Chapter 1:The Summoning
Atop a verdant hill, a tree stood. Its bark was marked with crags, and lines, that spoke of its age. Its leaves were the most vibrant green, their veins faintly pulsing with light. Over millennia the tree had stood there, and bore witness to eras long past.
When the tree was still young, it bore dozens of fruits on its branches. But now only a single fruit grew every few decades. A precious golden fruit that held great power.
Knowledge.
More knowledge than one could gain in even a thousand lifetimes.
The tree would grant this knowledge to only a select few. Seven would be chosen, but only one would find victory, and claim the ultimate prize.
The tree called out with its power into the ether. From the the throne of heroes it called a heroic spirit. One worthy to be its voice, and its representative in the battle to come. With its vast power it weaved a new vessel for the powerful spirit, binding them together to form a new being.
A servant.
A servant who bore the epithet of Ruler.
In a golden flash of light, a figure appeared before the tree. A man, with a white hood and cloak. The top half of his face was totally obscured by shadow. Bits of spiked black hair could be seen framing the sides of his face.
"I have heeded your summons." the man spoke, kneeling before the tree. "I will be your voice, and your arbiter. I who bear the title of Ruler. The contract is sealed."
The tree reached out to him, speaking in an alien voice. Ruler understood its intent, and stood to his feet. He gave another bow, and smiled.
"I will see that the chosen masters are prepared." he stated. "When all of the spirits have been summoned, I will guide them to the first trial."
Ruler heard the tree's alien voice again, and nodded. He looked out from atop the hill across the vast landscape before him.
"And so, the war begins anew."
London, June 30th, 10:15 am.
Cleo Velvet moved through the aisles of books within the massive library. Her long locks of black hair swayed behind her as she moved. She was dressed in one of her nicer outfits. A buttoned white blouse, with black dress pants. A pair of gloves covered her hands, matching the color of her pants.
Normally she wouldn't wear that last little addition. But she wanted to draw as little attention as possible. She was sure most of the academy already knew about it, if the whispers around her were anything to go by. So it seemed a moot point now.
Still, she subconsciously wanted to keep it out of sight. Even if it only mitigated the amount of curious glances she received. Even just a little bit of peace from those prying eyes was welcome.
She moved to the head desk, to check out the books under her arm. The librarian knew her well, and gave her a quick greeting. Cleo simply nodded back, hoping to get out quickly before she drew a crowd.
It took only moments before the librarian had marked down the books. She then handed them back off. Cleo gave a quick nod, and made a move to leave. Before she could take a second step however, the librarian called out to her.
"Oh, by the way, congratulations, Ms. Velvet. I heard about you've been selected as a candidate."
Cleo sighed, and nodded. "Yes. Thank you."
Not wanting to exchange anymore pleasantries, the girl took off as quickly as she could without running. She let out small sigh of relief, as she exited the library, and out into an empty hall.
After adjusting the books in her grip, she headed down the hallway. She soon began to hear the sounds of small explosions, and the shattering of stone. No doubt a magical self defense class already in session.
It didn't take her long, before she reached the school dorms. Since most of the people were having their classes, she thankfully found the building mostly mostly empty. However, as she neared her apartment, she heard a very familiar voice.
"Yes, I'm at the academy right now." the voice said.
It was the voice of and older woman, one Cleo knew all too well. From the sounds of it, she seemed to be on the phone with someone.
"I know, I'll be sure to bring it up." the woman continued. "Of course she'll accept! She'd be insane not to."
There as a pause, as Cleo turned the corner. She could see the woman had her back to her, phone held to her ear.
"Yes, I'll speak with you later."
The woman hung up, and as if sensing Cleo's presence, turned around. She was about a head taller than Cleo, and the two shared the same eyes. Her frilled, almost victorian dress was garish to the young woman. Seemingly to add to her noble look, her hair was tied into a bun, and shining jeweled bangles hung from her ears.
"Cleo, sweetheart!" the woman exclaimed, opening her arms.
"Mother." Cleo sighed. "The answer is no, by the way."
Cleo's mother blinked in bewilderment. "No? No to what, sweetheart?"
"To whatever request you came to visit me for." Cleo answered, moving to her apartment door.
The woman put a hand to her heart. "You wound me! Can't a mother come to visit her daughter simply to say hello?"
"I heard you talking on the phone." Cleo stated bluntly, opening up her apartment.
Her mother frowned. "Fine. I suppose there's no beating around the bush is there. Tell me dear, have you heard the name Rei Tohsaka before?"
Cleo set down her books on her work desk. "He's the heir to the Tohsaka family. I've met him once or twice, why?"
"Well, I've been speaking with the current family head, Rin Tohsaka." she began, entering the room. "And we've been talking about meeting up for brunch sometime. She said she'd love to meet a young talent like yourself, and so would her son."
Cleo clicked her tongue. She knew exactly what this was. Another one of her mother's many efforts to raise her clout within the mage association. Every chance she had to boot lick one of the powerful mage families, she always took it.
Cleo even suspected that meeting with Rei was a secondary part of it. Most likely she was hoping for the two of them to hit it off or some such nonsense. Hoping that Rei could be a potential suitor for her. To 'strengthen the family bloodline'.
It made her sick.
Still, outright refusing her couldn't be done. Cleo knew how persistent she could be. Luckily, she had a perfectly good excuse.
'"Mother, I don't have time for any social meetings." Cleo replied. "The war for Eden is already starting. I have to prepare for summoning my servant."
'Oh! Yes, of course!" the woman exclaimed. "How silly of me! Winning the fruit of knowledge is far more important. After all, once you win it, we'll have the entire clock tower eating out of the palms of our hands."
Cleo's eye twitched. " 'If' I win it."
"Oh, Cleo, dear, I have every ounce of confidence you'll succeed."
"I appreciate it." Cleo sighed.
"Oh, and before I go, there's one more thing. This talk about the war reminded me. Your grandfather actually wanted speak with you."
Cleo blinked in surprise. "What could he want to talk with me about?"
Her mother shrugged. "I haven't the faintest idea. Perhaps he just wants to wish you good luck!"
Cleo nodded at that. She and her mother then exchanged a few pleasantries before the older woman took her leave. Once she was finally gone, Cleo sighed in relief.
The young woman turned to her books. She had wanted to review the summoning ritual one last time in preparation. But her grandfather would come first.
Waver Velvet looked out the window of his study. The man's long hair was white with age. Visible, defined lines marked his cheeks, and ringed his eyes. Thick glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, aiding his impaired eyesight.
A small blue bird landed on the windowsill in front of him. It cocked its head, watching him curiously. The old man smiled softly, watching it move, and bob from side to side. The blue bird then took off, flying to meet its flock.
Waver watched for a few moments longer, before he heard a knock at the door. He blinked, and turned to the entrance.
"Yes?" he called, voice raspy.
"Master Waver, your granddaughter is here to see you."
Waver smiled. "Please, let her in."
The old man's smile broadened, as Cleo entered the room. Cleo smiled as well, and strolled toward him. Waver rolled out from behind his desk, spinning the wheels of his wheelchair to meet her.
"Grandpa!" Cleo exclaimed, leaning down to hug him.
Waver laughed, hugging her back.. "My dear Cleo! It's good to see you too."
"How have have you been?" Cleo asked, as they separated.
"I've been doing fine." Waver answered. "My back isn't giving me as much trouble lately. Now, come sit, I'll have some tea brought in."
The old man rolled his chair toward a coffee table near the center of the room. Cleo took a seat across from him, slipping off her gloves. Waver glanced down at her exposed right hand, to see the familiar mark of a command seal.
"So, you really have been chosen." he sighed.
Cleo glanced down at her hand, and nodded. "Yes. It appeared just two weeks ago. I've been preparing for the summoning ritual since then."
"I see." Waver said thoughtfully.
Cleo could see the sadness in his eyes, and tried to change the subject.
"Did I tell you I finally set up my main workshop in Cambridge?"
Waver shook his head. "No, I don't believe so."
"Yes. It's nice to finally have a place to study all to myself." Cleo smiled. "Though it was quite the chore to move all my larger things over."
"I'd imagine." Waver chuckled. "That antique chester drawer of yours alone must weigh a ton."
The two continued to converse casually, catching up on each other's lives. At some point in the conversation, a fresh brewed pot of tea was brought in. Along with some small sandwiches, and sweets.
Cleo didn't often get to spend time like this with her grandfather. She had seen him often when she was young. However, as time passed, and Cleo had more responsibilities, the wait between their visits grew longer.
When the teapot was nearly half gone, Waver set his cup aside. His jovial mood disappeared, and the frown from earlier returned. Cleo put down her own cup as well, sensing her grandfather had something to say.
"As much I've enjoyed catching up, I think it's time we talked about why I called you here." Waver began.
The old mage rolled back from the table, and turned to move toward his desk. He reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a key. With a deep breath, Waver focused his mana into the key. Magical circuits crawled up his arm, and onto the key itself.
Many years ago, he had infused the key with a special spell. It would only react to one of his bloodline, an thus open the lock it was made for.
The charged key was inserted into one of the desk's drawers. With a spark, and click, it opened, and Waver slowly slid it out. Inside, was an old wooden box.
Waver took the box, and rolled back over to his granddaughter. He then placed it in front of her with great care.
"This was the catalyst I used to summon my servant in the last war." he stated. "He served me well, and I hope he can do the same for you."
Cleo opened the box with a sense of reverence, and peered inside. Within the plush box, was a torn piece of red fabric. Even with its age, she could tell it was made of the finest silk.
"Grandfather, I appreciate the offer, but I can't accept this." Cleo smiled. "I want to do this on my own."
Waver nodded in understanding. "I see, so you've made arrangements yourself then?"
"Yes, I have a servant in mind." the girl replied.
"I'm sure whatever heroic spirit you chose, they will be a strong one."
Waver took the box back, and looked inside. He smiled fondly at the tattered cloth, before letting out a deep sigh. Then, with a heavy hand, he closed it shut.
"Cleo, I have fought in this war before." he began. "Its harsh, and ruthless. You will make many enemies, and even allies. But, through it all, I want you to stay strong. Follow the dream in your heart, and be careful."
Cleo reached out, putting her hand over his. "I will grandpa. I promise."
Chengdu, June 30th, 5:25 pm
Li Zhou took in several deep cleansing breaths. The young man stood in an open training yard, his upper half bared. His body was lean, and sculpted with muscle from years of training. They dripped with a faint sheen of sweat, and his silver eyes shone with great intensity.
With a swift fluid motion, he took up a fighting stance. Magical circuits crawled up his arms, and legs, burning with bright green energy. He could feel the mana surge through them, infusing his body with strength. His muscles, bones, nerves, and even his blood were energized by the magical power.
Then, without warning, he struck the air in front of him with a straight punch. A small shockwave erupted from his fist. He quickly followed up with a blinding flurry of equally powerful jabs. The shockwaves were like a cascade of miniature thunder as he unleashed his attack.
Soon, he began to weave powerful kicks, and knee strikes into his attacks. Each of his movements was precise, and lightning quick. His legs seemed equally as powerful if not stronger than his fists. Creating shockwaves of their own, and some even sending bits of earth flying.
Finally, the young man finished with a single powerful punch. The resulting shockwave created a powerful gust of wind around him. It formed a perfect circle in the dirt beneath him, a small cloud of dust floating in all directions.
"Master Li."
Li turned at the voice to see one of his servants, Zheng, standing on the edge of the training ground. The older man stood stiffly, holding a towel in one hand, and the rest of Li's clothes in the other.
The young man sighed, and ran a hand through his black crew cut. He moved to to meet Zheng, taking the towel gratefully.
"Master Li, the item you requested is ready for you." Zheng stated.
Li wiped his face clean before replying. "You're sure it's the one I'm after?"
"Of course, master." Zheng replied with a bow. "I saw to every last detail personally."
"Good. I trust your judgement."
"You humble me, Master Li."
Li took his tangzhuang from the older man, and secured it in place over his undershirt. The coat was a dark blue with white interior, and trimming. On the back was the Zhou family symbol, sown with golden thread. A stylized dragon, rising up to the heavens.
After getting fully dressed, Li walked inside, with Zheng following. The pair strolled through the expansive home. It was an ancient place, and had been owned by Li's family for several generations. It showed its age in places, but was otherwise immaculately maintained, and held an almost mysterious air.
Soon, the two arrived in Li's personal workshop. A desk sat at one end of the room. Various talismans, and other magical objects were arranged neatly atop it. Several scrolls, and a stack of papers were also perfectly placed there.
Sitting in front of the desk, was a long box. It was wrapped in parchment paper, and several magical seals were arranged along it. They were simple spells, made to make sure the object inside was preserved, and kept safe.
Li dropped into a kneeling position before the box. Carefully, he removed the magical seals, and tore the paper away. The young man then took in a reverent breath, and removed the boxes lid.
Inside, was a green robe. It was weathered, and frayed with age, but was still vibrant with color. Even folded up, Li could make out bits of gold accents, here and there. They shone in the light, and were even more vibrant than the green around them.
Li took a moment to run a hand over the ancient cloth. He then looked down to his hand, that bore his command seal.
"With this, I'll reclaim the Zhou family honor."
Tokyo, June 30th, 6:35 pm
Rio strolled through the throngs of people around her. She was dressed casually in a t shirt, displaying a logo of her favorite superhero. Her jeans were slightly baggy and her hoodie was wrapped around her waist. Her short, orangish red hair was a mess, looking as if she had just crawled out of bed.
It was still in the midst of rush hour, and hundreds of office workers, and others were leaving their jobs. Street traffic moved in a steady, seemingly unending stream. Off in the distance, framed against the city skyline, was the sun, slowly beginning to set past the horizon.
The woman checked her phone for a brief moment as she reached the entrance to a convenience store. She then pocketed the device, and stepped inside. The bell above the door rang as she entered, and the cashier welcomed her.
"Hey, Kurosawa-san!" the man waved.
"Yo." Rio replied.
She knew the cashier well, and was relatively friendly with him. In fact, she was familiar with several members of the staff. Since the store was so close to her apartment, she visited it often. Usually to grab a few quick snacks, much like today.
It didn't take her long to grab what she needed. As she headed for the register, she spotted one last meat bun in one of the store's heating trays. With a small smile she grabbed it, and moved to make her purchase.
"How ya been Hojo-kun?" she asked, placing the items on the counter.
"Well enough, I suppose." the man answered.
As the cashier was checking out Rio's items, he noticed the markings on the woman's hand. He cocked his head curiously, scrutinizing them for a moment.
"Kurosawa-san, when did you get a tattoo?"
Rio blinked, and looked down at her hand. A look of realization crossed her features, and she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Oh, not that long ago." she answered with a nervous laugh.
"Is it from something?" Hojo questioned.
"O-oh yeah! Its from an anime!" Rio quickly replied, hoping her lie wasn't obvious.
Hojo laughed at that. "That's just like you, Kurosawa-san!"
The man quickly bagged up the rest of her items, and handed them off. Rio offered her thanks, and headed out before he could ask anymore questions. Once she was back out onto the street, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"Maybe I should think about covering this up." she thought aloud.
It didn't take Rio long to reach her apartment. She passed by a stray cat on the way upstairs, giving it the rest of her meat bun. After retrieving her key, she unlocked the door, and swung it open. With a flip of a switch, light illuminated the space.
Rio's apartment was not glamorous, nor was it shaudy. It was in a word, simple. That was how Rio liked things. She didn't have any need for a fancy manor, or other big house. This was exactly how she wanted to live.
A large manga, and comic book collection sat on the shelf in the living room. There was a decent sized tv there with a few games stacked nearby. The main coffee table was a bit on the messy side. With used cups of instant noodles, a half eaten bag of chips, and an empty soda can pushed to one side.
The only thing that seemed out of place in the apartment was her magical tomes. As well as the various materials she used in her basic magecraft.
She moved into the kitchen, setting down her bags. After putting on a kettle of water, she pulled out a bowl of instant noodles. She set it atop the counter, and moved to put away the rest of her supplies.
Within a few moments, there was a knock at the door. Rio sighed, and switched the burner on low, before answering it. When she opened the door, she found a deliveryman waiting for her, with a bound package under his arm.
"Package for, Rio Kurosawa-san."
"That's me." Rio replied.
The man handed off a clipboard. "Sign here, please."
Rio quickly put down her signature, and the man handed off the package. The woman closed the door behind her, and placed the package on the coffee table. She then returned to the kitchen, and turned the kettle back up.
After putting on her noodles to cook, she recalled that she had some leftover chashu pork. It would go perfect with her ramen after giving it a quick fry. She hummed happily to herself as she pulled out the leftover meat, and placed it in a warm oiled pan. The delicious smells of sizzling pork, and ramen filled the air, making her sigh in satisfaction.
Before she could finish preparing her meal, she was interrupted once again, by the ringing of her phone. She groaned in annoyance, and quickly answered, holding the device to her ear.
"Yo."
"Is that how you greet your father?" a stern voice replied.
Rio straightened slightly. "Sorry, dad, I didn't know it was you."
"Hmph. Anyway, I called to make sure you were ready for the coming war. Your workshop is prepared I'm assuming?"
"Workshop? Uhhhh." Rio replied, looking around her apartment.
There was deep sigh on the other end of the line. "You never even bothered to set up a workshop, did you? I'm assuming your still lazing about in that hovel of an apartment of yours."
Rio flinched at those words. "It's not a 'hovel'." she mumbled.
"What did you did do with the money I sent you for your workshop then?"
"I didn't spend it." Rio assured. "It's all sitting in my account."
Her father groaned. "Do you even have a catalyst to summon your servant?!"
"Don't worry, I've at least got that covered." Rio answered. "It just got here today."
There was a short pause before he spoke again. "Fine. Just be sure not to screw up the ritual. And do not make our family look like more of a laughing stock than you already have. Am I clear?"
"Yeah." Rio replied sullenly.
"Good."
With that, the line went dead, and Rio pocketed her phone. She frowned deeply, and let out a long sigh. Her attention then turned to the newly arrived package.
She tore away the twine, and paper wrapped around it. The box inside was perfectly white, and was marked with the kanji for heaven. As she lifted the lid, she found the box had a plush interior. Nestled perfectly in the soft fabric was an antique flintlock pistol.
The woman moved her fingers across the surface of the weapon. She could sense a subtle magical energy from it. It had a menacing quality to it, as if the owners spirit still lingered on it. Like a stain that could never be fully cleaned.
She was pulled from her thoughts when a foul smell hit her nostrils. It smelled almost like smoke. As if something were burning. Her eyes then suddenly widened in realization.
"My shashu pork!" she exclaimed, rushing back to the kitchen.
London, June 30th, 1:45 pm
A draconic creature trotted through the halls of the clock tower. He was the size of a large mastiff and covered in red, armor like scales. A blade like horn sprouted from the end of his snout. His tail was long, segmented, and tipped with an almost scorpion like stinger.
He was on his way to deliver the package that was strapped to his back. Any of the mages he came across gave him a wide berth. They knew better than to linger around the dangerous beast. Some had made the fatal mistake of doing so, and even tried to study the beast in the past.
The creature soon found itself at one of the many doors of the tower. It stood before the entrance, and looked up to the crystal imbedded inside it. With a flash of magic light, the crystal scanned the creature. The door then swung open, allowing him inside.
He entered into a large study. Hundreds of books, and scrolls lined the shelves. Hanging from the ceiling, and set into the walls, were cages, jars, and tanks of various sizes. They held mostly normal animals, from owls to cats. However, there were several containing small fantastical creatures.
A large desk was placed at one end of the room, stacked with papers, and research materials. Glass vials of blood, and various fluids. Samples of hair, scales, and teeth. Preserved whole specimens of a variety of creatures.
Sitting at the desk, was the draconic creatures master. Aleister Barthomeloi, the head of the clock tower's zoology department.
He was a devilishly handsome man, with shoulder length chestnut hair. Two long bangs framed the sides of his face, and his eyes shone deep blue. He was dressed in a fine tailored suit a few shades darker than his eyes.
The man looked up from his work. " Ah, Vasilias! You have my package!"
Vasilias rumbled in response, and moved to his master's side. Aleister undid the strap that held the package in place, and set it on the desk. The man then reached into a small cage nearby, pulling out a live rat. He hung the animal over Vasilias, before tossing it in his direction.
The draconic creature snapped up his treat instantly, quickly swallowing it down. Aleister gave him several pets on the head, and ran a finger under his chin. Vasilias let out a rumbling purr at the attention.
For most of Aleister's life this had been their relationship. Like a boy, and his loyal dog. But Vasilias was more than just some mutt. He was the culmination of the research done by his family for generations. A powerful phantasmal beast beyond any normal familiar.
A basilisk.
Basilisks were distantly related to dragons, the most powerful of phantasmal species. Aleister hoped that one day, his family could achieve the impossible. The summoning of a mighty dragon by a mortal mage in the age men.
After giving the basilisk another few pats, Aleister turned his attentions to the package before him. Inside, were the last of the materials he needed for the summoning. The catalyst had arrived just yesterday, and now he had everything that was required.
"Soon, I will have my own servant!" the man exclaimed. "Oh isn't it exciting, Vasilias?!"
The basilisk merely growled in reply.
Aleister had been elated at the prospect of finally summoning his servant in the war. After all, servants were the most powerful of familiars. For one such as Aleister, who specialized in conjuration magic, it was a dream come true.
"Oh, the research I could gain from just a servant alone! Even without winning the fruit of Eden, it will be a 'fruitful' endeavor."
He snickered at his joke, and rose from his seat. The man couldn't wait any longer, and moved to make the final preparations for the ritual. A broad smile was plastered on his face as he moved, and Vasilisas trundled behind him.
Cambridge, June 30th, 4:15 pm
Cleo stood in her study, looking over several tomes. The blinds were all drawn, allowing only the barest slivers of light inside. In the center of the room was a complex magical circle. She had just spent the better part of an hour, making sure it was absolutely perfect.
Candles ringed the circle, providing a little more light. The circle itself was drawn in black ink, laced with faint traces of silver. In the center of the circle lay the catalyst for the servant's summoning. A weathered, leather shoulder guard, bearing a golden fleur de lis.
The young woman closed the books in front of her, and took in a deep breath. She then moved to the circle, closing her eyes, and holding out an outstretched hand. Magical circuits crawled up her arms, and ran down her cheeks like tears. Once she was absolutely sure her mana flow was perfect, she began.
Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation
Let gold be the colour I pay tribute to.
Let my great Master Hoenheim be the ancestor
Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall
Let the four cardinal gates close.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate.
I hereby declare.
Your body shall serve under me.
My fate shall be your sword.
Submit to the beckoning of the Forbidden Fruit
If you will submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!
An oath shall be sworn here!
I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven.
I shall have dominion over all evils of Hell!
When last of the incantation crossed her lips, the magical circle glowed with blinding light. The catalyst inside was consumed by the burst of magical energy. It beckoned to the throne of heroes, resonating with a powerful soul. It then acted as the spirits anchor as its incorporeal form was birthed into a new vessel.
There was another flash of light, that whipped up a powerful gust of wind. Cleo was nearly blown off her feet, but stayed firm. Then, when the energy dissipated, small arcs of magical electricity arced off of the form that now kneeled within the circle.
She was a woman only slightly older than Cleo herself. Her wavy dark brown hair was tied into a neat ponytail. Her cheek bore a visible scar, and her skin was slightly tanned. She wore fine leather armor, dark pants, gloves, and riding boots. Holstered at her hip was rapier, a dagger, and a flintlock pistol. The catalyst that summoned her covered her shoulder, the fleur de lis now shining in the low light.
"I have heeded your call." she began. "I who bear the title of Saber, shall be your blade, and your shield, my lady. Our contract is sealed."
The woman stood to her feet, and took Chloe's hand. Before the other woman could react, Saber kissed it gently, and bowed.
"Enchante, Master." she greeted with a charming smile.
A faint blush bloomed across Cleo's cheeks. She then snatched her hand away, and cleared her throat.
"Yes, well, it's good to meet you as well, Saber."
Saber smirked, and stood straight, taking a moment to look about the room. Cleo took the time to study the other woman for a moment. It was a surreal feeling to think that standing before her was a hero of the past. Someone who had performed great deeds, that were spread throughout the world.
"You're...not quite what I was expecting." Cleo commented.
Saber moved to a nearby shelf, and smiled at her. "Trust me, master, though I might not look it , I am quite capable. And not just in combat."
Saber added a wink with that last statement, making Cleo blush anew. She quickly brushed her embarrassment aside, and scowled.
"Alright, that's enough of that!" she exclaimed. "Please try to keep your sauve comments to a minimum."
"I'll do my best, my lady." Saber replied. "Though I can't guarantee anything. I've been told I'm a natural charmer."
"I'm sure." Cleo replied, crossing her arms.
Saber poked a nearby bauble. "So, master, what's our first move?"
"Unfortunately, there's not much we can do." Cleo answered. "We can't really make a move until we receive word from Eden's envoy. Then, the first trial should commence. Though, that could take weeks depending on the other masters."
Saber nodded. "You've done your research."
"Of course!." Cleo huffed. "Being properly prepared is always key to success."
"True enough." Saber remarked. "However, in my experience, one can only prepare so much."
"Duly noted. For now, we should stay on guard in case another of the masters decides to make an early move."
Cleo paused, scowling. "I can think of one master who could. I heard rumors Aleister Barthomeloi was chosen as a master. He's one of the highest ranking members of the association, and he's here in england."
Saber leaned a hand on her sword. "Do you have any information about the other masters?"
"None." Cleo replied, shaking her head. "They're most likely scattered throughout the world, so even with my resources it could be hard to pin them down."
"Understood." Saber replied with a bow. "I'll be sure to keep a close eye out. If any servants come close I'll be able to sense them."
"Good." Cleo nodded. "The bounded field around this place should protect us, but one can never be too sure."
Tokyo, June 31st, 12:00 pm
Rio looked over her scribbled notes, scratching her head. All of her furniture had been moved aside around her. All to make room for the summoning circle marked into the wooden floor. It had been a hassle to get everything she needed into a room that was big enough.
"Maybe I really should have sprung for a workshop." she sighed. "Oh well, nothing to be done now."
With the catalyst in place, Rio recited the incantation. Despite her less than stellar job, the circle reacted to her call, shining with blinding light. The air resonated with magical power, making her windows shudder behind her. She could practically taste the intense energy as it crackled off of the edges of the circle.
With one more burst of light, the vessel for her servant took shape. Rio stepped back cautiously as she saw her servant's aura. Like tendrils, red energy rose off of their body, swirling with black. Then, with a wave of their hand, they dismissed it, allowing Rio to finally see them in full detail.
She was a woman, looking to be in her late twenties. Long black hair flowed from the back of her head, touching all the way to waist. Her eyes were the deepest red, and seemed to almost glow. She was dressed in a black military jacket, and pants, decorated with golden buttons. A hat with a similar style sat atop her head, bearing a golden sun medal. Draped about her shoulders was a long red cloak, and strapped to her side was a fine katana.
The woman narrowed her eyes at Rio, and drew her katana. Rio stumbled backward, falling onto the floor, staring at her with a mixture of bewilderment, and fear. Then, with authority, the dark haired woman thrust her katana into the floor, and pointed a finger.
"You! Are you the one who called me to this era?!" the woman demanded.
Rio swallowed, and nodded in reply.
"Very well!" the woman exclaimed "You aren't the first person I would pick as a retainer, but you will have to suffice. I am the demon archer, Oda Nobunaga, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven! Be grateful that I would make a contract with one such as yourself!"
Rio nodded dumbfoundedly, and stood to her feet. She then dared take a step forward, and bowed her head.
"T-thank you? I'm Rio K-kurosawa. It's nice to meet you, Archer."
Archer narrowed her eyes. "I would prefer 'Nobunaga-sama.' But I suppose the rules of this war must be abided. After all, learning the identity of a heroic spirit can help aid the enemy."
"If you really believe that, why did you announce your name like that?" Rio sighed under her breath.
Archer sheathed her sword. "Now, let us drink, to celebrate my glorious return! Bring out the sake!"
Before Rio could reply, there was a knock at the door. Archer turned to the entrance, quickly taking up an aggressive stance. In a flash of red light, a black, and gold, matchlock pistol appeared in her grip.
"Woah, easy, Archer!" Rio exclaimed, moving into her path.
The dark haired woman narrowed her eyes. Rio quickly clapped her hands together, trying her best to be submissive.
"P-please, Nobunaga-sama." she began, making it up as he went. "T-there's no need to d-draw your weapon. Umm, let your, h-humble retainer handle this. No need to dirty your hands right? Once I've dealt with this, I'll pour some sake, alright?"
Archer harrumphed, dismissing her gun. "Very well. But be quick about it."
Rio offered a quick bow, and moved to the door. She cracked it open, to peer outside. In front of her stood Ms. Mikawa, one of her next door neighbors. She was an old woman, easily in her seventies, with a round figure.
"Kurosawa-san, did you feel that quake just now?" the old woman asked. "It felt so much closer than they usually do."
"O-oh yeah." Rio answered. "Not sure what's up with that."
"I heard shouting from down the hall." the older woman continued. "Is everything alright? You didn't hurt yourself did you?"
"N-no everything is fine, Mikawa-san." Rio assured. "I-uh-have a guest right now, yeah. They're not used to quakes, so it just surprised them."
Ms Mikawa made a silent 'ah'. "Well, alright then. I was just making sure."
"Thanks, Mikawa-san. I'll see ya later."
With that, Rio closed the door behind her, sighing in relief. Before she could even take a moment to gather herself she heard a shout from the kitchen.
"Kurosawa-san! Your lord awaits their drink!"
"C-coming, Archer!"
As the young woman rushed to the kitchen she groaned mentally.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
London, June 31st, 3:15 pm
Aleister returned to the study in his private workshop, to see a strange sight. Much like his office in the clock tower, there were cages with animals, both mundane, and magical. Though he kept his more rare subjects here.
All of them were cowering in fear, backed into the deepest parts of their cages. The fish in the aquarium had all moved to one end of the tank. The only one not totally terrified, was Vasilias. Though, even he seemed to keep a respectable distance from the source of the animal's fear.
Sitting in one of Aleister's easy chairs, was a man, easily in his late thirties. His head was completely bald, and a long, thick, scraggly beard grew from his chin. He was dressed in black priest vestments, with a stole about his neck. Both of them were decorated with accents of gold filigree. His most striking feature of all though was his right eye. Which was fiery yellow with a black sclera.
The man looked up from the blood red book in his grip, and turned to Aleister. He offered the other man a large warm smile.
"Ah, master, you're back."
"Yes, Caster." Aleister replied, clearing his throat. "I merely had to take care of some business."
"I see." Caster nodded. "Forgive me for startling your pets, master. They are unnerved by my presence."
Aleister moved to his desk. "Oh, I'm sure they'll get used to you."
"You seem to have a liking for phantasmal species." Caster remarked, standing from his seat. "I can appreciate that."
Aleister puffed up a little proudly. "Of course. I've dedicated my life to their study. Like my many ancestors before me."
Caster moved to stand over his master. He was tall, and intimidating, his shadow looming over the other man. However Aleister was not afraid. As long as he had command spells, there was nothing to fear.
"Well, master, if phantasmal species are your interest, then I believe I can show you much."
Aleister quirked a brow, intrigued. "Is that so?"
"Yes, master." Caster replied, with a slight bow.
The tall man held out a hand, with a mere phrase there was a bright flash of light nearby. It spread out as flame, and created a cloud of sulfur, and ash. From within the cloud, a small miniature devil sprung forth.
"An imp!" Aleister exclaimed.
Caster chuckled, and motioned the creature over. The tiny demon fluttered toward him, and perched onto his shoulder.
"This is amazing!"Aleister laughed, standing from his seat.
"This a mere parlor trick." Caster remarked. "I can show you so much more."
Aleister looked up to Caster, and beamed. "Caster, I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership."
"As do I, master, as do I."
Author's Notes
This my first Fate fic, and I hope you enjoy it. I've recently gotten into the franchise, and was just really inspired to write something. Reviews, comments, and criticisms are greatly appreciated.
Now its time for your fun history fact of the day! Li's jacket, a tangzhuang is a psuedo traditional piece of chinese clothing. It is an updated version of the magua. A traditional jacket worn during the qing dyanasty. The magua is itself an adaptation of riding jackets worn by manchu horsemen.