Quoted By:
“Mizuri…” Kaguya whispered, realizing that she pushed the girl past her emotional limits and was unsure of how to rein things in. Threats wouldn’t work at this point, and positive reinforcement would probably come across as insincere given the circumstances. There must be a way to turn this around….
“It seems I’ve forgotten something essential, in my shame.” The knight said as he unfastened his scabbard from his belt and knelt while holding Durendal’s hilt up before the distressed girl’s face, “I would not be able to face my king if a fair maiden was led astray on my account.”
“Oi, what are you doing?” Kaguya asked, worried because she hadn’t accounted for the Saber’s reaction to such an unforeseeable situation.
Addressing Mizuri, Kuro no Saber said, “My True Name is Roland, Paladin of Charlemagne. I earnestly beg your pardon for setting a poor example. Now my eyes are open, and my mind is clear.”
“I can’t understand…” the girl sighed, but her eyes were drawn to the holy sword, its form that of a golden cross decorated with gems that captured and reflected the light of the sun. The dark thoughts that had tormented her fell silent as she felt warmth well up in her chest.
“Please tell me your name, my lady.” The paladin said as he looked into her eyes. “I shall be your sword, if you’ll have me.”
Her two Command Seals pulsing, the girl slowly raised her hand and laid it on the pommel of his sword before answering hesitantly but also almost instinctively, “My name… is Kokutou Mizuri. I shall be your Master… if you’ll have me.”
Shaking off her shock at this unexpected situation, Kaguya blurted out all too late, “Wait, don’t go deciding that all-”
The Command Seals on the back of Mizuri’s hand flared brightly as the contract was sealed. The other girl clicked her tongue in frustration but quietly told her own Saber to leave things be. Stepping toward the body of Roland’s former Master, Kaguya held her breath before reaching toward one of his pockets.
“What are you doing, Nijou-san? Show some respect!” Mizuri said, scolding her for so quickly looting the man’s body.
“I’m looking for his wallet so I can get his ID.” The young heiress explained, “Once the war’s over I’ll take it to an embassy from his home-country so we can let his family know what happened to him. Didn’t you say he had a child that he wanted to use the Holy Grail to save, Roland?”
“Allow me to handle this.” The paladin replied, stepping in to tend to the body himself, “His name was Nicholas Moore, from the state of Georgia in America. He was a widower with a son and daughter, the latter of whom has a rare disease that he wished to heal by the power of the Holy Grail.”
“They’re orphans now.…” Mizuri sighed. Clenching her fist, she told her new Servant, “Roland, I’ve decided: I’m going to make that wish in his place. I’ll be counting on your full support!”
