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"But let chaos cloud thine eyes. Thou, who art trapped in a cage of madness. And I, who doth hold thy chains!"
There is a burst of light, and Kariya cannot stand any longer. Already he can feel the exhaustion pressing down on him, the agony which burrows under his skin, taking its toll. His knees hit the floor and all he can do is sit there for a moment, breathing heavily.
He expects some sort of mindless creature, a being of garbled words and thoughtless actions, essentially an unpredictable puppet.
Instead, the distinct figure which steps out from the smoke is...something altogether different.
She peers down at him with gentle eyes, a shade of purple so close to his own. "Oh, my...Hello, my dear Mage. I am the Servant, Saber—” She pauses. "Hmm? What's this? Oh, dear...I appear to be not Saber, but Berserker. I apologize, this is unexpected." She bestows upon him a sweet smile. "Please do not be afraid."
Kariya stares up at her, wide-eyed. Ah, he thinks, I should stand. "It is...a pleasure," he manages, albeit somewhat breathily, as he struggles to his feet. "I...apologize for my...improper greeting."
"Master, allow me." She takes his arm, and he leans on her. Apparently he is not too tired to feel embarrassed.
His grandfather is watching. He had thought he would have to contend with a smug countenance, but Matou Zouken taps his cane in dissatisfaction. "This is not what I anticipated, Kariya. Can this woman—” He sneers. “—stand against myths and legends? I do not see the effects of Madness Enhancement in her. Perhaps you have failed?"
With Berserker's steady strength at his side, Kariya pushes aside his worry. Vulnerability is not something he can afford to show right now. "Do not underestimate her, grandfather. I believe she can do it."
"We shall see."
They leave the cellar with Zouken having dismissed Kariya.
As she leads him down the hall, Berserker murmurs in his ear, "I know that man is your family, but I do not approve of him, not one bit."
Kariya can do nothing but agree. "Yes. He is...a very bad man."
"Do not worry, my Master. I will protect you." She gifts him with another smile, and her fingers caress his arm soothingly. "Your faith in me made me very happy. I won't let you down."
He wonders how a Berserker can be so comforting. Perhaps she lacks the Madness Enhancement which would have lent him more power, but he can't feel it was a failure to have summoned her.
If she truly can do this...If, with her, Sakura will...
"I will...put my trust in you, Berserker, and support you as much as I can. Will you help me?"
"Of course."
He closes his eyes and exhales. "Thank you."
She squeezes his arm. "Master...I can sense the weight on your heart. What concerns you so?"
She is…too kind to be a Berserker. But hopefully…not too kind to be a Servant.
"Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable!" she exclaims. "To harm a child for any reason...barbarous, simply barbarous!"
Berserker's outrage is something of a solace to Kariya, who has been feeling sick ever since he learned of what Zouken had been doing to his niece.
"I must see the poor child immediately," she gushes, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. "Motherly love is a balm which will sooth any turmoil!"
"You are a mother?" Kariya asks, unsure why he would be surprised when it makes so much sense. He supposes he never thought about Servants being parents in their past life.
"Yes. He was not born from me, but I raised my dear Kintoki as my own," she says warmly. "Oh, to see him again...he must miss his mother so terribly...my darling Kintoki. All children are gifts, my Master. It is a parent's duty to make sure they are cherished and loved. Any who fail shall be cut down by my blade without mercy." She reaches out and caresses Kariya's cheek. Her hand is soft and gentle. "That husk of a man, who is as reprehensible as any oni...shall I cut him down, Master? Shall I deliver justice to the monster who would bring pain to an innocent child?"
Kariya never thought of himself as a man who would condone murder. But...
Would it really be so bad? he finds himself thinking. To rid the world of filth which has already overstayed its welcome...
Ah. He really is a Matou.
"I..." He sighs, closing his eyes. "I need to rest."
"Oh, dear, of course, Master. I should have noticed your weariness. Let's get you to bed. Shall I tuck you in?" She brushes his hair out of his face, beautiful eyes filled with maternal care. It's something he has never known.
"...Just...get me home, please."
"Yes, Master." She takes his arm again with a serene smile.
Kariya is beginning to think that perhaps the Madness Enhancement is simply well-hidden. There is a depth to her motherly nature which makes him uneasy, but it doesn't seem threatening. He has to trust that she will help him save Sakura.
This Holy Grail War...he's already staked his life on it. He must win, no matter the cost. And if…if he runs out of time….
…
Then he will take Berserker up on her offer…
…and curse his wretched family with his last breath.