Fate: The Holy Grail

[3rd POV]

This is a wasteland, a battlefield, where the ashes of burning pages drift through the air…

"A small, insignificant wish, huh? Let's have a drink first and then talk, Assassin." 

He pulled out a wine bottle from the barrel and poured a scoop of red wine.

"Rider..." 

Waver, who had finally managed to climb off the chariot, couldn't hold back anymore. 

"Why did you reveal both your class and your true name?!"

He yelled, his voice filled with frustration.

"This king's name is somewhat famous, you know. It would be wonderful if I could convince Assassin to join us." 

He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head.

"You…" 

Who in their right mind would join your army?! 

Looking at Rider's smug expression, Weber couldn't help but feel an urge to punch him.

"First, wipe that blood off your face, boy," 

He said casually, "You don't want to embarrass yourself in front of a guest."

He touched his cheek a bit stunned, and found his fingers stained with blood.

The explosion in the library had nearly killed him, and he had only just regained consciousness.

He had briefly forgotten the pain due to the intense battle, but now that blood was visible, the pain rushed back into his mind.

"Ugh…" 

He pressed his hand to his wound, and then he saw Assassin. Waver suddenly realized... Assassin was covered in wounds.

Assassin's torn clothes, covered with blood on the back... his twisted left hand, and his right hand gripping the sword tightly. 

Waver didn't know what Assassin had been through, but the heavy look in his eyes made him feel deep pity...

The red wine aroma and the acrid stench of burning ashes entered Assassin's nostrils.

Rider got down from the chariot and offered him the drink.

'Wine…'

Looking at the red liquid swirling in the cup, Assassin hesitated.

"Assassin, there's no need to be so tense. Relax a little, and let me see your true self." 

Rider said as he sat cross-legged on the ground, "Isn't it too stiff to keep your disguise are while drinking?"

Assassin hesitated for a moment after hearing Rider's words...

In this situation, Assassin would lose the Intuition that came from Artoria.

The release of magic wasn't a big deal as he didn't have enough magic to waste.

However, this would make him feel vulnerable.

In the beginning, the combination of Instinct and Mind's Eye allowed him to survive Saber's relentless attacks, making him dependent on these skills.

That was also why he had never fully returned to his original form.

A few moments ago, these two abilities had helped him survive the combined attacks from Archer and Berserker.

He had grown deeply dependent on them.

However, Assassin was too weak to face Rider now, even if he kept the disguise.

So be it…

In the next moment, Assassin transformed into a mass of dark shadows right before Rider's eyes.

A cold chill began to spread around, and Assassin's presence extinguished the pages of the burning books nearby.

He transformed back into the form he had when Kirei first summoned him in a soul without a physical body.

The gray-white mist enveloped the wine bottle. He was about to take a drink but froze in place.

"You don't have a mouth...?" 

Rider paused for a moment and said, "I didn't think of that."

"How about... you change back, Assassin?" 

He asked gently.

"I'm really sorry... I'm not worthy to stand with the Heroic Spirits like this."

Assassin said, feeling inferior. 

Not too long ago, he was just a mortal, a fragile existence that had died long ago, leaving behind only a soul, and that soul had been pushed into the Holy Grail War by an unknown force.

In fact, Assassin was afraid of what the other heroic spirits might think if they knew about his past. 

Although it wouldn't change anything, there was always this sharp thorn in his heart, making it hard for him to find the courage to face his own wishes in front of the other servants.

"Assassin, you have already shown your true form to this king. I dare say there are few heroic spirits as dazzling as you," 

Rider said, pausing for a moment.

After hearing this, Assassin glanced at him, then transformed into Rider's form.

The mist thickened, gradually turning into solid muscles.

[You have gained B-rank skill Strategy, C-rank skill Divinity.]

Just as Assassin had expected, Rider's build looked imposing, like a giant mountain. However, the benefits it brought to him were not significant far less than what Saber could offer.

"You've turned into my form." 

Rider said, frowning. He felt uncomfortable looking at him in his form.

"I feel like it would be better if you became Saber instead." 

He said, "Drinking in front of yourself feels too narcissistic, like looking in a mirror."

"I originally intended to take Archer's form, but I figured you wouldn't accept that, right?" 

Assassin explained, "Berserker has a Noble Phantasm that hides his appearance, so I can't turn into his form..."

"After thinking it over, I could only transform into your form," 

Assassin continued, then once again shifted into the form of Saber, Artoria.

"I was just an ordinary person, and I died in an accident," 

Assassin said, "I've forgotten most of my past experiences, but when I woke up, I had already become a heroic spirit."

"What's wrong with being ordinary?"

Rider comforted. "Every heroic spirit was once an ordinary person before they became a legend. What's the difference?" 

He noticed Assassin's lack of confidence. 

"I don't see any extra arms or legs on a heroic spirit. Besides, you're one heroic spirit now."

"Thank you, Rider." 

Assassin said, taking a small sip of the wine. Suddenly, a flash of lightning seemed to strike his mind!

It's delicious!

Assassin's pupils shrank. 

Although his soul was somewhat resistant to drinking, the body imprinted with Artoria's essence reacted honestly.