I step into the church.
I see that nothing has changed.
A boundary field has been set up and properly dissected to separate any anomalies that enter the church.
Nothing was caught it interfered with it.
Thus, I shall now start my activities as the war overseer who has lined with the thosaka and the mato to obtain the grail.
I enter deeper into the back rooms.
I make sure it is sound proof somebody that in the event an assassin class servant enters the bounded field we won't be able to listen in on us.

"Looks like somebody is arriving."

I feel their presence entering the area of the church.
I move up to the entrance hall, waiting to see who it is.
And then the door is opened.
A woman of exceeding beauty was it not for the scar that covered half her face.
And the man of which I wish to kill.

"Wow, this place looks absolutely rotten."

"Rider. The church overseer is here, show some respect."

"No can do. There's literally a sea of places where we could have done this meeting."

I can understand her.
But at the same time it is easier to do so hear since I can prepare it in advance without much issue.

"Well it would trouble some on my end, preparations aren't prepared by me alone after all."

I am not a skillful magus.
I am a man of miracles and martial arts.
My wife is the one who occupies the mage craft aspect of my work.

"Yeah I know. You guys might not all be so great with magecraft with your job and all. But there are still means around it."

I can agree again.
There are ways to make a meeting without sever precaution against other masters, magus's and servants.
However with my age I cannot feel as safe as before should it come down to face a servant.

"Well, let's put it aside and hope at least you got a room for us, a proper room that is."

"Yes. This way."

I lead them towards the room I had prepared.
It isn't to far ahead from the entrance hall, in case the other or anyone else enters.
And so I lead them into the room to wait.

"This is... Much better. Guess I was being harsh then?"

"Then why don't you apology, Rider?"

"Because this man is just waiting for action as soon as you stepped up."

How did she know of my hatred?
I didn't show it on my face.
Even Mato appears surprise to her words as she sits down.
The man following down to sit next to her.

"Then curb your all destroying urge. He hasn't done anything to deserve it even if he might intend to harm me."

To be defended by this man.
I am not sure if I shouldn't care or feel resentment for help I didn't ask.

"No master. True, as long as your actions do not go against his beliefs I'm sure he won't move a finger am I right?"

"... Yes. As long as he does not give me reason to slay him then I will hold myself back."

"Then it's a smart thing to say that to their servant?"

She stood up.
Stepping up to me, on in this case a spears length away from me.
The spear of a servant brought out of their spirit form was being help up to me.
I can see with her movement and attitude I don't stand a chance.

"Rider, if you do that he won't work with u-"

"He never intended to help master. Bench sitters will just watch you struggle."

I'm in a pickle.
I didn't expect that she would decide to aim her weapon at an ally or supporter because they wouldn't do anything.
I tighten up my stance.
I take deep breaths.
I prepare myself to crush her body.

"Rider. Step down. Now."

Yet, Matou is the one again trying to defend me.

"For your contract with the tohsaka right?"

?
That was why?
I couldn't help but look at him even.
He nods...
I see.
Then I have no reason to feel such anger towards what I assumed to be a false facade.

"Fine fine. I'll hold back till afterwards."

She walks back to his side.
The spear she held a moment ago disappearing.

"On another topic. Did you get the command seal?"

"No... I have yet to obtain it."

It seems like most of the masters have been chosen.
Only a handful remain yet to be chosen.

"Just to possibly aid in being chosen as master faster. How does the grail usually chose their masters?"

I cannot contain my curiosity.

"At first, it was selective. The second still had some control. But after the third it's most randomized with only the Tohsaka, Mato and Einzbern being automatically chosen."

"I see. In that case excuse me while I do my rounds. We can continue to discuss once Tohsaka arrives."

Seeing as there is no information i can get which would not be false or information I could confirm as true without the tohsaka's presence.
I leave the room to make sure everything was in acceptable condition.
The timing was perfect even, a phone call reaching me after I have gained some distance from the room.
Of course I spent no time wasting to answer it.

"Hello Helena. How are you d-"

"Richard. Once your done, come back home quickly."

"Is something wrong?"

"No. It's just... It's better that you get here as soon as you can."

"That might take some time."

"That's fine. Take your time. See you."

Odd...
I cannot help but wonder why.
However it is clearly important, I should return as soon as possible.
But then I feel a presence enter the church.
I quickly head to the entrance where the 2 enter.

I enter he room and quickly introduce myself.
I try to inquire why they came and the woman by his side steps up.

Serve

That wasn't an answer, but those words had struck me.
A spell?
Magic?
I didn't know.
All that I knew was that information rushed through my head.

Yes.
I must help them.
They are more important then my family after all.

As they left, another presence enter the church, however I am there this time.

"Sorry for the wait. I thought it was better for the extra's to leave first."

Finally the man and his servant enters.
Both entering while wearing a suit.

"I do not mind. I cannot say the same for Mato's servant."

"Why? She's feisty?"

"More so."

"Great."

I wish my fist could meet his face sometimes.

"This way."

I lead them to the same root.
Zouken and rider had been talking to each other about certain subjects...
She's clearly pestering him for activities.

"Oh. Okay yeah, I take back not so great."

Tohsaka enters the room along with his servant, the 2 sitting down on the opposite sides of Mato's seat.

"Took you long enough."

"Your rider? Yeah well being top secret means being careful of the extra's around. Plus I'm famous it's hard to move around without being noticed."

Logical response. Deviating from the natural habits and standing out would cause suspicion towards him being a master.

"Your a magus, you could have literally used it to hide yourself."

However his lies were seen through. As a Magus it should be easy to move around.
Rider seemed intent on making things hard on him.

"Well I had to show caster around."

Another lie.
His servants face couldn't help but display a frown making it all the more obvious.

"You have a caster! It should be easy to move around."

Zouken was the one who decided to speak out this time.

"Now now masters. Let us please move onto the reason why we have gathered here."

Caster attempts to rectify the situation after his blunder, that is what I assumed he stepped up.

"Let us go at it caster. It's best for us to go at it. We get to know each other better so that it doesn't screw us up later on after all."

Truly.
Rider just seem to itch for a fight.
Now I can see why she tried to a start a fight with me before.

"If we start to fight. It would harm our alliance and it'll be detrimental to the contract."

Caster once more attempts to derail the conversation.
With sound reasoning in order to move on from the little grip.

"If something this small could end the contract might as well never make it in the first place."

For once, I agree with Matou's side.
No rider's argument.
I would be able to hunt zouken down if that contract never came to be.

"Okay, let's get this meeting started then."

Gestalt intervenes as he claps his hands together.
Deciding himself to change subject before it spiraled into petty arguments.

"So, Rider. You think you can support caster? Or need support? My servant's pretty good in either. His main nich is firing spell non stop."

"His that good? In that case he can support me. I'm more aligned with a berserker since my noble phantasm is mainly for mobility. Well, I have 1 that makes me pretty much invincible so you can See Me like a tank."

Rider's noble phantasm is mobility only?
That sounds like a lie, mobility base noble phantasm would normally be used for build up for a large attack no?
However the secondary noble phantasm appears to be as simple as it sounds.

"How about his?"

"As my master just mentioned. I use my noble phantasm to control the elements and use spells on rapid succession. I can use it's true name to fire perform a powerful attack."

There wasn't much detail.
However the general idea was understood.

"Then I suppose caster will mainly be supporting. Rider will be running in guns blazing, any complaints?"

Gestalt speak out, clearing up the purposes of the servant's present when fighting together.

"Great. Then onto the next topic. How are we going to go about this? Be on our marry way and just inform the other when they find a servant? Or do we try to gain the attention of some and kill them in a fight with caster doing a pincher attack when they least expect it?"

This would be important to know. Without a grasp on how they will fight, they might end up having more issues working together.
Or not fight their enemies at all and just create conflict.

"Caster. Your doing the baiting. I'll do the pincer."

However, rider's suggestion came forth shocking the room.
Gestalt appeared confused.
Matou simply appeared tired.
Caster had yet to process it.
And I was certainly leaving my mouth open.

"W-wait. Rider. You're the one with defenses. You should be-"

"I have both defense and agility. You have neither. You, are literally the perfect trap."

"But if I get caught off guard I might not-"

"Your master is confident in you. I have no reason to worry about your performance. Plus if I get into a fight before you do, you'll take forever to support me."

Caster is able to see the logic in that.
And it is sound considering her class as rider.
Yet gestalt tries to change things.

"Ye. I get, but you might be able to do more considering your like a berserker."

"That would be against the contract."

But Matou had spoken.

"You know I have little prana. If I did so, I alone would be bearing the front load. Plus as much as I would like to have had out servant's be of the class we had aimed for we will have to do the best with them."

He speaks of devious words.
Supported by the blasted contract set up by him.
Not even Gestalt seem to have a come back.

"Okay. You win. Anything else?"

I see that they have finished.
But I have yet to confirm certain facts.

"Why has the grail become uncontrollable after the third grail war?"

Matou directs a stare.
It is justifiable as my prying of knowledge may given an impression that the grail is being sought out by the church.
But Gestalt does not hesitate to answer.

"A thief. Something seem to have happened during the third war in which all control that remained from the second war and onwards was stripped from us. In all honesty, it's an impossibility made reality."

While in another world it was made possible.
But it was through massive amount of man power to steal the greater grail.
And then work on it for several mage generations.
For the grail to be tempered with during the same war is unheard of.

"Obviously no one knows who did it. So the only assumption is that the third grail war winner had a wish which resulted in the connection being cut."

And while some of the control was lost after the first war, that was only due to the loss of participating famil.
They who agreed to aid the creation of the holy grail and completion.
Though the 3 main families continued and thus maintained some control.

It was why after the third war that the connection was lost as they couldn't control it afterwards.
It was why they knew even though this was the 4th grail war.

"Not a clue?"

"None."

Yet as I ask, I can see that Matou had reacted.
So of course he knew.
Only someone like him would know.
Or maybe he was angered at how I confirmed his words without having to ask.

"Then I suppose we can conclude it here. But before we do so let us exchange means of contact in case of emergencies."

I had them leave as soon as possible.
And once they did I left as soon as possible.
Closing the church behind me.
It's nearly the middle of the day and by the time I returned home it was slightly later then that.
It was important, so I had spared little time for trivialities.
Making my way into the building and door to my home.

"It seemed complicated."

As soon as I enter.
I see my wife standing at the entrance of the living room.
Her bright yellow eyes comfort me much like my god and master.

"Sadly. It was Rose."

"Quickly. It's concerning Ryan."

"Our daughter? What happened with her?"

I followed the lead of my wife. Entering the living room to see my daughter.
Sitting down comfortably in the couch wearing the tomboyish outfit that she loved.
Her golden hair wrapped into a bun on the back of her head was the only give away of her gender.
Her golden eyes stared at me with dread.

"Sorry dad. I somehow picked up another one of those mysteries."

She didn't hide the hand which now had a crimson tattoo.
Segmented into 3 clear parts with how her hand held onto the cup she must have been drinking.

"What do we do now?"

I had to think.
My wife's question seemed to be nothing more but confirmation of what I wanted to do.
Ryan as well seemed tense, knowing of the situation at hand.

But it's obvious.
As soon as she obtains a servant I should have it work under my master.
But the contract would make it impossible and put my daughter in danger...
Yes, my master isn't as important as my family.

"We will have her summon a servant. I will simply claim another to be it's master. I will be the one managing the servant. And so Ryan will be free of the war."

"But dad-"

"I know. It's not a true guarantee of safety by not being a participant. But I can't afford the higher likely hood that you will be targeted as a master."

Yes.
If I am the proxy and manage to have the servant simply do as it please. I will both maintain the condition on the contract and aid my master by not having to side with their enemy.

"Then I'll create a book for you to have the command seals-"

"Can you not move it to me?"

I know my wife is extraordinary at magecraft.
I might say she's even able to stand upon the very top of the mage association if she displayed her work and skills there.
She must surely have a a way to move the command seals.

"I still want to use magecraft dad. Doing that would damage my circuits."

However it seems like my daughter replied first.
And understandably, she who studies magecraft would find the dangers of having their circuits deteriorate a danger and something that must be avoided at all cost.

"Better question is, should we use that catalyst for the servant?"

My wife is the one to change the subject as she moves over to Ryan.
Carefully looking over her hand as I ponder.

"It'll be an extremely strong servant. So of course. I'll go get up a summoning circle in the basement."

"Workshop."

My wife corrects me as I leave.
I can hear my daughter snort at how she was reacting.
But it was understandable.
I worked under the church. My exposure to magecraft lessons were none existent.
But to my wife, it was something she took pride in.
Being mundane about it would annoy her to no end.
Only Ryan held a balance between to serious and prideful but mundane enough to not mind it and find amusement in it.

Just like that time where I first made a ritual circle with her and Rose.
As I drew the circle from rats blood that... Fortunately was covered up as paint till she grew up enough to become all centered on the path of magecraft.
She laughed at my mistakes instead of trying to fix them or do the circle herself like her mother.
Yes, it was good times to see that she was no infatuated with magecraft.
Unlike her mother that would walk silently behind me.

"Dad. She's done."

Ryan walked up to me from behind.
And I look back, getting a piece of cloth to wash my hand.

"Perfect timing. I just finished."

She couldn't help but laugh a bit.

"Your missing a few details. Here let me help."

I moved to the side to give her space within the confined space.
The bucket I had prepared was picked up.
She pours blood carefully along certain parts of the circle to finish up the missing pieces.
Her skills were certainly better then me.

"Thank you. I haven't done this in a while since my promotion."

"Well considering what you managed to do for the church. The fact that your being made to stand on the side line is a good thing. I wouldn't be a thing if you didn't after all."

She finally sets it back down. Making sure to slide it behind a corner in order to avoid spilling it during the summon.

"So. I bring the artifact out?"

"Don't refer it like that."

"Right. Right."

She extends her hand after returning to my side.
Her breath becoming heavy and loud.
Wind blows as I watch it form.
A light take shape in her hand.
And with a grasp on it, the blade of victory appeared.
A golden splendor filling the room.

"Excalibur is something that lied on the other side after all-"

A legendary blade.
It should not be in this time and age.
For it returned to the other side. Unlike Avalon who's existence still remains, simply unknown to where it currently is.
It isn't something I or Rose had.
It is not something obtained from the church.
It was something she recovered herself as a child at the supposed lake where the sword was returned.

A wonder of many that she had done.
Rose simply claims that it is due to her lineage having 'mystery' despite how that should not be possible.
I understand how objects of history, if we'll maintained, contains mystery.
But such element shouldn't be born in this day and age, specially any living being.
I suppose that is why the mystery is maintained?

"You would want to step back dad."

Hearing of her warning.
I step behind her, watching as she began chanting.
I feel seemingly limitless amount of magical energy flow out from her.
It feels as though it is closer to a 'high class homunculus' that simply generates prana if not greater.

But something is off.
I feel an interference from somewhere.
My instincts has not grown dull even as I have lived without conflict.
And my thoughts are right.

"STOP THE RITUAL-!"

Rose shouts from above.
Did someone break into the bounded field she set up?
No.
The interference comes from the world itself-

"Gaia-!"

As I reach out to stop Ryan.
The summoning came to a conclusion before she could cut off the supply of mana from the world.
An explosion occurs meant to destroy the building.
I manage to move in front of her in time to stop the force from hurting her.
I feel my back snap, as though struck with a wrecking ball.
But this is nothing compared to what I had dealt with before.
My instincts tells me it isn't the end.
Even as the shock is absorbed into the whatever spell my wife had prepared.

"Ryan move over to you mother!"

I turn, whipping around as I feel mana gather around my body.
And I come to see 2 cloaked figures in all black.
The only 2 differentiating feature is the mask they wore and the knife the held.
The one to my right had a knights head piece like visor for a mask.
Darkness seemed to float about them as they stand there with a blacken knife.
The other to my left had a metallic mask like skull.
His body seemingly disappearing into the area itself as it held a odd looking dagger.

But as I prepare to clash with either.
That with the skull mask vanishes.
The other lowering it's weapon as it's presence disappears.
My instincts seem to say the threat is gone.
And rose comments how the others presence has disappeared completely.

"Are you my servant?"

Ryan, my daughter is the one to ask the other standing about.
And it kneels down in front of me and her.

"I am assassin. Summoned to serve you in this grail war."

"What was that about?!"

A sensible question from my daughter.
Less so for how she carried herself.
Then again, rudeness is much like her.

"... It seemed like the world intended to interfere with the summoning. But there was interference from the grail."

Was it the thief who didn't want the world to get in the way?
Was it a scheme of such scale that it needed to interfere and stop the war?

"In that case, Richard. It's a good call to distance ourselves from the war."

Rose had walked up to my side as I let the mana flow away from me.
Holding out my hand to her as she handles me a book...
A Bible cover to help my situation I assume.

"That will give you master like Authority and access to the command seals."

"Why?"

Of course.
The servant is interested into the reasoning as to why.

"Because I wish not to have my daughter take part of this war. And due to my contract I will be acting as your master. But due to my position I will simply say that someone else is your master and you will be free to do as you please with few restrictions."

"A complicated situation... I assume it is to protect my master and the other woman?"

"... Ryan. I'm your actual master. That's my mother, Rose, and you new master is my father, Richard."

"Yes. You are correct. By being the master of a servant during the war we might be intentionally targeted. This set up just makes it easier to avoid that."

My daughter decided to introduce us.
And rose spoke in my place.
With that the main points has been explained.

"I understand. I will fight for the grail under the name of another. But I swear I shall obtain it for your family under my knights oath. For my name is-"

"So. Is your girlfriend just going to sit around and play phone games?"

"What else do you want her to do while I'm working?"

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

"No, you don't have to do anything Lucy."

"She's just saying she's learning to use it."

"Well she is playing a game... "

"On another note... Where did she sleep?"

"In the same bed as me why?"

"And you two didn't do anything."

"Nothing."

"... I'm disappointed in you."

"Bro... Why must you expect I do it so soon-"