Prologue
The interior of the church was dimly lit, only the light from the eight candles in the center of the altar parted the darkness that blanketed the rest of the church's interior. The candles were arranged in a circle that was perfectly symmetrical. In the center of the circle sat a strange looking, triangular object. The triangular shard appeared to have a magenta luster to it and, despite being centuries-old, was still as beautiful as if it was crafted by the gods. Someone stood overlooking the circle, a young boy who was just out of his teens, perhaps in his early 20s. He was only about five-and-a-half feet tall and was by no means bulky and muscular, instead sporting a lean figure. Shadows from the light were dancing across the tan face of the young boy. He wore a dark blue buttoned shirt decorated with small white dots, almost evoking a picture of a clear night sky illuminated with stars. The shirt was tucked into a pair of slim-fitting black trousers that ended before a pair of black leather shoes that appeared worn and tiresome. He stood analyzing the set right in front of his eyes, the same way a painter peruses his masterpiece.
"You know, I almost thought you were some kind of burglar," a deep, booming voice started, echoing off the vaulted ceiling and towering walls of the dark church, "It's been four years, Rain. Never thought I'd see you here again."
"Sorry Father," the boy replied without turning around "I need to borrow your altar for a moment. I just wanted a quiet place to pray—"
"Don't think I'm stupid child," the voice cut him off before he could finish, "I know what you are trying to do". An old man stepped in front of the altar. The man was wearing a black priest cassock and was holding what appeared to be a wooden cane. He was shorter than the boy, at no more than five feet tall, and was clearly in his fifties or sixties. He had a bald head that reflected the light that came from the candles. "I've seen that kind of setup before. I'm an old bastard, I've been through too much. You're going to participate in that damn War aren't you?"
The boy's mouth curved into a smirk and the boy turned to face his visitor, or rather his host. The boy's short black hair melted into the dark atmosphere of the church, his dark brown eyes staring directly at the priest in front of him. His expression bore no ill will toward him, however, and instead had a look of nostalgia, as if he was remembering some fond memory of long ago.
"What war?" the boy inquired, with a slight tone of sarcasm.
"The Grail War," the priest started with a serious voice, "Where seven magic users summon the greatest heroes throughout time, with the winner of the War getting any one wish granted. The Grail revealed itself once more a week ago. That summoning circle in front of you, you want a Hero don't you?"
"So you know what I'm trying to do then," the boy's face turned serious and his eyes became slightly darker and looked down toward the floor, "Yes I'm planning to enter the Grail War. I already registered with the Vatican to participate. It seems as though most of the other Masters are from the Mage Association."
"So you have a wish to make if you win the Grail? It obviously is motivating enough to warrant your interest in joining that death battle. Tell me, what kind of wish do you want granted?"
"Wouldn't most participants wish for something idealistic like world peace or the end of hunger? Perhaps the cure to all diseases? "
"Yes, but you're not those people. I see the look in your eyes. Your wish...has nothing to do with any of those things," the priest suddenly frowned as if remembering something he shouldn't. "Your wish...is for her isn't it? For her to come back?"
"I—" the boy began but he paused. His eyes widened after realizing the priest read his mind. He turned his back to the priest and instead stared at the circle in front of him. A small tear began forming in the corner of his right eye as a certain image floated into his mind. The image of a girl lying in a coffin, a beautiful silk dress covered her cold, lifeless body like snow covering the winter earth. The small tear began rolling down his cheek and landed on the floor, shining in the candlelight. His eyes turned darker, the small flames that were reflected in the dark of his pupils had now faded and all that remained was an eerie and sad emptiness.
"That's some wish you hope to achieve. I know how much she means to you. Most people wouldn't be willing to enter some ridiculous deathmatch just for one other person. Grail Wars are full of dangerous people. Aria, certainly she found that out three years ago. She was one of the most skilled magic users I've ever seen, proof that only the insanely skilled bother participating in the Grail Wars. Though, I suppose if anyone were to win, it would be you," the boy snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the priest's voice right next to him, "according to my sources, the Grail this time has appeared in Fuyuki City, if I'm not mistaken. Japan huh… Does this mean you'll be summoning a Japanese hero? There's plenty to choose from."
"No. Unfortunately I was only able to procure this one relic." Rain pointed over to the metal triangle situated in the middle of the constructed magic circle. "It's an old Celtic spearhead, excavated from the Isle of Skye in Ireland."
"Isle of Skye…" the priest looked down, thinking about the significance of that place. "The Isle of Skye, wait, that could lead to any number of Irish heroes who used spears. Cu Chulainn, Hound of Ulster, or Scathach, Queen of the Fortress of Shadows, just to name a few. Ireland is home to many famous spearmen, so you have an extremely high chance of summoning a Lancer-class Heroic Spirit as your Servant."
"Well then that's all-the-more better for me then. If the Holy Grail War is as you say, then having an insanely powerful Heroic Spirit will give me an advantage."
"Obviously that should be the case. However, do you truly believe you can handle their power? Each one should have a powerful Phantasm from their legend. In order to sustain your Servant, you'll need to use the Magical Energy within your own body, and that could put a huge strain on you if you summon a formidable Heroic Spirit. Using their power might destroy you."
"Well I guess I'll find out won't I?" The boy grinned and raised his right hand. Three red markings covered the back of his hand, and formed the shape of what almost looked like a three-pointed star. "If I can just bring her back, it will all be worth it." He closed his eyes and pictured the ancient spearhead in his mind, searching for a great hero who would lend their power to allow him to fight in the Grail War. The circle began to glow in a red light as the candles danced violently, as if a strong gale had been circulating in the small circle. A bright red light shined from inside the circle and managed to illuminate the whole church, something the priest had only seen occur in the daytime during a full mass. The boy in the middle began chanting,
"Heroic Spirits, greatest of all humans, by the power of the Holy Grail, answer me.
Here is my oath. I am the one who summons you across the boundaries of time.
You, legendary Hero, answer my call. Lend me your power and aid me as our fates intertwine.
I hereby declare. Your body shall serve under me. My fate shall be your sword.
Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.
If you submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!―――"
A bright red flash erupted from where the boy was standing and engulfed the vision of the priest. For a moment, nothing could be seen through the bright display of the intense red light that had replaced the darkness of the church. After about ten seconds of blinding crimson light, the priest's vision returned.
Standing within the magic circle, was a silhouette that momentarily took the breath away from both the priest and the boy. It was not a horrific figure, rather the figure itself seemed surreal, something one would see only in a once-in-a-blue-moon dream. An impossibly beautiful woman, with a figure one can only assume belonged to a goddess of yore. Gorgeous violet hair flowed down all the way to her waist, as if they were woven from the expansive night skies. A mysterious dark shawl covered the top of her head and extended down to her shoulders. An enchanting vermillion dress covered the female's curvaceous body, a shoulder-less design that extended from her well-endowed chest region all the way down to her smooth, white thighs. A pair of dark brown leather boots accented the similarly-colored gloves that extended from her fingertips to her shoulders. In her right hand, a meter-long spear rested. It was the same color as the spear fragment, a lustrous magenta spear pointed at both ends, though one end was significantly sharper and more flattened than the other. The shaft of the spear featured an ornate design resembling vines wrapping around a branch of a tree. As the mysterious yet ravishing woman opened her eyes, red irises could be seen; crimson orbs that seemed to rival the sun in both beauty and intensity as their gaze was full of ferocity. She took a quick, sweeping glance at the church's interior before setting her sights on the young boy. In an alluring yet dignified and commanding voice, she asked,
"You there. Are you the one who summoned me?"
"Y...yes." Rain's voice wavered for a moment, still stunned by the beauty in front of him. "I am the one who summoned you."
"Very well then, Master." The woman grinned before continuing. "I am Lancer-class Servant Aífe, daughter of Árd-Greimne. It will be a pleasure working with you."
"Aífe?" the priest asked, sounding as if he heard that name before. "As in from the Ulster Cycle?"
"Yes that would be yours truly." The newly-summoned Servant turned toward the priest with a smirk. "I am that Aífe. Queen Aífe to be correct."
"Amazing. Rain, you really did summon a strong hero." The priest looked at Rain, placing his hand on his shoulder with a firm grip. "Aífe in that legend was an extremely strong warrior and twin sister to the warrior queen Scathach. In legend, she was even able to nearly defeat Cu Chulainn in a one-on-one duel. A warrior queen who's skills with the spear and rune magic put her on par with Ireland's equivalent of Heracles-"
The priest was interrupted by Aífe's laughing. She seemed to have taken pleasure in the father's explanation of her abilities. "Good to see two individuals who recognize my power. Although I was a queen in life, I will forgive you two for not prostrating to me. However, I require your names. What is your name," she started as she turned toward Rain, "or should I just call you Master?"
"My name is Rain. Rain Ashell." Rain replied, his composure now fully recovered. "This right here is Father Manuel Ediza. He is the presiding priest of this church we are in. We are currently in France."
"France?" The Lancer raised her arm to place her hand under her chin. "Does this mean we will be fighting in France?"
"No Lancer," Rain responded, "this Grail War will be in Fuyuki City in Japan."
"Japan?" The female Servant looked visibly intrigued. Heroic Spirits are just as the name implies: the spirits of humanity's greatest heroes from history and legends. When Heroic Spirits are summoned by magic users as Servants, they usually come with a basic knowledge of the time they are summoned in and can learn more through the magical connection between they and their Masters. "Japan is a long distance away from where we are. The Grail War, it starts once all the Masters arrive at the location the Grail revealed itself and ends once all but one Master-Servant pair remain, correct?"
"Yes that is correct. From my sources, I can confirm that only three Masters have yet to enter the city as of yesterday. They are the Masters of Saber, Rider, and you, Lancer."
"I see. If you have these 'sources' then are you at least aware of who the other Masters are?"
"Not quite." Rain scratched the back of his head. "The Master of Assassin...remains a mystery."
Just then, Father Manuel spoke. "So Rain, how long do you plan on staying here? You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, as you did in the past, but surely you have preparations to make correct?"
"Correct Father." Rain took out something from his pocket, what appeared to be car keys gently dangled in his hand. "I have a truck outside. I just need to get my belongings. I'll only be here a day."
"Alright then." Father Manuel turned around and walked toward some door along the wall. "Your room is the same as it's always been. Make yourself at home." He disappeared behind a closing oak door. Ace turned toward the large double doors that indicated the main entrance to the church. Solid wood doors, they resembled the entrance to a castle or fortress as they seemed to be impervious to all forces.
"Lancer, care to come with me? I have stuff I need to retrieve."
"Very well then." Her spear disappeared from her hand into scattering particles of crimson light. She followed Ace, her footsteps silently, but with dignity, followed him out.
The grounds of the church were very well-kept. At about four acres, the square-shaped complex was surrounded on all sides by cobblestone walls that stood covered and entwined by various foliage and vines. Despite this, however, the grounds were evidently well-kept as the grass was neatly trimmed and the fountain in the center of the complex spouted clear water that cascaded down into the bowl of the fountain. If one were to look at the complex from above, the church would take up the entire northwestern quadrant of the complex while the rest of the space was occupied by grassy areas or smaller buildings. A dirt road led into the complex from the entrance and circled around the center fountain. Parked next to the fountain was a beige pickup truck; an aged Toyota Hilux, dirt and mud were smeared along side the fenders and door of the truck. Rain walked toward the rear of the truck, his newly-summoned Servant following closely behind. Aife looked around as they walked, observing her surroundings. From below her shawl, her beautiful violet hair shifted around with every light step she took. She walked with an air of royalty and dignity, giving off the impression of someone who was above everyone else. Finishing her analysis of the church grounds, she turned toward Rain.
"Master, may I ask a question?" Aife asked.
"If it's a question I can answer." Rain answered with a smile.
"That priest who was there when you summoned me, is he your father?"
"Yes," Rain began, scratching the back of his head, "although he is my adopted father. I was orphaned at a young age so the memories of my biological family are a blur."
"Orphaned? Where exactly are you from then, if you lost your family that quickly in your life?"
"I'm from a country in Southeast Asia. Around the time I was five, my family was killed by an insurgent group that operated in the mountains in my country. I was taken in by them to be used as a child soldier."
"Seriously? Must have been rough." Aife looked down briefly, remembering something that occurred long ago during her life. She pictured her own son, who had met his end due to the geis that was placed on him by his father. "Master, are you aware of who I am? Or at least who I became associated with?"
Rain thought about his answer. He did know of her past, particularly in relation to the great Irish hero Cu Chulainn, though his Servant would definitely not think the hero was great by any stretch of the word. Rain had read up on Celtic mythology recently in preparation for his summoning, so he couldn't say no to her question without lying.
"Yes," Rain began, "you are the sister of the Queen who ruled Dun Scaith, Scathach. You fought a one-on-one battle against her student, the Hound of Ulster." Now, this was the part he had trouble phrasing. "During the battle, you gained the upper-hand and were on the verge of winning." Ren paused, and met with the anticipating stare of Aife. He gulped then continued. "You were tricked by Cu Chulainn and in your distraction, you were subdued and-"
He was interrupted by a blinding flash of violet. Blinking due to shock, he opened his eyes to see that a violet spear was pointed no more than a centimeter from his throat, at the other end stood his Servant, poised to strike. Aife's eyes intently gazed at him. Having been a child soldier for much of his early life, Rain could feel the killing intent that emanated from her. Sensing the immediate danger he was in, Rain raised up both of his hands besides his head, carefully thinking about what his next words would be. Should he have a slip of the tongue, he knew that he would not be able to defend himself against the wrath of a Heroic Spirit.
"Lan...cer?" Rain asked, sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
"Master, you believe that 'twas I who should have won that battle?"
Rain answered without hesitation. "Yes I do." This wasn't a lie. Rain knew that Cu Chulainn had tricked the honest and straightforward Aife at the time. The answer seemed to appease his Servant as she lowered her spear. She dematerialized it, and it disappeared in a flurry of purple light particles.
"Very well then Master. I apologize for the sudden aggressiveness." She gracefully bowed her head in repentance. "You seem like a decent person. However, I have a bit of a grudge against my sister's prodigy."
"Oh no it's really fine," Rain responded, waving his hands, "Even though I summoned you, we are equal partners now. You may ask me anything you'd like, though I'd hope you'd allow me to the same with you."
"Very well then Master. Master, may I ask another question?"
"Only if you don't try to skewer me again." Rain had a sarcastic smirk on his face, though in reality he was truly afraid of that moment repeating itself.
"What is your wish Master? If we win the Holy Grail War and manage to access the Grail, what will you use its power for?"
This time, it was Rain's turn to put on a serious face. The last three years had been spent trying to find a relic to participate in the Holy Grail War. His conversation with the priest earlier and now Aife only reminded him of his steadfast resolve in reaching his goal.
"Lancer, you understand what it's like to lose family correct?"
"I'm sorry, come again?" Aife asked, apparently having been caught off-guard by the question.
"I lost someone in the last Holy Grail War. Someone who was like a sister to me, and for the last three years I've wanted nothing but the chance to bring her back through the Holy Grail."
"Your wish, is to bring her back? You don't want to wish for something like world peace or a cure to all disease?"
"Yeah." Rain turned his head to find his Servant sitting on the hood of his truck. She seemed to be smiling in his direction.
"Fate must have brought us together then," Aife began, a slight tone of laughter coming off from her voice, "My wish is similar. I want to undo something that happened in the past."
"Would that be to wish for your life again?"
"No, that wouldn't be interesting. Instead I want the chance to challenge that bastard Setanta to a duel. This time, I want to kill him."
Rain stared for a moment, dumbfounded. "So, your wish is to have a battle with Cu Chulainn again? You're not going to wish for something like your kingdom to come back?"
"Well yes of course, seeing as he humiliated me." She got off the truck and stood right in front of Rain. "Kid, take this from a Heroic Spirit. There's many reasons people become heroes. Some do it out of necessity, others do it out of their beliefs. I became the person I was simply because it was fun battling other warriors and doing whatever the hell I wanted. While there were other events in my life that I prefer to have gone differently, changing the past too much is not a good idea. Good or bad, all events shape the person one becomes."
Rain smiled at his Servant, amused at her words. "You're an interesting one, I'll give you that. Although, so far I'm glad I summoned you rather than some other hero"
Aife went over to Rain's side and leaned herself against his shoulder, propping herself with her arm. "Oh, and would that be because you sense my combat abilities Master? Or is it because you find me incredibly alluring? It's okay Master, I wouldn't blame you. Many men have become entranced by me, pledging loyalty to me after one glance."
"You're quite the comedian aren't you?"
"Just breaking the ice Master. Seems like we need it considering I just tried to separate your head from your shoulders. Don't worry, I wasn't completely serious when I held my spear up to you."
"If that's you not serious then I shudder at the thought of you fighting seriously." Rain responded, sighing at his Servant's casual reference to her earlier actions. He reached into the back of the truck, pulling out a large black duffel bag and a medium-sized beige backpack. Slinging one strap of the backpack over his right shoulder, he turned around. "Well this is my stuff. I only need the basics anyway. Lancer, we won't be here long. In a few days, we'll be in Fuyuki City for the start of the Grail War."
"Master, I will only accept victory you know," Aife said with a smirk on her face. "I am not the type of woman to sit idly when something doesn't go my way."
"Well then Lancer, let us both do our best." Rain's extended hand was met by his Servant's in a firm handshake. This would be the start of the Grail War's most interesting duo.
Interlude
"Would you like to come with me?" That voice. After ten years, this one moment remained firm in the boy's mind. The light pouring into the room made his eyes shut for a second. His senses were disoriented; an explosion had rendered him unconscious some time earlier. He had no clue what was going on, other than that he was in a different location.
"What? What's going on?" He asked, his throat raspy and dehydrated.
"My name is Aria. I brought you here to this hospital." The boy managed to focus his squinted eyes on the source of the voice. Sitting to the right of the bed he lay on, beautiful platinum blonde hair captivated him, for a moment dimming the disorienting lights permeating the blinds behind him. Azure eyes met with his dark eyes, reflecting the incoming light as the ocean reflects the sun. The young girl conversing with him wore a black shirt and skirt, all under a pure white coat. Though not elegant or flashy by any means, it was enough for the boy's thoughts to suddenly focus on the girl in front of him. Just as he regained his composure, the girl leaned forward an inch or two and asked a question. "Before we start, may I please know your name?"
The boy blinked his eyes. Having been raised as a weapon of war, he never really thought about the name he was given. He simply responded to what the older soldiers had referred to him as. "R...Rain."
"Just Rain?" the girl asked. The boy nodded his head in affirmation. "I see. Well how old are you...Rain?"
The boy did not know this. For as long as he knew, he was simply a weapon and thus lost sense of time. "I don't know." The boy did not look scared or worried about his situation. Rather, no emotion could be detected from the boy's demeanor or answers. He seemed empty, as if he had a complete lack of emotion. This was the look of a young boy who was orphaned and raised to become a weapon of war from a young age.
"Ummm...that certainly is a problem" the girl said, curiously putting her finger on her chin and tilting her head. "Well then, Rain. My name is Aria. Though this is our first time meeting, I hope we'll have plenty of opportunities to become friends!" The girl in front of him exclaimed such a desire with a warm smile.
Friends? Such a concept didn't exist to him at the time.
Rain's eyes opened, only to reveal the white stone roof above. He had been asleep, dreaming of the past. He lay on a bed in a small room in the back of the church. The room itself was a ten foot by ten foot square that seemed to only have a bed, lamp, and window as the only significant features other than the dreary grey stone walls that surrounded the room. Rain lay on the twin size bed wearing almost the same outfit he was wearing earlier sans the shoes and the shirt for comfort. He slowly raised his upper body, now sitting cross-legged on the bed.
"It was a dream huh." Rain thought to himself. "Haven't had dreams of that time for a while now."
"Not to be rude Master, but that dream of yours woke me up too." His attention was distracted by the voice coming from the apparently unnoticed presence in the room. Turning his head, he noticed a dark blue blanket and pillow had been laid across the remaining floor space. However, the voice came from the person laying on the blanket, both arms stretched behind her head, dark violet hair spreading out on the pillow as if it were a flower that bloomed only at night. She too had been wearing the same outfit she wore during her summoning, though Rain noted her dress which had become disheveled, perhaps from the sleeping. Because of this, he was able to notice more of her well-endowed figure clearly, specifically her thighs and chest region. Despite possessing an inhuman sense of self-control, he did note that she was extremely alluring in a sultry manner. "You know that since Heroic Spirits summoned as Servants are basically more advanced familiars, we're connected via your magical circuits right? If I try hard enough, I can see into your dreams or thoughts." Though her words implied dissatisfaction, she said this while a small smirk formed on her face, likely implying a different meaning with her words. "Like right now, I can see where your looking. As a queen, I permit you to gaze at my beauty." Aife began laughing lightly.
"Quick with the jokes aren't we," Rain replied, joining in on the laughter. "Noted." Humans with magical potential possess what are known as magic circuits. They function analogous to the nervous system in the body, though instead of electrical signals they transfer mana whenever the user uses magic. A summoned familiar, such as a Heroic Spirit summoned as a Servant, is connected to the summoner since they were summoned by their magic, thus their minds can be linked through magical connection. The extent of which, however, had its limits.
"So, in that dream, who is she?" Aife asked, still continuing to lie down with her eyes closed.
"She is…" Rain paused for a moment, thinking on how exactly he wanted to phrase his answer. "...the person...who made me human I suppose." Rain stretched his legs out and lied back down. Sleep would benefit him at the moment so he intended to take full advantage of it, not noticing the inquisitive look his Servant was giving him.
Thanks guys for giving the first chapter of my story a chance! Next chapter is probably gonna come out mid-May just because school is winding to a close for me so this is the part of the year I actually have to try so I can graduate. But if anyone has any questions about the story feel free to ask! Also big thanks to everyone who followed and/or favorites my story!