Fate / Alternate Chapter 9 - Unfortunately... being a hero is a limited-time thing. When you grow up, it becomes harder to call yourself one. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to realise that.
The news of the Holy Grail had finally began to spread like wildfire. It became increasingly rare for their to be a moment of silence in the Clock Tower as magi from all stretches of the globe suddenly flooded the association looking for information, for absolutely anything they could get their hands on. Waver lay in his chair exasperatedly as his phone rang for what was seemingly the infinite time that day, he hated the stupid thing, and its stupid ringing and the stupid people on the other end. He rubbed his head as he answered the phone yet again.
'This is Lord El Melloi II speaking, what is the nature of your enquiry? He answered, his anger burning like that of the cigarette he was smoking. It was yet another stupid wannabe wizard calling, asking if he had information he was willing to share. With a twitching eyebrow he silently hung up letting the magus ramble on the other end. They went by the name of Faldeus Dioland or something rather. He remembered when it would only be Flat ringing him to check if he wanted any lunch.
'With all due respect Lord El Melloi don't you think that is a little rude?' Dioland questioned indignantly. Waver sat in mild amusement, this Faldeus seemed a little more perceptive than the rabid fanboys he was used to listening by now. 'Don't you think it a little bizarre that the grail isn't selecting masters in London?' He eloquently questioned as he continued 'After all it selected masters that were in Snowfield at the time, even if they had entered from abroad.' Waver's eyes nearly bugged out as he stuttered momentarily. Snowfield? Why did he know that name? Where had he heard it before? More importantly however ho was this Faldeus? What did he really know?
Waver now very flustered answered back,
'I d-d-don't know how to answer that one,' He openly admitted only receiving laughter from Faldeus.
'Forgive me it was unfair to compare this Holy Grail War to the events happening in Snowfield, my apologies Waver.' Waver paled, how did this man know his name? 'How many masters have already entered Waver?' He coldy questioned, expectantly waiting for Waver's response. Waver sweat bullets as he tried to compose himself. Anyone could know his name if they looked hard enough. Right? He had to know what this man was planning.
'Four. Four masters so far have entered this Holy Grail War, or so I have been told by the Ruler Class servant moderating this war.' Waver calmly stated, keeping his nerves steady.
'Hm interesting. You're in cahoots with Ruler. Very interesting indeed. Thank you Lord El Melloi.' Faldeus promptly hung up, Waver cringing at his snarky tone. His words dripping with sarcasm. Immediately Waver picked up the phone dialling Ruler's number, he was unsure why but something felt wrong. Whoever this Faldeus was, whatever he wanted he knew it wasn't going to end well, he couldn't just let it happen. They had no information, no motive, nothing except a name but that would be enough. Nothing the world's greatest detective wouldn't be able to handle after all.
Faldeus smiled as he sat back in his chair, only 4 masters had entered the war so far they had no time to waste. Leaping out of his chair he ran out the door of his office, jumping the stairs as he proceeded to run off down a corridor. Unknown to the general public many political powers and associations had become aware of magecraft and its usage in modern day, some governments even using magi among their ranks. America was the country however leading this movement forward, even unknown to the Mage's Association or the Holy Church, it employed a subsection of magi among its own ranks. It's own little association of government hired magi, though their purpose was a mystery. Political power? Military enforcement? Financial stability? Not even the mages being employed could answer that but some had their suspicions. Faldeus continued his way down the complex network of corridors as he seemingly searched for something, eliciting salutes from colleagues as he passed them,paying on minor attention them as he waved them by. Suddenly opening a door to his left he was greeted to a dark room. In the middle sat a man wearing military clothing. His combat boots recently polished and shiny glistened in the light as his pins shone brilliantly. On his head sat a black beret, neatly upright and freshly cleaned. He smelt of pine needles as he sat in silence, letting the aroma fill the air. His face was strongly shaped with a jar line that could cut diamond. He scratched his cleanly shaven face as he nodded acknowledging Faldeus's presence. Faldeus made his way to the furthest side of the room as a petite lady carrying papers entered the room, closing the door behind her. Passing the documents she was holding to Faldeus who in turn slipped them in front of the man that was seated.
Sergeant Raphael Lorenzo - that was this man's name. Ex-military having served a term of 8 years for the U.S Military. He was placed into the sniper division, excelling at shooting long range targets the like had never been seen of. He served in many war zones stretching across the globe, decorated with medals and honours he is seen as the prime sniper. A soldier all should aspire to be. Little did they or so he thought that he was using magecraft in play. A soldier who at first was mistaken for the infamous magus killer, an assassin in the shadows who took out magi without remorse, taking life after life for some greater good. That was the real Lorenzo. A man to rival the likes of the magus killer himself.
Flicking through the notes he had been given, scanning each line with precision and clarity. This was his mission. He glanced at the photos as he did so, these masters none seemed too exceptional. In fact they seemed too weak, far too weak. A university student, a mentally ill teenager and a lady of some obscure little village. He couldn't but smirk as a little as flicked to the next page assuming to see the remaining masters though something was off. Why was there no record of them, just a name 'John Smith'. He didn't like this, uncertainties were not acceptable, looking up Lorenzo stared Faldeus in the eye.
'It is apparent there are two other masters present in this war so far Lorenzo, though all we have for one is a name and the final master not even the Clocktower seemingly know about its whereabouts. Just that it's command seals have manifested. Should you choose to accept it Sergeant Raphael Lorenzo, your mission will be to forcibly enter this Holy Grail War and eliminate the other 6 masters, upon which you will obtain the Holy Grail. You are to return the artifact to the association once you acquire it where you mission will then end. That is all.' Fladeus spoke in a dry and monotonous tone, it slightly irked him how he had spoken it all without taking a single breath he couldn't understand that man sometimes. Solemnly nodding Lorenzo stood to his feet.
'I accept, however I expect half up front.' He stated coldy as he locked eyes with Faldeus, the man just smiling in return.
With a shaking of his hand Lorenzo was boarding the next flight to London, taking a rare moment to relax on the plane as he did so. To say he was nervous would be lying, if anything he felt indifferent to what he was about to do. The Holy Grail War, the slaughtering of seven magi to attain the root, what a pathetic excuse. Or at least that was how he felt. The lives of six were not a price to pay for the greed of one. It disgusted him if anything, filled him with an unquenchable rage. Closing his eyes as he sank further into his seat, he put in some headphones to drone everything out, the sound of smooth jazz filling his ears as he did so. If there were any magi on this plane they wouldn't expose themselves like this, that he was sure of.
As he sat there staring at his wrist Lorenzo became mildly interested. Slowly creeping up his forearms three shell-like marks started to burn and pulsate, pulling his sleeve up to his elbow the marks began to glow brighter much to the surprise of his fellow passengers as he quickly made his way to the toilets. He had been chosen. The man who was being sent to end the very thing he had now been entered into. Taking a moment to let his any regrets he may suddenly have subside he sat there in the cubical, logically processing his current situation. Faldeus may had accounted for this, or maybe even intended for it. It would make sense after all. When he had been told to forcibly enter he assumed he would be stalking down and killing 7 magi. However entering himself would mean he would only have to kill 6 and then he would obtain the grail. A sudden realisation dawned on him, he would possess the grail should he win. What was to stop him using it, had Faldeus just trusted his loyalty? Thoughts started to swirl in his head as he promptly stood up, straightening himself out in the mirror. He had a mission to do.
The plane started to descend as Lorenzo removed his headphones. The flight had gone pleasantly and he was ready to focus. Promptly packing the few belongings he had brought into his bag he departed the plane, swiftly making his way through border control. As he left the airport he was greeted to the light snowfall that had started to scatter throughout London, the snow powdered his cap as he continued along his way to the rendezvous point. Upon where an agent clad in all black was waiting by a taxi with blacked out windows. Nodding to the agent he entered the taxi being given a briefcase as he entered. The taxi suddenly took off as Lorenzo inspected the contents of the case, inside was a single bullet with a note. Faldeus had fully planned knowing this would happen it would seem, this bullet was to be his catalyst. His entry into the war.
The taxi promptly came to a halt as his door was opened, Lorenzo was being escorted into an old and abandoned tower block. It's windows long gone as the winter breeze echoed through its complex structure. Lorenzo and his escorts climbed the tower block as they made there up several floors before coming to a clearing. He assumed it was previously a large office room, now barren and empty. It was the perfect location for what they needed to do. In the centre lay a large circle, inscribed into the floor with some indiscriminate liquid. It smelt surgical and artificial. In the centre lay a small stone rectangle upon which Lorenzo placed the bullet he was carrying, turning his back momentarily walked back out the circle, chanting as he did so. His ritual would be short and sweet. Anticlimactic but that didn't matter, the grail did most of the work anyway. As he turned to walk away, the floor began to glow as blinding white light filled the air around them. Calmly Lorenzo made his way over to the agent that had escorted him. The light shining ever more brilliantly. Suddenly a dark figure bolted from the light casting a shadow as it lunged forward at the pair. Bayonet in hand it swung forward ready to strike, Lorenzo in turn swung backwards. Firmly grasping the other agent's shoulder he threw them forward towards the figure as he punched through the poor man, viscera and entrails spilling onto the floor. The dark figure was covered in a crimson cloak that obscured its face. Dark grey body armour hung from its chest as lines of bullets hung from its hips. Adorning this was a holster upon which sat another bayonet. Large grey boots that reached its thighs finished its outfit as it stood there menacingly.
'Assassin I presume?' Cautiously laughed as he surveyed the servant that stood before him. The servant in turn giving an affirmative nod.
'It would appear that you are my master, I have a feeling we won't get along,' the servant spoke in a monotonous tone. 'I am assassin and have answered your call to war, should your life be in danger I will answer your command, otherwise please stay out may.' It ordered Lorenzo as both stood there motionless, Assassin's arm dripping blood from his previous attack. Suddenly Assassin jolted as his body started to fade into nothing. Ruler was stood there motionless, disgust apparent on his face. How much had he seen? Lorenzo glared at the man as he made into the room, inspecting the now dead corpse of the agent. Ruler was angry. Looking back at Lorenzo he flashed a discontent snarl as he marched towards them.
'How dare you drag that man into your conflict,' he started bitterly before Lorenzo could say a word. 'You should be ashamed!' Lorenzo blankly stared back.
'You have no right to tell me that, especially in your position Ruler.' Lorenzo calmly stated as he started to walk the compound, 'A man sent to govern and control slaughter should not concern himself with how the slaughter is committed, don't act like you have some high ground detective.' Lorenzo smirked as he stood opposite Ruler, anger very clear in his eyes.
'I hereby register you and Assassin into the war,' Ruler bitterly stated as he left the building. 'Get out of my sight.'
I apologise for how long this chapter took to upload. I was really stuck on how I wanted to introduce Assassin into the war. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to Christmas I hope to have the next chapter up by Christmas Day. With only 2 more servants left to enter the war the tension will be rising soon as masters start to make their moves.