Summary: With the grail war in motion, 128 masters and servants fight for the ultimate prize, the holy grail, an object to grant any wish of the wielder. Watch as one master gets thrown into the madness as he fights not only to survive, but to regain his lost memories as well.
Prologue 1: Begin of Madness
As far as I try to remember, I only began to recall events from that very moment on.
I was a blank state. I held onto no memories except my own name.
However, at that moment, it did not matter to me what memories I had, or whether they were simply a forgotten past. I was more focused on the task at hand. Even now, the image still lingers inside my mind.
Gold locks, fluttering even in the windless arena.
Crimson dress, illuminated by the surroundings.
A blood red sword…
There she stood, facing the effigy as we were, in the middle of the body of thousands of seemingly dead students.
My first meeting with her was where it all began. The end of the normal…
And a prelude, to a war I wanted no part in.
"So I ask of you, child…"
"Are you my Master?"
Week: ?
Day: ?
Days left: 2
Each day to me feels mechanical, so damn mechanical.
Sometimes, I don't even remember myself waking up, putting on clothes or anything of the like. I just, open my eyes and let everything happen at one go. Honestly, my memory is as fuzzy as it gets, and the fact that I have a headache does NOT help me.
I don't even take note of what season it is, other than the fact that it isn't winter I'm sure. Is it autumn, spring, or maybe even summer? What day is it? What time is it? All these things seemed to have slipped away from my head.
Or was…none of these even real to begin with?
I try to clear my head and try to calm down for a moment…
…only to realise I'm suddenly walking to school.
The past few days have been anything but abnormal. It's the same rhythm, get up, walk to school. Later, I will go to attend classes and Taiga will trip and fall in the EXACT same position.
Then there's Shinji Matou, oh damn I swear I freaking HATE that guy.
Freaking blue head thinks he's all that and more. He's got the ladies, the smarts, the looks-alright, maybe you should scratch the last part. I don't really give a crap about that son of a bitch. I'm surprised that black haired kid in my class could stay friends with him at all.
I don't even think I'm going to bother doing the homework Taiga gave me today.
I got no friends in this bloody academy. I'm just waiting for the day I graduate, grow up and get a good wife…
"Hey, low life!"
For the love of God…
I'm gonna get myself out of here right this instant. I don't want to see bloody Matou's face at a time like this.
Week: ?
Day: ?
Days left: 1
We got some new transfer coming out of the blue today, a European kid it would seem. He introduces himself, name way too damn long for me to catch.
Until Taiga says we could just call him "Leo".
Damn it, I must have sub zero luck or something. Why in the world am I getting another stuck up bastard? I already got my hands full dealing with Shinji's shit. Well, at least he seemed to try and make proper friends with the student body.
And is wearing rich clothes to school an aristocrat thing? Because no one seemed to care that Leo wore his red suit-looking thing.
I have to comment on one thing though, seeing how Leo handled Matou really made my day, a nice change of pace for once.
As per usual, Shinji was gloating to that black haired boy (poor guy) about some wealth and fame nonsense that I honestly gave a last damn about. Suddenly, half the population of girls began to crowd, much to Shinji's surprise, NOT around him.
I chose that moment to count how fast his little fuse would blow.
Instead, the girls flocked to a familiar head of blonde that I could see from my back seat of the classroom. I don't clearly know what Leo was talking about, but from the words "add" and "divide by…", I could guess it was math. Unlike a certain Matou I could mention, this kid bothered to help people out with their work while NOT trying to condescend them.
What happened next I really laughed out.
"New kid is just desperate for some attention," I could hear Shinji, with no effort to lower the volume or hide the contempt in his voice, "people like him are just sad, really."
Then, Leo seemingly picked up the sound of Shinji's voice and turned around. I thought a fight was going to break out, so I quickly turned my chair to get a free view.
"Er..ah…" Shinji's voice shivers slightly, "What do you want? You wanna go?"
What a loser, he can't even BEGIN to sound threatening around that kid.
Leo stands up from his seat as I leaned forward in mine, praying this would actually get good. However, Leo doesn't retort, but smiles back at Shinji, "If I have unknowingly given you cause to be malicious, I deeply apologise for it."
"Shinji Matou, was it? I'll try not to upset you in the future."
The words could have been mocking, but the European new dude really knew how to throw in sweetness into that voice. You should have seen the look on Shinji's face.
I so would have took a picture, this was WAY better than a fight.
"Hmph, he knows when to bow down to true authority it seems…"
The hell…?
How thick skinned can one person get, seriously. I haven't seen someone as…ugh, some words can't even begin to describe that idiot, I swear.
"I'm such a nice, yeah," Shinji quickly nodded to himself, "I'll let it slide, not like he actually tried to piss me off or anything of the sort."
Okay, that was really one step too far…and I will not take another second of his bull.
I got out of my seat and walked past Shinji, dropping him an "accidental" brush against his shoulder as he stood up from his seat.
"Watch it, pea brain!" the idiot flew into rage, "look where you're going."
Giving him the finger, I walked out of class as his 'friend' tried to calm him down.
I STILL feel sorry for the guy, I should talk to him sometime about choosing real friends that don't abuse you like a dog.
Shoot…
This headache is killing me, I need a rest.
Week: ?
Day: ?
Days left: 0
Where is the belfry?
In that moment my gentle days end…
The headache has worsened, and I don't think I can bear it from much longer.
This insanity, this seemingly endless cycle that somehow, somehow repeats itself time after time keeps happening.
I walk towards the school gates. As per normal, a bunch of students were sitting around the school gate, waiting for the lessons to begin, talking about the EXACT same thing everyday.
Then there's Iseei Ryudo.
He's supposed to be my friend…as far as I can remember.
He always stands outside the school gate…as far as I can remember.
Damn, I'm supposed to remember something, many things, but even thinking about remembering is so strenuous I nearly pass out.
Issei doesn't even begin to notice my fatigue.
"Morning, lovely weather we're having don't you think?"
Again…he says that every single morning.
"Huh? Why so surprised," he continues, "the student council already announced that we will conform to the school rules strictly starting today…"
…
What?
What the hell, didn't you already…
He runs through his spiel, as if it's the first time he's ever done this.
I already know what's next, I know what he's gonna say.
This has happened not once, twice…
It's like the world was repeating itself.
A wave of nausea washes over me. I feel sick, not because of whatever I ate…if I did eat in the first place. I feel sick because the world is going in circles. Not even a continuum shift, but the same thing over and over again.
Gosh I think I need to puke.
"First, let me check your student ID. Obviously, it should be with you at all times."
Reluctantly, I took out my student ID to show him.
"Great," he nods his head and smiles, "in case of an emergency, it'd be great if you have your student ID."
"Shin Saeta."
Yes, Shin Saeta, my name…
"Now time for uniform check…"
I could take no more of this…
Quickly, I push past him and make my way through the school gates. Behind me, I could still hear Issei talking on and on about how I was a model student and all that crap.
This is giving me the chills, but one thing I know. Something is twisted, this is not the Tsukumihara Academy I know.
(Evening)
I did not concentrate a single bit during class, knowing what was going to happen anyway. The same old cycle, repeating itself. Sometime through the afternoon break, my vision had gone wonky, like a buzzing television. I could not see clearly in front of me, practically distorted.
Uneasiness.
Emptiness.
Futility.
I feel it, I feel something is going to happen. I get the sudden urge to shout out, shout out in hopes that someone will hear me and explain to me what the damn hell was going on.
But I cannot as the headaches further crush me.
Practically dragging myself out of the classroom, I pondered on the current few options that I had.
I could just get out of school through the main gate and just head on home. Hopefully, by getting back, I could somehow wake up from this horrible nightmare…
No, I can't. I don't know why, but something forces me to stop that thought immediately.
Crap…what other options do I have…
Lost in thought, it took me a moment before I realised that I had arrived on the first level. Down the hallway to my right, I see a student in red…
Leo…?
As soon as Leo vanishes down the hallway, I see a student running after him. Wait a second, I recognise that black spiky hair, wasn't that the guy who was always with Shinji?
If I can recall clearly, Leo isn't the only strange thing I noticed around campus, but many other things as well…
That can only bring me to one, certain conclusion…
There are people here who should not have existed in the first place. The mysteriously vanishing students, the distortions, memory loss…
It's all coming to me now…
Sudden thoughts rush into my head…
What is the truth?
What defines the world you know?
There is a reason why you're here.
Suddenly, a burst of distortion hits me. For a moment, everything went fuzzy. Forcing my eyes to look straight, I saw the black haired boy and Leo talking up ahead. I snuck my way toward them, carefully pressing my body against the war lest they heard me.
"The detail of this wall is rather exquisite…" came Leo's voice. There were a lot more stuff he said, but I couldn't make out.
Damned headache…
"What do you guys think…?"
You guys? Suddenly, I get this strange feeling he knows I'm here.
"This must be the first time we are having an actual conversation."
Oh crap! He noticed me? Wait, he couldn't have. The other boy was still there, but I could feel the words being directed at me as well.
"It has truly been an interesting experience for me. Honestly, other than these few days, I have not attended school before. I must comment, it has been very fun."
Aristocrats. That word somehow made its way to my head, great timing there.
"However, I did not come to have fun, but for reasons you may or not understand," he continued as I heard his feet shuffling, probably turning back, "Farewell."
"Or maybe that isn't the proper word. I get the feeling I might wind up meeting you again. A 'see you later' may just suffice."
Dang, I can't let him get away!
Springing from my position, the creepiest thing happened: Leo walked right through the wall and vanished. Not only that, the student following him also vanished through the wall spot where Leo had touched.
Walking up, I inspect the wall.
"Ah…so this is what it is…"
I see now that the way to the truth, the way to these feelings I have, will begin after I walk through this…
"Door…"
I stepped in…
Location: ?
My thoughts proved me right, this area, this maroon coloured area is definitely something not of this world.
As the door closed, permanently, behind me, I could feel an invisible presence at my back. This presence will be what guides and helps me through the upcoming trials I would face. I know, I just know that without any explanation, I knew…yet did not know what that presence was.
A sword and shield for what lies ahead.
At least, I have the briefest idea of what might be going on here. The white, orange lined effigy that I had seemingly not noticed suddenly sprang to life. Looking ahead and sighing, I could only trust this doll to walk with me through the darkness that, literally, lay before me.
Following behind me, the doll and I went into the looming darkness that was before us. Not long after, I had found myself inside a black, empty space. Looking down to make sure I had a firm platform, I noticed a trail of lights up ahead.
"Oh man…what now…"
Carefully, I slowly made my way through the corridor of darkness, with only my shoes and the effigy making small *click, clack* sounds now and then.
As we proceeded deeper, I took note of the increasingly illuminated area. Loads and loads of coloured data zoomed above and beneath me. Some of them even began to join together, forming what seemed like a stack of lego blocks…
At the end of the seemingly endless darkness was a bright light which shone from a floor panel. Stepping onto it, I felt the area around me start to warp. Soon, no longer was my area a dark corridor but a well thought out, and very, very blue…
Dungeon.
That was the word that came to me as I walked even further through the newly structured maze.
"Welcome, potential master."
I jump back at the sudden voice speaking from the empty sky.
"If you are looking for answers, please proceed through."
"Like hell anyone needed to tell me that now, after all I've just been through," I murmured as I ran down the only straight path laid out for me.
"In front of you, an item folder. A parting gift to your upcoming trials…"
As the voice said, a glowing square box appeared in front of me. Touching it, the box split open to a small green stone. As it floated down into my head, I felt a sudden knowledge of the item as it dissipated into data.
"An ether shard…recovering a tiny amount of injury for the one that fights in my place…"
"Very good," the voice said, "now, proceed."
I didn't have to go forth too much before being blocked by some security programme that floated in front of my face, preventing me from proceeding.
"Before you is an enemy programme," the voice explained, "it is made to attack you on sight."
"I think I noticed," I gulped as I took a step back.
"But of course, you are fragile. The effigy will take your place in battle. If it is destroyed in battle, you will no longer be shielded from harm."
"In simpler terms, you will die."
Oh wait…what!
"There's no need to be afraid."
Somehow, I sensed mockery in the voice.
"Just do as I tell you and the tutorials will finish faster than you think it will."
With that, the enemy programme made its way towards me. As if on instinct, the effigy leapt over me and stood in front, taking on a battle stance.
"Now, listen closely…"
WTF IS THIS!
Is what you good people out there are thinking. I just got Fate/Extra recently, and it ISH AWESOME! I couldn't NOT write a fanfic about this now couldn't I?
Ugh…the prologue may seem awkward, but the game starts out weird too so…yeah sorry bout that.
Reviews would be nice, constructive crits are welcome for sure too.
Ps: The game does feel similar to persona in so many ways…
