"Gudao, where are we?"
He said while looking around, trying to find his bearings.
"Hell if I know?! We were rayshifted together!"
His twin grumpily replied while massaging the back of her head.
The portal spat them out from a height of almost two stories and it was only their ingenious use of magecraft and durable mystic codes that protected them from the harsh fall. Where her sister landed butt first; he, on the other hand, landed face first- and both of them left small craters albeit his was a tad deeper. It was also a good thing that they landed on soft, muddy ground.
"Senpai, are you two okay?"
He looked up and Mashu's familiar face greeted him.
She stretched out both her hands and the twins immediately grabbed them. Mash was a demi-servant so she was able to pull them up even if she looked petite and frail. Gudao was still rubbing his eyes while Gudako was massaging her temple. It was only Mash who remained vigilant and watched the immediate vicinity with caution.
"Where are we anyway?"
There was still a slight irritation in Gudako's tone but she finally managed to get a grip on reality. She tapped the power button on her watch that doubled as a communication device.
"Areh? Is it broken?"
She tapped her watch a few more times before finally giving up.
Concerned, Mash peeked over Gudako's shoulder.
"What's the matter, Senpai?"
"It's not working!"
Gudako was starting to get hysterical now. Awful scenarios ran through her head. She was worried that they were rayshifted so far away that their connection to Chaldea was severed. She started pacing back and forth while Mashu's concerned gaze followed her. As the gravity of the situation hit her, she immediately stopped and observed her surroundings, watching out for hidden enemies. It wasn't really her fault, she had encountered her fair share of ambushes throughout all of her Chaldea missions. One can say that Gudako and her twin brother Gudao are battle hardened veterans now.
"What's the matter, Gudako?"
Gudao finally snapped out of confusion and walked near Gudako and Mash. His leisurely pace hid his wariness.
"Is it functional?"
Gudako's question was short and to the point. It conveyed the urgency of the matter. Through some sort of "twin sense", Gudao understood her but didn't reveal anything in case someone was watching them. After all, it wouldn't do if their enemies knew that they are now cornered and couldn't call for help. Instead, Gudao lowered his eyes to his partially hidden wrist which displayed the remnants of what was once a crystalline watch like device.
"It can't be helped. We should call for back up as soon as we find a telephone."
What Gudako actually meant was that they should summon another servant as soon as possible. Of course, through "twin sense", Gudao understood her leaving Mash the only one confused. It was even more confusing for Mash since her device was okay and in tip top condition.
Gudako, reinforced her eyes and scanned her surroundings. Meanwhile, Gudao let prana freely flow through his nostrils and scanned his surroundings through his nose. Mash stood at the centre front and in a defensive position, facing the line off trees behind them which marked the edge of the forest, ready to pounce and protect her masters.
So far, there was nothing unusual. They were on the shore of a lake and behind them was a dense forest. The midday sun was beating down on them and a gentle and refreshing breeze caressed their ruffled clothes smudged with muck. The sight was truly peaceful and soothing. If they were not on an urgent quest to retrieve a grail that was accidentally rayshifted, they would've had the time to enjoy the moment - even swim on the crystal clear lake or catch some fish that hid behind its serene surface.
Gudao estimated that the lake was a little deep, as deep as a three story building based on the large logs and boulders that settled on its bottom. The lake was also a bit wide, about the size of two football fields. While Gudao was making his mental notes about their surroundings, Gudako was busy drawing the summoning circle and etching the glyphs and runes that would empower it. Mash just watched her and helped Gudao in guarding the area.
"Gudao!"
Gudako shouted at her brother as she threw away the rock she hastily transmuted into a stone ritual dagger. His pants were now dripping wet since he had unknowingly wandered into the lake as he fell into his thoughts.
"Sorry."
Gudao was blushing hard. He was really, really embarrassed. He kept his face down and his apology was more of a subconscious murmur.
"Sheesh Gudao. I guess old habits die hard eh?"
Gudako was grinning as she teased her somewhat air head brother.
"I was just thinking okay?"
Gudao's justification just fell upon his sister's deaf ears and they fell into their routine banter. Gudako teasing him for being an air head while Gudao pointed out Gudako's borderline unhealthy obsession with the summoning ritual and her Servants.
"Uh... Senpai, shouldn't we... you know? Summon the Servants? We're kind of vulnerable right now."
Mash brought their focus back at the situation at hand.
Gudao nodded in agreement with Mash.
"Yes, that's right"
He and Gudako took their positions in front of the circles. They were now facing the lake directly and the sun was now above them, which reminded them of a few sun deity related servants back at Chaldea.
"Well then. Gudao, are you ready?"
With a maniacal grin on her face, Gudako fished for saint quartz crystals in her pockets and threw them into the centre of the ritual circle. Her brother mimicked her and then they stretched out their arm, Gudako her left arm while Gudao had the right, towards the circle. The twins closed their eyes and began the chant.
Their magic circuits flared up and blue-green lines traced themselves from the twins' neck, to their spine and to their limbs. Meanwhile, invisible mass of mana started to coalesce inside their respective magic circles as their voices resonate throughout the area.
"Thy Origin is of Silver and Iron
Thy Cornerstone shalt be the Gem and the Archduke of Contracts
Thy Predecessor shalt be the Great Master
The Alighted Wind shalt become as a Wall"
The magic circles lighted up in a bright azure colour. Mash started to patrol the perimeter for possible hostiles.
"The Gates in the Cardinal Directions shalt be shut
Coming forth from the Throne, the Three-Pronged Road that led to the Kingdom shalt circulate.
Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill.
Repeat Five times.
But when each is filled, destroy it."
Fat beads of sweat trickled down the twins' cheeks even as dark clouds gathered above them and blotted out the sun. The rapidly decreasing temperature in their surroundings and the chilly wind that started blowing form both the forest behind them and the lake in front of them did nothing to cool off their bodies' raising temperature.
"I hereby declare
Humanities' will shalt be thine vessel
And the Fate of many shalt lie with thee
In accordance with the Law and if thou wilt heed to Reason, then answer my summons"
They focused the surrounding mana and bound it with wisps of their own od to fuel the summoning ritual. It seems that in this, world, the mana is more unresponsive and it takes more to force the ambient energies to follow the mage's will.
"I hereby swear
I shalt attain all the Virtues of Heaven
And I shalt rule over all the Dominions of Hell
With our hands, Mankind's Hereafter shalt be radiant"
They gave the ritual one last push and almost emptied their own magical reserves.
"From the Seven Heavens clad in the Three Great Words of Power
Come forth to the Circle of Binding
O Keeper of the Balance"
Blinding bluish-white light engulfed the area which was accompanied with a great surge in magical energy. The lake was slightly rocked which caused little waves to form. The fishes head deeper into the lake in fright. From the forest, flocks of birds flew out and the beasts ran away from the site of summoning. All around the world, the ones considered as strongest beings recoiled from the sudden magical pulse they felt. It was as if they were electrocuted briefly. They were dazed for a second but they immediately regained their senses. With furrowed brows each one of them decided to do an intensive investigation on the strange magical pulse they felt.
hey guys... the FGO crossovers section's a little lonely and quiet huh?
so i made something up...
just a short one-shot since i haven't chosen which world i will send the protagonists (though for some reason, my muse is nagging me to send them to the campione and/or high school dxd universe)
waddya think?
yeah?
nah?