Chapter 7: Demons vs Demon Hunters
-139:06:23
Metal clanged.
Fires blazed.
Blood splashed through the air.
Screams of agony, despair, death.
He rode on a white stallion, holding a shining sword in front of him. Once others were close enough, he'd cut them down with one swing each.
He was leaping from branch to branch, lightning crackling on his hand. One by one, enemies appeared for him to run through. Chirchirchirchirchir…
"Those who abandon the mission are trash…" a head turned back to show dark eyes glaring at him, "…but those who abandon their comrades are even worse trash!"
A young hateful face snarled at him as their blades locked. "Why won't you acknowledge me?!"
He stood silently in front of a large kunai-shaped memorial, names etched across its surface. His eyes focused on one particular name. "…Obito…" he finally asked, "…what would you have done?"
A man said behind him, "The moment you draw that sword, you'll never be human again."
Dying brown orbs stared at him while bloody lips mouthed his name…
Kiritsugu shot up from his bed with a start, panting heavily from the… sensations he had just experienced. Then before he knew it, he founds his legs swinging automatically to the side of the bed and taking him towards the bathroom. Once there, he turned on the sink and placed both hands under the cold water, rinsing them over and over again. It won't wash off… it won't wash off… it won't- what am I doing?
Kiritsugu's thoughts finally caught up with his body, and he pulled his hands away from the stream, gripping the sides of the sink as he slowly breathed in and out to steady himself. Slowly, he lifted one hand to flick on the light switch of the room, allowing the man to look at the tired, weary face staring back at him from the mirror. Another strange dream, like the ones he'd been having the last few nights. Not the first time he'd reenacted Macbeth lately.
But now, the Master had a clearer idea of where they'd come from. This had to be a side effect of his bond with Assassin X and Saber he'd heard about: previous Masters had namely observed that they would see their Servants' memories at times. Rarely was it ever concise, but sometimes, in one night's sleep, a Master could witness a Heroic Spirit's entire life story. Or, at least, the defining parts. Those moments that had shaped them into what they were.
His lip curled in distaste. Another distraction, Kiritsugu thought bitterly. As though this War hadn't been complicated enough or that his plans had so far failed to yield substantial results, now he had the dreams of two other people rummaging about in his head. And one of them just had to be a classical knight in shining armor and all "his" glorious tales.
Then again… there had been no joy in what he had experienced. No sense of triumph, no pride… the opposite, really. When he had first summoned that self-righteous girl and enigmatic ninja, Kiritsugu Emiya would've never imagined either could begin to understand the trials he had to endure for the sake of his dream.
Now, though, as a young girl with a bob of brown hair, purple rectangles on her cheeks, a forehead protector just like Assassin X's, broken brown eyes, and blood trailing from her mouth flashed in the glass before him… the man began to wonder if he might've been a bit hasty in his assessment.
Kiritsugu sighed and splashed some water on his face before turning the perpetually running faucet off. One way or another, he wasn't getting any more sleep tonight. And he had work to do. Rolling his shoulders, the machine that is Kiritsugu Emiya walked out of the bathroom and dressed himself in economic movements, noting that sunlight was creeping through the drawn curtains. The day had begun, and there was little time before night would take its place again. The Mage Killer slipped his weapon into his holster under his coat and stepped out of the room, carrying an armful of folders with him. He had a few things to review.
Kiritsugu stopped by one room to peer inside and allowed himself a brief moment of bliss as he watched Iri sleep peacefully. It broke his heart to make the rule that he and his wife would have separate beds while here in Fuyuki, but it had to be done. Every moment of having her soft body next to his weakened his resolve, and he couldn't allow himself to falter. He knew what her ultimate fate would be, and that the Mage Killer couldn't permit himself sentiment. Not now. Didn't mean he was happy about his decision, but he was rarely happy about his decisions anyway. He stayed long enough to appreciate her long hair splayed against the pillows, her nostrils flaring ever so slightly to draw in and release air, her lips set in a gentle smile even in slumber, then quietly made himself shut the door and move on.
The next stop was one floor down, where Maiya sat in an impromptu weapons/monitoring room. She spared him a small nod of acknowledgement upon noticing him, which he returned, then went back to checking the various screens inside the room. He moved on.
He went silently down the halls, training allowing him to make as little noise as possible with his steps. His hands perused through the files, allowing him review information compiled on the other Masters, Servants, a few tricks he'd recently learned from-
Kiritsugu's ear perked up. Voices up ahead drew his attention, and he drifted along the carpets until he found himself inside the entry hall. The voices were muffled but clearer now. Quietly opening a window, he peered out to find Saber sitting at a table by the front door and Assassin X leaning against a pillar beside her, telling her some kind of story.
"…So, Sakura being the sensible one, she correctly points out that we have to return home as quickly as possible to remove the poison from his arm," Assassin X was saying, gesturing to his own arm.
"Which would mean postponing the mission, of course." And Saber was listening with interest. "A bit of a hindrance, but certainly better than letting your student perish to poison. And it would allow you to acquire more resources and allies for this mission that has been revealed to be far higher of danger than was agreed." She received a nod as confirmation.
Kiritsugu made to step out and berate them; how could these two be so casual when enemies could appear any moment? But as he stepped closer, he noticed details: Assassin X had positioned himself so his right eye was always trained on the outer yards; Saber kept her right hand loose as though she would make to summon her sword; both bodies appeared relaxed but were in fact ready to move in a millisecond. A crafted illusion of carelessness.
Kiritsugu allowed himself to relax a bit. Saber was of a serious warrior mentality, and Assassin X had repeatedly proven sharp senses and a keen intellect. He could trust that this duo wouldn't let a little exchange of stories distract them from possible danger.
Then Saber smiled slightly. "From the way you've described him, though, I imagine Naruto doesn't agree."
"Oh, he doesn't," Assassin X agreed with a little laugh. "That stubborn kid goes so far as to impale his own handwith a kunai," he mimed a stabbing motion with his own hands, "so that the poisoned blood will leak out of him." Kiritsugu almost palmed his forehead at the stupidity before realizing he'd let himself get drawn in. And to his own surprise, he didn't want them to stop.
So, the shinobi Servant continued without interruption. "And while blood is dripping from his self-inflicted injury, Naruto proclaims this to be a symbol of his resolve with the fiercest smile he has. Never again will he cower before an enemy, threat or mission like he did now."
The young King of Knights nodded after a moment. "A powerful statement, with conviction I would praise." A cruel of part Kiritsugu would've scoffed, Of course you would,shaking his head at some foolhardy youth stuck up on romanticism.
Then he noticed that her smile had taken on a mischievous note. "…So, when did you tell him about blood loss?"
"Oh, about ten seconds afterwards," Assassin X replied with a wink. "You should've seen his face." Both Servants shared a short but hearty laugh over that, and their Master himself had to turn away lest they hear his snort at the image.
After a moment, they both calmed down, and Assassin X sighed fondly. "Naruto, that hot-headed troublemaker… Have you ever met a loveable knucklehead like that in Camelot?"
She looked away, and even Kiritsugu felt some tinge of sympathy for the pain that radiated off her now. Especially with him still recalling those moments from before. Assassin X to his credit instantly realized his mistake and looked guilty. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"No, it's alright, Assas- Kakashi," Saber's smile returned, albeit with a sadder undertone, while saying her partner's True Name. "I hold no anger over you mentioning my home. After all these stories you've told me of your village, the least I can do in return is allow you to speak of Camelot. It's simply a…" She drew in a breath to steady herself. "Difficult subject."
"…I understand. Believe it or not, it hasn't always been sunshine and clear skies with my home either."
"I believe you. You're too calm in battle to not be a veteran." Saber praised him slightly, a hint of melancholy between them. "Ah, but to answer your earlier question, I have indeed met my fair share of stubborn souls," her smile became a smirk, "though 'knucklehead' is not the term I would've used back then." Another laugh shared before the Servant of the Sword continued. "And I've heard similar proclamations before," her gaze drifted to the cloudy sky, "even long before I became who you see today. Young boys, saying they'll be fearless knights when they grow up, fend off invaders, slay dragons, protect every life around them. Of course, there were… relatively older men who'd make hot air the same way."
"Naruto wasn't the first I'd met either," Assassin X shrugged. "Boys will be boys."
"Boys will be boys,"/Boys will be boys, Kiritsugu thought alongside Saber's agreement. Then she continued. "Even among my knights seated at the Round Table, there were times when stubbornness would take hold and have them do slightly foolish things. Remind me to tell you of Lancelot's little adventures later. And he's merely one of the more famous cases. Though even he paled next to…" Her body twitched a bit at her next word. "…another."
"But you couldn't help but be fond of them, couldn't you?" Assassin X was doing his eye-smile again. He had noticed the blend of endearment and sadness emanating from her seated form. "It's always amazing how endearing those kinds of idiots can turn out to be." As they remained in comfortable silence for a little bit, he finally said, "You miss them, don't you?"
"Every last one of them," Saber sighed as she stood up and walked to in front of the table, her head facing opposite of Kiritsugu. "All of my kingdom's citizens, from the humblest shoemaker to the slightly greedy knight. Not a second goes by that I don't regret the destruction of all I had sworn to protect. My kingdom, my home," he thought he heard a slight tremor in her voice, "my people."
Then her back straightened, her head lifted up, and her fists clenched. "And that is why I will do everything to save them."
Assassin X gave a slight nod in understanding. "Your wish for the Holy Grail?" She only nodded to confirm his thoughts. Kiritsugu frowned, though; there was something inside the shinobi's gaze, not malicious or deceitful, but rather inquisitive. The Master had his own thoughts about the wishes of the Servant he had somewhat anticipated summoning. To be blunt, though, he didn't have a real problem with her wish, seeing as it didn't clash with his own in any way he saw. That much, he could be content with about her.
But then, he had yet to know what Assassin X wished for.
Then a hand lifted to scratch silver hair, and a chuckle of self-deprecation hummed in the air. "Well, compared to something as noble as that, I feel rather selfish." Saber turned back to see her partner appear rather sheepish. "My wish is simply to reunite with my team again. I had a fair bit of unfinished business before I died, and Naruto, Sakura and… Sasuke are at the top."
She only smiled at Assassin X. "If the way you've told me about them is any indication, you care for them dearly. Wanting to see them again is not a sin."
"It's not just wanting to see them again, Sa-" She gave him a pointed look, making him laugh and correct himself, "Artoria. I made a lot of mistakes while training those kids, mistakes I hope to correct." Something flickered in his gray eye. "And at least those I can hope for."
Kiritsugu frowned in thought. It's technically a simple wish, but why do I get the feeling there's more he's not telling? And… why do I care? This wish would take him back to his home, so it doesn't interfere with my plans nor does it really concern me in any way. So, why do I want to h-
His phone vibrated in his coat pocket, shaking him free of… whatever was going through his head. The Mage Killer stepped away from the window and pulled out the device, recognizing Maiya's number. He answered it. "Yes?"
"A special meeting is being called at Fuyuki Church," she answered. "You and the others will want to hear this."
-138:15:37
Risei Kotomine stood in front of his church's benches with a heavy face. "The Holy Grail War currently faces a deep crisis," he began in a tone loud enough for all to hear, aided by the room's acoustics. However, there seemed to be no one inside the room other than himself. "The Holy Grail is supposed to pass its blessing upon the Master and Servants that have rightfully won it. But there is a traitor in this War."
Oh, but he was indeed not alone. It was simply that instead of joining this meeting in person, the Masters were cautious enough to only send familiars in their place. An amethyst owl, a preening hawk, a little mouse scurrying about among the stone (and tellingly avoiding the hawk), a mutated insectoid that could've only been spawned by the Matou family, and a black bat, barely visible. All confirmations that the five Masters he needed to "speak" with were in attendance. Tokiomi had sent his to continue the illusion that he was a solo Master, Caster's Master shouldn't have known, and Kirei was "officially" out of the game.
There was also a moth fluttering about, and Risei thought he saw a crow outside one of the windows, but whether or not they were familiars was difficult to say. Either way, he had his audience, and though the pragmatic nature irked his romantic side a bit, he appreciated that no one could interrupt him this way.
"I've received confirmation that the one who summoned Caster and Berserker X is not only the perpetrator behind the recent serial murders, but the kidnappings throughout the area. He has allowed his only remaining Servant to abduct multiple children for Lord knows what, all without bothering to keep this out of the public eye." The priest's gaze turned stern. "I trust I do not need to elaborate how much of a heinous violation this is to the rules of the War."
He took a step closer towards the pews and went on. "Caster and his Master are henceforth official enemies to you and the completion of the Holy Grail. As such, I invoke my emergency powers as overseer to alter the rules temporarily. All Masters are to withhold battling one another until Caster is no more." Risei then rolled up his right sleeve, exposing a broad forearm with trained muscles, the fruit of his many years with bajiquan.
But what would really catch the attention of the Masters were the many intricate symbols covering his arm. "These are the Command Seals Masters of previous Grail Wars did not use before the conclusions. Having collected them, I know how valuable these can be to all of you, especially with more Servants taking part than ever before." He swept his narrowed gaze across his audience. "I am capable of transferring them to any of you at my discretion. Therefore, consider this an incentive: the Master who succeeds in eliminating Caster and his Master shall receive one additional Seal for each Servant contracted to him."
Risei returned his sleeve to its original position and added. "Working together is not taboo. If this task is accomplished alone, only one will be rewarded; if many cooperate, then those that were allied in carrying out this task will be rewarded. Once I have received proof that Caster is gone, the War may continue as usual." Another look around as he said, "If there are any questions, now is the time to voice them." A hint of humor crept into his next words. "Though that of course is a privilege only for those with humantongues."
Slight rustling sounds echoed through the room as the familiars departed, recalled by their Masters. Checking one last time to ensure he was alone, the old man calmly walked through the building's rear quarters. He took a moment to pause by his son's study, but all was peaceful there. Kirei was likely resting after a long night, and he had every right to. Risei was unashamedly proud of how the young man handled so many tasks, managing that infuriating metallic brute being chief among them.
Then he went on, back to the room with the special phonograph, where his master awaited him. "Excellent work, father Risei," Tokiomi praised him through the brass. "Now, all of the Masters will be on Caster's trail."
"Yes, though a few others were also in attendance," Risei reported. "It may be that outside factors could involve themselves."
The Tohsaka family head hummed through the device, then said, "Assassin can keep an eye open for anything unexpected, but I doubt it. The Mage Association will respect the rules, and any other interlopers can be easily dealt with by the Servants." Tokiomi's confidence soothed the slight nervousness in Risei, and he gave no objections. "Either way, with Command Seals as the reward, El-Melloi, who already expended one for each of his Servants, would never pass up the opportunity. Nor would any other Master. Though, why did you add that alliances would be allowed?"
Lancer X's voice came in, answering for the priest, "Forgive me, Master, it was a slight improvisation on my part. We discussed and agreed that the offer of alliances would maintain the illusion that the Church is indeed neutral."
"My, how devious of you, Lancer X." Tokiomi did not sound disapproving, though, merely amused. And a bit curious.
"And it is, in the end, only an offer, sir." Risei chimed in. When it came to the "X" Servants, he had few complaints concerning Lancer X, and mostly about her choice of clothing anyway. Otherwise, the female staff-wielder was calm, loyal, and frankly the most pleasant to have around among the Servants of their alliance. She tended to be sarcastic but never went out of her way to antagonize anyone. And she proved to have a clever mind herself. "Command Seals are such a precious commodity that none would be willing to share them anyway. Any alliance will fall apart before the final blow is struck. With respect, sir, we consider it a calculated risk."
"…As do I," Tokiomi agreed after some thought. "Though I remind you both not to make such decisions without my approval…"
"Apologies."/ "Of course."
"It's true that little changes. The one who wins and acquires the Seal gains an advantage, of course. Which is why once the others have sufficiently softened up Caster…"
"…Archer and Lancer X will finish him." Tokiomi leaned back in his workshop's chair with a confident smile. The plan he had devised was coming together quite well. He turned back to the gramophone beside him. "That is all, father Risei. Get some rest. You've earned it."
"Thank you, sir." Thus, the communication ended. Tokiomi rose from his seat, stifling a little yawn with his hand. High time I got some sleep as well. A few hours will suffice.
As he made for the stairs, Lancer X bowed her head to him. "I shall begin with tracking Caster immediately-"
"No need to tax yourself," he interrupted her with a wave of his hand.
The Servant brought up her head with an uncomprehending look in her eyes. "Master?"
"The other Masters will be scouring the entire city for Caster now. Let them and their Servants expend their energy. With Assassin watching, we will know the exact moment to swoop in and claim victory. Until then, you can remain here on standby, just in case some try to blindside us." Tokiomi had nearly reached the door for the stairs now.
But Lancer X wasn't done. "With respect, Master, even if the others are on the lookout for Caster or his Master, there's no guarantee they'll be found. Those two appear to be utterly insane, with no discernable pattern between their kidnappings." She stepped a little closer to where he had paused but kept a respectful distance. "We have a rough idea of where their hideout may be, and every second that passes is a second where another child could be captured for what only the Elder Gods know."
Tokiomi sighed, his exhaustion catching up with him, but humored his Servant all the same by turning around to her. "If you find Caster so quickly after special rules were implemented, Lancer X, it will raise suspicions. And there are still too many other teams out there for us to risk lifting our charade." He held his arm out to the side. "Wanting to save lives is admirable, but a few children disappearing is nothing too terrible."
"They are young and innocent, Master," Lancer X ground out in forced calm, "with no part in what we are doing. They don't deserve to be pulled from their families and suffer at the hands of madmen, certainly not when we have the power to do something about it!"
Tokiomi shook his head; of course, he should've guessed that she was of a more noble mindset. The ways of the magus ingrained into his being helped him compartmentalize such sentimentality, but it seems that Lancer X wasn't quite as resolute as he'd believed. Maybe that's why she wears that mask. Mirth faded quickly, though, as he noted her tense posture. She didn't look like she was going to strike him, but she wasn't happy either.
Clasping his hands behind his back, the Tohsaka patriarch turned back around while answering. "The sacrifice is regrettable, Lancer X, but few in relative comparison to our goal. I take no pleasure in imagining what fate awaits them, you can trust me on that. On the long run, though, those children are all an acceptable loss."
"Even if one of them were your daughter?"
That cold retort made Tokiomi stop dead in his tracks. Clenching his hands behind his back, he drew in a breath before replying as neutral as he could, "Those two hooligans will not so much as lay an eye on her. She is in safe hands with her mother."
But the Edenian Heroic Spirit refused to back down. Though it pained her to use that little girl to prove her point, she needed her Master to understand just what might be at stake. "Until those 'hooligans' are dead and gone, no one in Fuyuki City is safe. This is a War, Master. Nothing ever goes truly according to plan in war, I learned that much long ago. And the losses aren't always acceptable." She stormed up to right behind him. "You have me at your disposal, and I am willing to fight. More than willing! So, let me go out and make sure that they can never endanger anyone before negligence might put Rin at-"
The name of his sole (remaining) daughter made him whirl around to glare in silent fury at her. Credit where credit was due, she didn't waver by a millimeter. Turquoise clashed with hazel as Master and Servant stood opposed in their ideals. Finally, Tokiomi closed his eyes and breathed deeply to regain some control of his temper. When he opened them again, the anger was still there, but mixed with exhaustion and something else, Lancer X noticed. Something… tender.
But he simply said, "I am retiring to my room for a few hours. We may finish our discussion when I have rested. Until then, Lancer X, you are to remain on watch here at the manor." He lifted one finger between them. "Do not engage in any other activity without my knowledge and my express approval. Do you understand?" A silent warning crept along his words.
Her knuckles clenched audibly, but she replied, "…Yes, Master," and stiffly bowed her head in acknowledgement.
A lesser man would've grunted at the sign of submission, but a Tohsaka was better than that. Even when tired. So, he simply turned on his heel and opened the door to the stairs. Before he stepped up to them, however, he said in obvious disappointment, "I expected your loyalty when I summoned you," he uttered her True Name as a final displeasure, "Jade."
The Heroic Spirit calmly rose her head to gaze at the back of his head. "And I swore it to you, Tokiomi Tohsaka," she replied, her frustration gone now, replaced by her own weariness. "But my definition of loyalty is not limited to blindly following orders." And with that, she shifted into spirit form.
Tokiomi shook his head; much as he would've ordered her back to explain just what she was talking about, but he didn't trust himself to make that order without accidentally activating a Command Seal. Tired though he was, he wouldn't waste it on a trivial argument. A Tohsaka was better than that. Instead, he let his legs take him up the stairs, into the main part of the manor, up another flight of stairs (Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to have an elevator installed in this place…), then to his room.
But as he dressed into his sleepwear, Tokiomi couldn't help but think about his little girl. Her eager eyes when he taught her something new about magecraft, the way she pouted whenever she did something wrong and stubbornly insisted it was right, just like a Tohsaka, he thought fondly, and how she used to play around with…
Something twisted inside him. He sighed. He found himself thinking often about these little things despite himself, and he knew exactly who was responsible. Lancer X had proven herself not only competent in battle, but also in conversation, and far more sociable than Archer with her Master. And with Kirei and Risei handling the minutia, they had a fair bit of time to chat. Tokiomi came to learn about her True Name and abilities, and he found himself quite interested in this mystical realm, "Edenia," she had described so beautifully. And he in turn had opened up about the Tohsaka family history, his studies, and Aoi and Rin.
Of course, both kept certain details close to their chest. Lancer X masked herself especially whenever the conversation drifted towards her later life, though Tokiomi guessed that it had something to do with that tyrant she mentioned, and much as he liked her, he danced around the topic of… Sakura.
A wise choice, he told himself now while sitting down on his bed. If the recent clash was any indication, she wouldn't begin to understand the finer details of magus families. What I did, I did for her sake. Hers and Rin's. It was for the best.
And so, Tokiomi Tohsaka laid back into his bed and closed his eyes (stifling a single teardrop), allowing himself to fall into a deep slumber…
Filled with random dreams of battle, bloodshed and friendship, love, loyalty… and heartbreak.
"U-um… Is… this the… Mackenzie residence?"
"Yes, that is the name of the family that owns this house."
The voice sounded friendly enough, but the delivery man could barely keep the stiff smile on his face as he gazed up at the towering man of dark skin and smile showing too many teeth for his taste. Then honed instincts kicked in, and he asked tentatively, "W-well, then… who would be… Mr. Alexander, King of Conquerors?"
Not for the first time, he asked himself, Is this for real?
Then the big man said, "That is me," his smile somehow getting bigger.
"O-oh!" The poor man hastily returned it (or tried to). "I-I see…" he fiddled with the large package in his hands and the clipboard balanced atop, a nervous laugh escaping him. "In that case…" he held the clipboard and pen, "could you please sign here on the receipt?"
The man looked confused for a moment before brightening. "Ah, you want my signature? But of course!" He swiped the pen and casually scribbled his name (yes, that crazy title) and passed it back. "My thanks."
"T-thank you for your patronage…" the employee stammered out as the package was pulled out of his hands. The door slammed shut, and he stumbled back to his ride, wondering, I so need a raise…
Meanwhile, Iskandar, King of Conquerors, happily tore apart the outer covering to reveal the package's contents in the dining hall. He then swiftly slipped on the white T-shirt with the kanji, "Admirable Tactics" on, flexing his massive muscles with a hearty laugh. "The entire world mapped across my chest…" he said, eyes shut in delight, "…what a treat!"
"Goody gumdrops…" Saber X muttered while leaning back in a chair at the table. A half-full mug of tea was stuck in his hand. He rubbed his head with a grumble. "Keep it down, will ya? Not the worst hangover I've had, but it's still a bitch."
Rider laughed again, not lowering his volume by one octave. "It's to be expected, considering you consumed as much as Berserker X and I together! The eternal battle with alcohol. Even Servants can suffer from the aftereffects, eh?"
"Yeah, if they guzzle down too much…." Qrow took a sip from his tea before tipping his chair back on all four feet. "Looks like I discovered that level. Ugh, I'd have thought it'd be a little bigger." Traveling around for any distraction from the jackhammers inside his skull, his eyes narrowed at the shirt. "Isn't that the design on the strategy game you play all the time?"
"It is indeed." Rider brought up both arms for a pose. "Ah, I simply couldn't resist the advertisement."
"That's kinda the idea behind advertisements, Kandy." The conversation ended, though, when they heard a stumble and a yelp from the stairs. Both heads turned as the door opened to reveal a tired glaring face.
Waver Velvet may've slumped into his bed the moment he came home, but the "party" his Servants had thrown to celebrate Berserker X joining them had hampered his sleep. Sure, they might've agreed not to have their fun at the house itself out of concern for the elderly couple's rest (Oh sure, show restraint around them, but those guys can do all the crap you want with me, their damn Master!), but Waver couldn't help but tremble at them "hitting the town."
With their newest recruit, that expression might've been literal. Thankfully, nothing in the morning news showed any signs of them doing that, so there was hope.
In his present state, he looked even more haggard than Saber X as he staggered over to the table and collapsed into a chair with a moan. The result of exhaustion, providing mana for three different Servants with pitifully average Magic Circuits, and violent dreams of black monsters with white, red-marked skulls for faces and more violence. The scream, "JUST DIE ALREADY, YOU FUCKING CURSE!" rang through his head even now. Where had that even come from?
And, of course, there was his mixed feeling of triumph and defeat from last night. Defeat because, well, he'd been a shivering coward the entire time, hanging on to Rider's cape as his Servants protected him and then fainting like a little girl in front of everyone; and triumph because… his Servants had defended him against Lord El-Melloi. He'd been helpless in the wake of his professor's earnest desire to kill him, and these two before him still defied the man, calling him a coward worse than Waver. For just a brief moment, the pitiful boy of commoner birth had been better than El-Melloi.
But right now, all he could feel was exhaustion. "Where are Grandfa- the Mackenzies?" he corrected himself. No need to keep up the illusion around these two.
"Out together for a walk," Saber X answered while sliding a fresh cup of tea over, which the boy accepted. "I spotted them a few blocks down while heading back here after the meeting."
Waver blew into the ceramic a few times before taking a sip, then sighed as some tension released. "So, you were there too?" A humph that meant "yes" was his answer. Waver wanted to go on about the new situation he'd literally learned right after waking up, but one look at Rider and his next question was, "What are you wearing?"
The large Servant showed his front chest proudly. "Something I ordered and arrived just now."
"You went outside?!" Waver's furious eyes turned to the other one. "And you let him?!"
"He stopped on the threshold of the front door, pipsqueak."
"I told you, Rider, not to leave the second floor! And where's Berserker X?"
"Still in spirit form, I'd wager," Rider answered with a good-humored shrug, "slumbering like a baby, as they say nowadays."
A heavy snore made all of the walls in the house shudder. One or two pictures fell off their nails. "…Yeah, like a baby chainsaw," Saber X muttered. The newest member in their ranks had basically shut down after they came home, sleeping while dematerialized in an attempt to replenish his reserves. Even with Waver steadily supplying him, his Circuits just weren't strong enough to fill up such vast stores of mana. One more day, though, and he'd be back at full strength.
The student then remembered one other crucial detail. "Hold on… how did you even pay for that shirt? Or did you go and knock out the deliveryman and leave him outside?"
"Oh no, I compensated the service fairly." Rider casually held up Waver's wallet and tossed it over. The boy desperately caught it and looked inside, breathing in relief when he saw that most of his money was still there. Not like he could've stopped either of these two from cleaning him out if they wanted to.
Rider was still flexing about in the small room. "I have to say, the other Saber inspired me last night." He admired his new skintight shirt. "If I, too, wear clothing, there shall be no trouble at all for moving about this city in corporeal form!"
Meaning even more mana would be expended for his upkeep, maybe for the others, too, judging by how thoughtful Saber X looked… A tiny dark part of Waver's mind cursed Saber and her Master for planting this idea into the fat lummox's mind.
And Rider continued unabashed. "With Qrow and the residents out, Kenpachi resting, and you tending to your familiar, boy, who else could answer the doorbell?"
"I had to." Waver set down his mug on the rim of the table and leaned back in his chair. "The Church summoning the Masters is a rare occurrence."
"And in this case, they've changed the rules temporarily, Rider." Saber X addressing him by his class drew his attention and their Master's. The Huntsman had pushed his mug and (most of) his hangover aside to get serious. "Caster and his boss have been making a big mess, and we're supposed to hunt them down. All of the Masters and Servants. Until now, the War's technically on hold."
"Technically?" Rider asked with a solemn expression.
Saber X nodded with a knowing look and went on. "Master of the one who puts those mad dogs down gets Command Seals as payment, and I gotta admit, that is enticing." Waver glanced at him in curiosity, making him scoff. "C'mon, kid, don't you remember what he said? The triumphant hero gets one extra Command Seal for eachServant on his payroll. You've got three of us." He shrugged. "Do the math."
Waver did. Three Servants, all of which he'd manage to keep without expending any Seals yet. So, if he were to have Rider, Saber X or Berserker X take down Caster, he'd have twelve Seals in total, twice that of any normal group… he'd be able to rein them in and still win…
"If you wanna look dignified, you shouldn't drool, pipsqueak."
Qrow's snark and Iskandar's laugh snapped Waver out of his daydreaming. He hastily wiped away the liquid from his mouth while glaring at them. Then he noticed that Rider was sauntering off to the front door. "Heyheyheyhey, stop right there!" he bolted after him.
"Oh, what now?" Rider whined as he stopped at least. "I have modern clothes now, and there is a city to explore. Enemies to find! A world to see in daylight!"
"Y-you can't go out there without at least putting trousers on!" Waver called desperately.
That made him glance up in thought, down at his bare legs. He was thankfully wearing gray boxers, but between there and his boots, there was nothing covering him. "Oh, right, those leggings everyone seems to wear nowadays…" he glanced back to his compatriots. "Do I really have to?"
"If you don't wanna scar kids for life…" Saber X muttered behind his Master, tellingly keeping his eyes up, "Yes. Yes, you do."
"And before you even think about it," Waver snapped, "I am not going into town just to buy you XXXL-size pants!"
"Excuse me?!" Rider bellowed. "Are you trying to stop my majestic conquest?!"
THUNK. "Dammit, now I'm starting to see pictures…" Saber X grumbled with his head against the wall. "This is why I hate being sober."
"You, shut up!" Waver snapped his index finger away from the drunk moron and pointed it at the loud moron. "And you, conquest and pants have absolutely nothing to do with each other! Zou, zip, nada!" What the hell was I thinking?!"Go kill a Servant or two first before having a bloody party! Do that, and then maybe I'll buy you trousers!"
"Oh, fine," the King of Conquerors sighed before a sly grin played across his face. Waver felt a new sense of dread, the new THUNK behind him not mitigating it. "If I were to dispatch another Servant… I'll have your word that you'll purchase trousers?"
Waver felt so defeated right now. Maybe it was his exhaustion, maybe it was Rider's Charisma, maybe both, but regardless, but he gave in with a sigh. "You really want to walk these streets dressed in modern clothes?"
"But of course!" Rider laughed. "The King of Knights did it as well, and as another King, I cannot allow myself to fall behind. And besides," he placed a hand over his chest, "I like this design. A fitting shirt for the King of Conquerors!"
Waver slumped. One of history's most famous heroes, ladies and gentlemen… Oh, dammit, Saber X's humor is starting to rub off on me.
Said Servant brushed lightly past him. "Okay, you guys can have fun playing dress-up, I'm outta here." He stepped towards the door.
But Rider stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Now hold on, why do you get to leave while I have to stay?"
Saber X gave him a flat look. "You mean, aside from the fact that I look more appropriate for the city," he gestured to his dress shirt, black pants and shoes, "than you do?" He got an amused huff as his answer but kept going. "Between you, me and Spiky, I'm the most mana-efficient Servant around. Hence, I'm heading out for clues on where our little psycho duo might be, while you stay put to guard the twerp, Kandy Bar."
"Eh?" Waver snapped his head up. "Guard me from what? There's a cease-fire right now-"
"Officially." Saber X cut him off, scratching his stubble. "But there's no guarantee that all of the other Masters and Servants will stick to it. Hell, with Caster in the spotlight, I wouldn't put it past some of them to use the chaos and stab each other in the dark."
Rider rubbed his own beard in thought as a certain rival of his came to mind. "Aye. And seeing as you, boy, currently have both the largest military force in this War and stand to receive the most spoils by crushing Caster," the student's eyes widened in horror as he grasped the logic, "you may be a priority target." He sighed in slight defeat. "Therefore, we really can't leave you alone right now."
"And with Spiky," Saber X paused as another snore rumbled around them, "hibernating for now, I need you to watch the kid's back while I'm out."
Rider breathed through his nose but didn't object. Qrow may've proven to be a quite solitary person, but he had also been reliable and skilled in battle. He had no doubt he could trust this swordsman. And as a king, he could allow splitting up important tasks to make future conquests smoother. I hate it when I agree to logic, he huffed in good nature.
Saber X nodded to him, then looked back at Waver. "I'll try to narrow down where Caster might be, and if I get a bead on him, all the better." He turned back for the door. "The sooner we catch him, the quicker the kids out there are out of danger."
Something snapped in Waver at that, nearly making him fall to his knees. All the while, he'd been focusing on the Command Seals as the prize, on his own inadequacies, but here both Rider and Saber X stood, making plans beyond such narrow margins. Be it something as moral as protecting innocent children or as stupid as trying on new clothes, they were both moving on with determination toward their goals. They had resolve. And what did he have? Wounded pride, a desire to prove himself? Last night had shown him just what kind of opposition he had, and he'd been quaking in his shoes the whole time while his Servants, all three of them, didn't back down by an inch. Am I really this pathetic?
Unaware of his inner despair, the Servants continued to converse. "Do you have any plan where to start looking?" Rider asked.
"I wish," was the grudging answer. "When you're tracking a serial criminal, the basic move is to discern a pattern. There's always some kind of motive why this place is being robbed, or why those three people got shanked. Find the pattern that connects them, and you've got an idea of where the guy could be heading next."
"You seem well acquainted with this sort of thing. I thought you were trained to hunt monsters on Remnant? You called them …Grimm, if I remember correctly."
"That's right, but a professional Huntsman handles other kinds of peacekeeping jobs, too. Including apprehending criminals. Some of the worst monsters I ever ran into looked and thought just like humans." Qrow instinctively patted his right ribs, the spot where he'd been cut and poisoned. The origin of his death.
He shook off the memory and continued. "And that's basically what any hunt is, finding a pattern that leads you to your prey. Problem is, the only commonality we know right now is that all of Caster's abductees have been kids. Doesn't really narrow it down, even in a city this small." He grumbled a bit, leaning against the door with his hands in his pockets. "If I had a way to track him by magic, I'd do it, but I don't know how-"
Those words sparked something, though, in Waver just now. He tilted his head up with a new glint in his eyes. "I think I might," he said, getting the Servants' attention. "Wait here for a moment, Saber X." He quickly sprinted up the stairs to his room, fished through his suitcase's contents, pulled out what he'd been looking for, and headed back down.
Saber X rose an eyebrow at the set of test tubes his young Master was holding in front of him. "While you're out there," Waver explained to him, "try to collect samples of open water from as many different parts of Fuyuki as you can. Remember to label them, too, so I know where they came from. If you can't find Caster today, then what you bring me may help me discern that pattern you mentioned."
Qrow Branwen eyed the beakers in slight curiosity, then the sudden fire in those young green eyes. He kept a smirk from growing but nodded as he accepted the tools. "Alright, I'll see what I can do. If anything comes up," he tapped his temple, "you know how to reach me."
As he opened the door and strode outside into the cold air, Saber X finally allowed himself to smirk. Kid's starting to show some grit now.
Rider, too, beamed down at his Master as he walked back into the kitchen, noting the determination that had seeped into him. Even as the chair he made to sit on broke and he fell to the floor with a yelp, spilling tea over himself, the old conqueror felt pride. This is only the first step for you, boy. Now you're starting to learn true confidence, and just as this War continues to pick up speed. Ah, what a fine conquest awaits us!
His smile shifted to a frown as a sneering mouth of metal and malice accompanied by glowing red eyes appeared in his mind. His right fist clenched till the knuckles cracked. And what enemies I shall face in this world…
Caster X lifted his hand away and stood up from where he'd been kneeling with a sigh, bones creaking beneath his robes. "That should suffice," he noted. "Though I would advise you to show a bit more caution and not let this be a regular occurrence."
"Mrr…" Berserker rumbled, bending his regenerated right arm experimentally. Fortunately for Heroic Spirits, they were basically beings of solidified mana. Injuries could be treated by gathering more mana while healing magic accelerated the process, provided they hadn't been inflicted by weapons with certain powers like Lancer's yellow spear. Even entire limbs could be restored. Flexing his fingers inside his gauntlet, the knight gave a slow nod in seeming thanks.
This came naturally at a cost, though. As he sat propped up against the alley wall, Kariya grunted from those blasted worms rummaging about in him, spurring his Circuits. If it had been him alone, he'd have possibly died trying to return what had been lost. The alternative would have been Berserker fighting the rest of the War with just one arm, and that would've been tantamount to conceding defeat. Once again, he thanked whatever forces in existence that were looking out for him that Caster X had become his other Servant, treating his partner with his own vast stores and skill and thereby sparing him from a night of agony.
Not to say he had a completely peaceful night. Kariya rarely slept well as it was these days, thanks to his dear "father's" "gift." But this night, he'd had strange dreams. Dreams of men in what looked like medieval times, of elves and dwarves often fighting against each other, verbally and physically. Dreams of hideous black and pale creatures, of fiery demons… and a darkness that still made him shiver now.
One glance to the side, at the wizard picking up his staff but leaving his hat on a nearby crate and clapping a hand on the black knight's shoulder with a jest about him hopefully having enough sense despite his madness to watch himself (which earned a clattering noise that almost sounded like a chuckle), gave Kariya Matou an idea of where these dreams had come from.
But ultimately, it didn't really matter what kind of scary-ass skeletons Caster X had in his closet. What mattered was that he was on Kariya's side, that Berserker had all of his limbs again, and that there was still a War to finish and a little girl to save. "Now then," the Master looked up to see both Servants eyeing him, Caster X speaking. "I believe we can return to the matters at hand."
Right. The War had changed its rules now thanks to that crazy other Caster running about from what his Crest Worm familiar had learned. "Yes," Kariya nodded, "the hunt for Caster and his Master is now official. The other Masters are bound to go after those two for the sake of more Command Seals." Good news for us, he thought with a little malicious smile.
Caster X nodded, not yet noticing the expression. "It may not hurt for us to consider allying with another Master for this part." He mused aloud. "Negotiations ought to be possible, seeing as the overseer mentioned gifting all parties involved in stopping them with the Seals."
Kariya perked up at that. "Wait, he did?" The following nod further stirred his confusion. "How do you know that, Caster X? You were busy treating me and Berserker, and this is the first I've mentioned of the meeting."
"Oh, that was due to my little friend here." A small brown moth fluttered from above their heads to a finger Caster X had lifted. "After you told me there was a meeting scheduled, I asked her to go have a look for me." He furrowed his brow as the moth stretched her wings lightly. "Did I not inform you of this?"
"…You didn't." On the one hand, Kariya was slightly peeved that he used his family's wretched Thaumaturgy for something his Servant could've easily handled. But on the other, he could plainly see Animal Dialogue among Caster X's Skills, so he should've figured that he had this kind of trick up his sleeve. Besides, the moth didn't appear to be an actual familiar but more like a messenger, limiting somewhat the information that could be gleaned from the "connection." In the end, he shrugged. "We know enough either way. But an alliance isn't necessary for what I have in mind."
One gray eyebrow rose. "Oh? Though I have faith in my partner's prowess," he glanced at a slowly rattling Berserker; something was agitating him. Caster X continued warily. "Caster's abilities are still unknown to us, Master. Even if we face him together, we could well be walking into a trap. Besides, if we do not speak with the other Servants about working together, we may very well tear each other apart over the chance to stop Caster." He whispered something to the little moth with him and then gently sent her on her way. She would inform her brethren to be on the lookout for any sighting of Caster and report it to him immediately.
Kariya just shook his scarred head. "Caster's something the others can waste their time with. Our target hasn't changed." He bared his teeth into a vicious grin.
Caster X frowned as he picked up on his Master's meaning. "You are still focusing on Tokiomi Tohsaka?" Berserker was trembling more, as though something was rousing his anger again. One look between him and the crippled man before them told the wizard all he needed to know: Kariya's hatred was feeding Berserker's.
And Kariya had yet to realize it. Or if he did, he didn't care. Even with the Crest Worms twitching inside, his thoughts and malice turned to him. "The Church has given us a prime opportunity…" Always him. "Tokiomi will likely send his Servants on the hunt as well." The one who had taken and ruined everything dear to him. "Meanwhile, he'll be snug in his precious mansion." The one he'd make pay.
"The Church has ordered a ceasefire, Master," Caster X reminded him. "If we were to attack Tohsaka now, it may be interpreted as a violation and risk consequences in the future." He fingered his staff warily as Berserker's movements grew further erratic. "Consequences that may hamper our quest and cost us our objective."
The Matou Master laughed coldly. "I'm not afraid of the Church any more than I am of Tokiomi. Berserker sent his golden Servant running with his tail between his legs. And with you backing him, Caster X, there's no Servant that can stop us." He relished in the memories of last night, Berserker deflecting a rain of weapons and nothing but sheer skill. And the dreams he'd witnessed as well as the sword hanging by his hip spoke tales of Caster X being no slouch in battle himself. He'd been given an unbeatable duo! Berserker was growling at the sky now, eager for bloodshed again. Good. One Worm bit into his lower jaw, drawing a wince from him, but he absorbed the pain as fuel. "And Tokiomi will die."
"And all the while, Caster continues to wander about, abducting children and slaughtering people?"
Kariay frowned and glared up at the disapproving face of his Servant, frustrated at his excitement being hampered. "That Servant can get torn to shreds by the rest, I don't care! Let the rest of the idiots tear each other apart just to get some Seals-"
"I have no interest in Seals, Kariya," Caster X interrupted him. "Caster's a credible threat to this city and all of its children. And we should not assume that others will stop him simply because of a prize dangled in front of them. There is more at stake here than a chance for petty revenge."
Petty? PETTY?! Doesn't he understand what that bastard's done?! Kariya made to snap something, angry that his Servant, the one he'd trusted and liked all this time, wouldn't back his plans-
"Would you be so relaxed about Caster running about if Sakura were in his clutches?"
Those words made Kariya choke up on his own. That sweet little girl appeared in his mind again, her once ebony hair and beautiful turquoise eyes twisted purple from the "magic" of the Matou. Her empty gaze bore though him, making him slump back against the wall.
Above him, Caster X shook his head in slight disappointment. "I pledged my loyalty to you, Kariya Matou, because I saw a broken man in need of aid. And because you said you acted out of a desire to save a little girl from a cruel fate. I trusted your word, then."
"Y-you still can," the man muttered, rubbing his left arm. "S-she's innocent, Gandalf. She's the whole reason I chose this. I have to save her-"
"And I shall continue to help you with that task." Caster X knelt down to squeeze his shoulder. Kariya needed only one look in his eyes to know he was telling the complete truth. "But right now, somewhere in this city, there may be another little girl, or a boy, that is falling into the clutches of Caster and the cretin that brought him into this world. That young soul may be suffering now as Sakura has. My heart tells me I cannot abandon them any more than I can abandon your… niece." His lips pursed in distaste. "And certainly not to settle a grudge."
Kariya's single functioning eye blazed for a second, drawing a howl from Berserker, then it faded as he turned his head to the side in frustrated shame. Caster X sighed in compassion; he could tell the battered soul before him was fighting for love, but his actions and thoughts were muddied by hatred for Tohsaka.
And that hatred was blinding him not just to the pain of others, but tactically as well. Caster X was not as optimistic about their chances in the War as his Master. Lancer X's abilities were mostly unknown to them, aside from her trouncing Assassin. Archer had been forced leave by Command Seal, but he could've very well continued to fight. Perhaps on a level beyond his initial skirmish with Berserker, if that colossal array of golden portals was any indication.
And speaking of Berserker, his abilities were impressive, his skill with weaponry baffling beyond belief; Caster X had known seasoned Elves that would've turned green with envy at the black knight's prowess. But that didn't mean he was invincible. Assassin X had managed fight on near par with him, even dealing a mortal blow. And Gandalf suspected that there were others that may be close to that level as well, such as Lancer or Saber.
Saber… that young girl with the posture of a knight, the sword of concealment and the eyes of a king. Just what was it about her that had set Berserker off like that? Had they known each other in life? Thinking back, his partner kept snarling something around her. A name…?
The old wizard sighed quietly. As always, his task was more difficult at first appearance. And darkness continued to gather, in particular around certain individuals that had answered the Grail's call. Another aspect that troubled him. The light seemed to be mere glimmers in this city.
But, the Gray Wizard reminded himself as determination flashed in his eyes, that does not make them any less worth fighting for. He had stood for it in Middle-Earth, he would again here.
And it started with his comrades. He then glanced over at the twitching, snarling armored beast of a man next to him. Darkness rippled over him like a violent waterfall as the visor glowed crimson with rising fury. "Ar… Ur…" Caster X stepped closer to him without fear and lifted the tip of his staff towards him. A little light shone from the wood, pushing back the dark and noticeably calming the beast down again, showing some glimmer of the man buried within.
Once Berserker had fully stilled, his partner began to speak. "I know not why your grievance lies with her," a black gauntlet clenched, but Caster X didn't waver, "nor do I know what suffering in life drove you to this madness. But I believe that there is a light beneath your darkness." The black man gave no sound, took no action other than lowering his head so that the visor peered at the ground. Like a chastised dog… or a man deep in thought.
Gandalf nodded to himself. In truth, the spell he cast wasn't all that powerful alone, but regularly using it on Berserker was helping to temper his outbursts, keep him calm and capable of reason. But the biggest factor, the wizard believed, was that deep inside the maddened Servant, a tiny part of the man he once was fought to regain his sanity. The spells served as a foothold, but it would ultimately be his own will that determined whether or not the knight within would reach the surface.
In a way, Master and Servant had that in common, the "X" Servant mused with some humor.
He donned his hat and began to march out of the alley, staff thunking on the asphalt with each step his right foot took. But he then turned around to look at the chastened pair before him, sternness gone. "I hope with all my heart the both of you prove me right."
Those were Caster X's last words before he shimmered away into spirit form.
-134:52:18
Kayneth withdrew one more piece from its casing and laid it delicately on the table, then stepped away with a pleased smile. Clasping his arms behind his back, he took a moment to bask in the collection of magical artistry before him, the culminations of other pioneers in the thaumaturgical arts… all at his disposal. "Please," he called to the left, "join me."
Sola-Ui sauntered over to his side, fresh off a little stroll through Shinto. Her (beautiful) eyes immediately narrowed at the array of objects laid before her. "Are these all…" she asked tentatively, "Mystic Codes?"
Kayneth answered, "Every single one of them," with delight. Lancer materialized from behind him and Sola-Ui, quickly drawing the latter's attention. The Master's fingers curled a bit at the tiny smile she gave the Servant; he may need to do something about that blasted Love Spot after all. A magus of Sola-Ui's caliber shouldn't be so easily affected, so he had originally little concern, but now…?
Archer X came last, stepping out of spirit form to the other side of his fiancée. Lancer turned his head from Sola-Ui to her (failing to notice the hurt that flickered on her face) and asked his partner, "Any sign of trouble?"
"Nothing." Archer X shook her head. Kayneth scoffed at their paranoia; both had been particularly vigilant ever since that fire last night. He himself had been slightly disappointed that no one had actually attacked (it would've been fun to watch them flail about in the security he'd laid out over the hotel), but no matter. Either the Einzbern magus had lost her nerve, or it had been a simple prank some brat from below had caused. Not that it stopped his Servants from keeping a close eye on the Hyatt and its surroundings. Oh well, as long as they were ready when needed and didn't go overboard with their abilities, necessitating more mana on, well, Sola-Ui's part, he didn't care about what they did in their spare time.
Besides, both he and his wife-to-be had enjoyed an extravagant brunch, compliments of the Hyatt's staff. Their little way of ensuring he wouldn't choose a rival hotel as his new residence. Not that Kayneth would've in this ridiculous district. He had standards, after all.
The Servant of the Bow leaned over the table, her visor trailing over the many different objects on its surface. "So, these are Mystic Codes, huh?" She at least had the decency not to touch anything, Kayneth noted in some approval. "What the heck does that even mean, that all this stuff," she glanced to the others and waved her arm at the table, "is like a bunch of magic wands?"
Sola-Ui let out a sound of amusement while Kayneth just rolled his eyes. Right, that brute said she was from a science-dominant world. Hopefully, she doesn't do anything that might trap us all in another dimension. "In a sense, yes," he answered aloud. "Mystic Codes are tools we magi use to expedite our magecraft. They generally fall into two categories of use: supplementing their user's Magical Energy or fulfilling a predetermined function."
Sola-Ui peered at the various objects, noting how magic seemed to emanate from some of them. "And if I am correct," she tapped her lip with her index finger, "most of these are of the latter variety." She didn't react to her future husband's swelling, instead curious about something else. "How exactly did you acquire them, Kayneth? These don't all look like your handiwork."
"Some I received as gifts from colleagues, others I had brought to me from various expeditions." His gloved hand held up an amethyst crystal with multiple little symbols inscribed on all of its sides. "This here is a preserved experiment from Solomon ibn Gabirol."
Sola-Ui hummed in thought before snapping her fingers. "Ah, the Spanish philosopher who developed the Kabbalah System. Credited as a pioneer in Golemancy, yes?" Beside her, Diarmuid tilted his head as he pondered. Could he be in the Throne of Heroes?
"Indeed. This gem," he gently tapped his index finger against the polished surface, "is a fruit of his studies. It has been inscribed with a special code and tinted in magic so that by placing it into a sufficiently large solid surface and uttering a command phrase, one can quickly summon forth a golem that serves the one that said the phrase." Kayneth gently set it back on the cloth. "One of the good poet's many attempts to reproduce Adam, from what I've heard."
He then picked up a crude dagger of obsidian, the edges stained an eternal red. "This is the tecpatl of a Mayan priest, having been supposedly saturated in the blood of a hundred Spanish invaders' hearts and blessed on an altar during a solar eclipse. Particularly useful for divination and blood rituals." The blade was then set aside and replaced with a golden medallion that had a single Egyptian eye surrounded by hieroglyphs. "This has been called the Eye of Ra because it can store sunlight and release it again in blasts of concentrated light and heat. An archaeological gift from a friend of mine who lives in Cairo."
Archer X crossed her arms as she surveyed the Mystic Codes again. "Alright, I'm a little impressed. And you brought all of them with you for the Grail War?" She tilted her head. "Or just to show off?"
Lord El-Melloi merely turned his chin at her. "Don't be ridiculous, Archer X." He gestured towards the tabletop. "Each of these artifacts can prove useful for tracking or defeating the other Masters or even granting you or Lancer an edge over your enemies. You'll be thanking me for my foresight once we've found Caster and won the War." He arched an eyebrow at the armored Servant. "In that order, under my command."
"Yeah, yeah…" Archer X's helmet prevented anyone from seeing her eyes rolling, but the twit still picked up on it.
Lancer walked to another side of the table, trying to tune out the bickering his lord and his partner. Just when I thought she was starting to show some restraint, he mused with some sadness. Some of these Mystic Codes, though, intrigued him a little. He had been no expert on magic in life, but he respected those capable in the life. And he knew fine craftsmanship when he saw it.
That's when his eyes were drawn to the largest object; a sort of metal lantern with copper rods poking out on four different sides, runes of a language he didn't recognize carved along its surface, a silver valve on top, and a clear crystal behind the glass where a candle would be.
Intrigued by this peculiarity (and looking for any excuse to stop their argument), Lancer straightened and looked over the lady (who hadn't taken her eyes off him for the last minute) to where the man was opening his mouth for another chiding of the black soldier. "Forgive me, my lord," both turned to the knight, "but what exactly is this contraption?"
Kayneth's eyes narrowed at what his Servant of the Spear was pointing toward before widening. "Ah, yes." He leaned over the table and carefully pulled the lantern closer so the rest could gather around it. "This device was loaned to me recently as an object of study. Do you Servants know of the Kaleidoscope?"
Judging by how both Lancer and Archer X stiffened instantly, the answer was a resounding yes.
Sola-Ui was taken aback, too. "You mean… the Lord Wizard Marshall… gave you this thing?" She looked at the device with newfound awe. No one in the magic community of this world took anything involved with Zeltretch lightly. Not if they wanted to stay alive and sane. "Did… did he build this?"
Treating it with a bit of deference himself, Kayneth shook his head. "Not quite. Lord Zeltretch knocked on my office door two weeks before I flew here with you, Sola-Ui, and presented me with this. According to him, it is a functional prototype of something 'an old friend' of his had been working on for some time now." The professor shrugged his shoulders at the confused looks he received. "He didn't say who, only that they had agreed to loan me this in recognition of my talents." And partially for their own amusement, it seems…
He frowned at two incredulous looks cast his way, but Lancer quickly cleared his throat. "What exactly does this device do, then?"
Kayneth decided to let the insolence of the other Servant slide and held up the lantern. "From what I've been told, this is a form of magical technology. A machine that once activated draws in mana from the surrounding atmosphere, purifies it and stores it for immediate or later use." He held it a little higher while pointing to its inside. "The crystal is a repository, while the copper rods serve as attractors. Magical Energy would be drawn into it with each second while active. And a simple connecting spell is all that's required to access its store."
"Does this device have a name?"
Kayneth's face froze at Lancer's innocent question. "Yes… he said it was called the," the corner of his lip twitched, "Prismatrix Reactor."
He could feel the flatness of the stare Archer X gave him. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." Kayneth sighed. "Lord Zeltretch mentioned that his friend was a …quirky fellow. Anyway, I was told it could serve as an asset for experiments or as a sort of backup supply for the both of you, if need be."
Archer X's fingers drummed against her folded arms. "How much can it store?"
"Enough to light up a city block, according to the Wizard Marshall." Kayneth was a little in disbelief even now. "And he stressed that this was merely a prototype."
His audience openly gaped at the Prismatrix Reactor (Kayneth swore to himself that he would devise a better name for this marvel if it was the last thing he ever did) now. Sola-Ui was the one who finally spoke. "…If it could store that much Magical Energy…Kayneth… why did you bother altering the contract? This alone could keep at leasttwo Servants at full strength for the entire length of the War."
"I didn't wish to take any risks with this reactor before I had a chance to fully study it." He placed the heavy lantern carefully back on the table with a thoughtful frown. "There is a reason a prototype is a prototype, Sola-Ui. Some flaw in the design or use that may cause trouble." Kayneth crossed his arms behind his back. "And with something that can hold that much energy inside, I'd rather not risk blasting this building off the map." He scowled at a sound, glaring toward the source. "Anything to say, Archer X?"
She quickly forced down her laughter and replied, "Nothing, boss." He didn't look convinced, but she changed the subject. "So, did he tell you how to activate this thing?"
Lancer chose to step in, curious himself. "Yes, it could still be of use in the later parts of the War."
Kayneth glanced between them, then consented by tapping the valve. "This here is a sort of on-off switch. Twisting it counterclockwise turns it on, clockwise deactivates it, which also locks whatever Magical Energy is inside for study or future use. Currently, the Reactor is completely empty. Therefore, it requires a catalyst of sorts for first use after turning it on. A sudden transfer of high-quality mana would suffice.
"However, I shall not activate it until I have had more time to analyze its inner workings. And the current arrangements for keeping you both here are sufficient." Easy for you to say, you're not the one supplying them, Sola-Ui thought but didn't say, merely staring at her fiancé dispassionately. He in turn didn't notice, settling for picking up a collection of enchanted nails. "And more importantly, the Church has granted us an opportunity to replenish my lost Command Seals. By bringing Caster's head."
Lancer brought his right hand up to his chest and bowed. "As you wish, my lord." Beside him, Archer X nodded once. About the most respect she'd shown him since they'd met.
But he'd take it. Lord El-Melloi held up the nails in his right hand with a predatory smirk. "These will help us in divining that rogue Servant's location." His left hand rose to show a single test tube filled with a silver liquid to his Servants. His own Supreme Mystic Code. "And this time, I'll be joining the battlefield myself."
-131:23:03
Hidden away in Fuyuki City's western woods, the castle that belonged to the Einzberns since the Third Holy Grail War stood resolute among the fog. Inside, its occupants had just finished cleaning up the remnants of their dinner.
Irisviel may've been a homunculus of Einzbern design, but even she required food to sustain herself. Especially with her special circumstances. So, when dinnertime had rolled around, she had been wondering what to eat when Saber had shown her a small pamphlet of a ramen store in Fuyuki that delivered. Her friend had apparently heard about this noodle-soup dish from her partner and believed it might be worth sampling. For all of them, of course.
Irisviel still wondered to herself now if Assassin X's pack had taught Saber how to make her eyes look so irresistibly cute when asking for something.
Kiritsugu had sighed but conceded to his wife's request, the call was made for five servings, and the food was quickly collected by a Shadow Clone of Assassin X, their fastest runner, who brought dinner to them in only fifteen minutes. Impressive, considering it was an hour-long drive to the city, but that's a Servant for you.
The meal had been eaten in relative silence, and the ramen was unanimously approved. What had drawn Saber's ire, though, was a bit of frustration with her chopsticks. To be fair, she was from a European kingdom of a thousand years ago, and it looks like Grail knowledge does not extend to eating utensils of different cultures. That said, Irisviel, who had learned the fine art of chopsticks from her beloved, barely kept herself from giggling at how the King of Knights had been this close to pouting over how she failed to corral the slim pieces of wood.
And she knew that she had seen a tiny smile on Kiritsugu's face when one high-flying noodle got stuck on the chandelier.
Fortunately, a chuckling Assassin X quickly taught his partner the old rubber band trick, and from there, Saber had radiated with delight as she slurped down her bowl's contents. All while maintaining a king's dignity in the process, no joke.
All of the other diners, including Maiya to her own little surprise, were a bit peeved that they somehow failed to see Assassin X's face during the entire meal. How had he done that?!
But the fun was over now. It was time for War.
Maiya brought a folder full of their collective intel to the dining table and spread out its contents, Assassin X and Saber helping her. The former noticed her bandaged hand. "How are you doing?" he asked quietly.
Maiya calmly unwound the bandage to show no trace of the injury Kotomine had inflicted. "Madam patched me up this afternoon. I won't be having any trouble."
He nodded at her answer and went back to unfolding a map of Fuyuki when he heard, "…Thank you." He glanced back up to see the woman unclip two other pages from one another, her demeanor unchanged. Assassin X said nothing but gave her an eye-smile.
Next to his subordinate, Kiritsugu was utterly focused on the printed pictures of some of Fuyuki. His ears picked up on a sound, drawing his head up. "You alright, Irisviel?" Saber asked, stepping beside her.
His wife withdrew her hand from her mouth as the yawn. "Just a little tired, Saber. Don't mind me." She smiled, but it did little to reassure Kiritsugu. She had gone to bed only after successfully convincing him with Assassin X's help to get some rest, and Kiritsugu's dreams aside, she had still received more sleep than him in the last few days overall. Not that it hindered him all that much; the Magus Killer had learned to live off short rests long ago.
For Iri, though, it could mean- he shook his head. No time for thinking like that.
He drew the map of Fuyuki closer and placed a picture of a temple complex over a specific part. "There's a powerful Bounded Field surrounding Mt. Enzou, with Ryuudou Temple being its point of origin." He circled the area with a red marker. "Due to its composition, anything that isn't a natural spirit, like a Servant, is prohibited from entering any way other than via the mountain path."
"Does that include Servants that do not originate from this world?" Saber asked, glancing to her partner.
"Unfortunately," was Kiritsugu's answer. "I had him try his luck today at noon."
Assassin X nodded as he took over. "I tried reaching the top from every direction, but only the path worked for me. Everywhere else, by tree or ground, it was like an invisible wall blocked my movements." He shrugged. "At least we can bet that the others will likely have the same problem. I doubt even Rider X can just fly in there."
"Still, you'll have to watch yourself in that area, Saber," Kiritsugu retook control of the briefing. He continued to circle more spots on the map. "The leylines underneath Fuyuki gather at three more spots: the Tohsaka manor, Fuyuki Church," he tapped his marker against the last spot, "and the new residential area east of the main city. Which means we have four possible locations with the spiritual necessities to call forth the Grail."
"And once the War enters the second stage and the number of Servants has decreased," Irisviel continued the train of thought, "we'll have to secure one of these spots as a new base of operations, right?"
"Right." Kiritsugu nodded before taking out a small number of pins that he began to affix to the map. "Assassin X's hounds have been tracking down the other Servants and giving us a good idea where their Masters would be." Maiya had equipped each of the dogs with the same kind of CCD cameras her bat familiars carried and tracking devices before their owner had dispatched them. All had reported their findings within an hour, increasing his respect of them and allowing him to narrow down their positions. "As expected, the Archer's trail led back to the Tohsaka grounds. Getting past the Bounded Field would take some time but isn't impossible. And we already know El-Melloi's staying at the Hyatt." His teeth clenched at the failed bombing last night, but it couldn't be helped. He already had something new in mind.
"As for the boy that is most likely in possession of three Servants now," a pin sank into a hill in Miyama Town, "the lot seems to have hunkered down in a small residence here." Aside from the fact that three Servants of high destructive level were there, he hadn't seen any particular traps or the like. "The hounds regrettably still can't track Berserker, likely for the same reason I can't read his stats, but Caster X, his partner, is another story." He let a pin hover over the alley network of Shinto.
Assassin X scratched his chin pensively. "You told us that aside from the Einzberns and Tohsakas, the Matous were on of the Founding Families. And the one that was pushed into joining this War is probably the Master of Berserker and Caster X, right?"
"Yes, but from what I could tell about your dogs' intel, he isn't at the known Matou mansion but somewhere inside Shinto's alleys."
Maiya spoke up for the first time during the briefing. "Could it be that they were misled?"
Assassin X tilted his head at the suggestion. "It's possible. Caster X seemed like a clever one from what I saw. And my boys have mentioned that a Servant stepping into spirit form muddies the scent somewhat for them."
"Still, it won't hurt to keep both possibilities open," Kiritsugu concluded, setting the tacks aside. He cast his gaze over those assembled. "That covers the basics of the city's topography and our targets' locations. Any questions?"
All silently shook their heads no. Then his wife frowned in thought. "Kiritsugu, the other Masters will be hunting down Caster, right?"
"With the reward the overseer offered, I'm sure. But we have the advantage over them." A cold smirk travelled along his face. "We know his True Name… and he's convinced himself that Saber is his precious Jeanne d'Arc. That'll work in our favor. Instead of having to scour the city for him, Caster will come to us and fall into our trap."
If Assassin X felt uneasy about letting this reported madman roam free, Saber was growing livid. "Master," she interjected, "waiting isn't enough. Caster's villainy is unacceptable and putting even more lives at risk. We should find him before he inflicts any more damage."
Kiritsugu lost his smirk but kept his stare at the map. The bigger picture. The disregard for honor, for human lives nearly made Saber's restraint snap, but then she noticed Assassin X eyeing her. He gave her a little nod while tapping his headband. Saber's own eyes widened as she got his message. "Besides," she quickly added, "there's one other advantage we have over Caster. We have his scent."
That made Kiritsugu glance back up in thought while Irisviel snapped her fingers. "That's right," she exclaimed, "Pakkun and Guruko were with us when we ran into him! They know what Caster smells like, they can find him."