Einzbern Castle; 40 day until the Fifth Holy Grail War
"We have finished preparations for the travel, Mistress Ilya." Sella's voice held a hint of exasperation. "The items you requested have been packed and Lord Jubstacheit has made the travel arrangements. He also assures you that the castle in Fuyuki is in acceptable shape and will serve as a suitable basis of operations for someone of your status."
Ilya nodded absentmindedly, then both homunculi started as Wrex materialized, snorting. Ilya pouted at her Servant, the array she spent fiddling with dispersing into motes of light while Sella nodded at the towering warlord.
"So, you will follow the family instructions, kid?"
Ilya cocked her head to the side before nodding, the gesture somewhat hesitant as she felt an undercurrent of something indecipherable from the krogan.
"You are using the travel itinerary your family prepared for you. You will live in the castle they created for you. A castle that has already been used once before."
"Yes? I do not see why I should not do so; it is more efficient this way. Surely, you can agree to that much as well."
"Efficient, right. If you want to ensure that your precious family can constantly keep an eye on you, definitely." Wrex raised his palm when Sella opened her mouth. "Not you two; harsh as it sounds, the two of you were created specifically to attend Ilya and protect her. I do not think either of you would turn on her without strong external compulsion."
The old warlord turned back towards his diminutive Master, and Ilya felt drawn into those ancient, fiery red eyes as the rumbling voice continued.
"Think, girl. Your family clearly loves you, that's why you were practically vivisected and ambushed several times. The castle they are giving you was the base of your father, who I'm told had an unhealthy fascination for traps and explosives, and who blew up parts of the castle to kill an intruder." A bone-rattling chuckle. "Do you honestly believe that your precious clan members even tried to check whether all boobytraps are gone? Do you think they could have found them, at all?"
"Do not dare to talk to me about my father, Wrex!" Ilya's hair swirled in the sudden breeze, daggers of intricate tapestry forming above and behind her, aiming at her Servant, her Command Seals glowing in preparation. The krogan chuckled, and shook his head.
"Oh yes, your infamous father who betrayed your clan a decade ago, and left you here to rot." Ilya was suddenly face to face with the huge krogan, those wise, ancient eyes boring into her soul. "Or so claim your loving relatives here. The very same relatives who would love to kill or dissect you, and have already tried it multiple times."
Ilya opened her mouth, a scathing condemnation on her tongue, before she paused. Seeing that, Wrex nodded, and continued.
"Sure, he is a bastard for letting you suffer here, but do not ever take the information you have from creatures like your clan without a very large grain of salt." He grinned at the indignant Sella. "Present company excepted. Anyone who can make such quality food has to be honest, I think."
Ilya had to work very hard to suppress the urge to facepalm at that. Her Servant was at times definitely insane. Even when he made a very good point or two. She decided that with Wrex at her side, she could listen to her father trying to explain himself, before she killed him and the brat that he took in as a replacement for her. Yes. When she killed the Emiyas, it would be because of her choice, not because of family honor or duty.
Finland; 39 day until the Fifth Holy Grail War
Luvia leaned back in the plush chair of her opulent living room, sipping from her tea as she studied the blue-skinned female sitting across her. The Servant flashed a small thankful smile at Sebastian when the butler offered her tea, and held the cup with unconscious grace and elegance. She obviously came from high society - not that it was surprising to Luvia. After all, a noble like her would likely summon someone of similar standing and ability. Sure, she did not get her intended Servant, but in hindsight, that may have been in her favor - Medea of Colchis was not named the Witch of Betrayal for nothing. And at the very least, she could hold quite interesting conversations with Liara, both of them appreciating history and the attendant mysteries - albeit from a somewhat different point of view.
Still, it felt somewhat surreal to sit in the heart of her domain conversing with a Heroic Spirit, and an alien to boot. Luvia minutely shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the immediate future and the upcoming war. Her Servant faintly smiled and placed her teacup daintily on the table, before she focused on the blonde magus.
"I have received information that the Einzbern Master is moving already - it seems they want to get a headstart, and renew their base in Fuyuki." Luvia lifted a hand to her mouth, failing to mask the satisfied smirk - then she gave in to the impulse and laughed. Her Servant perked an eyebrow - well, she guessed those white lines were practically eyebrows; it was a little hard to tell with an actual alien.
"Oh?"
"Apparently, they are reusing their resources from the previous War. Sure, they are being discreet and are using middlemen, but they forgot that money does not only talk, it can also listen very, very well."
The Servant smirked at her, and an orange glow surrounded her left forearm. Transparent screens materialized between them, showing maps, faces, building blueprints and detailed dossiers of known Einzbern associates - as well as people involved in the Moonlit World who were still alive and were known to be familiar with the Einzbern Master of the former War. Luvia cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowed.
"Interesting - you think that they may involve outsiders again, after the debacle of the Fourth War?"
"It never hurts to be prepared. After all, information is victory - and that is more true in the world of magi than almost anywhere else."
Luvia smiled, showing teeth, not even trying to suppress or mask her laughter this time. Yes, she definitely lucked out with her Servant.
London, 35 day until the Fifth Holy Grail War
The young man adjusted his glasses before checking the ritual circle again. He had no reason to think that Lord El-Melloi would need such an elaborate method for killing or humiliating him (especially considering the current incumbent of said title), but still, they both were magi. Satisfied that the complex circle matched the description both his teacher and the old diary provided, the young man started chanting, the three symbols on his hand becoming more and more defined as the power swirling in the summoning chamber increased. At the ritual's apex, he could feel the bond springing into life, felt the drain on his circuits, yet there was nothing in the circle. The young man reached out with his senses and magic alike, searching for something, anything to indicate where his Servant disappeared to.
"I am here." The scratchy, husky voice sounded right next to his ear, and Caules whirled around, his heartrate spiking as he prepared to defend himself, yet there was still only darkness and shadows.
"Do not worry - you are my Master." A chuckle, and the shadows moved - and the young magus' jaw dropped as his Servant stepped into the light. The Heroic Spirit wore a stylish black frock coat with high collar leaving his chest partially naked. Sturdy boots and armored black pants completed the clothing, but it was not the decidedly modern style that had Caules wondering whether he was mad. No, it was more the fact that the Servant was not human. The green skin (with a faint scalelike pattern barely discernible on it), the pupil-less ebony eyes, the gill-like throat, the odd skull all pointed clearly at his (?) nonhuman origins. "I am Servant Assassin, at your service."