Artoria Pendragon was used to conflict. She had waded through battlefields from the nightmares of men, witnessed horrible massacres, and had her armor stained with the blood of those she had slain more times than she could count. Even her life nearly ended with death, when she was almost killed by Mordred's hand. If it weren't for the Counter Force offering her a second chance, she would've surely died upon the lonely hill of swords that was the Battle of Camlann.
It just made her cherish this small moment of peace with Irisviel even more. Though she knew the Holy Grail War was going to start soon, there was some sort of tranquility that came with acting as her bodyguard. Watching the city streets and the people driving in their cars or walking in the sidewalks, it allowed her to get a full view of both the battlegrounds she would be forced to fight in, but take in just how much humanity has changed over the ages.
Fuyuki City may not be as prestigious as Camelot, but there was something admirable about the skyscrapers and its streets. Perhaps it was just because of how many people there were, or the various stands of food, but she could clearly tell that it was thriving. And apparently, it was one of the smaller cities - though she received some knowledge about the current state of the world, Irisviel recounted second-hand stories about entire islands turned into concrete jungles, and highways that spanned entire nations.
Then there was the technology. By god, the sheer amount humanity had progressed in a few centuries was incredulous. Now, they had vehicles that could make a month's hike last a mere half hour. Cell phones allow people to contact each other from halfway across the world with just the press of a single button. If she had this technology, she could have united all of England and started expanding towards Europe before she had even formed the Round Table.
That didn't mean she would abandon Camelot. Though she definitely respected the modern era, she still loved that shining utopia with all her heart. It wasn't just her capital of Great Britain. The castle was where her Knights sat on the Round Table - and even though they had the tendency to bicker and create mischief when they were together, she looked back on those days with fondness.
However, those days were akin to a perfume - though it was sweet, it hid the ugliness beneath. By the end of her reign, the darkness in her kingdom had reared its head and swept through like a wildfire. The worst thing was that it seemed there was nothing she could do to stop it - the crown she wore was just a paperweight, not the symbol of the power she gained after defeating Vortigern.
She didn't allow herself the pleasures her fellow men enjoyed, or their vices. She was the king - a role model for each and every person she ruled. However, that had led to criticism. The words of Tristan, the greatest archer the Round Table would ever know, still ring in her ears.
"The King does not know the hearts of men."
And those words were more truthful than she could have known. She never allowed herself to love - her marriage to Guinevere was made out of pure realpolitik, cementing her position as king. She didn't become King Arthur for the glory that would come from creating a new kingdom - she did it so she could create a paragon of chivalry.
But creating a kingdom with chivalry might as well be like making a fortress out of sand.
Merlin abandoned her after she was raped by Morgan, chased by the Lady of the Lake until he imprisoned himself in Avalon. She wondered if he had seen how all their hard work ended, or if he was oblivious in that lonely tower, waiting for eternity. She still missed him dearly, despite his tendency to bed nearly every beautiful woman - and some men - he saw.
Then Lancelot and Guinevere had an affair, which Agravain and Mordred revealed to her people. Because of the gender norms during that time, nearly every noble and peasant called for her Queen's execution. The whole affair ended with Lancelot being driven to madness and slaughtering several of her knights, Gareth and Agravain included. Gawain had excommunicated Lancelot as a result, driven by grief.
Then Mordred revealed her heritage - she was a homunculus, a spawn Morgan made by impregnating herself with the sperm she stole. The turmoil she felt that day was incomparable, and she was barely able to stutter out a rejection to Mordred. Was there any other way to react? The woman in front of her, one she fought alongside with, had revealed herself as the child of that cursed sister of hers.
All of it led to the Battle of Camlann, where she impaled Mordred with Rhongomyniad while Mordred did the same with Clarent.
Her kingdom crumbled beneath her feet, and so did she. All her battles, both bloody and hard won, were for naught. If only she hadn't -
She stepped on the brake as she spotted a red light with enough force that she felt Irisviel nearly leap from her seat. It wasn't the red light that sent her into a panic - it was the fact that she had nearly trampled a teenager with the car. The boy practically leaped back from the car, a bunch of folders in his hands.
The surprising thing was that he didn't curse her, or at least send a scowl. In fact, he was more focused on the papers he had dropped rather than the fact that he was in the middle of the road. She heard the click of a door unlocking, and before she knew it Irisviel was already on the road, helping the boy pick up his papers. Artoria followed after her, helping the boy pick up the papers.
She barely noticed the other cars honking behind her, and she noticed someone nearby was dialing their phone. She quickly handed the papers to Irisviel, who handed them to the boy, until all of them were neatly sorted. It wasn't until Irisviel moved to the side that she noted the boy's appearance.
He had curly black hair and dark brown eyes, though the glint in them reminded her a bit too much of her court mage. That is, Merlin when he wasn't looking for a person to bed or playing pranks on her knights. Intelligent and insoluble, with just the smallest touch of mystery. His clothing was simple - white pants and a dark red button down shirt. The only peculiarity he had was a dark brown leather tool belt.
He gave a flirty smile. "You know, I was told I tend to drive girls crazy, but this is the first time I made one drive like crazy."
She could barely process what he said, Irisviel giggling while she could feel a blush appearing from her cheeks. Artoria shook it off however - though she wasn't experienced in romance, she was used to handling Merlin seducing people - surely the person in front of her couldn't be that different.
She reached out her hand. "I'm sorry about that. Is there any way I can make it up to you Mr..."
He took it, lifting himself up. "Kamado Kagu. And while I would like to keep going with the introductions, it seems we're holding up traffic at the moment." He gestured to a few drivers who looked irate.
Irisviel nodded. "Why don't you join us? That way, we can make it up to you."
She wanted to chastise Irisviel for her being so generous to a stranger, but she couldn't argue. It was the least they could do - and from the lessons in etiquette Merlin gave her, it would be extremely rude if she didn't do anything to compensate for such an error.
"Why thank you for the offer. And I appreciate it." They quickly entered the car, Artoria kicking herself as she resumed driving.
"By the way, I never did get your name."
Though she had her eyes on the road, Artoria could sense Irisviel's awkwardness. "My mistake. My name is Irisviel Von Einzbern."
"I assume that you're a tourist then? Considering your name is in the western order?"
He's perceptive, Artoria noted.
"You assume correctly Mr. Kamado. I'm visiting Fuyuki for vacation. My driver is giving me a bit of a tour before taking me to the hotel."
She silently complimented Irisviel on her skill at improvisation, while recalling the directions Kiritsugu gave her before the flight.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question in return then, Mr. Kamado?"
"Of course." The boy's voice was warm and confident - she would almost say it was reckless, as if he had no secrets to hide.
"Were you born in Japan? Excuse me if its rude, but your appearance says otherwise."
"Do not worry, Ms. Einzbern. I'm not native to this country, I'll admit. I was actually born into the United States - Texas if you want the specifics. I only moved here a couple of years ago."
"Oh really? Why for?"
She gave a quick glance in the rearview mirror. Though she couldn't see the man's face, she felt as if Irisviel had stumbled upon some inner joke they didn't know about.
"I guess I'm looking for a new life here. I didn't quite like my life back in America, so I tried looking for new countries to live in while I was at university. Japan was one of the few countries that seemed like the right place."
"That sounds nice," Irisviel looked at her through the rearview mirror, her cheerful smile slowly turning awkward. "By the way, can we stop at a restaurant? The food from the plane ride wasn't very filling."
"Yes madam. Do you know any places Mr. Kamado?" She asked the boy.
"Of course. Mind if I take the wheel?"
Though the request was a bit peculiar, she didn't mind. Finding an emptier side street, they quickly switched places, Artoria sitting right next to Irisviel. It was almost a surreal experience, for she was never the type of king to ride on a chariot. Usually she rode horseback with her fellow knights on Dun Stallion.
However, she couldn't help but observe the boy - specifically, his driving technique. Though she had the Riding skill, which would've allowed her to notice human error, she didn't notice a single mistake. He was constantly looking in her rearview mirror, always at the speed limit, and his hands were steady on the wheel. Despite the fact that Kamado was probably on the brink of adulthood, he rode this car with more skill than some of her knights.
She wondered for a second if she could challenge him to a race later on - just to see how advanced her Riding skill was of course.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence until they ended up in front of a small restaurant.
"How about I find us a parking spot while you go look for a table Ms, Einzbern?" Kamado suggested.
"I don't -" Her refusal was stopped by Irisviel giving her a knowing look. "We don't mind."
They got out of the car, her feet hitting the pavement.
"Why did you let him do that Irisviel?" She did her best to quell the frustration in her voice.
Though she respected the woman, giving the car to a stranger was the height of stupidity, and just asking for a robbery.
"It was the best way to give us some time away from his ears, Saber."
Artoria noticed the suspicion in Irisviel's voice and caught on quickly. "You think he's a spy?"
"Either that or a Master. Though the Clock Tower officially never pays much attention to the ritual, the Holy Grail War should bring a lot of outsiders to Fuyuki." The homunculus explained. "Since the Three Great Families are guaranteed a spot as participants, Kiritsugu believes that the rest of the Masters are from out of the country."
That makes sense, Saber thought. "So the invitation for lunch was a plan to interrogate him."
"Of course. However, its a bit hard to tell at the moment. Though there are some mages in the United States, I don't think there's a family strong enough to participate in the war." Irisviel shook her head. "Do you have any ideas for a false name by the way?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Very well. Do you mind if I call you Regina then while he's present?"
She nodded, the term familiar to her. It usually meant 'the queen' in latin - which was fitting, considering her background. And if the boy was a spy, he wouldn't be able to deduce her status as a Servant.
They both stepped into the restaurant, and it took a few seconds before a waiter greeted them, guiding them towards a western style table for four. Though there were chopsticks, Artoria couldn't help but relax at the sight of silverware.
There was a steady drone of a television that was perched in a corner, the woman explaining the weather for the next few days. Though there were some tables that were in a more traditional style, along with some paintings, the rest of the restaurant was comforting in how steady it was.
The waiter was extremely diligent, she noted, as he took record of their drinks. She ordered a simple glass of water, while Irisviel wanted something called amazake. It didn't take too much time for Kamado to enter the restaurant, giving them a cheery grin.
"So Mr. Kamado, how did you come by this place?" Irisviel asked.
"I have a friend who lives here with his grandparents. They come over here so often that they invited me one time. I really like the curry that they serve."
"That sounds nice." The waiter put down their drinks, while Kamado also asked for an amazake.
It was difficult to think the boy in front of them was a spy or an assassin. For one thing, he could've easily done multiple things while he was driving the car. He could've crashed the vehicle against a truck, driven it off a bridge and drowned them, or killed Irisviel while he was in the backseat with her. Though there weren't that many assassinations made against her, Artoria had trained herself for any possibilities.
"This drink is very nice. Do you want to try it Regina?" Irisviel offered the cup to her.
She took the cup and took a small sip. The drink was surprisingly sweet - despite its texture, it went down her throat. She felt the slightest tinge of alcohol - though it wasn't strong enough to make one drunk.
"Thank you. I'll stick to my drink however." She then sipped her water, washing down the taste.
"So how are you enjoying Japan, Ms. Irisviel?"
"It's lovely." Irisviel commented, "Though I would prefer you call me Mrs. Einzbern. I'm married, you see."
"Oh really? Whoever tied the knot must be a very lucky man."
The homunculus blushed. "I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm the lucky one."
"Well, as long as you're both happy that's all that matters."
That was another thing. Kamado wasn't asking too many questions that prodded their origins. Spies were charming, slowly taking up information or plying them with food and drink. He was doing neither.
"What about you Mr. Kamado? Any lucky girl out there?" Irisviel asked with a teasing wink.
"I'm afraid not. Not for a lack of trying though - mainly bad luck, I guess."
"Really? Surely some girl must've at least taken notice of a handsome boy such as yourself." The boy blushed, hiding his face behind a menu before maintaining the conversation.
Handsome? Though Artoria knew Irisviel was probably using the compliment as a way to get more information, she wondered why the woman chose that word. Looking a bit closer, Artoria wouldn't say he was handsome. Well, at least in the way most of her knights were admired by onlookers.
However, that didn't mean he wasn't appealing to the eye. Once again, he reminded her of Merlin - that is, if Merlin was shorter and closer to the cute side. She shrugged, turning her face to the menu. She barely registered the television's broadcast changing from the weather to the news.
It didn't take long for them to order what they wanted. Irisviel ordered something called sukiyaki, while Kamado ordered seafood tempura. In the meantime, she decided to order kabayaki - she didn't know what exactly it was made out of, but she was in a completely different country. It would be best to try out the cuisine before she would be stuck at Einzbern Castle.
There was a comforting silence, before the drone from the television changed to something more dramatic. She turned her eyes towards the screen, and the newscaster started speaking.
BREAKING NEWS!
"Recently, there was a report of a break-in at the Fuyuki International Airport. Though it seems that there was no visible damage done to the building, administrative staff report that there were multiple records stolen from their offices, including passenger manifests of previous and future flights. According to the Fuyuki Chief of Police, the department is investigating this incident as a case of data theft."
"Though multiple airlines are worried about this sudden event, a press release scheduled for this afternoon will focus on addressing the situation."
"However,while all flights are still going to maintain their current schedule, the Fuyuki Police Department is increasing its presence to find the perpetrator, and to capture the serial killer responsible for the recent string of deaths that have occurred over the past few months."
Though it seemed her companions at the table didn't notice it, the broadcast was worrying her. "Irisviel, do you know what a passenger manifest is?"
"Though multiple airlines are worried about this sudden event, a press release scheduled for this afternoon will focus on addressing the situation."
"Hm?" The woman finished sipping the amazake. "I'm not familiar with that term I'm afraid."
"I am." Kamado interjected. "Its the list of passengers in a flight. Its mostly kept to make sure nobody produces a false ticket."
Her eyes met Irisviel's ruby red, and Artoria could feel that they had the same train of thought. Was that the work of a Master?
"Thank you Mr. Kamado." She took a sip of her water.
"No problem, Reggy."
She choked on her water while Irisviel giggled before patting her back. The boy looked a bit sorry, but he still sent a mischievous wink towards her.
Where the hell did that name come from?
Irisviel frowned, though it wasn't intense enough to be taken seriously - in fact, it was more teasing than anything. "That was naughty of you Mr. Kamado."
Kamado put a hand to his chest overdramatically, his eyes filled with mock mortification."Why Mrs. Einzbern, I do everything with not a single bit of naughtiness. Trust me when I gave dear Regina the nickname most sincerely."
Irisviel giggled, and Kamado focused on her, reflecting the same emotion Irisviel sent him. "Unless you're jealous that I didn't give you one too, Mrs. Einzbern?"
Irisviel shook her head while a server arrived with their food.
"Seafood tempura?"
"Over here." Kamado chimed.
"Sukiyaki?"
"Thank you very much." Irisviel took the plate, slowly setting it into her side of the table.
"Kabayaki?"
"Thank you." The waiter set down the plate in front of her.
She almost started dining, but a pinch on the leg stopped her. Artoria looked at Irisviel, who gestured towards Kamado.
Kamado said a short "itadakimasu" before starting to dig in with a pair of chopsticks. Irisviel followed the motion, and Artoria deduced that this was probably part of the etiquette when it came to eating in Japan.
She took a bite of her meal, only to be surprised by the taste. Compared to what she usually ate, this choice of meat was sweet in its flavor. It was also rather chewy. She started to pick up speed, enjoying her meal's flavor.
The possible spy smiled. "I didn't know you were a fan of eel, Ms. Regina."
Her hands froze, the silverware that was once slowly speeding up to a blur now stuck in stasis. She had the decency to swallow what she had in her mouth before finally blurting out her realization.
"This is eel?" She was suddenly reminded of the few times she was at sea, when she was forced to fight off Romans who were trying to invade the coast. She had seen eels during that time, and they didn't look like the ones she was apparently eating at the moment. They had been long, brown and slimy, looking at her with soulless black eyes.
Her reminiscing was shaken by a giggle from Irisviel, while Kamado was laughing himself to death, tears of joy pouring out his eyes and his fist banging the table. "Your face! Your face!"
She shook it off, trying to change focus back on her meal. It was semi-effective, since she shuddered when her knife touched the eel, bringing forth another peal of laughter from Kamado. Thankfully, the laughter didn't last long before they all turned back to their meals except for the boy breaking out into giggles at the memory every once in a while.
Though she was shocked at what she had eaten, it didn't take long for the surprise to wear off. Despite the bizarre nature of her dish, it was still delicious. The others seemed to like their dishes, and it wasn't before long that they finished off their dishes.
"So Mr. Kamado, do you have a job around here?" Irisviel asked.
"Of course. I'm a line cook for a restaurant in the Shinto section of the city, though sometimes my manager asks me to deliver some food every once in a while." He swept his hair - was that a tick of his? "When I'm not on duty, I try to help out a repair shop nearby."
"What about you Mrs. Einzbern? Do you have a job?"
"Not really. I guess you could call me… what's the phrase? A stay-at-home mom?" Irisviel shrugged, "While I would like to have a job, my husband and the rest of my family make enough money so I can pay all my attention to my daughter.
"That's nice. But if she's your daughter, why is she not with you?"
Though the boy probably didn't notice it, Artoria could tell Irisviel had stiffened for just the slightest second. She never had a daughter - her relationship with Mordred was a mess, one that was hard to acknowledge. However, Artoria did feel some sympathy for her. Irisviel loved Illya with all her heart, and she probably missed seeing her everyday.
That sympathy did bring another question with it - why did Irisviel need to be in Fuyuki in the first place? Aside from being a distraction so her Master could take down the competition from the shadows, she could hardly see the sense in risking Irisviel if it meant getting the Grail. Then again, perhaps they needed an Einzbern to sell the illusion. She mentally shook her head - if there was something else going on, Irisviel would tell her.
The moment of discomfort passed, and Irisviel laughed nervously. "Thank you for worrying. However, its not necessary - my husband and I decided to travel here for some personal time together."
"Ah, I see. Tell me, is your daughter expecting a new sibling after this?"
Irisviel was blushing the most precious shade of red, and was probably choking on her own amazake. Artoria almost had to stop herself from chuckling, forcing her face into passive apathy. She did give a small smile though.
"No more lewd comments from you, Mr. Kamado."
"Of course." He sent a small wink that pulled out a giggle from Irisviel. The waiter picked up their plates after they were finished eating, with Kamado thanking him for the meal while also asking for the bill.
When they received the bill, Kamado was about to pull out his wallet before Irisviel practically lunged and took the piece of paper, almost as if it was poisonous.
"To make up for Regina's error." Irisviel explained, signing the paper and pulling out her credit card.
"Well, give me a warning next time. I thought you were going to choke me for a sec." Kamado jokes, rubbing his neck to imitate discomfort. "By the way, you're supposed to bring the receipt up to the cashier."
"Thank you for the tip Mr. Kamado."
"No problem," Kamado shrugged. "I was also pretty lost when I came to this country. Figured that I should help you out."
"Still, thank you." Irisviel left for the cashier leaving Artoria and Kamado at the table.
It was silent for a few seconds, and Artoria couldn't help but stare at the boy who was looking outside the window, trying to make up her mind as to whether he was a spy or not. She would admit, there weren't that many signs from him; despite their sudden meeting, the boy was rather benevolent all things considered. She was tempted to dismiss Irisviel's theory, for he showed no sign of being a threat.
Still, a bit of paranoia didn't hurt anybody. It had saved her many times on her path to kingship, stopping her from being the victim of assassinations and conspiracies against her. Considering the circumstances of now, it would help her once again.
"Why a suit?" The voice interrupted her analysis, and she looked towards Kamado's eyes.
"Excuse me?"
"Not that I have any issues with women in suits - but its just a bit unusual, don't you think?" The boy gestured towards her, "Chauffeuses are a bit uncommon, I'll admit - and even then, not a lot of women in that profession wear suits for driving other people around. Usually its some type of uniform."
"Then again, from a distance you would probably be mistaken for a man. You aren't just a driver - you would have insisted on being the one at the wheel when I asked."
She was quickly trying to find a way to distract Kamado's line of thought. If he found out she was a Servant, there were two possible scenarios - Irisviel would have to erase his memory, or she would be forced to kill him. Neither would be appealing.
"So that means you're a bodyguard. And judging by your accent, one from Britain."
Sure, she'll go with that. "Yes. I was hired by her husband in order to protect her from any possible threats."
"Why? Are they political figures of some sort? Or is the Mr. afraid of someone who will sweep Mrs. Einzbern off her feet in those few moments they are apart?" He gave a teasing grin.
She shrugged nonchalantly. "I do not presume to have knowledge of my employer's intentions."
"Still, they must be paying you quite a bit of cash - not many people are willing to traverse thousands of miles from home."
She nodded, and changed her posture so she was staring out the window. It wasn't long before Irisviel returned, and they left the restaurant at a leisurely pace.
"Thank you for the meal, Mrs. Einzbern."
"Once again, it was no problem, Mr. Kamado. Do you need a ride to get home?"
Kamado shrugged. "No need. My place isn't far from here, but thank you for the offer. I just need to pick up the papers I left in your car, and then I'll be on my way.
"Very well."
"Actually, before we go, would you like your picture taken? Considering its your first time in Japan?" Kamado reached into his tool belt and pulled out a polaroid camera.
Irisviel smiled. "Of course. Come on Regina."
She wanted to protest, but the woman quickly wrapped an arm around her so they were side by side. She almost fumbled with how close she was to the homunculus, feeling a small blush in her cheeks. Still, she gave what she hoped to be a cheerful smile.
The camera flashed, flashed again, and two photos spilled out of the camera. Kamado passed one to them while he kept the other one.
"One for you and one for me. I'll make sure to remember you." He gave them a warm smile.
Irisviel looked at the photo before chuckling and passing it to her. She gave it a glance, and almost groaned at the sight of her. She didn't radiate friendliness, nor the confident air of a king. Her smile was nervous and awkward, and the picture had captured her blush. In comparison, Irisviel looked perfect - her smile was friendly while holding out a peace sign with the hand that wasn't wrapped around Artoria.
"Thank you very much for the photo." Irisviel responded.
They walked to the car, and she opened the door for Irisviel while Kamado grabbed his papers.
"Goodbye Mrs. Irisviel, Ms. Regina. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon." The boy winked towards them, grabbing his folder.
"You too. I hope you have a nice day." Irisviel said before closing the car door.
Artoria started the car once again, returning back to the route Kiritsugu sent them so they could make their way back to Einzbern castle. Irisviel sighed behind her, and it wasn't difficult for Artoria to tell what she was thinking.
"So he was a spy?"
"No actually, quite the opposite. When he offered to take us that photo, well, that was the end of my suspicions."
"How so?"
"Well, nearly all magi are incompetent with technology. They refuse to use cell phones, televisions, even computers. For them, it would recognize the fact that magi aren't superior compared to those who don't have magic circuits." Irisviel explained. "It's one of the reasons my husband is effective at his job - they don't believe someone is willing to use mundane tools to kill other magi."
"Still, I feel quite guilty now for even suspecting his motives - he was very helpful."
"Agreed. But your paranoia isn't unjustified Irisviel - your instincts are what keep you alive, especially in conflicts like these. I know these kinds of instincts kept me alive when I was king."
" Thank you Artoria. Still, it was a shame that all our efforts were for nothing."
Waver still wasn't used to living in Japan.
Admittedly, he wasn't exactly in the country to live there, but rather to participate in the Holy Grail War. Still, it meant learning how to live in the country - speak its languages, learn common traditions and etiquette, and adapt to different cuisines. All of it would help Waver blend in with the masses, avoiding the eyes of Magi until the War could start.
This was extremely frustrating for him. He was starting from the ground up, and even though he had weeks to get used to it, that didn't mean he was thriving. Learning japanese meant learning a completely new type of alphabet, a new writing system, and how to understand both when spoken and written.
He entered his room in the Mackenzies' house, only to nearly trip over a book that was lying on the floor. He scanned the area, taking note of the multiple books that were almost scattered haphazardly. Most of them were nearly the same thing - Japanese modern culture and its language, its history before and during the common era, along with some of its entertainment. The only exception were multiple books focused on multiple empires, myths, and folklore around the world.
Rider was the one that urged him to focus on these sorts of studies, and was certainly the most focused out of the two of them. He threw himself into every book he could find, reading and taking notes to the point of zealotry. Waver had always understood the point of hard work, but his own ethic paled in comparison to the boy's.
He moved some books off his bed to the nightstand, and did his best to relax, his back practically moaning in gratitude.
He had just recently returned after meeting the supervisor of this Holy Grail War, Risei Kotomine. It was honestly a simple affair - state his name, reveal his command seals, affirm his intention of joining the war, and listen to a speech warning him about its dangers. Though he did appreciate the man's concern, Waver knew just what he had signed up for when joining the ritual - it was called a Holy Grail War for a reason.
The reason for his fatigue was the jet lag that still followed him after his trip. And since he didn't have a car, that meant he had to walk a long distance in order to reach the church. While Waver was thin, he wasn't exactly the pinnacle of fitness - especially since he was used to taking the bus and underground so he could get into the Clock Tower.
All of it made for an extremely tiring trip, one he was quite happy to end with him lying in bed.
Rider hadn't followed him - rather, it seemed he had his own plans. While Waver was meeting with Kotomine, his Servant would spend the day scouting the city in spirit form.
It was unexpected, to say the least. When he did his research on Servants, he had been expecting a familiar that acted like a guard dog, with his command seals as the metaphorical leash. Either that or the Servant would be treating him as a living mana battery who could only order him around three times.
That didn't mean Rider's proactive behavior wasn't appreciated. Compared to some of his colleagues and professors, the boy was downright cordial and friendly, flirting notwithstanding. He was certainly good at conversation, and even managed to make Waver waffles when the Mackenzies left for a morning walk.
However, he suspected Rider had stolen most of the books currently in their room. Once again, Waver didn't mind - he'd rather have an ally who was willing to skirt around a few laws rather than someone who let them act as chains.
Waver closed his eyes, drowsing off. It was peaceful, lacking any sort of dreams or nightmares. He sluggishly woke up, covering his eyes when the light of the setting sun hit his face, orange rays tinting the yellow walls of their room. He closed his eyes and rolled over so he was facing the wall.
"Hello sleeping beauty."
He slowly opened his eyes, only to practically jump back at the sight of Rider's face, certainly not squealing.
The Servant was staring at Waver, a red rose in his mouth with the smile of a cat who caught the canary. "Aw come on Master - surely I'm not that ugly." Rider said as he pulled the flower out of his mouth.
He shook his head. "No, not that - but did you really have to surprise me like that Rider?"
The servant shrugged . "Nope. But its one of the few ways I can get a bit of fun. How was your day?"
"Exhausting. Not in the way that the supervisor gave me any trouble, but the trip sucked the soul out of me."
His stomach grumbled, and he scratched his head awkwardly. "And I missed lunch."
"Well that's a shame. Good thing your trusty Servant brought you some junk food to keep you going." Rider pulled out a bag of fast food from his tool belt. "It's not much compared to what I can make, but it was the only kind of food I could smuggle without alerting our elderly hosts."
He opened the bag, part of his stomach singing in gratitude. "Thank you Rider." He quickly started to dig in, practically burrowing his way through the burger, fries, and soda.
It wasn't until he finished that Waver continued the conversation. "What about your day Rider? Any luck in terms of scouting?"
"Oh yes," Rider smirked. "I actually found the Einzbern master on the way home."
"Wait wait wait. How did you find it?"
"Find it? She seemed pretty human to me." The Servant frowned.
"Well, the thing is the Einzberns usually use homunculi as proxy-masters - while some are autonomous, they're still artificial life." He explained.
"Oh, ok. Well, it was simple — while you were going to meet the supervisor, I raided the airport and took the passenger manifests for the flights that arrived in the past month. It was just my luck - she arrived today." He pulled out a folder that was almost bloated with its workload. "After that, it was following the paper trail she left behind, and using my spheres to track the car she was taking."
"Did you interact with her?"
Rider looked at him incredulously. "Of course I did. Pretended to be a guy that her driver almost ran over, and got a free meal in exchange. I also bugged the car so I didn't have to keep searching for her with my spheres."
"That's brilliant." He whispered out in reverence. It reminded him that despite Rider's mischievous personality, there was certainly a sharp mind he used frequently.
The boy pulled out a picture, showing a woman with red eyes and white hair, along with an androgynous person wearing a suit. He dug into the folder even further, taking out and unfolding a map of Fuyuki City. Reaching into his tool belt, Rider took a set of pins, pinning the map to the wall.
"From what the tracking device I put into the car is telling me, Einzbern is supposed to be over here." Rider pinned the picture he took to the woods that were in the outskirts of Fuyuki. "You mentioned the family owns a castle a few days ago, right?"
"Yes." Waver nodded. "I even made sure to track down where the Tohsaka and Matou families lived. Can I?"
"Of course." Rider passed the pins to him.
Waver silently patted himself in the back for using the same technique Rider used to find Einzbern - that is, follow the paperwork. While magi often considered themselves above those with magic circuits, they still had to do the mundane stuff any human had to deal with. This weakness, he noted, was one they found to be the most useful.
He pinned two areas in Miyama Town - one that was close to the outskirts, while the other one was closer to the shopping district. "The Tohsaka live by the border of the city, while the Matou are more in the center. From what I've seen, their properties are large."
"What bothers me the most is that there's a second property under the Matou name - one by the city." He shook his head, adding a pin to the city's Shinto half. "Then again, if there's truth to the rumors I heard, that family had a falling out a few years ago - the heir had apparently abandoned the path of a magus."
"Okay. So what do we know about them, James Bond?"
He chuckled a bit - James Bond was from Scotland, not England. And Waver was certainly no casanova.
"Well, the Tohsaka are well known for their use of jewelcraft - using gems to store mana, so they can be used for specific spells." He explained. "They're certainly very rich - that type of magecraft asks for a lot of money. They're also rather old, which usually means they have a large amount of magic circuits."
"As for the Matou… well, that family technically isn't from Japan. They were originally from Russia, but were forced to evacuate the country and move here during Ivan the Terrible's reign."
"Good for them. From what I studied, the guy was a psychopath." Rider shuttered.
"Agreed. However, because they moved so far out of their home, the family's bloodline weakened over the centuries. It is a shadow of its former self. As for the type of magecraft they use, it apparently has some sort of biological component that could replace magic circuits."
But that could mean anything, Waver thought. It could have ranged from blood-focused manipulation, accelerating the development of the body, or even making artificial magic circuits.
"Last but not least, the Einzberns are practically prodigies in alchemy."
"I think I heard about that type of magecraft - isn't it focused on equivalent exchange and manipulating materials?" Rider asked.
"Technically that is part of it - you're on the track with the second half. Alchemy is the study and manipulation of the flow of matter, along with creating it. Transmutation is one of the higher levels of this sort of magecraft."
He pointed at the picture of the homunculus. "That family has a specialty in creating homunculus - the ones they create are famous for the quantity of magic circuits they have. In fact, practically the entire family is composed of homunculi, and the current head only lives because of methods used to extend his life."
"So they're all living, breathing mana batteries?"
"It depends on what purpose they give them, which is decided during the making process." He frowned, though more out of suspicion than anything. "Though it does bring to question why they hired that woman. The Einzberns practically isolated themselves from anybody that doesn't belong to the family."
Of course, he was referring to the woman next to the homunculus. The Einzbern were so physically isolated from the rest of the world that they would make hikikomori and NEETs green with envy. To allow someone that is not one of their own homunculi into the family was akin to a miracle.
"Perhaps she's their Servant?" Rider asked.
He nodded. "Probably. Can you profile her later? I need to focus on making a familiar for tonight."
"I think I can save you that process with my spheres, Master." Rider volunteered.
That didn't surprise him. From what he remembered about Rider's abilities, he was one of the few Servants in his class to have the Item Construction skill. This allowed Rider to items ranging from potions to mystic codes, and his Servant used it to produce multiple copies of the Archimedes Spheres.
Although they were inferior compared to the original Spheres, Rider had different priorities and standards when it came to the copies' purpose. For combat, he had focused on quality rather than quantity, while the inverse was applied for espionage. As they waited for the Holy Grail War to truly begin, Rider made enough to actively patrol the city during the night, giving them an extremely effective spy network.
Honestly, he was quite sure the only reason Rider wasn't actually Caster is because he currently didn't have the Territory Creation skill, allowing him to create a workshop. That would've had Waver savoring at the mouth.
Rider pulled out a large scroll from his tool belt, and Waver stared at the item as it slowly unfurled. The boy tapped it a few times, and letters written inside it glew a bright blue hew as they projected a large map of Fuyuki City. Several red dots were scattered across the map, constantly moving through the city. At closer glance, he could tell the letters were actually ancient Greek.
"Beautiful." He breathed out.
"Thank you Master." Rider smiled at him.
It took a few more minutes before the sense of awe and amazement left Waver's brain, bringing him back to the task at hand. "Then we'll spend tonight doing research on that possible Servant. Aside from the picture, are there any defining traits you could pick up about her?"
"Well, she had a British accent - not like yours, though. It was certainly very posh and upper class. She was also the one driving Einzbern - which probably means she also has the Riding skill."
"Hmm… are there any whiteboards and markers in that tool belt?" Rider pulled them out, and he used them to make a list about the traits they knew about the woman.
EINZBERN SERVANT
MAIN FEATURES: Green eyes, blonde hair, though her gender can be ambiguous from afar. British accent - posh (could she be royalty?).
SKILLS: Riding.
POSSIBLE CLASSES: SABER, LANCER, ARCHER.
POSSIBLE IDENTITIES:
He left that last part blank so they could fill it in later. "Now, let's get to work."
They quickly dug into the horde of books Rider had stolen, focusing on those that were centered around female figures, circling any possible identities with a blue pen. It was surprisingly tedious work, because there were multiple figures in British history that could have fit the same traits they were looking for.
"Perhaps we should make our net a bit wider?" Waver proposed.
"Why?"
"Well, we should consider that the older a Servant's legend is, the more Mystery it has. And if we apply that on a practical scale, there are less specific details when it comes to the Heroic Spirit's life - that is, aside from tales speaking about their appearances. It's possible that she might've hidden her true appearance when she was alive, and its because of the Holy Grail that she can walk freely without worry." Waver explained.
"So you think she's written down in history as someone else?" Rider had a thoughtful look in his face. "Well, perhaps that theory does have some merit - I mean, the reason most people think Napoleon was short is due to the British propaganda at the time. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to believe that she was mistaken as someone else."
That meant putting more people on the list - kings and queens that looked like they had done something worthy of being in the Throne, knights that had songs and poems written about them, and even pirates. By the time they had finished the list, Rider had already turned on the light, the moon was rising in the sky, and Rider had to replace the marker they were using twice.
POSSIBLE IDENTITIES
Queen Victoria
Elizabeth I
Bouddica
Mary I
Ethelfleda
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd
Queen Cordelia
Queen Gwendolen
Jeanne de Clisson
Gareth
Bedivere
Margaret of Anjou
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Nicholaa de la Haye
Joanna of Flanders
Grace O'Malley - (Irish, but she later became an ally of Queen Elizabeth I)
Guinevere
"Gods. So much for this being easy." Rider sighed. "I don't even know some of these."
"Well, that's what you get for being an uncultured American." Waver gave a wry smile.
"Shut it you snotty Brit. Besides, you have the expression that you're about to have a headache." Rider was right about that - even though he had lived in the United Kingdom for so long, the sheer amount of research they would need to do was not pleasant.
"I wish I brought some of my history books." He sighed in frustration. "Then we would at least be able to do some research that's a bit more than what the books you bought have to offer."
"You know, in the future this research would have been finished in about a few minutes." Rider said.
"Really? How come?" Waver asked.
"Well, the internet is way more advanced to start. The World Wide Web is still used, but the internet as a whole is so complex that it makes today's version seem like ancient history." Rider stated. "That facilitates research when its not possible to find information on a subject when its not at the local library."
"I see." Waver was silent, but out of a sense of restriction. His inner student was drooling for the possibility of new knowledge, one nobody else had access to. On the other hand, if he used what Rider told him for the wrong purposes, it could risk causing a paradox.
Then again, the information… Screw it. It was worth the risk.
"How is the future like Rider?" He asked.
His Servant looked at him warily. "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes."
"The bad or the good? Or both?"
"Both."
Rider got a conflicted look in his face, as if he was debating the merits of giving Waver that information. A minute passed before he started speaking again, "Alright. I won't go over any specifics, give any important details, or outline any key events. Most of the information I give will go over the state of the world in broad strokes. Is that fine for you?"
"Yes. Thanks for telling me at least a little bit, though."
"No problem. Just let me get the remote control for my spheres. Just a heads up - its isn't like Back to the Future II."
While his Servant moved the spheres around the city, he told Waver about the state of the world. The new technology that sprung up, from new technology that sprung up like the newer models of phones, to the other sources of energy that were slowly replacing fossil fuel. The importance of the internet for modern life, and the spread of social media. The legalization of gay marriage in multiple countries, along with the increase of LGBT rights.
He also went over the negatives. How humanity still hasn't been able to completely solve the problem of climate change. The rise of terrorism, though he didn't go over specific events that were influential to its rise. How religious institutions lost some of their influence through multiple scandals involving sex and pedophilia. The influence of misinformation and the concept of fake news. Corruption and stupidity rising to some of the highest political figures in the world.
Waver absorbed it all, hanging on to Rider's words like a man that had found an oasis in a desert. It was so much - a world that was strangely similar to his, but different in so many ways. Rider was right in his warning, but Waver didn't regret asking him. Though he was sure that most of the information would be useless in a general perspective, the picture the boy in front of him wove was captivating.
"So as you can probably guess, the world's a bit of a chaotic mess - it has its own share of pros and cons, and much like anything, its still a work in progress." Rider summarized it.
"Yes it is." Perhaps it was lame, but that was all he could say."But still, better to have it be a mix between the bad and the good rather than have the entire world destroyed.
His Servant gave him a wry smile, as if he was in on some joke, but didn't continue the conversation, filling the room with silence. Minutes passed while Rider guided his spheres around Fuyuki, Waver keeping a sharp eye on where they were going. Three patrolled the streets around Tohsaka's home, three more by Matou's Mansion, and six more scattered around the outskirts where the Einzbern's forest was supposed to be. The rest that Rider had were spread across the city.
"So how are these Spheres able to detect Masters and Servants?" He asked.
"I read some of the books you used to research the Holy Grail War. Since Servants are made out of Ether, that means it isn't hard to track large amounts of it. Makes it way easier to find out just exactly where Servants are without leaving your place."
"As for the Masters, well, I might have taken a bit of a sample from your body." His unmarked hand went to the Command Seals, and Rider's face broke into a grin when Waver noticed his hand was unmarked, the Command Seals still in place. "By sample, I meant I had my spheres analyze the magecraft used by the Command Seals. Kudos to whoever made them - they must have been quite the genius."
"Do you need to make a joke out of everything?" He grumbled.
"Eh, what's life without a few jokes? Gods know I've made and needed quite a few during my life."
One of the red dots on the hologram grew brighter - specifically, one by the Tohsaka Estate.
Rider put a hand to his chin. "Now what's this?" He pressed his fingers against the red dot, and it glowed a bright green. He then tapped one of the letters, and the map was switched to an eagle's eye view of the Tohsaka Estate.
It was clear that the family was wealthy - it had a large, intricate garden with hedges, trees, and even a fountain. While it certainly wouldn't be so expensive if one lived in the United States or Canada, owning land in Japan was akin to having a vault full of gold. Wealth was necessary if one were to study jewelcraft - either the family had to be extremely wealthy, or extremely stingy. However, it wasn't the garden that attracted his attention.
No, what attracted his attention were the two figures standing by a road near its outskirts. It would've been impossible to pick out the details if he were looking at them from afar, but the Sphere did its job excellently. He could notice everything about them.
The first person was a tall man, with brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a dark blue uniform - vestments if he was right. He also wore a gold cross pendant - the defining trait of those who worked with the Church. Though he looked almost unassuming at first glance, Waver could tell there was muscle underneath the clothes he wore. He also had the blood red command seals that designated him as a Master in the war.
The other person had hidden nearly every detail of his appearance. They wore a black cloak around black robes, completely covering their appearance. What he did notice was the mask they wore, which looked like it belonged at an opera. It was the pale white of ivory, decorated with golden details. He probably would've seen the color of the person's eyes if it weren't for the cloak's shadow covering the eye slots.
Rider pressed another letter, and the image blinked, like how most cameras took pictures. Then it returned to monitoring them.
"That man…" Waver frowned. "He is a member of the Church." Waver stated.
"The cross says as much."
"No, I mean, not like Roman Catholic or Protestant. The Roman Catholic Church has a hidden branch - one aware of the supernatural side of this world." He explained. "They mainly focus on destroying stuff that they see as heresy."
"Wouldn't that include magecraft?" Rider asked.
"Technically, but only if it's extremely against their faith. It has branches, multiple of which are active today - but judging by the man's clothing, he's an Executor." Waver frowned. "It means that the man is trained to fight anything that counts as heretic."
"So magi, vampires, and demons?"
"Pretty much." He internally cursed. Fighting an Executor would be almost impossible for a magus such as Waver. Though he did know some reinforcement, he didn't know the martial arts some magus families taught to apply the spell, much less any purely offensive curses. Rider would have to do all the fighting if it came to blows.
They seemed to be in conversation, their voices muffled by wind and the song of crickets. He was tempted to tell Rider to have the Sphere come closer, but he didn't want to risk giving away their spy network. It didn't matter, however - the cloaked figure leaped from the road and straight into the edge of Tohsaka's garden.
It was clear that the Servant wasn't quite used to stealth, though he did have some level of acrobatics. If they had presence concealment, they wouldn't have been able to see them. Still, there was no denying the graceful way the person dodged and weaved his way through the various defenses of the bounded field, right until he made his way to its center.
"Master, can you see what class he's in?"
He shook his head, frustration leaking into his tone. "No. And that would have probably been pretty useful."
The person reached out for the bright ruby gem, only to lurch back -
His hand mere inches from the spear that almost impaled it.
The figure looked up, and so did the Sphere, and they saw what could've been a second sun with the light it shined through the sky.
Portals. Portals that appeared as if they made the very fabric of space ripple. Each one sporting a weapon of some sort, all radiating a subtle power that had Waver backing away from the image. At the center of it all, a blond man covered in brilliant golden armor, with eyes the same color as dried blood.
"Hmm, so you may have at least a modicum of sense, Assassin." The man spoke with an authority that practically made Waver want to bow despite not being in front of him. "Still, do not overestimate your worth, mongrel."
Several more weapons shot out of the portal, and Waver could see the figure pull out one single sword. Assassin turned into a blur as they deflected each and every single one, the projectiles carving scars across the garden in the forms of craters and flying weaponry. Assassin couldn't keep it up, however - a single one made it through their defense and impaled them in the leg. It was over as quickly as it happened. Several more swords flew, and explosions erupted the second each and every single one hit their target. They watched for a minute. Two. Then the smoke dissipated, revealing a splatter of blood, bones, and a tattered black cloak and mask.
"What?" The word slipped out of his mouth like a river.
The man laughed as he saw the remains of Assassin, before his face turned into a scowl. "Hmph. That was less than satisfactory for me. Hopefully, the rest of the worms in this war have something to prove their worth."
The Servant then turned into spirit form, leaving Waver with an open mouth. Then Rider burst into laughter, shaking him out of his shock.
"What's so funny? That Servant just slaughtered Assassin in front of us!" He yelled.
"Isn't it obvious? Assassin hasn't died." Rider's laughter calmed down, and he quickly pointed to the splatter of blood before them. "Hell, that isn't even his body. If you look closely at it, its a mix of multiple things - sausages and cherry jell-o for the organs, ketchup for the blood, and raw meat for the muscle. The bits of brain-matter you see over there? Macaroni dyed with pink food coloring."
"How can you tell?" He asked.
Rider gave him a look that made his knees quiver out of fear. "I've seen more than my fair share of bodies, Master. Much like being a Magus is to walk with death, so was the life I once lived."
"Okay, sorry." He apologized, but part of Waver's mind was still wondering what exactly implied. Rider looked no more than sixteen. It meant that Rider's legend started when he was young, and very few figures were known for their youth. It only meant that Rider had died young — and heroes that died young were like shooting stars, for they were brilliant yet ephemeral.
"Anyway, Assassin must have a very special skill in order to fake his death so quickly." Rider noted. "Either that, or it must be a Noble Phantasm."
"That does make sense." He noted.
"Finally, there was something quite peculiar about his sword." Rider tapped one of the runes, and the footage reversed to the point the figure had unsheathed their sword.
Now that Waver could get a look at it, there was something downright unsettling about it. He didn't know exactly what part of it bothered him, but it made his skin stand on end. The fear was almost like a reflex - every time he stared at it, he couldn't help but flinch.
"Was there anything important that made it stand out? Perhaps any special abilities?"
"Not exactly, but I could decipher two details about it though, and honestly, it worries me." Rider frowned, his eyes flickering back and forth between the screen and towards him, "If my suspicions are correct, then we're in for a world of trouble."
"Then what are they?" He asked, though he was also worried. Rider always seemed so carefree whenever they interacted. Something that put him on edge was a red flag.
"Well, first, I can tell that the sword is from Greece. However, its not your traditional xiphos variety - I can see from the grip that it was developed for one-handed and two-handed styles." The Servant explained. "That means that he was some sort of famous warrior."
"But that could mean anything. Greece is famous for having more heroes than there were children of Zeus." Now that he was saying it, the metaphor was quite apt. Out of all the mythologies, Greece had so many kings claiming they were children of Zeus, and just as many had legends told about them.
Rider chuckled. "You got a point there. But anyways, here's the last thing. The reason that sword looks so disturbing is because it was tainted with the blood of divinity."
His Servant released a torrent of profanities, most of them in spanish, before returning to English. "You know what that means, right?"
Waver nodded, his face paling at the thought.
"That sword was used to kill a god."
Noble Phantasm Reveal
Tool Belt of Hephaestus
Rank: B - A (Anti-Unit)
The tool belt Leo found in Bunker Nine, with the magical power to summon any tool as long as its associated with construction. However, since it was used to store multiple Mystic Codes such as the Spheres of Archimedes, it was able to become a Noble Phantasm. These Mystic Codes are all items Leo wielded or made during his life, such as Holographic Scrolls, Divine Hand Grenades, and Hephaestus' Netting, though it still has its original capabilities.
