A/N: Hello! Once again, I'm really sorry about the delay in updating. But on the bright side, my exams are finally over! Thank you all for being patient with me. The next few updates will definitely come in a shorter span of time. I promise!
(As usual, do review!)
The Bull of Heaven charged once again, this time impacting against a mighty tree by the river bank, instantly demolishing it, barely missing the golden King that stood beside the tree just a moment ago. It was an ugly beast of titanic proportions, stretching out a full hundred meters, with horns as massive as a century old pine tree. It's golden eyes promised pain and suffering whilst its every step made the Earth tremble. Due to the influences of Ereshkigal, its very presence brought upon the mortal world a miasma of death and darkness. Truly, it was a divine beast without equal, capable to laying waste to anything and everything.
It was this beast that had roamed the lands around Uruk for the past 7 years, demolishing crops, massacring villages who lived on the outskirts of the city and even causing the rain to stop falling. Drought, famine and disease struck Uruk simultaneously, bringing the city to its knees, its people broken and defeated. Even its king, the mighty Gilgamesh, would have been in despair had it not been for her. Her words soothed and invigored him, giving him the strength to carry on. 4 years ago, on the day of harvest, their resilience and courage paid off. During the harvest month, an elaborate ambush was set by the King and caught the Bull unawares. Spears, swords and javelins were hurled in their hundreds from the King's army and mighty treasury whilst chains, nets and harpoons were fired to pin the great beast down. As the Bull of Heaven was distracted, Gilgamesh and Enkidu led the charge, weapons glinting in the sun.
The battle had lasted for barely an hour, but the damage was done, the Bull of Heaven was severely injured and fled as soon as it gathered the strength to break free of the constraints placed on it, trailing blood as it ran into the forests north of the farmlands. The people cheered in jubilation as the beast was driven off, they would finally have food on their table after nearly half a decade of starvation. Not only did they celebrate the respite they will be receiving, they celebrated their King's extraordinary actions. The afterparty of the battle continued on for 3 days and nights, with the city celebrating its great king and his heroics.
However, that exuberant mood was gone by the time the next harvest season rolled around. The people were apprehensive, afraid that the Bull will come once more. Thankfully, it did not. This occurred for the next few years, with the Bull staying clear of Uruk, although tales of it terrorising the mountainous tribes to the north continued to spread throughout the city. Despite that, the Bull soon became forgotten, only existing in the deepest recesses of the people's minds. Until this year. Early in the Spring, many patrols on the borders of Uruk began mysteriously vanishing, often leaving behind mangled corpses. Gilgamesh immediately recognized what was happening. The Bull was returning. Throughout Spring and Summer, the villagers on the outskirts of the kingdom began reporting an increased number of sightings of the Bull. It appeared to be completely healed, ready to take on Uruk again.
Finally, on the Summer Solstice, it struck without warning, annihilating the northern wall of the great city with one charge, causing the titanic structure to heave and give. It barrelled straight towards the palace, trampling countless people unfortunate enough to be caught in its path. It tore through the palace gates, massacring the royal guard and even killing the grand vizier. Luckily, the King and his bride were on an inspection tour and were not present in the city itself. The Bull, seemingly realising this fact, backed out as quickly as it had come in, vanishing in a trail of dust, leaving only destruction in its wake.
News of the assault spread rapidly and soon, an irate Gilgamesh was surveying the remnants of the palace. Not even he had foreseen this, or rather, he did witness it in a dream beforehand, but had rejected this possibility outright. Surely the Bull would not dare to attack his stronghold directly. But it did, and now he was being made a fool. The border patrols were increased, with each patrol doubling in manpower and armed to the teeth with weapons specialized in injuring the Bull. In the meantime, the King would oversee the rebuilding and reinforcing of the city walls.
The measures put in place worked out well enough, with the Bull being chased off at every turn. As Autumn came, the Bull became increasingly desperate and took a massive risk by trying to brute force its way through the newly rebuilt northern wall. It was a mistake. The soldiers of Uruk immediately descended upon it and cornered it. Despite that, the beast was the most dangerous when cornered. Lashing out, it sent many soldiers flying whilst goring others to death with its wicked horns. The patrols began to back off, wary of the heavenly being. It seemed that it would be able to escape again. However, that was when the Golden King arrival was announced with a hail of arrows, pelting onto the thick hide of the Bull. Once again, these two were now engaged in combat.
Gilgamesh leapt up again, deftly landing onto the tree that stood behind him, once again avoiding the charge of the Bull before drawing deeper into his vault and summoning magic laced weapons of the highest quality. They were used as projectiles, exploding as they connected with the ground near the Bull. For a beast its size, it was nimble and thus dodged most of Gilgamesh's weapons. Once again, it was on the move, seeking to trample the King beneath its hooves. Another tree toppled over, crushing a soldier that had wandered into the area it fell on. The Bull charged on, relentless in its pursuit of its prime target, unwilling to give him a moment of rest. Golden lances of light streaked through the air, homing for the Bull. Some managed to glance off the hide of the Bull, but none of it did any lasting damage.
Then, an idea struck the Golden King. Pulling out a cloak gifted to him by a foreign merchant as a gift, he donned it. Instantaneously, two, then four copies of him appeared, surrounding the great beast. For a moment, it worked. The Bull of Heaven looked around in confusion, unsure of which way to charge. Then, Gilgamesh commanded the illusions to distract the Bull by deliberately approaching it whilst he snuck close to the exposed belly of the beast. It would have worked, had it not been the Bull sensing danger at the last possible moment to avoid the tempest of steel that poured out from underneath it. Leaping aside, it retaliated, taking advantage of the momentary shock that still pervaded the Golden King's judgment. Raising its powerful front legs, it kicked viciously, roaring in triumph as the hooves connected and the King was sent flying into another tree.
With blood drippling from the corner of his lips, Gilgamesh stood up shakily, still disoriented by the impact. He frantically looked around, searching for any signs of an impending attack, only barely avoiding another charge. This was a harder battle than he thought it would be. Reaching even deeper into his treasury, he began summoning some of his most valued possessions to be hurled as projectiles. One of them was the Vimana, a legendary ship which was said to be able to travel at the speed of thought itself. Gilgamesh boarded the ship and it sped off into the skies, leaving the Bull behind.
Gilgamesh then surveyed the battlefield from mid-air. The forest was utterly ruined, with swathes of trees completely disintegrated by either his weapons or the Bull itself. The surviving parts were barely clinging onto life, having been infected by the deadly miasma the Bull exuded. The massive figure of the beast was fully visible, and soon it came under attack by a barrage originating from the Vimana, consisting of the some of the most fearsome weapons ever known to humanity. The Bull's actions however, were confusing. Instead of heading deeper into the forest for more cover, it headed right for the open plains. It was trying to escape! Or so Gilgamesh thought.
Once the Bull had reached the plains, it began circling around, kicking up a massive dust cloud, rendering it impossible to spot it. Obsessed with killing the Bull, Gilgamesh descended the Vimana, ignoring the premonition that had flashed through his mind momentarily which had signalled that this was a fatal error. Once inside the dust cloud, it became abundantly clear that it was in fact, a trap. Unfortunately, Gilgamesh could barely react before the divine beast was upon him, knocking the Vimana out of the sky like swatting an insect and smashing him backwards with titanic force.
The Golden King fell, barely maintaining consciousness as the world spun around him. Through the pain and disorientation, he felt something even more disconcerting. The emotion was foreign, but seemingly familiar, as if it had always been there. It was a feeling that ate away from inside. It was irrational. It was inconceivable. It was utterly ironic. Yet, it was very real and invaded his every train of thought. Gilgamesh, the mighty King of Heroes, felt fear. Just like every other human being, he felt it. The utter terror as he witnessed the Bull bearing down on him at full speed. He did not want to die. He could not die. He wanted to live.
And live he did. A green and golden blur flashed by, driving the Bull back and pulling him out of the way. Her face was angelic as usual, her embrace warm as usual. But what was she doing here?! Gilgamesh had specifically made sure that she did not follow him, for she was now with child for six months. Due to this, her abilities have been severely inhibited due to the energy drawn by the life within her. Her presence here would only be dangerous for her!
"Why… how?"
Her eyes glinted with tears and indignation. "I told you we will handle this together. How could you just leave me behind? Do you know how worried I was when I first heard about the battle taking place outside the city?" Her fists lightly pounded his chests as she poured all her frustrations and worry into her words.
"I… You know that you are in no state to fight. How could I possibly let you be in danger?"
"You said so yourself. I am your equal. Do I not have the right to assist you in this battle? If I don't, what kind of equal does that make me?"
"Enkidu, I just… don't want to see you hurt."
"Hurt? My king, together we shall triumph over all, nothing can stand in our path if we fight together."
"Yes… together..."
The brief period of calm was shattered by a menacing growl, emanating from the great beast just a few hundred meters away.
"Stand and fight, my king. Together, we shall show this beast that we are not to be trifled with."
The battle recommenced as the bull once again raced towards them. The two moved with sync, albeit slightly off due to the extra-ordinary circumstances. However, their experience in fighting together showed as they foiled the Bull's every attempt to catch them unware. They fought and glided around fluidly, wearing the Bull down. However, it was a tenacious beast and refused to stay down even when injured. It fought tooth and nail, standing strong against the peerless duo. Its patience and resilience was rewarded. Eventually, the effects of the injuries Gilgamesh had sustained and Enkidu's pregnancy began to catch up. Their movements began to slow and grow sloppy. Sensing the weariness of its opponents, the Bull rallied and traded blows with even greater ferocity, its stamina seemingly endless.
Something had to give. And it did as the King and his companion were backed into a corner, trapped between a river and the Bull. Instead of charging them, the Bull spoke.
"Why, betrayer? Why side with him and defy those who had made you? It was your duty to bind him and return control to the Gods. But you instead aided him in his childish and petty actions."
"Because I found something in him that cannot be mirrored by anyone, not even the Gods themselves." Enkidu spoke with conviction, unflinching even in the face of a disadvantage.
"Hahahaha! Him? He is but an inconspicuous speck in the grand scheme of the world, just a spoiled and petty child. What could possibly be in this failure of a demigod that you see?"
She gritted her teeth. No one, not even the Gods had the right to judge and insult his dreams like that. They did not understand, no one did.
"Now, since you seem so committed to him. I shall grant you the joy of dying together…" Moments after finishing the conversation, the Bull charged.
To its surprise, the two figures ahead of him did not even attempt to avoid his unstoppable charge. It was disconcerting, especially when the green haired female stood in his way with eyes that burned in anger.
"Very well. Since the Gods themselves reject us, I will reject them. I have made my choice and it is to walk with the humans, to walk with him. This evocation is the song of the Earth, the breath of the planet, unbound, unrestrained by anyone. Come, let us restrain the Gods. Enuma Elish!"
A gargantuan surge of magical energy pulsed through the air, halting the Bull, causing it to pause and look on in awe and terror as the Earth beneath shone a brilliant golden and green. Then, without warning, countless golden chains sprung out of the ground, homing straight for the Bull. It tried to run from what it knew was impending doom, but its high divinity worked against it. Its identity as a divine beast made sure that there was no escape, for the chains literally bent time and space itself to ensure that it would bind the Bull of Heaven. Eventually, the Bull stumbled and the chains immediately caught up, tightly binding every extremity of the Bull, rendering it helpless against what was to come. Without any hesitation, Enkidu commanded the chains to pull in all directions at once, tearing the Bull of Heaven apart into many pieces.
As the remains of the beast collapsed lifelessly onto the ground. Realization set in for the Uruk soldiers. The battle was finally over, and they had finally won. Cheers and laughter broke out throughout the forest, not even the casualties sustained could dampen the mood of the soldiers. After all, after 7 long years, they literally triumphed over the Gods themselves.
Amidst the jubilant yelling and cries of victory, Gilgamesh walked over to her, holding her and congratulating her on the victory. However, something did not seem quite right. She felt, so, so tired. Although it could have been fatigue after exerting so much of her powers, but she knew it was not. There was a sense of finality in the coming darkness that would soon engulf her. Collapsing into his arms, her consciousness began to fade. But before that, she managed to figure out what was happening. This was it. They had finally reached past a tipping point for the Gods.
He felt it too. Distressed and alarmed, yet completely helpless as she continued to weaken in his embrace. Her life was slowly slipping away and he had no way to stop it. This was the will of the Gods and there was no denying it. She was their creation and they were now returning her to what she once came from. It was all his fault. If he had not angered them, she would not have to suffer like this, an ignominious end that she did not deserve. It was all his fault.
"Gilgamesh…" It broke his heart to see her like this, broken and dying. He so longed to save her, ironically even begging the Gods for their forgiveness. Yet nothing he said could reverse their decision. It seemed like the Gods had reached an agreement that they would not rescind. It was her fate to die here. Yet, why was she smiling? How could she smile in a time like this? He needed her so much.
"Why do you mourn, my king? You told me once… where there is life, there is death and that it is an immutable truth. It was just…"
"Because…" He was lost for words. It was unbelievable. He was just like every other person in his city. He did not want to lose her, did not want her to die simply because it was her. It did not matter if her death was just or deserved. He just wanted her to live.
"I wanted to be by your side… till the end of times. What should I do my King? Who will be there for you once I am gone? I don't want to leave you…"
Gilgamesh looked down upon the wilting frame of Enkidu, watching and reminiscing as she extended a hand up to caress his cheeks. Her voice was barely a whisper now.
"In sad times, in glad times, in times of regret… If I would mourn, it would not be for the Gods, or for a King…" Pausing to draw in a shuddering breath, Enkidu was only just able to muster enough strength to carry on.
"I would mourn for you… Yes… you were so much more human than you thought… Perhaps my death will make you realise that as well… Surely, I would see your tears this once…" Hearing this, a twinge of emotion sparked within the Golden King. It was truly puzzling. Even in death, she would make him experience these new and unfamiliar things.
"Gilgamesh… I wanted to keep seeing the world… together… with…you…"
Then, the forest was silenced by the cries of agony and despair of the King of Heroes. Everything was gone, save the golden chains that still glinted in the midday sun.
~The Greatest Grail War~
She was jolted awake with the end of the dream. What… had she just seen? It was very confusing. Was that Gilgamesh? Who was that woman whose death had caused him such sadness? Then, she felt something familiar. It was warm, yet slightly heavy. Attempting to sit up, she found herself pinned down by a familiar golden glow. She was shocked, yet something in her told her that this was right. Her arms, moving my themselves, encircled his back and pulled him towards her. He was so warm and comfortable.
"It is almost time for your meal, Child of Gaia. If you lay in bed any longer you will be late for your lessons." Looking down, he found her snuggled into him, fast asleep once again. A smile came to his face. This was living proof that she had not forsaken him and that she would always find her way back to his side. He had once again dreamt of the final confrontation with the Bull of Heaven, and of her death. But that had been a memory and regret of the distant past. It did not matter anymore, she was here. He would not fail her again.
Changing her out of her sleepwear, he carried her to the Great Hall and settled her down on the correct seat. Then, he roused her from slumber. Seeing her awkward and confused face as she woke up was always a pleasure as she blinked away her sleepiness.
"You are currently in the Great Hall for I have taken the liberty to assist you in getting ready for the day."
An awkward moment passed before her mind acknowledged and understood fully what had happened. She must have fallen asleep again after waking up. Thankfully, Gilgamesh had been helpful enough to ensure that she was going to be on time for all the lessons.
Thank you, Gilgamesh.
Then, turning to her food and ensuring that no one else was nearby, she applied the usual charms, allowing her to see the food. Deftly picking up the utensils, she began filling up her plate with food. The Head of her faculty, Professor Sinistra soon approached her and handed over the timetable, appropriately charmed so she would be able to read it properly. She would be tutored privately today, separate from the rest of the student body, except for the Specialization in Magic class, which she would be having together with her peers in the faculty.
"Who do you think that is? I have never seen her before. A transfer student?"
"Who cares, she's absolutely gorgeous. Do you think she will be interested in being friends with me?"
Her identity was still somewhat a mystery due to her looks being a far cry from what her peers had known. Perhaps it would be best if it stayed this way. She just wanted to be left alone with herself and her magic.
"Come on, are you really that stupid? If you paid any attention last night, you would have seen her go into the dormitory meant for Potter. I think she did the discovery ritual over the holidays and it turned her into this form." Another voice, this time one not associated with bad memories. This girl had been nothing but nice to her over the past few years, but she had always pushed her away due to her own fears.
"What I am more curious about is that golden-haired man beside her. Who do you think he is? He's simply… male perfection embodied." One of them sighed as she feasted her eyes upon the magnificent sight of the great King's divine form.
"What?! That's Potter? The scrawny, antisocial squib turned into this beauty? I am finding it hard to believe, Mary." The boy from before had recovered from his initial shock. Unfortunately, he was not the most adept at being tactful in his words. However, after so many years, these kinds of words just floated over her. "Well whatever, she's cute enough and plus, it's never too late to get to know someone."
"How many times must I tell you to be careful of how you speak Michael? First of all, she's not a squib, the Professor explained to us many times. She has a special form of magic that makes her unable to cast spells like us. If anything, we should all be jealous of the private tutoring she receives." Turning to the female companion of hers, she continued, "And also, there are rumors that the golden-haired man being the one causing the injuries that the infamous fifth year trio of bullies had suffered yesterday. So, you might not want to approach him more carefully. Honestly, I believe him to be some sort of bodyguard for her."
"Nonsense… do you see the rags that she normally wears? How can someone like that afford a bodyguard? Maybe he is someone she seduced?"
"Come on, that's just absurd. Headmaster Dumbledore would definitely not allow for an unregistered person to be on the campus grounds for such frivolous reasons. Besides, have you seen her nightgown last night? It was the softest and finest looking silk I have ever seen, with golden designs embroidered onto it. I kid you not, those designs looked like they were made out of actual gold. Maybe she ran into a rich family who took her in?"
As the discussions continued, Iris sighed internally. This was exactly what she had hoped to avoid, attention from others regarding the inconsistencies of her appearance and clothing, as well as him. Undoubtedly, there would be plenty of people approaching her, questioning her, interrogating her without a care for her privacy. She only hoped that the interest in these changes she had gone through would simply fizzle out quickly. They should leave her alone, for their and her own good. Unbeknownst to her, a few different individuals were contemplating much more serious matters as they saw the Golden King.
~The Greatest Grail War~
He could not believe his eyes. But as they say, seeing is believing. All of his senses told him that the man standing close to his sister was a servant, an incredibly powerful one at that.
But how was it possible? The Hogwarts faction was already rounded out with 7 servants, one of each class. But now, an eighth servant had entered the fray, appearing in the vicinity of Hogwarts. This was not good. Glancing up at the Head table, he found Dumbledore to be absent from his usual seat. It could have just been a coincidence, but it did not strike him as one. His sister disappearing during the holidays, then returning with a servant, coupled with Dumbledore's sudden absence was too suspicious a series of events.
"Hermione, do you notice something off about that man over there?"
"Yes Daniel. Last night, Caster had told me about a presence of unbridled power entering the castle. So my guess is that the man over there is the source of all that. He is most certainly a servant. However, what we need to find out is which side is his master on and who this servant is."
"Agreed. Why not we hit the library later after Transfiguration and try to figure out the identity of the servant."
"Sure, do I tell Ron to come along?"
Daniel sighed. Ron was always a troubling subject. Just before the summer holidays, when the Holy Grail War had been announced, he had been really excited to get a chance to participate in the event. Truth be told, Ron did understand that his chances of getting selected were quite minuscule and hence he would not have minded if he was not chosen by the Grail. What really ticked Ron off was the fact that the two of his best friends had been selected. All of his insecurities, envy that were suppressed by the adventures they had in their 3 years surfaced. It culminated in a massive argument that had left Hermione in tears and the trio split.
Over the holidays, Hermione and Daniel had reconciled, and were focusing on dealing with the Grail War. Ron however, still returned their letters with curt remarks that were neither here nor there. Neither of them had dared to approach Ron yet, in fear of another incident similar to the one at the end of the last school year. Furthermore, with Ron being switched to the sub-Faculty of Elemental Creatures, they no longer shared classes and dormitories, and hence greatly reduced their time available for each other. This put a timer on the trio. If they did not resolve their issues properly within the next year, it was likely that they would drift apart.
Daniel would certainly not like that to happen. Despite all of his faults, Ron was a loyal, humble and down to earth friend with a wicked sense of humour. He missed him. But he was also making it so hard for them to sit down and talk by avoiding them during both the previous night's feast and breakfast.
No matter, he had more important things to worry about these days. With his sister appearing with a servant, things were getting complicated. It is possible that there is something wrong with the Grail War. With his horrendous luck and penchant for finding trouble, Daniel knew that something was not right.
His sister. Another sore spot. But he knew and understood what Dumbledore did and said regarding her. How he wished it did not turn out this way. It left a bitter taste in his mouth every time he saw her, thin, wearing rags that the muggles she lived with considered a "blessing". With each passing year it became worse. First went her eyesight. She was barely eight back then. He had personally seen her struggling to complete even the simplest of tasks in the first days after her eyes had lost their shine during a discreet visit to the Dursleys.
But what hit him the hardest was when she simply became silent. They were both in their first years. She was a target, a punchbag for those disgusting people. He begged and begged his parents and Dumbledore to stop this treatment she was enduring. The constant taunting, the physical assaults and the ostracization grew so severe that the teachers could no longer turn a blind eye to it. She was isolated from her peers and seniors. It was too late, she would no longer respond to them. Even when she did, not a single word was uttered from her lips.
He held a deep respect for Professor Sinistra. She had been the one to stop his sister from ending it all during the second year. On a stormy night at the top of the Astronomy tower, she saved her as the young girl tried to leap off the tower, desperate to be free from life itself. The Professor did not just stop there. Instead, she covered for the fees for the mental therapy that his sister had to go through afterwards. Furthermore, she also provided for her to receive special courses when it was found out that she could not perform any spells due to incompatibility of her magic with their modern methods.
He was also awed by the resilience and strength his sister showed. Despite everything she had went through, it did not diminish her love for magic. She would always be in the library, seeking knowledge or within the practice rooms allocated, perfecting whatever she had learnt. He had spied on her beneath the invisibility cloak more than once before, and it was astounding to watch her complete rituals and complex spells with amazing precision. Even so, he believed that every year, she suffers through things a human being should not be allowed to go through. When the time comes, he wonders if there would even be anything left to sacrifice.
He was disgusting. So were his parents, so were the Dursleys, so was Dumbledore and so were everyone who had interfered in her life. The things they had done to this innocent little girl. He wanted to blame fate itself, but fate was intangible, always ensuring that the humans carried out the dirty work. And they had so willingly done so. They were utterly revolting as human beings, undeserving of any redemption. But Daniel believed in Dumbledore's ideals, his own ideals. What was their pride, reputation and morality to the lives of the entire wizarding community?
This year however, had brought an entirely foreign element into the equation. Words cannot describe how he felt when his sister had vanished. On one hand, he felt a tiny bit glad, that he would not have to carry out the deed itself and that his sister was finally released from the burden she carries. However, she was still his sister, the one closest to him. Confronted by a tempest of emotions, he wept and wept as his parents and Dumbledore tried their utmost to find her. The issue revolving around his sister had taken its toll on his parents as well. Lily Potter and James Potter had not aged well. The handsome youth and beautiful lady had become a pair of sullen and moody middle-aged people.
He wanted to curse fate again. But then he saw her on the opening day of the school year. She had seemed healthier than ever, and although she still distanced herself from everyone, those eyes of hers shone an unearthly and mesmerizing blue and golden. Had he not constantly reminded himself that he was her brother, he would have joined the various boys in his faculty that spouted lecherous comments about her the moment they laid their eyes upon her. Perhaps she had been given a chance by another, kinder family? He did not really understand the reasons behind the changes that had come to her life. But he was glad for it. She deserved happiness, moreso than any single one of them.
Then, the servant appeared. He still did not understand the implications and causes for this strange occurrence. He hoped that it would end well for all of them. He then reminded himself of the plan that Dumbledore had laid down this year. It was brilliant and created the opportunity to finish off the Dark Lord in one swift stroke. Clenching his fists and gritting his teeth unconsciously, Daniel Potter strengthened his resolve. It was all for the Greater Good.
~The Greatest Grail War~
It was finally here! The first lesson of the Magical Specialization course. Ignoring the routine taunts directed towards her, she focused all her attention on the crimson shape that was trying to silence the class and get the session started.
"Now, we of the Faculty of Heavenly Bodies will be conducting all of our Magical Specialization lessons at night in the field due to the nature of all of your Manifests. So, do take note of that. Especially you Mr. Finnigan. Tardiness will not be tolerated in my class. Is that clear?"
"Yes professor." Chorused the class.
"Perfect. Now, if you had followed the instructions of your Head of Faculty, you would have conducted the ritual of discovery during the holidays. I must impress upon you that this ritual is extremely important and you must do it before attending this new course. So, can I have a show of hands, who has not conducted the ritual yet?"
The students were clearly all anticipating the lesson, hence for once, no one had incomplete homework.
"Very good class, if you continue to be conscientious towards the instructions and work given, I say we would have a very smooth year ahead of us. Now, I believe most of you understand what a Manifest is, as the basics of the Manifest should have been taught in your previous 3 years of education here. So, let us not waste any time going through knowledge you should know by heart by now." Brandishing her wand, she drew letters in the air. It spelled "Ostendius".
"First off, we have the revealing spell. This spell will cause your Manifest to show itself in a certain manner that is obvious for you, and all of us to see. The incantation is spelled here. Do not take out your wands yet. Just follow my actions and words."
"Ostendius".
"Ostendius".
"Let us try again. Ensure that your pronunciations are exact and clear. Your movements must also be sharp. A mistake when casting this spell may have unforeseen consequences and we certainly do not wish for accidents to happen to anyone."
After multiple tries and corrections by the Professor, the class was getting impatient. After what seemed like an eternity, the professor finally allowed them to take out their wands. The class was lined up and were going to perform the spell one by one. First in line was Lisa Turpin, who waved her wand confidently. All of a sudden, a ghostly silvery glow appeared in the sky in an area that seemed empty.
"Ah, a round of applause for the splendid execution of the revealing spell. Congratulations Miss Turpin, that silver glow right there is your Manifest. It appears that your magic is tied to the second largest moon of Jupiter, Callisto. Not a particular surprise, considering that your late maternal Grandmother has had the identical Manifest. Now, I will be providing you with the appropriate documents and assignment you will have to complete by next week at the end of the lesson."
With a brief flick of her wand, the Professor cancelled the revealing spell and called for the next student to demonstrate the spell.
That night saw a multitude of stellar objects light up, ranging from objects as minuscule as Phobos, one of the moons of Mars, to massive objects such as the planet of Mercury itself. So boisterous was the conversation about the Manifests that no one noticed a young girl drawing a ritual circle on the ground a short distance away from the main queue of students.
"Miss Potter, what are you doing there? It is your turn to demonstrate the spell." The heads of the previously chatting students glanced up. The Professor was gesturing at Iris Potter, who was just finishing her runic circle on the ground.
"Hey Professor, don't bother, it's not like she can actually perform magic anyway." Sniggers followed this proclamation. However, it seemed as if the girl was not perturbed by the taunts. Instead, she produced a piece of parchment and handed it over to the Professor, who scrutinized it before nodding at her.
"Very well then, let us see what you can do with the runic circle. According to this parchment, it will function quite similarly to the spell so we should be seeing similar results."
Bowing her head gratefully, Iris walked into the center of the runic circle, waving her staff around in several complicated motions. Suddenly, the runic circle glowed a bright blue and vanished into the night. It was followed by a few moments of utter silence. The calm before the storm. Yet, there were many who did not sense the tension building in the air. Instead, they began mocking her again, convinced that the lack of reaction was caused by her ineptness.
"Look at her, it's pathetic, thinking that she can use magic just by using different methods. Give it up squib, just accept that you are inferior to all of us. That you will never be able to..."
The scathing remarks were suddenly cut off by a searing pulse of blue that emanated from Iris's very body. Those who glanced up were immediately forced to look away as a blue flare lit up the night sky, shining in all of its glory and radiance, rivalling and even exceeding the moon in brightness. The air crackled as bolts of magic struck the ground in close vicinity of the girl. Then, the flare abruptly turned golden and simultaneously, a shockwave raced through the area, flattening everything in its path. The students and professor were thrown aside, and the stands and goals of the quidditch field groaned before giving way and collapsing as the shockwave impacted them. However, the magic in the air did not dissipate. The flare now shifted to a pure white and another torrent of pure magical energy raced out from the girl.
"Rho Aias!" The yell could barely be heard over the howling of the wind. However, its effects were much more visible. An extraordinary violet shield appeared in the sky, shielding a massive area from the effects of the tide of pure energy. It had seven layers, each glowing with power, and was shaped like a flower at its core. It brought a sense peace and tranquility to the ones behind it, as if all the dangers of the world would not be able to penetrate this titanic object. It was soon put to the test as the first set of shockwaves crashed against the shield, causing it to shudder and reverberate to produce a deep and ominous ring.
The flare shifted colors over and over again, each time causing a massive discharge of energy. The shield blocked it all, despite the increasingly more powerful waves of energy pounding into it. That was, until the flare turned a deep red. This time, as the energy reached the shield, it broke layer after layer, cutting through the supposedly invincible bulwark like a hot knife through butter. It was seemingly unstoppable, until it glanced off of the final layer of the shield, leaving the students behind the shield trembling in fear as the energy wave dissipated, along with the flare. Something about that final flare had resonated with their beings and had left them drained as well as afraid.
He witnessed it all. What a marvelous display of her raw power. It was truly captivating, to watch someone channel the might of the stars themselves. He only knew of two individuals that could accomplish this feat. Any remaining doubt about her identity that still existed within him were quashed as soon as he saw the final red flare. This was rupture, the truth of the world itself, imprinted into the genetic memories of every living being. This was something that could only ever be wielded by him, and of course, her. As the light vanished, he materialized onto the field, which had been rendered completely lifeless by that display. Cradling her unconscious form in his arms, he vanished into the night in a shower of golden sparks.
~The Greatest Grail War~
It is finally finished! Hope you all enjoyed it! Surprisingly, not many questions in the reviews this time, so I won't have to answer any. For anyone who thinks that this is proceeding at too slow a pace, fear not, the next chapter will have the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang factions arrive at Hogwarts. I promise that the events at Hogwarts will be more than "just a grail war" and I cannot wait to start writing about the events that transpire afterwards. I will be revealing the final 3 servants of the Hogwarts Faction. Not many people managed to guess Berserker, so I think it will be a nice surprise for those not expecting this heroic spirit to be summoned in that class.
(Final note: In case you did not understand the first part of this chapter, just think of it as a continuation of the end of last chapter, we are still in a dreamscape.)
Caster of Blue
Master: Hermione Granger
True Name: Myriddin Emyrs (The Grand Magus)
Gender: Male
Birthday: Unknown
Height: 182cm
Weight: 72kg
Blood type: Unknown
Place of Origin: Britain
Likes: Women, Alcohol
Dislikes: Morgana
Talents: Picking up female servants, being perverted, Gambling
Abilities:
Territory Creation: B (Fame boosted to A+)
Territory Creation is a Caster class skill that allows the servant to build a territory that is advantageous for him/her.
Item Construction: B
Item construction is a Caster class skill which grants the user the ability to construct magical items. Merlin himself was a practitioner of this and created various artifacts for King Arthur and his subordinates.
Dreamlike Charisma (Charisma): A
Being half incubus, Merlin possesses a form of Charism that is closer to an enchantment than a personal quality. He is easily able to manipulate others, particularly females to do his bidding and easily tricks people into believing what he wishes for them to believe. Military forces facing Merlin would face a significant drop in morale whereas those fighting on the side of Merlin would experience a significant increase in fighting spirit and morale.
Illusionism: A
Illusionism at Rank A allows for Merlin to easily induce nightmares and plant false thoughts into human's minds. At this rank, Merlin is also able to create illusions on a scale of a single village in reality and even begin deceiving the environment.
Friend of the Fae: C
This ability grants Merlin the ability to draw a limited amount of energy from elementals which exist on the Reverse side of the world, in particular fairies. It allows Merlin to maintain his projections and Territory for an extended period of time and reduces the strain on Merlin's master.
Grand Caster: C
Instead of using normal attacks. Merlin employs a host of magical spells which he created himself for his basic attacks. Each spell hits on average with the force of a C Rank Noble Phantasm.
Noble Phantasms:
Sight of the Magus: The Eyes Which See Through the World:
Rank: A
Type: Clairvoyance
Range: NIL
Maximum number of targets: NIL
Merlin possessed clairvoyance bestowed upon the greatest of Mages, on par with that of Solomon's. His form of clairvoyance was able to see past where a person stands, capable of foreseeing the future and reading the fate of individuals, having foreseen the fall of the Round Table and Britain's crisis. It grants Merlin the ability to make the right judgements based on what will be. In battle, Merlin can use this form of Clairvoyance to predict the moves of his opponents and allies and make the correct adjustments. However, this costs additional mana.
Tower of Avalon: The Lake from which Salvation Arises
Rank: A+
Type: Bounded Field
Range: 500
Maximum number of targets: NIL
Merlin's territory would take on the form of the lake and surroundings from which King Arthur gained the Sword of Promised Victory. By activating this ability, Merlin and his allies gains 1 rank in all parameters, including his Noble Phantasms when inside the Territory. In addition to this, all allied Masters who step within the bounded field gains a boost in their magical abilities and mana pool. Finally, the bounded field lowers the luck and endurance parameters of Merlin's enemies by 1 rank when battling within the field.
Star of the Magus:
Rank: A
Type: Anti-Army
Range: 100-200
Maximum number of targets: 1000
Upon activating this Noble Phantasm, Merlin calls down a Star from Heaven (Meteorite), instantly wiping out anyone and anything in the vicinity of the impact zone.
Parameters of Merlin:
Strength: D
Endurance: D
Agility: B
Mana: A++
Luck: A
Noble Phantasm: A+
Assassin of Blue
Master: Emily Jones (7th Year Slytherin (OC))
True Name: Jack the Ripper (The Hunter of the Night)
Gender: Female
Birthday: Unknown
Height: 134cm
Weight: 33kg
Blood type: Unknown
Place of Origin: United Kingdom
Likes: Reika Rikudou
Dislikes: The world
Talents: Dissection
Abilities:
Presence Concealment: A+ (Fame Boosted: EX)
At EX rank, Jack the Ripper literally melds into the environment she is in. She is unable to be detected even by True Sight, and her actions can only be successfully "seen" by Clairvoyance of the same level, such as Gilgamesh's noble phantasm, Sha Nagba Imuru.
Information Erasure: B
At B rank, information regarding the servant's True Name, abilities and appearance are removed from witnesses (including the opponent) even if the battle took place in broad daylight or was recorded via digital means. Evidence of the battle however, is not removed from the battlefield.
Mental pollution: B
Provides a strong defense against any form of mental interference magecraft, rendering most ineffective.
Murderer of the Misty Night: A
This ability allows Jack to launch a preemptive strike against any opponent. It is a conceptual ability which reverses cause and effect. With the cause being the attack and the effect being that the victim is unarmed and unguarded. This ability can be used without restriction at night whereas in the daytime, a luck check is required and terrain plays a role.
Surgical Procedure: E (Fame Boosted: D)
This ability allows for Jack the Ripper to conduct surgical repair with use of a bloodstained scalpel.
Thousand Faces: A
Thousand Faces allows Jack the Ripper to transform herself into any human occupation, animal or object that has been presented as the true identity of "Jack the Ripper" and make use of any skills the target possesses, weakened to Rank D.
Noble Phantasms:
The Mist: Darkened Misty Metropolis
Rank: B+
Type: Barrier
Range:1-10
Maximum number of targets: 50
This Noble Phantasm is the recreation of the smog which filled newly industrialized London's streets using mana and sulfuric acid to create a bounded field. It has a negative effect on all that enter it. It causes all Heroic Spirits which enter the mist to have a decrease in the Agility, Luck and Endurance parameter by 1. Jack the Ripper is almost impossible to track in this Mist, especially due to her EX ranked presence concealment, which sometimes conceals the mist partially as well. Normal humans will perish within the Mist without doubt, whereas Mages require a certain level of Magecraft in order to leave unharmed.
Maria the Ripper: The Holy Mother of Dismemberment
Rank: B~A+
Type: Anti-Group
Range: 1-10
Maximum number of targets: 20
This Noble Phantasm is the sublimation of Jack the Ripper's murder into a conceptual weapon. It is a set of 4 strangely shaped knives. Under normal conditions, the blades can be used to deal physical damage to enemies. However, if the following 3 conditions: the target is a woman, it is nighttime, it is misty, are met, the Noble Phantasm receives a large boost in Rank and power, allowing for the attack to guarantee instant death. The attack is a curse, rather than a direct physical assault and hence can be conducted from range.
Parameters of Jack the Ripper:
Strength: C
Endurance: C
Agility: A (Fame boosted to A+)
Mana: C
Luck: E (Fame boosted to D)
Noble Phantasm: B (Fame boosted to B+)
Berserker of Blue
Master: Draco Malfoy
True Name: Sir Gawain (White Knight of the Round Table)
Birthday: Unknown
Height: 180cm
Weight: 78kg
Blood Type: Unknown
Place of Origin: England
Likes: King Arthur
Dislikes: Older Wife
Talents: Effective hit confirmation with the Holy Sword
Abilities:
Magic Resistance: C (Due to Berserker Container)
Riding: B
Mad Enhancement: E
Following Lancelot's actions of murdering his brothers, Gawain descends into anger and madness against the Knight of the Lake, irrationally barring Lancelot from aiding him and Artoria in the Battle of Camlann, resulting in both of their deaths. This manifest itself as an E Rank Mad Enhancement. When activated, Gawain is only slightly inhibited mentally due to his anger. However, he does not receive a boost in parameters from this ability. It merely grants him a resistance to pain.
Bercilak's Belt: EX
Bercilak's Belt grants Gawain protection from any attacks by bestial familiars or Phantasmal creatures. It negates attacks of Rank C or lower completely whereas it drastically reduces damage taken from attacks above Rank C. It also grants Gawain regenerative properties. When injured, Gawain is not inhibited from battling at his full capacity and will receive an increase in the strength and endurance parameter by 1 rank up to a limit of A+
Charisma: The Natural Knight: D
Gawain was a knight whom no one could object to due to his personal qualities both as an ally or opponent.
Numeral of the Saint: EX
During the three hours between 9am and midday, as well as the three hours between 3pm and sunset, Gawain's power increases threefold. It is believed that this is a condition unique to Gawain. This is related to the ancient belief that the numeral 3 was the sacred number of the Celtic Gods.
Noble Phantasms:
Excalibur Galatine: The Reborn Sword of Victory
Rank: A
Type: Anti-Unit
Range: 1-5
Maximum number of targets: 1-2
Excalibur Galatine is the sister-sword of the more famous Excalibur. Instead of collecting lights from the Earth, it is said that Galatine is powered by the rays of the sun with a Pseudo-Sun contained in the hilt. The sword itself shows its greatest power at noon, capable of slicing through most protections with ease at its most powerful.
Excalibur Galatine: Fire and Fury of Sol
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Army
Range: 100-200
Maximum number of targets: 750
The activated form of Galatine takes on a form of a broad wave radiation type attack which completely annihilates an enemy army with the brilliant holy light and heat it generates. To activate it, Gawain tosses it into the air where the pseudo-sun in the sword creates a miniature star before landing back into his grasp. While the star floats overhead, Gawain generates a large magic circle with a sun symbol in the center. Then, with a motion akin to drawing a sword, Gawain channels the energy of the miniature star into the sword and unleashes a slash of energy that erupts into a ball of flame upon contact with the enemy.
Gringolet: The Great Steed of the Knight
Rank: B
Type: Mount
Range: NIL
Maximum number of targets: NIL
Gringolet, the steed of Sir Gawain is famous for its ability in combat. It is able to charge enemies down, inflicting damage akin to a Rank B Noble Phantasm if it connects with an enemy.
Parameters of Sir Gawain:
Strength: B+
Endurance: B+
Agility: C
Mana: A
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: A+