sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[Lien nods and turns to jog lightly to the other side of the bridge. As she does, she notices that there's a certain sensation... what it is, she can't quite place.

Meanwhile, the Servant reaches inside his coat to take out a medium length sword, with a handle that isn't unlike a rapier, pointing it at Lancer. Saber?? True, the weapon was a kind of Noble Phantasm, but it didn't seem to match up with a Phantasm like Gae Bolg.]

Prepare yourself.

[ It's hard to get a read on this Servant— Saber?— and it would be easy to underestimate him on grounds of the caliber of Noble Phantasm alone. Lancer is smart enough to know that that's unwise, though, so his stance is kept tight and controlled, calculates the length of his enemy's weapon and the strides necessary to keep optimal distance. ]

Don't blink.

[ A low taunt, and there's the resounding noise of cracking concrete, wires creaking in its foundations as Lancer lunges directly towards his enemy's front. ]

[The Servant parries and attempts to push back with multiple thrusts of his own with the sabre. Despite his size, he's quite agile and swift, enough to match up with Lancer. Strength wasn't anything to disregard either.

Lien's staying out of the way of course, but maybe she could be useful in her own way. She gets down on one knee, taking off her right glove. She's still keeping an eye on the battle of course, it's just that she now has the challenge of trying to read the spell that's cast around the bridge at the same time.

Fog.

Fog.

More Fog.

So much fog, it might as well be white noise.

This isn't the first time it's been used. The Servant uses this spell in order to...

Ugh. She puts her glove back on again. Seems like they've leveled up in difficulty in terms of worthy opponents.]

C'mon... We gotta figure out his identity...

[Maybe if it wasn't for that damn long coat!!]

[ The poor visibility is annoying, to say the least. Thick fog seems to coil around them, managing not to impede vision as long as Lancer is moving. Gae Bolg cuts through the mist like a red light, parrying and sending faint glimmers of sparks flying with every contact of blade against blade.

Something still feels off, and after a few strikes met and a few dodged, he falls back to regroup, restrategize. ]

Is this you, or your Master?

[ A wave of the hand, indicating "all this fog". ]

Does it bother you, Lancer? Me being full of surprises?

[The Servant chuckles, repositioning himself yet again.]

The effect is my doing. Your Master is right when she said its purpose is not only to conceal, but to make this my whole bridge my territory. It was an ability that I achieved in my past life...

Your Master's first mistake was to have the battle here.

[He gives a mocking shrug.]

And if it bothers you so much, I'll at least have you know that this is hardly my main weapon. Come at me with all you have to get to the main event!

[There's something about the fact that he said, having a battle on the bridge was a mistake that's bothering Lien. What's wrong with bridge exactly? This guy was full of layers. She calls out to Lancer.]

Lancer! Make him materialize his true clothing or armor!

[ This guy's true identity might as well be Shrek, he has so many layers. The cryptic note about bridges aside, there's the matter of pride to attend to; namely, the fact that it doesn't sit well with Lancer at all, that this Servant can continue to hide his identity.

A beat, and Lancer's eyes widen, framed by lines that look like thick veins trailing upwards into his hairline. ]

Don't regret saying that.

[ That's not an idle threat, especially with his ríastrad activated, and he proves it by almost disappearing into a thin blur for his next attack: a streak of blue, and he's almost right in front of the other Servant, aiming for a wide sweep to the flank. ]

[The Heroic Spirit is able to dodge, just barely. The wide sweep is able to damage the outer coat, nearly tearing it apart.

Up close, Lancer can probably see underneath the layer a distinctive blue and white coat lined with red. From far away, it's harder for Lien to get an eyeful due to the fog, but it's another clue and it's beginning to jog her memory. Her breath stops as if almost making the realization, but there's a fog in her mind that's obscuring the larger picture.

The Servant spins, and thrusts upwards to parry, causing the ground around them to crumble, earth flying into the air.]

[ Pin him, is his instinct. Pin him, pin him down.

The enemy sword arcs up and barely misses, but not because Lancer only nearly dodged— his intention is to stay as close as possible, and he takes the gamble of the hair's-breadth guard to keep himself inches away from his opponent.

He feels the whistle of iron millimeters from his face, feels the debris around him hit his skin like harsh rain, but stands his ground to drive his lance forward: even if he doesn't manage a killshot, he'll try to at least pin some part of this guy to the ground. ]

[The next few seconds produces an unexpected result. Lien covers her mouth so a shriek of shock doesn't escape from her mouth although what has just occurred would be enough to completely throw anyone off.

What the Servant actually does is move in such a way that he allows Lancer to drive his weapon through his throat.

And he doesn't budge. He doesn't even make a noise of pain. The Servant grins, showing off feral like teeth.]

Mistake number two.

[And in the far off distance, there's a noise that's not unlike... No, it IS a horse.]

LANCER!!

[ This should have done it.

Operative word: "should".

The voice he hears should reasonably be thick with blood, should be whistled through torn skin, but instead... it's almost a laugh, smooth and mocking.

Lancer's first instinct, of course, is to back away. ]

—Tch!

[ Gae Bolg is hastily pulled back, regripped in his hands to make sure of its tangibility. Not exactly the most graceful retreat, and for a moment, he leaves himself open. ]

[This isn't good, Lien thinks. A panic rises up in her. She really did make a huge mistake.

The Servant makes a "Tsk tsk," making his... head shake somehow at Lancer. His facial features are twitching as if riled up in madness.]

How discourteous of you Lancer! I would have been honored to reveal my identity by having your lance unveil the truth!!

But I suppose I will proceed instead!!

[He begins to laugh and it's unsettling and unearthly, echoing throughout the whole fogged up bridge. His sabre dematerializes and he reaches up grasping the sides of his head.

And he twists his head clean off.

It's too late, but Lien finally gets it.]

The coat... That's... Hessian!! And there's only one infamous Hessian from legend...!!

[There's no blood that erupts from the decapitated area. It gleams ruby red, sticky and sickening, throbbing with some unfathomable rhythm. What's worse is that the prana that surrounds this Servant is intense as if he was more powerful without his head which continues to laugh. His laughter has become even louder to the point where people outside of the Fuyuki could sense something was off and even more magically inclined beings would know that something powerful was released.

What's worse? The fog is getting thicker. Lien is losing sight of Lancer and she coughs, feeling her health being affected.]

Edited 2015-01-16 07:02 (UTC)

[ Assessment: not good. Not only are they being disgustingly indiscreet, the cloud around them has obscured the area to an extent where his opponent's effectively cut him off from his Master. He trusts Lien not to be foolhardy, but in a pinch, he also knows that her skills aren't offensive unless she has something to fight back with.

And even then, it's hard to fight back when it's this difficult to navigate anywhere that's not within a two-feet periphery. Again, not good. ]

The dulachán, huh.

[ That's the Irish equivalent of the headless horseman, though he has to wonder if the Hessian counterpart is a bit different. A low click of his tongue under his breath, and he calls out: ]

Lien! Can you hear me?

Y-Yeah!!

[Sure, she might have gotten her arm torn off by a Berserker, but somehow this is way scarier than that encounter.]

We have to get off the bridge!! I think I understand the conditions he mentioned!!

So you don't know about me, but you know this guy?

[ The banter is a way to keep up morale, but he's still frowning as he tries to make his way to the source of Lien's voice. He'd rather not have his Master die today, or, in fact, not anytime soon. ]

What are the conditions?

I'VE ONLY BEEN LEARNING ABOUT THE CURRENT WORLD FOR TEN YEARS, GIVE ME SOME SLACK IF I DON'T HAVE CELTIC LEGENDS IN MY HEAD!!

[FUCK SHE HEARS THE HORSE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE. The Servant has disappeared into the fog, aiming to get on the steed. She quickly answers breathlessly.]

He made this bridge his territory, but that means he can't go beyond it, not without trying to get one of our heads! The Headless Horseman couldn't cross a bridge that was the entrance to the town where he originated from! I'm willing to bet he's a Rider who's more effective with his mount and Noble Phantasms if he creates the boundaries to trap his opponent!

[She coughs, stupid fog.]

This fog... I don't feel good...

[LUCK RANK E IS REARING ITS UGLY HEAD]

We need to... Can't stay here...

Edited 2015-01-16 07:20 (UTC)

[ There's a decision to be made here, whether he tells Lien to run and hide while he prevents the Horseman from getting on his ride, or whether he finds her and tries to get off this bridge, the both of them together. It's not a choice he can afford to think about at length, and he decides, after a moment of consideration, that it's not his style to leave a girl hanging.

He has terrible luck with situations involving women, really.

Cutting through the mist with his lance, he finally finds Lien in the fog and hauls her up by her arm, half-carrying her as he starts making his way towards the end of the bridge. ]

Then run, little lady. Come on, where's your usual backbone?

[As Lancer picks her up (it's a good thing she's light) her Eyes are activated so she can read the nature of this fog, now that's thicker and more tangible.]

Ugh. This fog is death for normal human beings. Even if I could run, I'd probably die by this!

[Seems like Servants are unaffected though, so Cu shouldn't have an issue cutting through the fog.

Hear that cackling laughter?? The clacking of hooves?? The newly revealed Rider is coming up behind them on his deathly white horse, its eyes glowing red.

And instead of the sabre he's now wielding an axe in one hand while the opposite is taking control of the reins. Lancer's agility may be great, but Rider is catching up quickly to the point where he can almost be side by side.]

[ A few seconds of running, and he makes a mental confirmation that he can't outrun Rider when he's on his horse. He'll have to stand his ground and fight, but he'll only have one shot with Gae Bolg— a difficult one that he can't manage without something a little "extra". ]

—Lien!

[ He slows down, heels skidding against asphalt and pivoting to face the incoming threat. ]

Give me another pair of eyes!

[ Meaning, "use your Command Spell to let me see through this fog, if only for one second". ]

Ah? OH!!

[She remembers her Command Spells. WAIT HOW DOES THIS WORK SHE'S NOT QUALIFIED... Crap, she can't muddle through this, not with their lives on the line. Lien forces her brain to stop screaming at her and calm down, giving her all to activating the first Spell. And now to make sure the order was clear and strong now that she feels a burning sensation on her hand.]

LANCER! By this Command Spell, don't let Rider's fog blind you!! See through it with clear eyes!!

[The first Spell glows and dissipates from her hand. Lien and Lancer can probably feel the large amount of prana that was just released. Said Spell has given Lancer crystal clear eyesight.

Rider's horse lets out a feral noise, because of the prana, standing upright while Rider keeps a steady hand on the reigns, keeping his balance quite well. But what could Lancer do now that he had his mount?]

Edited 2015-01-16 07:55 (UTC)

[ For a moment, everything registers as too bright. Colors fade, the white of the fog intensifies and almost blinds him with its clarity...

...but when it passes, everything is contrasted in brilliant vibrancy. His eyes pick up on everything underneath the coiling fog, every vibration of air, every tremor of hooves on ground, every whistle of wind moving through fabric, painting a trajectory that he follows with acute precision.

That surge of prana is more than enough.

He puts Lien down and goes into motion, both hands on his lance, eyes open as wide as they'll let him. ]

Gae...

[ His voice comes in a low howl, an undercurrent of killing intent. The feet bracing himself against the ground make small crevasses in preparation for the throw, keeping a steady hold as his opponent moves closer within range. ]

...Bolg!

[ And when he pitches his Noble Phantasm through the air, he aims it so that it'll go straight through the horse, piercing two hearts at once; something no normal fighter would think of doing, but, well. He is Ireland's Child of Light. ]

[Both beings stop moving as soon as Gae Bolg pierces their hearts. Rider's mount is instantly dead. While swift, it is fragile. The Horseman himself drops his Noble Phantasm and it disappears. His body twitches and the horse and Rider fall to the ground.

The head... Wait, where is the head?? The body isn't moving, but while the mount disappears, the body isn't disappearing into thin air like it should.]

... Lancer. We're leaving.

[An order. Lien has a feeling that this is only round one.]

[ There's a small victory in the fact that Rider no longer has...his ride... but there's a clear sense of annoyance at the fact that somehow, the Headless Horseman is still operating as just... a head. Somewhere.

He'd almost be impressed if it weren't hideously inconvenient. ]

That, [ he says, rapping the blunt end of his lance against cracked ground, ] was supposed to finish him off.

[ Just saying. But he doesn't argue beyond that (that's a lot of prana he just used), and strides over towards Lien. ]

Can you walk?

... Yeah.

[She stands up, looking dispirited. They're several meters away from the end of the bridge, although thankfully the mist is thinning. But it's not completely gone.]

I won't cross the bridge the next time.

[It sounds as if she thinks she was the one at fault here, but it's good she can discern the best course of action was for her to step away. And at least they're not giving up on real victory.]

Next time.

[ It's said with a bit of a sigh, one that borders on a consolation as he puts a hand on her head and ruffles idly. He's never really subscribed much to "next time"s, but they're both alive— this time, he'll take it. ]

How does it feel, huh? You were a flightless little bird before, but now you've used a damn Command Spell.

[Lien makes her way out; behind them, the fog is remains, but the outside world is normal and the skies are clear. To mundane eyes, the fog does not exist and since they can't see, they would not be locked into the Horseman's conditions. Hopefully.

Lien doesn't answer at first and lets Lancer ruffle her hair. The usage of the Command Spell might have been worth it if it led to straight forward victory.

She wants to apologize, but then she understands, that would be cheap. So instead...]

... Thank you. I know it's part of your duty as a Servant, but thank you for keeping me safe.

[She's even able to smile! Things have been changing; before, she might have put herself down for being a magus that had refused to improve due to her distaste of magic. It's better to channel that self-loathing to praising this amazing Spirit who kept her alive.]

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