He opened his study's door and was greeted with a familiar sight: Archer lounging about, drinking his way through Kirei's wine collection. This time, though, he had assembled a chessboard onto the table before the couch, pieces which depicted Masters and the different Servant classes. Interestingly, there was twice the amount of the latter kind.
The King of Heroes took a long drink from his glass and saluted him with a light chuckle. "You look like you've been having a good time, Archer," Kirei greeted him warily.
That smile he carried usually meant nothing good. But Gilgamesh simply said, "I have yet to discern if the Holy Grail has any real worth, but even if it proves to be worthless, I no longer mind." He picked up one of the Saber pieces to inspect it more closely while speaking. "I've discovered a few other objects of interest."
"Didn't you say that this world was filled with nothing but imitations and disgusting things? Has one of the visitors intrigued you?"
"I have not changed my judgement of this world, and most of the intruders are no better than the mongrels attempting to contend with me." He placed the figure back down and let his fingers drift a bit over both pieces which symbolized Rider. "But… a few have caught my eye slightly." One Berserker was flicked.
Kirei noticed his finger hovering slightly more over a Caster, but he continued smoothly as ever."And now I'm curious to witness this Grail War straight to its bitter end." He indicated the piece at the center of the board, a gold-painted chalice. "I enjoy having arrogant opponents. Those who have pushed beyond their humility and chase ambitions. Simply watching someone like that tickles me."
His conversation partner reviewed the pieces Archer had interacted with, pondering their implications. Saber, the Riders, Berserker X… are they the ones he's taken an interest in? But the hesitation over the Caster was puzzling.
"But arrogance tends to come in two forms:" Kirei's train of thought relinked to Gilgamesh's words, "one is where the carrier is too weak," he lifted his wine glass before lowering it in favor of a bottle, "and one where the goal is too great." He poured wine from the bottle into his glass. "The first is commonplace for fools… but the second is far rarer." He stopped the red liquid's progression from one container to the next with a graceful flick.
"But in the end, they're both the same kind of foolishness, aren't they?"
Archer placed the bottle on the table. "The rare foolishness is more desirable than what's commonplace, no? To be born human," his eyes flickered down to the Rider piece before correcting himself, "or whatever passes for average in a species, and yet strive for a dream no average being could hope to realize, and break free of the shackles of normality in pursuit of it…" He swirled the wine in his glass, his smile never diminishing. "It never ceases to amuse me. That pain and despair."
He sipped eagerly from his wine while the room's other occupant pondered, then changed the subject. "You appear to be in a good mood yourself, Kirei."
"I'm simply relieved," the priest answered smoothly as he walked to his desk. "With Assassin gone, all I need to do is wait for Rider X to get himself killed, and I will finally be free of this irksome burden." Once again, he found himself surprised at how easily the lies drifted from his mouth. His body gave no indication of his deception almost naturally.
But Archer's eyes followed him with an odd sort of amusement. "Since you no longer have Assassin's Command Seals, where have they gone now? They couldn't have simply vanished."
Kirei drew his chair to him and sat before his desk. He propped his elbows on the wood and steepled his fingers, weighing his verbal options. He settled for deflection. "In theory, the Command Seals should be back within the Grail. It's where they originate from, and it automatically reclaims their Seals of those who've lost the right as Masters because their Servants have fallen. But if a Servant becomes contract-less due to the loss of their Master, then the Grail should bestow that one's unused Seals to a new contractor. Once the War ends, the remaining Command Seals which weren't expended are entrusted to the overseer."
Archer had been moving the pieces on the board during Kirei's explanation. The Master piece in front of a Caster and Berserker had been removed, and said Berserker was now part of a lineup with a Rider and Saber. Another Master, this one before a Lancer and an Archer, had been knocked over, and the Archer resided in a random spot. "This War has already depicted some Servants terminating their contracts themselves and forging new ones," he noted. "But aren't you saying that an entirely unrelated Master may appear?"
That interest in something not connected in any way to Archer perplexed Kirei, but he humored the Servant. Better than him realizing the truth. "True, but the Holy Grail would not choose just anyone as a candidate. Its search for a Master usually falls back on those who had already been selected before. The Three Founding Families especially enjoy that privilege. It's in fact happened often that one among their number who had expended all their Command Seals would continue to exercise authority over the Servants allied with them."
Kirei paused in his explanation; something about the way the Heroic Spirit kept eyeing him was unsettling. "Well?" He hadn't lost that smile either. "Do continue, Kirei."
He drew in a quick breath to steady himself, then obliged the King of Heroes. Better that than offering himself up as target practice. "Anyway, what I said just now is part of the reason the church offers sanctuary to all Masters who have lost their Servants. When a new spot for a Master opens up, then the most probable outcome would be Command Seals being passed to a former candidate."
Gilgamesh tilted his head in a quizzical manner. "Then why did no new Master emerge when that black bitch soiling my class with her existence killed hers?"
Kirei mulled over the question before shrugging in actual honesty. "If I had to guess, because there was no immediate replacement for Lord El-Melloi. I hadn't actually forsaken my right as Master, so that disqualified me. Archer X had taken the hand holding her Command Seals, so she likely searched for a new Master herself. It's anyone's guess who that might be now."
He decided not to add his hypothesis on that new Master's identity in favor of shifting the conversation back on track. "But participants generally aim to kill enemy Masters rather than merely incapacitate them for reasons like this. That way, they'll cause less trouble in the future."
Once he was finished, Archer gave him a brief chuckle. "If those are the circumstances, isn't there a chance you would regain the Seals for Assassin, Kirei," his smirk widened, "if you had truly sacrificed your Servant?"
Only then did the Master realize that in all the playing around the King of Heroes had done with the board, he had never moved or even touched the one which would represent Assassin.
He chuckled again at the blank stare he received. "My, how tense you appear so suddenly! I praise you for having the audacity to lie to my face, and you certainly show talent in deception, but I suspected something was off, and your reaction just now, however subtle you made it, confirms my suspicions. Painting over the final Seal, eh?" He leaned back with a smug gleam in his eyes. "Nothing escapes the King of Heroes when he takes an interest in it."
Kirei simply sat in his chair, eyes staring straight ahead. What else could he do? He was completely at the Servant's mercy. "So…" he asked evenly, "what happens to me now?"
"Such dignity when faced with possible doom… most would be groveling on their knees or threatening me with false bravado in the hopes such nonsense could sway me. You truly are a curious one!" But Gilgamesh waved his hand with a laugh. "Oh, relax, Kirei. I'm far too delighted with your trick to tell Tokiomi about it. If he were to hear, he would probably punish you, strip you of the Command Seals, perhaps kill you if angry enough, and who would I then have to chat with?" He sipped more wine. "Rather, I wonder just what could have compelled you to disobey your leader."
Kirei shoved aside the strange relief which flickered within him and asked, "How do you know Rider X didn't simply threaten me into preserving his Servant?" With the truth out now, there was no longer need for subterfuge. His father was too busy with keeping the Grail War under wraps, and Tokiomi wouldn't think to have Lancer X or a familiar show up at the church. He trusted Kirei too much for that. And look where that got him…
Archer pointed right at Kirei's face, surprising him. "There's your answer. You wouldn't show nearly as much grief if that upstart had coerced you than if you'd defied Tokiomi of your own free will. Rather, it would be overweighed by anger at him for putting you in that position."
The priest glared at him but couldn't deny the truth. Much as he'd have liked to blame Rider X for sparing a fraction of the Assassins and hiding it from Tokiomi, he knew that it was a hollow excuse. True, the Servant had obviously nudged him towards disobeying, but Kirei had felt doubt upon hearing the tactic, Kirei had contacted Rider X in the first place under the pretense of notifying him of what would happen, Kirei had taken the nudges to heart and spontaneously chosen to issue the second Command for ten Hassan's to remain hidden, and Kirei had repeatedly dodged any opportunity to confess his misdeeds.
A decision that weighed heavily on his soul. Up till last night, he'd dutifully followed his teacher's instructions to the letter, with only a few minor actions in self-interest that could be excused as restlessness. But now, he had disobeyed a direct order and covered it up. "This duty," he mumbled while staring at the backs of his hands, "if Tokiomi is correct, the Grail chose me to support the Tohsakas in this Heaven's Feel. Tokiomi has nearly completed fool-proof strategies for defeating all the other Masters and Servants through the information my Assassin provided him. That is the extent of my being here, and now I've corrupted it."
He sat there, hanging his head in shame, when a new voice spoke up. "Do you actually believe that tripe?" He snapped his head up to find Rider X stepping out of spirit form with a chiding sound emanating from his mouth. "I know you to be a lost soul, Master, but do not bring yourself down through Tokiomi's pretentions. I will not stand for that."
Kirei glared up at the dark spirit in surprise and fury, but it was Archer who spoke first. "How brazen of you, upstart, to show your face here of all places. The only way you could've surpassed such a feat were if you strode through the front door of Tokiomi's manor."
Megatron barked a laugh. "I am, as you say, brazen, King of Heroes. Not an imbecile. As for my being here, this is one of the last places Tokiomi would ever think to look for me." The grin he sported reeked of self-satisfaction. "Never underestimate the potency of hiding in plain sight."
As Gilgamesh acknowledged this wisdom with a toast of his glass, the larger Servant turned to his Master. "Besides, I wished to see how your own journey was progressing."
Kirei Kotomine shook in his seat, trying to keep his emotions in check. His treacherous Servant had just waltzed right in front of him (no doubt as a way to mock Tokiomi), and what's worse, he could've sworn what the Cybertronian had just said was only half a joke. He truly was invested in Kirei for some reason, and Kirei didn't like that prospect. Not when his last memory before waking up had been of this same being crippling another of his kind for "life" out of frustration and sheer cruelty.
I should just command Megatron to appear in front of Tokiomi, let Lancer X or Archer chop off his head and be done with this insane event, he told himself. I should. It is the right thing to do.
But instead, he simply sat and watched Rider X accept a glass of freshly poured wine from Archer.
The latter of course didn't look like he was about to sound any alarms himself. "Now then, the upstart made a good point during his arrival." He settled back into the couch. "I too have my doubts about Tokiomi's plans, and I know my… partner carries them as well. But whereas she may think she can salvage his blunders, I know for a fact he could never be worthy of the Grail's blessing."
Amusement rose in Kirei despite the tension within him. "Such a cruel thing to say of your Master." This earned him another laugh from Rider X.
Archer paused in drinking his wine to fix both of them with an icy gaze. "Let me correct your mutual misunderstanding of the hierarchy between me and Tokiomi. He grants me due fealty and mana as tribute from a vassal to his King. Such is our contract and the only reason I agreed to his summoning me. Do not think of me as a lackey like Lancer X or the other Servants."
"So, you do not consider your partner an equal?" Kirei asked rhetorically.
He earned a derisive scoff as a response. "Of course not. She certainly has an alluring figure and a sharp tongue," Archer's smirk half-reappeared, "and I would nearly commend her bravery towards me," then his mouth shifted into a disappointed frown, "were it not for her being so subservient to Tokiomi. What a waste of her talent and loyalty."
"One could say the same about her male counterpart," Rider X noted while sipping from his glass. "Perhaps that is a common trait for Lancers." The Servants cackled over the joke before he sobered. "And how do Tokiomi's Command Seals over you apply to this hierarchy?"
"A necessary evil. Tokiomi has learned after that little debacle not to waste them on trivialities. If he wants a page to handle trifles too difficult for him, then he should look to Lancer X.. Like last night, when his child had scurried off and needed to be recovered." Archer peered into his wine thoughtfully. "If a subject has proven himself worthy, then he may have the right to offer the King his words from time to time."
Rider X conceded with a nod. "A fair point. Advisors are useful tools when ruling, but a strong ruler never doubts his own judgement."
Neither noticed Kirei suppressing a smirk at their expense. Neither had yet any idea of the true purpose for the Tohsaka family's participation in the Holy Grail War. Archer probably wouldn't be so dismissive of the Command Seals if he knew of Tokiomi's intended use for them. Or Lancer X so loyal. He considered briefly the prospect of telling them before stopping himself. Such an action would spell utter disaster for Tokiomi. What am I even thinking?!
He decided to return to the Servants before him rather than pursue that path. "Mind telling your Master what you've been up to, Rider X?"
The addressed eyed him playfully. "In the presence of an opponent?" He inclined his head towards a smirking Archer. "Hardly a good idea, Master. But rest assured, I have been busy."
"Busy aiding the rogue Servants? Forging alliances with them and… other individuals?"
This time, Kirei did smirk openly at the looks he received. Only Archer didn't recognize Zouken Matou's indirect mentioning. "I may be a 'lost soul,' Megatron, but I, too, am not an imbecile. And Assassin reports first and foremost to me. Not to you."
If he'd expected the silver-armored Servant to show rage or distress at his plans, he'd have been disappointed. Instead, Rider X smirkingly swirled his wine about before taking a relaxed drink from it. Followed by an obviously delighted sigh. "You do not disappoint, Kirei Kotomine. And you learn quickly." He shifted about to face his Master completely. "It's still a bit early for you to see the fruits of my labor, though. If either one of you does not wish to see what I have in store…" he shrugged self-assuredly, "now is the best time to stop me."
He watched with muted pleasure at how Kirei's smirk evaporated. Those eyes with the color of unpolished metal drifted towards the Decepticon emblem on his left hand: his Command Seals.
Megatron knew he was taking a risk. Tokiomi wouldn't waste time in seeing him destroyed like these two. And there was always the possibility that he had misjudged this man's hidden appetites, his true nature disguised by a religious veil. Or maybe Archer wasn't too lazy to be a little proactive.
But as that old wizard had said last night, sometimes a little faith made all the difference.
Before him, his Master's eyes left the Seals and stared so intently at his desk they might've bored a hole into it. The conflict within was nearly a tangible aura surrounding him. But ultimately, Kirei did not rush out the door to warn his teacher. He simply sat there glaring.
Behind him, the King of Heroes didn't show a single sign of worry. He merely smirked; a wordless challenge. Just try and do your worst. Try to take my kingdom from me, upstart.
As for Rider X, he held nonchalantly his wine glass in his left hand and relaxed his right fist. His fusion cannon powered down, he stepped away from the secret weapon hidden within his being. Fortune favored the prepared, after all. And Megatron never took a gamble without being prepared for the… less favorable outcome.
He spoke up again. "Seeing as you mentioned Assassin just now, Kirei, what results do you have for our little side project? Did he succeed before his numbers were," his smile twitched, "reduced?" Archer straightened ever so slightly in his seat, himself interested.
Inwardly, the priest was grateful for his Servant's inquiry. Anything to distract him from the unsettling war within himself. He sighed, resigning himself to the fact he (for some inexplicable reason) wouldn't be handing Rider X over to Tokiomi today, and recalled his other Servant's assignment. "Learn why the other Masters pursue the Holy Grail? Assassin did indeed fulfill his investigations." He pushed himself out of his seat. "He should've delivered the report to you both last night. That would've been simplest-"
"But we prefer something else," Rider X interrupted him while offering him the seat opposite from where Archer sat.
Kirei stared perplexed at the armchair as Archer took over. "Hearing this from a shade does not interest me or the upstart, Kirei. This information's true value can only be realized if you are the one to speak of it."
He eyed first one, then the other warily, before conceding with a sigh. "If I must…" He sat wearily down into the offered chair. These two and their games are so exhausting… what is even the point behind all of this?
Kirei cleared his throat and began his summarization of Assassin's findings. "The Master of Rider, Saber X and Berserker X isn't actually invested in attaining the Grail itself, nor was the now late Master of Lancer and Archer X. They merely saw the Grail War as a chance to attain martial acclaim among the magus community." Rider X gave a strange sound but didn't interrupt otherwise. Neither did Archer, so Kirei continued. "Lancer's new Master, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, has no interest in the Grail, either, she simply seeks Lancer himself. The Servant's Love Spothas captivated her affection so thoroughly he has become the most important thing for her. Yet he shares none of her interest." A mirthless chuckle escaped him. "I wouldn't be surprised if Archer X has also fallen prey to the spell. It's probably the only reason she hasn't killed Lancer or the girl yet."
"Caster's Master didn't even comprehend what is at stake, he simply used the greater War around him as a chance to perform more of his murderous fantasies."
The priest crossed his arms. "Berserker and Caster X's Master seeks, I believe, both revenge and redemption. His running away from the Matou house had led to the second daughter of Tokiomi Tohsaka to be adopted as their heir." And sacrifice, he left unsaid. "He seeks to save her by trading her for the Grail if he wins it." The Servants were replenishing their drinks while he continued. "Besides, he seems to have a history with Tokiomi's wife. Even with Caster X counseling him," Kirei's tongue clicked briefly, "that Master has the most vulgarly ordinary wish of the five."
Both were giving him odd looks while he caught his breath. "Do continue, Kirei," Archer beckoned him as before.
Only one Master was left. The one Kirei had a personal interest in. "Saber and Assassin X's Master…" he hesitated.
For one, gathering information on Kiritsugu Emiya had been nearly fruitless, even for the Assassins. The Mage Killer had kept his guard up at all times, and to make things even harder, he was always accompanied by his own Assassin or one of those strange hounds the Servant had at his beck and call. The Hassan's couldn't even get close for fear those dogs might've sniffed them out. Both Master and Servant proved elusive enough anyway so that Kirei hadn't actually learned anything new about Kiritsugu Emiya.
But even if he had, he wouldn't share this with the duo before him. Rider X was already a bit too prying about the matter for his tastes. And whatever games these tyrannical men-children would be playing, this was a personal matter for Kirei Kotomine. One he shared with no one.
All this zipped through his mind within a second, and he settled for saying, "The Einzberns have apparently paid him a large sum to realize their old dream of Heaven's Feel through the Holy Grail."
Sensing the end of the report, Archer huffed to himself. "So many differing reasons. But ultimately an unimaginative gaggle of mongrels. They all chase after my treasure for such boring desires. I have a fair bit of exterminating ahead of me."
Rider X stood next to him, an eyebrow arched. "Chores simply multiply. But I admit, I too am disappointed with their collective lack of imagination." He growled in disappointment. "Is there any magus on this disgusting mudball that has truly original, inspiring ambition?"
Kirei frowned at his audience. "All that hard work, and this is your ideas of gratitude? Why did you make me put so much effort for absolutely nothing?"
"Absolutely nothing?" His Servant repeated, his smile returning. "What ever could you mean?" He leered down at his fellow Heroic Spirit. "I think he still doesn't understand."
Archer returned the expression. "Perhaps he's not quite as quick a learner as we thought. But it's a pity considering the magnificent fruit his and Assassin's work have borne."
The only human in the room rose from his seat, glaring from one to the next in confused irritation. "I do not appreciate being made the butt of jokes, King of Heroes. Megatron."
They only traded another look at his subdued outrage. "We can forgive him for it, though," Gilgamesh conceded before fixing his piercing red eyes on the source of their entertainment. "He is a man who has not yet realized what pleasure means to him." Outrage gave way to confusion, and Kirei grew visibly more attentive. "All souls instinctively yearn for that which brings them enjoyment, consciously or otherwise. Animals chase overtly the scent of blood, but for those who are sentient, this yearning manifests outwardly in how they speak and act."
Rider X took over the explanation while walking over to his disciple. "Kirei, the reason we insisted on hearing of the other Masters from your lips was not simply to learn what they wanted." He began to slowly circle him, the human's eyes never leaving his form. "By recounting what you saw and listened to, you subconsciously began to filter it through your own perspective, and that which interested you the most was what you exposited the most." The Cybertronian was right behind him, but Kirei's eyes stared in rising comprehension straight ahead. "As we've said, to understand what pleasure means to you, you must see how others interpret pleasure. Your analysis of their souls provides insight to your own."
My… soul? Kirei barely registered the metallic fingers drumming on his shoulders. He let himself be guided into his seat without protest, thoughts racing within him. Archer began to speak again, and he listened to every word with more attention than ever before in his life.
"First we'll ignore the one you blatantly danced around describing. That kind of active interest is purely obsession." Part of Kirei registered that his deflection had not gone unnoticed, but the rest pushed it aside. "Now let's look at the rest. Which Masters were you most descriptive about?" Now anxiety trickled into him, like he partially didn't want to know the answer. But he made no move to stop them.
Rider X sauntered over to the table and tapped a fingertip on the knocked-over Master piece. "Lancer's second Master garnered a fair bit of attention from you, didn't she? You even mentioned Archer X briefly, deviating off-topic for a moment." The finger then drifted to a different Master. "But you spoke the longest of Caster X and Berserker's Master. Kariya, yes?" A sly gleam slithered its way into those optics. "Assassin mentioned you ordered paying additional attention to him."
Kirei's eyes looked away briefly before returning to them. "Because Kariya Matou's situation wasn't as simple as the others and warranted closer investigation. As for Sophia-Ri, her motivation is directly influenced by her Servant. I brought up Archer X as well because both women are affected by Lancer's curse. That's all."
"Heh, I think not," Archer countered. "You instructed Assassin to investigate these characters more thoroughly than the rest because they intrigued you the most. You weren't even aware of it, your instincts simply compelled you."
Thrown for a loop, Kirei unconsciously slid back into his seat, staring at nothing. Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri and Kariya Matou had indeed drawn his attention, he supposed; the former had become an unexpected Master, the latter's intentions and Servants made him a particular threat to Tokiomi. But ultimately, they couldn't be considered threats greater than the rest. Sophia-Ri was an average magus, her original purpose being to provide her fiancé with more resources. Besotted as she was with Lancer, she'd have lost the ability of clear thought by now. And the Matou Master had been rushed through his training and paired with an unstable, extremely demanding Servant. Without Caster X, those would be on the verge of burnout right about now.
Ultimately, he concluded, "Very well, I must have made an error in judgement. Those Masters would bring about their own dooms even without outside interference. I put too much effort into studying them, and you both misinterpreted my interests."
"Did we?" Rider X snorted before sipping his wine again. "Then humor us: try to imagine either of those Masters and the Servants contracted to them winning the Grail War through some inexplicable miracle. What do you suppose would happen then?"
They stared at him with such expectancy that he inadvertently began to imagine such scenarios. Sophia-Ri winning… it seemed so far-fetched. Even if Lancer could somehow manage to defeat all the other teams, these monsters before Kirei included, Archer X was afflicted with the same madness as Sophia-Ri. Those two would tear each other apart as wild beasts over a mate. The victor would then attempt to claim Lancer as their prize, perhaps even use the Holy Grail to make him love her in turn or otherwise bind them together somehow. It would be a hollow thing, and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, already a victim of obsessive love in life, would find only misery down this path. Or maybe he would rebel against his "lover…"
As for Matou, well… he had much better odds in his current situation than Sophia-Ri. If Caster X could continue to temper Berserker's most uncontrollable moments, then the pair could possibly defeat Gilgamesh himself-
"Ah," As if he were reading his mind, Archer injected with a raised finger, "let's make it a bit more interesting in Kariya's case. Imagine that scenario take place without Caster X's presence." The other two stared at him while his smile briefly flickered away. "That apparition… tends to muddy things."
Kirei's puzzlement had transferred briefly to something else. "Why do you call Caster X an apparition and not a mongrel like you do everyone else?" That made Rider X shift his attention to the seated Servant. He too had certain questions about that withered fleshbag, especially with how a certain human associate of his seemed so… agitated about his presence in the Holy Grail War.
Gilgamesh stared into his wine. "You lot are all of muddied blood, pale imitations like the world around you of the one I knew in life. A time where humanity was at its greatest." He sounded blunter than insulting in this "reasoning" of his, helping Megatron restrain himself from incinerating his pompous head with one shot from his cannon. Besides, he hadn't finished. "That Servant, though… he may look and act like a mongrel, but I sense something in him. Something old… something beyond human."
Kirei tapped a finger against his armrest, trying to recall what he knew of Caster X. Powerful wizard, proficient in swordsmanship, wise counsellor considering how he kept Saber and Rider from killing each other, benevolent… "Could he be some sort of god from this Middle-Earth?" he offered. "I don't recall seeing Divinity among his stats like with Berserker, but he could have a similar power."
"He is no god." Archer scowled darkly for a moment. "I could recognize their stench from a country away. But he does not carry that, otherwise, I might have killed him by now." The scowl loosened into a frown. "Though you may be right, Kirei, this… presence of his may have a certain divine quality. One I'm not familiar with. How peculiar…"
Then he shrugged and nipped a little wine again. "But back to our original topic. You were considering victory for Kariya but without his wizard, Kirei?"
Kirei rolled his eyes at another complication but obliged. Fine, Caster X dies somewhere along the way to victory… but that would spell disaster for Kariya. The wizard had proven himself a consistently beneficial influence with both his partner and his Master; he was in fact the one reason that team had any stability. Without his magic and wisdom, nothing would stop Berserker from succumbing to Mad Enhancement's negative aspects. And Kariya would in turn embrace his rage, jealously blaming Tokiomi for the turn of events like he had for his needing to participating in the Grail War in the first place. Then if he killed Tokiomi, he would have won Sakura's freedom… and Aoi and Rin would be alone. Without Caster X to keep him in the light, Kariya might-
A conversational cough snapped the man out of his ruminations. "Well, Kirei?" Archer was smiling brightly at him, a terrifying expression Rider X shared. "Do you finally see why we've been asking you these questions?"
Kirei only stared at them in confusion. Had he done something wrong? "I give up," he finally stated. "What is so special about Sola-Ui or Kariya winning that I must imagine it?"
"Nothing," Rider X answered casually before drinking more wine. Once finished, he continued. "Their possible victories have no significance." He then chuckled quietly at the glare he received. "My, how fearsome you look, Master! You might've made a fine gladiator in the pits of Kaon."
Kirei forced down the many recollections of those gory arenas (and the revolted fascination that accompanied them) and made to berate his Servant, only to be cut off. "And I am not mocking you. Clear your mind and consider why you didn't realize the insignificance of our experiment. There ought to be an obvious answer for that, no?"
Kirei shifted about in his chair with his arms crossed. He'd grown tired of these two dancing verbal circles with him. "Explain."
Rider X bent down to refill his glass but obliged him all the same. "Had we asked you this question with one of the other Masters, you would've recognized it immediately as insignificant and dismissed it as a waste of your time."
"But Kariya and Sola-Ui were different." Archer picked up the pieces symbolizing the two and held them up. "You took the time to walk through the scenarios step-by-step, fully invested despite the exercise's futility. Despite the expended effort on your part."
"You entertained yourself even while wasting your time." Rider X set down the bottle, his glass full again, with a smile of… pride.
An expression shared yet again by Archer. "Congratulations, Kirei." He tossed over the two pieces, the Executor's reflexes allowing him to catch them easily. "You finally know what pleasure is!"
Kirei stared at the chesspieces in his hand, his brows furrowing. "…Entertained? Even… pleasure?"
"Precisely."
His fingers closed around the pieces as he glared back at them. No… this couldn't be the answer he had sought. "There is nothing about the fates of Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri orKariya Matou that could bring a man 'pleasure.' The choices they've made, the lives ahead of them, their pain and despair will only continue to grow. If not for beings like Caster X, the only salvation for those two would be a quick death." He got up from his seat and set the pieces back at their original positions on the board, a sense of finality in his actions.
As he angrily stepped away from the table, Archer asked with honest befuddlement, "Why view pleasure so one-sided, Kirei? Where should there be a contradiction between pain and despair and pleasure?"
Rider X sighed in disappointment at his back. "Pleasure can take many different forms. Your failure to recognize that is the source of your confusion, Master."
"That cannot be forgiven!" Kirei declared before whirling around to glower at them. "King of Heroes, Lord and Master of the Decepticons, inhumane creatures like you may find pleasure in the suffering of others." He thrusted an accusing finger, his left one, at the bigger tyrant. "I've witnessed your life, Megatron. I've seen the devastation and terror you've inflicted on not just one world, but two! The lives you took with your own claws, the orders you gave to slaughter even more!"
"…Did you now?" Those optics stared unashamedly back at him, brimming with curiosity. "And what exactly did you see?"
"Just this morning, I had to watch your actions at Tyger Pax!" Kirei nearly spat at the recognition that travelled across that metallic face, followed by delight. "You battered a young body around to vent your failure at claiming what you sought! You ripped out his voice box in pure sadism, then tossed him aside like he was rubbish! That poor soul would remain crippled for the rest of his life, forced to communicate in beeps and whistles like some ordinary computer!" He shook furiously where he stood.
Ah, he has yet to see my death, then? Good.
"But none of this would ever deter you from committing countless more atrocities, would it?" All the while, Kirei had noticed Archer fixing the one he referred to as "upstart" with no disgust, but entertainment. This made the servant of God clench his left fist before him. "This is the work of a sinner's soul! Evil that warrants punishment!" He swept the fist in front of him. "Definitely not something that should be on the path of faith I, Kirei Kotomine, walk!"
But they only drank their wine with aggravating indifference. "The upstart's hobbies aside, you've come to decree pleasure itself as a sin?" Gilgamesh laughed. "Such a critical bridge you've built for yourself." He glanced to the side. "You truly have an interesting Master."
"Don't I, though?" Megatron agreed slyly. Kirei was visibly winding up for another tirade, but his Servant spoke first. "You are at the very least right about me, Kirei. I carry the soul of a sinner. For me, inflicting pain and suffering are pleasures only second to attaining more. I am responsible for more death and destruction than perhaps anyone else in my world's history, and as you've seen, we Cybertronians are an old, long-lived race. This," he lifted his wine glass in his right hand and gestured to his fusion cannon with his left, "is what I am, and I take pride in that.
"You by contrast, Kirei Kotomine, follow a path of humble faith. You were taught from a young age to heed your conscience and avoid sin. Even now, these lessons are ingrained into your soul, making you feel shame at every little transgression you make." The Decepticon leader shrugged. "Surely, you and I must be as different as night and day.
"But let me ask you this." He leaned forward so far that his face nearly touched Kirei's, mouth set in a cold smile. "How did I come to be your Servant?"
Kirei froze. Every part of his verbal tirade had been about to unleash stumbled about in his mouth. "…What are you talking about?" He finally got out, but he knew what Rider X meant.
"Come now, Master." And judging by the way his smile widened, Rider X knew he knew. "Assassin's summoning is a simple matter: you used a catalyst to call forth a specific Heroic Spirit, same as Tokiomi did with Archer. Heh, with so many colorful individuals running about, it wouldn't surprise me if every Master had used that method to acquire their Servant." He paused. "With one exception, of course."
He lifted his wine glass up to between their faces, peering at Kirei through the liquid within. "But that only applies to the Servants who call this world home. For a foreign Servant like me, who had never interacted in any way with this world prior to this Holy Grail War, there was no catalyst, not even a mental image or a name, nothing specific to tie our fates to yours." Red as the wine was, its color paled in comparison to the crimson of that shining eye staring at him. "Caster and Berserker X's summoning was accidental in every way. Without any catalyst, the Holy Grail simply peered into Ryuunosuke Uryuu's soul and assigned him two Servants, one from this world, one from another, both who reflected his inner nature."
Kirei frowned again. "If they really are similar to Uryuu, then Berserker X wouldn't have rebelled."
"I said they reflected his inner nature," Rider X reminded him patiently. "And a reflection is not a perfect copy, Kirei. If you think about it, Kenpachi Zaraki is in his own way every bit as bloodthirsty and murderous as Gilles de Rais and Ryuunosuke Uryuu. He simply has more interest in how much of a fight his 'victims' can put up than in actually killing them. Besides Caster has a flair for the dramatic his Master lacked." He gave a little shrug. "None of us foreigners are exactly alike in personality to our Masters. You and I differ in a number of ways." The right index finger flicked between them.
"There is nothing but differences between us," Kirei shot back instinctively.
Internally, he found he could've put more strength in that declaration.
The glass was moved away, leaving there no filter between their gazes locked. "And yet, out of seven Masters in the Fourth Holy Grail War, when you called, I answered."
Kirei trembled with mounting rage where he stood but said nothing. He wanted to deny Rider X's implicit accusations, he wanted to denounce such wickedness, he wanted to prove he was a good man… but he said nothing. He couldn't articulate his thoughts for some reason.
Megatron, a seasoned combatant both on the physical and the rhetorical battlefield, knew an opening when he saw one. "Deny it if you wish, Kirei Kotomine. Say that my summoning was a fluke, a test of faith or the like. But let us recount some of your actions in this Grail War." He slowly straightened himself, raising one finger in the process. "You have fixated on and hounded an enemy Master, placing your personal interest above Tokiomi's orders in the process." Another joined it. "You are inadvertently drawn to the proceedings of those Masters who are the most miserable." Then came a third. "You saved one of your Servants from sacrificing himself and are conversing with the other, declared a rogue by Tokiomi. A direct betrayal of him, facilitated by hiding the truth."
Those fingers aligned with each other and gestured towards the Master. Specifically, the cross hanging by his neck. "Not exactly the actions of a good-hearted servant of faith. Or a devoted disciple." Rider X glanced for a second behind him. "Wouldn't you agree, Archer?"
"I would," the King of Heroes acknowledged with his usual smirk, "and I do." He had abstained from this part of the conversation because it was simply so diverting to watch. Truly, this otherworldly behemoth before him was far more than the brute Tokiomi had dismissed him as. If nothing else, he is articulate. Then he grew just a little more serious. "What was it you uttered last night, upstart, when you gave the name of the army you had led and the reason behind that name?" He trapped the poor, lost mongrel in the room with his gaze. "Were you paying attention then, Kirei?"
He had. Despite himself, his brain began to replay the events of the banquet: who said what, who performed this action… up to that moment. To that line. "Sometimes deception is necessary, when those who should listen to the truth will not, and will only understand once they have been lied to and forced to see their own lies."
Stop thinking about that nonsense, he scolded himself. I know who I am, Father and Tokiomi have never lied to me. I have never told myself any lies.
…Haven't I?
The opening from before was practically a gaping chasm now, Megatron noted. Time for one final push today. "While you're recalling things about our metal mongrel…"
He couldn't hold back the grunt he made in irritation. Leave it to Archer to steal his fun.
Gilgamesh flashed a superior smirk at him; the King alwayshas the final word. "You were quite descriptive about the brutality he exhibited in life. The way he unleashed his wrath on another. Tell us, Kirei, was this disgusted fury you voiced so passionately your first reaction to this dream?"
Kirei's body trembled again but not from anger this time. Whatever strength the man had accumulated through instruction and bajiquan and his time as an Executor seemed to fail him now. His knees buckled, making him fall on all fours next to his chair.
He couldn't help it. That question made him retrace his actions during and after waking up. The moment he had deliberately avoided during this entire conversation.
The moment he had patted that wide smile stretched across his cheeks.
Horror swept over him as he knelt there. Then five metallic rods could be felt against his back. They weren't striking him or inflicting any pain, though; they tapped his clothed body with astounding gentleness. Like when Risei had patted his son in his youth. "Rejoice, Kirei Kotomine." Rider X's words washed over him. "I recognize you as worthy to be my Master."
He should've been disgusted. He should've seen this as a lie or a mockery towards his crisis in faith. But neither truly applied to those words.
In a rare moment of his being, Megatron had been absolutely sincere.
And then the King of Heroes made his decree. "Perhaps the Holy Grail sees something worthy in you as well, Kirei." That smile, human though it appeared, seemed even more malicious than what Rider X would give. "With so many having such high hopes in you, you simply must pursue the Grail. Not pretend to like what Tokiomi expects from you, but because you must have a reason to make a wish upon it."
"A wish?" Kirei whispered, finally taking his eyes off his Seals. He stared in a mixture of fury, horror and incomprehension. "Me?"
Archer played with his wine. "If the Holy Grail truly can grant any wish made upon it, then it ought to be capable of realizing what you yourself fail to see: your heart's true desire."
He returned his gaze to those damnable markings on his hands, the trials they symbolized. Yet he couldn't help but feel drawn in by what the Servant was suggesting. And Rider X was speaking now, too. "Kirei, you've proven that you will deny what we have surmised of you no matter how we present it. The ethics that have bored their ways into your skull warp your way of thinking. So, seek the Grail. Win it. Have it reveal your heart's wish so you can know once and for all why you were chosen a Master."
Kirei managed a weak scoff. "Don't pretend you're doing this for me, Megatron. You want the Grail to start your path of omni-galactic conquest."
"I do," the Servant agreed without shame, "but I have sworn to help you find your true self, remember?" Now he scoffed at the disbelieving look he received. "If you no longer interested me, Kirei, then why haven't I chopped off your hand and sought out a different Master like Berserker X and Archer X? It would certainly be less risky than meeting you while Tokiomi's not around." His face hardened. "Don't think you can confine me so easily with just the Seals. You couldn't match Assassin X in combat, and I am not nearlyas soft as him."
Kirei held his gaze but knew he wasn't wrong. Phantom pain whispered from his shoulder where Assassin X had broken it, and Rider X was a far more malevolent Servant. He made no empty threat. "Haven't you already shown me what my true self is, Megatron?" He finally asked sardonically. "Isn't your duty to me fulfilled?"
That fearsome head shook from side to side. "Not yet." Rider X finished his wine and set it on the table. "Understanding your own nature is only the first step to self-discovery. Accepting it is the next. And I have every intention of helping you along your way."
That promise could've been just another deception from a master of them. But… as those crimson optics stared into his eyes, Kirei knew it to be true. And the instinctive way he knew it terrified him a little. "So, pursue the Grail in order to discover what my wish is and then fulfill it?" he thought out loud. He had to appreciate the irony of reversing means and ends like that a little. Even so, the Servants were right. This was the only way to be sure.
But… "To reach this goal, I will have to crush the wishes of six others. And if I seek the Grail for my own benefit, it would mean…" he turned uneasily to eye a particular Servant. "making an enemy of my teacher."
Archer only smiled back at him. "You're going to need mighty Servants for that." He thumbed at himself. "You'll be facing me, after all."
He leered to his side, where Rider X returned the expression. "I look forward to our imminent confrontation, King of Heroes. Preparations for that moment progress even as we speak." The Servant of the Mount glanced towards the board. "But who knows what Servants and what Masters will remain when that time comes, or who will stand with who."
"Yes, war is always so erratic." The Servant of the Bow picked up the piece which depicted his class. "But for now, you two are on your own."
Kirei found himself frozen in his kneeling position as both Servants turned to fix him with two pairs of glimmering crimson eyes. He remembered then where he had seen their likeness: in pictures of the Holy Bible, the ones that depicted the Servant of Eden.
"Act for the sake of your own desires. That is the true path to entertainment." Gilgamesh's words burrowed their way through his soul.
"And entertainment inevitably leads to pleasure, and pleasure to true joy." Megatron's words sent sparks through those tunnels, igniting into flames.
"The path lies before you, Kirei." The fires burned within him. "So clearly, you couldn't hope to mistake it."
-91:19:20
A presence drifted carefully through a recently reopened public library. Caster X understood from the chatter around him that someone had broken into it a week ago. Interestingly, though the shutters had been torn and warped beyond recognition, as though a gorilla had torn through the place (Or a Servant, the wizard mused), nothing of value had been stolen. At most, the employees had found a large mess of tossed books within and maybe one or two missing. Strange, but they nevertheless closed it long enough to repair the damage and investigate a little more.
Even with the library open now, the staff were all particularly attentive. They watched every single patron with the (also repaired) cameras and their own eyes as carefully as they without invading privacy. But Caster X had slipped in and out of far more heavily guarded facilities in his time. Once he'd reached the section he was looking for, he slipped out of spirit form and blew on a crystal he mounted atop his staff. It glowed with light, indicating that no one would notice his presence. Even a magus would have difficulty peering through his cover.
He took off his hat and willed it away; much as he liked it, the accessory tended to obstruct his old eyes while reading. Tracing a finger along the many books on the shelf before him, he stopped to pull out an aged specimen. Opening it revealed the pages had been written in the Japanese letters, but Gandalf the Gray had been familiar with every written form of Elves, Men, Dwarves, and even Orcs. Combine that with the Grail's gift of innate fluency in any language of this world, and he had no trouble understanding their meaning.
He combed through the stories of heroic knights in a land long since fallen, inadvertently comparing the people and setting to that of Middle-Earth. From there, his thoughts drifted to the night before, where he had been given a chance to meet Kings of different values. One of whom had given him another piece to a greater puzzle.
Caster X tried to focus on the tales, but he kept wondering if Kariya would listen to him. He'd advised his Master to remain within the alley and continue replenishing his strength through food, water, sleep or any other activity that didn't strain him. Kariya had agreed, but he'd sensed a restlessness in that broken body. Whether those foul creatures were acting up in him or whether it was simply general agitation, Kariya wished for them to be more active. Then again, both knew what was on the line.
Still, Gandalf had counselled patience and asked Berserker to stay with their Master while he did a little investigating. The knight had agreed with a (semi-coherent) grunt; battling Archer X last night seemed to have sated his eagerness for battle. But they all knew it would only be momentary. The madness within that armor compelled him.
And as he turned to a particular page, its partner depicting a picture of a certain hero, tears began to gather in Caster X's eyes. He finally began to understand the entire reason behind this madness.
The tragedy the both of them have suffered… they continue to suffer… He wept silently where he stood, only now realizing the full extent of his friend's grief. Then he dried his eyes and straightened. Yet another pain that he would strive to find a remedy for. His Master, his partner, the one his partner sought, and quite a few others, all suffering from their lots in life.
Caster X wondered temporarily if he shouldn't have left Kariya and Berserker behind. Those two could making ready to attack the ones they deemed responsible for their respective agonies. The tale he'd just read was a perfect example of the mistakes people could make by listening to the darkness within their hearts.
Then he felt ashamed for his distrusting them. Yes, their afflictions were great, but he believed them to be fundamentally good men, nonetheless. How could they prove able to brave their own darkness if no one showed any faith in them?
Regardless, he needed to act. Gandalf had a feeling that there wasn't much time. For him, for his friends… or for that little girl. The reason why he had been summoned. Time enough, the Istar hoped. He shut the book, satisfied with what he'd learned, and replaced it among the others which told of the Arthurian legend. Caster X then dissipated while cancelling his spell before silently vacating the library.
He came close to brushing with a woman in black who stopped to look around warily. He drew himself further out of perception, and after a couple of seconds, she continued towards the section he'd just left. Probably nothing, the Servant told himself while moving on.
His ears picked up an abnormal buzzing emanating from above him. Frowning, Caster X briefly stepped inside an alley and materialized to release a plume of flame upwards. It incinerated the reprehensible flies; not the first group Zouken Matou had sent to spy on him, and most likely not the last. Well, Gandalf disliked killing, but these things carried so much maliciousness he hardly felt guilty about destroying them.
He walked a steady pace from one part of the city to the next, considering what he had and what he would have to say to the right people. But he was not so caught up in his thoughts that he couldn't avoid bumping into passerby who couldn't detect his spirit form. Part of him marveled even now at the vehicles driving along the roads or the pieces of technology people spoke into to communicate long distances. Men truly had come far in this world. Then amidst his internal praising, he sensed a presence not far off from him. Trailing him.
So, Caster X changed course. He made for a small park further away from any large crowds. Once he was certain no bystanders were within the immediate vicinity, he appeared and called out, "The rules state Grail battles are not to be waged during the day, I believe."
He held his staff at the ready and gripped his sword's hilt with the other. The Gray Wizard didn't doubt the Servants he'd chatted with amiably last night would honor the rules and their ceasefire, but he'd made his share of enemies in the War. Any of the rogue Servants, that twisted soul masquerading as a man and calling itself Kariya's father…
But the one who stepped forward, he hadn't expected. "I haven't sought you out for battle, wizard," Lancer X greeted him with her hands raised. "I must speak with you urgently." She glanced around them. "Privately, if possible."
Caster X considered this request. The matter must be important if she sought me out in daylight. And I'm not certain her Master is aware of this. This doesn't seem like a trap; if she wished to strike, she wouldn't have shut off her Presence Concealment. She wanted me to notice her. That in mind, he summoned a small barrier that would hide them from prying eyes, natural or magical. "Very well, milady." He removed his hand from his sheathed sword. "If you wish to speak in piece, I am willing to aid you if I can. Within reason, of course."
Nodding, Jade walked closer to him, taking great care with each step. Her hand remained close to her collapsed staff. This Servant was quite powerful, after all, and though she'd grown to respect him, she didn't have many pleasant experiences with sorcerers in life.
Still, he was the one of his team she could most likely have a civil talk with. Berserker might've attacked her on sight, and she hadn't been blind to the glares Kariya Matou had sent her last night. And she'd needed a reliable answer since her talk with Tokiomi. "I've come to ask about the girl named Sakura," Lancer X finally explained, making Caster X focus on her. "Rin Tohsaka's sister. And I beseech you to tell me the truth, Gandalf the Gray."
He stared at her for some time, the Edenian feeling like he was peering into her very soul, then he began to speak.
"-and she simply killed him! A young soul, so bright, so creative, so full of wondrous energy! Torn to shreds by that harlot and her blinding weapon!"
"What a despicable thing she is. And she wasn't alone, was she?" Zouken maintained his more trustworthy grin as he sat opposite from Caster in the living room. "I believe two others were also present during poor Ryuunosuke's killing."
"Yes!" Caster slammed his drinking glass against the seat's armrest, sending shards and wine droplets flying everywhere. "That wretched monk with his hideous beard and pious words… he called forth a pitch-black demon and assaulted me with it! No doubt he has instigated all this misfortune that had befallen us!" His teeth gnashed together so much, anymore and they'd become powder. "His machinations took the life of Ryuunosuke, my dear pupil, and would have taken mine had that curious knight of yours not come to my rescue." He paused temporarily in his frustrations to glance around. "Where is he, by the way? I haven't met him since he sent me here."
"I've asked Archer X to watch the grounds while we speak," Zouken answered quickly to curb his multifaceted amusement. For one, it tickled him to know there was another who shared his hatred for that abominable Caster X (if for slightly different reasons). For another, Archer X wouldn't likely appreciate being mistaken for male by the man sitting across from him. And Zouken had to admit, he could see where that misunderstanding would come from. "But he," he bit a little into his lip to stop a laugh, "will be happy to receive your thanks."
"How good of him…" Bluebeard, boogeyman to many children in Europe, slumped now into his chair, all the energy from before seemingly evaporated. "Ryuunosuke… he lifted my spirits with his enthusiasm when Jeanne refused my call again and again. And now he is gone as well. Taken from me like everything else. How God must be laughing."
Zouken's fingers tapped against the book he was holding, then he chose to lean sitting forward onto his cane. "So, why don't you laugh back, sir?" As those massive eyes blinked in curiosity, he continued. "If God seeks to punish you again and again, then you should punish him back. Jeanne will never break free of her bewitchments herself, that demon and his mutts you spoke of," yet another useful piece of information about Assassin X, "are with her every second of every day. Those other heretics, that filthy old trickster," he didn't need to fake any hate there, "they must face punishment for their transgressions. The group I am part of seeks the same thing as you do, Sir Gilles. Stand with us, and we will crush all these wrongdoers."
The previous painstaking work of trying to get through to the warped maze Caster had for a brain was finally starting to pay off. He was definitely growing interested. "Yes… taking my due for imagined slights would be poetic…" Then he grew hesitant. "But… what would Jeanne say? I have committed terrible acts… spilled the blood of many…" He withdrew his Noble Phantasm from his robes (making Zouken hastily call back the Crest Worms he'd sent to sample it). "This gift from Prelati… is this truly the best way to use it?"
"I think…" Zouken paused to draw the Demon Marshall in a little more before continuing, "I think you should put your Spellbook and your knowledge to use in a way that would make young Ryuunosuke happy. The boy who had given you such purpose while he lived would be delighted to know he continues to do so even after he is gone." He'd kept his tone soft and gentle, all the better to convince this childlike Servant. "Besides… in order to bring Jeanne salvation, you may have to do things she would not condone."
Something very tiny poked inside his chest for a brief moment, but he ignored it. Probably just one of his Worms brushing a sore spot. Meanwhile, Caster was gripping Prelati's Spellbook with new fervor. An excited smile crept along his face. "Yes…" He leaped to his feet. "For Ryuunosuke's memory, I shall put on a display which would've made him cry that 'cool' word to the top of his lungs! And I shall smite all those who doomed him. I shall bring forth the unholiest of acts to awaken Jeanne d'Arc from her nightmare!"
"Your vision sounds incredible." Zouken leaned back in his chair and picked up his wine to salute this proclamation. "Show us your best work, Marshall Gilles de Rais. In honor of Ryuunosuke Uryuu."
"That I promise you and him with all my heart and soul." Caster grabbed hold of Zouken's other hand with both of his own, cane clattering to the floor, and gripped it tightly. His massive eyes glistened while his lip quivered. "Thank you, my friend. Thank you so much."
Zouken accepted it all with a serene nod. "It's both a pleasure and an honor, my friend."
The Heroic Spirit of Sorcery turned towards the door but stopped halfway. "I couldn't help but notice a young darling roaming these halls. May you perhaps loan her to me for this work of mine? Her eyes simply dazzle me."
"I'm afraid my granddaughter is a very important part of mywork, Caster. A special masterpiece in the making, I take personal pride in that. I'm sure you understand."
"Ah, of course. Thank you again." As the lunatic practically glided out of the room, he sank a bit more into his chair with a sigh. Insane people were both easy and hard to manipulate. It was a delicate sort of balance; one slip-up, and you'd be stuck with an unwanted bloodbath. But with Rider X's help, it seemed the next step of the plan was about to take care of itself.
'Archer X,' he told his Servant over their link, 'Caster is ready. He ought to be leaving soon.'
'Thank God,' she sighed. 'Any more of his blubbering and I'd have killed him. Need me to tail him?'
'Assassin can handle that part, and I gave him a concealment charm that'll make it hard to sense him until he starts his show.' He got up, finished his wine, retrieved the book and his cane, and made for the basement. 'Continue watching the perimeter for now and stay ready for then.'
'Will do. I think I saw something going about on the perimeter. Could just be a squirrel, but I'll check it out anyways.' She ended the link; a well-trained soldier despite her arrogance and temper, Zouken conceded. Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald must've been an utter idiot not to see her potential. For all their bickering, the Matou patriarch had yet to regret coming to her meeting with Rider X at the latter's behest and forging a contract with her then. It had netted them that fascinating Reactor as well, after all.
He descended down the stone staircase of his home deep in thought. The death of Caster's Master was less inconvenient than the loss of the Servant's Command Seals. That warranted a slight alteration of their plans. Fortunately, Zouken had devised a way to reacquire them from the Holy Grail. He was the one responsible for conceiving them when the Holy Grail War had first been conceptualized, after all. No one on this planet was more familiar with their nature.
He eyed the little tome in his hand with amusement. Functioning similarly to the Book of The False Attendant he had devised years ago, its pages held the two remaining Seals, plucked from the Grail not two hours ago. It had taken a fair bit of energy to craft, but not nearly as much as what Zouken's next action would be.
Not even he could rustle up new Command Seals out of thin air. The forty-two distributed at the beginning were the maximum. But the lovely thing about these Seals was that they didn't necessarily have to be used on Caster despite their origin.
Archer X was volatile enough without Lancer's curse scrambling her thoughts. Caster, well, Zouken and Megatron had needed to spend hours convincing him that they were not his enemies, and hours more getting him into this… semi-cooperative state. And Rider X? Well, he was such a deliciously ruthless being. And the twisted way his mind worked, goodness gracious… The Matou patriarch truly liked him, that Servant was probably the closest friend he'd had in years!
But that didn't mean Zouken trusted him for so much as a second.
Each was keeping secrets from the other. Megatron kept the nature his secret weapon(s) close to his chest, and there were undoubtably one or two other details he had yet to reveal. Likewise, Zouken may've told him about the Einzbern homunculus likely meant to be the vessel for the Lesser Grail, but he too had kept mum yet about some things. Like his current undertaking and the thought process behind it.
Both knew that if they succeeded in massacring the other Servants and Masters, it would only be a matter of time before one stabbed the other in the back. It wouldn't even have to be personal; deception was simply in their natures. And Zouken had decided he'd like an additional knife besides Archer X. Not just against Rider X, but better safe than sorry.
Hence the Magic Circle he had freshly drawn within the basement. The one he now stood before. "Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill." He began the incantation with a touch of nostalgia. How long has it been since I did this myself? "Repeat five times, but when each is filled…"
As he went through the verses (he could recite them in his sleep after so many decades), Zouken Matou considered again his reasoning behind his current undertaking. The appearance of the X-Servants had surprised everyone, him included, he wasn't ashamed to admit. But once the shock had worn off, all of those foolish youngsters fighting in this Grail War had simply accepted their presence and capitalized on the many advantages that could come from wielding a hero this world had never known before. They didn't put more effort in questioning how this came to be; the Holy Grail continued to be an alluring prize.
But Zouken had other thoughts. After all, fourteen Servants competing, even of the number of Masters remained seven, was a complete irregularity for a Grail War. And he had helped found the Grail Wars in the first place, he knew that a safeguard had been equipped to the Grail in case of irregularities.
So, where was Ruler?
If the Holy Grail sensed a challenge to its authority or any other transgression from the usual proceedings, then a Heroic Spirit of Arbitration would be summoned from the Throne of Heroes. Their task would be to investigate these crimes while maintaining absolute neutrality. The Ruler could make no wish upon the Grail itself, its only concern was ensuring everyone played by the rules.
But no Ruler had appeared, even with so many unexpected Servants, much less ones from other worlds running about or Caster and his ex-Master going on an overt killing spree that threatened the veil of secrecy. It was too strange for Zouken not to think about, even before Rider X had approached him.
He had wondered briefly if the reason for Ruler's absence was due to the Grail not having enough Magical Energy. After all, calling forth twice the usual amount of Servants for one single War should've been, if not impossible, then Brobdingnagian in expense. But then Rider X mentioned to him that the mana expenditure for each Servant had been reduced to half its usual amount, disproving that theory. Zouken didn't have a clue who or what had set all this up, but they seemed to have helped cover that part well. And at least it meant the Grail still ought to be serviceable and not just burnt out within a week.
That left only one other potentiality that he could think of: someone or something was actively preventing the Holy Grail from summoning Ruler. Perhaps it was the instigator for these unusual circumstances… or perhaps it was connected to rumors of another abnormal Servant appearing in the Third Grail War.
Either way, Zouken was consciously gambling on the possibility that his attempt to summon a fifteenth Servant here and now would provide him with a new ally. If it turned out to be Ruler he summoned, well…
I think Megatron's inspired me. I don't usually take such risks. Well, no risk, no reward.
"Seventh Heaven clad in the great words of power." The energy was at its peak now. One final verse, and then he would see if his theory was correct.
"Come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"
For the second time in a week, mana blazed brightly within the Matou basement. But Zouken kept his gaze on its apex, excitement rising at the presence he sensed.
When the smoke cleared, there was someone within the Magic Circle.
A man stood before him, clad in dark robes and about thirty centimeters taller than him, Zouken gauged. The tunic and pants were of the same shade, and metal armor pads gleamed dully over his calves and forearms. Some strange piece of metal hung by the belt, adorned with buttons and a large curve protruding close to one end. A large hood black as a starless night had been draped so far over little could be seen of his face. The only visible features were a narrow chin, mostly black but with crimson lines… and twin yellow eyes that glared out from the darkness. And yet it seemed as though he was part of the darkness.
Zouken had a very good feeling about his gamble now. "Welcome to the Holy Grail War," he greeted with a rather chipper smile. "Tell me, my friend… who are you?"
Hands reached up to slowly pull the hood off a head adorned in red and black markings. Little horns formed a sort of crown atop his brow. Those golden eyes could be seen much clearer now, their pupils bloodshot and brimming with barely contained fury. "I," a deep voice snarled out. Like the hiss of a feral beast. "I am Avenger X.
"And we have much to discuss, Zouken Matou."