Fate/Generation - Chapter 1

Day One

It took quite a bit of willpower to get myself out of bed. Another long night spent training my body, both physically and mentally, left me more fatigued yesterday than I ever remember feeling in my life. I look around my bedroom and then out the window, the sun was shining brilliantly in the sky. I sit up and slide out of the bed, looking to the clock as I do. Five Forty-Five in the morning.

"Looks like I slept in a bit."

I make my way to the closet and dress in my school uniform. I'd rather not give my caretakers another reason to scold me, as the last time I was late for school had quite a few harsh reprimands. As I finish dressing, I make my way to the living room and prepare myself the morning tea. Once finished, I sat down at the table in the middle of the room and looked at the calendar I had left there last night. I pick up my marker and cross off another date.

"November 11th, it can't be much longer now."

I think back to my father, and the proud smirk he had when he told me of his plan for the 6th Holy Grail War.

"We've signed you up for a foreign exchange program to Fuyuki, Japan." he told me.

"You'll be there in time for the next Grail War, and with it you can achieve what me and your ancestors could not in our life times."

As his voice echoes in my head, I stand and return upstairs to look something over, as I still have a good deal of time before I have to leave for school. As I return to my room, I notice that my caretakers have still yet to wake up, they really do seem to be a very laid back couple. Once in my room, I go to the end table next to my bed and pull out the report I had seen many times before. The one that reminds me why I am here.

"Eleven years after the conclusion of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Magi Tohsaka Rin, Matou Sakura, Caren Ortensia, Lord El-Melloi II and Emiya Shirou attempted to purge to power of Angra Mainyu from the Holy Grail, which they had destroyed eleven years prior. The focus of this was to destroy the power of the Grail remaining in the world, even if the Grail itself was no longer existent. The purge was completed on November 12th of 2002, but the result was the return of the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail is predicted to return to Fuyuki exactly ten years after the purging was completed."

I smile slightly as I read over the article I was given by my father, which he was given by the Mages' Association. I looked at the calendar I brought up with me and looked at the date. I could almost feel the power coursing through my veins as I read it out loud to nobody in particular.

"November 11th, 2012."

After such long and intense training I was finally ready to fight for the Holy Grail in the stead of my Father, who's chance never came. I look to my clock, Six Twenty-two. I then smile and double check my uniform, making sure that I look presentable, and head back downstairs. I get my shoes on quickly and head out the door towards school, a good half an hour walk from here. As I move, I take out my cell phone and roam through my contacts, looking for somebody who would be able to answer. Before long, I come across somebody I know will answer. I press the call button and put it up to my ears, after a few rings I hear a very familiar voice on the end of the line.

"Sam? Hey! What are you calling me for?"

"Oh, nothing much, Tsubaki. I just wanted somebody to talk to while I walk to school, its a long way to go without anything to do."

I smile softly as I walk down the street towards Homurahara Gakuen. The person on the other end of the line is Mitsugamiyo Tsubaki, the first friend I made since I started attending school here is Fuyuki. She is in many of my classes and her friendly nature made her the best possible person to get close to.

"Right, sure thing! So what are you up to recently, you weren't in school yesterday."

"Yeah, that's right. I had something I needed to take care of, the school already knows, so don't worry about it. As for new things, nothing in particular comes to mind, just same as usual. What about you? Anything new about any clubs?"

"Not really, but the band concert is coming up in a few weeks. You should come!"

I laughed softly and continued down the street.

"I'll see if I have time, you know I'm always busy."

"Too often, you need to have more fun. Well, I need to get ready so I'll see you at school, bye!"

I snapped my phone shut after a curt reply, and as I slid my phone back into my pocket I could see my number one fear ahead of me. I must be walking faster than normal, because its not often I reach the Tohsaka Household this quickly. I eyed the building curiously and slowed my pace as I walked by, and my attention was drawn to the front door as it opened. I could see a young girl with long, strait black hair step out, her eyes met mine immediately. It would be too obvious I was avoiding her if I just pretended I didn't see her, so I'll have to acknowledge her.

"Hey there Tohsaka, heading to school?"

The girl, Tohsaka Haruki, was a acquaintance of mine. She is also the biggest threat to me in the Grail War possible, the famous Daughter of Tohsaka Rin and Emiya Shirou, the couple who both destroyed and restored the Holy Grail. She smiled a bit and started running over to me, school bag in hand.

"Senpai, hey. You're here before I got a chance to leave, that's a first isn't it?"

I smiled, nodded, and I looked her over for what feels like the millionth time. I've seen both Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin, and it does not take any sort of expert to see she resembles her Mother a lot more than her Father. Her long black hair is accompanied by bright blue eyes and skin one might consider to be nearly flawless. She's a year under me, and often talks to me when we walk home or eat lunch together.

"I guess it is, odd. I was just thinking about how I don't see your house this quickly after leaving for school."

She laughed, and I smiled. For the past three months, I've been able to keep it a secret from every Magus in the school that I myself have great magic potential. If I can continue this for just a short while longer, I'll have a great advantage when the Holy Grail War finally comes around. After a brief stand-still chat with Haruki, we begin to walk to school together.

Once we arrive at school, I see a familiar face at the gate. She is smiling brightly and waves me over the moment she see's me.

"Sam! There you are!"

Not wanting to break my appearance at school, I quickly break into a run towards her. She gets in a defensive stance as I charge. One she is in range, I pull my finger back and...

FLICK!

"...Ouch..."

I rub my forehead slowly as I struggle not to fall over. From what I have gathered, my plan to flick Tsubaki's pale forehead had backfired. She turned around and looked at me with a stupid grin on her face, then stuck out her tongue and laughed.

"Got you!"

"I guess you did, how did you get so good so quick?"

"Just use to it by now I guess, you'll have to work harder to get me now!"

We both laugh, and I look at Haruki, who quickly moving towards us both, also laughing.

"Sam-Senpai, Mitsugamiyo-Senpai, you two are going to hurt yourselves one day."

"I'm sure you're right, but its more fun knowing that."

Haruki looked as if she was considering my point for a moment, then nodded. We then made small talk as we usually do, and the first bell rung. Classes would be starting soon, so Haruki broke off and ran towards her class. I looked to Tsubaki and nodded, and we both headed towards class.

Both of us were in class 3-B, and had Ryuudou Sensei as our Homeroom Teacher. Once in class, I sat down at my desk and thought about the upcoming days until class started. After that, it was just a simple school day. I had lunch with Tsubaki and Haruki, as per usual, and left class as soon as the final bell sounded at the end of the day. I made my way quickly towards the front gate when I was greeted by a familiar face.

"Oh hey, Senpai. Heading home so early? You should join a club or something, or else everybody is going to think you're anti-social."

"Eh-? Oh... Matou, its you. I mistook you for somebody with reason for stopping me."

I smiled as I turned around to see his grinning face. Daichi Matou, the newest heir of the Matou family, and the first in three generations to have any sort of magic potential. He is a first year and seems to be on good terms with Haruki. On top of that, he resembles his father to the point that I was convinced that there could not have been a mother and that he was created using only a single set of genes. From his hair to his posture, anybody could tell he was the son of Shinji Matou.

"That's not very nice, Senpai. I was just saying you should join a club, like the Archery Club."

"Sorry Matou, but you know I have a lot of things to do after school. Besides, I could never do something like Archery."

"I suppose you're right. Alright then, see you."

As quickly as he appeared, he turned on his heel and headed down the street towards the Matou house. After he was a good distance away, I made my way up the same street towards home.

After I returned home, I quickly went to the basement to continue my preparations for the Grail War. I saw my desk in the far corner and smiled, I had been getting blood from the butcher a few blocks down the street, and I had enough for the ritual now. All that was left was waiting until it was time to summon the Servant, and I would summon the servant that would suit me best and win me the Holy Grail.

I double checked my notes and looked through the book my father gave me when he sent me here, everything seemed perfect. All that was left was to wait until tomorrow and then summon my Servant, then I would win the Holy Grail War and be the first Magus to ever reach the Root of all knowledge. I made a few last minute notes and then retired to my bedroom where I quickly fell asleep.

Day Two

I woke up the next morning feeling a bit tired, and saw that I had woken up early. I quickly repeated my everyday morning routine and made my way out the door towards school. I reached my hand into my pocket and began to make use of a plan I made up the other day. I would call Tohsaka-san and ask her out today. If she gave me any sort of sharp declination without and explanation, then I could most likely assume she would be participating in the Grail War. I dialed her number quickly and she picked up after only two rings.

"Sam-Senpai, morning. What's up?"

"Hey Tohsaka, getting ready for school?"

"Yep, just getting my shoes on now actually, why? You like walking to school with me so much that you want me to wait for you?"

"Haha, you may be right. But actually, I was calling to see if you were free tonight. Maybe we could go do something."

"Oh... oh... well. Umm... it's not that I don't want to but... I'm really busy tonight!"

"Oh, that's okay. What are you busy with?"

"I have a lot of homework I need to do."

I slowed my pace as I walked past the Tohsaka Household. Looking in through the window, I could see Haruki holding the phone to her ear. I casually made a way out of the conversation as I quickened my pace. Tohsaka never had homework, she always did it in class. Knowing this, there is a very good chance that I'll have to fight her. That, or I really am so repulsive that she doesn't want to go out with me. Probably the former, though.

"Right, right. Well, I just figured I would ask. See you at school then."

"Okay, bye Senpai."

I put my phone away and continued walking towards the school. After I arrived, I saw that something was off as soon as I could see the gate. Tsubaki was not there to greet me as she has been doing since we became friends. I scratched my head softly.

"She's sick today."

I turned around to see Daichi standing there, looking at the spot that Tsubaki may as well have claimed as her own property.

"She's sick today, she called me this morning."

"Yeah, I heard you. Just curious as to why she called you and not me."

"Isn't is obvious, she trusts me more."

I laughed. Daichi has been like this since I first got here. I'm not sure exactly what it is about him, but he just does not seem to be able to get along with me. While I often pretend to be upset about it, I could honestly care less.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it. Well, see you around Matou."

I quickly made my exit, I'd rather not hear any more from Daichi right now. I make my way quickly to class and let myself lose my thoughts in Ryuudou Sensei's monotone lectures about the history of Fuyuki City.

Come lunch time, I decided to head home early. If I went home before school was over, I would be able to summon my servant while my magic circuits were at there most powerful. I made my way over the fence behind the gym and made my way home as quickly as possible. Once home, I made my way to the basement. In exactly sixteen minutes, my magic circuits would be at full count.

I began preparations for the summoning, following the instructions from my father book to the letter. I painted the summoning circle with the blood I had ready, and soon everything was prepared. Now, I would summon my Servant, the first step to my winning of the Holy Grail War. I opened the book to the page I needed, made sure my I remembered what I needed to do perfectly, and then closed my eyes.

"Let thy body rest under my dominion, and let my fate rest in thy blade."

"If thou submittest to the call of the Holy Grail and if thou wilt obey this mind, this reason, then thou shalt respond."

"Let the descending winds be as a wall."

"Let the gates in all directions be shut, rising above the crown, and let the three-forked roads to the Kingdom revolve."

"Shut. Shut. Shut. Shut. Shut."

"Five perfections for each repetition."

"And now, let the filled sigils be annihilated in my stead."

"Set."

"I make my oath here."

"I am that person who is to become the virtue of all Heavens."

"I am that person who is covered with the evil of all Hades."

"Thou seven heavens, clad in a trinity of words,"

"Come past thy restraining rings, and be thou the hands that protect the balance,"

"Come forth to me!"

The summoning circle glowed a bright red and I could feel the sheer power of the summoning flowing through the basement. I kept my eyes closed until everything died down, then looked around.

"...Wait? W-where's my Servant?"

I looked around in a full circle, trying to find the Servant I summoned, but I could see nothing.

"The Spell book. I must have done something wrong, I really have no time for something like this and I might n-"

My words were cut off by the white skull mask that appeared to float in front of me. It seemed to stare into my very soul, and I could only answer it with a stare of my own. It was then that I felt the horrible throbbing on my right hand, and when I looked to see what was wrong, I saw it.

"Command Seals..."

There they were. On the back of my hand rested the three red markings, the sign of a master. I did it, which can only mean...

I looked back to the floating mask in front of me, which mad not moved an inch from where I had last seen it. It moved up and down very slowly from the breathing of the Servant, and I quickly thought of what to ask.

"You are my Servant, correct?"

The mask moved up and down slowly, and a hoarse voice came from it.

"You are indeed my Master, I shall be by your side until we claim the Grail."

I could only smile. Not only did I summon a Servant, but this one was loyal as well as strait to the point. I quickly thought of more questions.

"Alright, what class of Servant are you? And what Heroic Spirit? I need to know everything about you."

"I am Hassan-I Sabbah, a Servant of the Assassin class."

"Right, well, we have a lot to discuss now, so let go to my room. It will be much better than this dirty little place."

The mask nodded and followed me as I led it upstairs and into my room. Now to talk strategy. I slowly thought of what I could use him for, and then made up my mind. First, I would need to test his abilities as a Servant of the Assassin class, and I had just the perfect idea.

"Alright, Assassin. I have your first order."

The figure, which I could now see was a tall, thin, bald man with pitch black skin and clothing, nodded to me.

"I want you to go to the Tohsaka Household and watch them tonight. There is a very good chance they'll be summoning their Servant, so I want you to tell me what class they get. And their Epic Spirits identity if possible."

"Understood, I shall head out now."

Assassin dematerialized before my eyes and I could not detect his presence, perfect.