"Ugh…" the stoic smoker's voice cut through the silence of his home office. "After being left behind by your assailant, of all the things you could do with a body of a wanted criminal… was to come to drop it off in the bloody Clock Tower that wanted him dead in the first place… Of course, she wouldn't know that it's a boatload of trouble to conceal that and even maybe piss off a fellow Lord up the chain."
He felt as though he was whining like his younger self again, the insecure teen before he'd met his King. Honestly, he would just throw something against the wall if it would make him feel better, but tobacco was the only thing he could resort to nowadays.
Sat back in his favourite chair, he stared out the window. Or more specifically, at the woman leaning against the wall staring out of the said window.
"So, Faker… Or should I call you Hephaestion?" Waver asked as he pulled out another stick to light.
"I told you smoking will only make you weaker, Master." The woman said as he ignored the scolding and lit it anyway. That had her wrinkling her nose, but she was the reason he was stressed enough, to begin with. In any case, she continued. "You're free to call me whatever you want. I hardly care much what you think of me, but I'd prefer it if you weren't stupid enough to reveal my true name to our foes." Hephaestion slightly groaned in disgruntlement when the smoke reached her spot. "This place reeks. Have you not cleaned it at all? Smells like someone died in here!"
"I expect an apology from the one who brought a corpse in my office back at the school." Waver rolled his eyes at the appearance of another Grey. "But save your whining about my personal space later. Right now, I need to know everything you and Heartless have managed to find out about the upcoming Fifth Grail War. Considering what you've told me already, we have to assume it chose me as a participant." At this, he sighed regrettably while staring at the back of his hand. "These three Command Seals are fresh as you told me your Master died using up all of his own."
"At least you've been keen to listen to something I say…" Faker huffed before giving her new Master a cursory stare. "Considering what the Doctor told me, the ritual will begin sometime in the next two months. As we'd been on the run from someone just as interested in participating as Heartless' client was, we can be sure that they're also wanting in on the whole thing.
"The ones who tried to silence you in Einzbern manor a few years back…" Waver nodded, recalling Faker's quick rundown when they sealed their pact. "Hm… Another magi clan who managed to learn about the Fifth Grail War starting earlier and wanting to join in would definitely see value in silencing any investigation into the matter. That they were able to give Heartless and you of all people a run for their money means they're very capable. What was his name again, this masked assailant of yours?"
"The masked clown dressed in a cape called himself 'Zero'." Though she was derisive in describing him, the instant she mentioned his name, Waver could sense the anger, the hate. She wanted him dead, that was for certain.
"Considering his use of uniquely designed golems, looking up potential clans related to him wouldn't be difficult. That is… if you could actually recall what they were?"
At that, Faker seemed to frown. She had tried to describe them once before, when she brought Heartless to him and tried to bargain for info on who she needed to hunt down to exact her revenge on… only to falter as she did not recall what the golems looked like at all. Only that they were unique compared to the usual types most magi were capable of summoning in the modern era.
That she looked fervently confused and furious with herself told him that it likely wasn't her fault she couldn't remember, meaning they were either dealing with professionals that could memory wipe a Servant or cognition-debilitating magic that would honestly be even more of a pain to track.
"I still can't remember," was Faker's response before sighing and crossing her arms. "But I know for certain that I won't underestimate them again next time I see that rat bastard…"
Waver didn't doubt that. For what it was worth, he didn't understand much why she bothered so much to enact revenge. He couldn't tell what Heartless meant to Faker and the woman didn't seem like she'd spill the beans when asked. Regardless, he was roped into this mess when he realized who she was. Or rather, who she served in life.
On his King's honour, he'd make sure to win this time around, if not survive till the end once more.
"Did your people ever figure out the reason behind the city-wide air sirens going off?"
To that, Waver had to rub the back of his head. "Some radicals who weren't happy with political situations in the world and wanted to make themselves known. Or, in the Clock Tower's views, 'nothing but a distraction'. Whoever they were, they coordinated in attacking city infrastructure and key sectors in government. They weren't big enough to classify as terrorists or extremists, more rioting ne'er-do-wells with a blind outlook for the political system. But that's on the surface side of things."
"Let me guess," the woman closed her eyes and sighed with her back against the window sill. The shadows created by the action made her differently-coloured eyes seemingly glow. "They also used the confusion to assault several prominent magi clans and managed to ruffle more than a few feathers from your people's top brass."
Waver nodded. He didn't show it, but he was a little nervous about the whole thing. Magi clans often had spats with each other and often resulted in incidents that ranged from assassinations to systematic attacks against their seats of power. But very few would stoop so low as to cause a scene this big. That risked exposing them to the outside world. And the number of people involved in this whole debacle? The number of attackers and clans attacked by this? That was very unusual.
One clan could be assaulted and it would be explained as their rivals taking potshots. Several clans of various research fields and prestige numbering in the tens, in multiple strongholds each at that? It wouldn't be too farfetched to say someone was targeting the Clock Tower's seat of power in London itself. Especially if they were able to hide all of their attacks under the guise of a political riot for the normal folk…
"Are you sure you know nothing else about whoever they are? Apart from the man who seems to have orchestrated it all, this… Zero character?"
Waver, preoccupied with the stress and the size of the potential mess this all alluded to stared long and hard at the ceiling. He wasn't expecting much from Faker in this case as it seems she too was in the dark about who it was. Still, had he spared a glance at his new Servant, he might have noticed the long hesitation and the glow masking Faker's multi-coloured eyes before she spoke again.
"I know nothing, Master. While you and I have disagreements with one another, I wouldn't keep secrets if it would mean aiding the bastard that almost killed me. I want that fool's head on a spike just as much as you want his intentions revealed."
Waver could believe that. The anger in her voice was real. The determination in her resolve was very much real. One did not become a teacher of a very dysfunctional class by simply cruising through lessons. Waver Velvet had grown up a bit, if a little, to know more about how people think and act. Faker herself was a pretty honest person, especially with her distaste for him, but it was that aspect of hers that allowed him an initial level of trust.
It was almost like he was with Iskandar again if that brute was a bit more reserved with his opinions and hobbies. Okay, a lot more reserved.
"Hmph." Waver had finished one cigar and was ready to light up another before deciding against it. While it should've appeased Hephaestion's frown for him, she simply watched him with a disappointed gaze as he joined her by the window sill. "Looks like I'll have to take an unscheduled vacation to Japan again…"
He was going back to Fuyuki. The thought alone was making him stiff.
"Are you perhaps scared, Master?"
Waver took the barb for what it was. Though she decided to work with him, she made it clear she did not like the man who'd been her King's previous Master. In fact, she made it very obvious that she wasn't impressed at all by how he held himself, despite the improvements and growth he'd gone through over the years.
He was being stared down by a woman shorter than him, for god sake. He had to nip that issue in the bud if this relationship was going to work out.
"While memories of the place aren't fond ones, they will not dissuade me. I have a duty to carry out and fear is not a shackle I will bow to."
"Says the man that watched as his partner burned to ashes and lived to tell the tale." Had Faker been an uncivilized brute, she'd have spat at his feet for standing tall.
"That may be the case, but a coward that lives to see another day is one that will be able to carry out their promise to their liege regardless of past failings." She audibly scoffed when he mentioned 'failings' but Waver wasn't done. "You yourself know just how that giant idiot thinks. While Iskandar was a selfish conqueror who threw himself and his men at impossible odds with a hungry smile, he was also a well-meaning friend to those who trusted him. That fool carried on with his beliefs as a king even if it meant his death, but as a man who swore his allegiance to said, king, I owe it to him to win the next war I'm thrown into. If not for my sake, then for the one who believed in me then. Who I know would slap the air out of me and proclaim he believes in me now."
"Hmph… To proclaim to honour the fool's faith in you and to act on it are two vastly different things, whelp. I still cannot recognize someone like you to be capable of being his retainer, let alone his Master."
"Which is why I would cast aside any notion of getting along with you so long as you promise me one thing, Faker." Taking a step back, he offered a hand to the woman in red. One that had her wide-eyed and curiously surprised. "I ask you to assist me in this endeavour. Not to aid my goals of investigating the bastards that would dare throw my world in disarray but to honour the legacy of your king. Our king."
"… Hm… At least you can act the part of a capable man." Hephaestion took his hand. "I still think you're a weakling, one not worthy to serve in his army."
"And I think of you as a stuck-up who is far too obsessed with her liege."
Waver felt his hand being squeezed a bit tighter than normal. He refrained from reinforcing it with enhancements to prove his resolve. His unflinching, if a little strained, Pokerface earned Faker's respect. Or some of it, at least. "You have spirit, Master. I'll give you that. I too wish to fulfil my liege's earnest wish he wasn't unable to accomplish. Even if it's an impossible wish, I'd at least fight to ensure my king's reputation wasn't soiled. As long as you will be ready to fight, kill and die for such a goal, I'm ready to provide my service as your blade."
"Very well, then let's avenge our king and win the war for him." Waver smiled, somewhat happy he finally had someone who understood his feelings about being Iskander's friend, even if Faker had a somewhat odd hate-peppered admiration for the redhead giant of a man.
Two months until Day 0.
Master and Servant pair, Waver Velvet and Faker-class Hephaestion has been formed.
Six Servants remain.
***
Author's note:
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, also this is the last 'Interlude chapter'. Starting from now on, we're entering the Fifth Grail War!
And so the last Interlude ended with the fight against Heartless and Faker. Nobunaga wasn't part of the fight for a few reasons: Lelouch wanted to test his Guren piece against an actual servant, and Nobu might get too carried away in London. Besides, Zero needed to show that he isn't a regular human and that magi can't really deal with him by their usual means of magecraft.
Introduction of Caren and Bazett, and since Kirei isn't alive it means the Lancer's original master doesn't need to worry about getting disarmed :3. In this world both Clock Tower and Church don't have the same advantages in Japan they might have had in regular Fate thanks to Lelouch and Nobunaga's actions. Since Asia is pretty much Demon's territory, they will have home field advantage in Japan, especially Fuyuki. Only a few people know that the Fifth War will start soon and are preparing for it. Obviously, the Demon couple has the best-starting hand in this game.
Another point of this chapter besides dealing with Heartless who fulfilled his mission was to showcase what Lelouch and Nobunaga's forces can do and how they operate. They didn't spend 10 years just fooling around but were building up their own faction and powerbase to deal with both Church and Clock Tower. Now, I know that there are arguably more powerful groups in the Fate world among humans, like Wandering Sea and Atlas. However, it is also true that all magecraft factions aren't organized and cooperate with each other. Atlas and Wandering Sea never leave their bases, while Clock Tower magi are too busy killing each other. Plus, Lelouch has a history of destroying world-controlling empires and secret cults with unnatural power. So, it isn't far-fetched to imagine this scenario where Lelouch vi Britannia and Oda Nobunaga successfully managed to create their organization in secrecy while no one paid them attention. Especially when Counter Force itself doesn't mind and certainly its agents will stay silent as well.
And now you know how their human soldiers operate as well. Since their biggest threat are magi families, Demon's strike teams created tactics to specifically eliminate them and combat magecraft in general. And yes, I know that Kiritsugu's Origin Bullets can be made only from his ribcage thanks to his family crest. But who says fake can't Who says a fake can't rival the original? :3 But for real, is it too hard to see Lelouch and Nobu making anti-magi bullets when they have access to endless resources thanks to their puppet nations and a huge number of magi corpses and their bones? It will be interesting to see the infamous Magus Killer find out about the new generation of anti-magi killers.
Lelouch fused his most powerful piece, Q1. Guren isn't the same as if Kallen was piloting, but it follows the memory of Kallen and the image of her fighting abilities. The same will be the case for other more known Knightmares Lelouch will use in the future. Few words from ReavesTheReader about Guren:
"-I edited it to just use a rudimentary rocket-propulsion method similar to mounting a jet engine on the back of a hulking robot-like shape since flight tech of that kind doesn't exist yet, or isn't commercially available in this timeline so far. The same goes for the radiation wave claw. It's too powerful if we start slamming radiation shockwaves, energy bolts, and shields here so I just limited it to its super-close blast form from Season 1 when it was first introduced. A quick blast to push back or momentarily melt a target, but not powerful enough to eviscerate Noble Phantasm chariots or summons. I threw in a bit of Lulu's copy of the magecraft-interference bullets on its mounted machineguns though. A literal peashooter and worthless against a Servant with high physical attributes, but also very annoying to deal with if its opponent is dependent on mid-tier magecraft or magics."
And now we have shown some of our first Fifth War participants, we can get the rest and start the main event!