A/N: I have good news and bad news (I sound like Dr. Rick Studwell from The Fairly OddParents O.O)
The good news is…I really thank God that he presented me with this wonderful opportunity to have a job. It may be far, but at least it's better than nothing.
The bad news is, with my Master's degree and preparation for my job interview, I may have to change my priorities. I don't know if I can continue the story or not.
I have the scripts ready, but the epilogue of this series is the one that I felt that it is the most complete of all the chapters that I have made.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything and everything that I write on the chapters. Credits go to Hiroshi Shiibashi for Nurarihyon no Mago and Gen Urobuchi and the TYPE MOON Franchise for Fate/Zero. The one that I mentioned in my notes earlier is from the Nickelodeon cartoon series The Fairly Odd Parents.
Chapter 17: Prelude to the Grail Dialogue
At the still silence that surrounds the Einzbern forest, two figures are still there, fixing what they have to fix and patching what they have to patch, especially the comical bump on Caster's head no thanks to Kejoro's paper fan.
"This is getting us nowhere, Caster." Kejoro quipped as she dusted her kimono off of the dirt that has accumulated. "Emiya – san refuses to let us cooperate with him. What are we going to do now?"
"Like I said…" Caster calmly replied as she pulled out the foreign object that is the Black Key with one swift motion. She winced at that moment, but she bit her lip firmly to place her healing spell and sealing that area with a talisman of her own. "We just have to go through Saber if cooperation with the Master will not push through."
"Okay…" Kejoro crossed her arms as she now leaned on a tree, not noticing that someone has escaped their sight. "I'm listening now, Caster. What makes you so sure that Saber – san will listen to us?"
"I'll be glad to lay it on you, Kejoro – san." She cheerfully replied as she now made something float in the air. "This will be our passage to Saber's cooperation. I'm not as love struck as you think I am, Kejoro – san."
Kejoro doubted Caster's suspiciously specific last statement, but she nevertheless examined the piece very carefully, before her eyes widened for a few seconds. "No. You. Didn't…"
"Yes, it is as you think it is." Caster replied, her eyes now hazed once again as one of her more risky plans worked. Her almost out – of – poise snicker can't do justice for what she had done just now. "Now, let's go home before somebody else sees us."
The next morning, everyone is now being busy at this point. Kejoro is making breakfast for their additional guests. The cold of the weather compelled her to make a seafood hotpot in the morning to heat up their appetite. Meawhile, at the workshop, Caster is mentally genuinely admiring Akifusa's work, which can be considered by Akifusa himself as sub – par due to the limited time frame that they have. But she steeled her expressions to hide the joy that she has right now.
"Is the weapon that I have made to your liking, Caster – san?" Akifusa nervously asked as the fox lady still scrutinizes for any dents and malformations that can compromise the integrity of that weapon, even though the weapon is designed for no wounds upon contact battle. To his relief, Caster did not find any.
"Close enough." Caster mused as she held the weapon that turned out to look even better than she expected. The metal shinai that is made by an onmyouji turned out to be more ornate than what she hoped for. She grasped the handle firmly, and found out that even with the design, the handling is really light.
"I really appreciate it, Caster – san." Akifusa bowed deeply. "Thank you very much."
"No, it is I who must thank you, Akifusa – san." Caster replied in a monotone manner as she almost held that weapon giddily.
"So let me get this to the point." Caster sat in a manner befitting a Japanese royalty, complete with a pillow underneath to ease her seat. "The Temple is actually a cooking pot for spirits, and a priest is protecting that cooking pot?" To which the question is answered by their downcast expressions.
"We apologize, Caster – san." Yura and Akifusa prostrated themselves as they bowed down. "We cannot apprehend the one presiding the war." Yura then continued her report.
"If it is not for Ryuuji – nii's intervention, we would have died out there." It is supposed to be a relieving report, as she mentioned her brother almost fighting on – par with the former Executor of the Church.
Meanwhile Ryuuji is waiting outside the room where they are meeting. He is not meant to peer in to their conversations, but what they are saying concerns the course of the Fourth Grail War. The fact that Kejoro has been chosen for this bloodbath further fuelled his suspicions. What if Kejoro is actually chosen as a pawn to let the course of the Grail War run faster than expected?
But then again, he dismissed his own thoughts as a "what if…" filled with assumptions. It is best to take these kinds of things with a grain of salt. Besides, another issue found its way to his thoughts. The judge of this war is a priest, and no matter how much he hated it, he is right in saying that onmyoujis are not allowed to meddle with this ritual in the first place just because the onmyoujis does not know exactly how to take control of the Western type map of leylines situated in Japan. They can be taught, but then the Mage's Association does not divulge secrets easily on what they call false Magi. He sighed at the thought that even in the Mage's Association, one has to have unbelievable power in order to gain recognition from them. And certainly it will not come from Asia, let alone Japan of all places.
"It can't be helped." Caster mused as she still held her left arm in pain, the effect of the Black Key still kicking in even after it is pulled out. She muttered spell after spell to let it heal, but the only way that the pain can stop is for her to heal her injury through a Command Seal. She will not let Kejoro waste something as precious as a Command Seal just for the sake of a minor injury.
"As the saying goes, like father, like son." She sighed as she saw the insane strength of that priest from Kejoro's past perspective thanks to her Shared Perception with Kejoro. Yesterday, she has utilized another technique that can send her cowering back to their house. The ability that she dreaded is called Witchcraft, the ability that she really detests the most, but it is one of the most needed skills in the war.
"So, will you tell them your next plan after you are almost taken out there, Caster – san?" Kejoro tilted her head as she remembered that scene last night. She laid out the breakfast for them to eat in an absent minded manner as she let her thoughts drift away at what happened last night. The way that she said it is putting it mildly. He almost killed her Servant just because she is in his way.
Caster almost shuddered at the thought of a customized gun in her head point blank next time. But she steeled her expressions as she replied with defiant eyes.
"We will still convince Saber." She quipped as she now fixed her hair in a ponytail while still biting on the ribbon. "If we are fortunate, we might even convince Irisviel – san to withdraw from the war."
The Keikain group is now already packed up, seeing as their mission is now almost complete. But there are some other things that they must take care of, most especially that Grail War. As much as they wanted to stay in this place, it seems that Caster does not wish to be disturbed with her Master.
"We will take it from here." Caster now bid them goodbye in a monotonous voice as though she rehearsed the whole script. "We sincerely thank you for all of your help."
Yura is about to pick up her bags when something wormed in to her mind. She has to say it, otherwise, Caster will continue in that state forever. Knowing of her legend, as Kejoro blurted her name "accidentally" on the phone, she now dropped her bags. The spirit of Hidemoto stood watch as he lets the girl speak her mind to a legend. She now walked up casually to Caster, who then furrowed her eyebrows; as if she is asking her what more do they want.
She cleared her throat before she now declared these words that will take a legend aback. "You are not the only one who is betrayed, Caster – san."
Kejoro is genuinely surprised at Yura's revelation, wondering where it will lead to. Meanwhile, Caster then stoically stared at her, giving her permission to continue what she will say. Depending on her speech, she can give her a mild slap on her face to bring her back to reality, or just destroy her existence on a whim.
"Believe me, I know." Yura continued, as she remembered a certain old man who taught her about controlling her powers, then becoming distraught at first once she found out that it was a youkai who taught her. "I felt betrayed by the two of them, but that doesn't mean that I can wallow in there depressing myself for what they have done to me."
She then continued, thinking that Caster will be defeated by that logic of hers not asking help from other people. "I used it to hone my skills even more. I can proudly say that without them, I am nothing. I hope that you can see what I am trying to say here. I am just a mere mongrel in front of your eyes, but please put your faith in humans once again just like what you did in the past, Caster – san."
Instead of getting a relieved and defeated expression from Caster, Yura saw Caster's expressions still untouched by her speech. It is as if there is a large wall between her and Caster where there is none. Yura's expressions changed from a hopeful one to a near – hopeless state in a matter of seconds after she saw Caster's distant expression. Hidemoto now patted the shoulder of the 28th heir, seeing that they can't convince her the way that she is as of now.
"You have done the best you could, Yura – chan." Hidemoto remarked. "It will be her own decision whether she will accept what you said or not. You have said enough. Now, the choice is hers."
"But…" Yura is about to protest when she is now silenced by her spirit.
"Like I said, the choice is hers." Hidemoto replied casually. But then he mumbled something in between the lines without Yura even noticing it. "Although I sensed something wrong in your speech, I can't place it where…"
"After you convinced me of that, I think what needs to be said has been said." Yura replied to her spirit as she now turned her back. As she walked away, Caster stopped her with her words.
"You are wrong if you imply that I don't place my trust in humans, Yura – san." It is now Caster's turn to give a speech, to which Yura's eyes went almost wide open, as Caster doesn't usually call her by name. "I just don't like onmyoujis, and until now I still hate them. But I just repressed that hate just because one of the onmyouji's clan happens to be a sword maker."
She then continued as she casually walked near the young onmyouji heir. Her eyes now gazed sharply at Yura's form. "But after what you have said to me, it made me reconsider my general opinion regarding your lot. There might be some onmyouji that are not like that dark stud Abe no Seimei after all."
Yura's smile now lit up like a thousand fluorescent lamps, to which her brother Ryuuji now smirked, seeing that a legendary is like a human after all. Hidemoto calmly smiled, as if he expected this development from the start. If all legends only acknowledge themselves as humans and not heroes, then they might come to an understanding after all.
But then again, Magi are Magi to their very core. Unlike their Onmyoujutsu which fosters protection, and the knowledge of their craft may even be shared to others only if they will use it to protect, the Magi's reaching for the Root disregards that principle. The Grail War is a manifestation of what the people actually want in their greed and selfish desires. The Grail that the Magi covet is an example of the greed of the people in general, and the insatiable desire of the Magi to acquire more knowledge than what they ever know.
"I have one small request to ask of you, 28th Heir of the Keikain clan…" Caster now placed her words in a way that they will be forced to obey.
"Please don't push your luck any more than my Master Kejoro – san has…"
"Irisviel, where are you going?" Saber asked as she now checked the pulse of Maiya. Her condition has now stabilized the day after the priest attacked her. It may not be enough to fully fight once again, but her condition will be enough just to serve as a surveillance for Kiritsugu's purposes. Saber frowned as she remembered that order once again through his wife Iri: Never go out.
"I'll wander around to get some fresh air." Irisviel replied as she now opened the door. "Don't worry, Saber, I'll only be just inside the corridors of the mansion. I don't have a plan to go out either, not while my knight is inside this house."
Saber then adjusted her leather glove before she replied. "I'll escort you on your way out, Irisviel. Please wait for me. I'll just change my suit."
"Okay." Irisviel replied cheerfully.
As she now waited for Saber to change her clothes, she sensed something wrong with her body. She tried to clench her fist a few times, but at the third clench, she now winced in pain, and her fingers are not moving as it is supposed to be. She bit her lip to mutter a spell that the Einzbern patriarch Jubstacheit gave her just in case things went wrong with her body. This is one of the few things that she will thank for that she is a homunculus.
Meanwhile, Saber now immersed herself in a deep thought while changing her clothes. She is now wondering how in the world did Irisviel managed to heal herself fast with that wound. She is supposed to die from that wound. She only shook her head as her mind now wandered off to strange childish imaginations.
She checked on Maiya every few seconds, and she concluded that Maiya is now ready for scouting for her Master Kiritsugu to use once again. Saber then fumbled for the arsenal that Maiya will need, and found a Steyr AUG from under the bed, along with the scope and instructions. She then assembled the scope on top of the rifle as per instruction using the tools that are supplied along with it, then she placed the rifle by Maiya's bedside. She may not be an expert handler of weapons like these, but she thinks that this is a way for her to learn more about the weapons that could work just in case Noble Phantasms can't cut it.
But then, her Noble Phantasm is an Anti – Fortress, so who needs these?
Ah, right, her Master. How could she forget about that? His rules of engagement are different from hers, so it's natural that he will have these. As opposed to Magi who are pompous in their battles, her Master is a silent type, often striking without their notice. As much as she hates to admit it, he is still right as she saw the scenes flash once again in front of her eyes. But these does not stop her from believing that her chivalrous way will lead them to victory, and that will be her chance to shatter his belief on Servants.
As she fastened the last button in her suit, she now walked casually near her and gave her right hand to Irisviel. "May I?"
Irisviel softly chuckled as she replied and tugged her right hand. "Yes, you may."
They now went out of the room. As she closed the door, a pair of eyes now slowly opened in the thick of darkness.
What am I doing with my life? Kiritsugu asked himself while he is on a taxi ride to 24 Hour Hotel in Fuyuki. If his hand is an eraser, it should have wiped his face off of the eyes, nose and mouth several times over. I shouldn't let Saber even do that in the first place.
What kind of a Master does things like that to a Servant? Yeah, that will be him, and he berated himself for every second that passed. Servants are no match against these, provided that it serves as a surprise. That, and if the weapon has a Dual Origin that tears off and poorly repairs every Magic Circuit when they overload their prana into it like his.
An idea just came into his head. And he did not like it one bit, because that idea concerns about the Servant of another Master, Matou Kariya.
His Servant Berserker has a skill that turns every object, even scraps, into a Noble Phantasm. He saw it right while he was still observing Saber and Berserker battle against each other back then. This means that any weapon equipped to Berserker becomes an effective killing machine. Coupled with Berserker's retaining of instinct in battle even with Mad Enhancement, he is a personified perfect killing monster. If he ever becomes his Servant for a day, he can equip him with two Calico machine guns that can fire without even reloading, or worse, a rocket propelled grenade launcher that never runs out of ammunition. He can even provide him a plane that…
Well, he can stop those thoughts right there. It can be a horrific possibility that Berserker's Master might decide one day to fully utilize the skill of his Servant by making him equip with different modern weapons, just as he did when Archer fired his weapons at him, but instead it backfired and it was him that was using Archer's weapons instead of Archer using his weapons against Berserker.
He can think about that if Berserker will still survive before the last stage. But for now, he has a few things to take care of, such as where to eat, since his stomach is now grumbling for food.
After Archer received an invitation from the King of Conquerors to join in his banquet, he now sat languidly on the couch at the basement of the Church. Although there is an unspoken rule that Servants are not meant to be there due to the fact that the Church is a neutral zone meant for Masters who have rescinded from the War, he didn't care. He is not a bother to both the priests in the first place even when he appears and disappears on a whim.
Besides, the taste of the wine in the wine cellar that they have is much more exquisite and appealing to his palate as opposed to the wine that his Master Tokiomi has. He would rather have one drop of wine from the wine cellar of the church than have a glass from the numerous wine collection of Tokiomi.
Also, another reason why he wanted to be here is because he took interest in one man, Kotomine Kirei. It is impossible for a man to be empty, unless there is something bothering him that made him empty from the inside. All he has to do is to bring that "something" out of this world, then he can discover the reason why that man feels empty.
Like a typical teenager in his curious years, he now searched his thoughts and tried to recall all of the events that happened upon his appearance to this world. Although it can bore him to death, he has to do it, since the events that are happening right now are events that even the Grail cannot comprehend.
The most glaring example is that brief spike of prana that came from what he thinks is a Caster – class Servant. Obviously, they now have a Caster running amok in the streets. But the only difference in their prana levels is that the one that someone summoned at random is really weak, while the other one is strong, as though that Servant is summoned correctly. The Grail told him that the War is supposed to have only seven Masters and seven Servants. Or at least, that's what the Grail has been forcing in his mind up until now.
The second one is Rider's invitation. For overly cautious Servants, this means that a trap has been set up specifically for them. But then, one look at his Master and he knew that he is too weak enough to even think up of a grand plan as setting them up. So he knew right then and there that the invitation is of Rider's own accord. Talk about being King of Conquerors indeed.
The last one will be the question that Rider has thrown in his way. He is about to refuse the invitation, as he believed that only the mongrels are foolish enough to throw a banquet in the middle of the war, but then Rider opened him up with a question that almost sent him opening up his Gate if not for Tokiomi's unspoken rule of not engaging with the enemy until the gathering of information is complete.
That question has questioned his authority and sovereignty as the King of Heroes. Every treasure in this world is his possession, no questions asked. The Grail is his treasure, even though he has not seen it yet. But given his status, his word is considered as absolute, and no one shall have a word about it.
Who will be the only one worthy enough to obtain the Grail?
"Kirei, how much time do you have to summon all of the Assassins?" He heard a voice from above, and it is then that he recognized that voice.
"Using another Master's Servant as bait, what a fitting end for mongrels like them." He scoffed as he sipped from his wineglass. It seems that his Master is too cautious to be fighting head on, as opposed to Kirei, who swiftly goes for the prey. If he can ask himself, he will be more proud to be Kirei's partner, rather than be a Servant for Tokiomi's use. But then, if he continues this kind of strategy, Kirei will be really out of the war. Not that he is concerned for that man.
But…if the Grail can have a possibility that it can grant Command Seals again to the same person, provided that he or she desired it enough, then it will be a risk that he will have to take if he wanted to forge an alliance with that man. His Master may not agree with him, but his Independent Action can do otherwise.
He then gazed at his checkered board that is at the wooden table. It is a seven by seven checkered board adorned in gold and red squares. The lowly pawns are the representation of the Masters, while the seven distinct pieces were the representation of the Servants that they have. At the center of the board is what the Servants cover most: The Holy Grail.
Standing opposite the Grail and the Masters is what others can perceive as an unexpected event: an eighth Master and the Servant. The piece is a bust of an elder man in a hood, signifying the Caster Class. Something that even he sees as a surprise. It is out of his comprehension how the Caster class oppose the cup that many had tried to kill each other for. He has no interest in the Grail War, however, some individuals made him take interest in, most particularly in Kotomine Kirei. With his questions left unanswered, he only wondered in curiosity.
"What have you seen in the Grail, Caster?"
The checkered board now drowned in golden waters along with its pieces.
"It will take a full ten minutes to summon all of the Assassins." Kirei monotonously replied as he loosened his collar.
"Good, then give them this Command: Attain victory, no matter the cost." The man in a red suit replied, his voice tinged with elegance.
"Yes, my lord." Kirei replied, and as he shut off the phonograph, he let out a sigh of relief. At long last, his service to Tokiomi will be complete. No longer will Archer bother him with those questions that ask about his purpose. No longer will he have a Servant that continuously drains off his prana every now and then. No longer will…
Wait… There is still one more thing that he has to take care of.
But is it worth his time?
No, not again. Not again with him remembering Archer's concept of pleasure. No.
No. No. No. No. He has developed an interest in two men.
Two. Men. One is Emiya Kiritsugu. The other is…
No. This must not be true. He can't falter in this, not now. The concept of what they call "interest" is now seeping in through his mind. He must resist that urge until his service to Tokiomi is complete. Then he will return to Rome to serve once again as a pious priest. That is supposed to be the plan.
Wait a minute, did I really develop that plan in the first place?
For Pete's sake, he came here without a purpose. Even if he has one, it will be to serve as an aid to assure Tokiomi's victory. Since when did he have a mind to formulate a plan?
No. His only purpose is to aid in his teacher's victory. Nothing more, nothing less.
Meanwhile, Kirei didn't know that the female Assassin is already there, hearing everything from their conversation thanks to her Presence Concealment. But who is she to oppose her Master's orders? After all, she is only a mere Servant in front of the Magi's eyes. What's worse is that she is a servant to a Master that offered himself voluntarily as a puppet to another Master whose Servant is much stronger than them. They knew everything about his Gate, and yet they do not dare to approach him. For what lies within that Gate is much stronger than anyone else can comprehend. If he uses that weapon, he can end the Grail War on his whim.
Heck, the Gate can do it even without that weapon.
She can only stand there helplessly at the mercy of his Command Seal. Those words still resounded in her head even though she tried to erase it on her mind.
Attain victory, no matter the cost.
That will be their first and final command that they have to obey.
It is almost at the edge of the night. As Saber and Irisviel went out walking casually in the corridors, they felt a massive spike of prana. Irisviel has her knees give way as she now felt that surge of prana.
"Irisviel!" She caught her princess in the blink of an eye, then Saber prepared herself by changing her suit into her battle garb instantly thanks to her magical armor. Her sword is at the ready, when she felt someone familiar forcibly entering their premises. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, it's only a minor one compared to the ones that we felt yesterday." Irisviel tried to stand up, trying to feel the post that she is now leaning on. But her cutting off of her sense of touch almost sent her in a limp state. But she tried hard not to show it in front of Saber. After all, she treats her as though she is a human being.
I hope you are prepared for this, Maiya. Saber thought as she now gripped her sword even tighter at the intruder. But her prayer is not necessary, for Maiya is already at the rooftop, the bandage still on her head, observing the intruder from far away using her Steyr AUG. She has effectively concealed her presence using the shadows of the roof. The only thing that will give away her location will be if the glint of her scope will light its way to where she is right now.
At the corridor, Saber served herself as a crutch to Irisviel to help her walk. "Let's go, Irisviel."
The snow haired woman only answered with a brief but meaningful nod as she clutched on to Saber like her very life is depending on it.
As her strength is recovering once again as they are nearing the main entrance of the Einzbern mansion, she slowly let herself go of Saber's body. She can walk with difficulty, but she strived to make her gait as elegant and as poised as a princess would carry herself. Saber then went out first when she saw that Irisviel is getting better now. She then stood in front of the stairs leading down to the main entrance.
Imagine their surprise when the intruder found a sick joke to just barge in with his chariot instead of mounting down from that chariot and knock on their door like a civilized person would.
"Hey, Saber! How are you doing?" The intruder asked, no, bellowed as he mounted down from the chariot wearing a T – shirt with a design of what looks like a logo of a famous game and a denim short jeans. He then brought out a really big barrel and he then carried it on one shoulder. Waver meanwhile hesitated at first, but then he mounted down the chariot all the same. Irisviel's and Saber's reactions cannot do justice on what they are seeing right now.
"Rider…" Saber can only mutter the class of the intruder as he looked around. Rider then set his eyes on Saber and her presumed Master Irisviel.
"Saber, why are you not wearing your suit today?" Rider asked in disappointment at the fact that he now the only one that wore modern outfits. "I wore this expecting you to be in your modern outfit, but instead you are in your battle garb. Don't tell me that I am here to initiate a war."
Saber then casted a side glance thrown to no one, as she felt embarrassed at that situation. She should have been in her suit, but it's better to be prepared than do nothing.
"Well, no matter. Hey you!" He now pointed at Irisviel, who now pointed at herself trying to confirm if it was she that Rider is talking to. Rider confirmed it with a nod and a bellow that can guarantee to send everyone waking up. "Find me a garden, or some other best place you have. This place is too depressing for a proper banquet to be conducted."
At this point, the mad feast is about to begin. But what they do not know is that an uninvited guest will come in unknowingly in the midst of this madness.
EDIT (JULY 17, 2014): appended the story.
A/N: Yup, This is now my finished chapter. And once again I cut it off to my dismay. That Grail Dialogue sure is taxing to my mind, wondering where I will put Caster in this. I will edit this if I have the time.
also, I apologize to everyone for making Saber assemble the guns. O.O
Please rate and review. No flames please. XD