Hello everyone. This is a side story to Fate/Dominance, as you probably guessed by the title. This story will not be a priority, as I'd rather focus on the actual story, but will receive an update whenever I feel like re-watching the Case files anime.
Everything up to Dominance's Tsukihime arc still happened in this side story.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Fate/Dominance: Evil of Humanity
Reines El-Melloi Archisorte.
That was the name of the pale-skinned, blonde-haired teenage girl seated at one of the cafe's outdoor table. Her aquamarine eyes scanning through a newspaper article about the recent deaths around here in London. With no suspect identified, the culprit was compared to the infamous Jack The Ripper.
An amusing train of thought, when one is aware of the Holy Grail War. She doubted anyone was reckless enough to summon a Servant this early. Even with the next one coming 50 years early, it was a tad too soon to make such preparations, and the Association was still in the process of picking its candidates.
What was the cause, then...? Perhaps she would inform her beloved, adopted brother. Or she could let him find out for himself. Yes, that would be more fun. However, he was away, at the moment, investigating the death of a former student's patriarch.
Her thoughts were cut short as she felt her Mystic Eyes react to sudden ambient Prana, turning red for less than a second. Her Mystic Code, Trimmau, made no sudden movement, but she knew she was waiting at the ready.
Trimmau was human-shaped blob of Mercury, clad in a maid outfit. And she was certain of her safety through her.
Slightly lowering the newspaper, her eyes glanced around, searching for the source of whatever Magecraft she felt.
Then, her eyes landed on him and turned red again. Was he leaking Prana with his very presence?
"Greetings." The man said, approaching her table. A woman and little girl of striking resemblance followed him, taking the table closest to hers. The girl had the same marks on her cheeks as the man. Birthmarks? "I couldn't help but notice your Mystic Code."
Such a casual approach, unperturbed at the idea of being heard. That must mean what she had detected was to grant privacy, then.
"Trimmau is quite eye-catching, isn't she?" She agreed. "At least, to those that can see what she is."
"Yes, if the average people saw Liquid Mercury in the shape of a woman, there would be some panic." He chuckled. "Ah, but where are my manners? Mathias Cronqvist."
Not a name she was familiar with... He must be from a more recent bloodline.
"Reines El-Melloi Archisorte." She greeted back.
"Oh? El-Melloi, you say?" He raised an eyebrow. "I had heard that the Lord had once gone to the East for the Holy Grail War."
"Yes, both the previous and current Lord El-Melloi participated, almost a decade ago." She nodded, knowing that many circles desired their chance. "What about you, are you interested?"
"If it is as omnipotent as they say, I would certainly be curious." He said, looking thoughtful. "But, what proof is there? I would hate to face the likes of King Arthur, or one of his Knights, for nothing."
The woman chuckled, causing Reines to glance towards her. She watched their daughter eating a slice of cake. She could see that her cheeks were filled, and she had icing on her lips.
"Perhaps." Reines said, her eyes leaving the girl and going back to the father. "But, it is a risk many are willing to take."
"What is life without risk?" He asked rhetorically, with a nod. "Speaking of risk, you don't seem to be able to deactivate your Mystic Eyes."
"That would be your fault." She smiled. "You let your Prana leak out of your body."
"It is not leaking. I am supplying it." He corrected.
"Oh?" She gained a look of interest. "You are feeding power to something at this very moment? What might that be?"
"My Workshop." He answered. "It creates items for me while I am away."
"An automated system that crafts as you supply it with power..." She hummed in thought. Convenient AND resourceful. "What type of objects does it craft?"
"Weapons, clothes, food." He counted. "Even jewelry. It could supply the Edelfelts for generations and not run out."
Her eyebrows rose at that claim. To supply a family of Jewelcraft Magi was no small boast. To do so for generations and not run out? Bold, yet if true...
"I see..." She leaned back against her chair and took a sip of tea. "And how does that assist your Magecraft?"
"I'm a collector." He shrugged. "And a personal goal of mine is to find an artifact that once belonged to a Hero."
"Duplication, then..." She guessed. "But does it differ from Gradation Air?"
"Of course." He nodded. "Copies they may be, but the creation stage validates their existence."
This caused her to hum in thought for a moment before an idea struck her.
"Trimmau, my drops." She demanded.
"Yes, Milady." Trimmau pulled a vial of eye drops from the pocket of her apron and handed them to her.
Mathias raised an eyebrow as Reines applied them to her left eye. After a moment, it returned to its original color. "Oh, I see."
"This one is running low." Reines said as she applied them to her right eye. She then placed the vial on the table. "But, there should be enough to prove your claim, yes?"
"Certainly." He said, taking and pocketing the eye drops. "You will have them when we meet again."
"Good, I look forward to it." She nodded.
The little girl jumped off her seat and ran toward Trimmau. She looked at the Mercury Maid curiously, poking her legs. They wiggled with every touch.
"Boing." She giggled. "Boing boing." She repeated that word with every poke.
"My apologies." Mathias said. "She just finished her third slice, after all."
"No, it's fine." Reines shook her head. "In fact, as a token of appreciation of our little talk..."
She stood and whispered something to her Mystic Code's ear.
"Very well, Milady." Backing away, Trimmau bowed and...turned into a bouncy castle?
"Really, now?" He asked, amused. "All right, then. Jump in."
The girl cheered and leaped into the castle, jumping and bouncing with laughter.
Reines chuckled. "I might have to commit this to memory."
"Agreed... The culprit's Workshop is in the sewers, if you are curious."
Reines turned to Mathias and saw him looking at her newspaper.
"If you know this, why haven't you done anything?" She asked.
"I'm an independent Magus." He shrugged. "Why should I clean the mess for the Association?"
Reines smirked. She could agree with that mentality.
Yes, she had a feeling the two of them would get along, depending on how long this lasted...
Mathias Cronqvist. Naruto Uzumaki. Both were names he was born with. Soma Cruz also counted, but he deserved to be seen as his own self. Others in this World probably knew him better as the Master of the Silver Faction and victor of the Fourth Holy Grail War. For that reason, he had not given his current name to the El-Melloi girl when they first met, as while she had not recognize his appearance, she must have heard his name, either through Kayneth or Waver. It was careless, really, to not give a description to her. Do they think themselves safe? Within the Magi Association? Laughable.
After all, Waver himself was injured while investigating the sewers this very night. A student, along with that protege of his, were investigating in his stead. They handled that lightning familiar quite easily, but there were more waiting within the Workshop proper, as they will soon find out. He was following them from a distance, curious as to how they will handle the situation, as students to that boy.
"So, we are entering a Workshop, yes?" Gray asked.
"That's right." The student, Flat Escardos, nodded. "This is where that bunny familiar goes to deliver the food it pilfered."
Gray frowned. Was Flat referring to the electricity, or the flesh it had eaten?
"Well, that just means whoever's down here is up to no good." Flat said, his smile never dropping.
An optimistic idiot, if nothing else. He had flat blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a student-like uniform: black pants with suspenders left hanging, white button-up shirt and black sleeveless blouse.
The duo stopped at the sound of footsteps.
A dark-skinned man stood before them, a simple wooden staff in hand. He wore an open robe with white pants and had slippers on his feet. He wore round glasses and had a braided beard.
"Who dares break into my Workshop?" The man demanded.
"Hi there!" Flat greeted loudly. "I'm Flat Escardos, and that's Gray! We knocked first, but you didn't hear us, did ya?"
'Knocking', he says... By breaking the Bounded Field hiding the entrance? Naruto shook his head in amusement.
"Knocking?" The man repeated incredulously, lightning crackling around the Zeus statue behind him. "You barge into Gueldoa Davenant's Workshop and call that knocking!? Who sent you here!?"
"We're here because you attacked Lord El-Melloi II!" Flat answered jovially.
"Lord El-Melloi II?" Gueldoa chuckled. "That little upstart who is but a placeholder for the Lord Title?"
"Just because he's a placeholder doesn't make it less impressive!" Flat argued.
"On the contrary." Gueldoa shook his head. "A pitiful student, replacing a disgraced Lord. One might say the El-Melloi Lord status has become mediocre. And now, students of his have come to destroy my work?"
"You have taken innocent lives!" Gray exclaimed. "You have to be stopped!"
"Those lives are meaningless!" He tapped the bottom of his staff on the floor. "They are but fuel to reach the Root! You are no Magi if a few casualties is reason enough to break into my Workshop!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Was the fool not aware of the attention his little stunt garnered?
"Huh?" Flat gave a noise of confusion. "Human lives are more important than Earth! Besides, their ineffic-"
"Their deaths are just part of the process, not the point of it!" Gueldoa interrupted.
Tapping his staff on the ground again, many lightning familiars revealed themselves from behind the pillars on each side of the Workshop. They surrounded the teenagers.
"One might have been simple, but can you handle all of them without your mentor, rookies?" He taunted. "Your limbs will be torn apart, your organs ripped off, and the upstart Lord will lose his station soon enough. Modern Magecraft will be exposed as the thievery it is!"
Flat looked at the familiars. "Hm, that looks bad." He said, a smile still on his face. "Guess I'll have to do something flashy so you can get away, Gray."
"Huh?" Gray looked at Flat with wide eyes. "But-"
"That will not be necessary!" A muffled voice called out from above, causing everyone to look up.
Something broke through the ceiling, causing debris to fall on some familiars. Smoke and dirt clouded the view of the impact.
"Ahhh, ouch." The voice said. "Couldn't you have been gentler, Svin?"
"I'm sorry." The second voice, Svin, said. "But, you said to go at full speed."
"I did..." The first voice sighed.
The smoke disappeared, revealing two figures standing on the pile of debris.
The more noticeable one was a glowing blue werewolf.
The second one was a long-haired man in a black suit with a red scarf. His forehead was wrapped in bandages.
Waver Velvet...
Naruto smirked. "So quick to get back on his feet..." Perhaps another reunion was in order. Which Servant would it be, this time...?
"Lord El-Melloi II..." Gueldoa scowled.
"Sir Gueldoa Davenant, I presume?" Waver asked rhetorically.
"Hmph." Gueldoa scoffed. "Here to retrieve your students and apologize for their misconduct?"
"Are you a fool?" Waver asked. "I am here to apprehend you. That will, however, save my students."
"'Apprehend me?'" He repeated incredulously.
"This Magecraft of yours, the use of lightning and furry creatures, falls within the realms of Jupiter."
Gueldoa's eyes widened. "How-"
"A Phantasmal with the Elements of Jupiter..." Waver interrupted, glancing at the statue of Zeus. "A rabbit monster to collect lightning. An attempt to imitate Zeus. This Mystic Code is for the purpose of controlling others!"
Gueldoa gritted his teeth.
"I had heard that the Head of Zoology had been assassinated, which of course caused conflict for his position." Waver continued. "Do you seek Zeus' power to gain that edge?"
"Damn you!" Gueldoa exclaimed. "You sent your apprentices here to steal my work while you made your research, didn't you!?"
"How conceited..." Waver shook his head. "Anyone could guess this with but a glance, including this powerless placeholder Lord."
Svin's werewolf transformation disappeared, revealing a blue-eyed teenage boy wearing the same uniform as Flat. Unlike Flat, his blond hair was curlier.
Waver pulled out a small chart, a red line was fluctuating far above the other lines. "This is the electricity consumption for this district. Quite high, isn't it? You'd power a small factory with all that."
"Oh!" Flat exclaimed. "That's food for his bunnies, isn't it?"
"Exactly." Waver nodded, not turning to Flat to keep an eye on Gueldoa. "And this..." Svin pulled out a Newspaper. "...is the recent Newspaper about the Serial Murders."
"They've been comparing these to Jack the Ripper for a while, now." Svin added.
"And?" Gueldoa asked, missing the point. "What is the purpose of this little show?"
"Ehhh..." Naruto's Servant whispered. "He's completely oblivious to the power of media. Is he an idiot?"
"A fool, most certainly. And not one like Archer." Naruto shook his head. "Prepare yourself, we may have to intervene soon."
His Servant smirked. "I was born to show off!"
Waver sighed. "Were we still in the 20th Century, you might have gotten away. But, in this day and age, information is quickly spread. Every little hint can point out your direction, Sir Gueldoa. You place the Concealment of the Mystics at risk! As such, you will be restrained!"
Gueldoa shook with fury "So little... You think so little with detain me!?" He pointed his staff at Waver, its gem glowing.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you!" Waver exclaimed. "I've already indicted you to the Policies Department, and Zoology has accepted it!" He pulled out said Order of Indictment, causing Gieldo's eyes to widen in shock. "They were certainly pleased to hear you would lose your status."
"You..." Gueldoa growled. "You would have me lose my work? Make my efforts go to waste!? I will not accept this!" He pointed his staff again.
Waver's eyes widened as two rabbits leaped toward him and Svin.
"Sir!" Gray called out.
"Go." Naruto ordered.
As Svin's arms were engulfed in Prana, he was surprised when something charged right between them and batted the rabbits aside. A girl, whose scent was strange. Her body smelled reptilian, but her presence smelled like blood.
"That hair... that dress." Waver muttered with dread.
"Hellooooooo!" Elizabeth Bathory greeted with cheer. "Is this what's called fashionably late? This may not be an idol thing to do, but I looked fabulous, didn't I!?"
"Wonderful." Naruto called out, causing everyone to turn his way. "As always, you shine like a star."
His words made his Lancer giggle. "But of course!"
"Who are you!? When did you get here!?" Gueldoa demanded.
"At the same time as the first two." Naruto only answered the second question as he approached the whole group. "Don't blame yourself, I'm too good at staying hidden." He glanced at the shaking Waver. "Hey, kiddo. Remind me, when's the last time we crossed paths?"
"Sir?" Gray asked, unsure what to feel about the man's presence.
Waver glanced at Gray, before looking back at Naruto. "...Back in Iraq."
Just a few months after the Fourth War, Waver had gone to Iraq to see the ruins of Babylon with his own eyes.
Babylon, where Alexander the Great, Iskandar, died and was buried before he could reach the sea that lied at the edge of the world.
He had been captured by Barzan, a Magus with Binding Mystic Eyes, and locked in a jail. By some twist of Fate, he was locked up and reunited with Melvin Weins, who loaned him the money to get to Japan for the Holy Grail War, with the promise to have an amusing story to share upon his return. Unless Melvin would get a laugh at his failure, there was no story to tell...
At least, they didn't stay in the jail for long. After wearing out the joints of the barred door, he and Melvin were on their way out... And ended on this Excavation site, that doubled as a Workshop. They were higher up, while a ruckus was down below.
There were bodies on the dirt, men running away, but the exits were turned into walls, with no escape in sight.
The source of their fear? Naruto Uzumaki and his Caster Servant, Semiramis.
"The hell's wrong with you!?" Barzan backed away. "What's wrong with digging up some treasure for the sake of progress!?"
"The problem, feeble man..." Semiramis sneered. "Is that you desecrated my homeland, my kingdom! This Queen that stands before you is wise, but forgiving, she is not."
"Semiramis of Assyria." Naruto smirked. "Ring a bell?"
Barzan's eyes widened. "A Ghost Liner!?"
"Ehhhh." Melvin looked surprised. "Is that a Servant?"
"Yeah." Waver nodded. "And the Master who won the Holy Grail War."
"Really?" Melvin turned to him. "So, this is the guy who won against seven other Masters, including you and Professor Kayneth?"
"Savor what little life you have left." Semiramis warned. "It shall be taken as payment for your trespassing."
She summoned her chains and had them skewer the people Barzan had dragged into this mess. She cared not if he tricked them, she had already sentenced them.
While her powers were but a droplet compared to her full power within her Gardens, a consequence of creating said Gardens, even such a small amount was more than enough for completely defenseless mongrels.
As Naruto approached Barzan, the Magus glared at him and used his Mystic Eyes.
It stopped Naruto for less than a second, before he forced through and broke the invisible grip, to Barzan's horror.
"Good effort." Naruto mocked. "But all powers have limits. An ant will never be able to lift Talos' foot. What could a weakling like you hope to do against one who is so far above Man's limits?"
"Stay away!" Barzan pleaded.
"Yeah, no." Naruto chuckled. "You're the only Magus in this group. You get the special treatment."
Immediately, Naruto held a hand out, and Barzan was pulled towards him by an invisible force. Naruto caught the man by his shoulders...
...And bit down his neck.
Waver's eyes widened in horror while Melvin gasped.
"This guy's a Dead Apostle?" Melvin asked.
"He...He mentioned being from the Eleventh Century." Waver remembered.
Barzan's eyes were wide, his limbs were twitching and his skin paled. He fell limply as Naruto let go.
"Tch." He frowned. "If it weren't for the Prana, he'd have a horrible taste."
An orb flew out of Barzan's body, to the boys' surprise, and floated atop of Naruto's palm before he brought it to his chest, making it disappear within him.
"Hmph, hardly anything of note." He rolled his eyes.
To Waver's increasing horror, Naruto turned and faced their direction. In a single leap, he landed on the boxes they were hiding behind.
"Well, well, well..." He smirked. "If it isn't the kid who took Iskandar from Kayneth."
"Iskandar?" Melvin managed to ask through his fear. "Isn't this crypt..."
"Barzan did believe so." Naruto confirmed. "Whether he was right or not is another matter." He glanced at Waver. "What do you think, kiddo? How do you feel about Barzan being intent on stealing from the King of Conquerors' grave?"
Waver forgot where he was as the words clicked in his head. He scowled and stood up. Then, he realized who was in front of him.
"I see..." He looked satisfied with the reaction, if nothing else. "You two run off, now. Her majesty wants this place buried. And if you have any will to live, you'd leave immediately."
"Wha-seriously?" Melvin was as surprised as he was. "You're not going to-"
"I can change my mind, if you prefer." He smirked.
"No, no, no, thank you. I like living." Melvin shook his arms in surrender.
"Then, get down there and grab a motorcycle." He jumped down. "I'm not gonna wait forever!"
He slammed a foot to the ground and the exits opened up.
"Waver, my friend, how did you survive?" Melvin asked as they rushed toward the closest motorcycle.
"Rider took me away as soon as Uzumaki had claimed victory." Waver said, shaking. "He just never gave chase."
"Two for two." Melvin said as he drove the motorcycle out of the cave. "I'd say that's good fortune."
Now that they were out of the caves, Waver began to relax.
"You think so?" He asked. "Because I don't want a third time."
"Don't worry." Melvin laughed. "What are the odds of another meeting?"
Waver had no idea he'd be cursing Melvin for that jinx for quite a while...
"Ah, that's right." Naruto nodded with a smirk.
"You're here to steal my work, my Magecraft!" Gueldoa accused.
"Why would I need something so pathetic?" Naruto asked. "This is nothing to be proud of."
"What!?" The Magus exclaimed, pointing his staff at Naruto. "You will see for yourself the marvel of my work!"
"Eliza!" Naruto commanded.
"Spotlight's on me, old fart!" The adolescent Dragon girl called out. She jumped down the pile of debris and charged at Gueldoa with her spear at the ready.
His eyes widened and he jumped back.
With his life in danger, his familiars all charged for Elizabeth.
But, that was the point of her stunt.
"Gotcha!" She said as she turned around and swung her spear, smashing three rabbits at once. Lifting her spear up, she turned around and slammed it right on another one's head. "Come one, come all, I gotta put on a decent show!"
As she fought off the rabbits, Waver noticed something.
She didn't have her horns or tail.
"Sir, who are they?" Svin asked.
"...They are..." Waver hesitated.
"Man, she hits like truck, doesn't she?" Flat said, impressed.
"Oi, Gray, something's weird with those two." Add whispered.
Gray silently agreed.
Eliza twirled her spear without pausing, causing the rabbits to keep their distance. She stabbed one as soon at it tried to inch closer, then turned around and cut the one thinking it could get her from behind. She jumped forward, crushing another one's skull with the butt of her spear before going with a wide swing to wipe out the ones leaping for her back.
Gueldoa took a step back in shock as a single brat was wiping out his familiars by herself. He growled and tapped his staff on the floor again, causing more familiars to appear from behind the statue. A dozen rabbits leaped toward Elizabeth at once.
She smirked and inhaled. "LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She breathed out, a great cyclone bursting from her lips and blowing all of the rabbits, Gueldoa and the Zeus Statue, away.
"Woah..." Svin's eyes widened.
"That was like watching a Dragon blowing leaves off of a tree!" Flat cheered.
How one boy could be so observant, yet lack so much common sense, Waver will never know...
"Anybody asking for an Encore?" Elizabeth asked, not at all winded. "This idol still has plenty of air in her lungs!"
There was no way that was true. When Waver saw her Parameters at the end of the War, her Dragon Breath skill mentioned that her lungs were too weak and she would need to catch her breath with every use. How had that changed!?
"Unfortunately, that will be enough." Naruto said, stepping up to his Servant. "He fell unconscious."
Eliza pouted before waving it off. "Well, that's fine. There's no way he's refined enough to appreciate my singing."
Naruto nodded in amusement. "Come on." He said, jumping on the pile of Debris, with Elizabeth following him. He looked Waver dead in the eyes. "You're welcome, kiddo."
With that, they both leaped into the hole on the ceiling, fading in the darkness.
Sitting on the cement base of a fence on a sidewalk, Waver sighed as the Policies Department took the unconscious Gueldoa away in a limousine. "I can't believe he saved us..."
"Huh?" Flat and the others turned to Waver. "What do you mean, Sir?"
"I was bluffing." Waver admitted. "I had hoped Gueldoa would have fallen for it and surrendered., but he decided to take us down with him. Had we not received help, I would have been powerless to stop him."
"Really!?" Svin asked in surprise. He had expected a plan, given how confident the Lord was.
"Sir..." Gray approached him. "Who was that man?"
Waver sighed again. "That...was Naruto Uzumaki."
Gray's eyes widened while Svin and Flat looked confused.
"Sir, you can't mean-" Gray stopped herself as Waver began to lose consciousness.
Why was he here? Was it because the Holy Grail War is almost upon them...?
Naruto was seated at one of the outdoor tables, something that recently became frequent. Standing on the palm of his hand was a very small Trimmau. Whenever Reines wanted to speak, this little thing would try and look for him. Of course, he'd always find it before it could spot him.
"I heard the culprit was apprehended." Naruto said as Reines and another woman sat down before him.
"Oh... You have an ear to the ground, I see." Reines smiled before gesturing to her companion. "This is the Heiress to the Edelfelt family: Luviagelita Edelfelt."
"A pleasure." Naruto nodded. "Mathias Cronqvist."
Luvia nodded back, her golden blonde hair swaying along. It went past her shoulders, almost to the middle of her back, and it was tied into spiral rings to her right side by a blue ribbon. She wore an equally blue dress and white heels. Her golden eyes were observing him, wondering why she was taken to meet him, no doubt.
"So..." Naruto let the mini Trimmau on the table, watching it walk back to Reines. "What did you want to talk about, this time?"
"The Holy Grail War." Reines answered. "I had Luvia investigate for me and, knowing you had an interest, thought you would like to hear it."
"Oh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, something Luvia also did. "How oddly generous. Where is the catch?"
"You will have to pay her for the information, unlike my brother." She answered with amusement. "Given that she is of the Edelfelt Family, perhaps some of those jewels that you will never run out of will suffice?"
As Luvia's eyes widened, Naruto caught on.
"This is why you called me here." He said. "You wanted to tell her, right to my face."
"Why, whatever are you talking about?" Reines asked with an innocent look on her face, which did clash with her eyes being red since she seated herself. "I simply wanted two acquaintances of mine to meet each other. The more the merrier, wouldn't you agree?"
Naruto rolled his eyes in amusement. This little brat... Kirei would have enjoyed watching her upset people.
"Very well, if the information is going to fall on my lap like this, I'll bite." He accepted. "So, what have you found, Miss Luviagelita?"
"Miss Luvia is plenty enough." Luvia corrected before she continued. "As for what I found, I know who the Association picked for their participants, if you are interested."
"I am, actually." He nodded. Then, leaning back on his seat, he made a quick flick of one of his gloved hand.
The girls blinked in surprise. Between his fingers were two Aquamarines and two opals.
"I believe these will do." He said with a smirk, putting them on the table. "You appear to be quite the fan of the color."
Luvia snapped out of her thoughts. "Y-yes..." She cleared her throat to regain her composure. "Now, then..." She pulled out two pictures, placing the first one on the table. "The first Master is Bazett Fraga Mcremitz."
"The bearer of the Fraga name." Naruto said. "Then, she wields that Noble Phantasm?"
"That's right." Reines nodded. "The short sword that was gifted to Lugh by Manannan: Fragarach."
"Bazett herself is a talented close-quarters fighter." Luvia added. "No student learning combat here will come close to her training, without something else to give them the edge, but in that case..."
"Fragarach would counter the edge." Naruto finished. "An interesting selection already. She could assist her Servant at the last possible second and eliminate a competitor by complete surprise."
A shame Kirei usually disposed of her to take her Servant...until now.
"The second Master is even more surprising." Luvia said.
Naruto raised an eyebrow as she put the second picture on the table.
...This was not Atrum Galliasta. It was a man with pale white hair and dull-gold eyes. All he wore was a simple suit underneath a lab coat, as if to look simple and unimpressive.
"This is Marisbury Animusphere, Head of the Astrology Department." Reines said.
"Animusphere?" Naruto asked. "If I remember correctly, their Magecraft allows them to manipulate Stars and foresee the future to some degree, yes?"
"That's right." Reines nodded. "I was honestly surprised. For a Magus, he seemed to lack ambition."
"Certainly the impression the picture gives off." Naruto agreed. "What interesting choices..."
"This confirms at least four Masters." Luvia said. "With the fall of the Matou, their position may be available to anyone, in theory. But, the Einzbern and Tohsaka still have their own participation guaranteed." She had a bit of an edge to her tone upon mentioning the Tohsaka. A given, considering the split of the Edelfelt siblings in the Third War.
"Most intriguing..." He smirked. "I may observe the coming War personally."
"Observe, not participate?" Reines asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Can it really grant the victor a wish?" He asked back. "All we have are the words of the long dead creators of the ritual. Perhaps even their descendants are unsure of this, today."
Of course, Kischur himself could decide to show himself and explain the whole ritual to any and all participants, having been a major factor of its creation, but he keeps quiet about it, quite possibly out of respect for the deceased creators.
"Confirmed or not, the Greater Grail is an artifact of great power." Luvia reminded. "There is definitely something to be gained, Sir Mathias."
"Very true." He nodded. "I suppose I could wish for every weapon ever wielded by a Hero, see if my Workshop could work on them."
"Duplicating such Noble Phantasms would be an astronomical accomplishment." Reines agreed.
Duplication? Luvia's eyes widened. Never run out of jewels. Duplication. By the Root, this man really did have an endless supply...
She snapped out of her thought when she heard ringing. Mathias pulled out a flip phone and answered it.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Papa!" His little darling cried out.
He chuckled.
"She misses you." Jeanne said, just as amused as he was. "Are you finished?"
"Yes, we were just about done. I'll be there shortly." He confirmed.
"I'll try and calm her down until then." She hung up.
He also hung up and stood up. "My apologies, I am needed elsewhere."
"Ah, what a shame." Reines shook her head. "Is the family keeping you busy?"
Luvia frowned. He was already taken?
"My daughter craves attention." He smirked. "She takes after her mother, in that regard."
Reines rolled her eyes while Luvia blushed.
"Until next time, ladies." He said before walking away.
"You knew he had a family, and still you baited me by mentioning his supplies?" Luvia asked.
"Hm?" Reines smiled, her eyes turning back to their aquamarine color. "My dear Luviagelita, don't tell me you were hoping to catch this older man?"
"And what about you?" Luvia shot back. "What purpose do you have for him?"
"Part of the fun is to find out, no?" Reines asked back as she stood up.
Luvia frowned as the younger girl walked away. Her eyes turned to the gems on the table.
...So what if he was already taken? She could still impress him in some way. She just needed to find out how.
Kayneth Archibald leaned back on his seat with a sigh. An occurrence more and more common as the Holy Grail War approached. That whole deal had cost him his engagement and his status as Lord El-Melloi, after all. When his former fiance, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, challenged him to participate and win, he saw an opportunity to prove his love for her.
She, on the other hand, saw an opportunity to get rid of him, whether he lived or died. Upon their return, she openly criticized his performance during the War. As the Red Faction was meant to unite against Naruto Uzumaki, she considered him the most stubborn Master of the Faction, looking down upon Diarmuid Ua Duibhne when all other Masters cooperated with their Servants, calling him the most inept participant. Of course, with her brother's support, it all went downhill as his reputation crumbled.
The only upside to this whole debacle was that the next in-line to the Title of El-Melloi, his niece Reines, was too young to succeed him and had to choose a Placeholder.
And she chose Waver Velvet, the boy who had the gall to steal Iskandar's catalyst from him. Even back then, she had her mean streak. She knew Waver would be nervous about replacing him as Lord El-Melloi, and that Kayneth himself would be insulted by the choice. She was very much aware of that fact.
To his own surprise, however, Waver had pushed his nerves aside and asked him to mentor him in his duties as Lord El-Melloi II.
Perhaps because he hoped to still cling to the Lordship, he had accepted. And while Waver was, by his admission, a subpar Magus, he proved to be a veritable diamond in the rough, especially as an instructor. He understood the theoretical side of Magecraft better than most. A keen mind, without an ego to match due to his lack of practical talent. An unexpected boon for the boy.
He snapped out of his thoughts as the door to the office opened.
"Uncle." Reines greeted as she stepped in.
"Reines." Kayneth greeted back with a smile.
"How is my dear brother?" She asked as she sat down on the couch. "Not too distraught by the news, I hope?"
Kayneth frowned in thought. Although Waver tried his best to hide, when his head wasn't in the clouds, at least, he was affected by the fact that the Association had selected their Masters.
"He is still teaching suitably, at the very least."
Reines hummed at the answer. "Please remind me, what is it about the War that brother is so obsessed about?"
Kayneth complied. "As you already know, he stole the catalyst to summon the King of Conquerors from me, when I suspended him from the class that day."
"Cause and Effect." She quipped with a smile.
He rolled his eyes. "The King of Conquerors, Alexander the Great, looked like a barbarian, as well as a buffoon. However, the fact remains that many great warriors joined his conquests. He was not a King that sat idly by, he was always at the front of his forces. A man that earned the respect of those that followed him, as well as his enemies. And Waver was still very much impressionable back then."
"So, he seeks to see this King again?" Reines asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That is my hypothesis." Kayneth nodded.
"Then, the chances are that he will accept that man's request." She concluded.
That man, meaning Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, Sola-Ui's older brother and the next in-line as Head of the Department of Spirit Evocation. The request in question was of great important to both Bram and the Department, as they risk losing a most valuable asset.
"It is unbecoming of a Lord to bend the knee for a single request." Kayneth chastised. "Especially when the suggested reward may not be given. The Matou family may have fallen, but it does not mean their position has not been filled."
"True." Reines nodded and crossed her arms. "But he desires that chance more than anything, no? To the point of bowing his head to that man."
"That bait may very well slip from his fingers." He remarked.
Reines shrugged and smiled. "If it does, who will he blame? Certainly not us. Perhaps Bram? Or even this Uzumaki fellow."
Kayneth scowled at the name, to Reines' amusement.
"It was him that burned the Matou household, correct?" She added. "In that case, every false hope laid upon their participating position in the War can be pointed at him."
That was true, Kayneth admitted.
Reines grabbed the newspaper on the table. On the front page was an article on the storms that plagued a wasteland that served as the Marburry Workshop. They had claimed many a life since the Workshop ran out of control, including the Magus that made the Workshop.
Reines hummed as she eyed the article.
"That wasteland is a Workshop?" Mathias asked, reading the article.
Reines nodded. "The Marburry Workshop, created by Trevor Pelham Codrington. It seems that a leyline has gone haywire, creating these storms that kill indiscriminately, including its creator."
"Interesting." He hummed. "And you are leaving to examine the leyline?"
"That's right." She nodded again. "The Department of Spirit Evocation has requested this of my brother, as they do not want to lose the Workshop of a powerful Necromancer."
"A Necromancer?" He repeated with a raised eyebrow. He looked back at the article with narrowed eyes. "Necromancy... Death and Storms..." His eyes widened. "The Wild Hunt?"
Reines' eyes widened in shock as well, leaning forward against the table. "Are you sure?"
"Not with just a picture." He shook his head. "However, I know someone well-researched in Fae Magics."
"Truly?" She blinked. "In that case, I'd like to request that the two of you accompany me. Your friend's help would be invaluable if the Wild Hunt is indeed linked to these storms."
"I will tell her." He nodded. "I'm certain her curiosity will have her go see for herself. In case I am correct, however, I will also have a Beast Hunter tag along, if you don't mind."
"Not at all." She smiled. "If you consider this hunter for the Wild Hunt, of all things, there must be a reason. And I look forward to finding out."
He nodded before turning his attention back to the article.
The Wild Hunt... How did it come to be within that place?
There we go. Also, things that happen in this story will not affect the main story, but the same can't be said of the other way around.