"Archer, so youâve finally found peace within yourself."
In the flower garden of the Hanging Gardens, two beautiful maidens were conversing. Jeanne dâArc looked at Atlantaâs calm expression, sighed in relief, then broke into a radiant smile.
"Thatâs truly wonderful."
They were discussing the events in foggy London. When faced with the resentment of countless children, Atlanta had chosen protection while Jeanne had chosen purification. Their conflict had nearly escalated beyond control, and subsequent events had left them little opportunity for proper conversation until now.
"Donât get too excited, Ruler. My change of heart has nothing to do with you," Atlanta huffed with tsundere pride. "Itâs only because Sakatsuki was so annoyingly persistent that I reluctantly reconsidered. Though our relationship remains adversarialâjust in a different sense now."
"A different sense?" Jeanneâs face showed innocent confusion. Seeing this, Atlanta leaned close to whisper a detailed account of what happened after their cliffside fall. As the scandalous whispers reached her ears, the saintâs eyes widened like a drenched puppyâs, her breathing grew heavier, and crimson spread from her neck up her cheeks to the very tips of her earsâ
"W-w-w-what kind of nonsense are you suddenly saying!?"
"Hmm? Isnât this perfectly normal?" Atlantaâs beast ears twitched in puzzlement. "Men and womenâs affections, procreationâarenât these humanityâs natural laws?"
"T-that sort of... that sort of behavior during the Holy Grail War is utterly shameless! And I donât even have a partner to begin with... No, wait! Aaah, honestly, I need to calm down!"
Jeanne flailed her arms wildly before slapping her cheeks repeatedly.
"A-anyway! While itâs none of my concern, what about Laeticia... Yes! If youâve already done... that with Sakatsuki, what about Laeticia! She has feelings for him too!"
"What are you talking about, Saint?" Laeticia raised a tiny pink fist in protest from within their shared soul. Meanwhile, Atlanta studied the blushing saint with an odd expression.
Could this be... embarrassment?
In her era, such innocent maidens were rare. How amusing that she could deceive herself about something so obvious to others.
How adorable.
Strangely, Atlanta found herself liking this saint more. Smirking, she said, "Well, just donât regret it later. Back to businessâafter hearing Sakatsukiâs ideals, you seemed quite shaken."
Jeanne remained silent. Unbothered, Atlanta continued:
"In that case, care to guess why Iâm here?"
"O-oh, right!" Only then did Jeanne realizeâif Atlanta had those feelings for Sakatsuki, even if she didnât fight alongside him, she shouldnât be standing against him either?
"Hmm, though I truly have no interest in humans or the future, since the Master who summoned me was killed, itâs only right that I seek vengeance against the murderer," Atlanta explained. "Moreover, I donât believe Amakusa and Sakatsukiâs ideals can succeed. No one has ever been able to save humanity, nor does humanity need saving."
"If you donât agree with them, then just join the opposing side. Thatâs the simple reason Iâm standing here, isnât it?"
"But... what would he think..."
"You mean Sakatsuki?" Atlanta chuckled lightly. "Havenât you realized it yet? That young manâs love is different from the heroes we know. Itâs not mere possession, nor does it suffocate like a cage. If I had to compare it... yes, though this might sound presumptuous, heâs like the moon."
"The moon... what do you mean?" Jeanne dâArc asked in confusion. Atlanta shook her head gently, offering no further explanation, and instead tilted her face upward, allowing the radiant moonlight to softly capture her delicate features.
It was silver moonlight flowing across the rooftop, enchanting and tender, as if capable of drawing anyone deeply into its embrace. It had once graced the windowsills of boudoirs, adorning maidensâ dreams; it had also shimmered upon the evening dew, crystal clear, like the eyes of wanderers chasing love.
No traveler could refuse such a feeling. Simply by staying by his side, both soul and body would feel lighter; no matter how far one journeyed, that moonlight would always accompany them, never departing.
May I chase this moonlight to shine upon you.
"Go ahead and act, Ruler," Atlanta finally said. "As those who love him, shouldnât we show him our very best selves?"
"Our will, ideals, and choicesâthese are the reasons for this love."
Jeanne dâArc looked at Atlanta. The wildcat-like huntress smiled, her eyes gentle as water, brimming with the joy of affection. Jeanne knew where these feelings were headed and couldnât help but feel a twinge of envy.
Wild, unrestrained, unreservedâthat was Atlantaâs love, but it was certainly not the way of a saint.
Yetâ
Beneath the cool moonlight, the holy maiden of France had realized what she must do.
"Youâre right, Archer. I am the Ruler of this war, here to uphold the order of the Holy Grail War. Since Iâve chosen this path, I should have no lingering doubts."
With the fog cleared, Jeanneâs eyes shone like amethysts.
"I will show Sakatsuki, in my own way, what the right path truly is."
"Oh?" Atlanta nodded, then abruptly added, "So you still think itâs Laeticia who likes Sakatsuki?"
"Ahâwell, um..." The saintâs composure crumbled instantly, her face flushing crimson like a freshly picked apple. "Donât tease me like this, Atlanta."
The huntress smiled without another word, about to continue teasing Jeanne in this state, when suddenly, the saint froze. An expression of disbelief crossed her face, and her demeanor shifted instantly. The solemn Ruler strode forward, heading toward the throne room.
"Whatâs wrong?"
"Saber..." Jeanneâs brow furrowed tightly. "The Black Saber, Siegfried, has been eliminated."
"This information is crucial. I must discuss it with Fiore and the others immediately!"
Just then, a pale, gaunt man appeared slowly from the end of the path. Karna watched the hurried Jeanne dâArc calmly and said, "Ruler, I need to speak with you."
"Iâm sorry, but Iâm in a hurry right now..."
"Though it may be presumptuous, this matter has been approved by both Father Amakusa and Miss Fiore."
"...Very well. Please come with me, Lancer of Red."
"Much obliged."
After bidding farewell to Atalanta, Jeanne and Karna disappeared beyond the flower beds. Notably, on the way to the throne room, Jeanne caught a glimpse of the Red Saberâs door left ajar. The rebellious knight Mordred sat on the bed, her sword resting across her knees, her expression distant.
Was it her imagination, or did Mordredâs Noble Phantasm seem oddly familiar...?
No, now wasnât the time to dwell on such thoughts. Jeanne shook her head and quickened her pace.
A divine warning echoed in her heartâsomething irreversible was happening... no, had already happened.
Meanwhile, Atalanta watched them leave before turning in another direction, her eyes flickering with contemplation.
This was a question that had struck her during her conversation with Jeanne.
Allowing her to return to the Red faction, eliminating Avicebron, permitting the destruction of the primordial giant Adam, deliberately giving both sides breathing room, entrusting Reika Rikudou to the enemy, even corrupting the King of Knights who had stayed by his side into her Alter formâand now, Siegfried had vanished for unknown reasons...
By this point, the Blue factionâs remaining combatants were only Sakatsuki and Artoria Alter.
Her beloved, Sakatsukiâperhaps even he hadnât realized itâbut his actions seemed to betray a certain tendency:
Self-destruction.
The huntress hurried down the corridor, her footsteps echoing. She passed her own room and arrived at the makeshift prison where Shakespeare was confinedâhis study.
Though it pained her to admit, the one who knew Sakatsukiâs story best wasnât her, but this pleasure-seeking playwright. He should know everything about that young man.
The door swung open as Atalanta stepped inside.
If anyone could discern deeper truths, it would be Shakespeareâthe literary giant who had plumbed the depths of human nature.
But then, two figures came into view. Atalanta looked past an awkwardly grinning Shakespeare to the young man leaning against the window, admiring the garden scenery. Her voice trembled in disbelief:
"Saka... tsuki?"
Hearing Atalantaâs call, the young man turned slowly. The oppressive aura of a superior Phantasmal Species radiated from him, causing the huntressâs hair to stand on end. She tensed instinctively yet found herself frozen, unable to move as Sakatsuki advanced toward her.
One step, two steps, three... The moonlight faded as shadows enveloped Atalantaâs flustered face.
"Why are you here... Mmmph!"
Amid Shakespeareâs barely contained excitement, Sakatsuki leaned down and captured the maidenâs lips. Warm breath washed over her, and Atalantaâs mind went blank, her body melting as she surrendered to his embrace.
The silent moonlight flowed over them, casting the loversâ entwined figuresâor perhaps, a dragon reveling in his treasured hoard.
Time seemed to lose meaning. By the time Sakatsuki finally released his embrace, Atlanta had already drifted into a hazy slumber. The young man gently caressed her cheek, brushing through her hair as shadows of imaginary numbers rose from the darkness, transforming into ribbons that enveloped the maiden, slowly sinking into an unknown space.
After this final moment of tenderness, Sakatsuki ran his fingers across his lips with a wistful smile before turning to face the wide-eyed figure rapidly scribbling notesâShakespeare. His tone remained as composed as ever.
"How are you holding up?"
"Of course! This is precisely when my perseverance shines!" Shakespeare waved excitedly from his mahogany armchair. "Go now, lift the final crimson curtain! I can hardly contain my anticipation! May fortune favor your blade!"
Sakatsuki bowed silently to the still-seated playwright before stepping backward, vanishing into layered shadows. Only after confirming the youthâs departure did Shakespeareâs grin fade. Narrowing his eyes, he murmured in quiet admiration.
"Love tames the wild, suddenly softening the heart... Truly, a classic and exquisite tale."
His writing hand dropped limply, the pen tapping against the chairâs surface through his trouser legâa crisp sound resembling both a sigh and the heralding of a stageâs final act.
Beyond the study, violent explosions erupted as the young manâs clear voice rang through the night:
"Blue Factionâs Assassin, Sakatsuki, seeks your instruction."
"This marks our final battle, comrades of both Black and Red factions!"