirit was this?
What kind of... foolish yet radiant sincerity!
In this moment, in the depths of her heart, the spiritual foundation of the adult witch—filled with wariness and calculation—collided violently with the spiritual foundation of the innocent and kind Lily form.
'A Master with no magical energy is the greatest burden.' —the adult witch's reason warned.
'He... is a good person.' —young Lily's heart whispered.
'He was honest about everything, even prepared a way out for you. Can you really refuse such sincerity?'
'He is just like you, both cursed by fate, you should stand together!'
'Jason deceived your love with lies, but he reached out his hand to you with the clumsiest sincerity.'
After violent swaying, the scales of her heart finally... tipped completely to one side.
She, the princess of Colchis, the witch of the Age of Gods Medea, made her decision at this moment.
"You really are... hopeless fool."
A barely audible sigh escaped her pale lips.
Then, under Leo's astonished gaze, that small, cold hand trembled as it reached out, yet with absolute determination, and gently placed itself upon the back of his hand that had just been withdrawn and not yet lowered.
"By my name as Caster, Medea, I swear..."
The girl's voice, though weak, carried the solemn authority unique to a witch of the Age of Gods.
"I will answer your summons and take you as my Master."
"From this moment forward, my magic shall pave your path until the Holy Grail descends."
"The contract... is sealed."
The instant her words fell, Leo felt three crimson Command Spell marks flash across the back of his hand, and a torrent of magical energy surged from Medea's fingertips, circulating through his body before returning to hers, constructing an unbreakable spiritual bond.
Magical energy... had returned.
Though still faint, it was more than sufficient to maintain her presence in this world.
Medea Lily felt the magical energy flowing through her body once more, looked up at this "foolish Master" whose fate was now intertwined with her own, and a complex smile played at the corners of her mouth.
She did not immediately revert to her adult form, but chose to continue maintaining this innocent and naive girl appearance.
Perhaps, being with such a fool, occasionally... experiencing the world with a fool's heart, would make for quite a good journey.