The Aftermath
Purple eyes lit up as they scrutinized the pale woman sitting across the desk from where he sat, her knee over the other with her glasses held in her hand as they lay over her lap. She smiled at him with a smile that can come across rather creepily with the way she tilted her head to one side. The purple eyed man kept staring at her, until he eventually sighed, leaning back into his reclined leather seat. He shook his head, allowing his glowing purple eyes to dim back into their more mundane and accepted form. He pulled his chair closer into his desk, making the both of them ever so closer.
"So…" he tapped his fingers on the table awkwardly. "How's your research?"
"Oh." Io straightened herself and tidied her hair, placing her glasses back on her face. "It is going splendidly well, Mr. Charles." Her tone had shifted back to the cold neutral voice of Dr. Ollivar.
"You don't have to do that, Io." He said, holding his hand to dissuade the pale woman.
She took off her glasses as her smile returned. "But it's fun, brother." She answered genuinely.
He let out an exasperated sigh, planting his forehead in his hand. "I bet our counterparts don't have to deal with this."
"I bet they do~!" she said in a singsong tune.
"Do you have any news on the whereabouts of our brothers?" he asked, trying to move the conversation forward.
She tilted her head and looked up, placing a finger on her chin in exaggerated thought. "Last I heard, Ezalor was still in the Vatican. And Nessaj was somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean."
He looked to his watch. 12:16pm. He sighed as he turned his attention back on her. "They sure are taking their sweet time. Especially when it was one of them who issued this emergency gathering of sorts."
"Do you have an inkling as to what this might involve?" Io asked, leaning herself on the desk.
The purple clad man folded his arms on his chest, eyes closed and head drooped as he contemplated the question that she had asked him. A full minute of silence elapsed as various possibilities and incidents that had, is, and will occur flashing through his mind. In particular in regards to this particular world that they resided in. When he finally opened his eyes, Io could see the purple orbs glowing brighter than before, as Darchrow tapped into his Fundamental nature. Careful as he was, as to not shatter the mortal shells they were all in.
"The only significant event that is transpiring right now, that is often ripe with problems across all realities and universes, is the supposed war between magi that is happening in Japan at this exact moment." He said as the glow of his eyes dimmed.
"Ah." Io responded with a nod of understanding. "That does seem the likeliest of possibilities. And you know what they say; it's ripe for the madness."
A bemused expression formed on Darchrow's face. "That's not a saying."
"It's not?" the pale woman tilted her head, bearing what could be described as a confused pout.
"Not even close." He sighed again. It truly was difficult, dealing with his sister whenever she was not "acting". He was half tempted to address her as the scientist, but thought better than wasting his time on such nonsense.
A series of knocks coming from the door to his office paused the exchange between the two, with Darchrow muttering a silent thank you of relief to whomever it was that knocked. Though considering the last two brothers and their disposition, he could make an educated guess on who it was. Without waiting for some kind of response, the double doors opened and basked the room in a light of pure white akin to some kind of divine presence. The corridor that led to one of the building's elevator was no longer there, instead they could only see an endless expanse of white. A pure void that signaled the entrance of one of their kind. A few seconds pass by as both of them waited, until finally a figure emerged. One that wore a distinct white cassock akin to those of the Roman Pontiff. His long sleeves were highlighted with streaks of yellow and blue. He carried the bible on one hand and a walking stick on the other as he marched inside the room with a limp, the double doors closing behind him.
He flashed them a genuine smile, his old and wrinkly face bearing his white receding hair atop his head. A groomed grey bear helped give him a grandfatherly look. "Ah, Io. Darchrow. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"You sure took your time, Ezalor." Io responded with a smirk and a raised brow.
The supposed cleric chuckled as he reached the desk, taking the chair beside the woman. "Well, you two do have the advantage of working under the same building." He said with a short laugh. "Neither myself nor Nessaj have such qualities in this life."
"Maybe you should consider moving, brother." Darchrow suggested from across the desk.
The elderly looking man shrugged as he stroked his beard. "I've thought about it, but it's good to have the Pope in sight."
"I'm sure it gets boring after a couple of centuries, no?" the purple clad man asked back.
Ezalor responded with an amused chuckle. "We're Fundamentals, brother. We're supposed to be just observing."
"Probably not for long if Nessaj has anything to say about it." Io added, causing the cleric to turn to her with curiosity and confusion.
"Do you know the reason as to why he brought us?" he asked.
"Just an educated guess." Darchrow replied before Io could utter a word, earning a huff from the woman.
"Well then I hope we don't have to go overboard in our influences." Ezalor said, leaning closer on the desk. "You all know that our existences aren't well liked by the forces of these worlds."
The other Fundamentals nodded, understanding the situation they're in. "Still… it must be quite the predicament if it ever comes to it, yeah?" Io appended.
"And it seems he has arrived." The words of the youngest Fundamental caused both Darchrow and Io to scrutinize him, seeing the cleric focused intently on whatever it was he could see through the window.
The two then faced themselves towards the transparent barrier, seeing a helicopter approaching the building in the distance. Most people would not be able to tell who it was that were inside, but the Fundamentals could sense their own, and the presence of the eldest sibling was palpable like an enveloping plague. A presence that most of the mundane would be suffocated by with how much of it could blanket them.
The helicopter disappeared from their view as it crested over the building, the billowing of the helicopter blades audible from the office on the highest floor. Soon the billows died down, allowing them to hear; no, feel the footsteps of the eldest sibling walking through the stairs from the rooftop to the floor they were on. The steps became heavier, more forceful as it got nearer and nearer. Nearer, until finally they stopped, just outside the door. And with a click, it opened.
Enter a tall, imposing man that radiated a heavy aura that could intimidate those that were weak willed. Dressed in red military fatigues with black and grey highlights beneath heavy black body armor, his footsteps echoed even louder in the otherwise sparse office as he approached the desk. A full face helmet covered his head; a helmet that would not be out of place for a special operative under a more covert operation; it further gave him a more horrifying stature, one that made him inhuman if he were ever one.
He did not take a seat, for there were none that were free, as he stood beside the desk as he peered through his siblings. The other three looked up to meet his gaze. The visor where his eyes would be glow a constant deep orange. Of all the siblings, the eldest was one who cannot fully conceal his nature, despite fully embracing his mortal shell.
"Brothers. Sister." He greeted them with a nod, and was returned in kind. The way his voice filled the room with its weight furthered proved the difficulty his mortal shell was dealing with his existence. "There is a development that we cannot ignore."
He continued when they kept staring at him in silence. "You all may know of the ongoing ritual that is occurring within Fuyuki right now. The supposed "Holy Grail War" they have come to call. I, or at least a form of myself, had managed to be summoned as a Servant in said ritual."
The eyes of Io and Ezalor widened, seemingly surprised by the news. "In what form, brother?" Ezalor asked as he leaned in closer.
"The one that is most known across the universes." The eldest sibling replied, addressing the youngest sibling. "The Pale Rider."
"Ah, of course. The one that is likely to be the Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Darchrow commented with a nod, his fingers intertwined as he laid his chin on them.
"So I'm assuming there is some sort of anomaly within the ritual?" Io spoke up from her seat, leaning back into it. "It wouldn't be the first anomaly to occur, so what makes this one different than the other realities?"
Nessaj did not respond immediately, instead he took his time to match his sister's stare with his own. His glare would shatter those of weak mind, but his sister could return it with her own brand of mirth. "Because the Oracle has also been summoned."
The air of the room dropped as a being whose notoriety was known across every single one of their counterparts. A look of dread was apparent on Ezalor's face, as memories of the Oracle's actions from his counterpart resurged in his mind. Darchrow scowled at the name, his purple eyes glowing ever briefly before he contained them once more. And the joyful mirth on Io's face disappeared as she took in the gravity of the situation.
Yes. This truly was not a situation they could ignore.
"So it seems those heroes are the ones summoned in the ritual then, brother?" Io asked again, her voice returning to the neutral tone of the scientist.
"Yes." He replied, leaning on closer as he planted his gloved hand on the desk. "The heroes that were summoned are; the Phantom Assassin; the Windranger; the Rogue Knight; The Phantom Lancer; and the Bounty Hunter."
"An odd assortment of people, but the Phantom Assassin will at least oppose the Oracle." The CEO commented. "Are there any alliances among them?"
"One between her and Lyralei's Masters, alongside my own as well. The ritual was shaping up to be a battle between opposing factions, and unfortunately the one I was in is now at a disadvantage."
"Any faction facing the Oracle will always be at a disadvantage." Ezalor added. "Then we must make haste if we are to deal with this situation."
"My fleet is already approaching Japanese waters. They will provide any sort of support while I return to the battlefield." The eldest sibling explained to them.
A small smile reappeared on Io's face as a determined expression formed. "I think I will make way for Fuyuki, and assist the Masters. Having another Fundamental would help them tremendously."
"I will approach the Vampire. He has a reputation of meddling with affairs across the multitude of universes, and see if he is responsible." Ezalor added, the dread leaving his face as he stroked his beard once more.
"Well, looks like all the grounds are covered, then I will stay here unless my presence is needed for dire situations." Darchrow conceded, but he halted his thoughts when he noticed Nessaj staring intently at him. "Brother?"
"I would like to ask a favor, brothers." Those specific choice of words elicited a raised brow from the one sister, as both brothers looked to their eldest in attention.
"Regarding the ritual?" the purple clad sibling asked.
"Regarding those who have made it a reality." He straightened himself, returning to his standing form. "One of the individuals that were responsible in the creation of the ritual has come under my scrutiny, and his existence is an affront to our very being."
"One of the creators?" Darchrow closed his eyes in thought, wracking through the histories of select universes, before his eyes opened again, leaving them glowing as he readdressed his brother. "You're talking of the Russian Patriarch. He is a vile being, but we usually stay away from such affairs. Why the change, brother?"
Nessaj kept his glare on the purple clad sibling, before finally answering. "Because the one who became his granddaughter by adoption is my Master."
"Ah, so this is a personal thing?" Ezalor piped in from his seat with a small but pleased smile on his face. "That's a first, brother, but not an unwelcome one."
"If that is the case, then I will do so." Darchrow said with a nod of understanding. "I will eliminate him."
"Thank you." The eldest sibling replied before he turned to face the youngest. "Ezalor."
"It still concerns her?" he asked.
"Yes. I need you to purge the darkness within her." Nessaj further explained.
The white cleric too also nodded. "That will be done, brother. I am the Keeper of the Light after all." He said with a delighted smile on his face.
"You're not asking anything from me?" the mirthful scientist asked, feeling left out from the exchange.
The helmeted figure turned his attention to the single sister among them, and shook his head. "You helping out the Masters is help enough already, sister."
"Well then I guess I'll just do that then." Io said with a pout, her voice laced with a hint of disappointment.
Nessaj seemed to not notice their sister's reaction, though judging by the chuckle from next to her, Ezalor found amusement in the exchange. The eldest sibling gazed at each of his siblings one by one before addressing them as one. "With that taken care of, then our meeting is adjourned." He said to them, already moving towards the door as his mind was set on the next thing to placate.
Ezalor stood up from his seat and, with a bow to his still seated siblings, left for the room as well. Io was next, though she stopped halfway when she noticed Darchrow still on his desk, one hand holding a phone to his ear while the other was busy pushing the numbers on the table.
"You're not coming?" Io asked from where she stood, body turned halfway to face him.
"I have meetings to reschedule, sister." Darchrow replied, his eyes moving to her while he kept his hands on the phone. "I'll see you in Fuyuki."
Fuyuki, Japan
The morning was not easy for one Matou Sakura. She woke up to a wet pillow, immediately reminding her of the sensations she felt in her sleep. When the realization hit, she felt dread and despair, as tears streaked down her cheeks once more. She cried silently inside the guest room within the Emiya household, embracing the solitude of the early morning. Of course she knew that she could not sit in her bed the whole day. She got off and tidied the bed, and changed to her school uniform. But she stopped when she fastened her tie.
Her hand. It still bore the blood red Command Spells that marked her as a Master of the Holy Grail War.
It's not supposed to be there. It should have disappeared when she lost her Servant. She rubbed the back of her hand, trying to rid the marks off of her, yet they very much looked unblemished. She thought they were maybe remnants, yet she could still feel the power of them. She dropped to her knees and brought her makeup kit up. They were barebones for what one would expect of a high school girl, but they were enough for her. She then made to cover the Command Spells, hoping to disguise them with mundane methods as to not elicit unwanted attention from the one true magus she knew of.
Eventually she left the room and made her way to the currently occupied section of the mansion, already smelling the enticing breakfast that her Senpai had no doubt had cooked. She entered the room, and was in fact the last person inside. She saw her Senpai just placing the last of the food on the table, sitting on one side. Beside him was his guardian and their teacher, chatting excitably with the Servant that was sitting across from him. She took her spot beside him, seeing him smile at her welcomingly. She felt her heart flutter, but quashed it. It was still too early in the morning for her to deal with this.
"Did you stay up late, Sakura-chan?" the Teacher asked as she helped herself with a sizable serving of breakfast.
Both her Senpai and his Servant glanced at her, and she could tell they were concerned. "Just finishing up on some homework, Sensei."
Her answer was enough to placate the Teacher, but both the Master and Servant still eyed her with worry. She tried giving him a reassuring smile, and though he smiled back, she knew that he still had her on his mind. His Servant was another matter. It seems like nothing could get past these Heroic Spirits, who could see through even the most elaborate of lies. She at least hoped that Saber wouldn't notice the makeup covering her hand. And if she did, she hoped Saber wouldn't voice her suspicions. She was hoping for this much at least.
Breakfast proceeded without much fanfare, and soon they left for school, with Saber staying behind for once. For the most part, they walked together in silence. It wasn't until they were halfway towards the school, taking a detour through a park that she spoke up.
"Senpai…" she called out.
Shirou stopped and faced his underclassman, seeing her fidget uncomfortably. "What's wrong, Sakura?" he asked.
She hesitated underneath her gaze, but ultimately she did not back down. She looked up at him, meeting his eyes, though the expression she bore; the emotion she conveyed; did not put Shirou at ease. "Rider is gone." She finally whispered.
Shirou blinked as he took in the news, before moving closer to bring the purple haired girl into a comforting hug. One that Sakura was not expecting, but one she did lean in closer to. "Then we need to talk to Tohsaka." He whispered back to her.
"Damn. There was a part of me that was hoping it wasn't the case." Rin said as she turned her gaze away from her allies, biting her thumb as she contained her stress. "Archer felt something happening at the harbor last night, she was telling me about just recently."
"The harbor? It was on the news this morning." Shirou commented, a hand on Sakura's shoulder, comforting the younger girl.
"It was just pure destruction. There was a dogfight in the skies as well. People thought we were being invaded." Rin further explained. "Archer."
A green shimmer appeared beside the twintailed Master, as the one eyed green archer faded into being. "Yes, Rin?"
"Can you feel anything now?" Rin asked as she looked up to meet Archer's eye.
"Only that Saber's over there." The ginger archer pointed to a house a good distance away from the school. The allied Masters could just barely make out the shape of Saber standing on the rooftop. "Aside from that, nothing really. Caster's probably recuperating. I would say that now's the best time to strike, but…"
"Caster has that Servant in his paws." Rin finished through gritted teeth. "A survivor of the 4th Grail War? Are you kidding me?"
"Wait, what?" Shirou spoke up, shocked at the revelation. "There's another Servant?"
"It appears so, based on the exchange." Archer clarified. "He was about to kill Caster, but fell into the False Promise that was given to him."
"Who is he, anyway?" Shirou asked, even more concerned.
"Gilgamesh." Rin answered, her knuckles whitening as she balled her hand into a fist. "The King of Heroes, and the strongest Heroic Spirit."
"And the only Servant that could face off against him was Rider." Sakura said, finally voicing her presence.
"Exactly." Archer said with a nod of approval. "And now we're short by one. We're up against one hell of a Servant, and a man who can manipulate Fate. The odds are truly against us."
"Ok, I get that we can't storm into the temple. But we still have to do something." Shirou said to the group. His eyes flashed as a thought came to him. "What about the Master of Berserker? What was her name?"
"The Einzbern?" Rin asked back. She nodded, regardless. "Archer toke note that, aside from that moment she ambushed us, she hasn't done anything yet."
"So there's a possibility, no matter how slim, of her allying with us, right?" he said rather excitably.
"Yes." Rin began nodding vigorously. "We don't know how Berserker would fare against them, but having another pair of hands isn't going to make things worse for us."
"I don't know about that." The allied Masters glanced at the single Servant with them, and their elation faltered when they saw the grimace on her face. "The Master of Berserker seemed to have it in for you, Master of Saber."
Shirou was taken aback, but before he could respond his ally spoke up. "What do you mean, Archer?"
The one eyed Servant turned her attention to her Master, and Rin was perturbed by the seriousness of her expression. "Remember that night? She referred to Shirou as "Onii-chan", while she addressed you by your given name."
"Maybe it was because she doesn't know who he was, Archer." Rin replied, trying to match her Servant's line of thinking. "She may know of me because I'm a Tohsaka, but he's a third rate magus who got pulled into the Grail War."
"Was he really, Rin?" her heart dropped as Archer narrowed her eye on her. "It's said that the Grail chooses would be Masters, right? And he was able to summon Saber just at the last moment."
"And he also had the markings on his hand before the war started." Sakura spoke up, further reinforcing Archer's point. "Remember, Senpai?"
Shirou grimaced as he tried to remember, but again his eyes blinked as memory came to him. Rin's face paled when she saw the look forming on her ally. "What does she want with me?" he finally asked.
The green archer shrugged her shoulders. "That, I do not know. Honestly, as much as I am raining down on your parade, going to her is still our best chance on living."
"So you're saying I can ask her myself?" Shirou asked the Servant, getting a nod in return.
"I'm saying all of this so you guys won't put all your hopes in one basket. To fully expect that these plans might not turn out in your best interest." Archer further explained, bringing their emotions under control.
Though the Masters will still, eventually Shirou nodded. "Right. So, if she really wants something from me, hopefully we can come to an understanding."
"And then we might have a strong ally again." Rin added, her shoulders drooping from mental exhaustion. She then looked up to meet her Servant's eye. "Archer. Can you scout out the Einzbern Mansion? And when you think it's appropriate, arrange a meeting with her."
"Will do Rin. I'll keep in touch." A gust of wind blanketed the green archer, sending her to the skies as she returned to spirit form.
The brown haired magus sighed, slowly turning to her one ally who was sitting beside their underclassman, going back to their lunches. "Sakura."
The purple haired girl flinched when her name was called, looking up at the female upperclassman. "Yes, Senpai?"
"Since Rider's gone, you should head over to the Church-"
"No."
Both seniors gave Sakura a confused and perplexed look. Rin in particular was especially flabbergasted. "What?" was all she could say back.
"I'm staying at Emiya-senpai's home." A brief blush appeared on Rin's cheeks at Sakura's declaration.
Rin's eyes narrowed on the younger girl, shifting briefly to her ally who seemed to be listening to the conversation with apt interest before she focused on Sakura again. "Sakura, the Church is a sanctuary for Masters who lost their Servants in a Grail War."
"And Rider told me that I have to stay at Emiya-senpai's home if something ever happens to him." Sakura said, glaring back at the older girl. "And I trust him. Both Rider and Emiya-senpai. I don't trust the Priest."
Shirou was now witnessing an intense clash between the two teenage girls who were staring down one another, neither seemingly wanting to back down for some reason. He sighed before he entered the conversation. "It's fine, Tohsaka. I have lots of rooms at my place. Sakura will be fine there, and I'll make sure Saber is extra vigilant."
The brown haired Master then shifted her glared on the single boy on the roof, conveying an expression as if he had committed the gravest of insults to her. But between the three, it was her that conceded her point. She was against two stubborn people, because otherwise they would be here all day. And time was increasingly becoming a valuable resource that she cannot waste in the coming days. She gave the auburn haired boy a final once over.
"I swear to God if something happens to her-"
"Nothing's going to happen to her." Shirou said with his hand raised, his brows furrowed as he too was getting annoyed at the situation.
The bell ringing signaled the end of the school lunch break, ending their brief meeting in a rather irritating note for the three students as they packed up their lunches and walked back inside.
Calm.
That was what the winds were telling her as she stood there, perched on one of the many trees within the forest that surrounded the hidden mansion. The mansion that was naked to her eye, as the very winds themselves covered every nook and cranny of the estate, giving her a complete breakdown of the very architecture, along with the few living beings inside of it. The few who seemed to be situated in far end rooms from what she could feel.
But, none of them seem to be doing any sort of hostile or aggressive activities. The two nearly identical people, who Archer assumed to be the Master of Berserker's maids, seemed to be doing their supposed duties. At that moment, was merely cleaning the room they were in. On the other side of the mansion was the Master herself, chatting with her materialized Servant. The giant of a man was just able to fit in the room, albeit it had to hunch down to not hit the ceiling. Archer also couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary in the surrounding areas, which was enough of an indication for her to proceed with the plan, as she leaped off of the tree branch and gliding across towards the front entrance of the mansion.
She triggered some kind of magical barrier; no doubt to detect the presence of intruders such as her; followed by the sudden alertness of the Master and Servant of the mansion. She did not falter, choosing to continue on walking to the massive doors. She waited just for a moment, sensing that the people inside were also waiting for her. Waiting for what she would do, since their personal space had been invaded. Being the kind of person she was, Archer acted first, knocking the massive double doors with her hand.
"Hello? Anybody there? I wish to parley!" She knew they were inside, but they didn't know that. She knocked a couple more times, just to further instigate action within the building.
She felt the massive figure disappear, leaving the Master alone as she met up with her maids. A brief exchange as the Master was ordering her maids before they separated again, this time they all moved to different areas in the mansion. The Master moved into what could be described as a study, no doubt with her Servant still in spirit form. One of the maids went to what Archer would guess as a kitchen based on what the wind's feeling. That left the last maid, moving closer to her. Archer straightened herself and tidied whatever mess there was she had on her person. Just to go the extra mile, a brief flash occurred as she was now in her own pedestrian getup; the sporty ensemble that she wore during her "date" with Rin.
With a loud click, the massive door finally opened, albeit slowly thanks to its size. The maid that was standing in front of her had an expressionless face. Red eyes that conveyed no life. Her white uniform accented with black. And a generous bosom beneath said uniform. The maid was silent as she stared at her.
Archer gave a single wave, smiling at the cold reception she got. "Hi! On behalf of my Master and her ally, I wish to speak with the Master of Berserker."
The maid continued staring at her, not even blinking once. "Follow me." The maid finally spoke, though her words were stilted, emotionless.
Ah. Archer finally understood what they were. Artificial humans, or Homunculi. She kept to her thoughts as she followed the maid inside, being led to the study that the Master was in. At least, based on where she's feeling them, as the path insofar had not deviated from what she sensed before. On any other normal occasion, she would've broken the silence with her usual self, but the only reciprocator seemed to be an awkward one. She let out a drawn out disappointed sigh as she climbed the stairs behind the maid she was still following.
They eventually reached the room she was being led to, as the maid knocked to signal their arrival. "Come in!" she heard the voice of the Master from inside, as the maid opened the door and brought them in.
There she was. The albino girl that served as their first adversary in this conflict. Wearing a purple dress shirt and white skirt as she sat with one knee over the other. She had a practiced smile on her face; one that one would expect from a noble. Archer wasn't one, and was never one, also never bothering to "clean up her act" when dealing with such people when she was alive, so she just walked her way towards the opposite side of the coffee table, leaving the maid behind as she stood by the door. She sat herself down and couldn't help herself letting out a drawn out breath as she made herself comfortable. When she looked at the Master, she saw a perplexed expression directed her way before the polite façade returned.
Another set of knocks filled the room before either of them could speak, as the other maid walked in carrying a tray of tea and what looked like an assortment of cookies. This other maid was almost identical to the other, with the differences being that she seemed to be able to express herself judging from the irritation she was displaying. And the blue accents on her uniform. And her less than generous bosom. Archer couldn't stop herself from chuckling as she took note of the differences between them as the maid in blue poured the cup of tea on her side of the table, before finally moving to join the other maid.
Without bothering to wait for the Master, Archer took her cup and sipped the tea, before downing the whole thing in one shot. It was hot, but that was nothing to a Servant, so she enjoyed the tea to the fullest.
"Nothing beats tea." Archer commented as she placed the cup back on the table, while the Master of Berserker was still nursing her own.
"So, Archer." Archer could hear the irritation building up in the Master. Ah, just like old times. "You wished to speak with me? I must say, I'm rather disappointed that it was you that came here."
"Well, to be honest, I was sent to set up a meeting between you and my Master and her ally." Archer admitted. "We're doing that now, aren't we?"
"I suppose so. But such an elaborate effort for a meeting, don't you think?" the albino girl said back to her.
The green archer shrugged. "It was either that, or a letter. And I didn't have paper and ink on hand." She leaned in closer with her elbows on her thighs. "Besides, I think I can ease the tension between us if I spoke to you directly."
"Oh?" the girl looked at her with a raised brow. "And what do you mean by that?"
Archer let the silence linger, holding her tongue as she kept her eye on the girl. She kept staring, just long enough until she noticed the patience on the Master wearing thin, before she finally spoke. "You know there is something wrong with the Holy Grail War." She could see the relief washing over the Master before Archer continued. "Whether you were hoping to summon a specific Servant and instead got someone else entirely; figured things out on your own through meticulous deduction; or Berserker himself telling you."
"And your point?" The Master asked back to her with a raised brow.
"And you are also a powerful magus in this day and age. You no doubt have been keeping tabs on the other Servants, on the other conflicts, yes?" Archer waved her fingers in the air. "Like little familiars keeping an eye on everyone. You must've seen all the conflicts that we've been a part of."
"Again, what's your point?" this time the Master was openly glaring at her.
Archer smirked. She missed mingling with nobility. "And despite all of that, you're kept to yourself. Because you don't care about all of this. All of these conflicts, they don't matter. You only care about one thing. One person. Isn't that right?"
This was still a hunch on her part, the thought she passed on to the Masters, but when she saw the flinch of the Master of Berserker, she silently rejoiced. The albino girl replaced the small cup back on the coffee table, straightening herself as she scrutinized Archer's very being with her blood red eyes.
"Berseker." A large shimmer of blue light lingered behind the sofa the Master sat in, and sure enough her Servant materialized, its armor blue without the effect of its brand of Madness Enhancement. Archer was not fazed, for she did not sense any sort of hostility from either of them. The Master was at her limit, true, but not fully wanting her dead yet. "Who is she?"
Archer looked up to meet the gaze of Berserker as it stared down at her. Berserker had to kneel in the room to fit. She smiled, remembering this knight fondly, even if it- he was often a sourpuss.
"The Windranger." Berserker answered. Archer chuckled, pleased that Berserker remembered her as well. "Great Defender and Sentry of the Brecyllian Forest. Blessed by the divine winds since birth. Known to annoy people with her chipper personality. And the most perceptive hero of us all."
Archer couldn't help the shit eating grin that was forming on her face. "Aw, it's so nice to hear those words from your mouth, Sven."
The Berserker sighed tiredly, shaking his head as he gazed at his Master. "Do you wish for her to leave the premises, Lady Illyasviel?"
"Not yet." The tiny girl said, still keeping a glare on the ginger Servant. "I'm going to ask you the same question, and hopefully you'll answer me properly this time. What's. Your. Point?"
What was her point, Archer began wondering herself. As much as she enjoyed toying with nobility, she realized the situation was deteriorating far too quickly that she had expected. She reigned herself as she thought of her answer, because if she went on then there would be no meeting for the Masters to look forward to.
And that would be bad.
"I guess I just wanted to be taken seriously." Archer answered with her signature smirk. And her answer was no lie. Archer had to make sure that the Master of Berserker would not just ignore her words.
"Then you have my attention." the pale girl told her. Such authority from such tiny person, she found it quite amusing. "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
Keeping her eye on the Master, Archer then shifted her attention on the Servant behind the sofa. "Berserker, were you around whenever your Master was looking through her familiars?"
"Lady Illyasviel said it did not concern me, and I trust her, so no." the Berserker answered.
"Did you know the Chaos Knight was summoned as Rider?" she noticed the massive Servant shift uncomfortably. An understandable reaction when it came to the Fundamentals.
"I did not." He answered again.
"Were you aware of the conflicts that took place these past couple of nights?" she noticed the Master shifting her attention between them.
"Yes." He answered in affirmative. "The massive spikes of energy could be felt all the way here." Even obscured by his helmet, Archer could tell Berserker was now scrutinizing her. "Was he fighting you?"
Archer shook her head. "No. In fact, he was our ally."
Doubt. Suspicion. There were subtle shifts in Berserker's body language as he further appraised her. "Then who was he fighting?"
"Caster." She told him without pause.
"Archer." Berserker leaned in closer, his massive hand gripping the back of the sofa. "Who is Caster?"
"The Oracle."
The Master of Berserker flinched when even she could feel the change in temperament of the massive Servant, his nostrils flaring like a raging bull. The sofa cracked beneath his tensing hand, grip tighter than ever. Streaks of red were appearing on his armor as his rage was struggling with himself.
"Berserker?" She called out, concerned for her Servant. She turned her gaze back to Archer. "Archer, who is this "Oracle" you speak of?"
"A being who is very much capable of, and will bring this earth down a path of insanity." Archer replied with a more serious demeanor.
"That's not much." The Master protested.
"I'm giving you all that is needed." Archer responded. She gestured to Berserker with her eye. "He can further explain who he is. We all have experience with Caster after all. One way or another."
The small albino girl shifted her position so that she was now facing her Servant, looking up his hulking form. "Berserker?"
The maddened Servant had calmed down; now back to his blue hue. "Caster cannot be allowed to live, Lady Illyasviel." That was all Berserker said to her.
But that was enough, as the Einzbern Master nodded, turning to Archer for the final time. "Very well. Tomorrow, midday."
Archer clapped her hands, a smile returning to her face. "Excellent! They don't have school, so this should be great!"
She almost leaped off of her seat, startling the albino girl sitting opposite her. Archer dusted herself off and gave a short salute to the Master. "See you soon, Master of Berserker. Don't be so uptight, Sven. Maybe take quick dip, your gills must be feeling dry after all this time. Tata!"
Archer didn't need the maids to escort her out; she was gone from the mansion in seconds, her speed propelled by the winds as she left the premises. She was elated as she sailed through the trees. For once, things were working out for their favor. And hopefully, her earlier worriers would be quashed tomorrow. No doubt, the albino Master and Shirou would have things to talk about, even if he was as oblivious and dumbstruck as everyone else.
London
A rhythmical hum filled the decorated room, filled to the brim with various inventions and souvenirs. Whole bookshelves stacked with many kinds of tomes and journals. The birch interior gave off a cool air, as the darkened room seemed to have an unnatural chill that seemed otherworldly. The dark brown curtains were completely shut, not even an inch of sunlight peeking through. And alone inside, sitting comfortably at his desk as he read through a journal he had acquired through his trips, was none other than the Fourth Dead Apostle Ancestor.
He was in the middle of what one would consider an extended break from his usual routines; which consisted of popping into the Department of Mineralogy, and/or seeing what the other realities had to offer to sate his curiosity. For now, the vampire was content in reading in almost complete darkness, with only a single lamp on his desk as a source of light.
Then he heard sound coming from outside his supposed office. He looked up from the journal he was reading, brows quirking as he saw the handle slowly turning before it eventually opened. He waited patiently, wondering who it was that was taking their time, opening the door inch by inch. Further confusion stained his face when he finally caught a glimpse of who it was that was taking their sweet time to enter the room. Brown hair tied in a tidy ponytail, the holy mithril gauntlet on her right hand, a cream suit with a large red ribbon to tie it all off. Yes, The Queen of London's Clock Tower had entered the room and made way to his desk after she closed the door behind her.
But it was too obvious in how something was wrong with her. Even a mundane man with no contact with the moonlit world could tell. Her expressionless face as she walked in an almost robotic manner. And her eyes. As if her very soul was gone. Now he was concerned, closing the journal in his hand as he appraised this woman that sat on the other side of his desk.
"Lorelei?" he went in for the punch, yet got no response.
He was about to prod further, when he noticed the life appear back in those brown eyes. She blinked. Again. She looked around, confused, before landing her gaze onto him, glaring.
He raised his free hand. "I was not the one who did anything to you, Vice Director." He might have a reputation, but this was not his brand.
"Then why am I here, Zelretch?" she was not amused, especially being in a room with him. Just like how he had a reputation, so did she.
"I would answer you if I knew why." He answered honestly. Whether she believed him or not was another matter. "I was simply reading when you walked in like a ghost."
THUD THUD THUD
Both Wizard Marshals looked back to the door. Three heavy knocks. Zelretch stayed seated while the Vice Director stood up from the chair. They waited, yet there was nothing else.
"Come in." He announced, and sure enough the door opened.
Instead of the halls of the Clock Tower, they were blinded by a white void. Divine light brighter than the sun itself. If Zelretch were a lesser being, he would have no doubt crumbled. But he was not, so this was a mere inconvenience for him. In fact, there was something welcoming about the lig-
Oh. It dawned on him when he finally put two and two together. Such an idea, such knowledge that was forgotten, lost in the annals of time that only a mere handful know of, and even then they only know sparingly. Thanks to his mastery of the Second Magic, he knew what this was. Not because he had experience in interacting with them, but because these beings are progenitors of many universes, and they are powerful.
The light receded as the door closed, bringing him back into his office as a cleric was now standing before them, smiling pleasantly.
"Bishop Elias?" The Vice Director seemed familiar with the cleric, but she was merely perplexed.
"Good afternoon, Vice Director Barthomeloi. Unfortunately, I am not here as a bishop." The cleric stated as she moved to take the seat next to her.
She was about to speak to him, but he raised his palm facing her, and no sound escaped her. The cleric kept his attention squarely on him while the Vice Director was pseudo indisposed. "Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. I have a question to ask of you."
"Why is the Vice Director needed?" he asked in response to the cleric.
"As a witness." Replied the cleric with a disconcerting smile.
The Vice Director shook her head as if she had freed herself from whatever it was the cleric had done, but she instead eyed Zelretch. "What does he mean by that? What is he?" She was catching on quite quickly, for someone who seemed to know of this being in a more mundane theater.
Zelretch met the glare of Lorelei Barthomeloi with his own concerned gaze. "He is a Fundamental."
"Funda… mental…" her voice trailed off as she slowly turned to face the cleric, a look of horror forming on her face. It turns out the Vice Director was among those handful.
Said Fundamental merely smiled at them. "To be more precise, I am the Keeper of the Light. A pleasure to formally make your acquaintance." He said with a slight nod.
"And you have a question for me."
"That's right! I understand you all know that the Fifth Holy Grail War is commencing as we speak. And you, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, have among the most peculiar set of interests among those in the multiverse." The Fundamental ceased his exposition when the vampire raised his hand.
"Keeper. I understand your suspicion. Especially with my well deserved reputation. But I had no play in whatever is happening in Fuyuki right now." Zelretch told the cleric while also giving the Vice Director a side glance. "I assure you that for now, I have yet to tamper with this dimension."
The Vice Director was still eyeing him curiously, but the cleric scrutinized him with wide eyes. "Are you saying you had nothing to do with the ritual?"
"Well…" the vampire gave a half-ass shrug as he answered back. "Technically I did have something to do with the ritual, since the three founding families created it under my supervision. But this specific thing you are asking me, no."
The Queen turned her eyes onto the cleric, seeing the Fundamental bear a blank expression as he processed the information, keeping his eyes on the vampire. A noticeable silence later, he finally spoke. "You speak of truth."
"I am." Zelretch responded with a resolute nod.
"I see." Then, the two Wizard Marshals bore witness to an event so rare across the many realities. One that only his siblings have seen in more than one occasion, individually. The Keeper of the Light, often displaying a warm smile of a sage across the multiverse. A smile so welcoming, a perfect embodiment of Light itself. A smile, that was no longer on his face, as the deepest of scowls now displayed as the true gravity of the situation was further enlightened upon him. "Then this anomaly has become one that must be rectified immediately."
Both Zelretch and the Vice Director could feel the inhuman presence that was now weighing down on them, as if they needed to be reminded that the Keeper was not human. He was not a phantasmal beast. He was no god. No, he was more than that. More powerful. More ancient.
And this piece of truth had earned a Fundamental's ire.
The Keeper wasted no more time, standing up and made his way to leave. He stopped just as he reached the door, glancing back at them, the scowl now masked by the smile he had before. "A fair warning, to you who lives in secrecies." He full turned his body so that he was now facing them, arms behind his back. "Once we descend, there will be no subtleties."
And in a bright flash of blinding light, the Keeper was gone.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
phew. that took longer than i expected honestly, but we got through it! honestly, with how i'm going, i might end up finishing sooner.
assuming i don't make filler chapters, so let's hope that doesn't happen.
also, a very brief cameo to hopefully further raise the stakes.
i think that's it, so without further adiue,
hope ya'll enjoyed this, and i'll see you next time!