All told, entering a binding contract with a sapient magical artefact is regarded as a monumentally stupid idea, one the mere suggestion would have a certain twin-tailed Master give one of her arctic smiles that could freeze hellfires before erupting like the Mt.Tohsaka. Doing it without knowing the first thing about the artefact in question is madness beyond words.
"Sure, I'll make you my sidekick."
Somewhere for sure, Rin is facepalming.
But Archer's a sucker for a happy face and Zelretch's beaming smile is especially endearing.
Her tiny fist pumps in the air. "Yay! Let's become one!"
"Wait, what?"
Book and girl shimmers in the dark night as it flaps open, breaking free of his grip to float up to her. The two merge with a bright flash.
"Sleep-mode release." She informs, her voice taking a synthetical's resonance.
"Returning to regular operating levels. Memory stores online. Data Check. All data uncorrupted. Program systems nominal. Preparing for new administrator's registration. Main interface ready. Launch."
In the fading light, a new facet is revealed.
She touches down before him and twirls impishly, dress flying. "Tadah!"
Archer is utterly still, like carved from a rock. He can't think straight anymore, his mind blanked by her new appearance. No doubt the pale princess is breathtaking, a woman wars would break over, but that is not what strike him so hard.
An ethearal beauty appearing in a flash of light. The soft moonlight embraces her lovingly, blesses her like a favored child.
It is an heartwrenching echo of his dearest memory. The sworn oath of an ignorant boy to protect a girl infinitely stronger than him. Battles fought desperatly, lashing out with a will that had no skill behind to guide it. A love only acknowledged in truth when the separation was upon them. He is caught in a maelstorm of emotion that leaves him defenseless.
Zelrecth pokes him in the face, completely clueless. "Heeeeey! Pay attention to me!"
He snaps out of it and get up in a hurry. "Sorry, You blow my mind away. Your new look is quite something."
She blushes vigourously and preens, hand on her hips. "Hehehe~! I look great, it's true. But it only gets better from there!"
She turns solemn and speaks once more. Her voice changes again, echoing with crackling energy and calling the wind to rise in unison with her voice. "Hear! From this day on, your pains shall be mine and my joys shall be yours. I shall be the fire that banishes the cold and you shall be the light shining down the path. We shall be one forevermore, even beyond death's edict."
Power flows freely in the air howling around the two of you, until it is released with her last words.
"This I swear! On the Name of Zelretch, the Kaleidoscopic Grimoire!"
She wraps her arms around him. "What say you?" She purrs.
Another oath, binding him even in the afterlife. He supresses a shiver at the thought. He isn't one for retreats. "I accept."
He barely catches her ghost of a smile before he's engulfed into light.
... Reinitialize Main Interface? New Avatar won't impact on the performance.
[]Yes
[]No
If Yes, please pick New Avatar.
---------------------
He jerks awake once again, completely disoriented. He is sitting in what looks like a victorian-style reading room, lighted by several candles. He's back in armor, too. He chuckles before bursting out into dark laughter. This is the Tohsaka library.
How much of what happened to him recently was the dream of a mad man?
What's so funny?
He jumps. "Zelretch?"
"Who else?" She materializes in front of him, all chipper.
Archer swears and takes a deep breath "...Nevermind. Do you know where we are?"
She shrugs. "Home, obviously." She passes her hand over a beeping light on the desk and the wood spins to reveal a computer screen and keyboard.
The desktop is quite bare. Aside from the bin, there's only three icons. An enveloppe with a flashing exclamation point reading "Messenger," a stylized Z with "Z Group" beneath and a a strange geometrical assembly called "The Hive."
"I want some ice cream." Zelretch declares from the door, revealing a stark white hallway beyond. "Want come with me?"
His body takes this as a signal to tell him it is exhausted. His stomach screams for an offering and he can't stop a large yawn. He's clearly running on fumes now. Who knows how long he's been here, but he's about ready to eat an elephant raw and to sleep for a few months.
[]...?