Welcome to my portfolio.
Nice to meet you, my name is Saxifraga. In here, you'll find my writing samples.To navigate this page, simply click on the links by the sidebar to see any samples. You can also check my other works in the embed links.The works here are derivative fanworks, I own nothing of the characters.Thank you for your attention and happy reading.———————————————————————————For more inquiries, reach me out at: [email protected] or [email protected]
Sample One.
Just a few moments ago, they learned that the last Master had come to Inazuma as the participant for the next Holy Grail War, and the war itself had already begun unanimously. Yae Miko inferred that the last of the Master should be a force to be reckoned with, since it looked like they come from a far, foreign land, and Ayaka already formed a plan for herself to stake out and gather intel.Yet now, she was tattered between life and death as she dodged Saber’s attack and tried to run away from the mountain as soon as she could.She has yet to form the ritual as she didn’t find the right Servant that matched her own criterion. Her late brother has once called forth Saber, without a catalyst no less, and despite winning, he ended up losing his life as half of Inazuma engulfed in flames. Thinking of adding Mad Enhancement to get a stronger Servant also wasn’t absent from her array of options, but then from catalysts unearthed by Thoma before he passed, there was no chance a powerful Berserker might come from them.Thus, Miko arranged for her to summon a Servant eventually that night, but then the same person backstabbed her.Ayaka unsheathed her blade and dodged the eerie purple slashes coming from the agile Saber - a battle-hardened woman clad in tattered kimono that had seen bloodbath and endless battles.The young Kamisato swallowed at the sheer strength of the strike against her blade. If she didn’t pick up the pace, she would be cornered soon.Ayaka arrived at the plains of Araumi after aimlessly running through the thick forests down the slope. An open field with better visibility would be better than second guessing her attacker’s angle.Saber stopped, her yari once again transformed into that eerie long katana from before and Ayaka held her breath as her fighting stance unchanged.“Commendable fight, Servantless Master,”Saber seemed to praise her, but then all Ayaka felt was hollow. And perhaps fear. She stepped forward as Ayaka cautiously took a step back. Not far behind her was the sea, would it be better to pretend that she sunk and swim somewhere far, avoiding the confrontation entirely and playing dead?“But your life ends here.”In a blink, Saber easily eliminated their distance. Her sword slashed in a wide arch, knocking the blade away from Ayaka’s grasp and sending her flying. Ignoring the pain, Ayaka regained her footing amidst the grass. Never show your back to your enemy, she thought briefly, and kept standing tall while weaponless.Saber was relentless, of course, for she already lunged for the next stab against Ayaka’s chest.Yet, Ayaka didn’t feel any pain. The impact of the heart-rending attack was real, though, the concentrated energy blinded her sight and seared her nerves - but there was no pain.Rather, it was like a warm embrace that didn’t belong to death.Ayaka opened her eyes, seeking warmth. A long spear parried the purple blade. The spear belonged to a nimble-looking woman clad in bleak full armor. Fluttering pink hair was a contrast to her battle readiness, and she announced herself amidst the fallen Sakura petals of the coming spring.
Sample 02.
C/W: Mentions of Blood and Background KillingsTwo heartbeats, different in tone though both are rushing with exertions; there are two people running against the dense forest area that night, trying to escape from her clutches.Put emphasis on ‘trying’, because she knows where they will be going.Past the forest, they will meet a dead end, which is a frigid sea that may actually lead somewhere warm. But it is only if they can go past it. Most of the hired men who happened to be a fool and took a job at Snezhnaya never went past that waters, for only the blissful death by hypothermia greeting them. Or getting beheaded by a forest bear, the mess that she didn’t want to clean up to the point she’d love waiting for another snowstorm to hit and wipe things away.She readies a knife to throw on her back pocket, also an arrow imbued with elemental energy to track them in case her first throw missed a fraction. In the night with minimal light, anything could happen, though she was sure that she would never fail.Wintry forest is akin to a playground to her. She can map the outskirts of Snezhnaya like the back of her hand.The wind picks up once more, lulling the whispers of the frigid forest and rustles of footsteps. It may be the only chance for her target to flee, yet she doesn’t catch any movement. As the wind dies down, so are the two heartbeats, as though they had feigned death to throw away her concentration.“I see that your sense perhaps awfully dulled,” the voice rings near her, uninvited. That is not on her heartbeat count. “Or, are you ill-stricken with some plague, Arlecchino?”A thud follows, before she gazes upon two headless corpses, cut clean and almost bloodless. She doesn’t need to check whether it was her target or not, as the clothes, albeit torn and almost illegible due to the blood splatter, gave it away.Columbina chuckles, as though she just tosses one of many Marionette’s failed rag dolls on the floor by incident. But they are not in the comfort of the palace where she can side-eyed the ordeal and pretend that Sandrone doesn’t try to yell at anyone but Columbina herself. Or, there will be the Mayor who happened to pass by and remediate the situation.Arlecchino swallows.Wintry forest is akin to a playground to her; yet, she was no better hunter than the all-seeing maiden.Although part of her pride feels wronged to be defeated from the hunt, Arlecchino knows when to rebuke. She deigns a sigh as she throws her hands up.“I’m fine,” Arlecchino addresses her question. “You shouldn’t be here, Her Majesty will be livid to know sudden absence-”“Then, let me hazard a wild guess of your … present condition,” Columbina’s smile unchanging. One of her legs steps on the dead man, as if she wanted to put an emphasis on things, “They are targeting something regarding your personal items. Or it is the Mayor who sent you on a hunt without telling me.”Arlecchino replies with a pointed smile, unamused. “Lady, that’s two.”“Oh? Pardon me for making assumptions, then. Let me add some more,” she stands primly. She tuts differently than how Sandrone will when she is not using one of her dolls to walk, but it is still with a trace of elegance.As though she was born and bred as harmless, all the while she is not.“You win, princess.” Her voice is as sickeningly sweet as possible, as usual when she tries to talk to Columbina. “Shall I praise your deed more?”“There’s no need to be, Knave,” she chuckles, then she tuts. “You’re angry that I took away your chances. I guess I have to apologize.”Arlecchino says nothing, turns her back from Columbina, waiting for the nimble lady to follow suit. The cold wind picks up once again, the night deepens. The corpse shall tell no stories, so it is time for them to head back.“I wonder if there will come a day where you finally show your true colors, Arlecchino?”Again, Arlecchino chose not to answer, at least not directly. With a shrug and plasticky smile, she offers a hand instead.“Let’s go back to the palace.”Columbina barks in merry laughter, takes her hand, and they cross the forest as though nothing happened. No compromises. Nothing.
Sample 03.
C/W: War battles and bloodshedThe heat of battle sometimes made her forget that she was in a vulnerable position.As a mage, it was a continuous spell-casting or she would be dead. It was an unwritten rule. You can run away but there is nowhere to hide. It is a sink and swim situation. In battles, no one got a luxury to even choose.The war should always be like this. There must be something to sacrifice for a greater good. If there was nothing left to be sacrificed, then Monica von Ochs would gladly pick herself.She has contended with the Gate Captain to the north as she was ordered. She proceeded further to the north, but she didn’t expect the enemy’s general to flank her. Worse: Monica was at a disadvantage. She ran far to the back, dodging the brawler’s attack aimed to her head, Bolganone was ready on the tip of her lips, ready to strike. Yet, from her blind spot, an arrow from the back archer reached her side, clipping her arm. Monica didn’t have any other choice but fall further back, running away from the enemy brawlers who started to swarm to her position.If there was nothing left to be sacrificed, then Monica von Ochs would gladly pick herself. She was not a stranger to the face of death.Monica survived a kidnapping before, nearly knocking the door to hell once, and the person she thought won’t be there saved her.“Lady Edelgard,” Monica hissed through her teeth. Her eyes darted for an opening. The wound on her hand burns but her will to win burns brighter.She flicked her hand to summon fire, letting it chase the incoming brawlers. Monica rolled to her left, parrying the arrows with a measly magic shield. It would take a bit for her to recharge for another Bolganone, but she would manage - no, she must manage.There was a scream at the back of her head, then there lay a shield that blocked her way, effectively repelling the arrows and coming blows.Red cape furling against the heat of the fight, along with a spark of silver as fire imbued its way to the body of the ax.“L-Lady Edelgard!?”Again, she was saved, by none other but the leader she has sworn to protect by her whole body and soul.Heavens, why was she so weak?A click of tongue, “I said, you shouldn’t push yourself too hard, Monica.” but then it quickly morphed to smile. “I take it your spell is ready? I can take the brawlers for you.”Monica punched herself inwardly, it was not the time to be dumbstruck.“Yes, my lady.” Monica got up on her two feet. The summoning circle bearing Crest of Macuil flashed from her fingertips, overlapping with Her Majesty’s Crest of Seiros.“Attack!”*At the camp, Monica fully tuned out Hubert from moaning how she had put Edelgard in a precarious position. She had heard him once, already put her mind in full blaming and retrospective mode, but she just wanted Hubert to leave her alone for now.The battle to take over the plains from bandits was a success. Now the remainder of the army who were not hurt or tired are making their rounds around the seized land. Resources have always been limited, so they must make do with whatever they could save.Monica walked out from the infirmary tent, seeing the sun already setting outside. Her clipped arm was already healed and bandaged, but she didn’t want to keep on resting. She already thought of doing the ledger once Shez and her pack of mercenaries are back from field duty.“Monica.”Monica blinked once, thinking she might be imagining things, as Edelgard came to her aid alone. Her shield was in a tattered state, but it was nothing a blacksmith can’t fix.“Your Majesty, did you need something from me?”“Ah, no, well, I’m … just checking whether you’re okay or not.”Monica let out a weak laugh. She withdrew her gaze away, thinking back to her faults. “Shouldn’t I be the one who does that? I mean, you were the one who protected me.”“Nonsense,” Edelgard said lightly. “We all should protect each other’s backs.”“But Your Majesty, I’m-” Monica clenched her fists. It was when she realized how Edelgard’s expression softened, though her purple eyes indeed tinged with worry. Though, as perhaps they locked gazes and Edelgard was aware of her expression she was making, she slipped to a neutral mask.“Sorry, I’ll try not to do that again and protect you better.”Edelgard sighed, “But really, you shouldn’t push yourself too hard.”“Oh, but I must! I won’t let Hubert take the main seat of your most useful vassals!”Edelgard made a face, though she ended up relenting. “Now, shall we be back to the administration quarter?”