It's been fifteen years since the war of destiny; a battle for the Holy Grail of Fuyuki. Considered the Fifth time since its inception by the accounts of its founders, the Tohsaka, Matou and the Einzbernz families. During the climactic battle, held after the disastrous unveiling of the grail's true corrupt nature by the incarnated Heroic Spirit, Gilgamesh, who was the survivor of the previous conflict. Shirou Emiya, thanks to Avalon and Rin's Magic Crest, was able to utilize Unlimited Blade Works to utterly defeat the mad Heroic Spirit and in turn, Rin used the last of her Command Seals to order Saber to destroy the overflowing incomplete Holy Grail. With the war over, peace was had for the victors and a new relationship bloomed in the aftermath.
Though Shirou ultimately declined working for the Clocktower -thus a tentative relationship made with the Mage Association- and Rin went ahead to complete her scholarship degree to hone her Magecraft and become more distinguished. All the while, Shirou went on a sojourn across the world, searching for his own fate and living life as a vagabond hero; always willing to lend a hand or a blade to those who need it. This was the way things went, and every so often he'd return home to his beloved Rin, staying for a spell, before venturing off again while keeping in touch with her.
But, after a long while something occurred that pulled him away from his personal venture; something he hoped he'd never hear about again.
F-A-T-E M-A-V-E-R-I-C-K
I
The Chalice's Call
Lord El-Melloi II had enough things on his plate to handle other than taking care of issuing out a debrief. He was in charge of the tasks of the El-Melloi family, much of which involved paperwork about ongoing Thaumatergy projects, ongoing excavations and restructuring more of the growing clan's coffers; but that mattered little to the higher-ups, of course. The man previously known as Waver Velvet had repaired the damage done to the man's noble house -the previous El-Melloi Head whom was a professor who lambasting him in his own classroom- which was left in shambles due his failure in the 4th Grail War. Even going as far as saving the Archibalds' research Kayneth nearly lost in his absence, he was heralded as 'The Savior of the Archibalds' and subsequently became the new Lord El-Melloi.
But the reminiscing of his pseudo-family's troubles and his own personal responsibilities came second to orders from the Queen of the Clocktower, Bathomeloi Lorelei.
Hearing a knock on the door, the long haired man didn't look up from the aforementioned papers he crammed in before the meeting. A belated sigh through the nostrils, and he raised his voice loud enough for the guests beyond to hear, "Enter."
"Sorry to take up your time, Lord El-Melloi-"
"The Second," He corrected with a stifled snort, raising his eyes up at the first entry into his office.
"Eh-yes, sorry," Rin Tohsaka apologized again, entering the room dressed the part of being a regaled and accomplished Magus of the association. A crimson, long-sleeved coat, complete with its own hood, draped past her onyx dyed skirt and similiarly hued stockings. Her blouse was a burgundy with a bow that possessed the crest of her family in its center. Her hair, left long and down past the middle of her back, ruffled on her shoulders as she hauled in the second entrant.
By his left ear.
"We would've been here sooner if this slacker had gotten out of his bed on time," She added, too sweetly, much to the chagrin of the tall adult that hobbled in, undignified-like. He was dressed in what looked like a personal craft of a Magus: a crimson long-sleeved coat with black form-fitting plating that was akin to the fabric framing the front of his torso, while the rest of his slacks were black down to the boots below. The red haired man's complexion looked a bit more tan after the decade and a half he fought the Fifth War, but his matured physique and defined jawline did little to soften the look of annoyance crossing his amber eyes and the bed-head look his spiked red hair had.
"No need to grovel, Missus Tohsaka," Lord El-Melloi II replied smoothly, holding a hand up to her for emphasis, gesturing to the pile of papers -some of which were stacked neatly while the rest yet-to-be-done were left astrewn in front of him- for example. "Due to recent developments for the Archibalds in various fields I've fallen behind with filing and ordering work to be done due to my lectures to my various students-in-waiting. Catching up for an additional half hour was a bit refreshing; so long as you don't make it a habit, I can disregard the tardiness."
"Thank you so much!" Rin emphasized, releasing Shirou's ear long enough to pull on his scalp to bow with her to seated man; much to the red-head's chagrin.
"Right," Waver sighed, clasping his hands together, awaiting for them to take their seats. Once properly settled, he began addressing the pair in his usual pensive stoic stare -one that those who didn't know him thought was a passive scowl- as he looked into both of their eyes with the utmost seriousness. "I'm sorry to pull you away from your respective duties and personal ventures, but as you've no doubt been told, this situation is something we couldn't afford to not call you both."
"You mentioned it had something to do with the previous Grail War?" Shirou finally spoke up, though Rin seemed to share the sentiment by silently nodding with agreement.
"In part," The man replied, his attention veering back and forth between the two while his hands folded onto the desktop. "You were the victors -or rather, the survivors- of Fuyuki's Fifth Holy Grail War. While you were publicly lauded by the Mage Association for the accomplishment, the Clocktower opening its doors to you both, the whole situation seemed suspect given you had no prize to showcase the spoils. So you were both investigated, discreetly, and everything that was found out was classified and kept under locked file. Did you know what they found out?"
"That the game was rigged from the start?" Rin asked, rhetorically speaking, with a glare armed at Lord El-Melloi II as if he was targeting her for something when she knew better.
"Funny you mention that," The Archibald head raised a brow at Rin's retort. "From the information we uncovered, it seems that Kirei Kotomine didn't just spontaneously become a menace to the Mage Association on accident. He was in complete confidence with your father in the Fourth War, even going as far as misusing the Overseer -whom was his father- to abuse the neutrality and access of information he possessed to give them an advantage over the competing masters. Allegedly, it seems that he may have murdered him at some point along with your father, which corroborates with the testimony you gave the association upon your immediate questioning. Had you been present in the previous war and a willing participant if not assistant to him in any way, you would be in particularly hot water with both the Church and the Mage Association."
"But I wasn't part of my father's schemes, so we can just drop that," She flatly rebuked, her eyes getting steely as her hands balled up on the arm rests of the wooden chair.
"Tohsaka," Shirou began to intercede, trying to placate his romantic partner. "Can we not be confrontational? It's not his fault-"
"Emiya, I rather not be patronized by the man who couldn't be bothered getting up on time for our meeting! You got us to the plane in record time, but now suddenly you can't be bothered to wake up on time!"
"Uh...but...you were the one who set the alarm and told me you'd wake us both up," Shirou sheepishly corrected her. This caused her to shift from irate anger to something akin to shock and shame. Seeing her become beet red, Shirou backpedaled and scratched the back of his head, chuckling aloud. "Then again, I bear some blame when I insisted to set my alarm too."
"Y-You better remember that, Shirou," She stammered under her breath, looking away a bit cutely while he smiled at her endearingly.
Clearing his throat, Waver continued the point of his bringing it up, "What we had discovered was that the Greater Grail that was used for Fuyuki had, at some point, been tampered with in the past. Something poisoned the wish granting device and thus made it very chaotic and unwieldy to even experienced mages. Thanks to your efforts, that source should be theoretically cleansed; only time will tell if it destroying the corruption has done any good.
"As for how that relates to this matter...we found that, upon its destruction, a piece of it was missing. We didn't think anything of the time, normally when an artifact of such importance is eradicated, the pieces usually dissipate after awhile. Mana unattended usually just converts back into its original form once the miracle is complete or is disturbed. However, there was a distinct presence that wasn't there before that had secured a piece of the grail not long after you had concluded your business in the war. The culprit has been sure to cover its tracks and we cannot identify who or what has it and what plans for it are fathomable for something as powerful of a relic as this."
"If you don't know who took it, how much good would a piece of the grail be?" Rin asked, her eyes furrowed with confusion. "From what I'm told, the Greater Grail is manufactured out of a vessel of some sort; the incarnated servant of Golden-Boy twisted it by shoving its core into an unfit vessel before all of the Servants' energy could be fused into it. Even from something as broken as that has a use?"
"Every piece of history has significant relevance to the existence of a Miracle that can be performed. So long as it is authentic, you can theoretically create the grail based on the Thaumatergic DNA belying its excreted fragments. It's not too different how the Lesser Grail creates the re-imagined Heroic Spirits that possess the personality, soul and desires despite being a phantasmal familiar," The Archibald Head explained smoothly, not skipping a beat in this debrief. Frowning, he licked his lips and looked at the paperwork in front of him, as if envisioning the problem. "But because the Greater Grail's fragment has been recovered by a party unknown, they can craft their own grail to suit their own ends; unknowns can lead to a cataclysm to humanity or a billion curses ready to spill forth, the consequences too great to ignore."
"Well, we'll do what we can to stop it," Shirou assured him, his eyes lighting up and his smile matching his overflowing confidence oozing every iota of his being. "If we did it once on accident, we can do it assuredly again on purpose."
"Smooth," Rin snorted, smirking at her husband's response being awkward yet straightforward. It was the endearing part of his character why she fell in love with him in the first place. Foolish to a fault, he may be a damaged man but his forthright chivalrous attitude was sincere in a world clouded by self-serving, amoral entities and factions. In the decade in a half she knew him, she's glad he hasn't wavered from what made him great.
"If you're both in agreement then I'm told, on behalf of the Mage Association and the leadership of the Clocktower that we are forever thankful for your contribution to our efforts in reducing a potential tragedy to something more manageable," Lord El-Melloi II drummed out, as if rehearsed, before straightening up in his seat and placing his hands on the armrests. "Now, if you require any form of catalysts for the summoning, I'm to assist you in any way we can; within reason of course."
"Since you're feeling generous," Rin cheekily leaned forward, cocking her head to the side while giving a look that made the older man shift uncomfortably in his chair. "I have a few suggestions, if you got the time."
"You can send me the list you have in mind, Missus Tohsaka. If that's all you really need, I have to tell you where we've detected the Ley Line in where the Holy Grail is supposed to manifest," He informed, making sure not to look too long in Rin's eyes for fear of feeling his spine leap out of his back in fright of such an intimidating stare. Seeing she was getting nowhere, she sighed and leaned back into her seat a bit dejectedly, with Shirou smiling sheepishly at her attempt to weasel a favor from the professor. Withdrawing a manila folder for each of them, they both took their sample and flipped through the contents of information necessary for the task at hand. "As you can see, this is a bit of a hot-spot for us to operate in. With an approximate Christian presence of a little over 2%, the Overseer is on high alert there for the faintest sign of trouble. Given the information we shared with the Church, they were very careful in who they chose; unfortunately, his usefulness may be a minimum to veterans of the war like yourselves."
"And since when has the Church done my family any favors?" Rin inquired with a pointed scowl towards the Archibald Head.
"Quite," He deadpanned, continuing his explanation once her eyes returned back to her folder. "So mind yourselves when in this country. While it is a neighbor to Japan, India doesn't operate with the same sensibilities we do and thus their customs are a bit...traditional, one could say."
"We'll try to respect their culture," Shirou proffered with a small smile, turning to look a bit more sternly at Rin who didn't look back at him. "Right, Rin?"
"Hm, sure," She dismissed offhandedly, flipping through some pages and photos. "I don't suppose we're privvy to the identity of the other masters?"
"Respectfully, when the other candidates stepped forth, we didn't disclose personal information to the others when they had went through proper channels. As much as it pains me, I must give them the same courtesy and not inform you either," Lord El-Melloi II smiled, seeming to enjoy the disappointment stewing in Rin's half covered by the folder. "But, I'm sure it isn't without merit that both of you enter as masters into this war."
"Both?" Rin and Shirou asked this at once, exchanging looks and then at the man sitting across from them.
"Yes, both. I don't see why not, given we're asking the two of you to help us solve the mystery and hopefully lay claim another victory to your family name," Waver replied in affirmation, clasping his hands together as he measured the both of their countenance thoroughly. "However, this is within the boundaries of you keeping the tenets of the previous grail wars and that you don't slander the delicate reputation you've set yourselves up over the past fifteen years. Hopefully you won't squander this by making fools out of yourselves?"
"We definitely won't!" Shirou enthusiastically insisted, while Rin just looked ecstatic at having two Servants aiding them instead of just the one she was expecting.
Things seemed to be going well for them; inwardly, they wondered when that luck would go sour?
The time has come.
Kyrios Cirque had invested an ample amount of time into the rising fame of his name, in both company and reputation as a Magus. Operating out of the Mediterranean almost exclusively, the mage had done everything from solving hauntings, discovering lost sites of ancient time to creating revolutionary technology that infuses natural resources with mana absorption. Needless to say that his willingness to participate in this sudden grail war was fortuitous, given the artifact he had just obtained.
The mark had appeared on his hand not long afterwards.
There was a certain kind of exhilaration that came with finding that you were chosen, at random, to be a part of the prestigious event known far and wide in the world of mages. Though his family had recently become established since his taking the mantle as its leader, he nor his ancestors have left any definitive mark like some of the most noteworthy clans or noble families that have come before his time. This was the golden opportunity to show that it isn't just riches and influence that he possessed but the natural inclination that he was deserving above all others; something that he was determined to earn, if necessary.
Looking over an extravagant vista of the excavated site where they found his prize, the white cloaked man surveyed the beauty of the island he was currently based at. Holding his hands behind him -concealing the mark as Master with it- he was eager to begin the ritual. If this grail was unlike any other, it would do the heavy lifting and all he needed to do was obtain the Servant he desired through simply calling it forth. Inhaling deeply, he exhaled, hearing a knock on his room door as if on cue.
"Enter," Kyrios allowed with a brisk sound of his voice.
Opening the door, a woman of voluptuous curves wearing a pencil skirt finessed into a business suit tightly wrapped around her figure. Her skin was considerably closer to the average persuasion of those living near the sea, olive hue with a hint of caramel, which reflected in light amber eyes and a propped up bun of dark hair akin to mousse in texture and color that was braided by a pair of delicate silver crosses with rubies encrusted between the intersecting lines. With lips of burgundy and eye shadow of amethyst, her appearance reflected the extravagance of being an assistant to someone as revered as the man standing with his back to her.
"Preparations are all set according to your design, Mister Cirque," She informed him, her voice a brush of exotic butter with a cool ice that tempered any expectations. Looking at him up and down, she regarded him audibly. "I see you're dressed for the occasion."
"Of course," Kyrios turned around, exposing the fullness of his apparel. It was more accurate that the untarnished white cloak was a traveler's garb, with its hood unfastened to show his clean shaven head, revealing cobalt painted marks along his forehead that wrapped over and around his cranium in a particular pattern intricate to its design and fitting to his style of otherworldly influence. With eyes of bright green and his chin sporting a black goatee of a sharpened extension, the broad jawline and strong cheekbones filled out without seeing the equally white suit beneath his cloak that he was a man who prided his physique as well as his prowess in mystical power. "If I am going to summon someone as noteworthy as he, I must look my best."
"Well, at least you'd show up any of those slack-jawed simpletons in the Clocktower when it comes to fashion," She snorted, giving him an approving nod with a curled smile. "It'll do, though."
"Is the car ready?" Kyrios asked, though was already walking across the room without waiting for an answer.
"I wouldn't be up here if it wasn't," She replied smartly, already turning back to walk in front, though he quickly joined her right side with an expression -that her periphery could tell- was nothing but pure eagerness. "I can see you've been antsy."
"How can I not? For the first time in my family's existence, the Grail has chosen one of us; chosen me!" He ecstatically proclaimed, withdrawing his right hand to admire the design of blood hue carvings. Its image was that of a cyclops, with the head being the outermost carving while the face and the eye being the latter-most fixtures of its theme. "It stung for a bit, but it sure looks beautiful."
"Marks of blood burning onto a Mage's hand? Seems more than likely its an acquired taste, to be sure," She replied bluntly.
"Angelika, it seems you're not into this as much as I am," Kyrios noted, looking over at her from his staunch height while her head turned to his shoulder and looked up sardonically at him. "Is it because I gave you all that extra work to make sure this event was discreet?"
"If you had decided to do this at night, I wouldn't have to pull so many strings to ensure no one gets any funny ideas. So yes, I may be a little cranky, sir," She emphasized with deadpan stare.
"Well, I'll make sure to give you a nice weekend off for doing such a stellar job."
"Oh thank God," She exclaimed with an exaggerative raise of her head and arms. "Make sure a hot tub is included with that. I could use a tub right about now."
"In due time," Kyrios assured her with a chuckle, joining her in the elevator ride down. Passing by the lobby, only authorized personnel were allowed to be present; most of the usual employees and staff were vacated for the day, as per his request. Getting into the limousine, Angelika drove him to the site he was talking about. While being transported there didn't take very long, Kyrios couldn't help but soak in the scenery. This land was a part of ancient Greece's culture, written about in one of the most regaled epics that's still lauded to the modern day.
The isle of Ithaca, still populated by several thousand, now was going to be the starting point of Kyrios's journey into winning the Holy Grail War.
Pulling up to a recently broader excavation team's work on an old patch of preserved ruins, the car stopped and Kyrios stepped out of the vehicle towards the patchwork of beige to grey colored buildings that once was a stretch of structures that were of full splendor and glory to the one who lived within it. There, in the most center building was a ritual circle, comprised by red clay arranged in a pattern akin to a hound native to the isle's ruler; enamoring the outermost ring of the magic with ancient Ithacan coins.
Most importantly was an old, almost fossilized remains of a legendary bow. Though worn beyond conventional use, its string all but frayed and useless, the frame was intact and the elements were shielded from its earthly tomb beneath the palace's floor. With the setting set to his liking, Kyrios raised his hand, ready to begin the summoning.
Cleetus Silver wasn't your generic, run-of-the-mill Magus. Calling him such would be both a disrespect to his craft and an insult to legitimized mages in the association. No, what he was -if you'd run it on layman's terms- is a hunter. He'd specifically walk about the southern States near the border down Mexico and sometimes stray into Central America. There he was an expert at ferreting out trouble of many kinds: Monsters of unholy origin, spirits that haunt ancient remains to the still living and ill-gotten sorcerers fulfilling their evil agendas.
If nothing else, he was often mistaken as a Magus Killer due to his efficient means of countering mages that he comes to blows with or those he was contracted to eliminate. This reputation led him to being given a line to the Mage Association, to ensure they keep him closer than not and that there'd be no more mistakes made of his allegiance made. The only thing they were kept in the dark about were what his true colors lied.
"Cleetus? Cleetus?" A voice broke him out of his reverie, his face covered by a cowboy hat and his back resting against a sand-formed hill. Tipping his hat up with a trusty revolver -one inscribed with a red cross on cylinder- he peeked his blue eyes through the hem of his hat at the source of the voice. It was Sofia, his trusty sidekick and trusted comrade for the past five years. Found her being abused nary beyond the border, he rescued her and took her under his wing, helping her as much as she has for him. One of the quirky things about her was her choice of attire; a large sombrero hat of red and white hue painted on its straw make-up, the rest of her attire being a rough leather that was adorned with bandoleers holding his extra ammo, pouches of cleanser and salve to medical equipment for emergencies.
"Yeah, what is it, Sofi?" The bounty hunter asked with slight begrudging at being disturbed.
"I set up the magic circle like you asked," She plainly stated, blinking widely at him while crouching just behind his lying head. "You said to wake you up when I was done. It's done now. Wake up."
"Tch, if ya insist so strongly," Cleetus retorted, snorting as he arched his body upright, still seated on the sandy earth. Just beyond his gaze was a set of pavement of what looked like part of the road, now occupied for the aforementioned circle. It was the byproduct use of goat's blood, little candelabras forming the corners of what looked like an elaborate cross etched in the blood-drawn sigil. A box containing the catalyst lied nearby, containing what he was told could be part of a very special chair; whatever the blasted Hell that meant to a man like him! "Well-Well, ya did good, darling. You have my thousand thanks for this delicate task so we may never go hungry again or pay taxes forever!"
"I think it's impossible for you to thank someone a hundred times, Cleetus. Let alone a thousand," Sofi remarked blankly.
"Tis called an expression', darlin'. Don't take what I say ta' seriously all ta' time," He dismissed her with a roll of his eyes. The handlebar mustache'd man with a long nose and a tanned complexion had been serious in taking up this tremendous task. Though he has felled many beasts for the union-like group, the Mage Association, favors for the Church and even accepted jobs from simple folks to entire towns and cities for his services, this was the biggest opportunity yet. Something out of a Catholic fairy tale of a golden cup that could grant wishes could help him never have to rely on the next job to pay the bills, restock armaments or feed himself and his partner again. That and his duties to his specific group he was a part of that helped him get where he is to this day, from training to weaponry and the power to enchant items as he does in the name of the most high Lord. "Welp, this circle won't summon on its own, now won't it?"
"I think that's the point of you summoning it, Cleetus," She replied bluntly.
"Stop bein' such a smartass, Sofi! Not healthy for a girl yer age."
"I'm twenty three, though."
"Phrasin', darlin'! Phrasin'!" He crowed back, stomping his way to the circle and pulling off his right black glove, revealing what looked like an intricate marking that resembled a cup framed by the etchings of a throne. Holding out his hand, he concentrated his Prana and began to invoke the incantation; to the best that his vernacular would allow.
"Alright, it's time to summon!" Rin Tohsaka cried out with glee. She had been ecstatic that, after a period of waiting for a couple of weeks, she got her mark bearing the right of being a master. Unfortunately for Shirou, he received no mark this time around and she couldn't help but feel sympathy. He had accidentally entered the last war out of sheer luck and happenstance; it was unlikely such an occurrence was going to repeat itself, even if she wanted it to.
"And you're sure this will work?" Shirou inquired, feeling a bit dubious about the intricacies of the summoning involving a particular catalyst.
"We discussed this, Shirou," Rin answered with a sigh, turning towards him, blue eyes drawn to his amber irises as she gestured to his chest. "You have the catalyst. Avalon dwells within you All you need to do is be within a tangible distance to the ritual and the ceremony will take care of the rest. I have a few back-ups in case the summoning goes wrong but I made sure to distance them for the moment; don't want anything crazy happening!"
"Well, if you're sure," The Grail War veteran replied, unsure but trusting his wife to handle the delicate process. He never properly summoned so this would be his first time watching it done by a professional.
The room they were using was provided by the Mage Association. It was an attic-space, clutter that used to exist from the dormitory have been cleaned and rearranged in an orderly procession to give them plenty of space for the floor boards to use Quicksilver in a glimmering circle, not too dissimilar from the one marked in his shed. With faith that Rin knew what she was talking about, he stood not more than a meter away from Rin as she held out her marked hand and began chanting, unaware of the synchronous incantation transpiring in the world of two others using the same summoning.
"In this divine hour, I call upon you from the beyond. Stretching across the horizon, whose footsteps echo from past to present and the beholden future. We stand on the precipice of change and I will become the cogs for that change. Transform in glory and bask in honor; lean not in despair or weariness. Become my blade and I become your soul. As I embody all the good in this world our mission shall become a holy one, wrought with peril but meriting success. In victory I thrive and in defeat I lie among the bones of old. Come forth, and fulfill thy work!"
Through the set of elongated chants came crimson light shearing the darkness of Shirou and Rin's room, the mana electrifying and objects becoming disturbed all around them. Where Cleetus saw, Sofia witnessed a brilliant white glow shine from the center of the magic circle and snap all around. Not much differently, Kyrios saw his own spectacle of light and magical energy rebound around his vicinity, his prana acting as the anchor for the coming vessel that would fulfill his dream.
Before Shirou and Rin stood a figure, tall and clad in silver armor with blue fabric resembling a cloak. The helmet bore the shape of a lion's, further complemented by the brown-beige fur segmented into parts of the helm, shoulder and arm plating flourishing about in a regal manner instead of a presumed wild kind of decor. Holding a brilliant white lance in one hand, the armored figure looked on with a visible incline, recognition clear behind the slits of the visor as emerald eyes shined enamored but the voice sounding older than either recognized.
"Shirou? Rin?"
Cleetus' summoning caused him to trip up and fall flat on his ass as a figure appeared from the light. White hair, unfurled and curled, golden eyes shining like gems stared onward after slow, steady blinks. His features were soft and chiseled to perfection, pale to a fault while the majority of his body was wearing gleaming armor of silver-lined steel and the marking of a red dragon entwined with a golden cross affixed to his breastplate. A brilliantly enamored sword was sheathed on his left hip and a inconspicuous shield was strapped over his shoulders, draped over his back where a purple cloak presided. Despite the muscular physique and his height, the bounty hunter could tell what he summoned...could be no older than a teenager.
"Hello there," He greeted, his voice musical and light, like feathers brushing silk as an overwhelmingly bright smile shined across his face as his eyes glinted. It was something that made Sofia visibly fluster and become stargazed; while it made Cleetus deadpan stare at the boy, even as he reached a hand down to help him up. "I believe you're my Master? I am Saber, a pleasure to meet you."
Just then, a brilliant plume of golden rays fired off, a visage of splendor and awe emerging from the center of Kyrios' meticulously crafted circle. Starting off in a kneeling posture, he rose to full height and revealed himself to the summoner. Bearing regal crimson robes that were wrapped around the neck over the shoulders and trailing down around him, his body was armored by brass plate-mail, greaves protecting the thighs up the chest around the shoulders and upper arms. With sandals covering his feet, the muscular man bore a leaf-worn crown of gold, his curled brown hair complementing the staunch jaw and bearded face, intense dark eyes that held an air of presence about him.
Kneeling before him, Kyrios bowed to him -which Angelika refused out of principle- as he greeted the man out of legend with a subdued, respectful voice, "Oh how the heavens smile upon me. Fortuitous that I may gaze upon such a legendary face; King of Ithaca, and hero of the Trojan War, Odysseus!"
A/N: Hello, ye readers of mine! This is my first attempt of writing anything related to the Type/Moon (or Nasuverse in general) Universe, headache as this may be. While I have many a qualm with the story written in the main canon and its periphery content, I can't help but find a special place in my heart for the UBW route, in which the 2014 Anime showed a spectacular story. It was so good that I decided to make this a sequel to that story, more or less.
Now, while there have been creations of these characters (and some that are not) I will largely be taking liberties for the sake of it being easier to write/describe them as well as it just being plain simpler to handle. Example, Saber Artoria, while being a Lancer will still have the same memories she had of her time spent with Shirou and Rin in the previous Grail War due to her unique circumstance. Likewise, while Galahad has his own design and placement as "Shielder", it only applies in the headache and a half that is "Fate Grand Order"; something that the "Lion King" Artoria exists and that just infuriates me. So again, to make things simpler, Galahad will be more or less only superficially similar to the FGO counterpart but will largely be my creation. And since Odysseus has yet to be made a legit Servant, he's free game as well!
I hope you enjoyed the new characters I whipped up. Cleetus Silver is kind of a spin on a joke my brother made for our Pathfinder campaign so I'm running with it as a character for this story. Kyrios is the kind of guy I'd like to be if I was anywhere as rich as he was and was a Magus in Type/Moon. And Shirou not being a Servant is okay, he's still going to play an important role in this whole deal; especially since Lancer Artoria is here!
That's it for me. I'll be going back to writing my other projects but I wanted to get this out of the way while I still had the drive to write it. So until I come back to this, I'll see you all on the next update!