Chapter 4: Reprieve
France, 1625 A.D.
A young woman hopped off a the back of a lone hay cart. She gave the driver a wave of thanks, and moved down the road.
The woman wore a bright smile on her face, eyes almost shining. She was dressed in loose fitting peasant clothing. They had been passed down from her brother, and despite her mother's best sewing efforts, they still didn't fit quite right. A traveling cloak was draped about her, and a pack was slung over her shoulder.
She plucked a bit of stray straw from her wavy brown locks as she walked. The dirt road ahead of her slowly gave way to paved cobblestone. The stone street led up to a giant wooden gate, framed by two stone walls that stretched for some distance.
The woman approached the gate, and after being checked over by the guards, she was let through. She offered her thanks, and practically hopped inside. Her eyes lit up as she beheld the site before her.
Buildings, homes, and shops lined the cobblestone streets. People moved this way, and that along with carts, and a couple of carriages. Oil street lamps sprouted up from the sidewalks, ready to be lit when the night drew near. Off in the distance, the girl could make out a grand cathedral, and other fine architecture.
"Paris…" the farm girl sighed. "It's more amazing than I dreamed."
After snapping from her reverie, she adjusted her pack, and took a cursory glance around. She then moved back to one of the guards at the gate, trying to get his attention.
"Excuse me, monsieur." she began. "Can you tell me where the musketeer's garrison is?"
The guard turned, and replied. "Go to the upper district. It's over near the grand cathedral. Can't miss it."
"Ah, merci monsieur." the girl replied with a nod.
The guard tipped his hat, and the young woman headed off down the street.
After traversing the city, and asking several other passersby, the woman finally arrived in the upper district. The streets seemed more maintained there. The shops, and buildings were also slightly higher class.
Just as the guard had said, it didn't take long for her to spot the garrison. The entrance was a wooden gate, with a fleur de lis hanging above it. Inside, she could see a large open training ground. Several musketeers were sparring there, or striking at some target dummies. Next to the training ground she could also see several long tables, where musketeers were sharing drinks, and a meal.
The woman took in a deep breath, and stepped through the gates. She could now see the swordwork of the sparring musketeers more closely. It had her mesmerized, eyes shining with excitement.
"You there, young lady!"
The woman jumped, and turned. Off to her right, a man approached. He had a burly, powerful build, and faintly tan skin. A thick rugged beard grew from his chin, and his hair was short, and curled.
"You must be one of the new stable hands!" the man exclaimed.
His voice was boisterous, and filled with warmth. Before the farm girl could reply, he moved to her side, clapping a hand on her shoulder.
"Well, come along then!" he exclaimed. "I have a job for you."
"W-wait, monsieur!" the woman exclaimed. "You have the wrong person!"
"Nonsense!" he replied. "You look like you just stepped off a farm! Who else could you be, but a stable hand. Now come along."
Despite the woman's protests, the man continued to push her along. Soon, the pair arrived inside of the garrison's stables. The familiar smell of hay, dust, and barnyard animal filled the woman's nostrils. She could see several fine steeds hold up in their pens.
The man moved to one horse in particular. A dark brown mare, with a short cut mane.
"I need my horse groomed right away." the man ordered. "So, chop chop."
The woman sighed, and resigned herself to the task. She unshouldered her bag, and grabbed several brushes from nearby. With great care she approached the mare, and began running one of the larger ones through her fine coat.
As she felt along her body, her eyes widened sightly. She double checked, making sure she wasn't mistaken, before turning to the man.
"Monsieur, your horse, she seems thin." the woman remarked.
The man blinked surprise. "Is she? Now that you mention it, she has seemed a bit less energetic."
The woman scrutinized the horse further. "Someone is clearly not feeding her properly. Her hooves don't look well either. If she's not taken care of they could split. If that happens they'll most likely put her down."
"Is there anything you can do for her?" he asked with concern. "She's been good to me these past few years. I'd hate to send her off to the butcher."
The woman smiled. "Don't worry monsieur. If you make sure she eats well, and regularly tend her hooves she'll make a full recovery."
He slapped her on the back. "Very good! Thank you so much madame!" He paused, coming to a sudden realization. "Oh, forgive me, I did not introduce myself. I'm Porthos. And you?"
She turned to him, holding out a hand. "D'artagnan. It's a pleasure monsieur."
Cleo's eyes fluttered open, and she slowly rose from her bed. With a yawn she ran her fingers through her slightly messy hair. She then tossed the covers aside, and slipped out of bed, sliding into her slippers.
She let out another yawn, before making her way to the kitchen. Soon, the sounds and fragrant scent of brewing coffee filed the room. They then mixed with the smells of scrambled eggs, and freshly made toast.
Once her breakfast was finally ready, Cleo took her seat at the kitchen table. She sighed in satisfaction, as she took her first sip of coffee. The warm brew energized her, melting away the sleepiness of last night.
In a flash of blue light, Saber appeared in the chair across from her, dressed in her casual attire.
"Good morning, my lady." she greeted.
"Morning." Cleo replied taking another sip of coffee.
Saber sniffed the air. "What is that smell? It's amazing."
Cleo set her mug aside. "Just coffee. Have you never had coffee before?"
"I vaguely recall the nobles, and upper class talking about it." Saber replied. "It was all the rage apparently."
"It must have just been introduced at the time." Cleo remarked. "Some time in the mid sixteen hundreds." She paused, taking another sip. "You can have some if you'd like."
"I'll at least try it."
Cleo stood up, and grabbed a fresh mug from the cupboard. She then poured the remainder of the coffee pot, and placed it in front of Saber. The swordswoman took it gratefully, taking a moment to appreciate the lovely aroma. Then, with a hint of trepidation, she took a sip.
Her eyes widened, blinking in bewilderment. "Its bitter!"
Cleo chuckled at her reaction. "I should have warned you about that. It doesn't exactly taste how it smells."
Saber took another sip. "I kind of like it actually. It has a nutty aftertaste. It would go well with some milk."
"Some people like it that way." Cleo said, taking a bite of toast. "People also put sugar in as well sometimes. It's a lot like tea in that way."
Saber nodded in understanding, taking slow steady sips. The two sat in relative silence for several minutes, slurping at their coffee. When Saber's mug was half empty she set it aside, her face shifting to a more serious look.
"Master, may I ask you something?"
Cleo swallowed a bite of food, and replied. "What is it?"
Saber took a moment to consider her words. "That woman. Assassin's master. You seemed to know her. Who is she?"
Cleo froze at the question, a long tense silence lingered in the air, before she let out a deep sigh.
"Her name is Tsuki Emiya." she began. "We both went to the mage academy together. At first we had only seen each other in passing. We shared classes but rarely interacted. The first time we truly spoke to one another was at a social function my mother forced me to go to."
Cleo paused, gripping onto her silverware tightly. "It was one of the most terrifying things I've experienced. She is without a doubt, the most dangerous mage I have ever seen. Considered a prodigy by her peers, and the higher ups of the mage's association."
She swallowed, and looked up, meeting Saber's gaze. "She's also a vampire."
Saber was taken aback for a moment. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious." Cleo replied. "From what I heard, her grandfather started researching the creation of artificial vampires through magecraft. His son succeeded him, and carried on his research. The result of that study, was Tsuki. A true vampire, created through magecraft."
Cleo's face shifted into a deep scowl. "Normally, the church does all it can to eradicate vampires, and anything that would lead to their creation. Along with any other research into forbidden magics. However, the Emiya family has made such great contributions to the association, and the church, they're willing to look the other way."
"It makes me sick."
She looked down to the rest of her meal, and pushed it aside. After downing the remainder of her coffee, she stood from her seat.
"I've lost my appetite."
Cleo then headed out of the kitchen, leaving Saber with a worried look.
Eloise hummed happily, as she watered a small patch of white flowers. She stood in one of her greenhouses, surrounded by plants of all kinds. All of them were vibrant, and well taken care of. Small plaques were set in front of each, denoting their names.
Several of her mandrake familiars moved this way, and that. Each of them carried their own small watering can, and mirrored their master's actions. Some of them also held small satchels, and were harvesting the various materials needed for Eloise's magic.
Once she was done with her section of the greenhouse, Eloise stepped outside. Her simple workshop was nearby, as well as a large garden, and a of grove trees. She moved to the other side of the yard, where a bit of land had been cleared away. Stacked up against the front steps were a few dozen heavy bags of mulch, and fertilizer, as well as gardening tools.
"Berserker!" Eloise called, in a sing song voice.
On the front porch, Berserker lounged in the shade. In addition to his normal attire, he was sporting a black muscle shirt, and a pair of work boots. At his master's call, he cracked one eye open, and stood up.
"Yeah?" the man yawned, stepping into the yard.
"I need your help with those." Eloise replied, pointing a finger.
Berserker followed her hand to the bags of mulch.
"Yeah, yeah sure." he sighed.
With little effort, Berserker lifted all of the heavy bags onto his shoulders. Eloise directed him to a bare spot nearby, where he placed them down. The girl then moved over to her tools, where a bag of seeds, and a few saplings were waiting as well.
"Would you like to help?" Eloise asked, grabbing what she needed.
Berserker blinked in surprise. "Me? I don't know anything about gardening!"
"It's not that hard." Eloise smiled. "Come on, I'll show you."
She motioned him over, and reluctantly, the giant man squatted down at her side. Eloise picked up a trowel, and dug out a small hole, before dropping a seed inside. Gently, she then covered the seed with the freshly moved earth.
She turned to Berserker "See? Easy. Now you try. Just make a hole a few inches deep, and do exactly what I did."
Berserker nodded, and took the trowel from Eloise. With a small grunt, he sunk the tool into the earth, and lifted up. A huge chunk of dirt came flying up, and rained down on the pair. A hole double the size of Eloise's was left behind.
"Oops."
Eloise laughed. "It's alright. Just, try and use less strength next time."
Eloise handed off a seed to Berserker, and he plopped it into the giant hole. Then, with what dirt she could gather, covered it with a small mound.
The pair slowly went down the line, taking turns planting seeds. Each time, Berserker tried to take greater care, slowly getting a hold on his monstrous strength. While the spots he dug were still quite large compared to Eloise's they were each better than his first.
"Alright. That's all the seeds." Eloise said, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow. "Now we just have to plant the saplings. Luckily we actually need some bigger holes for those."
After digging up a big enough hole, Berserker went to grab one of the nearby saplings. Without thinking, he gripped onto it, pulling it up from its pot. With a loud crack, the saplings trunk snapped like a twig, and several of its roots were split.
Berserker hissed through his teeth. "Uh oh."
Eloise turned at the sound. "Berserker!"
"Sorry!" he exclaimed. "I didn't mean to-"
She quickly cut him off, rushing over. "Here, let me see it!"
Berserker gently placed the broken sapling onto the ground, looking totally embarrassed. Eloise kneeled down before the sapling, inspecting the damage. She reached into her bag, pulling out a long green leaf, and used it to tie the two halves of the tree together.
Once it was secure, she held out her hand, and whispered a string of incantations. Slowly, mana flowed from her into the tree. The leaf keeping the trunk together began to dissolve, and the wood beneath sewed itself together like living thread. A faint green aura surrounded the whole sapling, and it's broken roots began to regrow as well.
When Eloise finished her string of incantations, she looked down at her work. Once she was satisfied, she placed the sapling in its new place."
"It'll grow a little crooked, but it should be perfectly healthy." she said with a smile.
Berserker rubbed the back of his neck. "T-that's good."
After finishing up their work, Eloise sat down on the end of the porch. She motioned for Berserker to take a seat beside her, and he did so reluctantly, still feeling slightly dejected. With a snap of her fingers, several mandrakes came trundling over, carrying a fresh pitcher of water.
Eloise poured herself a glass, and guzzled half of it down in one go. She then let out a sigh of satisfaction, and looked up at the clear blue sky.
"I love days like this." she remarked.
Berserker simply nodded at that. His gaze then turned to the now slightly crooked sapling. The sight made him grimace, a fresh wave of embarrassment coming over him.
"Again, sorry." he sighed.
Eloise patted him on the arm. "Its okay. You'll get the hang of it with some practice."
Berserker turned to her with a small smile. "I appreciate the support." He paused, and looked up to the sky. "But, fighting is the only thing I was ever good at."
Eloise frowned at that. "Berserker…"
Berserker quickly shook his head, and put on a wide grin. "Anyway, if ya need more heavy lifting, I can least do that!"
Eloise opened her mouth, but her words died in her throat. So, she simply nodded, and put on a smile of her own. Hoping she could broach the subject later.
Tsuki sat in a plush red chair. Large curtains were drawn over the window nearby. Lamps hung from the walls, providing warm, but dim light. Blood red carpet covered the the floor, made of thick luxurious fabric.
Sitting on a table before Tsuki was a crystal ball. Inside, footage played of the battle between Minotauros, Berserker, Rider, and Saber. With a wave of her hand, Tsuki switched it over to the battle at the hotel. She had captured the images, and video from several of her personal familiars, and was reviewing them with interest.
Casually, she opened up a nearby box. Inside, was the key to Eden, settled into a soft cushion. She held it up to the light, and watched the colors dance through its faintly translucent structure.
"Assassin." she called, setting the key aside.
A swirling portal of darkness appeared behind Tsuki. Assassin then stepped out from within, his ghostly blue eyes shining from the darkness.
"Yes, master."
"What do you think of the other servants, and masters?" Tsuki asked, gesturing to the crystal. "At least the ones we've seen."
"Why ask me, master?" Assassin questioned.
"You have a discerning eye, Assassin." Tsuki answered. "I value the judgement of those with experience."
"Hmph, thou are quite shrewd thyself, master."
For several moments, Assassin observed the crystal ball. He hummed in thought, paying close attention to every move made. This was a skill he excelled at. Observing his target, searching for weaknesses, and strengths.
All so he could find the easiest path to take their head.
"Rider is incredibly durable, and quick." Assassin began. "Her skill with a spear is peerless, and her mastery of the blade is not to be underestimated. Both of her weapons are able to control flame. They are most likely noble phantasms, or the flames are a special ability of Rider herself."
"As for her master, he is experienced, and quite physically able for his age."
Tsuki nodded at that. "Yes. I've never seen anyone use rune magic like he does."
"Berserker, at first, appears to be nothing but a brute." Assassin continued. "But his fighting prowess, physical strength, and combat instincts are all high class. He must be a heroic spirit of some renown."
The crystal ball shifted to the video of Eloise engaging Cleo, and Finn. Tsuki watched with great interest still keeping her ear open to Assassin.
"She seems to be a master of druidic magic." Assassin remarked. "For one so young, to have that much skill in magecraft, is impressive."
Assassin's eyes narrowed. "Then there is Saber, and her master."
"Yes, cute little Cleo." Tsuki smiled. "I want to hear your opinion on them the most."
Assassin nodded at that. "Saber has incredible combat awareness. I don't think she even blinked once the moment we appeared. Her skill with a blade is some of the best I hath ever seen. She is a rare combination of natural talent, honed through masterful training."
Assassin's eyes narrowed. "Then there is her noble phantasm. She called upon the power of another heroic spirit. And I sense that was only fraction of what it was capable of."
"Her master seems to be a mage that specializes in support, and defensive magic. She has a cool head, and a lot of tenacity in battle."
Tsuki's smile widened, and she paused the recording. For several moments, she stared at Cleo's image. The look in her eyes akin to a wolf watching a young lamb.
"They're all strong ones to be sure." Tsuki sighed. "Thank you for your input Assassin."
Assassin gave a slight bow of his head. "Of course, master."
Another shadowy portal appeared, and Assassin silently slipped inside. The dark rift then closed, leaving Tsuki alone once more.
After several moments of silence, Tsuki heard a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door to the room swung open, and a young woman, dressed in a french maid outfit, stepped through. She bowed low to Tsuki, before speaking.
"Mistress, your meal is ready." she said, her voice monotone.
"Ah good, I was starting to get a little famished." Tsuki smiled, standing from her seat.
The maid nodded, and gestured to the door. Two more maids came in, with a blonde haired woman between them. She was bound, her mouth gagged, trying to struggle to escape.
Tsuki moved toward the captured woman, cupping her face. The woman tried to turn away, but Tsuki's iron grip held her in place. So, she was forced to stare into the vampire's eyes, her own widening in terror.
"It's alright. Just relax." Tsuki said calmly. "Let your muscles untense, your heart slow. Just relax. Be calm."
Tsuki repeated similar phrases over, and over again, her voice droning. As she softly spoke, her eyes faintly glowed with crimson light. The captured woman's eyelids slowly began to droop. Her body sagged in the maid's grips, almost going limp.
"You can leave us now." Tsuki ordered.
The three maids bowed, and exited the room. Once they were gone, Tsuki cut the woman's bonds with a swipe of her hand. Then, with a gentle touch, removed her gag.
Tsuki smiled softly. "There we go. Much better."
The blonde woman sat on her knees, staring up at Tsuki blankly. Tsuki ran a finger across her cheek, tracing it down to her neck. She licked her lips, and leaned in close. Then, in the blink of an eye, bit down onto the soft flesh.
Her captive didn't resist, as fresh blood flowed from her wound. Tsuki slurped it up hungrily, guzzling it down. The sickening noises of flesh being torn, and blood splattering filled the room for several moments. Then, finally, the woman breathed her last breath, her body going limp.
Tsuki pulled away, and dropped the remains of her meal. She licked her lips, cleaning any blood that remained on her face. Her gaze then turned back to the image of Cleo, and smiled.
"Soon, my little Cleo."
Finn sipped at a glass of whiskey, pouring over several tomes in front of him. The man's study was rustic, and old fashioned. With hardwood floors, bookcases with leatherbound volumes, and a stone fireplace. Several family photos were arranged on the fireplace mantle, and a plush easy chair sat closeby.
With shimmering blue light, Rider appeared in the study's doorway. In place of her armor, she wore a red sweater, and dark jeans. Sheepishly, she entered, and dropped to her knees at Finn's side. She then prostrated herself, forehead touching the floor.
"Mclellan-dono, I offer my deepest apologies!" she exclaimed. "I acted recklessly. And because of that, we lost the key!"
Finn sighed, and closed his book. "It's alright, lass, really."
Rider raised her head. "No it is not!"
She held out a hand, and in a flash of light, a tanto appeared. "I will offer my life in compensation for my transgressions!"
Finn's eyes widened, and he rose from his seat. "Woah, woah, woah! Hold it!"
Rider looked up to him, staying her hand. Though her grip never left her blade.
Finn sighed again. "You dying isn't gonna make up for anything. It'll just leave me without a servant, and I'll be even worse off, won't I?"
Rider looked downward in shame. "I-yes, you're are right."
"That's better." the man smiled. "If you really want to make it up to me, continue to fight alongside me, and apologize with your deeds. Alright?"
Rider met his gaze, lip quivering. "Y-you are too kind, Mclellan-dono!"
"Stow your tears for now, lass." the man chuckled, handing her a tissue. "We have to work to do."
Finn took his seat once more, taking a drink. Rider wiped away the beginnings of her tears, and stood up. She then offered Finn the deepest bow.
"Thank you, Mclel-Master. Thank you."
"Don't mention it, lass." Finn replied. "And whatever history you have with Archer, you can keep to yourself if you so choose. But don't let it cloud your judgement again."
"Thank you again." Riders eyes then looked to Finn's desk. "So, what are you doing, master?"
Finn held up the book in front of him. "Research."
Rider looked to the cover. It was a fine leather bound volume, with golden trim. A golden fleur de lis was imprinted onto the front. The title was also written in the same gold. 'The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.'
"I'm home." Rio called, stepping inside.
"It's about time you got back." Archer said.
The dark haired woman was sitting up close to the television. She clicked at the controller in her hand, eyes narrowed in concentration. A fighting game was displayed on screen, and Archer's character was being backed into a corner. The enemy computer then put her into a grab, slamming her into the ground, and depleting the rest of her life.
"Gah! Damn this electronic box!" Archer roared. "You will not beat me! I am the great Oda Nobunaga, and I do not quit!"
Rio set her groceries on the counter. "Archer, why don't you take a break from that? It'll only make your more frustrated."
"Yes, a good suggestion." Archer grumbled. "I must make a tactical retreat, and come up with a new strategy to defeat the enemy."
Rio chuckled at that. "They didn't have any sake, so I brought beer. I hope it's not a problem."
"Beer?" Archer asked, cocking her head.
"It's a western drink, try it." Rio replied, handing off a can.
Archer took the can, giving it a dubious look. After popping the top, and taking a sniff, she brought the can to her lips. Her eyes immediately widened as the liquid filled her mouth.
"It tickles my tongue!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, its fizzy, cause of fermentation." Rio smiled.
Archer took another swig. "I like it!"
"Carbonated drinks are really popular nowadays." Rio said. "I should get some melon soda, or some coke next time."
Rio reached into the bag, pulling out several more items. Among them, was a package of multicolored origami paper. She cut open the package, and pulled out one of the sheets, before placing it on the counter.
"What's that for?" Archer asked, taking another sip of beer.
"I'll show you." Rio answered.
With practiced ease, Rio folded the sheet of paper before her. It quickly took on a vaguely humanoid shape, with rectangular arms, and a rounded head. Rio then grabbed a calligraphy brush, dipping it in ink, laced with silver.
After tracing a kanji onto the paper, and letting it dry, she held it to her lips. She softly whispered a string of magical incantations, magical circuits igniting along her hand. When the spell was finished she set down the paper doll. Then, with the sound of crinkling paper, it began to rise up, floating into the air.
"Ooh, what is it?" Archer asked, poking it curiously.
"A shikigami." Rio answered. "They're a type of familiar. I thought it'd be a good idea to make few to gather info."
"It seems I underestimated you, Kurosawa-san." Archer remarked. "I thought you were a third rate mage, not capable of much else other than fancy lights."
Rio rubbed the back of her neck. "Nah, this is really nothing. They're really simple. I'm sure any mage could make them."
Archer harrumphed, and downed the rest of her beer. She then grabbed another, and took her first sip. Sensing she had upset her somehow, Rio tried to change the subject.
"S-so Archer, about Rider." she began. "She seemed to really know you. Do you have any idea who she could be?"
Archer looked thoughtful for a moment, and replied. "Like I already said, I made too many enemies to count. She could be the member of a rival clan I crushed, or the daughter of a rival warlord."
She paused for a moment, taking another drink. "But still, she did seem familiar. So, she must have left some kind of impression. I just can't recall where I've seen her."
Archer stood up, crushing the can in her grip. "But enough about that, I have a more immediate foe to worry about! I have devised a new strategy to crush that electronic box!"
"R-right."
It was just before the crack of dawn, as Li practiced his movements. His body was already drenched in sweat, his muscles burning. Much of his mana had been used up in the last few hours. The magical circuits along his body were fading in out, as less, and less mana flowed through them.
But he did not stop, repeating his movements over, and over again. They had to be perfect. There was no room for error. Only through more training could he hone his skills to the finest edge.
As he struck the air with another punch, Li felt his legs give out. He stumbled, falling to his knees, panting for breath. His lungs felt as if they were on fire, and his muscles screamed in protest.
Lancer appeared by the young man's side, helping him up off the ground. He then lifted Li up, and onto his shoulder, carrying him over to the porch. With great care, he laid him down, resting his head on Li's folded clothes.
"Master, you've been practicing for over four hours." Lancer sighed. "I know you barely slept. You need rest."
Li tried to sit up. "No...I have to keep-"
Before he could rise, Lancer gently pushed him back down. Li could offer little resistance,, and lay back down once more.
"Rest." Lancer ordered. "If you keep training as you are, you'll do more harm than good."
Li relented with a nod, and tried to relax his body. With his master seemingly calmed, Lancer walked into the house. Within moments, he returned with a jug of fresh water, as well some freshly brewed tea.
"Here, drink." Lancer ordered, handing Li some water.
Li moved to sit up, taking the glass. He took slow sips at first, before guzzling down the whole thing. He could feel the cool water permeate his insides, and sooth his parched throat. Lancer quickly handed him another glass, which he drank with much less fervor.
After several minutes, Li was finally able to catch his breath. The ache in his lungs eased, and his throat no longer screamed for water. He, and Lancer sipped at cups of freshly brewed tea, the warm bitter brew settling Li's nerves.
"Master, may I ask you something?" Lancer asked after a long silence.
"What is it?"
Lancer took a moment to find the right words. "Caster's master. His words struck a nerve with you. Do you have some sort of history with him?"
Li sighed heavily, and looked to his cup. "It's not so much a history with him, Lancer. So much as it is a history with the mage association."
His gaze turned to the horizon. "My family, the Zhao family, have been mages for many generations. We were some of the first to perfect the art of strengthening magic, combining it with our martial arts. Throughout the years, we focused on this strength, turning our bodies into deadly weapons, and trying to surpass our limits."
"For several generations, we were respected, and praised for our skill in strengthening magic, and martial arts techniques. However, as the years went on, that began to change."
Lancer could see his master's body tense, as he continued. His hand unconsciously curling into a fist.
"Strengthening magic became more, and more common. Until it was taught at the most basic level to most mages. Our way of doing things became 'outdated', and ' too straightforward'. Despite our martial skill, and techniques far surpassing many magics, it didn't matter. We were relics, and 'lacked the finesse of modern mages'."
Lancer nodded in understanding. "So...that is why you seek the fruit of knowledge. You wish prove them wrong, and reclaim your family honor."
"Yes." Li replied.
Lancer clapped Li on the back. "A worthy venture! Fighting for your family's honor is a valiant undertaking!"
Li flinched at the touch, but still put on a smile. "Thank you, Lancer."
After another moments silence, Li spoke up again. "Do you have a wish, Lancer?"
Lancer frowned, and stroked his beard thoughtfully. He looked to the sky, a nostalgic yet melancholic look in his eyes.
"I wish for the opportunity to apologize to my brothers. For the promise I broke between us."
Li turned to him, raising his cup. "To both our wishes coming true."
Lancer chuckled, and raised his as well. "To claiming the fruit of knowledge."
The pair then downed the rest of their tea, and shared a smile.
Sitting atop a pedestal was one of the keys of Eden. A magical circle was inscribed on the pedestal, glowing faintly. Hanging above it was an apparatus that was attached to the ceiling. Several tools were attached to it., including a mana meter, and a large magnifying glass. The strange device was ornately made, decorated with bits of brass, and gold filigree.
"Remarkable!" Aleister exclaimed, examining the object. "The key is made of a completely unknown element!"
Caster stepped in from behind him. "The key is also an incredible source of magic energy. Its mana output could power an army of golems, and still have energy to spare."
"Just think of what the fruit itself is capable of!" Aleister exclaimed. "The thought alone has my heart racing! The power! The knowledge! I can't wait!"
Caster offered a bow. "With me by your side, the fruit will be as good as ours. However, before the next trial, I would like to make some preparations."
Aleister turned to him, brow quirked. "Preparations?"
"Yes." Caster replied. "You see, we rushed off to the first trial before I had time to fully repair. To truly tap into my full power, I require time, and resources."
"I see." Aleister nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I have plenty of connections, whatever supplies you require Caster, I can get them."
"Excellent." Caster smiled. "The first thing I will require is healthy humans. Mages would work best."
Aleister narrowed his eyes. "And...what would they be used for?"
"Sacrifices, of course." Caster replied with a chuckle. "To perform the rituals I want, blood offerings, and mana are a must. That's why mages are the perfect candidates, as they provide both."
Aleister took a step back. "Human sacrifices? Caster thats…"
Caster quickly held up a hand. "I understand your hesitation, master. But, in the pursuit of boundless knowledge, what is a few lives in the grand scheme of things?"
Aleister looked thoughtful for a moment. "I-I suppose."
Caster placed a hand on his shoulder. "Master, the pursuit of power is often a path paved with the bodies of the weak. How many people did you have to step over to reach your position in the association? Hmm? This is simply the next logical step in attaining the highest echelon of power."
For several long moments, Aleister considered his words. He had destroyed many other mages careers in his time. The rise to become a top member of the organization was a cutthroat one, some even resorting to assassination. This really wasn't that different.
"Yes." Aleister nodded. "As the saying goes. You can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs."
Caster smiled at that. "Very good, master."
Aleister put a hand to his chin. "Finding normal humans for your rituals shouldn't be a problem. Mages on the other hand...that's a different issue."
"Master, you are an administrator at the academy, correct?" Caster asked. "Well, I can think of plenty of young mages who would jump at the chance to work under you."
"That is true." Aleister admitted. "I'll see what I can do."
Caster bowed low. "Thank you, master."
Author's Notes
First off I'd like to thank Phat0mZ0ne for their follow/favorite! Now time for your history fact of the day. The original three musketeers novel was published in 1844 by french author Alexandre Dumas. The story of the main character D'artagnan would actually continue in the two sequel novels. Twenty Years After, and Bragelonne:Ten Years Later. Alexandre Dumas was also famous for wring 'The Count Of Monte Cristo', also published in the same year, as The Three Musketeers.
Thanks for reading!