Neuanfang

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

Who: Hayate Yagami and Signum
Where: The Yagami household
When: Very shortly after Winter Court
What: Summoning the Servant Archer



While she had been extremely thankful to Mitsunari for inviting her, and Light for keeping her company in the city, the whole trip had left her quite tired. There had been so much to take in, that that week felt like a lifetime of experiences. She had seen things that she never thought that she would see, heard things she never dreamed of hearing, and she loved nearly every moment of it. But after so many days of stimulation, she was glad to be back home.

Light, of course, had business to attend to as soon as the court was over. She knew that that would have been the case; he would likely be busy for the next week, recounting different things that the two men had heard and spoke of. There was also the matter of Mitsunari's vision. It seemed to worry Light and Mitsunari a bit, and perhaps she should have given it a bit of thought as well, but it was best to keep frightening ideas like that out of mind. After all, there was nothing special about her. She had a destiny crystal, sure, but that was likely some mistake or misinterpretation on her Lord's part.

Reading through the book that she got from her trip, little did she know that something was afoot. One of the books, nestled neatly in its bookshelf in the girl's room, pulsed with power.

Comments

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

That brings Signum up short once more, her expression snapping straight from serious to shocked.

"Er...you don't want what, Hayate?"

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

Hayate's expression, however, does not change. She repeats herself, a bit more steadily "I don't want you to kill anyone. There are already enough terrible people in this world, I don't want you to become one of them too, Archer!"

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

Signum is significantly taken aback by that. Hayate had no idea...and she was serious, too. How could this innocent have possibly summoned her of all people?

She takes a deep breath and releases it, lest she be moved to tears by Hayate's sincerity, or her own confusion. "But...don't you want a wish, Hayate? Think of what you could do with the prize of a miracle - for yourself or for anyone else."

The words come out of Signum's mouth before she has time to consider them, and she regrets them almost immediately. Contradicting her Master - even a staggeringly gentle one - was something she'd never even consider doing on purpose. She's just so flabbergasted by the idea of someone refusing to use her as a weapon that she's lost her normal sense of decorum, or so she reasons.

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

"But if I had to hurt other people to get that..." She clenched her hands tightly, shaking her head and leaning forward. "I don't want that! If other people have to suffer for something that I want, it isn't worth it!"

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

Signum pauses, shakes her head, and falls to her knee again by way of apology, head bowed.

"Of...of course, Hayate," she says, ashamed of herself now. To this girl, she probably sounded like some kind of summoned tempter-demon just now - well, she is a demon, but not quite so literally. "I will do as you command. My sword shall be used only to protect your life."

"You're--"

She cuts herself off, unsure about whether to make excuses, but presses ahead anyway. "You're very different from what I expected...Hayate."

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

That was a load off her mind. Perhaps if they both kept their heads down, they would be able to survive this war. While she did not like the idea of others fighting like they were, she certainly did not want to perpetuate those actions.

Still, Signum's behavior surprised her, and she blinked a few times. "I am?"

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

Signum pauses to think for a moment, and decides this girl can be trusted with a little more information about her past.

"I...well, my ascension to the status of 'Heroic Spirit' was a bit unique. I can remember previous summonings with the Book of Darkness, and the summoners were significantly less...moral than you," she says, skipping any and all possible details to support that conclusion.

"You're...a good person, Hayate," she adds, based on 100% of the available evidence.

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

"So you've fought like this before?" She had experience with this sort of thing, perhaps already had blood on her hands from how she spoke. However, if Hayate could help it, that would not happen this time. She would do everything she could to keep that from happening. As Signum's Master, it was the least she could do.

She shook her head to Signum's comment, however. "I don't like to see people fight, especially if it's on my behalf."

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

"That's a difficult idea to adjust to. I suppose the world must be more peaceful than what I've seen of it before," Signum comments, a bit of wryness coming into her voice. She changes from her position of obeisance to a less formal kneeling seat on the floor, finding herself just about at eye level with her sitting Master. "Or you simply have a different experience with reality than I have. As I mentioned, I've been a soldier for many lifetimes now. I'm not entirely sure how many."

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

She lowers her head a little. "It isn't very peaceful, actually..."

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

Signum nods. At least one thing in this situation wasn't completely off from her previous experiences. "Then consider me your protector. We'll put the Grail War aside if that's your desire, but I won't let you come to harm from that or any other source. Does that sound like a better deal, Hayate?"

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

She nodded. Having a sudden realization, however, she stopped. "But my brother..."

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

"It is safest if you don't tell him anything I just told you," Signum says. "The more people know about your involvement, however unwilling, in the Grail War, the more dangerous it will be for you. This includes your family."

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

She frowned. "But he'll want to know why you're here suddenly, and who you are. And I can't lie to him."

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

"Then tell him the truth. I'm a new servant. Judging from your room here, you're well-off enough that that isn't suspicious, right?" Signum suggests.

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

"But he might get suspicious since he didn't hire you himself..." This was getting a bit too complicated.

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

"Call me a down-on-her-luck knight-errant you took pity on, perhaps," Signum says. "I get the impression you'd offer someone like that a roof over her head regardless of your brother, am I right?"

[nightskymaster.livejournal.com]

She frowns a little, thinking it. Suddenly an idea comes to mind and she brightens up. "I think I know what will work. Can you hand me one of those crystals over there?"

[nightskysword.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Signum says, standing and retrieving Hayate's Destiny Crystal, not entirely sure how she can tell the difference, but certain of it regardless.