SECOND!

Chapter 1: So it Begins

"I am servant Caster, and I am ever so pleased to make your acquaintance."

The blue-haired boy cast Hamuko a kind smile as he outstretched his hand, hoping to have hers grasp his in return. For a moment, the brunette could not be helped but be mesmerised by the smile that Caster had given her.

It seems so…genuine, and real…

Unconsciously, Hamuko reached out her hand for his and felt her light weight being gently pulled up by the boy, "Master, as I have said before, your ability to face death so forwardly is very, very encouraging even for someone like myself. I think it is through this one statement alone, that I can proudly call you my master."

"Uh…um…"

Hamuko honestly had no idea how to respond. Sure, she knew it was not the time for such simple pleasantries, what with a killer effigy still a small distance away from them, but she could not help but look away in embarrassment at the boy's off-hand compliment.

"Hmm…" the boy named Caster seemed to stare at her palm for awhile, "say, don't you feel any pain in your palm or anything like that?"

Pain in her palm? Why would she feel pain?

Then as if on cue, I burning sensation shot through her entire hand as she felt something being imprinted onto the back of her right palm, as if a knife was tracing every curve of her flesh. The girl tried to resist the cry of pain that threatened to spill from her mouth, but it was not fully successful as a grunt of pain escaped her lips.

Opening her eyes from the subsiding pain, Hamuko noticed a large red mark on her hand: three card like symbols joined together by three linkages. The servant glanced at it for a moment, looking slightly amused, "I see…so that's what they made my symbol like…"

Before any of them could say more, the almost forgotten effigy clanked and whirled, entering a previous stance as before and ready to do battle with the new boy that had suddenly emerged forth.

"Oh damn, I nearly forgot about that thing over there," Caster nearly groaned as the effigy took the stance, "I don't think this'll take long, master, but I'm not sure what the full extent of my abilities really are as of now. How about you hold onto these for awhile first?"

Reaching for the clips on his ears, Caster unplugged the earphones and took out the music player that hung around its next, forcefully shoving them into his master's hands, "This is for the left and right ear respectively. This middle button starts the music. It's on its way to a new track already, so you don't really have to change anything now…"

Hamuko could only watch dumbly as her servant begin to explain the music players functions. Was he serious? The girl nearly shouted out, the enemy was right behind him and he was talking about his MUSIC player?

"What are you…"

"It's a REALLY great song, I assure you," Caster gestured with his fingers for added stress, before turning his back on her, "anyways, back to the main problem here. Oh, don't need to give me tactical orders or anything for this one master."

"It's probably weaker than a Maya anyway…"

Wondering how she hadn't noticed them before, Caster unsheathed a short sword that hung loosely at his side and stood as straight as a tree.

Wait a second…

Hamuko only frowned as Caster leapt forward at the effigy and as her finger unknowingly grazed the 'play' button. Caster sounded like something that would use magic, or some long ranged attack. Taking a quick gaze at her servant, she noticed a small gun that was also strapped to his side, unmoving and waiting to be used.

What the heck was this guy?

*CLANG*

The sound of Caster's blade clashed with the metal hand of the effigy, the two of them seemingly caught in a fierce deadlock.

"Man…" the servant whistled, "its either this thing's stronger than it looks, or I really need to work out much more. So much for Maya's…"

Disengaging the lock, Caster did a backflip as the effigy thrust forward, narrowly scrapping the side of his uniform as he tumbled back in front of his master, jamming his sword into his ground to stabilise the impact of the fall.

"A…are you okay?"

The blue haired servant almost wanted to laugh at the statement. Was he alright? Heck, he never felt better all his life! After all, being stuck to a-

Gah, he mentally slapped himself as he readied his one handed sword, no use thinking about all of that now, I got a master to protect and a robot to kill.

"If you look closely," Hamuko spoke again, causing him to turn, "its attack patterns are fairly straightforward. It usually begins on a slow guard, then a forward thrust with one arm after another…"

"Heeeey, I said no need for tactical orders, right?" Caster scrunched his eyebrow at his master, before snapping back to his previous demeanour, "but yeah, I guess some coordination is in order, so if there's a need to just shout it out."

"And please, click the play button already. It gives you a pretty nice background music when I fight."

Reaching out to his master, he pushed the 'play' button on the music player before refocusing his attention solely on the fight in front of him.

~fears awake anger beats loud face reality. Never be charity, the enemy~

Ducking low as the effigy crossed its hands in front of it in an attempt to defend, Caster made a scooping motion with his sword-hand, throwing him into an uppercut stance that broke through the effigy's now broken defensive move.

~The enemy you're fighting covers whole society (damn right) Mommy's not here gonna fight (all night)~

"I got you," Caster grinned as he raised his blade up, parrying the enemy strike and giving a clean cut across its face.

~Right here shadow 10 o clock direction. Seize the moment, they destroy the nation~

Seemingly outsmarted at being hit twice, the effigy broke the pattern, leaping over the servant's head.

"CASTER! DODGE IT!"

~Your rhyme is slow-motion. Give me motivation~

"Don't fret so much," Caster grinned at the falling effigy. Flipping his sword back, he forced his shoulder backward, causing the back-hand thrust to slam into the effigy's middle.

~Freaked out now, and dead on arrival~

With one swift motion, Caster twisted his body. With blade still run-through the effigy's core, the servant back pressed the lithe machine onto the ground.

~Round up around,spit out all over.Rhyme like a rolling stone, come in the crowd~

Not wanting a loss against this new adversary, the effigy thrust its right metal stump at the servant. Already predicted such a move would be used against him, Caster weaved his head to the left and, with raised fist, slammed it down against the effigy's face.

"Boxing moves work on the ground too."

~Watch out the moon they diss you loud, guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground, so round up. Don't ease your pacecuz enemy is brutalMoment of truththere ain't no truce~

~You're the only one, one world~

"Can't move?"

~One love~

The only response that came from the fallen robot beneath Caster was a mild twitch in its side in its pathetic attempts to get back up. Raising his hand, the servant signalled for his master that the battle was over.

But just to be sure…

~but the battle goes on, shadows of mass-~

*WHAM*

~destruction~

A sickening crunch could be heard even through the loud music as Caster grinded the effigy beneath his heel, making sure that the robotic abomination would really do no more harm to him or his master. Knowing it could not even move, the servant smiled in satisfaction.

Now, only to hope his dear master would be pleased at his performance. He had not done battle for say…who knows? His skills might have long become rusty.

"Um…is your hand alright?"

Well, his grin almost faltered, at least she was concerned about his general well being as well, fighting techniques and all could come later. He figured he should not have felt too let down by the lack of compliment, his melee skills were not supposed to be impressive anyway.

Quickly taking notice of his master's question, the servant waved a hand back at her.

"Oh I'm fine, master. See this?" Caster raised his hand to show Hamuko the object of his victory, "gold knuckle dusters. I always keep a spare one in my pockets and, hey, I guess this little one really did the job."

Hamuko would have asked more questions about what a Caster would have had anything to do with even more melee weapons, but the searing pain on the back of her palm prevented her from saying anymore.

"They say that usually happens the first few moments that you summon me," Caster pointed knowingly at the marks on her hand, "command seals. Forgive me if it was mentioned anywhere before, but those are three seals that show proof of your participation in the holy grail. You can use it to give me three absolute orders to do anything…like, literally. However, not to burst your bubble…but lose them and…"

"I die, I know."

Hamuko managed it through the pain coursing through her. It started to come back to her, her memories. The holy grail war, servants, command seals, the entire school life of hers being an entire fake reality, it was all being processed bit by bit…

But why?

Why on earth was she even here?

What was her purpose? What was her goal for even-

"UGH!"

The marks on her hand begin to glow even brighter, multiplying the already burning sensation in her arms. The fact that she was tired…and painful…was really not helping her then.

Noticing his master's pain, Caster cast his eyes down at her hand and held it in his palms, "I suppose it is my fault that you have this pain, and the fact that this battle royale will soon start is not helping any better. But master, what you need now is to let yourself close your eyes, forget the pain."

True enough, the master's only sign of agreement came as she finally succumbed to the pain. Letting it take her, she fell comatose as her servant promptly caught her falling figure.

"Wow…she's heavier than she looks," Caster mused as he tried to support Hamuko's figure, "Ah…my first war, huh? I honestly don't know if I should be excited, or just feel bad that more people are going to die."

Casting a melancholic look over at his master, the blue haired servant could only laugh at the irony of it all.

"Causing death again…huh…."

Reaching into his holster, he reached for the gun.

"If it isn't too much trouble…I'd like for you to play us a melody…"


Week: 1

Day: 1

Combatants remaining: 128

Hamuko doesn't like dreams. Usually, she sees things that either creep her out, or something seemingly prophetic that would happen to her. Good or bad, she always reckoned things more related to the latter wanted to get to her.

Fortunately for her this time, it seemed that Morpheus was kind.

"Hmm…"

She twitched her fingers, only to feel a soft area beneath them. Despite her grogginess, Hamuko slowly inched her eyes open. She was most certain that she was in the hospital (been there too many times to forget).

"White…?" the brunette mumbled as she slowly stretched her hand out, moving her fingers a little to see if she could still move despite the aftershock of it all. She tried to recall as much as possible what had transpired what seemed to be forever ago.

Almost killed by an effigy, check.

Revived due to the calling of some weird boy she then knew was her servant, double check.

Beat the crap out of the effigy, that was almost certain.

Oh speaking of which…

"…Oi, Caster, are you there?"

Even before she threw out the question, the new master could feel it. Around her, there was a powerful presence that seemed to constantly watch and guard her. That familiar scent of power, yet with a pinch of boyish essence around it.

"…I guess my presence concealment does need a little work. Then again, what kind of Caster would need that kind of skill anyway?"

Giving in to his master's sharp senses, Caster chose the time to reappear, his lithe figure leaning against the now clearly digitised walls of the sick bay. Oddly enough, he was already fiddling with the music player in his hands.

"You sure like to play with that thing a lot, don't you?"

"I'm hurt master," the Caster feigned hurt at his master's offhand comment, "I watch your side all this while and not even a simple thank you? Dear me, I think my heart just shattered into a million pieces. Alas! Good things never go rewarded these days."

Despite his sarcastic tone of speech, Hamuko couldn't help but smile just a little bit. She was pretty certain that despite his laidback style, Caster had been watching over her ever since she passed out, also pretty evident by the lingering circle under his eyes.

All in all, she dare say that it was quite a gentlemanly act.

"Alright, as much as I would love to stand around and chat with my lovely master," Caster let his earpieces hang loose at his side, "I need to make sure that you're familiar with the events that are going to take place very soon, is that alright?"

Of course, it was only natural for her servant to make sure. Hamuko was sure she didn't miss out any rules when she was forced to sign up for this. Caster began to ask Hamuko simple questions she already knew, like what the holy grail war about, that the world she lived in was a fake, or even what servants were.

Though Hamuko really wanted to know…

"Hey, Caster?"

"What's up?"

She was not sure whether it was personal, but she really wanted to find out, "If you're the servant of magic, why are you using a sword…and a knuckle duster? I mean, it's a little odd isn't it? If it was some kind of medium for casting your spells, that would be quite reasonable, but you're actually using it to slash things. Moreover, that gun at your side, does it even have any use?"

Caster blinked in surprise, and then chuckled lightly. So that's what she really wanted to guess, he thought amusedly. Settling for a more enigmatic answer, the boy merely tapped his fingers on the gun, before moving his hands up to tap his own head.

"You'll figure out in time."

"WAAAAH!? No fair! Stupid Caster!"

That pout did it for Caster.

He couldn't help as his master begin pouting and whining why he should be more direct, let out another one of his laughs. How long has it been since he had really laughed like that, not even with his friends back home had he ever felt this at ease.

His friends…

"Alright, next question!" his master's loud voice stopped him from dwelling on his own matters further, "as a master and servant, we should at least get to know each other's names. And since you're the servant, you'll start first then."

Ah, that was right, he did not even know his own master's name, and neither did she know his true name.

But, did he really need to tell her who he was. He was probably not even from this original timeline, and he was very sure that someone like him would not have had his name recorded down in modern day history books.

Third thing, he couldn't pull the same trick on his master again. He'd have to try something more…tactical per se.

"I understand your discontent with not knowing who I am," Caster spoke very seriously, "neither is it my wish for you not to know. However, it would be wise that we do not speak it out here, lest a rather sneaky servant like an assassin be eavesdropping on us. That would be pretty bad."

Once again, Hamuko frowned at her servant. Was it really so hard to even say his name, though this time…she could sort of understand it. From what she knew, assassins could easily be spying on them then so it'd be best if he didn't say anything.

"Well, fine," the grudging master gave a sigh of defeat, "I'll still at least let you know mine though, for informalities sake."

Sitting up straight and coughing into her hand for an added effect, Hamuko gave her servant her sweetest smile possible, "My name is Arisato, Hamuko Arisato. I hope from today onwards we can work together in a good partnership, Caster."

The blue servant nearly choked.

"Arisato…?!"

Caster held his hand against the window to prevent himself from falling down. He knew by then that alternate universes did exist, and that he shouldn't be surprised if he somehow landed up in one. Still…the coincidence is too great.

And now that he took a good look at her again, she did kind of look like…

"Mm? Caster?" the brunette tilted her head, "is something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh uh, nothing, nothing at all!" Caster waved his hands quickly as he quickly tried to divert her attention. Come on, he mentally slapped himself, think of something to distract…

Oh, right!

Reaching into his jacket, Caster procured a large, green rectangular-shaped object, "Here you go, some girl called Sakura came into the room while you were still snoring like a baby. Apparently its some kind of terminal to keep track of our progress, you should really check it out."

"Mnngh! You could have left snoring part, idiot…"

Running her hand along the terminal's smooth surface, a series of options popped up in front of her.

"Status, matrix, equips and…items…?" Hamuko looked puzzled at the familiar terms, "what is this, a role playing game? Heh heh, lets see if this has an…aw damn it, no 'logout' button huh? Reminds me of a show I watched recently…"

"More importantly, Caster, did Sakura teach you how to operate this thing?"

Scratching his chin in thought, the blue haired servant raised his hand…only to let it slowly droop down again.

"Uh…how about…no?"

"AW DAMN IT!"

Caster suppressed his laugh once more as his master stood up and began to figure out the console and its functions.

"Well…I smell a beautiful partnership coming along…"


SORRY! I got exams everywhere.

Nothing much this chapter though XD

Still, I'd like REVIEWS PLOX