a terrible autonomy

[poletariat]

Oh, magi might pride themselves on being subtle, but there's nothing at all subtle about the battle that raged in the forests last night. They couldn't have missed it even if they hadn't had Archer's sight to draw on. But Archer's sight couldn't pierce the thick veil of snow that rose later, after Berserker tore onto the field. Is he still standing? Is Lancer? Is Caster? Zofia shakes her head, her mouth tightening. Better if they'd all killed each other and sucked their Masters dry.

Is Archer able to bring herself to look at the scorched stumps and blistered ground, the snow blackened by ash? The wind blows a few dying sparks past Zofia's cheek, and she reaches for them. If they singe holes through her gloves, she doesn't notice.

This is what magi do when they fight, she reminds herself. This is what happens when nothing checks their power. But that power's been weakened, and if she acts quickly enough, it'll never be regained in time.

She crouches on the ground, traces her finger through the dirt. Michel and Tohsaka are easiest to track, of all of them. If she finds some proof that either of them lived past their fight with that girl --

There, right by her. A set of motorcycle tracks cut through the snow, and wind away from the forest.

Well, that's one survivor. One exhausted, drained survivor, whose Servant won't yet be at full strength. And what did become of his ally?

She can't quite smile, but her mouth hardens into something almost like one.

Comments

[maygamesbegin]

Archer scrutinises her Master for a few moments longer, taking in that shadow of an attempt at a smile, and the still churning air around her, and gives up. "Alright. Can't do much about impatience. As long as it's just that - and you'd tell me if it wasn't, right?" she can't help but sound a little hopeful. Zofia's friendship and trust are things she values, more than she thought she would, actually.

[poletariat]

"Yes," she says. "If it was something important, that would only make sense, wouldn't it?"

[maygamesbegin]

"Right, yeah," Archer nods, trying to feel relieved, but that persistent feeling still sticking to her. The suffocating silence descended again. "I'm gonna go keep a watch on them. In case they go anywhere unusual we might have to know about."

[poletariat]

Zofia pries herself away from the chair. For a moment, she feels around for something else to rest her hand on, but stops. No, rest isn't what she needs. She taps her chin instead. "Wise. I'll find something to eat, I think."

[maygamesbegin]

"Okay," a pause. "Build and conserve your strength for tomorrow, just in case. We can't be too careful." And with a last, lingering glance, she vanishes into the air.