Shirō placed the last dish on the table and sat down across from Rin, her expression bright with anticipation. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the room, and Rin hesitated, glancing at the plate in front of her as if it might explode.
"It's not poisonous," Rin muttered under her breath, taking a cautious bite.
Her eyes widened. Another bite. Then another.
"This is... soooo good!" Rin exclaimed, completely abandoning her scepticism as she dug in.
Shirō watched her with a sheepish smile, nibbling on her own portion. Across the table, Archer sat with his usual composed expression, but he'd also picked up a pair of chopsticks and decided to join the meal. He didn't need to eat, but watching Saber—well, this Saber—cook was an entirely new experience for him. The Saber he remembered was an eating machine, not someone who could whip up a gourmet meal.
"Is it good?" Shirō asked hesitantly, her gaze flickering between the two of them.
Rin didn't answer, too busy stuffing her face.
When the plates were finally empty, Rin sat back, satisfied but trying to maintain her usual cool demeanour. "Alright, Emiya-kun," she began, leaning forward with her arms crossed. "How strong are you compared to Archer?"
Shirō blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh..."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you've never fought."
"Well," Shirō said sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "I've never actually... seen him fight either."
Archer, unable to resist, spoke up. "Can you blow away a mountain?"
Rin whipped her head toward him, startled. "Wait, you can do that?"
Shirō shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her cheeks reddening. "...Uh, no. I think I might have enough strength to break a wooden log."
Rin stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. "You've got to be joking," she groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright, then. Emiya-kun, your Noble Phantasm?"
Shirō froze, her expression blank as her brain scrambled for an answer.
"...What's a Noble Phantasm?" she finally asked, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
Rin slammed her hand on the table, exasperated. "You're telling me you don't even know that?! Fine. Any magic skills? Anything at all?"
Shirō brightened a little. "Oh, I know fortification!"
Rin perked up slightly. "Finally, something!" She paused, frowning. "But isn't that... utterly useless?"
Shirō blinked. "...It is?"
Rin buried her face in her hands, muttering something about the end of the world. Archer, meanwhile, leaned back in his seat, a faint smile playing on his lips as he observed the chaos.
"You've got a long way to go, Saber," he said, his tone half-amused, half-resigned.
Rin leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers against the table as she began explaining, "Alright, Emiya-kun—or Saber, whatever—you need to understand what a Noble Phantasm is. It's the trump card of every Servant. Think of it as the crystallisation of your legend, the ultimate attack or ability unique to you. It's what separates ordinary Servants from extraordinary ones."
Shirō blinked, her face blank. "So, it's like a super move in a video game?"
Rin's lips twitched, trying to hold back her irritation. "In the simplest terms... sure. But don't treat it lightly. A Noble Phantasm can turn the tide of battle, but the moment you use it, your identity as a Heroic Spirit might be revealed. That's why it's risky."
"Okay, got it," Shirō said, nodding as though she understood everything, though her slightly confused expression said otherwise. She turned to Archer. "What's your Noble Phantasm?"
Archer folded his arms, leaning back with a smug smirk. "Not telling."
Shirō frowned. "Why not?"
"Because it's none of your business," Archer replied, his tone flat but teasing enough to make Rin glare at him.
"Don't mind him," Rin huffed. "He likes to be dramatic." She turned back to Shirō, studying her carefully. "That fortification magecraft you mentioned earlier—where did you learn it?"
Shirō hesitated for a moment before answering softly, "It's something I learned from my late adoptive father. He taught me the basics."
"Oh." Rin's sharp expression softened briefly at the mention of Shirō's father. She quickly seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Anyway, since you've been able to change your clothes, you must've seen the marks on your body. What about the Command Seals?"
Shirō flushed, her gaze dropping to the table. "There aren't any," she admitted, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
Rin's eyebrows shot up. "What?! No Command Seals? Are you sure you're even a Servant?"
Before Shirō could respond, she said, "Never mind. Tell me about any encounters if you've had with other Masters or Servants. Anything at all."
"Well," Shirō began, her expression growing serious, "there was this girl... Illyasviel von Einzbern. She kept calling me 'Big Brother.'"
Rin stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "Illyasviel von Einzbern? You met her?"
"Yes. She attacked me with Berserker."
Rin's hands slammed onto the table. "Berserker?! You fought a Berserker?!"
Shirō raised her hands defensively. "No, no! I didn't fight him. I dodged. And then... I ran away."
Rin groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Of course you did."
Clearing her throat, she composed herself and sat upright. "Alright, Emiya-kun, how about this? You become my Servant."
"Wait, what?" Shirō blinked, stunned.
"I'm serious," Rin said, smirking. "I'm a great Master. Ask Archer."
Archer scoffed, his smirk widening. "Great Master? Please. You're unfeminine, a tsundere, a softy—"
"MOOUU! ARCHER!" Rin shouted, her face bright red as she threw a glare at him that could melt steel. Archer merely shrugged, clearly enjoying himself.
Turning back to Shirō with a forced smile, Rin asked again, "So, Emiya-kun? What do you say?"
Shirō shook her head, her expression resolute. "I'm an independent citizen of Japan! I'm not going to—"
"Fine!" Rin groaned, throwing up her hands. "How about this instead? Let's make a pact. No fighting each other until the war ends, and I get the Grail. Deal?"
Shirō tilted her head, considering. "What's in it for me?"
"I'll mentor you," Archer said smoothly, leaning forward. "Your powers, your Noble Phantasm, everything. And Rin and I can protect you from other Masters and Servants until you're strong enough to stand on your own."
Rin crossed her arms. "So? Do you accept?"
Shirō hesitated, her gaze flickering between Rin and Archer. "Will I be able to help others?"
Rin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yeah, I think so."
Shirō smiled softly. "Then... I accept."