Waver Velvet panted heavily as he ran from the library that his stupid Servant smashed down after taking a couple of books, said books clutched tightly to his chest. When he felt he was finally far enough away from the scene of the crime he collapsed on to his rear end, struggling to catch his breath, his Servant's prize laying in his lap. Looking down at them now that he wasn't running from the scene of the crime, Waver was curious about what books were so important that his Servant felt them so necessary to steal, and was confused when he was greeted by a simple atlas and a copy of the Odyssey.
"What's so important about these books anyways?" he questions he asked out loud before a giant bronze hand took them from him. "They are important because we're preparing for war," the giant of a man answered matter of factly in a deep baritone voice one would expect from a giant of his size, "And one can not wage war without having the proper maps."
Waver watched as the Servant Rider leafed through the atlas. "Hey boy, where are Macedonia and Persia on this map?" Rider questioned his Master. Waver's eyes narrowed and he pointed angrily up at his Servant, "Hey! You can't talk to me like that! I'm the Master here!"
Rider's sharp glare in response scared Waver enough that he scurried backwards a bit in fear. "I am well aware as my status as Servant and your's as Master. We forged a pact, did we not?" Rider replied sharply. Closing his eyes, the brunette nodded in answer.
The giant bronze red haired proceeded to sit down on the ground in front of his master, deciding to continue answering his Master's initial question. "But I am also interested in learning where all my old territories are located." Waver decided to humor his Servant and crawled over to Rider before pointing to the spot in Europe, roughly where he remembered Macedonia being. "I think they're here," he answered.
Rider stared intently at the map before busting out in huge guffaws of laughter. "I spent my life conquering that land, and look how puny it is!" He declared, surprising Waver with the fact it was done joyously. "Very well, I can't wait to get started!" Looking back down intently at the tiny in his large hands he questioned his Master once again. "Where exactly are we sitting right now boy?" This time Waver pointed exactly to the location, that one being a bit easier to answer for him.
"So the other side of the round land. Good news indeed. This will guide us well in coming battles." Rider spoke in the same matter of fact tone from earlier, his voice solidly filled with confidence. "We head due west as fast as we can, and we conquer every last land that we pass through! I shall return to Macedonia in triumph, and the people will hold a festival in honor of my quick revival!" he laughed to himself as he imagined himself doing just that as he had once long ago. "Now how splendid will that be?" he glanced over as he questioned his Master about his plans for the both of them.
"Why do you think you're here anyways? You didn't forget about the Holy Grail War, did you?" Waver questioned angrily. Rider slammed his fist into his palm as remembered something. "That's right," he exclaimed, "Speaking of the Grail, I have neglected to ask one small thing." Placing his hands on his knees, he turned to face the young little man that had summoned him. "What will you do with the Grail once you possess it?"
Waver looked up at the spirit he had summoned from the past in confusion. "Why would you care what I do?" he questioned in response. "If you are also intent on world conquest, then that would make you my enemy because the world can not be shared between two lords." Rider gazed seriously down at Waver, while Waver stared at him shock before rapidly shaking his head. "No! I don't want that! Look, I'll tell you what I really want, ok?" he exclaimed. Looking down nervously his voice softened, "I just want people to treat me fairly. I want to make all those idiots back at the Clock Tower who never gave me a chance to admit to me they were wrong!" Throughout his entire declaration, his voice slowly rose until he was yelling at the end.
The next thing Waver new was a giant hand smacking him roughly to the side, "Small!" Rider declared with a bit of anger as he glared down at the boy who dared claim himself as his Master. "Small. And narrow minded. And stupid." Rider proceeded to list off in his anger as he stood tall and turned to face Waver who was laying on the ground in pain. "You mean to tell me that in this battle, your only concern is for your ridiculous reputation? That you dare call yourself my Master?! What a terrible disappointment you are." As he vented he started to calm down.
"If you wish so desperately for others to fear and respect you, perhaps you should wish to grow another foot and add a little bit of muscle." Reaching down he picked his young Master up by the back of his shirt, deciding to pass on some wisdom to his Master, before sitting down on the curb and going back to looking over the atlas.
He's supposed to be my Servant, Waver though angrily to himself, the command spells on his hand glowing in response to his desire. He can't talk to me that way! Slowly Waver raised his hand, the spells glowing brighter as he almost gave into the temptation to use one. But eventually he let out a breath as he lowered his arm, Calm down Waver. A Master can only compel the obedience of a Servant three times. It would be stupid to use it on something like this, then I won't be able to control him when I really need to.
"As long as I get the Holy Grail it doesn't matter. I really don't give damn what you do after that." Waver stated, about to continue when Rider cut him off. "Enough boy! I shall acquire the Grail for you as you wish." Waver just looked at him with a bit of a condescending expression. "Yeah, well you seem awfully confident about that. Do you have any idea how you're going to do it?" He couldn't help but question the giant.
Rider looked down in contemplation at Waver. "So you wish to see my power, is that what you're trying to tell me?" Waver reacted in shock before getting defensive again, "Of course I do! You need to prove to me I can rely on you no matter the situation!" he declared in defense of his request. With a smirk at his Master starting to devlope a spine he stood and drew his spatha, the Sword of the Kupriotes. "I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors! With a swing of my sword, I declare my supremacy!" With that powerful exclamation, he slashed his sword up towards the heavens.
For a moment, nothing happened as Waver stood to the side and watched. Behind him, a streetlight started to flicker before going out as he turned to look at it in curiousity. The sudden rumbling of thunder from the direction Rider swung his spatha quickly gained his attention as he turned back around, only to see the clouds in the sky turning into a sudden swirling lightning storm. With a loud grunt, Waver was knocked back several feet as a bolt of lightning struck a few scant feet from where he and his Servant were standing. His eyes widened in shock and awe as the dust began to settle, unveiling 2 large oxen, scarlet mantles similar to Rider's adorning them, were connected to an intimidating war chariot, sparks of electricity jumping over the chariot and oxen.
"This is the oxe chariot the King Gordon once offered up to Zuess." Rider stated. "It's renowned reputation must be the source of my designation as the class Rider. If you want the Grail, then find me another hero. Someone worthy for me to fight! Until then I shall entertain myself by sitting here and looking at these maps." Turning his head to look over at his Master laying on the ground, his eyes still wide in shock, he issued one final question. "That won't be a problem, will it?"
Waver Velvet could only nod in accent to the King of Conquerors, Alexander the Great.
Archer sat outside on the balcony of the Tohsaka Manor, her legs crossed as she wore a simple black dress accented with a bit of white lace, a little something she had convinced her Master to buy for her. In her hand she held a glass of wine offered to her by the partnered Master of her own Master. In the distance she watched the obviously supernatural bolt of lightning strike near the bridge, though she couldn't sense any fighting going on. "Whoever summoned that bolt of lightning reminds me of someone," she spoke aloud to the person who had accompanied her out on the balcony. "Humph, you know some interesting people if that is the case, Archer. Any such people I would've come across would've been killed being impudent enough to disrupt the peace in the King's Garden." Sneered the blonde man, his blood red eyes glowing with an ever constant anger, indicative of his class, even if the lucidity is not.
With a chuckle she closed her eyes and took a drink from her glass, appreciating the decent quality, even if it was lacking from what she was used to. "I would imagine so Berserker-san." Setting her now empty glass on the table she looked back towards the bridge, her sharp eyes, those associated with her class catching the chariot with two people in it flying away from the scene. "It appears as if we have a Rider class servant who uses a chariot capable of flight."
Berserker turned to look at her with a hint of interest on his face. "Is that true now? Maybe I might spare the impudent mongrel until I take that chariot to add to my collection." He chuckled softly before pouring himself more wine. "I might actually enjoy this farce of a war before I kill everyone for daring to try and claim one of my treasures."
Archer turned her dark amethyst eyes towards the man who's very essence felt of Gold and Anger. "Soon every Servant will have been summoned," she spoke, "and then you may pass your judgement." If she was the embodiment of the sin that was Love, then the man she was partnered with for the duration of the Fourth Holy Grail War was undoubtedly the embodiment of Greed she considered. To her it was fitting in a way, for her love she gave into her own greed. She knew she could've gone with her Goddess to her realm, and been a part of her for all eternity. But that wasn't what she wanted. She knew it was wrong, but she didn't care. She wanted her Goddess in her arms, not the other way around. She wanted to keep her promise from so long ago in a life she barely remembered. So she tore her in half. So the Good-for-Nothing lizard girl had torn that beautiful golden hope from her gilded throne, and ripped. Her own greed rewrote the universe. But this time to her will, and she had finally succeeded!
As she continued to gaze at the man her soul called Greed, she knew that somehow she had gained this King's respect, evident by the fact they shared a table and a bottle of wine. She brushed her bangs back behind her ear, her fingers trailing against the crown shaped jewel dangling from her ear. A visiting Queen, he had called me. He knew she wasn't from his world, but he had surprisingly accepted her. "I am the King of this World and all that reside in it. I am not unfamiliar with…dignitaries that represented parts of my kingdom visiting me upon my throne." He had stated after setting his gaze upon her when she had appeared at the request of her Master, who had been present for his summoning. "As long as you follow my laws I have no issue with your presence. But remember that if you try to take that which is mine, then I shall kill you in the most painful of ways, that which is befitting for a lowly thief, even if you may be the Queen of your World."
Such interesting people I've gotten to meet already. First my Master who is a devil's soul trapped in the mind of a human, who's only wish was for a Servant that could help answer the question of who he is. Then a Berserker who retains his sanity, but instead is ruled by his righteous fury and therefor completely impossible to negotiate with. A Berserker who's known as the King of Kings, the First Hero, and as such views the world as his own. Turning her eyes away from the great Gilgamesh, she turned her gaze up to the stars, feeling her Goddess' presence in the world. I wonder what you'd think of what I'm participating in this time?
Caster stood near her Master while he sat on a park bench, catching his breath. Despite her healing him of a large chunk of the damage previously done to him by the Crest Worms it didn't change the fact that it had been being done to him for a year now and as such was not something she could heal in one go. Her Master didn't have the same hardy constitution she did, nor the natural inclination to healing magic. Sighing softly she turned to face her Master as she took material form, not liking the thought of talking to someone while she was invisible.
"So Master, while I agree that it would've been worse staying in that creepy dungeon, where are you planning on staying?" Slowly turning to look up at his young, oh so young, Servant he bit his lip in thought. "For now we're gonna have to camp out till I can scrounge us up a hotel room or something," he chuckled out bitterly. Some adult I am, having to force a young teenage girl to not only take care of me but also stay outside like a homeless person. I'm so pathetic.
Caster could only shrug softly, honestly not surprised with how much her Master reminded her of Kyouko for some reason. "That's fine, I'm more worried about you catching a cold or having a relapse to those gross worms." She responded back. Before Kariya could answer, they both whipped their heads to the nearby bridge where the freak bolt of lightning just struck. Pursing her lips, Caster grabbed her Master and darted away from the bridge. Not right now. Despite how much I would love to try my hand against a real hero, I've gotta take care of my Master first.
Saber gazed down at the man that had summoned her, her expression one of surprise as she watched the gentleness which that monster showed to his daughter. "He really isn't a bad man, Saber." spoke a woman behind her. The regal blonde turned to look at the wife of her Master, who she had been informed would be posing as her Master for the duration of the war. Both so that this woman, Irisviel, would be protected and that Kiritsugu would be free to operate more freely. "You two are more alike than you think," Irisviel continued to speak as she worked on packing their luggage for the trip.
Saber couldn't help but scowl in disbelief at her words. Her, the great King Arthur, similar to that lowly dishonorable assassin? Never! she thought to her self. "While I admit I am surprised by both his wish and the care he is capable of showing to you and your daughter, I can not condone the despicable actions with which he uses to meet his goals."
Irisviel merely turned towards her and gave a knowing smile. "I understand Saber. Know that even Kiritsugu himself hates such distasteful methods, but they are the only ones that he knows and the only ones a normal man such as himself have available. He possesses not a magical sword crafted by faeries or a bow gifted by the gods or anything so robust. All he has is his own 2 hands, the little bit of magecraft from his family and a gun given to him by the woman he views as a mother."
Saber scowled softly, understanding and acknowledging the point of her acting Master. Then she felt it, a calling deep in her soul. Turning quickly she stared once more out the window, this time gazing far out into the horizon, Irisviel watching her curiously. Clenching her fist she quickly came to the only "logical" reason she felt this calling in her soul. So the War for the Holy Grail has officially been called to a start. Scowling a bit more at the fact she was not present in Fuyuki City, despite understanding the reason for why they were leaving tomorrow, her pride as a King and a warrior took a solid hit at missing the cause for the thunderous roar in her soul.
Assassin and her Master looked up towards the direction of the supernatural bolt of lightning, having just left the neighborhood where she had been summoned in. "Where'd that lightning come from?" Ryuunosuke questioned out loud curiously as he looked up at the once and now again clear sky. "Those storm clouds just came from nowhere and disappeared after that big ass lightning strike..."
Assassin could only start laughing insanely again, a big smirk growing across her face as she felt her blood lust start to show. "Oh Master, Master, Master. You have much to learn about this War." Twirling away from him, she stopped and leaned forward just a bit while looking up at him, smirking even more as her shadow started to grow and writhe under her yet not attacking her interesting Master. "Someone's getting impatient and decided to officially declare the start of the Holy Grail War."
Ryuunosuke could only turn and look in shock and awe at the direction that the Call to Arms had come from. "So cool!" he exclaimed excitedly. Eyes widening as he's struck with another idea he whirled back around to face his Servant. "Hey Nightmare-chan! Can all these other, what did you call them, Servants? Can all these other Servants do other things like your Shadows and that dude's lightning strike?"
Assassin could only let out a giggle at her Master's adorable antics, covering her mouth with her hand as she once again flips on her personality, though she couldn't blame him. Despite summoning her, he apparently had zero knowledge of the moonlit world. "But of course Master. Magical swords, summoning the elements, various supernatural methods of causing explosions and anything else you could think of, likelihood is there is a Servant on the Throne of Heroes capable of such actions." Turning back to continue heading in the direction as her Master was quick to follow, her smirk cast under shadows as her clock faced eye glowed in the darkness of the night.
Lancer stood on the edge of the hotel's roof that his Master had claimed and set up as his base for the duration of the War. His arm's covered in his full body white robe were crossed behind him as he gazed towards the direction the lightning strike had came from.
He was glad that the grail summoned him in a much younger body to match his class. He was in the absolute peak of his physical prime, his short spikey black hair and matching goatee salted with strands of white, his tanned leathery skin starting to show wrinkles from the age and stress that had marked his decent into old age even though he had lived for another 40 years from this point. Without turning to face the man that had summoned him, still gazing off to where the declaration for battle had started to excite his warrior soul for the first time in decades, he addressed him.
"Your orders, Master?" Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald scowled softly at his servant, still angry over the fact his original catalyst had been taken, forcing him to summon some unknown hero, despite having surprisingly high stats. Turning to look in the same direction as Lancer, he deliberated on the best course of action in his mind.
"There's no guarantee that the Servant responsible will even still be there by the time we make it to the opposite side of town. So for now we will stay put, and tomorrow we will put out our own call out." El-Melloi answered his Servant for a moment. Lancer stayed quite for a moment before responding, "Very well then Master. Shall we return to your quarters so you may spend time with your fiancée?" Finally turning to face him Master as the calling eased away from his soul.
Nodding he turned away from Lancer and the edge of the balcony and headed back inside, and despite not showing it he was eager to have this chance to spend with his fiancée, even if she did not return the favor.
