Chapter -1
It is never easy to be the head of a well known family when you are part of the Mage's Association. That too, when you are also the head of the Department of Evocation. When those responsibilities is thrust at someone of a young age, it is usually a tale of two likely outcomes - one succumbs to the pressure, or rises beyond it. And the latter is something that is frequently mentioned of Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri. Having had to deal with the loss of his younger sister and future brother-in-law two Holy Grail Wars past, leaving him to be the sole remaining person carrying the noble and prestigious Sophia-Ri blood, he resolutely pushed forward to cement his status within the Association.
Just today, he caught wind of the Association's discovery of the fragments of the Holy Grail being present in Fuyuki City and their subsequent plans to bring back Fuyuki City's Holy Grail. At first thought, he did not like the idea of bringing back something that caused his dear sister's death, but on second thought, if this is truly a powerful device as was said, he could possibly use it to further advance his ascendancy through the ranks of the Association. As such, he was quick to pick up a relic to serve as a catalyst for the summoning. For someone as resourceful as Bram, obtaining a relic in the shortest possible time was child's play. All he needed to do now was to convince the Association that they should follow through with their plan to bring back the Holy Grail.
The most infuriating development for Bram in his plan was the fact that Lord El-Melloi II strongly opposed to the plan of bringing the Grail back for the Association. Lord El-Melloi II even had the support of Reines El-Melloi Archisorte and Bartomeloi Lorelai, two members of the Clock Tower who were more than capable of swaying the opinion of those who wished to bring the Grail back. Bram had to think hard, and fast. He could yet sway the opinions of the other department heads and chief lecturers back to the original plan.
"Lord El-Melloi II, you yourself are a survivor from the Fourth Holy Grail War, am I right?"
Lord El-Melloi II's attention turned to Bram. "Of what purpose do you bring this up?"
"If memory serves me right, you were originally not even meant to participate in such a tournament," Bram said, hoping to goad Lord El-Melloi II to saying something that could hurt his cause.
"There was no bloody rule that says that certain magi were not supposed to participate, imbecile!" Lord El-Melloi II's stare intensified knowing that Bram had some agenda for supporting the plan of bringing the Grail back.
"Hah, but thanks to your participation, I lost my sister and Reines over there lost her brother!" Bram pointed at a stunned Reines as he made mention of the deaths of Kayneth and Sola-Ui some 18 years back.
"Deaths like these are precisely why I am opposed to the plan," came Lord El-Melloi II's resolute reply.
"Don't try to mask your politicking with such noble reasoning, Lord El-Melloi II! It serves to highlight your desire to keep the Association from gaining more power than you can go against!" Bram bellowed.
"What a load of codswallop, Bram! It's clear that you are the one with an agenda here. Have you participated in the War yourself? Have you witnessed the deaths for yourself? Pray, tell me, you're more interested in the power it could grant you than the deaths it can cause, your sister and Reines's brother included. Am I not mistaken, fool?" Lord El-Melloi II's voice thundered in the small space the Association heads used for their meetings.
"You are indeed mistaken, and you're the fool here, Lord El-Melloi II. The Association's desire is my desire. If you don't see fit to serve the Association's desires, then you have no business here as you are undermining the Association's integrity here." Bram replied.
Lord El-Melloi II was furious. "What did you say, you-"
"Enough!"
Everybody's heads turned towards the Association Director.
"I cannot mediate this foolish cut and thrust situation between two of our best people in the Association,the Director began. "I have decided that both Lord El-Melloi II and Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri shall determine who among the two is right by participating in the Sixth Fuyuki City Holy Grail War."
Lord El-Melloi II was distressed. "But Director-"
"Our agents have discovered that the Greater Grail is nearing its ready state, similar to the situation that led to the Fifth War," the Director interjected. "In fact, it may be ready within the next two years. Lord El-Melloi II, Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, this is an opportunity to determine who among the both of you speaks the truth. So, take it to the field of battle. This meeting is dismissed."
Bram eyed Lord El-Melloi II with glee. His plan is now in place. He will bring the Grail back and advance his position within the Association. He can even get rid of Lord El-Melloi II in the process.
Or so he thought.
"But why is he always a step ahead of me?" Bram muttered angrily to himself days later. "Instead of participating in this by himself, he is getting two of his former students to participate in an alliance with him - one of them being the winner of the Fifth war?" Bram hit the wall in frustration. Instead of a one-on-one duel between himself and Lord El-Melloi II, he has to contend with fighting against an alliance of three magi. "No, no, this is not possible. I'm sure that even though the female students in the Clock Tower desire him enough to do anything for him, they wouldn't be so daft as to throw their lives just to further Lord El-Melloi II's selfish desires! Think, Bram, think!" Bram paced the room. He knew that he had to find magi who is capable enough to stand against two of the best up-and-coming magi in the Clock Tower.
And find them he did. Using the reasoning that the Association does not wish to see Lord El-Melloi II succeed and lose the Holy Grail forever, he found three Clock Tower graduates who were capable enough and willing enough to participate in this undertaking.
Bree mac Branain, an Irish magus with the affinity of Fire. She is also an expert in Golemancy and Necromancy, and has been a stellar student and a dedicated magus under the tutelage of Bram. Someone like her would probably be a good fit in direct combat against Lord El-Melloi II's faction.
Mikhel van de Wolff, a mage hailing from the Netherlands with the affinity of Earth and is particularly good with Material Transmutation. Since his graduation, he went on to develop his combat skills as a Sealing Designation Enforcer. His skills and experience would prove useful to bolster Bram's chances of winning.
Viola Dajana Konig, an Austrian aristocrat who is making a name for herself despite being a third generation magus with the double affinity of Wind and Water, specialising in Transference of Consciousness and Healing. After graduating from the Clock Tower, her specialisation was put to use for the Association with the purpose of information gathering and spying, to name a few.
Since all three of these volunteers were willing to do whatever it took for the Association to obtain the Grail, together with Bram's promise of a fast track through the ranks of the Association for whoever survived the war, Bram was confident in his ability to win this war. Maybe just quite confident. Having two genius magi in the likes of Tohsaka Rin and Luviagelita Edelfelt joining forces with Lord El-Melloi II would not make for easy opponents at all, but at least he would have more of a fighting chance if it is a four versus three situation.
Or so he thought.
If anyone didn't know the meaning of the term last chance slalom, look no further than the Matou family. To be precise, look no further than Matou Zouken.
Having borne witness to all five Holy Grail Wars over the course of hundreds of years and getting no closer to the Holy Grail, Matou Zouken is reaching a level of desperation that time cannot explain. His house is falling into ruin; all his descendants are dead, without any heirs related by blood capable of inheriting his Magic Crests and the title of family head. Therefore, he has no other options to achieve the Holy Grail. So much time has passed, that he might have forgotten the reason he strives so much, and yet all his efforts were to no avail.
But fate seemed to smile on him one more time. Following the events of the Fifth Grail War, he was well aware that a Sixth War could begin after a similar ten year period, as the Greater Grail then still contained massive amounts of prana that ended up being unused. He also knew that he had the fragments of the Holy Grail implanted inside his adopted descendant Sakura, which he could use to manifest the Grail again when the time comes. All he needed was the souls of Servants to fill it up. As a result, he sent word to the Association that he had a vessel for the Holy Grail's manifestation and that there will be another Holy Grail War happening at Fuyuki City.
Several days later, his mole within the Association had brought him news of an impending Sixth Grail War, Lord El-Melloi II and Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri's personal deathmatch within the War, and also the possibility that all the spots would be snapped up quickly. Zouken wasted no time preparing for participation. As he had nobody within his family capable enough to participate in this edition of the War, and since Matou Zouken figured that he had nothing more to lose, he might as well participate in the War himself. It was going to be one final charge to determine if he was going to win it all, or lose everything.
All he needed was an extra supply of prana to fuel himself and a Servant. In which case, Matou Zouken had just the right tool at his disposal - Matou Sakura. As circumstances kept her from participating in the Fifth Grail War, with Zouken's descendant Shinji Matou - albeit a complete novice at magecraft - taking her place and failing miserably, Sakura had a virtually unlimited supply of untapped prana that Zouken could use for the War. On top of that, the fact that Sakura also functioned as a physical vessel to manifest the Grail at the closing stages of the War gives Matou Zouken every shot at claiming the Grail ahead of the other contenders.
As for participation itself, knowing that he is a third force in a two-way war, the right Servant class was required. One that can shift the balance of power toward himself irregardless of who wins the battle of the two opposing factions in this war. He does not care if Lord El-Melloi II's faction or Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri's faction wins the battle. They could all just slaughter each other for all he cared. In the end, he has to be the one left standing to claim his prize. To achieve just that, he had the perfect Servant class in mind.
Matou Zouken had one problem preventing him from setting his plans into motion, however. Shinji's near death experience in the Fifth Grail War served to frighten him away from any further shenanigans thereafter, and Sakura's subsequent care of Shinji has beaten him down to a far more docile person than he was before his participation in the Fifth Grail War. Now, he is the one foolishly standing between Matou Zouken and his adopted descendant Sakura.
"I-I cannot allow you t-to d-d-do this, old man!" Shinji said, mustering whatever little courage he had to stand up against his ancestor.
"Shinji-kun. You truly disappoint me in so many ways, and now you disappoint me yet again."
"I cannot understand your obsession about something that is so dangerous, old man!" Shinji said. "That thing almost killed me!"
"Ah, but that was due to your hopelessness in being a mage, just like your father." Zouken replied. "He was a good-for-nothing, your uncle Kariya was an inept, half-baked one, and Sakura was meant to be our family's hope towards the restoration of the Matou bloodline, but she was kept from participating due to her childish whims and your selfishness, Shinji-kun!" Zouken growled. "You are truly a disgrace to the Matou house! You're worse than a third-rate magus, and you are just as worse as a man for turning yourself into a docile little lamb under Sakura!"
Shinji was trembling from the intense pressure emanating from Zouken. There was no way he could stop Zouken if things got ugly, thus his plan to try and stab Zouken before it went out of his control. Shinji fumbled for the knife hidden under his clothing, but before he could produce the knife to stab Zouken, all went dark and only the screams of Shinji were heard around the house.