The pieces were set. The cards were played. The court would be Fuyuki City; at the moment, it was just Fuyuki, a patch of land owned by the Tohsaka family, rich in leylines and away from the influences of the Church.

All three founders of the Ritual were present; Nagato Tohsaka, who owned the land. Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, who came up with the Grail concept, forged its alchemical procedures, and would ultimately become the first Grail vessel. Makiri Zolgen, who would conceptualise and create the Command Seals. Various observers were present, all Magi of other, uninvolved families, and all hopeful participants. Zelretch, the Kaleidoscope, was present to witness the event. Beside him, a tanned man underneath a hood crossed his arms, and observed as Justeaze sacrificed herself to become the Grail.

The objective was to reveal Akasha, and regain the Third Magic, one of the True Sorceries left in the World, through the actualisation of an omnipotent wish-granting engine borne of thaumaturgy and sacrificed, powered by the souls of heroes from the Throne, within the Root itself. All that had to be done was the sacrifice of seven Servants, and the making of the wish. Only one wish could be granted, but all that meant was that only one family would reach Akasha. Simple, if crude.

Both Zelretch and the tanned stranger knew that there would be five Holy Grail Wars, and not once would a wish be granted. Zelretch knew, for this is not the first time he has witnessed its foundation. Being the Kaleidoscope, he wandered the Multiverse for personal amusement, and generally these incidents resolved themselves. The tanned stranger knew… because he was much the same.

Now, he was a nameless entity, an enigma, a spellcaster barely worth recognition by traditional Magi. Handsome, certainly, with strong features. Fit, with a chiseled physique underneath his baggy robes. Commander of mighty powers indeed. But not in Thaumaturgy. Now, he was nobody.

Forty thousand years in the future, he would be known as the God-Emperor of Mankind.

And, Zelretch being Zelretch, he was acquaintances with a man that would, in the distant future, become akin to a God.

To his knowledge, this is the first time he intervened. Most of the time, the man who would become Emperor was content to let the ritual pass by, and let history run its course. Perhaps this was a rare occasion where he would intervene. Perhaps it was not the Emperor at all.

Either way, Zelretch grinned, it would be something to see.

Just what is it did you add to the ritual?

A few ideas into Justeaze's head. The ritual will not just access the Throne of Heroes.

Oh? While all others were enraptured by the spectacle of the Einzbern sacrifice, the Kaleidoscope's lips curled up slightly. What other places, my Lord Emperor?

Don't patronise me like that, Schweinorg. It is forty thousand years too early, and I dislike it all the same.

And yet you let them call you that all the same.

What other choice did I have? No matter. He sighed, softly. The Holy Grail will also access a psychic beacon of great power, though one that does not exist yet. The same one that sustains my consciousness right now.

You linked the Holy Grail to the Golden Throne?

Yes.

You realise that, assuming things carry on as usual, the Grail will become corrupted in the 3rd War?

I've taken it into consideration. The Golden Throne is where the greatest heroes of mankind - and only mankind - are taken to rest. Most of them anyway, he shrugs. Some get eaten by daemons before I manage to save them. Almost all of them, save for my Space Marines, are saints. Holy figures. Holy figures, who should prove to be capable of purifying the Grail in the act of summoning.

You've put thought into this.

My end goal demands it. If the Grail truly is an omnipotent wish granting device prior to its corruption, then the wish I and my saints and angels make will save the lives of billions.

You hope for much.

Hope, and faith. Two things I have in great supply, which is good because I have nothing else.

So, what will ensure that Servants from the Golden Throne are summoned instead of Servants from the Throne of Heroes, which they will undoubtedly be more familiar with?

I cheated. The Grail does take catalysts into account, but generally speaking unless it is a very powerful catalyst it will not call upon that servant. In addition, it prioritizes summons from the Golden Throne over the Throne of Heroes. Servants born of the Golden Throne and of the Throne of Heroes are comparable in power, however, so there should be no problem on that front.

My my. You rigged the system.

I rigged the system.

You are an awful person. I respect that.

Sadly, I cannot observe the fruits of my labour on this side. The strain is becoming immense, and my greater self is splintering further. The stranger looks at the Wizard Marshall, and nods at him. I trust you shall keep an eye on it for me?

The brat Nagato has the designs for the Jeweled Sword. I will keep up from time to time, at least.

You old rascal. Don't die too early.

In the blink of an eye, the future Emperor vanished.

And seconds later, so did Justeaze's sacrifice.

Numerous men and women winced and looked at their hands, and found articulate red tattoos carved into them.

"So begins the greatest magic of our time," Zolgen - now Zouken - snorts. "The Holy Grail War begins."