Ryan tried to sit up, groaned from the pain, and laid back down. "What can I say? I'm popular with the ladies."
Jasper was not impressed. He wore his favorite wave hoodie, blue square-framed glasses, and jeans. His curly, brown hair had not been combed, and therefore looked slightly unkempt, and on Jasper's face was plastered an annoyed look.
"One of said ladies' servant almost killed you on the first day of the Holy Grail War. You could have at least summoned your servant earlier, not that you'd have known how to. I guess you're the 'accident' of this Holy Grail War."
Wow he looks really pissed, and I don't even know what he's talking about. This all sounds like a fantasy video game. Guessing by Jasper's look, he's probably not joking. More importantly…
"How are you acting so calm around the cow-man?"
Jasper lazily glanced at the monster before returning his gaze to Ryan. "We made a deal. Caster would heal you, and then you and I could work together to obtain the Grail. Speaking with Minotaur was easier than I thought" The monster nodded its agreement, then bent over and sniffed Ryan. Just staying near this thing was creeping him out.
"What did you call him? Berserker?" Ryan asked, still looking at the cowman as Jasper just sighed.
"You truly are the poor soul that got stuck into this. Here, I'll explain this as simple as I possibly can. You are a magus that, accidentally, summoned a servant, a legend from the past. You are now in an event called the Holy Grail war. You following?" Jasper explained, Ryan nodding for him to continue.
"K, in this Holy Grail war, these servants and their masters, that would be you and me, fight to the death for the Holy Grail, an item that will grant you any wish you desire. The last man standing obtains this grail." Jasper continued.
"Now, there are different types of servants. You summoned Berserker, a servant of pure power, perfect for someone of your caliber. There are seven classes; Berserker, Caster, Assassin, Rider, Saber, Archer and Lancer, the last three considered the knight classes. This here is Caster." Jasper said as he pointed at the bizarre man at the edge of Ryan's bed. Caster had seemed to finish healing Ryan's leg, and indeed had when Ryan could start was able to move again.
"I've heard of this from my parents" Ryan said, addressing Jasper. "I knew I have magical abilities, just my parent never really encouraged it to be used."
"So you knew you were a magus. That makes it easier. What can you do?" Jasper asked.
"Yea well, I don't necessarily have magical "powers." Ryan said as Jasper looked at him confused, silently asking him to continue.
"My body is available to tolerate conditions that others can't." he finished as Jasper just looked disappointed.
"Well, that's not gonna help… at all. Whatever, we'll still work together, it just might be harder than I thought. Berserker will be a big help.
"Whatever comes down to it, I'll do my best to survive" Ryan stated, as the apartment started shaking. Slowly, at first, until the shaking became more violent. Ryan looked confusedly at Jasper, who was focusing on the room's window. Ryan got up to accompany him at the window, confusion increasing as he was the girl and the guy that chased him earlier on the opposite side building across the street, the guy holding his pistol in hand.
"They're trying to break down the building,"Jasper announced, pulling Ryan across the room into the hallway." Jasper house was never large, but to Ryan it now seemed endless as he was led to a different room, thoughts still on how such a small gun could be dealing so much damage. He could hear bull-man right behind him, loud thuds signifying his presence.
"In here." Jasper said, Ryan brely hearing him as another shot hit the side of the building… though why wasn't the building going down?
As Ryan shot a look back through the hallway, searching for any internal damage, Jasper created a portal, enough for the three of them to get out of there.
"What in the hell is that." Ryan asked, looking back at what Jasper was doing. The portal was around 6 ft in height and 2 feet in width, and inside was what looked like a dark purple and violet vortex. An odd humming sound emanating from inside, though Ryan wasn't sure what was making it.
"It's my magic." Jasper quickly said, "Now jump in." Ryan, hesitant at first, put a foot into the portal, and was pushed into the vortex, a yelp coming from him before he was transported.
"Central Park East." Jasper murmured as he stepped through. Berserker, seeing his master go through quickly followed after Jasper, disappearing from the room as the first cracks started appearing on the wall.
"This kid came prepared." Tammi said, as Assassin shot another round into the magic barrier around the building.
"Yes well, he does seem to be prepared." Assassin said, as the magic barrier had began to crumble. Even with a barrier as strong as this, a couple rounds of magical bullets was going to destroy it.
"Wait…" Tammi said as she stopped smelling Ryan. "They disappeared." Assassin stopped, turning to her with a disgusted look.
"That ability of yours is most revolting." Tammi was able to ingest the blood of others and have the ability to pick up their scent from anywhere in the city. The scent was so strong, that it made even the strongest non-human nose seem pathetic.
"That little bitch. How the FUCK did he get away." Tammi seethed as Assassin looked back towards the building.
"Destroy it!" Tammi said without another thought, as she walked back to the stairs that led to the roof.
"Gladly." Assassin's lips curled into a vicious smile as Jasper's apartment crumbled to the New York City pavement.
10 hours earlier
"I'm not interested in an alliance," Christian said, as the Saber servant put down her hand, lancer doing likewise with her lance. "I prefer working alone." Offering an alliance, Illiana was hoping to bring two of the three knight servants together, so that her chances of being defeated dropped down to nearly zero.
"Think about what we could do together. The Grail could be ours so easily." Illiana said, trying to convince Christian of the alliance. Christian, though, wasn't going to have any of it.
"You want to get the Grail together, but only ONE person can have the wish. I don't plan on handing over the Grail to you princess. I rather kill you not knowing anything about you, then killing you while knowing who you are. Actually," Christian said, preparing his fists, "now would be a perfect chance to do that. Get Saber out of the way." Illiana didn't want this fight. They were on a roof and Saber's mobility would be significantly reduced. That huge sword would be of no use. Lancer didn't need distance from the look of her lance. It was small, and perfect for close combat… not the traditional lance. But she wasn't done yet.
"What if I told you I knew your parents." Christian stopped cold.
"I wouldn't believe you." Christian grew wary, and Illiana noticed it.
"I met your parents before the accident… well at least my parents did. And I know all the information concerning the case. Including who did it."
"Liar, you're just trying to get your way. I'm sick of this." Christian moved forward, Lancer right behind him.
"Tammi Whittle" Illiana said, as Saber got in the way of Christian and Lancer. For the second time that night, Christian stopped cold.
"How the hell do y-..."
"I told you. I know what happened. So, wanna rethink that alliance?"
"Nice little home you have here." Illiana declared as they entered Christian's apartment. She had the same look Ereshkigal had when she first saw the apartment.
"It does it's job." Christian simply sat down on the couch in the living room. Illiana did the same, sitting across on the opposite couch.
"So, you claim to know everything about my parents. Tell them to me now, otherwise no alliance."
"I'll wait until we get the grail. I want something against you, to make sure no... backstabbing occurs" Illiana said. Christian leaned forward dangerously.
"Listen up, unless you tell me about them, I will make sure to rid you of this contest. And trust me. Here, you have no chance of winning." Christian said, spreading his arms to demonstrate his apartment. Illiana didn't have any option… she had fallen into a trap.
"Fine, but you must swear that the truce is valid right now"
"That's fine. Now, answers!" Christian growled, sitting back down. Illiana reached down into her boots and pulled out a couple of photos. All the photos involved bloody and gory scenes, and in one of them, Christian could identify a lone figure on the wall, hung by her arms, two metal poles coming from her hand.
"Mom..." Christian murmured as the darkness in the room seemed to expand. Illiana could notice the anger and anguish coming of Christian. Enough to feel threatened. She quickly grabbed the photo, Christian looking up to her, his dark brown eyes showing his anger.
"I think that's enough. I have evidence, I showed it to you. Now I would the grail before I give you these" Christian scowled at this.
"Fine, grail then photos. I saw the dates on those. That's all I need." Christian said as he got up. "Now that I got the name..." he murmured as Illiana called to him.
"Hey you got something to eat?"
"Check the fridge. Probably something in there." Christian said as he disappeared down the dark hallway. Illiana went into the kitchen, much bigger than what she expected. It was an open kitchen, with a counter facing the tv in the living room. The fridge was completely empty except for some mozzarella cheese sticks and some dough in the freezer.
"Well, guess it's time to work" she said as she got the little ingredients she had to work with.