I arrived in Fuyuki about an hour ago. It's almost midnight - the flight having taken nearly eleven hours. I used that time to refresh my knowledge on general history and going through the most known historical figures. There was a lonely king who collected all the treasures the world had to offer, a conquering king who journeyed east, an emperor who built a vast empire, an ideal king who sacrificed his own humanity for his people, and a holy maiden that gave her very life for the sake of her country.
The latter was betrayed and labeled a heretic. A selfless person that was consumed by a cruel world. Poor girl.
In a Holy Grail War, knowing the identity of an enemy Servant can give you a huge advantage over them since you can discover their weakness in their history or legend. At any rate, fighting a Servant on your own is highly dangerous if not suicide. Hence why taking out the Master is the quickest and easiest way.
I booked a hotel where I will store my gear while I'm staying in Fuyuki. After all, it's not guaranteed that whoever this illusive client is will contract me to help him in the war. All I have to do right now is to wait for this person to show up here and give them the relic.
The docks are abandoned right now. I stand on the edge, looking out towards the sea as the cool breeze goes by and the waves crash against the land. It's pretty quiet. These calm moments where I'm all alone put my mind at ease and almost make me forget the past in this tranquility.
…
I've been waiting here for over an hour now. Where the hell is my client? Patience is a virtue but it has its limits.
Luckily, there was a phone number deposited in the file that I could call, so I whip out my phone and select the contact. My phone is one of the newer models to help me with the logistic side of this business. I used to have personal data on it such as pictures but those are all gone now.
"The number you're calling is invalid," is the only thing I can hear from an automated voice on the other end. I end the call with slight irritation.
Something is very wrong here. The contracts from the Mage's Association are always legit.
My eyes dart over my surroundings, carefully eyeing every possible hiding spot in the vicinity. I look toward the narrow walkways between the storehouses, the top of the stacked containers, and the crane that is used to move them around but there seems to be no one present. Still, I can't be careful enough, seeing that my client seems to have bailed out. I call the person who got me this job in the first place, Lord El-Melloi II. It's afternoon over there in London so he should still be at the Clock Tower.
The phone rings for a few moments before he picks up, "Hello?"
"It's me. Zayne." I reply.
"I'm really busy here, what do you want?" Lord El-Melloi II says snarky and to the point, just as he always does.
"I'm in Fuyuki now and the client of the job you got me yesterday isn't showing up," I state, letting my gaze wander in case someone shows up.
"What are you talking about? I didn't give you any jobs yesterday," he responds.
"Of course you did!" I protest. "You literally came to the lounge in person to hand me the damn file!"
"And I'm telling you that I didn't," he sighs. "Look, I'm really busy right now, so I'm going to end the call."
Before I'm able to interject, he hangs up. I put my phone away in frustration.
"Great, now what?" I silently curse to myself.
I reach into my bag and take out the file in the hopes that I can find something there. Upon opening it, however, I freeze as I discover that all the pages are blank. Then, they just vanish into thin air before my own eyes, leaving a flower with pink petals and a yellow center.
The same kind of flower the white-haired mage had on his suit that I ran into the other day. The guy who sneaked up on me and asked me for directions. When I find this guy... But what if that is what he wants? Why else would he have left this obvious clue if not wanting me to find him? Why the hell even go through all that?
My train of thought is interrupted when a sudden pain overwhelms my right hand as if it's been dipped in lava. I nearly drop the file with the flower because of it. Then, right before my eyes, strange red markings appear on the back of my right hand. Once it has fully materialized, the pain stops and I look at it more closely. It looks like an hourglass with two scythes around it that enclose it.
No… Impossible. These are Command Seals?! This means that I've been chosen as a Master in this stupid War. Why? Why me of all people? Why am I being dragged into this War as a Master that these idiotic mage families are so fond of? I don't even have a damn wish, so I shouldn't even be considered a candidate to begin with!
I take a deep breath to calm myself.
I've been chosen. There's nothing I can do to change that now. I need to keep calm and think this through.
Command Seals are necessary to summon and control a Servant. Each Seal is made of three parts. Each of which can be used to give your Servant an order that they cannot go against, no matter what. Once the third Seal is used, the contract, and consequently your hold over a Servant, is gone. And a Servant without a Master to supply them with mana will vanish very quickly and go back to the Throne of Heroes.
So many questions are racing through my mind right now, but I can't stay out here in the open like this anymore. Now that I have Command Seals, I'm a target for every Magus in the city... and their Servants if they are already summoned. I pull out my gloves and put them on to cover my Command Seals before leaving the docks.
If this damn Mage with the flowers and white hair is in Fuyuki, there is a person who would know about it.
I arrive at the other end of the city in front of a gate. A church lies just beyond it in the darkness of the night. At the very least, I won't have to worry about being attacked here because this place is regarded as a non-combat zone for the Holy Grail War. Walking through the gate, I enter the church by pushing open the set of double doors at the entrance.
It's pretty dark inside, as expected, with the only source of light being a few candles near the altar at which a single person is standing with his back turned to me.
That must be the supervisor for the Holy Grail War and the head of this church. If there is any person in Fuyuki that would know about the magus I'm looking for, assuming he is in this city, it would be that guy.
The sound of a book being closed can be heard as he turns around. The priest of this church, an elderly man dressed in purple robes with a cross around his neck, looks at me curiously. I come to a halt about halfway towards him.
"I am Risei Kotomine," the priest introduces himself, "What brings you here at this hour, child?"
He then eyes me from top to bottom and adds, "Or should I say, Freelancer?"
Well, it's not that hard for someone like him to deduce my profession. A young adult wearing a black trench coat with black gloves coming to the church in the middle of the night unannounced. It doesn't get much shadier than that.
"Good guess," I reply. "In that case, I'll get straight to the point: I'm looking for a Magus. White hair, purple eyes, a wooden cane, and carries a flower like this one."
I hold out the flower that was left in the file earlier.
He knows that I know that the Holy Church has eyes and ears everywhere, so he can't pretend to be dumb with me.
"Let's assume that I do know about the magus you just described and where he is located," he muses, "Why should I tell you anything about it? As far as I know, you have currently no business with the Holy Church or the Holy Grail War that is about to begin soon."
I hoped to avoid this, but it looks like I have no other option.
"Then what about this?" I announce as I pull the glove off my right hand and hold out my Command Spells to him.
The priest looks surprised for a second, but he regains his calm composure almost instantly. "Oh, it would appear that you've been chosen by the Holy Grail to be a Master," he comments.
"Now, answer my question," I remark.
"Very well," he begins, "But I'll have to disappoint you. I know nothing about the Magus you are looking for. And someone as conspicuous as him would have surely been seen by the eyes of the church."
I narrow my eyes at that response. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"I swear upon my faith and God that I have never seen or heard from this magus," he announces dramatically. "Will that suffice, boy?"
Damn it. I guess this really is a dead end.
"However," he continues as he begins to slowly walk around the formation of pews on my left. "Shouldn't you be focusing on the Holy Grail War rather than finding this magus? The Grail chooses its Masters for a reason."
He does have a point. I've been so focused on finding this magus that I didn't put much thought into the fact that I received Command Seals from the Grail. This is a pretty big deal.
"The Grail beckons you," he elaborates. "What you have here is a once in a lifetime chance. What is it you want most? Your deepest desire? Or something you want to undo? The Grail can make anything possible."
"Why do you care so much about my participation?" I ask him cautiously just as his walk around the room is about halfway done.
"It's my duty as overseer of this war. I need to encourage Masters to enter the fight if they have been chosen," he states solemnly, "Of course, should you not want to participate, you can forfeit your rights as Master and will be placed under the protection of the church until the war is over."
I don't know. Entering a battle to the death against six other Masters and Servants for a supposed wish...
"So, what will you do?" He asks me after finishing his round and standing back at the altar.
"I'll think about it," is the best response I can come up with as I turn around and walk to the exit.
As I go, the priest smiles and speaks up one more time. "Rejoice, boy. Your wish will finally come true."
I stop in the doorway, not turning around. "Don't presume to know me."
With that, I leave the church and close the door behind me. What does a priest know about the things I have suffered and endured anyway? I came here for information and not to listen to a damn sermon.
I put my glove back on after leaving the gate to the church and find myself wandering aimlessly through the outskirts of Fuyuki. I look up at the starry sky as I try to make sense of the recent events.
This is crazy. Me, a Master? What are the odds of that happening? Usually, this is a battle between esteemed and high-ranking mages. Nevertheless, the Grail deems me to be worthy apparently. I was never one to believe in miracles but... the Holy Grail is said to fulfill any wish the victor desires. Maybe I could…
No.
I stop for a moment next to a park as I look up at the night sky and take a deep breath.
Anything the victor desires... There is not much that I would want, not because I have led a fulfilled life until now, but because there is nothing I can think of that would bring me that fulfillment, or joy, or happiness. I have been able to grasp fleeting moments of this feeling long ago, but alas it is not meant to be.
Just then, I see a cyan light racing through the sky. A shooting star. I follow its path through the great sea of stars with my gaze.
Wow, all this talk about the Grail seems to have summoned a shooting star. I highly doubt that this wish-granting device would actually work though. Can't hurt to try, I guess.
"I don't suppose you can make this life worth living, can you?" I whisper to the sky on a whim.
I continue to walk as I notice that I've been standing here for several minutes now, looking up at the sky like an idiot.
There is just one thing that I want to know. Call it "unfinished business" if you will, but I want to know who my parents are, where they are, and why they abandoned me as a child. Anyone else might call this a stupid wish for the omnipotent Holy Grail. However, I have tried to get an answer to that question for years now. I called in favors from both the Mage's Association and the Holy Church, I have scoured the world for any clues, and hired the best trackers money can buy. Nothing yielded any tangible results. It's as if I just appeared in this world out of thin air.
For this to happen though, I would have to destroy six other wishes. Well, I've been accustomed to killing by now and I've got nothing to lose so I might as well. I already have a catalyst to summon a Servant as fate would have it. All I need to do now is make the necessary preparations.
I take out my phone again and open the contact list...
I slump into the couch of my new hideout and take a moment to rest after around 15 hours of work. I lean back and close my eyes to think about my next step while being careful not to let sleep take me over.
I should have slept on the plane in hindsight, but it can't be helped. I called in every favor I had left and organized something to make my base of operations for the Holy Grail War.
I open my eyes again and look around. I got myself a mansion in the part of Fuyuki where the rural area transitions into the urban area with not too many houses around it. Right now, I'm sitting in the living room of the ground floor of this two-story house. Overall, it's set up rather on the extravagant side. Not by my choice though.
The marble floors made my footsteps echo throughout the mansion. The furniture, from what I can determine, are made of the finest leather. The carpets look to be expensive but that doesn't really matter to me. Furthermore, there are three rooms upstairs with beds, useful in the unlikely event that I make an ally, two bathrooms and one balcony with a view to the garden of this estate that is surrounded by a wall. The ground floor possesses an expensive kitchen, a dining hall, a garage, and a veranda.
I'm not going to lie. I feel somewhat out of place in a house like this. Especially if I consider the state of my old apartment. Out of the limited options I have in Fuyuki, this is the best possible strategic position. This is the only estate with an actual wall instead of a fence surrounding it. The vegetation around the house also makes it easier to cover up the defenses I set up along with the few blind spots outside that I can abuse to get the drop on an invader.
The other freelancers at the Clock Tower always asked me why I haven't bought a house in London or even retire on some island with that big bounty I got a year ago but instead chose to live in that shabby apartment and continue this line of work. Well, since there is a chance that I might die for good in this Holy Grail War, I might as well spend some of it.
I then glance towards the piles of empty crates and boxes all over the room before I sigh.
All kinds of armaments were in those crates. Most of this stuff is for the defense of this mansion that I've already set up. A bounded field, sigils that trap someone in complete stasis if they make a false step, tripwires, and a couple of automatic turrets, to name the most prominent traps I've set up.
Though none of these would pose any threat to a Servant, except for the time sigils if they have a low Magic Resistance, they definitely can kill any mage that goes in unprepared. I may be a freelancer, but that doesn't mean that I can't use magic.
"Well then," I say to no one in particular. "Time to summon my Servant."
I grab the white and gold casket off the table in front of me and another small case with the tools to set up the rest.
I walk out of the backdoor into the simple garden of this estate. I set down the set of tools and begin to draw the intricate summoning circle on the ground, double checking not to make any mistakes in the process.
I put a rock that will serve as a pedestal next to the circle, the opposite end of where I will be standing for the ritual. I spent the last hour memorizing the incantation for this to not screw up. I grab the casket and pull out the piece of white cloth that is resting inside.
Funnily enough, I didn't actually do any research into who this belonged to. I figured since I would meet them anyways, I would find out who they are when I meet that Heroic Spirit in person. I do have a few ideas as to who this might summon though. Well, only one way to find out.
I set the piece of cloth down on the pedestal and walk around the circle, coming to a halt when the catalyst is on the opposite end of my position. I look down at my Command Seals one more time.
The irony of the shape that my Command Seals have taken didn't go pass me. It almost seems as if there is a higher entity somewhere, mocking me as it reminds me of my biggest failure and greatest regret.
I stretch out my right hand as I shake my mind free of those thoughts to calm myself. The Command Seals begin to glow shortly after.
"For the elements, silver and iron,
A foundation of stone and the Archduke of contracts,
And for my ancestor, the great Master Schweinorg.
A wall to block the falling wind.
Close the gate in the four directions.
From the Crown, come forth and follow the forked road to the Kingdom.
Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill,
Repeat five times, but destroy each when filled.
I hereby propose,
My will shall create thy body,
And thy sword shall create my fate.
Abiding by the summons of the Holy Grail,
If thou dost accede to this will and reason, then answer my call!
I hereby swear,
I will be all that is good in the eternal world,
That I shall defeat all evil in the eternal world!
Thou Seventh Heaven, clad with the Great Trinity,
Come forth from the circle of binding,
Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"
A pillar of light shoots out from the summoning circle, blinding me for a moment before it dissipates. I then see a lot of smoke in front of me that obscures my view.
Did it work?
The smoke begins to clear out and I see the silhouette of someone standing inside the circle. Next, I see a flag being raised and peeking out of the smoke. The flag is white with a golden border, underlined with a royal blue. Six royal lilies are decorating the edges with the flower of Orleans at the center in the same gold and blue pattern.
The smoke vanishes and I get a good look at the Heroic Spirit I have summoned. A woman with long blonde hair that is braided to a ponytail. She wears a sapphire colored battle-dress that is inlaid with silver plates at the midriff, gauntlets that shine underneath the moonlight, lightweight greaves, and a tiara on her head. She opens her eyes, revealing them to be of a pure amethyst in color, and looks at me with a soft smile on her lips.
I am speechless, to put it bluntly. I don't know what to expect to begin with, but the sight in front of me is captivating. Perhaps it was the way she shines underneath the moonlight or the genuine gaze of kindness she directs towards me. She is simply beautiful, almost to the point it is ethereal. Either way, I am just standing there, at a loss for words.
"Are you my Master?" she asks me.
I nod, regaining my composure.
"Then the pact is made," she announces as she raises her flag. "By this flag and by my oath, I shall protect your life and your soul from any harm. I am the Saber-class Servant, Jeanne D'Arc."
Her flag disappears into fine blue particles as she lets go of it before approaching me.
"Let us work well together as Master and Servant!" she smiles, extending her hand.
I hesitate for a brief moment but I shake her hand, introducing myself, "I'm Zayne Kinami... Nice to meet you."
Our hands part. I feel lightheaded now. Being awake for almost 48 hours is getting to me and the summoning took out the last bit of energy I had left. I walk over the circle to pick up the catalyst and put it back in its casket again.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me," I say shortly after as I walk back inside. "I haven't slept in nearly two days, so I'm going to rest now. We'll start to get acquainted with the area tomorrow morning. Feel free to look around the house in the meantime."
"Wait!" she calls after me.
I turn around to face her. She looks somewhat serious now. A big contrast to how she was a minute ago. She must have something important to tell me. Maybe something concerning her abilities or the Holy Grail War in general?
She puts both her hands on my shoulders and looks me dead in the eyes. "Why are you not looking properly after your own health?"
"What?" I say in surprise.
"Even though we are about to fight a war, you shouldn't neglect your own well-being," she states, letting me go.
I shrug. "Don't worry about it. I know what I'm doing."
"I hope so," she says sternly, crossing her arms.
Seeing as there is nothing more to be said. I retreat back into the house to get some sleep at last. Still, I'm a bit surprised that she takes the well-being of her Master that seriously even though we just met.
"Good night, Master!" I hear her saying after me in a cheerful tone.
I wonder what's in store for me tomorrow.
