Chapter 13: Beginning of the Everlasting Night
-Emiya estate living room-
After leaving Xenovia's room, Sophia went to the living room to join the remaining members of the Red faction.
"How is her condition?"
Assassin of Red, Emiya Kiritsugu asked. Seeing the man expressing even a little concern to someone else is surprising but then again he had decided to drop the persona of the Magus Killer so maybe it's not as surprising. There is concern on his usually unreadable facial expression. Of course, Sophia knew that most of that concern is directed to his missing daughter and it speaks a lot of his self-restraint that he had not ran out to go searching for Saber and Ilya.
"She is stable. Then again, I doubt that anything less than a mortal wound could keep her down. I swear that girl has some impressive battle continuation skill."
Everyone breathed out in relief once Sophia gave them the news. Sophia sat across from Kiritsugu and took a can of beer. She needs a drink after all that. Healing her is not just something she could do with the snap of a finger… wait, she could. But is it time to reveal her trump card? With how the war is going, it appears that it will come to that eventually.
"So now that Assassin had taken out most of the enemy Master that means the Blue faction is at their weakest, right? Should we attempt a frontal attack?"
Tohsaka Rin proposed. It is not a bad idea, Sophia thought. There is no doubt that the enemy is at their weakest with no Master to support the Servants. Berserker and Archer are Masterless and Rider was taken out. If there is any time to conduct an all out attack then it would be now. But…
"No, let's wait. Somehow I got a bad feeling from the enemy base. It is a temple. That means that the Caster is a powerful magus. Plus even discounting that, we have more problems like two Apostles running around."
"That's right, the Apostles, and not just any Apostles but Inferno and Black Nightmare, Dead Apostle Ancestor rank 23 and 24, the Burnheart siblings."
As a former mercenary of the moonlight world, Kiritsugu of course recognize all known DAA names and what is known of their ability along with their history. Valerie had told them all about the two DAA's arrival in Fuyuki. She's sure that she managed to heavily wound one of them and due to the nature of her power it would take a while for Inferno to recover but that might not be the case as she had never achieved a draw against an Apostle. All her own Apostle hunt ended with complete extermination so she doesn't know if an Apostle could recover from her attack.
"According to miss Tepes, the Burnheart sibling are searching for Shijou Noire. Do you know anything about this, Sophia Brave?"
Kiritsugu questioned her. Sophia closed her eyes before opening it again and took another gulp from her beer. The Burnheart sibling, it's nostalgic. She of course recognized them not only by name but she truly knew them.
"The Burnheart sibling… will probably switch their target once they see me."
"Wait, once they see you? Do you have a history with them or something?"
"I have heard that the Burnheart sibling once had conflict with Shijou Momoka. Are they here because they want something like revenge?"
Sophia nodded.
"Yes, something like that."
Sophia begin to reminisce about the past. She could remember it clearly like it was yesterday, the day when they finally took vengeance for their family.
"It's a little complicated. It all ties in with our victory against the 6th Dead Apostle Ancestor, Requiem."
Rin gasped at the mention of the name and Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes. They know who Requiem is. He's an extremely powerful Dead Apostle with power that could theoretically match the TYPE like ORT and Brunestud. His magecraft is extremely powerful and very dangerous. A Dead Apostle of absolute destruction.
And he was brought down by an unknown duo who one of them was later found out to be the newest Wizard Marshall, Shijou Momoka.
"With your close relation to the newest Marshall, then you are the other one who was in that battle that ended Requiem."
Sophia nodded.
"But what does that have to do with the Burnheart siblings?"
"…like I said, it's complicated. At that time, the Burnheart siblings were just normal human magus abandoned by their family since the Burnheart family already had an heir. You know how Magus works. They were taken in as children by Requiem."
"Taken… in?"
"Taken in and trained as Magus. They have potential just unnoticed since the heir was an Average One with astounding amount of circuit. But both Saren and Eileen are more astounding. Saren has fire and wind element… and his Origin is heat. He was close enough to become an incarnation but even if he is not one his Origin works well with his main element. As for Eileen, she has Imaginary Number. Seeing their potential Requiem took them in. For what purpose even I don't know but he took them in."
"I see. They were not raised with the thinking pattern of a Magus and they saw him as a parental figure and you two killed him. They want revenge."
"Yes, that's what happened. They weren't there when the fight started so they didn't get caught in the crossfire. By that time Momoka and I had reached our full potential as a Magus."
"The three of you fought in Russia and what was left was covered up as a test on a new type of nuclear bomb."
"Requiem… Ryuusenji Kazuma was powerful. We strain ourselves to the very limit and using a mystic code closest to a Noble Phantasm that I created and Momoka's Reality Marble and what she knew of Kaleidoscope back then, we managed to finally defeat him although I was crippled magically as a result and so was Momoka. She would recover through Kaleidoscope eventually but I need the help of Heaven's Feel to heal myself. That's why I participated in the Third Heaven's Feel."
"I see."
"The Burnheart siblings became Apostles a year after Requiem's extermination. They knew they had to grow stronger if they want to defeat the people who could beat Kazuma. Ironically, at that time, I couldn't even fight properly and would've died against them."
"But fought a Servant at the end of the Grail War, right?"
"That… can be chalked up to luck. The power that allowed me to fight at that time is now one of my three Noble Phantasms."
Kiritsugu was about to ask what that power is but Sophia stopped him.
"It's a trump card I would rather hide for now. We don't know who's listening after all."
Kiritsugu nodded, agreeing with the reason though also suspecting it's just Sophia's magus thinking to keep her power a secret.
"So, what do we do now?"
Rin asked. She wanted to quickly end this war since they have the advantage but Sophia is also right that they can't just attack openly. They know nothing of the enemy Caster and the enemy Assassin is nowhere in sight. The two Sabers and their Master had disappeared after the battle. And of course there is the injured Xenovia. Even if they hold the advantage, it's still too early and too dangerous to attack.
"For now… we rest and wait."
Shirou Kotomine and Semiramis had finished watching the battle between the two factions and surprisingly or unsurprisingly it was the Red faction's victory.
"The Red faction is powerful."
Semiramis commented. She wouldn't be surprised if the Red faction could win the War without any casualties with all those powerful Servants and Masters. None of the Servants there are average, even those irregular Servants… well, all except Astolfo maybe but the Paladin is still strong in his own right, especially if supported by his Master, the girl named Xenovia.
Shirou had taken particular interest in Xenovia Quarta's battle, partially since she's the apprentice of Bow and part of the Burial Agency though unofficially on both account. He had seen her a few times while in Vatican but never saw her in action since he's part of the Assembly of Eight Sacrament and works in a different field. But the girl is powerful, very powerful if she could face Berserker Beowulf head on. She has faith and she is powerful. If she were born in his age, perhaps she could be a great saint and pull off what he could not through sheer might of arms alone but those are what-ifs.
"It will only get harder from now on."
"Which is why we won't be appearing yet. Plus we still have to find ways to defeat all those irregular Servants."
"True. If the identities of those Servants and their powers are correct, we cannot win with the Hanging Garden alone."
"Indeed. Which is why I have already had it prepared."
"Ahh, so you wish to use its power now?"
"Lesser or not, it is still a Holy Grail based on Heaven's Feel. I have prepared the catalysts. Although the lesser grail I have obtained can only be used to summon four Servants, it should be enough to provide us with enough help to defeat them."
"It will have to do."
"Shall we start them my Queen?"
The duo once again reentered the Hanging Garden. The second stage of the greatest Holy Grail War is about to start. Shirou cast one last glance at the city of Fuyuki, specifically on three spots; The Ryuudou temple, the Emiya residence, and the Kotomine Church where his surrogate brother is.
"None of them will be simple to defeat. But I guess the Holy Grail War has never been a simple work in all its history, especially this one. The two Casters and the Fourth War's Archer, we will need a very formidable team to be able to best them who could be said to be the pinnacle of their respective ages. Although I can't really say that for Caster of Red but she's in no way inferior. Hmm?"
From up above in the Garden, Shirou noticed something, or rather, a certain someone entering the boundaries of Fuyuki city. It's not surprising to see her here though. He had guessed that the Church would deploy a member of the Burial Agency considering that the Burnheart siblings had entered Fuyuki. They certainly move fast this time. Plus with her relation to two of the participants, she would definitely be the one sent.
"Welcome to the chaos, Bow."
-Ryuudou temple-
"Saren… Saren, wake up!"
Saren Burnheart opened his eyes when he heard the voice of his sister calling for him.
"Sister? Where am I?"
"We're in Ryuudou temple. I found you after that Servant's Master summoned him back. You were terribly burnt and even an Apostle's regeneration did not manage to heal you fully. What happened?"
"Ugh…"
Saren woke up with a groan. He try to recall what's last in his memory. Angel, six wings, spear, his attack and the spear clashed. He was defeated by the other Apostle.
"I was defeated by the other Apostle."
Eileen Burnheart is genuinely surprised. An unknown Apostle managed to defeat her brother. If it was another Apostle of renowned strength then she might understand but she did not recognize the Apostle who faced him.
"That girl… she's not ordinary. She has an unknown power that could render our regeneration weak. Her name was… Valerie Tepes I think."
At the mention of the other Apostle's name, Eileen finally pieced together a few things. Eileen had heard rumors around the Clocktower that someone named Valerie Tepes had been made Zelretch's apprentice and will be participating in the Fifth Heaven's Feel along with the secret child of the missing Wizard Marshall. That means this unknown Apostle who faced Saren is exactly that person, Zelretch's newest apprentice.
"That girl is the apprentice of Zelretch."
"I see. She has an interesting power."
"And if she can weaken our regeneration, she will be dangerous."
"Exactly. All of the Red faction Servants and Masters are dangerous."
Suddenly another voice joined in on the siblings' conversation. A young man with black hair and very dark expression emerge from the shadows. Beside him is another figure, this one possesses a presence so great that even Saren and Eileen know they are outclassed. For two Apostles who had reached the rank of Ancestors to feel like that, the person beside the young man must be a Servant of the highest level.
"Sister, who is this… Master."
Saren asked Eileen, careful in choosing his words as the presence of the powerful being made him nervous. It is definitely a Servant so the young man is most likely the Master.
"Julian Ainsworth, Master of Caster of Blue."
"It's good to see you awake, Inferno. I ha…"
"Julian, stand down. I will be the one to speak to them."
"…very well my liege."
Julian stood back as his Servant came to the front. Seiren can finally see him well as his vision finally settled. The Servant is tall, taller than the average man of this age. He has spiky white hair and tanned skin and wears an intricate robe that would fit a nobility more than a mere magus.
"My name is Solomon, The King of Magic, and I want the two of you to become Masters."
-Emiya estate, the next day-
Noire had to admit that he was amazed by Xenovia's sheer tenacity. Soloing a Berserker of Beowulf's caliber as a human armed only with a weapon she hasn't even mastered was suicidal. But against all odds she survived. Valerie did help but the large part of the battle was done by Xenovia alone.
He is currently watching the blue haired girl sleeping peacefully. Her injuries are being healed in an accelerated pace using magecraft, mostly courtesy of Caster who is a very capable healer, surprisingly. Beside Xenovia slept Valerie. The two of them have been watching the Durandal wielder since last night and won't leave her side. Again, they technically spent the night together. Noire blushed when he remembers the event of the other night.
The two of them are very attractive girls and sometimes, he became conscious of that, especially when seeing them sleep like this… or sleeping in his futon with each grabbing his arm while clad in nothing but their underwear (Xenovia) or night gown (Valerie). Caster must not know that he finds them attractive or she will definitely tease him to no end.
Noire heard the sound of the door behind him sliding. He doesn't need to see to know who it is though, not with their connection.
"Good morning Sophia."
"Ara, you're already up or did you not sleep at all last night?"
"I just got up a few minutes ago."
"Heh… Well, it's time for Xenovia's check up."
Noire move aside to allow Sophia to do her work. Noire does not know anything about what Sophia is doing. Healing is not his specialization after all. Maybe he should learn at elast how to patch up a wound. It will be useful for emergency situations. After two minutes passed, Sophia finished her work.
"She should wake up in three hours. She's mostly healed and can even run as soon as she wakes up but make sure she doesn't use her circuits."
"Okay… wait, she uses her circuits? Does she even possess a magic circuit?"
"Of coruse she does! How do you think she could use Black Keys?! Though I have to say that hers is rather unique."
"Unique?"
"Her magic circuit is not a normal one. It is silver."
"…what?"
"A silver circuit and a small core, although it works differently than the normal definition of a magical core. I think it's what allows her to wield Durandal."
That is a first time he heard something like that. So Xenovia has magic circuits. That one should be obvious since she did use reinforcement a lot and she could use the Black Keys. But Noire had never seen her circuits being activated although it could've been activated when he's not around. He felt stupid for not realizing that. But there is another thing that interested him.
"A core?"
"Not really a core. It is something that looks like a core and is located at where a core would be in her soul but it doesn't produce od like a core does. Well, I'll chalk it up for another dimensional difference."
"I see."
"…anyway, tell her to come see me when she wakes up. Oh and Shirou is cooking breakfast. The Emiya family is already downstairs."
"Okay, I'll come later."
"Ohh and just because they're sleeping, you can't take advantage of them, alright?"
Noire's face intantly turns red in embarrassment ad Caster skipped out from the room, leaving her Master and his imagination alone. The son of her best friend is cute when he's embarrassed. Caster passed by Fiore's room when she had just woke up, assisted by Lancer. Then she heard the doorbell rang. As she's closest to the entrance, she was the one who greeted the guest. There's no presence of a Servant anywhere near so it's not Illya returning or an enemy Master attacking (though they probably won't ring the doorbell).
When Caster opened the door, she was met with a nun who she first thought to be Xenovia's relative with her blue hair. It is an unusual hair color after all. The nun wore glasses and looks friendly enough though that could just be a public persona. But Caster felt like she had seen her somewhere before…
"Ara, Ciel-senpai, what are you doing in Fuyuki?"
Noire who noticed her presence came to the front door.
"You should know why, Noire-kun. I was sent by the Burial Agency to take care of the two Dead Apostle Ancestors."
Shits are really going down here. This won't just be a conflict between 7 or 14 pairs of Master and Servants but total war. Shirou Kotomine will soon enter the stage with his own forces. Ciel has arrived to hunt down Saren and Eileen. Of course, she's sent alone because Xenovia who is technically a member is already there and so is Noire. Grand Caster Solomon is the Blue faction's Caster and Julian is the Master. Added with Gilgamesh around... well, isn't Fuyuki fucked? Anyway, that concludes the first part of the Grail War arc and this is just the easy part. The second part will be much harder for everyone. I'm certifiably insane, aren't I?
Anyway, Xenovia got magic circuits and a core that's not a core. It is her holy sword element... or is it? silver magic circuits? What makes her different? Well, different laws and how things works between worlds. Anyway, enough about that. Next chapter will start Issei's part. The Asia arc. I hope I can work on that faster than this. See ya guys later. Ohh right, the revs.
Dragon Rider 66: Sophia's Reality Marble is not her real power. It is just the accumulation of the Brave Family's works that became their pride and joy, the embodiment of the Brave family creed. It does looks like UBW at first glance but it can be used for many things like creating an original Noble Phantasm-class weapon like Valerie's new rapier. Her other NPs will be more awesome though. As for my own NP... I lost it somewhere in the road of life.
Thunder Dragon: I'm not doing any challenges, sorry. I'm busy enough with the number of stories I have here.