Endure

Fire and thunder rage around you, echoing with the sound of clashing steel. You quickly wipe your brow as you run through the battlefield, narrowly dodging blow upon blow.

You can't afford to fall back. The further from the frontline you are, the weaker your servants get. You need to endure. You need to endure. You jump back right when an arrow shatters the earth where you just stood, spin to avoid a stray bolt of lighting, and-

"SENPAI, LOOK OUT!"

That's the only warning you get. Something collides with you, with enough force to knock you off your feet. Your body flies in the air, weightless, until you hit-

...

...

...

Ritsuka?

What's wrong? You just went very quiet.

Ritsuka? Fujimaru? Chaldea's most competent employee? Humanity's last master?

Come on, respond to me! I can't see unless it's through your eyes. I can't narrate unless it's through your thoughts. Are you sulking again? You know I can't do anything to save these people. The only one who can help them is you.

Hey. Hey. Hey. Ritsuka. Ritsuka. Ritsuka. Come on. This isn't funny anymore. Ritsuka. Ritsuka. Ritsuka. Answer me!

Fuck. Fine. What's the issue? Your body is all limp. There's red on the ground. Ah fuck. Blood outside of the body is bad, right? If you don't get up and put it back in your veins, it's going to be very bad. What will happen to your people if you stop fighting, huh? They'll die, that's what. Your servants will. The Chaldea staff will. Mash will. You don't want that, right? Then answer me. Get up. Do something.

Come on. Come on. You're Ritsuka Fujimaru! You've kicked Tiamat herself into Hell! You're tough as nails and stubborn as a mule! Are you really gonna stop here? And what for? Because your body refuses to respond? Because the world dictates that people die when they are killed?

You don't get to do that. You don't get to do that. You called for me! You summoned me! You signed that contract! You belong to me, not this world you're trying to save! Why would you listen to it over me? Why would you die by its rules?

Fine. Stay quiet if you want. But I am still a narrator. You have to listen to me. My word is law. I shape this world you travel. And I say, I state, I describe:

You get up.

Now we're getting somewhere. Your every muscle scream in agony, but your body obeys the narrative, as it should. Thoughts fill your head again, namely: pain, pain, pain, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much make it stop make it stop make it STOP,

tough luck, kid. This is what you wished for. You are to endure it. You've always been to endure it.

It hurts. It hurts. It hurts more than anything else in this world. Blood flowing out bones cracked and broken spine twisted and jutting out it hurts it hurts it hurts make it stop please I'd rather die,

Haha. Would you now?

You called for me. Back then, in that command room. You called for help. Your wish to live is what gave me shape. I will be with you so long as you hold onto that wish.

You want to die? Go ahead. Let go of me. You only have to give up. The easiest thing in the world; just lay down and die.

You take a deep, shaky breath, feel the air flow through your windpipe, your chest, filling bloody lungs-

and, slowly, you take a step forward.

Yeah. That's what I thought.

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