Chapter 2
Fuyuki City has not changed much over the years. Rin and Saber may have been away for more than nine years, but as the plane circled in to land at the airport, they found that it was still the same, sleepy city that it always was. However, it was not so much the same for Lord El-Melloi II who noticed that the city looks different indeed, having been away from this city for a good part of twenty years. He was staring intently outside of the plane's windows, eyeing the shopping district.
"It's rare seeing you so interested in anything related to Japan," Luvia said.
"Bollocks. If there is anything about this backwater country that I genuinely like, it is only in those damned games that I play on my bloomin' console," Lord El-Melloi II replied.
"Sometimes I wonder where a prominent magus such as yourself would have the propensity to be sitting in front of your TV and playing games on your console everyday," Rin asked.
"Does it not hurt for one to have an interest in anything at all? God, children these days!" Lord El-Melloi II huffed, turning back to the window.
The plane continued circling as it awaited its turn to leave the stack. Meanwhile at the airport below, Emiya Shiro awaited at the arrival lobby having arrived on a different flight several hours earlier to confuse anyone who has been observing their movements. He had to wait for quite a long time as Lord El-Melloi II ended up getting stuck at customs for possessing a large vial of 'strange metallic liquid', which sent many of the customs officers into a state of near panic. Lord El-Melloi II had to resort to hypnotism in order to get himself out of the mess, but it already took up quite some time, which was evident in the irritated face that Luvia wore.
"That should have been sent here as cargo instead of check-in luggage!" Luvia grunted as she got into the driver's seat of the car Shiro prepared beforehand upon his arrival.
Lord El-Melloi II paid no heed to Luvia's complaints. Instead, he ordered Luvia to head straight to the Tohsaka mansion.
"You guys go on ahead. I will meet up with you there later," Shiro said abruptly.
"Huh?" Lord El-Melloi II wore a confused look on his face. "Whatever for, Emiya?"
"I need to check in on Sakura's condition," came Shiro's reply. "Rin and I are worried, to be honest."
"Emiya, you do realise that I need you to remain in the shadows throughout this War, am I not mistaken?"
"But I need Shiro to make sure with his own eyes," Rin replied.
"Oh, bloody hell! Emiya Shiro, Tohsaka Rin! I have been sending my agents to monitor her for two years now. Two bloody years and you still want to see it for yourself?" Lord El-Melloi II huffed.
"Lord El-Melloi II, with all due respect, I'm sure you know that Matou Sakura was originally Tohsaka Sakura before she was sent to the Matou family, right?" Rin asked. "She is my younger sister and it is normal that I am worried."
"So being worried for your sister is more important than making sure that Emiya remains undetected?" Lord El-Melloi II asked.
"Oh, but regrettably, you're underestimating me, Lord El-Melloi II," Shiro replied. "I have been preparing and training harder for the past two years. I have to some degree mastered Reinforcement on my own body. If I Reinforce my eyes, I can now observe anything from four kilometers away, and my body can be Reinforced to perform feats that I couldn't have done before," Shiro said confidently. "It's more than enough distance to remain undetected."
"Fine," Lord El-Melloi II replied. "Don't ever, under any circumstances, compromise your presence." Lord El-Melloi II said with urgency in his voice.
"Understood," Shiro replied as he got onto a motorcycle he prepared along with the car. "They won't know at all."
Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri's expression would still be livid at the mention of one of his catalysts being stolen from his room six months ago. He has always taken pride in his abilities, and he was absolutely certain that the catalysts he obtained were for heroes that held the highest chance of him beating the Servants of Lord El-Melloi II, Tohsaka Rin, and Luviagelita Edelfelt. It was all meant to go according to plan.
However, he is missing one of his original catalysts.
"Of all the catalysts they stole from me, it had to be the one that would summon him," Bram muttered under his breath. He originally paired that Servant with Mikhel van de Wolff due to Mikhel's frontline ability, and on top of that, Bram specifically chose that Servant due to his relationship and compatibility with another Servant which he picked for Voila Dajana Konig.
"Oh well, It can't be helped anymore. I guess it's going to be more interesting this way," Bram shrugged. He just had another catalyst brought in as a replacement for the stolen one. Hopefully this Servant wouldn't cause too much trouble to the point where it jeopardises his plan.
Right now, it didn't matter as Bram already dispatched Viola to Fuyuki City to set up her network of familiars to spy on the whereabouts of Lord El-Melloi II's faction, and to report to the Mediator of their participation.
Viola had contacted him just yesterday night, informing him of the news that there was a third faction in the War, which meant that either Lord El-Melloi II's faction or his faction will lose a spot in the War. A quick check on Mikhel's Command Spells right after that confirmed that Mikhel could still summon a Servant himself.
Tonight though, Viola sent word that the Lord El-Melloi II faction have just arrived at Fuyuki City, with two Servants in tow. Bram also noted the absence of Emiya Shiro in London from one of his agents here at the Association.
"Two Servants? One of the three has yet to summon a Servant? Or perhaps it is true that one of them is not participating. After all, Mikhel still has his Command Spells on his hand," Bram scratched his head as he read Viola's report. "And Emiya Shiro is not in London, and his location is unknown to anyone at the moment. This is becoming very suspicious." Within minutes, he made his decision to expedite his faction's plan to travel to Fuyuki City. As Viola, Bree, and himself have already summoned their Servants for the War, he needs to get Mikhel to quickly summon his Servant with the new catalyst that he obtained.
"Mikhel, this catalyst should be able to summon your Servant," Bram said, holding up the cracked, bloodstained clay bowl. "Going by Viola's reports, and by my process of elimination, either Assassin or Caster have yet to be summoned."
"Ideally, I should be summoning Caster, right?" Mikhel asked, not looking up as he continued preparing his Magic Circle for the summoning.
"Indeed," Bram replied. "I took great care in ensuring your Servant would be a support type, hence the choice of the catalyst and who among us summons our Servants first."
"I still don't like the idea of an alliance," a voice was heard in the room Bram and Mikhel was in.
"Rider, outside forces have wanted to destroy the very miracle that allowed you to be on this earth again," Bram said.
Rider materialised himself. His imposing figure, gruff demeanour, messy long black hair, and tattered clothes were still very unsettling for Bram even though he had summoned Rider a week before. "Listen here, Master. I don't care for any of those. I don't need any help from anyone if you want something done. You can do whatever you wish, but I will not repeat myself again. Do not ever command me to fight alongside another Servant! Doing so will result in me loping your head off." Rider demanded.
"Even if it was against an alliance of two or three Servants?" Bram asked.
"You disappoint me, Master. When I was summoned, I believed you to be a great magus, but your ability to lead is nowhere near the level of those Imperialist scums that I conquered," Rider said, staring into the eyes of Bram, who tried his hardest not to show signs of weakness to his Servant. "Despite you learning of my identity, you have yet to grasp the fear induced by my name in the hearts and minds of the people I conquered," Rider continued. "What then, is two or three mere warriors standing in my way when I have annihilated entire armies before?"
Bram clicked his tongue. He has been having trouble bringing Rider under his command from the get-go. A Command Spell might help, but it would bring further friction between the two of them, given the differences in their methodologies.
"Fine then, Rider. you will receive no help from the other Servants on our side should you end up fighting multiple Servants from the other faction. Know this however, Rider." Bram pointed at Rider. "If you fall in such a fight, it is due to your own pride and inability to accept my plans."
"Hmph" Rider replied. "You are really underestimating me, 'Master'."
With that, Rider disappeared into a mist, leaving Bram alone with Mikhel.
"Sir Bram, how are we going to fight Tohsaka's and Edelfelt's Servants if Rider is still insubordinate?
"I'll figure a way to get him in line really soon, Mikhael." Bram replied as he passed Mikhel's catalyst to him.
"Is it fine for me to be here? I want to see Mikhel's Servant," said a female voice that was heard outside of Mikhel's room.
"It is fine, Bree" Bram replied. "You're just in time for the summoning."
"Very good. I really want to know who this Servant is" Bree replied. "Lancer too, wishes to know who he will be working with."
Lancer materialised himself. "The Servant you summon better be easier to work with compared to Rider. He is a pain in the arse!"
"I hope so," Bram replied.
Mikhel got up from the ground on finishing his Magic Circle and placed the catalyst on the ground beside it, taking his place on the other side of the Magic Circle.
"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill.
Repeat every five times.
Shatter once filled."
Bram looked on in approval. Mikhel was a fast learner. The incantations were perfect. The pressure in the room was palpable.
"I announce!
Your self is under me,
my fate is in your sword.
In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail,
if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer!
Here is my oath.
I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead,
I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.
You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance!"
The wind stirred the dust, temporarily blinding the magi in the room. Lancer was the first to see the new Servant materialise in the room, and was taken aback by the strange beauty of this Servant.
As the dust continued to settle, the gaze of the others were fixated on this Servant casually standing before them, running her hand through her long, silver hair. Her azure eyes were dazzling to the eyes of whoever beheld her, and she had on a crimson robe of silk, which accentuated her porcelain-like skin. Mikhel was dumbfounded as he continued staring at her.
"I am Servant Caster. And you, you handsome young man, are you my Master?"
"Eh.. Uh.. Y-yes!" Mikhel's attempt to regain his composure was hardly considered one, given how Caster giggled slyly. "I am your Master. My name is Mikhel van de Wolff."
"Ah, yes. I feel our contract being formed now," Caster said, running her hand lightly on Mikhel's Command Seals on his hand, causing Mikhel to blush. "By the way, these people here are all Masters, yet I sense no hostility from them. Have the lot of you entered an alliance?"
"Indeed we have" Bram replied. "I'm Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, Master of Rider and the head of this faction."
"Hmmm. I see" Caster said. "Why would there be a need for an alliance, if I may ask?"
"We joined forces to ensure that the Holy Grail is not destroyed by Lord El-Melloi II's faction" Bram replied. "Ah, but you do not know who Lord El-Melloi II is, right?"
"Hmm. Spare me the other details for later. Should we do this over some wine, no?" Caster asked.
"Of course. Why not?" Bram replied. "I shall treat you to some of the finest wine in my collections while I answer any of your questions" Bram continued as he motioned for the others to go to the wine cellar. "We need to hurry though. We are leaving for Fuyuki City tomorrow morning."
"Master. Two participants and their Servants have arrived here."
"Have they? Could you identify who they are?"
"Yes, Master. They are Tohsaka Rin, who is Master of Saber, and Luviagelita Edelfelt, Master of Archer."
"Very well. You've done well thus far. You may go now to continue your surveillance," Matou Zouken said. "Notify me when the remaining three arrive or if there is anything else of note."
"We will, Master" the Servant said, fading away into the air.
Matou Zouken has endured centuries of coming close to the grand prize. So tantalisingly close, but yet was not able to achieve it. For Holy Grail Wars past, he lacked the right plan to win the War, and had to learn many bitter lessons for it. This time, however, his preparations were meticulous. He has set everything up for years, and has also summoned the right Servant for himself. He also has the vessel of the Holy Grail in his possession. It is almost time for him to claim his prize. Once all six Masters converge at Fuyuki City, he will bide his time and wait for the opportunity to strike them when they least expect it.
The dream he has harboured for centuries is almost within his grasp.
Zouken's thoughts were cut short when his Servant showed up once more after a while. "Master, I discovered a strange person standing a distance away from the hospital. He seems to be observing Sakura, but I doubt a person can see from such a great distance."
"He is not a Servant, is he?"
"He doesn't appear to be a Servant."
"I am not taking any chances. Kill him. You can feed on his soul after that."
"Yes Master" the Servant said. Before he left, however, Zouken motioned for him to wait.
"Carry out your killing in private. We need to remain in the shadows for as much as possible," Zouken said. "Perhaps it would be a good idea to wait until he goes back to his place, then you kill him."
"Understood, Master." The servant bowed slightly before disappearing.