It's a little late for this, but I thought 'sure, why not?' Although the fandom has this headcanon of July 7th being Leo's birthday, I don't really remember reading anything from the books that would indicate otherwise. However, I'm just going to roll with it. So happy birthday Leo Valdez, and may you have a better year than the insanity that was the past few.
—
Waver woke up with sweat covering his shoulders, his face pale as a paper sheet, and practically buried in what amounted to a straitjacket of blankets. For a second, he felt like he was kidnapped — the bed he slept in was too soft, the pillow too fluffy, and he wasn't hearing the Mackenzies snoring. Although people might find it silly, he had gotten used to sleeping in the Mackenzies home, and the conditions of the Holy Grail War made Waver naturally paranoid. It was only when he recalled what happened last night, did he realize where he was.
The battle against Lancer, with Rider holding his own. Holding hostage Kiritsugu Emiya, a man regarded by the entire Mage's Association as the equivalent of a boogeyman, in exchange for an alliance with Saber and her Master. The surprisingly peaceful drive back, and practically falling asleep into the guest room of the Einzbern Castle after Rider had dismantled every booby trap scattered throughout the entire place like he was some sort of omniscient god of technology.
However, even though last night's events had scared him, he knew the sweat on his back wasn't because of them. No… the… dream? Memory? Waver had read about flashbulb memories in high school, but it was so surreal that he didn't know which one it was. And all the details were hazy, which made it even worse. Bad enough that what he experienced was enough to scare the living daylights out of him, he couldn't even remember why it made him so.
All he could remember was a witch made of earth, fear that made his heart feel like it was beating out of his chest, and then… fire. Fire that had swallowed his entire vision before he woke up. He knew that the bonds between Servant and Master provoked dreams of their pasts, but experiencing one so disturbing was another thing.
It also meant that there was something hidden between Rider's jokes and flirtatious comments, something he was trying to hide. Or maybe it was just a part of his past he wanted to stay dead, forgotten by everybody else. Regardless, it meant that Waver knew so little about his servant.
He slowly lifted himself out of bed, taking a look at his surroundings. The walls were covered by an elegant white wallpaper with a soft swirling brown pattern. The bed he slept in was a canopied style, carved from mahogany. The fireplace was crackling, its heat soft and tranquil in a way that calmed him down, probably since it was more peaceful compared to the flames in his dreams. A door that led to a hallway was nearby, fully closed. However, the smell of something delicious seemed to leak from it.
It felt weird, and made Waver feel like a horrible person. They didn't get this through convincing Saber and Einzbern to actually make a genuine alliance. They got this by holding a gun to the metaphorical head of Einzbern's strategy. The fact that there was an Archimedes Sphere sitting on the fireplace mantel only seemed to reinforce this, a silent sentinel in case their 'allies' tried to slit his throat while he slept. Waver wouldn't be surprised if Rider had sent out an entire squadron just to prevent Einzbern and her Servant from doing anything funny.
He quickly made the bed before walking into the guest bathroom, and his eyes nearly bugged out at the luxury in front of him. It had a porcelain bathtub large enough to fit two people, a shower with clear glass walls, toilet, a vanity with double sinks that looked like it was carved from marble, and an ancient, intricate mirror.
He knew that the Einzbern family had resources, but this castle was extremely intricate and large. Considering the xenophobia in Japan due to the castle apparently being made in the 1930s (in which Japan was trying to mimic the colonial empire of the Western powers), the cost of getting and transporting said materials, the price of land, it must've taken enough money to fund a small kingdom to make the castle, even if Japan was allying itself with the freaking Nazis.
It was enough to both impress and disgust Waver. Impress him because this was how much wealth an ancient enough mage family used, disgusted because such wealth could've been used for more utilitarian means, such as advancing research towards the Root. There were much more practical means to spend wealth rather than hoard it like a dragon.
However, that didn't mean Waver had a problem against using it. The money was already spent. The least he could do was use the bathroom and actually have it used rather than leaving it to fill up with dust bunnies. Taking off his clothes, he quickly dove into the shower, the water washing away the sweat and grime from yesterday. His hand reached for a shampoo bottle, but he was reminded that he left the toiletries back at the Mackenzies when his hand grabbed empty air.
He turned around, only to nearly jump out of his skin. One of the spheres was hovering right in front of the door. He would've immediately screamed if it weren't for the large plastic bag it was carrying, full of deodorant, soap sticks, and a small bottle of shampoo. Furthermore, there was a small note attached to it. Waver quickly grabbed it, his wet fingers staining the paper.
Keep in mind, this is one of my weaker spy spheres, so you are not getting peeped on. There are limits even I wouldn't cross, after all. Anyway, I went back to the Mackenzies and got some of your stuff while you were asleep, and left a note explaining that you went out to go clubbing. Clothes are in the bedroom drawer.
You owe me one nap.
He rolled his eyes at that, because servants didn't need sleep — their magical bodies meant that they didn't suffer the everyday effects most people suffered, though sleeping did help them reserve mana. Still, a small smile crept up on his lips. He quickly grabbed the bag from the sphere, closed the door, and quickly started putting the shampoo on his hair until it was a bunch of soapy bubbles and foam before doing the same with the soap. It wasn't long before he was drying himself off, stepping out of the bathroom and quickly putting on his clothes.
He stepped out of his room, his nose guiding him towards the kitchen across the winding halls. It seemed Rider was working his magic - Waver had spent most of his years either having his parents cook for him, or eating takeout after they had died. Therefore, it was really impressive knowing a guy like Rider could cook, and deserved to be called magic.
The kitchen, much like his own room, was extravagant. The neat, organized lines of grills, stoves, refrigerators, and ovens would need an entire army of servants if the kitchen would ever be fully used. It was clearly built with grand feasts in mind, not small groups that were likely to stab each other in the back.
Rider had carved out his own little corner, which was organized chaos incarnate. Though a good chunk of it was messy, everything was organized into its own little categories, giving off the illusion of madness while still maintaining order. The only thing that would qualify as 'finished' was a large bowl of fruit salad lying nearby on a tabletop. Waver could pick out melon, kiwi, strawberries, blackberries, and other kinds of fruits.
Rider was currently managing three frying pans in a single stove, with two focused on making an English breakfast while another held an omelet with potatoes, bacon, onions, and milk. He sliced, cut, and chopped his ingredients with supernatural precision. He moved quickly between his workspace, leaving more of a mess but still fulfilling his goal. Waver felt like he was witness to a sacred ritual.
Either way, it didn't take long for his Servant to notice him, his face shifting towards a hint of a smile, but his eyes never strayed from his work. "Morning master. I hope you slept pretty freaking amazing, because I didn't."
"Yes, Rider, yes I did." He didn't want to tell him about the dream, his mind still too asleep and in a dire need for coffee to not somehow screw that up. "Thank you for the clothes and toiletries."
"No problem." Rider flipped the omelet. "Didn't know what you liked, so I just grabbed whatever was on hand."
For a second, Waver wants to bring up the dream he experienced, see what light Rider can shed on it. Surely it must have been related to his life. Maybe it would help him understand the boy better. But then again… he didn't know the context of said memories. And the emotions Waver still sensed were clearly not happy ones.
So he instead decided to focus on other topics. "What have you been up to while I was asleep?"
Rider shrugged. "I've done a lot of things. Investigating the serial killer that's been going around recently, which I think has a connection to Caster. I've also tracked Berserker's Master, though I've been having trouble deducing her identity. Then I analyzed the weaponry Emiya had, which you should investigate later."
He frowned at that. Even if Waver was grateful, he didn't want his Servant to work himself to the bone every night just for the sake of the war. He deserved to treat himself, even if it was just a few minutes of relaxation. "And you didn't take a break?"
"Master, sleep is for the weak." Rider opened the oven for just a few seconds, before quickly closing it. "I was a bit of a workaholic during my mortal life. The all-nighters I pulled, the amount of coffee and Monster I chugged…" His tone was bittersweet, but it quickly left his tongue. "That's an energy drink that won't show up in a few years, but that doesn't matter. I hate the liquid, but it kept my energy going when I needed it."
"Okay, just make sure to take a nap or something. Heck, even go to sleep for a day. I like my Americans cute and well-rested." He said that a bit flirtishly, but more on the joking side. If Rider could do it, so could he.
"Aye aye Master." Rider grinned. "Anyway, I was thinking we could discuss with our allies about what our next stop should be. I've already organized a model of who poses the highest threat, alongside what their defenses are. It's all in one of my scrolls." Rider tapped his tool belt as if to emphasize this before lowering the heat for the English breakfast.
"By the way, do you want to include Emiya and his associate for this meeting?"
"You've disarmed him, so I don't see a reason to prevent him from participating." He responded, inhaling the smell of the food Rider was cooking up, a part of himself drooling at the aroma.
"Okay." Rider quickly pulled out four more eggs and one more frying pan, quickly pouring a bit of olive oil into it before cracking the eggs and pouring their contents into the pan. "Can you watch the waffle iron? The first one's coming up."
Noticing the device, he quickly got closer before rotating it into its proper position. He doesn't open it, but the heat on the handle tells Waver that it hasn't been on for very long. "Still needs
Rider nodded, more focused on his side of the kitchen than anything. "Good. So anyway, that blond dude was your teacher?"
"Unfortunately." He still recalled the sweet, sweet look of humiliation on the man's face, a single moment in time preserved in his eyes when he took a small peek from the car's window. "He's still the same as ever. Hell, he didn't even prepare for the chance that someone summoned a Servant that could counteract Achilles' invulnerability."
He tried to recall the battle, focusing on Lancer and his Master's tactics. Achilles — it didn't take a genius to know what his potential noble phantasms were, and Waver had studied some of the greater heroes before going to Japan. If his memory was correct, Achilles' first Phantasm was Andreias Amaranthos, the protection he received after his mother gave him a bath in the River Styx.
Considering only gods were able to land a scratch on him, it only made sense that beings gifted with divinity would be able to cause harm towards Lancer. The armor was a gift from Hephaestus, designed to protect him from any blow. And Achilles was famous for his godlike speed, almost akin to a shooting star as seen in his Noble Phantasm, Dromeus Kometes.
This just made Rider the complete antithesis to him in terms of combat. He had the divinity to pierce the blessing and cause damage. His knowledge of Lancer's armor by sheer concept of being the son of its creator was enough to find the weaknesses in its defenses and take advantage of it. Finally, Rider's agility was already high, but because of Achilles' divinity and his God-Slayer skill, his parameters were being boosted to the point of exceeding the son of Thetis's.
It was probably Achilles' own martial skill and his hydrokinesis that stopped him from being completely slaughtered.
However, another memory caught his attention. "By the way, did you hear him say something about a Sola-Ui?"
"I heard a Sola-something." Rider reached into the oven, pulling out what looked like a bunch of bread rolls. "Why do you ask?"
Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri. The hilariously named member of the Sophia-Ri family, which specialized in spiritual evocation. He'd rarely seen her, since most of his time was focused on lectures, taking notes, and studying. However, El-Melloi was often seen with her, attached to her like a puppy following its master. Waver was at least knowledgeable enough in Clock Tower politics that her engagement was a result of mage realpolitik, focused on bringing a newer generation of mages to the world rather than the emotions of any involved party.
"That's the name of his fiancée." He noted. "Why would she be important in such a battle?"
"Maybe the guy's trying to show off. I mean, we're basically in the middle of a war to get a free wish." Rider rolled his eyes. "If this guy's ego is as big as you told me, then maybe he just wants to look like a badass."
"True, but there should be more to it than that. He might be arrogant, but he's not dumb. I mean, the Clock Tower would only need to receive news of who won, and he'll be the next great thing." He frowned, only for the smell of the waffle to hit his nose. He immediately ran over, pulling out the fluffy snack out of its iron cage and setting it on a plate.
"There's a bowl filled with more mix." Rider said, pointing in the bowl's direction before going back to the subject. "Then what is she skilled in? Or at least your Master? I mean, if we look at it from an outsider's point of view, then she must serve some sort of value to his strategy, and must play to his strengths."
"He's extremely skilled in magecraft, with some factions inside the Clock Tower comparing him to Leonardo Da Vinci." He muttered, slowly filling up the iron once again before closing it and flipping it over. "He's skilled in necromancy, summoning, spiritual evocation, and alchemy. His elemental affinities are water and wind, and he's got multiple mystic codes."
"Hmm," Rider flipped the omelet once again before turning off its burner. "That doesn't leave much to go on, aside from the summoning. You think he did something to change the contract with his Servant?"
"It wouldn't be an idea too out there." He admitted. "But if we're to follow that angle, then we should be asking what changes he made, and how Sola-Ui factors into that."
Rider offered him one of the rolls. "Want one?"
"Yes please." He took a small bite before he quickly took a bigger one, the cinnamon and sugar melting into his tongue. "This is really good. What is it?"
"Franzbrötchen." Rider smiled. "Picked up the recipe from a German bakery while I was travelling around Europe, alongside a bunch of stuff."
So it was a way to get favor from Einzbern. Waver knew his Servant, and there was always some sort of angle he was working on. When he was fighting, he resorted to dirty tactics, that much was seen in the fight with Achilles, and probably used that as a cover so he could hold hostage both El-Melloi and Emiya. It was both admirable and scary — admirable because it had ended up with them having the upper hand, scary because Waver would never want to go against this guy, whether it be in social or physical combat.
"Is the omelet German too?" Waver said as he removed the second waffle from the iron.
"Yep." Rider said, munching on his own roll. "Nice to see you caught on. Hopefully, this food will at least soften the bitterness of yesterday, and make them a bit more willing to cooperate. We can't exactly show great gestures of appreciation, so little ones will do."
"After you're done making the waffles, can you help me set up the table?" Rider asked. "There's a dining room nearby."
"Sure."
It was quiet after that. Not like they had much to talk about, anyways. When they were done, with each meal properly organized into its own plate, Rider quickly picked up three of them, one in the open palm of his hand while the other two were nestled against his arm. Waver tried to do the same, only for one to nearly fall into the floor. He instead settled for getting the placemats, which were elegant things woven to look like flowers, their fabric white in color.
He observed Rider's direction for a moment before opening the door to where he was going. The servant smiled at him, though his eyes radiated emotions that Waver could only interpret as sugary sarcasm. "Why, such a gentleman."
Waver chuckled at that, and they entered what was an elegant dining room. It had a long, wooden table that was made of mahogany, and a brilliant white tablecloth. Even an elegant crystal chandelier hung above them, the morning sunlight dimly glinting against the shards. Large windows that would seem more fitting of a cathedral gave a view towards a beautiful garden.
"Ugh. I can practically smell the diamonds." Rider's nose scrunched up in disgust.
Despite Waver's own feelings, he couldn't help but be the devil's advocate. "It's beautiful."
"That it is." Rider admitted. "But I could understand such opulence if there were people actually living in this castle, enjoying it. Since it was probably just Einzbern, Emiya, Hisau, and Reggy before us, then it's just a waste. A family waving around its big bucks, just because it can."
The resentment that lingered in Rider's voice was too bitter to ignore. "You sound as if you've met such a person."
Rider nodded, his eyes straying towards the chandelier. "Yes, I have. Ironically, she was a good friend of mine. She was just insensitive sometimes."
"How so?" It was a bit of a rare occasion to hear Rider talk about his past life. Though he had been told about some of his childhood, Waver barely knew anything about his Servant and his life. Even getting to know about some of his friends was like a small treasure.
"Well, she was the daughter of a famous actor in my world. Her father was Native American and lived on a reservation, but he was lucky and skilled enough to get into Hollywood, making his name as one of its biggest stars." Rider set down the plates with swift grace after Waver put down the placemats. "He was so hot and charming, he got the attention of Aphrodite herself, and she was the result of that fling."
"Anyway, she lived in luxury. However, due to her father's career, she never got the attention that she needed." Rider's eyes strayed towards the chandelier. "She's got this special gift known as charmspeak from her mom, which acts as a form of auditory hypnosis. She used it to act out and convince others to give her free stuff, only to get in trouble because although she technically never did anything illegal, the people who gave her the stuff said she stole it. By doing so, she got her five minutes of fame with her dad before his acting career swallowed him up."
"Wait, what?" That was ridiculous! He'd seen the lifestyle celebrities led, mostly through news articles and some pictures the tabloids leaked. To even steal stuff even though one had it all was just either someone truly desperate or completely despicable.
"Yeah, I never liked that part about her." Rider shrugged, though there was that poison Waver heard when he talked about his father. "Thousands would kill to only get a fragment of the wealth she lived in, me included. But rather than appreciate what she had or use it to help others, she stole just to get attention from her dad."
"So why were you friends with her then?" He asked. It was pretty hard to describe Rider, who for all his kleptomaniac tendencies, seemed to focus more on doing so because of pragmatism rather than for the attention of it. This was mainly because the ticket to Japan practically left Waver broke, so aside from things like groceries, Waver couldn't afford things like renting a car.
They walked back to the dining room, bringing in more of the food and setting it up. "Coincidence, mainly. Her father sent her to the school I was in after she 'stole' a BMW. Her looks and heritage got her in trouble with the bullies, I wanted to get back at them with an excuse so I didn't look like an asshole when they came running to the teachers, and the rest is history."
There was still that distaste in Rider's tone, as if he had smelled something vile. That friendship probably hadn't ended well, or there was a conflict between them before Rider's death.
"Huh." That was the only thing Waver could say as he grabbed the silverware - most of it with mother of pearl handles - before another question popped up in his head. "Where did you learn how to cook, by the way?"
"My psycho babysitter." Rider quickly got several glasses of water, alongside a tea kettle. "Mom often came back home late due to her work, so she taught me how to cook at the young age of four. At first it was basic prep work, and she eventually taught me recipes. I kept such skills sharp because I actually liked making my own food."
It was a bit weird how Rider stated that so casually. Though Waver had learned that the gods apparently had quite a hand in his life, the Servant still spoke of them as if they were average people. Especially when Hera, the spiteful queen of revenge who screwed over every child of Zeus, was apparently this crazy yet somehow helpful nanny.
"What did she have you do? Fight a tiger and skin it alive, cooking its meat into a stew? Make a drink out of rattlesnake venom and down it?" He tossed those words semi-jokingly. It was pretty hard to know if such thoughts would be inaccurate, considering the sheer ridiculousness of Greek myth.
"Eh, she had me try to poke a snake once. She had me cut some hot peppers. It's the closest thing I got to 'torture' because I accidentally got the juice in my eyes one time." Rider rolled his eyes at that. "Rookie mistake on my part."
Waver really wanted to ask what the hell was wrong with Rider. Such experiences would normally be a recipe for someone that was mentally troubled, to say the least. Perhaps someone that is traumatized. Yet Rider was saying stuff like that in an almost factual manner. The only way would be the fact that he actually got over it, or was mentally distorted. But considering Rider was a guy who had used fire in the same way he used knives, he kept his mouth shut.
"Okay." That was all he could say.
So they kept setting up the table before the entire arrangement, alongside the aroma of its contents, made his mouth water. He knew that it would be extremely rude to eat the food while everyone else was there — that, and he would get hungry again watching everyone else eat their food.
Rider noticed his dilemma. "Get started — they'll look bad because it seems they're lazing around while we were making the food, making them bad hosts and thus breaking sacred hospitality. I'll go get them in the meantime."
"You're scary, you know that?" Waver noted as he took his seat, though he sensed himself smiling.
"Why thank you." With that, Rider turned back into spirit form, the opening of a door the only hint of his presence.
That should not be taken as a compliment. Waver mentally rolled his eyes at Rider as he picked up his forks and knives, and cut into the sausage of his breakfast before taking a large bite.
Eh, one man's fear is another's turn on. He choked at that, and he barely noticed Rider sending him the equivalent of laughter. Damn it.
It surprisingly didn't take too long for the others to appear. Waver was at the halfway mark of his breakfast - Rider's mushrooms were too good, screw him for savoring them - when he noticed the sound of footsteps, followed by the door opening. He shifted his head to look at Einzbern and Saber, and quickly tried to school his face into the snooty looks some of the other mages sent his way during lectures.
"Took you long enough." He didn't wait for a response, keeping the scales tipped in his favor by waving his hands towards the empty seats. He does his best to keep his voice even, maintaining the facade of someone that had masterminded a hostage-exchange turned alliance and not someone who got really lucky with summoning their Servant. "Please, sit."
Einzbern must have been caught off guard, because she did just that. That seemed to have surprised Saber, the servant just standing there for a few seconds before taking her own seat. Either way, Waver kept eating his breakfast, drinking a large cup of coffee while his brain sang in an angelic choir because of the black nectar.
It was when the door opened twice that Waver tensed up. He looked around to see Emiya and Hisau standing over them, their expressions stoic and cold as ice. Hovering over them were three Archimedes Spheres, each having their gems pointed towards the duo. He stared at them, doing the same to reflect their stoic looks, but there was something just off-putting about the deceased look in their eyes.
Then Emiya's ash black eyes shifted towards Irisviel's own crimson red ones, and that aura of death broke for a single second, giving way to warmth. For a second, he wondered what exactly was going on before Rider filled him in.
They're married. Rider chimed in.
How do you know?
I've been in a boat full of couples. It's kind of difficult to ignore whenever they're making heart eyes at each other. Rider commented, which made Waver confused as to how he was stuck in that sort of situation. Einzbern mentioned she was married when I first met her, and Reggy's clearly not into her. Then there's the mark of a wedding band on Emiya's finger, which he's trying to hide from us. The rest is simple elementary, my dear Waver.
After that quote he clearly took from Sherlock, Rider then decided to reveal himself, coming out of the kitchen door with his own cup of orange juice. He sat right next to Waver, giving him a smile. Then he blankly looked at Emiya and Hisau. "You know, it's kind of rude to not sit at the table and eat the chef's food, you know."
"What game are you playing, Rider?" Emiya's voice was low, but still made Waver shiver.
However, that didn't mean Waver would back down. He was holding all the cards in the deck after all. "He's not doing anything, Mage Killer. Can we leave the grudges until after breakfast? Your wife is already eating her own, after all."
Einzbern put a hand over her mouth, eyes widening as she coughed heavily while Saber patted her back. Emiya' chest heaved. A blur of black flew over the table and towards him, only for it to be intercepted by Rider. His Servant was grasping Hisau's wrist and twisting it into an uncomfortable angle, his other hand bending the rest of her frame so she was crouching. Rider put more pressure into the wrist, and she let go of the knife with a gasp.
Rider quickly swept Hisau off her feet, slamming her into the ground. He let go of her with the same speed, keeping the knife away from her and holding it in his hands.
Rider twirled the knife that was aimed at Waver's heart seconds ago, sending a glare towards everyone in the table. "Anyone else want to try? While I'm sure I would have a bit of trouble taking on Saber, please keep in mind that with my spheres, you're outnumbered ten to one."
Emiya seemed to realize the futility of it all, sitting down and slumping into the chair. Hisau slowly picked herself up and did the same, still clutching her stomach. Waver hadn't realized it, but his heart was beating at two-hundred kilometers an hour, the shock finally registering.
"Are you alright?" Rider quickly got close to Waver, putting a hand against his shoulder while still looking at Einzbern's faction. "Want me to get rid of them?"
"N-no." He stuttered out, before closing his eyes and stopping his lungs spasming. He held his breath for ten seconds before letting it go, doing the same before breathing in again. When he opened his eyes, he felt calmer. "We still need them, but that is the only reason stopping me from giving you the order, Rider."
"You're too generous, Master." Rider clicked his tongue before sending a glare towards the others. "Lucky you."
"I'm sorry about such behavior." Artoria spoke. "It's just that the information you stated is extremely vital. Regardless, it doesn't excuse an assault on your master."
He shook his head. "I'm still safe and that's what matters. We'll be keeping a sharper eye on them however."
"Of course. I'll make sure they hold on to their side of our agreement. Right, Kiritsugu?" The cold look in Einzbern's red eyes would've been enough to mimic his night atop Fuyuki's bridge.
Emiya gritted his teeth, as if he was holding himself back from saying something toxic. Then he nodded. Waver guessed that was the best thing he could get from the man, considering the circumstances. However, Waver felt it was fair. Emiya had killed mages in brutal ways, and although their atrocities were enough to get anyone the death penalty, they still should've faced the Clock Tower for their crimes. If getting the aid of a mage killer meant threatening him with destruction, he would do it.
"Anyway, now that it seems breakfast is ruined, we should probably get down to business on discussing our strategy. Rider, can you have your spheres escort Hisau out of the dining room? Send her something to help with the pain too." He asked.
"Of course." Rider clapped his hands, and four spheres flew from the kitchen door. Their insides opened to reveal their cables, which flew and strapped themselves to the chair, lifting it up with its passengers still inside. Surprisingly, she was stoic, more focused on holding her wrist than expressing any panic.
After that, Rider pulled out one of his holographic scrolls, rolling it across the table before tapping some of the Greek letters. The scroll projected itself into a wall where they could see everything. It was displaying a large map of Fuyuki City, and compared to the board he had back at the Mackenzies, it was definitely a lot more elegant.
"Amazing." Irisviel sighed out.
"Thank you, thank you, please hold your applause until the end of the presentation is over." Rider smirked. "Now, we'll go over these quite shortly, since you probably already know a bunch of them."
"As we all know, Kayneth El-Melloi has summoned Achilles as Lancer, and has taken refuge in Fuyuki's Hyatt Hotel." A picture of the Servant and Master duo appeared at Waver's prompting. "El-Melloi has rented out an entire floor, probably to use it as his own workshop. Needless to say, he probably has made a lot of defenses in case he was ever invaded."
"After that, there is the Master of Berserker. One Kariya Matou." Rider quickly changed the images to an extremely sickly person. He looked like he went through a stroke, his hair a silvery gray while it looked like one of his eyes had gone blind. "I located him after the battle at the Shipping District — Berserker's ether signature was quite close to him, so it wasn't hard to connect the dots."
I already said this, but thank you Rider. You really are a proficient Servant. Waver sent the mental message towards him. Rider's work ethic and dedication was something that was clearly paying off.
Flatterer.
"He looks like he's an inch from death." Saber noticed. "How is he still alive?"
Rider shrugged. "We don't know. However, we believe his condition is due to the family magecraft, though the 'why' is one question we don't have the answer to. Since we know so little, I sent some of my spheres to monitor him and his movements."
"Then we've got Tokiomi Tohsaka, who summoned Gilgamesh as Archer. They are currently staying at the Tohsaka manor." A new set of pictures replaced the image, before quickly zooming into the estate. "From what recon my spheres were able to provide, the place is a fortress in disguise."
Rider tapped into his scroll, and several small figures filled the screen. The Servant nodded towards Waver, so he knew it was his turn. "The man has multiple bounded fields, each one powered by their own unique mana generator. Not too much of an issue for you and Saber since you both have plenty of magical resistance, but makes it hard for us Masters that want to act as support."
"Then we've got the golems and familiars, which patrol the sky and any entryways into the manor. All of them are made from mana-charged gemstones, which makes them unnaturally durable, though expense-wise its quite impractical if you ask me." Waver rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you and Saber can take them on, but it'll be a long fight if we don't play it smart."
"What worries me the most would be these two." Rider tapped his fingers on the map again, and this time the holographic image was replaced by Kotomine and Assassin.
Emiya grunted, but didn't seem to react too much.
"But that can't be. Assassin was killed by Archer." Artoria commented.
"Yeah, sorry to spoil that idea, but Assassin faked his death." Rider quickly tapped a letter, and it showed Assassin observing the battlefield when he and Lancer were fighting. "I believe he either has a skill that allows him to make a body double, or a noble phantasm that allows him to fake his death. Either one is quite likely."
"Then that means Kotomine is taking advantage of his father. Either that, or his father is involved in the conspiracy." Einzbern stated.
"Yep. This means making a full-frontal assault impossible. Assassin and Kotomine would kill us while you and Saber deal with the house's fortifications." He grumbled, looking at the map with wariness and admiration. "Overall, we'd either have to lure Tohsaka out, or remove Kotomine and Assassin from the equation. I have to admit it, the man's quite easily stacked the deck so he doesn't really have to do anything."
"But then again… it means that if we can break down his power base, he'll be vulnerable. If we can force him into the front lines, we can easily take him out of the war." He said this while looking at the map, trying to find some way to break open what was the magecraft equivalent to a fortress.
"So we try to find something he holds important." Emiya finally spoke. "Something or somebody so important that he is willing to abandon his own fortress if it means protecting it."
NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! Rider's mental shouts made Waver want to clutch his head. If he thinks I'm going to hold a hostage, he can kiss my ass and this alliance goodbye!
The protest was so surprising because Rider was practically filled with rage, as if Emiya's suggestion had caused nuclear fission. There must've been something like that which happened in Rider's life, because nobody reacted so furiously. Either that, or he had more morals than Waver thought. It was a thing to take note of, since it would help him understand Rider a bit more.
Didn't you hold El-Melloi hostage?
He was completely involved in the whole thing, so he was aware of the stakes. We're talking about holding someone possibly completely innocent who has no idea about this. I may use dirty tactics, but even there are lines I won't cross.
Instead, Rider smiled a little bit, nodding in his direction. "True. But finding the important thing is another story."
Waver made the mental note that he should avoid trying to mess with Rider, and to always be on his toes when interacting with him. The way he hid his emotions behind the Façade of Happiness was way too scary and frightening to handle, much less maneuver around.
"And that's not even factoring Gilgamesh. Goddamn it, that guy's OP in every sense of the word. That means he's overpowered, by the way." Rider explained everyone's confused expressions. "His Noble Phantasm is an entire arsenal of Noble Phantasms, from what I've been able to see. However, considering all the cards in his deck, it might be better to fight him — when he's alone, at least."
"That leaves Caster, doesn't it?" Saber asked.
"Yes. Sadly, they've proven themselves to be hard to catch. We've hardly caught wind or hair from them. Either they have some sort of magecraft that prevents Rider's spheres from detecting them, or he can detect them and knows when to go into hiding." Waver said, scratching the back of his head. "It makes him a wild card. However, we can assume that unless he has a magecraft that subverts magic resistance, he would be the least dangerous threat."
But either way, it meant that Caster could be traced. Mana wasn't some energy that dissipated in the air. It leaked into the earth, the water, and trace amounts of a specific mage's magical energy could be found in the air around their workshop. It would mean that they could find them, just not through the average send a familiar tactic. Water would be the most logical decision, since Fuyuki was so close to a river.
Still, Rider was talking at the moment, so Waver scraped his own idea for later discussion. "However, I think I have developed an idea regarding where he is. Or at least, what is his current course of action. Are you guys aware of the serial killer haunting Fuyuki's streets?" Rider asked, which drew several looks of ignorance.
"Okay," Rider shook his head, closing his eyes and muttering something about obliviousness. "One thing I learned during my life is that when something suspicious is going on, the supernatural is attached to it. An earthquake is an earth goddess's tantrum, pirates can either be people or people turned into dolphins, and a freak storm system can be a bunch of gods duking it out. It only makes sense that there must be something attached to this."
Rider tapped his fingers once more on the scroll, and the display of the Tohsaka's mansion was replaced by… by…
The sight showed to him looked like a horror movie that had gone out of its way with the gore. Like that one time he had seen The Shining after he had bought the VHS tape out of curiosity. Blood was spilled everywhere, its crimson tone painted along the walls like a crude fresco. The corpses, by the Root, the corpses were mangled and chiseled the same way one would do to a block of marble. Waver had to stop himself from vomiting his breakfast over the table. Thankfully the image didn't stay there for long, and it quickly shifted to another. Thought it was extremely messy, he could still recognize the basic design.
"That's a summoning circle!" He shouted, his panic erasing with the realization. "A very badly made one, but it would still work if the guy had a catalyst."
"Yes. If we are to understand this, Caster is the Servant of this serial killer."
It took a few seconds to let that sink in. A serial killer was bad enough alone, but to have one with a Servant was a recipe for trouble. Servants were the magical equivalent of nuclear weapons, their capabilities enough to destroy cities single-handedly and slaughter thousands. Even armies would be useless in the face of a single one unless they were extremely weak.
Rider quickly tapped the scroll, and the entire map of Fuyuki disappeared, replaced by a list of the Masters and Servants. "Overall, Tohsaka is the biggest threat. It would take a lot of time to crumble his power base, not to mention he has support from Assassin and Kotomine."
"Then Achilles and Kayneth, since they also hold a fortified position. Berserker and Matou, because she was able to handle herself against Archer. And finally, Caster is a lottery. He could be the biggest threat, or the weakest." Rider quickly tapped the scroll again, and the hologram disappeared, returning the dining room to normal.
"Thank you for the review Rider. It will certainly help choose the next target. However, I recommend we go for Caster first." Saber said.
"I would agree with you there, but Achilles and Kayneth, however, are the safer targets." Waver said. "We know their weaknesses, and we need to stop him from gathering as many defenses as possible. Caster probably already has a fortified location, and one in which he will have all the cards. Better the devil we know, as the phrase goes."
"So you would allow Caster and his Master to wreak havoc and kill whoever they please just for convenience?" Artoria gritted her teeth, her eyes accusatory.
Did she really think Waver was that cold-blooded? He didn't like the idea of letting a serial killer go. However, if it was someone that could hide themselves from Rider's spheres, and an enemy they have no knowledge of, it could potentially be a slaughter. And he didn't want him and Rider to be victims of that.
"I'm saying that although we have strength, that is all we have against them, and they are an opponent who can possibly subvert it. We have no idea where they are, where their headquarters are, or what abilities they have." He explained.
"Agreed." Emiya spoke once again. "We need to choose the targets that we know of, and how we can combat them. Until we get more information, it would be a fool's errand to go looking for a fight."
Saber still looked disgruntled, but Irisviel put a hand on her shoulder. "We want to stop him as soon as possible. I know that means not saving lives, but we can't rescue them if we're not safe first."
Well, if it was one thing they could agree on, it would be strategic pragmatism. Artoria herself seemed to be surprised before turning away her head. It was… interesting. It did open up the idea that Saber wasn't quite cooperative with her Master, nor did it seem she had any ideas of exactly who she was working with. Food for thought, and a potential weak spot.
Rider nodded in agreement. "Yes. And if I recall correctly, Master, you were the guy's student, so you must have knowledge regarding that matter."
Suddenly, all eyes were on Waver, and he had to stop himself from squirming. "Of course. El-Melloi has multiple mystic codes, but his favorite is Volumen Hydrargyrum."
El-Melloi did like to show off his family's Supreme Mystic Code. That vile ball of mercury, impaling dummies and shielding himself from projectiles that ranged from Gandr shots to bullets, to even an RPG a mage had smuggled out of a military base. Waver had taken notes on it when the man wasn't looking, trying to find ways to mimic his work and find its weaknesses and strengths. When he did so, it was because of admiration.
He never thought about using that knowledge to fight him in battle until the past few days.
"It's a ball of liquid mercury filled with extreme amounts of magecraft. It acts as the ultimate offense and defense, using hydraulic pressure and El-Melloi's own magical energy to mold itself into any series of offensive and defensive measures." Waver explained.
"Due to its nature, the sphere can be actively shaped by the wielder into any number of weapons, whether its swords, whips, or tentacles. Its mixed use of centrifugal force and its liquid nature can allow it to become a pressure cutter so strong, any wall of force will fall before it. It's also extremely fast, though its nature can be used to predict where it will attack."
He remembered one time El-Melloi used the mystic code on a golem. It wasn't a pretty sight, with the mercury carving and slicing the rock as if it was a paintbrush, before the golem collapsed into stone. The thought of it being used against a human, and the end result, made him want to gag.
"Then there is its defense. Using hydraulic pressure, it can create a membrane that would protect El-Melloi at an instant. Surprise attacks would be useless, because the mystic code is that fast. Though it's been designed to protect from Gandr shots, he's used it to protect himself against more mundane weapons with just as much ease."
'
That didn't mean it was perfect. Waver had studied every law and spell in magecraft, and although he never glimpsed them mysteries from any of the great families, he knew how to detect flaws and weaknesses through simple theory. Though he would never be able to match his former mentor in a straight fight, pragmatism and trickery would pay off.
"However, its liquid nature is its own failing. Because it's bound to the laws of hydrokinetics, that means if you send out a weaker attack, it will mold itself to counter it. If a greater offense is unleashed before the mystic code can react and form a thicker membrane, it would instantly break."
He took a sip from his glass of water, clearing his throat. "Furthermore, it has a limited amount of range towards its attacks. If one attacks from a long-range attack, and uses weapons of different calibers in a short amount of time, then the defense can be penetrated. Either that, or force El-Melloi to use so much magical energy he can't maintain the defense. However, I wouldn't use that method, because it forces one into a battle of attrition."
"Overall, a perfect tool for a one-on-one battle between mages, not so much for the unorthodox or for multiple fighters."
"The only issue would be Achilles then. As for that, I have an idea." Emiya looked towards his Servant. "Saber can act as a decoy on the ground floor of the Fuyuki Hyatt hotel, acting as bait for him. In the meantime, we would be able to sneak up to the floor and ambush El-Melloi there."
He shook his head. "It isn't as simple as that. Knowing him, El-Melloi has put up several traps across the entire area. Bounded fields, doorways that open to several dimensions, spirits crossing every hallway, and several mana generators. It would be useless to get in through brute force."
"Hehe. That's where I come in." Rider gave a mischievous smirk. "Master, I would like permission to scout the hotel El-Melloi is staying at."
He didn't know what Rider was up to, but he hadn't let Waver down. "Granted."
"So that's that?" Einzbern asked.
He shrugged. "Sure."
You know, while this place is nice, its best that I bring you back to the Mackenzies, Waver. Rider chimed in. The more we stay, the more they can learn about us, and the more time they have to create a trap. Since they don't know much, it would be for the better.
But that gives them more time to plan unmonitored. Besides, I want to learn some magecraft from Einzbern.
For the first reason, nah. I have my spheres keeping an eye on them, and if one gets destroyed, the swarm will immediately start attacking them. If they believe that we are oblivious to sabotage, then it will backfire on them. As for the second one… we need to get her alone, and in a more neutral area. Here, she has all the cards. Anyway, what are we going to do when we get there?
Well, I have an idea on how to find Caster. However, I won't tell them until I can actually test it out and see if there's any results. If it works, we might get some respect from Saber. Maybe encourage her to ally with us rather than her own master if we build up on it.
It's nice to know you're learning quickly.
That made Waver smile inside at the praise.
Rider handed them a holographic scroll. "We'll use this to keep in touch. When I get what I'm looking for, we'll try to arrange a meeting after."
Waver stood up, and looked around, feeling extremely awkward. While he wanted to tell them something positive, it would feel like he was spitting in their face. On the other hand, being rude was sure to grate them even more.
So he opted for Rider's sarcasm. He gave them a smile before saying, "Thank you for your hospitality."
Then they left the dining room, quickly winding their way through the halls before getting to the main entrance. Rider gestured towards a motorcycle with a bright red, white and blue paint job. The words HONDA and CBR were painted on different parts of the motorcycle.
Rider quickly mounted the vehicle, putting on a helmet before knocking back the stick holding it up. He looked at Waver, and it only took a few seconds before Waver caught on. He quickly went towards the motorcycle, accepting the helmet offered to him before putting it on. He climbed on, and for a few seconds he thought to wrap his arms around Rider before the sound of footsteps stopped them from leaving.
They looked up to see it was Einzbern, whose pale white hair seemed to almost blend in against the castle's rock walls. "Once again, I'm sorry for what happened."
He shrugged. "It's no issue. As long as this alliance works, it doesn't matter."
She shook her head. "Yes, but it still doesn't excuse us. I'm sorry for my husband's hostility, to say the least. While what you did to get this alliance was disgusting, I'm aware that his own tactics are unacceptable."
"I just want you to know that Kiritsugu wishes for peace in this world. For a way to end all conflict, and thus, end all suffering. It is a dream I share with him, and hopefully you can too." She smiled for a few seconds before her face changed back to seriousness. "I'm not asking you to end all hostilities, but know that you can at least have a common goal."
Waver had a multitude of thoughts. How absurd such a dream was, because conflict — arguments and fighting was a part of human nature. World peace would eventually come true, but it was a long, toilsome road of humanity overcoming all of its flaws, biases, naivete, and stupidity. While he could understand that by ending all conflict was an honorable cause, it was one that humanity would have to collectively strive for, not for one man to decide.
Furthermore, he wanted to ask her, how would Emiya try to end all of that conflict? Waver was sure that the Holy Grail worked akin to a genie, or at least, akin to the Monkey's Paw. In order to get any wish granted, said wish and how it should be acquired would need to be worded carefully. He was sure that a man who had spent all of his life killing, shooting, and generally murdering his way through problems was not exactly one that would have a peaceful answer to that.
However, the hopeful look in her eyes was something Waver couldn't squash.
So he nodded. "Of course."
"Wrap your hands around me, and lean with the vehicle of the bike, Master. It'll make things easier." His servant said, before quickly turning on the engine. It almost seemed to purr like a cat.
Hmph. World peace. A noble goal, but one that can't be fixed so easily with a wish. Rider mentally muttered.
So you don't believe her?
She's too innocent to not be telling the truth. It's just that humanity has had thousands of years to do that. Although people strive for it, we fall under our vices and ambitions a lot of the time. To even grant someone a wish like that… It would erase something quite important to humanity.
Then Rider went speeding away, going so fast Waver had to stop himself from screaming.
—
Leo would admit, he hadn't expected Waver to send him on water collection duty when they came back to the Mackenzies.
Not that he was complaining - it was a good way to scout the rest of the city while trying to find Caster. So he went around the river, several plastic bottles and a map in his tool belt, marking them with symbols so he could remember where he collected them. He even took advantage to make more spheres as he strolled along the river's edge, the metal parts and screws attaching to themselves almost immediately. Item creation was a hell of a skill.
Waver had explained to him that they could trace Caster's possible location by examining the mana in the water. Considering Fuyuki was a river-bound city, this meant that a lot of it was connected to said locations. So they simply had to find the place in the river that had the most mana, and ergo, they could deduce the Servant's location by following the corresponding section of the sewer system.
In a way, it was ingenious. Both Waver's and Caster's methods. Leo had hidden in sewers when he was running away from one of the foster homes he lived in. Although the smell was horrible, it was also a place most police and truancy officers wouldn't look by virtue of said smell. It was logical that the serial killer would use the same principle.
Thankfully, it was a task he could finish easily. His spheres did most of the work, grabbing some of the bottles he had while he searched the main sections of the river. It just took half an hour, and he decided that now was a good time to search the Fuyuki Hyatt.
So he took the motorcycle he stole, hiding it behind a large trash container in an alley before looking at the nearby sidewalks to see if any groups of people were approaching.
His mother was probably frowning at him from beyond the grave, but Leo didn't exactly have too many choices. Waver was broke, so he couldn't afford to rent a car. He could use one of his Noble Phantasms, but it would be a waste of magical energy just so they could have a ride.
Gods, his mom… would he ever be able to see her again? At least he had that chance back when he was alive. He could've taken a stroll into the Underworld and at least visited her, or when he died, he would finally be by her side. Now that he was a Heroic Spirit, would he even get the chance to see her?
He shook his head, trying to clear it. Now was not the time to think about those questions. Only by winning the Holy Grail War could he find the answers to them. And that meant securing a way to defeat Achilles and his Master at the moment.
Focusing on his magical energy, he wove a three-piece suit into reality, the flannel a dark red that looked closer to the edge of velvet. A small pin was attached to it, the copper molded into the shape of a laurel. Though he preferred more practical clothing, this would allow him to fit in with the hotel's clientele.
When he saw a crowd of businessmen, he held his head high and walked towards the edge of the group, focusing on giving an air of confidence as he walked towards his destination. When he was at the entrance of the hotel, he split off and walked inside.
The Fuyuki Hyatt was definitely fancy, and its construction was clearly inspired by other western hotels. The lobby was large and elegant, with dark wooden floors and walls with a dark red wallpaper. Warm yellow lights on the ceiling gave the place a comforting air. In the distance, tucked in a small corner, was a small snack section, with two refrigerators holding cold drinks and ice cream. In the distance, he could see a cafeteria type of room, with multiple tables, chairs, and a television by one wall. A pool was just right outside, and he could hear the splashing of water.
What stood out for him more was all the people. Bell boys moving around and helping the richer customers with their luggage. A nearby mother was with her daughter while they waited for the concierge to finish something, playing with a small doll. A nuclear family was resting on a nearby sofa, one of the boys with a book while the mother was doing her makeup. Some men were drinking alcohol of all varieties near the TV.
Mentally, he gritted his teeth. There were too many people. If they wanted to execute the plan against El-Melloi and Rider, they would have to find some way to evacuate the entire hotel. He wasn't going to get civilians involved with this. Not just because of the cost of life, but because the Holy Grail War demanded secrecy. Furthermore, it was ingenious in a cold way. El-Melloi had clearly planned to use the entire building's population as a group of human shields.
On the outside, he kept a simple smile, the Façade of Happiness allowing him to blend in, and it only took charm and confidence to blend into a place where one looked like an outsider.
Turning into spirit form, he quickly zoomed past the area before frowning, going back to the hallway before quickly looking through every room in the nearby hallway. He smiled when he found the employee locker room. It was rather easy to pick the locks over there, searching the uniforms until he found one that was just his size. He then put it back and locked the door, satisfied with what he could find.
Considering Waver's knowledge, it was theoretically possible to go through all of the defenses if they implemented a classic Trojan Horse strategy. El-Melloi either needed to go out to get his food or order room service, and considering he was perfectly safe in his own room, that eliminated the going outside option.
This meant El-Melloi had to open his defenses so the workers could give him his food. Stuffing Waver into a food cart was a possible way to get them through, while Leo would steal one of the worker's uniforms and assume such a position.
A fire-based distraction would be enough to get Achilles out of the room, considering he probably wanted to get even. Except at the source of the fire, he could place Artoria there rather than himself, and she would keep Lancer busy while he dealt with El-Melloi and his fiancée. Waver would take advantage of the chaos and bring down his former teacher's defenses from the inside, opening the route for a full-on invasion from Emiya and his associates.
Worst case scenario, Kayneth used a command seal to get Achilles back to his side. Though there was a certain advantage of fighting in close quarters, such as Lancer not being able to use his divine speed, it also meant that Waver would be stuck in the same battlefield as him. If Achilles decided to aim at Waver… Well, he could use a noble phantasm. It was just that he hated revealing one of his cards so early in the game.
If everything turned out well, he and Waver would kidnap El-Melloi and his fiancé while Saber was busy with Achilles. He would use his spheres to multiple holographic copies of the man and his wife, and in the same way Spartacus and his associates did to the Romans, these copies would be everywhere, causing a smokescreen distracting his allies and potential foes alike. A bit complicated, but Leo had rigged a plan to kill Gaea with most of his crew members in the Argo II unaware of it. This was relatively simpler.
Then they could milk all the knowledge El-Melloi and his fiancée had. As to their fates, well, that was his Master's choice.
Getting back into physical form in a bathroom, he immediately walked back to the concierge, who was looking at her computer. It's one of the thick black things, another reminder that Leo was stranded in a different time. He put on his most flirtatious smile as he approached her. "Well, hello."
The concierge looks up at him, before blushing slightly. Huh. That never happened before. "Hello, how can I help you?"
That was a bit refreshing. Though the Grail's knowledge allowed him to speak Japanese, it was nice to speak English too. Though Emiya, Einzbern and Artoria counted, they were different.
"Well, I'm looking for a business associate of mine. He mentioned he was staying over at this hotel, but never thought about telling me his room number." He kept his smile. "Surely a talented lady such as you can help me out?"
If anything, she blushes even more, before returning back to an air of professionalism. "Well, if you tell me his name, surely I can find his room. Even call ahead to let him know you're here."
"Thank you, but I believe he deserves a bit of a surprise, with all the trouble he gave me. Though I'm grateful for the help." He spoke. "His name is Kayneth El-Melloi."
Immediately, the woman's eyes bug out, before her lips puckered up as if she had eaten a lime. "Oh."
He sighed. "Let me guess, he's being an ass - I mean, a problem, isn't he?"
She laughed for a bit before sighing. "That's downplaying it. He's arrogant, and demands the most excellent service. Nearly all of the staff but a few have refused to do so, and the ones that do are only in it because our general manager is either offering them bonuses or just in it for the eye candy."
"That's another business partner of mine." So Achilles was taking residence in the hotel. "Now, what room did he rent?"
"Hmph. He didn't just rent a room. He rented the entire top floor." At this, the woman looked upwards, as if mentally cursing the man. "At least he's paying extra — a lot of the regulars are furious they can't get over one room up there."
What? Who the hell rented an entire floor? This man had to be freaking rich if he could waste money so liberally. He would definitely want to see the numbers on that credit card of his.
"Well, that's ridiculous." He spoke. "I mean, I could understand a room or two, but that's just excessive."
"Agreed. But now you know where he is. I hope he's kinder to you than he was to everyone else here." She quickly went back towards her laptop, and Leo took that sign to leave.
He immediately went to an elevator, only veering slightly to check out a map of the hotel. It was a bit of a basic design, with a restaurant located on the second-to-last floor while the rest seemed to be average rooms. It also had a dance hall, a pool, and an underground garage. There were multiple points of evacuation in the case of a fire or an earthquake, which made things easier for him.
While he would like to go to the top floor and fully scout out the defenses, it would pose the risk of El-Melloi detecting him. So he instead went to the restaurant, using it as a place to scout the guests. It was around lunch time, so there was reason to believe El-Melloi and his servants would approach there.
He took the elevator, mentally squirming as a family with a stroller walked inside, the young boy they had playing with a really loud toy and squealing like nails on a chalkboard. His parents at least had the awareness to say sorry, and thank the gods they didn't leave at the same floor. Even if Leo didn't have to eat, toddlers at restaurants were just the worst.
The restaurant had a sign in both Japanese kanji and flowing English cursive, its name being International Boulevard. Apparently, it focused on cuisine from around the world so as to emphasize its name, ranging from French escargot to Indian curry to even Mexican tacos al pastor. It was his kind of place, though it was clearly focusing on its international appeal so as to attract customers who could afford to dine at those places.
The place had an elegant carpet, clearly made to mimic those of Persian origin. The tables, however, were western in design, with some booths were tucked away next to the windows on both sides of the area, giving an impressive aerial view of the city below. They had a similar lighting compared to the lobby, though some more private places were a bit darker. The tables were western in detail, and he could barely make out the smell of baking bread in the distance.
Approaching the maître d'hôtel, Leo quickly gave him the same smile he gave to the concierge. Nodding in greeting, the man puts down the seating chart and looks him straight in the eyes. "Good afternoon, and welcome. How may I help you?"
"Is it possible I can have a table for one please?" He asked.
The Maître D' shakes his head. "I'm afraid not. Most of our tables are taken or reserved at the moment. The current wait time would be at least an hour."
Leo shrugs. Nothing else to do then. While he may have had the suit and look, he couldn't exactly barge into a restaurant and immediately get a table. However, something about the place is making his hair stand on end. Focusing on the mana around him, he immediately senses a presence similar to his. He mentally follows the energy, before looking at the general direction it was coming from.
The man at one of the corner tables wore a white V-neck, giving a view of the elegant gold necklace that covered his neck, which was bobbing as he drank a glass of wine. However, what immediately draws Leo's attention is his golden hair and dark red eyes.
Focusing on his skill, he immediately draws back a layer of the Façade, enough to give away his presence but not his state of emotions. Gilgamesh quickly puts down the glass of wine, his eyes darting towards Leo before giving him an imperious look, judging him for five seconds before nodding.
Leo quickly turned towards the Maître D'. "Never mind. I see a friend of mine is here."
Gilgamesh… honestly, he hadn't expected for Archer to be such a man. The guy was known throughout history for his immense super strength and power. However, if one took a metaphorical analysis to it, power had many forms. If a heroic spirit's Noble Phantasm was an expression of their power, then Gilgamesh would have all the power of prior heroes due to being the first. Therefore, he would have all their Noble Phantasms.
Leo knew by such arguments, Gilgamesh had morals similar to his time. Since he was the king of the known world, that meant the entire world was his property by right. He would do as he pleased, but he would protect others if it meant the world was in danger because it was his.
Therefore, Leo had to play along, satisfying the king's ego while still maintaining his individuality. Be a subject, but not a sycophant. Be a critic, but not an antagonist. That way, he could maintain his interest and favor.
He quickly walks towards Gilgamesh, giving a small bow in salutations. He doesn't look the King in the eyes as he asks the question, "May I take a seat?"
"Such impudence." Though the King's diction is supposed to chastise, Leo could sense the interest in his tone. "Very well, I shall grant this small mercy."
He does, immediately sitting. He still doesn't look him in the eyes, because that would mean he was his equal. And Leo wasn't arrogant or presumptuous enough to assume as such. "If I may have an answer to my question, my king, what brings you to this hotel?"
"Let me indulge your question with the same one, Jester." He takes another sip of his cup. "While I would appreciate it if it was to seek my company, I believe you have more autonomy than that."
"You are correct. I came here because the base of the Servant Rider, Achilles, is actually right above this floor. His Master, Kayneth El-Melloi, had bought the entire area." He gestures to the ceiling. "In service of my summoner, I decided to scout the hotel."
"Hmph. So your summoner didn't have the will to come here alongside you? How dull of him." Gilgamesh looks towards a waiter. "I will have another glass. He will have…"
"A cosmopolitan, please." Leo chimed in.
The waiter quickly nods, leaving them to their discussion. "Well, my summoner isn't exactly the most sterling mage in history, so I saw fit that he was safer in his own workshop than encountering a stronger foe. Doesn't help that you have Assassin crawling around every corner."
Contrary to shock, a smile broke out in Gilgamesh's face, as if he was enjoying the revelation. Leo couldn't help but drink it in. "It's good to see that not everybody has fallen for such a dupe. It would've made this conflict extremely boring if everything went good for Tokiomi."
The waiter comes in and drops off their drinks.
Leo takes a sip of his drink before continuing, the alcohol burning a bit in his throat. Though he never drank it before, his servant physiology was diminishing its effects. "If I deduce correctly, you don't sound fond of your summoner."
"And you do. Tokiomi is not entertaining." Gilgamesh gave a scornful look at the direction of the Tohsaka Manor. "He's already set up everything in his favor. He doesn't need to lift a finger, only for others to do all the work for him. Even his wish for the Holy Grail isn't to satisfy a vice or a desire, just to fulfill a family obligation."
"By the way, you can look me in the eyes. While I appreciate the gesture, it would be quite dull not to see those of my own conversationalist."
Lifting his head up, he's a bit blown back by the sheer focus aimed towards him. Though Gilgamesh was drinking, those red eyes of his were aimed at him with a mix of curiosity and playfulness, almost like a cat that had found a new toy.
Part of him felt flattered that such a handsome guy was looking at him that way. "Hmm, so you say because he lacks a desire, that makes him not fit your standard?"
If only his friends could see him now, talking to this guy and acting all so formal. They were too used to talking with the boy who used jokes and sarcasm to distract them. They hadn't seen him when he lived in the streets, where charm, humor and guile were his only currency.
"Desires are what define humanity as a whole. Even I had them during my lifetime, and pursued them to their apex. To have none just makes one a living machine." Gilgamesh glanced at the menu, before returning his eyes back to Leo. "What about you, Jester? Surely you have a desire? A dream you want to fulfill."
That was a pretty good question. Most of his life, Leo had just lived, running away from foster home to foster home. Then he was rescued and brought to Camp Half-Blood alongside Jason and Piper, which opened his eyes to the fact that his mother's killer was out there, and that focused him on vengeance. But that was a score to settle, not what he wanted.
He wouldn't indulge Gilgamesh right now, however. "Do you mind if I ask that we perform an exchange then? I'll answer your question, if you answer mine."
The king shrugged. "Of course. However, we should probably order first."
He nodded, looking at his menu before quickly settling on beef bourguignon. Rather than have them categorized by entree, the menu had been categorized by country, with there being nine distinct countries. Thankfully it seemed the waiters here were fully concentrated, because the one that took their drink orders quickly approached them. He said his order, while Gilgamesh had ordered Chicken Tikka Masala.
When the waiter was gone, they continued. "So, what question do you want to ask of me?"
"Well, excuse me if this is egotistical — I don't want to hog the subject of conversation, after all. But why grant me an audience in the first place?" Leo asked, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Surely as a Jester, I'm not worth much of your time."
Gilgamesh chuckled, a warm, vibrating sound that made Leo want to do the same. "You really are modest. However, I know that the blood of the gods runs in your veins, which means there are depths beyond your mischief. Regardless, the fact that you act as such in my presence is satisfactory."
"Now, it's your turn." Gilgamesh said as their waiter left a small basket of bread on their table.
He sliced off a portion of the bread, conscious at the way Gilgamesh looked at him to the point he almost blushed. He then gave his answer.
"Well, my desire would be mastery." He said. "I want to master everything there is to know — art, music, if there's a craft out there, I would devote myself to it until I reach the top."
"Interesting, and quite an ambitious dream." Gilgamesh took a bite of the bread. "So is that your wish on the Holy Grail? You would want eternal life, so that you could fulfill your goal?"
He shook his head, a hint of a smirk on his face. "No, I'm afraid not my king. What my wishes and what my desire for the Holy Grail is, are quite different. Now, I believe it's my turn."
He took a second to analyze the king, trying to return the favor of his peering. If anything, the King of Heroes seemed to bask in the attention, like a movie star in front of the paparazzi. Leo went back to his drink before he questioned Archer.
"What is it that you want from the Grail, my king? You surely had your appetite and whim satisfied under your rule. The epic that was named after you spoke of your hedonism in grand terms." By hedonism, he meant it as in the classical sense, which was the pursuit of pleasure while avoiding pain.
"Well, you are quite accurate. I tasted the best food and drink, and bed the most beautiful men and women Uruk had to offer. Any object that humanity values the most rests in my treasury." Gilgamesh looked towards the window, observing the people walking the streets below. "However, the Grail, under that viewpoint, is also my property. I have the obligation to guard it from those who are unworthy of it."
So Gilgamesh seemed to function the same way most ancient heroes worked. They were great in their deeds, not in their intentions. They were defined as heroes because they committed more good than evil, and even then, it was mainly because it served them and not the people around them.
"True, but can I point something out, my king, without suffering your wrath?" Leo took another slice of bread, this time dotting it with a little bit of butter.
"Permission granted."
"What you are doing, by all interpretations, is just an obligation, not a desire. And by the definition of the Holy Grail War, all the Servants that were summoned desire something to be granted to them by the Grail." He pointed this out with as much sincerity as he could muster. "Therefore, you want the Grail to grant you something, and not just to protect it."
A waiter took Gilgamesh's glass of wine, refilling it with ease before once again backing away. The King ignored it, his eyes analyzing Leo's. "You would have made a fine advisor in my court, Jester, if you are able to see the flaws in my argument."
"However, I will not reveal what I wish for the Holy Grail at the moment." Gilgamesh once again drank from his glass, only to be interrupted by their food arriving at the moment.
Leo took in the plate, the concoction of wine, beef stock, and tomato paste marinating the contents. The bacon, beef, white onions, carrots, and mushrooms seemed to tempt him with their aroma. He mentally tracked the ingredients, listing them down so he could surprise Waver one day. It was definitely a recipe worth making.
Gilgamesh seemed to do the same towards his own dish, the chicken breast covered in a rather elegant sauce, its dark orange color too varied for it to be so simple. There must've been a lot of spices involved in its development, though he could smell onions, tomato, and garlic.
He lifted his drink towards the king. "To delicious meals, and even better company."
Gilgamesh lifted an eyebrow, as if questioning the gesture. "Hmph." Regardless, his wine glass met Leo's own.
They drank from their glass before eating their own meals, until Gilgamesh stopped and looked at him. Part of Leo was self-conscious enough he returned the King's gaze. "You do not wish for immortality to complete your goals. So why did you answer the grail's call?"
He mentally savored the irony. "Well, it's the same reason you gave me. I plan to use the grail so I can fulfill my obligations. If not for those, I would definitely indulge my own desires."
As he continued eating, he tried to figure out just exactly what Gilgamesh could want. He had everything in the world inside his treasury. He lived, by all rights, a very fulfilling life. He didn't lack for possession, power, or riches so as to fulfill his material-focused wishes. That meant what he wanted was either something immaterial, or something that he couldn't acquire. Or if Leo was correct, someone he couldn't acquire.
Leo looked at Gilgamesh with a troublemaker's smile. "Besides, what's not to say I'm not fulfilling them right now? I mean, I've got fine food, drink, and handsome company right in front of me."
Gilgamesh chuckled slightly, his lips twitching into a smile, though he didn't respond. Leo returned it, before a thought crossed his mind. "I have another question I'd like to ask, my king."
"Go ahead."
"Your wish… is it to see Enkidu again?
Gilgamesh froze at that, the blood and smirk on his face frozen in his body, as if the sheer idea was making him scream inside. Leo didn't look away, trying to show that this question was not to simply get a reaction from him. He waited, and wondered for a few seconds if he had gone too far.
"Is that what you think my wish is?" Gilgamesh asked.
"Yes, though I'll admit, the experience in my prior life may have influenced such ideas." He didn't take a bite of his food. "Perhaps it's my psychological projection to your own agenda. However, I find that most who have lost the person they loved wish to see them one more time, no matter how that can be acquired."
"And well, the Holy Grail can create such miracles, without any strings attached. As far as I know, anyway." He touched his face, and looked at Gilgamesh in the eyes. "I know if I didn't have responsibilities to fulfill, that would be one of my wishes for it."
They were silent for a few minutes, and Leo had to return to his food before the tension made him numb. It was about ten minutes before the King of Heroes spoke again.
"Your… your ideas…" Gilgamesh grit his teeth and looked into his own cup, the velvety red liquid reflecting his own face. "Although they reek of arrogant assumptions, they have some merit."
His face shifted towards Leo's once again, though it lost its sharp edge. "Enkidu was my only friend. My only equal in strength and position. The gods themselves made him to be such, and he did not disappoint. If this Holy Grail that the mage families created could bring back a creature that the gods erased, I would bring him back. His death was a result of that disastrous goddess' temper tantrum, not in any definition of justice."
"However, I also have other wishes, obligations I would like to fulfill through the Grail." Gilgamesh returned to his meal, making Leo relax a bit. "Tell me, Jester, what do you see in the streets below?"
"People. Hundreds of them." The answer was simple — there were crowds roaming about, walking at their own pace. Though he didn't have the supernatural level of clairvoyance the Archer class was blessed with, an average Servant's senses were more than enough to observe the ground below. In the distance, he could see the group of men in suits he used to blend in with.
"Yes. Too many, however, as I see it." At this, Gilgamesh's face turned into a scowl. "How many do you think are truly living, thriving to be the best they can be, to fulfill their own desires?"
He was silent, trying to ponder the implications in Gilgamesh's line of thought. Then he responded. "I'll admit, most probably don't have that much impact in the grand scheme of things. They're more focused on influencing what is connected to them rather than changing the world as a whole."
"An astute observation, and one that I've also made. However, they influence the world due to such large numbers, and what they do with that influence disgusts me."
Leo could… uncomfortably agree with him. Though he was in the streets during his past life, and most of the time focused on living day by day, he did try to get the news whenever he could, or learn history whenever he found himself in the school system. It was the only small chance he could see the larger world around him, and perhaps it was a form of escapism too.
And he saw and read about a lot of events, whether they be natural disasters or politics or economics. The 9/11 attacks. The Global Recession. The Flint Water Crisis. All a lot of disasters that were caused by human corruption, hatred, and stupidity. It was kind of hard to refute Gilgamesh's statement and views when Leo knew that there was a lot of evidence in the past and (technically) future that would help support it. Even part of him agreed with such views.
"Yes, humanity as a whole can be disgusting sometimes. And let me guess, you want to use your wish to improve it somehow?" He looked at Gilgamesh, trying to hide his approval.
"Of course. As the first king, it is my duty to improve the people that I rule over." Gilgamesh looked over the crowd. "However, I still have yet to see what kind of judgement I shall weigh upon humanity. When I have drawn enough information, I seek to use the Grail so as to give such judgement."
Okay… okay… better than planning genocide at least, compared to some of the villains he saw in the movies. Though Leo was already planning to kill the man (and the casualty of such a plan made his blood chill), that didn't mean he could arrange a plan to change his opinion. Better to have humanity at least well off in this world rather than leave it at the hands of a demigod who saw it as a disease.
"Then I shall do my best so as to live long enough to see such a decision, my king." He replied tactically, giving a polite nod.
"See that you do. Now, I have told you what I wish from the Holy Grail. You're obligated to return the favor, are you not?"
"I suppose I am." He continues dining, trying to delay the inevitable. Its only when his plate is emptied, does he finally open his mouth, and for once, is reluctant to speak.
He doesn't have to lie. His past, present, and future didn't matter in this world where the gods don't exist anymore. He could go around, shouting his true name to the skies and no one would care, or at least they would give him weird looks. Perhaps this was why he was so willing to tell Gilgamesh about this.
"In my hubris, I made an oath on the River Styx, and my fulfillment of the oath was disrupted by factors outside of my control." He chooses the words carefully, trying to avoid the subject of Calypso. He wasn't lying, but he was framing the situation with different diction. "I failed, and was supposed to be bathed in the river until my soul was erased from existence."
"However, only by the whims of fate, I was able to enter the Throne of Heroes. I intend to use the Holy Grail so I can fulfill the oath, and live the life that I was denied."
There was silence for a while, only for the melodic laughter of the king to draw the eyes of the restaurant's patrons. Gilgamesh banged his fist upon the table, chuckles spilling out like a waterfall. Some would've been pissed at how he treated Leo's wish with such disregard, but Leo wasn't. He knew that the oath was made out of stupidity, naïveté and what little hubris he had. Either way, he couldn't live (heh) with himself if he left Calypso stranded on that island for eternity.
"How… How ridiculous. So you only want to use the Grail to atone for your sins? Especially when they have already been made?" Gilgamesh gasped out the sentence before another torrent of laughter spilled out.
Leo shrugged at the line of questioning, not even bothering to at least feign annoyance. "Yes, I am. And it may be foolish compared to most other wishes, but I intend to fulfill it nonetheless."
The chill in his voice, cold like last night's winds, is enough to calm the King, who slowly recovered his composure and looked at him with a strange new interest. "Still, you intend to fight for the Grail, even if it means usurping your king?"
"My king, while I recognize your title and strength, the Holy Grail does not care for said titles. My summoner himself recognizes that it's an award that can be won through sheer merit. That means in theory that all servants have a chance to get the grail, me included." He explained, suddenly feeling taller and stronger. He felt like the times he covered himself in fire, the heat barely under control, but still strong enough to affect his surroundings.
"I do not intend to usurp you — reaching the Grail is quite different from that of having your divine blood on my hands. However, if we find ourselves fighting to grasp it in our hands and achieve the wishes that we desire…" He casually pulled a knife out of his tool belt, twirling it and letting the metal glint off the restaurant's lighting before putting it back. Part of Leo felt surprised at himself doing so, because he was more prone to hiding his emotions than doing this. "Well, my knife will find its mark."
Gilgamesh didn't seem intimidated. In fact, the king seemed proud of him. This just made Leo both frustrated and wanting to return the cocky smirk that appeared in Gilgamesh's face after he pulled out the knife. The resentment and fury, which were just two of the emotions he hid beneath a joker's mask, had leaked out. And yet still, the man in front of him didn't run away or lash out.
"Then I'll hold you to that promise, Rider." The sudden shift in name took him by surprise, though Gilgamesh seemed to ignore it. "In the meantime, mind sticking around for dessert? I would appreciate your company for a few minutes before we part."
He nodded at that, and Gilgamesh quickly ordered a dessert for them, though the waiter seemed to be a bit suspicious about the fact that they were sharing the one dessert. The dessert he ordered was Mont Blanc, a dessert that Leo had eaten during the Heroes of Olympus' short stay in Bologna after chasing those damned Kerkopes who stole his zipper.
Although it was adopted by the Japanese, part of Leo felt it was ironic — those dwarves had given him Odysseus's astrolabe, and it was the only reason he even thought about rescuing Calypso. The dessert was just another reminder of his past, despite the fact that it was in a completely different parallel world. However, he didn't let his reminder show in his face, otherwise Gilgamesh might think he was unappreciative.
"So tell me, my king, do you have any knowledge regarding Assassin?" He said this bluntly while drawing back up the Façade so his emotions didn't reveal themselves again. "I have to say, he's quite the mystery."
"Sadly, I'm afraid I have as much knowledge as you do. His and Kotomine's relationship is strictly professional, which is such a shame to be honest. Interaction between them is so rare, it makes it hard to learn their true nature." Gilgamesh rolled his eyes. "Please tell me Saber is at least more interesting compared to my own allies."
"She's quite naïve. However, she was born in an age where chivalry and honor actually had worth, so that's a given. I can find a bit of beauty in her nobility, for good people are quite hard to find." He explained. "I haven't quite figured out her wish, but logic points to it somehow being attached to the Fall of Camelot."
"Hmmm… interesting. Tell me, how is she as a king?" Gilgamesh explained.
"She places quite a lot of value in honor. Even though the methods I gained my alliance with her were extreme, she still tries to have her Master uphold it. I hope to learn more in the future."
Their dessert arrived, and Gilgamesh was the one to take the first bite. "Decent. Not at the level of my cooks, but decent."
He shrugged, waiting for Gilgamesh to get a second spoonful before taking his own, carving out a small chunk a second before Gilgamesh could do the same. He gives the king a mischievous smile, mouthing 'sorry' before moving back to his own half. After that, the rest was calm, though Leo did make sure to tempt the King, playing with his dessert while showing the curve of his neck. If Gilgamesh's hedonism was true, perhaps he could use his lust as a gambling chip, so to speak.
After the dessert was finished, Gilgamesh reached into his jacket and pulled out a credit card at the same time Leo did so, one of the many credit cards he pickpocketed from some of the wealthier citizens of Fuyuki. "Please, allow me to pay for this. As a token of gratitude for me intruding on your meal."
"But you were quite pleasant entertainment, Rider. Therefore, I believe you more than compensated for that. Instead, how about you offer me another source of entertainment? Perhaps for the battle that you intend to pursue against that arrogant demigod?" Gilgamesh asked.
For a second he was tempted to say that was the pot calling the kettle black, but decided to not do so, instead wondering whether he should obey Gilgamesh's request. He had already pushed the card of Greek hospitality in broad daylight, and while he could just easily refuse, he was sure that would just infuriate the King of Heroes.
"Of course." He reached into his tool belt and pulled out one of his holographic scrolls. Looking around to check nobody was paying too much attention, he quickly altered the scroll so that the one who used it could only pay attention to the patrol of spheres in this area. "Just tap the alpha button on this scroll, and you'll get a first-class seat when the fighting begins, though I will try to give you a notice of when that will be."
"Hmph. This scroll doesn't look like much." The first hero gave it a cursory glance before shrugging. "But I'll take your word for it."
"Caster's work has been reliable so far, my king, though he insists on exiling himself in his workshop." He shrugged, before standing up from his table, giving the king a once over, trying his best to fake lust. "Either way, I'll make sure to give you something to watch."
"Then I'll be gladly watching from the stands." Gilgamesh nodded, sipping his glass of wine.
He quickly left the table, but not before giving the King of Heroes a last look before walking out of the restaurant. Though Leo had thought of Gilgamesh as arrogant, he could admit that the demigod had given him a lot of things to think about. Not only about the king himself, or what was happening around the world. No, it was more about his wish.
For a second, his mind wandered to Ogygia, the island isolated from the rest of the world. The place where Calypso was still waiting, and the oath that always felt like a collar around Leo's neck. Then he focused on a place that was always festering in the back of his mind, like tiny embers licking at a dried log until they grew into a roaring campfire. The burning warehouse that had changed everything in his life, taking one of the very few people he loved in life.
He was isolated here. In this world, he didn't have to worry about those responsibilities. He could make a wish for a different life, begin anew. Was anyone even searching for him back in his own world, looking for a boy that was dead? Or were they celebrating, ignoring the corpse that was the metaphorical foundation for their victory? Would his wish even matter in the end?
It was a myriad of extremely scary possibilities. All of which invaded Leo's mind as he shifted into his spirit form, searching for any weakness in his future enemy's defenses. Part of him wanted to curse the king, but Leo knew that all of these doubts had plagued him after that damned night Gaea gave him a personal visit. He hadn't known what he was going to do after running away from his first foster home, defeating Gaea, or rescuing Calypso.
And now, when he could finally get that wish… he didn't know what to do.
