"Saito…"
A sweet but faint voice repeated.
The voice grew progressively louder, slowly dripping with irritation. But the boy remained still, lulled into a peaceful slumber. In a misty setting the raven haired boy found himself face flat snugly in between the bosom of a beautiful maid.
"Ehehee… Siesta-san…"
"SAITO!"
Immediately the sweet alluring voice twisted to one of pure rage. A small foot kicked him to the floor from the bed.
"NOOO!" Saito rubbed his face, he landed flat into the marble ground. But that was not the least of his concern. He was so close to achieving the best part of his dream before he was forced to snap back into reality.
A beat red Louise grabbed him by the collar. "Uh wait! I could explain...!"
"Nnh…forget about it. Get dressed. We need to go meet the Queen." Louise tossed him down to the floor and began changing herself.
The befuddled boy grabbed Derflinger wondering what dire situation would spare him from his mistress' punishment.
When Louise and Saito finally arrived to the castle the duo was greeted by a violet haired woman at the main gate. Her beautiful yet regal appearance exudes a certain unexplainable radiance.
In a well-rehearsed fashion, Louise dropped to her knees.
"Your Highness what do you ask of me?" The fluffy haired girl asked dutifully.
"Please do come in my dear Louise, I have something urgent to tell you."
After the trio entered in her Majesty's private quarters, the violet haired queen sucked in a deep breath as if she was preparing a recited speech.
"First I want to preface this with a story. It is something that has been kept hidden from even the highest ranking nobles."
With a small gulp Louise nodded.
"The only people who know of this are the participants." Louise shot a wary glance at Saito, half expecting him to mess up.
"Sorry for the short notice Louise, but it was only recently I became aware of the current situation."
In truth Henrietta has already been alerted of the upcoming magic tournament. The delay was actually because of her refusal to put her best friend through something life threatening.
"It's okay your majesty, I'll do what you ask of me."
Henrietta nodded; the bonds between the two of them had only strengthened over the year. The queen of Tristain knows that when Louise makes a promise she will do everything she can to deliver.
"There is an ancient ritual that has been practiced between the countries of Halkeginia, including even the elves."
Saito leaned against the wall, arms folded. He hasn't been paying full attention but from the mood between the two beautiful girls he knew it was serious. But to him it wasn't about the reasoning or the politics, it was about protecting the one he loves. Therefore he had no reason to listen in on nobles' and their justifications.
"This ritual has been kept a secret from all nobles only the ruling monarch is passed down, not even the rest of the royal family is allowed to know, it is then we select the noblest warrior from within our nation, which is you Louise De La Valliere."
"Ahh… You really think to highly of me your highness." The blushing Louise cast her eyes to the side.
"No really, you were great, you and Saito saved Tristain numerous times from impending doom. Although I did not want to select you for this particular task…"
Louise's jaw dropped comically fearing she failed the expectation of the queen for some reason. Noticing her reaction Henrietta confirmed that it wasn't her capabilities that were the issue.
"This ritual… truly is pointless, in truth I have no idea what the intended purpose of this is other than the fact that the Pope of Romalia insists on keeping traditions. I didn't want to involve your life in potential danger over old traditions."
"Princess, just tell me what I have to do and I will do it, defeating the fleet of Albion and confronting Gallia's king! Surely there's nothing in this world that I'm not capable to accomplish under your name."
Henrietta nodded with a smile.
"Hm, very well then, this ritual is called the Holy Grail War, according to the Pope this ritual is as old as ancient records, the reason or the cause of it is unknown, the only detail that my father has passed down to me is that every 60 years the ruling monarch has to send representative to fight in a war. The winner is the sole survivor."
Finally Saito interjected upon hearing the word "war."
"Does that mean we're going to lead an army or something?"
"No, it's a war in the way that the participants kill each other, but as far as I know military intervention isn't allowed or disallowed, merely no one really bother sending in many lives to die needlessly over something pointless.
Both Saito and Louise nodded understandingly, so the Holy Grail War had no real purpose yet it was a tradition in which the strongest warriors from each nation fight to the death.
So that would be the reason why the queen was so reluctant in sending them towards such pointless bloodshed. But nonetheless, participating would be considered an honor for a nation, and winning it will be even more honorable. So it is a task Louise swore to succeed in.
The finer details were given later. In order to fight in the Holy Grail War the participant must first summon a familiar. To make matters worse it would appear that the elves are also participating. As soon as all the contestants summon their respective familiars they will then report to the designated battlegrounds for the war to officially begin.
"Gee I hope I don't mess up summoning a familiar this time." She shot a narrowed glance at Saito.
"You're still complaining about that?"
"But I do wonder what kind of familiar it would be this time, will it be a dragon? Or a griffon? Maybe another human since I am a void mage after all…"
The princess has actually no clue on what would be summoned by the Holy Grail War. Only the knowledge of its existence was passed down to her, not the actual information regarding the war's intricacies.
"Do you really need to summon another familiar? I mean you already summoned me right?"
"Hmph, it's one of the requirements, our familiar does not count, although they can still aid us." Louise's serious expression then turned to one of mischievous nature.
"Are you perhaps jealous that I'm going to summon another familiar?"
"What! Of course not!" Saito turned away from embarrassment. In truth he did feel that summoning another familiar was unnecessary, especially a void mage that tends to have a human as a familiar. What if someone like Julio gets summoned by her? That was a thought that won't stop pestering him.
"No, just get on with it."
Louise narrowed her eyes glaringly.
"Maybe now you will stop flirting with Siesta and Tiffania, after I summon a handsome prince!"
"Hey! Wait! If you already have a familiar, how can you summon another one how does that work."
"What a jealous dog you are." With a mischievous smirk the strawberry blonde mage held up her hand. On her pale skin was a red insignia, carved elegantly in a mysterious symbol.
"Wh-What's that?"
"It's the mark that proves that I'm fighting for her Majesty the Queen, this is what binds me to whatever familiar I summon, so no the rule about one familiar per mage does not apply."
"Ahh I see." Saito quickly regained composure, for he had already shown his embarrassing side enough and the more leverage he gives Louise the worse it'll be for him.
Please just stop bringing up Siesta and Tiffa was the only thoughts that went through his head.
"Hm, let's see according to the princess we need a catalyst that represents the familiar we're going to summon."
"Oh, and where are we going to get that?"
Henrietta interjected by taking out a long box from under her desk.
"My father told me to pass this down to whoever will be our representative."
Taking the box Louise opened it to find a decorative sword adorned with beautiful inscription etched on the blade.
"A lot of these ancient artifacts were found throughout Halkeginia."
The founder must have brought many different objects from my world…
Saito studied the old relic. The sword seems impossibly heavy to be used for combat as Louise had to place it on the ground after holding it for several seconds. Not to mention the sword was too decorative to be used in an actual fight.
"Listen Louise… the reason why the Holy Grail War is still a mystery to us is because… up until now there hasn't been a single survivor from any nation, the fights has been really bloody. So I ask of you, if you feel at any point your life is threatened; resign from the war."
"A war that goes on every 60 years since as long as history was recorded and not a single survivor?"
Saito's shocked voice elicited a glare from Louise.
"Yes… well at least not one survivor from Tristain, personally I do not know of any survivors from other nations as not even I know the full details. Louise, if you are scared I understand so you can deny this job, there won't be any hard feelings."
"No, ignore my stupid familiar. I'll do it. I'll make sure Tristain wins this time around."
"…Louise, really you are too kind to me… I also have one further request…"
Queen Henrietta wanted to watch the summoning of the mysterious familiar herself. For it was always considered a legend passed down throughout the generations. Henrietta's father did not fight in a Holy Grail War while her grandfather did, however her grandfather did not leave much details regarding the type of familiar. The only direction that was passed down was by Henrietta's ancestors, and they too left many details to be desired.
In any case the only directions seemingly required to perform the summoning ritual was a relic and a summoning circle. The chant itself was said to be flexible even to the point of none being required.
Louise drew out the summoning circle placing the gem sword in the center and with a huff she chanted "Summon Servant."
A simple but effective command.
The circle Louise drew out glowed red as the room filled with a mysterious energy. Unlike her initial summoning of Saito, there was no World's Door. There was just a figure standing before them.
She had messy blonde hair with ponytail tied with a red band. His eyes were like gleaming emeralds. She had a really pretty feminine face.
Her smirk, wide and proud, flashing her brilliant white teeth. Saito's heart skipped a beat when his eyes laid upon her majestic presence.
"Servant Saber, for what reason do you think you deserve me as your servant?"
She gave Louise a cheeky smile, awaiting the small girl's response. But the strawberry blonde mage was in too much of an awe to properly say anything. At first she felt the surge of disappointment when she summoned yet another human, disappointment akin to when she summoned Saito. Then she realized how beautiful the young woman looked. And finally she remembered to not underestimate human type familiars remembering how capable Saito, Julio and Sheffield were.
"Ahh… yes! Mhmm." Louise quickly recomposed herself in an effort to act high and mighty as she usually does.
"Ahh—huh!" Henrietta blinded in shock. Absently, she walked up, curiously studying the new human familiar, like a peasant child at a circus.
Saito too was intrigued; the girl who was just summoned looked similar to him in age if not younger. But that was not what caught his attention. The girl wore a large silver armor over red clothing. The armor itself appeared to be twice the size of the girl, yet she moved around it effortlessly. Her armor donned huge shoulder plates, so over the top that Saito half expected it to come out of a RPG. The design of it all made her appear to be a very high class noble or even one of royalty. Yet it still oozes a sense of knighthood and charisma like no other.
If Saito were to walk upon her one day on the street, there will be no doubt Saito would mistake her for a princess. While as tomboyish as her behavior and appearance exudes, she still holds a certain feminine charm.
"So you came from another world?" Henrietta clasped her hands together with big doe eyes. She was indeed behaving like a curious child.
"No, I'm just a heroic spirit from history. You may know me as Mordred Pendragon the old-"
she paused for a bit then clicked her tongue regrettably. "- king of Britain."
"A king…?" Louise muttered with disbelief.
"From the story of K-King Arthur!?"
Saito blurted out in disbelief. Mordred seemingly winced at the name of Arthur.
The legend of King Arthur is quite renowned throughout the world. While many may not know the full story of the legend but the name King Arthur itself is quite well known.
Louise narrowed her eyes at Saito, she wondered if he came from the same place as this mysterious blonde knight. Yet it made no sense because their attire was completely different and to make matters worse the blond knight denied being from another world.
"You know each other?"
"W-well not exactly, but from my world he has a famous legend surrounding him."
Henrietta tapped a finger on her chin. Being raised in royalty there was no way there could be a king she hasn't heard of in history. King Arthur was a name that did not resonate with her.
"I believe you came from the same world I came from!" Saito grew excited as he inched his way towards the girl who claimed to be the "son" of King Arthur.
Wait a second Saito thought.
Mordred if he recalled properly was supposed to be the son of King Arthur. Yet the figure that stands before him now is a young girl. But ultimately he rejected any and all doubts, since he only knew the name of Arthur not the story itself.
"Different world?" the red knight looked amuse at the raven haired boy. Her jade orbs flared with condescension.
"See, look outside!" opening the window, Saito pointed at the two moons whose color is nowhere near normal in Earth terms.
"Huh, this is indeed odd..." The blonde knight nodded to herself in a somewhat annoyed manner.
"Just kidding, I already know that I'm summoned in a different world." crossing her arms, she dematerialize the heavy body plate into less than modest red clothing.
Saito blinked with a stupefied expression.
"You know..? How?"
"The grail told me everything I needed to know, this is also why we are able to speak the same language." the beautiful knight winked cheekily.
The humans all nodded thoughtfully in unison as if they were in a choir.
"Wow this Holy Grail, it's something else… I wonder how could such a powerful artifact exist?" The princess contemplated silently.
"Well, I'll go make myself comfortable around this new place." Stretching, Mordred made her way out without another word.
"H-hey wait!" Louise tried to explain, that she shouldn't freely move around the Princess's castle at her whim without asking permission.
Ringing a bell Henrietta summoned Agnes to the room. "Agnes, help our new guest around the castle."
"Yes your majesty!"
Henrietta shifted her sight towards Saito with gleaming eyes, like that of a curious kitten. "Saito you have to tell me more about her, you two seem to know each other!"
Saito sighed, he didn't want to disappoint the princess but he didn't really know how to explain who Mordred was. Up until now he just know of the name Mordred, the gender itself was murky to him. Apparently she's a girl when he thought she was a guy. He was even less educated on the story itself. He only knew some names like Lancelot, Arthur and Mordred. Beyond that he was just as clueless as two girls in front of him were. But he tried explaining anyway, and answering questions as best he can.
"So Mordred was a name from your world, a really ancient person that's supposed to be dead?"
"Yeah… it's weird… your magic must have been able to summon her through both space and time."
Louise normally would love a compliment like that but in truth she did nothing out of the ordinary to summon such a familiar. So she cannot claim such credit. Something else summoned the familiar and she just acted as the anchor. Just how powerful was this Holy Grail? This question would not stop pestering her throughout the night.