"NAOMI!" he calls out as I tremble to the ground, feeling the cold blood clogging my throat. He rushes for me, but it's far too late.
"NOOO!" he yells with a large rage taking over his body and mind. You would even hear a hint of sorrow in his voice, perceiving that tears are welling up in his eyes mixed with fury.
My vision fades away slowly and painfully. He comes right next to me with the tears flowing down his cheeks. His crimson eyes more irate and sad than I've ever seen. He places his golden armoured hand on my cheek and clenches his teeth trying not to yell.
"Please... Don't go... Stay with me... I will bring you back, I promise... Naomi..." he says knowing the end has arrived for me.
Everything is nothing in my eyes. I'm gone and can't come back to this world. Back to him...
I wake up in a huge gasp of air. Breathing heavily and trying to think back to that awful dream, I realize it's too early to wake up. But after that weird dream, I can't return to my sleep.
It didn't even feel like a normal dream. Everything felt all too real but nothing in my memories can relate to that. In fact, I looked older in the dream. This is not the first time I've had a dream such as this.
In every single one of them, that man with blond hair, golden armour and red eyes was in them. They should really be called nightmares. A danger that involved either me or the man getting seriously injured or even killed.
Why does this keep happening? I think to myself, still in bed but wide awake. I have told Tokiomi and Aoi about these dreams since I find them eccentric. Furthermore, it worries me even more because in some of them, I actually felt pain when I had gotten hurt which shouldn't happen in a dream.
It has been five years since I was taken in by the Tohsakas. They adopted me subsequently after I had trembled out of starvation in the middle of the night. I remember growing up as a child rather than my own age, since Rin and Sakura would always want me to play with them. But I had decided to move out when I was eighteen and got a job at the public library. It may seem boring, but it is more interesting than some would think at first.
After I ate breakfast and got ready for the day, I don't have much to do so I head to the basement. There are some very interesting books about magecraft that I read from time to time. I have a huge variety of different books and I haven't even read most of them.
Ever since I moved out of the Tohsaka's residence, I have been searching the web for some old magecraft books. Most of them I don't even read, not even when I have time to kill. But my house is small with a master bedroom, kitchen, one bathroom, an office, a living/guest room and a small basement which I consider my sanctuary full of magecraft literates and relics I had searched for over the internet. It is my domain in which I practice different types of magic. Of course, I utterly fail since my magic circuits are purposely for healing. I never clean it up since I am home alone and not many people visit me. I'm barely in here anyways.
There is also a strange golden magic circle that was there ever since I moved in, yet I was never able to use. I always wondered what I could do with it after many attempts. I never did though. Finally realizing I am bored of thinking about it, I begin looking through the books I have.
Fire Magic. Already read. Control of Mana. Already read. I look at the sections that are a little unorganized. Magic is not new to me so I skip all of the magecraft books. Before I look away, I notice something that just make me give a smirk as to how useless that book is to me.
Healing Magic. I don't need to read that since my healing abilities are higher than almost anyone else. No matter how deep the wound is or how big it is, recovering it within seconds is not a problem. Self healing is not easy for ordinary mages but a simple task for me. Even if a limb is completely amputated, I can bring it back since it is considered healing. Astoundingly, I can revive a dead being depending on the amount of time it has been dead but it can use a lot of mana. All in all, I exceed expert healing.
In another section, deeper into the basement, I don't find many books. In fact, only one that I have never even laid my eyes upon. But the title written on the side, I can familiarize in my vague memories of five years ago. When I had met the Tohsakas after almost dying of starvation.
The Holy Grail War.
The first night I had set foot in this household, Tokiomi asked me about this. "Have you ever heard of the Holy Grail?" His words repeat in my mind, even after a long five years. Did he think I have something to do with a war?
It must be one of those books I was not aware that I had taken from my old house. But why would I want something like this? Did I remember that he had asked about that? I am at lost for words but this just got me anxious to read it.
I take the book out and go upstairs to my room. This should probably be my little secret to keep from Tokiomi and Aoi. I hadn't been thinking about this Holy Grail thing, but reading those words followed by War just got all of my attention.
Closing the door behind me (don't even know why), I go to my soft bed and start opening the somewhat old book. The first page has an illustration of what appears to be some sort of claw reaching into the sky trying to grab a circle. This seems odd but it also looks like the claw is bleeding in a way. Surrounding it is fire and ashes polluting the sky and covering the lands. I go to the next page and begin reading.
Many centuries ago, three families of magi - Einzbern, Makiri and Tohsaka-
Tohsaka?! I think to myself with widened eyes and my jaw dropped. Why would my family be involved in a war? I must go on, no matter how unrealistic this may seem.
Einzbern, Makiri and Tohsaka- Established a bloody ritual; Heaven's Feel, The Holy Grail War of Fuyuki. A battle between seven mages fighting to the death to claim the "Holy Grail". The omnipotent wish-granting device that makes the soul dream and wish for the winner a reality. The seven mages chosen from the Holy Grail summon Heroic Spirits of old to fight in their mages places. These Heroic Spirits are called "Servants" and the mages selected by the Holy Grail are called "Masters".
This is most certainly fascinating to my eyes. There is so much to read about this Holy Grail War and yet Tokiomi might think I am involved in this? No. I can't over think this or else I'm just going to go mad. This book has definitely caught my attention and I will be reading this for a while.
That was all to read on the second page. When I look through the table or contents, it shows so many different things to know about the Holy Grail War. For example: Servants, Command Seals, Noble Phantasms, Mana Supply...
Before I return to the page I was reading, I glance at the clock above the door. It is 3:14 pm and I realize I should bring my bags down. Tokiomi had planned a trip to Turin, Italy for us two. He didn't tell me why except that it wasn't necessarily a vacation but more for business. Promptly, I pack this book in my spare bag of other books without him knowing... yet.
I change out of my lazy clothing and put on a long sleeve dark-blue top with a red skirt just above my knees. I slide my black flat shoes and look in the mirror. I almost forgot that my unusual silver hair reached right to the end of my back. My bangs cover my small light-red eye on the left. I apply just a little bit of mascara to darken my silver lashes. It really makes my eyes appear a little nicer against my pale skin. That is really the most makeup I put, unless for some reason I want to conceal my beauty mark on the right of my lips but a little lower. I don't know, I'm a very weird human-... person.
Locking the door behind me, I walk into town to get a taxi and go to the airport and meet up with my father. As I walk through the congested town, the citizens give me these uncomfortable glares. Yeah, they probably haven't seen anyone nonhuman, right? It doesn't concern me since it is only natural that they look at me like that.
Eventually, I get into a taxi and make my way to the airport.
In the cold church of a foreign country, it's quite nice and peaceful as I gaze outside at the remarkable scenery. Tokiomi has told me to wait out side of the lounge room where him and two other people are speaking. From what I have heard, they are both in accordance with the church. The older man, Risei Kotomine, being a priest and his son, Kirei Kotomine, an Executor of the Church which almost petrified me.
For the time we were here and on the plane, I have already finished the book of "The Holy Grail War" which had sent shivers down my spine multiple times. I'm still all too curious of why Tokiomi might have thought I was involved in this.
As I look outside to the breathtaking view, since I have never departed from Japan. A relaxing smile comes on my face while I look fixedly at the outside of another place.
"...!" I gasp and turn around to hear the sudden opening of the doors behind me. Out walks a man much older than I am with brown hair and fearsome brown eyes and a cross necklace reaching his chest and showing no trace of emotion on his face.
I swallow hard and my breathing is heavy when he approaches me, scaring the hell out of me. Being in the same room as a professional executor of mages is one of the nerve-racking situations I've been in. I stiffen up not to look as weak as I really am.
"Father and Mr. Tohsaka are waiting for you in the room. They want to speak to you, too." he finishes in a deep voice and storms off, not giving me time to even thank him. Well they had to piss him off, at least I'm still in one piece. Nice meeting Kirei.
The beats of my heart are faster as I feel more stressful for what is so important to speak of in another country. I walk inside to find the priest and Tokiomi, who has a glass of wine in his hands, of course, waiting for me. Taking a deep breath, I approach them and listen to what they have to say.
"Good day, young lady." the priest greets me politely and I bow to both of them so formally to show a good example.
"Naomi, I brought you here to speak with Father Kotomine about you. About something that has been hidden from you." Tokiomi speaks up in a serious tone. I nod and look at the priest waiting for his information.
"I must ask you this, do you know of the Holy Grail War?" he asks me in the same manner as Tokiomi. I look at Tokiomi, who thinks I have never heard of it, and take a long pause before my response.
"... Yes. I know exactly what the omnipotent wish-granting device is." I answer truthfully, looking back at the priest and notice in the periphery of my eye that Tokiomi looks especially surprised.
"Do you know your fate in this war?" My eyes widen in confusion and fear. "Do you know your fate in this war?" The words repeat in my mind and send chills throughout my body, getting scared for what he will say next.
"...N-No..." I manage to stutter after a long silent pause.
"You are well aware of your being homunculus, correct?" Tokiomi asks and I nod as my reply.
"The Holy Grail mistakenly created you, for reasons unknown to us." the priest says as if out of nowhere.
"I don't understand." I say with worry controlling my voice.
"Normally, a homunculus would be the Einzbern Master and we are aware that your blood does not resemble the Einzbern lineage. But there has been legends that the Grail has created a homunculus Master by accident in a previous Heaven's Feel." I can feel my palms sweating up and my hands shaking in fear, knowing where this is leading.
"You are going to be a Master in the Fourth Holy Grail War. You can not ask the Holy Church to remove you from the War. You are forced into participating in the ritual." Father Risei ends the sentence in a cold tone. "You represent the Tohsaka Master of this war. It is your duty to bring victory to your family."
Tears begin to stream down my face after this discussion. I don't want to be involved in this brutal war, but there is no way out of it?! I am so weak and yet the Holy Grail would create someone like me to be in this war.
"B-But I can't fight! I am too weak for this! It's not fair!" I try to talk between breaths as I tremble in fear and sadness.
"I'm sorry, Naomi. If there was a way out of this, I would surely put myself in your stead. But-" Tokiomi had begun to spoke but I just cut him off.
"No! How can I believe you, anyway?!"
"I will be the supervisor of the Fourth Holy Grail War. The Grail informs the Holy Church about these matters." the priest speaks out.
"Naomi, I can try to help you in this war if you want." Tokiomi offers.
"No..." I retort coldly. I stopped crying with my face red and straighten myself up, showing that I will be serious about this. "I wouldn't want to get you involved. If it really will select me as a Master, then I will try to fight. My life never had much meaning so if I die, that's it. It can't be helped." The two of them give confused expressions at my changing of emotions. "Luckily, I can heal and I will be with a Servant, right? But I must ask. Tokiomi, did you know that I was in this Grail War thing ever since the day we met?" I have to know if he has kept this from me for so long.
"No. I had only though you were, perhaps, an Einzbern because of your being homunculus. But I had soon found out that it wasn't the case." I let out a small sigh and wipe the remains of my tears off my face. "That aside, there is one more thing we need to tell you." he says one I was done wiping my tears.
"The weird dreams that you have told me about, do you remember them?" he asks.
"How could I forget?" I ask in a rhetorical manner.
"They aren't really dreams. They are visions." What?
"Visions?!" I repeat and lift a brow.
"More like magecraft. The rare Visionary Magecraft bestowed upon little people that it was believed to be a myth." Father Risei speaks.
"It will show when you are in danger. You might even be able to determine of your Servant is in a fatal situation. That is a major advantage given to you." Tokiomi says. "Although, you can not control it and a wise mage might just know how to use it against you if they are strong enough. How? We wouldn't know. "
So that Goldie guy in my dreams- no, visions- is probably my Servant?
"Normally, this magecraft begins in your dreams. So it is a good sign you have been receiving them." the priest continues and they both begin circling clockwise as they speak. "Mana is transferred to your head, thus creating those dreams."
"Eventually, they will come at anytime before the danger occurs," Tokiomi goes on while looking at his wine glass in his hands. "Of course, they will be a shock and your head might feel uneasy if too many may coincide. That may just be a way to use it against you, Naomi. Stay cautious of these matters if you will try to fight in the Holy Grail War."
"Is that all you have to say for me?" I ask politely with a strictly serious expression.
"Yes. That is all. Do you have any questions or concerns?" The priest asks.
"No. Thank you for all of this, Tokiomi. I deeply appreciate your time, Father." I bow to the priest and Tokiomi and leave the room without giving them a chance to respond.
I leave in both anger and confidence with my fists clenched. Now that I think about it, perhaps the book and magic circle at my home is some sort of Holy Relic left there. My basement was locked when I moved in, so maybe that is my summon circle for my Servant.
I will make sure I win this war and get the life I deserved instead of being a stupid puppet of the Grail. I will fight and shed blood, sweat and tears for that cup. I can already feel the pain on my right hand and the blood seeping through my skin as I walk quickly outside.
Author's Note:
Thank you all for the follows and favorites! It means a lot!
My apologies I haven't updated in a while but here it is!
This chap was still to get some info and background on the OC but I hope it was good for you. I will try to move it a little faster though _
Don't forget to leave a comment :) And Happy Easter!