"...in short, our progress regarding the trials has been nothing short of breathtaking. Granted, we still have a lot more ground to cover, and the current situation in the Clocktower is sadly not helpful at all..." Lord El-Melloi II reported, until he was interrupted by a scoff.
"Goddamm fools. I offered an olive branch and suddenly, I'm seen not as the Vice-Director, but as a heretic spitting on 'the pride of my lineage and sacrifices of my ancestors'... What good will those things be when we die because we foolishly hung onto them?" Lady Lorelei Barthomeloi vented her feelings in regard to the current Schism.
It was a culmination of many events, from the reveal of Magic, the new, more moderated policies of the Clocktower, and the Demon Summoning trials. Those specifically were seen as an affront to 'real Magecraft', which funnily enough happened after a series of 'requests' which demanded that those trials were overseen and performed by Mages of more... talent.
Stephen stopped Lorelei's rant "I've seen their kind before. And as they say, 'Pride comes before the fall.' They may try to seize power eventually, and they will fail. However, it'll be a bloodbath." He finished, which caused the mood in the room to darken.
The individuals on this meeting were Lord El-Melloi II, Lady Barthomeloi, Stephen, Merlin, and both King Arthurs. It wouldn't be innacurate to call this meeting a War Council, but they would also require the Magi which sided with the Barthomeloi and El-Melloi families in the Coalition for Progress. A name given to the Faction formed out the Loyalists that stayed in the Clocktower instead of joining the so called Alliance to Maintain Tradition and Rule of Law, a faction built around the oppositiors of Barthomeloi back when the Clocktower wasn't fractioned, alongside a good number of conscripts, be they by Geasses or familiar ties.
"A Civil War in the Clocktower. If anybody had told me this would happen I would have used them as a punching bag..." Lorelei continued his musings until the Artoria that came from Gray spoke.
"Your opponents seized the opportunity when it came. They took advantage of the ill will because of the new policies, and hatred against you and what you represent now." At which, Saber, the Artoria that came with Merlin continued.
"Mordred did the same when she rebelled. She gathered everyone disatisfied with my reign or somehow damaged by it and well... you know the story. Morgan also played a big part in it, with how she raised and twisted Mordred." "Yet in the end, it was my fault I rejected him when he came and told me the truth... It was a bad reaction, and I regret it, both for what ot costed me, us."
"And because I misjudged him." "But now, the Alliance does not have good intentions at their forefront. They only seek to preserve their decadent lifestyle, no matter the cost. And they'll drag innocent into this as well." ""And we will not allow it."" And despite how it somewhat creeped most of the room that they were so synchronized in their speech, it only served to enhance it's impact to all of the individuals in the room.
Or at least most of them, as the man sitting besides the Twin Kings looked heavily inmersed in his thoughts. Which lended credibility to his current good behaviour. No attacks from Fou because of his indecency, no funny shenanigans and pranks on young teenagers, no sex change and most of all, no random Orgies.
However, Stephen was the first to notice. "Merlin, what is it that's troubling you? You've been sitting there not doing anything remotely irritating for quite a while, so something is clearly worrying you. So, why don't you share it with the rest of us."
And with that, all the Table turned to Merlin, who now had a sheepish look on his face. "I'm sorry, it's just that I was thinking how to approach this subject."
"So something Is happening." Lady Barthomeloi stated as a matter of fact. "You've been quiet for a lot of time to be considered normal for you. I was almost expecting a grand prank, but this is worse."
"There's no need to worry. What's happening right now is not inmediately life-threatening."
"That doesn't fill us with confidence Merlin." Came the voice of the King of Knights. And the sentiment was echoed by all in the room. And her Twin continued.
"Just tell us whatever is happening Merlin, If it worries you so much shouldn't we all know what..." The other King was prevented from finishing that sentence by what Merlin said.
"As of a few days, 3 more Grand Servants have manifested across the World."
That put a stop to everything in the room. Most faces became marred with shock and a bit of fear, except for Stephen who looked deep in thought and then spoke.
"Grand Servants, the same that are manifested by the World in order to counteract the threat of the Beasts, those more powerful than regular Servants, and there's 3 of them now loose."
"There's also a Divine Spirit that manifested alongside one of them as well."
Barthomeloi was the first to snap out of her stupor.
"Are you serious?" He nodded. "Fan-fucking-tastic, just what we needed right now."
Stephen then summoned a few screens and appeared to be searching something. "You mentioned that normally, Grands are summoned by the World as a defense against the Beast. Can you tell..." The question was not finished as Merlin again spoke
"I know for a fact no Beasts have awoken."
"What do you mean Merlin? How can you know for sure?" Was the question of the 1st Artoria.
"That's easy, because you." He then pointed at the Artoria besides her. "Would inmediately know that. You would be the first to sense the advent of a Beast threatening humanity. That's why you don't feel anything next to Fou."
"So if there aren't any Beasts arriving soon then why did they appear now?" Barthomeloi voiced her question to the room, which was swiftly answered by the Incubus.
"I don't know. Normally such summonings are in charge of the World. The only Idea I have is that my summoning of Artoria started the process inadvertedly. Yet that doesn't explain why it took so long if that was the case."
"Does it matter in any case?" Said Stephen. "All we need to do is find one of them and ask them. They might be aware of things we're not."
"That won't be necessary actually. They're coming here." And once more the room went dead silent. Until the words came out of Lord El-Melloi II
"Explain." And so he did.
"I've been tracking their movements and while all of them were summoned on their land of origin, they have gathered and are now heading towards London. The only reason they haven't arrived yet is because they're sightseeing." He said with a grimace upon seeing everyone's reaction.
"You said you tracked them. Does that also mean you know who they are?" Was the question of El-Melloi II to which he nodded. Which was followed by Stephen.
"Then what are you waiting for Mage of Flowers?"
Merlin then proceded to strike his staff on the ground and inmediately, a shower of petals appeared in the room and formed the image of an imposing Black Knight, wearing a skull motifed armor, a chipped sword, and an elaborated skull mask.
"This is the Grand Assassin, the First of the Hassan-i-Sabbah and founder of the Order. The origin of the word Assassin. He's the most terrifying of all of them. Imagine an Assassin capable of standing up to even the best of Knights and win. I do not joke when I state that he could've wiped the floor with all the Knights of the Round." Both Artorias gasped at that. And he continued. "Lady Barthomeloi, are you familiar with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception." At her nod he continued. "He's capable of replicating and exceeding feats known to be possible by users of those eyes."
He then moved on and projected a new image which showed a couple holding hands, a woman with silvery-blue long hair and eyes wearing a dress and a very muscular male with brown hair and an uncovered torso. Both of them also looked really happy.
"This is a pair of star-crossed lovers. The man is the Grand Archer Orion, and his companion is the Goddess Artemis. From what I gathered, Artemis managed to manifest shortly after Orion was summoned. This was possible because the damage to the textures of the World created a way to the Reverse Side of the World, as you already know, I managed to leave the Garden of Avalon via one of those as well."
"What are their abilities? What can they do?" Asked Stephen.
"Orion is a consumated hunter, and his skills with a bow go beyond what's possible for humanity, it's practically a requirement for his position, and it was all on his own. He can also channel the power of Artemis to enhance all his parameters and abilities. And Artemis is just as capable as he is, and has the full power of her Authority at her disposal. So all in all they're a dangerous duo."
"That still leaves the matter of the 3rd Grand. Who is he?" The Grand King of Knights asked to her Court Wizard.
At which, the Image changed again, showing a dark-tanned man with brown hair, wearing what could only be described as a cape, and Golden accesories, all while leaving his upper body exposed.
"This is the Grand Rider. The King of Kings, Ozymandias, one of the many Pharaohs of Egypt, but without a doubt the most powerful as a Servant. He's powerful on his own, but his Noble Phantasms make him a nightmare to fight, perhaps even more so than the Grand Assassin." He then paused for a bit, before resuming.
"His ego is only comparable to the Archer of the 4th War." The Twin Kings shuddered, as well as El-Melloi. "However, his disposition is also a more regal and noble, so he's not as unpleasant as him. Fun fact, he's the same Pharaoh who was portayed in the Exodus. Yes, that Exodus, and no, try not to bring up Moses up if he doesn't, he still holds him in very high esteem, same with his wife Nefertari."
"Intresting." Stephen mentioned, and he looked somewhat amused. It was at that moment that a sudden sound errupted and the room turned to the source as Lord El-Melloi picked up his phone from his coatpocket.
"Yes. Yes, Svin what do... Wait, stop for a moment. Breathe... Did you say two men, an armored knight and a woman? Of course... No, no we'll be going down ourselves... Just keep them there and... TELL FLAT NOT TO DO ANYTHING!" He then put the phone back in his pocket, stood up and quickly turned to the door.
"We need to go downstairs, they're here already."
Thanks to High Priest of Ereshkigal for writing this!