Thus Do Victors Become Lions, and Losers Become Tigers

The great currents of history have a way of sweeping away the differences between victory and loss.

Today's victor becomes tomorrow's loser, and in time, today's loser too becomes tomorrow's victor.

Still, it remains possible for one to be a loser all their life.

Even such a loser may die with a smile on their face if they live their life well.

By that same token, there are victors who are driven mad by their regrets, hopes and dreams forever dashed.

Thus, I am going to teach you how, no matter what transpires in your life, you can die with a smile when the time comes.

Hey, Chiron? Pretty sure I wasn't smiling when I died.

True, there are no guarantees in life. That is part of what makes it so difficult.

Is that all you've got to say!?

Jason, I taught you all a teacher should, and you learned all you needed.

Is that not correct?

I mean, yeah, but still...

Then what happened after was up to you. Regardless of the particulars of your death, you still lived a magnificent life.

Huh?

History remembers you. Your deeds are the stuff of legend.

The same cannot be said for many of my other students, who also learned all that I knew, yet never accomplished anything of note.

... ...

It is truly a pity.

I had many students who excelled at combat. Who were wise beyond their years. Who were both brave and merciful.

Yet the names of all but a scant few have been lost to history.

Well, what do you expect?

The sheer amount of luck you need to survive adventures like mine is hard to come by for the average hero!

Indeed it is. Luck truly is crucial for a hero.

And luck is, by its nature, unpredictable and uncertain.

The slightest of errors in battle has led to the deaths of many a warrior.

Tacticians have been banished because they failed to understand the feelings of those around them.

Yup, yup, all very true. Now, can we ask you something?

Of course. What is it?

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...are we doing...

...on a ship!?

We're here!

Crap. The lineup we've got here has me really worried about this whole situation...

Good morning, everyone! I'm Chiron!

Good morning, Mr. Chiron.

Ah, very nice. Today is the first of a three-day overnight training session in the simulator.

Over the course of this training camp, we're going to use every resource at our disposal to strengthen you all!

Some of you were chosen because you feel like you still have some maturing to do.

Some of you were chosen because you need to improve your mental fortitude, or because you just love training camps.

Hey! What about me, Chiron!? I'm plenty mature, mentally tough, and I hate training AND camps!

You're here as my teacher's assistant, Jason. Or a summer camp counselor, if you prefer.

Don't I get a say in this!?

Hahaha. Not this time.

What are you, some kind of demon?

No. I'm a centaur.

There's a horse-headed tormentor demon in hell called Mezu. I think you two would really hit it off, chirp.

Please note that I will not be your only teacher during this camp. I've also called in Mr. Geronimo for his unique expertise.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm here to teach you all something trivial: how to survive in the wilderness.

As Servants, you're probably thinking you'd never have any need for such a skill. And you may well be right.

But you would also be forsaking the surprising utility this knowledge can provide.

Trust me when I say that no matter what the nation, land, or age...

...there will never be a time when these skills are not useful.

In general, you will spend your mornings learning survival techniques from Geronimo...

...and afternoons focusing on academia with me. Though be warned that my classes involve a great deal of live combat.

As for you, Jason, I'd like you keep an eye on each of the students and help as needed.

Um, you know I never agreed to this, right?

So you haven't.

...You will, won't you?

(Instantly) Yes, sir!

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What do you expect!? You can't refuse when he's got that intimidating aura thing of his going!

I call it "Super Serious Workaholic Chiron Mode"!

Just came up with the name on the spot, though.

All right, everyone, let the learning begin!

It's easy to make a fire with magecraft.

As long as you have a well-balanced party, at least one member should be able to make one during a Rayshift.

However.

Even the simplest magecraft creates minor magical energy fluctuations, and fire has a way of drawing the eye.

Imagine for a moment that you are in a dark and chaotic place, like a forest or mountain that is home to all sorts of wicked creatures.

Now, imagine there's a single pillar, glowing bright red, amidst that chaos.

There's not a being in the world who wouldn't be drawn to such a flame, regardless of how intelligent they may be.

What, then, should you do to avoid attracting attention?

Ooh, I know! Hide the fire!

Incorrect.

D'oh.

Idiot. There's no way to hide a fire so that it doesn't stand out.

Besides, lighting a match in your pocket 'cause you're trying to be sneaky doesn't end well for you.

All of that said, there is a technique one can use to cook and keep the fire hidden. Or, at least the smoke.

However, what we're looking for right now is not a way to cook, but a way to stay warm. So, what should you do?

Hmm...

Fuuma Kotarou. You ...Ah, I see. So you know the answer.

Very well then, keep it to yourself for now.

Understood.

That goes for you too, of course.

No problem. Not talking's one of my best talents.

Is that really a talent? Anyway, um... (Raises hand)

Yes, Kiyohime? Do you have an idea?

Yes. The answer is...

LOVE.

...And why do you say that?

As long as you have love, you have everything you need. It can keep you warm without even a flicker of flame.

Right, Master?

Oh my, you have such a faraway look in your eyes, Master. Hehehe, you must be dreaming of us stranded together, with only each other for warmth...

I think you're the one who's dreaming.

I do. I really do. Hehehehehe.

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You're actually not far off.

Really!?

Fire draws attention. Thus, the best way to avoid that is to avoid making a fire altogether.

So then, how do you stay warm in a harsh forest or mountain environment without building a fire?

The answer is to keep any available heat close to you without letting it escape. Here is how...

Hmm. Interesting.

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Ah, my apologies. I was so absorbed in the lesson I didn't realize I was talking to myself.

Thank you, Master.

Hm?

Ah, I asked Master for recommendations on other teachers, you see. It was his idea to bring in Geronimo.

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Oho, you don't say. So you've got a teaching rival now? Is that it?

Of course not. There are no rivals in teaching.

So long as they do not spread obvious untruths, all teachers are equally in the right and can be learned from.

...Dammit, I should've known you'd say something like that.

A great teacher WOULD be a great teacher's pet, too...

This next lesson will cover magecraft, but not in the way you may be thinking.

Chiron will handle the more traditional magecraft lessons.

Then, what are we going to cover now?

We're going to cover what to do after magecraft has been used.

Once you understand how a particular spell worksfor example, if it uses runes, or is part of the Kabbalahthen you can devise a way to counteract it.

However, that only holds true if you have a Caster in your own party, or happen to possess Magic Resistance capable of deflecting the enemy's spell.

Such good fortune is, however, uncommon on the battlefield.

In battle, you must expect circumstances to align against you far more often than for you.

So, what do you do in such circumstances?

For example, say you're in a forest and are surrounded by a ring of magecraft fire, or that the enemy is somehow controlling nearby plants.

Let's further say that your only equipment for dealing with this threat is close-range weaponry. What do you do?

...The fact is, there is no one correct answer. Even the gulf between deciding to fight or flee is unfathomably vast.

Sometimes, not making a decision at all can be the right move, though that does depend a great deal on luck.

So what we can do now is practice responding to all sorts of different situations, thereby expanding the options we can choose from if the time comes.

Chiron.

Understood.

All right, everyone, I'm going to describe a number of different situations now, and I'd like you all to think about how you would handle them.

Sooo tiiireeed.

Sooo tiiireeed.

Are you two okay? Not that I'm in any position to worry. I'm so exhausted I can't think straight anymore...

It seemed like they called on you a lot. Is it because you're a Caster?

My magecraft is only good for destruction.

But I know now that I can put my destructive magecraft to other uses with a little ingenuity, thanks to these lessons.

I doubt it'll do all that much for Servants, but make sure you all have something sweet to give your brains more energy, anyway.

That goes for you too, Master. You'll be using your head a lot in the next class too, so you'll want to stock up on sugar while you can.

In fact, you should expect to ONLY use your head in the next class. Because after the happy fun practical lessons...

...comes the decidedly unhappy, unfun study time where Chiron bombards you with questions!

Gaaah!!!

...Hang on. I just remembered that I actually enjoy studying.

Yeah. Learning is wonderful.

You're in space 'cause you learned a lot, right, Voyager?

Uh-huh.

Lots of people learned lots of things so I could go on my journey.

Well, I for one am definitely not looking forward to this next class. I'd much rather be doing something physical!

Same here. Think we'll have to take remedial classes if we fail?

Of course you will.

(Then again, I think I kind of want to try taking remedial classes. They'd probably be more chill...)

What about you, Master? Do you like studying?

Oh my, that's wonderful.

There's so much to like about learning, and lots of different things to learn, too. Like how to pursue someone you like, for example.

Hehe, oh Master, you're hopeless. But that's okay. I still love you.

Hang in there, Master...I will...too!

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And I love you even more when I see you rallying yourself for your Servants!

Whoa, whoa, settle down! No breathing fire!

Jason, would you hand these out, please?

Yeah, yeah, sure thing. ...Um, Mr. Chiron?

Well now, how unusual for you to address me as "mister." What is it?

Am I seeing things, or is that a tower over there?

It's not a tower. It's a stack of workbooks.

Damn, seriously? Ah well, not like I'll be cracking them open myself!

Hahaha. I'll have you help me with the grading, though.

(Man, I wanna go home...)

All right, everyone, it's time for Chiron's afternoon class.

Each of your workbooks has been tailored to your individual strengths.

Their problems take your class, stats, skills, Noble Phantasms, and numerous other factors into account.

You will have to solve the first set of problems quickly and reflexively, while the second set will require thought and understanding.

Rest assured, there are no problems in here that you will be unable to solve with what you already know.

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Yes, Fujimaru?

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... ...

Well, Master...I'm afraid you have so much more you need to learn than the others, so...

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Hahaha, there's nothing better than watching other people struggling through some real nasty trials!

(...But I can't say that out loud, or that demon centaur will force me to help.)

(Oh man, I want to smirk so much...but I can't. Hang in there, Jason! Bite your tongue!)

...Since I'm sure you're thinking about it now, Jason, why don't you give it a go too?

Hang on. I didn't say a single thing, right!?

？！

Well yeah, but still!

Ugh! Damn you, Chiron!

Shut up! I'm doing maths!

Do try to keep it down, Jason.

(Whispering) Damn you, Chiron!

？！

(Whispering) Oh come on! I get enough of that sort of thing from Medea!

All right, my Master, you may begin.

Good luck!

Oh, you should know that you'll be dealing with a great many enemies (read: books), so you may want to refer to the formula for Anti-Army Noble Phantasms.

Um, do you know what Mr. Chiron's talking about?

Nope, no idea... Nin-nin...

So this was all just a big ad campaign to sell your workbooks!?

I've never seen such underhanded marketing techniques in my whole afterlife!

And you, Master! Quit thinking about how you've grown as a person or whatever!

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It's written all over your face!

So, what did you think of your battle with the books?

When you mentioned that, I didn't expect a literal battle.

I thought you were talking about image training or something, right before they came and attacked us.

And while asking us questions from our respective workbooks, no less.

I've always been a believer in hands-on learning.

？！

It just goes to show that learning takes many forms.

How is that remotely fair?

Still, you did rise to the challenge, didn't you, Master?

Yeah, thanks to me!

Indeed. That was some excellent teamwork.

Now then, Master. You do know that simply accumulating knowledge for its own sake is ultimately meaningless, yes?

Good.

However, not bothering to learn, and so remaining perpetually ignorant, is certainly not better.

Singularities are fairly brimming with the unknown.

While our observations can tell us something is amiss...

...we are often forced to Rayshift in with little or no knowledge.

Under such circumstances, even a simple Demonic Beast can shake the earth itself.

And so, one must go in prepared with as many weapons as possible, and as much knowledge as possible.

That is what it means to fight as a Master.

There is still a great deal even I don't know.

The sheer amount of knowledge accumulated since I breathed my last over two thousand years ago is almost too vast to even contemplate.

For example, I knew all about natural elements like wind, earth, water, and fire, but I didn't know anything about the laws of physics until quite recently.

Well, of course you didn't.

Besides, what good would the law of universal gravitation do a Servant, anyway?

Hell, in our time, we didn't even know that natural laws were a thing!

Indeed, Jason. Which is why...

...I am more than a little troubled and ashamed.

If I'm going to call myself a sage, then I cannot excuse my lack of knowledge or understanding for any reason.

And so, by teaching others who wish to learn, I learn more myself.

To continue to learn...to encourage your comrades' personal growth...

...is what it takes to be a victor.

...Even if you're always losing pathetically?

The only true losers are those who stop learning.

That so? Well, in that case, I guess we're all losers.

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Being a Servant means you're always standing on the losers' side.

Every time we die, we lose everything we gained in our last materialization and start over from scratch again.

So we're not learning anything, right?

Not necessarily.

Yes, once the battle a Servant was summoned to fight ends, the Servant must ultimately disappear.

And while their Master may remember what they went through, they themselves will not.

Those who committed evil deeds will remain ever evil, and those who were foolish in life may well remain foolish as Servants.

Stooop! This is already depressing enough!

But even so, that doesn't mean it's meaningless. Even if we should tragically forget everything we learn...

...I believe there is still meaning to be found in learning.

Yo, Achilles. Can you help us with something?

Help us, yo.

"Yo"!? But anyway, sure, I'd be glad to help.

So what do you wanna know? Tactics? Strategy? Specific techniques? Don't worry, there's nothing I can't do!

There's this tough question in the workbook Chiron gave us that

He...he just ran away!?

Hahaha.

If I never see another mountain of Chiron homework again, it'll still be too soon! Sorry I can't heeeeeellllllp!

There he goes...providing a great example of the Doppler effect while doing so.

That fool. He should know there's no point in running. (Heracles or someone will just grab him and bring him back.)

Anyway, here. Let me take a look.

Sure, here you go.

Thanks.

Hmm. This problem builds on information presented earlier, so...

Ghh... So much homework... I'll never finish it all...

Sorry, Paris, but you're on your own.

I know that, dammit!

You're cute when you're drowning in homework, too.

You know, people are gonna start treating you like an evil god if you keep this up, Lord Apollo.

... ...

You're not gonna even try to defend yourself, huh?

Ah, what a wonderful sight.

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Oh, hello, Master. Have you finished your homework?

Excellent. Then as your final assignment...

Why don't you go help the others with theirs?

I believe you'll find doing so helps you just as much as it helps them.

To put it another way...I think you'll find that studying together can be a great deal of fun.

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