Chapter 1: The Birth of the Legend of Saber as the Strongest Servant
In the mid 1860s, the Magi of the three great houses, the Tohsaka, the Matou, and the Einzbern sent out an invitation to every mage they could find that considered him or herself a member of the Mages Association. A few non-members acquired the information present on the invitation as well, one way or another. Come to the Japanese city of Fuyuki, fight with your fellow magi, and obtain the true power, limitless magic, and reach the Akasha, the root of all magic. It had been sixty years since the original ritual, and now it was time to begin again, gather the heroic spirits, and summon the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail, they said, was nearly full, and the contest would begin. On boats and across the land they came. Some even used magic to sail through the sky on carpets or brooms. The first seven to summon servants would have the chance to achieve their goals, whatever they might be.
The sleepy mountain town of Fuyuki was the conflux of several leylines, and, combined with the grail vessel crafted by the Einzberns, was the home to what would, in the years to come, be known as the Grail War. The Holy Grail ritual, as it was known at the beginning of this, the second invocation of the Holy Grail, was about to commence. However, it would not be long before it was known far and wide as the Grail War, as the streets would run red with blood. Unsupervised except by the three great families - themselves participants - this ritual would eventually drive the Mages Association to the unthinkable: requesting that their enemy, the Church, oversee the War. This War would see the bloodiest and most dangerous fighting the world of magic had, perhaps, ever known.
The Tohsaka were the first to summon their servant. Deep in the basements underneath the Tohsaka dojo - a building that would, in later years, be rebuilt as a western style manor - Tatsuya Tohsaka carried out a ritual to call forth a heroic spirit. Tatsuya was the grandson of Nagato Tohsaka, one of the three founding members of the Holy Grail ritual, and a direct disciple of the great wizard Zelretch. Nagato, now ancient and decrepit, watched the ritual from across the barren basement. The basement was largely natural, with only a few walls added, and a few extra spaces excavated. Shelves carved directly out of the walls were filled with various magical and mundane trinkets. Stockpiles of gems imbued with magic during the 60 years since the first Holy Grail ritual; scrolls and books describing magical ritual and process; secret Christian texts, hidden from the intolerant Japanese government.
Tatsuya himself was a young man, not quite twenty years old. His brown hair was cut short, and he wore a red and black martial arts uniform - the family colors that his ancestor, Rin Tohsaka, would eventually take for herself. His muscles were toned and strong, his movements fluid and precise. His magic circuits blazed brightly, though they were few in number, the Tohsaka being the weakest magically of Zelretch's three disciples. His intense gaze and extreme focus kept him from even noticing the old man in the corner of the room.
Tatsuya intoned the words prepared beforehand by his mother, who died nearly twenty years ago giving birth to him. Slowly, his magic filled the great ritual circle engraved upon the basement floor. Directly in front of him stood a pedestal, at the center of the ritual circle. Upon the pedestal stood the relic, the focus for his summoning ritual, that would allow him to call forth a great heroic spirit. It was an enormous two-handed longsword, engraved in Germanic writing. It was as long as Tatsuya was tall, and although it was clearly of an ancient design, it was well maintained, and shone in the magical light of the jeweled sconces and the ritual circle itself.
In a sudden flash of light, the magical energy that had been flowing into the circle flowed up to a space on the opposite side of the pedestal from Tatsuya. The magical energy gathered itself into a sphere, and then slowly adjusted its shape to that of a man. A tall man. A very tall man. Slowly, the light faded, and the heroic spirit stood present. Tatsuya grinned as a series of red glyphs appears on his right hand and wrist.
"Master." The tall man said with a nod. He was immensely tall, though lean to the point of almost seeming gaunt. He was also old. Not nearly as old as Nagato, observing the scene through glazed eyes in the corner, but still definitely an older man. His muscles were wiry and thin. His hair and short beard were a smattering of white and grey, and lines and scars marked his face and exposed torso where his simple loose fitting tunic did not cover. Simply put, he didn't look heroic.
And Tatsuya noticed. "Seriously? Aren't you a bit old for a heroic spirit? Shouldn't you be.. All muscular and young? I mean, I'm probably stronger than you."
The old man smiled slowly. "You would duel with the heroic spirit Saber? Very well, Master. If this is how you would like to engage in our contract, then so be it. I believe in this country…" He thought for a moment, then performed a proper Japanese bow, suitable for a dojo.
Tatsuya laughed, and returned the bow. Then, as he was assuming his martial stance, he found himself staring at the ceiling, a sharp pain in the back of his head. He had been knocked off his feet in the blink of an eye.
"A heroic spirit is just that, young master. A spirit. My physical appearance need not worry you, as my strength comes from your mana, and my will and legacy. Still, even in life, I was my strongest at this age. Wisdom and skill can defeat prowess and strength at every turn. That is something you might do well to learn." He held his hand down, and helped Tatsuya up. Then he grasped the sword off the pedestal in his other hand, and went down to one knee. "I pledge my service to you, young master. May we acquire the Holy Grail together."