Holy Grail War, day seven
Early morning.
Sakura Matou stood on the balcony, watching the eastern sky gradually turn pale. The morning breeze brushed her cheeks with the chill of the mountains, gently lifting her long purple hair.
She took out her phone, composed a brief message, and sent it.
"The final battle. Mountains outside Fuyuki. Abandoned shrine. I'll be waiting."
Recipient: Shirou Emiya.
After sending the message, she turned and went back inside.
Illya was still asleep on the sofa, her silver hair scattered across the cushion, her little face buried in the crook of her arm, her breathing even. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat beside the window, his cane resting across his knees, his eyes closed as he rested.
Medusa stood in the corner, her expression beneath her blindfold as calm as ever.
"Grandpa Yamamoto."
Sakura Matou spoke.
"Today is the last day. I'm a little nervous... but I'm confident."
Yamamoto opened his eyes, a piercing gleam flashing through them. "My advice is that you need not go there. I will naturally take care of everything."
There was no denying that Sakura Matou had become the greatest vulnerability in their group. They all understood this, yet they had no choice but to bring her along.
Hiding Sakura Matou would actually be even more dangerous.
If their opponents did not head there as expected and instead concentrated on searching for Sakura Matou, a Master would have almost no chance of noticing a Servant approaching with assassination as their sole aim.
Much less a novice like Sakura Matou.
Over the past few days, Sakura Matou had also studied under Illya, developing some simple Magecraft that suited her.
But she was still far too inexperienced.
That was why Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto suggested bringing Illya along.
The girl looked small and delicate, but