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Legacy of the Ancients
Chapter 10
"S-so many…" Waver gasped at the sight of the multiple Assassins around them. Ghostly laughter echoed in response to his words.
"We are one…" one Assassin began, his voice echoing across the courtyard.
"…divided into many…" another continued.
"…an army…"
"…and also one…"
"…death in every shadow."
"…a Servant with multiple bodies and personalities." Waver said in shocked realization.
"But since they all add up to one, it must mean that each incarnation is actually weaker than the whole." Caster countered coldly. "Such an oblique ability…however seeing as all the Masters here aren't really combat-hardened, this could be troublesome. Sakura, stay close to me."
"R-Rider…" Waver stammered out in fear even as Sabre tightened her grip on her sword. Archer just looked disgusted, but surprisingly enough the King of Conquerors didn't look the least bit concerned.
"Calm down my friends…" the man said after a drink. "…the Assassin isn't the most distinguished among heroes, but they still have a place on the Throne of Heroes. They may yet surprise us."
"Are you saying you'll invite them as well, King of Conquerors?" Archer asked derisively.
Rider just grinned. "But of course…! A king must always welcome those who come before him. If they wish to speak fairly then let us hear them out at the very least..."
Still grinning, Rider took the ladle and filled it before holding it up in the air. "…now come forth Assassin!" he shouted in a welcoming fashion. "If you wish to speak with us in peace, then partake of this wine, which shall be as your blood!"
The only response was a dagger sent flying through the air to break the ladle in half, spilling its contents onto the ground and on Rider's shoulder. The Masters shrank back in shock, while even Caster looked aghast at the sight. Even one as steeped in treachery as her would not dare spit on sacred hospitality in such a fashion. Archer made a scoffing sound and briefly closed his eyes as Rider's expression turned grim. "Very well…" the King of Conquerors growled as he rose to his feet. "…as I said this drink shall be as your blood. If you insist on spilling it…then so be it."
A powerful wind erupted around Rider, forcing Sabre to shield her eyes even as Sakura and Irisviel took shelter behind their respective Servants and Waver braced himself for what he knew not on the ground. Archer looked on neutrally, while Caster ground her teeth. "This wind…" she silently told herself. "…it appears to be elemental magecraft, but it's not! It's something else. It's as though the world itself is…no, that's impossible!"
"Archer…Sabre…!" Rider demanded as his usual attire manifested on him. "As fellow kings let me ask you: should a king be alone?"
"The King must indeed be alone!" Sabre replied resolutely even as Archer smirked with amused respect at the question.
"No, it seems that you don't understand at all." Rider said as prana began to build. "It appears I must show you what being a king truly means!"
Prana blasted outwards in a burst of light and wind…and then everyone present save for Archer could only gasp and look around in amazement at the sight that met them. A desert as far as the eye could see, with no mountains to mark the distance, stretching from horizon to horizon under the clear blue sky and the burning desert Sun. A harsh and forbidding landscape that promised hardship to any who dared cross it in pursuit of the unknown, and yet it stirred emotions of awe and adventure in the hearts of all present.
"This is impossible…" Caster whispered as she rose to her feet while holding Sakura close, her staff held limply in her other hand. "…but it cannot be denied…mother goddesses preserve us…"
"A reality marble…" Irisviel breathed. "…a mental image superimposed over the real world. But how…?"
"He's not a magus…" Sakura asked. "…I don't understand."
Rider just grinned at their words, the dry desert wind blowing his crimson cape behind me. "Here my armies once rode across the land…" he explained. "…the place all the heroes who stood by me through joy and sorrow will never forget. And I can make this world real because it still exists in our hearts!"
The wind swiftly died down, but now the sound of countless marching feet began to echo across the dunes. Sabre, Caster, Irisviel, and Sakura turned to look behind them, and expressions of shock and awe filled their faces even as Waver rose to his feet. Archer remained seated, but it was clear from his expression that even he could say nothing as countless soldiers and mounts marched across the dunes towards them, the sunlight shining from their spears and shields, banners of red and gold held proudly aloft as the spirits of Rider's faithful soldiers answered their king's call across time and space and beyond even death itself.
"Behold my endless armies!" Rider proudly declared. "Their bodies have been destroyed, and their spirits offered to the world as Heroic Spirits! But still, these legendary heroes pledge their loyalty to me! They are my greatest treasures and my right to rule! The ultimate Noble Phantasm that I, Iskander, possess: Ionian Hetairoi!"
Victory cries roared across the desert from countless throats in response to their King's proclamation, and Archer could only close his eyes in respect to their spirits. "Each of these is a Servant!" Waver gasped.
"…a collective reality marble…" Caster hissed in realization. "…Rider only brings it forth, and from thence the entire army…soldier upon soldier keeps it together."
"It's been a long time, partner." Rider said nostalgically as Bucephalus calmly walked up beside him and nuzzled him affectionately. The king stroked the horse's neck before turning to face his army. "A king…" he declared. "…must live a grander life than all others, and be an object of envy and admiration to all those who follow him!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"He who is the envy of heroes, and leads them from the front, is the King!" Rider continued as he mounted Bucephalus. "Therefore the King is not alone, for his will equals the will of all those that follow him!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Now then Assassin…" Rider asked with a vicious smile as he turned to face the cowering Assassins. "…shall we begin? As you can see what we have here is a plain. Unfortunately with our superior numbers we have the advantage. Eliminate them!"
With a thunder of battle cries and countless feet striking the ground, the entire army charged towards the Assassins, who all save one broke and fled for all the good it would do them. Rider rode ahead of his army, outstripping even the riders of his personal guard and personally beheading the lone Assassin who faced her death with dignity. The others perished like cowards, impaled from behind with steel-tipped javelins or ridden down by iron-shod hooves. The last Assassin managed to fend off several of Rider's soldiers only to be torn apart by metallic tentacles empowered by magic. A long-haired man in a surprisingly-modern business ensemble under a red cloak lit a cigar as liquid metal formed a maid beside him, and then he nodded at Rider. Rider nodded back, looked around and seeing no sign of any more Assassins raised his sword into the air before shouting his victory cry. And as jubilant cries of victory filled the air around them, Sabre could only look on with sadness.
A few minutes later and with reality reasserted, Rider loaded the cask of wine back in his chariot. "Well that's all for tonight I guess…" he said. "…Archer, I look forward to our next battle. But before that, we must really finish that flagon of wine at the least."
Archer just smirked in reply as he stood. "Farewell to you Caster…" Rider told her, and the Servant of the Spell and her Master bowed. "…I still don't know who you are, but I respect your wish, no matter how selfish it may seem."
"King of Conquerors…!" Sabre began only to be cut off by a wave of Rider's arm.
"That's enough Sabre." he said without even looking at her. "I don't consider you a king anymore…wake up little girl, before you lose even what makes you a hero as well."
The other Masters and Servants could only look on as Rider and Waver left back to the sky. "Don't let yourself be affected so much…" Archer told Sabre, who fixed him with a glare in reply. Archer calmly met her gaze, and added "…your ideals are childish, but they are what make you who you are. Be strong King of Knights, and perhaps you may yet prove worthy of my love."
Archer strode towards and past Caster and Sakura, only to pause abruptly. "You gave her your blood." He said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes." Caster replied. What else could she say?
Archer smiled. "Then raise her well princess." He said as he slowly dissolved into golden light. "I did not think it possible that a child of this dull era could take the blood of our time without dying…there may yet be hope for Humanity after all."
Left alone with the Knight of the Sword, Caster paused before leaving. "Sabre…" she began hesitantly. "…I do not agree with what the King of Conquerors said, but…"
"You said that I do not truly believe in what I said." Sabre interrupted.
"…if you truly believe in your ideals…" Caster continued. "…then why are you willing to take the risk that whatever may save your kingdom may also see everything you hold dear cast aside?"
"I…"
"Sabre…" Caster said. "I ask once again: do you truly value the loyalty of those who stood by you to the end? I am sorry if I am too harsh but…"
"…I understand…" Sabre interrupted her again. "…and thank you. You…I must think the matter over at length."
Caster nodded and together with Sakura vanished in a swirl of collapsed space. "Sabre…" Irisviel said in concern.
"Back then…" Sabre said. "…there were those who said that I could not comprehend Human emotions. Were…were they right…all this time?"
"Are you certain Kirei?" Tokiomi Tohsaka asked in shock, and Kirei bowed. The Assassins had perished to the last man, but Kirei had finally gotten a glimpse of Caster's enigmatic Master. Her appearance had changed greatly, but her eyes and the red ribbon in her hair were unmistakable.
"Yes…" the priest answered. "…Caster's Master is Sakura Matou."
The sound of breaking glass filled Tokiomi's private chambers as the enraged magus threw his wineglass onto the ground. "Damn Zouken!" he spat in uncharacteristic anger. "It's bad enough that I had to surrender my daughter to him, but he allowed Sakura to become a Master?"
"Don't be so foolish Tokiomi." Archer drawled as he walked into the room, and forcing Tokiomi to pull himself together with a visible effort lest he do something that would lead to a most unpleasant demise. "There is no way someone like Caster would bow to that walking corpse of an associate of yours. Nor would she allow anything that belongs to her to do so. She may be a lowly magician, but she is still from the Age of the Gods. Her pride and dignity is worth more. That mongrel has no connection at all to her or to your daughter."
"Your Majesty I respectfully request…"
"Denied…!" Archer interrupted. "You are unworthy of that girl. Children are gifts, a great treasure that even I would not take from their parents, and you threw it away so callously. And besides Caster has taken the child as her own…"
Archer paused and smiled. "…a Human of this age with the blood of our era…" he said with delight and with his crimson eyes bright. "…a single point of light in this dark age, but it is bright!"
"Kirei…" Tokiomi said after several moments and Archer's words had finally sunk in. "…Sakura is…"
"Unfortunately it would seem that Caster has in fact performed blood adoption on Sakura." He said. "All appearances would suggest…"
"Suggest…?" Archer echoed before turning his viper-like eyes on the pair who immediately bowed low. "There is no possibility. It is certainty. That girl carries the princess' blood, the blood of the Age of the Gods. It is a shame that your blood still taints her flesh Tokiomi, but I suppose it will just be another challenge for her to overcome before she can reach greater heights. You should feel honoured."
"It is as you say." Tokiomi said, and after another moment Archer scoffed in disgust before turning to leave. Once the Servant was out of earshot the magus turned to the priest. "Do not allow my wife or daughter to discover this!"
Kirei bowed and Tokiomi dismissed him immediately. Left alone in his chambers, Tokiomi rubbed his face wearily. "Sakura…" he whispered. "…what have I done?"
Caster affectionately patted Sakura on her head, the girl having fallen asleep almost immediately after she'd lain down shortly after they'd arrived. Caster left her daughter to sleep the night away, and thought about the changed situation while heading out of the temple. Assassin had been allied to Tokiomi, and Archer was technically the man's Servant. She'd bet an entire fleet of triremes that Tokiomi would soon know that his daughter was her Master.
He cannot be allowed to take her back.
This wasn't good. They knew where she was, and once Archer discovered Berserker's affiliation with her it was unlikely King Gilgamesh would continue to hold goodwill towards her. It seemed that they might need to vacate Ryuudo Temple very soon. If so, then she had to eliminate Zouken Matou before Byakuya Matou could fulfil his end of their agreement.
I wanted to wait a little longer, but I guess I don't really have much choice now.
Pulling her cloak close, she teleported from the temple to across the street from the Matou Estate, and briefly checked the magical defences of her quarry. It was formidable…for a modern magus. The bounded fields would paralyze anyone who entered with hostile intent, and would drain the prana of any hostile magus. Large numbers of familiars lurked just beneath the surface.
"Thankfully I've prepared for that." She thought. "And thankfully Rider's arrival earlier this night hadn't spilled any poison on me. That would be most troublesome."
Caster paused and wondered: why was she going this far for Sakura? Why did she even go so far as to perform blood adoption? She was Medea, the Witch of Betrayal – all her life she'd been a tool for other people, and had treated others as they had treated her. What made Sakura so different?
A second chance…
Caster smiled bitterly and shook her head while drawing Rule Breaker. "The reason doesn't matter…" she thought as she crossed the street and her own bounded field fell into place. "…I've come to care for her too much, and I suppose that's reason enough. For good or ill our fates are now bound together."
Caster raised her Noble Phantasm, and lazily dragged it against the metal bars of the gates. She felt the bounded fields collapse at the touch of her weapon's blade, and with a snap of her fingers, the gates swung inwards. "Death has arrived." She said smugly, swinging her Noble Phantasm through the air and collapsing secondary and backup bounded fields as they came to life.
She felt the familiars stir beneath the ground, while an aged and diseased mind cower fearfully ahead. Caster sneered, and she opened several portals into an alternate space wherein she kept her mystic codes. No doubt King Gilgamesh would not be pleased that she'd taken a leaf from his book but that was a problem for another day.
Hollow bladed daggers slid from the portals, glass hilts filled with powerful toxins. With another snap of her fingers, Caster sent them plunging into the ground, the poison swiftly emptying and spreading through the soil. Caster smirked as the grass wilted and trees shrivelled within seconds, knowing that the familiars had also perished.
Child's play…
The poison was a masterpiece, fast acting but just as quickly degenerating into harmless compounds after use. Well, if they intended to live here then there was point in turning it into a permanently-toxic wasteland. Caster waved an arm and blasted the doors into the manor to splinters. "Was that really necessary?" Byakuya complained from the second floor. "That door wasn't cheap!"
"I'll fix it later." Caster said as she rose into the air with her staff in hand. She pointed it at the ground and fired a bolt of lightning that blew a hole through the floor and into the basement. Byakuya made a gurgling sound and Caster rolled her eyes. "I'll fix that too, now stop worrying. In a few moments you'll be free of that walking corpse."
Caster floated down into the basement, a ball of energy flickering to life in one hand and lighting her and her surroundings up. "Caster…" Zouken said as he spotted her from his place within the pit. "…this is an unpleasant surprise."
"There's no point in trying to escape." She commented. "I've sealed off the entire area."
"Perhaps we can come to an arrangement." The old man desperately asked even as Byakuya arrived through the basement door.
"I've already set up a better arrangement." Caster said dismissively, and then she hurled the energy sphere into the pit. Zouken cried out, and then the air was filled with the greedy sound of flames lapping up fuel and burning with delight. Caster smiled and said a word, and Byakuya shrank back with a mixed expression of shock and awe as streams of fire formed wolf-like bodies and leapt out of the pit to cleanse the surrounding catacombs with purifying fire.
Caster floated down and set foot on the floor, and she gestured at Byakuya. The man swallowed and walked towards her, no doubt wondering if he'd exchanged one tyrant for another. Caster rolled her eyes at the thought and made her way to the niche in the wall where the container for Zouken's soul worm was kept.
"Would you care to do the honours, my dear brother?" she asked as she took the vessel and held it out to him. Byakuya swallowed again before taking the vessel with shaking hands. The man held it up, and looked on all that was left of Zouken through the glass container. Unlike the other familiars, this one looked more like an amoeba than a worm. The man thought about everything he'd lost to Zouken: his pride...his dignity…even his wife…with a snarl of hatred the man threw the glass container to the ground where it shattered before his booted foot came down and crushed Zouken's soul beneath the heel.
Caster smiled, knowing that across the city entire underground caches of familiars were dying all at the same time as the will and power which gave them life finally left the world. Good riddance…
"Now what…?" Byakuya asked with a deep breath. Caster shrugged and looked around.
"Now we fix this place up before Sakura returns." She said. Byakuya snorted as he remembered just how dilapidated and run down the whole place was even after they or rather Zouken had patched it up after Caster was summoned here a year ago.
"There's an understatement if I've ever heard one."
A/N
Zouken is dead, but now Tokiomi knows what's happened to Sakura. Gil of course still doesn't like him, so there's nothing he can do about it, unless he wants to come down with a serious case of being dead.