After Action Report

"... and after the Matou girl destroyed the Vessel, the Golden King became enraged, dropping his guard and allowing the Girl King to strike the killing blow. As per my usual SOP, I remained in Fuyuki for three days to properly assess the damage. All in all, three masters died, the Matou Magi have been broken utterly with the death of their patriarch, the deceased Church Representative was outed as a Conspirator in order to destroy the Third Kingdom, and the Einzbern citadel has been demolished and their wards sundered.

That being said, now two Grail Servants remain upon the Third Kingdom, Saber and Rider. Both live in the house of the Emiya boy, who as I stated previously, was instrumental in the Heaven's Feel's early end."

Death, leader and eldest of the Four Horseman, stood in front of the three gargantuan stone heads that made up the Charred Council, the keepers of the universal Balance that all life in Creation obeyed. If these stone heads were the Council, or merely the mouthpieces of the Council, not even Death knew. It was irrelevant either way; Death had come to deliver his report to them.

For over a century Death had been the Council's silent sentinel to the human magi's "Grail War", a glorified free for all where magi kill one another for a wish granting device known as "Holy Grail", with the assistance of ghosts drawn from their history and myths. There was a period of sixty years in between each war, and after the fourth of these contests, Death didn't expect to have to sit in on the next one in the near future.

Complications, however, arose. From what the Council could tell, the Grail didn't "shut off" properly during the last war, leading to the Fifth War to start fifty years early.

Death did his duty however, and went to Earth to watch over the contest once more.

This Grail War had been... interesting.

"Is that all Horseman?" the left face asked.

"Yes my Masters."

"Then we shall have a Watcher spy on these child magi and their servants for as long as we deem necessary. As for you Horseman, deliver the artifact recovered from the final battle to the Vaults. There it will stay until we have need of it. You are dismissed Horseman."

The Charred Council kept a huge complex of vaults and chambers that they stored the artifacts, weapons, and knowledge deemed "safe" enough to not be thrown into Oblivion. It was in these chambers that the Cabal, a collection of individuals hailing from various races, had their rare meetings. Guarded by spirits, automatons, and other manner of guards, the Council made sure that no would be thief would ever make off with their treasures.

The complex had no official name, the Charred Council never bothered to make one, calling it simply the Vaults, but to their servants, it was known as "The Safes of Ashes".

Death stood inside a single round room, gold in color, with no doors or windows. It was an empty room, save for a single round pedestal that reached up to Death's waist. Death stood in front of it and, with a wave of his hand, opened up a small green portal, the size of large melon, that leads to the pocket dimension that he kept several items that were too dangerous, or too valuable to risk simply carrying on his person.

He reached inside, and withdrew the item he sought.

It was an ornate scabbard, colored in blue and gold, and inscribed with strange inscriptions. Death held it out over the pedestal and let go, while the arcane powers of the vault held the scabbard in midair, slowly rotating counterclockwise.

Death admired the scabbard for a moment before speaking, "I'm done in here, port me out."

A split second later Death was gone, leaving the room empty once more, save for the artifact.

Death walked down the large hallway that would lead him the the Vault's Grand Chamber, and then to the exit, when he caught sight of a familiar face.

"Brother." he called out to Death.

It was War, youngest of the Horseman, and the one that Death owed the most to.

"War, thank you for meeting me here." Death said as he walked over to War, "I know it was on short notice."

"You are my eldest brother," War replied, "When you ask me to come meet with you chances are it is important."

Death nodded, but inwardly he cringed. This was not going to be pleasant...

"I have something I need to tell you brother." Death said.

"Then speak, what is it?" War asked as he crossed his massive arms.

'Iletyoudieiletyoudieiletyoudie' Death's mind kept repeating over and over again.

"Are you still involved with the human woman, Caren Ortensia?"

Coward.

"I am, why?" War asked as he raised an eyebrow, "It is not like you to make inquires into my personal relations brother."

"The last mission I was on... her father was involved. In addition to what I tell you now, I also give you a decision; the decision to inform Ortensia or not. In all likelihood, she would take it better from you than me..."

"Speak then brother. What had Caren's father done?"